Elliot Page has given his first interview after announcing that he was transgender last December with TIME magazine. In it, he talks about how he wants to use his platform and privileges to help other trans folk who don't have access to the same resources.

Related | Introducing Elliot Page

Page's interview goes deep, covering the inner turmoil he felt while the world saw him presenting a certain way on red carpets. "I just never recognized myself," he said. "For a long time, I could not even look at a photo of myself."

Later on, Page discusses how feminine clothing and roles he played led to panic attacks. Even after coming out as gay in 2014, and eventually wearing suits on the red carpet, the depression persisted. "The difference in how I felt before coming out as gay to after was massive," he said. "But did the discomfort in my body ever go away? No, no, no, no."

Inspired by trans icons like Laverne Cox and Janet Mock, Page said that his "shame and discomfort" gave way to new understandings. "I was finally able to embrace being transgender and letting myself fully become who I am," he said.

His announcement was met with both "support and love" and a "massive amount of hatred and transphobia"  which, he said, is what he expected. Page wants to use his privilege to help others that aren't as fortunate. "My privilege has allowed me to have resources to get through and to be where I am today," he said, "and of course I want to use that privilege and platform to help in the ways I can."

Page is already doing exactly what he says. Along with the reveal of the new cover story on Instagram, he urged supporters to join him and protest the anti-trans policies in Alabama by voting against the HB1/SB10 and HB391 bills.

"The Alabama legislature is considering legislation that would make it a felony to provide medically necessary health care to transgender youth," he wrote. "These bills are opposed by every major medical association in the United States. If passed, these bills will seriously harm youth in Alabama and across the South. I join Alabama organizers, pediatricians, medical associations, civil rights organizations, and businesses in calling on the Alabama House to vote NO on SB1 & HB10. Trans' kids lives depend on stopping these bills."

Check out Page's interview at the link up above.
Theater has faced many battles in the past year, and one of them has been the hurdles in streaming archived productions online. Now, two major American institutions have joined the fray, and are sharing some of their stash.

The first offering in Lincoln Center Theaters Private Reels series is the Off Broadway production of Christopher Durangs comedy Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, which went on to win a Tony Award for its Broadway run. Led by David Hyde Pierce, Kristine Nielsen and Sigourney Weaver, the cast is firing on all cylinders and makes the most of Durangs riff on Chekhov transplanted to Bucks County, Pa. March 18-April 11; lct.org

In Chicago, the Goodman Theaters archival streaming program, called Encore, kicks off with Christina Andersons How to Catch Creation, which toggles between decades as it looks at the elusive, fraught and, in this case, broadly defined creative process (through March 28). That will be followed by a stage adaptation of Juan Rulfos magical-realist novel Pedro Paramo by the playwright Raquel Carrio and the director Flora Lauten, of the Cuban company Teatro Buendia. March 29-April 11; goodmantheatre.org
Greg Sukiennik has worked at all three Vermont News & Media newspapers and was their managing editor from 2017-19. He previously worked for ESPN.com, for the AP in Boston, and at The Berkshire Eagle in Pittsfield, Mass.
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP)  Leaders and elected officials in Portland, Oregon, came together Monday to demand an end to violence, criminal destruction and intimidation by anarchists as destructive protests continue in the city.

For nearly nine months protesters have called for police reform and an end to systemic racism in Portland, which has become a key city in the countrys racial reckoning. While officials say many events have been peaceful, there continues to be small groups smashing windows of businesses, threatening community members and assaulting police.

The community is sick and tired of people engaging in criminal destruction and violence and doing it under the guise of some noble cause, Mayor Ted Wheeler said during a news conference.

Images of the city spread across the country during the summer  photos of people grieving the death of George Floyd, thousands of people laying down on a city bridge with their hands on their back, and people carrying Black Lives Matter signs.

Other photos showed officers emerging from clouds of tear gas, dozens of people dressed in all black and throwing fireworks at officers and rows of businesses with plywood covering windows.

In the background of many of the images is the Mark O. Hatfield Federal Courthouse, where federal officers had been stationed. Last week, fencing around the building was removed only to be reinstalled Sunday after multiple protests and vandalism in and around the building.

The people who work here support the voices of racial and social justice and will not be intimidated from doing our jobs by the ugly graffiti or broken windows, said Scott Erik Asphaug, U.S. attorney for the District of Oregon. We do not confuse the voices of the many with the shouts of the few who hope to hold our city hostage by petty crime and violence.

The Oregonian/OregonLive reported the Department of Justice has paid more than $1.5 million to repair damage to the courthouse.

Vandalism and destruction was not limited to the courthouse last week. On Thursday, vandals broke windows and tagged buildings downtown with anti-government and anti-police sentiments.

On Friday, about 100 people marched through the Pearl District, smashing windows and blocking the street using chairs and tables from outdoor dining areas. Police responded by creating a perimeter and detaining people in a block in a controversial tactic known as kettling.

Some threw rocks at officers and one person threw a full can of beer. Officers discovered numerous items left behind by the group including a crowbar, hammers, bear spray, slugging weapon with rocks, high impact slingshot and knives.

At least 13 people were charged with crimes

I want to be clear that this was not a protest group, said Chris Davis, Portlands assistant police chief. This was a group of people who have come to believe that they are entitled to damage other peoples property, threaten community members and assault police officers.

Police said it was the same group they have encountered throughout the past nine months. Officials refer to the group as self-described anarchist left that is made up of mostly young white men.

The misguided and miseducated anarchists reject civility and instead intentionally create mayhem through criminally destructive behavior tearing up our city. This must stop, said former state Sen. Avel Gordly, the first Black woman to be elected to the Oregon State Senate. I say to them today, `Stop you are not helping, you are hurting Black people.'

During the summer, right-wing groups were also responsible for violence in the city.

We do not support criminal destruction _ that applies to everyone regardless of your politics, Wheeler said.

About the photo: This March 12, 2021, photo released by Portland Police Bureau shows smashed windows left behind by people inside the perimeter of a march by a group of about 100 hundred protesters Friday night in Portland, Ore. Portland Mayor Wheeler on Monday, Mach 15, 2021 called for an end to violence and property destruction after businesses were damaged over the weekend. Oregons largest city has seen a series of often violent protests following the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. (Portland Police Department via AP, File)

Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
YEREVAN, MARCH 17, ARMENPRESS. Prosecutor General of Turkey Bekir Sahin has applied to the Constitutional Court with a claim to ban the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), ARMENPRESS reports Turkish Anadolu agency informs.

According to the claim, the members of the party try to distort the integrity of the state and the people by their announcements and activities.
WASHINGTON - After weeks of declining coronavirus deaths and hospitalizations, new hot spots of infection have emerged, and disease experts warn that the spread of a more dangerous variant and a too-rapid rush to return to normal life could prolong the historic health emergency.

Caseloads are down nationally, and tens of millions of people are fully loaded with antibodies to the virus, with more than 2 million people getting doses of vaccine every day. But the virus continues to pose a real and present threat, with about 55,000 new infections daily.

Michigan has seen a rise in hospitalizations and positive test results. Minnesota's numbers are creeping up, as are Maryland's and New Jersey's. Many places, including New York City and surrounding counties, are no longer seeing steady declines in cases, despite intensive vaccination efforts.

"There's a resurgence going on here," said disease tracker David Rubin, director of PolicyLab at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. It is too soon to call this a "wave," and he does not foresee a return to the level of cases reported during the winter, he said. But Rubin said case numbers are flat or creeping up in much of the Northeast, the Mid-Atlantic and parts of the Upper Midwest.

"There's clearly been a change here in the last couple of weeks," Rubin said.

Behavior is changing in this pandemic-fatigued nation. This week is set to be a major turning point for reopenings. Wedding parties are kicking off again in New York. Pennsylvania is allowing more fans into stadiums. And most of Maryland has opened up restaurants.

Air travel hit a pandemic record during the weekend, with 1.2 million to 1.3 million people traveling each day from Thursday to Sunday. That was more than any four-day period since March 2020.

Infectious-disease experts are imploring people to stay cautious and respect the lingering threat of the virus. With the end of the coronavirus pandemic potentially in sight, experts recognize that this is one of the trickiest phases of the crisis - epidemiologically and psychologically.

"It's like we're in the home stretch where it hurts more than any other time," said Mary Jo Trepka, an epidemiologist at Florida International University, comparing the situation to the end of an 800-meter race. "But if you give up now, you've given up the entire race."

The stay-the-course message is colliding with human nature. Winter is releasing its grip. Restaurants are opening, as are stadiums, with capacity limits. People are desperate to see friends and family members they have missed for so long. This may be an especially challenging part of the pandemic, said William Hanage, an epidemiologist at the Harvard University T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

"I keep trying to say, 'Just hold off, hold off, hold off, because the vaccine's coming,' " he said.

Ten months ago, the nation was in a similar situation, emerging from a catastrophic surge, eager to reopen businesses and resume travel, with some states and cities largely ignoring Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance and rushing to relax restrictions that had been effective in reducing infection numbers. That predictably preceded a wave of cases in the Sun Belt, and later in the Upper Midwest, leading to another round of shutdowns.

This time, with the country recovering from the protracted fall and winter surge, the situation is different because there is more immunity resulting from previous infections and from vaccinations. Most people in the country older than 65 have had at least one dose of vaccine. The heightened protection in the older age brackets means lower levels of hospitalizations. About 41,000 people are hospitalized in the United States with covid-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, according to Washington Post data. That is less than a third of the winter-surge peak in early January.

The death toll has been dropping, too, and in the near future, the average for daily deaths could drop below 1,000 for the first time since the fall.

But there are places with numbers going in the wrong direction. Michigan's daily infection numbers have doubled, from 1,045 on average on Feb. 21, to 2,223 as of Monday, according to The Post's data. Hospitalizations have also increased in Michigan.

Nationally, most adults remain unvaccinated, and millions of those people are in higher age brackets or have chronic conditions making them more vulnerable to severe illness from the coronavirus.

CDC Director Rochelle Walensky on Monday urged the public to remain vigilant and to not let down its guard. She pointed out that Europe - which has been slower to vaccinate its population - is enduring another surge of cases, with France and Italy imposing shutdowns.

"They simply took their eye off the ball," she said. "I'm pleading with you for the sake of our nation's health. These should be warning signs for all of us."

Michael Osterholm, director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, said the spread of the B.1.1.7 variant, first identified in the United Kingdom, began with small outbreaks in that nation that snowballed even though most of the country was shut down.

Research published Monday in the journal Nature showed that B.1.1.7 is more probable to cause a fatal illness than earlier variants of the coronavirus, technically named SARS-CoV-2. The study found a 61% higher risk of death from the variant. "Our analysis suggests that B.1.1.7 is not only more transmissible than preexisting SARS-CoV-2 variants, but may also cause more severe illness," the study states.

By relaxing restrictions, Osterholm said, the United States is moving in the opposite direction of Europe, and that makes the country more vulnerable to this variant. European countries hit hard by the variant did not experience rising case numbers until the variant accounted for more than half of circulating strains - a milestone the United States could hit in the coming week, he warned.

"What Europe is telling us is that we haven't yet begun to see the impact of B.1.1.7 here," he said. "Everyone wants me to say nothing is going to happen. We have such an optimism about the vaccines, which we should. But right now we have to be very cautious."

The virus is slamming into obstacles as it attempts to circulate. No longer is it spreading through a population with zero immunity, as was the case a year ago. The U.S. government reported Monday that the United States was averaging 2.4 million shots daily during the past week.

And an unknown but presumably large number of people have some level of lingering immunity from being infected by the virus and surviving. It is unclear how long natural immunity lasts, but one study in January showed that most people still had antibodies eight months after they became sick.

Vulnerability to reinfection remains unclear. The consensus is that the second time around, a person would probably become less sick, but the novel nature of this virus and the still-limited research keep this in the no-one-knows category. Any forecast is complicated by the variants, including ones first seen in South Africa (B.1.351) and in Brazil (P.1) that appear to lower the ability of antibodies to thwart the virus.

Of the variants, B.1.1.7 is by far the most widespread in the United States. Florida leads the nation, with 738 identified cases, followed by Michigan, with 616, according to CDC numbers posted Sunday.

New York City-area residents were preparing this week for a major reopening as residents marked the one-year shutdown anniversary. Governors of Connecticut, New Jersey and New York cited declines in cases and an accelerated timetable for vaccinations in announcing a loosening of restrictions.

As of Monday, wedding receptions were allowed again in New York City, with limitations. Couples on dance floors must remain six feet apart.

On Friday, indoor dining capacity jumps to 50% in the five boroughs of New York City and 75% outside those areas. In Connecticut, all capacity limits will be lifted at restaurants and many other businesses.

The New York City area has its own variant, known as B.1.526, which is spreading quickly along with B.1.1.7. The two variants last week combined for more than 50% of New York City's cases. Scientists believe they are more transmissible than previous versions, and some experts express concern that vaccine or treatments may be less effective against B.1.526.

At a news conference this week, New York Mayor Bill de Blasio painted an optimistic picture, touting an ambitious timeline for vaccinating the full population within seven weeks.

"We're watching the variants very closely," the Democratic mayor said, "but I've got to tell you, the overall trajectory looks very good right now."

Neville Sanjana, a geneticist at the New York Genome Center, an independent, nonprofit research institution, said research published in the past few weeks has eased some worries about some of the variants' ability to escape vaccines. One study published in early March by Duke University researchers found that when the B.1.1.7 variant was circulating, there was a twofold reduction in neutralizing antibodies induced by the Moderna or Novavax vaccines. Sanjana said that reduction is actually modest and "not really a cause for concern."

The second study was posted online at the end of February before peer review by La Jolla Institute for Immunology researchers Alessandro Sette and Shane Crotty. It found a negligible effect from the B.1.1.7 variant, as well as those first identified in Brazil and South Africa, on another part of the immune system, the T-cells.

Sanjana described the antibody response as disrupting the handshake that allows the coronavirus to bind with our cells, and the T-cells as commando troops that "go door to door surveilling cells that are already infected" and destroy them.

Still, Sanjana cautioned that the New York numbers are flat despite the increase in vaccinations.

"The virus is still spreading at an extraordinary rate," he said. "We're not seeing a large drop in cases, so it pays to be prudent in discussions about opening."

In Minnesota, case counts have been rising slowly during the past week, worrying officials, though numbers are low compared with November and December. The state is being watched closely because of an outbreak of cases with the B.1.1.7 variant in Carver County, about 35 miles outside Minneapolis, that has been linked to school sports. State officials recommended a two-week countywide pause on youth sports. The Minnesota Department of Health reported a 62% increase in coronavirus cases in the county from Feb. 24 to March 4.

Gov. Tim Walz, a Democrat, said that, while officials are monitoring the situation in Carver, "normalcy is on the horizon" and many remaining coronavirus restrictions would be reduced.
Jennifer Nalbandian, 43, describes how a powerful explosion Tuesday shattered windows of her apartment on 300 block of West Francis Street in Ontario. (Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times)

Jennifer Nalbandian was sitting on the couch in her living room in Ontario when the initial explosion hit, violently shaking her house.

At first, she thought it was an earthquake.

My daughter says to me, No, Mom, I think it came from the sky,  Nalbandian said. She began picking up things around her apartment that had fallen. Then she opened her front door.

The boom pushed me back, and the window shattered, she said. I got hit with the after-blast when I opened the door.

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The structures that were destroyed in the blast were visible from her balcony, Nalbandian said.

Residents described in horror the fireworks explosion that rocked their neighborhood Tuesday, leaving two people dead and several structures damaged.

An Ontario Fire Department crew treats 72-year-old David Nguyen on Tuesday. (Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times)

Residents across a vast area reported hearing the blast and feeling the ground shake shortly before 1 p.m. Two structures on the same lot  a front and back house  were engulfed in flames after the explosion.

Many residents were evacuated. And authorities could take as long as four days to declare the area safe, Ontario Police Chief Michael Lorenz said.

Ontario Fire Department Chief Ray Gayk said commercial-grade fireworks started the fire at a roughly 1-acre residential lot near West Francis Street and Fern Avenue.

The FBI and local authorities are investigating.

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Oscar Vargas Ibarra, 17, who lives two houses from the site of the explosion, said he and his brother rushed for the door when the first blast hit. They grabbed their dog before bolting across the street. When the second, larger explosion hit, thats when everyone ran, ran for their lives, Oscar said.

Some neighbors were aware of the fireworks in the neighborhood long before Tuesdays explosion. Oscar said he knew that the people who lived at the now-smoldering home had a few fireworks, but he hadnt been aware of the extent of their stockpile.

They always pop them off, random sometimes, like at night shows or a holiday, he said.

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Flying debris shattered windows and toppled televisions in Oscar Martinezs home a few houses from the site of the blast. Martinez and six other members of his household were uninjured, but the 21-year-old was nevertheless shaken. He said fireworks go off in their neighborhood every few weeks, usually around midnight.

Story continues

Although the Ontario police have fielded numerous calls about fireworks in the area, Lorenz said late Tuesday that they had not received a complaint regarding the property that erupted in flames.

Officials have not identified the two people who died and are not sure where the fireworks came from.

They are commercial grade, Gayk said, like you would normally see in the fireworks show.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Protesters havent been deterred. Since Saturday, demonstrations have been held daily in London, led by a British feminist collective, Sisters Uncut. Thousands have clumped together outside police headquarters and marched to Parliament and Trafalgar Square, two of the capitals most famous emblems of power. In their sights are not just police officers but also the state, which underwrites and sanctions their violence.

As if to prove the point, the government, panicked by the unrest, has responded by calling for more stringent policing. Along with promising to recruit 20,000 more police officers, the government plans to station plainclothes officers in clubs and bars to protect women from harassment. And Britains home secretary, Priti Patel, is driving through legislation that would vastly expand police powers, including the right to curtail peaceful protest.

These measures have been met with outcry. The suggestion of remedying a murder likely committed by a police officer with more, further empowered officers has been rightly rejected by much of the general public.

Threads left dangling for so long are finally being pulled together, revealing the bloody tapestry of violence endured by women. It feels as though many at last recognize the institutional nature of that violence. You cannot weed out the bad apples when the entire system is what causes the rot.

Now, perhaps, we can talk frankly about patriarchal violence. Its more than physical acts of violence; its also the economic and psychological violence that keeps women subjugated through financial inequality, job insecurity, health inequity and the climate of fear that surrounds women as we engage in acts as simple as strolling home at dusk.

We can see patriarchal violence in the murder of Naomi Hersi, a trans woman denied dignity even in death. Its present in the police raids on sex workers, often migrant women, who are then supposedly liberated from the shackles of their profession through swift deportation. Its there in the slow, horrific death in 1993 of Joy Gardner, detained by immigration officials, her head wrapped in 13 feet of surgical tape.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi met March 17 with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov, who welcomed the level of coordination between the countries on international and regional issues, particularly the confidential dialogue channel established in recent years between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Ashkenazi said, "I have a feeling we have an understanding on the level of the heads of states. My prime minister, your president. I think its the fourth or fifth time that we are meeting or talking, and I am fully committed to further enhancing this relationship. It does not mean that here and there we dont have different view perspectives, but I can sincerely say that we have a transparent, honest, professional discussion, as friends should have.

Ashkenazi thanked Lavrov for Russias assistance on humanitarian issues, mentioning Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers without offering any details. The Syrian media reported last month that Russia has been searching Syrian cemeteries for the remains of two IDF soldiers missing since 1982.

Before the joint session, Ashkenazi laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Moscow, where Russia commemorates Red Army soldiers who fought in World War II. It was a moving event for Ashkenazi as an Israeli, Jew and former IDF soldier. We remember the central role of the Russian army in World War II and their liberation of extermination camps throughout Europe, and we will remain eternally grateful for this, Ashkenazi tweeted afterward.

Ashkenazi's visit celebrates 30 years of restored Israel-Russian diplomatic relations, with a list of events that will take place in both countries throughout the year. The visit also is taking place against the backdrop of Israels March 23 elections and while the countrys leadership is engaged in diplomatic campaigns against the Iranian nuclear threat and the move by the International Criminal Court (ICC) to open an investigation of possible Israeli war crimes.

Ashkenazi arrived in the Russian capital only two days after a visit there by the head of Hezbollahs parliamentary bloc in Lebanon, Mohammad Raad, who also met with Lavrov. The Iranian file is probably the most difficult topic between Russia and Israel, who do not see eye to eye on a possible new deal with Tehran.

Ashkenazi has personally engaged in the campaign against the ICC probe beginning of February, when the court ruled it has jurisdiction over Israeli actions in Palestinian territories. Since then, and more so since the March 3 announcement by outgoing ICC Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda that the court was opening an investigation, Ashkenazi has been calling and meeting counterparts in states considered friendly to Israel, such as Germany, Austria and Hungary. Israeli President Reuven Rivlin is currently in Austria in the framework of a three-day trip to Europe also focusing on this issue.

Other issues on the Russian-Israeli agenda March 17 in Moscow were Iran's presence in Syria and the Russian coronavirus vaccine Sputnik V.

According to Syrian state news agency SANA, Israeli jets allegedly hit targets in Syria the night of March 16 after a shipment of arms reportedly arrived at Damascus International Airport earlier in the day. Israeli analysts, who say Israel has been generally careful not to hit targets that could compromise the Russian presence in Syria, estimated that the timing of the reported airstrikes had no relation with the meeting with Lavrov and were not carried out to send any sort of message to the Russians.

Also, Russia has been pressuring Israel to recognize Sputnik V vaccinations for COVID-19. Moscow would like Jerusalem to allow those inoculated with the Russian vaccine to enter Israel without being quarantined or having to present an antibody test.

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 17)  San Miguel Corporation has come up with a packaging solution that can extend the shelf life of fresh carabao milk for up to six months.

In a statement on Wednesday, the diversified conglomerate said the solution, which uses retort technology, allows carabao milk to be sterilized in aluminum cans without requiring preservatives.

This will be a major boost for carabao farmers and the carabao industry in general. The main limitation  perishability  that kept farmers from maximizing their income and growing their business, has been solved, said SMC president and chief operating officer Ramon Ang. Now, their products can be sold to more consumers in more markets.

The San Miguel Packaging Group has been striving to help farmers find a solution on how to keep their products fresh, Ang also revealed.

Carabao milk is very nutritious so there is a big market for it. We see this as potentially jumpstarting growth of the carabao industry. We look forward to continue helping them in any way we can to further grow their industry, said the SMC president.

The aluminum cans the company produces have long been capable of being used for retort, even if the process is new to them, SMC added.

Ang likewise expressed eagerness to work with and help small food producers, adding that they are developing technology to aid farmers and entrepreneurs amid these critical times. The company, he added, is open to those who want to learn more about the process and engage SMCs packaging unit to help grow their business.

By providing them a way to distribute their products to more customers, were hoping to help them stay in business, grow their industry, and support food security for our country as we deal with the pandemic, he said.

SMC had invested in new equipment in its San Fernando, Pampanga beverage filling facility to prepare it for the retort process, which can be used for various beverages, like tea, coffee, soya and other milk-based items.
French Prime Minister Jean Castex said that time had come for additional coronavirus restrictions in the greater Paris region as the country enters a third wave of the Covid-19 pandemic.

French health authorities reported 29,975 new cases on Tuesday, a 4.5% jump versus last Tuesday's total and the sharpest week-on-week rise in a month and a half.

The steady rise of new cases has led to a heavy strain on the hospital system, especially in the capital where infections have surged.

"It seems to me that the time has come to consider new measures in the greater Paris region," Castex said in an interview on BFM TV.

He said weekend lockdowns such as those already in place in two other regions were among measures to be considered for the greater Paris region at a meeting on Wednesday.

"There is no reason why we shouldn't do in one region what we are doing in another," Castex said.

The health ministry said there were 4,239 patients in intensive care units for Covid-19, up by 20 over 24 hours and setting a nearly four-month high. The total number of people hospitalised for the disease was up by 23 to 25,492, the highest tally since February 24.

The number of people who have died increased by 408 to 91,170, the world's seventh-highest death toll. The seven-day moving average of deaths is 267.

With 4.11 million people infected since the start of the outbreak, France has the sixth-highest case count in the world.
I never thought I would see America go from first to last, but under the Biden administration it has all come into fruition within a few weeks. If President Biden has his way, America will no longer be independent, in regards to fuel, but once again dependent upon foreign countries as he halts new oil and natural gas leases on public lands and waters. This action could put thousands of American workers out of a job. As president his first priority is to keep our country safe, yet he has opened our borders to illegal immigrants by the thousands who are not all tested for COVID-19 as they enter.

President Biden has opened up America to a major crisis, while at the same time allowing our schools to remain closed. This is further hurting our children both mentally and physically. It would be wise for President Biden and Dr. Fauci to see how Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis was able to open schools and businesses, one cant help but wonder why they havent done the same.

James Buonanno

Bethlehem
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Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-17 14:37:45|Editor: huaxia

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NEW DELHI, March 17 (Xinhua) -- Five people, including four from a family, were killed as they fell into a septic tank in India's northern state of Uttar Pradesh, police said Wednesday.

The incident took place in Fatehabad area of Agra, about 297 km west of Lucknow, the capital city of Uttar Pradesh.

"Yesterday at Pratappura village here a 10-year-old boy fell into the septic tank while playing. Four other people jumped into the tank to save him but drowned," a police official said. "Four of the deceased were from a single family."

Though villagers brought them out from the tank and took them to the hospital, however, doctors there declared them brought dead.

The deaths triggered panic in the area.

Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has expressed grief over the incident and announced a monetary compensation of 2,755 U.S. dollars to the victim families. Enditem
A man with a mental health condition has brought a High Court challenge against a decision to extend his detention at a psychiatric facility.

The man, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, claims that proper reasons were not given by the Mental Health Tribunal why his detention was extended to July of this year.

The man who is aged in his late thirties, suffers from paranoid schizophrenia and has been an involuntary patient for the last two years on foot of orders made under the 2001 Mental Health Act.

He has a history of being a voluntary and involuntary patient, and the events that led to his most recent admission as an involuntary patient occurred when he went off his medication, became paranoid, and hallucinations hearing voices, as well as thoughts of burning down his home.

The court heard that the man has been stable and well since being admitted to the medical facility he is currently located. However, there are concerns about his discharged into the community.

Those orders have been renewed on a number of occasions since he was first admitted by a three-person Mental Health Tribunals, which are appointed by the Mental Health Commission.

Following a hearing earlier this year, the Tribunal's members decided on a 2 to 1 majority to renew the orders that he be kept at the facility as an involuntary patient till next July.

The matter can be reviewed again in May, the court heard.

In High Court proceedings against the Tribunal the man claims that no proper reasons were given by the Tribunal for its decision.

Ciaran Craven SC for the man told the court that arising out of the hearing his client simply does not know what he requires to do in order to secure his release.

In his proceedings against the Mental Health Tribunal the man seeks various reliefs including an order quashing the tribunal's decision to extend his detention at the facility.

He also seeks declarations from the court including that the tribunal's failure to give reasons for its decision amounts to a breach of the man's rights to natural and Constitutional justice, and was unreasonable and irrational.

The Mental Health Commission is a notice party to the application.

The application came before Mr Justice Charles Meenan at Monday's sitting of the High Court.

The judge, on an ex-parte basis, directed that the application for leave to bring the challenge made in the presence of lawyers for the respondent.

The judge adjourned the case for a week.

Without specifically calling it a prototype or concept, the Japanese automaker claims were dealing with a bold illustration of just how much attitude a small car can have. With this prologue, Toyota reimagines how the A-segment could be spiced up.Of course, with the dwindling interest for the urban car category, its no wonder Toyota has chosen a bold path as it continues to carry the torch alonethe next generation Aygo wont be related to a Peugeot or Citroen anymore.So, everything about the Aygo X prologue, a car that has been styled near Nice, on the French Cote dAzur by ED (the companys European design studio), has been outlined for one purpose alone: to stand out in any crowd.Case in point, the dual-tone Sparkling Chilli Red paint job (which even includes a fine sprinkling of blue metallic flake in the mix), or the equally spicy treatment of the design elements. Theyre a taste of things to come on the little Aygo, which is moving to the same TNGA-B platform as the fourth-generation Yaris.Better yet, Toyota promises the Aygo will be practical and ready for tomorrows free spirits, as the X prologue comes with a few interesting features that hopefully will make the cut for the production version as well. Among them, an action camera integrated into the side mirrors, the rear skid plate housing a bicycle-holder mount, or the integrated roof rack.Unfortunately, the automaker hasnt provided any specific details about the powertrain, and were not even given a glimpse of the interior. Moreover, we don't have a clue as to when the Aygo X prologue will morph into the third-generation of the Aygo urban dweller.
Yesterday, Joy News published a story on its website with the title Ghanaians to pay tax for COVID-19 Free Water enjoyed to fill the economic gap and falsely attributed it to the Minister of Information, Hon. Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah ostensibly to give a propaganda message to the NDC to unduly attack the government as we have seen them do since the story was published.



At the outset, it must be stated that the story is misleading and does not capture the comments of the Minister within the exact context he made them, thereby giving a false impression altogether. Let me hasten to add that this unprofessional conduct of misreporting the Minister has been a persistent ploy by Joy News to cause undue disaffection for the Government and the Honorable Minister has complained about this severally yet Joy News has been adamant about it.



To understand the deliberate misreporting by Joy News, I have transcribed the relevant part of the interview between the Minister and Joy News Journalist, Evans Mensah below:



Host: But you gave us that (free electricity and water) one hand and you are taking it with the other.



Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah: No! We were in the midst of a crisis and the government had to front-load{host interjects}



Host: But you said its free



Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah: It was free to you (Ghanaians) but it wasnt free to the treasury. When we say free electricity, it doesnt mean the IPP producer is also going to say because the President said free electricity I wont charge the people for it{Host interjects}.



Host: The people will have to pay for it



{Minister retorts}Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah: the government will have to pay for it



{Host interjects}Host: Im saying you are now, in 2021, you now want us to pay for it?



Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah: Im saying, for example, the government had to borrow money, the fiscal impact of over ghc19 billion to make all those expenses happen. In addition to that, there is going to be expenses in the medium term because of COVID.



The government is asking a question, can we continue to accommodate this COVID black hole in this already widened gab (revenue and expenditure) of our finances or do we have to introduce a revenue handle to take care of it?



The government comes to the view that, with the greatest of respect, can we take 1% VAT to pay for that so COVID does not become an ever burdening expenditure item for us.



Objective Commentary



The context within which the Minister made his submission on the 1% COVID-19 tax was the generally accepted view that borrowing to run a country is not sustainable and government must take steps to raise domestic revenue. The Minister touched on the lack of boldness on the part of politicians, on both side of the divide, to educate the population that government needs money at this critical time and we cant bury ourselves in debt financing so the rich must pay a little more taxes to enable government to pursue a vigorous economic recovery program.



There was nowhere in the interview that the Minister intimated that taxes are being increased to pay for the free electricity and water enjoyed by Ghanaians in 2020. The defining parts of the interview relative to weather government is taxing Ghanaians to pay for the free electricity and water they enjoyed in 2020 are two and are:1. When the Minister categorically answered the host that No, government has borrowed money to pay for those expenses already; its a fact that government received Rapid Credit Facility from IMF and World bank as well as Bank of Ghana to pay for COVID-19 related expenses.



Government also utilized part of the monies in the stabilization fund for said purposes.2. When the Minister said that COVID-19 related expenses is going to be with us at least for the medium term and it wouldnt be healthy for our economy if we continue to borrow to make those expenses and not raise domestic revenue by taxing the rich a little more.



Government, in response to COVID-19, is making substantial recurrent and capital expenditures. For instance, government will continue to buy PPEs for health workers, procure Vaccines periodically etc. Also, government intend to undertake the biggest investment in the health sector at the back of COVID-19  building 111 Hospitals including 3 Infectious Disease Control Centers.



These are huge expenditures that will be done in the short to medium term and that is why government is raising COVID-19 related taxes. It worth reiterating that the Minister never said that Ghanaians are being taxed for the free electricity and water they enjoyed in 2020. Ghanaians are being made to pay COVID-19 related tax because government needs to:1.



Build 111 Hospital including 3 Infectious Disease Control Centers2. Buy PPEs, Vaccines and other stuff needed to fight the pandemic.3. Close the expenditure and revenue gap4. Keep the debt stock within sustainable limit.





Cheers #Presidoo







Charles Opoku  (Eastern Regional TESCON Coordinator)





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 Ministry of Health has extended the interval between doses of COVID-19 Covishield vaccine to 90 days, minor changes will be made to the national vaccination plan.

As chief sanitary doctor, Deputy Minister of Health Viktor Liashko told reporters, the changes were made on the recommendations of the National Technical Group of Experts on Immunoprophylaxis.

Liashko said that according to the results of clinical studies and vaccination practice, the intervals between the first and second vaccine doses were also recommended to be increased to 12 weeks by NTGEI of Canada, Germany, and France.

"Taking into account the position of the NTGEI and the results of international studies, the operational headquarters of the Ministry of Health decided that in order to achieve the maximum level of immune protection when using the vaccine from Oxford/AstraZeneca (CoviShield) produced by Serum Institute of India and SK Bioscience, it is advisable to increase the initial interval between doses. This does not contradict the manufacturer's instructions, which provides for such an interval within 4-12 weeks," Liashko said.

At the same time, he said that the implementation of this recommendation of the NTGEI will require the Ministry of Health to slightly adjust the approaches to the vaccination campaign at the first stages and make changes to the national vaccination plan.

"Already today, March 17, a conference call with the regions is planned to clarify the details of the implementation of this recommendation," Liashko said.

As reported, currently in Ukraine, vaccination against COVID-19 is carried out with the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine, which is produced at the facilities of the Serum Institute (India) and has the local (trade) name of Covishield. The vaccine is supplied to Ukraine in ten-dose vials. After opening the vial, the vaccine must be used within six hours.

As of Wednesday morning, 71,922 people were vaccinated with the first dose of CoviShield vaccine in Ukraine.
BARCELONA, Spain (AP)  Scores of migrants have been rescued from several boats near Spains Canary Islands, with 14  many suffering from hypothermia  requiring hospitalization, authorities said Wednesday. A baby girl was in critical condition, while one person was reported to have died at sea and the body thrown overboard by other migrants.

Spains Maritime Rescue Service rescued the 84 passengers of two boats Wednesday, and 52 from one more late Tuesday, near the island of Gran Canaria. Another boat was spotted near the island of Lanzarote Wednesday and a rescue operation was under way.

Among the sub-Saharan Africans rescued Tuesday evening south of the island of Gran Canaria were 29 women and nine children in poor health. The group told rescuers they had been at sea in the Atlantic Ocean for five days. Upon disembarkation, Red Cross medics immediately performed resuscitating maneuvers on a baby girl, Inigo Vila head of Red Cross Emergency Unit told the Associated Press.

The child was in critical condition and three other women in serious condition, the local health department said. In total nine children and five adults were hospitalized.

On Wednesday, another three migrant boats were spotted near the Canaries by Spains Maritime Rescue Service. A spokeswoman said passengers in one vessel that was found with 36 on board told rescuers that one more person had died during the journey and that they had thrown the corpse into the sea. Spains Maritime Rescue Service had previously received alerts for around 200 people on four different migrant boats. It was unclear whether the migrants rescued Tuesday and the ones found Wednesday were among those they had been searching for.

The Spanish archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean has become the main route for West African and Moroccan migrants and asylum-seekers trying to reach Europe. Around 2,600 people have survived the dangerous crossing and reached the Canaries by boat so far this year.

In 2020, some 23,000 people successfully crossed while 849 were reported dead or missing according to the U.N.s migration agency Missing Migrants Project.

___

Follow APs global migration coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/migration
Criminal proceedings on the fact of illegal imprisonment of an employee of Radio Liberty, the Krym.Realii (Crimea. Realities) project, on the territory of the temporarily occupied Crimea peninsula, has begun under the procedural guidance of the Prosecutor's Office of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, press secretary of the Prosecutor's Office of the ARC Kateryna Didenko said.

"The actions of the occupational 'law enforcement officers' are qualified under part 2 of Article 146 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (illegal imprisonment). The sanction of the article provides for punishment in form of restriction of freedom for up to five years or imprisonment for the same period. The pretrial investigation will be carried out by the Main Directorate of the National Police in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol," Didenko wrote on her Facebook page.

As reported, the Public Relations Center of the Federal Security Service (FSB) of the Russian Federation reported that on March 10, a citizen of the Russian Federation Vladyslav Yesypenko was detained in Crimea, collecting information on the instructions of Ukrainian intelligence: he photographed and filmed places of mass stay of people and life support facilities. An object 'with external signs of an improvised explosive device' was found in Yesypenko's car.

"According to the detainee Yesypenko, he collected the above information in the interests of the special services of Ukraine on the instructions of officer of current reserve of the 8th section of the 5th department of the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine, Colonel Kravchuk, and, on his recommendation, he kept an improvised explosive device in the car to ensure his own safety," the FSB reported.

A number of Russian publications also reported Yesypenko's Ukrainian citizenship and that he is a journalist for the Krym.Realii portal, a project of the Ukrainian service of Radio Liberty.

At the same time, the Krym.Realii in its publications does not name Yesypenko as its employee. According to the newspaper, Yesypenko is a native of Kryvy Rih in Dnipropetrovsk region and was detained together with Alushta resident Yelyzaveta Pavlenko, with whom he was present on March 9 at the rally dedicated to the birthday of Taras Shevchenko in Simferopol.

The Krym.Realii citing its own sources, reports that Pavlenko and Yesypenko were detained in the afternoon of March 10 at the Angarsk pass by FSB officers wearing masks, but later Pavlenko was taken home, where a search was carried out, and her equipment and personal belongings were seized. Yesypenko was taken away in an unknown direction, and as of the morning of March 12, it became known that he was in a temporary detention center in Simferopol.

The Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine (SVR) said that the information spread about the alleged exposure of the intelligence activities of the Ukrainian special services in the occupied Crimea is untrue and "aims to create an appropriate background for holding an informal meeting of the UN Security Council on Crimean issues initiated by the Russian Federation on March 17." The SVR regarded the spread of such information as a propaganda action on the eve of the Crimea occupation anniversary.
Intelligent.com, a trusted resource for online degree rankings and higher education planning, has announced the Top 46 Colleges In Maryland for 2021. The comprehensive research guide is based on an assessment of 196 accredited colleges and universities in the nation. Each institution is evaluated based on curriculum quality, graduation rate, reputation, and post-graduate employment.

The 2021 rankings are calculated through a unique scoring system which includes student engagement, potential return on investment and leading third party evaluations. Intelligent.com analyzed 196 schools, on a scale of 0 to 100, with only 46 making it to the final list. The methodology also uses an algorithm which collects and analyzes multiple rankings into one score to easily compare each school.

To access the complete ranking, please visit: https://www.intelligent.com/best-colleges-in-maryland/

2021 Top Colleges In Maryland featured on Intelligent.com (in alphabetical order):

Allegany College of Maryland

Anne Arundel Community College

Baltimore City Community College

Baltimore Hebrew University

Bowie State University

Capitol Technology University

Carroll Community College

Cecil College North East

Chesapeake College

College of Southern Maryland

Community College of Baltimore County

Coppin State University

Fortis College

Frederick Community College

Frostburg State University

Garrett College

Goucher College

Hagerstown Community College

Harford Community College

Hood College

Howard Community College

Johns Hopkins University

Loyola University Maryland

Maryland Institute College of Art

Maryland University of Integrative Health

McDaniel College

Montgomery College

Morgan State University

Mount Saint Mary's University

Notre Dame of Maryland University

Prince George's Community College

Saint Mary's College of Maryland

Salisbury University

St. Johns College

Stevenson University

Strayer University

Towson University

United States Naval Academy

University of Baltimore

University of Maryland

University of Maryland

University of Maryland, Baltimore County

University of Maryland, Eastern Shore

University of Maryland Global Campus

Washington Adventist University

Washington College

About Intelligent.com

Intelligent.com provides unbiased research to help students make informed decisions about higher education programs. The website offers curated guides which include the best degree programs as well as information about financial aid, internships and even study strategies. With comprehensive, user-friendly guides and hundreds of program rankings, Intelligent.com is a trusted source among students and prospective students. To learn more, please visit https://www.intelligent.com/.
A new analysis suggests Earth may have been a water world three to four billion years ago with a global ocean large enough to have submerged Mount Everest.

Scientists at Harvard University examined our planet's ancient mantle and found that in ages past it was four times hotter due to radioactivity, and would therefore not be able to hold the current amount of water.

'We find that water storage capacity in a hot, early mantle may have been smaller than the amount of water Earth's mantle currently holds, so the additional water in the mantle today would have resided on the surface of the early Earth and formed bigger oceans,' according to the study published in AGU.

However, the planet eventual began to cool, allowing minerals deep inside the mantle to slowly isolate the ancient ocean  leaving behind the land seen today.

Scroll down for video

A new analysis suggests Earth may have been a water world three to four billion years ago with a global ocean large enough to submerge Mount Everest (stock)

The idea of Earth being a water world has been used as the plot of many stories and even the 1995 film Waterworld.

The theory has also been a topic among the scientific community that has been decades investigating it.

And Harvard scientists looked deep underground to find an answer.

The mantle, which sits between Earth's super-heated core and the crust, is more than 1,800 miles thick and makes up 84 percent of our planet's total volume.

Scientists at Harvard University examined our planet's ancient mantle and found it was four times hotter due to radioactivity, which proposes it could not hold the current amount of water

The thick layer was warmed by radioactivity billions of years ago, which would have inhibited minerals from holding a vast amount of oxygen and hydrogen as they do today.

Planetary scientist Junjie Dong told Science Magazine: 'That suggests the water must have been somewhere else.'

'And the most likely reservoir is the surface.'

The team focused on high-pressure forms of volcanic minerals found in the mantle that store water  olivine, hydrous wadsleyite and ringwoodite.

Current samples of each were collected, which the team determined hydrous wadsleyite contains about three percent water and ringwoodite around one percent.

Previous work exposed hydrous wadsleyite and ringwoodite to intense pressure and temperatures found in the modern-day mantle to understand each one's water storage capacity, Science Alert reports.

However, the planet eventual began to cool, allowing minerals deep inside the mantle to slowly isolate the ancient ocean  leaving behind the land seen today

Building off from this research, Dong and his team used the available mineral physics data and calculated the water storage capacity for the two under a range of temperatures and pressures - including those said to have existed billions of years ago.

Researchers found that both have lower storage capacities when under intense temperatures, which was the case when Earth formed 4.54 billion years ago.

And the results mean our current mantle has a higher water storage capacity than previously.

In the case of olivine minerals, it was determined that more were crystallized in the Earth's mantle over billions of years and also helped the mantle retain more water.

'The bulk water storage capacity of Earth's solid mantle was significantly affected by secular cooling due to its constituent minerals' temperaturedependent storage capacities,' researchers wrote in the study.
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Illinois is currently under phase four of Pritzkers plan, which allows gatherings of 50 people or fewer and for colleges to resume in-person classes in accordance with state health department guidance. All capacity caps would be lifted once the state or individual regions move into phase five, but its not clear when that will happen or if additional precautions will be introduced.
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"Don is a seasoned homebuilding executive who has led our Alberta teams and business successfully through some extraordinarily challenging market conditions and has done an excellent job for the company," says Mr. Bass. "His background is truly unique, and we are excited that we will be able to continue to benefit from his wealth of industry experience and leadership skills."

Before joining Mattamy in 2013, Mr. Barrineau spent the bulk of his 25-year career in the Texas homebuilding industry, including a wide variety of functional and Division President roles with Cal South Corporation, Centex Homes, City Homes and KB Homes. Don has a degree from Texas A&M University where he studied Business Management and Architecture.

"I'm really excited about returning to the United States and joining the Mattamy Phoenix team. It's going to be a great opportunity to work with a high-performing team in one of the best cities in the country," says Mr. Barrineau. "I am most looking forward to continuing the amazing work that our Phoenix team is doing in providing the best homebuying experience for our customers."

About Mattamy Homes

Mattamy Homes is the largest privately owned homebuilder in North America, with 40-plus years of history across the United States and Canada. Every year, Mattamy helps more than 8,000 families realize their dream of home ownership. In the United States, the company is represented in 11 markets  Dallas, Charlotte, Raleigh, Phoenix, Tucson, Jacksonville, Orlando (where its US head office is located), Tampa, Sarasota, Naples and Southeast Florida  and in Canada, its communities stretch across the Greater Toronto Area, as well as in Ottawa, Calgary and Edmonton. Visit www.mattamyhomes.com for more information.

SOURCE Mattamy Homes Limited

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There may still yet be a glimmer of hope to save River Oaks Theatre, Houston.

In an eleventh-hour effort to rescue the iconic River Oaks venue, talks have resumed between Landmark Theatres and Weingarten Realty. The 1939 Art Deco-style theater is slated to close on March 31, ending its 82-year run in Houston if a deal isn't struck soon between renter and landowner.

On Tuesday, Weingarten released a statement revealing that there had been progress underway in current negotiations:

"Weingarten Realty has been in communication with Landmark over the past couple of days. We have offered to forgive the rent past due during the time the theater was forced to close and we are willing to work out a 24-month repayment plan for the balance. We look forward to their response.

'HOUSTON'S HISTORY IS NOT FOR SALE': Protestors rally to save River Oaks Theatre

Last week, Los Angeles-based arthouse cinema chain Landmark Theatres revealed that talks had stalled with the realty group.

"Landmark Theatres is disappointed to announce that there has been no response or acknowledgment of the revised proposal we submitted to Weingarten Realty this week. In good faith, we presented a fair and reasonable proposal and asked for a response by close of business today. Unfortunately, there has been no response or even acknowledgement of this proposal, leaving us no choice, but continue with our preparation to leave our beloved home of 30 years."

The cherished cinema won't go without a fight, which is being led by local film buffs, according to Houston Film Critic's Doug Harris. Last Saturday, hundreds of River Oaks Theatre fans rallied in support of "Operation: Save Houston Cinema." Many bought tickets to screenings of "The Father" to show their support. On March 7, more than 100 protesters lined West Gray in front of River Oaks Theatre in Rocky Horror costumes to express their support for the venue.

"I can't imagine that continued overtures to the Mayor's Office and Weingarten Realty won't go unappreciated and unnoticed. We need to pressure the people that may have the chance to save this theatre," Harris said.

Harris echoed that River Oaks Theatre was a treasured asset and cultural icon for Houston. It is Houston's last remaining vintage theatre specializing in independent arthouse films, foreign movies and documentaries.

"The theatre is a lifestyle component of the 77019 zipcode," Harris told Chron. "There ought to be more for this than just collecting a check."
Taipei: In the latest move by China to promote its coronavirus vaccines and flex its soft power, Beijing will offer some foreigners inoculated with Chinese-made doses conveniences when applying for entry into the country.

Notices of the new policy to resume people-to-people exchanges between China and other countries have been issued by Chinese embassies or consulates in the Philippines, Japan, Thailand, Germany, Italy, the United States, Israel and India. The announcements said China would simplify the application process for those with certificates proving they had been given a Chinese vaccine.

The idea mimics interest in some other countries to develop so-called vaccine passports, or a mechanism for verifying and offering certain privileges to vaccinated travellers.

A Southern China Airlines flight from Guangzhou, arrives at Vancouver International Airport in Canada. Travelling to China will become easier with proof of Chinese vaccination. Credit:AP

It also is in keeping with Beijings ongoing efforts to use its coronavirus vaccines for diplomacy, to extend spheres of influence and deepen economic ties. These overtures, however, have hit snags, with some countries hesitant to take the Chinese-made vaccines due to Beijings lack of transparency around their development.
New Delhi:

After the Supreme Court nullified last months election, Kenyas president Uhuru Kenyatta on Saturday promised to fix the judicial system. As the country prepares for a new presidential vote, he warned the chief justice and judiciary not to interfere with the electoral commission.

The president once again accused the apex court of overturning the will of the people. It is to be noted that he was declared the winner of the August 8 election.

Calling for a new election within 60 days, the court on Friday said that the electoral commission had committed irregularities in the vote.

The countrys judiciary has a problem and his administration will revisit the issue once it is re-elected, Kenyatta said.

Opposition leader Raila Odinga had petitioned the court challenging Kenyattas win, claiming manipulation. He now wants the electoral commission disbanded.

(With PTI inputs)

ALSO READ: Uhuru Kenyatta wins second term as Kenyan President with 54.27 percent vote in elections

For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
[March 17, 2021] Ricardo Defense awarded a sole-source contract valued at over $89M to deliver 9,480 ABS/ESC retrofit kits to US Army

The Army today awarded Ricardo Defense a base contract to provide up to 9,480 critical safety improvement Antilock Brake System / Electronic Stability Control (ABS/ ESC (News - Alert) ) retrofit kits over the next three years for the U.S. Army's High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV). The first delivery order, under the three-year base contract, will include $10M to deliver 1,200 ABS (News - Alert) /ESC retrofit kits by August 2021. A second delivery order is expected later this year to increase deliveries to approximately 2,000 ABS/ESC retrofit kits over the next 12 months. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210317005179/en/ High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV) (Photo: Business Wire) Historical data presented by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) indicates that the application of ABS and ESC reduces the number of fatal rollovers by 74%, and fatal impacts by 45%. Today's initial award marks the beginning of a multi-year contract for Ricardo Defense to improve the safety and operational readiness of the fielded HMMWV fleet for U.S. soldiers and HMMWV operators worldwide. Chet Gryczan, president of Ricardo Defense said: "This is a significant milestone and strong example of Ricardo Dfense's commitment to provide solutions to meet the tough challenges facing our customers and ensure the safety of our men and women in uniform. In fielding this system, we are tremendously proud to contribute to the Army's commitment to the safety of our soldiers and civilians alike."



The HMMWV is projected to remain in the U.S. Army's fleet until 2050. In 2018, the Army mandated that all new HMMWVs coming off the new vehicle production line must have the ABS/ESC system installed. Since July 2018, more than 5,000 new production or Recapitalized HMMWV vehicles have been delivered to the US Army with Ricardo's ABS/ESC technology. In 2019, the Army provisioned Ricardo's ABS/ESC retrofit kit into the national stock system for retrofit of vehicles not addressed during new production or Recapitalization. This dual-approach ensures that all HMMWVs in the enduring fleet are eventually fit with the ABS/ESC rollover mitigation technology. A spokesperson for the U.S. Army, Product Director Light Tactical Vehicles said, "The ABS/ESC retrofit contract award is a culmination of a lot of great work from all parties, and is an essential step in providing this critical safety solution to our fielded HMMWV fleet. We are extremely proud of the Army's collaboration with Ricardo Defense to provide an affordable and attainable solution that significantly reduces loss of control incidents, vehicle rollover incidents, and ultimately helps save lives."

Red River Army Depot, in partnership with Ricardo Defense, will complete ABS/ESC retrofit installations at the Army's Center of Industrial and Technical Excellence for tactical wheeled vehicles in Texarkana, Texas and at regional sites across the U.S. beginning in March 2021. ENDS About Ricardo Ricardo plc is a world-class environmental, engineering and strategic consulting company listed on the London Stock Exchange. With over 100 years of engineering excellence, we provide exceptional levels of expertise in delivering leading edge and innovative cross sector sustainable products and solutions, helping our global customers increase efficiencies, achieve growth and create a clear and safer future. Our mission is clear -- to create a world fit for the future. For more information visit www.ricardo.com About Ricardo Defense, Inc Ricardo Defense Inc. is a Ricardo subsidiary delivering high-value system engineering, mission critical software, vehicle builds, and safety-critical products to the US Department of Defense as well as governments and defense industry suppliers world-wide. Ricardo Defense is a recognized leader in the integration of complex systems and acquisition planning and system support services for major defense programs around the globe. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210317005179/en/

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YEREVAN, MARCH 17, ARMENPRESS. A parliamentary committee approved Vice Speaker Alen Simonyans (ruling My Step bloc) amendments on decreasing the heavy fines for public defamation and insults envisaged by his relevant bill which had already passed first reading in parliament.

Simonyans original bill envisaged up to 5,000,000 drams and up to 10,000,000 drams for anyone convicted of insults and defamation respectively.

But now, Simonyan decreased the maximum fines to 3,000,000 drams and 6,000,000 drams for the second reading. He said the change is made as a result of discussions with colleagues.

But the Deputy Minister of Justice Vahe Danielyan sought to decrease the amount of the fines even lower. He cited several judgments of the ECHR, which note that heavy sanctions inadvertently lead to the public or journalists in particular not discussing certain issues of interest. Simonyan, however, rejected the governments proposal and his amendments were approved by the committee.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan
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Britain's first shared bank branches are set to open their doors this spring. Mass branch closures have left scores of towns and villages without access to vital banking services.

Experts hope the new bank hubs will provide a lifeline for customers and small businesses in some of the worst-hit areas.

They will offer counter services run by the Post Office where customers with any bank will be able to deposit cheques, pay bills and withdraw cash.

Shared bank branches will offer counter services run by the Post Office where customers with any bank will be able to deposit cheques, pay bills and withdraw cash

There will be self-service machines which small businesses can use to deposit takings. Major banks will also take turns to offer face-to-face appointments in meeting rooms.

Some banks may require customers to make appointments in advance, while others may run a drop-in service.

The first three bank hubs will be opened in Ampthill in Bedfordshire, Cambuslang in Lanarkshire and Rochford in Essex.

Details of the exact whereabouts and opening hours are expected by the end of March, with the hubs scheduled to open once lockdown has eased in April.

The locations were chosen as part of the Community Access to Cash Pilots initiative, which was launched to help find a solution to Britain's cash crisis.

Millions are still reliant on cash. Yet around 432 branches and 3,300 free-use cash machines have closed since the start of last year, according to Which? And increasing numbers of shops are refusing cash amid virus fears.

The scheme is also trialling cashback schemes in local shops and cash collection services, installing new ATMs and refurbishing Post Offices so it is easier for customers to carry out banking transactions.

Natalie Ceeney, chair of the Community Access to Cash Pilots, said: 'There is growing recognition that we need to work together to keep cash sustainable. We've been working really hard over the past months to set up new ways to help communities access cash.

'Without action, our cash infrastructure will collapse, as bank branches and ATMs close across the UK.'

The pilots run until September. It is then hoped they will be rolled out more widely.

The Treasury pledged to introduce new laws to protect cash last year. But despite regular meetings with banks, regulators and consumer groups, no action has yet been taken.
Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

European Union chief Ursula von der Leyen on Wednesday insisted the bloc remained on course to vaccinate 70 percent of adults against coronavirus by the end of summer, despite delivery shortfalls.

"We know that we can achieve our target to have 70 percent of the adult population fully vaccinated by the end of the summer," the European Commission president told journalists.

"We know that deliveries will increase in the second quarter."

Von der Leyen said the EU was set to receive 55 million shots of the single-dose Johnson & Johnson jab between April and June after a green light from regulators last week.

The bloc can also "rely on" getting 200 million doses from BioNtech/Pfizer and another 35 million doses from Moderna during that period, she said.

The EU is facing a dramatic reduction in the number of doses due to be delivered by AstraZeneca throughout the second quarter, she said, with the total only set to reach 70 million as opposed to the expected 180 million.

But von der Leyen insisted that despite this gap the number of vaccines available would still be enough to reach Brussels' target.

"In Q2 we are expecting 300 million doses at least, and if you're not very conservative then that number could go up," she said.

"We are on a steep and reliable path, but I think we should aim at moving on faster and delivering more and better."

The EU has faced a stuttering start to its campaign to inoculate the population of 450 million people and lagged behind the likes of Israel, the United States and the United Kingdom.

The European Commission, which took responsibility for ordering the vaccines for the entire bloc, has faced intense criticism over delivery shortages.

Overall the 27 nations are set to receive 100 million doses in the first three months of this year, after AstraZeneca slashed its promise from 90 to 30 million, von der Leyen said.

Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak

 2021 AFP
OTTAWA - The Mounties have enforced racist and discriminatory legislation and policies, with some incidents leaving generational scars, and they should do better in the future, RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki said Wednesday.

RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki listens to a question during a news conference in Ottawa on October 21, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

OTTAWA - The Mounties have enforced racist and discriminatory legislation and policies, with some incidents leaving generational scars, and they should do better in the future, RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki said Wednesday.

"As an institution of the government we acknowledge that the RCMP is obviously part of social structures and systems that have perpetuated racism in Canada," Lucki told a virtual forum on First Nations policing hosted by the Assembly of First Nations.

"I am completely committed to reconciliation, both as an individual and as the commissioner of the RCMP."

The national police force is at the beginning of a very long journey to regain the confidence of First Nations, she said, noting that developing a respectful relationship is going to take time.

"Building trust is a shared journey but it's also bigger than words," she said. "We have to show actions. Then we have to work hard together to build and maintain relationships based on trust."

Last October, AFN National Chief Perry Bellegarde said he had "lost confidence" in Lucki after months of unrest and urged Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to replace her. This came as the RCMP faced heavy criticism for its response to violence toward a disputed Mi'kmaq moderate livelihood lobster fishery in Nova Scotia.

Lucki had already faced calls for her resignation earlier last year, when she said in an interview that she believed there is "unconscious bias'' in the RCMP but she was "struggling with the definition of systemic racism.'' She later reversed herself in a written statement that said systemic racism does exist, though she had trouble citing examples.

Those remarks came at a time when there was an outcry over violence against Indigenous people in encounters with police, alongside a renewed focus on racism following the death of George Floyd, a Black man, at the hands of police in Minneapolis.

On Wednesday, Bellegarde said there is a need to work with the RCMP to ensure policing is beneficial for Indigenous people.

He said the RCMP should adopt a zero-tolerance policy for excessive use of force by members, as well as put in place better recruitment processes and proper training on de-escalating confrontations.

"It means a policy change," Bellegarde said.

Bellegarde also called on the federal government to strengthen civilian oversight for the RCMP and provide the necessary human and financial resources to deal with complaints about the Mounties. He also said there should be "incentives to keep experienced people in the communities rather than the inexperienced young rookies coming in."

Bellegarde noted the marching orders contained in the mandate letter that Public Safety Minister Bill Blair received from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on tackling systemic inequities involving the RCMP and the communities it serves. These also include unconscious-bias training, body-worn cameras and a move to community-led policing.

"RCMP need to work with our people in order to bring that about," Bellegarde said.

Lucki said the Mounties are focused on thoughtful action based on what they have been hearing in conversations with advisory groups, Indigenous communities and Indigenous employees.

"As part of our plan, the RCMP in each province and territory are using a trauma-informed approach to co-develop reconciliation strategies," she said, adding there are also courses on cultural awareness and humility, along with anti-racism training.

She said learning is really just one step on the path of reconciliation.

"We have a new Indigenous lived experience advisory group, which is now providing us with advice on how to advance reconciliation and address systemic racism issues," she said.

"We're partnering with Indigenous women's groups, initiating an equity, diversity and inclusion strategy. And we are now in the midst of formalizing a brand new office for RCMP indigenous collaboration, co-development and accountability."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 17, 2021.

This story was produced with the financial assistance of the Facebook and Canadian Press News Fellowship.
Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images for The Recording Academy

No matter how much editing Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion did to WAP, it was never going to be enough for Fox News. The rappers cleaned up their filthy hit just enough to perform it on March 14s Grammys, even bleeping out such suggestive phrases as bucket and little dangly thing  along with, of course, the titular phrase. Still, they gave Fox News something to talk about the following night, with Candace Owens telling Tucker Carlson the WAP performance contributed to a weakening of American society. (No, WAP doesnt actually stand for Weakened American Public.) Yaaaayyyyyyy WE MADE FOX NEWS GUYS !!! Cardi tweeted in response to a clip of Owenss appearance. Matter fact Im just going to thank Candy, Cardi added in another tweet. She put my performance on Fox News giving it more views that boosted the views on YouTube and is counting towards my streams and sales  STREAM UP AND WAP. In another response to the Fox clip, Cardi added, Wow. Imagine if WAP caused the downfall of the American empire and not North Korea bomb threats, terrorism, racism, or bad government? !! THAT WOULD BE SO ICONIC !!!

Yaaaayyyyyyy WE MADE FOX NEWS GUYS !!! Wap wap wap https://t.co/g7AX947RMb  iamcardib (@iamcardib) March 16, 2021

Matter fact Im just going to thank Candy. She put my performance on Fox News giving it more views that boosted the views on YouTube and is counting towards my streams and sales  STREAM UP AND WAP .REMEMBER GROWN PARENTS ONLY YOU CAN MONITOR WHAT YOUR KIDS WATCH NO1 ELSE.  iamcardib (@iamcardib) March 16, 2021

Wow .Imagine if wap caused the downfall of the American empire and not North Korea bomb threats , terrorism, racism or bad government? !! THAT WOULD BE SO ICONIC !!! STREAM UP / WAP https://t.co/raiJhaw9JU  iamcardib (@iamcardib) March 16, 2021

Eventually, Cardis tweets made their way to Candy herself. Candy accused Cardi  calling her by her birth name, Belcalis  of encouraging young women to strip themselves of dignity, in a quote tweet. I dont know why Candy is so bothered by WAP. I was just inspired by our former First Lady, Cardi tweeted in response, with a nude-model photo of Melania Trump she scribble-censored over. When Candy then asked about Cardis obsession with the Trump family, Cardi replied, Im obsessed shes my idol  She showed me I can be naked, perform WAP, and still be a First Lady one day !

I dont know why candy is so bothered by WAP.I was just inspired by our former First Lady . Anyways congrats on your new show I hope you speak more about WAP I need it to reach a new Audience to go 6x platinum.Any exposure will help .Love you candy STREAM UP. pic.twitter.com/xX03q6YosN  iamcardib (@iamcardib) March 16, 2021

Im obsessed shes my idol  She showed me I can be naked perform wap and still be a First Lady one day ! ....wait so only White women can be naked and show their sexuality and evolve in their 30s but I cant ? Wow America is soo unfair .To think this was the land of the free. https://t.co/f36x5a7H3H  iamcardib (@iamcardib) March 16, 2021

As of press time, Cardi and Candys back-and-forth is still going strong. Not even an old Candy tweet about Cardi can put this beef to bed (although she was right, Cardi does believe in freedom). If you need us, well be streaming WAP and Up and awaiting the day we get First Lady Cardi B.

Candy stop blaming my label for me being sexual .Before I got signed to a label I was very much open to my https://t.co/0hLsSs1jr4 knew I was https://t.co/ZnDzQAx4wb WATCHED ME in love & hip hop .You knew all of that yet you still ENDORSE ME ON THIS TWEET .YOU DID ! Case close ! https://t.co/uUq99l76YF pic.twitter.com/UdxRmVXaKa  iamcardib (@iamcardib) March 16, 2021

Update 9 P.M.: The fight has taken a weird turn. Candy has threatened to sue Cardi for posting a Photoshopped tweet in which Candy wrote that her husband cheated on her with her brother. In response, Cardi claimed that the tweet wasnt Photoshopped, to which Candy replied that she would be 100% suing Cardi over the slander against her brother, a private citizen. Cardi then threatened to countersue Candy for claiming that Cardi and her team Photoshopped the tweet.

Not you talking about two women thrusting their vaginas together while your husband and brother slap cocks and balls together .WELL WOULD YOU LOOK AT THAT !wow https://t.co/SvbnEXOOQF pic.twitter.com/kzzS6nVww9  iamcardib (@iamcardib) March 16, 2021

I am literally laughing out loud.

Cardi. My dear.

That is clearly a photoshopped tweet.





Only one of us has a husband that sleeps around. https://t.co/Mq7gbUFSDj  Candace Owens (@RealCandaceO) March 16, 2021

This wasnt photoshopped you was trending the whole day when you tweeted this and it was published on a lot of blog outlets .Your right mine sleeps around yours sleeps at yours sleep at your home with your brother COCK BOXING while you tweet me. https://t.co/F0F51IPspf  iamcardib (@iamcardib) March 16, 2021

What the actual hell are you talking about?

Are you dead serious right now trying to substantiate a photoshopped tweet?

Asking one more time before I get the lawyers to make you publicly admit youre lying and embarrass yourself. https://t.co/aiBOghhcv6  Candace Owens (@RealCandaceO) March 16, 2021

FYI I DO have a brother, a private citizen, who you are slandering right now with this photoshopped image that you are now publicly claiming you saw tweeted in real life.

You want to admit you lied now, or get sued so I can expose you as a liar?

I win either way. https://t.co/aiBOghhcv6  Candace Owens (@RealCandaceO) March 16, 2021

Not you being mad at me for WHAT YOU TWEETED AND is published on public blogs .I aint made it up honey Google it yourself  https://t.co/ODmvVsUEbK pic.twitter.com/wrleB9Tx61  iamcardib (@iamcardib) March 16, 2021

Yes. Just spoke with my family. I am 100% suing Cardi for that nonsense. You cant just start throwing out wild lies against private members of my family because youre upset someone called your out on your degenerate performance.

Ill keep you all posted. https://t.co/v2aisvQiOG  Candace Owens (@RealCandaceO) March 16, 2021

Im going to sue candy for claiming I photoshopped a tweet that dozens of articles reported about back in November 2016z.First she claim me and my team photoshopped it now it was a fake tweet.Which one is it .Everyone is free to Google . https://t.co/XlIbC4fA7Y pic.twitter.com/YeAlgywlrF  iamcardib (@iamcardib) March 16, 2021

Even after the threat of court action, both continued fighting, with Candy taking to Instagram with a 13 minute (!) video reiterating her intent to sue Cardi, to which Cardi responded on Twitter, Not candy doing a whole 13 minute video of this shit on IG .Deum i be making her waNna pull her pussy hairs out. Cardi also offered to debate Candy on Trump and Biden, with Candy responding that me and you in a courtroom debating defamation law is whats around the corner. Cardi then clarified, IN THONGS ? Candy has not yet responded.

Not candy doing a whole 13 minute video of this shit on IG .Deum i be making her waNna pull her pussy hairs out .Naa Im not even angry to waste my energy to do No video .This was fun!Dont mention my name if you cant take the heat. pic.twitter.com/R2vI1xZJsb  iamcardib (@iamcardib) March 17, 2021

.@RealCandaceO Me you on a beach while debating bout Trump and Biden ? Think about it ....... Republicans go watch UP music video to see what this about pic.twitter.com/APpGlvpEek  iamcardib (@iamcardib) March 17, 2021

Tempting. But Im thinking me and you in a courtroom debating defamation law is whats around the corner.

 https://t.co/6ujm7ViwPV  Candace Owens (@RealCandaceO) March 17, 2021
Florida lawmakers plunged deeper Monday into the politically fraught task of attempting to regulate social media and other Big Tech companies, which some Republicans accuse of bias against conservatives.

The House Appropriations Committee advanced the first of a slate of bills, backed by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, that would force Facebook, Twitter and other social media platforms to give users a months notice before their accounts are disabled or suspended.

The bill was filed days after Twitter suspended the account of then-President Donald Trump after his supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. It would also punish the companies for deplatforming political candidates, including fines of up to $100,000 daily when a statewide office seeker is suspended from a social media site. Twitter booted Trump following the insurrection, after concluding that a close review of his tweets could lead to a further incitement of violence.

The proposal would allow consumers to sue if they can show theyve been treated unfairly and would authorize the state attorney general to take on the countrys largest tech companies for anti-competitive practices.

Other states are considering legislation targeting social media companies.

Weve gotten to the point now that theyve become so powerful, said Rep. Blaise Ingoglia, a sponsor of the bill. When you have a handful of companies that are so powerful that they sort of dictate what can or cannot be seen or heard in order to make informed choices, I think thats problematic.

About 4 in 5 Americans  250 million people  have profiles on social media. Those with huge networks, including elected officials, celebrities and other public figures, have wide influence over their followers.

Social media companies have had to walk a fine line when they give users access to their services: They provide a platform for building online community and engagement, but have also cracked down on speech and groups they deem potentially harmful  especially after the Capitol insurrection.

How the companies exercise that discretion has come under attack from different political fronts, but especially by conservatives, who say their voices are being censored by social media companies.

The discussion Monday was mostly along partisan lines, with Republicans generally supporting and Democrats opposing the measure, but there were flashes of agreement from both sides about the powerful role social media sites now have in controlling speech in the public square known as the internet.

Some Democrats said there were good intentions behind the effort, but argued that the responsibility and authority to address the matter lies with lawmakers in Washington.

I share some of your concerns about these Big Tech companies, and I do think we need to do something about them, said state Rep. Joe Geller, a Democrat.

Sometimes Ive argued on some of our bills that were talking about something that aint broke, so dont fix it. Thats not the case here. This is broke, Geller said. I just dont think its within our purview to fix it.

He called state legislation ill-advised and possibly unconstitutional.

Indeed, its uncertain if the measures  if signed into law  would survive the scrutiny of courts because the federal Telecommunications Act of 1996 shields internet companies from many legal challenges.

Even state Senate President Wilton Simpson, who has said he believes conservatives are being singled out for online censorship, has suggested that the federal arena may be the proper venue for regulating tech companies.

State Rep. Randy Fine, a Republican, said the state has an obligation to move forward and not wait for the federal government to act. But he said Floridas effort to rein in Big Tech companies was too complex to rush.

A bill this long and this complex has to be thought through and has to be considered for unintended consequences, Fine told fellow lawmakers. We have to make sure that in fixing it, we dont create an even bigger problem.

Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo of an Ikeja Special Offences Court, on Wednesday, gave the prosecution in the trial of alleged billionaire kidnapper, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, popularly known as Evans, a last chance to put its house in order.

The judge frowned at the slow pace of proceedings, which began in 2017.

The absence of prosecution witnesses on Wednesday stalled two trials of the defendant.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports in the first suit, Evans is facing trial alongside Victor Aduba, a dismissed member of the Nigerian Army.

The defendants are charged with four counts of kidnapping and unlawful possession of firearms.

Evans and the dismissed soldier are accused of kidnapping Sylvanus Ahamonu, holding him hostage for at least nine weeks, and collecting a ransom of $420,000 from his family.

When the first suit was announced, a state prosecutor, O.A Bajulaiye-Bishi informed the court that the prosecution was unable to serve the summons issued to the witness due to testify because of the ill health of the lead prosecutor, Yusuf Sule.

Reacting, Evans defence counsel, Victor Okpara, told the court that he was earlier informed of the development by the prosecutor.

Our learned friend did communicate her predicament to me in the morning.

However, if there is a repeat of this scenario on the next adjourned date I will have to make the necessary applications to the court, he said.

In the second criminal suit, Evans is facing trial alongside Joseph Emeka, Chiemeka Arinze and Udeme Upong over the attempted kidnap of Vincent Obianodo, the Chairman of the Young Shall Grow Motors.

They face a seven-count charge of murder, attempted murder, conspiracy to commit kidnapping, attempt to kidnap and sale and transfer of firearms.

When the second suit was announced, Mrs Bajulaiye-Bishi informed the court that the witness, Idowu Haruna, the Investigating Police Officer (IPO), who was due to continue his testimony in the trial-within-trial was unavailable.

The prosecutor informed the court that the IPO was on an official assignment and that he would be hopefully present on the next court date.

This case (the Obianodo kidnap trial) is for the continuation of the trial-within-trial. It appears the prosecution is not ready with their witness, said the judge.

The court grants the prosecution a last chance to put its house in order.

Both cases are adjourned until April 5, for the continuation of hearing, she said.

NAN reports that Evans is also facing two trials for kidnap before Justice Hakeem Oshodi of an Ikeja High Court and Justice Adedayo Akintoye of an Igbosere High Court.

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At the time of this report, he is yet to open his defence in all the trials.

(NAN)
By Julie Steenhuysen

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Results of AstraZeneca Plc's U.S. COVID-19 vaccine trial are being reviewed by independent monitors, and emergency authorization could come in about a month, a top U.S. official said on Monday.

The independent monitors are analyzing data from the 32,000-person U.S. study to determine whether the vaccine is safe and effective. If the results are positive and all goes well, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration would review the data and issue the authorization, Dr. Francis Collins, director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), said in an interview.

Collins estimates that the FDA would need about three weeks to analyze the trial data, after which an expert advisory panel will meet and vote on whether to recommend authorization.

Independent monitoring boards periodically review data during clinical trials to make sure no safety problems crop up, and can halt studies early if it determines a drug or vaccine is likely to fail or is clearly going to be a success.

The AstraZeneca vaccine, developed with the University of Oxford, has been authorized for use in the European Union and many countries based on separate trial data. U.S. regulators have been waiting for the U.S. data.

Several EU countries have halted administering the AstraZeneca vaccine after reports from Denmark and Norway of possible serious side effects, including bleeding and blood clots.

Asked about those issues, Collins said he has not personally seen the data but has been "pretty reassured" by statements from European regulators that the problems could be occurring by chance, and are not related to the vaccine.

With so many people being vaccinated, Collins said, some are bound to experience a blood clot around the same time they receive a vaccine.

"It's not clear at all" that people who receive the vaccine get blood clots at an increased rate, Collins said, adding "there may be a bit of an overreaction to something that is unrelated to the vaccine itself."

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A World Health Organization expert said on Monday he sees no association between reports of blood clots and the AstraZeneca vaccine and urged people not to panic.

Asked about the emergence of more contagious viral variants that could evade vaccine protection, Collins said studies so far suggest that currently authorized vaccines from Pfizer Inc, Moderna Inc and Johnson & Johnson will be protective.

"We do not feel that we are in a difficult situation that requires immediate action in the U.S., but we've got to watch this really closely," said Collins, a geneticist who has led the NIH since 2009.

COVID-19 vaccine makers have already started work on booster doses of their shots that specifically target a concerning variant first discovered in South Africa. Those would be ready by the end of 2021 or early 2022.

It will not be clear until this summer or fall whether a booster dose is necessary, Collins said.

"I really hope that doesn't happen, but I think we would be foolish not to plan for that just in case, and so planning is happening," he said.

(Reporting by Julie Steenhuysen in Chicago and Michael Erman in New York; Editing by Peter Henderson and Bill Berkrot)
(Meiko Takechi Arquillos / For The Times)

This story is part of our issue on Remembrance, a time-traveling journey through the L.A. experience  past, present and future. See the full package here.

Los Angeles is a hat town. We are a city both blessed and cursed by the incessant, piercing golden rays that Angelenos cheerfully refer to as sunshine. Unless you want to become an everyday umbrella person (which I am always threatening to be), hats are the best option for protection.

Hats are also a way to differentiate yourself. On the Eastside, north of the 10, what you wear on your head is taken to an extreme. Its here that the floppy-brimmed hat first flowered in Los Angeles during the fleeting era of the Nasty Gal. You can still see a fedora in Hollywood, Santa Monica or really any place that attracts tourists. I think I see a bucket hat every minute, like intermission at the New Radicals inauguration reunion concert.

(Micah Fluellen / Los Angeles Times; Getty Images)

However, the most striking hat trend right now might be the least practical of them all: the beret. The reopening of outdoor dining in the city was just the thing people needed to don their berets at the Black Cat or Figaro Bistrot. The thick, wool, brimless cap offers no protection from the sun, unless youre Michael Jordan in "The Last Dance" and youre totally bald. A beret juts out awkwardly from the head, rising like a souffle from your skull. Often, it conjures up the buffoonish image of Clark Griswold stumbling through Paris in Amy Heckerlings "National Lampoons European Vacation." It looks foolish, and  like so many hats that have come to define a nations image (sombreros, cowboy hats, ushankas)the beret is the sartorial choice that invites both sideways glances and accusations of cultural appropriation.

One explanation for why the beret brings about such intense feelings is because it immediately evokes two conflicting ideas: high status and revolutionary fervor. The trend makes room for both the luxurious (a felt Gucci number will cost you $430) and the mundane (an online army surplus store offers a beret for $13.99). The Parisian beret can confer sophistication, class and artistic ambition upon its wearer. The beret is both bohemian and genteel at the same time. Coco Chanel wore a beret but so did Rembrandt, or at least so I have been told. (Because he lived in a pre-IG world, I cant speak to if he bricked the fit.)

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Unfortunately, the beret can also be the refuge of the try-too-hard, the "Emily in Paris" who wants to be someone else. Ah yes, I will take a croissant. No wait! Make that the pain au jambon, please, you say as you take the last drag of your clove cigarette. At Tartine in Silver Lake, asking for the ham and cheese croissant simply wont do. When I pay a visit to Echo Park institution Taix, if Im going to order a socially distanced moules mariniere, I just grunt through my mask in the general vicinity of that part of the menu and they get it, but thats only because theyve been tolerating poor pronunciation for 90 years.

That feeling of being out of place when ordering breakfast is what wearing a beret for the first time feels like, but it doesnt have to. A sense of purpose, coordination and confidence can make even the most outre fashion decision seem appropriate. Shame simply has no place in the lexicon of a stylish person, and anyone wearing a beret should do so with aplomb. Embarrassment is an illusion perpetuated by people with no taste to make the world worse.

(Micah Fluellen / Los Angeles Times; Getty Images)

While the beret has a surplus of bourgeois connotations thanks to the social climbers of Los Feliz and East Hollywood, its also a globally recognized symbol of revolution and social change. When "Lovecraft Country" star Jonathan Majors paired a Stussy Dior beret with an upraised fist on the cover of the September issue of GQ, it said something: a Black man exuding power and defiance during tumultuous times. The beret took on that meaning thanks to the French Resistance during World War II, Che Guevara and, of course, the Black Panther Party. The Panthers, dramatized in Shaka Kings film "Judas and the Black Messiah," used the beret as a way to connect the Black American liberation movement to the lineage of revolutions around the world.

Locally, the Brown Berets, an antifascist Chicano movement in the late 1960s, took direct action against police brutality in East Los Angeles wearing theirs  no wonder they joined Panther Fred Hamptons Rainbow Coalition in 1969. The Rainbow Coalition attempted to unite socialist organizations throughout the United States to work together to lift Black people and other people of color out of poverty. If style is defined as the free expression of ideology, class and individuality, then the beret is the ultimate mixed message  both a symbol of the status quo and a call to action.

The beret is the perfect affectation for the searcher, the seeker and the student. As a symbol that straddles both sides of the widening class divide in Los Angeles, the beret holds a particular fascination here, and especially in neighborhoods like Silver Lake. As Sunset Boulevard continues to swallow up legacy businesses and replace them with middlebrow fashion like the French Maison Kitsune outpost that just opened up two blocks from the 99 Cents Only Store  and, on Tuesdays and Saturdays, the farmers market  the beret, like the neighborhood itself, can go either way. We could either choose to dedicate ourselves to uplifting our neighbors and building a more equitable and empathetic city or we can order another croissant.

For inspiration, I suggest we look to that great fictional Southern California icon and beret wearer Cher Horowitz, the protagonist of Amy Heckerlings other masterpiece, "Clueless." Cher was no revolutionary, but her beret signified to the audience  or at least the students of Bronson Alcott High School  that this seemingly shallow young girl was open to change, that she wanted to learn and that, soon enough, shed see there was more to life than the perfect world she inherited.

Dave Schilling is a writer, humorist and appreciator of fashion whose work has appeared in the New Yorker, the Guardian, New York Magazine and GQ.

More stories from Image

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Brazils trade balance with Arab countries recorded an increase of 12.5% in January and February 2021 compared to its performance from the same months a year ago, posting a total value of $2.56 billion.

The latest figures were released by the Arab-Brazilian Chamber of Commerce (ABCC), which highlighted that the surplus results maintained a positive performance.

In the first two months this year, the Brazilian exports to Arab countries reached $1.78 billion, up by 12.69% from 2020.

Rubens Hannun, President, Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce, remarked: Brazils trade performance in the first two months this year showed the strength of trade relations between Brazil and the Arab region. It further reflects an upward trend amid intensified efforts toward economic recovery from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, as vaccination and strong precautionary measures continue to advance in these markets.

The ongoing revitalisation provides a new drive for Brazil and the Arab nations to continue the diversification of trade products to benefit the supply chain inputs and intermediate goods as well as the higher value-added finished products. We are confident that the trade exchange between these markets will continue to deliver greater results with the support of ABCC in engaging Brazil and Arab countries to explore other areas that will further expand the existing trade alliance, Hannun concluded.

The Arab region remains the third largest destination of goods and products for the South American country, next to China and the United States. During the period, Brazilian exports to Saudi Arabia are valued at $296.87 million; Egypt, $288.69 million; and the UAE at $204.81 million. The topmost exported products in the Arab countries include iron ores and concentrates, including roasted iron pyrites; fresh, chilled, or frozen poultry; cane or beet sugar and chemically pure sucrose; corn; and beef products. The value of imported goods from Arab countries to Brazil has reached $777.69 million during the same period while leading goods imported from the region include fertilisers, mineral fuels, mineral oils, plastics, and aluminum. The Arab countries were the 6th main supplier for Brazilian imports.-- Tradearabia News Service
After dropping their thrilling teaser poster, KBS Drama unveils a sneak peek of Jang Nara's character for "The Great Real Estate."

The network recently announced that the upcoming fantasy occult drama is set to premiere on April 14. Now, KBS teased fans with the intriguing behind-the-scenes of the show over Instagram.

The 39-year-old actress was seen donning an all-black ensemble as she takes on the role of the exorcist Hong Ji-ah.

Over Jang Nara's Instagram, she also shared a series of snaps from "The Great Real Estate's" movie scenes.

Jang Nara on her Role as Hong Ji-ah for "Daebak Real Estate"

In a report, the "Oh My Baby" star shares her thoughts with her forthcoming series. The award-winning actress spoke about her excitement after being casted to play the role and mentioned how it's different from her previous characters.

In addition, although the role requires a lot of physical strength, "The Last Empress" actress finds it "enjoyable" together with the camaraderie with the other cast and crew.

"A new challenge always seems to create both burden and excitement. Although it is a role that consumes a lot of physical strength, the filming is enjoyable day by day with the consideration and help of other actors and staff. I look forward to the day I meet you with Hong Ji-ah," she said.

The same goes for the production crew, who praised Jang Nara's work ethic.

Moreover, the source pointed out her passion for her craft and how it perfectly fits for Hong Jia's role.

"As the actor, Jang Nara was cast in the role of Hong Ji-ah, who has both clear soul and power," they stated.

Jang Nara and CNBLUE's Jung Yong Hwa to Star in "Daebak Real Estate"

Earlier this year, it was announced that the Seoul native is set to appear in the upcoming Wednesday and Thursday drama series from KBS.

Aside from the actress, CNBLUE's leader Jung Yong Hwa also confirmed his appearance on "Daebak Real Estate," also called the "Real Estate Exorcism."

The highly anticipated series will be directed by Park Jin Suk, whose famous works include "The Tale of the Bookworm," "School 2017," and "Naked Fireman" alongside screenwriters Lee Young Hwa, Ha Soo Jin, and Jung Yeon Seo.

Following the two powerhouse actors, fans can't help but express their excitement with the upcoming thriller series.

With this, one expressed her high hopes with the actress impeccable skills.

"I ask for a lot of interest in Daebak Real Estate', where Jang Nara's passionate performance will stand out," one fan tweeted.

The same goes with the second user who echoed the same stance and can; 't seem to wait for the upcoming show.

"Daebak Real Estate poster is woow. i'm so excited for this draamaa. A month to go."

"Daebak Real Estate" Short Synopsis

The fantasy occult series depicts the story of real estate broker Hong Ji-ah, who practices exorcism on real estates to remove a negative aura that was reportedly haunted by spirits.

She works together with the con-artist Oh In Bum, played by Jung Yong Hwa, who uses exorcisms to profit money.

Kdramastars owns this article.

Written by Geca Wills
Russias Federal Security Service has detained a member of the Islamic State terror group outlawed in Russia, who was plotting a terror attack in the places of mass gathering in Adygea, North Caucasus, the FSB Public Relations Center said.

"The FSB detained a native of the Central Asian region in the Republic of Adygea, who was preparing for a terror attack in the places of mass gathering of citizens," TASS cited a spokesperson as saying.

During the search of the suspects house officers found components for making a self-made explosive device with striking elements, a flag of the IS international terror group and a map of the republics capital Maykop with potential targets of terror attacks.
Sincerely Ghana Limited in collaboration with project BRAVE spearheaded by Tracy Owusu Addo has donated Sanitary Pads to underprivileged young women in a deprived community in Keta in the Volta Region to mark Womens month.



This follows similar donations to some head porters, popularly referred to as Kayayei across the country and some young women in a deprived community in Prampram.



The donations are being done through the Corporate Social Responsibility arm of the company, Sister-2-Sister and forms part of the companys national rollout plan to help end period poverty and educate girls and young women on personal hygiene in the country.



Under the Sister-2-Sister initiative, a percentage of the proceeds from the sale of products by Sincerely goes towards providing free sanitary pads for girls in deprived areas in Ghana.



Commenting on the initiative, the Chief Executive Officer of Sincerely Ghana Limited, Mrs Menaye Donkor-Muntari, said it forms part of the companys commitment to help end period poverty in underprivileged communities in the country.



The objective is to continuously provide quality, affordable sanitary pads as well as menstrual health education in an engaging manner primarily for adolescent and young adult females and mothers from 10 to 50 years.



She noted that period poverty affects women and girls all over the World. It is a global issue affecting women and girls who do not have access to hygienic sanitary products during their menstruation.



Sincerelys recent partnership with project BRAVE also ties in to its vision of developing sound business and strategic relationships with valuable partners.



Sincerely has shown and demonstrated its ability in CSR on Menstruation, building on a multi tier educational marketing outlook and strategy that empowers a generation of men and women who will raise their children with better knowledge and confidence in menstrual health.



Throughout Africa, one of the main reasons girls skip school is because of the lack of readily available and affordable hygienic feminine products during their menstruation. Being a champion of womens wellbeing since my teens, I recognise the crippling challenges women face, Mrs Donkor-Muntari said.



She added that we have joined forces with various experts to create a well thought out personal hygiene brand.





About Sincerely



Sincerely is a brand that is built around a lifestyle of confidence and freedom derived from a solid education on menstruation, feminine health and hygiene designed. We aim to provide quality feminine products at affordable prices for all.



It seeks to be one of the most valued brands of genuine quality personal hygiene products, complemented by sincere menstrual health and hygiene education throughout Ghana as well become a voice of authority on the continent, and ultimately in the world on Menstruation.

Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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PARIS (Reuters) - France's parliament must pass a bill on reforming utility EDF and the country's sprawling nuclear sector by October if the plan is to be agreed in time for a presidential election in 2022, the prime minister's office said on Wednesday.

France, which has more nuclear reactors than any country other than the United States, is looking to ringfence nuclear operations at the nation's biggest utility.

The reforms, which have sparked wrangling with the European Union and labour unions, involve raising price guarantees on nuclear power that state-controlled EDF sells to third-party providers, helping the debt-laden utility cover its costs.

The government has recapitalised EDF in the past and has for now agreed to take dividend payouts in shares to alleviate pressure on the company's finances.

A crowded parliamentary agenda is piling pressure on France to reach a deal quickly with antitrust authorities in Brussels over the restructuring of EDF, the first step needed before reforms can go ahead.

Sources told Reuters last week that talks between Paris and the European Commission had entered a make-or-break phase, with end-March seen as a deadline to reach an agreement over antitrust and state aid issues or abandon the plan for now.

Three members of parliament briefed by the prime minister's office on the reforms on Wednesday told Reuters that the window to get a bill through required checks and balances with representatives would be before the autumn.

Two said that June to October would be crucial.

A spokesman for the prime minister's office confirmed this timetable, saying that parliament would be tied up with other bills until June and was scheduled to work on 2022 budget plans from the autumn.

Delaying the reform, which has been championed by French President Emmanuel Macron, would hurt EDF's ability to make needed investment, EDF has said. France relies on EDF's fleet of reactors, which are now on average about 35 years old, for some 70% of its electricity.

Story continues

Macron's party currently has a majority in parliament but the reform plan, which has prompted EDF unions to hold strikes, if not agreed this year may be too politically sensitive to pursue during 2022's election campaign, when parliament will have to temporarily shut and the outcome is uncertain.

Shares in EDF spiked as much as 4.5% on Wednesday before paring gains to trade up 1.2% by 1551 GMT.

(Reporting by Elizabeth Pineau, writing by Sarah White; editing by Jason Neely)
(CNN) -- State and federal investigators are scrambling to learn more about Robert Aaron Long, the suspect in a string of deadly shootings at three Atlanta-area Asian spas, and his alleged motive.

Not much information has surfaced about the 21-year-old from Woodstock, about a half-hour drive north of Atlanta.

He is presently detained without bond in Cherokee County, where he faces four counts of murder and a charge of aggravated assault, according to the county sheriff's office. More charges are possible.

Following Tuesday's shootings at two spas in Atlanta and another in Acworth, about 10 miles west of Woodstock -- which left eight people, at least four of them Asian women, dead -- authorities located Long about 150 miles south of Atlanta, in Crisp County. State police took him into custody after using a special pursuit maneuver to spin his car out of control.

The suspect "did take responsibly for the shootings," Capt. Jay Baker of the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office said.

Sheriff Frank Reynolds in Cherokee County, where the Acworth shootings took place, told reporters Long "made indicators that he has some issues -- potentially, sexual addiction -- and may have frequented some of these places in the past."

The suspect "may have been lashing out," the sheriff said.

Tyler Bayless said he shared a housing unit with Long at Maverick Recovery, a rehab facility in Roswell, Georgia, between August 2019 and January or February 2020. He said that most residents were suffering from drug or alcohol addiction, but Long was being treated for sex addiction.

"It was something that absolutely would torture him," Bayless said. He said Long was a "deeply religious person -- he would often go on tangents about his interpretation of the Bible," and was distraught about his addiction to sex.

Bayless said that on multiple occasions during his stay at the facility, Long told him that he had "relapsed" and "gone to massage parlors explicitly to engage in sex acts."

He said he didn't know whether Long had specifically gone to any of the spas where he allegedly shot eight people dead Tuesday night.

Bayless, who hasn't spoken with Long since Long left the recovery facility, said he had never heard him say anything derogatory about Asian people.

After hearing Long was the suspect in the shootings, Bayless said he was shocked that his former roommate would do such a thing. It was eerie to think back about "what a calm, collected, nice, normal guy he was," Bayless said.

Mason Clements, who is listed as the registered agent at Maverick Recovery in business filings, said in a text message that "I am unable to comment on any client past, present or future due to confidentiality agreements."

Another former roommate of Long's also told CNN that Long had been in rehabilitation for sex addiction, and that in summer 2020 he had lived with Long at a transition house for people leaving rehab, though he declined to name the facility or divulge the state where it's located. He said he had not spoken to Long "in a long time."

He recognized Long from the surveillance footage disseminated by authorities, he said, and Cherokee County dispatch records indicate the ex-roommate called police Tuesday night.

The ex-roommate "never heard (Long) say anything racial," he told CNN.

A Facebook spokesperson confirmed to CNN they removed an Instagram account the company believed was linked to Long.

The account had been inactive for some time, the spokesperson said.

A screenshot of the account, obtained by CNN, showed it used the name "Aaron Long" and the bio section caption read, "Pizza, guns, drums, music, family, and God. This pretty much sums up my life. It's a pretty good life."

Long told police the shootings were "not racially motivated," according to Baker, of the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office. Baker also referenced Long's "sex addiction," saying that Long sees the spas as a "temptation" that he "wanted to eliminate."

Investigators believe that when he was captured, Long might have been en route to Florida to perpetrate more shootings, Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms told reporters.

Long had a 9 mm firearm in his car when he was arrested, Baker said.

Long purchased his gun legally at a local gun store, Big Woods Goods in Holly Springs, Georgia, an attorney for the company confirmed to CNN.

In a brief statement to CNN, Matt Kilgo said the company is fully cooperating with law enforcement and there is no indication that there was anything improper with the transfer on Tuesday.

It was Long's family who turned him in Tuesday, Reynolds said, indicating the parents called police after seeing surveillance footage that authorities posted to social media.

"We were contacted by members of the family indicating that may be their son, so we met with them," Reynolds said. "They were very distraught, and they were very helpful in this apprehension."

Once investigators identified Long, the sheriff said, they tracked his phone and anticipated his movements, leading to his arrest in Crisp County.

In his mugshot, Long is wearing a suicide prevention suit as a precautionary measure, which is customary, Crisp County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Haley Little said.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "Robert Long, suspect in Atlanta spa shootings, may have 'sex addiction,' police say"

Patna, March 17 : Bihar Vidhan Sabha Speaker Vijay Kumar Sinha adjourned the house on Wednesday after Samrat Chaudhary, the Panchayati Raj minister asked him "not to get too anxious", which did not go down well with Sinha.

Sinha strongly objected to the Hindi word "vyakul" used by Samrat Chaudhary, which loosely translates to being anxious.

The Speaker asked the minister to withdraw his remark immediately which he not only refused but repeated to Sinha's chagrin.

Sinha believes that the word used by Chaudhary was "disgraceful and unparliamentary". He said it was an insult to the Chair.

As Chaudhary refused to budge and withdraw his remarks, Sinha adjourned the house till 2 p.m.

The incident occurred when Sinha detected that there were 16 questions related to Chaudhary's ministry being asked online and only 11 of them were being answered.

Sinha suggested Chaudhary to ask his ministry officials to answer all questions.

This led to the argument between the two and Chaudhary asked the Speaker "not to get too anxious, answers will come".

Sinha asked the minister to withdraw his comment but was denied.

Following the incident, JDU-BJP leaders went to the Speaker's chamber and requested him to start the proceedings of the House but Sinha refused.

Jitan Ram Manjhi, the former Chief Minister and HAM president said: "The statement of Samrat Chaudhary was unparliamentary. No one directs or dictates the Speaker. He should apologize to the Speaker to sort out the problem. If he denies, it will not be healthy for parliamentary democracy." Pratima Das, a Congress leader said: "The minister should apologize to the Speaker. The Speaker has rightly asked him to answer all questions. It seems that the minister was shielding his own shortcomings. Hence, he was avoiding giving answers to all questions."
Australia's domestic intelligence agency ASIO has shown the door to foreign spies numbering in 'double figures' over the past year.

Australian Security Intelligence Organisation director-general Mike Burgess on Wednesday delivered his second annual threat assessment in Canberra.

He said espionage and foreign interference continued to be levelled at not only the federal government but all Australian states and territories.

Last year ASIO investigated a 'nest' of foreign spies - from a country not in Australia's immediate region - targeting relationships with current and former politicians, a foreign embassy and a state police service, he said.

Australian Security Intelligence Organisation director-general Mike Burgess on Wednesday delivered his second annual threat assessment in Canberra

Australia's domestic intelligence agency ASIO has shown the door to foreign spies numbering in 'double figures' over the past year

Security sources reportedly told The Australian that China wasn't behind the spy ring and the more likely infiltrators were Russia.

'They successfully cultivated and recruited an Australian government security clearance holder who had access to sensitive details of defence technology,' Mr Burgess revealed.

ASIO investigated, identified and verified the activity, cancelling the government employee's security clearance, confronted the foreign spies, and 'quietly and professionally removed them from Australia', Mr Burgess said.

He said it was only one example of ASIO's work.

'In the last 12 months, a significant number of foreign spies and their proxies have either been removed from Australia or rendered inoperative,.

'I can't give you exact details for obvious reasons, but I'm talking about a number in the double figures.'

A counter foreign interference task force has investigated over 30 cases, with the first charge laid in Melbourne last year.

Foreign spies were constantly seeking to penetrate government, defence, academia and business to steal classified information, military capabilities, policy plans and sensitive research, Mr Burgess said.

And they continued to 'intimidate members of diaspora communities' while seeking to interfere in democratic institutions.

Australians needed to be aware of some of the techniques of espionage.

'Rather than a spy sidling up to a target on a train station, he or she is more likely to send a friend a request or a job offer, or a spy might spam a whole lot of messages and then sit back and see who responds.'

The ASIO (Australian Security Intelligence Organisation) headquarters building is seen in Canberra

Asked whether politicians or political advisers with secrets about their behaviour to hide could be targeted, he said: 'That is a technique used by foreign intelligence services. If you have something to hide it could be used by others.'

Mr Burgess noted ASIO would be changing its language when it came to violent threats - shifting to the terms 'religiously motivated' and 'ideologically motivated' violent extremism.

'We don't investigate people because of their religious views - again it's the violence that is relevant to our powers - but that's not always clear when we use the term 'Islamic extremism',' he said.

'Understandably, some Muslim groups - and others - see this term as damaging and misrepresentative of Islam, and consider that it stigmatises them by encouraging stereotyping and stoking division.'

Australia's terrorist threat level remains at 'probable' meaning there is credible intelligence groups and individuals have the capability and intent to conduct terrorism onshore.

Mr Burgess said arrests in Melbourne showed 'this threat is real'.

If the idea of jumping out of an aircraft is enough to make your knees go weak, then you might want to look away now.

That's because video has captured the moment a Russian soldier got his parachute caught over the tail of a helicopter, leaving him dangling thousands of feet in the air.

The parachutist had just leaped out of a Mil Mi-8 Hip helicopter from 6,500 feet above a military airfield in the village of Kashtak near the city of Chita, Russia, on Tuesday morning.

Video has captured the moment a Russian soldier got his parachute caught over the tail of a helicopter, leaving him dangling thousands of feet in the air

But the soldier's parachute became entangled with the helicopter and he can be seen suspended in mid-air while attached only by thin suspension lines as the aircraft slowly descends.

The helicopter was able to safely return the uninjured parachutist to the ground as soldiers gathered on the airfield to help.

Local resident Maxim Stefanovich, who witnessed the bizarre incident, said he had heard something and then noticed the helicopter flying over the airfield.

At first he thought it was the military testing new equipment, but after zooming in on his phone camera, he spotted the parachutist dangling underneath the aircraft.

'I immediately called the police and asked them to contact the military as quickly as possible,' Stefanovich said.

The soldier's parachute became entangled with the helicopter, and the aircraft can be seen slowly descending as he is left suspended mid-air while attached only by thin suspension lines

Local resident Maxim Stefanovich, who witnessed the bizarre incident, said he had heard something and then noticed the helicopter flying over the airfield

'I was thinking about how the man's health was, he was probably suffering with frostbite,' he added. 'It was minus 20 degrees Celsius out there. And under that tail rotor, it must be worse.

'How come the pilot did not see him and do something to save him?'

Another witness posted on Russian social media site Telegram and said: 'I look up and see a chopper 6,500 feet above the ground, but very strange - with a line and a dot at the end.'

It is unclear how the incident occurred, but local media report the soldier was not injured during his ordeal.

While it is rare for parachutes to get caught on aircraft, there have been scary moments in recent years.

In 2014, a Mexican paratrooper was left helplessly twisting in the air hundreds of feet above ground when he jumped into a tangle of used static lines.

In a two-minute video that captured the accident, the unidentified paratrooper can be seen caught up in the lines after jumping from the back of a plane during a military exercise.

He had been following a series of fellow paratroopers leaping out of the plane, the rest of whom were fortunate enough to have their parachutes open without catching.

The man spins for over a minute as cries to pull him back in can be heard on the audio.
(CNN) - On Wednesday, the World Health Organization released its interim recommendations for the use of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine for people age 18 and older, based on advice from its Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) on immunization, who met on Monday.

After reviewing the evidence, we have a vaccine that shows to be safe and it shows to have the necessary efficacy to be recommended by us for use in people above the age of 18 without an upper age limit, said Dr. Alejandro Cravioto, chair of SAGE, during a briefing Wednesday.

Cravioto said that the fact that the Johnson & Johnson vaccine is a single dose vaccine is a regular advantage in the sense of having the capacity to vaccinate more people, but no different in reality in its capacity to protect against severe disease or death or hospitalization than all the other ones that we have already reviewed and recommended.

There is currently not enough data on pregnant women to assess the risks of the vaccine to the group, the SAGE recommendations say, but in the interim, pregnant women should receive the vaccine if the benefit of being vaccinated outweighs the potential risks, for example if a pregnant women is a health worker or has comorbidities that place them in a high risk group for severe COVID-19.

The document also points out that there have been no safety issues identified following the vaccination of more than 1,600 women against the companys Ebola vaccine which is based on the same platform.

SAGE recommends that people who have already been infected with SARS-CoV-2 should still be vaccinated with the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, but that they wait for up to six months before getting it in order to give others a chance to get their first doses. However, in countries with high circulation of variants of concern, Cravioto said that they recommend that people who have already been infected not wait more than a week or two to be vaccinated.

In the countries where there is a high spread of the variants, and in countries where we now have information about the use of this vaccine to control SARS-CoV-2 caused by these variants, we recommend that you use it, Cravioto said, giving data coming out of the US, Europe, South Africa and Brazil as examples.

As with other vaccines, SAGE recommends that groups who are disproportionately at risk of being infected and who live in environments where the virus circulates at a much wider capacity are vaccinated first, Cravioto said.

They do not recommend the vaccine for people who are traveling and do not recommend any type of certificate for traveling, he said.

SAGE has already made recommendations on the Pfizer BioNTech, Moderna and AstraZeneca vaccines.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "WHO advisory group recommends Johnson & Johnson vaccine for all adults age 18 and older"
National Guard members stand their posts around the Capitol at sunrise in Washington, D.C., on March 8, 2021. (Carolyn Kaster/AP Photo)

Republican Congressman Introduces Bill to Send National Guard From US Capitol to Southern Border

Rep. Greg Murphy (R-N.C.) introduced legislation on Tuesday aimed at reassigning 95 percent of the National Guardsmen who are at the U.S. Capitol and sending them to the southern border to help with the humanitarian crisis there.

Murphys Guard Our Border Act (pdf) comes as Capitol Police issued a statement recently saying there is no known credible threat to the U.S. Capitol. There is, however, a surge of illegal immigrants coming to the southern border, creating what Republicans and a few Democrats are calling a crisis.

In February 2021, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) had 100,441 apprehensions of migrants at the southern border, a 173 percent increase compared to February 2020.

Our National Guard was formed to respond to states of national crisis in this country. The Capitol Police have acknowledged that there is presently no credible threat to our nations Capitol Building. Yet, because of this administrations new policies, there is a national security and public health threat at our southern border, said Murphy in a press statement.

Murphys bill states that the purpose of sending the guardsmen and women to the southern border is for, Securing the southern land border of the United States, and management and care for migrants at such border.

The National Guard was called to Washington D.C. after the Jan. 6 breach of the U.S. Capitol building. More than 20,000 were reportedly on hand during the Jan. 20 inauguration of President Joe Biden.

The top Democrat and top Republican on the House Armed Services Committee both recently said they want to see National Guard troops who were deployed at the Capitol return home in the near future as deployment costs have increased to more than $500 million so far.

National Guard spokesman Lt. Col. Robert Carver, in a statement, said the Guard estimates that keeping the troops there will cost half a billion dollars.

After a review, we have revised our original January-to-March cost estimate of $482.8 million to $410 million due to under-execution, Carver told Fox News. The new, projected cost estimate for the entire mission is $521 million.

The Pentagon extended the deployment through May 23, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced this week, after a request for continued support from the U.S. Capitol Police.

Nearly 2,300 troops will remain in Washington for the next several months, a reduction of nearly 50 percent of the current support force.

Meanwhile, Republicans have been critical of the Biden Administrations immigration policies and the impact they say are being created by suddenly reversing many Trump-era policies.

Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-Fla.) joined the chorus of his colleagues to rebuke both the lack of security at the U.S.-Mexico border and the underutilized National Guard troops at the U.S. Capitol.

The crisis at the southern border was predictable and preventable. When you cancel construction of the border wall, stop deporting those who enter our country illegally, and announce sweeping plans for amnesty, the result is what we are now witnessing, wrote Buchanan on a Twitter post on Monday.

More than 100,000 migrants in the last month alone. Contrast the lax protection of our border with the heightened security at the U.S. Capitol, where 8-foot-high fences topped with razor wire and thousands of National Guard troops protect Congress, he added.

Jack Phillips contributed to this report.
The unions are not explicitly banned in Japan, but they are not recognized by the national government or most localities. In recent years, some local governments have moved to provide gay couples with certificates acknowledging their marriage, but the documents have little legal or practical value.

National authorities have long argued that their position is supported by a provision in the countrys constitution that stipulates marriage can occur only with the consent of both sexes, a provision that was intended to stop Japans once common practice of arranged marriages.

The Japanese public remains divided in its attitudes on the subject. On one hand, the idea of same-sex marriage enjoys broad popular support. In a 2019 poll by the advertising giant Dentsu, almost 80 percent of respondents 60 and under said they supported the unions.

Even the countrys notoriously rigid business community has begun to embrace the notion of marriage equality, marketing products to gay couples and improving protections for employees.

On the individual level, however, many gay people are still hesitant to come out because of fears of discrimination from a society that is infamous for its often intense pressure to conform.

For the plaintiffs, Wednesday morning was an emotional roller coaster. The first headlines about the decision highlighted the courts rejection of the compensation claims, provoking a moment of deep anxiety, one of the plaintiffs, Ryosuke Kunimi, told a news conference later in the day.

But when he saw the rest of the decision, he said, I couldnt stop my tears.

Same-sex couples have long felt that discrimination was natural, that there was nothing we could do about it, he said, adding that the court decision clearly showed thats not true.
INDIANA, (WTHI) - Indiana ranks lower than many may think in overall health. According to Indiana University, the state ranks 41st in the nation. This ranking is complemented by the fact that Indiana is second to last in public health funding in the nation. Additionally, local experts believe there is a lack of emergency medical services available to Hoosiers, especially in rural Indiana.

According to the Indiana Department of Health, injury is the leading cause of death for Hoosiers under the age of 45. Many of these injury-related deaths are unintentional and could have been prevented.

"Trauma happens just like that *snaps fingers*," Meredith Addison, a Staff Nurse at Regional Hospital, said.

Addison says this is an ongoing problem for the state for more than 200 years. She says the hardest part is that many people die from survivable injuries that were not taken care of in time.

"There are something called gaps that you don't even know they are there until someone slips through one of them, she said. Sometimes there's never coming back."

Addison believes the state does have the resources to help solve this ongoing issue. The biggest way to help is for more people to step up and get involved!

We need to bring awareness, she said. Look at what the potential is we have to accomplish. Which way do you want to go, toward the dark or to the light? Go toward the light. Lets make things right. We have excellent potential in this state."

Addison is encouraging local residents to take the time to look up injury prevention measures. That way you have the resources to know how to handle these difficult situations. To learn more about injury prevention and control, visit CDC.Gov/Injury.
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Six Asian women were confirmed dead among the eight killed and one wounded in a mass shooting in the Atlanta area on Tuesday night. Who they were: Cherokee County Sheriff's Office (CCSO) released a statement about the shooting on Wednesday, naming five of the victims from the first massage parlor, Youngs Asian Massage.

Four people have died at Youngs Asian Massage: Delaina Ashley Yaun, 33, of Acworth; Paul Andre Michels, 54, of Atlanta; Xiaojie Tan, 49, of Kennesaw; Daoyou Feng, 44, unknown address. A fifth victim, Elcias R. Hernandez-Ortiz, was wounded and is in stable condition in Wellstar Kennestone Hospital in Marietta. He is the only survivor.

Another four people were killed at the remaining two massage parlor locations. No others have been identified as of this writing.

The suspect, Robert Aaron Long, 21, was found with a 9mm firearm. He is charged with eight counts of murder, one count of aggravated assault and no bond.

Earlier on Wednesday, AP had reported that South Koreas Foreign Ministry confirmed with police that four of the victims who were killed were of Korean descent.

Three parlors: On Tuesday night, a string of shootings occurred around the Atlanta area.

Long first stopped at Youngs Asian Massage Parlor around 5 p.m. and gunned down five people there.

He then moved on to Gold Spa, 27 miles away, about an hour later, leaving three women dead.

At Aromatherapy Spa, across the street from Gold Spa, another woman died from gunshot wounds, according to the New York Times.

He was arrested at around 8:30 p.m. and taken to the Crisp County Detention Facility, according to WSB-TV.

Long is set to be arraigned Thursday morning, according to NPR.

Stop AAPI Hate, Asian Americans Advancing Justice  Atlanta (AAAJ-Atlanta), Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, Georgias Governor Brian P. Kemp, POTUS Biden, VP Kamala Harris among others, have released statements condemning the shooting and the violence against the AAPI community.

Conference details: In a police conference on Wednesday morning, more details emerged after the authorities questioned the suspect.

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Long admitted to the shootings and was deemed to be acting alone by authorities. He claims that the attacks were not racially motivated and that he has a sex addiction.

We believe that he frequented these places in the past and may have been lashing out, Sheriff Frank Reynolds of the CCSO said.

"[He] sees these locations as something that allows him to go to these places...and it's a temptation for him that he wanted to eliminate," CCSO Capt. Jay Baker added.

Further details on his motives are unclear, when asked if this is a hate crime, Reynolds and Baker stated that the case is still early in its investigation and that the indicators at the moment are that it may not be. The victims may be targets of opportunity.

Baker noted that Long was driving to Florida to possibly carry out more shootings, or do some similar acts, targeting some type of "porn industry" there.

When asked about the legitimacy of the three massage parlors and whether or not the women employed were sex workers, Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms denounced any sort of victim blaming.

We are not about to get into victim blaming, victim shaming here, Lance Bottoms said. She stated they never received a 911 call from that area and to their knowledge (APD) it's a legal establishment.

The investigators will continue looking into this case, among those his social media history.

One particular point that has sparked outrage on social media pertained to how the police had described the mass shooting for Long as being a really bad day for him: He was pretty much fed up and had kind of been at the end of his rope and yesterday was a really bad day for him and this is what he did, Baker said during the conference. Featured Image via Cherokee County Sherriff's Department

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The family of a Trenton man killed by police in 2019 has filed a federal civil rights lawsuit alleging the officers, who fired 17 shots into his home  nine of which struck the man  acted recklessly when dealing with a suicidal individual.

The lawsuit filed in federal court over the weekend comes two years after Trenton police officers were called to a North Olden Avenue row house to respond to a situation involving Jason Williams. Two relatives had reported Williams, who long suffered from mental health issues and had recently been released from a mental health facility, was suicidal after a domestic dispute with his girlfriend, according to the lawsuit.

As police arrived at 10:46 p.m. on March 14, 2019, the four officers allegedly ignored (Williams) mental health status and made no attempt to get (Williams) mental health support, according to the lawsuit.

Body camera footage described in the lawsuit showed the door was closed to the residence, but the officers said Williams, 42, said he would shoot at them if they opened it.

Less than two minutes after arriving, the four officers soon opened the door and fired 17 shots at Williams, who was brandishing a weapon that would later be identified by authorities as a BB gun, according to attorney John J. Zidziunas, who filed the lawsuit on behalf of Williams family.

There was no reasonable deescalation, Zidziunas said. There was little to no dialogue with Mr. Williams before they forced opened the door of his home without permission or a warrant and began shooting.

It didnt have to happen, he said.

There was no one else in the home at the time, but Zidziunas said based on the body camera footage, police did not ask Williams if anyone else was in the residence shortly before they began shooting.

Williams was struck nine times in the torso, right arm and left hand, the lawsuit said. After being shot, the officers handcuffed Williams behind his back and didnt immediately give him, proper medical care, according to the lawsuit.

(Police) somehow felt it was necessary to cuff (Williams) despite the fact that his body was riddled with bullet holes, was bleeding profusely, and was rendered incapacitated, the lawsuit said.

We filed this lawsuit to ensure that other people who are clearly calling out for help arent senselessly murdered by a group of overzealous police officers, Zidziunas said. These officers shouldve been there to help Jason, not hurt him.

The lawsuit does not name the officers involved.

No officers have been charged in Williams death. The Attorney Generals office said it is investigating the shooting, but that the case has not been presented to a grand jury yet, a spokesman said, as the coronavirus pandemic has halted proceedings.

A spokesman for the Trenton police department declined to comment, citing the ongoing investigation being conducted by the Attorney Generals office.

The Trentonian first reported the filing of the lawsuit.

The lawsuit speaks to activists concerns with how police officers deal with mentally unstable individuals, which has prompted police reform advocates across the country to call for trained mental health specialists to take the lead on certain cases, rather than police.

Over the summer, Asbury Park police shot and killed 39-year-old Hasani Best, who was armed with a knife, after negotiating with him for 45 minutes. Police knew Best suffered from mental health issues, yet were unable to defuse the situation without eventually using deadly force  a last resort for police, according to the states use-of-force policy.

Multiple experts who reviewed the shooting death questioned why police shot Best, who was clearly disturbed and had threatened violence but did not charge at the officers in the seconds before he was shot, according to the body camera footage.

The body camera footage of Williams death has not been released publicly.

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GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip  On March 11, Gaza received 40,000 doses of the Russian Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine from the United Arab Emirates, thanks to the efforts of dismissed Fatah leader Mohammed Dahlan, who lives in the United Arab Emirates.

Dahlan tweeted on March 10, The arrival of the new batch that includes 40,000 doses brings the total number of doses [sent to Palestinians] to 60,000. We promise our people to continue every possible effort to provide more. He explained that the Ministry of Health in Gaza will receive 20,000 doses, while 20,000 others will be sent to the West Bank.

On Feb. 21, Gaza received the first batch of 20,000 doses.

Some analysts linked the increasing frequency of aid from Dahlan to his attempt to increase his popularity in the Gaza Strip ahead of the upcoming Palestinian general elections.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas issued a decree in January setting the dates for the legislative elections on May 21, the presidential elections on July 31 and the Palestinian National Council elections on Aug. 31.

Imad Mohsen, spokesman for the Democratic Reformist Current headed by Dahlan, told Al-Monitor that his current has offered a series of aid to all social groups and denied reports that the increased aid is linked to the Palestinian elections. The vaccine contracts were signed before the presidential decree was issued, he said.

Mohsen added, The UAE aid does not come at any political price, and nobody has asked us to give up any Palestinian right in return.

Mohsen asserted that the aid offered by the current is unconditional, whether from the donors or for the beneficiaries. He clarified that the currents policy is based on providing another model of national work far from the narrow partisan vision. He said, The current wants to redraw the national arena and the political system, reposition Fatah on the Palestinian partisan map based on democracy and develop an inclusive vision toward all aspects of life.

He noted that the Democratic Reformist Current has wide popularity in the Gaza Strip and has thousands of members. It expects to play a key role in the Palestinian political map after the legislative elections, he said, adding that the coming days will be filled with surprises.

Following the meeting of Palestinian factions in Cairo regarding the elections on Feb. 9, dozens of leaders from the Democratic Reformist Current returned, after having fled the Gaza Strip in the wake of the 2007 rift, out of fear of Hamas pursuit.

Mohsen explained that the return of several leaders from the Democratic Reformist Current to the Gaza Strip to strengthen and organize its ranks ahead of the elections is in line with the understandings reached between Hamas and the current in 2017 and the subsequent social reconciliation in 2018, which included compensation for hundreds of families who had lost their children in the 2007 events.

He said, Hundreds of cadres were allowed to return to Gaza after their cases were settled. All remaining cases will be settled as part of the social reconciliation.

Mohsen asserted that dozens of the currents cadres would return soon to improve the status and presence of the Democratic Reformist Current in Gaza, adding, The presence of first-rank cadres from the Democratic Reformist Current in Gaza constitutes an essential source of support for the electoral battle.

For his part, Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem told Al-Monitor that the return of members of the Democratic Reformist Current is part of the social reconciliation included in the 2011 reconciliation agreement. He explained that it is the inherent right of any Palestinian citizen to enter, leave and be present in the Gaza Strip, and it has nothing to do with political settlements.

Whether it is possible for Hamas to ally with Dahlans current in a unified list in the legislative elections, Qassem said, Hamas announced a clear position from the beginning that it prefers to form a national list for legislative elections that includes the widest possible national spectrum.

He continued, This formula is still indeed Hamas favorite, and this position is consistent with Hamas intention to use the elections to rearrange the Palestinian situation, end the division and achieve reconciliation.

Qassem stressed that the aid provided by Dahlan preceded Abbas decree setting the dates for the elections, and he explained that Hamas values this aid and believes the Palestinians have the right to obtain it. He did not comment on the possibility of underlying political costs.

Mustafa al-Sawaf, a political analyst close to Hamas, confirmed to Al-Monitor that the aid provided by Dahlan with the support of the UAE is not innocent and has political goals on both ends. He explained that the responsible authorities in the Gaza Strip are aware of this, as no aid is given without a political cost.

He indicated that the return of several of the Democratic Reformist Currents leaders to Gaza after 14 years of absence is linked to the elections and to the settlement of their cases.

He said, Hamas aims to form a national unity list with all Palestinians for everyones benefit. If it cannot do that, it will participate in a single list, and it will succeed.

He ruled out that Dahlan would return to Gaza before the elections, as there are only a few weeks left to hold them.

Mukhaimer Abu Saada, a professor of political science at Al-Azhar University in Gaza, told Al-Monitor that Dahlans aid has been continuous to Gaza for several years, and it is unfair to link it to the elections. He believes the recent increase in aid aims at boosting Dahlans popularity and increasing his chances of obtaining 10 to 15% of the seats in the Palestinian Legislative Council if he manages to form a list that is not contested by the Electoral Court.

I expect Dahlan to form a list of independent figures, he said.

Abu Saada ruled out that the Palestinian Authority would receive vaccines from Dahlan, despite its need for them in light of the spike in coronavirus cases in the West Bank, due to political rivalries between the two parties.

He said, It is difficult to determine the extent of support for Dahlan in the Gaza Strip, given the lack of honest public opinion polls and because the Gaza Strip has not had any elections since 2006.

He expected Hamas to ally with Dahlan after the elections if the joint list between Fatah and Hamas has not been decided.

Hamas is playing on the differences between Abbas and Dahlan and is trying to use this to its advantage, he said.

For his part, political analyst and writer at the Palestinian al-Ayyam newspaper Talal Okal told Al-Monitor that Dahlan wants, through this aid, to send a message that he is a man of actions, not words, unlike the rest of the factions. He wants to cement his presence through actions tangible to Gazas citizens, he said, adding, Palestinians will not vote according to the political program, but rather on the basis of meeting their needs and saving them from the state of misery and siege.
An international team of scientists from the University of Turku, Finland and PennState University, USA have solved a long-standing mystery of how living organisms distinguish RNA and DNA building blocks during gene expression paving the way for the design of new antiviral drugs. The new insights were published in the journal Nature Communications.

All cellular organisms use two types of nucleic acids, RNA and DNA to store, propagate and utilize their genetic information. The synthesis of DNA is carried out by enzymes called DNA polymerases and is needed to accurately transfer the genetic information from generation to generation. Synthesis of RNA is carried out by enzymes called RNA polymerases and is needed to utilize the genetic information to ultimately produce proteins that in turn fulfil most structural and catalytic functions in all modern-day living organisms.

The ancient problem faced by RNA and DNA polymerases is that the DNA and RNA building blocks are very hard to distinguish. Those building blocks are identical except for a small part of the molecule, called the 2'OH group that is present in the RNA building blocks but is absent from the DNA building blocks.

DNA polymerases avoid using the RNA building blocks by featuring a cavity called the active site that is just big enough to bind the DNA building blocks but is too small to accommodate the slightly bigger RNA building blocks. As a result, only DNA building blocks bind to the active site cavity and get attached to the growing DNA polymer.

- RNA polymerases cannot use the same strategy because the smaller DNA building blocks will always fit into the same active site cavity as the RNA building blocks, explains Senior Researcher Georgi Belogurov.

RNA Polymerase Active Site Cavity Deforms the DNA Building Blocks

To understand how RNA polymerases avoid using DNA building blocks, a research team from the University of Turku headed by Belogurov performed complex biochemical measurements using RNA polymerases that were altered by carefully engineered mutations. At the same time, the research team at Penn State University, USA, led by Professor Katsuhiko Murakami obtained a detailed three-dimensional structure of RNA polymerase with the DNA building block.

By the combined analysis of the biochemical and structural data Doctoral Candidate Janne Makinen, the first author of the study, and his colleagues discovered that RNA polymerase evolved the active site cavity that deforms the DNA building blocks so that they are no longer suitable for incorporation into the RNA chain.

- The deformed DNA building blocks then dissociate from the RNA polymerase instead of being attached to the growing RNA polymer, says Makinen.

Human and Viral RNA Polymerases Select RNA Building Blocks Differently - Finding Enables Development of More Effective Antiviral Drugs

The study was financially supported by the Academy of Finland, Sigrid Juselius Foundation (Finland), and the National Institute of Health (USA) and has long-reaching implications for translational research.

- RNA viruses such as SARS-Cov-2 that is the causative agent of COVID-19 disease also synthesise RNA as a part of their infectious cycle. Viruses use their own RNA polymerases that are very different from RNA polymerases of the human cell but also need to select the RNA building blocks and reject the DNA building blocks, says Georgi Belogurov.

By careful comparison of the newly discovered selectivity mechanism with the findings of other research teams, Makinen and colleagues concluded that viral and human RNA polymerases use different mechanisms to reject the DNA building blocks. They suggest it may be possible to design a synthetic molecule similar to a DNA building block that would selectively bind and inhibit viral RNA polymerase but will be rejected by the human RNA polymerases and therefore will not interfere with the synthesis of RNAs needed by the human cell.

- This paves the way for the designing of potent and selective antiviral drugs targeting viral RNA polymerases, says Belogurov.

###

The article "The mechanism of the nucleo-sugar selection by multi-subunit RNA polymerases" was published in the journal Nature Communications.
Health official: 'We are very pleased with the decline in case numbers'
Even as concerns rise across the globe on the safety of the AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine, India has found it safe, saying the nationwide inoculation drive can continue. The AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine  called Covishield in India  is manufactured in the country by Pune-based Serum Institute of India, the worlds largest vaccine maker by volume.

A senior member of the national Adverse Events Following Immunisation (AEFI) committee said that of the 38 autopsy reports they have studied of people died after vaccination, they found nothing to link the deaths or adverse events to vaccination. There are 71 deaths. We have received 38 autopsy reports so far. There is nothing to suggest that these were linked to vaccination, said the person has been a part of the AEFI committee since 2008.

The person quoted above also said that review of adverse events post-vaccination is an ongoing process and is followed for each and every vaccine that is administered in the country like polio, measles etc. For Covishield, and even Covaxin, this review would continue. We expect to come out with a detailed review report in a day or two, the person said.

Meanwhile, V K Paul, member-health, NITI Aayog, said that while there were concerns regarding the relation of Astra Zeneca with thrombotic events, the European Medical Agency (EMA) has said that pausing the vaccination programme was a precautionary measure. Indias own group has been seized with this issue for the last few days and is tracking the matter in a systematic manner. We have no signal of concern in this regard.

Our programme with Covishield vaccination will go on with full vigour, Paul said during the weekly briefing on the Covid-19 situation in India.

Paul also said that the World Health Organization (WHO) has said while the investigation into this issue should go one, the scaling up of vaccines should not be suspended. Their advice is - go on, Paul said. We are mindful of the fact to address this concern based on the data available to us. We are also watching the information being made.

Dr Kate O'Brien, heads WHO's department of immunisations and vaccine, said on Wednesday that even if the health authorities found a link between blood clots and the vaccine, such cases are very rare. A WHO committee is looking into the issue.

The UN health agency and the EMA are investigating the possibility of a link between blood clots and the shots.

Several European nations including France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, Iceland, Austria, Estonia, Bulgaria, Romania, Estonia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, and Latvia have temporarily paused the use of the vaccine as precautionary measures. They are awaiting the results of the EMA investigation.

Earlier this week said that after a careful review of available safety data of more than 17 million people vaccinated in the EU and UK, the vaccine has shown no evidence of an increased risk of pulmonary embolism, deep vein thrombosis or thrombocytopenia.

A senior Mumbai-based doctor, who is part of the state Covid-19 task force and is monitoring the vaccination process closely, said that some cases of blood clots are common among the citizens.
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The Syracuse.com | The Post-Standard police blotter of arrests from police agencies around Central New York has been updated today.

Most of the new arrests are from the last couple weeks.

The police blotter is searchable by name, charge, date and agency. You can search current dates or find arrests made in the past.

Our database contains arrests from the current year and two years back.

Among the 207 new arrests are:

1 person charged with arson

7 people charged with sex crimes

8 people facing burglary charges

7 people charged with criminal obstruction of breathing or blood circulation

39 people facing drug-related charges

You can search the blotter here:

Information in the police blotter is provided by the arresting agencies. Arrests are also published in the Neighbors pages of The Post-Standard and is available in the ePost-Standard.

Contact Brenda Duncan anytime: 315-470-2265 | Email | Twitter
New Delhi, March 17 : In more trouble for MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira of the Punjab Ekta Party, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has sent a written complaint to the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) over Khaira violating the rules and protocols laid for Covid-19 patients.

An ED official related to the development told IANS, "The agency has written to the SSP Kapurthala alleging that Khaira flouted the Covid-19 guidelines as Onkar Singh, the PSO of the MLA was found Covid-19 positive on March 12, four days after the PSO's wife tested positive for the Covid-19 on March 8." The ED searched the premises of Khaira on March 9.

He said the ED wrote to SSP, Kapurthala on March 15.

In the letter to the SSP, which has been viewed by IANS, the ED said that Khaira claimed that Singh was present at his ancestral premises in Bholath town on the day of the ED searches.

It said, "Khaira violated the standard operating procedure by not ensuring mandatory quarantine of his PSO, whose wife ASI Raj Rani, is posted in Account Branch of the AIG CID, Jalandhar." "This irresponsible behaviour of Khaira eventually led to Singh testing positive on March 12. This in turn jeopardised the health and security of all security personnel present at the gate, the ED officials present inside the premises and, who also got in touch with security personnel posted outside the premises." The ED letter said that the financial probe agency follows all the SOPs mentioned by the Ministry of Home Affairs. "And the lapses in the SOPs committed by Khaira as mentioned above have caused deep concern regarding the well being of ED officials and their families." The ED in its letter also alleged that Manish Kumar, PA of Khaira during the ED searches and his questioning, was in the habit of removing his face mask.

In its letter the ED requested the Punjab Police to book Khaira for not complying with Covid-19 guidelines laid down by the government and jeopardising the well being of others around him.

The ED on March 9 carried out searches at eight locations linked to PEP MLA Khaira in Chandigarh, Punjab and also at the property of his son-in-law in Delhi in connection with the drug money laundering and fake passport racket case.

ED officials also carried out searches at the residence of Khaira's son-in-law Inder Veer Johal here in Delhi.

The ED official said that the searches at Khaira's premises were linked to the drugs case that was registered in Punjab's Fazilka after 1,800 grams of heroin, 24 gold biscuits, two weapons and some live cartridges, some Pakistani SIM cards were recovered. In that case, which was registered by the Punjab Police, conviction has already happened.

According to the ED, Khaira was associated with some of those convicted in this drugs case, and that was the reason why the financial probe agency carried out searches at his premises.

While in the fake passport racket case, Khaira has been associated with the people named in the case.

Khaira is a legislator from Bholath and former Leader of Opposition.

(Anand Singh can be contacted at anand.s@ians.in)

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
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Cayuse join forces with ARMS to drive innovation in research administrations.

FREMONT, CA: Cayuse, provider of the market-pioneering research administration cloud platform, partners with ARMS, the Australasian Research Management Society, as a Gold Corporate Partner for 2021. The company is very pleased to welcome Cayuse as its new Gold Corporate Partner. Both organizations share a common mission of allowing and empowering global research excellence. Therefore they see this collaboration as a natural fit for ARMS and the benefit of the members.

With the latest addition of Haplo to the Cayuse family, two additional innovative apps, Ph.D. Manager and Repository will now be available as part of the Cayuse Research Suite and on its cloud platform. These apps make a vital contribution to an already robust platform leveraged by hundreds of research teams across the globe today thats developed to streamline every stage of the research lifecycle.

Cayuse Platform is thrilled to be partnering with ARMS, as both firms share a common goal for supporting the research management profession by allowing researchers to focus on science and innovation. The company looks forward to working with the ARMS community. With the growing Australasian-based customers, comprise the University of Sydney, Australian Catholic University, and the University of Auckland to help create innovations, refine the offerings, and offer practical solutions that mitigate the research management challenge.

Cayuse provides an integrated, cloud-native research administration platform fueled by a suite of applications that enhance collaboration between researchers and administrators while optimizing every stage of the research lifecycle, from pre-award to post-award, compliance, and resource management. The Cayuse community of customers comprises academic institutions such as UCLA, the University of North Carolina, Ohio State, The National University of Singapore, and NYU, along with pharmaceutical and biotech firms like Eli Lilly and hospitals, government agencies, and non-profit firms.
Pakistan-China industrial cooperation enters a new phase

16:22, March 17, 2021 By Zamir Ahmed Awan ( People's Daily Online

The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is a flagship project of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Governments from both countries are committed to making it a success story and a role model for other nations. CPEC is an open-ended, flexible initiative, encompassing all sectors of the economy, including infrastructure, power generation and transmission, agriculture, as well as the social, health and industrial sectors.

Industrialization is one of Pakistan's priorities, and it is widely acknowledged that industrialization will rapidly boost economic development. Pakistan is blessed with an abundance of raw materials  minerals, mines, and agriculture. Pakistan's population is made up of 70% young people, which makes it a vast workforce for industrialization. With a population of around 220 million, the domestic market can justify industrialization. Above all, Pakistan is located at an important geostrategic location where major trade routes pass through, and Pakistan possesses an important overseas international market for exports. The Middle East, East Asia, Central Asia, and Africa are the countrys traditional export markets.

Photo taken on Jan. 29, 2018 shows a view of Gwadar Port in southwest Pakistan's Gwadar. (Xinhua/Ahmad Kamal)

The government of Pakistan has introduced attractive policies offering tax rebates and tax incentives to entrepreneurs. Special measures are taken to facilitate industrialization and provide protection to industrialists.

Making the most of these flexible and attractive policies, Pakistani and Chinese entrepreneurs are signing joint ventures. Many Chinese investors have recently allocated land for the setting up of industry in various Special Economic Zones (SEZs). Chinese investment is essential for Pakistan's ailing economy. Industrialization will create new jobs. Pakistan is producing around 1.5 million university graduates every year, all of whom are looking for jobs.

Industrialization will help reduce import bills, which have been a burden on Pakistan's economy. On the other hand, excess production will be exported to earn foreign exchange, something Pakistan greatly needs.

Chinese entrepreneurs with an abundance of capital are experienced and technically very sound. Chinese investors are exploring overseas markets in a bid to "go global", and Pakistan is an ideal destination for them. More and more Chinese investors are expected to invest in Pakistans industrial sector.

Prime Minister Imran Khan is likely to inaugurate the Rashakai Special Economic Zone very soon, said officials from the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Economic Zones Development and Management Company (KP-EZDMC) on Wednesday.

The Rashakai Special Economic Zone is a flagship project of the KP government that is being executed under the CPEC.

Final touches are being made to the arrangements for the inauguration, and the Prime Minister has been invited as the main guest for the occasion. The project is situated on the Peshawar-Islamabad Motorway.

The project has received an unprecedented response from both local and foreign investors, with 1,800 investors having applied for the 1,000 acres of land available, looking for thousands of acres of land to establish industrial units in the zone.

A Chinese company will also be making an investment of US$466 million in the Rashakai Special Economic Zone.

Besides an investment potential of Rs.4 trillion, the project will generate thousands of employment opportunities for the local population.

Rashakai was one of the 37 zones proposed as Special Economic Zones (SEZs) in Pakistan's provinces announced under the CEPC.

Rashakai SEZ enjoys a unique competitive advantage due to its close proximity to the CPEC route's first juncture, close location with Peshawar, Islamabad airports, and ML-I, besides being a significant resource manufacturing base that makes it an attractive destination for domestic and international investors to capture local and international markets.

Zamir Ahmed Awan is a senior fellow with the Center for China and Globalization (CCG) and a sinologist at the National University of Sciences and Technology in Pakistan. E-mail: [email protected]
Photo: The Canadian Press Department of Homeland Security officers talk to the driver of a bus carrying migrant children and teenagers from the southern border of the United States as it waits to enter the site of a temporary holding facility that opened on Sunday, March 14, 2021 south of Midland, Texas. (Eli Hartman/Odessa American via AP)

A surge of migrants on the Southwest border has the Biden administration on the defensive, with the head of Homeland Security acknowledging the depth of the problem Tuesday but insisting its under control and saying he wont revive a Trump-era practice of immediately expelling teens and children.

The number of migrants being stopped at the U.S.-Mexico border has been rising steadily since last April, and the administration is still rapidly expelling most single adults and families under a public health order issued by President Donald Trump at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. But it is allowing teens and children to stay, at least temporarily, and they have been coming in ever larger numbers.

More than 4,000 migrant children were being held by the Border Patrol custody as of Sunday, including at least 3,000 in custody longer than the 72-hour limit set by a court order, according to a U.S. official. The agency took in an additional 561 on Monday, twice the recent average, according to a second official. Both spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss figures not yet publicly released.

It has put President Joe Biden in a difficult spot, blasted by Republicans for what they view as encouragement to illegal border crossers and by some Democrats over the the prolonged detention of minors. It's also a challenge to his effort to overhaul the broader Trump policies that sought to curtail both legal and illegal immigration.

The situation at the southwest border is difficult, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas conceded Tuesday in his most extensive remarks to date on the subject. We are working around the clock to manage it and we, will continue to do so. That is our job.

The number of migrants attempting to cross the border is at the highest level since March 2019, with Mayorkas warning that it is on pace to hit a 20-year peak for the year.

The number of children crossing by themselves, mostly from Central America, appears to be surging in particular in the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas. The Border Patrol took in 280 there alone on Monday.

The total of 561 unaccompanied minors from Monday offers a snapshot of how quickly conditions have changed along the border. That was up 60% from the daily average in February, one of the officials said. In May 2019, during the last surge, the one-day peak was 370 teens and children.

Children and teens crossing by themselves rose 60% from this January to more than 9,400 in February, according to the most recent statistics released publicly by U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

The Health and Human Services Department plans to open shelter facilities at Moffett Federal Airfield near San Francisco and in Pecos, Texas, to handle the flow. It is also looking to expand a facility in Donna, Texas, in the Rio Grande Valley, to hold 2,000.

Also, the Dallas Convention Center is scheduled to begin holding children as early as Wednesday with plans to accommodate up to 3,000. Another makeshift holding centre in Midland, Texas, that opened last weekend for 700 children had 485 on Monday.

Some of the increase in adults is due to people who are repeatedly caught after being expelled under the public health order issued last year to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. Other factors include economic upheaval caused by the pandemic and recent hurricanes that worsened living conditions in Central America. Officials say its also likely that smugglers have encouraged people to try to cross under the new administration.

Mayorkas said the a surge in the number of children is a challenge for the Border Patrol and other agencies amid the coronavirus pandemic. But he rejected a Trump-era policy of sending them immediately back to Mexico or other countries.

They are vulnerable children and we have ended the prior administrations practice of expelling them, Mayorkas said.

Though there have been previous migrant surges, including under Trump, Republicans in Congress say that Bidens support for new immigration legislation and his decision to allow people to make legal asylum claims have become a magnet for migrants.

At a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing Tuesday, Sen. Jim Inhofe held up a photo of a small crowd of demonstrators in Tijuana, Mexico, wearing matching T-shirts with the words Biden, Please Let us in that circulated widely on social media in recent days.

Theyre all coming across the border, theyre coming fast, and theyre wearing Biden T-shirts, said the Oklahoma Republican.

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy led a delegation of a dozen Republican lawmakers on Monday to the border in Texas and blamed the Biden administration for driving an increase in migrants by actions that include supporting legislation in Congress that would provide a path to citizenship for millions of undocumented people now in the country and halting border wall construction.

The sad part about all of this is it didnt have to happen. This crisis was created by the presidential policies of this new administration, McCarthy said.

Biden pushed back in an interview Tuesday with ABCs George Stephanopoulos, noting previous surges under Trump and pointing out that his administration has been trying to discourage people from crossing while it works to restore an asylum system undermined by his predecessor. I heard the other day that theyre coming because they know Im a nice guy. Yeah, well heres the deal. Theyre not.

Trump did, in fact, confront a similar surge in 2019 even as he rushed to expand the border wall system along the border and forced people seeking asylum to do so in Central America or remain in Mexico. A year earlier he forcibly separated migrant children from their families as part of a zero-tolerance campaign that became one of the most significant political challenges of his administration.

The Biden administration is allowing migrants who are under 18 years old and cross by themselves to remain in the country while the government decides whether they have a legal claim to residency, either under asylum law or for some other reason.

Mayorkas noted that 80% of the minors, most of whom are from the three Northern Triangle countries of Central America, have relatives in the U.S. and 40% have a parent. These are children being reunited with their families who will care for them, he said.

The Biden administration last week ended a Trump policy that made relatives reluctant to contact HHS to retrieve children for fear of being deported themselves.

Besides setting up new temporary facilities to house migrant children, it is also backing aid to Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador to try to stem the flow of migrants at the source.

Mayorkas took swipes at the previous administration for dismantling an asylum system that would have enabled a more orderly immigration system, cutting aid to Central America and failing to vaccinate Border Patrol agents.

Also, he said the Biden administration is working to make the asylum process shorter and to make it possible to petition from an applicant's home country rather than make a dangerous and uncertain journey. We have no illusions about how hard it is, he said, and we know it will take time.
Chandigarh, March 17 : Ahead of the crucial Assembly elections in Punjab scheduled in less than a year's time, a much-awaited meeting was held between Chief Minister Amarinder Singh and Navjot Singh Sidhu at the former's private resort near here on Wednesday.

This was the second meeting between the two leaders after Sidhu resigned from the state Cabinet in 2019.

The meeting was held over evening tea and lasted for nearly 45 minutes. While there is no official word yet from the Chief Minister's Office on the meeting, the media advisor to the CM, Raveen Thukral, shared a picture of the two leaders on his Twitter handle with the caption, "A picture is worth a thousand words".

Simultaneously, Sidhu tweeted in his poetic style by saying, "Azad raho vicharoan se lekin raho sanskaroan se..." It is learnt that the meeting is likely to have cleared the way for re-induction of Sidhu into the state Cabinet.
A North Carolina company has recalled its Heal the World brand of hand sanitizer because the packaging looks like a water bottle.

According to an announcement with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, there is a concern that someone may drink the hand sanitizer.

Ingesting hand sanitizer, which is intended for topical use, could potentially result in alcohol toxicity, the FDA said.

Symptoms of alcohol toxicity may range from lack of coordination, slowed or slurred speech, drowsiness to coma, which can be fatal. Furthermore, ingesting alcohol can affect the brain and cause impaired driving or operating heavy machinery. Alcohol can also interact with numerous drugs which may result in serious adverse effects. Ingesting alcohol by people with alcohol addiction may interfere with maintaining abstinence. Additionally, people with alcohol addiction may seek large amounts of ethanol-based hand sanitizers as a substitute.

The company, PNHC, LLC, of Raleigh, N.C., has recalled all lots of the hand sanitizer in 9.6-ounce bottles.

Product details are:

Heal the World hand sanitizer, 9.6-ounces, NDC number 73333-285-01 and lot numbers SAA21, SAA24, SAA27, SAA22, SAA23, SAA29, SAA26, SAA28, SAA25, SAA32, SAA55, SAA56, SAA44 and SAA60

The hand sanitizer was distributed to select retailers nationwide. While the sanitizer has not been available for sale for several months, people who bought it can return it to the place of purchase for a refund.

For more information, call PNHC, LLC at 813-434-0741 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. EST, weekdays.

The FDA for more than a year has been warning consumers about hand sanitizers that have proliferated during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The FDA keeps a list of hand sanitizers to avoid because of toxic ingredients and other issues.

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The leading customer experience company wins Gold for Outsourced Contact Centre of the Year for Sitel Serbia and Silver for Best Voice of the Employee Programme for Sitel MAX

COVENTRY, United Kingdom, March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Sitel Group , a global leader in end-to-end customer experience (CX) products and solutions, today announced it has won two awards in two different categories in the 20th European Contact Centre & Customer Service Awards (ECCCSAs) during its virtual event on March 16.

In its 20th, the ECCCSAs is the longest running and largest awards programme in the customer contact industry. The awards recognise organisations across Europe that are leading the way in delivering exceptional service to customers.

As a global leader in CX management, Sitel Group delivers more than 4.5 million experiences every day. As a result of the company's innovative approach to CX and dedication to improving the customer and employee experience one interaction at a time, they have been named as a winner in the following categories:

Best Voice of the Employee Programme, Silver

Outsourced Contact Centre of the Year - Sitel Serbia, Gold

"The ECCCSAs are known for being the gold star for industry recognition across Europe so we are honored to win these two awards," said Olivier Camino, Global COO and Co-Founder, Sitel Group. "Sitel Group wouldn't be the company it is today if it weren't for our incredible associates and employees around the world who strive to deliver exceptional customer experiences. Without them, especially the outstanding and dedicated teams we have in EMEA, this recognition would not be possible."

To learn more about the ECCCSAs please click here .

About Sitel Group

As a global leader in end-to-end customer experience (CX) products and solutions, Sitel Group partners with the world's best-loved brands, from Fortune 500 companies to local startups, to design, build and deliver a competitive edge across all customer touchpoints.

With 90,000 people working across the globe - at home, in contact centers and within MAXhubs - we securely connect brands with their customers over 4.5 million times every day in 50+ languages, driving our clients' digital CX strategies forward. Powered by our global strength, local expertise and proprietary technologies, we deliver tailored solutions to fit clients' needs through a consultative, customer-centric approach.

EXP+, Sitel Group's Enterprise Experience Platform, is a flexible solution with complete cloud capability, designed to simplify the delivery of end-to-end CX services, while boosting efficiency, effectiveness and customer satisfaction. EXP+ creates a robust ecosystem by harnessing the power of four connected product families: Empower, Engage, Explore and Evolve.

With our award-winning culture built on 35+ years of industry-leading experience and commitment to improving the employee experience, we improve business results by pairing innovative design thinking and digital solutions - including self-service, artificial intelligence (AI), automation and data-driven analytics - with the expertise, emotion and empathy of our people to Create Connection. Value Conversation.

Learn more at www.sitel.com and connect with us on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.

Media Contact:

media@sitel.com

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New Delhi, March 17 : Redmi India, a sub-brand of Mi India, on Wednesday announced the brand's foray into the Smart TV category with the launch of Redmi Smart TV X series.

The smart TV series by Redmi includes the Redmi Smart TV X65, Smart TV X55 and Smart TV X50. All three smart televisions feature the same specifications but come in three different screen sizes.

The Redmi Smart TV X series starts at Rs 32,999 for the 50-inch variant, Rs 38,999 for the 55-inch option and Rs 57,999 for the 65-inch variant. The new Smart TV X series will go on sale on Amazon and Mi.com, Mi Home and Mi Studios from March 26 at 12 noon and it will also be made available in offline retail stores later on.

"India today has 170 million households with a television but less than 20million homes own Smart TVs. We launched our range of Mi TVs over three years ago and have been leading the Smart TV market since the past 10 consecutive quarters," Raghu Reddy, Chief Business Officer, Mi India said in a statement.

The Redmi Smart TV X series comes with 4K HDR technology and Dolby Vision and also support HDR 10+.

The audio output is 30W with support for DTS Virtual: X, DTS-HD, Dolby Audio, Dolby Atmos Pass through via e-ARC. It runs the 64-bit quad-core A55 CPU coupled with Mali G52 MP2 and has 2GB RAM + 16GB Storage.

The TVs run on Android 10 out of the box and also come with Xiaomi's PatchWall UI.

The Redmi TV comes with three HDMI 2.1 enabled ports all of which bring ALLM. One of the HDMI ports also supports eARC to connect Dolby Atmos soundbar or home theatre to the TV.

New TVs come with two USB ports, one optical port and a 3.5mm port. It also supports Bluetooth 5.0 and dual-band Wi-Fi.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Delivery workers load parcels onto trucks at a logistics hub in Seoul in this March 17, 2020 photo. Yonhap



By Lee Hyo-jin



The government will allow the employment of foreign nationals at logistics companies for tasks limited to sorting parcels and loading them onto trucks, as part of its response to the chronic labor shortage in the industry.



The Ministry of Justice made a prior announcement about a revision to the enforcement ordinance of the Immigration Control Act, Tuesday, on expanding the category of workplaces allowing foreign nationals with the H-2 working visit visa, which is issued to certain overseas Koreans aged 25 or older.



Under the current measures, H-2 visa holders can be hired in 39 designated industry categories, such as manufacturing, livestock and fisheries in workplaces with less than 300 employees.



The revision will expand the category of available workplaces for them to include logistics hubs, fruit and vegetable wholesale centers, meat transportation and mining.



The ministry noted that the tasks for foreign workers in the logistics industry will be limited to loading and unloading at sub terminals.



The government decision comes amid growing calls from logistics companies to ease regulations on hiring foreign nationals in order to resolve manpower shortages, which are due to the intense workload of the job.



Local labor groups had been against the plan to allow foreign workers in the industry, saying that improvement of the poor working conditions at logistics firms should be the priority. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, for its part, had opposed the revision out of concern that an influx of foreign labor could decrease job opportunities for Korean nationals.



In response to the ministry's announcement, foreign workers' communities insisted that inclusion of migrant workers should follow the establishment of a safe working environment without industrial accidents or excessive workloads.



The logistics industry has drawn scrutiny for its harsh working conditions and heavy workloads, with deaths of several couriers reported due to apparent overwork.



"Including migrant workers in the job sector should be done after establishing a safe working environment, as all workers, regardless of their nationality, shouldn't be put at risk of industrial accidents or overwork," said Ko Gi-bok, head of the Joint Committee with Migrants in Korea.



Shekh al Mamun, a senior member of the migrant workers' union under the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) said, "During past discussions with the labor ministry on including foreign workers in the logistics sector, we stressed that foreign workers should be hired in the industry only after labor issues regarding the deaths from apparent overwork are resolved."



The justice ministry plans to collect opinions from experts and the public on the matter until April 26, after which the scheme will be discussed at a Cabinet meeting.


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The Internal Revenue Service plans to delay this year's tax filing deadline by roughly a month, to mid-May.

Democratic Reps. Bill Pascrell of New Jersey and Richard Neal of Massachusetts, the chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, said that the new deadline would be May 17. The IRS late Wednesday put out a statement confirming the date change.

An official familiar with the plans earlier told CNN the decision was made in order to allow filers more time to navigate tax situations complicated by the coronavirus pandemic.

There has been growing bipartisan support to extend the deadline. Lawmakers, led by Pascrell along with Democratic Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland and Republican Sen. Mike Crapo of Idaho, had urged the move, citing the pandemic.

Bloomberg was first to report the news of the deadline delay.

Last year, the IRS moved the deadline to July 15, giving Americans an additional three months to file their taxes.

'Almost a year later, we are still grappling with the massive economic, logistical and health challenges wrought by this devastating pandemic,' wrote Raskin and Pascrell in a letter sent to the IRS earlier this week.

In a separate statement, Crapo noted that major Covid stimulus bills passed by Congress over the past year have made several changes to the tax system.

'The various coronavirus relief programs created over the last year, including the bill signed into law just last week, have resulted in a large amount of extra paperwork for taxpayers this year and have required tax preparation firms to constantly update their systems,' Crapo said.

Delays are already piling up

As of March 5, the IRS had yet to process 6.7 million of the 2020 returns that had been filed since February 12. It had processed nearly 49 million. The agency has processed about 88% of the returns it received compared with 96% on roughly the same time frame last year.

In addition to processing tax returns, the IRS is also in the process of sending out a third round of about 150 million stimulus payments. As of Wednesday, about 90 million had been sent out.

The $1.9 trillion Covid relief bill signed into law by President Joe Biden also directs the IRS to send out periodic payments for an expanded child tax credit, as well as handle several other changes like waiving income taxes on up to $10,200 in unemployment benefits received in 2020 for households earning less than $150,000, helping laid-off workers who faced surprise tax bills on their jobless benefits.

The IRS has yet to provide guidance to the jobless who have already filed their 2020 tax returns. If the agency can't come up with an automatic way to adjust returns reporting unemployment income, filers may have to send in amended returns, although the IRS is not recommending they do so at this time.

The IRS recently provided instructions and a worksheet for those who have yet to complete their 2020 returns and who will report unemployment compensation. It guides the jobless through filling out the correct amounts on Schedule 1 of Form 1040.

Backers of this provision are among those who urged the IRS to delay the filing deadline.

Still working through last year's backlog

The agency started the year already behind. At the end of December, it still had millions of tax year 2019 returns to be processed. Many IRS workers were sent to work from home during the pandemic, leading to a backlog of paper returns. At one point last year, the pile up of unopened mail had to be kept in trailers.

'They are already behind,' said Nina Olson, who previously served as the IRS' national taxpayer advocate and is now executive director of the Center for Taxpayer Rights.

'They didn't get through all of the 2020 work before they had to start the 2021 filing season. So this year is going to be a real challenge,' she added.

The IRS further extended the federal tax deadline to June 15 for people in Texas, Oklahoma and Louisiana who were hit hard by February storms.

Even though the IRS extended its deadline, that doesn't mean individual states will. If they don't, that means that filers in those states may need to file by April 15 anyway, unless they file for an automatic extension.

That's because states often use one's federal adjusted gross income or federal taxable income as the starting point to determine a filer's income subject to state taxes.

At the moment, Maryland is the only state to have extended its filing deadline, to July 15. Other states have stuck with their original filing date, which is April 15 in most instances, according to the Federation of Tax Administrators.

Some states' current dates differ. They are Hawaii, April 20; Delaware and Iowa, April 30; Virginia, May 3; and Louisiana, May 17.

This story has been updated with additional details Wednesday.
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Suppliers should set the payments so that customers credit balance returns to 0 each year on the anniversary of when they started the payments

Energy suppliers will have to repay money overpaid by direct debit customers every year under new proposals from regulator Ofgem.

The regulator said that at its last count 1.4bn of customers' money was held by the energy providers due to lags in adjusting for overpayments collected through direct debits.

Ofgem said all that money at least would have to be returned, an amount it estimated as being worth 65 per customer though consumer groups say the number is often many times that,

Suppliers base their monthly deduction on an estimate of annual consumption, but Ofgem said that monthly payment should be adjusted over the course of a year as the actual amount of energy used becomes clearer.

Suppliers should set the payments so that customers credit balance returns to 0 each year on the anniversary of when they started the payments, Ofgem said.

However, many customers who pay by fixed direct debit are overpaying resulting in surplus credit balances.

The auto-refund policy would require suppliers to refund any credit balances, for domestic credit customers paying by fixed direct debit, above 0 each year on the anniversary of when they started their contract, Ofgem added.

Jonathan Brearley, the regulators chief executive, said: These new proposals would ensure that suppliers are not holding onto more of customers money than absolutely necessary, potentially returning millions of pounds of customers money.

This is an important step in making the retail energy market fairer for consumers at a time when many are facing financial hardship.

Shares in British Gas owner ( ) were little changed at 56.3p.
Seth Narh, the father of one of the kids who drowned at the Apam beach, is still in a state of denial over his son, Benjamin Narhs death.



According to Mr Narh, who is based in Spain, he arrived in Ghana a few weeks ago with the now deceased and his twin brother expected to travel with him.



I have visited Ghana on countless occasions but this is the first time I am coming for my boys to live with them abroad but the unthinkable happened, he disclosed.



I am done with all the documents and have even purchased a ticket for them so we should have been there by now as the date for our departure was on the 12th of March Sunday but it was rather unfortunate that I have lost one, he said sadly.



Speaking in an interview at the mass burial held on Tuesday, March 16, 2021, he disclosed he is now left with no option than to go with the twin.



I have postponed the date for our travel due to what has happened, so I will be going with Benjamins twin brother, I have no choice, Mr Narh added.



The deceased was part of some 20 teenagers believed to be between the ages of 13 and 17, who drowned after swimming in the sea at Apam, in the Central Region, on Sunday, March 7, 2021.





Source: adomonline.com









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In Bangkok, Thailand (Photo: Xinhua)

Jakarta  The ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) recently held its first virtual Partnership Conference themed Towards Post-COVID Recovery and Resilience in ASEAN to strengthen cross-pillar and cross-sectoral coordination among ASEAN, its stakeholders and partners in realising the ASEAN Comprehensive Recovery Framework.

The event attracted 222 delegates, including leaders of ASCC, Committee of Permanent Representatives to ASEAN, representatives of ASEAN sectoral dialogue partners, development partners, UN agencies, international organisations, and the ASEAN Secretariat.

In his opening remarks, Deputy Secretary General of ASEAN for ASCC Kung Phoak emphasised that the regions recovery efforts must be done in a systematic and coordinated way, in concert with stakeholders and partners. He reiterated that these major tasks cannot be accomplished by the ASEAN governments alone.

Chair of Senior Officials Committee for the ASCC (SOCA) Hajah Nor Ashikin Binti Haji Johari further underscored that the Partnership Conference would maximise existing resources to implement the identified priorities of the Coordinating Conference on the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community. These priorities are aligned with Bruneis ASEAN Chairmanship theme, placing peoples well-being as ASEANs top overall agenda.

The 15 ASCC Sectoral Bodies presented their priority areas and identified relevant activities planned for the next five years that would promote a sense of regional agenda and sustain the ASCC building efforts towards post-pandemic recovery.

Representatives from partner countries and organisations recognised the shared commitments of the ASCC Sectoral Bodies and ascertained areas of mutual interest for potential collaboration.

They further underscored the importance of a whole-ASEAN approach to ensure that interventions are not only effective but also sustainable.

In closing, delegates expressed confidence that the dialogue will further lead to concrete actions between ASCC Sectoral Bodies and partners, in laying the groundwork for ASEANs post-COVID efforts, in the spirit of a community that is caring, prepared and prosperous in all its actions.
Gov. Phil Murphy will hold his first coronavirus press conference in a week this afternoon at the Trenton War Memorial.

The briefing inside the George Washington Ballroom starts at 1 p.m. and will be streamed live on the governors YouTube.com channel.

Murphy will be joined by state health commissioner Judy Persichilli, coronavirus advisor Dr. Eddy Bresnitz, State Police Superintendent Colonel Pat Callahan, and acting Department of Education Commissioner Dr. Angelica Allen-McMillan.

New Jerseys vaccination sites have administered at least one shot to 3,113,422 as of of 4:30 p.m. Tuesday. The state is including the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine in the first dose totals. At least 1,040,740 have received two Moderna or Pfizer shots and are fully vaccinated.

Transportation workers, public safety personnel, members of tribal communities, migrant farmworkers, and those who are homeless in New Jersey became eligible Monday to receive the vaccine, while the state also added 11 pre-existing conditions to the eligibility list.

Teachers and day care workers were set to become eligible Monday, as well but were moved up earlier this month. Other essential workers, including restaurant employees, will become eligible March 29.

There were 1,895 patients in the states 71 hospitals with the coronavirus or a suspected case as of 10 p.m., Tuesday, a decrease from the 1,902 in the previous 24-hour period.

There were 407 people receiving critical care with 231 on ventilators, according to the department of healths COVID-19 dashboard.

Hospitalizations have dropped 45.8% since Jan 1.

Murphy disclosed another 3,141 cases of the coronavirus and 41 additional deaths on Tuesday.

At 6:30 p.m. the governor will be at the Prudential Center in Newark to participate in the graduation ceremony for the 161st class of New Jersey State Police troopers.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

NJ Advance Media staff writer Matt Arco contributed to this report.

Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com.
As Victoria notches up its 20th day of no new locally acquired coronavirus cases, authorities are urging eligible Victorians to wait three weeks before trying to book a COVID-19 jab at one of 285 nominated GP surgeries across the state.

Some Victorian GPs reported being swamped on Wednesday by people wanting vaccines, after the federal government released a list of the first GP clinics that will deliver AstraZeneca vaccinations to 6 million most-at-risk Australians from Monday under stage 1b of the rollout.

Australians eligible for the vaccine under stage 1b include those aged over 70, more healthcare and front-line workers and people with certain medical conditions.

The release led to a flood of calls to clinics across the country, with the website incorrectly telling people their local GPs only took phone bookings.
The long-awaited implementation of mobile money is believed to enable banking-like solutions for those previously unbanked. Photo: Le Toan

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc last week greenlit the two-year pilot application of mobile money, which allows the use of mobile phone accounts to pay for small-value goods and services. Following Decision No.316/QD-TTg, telecom service providers will have to build and send dossiers to the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) for consideration and appraisal.

According to Nguyen Son Hai, deputy general director of state-owned telecom group VNPT, it is preparing technology, technical infrastructure, and its workforce to run mobile money services once it is approved to join the pilot programme.

Besides experience in intermediary payment service provision, VNPT is equipped with the technology, connection infrastructure, security, and authentication technology equivalent to the banking system. We have teamed up with partners to offer internal training for staff. Thus, we can quickly deploy the new mobile money programme, he added.

Compared with other competitors, VNPT has a competitive edge in the pilot programme due to its complete digital financial ecosystem. The VNPTPay e-wallet boasts nearly 50,000 points of sale across the country. In 2020, the e-wallet was integrated into the National Public Service Portal. It is one of the top online payment service providers through the portal.

The group has also completed the full technology suit necessary to build up an inclusive service ecosystem, including an education network (VnEdu), hospital management software service (VNPT HIS), one-stop gate software VNPT-iGate, and more.

Meanwhile, MobiFone officially received License No.09/GP-NHNN from the SBV for providing the intermediary payment service last week. This is deemed a necessary and sufficient condition for MobiFone to join the race for mobile money trial implementation.

Bui Son Nam, deputy general director of MobiFone, said that mobile money is the last piece of MobiFones digital ecosystem. Payment intermediaries and mobile money are important components in the overall strategy of MobiFone to accelerate digital transformation and expand business outside of telecommunications, as well as develop an e-commerce, payment, and finance ecosystem.

Nam further noted that MobiFone has ramped up its preparation for mobile money service provision early. MobiFone features a wide coverage of transaction points nationwide so the group can develop and diversify its structure of products, services, and customer base in the new field. MobiFone is ready to connect with transaction points accepting mobile money services.

New tipping point

Likewise, military-run Viettel Group has fully prepared to roll out the mobile money service after being greenlit. The group has built payment acceptance infrastructure and a service delivery system from urban to rural and remote areas. A practical digital ecosystem has also been formed, including digital payment and digital financial services, and e-commerce based on digital payments.

In particular, ViettelPay has over 100 features, serving as a solid foundation for Viettel to launch mobile money. ViettelPay now serves over 10 million customers, backed up by technology certificates and meeting international security standards.

Viettel expects that by 2025 it will boast 26 million subscribers using the mobile money service. Meanwhile, its revenue from the service is estimated to reach VND7-8 trillion ($305-350 million) per month by 2025.

Pham Trung Kien, CEO of Viettel Digital, expressed his optimism that mobile money adoption will be the tipping point for non-cash usage in Vietnam. That means that overnight, any mobile phone users living in Vietnam has at their disposal the utilisation of contactless payment through mobile money services, Kien said.

According to the SBV, Vietnam now has 89 million personal payment accounts, which means nearly 70 per cent of adults have bank accounts. However, the remaining 30 per cent have difficulties in accessing banking services.

Vietnamese regulators are trying to create an open and level playing field for mobile money and cashless payment services, which will allow both banks and non-bank providers to offer these services. The long-awaited implementation of mobile money is estimated to make non-cash payments accessible for more than 50 per cent of the underbanked and non-banked population in Vietnam.

Slow development

However, Marcin Miller, associate partner of consultancy McKinsey Vietnam, stated that mobile money is unlikely to generate a huge buzz in the e-payment landscape.

First and foremost, the success of mobile money has only occurred in certain geographical areas, mainly in Africa  for example in Kenya, where smartphone penetration is very low and people are still struggling in penetrating into a proper banking infrastructure.

In Vietnam, the rate of smartphone usage in cities is 85 per cent, in rural areas 65 per cent. So when most people have access to e-wallets on mobile devices, why should they use mobile money? he asked.

Secondly, Miller noted, the poor and underdeveloped banking infrastructure in Africa is the key silver lining in the functions success on this continent.

However, even in rural areas of Vietnam, the coverage of bank branches is fairly good, which is in stark contrast to the situation in some African countries such as Kenya. Many more people can reach a bank branch easily, unlike people in rural Africa, with its own set of challenges.

Although Miller of McKinsey believed that mobile money will not make rapid changes or explosive growth in the e-payment landscape in Vietnam, this service will still lay the concrete foundation to bolster digital financial services in many areas of the market.

The BIDV Securities Company team emphasised that mobile money does not mean that banks or any payment intermediaries will lose their market share.

According to the latest regulations, businesses providing mobile money services are prohibited from performing traditional banking activities, such as lending and raising capital. At the same time, businesses are only allowed to provide mobile money services to transfer money and pay for legal goods and services in Vietnam, only for domestic transactions and not for any cross-border transactions.

Mobile money is not a competitor to banks, said Nguyen Dinh Thang, former chairman of the Board at LienVietPostBank.

In his perspective, banks may witness a downward trend of profit generated from payment of electricity and water bills.

But instead, banks should focus on their major advantages which e-wallets or any payment intermediaries are not licensed, such as savings mobilisation, lending, and providing financial advices. The more people use mobile money, the greater cashless payment perception is enhanced, Thang said.

On the other hand, Vietnam has been top among the most beneficiaries of remittances for the past few years. Recipients previously preferred receiving foreign currency in cash, but due to the COVID-19 crisis, they are encouraged to receive Vietnamese currency via bank accounts.

With the adoption of mobile money, market watchdogs expect that it will further facilitate international remittances in a safe and responsible manner, while reducing the risks of money laundering and terrorism financing.

Elsewhere, in Africa and other developing countries, traditional money transfer operators are also working with mobile money providers. Western Union has joined forces with Safaricom M-PESA in Kenya and PayMaya in the Philippines to provide cash transfer services through mobile. Bangladesh-based bKash mobile money is also collaborating with Mastercard to deliver remittance services.

Currently, Viettel Global  Viettels foreign subsidiary- operates in Cambodia, Laos, Timor Leste, Mozambique, Burundi, Haiti, Peru, Cameroon, Tanzania and Myanmar. It is predicted that Viettels new implementation of mobile money in Vietnam could further pave the way for its digital payment platform in Africa through mobile subscribers  a bid to compete with other international telecom giants.

While Vietnamese regulators have yet announced any international firms joining its mobile money programme, it could still eventually become a lucrative landscape for foreigners to latch onto.
Sticking to our guns is more admirable when we do it than when they do it. Thats why the Greek historian Herodotus praised the 300 Spartans slain in 480 B.C. for bravely refusing to surrender to King Xerxes huge Persian army at the Battle of Thermopylae, and Americans still memorialize the suicidal courage of outnumbered Texans massacred by the Mexican army at the Alamo in 1836.

Its said, History is written by the winners, which is why Americans are unlikely to remember fanatical death cults such as ISIS or the kamikazes as heroes. However, history is not always written by the winners. After the Civil War, Southern historians mythologized the Confederacys failed insurgency, promoting the malignant legend of the Lost Cause, which Ulysses S. Grant called, one of the worst for which a people ever fought, and one for which there was the least excuse. That Cause was states rights  specifically, their God-given right to enslave, abuse and sell ones fellow human beings.

The godliness of this cause was reinforced by the powerful, pro-slavery Southern Baptist church, which had formed in a schism with Northern abolitionist Christians. The Rebels could cite Old Testament guidance on how to treat ones slaves, as well as St. Pauls admonition, Slaves, obey your masters (Ephesians 6:5). And Jesus, who often spoke out against social injustice, never once condemned slavery. (The Confederates were also convinced they couldnt be beaten by the North, because one Southern gentleman was worth 10 Yankees, which made their surrender at Appomattox an unbearable outcome.)

Germanys defeat 50 years later in World War I engendered a similar lost-cause mentality. Appalled at being crushed militarily by the Allies, many Prussians came to believe in The Stab in the Back, which blamed the debacle on spineless politicians and, of course, the Jews. Exacerbated by the punitive armistice (aka the Diktat) imposed by the Treaty of Versailles in 1919, anger at this alleged betrayal abetted Hitlers rise in the 1930s.

The Nazis would come to worship a messianic Fuhrer who vowed never to allow them to be humiliated again. This cult of personality and the lust to make Germany great again kept them fighting long after their cities had been razed and their defeat was inevitable. At the Asian end of the Axis, the Bushido code, based on Japans militaristic Shinto religion and the cult worship of Emperor Hirohito, made giving up unthinkable, even with Japanese cities in ruins, and its once-invincible military routed worldwide.

A few decades later, we adopted a lost cause of our own. Based on the fallacy of American exceptionalism in which the United States wins every war it undertakes, we blamed our defeat in Vietnam on the politicians, as well as the liberal media. The myth that they wouldnt let us win surfaced in Reagan-era movies of the 1980s, such as the Rambo series. During the past four years of phony hyper-patriotism, the pendulum has swung. Ive heard Vietnam vets who once regretted their tours in Southeast Asia and envied the draft dodgers, now boast proudly about their service and condemn those who had denied the United States a victory. This stab-in-the-back attitude toward lost causes can make ones grasp of reality dubious.

Just in case he lost, Donald Trump insisted the 2016 election was rigged before the first votes were cast. Despite winning the electoral college, he pretended the popular vote, which he lost by 3 million, had been stolen. In 2020, he claimed, The only way were going to lose this election is if the election is rigged. After losing it bigly, it became obvious the Kool-Aid of Cult 45 impairs the critical thinking of those who have drunk it.

Logic is a major casualty of what deluded right-wingers call The Steal. Typical is this Facebook meme, repeatedly posted by Trump cultists: 133 million registered voters in USA. Trump 74 million. That leaves 59 million. So how did Biden get 81 million? (The implication is Bidens tally must have been fake, but, to no ones surprise, a Reuters fact check showed there were actually 206 million registered voters.)

The total number of ballots aside, that addled meme makes no sense anyway, because this formulation is necessarily equally logical: 133 million registered voters in USA. Biden 81 million. That leaves 52 million. So how did Trump get 74 million? I have no trouble believing that, although the amoral liars and traitors in the Trump camp were in a better position to rig the 2020 election than the Democrats, they could still lose in a landslide. Nonetheless, despite the recounts and lost lawsuits, including those decided by Trump-appointed judges, the MAGAts still cant bring themselves to concede defeat.

With legal avenues exhausted, this lost cause metastasized into the first insurrection led by an American president against his own country, and the first-ever siege of the Capitol. However, even inciting treason was not enough to make deplorable cult warriors and Trump-fearing politicians hold their Dear Leader responsible. As a result, he also became the first president to be impeached and unpunished twice, even though not even the boot-licking leader of his toadies, Moscow Mitch McConnell, considers him exonerated.

Trump still publicly claims his presidency was stolen by an implausible coalition of liberals, moderates, the media, the Deep State and even some disloyal Republicans. Whether he actually believes this or its just one more grifters scam to raise money for a future army of defense attorneys remains to be seen.

But whats most daunting is the damage this lost cause can do to our democracy. Even 75 years after Hitlers demise, neo-Nazis remain a powerful force in America, and 150 years after Reconstruction, white supremacy is again on the upswing. With their messianic zeal, such delusions, both old and new, are unlikely to be abandoned anytime soon.

Greenwich native Mark Drought (markdrought4@gmail.com) is an editor at a Stamford IT firm and was an adjunct English professor at the University of Connecticut-Stamford.
ATLANTA, March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Equifax  (NYSE: EFX) announced Julia Houston as Chief Strategy and Marketing Officer, expanding her current scope to include leadership of global Marketing where she will be responsible for ensuring strong alignment with the company's strategy, working closely with the business units and global regions. This expansion of Houston's role unlocks synergies and efficiencies that support the company's strategy to bring new products, innovation and capabilities to customers, partners and consumers around the world.

"We are entering an exciting and crucial chapter in our 121-year history, as we leverage our $1.5B cloud technology investment to accelerate our innovation, new products and growth," said Mark W. Begor, Chief Executive Officer of Equifax. "Julia is the perfect leader to drive marketing for Equifax. She is highly strategic, and will provide valuable synergies as we align Marketing, Strategy, Communications, Risk & Compliance, and Privacy into one team. With Julia's leadership, her expanded team will create end-to-end growth solutions for our customers and support the right go-to-market experience in our Business Units."

Under Houston's leadership, Equifax global marketing will take a leadership role in ensuring alignment and consistency across the enterprise with the primary goal of helping customers take full advantage of the Equifax cloud-native solutions and unique data insights.

Houston has been a critical member of the Equifax senior leadership team since joining the company in 2013. During her tenure, she has been at the forefront in managing the Equifax transformation that is driving the company's growth today. Serving as Chief Transformation Officer for the last 3 years, she oversaw the Company's response to the 2017 cyber incident, led the company's regulatory settlement process to a successful conclusion, and helped design and implement its EFX2020 growth framework. All of these accomplishments have helped Equifax regain its position as an industry leader.

ABOUT EQUIFAX INC.

At Equifax (NYSE: EFX), we believe knowledge drives progress. As a global data, analytics, and technology company, we play an essential role in the global economy by helping financial institutions, companies, employees, and government agencies make critical decisions with greater confidence. Our unique blend of differentiated data, analytics, and cloud technology drives insights to power decisions to move people forward. Headquartered in Atlanta and supported by more than 11,000 employees worldwide, Equifax operates or has investments in 25 countries in North America, Central and South America, Europe, and the Asia Pacific region. For more information, visit Equifax.com

FOR MORE INFORMATION

[email protected]

SOURCE Equifax Inc.

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Coupang's logo is seen on an electronic signboard in New York, March 11. Courtesy of Coupang



By Park Jae-hyuk



Questions are rising among domestic retail investors over the valuation of Coupang stocks after the e-commerce firm's majority shareholders and employees began to unload their shares within a week after its Wall Street debut.



Korean retail investors snapped up $33.9 million worth of Coupang shares last week, on the day of the company's listing on the New York Stock Exchange. Retail investors have been advised to be cautious about possible fluctuations in the stock price.



Starting this Thursday, Coupang's nonexecutive employees are able to sell 34 million shares worth around $1.7 billion, accounting for 4.8 percent of the company's total outstanding stocks.



Although Coupang's lockup regulation does not allow majority shareholders or employees to sell their stocks for 180 days after the initial public offering (IPO), an exceptional clause enables employees to sell their stocks six trading days after the IPO, if the stock closes at the same as its offering price of $35 or above on the third day of trading. The requirement was fulfilled on Monday as the stock closed at $50.45.



Most Coupang employees are expected to seek divestments this week to make larger profits before the stock price goes down. According to industry officials, employees could purchase the company's stocks for below $2 per share.



"Coupang has high growth potential, but there exists concerns over its valuation," Mirae Asset Daewoo analyst Kim Myung-joo said. "To justify its valuation and seek a further rise in its stock price, the company should occupy an oligopolistic market share that enables larger influence over portal sites."



More Coupang shares could flood the market next week because existing registered big investors  except for founder Kim Bom-suk  will be able to sell up to a third of their stocks starting 12 days after the IPO, as long as the stock closes at $46.55 or above consistently over the first 10 days. Until Wednesday, Coupang's closing price has not fallen below $47.13.



Kim already sold his 1.2 million class A common shares for $42 million, Monday, after converting the same amount of class B shares with 29 times more voting rights to class A ones that can be sold on the floor. Despite the divestment, his voting rights decreased only slightly to 76.2 percent from 76.7 percent.



On the same day, U.S. billionaire Bill Ackman, one of the early investors in Coupang, tweeted that he donated 26.5 million Coupang shares that were worth $1.3 billion at that time. The founder of Pershing Square Capital Management said he donated the shares to the Pershing Square Foundation, a donor-advised fund, and another non-profit group.



"I was a very fortunate day one investor in Coupang," he wrote on Twitter. "Thank you to Bom and the Coupang team on behalf of all of us!"



Amid growing concerns over divestments by insiders, Coupang's stock price fell over 30 percent from its peak of $69 to $47.13 on Wednesday. The firm's market cap also fell below 100 trillion won ($88 billion).


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For most of its 12 years, Thrive Capital has been known as a fast-growing venture capital firm that struck some savvy deals, most famously an investment in Instagram that doubled in value within days.

But for the past four years or so, the firm and its 35-year-old founder, Joshua Kushner, have become just as well known for something unrelated to the fortunes of the fund: Kushners older brother, Jared, a top adviser and son-in-law to former President Donald Trump.

Joshua Kushner and wife Karlie Kloss. Kloss has been openly critical of Trump, from elliptically referring to disagreements with her in-laws on talk shows to holding up a 2020 ballot while wearing a Biden-Harris face mask. Credit:Getty Images

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 startups, especially those run by liberally minded entrepreneurs.

That filial bond had put Joshua Kushner in an awkward position, subject to calls to push his brother and sister-in-law, Ivanka Trump, to change administration policies. But he steadfastly refused to do so, at least publicly.
BRUSSELS/FRANKFURT/PARIS (dpa-AFX) - Eurozone's construction output rose in January after falling in the previous month, data form Eurostat showed on Wednesday. The construction output grew 0.8 percent month-on-month in January, after a 1.5 percent fall in December. In November, construction output increased 2.6 percent. Production in building construction increased 1.3 percent monthly in January and output in civil engineering rose 0.1 percent. On a year-on-year basis, the construction output fell 1.9 percent in January, after remaining unchanged in the prior month. In the EU27, construction output increased 0.9 percent monthly, and fell 1.8 percent from a year ago. Among member states, the biggest increases were recorded in Slovenia, France, and Hungary, while the worst declines were observed in Slovakia, Germany and Bulgaria. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
LONDON, March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Synamedia today unveiled Synamedia Go, a modular suite of data-driven SaaS services that provide a frictionless way for pay-TV operators and OTT/D2C streaming providers to rapidly augment and create value from their technology platforms. Based on a flexible, 'add and go' architecture, each service is designed to achieve a significant return on investment with minimal effort. The first services out of the blocks are Go.Aggregate and Go.Experiment. Targeted at commercial, product and editorial teams, these new platform-agnostic offerings provide immediately actionable results supported by rapid experimentation, implementation and improvement to drive up engagement, loyalty and revenues.

Go.Aggregate removes the navigation headache faced by viewers as they switch between broadcast, catch-up and OTT content sources in a provider's ecosystem. It empowers providers to extract more value from their platform by unifying content from different services and presenting it to viewers in a simplified, curated and searchable way. With support for metadata aggregation, recommendations and federated search across multiple services and on any display, Go.Aggregate helps providers keep viewers on their platform, boosting satisfaction and reducing costly churn.

Go.Experiment offers business teams new tools to improve and accelerate their decision-making on pressing issues such as content spend, UI improvements, and live event promotions. Intuitive dashboards make it easy to segment viewers into sub-groups, and subsequently test elements of the subscriber experience, marketing campaigns or operational practices. For example, product owners can test UI designs on sample audiences in live environments and then apply selected changes more broadly, based on real-time insights.

Underpinning Synamedia Go is Synamedia's Cloud TV Application Platform (CTAP). CTAP uses open APIs to seamlessly integrate and connect Synamedia Go services to existing backend systems and third-party solutions and devices. Its incremental, simplified and accelerated integration model radically cuts the time to market for customers as they launch new features and services and reduces operational overheads compared to traditional siloed systems.

Nick Thexton, Synamedia CTO, said, "Synamedia Go makes it simple for video providers to turbocharge their existing platforms to work harder for them, all with minimal disruption. Our suite of add-on modular services helps them test, refine and introduce features, apps and services that solve real business pain points and that really resonate with viewers. The inspiration behind Synamedia Go is our desire to help customers continually reinvent themselves, meet their KPIs, and stay ahead of the competition in the rapidly evolving video landscape."

Providing a baseline for continuous innovation, Synamedia Go is centred on a microservices architecture and offers fully customized or out-of-the-box multi-tenant SaaS offerings hosted by Synamedia and running on AWS, removing the need for any engineering dependencies. The suite is both distribution technology and client software agnostic and is fully integrated with AndroidTV, RDK, AppleTV, iOS, WebOS and Tizen applications.

Part of Synamedia's broader set of cloud offerings, Synamedia Go complements the recently launched Synamedia Iris addressable advertising and Clarissa business insight services, as well as CSFEye for credential sharing and fraud prevention, and Synamedia EverGuard for piracy detection and protection.

About Synamedia

We're trusted by over 200 video service providers to deliver, protect and monetize video content in an increasingly IP world. Synamedia's flexible incremental architecture provides a rapid, friction-free way to add, build and deploy cloud-based video services. Our award-winning portfolio also includes intelligence-led anti-piracy, advanced advertising, business analytics, broadband, and video network solutions and services. Synamedia's technology is in 320 million active devices and protects $70 billion in revenue annually. Synamedia is backed by the Permira funds and Sky .

Twitter: @SynamediaVideo

LinkedIn: Synamedia

For press and analyst queries, please contact:

Tracey Sheehy

Breakaway Communications for Synamedia

[email protected]

SOURCE Synamedia

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Oregons public schools are in line to receive another $1.1 billion in federal relief as part of the $1.9 trillion federal stimulus package President Joe Biden signed earlier this month.

Portland Public Schools, the states largest district, will get $70 million.

Districts wont immediately have access to those funds, which state officials say they anticipate will be used largely on school expenses to facilitate a return to in-person instruction. That could include offering summer school, emotional wellness services and classroom air quality upgrades.

The billion-plus outlay is the third and largest such infusion Oregons public schools have received since the start of the pandemic.

The Oregon Department of Education was awarded about $122 million late last March. Districts used that money primarily on equipment for virtual learning, The Oregonian/OregonLive has found.

Another aid package approved by Congress in December provided the states schools $499 million. Districts are expected to be able to apply for a share of it as early as next week, Oregon Department of Education Director of School Finance and Facilities Mike Wiltfong said.

Once the latest round of aid comes online, Oregons public schools will have access to more than $1.7 billion. The latest pot of money should be available by mid-April.

Districts will have wide latitude in deciding how to use the cash. The federal aid works as a reimbursement, which means the Oregon Department of Education will have the final say in whether a schools expense qualifies.

Districts can apply for reimbursement until Sept. 30, 2022.

According to the agencys latest guidelines, schools can use their share of the federal pot to pay for maintenance or repair projects to improve indoor air quality, assessments and activities to address learning loss, summer learning programs and mental health services, among other things.

As of March 13, nearly 172,000 of Oregons approximately 560,000 public K-12 students were regularly attending class in-person, according to Oregon Department of Education figures. Among the 18 largest districts in the metro area, its about 11,500, or 5%.

So far, one-third of those districts have begun offering hybrid instruction to elementary students. Gov. Kate Brown earlier this month ordered all Oregon schools to offer at least hybrid instruction by March 29.

Heres how much other Portland-area districts can expect from the latest round of federal relief:

-Beaverton: $50.5 million

-Reynolds: $32.6 million

-David Douglas: $30.7 million

-Hillsboro: $27.1 million

-Gresham-Barlow: $20.9 million

-Centennial: $17.2 million

-North Clackamas: $16.7 million

-Parkrose: $6.8 million

-Oregon Trail: $3.5 million

--Eder Campuzano | 503-221-4344 | @edercampuzano | Eder on Facebook

Eder is The Oregonians education reporter. Do you have a tip about Portland Public Schools? Email ecampuzano@oregonian.com.
The Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA), with support from the World Food Programme (WFP), is to disburse $1.5 million to vulnerable farmers and households in selected regions to cushion them against the devastation caused by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).



Under the Cash Transfer for Emergency Support to Rural Livelihood and Food Systems Exposed to COVID-19 (ESRF), beneficiaries from the North East, Northern, Savannah, Upper East and Upper West regions have been identified and profiled to receive cash transfer support.



Each beneficiary is expected to receive GH1,641.60, the equivalent of $288 at an exchange rate of GH5.7 after deduction of expenses.



The WFP is providing funding for the programme, while the Ghana National Household Registry (GNHR) under the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection is the implementing agency.



Launch



At the launch of the programme at the MoFA Resource Centre in Accra yesterday, the National Coordinator of the GNHR, Dr Prosper Laari, said 5,000 individuals would benefit from the relief fund.



He said nine districts in the selected regions with high levels of poverty, malnutrition and food insecurity had been targeted, with the Binduri and Gushegu districts being the smallest and highest beneficiary districts.



Some 235 persons, representing five per cent, and 1,171 persons, representing 23 per cent of the total number are from the Binduri and Gushegu districts respectively.



The rest are Yunyoo-Nasuan, North East Gonja, Bawku-West, Garu-Tempane, Lambussie-Karni, Wa East and Wa West districts, with 19 per cent of the total number being female-headed households.



Pre Order Ghana Year Book 2021

Payments



Dr Laari said beneficiary households would receive the transfer through their registered mobile money wallets.



The intervention, the coordinator said, was a renewed strategy to help the targeted people survive the impact of the pandemic and also reduce poverty by smoothening consumption and promoting human capital development among extremely poor households in the country.



The eligibility criteria, Dr Laari explained, was derived from the GNHR categorised data of extreme poor, poor and non-poor.



All potential beneficiaries were drawn from the extreme poor category who had already been profiled using a proxy means test, he further explained.



Stakeholder engagement



Dr Laari further called for a stakeholder engagement to set up a single national register to guide the rollout of intervention programmes in the country.



He said a single national register would serve as a database for the selection of beneficiaries for all social protection programmes as well as improve the effectiveness and efficiency of social protection programme delivery.



"Since the outbreak of the pandemic, the GNHR, a unit mandated to create a single national household register of the poor and vulnerable for effective targeting of social protection interventions, had collected and gathered data to help in the implementation of social intervention programmes for the poor and vulnerable in the country," he said.



Assistance



The WFP Country Director, Ms Rukia Yacoub, said following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the WFP had extended assistance to the governments social protection programme to help the extremely poor recover from any negative impact of the pandemic on their livelihoods.



According to her, the WFP was concerned about the millions of people already prone to food insecurity and malnutrition, and who had further slipped down the poverty line as a result of the pandemic.



She said her outfit was working with governments globally to strengthen and expand social protection programmes to address and sustain food production, trade distribution and consumption, and also support national health systems with improved supply chains and nutrition services for the most vulnerable.



Commendation



The acting Chief Director of MoFA, Mr Robert Patrick Ankobia, who launched the programme, said the ESRF would extend support to extremely vulnerable households for a period of three to four months.



He commended the WFP for the gesture and urged beneficiaries of the programme to make good use of the support to improve their lives.





Source: graphiconline.com









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President Joe Bidens steps to bring the US back to centre stage on global health, on climate and on human rights have been praised by the Taoiseach.

Micheal Martin met Mr Biden virtually on St Patricks Day.

The Taoiseachs traditional visit to the White House and shamrock presentation was cancelled this year because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Earlier, Mr Martin also had virtual meetings with US Vice President Kamala Harris and Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Mr Biden said he hopes the traditional visit and shamrock ceremony can take place at the White House next St Patricks Day.

Today @JoeBiden & I welcomed a new poetic partnership between our nations.



To mark the occasion, here is a special recitation of one of the Presidentas favorite poems by three gifted young Irish and American students: Brayden Harrington, Jessica Militante & Michael Tient. pic.twitter.com/SFVwz9atUy  MicheAl Martin (@MichealMartinTD) March 17, 2021

He thanked the Taoiseach for a bowl of shamrock which had been delivered to him, and said the White House will be lit up green to celebrate the deep, deep affection that we Americans have for Ireland and the people of Ireland.

It includes millions of Americans like my great-great grandfather, my great grandfather and my grandfather, all of whom were Irish-Americans, on both sides of the family, he said.

Mr Biden said Ireland and the United States have a robust agenda, including combating Covid-19, strengthening global health security, discussions on economic co-operation and Irelands leadership on the UN Security Council.

He also restated his support for the Good Friday Agreement, adding it was critically important it was maintained.

The political and economic stability of Northern Ireland is very much in the interest of all of our people, he said.

Mr Biden also referred to the two countries working together on cancer research.

Everything between Ireland and the United States runs deep  our joys, our sorrows, our passion, our drive, our unrelenting optimism and hope, he said.

Expand Close Micheal Martin speaking with US Vice President Kamala Harris (Julien Behal Photography/PA) / Facebook

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Whatsapp Micheal Martin speaking with US Vice President Kamala Harris (Julien Behal Photography/PA)

Responding, Mr Martin told Mr Biden that the people of Ireland are so proud of your election as a proud son of Ireland.

It feels strange to have to celebrate apart. As you know well, Irish people love to come together to celebrate our heritage and culture with song, with dance, with parades, with poetry and with pride, and this year because of the pandemic it just simply isnt possible, he said.

I greatly look forward to you being able to visit Ireland as you have done so many times and so memorably before. I also hope it will not be long before I can visit the United States again.

For now, the bowl of shamrock in front of you is a symbol of the undying friendship between our two countries, a symbol of the good times we have shared and the challenges we have endured, always at each others side.

Mr Martin went on to tell Mr Biden that the policies of their respective countries are closely aligned on the big challenges the world faces.

He also told him that the world has rightly taken great heart from the steps you have already taken to bring the US back to centre stage on global health, on climate and on human rights.

Earlier, US Vice President Kamala Harris told Mr Martin that her countrys commitment to Ireland remains steadfast and strong.

Delighted to meet @VP @KamalaHarris. Good discussion on the issues facing our interconnected world and the need to work together - Covid 19, economic recovery, climate change and democracy. Ireland and the U.S. - partners as well as friends.  pic.twitter.com/vLZWZMgm7w  MicheAl Martin (@MichealMartinTD) March 17, 2021

Ms Harris spoke of her regret that they were not able to meet in person and expressed hope that next year they will share a good breakfast together.

I will tell you that our commitment to Ireland remains steadfast and strong, she said.

Mr Martin told Ms Harris that the ties between their two nations were rich and deep.

He also congratulated her on becoming the first female US vice president, adding: You may be the first woman in your role, but you will not be the last.

I hope that I will have the opportunity to welcome you to Ireland too during your time as vice president.

I look forward to our discussions but, most of all, I am delighted to have this opportunity to get to know you and to wish you a very happy St Patricks Day.

Mass shootings in Atlanta which saw eight people killed were mentioned.

Ms Harris described the incident as tragic, adding she and Mr Biden were grieving for those lost.

Mr Martin expressed his condolences to the president and vice president, the American people and the grieving families of those killed and injured.
Mike Sonkos defense lawyers led by the veteran John Khaminwa have withdrawn from the former Nairobi Governors Sh10 million graft case.

Mr Khaminwa led the walkout Tuesday citing bias in the form of not being furnished with the proper documents. He said trial magistrate Douglas Ogoti declined to allow his application to adjourn the case to get proper instructions from Sonko before the matter can proceed for further hearing.

I have left the courtroom. l have disqualified myself from the matter because I do not think it will be fair for me to be party to proceedings where I dont have even have instructions from the governor, and as such, I will not be of use to the former governor, he told reporters outside Milimani Law court.

Dr Khaminwa further said Ogoti insisted on proceeding with the case contrary to the advice of six doctors, who said Sonko should rest after he was recently discharged from hospital.

He also mentioned that Sonko recently lost his driver and one of the accused persons in the case had tested positive for the coronavirus.

Further, Khaminwa faulted the decision by the court to bar media from covering the matter saying it was a public hearing.

Under Article 50 of the Constitution, the media represents the public and there is no way you can shut it out, the lawyer said.

Additionally, Sonkos lawyers claimed the trial is being conducted contrary to the requirements of the law and the Constitution.

I do not want to participate in an illegal process, Dr Khaminwa said.

The lawyers also accused the magistrate of being determined to jail Sonko.
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A dissident band of Roman Catholic priests leading a disobedience campaign against the Vatican said yesterday they would carry on blessing same-sex couples in defiance of Church orders.

The Vatican said on Monday that priests cannot bless same-sex unions and that such blessings are not valid, in a ruling that disappointed gay Catholics who had hoped their Church was becoming more welcoming under Pope Francis.

In some countries, parishes and ministers have begun blessing same-sex unions in lieu of marriage, and there have been calls for bishops to institutionalise de facto such blessings.

Conservatives in the 1.3 billion-member Roman Catholic Church have expressed alarm over such practices.

We members of the Parish Priests Initiative are deeply appalled by the new Roman decree that seeks to prohibit the blessing of same-sex loving couples. This is a relapse into times that we had hoped to have overcome with Pope Francis, the Austrian-based group said in a statement.

We will  in solidarity with so many  not reject any loving couple in the future who ask to celebrate Gods blessing, which they experience every day, also in a worship service.

The Parish Priests Initiative led by Fr Helmut Schueller has long been a thorn in the side of the Vatican.

The group wants Church rules changed so that priests can marry and women can become priests.

It has said it will break Church rules by giving communion to Protestants and divorced Catholics who remarry.

Founded in 2006 by nine priests, the initiative says it now has around 350 members from the ranks of the official Church and more than 3,000 lay supporters.

The Vatican in 2012 cracked down on Fr Schueller, stripping him of the right to use the title monsignor and saying he was also no longer a Chaplain of His Holiness.

Fr Schueller, a former deputy to Vienna archbishop Cardinal Christoph Schoenborn, had been given the honorary title in his capacity as head of the Austrian branch of the Catholic charity group Caritas.
The Daily Beast

REUTERSIt appears that Benjamin Netanyahu is finally on his way out as Israels prime minister. With just minutes to spare ahead of a midnight deadline on Wednesday, opposition leader Yair Lapid notified Israels president that he had formed a new government.But if Benjamin Netayahus 12-year run is indeed at an end, expect key segments of the GOP will treat Bibi as though he had not lost power, much as they continue to venerate Donald Trump and look at Joe Bidens victory as illegitimate.Israel
Closing the gap on gender diversity is a critical issue on a global basis and must start from the top and migrate into every part of an organization, in every industry.

In honor of International Womens Day this month, Markstein Sales Company, the largest woman-owned and operated wholesale beverage distributor in Northern California, today announced that it has been ranked by San Francisco Business Times as the 8th Largest Women-Owned Business in the Bay Area and the 5th Largest in the East Bay. This significant ranking highlights the long-term efforts and success of company President, Laura Markstein, who is celebrating her 30th work anniversary this month. Markstein began working at the company in March 1991 as the Consumer Awareness and Education manager. After spending time in nearly every position at the company, she became President in 2001 and has focused on continuing the strong legacy of her family, while also creating new opportunities for women.

Closing the gap on gender diversity is a critical issue on a global basis and must start from the top and migrate into every part of an organization, in every industry, said Laura Markstein, President of Markstein Sales Co. Women-owned businesses represent a tremendous opportunity to level the playing field, particularly in male-dominated industries such as the beer distribution business, where weve demonstrated continued success for generations. This recognition from the San Francisco Business Times reflects not only my role as company owner, but includes the female General Manager and female leads throughout the company who help spearhead our accomplishments.

The San Francisco Business Times awards are given to companies based on revenue from 2019 and with the requirement that the company be at least 51 percent woman-owned, something that Markstein Sales Co. is uniquely proud of as a fourth-generation, 102-year-old company.

Women-owned businesses represent a growing trend in many industries. According to the National Association of Women Business Owners, there were more than 11.6 million firms owned by women, employing nearly 9 million people, and generating $1.7 trillion in sales as of 2017. In addition, women-owned firms accounted for 39 percent of all privately held firms and contributed 8 percent of employment and 4.2 percent of revenues.

Recognizing Laura Marksteins commitment to helping women achieve success at all levels, she was recently appointed to the Diversity and Inclusion Committee for Constellation Brands.

At Constellation Brands, our commitment to diversity and inclusion is part of our culture and is strongly reinforced by our CEO and executive team who have committed $100 million in women founded and owned business, increased representation on our board and at the executive levels, and committed to our own women through leadership development programs both for senior and mid-level women, said Sarah Bettman at Constellation Brands, a leading international producer and marketer of beer, wine and spirits. We believe that diversity, equity and inclusion have never been more important than they are today, which is why we take deep pride in our partnership with women-owned businesses such as Markstein Sales Company. Recognizing Laura Marksteins leadership in the beer and beverage industry, and her proven commitment to helping women achieve success at all levels, she was recently appointed to the newly formed Social Equity Committee spearheaded by Constellation Brands. Through the Social Equity Committee, Constellation is partnering with a number of distributors across beer, wine and spirits to identify ways to work together to enhance social equity within their respective companies, the beverage alcohol industry and the local communities they serve.

About Markstein Sales Company

Markstein Sales Company is a fourth-generation, woman-owned and operated wholesale beer and beverage distributor based in Antioch, Calif. Founded in 1919 with just a horse, a wagon and six cases of beer, Markstein is now in its 102nd year and distributing over four million cases annually. The companys portfolio is composed of multiple world-class beers including those from the Anheuser-Busch InBev family, Constellation Beer Brands , Sierra Nevada as well as several high-quality craft beers and other beverages. Markstein is known for outstanding customer service, dedication to their employees and commitment to the community. The company continues to rank as best in class by retailers and is one of the top five largest Woman Owned Businesses in the Bay Area. More information can be found at https://www.marksteinsalescompany.com.
The world is flooded with drinkable wine. While thats great for consumers, it poses challenges to some of the counties on the fringes of wine recognition  such as Georgia, which may have the longest winemaking tradition in the world.

The fall of the Iron Curtain, the liberalization and integration of the global economy, and improved knowledge of winemaking and grape-growing has allowed many wine regions to become players. Today, you cant write off any place in the world that can grow wine grapes. The potential to make wine is no longer limited to a handful of nations.

The Pennsylvania expanded-selection specialty stores like those in Clarks Summit and Dallas have a shelf for others, offering a great place to explore.

A country such as Georgia, although it may have the longest winemaking tradition, gets little mainstream attention. There, the act of winemaking is part of religious celebrations. Even the letters of the Georgian language are based on shapes made by grape vines and tendrils.

Georgia markets itself as the birthplace of wine. To get attention on crowded shelves, it needs something like the packaging for Artevani Kindzmarauli 2018, a red semi-sweet wine that looks like something Harry Potter picked up at Diagon Alley or something folks in the Shire would drink from. Im guessing it is a ceramic bottle, with a handle design to look like wood, and a vessel containing two bronzish etchings depicting ancient Georgian winemaking. The bottle is cork-topped and wax-dipped for an added touch. It just looks cool and invites fun and historical anachronisms. The producer has a line of these bottles.

The wine is made from the versatile grape saperavi. Fans of specialty wines in Pennsylvania and New York may recognize the variety, which is in limited production by local wineries.

Artevanis wine  once it leaves the bottle  is purplish and pleasant, a drinkable sweet red with wild berry and spice. Sweet wine lovers will enjoy it, and it will pair well with chocolate. $23. HHH 1/2

Sun Wine Tsinandali Dry White Wine 2018 Georgia is made from Georgias leading white grape, rkatsiteli. Like saperavi, rkatsiteli is another cold, hardy grape that found some traction in the eastern wine business. Here, though, it is an average, rather anonymous white wine in need of some acid and zip. $14. HHH.

Where are the great wines from places like Georgia? In the United States, its important to realize the challenge of getting the best wines from marginal wine-producing countries such as Slovenia, the Czech Republic, Macedonia and a host of others on your local store shelves. For one, these producers prefer to sell closer to home where transportation is easier and margins higher. Why reach to sell your product on the other side of the world when you can sell your entire production close to home? This is true for small producers everywhere, and even large producers in places such as New Zealand.

Some will say that you just have to go to these places. In the meantime, hit the others shelf at the wine store.

GRADE: Exceptional HHHHH, Above average HHHH, Good HHH, Below average HH, Poor H

DAVID FALCHEK, executive director of the American Wine Society, reviews wines each week.
Future Planet Capital has invested in a $168m Series B financing announced today by Vaccitech Ltd. Future Planet joins other leading investors including M&G Investment Management, Tencent, Gilead Sciences, Monaco Constitutional Reserve Fund and fellow existing investor, Oxford Sciences Innovation. As part of the Series B financing, $43 million in convertible loan notes previously issued by Vaccitech will convert into Series B shares, resulting in total gross proceeds to Vaccitech of $168 million before expenses.

Douglas Hansen-Luke, Executive Chairman of Future Planet Capital, explained:"Our decision to support Vaccitech last year, before the results of the COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca trials were known, has been vindicated by the vaccine's approval for emergency use by national and international regulators. The success of the COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca has increased our confidence in Vaccitech's immunotherapy platform and our continuing support is signalled by our investment today."

Bill Enright, CEO of Vaccitech, said: "We expect this financing to enable us to reach key value inflection points for our lead programs. We now look forward to advancing key programs towards generating proof-of-concept data in indications with significant need of effective new treatments."

Ed Phillips, Head of Origination at Future Planet, concluded: "This is a concrete example of our vision in action financing the best minds to address global challenges. We look forward to working with other entrepreneurs and businesses dedicated to solving global challenges in the future."

Vaccitech is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company engaged in the discovery and development of novel immunotherapeutics and vaccines for the treatment and prevention of infectious diseases and cancer; in 2020it co-invented a COVID-19 vaccine candidate with the University of Oxford, AZD1222, which is known as the COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca.

-ends-

About Future Planet Capital

Future Planet Capital is a global impact-led venture capital firm built to invest in growth companies from the world's top universities. The firm invests in leading entrepreneurs and businesses profitably addressing the world's greatest challenges across Climate Change, Education, Health, Sustainable Growth Security.

About Vaccitech Ltd.

Vaccitech is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company engaged in the discovery and development of novel immunotherapeutics and vaccines for the treatment and prevention of infectious diseases and cancer. The company's proprietary platform comprises proprietary modified simian adenoviral vectors, known as ChAdOx1 and ChAdOx2, as well as the well-validated Modified Vaccinia Ankara, or MVA, boost vector, all of which lack the ability to replicate in humans. The combination of a ChAdOx prime treatment with subsequent MVA boost has consistently generated significantly higher magnitudes of CD8+ T cells compared with other technologies and approaches. The company has a broad pipeline of both clinical and preclinical stage therapeutic programs in viral infections, solid tumors and prophylactic viral vaccine programs. The company is also co-developing prophylactic products for MERS coronavirus and Herpes Zoster with international collaborators. Vaccitech co-invented a COVID-19 vaccine with the University of Oxford (now known as AZD1222), which is now approved for use in many territories and exclusively licensed worldwide to AstraZeneca through Oxford University Innovation, or OUI. Vaccitech is entitled to receive a share of the milestones and royalty income received by OUI from AstraZeneca. Vaccitech is backed by leading institutions, including M&G, GV, Sequoia Capital China, Gilead Sciences, Tencent, Korea Investment Partners and Oxford Sciences Innovation.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210317005087/en/

Contacts:

Future Planet Capital

Ed Phillips

Head of Origination

[e] e.phillips@futureplanetcapital.com

Sciad Communications

Richard Anderson Emma Pickup

[e] richard@sciad.com

[e] emma@sciad.com
ANN ARBOR, MI  Theyve become a common sight in Ann Arbor over the last two years.

The orange-and-black electric scooters from Ford-owned scooter rental company Spin have been a popular way for University of Michigan students and other residents to zip around. They can be found along sidewalks throughout the city, rented using a mobile app, and left behind at a riders chosen destination for the next user to grab.

But what should residents do about scooters if theyre left abandoned in front of their homes for days?

City Council Member Jeff Hayner, D-1st Ward, spoke out about the issue at this weeks council meeting, telling residents they can call 911 to report abandoned scooters.

Hayner said he posed the question at a meeting with the police chief and deputy chiefs since the issue came up online.

Hard to believe, but this is what they said: If youre a resident and you have an abandoned scooter in front of your house, and it has been there for a while and its beeping and asking to be returned or whatever, they say go ahead and call 911 and tell them its not an emergency, Hayner said. And theyre going to dispatch community standards (code enforcement officers) or actual police to deal with that scooter for you.

While there is a non-emergency line, police dont mind if the complaint gets logged through 911, Hayner said.

Deputy Police Chief Jason Forsberg said residents have multiple options if they find an abandoned rental scooter on their property. They can safely place it in the public right-of-way, such as along a sidewalk, so it can be picked up, he said.

And if the scooter is not picked up within 24 hours, they can call the Ann Arbor Police Department and a community standards officer will be sent to collect the scooter, Forsberg said.

Residents can call 911 or community standards directly at 734-794-6942, Forsberg said. Community standards officers do not work 24 hours a day, so residents should allow one business day for a response, he said.

Rather than involve police, Spin advises anyone who sees an improperly parked scooter to report it by texting or calling its customer service line.

We want to reiterate that the fastest, most efficient way to have scooters removed from unwanted locations is to call our customer service line at 1-888-249-9698 or email suppport@spin.pm, Sara Dodrill, Spin communications manager, said in a statement.

The phone number is printed on every scooter in our fleet. During the daytime, our operations team can remove any scooter within 2 hours of the removal request.

Hundreds of Spin scooters were rolled out in Ann Arbor in spring 2019. Spin renewed its partnership with the city and UM last year, with sanitation protocols in response to COVID-19.

Since Spins launch in Ann Arbor, riders have been instructed to park scooters where they would not block the public right-of-way, sidewalk traffic, access ramps and other pedestrian pathways. Additionally, the city has asked riders to keep parked scooters clear from driveways and fire hydrants.

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The House of Representatives passed an amendment Wednesday that would create the first grant program dedicated to supporting LGBTQ survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking.

The amendment, introduced by Rep. Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass., and Rep. Marie Newman, D-Ill., was part of the Houses reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act, a landmark 1994 law that supports programs for domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking survivors.

The Violence Against Women Act is about saving lives and ensuring justice for survivors who have suffered in silence for too long, Pressley said in a statement to NBC News. But until now, Congresss efforts have overlooked the hurt and harm felt by LGBTQ+ survivors, especially trans women of color. Im proud that this years Violence Against Women Act included my provision to create grants and services dedicated to serving members of the LGBTQ+ community. I am grateful to Rep. Newman for her partnership on this priority and look forward to seeing this critical legislation signed into law.

LGBTQ people were included in the 2013 reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act, but the new amendment creates the first grant program dedicated to expanding and developing initiatives specifically for LGBTQ domestic violence survivors.

The Violence Against Women Act expired in 2018, and was temporarily extended until February 2019, when it expired again. The House voted to reauthorize it for five years in April 2019, but then-Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., never brought it to the Senate floor. Joe Biden vowed during his campaign to enact the reauthorized bill in the first 100 days of his presidency.

The amendment to support LGBTQ domestic violence and sexual assault survivors comes at a critical time during which transgender people are facing more violence. More than half of the 11 trans people murdered so far in 2021 have been Black trans women, with trans murders jumping 266 percent compared to this point last year.

Story continues

Newman said violence against trans Americans, particularly Black and Brown transgender women, has become a national epidemic.

"On top of this harsh reality is the alarming rate at which LGBTQ+ survivors cannot access services solely because of their sexual orientation or gender identity, she said in a statement. "This new grant program is specifically designed to combat domestic violence against LGBTQ+ individuals through prevention education, outreach, training to victim service organizations and other entities. We cannot allow ourselves to ignore this gross injustice any longer. We must do more to protect all women, including lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer women.

Pressley said the amendment would help create more support services for LGBTQ people, who experience intimate partner violence and sexual assault at rates higher than or equal to the general population, according to the the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions 2010 National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey. For example, the survey found that approximately 1 in 5 bisexual women (22 percent) and 1 in 10 (9 percent) heterosexual women reported being raped by intimate partners.

Transgender people also disproportionately experience intimate partner violence and sexual assault. About half (47 percent) of trans people  and 53 percent of Black trans people  reported experiencing intimate partner violence, according to the 2015 U.S. Transgender Survey.

Domestic violence across all demographics has also increased during the Covid-19 pandemic. LGBTQ people often face unique barriers to support services, such as discrimination or fears of being outed to unsupportive families.

The Houses reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act also takes place just a day after eight people were fatally shot Tuesday night at three spas in the Atlanta area, with six of them reported to be women of Asian descent  context that Pressley noted matters as the bill goes to the Senate.

Last nights devastating attack in Georgia that robbed us of the lives of eight people  including seven women, six of whom were Asian women targeted because of their race  reminded us that the crisis of gender-based violence is an intersectional one, and this legislation is needed now more than ever, Pressley said.

Rodrigo Heng-Lehtinen, deputy executive director for the National Center for Transgender Equality, said safety and wellbeing for trans people can begin with providing resources and support.

"Grant funding ensures that local trans communities are given access to protection from the constant violence we experience every day and give us opportunities to live better and more meaningful lives," Heng-Lehtinen said in a statement. "To have safe spaces for trans survivors is one of many steps in combating the atrociously high murder rates that hurt our community on a daily basis and therefore, we are grateful for Rep. Pressleys and Rep. Newmans strong advocacy when it comes to the lives of trans people across this nation.

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A proposed Manitoba law that would restrict the rights of protesters will likely face a court challenge, Indigenous and environmental groups say.

A proposed Manitoba law that would restrict the rights of protesters will likely face a court challenge, Indigenous and environmental groups say.

On Monday, the Progressive Conservative government unveiled a bill that would allow owners or operators of "critical infrastructure" to apply to the Court of Queens Bench for an order to halt or limit protests.

Individuals who run afoul of the proposed law would face fines of up to $5,000 per day and/or jail time.

Bill 57 (The Protection of Critical Infrastructure Act) would apply not only to protests around highways and pipelines, but to food-processing and packing plants, hospitals and medical clinics, courthouses and waste disposal sites.

Southern Chiefs Organization Grand Chief Jerry Daniels said Tuesday he believes the government was targeting Indigenous protests when it drafted the bill.

"Its a strategy, obviously, to silence the voices and the views of First Nations people who have been excluded for a very long time from infrastructure strategy and investments in terms of our partnership on a government-to-government basis," Daniels said in an interview.

"Likely, well be challenging it, taking this legislation to court," he said.

Premier Brian Pallister expressed frustration last year at the economic losses caused by countrywide protests in solidarity with Wetsuweten hereditary chiefs who opposed a $6-billion natural gas pipeline project in northern B.C.

"How fair is our society when the most marginalized people are continuing to be intimidated by legislation like this?" Daniels said of Bill 57.

"I think it reflects on the premiers lack of leadership in terms of trying to find a resolution to very valid concerns about infrastructure investments.

"First Nations havent been real partners. As a leader, he should be calling for a better structured relationship."

The environmental movement also feels singled out by the proposed legislation.

"It sounds like the government wants to tell us where, how and when we can protest. We wont be able to protest unless we do it in the way that they want us to do it," said Silas Koulack, a member of the Manitoba Energy Justice Coalition.

Koulack said the bill is undemocratic and an attack on citizens charter rights.

"I think that this needs to be challenged at every possible opportunity," he said.

The government appears to be setting its sights on climate activists, "as opposed to corporations who are actually doing damage to the environment," Koulack said.

"Who is the bad guy here?"

Striking workers might also be affected by the proposed legislation.

Asked for comment Tuesday, the Manitoba Federation of Labour said it is still studying the bill.

"We are currently reviewing it to determine how it might impact workers who take legal strike and job actions in the interests of their rights and their jobs," federation president Kevin Rebeck said in a statement to the Free Press.

Molly McCracken, director of the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, Manitoba office, said the bill "protects property and industry above the public interest."

Indigenous groups, environmental groups and organized labour would face a "cumbersome court process" in asserting their rights, she said.

Under Bill 57, a judge would have to be satisfied the infrastructure for which protection is sought qualifies as "critical," and is being interfered with to such an extent that an order is necessary to enable its safe and timely construction, use or operation.

The court could also designate specific areas at or near these sites where protesters would be allowed.

Justice Minister Cameron Friesen has said he believes the bill strikes "a good balance" between the right to protest and the need "to keep goods moving, to keep infrastructure open."

"We believe that this bill gets it right," he said.

larry.kusch@freepress.mb.ca
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-18 02:07:01|Editor: huaxia

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UNITED NATIONS, March 17 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday strongly condemned Monday's attack by unidentified gunmen in the Tillaberi region of Niger that left at least 58 civilians dead, said his spokesman.

The secretary-general expressed his deep condolences to the bereaved families and wished a swift recovery to the injured. He urged the Nigerien authorities to spare no effort in bringing the perpetrators to justice, said Stephane Dujarric, the spokesman, in a statement.

The secretary-general reiterated the commitment of the United Nations to continue supporting Niger in its efforts to counter and prevent terrorism and violent extremism, promote social cohesion and achieve sustainable development, said the statement.

Unidentified gunmen attacked villagers returning from market day in the volatile western Nigerien region that borders Mali, killing at least 58 people. In early January in the same region, armed groups massacred at least 100 villagers. Enditem
Claims of alleged Russian meddling in the 2020 U.S. federal elections, voiced by the U.S. intelligence, are not supported by any facts, the Russian Embassy in Washington said in a statement.

"The document prepared by the U.S. intelligence community is another set of groundless accusations against our country of interfering in American internal political processes," the statement says. "The conclusions of the report on Russia conducting influence operations in America are confirmed solely by the confidence of the intelligence services of their self-righteousness. No facts or specific evidence of such claims were provided."

"We state that Washington continues to practice "megaphone diplomacy", with the main goal to maintain a negative image of Russia. To blame external players for destabilizing the situation inside the country," Russian diplomats said. "This attitude of the administration hardly corresponds to our proposed equal and mutually respectful expert dialogue in search of solutions to the most pressing issues. Washington's actions do not lead to the normalization of bilateral relations."

On Tuesday, Office of the Director of National Intelligence published the intelligence community assessment on foreign threats to the 2020 US federal elections. Among other things, the U.S. report claims that the Russian authorities allegedly attempted to denigrate incumbent president Joe Biden and his Democratic Party during last years election campaign. The U.S. authorities will impose sanctions based on those findings, the document says.
Some 690 landmarks in 66 countries around the world will go green this year to mark St Patricks Day.

Tourism Irelands Global Greening will see a number of famous sites illuminated in our national colour, including the Leaning Tower of Pisa, Niagara Falls, Victoria Falls, the Sydney Opera House, the Welcome sign in Las Vegas, the Sky Tower in Auckland and the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro.

This year, there are a number of new buildings going green, including:

The Oculus transit hub near the World Trade Center in New York,

The village of Portmeirion in North Wales, the largest fountain in the world,

The Palm Fountain in Dubai,

The tallest building in South America, the Torre Costanera in Chile,

Bled Castle in Slovenia

Cairo Tower in Egypt.

Niall Gibbons, CEO of Tourism Ireland, said: This year, in particular, we aim to bring some positivity and hope to our Diaspora across the globe.

More than 70 million people around the world claim links to Ireland and St Patricks Day is a truly unique opportunity to reconnect them with their heritage.

At a time when Irish people overseas cannot travel home, we want to shine a green light in as many locations around the world as possible, giving our Diaspora a sense of connection with home and reminding them that we cannot wait to roll out the green carpet and welcome them back, as soon as it is possible to do so.

The Sydney Opera House going green for St Patrick's Day. Picture: Tourism Ireland

This year, against the ongoing backdrop of Covid-19, our St Patricks Day programme around the world is more important than ever before. During this challenging time, we want to mark St Patricks Day and to keep Ireland to the fore in a positive light, on the day when people everywhere are thinking about Ireland.

Meanwhile, closer to home, the tourism body has created an Orchestra of Light to wish people a happy St Patricks Day.

A new video featuring a swarm of 500 drones animating the skies of Dublin in a light show has been unveiled to mark the national holiday.

In the film, the drones light up the Dublin night sky, illuminating some of the citys well-known landmarks, including the Samuel Beckett Bridge.

Mr Gibbons said they are delighted to partner with St Patricks Festival and Dublin City Council, to create this wonderful light show celebrating our national day.

We are sharing the film with our millions of fans and followers on social media around the world  wishing them a Happy St Patricks Day and reminding them that we cannot wait to roll out the green carpet and welcome them to the island of Ireland, as soon as it is possible to do so.
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It is convenient to reckon that these abductions also exposed the underbelly of boarding schools in the North  being so ill-equipped, so exposed and not habitable even for sub-humans. So where has all the money budgeted for education gone to? This is an auspicious time to investigate, and to follow the money.

After the successful abduction of 39 students of Federal College of Forestry Mechanisation in Afaka, Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State, the bandits have become more daring; taunting Governor Nasir El-Rufai, with more attempts to abduct students, according to reports. Samuel Aruwan, the States Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs told of how armed men invaded Government Science Secondary, Ikara, and how the Army foiled the attempt and rescued all 307 students.

Earlier on, there was an attempt to abduct students of a Turkish school in Kaduna, which was equally foiled by troops. On Monday, three teachers were also abducted from a school in Birinin Gwari.

All these happened in Kaduna State within the spate of one week. So, while we lament, and fear the worst for families and victims already in captivity, these career criminals are making fortunes from our collective agony and years of neglect of the critical sectors.

The North, which is at the receiving end of a multiple mix of banditry, Boko Haram insurgency and poverty, is the education backwater of Nigeria. The current flurry of abduction of students, whether by bandits or Boko Haram, will further widen the education gap between the North and the South of Nigeria, thereby potentially reducing the manpower development capacity of the region.

In 2018, the number of students from the North, who had five credits, including in Maths and English, a requirement for university admission, was 32 per cent as against 56 per cent for students from the South. Most of the almost 13.2 million out-of school children in Nigeria, according to UNICEF, reside in the North, while 60,000 orphans reside in IDP camps in Borno State alone. Generally, a 2018 statistics by statistics.com shows the South having a 88.1 per cent literacy level for male and 79.6 per cent for female, while the North has 60.9 per cent for male and an abysmal 36.8 per cent for female. Hundreds of schools have also been shut.

This is a dire situation that will potentially be compounded by the increasing rate of abductions of students in both secondary schools and higher institutions of learning in Northern Nigeria.

An intriguing part of the saga is the sheer size of the kidnappers, sometimes numbering up to 40 or even 50, especially in mass abduction situations, like those of the Chibok girls, Kankara boys, Kagara students and even the Jangebe case in Zamfara State.

One cannot ignore how daring this criminal gangs have become. The incessant abductions in Kaduna State, lately, is not unconnected with Governor Nasir El-Rufais assertion that he would not dialogue with criminal bandits, thereby confirming the governors worst fear; criminals should not be treated with kids gloves in the name of dialogue, negotiation, agreement or truce. These bandits have tasted money and only full and decisive application of the force of law can deter them from this dastardly act.

One cannot even quantify the menace of school-related abduction and its existential threat to the psyche of victims, education and the society in general. The emotional separation of persons running from the scene of (abduction) as their loved ones are being killed or taken away, fathers escape as hapless sons are whisked away and vice versa, and wives watching husbands being shot dead, and mothers parting with children, seeking self-survival first, as dictated by the first law of nature, are agonising indeed. I watched as my father and brother were killed, I had no choice but to run for my life, because they were shooting sporadically at people, a survivor told Daily Trust in a report published last Sunday, and yet another woman lost five children to banditry.

An intriguing part of the saga is the sheer size of the kidnappers, sometimes numbering up to 40 or even 50, especially in mass abduction situations, like those of the Chibok girls, Kankara boys, Kagara students and even the Jangebe case in Zamfara State. My God, where were we when our country became a haven for criminals, such that 40 to 50 of them could go on a mass abduction mission at once without anyone noticing? Where were the leadership and the security apparatus when the country got entangled and encircled by bandits and criminals? With 50 or 40 bandits going on this kind of expedition and going by the ordeals of victims, is indicative of the fact that it is a network of organised crime that gives you that eerie feeling that beyond the daily activities of your environment, another world, possibly parallel to yours, exists around your communities, neighbourhoods and towns, that keeps you perpetually suspicious of your next door neighbour.

How about the much talked about negotiation or peace deal, as canvassed by Sheikh Ahmed Gumi? How do you dialogue with disparate groups with mercenary motives, demanding for ransoms that are out of this world, such as the N500 million bounty on the College of Forestry abductees, vis a vis-a-vis the reality of empowering these abductors to keep coming at us? How do you even contemplate a rapprochement or make overtures to AK-47 wielding hooded men; people not identified with any cause? How appropriate and on what basis anyway? The experience of those who tried this mode of pacifying criminals in the past is enough lesson. If in doubt, ask Governor Aminu Masari of Katsina.

The Birnin Gwari case is another example of how not to negotiate or dialogue with your tormentors. In a report of how bandits killed 212 people in 10 local governments within two months, Daily Trust reported on how the fight of two rival groups led to more bloodshed for the people of Birnin Gwari and environs. For the bandit, a life lived in the jungle with plenty money to play with may be difficult to give up.

And that takes me to the sophisticated arms on display: the RPGs, AAs, AK-47s, etc. Where are they from and how can we stop their flow from their source, to ensure our childrens futures are not bleak? And for them to freely go back to school without looking over their shoulders, learning and playing without fear; and getting back to a time when parents used to send their children to remote places under the protection of government and school administrators.

If attacks on schools are not curtailed, the rural-urban migration, which has already been compromised in the urban centres, may be heading for implosion. The statistics are grim indeed: the North-South education imbalance will widen and more out-of-school children will be recorded in Nigeria, with its attendant threat to national cohesion.

If attacks on schools are not curtailed, the rural-urban migration, which has already been compromised in the urban centres, may be heading for implosion. The statistics are grim indeed: the North-South education imbalance will widen and more out-of-school children will be recorded in Nigeria, with its attendant threat to national cohesion.

When the Safe Schools Initiative was launched in April 2014, shortly after the Chibok girls were whisked away from their school in Chibok, Borno State, there was optimism that the narrative of the out-of-school children would soon change. Alas, little did we know that would be the beginning of woes for school-going students in Northern Nigeria. The initiative was targeted to reach 500 schools, with a pledge of $10 million dollars by a coalition of Nigerian business leaders working with the UN Special Envoy for Global Education, Gordon Brown, the Global Business Coalition for Education and A World at School.

The initiative involved the transfers of secondary school students in vulnerable schools, education in IDP camps and the piloting of safe school models.

Although it is safe to ask how far with the SSI, all that has been overtaken by recent developments in banditry. With the presidents directive to shoot bandits at sight  although school children in dormitories do not bear arms  security agencies now know they have the presidents backing to smoke bandits out, by strengthening investigation mechanisms and getting bandits and their collaborators apprehended. In alliance with the Police, the judiciary should implement the different legal frameworks in place and ensure anyone caught is prosecuted in accordance with the laws of the land.

It is convenient to reckon that these abductions also exposed the underbelly of boarding schools in the North  being so ill-equipped, so exposed and not habitable even for sub-humans. So where has all the money budgeted for education gone to? This is an auspicious time to investigate, and to follow the money. It is an opportunity to do a risk assessment of our schools, the threats to them and their vulnerability. Most of us adults today are products of public schools; increasingly, they are becoming no-go areas for this generation. Private schools in Nigeria are not enablers of mass education and lack of access to education portends trouble in the horizon for all. We need a clean break from the past in finding solutions to the menace of banditry and insurgency, especially those seeking soft targets like our schools.

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By Benjamin Jumbe

Government is to carry out investigations and analysis to rule out possibility of increasing Non Tarif Barriers against Uganda exports driven by silent economic war by neighboring countries.

This was revealed by the first prime minister General Moses Ali while giving parliament an update on governments position over the recent ban of Ugandas maize exports by Kenya.

Gen Moses Ali also said the cabinet also approved that the Government formalises and regulates grain in the country with a special department for the maize and cereals sector to be set up in the ministry of trade.

He also said the government is now to urgently implement its plan of building silos in strategic locations in every region, and provide drying and cleaning facilities at parish level.
The HSE has fallen behind in vaccinating people with illnesses leaving them at serious risk of Covid-19 as 49,100 doses of the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine lie idle.

New figures yesterday revealed that by Saturday just 4,037 people with underlying illnesses who are at very high risk have received the vaccine  40pc of the 10,000 target.

Around 150,000 people with conditions like serious kidney disease and cancer need the vaccine.

It comes as Emer Cooke, head of the European Medicines Agency (EMA), said yesterday that so far it has found no indication the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine is linked to reported blood clots in people who received the inoculation.

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Ireland is one of around 16 countries which have put the roll-out of the vaccine on hold pending the results of an investigation by the EMA of a small number of unusual blood clotting events, including two deaths in people who received the jab in Norway.

Ms Cooke said the findings of their investigation should be available tomorrow afternoon.

She said the EMA remains firmly convinced the benefits of the vaccine outweigh the risks.

In clinical trials both the vaccinated people and those who received the placebo have shown very small numbers of blood clot developments, she said.

It has received more reports of blood clotting events associated with the vaccine in recent days. She could not reveal the full extent of reports but the recent highlighting of cases in countries like Austria and Norway has led to more notifications.

Ms Cooke said the regulator initially investigated whether individual batches were possibly causing adverse events.

This followed a decision by Austria to ban a batch. But as more events are reported more batches are involved and therefore it is unlikely it is a batch-specific event.

She said the reports are serious and they need a serious evaluation.

Questioned on whether countries would abide by any EMA recommendation regarding the jab following its review, she said information sharing is a constant process.

Asked if the decision of countries to pause the vaccine could lead to lower trust in the AstraZeneca jabs, she said that trust in the safety of the vaccine was paramount and scientific evaluations are the best way to maintain this.

We are worried that there may be an effect on the trust of the vaccines but our job is to make sure the products we authorise are safe, she said.

She said the EMA could take a number of different decisions tomorrow at the conclusion of the expert review of the jab but would not be drawn on what these might be.

The priority is to ensure the vaccines can be used safely in people in Europe. If this meant an additional warning might be necessary, wed look into the that.

She added: If we believe there is a problem that cant be solved well take the necessary action to deal with that. It really depends on the outcome of the expert evaluation.

"We need to have the facts first, we cannot come to a conclusion until weve done a thorough scientific analysis.

She urged anyone who suspects they have had a side-effect after receiving the jab to report it.
The sensitivity is understandable. Having slogged their guts out to get into government and then campaign again for such a commanding re-election, why should Labor be penalised for its success? Loading My own view is that democracies work much better when governments are held in check by viable oppositions and media. The Liberals in their newly diminished form are barely that, though they are responsible for their own circumstances, however, and I would never suggest Saturdays Mark-nado  as one talkback caller dubbed it  represents anything other than the will of the WA people. Im not going to second-guess what the people have done. People vote and democracy takes its course, the Premier told me on 6PR Breakfast on Monday when I asked, somewhat provocatively, if the margin was too big.

The main thing is, therell be an election again in four years, and theyll get their chance to vote again in four years. Back to the turkeys, though, specifically West Australians who live outside the Perth metropolitan area. The entire history of WA democracy is one of malapportionment, where some voters votes are worth more than others  especially in rural areas and the North West. In 1917, for example, the average metropolitan seat had 6108 enrolled voters compared to 2642 for rural seats and 958 for seats in the North West. According to a 2012 paper by ANU political scientist Norm Kelly, by the 1920s the malapportionment had reached its most extreme disparity, with 17,347 voters in the seat of Canning compared to just 265 voters in the North West seat of Menzies, a 65:1 disparity.

Electoral laws were reformed to reduce the disparity in 1922 and 1947 but since at least the 1980s, when the Burke government had another go at the issue, Labors policy platform has been one vote, one value across both houses of parliament. In reality they have never been able to achieve it, because the status quo favours their political opponents (especially the Nationals) and they have never had the numbers to force the issue through the upper house. Loading You could write a book on the Gallop governments efforts to achieve one vote, one value between 2001 and 2005, suffice to say it involved challenges in the Supreme and High Courts and reforms were achieved only after a Liberal MP, Alan Cadby, resigned from the party after an unfavourable preselection outcome, resulting in the system we have today. While those reforms, led by Labor attorney-general Jim McGinty were labelled one-vote, one value, they didnt really achieve that, with rural over-representation continuing in the lower house on the basis of concessions for large and remote electorates and a different but still malapportioned upper house of three six-member metropolitan seats and three six-member regional seats.

If politics is the art of the possible, our present system is what McGinty was able to negotiate with his dance partner, the Greens, and the result was, as Norm Kelly put it: [A]n ingenious solution to the impasse  that had nothing to do with voting equality principles and everything to do with political expediency and self-interest. Now, for the first time ever, Labor controls both houses of Parliament. During the campaign, asked repeatedly whether electoral reforms were on the cards, Mark McGowan used the very specific form of words that its not our agenda. Zak Kirkup tried to warn about the dangers of total control but the election results showed the voters werent buying it and most analysts pre-poll (including senior McGowan ministers) still believed a Labor majority in the upper house was a remote possibility. The Mark-nado, though, will deliver Labor 23 of the 36 Legislative Council seats, according to Antony Greens latest projections, and so I had to press the issue again with the Premier on Monday.

MM: Im not going to change my answer at this point in time, Gareth, the answer I gave during the campaign stays. GP: So will you rule it out for the term? MM: Well, I didnt rule it out during the campaign, I said it wasnt on our agenda, that is our current position. GP: So its likely to be something that will be revived between now and 2025? MM: (Chuckles) well Im not going to keep answering the question, but Ive answered the question as best I can. Weve got a lot of things we need to do. Lets just wait and see what happens with the make-up of the Parliament.

I will be stunned if Labor does not seize this historic opportunity to at least tinker with  and maybe perform major surgery on  the rules of WA democracy. Loading After all, what could be fairer than each persons vote being weighted equally? It is a political reality that such a rewriting will favour Labor over the conservative parties and see regional West Australians lose ground to voters in Perth. So who did the turkeys vote for in the upper house? (And regional West Australians please forgive the pejorative.) As of 3pm on Tuesday, Labor had:
The findings underscore the importance of considering animals cultural diversity in conservation studies, said Kristina Paxton, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Hawaii at Hilo who has studied the songs of Hawaiian forest birds and was not involved in the Australia research.

This study adds to a growing understanding that in many animals, like humans, the loss of cultural identity can have far-ranging effects on their ability to persist, she added.

Regent honeyeaters are a social species that once traveled in large flocks, feeding in flowering eucalyptus and mistletoe trees across an area in Australia from roughly Melbourne to Brisbane. They sing to each other not only for mating, but to mark territory and relay tips on where to find food.

But as temperate woodlands across Australia were cleared in recent decades, the population fell  from about 1,500 birds in the late 1980s to about a fifth that many more than two decades later, according to government data. The species also began to lose turf battles with competitors like the noisy miner, a fellow honeyeater known for its aggressive behavior.

A century ago, there were lots of regent honeyeaters to stand up to the noisy miners, said Mick Roderick, a program manager at the advocacy group Birdlife Australia. But now, because theres literally just a pair here and a pair here  they are so rare  theyre just sitting ducks.
Hurricane season 2021 is here: How do storms get their names?
An Ontario registered nurse, Jess Faraone, is drawing the ire of the internet after posting a video of herself arriving at Toronto's Pearson International Airport in which she refuses to wear a mask, quarantine at a hotel or take a COVID-19 test.

I have refused to stay in a hotel because Im a Canadian citizen, Im refusing to do the COVID test because Im a Canadian citizen, said Faraone in an Instagram story video on her profile.

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Anyone returning to Canada from a foreign country - in Faraones case Tanzania - is required to follow a 14-day mandatory quarantine, and is supposed to report to a hotel for a 3-day mandatory stay. The hotel rule was installed to limit the spread of COVID-19 variants, and anyone who violates the penalties could be subjected to a fine up to $750,000 or imprisonment for six months.

My dispute has been wearing a mask outside, in the general public, like malls, grocery stores, coffee shops, anywhere else other than a hospital or some sort of medical facility where you need to wear a mask, she said.

In the videos, Faraone is heard arguing with what sounds like a Canadian Border Services Agency officer or security personnel. In follow-up videos, she has said that officers and medical personnel on hand tried to shame her insisting that her medical background means she should know better.

Im a frontline hero, Im considered a hero, Faroane is heard telling the officer. She said CBSA told her that she would be sent a ticket in the mail, but when Yahoo News Canada recached out to the CBSA, they said it's the Public Health Agency and local police's jurisdiction to issue a fine.

Former employers respond to nurse's actions

According to the College of Nurses of Ontario, Faroanes still listed as an employee of Toronto Cosmetic Surgery Institute, but in her video she confirms she is no longer an employee. In an emailed response to Yahoo News Canada, Faraones former employer, the Toronto Cosmetic Surgery Institute said what she did is wrong and her recent actions and opinions do not represent our clinic. The College has not yet responded to a request for a comment.

Story continues

Faraone is noted to have also worked at Pine Grove Lodge, a long-term care home in Woodbridge, Ont. In November 2020, the nursing home suffered a serious outbreak with 72 patients and 37 staff being infected with COVID-19.

Ive worked in several nursing homes, said Faraone. I love working with old people."

In following videos, Faraone clarifies her stance on masks indicating they should be only used in medical settings. She also added that she doesnt approve of kids being forced to wear masks.

I never said that Im a nurse who doesnt believe in wearing PPE in the hospital or working with sick people. I completely agree with wearing PPE while working, said Faraone.

I think its hilarious that people are changing the narrative to fit what they want to hear, said Faraone through Instagram stories, indicating that the media would somehow spin her story.

Readers react with praise, anger over Faraone's refusal

While Faraone's actions left some divided  while many readers were upset, some praised the nurse for standing up for her rights and expressing her freedoms.

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Yahoo News Canada has reached out to the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) for comment, and why there was no immediate recourse. The public body said they are aware of situation and looking into it.

"Travellers are legally obligated to follow the instructions of a Screening Officer or Quarantine Officer through the 14-day period, whether in regards to testing, transit to locations, their mandatory hotel stopover or during quarantine at home or other suitable location. If they do not follow the instructions, there are penalties including a maximum fine of up to $750,000 or imprisonment for six months. All travellers legally obligated to follow the 14-day period quarantine will be subject to compliance," wrote a PHAC spokesperson in an email.
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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 17)  The OCTA research team warns Metro Manila is "on a serious surge" after logging a 78% increase in COVID-19 cases compared to one week ago.

OCTA experts said the 2,231 infections recorded in the capital region on March 16 pushed the virus reproduction number to 1.96, its highest since May 2020. The number means nearly two people are getting infected by each COVID-19 patient. Its daily attack rate, which tracks the day-to-day increase or decrease of cases, is 15.9 per 100,000 in the past seven days, making it a high-risk area.

However, OCTA lowered its projection for the end of March from 7,500 cases a day to 4,000 cases after considering the effects of "localized lockdowns, curfews, and stricter implementation of health protocols." The cities of Navotas and Pasay imposed tight restrictions on some communities or households which slowed the infection rate of the virus.

"It is also possible that the combined efforts of the local governments and the citizens will further reduce the transmission rate and lower the reproduction number in NCR," said OCTA's report on Wednesday. "Localized lockdowns may work against variant-driven surges but they are more effective in tandem with expanded testing, contact tracing and supported isolation."

The metropolis could see 6,000 cases per day by mid-April taking into account strict city regulations, but without them, infections could skyrocket to 16,000 daily, the research team said. While testing increased by 18%, Metro Manila's positivity rate or percentage of positive individuals out of those tested, also rose by 12%, it added.

Dr. Ted Herbosa, Special Adviser to the National Task Force Against COVID-19, also emphasized the need for tests but only in areas with outbreaks, while nearby places will be under surveillance.

"I believe that we should be doing aggressive community testing, not really mass testing because mass testing has no sense," he told CNN Philippines' News Night. "Aggressive community testing, that means a specific barangay for example, that has a clustering or outbreak of cases."

As OCTA also flagged high hospital occupancy rates of over 70% in Quezon, Makati and Muntinlupa cities, Herbosa proposed opening more quarantine facilities to host mild cases and patients without symptoms.

"We can reopen some of the huge facilities that we used to have before...and look at opening some other hotels like we did before, where we can admit who are mild and asymptomatic so we can relieve the hospital of the pressure," said Herbosa.
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Investigations editor

Larry Parnass, investigations editor, joined The Eagle in 2016 from the Daily Hampshire Gazette, where he was editor in chief. His freelance work has appeared in the Washington Post, Boston Globe, Hartford Courant and CommonWealth Magazine.
[March 17, 2021] WeTrade Group's YCloud System will Empower the Revenue Growth of Convenience Stores

BEIJING, March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- WeTrade Group Inc. ("WeTrade" or the "Company") (US: WETG), an emerging growth company engaged in the business of providing cloud intelligent systems for micro-businesses, announced a cooperation with the Company of Zhongyantongda. WeTrade Group targets to implement the YCloud intelligence system in 5.6 million Zhongyan convenience stores within one year. The two companies aim to improve the private online traffic operation, complete the digitalized transformation and achieve revenue growth by the support of a supply chain system, AI fission community marketing management, short-video livestreaming application and financial services. At present, 5.6 million convenience stores of Zhongyan Corporation have covered most regions of the country and have achieved social retail and smart community service for 350 million smokers and their families. With the development of the Internet and digital economy, convenience stores have become active. However, due to the limitation of traditional operating models and hysteretic supply systems, they are facing issues of continuous expansion and revenue growth. Furthermore, the pandemic has brought a huge impact on the brick-and-mortar store economic model, giving rise to an innovative transformation demand for convenience stores.





For the cooperation, Mr. Zheng Dai, Chairman and CTO of WeTrade Group, commented that the company is very glad to reach the cooperation and to implement the YCloud into all 5.6 million convenience stores. In the future, WeTrade Group will provide a series of training services for their employees to familiarize the operation of the system. There are countless offline small retailers in China, they are the most direct service providers for communities. Only by solving their problems, the vitality of market economy can be protected and stimulated. WeTrade Group will continue to focus on the offline retailers and help more micro-businesses to attain the digital transformation and private traffic profit through the R&D and application of YCloud. About WeTrade Group Inc. WeTrade Group INC is the world's first technical service provider of Cloud Intelligent System for micro-businesses. It is the first internationalized system in the global micro-business cloud intelligence field and also the leader, innovator and promoter of the world's cloud intelligent system for micro-businesses. WeTrade Group independently developed the cloud intelligent system for micro-businesses (Abbreviation: YCloud). YCloud can strengthen users' marketing relationship and CPS commission profit management through leading technology and big data analysis. It also can help increase the payment scenarios, revenue and group leader management to increase customers' revenue by multi-channel data statistics, AI fission and management as well as improved supply chain system. Up to now, YCloud's business has successfully landed in mainland China, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Singapore and other countries, covering the micro business industry, tourism industry, hospitality industry, livestreaming and short video industry, aesthetic medical industry and traditional retail industry. For more information, please visit our website: https://ir.wetg.group. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/wetrade-groups-ycloud-system-will-empower-the-revenue-growth-of-convenience-stores-301249144.html SOURCE WeTrade Group Inc.

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Michael A. McCoy/Getty; Sean Gallup/Getty; Michelle Au/Twitter From left: Kamala Harris, Barack Obama and Michelle Au

Leading lawmakers in Georgia and around the U.S. are mourning the victims of a spree shooting in the Atlanta area on Tuesday, which investigators say targeted three Asian spas.



Eight people were killed by a gunman who opened fire at the spas  one in Cherokee County north of Atlanta and two in Atlanta soon after. Six of the eight slain were Asian women.

The suspect, a 21-year-old white man named Robert Aaron Long, is in custody and confessed to the killings, authorities say. (It was unclear if he has retained an attorney who could speak on his behalf.)

On Wednesday morning, Vice President Kamala Harris said the shooting was "tragic."

"Knowing the increasing level of hate crime against our Asian American brothers and sisters, we also want to speak out in solidarity with them and acknowledge that none of us should ever be silent in the face of any form of hate," said Harris, 56, the first person of Asian descent to become vice president.



"We're not yet clear about the motive," she added. "But I do want to say to our Asian American community that we stand with you and understand how this has frightened and shocked and outraged all people."



President Joe Biden said he would wait for an investigation to take place before commenting on the shooter's motivation but called the broader issue of Asian discrimination "very, very troubling."

Local investigators said Wednesday that the suspect seemed to have a sex addiction and the spas were "a temptation for him that he wanted to eliminate." He "may have frequented some of these places in the past," the Cherokee County sheriff said.

"Whatever the motivation here, I know Asian Americans are  they are very concerned, because as you know I have been speaking about the brutality against Asian Americans for the last couple of months and I think it is very, very troubling," Biden said Wednesday, speaking to reporters in the Oval Office.

Story continues

RELATED: Olivia Munn, LeBron James, Mindy Kaling and More React to Georgia Shootings  'Senseless and Tragic'

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"Whatever the motivation was for this guy, we know that the majority of the victims were Asian," Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms said, according to The New York Times. "We also know that this is an issue that is happening across the country. It is unacceptable, it is hateful and it has to stop."



Georgia state Sen. Michelle Au, who is Chinese-American, told The Washington Post the shooting took place "in a landscape where Asian Americans are increasingly terrified and fearful for their lives and their safety because of these escalating threats against our people."



In a statement, Au called the shootings "senseless" and called on Americans to pledge solidarity with the country's Asian American community.



"Recognize that we need support, we need protection, and we need your voices raised with ours against hate," she wrote.

Former President Barack Obama, 59, tweeted that "although the shooter's motive is not yet clear, the identity of the victims underscores an alarming rise in anti-Asian violence that must end." He also called for legislative solutions to "the epidemic of gun violence."



He said he and former First Lady Michelle Obama were praying for the victims and their families.

RELATED: Ga. Spa Shooting Suspect Allegedly Had 'Sexual Addiction' and Planned More Killings in Fla.: Police

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Georgia Sen. Raphael Warnock sent his prayers as well. "My heart is broken tonight after the tragic violence in Atlanta that took eight lives," he tweeted. "Once again we see that hate is deadly."



Sen. Jon Ossoff, Georgia's other senator, released a statement saying he was "heartbroken" over the murders.



"While the motive for last night's terrible violence remains under investigation, I express my love and support for and stand in solidarity with the Asian-American community, which has endured a shocking increase in violence and harassment over the last year," Ossoff wrote.

"Racism is dehumanizing," tweeted Andrew Yang, the former presidential candidate currently running to become mayor of New York City.

"I think about these women's lives, their hopes and dreams, their family members who will never see them again," Yang soon added. "So heartbreaking."

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RELATED: Olivia Munn, LeBron James, Mindy Kaling and More React to Georgia Shootings: 'Senseless and Tragic'



There has been a troubling spate of attacks and discrimination against Asian Americans since the COVID-19 pandemic came to the United States last year.

Many critics have pointed to former President Donald Trump's repeated use of racist language such as referring to the coronavirus as the "China virus" and the "Kung Flu."



A spokesman for Trump did not respond to PEOPLE's request on Wednesday for comment on the Georgia shootings.

For more details on the deadly Atlanta shootings and its significance for the Asian-American community, listen below to the episode of PEOPLE Every Day.

Last week, Biden, 78, condemned racism against Asian Americans during a primetime television address about the pandemic, calling hateful rhetoric and violence "un-American" and urging it to end.



"At this very moment, so many of them, our fellow Americans, they're on the front lines of this pandemic trying to save lives," Biden said. "And still  still  they are forced to live in fear for their lives just walking down streets in America. It's wrong, it's un-American and it must stop."

To learn more and to report crimes, go to: Asian Americans Advancing Justice, Stop the AAPI Hate, National Council of Asian Pacific Americans, Asian Americans Advancing Justice-LA, and Asian Pacific Policy & Planning Council.
Burma Myanmar Regime Issues Arrest Warrant for CRPH Intl Envoy on Treason Charge

Dr. Sa Sa, who was appointed Myanmars representative to the UN by the Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw (CRPH). / Dr. Sa Sa / Facebook

The military regime has issued an arrest warrant for the international envoy for Myanmars overthrown civilian government, charging him with high treason over what it said were his efforts to topple the coup leaders.

On Tuesday, military-controlled MRTV announced that Dr. Sa Sa had been charged with high treason under Section 122(2) of the Criminal Code for accepting an appointment as Myanmars representative to the UN by the Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw (CRPH). The CRPH was formed by elected lawmakers from the National league for Democracy (NLD) who were prevented from taking seats in the Union Parliament by the Feb. 1 coup. The Pyidaungsu Hluttaw is Myanmars Union Parliament.

The military accused Dr. Sa Sa of inciting staff at Myanmar embassies abroad to join the civil disobedience movement against the regime, and of calling for international sanctions on coup leaders.

More than two dozen diplomats from Myanmars foreign missions including those in the US, UK, Norway and Switzerland have announced they would refuse to work for the regime after it launched deadly crackdowns on anti-coup protesters.

The military also cited Dr. Sa Sas call for the UN Security Council (UNSC) to adhere to the Responsibility to Protect (R2P) principle, as well as his series of discussions with ethnic armed groups asking them to collaborate to bring down the military regime.

The regime claimed his acts caused an escalation of Myanmars internal conflicts and sought the overthrow of what it said was the constitutionally governing State Administration Council (SAC), formed by the coup leaders.

In responses to the military regime, Dr. Sa Sa said, I am proud to have been charged with treason by the military juntabecause treason against the junta means that I am standing with the people of Myanmar, giving my life for their freedom, for federal democracy and for justice.

He said that all his life he had witnessed torture, forced labor, intimidation, rape and killings of Myanmar people by the military generals who now accuse him of high treason.

Dr. Sa Sa said the charge of high treason against him was tantamount to a declaration of war on federal democracy, freedom and justice.

We will not rest until we have brought these criminals to justice, he added.

You may also like these stories:

Continuing Brutality by Myanmar Military Junta Pushes Death Toll to 193

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Lackawanna County is suing Scranton to recoup part of the $208,000 in permit and inspection fees the city charged the county during its conversion of the former Globe store into a government center.

The project took place from 2017 into 2019.

In January 2018, the city billed the county a lump sum building permit fee of $107,815.50 and third-party inspection fee of $100,341.54, which together totaled $208,157.04.

At that time, the county argued the fees were unreasonable and sought a reduction from the city, according to the lawsuit filed March 3 in Lackawanna County Court.

Former Mayor Bill Courtright refused to reduce the fees because the tax-exempt countys takeover of the building at 123 Wyoming Ave. meant the city lost tax revenue, the lawsuit claims.

The county paid the full $208,157 under protest in January 2018 to avoid delays in the renovation, but reserved the right to later seek a refund of excessive fees.

The countys lawsuit aims to force the city to justify the fees, refund the entire amount or determine how much was reasonable and refund the excess.

County solicitor Frank Ruggiero said the county does not anticipate getting a full refund, but the lawsuit seeks a total refund so the burden shifts to the city to justify its amounts.

Were just hoping to get back for the county what it may be entitled to, Ruggiero said in a phone interview.

City solicitor Joseph OBrien said the city stands by the full fees.

We have legislation that sets the amount, OBrien said in a phone interview. We filed it completely to the letter (of the applicable ordinance) and thats what set the fee.

But the lawsuit claims the citys ordinance pegging fees to construction cost made the fees grossly disproportionate to the citys actual administrative costs of permitting and inspections.

The citys collection of fees amounted to an unauthorized collection of taxes under the guise of fees for building permits and inspections. The city is not legally entitled to the fees collected from the county, the lawsuit says.

The lawsuit cites city correspondence to the county in January 2018 saying Courtrights decision has arrived mainly in part because of the tax revenue the city has been losing due to the county being a non-tax entity.

The lawsuit claims thats an acknowledgment by the city that the fees were for general use, and not to cover administrative costs; and that makes the revenue a tax and not a licensing fee.

In December, the county again requested a refund of excess fees and submitted a certified claim to the city, but the city did not provide a refund.

The Lackawanna County Government Center project, led by former Commissioner Patrick OMalley, was mostly completed by December 2018, when employees started to move into the facility.
A former Target employee is putting the chain on blast after quitting her job, accusing her store of having inadequate COVID-19 protocols and putting employees and customers in danger.

Skylar, 21, shared her critical take on the department store on TikTok this week, alleging that the store she worked at in Maryland did not shut down when staff reported testing positive for the novel coronavirus.

She also claimed that got in trouble when she stayed home awaiting her COVID test results, and all work absence  no matter how dire the situation  were held against employees.

Blasted: A former Target employee from Maryland is putting the chain on blast after quitting her job, accusing her store of having inadequate COVID-19 protocols

Open: Skylar, 21, shared her take on TikTok, alleging that the store she worked at in Maryland did not shut down when staff reported testing positive for the novel coronavirus

Accusations: The social media user has racked up millions of views on her video, in which she lays bare the worst experiences she says she faced while working at Target

'I no longer work at Target and now I can expose them,' Skylar said in a now-viral TikTok video that's earned 3.5 million views. 'Target you literally were the worst job Ive ever had.'

Her most damning allegations revolved around how her particular store handled COVID exposure among staff.

'They had several COVID cases a month and never shut down ONCE,' she wrote.

'They wrote me up for missing work while awaiting COVID test results,' she added.

'They don't accept doctor notes. EVERY absence is held against you no matter the urgency of the situation,' she went on, later revealing that she was 'throwing up at work' and 'in the parking lot puking' and her absence was still 'held against her.'

She also accused them of treating employees poorly in other ways, saying: 'They made "mistakes" on my schedule for 4+ weeks straight.'

Accusations: A representative for Target told DailyMail.com that the stores have swift responses to COVID-positive employees and offer paid time off for those who mnust quarantine (stock image)

'They don't accept doctor notes. EVERY absence is held against you no matter the urgency of the situation,' she went on

She also accused them of treating employees poorly in other ways and shared some tips for customers

And for customers, she had a few tips.

'You can literally change the price of ANYTHING by simply saying the sign said otherwise,' she revealed.

'They have undercover security that follows people around the store,' she added.

In the comments section, Skylar went on to describe the job as 'toxic' and say that it made her 'feel clinically insane.'

Her video has received a mix of comments, including some other Target employees complaining about their own jobs. But others have said that they've had great experiences working at the chain and don't know what Skylar is talking about.

To commenters who didn't believe her story, Skylar offered up some evidence in the form of text messages and DMs.

One text she allegedly received from work read: 'We're sharing that a COVID19 case was reported. The TM [team member] was last in the store on 3/9/2021. All areas of the store have been extensively cleaned & disinfected per our daily routines for the health & safety of our TMs and guests.'

Proof? To commenters who didn't believe her story, Skylar offered up some evidence in the form of text messages and DMs

In the comments section, Skylar went on to describe the job as 'toxic' and say that it made her 'feel clinically insane'

After she quit, she also allegedly received a message from a coworker telling her she understands that she needs to leave the 'toxic' environment.

A third message supposedly from a former employee tells Skylar she is better off.

Since quitting, Skylar has accepted a new job as a waitress, and told followers, ' Retail was clearly not for me.'

A representative for Target told DailyMail.com that the company 'treat[s] every positive case of the coronavirus with care and work hard to maintain a variety of cleaning, social distancing and safety measures to protect our team and guests.

'We are transparent with our team and share the steps we take after learning about a positive case,' the representative said.

'We communicate with team members who have a positive or presumptive positive case of the coronavirus. We provide them with information about our coronavirus benefits, including quarantine pay for 14 days at 100% of pay, and health department guidelines.

'We swiftly inform team members who work at a location where a case of the coronavirus is confirmed

'We work quickly to deep clean and disinfect the store or facility, which is the recommendation of public health experts. We follow guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and provide information that any health department requests of us.'
The Daily Beast

REUTERSIt appears that Benjamin Netanyahu is finally on his way out as Israels prime minister. With just minutes to spare ahead of a midnight deadline on Wednesday, opposition leader Yair Lapid notified Israels president that he had formed a new government.But if Benjamin Netayahus 12-year run is indeed at an end, expect key segments of the GOP will treat Bibi as though he had not lost power, much as they continue to venerate Donald Trump and look at Joe Bidens victory as illegitimate.Israel
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Former Congress President and MP from Wayanad in Kerala Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday launched an attack on the Central government over reports claiming decline of democracy in India. He also said Iraq's dictator Saddam Hussein and Libya's Muammar Gaddafi used to win elections as well. He made this remark during a conversation with Professor Ashutosh Varshney of Brown University.

Live: My interaction with Prof Ashutosh Varshney, faculty & students of Brown University. https://t.co/1goKjIgp9H  Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) March 16, 2021

"Saddam Hussein and Gaddafi used to have elections. They used to win them. It wasn't like they weren't voting but there was no institutional framework to protect that vote," said Rahul Gandhi.

"My Mic was switched off in Parliament": Rahul Gandhi

"My mic was turned off in the Parliament in the middle of my speech. The essence of the Parliament is that I should be allowed to speak and when I am speaking it should be shown on TV to the country but the TV doesn't show what's going on in the Parliament," said Congress leader.

He further said that the BJP MPs told him in Parliament that they cannot have an open discussion and are told what they are supposed to say. Not a single BJP MP Iis allowed to go against PM Modi and it's the same with the Judiciary and the press.

Bharatiya Janata Party MPs in Parliament tell me that they cannot have an open discussion. They say they are told what to say: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in conversation with Prof. Ashutosh Varshney of Brown University pic.twitter.com/susAcSdNiE  ANI (@ANI) March 16, 2021

On the reports by Varieties of Democracy (V-Dem), a Sweden-based institute that downgraded India to an "electoral autocracy," showing a decline in democratic freedoms and Freedom House analysis which shifted India's status from a 'free' country to 'partly-free.' Gandhi said that we do not need the stamp from them.

We dont need stamps from them, but directionally what they are saying is correct and democracy is actually weakening in the country. In fact, they are way behind the curve. The situation in India is far worse than they, or sections within our country, imagine. You can not separate electoral democracy from an institutional framework. Democracy is ineffective without its supporting frameworks. An election is not something that people are just going and pressing the button to caste the vote, it is an narrative," Rahul said.

On frequent questions asked about the need for the Gandhis to provide opportunities for someone else at the helm of the Congress Rahul said
CHICAGO, March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- CCC Information Services Inc. (CCC) announces the publication of Crash Course 2021, revealing industry-leading insights on the business, consumer, environmental, and technology trends shaping the P&C insurance economy. The report provides a substantive view of how Covid-19 reshaped the industry with shifts in driving behavior, attitudes toward personal mobility, adoption of telematics-enabled usage-based insurance, and exponential growth in the digitization of operations across the claims and repair experience.

"Crash Course illustrates how Covid-19 impacted our industry and the trajectory of change moving forward," said Susanna Gotsch, director, lead analyst, CCC and Crash Course author. "CCC has published Crash Course for 26 years and this edition reveals unprecedented change. And though we expect some changes like miles driven to revert to pre-pandemic levels, we project other changes will become the new baseline as photos, mobile, AI, and customer demands have reset expectations and changed how we work."

The 130-page report draws insights from decades of experience from processing more than 200-million claims-related transactions, 50-billion miles of driving data, and millions of auto BI and PIP/MedPay casualty claims. CCC is committed to providing the industry with information and data to create more visibility into what's ahead, informing understanding to positively impact business outcomes.

Key topics covered in Crash Course 2021 include:

The rise of tech-enabled DIY customer experiences in insurance.

How Covid-19 became the spark for consumers to take another look at usage-based insurance.

Why 2020 saw more severe accidents and the impact on the repair process.

Covid-19's impact on the casualty claims process and healthcare.

The role of vehicle technology in increasing repair costs.

Added Gotsch, "To help make sense of the rapidly changing market dynamics and accelerating innovations, the Crash Course team is evolving how we bring information to you. We're excited to deliver a unique Crash Course report each quarter in 2021, sharing the most current data available and even timelier insights."

In addition to macro trends and topics, CCC's Crash Course 2021 report also includes industry-level detail on new and used vehicle market dynamics, claims frequency, total loss and repair trends, parts utilization, and much more.

Download the Crash Course 2021 report for free at www.cccis.com/crashcourse.

About CCC

CCC is a leading SaaS platform for the multi-trillion-dollar P&C insurance economy powering operations for insurers, repairers, automakers, part suppliers, lenders, and more. CCC cloud technology connects more than 30,000 businesses digitizing mission-critical workflows, commerce, and customer experiences. A trusted leader in AI, IoT, customer experience, network and workflow management, CCC delivers innovations that keep people's lives moving forward when it matters most. Learn more about CCC at www.cccis.com.

SOURCE CCC Information Services Inc.

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Elliot Page has opened up on his transition to becoming a male.

Since coming out as trans, Elliot has undergone top surgery.

In an interview with TIME Magazine, Elliot said the procedure has finally allowed him to recognise the person he always felt on the inside and described it as 'not only life-changing but lifesaving'.



He explained that standing in the mirror and seeing himself after getting the work done was an experience that 'has completely transformed' his life.
Dhaka, March 17 : A major fire on Wednesday morning in a hospital here has left three Covid-19 patients dead, said a senior health official.

The official said that the victims were being treated at the ICU ward of the hospital.

Nazmul Haque, Director of Dhaka Medical College Hospital, told Xinhua that 14 patients were in the ICU ward when a "high pressure oxygen device" exploded at around 8:00 am (local time).

"Three of the ICU patients died while they were shifted to another ICU unit of the hospital following the fire," he said.

Haque added that the victims were in critical condition and receiving life-supporting treatment through ventilators.

In May last year, five patients died in a devastating fire incident at the makeshift Covid-19 unit of United Hospital in Dhaka.
Three Alabama lawmakers tested positive for COVID-19 this week, a legislative spokesman confirmed Tuesday.

Alabama House of Representative spokesman Clay Redden said three representatives received positive COVID-19 test results this week.

House Speaker Mac McCutcheon, R-Monrovia, said the three were Reps. Wes Allen, R-Troy; Tommy Hanes, R-Bryant; and Ritchie Whorton, R-Owens Cross Roads. McCutcheon said they got sick over the weekend and did not come to the State House today.

Lawmakers and legislative staff have been receiving regular COVID-19 tests since the session began last month. McCutcheon said no representatives tested positive at the State House today.

Lawmakers have been taking precautions such as wearing masks, limiting access to the building and spreading out the 105 House members over two floors.

A number of lawmakers tested positive for COVID-19 before the session began.

Legislators are on spring break next week.

Updated at 7:02 p.m. to name the three members who have COVID.
Shahjahanpur : , March 17 (IANS) A Class 5 student was allegedly molested by the principal of her school in Shahjahanpur district, police said.

A case has been lodged against the principal, Shamim Ahmed, under relevant sections of the law for child abuse on the basis of the complaint received from the child's mother.

The incident took place on Monday but the complaint was lodged on Tuesday.

Superintendent of Police (SP) Sanjeev Bajpai said that the girl told her mother that she was playing outside her house when Shamim Ahmed took her away and allegedly molested her.

As the girl shouted for help, her family members came to the rescue and the man fled from the spot, the police said.

The principal, however, said that he was on his way to work on his motorbike when he saw some children playing. He stopped there and asked them to come to school.

The girl ran towards her house crying, he said, adding that later, some villagers went to the school to allege that she had been molested by him.
Thomas Tuchel said "super hungry" Chelsea have their sights set on reaching the Champions League final after Hakim Ziyech ended his goal drought to inspire a 2-0 win against Atletico Madrid in the last-16 second leg on Wednesday.

Morocco forward Ziyech grabbed his first goal since October to put the hosts ahead in the first half at Stamford Bridge.

Emerson came off the bench to score the late goal that sealed a comfortable 3-0 aggregate victory over the lacklustre La Liga leaders.

Adding to Atletico's misery, Stefan Savic was sent off in the closing stages for elbowing Antonio Rudiger in the stomach.

While Chelsea were the superior side for long periods, Atletico could justifiably claim they should have had penalty for Cesar Azpilicueta's challenge on Yannick Carrasco when the score was still 0-0.

Tuchel admitted it could have been a penalty, saying: "Azpi got a bit frightened because his ball was short, I was a bit frightened as well."

But Atletico boss Diego Simeone added: "We are not looking for excuses. We were beaten by a better team. We tried to press them up the field, but couldn't attack the way we like."

That was the only major scare for Chelsea as they extended their unbeaten run to 13 matches since Tuchel replaced the sacked Frank Lampard in January.

Tuchel boasts the longest ever unbeaten start by a Chelsea boss after moving past Luiz Felipe Scolari.

Revitalised by Tuchel, Chelsea have conceded just two goals in his brief reign and are on a run of six consecutive clean sheets in all competitions.

"A very good performance, unbelievable effort. I could feel we totally wanted it," Tuchel said.

"We enjoyed the battle. The guys were totally on and sharp. We were super hungry to go through."

Leading Chelsea into the last eight for the first time since 2014 is another feather in Tuchel's cap as the German eyes a return to the Champions League final following his defeat with Paris Saint-Germain against Bayern Munich last season.

Story continues

"They play with a special bond. Fixtures and results like this give you a certain edge to achieve special things. I'm pretty sure no-one wants to play against us," Tuchel said.

"Quarter-final means there's only four games (until the final). It's a big step and feels excellent."

Chelsea, Champions League winners for the only time in 2012, had been eliminated in the first knockout stage in their last four appearances.

But they never looked in danger of losing the 1-0 lead given to them by Olivier Giroud's overhead kick in the first leg in Bucharest.

- Azpilicueta escape -

Crucially, Azpilicueta escaped without punishment when the defender's under-hit back-pass allowed Carrasco to nip ahead of him in the penalty area.

Azpilicueta responded with a panicked tug that sent Carrasco tumbling but Atletico's penalty appeal was controversially rejected by referee Daniele Orsato, with VAR bizarrely opting not to intervene.

Simeone's anger only increased as Chelsea made the most of their good fortune to take the lead in the 34th minute.

Timo Werner now has just two goals in his last 27 appearances for Chelsea.

But Tuchel backed Werner to come good this week and the Germany forward repaid his manager's faith with a strong performance capped by the key contribution to Ziyech's opener.

Breaking at pace after Werner blocked Kieran Trippier's cross, Kai Havertz fed his team-mate on the left flank.

Werner accelerated away from the out-of-position Atletico defence before clipping a perfectly-weighted pass into Ziyech's path.

Unmarked 10 yards from goal, Ziyech finished Chelsea's thrust with a clinical strike.

Savic's frustration boiled over in the 81st minute as he was dismissed for a needless elbow that drew a theatrical fall from Rudiger.

With Chelsea's injured defender Thiago Silva roaring on Emerson from the stands, the left-back blasted home from Christian Pulisic's pass in stoppage-time, sparking a wild celebration that encapsulated the feel-good factor fuelling the Blues at present.

smg/jc
At his meeting with chief ministers, Prime Minister on Wednesday expressed concern over rising cases in the some states and called for "quick and decisive steps". "India's fight against Covid is being cited as an example in world, our recovery rate is over 96% and fatality rate among the lowest," Modi told CMs. "We will have to stop the emerging second peak of immediately," said Modi at the virtual interaction with state chief ministers over the pandemic situation and the ongoing vaccination drive. Modi said in states like Maharashtra, Punjab and Madhya Pradesh the number of Covid cases has seen a rise while nearly 70 districts in the country have have seen an increase in the positivity rate by over 150 per cent of late. "Most of the COVID-affected countries in world had to face several waves of In our country too, cases have suddenly started increasing in some states. CMs have also expressed concern. Test positivity rate in Maharashtra and MP is very high and number of cases are also rising," said Modi after the meeting. "Such an increase is being seen in many districts that had protected themselves so far and were kind of safe-zones. 70 districts of the country have seen an increase of more than 150% in new Covid cases last few weeks. If we don't stop it here, a situation of nationwide outbreak can come up. We need to identify mutants of coronavirus and assess their effects," said Modi. "If we do not stop it here, then a condition for a nationwide outbreak may emerge," he said and called for quick and decisive steps to stop it. The confidence brought by India's fight against the pandemic so far should not cause carelessness, he said, and asked chief ministers to take measures, including more testing, enforcement of preventive measures as well as increase in number of vaccination centres to curb the virus. Prime Minister also touched upon issues of governance when it comes to vaccine administration and called for more vaccination centres and asked CMs to also come up with micro-containment zones wherever necessary. PM Modi called for ramping up Covid testing in smaller townn and warned CMs of spread of Coronavirus in villages. States like Kerala, UP, Chhattisgarh overly dependent on antigen tests; RT PCR tests should make for over 70% of overall testing, said PM. People should not be put on panic-mode but need to ensure that they get rid of this problem as well, he said. "Test, track and treat" should be taken as seriously now as it has been for over a year since the outbreak, he added. Modi lauded the continually increased pace of vaccination in the country and the vaccination rates crossing more than 3 million vaccinations in a single day. But at the same time he warned to take the problem of vaccine doses wastage very seriously. "Over 10% vaccine wastage in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. Vaccine wastage in UP is almost the same. It should be reviewed in states that why vaccine wastage is happening. Monitoring must be done every evening and pro-active people should be contacted so that there's no wastage.

"It is a matter of contemplation that why is there less testing in some areas only. Why is there less vaccination in these areas? I think it's a time of test for good governance. Our confidence should not turn into over-confidence. Our success should not turn into negligence. We don't have to bring the public into panic mode. We don't have to bring a situation where there is an atmosphere of fear. We have to free the people off difficulties by taking some precautions and initiatives," Modi further said. The Prime Minister urged CMs to increase testing and to pay special attention to the "referral system" and "ambulance network" in small cities. He said this is because now the whole country has opened up for travel and the number of people travelling has also increased. He stressed on the need for a new mechanism for sharing information among themselves. Similarly, responsibility of following the SOP for surveillance of the contacts of the travelers coming from abroad have also increased.

As many as 28,903 new Covid-19 cases and 17,741 recoveries were reported in India in the last 24 hours, the Union Health Ministry informed on Wednesday.

With the addition of fresh infections, the total cases in the country reached 1,14,38,734, including 2,34,406 active cases and 1,10,45,284 recoveries.

The death toll stands at 1,59,044 including 188 fatalities recorded in the last 24 hours.
James Levine, whose legacy as one of classical musics most celebrated orchestra leaders was tarnished in recent years by accusations of sexual abuse, died March 9 at his home in Palm Springs, Calif. He was 77.

Dr. Len Horovitz, his personal physician, confirmed Levines death to The Washington Post, but did not disclose the immediate cause.

One of the musics most acclaimed conductors, Levine was the music director of the Boston Symphony Orchestra for seven years until 2011 when health problems stemming from a fall prompted his resignation. His association with the BSO dates back to 1972 when he was a guest conductor. He served as music director of the Metropolitan Opera for 40 years.

In December 2017, the Metropolitan Opera suspended all association with Levine, after three men came forward with accusations he had sexually abused decades before, when they were in their teens.

Levine denied the allegations.

In a statement at the time, the BSO said there were no reports of Levine committing inappropriate behavior during his tenure in Boston. The BSO called the accusations against Levine deeply disturbing.

The Metropolitan Opera fired Levine in 2018 and he sued them for $5.8 million in damages for breach of contract and defamation in New York State Supreme Court. A year later, a judge dismissed most of Levines claims, but ruled that the Metropolitan Opera had made defamatory statements. The parties announced a settlement on undisclosed terms in August 2019.

Levines final years were also marked by health problems, including a cancerous growth on his kidney and surgery to repair a rotator cuff after he tripped on the stage at Boston Symphony Hall in 2006.

Related content
After reports claimed that Bahraini prince Sheikh Mohamed Hamad Mohamed Al Khalifa brought 2,000 coronavirus vaccine doses in Nepal without any prior approval, Nepalese Embassy in Bahrain has reportedly apologised for the 'confusion'. Contrary to reports that seem to have sprung from a confusion, Bahraini team arriving in Nepal had received full approval to enter the country with a shipment of 2,000 vaccine doses. Several reports on March 17 had claimed that Nepal is probing the Bahraini prince over the incident.

The National Communication Centre, Kingdom of Bahrain clarified that "this approval was received before flying to Nepal from the Nepalese Ambassador to Bahrain." Further, it said that the incident occurred due to "confusion between the Nepalese Department of Drug Administration and the Nepalese Ministry of Health."

A team led by Shaikh Mohamed Hamad Mohamed Al Khalifa, which climbed 8,156-metre Manaslu in the Gorkha district last year, arrived in Kathmandu on Monday. However, the confusion ensued after Nepals drug regulatory authorities said that they were unaware of the vaccine import from another country. Meanwhile, the department of drug administration of Nepal launched an investigation into the imported Oxford manufactured AstraZeneca jabs.

@BahrainEverest team arrived to the Kathmandu this evening, after 7 days quarantine, team will depart to SamaGaun with 2000 doses of Astra Zeneca Vaccine against Covid-19, that the Kingdom of Bahrainhas donated. #everest #bahrain #nepal #sherpa #himalaya #mountaineering   pic.twitter.com/2mj05eDsl2  Chhang Dawa Sherpa (@ChhangDawa) March 15, 2021

Nepal appointed drug inspectors

Director general of the Department of Drug Administration, Bharat Bhattarai, told the Washington Post that a team of drug inspectors was deployed to probe into the matter as the vials were brought into the country without any approval. He added that the import from Bahrain would be deemed as illegal, although the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which seems to be aware of the situation, is coordinating with the Ministry of Health and Population to investigate the matter.

Currently, Bahrain Prince's team which included Bahrain Royal Guard came for an expedition last year in October. His team climbed 8,163-meter Mount Manaslu and the 6,119-meter Lobuche. His team departed from Manama, Baharain to Kathmandu to climb Mt Everest, and included 13 Bahrainis and three British citizens, according to the Embassy of Nepal in Bahrain.

(Image Credit: Twitter/@ChhangDawa)
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.
(Photo : Screenshot From xLegehnd YouTube) PlayStation Communities Facing Extinction: Sony Assures Gamers That There are Still Ways to Connect with PS4

For those that have previously used the PlayStation Communities feature on the previous PS4 at all, it is important to enjoy the feature while it lasts since Sony is deciding to axe this feature some time in the future. Sony has recently confirmed that the PlayStation Communities feature will be made completely offline then unusable in just a few weeks.

Sony PlayStation Communities

On Wednesday, March 17, PlayStation announced that the company hasn't given an exact date about the change but it is initially scheduled for next month. Sony has officially changed the details on its support page for the official PlayStation Communities feature. It also noted that the service will reportedly no longer be available on the previous PS4 consoles that start in April.

This would mean that for those that have this feature on the console, it would stop working. One thing that is also worth noting is that PlayStation Communities isn't available on the PS5 as well. Instead of Sony putting the PlayStation Communities on the next generation console, the company has decided to retire the Communities altogether.

Other means of communication

According to the story by Android Headlines, on the PS5, communication works very differently. Sony has talked about this back then when it discussed certain parts of its UI with some of the console's features. With the PlayStation Communities now being left out, it was basically just a matter of time before Sony stopped supporting certain features in its older consoles.

Sony, however, still reassures users that there will be a way for them to stay connected within the PS4. Gamers will still be able to send messages back and forth between them and those on their friends list. Gamers can also continue to interact through the PlayStation app through their iOS or Android devices.

Read Also: PlayStation to Exclude Some Games as it Expands to PC

Sony removes PlayStation Communities

The removal of a big feature like the PlayStation Communities kind of signifies Sony's ultimate plans to wind things down a little bit for the PS4. Although the popular PS4 still has a few more years left while it is still being supported with new games, Sony is now no doubtedly working to slowly scale back the total amount of work that it is doing with the said console.

The new Sony PS5 is finally here and Sony will also need to ramp up its main development teams' work along with its popular next-gen hardware. Of course, to start this off, Sony would still have to increase the total production of these consoles.

Despite launching back in November of 2020, it is still extremely hard to buy from the PS5 restock directly coming from certain online retailers. Due to scalpers as well as cryptominers, gamers have been left in the dark still struggling to get their hands on the next-gen PlayStation 5.

Related Article: Sony's PlayStation Update Faces Backlash From PS4 Gamers, Angers Fans

This article is owned by Tech Times

Written by Urian Buenconsejo

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Introduction

Adopting IFRS Standards is a top priority for many stakeholders in economies in the Mekong region. Such countries in the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) are suffering from the impact of Covid-19 and are looking to attract foreign direct investment to speed recovery and grow. IFRS Standards adoption will assist greatly in this goal. It is therefore helpful to look across the Mekong region to assess the state of adoption by respective nations, and understand the successes and challenges therein.

Representatives from Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam gathered at an online conference hosted by the ASEAN Federation of Accountants and ACCA to discuss the challenges and benefits of implementation, and to hear from representatives from the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB), the Big Four, the World Bank and a recent successful adopter, Malaysia.

Bonnie Sirois, senior government specialist for finance management, World Bank

Since borders are closed and international trade reduced, it is now imperative for the accounting profession to do everything it can to promote and support recovery. Stable and reliable financial reporting frameworks such as IFRS Standards help mitigate the risks associated with market investment. As well as providing governments with an accurate picture of the financial viability of state-owned enterprises including banks, it helps both companies and governments predict future capital outlays, assess risk and manage scarce resources during a time of constraint.

In fact, key accounting and reporting considerations are emerging as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. Key issues include recoverability and impairment of assets, as well as accounting for financial assets, modifications to contracts, recognising subsequent events and going concern evaluations. IFRS Standards, if properly applied, will capture these items, and present them.

It is more important than ever that technical partners, development partners and the accounting profession come together to support the implementation of IFRS Standards. Accountants in particular should collaborate in-country and assist their clients, since IFRS Standards will help support international trade.

Poll result: Just over half (53%) of participants are confident about IFRS Standards implementation in their country

Poll result: 50% of participants said that the significant use of judgment and estimates is the scariest hurdle for them in implementing IFRS Standards

Implementation overviews

Implementation in Cambodia  Ung Kimsopheaktra, director, Deloitte Cambodia, and governing council member, Kampuchea Institute of Certified Public Accountants and Auditors

The implementation of IFRS Standards in Cambodia has been quite limited and slow. Since the announcement to adopt in 2009, multiple delays have led to a 10-year wait for first-time adoption.

It is worth noting the reasons for each major delay. The first, from 2012 to 2016, was down to the general complexity of IFRS Standards and the lack of qualified resource to assist in implementation; there is a substantial gap between the local generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and Cambodian IFRS, especially for the newer standards.

The second delay, from 2016 to 2019, was down to similar combined factors but with additional pressure from practitioners, bank associations and microfinance companies since they were struggling to implement IFRS 39, Financial Instruments, in particular.

The Cambodian experience demonstrates that multiple levels of cooperation and assistance are ideal throughout the implementation period. Regulators need to seek support from regulators in regions that are more familiar with the framework, such as Malaysia. And support should be sought, too, from experienced companies such as the Big Four firms to help shore up a lack of local subject matter experts in the country.

Implementation in Lao PDR  Sonexay Silaphet, vice president, Lao Chamber of Professional Accountants and Auditors

Lao PDR is one of the emerging economies moving towards implementation of IFRS Standards in 2025. Public interest entities (PIEs) are expected to prepare IFRS financial statements from 2021 to 2025.

The key challenges for Lao PDR are, among others, a lack of capacity building for regulators and preparers; clashes between current regulations and provisions in IFRS; no code of corporate governance; and, crucially, no oversight on monitoring arrangements for reviewing the PIE financial statements. Lao PDR has received support from the World Bank Group in areas such as its transition road map and has also collaborated with Thailand and Australia to run workshops to assist preparers.

Implementation in Myanmar  Dr Tin Latt, vice chairman, Myanmar Institute of Certified Public Accountants

Myanmar is an excellent candidate for the implementation of IFRS Standards: its economy is growing and becoming more sophisticated. Many companies, including financial institutions and other listed entities, are growing, leading to an increased requirement for transparent and reliable financial information.

The awareness of IFRS Standards has been growing too, and Myanmar has, since 2016, been working in earnest with the IASB to make translations available, build awareness and prepare for enforcement. 2020 has been a particularly successful year; Myanmar became an associate member of the International Federation of Accountants and issued a full translation of IFRS Standards for small to medium-sized entities during the year. Translation of the full IFRS Standards is on track for completion by 2021.

Implementation in Vietnam  Trinh Duc Vinh, deputy general director, accounting and auditing supervisory department, Ministry of Finance, Vietnam

Vietnams IFRS Standards adoption roadmap comprised an important initial milestone to have its full translation launched by 2021. This will kickstart the countrys adoption of the standards.

Vietnam wishes to transition to using IFRS Standards for a number of reasons, chiefly increased accountability for entities, along with enhanced transparency of the financial statements. Such achievements will attract further foreign direct investment and lead to the recognition of Vietnam as a full market economy.

Until 2021, the Ministry of Finance will prepare the infrastructure to support entities in adopting IFRS Standards. The Ministry of Finance encourages adopting entities to set up an appropriate strategy and training for staff, as well as a modern information technology system and database to support smooth implementation.

Panel question: how can stakeholders such as the World Bank and ACCA help Mekong countries in their adoption of IFRS Standards? Key takeaways

Respondents to this question stressed the importance of targeted, intensive support from wider stakeholders in the process. Some pointed to the available templates and practical guides from the IASB, but suggested more could be done, particularly in training the trainers.

Sirois advised countries to investigate how they might best receive support on their adoption journey. She indicated that countries should write a letter to their World Bank country management office indicating a proposal for funds and stating their needs.

How to implement IFRS: advice from a user  Bee Leng Tan, executive director, Malaysian Accounting Standards Board (MASB)

Malaysia has been using IFRS Standards in full since 2012, but the journey of harmonisation with international accounting standards began in 1978 and the country had operated using a two-tier system since 2006. Post-2012, the key challenges have arisen in three areas: the application of judgment versus the requirement for a consistent approach; the real-time application of standards  the Malaysian FRS effective date was also the effective date of IFRS; and the technical demands of the standards themselves  with many companies having limited technical resources to understand the standards and contribute to their development.

Implementation demands a lot of resources  and a lot of attention. Every country is going to have specific questions on which they will need clarification. For example, in Malaysia, there were specific questions about how to measure fair value of agricultural produce growing on bearer plants: at which stage of the agricultural produce lifecycle should the discounted cashflow model start? At flowering, when the fruit is young, on the unripe bunch?

These were challenging questions, but implementers should not be put off by speed bumps like this since the MASB is, with discussion, able to answer them. Other support groups exist for implementation too, such as the Emerging Economies Group (EEG). The EEG focuses on issues around the application and implementation of IFRS Standards in emerging economies and helps provide educational guidance at the right level.

The Malaysian experience of implementing IFRS highlights the importance of joint efforts from all stakeholders, local and international. There will be challenges, but ultimately everyone will prosper as a result, since everyone in the corporate reporting chain benefits from the application of IFRS Standards.

Learning from implementation challenges in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam  Yen San Chan, partner, KPMG Singapore

An ecosystem needs to be in place to ensure the smooth implementation of IFRS Standards. Such an ecosystem can be built by following four phases: assessment, design, implementation and sustained application.

At the assess phase, companies should identify the gap between the data they have and the data they need, and assess the impact on processes and controls that implementation will have. This is also an important education phase. At the design stage, companies should make sure that they have the right templates and documents to implement.

At the first point of implementation, companies should run the old and new systems in parallel so that they can test accuracy, and in the sustained application phase should make sure that knowledge transfer and post-implementation reviews are prioritised to ensure that the following years implementation is even more successful.

It is very important to make sure that all stakeholders understand that there are wider business implications to the application of IFRS Standards; it is not just an accounting framework! Training staff is key. The type and quality of data available will also be critical to the success of implementation. Companies should plan in advance and identify the data that is must-have and good to have, and convert it into an electronic format as soon as they can.

Generally, it can take quite a bit of time to think through all the implications in the assess and design phases  but it is worth it. Implementation of IFRS will ultimately reduce the cost of capital, increase investment and employment.

IFRS: why, how and whats coming up  Rika Suzuki, member, IASB

IFRS brings transparency, accountability and efficiency to financial markets around the world. Trust is key to economic growth and long-term stability, and IFRS Standards are important for fostering that trust.

IFRS is still young  but the standards are required in a large number of developed markets across the world (144 out of 166 jurisdictions). Even where IFRS Standards are not used, standards are often very similar  such as in countries like China and India. In some countries, IFRS Standards are not required but preparers choose them anyway.

It is fair to say the utility of the standards is well-recognised. This is especially true since IFRS for SMEs has been in use: full IFRS is appropriate for larger companies, and IFRS for SMEs focuses on information needs of lenders, creditors and users of SME financial statements, and enhances the quality of financial information at smaller companies.

There is plenty of support for countries looking to adopt IFRS, and the IASB engages with a wide range of stakeholders to facilitate this. Its Translation, Adoption and Copyright team is key to transition work in newly adopting countries. The IFRS Foundation understands that accurate translation is key to achieving its mission, and it allows only one official translation per language. Maximum benefit is derived from a consistent approach, but this must be balanced with the recognition that IFRS are principle-based standards.

The IASB is also responsive to emerging concerns  for example, when the impact of Covid-19 crystallised, the IASB quickly created educational material for both the accounting for financial instruments and leases standards. The discussion for changes happened in April, with the changes published in May.

Regardless of circumstances, the IASB shares a lot of resources with preparers, including articles, board papers, podcasts, snapshots, videos, and webcasts. The IASB has several forthcoming consultations, including accounting for business combinations under common control, but it especially encourages those in the process of adopting IFRS Standards to comment on its workplan for 2022-26. It is seeking feedback on its strategic direction and balance of work plan, the criteria for assessing projects to be added and priority of financial reporting issues.

Takeaways from summary closing questions to the panel

Panellists discussed the costs versus the benefits of adopting IFRS Standards and came down heavily in favour of the international standards. Suzuki described the better view of financial performance, the improvement in decision-making capabilities for management and corporate governance, and the locally available modifications as key benefits of transitioning to IFRS.

Suzuki shared that, in Japan, Japanese listed companies choose to apply IFRS Standards as issued by the IASB rather than the local modified standards. Based on the analysis of Tokyo Exchange markets as well as FSA reports, management considers that the use of a single set of uniform global-based standards better reflect financial performance of businesses, both locally and internationally. Managements objective to transition to IFRS Standards is normally to enhance the transparency in corporate finance and governance, as well as the comparability with their competitors and to facilitate investors communication. To achieve such objectives, collecting the financial data and information consistently applied by a single set of standards is most efficient and effective way to do so.

Furthermore, local modification will require reconciliation and explanation when communicated to investors and stakeholders. Hence, management in Japan considers that the benefit of using local modified standards does not outweigh the cost, and the IFRS Standards issued by the IASB are preferred. Suzuki said that collaboration is most important for successful implementation, as it cannot be the effort of one party (be it the standard-setter, Ministry of Finance or auditors); local and international collaboration is vital to support transition and consistent application.

When discussing the key accounting challenges arising from Covid-19, Chan described cashflow projections as being probably the biggest challenge, due to high levels of uncertainty. She suggested that companies draw together best, worst and most-likely case scenarios to help planning. She also suggested that since many of the accounting issues arising from Covid-19 will require significant levels of judgment, management should be prepared to explain to auditors in detail why their business plan is feasible, so that they can satisfy going concern assessments.

Chan further expounded on the importance of building valuation and actuarial expertise in the markets to support implementation of IFRS Standards. In particular, professional valuation expertise is key as reporting often entails measurement of fair values  for example, for investment properties and financial instruments. Valuation becomes more challenging when requisite data are not readily available. This is where expertise from valuers becomes crucial.

Chan emphasised the importance of having the entire ecosystem aligned in terms of goals and objectives to achieve full convergence by a stipulated date. Multiple stakeholders are involved, including regulators and preparers, and tone from the top of management has an impact. The profession, too, needs to build capacity and support each other through the process.

Tan addressed concerns over loss of sovereignty through adoption and said that the IASB does not ignore smaller economies. She explained that Malaysia had enjoyed plenty of discussion on significant issues with the IASB and that countries planning on transitioning to IFRS Standards, or in the process of doing so, cannot be emotional about it, addressing concerns with multiple town-hall style meetings with stakeholders.

In response to the question of the timescale for Malaysias full convergence and how long other jurisdictions can expect to take to complete the process, Tan shared that it is jurisdiction-specific, and dependent on different factors such as whether translation of standards is required, the level of interaction between regulators, including with the Inland Revenue, and so on. She pointed out that IFRS Standards convergence is a continuous process. Even post-convergence, ongoing education is required.

There needs to be a change in mindset towards the standard-setting process. At jurisdiction level, the wider profession, working collaboratively with the national standard setter, needs to be more alert and responsive to development of the standards at international level. It is important to keep up to date and understand how the fundamentals drive the theory, and, whenever interpretation and implementation issues surface, flag them up as early as possible.
"Our posture's gonna be that we're posted outside of DC, awaiting the president's orders. We hope he will give us the orders. We want him to declare an insurrection, and to call us up as the militia."

Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes, in November, looking ahead to Jan. 6
ANNAPOLIS, Md., March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Deep Water Point announced that LTG Robert (Bob) Ashley, USA, Ret. joined its team in support of the company's defense and intelligence business. General Ashley is a senior leader with 36 years of experience in operational combat, intelligence, global security, cybersecurity, analytics, and risk management. His most recent position was the Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) from 2017-2020. His full biography can be found on the company's website: https://www.deepwaterpoint.com/robert-ashley/.

Deep Water Point has recruited some of the nation's top federal civilian and military leaders to support its growing consulting practice -- particularly in the areas of defense and intelligence. Other military leaders who have joined the firm include the former Deputy Commanding Generals of U.S. European Command, U.S. Southern Command, and U.S. Northern Command. The former Commanding General of U.S. Army Special Operations Command and the Chief of Staff of U.S. Cyber Command joined the firmed in prior months.

"Providing exceptional service to our clients requires us to recruit and sustain the best people industry and government have to offer," said Howard Seeger, Deep Water Point's Managing Partner. "General Ashley will be joining a very strong team of former senior government, military, and industry executives who understand the market and provide real value to our clients," he said.

Deep Water Point is a Federal Management Consulting firm located within the Washington, D.C. National Capital Region (NCR). Its consulting team consists of roughly 300 subject matter executives spanning the defense, intelligence, and federal civilian markets. Deep Water Point's primary headquarters is in Annapolis, Maryland. Members of its team are geographically dispersed across the NCR and other parts of the United States. For more information about Deep Water Point, its services, or General Ashley visit: www.deepwaterpoint.com

Deep Water Point, Point of Contact:

John C. Johnson, Partner

Marketing, Recruiting, and Communications

[email protected]

SOURCE Deep Water Point

Related Links

https://www.deepwaterpoint.com


Christian mass shooter Robert Long was tired of temptation posed by massage parlors: police

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Christian mass shooter Robert Aaron Long, 21, told police he was addicted to pornography and was trying to eliminate temptation when he shot up three massage parlors in the Atlanta area, killing eight people who were mostly Asian women Tuesday evening, and was planning to shoot up more parlors in Florida.

We did interview him last night. He is currently in our facility at the Cherokee County Adult Detention Center, Cherokee County Sheriff Frank Reynolds said at a press conference Wednesday. He made indicators that he has some issues, potentially sexual addiction, and may have frequented some of these places in the past.

Captain Jay Baker of the Cherokee County Sheriff's Department said Long, who attended Crabapple First Baptist Church in Milton, Georgia, a Southern Baptist congregation, did take responsibility for the shootings and dismissed reports that his actions were racially motivated.

He does claim that it was not racially motivated. He apparently has an issue with what he considers a sex addiction and sees these locations as something that allows him to go to these places. Its a temptation for him he wanted to eliminate, Baker said. Those are comments that he made.

Baker explained that investigators handling the case said Long understood the gravity of his actions on Tuesday.

He was pretty much fed up and kinda at the end of his rope, and I guess it was a really bad day for him and this is what he did, Baker said. "These locations, he sees them as an outlet for him, something he shouldnt be doing.  He had an issue with porn and he was attempting to take out that temptation.

He added: It may be targets of opportunity. We believe that he frequented these places in the past and may have been lashing out.

Authorities say four people died in Longs shooting spree during his first attack at Youngs Asian Massage near Acworth, a northwest suburb of Atlanta, which was reported around 5 p.m. A Hispanic man was also injured there.

Atlanta police officers then responded to what was reported as a robbery at Gold Spa (open 24 hours a day) in the northeast part of the city at 5:47 p.m., where they found the bodies of three women with gunshot wounds. While officers were at that scene, they received a call about shots fired at the Aromatherapy Spa across the street, where they found another woman's body.

Police confirmed Wednesday that two of the eight people killed are white.

As police shared the new details on Longs motives, Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms said, we certainly will not begin to blame victims.

We dont know additional information on what his motives were, but we certainly will not begin to blame victims. And as far as we know in Atlanta, these are legally operating businesses that have not been on our radar, not on the radar of APD, Lance Bottoms said.

Baker said Long, who appeared to have used a 9mm firearm in his attack on the massage parlors, told police he was on his way to Florida to shoot up more massage parlors.

Thanks to the help of his family, they were able to track him through his cellphone and stop him before he was able to take more lives.

We are really appreciative of the family. Without them, this would not have happened as quickly as it happened. They are very supportive and certainly, this was difficult for them, Baker said.

Long, who was twice baptized at Crabapple First Baptist Church, most recently in 2018, previously attended services with his mother, father and younger sister. Police said that at the time of the shootings, Long was not living with his parents.

Minutes from a meeting of the elders at the church showed that, in 2018, Long was one of 11 people who served as members of Crabapple First Baptist Churchs Student Ministry Team, which exists to see students receive Jesus Christ as Lord, and walk in Him, being rooted in the faith.

Jerry Dockery, the lead teaching elder at the church, prayed last Sunday that God would use his church to have leaders in various areas of the public and private sector drawn toward you.

We pray that Lord, our leaders, our first responders, our teachers, our business leaders to have their eyes and hearts drawn toward you. Youd make Yourself known in this community in a very powerful, personal way. We ask that you use Crabapple Church to bring this to pass, he said.

Asked by The Christian Post on Wednesday to share his thoughts on Longs faith and any possible explanation for what could have driven Long to carry out the shootings, Dockery said: We are grieved to hear the tragic news about the multiple deaths in the Atlanta area. We are heartbroken for all involved. We grieve for the victims and their families and will continue to pray for them. Moreover, we are distraught for the Long family and pray for them as well.
The newly-discovered galaxy, named VLAHFF-J071736+374506 (J0717+3745 for short), is likely the faintest radio-emitting object yet found, according to astronomers with the VLA Frontier Fields Legacy Survey.

The J0717+3745 galaxy lies at a distance of more than 8 billion light-years from Earth.

Its light and radio waves have been bent by the gravitational-lensing effect of a massive galaxy cluster.

Known as MACS J0717.5+3745, the lensing cluster is located more than 5 billion light-years away.

The radio image of J0717+3745 has been magnified more than six times by the gravitational lens, said Oxford University astronomer Ian Heywood and NRAO astronomer Eric Jimenez-Andrade.

Galaxy clusters contain thousands of galaxies of all ages, shapes and sizes. Typically, they have a mass of about one million billion times the mass of the Sun and form over billions of years as smaller groups of galaxies slowly come together.

Albert Einstein predicted in his theory of general relativity that massive objects will deform the fabric of space itself.

When light or radio waves pass one of these objects, such as MACS J0717.5+3745, their path is changed slightly.

J0717+3745 probably is the faintest radio-emitting object ever detected, Dr. Heywood said.

This is exactly why we want to use these galaxy clusters as powerful cosmic lenses to learn more about the objects behind them.

The magnification provided by the gravitational lens, combined with extremely sensitive imaging from NSFs Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array (VLA), gave us an unprecedented look at the structure of a galaxy 300 times less massive than our Milky Way at a time when the Universe was less than half its current age, Dr. Jimenez-Andrade said.

This is giving us valuable insights on star formation in such low-mass galaxies at that time and how they eventually assembled into more massive galaxies.

The teams results will appear in two papers to be published in the Astrophysical Journal.

_____

I. Heywood et al. 2021. The VLA Frontier Fields Survey: Deep, High-resolution Radio Imaging of the MACS Lensing Clusters at 3 and 6 GHz. ApJ, in press; arXiv: 2103.07806

E.F. Jimenez-Andrade et al. 2021. The VLA Frontier Field Survey: A Comparison of the Radio and UV/optical size of 0.3z3 star-forming galaxies. ApJ, in press; arXiv: 2103.07807
OROVILLE, Calif.  Orovilles Southside Community Improvement Association will host a food giveaway Wednesday, March 17.

The drive-thru giveaway is in partnership with the O'Quinn Outreach Ministry.

The groups will be handing out food at 2959 lower Wyandotte Road Oroville from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The food giveaway it's is on a first-come, first-serve basis.

The drive-thru event will take place rain or shine. The groups ask that you remain in your vehicle and open your trunk when it's your turn in line.
Armenia acting health minister on citizens' demand for her resignation

Karabakh's new State Minister Artak Beglaryan on his appointment and future activities

Armenian, Russian and Azerbaijani representatives hold consultations in Moscow

2 Armenian soldiers receive slight injuries after incident with Azerbaijani servicemen in Armenia's Gegharkunik

Armenian boy weighing 5 kg born at Goris Medical Center

"Armenia" bloc representative presents purpose of participation in elections and plans

Isaac Herzog elected President of Israel

Rouhani: Main issues between Tehran, Washington resolved in Vienna

Charles Michel calls on Armenia and Azerbaijan to resume constructive negotiations

US Department of State responds to Pashinyan's proposal to deploy international observers on Armenia-Azerbaijan border

Head of Armenia 2nd President's Office: Robert Kocharyan's public meetings are held in warm atmosphere

Opposition "Armenia" bloc's representative on photos and videos showing bags of deceased servicemen's bodies

Armenia Ombudsman, AGBU President discuss war crimes committed by Azerbaijan during Karabakh war

Opposition "Armenia" bloc's representatives to hold briefings three times a week

Opposition "Armenia" bloc member: Blood-freezing photos and videos from morgue in Abovyan are authorities' reflection

Yerevan mayor receives Netherlands Ambassador

Armenia Health Ministry, Investigative Committee keep info about sending remains of dead soldiers abroad confidential

Armenia Prosecutor General's Office launches case regarding leaving sacs of servicemen's bodies/remains in basement

Peskov: Putin and Biden to discuss cybersecurity issues

Armenia's Pashinyan meets with Belgian PM Alexander De Croo

Armenia acting MOD receives Netherlands Ambassador

Armenia Police: 3 citizens apprehended during protest demanding acting health minister's resignation

NATO warns Minsk about further consequences of Ryanair incident

Armenia economic competition protection commission: Experts forecast inflation of butter prices

Armenia citizens' protest against acting health minister is over

Pashinyan visits France, judicial farce against Armenian POWs kicks off in Baku, Jun. 2 digest

Armenian Ambassador, FMO representatives consider opportunities for expansion of cooperation in Armenia

Armenia Prosecutor General is on working visit to Russia

Armenia acting PM meets with European Council President in Brussels

Armenia citizens throw polyethylene bags at Health Ministry building, police apprehend protesters

Acting deputy minister: Armenia authorities plan to build 46km section of North-South highway in 2021

Dollar is stable in Armenia

Armenia official: Large number of projects being prepared in construction sector

Identity of man killed Wednesday morning in downtown Yerevan is found out

Armenian lawyer: Azerbaijan poses a threat to security in Europe

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

Missing Armenian soldiers' relatives hand letter to Russia Embassy with request to solve captives' issue

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

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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

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Israel removes many coronavirus restrictions

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Emmanuel Macron: The Azerbaijani troops must leave Armenias sovereign territory

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Armenia acting MOD visits Border Guards Department of Russia Federal Security Service

French-Armenians hold protest against Armenia acting PM's visit to France
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-17 13:59:07|Editor: huaxia

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ADDIS ABABA, March 17 (Xinhua) -- Ethiopia reported 1,490 new COVID-19 cases over the past 24 hours, taking the national count to 178,108 on Tuesday.

The Ministry of Health said the death toll stood at 2,573 nationwide, including 18 new fatalities recorded over the same period.

Meanwhile, 660 patients have recovered, pushing the total recoveries to 144,488.

Ethiopia, Africa's second most populous nation, is one of the countries hit the hardest by the pandemic in Africa, after South Africa, Morocco, Tunisia and Egypt.

The country has so far reported the highest number of COVID-19 cases in the east African region.

The Ethiopian government recently started a campaign to encourage face mask wearing in the public as part of COVID-19 precautionary measures to contain the spread of the virus. Enditem
In the words of the Natick Community Organic Farm, building a barn is always community event, one that involves residents coming together to help raise timber and walls.

That town-run nonprofits own barn was built by two brothers in 1815 using oak trees knocked down by a Category Four hurricane. For 206 years, the building served as the heart of the NCOF for generations of farmers and families, as a landmark for the community, the organization pointed out.

In the predawn hours Wednesday morning, the barn breathed its last breathe of life, though. The historic structure went up in flames and, in the hours that followed, burned to the ground, according to the NCOF.

The barn wasnt the only victim of the blaze. The fire killed three female pigs and 13 piglets as well. Many tools, wheelbarrows, animal grain, hay and much of this years seedlings were also destroyed. The destruction left members of the farm community shocked and reeling, the NCOF noted.

Despite these losses, we still have the heart of our organization, the core that keeps us standing: our beloved community, the NCOF wrote on a GoFundMe page set up in the wake of the fire. We turn to you now to ask for your help and support as we heal and move forward. Funds will be used for operational and construction purposes.

At approximately 4:30 AM NCOFs beautiful 1815 barn was totally consumed by fire. Three sows were lost. No humans were... Posted by Natick Community Organic Farm on Wednesday, March 17, 2021

As of late Wednesday morning, the GoFundMe had raised nearly $40,000 of its $400,000 goal. All donations will go toward the farm.

Thank you truly for your support. We are so grateful to count you as our neighbors, students, alumni, and friends, the farm said. Together we will get through this, and be stronger for it.

The farms dog, Eddy, is now being credited for first sounding the alarm about the fire. By around 4:30 a.m., the barn was completely engulfed in flames. The three sows and 13 piglets died, but no humans were hurt, except in their hearts, the farm noted.

Thank you to Eddy the new farm dog for sounding the alarm. You are a hero Eddy, the NCOF said. Thank you to the brave Natick Fire [Department] for coming to our rescue, literally. You are our heroes too. Thank you to our amazing caretakers for jumping into action to move vehicles etc. You are our heroes.

The NCOF said it will be closed until Monday while the fire department investigates the blaze and the farm forms a plan to work through the tragedy. Residents have been urged not to come to the farm to see the barn or the animals during this time.

As we face the charred remains of the barns timber frame, we know that as we navigate forward, we can call on you, our strong community, to help us through this difficult time, the NCOF said.

The barn was so much more than a safe storage space, the NCOF explained.

In 1975, the NCOF started as a work program for local at-risk teenagers. When the program moved to the farm at 117 Eliot St. in 1975, all that stood there was the dilapidated barn, an overgrown driveway and an old chicken coop, according to the organization.

The director of the farms office stood on the first stall on the left of the barn. It was a building filled with a sense of purpose, history and beauty, one that will be sorely missed, according to the NCOF.

It was a place for mother animals to safely birth, for our students to learn, for birds to nest, for kids to make crafts on a rainy day, the NCOF said. As a town-owned, non-profit farm, this barn has served as a community landmark and a symbol for the spirit of community that our farm represented.
By Reito Kaneko, KYODO NEWS - Mar 16, 2021 - 21:35 | All, World, Japan

Japan has confirmed an interpretation of an existing law allowing its coast guard to directly fire a weapon against a foreign vessel it believes is aiming to land people on the Senkaku Islands, a change government officials and experts believe will boost Tokyo's deterrence against Beijing's perceived attempts to seize the Japanese-controlled islets in the East China Sea.

After Beijing implemented a law on Feb. 1 allowing its coast guard to use weapons against foreign ships that China sees as illegally entering its waters, ruling Liberal Democratic Party members have been seeking a counterstrategy to deter such activities.

There was growing concern among LDP members that China's new law was targeted at the Japan-controlled, China-claimed Senkaku Islands, an LDP member said.

On Tuesday, Japanese Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi and Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi and their U.S. counterparts held security talks in Tokyo and expressed "serious concerns" regarding China's new coast guard law.

They also reaffirmed that the Senkakus fall under the scope of a security treaty between the two countries meaning Washington would defend Tokyo's interests in the event of an armed attack against the uninhabited islets.

Prior to the talks, the Japanese government confirmed the interpretation of the existing law with LDP members on Feb. 25.

The government said the law would apply power under police law and that the Japan Coast Guard could fire on official vessels close to the Senkaku Islands if it is believed they are about to commit a violent act.

"This interpretation will not let others find weakness in Japan's law and will work as a deterrent," former Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera said.

Some LDP lawmakers were urging the Japanese government to find a way to protect the islands in so-called gray-zone situations, which fall short of a military attack.

Taku Otsuka, an LDP member and executive of a joint group on national defense, negotiated with the government to come up with the legal interpretation, according to Onodera, who heads the group.

"The interpretation is very significant because even if the situation escalates, it has become clear that it is possible to respond to the situation to the extent that it does not lead to an armed attack," Otsuka said.

China has urged Japan in response not to take "dangerous actions that may complicate" the situation around the Senkaku islets, and it has said it will continue to patrol the waters near the islands. China's new coast guard law also authorizes its coast guard to seize foreign ships entering waters claimed by Beijing.

Regarding Japan's interpretation of the law, experts say that it will raise Japan's deterrence against China.

"It is important to show adversaries that there will be no gap in Japan's response for deterrence," said Ken Jimbo, an expert of international security at Keio University. The critical point is to eliminate the interpretation that "there is a legal gap and that Japan cannot do anything about it," he said.

Citing the 12 Japan Coast Guard vessels that are dedicated to the Senkaku Islands, Jimbo warns, if the Chinese coast guard deploys a large number of ships around the Senkakus, "Japan needs to be vigilant about a scenario in which the Japan Coast Guard is overwhelmed by numbers."

The Japan Coast Guard estimates the Chinese coast guard has 130 vessels of 1,000 tons or more as of December 2019, while Japan has 66 as of March 2020.

Last year, Chinese coast guard vessels entered Japanese territorial waters near the Senkaku Islands about two times a month on average. Since the law took effect in China last month, that has risen to six times a month, according to the Japan Coast Guard.

"The real deterrence impact here is the public nature of this interpretation which is meant to signal to Beijing that the Japan Coast Guard will not stand down or be coerced around the Senkakus," said Jonathan Berkshire Miller, an expert of international security and a senior fellow at the Japan Institute of International Affairs.

Currently, the primary responsibility for the security of the area rests with the Japan Coast Guard and the police. If the situation gets out of their control, the Cabinet can order the SDF to start maritime patrols or mobilize the security forces.

Japan's interpretation of the laws to use police force will also apply to the Self-Defense Forces if the Cabinet announces the start of maritime patrols, according to Kishi.

However, there is still dissatisfaction with the interpretation of the law among some conservative LDP members.

They are urging the government to enact a new law that would make it easier for the Maritime Self-Defense Force to support the coast guard's security activities in noncombat situations.

However, Jimbo says, "Strengthening the SDF role would be an escalation that would give China an excuse for a military response."

"Japan should decide the issue (for a new legal enactment) in the context of how the country develops a deterrent system for gray-zone situations," he said.

The two experts recommend an evolving operational framework for cooperation between the Japan Coast Guard and the MSDF to counter adversaries. "Japan also will need to work these elements side by side with its key U.S. ally," Miller adds.

Jimbo believes that the Japan Coast Guard should strengthen its maritime capability and its legal foundation.

"In terms of maritime capability, Japan needs to increase the number of its ships, equipment and operations. In terms of legal infrastructure, Japan needs to amend the Japan Coast Guard law and relax the requirements for the use of weapons that fall under the police act," Jimbo said.

Nonetheless, China's adventurism is likely to propel security ties between Japan and other countries that share the same values.

"Japan should work to make foreign allies and partners, including the U.S., Australia, India, Canada and countries in Europe, understand the current situation around the Senkaku and Beijing's destabilizing moves," Miller said.

Related coverage:

Japan, U.S. express "serious concerns" over China coast guard law

This is the shocking moment a man looking at his phone in east London is mugged by a youth riding a bicycle.

The victim, identified only as Max, was standing staring at his phone screen yesterday morning near Old Street roundabout when the felon struck.

CCTV footage shows a bicycle ride slowly along the road while the rider scopes out his potential victim.

The victim was looking at his phone on the pavement a short distance from Old Street roundabout in east London on March 16

The mugger can be seen pulling onto the pavement on his bicycle behind the pedestrian

The man was oblivious to the approaching mugger who reached out and snatched the phone

The thief rode off at speed but fumbled the phone and dropped it into the gutter where the screen smashed

Apparently deciding the man was an easy mark, the thief pulled onto the pavement and looped round before riding at speed towards his victim.

The thief successfully grabbed the handset from the man's hand but dropped it as his victim began to chase after him.

The rider continued his escape, ignoring the smashed handset which Max retrieved.

A witness told MailOnline: 'The incident happened around 9.19am on East Road, just before Old Street roundabout.

The witness said there had been other incidents involving thieves on bikes in the area and called on the police to clamp down on them.

They added: 'I have spoken to the police about this on Twitter DM however I explained to them it was my opinion that it seems they have no interest in this type of crime.

'It would be so easy for them to catch these thieves as it is happening on a regular basis in our area.

'They asked me to ask the victim to contact them. The guy who owned the phone, Max, was fine apart from the shock.

'The thief didn't manage to hold onto the phone and dropped it, Max retrieved his phone however the screen was smashed.' .

MailOnline has approached the Metropolitan Police for a comment.

A witness said the victim Max, pictured right, was able to recover his phone but the screen was smashed
Wesley College principal Nick Evans has condemned a TikTok video in which sexually degrading comments about girls are made by boys, some of them Wesley students.

The video, believed to have been shot earlier this year, shows an older male interviewing four boys in Melbourne about the most f---ed up thing they have done, to which two boys answer with highly explicit and derogatory comments involving girls.

Wesley College principal Nick Evans has condemned a video showing derogatory sexual remarks being made about girls. Credit:Penny Stephens

Mr Evans said he was aware of the video circulating and called the comments offensive and totally inappropriate. He confirmed that several of the youths are Wesley students.

Whilst this video was shot during school holidays and away from school campus, I was deeply disappointed by its content and the students involved will be appropriately dealt with, Mr Evans said. Recent events illustrate that the dimensions of this issue for Wesley College are far greater than we recognised.
Michigan Civil Rights Leaders Condemn Violence and Bigotry Against Asian Americans

Michigan Civil Rights Leaders Condemn Violence and Bigotry Against Asian Americans

Vicki Levengood levengoodv@michigan.gov

March 17, 2021

LANSING, MI - James E. White, Director of the Michigan Department of Civil Rights, and Stacie Clayton, Chair of the Michigan Civil Rights Commission, have issued the following statements in response to the killing of eight people in Georgia on Tuesday, March 16, 2021.

James E. White, Director of the Michigan Department of Civil Rights:

"The senseless murder of eight people in Georgia yesterday, among them six Korean American women, is a profound and unconscionable tragedy. While investigators sort out the motives behind such a heinous act, the Michigan Department of Civil Rights stands in sympathy and solidarity with our Asian American friends, neighbors and family members. The meteoric rise in bias incidents and hate crimes against Asian Americans is real, it is only getting worse, and as a nation, we must do more to bring it to an end."

Stacie Clayton, Chair of the Michigan Civil Rights Commission:

"This is the third statement the Michigan Civil Rights Commission has issued within the span of little over a year condemning violence against our nation's Asian-American community. We must come together and, once and for all and with one voice, call out an end to all forms of anti-Asian bigotry and rhetoric and the violence it has inspired. Our hearts are broken for the families of the eight people taken from us yesterday in a senseless act of violence. We want our brothers and sisters in Michigan's Asian-American community to know that we join them in mourning this tremendous loss, and share your deep concern for your safety and the safety of your family members and friends here and around the country."

The Michigan Civil Rights Commission was created by the Michigan Constitution to safeguard constitutional and legal guarantees against discrimination. The Commission is charged with investigating alleged discrimination against any person because of religion, race, color or national origin, genetic information, sex, age, marital status, height, weight, arrest record, and physical and mental disability. The Michigan Department of Civil Rights serves as the operational arm of the Commission.

###
Good morning, North State. Here's what you need to know to start your day on Wednesday, March 17.

CHP responds to major crash along I-5 near Anderson

Action News Now is working to learn the result of a major overnight crash on Interstate 5 south near Anderson. The CHP told Action News Now they are unable to give us any information at this time. The CHP incident page, where the crash was first reported, said it happened around 4:13 this morning.

City Council approves plan to charge visitors in Upper Bidwell Park

Overnight, the Chico City Council voted to approve the plan to start charging visitors as a way to pay for reconstructing and maintaining Upper Park Road. During Tuesday night's meeting council members added an amendment asking the Public Works Director to include a number of free days in the plan. The park was a gift to the people of Chico, from Annie Bidwell.

Drive-thru COVID-19 vaccine clinic happening at Lassen Community College

A free drive-thru COVID-19 vaccine clinic for people 18 and older will take place today. No appointment is necessary, but you must live in Lassen County. Gates open at 8 a.m. for seniors 65 and older. The line opens to the rest of the public at 10 a.m. All patients must arrive at Lassen Community College with an ID and proof of residence. The clinic runs until 5 p.m. or until supplies last.

Food distribution happening every Wednesday for month of March in Oroville

A drive-thru food giveaway by Orovilles Southside Community Improvement Association is happening today. The event runs from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 pm. at 2959 lower Wyandotte Road in Oroville. Organizers said rain or shine - all food boxes will be distributed.

Rolling Hills Casino expands, looking to hire several employees

A northern California casino is hosting a major job fair today. Rolling Hills Casino in Corning is currently building four new restaurants - one of them is called "Rock and Brews." The casino is looking for workers to operate them. All you have to do is bring your resume and show up to the resort in Corning from 1:00 to 6:00 p.m., today. The address of the casino is 2655 Everett Freeman Way. The casino said it has more than 100 positions available.

90% of California can dine indoors, go to movies, hit a gym

90% of Californians can now enjoy indoor, gyms and movie theaters. State health authorities approved more counties to reopen Tuesday, thanks to lower coronavirus case rates. Tehama, San Diego, and Sacramento counties are among the list to join Los Angeles and Orange counties, which were authorized to reopen Sunday. Some Bay Area businesses can reopen even more, including bowling alleys, cardrooms, wineries and breweries at 25% capacity indoors.

As signature collection ends, California heads toward recall

Today is the deadline for recall organizers to submit nearly one and a half million petition signatures, to qualify the proposal for the ballot. Officials said it could take until September to set an election date if it qualifies. Former Republican congressman Doug Ose said he's entering the recall election aimed at ousting Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom. Former San Diego Mayor, Kevin Faulconer and businessman John Cox have already tossed their hats into the ring.
There have been 3,484 reports of suspected side effects relating to the Covid-19 vaccines in Ireland, the newest data from the Health Products Regulatory Authority shows.

In addition, the agency said that it has received a small number of reports associated with blood clots following vaccination with the AstraZeneca vaccine.

However, it has not received any reports of the nature of those described by the Norwegian Medicines Agency, which were brain clots.

The use of the AstraZeneca vaccine has been suspended in Ireland and various countries after the report from Norway.

In a statement, AstraZeneca said that: An analysis of our safety data that covers reported cases from more than 17 million doses of vaccine administered has shown no evidence of an increased risk of pulmonary embolism, deep vein thrombosis or thrombocytopenia with Covid-19 vaccine AstraZeneca.

For now, the HPRA says that they: will continue to monitor national reports very closely and continue to encourage the reporting of any suspected side effects following vaccination with a Covid-19 vaccine.

As stated previously, there have been 3,484 reports of suspected side effects to the agency, out of more than 409,500 doses administered.

The most commonly reported side effects were mild to moderate in nature, with most of them having been resolved by the time of reporting.

Frequent side effects were those found with most types of vaccinations, including headache, muscle pain, or nausea.

The agency added that: Anyone who may have a concern regarding their health following vaccination should consult their doctor or out-of-hours medical service.

It does appear as though Ireland is beginning to reap some of the benefits of vaccination though, as a Cork GP, Doctor Nuala OConnor, discussed some of the positive impacts.

The amount of healthcare workers contracting Covid has literally fallen off a cliff, she told RTE Radio Ones Morning Ireland today.

The amount of people who are contracting Covid while theyre in hospital has absolutely substantially reduced. Weve seen a huge reduction in outbreaks in nursing homes. Weve also seen a much steeper fall off in the incidence of Covid disease in our over 85s.
Watertown, NY (13601)

Today

Cloudy with rain developing after midnight. Low 61F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch..

Tonight

Cloudy with rain developing after midnight. Low 61F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch.
Standard Chartered announces the signing for a EUR 55 million funding with the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Ghana (MoF Ghana, the Borrower) of a road infrastructure supported by an Export Credit Agency (ECA).



Working closely with Exportkreditnamnden1 (EKN, the Swedish ECA) and Swedish Export Credit Corporation2 (SEK), Standard Chartereds project financing will fund the asphalt overlay of 100km of feeder roads in Tamale, Walewale, Nalerigu, Gambaga, Damongo, and Yendi (each towns in the Northern Region of Ghana).



The financing transaction provides a significant contribution to the Ghanaian Governments commitment for major investments in road transportation infrastructure, and alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 93 (SDG) concerning industry, innovation and infrastructure.



The road infrastructure project will help considerably the Governments efforts to boost the socio-economic development of the countrys urban and rural communities by providing easier access to healthcare, education, employment and other social services. Tamales road network project is being developed by a Swedish EPC (engineering, procurement and construction) contractor, QG Konstruktion AB (QGMI, SCB client), and will help improve regional networks in the Northern Region and consequently increase the flow of business, agricultural trade and market access.



Desislava Radeva, Director, Structured Export Finance, Standard Chartered Bank, said: We are extremely proud to reinforce our position as a reliable bank of choice to Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Ghana and to enhance our collaboration with EKN and SEK by closing this landmark infrastructure financing during such challenging times.



1 The Swedish Export Credit Agency is commissioned by the government to promote Swedish exports and the internationalisation of Swedish companies. Website: https://www.ekn.se/en/



2 https://www.sek.se/en/



3 https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/infrastructure-industrialization/



INTERNAL



Mansa Nettey, Chief Executive, Standard Chartered Bank Ghana Plc said: This transaction stays true to Standard Chartereds brand promise, Here for good, and underscores our proficiency and capacity to provide solutions that contribute to Ghanas socio-economic development. The Bank has operated in Ghana for 125 years and will continue to be a conduit for long term project and infrastructure financing that help Ghana achieve its Sustainable Development Goals.



Maria Mattsson, senior underwriter at EKN, said: EKN's mission is to enable financing of the purchase of Swedish high-quality equipment. It is particularly rewarding that EKN has participated in this important project.



Marcio Jordao, Structured and Export Finance Director at QGMI, said: Our participation once again reaffirms QGMIs commitment with Ghana. This project, developed with the important support of Standard Chartered Bank, EKN and SEK, will promote the growth of the region economy and a better quality of life for the local population.



This transaction marks another significant ECA-supported term facility arranged by Standard Chartered Bank and signed with MoF Ghana during 2020. It follows the Banks EUR 78 million UKEF-supported financing for the construction of a new regional hospital in Koforidua, Ghana4 (developed by a UK EPC contractor, J.V. Tyllium-Ellipse UK Ltd).





Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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State Sen. Kel Seliger sent a letter to Texas Attorney General, Ken Paxton, requesting that Paxton file an injunction halting the placement of unaccompanied juveniles in Midland County by the US Department of Health and Human Services.

The decision for this placement was made on Friday (March 12); local officials, however, were never consulted and were not informed until Sunday (March 14), Seliger stated in a press release. That evening, the first buses of juveniles started to arrive. I believe the haste and apparent secrecy of this action was designed to avoid soliciting input from local law enforcement, local elected officials, health care services, and educational entities."
OSAGE BEACH, Mo., March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Andy's Frozen Custard is celebrating 35 years of serving the World's Finest Frozen Custard with delights and surprises all year long. Kicking off the celebration this Friday, March 19, the same day the original Andy's Frozen Custard opened 35 years ago in 1986, Andy's will offer 35 cent BOGO Concretes at participating locations from 3  5 p.m. Treat lovers who purchase any size Concrete (with the mention of the 35th anniversary promotion!) will get a second small, one-topping Concrete for just 35 cents.

"This Friday starts the beginning of a whole year of celebrations, special events and promotions designed to surprise and delight our loyal customers as well as give back to the communities that have welcomed us as family," said Andy Kuntz, president of Andy's Frozen Custard. "We are proud of what we have accomplished over these three plus decades, but nothing makes us prouder than being the treat of choice for family outings and special occasions. We love knowing that kids celebrate the last day of school with one of 300,000 minis we typically donate each year. Seeing our parking lots filled with families enjoying Andy's as part of a good old fashioned hometown tailgate brings us joy."

Andy's focus on family and community stems from its long history as a family-owned business with a desire to bring a slice of hometown America to each and every location. The Andy's Frozen Custard tradition started in Osage Beach, Missouri when John and Carol Kuntz embarked on a new frozen custard endeavor. Their treat quickly became a legend at the lake, and soon took nearby Springfield, Missouri by storm.

At the first Springfield location, John and Carol worked long hours teaching the business from the ground up to their son Andy and his future wife Dana. The young couple's fanaticism for a supreme product and unmatched customer service never wavered. Always striving to expand and improve Andy's Frozen Custard, Andy and Dana have taken the brand to new heights, with locations throughout the Midwest and beyond.

At the heart of each Andy's is a fun work environment, where everyone shares in the passion that not only brought Andy's to life, but keeps it going strong. With a primary focus on product quality, Andy's only uses the finest ingredients and ensures that the frozen custard is always made every hour. Baked goods that are used as toppings, such as brownies (available year-round!), pumpkin pie, shortcake, and cookies, are baked fresh at the store. Seasonal fruits and freshly roasted pecans puts Andy's frozen treats in a category all their own.

Andy's hallmarks, which include a history of consistent quality, constant innovation, speedy service and daily celebrations, have inspired a 35th anniversary partnership with motorsports for 2021. Andy's will be sponsoring the No. 3 Andy's Frozen Custard Chevrolet driven by Austin Dillon in this year's NASCAR Cup Series. The car will debut in the June 13 NASCAR All-Star Race at Texas Motor Speedway. The partnership is an evolution of a longstanding relationship between Andy's, Richard Childress Racing and Dillon, last year's NASCAR Cup Series race winner at Texas Motor Speedway and the 2018 Daytona 500 Champion. Fans of Andy's and racing alike will delight in a "3-Crete" frozen custard treat late-Spring, which will include some of Dillon's favorite toppings. Details about additional aspects of the partnership will be announced soon.

Offering safe, lightning-fast drive-thru lanes and walk-up service windows, customers can also grab a pint, quart or a 'Pick 6' on-the-go. Each Andy's Anywhere item is hand-packed fresh, hard-frozen and placed in a convenient carrier or to-go bag. Each treat is fresher than anything in the grocery aisle and well-worth an extra stop on the way home from the market to enjoy at home with family or at socially distanced gatherings.

Andy's Frozen Custard locations are open year round from 11 a.m. - 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and from 11 a.m. - 11:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. The friendly and welcoming staff are focused on quickly serving treats within 90 seconds or less of order. Bright neon lights, a well-lit parking area and benches allow guests to enjoy treats at Andy's or at home.

Customers can download the Andy's Frozen Custard app to take advantage of touchless payment options and join the Yum Squad loyalty club to receive a free Concrete after the first visit. Sweet treat lovers can stay up-to-date on the latest from Andy's, including news about seasonal menu offerings and limited-time-only specials, on Instagram (@AndysFrozenCustard) and Facebook (@AndysFrozenCustard) or via Andy's website.

About Andy's Frozen Custard

Founded in 1986 in Osage Beach, MO by Andy's parents John and Carol Kuntz, Andy's Frozen Custard has been providing the freshest frozen custard in the business for 35 years, giving ice cream the "cold shoulder" by scooping, mixing and presenting handcrafted frozen custard treats with speed and a smile. Since the beginning, the family has had one dream: to share what makes them happiest with everyone else, and to warm hearts, one scoop of frozen custard at a time. With a focus on product quality, customer service and community involvement, Andy's has grown into the nation's largest frozen custard-only business, with more than 2,000 employees and 97 company-owned and franchised stores across 14 states proudly serving the World's Finest Frozen Custard. Andy's also offers the 'Yum Squad Loyalty Club,' designed to say "thank you" to loyal customers by earning points to redeem towards a free treat for every dollar spent. For more information or for details about franchising opportunities, visit www.eatandys.com .

SOURCE Andy's Frozen Custard
EIGHT members of Upper Thames Rowing Club will row the length of the River Thames in a bid to raise money for two charities next week.

The men have signed up for Race the Thames, which starts on Monday and involves rowing 346km in seven days on ergos.

The challenge was devised by Olympic gold medallist and Henley resident Andrew Triggs Hodge.

The team includes Nick Mills, Stephen Kelso, Peter McConnell, Mark Tritton, Alastair Harsant, Nick French, Nick Horne and James Burkitt, whose ages range from 37 to 45.

Each person must row 6.2km a day to reach the final total and the money raised will be divided equally between Help for Heroes and London Youth Rowing.

Mr Mills, a teacher from Cholsey, said: Were all classed as masters, which doesnt mean were better, it just means we are old. In rowing, anybody over 28 is classed as a master.

This challenge has been planned since 2019 and was supposed to be on the Thames but because of flow rates and for various other reasons it has never happened, so Andy decided to turn it into a digital challenge.

There is a competitive element because there will be 150 other teams taking part. It is a fine balancing act to mitigate fatigue over the seven days. While 6.2km isnt a huge distance on its own, trying to do it flat out daily over seven days is probably going to result in burnout for some of us.

London Youth Rowing to reaches out to people from disadvantaged backgrounds and encourages them to enjoy the sport, while Help for Heroes provides lifelong recovery support to service personnel who have been wounded or injured in the line of duty.

The Upper Thames team have already raised 1,000.

Mr Mills, 37, a former design and technology teacher at the Oratory School in Woodcote who now teaches at Bradfield College, said: Ive been training well since September and Im pretty happy with the times Im producing.

There is a lot of chat on our WhatsApp group about how best to pace it but the event gives us the flexibility to do it in 500m chunks, so it doesnt have to be all at once.

Part of what Andy is trying to achieve with this is building a sense of camaraderie and crewmanship.

We havent had a proper race since December 2019 and we missed out on the regatta, which is massive for the club. It has been pretty devastating and then there is the whole social aspect as well.

To donate, visit bit.ly/3eNd0qK
On Aug. 6, 2016, Tyler Turner, an 18-year-old from Los Banos who had just graduated high school with a 4.3 grade point average, went skydiving for the first time to celebrate a friend's birthday.

Turner jumped in tandem with an instructor. The parachute did not open, and the two hit the ground with a fatal impact. Deputies found the bodies in a vineyard just south of the centers landing zone. It was later revealed by the Sacramento Bee that the instructor reportedly did not have a proper license.

This week Turner's family was awarded a $40 million dollar judgment against the owner of the skydiving school, Bill Dause, a man who claims to be a skydiving legend with over 50 years experience.

The 2016 tragedy forms part of a long troubled history of fatalities at the Lodi Parachute Center, which has seen 21 deaths over the years, say lawyers.

Before he got on the plane, he knelt down and prayed, made his peace with God, and then turned around and gave me a great big, huge hug, Turner's mom Francine Salazar told the Merced Sun Star in 2016. He said, I love you, Mom, and then he got on the plane.

Salazar also said that she was worried before the jump because an instructor allegedly told the jumpers, gathered for the birthday celebration, they did not need to finish watching the safety video shown beforehand.

Dause told the Sun Star at the time: I know shes grasping for reasons, and were just as upset about it as everybody is.

Paul Van Der Walde, an attorney representing the family of Tyler Turner at this week's hearing, said that since 1981 at least 21 people have died at the skydiving center near Lodi.

In 2019 the Washington Post reported that a 28-year-old woman died during a jump at the same school after a gust of wind sent her careening toward the flow of traffic on Highway 99. She slammed into a big rig and was found dead on the shoulder of the highway.

In 2006, an experienced jumper unsuccessfully sued the parachute center after his leap from a twin-engine plane at 3,000 feet left him with spinal cord injuries; he struck the planes tail before crash-landing in a vineyard near Highway 99.

Another jumper was left dead in a nearby vineyard after a failed jump at the center in 2012.

In 2014 a professional skier from Squaw Valley, Timothy "Timy" Dutton, 27, suffered the same fate at Lodi Parachute Center.

The list goes on.

The multi-million-dollar penalty handed down on Monday specifically targets Dause, whose company is also known as Skydivers Guild Inc.

San Joaquin County Superior Court Judge Barbara Kronlund wrote on Monday, Following court trial Bill Dause is found to be the alter ego of Skydivers Guild Inc. and is responsible for their entire judgment of $40,030,000."

We hare hoping this will allows us to get this placed closed or be sold to a responsible owner who can operate it safely, Van Der Walde told the Fresno Bee.

The Lodi Parachute Center did not immediately return a request to SFGATE for comment.
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Blackberry Empowers Jouve To Achieve Unified Endpoint Security Transformation

Digital transformation has quietly changed how French citizens interact with their government, doctors, banks, and others  thanks to the information processing experts at Jouve.

In this case study, learn more about Jouves recent endpoint security transformation initiative, where they partnered with BlackBerry to address issues related to signature audits, endpoint unification and other process issues.
EU finance ministers are set to park plans to tax Big Tech while they wait for global rules to be agreed.

A worldwide deal, led by the Paris-based Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), inched closer last month after the US removed one of its key demands.

Portuguese finance minister Joao Leao said yesterday that he was relatively confident of a global deal by the middle of the year,.

All member states agree that it is in their interests to provide room for the ongoing negotiations in the OECD on the reform of the corporate taxation rules. Finding a global consensus, in a multilateral context, is the right way forward.

But finance ministers are concerned about the timing of the blocs own digital tax plans, which are pencilled in for June.

Twenty-two of the EUs 27 finance ministers  including Ireland's Paschal Donohoe  took the floor at an EU meeting to express concern about the proposed timing of the EU levy.

Mr Donohoe warned the EU not to undermine the OECD discussions or rekindle trade tensions with the US, which arose after the bloc's previous digital tax plans in 2018.

While there remain substantial issues to be resolved, it is important that the EU sends a positive signal on the recent moves by the US that indicate its renewed engagement with the [OECD] process, said a spokesperson for the Department of Finance.

Ireland has seen the benefits of international cooperation and we wish to achieve a sustainable, robust and growth-friendly agreement by the 139 members of the [OECDs] Inclusive Framework which meets the needs of all countries, large and small, developed and developing.

Mr Leao said an EU levy should be a separate instrument, not linked with the corporate tax rules that are being negotiated in the OECD.

The OECD is drawing up guidelines on taxable profits for tech firms that don't have a physical presence in each jurisdiction where they operate, alongside minimum tax levels for multinationals.

Last year, the European Commission promised to table a digital levy of its own by June, focused on ending profit-shifting by large tech companies.

But that pledge was made at a time when the OECD talks were going nowhere.

The Commission is looking at corporate income tax top-ups, taxes on digital revenues and transaction taxes.

The EU wants the proceeds of a bloc-wide digital levy to feed into its budget.

EU vice-president Valdis Dombrovskis told reporters the EUs plans would complement the OECDs and would be compatible with World Trade Organization rules.

This crisis makes it even more important to agree on taxation of digital businesses and other issues such as [a] minimum tax rate. This is both in order to secure much-needed tax revenues and to make sure that everyone pays their fair share of tax, he said.

Several EU states - including France, Italy, Spain and Austria - have introduced digital taxes, but their rates and structures vary. EU leaders will meet on the issue in two weeks.




Secretaries Blinken and Austin Offer Japan an Anti-China Alliance with United States

March 16 , 2021 (EIRNS)U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin had a conference in Tokyo on March 16 with Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi and Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi. Afterwards they met with Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga. Following up on the Quad meetings, and looking toward the scheduled meeting in Alaska on March 18 with top Chinese officials, the Biden administration seems to be setting the stage for continued geopolitical games at that meeting with the Chinese.

In Tokyo, Blinken focused upon the shared values theme against the supposedly repressive actions of China: Because weve seen in our countries that those values actually make us stronger, and because theyre under threat in many places, including in the regionwhether its in Burma or whether in different ways in China. His joint statement with Motegi included the formulation: Chinas behavior, where inconsistent with the existing international order, presents political, economic, military and technological challenges.

The readout from the State Department, entitled The United States and Japan Expand Indo-Pacific Economic Cooperation, expressed concern over the expansion of authoritarian and aggressive actions by China. It included an obligatory reference to Free and Open Indo-Pacific with regard to economic issues. Of course, decarbonization and cybersecurity were also included. The two sides will work, post-COVID, on a sustainable, resilient, and green recovery. Of note, it cited the Feb. 21 Executive Order on Americas Supply Chains and Japans cooperation on enhancing supply chain resilience in sectors of mutual interest.... On COVID: Under the auspices of the Quad meeting, the United States and Japan have reaffirmed their commitment to expanding global vaccine manufacturing and supporting vaccination for people in need in the Indo-Pacific. The Quad meeting has made plans for supporting vaccine production in India for delivery to Southeast Asia in 2022.

In a brief press conference after the meetings, Blinken told reporters: China uses coercion and aggression to systematically erode autonomy in Hong Kong, undercut democracy in Taiwan, abuse human rights in Xinjiang and Tibet, and assert maritime claims in the South China Sea that violate international law. Austin asserted that well no longer ignore the threatening Chinese military buildup: For the last two decades, weve been focused on necessarily focused on issues in the Middle East, and while we were focused on issues in the Middle East, China has modernized its military.... And so our goal is to make sure that we maintain a competitive edge over China.
William Mentz is gay. He is also a Catholic priest in a long-term relationship with a man he plans to marry.

The Rev. Father William Mentz  he prefers Father Bill  has blessed four same-sex marriages since his ordination in 2018. He has three more same-sex ceremonies scheduled over the next few months.

On Monday, Pope Francis dealt a blow to his reputation as a reformer, signing off on a Vatican decree that reinforces the Roman Catholic Churchs draconian condemnation of homosexuality as a sin and forbids priests from blessing same-sex unions.

The decree changed nothing for the 35-year-old pastor of SS. Francis and Clare Progressive Catholic Church in Scranton.

Father Bill doesnt answer to the Vatican.

I dont really pay attention anymore to what Rome has to say other than being there for people that are being hurt by this, he told me Tuesday. I know that this (decree) will probably push more people in my direction, and when they head this way, when theyre ready, were going to minister to them. And thats all I can do about it.

A Dunmore native, Father Bill grew up Roman Catholic and always wanted to be a priest. As a parochial high school senior, he came out as gay to the school principal at the former Bishop OHara High School after an emotional breakup with a girlfriend.

She was very nice about it, but she basically said, Everybody goes through this at this time of their life,  Bill remembered.  Everybody goes through this. But thats when I realized I was gay. I dont remember ever going back into the closet after that.

Despite being openly gay, Bill held many leadership positions in the Roman Catholic Church. He was a full-time liturgy director when officials told him his partner wasnt welcome in the House of God.

I was in a relationship and I knew that nothing I could do would change the churchs opinion on my relationship and that my partner could not be a part of my faith, Father Bill said. I realized that I needed to figure something out.

Father Bill left Rome to create a Catholic congregation where everyone is welcome, including the LGBTQ community, divorcees and women called to serve as clergy. SS. Francis and Clare is one of several Progressive Catholic churches across the country and around the world.

Founded in 2017, the church flourished from the first Mass. Prior to the pandemic, Father Bill said about 60 families regularly attended services. COVID-19 cut the number of Masses, but the online attendance quadrupled, if not more, he said.

From the start, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Scranton disavowed any connection with Father Bill and his upstart church.

The Saint Francis and Saint Clare Independent Roman Catholic Community is in no way affiliated with the Diocese of Scranton nor in communion with the universal Catholic Church, diocesan officials declared in a 2018 statement.

Father Bill and other progressive Catholics believe the church is bigger than Rome. His church celebrates the sacraments, observes the ceremonies of baptism and Communion and holds apostolic succession  an uninterrupted line of authority reaching back to Jesus Twelve Apostles  just like the Roman Catholic Church.

But is Father Bills church really Catholic?

A lot of people want to know, How can we be gay and Catholic?  he said. I say to them, Well, even if you belonged to the Roman Catholic Church, it wouldnt change the fact that youre gay. Youd be gay and Catholic anyway.

The difference is that within the context of the Progressive Catholic Church and most other independent Catholic churches, you can be gay and ministered to and receive the sacraments and be fully included in sacramental life. Thats the difference.

The Most Rev. Barry Frier, presiding bishop of the Greenville, South Carolina-based Progressive Catholic Church International, put an even finer point on the progressive position in a response to the Vatican decree.

Being LGBTQ+ is NOT a sin! he wrote. For any church to hold the stance on marriage as a lifelong union between one man and one woman for the sole purpose of procreation is a narrow interpretation not espoused by all Catholic Churches.

Marriage is a union of two people coming together to form a loving bond with each other and to show the world the outward sign of an inward work of grace.

Amen, Bishop. The Roman Catholic Churchs position that marriage is holy only as a vehicle for making babies is archaic, impractical and indefensible. Love is love. An institution scandalized by decades of child sex abuse committed and covered up by clergy has scant moral authority to condemn the union of two committed, consenting adults as sin.

Father Bill lives in Covington Twp. with his partner, Shawn Golden, 30. They are not married. Yet.

We decided we were going to focus first on my ordination and getting the church open and then do the whole marriage thing later, Father Bill said. We know that neither of us is going anywhere, so were not worried about it.

And same-sex couples who want a Catholic wedding shouldnt sweat the Vatican decree. Father Bill will marry you  even if youre not Catholic.
March 17, 2020, will likely be remembered as the most miserable St. Patricks Day in recent history. The party that wasnt saw local pubs and lounges, many of whom normally throw big St. Paddys Day parties, begrudgingly shut their doors indefinitely as the COVID-19 pandemics first wave took hold.

March 17, 2020, will likely be remembered as the most miserable St. Patricks Day in recent history. The party that wasnt saw local pubs and lounges, many of whom normally throw big St. Paddys Day parties, begrudgingly shut their doors indefinitely as the COVID-19 pandemics first wave took hold.

Earlier this year it seemed as though this years celebrations were destined for the same fate. But with the most recent lockdown restrictions being loosened, watering holes are once again carefully rolling out their (socially distanced) shenanigans.

Whether youre heading out for a pint of beer (is green beer still a thing?) or staying hunkered down for your own St. Patricks Day celebrations, here are five Irish (or Irish-inspired) tipples to whet your whistle

Stone Angel Brewing Co. Redhanded Irish red ale

(Winnipeg  $3.79/473ml can, brewery, beer vendors, Liquor Marts)

Stone Angels Redhanded is medium copper in colour and slightly hazy, with big malty notes on the nose as well as caramel, bread dough and a hint of spice aromatically. Its medium-bodied and creamy, with just a hint of sweetness that accentuates the bread dough and malty flavours, and with very subtle hops on the finish. Stone Angel also does an Irish coffee stout, a dry Irish stout and the newly released Brennans Barn, an Irish pale ale thats available at the tap room (1875 Pembina Hwy.) now, and should be hitting select beer vendors imminently.

Oh, and Stone Angel has all manner of socially distant festivities planned on March 17, including live music and a pop-up kitchen with Irish pub-type fare courtesy of Little Goat restaurant. Theres no charge to stop by, and theyve got a big patio in the back should you feel like kibitzing with folks from outside your household bubble.

Nonsuch Brewing Co. Irish red

(Winnipeg  $4.10/473ml can, brewery, beer vendors, Liquor Marts)

Nonsuchs take on the Irish red ale is slightly brighter, redder and clearer in appearance than the Redhanded, and aromatically brings biscuit, oatmeal, malt and more subtle caramel on the nose.

Its medium-bodied with some bright effervescence, the biscuit/bread dough flavours working well with the hint of caramel, very little discernible bitterness from hops and a medium, creamy finish. While most of Nonsuchs offerings are Belgian-inspired, theyve done a fine job on this wee Irish red ale.

Guinness Draught

(Dublin, Ireland  $3.79/500ml can, Liquor Marts and beer vendors)

Its tough to imagine raising a glass on St. Patricks Day and not at least considering sipping on a Guinness. This stalwart Irish stout is deep cola in colour and, when poured from the can, settles out with a persistent, creamy, off-white head, thanks in part to the brewerys proprietary plastic widget in the can. Aromatically theres some sweet malt, dark chocolate and a touch of caramel that comes through. On the rich, creamy and medium-plus-bodied palate, its soft and smooth, with a hint of sweetness coming with the roasted malt/caramel/chocolate flavours and a relatively short finish (its just 4.2 per cent alcohol). Tasty stuff as always, and its on sale for $3.39 a can until the end of March. But if youre heading out to a pub for your St. Paddys festivities, Guinness almost always tastes better when expertly poured from a draught line.

Innis & Gunn Irish Whiskey cask stout

(Edinburgh, Scotland  $3.79/500ml cans, Liquor Marts and beer vendors)

This Scottish brewery likes to experiment with different types of barrels, and in this case has taken a stout and matured it in Irish whiskey casks. Its deep cola in colour and brings a persistent beige head; aromatically, there are plenty of dark roasted malt, chocolate and caramel notes, as well as a vanilla component from the barrel aging that shows nicely. Its full-bodied and brings some sweetness on the palate, accentuating the chocolate and vanilla notes, while the lively effervescence and the 6.1 per cent alcohol makes for a long, warm finish. If Guinness is too mellow for you, this stout certainly packs quite a punch.

Bushmills Original Irish whiskey

(Antrim, Northern Ireland  $33.99/750ml bottle, Liquor Marts)

As entry-level Irish whiskies go, the Bushmills is as solid as any. Combining grain whiskey matured for years before blending with malt whiskey, its pale gold in colour, and delivers lovely floral, cedar, red apple and herbal notes on the nose. The floral and apple notes persist on the palate, with some almost-sweet underlying vanilla notes from the wood and a very subtle ginger/spice/pepper note on the finish. Like most blended Irish whiskies, its smoother and more approachable than the typical single malt whisky (although Bushmills also does single-malt products, with fantastic 10-, 16- and 21-year-old single malt offerings available in our market). The Original is also on sale for $31.99 until the end of March, making it a particularly good value.

uncorked@mts.net

Twitter: @bensigurdson
Ford Motor Company now wants to enter the robotics industry after closing a new $75 million contract with the University of Michigan's Ann Arbor campus. The giant manufacturer will soon be a non-car-exclusive company.

According to Yahoo Finance's latest report, Ford is the University of Michigan's largest corporate donor. This means that the latest partnership is not the first collaboration of the two entities. Previously, Ford Motor Company and UM also collaborated to open the UM Ford Center for Autonomous Vehicles.

On the other hand, Ford is also planning to co-locate some of its engineers and other developers within the university's campus.

The car manufacturer also clarified that its partnership with UM is not an incubator. It added that the new collaboration is intended to widen its scope of products by extending its global research and advanced engineering network.

Ford to also have robotics!

Thanks to their new partnership, Ford can now conduct robotics access and research with UM's students from the top floor of the four-floor, 134,000 square-foot building. This also goes the other way around since the students will also have access to Ford's facilities and equipment.

Also Read: Tesla and LG to Produce 4680 Battery at New Factory to Focus in New Power Cell in US or Europe for 2023

Aside from this, Ford Motor Company can also drive its vehicles at the Mcity Test Facility. This will be useful since it is a simulated Main Street for testing vehicles in real-world environments. On the other hand, Ford is also the first company to conduct a car test-run at the University of Michigan's Mcity way back in 2015.

"The whole field of robotics has applications beyond the vehicle, that's very clear to us," said Ken Washington, the CTO of Ford Motor Company, via Yahoo Finance.

"We made the decision quite some time ago that we wanted to create a capability in robotics to apply to our vehicles, but also to have a broader potential application base," he added.

Ford is the first one to buy Agility's two-legged robot

Ford's interest in entering robotics was already showed back in 2020.

TechCrunch previously reported that the giant car manufacturer was also the first one to purchase Agility Robotic's Digit, a two-legged robot. On the other hand, Ford was also involved in a research project with the robotics startup since 2019. You can click here for more details.

For more news updates about Ford and its upcoming innovations, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes.

Related Article: Ford to Transition Into All-Electric Car Company in 2030 By Removing ALL Gasoline-Powered Vehicles

This article is owned by TechTimes.

Written by: Giuliano de Leon.

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Health Specialist/ Health Economist, Rabat, Morocco

Organization: The World Bank

Country: Morocco

City: Rabat, Morocco

Office: World Bank in Rabat, Morocco

Closing date: Tuesday, 23 March 2021

Health Specialist/ Health Economist

Job #: req11201

Organization: World Bank

Sector: Health/Nutrition/Population

Grade: GF

Term Duration: 3 years 0 months

Recruitment Type: Local Recruitment

Location: Rabat,Morocco

Required Language(s): English, French

Preferred Language(s): Closing Date: 3/23/2021 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC

Description

Do you want to build a career that is truly worthwhile? Working at the World Bank provides a unique opportunity for you to help our clients solve their greatest development challenges. The World Bank consists of two entities - the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and the International Development Association (IDA). It is a global development cooperative owned by 189 member countries. As the largest development bank in the world, the World Bank provides loans, guarantees, risk management products, and advisory services to middle-income and creditworthy low-income countries, and coordinates responses to regional and global challenges. Visit http://www.worldbank.org/.

Health, Nutrition, and Population (HNP) Global Practice

The central contribution of the HNP Global Practice to the World Banks twin goals is to enable the achievement of Universal Health Coverage (UHC), in which all people are effectively covered by essential health services, and nobody suffers undue financial hardship as a result of illnesses. In the quest for UHC, the HNP Global Practice is building on progress made in the framework of the Millennium Development Goals, an array of analytical and advisory services, strategic partnerships with partner institutions and other financing agencies, and an active lending portfolio. The HNP Global Practice includes staff members in Washington, DC and many country offices. The HNP Global Practices works with and across multiple sectors, in recognition of the fact that HNP outcomes often depend on actions that lie outside the HNP sector. Accordingly, a capacity to work across GP boundaries, forge coalitions and influence multi-practice solutions is essential for achieving the major objectives of improving HNP outcomes.

Middle East and North Africa Region

The World Bank Group serves client countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Clients range from oil-dependent high-income countries to lower middle-income, IDA and FCV countries. Four years ago, in response to the regions changing circumstances, the WBG launched a new strategy focused on promoting peace and stability. To support the new economy, the WBG is expanding the MENA strategy. Three new priorities have been added to the original four pillars of renewing the social contract, building resilience for refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs), developing regional cooperation and supporting recovery and reconstruction. The three new priorities are: harnessing the regions human capital, leveraging technologies for a new digital economy, and developing the private sector through maximizing finance for development.

The MNA Region serves 20 countries, of which a number are active IBRD or IDA borrowers/recipients, while others are users of non-lending services, which the Region provides on either a reimbursable or a non-reimbursable basis. The two-pronged approach will be adapted to the circumstances of every country in the region, from high-income Gulf countries to middle-income countries (e.g., Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia), and fragile and conflict-affected countries (e.g., Iraq, Yemen, Libya). The MNA Region also supports state and peace building in West Bank and Gaza under the Trust Fund for Gaza and the West Bank, established in 1993. The MNA Region attaches particular importance to creating a supportive work environment, based on the values of teamwork, transparency, trust, client service, and professional excellence. MNA staff is expected to be guided by these values as well as to possess the following attributes: (i) collegiality, creativeness, resourcefulness; (ii) good listening and communications skills; (iii) intellectual and personal integrity and competence; (iv) willingness and ability to work in teams; and (v) commitment to clients. MNA has an open environment that encourages teamwork.

Country Context

Morocco is a lower middle-income country that has seen significant improvements in health outcomes since its independence. Over the past 50 years, infant-child and maternal mortality have registered a marked decline while life expectancy at birth has increased. At the same time, Morocco has been undergoing an epidemiological transition, with a declining share of disease burden being attributable to communicable causes at 15% of overall disease burden, and an increasing share of disease burden due to non-communicable diseases at 76%, with the rest attributable to injuries.

Despite progress, Morocco suffers from poor health outcomes compared to other countries in North Africa. Compared to Algeria, Libya, Egypt and Tunisia. Morocco has high maternal mortality, under 5 mortality, and low coverage of key maternity services such as skilled birth attendance and antenatal care coverage. These aggregate averages mask significant spatial inequalities: according to the recent household survey results, while rural areas have recorded significant improvements, they still lag urban areas in every metric.

The World Bank is supporting the Government of Morocco in addressing the challenges in the health sector through; i) results-based financing of primary healthcare in rural areas, with a focus on NCDs as well as the Covid-19 response; ii) analytical and advisory services, including in support of a major reform of the countrys health financing system and iii) technical and upcoming financial support to the cross-sectoral human development agenda with a focus on Early Childhood Development.

The HNP team for Morocco includes staff in the Country Office in Rabat, other MENA countries, and Washington DC. To strengthen the team, the WBG is recruiting a Health Specialist/Health Economist to be based in Rabat. The Health Specialist/Health Economist will support the World Banks HNP portfolio in Morocco and the Maghreb, the broader Human Development (HD) agenda, including the ongoing policy dialogue with Government counterparts and partners, preparation of analytical products, and the preparation and implementation of operations in the sector.

Duties and Accountabilities

The Health Specialist/ Health Economist will report to the HNP Practice Manager and will be responsible for the following tasks and duties:

Contribute to high-quality analytical and advisory services tasks (and sub-tasks) related to health systems strengthening, addressing public health challenges, linking health to broader human development topics, and/or related topics in the Middle East and North Africa context.

Support task teams in the preparation, implementation support, of lending operations with a focus on health system strengthening, governance and management, and quality of care, the delivery of people-centered care, and strengthened primary health care, within the context of Universal Health Coverage.

Take primary responsibility, under the guidance of project team leaders, for coordinating the monitoring and evaluation of projects, and manage reporting and coordination relationships with development partners.

Contribute to technical health system analyses, including but not limited to analyses to diagnose health financing, human resources for health, service delivery, governance and political economy.

Participate in and contribute to technical assistance work to support relevant capacity-building activities including workshops, seminars, etc.

Participate in and contribute to policy dialogue with government counterparts - including at the national and sub-national levels - and with other relevant stakeholders.

Help teams with building and maintaining partnerships and networks within the Bank (in HNP as well as other sectors) and with external partners.

Provide limited cross-support to selected task teams working on other countries in the region as needed.

Selection Criteria

At least a Masters degree in public health, economics, health policy or related discipline, with a minimum of 5 years of relevant experience. A PhD, MD and experience in the health sector would be advantageous.

Knowledge of and experience with the health sector in Morocco - including institutional set-up, healthcare delivery management, health system context and reforms, and community engagement.

Familiarity with the World Bank or similar multilateral agency procedures and processes would be advantageous.

Tags advisory services covid displaced persons early childhood development economist health financing health outcomes health policy health services health systems health systems strengthening human development human resources internally displaced life expectancy maternal mortality middle east monitoring and evaluation ncds non communicable diseases north africa political economy primary health care reconstruction refugees regional cooperation risk management rural areas transparency universal health coverage urban areas west bank west bank and gaza

Demonstrated ability to work with a wide range of stakeholders, including senior government counterparts, private sector partners and representatives of development partners.

Demonstrated track record of synthesizing complex analytics and results into user-friendly written outputs.

Experience analyzing health financing and household survey data, including the use of statistical software and econometric methods.

Proven analytical skills linking health topics, and the ability to inform high-level policy dialogue through strong communications (including writing) skills (in English and French).

Strong communication and track record on successful working as a team member.

Proactive and results-focused work style with strong problem-solving capabilities.

Knowledge and experience working in multicultural institution is desirable.

In addition to the above, the successful candidate is expected to demonstrate the following WBG competencies:

Integrative Skills - Understands core issues and knows where to get additional expertise when needed. Task team member in integrative products and provides analytical written inputs.

Knowledge and Experience in Development Arena - Understands policy making process and role of the health sector in that process. Is able to find relevant information and examine similar policy questions in multiple regions and to distill operationally relevant recommendations and lessons from this analysis for clients.

Policy Dialogue Skills - Identifies and assesses policy issues and communicates findings/points of view verbally and through economic reports and papers. Plays an active role in the dialogue with the government and/or other stakeholders as part of Bank teams.

Client Orientation - Maintains client relationships in the face of conflicting demands or directions and provides evidence-based advice and solutions based on sound diagnosis and knowledge.

Drive for Results - Identifies the needed resources to accomplish results involving multiple stakeholders and finds solutions to obstacles affecting key deliverables.

Teamwork (Collaboration) and Inclusion - Shows leadership in ensuring the team stays organized and focused, and actively seeks and considers diverse ideas and approaches.

Poverty has no borders, neither does excellence. We succeed because of our differences and we continuously search for qualified individuals with diverse backgrounds from around the globe.

Link to the organizations job offer: https://unjobs.org/vacancies/1615398481023
Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism.
In a plea for Sachin Wazes custody, NIA alleged that he had used his own government vehicle to escort the explosives-laden SUV and also drove the police vehicle to the scene of the crime on February 25, as per TOI.

NIA sources said Waze who driving the Innova which tailed the Scorpio near industrialist Mukesh Ambanis residence.

A policeman who was the official driver of the Innova told NIA that after his duty was over on February 24, he parked it inside the police headquarters and went home. It is still not clear who drove the car from there to Thane, where Waze resides. Officials said the NIA suspects the Scorpio was driven by a constable.

TOI

Meanwhile, on Tuesday night, NIA seized a Mercedes car being used by Waze and seized cash worth Rs 5 lakh, a note-counting machine, documents and beer bottles from it. The car had a fake number plate, as was the case with the Scorpio and Innova. The Mercedes is registered in the name of one Manisha Bhavsar. Waze used it to commute to the police commissioners office, where he was posted.

NIA officials on Monday night carried out a search of the Crime Intelligence Unit in the police headquarters and seized a CPU, Wazes i-pad and some documents. Sources said there are no records of the seizure of the digital video recorder taken out of Wazes housing society on February 27 by API Riyazuddin Kazi.

EPS

The recorder contained images of the Scorpio being parked there. NIA officials suspect the image of a man in a PPE kit getting down from the Innova and walking towards the explosives-laden vehicle is of Waze. Sources said Waze has not admitted to his role in Hirans murder and more people are likely to be involved.

Specific inputs gathered by NIA had revealed the involvement of accused Sachin Waze, working as an assistant police inspector, crime branch, in the conspiracy leading to placing the explosives-laden SUV on Carmichael Road on February 25, the NIAs remand plea said. The investigating agency said it had seized the vehicle on Sunday.

Earlier this week, Waze was remanded in NIA custody till March 25 in connection with the probe into recovery of explosives from the SUV found parked outside Antilia on February 25. The remand plea said that after Waze was questioned on Saturday, his direct involvement in planting of the explosives-laden SUV on the intervening night of February 24 and 25 had emerged. There is sufficient prima facie evidence to show the involvement of the accused in the conspiracy of a commission of the crime, the remand plea said.

The NIAs remand plea said the three offences  Mansukh Hirans murder, planting of explosives and vehicle theft  were evidently connected. The NIA also said a threat letter was posted on Telegram by terror outfit Jaish-ul-Hind and a ransom demand was made claiming responsibility for the incident. It said the person lodged in Tihar jail who allegedly sent the message was taken into custody by the Delhi special cell along with the mobile instrument used. The NIA said Wazes custody was required to check the evidence.

It also said Wazes criminal antecedents need to be brought on record to bring clarity regarding the current conspiracy and the probable links, if any. The NIA alleged the cases were being handled by four investigating officers till now, and Waze was the second. There are discrepancies in handing over taking memos, which need to be clarified from the accused, the NIA said.

Calling the offences grave, the NIA said the conspiracy angle needs to be thoroughly investigated and the identity of co-conspirators needs to be established by way of sustained enquiries with Waze. Being a police officer with large amounts of wherewithal and influence at his disposition, the agency needs time to connect the missing links, the remand plea said.

The NIA said there are reasonable and justifiable grounds for Wazes police custody and for confronting him with his associates.


Kenny will develop strategies to ensure the effective sales positioning of Clements' insurance solutions, in addition to finding and executing new business opportunities and launching insurance solutions in designated markets. Kenny will report to Clements Worldwide's President and CEO, Tarun Chopra.

Clements Worldwide is proud to announce the hiring of Brian Kenny as our new Chief Growth Officer.

"Brian brings a plethora of insurance sales knowledge and experience to the Chief Growth Officer role," said Chopra. "His proven track record of developing and executing business strategies to grow a client base while focusing on excellent customer service will be an asset to Clements as we look toward the future."

In addition to leveraging his foundation of sales and marketing expertise to drive profitable growth, Kenny also brings more than 25 years of experience with companies such as Ford Motor Company, Zurich North America, and Markel. During his most recent role as Managing Director of Strategic Customer Growth at Markel, Kenny was responsible for leading the company's large customer growth strategy, as well as increasing and improving strategic broker relationships.

"I am energized, grateful, and humbled to join the uniquely talented team at Clements Worldwide, where I am confident that we will continue to grow, while strengthening our reputation as a global insurance solutions leader," said Kenny. "I am passionate about increasing efficiency while improving the customer experience and I look forward to leading these efforts."

Kenny earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing from Villanova University and a Master of Business Administration from the Villanova School of Business, holding CPCU and Certified Programs Leader designations. He will be based at the Clements Worldwide headquarters in Washington, D.C.

About Clements Worldwide



Clements Worldwide (Clements.com) was founded in 1947 by Robert Clements and M. Juanita Guess-Clements with the vision of delivering customized insurance solutions for clients who travel frequently, be it for work or pleasure. Clements is the first company to offer expatriate insurance for U.S. State Department employees, providing U.S. Foreign Service Officers with insurance coverage while on overseas missions. Today the firm offers a wide range of international insurance solutions and services for both organizations and individuals who work and travel across international borders.

Clements operates five offices around the globe: Washington D.C., London, Brussels, Amsterdam, and Dubai.

Contact:

Clements Worldwide Marketing

202.872.0060

[email protected]

SOURCE Clements Worldwide

Related Links

http://www.clements.com


CARY, N.C., March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- AQuity Solutions passed the 12 Million page volume threshold for Medico-Legal document preparation processing in the single month of February. This marks the first month at this scale, after just formally launching the service line last fall. Medico-Legal document preparation, which involves analyzing, organizing, and indexing complex medical records from multiple sources for review by Independent Medical Examiners IME, is a market traditionally served by in-house legal assistants or small regional services who still commonly deliver paper documents as their end product. AQuity leverages a proprietary platform and dedicated staff of over 350 professionals globally to complete the process electronically, accelerating processing time and reducing costs.

"We're pleased with the rapid growth of this business," noted Regina Buchwald, VP of AQuity's Transcription and Medico-Legal Services divisions. "Although we've done a bit of IME document prep and Medico-Legal transcription for a few traditional healthcare clients over the years, we looked to scale the business in earnest after bringing our technology platform online late last summer. Applying our decades of experience managing high volumes of clinical documentation, we're able to apply our time tested, scaled process approach, and deliver substantial economies of scale. To reach this scale after only six months of dedicated effort is a testament to our operations team and has been rewarded with a very strong sales pipeline for new business."

"It is exciting to see the rapid growth of this service line in a parallel market to our traditional businesses," added Kashyap Joshi, AQuity's CEO. "The current Medico-Legal vendor landscape is very similar to what we saw in the medical transcription market twenty years ago, which at the time was also dominated by local vendors with limited technology. Once our new clients test us as an alternative to their local resources, the flood gates open. We look forward to gaining additional momentum now that the word is out for the quality of our work, how quickly and cost-effectively we can respond, and the value added through electronic delivery. We are fully committed to making this business as strong as our other major service lines and look forward to continued exponential growth."

About Aquity

AQuity Solutions delivers superior clinical and financial results to healthcare provider clients through outsourced services. Headquartered in Cary, NC, Aquity employs over 7,000 clinical documentation specialists throughout the U.S., India, Australia, Canada, and the U.K. for medical transcription, medical coding, virtual scribing, interim management, and medico-legal document preparation services. With over 45 years of experience, the company is recognized by KLAS and Black Book as a leading vendor in multiple disciplines. AQuity is privately held. https://aquitysolutions.com

PRESS CONTACT

Dale Kivi

Senior Director of Communications

[email protected]

804.339.9017

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Related Links

www.aquitysolutions.com/medico-legal

SOURCE AQuity Solutions
Dhaka, March 17 : A major fire on Wednesday morning in Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) here has left three Covid-19 patients dead, said DMCH Director Nazmul Haque.

Haque told IANS that the victims were being treated at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the hospital, when the fire broke out.

"Rest of the 11 patients of the ICU unit-2, dedicated to Covid-19 patients, have also been evacuated from the ICU following the fire outbreak. They were, later, shifted to the burn unit and ICU of the old building," Haque added.

The fire broke out at around 8 a.m., causing dense smoke inside the ICU unit-2 of DMCH, the state owned biggest hospital of the country.

Three patients who were in life support in ICU, died during shifting to CCU of the Dhaka Medical College Hospital's.

The fire is said to have apparently exploded from a machine besides bed 12 of the ICU, but the fire officials are yet to ascertain the cause behind the blaze.

Three units of firefighters doused the fire at around 8.55 a.m., said Quamrul Hasan, Duty Officer at Fire Service and Civil Defense headquarters.

Haque told IANS that they had failed to control the situation with fire extinguisher.

A total of 14 patients were inside the ICU ward, 17 bed is available there. The cause of the fire could not be known immediately, the director added.

The patients died during evacuating to CCU from the ICU, said Bachchu Miah, Police Inspector and in-charge of the DMCH police camp.
The Federal High Court has reshuffled its judges across its 36 divisions in the country.

The changes are to take effect from April 12, a circular issued on March 16 (Tuesday) by the Chief Judge of the court, John Tsoho, states.

Judges newly posted to judicial divisions must assume duty in such places on April 12, 2021, the document obtained from a court official by PREMIUM TIMES official late Tuesday, reads in part.

Analysis of the circular by PREMIUM TIMES shows that 53 out of the courts 77 judges are affected in the shake-up.

Although the postings are seen as a routine usually carried out in every two to four years by successive Chief Judges, the number of affected judges in the new reshuffling is unprecedented.

The last of such redeployments announced by the immediate-past Chief Judge, the late Abdu Kafarati, on February 4, 2019, but which took effect from February 11, 2019, affected only about 22 out of then 84 judges of the court.

Our reporter understands that successive Chief Judges of the court, in recent time, always redeployed judges as a routine, the frequency of which is a factor of how long they stayed in office before retirement.

The new reshuffling announced on Tuesday comes just about two years and one month after the last round came to effect on February 11, 2019.

It is the first under Mr Tsoho who assumed office in acting capacity in July 2019 and was sworn in as the substantive Chief Judge about five months later in December 2019.

Remarkable changes

Lagos and Abuja remain the divisions with the highest concentration of the courts judges under the new arrangement.

When the new postings come to effect, the two divisions, undoubtedly the busiest, will have 10 judges in addition to the Chief Judge who has chambers in both places.

While three judges are going to be moving out of Abuja division, which is the courts headquarters, four are being redeployed there to jerk the number of the judges there from nine to 10 in addition to the Chief Judge who switches between Abuja and Lagos.

Those who are being moved out of Abuja are, Okon Abang redeployed to Warri, Ijeoma Ojukwu redeployed to Calabar, and Folashade Giwa-Ogunbanjo, posted to Abakliki.

Six out of the nine judges currently in the Abuja division are not affected by the new postings.

They are, Binta Nyako, Anwuli Chikere, Ahmed Mohammed, Inyang Ekwo, Taiwo Taiwo, and Nkeonye Maha.

They will now be joined by four others  Z.B Abubakar being redeployed from Kaduna, Obiora Egwuatu, being posted from Kano, Mobolaji Olubukola from Makurdi, and D.U Okorowo from Lokoja.

For Lagos, three out of the seven judges are posted out of the division.

Those posted out are M.A Oyenetu, redeployed to Owerri, Chuka Obiozor, who is also a professor, redeployed to Benin, and R. M Aikawa taken to Akure.

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The judges in the division that are not affected by the new postings are, Olayinka Faji, Chukwujekwu Aneke, Muslim Hassan, and Iniekenimi Oweibo.

They will now be joined by six others posted from different places to make the judges in the Lagos division 10, in addition to the Chief Judge, who has a reserved courtroom in the division.

They are Lewis Allagoa being redeployed from Kano, Akintayo Aluko being posted from Abakaliki, Daniel Osiagor from Umuahia Division, Peter Lifu from Osogbo Division, Tijjani Ringim from Owerri Division, and M.O Awogboro from Yenagoa Division.

The Port Harcourt Division in Rivers State, which ranks after Lagos and Abuja in terms of workload, will be manned by six judges when the new postings come to effect.

The three of the judges in the division not affected by the posting  E.A Obile, M.L Abubakar, and Adamu Muhammed  are to be joined by Patricia Ajoku, posted from Ibadan Division, Phoebe Ayua being posted from Abakaliki, and Jude Dagat from Maiduguri Division.

A prominent name on the list is Hyeladzira Nganjiwa, a judge of the court prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) but who was able to secure a Court of Appeal judgment which terminated his trial on the grounds that he had not been disciplined by the National Judicial Council (NJC) before he was charged.

The December 11, 2017 judgment of the Court of Appeal in Abuja, although is being challenged by the commission at the Supreme Court, is the prevailing judicial authority prohibiting the prosecution of serving judges without them being first disciplined and sanctioned by the NJC.

Mr Nganjiwa, who was serving in the Yenogoa Division in Bayelsa State when he was charged with 14 counts charges, including unlawful enrichment, in June 2017, is now back to work and has been redeployed to Gombe Division.

Another prominent judge of the court, Nnamdi Dimgba, who started his career as a judge in the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court, in December 2015, and was deployed to Asaba, Delta State in February 2019, has now been posted to Awka, in Anambra State.

Redeployed judges prominent cases

By the rules of the court, redeployed judges are expected to continue with their part-heard cases, particularly the criminal cases they started in their old division.

For instance, Mr Dimgba, although redeployed out of Abuja, in February 2019, traveled from Asaba where he was taken to, to Abuja to complete a number of criminal cases he was handling before the posting.

Currently, Mr Dimgba is handling the trial of a former Chief of Air Staff, Mohammed Umar, who is being prosecuted by the EFCC for money laundering, and the alleged $1.6billion crude oil fraud involving Jide Omokore, said to be an ally of a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke.

Mr Abang, who is being posted out of Abuja for the second time since 2015, completed the money laundering trial of Olisa Metuh, largely when he was on redeployment to Asaba, Delta State.

Prior to Tuesdays announcement of new postings which is taking him to Warri, also in Delta State, Mr Abang is handling the money laundering trial of the chairman of the defunct Pension Reform Task Team, Abdulrasheed Maina.

Mrs Ojukwu, who is also being deployed to Calabar, is the judge presiding over the trial of Sahara Reporters publisher, Omoyele Sowore, accused of treasonable felony by the federal government, in the Abuja Division of the court.

Although the EFCC has not been able to present Mrs Alison-Madueke for arraignment, the money laundering case filed against her is also pending before Mrs Ojukwu.

Mr Obiozor being redeployed to Benin, is currently handling the trial of Haruna Baba Jauro, a former Acting Director General of NIMASA, and two others, in the Lagos Division.

Mr Aikawa, who is being redeployed to Akure in Ondo State, is the judge handling the trial of his former colleague, Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia, a dismissed judge of the Federal High Court being prosecuted for money laundering in the Lagos Division of the court.

He is also the judge handling the money laundering case involving a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association.

Dont wait for fiat

The Chief Judge, in his Tuesdays announcement said judges who ordinarily have to be assisted by another judge should take charge of the cases in their new division without waiting the be given fiat.

Any judge who is alone in a judicial division ought to have two judges, shall take charge of ALL CASES in that division without the necessity of any formal issuance of fiat, until further notice, his circular reads in part.

Go with assigned household items, take inventory

Mr Tsoho who asked judges affected by the new reshuffling to carry along with them the household items already provided them in line with a policy which he said had been in place since 2015.

He listed the items as, double door fridge, washing machine, gas cooker, deep freezer, 55 television, grass cutting machine, electrical surge appliance, microwave, fan, and water dispenser.

Mr Tsoho also asked them to ensure that proper inventory is taken of the courts property in their possession besides the listed household.

He said the inventory taken by the judges should be handed over to the Deputy Registrar or the station registrar in charge of the divisions and a copy of same sent to the Chief Judges office.
Bhatti blamed the higher taxes imposed on fuel by the Centre and the state government.  DC file photo

Hyderabad: Congress legislature party leader Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka has urged the state government to pass a resolution in the state assembly against the Centre's controversial farm laws.

Participating in the debate on the motion of thanks to the Governor's address, he said the state assembly has powers to pass such resolutions.

When Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao replied to him that the state has no power to override the law enacted by Parliament, Bhatti reminded him about the assembly passing a resolution against the Centre's controversial Citizenship Amendment Act.

"There are several instances in the assembly to safeguard the interests of our state and our people. We had passed a resolution against the CAA. The assemblies in Punjab, Kerala, Chattisgarh had adopted resolutions against the farm laws. We too can do it," Bhatti said.

Bhatti expressed his displeasure over the Governor's speech, saying there was nothing new in it and it was only a compilation of all speeches made by Governors since 2014.

He questioned the delay in the implementation of the poll promises made by TRS during the 2018 assembly polls, offering one lakh rupees as crop loan waiver, Rs 3,016 as unemployment allowance, a reduction in age limit for Aasara pensions, resolution of the podu land issues etc, and said two years have passed without any action on these matters.

Bhatti alleged that Telangana under the TRS government rule achieved growth only in liquor sales and raising of loans.

Extending only Rythu Bandhu to farmers is of no use when the state has stopped all other agri-related incentives and subsidies like interest-free loans, pavala vaddi loans, and also rejected the PM Fasal Bima Yojana since 2018. He said there was a lack of proper agri-marketing system to ensure remunerative prices to farmers.

Bhatti blamed the higher taxes imposed on fuel by the Centre and the state government.

The ruling TRS members obstructed Bhatti while he criticised the government. When Speaker Pocharam Srinivas Reddy muted his mike after repeated requests to conclude his speech failed to evoke any response, Bhatti along with other Congress MLAs staged a walkout.
Ireland's Department of Foreign Affairs will co-sponsor the 2021 Frederick Douglass Global Fellows in Dublin, Ireland, to honor the 175th anniversary of the meeting between 27-year-old abolitionist Frederick Douglass and the Irish reformer Daniel O'Connell in Dublin in 1845.

Like Frederick Douglass in Ireland, you can come as you are, and you can leave who you aspire to be.

The following high-achieving students were selected for this prestigious award:

Sophia Kathryn Jackson , Bard College

, Leeah Derenoncourt , Emerson College

, Carolina Jimenez , Harvard University

, Brielle Smith , Howard University

, Katherine Sanchez , Lehman College, CUNY

, Iesha-LaShay Phillips , Oberlin College

, Corinne Bobb-Semple , Pomona College

, Mikayla Tillery , Stanford University

, Paul Douillon, University of Miami

Nikita Joshi , University of Missouri - Kansas City

, Jaylen Antoine , University of Puget Sound

, Delali Gadzekpo , University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

, Isaiah Franco , Wofford College

, Ayodele Theard-Lewis , Xavier University of Louisiana

You can hear from all 2021 Frederick Douglass Global Fellows in this video.

In Ireland, the Frederick Douglass Global Fellows will study leadership, effective communication, and strategies to affect positive social change as they explore the life stories and legacies of Frederick Douglass and Daniel O'Connell. They will be joined on their program by the 2020 Frederick Douglass Global Fellows who were unable to travel to Cape Town, South Africa, last summer as scheduled due to COVID-19.

At the roundtable event, Vice President Harris congratulated the Frederick Douglass Global Fellows. She expressed her pride, and America's pride, in their accomplishments. She said to them: "You will create friendships around the globe as an extension of the work we do as a country to inspire and to work on and to build on the friendships we have around the world."

"Many of you know that I attended Howard University, a school that was founded at a time when few recognized the potential of Black students to be leaders," said Vice President Harris. "At HBCUs, and at fellowship programs like this, students of color are prepared to lead. Like Frederick Douglass in Ireland, you can come as you are, and you can leave who you aspire to be."

Following the roundtable, which was attended by many of the Frederick Douglass Global Fellows who will travel to Ireland this summer, the Taoiseach said: "I was delighted to join Vice President Harris this morning in meeting these exceptional young people. Frederick Douglass has a vital and valued legacy on either side of the Atlantic and my Government is delighted to mark the 175th anniversary of his historic tour of Ireland by welcoming twenty brilliant American students from minority backgrounds to follow in the great abolitionist's footsteps and learn of the influential relationship between Daniel O'Connell and Frederick Douglass. Today's meeting with the Fellows is also a great opportunity to recognize the great diversity that powers both our countries and our relationship today."

"It's fitting that this diverse group of young people will have the opportunity to develop their leadership skills in a place so special to Frederick Douglass," said Nettie Washington Douglass, chairwoman and co-founder of Frederick Douglass Family Initiatives, and the great-great-granddaughter of Frederick Douglass and great-granddaughter of Booker T. Washington. "The welcome and respect with which Frederick was greeted across his tour of Ireland affected him profoundly. I can think of no better place for future American leaders to gain a global perspective and prepare to be agents of change."

"Frederick Douglass was transformed by his time in Ireland and returned to America in 1847 as a free man, spending the next 50 years of his life agitating for positive change in our world," said James P. Pellow, president and CEO of CIEE. "We know this group of exceptional students will have a similar transformative experience in Ireland and return home with enhanced skills and passion to change our world for the better."

The Frederick Douglass Global Fellowship was launched in 2017 by CIEE to expand access to international education to underrepresented students.

In addition to funding the Frederick Douglass Global Fellows, CIEE provides all students who complete the fellowship application a $1,500 grant to attend a CIEE summer study abroad program. Known as the Frederick Douglass Summer Scholars Grant, this award is matched by many colleges and universities, making an international education experience financially attainable for many more students from diverse backgrounds.

To learn more about the Frederick Douglass Global Fellowship, visit ciee.org/FDGF.

About the Council on International Educational Exchange

CIEE, the country's oldest and largest nonprofit study abroad and intercultural exchange organization, transforms lives and builds bridges by promoting the exchange of ideas and experiences. To help people develop skills for living in a globally interdependent and culturally diverse world, CIEE sponsors a wide variety of opportunities for cultural exchange, including work exchange programs, teach abroad programs, and a worldwide portfolio of study abroad and internship programs for college and high school students. www.ciee.org.

Contact: Leslie Taylor, (207) 553-4274, [email protected]

SOURCE Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE)

Related Links

www.ciee.org


The Daily Beast

REUTERSIt appears that Benjamin Netanyahu is finally on his way out as Israels prime minister. With just minutes to spare ahead of a midnight deadline on Wednesday, opposition leader Yair Lapid notified Israels president that he had formed a new government.But if Benjamin Netayahus 12-year run is indeed at an end, expect key segments of the GOP will treat Bibi as though he had not lost power, much as they continue to venerate Donald Trump and look at Joe Bidens victory as illegitimate.Israel
TOKYO (dpa-AFX) - Japan posted a merchandise trade surplus of 217.381 billion yen in February, the Ministry of Finance said on Wednesday - down 80.5 percent on year. That was shy of expectations for a surplus of 420 billion yen following the downwardly revised 325.4 billion yen deficit in January (originally -323.9 billion yen). Exports dropped 4.5 percent on year to 6.038 trillion yen, also missing forecasts for a decline of 0.8 percent after rising 6.4 percent in the previous month. Individually, exports to all of Asia eased 0.8 percent on year to 3.343 trillion yen. Exports to China alone jumped an annual 3.4 percent to 1.174 trillion yen. Exports to the United States tumbled 14.0 percent on year to 1.092 trillion yen, while exports to the European Union sank an annual 3.3 percent to 589.168 billion yen. Imports jumped an annual 11.8 percent to 5.820 trillion yen versus expectations for an increase of 11.9 percent following the 9.5 percent contraction a month earlier. Individually, imports from Asia jumped 36.9 percent on year to 2.938 trillion yen. Imports from China alone skyrocketed an annual 114.5 percent to 1.445 trillion yen. Imports from the United States fell 3.7 percent on year to 619.564 billion yen, while imports from the European Union rose an annual 0.4 percent to 629.378 billion yen. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

Public health officials in England said Wednesday that the number of people getting their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine will be "significantly constrained" from April because of a reduction in the vaccine supply to the country.

A letter to regional health leaders said they should expect a "significant reduction in weekly supply available from manufacturers" beginning from the week of March 29. The reduction will continue for four weeks, it said.

When asked about the issue, Health Secretary Matt Hancock told a news briefing that supply was "always lumpy." He added that the supply from the European Union is "fulfilling contractual responsibilities and we fully expect those contracts to be delivered on."

He did not explain whether the expected supply reductions are related to the EU chief's warning Wednesday that the bloc would not hesitate to take actionincluding possible export restrictionsto ensure it receives the reliable supply of vaccines it was promised.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said "open roads run in both directions," and that the EU will "use whatever tool we need" to ensure "reciprocity and proportionality" in vaccine exports. While she did not name any countries, her warning appeared to be a veiled threat to the U.K.

Britain has seen Europe's highest coronavirus death toll, but its vaccination rollout has been far ahead of other countries on the continent. Officials say 25 million adults have received their first dose in the first 100 days of the vaccination program, and 1.7 million have had their second jab.

Hancock said the U.K. is on track to offer a first dose to all those in the top priority groups and to over-50s by mid-April.

Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak

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Full planning permission may be required for fencing, draining or any work involving a digger on some selected farmlands by 2030 under controversial EU special designation plans.

In fact, over the next decade Ireland could see some farmland left under stricter protection status than the world-famous wildlife plains of the Serengeti National Park in Africa, it has emerged.

With bilateral talks underway between Ireland and the EU Commission on the implementation of the EUs Biodiversity Strategy 2030  which seeks that land mass protection in Ireland more than doubles from 13pc to 30pc  INHFA is calling out the major and devastating burden this would place on farm incomes.

Under the strategy 10pc of Irelands land area would be given strictly protected status  expected to be targetted at peat soils. While Ireland has no strictly protected lands presently, peaty soils account for more than 20pc of the country's land area (1.5m hectares).

To date, farmers have never received compensation for designated land. INHFA is now calling on the Department of Housing, Department of Agriculture and the EU Commission to rectify the situation before talks progress any further.

Speaking to the Farming Independent INHFA Galway Council representative Brendan Joyce outlined the potential impact to farms in the western and midlands regions.

It will have devastating impact, designations place an unbelievable burden on the land and the farmers farming it. Existing designations (SACs and SPAs applied 20 years ago without communication) have already placed huge costs on farmers  and that has never been acknowledged by the state.

It effectively stagnates a farm in a moment in time. It places 39 Actions Requiring Consent (ARCs) on farmers which impacts every aspect of farming with permission from the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) required for basic farming practices such as topping, mulching, spreading lime and fertiliser, changes to stocking rates and type of stock to name but a few.

For other actions such as fencing, draining or any work involving a digger, full planning permission is required including a Natura Impact Statement.

"The cost of time for such considerations and the cost of the process is fully borne by the farmer, said Mr Joyce, adding this is something farmers on non-designated land dont ever have to consider.

In reality the designations effectively prevent farmers from diversifying and evolving, which all farmers must do in order to ensure farm viability.

Sleepwalking

While it has been argued that designations dont prevent new development, Mr Joyce said designated areas fail in planning applications at a much higher rate than non-designated areas.

Whats more telling is the resignation of farmers not to even try the planning process for projects because of the inevitability of failure and the impossible financial burden that would place upon them."

Designations also affect rural life in the provision of services and infrastructure. According to many county councils, the current designations are quoted as the main reason for planning objections.

Increasing the area designated by over 100pc and introducing a new strict designation type that is four times higher in terms of possible impact will have a devastating impact  not just on the farmers, but the wider rural community.

Irelands existing SACs and SPAs are classed as category 4; while strictly protected areas are category 1.

"This category is even higher than the Serengeti in Africa which is a category 2 designation, Mr Joyce added.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature defines strict protection as areas strictly set aside to protect biodiversity, where human visitation, use and impacts are strictly controlled and limited.

While this designation type has yet to be defined for the EU Biodiversity Strategy, having had various discussions  including with the Environmental Pillar  the INHFA said "it is clear a similar definition is most likely.

The impact of this has far reaching consequences for rural communities and very questionable potential environmental benefits, he said, adding we are sleepwalking into the rewilding of Ireland.

Ambitious

In a statement a spokesperson for the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage described the EU Biodiversity Strategy 2030 as a far-reaching and ambitious document.

It recognises that there is a biodiversity crisis and that addressing it requires transformative change at local, national and international levels. In this context, it sets targets for greater protection of land and marine areas in the EU.

Implementation of the strategy, including definitions around strict protection and how targets will be met and distributed across the member states, is still subject to on-going discussion between the commission and member states.

At this time, the Department is considering what specific implementation measures would be required to fulfil Irelands obligations under the strategy.

No decisions have been made as yet; the Department is committed to engaging with other departments across government and key stakeholders, including landowners, with a view to effective, durable and fair implementation of the strategy, the statement concluded.
Samsung's usual set of smartphone launches include two main flagship series - the Galaxy S series and the Note series. But now that the company has also started pushing its foldable, there were rumors and speculation about the company putting an end to its Note lineup. And now, the company has indeed confirmed that they will not be launching the Galaxy Note series phones this year.

Samsung Note series to go on hiatus for the rest of 2021

This piece of info was shared by Samsung Electronics CEO Dong-jin Koh at the 52nd regular shareholders meeting in South Korea. Even though we've been hearing about not seeing a Note flagship this year, this news is a bit of a surprise. Samsung has been launching a new Galaxy Note flagship every year since they announced the original Galaxy Note 1 back in 2011. So the fact that we won't be seeing an upgrade to the series this year is indeed a little disappointing.

That being said, this is not the end of the Galaxy Note line-up though. The company CEO also confirmed that the company is not ditching the series entirely as the rumours suggested. He said they will be back with a new phone in the series next year. We hope it will be a significant upgrade over the existing Note phones we have on the market.

Despite the absence of a new Galaxy Note flagship this year, we still have the Galaxy S21 Ultra that now supports the S Pen. It's the first Galaxy S series to arrive with S Pen stylus support. We're assuming the lack of any significant upgrade is keeping them from bringing a new Note flagship this year. The Galaxy S21 Ultra is an excellent phone as it is.

Additionally, the upcoming Galaxy Z Fold 3 is also expected to support the S Pen. In fact, even some mid-range Samsung phones are said to arrive with the S Pen support. Between all this, we won't be surprised if the company takes its sweet time to rethink the Note flagship and offer some exclusive features for the device to make it stand out from its other devices.
Mar. 16WASHINGTON  Leaders at Ford Motor Co. urged Congress Tuesday to increase tax incentives and other federal funding for electric vehicle technology.

Additional federal help will be critical as the U.S. auto industry faces ongoing competition with Europe and China for the future EV market, said Jonathan Jennings, vice president for Global Commodity Purchasing and Supplier Technical Assistance at Ford.

We're running a new-subscriber special  Support local journalism and subscribe here.

His comments came as part of a Senate Finance Committee hearing on how the U.S. tax code can be improved to aid American manufacturing. The other witnesses  including National Association of Manufacturers CEO Jay Timmons, MIT professor Michelle Hanlon, United Steelworkers District Director Donnie Blatt and Intel Corp. CFO George Davis  also urged low corporate taxes and incentives to discourage outsourcing.

The global shortage of semiconductor chips has sidelined production at auto plants around the country and illustrated the frailty of the supply chain, Jennings said. And competitors like China maintain dominance over crucial EV components such as lithium-ion batteries.

"In short, we must collectively do more to protect the future of manufacturing in America," he told the Senate Finance Committee. "Together, public and private support of electrification will ensure America not only competes as a leader globally, but wins. This is particularly important as Europe and China are already moving forward with robust electric vehicle adoption strategies and policies."

The testimony also comes as a United Auto Workers vice president is accusing the Dearborn automaker of shirking its commitment to add a new product to its Ohio Assembly Plant in Avon Lake, instead moving the electric vehicle to its Cuautitlan site in Mexico.

Asked by Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, why the company decided "to turn its back on a community," Jennings said the company is looking to "increase the capacity that that facility provides from a super duty truck perspective" and invest more in the plant, but "as we continue to look at other activities for other programs, we will be looking outside of Ohio."

Story continues

President Joe Biden has proposed increasing tax credits for companies creating manufacturing jobs in the U.S. and increasing federal incentives for research and development, both of which would be boons to American automakers, Jennings said.

But Biden also has proposed raising income taxes on people who make more than $400,000 per year and increasing capital gains, payroll and corporate income taxes. The Tax Foundation, a nonprofit tax research group, found his plan would raise around $3.3 trillion over the next decade but reduce U.S. GDP by around 1.62% in the long term.

Republicans on the committee repeatedly raised concerns about these tax increases, and Hanlon of MIT called the corporate income tax "the most harmful taxation for economic growth because it discourages job creation and investment."

However, both Republican and Democratic members expressed interest in supporting research and development and incentives to bring highly-needed resources into the U.S.

"The U.S. is a global clean energy country that is in a race right now. We know $100 billion has been put in that race by China for electrification," Michigan Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Lansing, said. But she added there are layoffs in Michigan right now because of the shortage of semiconductor chips, and a potential crunch on battery availability may be imminent.

"There's no reason we can't have those things made in America."

Sales of electric vehicles have taken off in China and Europe while they remain less than 2% of sales in the U.S. And China is home to 73% of the world's lithium ion battery manufacturing capacity and the U.S., in second place, has around 12% capacity, according to a 2019 analysis by Bloomberg.

"This is simply unacceptable," Jennings said.

Last month, the U.S. International Trade Commission prohibited the majority of U.S. imports of batteries from Korean company SK Innovation for the next ten years for stealing trade secrets from rival LG Chem. The order will go into effect in mid-April unless Biden intervenes and reverses the decision.

Jennings told the committee that Ford will have to "look to foreign suppliers" to fulfill requirements by the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement due to the decision because there isn't adequate battery supply available in the U.S.

"That's why we really feel it's critical for us to have a more competitive position within the U.S. footprint," he said. "What we've consistently stated is we encourage the Korean government to work with these two companies to resolve this before the 60-day USTR timeline. They need to come to an amicable agreement."

rbeggin@detroitnews.com

Twitter: @rbeggin

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The Seaver House was built in 1900 for Carleton Seaver, a major donor to Pomona College. It was moved to this Claremont location in 1979. (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)

Claremont, on the eastern edge of L.A. County, is home to historic architecture along its streets and on the campuses of the Claremont Colleges. Its a good time for a driving tour of city landmarks while students are home, taking classes online. All those empty parking spots mean you can also explore on foot.

A cast-iron clock displays the time for Metrolink passengers at the Claremont Depot. (Myung J. Chun/Los Angeles Times)

Throughout the city, you will see Victorian, Spanish Colonial Revival and Craftsman buildings as well as whimsical folk architecture. Thanks to Claremont Heritage, the citys nonprofit preservation organization, many of the landmarks have been saved from the wrecking ball. For more information, go to claremontheritage.org.

Start your tour where Claremont began in 1887 on the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad route into California. From Los Angeles, take Interstate 210 east to the Towne Avenue exit in Claremont. Turn right and drive south to Foothill Boulevard. Turn left and continue to Indian Hill Boulevard, then turn right on Indian Hill Boulevard to 1st Street. Turn left and drive 1 blocks.

The Claremont Depot, built in 1927 to replace the original Victorian station, is where passengers now grab Metrolink commuter trains. (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)

The Spanish Revival-style Claremont Depot (110 W. 1st St.) was built in 1927 to replace the original wooden Victorian station. The best place to admire the details  gabled red tile roof, Moorish arches, elaborate concrete Churrigueresque trim  is from the side that faces the tracks. Today, its where passengers on Metrolink commuter trains check the time on the towering cast-iron clock. The depot was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982 and now is home to the Claremont Museum of Art.

A beloved remnant of Claremonts agricultural past borders the railroad tracks a few blocks west of the depot. In the 1920s, the Claremont Packing House (532 W. 1st St.) was one of four agricultural co-ops that packed and shipped the bounty of the surrounding citrus orchards throughout the U.S.

Suburban housing eventually replaced the orchards, so the city purchased the building to save it. In 2007, a restoration preserved the three-story-tall sawtooth skylights, wooden floors and other original features. What was once one of the regions biggest employers is now a lively community gathering spot with restaurants, artists studios, offices and boutiques.

Story continues

The Sumner House is one of the oldest houses in Claremont. It was built in 1887 for Charles Burt Sumner, one of the founders of Pomona College. (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)

Double back on 1st Street past the Claremont Depot and turn left onto North College Avenue. On the corner of whats called Victorian Row stands one of the citys oldest houses. Sumner House (105 N. College Ave.) was built in 1887 for Charles Burt Sumner, one of the founders of Pomona College, then in Pomona.

The college moved to Claremont in 1888, and in 1901, the house followed on a horse-drawn moving van that took six weeks to travel the 1 miles. (The Sumner family occupied the house during the move.) A classic Victorian, the house features towers, gables and leaded-glass bay windows, elaborate exterior wood ornamentation and a wraparound porch. Today, the Sumner House hosts VIP guests to the Pomona campus.

The Renwick House was built by a widow from Iowa who moved to Claremont to raise her son and send him to Pomona College. (Myung J. Chun/Los Angeles Times)

Across the street is Renwick House (146 N. College Ave.), a late Victorian with a two-story turret, a large bay window and a wraparound porch. The house was built by Helen Renwick, a widow from Iowa who moved to Claremont to raise her son and send him to Pomona College. Like the Sumner House, the Renwick House was moved here from another location, but the job was accomplished in only a few hours in 2017. Its old location was across the street, site now of Pomona Colleges Benton Museum of Art.

The Seaver House was built in 1900 for Carleton Seaver, a major donor to Pomona College. (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)

Up the street and on the left is the Seaver House (305 N. College Ave.). The Greek Revival-style home was built in 1900 in Pomona for Carleton Seaver, a major donor to Pomona College whose six children attended the school. Seaver House was moved here from Pomona in 1979 to serve as the Pomona College Center for Alumni Affairs. Note the imposing two-story classical columns and third-story gables.

Bridges Auditorium (450 N. College Way) is a block north at the rear of Pomona's tree-shaded Marston Quad. Architect William Templeton Johnson, famous for San Diegos Museum of Art and Natural History Museum, designed the 1931 concert hall in a majestic Renaissance Revival style with Art Deco elements.

With seating for 2,500, the auditorium for decades was the largest east of Los Angeles and hosted world-class symphony orchestras. In 1975, in honor of a Frank Zappa concert there, two Pomona students pulled a prank thats still talked about. The names of five famous composers  Chopin, Schubert, Wagner, Bach and Beethoven  decorate the frieze above the auditorium entrance. In the middle of the night, the pranksters put a Styrofoam panel with Zappas name over Chopins.

Carnegie Hall Library was built in 1906 with support from steel magnate Andrew Carnegie. (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)

The Classical Revival-style Carnegie Library (425 N. College Ave.) was built for Pomona College and the city of Claremont in 1906 with support from steel magnate and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, who at the time was donating to the construction of thousands of libraries in cities throughout the U.S. Claremonts Carnegie Library building is one of 12 designed by Franklin Pierce Burnham  and one of only three he designed that are still standing. Today, the building houses Pomona College offices.

A few blocks north, on the corner of North College Avenue and 8th Street, architecture buffs will notice the familiar outstretched eaves, overhanging wood-shake roof and broad porches of a bungalow designed by Charles and Henry Greene, who made the Craftsman Movement famous. The 1903 Darling Residence (807 N. College Ave.) was the Greene brothers' first commission outside Pasadena, where today the 1908 Gamble House showcases their work. It is the only Greene & Greene house in Claremont.

Continue north on College Avenue to 10th Street and turn right. On the left is the Garrison Theater (231 E. 10th St.), an auditorium designed in 1963 by architect David Underwood and artist Millard Sheets for use by the Claremont Colleges.

Sheets taught art at Scripps College and is best known for mosaics illustrating local history that he designed for more than 80 branches of Home Savings & Loan in Southern California. Note the shimmering mosaic that Sheets created for the facade of the Garrison. It depicts scenes from Shakespeares Antony and Cleopatra, Romeo and Juliet and Macbeth.

Make a U-turn and return to North College Avenue. Drive south to Arrow Highway and turn left. At South Mills Avenue, turn right.

There are no sidewalks here, so you may want to drive back and forth several times to get a good look at the 15 folk architecture-style houses, from 290 S. Mills Ave. to 370 S. Mills Ave., on both sides of the street. The hand-crafted homes comprise the Russian Village District, which was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.

The story behind them starts with Konstanty Stys, a Polish (not Russian) immigrant, and others out of work during the Great Depression. With no money or formal training in design and construction, they built the houses using salvaged and recycled materials found in wrecking yards as well as debris from the 1933 Long Beach earthquake. They also used a lot of the local fieldstones, a.k.a. Claremont potatoes."

The rounded, greyish-white rocks, which range in size from pebbles to boulders, were washed down from the nearby San Gabriel Mountains thousands of years ago. Farmers excavated them to plant the citrus orchards that bolstered Claremonts economy for decades.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
The Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) on Wednesday re-arraigned a former presidential aide, Okoi Obono-Obla, on amended corruption charges at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Apo, Abuja.

The arraignment came after ICPC dropped charges of forging and falsifying school results contained in the old charges.

PREMIUM TIMES reported that ICPC earlier arraigned Mr Obono-Obla along with his co-defendants in January, but filed amended charges reducing the number of counts from 10 to five on March 4.

Two charges of forgery and falsification of school results were part of the five counts that were dropped in the amended charges.

Other counts of corruption retained in the new charges also saw radical changes in the amount involved and scope.

ICPCs lawyer, Olusola Bayeshea, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, requested that the judge allow the amended charges be read to the defendants at Wednesdays proceedings.

The judge, Olukayode Adeniyi, granted the request.

Mr Obono-Obla and his co-defendant, who is said to be his former Senior Assistant, Special Duties (Protocol), Aliyu Ibrahim, pleaded not guilty to the amended charges on Wednesday.

The judge then adjourned till May 27 for trial.

Charges, amendment

President Muhammadu Buhari suspended Mr Obono-Obla as the chairperson of the Special Presidential Investigation Panel (SPIP) for the Recovery of Public Property, based on ICPC report accusing him of falsification of records and financial impropriety in August 2019.

About a month later, on September 17, 2019, the President disbanded the SPIP, ordered the ICPC to conclude its investigations, send its final report to him, and prosecute Mr Obono-Obla, who was also the Presidents special adviser on prosecutions.

On July 1, 2020, ICPC filed 10 counts against him and his co-defendants at the Federal High Court in Abuja, but subsequently withdrew the charges.

It then re-filed the 10 counts at the FCT High Court on July 8, 2020 with Mr Obono-Obla, his former Senior Assistant, Special Duties (Protocol), Aliyu Ibrahim, and the Managing Director of ABR Global Petroleum Resources Ltd, Daniel Omughele Efe, charged as co-defendants.

ICPC accused Mr Obono-Obla in two of the 10 counts of forgery and falsification of a Mary Knoll College, Ogoja General Certificate of Education, Ordinary Level, May/June 1982 (GCE) Statement of Result with candidate No: 09403/247 showing an OLevel credit (6) score for Literature in English.

The commission accused Mr Obono-Obla of dishonestly using the OLevel result as genuine, to study Law for the 1985/86 academic session in University of Jos (UNIJOS).

It also alleged, among others, that Messrs Obono-Obla, Ibrahim, and the Managing Director of ABR Global Petroleum Resources Ltd, Daniel Omughele Efe, conspired in 2018 to use their offices to confer an unfair advantage on Mr Ibrahim by allegedly diverting N19,994,185 received from the Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) to furnish SPIP offices.

It alleged that the money was diverted into the personal account of Aliyu Ibrahim, using proxy companies, without furnishing the said SPIP offices as proposed to the NDIC.

ICPC said in another count that Mr Obono-Obla, around July 2018 in Abuja, as SPIP Chair failed to attend/honour an invitation by ICPC for an investigation, contrary to Section 28(1)(a) and (6) and punishable under section 28(10) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000.

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This count was retained in the amended charges without modification.

Amendment

But in the amended charges filed by ICPC on March 4, 2021, the commission dropped the two charges of result forgery and falsification contained in the original 10 counts.

Aside from reducing the total number of counts to five, the commission also removed Mr Efes name from the charges leaving Mr Obono-Obla and Mr Ibrahim as the remaining defendants.

The amendment also saw the removal of allegations of diversion of funds.

It also removed the N19,994,185 allegedly diverted by the defendants in July 2019, and substituted it with N10, 174,000 which it now claims, in the amended charges.

ICPC said the N10, 174,000 was transferred to some contractors from the N15, 187, 917 paid to the SPIP by the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) for the furnishing of the SPIP offices.

In the previous charges, ICPC claimed the N19,994,185 was paid into Mr Ibrahims personal account, but in the amended charges, it claims the N10, 174,000 was paid into the account of ABR Global Petroleum Resources LTD, a company where Mr Ibrahim was said to be a director and signatory to its account.

The prosecution alleged that by the transaction, the two defendants conspired to confer undue advantage on the second defendant, Mr Ibrahim.
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The real losers in this situation are the kids.

Those were the words of Congressman August Pfluger. And I think he is right.

It is hard to believe that each kid currently housed at a former man camp in Midland County came to the border with bad intentions. Still, that doesnt stop people from asking officials why those kids arent sitting in a former juvenile detention facility, like the one once operated by the Texas Youth Commission in Pyote. It doesnt take long to look at social media before someone offers that it is the kids who are to blame. They arent, but it doesnt stop people from saying it.

I want to take this moment to thank Midland Mayor Patrick Payton, who reminded us that residents of Midland County should be upset but not at those bussed into the temporary federal facility located southwest of city limits.

Payton at Mondays press conference asked residents to make their voices heard at the federal level by contacting their representatives and refrain from protesting at the facility. He said the minors are victims of whats going on around them and pawns, and some are being used by human traffickers.

The kids are innocent in this, but the federal government is not, so lets make sure our protests and our voices are directed where they need to be, he said.

Amen, mayor. Lets hope Midland County residents listen. Fingers crossed.

Lets be clear about something. The Biden administration erred in not contacting local officials in advance of bringing migrants to Midland County. Payton also was correct in saying the decision by the feds to not provide advance warning about what was coming was the strangest, most backward, disrespectful thing I think Ive seen in a long time.

One hopes that the Biden administration will change its tune when it comes to Midland and the Permian Basin, but Im not holding my breath.

Congressman Pfluger said Monday evening that these kids are among those who were preyed on by cartels and coyotes (smugglers not animals). He said 30 percent of women and children that were part of these large migrant groups were assaulted. Thats not exactly living the good life.

Thank goodness they are safe, Pfluger said.

In the end, the situation south of Midland International Airport will be fodder for days if not weeks. It represents more than hundreds of juveniles biding their time before being sent to relatives living in the U.S. For some it is a reminder of policy failures current or past. For others, it is a reminder of how broken the immigration and border security are with no solution in sight. For many, it is a head-scratching situation where we question the motives and actions of the federal government, which should have been better.

No one is calling for the juvenile migrants to be released immediately and released into the West Texas region. Instead, how about some perspective, following the lead of our mayor and Congressional representative? They got it right about those being houses in Midland. Will the rest of us?
[March 17, 2021] DBRS Morningstar: Outlook for North American Financial Institutions Brightens

DBRS, Inc. (DBRS Morningstar) published a commentary analyzing the 2021 outlook for North American Financial Institutions. Key highlights include: DBRS Morningstar expects North American Financial Institutions ratings to remain largely Stable in 2021, while we revert many of the Negative trends put on at the outset of the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) pandemic back to Stable. There will be downgrades, but they will be limited.

The coronavirus pandemic did not result in a typical downturn. Indeed, despite a massive economic shock, the extent of which was unprecedented, stock markets are at all-time highs, and housing prices continue to move higher as well. In addition, the debt markets have been wide open across the risk spectrum resulting in record issuance and allowing even weaker companies to bolster liquidity.

Longer term, the material accumulation of debt at all levels (governments, corporations and consumers) has reduced financia flexibility to cope with the next economic shock, but most financial institutions should continue to have strong capital and liquidity buffers to manage through adverse economic cycles.



The full commentary is available at https://www.dbrsmorningstar.com/research/375391/dbrs-morningstar-outlook-for-north-american-financial-institutions-brightens.

For more information, visit www.dbrsmorningstar.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210317005678/en/

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This post is part of a series sponsored by Old Republic Surety.

Perpetuation is a concern not only for insurance agencies and sureties, but also for their construction company clients. Without a business continuity plan, a construction company risks its credit standing with the surety. Read about four construction companies whose changes in ownership included murder and mayhem  providing real-life lessons for smart contractors and the agencies that represent them.

Like it or not, ownership and management changes are a certainty in construction. According to FMI Corporation, every construction company that isnt publicly traded will go through an ownership transition  usually every 25 to 30 years. With baby-boomer retirements on the rise, those changes are occurring with greater frequency.

A business continuity plan can ensure a smooth transition when a company changes hands. This is especially the case if an owner dies suddenly. A formal plan gives the companys family, employees, and customers  as well as the surety company  assurances that the company will be able to stay in business and continue its work program.

A previous post by Scott Albrinck, Expect the Unexpected: The Importance of a Solid Continuity Plan, explains why you need a plan and what to include when writing one. In this post, well look at lessons learned from firms that have gone through an ownership change.

Why surety companies place importance on continuity

First, lets review why surety companies have an interest in continuity and succession. Remember, its the suretys job to guarantee that a contractors bonded work will be completed. The death of an owner or the loss of a key employee  if not adequately planned for  could significantly reduce the contractors capacity to complete its backlog, potentially leading to default.

In addition, a transfer in ownership can impact the capitalization and liquidity of a company. The increased debt from financing a buyout can reduce a companys cash flow and deplete its working capital  important factors sureties consider when underwriting a bond.

If a contractor doesnt have a continuity plan, the surety may require that it provide a completion agreement. This is a simple, one-page document that states who will complete the work if the owner becomes disabled or dies. The completion agreement isnt a substitute for a formal plan, but it at least provides some degree of continuity.

As you can imagine, sureties have seen all kinds of situations arise when ownership changes occur. Here are some examples and lessons learned:

The greedy siblings

The situation: When the owner of a family-owned company passed away, a son was already running the business and wanted to buy out his brother and sister. The owner had provided funds for a buyout through life insurance proceeds and the sale of several properties. However, the brother and sister wanted twice the companys worth  well beyond what the owner had left. They are currently fighting over how to value the company.

The lesson: A continuity plan should provide for an orderly transfer of ownership. Who will buy the company when the owner retires or dies? How will the price be set? Decide ahead of time how the company will be valued. Will it be based on the most recent CPA-prepared financial statement or some other valuation?

The vengeful wife

The situation: The owner of a company was found dead in his home. He left behind $17 million in bonded backlog. Luckily, he had life insurance payable to the company, and the firm was able to complete its work. As it turned out, the wife had arranged for her husbands murder!

The lesson: Prepare for the unexpected. Who will manage the company if the owner suddenly dies or is incapacitated? Where will the funds come from to transfer ownership? We strongly recommend the purchase of key-person life insurance on the lives of the owner(s) and top managers. The policys death benefits should almost always be payable to the company, not a spouse or individual.

The careful controller

The situation: The controller of a company died in an accident. He was known for being conservative in his approach to business, the perfect counterbalance to his more aggressive owner. After the controllers death, the owner began making rash decisions that harmed the companys reputation and hurt its quality of work. Competitors began hiring away top employees, further compounding the problem.

The lesson: Key employees can be as important to a companys success as the owner. Make sure you have a succession plan that includes your top employees. Competitors will try to take advantage of any weaknesses they perceive in your organization. They may play on employee fears about job security and attempt to lure away your top talent  all the more reason to have a continuity plan.

The complicated buyout

The situation: Seven employees wanted to buy out the companys two majority partners when they retired. The deal was complicated, and the employees paid more than they probably should have for the company. The good news is that these new owners are now doing quite well.

The lesson: Many owners today are selling to employees rather than family members. Dont make it hard for your employees to buy the company. Keep in mind that most employees wont have the capital to purchase your business outright, so consider allowing them to buy the firm over a period of five to 10 years. If youre thinking about an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP), be sure to enlist the help of a firm that specializes in ESOPs.

For every ownership transfer and management succession, theres a different story to tell. What doesnt change, though, is the need for continuity planning. The more you plan, the easier the transition will be for everyone involved. According to FMI, firms with a clear vision and strategy for the future are more likely to have a formal continuity plan. Theyve identified successors with the right skills and experience to move their companies forward.

For more advice on continuity planning, contact an appointed agent, or reach out to an Old Republic Surety branch near you.

###

Topics Business Interruption
Murray Sinclair, the former chair of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, holds up an image of his granddaughter during his presentation as part of the Swift Current virtual truth and reconciliation speaker series, March 3.
SAN FRANCISCO - Uber will grant its more than 70,000 U.K. drivers "worker" status, the company announced Tuesday, entitling its gig workforce to the minimum wage and benefits and marking a major departure for a company that has built a business model out of treating drivers as independent contractors.

The announcement comes nearly a month after Britain's Supreme Court ruled that drivers are "workers" from the moment they log on to the app until they log off, and are entitled to protections including holiday pay and a pension, along with the wage floor.

In a regulatory filing from Chief Executive Officer Dara Khosrowshahi, and an accompanying news release, Uber said it would begin treating drivers as workers from Wednesday onward. The company would pay workers at least the U.K.'s National Living Wage from the time they accept a trip request onward, and before expenses, Uber said. They will also receive holiday pay "based on 12.07% of their earnings," paid out every two weeks and will be enrolled in a pension plan.

Uber has previously eschewed the traditional employer-worker relationship around the world. "Worker" is a unique status in the UK that is not the same as an employee but entitles recipients to a wage floor and certain benefits. Uber has come under criticism in the country for its treatment of workers, who are left to rely on the social safety net because the company does not cover what critics see as basic worker costs.

In California, by contrast, Uber worked to defeat provisions in a new law known as AB5 that aimed to grant gig drivers employment and entitle them to the minimum wage. Instead, it worked with other gig companies to pass a ballot initiative known as Prop 22 that cemented drivers' status as independent contractors, an effort that was ultimately successful.

"This is an important day for drivers in the UK," Jamie Heywood, Uber's regional general manager for Northern and Eastern Europe, said in a statement. "Uber is just one part of a larger private-hire industry, so we hope that all other operators will join us in improving thequality of work for these important workers who are an essential part of our everyday lives."
We urge all educators, students, parents and workers who support the fight against the reopening of schools and dangerous conditions to register for the next meeting of the Oregon Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committee this Sunday, March 21 at 10:00 a.m. PDT. You can also sign up to join our committee here. We also encourage everyone to attend the meeting of the West Coast Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committees this Saturday, March 20 at 2:00 p.m. PDT.

In opposition to the rush to reopen Oregon schools for all grades by April 19, educators and parents are uniting to take action. We are launching the Oregon Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committee to defend the health and well-being of all students, staff and the working class as a whole.

Democratic Governor Kate Brown issued an executive order on March 5 to herd students and teachers back into schools for in-person learning. The order demands that kindergarten through fifth grade reopen on or before the week of March 29, and grades six through 12 must reopen on or before the week of April 19. Washingtons Democratic Governor Jay Inslee followed Browns lead and yesterday signed a similar emergency proclamation.

With the active participation of the Oregon Education Association (OEA), Portland Association of Teachers (PAT) and other local affiliates, districts are hurrying to put Browns order into effect. Portland Public Schools, the largest district in the state, reached a deal on Monday with PAT to phase in elementary students starting April 1 and middle and high school students by April 19 as ordered by Brown.

Thousands of teachers rally in a downtown Portland park, joining thousands across Oregon who walked off the job Wednesday, May 8, 2019 to demand more money for schools, holding signs and wearing red shirts. (AP Photo/Gillian Flaccus)

Salem-Keizer School District began sending elementary students back to schools at the beginning of March. Other major districts, including in Beaverton, North Clackamas and Eugene, also established plans to reopen schools and are now speeding up the process.

What is taking place in Oregon is part of the bipartisan effort to herd children back into classrooms. Governments around the world are facilitating a fourth wave of infection by rushing to reopen schools and non-essential workplaces. Implementing one of Bidens top domestic policy proposals, nearly every district across the US has announced plans to return to some form of in-person learning by the end of April.

The primary motivation behind this irrational campaign to reopen schools is to get parents back to work so that the wider economy can reopen and corporations can resume profit-making. Andrew Hoan, president and CEO of the Portland Business Alliance, bluntly expressed this underlying motive, saying, Having in-person learning allows for parents to have the opportunity to return to work.

The science supports keeping schools online

March 11 marked one year since the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the COVID-19 crisis a global pandemic, in which time nearly 120 million people have been infected and over 2,650,000 have died worldwide. Although the pandemic could have been contained in the first months of 2020 with an internationally-coordinated public health response, governments worldwide kept businesses and schools open under a policy best described as malign neglect. In the US, this policy has resulted in over 30 million infections and over 548,000 deaths, including 2,324 deaths in Oregon, a state with a population of 4.2 million.

Additionally, Oregon has reported 17 cases of the more virulent B.1.1.7 variant, first identified in the UK, as well as one case of the P.1 variant prevalent in Brazil. Disturbingly, the state has just identified an apparently new variant, containing characteristics of both the UK and Brazil variants.

Last week, University of Minnesota epidemiologist Dr. Michael Osterholm warned, Every governor wants to open schools. And I understand that.  But the problem is, if you look at Europe, right now the challenge were seeing is a lot of transmission in schools with this new variant.  Were going to have some tough days ahead in the older population and in the younger population with this new variant virus.

Even the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Dr. Rochelle Walensky, stated recently, I think the next two or three months could go in one of two directions. If things open up, if were not really cautious, we could end up with a post-spring-break surge the way we saw a post-Christmas surge. We could see much more disease. We could see much more death.

There is a relentless propaganda campaign to spread misinformation and lies about how safe it is to reopen schools, with the latest CDC guidelines arguing that in-person learning can resume regardless of community transmission or staff vaccination levels. Knowing that educators deeply care for their students, politicians and media outlets are utilizing the emotional, educational and social hardships that children are facing to gaslight teachers into accepting the unsafe return to schools.

However, scientific research from across the world demonstrates the effectiveness of school closures to combat the spread of the virus, with a November report published in Nature magazine noting, school closures in the United States have been found to reduce COVID-19 incidence and mortality by about 60 percent. A study by the Illinois Department of Public Health using contact tracing found that more than one-fifth of potential exposures occurred in schools, while similar figures in Michigan show schools to be the top source of COVID-19 outbreaks.

Further evidence shows that COVID-19 spreads most readily in small, poorly-ventilated indoor spaces, a perfect description of classrooms in the underfunded public education system. We are under no illusions that the token safety measures promised by our districts and unions will actually be met. Further, we recognize that children are just as likely to spread the virus as adults and can still experience severe complications and die, even if they are less likely to show symptoms.

Educators are taking action to save lives!

We have formed the Oregon Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committee on the basis of science, public health and concern for the safety of the broader community, and we urge all educators and supportive parents to join us. The purpose of our committee is to unite Oregon educators with health care, transportation, manufacturing, logistics, retail and other workers to prepare collective action to stop the murderous policy of reopening schools in the midst of a global pandemic that is not contained.

This includes the preparation of a general strike to shut down schools and nonessential workplaces, with full compensation for all affected workers and small business owners, and demand the resources needed to vaccinate the population, address the critical social needs of poor and working-class families, and provide high-quality remote learning until the pandemic is under control.

We know the unions will not carry forward the struggle that is required to win these demands, since they are on the same team as the Democratic Party politicians who are facilitating the rush to return! Despite their attempts to hide behind references of safety and equity, the Democrats and the Biden administration are continuing the basic pandemic policies pursued by Trump.

Our committee is entirely independent of the unions and both the Republicans and Democrats. We are led by rank-and-file teachers who defend the non-negotiable rights of health and safety. On the basis of this strategy, and in unity with our fellow educators across the West Coast and globally, we advance the following demands:

For the immediate closure of all public, private and charter schools and all nonessential production to stop the spread of COVID-19.

All decisions about school openings and closures must be overseen solely by rank-and-file educators and parents in consultation with scientific experts of their choosing.

Full funding for internet access, technology and all resources needed for high-quality remote instruction.

Materials provided to all families in their primary language and adequate accommodations for kids with special needs to better facilitate student support at home.

Full income protection to all parents and caregivers who stay home with their children.

No loss of income for educators and staff members who choose to stay home.

For free speech and the protection of whistleblowers.

Cancellation of all standardized tests through the remainder of 2021.

While opposing the reckless reopening of schools, we recognize that in many cases teachers are being forced back in. Under these conditions, we will continue to fight for school closures while demanding that the following safety measures be universally implemented:

Weekly COVID-19 testing for all staff and students and a robust contact tracing system.

Districts and schools must report numbers (not names to ensure privacy) of students, staff, and associated household members diagnosed with COVID-19 and any associated deaths, which must be tracked through mandatory testing and contact tracing.

The immediate modernization of HVAC systems for all schools.

Hiring additional nurses, counselors and mental health professionals.

Full protective gear, especially for teachers who are working with young children and kids with disabilities.

The mass hiring of teachers and bus drivers to reduce class sizes and bus capacity to no more than 10 students, and five students for intensive Special Education classrooms.

The Oregon Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committee rejects the lie that there is no money for these life-saving necessities. From the beginning of the pandemic, the concern of the political establishment has been to shore up the stock market and the private fortunes of the corporate and financial oligarchy that runs America.

American billionaires have seen their wealth grow by $1.4 trillion in the past year of death and disease, mainly by capitalizing on the March 2020 bailout of Wall Street and the continual rise of the stock market. Phil Knight, the founder of Oregon-based Nike Inc., increased his net worth by over 66 percent during the pandemic, bringing his net worth to over $49 billion. The private fortunes of Knight and all the pandemic profiteers should be used for the social benefit of the population as a whole.

Get involved!

This catastrophe can be stopped! Through rational and scientific action on the part of the working class, infection rates can be slowed. Every measure must be taken to immediately contain the virus and save as many lives as possible until the vaccine becomes widely available.

We call on all educators and support staff, bus drivers, paraprofessionals, nurses, secretaries, classroom aides, janitors, cooks, school psychologists, social workers and workers from all industries, to join our network and build rank-and-file safety committees in your school or workplace.

Fill out the Join form at wsws.org/edsafety. Whether you are a teacher or other school worker, an autoworker, health care worker, or you work in another industry, we will put you in touch with a committee in your industry or help you establish a new one.
6 Questions Officials Still Havent Answered After Weeks of Hearings on the Capitol Attack

More than 15 hours of testimony failed to answer fundamental questions about the Capitol attack. Among them: Why national security officials responded differently to BLM protesters than to Trump supporters.

After two weeks of congressional hearings, it remains unclear how a rampaging mob of rioters managed to breach one of the most sacred bastions of American democracy on Jan. 6.

During more than 15 hours of testimony, lawmakers listened to a cacophony of competing explanations as officials stumbled over themselves to explain how Americas national security, defense, intelligence and law enforcement agencies allowed a homegrown enemy to put an entire branch of government in danger during the attack on the U.S. Capitol.

The continuing questions surrounding the attack have prompted calls for a more sustained inquiry than has so far taken place. House Democrats have proposed setting up an outside commission to investigate, similar to what followed the 2001 attack on the World Trade Center, but so far Republicans have held up the proposal. Among the key questions yet to be answered:

1. Why did national security officials respond differently to Black Lives Matter protesters than to Trump supporters?

Last week, deputy assistant defense secretary Robert G. Salesses was sent to explain to Congress the Defense Departments decision-making on Jan. 6.

Salesses said the National Guard had been criticized for being too aggressive during the Black Lives Matter protests last year, and that played into the more restrained response to the insurrection.

But his personal involvement in the insurrection response was limited. Much to the frustration of the senators questioning him, he wasnt able to provide details on why the guard took so long to arrive on Capitol grounds that day. This leaves some of the most alarming blunders of the day unexplained.

Last June in Washington, demonstrations calling for police reform following the death of George Floyd became a priority for top Defense Department officials. District of Columbia National Guard commander Maj. Gen. William Walker told Congress on March 3 that the head of the Army, Ryan McCarthy, spent almost a week by his side at the D.C. Armory to facilitate the guards response to those protests.

Nothing similar happened for the planned protests on Jan. 6.

Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund had to plead for guard support during a series of phone calls during the insurrection. Walker said McCarthy was not available for one crucial conference call at about 2:30 p.m. Rioters were minutes from the House chamber at that point, but the defense officials on the call were still skeptical. Walker said they were worried about how it might look to send troops to the Capitol and whether it might further inflame the crowd.

I was frustrated, Walker said. I was just as stunned as everybody else on the call.

It took more than three hours for the Pentagon to approve the request. During the Black Lives Matter protests, Walker said such approval was given immediately.

Salesses told Congress that McCarthy wanted to know more about how exactly the guard would be used at the Capitol.

An Army spokesperson did not answer specific questions about McCarthys decision-making during the Black Lives Matter protests or on Jan. 6, but said the guards posture on Jan. 6 was based on a request from the mayor of Washington.

The Department of Defense Inspector General is now reviewing the details of the preparation for and response to the Jan. 6 protest and attack on the U.S. Capitol, she said. We intend to allow that process to proceed independently.

2. Did lawmakers, particularly House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and then-Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, play a role in security decisions?
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People in Writer's Square, Belfast, taking part in a demonstration against gender violence and to defend the right to protest following the murder of Sarah Everard Liam McBurney/PA Wire

People in Writer's Square, Belfast, taking part in a demonstration against gender violence and to defend the right to protest following the murder of Sarah Everard Liam McBurney/PA Wire

Five people were fined by the PSNI during a protest organised by the Northern Ireland feminist group ROSA in Belfast's Writer's Square on Tuesday evening.

The event, which was described as a "socially distanced stand-out", involved dozens gathering in the area with placards, protesting against violence perpetrated towards women.

The event was organised by ROSA NI - a socialist feminist movement that operates across the island of Ireland. During the event, organisers chanted and called for an end to violence against women.

The event follows the death of Sarah Everard, a 33-year-old marketing executive who went missing after walking home from a friends flat in London on March 3

Her remains were later discovered in an area of woodland in Ashford in Kent a week later.

A member of the Met Police has been charged in relation to her kidnap and murder.

One speaker at the Belfast event on Tuesday said: "We are here for Sarah Everard. We are here because at a vigil on Saturday, attendees were brutally oppressed. We are here because it is clear that we are not safe in our homes. We are not safe in our workplaces and we are not safe in our streets."

Expand Close People in Writer's Square, Belfast, taking part in a demonstration against gender violence and to defend the right to protest following the murder of Sarah Everard Liam McBurney/PA Wire PA / Facebook

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Whatsapp People in Writer's Square, Belfast, taking part in a demonstration against gender violence and to defend the right to protest following the murder of Sarah Everard Liam McBurney/PA Wire

On a statement on social media, the group urged those attending to ensure social distancing was followed and also that anyone attending also wore masks and sanitised their hands.

"Weve called this action in solidarity with all victims and survivors of gender-based violence and with those protesting the murder of Sarah Everard who have faced disgraceful police repression," they said.

"Its clear that gender-based violence is a daily reality for women & non-binary people, and the assembly has failed to effectively tackle this crisis.

"Today, Writers Square, Belfast at 6pm, well be taking a stand to defend the right to protest, to oppose the repression against those attending Saturdays vigil, and to demand an end to gender-based violence.

"The response of the Met police was totally abhorrent, and underlines what socialist feminists have been saying : that the entire system is complicit in perpetuating violence and misogyny."

The event in Belfast follows other similar "reclaim the streets" events in Dublin and also the high profile vigil in Clapham Common in London on Saturday when met Police officers clashed with crowds gathered.

Read More

In a statement, Superintendent David Moore from the PSNI said: "Police were in attendance at a planned protest which took place at the Writers Square area of Belfast this evening

Shortly before 6pm, approximately around 20 people had gathered at the event which was peaceful. This number quickly grew to approximately 100.

"As a result, officers engaged with the event organisers and explained and encouraged people to comply with the Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) Regulations NI 2020. Subsequently, five people were issued with Fixed Penalty Notices under the Health Protection Regulations.

We would appeal to everyone to adhere to the current Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) Regulations to play their part in slowing the spread of this virus and helping everyone stay safe and save lives.
Bread: The food of Inaugurated Eschatology

In this Lenten season, I am focusing on the object of bread as an image that helps us focus on divine realities. (The idea is from a book called Lent: In Plain Sight: A Devotional Through Ten Objects, by Jill Duffield.) Bread comes up a lot in the Bible. From the Old Testament where God provides bread in the wilderness to Jesus referring to himself as the bread of life, bread is a poignant image. One very interesting place that bread shows up is in the Lords Prayer in Matthew 6:9-14.

I grew up saying The Lords Prayer every single week in church. This is unusual for a Church of Christ girl like me. Most Churches of Christ dont have a lot of liturgy which is why it was so special for our church to recite it each week aloud together. Like many songs and prayers that we recite growing up, The Lords Prayer is a part of my DNA. It is not just something I have memorized, it is something that lives within me. Do you have songs or prayers or creeds like this?

In Matthew 5-7, Jesus was teaching in his longest recorded sermon in the bible as he sat on a mountain in front of lots of people. Rabbis would sit while they taught in this day and age. One of the things that Jesus did in this sermon is he taught his disciples to pray. He said,

Pray like this: Our Father who is in heaven, uphold the holiness of your name. Bring in your kingdom so that your will is done on earth as its done in heaven. Give us the bread we need for today. Forgive us for the ways we have wronged you, just as we also forgive those who have wronged us. And dont lead us into temptation, but rescue us from the evil one. If you forgive others their sins, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you dont forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your sins. Matthew 6: 9-14 CEB

Tucked within this prayer is the petition to give us the bread we need for today. Right before this, Jesus is talking about the Kingdom of God and right after this Jesus is talking about forgiveness from sin and freedom from temptation. Kingdom, bread and forgiveness. Do these things seem like an un-likely grouping? Why common bread in the midst of these lofty theological ideas?

The people listening to the words of Jesus would have thought about the story in Exodus 16, which I reflected on last week. (https://www.christianitytoday.com/scot-mcknight/2021/march/jesus-and-bread.html) I imagine them breathing in deep and letting their memories from childhood stories about the people of Israel in the desert flood their minds and re-play like a movie scene. For the people of Israel, these manna stories were a part of their DNA. This was a defining story in the life of Gods people. God provided for Gods people through the daily miracle of bread and this daily provision reminded Gods people of who God is. The manna was bread from heaven. The manna was the daily place where heaven and earth came together. The manna was both common and divine. The manna was provision for the day and it was a promise for tomorrow. This is the bread that Jesus referred to in the Sermon on the Mount.

In reflecting on the Sermon on the Mount, N.T. Wright calls this bread the food of Inaugurated Eschatology. (The Lord and His Prayer, N.T. Wright). For Wright, the end times are inaugurated in Jesus. Jesus inaugurates the Kingdom of God and ushers us into a waiting period that many scholars refer to the already and not yet reality of the Kingdom of God. And the bread that Jesus prays for in the Matthew 6:9-14 is the very sustenance that we need for life in this Kingdom. This bread is a daily miracle. This bread is where heaven and earth meet. This bread is enough for today. This bread is a promise for tomorrow. This bread is given to us from God in small ways and in large ways every day. This bread is both spiritual and physical provision.

The question we are invited to answer in this Lenten season is: Do we trust God for todays bread?

Would you join me in praying this prayer:

Our Father who is in heaven, uphold the holiness of your name. Bring in your kingdom so that your will is done on earth as its done in heaven. Give us the bread we need for today. Forgive us for the ways we have wronged you, just as we also forgive those who have wronged us. And dont lead us into temptation, but rescue us from the evil one. If you forgive others their sins, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you dont forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your sins.
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP)  Disney will reopen its theme parks in California at the end of April after remaining closed for more than a year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Disneyland announced Wednesday that Disneyland and Disney California Adventure will reopen on April 30 with limited capacity.

Just announced! Magic is finally returning to the Disneyland Resort theme parks! Disneyland Park & Disney California Adventure Park are planning to officially reopen to California Residents on April 30, with limited capacity. Details on @DisneyParks Blog: https://t.co/B1Rk2iAtmv pic.twitter.com/BkD9Cq2MKh  Disneyland Resort (@Disneyland) March 17, 2021

Under current state guidelines, only California residents can attend the parks.

All visitors ages 3 and up will require a reservation. Events that draw large group gatherings, such as parades, will not resume immediately.

The move will bring 10,000 people back to work. The parks in Southern California closed on March 14, 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
More than 60% of Hampden and Worcester counties correctional staff have agreed to in-house COVID-19 vaccinations, a rate about 10% higher than Department of Correction employees statewide. Its a trend thats helped multiple facilities slowly return to normal operations, including increased visitations and educational programming for inmates.

Prisoners and correctional officers in Massachusetts were among those included in the first phase of the states vaccination rollout.

But local officials say theyre still striving to stamp out vaccination myths and misinformation among correctional officers and inmates, even though the virus has infected more than 2,700 Massachusetts prison and jail workers and left 22 inmates dead. Nationwide, distrust in prison administration and the handling of the pandemic prompted several correctional officers to tell The Associated Press that theyd rather be fired than vaccinated.

It was a whole list of everything, from I dont need it, Im young and healthy, to I dont believe you, to all the conspiracy theories you hear out in the community, David Tuttle, Superintendent for the Worcester County Sheriffs Office, said in an interview when asked why some inmates and officers have declined the vaccine. A lot of it was lack of trust in the government.

Tuttle noted that the Worcester County correctional staff is a fairly young group of men and women. Some of it is generational and they dont see the need to take it. Some officers didnt feel the vaccine had been tested enough, he added.

Still, as of Monday 404 out of 613 personnel  including Worcester County Jail and House of Correction officers and civilian staff, teachers, medical professionals and volunteers  have received the first dose of the Moderna Inc. vaccine from county nurses and medical staff, Tuttle said. Compared to the offices annual flu clinic, when only about 40% of staff get the vaccine, employees are taking it more seriously and they do realize COVID is a lot more serious health risk than the flu, he said.

Were feeling really good where were at, Tuttle said, noting some staffers have also gotten vaccinated elsewhere. Were well over 60% of staff working and coming into the building having the first shot.

Rob Rizzuto, communications specialist for the Hampden County Sheriffs Office, told MassLive that out of an expanded pool about 1,250 full- and part-time personnel including correctional staff, contractors, state and private organization employees, 486 declined to be vaccinated by on-site medical staff, meaning more than 61% have been vaccinated. The office operates the Hampden County Correctional Center in Ludlow, the Western Massachusetts Regional Womens Correctional Center in Chicopee and multiple treatment centers. Rizzuto noted that of the 486 refusals, many may have been vaccinated elsewhere, but the office doesnt track those vaccinations.

Rizzuto said he wasnt surprised that state data shows half of DOC employees have declined the coronavirus vaccine. He acknowledged theres a lot of skepticism and mistrust thats led to refusals, locally and across the state and country.

These are extremely divided times, he said. You cant pigeonhole the people who refuse the vaccine into one group or another. Some folks wanted to wait and see how it all shook out. Some of the people who wanted to wait have been reassured in the last weeks and couple of months. If someone previously said no, but they change their mind, we set it up and when we have a pool that it makes sense to crack open a vial, we do it. Its like a rolling clinic.

In many cases, misunderstandings about the vaccine created reluctance, Rizzuto said.

Some people think the vaccine is going to make them sick, but its an mRNA vaccine. Theres no live virus in there, Rizzuto said.

The new type of vaccine teaches cells how to create a protein that triggers an immune response, without putting a weakened or inactivated germ into our bodies, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That immune response, which produces antibodies, is what protects us from getting infected if the real virus enters our bodies, the CDC says.

Education can help change someones mind, Rizzuto said. From supervisors, to (Human Resources), to (Sheriff Nick Cocchi) himself, there are ongoing educational conversations with staff as well as the inmates.

Cocchi in a statement said the vaccine is one of the most important tools we have in the fight against a virus that not only upended our operations, but our very way of life for more than a year.

I trust the science and Ive already received the second shot of the Moderna vaccine, he added. For me, being vaccinated ensures I am protecting my family, the staff, the inmates in our care and the general public which we serve. And although the vaccine is voluntary, we strongly encourage everyone take it.

Hampden County Sheriffs Office has also loosened travel restrictions for fully vaccinated staff as an incentive. The office previously offered administrative pay for staff who needed to quarantine while awaiting test results, but since the vaccine rollout began, that pay has been eliminated. These are some little ways that made it apparent that this is voluntary but were standing by the vaccine and the potential it holds to return us to some sort of normal, Rizzuto said.

State officials told MassLive that half of DOC employees have refused the vaccine for a variety of reasons, including that they may have been inoculated off-site.

A voicemail and email left with the Massachusetts Correction Officers Federated Union, which represents DOC officers and staffers in Bristol, Plymouth and Dukes counties, were not immediately returned. Messages left with the unions representing Hampden and Worcester counties were also not immediately returned.

We encourage our membership to get vaccinated, but also recognize vaccination is an individual right and decision, and should never be mandated or forced upon our membership, MCOFU said in a statement in December.

DOC says while vaccination and other medical decisions are voluntary, the agency strongly encourages staffers to get vaccinated, and has engaged with the union to advocate for safe and healthy choices. DOC clinical staff have answered vaccine questions and conducted educational campaigns including outreach at facilities since before vaccine distribution began.

DOC said it will continue to offer vaccines to inmates and staff even if they previously declined or were temporarily ineligible because of a specific medical condition that made the vaccine potentially harmful.

Lauren Brinkley-Rubinstein, cofounder of The COVID Prison Project, told The Boston Globe last month that the number of DOC staffers getting inoculated is so much lower than what we would want it to be.

Its even more harmful given that they work in congregate settings where there are lots of people at disproportionate risk of suffering severely and dying of COVID, she added.

According to data tracked by county sheriffs and DOC after a lawsuit last year from civil rights and legal advocates, more than 14,000 vaccines have been administered to DOC and county-level staff combined. As of March 12, there were 17 active COVID-19 cases among staff and inmates at DOC and county facilities, including two prisoners and one staffer at Hampden County.

Brie Williams, a correctional health expert at the University of California, San Francisco, told AP that prison and jail staff are an essential part of the equation that will lead to reduced disease and less chance of renewed explosive COVID-19 outbreaks in the future.

Nearly 30% of the Massachusetts State Police force, almost 850 officers, declined to get the vaccine at work, The Boston Globe reported on Monday.

Brian Dawe, a former correctional officer and director of the advocacy group One Voice United, told AP that politics drove much of the vaccine skepticism among law enforcement. He argued many in law enforcement lean right politically, dont believe in the value of masks and dont think COVID-19 is any worse than the flu.

A third of Republicans say they wont get the vaccine, more than triple the percentage of Democrats who say theyll decline when eligible, according to the latest CBS News poll. On Sunday, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nations top infectious disease expert, said he wished former President Donald Trump, who compared the virus to the flu multiple times, would encourage more of his followers to get vaccinated.

What is the problem here? This is a vaccine that is going to be lifesaving for millions of people, Fauci said on NBCs Meet the Press. I just cant comprehend what the reason for that is when you have a vaccine thats 94-95% effective and it is very safe. I just dont get it.

More than 536,000 Americans have died of COVID-19, according to Johns Hopkins University. The annual death toll from the flu is typically fewer than 40,000; the most flu deaths over the past decade came in 2017-2018, at about 61,000, according to the CDC.

There are roughly 26,500 active infections statewide, with Monday marking the third day in a row with a bump in active cases. Since the pandemic began a year ago, the state Department of Public Health has confirmed 569,620 total COVID-19 cases in Massachusetts. At least 16,339 residents have died.

On Thursday, DPH said 914,927 residents are fully vaccinated.

Rizzuto said that the pandemic impacted every aspect of our operations.

He noted that last March, before the CDC recommended mask-wearing, Sheriff Cocchi implemented a mandatory mask policy. The office then shut down visitation and outside programming, and really modified our normal daily operations all with the aim of protecting the inmates.

Since the rollout of the vaccine, weve been able to reopen some programming and get a slow return to normal, Rizzuto said, noting vaccinated inmates have been able to join each other in educational programs.

For inmates who receive the first dose but are released before the second, the sheriffs office remains in touch through its All-Inclusive Support Services program in Springfield, helping connect inmates with health care providers to complete the vaccine, on top of assistance with housing, employment, mental health and substance use disorder.

Tuttle said Worcester County Jail is on the path to normalcy largely because of the number of staffers whove been vaccinated. He said the goal is to reach February 2020 operational and scheduling levels by April 1.

More family members have been able to visit inmates and volunteers are returning to the facility. The jails culinary program is back up and running, as well as some substance use disorder workshops.

Still, Tuttle would like to see vaccination the rate among inmates rise. While the number of inmates fluctuates, he said about 60% have chosen not to vaccinate. Weve been handing out educational materials, myself and my assistant superintendent went cell to cell to talk personally to every inmate, he said.

As part of the COVID Prison Project, Tufts Medical Center researchers said in February that Massachusetts inmates were unlikely to accept flu vaccines during influenza season, citing vaccine hesitancy particularly among communities of color.

We must prioritize and engage people experiencing incarceration to build trust in vaccination efforts with the ultimate goal of improving health outcomes and health equity, they wrote. Further research into vaccine hesitancy both for influenza vaccines and for the COVID-19 vaccines in correctional settings will be essential to protect the health of our communities and their most vulnerable members.

Tuttle said the sheriffs office will seek the Johnson & Johnson single-dose vaccine when its more readily available, believing it will not only be easier to administer but may help convince more inmates to get on board.

The vaccine, Tuttle said, was like a light at the end of the tunnel.

Were still requiring everyone to wear masks and scrubbing the place down, he added. But were starting to get back to where we were before.

Related Content:
Los Angeles, March 17 : Actress Leah Remini says her daughter Sofia thinks she is ridiculous. The Hollywood star, who rose to fame as Carrie Heffernan on the long-running sitcom "The King Of Queens", made the confession on the "The Drew Barrymore Show".

Actress Drew Barrymore was seen talking about Remini's nail. She said: "I know that you are a nail enthusiast... wow your nails are so extraordinary." Remini replied: "They are really inappropriate for my age, but these are like lips with a grill. Like I don't know why, I just love nails. I love hair and makeup. I love the whole thing and my daughter thinks I'm ridiculous. She's probably right but I love them. I enjoy them." Remini disclosed that her daughter Sofia does not find it interesting about being 16, when Barrymore asked her daughter's age.

The show's host also asked if her daughter "like anything girly?" Remini replied: "She's a big fan of makeup, she buys tons of makeup, she hoards makeup, she doesn't necessarily wear a lot of makeup but the thing that is really true to who my daughter is. I have love notes from my daughter that I frame around the house." Remini described Sofia as "very conscious".

On her part, talking about her children, Barrymore said: "I have an eight and almost seven, and when I was reading about you saying the homework, my daughters were recently unfortunately not feeling well and they were sick and they couldn't do homeschool, and I was very relieved because the homeschool is so hard."
Colorado Springs, CO (80903)

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BIRMINGHAM, Ala., March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Encompass Health Corp. (NYSE: EHC) today announced its plans to construct a 40-bed inpatient rehabilitation hospital in Prosper, Texas. The future hospital will join Encompass Health hospital locations in Arlington, Bedford, Dallas, Fort Worth, Plano and Richardson in providing high-quality rehabilitative care for patients in the Dallas-Fort Worth region.

Complementing local acute care services, the future hospital will offer physical, occupational and speech therapies, and 24-hour nursing care, to restore functional ability and quality of life. It will care for patients recovering from debilitating illnesses and injuries including strokes and other neurological disorders, brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, amputations and complex orthopedic conditions.

The hospital will feature all private patient rooms, a spacious therapy gym with advanced rehabilitation technologies and an activities of daily living suite, cafeteria, dining room, pharmacy and therapy courtyard.

Once opened, it will become part of Encompass Health's national network of inpatient rehabilitation hospitals and home health and hospice agencies. Encompass Health, the nation's largest owner and operator of inpatient rehabilitation hospitals currently operates 137 inpatient rehabilitation hospitals across the country. The Company's Texas footprint includes 24 inpatient rehabilitation hospitals, one hospital currently under construction in San Angelo , one hospital currently under construction in Waco , 51 home health locations and 12 hospice locations.

About Encompass Health

As a national leader in integrated healthcare services, Encompass Health (NYSE: EHC) offers both facilitybased and homebased patient care through its network of inpatient rehabilitation hospitals, home health agencies and hospice agencies. With a national footprint that includes 137 hospitals, 241 home health locations, and 82 hospice locations in 39 states and Puerto Rico, the Company provides highquality, cost-effective integrated healthcare. Encompass Health is ranked as one of Fortune's 100 Best Companies to Work For. For more information, visit encompasshealth.com , or follow us on our newsroom , Twitter and Facebook .

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements contained in this press release which are not historical facts, such as those relating to the likelihood, timing and effects of the completion of this hospital project, are forward-looking statements. In addition, Encompass Health may from time to time make forward-looking public statements concerning the matters described herein. All such estimates, projections, and forward-looking information speak only as of the date hereof, and Encompass Health undertakes no duty to publicly update or revise such forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. Such forward-looking statements are necessarily estimates based upon current information and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. This hospital's actual results or events may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of a variety of factors. While it is impossible to identify all such factors, factors which could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated include, but are not limited to, any adverse outcome of various lawsuits, claims, and legal or regulatory proceedings that may be brought by or against this hospital; the possibility this project will experience unexpected delays, including in connection with the regulatory review and approval process; the continued spread of COVID-19, including the speed, depth, geographic reach and duration of the spread; the actions to be taken by Encompass Health and this hospital in response to the COVID-19 pandemic; the ability to successfully complete and integrate this project consistent with Encompass Health's growth strategy, including realization of anticipated revenues, cost savings, and productivity improvements arising from the related operations and avoidance of unforeseen exposure to liabilities; changes in the regulation of the healthcare industry at either or both of the federal and state levels; competitive pressures in the healthcare industry and Encompass Health's response thereto; this hospital's ability to maintain proper local, state and federal licensing; potential disruptions, breaches, or other incidents affecting the proper operation, availability, or security of Encompass Health's or its partners' information systems; this hospital's ability to attract and retain nurses, therapists, and other healthcare professionals in a highly competitive environment with often severe staffing shortages and the impact on this hospital's labor expenses from potential union activity and staffing shortages; changes, delays in (including in connection with resolution of Medicare payment reviews or appeals), or suspension of reimbursement for Encompass Health's services by governmental or private payors; general conditions in the economy and capital markets; and other factors which may be identified from time to time in Encompass Health's SEC filings and other public announcements, including Encompass Health's Form 10-K for the year ended Dec. 31, 2020.

Encompass Health contacts:

Media: Hillary Carnel | 205 970-5912

[email protected]

Investor Relations: Crissy Carlisle | 205 970-5860

[email protected]

SOURCE Encompass Health Corp.

Related Links

http://www.encompasshealth.com


Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 17, 2021) - Rainy Hollow Ventures Inc. (TSXV: RHV.P) ("Rainy Hollow") and Sustainable Produce Urban Delivery Inc. ("SPUD") are pleased to announce that on March 12, 2021 SPUD obtained an interim order from the Supreme Court of British Columbia authorizing the calling and holding of an annual and special meeting (the "Meeting") of the shareholders of SPUD (the "SPUD Shareholders"), the granting of dissent rights to SPUD shareholders and other matters relating to the conduct of the Meeting. At the Meeting, the SPUD Shareholders will be asked to pass a special resolution relating to the proposed plan of arrangement of SPUD and certain securityholders of SPUD (the "Arrangement") involving Rainy Hollow. The Arrangement is subject to the approval of at least 66 2/3% of the votes cast on the resolution related thereto by SPUD Shareholders virtually present or represented by proxy at the Meeting.

The Arrangement will be carried out pursuant to the terms of an arrangement agreement dated December 21, 2020, as amended on March 9, 2021, between Rainy Hollow and SPUD (the "Arrangement Agreement") setting out the terms the Arrangement which consists of a reverse take-over of Rainy Hollow by SPUD by way of a statutory plan of arrangement under Section 288 the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia) (the "BCBCA"). It is anticipated that the Arrangement will constitute the Qualifying Transaction (as such term is defined in Policy 2.4 - Capital Pool Companies of the Corporate Finance Manual of the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV")) of Rainy Hollow and Rainy Hollow is seeking conditional acceptance from the TSXV in respect of same.

Concurrently with the Arrangement, Rainy Hollow intends to change its name to "Freshlocal Solutions Inc." Upon completion of the Arrangement, the combined entity (the "Resulting Issuer") will carry on the current business of SPUD. As part of the name change, SPUD will be releasing a new company logo and establishing a new company website.

"The name Freshlocal Solutions embodies our corporate mission of using innovation and technology to reduce environmental impacts while creating a safe and sustainable food ecosystem for all," commented Freshlocal CEO Peter van Stolk. "We are excited to be nearing the final stages of our Arrangement and to continue to bring our grocery and eGrocery innovations to both new and existing customers in the global grocery marketplace."

SPUD has applied to have the common share of the Resulting Issuer listed on Toronto Stock Exchange (the "TSX"). Listing is subject to the approval of the TSX in accordance with its original listing requirements. The TSX has not conditionally approved the Resulting Issuer's listing application and there is no assurance that the TSX will approve the listing application.

Meeting and Meeting Materials

The Meeting will be held on Monday March 29, 2021 in a virtual only format, commencing at 10:00 a.m. (Vancouver time). Meeting materials, including a notice of annual general and special meeting of SPUD Shareholders, management information circular, form of proxy and letter of transmittal, are scheduled to be mailed in advance of the Meeting to SPUD Shareholders of record as of the close of business on March 15, 2021 and will be delivered to certain other security holders of SPUD, in accordance with statutory requirements and the interim order. SPUD Shareholders should carefully review all Meeting materials as they contain important information concerning the Arrangement and the rights and entitlements of the SPUD Shareholders.

Completion of the Arrangement is expected to occur at the beginning of the month of April but in no event later than April 22, 2021 and remains subject to the satisfaction or waiver of certain customary conditions set forth in the Arrangement Agreement including, among other things, (a) requisite SPUD Shareholder and regulatory approvals and (b) approval to list the shares of the Resulting Issuer on either the TSX or TSXV.

About Rainy Hollow

Rainy Hollow was incorporated under the BCBCA and is a Capital Pool Company governed by the policies of the TSXV. Rainy Hollow's principal business is the identification and evaluation of assets or businesses with a view to completing a Qualifying Transaction. Investors are cautioned that trading in the securities of a Capital Pool Company should be considered highly speculative. Trading in the Rainy Hollow Shares is currently halted and will remain halted until completion of the Arrangement. Rainy Hollow does not intend to apply to the TSXV for reinstatement of trading of the Rainy Hollow Shares at this time.

About SPUD

SPUD is a Vancouver-based company that is building a leadership position in the provision of end-to-end grocery e-commerce solutions. SPUD operates two primary businesses, FoodX and eGrocery, both of which support its corporate mission to leverage innovation and technology to create a sustainable and profitable food system for all. FoodX Technologies ("FoodX") is SPUD's scalable end-to-end SaaS-based eGrocery Management Solution (eGMS) which is designed to meet the needs of large and small grocery retailers while providing profitable unit economics. The FoodX eGMS is the culmination of 20 years of experience in online grocery and the company's proven track record of delivering efficiently, sustainably and profitably. SPUD's consumer eGrocery business has expanded into one of Canada's largest online grocery companies, with a focus on delivering fresh, local, organic produce and groceries, along with exceptional customer experiences. SPUD serves the main urban markets in British Columbia and Alberta through its brick and mortar store locations operating under the Be Fresh and Blush Lane banners, as well as through SPUD.ca which is SPUD's award-winning online eGrocery platform. For more information, please visit http://spud.ca.

Further Information

Completion of the Arrangement is subject to a number of conditions, including but not limited to, TSXV or TSX acceptance and if applicable pursuant to TSXV or TSX requirements, majority of the minority shareholder approval. The Arrangement cannot close until the required SPUD Shareholder approval is obtained. There can be no assurance that the Arrangement will be completed as proposed or at all.

Investors are cautioned that, except as disclosed in the management information circular of SPUD or filing statement of Rainy Hollow to be prepared in connection with the Arrangement, any information released or received with respect to the Arrangement may not be accurate or complete and should not be relied upon. Trading in the securities of Rainy Hollow should be considered highly speculative.

Neither the TSXV nor the TSX has in any way passed upon the merits of the proposed Arrangement and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available.

For further information:

Rainy Hollow Ventures Inc.

Michael Atkinson - Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Corporate Secretary, and Director

Phone: (604) 689-1428

Sustainable Produce Urban Delivery Inc.

Media Contact:

media@spud.ca

Investor Relations:

Ian S. Tharp, CFA

(416) 567-2563

ir@spud.ca

Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Notice on Forward Looking Information

Certain statements and information herein, including all statements that are not historical facts, contain forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Such forward-looking statements or information include but are not limited to statements or information with respect to: the terms and conditions of the Arrangement, including receipt of TSXV, TSX and SPUD shareholder approval; holding the Meeting; the closing of the Arrangement; and the listing of the Resulting Issuer on the TSX. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements or information can be identified by the use of words such as "estimate", "project", "belief", "anticipate", "intend", "expect", "plan", "predict", "may" or "should" and the negative of these words or such variations thereon or comparable terminology are intended to identify forward-looking statements and information.

With respect to forward-looking statements and information contained herein, Rainy Hollow and SPUD have made numerous assumptions including among other things, assumptions about general business and economic conditions of SPUD and the market in which it operates. The foregoing list of assumptions is not exhaustive.

Although management of Rainy Hollow and SPUD believe that the assumptions made and the expectations represented by such statements or information are reasonable, there can be no assurance that forward-looking statements or information herein will prove to be accurate. Forward-looking statements and information by their nature are based on assumptions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause actual results, performance or achievements, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or information. These factors include, but are not limited to: risks relating to the receipt of all requisite approvals for the Arrangement, including the approval of SPUD Shareholders, the TSXV and the TSX; approval of the Resulting Issuer's listing application by the TSX; risks associated with the business of SPUD; business and economic conditions in the eGrocery industry generally; the supply and demand for labour and other project inputs; changes in commodity prices; changes in interest and currency exchange rates; risks relating to unanticipated operational difficulties (including failure of technology or processes to operate in accordance with specifications or expectations, cost escalation, unavailability of materials and equipment, government action or delays in the receipt of government approvals, industrial disturbances or other job action, and unanticipated events related to health, safety and environmental matters); changes in general economic conditions or conditions in the financial markets; changes in laws; risks related to the direct and indirect impact of COVID-19 including, but not limited to, its impact on general economic conditions, the ability to obtain financing as required; and other risk factors as detailed from time to time. Rainy Hollow and SPUD do not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

Not for distribution to U.S. newswire services or for dissemination in the United States. Any failure to comply with this restriction may constitute a violation of U.S. securities laws.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/77576
New York, March 17 : The man who killed eight people in shootings at Atlanta massage parlours may have been impelled by "sex addiction", officials said on Wednesday although six of the victims were of Asian descent.

A 21-year-old White man, Robert Aaron Long, is in custody and he has admitted to carrying out the Tuesday evening shooting at three locations, officials said.

The killings of people of Asian descent came as the country was being swept by a wave of violence against them.

But Sheriff's Office Captain Jay Baker said at a news conference on Wednesday that two of the victims were White and that Long "does claim that it was not racially motivated".

Sheriff Frank Reynolds said Long "made indicators that he has some issues, potentially sexual addiction, and may have frequented some of these places in the past".

Baker added that Long told them he considered the spas "as an outlet for him" to do "something he shouldn't be doing" and that he wanted "to take out that temptation".

Seven of those killed were women and the South Korean Foreign Ministry said that four of them were of Korean descent.

At least one person was also injured in the attack.

Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms said: "Whether it's senseless violence that we've seen play out in our streets, or more targeted violence like we saw yesterday, a crime against any community is a crime against us all." Fears persisted in the Asian community that they were targeted because of the spate of violence against them.

Vice President Kamala Harris said: "Knowing the increasing level of hate crime against our Asian American brothers and sisters, we also want to speak out in solidarity with them and acknowledge that none of us should ever be silent in the face of any form of hate." An organisation, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the US, has said that 3,800 cases of violence and harassment have taken place in the past year.

Democrats and Asian activists have blamed former President Donald Trump for the violence because of repeated assertions calling Covid-19 the "Kungflu" and an "Asian virus", leading some people to blame Asians in the US for the pandemic.

Officials said that after images of Long were circulated, his family identified him and alerted them enabling them to track him using his mobile phone.

He was captured without incident about 240 km away. Officials said that he was on his way Floriday and may have been planning to attack a "porn" business.

(Arul Louis can be reached at arul.l@ians.in and followed on Twitter at @arulouis)
Police are investigating after sinister graffiti listing the full home addresses of Tanaiste Leo Varadkar and Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney appeared in east Belfast yesterday.

The addresses were painted on a wall in Belvoir Street area and at a commercials premises in the Newtownards Road area.

Mr Varadkar's name and address were daubed beside a loyalist mural depicting two gunmen and the words: "The prevention of the erosion of our identity is now our priority. East Belfast Battalion."

It also features various loyalist logos, including that of the UVF.

Police confirmed they were aware of the graffiti and said enquiries were ongoing.

It is not the first time graffiti targeting Mr Varadkar has appeared in the area.

In January, a threat titled "an ode to Leo Varadkar" was painted in the neighbourhood, warning the ex-Taoiseach he would be hanged if he "set foot in Ulster".

Earlier this month, Cabinet minister Michael Gove's name and address was painted on a wall in the loyalist Sandy Row area of south Belfast, alongside the message "We don't forget, we don't forgive".

The recent spate of graffiti comes amid ongoing tension around the Northern Ireland Protocol, which unionists feel has left them cut off from the rest of the UK.

During a visit to Northern Ireland last week, Prime Minister Boris Johnson promised to address the concerns.

East Belfast MP Gavin Robinson said the latest graffiti was "pathetic". He added that he had contacted Belfast City Council, which confirmed that the sinister message would be removed this morning.

"This achieves nothing. It is ultimately counter-productive at a time when we're looking at pragmatic and constitutional solutions to the Northern Ireland Protocol," the DUP MP said.

UUP leader Steve Aiken described the graffiti as "absolutely despicable".

"Nobody should be doing this sort of thing. It's very clear that all politicians and everybody in society should call out these sort of activities," the South Antrim MLA said.

"Whether it's Michael Gove, Simon Coveney, Leo Varadkar or whoever it happens to be, it's completely unacceptable."

South Belfast MP Claire Hanna said "this kind of politics by threat and intimidation is the past - people didn't want it then and they don't want it now".

"It should stop. It's a backward approach and it's not going to achieve anything," the SDLP MP added.

Australia is urging the European Union to divert 1 million doses of the AstraZeneca Plc vaccine that its already contracted to near-neighbor Papua New Guinea, as a wave of coronavirus infections rocks the Pacific regions most-populous nation.

The formal request to AstraZeneca and European authorities comes just weeks after Italy blocked a shipment of 250,700 doses of AstraZenecas coronavirus vaccine to Australia, using a recently introduced EU regulation for the first time.

I expect and would hope to get cooperation out of Europe for this, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison told reporters in Canberra on Wednesday. This is not Australia seeking to do this for our own direct benefit, although weve contracted them and you would expect them to be supplied.

In the meantime, Australia will send 8,000 vaccine doses from domestic stocks to aid frontline health workers in the country of 9 million people, along with 1 million surgical masks and other medical equipment.

Cases of the virus in PNG almost doubled each week in February. While the World Health Organization said that 96 new cases had been detected in the country on Monday from the previous 24 hours, authorities believe the vast majority of cases arent being detected due to the nations substandard health facilities.

There are growing fears the virus may spread eastwards from PNG to other Pacific Islands nations, which could have geopolitical implications as China seeks to enhance its influence. While Beijing is believed to have been offering its vaccine in the region, Australia has agreed with its Quad security partners -- including key ally the U.S. -- to ramp up efforts to increase access to Western vaccines in the Indo-Pacific.

This is a very welcome announcement from the government, said Jonathan Pryke, who heads research on the Pacific region for the Lowy Institute, a Sydney-based think tank. PNGs health system is on the brink of collapse. The need is immediate and urgent. But vaccines for health workers is not a panacea. PNG has a very tough few months ahead.

PNG Prime Minister James Marape is expected to announce a national strategy to contain the outbreak on Wednesday, including measures to stop widespread movement, the Post Courier reported. He said he was concerned that the health system wasnt adequate to cope with a full-blown outbreak.

Morrison said the EU deploying AstraZeneca vaccines directly to PNG would be following through on the very public statements that have been made in the European Union about their commitment to ensure there is no vaccine protectionism and that vaccines do go to those most in need.

The COVAX facility has indicated it will deliver 588,000 vaccines for PNG by June, Morrison said.

Morrison also announced strict travel restrictions between the nations, with some PNG islands just kilometers away from Australian territory.

The events were seeing there are of great concern, Morrison said. The escalation of issues with the virus in PNG presents very real risks to Australia as well.
2020: The Story Of Us has left viewers in tears after author Michael Rosen, who spent 47 days in intensive care with Covid, revealed his heartbreaking recovery, as well as the selfless work by those on the NHS frontline.

The ITV documentary, which aired yesterday, charts life in London and Lancashire hospitals in the first six months of the coronavirus pandemic.

In the programme, viewers saw Professor Hugh Montgomery, a consultant at University College Hospital in London, explain to the former children's laureate, 74, how his wife's visit to him in ICU appeared to be 'part of the miracle of his recovery'.

Twitter users were left emotional following the touching scenes from Michael, who now suffers with a myriad of health problems, and Professor Montgomery, who lost his son Oscar, 17, in May, when he drowned snorkelling in Portland Bill, Dorset.

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2020: The Story Of Us has left viewers in tears after author Michael Rosen (with his wife Emma at the Whittington Hospital), who spent 47 days in intensive care with Covid, revealed his heartbreaking recovery, as well as the selfless work by those on the NHS frontline

The ITV documentary, which aired yesterday, charts life in London and Lancashire hospitals in the first six months of the coronavirus pandemic. Pictured, Michael Rosen

Michael spent almost seven weeks in an induced coma on a ventilator after falling ill with the virus - but admitted he can hardly remember his time in ICU.

The award-winning poet and author said: 'I remember somebody at some point showing me a form and saying, "Are you okay to go on a ventilator?" and telling me that if I went on a ventilator I'd have a 50-50 chance of survival.

'And I said, "What if I don't go on the ventilator?" and he said, "Zero." So I said, "Okay then." And then I don't remember anything else.'

Professor Montgomery recalled he feared that a desperately sick Michael was slipping away, and had seen another of his patients responding to music sent by his family.

The doctor decided, since the author was no longer infectious, to invite his wife Emma to see Michael, and insisted the visit 'was part of the miracle of his recovery'.

Reaction: Social media users were left sobbing over the emotional scenes in the programme

Meeting with Michael, Professor Montgomery said: 'I dont know if your wife actually knows that she was part of the miracle of your recovery. There was no doubt at all that there was something about you meeting her that suddenly flicked a switch.'

Recalling the moment she met her husband during his recovery, Emma said: 'It wasn't a shock to see him, it was just a big relief, finally to hold his hand.

'It was Michael's strong, warm grip. All his feeling was flowing through that grip. That was the moment for me that I felt that he was still there.'

When Michael later returned to the ward after recovering, he has no memory of the doctor- yet when they speak, they realise that they have an emotional experience in common which brings them together.

Michael lost Eddie - his second born son - aged 18, from meningitis in 1999, while Professor Montgomery reveals he lost his 17-year-old son Oscar in May, when he drowned snorkelling in Portland Bill, Dorset.

In the programme, viewers saw Professor Hugh Montgomery (pictured right), a consultant at University College Hospital in London, explain to the former children's laureate (pictured left), 74, how his wife's visit to him in ICU appeared to be 'part of the miracle of his recovery'

In an emotional appearance on This Morning yesterday, Professor Montgomery, 58, teared up as he admitted he won't be watching the documentary because his heartbreaking loss means it 'strikes him even more'.

Viewers were left sobbing over the emotional scenes in the programme, with one writing: 'Hugh and Michael were amazing on 2020: The Story Of Us. Such honesty.'

Another said: 'I am speechless, humbled and cant hold back the tears after watching @MichaelRosenYes and @hugh_montgomery in 2020: The Story Of Us.

'What extraordinary human beings the both are and all of the NHS staff who give their all every day.'

A third viewer wrote on Twitter: 'This programme is the most moving thing Ive ever witnessed.'

Armed with just a diary kept by intensive care nurses, Michael (pictured) set out in the programme to find out what happened during his treatment

Armed with just a diary kept by intensive care nurses, Michael set out in the programme to find out what happened during his treatment.

He said: 'I've tried to get clear what happened and the order of what happened, but there's this whole period of life that's a complete blur, and then when I left the hospital, they gave me this.

'It's like a diary, so the nurses who were looking after me, each day they would write an entry. Look, you can see it there. They would write an entry for the day.

'So, you get something like, "Happy birthday. It's been so lovely to help look after you today on your birthday. You've been treated to a rendition of Happy Birthday from about fifteen ICU staff and one of the other patients.

'"I've been asking you to blink and squeeze my hand to communicate, and you've been diligently obliging." Well, I've got no memory of that at all.'
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has arrested a former Registrar of the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Dibu Ojerinde.

A statement posted on the commissions website on Wednesday said Mr Ojerinde was arrested on Monday and being held on a remand warrant for allegedly misappropriating N900 million.

It added that Mr Ojerinde allegedly perpetrated the fraud as JAMB registrar from April 10, 2012 to August 1, 2016 and the Registrar of the National Examination Council (NECO) between 1999 and 2007.

The commission said the suspect has, since his arrest, been answering questions on allegations of multiple identities, abuse of office, money laundering, tax evasion, making false statements, and awarding fraudulent contracts to untraceable shell companies.

The statement reads in part, Professor Ojerinde, who was arrested on March 15, 2021, in Abuja, by operatives of ICPC, is alleged to have committed multiple frauds while heading JAMB and the National Examination Council (NECO).

He has been detained by the commission for questioning over allegations of multiple identities, abuse of office, money laundering, tax evasion and making false statements to public officials.

The former JAMB boss is also being questioned by the commission for allegedly awarding fraudulent contracts to shell companies which cannot be traced.

He was alleged to have awarded contracts for the supply of pencil and eraser at the cost of N450 million each, to Double 07 Concept Limited and Pristine Global Concept Limited, respectively, between 2013 and 2014 while heading JAMB.

There is no evidence to show that the items which are examination materials were supplied as the contractors cannot be found.

The anti-corruption agency said similar contracts were allegedly awarded to Solid Figures Limited, Holywalk Limited and other companies for various sums without any trace of executions.

Charges to be filed

Professor Ojerinde is being held on a remand warrant and will soon be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigation, the statement added.

Asset forfeiture

It will be recalled that the commission announced in April 2020 that it had obtained an order of interim of forfeiture of some assets linked to Mr Ojerinde.

In a public announcement published in a national daily paper, the commission said the seizure of the properties followed an ongoing investigation against the ex-JAMB registrars excessive properties.

The commission is investigating a matter involving Prof Dibu Ojerinde of Faculty of Education, Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife, Osun State; wherein certain Immovable properties owned by the said Dibu Ojerinde, the publication said.

The commission said it believed that the immovable assets owned by Mr Ojerinde were excessive, having regard to his income and other relevant circumstances.

The ICPC said the seizure of the assets is in pursuant to section 45(4)(a)-(b) of the Commissions 2000 Offence Act.

It added, The immovable properties owned controlled by Mr Ojerinde either by himself or through his attorneys, agents, and proxies listed under, are seized.

The commission listed the assets as:

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China is allegedly working on more missile silos. These weapon containers were revealed by leaked satellite images. Some sources claimed that these silos are specifically designed for the country's most powerful ICBMs (Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles).

According to Business Insider's latest report, the Asian country is allegedly developing more underground silos from where its most destructive intercontinental ballistic missiles could be launched.

Right now, they are allegedly being built in the northern part of the country. Once they are finished, it is expected that they will have enough space and other capabilities to accommodate the DF-31AG and DF-41 missiles. These are considered China's most powerful ICBMs since they have a range of 10,000 km to 14,000 km (6,200 to 8,700 miles).

South China Morning Post reported that these two missiles were first unveiled by the People's Liberation Army Rocket Force or PLARF. Aside from this, China's PLARF also revealed footage of the country's newly improved stability of Dongfeng-26 or DF-26 ballistic missile.

Where are the new missile silos located?

Speculations stated that the country's new missile silos are located in the center of the Jilantai training base. They are placed within a total area of 200 square meters. On the other hand, these ICBM silos are also spaced between 2.2 kilometers and 4.4 kilometers apart.

This is because China wants to make sure that if one of the silos is attacked, the remaining missile containers and launchers, containing other powerful ICBMs, won't be affected.

Also Read: US Air Force Admits Its F-35 Program is a Failure: Chief Staff General Suggests a Possible Solution for the Issue

Although this might be alarming news, China confirmed that it is not planning to use the missile silos containing nuclear weapons in the event of a conflict with other countries.

"Using silos is the most reliable counterstrike method, but these facilities are also key bombing targets for rivals because they're easier to spot using satellites," said Antony Wong Ton, a Macau-based military analyst, via SCMP.

"These ground-based facilities need to be supported by mobile launchers," he added.

How effective are these new ICBM silos?

These silos are capable of launching powerful ICBMs that can reach countries that are very far away from China. They are the most reliable and precise innovations to launch missiles and hit the desired targets. Song Zhongping, a former instructor with PLA's Second Artillery Corps, explained that these silos are also expected to boost nuclear deterrence. You can click here for more info.

For more news updates about China's new ICBM silos and other nuclear weapon innovations, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes.

Related Article: Russia Claims New Radars Can Detect Possible Weapon Attacks! Here's How the New Systems Work

This article is owned by TechTimes.

Written by: Giuliano de Leon.

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) is calling for a full investigation into the most recent attack on an exiled Azerbaijani video blogger who has been critical of the government in Baku.

Mahammad Mirzali, who runs the Made In Azerbaijan YouTube channel, was beaten and stabbed on March 14 by a group of men in France, the New York-based media rights group said on March 16.

The CPJ said Mirzali was attacked on March 14 by six men while walking in downtown Nantes in western France. He was stabbed at least 16 times and is currently in the hospital with severe injuries.

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French authorities should swiftly investigate the knife attack on exiled Azerbaijani blogger Mahammad Mirzali, find the perpetrators and those who ordered it, and bring them to justice, said Gulnoza Said, CPJs Europe and Central Asia program coordinator. French authorities must ensure that Mirzali and other exiled bloggers and journalists can exercise their right of free expression without having to fear for their lives.

Mirzali, whose YouTube channel has 265,000 subscribers and covers opposition to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, corruption, and other issues, fled his homeland in 2016 due to his political activism in the authoritarian Caucasus state.

The attack was the latest incident targeting the blogger and his family, raising concerns it was carried out to silence a critical voice.

The CPJ reported that earlier this year that an anonymous person tried to blackmail Mirzali over WhatsApp, threatening to release intimate photos of his sister and her husband if the blogger didnt stop his activities. When Mirzali didnt comply, the photos were released.

In another serious incident in October, unknown men shot at Mirzali in Nantes in an apparent assassination attempt.

In October 2018, Mirzalis father and brother-in-law in Azerbaijan were detained for one and six days, respectively. Police reportedly told the two men to pressure Mirzali to stop his criticism of the government.

Azerbaijan has one of the worlds worst media landscapes, ranking 168 out of 180 countries in Reporters Without Borders 2020 World Press Freedom Index.
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The American Rescue Plan Act, the latest $1.9 trillion pandemic stimulus plan, includes $800 million to support children and youth experiencing homelessness.

Jennifer Erb-Downward, a senior research associate at the University of Michigan's Poverty Solutions initiative who studies family homelessness, has been tracking the effect of the pandemic on people without stable housing. She discusses the potential impact of this aid.

What do we know about how the American Rescue Plan Act's $800 million for youth and children experiencing homelessness will be spent?

The exact uses of this funding will vary some by state. Right now, we know this money will be used to support identification, enrollment, school participation and wraparound services for children and youth experiencing homelessness. The money will be distributed through the McKinney-Vento Act, which funnels federal funding to states and then local school districts to support the education of children who are homeless. This is critical now because during the pandemic the identification of homeless students has decreased. When children who are homeless are not identified they do not receive the support they need to attend and succeed in school.

How does this compare to previous relief packages and typical funding for youth homelessness programs?

The funding in the COVID-19 relief package is a dramatic increase from what was available previously. Based on SchoolHouse Connections' analysis of budget allocations, $800 million is more than Congress has appropriated for the education of children and youth experiencing homelessness over the last 10 years, combined.

This funding provides a real opportunity not only to identify children who are homeless and support them in school but to connect families with resources that could fundamentally end their homelessness. This is a transformational opportunity. In addition to McKinney-Vento funding, the latest COVID-19 relief package provides middle- to very low-income families with a child allowance of $250-$300 per month per child. This round of stimulus checks treats children as equals with adults, which means a family of three will get a check for $4,200plus the child allowance paymentseven if they had no earnings. The child allowance alone is estimated to decrease child poverty in the United States by 45%. If we can leverage the $800 million in McKinney-Vento funding to reach homeless families and children with these resources now, we can fundamentally change the future of hundreds of thousands of children's lives.

You partnered with School House Connection, a national nonprofit working to overcome homelessness through education, to track how schools are responding to children experiencing homelessness during the pandemic. Can you share more about that project?

In the fall of 2020, SchoolHouse Connection conducted a national survey of homeless liaisons in schools on how identification of homeless students during the pandemic compared to the prior year and how the first round of COVID-19 funding was being used to support homeless students. Poverty Solutions worked with SchoolHouse Connection to analyze the survey data in order to find out what trends existed nationally and what we could learn about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on homeless students.

What were some of the key findings from that survey of school district homeless liaisons?

The biggest takeaway from the report was that in the midst of the devastating economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, liaisons were identifying fewer children who were homeless. Extrapolating out survey responses, we found an estimated 420,000 fewer children and youth experiencing homelessness have been identified and enrolled by schools so far this school year. This means vulnerable children are not receiving the support they need to participate in school or the other basic resources that schools providefrom food to a safe place to be during the day. Lower identification was of particular concern to liaisons surveyed because many perceived that the needs in their community were actually greater as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and that homelessness had likely increased during the same time the number of homeless students identified by schools was going down.

The report also looked at the needs that liaisons were seeing among homeless students that they identified and how Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act funding was being used. The top concerns reported were lack of internet, shelter/housing, food and child care. Unfortunately, liaisons indicated that federal education relief funds were not reaching homeless families, children and youth. Only 18% of respondents indicated federal coronavirus relief education funding provided by the CARES Act was being used to meet the needs of students experiencing homelessness. This last finding, combined with the pandemic's impact on homeless student identification, is what makes the $800 million of dedicated funding for homeless students so critical at this time. Without additional dedicated funding, we were not able to support students experiencing homelessness. Now we have an opportunity to turn that around.

What should educators and policymakers consider as they make use of this new $800 million in support for children and youth who are homeless?

For years, we have not had the resources needed to identify and support all of the children in our schools experiencing homelessness. This funding provides us with a rare opportunity to not only increase the number of homeless children who can be reached but to potentially connect those children and their families to additional economic resources that could end their homelessness. McKinney-Vento dollars can help this to happen for the country's most vulnerable families, but if we are going to be successful, we have to ensure the U.S. Department of Education guidance on how McKinney-Vento dollars can be used allows these connections to be made. This could be simple things like enabling liaisons to purchase prepaid debit cards, if that enables homeless families without bank accounts to access stimulus checks; or enabling districts to pay for hotel vouchers, if that might connect a family to longer-term housing resources. No one yet knows all of the details for how these programs will be rolled out. The most important thing, therefore, is to have the new McKinney-Vento dollars enable liaisons to be responsive to the needs of homeless families and children that they are identifying in their communities.

Explore further SMU professors detail how homeless students are doing educationally in Houston ISD

More information: Lost in the Masked Shuffle and Virtual Void: Children and youth experiencing homelessnes amidst the pandemic, Lost in the Masked Shuffle and Virtual Void: Children and youth experiencing homelessnes amidst the pandemic, poverty.umich.edu/files/2020/1  and-Virtual-Void.pdf
Scott Morrison has demanded the European Union immediately release one million Covid-19 vaccines that Australia has bought so he can donate them to Papua New Guinea which is suffering a surge in cases.

European Union nations including Italy have recently blocked AstraZeneca vaccines - which are made in Belgium - from leaving the continent as they struggle to secure enough doses for their own populations.

Australia, which has not had a single Covid death this year, has received only 700,000 of its 3.8million contracted doses but has largely avoided complaining until now.

A hearse carrying the coffin of Papua New Guines's first prime minister Michael Somare during his funeral ceremony on March 11. The country is struggling with a surge in cases

Scott Morrison also demanded the European Union release one million vaccines that Australia has bought

On Wednesday Mr Morrison demanded Europe release one million doses directly to northern neighbour Papua New Guinea as cases surge in the developing nation of nine million.

'With the support of the PNG government we're making a formal request to AstraZeneca and the European authorities to access one million doses of our contracted supplies of AstraZeneca not for Australia, but for PNG, a developing country in desperate need of these vaccines,' Mr Morrison said.

'We've contracted them. We've paid for them and we want to see those vaccines come here so we can support our nearest neighbour, PNG, to deal with their urgent needs in our region.'

Amid fears three quarters of Papua New Guineans could be infected, Mr Morrison will immediately hand over 8,000 vaccines to jab frontline health workers, as well as one million surgical masks, 100,000 gowns, 100,000 goggles, 100,000 pairs of gloves, 100,000 bottles of sanitiser, 20,000 face shields and 200 non-invasive ventilators.

Mr Morrison said giving vaccines to the country was the right thing to do and believed Australians would agree.

'I think Australians understand that that is one of our responsibilities and as an advanced nation that has had such incredible success in managing the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, I think they would be generous in spirit,' he said.

'They're our family. They're our friends. They're our neighbours. They're our partners. They have always stood with us and we will always stand with them.'

Mr Morrison demanded co-operation from the EU in sending the vaccines Down Under, adding: 'I expect and would hope to get the cooperation out of Europe for this.

'We've all said that we need to get vaccines where they're needed.

'This is not Australia seeking to do this for our own direct benefit, although we've contracted them and you would expect them to be supplied.'

French President Emmanual Macron has previously urged wealthy nations to donate vaccines to poorer countries and Mr Morrison is now holding his feet to the fire.

'Those vaccines and their deployment would therefore, I think, be following through on the very public statements that have been made in the European Union about their commitment to ensure there is no vaccine protectionism and that vaccines do go to those most in need and that's why we're putting that forward,' he said.

Papua New Guinea is struggling with a Covid-19 outbkreak. Pictured: Port Moresby Harbour

Papua New Guinea is one of the poorest countries in the world and has struggled to stand up an effective testing and tracing system.

About half of women going to hospital to give birth have are testing positive for the disease.

'The capacity to manage Covid-19 in a developing country is starkly different to what it is in an advanced country like Australia,' Mr Morrison said.

PNG Prime Minister James Marape fears said the country has suffered a huge explosion of cases in recent days.

'The number is quite staggering,' Mr Marape told reporters in Port Moresby.

'If we don't do a corrective response to this, our health system will be clogged and we won't be able to sustain it.'

From Saturday all passenger flights from PNG into Cairns will be suspended for two weeks, with charter flights also halted except for medevac and other critical routes.
[March 17, 2021] SAG Infotech is Emerging as Key Player in Tax Industry

JAIPUR, India, March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- SAG Infotech has achieved boundless feet in organizing the tax software companies and also made a worthy name in the filing services provider. The SAG Infotech first started its operations in 1999, around 2 decades ago, which can also be termed as a beginning era for software solutions. Today, the SAG Infotech has achieved more than 50,000+ clients from across India and still growing on a daily basis. The company's Genius software package is widely famous in the corporate world which was first launched in the year 2000. It has the most basic tools for filing taxes, i.e., Income tax, TDS and all the clients have since upgraded every year for Genius loyally. SAG Infotech has also introduced Gen GST Software Version 2.0, the first software in the accounting field that is completely independent of the platform and the Operating System. It is even available for both; online and offline modes. This new version of the software is the successor of India's most popular return filing and e-billing software - Gen GST. Upgraded with much more features like support for the cloud platform to enable users to access it from anywhere across the world. This version is more advanced, optimized, polished, and stable return filing and e-billing software which fulfils all requirements of Tax and GST. SAG Infotech offers 50% off on On-boarding charges of RTA services till 31 March 2021. SAG Infotech is Rajasthan's first registrar & share transfer agent. The company boasts of all the services provided under the RTA. Securities and Exchange Board of India authorized te company to be live with complete licenses. Now the company holds all the responsibilities undertaken as RTA service provider including dematerialization of shares, revalidation of dividends and issuing duplicate shares.



On the basis of such incredible softwares, SAG Infotech (www.saginfotech.com) alone processed more than 10 Million ITR filing for the financial year 2019-20 through its 'Gen Income Tax Software', which is a staggering number of ITR filing by a Jaipur-based tax firm. Due to the pandemic, the last date of filing Income tax return of financial year 2019-20 was rescheduled to 10th January 2021. SAG Infotech software named 'Genius software' has reached a new mark of user base recently after the Indian government made stricter tax filing compliances. "We have always assumed that the tax filing solution is the need for a country's vast taxation database and I being an entrepreneur must do something. I worked upon it and hence found success. I believe that the future of automation and cloud computing will rule the world and the same goes for software platforms. We have been working on converting our complete range of software on the cloud for the last couple of years and we are almost there," said Amit Gupta, MD, SAG Infotech.

SAG Infotech has been hiring at an exponential rate since 2016 with around 500+ employees and dealer's staff. The company has been hiring new employees with a good monthly average rate and as per the NASSCOM guidelines. "We have achieved this tremendous success by planning a minimum pricing marginal plan. Accordingly, the company has very affordable products & services which has helped to cover a much wider client base. Also, the company focuses on customer handling and service, thus, charging the least marginal profit giving an advantage over other similar companies in the industry," said Surabhi Amit Gupta, CEO, SAG Infotech. SAG Infotech created a well trusted and a long chain of dealer's network all around the country with the majority in metro cities. The company also has a wide range of dealer's network in 100+ tier-II cities which collectively acquires a large portion of tax-paying assesses and tax professionals. The company appoints the dealers as per their capabilities to provide services to the clients at a good level, and it is a proud part of the dealer relationship that most of the dealers are with the company for decades. SAG Infotech is continuously investing in more & more tech solutions and security and monitors its target daily. The company has expanded a lot in recent years and promises to completely take over the tax software services with multiple add-ons and client services at its core. About SAG Infotech SAG Infotech is the fastest-growing tax software developing company in India with its most demanding solutions like Genius, Gen GST etc. The company started in Year 1999, 21 years ago with an aim to convert the tax filing process into a complete digitized mechanism and it has absolutely succeeded in this mission.

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Evangelical church in Scotland faces police investigation over worship gatherings

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A church in Scotland is facing a police investigation for holding worship services that allegedly violated the pandemic gathering restrictions for the United Kingdom country.

Hope United Church of Motherwell, an evangelical congregation near Glasgow, is being investigated for allegedly holding worship services that did not follow public health guidelines.

This included videos of worship gatherings showing attendees not socially distancing and not wearing face masks, according to a report by BBC Tuesday.

Clare Adamson, a member of the Scottish Parliament representing the Motherwell area who told the police about the churchs actions, told the BBC that she found the situation "very concerning."

While the Hope Church are entitled to their own beliefs, they are not entitled to break the law, said Adamson. Any activity like this could be to the detriment of the whole community if COVID is reseeded.

While Adamson is looking forward to a "more normal time," she argued that the church's behavior "could seed the virus in the community again" and "is to be condemned.

The Christian Post reached out to Hope United Church of Motherwell via email for comment. A response was not received by press time.

"We were aware of reports relating to potential gatherings at a church in the Motherwell area," a police spokesperson told BBC. "Inquiries into the reports are ongoing and officers are engaging with representatives of the church."

According to the Scottish governments guidance document, houses of worship located in places with fairly low COVID-19 infection rates can gather provided they follow certain guidelines.

These include limiting indoor, in-person services to 50 people and a maximum of 200 people for outdoor services. Attendees also must socially distance and adhere to other measures.

Churches located in areas with high infection rates, known as Level 4, are restricted from holding communal gatherings and even "individual prayer." The government contends these measures are "necessary to reduce the risk of transmission."

Consideration should be given to whether any additional restrictions are in place as a result of a local outbreaks or clusters of COVID-19 cases, explained the guidance document from the Scottish government.

Those responsible for running a place of worship should engage and communicate with worshippers and the wider community to explain what is permitted and what is still prohibited.

The police investigation of Hope United comes as First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced that Scotland would be easing its lockdown measures beginning in April.

Presuming there is no uptick in cases, this will include replacing a stay at home order with a stay local advisory on April 2 and then broadening the number of permitted retail shops allowed to operate on April 5.

Last month, U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that he hoped to fully reopen neighboring England by June 21, gradually easing restrictions on social gatherings, businesses and schools.
Longford County Council has launched the Longfords Green Keep It Clean initiative for 2021. It gets underway this month, running alongside the National Spring Clean Campaign.

In line with public health restrictions, the initiative encourages individuals and families to get involved by cleaning up the roadsides within the five kilometres surrounding their homes.

Litter pickers, gloves and bags will be supplied, and the litter gathered will be collected by the litter wardens in that area.

Local Tidy Towns and community groups have already signed up to the programme and have agreed to help manage the collection of litter in their areas.

When restrictions ease in the coming weeks and months to allow these groups to come together again, they have committed to planting pollinator friendly flowers and shrubs.

These local groups will also distribute native Irish trees to families for National Tree Week which is set to take place from March 21. Each family or group that gets involved will be encouraged to continue the litter picking throughout the summer and autumn months.

The Longfords Green Keep It Clean campaign will be promoted via Longford County Councils social media channels, the Tidy Towns network and the Public Participation Network.

Environmental Awareness Officer with Longford County Council Gary Brady says its ideal to start building awareness of the campaign now while people are spending so much time in their local 5km areas. We want to encourage people to take pride in their surroundings and play their part in the initiative, in whatever way they can.

Longford County Council is also asking the public to report any overgrown or dangerous hedges to the local authority so that they can be managed under road safety. Its important to note that the Council does not encourage the public to cut hedges, especially during bird nesting season. This type of activity is illegal under the Wildlife Act 1976 (2000) and endangers the biodiversity of our hedgerows.

As part of this campaign, once restrictions allow, the Council is planning to arrange for an advisor to visit localities to offer advice in relation to management and restoration of local heritage features.

If any individuals or households would like to take part in the Longfords Green Keep It Clean initiative, theyre invited to contact their local Tidy Towns group. Any questions or queries can be referred to Gary Brady Environmental Awareness Officer on 043 33 43451 or via email to gbrady@longfordcoco.ie.
Every cell in your body comes from a single cell: an egg, fertilised by a sperm. Each contains the exact same genetic blueprint for your life: your DNA.

Yet cells in your brain look and behave nothing like those in your muscle or skin.

Professor Jose Polo in front of images of his model embryos. Credit:Monash University

Why? Because while each cell has the same instructions, each cell only reads certain sections  certain genes. A layer of what are called epigenetic instructions sit on top of your DNA, telling each cell which parts to read and which parts to ignore.

Find a way of controlling those instructions and you can control the cell  or even reprogram it into an entirely different type of cell.
Watertown, NY (13601)

Today

Cloudy with rain developing after midnight. Low 61F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch..

Tonight

Cloudy with rain developing after midnight. Low 61F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson presented the UKs Integrated Review of foreign and defence policy this week, pledging stepped up military aggression against Russia, China and other rivals, crowned with a pledge to increase Britains stock of nuclear warheads by a massive 40 percent.

The Integrated Review (IR) is a nakedly warmongering document. Amid the social devastation wrought by the coronavirus pandemic, with the government insisting that there is no money to fund nurses and doctors pay, slashing vital social services and ramping up workplace exploitation, Johnson pledges billions for weapons of mass destruction.

Not satisfied with the horrific death toll and human suffering resulting from their herd immunity agenda, the Tories openly plan for wars all over the globe, even nuclear conflicts, that would produce a mountain of human corpses and threaten the survival of humanity itself.

Global Britain in a competitive age: The Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy

The IR commits to an increase in the UKs stockpile of nuclear warheads from no more than 225 to no more than 260, breaking a 2010 commitment to get to no more than 180 by the mid-2020s and marking the first increase since the end of the Cold War.

The government is replacing the existing warheads used on Trident nuclear submarines and is committed to building four new Dreadnought Class submarines to replace current Vanguard class vessels by the early 2030s. Reductions were declared no longer possible because the UK must meet the full range of state nuclear threats, a euphemism for targeting China and Russia. The IR even threatens the use of nuclear weapons if the UK is faced with an attack using cyber or other emerging technologies, breaking with past commitments to reserve nuclear weapons for retaliation against another nuclear power, or in response to extreme chemical or biological threats.

Britain will also deploy more of our Armed Forces overseas more often and for longer periods of time.

The document pledges an increase in defence spending of over 24 billion over four years, exceeding the 2 percent GDP commitment of NATO powers, with the boast that this makes the UK the largest European spender on defence in NATO and the second largest in the Alliance. There are commitments to maintain troop levels above 100,000 (a response to criticisms from within the military of declining personnel levels), develop the next generation of naval vessels, and progress aircraft carrier strike group capabilities, with at least 48 F-35 combat jets ready by 2025.

There will be a shift in focus towards the Indo-Pacific region, involving military and commercial alliances, to establish UK interests in what is increasingly the geopolitical centre of the world and its growth engine.

Becoming the European partner with the broadest and most integrated presence in the Indo-Pacific is framed as a response to Chinas increasing power and international assertiveness by far the most significant geopolitical factor in the world today.

To meet Chinas systemic challenge, the UK will deploy the HMS Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier and supporting carrier strike group into the Indo-Pacific later this yearthe UKs most ambitious global deployment in two decades. This will be matched with plans to forward base personnel and assets, including warships, in the Middle East and Pacific regions, in Japan, Australia and Singapore, as well as confirmed plans to triple the size of the Royal Navys presence on the coast of Oman.

Moves against China are made in direct collaboration with the Biden administration in the United States, which is ramping up its military forces in the Asia Pacific, including stationing missile systems in Japan, Taiwan and the Philippines at a cost of $4.7 billion. The US is described as our most important bilateral relationship trading partner and inward investor.

The thinking behind this orientation was spelled out by defence analyst Con Coughlin, who wrote in the Telegraph that the UK was now free of the EUs restrictive shackles Another significant advantage the Government has is that the more dysfunctional the EU becomes, the more the new Biden administration will be inclined to ally itself with London, rather than Berlin, Paris or Brussels.

There was, nevertheless, significant Tory disquiet at the governments attempt to square this aggressive shift with a continued commitment to lucrative trade with Beijing, with the IR noting, Open, trading economies like the UK will need to engage with China and remain open to Chinese trade and investment.

Intelligence Committee Chair Julian Lewis complained of grasping naivety regarding Beijing, while Defence Select Committee head Tobias Ellwood said that Johnson should have called out China for the geo-strategic threat it is.

As a counterweight to such criticism, the UK pledges to lead diplomatic and military aggression against Russia, described as the most acute threat to our security. Militarily this means the UK placing itself at the forefront of implementing NATOs new Deterrence and Defence Concept across the Euro-Atlantic region and supporting others in the Eastern European neighbourhood and beyond to build their resilience to state threats. This includes Ukraine, where we will continue to build the capacity of its armed forces.

According to a report in the Daily Telegraph, the arms commitments outlined Tuesday are only a down-payment. A Defence Command Paper will be published March 22 detailing a modernisation plan to get the Armed Forces ready for the wars of the future. The Telegraph describes this as an 80 billion upgrade over the next four years. The total over the next decade could amount to close to 200 billion.

Global military aggression will be accompanied by domestic political and social repression. The IR couples references to the intensification of competition between states with non-state actors (including large tech companies), used as proxies in conflict by hostile states targeting the vulnerabilities within democratic systems and the testing of the boundary between war and peace.

Claims of foreign state interference in domestic political and social life frame proposals to create new spying and propaganda institutions, including a National Cyber Force to detect, disrupt and deter our adversaries and develop cyber weapons; a Counter-Terrorism Operations Centre; and a Situation Centre in the Cabinet Office.

This repressive apparatus goes far beyond measures to supposedly combat foreign interference. The document refers obliquely to the decline of democracy and pluralism, accelerated by Covid-19 and to an increase in social and political dissatisfaction, before warning, Governments may struggle to satisfy popular demands for security and prosperity

The response is a further assault on democratic rights. The threat from terrorism domestically is described as coming not only from Islamist and Northern Irish groups, but also far-right, far-left, anarchist and single-issue terrorism. This catch-all definition provides for state repression of all forms of political and social dissent, above all from the newly designated threat from the left.

It is a measure of the poisonous political atmosphere generated by the crisis of British and world imperialism that there is not a shred of genuine opposition to the Tory war criminals. The mealy-mouthed criticisms of the opposition Labour Party focus on complaints that anti-China measures do not go far enough, and that military spending must be ramped up still further.

The Labour Partys few criticisms of the IR were largely indistinguishable from the Tory right. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer questioned the rationale for increasing nuclear weapons, but only after stressing that Labours support for nuclear deterrence is non-negotiable.

When Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab urged against adopting a Cold-War mentality towards China, Starmer replied that the Conservatives had turned a blind eye to human rights abuses while inviting China to help build our infrastructure. He also accused the Conservatives of overseeing an era of retreat, with armed forces cuts "every year for the last decade.

The declaration that nuclear war is not only an option but is actively being planned as the pinnacle of defence and foreign policy is a warning to workers of the fundamental dangers they now face.

Capitalism has transformed the entire world into a tinderbox, while its politicians seek by the constant whipping up of chauvinism and xenophobia to condition the worlds people to the necessity for unchecked militarism and wars of conquest.

The lessons of history must be learned. The drive of the imperialist powers towards a third global conflagration must be answered with the unification of workers the world over against imperialism and war and for socialist revolution.
SALEM, Ore.  Governor Kate Brown announced on Tuesday that she has finished appointing the members of the new Oregon Psilocybin Advisory Board, a body meant to oversee the implementation of psilocybin therapy clinics approved by voters in November.

Measure 109 stipulated a gradual and systematic roll-out to legalize and regulate the therapeutic use of psilocybin, the active chemical in hallucinogenic mushrooms. The advisory board marks the first major step in that process.

The board will be tasked with using the best available science and data to create Oregons regulatory framework for the supervised, therapeutic use of psilocybin products. Clinical studies, including research from Johns Hopkins University, UCLA, and NYU, have shown promising results using psilocybin for people suffering from anxiety, depression, and PTSD.

Brown's office said that the board includes top doctors and and researchers from Oregon Health & Science University, fungi experts from Oregon State University, therapists, health experts, and community-oriented licensed clinical social workers.

Like many, I was initially skeptical when I first heard of Measure 109, said Governor Brown. But if we can help people suffering from PTSD, depression, trauma and addiction  including veterans, cancer patients, and others  supervised psilocybin therapy is a treatment worthy of further consideration.

The Psilocybin Advisory Board is set to meet for the first time by March 31, which Measure 109 requires. In addition to designated agency positions  namely the OLCC, DOJ, and public health  the ballot measure required that the board have seats designated for researchers, harm reduction specialists, physicians, naturopaths, and psychologists.

Measure 109 outlines a two-year implementation period. The Governors Recommended Budget for 2021-23 contains $5.6 million to forward the process.

Id like to thank the leading experts in medicine and treatment who have stepped forward to serve on this first-in-the-nation board. In Oregon, we follow science, and we center equity in everything we do," Brown said. "I have directed the board to take steps to ensure equitable access to this therapy for anyone who might benefit from treatment, including Oregons Black, Indigenous, Tribal and communities of color.

As of Tuesday, the Psilocybin Advisory Board included the following members:

Public Health Director Designee: Andre Ourso, OHA

State Health Officer Designee: Dr. Tom Jeanne, OHA

Oregon Health Policy Board Designee: Barb Hansen

State Employee w/ Public Health Expertise: Ali Hamade, OHA

Local Health Officer: Dr. Sarah Present, Clackamas City

Addictions Medicine Specialist: Kevin Fitts, Portland

Licensed Psychologist: Dr. Kimberley Golletz, Corvallis

Licensed Physician: Dr. Todd Korthius, OHSU

Academic Researcher: Mason Marks, Portland

Mycologist: Dr. Jessie Uehling, Oregon State University

Harm Reduction Specialist: Angela Carter, Portland

Psychopharmacologic Specialist: Dr. Atheir Abbas, OHSU

OLCC: Nathan Rix

Oregon DOJ: David Hart

Chief Petitioner Designee: Tom Eckert

Public: Stephanie Barrs, Bend

Public: Dr. Rachel Knox, Portland

"The Governors appointment of the Psilocybin Advisory Board today represents a crucial first step toward implementing the nations first statewide psilocybin services program," said Tom Eckert, Chief Petitioner for Measure 109. "This is an impressive Board poised to do groundbreaking work. My late wife Sheri and I had always envisioned this  an empowered Board of leading experts, representing a variety of relevant disciplines, advising the Oregon Health Authority on psilocybin safety, practice, training, and access standards. I am filled with pride and appreciation for all the Oregon voters out there who made this a reality."
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Copyright  2021 Albuquerque Journal

A former New Mexico Taxation and Revenue Department employee was indicted in federal court last week in connection with a yearslong tax fraud scheme that allegedly raked in more than half a million dollars.

Authorities say 45-year-old George Martinez of Albuquerque used his position as supervisor of the Questionable Refund Unit between 2011 and 2018 to deposit fraudulent refunds of his own.

Court records allege that Martinez used taxpayer information  sometimes of dead people  to issue tax refunds into bank accounts he controlled, stealing nearly $700,000 over several years.

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In all, Martinez is charged with 42 counts of wire fraud, six counts of money laundering and 42 counts of identity theft. Martinez faces a minimum of two years and a maximum of 22 years behind bars, if convicted.

Devon Fooks, an attorney for Martinez, declined to comment.

Acting U.S. Attorney for New Mexico Fred J. Federici III said in a news release Wednesday announcing the indictment, When officials who are responsible for collecting taxes corruptly manipulate the system for their own benefit, it undermines the publics confidence in all aspects of government. Fraud involving the tax system  deprives the State of needed revenues and increases the tax burden on all law-abiding New Mexicans.

Charlie Moore, a spokesman for the Taxation and Revenue Department, said Martinez, who worked for the department since 2002, was investigated internally in 2018 by the tax fraud division before the case was referred to the FBI. Martinez was placed on leave after the internal investigation began, and he left the department later that year.

This department will not tolerate any employee abusing their position for personal gain. We will pursue those who attempt to take advantage of the state and the citizens of New Mexico, Taxation and Revenue Secretary Stephanie Schardin Clarke said in a statement.

According to an indictment filed in U.S. District Court:

Starting in May 2011, Martinez, who was responsible for processing and reviewing questionable tax refunds, fraudulently directed refunds to at least six bank accounts he controlled.

Martinez did this by copying already processed returns, or creating new returns, using taxpayer information and routing the money to another account. In some instances, Martinez used this scheme to steal nearly $60,000 in a month and almost $40,000 in a single day.

Moore said the department has since strengthened its internal controls by changing access privileges and updating procedures. Meanwhile, he said officials continually monitor daily business activity for abnormalities and suspicious transactions.

The methods bad actors use to gain access to financial systems are constantly evolving. Our department continually evaluates potential threats to keep state and taxpayer assets secure, Schardin Clarke said.
2020 current operating income showed strong growth (+37.6% at constant rates and scope), reflecting the excellent evolution of revenue (+5.7% at constant rates and scope) and a sharp decrease in expenses in the context of the Covid-19 crisis

The divestment of Sentinel that took place on July 1, 2020 impacted the financial statements for the 2nd half of the year and allowed the group to reduce its debt

CONSOLIDATED FIGURES AS OF DECEMBER 31

in  million 2020 2019 2020/2019 Change Revenue 934.2 938.3 -0.4% Change at constant exchange rates +3.2% Change in Revenue at constant exchange rates and scope 1 +5.7%







Current operating income before depreciation of assets arising from acquisitions 2



128.9 122.4 +5.2% as a % of revenue

as a % of revenue at constant rates 13.8%

14.4% 13.0%











Depreciation of intangible assets arising from acquisitions



8.4



15.0 Current operating income 120.5 107.4 +12.2% Change in Current operating income at constant exchange rates +21.6% Change in Current operating income at constant exchange rates and scope 1 +37.6% Non-recurring expenses and income -65.2 9.4 Operating income 185.7 98.0 +89.5% Current net income 3 78.3 63.4 +23.5% Consolidated net income 141.8 54.4 +160.5% Including net income - Group share 137.5 51.5 +166.7% Shareholders' equity - Group Share 622.9 517.8 +20.3% Net debt 4 -63.4 368.4 -117.2% Operating cash flow before interest and taxes 5 171.4 156.5 +9.5%

1 The change at constant exchange rates and scope is the organic growth, excluding the impact of exchange rate changes, by calculating the indicator for the financial year in question and the indicator for the previous financial year on the basis of identical exchange rates (the exchange rate used is the exchange rate in effect for the previous financial year), and excluding the impact of changes in scope (i.e. excluding Sentinel over both periods).

2 Current operating income before depreciation of assets arising from acquisitions reflects current income adjusted for the impact of allowances for depreciation of intangible assets resulting from acquisition transactions.

3 Current net income corresponds to consolidated net income adjusted for non-recurring expenses and income (- 65.2 million), and for non-current tax (1.7 million).

4 Net debt corresponds to current (32.0 million) and non-current (51.7 million) financial liabilities as well as a lease obligation related to the application of IFRS 16 (34.8 million), less cash and cash equivalents (181.9 million) as published in the statement of financial position.

5 Operating cash flow corresponds to operating income (185.7 million) adjusted for items having no impact on cash position and impacts related to transfers. The following items are adjusted: fixed asset depreciation and impairments (57.3 million), provisions for risks and charges (1.7 million), provisions related to employee benefits (- 1.1 million), the other expenses and income without any impact on cash position (1.0 million), and the impacts related to disposal of assets (- 73.0 million).

The accounts were audited by the statutory auditors and examined by the board of directors on March 16, 2021. The statutory auditor's report is in the process of being issued. The statements and detailed presentation of annual results are available on the corporate site at corporate.virbac.com.

Thanks to the constant mobilization of the Virbac teams for animal health and the resilience of the sector, we observed annual revenue of 934.2 million compared to 938.3 million over the same period in 2019, corresponding to an overall change of +1.8% excluding Sentinel (-0.4% at real exchange rates and scope). Excluding the negative effect of exchange rates and Sentinel, revenue increased by +5.7% (+3.2% at constant rates and at real scope). Contributions at constant exchange rates are positive for activities as a whole, except for the United States which has been greatly impacted by the Covid-19 crisis and has fallen slightly, excluding Sentinel, and the impact of shortages of dog and cat vaccines, which resulted in a significant loss over the year. It should be noted that the pet business is generally growing by +0.4% at constant rates and +5.5% excluding Sentinel (-1.6% at real exchange rates and scope), mainly driven by the double-digit growth of pet food, specialties, dermatology and hygiene ranges that compensate for the decrease in vaccine ranges (due to shortages), antibiotics and dental ranges. The food producing animals segment also shows strong growth of +6.6% at constant rates (+0.4% at real exchange rates and scope), mainly driven by the ruminant sector; while aquaculture, which has suffered greatly from the consequences of Covid-19, is down compared to the same period in 2019.

The current operating income before depreciation of assets arising from acquisitions amounts to 128.9 million, up compared to 2019 (122.4 million). It should be noted that, excluding the negative effect of exchange rates, which had an impact of 10.5 million, growth stood at +13.8% compared to 2019. This improvement in performance of 0.8 points (1.4 points at constant exchange rates) as a ratio of revenue, is explained on the one hand, by the excellent performance of our sales, which led to a significant improvement in our gross margin with a favorable mix of our products, and on the other hand, by a strong reduction and good control of expenses related to the Covid-19 situation, for which we estimate the impact around 15 million (virtualization of seminars, conferences, events, halting travel in many countries, reduction of marketing expenses, and limitation in our R&D expenses, particularly due to delays and shifts in certain programs). It should be noted that in 2020, the impact on the ratio of current operating income, before depreciation of assets arising from acquisitions over revenue from the divestment of Sentinel is limited to approximately 1 point, given the good level of sales of Sentinel over the first half of the year.

Current net income (net consolidated income adjusted for non-recurring expenses and income and for non-current taxes) totalled 78.3 million, up 23.5% over 2019. This improvement in current net income is explained by the reasons given above, in particular the growth of the business and gross margins, a very strong control of costs, and the net decrease in financial expenses which amount to 10.4 million, compared to 20.3 million in the previous financial year, due to the repayment of loans and lines of credit following the collection of the proceeds of the divestment of the rights of the Sentinel range.

Net income - Group share amounted to 137.5 million in 2020, compared to 51.5 million in the previous year (+166.7%), i.e. an improvement of 86 million at real rates mainly explained by the divestment of Sentinel (representing net proceeds of 66.5 million), as well as good operational performance in 2020.

From a financial standpoint, our net debt is at - 63.4 million, down by 431.8 million compared to December 31, 2019 at real rates, and 71.9 million at constant rates and scope. This positive net cash position benefited from the impact of the divestment of Sentinel (363.3 million), as well as the absence of dividend payment by Virbac SA in respect to the 2019 results and a strict control of the working capital requirement and investments that contributed to the debt reduction. Thus, the Group is in compliance with the financial ratio (Net debt/EBITDA), which is -0.29 versus 3.75, which was the maximum limit set at the end of December 2020 as part of the financial covenant.

Outlook

The animal health sector demonstrated very good resilience in 2020, which contributed to limiting the impact on our business. Although the fundamentals of our industry remain robust, the health crisis could have an impact on our activities in 2021, depending on its duration, geographical expansion and the resulting economic and social consequences. However, and as explained previously, we have implemented a set of measures and daily management in order to prevent and limit potential impacts (crisis management system, supply chain and stock management policies, readjustment of the targets of our safety stocks, business continuity plans of industrial sites, sourcing diversification policies and strengthening relationships with our strategic suppliers, etc.). In addition, our global presence in terms of geographic areas and species, our highly diversified product portfolio, our different distribution channels, the very strong responsiveness and adaptability of our teams through our organizational model, as well as the robustness of our financial situation are assets that will enable us to face the financial consequences of this pandemic. However, we remain vigilant to developments in the situation in the coming months, and are mobilized to address them.

It should be noted that the early July 2020 divestment of the Sentinel brands (for which we will continue to manufacture the Sentinel Spectrum formulation at our US site in Bridgeton), is expected to result in a revenue decrease of approximately US$55 million and a decrease in the Ebita2 to revenue ratio of approximately 3 points on a pro forma full-year basis at the time of the divestment.

As a continuation of the execution of our strategic plan, in 2021, we anticipate a growth in revenue at constant rates and scope of between 3% and 5% (i.e. between 0% and 2% at constant rates and real scope), as well as a ratio of "current operating income, before depreciation of assets arising from acquisitions" over "revenue" which should be between 10% and 12% at constant exchange rates. Lastly, as indicated in September, 2020, we are starting a transition phase over the 2021-2022 period. Our investment level could be around 60 million per year over these two financial years. In addition, at the next general meeting of shareholders, a net dividend of 0.75 per share will be proposed for the 2020 financial year.

Lastly, as a result of the commitments made by Elanco to the European Commission in connection with the acquisition of Bayer's animal health division, we obtained in February 2021 the rights to Elanco's early stage development programs for parasiticide products. In addition, we have also obtained a contribution to development costs, as well as the worldwide rights to two products for pets (Itrafungol and Clomicalm) whose revenue is around 11 million in a full year. These asset acquisitions should have a limited impact on the Ebita2 and do not call into question our outlook for 2021.

2Ebita: Current operating income before depreciation of assets arising from acquisitions

ANALYSTS' PRESENTATION - VIRBAC

We will hold an analysts meeting on Thursday, March 18, 2021 at 2:30 p.m. (Paris time - CET) by videoconferencing.

Access the webcast ( video + slides) via the link below.

Information for participants:

Webcast access link: https://bit.ly/3uynLCS

This access link is available on the corporate.virbac.com site, under the heading 'financial press releases'. This link allows participants to access the live and/or archived version of the webcast.

You will be able to ask questions via chat (text) directly during the webcast or after watching the replay at the following email address: finances@virbac.com.

Focusing on animal health, from the beginning

At Virbac, we provide innovative solutions to veterinarians, farmers and animal owners in more than 100 countries around the world. Covering more than 50 species, our range of products and services enables to diagnose, prevent and treat the majority of pathologies. Every day, we are committed to improving animals' quality of life and to shaping together the future of animal health.

Virbac: NYSE Euronext - compartment A - ISIN code: FR0000031577/SYMBOL: VIRP

Financial Affairs Department: tel. 04 92 08 71 32 - email: finances@virbac.com - Website: corporate.virbac.com

Attachment
The Basic Payment deadline is May 17. Philip OConnor, Head of Farm Support at ifac, advises farmers not to leave the application until the last minute.



The 17th of May is one of the most important dates in the farming year - the deadline for declaring the land you are farming in the year 2021 and therefore receive your Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) monies in October/December.



BPS is crucial to the financial viability of a lot of farms in Ireland. It can be an incredibly stressful time for farmers if this application is incorrect and monies are withheld next Oct/Dec.

Some basic questions farmers should ask themselves and their Agri advisors before submitting applications:

Am I farming more/less land than last year?

Am I leasing in/out land that wasnt previously on an application?

If leasing in/out new land have I leased in/out the BPS correctly with this land?

Have you bought/ sold/ inherited/ gifted land in the last year  have I transferred in BPS correctly?

Have I declared all of the land I am farming correctly on my BPS application?

Have I changed the farming structure  limited company, registered farm partnership, joint herd number?

If so I must transfer BPS to the new structure  always seek accountants advice on how to transfer BPS, so as not to inadvertently incur taxes

Have I declared all of the land correctly in the name of the new business structure?

The best advice to farmers at this time when completing a BPS application is to employ a good Agri advisor to help you complete your application.
Lucknow, March 17 : In yet another letter to Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, BJP MLA Alka Rai, widow of slain MLA Krishnanand Rai, has urged her not to shield BSP MLA Mukhtar Ansari, who is lodged in Ropar jail.

Rai has accused the Punjab government of blatantly providing protection to Mukhtar Ansari who is an accused in the murder of her husband Krishnanand Rai in 2005 .

She further expressed her agony and struggle while fighting for justice for the past 14 years.

Rai, in her letter, said that several like her have been anxiously waiting for Ansari to be punished for his criminal activities and urged Gandhi to show some sensitivity towards the suffering of common people.

Alka Rai has said that Congress and its government in Punjab has been shielding and treating the dreaded gangster like a 'state guest'.

Rai further accused Punjab Jail Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa of enjoying hospitality of notorious criminal Mukhtar Ansari during his trip to Lucknow and also expressed threat to her life from the jailed politician.

"We are all suffering. If anything, untoward happens, you (Priyanka Gandhi Vadra) and your party (Congress) will be responsible," Rai said.

She further questioned the intentions of Priyanka Gandhi behind shielding such "gangsters who are not only a threat to the society but are detrimental to the tranquillity and harmony of the entire nation".

Alka Rai had written a similar letter to Priyanka Gandhi in October last year but got no response.
Supplier News

16 March 2021

Deep Blue Communications, a Comcast Business company, today announced a partnership with Island Hospitality Management to provide a reliable managed Wi-Fi solution for 10,623 rooms in 16 hotels across 21 states and the District of Columbia, helping the hotel management company to reduce operational complexities, lower costs, and keep guests better connected.

Since its founding in 1986, Island Hospitality Management  an independent, third-party hotel management company headquartered in West Palm Beach, Florida  has aimed to accommodate ever-changing guest needs. For the last decade-plus, this has meant easy access to fast and reliable Wi-Fi from anywhere in a hotel.

The company manages 144 hotels across all major brands, so Wi-Fi vendors must be certified according to each individual hotel brand's standards. After Island Hospitality's list of approved Wi-Fi providers has grown to eight separate organizations, it needed a consolidated solution to reduce the complexities associated with multiple vendors. Deep Blue Communications  a Comcast Business company that combines the power and reliability of Comcast Business' advanced technology with award-winning managed Wi-Fi solutions  was one of the few vendors in the industry certified with multiple hotel brands, including Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt and Wyndham.

Consolidating vendors and using Deep Blue Communications as one of its preferred Wi-Fi solution vendors has saved Island Hospitality Management on its monthly maintenance and monitoring costs and allows it to provide guests with reliable uptime, giving them the high-speed Wi-Fi access they need to stay connected.

"Island Hospitality's goal is to achieve superior results for its owners through our unique approach to hospitality management, and that includes providing guests with a seamless way to stay in touch with work and family via reliable in-hotel Wi-Fi," said Marc Winer, VP of Hotel Technology. "By partnering with Deep Blue Communications and Comcast Business, we gained access to not only a reliable Wi-Fi solution, but also their vast knowledge of the hospitality industry and its standards."

"As the hospitality industry is faced with heightened guest expectations and a challenging economic climate, hotels must rely on technology to deliver great customer experiences and gain a competitive advantage through improved operations," said Brian Epstein, CEO, Deep Blue Communications, a Comcast Business company. "With our support, Island Hospitality Management has freed up its management team to focus on the higher goals of guest service and customer satisfaction while being confident that guests have access to reliable Wi-Fi throughout their hotel."

About Comcast Business

Comcast Business offers Ethernet, Internet, Wi-Fi, Voice, TV and Managed Enterprise Solutions to help organizations of all sizes transform their business. Powered by an advanced network, and backed by 24/7 customer support, Comcast Business is one of the largest contributors to the growth of Comcast Cable. Comcast Business is the nation's largest cable provider to small and mid-size businesses and has emerged as a force in the Enterprise market; recognized over the last two years by leading industry associations as one of the fastest growing providers of Ethernet services.

For more information, call 866-429-3085. Follow on Twitter @Comcast Business and on other social media networks at http://business.comcast.com/social.

About Island Hospitality

Headquartered in West Palm Beach, Fla., Island Hospitality Management, Inc, is an independent third-party, management company. It operates 144 hotels under eighteen different brands, primarily premium branded select-service hotels, upscale, extended-stay properties, and upscale hotels, in 32 states and the District of Columbia.
Arthur Hayes, founder and former CEO of BitMEX, says he will surrender to U.S. authorities to face charges the cryptocurrency derivatives exchange facilitated unregistered trading and other violations.

Under a proposal sent to Judge John G. Koeltl at the U.S. District Court in New York Tuesday and agreed upon with the U.S. in principle, Hayes would be allowed release on a $10 million personal recognizance bond secured by $1 million in cash and co-signed by his mother.

Hayes intends to surrender in Hawaii on April 6, where the local FBI office would transport him to the courthouse. He would be allowed to keep his passport and stay at his home in Singapore and have pre-approved travel to the U.S.

Related: Meitu Buys More Bitcoin and Ether, Bringing Total Holdings to $90M

Following his initial court appearance, Hayes would stay in Hawaii for a quarantine period before returning to Singapore. Later in the court process, he says he would travel to New York for court appearances and meetings with lawyers.

In October, BitMEX and co-founders Hayes, Samuel Reed and Ben Delo were charged with violating the Bank Secrecy Act and conspiracy to violate the act by the U.S. Department of Justice.

See also: BitMEX Founder Ben Delo Surrenders to US Authorities

At the same time, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission alleged that BitMEX received some $11 billion in bitcoin deposits and made more than $1 billion in fees while conducting significant aspects of its business from the U.S. and accepting orders and funds from U.S. customers.

Related: When DeFi Becomes Intelligent

Hayes and other co-founders left their executive positions at BitMEX a week later. Delo pleaded not guilty after surrendering to authorities on Monday.

Related Stories
STRATFORD  Cakes and cars were on the agenda this week as the town welcomed two new businesses to Barnum Avenue.

Cakes by Sonia, at 2067 Barnum Ave., is owned by Sonia Diaz, who was born and raised in Bridgeport and now lives in Stratford.

Diaz said shes been baking for about nine years, first at Food Bazaar in Bridgeport, then at other businesses, before branching out on her own.

She first opened her business down Barnum Avenue in Bridgeport in late 2019  not the greatest timing in retrospect.

It was like three months in and then we just had to lock down, Diaz said. I was not expecting a pandemic would happen right in the beginning. That was my first year in business and that was a big surprise.

Ned Gerard / Hearst Connecticut Media

Ned Gerard / Hearst Connecticut Media

She said she saw the vacancy at her current location and figured it would be a nice place for the business.

I kept passing by all the time and I would always look at this corner and think, This would be the perfect spot, she said.

Diaz said business has been good so far.

Her custom-made cakes are popular, as well as cupcakes, a full assortment of which were on display Tuesday  coconut, banana, strawberry, carrot, marble, green velvet, Oreo, triple chocolate, just to name a few flavors.

And if youre a fan of the confectionery fragrance, youll want to stop by.

Were always baking in the back, so as soon as you walk in, youre going to get the smell, Diaz said.

Ned Gerard / Hearst Connecticut Media

Across Thompson Street, CARite of Stratford has opened in the space formerly occupied by Barry Oldsmobile-Cadillac opposite Mikes Motors  but dont think the employees there are going to sell you a car.

We Do Not Sell Cars! a sign announces to prospective customers. OUR GUESTS BUY ONE.

The business promises zero haggling prices without hidden fees, free vehicle histories  and no salespeople.

Ned Gerard / Hearst Connecticut Media

Were not car people, said James Kellerman, store leader. If you would have talked to me a year ago, I would have been selling you Sleep Number beds.

Customers can come to the business and get a list of vehicles for sale before taking one for a test drive to see if they want to buy. Or if you know what you want, you can choose online and have it delivered to your door after arranging financing.

The dealership has room for 108 cars  they specialize in Toyota, Hyundai, Honda and Nissan but carry other makes and models as well. Kellerman said theyve been selling electric cars in particular lately  five to seven Chevy Volts every month.

The Stratford location is one of two in Connecticut  the flagship is in Windsor Locks  and 26 throughout the country.

CARite does basic service work in Stratford but will be looking to ramp up its service department as well as detailing.

Ned Gerard / Hearst Connecticut Media

Ned Gerard / Hearst Connecticut Media

Were working on it. Were building and building, Kellerman said. Right now were just trying to get our name out there and let people know its a nice easy, relaxed place to buy a car.

Mayor Laura Hoydick congratulated Diaz and Kellerman Tuesday before ceremonial ribbon-cuttings to welcome their businesses to town.

Im just really happy they invested in Stratford. Its nice to have new folks right across the street from each other, Hoydick said afterward. Its great for the neighborhood and right on the Post Road. I wish them a lot of success.

Ned Gerard / Hearst Connecticut Media

CARites rehabilitation of a once-vacant lot was also good to see, she said.

Its nice to have another car dealership in Stratford, because for a long time weve only had a few, Hoydick said. Its nice that this franchise has decided to reuse a property that was a car dealership and repurpose it, so thats great.
Border Patrol agents apprehend a group of illegal immigrants near downtown El Paso, Texas, on March 15, 2021. (Justin Hamel/AFP via Getty Images)

DHS Officials Warned Biden Transition Team About Revoking Trump Border Policies, Former Top Adviser Says

Career officials from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) warned then-President-elect Joe Bidens transition team that revoking President Donald Trumps border policies would have catastrophic consequences, according to Stephen Miller, who served as Trumps top adviser on immigration issues at the White House.

Bidens transition team was warned by career DHS officials that terminating our proven border security measures would lead to catastrophic consequences.  They ignored those warnings and voluntarily unleashed chaos, Miller wrote on Twitter on March 17.

By 2020defeating a flood of meritless years-long litigationwe had in place the most effective, rock-solid, profound border security measures ever realized. Biden inherited an unbeatable system. He then immediately shredded it & created this rapidly-escalating emergency.

Miller, who is now a senior adviser to Trump, made the remarks in response to a news report about Biden telling Central American migrants to stay in their communities and not make the trek to the United States to cross the border illegally.

I can say quite clearly: Dont come over, Biden told ABC News.

The Biden administration is facing a surge of illegal border crossings on pace to be the highest in two decades. The influx coincided with Biden taking office and swiftly revoking more than a dozen key Trump immigration measures.

Maybe nobody on his staff informed him, but Bidens DHS implemented nationwide Catch-and-Release, Miller wrote. Illegal migrants from all over the world, in ever-growing numbers, will descend on the border until the Trump policy of Detain-and-Remove is restored.

White House senior adviser Stephen Miller at an event at the White House on July 8, 2020. (Anna Moneymaker-Pool/Getty Images)

Trump criticized Bidens border agenda in an interview aired on Fox News on March 16, particularly lamenting the decision to halt the construction of his signature wall on the southern border.

They should finish it, Trump said about the wall. But theyre destroying our country. People are coming in by the hundreds of thousands.

Biden said theres been a surge of illegal immigrants over the past two years but agreed the current wave could be worse. The president said on March 16 that he doesnt currently plan to visit the border.

Officials in border states have said some illegal immigrants are testing positive for the CCP virus but arent being forced to stay in quarantine, stoking concerns about them spreading COVID-19.

Biden sent a contingent of officials earlier this month to view the situation on the ground. He hasnt offered a perspective on what they saw, and it isnt clear whether hes been briefed by them yet. White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters in Washington on March 15 that the administration feels it has a handle on the border situation.

We recognize this as a problem. Were focused on addressing it, Psaki said.

Bowen Xiao contributed to this report.
(@ChaudhryMAli88)

The Department of Defense views Russia's rising influence in South America as a threat to the national security of the United States and closely tracks Moscow's activities in the region, US Southern Command (SOCOM) chief Adm. Craig Faller said on Tuesday

WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 16th March, 2021) The Department of Defense views Russia's rising influence in South America as a threat to the national security of the United States and closely tracks Moscow's activities in the region, US Southern Command (SOCOM) chief Adm. Craig Faller said on Tuesday.

"Russia is actively engaging in this region to counter what it views as the US meddling in its near-abroad. Expanding air and sea access to project military power, it has agreements with Venezuela and Nicaragua that allow Russian warships to visit on short notice, "Faller said in a written testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Feller noted that Russia has increased its military presence in the region since 2008 by deploying strategic bombers and making port calls.

"Russia doubled its naval deployments in this region, going from five (2008-2014), to 11 (2015-2020)," he said.

In addition, Faller accused Russia as well as China, of using so-called "medical diplomacy" and using the current coronavirus pandemic to pursue its interests.

"COVID-19 has also provided Russia with another avenue by which to expand its campaign to outcompete the United States in the information domain," Feller said.

SOCOM has recently released an updated map of Russian influence in Latin America noting that Moscow provides military training assistance to 17 of the 31 states in the region. The US has seen the deployment of three strategic bombers, more than 40 port calls and 23 visits by head of state between Russia and regional countries.

US military also consider Russian media presence in the region to be an aspect of influence, noting that more than 489 articles allegedly distorting the US defense engagements since 2018 have been written.

Russia has repeatedly refuted the US accusations of attempting to increase its military presence in Latin America.
She often displays her stunning sense of style with her work ensembles.

And Amanda Holden was at it again on Wednesday as she put on a leggy display while leaving work at Global Studios in London.

The presenter, 50, looked incredible in a powder blue mini skirt as she strutted down the street following her shift at Heart FM.

Strutting her stuff: Amanda Holden put on a leggy display while leaving work at Global Studios in London on Wednesday

Amanda oozed confidence as she walked, while showcasing her endless pins in the thigh-skimming number.

The star teamed her skirt with a cable knit white jumper which featured a pretty floral pattern and a cut-out detail at the chest.

The Britain's Got Talent star boosted her height with a pair of pointed nude heels and added a delicate pair of gold earrings to her look.

Style Queen: The presenter, 50, looked incredible in a powder blue mini skirt as she strutted down the street following her shift at Heart FM

Rounding off her effortlessly chic attire, Amanda donned a pair of white rimmed sunglasses and carried her essentials in a blue handbag that perfectly matched her skirt.

Amanda, who kept her blonde tresses loose and rocked a simple palette of make-up, also appeared to be holding a mini stuffed giraffe and monkey.

Keen to show off her fabulous outfit more, Amanda later took to her Instagram where she shared a Boomerang of herself strutting up and down the offices at Global studios.

Simply fabulous: Amanda certainly turned heads as she made a stylish arrival to work at Heart FM

If you've got it: Amanda oozed confidence as she walked, while showcasing her endless pins in the thigh-skimming number

The TV personality was in her element as she flashed a sultry look and walked confidently towards the camera.

She also took to her stories to give a further glimpse of her work attire, where she tagged the brands she wore and her stylists.

It comes after Amanda recently shed light on how she goes about selecting her daring ensembles for Britain's Got Talent.

Walk this way: Keen to show off her fabulous outfit more, Amanda later took to her Instagram where she shared a Boomerang of herself strutting up and down the offices at Global studios

The TV judge famously racked up 235 Ofcom complaints during last year's BGT for a very risque dress; but she remains defiant in her wardrobe choices.

Amanda said she seeks advice from her husband, record producer Chris Hughes, and her daughter, Lexi, 15, when selecting her ensembles.

She said: 'If I'm trying on outfits for shows I'll say to Lexi, "Is there too much side-boob?" or "Is this too much?" and she'll grin and say, "Go for it, Mum".

Wow: The TV personality was in her element as she flashed a sultry look and walked confidently towards the camera

Best foot forward: Amanda looked amazing as she once again showed off her work attire on social media

'I'll ask Chris if I'm looking like mutton and he says, "Mandy, you could never look like mutton." It's positive affirmation that we women need.

'My mum loves it. She just laughs about it. So does my daughter.'

Speaking to the Mail On Sunday's YOU Magazine, Amanda was more than happy to chat about how comfortable she is being naked.

Work it: She also took to her stories to give a further glimpse of her work attire, where she tagged the brands she wore and her stylists

Chatting about cooking her family a roast recently, she said: 'I was quite literally the Naked Chef. I got out of the shower, realised I was running late to get everything on the table so I didn't bother to get dressed.

'I just raced downstairs, got the potatoes on, the meat in the oven and my veggie option. It definitely made it more interesting.'

Chris, Lexi, and younger daughter Hollie, nine, didn't seem to care, she added.

'No one noticed. It's absolutely par for the course for me to be walking around with no clothes on in our house.

'Obviously now Lexi's a bit older she does a bit of eye-rolling every now and again, but they're all very used to me.'
A 21-year-old man who suffered a medical emergency during firefighter training in upstate New York died nine days after being stricken.

Peyton Morse died at Guthrie Hospital in Sayre, Penn., according to fire officials. 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. He had been working with a breathing apparatus when he became unresponsive and was taken to the hospital in nearby Pennsylvania, according to WWNY-TV.

Firefighter Morse remained in the ICU fighting for his life with his wife and family beside him, Watertown Fire Chief Matthew Timerman said in a news release. Peytons entire life was dedicated to helping people and we would want all of us to continue his mission in life.

Morse had previously been an associate member of a fire department in suburban Albany.

Police and state officials are investigating the incident.

Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics New York
Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies Ludovic Orban declared on Wednesday that a working group formed at the level of the governing coalition is working on amending the legislation regarding the functioning of public television and radio, one of the proposals being to separate the positions of Managing Director and President of the Board of Directors.

"There is a working group that has been set up, that is working and that has until Monday to formulate proposals regarding the legislation on the functioning of television and radio. There has been a bill that was adopted, which was challenged by us at the Constitutional Court, there were certain elements of unconstitutionality, it cleared again Parliament, it was sent for promulgation, the President of Romania formulated a request for re-examination. This is the stage we are at," said Orban, at the Palace of the Parliament.

He added that one of the legislative changes could be to separate the position of Managing Director from that of President of the Board of Directors in the two institutions."In fact, this is provided for in the legislative proposal that cleared Parliament and is now being debated as a result of the request for re-examination. The problem is the distribution of powers between the President of the Board and the Managing Director, what the procedure for appointment of the President of the Board of Directors and the Managing Director is," Orban affirmed.Orban said he had not yet ruled on the appointment to the two positions, (meaning) whether Parliament should do so."I have a point of view. On the other hand, I have given this topic to our representatives who know the issue and generally have the ability to formulate proposals that we will later analyze and decide within the coalition, next week," Orban concluded.

AGERPRES
Tyranny Will Be Richer Than Freedom, UK Foreign Secretary Warns

Democracy is in retreat in the world as tyrannical regimes accumulate more economic prowess than free countries, Britains Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab warned on Wednesday.

In a speech at the Aspen Security Conference, Raab said that the combined GDP of autocratic regimes is expected to exceed that of the worlds democracies within this decade.

Just take a second to think about what that means, he said.

Tyranny is richer than freedom. And that matters to us here at home because we know stable, freedom-respecting, democracies are much less likely to go to war, to house terrorists, or to trigger large-scale flows of immigration.

Chinese soldiers sit atop tanks as they drive in a parade to celebrate the 70th Anniversary of the founding of the Peoples Republic of China in 1949, at Tiananmen Square in Beijing, on Oct. 1, 2019. (Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)

Raab hailed the UKs Integrated Foreign Policy Review, unveiled by Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Tuesday, as the countrys international strategy for this decade and beyond.

Though the Review still sees Russia as the top security threat, China is now seen as the primary threat to economic security and as a long-term systemic competitor.

The review says that the UK will invest in enhanced China-facing capabilities, and improve its response to the systemic challenge that it poses to our security, prosperity and valuesand those of our allies and partners.

Raab said that Britain will adapt our defence posture to the new shift in the balance of world power towards the Indo-Pacific region.

Youll begin to see that this year, he said, citing the upcoming deployment of the Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth to the Pacific later this year.

HMS Queen Elizabeth berthed on Loch Long on March 15, 2021, in Glenmallen, Scotland. (Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

He said Britain identifies with those countries lining the South China Sea whose legitimate claims have come under recent threat from China.

Raab also said Britain took the bold step to issue an invitation to this country to the people of Hong Kong, oppressed by Beijing.

He said the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus pandemic had exposed the weaknesses of the UKs supply chain model, as every country around the world queued up for PPE and other vital goods from China and a small number of other mass-producing countries.

Of course, we embrace the power of the market and we value our trade with China. But we will also develop new partnerships with existing allies, and other High Trust Vendors, Raab said in apparent reference to the UKs past reliance on Chinese telecom giant Huawei.

The British government initially planned to use Huawei equipment in its 5G network, but made an abrupt U-turn in July 2020 and banned Huawei kit under U.S. pressure.

We will work with the likes of Estonia and Norway, India and Israel, Singapore and South Korea, and many others, to diversify our supply chains from manufacturing to tech, to shore up our economic resilience, said Raab.

Simon Veazey and Mary Clark contributed to this report.
17 March 2021 11:30 CET

ArcelorMittal ('the Company') today announces it is launching the 'XCarb innovation fund', which anticipates investing up to $100 million annually in companies developing technologies with the potential to support and accelerate the transition to net zero carbon steelmaking. The fund is a part of ArcelorMittal's wider XCarb sustainability initiative launched today to drive progress towards carbon neutral steel.

To be eligible for funding, companies must be developing directly applicable, commercially scalable technologies that offer strong potential to decarbonise the steelmaking process.

The fund will be governed by an investment committee, comprising senior executive management members from functions and segments across the Company's global operations and chaired by the CEO.

The 'XCarb innovation fund' will invest in a diversified portfolio of companies to ensure it captures the best and most important technologies under development.

Commenting, Aditya Mittal, CEO, ArcelorMittal, said:

"Having set a target of reaching net zero by 2050, progressing our efforts to reduce the carbon intensity of the steel we produce is central to our long-term strategy. The heart of these efforts lie in the work we are undertaking to develop and deploy several breakthrough steelmaking technologies. We believe these can make carbon-neutral steelmaking a reality. Deployment of the technologies is progressing well, with industrial scale pilot plants scheduled to commence production next year.

"The fund we have launched today adds an exciting, complementary new element to our CO 2 technology strategy. We will be seeking to support emerging companies that are pioneering new potentially transformative technologies. It is a further sign of our commitment to aiding the development of technologies which can help to support the decarbonisation of our company and our industry."

ENDS

About ArcelorMittal

ArcelorMittal is the world's leading steel and mining company, with a presence in 60 countries and primary steelmaking facilities in 17 countries. In 2020, ArcelorMittal had revenues of $53.3 billion and crude steel production of 71.5 million metric tonnes, while iron ore production reached 58.0 million metric tonnes.

Our goal is to help build a better world with smarter steels. Steels made using innovative processes which use less energy, emit significantly less carbon and reduce costs. Steels that are cleaner, stronger and reusable. Steels for electric vehicles and renewable energy infrastructure that will support societies as they transform through this century. With steel at our core, our inventive people and an entrepreneurial culture at heart, we will support the world in making that change. This is what we believe it takes to be the steel company of the future.

ArcelorMittal is listed on the stock exchanges of New York (MT), Amsterdam (MT), Paris (MT), Luxembourg (MT) and on the Spanish stock exchanges of Barcelona, Bilbao, Madrid and Valencia (MTS).

For more information about ArcelorMittal please visit: http://corporate.arcelormittal.com/
Joe Biden had a neat, nine-point plan for energy when he campaigned for president. He started putting this plan into action on his first day in the White House with the cancellation of the notorious Keystone XL pipeline and has since then continued with his tough stance on fossil fuels.

The argument that this tough stance will, in fact, benefit oil producers has been made since the campaign trail. It went like this: Bidens fight for less oil and gas and more renewable energy will hurt U.S. oil and gas producers, but it will not reduce American demand for oil and gas, hence it will benefit the industry, just not the U.S. industry.

The argument makes sense, and there is plenty of proof: after canceling the Keystone XL, Alberta oil producers increased the amount of oil they sent to U.S. refineries by raila less safe method of transporting crude, by the way. Bidens moratorium on new oil and gas leases on federal land was one of the factors that pushed oil prices higher earlier this year. And the Biden administrations attitude to Saudi Arabia may have contributed to the Kingdoms decision to extend its voluntary oil production cuts that contributed to the latest price rally.

That last point was recently made by Schork Group principal Stephen Schork to Fox News. Schork said that in addition to making it clear that oil and gas were no longer a priority for the government (except in negative terms), Bidens treatment of Saudi Arabia had resulted in higher prices.

Related Video: Why The Oil & Gas Rig Count Matters

On the closer front of what weve seen, the biggest impact that Biden has had on prices bullishly has been his treatment of Saudi Arabia, Schork said. There was [a] surprise two weeks ago when Saudi Arabia took a more hawkish view at the OPEC meeting, and oil prices surged after that surprise decision.

But higher prices may be just the beginning of the U.S. Presidents problems with the oil and gas industry. In his energy plan, Bidens team noted the creation of millions of new jobs in clean energy and infrastructure. There is, however, not a word about the jobs that may end up lost in oil and gas. Some of these jobs are certainly transferable from the oil and gas industry to solar and wind, for instance, as we saw during the 2014 oil price crisis. Yet the question of whether all jobs will be transferable remains open.

Youre not hurting the big guys that are doing all the development. Youre hurting these little guys that are dreaming up where no one else thought there was any oil and gas, one U.S. oil industry executive told the AP recently, commenting on President Bidens crusade against the oil and gas industry. Related: Are Analysts Underestimating Chinese Oil Demand?

Indeed, this industry grew in new and unexpected ways thanks to the shale boom from the last couple of decades. Where before independents were few and far between, the shale revolution led to a surge in oil and gas independents, most of them, as the land manager for family-owned Kirkwood Oil & Gas quoted above said, too small to fight with the government.

Many in the industry prepared for the crusade, however, the AP reports also notes. The report quoted an executive from Devon Energy as telling investors that Devon would roll with the punches and that it had stocked up 500 drilling permits. Devon is unlikely to be the only one prepared.

And yet, many small players will go under. This will lead to a decline in local oil production, especially as the permits begin to run out. And this will naturally lead to even higher oil pricesand gas prices at the pumpfor American consumers. Chances are this will happen before demand begins to decline permanently as EVs and renewable power generation become dominant over fossil fuel cars and power plants. This will be an unpleasant time for many, but in all fairness, nobody said the energy transition will be easy or cheap.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
Law enforcement personnel are seen outside a massage parlor where a person was shot and killed on March 16, 2021, in Atlanta, Georgia. ELIJAH NOUVELAGE/AFP via Getty Images

The Atlanta spa shootings suspect was travelling to Florida when he was taken into custody, Atlanta's mayor said on Wednesday.

She said he was on his way to "perhaps to carry out additional shootings."

Robert Aaron Long, 21, was arrested in connection to the shootings on Tuesday.

Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

The suspect in Atlanta-area shootings that left eight people dead on Tuesday night was traveling to Florida before being taking into custody by police, and may have been on his way "to perhaps to carry out additional shootings," Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms said at a press conference on Wednesday.

"This could have been significantly worse," Bottoms said of the shootings at three massage parlors in the Atlanta metro area.

Robert Aaron Long, 21, was arrested in connection to the shootings on Tuesday following a car chase south of Atlanta.

The shootings took place at three businesses in two locations. The first was at Young's Asian Massage Parlor in Cherokee County, where four people were killed, the second was at Gold Spa in Atlanta, where three women were killed, and the third was at the nearby Aromatherapy Spa, where one person was killed.

While the victims who were killed in Atlanta have not yet been identified, those who died in Cherokee County were named by the local sheriff's office on Wednesday morning.

Delaina Ashley Yaun, 33, Paul Andre Michels, 54, Xiaojie Yan, 49, and Daoyou Feng, 44, were identified as the victims killed at Young's Asian Massage Parlor, according to WSBTC. A fifth person, 30-year-old Elcias Hernandez, was injured in the shooting and is in stable condition.

Law enforcement said that six of the eight victims were Asian women. The other two victims were a white woman and a white man.

Officials have not revealed a motive in the shooting but said at Wednesday's press conference that Long told investigators that he had previously been to the massage parlors where the shootings took place.

Story continues

Officials also said that Long claimed to have a sex addiction.

The shooting occurred as the United States is facing a wave of hate crimes against Asian Americans.

Police said the investigation is still ongoing, and that it's too soon to say whether the killings were racially motivated.

Bottoms still, however, called out the spike in hate crimes against Asian Americans at Wednesday's press conference.

"We know that many of the victims, the majority of the victims, were Asian," she said. "We also know that this is an issue that's happening across the country. It is unacceptable, it is hateful, and it has to stop."

Read the original article on Insider
Cyber

What cyber risks will Biden's supply chain EO uncover?

As more details have emerged about the breach into federal agencies involving SolarWinds Orion, senior administration officials and analysts have started calling the incident a "supply chain attack." While the government continues to assess the scope and scale of that breach, the White House is now directing various executive departments to assess the risks in their respective supply chains.

The executive order calls for both 100-day immediate reviews of certain products -- such as semiconductors and high-capacity batteries -- as well as year-long sectoral supply chain reviews of the defense, health, transportation and agriculture industries, among others.

All these industries share a need for cybersecurity and the president has it made a point to call it out as a top priority. But what will various departments find when they examine the cybersecurity risks to their supply chains?

"Most likely what will happen is we will find what we already know which is that these industries are all incredibly cyber vulnerable," said Kathryn Waldron, a cybersecurity expert at the R Street Institute. "They're all incredibly attractive targets for malicious actors and that probably their cybersecurity is not as good as they think."

The White House will discover fundamental problems with the public and private sector's ability to assess their cybersecurity postures as well as a worsening workforce gap, according to analysts, former government officials and industry representatives.

"We don't really have a lot of great metrics or systems of measurement for cybersecurity and so I think actually determining whether or not an industry has a good cybersecurity posture in general is not something that we're really able to do well as a country both from a government standpoint but also maybe from an industry standpoint," Waldron continued.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology offers a cybersecurity assessment framework for organizations, but Waldron said frameworks are not always reliable because they can be implemented incorrectly and don't provide an understanding of how to adapt to new threats.

Chris White, a former contractor for the National Security Agency and now an executive at BlueVoyant, said the reviews will likely conclude that most industries lack the data to confirm they have sufficient cybersecurity controls protecting their supply chain.

"There will be a big fat goose egg of, well, we were able to understand that we know there's a problem, we know there is risk, but we have no insight into how to measure that risk" or how to reduce it, he told FCW.

White also argued the cybersecurity frameworks currently available are not up to par. In many cases, he said, they aim to establish "comprehensive, mutually-exclusive, perfect requirements," making them unwieldy and complicated to explain to the executives who will make decisions about how to invest in cybersecurity.

But he did praise NIST for making a framework understandable by everyone from low-level engineers to top executives.

"We all need to be reading from the same sheet of music," he said. "I think the call to action here is the need for a standard that solves the critical problem that NIST solved which was it can be universally interpreted by engineers at the low technical level, but  be boiled up into a very simple message surrounded by five concepts that any board anywhere can understand."

Another issue will be visibility, according to Blake Moore, formerly chief of staff for the Pentagon's CIO and now a vice president at Wickr. He described the various levels of a programmatic supply chain, starting at a developer creating a piece of software all the way to the integration of a system-of-systems.

"If you walk that chain back, it exponentially grows as far as the potential avenues of vulnerability as you move further down the supply chain," he said. "I think they're going to realize that visibility across the entire process needs to be clear and right now we simply don't have that."

The reviews aside, a senior administration official told reporters March 12 the White House is already planning to implement a policy that would label some consumer devices as having sufficient cybersecurity standards as well as a grading system for software companies that sell products to government. The policies are expected to be released through another executive order in the coming weeks.

Whether industry will accept the new regulations by executive order or try to challenge the administration's authority to enact such policies remains an open question.

Kevin Gronberg, vice president of policy and government affairs at Security Scorecard, a company that uses open-source data to assess the strength of an organization's cybersecurity, said the executive agencies have likely not been able to assess their vendors at an individual level just due to the large number of contractors.

"What are they going to see? They're going to see what everybody sees which is that there's a tremendous number of vendors and there's going to be a wide swath of those that are taking cybersecurity seriously and then there's going to be a select few that are not taking their security as seriously as they can or should," he said.

Another well documented issue in cybersecurity is the workforce gap.

Data compiled by CyberSeek, a project that tracks the cybersecurity workforce and is backed by NIST and the Department of Commerce, found that between October 2019 and September 2020 approximately 520,000 cybersecurity-related positions appeared in online job listings. By comparison, it estimated in the same time period that around 940,000 people held cybersecurity positions across the country.

"Not only do they not have the technical people, they don't have the operations and policy people," said Mike McConnell, the former director of the National Security Agency under President George H.W. Bush and director of national intelligence under President George Bush.

To fix that issue at a national level, McConnell said, the administration would need to fund scholarships. But funding students willing to study cybersecurity is not the only fix required.

"The civilian servant system that was created in the middle of the last century" isn't going to close the workforce gap, said Ron Sanders, formerly the chair of the Federal Salary Council. Sanders now works with McConnell as staff director of the Florida Center for Cybersecurity based at the University of South Florida in Tampa.

Public sector jobs in high-demand fields such as cybersecurity have traditionally paid less than the private sector, Sanders said, creating a situation where companies can effectively poach talent by offering higher salaries and reimbursing the government for a student's scholarship funding.

McConnell said part of the problem lies in senior officials who have not fully come to grips with how dependent the country is on digital infrastructure and the threats that a nation state or extremist group poses to it.

"As a nation, we have not yet embraced the full understanding of the significance of our vulnerability," he said.

This article first appeared on FCW, a Defense Systems partner site.
From left are Hana Financial Group Chairman Kim Jung-tai, Hana Bank CEO-nominee Park Sung-ho and Woori Bank CEO Kwon Kwang-seok. The three top executives will start or extend their leadership after receiving approvals from shareholders' meetings slated for next week. Courtesy of each firm



By Lee Min-hyung



Korea's major financial holding firms are bracing for shareholders' meetings next week amid concerns that their largest shareholder  the National Pension Service (NPS)  may exercise voting rights against key management objectives.



Some outstanding issues include the extension of leadership, the appointment of nonexecutive directors and a series of post-coronavirus issues  such as their decisions to reduce dividend payouts.



Most critical items are widely expected to pass during the upcoming meeting despite NPS opposition. But financial firms are in a touchy situation amid rising discontent from shareholders due to a recent decision by banks to reduce their dividend offerings in line with calls from authorities.



Starting with Shinhan Financial Group's planned meeting slated for March 25, other major financial firms  such as KB, Woori and Hana  will bring up issues to address discontent from shareholders over the dividend cut.



Shinhan plans to change part of its articles of association during the upcoming meeting, allowing the firm to provide dividends on a quarterly basis from the current year-end dividend policy.



This will enable Shinhan shareholders to receive dividends each quarter starting as early as the second half of 2021.



"This is part of our efforts to boost shareholder returns, even if specifics have not been confirmed as to when we will be able to start offering the quarterly dividends, as financial firms are asked to refrain from offering excessive dividends until the end of June," a Shinhan official said.



KB Financial Group, which will hold its shareholders' meeting on March 26, seeks to reappoint six of seven nonexecutive directors. The decision came amid widening financial uncertainties here and abroad in the aftermath of the global pandemic shock. KB is placing stability ahead of changes by maintaining its top management.



A top priority for Hana Financial Group is to confirm Chairman Kim Jung-tai's extension of term for another year. Last month, the group decided to recommend Kim to serve a fourth term as its leader, and the final decision will be made during the upcoming shareholders' meeting.



But it remains to be seen whether the NPS, the largest shareholder of Hana with more than a 9 percent stake in the group, will vote against Kim's leadership extension. The NPS is increasing its influence on major financial holding firms here by casting negative votes on their major agenda items  particularly on CEO appointments and dividend policies.



A group of civic groups here insist that the NPS should exercise its strong voting rights to block Kim's leadership extension.



Hana Financial Group will also discuss whether to allow Hana Bank CEO-nominee Park Sung-ho to become a non-executive board member during the shareholders' meeting.



Despite a possible negative vote from the NPS, chances remain slim that Kim and Park will fail to take on the posts, as foreign and institutional investors hold more than 50 percent of the group's shares, while the pension fund obtains less than a 10 percent stake.



Woori Financial Group will also push for a strengthened shareholders' return policy, as part of a key agenda for next week's general meeting of stockholders.



Under the plan, Woori will rebuild its internal capital structure to initiate a more stable and enhanced dividend payment policy right after the coronavirus-induced financial uncertainty comes to an end.



"The decision displays our willingness to push for a swift shareholder return policy after the COVID-19 shock subsides," an official from Woori said.



The decision reflects the so-called 20 percent dividend rule by the Financial Supervisory Service. Financial holding firms were pressed to set the upper limit of their dividend payout ratios at 20 percent under the regulator's recommendation. Woori along with KB and Hana abided by the rule and cut their 2020 dividends.



Woori will also confirm the extension of Woori Bank CEO Kwon Kwang-seok's leadership during the upcoming shareholders' meeting. Kwon took office as the leader of the bank in March 2020, and under a recent decision by Woori's CEO recommendation committee, he was named as the sole candidate who will lead the bank for another year until the end of March 2022.


It seems that we might not get a new Galaxy Note this year after all  the flagship line is not canceled, but the next phone in the series could be pushed back into 2022.

Reuters quotes an SVP at HMC Securities who predicts that the chip shortage could also impact Samsungs mid-range smartphones and its laptops. Even the automotive industry is impacted by this global chipset, to say nothing of the state of GPU production.

Samsung Galaxy S21 (left) and the Galaxy S20 FE (right)

Samsung is announced the new A52 and A72 today. According to SamMobile, the company will then launch the Galaxy Z Fold3 and Z Flip2 foldables in Q3, along with Wear OS smart watches. Then a Samsung Galaxy S21 FE is reportedly coming in Q4. There will be a handful of Galaxy M phones too. But no Galaxy Note.

Samsung has not made an official statement about when the next Galaxy Note might come. DJ Koh sounds committed to releasing one next year, but plans that far out are liable to change. There's no official confirmation that the FE wasn't a one-off either.

Source 1 | Source 2
A woman pick up a vial of AstraZeneca vaccine from the box "Tuesday" from a fridge while a box "Monday" is seen at left, in a vaccination center in Saint-Jean-de-Luz, southwestern France, Tuesday, March 16, 2021. With coronavirus cases rising in many places, governments faced the grimmest of dilemmas Tuesday: push on with a vaccine that is known to save lives or suspend use of AstraZeneca over reports of dangerous blood clots in a few recipients, even as the European regulator said there was "no indication" the shot was responsible. (AP Photo/Bob Edme)

First, France abruptly halted AstraZeneca vaccinations. Now, the French prime minister wants to get one as soon as he can.

With the virus rebounding from Paris to Budapest and beyond, European governments that rushed to suspend use of AstraZeneca vaccines after reports of blood clots are realizing the far-reaching impact of the move. And they suddenly seem eager for any signalor fig leafthat allows them to resume the shots.

That could come as soon as Thursday, when the European Medicines Agency releases initial results of its investigations into whether there is a connection between the vaccine and the blood clots. So far, the EMA and World Health Organization have said there's no evidence the vaccine is to blame.

But experts worry that the damage already has been done. The suspensions by Germany, France, Italy, Spain and others have fueled doubts about the oft-maligned AstraZeneca vaccine, and vaccination efforts in general, as the world struggles to vanquish the pandemic.

"There are thousands of new cases in Germany, France, Italy, etc. every day. If you are halting vaccination during this ongoing pandemic, you know that people will die," Michael Head, senior research fellow in global health at the University of Southampton, told The Associated Press.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen speaks during a media conference on the Commissions response to COVID-19 after a meeting of the College of Commissioners at EU headquarters in Brussels, Wednesday, March 17, 2021. The European Commission is proposing Wednesday to create a Digital Green Certificate to facilitate safe free movement inside the EU during the COVID-19 pandemic. (John Thys, Pool via AP)

While stressing the importance of investigating potentially dangerous side effects of a vaccine, he said, "It's totally possible to investigate the signals without stopping the vaccine rollout."

Some countries are sticking to the AstraZeneca vaccines. India has vowed to continue vaccinations, and Brazil's health minister on Wednesday will publicly receive the first doses of AstraZeneca bottled in the country.

New coronavirus cases grew 10% globally last week, driven by surges in Europe and the Americas, the WHO reported Wednesday, urging continued vaccinations.

Even before Thursday's EMA announcement, the president of the European Commission made it clear that the AstraZeneca vaccine will remain a pillar of the EU's vaccine strategy.

"I trust AstraZeneca, I trust the vaccines," Ursula von der Leyen said.

The vaccination centre at the Erfurt, Germany, exhibition centre is deserted on Tuesday, March 16, 2021. After the stopping of AstraZeneca vaccinations thousands of appointments are cancelled in Thuringia. According to the Thuringian Ministry of Health, the central vaccination centers in Gera and Erfurt are affected, where about 2800 vaccination appointments are cancelled per day. (Martin Schutt/dpa via AP)

Instead of addressing the vaccination suspensions that have divided the EU, von der Leyen focused on the drug company's supply problems and revived talk of export bans on vaccines made in the EU.

"AstraZeneca has unfortunately under-produced and under-delivered, and this painfully, of course, reduced the speed of the vaccination campaign," she told reporters.

Von der Leyen said the company originally pledged to deliver 90 million doses of its shot in the first three months of 2021, but later said it could only provide 40 million, then more recently only 30 million.

She said the EU still aims to vaccinate 70% of all adults by September.

But the suspensions of AstraZeneca shots in a cascading number of countries have served another setback to the EU's vaccination drive, which has been plagued by shortages and other hurdles and is lagging well behind the campaigns in Britain and the U.S. More than half of the EU's 15 million AstraZeneca doses so far are still in storage because of prior problems.

Pharmacist Rajan Shah prepares a syringe of the AstraZeneca vaccine at St John's Church, in Ealing, London, Tuesday, March 16, 2021. In recent days, countries including Denmark, Ireland and Thailand have temporarily suspended their use of AstraZeneca's coronavirus vaccine after reports that some people who got a dose developed blood clots, even though there's no evidence that the shot was responsible. The European Medicines Agency and the World Health Organization say the data available do not suggest the vaccine caused the clots. Britain and several other countries have stuck with the vaccine. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Almost as soon as France's president froze the vaccinations Monday, top French officials started worrying about the impact on public opinion in a country where many already viewed the AstraZeneca vaccine as second-class and where vaccine skepticism is broad - at a time when surging infections have again pushed intensive care units beyond capacity.

Prime Minister Jean Castex, who at age 55 and with no known underlying health problems is not eligible yet for a vaccination, said on national television Tuesday night that "it would be wise that I get vaccinated very quickly, as soon as the suspension is, I hope, lifted."

Castex said he wants to demonstrate to his fellow citizens "that vaccination is the exit door from this crisis."

Italy is toeing a similar line. Health Minister Roberto Speranza says European countries are hoping that the EMA on Thursday will deliver "the clarifications and reassurances necessary" to be able to resume administering the AstraZeneca vaccine "without hesitation."

A Red Cross volunteer, left, welcomes a man at a vaccination center where directions to follow to get the AstraZeneca or the Pfizer vaccine are shown in Saint-Jean-de-Luz, southwestern France, Tuesday, March 16, 2021. With coronavirus cases rising in many places, governments faced the grimmest of dilemmas Tuesday: push on with a vaccine that is known to save lives or suspend use of AstraZeneca over reports of dangerous blood clots in a few recipients, even as the European regulator said there was "no indication" the shot was responsible. (AP Photo/Bob Edme)

A woman receives a dose of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine at the Vaccine Village in Antwerp, Belgium on Tuesday, March 16, 2021. Belgium on Tuesday reaffirmed its support to AstraZeneca vaccines and said it will keep using it in its current vaccination campaign, amid raising concerns over its side effects and with growing number of EU countries deciding to protectively stop using it. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)

A woman leaves a vaccination center while a poster reads "No vaccination with AstraZeneca vaccine today" in Saint-Jean-de-Luz, southwestern France, Tuesday, March 16, 2021. With coronavirus cases rising in many places, governments faced the grimmest of dilemmas Tuesday: push on with a vaccine that is known to save lives or suspend use of AstraZeneca over reports of dangerous blood clots in a few recipients, even as the European regulator said there was "no indication" the shot was responsible. (AP Photo/Bob Edme)

In Germany, where eight cases of blood clots are under investigation, officials defended the decision to suspend vaccinations for further investigation but appeared ready to resume them soon. Health Ministry spokesman Hanno Kautz said Wednesday: "It's clear that the EMA decision is binding, and of course we will follow the EMA decision too."

Lithuania's president criticized its health minister's decision to suspend the shots, saying it causes "enormous damage to entire vaccination process."

The impact has reached beyond Europe, with people snubbing the AstraZeneca vaccine as subpar even when it is the only one available.

"The number of countries that have suspended the AstraZeneca vaccine has the potential to adversely impact vaccination rates," said Ivo Vlaev of Warwick Business School, member of a group in the U.K.'s National Health Service aiming at combating vaccine hesitancy. "The currently unspecified nature of the vaccine's side effects prompts people to imagine the worst case scenario. This is a powerful, emotional response."

The EMA says thousands of people across the EU develop blood clots every year for a variety of reasons and that there were no reports of increased clotting incidents in the clinical studies of the AstraZeneca vaccine. The company says there have been 37 reports of blood clots among the more than 17 million people who have received the vaccine across the EU and Britain.

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.
TRINIDAD and Tobago Unit Trust Corporation (UTC) executive director, Nigel Edwards, says the changes the 39-year-old financial institution is undergoing at this time are transformational.

The UTC is now in the middle of a three-year cycle of strategic changes that will culminate in 2023 and beyond, he said.
Lawton, OK (73501)

Today

Mainly clear. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low near 60F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

Mainly clear. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low near 60F. Winds light and variable.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold a meeting on Wednesday, March 17, with chief ministers of all states to take stock of the COVID-19 situation in the country. PM Modi will also review the ongoing vaccination drive against the coronavirus.

The meeting will be held via videoconferencing, where the Prime Minister will discuss the latest surge in COVID-19 cases in several states. The PM's meeting with CMs will be the first such since India launched the world's largest immunisation drive against the disease on January 16.

The primary agenda of this virtual meeting will be the recent surge in COVID-19 cases in different parts of the country. The meeting between PM Modi and the chief ministers will take place at 12.30 pm.

For the last six consecutive days, India has reported more than 20,000 cases of COVID-19 per day. And, this week on Sunday, the daily cases crossed the 26,000-mark for the first time since December 19 and sparked fears of a new wave of COVID-19.

Eight states have shown an upward trend in daily cases of coronavirus, according to health ministry data. The ministry said that Maharashtra remained the biggest contributor of COVID-19 cases in the tally followed by Punjab, Karnataka, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, and Haryana.

Owing to this surge in daily caseload, PM Modi is expected to reiterate that states must ensure strict adherence to health protocols, including social distancing and wearing of masks.

Separately, three new variants of COVID-19, from the UK, South Africa, and Brazil, have been reported so far in India, Minister of State for Health Ashwini Choubey told the Rajya Sabha. A 33-year-old man, currently admitted at LNJP Hospital, has become the first confirmed case of COVID-19 caused by the South Africa variant of coronavirus in Delhi.

Also read: Ambani bomb scare: NIA seizes Mercedes driven by Sachin Vaze, recovers number plate of explosives-laden SUV

Also read: Banking services hit across country due to 2-day bank strike
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With Covid-19 vaccination in full swing across the country, people facing sectors like the retail and trade are now seeking protection against the novel Retailers and traders, who are at risk of Covid-19 infection due to their constant exposure to public spaces, have urged the government to include them into the frontline workers list. The move, they argue, will boost the chances of a speedy recovery in the consumer retail sector.

Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) has approached the Union Health Minister Harsha Vardhan for inclusion of shop floor level employees in the sector in the ongoing vaccination drive. The body has also sought vaccines for all age groups of workers. Currently, apart from people above 60, only people above 45 years of age and with co-morbidities are being vaccinated.

Millions of people, who are working at trading and retailing businesses are at huge risk of Covid infection. We have urged the minister to help us vaccinate them. It will surely boost their morale and help in recovery of businesses, said Praveen Khandelwal, secretary general,

While the Covid vaccination drive is growing every week  with more number of people being vaccinated  data shows early half of all the frontline workers are yet to receive a jab. Till March 16, some 15 million frontline workers have received at least one dose of either of the vaccines, compared to the targeted 30 million workers. That suggests depending on government facilities alone will not be feasible for an additional group of workers like in the retail and trade sectors. represents some 40,000 trade associations and 70 million traders.

has proposed a hybrid model, where the government may bear a part of the vaccine cost (limited to Rs 250 per dose) so that business owners can get their employees vaccinated at private facilities. We are ready to fully cooperate with the government. We understand it will be difficult for them to vaccinate everybody at this point. So, a cost sharing model is also being worked out, said Khandelwal.

While the government is yet to assure traders and retailers, according to sources, the ministry is considering the proposals and may come out with a revised offer by the end of the month.

Retailers Association of India (RAI), a body representing 500,000 retail stores in the country, has written a letter to Rajesh Bhushan, secretary at the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare seeking inclusion of retail industry staff in the list of priority recipients of COVID vaccine.

The hard work, struggles, and risk of retail staff (frontline workers of the retail industry) must also be appreciated along with the frontline workers of the medical and the law enforcement staff. They too have to face hundreds of people in the course of dispensing their duties and run the risk of getting infected. We would like to seek your kind attention that an opportunity of getting vaccinated may be given to all those employees or salesmen of the retail stores who continue to serve the general public while risking their lives to ensure unhindered food, grocery, and essentials, it wrote.

Like RAI, CAIT has also argued in favour of vaccinating the frontline staff at consumer good outlets first. While, during the first phase of the lockdown, between late-March to end-April, last year most physical retail outlets were closed, those selling essentials like groceries were operational at limited capacity. Further, like e-commerce firms, neighbourhood kirana stores were delivering daily essentials at doorsteps in many locations, the association said.
On the Supreme Court decision on the petition filed against the Philippine's withdrawal from the Rome Statute

While the Supreme Court dismissed the petition questioning the validity of the Philippine government's withdrawal from the Rome Statute for being moot and academic, the High Court acknowledged the limitations on the power of the President as chief architect of foreign policy.

The petition was filed by me and minority senators Francis Pangilinan, Paolo Benigno Aquino IV, Leila de Lima, Risa Hontiveros, and Antonio Trillanes IV.

In the press statement issued by the Supreme Court: "The decision acknowledged that the President, as primary architect of foreign policy, is subject to the Constitution and existing statutes. Therefore, the power of the President to withdraw unilaterally can be limited by the conditions for concurrence by the Senate or when there is an existing law which authorizes the negotiation of a treaty or international agreement or when there is a statute that implements an existing treaty."

This is a clear recognition of the limitations of the power of the President with respect to foreign policy. Most striking is the acknowledgement that the power of the President to withdraw "unilaterally" can be subject to limitations by the Senate. It is a highly interesting decision and I will await the full text before I comment more extensively.
Perfectly fossilized plants found miles beneath ice in northwestern Greenland may shed some light on the history of the Earths climate.

A recent study reveals that the plantswhich were first unearthed by U.S. Army scientists in the 1960s and only recently re-observedmay indicate that the planet has previously undergone periods of warming climates.

Published on Science Direct, the study describes how University of Vermont scientist, Andrew Christ, was shocked to see plants and sediment in the frozen dirt that the U.S. Army scientists had sampled.

In taking a closer look at the sample, Christ and an international team of fellow scientists came to the conclusion that these plantsperhaps as part of a boreal forestwere able to grow after the first sheet of ice in Greenland melted.

Ice sheets typically pulverize and destroy everything in their path, explains Christ. But what we discovered was delicate plant structuresperfectly preserved. Theyre fossils, but they look like they died yesterday. Its a time capsule of what used to live on Greenland that we wouldnt be able to find anywhere else.

The study explains that, due to this, the ice may have entirely melted during increased periods of heat within the last million years.

The theory put forward by Christ and his team has gained backing from other parts of the scientific community. The National Science Foundation also supports this research, providing other samples of sediment from similar areas that provide the same conclusion. To that end, the scientists expressed urgent concern over what this new information in the context of modern-day climate change may imply.

This is not a twenty-generation problem, says Paul Bierman, a geoscientist at UVMs College of Arts & Sciences, Rubenstein School of Environment & Natural Resources, and fellow in the Gund Institute for Environment. This is an urgent problem for the next 50 years.
03/17/2021

Photo (c) Toshe_O - Getty Images Coronavirus (COVID-19) tally as compiled by Johns Hopkins University. (Previous numbers in parentheses.)

Total U.S. confirmed cases: 29,551,973 (29,445,075)

Total U.S. deaths: 536,978 (535,178)

Total global cases: 120,861,983 (120,002,856)

Total global deaths: 2,673,264 (2,675,102)

White House optimistic about vaccine progress

Week by week, the coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine roll out has picked up speed. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 37 percent of people in the U.S. over the age of 65 have been fully vaccinated.

The White House is most optimistic about this age groups willingness to take the vaccine. Andy Slavitt, a White House senior advisor for the virus response, told CNBC that the administration believes that nearly 90 percent of seniors will roll up their sleeves.

In many states, so many seniors have been vaccinated that eligibility is being expanded to other age groups. President Biden said he wants all American adults to be eligible for the vaccine by May 1.

Vaccine appears to help long haulers

Over the last year, doctors have expressed concern about some of their COVID-19 patients who recover from the virus but continue to suffer from some of its symptoms. They have been dubbed long-haulers.

But now theres some good news. The Washington Post reports that some of these patients have overcome their lingering symptoms after getting a vaccination.

One 34-year-old patient told the newspaper that her symptoms were gone thirty-six hours after her second shot of a coronavirus vaccine last month, and they havent returned. Doctors say they arent sure why.

Travel vouchers should be used soon

The clock is ticking for millions of consumers who bought airline tickets last year but had to cancel their trips because of the coronavirus. In cases where travelers were given vouchers for future tickets instead of refunds, many of those vouchers may expire soon.

The Wall Street Journal reports that extensions on vouchers given to consumers for canceled trips instead of refunds are drying up, and complicated terms make them difficult to use.

For example, United Airlines has two classes of credits. Flight credits are good for one flight, even if the value of the trip is less than what the passenger originally paid. Travel credits can be used for multiple trips until the original value has been reached.

Vaccinated travelers should be ready to prove theyve had their shots

Surveys suggest that vaccinated consumers are eager to travel this spring and summer, and increasing airline, cruise, and hotel bookings are evidence of that trend. Travel experts say keeping your COVID-19 vaccination card handy might make travel go more smoothly.

The Wall Street Journal reports that British Airways and RyanAir have begun allowing passengers to provide vaccination proof, along with their other travel documents, when they make reservations in the U.K.

RyanAir has actually developed a digital wallet as part of its mobile app that will allow customers to store digital copies of their vaccination card, along with other documents. Travelers can also take a picture of their card and leave the image on their phone.

Trump urges people to get vaccinated

Some people have suggested that former President Trump could be helpful if he urged people to get the COVID-19 vaccine, saying it could help overcome vaccine hesitancy among some of his supporters. This week, he did so.

"I would recommend it and I would recommend it to a lot of people that don't want to get it and a lot of those people voted for me, frankly," Trump told Fox News.

Trump said he agrees with people who say it is a personal choice but also said there should be no concerns about the three approved vaccines, calling them safe and "something that works."

Around the nation
Founded in 2014, Missio Invest works through an extensive network of Church-owned agribusiness, healthcare and education enterprises to drive change and positive outcomes in the communities they serve. Through MISIF, Missio Invest provides training, technical assistance and investment capital to improve food security, support local jobs, and increase climate resilience. The Fund's investments also enable investees to generate stable recurring income, which sustains and expands their schools, hospitals, and other social institutions, serving communities' needs, caring for the most vulnerable and strengthening existing social service operations. MISIF also provides Church-affiliated local financial institutions with investment and advisory to increase offerings to underserved groups. These investments help beneficiaries to provide affordable financing and banking services to women, youth and rural communities, among others, while also ensuring the local entities' long-term financial sustainability.

Leveraging the Church's presence in Africa of 74,000 Sisters and nearly 50,000 priests and brothers that oversee a vast pastoral network of schools and clinics, Missio Invest has grown significantly since its inception six years ago. Its portfolio now supports 588,200 students educated in 668 schools and nearly two million people served in over 950 social outreach facilities. Missio Invest has made 40 loans totaling $4.5 million to 38 agribusinesses, one microfinance institution, and one school across six countries, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia, and is actively expanding to other countries in West Africa (Ghana) and East Africa (Rwanda, Ethiopia). An impact-first fund that evaluates success by measuring its investments' effect on jobs, food security, resilience, and access to basic services, Missio Invest has supported 2,000 local jobs, trained over 4,300 farmers, generated over $3 million per year for local economies through wages and payments to local suppliers, and brought more than 9,800 acres of land under sustainable management.

The DFC investment joins a pool of blended capital from catalytic investors that will enable investment in agribusinesses, as well as microfinance, education, and healthcare institutions. Missio Invest expects to lend $40 million to at least 240 enterprises over the next five years.

"Missio Invest is reaching the underserved and often overlooked communities of entrepreneurs in Africa, some 40% of whom are women, who we believe are real agents of change generating economic growth for the common good on the continent," said Missio Invest CEO, Father Andrew Small, OMI. "Unlike grants, MISIF's loans act as catalytic investments, helping investees to create recurring local income to sustain and expand their social service programs. We believe that the Development Finance Corporation's anchor investment is a testament to the strength of our impact investing model, and we are pleased to have a strong partner to advance our shared goal of creating decent work, reliable income and care of our common home. We are encouraged by the social impact we've seen and would encourage all those who have declared a commitment to impact investing to translate those commitments into areas where they can have some of the greatest impact."

https://missioinvest.org/about-misif/

About Missio Invest

Missio Invest has developed a unique model to drive change via the Church's vast network of existing social service organizations, the land attached to those organizations, and the people who run them. Founded in 2014 by the Pontifical Mission Societies in the United States (TPMS-USA), Missio Invest is a new vehicle to strengthen the network of crucial services in Sub-Saharan Africa, where Church-run schools and health facilities are attached to an abundance of farmable land, much of it underutilized due to lack of funds and commercial experience. Missio Invest provides financing for not only agribusinesses, but also health and education enterprises as well as Church-run financial institutions that administer loans and banking products in underserved communities. For more information, please visit www.missioinvest.org.

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A federal judge has restricted officers with the Police Bureaus Rapid Response Team from using crowd-control launchers during protests until they get further training and can recognize and articulate a threat without speculating and before using less-lethal force.

U.S. District Judge Marco A. Hernandez also ordered the Police Bureau to investigate allegations of misconduct by Officer Brent Taylor for firing less-lethal munitions during a protest in North Portland last June 30 and remove him from crowd control events pending the outcome of the inquiry.

The city reported in January that it had already removed Taylor from policing any protests while its Independent Police Review office and the police internal affairs division investigated his actions.

Hernandez issued the sanctions Tuesday afternoon in a written ruling.

They follow the judges finding in November that two officers had acted in contempt of his June 26 order barring police from firing FN303s and 40mm less-lethal launchers and using pepper spray on people engaged in passive resistance.

The case stemmed from a suit filed by Dont Shoot Portland, a Black-led nonprofit that advocates for social and racial justice in the city. The nonprofits lawyers had sought more drastic sanctions, including a ban on impact munitions and for the Police Bureau to permanently remove officers from protest duty if they violate the court order, with fines issued for future violations.

Hernandez didnt go that far. He issued what he called coercive versus punitive sanctions against the city, to obtain compliance with the Courts order, his ruling said. Many of the actions ordered had been suggested by city attorneys during a hearing in January.

Attorney Juan Chavez, one of the lawyers who helped represent Dont Shoot Portland in the case and is director of the Oregon Justice Resource Centers Civil Rights Project, praised the plaintiffs for their bravery in challenging the police actions.

Were gratified that the Court has taken the City to task after months of unconstitutional conduct. We hope that the City sees this as an opportunity to move towards the kind of transformational change that Portlanders have been demanding for years, Chavez said in a statement. We also recognize that this ruling required a lot of brave Portlanders to step forward and hold their City to account in an open court of law. It required our clients to put their names on legal documents and make their case. And it took the voices of thousands in the streets to bring about a temporary end to this kind of wanton police violence. Black lives matter.

The judge had ruled that police violated his court order three times on June 30 as officers declared an unlawful assembly and tried to push protesters to the east after they marched to the police union office in North Portland from Peninsula Park.

The judge specifically identified three instances when police fired the FN303 launcher at people who werent actively aggressive. In each, the FN303 fired a non-toxic brittle metal bismuth, according to lawyers for the plaintiffs.

The FN303, with a 15-round drum magazine resembling a paintball gun, uses compressed air to fire projectiles with the bismuth powder in the nose and a payload in the rear that can carry paint, powder markings or pepper spray.

The 40mm launcher fires foam-tipped projectiles that may contain paint or powder marking rounds or pepper spray rounds.

The judge had found Taylor fired five shots from his FN303 launcher at the legs of someone refusing to let go of an Abolish the Police banner with a PVC-pipe frame and fired 10 rounds from the same launcher at two people trying to pull a person on roller skates away from police and back into the crowd. Another unidentified officer fired a less-lethal launcher at a person who tried to pick up an unidentified object from the ground.

The judge also ordered no use of pepper spray against people engaged in passive resistance and urged police to minimize the exposure of pepper spray to bystanders.

Details of the training under the judges order include:

-- All Rapid Response Team grenadiers and supervisors will receive nine hours of new training. At the training, the city attorneys office will review with the officers and supervisors the limitations on their use of force at protests, including the judges finding of civil contempt, video evidence of the incidents that led to the finding, and the requirements of the court order and police directive on use of force.

The courts order, however, noted that Portland police completed this training as of Dec. 4.

The teams grenadiers must receive training every six months.

--The Police Bureau shall redistribute copies of the courts order and require that all bureau members certify that they have read and understand it. The city reported in January this had been done as well.

-- The city will provide three hours of training to all sworn officers regarding use of force at protests by years end. It will include reviews of videos and scenarios from protests this summer in Portland and around the country " to assist officers in understanding how to apply the bureaus use of force policy, particularly what passive resistance, physical resistance, and active aggression, all mean.

-- No Rapid Response Team grenadier shall use an FN303 or 40MM less-lethal launcher in connection with crowd control unless and until the city certifies to the court that each has " demonstrated an understanding of the courts orders and findings in this case including the ability to recognize and articulate a threat without speculating and before utilizing less-lethal force.

The judge said the city must also certify it has a way of tracking how many consecutive days that a grenadier should be engaged in civil unrest as a grenadier before needing a break and that each grenadier on the team must be aware of the responsibility to promptly prepare a report when they have discharged their weapon.

The certification can be accomplished through a signed declaration or affidavit submitted to the court by the city attorneys office, according to the judge.

-- Maxine Bernstein

Email mbernstein@oregonian.com; 503-221-8212

Follow on Twitter @maxoregonian
Every night, clouds of bats leave their roosts in Abidjan's business district and head for a nearby forest, where they feast on insects

At evening's twilight, the skies over Abidjan's business quarter are darkened by bats squeaking their way between buildings, flying across Ivory Coast's economic hub in the tens of thousands.

The scene has long been a feature of the city's Plateau districtin the dying embers of the sun, the beating of innumerable little wings almost drowns out the traffic noise.

But the little mammals are now threatened by a range of human-made perils, say conservationists.

After roosting through the day hanging from the majestic trees lining the avenues of the Plateau, the bats take flight, sometimes with their young tucked under their wings.

They head for the Banco forest, a primaeval terrain of 3,474 hectares (8,584 acres) on city ground about 10 kilometres (six miles) away, which was first given the status of national park under French colonial rule in 1953.

There, the bats gorge all night on insects, fruit and flowers, says Magloire Niamien, a biologist at the University of Korhogo in northern Ivory Coast.

Niamien is a specialist in the chiroptera (bats) order of Abidjan, which are among roughly 1,000 species around the world.

Niamien reckons the city's bat population may have been as a many as a million a year ago but has since drastically declined because of urbanisation and poaching.

Ivory Coast

There are no reliable figures because of a lack of studies.

But Niamien notes that the straw-coloured fruit bat, the commonest species on the Plateau, has been categorised as a "near-threatened" species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)a clear indicator of a worrying fall.

"Up to half the population of bats appears to have migrated elsewhere," says Professor Inza Kone, who heads the Swiss Centre for Scientific Research in Ivory Coast.

Vital species

Bats have a creepy reputation among some humans, but scientists stress the creatures play a crucial part in the food web on which we depend. They notably tuck into crop-eating insects, saving farmers billions a year in pesticide costs.

But in Abidjan, cohabitation between bat and human has been difficult.

Some people complain the bats make too much noise with their strident squawks, even in daytime, while the creatures also seem to have an eerie ability to target cars with their droppings.

Petitions have been raised to demand action by authorities and trees have been deliberately cut down to make the bats go, says biologist Blaise Kadjo, a specialist in mammals and professor at the Felix Houphouet-Boigny University in Abidjan.

During the daytime, the bats hang from trees in the Plateau, Abidjan's business district

People are also afraid of bat-borne diseases, as the flying mammals are known to harbour pathogens, especially viruses, that are harmful to humans.

But this risk rises greatly when bats are hunted and butchered for food or when humans encroach on their habitatEbola is one suspected microbe that jumped the species barrier this way.

"There was a big scare during the Ebola epidemic in West Africa in 2014, and fears resurfaced with the coronavirus pandemic," says Kadjo.

Human threat

"But we have never recorded a single health incident connected to the bats on the Plateau. We carried out tests in 2014 and didn't find any trace of Ebola."

Despite the risks from "bushmeat," bat eating remains quite common.

At the Siporex market, in the large working-class Yopougon district of Abidjan, three smoked bats are sold for 2,500 CFA ($4.56 / around four euros).

Hunting for bats on the Plateau mostly takes place on weekends, when the offices and schools are empty, and poachers can work in peace.

Professor Blaise Kadjo shows a bat's remarkable set of wings at a research lab at the University in Abidjan

Scientists are pressing Ivorian authorities to act to protect bats.

Quite apart from their ancient presence and their acquired status as a symbol of the Plateau, bats play an important ecological role in fertilising many plants.

"They eat a lot of fruit, swallow the seeds and then defecate them while flying, thus allowing dissemination," Kone explained.

"They also eat flowers, spreading pollen from flower to flower," like bees.

Bats are one of the few creatures capable of ensuring the reproduction of iroko, a large hardwood tree whose wood is sold worldwide to make luxury furniture, but threatened by overexploitation in west Africa, Niamien said.

"Their role is essential for maintaining the natural ecosystem," says Kadjo, who, along with his colleagues, hopes for public funding to continue studies on bats and raise awareness about their importance.

Explore further Thai scientists catch bats to trace virus origins

 2021 AFP
Washington has warned it may restrict flights from local carriers such as Cathay Pacific Airways over objections to Hong Kongs quarantine rules, which it says are denying fair and equal opportunity to US airlines.

The US Department of Transportation said in an order on Tuesday it was considering retaliating against Hong Kongs aircrew quarantine regulations, which forced American cargo carrier FedEx to move 180 pilots out of the city to protect its flight schedules against future disruption.

The American agency also asked Cathay Pacific to submit its schedules for all US flights within seven days so it could assess whether they might be contrary to applicable law or adversely affect the public interest.

Get the latest insights and analysis from our Global Impact newsletter on the big stories originating in China.

Hong Kong on February 20 imposed quarantine measures on any flight crew members who had stayed outside the city  but excluded from the rule those arriving from mainland China and Anchorage, Alaska. Alaska is a critical cargo transit stopover for Cathay flights.

The manner in which Hong Kong has imposed its restrictions disproportionately impacts US carriers to the exclusive benefit of Hong Kong carriers. This imbalance denies US carriers their bilateral right to a fair and equal opportunity to compete in the US-Hong Kong market, the department said.

It added that the carve out allowed Cathays cargo operation to continue without impact from the crew quarantine requirements. It pointed out FedExs Hong Kong crew, who flew within Asia, would not benefit from such an exemption.

The fact that only Anchorage was exempted from the crew quarantine requirement can support the argument that the playing field is not level

Jae Woon Lee, aviation law expert, Chinese University

FedEx was forced to relocate its Hong Kong-based flight crew to San Francisco to maintain the stability of its operations, and so as not to force them to undergo repeated isolation and be separated from their families.

Story continues

The US consulate in Hong Kong has repeatedly raised the issue with the citys government, while FedEx has also proposed strict health and safety measures for its crew to secure a quarantine exemption.

The consulate wrote to the government on February 26 to take actions as a matter of urgency to restore the level playing field in the US-Hong Kong market. It said the American authorities might otherwise be left with no choice but to consider regulatory action.

The US has asked Cathay Pacific to submit its schedules for all US flights within seven days. Photo: Sam Tsang

Washington previously took action against China and India for not permitting US carriers to operate routes amid the pandemic, while the other countries airlines had unfettered rights to fly to the States.

US carriers also lodged grievances in Washington against Qatar and the United Arab Emirates under the fair and equal opportunity clause over airline subsidies they said put American jobs at risk.

A FedEx spokeswoman said the company would continue to work with the US and Hong Kong governments and its pilots union to address the quarantine restrictions.

We hope the action taken by the US Department of Transportation on March 16 will aid in resolving this matter.

HK Express and Hong Kong Airlines were also cited in the order, but neither flies to the US.

Jae Woon Lee, an aviation law and policy expert and an assistant professor at Chinese University, explained international air transport had mainly been governed by around 4,000 bilateral air services agreements.

The fact that only Anchorage was exempted from the crew quarantine requirement can support the argument that the playing field is not level, he said. However, this is not a clear-cut case, as the exemption is not based on the nationality of airlines.

He added: A bigger question is whether and to what extent Hong Kongs international aviation hub status could be affected.

Cathay Pacific has also been hit hard by the quarantine requirements. It cut its already skeletal passenger and cargo flight schedules by 60 and 25 per cent, respectively.

The measures increased its monthly cash burn by HK$300 million (US$39 million) to HK$400 million a month, taking its total losses to up to some HK$1.9 billion every four weeks.

Last week, Cathay announced a record loss for 2020 at HK$21.6 billion.

Hong Kong earlier imposed three weeks of quarantine on any flight crew arriving to the city who had previously been in four extremely high-risk countries, including Britain, over the preceding 21 days.

The citys quarantine restrictions have also fallen foul of expats, diplomats and the business community lately, including bankers, who warned the measures could harm the Asian financial hub.

The Transport and Housing Bureau said the US accusations were unfounded.

Such [accusations] do not serve the best interest of all airlines serving Hong Kong and the US, a government spokeswoman said.

She added authorities were discussing with FedEx how to address the companys business and operational issues while upholding the need to safeguard the public health of our community.

Cathay Pacific said it would comply with all aviation regulations in Hong Kong and destinations it flies to.

Cathay Pacific believes the matter should be resolved as soon as possible in the interest of the general and travelling public, a spokeswoman for the airline said.

More from South China Morning Post:

This article Washington warns it could restrict Cathay Pacific Airways flights over Hong Kong quarantine rules first appeared on South China Morning Post

For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2021.
Maybe your busted pipe is fixed by now. Perhaps the petrified sago palm has been repurposed into mulch. Maybe the memories of those shivering nights under layers of blankets, boiling snow to flush the toilets and waiting in long grocery store lines for rationed bottled water are themselves becoming frozen in time.

A month after a winter storm brought Texas vulnerable power grid to its trembling knees, leaving 4 million without electricity, most of us are getting on with our lives.

But at least 57 of our fellow Texans cant say the same.

They lost their lives as a direct result of the storm, according to preliminary data released this week by the Texas Department of State Health Services. Harris County had the greatest number of deaths by far: 25.

Most of the deaths were associated with hypothermia. In ordinary terms: they froze to death, some in their beds like an 11-year-old boy in Conroe.

Others died of carbon monoxide poisoning when they tried to keep warm in a running car in the garage or when they burned an outdoor grill indoors out of desperation.

Still others died of medical equipment failure when their last oxygen tank ran empty. Others of falls.

Some of fire, as in the case of three children and their grandmother in Sugar Land  all killed in a blaze that may have started near the fireplace they had used to keep warm.

courtesy Jackie Nguyen

Their mother, Jackie Pham Nguyen, who had to be physically restrained from going back into the house to save them, described her children to CNN as phenomenal, amazing, little badass humans.

We may never know how many phenomenal, amazing, badass humans Texas lost because of a government failure that was entirely foreseeable, entirely forewarned, entirely preventable.

The finger-pointing continues in Austin, at Gov. Greg Abbott, at his political appointees on the Public Utility Commission, at the power grid operator ERCOT, at the frozen wellheads and wind turbines, at lawmakers who created a system that encourages industry to bathe in windfall profits at the very moment when a life-and-death crisis is at its most desperate peak.

Some political opportunists are even attempting to use the tragedy to score partisan points by blaming renewable energy.

All the noise  the din of legislative hearings, the pandering press releases, the grandstanding on Fox News  must never drown out the loss so many Texas families have suffered.

Instead, the loss must infuse every debate with purpose, steer every lawmaker toward the right decision rather than the expedient or politically popular one.

Brett Coomer, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer

We cannot let our elected leaders forget what is at stake in these debates. What has already been lost due to their refusal to put our safety before industry profits. What future catastrophe is possible if they fail, yet again, to fix the problems.

So, yes, the messy reckoning and hashing of technical issues were seeing in the Texas Legislature is needed. Yes, Abbott is right to call for weatherization of power plants. Yes, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick is right to demand that astronomical power prices kept in place too long during the crisis be retroactively re-priced.

But no, there is no room for gamesmanship or egos or greed to blur the mission.

Texans must come first, finally, even for Abbott, whose tens of millions in campaign donations from the oil and gas industry have fueled his political rise.

The governor, lieutenant governor and lawmakers must never forget what happened the last time they failed.

Should they need a reminder, they have 57.
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VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / March 17, 2021 / Marvel Discovery Corp. (TSXV:MARV)(Frankfurt:O4T1)(OTC PINK:IMTFF); ("Marvel" or the "Company") announces that an extraordinary general meeting of the shareholders of the Company has been scheduled for April 23, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time (the "EGM"). The purpose of the EGM is to, among other things, consider and, if thought fit, approve a special resolution with respect to a plan of arrangement (the "Spin-Out") pursuant to which the Company will spin out its Serpent River/Pecors and Wicheeda North properties (the "Properties") into a newly incorporated, wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, to be called Power One Resources Corp. ("Power One").

It is proposed that the Spin-Out will result in shareholders of the Company receiving one common share of Power One for every five common shares held in the Company. There will be no change in shareholders' holding in the Company as a result of the Spin-Out.

Further details of the Spin-Out will be announced in the near future. Shareholders are cautioned that the final details of the Spin-Out are still to be determined and there is no certainty that the Spin-Out will be completed on the terms currently proposed or at all. In addition to being subject to the approval of the Company's shareholders, the Spin-Out is also subject to the approval of the British Columbia Supreme Court and the TSX Venture Exchange.

The record date for the EGM is March 24, 2021. The EGM will be held at 29th floor, 595 Burrard Street, Vancouver, British Columbia. The Company has filed a Notice of Meeting and Record Date, accessible on the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Additional information with respect to the EGM and the matters to be considered thereat, including the Spin-Out, will be detailed in the EGM materials, which are expected to be mailed to shareholders and concurrently filed on SEDAR in late-March.

About Marvel Discovery Corp.

Marvel, listed on the TSX Venture Exchange for over 25 years, is a Canadian based emerging resource company. The Company is systematically exploring its extensive property positions in:

Exploits Zone, Newfoundland (Slip and Victoria Lake - Au Prospects )

) Atikokan, Ontario (BlackFly - Au prospect )

) Red Lake, Ontario (Camping Lake - Au prospect )

) Elliot Lake, Ontario (Serpent River/Pecors - Ni-Cu-PGE discovery ) & ( Uranium- REE's )

) & ( ) Quebec (Duhamel - Ni-Cu-Co prospect & Titanium, Vanadium, and Chromium prospect )

) Prince George, British Columbia (Wicheeda North - Rare Earth Elements prospect)

The Company's website is: https://marveldiscovery.ca/

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

Marvel Discovery Corp.

"Karim Rayani"

Karim Rayani

President/Chief Executive Officer, Director

Tel: 604 716 0551 email: k@r7.capital

Disclaimer for Forward-Looking Information:

Certain statements in this release are forward-looking statements which reflect the expectations of management. Forward-looking statements consist of statements that are not purely historical, including any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future. These forward-looking statements reflect management's current views and are based on certain expectations, estimates and assumptions which may prove to be incorrect. Forward-looking statements are frequently, but not always, identified by words such as "expects", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "potential", "plans", "possible", and similar expressions, or statements that events, conditions, or results "will", "may", "could", or "should" occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements in this press release relate to, among other things: completion of the proposed Spin-Out, receipt of required shareholder, Exchanger and court approvals for the Spin-Out and the timing of disclosure of additional details concerning the Spin-Out. Actual future results may differ materially. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Forward-looking statements reflect the beliefs, opinions and projections on the date the statements are made and are based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by the respective parties, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and contingencies. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause actual 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 and the parties have made assumptions and estimates based on or related to many of these factors. Such factors include, without limitation: determination of acceptable terms for the proposed Spin-Out, receipt of all required shareholder, court, stock exchange and regulatory approvals for the Spin-Out; changes in the value of the Company common shares or the value of the Properties;. Readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release concerning these times. Except as required by law, the Company does not assume any obligation to update the forward-looking statements of beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change, except as required by law

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE: Marvel Discovery Corp.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/636058/Marvel-Discovery-Corp-Announces-Extraordinary-General-Meeting-to-Approve-Spinout-Transaction
U.S. Navy sailors prepare to take down the flag on the flight deck of the USS Nimitz aircraft carrier in Coronado, Calif., on Jan. 18, 2020. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)

Navy Refuses to Remove Anti-American Books From Reading List for Sailors

The U.S. Navy has said it will not remove certain books from its recommended reading list after Republican lawmakers raised concerns about their anti-American content.

On Feb. 23, the Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Michael Gilday released the latest version of the Professional Reading Program (CNO-PRP), which provides a regularly updated list of recommended books as part of the Navys effort to help develop the professionalism of all sailors.

Most of the current 48 CNO-PRP titles cover topics relevant to the Navys mission of building a fighting force capable of winning wars, including leadership development, fleet tactics, history and geopolitics of the worlds maritime powers, and technologies of future naval warfare.

However, the admirals list also includes books that are overtly political, namely How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi, Sexual Minorities and Politics: An Introduction by Jason Pierceson, and The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander.

Rep. Jim Banks (R-Ind.), who served in the Navy Reserve and was deployed to Afghanistan in 2014 and 2015, took issue with the inclusion of those books. In his Feb. 26 letter to Gilday, he argued that Kendis How to be an Antiracist promoted explicitly anti-American views and urged the admiral to remove it.

Reps. Doug Lamborn (R-Colo.) and Vicky Hartzler (R-Mo.) expressed similar concerns, noting in a joint letter to Gilday that sailors pledge to defend the U.S. Constitution, yet these CNO-PRP titles portray the United States as a nation that is racist at its root.

All three books reinforce the view that America is a confederation of identity categories of the oppressed and their oppressors rather than a common homeland of individual citizens who are united by common purposes and fidelity to the ideals of the Declaration of Independence and codified in the Constitution, the Congress members wrote in a Mar. 11 letter obtained by Fox News.

These works fall under the rubric of critical race theory, a racial form of Marxist philosophy which should not be allowed to poison our military, they added.

In response to Banks, Gilday explained the decision to include Kendis book in the CNO-PRP list, saying in a Mar. 12 letter obtained by Fox News: It evokes the authors own personal journey in understanding barriers to true inclusion, the deep nuances of racism and racial inequalities.

Gilday added that he wants all Navy personnel to achieve the same level of self-reflection.

In the same letter, Gilday said that some of the books in the reading list came from recommendations from Task Force One Navy, which he contacted over the summer in order to identify and remove racial barriers, improve inclusion efforts, create new opportunities for professional development and eliminate obstacles to enter the Navy.

While I do not endorse every viewpoint of the books on this reading list, I believe exposure to varied ideas improves the critical thinking skills of our sailors, Gilday wrote, reported Fox News. My commitment to them is to continue to listen, make sure their voice is heard, and make the Navy a shining example of an organization centered on respect, inclusive of all.

Published in 2019, How to be an Antiracist is a New York Times bestseller that teaches people to actively identify and oppose racism in almost every aspect of their daily life, in order to form a truly just and equitable society, according to Kendis website.

Sexual Minorities and Politics: An Introduction is a textbook that provides an overview of the historical, political, and legal status of sexual and gender minorities in America, according to the publishers website.

The New Jim Crow, another New York Times bestseller, examines an alleged institutional racial bias that disproportionately keeps black people in prisons, and likens the current American criminal justice system to the historical Jim Crow codes, which legalized racial segregation across the American South.
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EU ambassadors have given the green light to sanctions against two Chechen officials accused of involvement in the repression of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people in Chechnya and other individuals suspected of being opponents of the Moscow-backed leader of Russias North Caucasus region, Ramzan Kadyrov.

Several EU sources told RFE/RL on March 17 under condition of anonymity that Abuzayed Vismuradov and Ayub Katayev were targeted with asset freezes and visa bans under the EU's new human rights sanctions regime that came into effect in December.

The move is set to enter into force during a meeting of EU foreign ministers on March 22.

Katayev currently heads the Chechen Interior Ministrys branch in the city of Argun, while Vismuradov serves as Chechnyas deputy prime minister and commander of the Terek military unit that allegedly has been linked to the roundup of gay men in the region.

Rights groups have accused predominantly Muslim Chechnya of targeting sexual minorities, including the use of abductions, torture, and extrajudicial killings. Kadyrov has denied the allegations.

Vismuradov, Katayev, and Kadyrov have already been sanctioned by the United States over their involvement in gross human rights violations in Chechnya. Kadyrov was blacklisted by the EU in 2014 over his support for Russias forcible annexation of Ukraine's Crimea region.

The EU first imposed its human rights sanctions earlier this month when it targeted four senior Russian officials over the poisoning and imprisonment of opposition leader Aleksei Navalny.

Apart from the two Chechen officials, the EU will also impose sanctions on nine other individuals and four entities from China, Eritrea, Libya, North Korea, and South Sudan.
Outlaw bikie gangs could be banned from wearing gang colours in public and subject to greater stop-and-search powers under laws proposed by police to dismantle and destroy WAs criminal networks.

WA Police Commissioner Chris Dawson announced the reform plan on Wednesday shortly after confirming detectives had made a breakthrough arrest in relation to the outrageous killing of former Rebels boss Nick Martin in a public, crowded place.

Bikie club colours would be banned under the proposed laws. Credit:Marta Pascual Juanola

I have already commenced discussions with the Premier, the Attorney-General and the Minister for Police ... to strengthen the laws concerning consorting and criminal association between gang members, associates and people who professionally facilitate the way these organised crime gangs operate, he said.

Well also be recommending to outlaw the wearing of gang colours and gang insignia in public.
A shopper has discovered a little-known supermarket policy that allows customers to purchase a sale item that's out of stock at a later date at the same reduced price.

The woman, from Perth, was given a 'raincheck' coupon after the advertised item she wanted to buy was sold out at a Coles store.

The raincheck guarantees customers today's sale price within the next 30 days from the date of issue - meaning they can buy the product at the same advertised price when it returns to shelves.

A shopper was given a 'raincheck' coupon after the advertised item she wanted to buy was sold out at a Coles store. Rainchecks entitles customers to today's sale price - meaning they can buy the product at the same advertised price within the next 30 days from date of issue

How does raincheck work? Rainchecks are available if a sale item is sold out at a store. Customers can buy the product at the same reduced price within the next 30 days of the date issue, given the item is available for purchase. Advertisement

'My hubby (tight a** but genius) discovered that when an item is on sale but sold out - Coles will honour the deal and provide you with a "raincheck" to purchase at a later stage when shelves are restocked,' she wrote in a Facebook group.

'Not sure if it's already common knowledge but just thought I'd pass it on in case there's others who have gone through life without this knowledge.'

The offer only works if stock is replenished - as the supermarket doesn't guarantee product availability during the 30 days from issuing a raincheck.

Consumers can only raincheck between three to six of the same product, depending on the item.

After sharing her tip on social media, many shoppers said they had no idea they could 'raincheck' grocery items that are on sale but sold out in store.

The woman, from Perth, was given a 'raincheck' coupon after the advertised item she wanted to buy was sold out at a Coles store (file image)

'Wow never knew that,' one customer said, while others explained they wished they had known earlier after missing out on previous sale items.

And another added: 'Such a good thing. It saves people a lot of grief.'

However, others pointed out they have known about rainchecks their whole lives, saying: 'This is nothing new.'

The raincheck comes after a group of shoppers revealed they had discovered a little-known supermarket policy implemented by Coles and Woolworths.

Customers are entitled to their product for free if the item scans at a higher price than what it was ticketed at on the shelf or on the packaging.

But shoppers need to challenge the scanned price directly with management to get their product for free under both supermarkets' scanning policies.
KY Lawmakers Advance Election Reform Bill

By The Associated Press

FRANKFORT - Republican and Democratic lawmakers in Kentucky are on the verge of loosening the states voting access laws to make limited early voting a fixture.It's in sharp contrast to the bitter partisan battles being waged elsewhere over election laws.The measure would give voters three days of no-excuse, early in-person voting before Election Day. But it backs off from the temporary, pandemic-related accommodations made last year that allowed widespread mail-in absentee balloting.The bill drew bipartisan support in winning Senate passage Tuesday.Secretary of State Michael Adams praised the Kentucky Senate for passing the bill."I'm grateful to our state senators for putting voters first," Adams said. "Mere months ago, no one would have thought that making these election improvements permanent would be possible. Our legislators deserve enormous credit for making Kentucky's election system a national model in the 2022 elections and beyond."The measure now heads back to the House for a potential final vote.
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday expressed concern over rising Covid-19 cases in India and urged authorities to take quick and decisive steps to contain the spread of the virus.

We will have to stop the emerging second peak of Coronavirus immediately, PM Modi said to chief ministers during a meeting, earlier today.

Narendra Modi

During the virtual interaction, Modi said in states like Maharashtra, Punjab and Madhya Pradesh the number of Covid-19 cases has seen a rise while nearly 70 districts in the country have recently seen an increase in the positivity rate by over 150 per cent.

"If we do not stop it here, then a condition for a nationwide outbreak may emerge," Modi warned.

Cautioning against the spread of the virus in villages, PM Modi urged authorities to increase testing in smaller towns.

Coronavirus

The confidence brought by India's fight against the pandemic should not lead to carelessness, he said, and asked chief ministers to increase testing and take preventive measures to contain the spread of the virus.

People should not be put on panic-mode but need to ensure that they take steps to get rid of this problem, he added.

"Test, track and treat" should be taken as seriously now as it has been for over a year since the outbreak, he said.

Narendra Modi

The Prime Minister also reiterated that RT PCR tests should make up for over 70 per cent of overall Coronavirus testing, while noting that states likes Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Kerala and Odisha have been mostly dependent on antigen tests.

Modi also spoke against wastage of vaccines and called for more vaccination centres.

India has put up a strong fight against the Coronavirus so far, and it is being cited as example in the world, he said, asserting that the country's recovery rate is over 96 per cent and fatality rate among the lowest.
A baby girl was born on-board IndiGo's Bengaluru-Jaipur flight mid-air on Wednesday morning. The baby girl was born mid-air onboard flight 6E 469. The baby was delivered with the help of airline's crew assisted by doctors on board.

Soon after the baby girl was born, the Jaipur airport was asked to arrange for a doctor and an ambulance on arrival of the flight.

In a press statement, IndiGo said both the baby and the mother are stable.

Dr Subahana Nazir, who helped deliver the baby, was welcomed into the arrival hall and a 'thank you' card was handed over by the Jaipur staff of the airline.

"A baby girl was born mid-air on board flight 6E469 from Bangalore to Jaipur. The baby was delivered with the help of the IndiGo crew, effectively assisted by Dr Subahana Nazir, travelling with us on the same flight," the airline's statement noted.

The flight departed from Bengaluru around 5.45 am and landed in Jaipur around 8 am on Wednesday.

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VICTORIA, BC, March 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - James Evans & Associates (JEA) Ltd, a leading Canadian pension solutions company, is pleased to announce the successful launch of a modern enterprise software solution for the Public Employees Benefits Agency (PEBA), a branch of the Government of Saskatchewan's Ministry of Finance.

Leveraging JEA's suite of configurable products, PEBA members, employers and administrators benefit from a fully integrated pension administration system. Anchored by JEA's PENFAX 5 administrative software, this most recent phase of the solution is for the Public Employees Pension Plan (PEPP), the largest defined contribution (DC) plan in Canada. The solution also offers online digital services for members and employers by leveraging JEA's online service portals which include PENWEB 5 and Data Capture Tool 5 (DCT 5) respectively. The success of this modernization project will support PEBA's administration needs for many years to come.

This latest endeavor builds on a partnership that began over 30 years ago, with the initial launch of JEA's PENFAX administration system for PEBA's Municipal Employees' Pension Plan (MEPP). In 2019, JEA successfully upgraded MEPP to PENFAX 5 and also introduced online employer and member service portals. "We at JEA recognize PEBA's ongoing commitment to service delivery for both their members and employers and also PEBA's contributions leading to a successful system implementation," said Jim Evans, JEA's President and Chief Executive Officer. "We view our continued mutual success as the result of collaborative accomplishments with PEBA over the years, and a strong partnership with a clear mission to deliver world class technology solutions."

ABOUT JEA

JEA, a Victoria, British Columbia-based company, is one of Canada's leading pension software firms. JEA's solutions are used to administer over 1.5 million individual member pensions across public sector and union sponsored plans in Canada and the United States.

JEA provides solutions that enable organizations to operate their pension plans with great flexibility, using configurable rules-based solutions capable of managing the most complex pension plans. Offering solid, reputable and easy-to-use technology, coupled with people who have extensive pension knowledge supporting full-service pension software solutions.

For more information visit www.jea.ca.

ABOUT PEBA

Public Employees Benefits Agency (PEBA) administers programs that cover a broad range of employees including the Government of Saskatchewan, certain provincial crown corporations and municipal governing bodies. Such governing bodies include Saskatchewan cities, towns, villages, rural municipalities, school divisions, regional libraries, colleges and other designated organizations and agencies.

Combined assets of the Plans administered by PEBA are approximately $15 billion. PEBA operates on a revolving fund basis and allocates operating costs to the Plans that incur the expenses.

PEBA serves over 100,000 active, inactive and deferred members, pensioners, surviving spouses and dependents.

For more information, visit www.peba.gov.sk.ca.

SOURCE James Evans and Associates

Related Links

https://www.jea.ca


(Newser)  President Biden did not mince words Tuesday in an interview with ABC News set to air in full Wednesday on Good Morning America. "Do you have to say quite clearly, 'Don't come'?" George Stephanopoulos asked the POTUS as they discussed a surge in migrants and unaccompanied minors at the US border. "Yes, I can say quite clearly: Don't come over," Biden responded. "Don't leave your town or city or community." He also said, despite Republican criticism that his rescinding of former President Trump's harsh immigration policies is encouraging migrants to try to cross the border, "The idea that Joe Biden said, 'Come'because I heard the other day that they're coming because they know I'm a nice guyhere's the deal, they're not." He also said the US is "sending back people" who make the attempt.

story continues below

Trump himself weighed in, telling Fox News that his administration had made significant progress on border security, but "Today, they are coming in. ... They are coming in from foreign countries. I see they are coming in from Yemen. They are coming in from the Middle East. They are coming in from everywhere. They are dropping them off and they are pouring into our country. It is a disgrace. They are going to destroy our country if we don't do something about it." Biden claimed in the interview that this surge is nothing new: "There was a surge in the last two years. In '19 and '20, there was a surge, as well." But the Pew Research Center indicates levels like this have not been seen since 2019, after dropping in April 2020. The Hill reports attempted border crossings are expected to hit their highest level in two decades. Biden also said during the interview that New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo should resign if the allegations against him are confirmed. (Read more President Biden stories.)
In sometimes fiery debate on the House floor on Wednesday, several conservatives accused the majority of using a law meant to protect women as a Trojan horse for a far-left political agenda on gun control and gay and transgender rights while holding hostage a clean reauthorization of the bill.

The most egregious provisions of this bill push leftist gender ideology at the expense of important protections for womens privacy and safety, said Representative Debbie Lesko, Republican of Arizona, who recounted her own experience with domestic violence. If this bill is enacted, these shelters under penalty of federal law would be required to take in men and shelter them with women, putting vulnerable women at risk.

Ms. Lesko appeared to be referring to provisions barring groups that receive funds under VAWA from discriminating based on gender identity that were enshrined in law in 2013 and merely reiterated in the new bill. Its proponents say they have caused no widespread safety or privacy issues. One new aspect of the bill would require the Bureau of Prisons to consider the safety of transgender prisoners when giving housing assignments.

Republicans were just as angry over the proposed closing of the so-called boyfriend loophole. While existing federal law forbids people convicted of domestic violence against a current or former spouse to buy or own a firearm, the new legislation would extend the prohibition to those convicted of abusing, assaulting or stalking a dating partner, or to those under a court restraining order.

Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, Republican of Georgia, pushed unsuccessfully for amendments that would allow the government to fund firearm training and self-defense classes for women.

If you want to protect women, make sure women are gun owners and know how to defend themselves, she said. Thats the greatest defense for women.

Representative Elise Stefanik, Republican of New York, offered an alternative proposal on Wednesday that would have reauthorized the law without changes for a single year to allow time for more bipartisan negotiation. It failed 177 to 249.
On Tuesday, the Washington Post revealed that top US Army civilian and military officials drafted a memo opposing a December 31 request from Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser for a small contingent of National Guard troops to help with traffic and crowd control on January 6.

The internal memo obtained by the Post adds to the indisputable evidence of involvement at the highest levels of the military in the Trump White House plot to overturn the results of the 2020 election, block the certification of Joe Biden as president-elect and illegally maintain Trump in power.

The conspiracy, months in preparation and backed by the Republican Party, culminated on January 6 in the storming of the US Capitol by a fascistic mob encouraged by Trump to take any and all measures to prevent Congress from officially certifying the Electoral College vote, which Biden won handily, along with the popular vote.

On March 3, Gen. William Walker, commander of the D.C. National Guard, testified before a Senate panel that then-Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy and then-acting Defense Secretary Christopher Miller delayed approving his 1:49 p.m. request for permission to mobilize his troops to prevent the Capitol from being overrun by the pro-Trump mob for three hours and 19 minutes, giving the OK only at 5:08 p.m.

By that time, the attempt of the militarily trained militia members leading the assault to take lawmakers hostage, in order to block Congress from carrying out its ceremonial function of counting the previously certified Electoral College vote, had clearly failed. Trump had already publicly called on his supporters to vacate the Capitol. In the event, it was not until 5:40 p.m. that 154 National Guard troops arrived at the Capitol.

Tuesdays report by the Post underscores the fact that the protracted delay in the Armys approval of D.C. National Guard Commander Walkers emergency request for authorization to deploy his forces on the afternoon of January 6 was not a spur-of-the-moment decision, but rather the implementation of a worked-out plan to overthrow the Constitution and establish Trump as de facto dictator.

According to the Post, the draft memo, which was backed by McCarthy, said the 340 National Guard troops requested by the D.C. government should not be needed unless more than 100,000 pro-Trump demonstrators were expected. It also demanded that all other federal agencies be exhausted before any Guard troops were deployed and that a specific federal agency be named to head the operation.

The Army leadership argued this position in deliberations at the Pentagon the weekend before the January 6 event, the newspaper reported, citing four people familiar with the discussions who asked to remain anonymous. According to the Post, these sources said the Army ultimately relented and approved the deployment of the requested Guard troops to help with traffic and crowd control, under pressure from Miller and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Mark Milley. Other press reports have noted that the military insisted that the Guard troops be unarmed and have no contact with the pro-Trump demonstrators.

The Post implicitly refuted the Armys contention that it opposed the National Guard deployment out of concern for using the military to perform police functions. The newspaper pointed out that there was no request for the deployment of active-duty troops, but only the National Guard, which, it explained, is trained to assist law enforcement during large-scale protests and has done so regularly for decades in the District.

While governors control the National Guard in the 50 US states, the D.C. Guard answers to the president, who delegates authority to the defense secretary and the Army secretary.

Underscoring the highly unusual character of the militarys opposition to deployment of the National Guard on January 6, the Post wrote: The D.C. Guard, for example, helped with last years July 4 event and aided the city in handling a march on Washington led by the Rev. Al Sharpton last August. The Guard even deployed to prevent large crowds from gathering and spreading the coronavirus during the 2020 cherry blossom festivities.

A District official familiar with the security plans on Jan. 6 couldnt recall any historical example of the Defense Department rejecting the citys request to deploy the D.C. Guard.

In his testimony before the Senate earlier this month, General Walker also stressed the extraordinary character of the restrictions placed by Miller and McCarthy on his authority to deploy his troops on January 6. He said a memo issued on January 4 was unlike any other directive he had received in the course of his military career. It required me to seek authorization from the secretary of the Army and secretary of defense to essentially even protect my Guardsmen, he told the senators.

He added that he had about 155 soldiers fully equipped and ready to deploy, and their dispatch to the Capitol could have secured the perimeter and made a difference.

To the extent that the military has even attempted to explain its actions on January 6, the rationalizations that have been given out are absurd. One is concern over the optics of mobilizing uniformed soldiers to protect the members of Congress and the vice president, all of whom were assembled in the Capitol, from an armed mob calling for the murder of politicians who refused to go along with Trumps effort to overturn the election.

Of course, no such scruples prevented the Pentagon from surrounding Washington, D.C., with thousands of active-duty troops last June 1 as part of Trumps initial attempt to stage a coup. At that time, the top brass ultimately opposed Trumps threat to invoke the Insurrection Act and deploy active-duty troops to crush anti-police violence protests across the country, fearing the explosive consequences and deeming the move premature and ill-prepared.

Milley and Miller have denied that there was anything unusual in the protracted delay in authorizing the deployment of the National Guard to protect Congress. Milley has characterized the Pentagons response on January 6 as sprint speed.

The Post on Tuesday quoted a former Pentagon official involved in the events that day as saying, We were asked to support the Capitol from a cold start after it already had been overrun and are being criticized for how we fast we responded. We are not like law enforcement units whose job it is to police the streets.

All of these alibis ignore the historically unprecedented and ominous character of the context within which the events of January 6 unfolded. Trump, the first president in US history to refuse to commit to a peaceful transition of power, had made clear his intention to reject an electoral defeat in his September 29 debate with Biden. At that event he instructed the fascistic Proud Boys to stand back and stand by should he be declared the loser.

He then escalated the lie that the Democrats were hijacking the election by means of massive vote fraud and mobilized his fascist supporters around the slogan Stop the Steal. Two days after Biden had been declared the winner of the presidential election, Trump carried out a purge of top officials at the Pentagon, installing far-right loyalists, including Miller, a former Green Beret and director of the National Counterterrorism Center.

After the state legislatures certified their vote totals in early December, Trump focused his efforts on January 6. Targeting that day as the last chance to block a Biden presidency and maintain Trump in power, he called on his supporters to descend on D.C., promising that the event would be wild.

The FBI and other intelligence agencies were tracking social media traffic that bristled with talk of stopping the certification of Biden on January 6, including plans to mobilize armed Trump supporters from around the country. Federal criminal complaints against insurgents arrested in connection with the storming of the Capitol include maps of tunnels beneath the Capitol building and tips on locating the offices of top Democrats such as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

In the run-up to January 6, retired Gen. Michael Flynn, Trumps former national security advisor, publicly urged Trump to declare martial law and force a revote, under gunpoint, in swing states that had provided the margin of victory for Biden.

Moreover, the military and FBI already had the example of the coup plot in Michigan, which was exposed in early October. Thirteen far-right individuals, including members of fascistic militia groups, were charged in a plot to kidnap and kill the governor of Michigan, storm the state Capitol and publicly execute lawmakers.

In the face of the mountain of evidence establishing the complicity of top officials in the military in the attempted coup of January 6, the Biden administration and the Democratic Party are stepping up their efforts to cover up the extent of the conspiracy and chloroform the public.

In a separate article on Tuesday, the Post noted that the Democratic-controlled Congress has held no public hearings on the events of January 6 since March 5, and an upcoming congressional recess will delay any further hearings until mid-April at the soonest. It pointed out that despite bipartisan appeals, the Democratic chairs of the Senate Rules and Homeland Security committees, which jointly held previous hearings, have not called for testimony from the Trump officials, including McCarthy and Miller, who oversaw the stand-down of the National Guard on January 6. The Post cited unnamed aides who said the committee chairs, Amy Klobuchar and Gary Peters, planned to question other witnesses privately.

The article also cited a letter to lawmakers issued by Pelosi on Monday calling for a bipartisan 9/11-style commission to investigate the storming of the Capitol. The letter declared it is essential that we proceed in a bipartisan way in order to have a respected outcome. This is a guarantee that any body established on this basis will carry out a complete cover-up, since one of its parties, the Republicans, were complicit in the attempted coup.
SINGAPORE, March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- GenScript Biotech Singapore, a subsidiary of GenScript Biotech Corporation ("GenScript", Stock Code: 1548.HK), a world leading biotechnology company, and G42 Healthcare, a leading healthcare technology company, based in the UAE, today announced they have signed an agreement to explore comprehensive solutions to fight COVID-19. The collaboration includes the distribution of the GenScript cPass SARS-CoV-2 Neutralization Antibody Detection Kit across 24 geographies in the MENA region to assess vaccine effectiveness.

The GenScript cPass SARS-CoV-2 Neutralization Antibody Detection Kit detects neutralizing antibodies in individuals without the use of the live virus. The conventional method of measuring neutralizing antibodies in patient samples requires the use of live cells and a high biosafety level environment (BSL3). Obtaining results also takes multiple days. In contrast, the cPass kit utilizes pure proteins and can be performed in most standard laboratories with a short turnaround time (~1hr). Neutralizing antibodies represent the first line of defense against SARS CoV-2 infection by blocking the virus from binding to the host cells, thus inhibiting viral propagation. The cPass test may be an essential tool for the detection of the neutralizing (virus blocking) antibody response at post-vaccination to understand the robustness, efficacy, and longevity of the immune response.

The cPass kit is the only U.S. FDA Emergency Use Authorized serology test for neutralizing antibodies from recent and prior SARS-CoV-2 infections. The kit is also CE marked (Europe) and has received HSA provisional approval (Singapore), ANVISA in Brazil, ANMAT in Argentina and has recently received clearance from the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP) in the UAE as a medical device.

"We are glad to be working with G42 Healthcare and contribute to the development of innovative solutions to help the people of the UAE and beyond. With this collaboration, we will join forces to serve the local community with our expertise and resources. Our company remains committed to supporting the healthcare community in combatting COVID-19 infections, with a broad portfolio of research and development tools and diagnostics, including the novel cPass kit." said Johnson Wang, Asia Pacific President of GenScript.

Using advanced AI techniques and vast computing resources in majority of its nationwide healthcare initiatives, G42 Healthcare is at the forefront in the battle against COVID-19, researching vaccines and drug therapies, establishing a mass detection facility with Biogenix Labs, mapping trends in the outbreak including virus mutations and helping in future proofing the health of nations. As one of the leading technologically advanced laboratories, Biogenix Labs is the first laboratory to achieve ISO15189 accreditation granted by the Emirates National Accreditation System (ENAS) for COVID RT PCR and COVID antibodies (IgG & IgM).

Mr. Ashish Koshy, CEO, G42 Healthcare, said, "Our mission is to provide the definitive, comprehensive and most technologically advanced healthcare solutions in the GCC region. Our collaboration with GenScript comes at a time when countries have successfully rolled out national vaccination programs and laboratories can now benefit from rapid detection of the antibodies, thus supporting the healthcare ecosystem. Our commitment is to uphold patient health and reinforce our credentials as a trail-blazer in healthcare transformation for the good of all humanity."

GenScript's mission is "Make the Human and Nature Healthier through Biotechnology", which syncs in tandem G42 Healthcare's unique position as a market leader in holistic and scalable healthtech solutions with a growing presence across MENA. GenScript cPass SARS-CoV-2 Neutralization Antibody Detection Kit other than promising fast turnaround of an hour, can be done at high throughput, with higher sensitivity and specicity to neutralizing antibodies because of being independent of isotype and virus species.

More information here: https://www.genscript.com/covid-19-detection-distributors.html.

About GenScript Biotech Corporation

GenScript Biotech Corporation (Stock Code: 1548.HK) is a global biotechnology group. Based on its leading gene synthesis technology, GenScript has developed four major platforms including the global cell therapy platform, the biologics contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) platform, the contract research organization (CRO) platform and the industrial synthesis product platform.

GenScript was founded in New Jersey, US in 2002 and listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in 2015. GenScript's business operations span over 100 countries and regions worldwide with legal entities located in the US, Mainland China, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, the Netherlands and Ireland. GenScript provides premium, convenient, and reliable products and services for over 100,000 customers.

For more information visit http://www.genscript.com.

About G42 Healthcare

G42 Healthcare, a leading health technology company, is committed to developing a world-class, sustainable healthcare sector in the UAE and beyond. At the forefront in the battle against COVID-19, G42 Healthcare uses its advanced AI techniques and vast computing resources to accelerate the detection of COVID-19, conduct research into new vaccines and drug therapies, and map trends in the outbreak including virus mutations. The company was responsible was conducting the world's first phase III clinical trial of inactivated vaccines across the Pan Arab region with over 43,000 volunteers participating from over 125 nationalities.

For further information on G42 visit www.g42.ai .

SOURCE GenScript Biotech Singapore Pte Ltd
Advertisement

A house on Australia's east coast boasts what is arguably one of the most spectacular swimming pools in the country - and you can dive straight in if you've got a cool $4million to splash.

Spilling over the side of a four-bedroom mansion in Killcare Heights on the New South Wales Central Coast is an enormous infinity pool that looks more like something you'd find in a five-star Balinese resort than a private residence.

The pool, which captures breathtaking views of the ocean, is undoubtedly the standout feature of the 697 square metre home that also has sprawling open-plan living spaces, balconied bedrooms and a designer chef's kitchen.

Australia's best swimming pool? This enormous infinity pool spills over the side of a four-bedroom mansion in Killcare Heights on the New South Wales Central Coast

The pool (pictured) looks more like something you'd find in a five-star Balinese resort than a private residence

A mammoth renovation in 2009 stripped the house back to its shell, with a large scale redesign in the years after leaving it unrecognisable from its original state.

The transformation involved a total reworking of the floor plan so that uninterrupted ocean views of Sydney's Northern Beaches are captured from almost every room.

It's the first time the house is on the market since it last sold for $395,000 in 1995, realestate.com.au reported.

Listing agent Dale Bassett, who is overseeing the sale of the property for local realtors McGrath Ettalong Beach, has set a guide price of $4.4million (AUD).

If that figure is fetched, it will be the third most expensive home in the NSW 2257 postcode which recorded a new high of $4.7million in February, CoreLogic records show.

The pool offers breathtaking views of the ocean

Uninterrupted ocean views of Sydney's Northern Beaches are captured from almost every room

Listing agent Dale Bassett said he has never seen a property with such magnificent views in his 20-year career

The 697 square metre home also boasts sprawling open-plan living spaces, balconied bedrooms and a chef's kitchen (pictured)

Mr Bassett said he has never seen a property with such magnificent views in his 20-year career, describing it as a 'once in a lifetime' listing.

'There are plenty of incredible homes in Killcare Heights, but this has the most dramatic ocean view I've ever seen,' he told Daily Mail Australia.

'It's just gobsmacking. The way it's positioned on the escarpment, it juts out more than any other so it feels as if you're floating above the sea.'

Mr Bassett said the pool creates the illusion that you are floating over the sea

A guide price of $4.4million (AUD) has been set, which - if fetched - will make it the third most expensive home in the suburb

Mr Bassett said his team have already received 'multiple offers' since the house (pictured) hit the market 12 days ago

Mr Bassett said his team have already received 'multiple offers' since the house hit the market 12 days ago, including one overseas bidder who has only seen the house over FaceTime.

Mr Bassett said an influx of Sydneysiders has sent the average house price on the Central Coast skyrocketing since the pandemic began in early 2020, when many of the Harbour City's 5.23 million residents started to weigh up the pros and cons of life in the bustling state capital.

The Central Coast has seen its median house price increase by 11.7 percent to $715,000 in the past 12 months while apartments have shot up by 13 percent to $540,000 over the same period, according to realestate.com.au.
The Taos News delivered to your Taos County address every week for a full year! We offer our lowest mail rates to zip codes in the county. Click Here to See if you Qualify. Plan includes unlimited website access and e-edition print replica online. Your auto pay plan will be conveniently renewed at the end of the subscription period. You may cancel at anytime.
The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine on the recommendation of the Supervisory Board of JSC Ukrzaliznytsia dismissed Chairman of the Management Board of the company Volodymyr Zhmak.

The Cabinet of Ministers made the decision at a meeting on Wednesday, Infrastructure Minister Vladyslav Krykliy told Interfax-Ukraine.

The Cabinet also reappointed Ivan Yurik (current member of the management board) acting board chairman. Yurik previously served as the head of the company.
About 58.4 million doses have been exported to 71 countries. Indias vaccine diplomacy is in open competition with Chinas. In the meantime, the vaccination campaign at home is slowing just as the number of cases surges, reaching new highs since the beginning of the year.

New Delhi (AsiaNews)  India has so far exported 58.4 million doses of vaccines against COVID-19 compared to 34.8 million doses administered at home since the start of the vaccination campaign.

Health Minister Ashwini Kumar Choubey provided the numbers in a written answer to a parliamentary question, thus confirming that New Delhi is focusing on exporting vaccines to increase its geopolitical influence.

This comes despite the fact that India itself has seen a surge in coronavirus cases in recent weeks. Yesterday alone, 28,903 new cases were reported with 188 new deaths, the highest this year.

About 71 countries have received Indian-made vaccines to tackle the pandemic. About 34 million doses were supplied through commercial agreements.

Some 16 million went to COVAX, a global initiative for the equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines for countries with limited financial means. Another 8 million were provided to 37 countries free of charge.

Among Indias neighbours, Bangladesh is the main beneficiary, with a fifth of the entire supply through its Maitri (friendship) programme. Pakistan, on the other hand, received Indian vaccines via COVAX.

Other countries that have received Indian vaccines are Argentina, Brazil, Egypt and South Africa.

India is also providing anti-COVID vaccines to half of the 48 nations classified by the UN as less developed (LDC) and to a third of the small island developing (SID) nations, two groups of countries whose vote at the United Nations is highly sought after.

New Delhis vaccine diplomacy is in open competition with Beijings. The recent Quad Summit also confirmed that India is at the forefront of efforts to supply one billion doses to Southeast Asian and Pacific countries by the end of 2022, precisely as an alternative to Chinese donations.

However, Indian authorities must also deal with criticism for its slow-moving domestic vaccination campaign. At present about three million doses are administered per day, a number that is a drop in the bucket given the size of Indias population.

Meanwhile, the number of cases has begun to rise, particularly in the state of Maharashtra, which yesterday alone reported 87 new deaths from COVID-19.

We will have to immediately stop the emerging second wave of Corona, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The prime minister also complained that too many vaccines are being wasted. According to data provided by the government, about 6.5 of all doses are lost during their administration.




Haiti - News : Zapping...





"We are determined to pacify the country," says Jovenel Moise

"A new extraordinary Council of Ministers was held Tuesday, at the National Palace, where a state of security emergency was declared in all areas identified by the CSPN including Village de Dieu... We are determined to pacify the country," informed President Jovenel Moise.



Dismantling of a gang network

Jean Volney Bellamin, the commissioner of the government of Port-de-Paix, announced last Friday the dismantling of a gang network in the commune of Jean Rabel. During a joint operation carried out by specialized units of the national police, the tribunal de paix of Jean Rabel and the prosecution of Port-de-Paix, four people found their arrest, two firearms of 9 millimeter caliber and 3.80 as well as 10 cartridges were seized.



Launch of the fortnight of La Francophonie

Launch of the fortnight of La Francophonie, yesterday Tuesday March 16, 2021, at the premises of the Regional Representation for the Caribbean and Latin America (OIF-REPCAL). The International Day of La Francophonie will therefore be celebrated under the theme: "Francophone women, Resilient women".



Claude Dambreville

The Haitian National Pantheon Museum (MUPANAH) bows to the memory of the famous Haitian creator Claude Dambreville who died on March 15, 2021. Writer and painter, Claude Dambreville has validly marked his time with his artistic and literary productions. In this painful circumstance, MUPANAH asks his family to accept the expression of their sincere sympathies. https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-33260-icihaiti-culture-passing-of-the-writer-and-painter-claude-dambreville.html



Ambassador Sison met the President of the CS/CCA

On Tuesday, US Ambassador to Haiti Sison had the pleasure of meeting President Rogavil Boisguene and learning more about the role that the Superior Court of Accounts and Administrative Litigation (CS/CCA) in ensuring the Tax Transparency and Accountability for government spending.



HL/ HaitiLibre


















Bengaluru, March 17 : Karnataka will set up a single-window agency to issue no objection certificates (NoCs) to start mines and quarries within 90 days of receiving the application, Mines and Geology Minister Murugesh R. Nirani said here on Wednesday.

Addressing the safety workshop organised by the Stone Quarry Owners Association here, he said that the liberalised mining policy will create an investor-friendly atmosphere and make Karnataka an easier place to do business.

"I am your representative and I will take your grievances to the Chief Minister and get them redressed," he said.

On the single-window agency to expedite the process of applications for various mining proposals, he said: "This move is expected to get rid of red-tapism and boost the ease of doing business in the sector. The speedy approval through a single-widow agency will help investors start the projects and generate employment." At present, investors in the minor minerals sector like sand, stone and granite have to get NOCs from various departments such as Revenue, Forest and the Pollution Control Board to start their ventures.

"Now the proposed single-window agency will integrate these departments for better coordination and ensure approval of projects in a smooth and time-bound manner," Nirani said.

He also added that the government was considering introduce 'One Time Settlement' (OTS) scheme to garner the revenue from penalties imposed on the mine owners for mining beyond limits.

"Accumulated fine amount has touched Rs 6,700 crore but government has not able generate any revenue from this. Instead, with introduction of the OTS scheme, the government can generate revenue at least bringing down 50 per cent relaxation. The quarry owners will also be made members of settlement committees," he said.

The minister said the owners pay huge amounts in the form of royalty and GST paid by and these amounts are being spent for developmental works.

He said the government has temporarily closed many mines which resulted in the loss of royalty and mining firms are forced to cease operations which in turn resulted in revenue loss and unemployment.

Stressing on the importance of investments and sustainable growth, Nirani said the government did not take any coercive or punitive action against quarry owners despite pressure from the Opposition following recent blasts in mining areas.

"We did not take any knee-jerk action against the quarry owners after the blasts despite demand from the Opposition to arrest them. I know the stress and problems faced by the quarry owners and they cannot be blamed for the recent tragic incidents. It is imperative to inject confidence among investors and other stakeholders for economic development and progress. Any ill-advised coercive action will spoil investor confidence which will affect the flow of investments and thereby affect development of the state," he said.
Serbian Minister of Economy Andjelka Atanaskovic and Romanian ambassador to Serbia Silvia Davidoiu agreed on Tuesday on the creation of a Serbian-Romanian Chamber of Commerce to bring together business from the two countries, news agency Tanjug reports.

The two officials also discussed improving general cooperation between the two states, the Ministry of Economy in Belgrade said in a statement.

Atanaskovic and Davidoiu agreed that the level of bilateral economic cooperation is good and that, despite the crisis caused by the pandemic, the volume of trade is on an upward trend, after having reached 1.82 billion euros in 2020."The establishment of a joint Chamber of Commerce is of particular importance. There is also room for improvement in investment cooperation. This is just the beginning, further work awaits us for achieving goals of common interest," Atanaskovic said.The Romanian ambassador appreciated that there are many more opportunities to improve cooperation, and that the crisis has shown that there should be more flexibility among neighboring countries."The Romanian side wants the joint economic cooperation committee to resume its activity, and that the co-chairs are appointed at ministerial level, from various sectors, such as energy, the economy, trade, tourism and transport," Davidoiu said. AGERPRES
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VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / March 17, 2021 / Earl Resources Limited (the "Company") (TSXV:ERL.H) is pleased to announce that it has entered into an agreement with Kepis & Pobe Financial Group Inc. ("K & P"), a boutique private equity energy firm, to acquire an assignment and novation of earn-in rights to targeted properties in the USA. The parties to the assignment are at arm's length. The agreement will allow the Company to acquire for consideration to be negotiated with the property vendors, a property or properties in Northwest Arizona for the purposes of developing bedded and domal salt cavern energy storage, to store compressed air/hydrogen for Long Term Energy Storage purposes (the "Acquisition"). The purchase price for the Acquisition will consist of an assignment of 10% of the earn in rights to K & P or it's assigns, and the Company funding the developmental costs associated with the properties and other terms which will be more clearly defined by a comprehensive definitive agreement.

Tapping the storage potential of these formations will require wide-ranging expertise in well permitting, drilling, solution-mining technology, cavern operations and well servicing-all skill sets to be developed by the Company's new management team supported by expertise from K & P. A further News Release will be issued which will identify the Company's new management team and Board. It is intended that the Transaction will result in the reactivation of the Company pursuant to the regulations of the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV"), and the graduation of the Company from the NEX to a full listing of the post-acquisition common shares of Earl Resources Ltd on the TSX.V.

The Transaction remains subject to the receipt of all applicable regulatory and third-party approvals, including the approval of the TSXV, Shareholder approval and the satisfaction of other closing conditions which will be announced in a subsequent News Release.

The Company also announces that, as part and parcel of the reactivation, it plans to enter into an agreement with Clarus Securities Inc. (the "Agent"), in connection with a proposed best efforts private placement financing (the "Offering") for total proceeds of up to $3 million, on terms to be agreed to. The proceeds from the Offering will be used for working capital and to fund the Acquisition, subject to TSX.V Regulatory approval. No new control person of the Company will be created, as a result of the Transaction.

After reactivation, the Company intends to acquire and develop additional subsurface storage in multiple jurisdictions in North America, for both greenfield and brownfield opportunities.

For further investor information, please contact:

Paul Larkin, CEO

E-mail: plarkin@pro.net

Phone: 604 687 7767

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward Looking Information

This news release contains certain "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein, without limitation, statements relating the future operating or financial performance of the Company, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are frequently, but not always, identified by words such as "expects", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "potential", "possible", and similar expressions, or statements that events, conditions, or results "will", "may", "could", or "should" occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements in this news release relate to, among other things, the completion and the use of proceeds of the Financing. Actual future results may differ materially. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Forward-looking statements reflect the beliefs, opinions and projections on the date the statements are made and are 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 uncertainties and contingencies. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause actual 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 and the parties have made assumptions and estimates based on or related to many of these factors. Such factors include, without limitation, the Company's failure to find suitable purchasers for the Financing, the failure of the TSX Venture Exchange to approve the Transaction and management's discretion to reallocate the use of proceeds. Readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release concerning these items. The Company does not assume any obligation to update the forward-looking statements of beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change, except as required by applicable securities laws.

SOURCE: Earl Resources Limited

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/636049/Acquisition-of-Energy-Storage-Property-Reactivation-and-Concurrent-Private-Placement-Financing
Washington: Russian President Vladimir Putin authorised influence operations to help Donald Trump in last November's presidential election, according to a declassified intelligence assessment that found broad efforts by the Kremlin and Iran to shape the outcome of the race but ultimately no evidence that any foreign actor changed votes or otherwise disrupted the voting process.

The report released Tuesday from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence represents the most detailed assessment of the array of foreign threats to the 2020 election. These included efforts by Iran to undermine confidence in the vote and harm Trump's re-election prospects as well as Moscow operations that used Trump's allies to smear Joe Biden, the eventual winner.

Despite those threats, though, intelligence officials found "no indications that any foreign actor attempted to interfere in the 2020 US elections by altering any technical aspect of the voting process, including voter registration, ballot casting, vote tabulation, or reporting results."

The report is the latest official affirmation of the integrity of the election, even as Trump supporters continue to make false claims of interference, from foreign or domestic actors, and refuse to accept Biden's victory.

Multiple courts and even Trump's own Justice Department refuted claims of widespread fraud. The document makes clear that even while Trump has cried foul about the legitimacy of the election, intelligence officials believe Russia leaned on his associates to try to tip the outcome of the election.

The report wades into the politically freighted assessments of ferreting out which foreign adversaries supported which candidates during the 2020 presidential election.

Trump, whose 2016 election effort benefited from hacking by Russian intelligence officers and a covert social media campaign, seized on an intelligence community assessment from August that said China preferred a Biden presidency to Trump's re-election.

And his intelligence director faced blowback from some Democrats for a hastily called news conference on Iranian efforts he said were aimed against Trump.

Tuesday's report, however, says China ultimately did not interfere on either side and "considered but did not deploy" influence operations aimed at affecting the outcome.

US Officials say they determined that Beijing valued a stable relationship with the US And did not consider either election outcome as advantageous enough for it to risk getting caught with interference. The primary threats instead came from Russia and Iran, albeit with different intentions and through different means, according to intelligence officials.

In the case of Russia, the report says, Russia sought to undermine Biden's candidacy because it viewed his presidency as disadvantageous to the Kremlin, though it likely took some steps to prepare for a Democratic administration as the election neared.

The report also says Putin authorised influence operations aimed at denigrating Biden, boosting Trump, undermining confidence in the election and exacerbating social divisions in the US.

Central to that effort was the reliance on proxies linked to Russian intelligence "to launder influence narratives" by using media organizations and people close to Trump to push "false" and "misleading" smear campaigns against Biden.

Intelligence officials did not single out any Trump ally in that effort, but longtime associate Rudy Giuliani met repeatedly with Ukrainian lawmaker Andrii Derkach, who released heavily edited recordings of Biden speaking while vice president with Ukraine's then-president in an effort to link him to unsubstantiated corruption.

US Officials have said they regard Derkach as an active Russian agent, and Tuesday's report said Putin is believed to have "purview" over his activities.

Notably, though, Russia was not as aggressive as in past election cycles in trying to hack election infrastructure, and the report says that Russian cyber operations that targeted state and local government networks last year were probably not focused on the election and were instead part of a broader effort to target U.S. And global entities.

Iran, meanwhile, carried out its own influence campaign aimed at harming Trump's re-election bid, an effort US Officials say was approved by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

One "highly targeted operation" the subject of an October news conference by then-Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe and FBI Director Christopher Wray -involved a flurry of emails to Democratic voters in battleground states that falsely purported to be from the far-right group Proud Boys and threatened the recipients if they didn't vote for Trump.

Iran's efforts, which officials say were more aggressive than in past elections and continued even after the contest was over, were focused on sowing discord in the U.S., likely because Tehran believed that would hurt Trump's re-election chances.

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Though Iran sought to exploit the vulnerabilities of state election websites and did "compromise US entities associated with election infrastructure as a part of a broad targeting effort across multiple sectors worldwide," it did not attempt to manipulate votes or affect election infrastructure.

The 15-page document is a declassified version of a broader election interference report that was provided to Trump on Jan. 7, one day after a riot at the U.S. Capitol that occurred while Congress had gathered to certify the election results.
(TNS) - The state's largest mass vaccination clinic opened its doors Wednesday at Virginia State University's Multi-Purpose Center, with the potential to give 6,000 shots per day once it is fully operational. The Virginia Department of Emergency Management is working in tandem with local health departments.The VSU site is helping vaccinate residents from Chesterfield and Crater health districts. Crater is the largest geographical health district in Virginia, stretching south to Emporia and east to Surry County.Officials said that they are still working through several segments of Phase 1B, which includes essential workers who cannot work remotely, like firefighters, child care workers and grocery store workers. With the mass number of vaccinations added to the area they expect to push into Phase 1C within a few weeks.The Multi-Purpose Center is being supplied with the Pfizer vaccine. Officials said that second doses will also be scheduled to be administered at VSU.More: State chooses Petersburg and VSU to host mass-vaccination clinics starting next weekMore: State chooses Petersburg and VSU to host mass-vaccination clinics starting next weekOfficials said that vaccines at VSU will be given only to people who live within the two health districts based on their registration through Virginia Department of Health website. Vaccine recipients have to show some form of identification to verify their information VDH system before getting a shot.It takes 150 people to staff the clinic daily, from vaccinators, to greeters, backroom logistics staff and observers. It will be open Monday through Saturday.This is the third statewide clinic started by the Virginia Department of Emergency Management to increase vaccine rollout. Other VDEM sites in Portsmouth and Danville started earlier this week with Prince William slated to be the next with more to come. These sites are intended to augment shots from local pharmacies, health districts and healthcare facilities.The Multi-Purpose Center was chosen because of its capacity and central location in the region. The initial clinics are targeted at the top 20% of vulnerable communities in the localities.State officials said that VSU has long been in consideration as a clinic, even before a vaccine had been developed."We knew that based on trends, analysis and history that our most vulnerable communities would need an extra boost to ensure equitable distribution of the COVID vaccination across the Commonwealth," said Alaysia Hackett, chief diversity officer of the governor's Office of Diversity and Inclusion.Petersburg has so far administered 6,300 total doses, Hopewell has 3,800, Colonial Heights 4,300, Dinwiddie 5,400 and Prince George 6,200, according to the VDH COVID19 Dashboard.By Tuesday March 16, Chesterfield County had vaccinated roughly 68,000 residents with at least one dose. It's goal is to vaccinate 75% of its residents in the coming months.VDEM is identifying more sites to open across the state based on specific communities and its needs."We've identified locations across the Commonwealth and we're working with the locals there to identify the best approach. Is it a small site that we need, is it a 1,000 or a 3,000 (capacity venue) or a large site? So we're working through that."VDEM is also working with faith centers and schools is an additional consideration in spreading distribution.As more vaccines become available the parameters for registration and distribution could change to meet different needs.You can reach Sean Jones at sjones@progress-index.com. Follow him at @SeanJones_PI. Follow The Progress-Index on Twitter at @ProgressIndex.Want to read more stories by The Progress-Index but keep hitting your article limit? Click here to get a subscription and support local journalism.This article originally appeared on The Progress-Index: With a potential 6K shots per day, Virginia's largest mass-vaccination clinic opens at VSU___(c)2021 The Progress-Index, Petersburg, Va.Visit The Progress-Index, Petersburg, Va. at www.progress-index.comDistributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
SIIOS demobilization team in Greenland. (left to right) Natalie Wagner, Juliette (Bella) Broadbeck, Dani DellaGiustina, Namrah Habib, Susan Detweiler, Angela Marusiak, and pilot Sebastian Holst. Credit: Tonny Olsen

The NASA-funded Seismometer to Investigate Ice and Ocean Structure (SIIOS) performed well in seismic experiments conducted in snowy summer Greenland, according to a new study by the SIIOS team led by the University of Arizona published this week in Seismological Research Letters.

SIIOS could be a part of proposed NASA spacecraft missions to the surface of Europa or Enceladus. These moons of Jupiter and Saturn are encrusted by an icy shell over subsurface liquid oceans, and seismic data could be used to better define the thickness and depth of these layers. Other seismic points of interest on these worlds could include ice volcanoes, drainage events below the ice shell and possibly even a timely glimpse of the reverberations from a meteorite impact.

To better mimic mission conditions, the SIIOS team attached flight candidate seismometers to the platform and legs of a buried and aluminum-shielded mock spacecraft lander on the Greenland Ice Sheet. Angela Marusiak of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and colleagues found that the lander's recordings of seismic waves from passive and active seismic sources were comparable to recordings made by other ground seismometers and geophones up to a kilometer away.

Although the attached seismometers did pick up some of the shaking of the lander itself, Marusiak said the lander and ground-based seismometers "performed very similar to each other, which is definitely promising," in detecting earthquakes and ice cracking.

The experimental array was placed over a subglacial lake (a new feature in Greenland that had not yet been studied with seismic approaches) and the lander-coupled seismometers were also able to detect the ice-water interface, which would be one of the instrument's primary tasks on the icy ocean worlds.

The scientists buried the lander and nearby seismometers a meter deep in granular snow, and covered the lander with an aluminum box, to reduce the effects of wind and temperature variation on the instruments. This brought the experiment closer to the atmospheric conditions that might be expected on an airless moon like Europa. During an icy ocean world mission, however, the seismometer would likely only be deployed to the surface and may not be buried.

"What we're hoping for is if we are able to go to Europa or Enceladus or one of these icy worlds that doesn't have huge temperature fluctuations or a very thick atmosphere and we're taking away that wind noise, essentially you're taking away what's going to cause a lot of shaking of the lander," explained Marusiak, who conducted the research while she was a Ph.D. student at the University of Maryland.

And unlike on Earth, researchers for these missions wouldn't be able to deploy a large array of seismometers and gather data for months at a time to build a picture of the moon's interior. The available solar energy to power the devices would be 25 times less than that on Earth, and devastating radiation would be likely to destroy the instruments within a couple weeks on a moon like Europa, she said.

After taking an Air Greenland helicopter ride to the site in the summer of 2018, the SIIOS deployment team set up the experimental lander and array on the ice sheet about 80 kilometers north of Qaanaaq. For the active source experiment, the instruments recorded seismic signals created by the team members striking aluminum plates with a sledgehammer at locations up to 100 meters from the array's center.

The array then made passive recordings of local and regional seismic events and the ice sheet's ambient creaking and cracking noises for about 12 days, until an unusual summer snow buried the solar panels powering the array.

Marusiak was proud to be a member of an all-female demobilization team, and by the warm reception that the scientists received at the Thule AFB. The work would not have been possible without the logistics support provided by the National Science Foundation, Polar Field Services, and local guides.

The team plans to return to Greenland this summer to test a prototype seismometer that has been designed to account for more mission-ready conditions of radiation, vacuum and launch vibration, she said.

Explore further Mini-marsquakes measured by InSight lander show effects of sun and wind

More information: Angela G. Marusiak et al, The Deployment of the Seismometer to Investigate Ice and Ocean Structure (SIIOS) in Northwest Greenland: An Analog Experiment for Icy Ocean World Seismic Deployments, Seismological Research Letters (2021). Journal information: Seismological Research Letters Angela G. Marusiak et al, The Deployment of the Seismometer to Investigate Ice and Ocean Structure (SIIOS) in Northwest Greenland: An Analog Experiment for Icy Ocean World Seismic Deployments,(2021). DOI: 10.1785/0220200291
File

BRIGHTON  The village board has terminated the employment of its police chief.

Brighton Police Chief Mark Fitzgerald was placed on administrative leave with pay Oct. 19 pending an internal administrative investigation.
Redmi India, a sub-brand of Mi India, on Wednesday announced the brand's foray into the Smart TV category with the launch of Redmi Smart TV X series.

The smart TV series by Redmi includes the Redmi Smart TV X65, Smart TV X55 and Smart TV X50. All three smart televisions feature the same specifications but come in three different screen sizes.

The Redmi Smart TV X series starts at Rs 32,999 for the 50-inch variant, Rs 38,999 for the 55-inch option and Rs 57,999 for the 65-inch variant. The new Smart TV X series will go on sale on Amazon and Mi.com, Mi Home and Mi Studios from March 26 at 12 noon and it will also be made available in offline retail stores later on.

"India today has 170 million households with a but less than 20million homes own We launched our range of Mi TVs over three years ago and have been leading the Smart TV market since the past 10 consecutive quarters," Raghu Reddy, Chief Business Officer, Mi India said in a statement.

The Redmi Smart TV X series comes with 4K HDR technology and Dolby Vision and also support HDR 10+.

The audio output is 30W with support for DTS Virtual: X, DTS-HD, Dolby Audio, Dolby Atmos Pass through via e-ARC. It runs the 64-bit quad-core A55 CPU coupled with Mali G52 MP2 and has 2GB RAM + 16GB Storage.

The TVs run on Android 10 out of the box and also come with Xiaomi's PatchWall UI.

The Redmi TV comes with three HDMI 2.1 enabled ports all of which bring ALLM. One of the HDMI ports also supports eARC to connect Dolby Atmos soundbar or home theatre to the TV.

New TVs come with two USB ports, one optical port and a 3.5mm port. It also supports Bluetooth 5.0 and dual-band Wi-Fi.

--IANS

wh/rt

(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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Brucella (yellow ovals) can infect a cow through the cow's eye and travel from there to the lymph nodes, where they replicate. Credit: Aretha Fiebig

Many people have never heard of Brucellosis, but farmers and ranchers in the United States forced to cull animals that test positive for the disease and people infected by the animal-transmitted Brucella abortus (B. abortus) pathogen that suffer chronic, Malaria-type symptoms, certainly have.

Brucellosis is an agricultural and human health concern on a global scale. It was introduced over 100 years ago to Bison and elk in Yellowstone National Park by cattle and has been circulating among the wild herds ever since, leading to periodic outbreaks and reinfection. There is no vaccine for humans, and experimental studies of B. abortus in its natural animal hosts are technically difficult, extremely expensive and only a few facilities are capable of conducting these studies.

That did not stop Sean Crosson, MSU Rudolph Hugh Endowed Professor, and colleague Aretha Fiebig, research associate professor in Michigan State University's Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, from bringing sophisticated genomics tools from the lab to the field to gain new insight into how B. abortus infects cattle and help stop the spread of this deadly disease.

The results of their study were published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

"B. abortus primarily infects cattle, causing pregnant cows to abort the fetus, but the infection is typically studied in mouse models, which are not the true host of the bacterium," explained Crosson, who has been studying the bacteria for more than 14 years. "If you want to understand the infection biology underlying bovine disease, then it's helpful to study things in the natural host in a field context."

In the microbiological equivalent to tagging cattle, Crosson and Fiebig harnessed the hopping ability of specialized DNA called transposons to tag individual strains of B. abortus with unique barcodes. This gave them the ability to count how many B. abortus bacteria made it from the cow's eye, a common point of infection in the field, to the lymph nodes.

"As molecular biologists, we can harness hopping DNA by separating away the enzyme that allows it to continue moving," said Fiebig, who specializes in bacterial regulatory mechanisms. "We temporarily gave DNA the ability to hop into the B. abortus genome, but it didn't hop out again."

The scientists mixed millions of E. coli bacteria carrying transposons with millions of B. abortus in a broth containing amino acids and sugars, initiating mass tagging through a process called bacterial conjugation where transposons hop into and unite with the B. abortus genome. When the remaining E. coli cells were washed away, they were left with a vat of individually barcoded B. abortus strains.

Image of Brucella abortus cells captured by light microscopy (magnified 630x). Each of these cells contain a short, unique DNA sequence, or barcode, that enables the identification of individual strains in a mixed population. Credit: Sean Crosson and Aretha Fiebig

"We were able to make a rich pool of about a million different barcoded strains," Fiebig said. "When we infected the cattle, we could track almost every single strain and ask, 'how many strains got lost, what strains had an advantage and was that advantage for a genetic reason or just chance?'"

Millions of bacteria went in, but surprisingly few came out. And while the genetic identity of strains that made it through was random, the number of strains that managed to infect individual lymph nodes was remarkably similar.

"We knew there was some restriction, or infection bottleneck, but we didn't understand the magnitude until this study," said Fiebig.

The unexpected results required nontraditional computational analysis, so Marianne Huebner, director of MSU's Center for Statistical Training and Consulting, provided expert guidance on the use of mathematical models to assess the population structures of the bacteria that survived the bottleneck.

Infecting a large animal host with a federally regulated pathogen also presented significant methodological challenges. The researchers relied on the highly skilled veterinarians and high-tech facilities at the United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service's (USDA-ARS) National Animal Disease Center in Ames, Iowa where the cows in the study were housed and treated.

The challenging field study paid off, providing critical insight into just how good the cow's mucosal barrier is at restricting B. abortus during infection.

"In the end, we gained a quantitative understanding of an infection bottleneck via a common route of bovine infection in the field," Crosson said. "This information is useful for scientists studying the epidemiology of Brucellosis in livestock and wildlife and can help us build better transmission models as we work to stop the spread of this disease."

The proof of principle paper also opened new doors to discovering specific B. abortus genes involved in the devastating disease.

"Going forward, we better understand how to use our library of barcoded mutants over longer timepoints in a pregnant host to find B. abortus genes that influence the most severe outcomes in cattle, including abortion," Crosson said. "This is a goal of the USDA-ARS as well, to know what genes in B. abortus are critical to infection in the bovine host."

Explore further New route to identify drugs that can fight bacterial infections

More information: Aretha Fiebig et al, Quantification of Brucella abortus population structure in a natural host, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2021). Journal information: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Aretha Fiebig et al, Quantification of Brucella abortus population structure in a natural host,(2021). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2023500118
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A memorial wall engraved with the names of about 43,000 soldiers who died in the 1950-53 Korean War will be set up in a dedicated park in Washington.

Construction at the Korean War Veterans Memorial Park will start in mid-March, the U.S. National Park Service said in a press release on Monday.

"The Wall of Remembrance is a new, permanent addition to the memorial which will include the names of 36,574 American servicemen and more than 7,200 members of the Korean Augmentation to the United States Army who gave their lives defending the people of South Korea," it said.

The park was dedicated in the National Mall, a landscaped park in Washington, on July 27, 1995 in the presence of then presidents Kim Young-sam and Bill Clinton.
Opposing a proposal to make executive director as a visiting professor, students staged a demonstration at on Tuesday.

Shubham Tiwari, one of the protesting students, said instead of Ambani, those who have set an example of women empowerment should be invited.

Meanwhile, Prof Nidhi Sharma, coordinator of the Centre for Women's Studies and Development, said the proposal to make a visiting professor has been sent to the authorities.

She said, "Ambani is a woman entrepreneur. If she joins our centre, the women of Purvanchal will get the benefit of her experience.

(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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"Our posture's gonna be that we're posted outside of DC, awaiting the president's orders. We hope he will give us the orders. We want him to declare an insurrection, and to call us up as the militia."

Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes, in November, looking ahead to Jan. 6
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The Washington Post, AP issue retractions over reporting of Trump phone call to Georgia election official

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The Associated Press, Washington Post and other news outlets issued corrections to earlier reports that claimed former President Donald Trump had pressured a Georgia election investigator to "find the fraud" in an audit of mail-in ballots in the state's most populous counties.

These reports were cited as evidence in the articles of impeachment by the U.S. House in its second impeachment of Trump.

As the AP admitted Monday, its article "erroneously reported that Trump pressed the (lead Georgia elections) investigator to 'find the fraud' and said it would make the investigator a national hero."

The national news outlet acknowledged that "a recording of the call made public two months later revealed that Trump did not say either and instead said that if the investigator looked into Fulton County the investigator would 'find things that are gonna be unbelievable.' Trump also told the investigator: 'When the right answer comes out, you'll be praised.'"

The Washington Post issued a lengthy correction to its Jan. 9 story asserting that "Trump pressured a Georgia elections investigator in a separate call legal experts say could amount to obstruction."

The correction noted that "two months after the publication of this story, the Georgia secretary of state released an audio recording of President Donald Trump's December phone call with the state's top elections investigator.

"The recording revealed that The Post misquoted Trump's comments on the call, based on information provided by a source. Trump did not tell the investigator to 'find the fraud' or say she would be a 'national hero' if she did so. Instead, Trump urged the investigator to scrutinize ballots in Fulton County, Ga., asserting that she would find 'dishonesty' there. He also told her that she had 'the most important job in the country right now,'" the correction continued.

Trump's Dec. 23 call to Frances Watson came as the Trump campaign was contesting the election results of the 2020 presidential election in Georgia, which showed then-President Trump narrowly trailing now-President Joe Biden. The call, which lasted for six minutes, was released by the Georgia Secretary of State's office last week and the audio of the call was published in a separate Washington Post article highlighting the details of the conversation.

After discussing his comfortable victories in nearby states and other swing states, Trump asserted that "I won Georgia, I know that, by a lot, and the people know it." He maintained that "something bad happened" and urged Watson to conduct thorough signature verification of mail-in ballots in Fulton County, home to the state's capital and largest city of Atlanta.

"I appreciate your comment ... and I can assure you that our team and the GBI, that we're only interested ... in the truth ... and finding ... the information that's based on the facts and ... we've been working 12, 16 hour days and ... we're working through it," she responded. Watson told Trump that she was "very honored" and "shocked" that he called her in light of his busy schedule.

The former president also asked Watson if the audit would continue after Christmas, citing the impending certification of electoral votes by the United States Congress on Jan. 6. Watson answered in the affirmative.

"Call any time you need. If you need help, call me," Trump said as the call came to a close.

According to the AP, the finalized vote tally in Georgia shows that Biden narrowly defeated Trump by slightly more than 12,000 votes out of nearly 5 million votes cast. This equates to a margin of 0.24%, making Georgia the closest state in the 2020 presidential election.

Following the controversy surrounding the results of the 2020 presidential election, the Republican-controlled Georgia state Senate passed legislation that would repeal no-excuse absentee voting. Under the legislation, which has yet to pass the Republican-controlled House, only voters who are either 65 years old or older, absent from their precinct, observing a religious holiday, required to work for the entire time the polls are open, serving in the military or living overseas will qualify for an absentee ballot.

The 2020 presidential election featured the use of a record number of absentee ballots, which critics argue are more susceptible to fraud. In addition to issuing stricter requirements for the use of absentee ballots, the legislation also strengthens voter ID requirements. Critics of the new Georgia legislation argue that it is designed to create obstacles that would "restrict the freedom to vote."
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SANTA FE, N.M.  New Mexico State Police have identified a man killed in a shooting at a residence in Chamita last week as 35-year-old Fernando Martinez of Espanola.

No arrests have been made in the case. However, an NMSP spokesman said agents do have a person, or persons, of interest in the shooting.

Martinez was killed and three others were injured when suspects opened fire on a crowded SUV shortly after midnight March 11 in Chamita, a community 7 miles north of Espanola.

State Police spokesman Mark Soriano said that day that police detained six people after a standoff at a nearby home.

The shooting took place at a home County Road 56 near House 89A.

Several people in the SUV had been fired upon while the vehicle was on the property and at least four received gunshot wounds. Soriano said a woman and two men were taken to the hospital and Martinez was found dead inside the SUV.

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U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrives for a two-day visit with U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin (not pictured) to discuss major challenges in the region, at Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek, South Korea, on March 17, 2021. (Lee Jin-man/Pool/AFP via Getty Images)

US Sanctions 24 China, Hong Kong Officials Ahead of Talks

HONG KONGThe United States sanctioned an additional 24 Chinese and Hong Kong officials over the Beijing regimes ongoing suppression of political freedoms in the semi-autonomous city, just ahead of the Biden administrations first face-to-face talks with China.

The step reflects Washingtons deep concern about the erosion of Hong Kongs autonomy following changes to its election system endorsed by Chinas ceremonial legislature last week, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a March 17 statement.

Foreign financial institutions that deal with the 24 officials also would be subject to U.S. sanctions, the State Department said.

The planned changes to Hong Kongs electoral law give a pro-Beijing committee power to appoint more of Hong Kongs lawmakers. The move will reduce the proportion of those directly elected and ensures that only those determined to be truly loyal to Beijing are allowed to run for officeeffectively shutting opposition figures out of the political process.

The U.S. announcement was made during a visit by Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to Japan and South Korea, both of which are wary of Chinas growing economic, military, and political heft.

While in Tokyo, the two officials delivered a joint statement with their Japanese counterparts expressing concern about Beijings human rights violations in the western Xinjiang region against ethnic minorities and Chinas determination to alter the status of a group of uninhabited islets administered by Tokyo but claimed by Beijing. The two arrived in Seoul on March 17 for talks.

On March 18, Blinken and national security adviser Jake Sullivan are scheduled to meet with Foreign Minister Wang Yi and the foreign affairs chief of Chinas ruling Communist Party, Yang Jiechi, in Anchorage, Alaska.

The U.S. has said it will be an initial opportunity to address intense disagreements over trade and human rights in Tibet, Hong Kong, and Xinjiang as well as the coronavirus pandemic.

The Biden administration appears committed to taking a tough line on those issues.

China has rejected all criticism of its policies toward Hong Kong, accusing foreign governments of interfering and saying political tightening was necessary following months of anti-government protests in 2019.

Last June, Beijing imposed a sweeping national security law on the city and Hong Kong authorities have arrested most of the prominent pro-democracy supporters and outspoken critics. Many others have fled abroad and renewed their calls this week for members of the Hong Kong diaspora to keep up the fight for freedoms promised to the city after the 1997 end of British colonial rule.

Among those included in the sanctions are Wang Chen, a member of the Chinese Communist Partys elite 25-member Politburo, and Tam Yiu-chung, the Hong Kong delegate to the Chinese parliaments standing committee, which drafted the national security law.

Several officers from Hong Kongs National Security Division were also sanctioned, including Li Kwai-wah, a senior superintendent, as well as Edwina Lau, a deputy commissioner of the Hong Kong police force and the head of the division.

Starting last October, the United States had already sanctioned 10 officials including Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam and Deputy Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office Zhang Xiaoming. Sanctions forbid their travel to the United States and block their dealings with U.S. financial institutions.

Lam said in a television interview in November last year that the sanctions meant she receives her salary in cash and has piles of cash at home because she was cut off from banking services in Hong Kong.

Chinese officials have shrugged off the effects of sanctions, with some calling their designation a point of pride in what they view as an attempt to undermine Chinese control in Hong Kong and its rise as a competitor to the United States.
Etihad Rail, the developer and operator of the UAEs national railway network, said it has signed a strategic agreement with Saudi Railway Company for setting up a framework for the exchange of services, training, and knowledge transfer.

The strategic agreement will support identifying future initiatives, such as those in the field of technology and procurement, ensuring training curricula are up-to-date, optimal maintenance times, and other programs that enhance information exchange within the logistics and mobility sector, said the statement from Etihad Rail.

In addition, the agreement facilitates the leasing of locomotives, the exchange of spare parts, as well as the training of engineers and students in operational processes and the further development of competencies in various technical fields, it added.

This is of strategic importance, due to the close ties between the UAE and Saudi Arabia, under the wise and visionary leadership within both countries, stated Etihad Rail CEO Shadi Malak after signing the deal with Saudi Railway Company CEO Dr Bashar Al Malik in the presence of officials from both entities.

The agreement focuses on four key areas of cooperation including locomotives and wagons lease arrangements, spare parts purchase, special volunteer groups and shared services initiatives, he stated.

"It will further expand the close relationship between the two entities through continuous cooperation, which inturn will shape the future of the rail transport and logistics sector across the GCC region," he added.

According to him, the pact is aligned to Etihad Rails strategic role in the development of the UAEs logistics and mobility sector.

"We look to contribute to the ongoing comprehensive development process aimed at achieving the UAEs economic vision and government strategies, while optimally using available resources and capabilities," he added.

On the Etihad Rail tieup, Al Malik said: "Such a partnership is nurtured by both nations continued cooperation, and their mutual vision for the integration of our transportation sectors. This is particularly pertinent for the rail sector, which offers a pivotal role in wider social and economic development."

"It demonstrates the Saudi Railway Companys integral role in the development of the kingdom, working to achieve the targets of Vision 2030 and provide a global logistic service for the kingdom," noted the top official.

Etihad Rail started construction of Stage Two of the UAEs national railway network in early 2020.

The project extends from Al Ghuwaifat on the borders of Saudi Arabia to the emirate of Fujairah, on the eastern coast.

Upon completion, Stage Two will link the nations ports, manufacturing hubs, and urban centres and integrate with the GCCs railway network.

"The pact further indicates how we seek to provide safe and reliable transport solutions, as well launching shared procurement services. Leasing of trains and vehicles, and the provision of spare maintenance parts, contributes to further sectorial development opportunities," remarked Al Malik.

"It also enhances the use of our national capabilities and expertise: characteristic of Saudi Railway Companys wider ethos. Having rigorously implemented international standards, it has enabled new partnerships, providing training and services for local and regional transport companies," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency Commissioner (KDCA) Jeong Eun-kyeong appears at a hearing at the National Assembly, Wednesday. Yonhap



By Do Je-hae



Concerns are rising again over the safety of AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine, as a suspected case of blood clotting after inoculation has been reported here, following dozens of similar cases in Europe.



The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said AstraZeneca vaccine injections will continue since no causal relation between the vaccine and the symptom has been confirmed. But concerned citizens could choose to avoid receiving injections, hindering the vaccination schedule and the government's plan to achieve herd immunity by November.



According to the KDCA, Wednesday, one suspected death was reported due to blood clotting following an AstraZeneca vaccine injection. The person, a woman in her 60s who had been at a nursing home, died on March 6 after receiving an AstraZeneca vaccine shot on Feb. 26. An initial autopsy showed she had developed blood clots.



The latest fatality comes amid dozens of deaths from blood clots following AstraZeneca vaccine injections in several European countries, leading to the suspension of the product as a preemptive measure until further studies are conducted.



"We have one report (about blood clots) and plan to review the case," KDCA Commissioner Jeong said during a session at the National Assembly's Health and Welfare Committee.






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Dr. Dre is requesting for a judge to award him 'single status' amid his tumultuous divorce from estranged wife Nicole Young.

The 56-year-old music mogul 's attorney Laura Wasser filed court documents 'requesting a bifurcation of Dre's divorce,' which would declare himself and Young 'single,' as reported by TMZ on Wednesday.

'Dre says his divorce from his estranged wife, Nicole Young, has gotten to the point of no return,' the court documents read.

Single? Dr. Dre is requesting for a judge to award him 'single status' amid his tumultuous divorce from estranged wife Nicole Young; Dre pictured in 2018

Dr. Dre, born Andre Romelle Young, noted that his estranged wife's recent 'false allegations of domestic violence' have left their relationship beyond repair.

He also alleged in the court docs that he has 'been trying to settle the divorce with Nicole since she filed in June 2020,' but claimed she is purposely 'dragging her feet.'

Wednesday's filing comes just days after a judge denied a restraining order filed by Young against her estranged husband, after a song released by the rapper prompted her to fear for her safety.

Bifurcation: The 56-year-old music mogul 's attorney Laura Wasser filed court documents 'requesting a bifurcation of Dre's divorce,' which would declare himself and Young 'single,' as reported by TMZ on Wednesday; Nicole and Dre pictured in 2018

Young, 51, requested the emergency domestic violence restraining order against her ex, 56, after he released a song last month in which he referred to her as a 'greedy b*tch' and a 'perjurer', according to TMZ.

Young claims that while none of this is new, she is now concerned for her safety after the release of the song, and alleges 'he has upped the ante and is now outright threatening me to keep my mouth shut or else.'

Dre discusses having a health crisis in the newly released song, which is a collaboration with KXNG Crooked and DJ Silk.

Denied: A judge has denied a restraining order filed by Nicole Young against her estranged husband Dr. Dre, after a song released by the rapper prompted her to fear for her safety

'I see you trying to f*** me while I'm in surgery, in ICU death bed on some money s***,' he raps. 'Greedy b****, take a pic, girl you know how money get,' it is also sung.

Despite Young believing the new song and her previous allegations of spousal support warranted the order, the judge ultimately denied her request due to 'insufficient evidence.'

Responding to her allegations, Dre insisted the only time he had seen Young since the divorce filing was when she visited him in the hospital following his brain aneurysm in January 2021.

Legal matters: Young, 51, requested the emergency domestic violence restraining order against her ex, 56, after he released a song last month in which he referred to her as a 'greedy b*tch' and a 'perjurer', according to TMZ

Aside from that, Dre insists he has had no contact with her, and has denied all her allegations of abuse.

Since she came forward with her claims, he 'realized he had no idea who the woman he was married to was and he wanted nothing to do with her.'

Ever since Nicole filed for divorce in June last year, their split has become more and more contentious.

In October, Dre accused his wife of criminal conduct in 'embezzling' more than $350,000 from one of their bank accounts.

Happier times: The exes pictured in Sacramento, California in 2014

In January DailyMail.com revealed that Nicole filed court documents accusing Dre of violent and emotional abuse during their 24-year marriage.

The music tycoon held a gun to her head, punched her in the face and slammed her against a wall, lifting her off her feet by her neck, she declared.

Shortly after her scathing declaration to the court, Nicole's legal team huddled with Dr Dre's lawyers and the end result was that Dre - reportedly still in his hospital bed after suffering a brain aneurysm - signed an agreement to pay Nicole a lump sum of $2million in temporary support till April.

Dre had been paying Nicole $293,000 a month in support, but she is asking the court to force him to pay her almost $2million a month, plus another $5million for attorney fees.

Nicole - who claimed in legal documents that Dre has more than $260 million on hand in cash and Apple stocks - contends that she has a right to continue the lavish lifestyle she had as Mrs. Andre Young - which she said cost around $2.3million per month.

Michel'le, who dated Dre in the 1990s, has repeatedly accused him of physical abuse which he denied in 2016 while threatening suit over a Lifetime movie about the subject. TV host Dee Barnes has also written that he beat her up at a party in 1991.
Mar. 16If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence and would like to talk with an advocate, call 866-834-4357, TRS 800-787-3224. This free, confidential service is available 24/7 and is accessible from anywhere in Maine.

The Maine Supreme Judicial Court on Tuesday unanimously upheld the murder conviction and 43-year sentence of a Hampden man who shot his sister-in-law 10 times on July 11, 2018, in the bedroom of her apartment.

Philip Clark, now 57, confessed to police that he pulled the trigger after Renee Henneberry Clark, 49, pushed "every frigging button she could" until he snapped and shot her.

Her body was found two days later. Clark lived in an adjoining apartment at 557 Kennebec Road in Hampden.

Justices, who heard oral arguments remotely in the case last month, rejected Clark's argument that Superior Court Justice William Stokes should have recused himself from presiding at the trial because he had met a key witness, the Rev. Anthony Cipolle. The Catholic priest beat up Clark just hours before the murder. Clark also argued that Stokes' former job as the top homicide prosecutor in the Maine Attorney General's office disqualified him.

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland fired Cipolle last year, saying he had abused his position as a member of the clergy. In sentencing Clark in 2019, Stokes said the former priest had "inflamed" the situation that led to Henneberry Clark's death.

Maine Supreme Judicial Court Justice Joseph Jabar said in the court's 22-page opinion that Stokes was not required to turn the trial over to a different judge.

"The fact that the presiding judge had met the witness years before on a few Sundays during one summer was insufficient to create even an appearance of bias," Jabar said. "Additionally, the trial judge had presided over several homicide trials involving the Attorney General's office prior to this case and has not worked in the Attorney General's office for over five years."

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Maine's high court also rejected Clark's contention that his attorneys, David Bate of Bangor and Logan Perkins of Belfast, should have been able to argue to jurors that Clark was guilty of manslaughter, not murder, because he was provoked into shooting the victim. Justices also agreed that there were no grounds to suppress Clark's confession.

The maximum sentence for manslaughter in Maine is 30 years in prison while the sentence for murder is 25 years to life.

Assistant Attorney General Donald Macomber argued in his brief that the judge properly followed Maine law and trial procedures.

"We are pleased with the court's swift decision in this case," he said Tuesday. "We hope it brings some measure of comfort and closure to Renee Henneberry Clark's family."

Lawyers for Clark did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Clark is incarcerated at the Maine State Prison in Warren. His earliest possible release date is Aug. 24, 2055, when he would be 92, according to the Maine Department of Corrections.
BALLSTON SPA  The village election on Tuesday that was meant to be nonpartisan, looks to have once again been decided on party lines.

Though the numbers are unofficial and no Democratic or Republican labels were placed on the ballot, voters choose the registered Democratic candidates over those who are registered Republican, preserving incumbent Shawn Raymond's seat on the Village Board and bringing on Ben Baskin to replace outgoing Trustee Noah Shaw.
Spain is all set to launch a pilot project for companies where they can experiment the newly proposed four-day working session in a week. If accepted, Spain would become the first European country to trial run a four-day working week plan. The idea is aimed at increasing productivity of the employees, improving health care and the environment. The plan was first proposed by a Spanish leftwing party Mas Pais, which suggested the government to promote a pilot project to reduce working hours of ordinary employees.

With the 4-day session. We have opened an authentic period debate. That always arouses controversy, because it opens a gap. What else is more important to politics than life time?. We live sad, drowned and exhausted. Our production model has expired, and to improve it we propose reducing the working day to 32 hours a week and putting mental health at the center of the political agenda, Inigo Errejon of Mas Pais said on Twitter.

What's in the plan?

Spain was one of the first countries in Europe to adopt an eight-hour workday plan, which later became a norm in other European countries as well. According to The Guardian, the pilot project could start as early as September 2021. Mas Pais has proposed a three-year plan that would also allow companies to seek support from the government to cover the costs of implementation in the initial period. A Spanish software company already has the four-day working week plan in place and Mas Pais suggests that employees at the firm have become more productive than before.

To improve productivity of employees by reducing working hours is not a new idea as several developed countries already have measures in place that require companies to set a weekly working time-limit. For instance, in countries such as Netherlands, Germany, France, Norway, and Denmark, employees work for an average of less than 30 hours a week. Spain is not so far away as an ordinary employee in the country is required to work for only 32 hours a week, which is way less than the 60 hours of work a week in some of the developing nations.

(Image Credit: AP)
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Vice President Kamala Harris, the first South Asian person to hold the office, delivered a message to the Asian American community Wednesday after a shooting Tuesday night left six Asian women and two others dead.

We stand with you and understand how this has frightened and shocked and outraged all people. But knowing the increasing level of hate crime against our Asian American brothers and sisters, we also want to speak out in solidarity with them and acknowledge that none of us should ever be silent in the face of any form of hate, she said in an address, noting that the motive in Tuesdays shooting is still being investigated.

Harris said the administrations prayers are extended to the families of those killed, adding, It speaks to a larger issue, which is the issue of violence in our country and what we must do to never tolerate it and to always speak out against it.

Also Read: Daniel Dae Kim, Mindy Kaling and More Denounce Atlanta Area Mass Shooting: 'Enough is Enough'

Later on Wednesday, President Joe Biden denounced the brutality against Asian Americans and said he was in conversation with the attorney general and the director of the FBI as the investigation into the shooting is ongoing.

The shooting took place at three separate spas  Youngs Asian Massage Parlor, Aromatherapy Spa and Gold Spa  in the Atlanta area Tuesday night. The 21-year-old suspect was charged with four counts of murder and one count of assault in Cherokee County, where one of the spas is located. Officials have not yet announced any charges for the killings that took place at the two other spas in the city of Atlanta.

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic last year, nearly 3,800 incidents of violence, discrimination or other forms of harassment were reported to Stop AAPI Hate, a reporting center that tracks hate incidents against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. There were a total of 1,691 incidents reported in California, representing nearly 45% of all reported incidents. Of those who reported incidents, 68% identified as women.

Story continues

The reported shootings of Asian American women on Tuesday in Atlanta is an unspeakable tragedy  for the families of the victims first and foremost, but also for the AAPI community  which has been reeling from high levels of racial discrimination, the organization Stop AAPI Hate tweeted on Tuesday night. Few details have been released, including whether or not the shootings were related or motivated by hate. But right now there is a great deal of fear and pain in the Asian American community that must be addressed.

See Harris message in the video below.

VP Harris to the Asian American community: "We stand with you and understand how this has frightened and shocked and outraged all people, but, knowing the increasing level of hate crime against our Asian American brothers and sisters, we also want to speak out in solidarity." pic.twitter.com/zCONHr3tX0

 MSNBC (@MSNBC) March 17, 2021

Read original story Vice President Kamala Harris to Asian Americans: We Stand With You At TheWrap
Senate Democrats will introduce their version of the For The People Act, a sweeping voting rights proposal and single-largest election legislation since the passage of the landmark Voting Rights Act.

Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said lawmakers will revive the bill from Mitch McConnells legislative graveyard after the Republican Senator sidelined the bill along with other Democratic-backed measures.

The bill is an antidote to despicable acts of voter suppression across the US, Mr Schumer said, pointing to the more than 250 GOP-sponsored bills aimed at restricting ballot access in at least 43 state legislatures in the wake of the 2020 election, compelled by Donald Trumps persistent lie that the election was tainted by irregularities and stolen from his supporters.

When you lose an election, what you do in a democracy is try to win over the people who didnt vote for you, not prevent them from voting, Mr Schumer said on Wednesday at a Capitol press conference. That is autocratic. That is anti-Democratic. That is anti-American.

Voting restrictions will disproportionately target Democratic-leaning voters of colour, according to civil rights groups and voting rights advocates.

Its Jim Crow, a century after we thought Jim Crow was dying, and its been resurrected in the most horrible way, said Mr Schumer.

Read more:

The legislation, along with other White House-backed measures in Congress, is likely to face steep Republican opposition in the Senate to fall short of a 60-vote threshold to pass. Senate Democrats are facing mounting pressure to reform the filibuster to pass critical items on their agenda and bypass GOP roadblocks.

Mr Schumer suggested lawmakers have not ruled that out.

Failure is not an option he said. Our caucus will decide the appropriate action to take. Everything is on the table.

A version of the bill passed in the House of Representatives would mandate automatic voter registration, at least 15 consecutive days of early voting for federal elections, and mail-in voting and drop boxes for absentee ballots, among a host of other proposals wrapped into the bill. It would also make it more difficult to purge voters from voter rolls and would restore voting rights to formerly incarcerated people.

The legislation also seeks to eliminate partisan gerrymandering and dark money influence from politics, and would create an avenue for public financing of congressional campaigns.

In his first-ever floor speech, Democratic Senator Raphael Warnock of Georgia introduced the bill in the Senate on Wednesday, calling GOP efforts to cut mail-in voting and early voting days, impose voter ID restrictions and other measures are Jim Crow in new clothes.

He said passage of the For The People Act is too important to be held hostage to Senate rules

It is a contradiction to say we must protect minority rights in the Senate while refusing to protect minority rights in the society, he said.

He also urged passage of the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, which revives the civil rights legislation after elements of the law that prohibit discrimination at the polls were tossed out by the US Supreme Court in 2013.

We must find a way to pass voting rights whether we get rid of the filibuster or not, he said.
By MJ Old

oldmadel@grinnell.edu

Quick Cold Cases is a biweekly column in which various S&B staff members briefly dive into cold cases from across the globe. Each writer will provide a brief summary of the case before using their best investigative skills to describe what they believe happened.

The pictures are out there on the internet, though I dont recommend going looking for them. Her skin is charred black and gray, the sole of one foot shockingly white. Her head is thrown back, her right arm crossed across her chest and her left arm slightly raised.

This is the Isdal Woman, named for the valley in Norway where she was found, nestled between rocks, on Nov. 29, 1971. Near the body, the police found jewelry, a watch, a broken umbrella, a pair of rubber boots, a few plastic bottles of water and some paper, illegible from the fire. The tags had been torn out of her expensive clothing, the labels scratched off the bottles. Her real identity is still unknown. She certainly wasnt a local, as no one in town knew her and no women matching her description had been reported missing.

Her body also gave evidence of how shed died. There was soot in her lungs, meaning that shed still been breathing when the fire started. Her cause of death was listed on the autopsy report as a combination of carbon monoxide poisoning from fire and the 50-70 barbiturate sleeping pills in her stomach. Three weeks after her body was found, the Norwegian police released their verdict: suicide.

Isdal Valley, an hour or so hike from the nearby city of Bergen, doesnt make much sense as a place for a suicide, especially for someone unfamiliar with the area. It also doesnt make sense that a tourist would pick cold, dark late November as the time to visit.

I think she was a spy. The police found two suitcases that had been left in the Bergen train station on Nov. 23, six days before her body was found. The suitcases contained, among other things, a notebook written in code, wigs, glasses with no prescription, cosmetics, and more expensive clothing, all with the labels torn out. The elements of disguise. A fingerprint on the lens of one of the glasses matched the body, so we know these suitcases were hers.

Her luggage also contained a plastic bag from a shoe shop in Stavanger, Norway. An employee at that shoe shop recognized the rubber boots thatd been found with the body; hed sold them to a rather memorable woman. She wasnt Norwegian, he said (in 1971 very few foreigners lived in Norway), and she spoke English with an accent. She smelled bad, strongly, like garlic, and she spent a long time deciding whether or not to buy the boots and ended up coming back to buy them the next day. There was a gap between her front teeth when she smiled.

The suitcases contained, among other things, a notebook written in code, wigs, glasses with no prescription, cosmetics, and more expensive clothing, all with the labels torn out. The elements of disguise.

Based on that description the police tracked her back to a hotel near the shoe shop, where she signed in under the name Finella Lorck, claiming to be Belgian. But of course, the Belgian police said theyd never heard of any Finella Lorck, and the passport number shed given the hotel was fake. A woman of the same description had signed in at other hotels around Norway, with the same very distinctive handwriting, under at least seven different names.

What would a spy be doing in these two cities? Stavanger, the city where she bought the rubber boots, is the offshore oil-drilling capital of Norway, where all the oil execs hang out. And in 1971, amid the Cold War, Bergen was home to the largest naval base in Norway, with NATO military exercises taking place in the harbor.

Mitochondrial DNA testing did ID her as being from Europe, but her DNA didnt match with anyone in the Interpol database, and it hasnt been compared with any commercial databases. Commercial databases are somewhat reluctant to share their data with the police, because they dont want their customers getting arrested if theyre connected to a crime that way. Of course, police in the United States have used commercial databases and genetic genealogy (identifying people through their distant relatives) to solve cases such as the Golden State Killer, and Norway might follow suit soon.

There was a gap between her front teeth when she smiled.

The other way modern technology could identify her was by her teeth: she had very distinctive gold crowns, the kind of dental work that was done much more in Germany and Eastern Europe than Scandinavia. Isotope analysis of the teeth can also tell you where someone was living when they were young, because different areas have different fractions of isotopes, and the Isdal woman spent her young childhood in Germany  specifically the Nuremberg area  but moved fairly early in life to somewhere else in Europe.

You can also determine the age of biological materials by analyzing the amount of radioactive 14C, which decays at a predictable rate into 12C after death. Carbon dating told us she was born in about 1930, and a child who fled Nuremberg in the late 1930s may well have been Jewish. If she lost her family during the war, that might also result in her not being reported missing.

As to who she was spying for and why she was killed, I cant do more than guess. Israel was doing espionage in Europe at that time, as well as far-left political groups not associated with a particular state. She probably wasnt working for the Soviets, because according to former Soviet spies, seven alternate identities were far too many. Soviet spies only had one. She might have been killed by someone who found out she was a spy (but why wouldnt they report it to the Norwegian government? Maybe because they were ashamed of information theyd already given her?) or she might have tried to quit and been killed by her own organization.

Someone knows who she is. Whoever was financing her expensive clothing, false passports, and hotel-hopping lifestyle knows her real name. Tell us. Its been 50 years.

Any opinions expressed through columns and other S&B opinions publications belong to the writer and do not reflect the views of any or all members of the S&B staff, nor by any Grinnell associated organization.
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Experts are creating an online translation service for 19 indigenous peoples, including those living in Russias Arctic regions.

A meeting held to discuss the preparations for the upcoming Decade of Indigenous Languages proposed adding a number of events to the global plan of the Decade suggested by Russian and international experts. They highlighted the ongoing project to create and support nomadic schools and kindergartens for the Arctic regions, plus an online translation service for many indigenous peoples on which several IT corporations are working together, according to a press release of the Board of the Association of Small Indigenous Peoples of the North KMNS Union issued following a meeting on the Decade of Indigenous Languages (2022-2032).

The project is ongoing at the Cyrillica Center publishers and the Center of Arctic and Siberian Exploration (CASE) at the Sociological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, with support from the International Shukhov Foundation. The online glossary they are compiling will be used for creating an online translation service on a platform already designed by a Russian corporation.

The meeting on the upcoming Decade of Indigenous Languages, held in Almaty, Kazakhstan, was attended by representatives of the indigenous peoples of Eastern Europe, Russia and Central Asia. The two-day event concluded with a statement made by Jaco Du Toit, Chief of the Universal Access to Information Section at the Communication and Information Sector, UNESCO.

Russia has accumulated a wealth of experience and capabilities for the Decade of Indigenous Languages. The relations between Russias indigenous peoples and government agencies allow us prioritize the opinions of indigenous peoples when it comes to the preservation of their native languages, said Inessa Tomskaya, Deputy Board Chair of the North KMNS Union, as quoted in the press release.
[March 17, 2021] United Road Announces Haully Carrier of the Year 2020 Awardees

PLYMOUTH, Mich., March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Jason Walker, Chief Operating Officer of United Road, the largest provider of finished vehicle transport logistics in North America today announced the recipients of the inaugural Haully Carrier of the Year Award for 2020. The award recognizes and rewards United Road's independent carrier partners that have met or exceeded its quality performance metrics in 2020 for on-time, damage-free delivery, app compliance, and revenues. Day in and day out, these carriers enable United Road to fulfill its mandate to deliver vehicles to customers on-time and damage-free. "The 2020 Haully Carrier of the Year Award recipients set the bar high on every quality metric. They consistently go above and beyond to support our customers' business success," said Walker. "Day in and day out, these carriers enable United Road to fulfill its mandate to deliver vehicles to customers on-time and damage-free so they can meet the needs of their customers without delay or disruption. The award recipients are truly proponents of our customers' success." Recipients of the Haully Carrier of the Year Award for 2020 in three categories are:

- Large

East Side Auto Transport of Wallingford, Connecticut. East Sides services lanes along the I-95 corridor from Maine to North Carolina and in between. They also move dealer, rental, auction, fleet units. United Road dispatcher comments: "Working with East Side Auto is so simple, their knowledge and also their drivers' professionalism makes it a great fit. Always courteous and they pay attention to United Road procedures. They are a pleasure to work with."



- Mid-Sized

Davidson Transport LLC of Quincy, Ohio. Led by Brett Davidson who primarily hauls OEM vehicles in Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana areas. United Road dispatcher comments: "Davidson has been our go-to subcontractor for years. Always dependable at picking up loads in a timely manner. Great communication. Always willing to move loads that other 3rd party wouldn't. Wherever we need him, he'll go. He gets the job done 100% on time, with professionalism." - Small

LTT Trucking LLC of Mabank, Texas. Led by LeAnn Manning and family. LTT hauls between Texas and Louisiana. United Road dispatcher comments: "(LTT is) very ambitious. When they commit to a transportation assignment, they see it through to the endLeAnn always goes above and beyond on follow-up."

Eligibility for the Haully Carrier of the Year Award was based on a carrier being in the 97th percentile among their peers for quality as measured by damage-free delivery, the 90th percentile for quality as measured by on-time or early delivery, the 90th percentile for compliance with United Road's proprietary V-TAS and load management tools that, among other information, give customers visibility into status of their shipments, and business revenue with United Road. In recognition of this honor, Haully Carrier of the Year Award for 2020 recipients will receive quarterly rebates throughout the year 2021, a special trophy and Haully merchandise. "The majority of our independent carriers are small to mid-sized business owners where cash flow is king," explained Walker. "The success of each of our carriers from the smallest to the largest is important to United Road. United Road developed Haully and its suite of business tools and offerings including this annual recognition award to support carriers  from self-assigning loads including backhauls to becoming eligible for quick pay options. When our carrier partners are successful, United Road is successful." The Haully Carrier of the Year Award for 2020 evolved from United Road's Haully, a logistics technology platform for third-party carriers introduced in 2019 that provides hassle-free access to quality vehicle loads, including backhauls and business tools. Click on HaullyPro for information including profiles of the 2020 Haully Carrier of the Year Award winners. ABOUT UNITED ROAD

Founded in 1997, United Road is the premier finished vehicle logistics company in North America. Each year, coast to coast and across borders, United Road manages the transport of over four million vehicles for OEMs, remarketers, on-line sellers/buyers, fleet owners and individuals. Headquartered in Plymouth, Michigan, with operating terminals across the U.S. and Canada, the company has over 1,700 employees and operates an integrated national network that includes a total of 2,500 company-owned and independent contractor units as well as 15,000 power units of dedicated third-party vehicle carriers. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/united-road-announces-haully-carrier-of-the-year-2020-awardees-301249504.html SOURCE United Road

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New Delhi/Thiruvananthapuram, March 17 : Three-time Kerala Chief Minister A.K. Antony on Wednesday said that the days of the Pinarayi Vijayan-led LDF government in the state are numbered and his Congress-led UDF will win a handsome victory in the April 6 Assembly elections.

Addressing the media in Delhi, Antony, who holds the record of being the Defence Minister of the country for the maximum period, contended that things have reached a stage when all want a change in the governance in Kerala.

"The days of Pinarayi Vijayan government is numbered as there is no doubt that Kerala will have a Congress Chief Minister... who that will be, will be decided after the elections. Cutting across communities, the common feeling that has now come out is there will be total communal harmony, only if the UDF returns to power," he said.

Antony played down the internal feuds that have broken out in the party after the list of candidates of his party came out on Sunday.

"I can understand the emotions and feelings of the Congress aspirants who missed out. The party high command never intervenes and this time, the list surfaced after several rounds of discussions and deliberations. I have full faith in my party workers as they are determined to see the end of the present government," he said.

"Did you all not see the wrangling in cadre parties like the CPI-M and the BJP. There was a furore all around, while the Congress party is an open house and this happens. Just take a look into our list and see the number of youngsters in the list... no party can lay such a claim," he added.

On the high-profile electoral battle at Nemom - the sole Kerala seat held by the BJP, he said that it is an important election and the result is very evident - that the son of legendary Chief Minister K. Karunakaran, K. Muraleedharan, who is the Congress candidate, will be the victor.

Antony, however, declined to comment on his colleague P.C. Chacko's decision to quit the Congress and join the Nationalist Congress Party.
RC drilling has returned broad intersections of mineralisation which are expected to increase the confidence of the resource estimation within the deposit in areas of sparse historical drilling.

The company has commenced a 6,000-metre aircore program to the southeast of the deposit to further target the strike potential in this area.

s ( ) (FRA:GR2) new broad results from recent RC drilling at Tabakorole Gold Project in southern Mali are expected to enhance the 910,000-ounce mineral resource and grade within the existing strike of the deposit.

Results have been received for eight reverse circulation (RC) drill holes with best intersections of:

40 metres at 1.0 g/t gold from 86 metres including 7 metres at 2.2 g/t from 86 metres;

33 metres at 1.1 g/t from 84 metres including 10 metres at 2.3 g/t from 84 metres;

31 metres at 1.1 g/t from 146 metres; and

10 metres at 2.0 g/t from 49 metres.

Samples for 20 RC drill holes for 2,760 metres are at the laboratory, with assay results expected shortly.

Enhancing size and grade of resource

Several of the reported results returned very broad intersections of mineralisation which are expected to increase the confidence of the resource estimation within the deposit in areas of sparse historical drilling.

Marvel managing director Phil Hoskins said: We are pleased with the consistent widths and grades in this south-eastern part of the deposit.

Many of the holes drilled in this program within the existing strike have exceeded expectations and are expected to enhance the size and grade of the resource.

These holes continue that theme.

We look forward to reporting the remaining assay results, which were drilled to test the northwest strike extension.

Plan view showing additional Tabakorole drill results.

Emerging as significant deposit"

Hoskins said: "Excellent metallurgical test results and continued exploration success have seen Tabakorole emerge as a significant deposit, with results of recent drilling expected to grow the mineral resource beyond one million ounces.

We are committed to expanding the existing mineral resource and since concluding the RC drilling, have completed a five-hole diamond drilling program in the southeast of the deposit, with the results expected to be reported in April, and recently commenced a 6,000-metre aircore program to the southeast of the deposit to further target the strike potential in this area.

In addition, we have also undertaken an extensive geochemistry program across the Tabakorole licence area and at adjacent tenements, Sirakourou and Solabougouda, as part of a systematic approach to identifying targets for follow up.
A teaching union has launched a blistering attack on the Education Minister after yesterday's decision by the Executive to allow all primary school pupils to return to the classroom from next Monday.

The Executive agreed to proposals from Peter Weir for P4 to P7 to return to school from March 22, along with those in post-primary years 12 to 14. All other year groups will return to face-to-face teaching after the Easter holidays on April 12.

But Gerry Murphy, northern secretary of the Irish National Teachers' Organisation, said Mr Weir had "trashed the last vestiges of his reputation with the teaching profession".

"It is these hard-working teachers who deliver the thing that matters: the advancement of our children's education. They continue to do so in the midst of a pandemic and in the face of ineffectual and weak leadership," Mr Murphy said.

"Our primary schools will have only two working days' notice, not the 10 they were promised.

"This is yet another failure in leadership on the part of the Department of Education and its minister.

"It is too late to salvage Peter Weir's reputation as Minister of Education, but there is still time, with proper leadership and the goodwill of the teaching profession, to meet the emotional and educational needs of our children and young people. Both they and their teachers deserve better."

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Mr Weir welcomed the support of the Executive for his proposals, saying "today is a food day for schools, pupils and parents".

"My main objective has always been the full return of all pupils to school in line with public health advice. Education has rightly been prioritised by the Executive," he added.

"The focus now must be on educational recovery, which will be critical to their future prospects.

"With Executive support, I intend to invest in the necessary resources to help pupils address any disruption to their learning."

Diane Dawson, the principal at Braniel Primary School, said that while she would welcome back all her pupils with open arms next Monday, there were still questions as to why schools had been treated "abysmally" by the Executive.

"At Braniel, we have our recovery curriculum ready to go, but I don't know if every school will be so lucky," she said.

"Even things like making sure that we have enough school meals to cater for 480 pupils come Monday morning now have to be arranged.

"Staff here have been doing double the work these past few weeks, preparing for all eventualities. Some head teachers have already sent out home-school packs to pupils which will now not be needed.

"We have read between the lines and we are ready to welcome pupils back, but it was time and money to get us into this position. Other schools might not have been in such a position for another last-minute decision."

Principals are now facing what the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) called a "dangerous" workload.

"All frontline education workers are desperate to see children and young people back at school," said NAHT president Dr Graham Gault.

"However, two significant concerns remain. Firstly, the last-minute and often chaotic nature of announcements through the social and mainstream media is both disrespectful and unhelpful to our principals.

"Secondly, in order for our children to return to school sustainably, we know that wider societal restrictions will have to be implemented. What are these going to be? What measures are the Executive going to take to ensure that community transmission remains low?"

NASUWT National Official Justin McCamphill said that while the decision was not "entirely surprising," his union still wanted to see the health data that informed another last-minute plan of action.

"It is now incumbent on the Executive to publish the scientific evidence which justifies this last-minute change in direction," he said.

Jacquie White, general secretary of the Ulster Teachers' Union, said that teachers remained to be convinced that the roadmap back to school for pupils was sustainably safe.

"The last thing anyone wants is to move too far too quickly when we seem to be making such hard-won advances," she said.

"This is quite a leap and not one that we are assured is in the best interests of pupils, teachers, parents and the wider community.

"A return to school also means a return of all the travel challenges that go with it, both of parents collecting children and of children using school and public transport.

"Our worry is that any recklessness now in getting children back behind desks could trigger another spike in Covid infections and prolong disruption of their education.

"It would seem counter-intuitive to throw away the progress we seem to be making and risk schools closing again.

"This would be the worst possible scenario for everyone."
Galveston, TX (77553)

Today

Partly cloudy with late night showers or thunderstorms. Low 76F. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

Partly cloudy with late night showers or thunderstorms. Low 76F. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 40%.
Eurostar is in 'advanced discussions' for a rescue package with the UK and French governments in an attempt to head off a potential collapse, it emerged today.

The head of the French state rail company, the cross-Channel service's largest shareholder, said it needed a cash injection within weeks.

It was revealed in November that the company is 'fighting for survival' after suffering a 95 per cent reduction in passenger numbers during the coronavirus pandemic.

At one point just one daily train was running in each direction between London and Paris, and between London and Amsterdam via Brussels.

Eurostar is in 'advanced discussions' for a rescue package with the UK and French governments in an attempt to head off a potential collapse, it emerged today

Jean-Pierre Farandou, chief executive of French rail group SNCF, told the Financial Times: 'We are getting closer to the moment when Eurostar will have real cash flow problems  by next month, we have to conclude these discussions.'

He said the UK and French governments were involved in 'very advanced discussions' about possible state-backed loans to pull the rail operator through the coronavirus pandemic.

Currently travel outside of the UK is only for 'essential purposes', with holidays to the continent banned until May 17, leading to the huge reduction in passengers.

SNCF has a 55 per cent stake in Eurostar, and has itself received billions in French government support.

Jean-Pierre Farandou, chief executive of French rail group SNCF, said: 'We are getting closer to the moment when Eurostar will have real cash flow problems  by next month, we have to conclude these discussions.'

The firm has with other shareholders, including London-based Hermes Infrastructure, Canadian fund manager CDPQ and Belgium's state rail operator, already pumped 170m into Eurostar during the pandemic.

But the company has said this money was 'finite' and a significant solution is needed.

Mr Farandou added: 'We hope that it will be weeks [not months] because the financial situation is going to be very difficult at the end of May, start of June.'

It is understood that Eurostar has discussed the possibility of 60m of loans backed by UK Export Finance, which helps UK companies accessing finance and insurance.

The UK government has until now been insisting that Eurostar is not a British company, saying the 55 per cent ownership by the French state means they should lead on a support package.

It is understood that Eurostar has discussed the possibility of 60m of loans backed by UK Export Finance, which helps UK companies accessing finance and insurance

In February, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps told MPs that the Government is 'very keen for Eurostar to survive' but insisted 'it's not our company'.

The cross-Channel rail operator revealed in November that it is 'fighting for its survival' after suffering a 95 per cent reduction in passenger numbers during the coronavirus pandemic.

It is running just one daily train in each direction between London and Paris, and between London and Amsterdam via Brussels.

Eurostar is 55 per cent owned by French state rail company SNCF.

Giving evidence to the Commons Transport Select Committee, Mr Shapps said the UK will be 'as helpful as possible', stating that schemes such as UK Export Finance  which partially guarantees loans  could be utilised.

But he continued: 'We don't own the shares, so, to state the obvious, it is the shareholders' problem to resolve.

'We'll be as helpful as possible but it's not for us to take over their issue.

'You've got 55 per cent ownership by the French state. It's not just any old shareholder.'

A Department for Transport spokesperson said: 'We recognise the significant financial challenges facing Eurostar as a result of Covid-19 and the unprecedented circumstances currently faced by the international travel industry.

'The Government has been engaging extensively with Eurostar on a regular basis since the beginning of the outbreak.

'We will continue to work closely with them as we support the safe restart and recovery of international travel.'
Armenia acting health minister on citizens' demand for her resignation

Karabakh's new State Minister Artak Beglaryan on his appointment and future activities

Armenian, Russian and Azerbaijani representatives hold consultations in Moscow

2 Armenian soldiers receive slight injuries after incident with Azerbaijani servicemen in Armenia's Gegharkunik

Armenian boy weighing 5 kg born at Goris Medical Center

"Armenia" bloc representative presents purpose of participation in elections and plans

Isaac Herzog elected President of Israel

Rouhani: Main issues between Tehran, Washington resolved in Vienna

Charles Michel calls on Armenia and Azerbaijan to resume constructive negotiations

US Department of State responds to Pashinyan's proposal to deploy international observers on Armenia-Azerbaijan border

Head of Armenia 2nd President's Office: Robert Kocharyan's public meetings are held in warm atmosphere

Opposition "Armenia" bloc's representative on photos and videos showing bags of deceased servicemen's bodies

Armenia Ombudsman, AGBU President discuss war crimes committed by Azerbaijan during Karabakh war

Opposition "Armenia" bloc's representatives to hold briefings three times a week

Opposition "Armenia" bloc member: Blood-freezing photos and videos from morgue in Abovyan are authorities' reflection

Yerevan mayor receives Netherlands Ambassador

Armenia Health Ministry, Investigative Committee keep info about sending remains of dead soldiers abroad confidential

Armenia Prosecutor General's Office launches case regarding leaving sacs of servicemen's bodies/remains in basement

Peskov: Putin and Biden to discuss cybersecurity issues

Armenia's Pashinyan meets with Belgian PM Alexander De Croo

Armenia acting MOD receives Netherlands Ambassador

Armenia Police: 3 citizens apprehended during protest demanding acting health minister's resignation

NATO warns Minsk about further consequences of Ryanair incident

Armenia economic competition protection commission: Experts forecast inflation of butter prices

Armenia citizens' protest against acting health minister is over

Pashinyan visits France, judicial farce against Armenian POWs kicks off in Baku, Jun. 2 digest

Armenian Ambassador, FMO representatives consider opportunities for expansion of cooperation in Armenia

Armenia Prosecutor General is on working visit to Russia

Armenia acting PM meets with European Council President in Brussels

Armenia citizens throw polyethylene bags at Health Ministry building, police apprehend protesters

Acting deputy minister: Armenia authorities plan to build 46km section of North-South highway in 2021

Dollar is stable in Armenia

Armenia official: Large number of projects being prepared in construction sector

Identity of man killed Wednesday morning in downtown Yerevan is found out

Armenian lawyer: Azerbaijan poses a threat to security in Europe

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

Missing Armenian soldiers' relatives hand letter to Russia Embassy with request to solve captives' issue

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
New Delhi:

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, which has announced pre-bookings of its brand-new Jeep Compass SUV on June 19 has crossed 10,000 mark in bookings.

FCA India in a statement confirmed that it has received 92,000 enquiries so far, since its launch on July 31.

FCA India President said, "The Made in India Jeep Compass has gained remarkable traction in the market... We are working with our plant to deliver the product to customers in the least possible time.

The delivery of Compass began on August 6 and the company is increasing production at its Ranjangaon plant with two shifts working six day a week.

Jeep Compass SUV was launched at starting from Rs 14.95 lakh  Rs. 20.65 lakh(ex-showroom Delhi).

The SUV is available in three variants namely  Sports, Longitude and Limited. The 1.4 litre turbo petrol engine with six-speed manual or 7-speed automatic gearbox. The top model comes with 2.0 litre Multijet Turbo Diesel engine 4x4 variant with 6-speed manual gearbox and 6 airbags.

Currently, Jeep Compass SUV is available on 50 retail showrooms in 47 cities. The company is looking to expand its sales network to 60 outlets by the end of the year.
The European Central Bank (ECB) is shielding the eurozone economy from higher bond yields partly because the region is rolling out its fiscal stimulus too slowly, according to Slovakian central bank governor Peter Kazimir.

While the rise in euro-area government bond yields this year isnt dramatic for now, the ECB board member said the bank wanted to shore up confidence that the region wouldnt suffer from higher borrowing costs sparked by the $1.9trn (1.6bn) fiscal package.

My concern is that, compared with the enormous US fiscal impulse, the effects of the European one will kick in with a major delay  were talking months and years, Mr Kazimir said in an interview. The joint fiscal reaction is lagging behind and needs to pick up its pace to support the recovery.

The ECB pledged last week to significantly boost the pace at which it buys debt under its 1.85trn pandemic program for the next three months. The move aims to ensure financing conditions remain favorable across the 19-nation currency bloc.

Mr Kazimir said the decision was a reaction to the spillover of the market move triggered by the approval of the US fiscal package, and that the intention is to prevent widening discrepancies between economic fundamentals and higher borrowing costs.

In contrast to the US, the European Unions joint 750bn pandemic recovery fund has yet to hand out cash and is running into trouble, with the unions executive arm judging that most national spending plans submitted so far still need work to get approved.

The result could be a delay in disbursements, an additional challenge for an economy already recovering slower than its global peers amid extended virus lockdowns and the emergence of a third wave of infections.
House-hunting in London for that perfect place to live can sometimes feel like an impossible case to crack.

But this unlikely greasy spoon could be the answer to the mystery of where to settle down.

A one-bedroom flat above a sandwich shop featured in BBC drama Sherlock is available for to rent for 1,365 per month.

The series ran from 2010-2017 and starred Benedict Cumberbatch as a modern version of famed detective Sherlock Holmes, alongside his sidekick Dr John Watson, played by Martin Freeman.

A one-bedroom flat above the famous sandwich shop featuring in hit BBC series Sherlock is now available for rent in Bloomsbury for 1,365 per month

The show starred Benedict Cumberbatch as a modern version of famed detective Sherlock Holmes, alongside his sidekick Dr John Watson, played by Martin Freeman

The series saw the character return to the iconic address of 221B Baker Street, but producers actually chose to film in Bloomsbury, where there was less traffic.

The location was half a mile away at 185 North Gower Street, above Speedy's Sandwich Bar - which has since become one of Britains unlikeliest tourist attractions.

Despite the sandwich shop being hugely popular with fans of the cult show, independent estate agents McHugh & Co say that there has been little interest in the small flat.

On their RightMove listing the flat, located on a 'charming period terrace', is described as boasting 'high ceilings and modern decor' with a fully-fitted kitchen with built-in appliances.

The one-bedroom, one-bathroom flat is described on Right Move as boasting ' high ceilings and modern decor' with a fully-fitted kitchen with built-in appliances

Despite the sandwich shop being hugely popular with fans of the cult show, independent estate agents McHugh & Co say that there has been little interest in the small flat. Pictured, the bedroom of the flat

The description reads: 'A lovely one double bedroom apartment boasting bright and well-presented living space in a fantastic location moments from Euston Station, Regent's Park and the West End.'

Owner Chris Georgiou, 64, revealed in 2010 that the show had a huge impact on the popularity of the cafe, with floods of new customers desperate to take a look at where the show was filmed.

Even though the show only started a month ago, weve had 200 new customers who recognised the shopfront and asked if it was 221B Baker Street.

We have attracted all sorts from across the globe. Lots of people stop to take photographs and we even had the Sherlock Holmes Appreciation Society drop in for a coffee. The cast and crew were all great when they were filming.

Sherlock ran from 2010-2017 and followed the eccentric Sherlock and Dr Watson as they solved crime together

'I chatted to Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman [who play Holmes and Watson] and they were charming.

While the cafe has become a buzzing tourist spot in central London, it seems they remained a down-to-earth cafe, with a full English last year costing 5.45, while the veggie alternative is the same.

The 'Full Monty', which includes egg, bacon, bubble and squeak, black pudding, beans, fried tomatoes and toast, will set you back 5.60.

They of course feature a 'Sherlock' breakfast of scrambled egg salmon, avocado and mushrooms which is slightly more expensive than the rest of the menu at 8.50.

Earlier this year Speedy's was revealed by holidaycottages to be one of the UK's top ten most obscure tourist attractions, with 67 per cent of their reviews mentioning the popular TV-show.

The location of filming is half a mile away from Baker Street, at 185 North Gower Street near Euston tube station

Back in 2018, owner Georgiou revealed that letters often arrive at his cafe addressed to Sherlock and Dr Watson.

The BBC's decision to film in Bloomsbury is in keeping with the spirit of the books, because when Sir Arthur Conan Doyle first wrote about Holmes in 1887, the address didn't exist - the numbers on Baker Street reached only 100.

It was renumbered in the 1930s, with former building society Abbey landing the desirable 221.

In 1990, a Holmes Museum opened on the street, and despite its address being 237, Westminster Council allowed it to adopt the number 221B.
By Elizabeth Piper

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's health ministry was a "smoking ruin" last year that failed to secure adequate protective equipment and other supplies early in the COVID-19 pandemic, Prime Minister Boris Johnson's former top aide said on Wednesday.

Dominic Cummings, Johnson's senior adviser until November, said Britain's more recent success in rolling out a rapid inoculation programme was the result of a decision to shift vaccine procurement from the ministry to the prime minister.

His comments to a parliamentary committee were among his first public remarks on the coronavirus response he helped lead, and could cause political headaches for Johnson.

The health ministry was "just a smoking ruin in terms of procurement and PPE and all of that", Cummings told lawmakers.

"It's not coincidental that the vaccine programme worked the way it did, it's not coincidental that to do that we had to take it out of the Department of Health," he said.

"We had to have it authorised very directly by the prime minister and say, strip away all the normal nonsense that we can see is holding back funding ... in the sense that Number 10 took it out of the Department of Health."

Health minister Matt Hancock glossed over questions about Cummings' comments at a later news conference, saying the roll out of vaccines had been "a huge team effort". Johnson's spokesman said he disagreed with Cummings' description.

But Jonathan Ashworth, opposition Labour's health policy spokesman, said his description was "a clear admission of fundamental mistakes that have contributed to us tragically experiencing one of the highest death rates in the world".

Cummings, a divisive figure who was the architect of the Vote Leave campaign in the 2016 Brexit referendum, was appointed senior adviser in 2019 after Johnson turned to him for help to deliver his promise to "get Brexit done".

Story continues

He told lawmakers on Wednesday he had taken the job to help "sort out the huge Brexit nightmare" in return for Johnson agreeing to increased science funding, the creation of a scientific research agency and civil service reform - causes the government is pressing on with despite Cummings' departure.

Cummings said his exit had been planned, though British media reported at the time it was a result of clashes with others in Johnson's 10 Downing Street office.

Britain has suffered one of the highest per capita death tolls in the world from the pandemic, but in recent months it has rolled out the fastest vaccine programme of any large country. The government says it is on track to have given a first COVID-19 shot to half of all adults in the next few days.

(Reporting by Elizabeth Piper, Michael Holden and Sarah Young; Editing by Peter Graff and Gareth Jones)
Putin urges prosecutors to combat extremism, corruption and election fraud

 RAPSI, Natalia Vaneyeva

16:51 17/03/2021

MOSCOW, March 17 (RAPSI)  Prosecutors must be more aggressive in the fight against extremism, nationalism, corruption and election fraud, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday during the extended meeting of the panel of the Prosecutor Generals Office.

The society waits for more law enforcement activity in combating extremism. All prosecutors must promptly respond to manifestations of nationalism and hostile and destabilizing moves. Moreover, it is necessary to draw more attention at corruption crimes, especially in such spheres as distribution and filling of civil and defense orders, rendering of government services, use of municipal and state property.

The President also reminded about upcoming parliamentary voting in 2021 and instructed prosecutors to observe lawfulness during preparation and holding of the election.
KYODO NEWS - Mar 17, 2021 - 22:50 | All, World, Japan, Coronavirus

Japan said Wednesday it will tighten border controls on travelers from seven additional countries, mainly from Europe, in response to the spread of new variants of the novel coronavirus detected in the states.

The measure, to take effect Saturday, will involve Japanese nationals and others traveling from Estonia, the Czech Republic, Pakistan, Hungary, Poland, Luxembourg and Lebanon, according to the government.

People arriving from the countries will be required to submit negative results from virus tests taken within 72 hours of their departure for Japan and take another test upon arrival.

They will also be required to quarantine in a designated facility and retake the test after three days.

If the results are negative, they will be asked to leave the facility without using public transport and self-quarantine at home or other locations for at least 14 days.

With the addition of the seven countries, there are now a total of 24 countries subject to the stricter measures.
WASHINGTON, March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Charles Hernick, vice president of policy and advocacy for Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions (CRES), testified today before the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee that harnessing the free market, investing strategically in research and development (R&D) and reducing or eliminating regulatory barriers will increase America's competitive edge and improve the climate.

During the hearing, "The Business Case for Climate Solutions," Hernick expressed that many companies, states, and municipalities have been hard at work for decades tackling climate challenges. He urged Congress not to "reinvent the wheel," rather to build on existing best business practices for climate solutions and policies that support those initiatives.

"Congress should harness the power of free marketsby encouraging transparency and accountability and empower companies to achieve their self-set goals, not pursue heavy-handed, top-down mandates that drive up costs or reduce options," Hernick said. He added, the U.S. should "make strategic investments in R&D and infrastructure that serves an all-of-the-above approach including fuel efficiency, new clean fuels like hydrogen, and electrificationi.e., electric vehicles."

In his testimony, Hernick commended Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Ranking Member Sam Graves (R-MO) for his leadership to uphold state decision-making and reject new federal mandates.

"I want to thank Mr. Hernick for testifying today and providing the Committee with valuable insights about market-driven innovations in emissions reductions and climate solutions," said Ranking Member Graves. "The way we will continue to lead the world in becoming greener and more resilient is not through unachievable, one-size-fits-all policies, but through encouraging the ingenuity, adaptability, and responsibility of American businesses."

Hernick also discussed the need for reforms like the One Federal Decision Act, introduced by U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis (R-IL), seeking to consolidate permitting decisions for major infrastructure projects into a single environmental review process that must be completed in two years, overseen by a single federal agency of jurisdiction.

"A single permitting timetable and timely environmental reviews and authorization decisions must be a first-order priority, specifically codifying One Federal Decision," Hernick said, noting that recent CRES polling revealed that 73 percent of American voters support streamlining and reforming government regulations that hamper the transition to clean energy.

"The Energy Act of 2020 is proof that bipartisan clean energy and climate solutions are possible," Hernick concluded. "My hope is that Congress can pass bipartisan infrastructure legislation to put transportation sector emissions on the right trajectory."

Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions (CRES) engages Republican policymakers and the public about responsible, conservative solutions to address our nation's energy, economic, and environmental security while increasing America's competitive edge. For more information, visit www.citizensfor.com

SOURCE Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions

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NEWARK, Del., Feb. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Vaionex Corporation, a blockchain start-up founded by students from the University of Cambridge, today announces that it has completed a seed funding round with Two Hop Ventures, a Dutch venture capital firm focused exclusively on investing in Bitcoin SV start-up. The investment will be used to support and accelerate the development of the Vaionex ecosystem of blockchain-based online platforms. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

Vaionex Corporation specialises in solutions at the nexus of data science and blockchain technology, with the company currently operating five proprietary blockchain-based technology platforms built to collectively establish an integrated blockchain infrastructure and development ecosystem:

- Satolearn  blockchain education platform.

- Raspora  dynamic information platform based on the HIVE protocol.

- MetaShard  on-chain database storage and management platform.

- ApiAndMe  digital marketplace for buying and selling APIs.

- Block-Codes  code collaboration and monetisation platform.

Each of the platforms offered by Vaionex Corporation interacts directly with the Bitcoin SV blockchain, the only public blockchain with the scaling, data functionalities and transaction throughput capacity required to develop enterprise-grade blockchain applications.

The student-led Vaionex Corporation was founded by members of the Cambridge Metanet Society  a University of Cambridge student organisation focused on the development of Metanet technologies using the Bitcoin SV blockchain - and is the student organisation's first spin-out to secure venture capital funding. Its activities are prominently supported by Bitcoin Association  the global industry organisation that works to advance business with the Bitcoin SV blockchain.

To learn more visit vaionex.com

Speaking on today's announcement, Vaionex Corporation CEO Robin Kohze, said:

"At Vaionex, we are an ambitious group with a bold vision to become a globally recognised, best-in-class blockchain service provider. Releasing five distinct blockchain-based platforms in our first year of operations is a testament to the ability and commitment of our team, with the early feedback  including today's funding deal  a strong sign from the market that we are heading in the right direction. Creating a blockchain start-up at the vanguard of the technology brings with it new challenges seemingly every day, but with those challenges comes insights and innovations with the power to fundamentally alter the global economy, all part of a journey we're delighted to now be sharing with the team at Two Hop Ventures."

Also commenting on today's announcement, Two Hop Ventures general partner Alex Fauvel, said:

"Vaionex Corporation is a business taking full advantage of Bitcoin's functionalities, including using it as a tool for educating students from all over the world to build software that interacts with its blockchain. They are a fast and efficient group  releasing two or three stable products in a year would be impressive; Vaionex has managed five, all with an interconnected customer pipeline that helps onboard customers from every level. Two Hop Ventures is proud to be a seed investor in Vaionex and we are excited to see the growth that Robin Kohze and his team have in the works."

Also speaking, Bitcoin Association Founding President Jimmy Nguyen, said:

"Bitcoin Association has been a proud supporter of the Cambridge Metanet Society and the ambitious University of Cambridge students interested in developing applications and services on the massively scaled Bitcoin SV blockchain. We are delighted to see Robin Kohze and some of his fellow Cambridge students putting their Bitcoin knowledge into practice with Vaionex  establishing a viable new business venture with several different products, now backed by venture capital funding. This speaks to the work Bitcoin Association does supporting university and student-led initiatives  taking learning beyond the classroom and using Bitcoin technology to create real businesses with real impact."

About Vaionex Corporation

Vaionex Corporation is a Delaware-based blockchain development firm comprised of University of Cambridge students. Vaionex Corporation specialises in the development of applications and services that leverage the Bitcoin SV blockchain, offering full-service blockchain consulting, development and support, to go along with their own proprietary platform offerings.

About Two Hop Ventures

Two Hop Ventures is a venture capital fund focused exclusively on start-ups building infrastructure for the next generation of the Internet. The infrastructure behind this leap forward allows data and other assets to be held by the users, not Facebook, Google etc., via the combination of the blockchain and Internet. Two Hop believes that the Bitcoin SV Blockchain is the only viable solution.

The fund has a traditional structure, is registered at the AFM in The Netherlands and operates under the EU AIFMD light regime. It holds no BSV or other crypto and is strictly equity and debt only. Investments are made exclusively in early-stage start-ups building on the Bitcoin SV blockchain and is without geographic limitation. The manager seeks to maximise investor returns by creating a balanced portfolio across the core infrastructure sectors of this flourishing ecosystem.

About Bitcoin Association

Bitcoin Association is the Switzerland-based global industry organization that works to advance business on the Bitcoin SV blockchain. It brings together essential components of the Bitcoin SV ecosystem  enterprises, start-up ventures, developers, merchants, exchanges, service providers, blockchain transaction processors (miners), and others  working alongside them, as well as in a representative capacity, to drive further use of the Bitcoin SV blockchain and uptake of the BSV digital currency.

The Association works to build a regulation-friendly ecosystem that fosters lawful conduct while facilitating innovation using all aspects of Bitcoin technology. More than a digital currency and blockchain, Bitcoin is also a network protocol; just like Internet protocol, it is the foundational rule set for an entire data network. The Association supports use of the original Bitcoin protocol to operate the world's single blockchain on Bitcoin SV.

SOURCE Vaionex Corporation
Authorities in metro Atlanta are investigating a series of shootings at massage parlors Tuesday that left eight people dead, including six Asian women.

The shooting at Youngs Asian Massage in Acworth, Georgia, left four people dead and one person injured, police said. Separate shootings occurred at two other spa parlors in Atlanta, where four more people were killed.

Heres what we know so far about the suspect, 21-year-old Robert Aaron Long, who is in police custody. He has been charged with eight counts of murder and faces one count of aggravated assault, authorities said.

Was it racially motivated?

Some have wondered whether the crimes could be racially motivated as police around the country report an uptick in attacks on Asian Americans during the coronavirus pandemic.

During a press conference Wednesday morning, Atlanta police and officials with the Cherokee County Sheriffs Office said Long told investigators the killings were driven by sex addiction issues rather than racial animus.

But police said its too early in the investigation to rule out a hate crime motivation.

Were just not there as of yet, Atlanta Police Chief Rodney Bryant said.

The victims of the shooting in Cherokee County have been identified. They are:

Delaina Ashley Yaun, 33, of Acworth

Paul Andre Michels, 54, of Atlanta

Xiaojie Yan, 49, of Kennesaw

Daoyou Feng, 44, (unknown address)

Elcias R. Hernandez-Ortiz, 30, of Acworth was injured.

Planned to go to Florida

Authorities say Long acted alone in the crimes and had planned to go to Florida to possibly carry out more shootings.

Detectives tracked him through his GPS, they say, and he was arrested by Crisp County deputies in south Georgia on Tuesday night.

Family cooperating with police

Longs family has been fully cooperative with investigators, officials said.

The family contacted police when they heard about the shootings on the news, Cherokee County Sheriff Frank Reynolds said.

Frequented local spas

Police said Long has frequented similar spa parlors in the past, but they did not say whether he visited the three spas where the shootings took place.

Story continues

Lives in Georgia

Long reportedly lives in Woodstock, Georgia, about 30 minutes north of Atlanta.

The city is home to about 35,000 people.

Ties to Baptist church

Long had ties to the Crabapple First Baptist Church in Milton, Georgia, according to Storyful.

The outlet pointed to minutes from the churchs annual member meeting celebration in 2018, which described Long as part of the student ministry team. Storyful released a video that reportedly shows Long playing percussion at a church event.

A Facebook page associated with the church has been deleted.
By Roslan Khasawneh and Sonali Paul

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - climbed on Wednesday as investors weighed a recovery in U.S. refinery activity as industry data showed U.S. crude stockpiles unexpectedly fell last week against concerns of rocky demand in Europe.

Brent crude futures rose 35 cents, or 0.5%, to $68.74 a barrel by 0641 GMT, after initially falling as much as 27 cents.

U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures rose 43 cents, or 0.7%, to $65.21 after falling as much as 18 cents in early trade.

The price gains halted three straight sessions of declines for both benchmarks.

U.S. crude inventories fell by 1 million barrels in the week to March 12, according to trading sources citing data from the American Petroleum Institute. Analysts in a Reuters poll had expected a build of 3 million barrels.

"The market was wrong-footed but still pleasantly surprised after U.S. oil stockpiles unexpectedly fell last week," said Stephen Innes, chief global market strategist at Axi.

At the same time, gasoline stocks fell less than expected, declining by 926,000 barrels, compared with estimates for a draw of 3 million barrels.

The narrower weekly draw in gasoline stocks signalled that refiner activity was normalising after a big freeze in Texas smothered production in the previous month, Innes said in a note.

The historic icy spell in the southern U.S. states knocked out nearly a quarter of the country's refining capacity last month.

Traders will be looking for confirmation of the drawdown in crude stocks in official data due from the Energy Information Administration due on Wednesday.

Investors are also looking to the results of the U.S. central bank's Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC), which ends its two-day meeting on Wednesday, for indications on the direction of monetary policy.

have been in a "directionless range trading over the past few sessions as oil also await the FOMC," said Jeffrey Halley, senior market analyst at OANDA.

Brent was content to bounce around in a $67.50 to $70.00 a barrel range, with WTI anchored in a $64.00 to $66.00 a barrel range, Halley added.

The market has drifted lower over the past few days as more European countries pause inoculations of AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccines due to concerns over possible serious side effects, which could slow a recovery in fuel demand.

Trading in oil futures is now as heavy as it was in the first months of the COVID-19 crisis with oil bulls and bears rushing to hedge against jolts in prices.

While demand is growing in India and the United States, it remains weak in Europe, ANZ said in a research note, noting France's road fuel consumption fell 10.8% in February from a year earlier, according to the country's petroleum industry federation.

(Reporting by Roslan Khasawneh in Singapore and Sonali Paul in Melbourne; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman, Kim Coghill and Lincoln Feast.)

(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.)
Shenandoah, IA (51601)

Today

Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 54F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 54F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph.
Iron ore pellet production is likely to be higher in the second half of 2021

( ) said it expects to increase production levels from 2020 and proposed a further special dividend following a strong year.

Iron ore pellet production is likely to be higher in the second half of 2021 as pelletiser upgrade work is planned for the first half of the year, which will deliver between 500,000 and 1mln tonnes per annum of additional full year pelletiser capacity in the second half of 2021.

The FTSE 250 group also expects to market additional concentrate for sale during 2021 following investments completed in expanding processing capacity in 2020.

Global demand for pellets continues to be robust, with steel producers globally looking to increase the productivity of blast furnaces and reduce carbon emissions, both of which are achieved through the increased usage of iron ore pellets over sinter fines.

The manufacturer added the outlook for pellet premiums in 2021 is positive but there will be continued supply disruption of Brazilian exports, as local producers face operational issues while prioritising the domestic steel sector.

The return of Brazilian pellet producer Samarco is not expected to materially impact the market in 2021, with this operation ramping up towards a reduced level of output compared to previous levels.

The firm proposed a special interim dividend of 39.6 US cents, bringing total dividends for 2020 to 72.6 US cents, following the strong performance in 2020 and the transition to a net cash position and healthy iron ore prices. Ferrexpo had announced a special dividend of 13.2 US cents in January.

In the year to December 31, revenue jumped 13% to US$1.7bn, reflecting rising production volumes and destocking process in the first half, while underlying earnings (EBITDA) surged 46% to US$859mln.

Net cash at year-end was US$4mln from a net debt of US$281mln in December 2019.

"As cash builds and with limited capex programmes in the immediate future, excess cash would be returned to investors rather than stockpiled ahead of longer-term growth capex needs. This interim dividend alone offers an 8% yield on the share price, before considering the 33cts already paid out so far," analysts at Peel Hunt noted.

Shares were flat at 355p early on Wednesday.

--Adds analyst comment, shares--
Ukraine looks forward to fruitful cooperation with the United States, in particular in the parliamentary dimension and the defense and security sector.

"Ukraine appreciates the bipartisan support we see in the U.S. Congress. We are grateful for the support of legislative initiatives aimed at strengthening assistance to Ukraine, especially in the field of security and defense," Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Dmytro Razumkov said during a telephone conversation with U.S. Senator Rob Portman, Co-chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, the press service of the Verkhovna Rada informs.

Razumkov thanked Portman for his significant personal contribution to the formation of a strong parliamentary foundation for the US-Ukraine strategic partnership, the further development of mutually beneficial cooperation and interaction.

During the conversation, he assured that Ukraine decided on its geopolitical direction, European and Euro-Atlantic integration, noting that he is grateful for the U.S. support in this matter.

The Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada expressed hope that the consequences of the pandemic would be overcome soon, and cooperation between Ukraine and the United States would be intensified, in particular, between interparliamentary groups and foreign affairs committees.

The parties also discussed cooperation in the energy sector, in particular, countering the construction of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline.

According to Razumkov, the issue of energy security is one of the important elements of Ukraine's national security. He thanked the United States for its sanctions policy on Nord Stream 2.

"Ukraine has repeatedly felt that this economic project is becoming an element of pressure, an element of political rather than economic influence. And it is used as a mechanism of blackmail very often. Therefore, I am convinced that we must unite our efforts in blocking the further implementation of this project," the Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada said.

He also expressed hope that the United States would continue to ensure sanctions on the Nord Stream 2 project, which would make it impossible to complete and commission it.

Razumkov expressed gratitude for the consistent U.S. sanctions policy in response to Russia's ongoing aggression against Ukraine in Donbas and Crimea and noted that achieving peace in Donbas remains a key priority for the Ukrainian Parliament and the Ukrainian people.

In turn, U.S. Senator Rob Portman assured that the United States would support the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine. He also expressed support for countering the construction and launch of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline.

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Regulatory News:

Gecina (Paris:GFC):

The Universal Registration Document for 2020 was filed with the French securities regulator (Autorite des marches financiers, AMF) on March 16, 2021.

It may be consulted on or downloaded from the following internet sites:

Gecina (www.gecina.fr), in the section Investors Publications and press releases Financial reports and universal registration document;

- AMF (www.amf-france.org).

It is also available free of charge to the public on request:

by mail: Gecina 16, rue des Capucines, 75002 Paris, France;

- by email: actionnaire@gecina.fr;

- by telephone: 0 800 800 976 (toll-free number only available in France).

The following documents are included in the Universal Registration Document:

the annual fiSnancial report for 2020;

- the 2020 integrated report

- the Board of Directors' report on corporate governance;

- the statutory auditors' reports;

- information on the statutory auditors' fees;

- the non-financial performance statement.

About Gecina

As a specialist for centrality and uses, Gecina operates innovative and sustainable living spaces. The Group owns, manages and develops Europe's leading office portfolio, with nearly 97% located in the Paris Region, and a portfolio of residential assets and student residences, with over 9,000 apartments. These portfolios are valued at 19.7 billion euros at end-2020.

Gecina has firmly established its focus on innovation and its human approach at the heart of its strategy to create value and deliver on its purpose: "Empowering shared human experiences at the heart of our sustainable spaces". For our 100,000 clients, this ambition is supported by our client-centric brand YouFirst. It is also positioned at the heart of UtilesEnsemble, our solidarity commitment program to the environment, to people and to the quality of life in cities.

Gecina is a French real estate investment trust (SIIC) listed on Euronext Paris, and is part of the SBF 120, CAC Next 20, CAC Large 60, Euronext 100, FTSE4Good, DJSI Europe and World, Stoxx Global ESG Leaders and Vigeo indices. In 2020, Gecina was awarded the maximum A rating in the CDP climate change rankings.

www.gecina.fr

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210317005484/en/

Contacts:

GECINA

Financial communications

Samuel Henry-Diesbach

Tel: +33 (0)1 40 40 52 22

samuelhenry-diesbach@gecina.fr

Virginie Sterling

Tel: +33 (0)1 40 40 62 48

virginiesterling@gecina.fr

Press relations

Julien Landfried

Tel: +33 (0)1 40 40 65 74

julienlandfried@gecina.fr

Armelle Miclo

Tel: +33 (0)1 40 40 51 98

armellemiclo@gecina.fr
The title Turkey Gun conjures up a variety of images in the minds of turkey hunters today. What seems popular is a shotgun that is short-barreled (usually 26 inches or less for more maneuverability), camouflaged (to avoid detection by sharp-eyed and very color-perceptive wild turkeys), and equipped with a very tight-patterning screw-in choke tube.

It will also usually be a 3-inch or 3 1/2-inch 12-gauge Magnum, or even a behemoth 10-gauge using 3 1/2-inch shells for the ultimate performance and reach in putting very tough and tenacious gobblers down for the count. The turkey shotgun will usually also feature a sling for allowing hands to be free while roving and calling, or when a lucky hunter has to carry a heavy bird out of the woods.

Specialized turkey shot-shells today are filled with a copious amount of shot to put as many pellets on the target as possible\. And when you combine this fact with the tighter constriction of typical turkey chokes, the end result is a very long shot-string, which in the world of turkey hunting isnt a bad thing at all.

The reality is, we arent talking wing-shooting here, and the main focus is placing the shot pattern in the neck/head area of a usually stationary bird (my aiming point is where flesh and feathers join just below the head, thereby fully utilizing the entire pattern). So it is more similar to shooting a single projectile instead of a wide pattern, at least at the closer ranges.

For this reason, a turkey shotgun is often equipped with rifle-type sights, including low power optics and electronic red-dots, for precise shot placement, and there are quality sights available for attaching to vent ribs, which will certainly do the trick.

Without question, the turkey shotgun and the specialized loads it uses are a continually evolving process which pertains to the growing popularity of the wild turkey in this country.

Personally, Ive only hunted wild turkeys in Michigan thus far, and Ive been at it for more than 50 years. This has allowed me to witness the evolution of the gear and techniques, which have developed while the wild turkey has expanded its numbers and range, not only in Michigan, but nationwide as well, including in places where it was never found before, such as Hawaii.

The wild turkey in America is, without question, a very successful conservation story, and in Michigans Lower Peninsula today, as well as parts of the Upper Peninsula, you dont have to travel far to find good turkey hunting opportunities.

When I first started spring turkey hunting during the late 1960s, the options werent nearly as good. I was very fortunate to have been drawn for a limited (1968) hunt in northern Michigan, and had no idea at all of what to expect.

My turkey call had to be special-ordered at the local hardware store because none was stocked on the shelves, and the shotgun I used was my Granddads old 12-gauge Auto-Five Browning. The load I opted for was high-brass number twos, which were legal back then and did a good job on waterfowl and red fox, so I assumed they were fine for wild turkeys. I didnt have an opportunity to bag a gobbler on that hunt, but I became totally smitten with spring turkey hunting because it is a very unique and addictive atmosphere like no other.

During the 1970s, more spring turkey hunting opportunities developed in northern Michigan, and I was quite often lucky in the draw and my skill seemed to improve during a continual learning process, as well as turkey calls actually could be found on shelves.

Besides my Granddads Browning, I also used a 12-gauge side-by-side double (featuring modified and full chokes) and a 12-gauge Model 37 Ithaca pump with a 30-inch full-choke barrel. All three shotguns use 2 3/4-inch shells and quickly became my favorite turkey guns for the next 25 years.

The shotguns did their part if I did mine, and I never had a maneuverability problem with the Ithacas long barrel. In fact, I appreciated its long sighting radius (and the bright orange front bead). Except for the double-barrel, which I painted olive drab, the other shotguns have a dull matte wood/blue finish that I found didnt alert and scare off any turkeys.

I never used a 3-inch magnum shell for turkeys until I acquired a 12-gauge Remington 870 Express about 30 years ago. It also featured the newly developed screw-in choke tubes which are truly a versatile blessing for avid shotgunners today.

One thing I discovered right away is that each shotgun is an individual and has a preference for specific shot-sizes and even brands when you pattern them. So, preseason patterning is an annual affair for me and a very important and integral part of turkey hunting, magnum or otherwise. It is as important to me as sighting in a long-used deer gun before each season, and knowing all is functioning well, including my shooting eye.

There are also new turkey loads continually coming out that I like to test, of course. And, trust me, folks, patterns do change with new loads, and sometimes dramatically so.

I also practice switch-hitting, because wild gobblers dont always come in at the angle that is expected. Being righthanded, Ive had cagey gobblers come in silently from behind me on my right side, and by switching the shotgun to my left shoulder, they were toast -- well, maybe, anyway -- nothing is for certain in this atmosphere.

Doing this effectively requires practice, and in my case, when I partially close my dominant right eye, my left eye takes over. (I typically do the switch-hitting practice with more economical shotgun loads because my goal is simply to hone this ability/skill  especially when some turkey loads cost as much as $10 each).

A favorite turkey gun I use frequently today is a Remington Spartan over-and-under 12-gauge in 3-inch magnum that I had custom camouflage-painted. When it is choked standard full and full (which has reach but is more forgiving than super-full chokes), it offers two quick shots, and with sufficient patterns up to 35 yards.

The Remington Spartan is also easy to quickly load or unload in the field (I carry five spare rounds in a shell-carrier on the buttstock).

Then there is my vintage (1936) 12-gauge Winchester Model 97 pump shotgun equipped with a 30-inch, full-choke barrel, which seems to me is begging to go turkey hunting! It offers wonderful patterns and reach, using 2 3/4-inch lead number fives.

Spring turkey hunting opportunities began to really pick up in the 1980s and, better yet, during the 1990s, including closer to home in my Thumb area. The fact is, everyone who wishes to do so can purchase a spring turkey license today.

It was during the Thumbs first early seasons when my sons Jake and Josh were just getting into hunting and lucked out on the draw. By that time, nothing larger than number four birdshot could be used for turkeys, which wasnt a bad thing in my mind.

It was while patterning my sons 20-gauge shotguns that I became really impressed with this smaller bore for turkeys. Both pumps (one a Mossberg 500, the other a Remington 870) proved very effective turkey-getters out to 30 yards, which works for me in the turkey woods anytime.

The fact is, I often use a 20-gauge today for turkey hunting because I appreciate the lighter weight and recoil, and Ive taken enough turkeys with this smaller bore to know they are fully up to the task.

The fact is, the longest kill-shot Ive ever done on a wild turkey with any shotgun is 32 yards, with the remainder being taken at well under 30 yards. Im not into long-range turkey shoots at all.

However, the continual evolution of turkey ammunition has been increasing the range, in some cases dramatically so. An example is Federals new Heavyweight TSS turkey loads, which use a denser-than-lead tungsten alloy, a special Flex Wad and number nine shot, to achieve dense patterns at longer ranges.

Federal offers a .410 TSS turkey load which is lethal on gobblers at 40 yards, and the 12-gauge version reaches out much further.

A point in fact about turkey guns, though, is that one girl used a single-shot H&R .410 stoked with regular lead number sixes to knock a gobbler spurs-up at just under 20 yards, aided by the calling efforts of her father.

The big, mature gobbler never knew what hit him, and to me, this scene is what turkey hunting is all about. All firearms for hunting require the user to understand any limitations and to stay within them before touching the trigger. So, the reality of what can be considered a turkey gun is whatever the hunter has available and also what he or she is comfortable with.

There is certainly nothing at all wrong with specialized turkey guns and ammunition. Todays versions are top performers, and the ammunition is the best Ive ever seen. It's just that spring turkey hunting to me is the art of calling gobblers in as close as possible and making the shot, according to whatever shotgun is being used, a done deal.

Email Tom Lounsbury at tlounsburyoutdoors@gmail.com
March 17 : Last week Siddhant Chaturvedi had tested positive for COVID-19. The actor confirmed the same on social media and updated his fans and followers that he has self-quarantined at home. Today, the Gully Boy actor took to his Instagram profile and shared an update with his fans.

Sharing a selfie while lying down on his bed, Siddhant updated his fans that he is on the recovery mode from the deadly coronavirus. Uploading the selfie, the actor wrote, Abhi vaccine aane ki khushi hui hi thi ki...Corona bola Thappa! #RecoveryMode As soon as the actor shared the post, fans have started sharing get well soon wishes on his comment section.

Siddhant was currently shooting for Phone Bhoot along with Ishaan Khatter and Katrina Kaif. While shooting in Udaipur, he shared several fun posts along with Ishaan and Katrina. The actor was also recently shooting for Shakun Batras untitled film along with Deepika Padukone and Ananya Panday.

Ever since Siddhant had debuted in Gully Boy and garnered immense acclaim for his performance, the actor who has always been active on social media, managed to gain a massive fan following. Since his success from his debut film, Siddhant has become one of the most looked-up-to actors in Bollywood.

While confirming his coronavirus positive status last week, Siddhant had revealed that he has been maintaining all the protocols laid down by the government and is in touch with the medical experts.

Earlier, actors Ranbir Kapoor, Manoj Bajpayee and filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bansali had also contacted the deadly virus.

Meanwhile, besides Phone Bhoot and Shakun Batras next, the actor will also be seen in Bunty Aur Babli 2 with Rani Mukerji, Saif Ali Khan, and Sharvari Wagh. He will also be seen in Yudhra along with Malavika Mohanan, who will debut in Bollywood. Sharing his character poster on Instagram, Siddhant had written, Karne Sabka Game Over! aa raha hai #YUDHRA.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-18 06:57:19|Editor: huaxia

Video Player Close

People take part in a rally against anti-Asian hate crimes in San Mateo, California, the United States, on Feb. 27, 2021. (Xinhua/Wu Xiaoling)

The carnage added to the already high tensions around violence and discrimination targeting the Asian American community during the coronavirus pandemic. President Joe Biden said anti-Asian violence is "very troubling." Vice President Kamala Harris offered her support for and solidarity with the Asian American community in light of the tragedy.

WASHINGTON, March 17 (Xinhua) -- The Joe Biden administration and congressional Democrats on Wednesday condemned the exacerbating anti-Asian violence in the United States in the wake of a series of shooting incidents in Atlanta on Tuesday that killed eight people, many of whom were Asians.

Rodney Bryant, acting chief of the Atlanta Police Department, told a news briefing that the investigation was still in the "very early" stage, and that investigators cannot determine at the moment that the shooting spree was a hate crime, although multiple calls received by the police department sought to confirm that conclusion.

Police on Tuesday evening arrested the suspect, 21-year-old white man from Georgia, Robert Aaron Long, who during an interview with law enforcement at the night claimed responsibility for the shooting incidents at three massage parlors in the Atlanta metropolitan area. Eight people, six Asians and two Whites, were killed.

Long claimed that the attacks were not racially motivated, and that he had a "sexual addiction" and saw the massage parlors as a "temptation" that he wanted to "eliminate," according to authorities, adding that Long, when caught, was on the way to Florida, where he planned to commit similar crimes.

The carnage added to the already high tensions around violence and discrimination targeting the Asian American community during the coronavirus pandemic.

President Biden told reporters on Tuesday that he has been briefed on the shootings by the attorney general and the FBI director, and that even as he reserved his comments on the possible motive behind the acts due to an ongoing probe, he found anti-Asian violence in the country "very troubling."

Photo taken in Arlington, Virginia, the United States, on Feb. 19, 2021 shows a screen displaying U.S. President Joe Biden speaking in Washington, D.C. during a virtual event with the Munich Security Conference in a video provided by the U.S. State Department. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)

"The investigation is ongoing and the question of motivation is still to be determined. But whatever the motivation here, I know Asian Americans ... are very concerned, because as you know I have been speaking about the brutality against Asian Americans for the last couple of months and I think it is very, very troubling," the president said in the Oval Office before meeting virtually with Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin.

"I'll have more to say when the investigation is completed," Biden added.

Vice President Kamala Harris offered her support for and solidarity with the Asian American community in light of the tragedy. "But knowing the increasing level of hate crime against our Asian American brothers and sisters, we also want to speak out in solidarity with them and acknowledge that none of us should ever be silent in the face of any form of hate."

Democratic lawmakers in both the House and the Senate condemned anti-Asian violence in the aftermath of Tuesday's shootings while warning of a surge in similar crimes.

Congresswoman Judy Chu and Congressman Ted Lieu, both of whom are of Asian origins, accused the Donald Trump administration of stoking racial discrimination and fanning the flame of hatred toward Asian Americans by using ethnic identifiers like "China virus," "Wuhan virus" and "Kung Flu" in describing the coronavirus.

"As a result, the anti-Asian hate crimes and incidents increased exponentially," said Chu, chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus. She said research has found that the amount of anti-Asian Twitter traffic increased by 900 percent in the first few months of Trump's usage of the slurs. "And what we saw yesterday, is the result of that."

(L-R) Temple University professor Xiaoxing Xi, National Weather Service hydrologist Sherry Chen, lawmakers Judy Chu and Ted Lieu attend a press conference in Washington D.C., the United States, Nov. 17, 2015. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu)

The House has scheduled a hearing for Thursday on rising incidents of hate crimes and discrimination against Asian Americans.

Meanwhile, Richard Blumenthal, senator from Connecticut, tweeted that the shooting on Tuesday "reflects a sickening trend that must be stopped."

"America must unite to fight the stomach-turning surge in violence against the Asian-American community," he said.

In a series of morning tweets on Wednesday, former President Barack Obama said the identity of those killed in Tuesday's shooting rampage "underscores an alarming rise in anti-Asian violence that must end." He called for ridding the country of gun violence, which he said is a "longer-lasting epidemic" compared to the coronavirus pandemic. 

Historic ruling in favour of six same-sex couples. Principle of equality violated. Damages claim from government rejected. Taiwan is the only country in East Asia that allows same-sex marriages. The marginalization of the Japanese gay community. A recent Vatican intervention.

Tokyo (AsiaNews / Agencies) - The government's failure to recognize same-sex marriages is unconstitutional, according to the Sapporo District Court (Hokkaido prefecture). The ruling was handed down today in a lawsuit filed against the authorities by six gay couples.

According to the judges, the ban violates the constitutional principle of equality; however, they rejected the claim for damages submitted by the applicants.

In addition to the six couples in question, on Valentine's Day in 2019, seven others applied to the courts of Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya to access marital rights enjoyed in the country by recognized heterosexual couples.

Taiwan alone among East Asian nations allows same-sex marriage. Homosexual relations in Japan are allowed, but without legal protections for gay couples. At least 74 Japanese municipalities have approved registries for gay unions. About 1,500 homosexual couples have signed the relevant certificates, which however do not have full legal value.

Several observers point out that the social attitudes prevalent in the country lead to the marginalization of the gay community. The absence of pension and social security coverage is also a brake on the influx of foreign professionals who are in homosexual relationships into Japan.

Just this week the Vatican issued a statement on the issue of same-sex relationships. In a note of March 15, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith recalled that the Church is against any "unjust discrimination" of homosexual people, specifying however that it "does not have the power" to bless gay unions.
Don't dream, they're back.

Five years after saying farewell to the world at a series of iconic Sydney Opera House forecourt shows, Crowded House are touring again.

Not that their revival should surprise.

Twenty years before the 2016 shows, Neil Finn and Nick Seymour gave the band's last rites at the same venue in front of one hundred thousand people.

This time around as the beloved trans-Tasman outfit return with a string of New Zealand shows, any crowd at all feels like a triumph.

In Wellington on Monday night, Finn joined founding member Nick Seymour, long-time friend Mitchell Froom, and his two sons Liam and Elroy, to trot out the hits once more for around five thousand people.

'Playing music in the real world - what a concept!' Crowded House have returned from a five-year hiatus to play in front of 5,000 fans in New Zealand on Monday

"My god, playing music in the real world. What a concept," an exuberant Finn said between songs.

"Everything is such a joyful experience right now.

"We spent the last few months believing it could happen and here it is."

COVID-19 has devastated the music industry, but New Zealand's elimination and management of the virus has allowed music festivals and major artists to play on through the pandemic.

With the exception of two brief lockdowns in Auckland, music festivals and touring shows have been purring since spring.

Another Melbourne-formed Kiwi artist - Marlon Williams - is back in action with a monster 28-date tour of intimate venues across Aotearoa.

"My god, playing music in the real world. What a concept," an exuberant Neil Finn said between songs

And while Crowded House has a claim to being the biggest New Zealand act of all time, they're not even close to the biggest act this summer.

That title belongs to local phenomenon Six60, who lured 32,000 people to Wellington's Sky Stadium last month as part of their own tour.

"We're absolutely saying it's a pandemic world record," publicist Maria Robinson told AAP.

The roots act, which formed a decade ago after flatting together as students at Dunedin's Otago University, are now setting their sights on another record.

They will play the first large-scale concert at Auckland's Eden Park next month, hoping to sell 53,000 tickets and better their own record for highest selling gig.

Their Wellington return was Crowded House's first live shows since their 'Encore' tour at the Sydney Opera House in 2016

"New Zealanders are eager to be at shows," Robinson said.

"It takes a band of that calibre to draw people out from throughout the country an clearly Six60 have that star power.

"But look at Marlon, he's playing 28 shows and eight in Auckland back to back.

"It shows how much appetite there is to be in a live audience again."

They will play the first large-scale concert at Auckland's Eden Park next month, hoping to sell 53,000 tickets and better their own record for highest selling gig

Back at Crowded House's gig in the capital, and the mood on stage and off is revelrous.

In between classics, Finn, silver-mopped and suit-jacketed, jokes that the black-kilted Seymour is donning "New Zealand tartan" by way of thanks for being allowed into the country for the tour.

A particularly rambly tale is met by Finn's son Liam with an abrupt "Cool story Dad".

The two-hour show includes new music from upcoming album 'Dreamers Are Waiting', concluding with Distant Sun before an encore with David Bowie's Heroes.

Next is a European tour, climaxing with three London shows at the Roundhouse in June.

Then, another return to the Sydney's Opera House? It feels certain - but perhaps when they're not locked out.
Two teens have been charged with murder after an Upstate New York man was intentionally set on fire in his home.

WROC reports Steven Amenhauser, 53, died Tuesday after suffering second- and third-degree burns on more than 70% of his body Friday at his Rochester apartment. He was being treated at the University of Rochester Medical Centers Kessler Burn & Trauma Center when he succumbed to his injuries four days later.

Rochester Police say Zayvion Perry, 16, and Adriel Riley, Jr., 14, both from Rochester, doused the victim with a flammable liquid and set him on fire as he sat in his chair. They were initially charged with arson and assault in connection to the incident but after Amenhauser died, the Monroe County District Attorneys office elevated the charges to second degree murder.

The Democrat & Chronicle reports the teens were acquaintances of Amenhauser, a Texas native who had no family and lived alone, and were arrested at the scene of the crime.

Rochester Police Capt. Frank Umbrino said Amenhauser had gone to the grocery store shortly before the teens allegedly set him on fire in his apartment around 12:30 p.m. According to WROC, Umbrino said there was no evidence to drugs being involved and wouldnt comment on any potential gang involvement.

I dont think anyone is prepared to say why this happened, Umbrino said when asked about possible motives.

WHEC reports Riley was previously arrested three times in the past seven months. He was accused of a robbery at knifepoint in a Gates parking lot in September, and his mother was charged with endangering the welfare of a child because she allegedly rented a hotel room for him and left him unsupervised. Riley was also caught in a stolen car in January, and his father was ticketed for endangering the welfare of a child.

According to WROC, Perry will be prosecuted as an adolescent offender and remain in the youth part of Superior court, while Riley will be prosecuted as a juvenile offender and his case will remain in youth court due to the Raise the Age legislation.

Both are being held at the Monroe County Childrens Center, officials said. Perry is being held on $50,000 cash bail, $100,000 secured bond and $150,000 partially secured bond. Riley is being held with no bail, no release.
This is an opinion column.

You probably heard something like this before: Another national ranking, another instance when Alabama ranked dead last.

But I promise you, this one is different, and by the end of this column, Ill explain how.

A couple of years ago, University of Arizona journalism professor David Cuillier, set out to measure states by open record compliance.

Public records are important because theyre often the only way we can know for sure what our state and local governments are doing with our tax dollars. Without them, we have to take the word of public officials and politicians, who have reputations for not always giving the public a clear picture of their own performance.

The first thing Cuillier needed was data, so he turned to Muckrock, a nonprofit which helps reporters and other researchers access public records.

Muckrock gave Cuillier a sample of 7,000 public records requests across 50 states and the District of Columbia. Cuillier then tallied how many of those requests yielded results and how long each state took to answer a typical request.

It wasnt even close. Alabama landed in a familiar place  51 of 51.

Of the 126 Alabama open records requests included in the sample, the state had returned documents in just 10 percent of those.

To put that in perspective, Mississippi was 49th on Cuilliers ranking with a response rate of 22 percent. Alabama couldnt have overtaken its neighbor to the west if it doubled its performance.

Thats how badly the state did.

And the records the state did return, took their sweet time getting back. The average turnaround time for public records requests was 76 days.

Alabama is accustomed to landing at the bottom of rankings like these, but as I said, this time its different  or it could be different if our lawmakers get their act together.

If we were talking about education, instead, or public health, wed have to deal with poverty and intergenerational problems and government resources, and on and on. But not this time, our officials can fix this with a couple of votes and a stroke of the governors pen.

On Wednesday, the Alabama Senate Judiciary Committee is scheduled to consider a bill that has appeared there before  a rewrite of Alabamas Open Records Act that would give teeth to the law.

Currently, Alabama law says all citizens are entitled to inspect public records and take copies upon request, but the law doesnt do much to make that happen. Public agencies frequently drag their feet over requests or ignore them altogether. The only recourse for requestors when that happens is to sue, which can rack up expensive legal fees quickly.

The rewrite, sponsored this year by state Sen. Arthur Orr, would set deadlines by which state and local government agencies must answer requests. It would limit what those agencies can charge for copies and research fees. Perhaps most importantly, it would create a public records ombudsman to mediate disputes between the public and officials. It creates a speedier appeals process most folks can afford.

None of these measures are all that original. For the most part, the law has been modeled on open record laws in other states.

Previous versions of the open records rewrite have died in the committee. When I spoke with him last week, Orr said he wants it to be different this time. This time, he wants a vote, up or down to put those state senators on the record where they stand.

On the side of transparency and public access to public information.

Or the side of Alabama always coming in dead last.

Kyle Whitmire is the state political columnist for the Alabama Media Group.

You can follow his work on his Facebook page, The War on Dumb. And on Twitter. And on Instagram.

More columns by Kyle Whitmire

Different year, same old fight, but a new champion for open government

Give Toforest Johnson a new trial. Or better, a pardon. Now.

John Merrills absentee voting flip-flop has no excuse

What will you carry with you from the pandemic?

Kay Ivey wont be bullied

Alabama doesnt have a gambling problem. Its worse than that.

Tuscaloosa named street for slain officer. Lawmaker wants to rename it for Nick Saban.

The Medicaid Civil War is over. Quit fighting, Kay Ivey.

Just keep talking, Tommy Tuberville

Richard Shelby, Mo Brooks and the death of Alabama pork politics

Alabama lawmaker has a health care plan  for lawmakers, not you
There is no signal of concern regarding the use of Oxford- COVID-19 vaccine in the country, said Dr V K Paul, Member (Health) of the Niti Aayog, on Wednesday amid speculations and subsequent review of possible side-effects of the vaccine.

"There are reports on AstraZeneca's vaccine relationship with thrombotic events in people who received the vaccine. But the European Medicines Agency (EMA, Europe's top drug agency) says that it (suspension of the vaccine) is only a precautionary measure," Paul said while addressing the weekly press briefing here.

Paul added, "There is no data to believe, as of now, that there is a causal relationship, and part of the assessment is still being done. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has said that the investigation should go on but they have said categorically that the vaccine scale-up and implementation should not be suspended in general."

This comes days after several European countries, including Spain, Germany, France, Italy, Netherlands, suspended the use of the Oxford- COVID-19 vaccine over blood clot concerns.

Paul further informed that India's group, which looks at the adverse effects of COVID-19 vaccines, is aware of the issue and is tracking the information in a systematic matter.

"I assure you that we have no signal of concern in this regard," he said, adding that the inoculation of Covishield, AstraZeneca's vaccine produced in India by the Serum Institute, will go on with full vigour, but will be mindful of developments in this regard.

Regarding the issue, Emer Cooke, executive director of the EMA, had earlier said that the agency remains "firmly convinced" the benefits of AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine outweigh the risks of side effects, reported The Hill.

As of March 10, the EMA had received 30 reports of blood clotting events from about five million vaccinated people. The safety committee was also looking at "serious thromboembolic events" from the UK, she said.

Sweden and Latvia on Tuesday joined Spain, Germany, France, Italy, Netherlands, Ireland, Denmark, Iceland, and Norway in the suspension of the use of AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine.

(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 man accused of killing eight people in three shootings at Atlanta-area spas was charged with eight counts of murder Wednesday.

Four of the counts against the man, Robert Aaron Long, 21, of Woodstock, are related to shootings at two spas in Atlanta. The four others are related to shootings at another spa in Cherokee County. Long also faces an aggravated assault charge in Cherokee County.

The attacks began around 5 p.m. Tuesday, when four people were killed near Acworth in Cherokee County, authorities said. Less than an hour later, four women were killed in two shootings in Atlanta in Fulton County.

The victims in Atlanta were Asian women, as were two of the victims in Acworth, officials said. The two other victims were white, and a man who was injured was stable.

Earlier Wednesday, authorities said the suspect told investigators that he had a sexual addiction and saw the businesses as a temptation he needed to eliminate.

The details, shared by law enforcement officers during a morning news conference with Atlanta's mayor and other top officials, were cited as a potential motive for why the gunman went on a two-county shooting spree Tuesday evening.

It's unclear whether the businesses had any ties to sex work.

Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms said that the spas were "legally operating businesses that have not been on our radar" and that "we are not about to get into victim blaming, victim shaming here."

"Yesterday was a tragic day across our state," she said. "A crime against any community is a crime against us all."

The sheriff's office identified the Cherokee County victims as Delaina Ashley Yaun, 33, of Acworth; Paul Andre Michels, 54, of Atlanta; Xiaojie Tan, 49, of Kennesaw; and Daoyou Feng, 44.

Feng's address was unknown. The man who was injured was identified as Elcias R. Hernandez-Ortiz, 30, of Acworth.

Authorities arrested Long after a brief manhunt, Cherokee County sheriff's Capt. Jay Baker said. Officials said he was arrested in Crisp County, about 125 miles south of Atlanta, and extradited to Cherokee County.

Story continues

Long, who is charged with four counts of murder and one count of aggravated assault in Cherokee County, was held without bond and is scheduled to be arraigned Thursday morning.

The FBI is "assisting the local investigations," the agency said early Wednesday.

The number of anti-Asian hate incidents has risen significantly. Research released Tuesday by the reporting forum Stop AAPI Hate revealed that nearly 3,800 incidents were reported over about a year during the coronavirus pandemic and that a disproportionate number of the reports said the attacks were directed at women.

Officials said that based on what Long told investigators, the attacks Tuesday did not appear to be motivated by race.

"We are still early in this investigation, so we cannot make that determination at this moment," Atlanta Police Chief Rodney Bryant said.

Baker said Wednesday that the gunman was likely to have acted alone.

"These locations, he sees them as an outlet for him, something he shouldn't be doing," Baker said, adding that Long indicated that he had an "issue with porn" and was "attempting to take out that temptation."

"He was fed up, at the end of his rope," Baker said. "He had a bad day, and this is what he did."

Cherokee County Sheriff Frank Reynolds said Long "may have frequented some of these places in the past" and "might have been lashing out."

Officials said Long told investigators that he was on his way to Florida, perhaps to target more spa-like businesses, when he was captured.

"The public as a whole should be grateful that this suspect was quickly apprehended, because it's very likely that there may have been more victims," Bottoms said Wednesday.

Long's family contacted the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office after it released photos of the suspect. They helped police track his phone and eventually helped the Crisp County Sheriff's Office to catch up with him.

A 9 mm firearm was found in the car he was driving, police said. It was purchased legally on Tuesday before the shootings, two senior law enforcement officials briefed on the matter said.

Long graduated from Sequoyah High School in Cherokee County in 2017, according to a district official.

Nico Straughan, 21, who went to school with Long, told The Associated Press that he was "super nice, super Christian, very quiet." He said that in high school Long brought a Bible to school every day and would walk around with it in his hands.

"He went from one of the nicest kids I ever knew in high school to being on the news yesterday," Straughan said.

President Joe Biden was briefed overnight and again Wednesday morning, and the White House was in touch with Bottoms' office and the FBI, press secretary Jen Psaki said.

Biden said Wednesday: "Whatever the motivation here, I know Asian Americans, they are very concerned, because, as you know, I have been speaking about the brutality against Asian Americans, and it's troubling. But I am making no connection at this moment to the motivation of the killer. ... I'll have more to say when the investigation is completed."

Vice President Kamala Harris said Wednesday that "our prayers are extended to the families of those who have been killed.

"We're not clear yet on the motive, but I do want to say to our Asian America community that we stand with you," Harris said. "Knowing the increasing level of hate crime against our Asian American brothers and sisters, we also want to speak out in solidarity with them and acknowledge that none of us should ever be silent in the face of any kind of hate."

South Korea's Foreign Affairs Ministry told NBC News that four of the women who died were of Korean origin, but their nationalities have yet to be verified.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken addressed the shootings during a visit to South Korea, saying this type of violence had no place in America or anywhere.

"We will stand up for the right of our fellow Americans and Korean Americans to be safe and to be treated with dignity," he said.

Atlanta police said that because all of the shootings were at spas, officers were dispatched to similar businesses and patrols were increased.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-17 19:46:20|Editor: huaxia

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HANOI, March 17 (Xinhua) -- Vietnam recorded seven new cases of COVID-19 infection on Wednesday, including five imported and two locally transmitted, according to the country's Ministry of Health.

The new infections brought the total confirmed cases in the country to 2,567 as of 6 p.m. local time Wednesday, said the ministry.

The five imported cases are all Vietnamese citizens who recently entered the country from Russia and were quarantined upon arrival. The two local transmissions, reported in northern Hai Duong province, were contacts of previously confirmed patients, according to the ministry.

As many as 2,198 patients have been given the all-clear, up 40 from Tuesday, the ministry said, adding that over 39,600 people are being quarantined and monitored.

The latest wave of COVID-19 infections hit Vietnam on Jan. 28, with 906 community cases so far confirmed in 13 cities and provinces. Enditem
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Sharon Osbourne adamantly denies ever calling Julie Chen a 'wonton,' in an exclusive interview with DailyMail.com, saying the claims are 'crap, all crap'.

The TV veteran, 68, added: 'Everyone's got an opinion or a story like the wonton story. It's like f**k off with your f**king wonton story. F**k off!

'Everybody's got an opinion and everybody's got a voice  it's fine. It's about knowing somebody's been called out for something and then somebody else is like, 'yes!! I'm going to add something too.'

'Of course, it's a pile on. People want to add fuel to the fire and it comes with the territory and that's fine.'

Osbourne has been at the center of a race storm since defending long-time friend Piers Morgan during an episode of The Talk that aired last Wednesday.

Sharon Osbourne tells DailyMail.com in an exclusive interview that she never called Julie Chen a 'wonton' and those claims are 'crap, all crap'

CBS has extended The Talk's hiatus for yet another week after Sharon Osbourne was accused of frequently calling former co-host Julie Chen a 'wonton' and 'slanty eyes'

And on Tuesday the allegations piled on when sources revealed to journalist Yashar Ali that Osbourne has a history of making racist references to her co-hosts.

During the show, Osbourne and co-host Sheryl Underwood, 57, became embroiled in an argument about Morgan's take on Meghan Markle's interview with Oprah Winfrey.

The bust-up has left her friendship with Underwood hanging by a thread, angry about the ensuing pile-on and with her career at CBS in doubt.

Although she says she is being supported by her friends, family, Morgan and her co-stars  albeit Underwood aside - she told DailyMail.com the furor has been tough to take.

She said: 'It's been a really, really bad week  a lot of mental pressure and heartache.'

Osbourne told DailyMail.com that she wasn't warned that a debate was coming and had been prepped beforehand for four completely different segments.

She says she was blindsided and stunned to discover her co-hosts were questioning her using cue cards on a part of the show that is usually ad-libbed.

Osbourne says it was at this point, she realized she had been set up by producers intent on creating headlines and CBS bigwigs angry with her for defending Morgan who they believe 'tarnished' their top rated Markle interview with his comments.

Morgan told Good Morning Britain viewers that he didn't believe a word Markle said and added: 'I wouldn't believe it if she read me a weather report'.

Osbourne was later accused of racism for backing Morgan's right to voice an opinion, while Morgan has now left Good Morning Britain after refusing to apologize for his comments.

Osbourne told DailyMail.com that she later discovered The Talk's producers had initially asked Elaine Welteroth to lead the questioning but she refused when they were unable to provide her with any evidence of Morgan's alleged racism.

She said: 'I found out later on, they'd asked Elaine to start off the segment and she said, no I'm not doing it.

'She kept saying, 'where's the evidence that Piers is a racist? Where's the evidence? Show me'. Of course, they couldn't show her anything because there wasn't anything.'

On Tuesday the allegations piled on when sources revealed to journalist Yashar Ali that Osbourne has a history of making racist references to her co-hosts

Osbourne (far right) and Underwood (second from left) got into a heated exchange over Osbourne's support for her friend Piers Morgan (third from left), who has come under fire for comments he made about Meghan Markle and Prince Harry. Morgan posted this photo in February 2020 of the show's former panel from last year. From left to right: Carrie Ann Inaba, Underwood, Morgan, Marie Osmond, and Osbourne

Osbourne said: 'I just think Piers tarnished their perfect interview that's been so well received in America  I can't talk for the rest of the world, I can only say here.

'Especially the younger kids here, they are totally behind Harry and Meghan and that's great.

'Piers tarnished it for them and I think they're pissed. Pissed with me for sticking up for him and I think that's it.'

Having realized she had been 'set up', she lost her temper and became angrier still when the debate wasn't ended after the first commercial break but allowed to continue for another 20 minutes.

She says she was left even more furious when Morgan  and her by association  were accused of being racist, despite producers 'not having a shred of evidence'.

Osbourne said: 'It's hurtful but the thing is, when you're tarred with that, you can't defend it because the more you defend it, the worse it is for you.

'You know, it's like that line that people use  oh some of my best friends are black and you come out with ridiculous statements. Well I'm not going to do that.

'Yes, I blew my bloody wad on the show and I went nuts, I went nuts. All these thoughts were going through my head while I was answering these questions and I knew I'd been blindsided.

'They'd set me up. They'd set me up. The producers never told me. If they'd said to me, listen, the execs here aren't happy with what's gone on with you and Piers  we've got to try and sort this situation out, the girls are going to ask you these questions, blah, blah. Bring me in on it. Don't blindside me.

'If they'd said these execs aren't happy, I'd have worked on it with them. But give me a chance. Don't bloody surprise attack me on national TV live for 20 minutes when it was meant to be four other segments.

Osbourne has faced criticism over her an on-air feud with Underwood after she was accused of being racist for defending her friend Piers Morgan in the wake of his Meghan Markle comments

The Talk was initially put on hiatus until Wednesday while executives investigated. Following the Chen and Gilbert allegations, CBS issued a statement saying it had extended the broadcast suspension until next Tuesday

'We were meant to talk about fu**ing Pepe Le Pew and they let this go on.'

The fight has now seen the show put on hiatus until next Tuesday while bosses complete an investigation into the episode that was requested by Osbourne herself.

Meanwhile, former co-stars Julie Chen and Leah Rimini have publicly come out to complain that Osbourne once referred to Chen as 'a wonton' and Rimini as being 'ghetto'.

The claims came shortly after another former co-star, Holly Robinson Peete, also accused Osbourne of saying she was 'ghetto' and allegedly got her fired.

The mom-of-two has strongly denied Robinson Peete's claims and added to DailyMail.com: 'In situations like this, you're always going to get people who you've had disagreements with in the past, people who've got axes to grind, who come out of the woodwork and they'll come out with their BS and that's it. It doesn't surprise me at all. It doesn't surprise me.'

She added: 'Being accused of racism is no joke. Now they get their sweet revenge. I can't even address it because it's kids in a schoolyard.

'Coming out with stupid, childish comments  it's like really? That's all you've got?'

Asked if she had ever called Chen a wonton, she added: 'It's all crap. It's all crap. I don't want to go there with her. She makes her living out of outing people. So, it's like come on.

'It's got no real foundation. Allegations of calling a Chinese lady a wonton, it's like  is that all you've got? It's like really?'

Osbourne added: 'All these little people who want to come out with a story about [Piers] or me from the 70s or 80s or whatever, it's like f**k you all.

'I couldn't care less. And I'm not going to defend myself. It's like, oh shut up  I'm too bloody busy.'

Osbourne told DailyMail.com that she suspects the row will now cost her place on The Talk but hopes the CBS investigation will at least give her answers to who gave the order blindside her and why.

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'

She said: 'I kind of think they're going use me as a sacrificial lamb and fire me. It's fine. It's fine. It hasn't happened yet but I'm sure it will.

'If that's what they want to do, so be it. I'm a big girl. I lost my cool in there [on the show], I did. I totally lost it and came off so horribly defensive. I can only learn from that.

'I don't know what they'll do. It's a big, ugly mess. But I didn't start it. I didn't start it. It's down to the producers of the show.'

Despite the row, Osbourne says she doesn't regret standing up for Morgan and denied apologizing for her defense of him in a social media statement on Friday  insisting instead that she was apologizing for losing her temper.

She said she is trying to rebuild her friendship with Sheryl and has apologized for making her cry but said she is yet to hear back.

Of Morgan, she says she would come to his defense again if she had to, adding: 'And not just Piers  everybody has a voice and an opinion.

'I don't agree with his opinion all the way, I don't. But the difference is, he knows Meghan and I don't. it's like, hey, the guy has a right to his opinion  I'm sure I say things and he goes, she's f**king nuts!

'Piers and I have got a great friendship. But we fight  we have huge fights. I've slapped Piers. Piers has seen my breasts! We get drunk together, we argue a lot over things we don't agree on but at the end of the day, that's it.'
As New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo tried to return to the business of governing Monday, one of his sexual harassment accusers met via Zoom for more than four hours with investigators working for the state attorney generals office.

During the interview, Charlotte Bennett revealed new details about Cuomos behavior and what she said was a sexually hostile work environment, according to her lawyer, including a claim the governor frequently made suggestive remarks about the size of his hands.

One piece of new information that came to light today was the Governors preoccupation with his hand size and what the large size of his hands indicated to Charlotte and other members of his staff, her lawyer, Debra Katz, said in a statement.

Bennett also provided investigators with 120 pages of records to corroborate her accusations, according to Katz.

Bennett, 25, is one of a number of women who have accused Cuomo of workplace harassment. Some have said Cuomo demeaned them with pet nicknames or objectifying remarks about their appearance, subjected them to unwanted kisses and touches or asked them about their sex lives. A few, including Bennett, said they believed the governor was probing their interest in a sexual relationship.

Cuomo also faces an allegation that he groped a female staff member under her shirt after summoning her to the governors mansion in Albany late last year.

The claims have led to a chorus of Cuomos fellow Democrats demanding his resignation, including, on Friday, both of New Yorks U.S. senators.

Even as he remained overshadowed by scandal, Cuomo has tried to press on and project normalcy.

Monday he appeared at a vaccination site on Long Island and talked about the importance of getting a new state budget done by an April 1 deadline  one he said was critical to getting the state back on its feet.

Thats a process that normally involves intense negotiations and deal-making between Cuomo and the two top leaders in the Legislature.

This year, though, Cuomo is having to negotiate with people who have demanded that he step down. More than 130 state lawmakers have said Cuomo should resign, including Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins. The state Assembly has opened up an impeachment investigation.

The majority of the Legislature has called for his impeachment or resignation, Baruch College political science professor Doug Muzzio said. So I mean, you know, how can you work with a legislature that is composed of his antagonists? It doesnt work.

Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie said he would try.

Im going to proceed as if its a normal negotiation, he said.

Sen. John Liu, a Queens Democrat on the Senate finance committee, said the allegations surrounding Cuomo have distracted him and lawmakers. He said Democrats who now have veto-proof supermajorities are hoping Cuomo will support long-stalled efforts to legalize marijuana and raise taxes on New Yorkers making more than a million dollars.

The governor is clearly distracted and thats not going to help his position, Liu said. At the very minimum, hes facing serious investigations as well as calls for his resignation. None of that adds to his negotiating position.

Sen. Brad Hoylman, a Democrat of Manhattan, said budget discussions with Cuomos staff are ongoing and called the overall dynamic awkward to say the least.

Its not everyday that you and your colleagues demand the head of your party to step down and proceed with a negotiation, Hoylman, who chairs the Senates judiciary committee and sits on its finance committee, said. I also think it speaks to why so many of us are concerned with these swirling scandals and the ability for the executive to manage this situation.

The attorney general, James, last week named a former federal prosecutor, Joon Kim, and employment discrimination attorney Anne Clark to lead the Cuomo investigation. They have full subpoena power and will document their findings in a public report.

Cuomo, a Democrat, has said hell fully cooperate. His office didnt immediately comment Monday when asked about Bennetts interview with investigators.

The attorney generals investigation is on top of scrutiny that Cuomo is facing from federal prosecutors who are scrutinizing how his administration handled data on COVID-19 outbreaks at nursing homes.

John Jay College of Criminal Justice professor Daniel Feldman, who served as a state lawmaker from 1981 to 1998, said the governor is in the tough position of needing political support from a Legislature thats increasingly said hes lost his ability to lead.

He pointed to former New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer, who quit in 2008 after admitting he paid for sex with prostitutes.

It was said at that time, that had Spitzer maintained cordial relations with a majority of the Legislature, he would not have resigned and if he was impeached he wouldnt have been convicted, Feldman said.

Cuomo has insisted he wont let himself be distracted and he wont resign.

At his event at the Long Island vaccination site Monday, from which reporters were barred, ostensibly because of COVID-19 restrictions, the governor didnt address the scandal but did speak generally of comebacks in the face of adversity.

Sometimes, God comes and he knocks you on your rear end for one reason or another, or life comes and knocks you on your rear end for one reason or another, Cuomo said in a comment that was intended to reference the states situation, but could also apply to his personal troubles.

The question is what you do when you get knocked on your rear end. And New Yorkers get up, and they get up stronger, and they learn the lesson.
NEW YORK, March 17, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bernstein Liebhard, a nationally acclaimed investor rights law firm, reminds investors of the deadline to file a lead plaintiff motion in a securities class action lawsuit that has been filed on behalf of investors who purchased or acquired the securities of Ebix Inc. ("Ebix" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: EBIX) from November 09, 2020 and February 19, 2021 (the Class Period). The lawsuit filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York alleges violations of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.



If you purchased Ebix securities, and/or would like to discuss your legal rights and options please visit Ebix Shareholder Class Action Lawsuit or contact Matthew E. Guarnero toll free at (877) 779-1414 or MGuarnero@bernlieb.com

On February 19, 2021, Ebix revealed that RSM US LLP (RSM), its independent auditor, resigned. The resignation was a result of being unable, despite repeated inquiries, to obtain appropriate audit evidence that would allow it to evaluate the business purpose of significant unusual transactions that occurred in the fourth quarter of 2020, arising out of the Companys gift card business in India. RSM had also stated that there was a material weakness related to Ebixs failure to design controls over the gift or prepaid card revenue transaction cycle sufficient to prevent or detect a material misstatement. Ebix and RSM also disagreed over the accounting treatment of $30 million that had been transferred into a commingled trust account of Ebixs outside legal counsel in December 2020.

On this news, the Companys share price fell approximately 40%, from $50.74 to close at $30.47 on February 22, 2021.

If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than April 23, 2021. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation. Your ability to share in any recovery doesnt require that you serve as lead plaintiff. If you choose to take no action, you may remain an absent class member.

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Armenia acting health minister on citizens' demand for her resignation

Karabakh's new State Minister Artak Beglaryan on his appointment and future activities

Armenian, Russian and Azerbaijani representatives hold consultations in Moscow

2 Armenian soldiers receive slight injuries after incident with Azerbaijani servicemen in Armenia's Gegharkunik

Armenian boy weighing 5 kg born at Goris Medical Center

"Armenia" bloc representative presents purpose of participation in elections and plans

Isaac Herzog elected President of Israel

Rouhani: Main issues between Tehran, Washington resolved in Vienna

Charles Michel calls on Armenia and Azerbaijan to resume constructive negotiations

US Department of State responds to Pashinyan's proposal to deploy international observers on Armenia-Azerbaijan border

Head of Armenia 2nd President's Office: Robert Kocharyan's public meetings are held in warm atmosphere

Opposition "Armenia" bloc's representative on photos and videos showing bags of deceased servicemen's bodies

Armenia Ombudsman, AGBU President discuss war crimes committed by Azerbaijan during Karabakh war

Opposition "Armenia" bloc's representatives to hold briefings three times a week

Opposition "Armenia" bloc member: Blood-freezing photos and videos from morgue in Abovyan are authorities' reflection

Yerevan mayor receives Netherlands Ambassador

Armenia Health Ministry, Investigative Committee keep info about sending remains of dead soldiers abroad confidential

Armenia Prosecutor General's Office launches case regarding leaving sacs of servicemen's bodies/remains in basement

Peskov: Putin and Biden to discuss cybersecurity issues

Armenia's Pashinyan meets with Belgian PM Alexander De Croo

Armenia acting MOD receives Netherlands Ambassador

Armenia Police: 3 citizens apprehended during protest demanding acting health minister's resignation

NATO warns Minsk about further consequences of Ryanair incident

Armenia economic competition protection commission: Experts forecast inflation of butter prices

Armenia citizens' protest against acting health minister is over

Pashinyan visits France, judicial farce against Armenian POWs kicks off in Baku, Jun. 2 digest

Armenian Ambassador, FMO representatives consider opportunities for expansion of cooperation in Armenia

Armenia Prosecutor General is on working visit to Russia

Armenia acting PM meets with European Council President in Brussels

Armenia citizens throw polyethylene bags at Health Ministry building, police apprehend protesters

Acting deputy minister: Armenia authorities plan to build 46km section of North-South highway in 2021

Dollar is stable in Armenia

Armenia official: Large number of projects being prepared in construction sector

Identity of man killed Wednesday morning in downtown Yerevan is found out

Armenian lawyer: Azerbaijan poses a threat to security in Europe

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

Missing Armenian soldiers' relatives hand letter to Russia Embassy with request to solve captives' issue

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
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Burma Teenage Girl Shot Dead by Myanmar Military in Mandalay Region

Ma Thida Aye was pronounced dead on arrival at Singu Hospital. / The Irrawaddy

A 16-year-old girl was shot dead in a house in the village of Chaunggyi, Thabeikkyin Township, Mandalay Region at midday on Monday.

Ma Thida Aye had gone to stay a friends home after hearing gunshots in the village. But while in the house the girl was shot twice by a sniper on a hill some 1,000 feet from the village, her father U Win Kyaing told The Irrawaddy.

My daughter was shot twice by a sniper from a hill while the children were sitting in the house behind my house. She died soon afterwards, said U Win Kyaing. The funeral of the girl was held the same evening.

She was 16 and would be in 11th grade if schools had not been closed due to COVID-19, said U Win Kyaing.

One of Ma Thida Ayes friends suffered injuries to her fingers in the shooting and was sent to Shwebo Hospital for treatment.

Chaunggyi Village is located between Singu and Thabeikkyin. Anti-coup protesters have gathered daily at a junction leading to Mogok, Thabeikkyin and Mandalay. On Monday, security forces arrested some protesters there and then clashed with local residents calling for their release. The protesters escaped, but a woman was injured when soldiers fired shots at passers-by from a military truck.

A woman was hit. Those villages are located up the road and the villagers there phoned us to say that five soldiers fired shots. So we people from Chaunggyi pulled the military truck over as the truck drove down. We detained two men with two guns. Three fled and fired shots from the mountain with a sniper rifle, said U Win Kyaing.

He said he did not bring his daughters dead body back to Chaunggyi village, but took her to a village in Singu Township where there is a hospital.

She was pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital, said U Win Kyaing. Security forces were deployed on the main bridge that we must pass along if we were to carry her body back to the village. We were concerned that the soldiers would grab her body. So we buried her in Singu, he added.

There were reports that at least five people were killed when military personnel opened fire in Kyayhtaukpauk Village in Singu. The Irrawaddy was unable to independently verify those reports.

Almost 200 people have been killed in the military crackdown on anti-regime protesters since the Feb. 1 coup, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners.

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Last week the Government confirmed that the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine will be rolled out to the patients and staff of aged residential care facilities from the end of March.

These are facilities both inside retirement villages and in the wider community that look after older people who are no longer able to live independently, providing rest home, hospital or dementia level care.

Residents of these facilities will naturally get the vaccine in-house. Everyone receiving the vaccine must give consent and NZ Aged Care Association chief executive Simon Wallace says this is challenging when it comes to dementia patients  something that is also an issue for flu vaccines  and is currently being worked through.

Meanwhile, local health professionals are gearing up to offer the vaccination to their patients, starting around July. Training for vaccinators begins next month. Unichem Manly owner, pharmacist Tania Adams, says Covid-19 vaccinations will be available from pharmacies as well as GPs.

All primary healthcare workers will work together to get everyone in our community vaccinated, Tania says. Special training for qualified vaccinators is being organised for the different Covid-19 vaccines, which includes methods of giving vaccinations, plus information so we can answer patients questions with the most up-to-date research.

Pharmacist Antony Wentworth of Life Pharmacy Orewa says three of his pharmacists will undertake Covid-19 vaccination training. He says the rollout will be on a needs first basis, similar to last years flu vaccination, and that his team is responsible for prioritising high needs people. For Covid-19 this group includes the elderly and those with underlying health conditions.

Most of our bookings are online, or by phone  but we have to police that, Antony says. Last year [for the flu vaccination] we had to turn away a small number who werent as honest as they could have been. Pharmacies and GP surgeries will communicate with their patients and the Ministry will have another layer of communication to inform the public.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-17 22:33:27|Editor: huaxia

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People walk at the Trocadero near the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France, Jan. 27, 2021. (Xinhua/Gao Jing)

In France, the number of daily infections is creeping up again with the seven-day average of new cases rising above 25,000 for the first time since Nov. 20. The country now counts 4.1 million infections, the sixth-highest tally in the world.

More than 67 percent of new infections are linked to the variant first detected in Britain, while the new strains found in Brazil and South Africa account for up to 6 percent of the country's total positive cases.

PARIS, March 17 (Xinhua) -- On March 17, 2020, French President Emmanuel Macron ordered unprecedented lockdown measures in the world's top tourism destination, staging a "war" against the coronavirus pandemic.

One year on, it's not yet time for conviviality. Large malls are closed. Restaurants and cafes are still shut down. Theatres, music halls and cinemas remain silent as "unfortunately, the master of time is the virus," said Macron early this week.

On Wednesday Macron convened a defense meeting to discuss the next steps in the battle against the pandemic after meeting members of the scientific council, which gives advice to the government on COVID-19, the day before.

On Tuesday when addressing the National Assembly, Prime Minister Jean Castex warned about "a form of the third wave (of the pandemic) characterized by numerous virus variants."

"The outbreak is going into extra time," he said.

An empty street is seen during a weekend lockdown in Arras, Pas-de-Calais, France, March 7, 2021. (Photo by Sai Basidian kuerji/Xinhua)

THIRD WAVE WITH NEW VARIANTS

In France, the number of daily infections is creeping up again with the seven-day average of new cases rising above 25,000 for the first time since Nov. 20. The country now counts 4.1 million infections, the sixth-highest tally in the world.

As of Tuesday, 4,239 COVID-19 patients were in intensive care units, occupying nearly 85 percent of the country's 5,100 resuscitation beds. The total number of coronavirus hospitalizations stood at 25,492, the highest level since Feb. 24.

A nationwide curfew has been in place since mid-December. Some regions, in the north and southeast, are already under weekend lockdown. But the more infectious virus variants have been game-changers.

More than 67 percent of new infections are linked to the variant first detected in Britain, while the new strains found in Brazil and South Africa account for up to 6 percent of the country's total positive cases.

To Eric Caumes, head of the infectious diseases department at Pitie-Salpetriere Hospital in Paris, "it is the virus which dictates its law."

"We don't have much control over the virus because of the variants. As soon as the virus is allowed to circulate, variants will emerge. It is absolutely inevitable," he told Europe 1 radio on Tuesday.

People enjoy the sunshine in front of the Sacre Coeur Basilica atop the Montmartre in Paris, France, Feb. 24, 2021. (Xinhua/Gao Jing)

LOCKDOWN IN THE AIR FOR PARIS

In Paris and its surrounding areas, home to 12 million inhabitants, the epidemic situation is reaching a tipping point, with over 1,100 COVID-19 patients filling up the region's intensive care units, forcing transfers of patients to less-strained zones.

"The virus is not under control. There are as many patients in intensive care units today as there were at the peak of the second wave," said Martin Hirsch, director general of the AP-HP, an association of public hospitals in the Paris area.

Hirsch told RTL radio that "time has come" to lock down the capital and surrounding areas at weekends or for the whole week.

The government has so far spared Ile-de-France, the country's main economic hub, from lockdown to avoid a further setback for the economy.

But, "it seems...that the time has come to consider new measures in the great Paris region," Castex told BMTV news television on Tuesday evening.

Marcelle, 85-year-old, receives a dose of COVID-19 vaccine at a temporary vaccination center on the first day of its opening, in Clichy, France, Jan. 18, 2021. (Xinhua/Gao Jing)

HARD BLOW FOR VACCINE RACE

The government pledged "to go all out" on vaccine rollout to bring down the coronavirus-linked infections and deaths and return life to normal by mid-April as more people get vaccinated.

"We are in a speed race with the vaccination. We vaccinate the most vulnerable people because they are the most hospitalized ... The more the pressure on hospitals is reduced, the more we give ourselves a chance to be able to ease a certain number of restrictions," said government spokesperson Gabriel Attal.

"We can hope so because we will be vaccinating a lot in March and early April," he told state-run France Info radio in a recent interview.

The vaccination program did gain momentum. Over 153,000 first shots were administered on Monday, bringing the total to 5,435,795 or 8.1 percent of the population. So far, 2,310,236 have received both injections, data from the Health Ministry showed.

The government aims to vaccinate 10 million citizens by mid-April, 20 million by mid-May and a total of 30 million, or two-thirds of the adult population, by summer. It has already approved the use of vaccines developed by Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna, AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson.

After reports of suspected deaths from blood clots after vaccinations with the AstraZeneca jab, France decided on Monday to temporarily halt the use of the vaccine from the British-Swedish pharmaceutical company. The decision may throw a spanner into the government's vaccination targets if the suspension lasts long.

The AstraZeneca vaccine represents up to 35 percent of the doses that must be administered in April, according to Alain Fischer, an immunologist who orchestrates France's vaccination strategy.

Halting the use of the AstraZeneca jab "is a hard blow for vaccination which, despite everything, is progressing," Fischer told France Inter radio on Tuesday.

According to CovidTracker website, suspending the use of the vaccine for one day means a loss of about 90,000 injections and more than 2 million for two weeks. 
"Our posture's gonna be that we're posted outside of DC, awaiting the president's orders. We hope he will give us the orders. We want him to declare an insurrection, and to call us up as the militia."

Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes, in November, looking ahead to Jan. 6
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Exceptionally, films that premiered on streaming platforms were able to qualify for the awards this year, because of disruptions caused by Covid. For the same reason, the Academy extended the end of the eligibility timeline from December 31, 2020 to February 28, 2021.

Scroll past the lists for nominee reactions and read our analysis here.

Animated Feature

Onward

Dan Scanlon, Kori Rae

Dan Scanlon, Kori Rae Over the Moon

Glen Keane, Gennie Rim, Peilin Chou

Glen Keane, Gennie Rim, Peilin Chou A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon

Richard Phelan, Will Becher, Paul Kewley

Richard Phelan, Will Becher, Paul Kewley Soul

Pete Docter, Dana Murray

Pete Docter, Dana Murray Wolfwalkers

Tomm Moore, Ross Stewart, Paul Young, Stephan Roelants

Animated Short Film

Burrow

Madeline Sharafian, Michael Capbarat

Madeline Sharafian, Michael Capbarat Genius Loci

Adrien Merigeau, Amaury Ovise

Adrien Merigeau, Amaury Ovise If Anything Happens I Love You

Will McCormack, Michael Govier

Will McCormack, Michael Govier Opera

Erick Oh

Erick Oh Yes-People

Gisli Darri Halldorsson, Arnar Gunnarsson

Visual Effects

Love and Monsters

Matt Sloan, Genevieve Camilleri, Matt Everitt, Brian Cox

Matt Sloan, Genevieve Camilleri, Matt Everitt, Brian Cox The Midnight Sky

Matthew Kasmir, Christopher Lawrence, David Watkins, Max Solomon

Matthew Kasmir, Christopher Lawrence, David Watkins, Max Solomon Mulan

Sean Faden, Anders Langlands, Seth Maury, Steve Ingram

Sean Faden, Anders Langlands, Seth Maury, Steve Ingram The One and Only Ivan

Nick Davis, Greg Fisher, Ben Jones, Santiago Colomo Martinez

Nick Davis, Greg Fisher, Ben Jones, Santiago Colomo Martinez Tenet

Andrew Jackson, Andrew Lockley, Scott Fisher, David Lee

In addition, Soul was nominated for in the categories for original score (Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross, Jon Batiste) and sound (Ren Klyce, Coya Elliott, and David Parker).

Animated Feature Reactions

Onward

Director Dan Scanlon and producer Kori Rae:

Thank you to the Academy for honoring our film. We share this nomination with the entire cast and the crew at Pixar who were essential in bringing the magic and wonder of Ian and Barleys journey to life. Onward was a very personal story, exploring the idea of what one would do if they had more time with a loved one theyd lost. Its incredibly meaningful to see how this has resonated with audiences, and we couldnt be more thankful to the Academy for their recognition.

A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon

Directors Will Becher and Richard Phelan:

Shaun the Sheep nominated for an Oscar!? A collection of inaudible sounds followed by silence And thats just our reaction to the news! Were absolutely thrilled to receive an Oscar nomination! This is an incredible experience and a reflection of the amazing hard work and talent of everyone who worked on the film. The message of making new friends, learning from each other and always remaining positive in spite of difficult circumstances is something that we think a lot of people have connected to. On behalf of our silent movie star, Shaun the Sheep, and all of us at Aardman, wed like to extend our heartfelt thanks to the Academy.

Over the Moon

Director Glen Keane, producers Peilin Chou and Gennie Rim:

What a dream come true for Over the Moon to be recognized by the Academy today! We share this incredible honor with our entire cast and crew, who came together during this highly unusual time, to create something truly beautiful. We are so grateful to have had the opportunity to share Fei Feis extraordinary journey of love, loss and healing with the world. We are also forever indebted to our screenwriter and friend, the late Audrey Wells, for entrusting us with this most precious love letter to her daughter. We hope our film moves and inspires those who may be trying to find their own way, and helps to make our world feel a little smaller and more connected. On behalf of the entire Over the Moon family, a huge thank you to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for this recognition!

Wolfwalkers

Director Tomm Moore:

Huge day for our Wolfpack in kilkenny, Paris, luxembourg and beyond! Awhooooooooo https://t.co/3lr6lqsSK6  tomm moore (@tommmoore) March 15, 2021

Animated Short Filmmaker Reactions

Opera

Director Erick Oh:

It is such an incredible honor to have Opera nominated for an Oscar! I hope this recognition will bring a very positive impact on all the creators and audiences out there because Opera presents a different way to view and enjoy the medium of animation. Im deeply grateful that the Academy believed in my vision for this film, and a huge thank you to every artist and friend who were a part of this project. Animation is a team effort and none of this would have been possible without your talent, love and support. To me, Opera carries an important message about our society and history. I hope this nomination helps Opera reach a broader audience so we can start the conversation to make our lives and ourselves better.

If Anything Happens I Love You

Writer-directors Will McCormack and Michael Govier, producer Maryann Garger:

We are truly honored to be nominated alongside this group of inspiring shorts. Our film was made around a kitchen table with a small group of amazing artists and we never imagined that we would be here. This film was a passion project and a deep meditation on grief. We see ourselves in the loss, we see ourselves in the grief and we see ourselves in the way forward. We are humbled that so many people opened their hearts to the film. A heartfelt thank you to the Academy. If Anything Happens I Love You, was created for the ones lost, and the ones left behind.

Burrow

Director Madeline Sharafian:
World News: Human Rights Council to hold its forty-sixth regular session from 22 February to 23 March 2021

March 17,2021 | Source: United Nations Human Rights Council

The United Nations Human Rights Council will hold its forty-sixth regular session from 22 February to 23 March 2021 at the Palais des Nations in Geneva. The Council's main annual session will start off with a high-level segment from 22 to 24 February, when dignitaries representing more than 130 countries will address the Council on their governments efforts to promote and protect human rights. The session will open at 9 a.m. on Monday, 22 February under the presidency of Ambassador Nazhat Shameem Khan of Fiji. On this occasion, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres; the President of the United Nations General Assembly, Volkan Bozkir; the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet; as well as the Chief of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs of Switzerland, Ignazio Cassis, will deliver speeches before the Council. The Council will be meeting in the Assembly Hall, but most statements will be delivered virtually. During the session, the Council will review reports on a wide range of human rights issues and will engage in over 30 interactive dialogues with human rights experts, groups and mechanisms concerning, among other issues, around 50 countries. It will hear the presentation of about 100 thematic and country reports on a wide range of issues, including the COVID-19 pandemic. The Council will also hold an annual high-level panel discussion on human rights mainstreaming; its biennial high-level panel on death penalty; its annual full-day meeting on the rights of the child; its annual interactive debate on the rights of persons with disabilities; a meeting on the role of poverty alleviation in promoting and protecting human rights; and a debate on the mid-term review of the International Decade for People of African Descent. The final outcomes of the Universal Periodic Review of 14 States will also be considered and adopted, namely that of Andorra, Belarus, Bulgaria, Croatia, Honduras, Jamaica, Liberia, Libya, Malawi, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Mongolia, Panama, and the United States.



First Week of the Session



The forty-sixth regular session will open on Monday, 22 February with the high-level segment, which will continue through 24 February, and during which the Council will notably hear addresses by more than 130 dignitaries, including Ivan Duque Marquez, President of Colombia; Nicolas Maduro Moros, President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela; Andrzej Duda, President of Poland; Gitanas Naus?da, President of Lithuania; Shavkat Mirziyoyev, President of Uzbekistan; Sanna Marin, Prime Minister of Finland; and Abdalla Adam Hamdok, Prime Minister of Sudan. It will then hold its annual high-level panel discussion on human rights mainstreaming. This year, the theme of the mainstreaming panel will be The state of play in the fight against racism and discrimination 20 years after the adoption of the Durban Declaration and Plan of Action and the exacerbating effects the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has had on these efforts. Panellists for this event will be Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO); Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), and Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Executive Director of the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women. On Tuesday, the Council will hold its biennial high-level panel discussion on the question of the death penalty on the theme Human rights violations related to the use of the death penalty, in particular with respect to whether the use of the death penalty has a deterrent effect on crime rate, and then resume the high-level segment, which will conclude on Wednesday morning. On Wednesday afternoon, it will hear the presentation of reports on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, Sri Lanka and Nicaragua under item 2 of its agenda - which deals with the annual report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and reports of the Office of the High Commissioner and the Secretary-General - followed by interactive dialogues. An interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Eritrea will also be held on that day in the afternoon.



An enhanced interactive dialogue on the report of the High Commissioner on Belarus, and an interactive dialogue on the oral update of the Group of Eminent International and Regional Expert on Yemen are scheduled on Thursday morning. This will be followed, in the afternoon, by presentation of reports and oral updates by the High Commissioner on Guatemala, Honduras, Colombia, Eritrea, Venezuela, the COVID-19 pandemic, and Cyprus. The Council will then hold a general debate, which will continue and conclude the following day. Also on Friday, a meeting on the role of poverty alleviation in promoting and protecting human rights will take place, aiming to share information on good practices and experiences. It will be followed by an interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the right to food.



Second Week of the Session



At the beginning of the second week, the Council will first hold its annual full-day meeting on the rights of the child, which will focus this year on Rights of the child and the Sustainable Development Goals. Also on Monday, 1 March, turning to item 3 of its agenda on the promotion and protection of all human rights, civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to development, the Council will hold an interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the sale and sexual exploitation of children, including child prostitution, child pornography and other child sexual abuse material. On Tuesday, 2 March, the Council will hold interactive dialogues with the Independent Expert on the effects of foreign debt and other related international financial obligations of States on the full enjoyment of all human rights; the Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief; and the Special Rapporteur in the field of cultural rights. On Wednesday, interactive dialogues with the Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities and the Independent Expert on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism are scheduled. The Council will also begin interactive dialogues with the Special Rapporteur on the issue of human rights obligations relating to the enjoyment of a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment and the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, both of which will conclude the following day. Also on Thursday, interactive dialogues will be held with the Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, and the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism. On Friday, in addition to holding an interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the right to privacy, the Council will hold its annual interactive debate on the rights of persons with disabilities. That debate will focus on participation in sport under article 30 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.



Third Week of the Session



The Council will open on Monday, 8 March, in the morning with a presentation of various reports, including on the sixth session of the open-ended intergovernmental working group on transnational corporations and other business enterprises, and the third intersessional meeting for dialogue and cooperation on human rights and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, followed by a general debate. In the afternoon, it will hold an interactive dialogue with the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on violence against children, and begin another interactive dialogue with the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for children and armed conflict, which will conclude the following day. The General Debate will resume on Tuesday, 9 March, in the morning, followed in the afternoon by an interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iran, and the first part of an interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea, which will conclude the following day. On Wednesday, interactive dialogues are scheduled with the following special mandate holders: the Commission of Inquiry on Burundi; the Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan; and the independent international fact-finding mission to investigate extrajudicial executions, enforced disappearances, arbitrary detentions and torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment since 2014 in Venezuela. Following the presentation of an oral update by the High Commissioner on Venezuela, an interactive dialogue will start on that day and conclude on Thursday, 11 March, in the morning. Also on Thursday, the Council will hear the presentation of an oral update on the United Nations involvement in Myanmar and a report on the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea, followed by a general debate that will conclude on Friday. It will then hold interactive dialogues with the Commission of Inquiry on Syria, which will be presenting a report looking at the human rights situation 10 years after the crisis began, and the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, who will be updating the Council on the latest situation in the country, including the events following the recent coup detat. The general debate under item 5, which concerns human rights bodies and mechanisms, will start on Friday, and will be followed by the presentation of reports by the Forum on Minority Issues, the Social Forum, and the Coordination Committee of Special Procedures, as well as a debate on the midterm review of the International Decade for People of African Descent.



Fourth Week of the Session



After resuming the general debate under item 5 in the morning of Monday, 15 March, the Council will hold an interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on minority issues, following which it will begin discussing the outcomes of the Universal Periodic Review of the following countries: Andorra, Belarus, Bulgaria, Croatia, Honduras, Jamaica, Liberia, Libya, Malawi, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Mongolia, Panama, and the United States. The consideration of the Universal Periodic Review outcomes will continue on Tuesday and Wednesday morning. The Council will then turn to item 7 of its agenda, Human rights situation in Palestine and other occupied Arab territories, hearing the presentation of reports followed by a general debate, which will continue on Thursday, 18 March in the morning. Also on Thursday, general debates are scheduled to take place on item 8, which deals with follow-up to and implementation of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, and item 9, which concerns racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related forms of intolerance, follow-up to and implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action. The general debate under item 9 will be preceded by presentations of reports by the High Commissioner and the Intergovernmental Working Group on the effective implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action. On Friday, the Council will turn to item 10, Technical assistance and capacity-building, first holding an enhanced interactive dialogue on oral updates concerning the Democratic Republic of Congo by the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the team of international experts on the situation in Kasai, and then participating in an interactive dialogue with the Independent Expert on Mali. In the afternoon, an interactive dialogue on the High Commissioners report on Ukraine is scheduled, along with a high-level interactive dialogue on the human rights situation in the Central African Republic.



Fifth Week of the Session



The final week of the session will start with a presentation of the High Commissioners country report on Afghanistan, her annual presentation on technical cooperation and the presentation of the report of the Board of Trustees of Voluntary Fund Technical Cooperation. This will be followed by a general debate. The Council will take action on decisions and resolutions on 22 and 23 March, as well as appoint Special Procedure mandate holders, elect members of the Human Rights Council Advisory Committee, and adopt the report of the session before closing the session.



The Human Rights Council



The Human Rights Council is an inter-governmental body within the United Nations system, made up of 47 States, which are responsible for strengthening the promotion and protection of human rights around the globe. The Council was created by the United Nations General Assembly on 15 March 2006 with the main purpose of addressing situations of human rights violations and making recommendations on them. The composition of the Human Rights Council at its forty-sixth session is as follows: Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, China, Cote dIvoire, Cuba, Czech Republic, Denmark, Eritrea, Fiji, France, Gabon, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Libya, Malawi, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mexico, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, Pakistan, Philippines, Poland, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Senegal, Somalia, Sudan, Togo, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Uruguay, Uzbekistan and Venezuela. The President of the Human Rights Council in 2021 is Ambassador Nazhat Shameen Khan, Permanent Representative of Fiji to the United Nations Office at Geneva. The Councils four Vice Presidents are Keva Lorraine Bain (Bahamas), Ali ibn Abi Talib Abdelrahman Mahmoud (Sudan), Monique T.G. Van Daalen (Netherlands), and Yuri Borissov Sterk (Bulgaria). The dates and venue of the forty-sixth session are subject to change in view of the evolving situation in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2021/03/the_sovereign_crime_of_industrial_scale_vote_fraud.html

Great article:

March 16, 2021

The Sovereign Crime of Industrial Scale Vote Fraud

Recently our team was invited to meet with 2020 election fraud investigators in downtown Austin. Our team, with some of the top criminal profiling talent in the country, was happy to attend. At the last minute, our new pals cancelled their meeting. Since we changed our schedules and lost those days, we decided to hold our own confab. Our team members were the lead builders of one of the worlds most sophisticated criminal profiling systems in use by law enforcement today. We broke the eBay auction fraud rings and deployed a never-before-used technology to end auction fraud as an emerging crime category. We identified numerous Medicaid fraud rings and were hired by most of the top 10 property and casualty insurance firms to solve auto crash rings that eluded the FBI and every fraud technology. What we do not talk about much is our teams record predicting crime. There were several occasions when we predicted terrorist activity and warned government agencies. There is a particularly famous one, involving a military base, where they did not listen. That's one for another day.

When you are at the table with some of the top criminal profilers in the world, talking about industrial scale election fraud, you do more listening than talking. And the listening was interesting. The profilers have zero interest in U.S. elections. Two of them did not vote and had unflattering opinions about both presidential candidates. Their comments were most insightful because they saw the current questions about election fraud so differently than the American media.

To them, 2020 election fraud was an industrial level crime. It was of such magnitude that it moved from the category of an election crime to a sovereign crime.

Sovereign crime. It does have a ring to it.

Sovereign crime is not something we see a lot of in America as our governmental institutions are generally not organized to commit, support or hide a crime.

Most Americans have never seen an organized crime take place, in plain view, supported by or covered up by governmental institutions. But it happens all the time around the world, even in some countries that are quite Westernized.

Sovereign crime means your government was a participant, active or passive, enabling vote fraud.

Governors and secretaries of state refusing to cleanse voter rolls, refusing to check signatures for mail-in ballots  even during recounts, changing the voting rules weeks before an election, qualifies as your government messing with your vote.

The national government refusing to investigate the most egregious examples of voter fraud like hundreds of thousands of more ballots than voters in several states, that is a pretty good indicator that they are passive participants in industrial level vote fraud.

The refusal of the FBI to fully investigate Jesse Morgans truck with the hundreds of thousands of ballots going from New York to Pennsylvania  yet dispatching agents to a NASCAR location to investigate a garage pull-down they hoped was a noose  well, thats a good indicator, too.

Wait, were not done here.

The United States Postal Service managers telling employees to backdate ballots so they could be counted illegally. Does that sound like your government  sovereign government  participating in vote fraud?

Our team noted that this might be the first time in American history that the government from the states to the national to its agencies coordinated to either fake the vote or hide the faking.

Our profilers comfortably said the 2020 election fraud was on such a scale that it was impossible for the major law enforcement agencies to not have known about it in advance.

Governmental law enforcement either actively engaged in the fraud, which is impossible to prove, or knowingly acquiesced after the fact.

Pretty clearly, the evidence is piling up that the FBI had zero interest in trucks with ballots crossing state lines, ballots being shredded in Maricopa County, tens of thousands of ballots received before being mailed and all sorts of other clues any competent law enforcement agency would at least investigate.

The conversation did not go where I expected it.

There was no interest on our profilers part in doing investigation of massive voter fraud. They felt it was so obvious and the current work being done by citizens and published on hard-to-find blogs was state-of-the-art and no further investigations would find much more. Their comments were striking because they said the data easily available showed the election fraud patterns had two very alarming characteristics: It was not the first time this was tried, and it will be performed again, at scale, in the next election.

Here is where the conversation got very interesting:

Violent criminals have known profiles and when law enforcement properly applies certain profiles, there can be very accurate predictions about what such persons will do next.

Fraud criminals have their own patterns. When we were doing insurance fraud, we often said, with authority, that fraud is a constant. If you stop it one place, it will pop up somewhere else.

Fraud criminals are often highly educated. In our world, they are doctors, attorneys, insurance investigators, chiropractors, running fraud rings spanning multiple states. If someone were caught and the ring broken, those who did not go to jail did not become priests or open small businesses. They started other fraud rings.

Fraud is a constant. Fraud becomes a profession.

Fraud rings, when organized, grow. They continue to expand with new entrants, slightly different profiles, corrupting more people with money that dwarfs what one might make honestly. Fraud techniques are like an organic species: what works, thrives; and what fails, dies out. Patterns emerge. Patterns equal prediction and prediction enables eradication.

Here is where our profilers made a critical connection.

The 2020 election fraud did not just happen. It is impossible for an organization, spanning many states, using similar techniques (fake ballots, shutting down counting at the same time, more ballots than voters, dead voters, underage voters) to succeed the first time at bat. There are just too many moving parts.

So here we developed a thesis.

The team, educated in some of the most sophisticated organized fraud tactics, posited that this was not a dry run. Their thesis is that if one were to seriously evaluate the balloting in many states for 2014, 2016 and 2018, one will find traces of what happened in 2020. That project is under discussion.

Their second thesis is that this is not over by any means. This kind of election fraud was hugely successful. If one even questions the 2020 election, one can be banned from social media and labeled e a conspiracy theorist by sovereign governmental agencies.

The team believes the best is yet to come.

Fraud perps are greedy and when left to commit fraud, for which there was likely millions of dollars in remuneration either presently or in the future, they are not going to stop. As fraudsters recognize that national law enforcement refuses to investigate and the courts will not look at evidence, they are emboldened. Who wouldnt be?

Our courts and law enforcement are saying come, commit all the fraud you want, we wont investigate, and if there is litigation, we will toss it out on procedural grounds.

If anyone protests, the FBI may raid their home with an assault vehicle.

Dont believe me, well, meet Christopher Worrell.

And meet retired Army Sergeant Kenneth Harrelson, who, like Chris, attended the Dont Steal The Vote Rally and was greeted by an FBI turreted vehicle while he was cleaning out his gutters.

This is our government in action covering up election fraud. FBI Director Chris Wray is promising each of us the Roger Stone Experience if we doth protest too much.

We are dealing with a new type of crime, at least new to most Americans: sovereign crime. This is it, folks! This is what it looks like.

Just think if the courts and government did this for Medicaid fraud. We might all do it!

So if you are an election fraud perp, what would you do? Double down! Yes, you would, you know you would.

Fraud is a constant. What we saw in 2020 is going to happen in 2022 and 2024 in a very big way. Maybe bigger since there are no constraints.

It is here the team made their most startling prediction.

The data from 2020 are strong enough to predict exactly where the most egregious fraud is going to happen and how it is going to happen.

Texas data sent to us showed the 2020-type fraud did happen in 2016 and 2018 in a smaller degree but with the same pattern. It was not reported. In hindsight, compared with 2020, a pattern emerges.

Profiling works. Fraud is a constant. Bad guys without pushback overplay their hands.

Your government, at the state and federal level, the FBI, government agencies can be in on the scam. That is the realization slowly being accepted by millions of Americans.

We have technologies that can identify dead voters the moment they cast a ballot. We can identify people who are out-of-state, voted twice, are underage, live in a vacant lot or a UPS or FedEx postal box. We can even show a photo of that vacant lot so you can see where your fake neighbor claims to live.

Literally, the second their ballot is counted, they can be flagged as a likely fraud.

Yes, we can deploy that technology today. We have done it in the insurance industry for decades.

We can predict where election fraud is going to happen. We can predict how it is going to be done. We can deploy technologies to identify likely fraud within seconds of when it happens.

The question is, if the government is pretty much in on the election fraud, does it really matter?

Jay Valentines website is www.JayValentine.com
Peter Hardin said March 16, 2021 that he plans to run against current Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer in the 2022 election. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

Former Federal Prosecutor Announces Bid for Orange County District Attorneys Office

A former U.S. prosecutor has announced his bid to challenge current Orange County District Attorney (OCDA) Todd Spitzer during the next election.

Former federal prosecutor Pete Hardin, who served as a Marine Corps officer, accused Spitzer during a March 16 press conference of using the office for his own personal and political game.

Im gravely concerned that our current district attorney fights more for headlines and TV appearances, than he does for real smart justice, Hardin said. His pursuit of the headline has been at the cost of the pursuit of justice.

If elected, Hardin promised to remove the death penalty and instead seek life without parole, as well as remove cash bail.

Hardins campaign manager is Maxwell Szabo, who serves as spokesperson for Los Angeles District Attorney (LADA) George Gascon. Orange Countys top prosecutor Spitzer has accused Gascon of being weak on crime for removing sentencing enhancements when prosecuting criminals.

Hardin said he, too, has issues with sentencing enhancements.

I believe that in some circumstances, sentencing enhancements can create prison terms that are too long, longer than they need to be, he said. We need to take a closer look at that. I dont believe in blanket policies, I believe blanket policies are part of what got us into trouble, where we are today.

Partway into the press conference, Spitzer arrived and listened to what the speakers had to say. When Hardins press conference concluded, Spitzer spoke to reporters about the allegations made against him.

Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer speaks to reporters on March 16, 2021. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

The fact of the matter is you just heard, right here and now, that he wants to transplant, George Gascons LADA policies to Orange County, and I will not have that, I will not tolerate that, and that will not happen, Spitzer told reporters.

The district attorney continued, [Hardin] has a gross misunderstanding of the public here in Orange County. And he misunderstands that people expect law and order, they expect to respect the police and they expect to create diversion programs for low-level offenders who we have to intervene at an early stage.

When announcing his candidacy at the Lamoreaux Justice Center in Orange, Hardin had the support of Orange County Democratic Party Ada Briceno, and Paul Wilson, whose wife was murdered along with seven others at a Seal Beach hair salon massacre in 2011.

Spitzer criticized Briceno and Hardin for bringing party politics into the campaign.

When I took office, I did not make this partisan, this is a nonpartisan office. I actually took a position not to endorse candidates in elections, because as a district attorney, I need to be impartial, Spitzer said.

Today they partisanized this election, they made this about Democrats versus Republicans, and Im here to make it very, very clear. This is not about being partisan, I support Democrats in this county, and I support Republicans, and I was elected to a nonpartisan seat.

The election is set for June 7, 2022. So far, Hardin is the only person to challenge Spitzer.
A 30-year-old Lansford man is dead and his wife and three children are hospitalized in intensive care after a fire Monday in Lansford.

Borough police chief Jack Soberick identified the deceased as Jonathan Honey, 30, after family released details on social media following the fire.

He said the wife, Kierstyn Honey, 27, sustained two broken hips and a broken vertebrae after jumping out of a window to escape the flames holding a 1-month-old, who suffered rib and neck injuries. Seven-year-old Jeremiah is on assisted breathing and Jaxon, who is about 3 or 4, is being treated for second degree burns, the chief said.

Fire Chief Joe Greco of American Fire Company No. 1, Lansford, said the victim was found dead inside 332 W. Bertsch St. The double home, including 330, was destroyed and will likely have to be torn down, Greco said. It appears the fire started in a middle room on the first floor, the chief said. Two neighboring homes were also damaged.

He said a fire marshal is investigating.

Greco said it was about 4:50 p.m. when firefighters were called and he arrived within minutes to the house just two blocks away.

The police were there before us and they were getting people out, Greco said.

He was told the mother and an infant and at least one of three older boys jumped out of a window. He noted how the mother had trouble walking and was helped to the sidewalk, and that an ambulance took her and her children to the hospital.

Neighbors and passersby also went to the home to try to help, he said.

Smoke and heavy fire was consuming the home.

It was a very chaotic scene in the beginning. Maybe thats an understatement, Greco said of the first approximately five minutes, noting there were reports of people trapped, people were gathering outside and there was heavy smoke and fire.

He ran to the neighboring home to get those occupants out.

At that point, heavy smoke and fire were evident on the first floor of 332 and venting from a middle window as the fire truck arrived. Strong winds exacerbated the flames.

When the trucks got there, the fire just grew in intensity, Greco said.

It was learned a man was unaccounted for. Crews attempted to enter the first floor but it flashed over with fire.

It was full room involvement with fire, Greco said. Floor to ceiling fire.

Crews still went inside and attempted to get to the second floor, dousing the flames with water, but the fire was too intense.

Firefighters battling the flames inside were ordered out. Not long after, the roof, chimney and second floor collapsed, Greco said.

It was about 30 minutes into the blaze when the collapses happened. Firefighters were able to contain flames to the roof and attic of neighboring 324 E. Bertsch St., and that work also limited the damage to 328, which sustained damaged siding. Greco said 324 sustained fire and smoke damage in the third floor and water and smoke damage to the rest of that home.

Firefighters remained at the scene until about 11 p.m. and were called again early Tuesday when the fire rekindled.

No serious injuries were experienced by firefighters, but ambulance personnel were attempting to set up a critical incident stress management meeting for first responders.

Lansford firefighters were assisted by neighboring fire departments.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-17 18:44:48|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, March 17 (Xinhua) -- China will launch a national reading campaign for 2021, according to an official circular.

As this year marks the centenary of the Communist Party of China (CPC), the campaign shall focus on that theme and promote the reading of key publications on the history of the CPC, the country, reform and opening up, and socialist development among the general public, says the circular released by the general office of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee.

The document asks authorities to go down to communities, ramp up the supply of quality reading materials and update reading facilities in public spaces.

Efforts are also urged to improve access to reading services of key groups including rural migrant workers and their children, as well as people with disabilities.

Local authorities are encouraged to explore their own ways to foster signature reading promotion programs that bear local hallmarks. Digital reading technologies are also encouraged. Enditem
Police officers from the Economic Crime Investigation Directorate of the Romanian Police General Inspectorate (IGPR) and prosecutors of the Bucharest Court of Appeal carry out, on Wednesday, 62 home searches in Bucharest and in the counties of Ilfov, Bacau, Brasov, Calarasi, Giurgiu, Ialomita and Vaslui, in two criminal cases involving a tax evasion estimated at 20 million euros in the trade in used cars brought from Europe.

"The investigations concern five criminal groups specialized in tax evasion crimes, groups that, through their members, would directly or through intermediaries control several companies that carry out activities in the field of intra-community trade in used vehicles," the IGPR said in a release sent to AGERPRES on Wednesday.

Some 31 arrest warrants are to be enforced.

According to the investigators, through some commercial companies, cars were purchased from partners in the European Union, mainly from Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Italy, France, Spain, which were subsequently sold in Romania, without registering the revenues in the accounting records and without declaring the operations performed, thus evading the payment of fiscal obligations due to the consolidated state budget.

"The criminal activity of the suspects was allegedly committed through several companies and structured on different time intervals, in the period 2016-2019," the quoted source shows.

Through the criminal activity, a damage to the consolidated state budget of over 97,000,000 lei (approximately 20 million euros) was caused.

The teams participating in the operation are made up of judicial police officers and agents from IGPR, the Bucharest General Police Directorate and the Ilfov, Bacau, Brasov, Calarasi, Giurgiu, and Ialomita County Police Inspectorates.

Specialists of the National Institute of Forensics and fighters from the Service for Interventions and Special Actions also participate in the activities.

In order to carry out all the established procedural measures, the activities benefit from the support of the National Agency for the Administration of Seized Goods.
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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday closed its case in a N333.8 million money laundering charge against a former speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Adeyemi Ikuforiji.

The commission closed its case after calling the second witness for the prosecution, Adewale Olatunji, a former Clerk of the LAHA.

Mr Ikuforiji is charged alongside his former Personal Assistant, Oyebode Atoyebi, on a 54 count charge of money laundering amounting to N338.8 million.

They had each pleaded not guilty before Justice Mohammed Liman and were allowed to continue on an earlier bail granted to them in 2012 when they were first arraigned.

The first prosecution witness was Adebayo Adeniyi, an operative with the commission who concluded his evidence on November 25, 2020.

Wednesdays proceedings

Testifying, the second prosecution witness, Mr Olatunji told the court that he was currently a pensioner, who retired from service of the Lagos State Government as former Clerk of the House of Assembly.

Led in evidence by the prosecutor, Ekele Iheanacho, the witness said that between 2010 and 2011, he held sway as clerk of the House under the leadership of the defendant (Ikuforiji) who was then speaker.

He said that as clerk, he was the chief accounting officer of the House, adding that his schedule of duty involved coordinating all departments of the House, acting as a liaison between the legislature and executive on one hand and the House on the other hand.

He added that he was also a signatory to bills proposed by the House.

When prompted by the prosecution as to what happened in 2011, he told the court that he had received two letters from the anti-graft agency.

According to him, the first letter was informing him of an investigation by the commission on financial transactions in the House while the other letter invited him to give some explanations to the commission.

He told the court that he had honoured the invitation to Abuja to provide the required information and had also instructed his staff to supply the commission with documents demanded which were mainly cash registers.

The prosecution then called for exhibits C, D, E and E1 and the witness confirmed that the exhibits were certified copies of the cash registers of LAHA at the time.

When the prosecution asked the witness the nature of the information contained in the exhibits, the defence raised an objection on the grounds that the document were before the court and spoke for itself.

The court upheld the objection by defence and urged prosecution to ask his questions within the perimeter of the law.

The prosecution then asked the witness if he could attest from the exhibits that payments were made, but the defence again raised an objection to that line of question.

The court again, upheld the objection by defence.

The prosecutor, consequently, applied that the document be taken as read and the court granted same.

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The prosecutor then asked the witness if the House of Assembly maintained bank accounts and in which banks.

in response, the witness told the court that the House had accounts in Wema, Equitorial trust and Skye (now Polaris) banks but said he would not know if any of the banks had branches in the houses complex.

When the prosecution asked the witness who approved cash payments, defence counsel raised another objection on the grounds that the question seeks to cross examine the witness rather than leading him in evidence, but this time the court over ruled his objection.

In response, the witness told the court that cash payments were approved by the speaker of the House, adding that at that time the defendant (Ikuforiji) was the LAHA speaker.

Under Cross examination by defence counsel, Dele Adesina (SAN), the witness maintained that he would not know if the banks mentioned had branches within the House secretariat in Alausa.

When asked if the House and the secretariat were within same vicinity of Alausa, he replied, Yes.

He also confirmed that he made statements about the defendant to the EFCC.

After cross examination, the prosecution informed the court that This will be the case for the prosecution.

The defence then informed the court that it would review its position to know the proper steps to take, that is whether to open their defence or to file a no case submission.

Justice Liman has consequently, fixed March 24 for defence.

During trial the prosecution called two witnesses and tendered several exhibits before the court in presenting its case.

Background

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the defendants were first arraigned on March 1, 2012 before Justice Okechukwu Okeke on a 20-count charge bordering on misappropriation and money laundering.

They had each pleaded not guilty to the charges and were granted bails.

The defendants were, however, subsequently re-arraigned before Justice Ibrahim Buba, following a re-assignment of the case.

Mr Buba had granted them bail in the sum of N500 million each with sureties in like sum.

On September 26, 2014, Justice Buba discharged Mr Ikuforiji and his aide of the charges, after upholding a no case submission of the defendants.

Mr Buba had held that the EFCC failed to establish a prima-facie case against them.

Ruling appealed

Dissatisfied with the ruling, the EFCC through its counsel, Godwin Obla (SAN), filed the Notice of Appeal dated September 30, 2014, challenging the decision of the trial court.

Mr Obla had argued that the trial court erred in law when it held that the counts were incompetent because they were filed under Section 1(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2004 which was repealed by an Act of 2011.

The EFCC further argued that the lower court erred in law when it held that the provisions of Section 1 of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2004 and 2011, only applied to natural persons and corporate bodies other than the Government.

The commission had also submitted that the trial judge erred in law when he held and concluded that the testimonies of the prosecution witnesses supported the innocence of the respondents.

In its judgement, the Lagos Division of the Appeal Court, in November 2016, agreed with the prosecution and ordered a fresh trial of the defendants before another judge.

Following the decision of the Appeal Court, the defendants headed to the Supreme Court, seeking to overturn the ruling of the Appellate court.

Again, in its verdict, the apex court also upheld the decision of the appellate court and ordered that the case be sent back to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court for reassignment to another judge.

According to the charge, EFCC alleged that the defendants accepted cash payments above the threshold set by the Money Laundering Act, without going through a financial institution.

The commission accused the defendants of conspiring to commit an illegal act of accepting cash payments in the aggregate sum of N338.8 million from the House of Assembly without going through a financial institution.

Mr Ikuforiji was also accused of using his position to misappropriate funds belonging to the Assembly.

The EFCC said that the defendants committed the offences between April 2010 and July 2011.

The offences, according to the EFCC, contravenes the provisions of Sections 15 (1d), 16(1d) and 18 of Money Laundering Act, 2004 and 2011.

(NAN)
As Victoria notches up its 20th day of no new locally acquired coronavirus cases, authorities are urging eligible Victorians to wait three weeks before trying to book a COVID-19 jab at one of 285 nominated GP surgeries across the state.

Some Victorian GPs reported being swamped on Wednesday by people wanting vaccines, after the federal government released a list of the first GP clinics that will deliver AstraZeneca vaccinations to 6 million most-at-risk Australians from Monday under stage 1b of the rollout.

Australians eligible for the vaccine under stage 1b include those aged over 70, more healthcare and front-line workers and people with certain medical conditions.

The release led to a flood of calls to clinics across the country, with the website incorrectly telling people their local GPs only took phone bookings.
COLUMBUS, Ohio  The former president of the now-defunct Sigma Pi fraternity at Ohio University pleaded guilty Tuesday morning to drug and hazing charges in connection with the death of Collin Wiant.

Elijah R. Wahib, 22, of the Cleveland suburb of Westlake, entered a guilty plea to two counts of felony obstruction of justice, felony permitting drug use, and two counts of misdemeanor hazing.

Prosecutors said that as fraternity president, Wahib allowed members to haze pledges, including forcing pledges to consume hot sauce and exercise. He also permitted drug use to take place at the fraternitys unofficial, off-campus house, in Athens. Marijuana, cocaine, Xanax and ecstasy were found at the residence, according to prosecutors.

After Wiants death in November 2018, Wahib instructed his fraternity brothers to not provide any information to Ohio University investigators.

The hearing, which wouldve taken place in Athens County Common Pleas Court, was conducted over Zoom video teleconference because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Wahib was sentenced by Athens County Common Pleas Judge Patrick Lang to 31 days in jail for the misdemeanors, with one day of credit, and to participation in a drug and alcohol diversion program for the felonies.

Wahib is the fifth former Sigma Pi member to plead guilty to charges related to Wiants death.

Former OU student Saxon Angell-Perez, 22, of Upper Arlington, pleaded guilty in May to felony permitting drug abuse, felony cocaine possession and misdemeanor hazing charges.

Former OU student Dominic Figliola, 21, of Athens, pleaded guilty in February to two felony charges of possession of drugs and a misdemeanor charge of hazing and failure to comply with underage alcohol laws.

That same day in February, current OU student Cullen W. McLaughlin, 20, of Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty to two felony counts of possession of LSD.

Zachary Herskovitz, 22, of Robinson Township, Pennsylvania, also pleaded guilty to a felony charge of permitting drug abuse and a misdemeanor hazing charge.

Story continues

Perez, Figliola, Herskovitz and McLaughlin did not receive jail time, but all must complete the diversion program run by the Athens County prosecutors office. Figliola and McLaughlin also were placed on nonreporting probation for the hazing charge.

In return for their pleas, those four agreed to cooperate with prosecutors in the remaining cases against Sigma Pi members, Athens County Prosecutor Keller Blackburn said.

Wahib briefly addressed the court and the Wiant family.

4 frat deaths in one month: What's going on with fraternity hazing?

I want to extend my sincere condolences to the Wiant family, he said.

Wahib also apologized to the state and the court for his previous conduct during his proceedings.

Wade and Kathleen Wiant, Collins parents, appeared via Zoom from their home in Dublin and addressed the court and Wahib.

Wade Wiant said that no holiday makes evident the complexity and sadness of Collins death for him like Fathers Day. The Wiants other four children know they can never eliminate all of his grief for a single day, which hurts their family, Wade said.

Collins death wouldve been avoided with the right leadership in this organization, he said.

Wade Wiant said Wahib was elected to lead men and he failed.

Kathleen Wiant said that although she has experienced the loss of loved ones before Collins death, nothing compares to losing a child. The void his absence brings, she said, becomes more apparent over time.

But she said she is confident that good will come from Collins death is committed to continue to promote anti-hazing.

The charges came after the Dispatch, part of the USA TODAY Network, published a six-part investigation titled Broken Pledge. The project detailed the hazing and death of the 18-year-old freshman.

Collin Wiant died after collapsing inside Sigma Pi annex house, where Wahib and several other fraternity brothers lived. A coroner ruled that Wiant died of asphyxiation from nitrous oxide ingestion after he inhaled a canister of the gas, also known as a whippit.

University officials launched an investigation after Wiants death and later expelled the fraternity from campus.

Blackburn said in November that the indictments were meant not only to hold people accountable for their roles in Wiants death but also to send a message that there is no tolerance for hazing.

Criminal cases are pending for four other individuals indicted as part of the investigation:

Former OU student Joshua T. Androsac, 20, of Lewis Center: involuntary manslaughter, permitting drug abuse, hazing and two counts of trafficking in harmful intoxicants.

Former OU student Corbin M. Gustafson, 22, of Furlong, Pennsylvania: reckless homicide.

Former OU student James Dylan Wanke, 25, of Athens: two counts of involuntary manslaughter, two counts of trafficking in harmful intoxicants, and distributing nitrous oxide.

Stephan B. Lewis, 27, of Athens: trafficking in harmful intoxicants and improperly dispensing or distributing nitrous oxide.

Follow Sheridan Hendrix on Twitter: @sheridan120

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio University fraternity president pleads guilty in pledge's death
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 17)  Calls to the country's One Hospital Command Center have gone up following the rise in daily COVID-19 cases, according to Treatment czar and Health Undersecretary Dr. Leopoldo Vega.

From an average of 80, Vega said they now receive 250 to 260 calls per day.

"Karamihan ng mga tawag na 'to ay yung mga pasyente na nangangailangan ng isolation sa quarantine at temporary treatment facilities," he told CNN Philippines' Newsroom Ngayon on Wednesday.

[Translation: Most of these calls are for patients who need to be isolated in quarantine or temporary treatment facilities.]

However, despite the rise in the number of cases, Vega said hospitals nationwide remain in a "low-risk" category.

"Ibig sabihin noon, na yung ating capacity na mag-handle ng COVID-19 sa ward at sa isolation ay nasa 40%, pero sa ICU nasa 47%. Ngunit kakaiba po pagdating sa Metro Manila kasi alam naman natin na nag-spike siya in the last three weeks...Ngayon po ang isolation facilities natin sa hospitals at yung mga beds for COVID na nasa hospitals, nasa 51% na po silang occupied. Samantalang yung intensive care units ng both private at public hospitals...umaabot na sa 60 to 62%," he said.

[Translation: This means that our capacity to handle COVID-19 in wards and isolation are at 40%, but in ICUs it's at 47%. However, it's different when it comes to Metro Manila because we all know cases spiked in the last three weeks...Now, isolation facilities in hospitals and COVID beds in hospitals are 51% occupied. Intensive care units in both private and public hospitals...reach 60 to 62%.]

Vega said this should be taken as a warning that measures should be taken to prevent and mitigate the transmission of the virus. He added they would be asking hospitals to increase bed allocation to accommodate the "surge" in cases.

READ: QC hospital occupancy rate now critical, mayor says

The Department of Health reported 4,387 new COVID-19 infections on Wednesday, pushing the total to 635,698.

Of this total, 61,733 are active cases or those who are currently ill, equivalent to 9.7% of the tally. It is the highest active case count after September 26 last year, when there were over 63,000 sick patients.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-16 21:29:27|Editor: huaxia

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Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa (2nd L, front) and Chinese Ambassador to Zimbabwe Guo Shaochun (1st L, front) pose for a photo as a batch of COVID-19 vaccines arrive at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport in Harare, Zimbabwe, on March 16, 2021. Zimbabwe on Tuesday received a second batch of Sinopharm doses donated by China plus an additional Sinovac doses commercially procured by the government. (Xinhua/Zhang Yuliang)

HARARE, March 16 (Xinhua) -- Zimbabwe on Tuesday received a second batch of Sinopharm doses donated by China plus an additional Sinovac doses commercially procured by the government.

A chartered Air Zimbabwe plane landed at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport Tuesday morning with the consignment of the vaccines, which was received by Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa, his deputy Constantino Chiwenga, who is also the health minister, the Chinese ambassador to Zimbabwe Guo Shaochun and other senior government officials.

The same plane also ferried another batch of vaccines for the government of Namibia, where they will be used to kick off the country's vaccination program.

In his acceptance speech, Mnangagwa said the donation marks another milestone in the consolidation of bilateral relations and cooperation between Zimbabwe and China.

"The continued assistance and solidarity has indeed lightened our burden in an otherwise difficult period, whilst also positively impacting the health, well being, protection and recovery of our people," he said.

Mnangagwa once again expressed gratitude to China for donating vaccines and also in aiding Zimbabwe's fight against the pandemic.

"We remain thankful to China for the support of this program. This includes the timely provision of epidemiological expertise and personal protective equipment among other aspects," he said. "China's unparalleled readiness to avail access to the vaccines for commercial procurement testifies to our enhancing cooperation particularly in these times of distress and competition of resources."

Speaking at the reception ceremony, Ambassador Guo reaffirmed China's friendship to Zimbabwe, adding that China was a committed front-runner in promoting international vaccine cooperation.

"China is a steadfast advocate for equitable vaccine distribution. We have joined COVAX, under which China has undertaken to provide an initial 10 million doses for emergency use in developing countries," he said.

Ambassador Guo also said China opposes vaccine nationalism or any attempt to politicize vaccine cooperation and distribution.

"All capable countries should do what they can to provide vaccines to countries in need, especially developing countries, so that people all over the world will be able to benefit from affordable vaccines," said Guo.

Chiwenga, who also spoke at the event, expressed his gratitude to China for standing with Zimbabwe during trying times including during the armed liberation struggle against colonial rule.

He said Zimbabwe expects to commercially procure 2 million doses from China.

The latest delivery of vaccines will allow Zimbabwe to kickstart its second phase of the inoculation program which will target teachers, religious leaders, the judiciary, law and order, and those with underlying conditions.

The first phase of Zimbabwe's vaccination program started on Feb. 18 after the country received first batch of the Sinopharm vaccines donated by China.

Healthcare workers and other frontline workers including members of the media and immigration officials were the first in line to receive the jab as part of phase one of the vaccination program.

Zimbabwe plans to inoculate at least 10 million people to achieve herd immunity.

The country has so far approved use of Sinopharm and Sinovac from China, Sputnik V from Russia and India's Covaxin.

As of Monday, 37,660 people had been vaccinated in Zimbabwe. Enditem


Market and Audit Update

Sydney, Mar 17, 2021 AEST (ABN Newswire) - The business of Nanopac (M) Sdn Bhd (Nanopac (M)), the Company's main operating subsidiary, was severely and negatively impacted by the effects of the Covid -19 global pandemic and the various lock downs and movement restrictions put in place in Malaysia and markets which the group supplies.With the easing of restrictions Nanopac (M) is seeing slowly improving market conditions and an increase in revenues once again.Nanopac (M) has been undertaking various measures to reduce the impact of the pandemic on its business. These include:1. Nanotechnology face mask production was commenced in May 2020. The mask is patented and has a bacteria/virus killing function through the use of nanno materials which are applied to the masks. The production of masks generated sales that somewhat cushioned the reduced revenue as a result of loss sales for other products.2. In June 2020 Nanopac (M) participated in the Mobile Covid - 19 test centre initiative undertaken by the Malaysian Ministry Of Science, Technology and Innovation through the provision of anti bacterial/anti virus coating products. So far 6 mobile centres have been established.3. In November 2020 Nanopac (M) commenced supplying filters to Hitachi India. The group currently supplies the filters to Hitachi in Malaysia, China, japan and the Phillippines.4. In December 2020 the Nanopac (M) participated in 2 tenders for the Malaysian Army in respect of solutions for shooting simulations. Both tenders were unsuccessful.5. Finally in February 2021 Nanopac (M) retended to supply socks with nano particle coatings to the Malaysian Army. The Company's previous contract expired in January 2021. The tender is in the final stages and the group hopes to again supply socks to the Malaysian army. If the tender was successful the contract would be worth approximately AUD 1 million over 3 years.About Nanopac Innovation LimitedListed on the National Stock Exchange of Australia.Issue Code: NNOIssue Name: Nanopac Innovation Limited CDIIssue Type: 01 - OrdinaryISIN: AU000000NNO0Industry: Health CareNominated Adviser: Highgate Corporate Advisers Pty LtdListed Date: Wednesday, 23 July 2014
Kendallville, IN (46755)

Today

Light rain this evening. Then becoming foggy. Low 56F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 70%..

Tonight

Light rain this evening. Then becoming foggy. Low 56F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 70%.
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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.  A much-debated effort to secure near-universal health care for New Mexicans could come with a hefty financial toll, according to a recent analysis conducted by Ernst & Young.

The study examines the macroeconomic implications of the New Mexico Health Security Plan, which was considered by state legislators in 2019 and reintroduced this year via House Bill 203.

The analysis, prepared on behalf of Partnership for Americas Health Care Future, which opposes single-payer health care, concludes that the HSP could lead to as much as a $5.8 billion shortfall over five years after implementation, and would require a payroll tax increase to offset that shortfall.

The high-end payroll tax estimate could cost the state as much as 27,000 job equivalents, a metric that factors in wage and hour reductions, according to study author Brandon Pizzola.

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However, Mary Feldblum, executive director of the Health Security for New Mexicans Campaign, criticized the study as misleading and limited in scope.

Its not a serious study. It really isnt, Feldblum said.

The new study builds on a report commissioned by the Legislative Finance Committee in 2019 that considered the cost of the proposal. The LFC-commissioned report included four scenarios, which Ernst & Young ran through a standard macroeconomic model to get results, according to Pizzola.

According to the study, New Mexico ends up with a budget shortfall over the first five years after the program is implemented in three of the four scenarios. The report notes that the final scenario results in the program being approximately budget-neutral over that period.

Pizzola said the report assumes a broad-based payroll tax implemented by the state to cover that shortfall. Estimated taxes range from 2.3% to 0.3%.

Under the scenario where New Mexico faces a hypothetical $5.8 billion shortfall, the report concludes that a 2.3% payroll tax would result in a $290 million annual decline in gross state product.

Ashley Wagner, director of public policy and communications for the New Mexico Chamber of Commerce, said shes concerned the bill could hurt economic growth in New Mexico just as the state is looking to recover from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

This is going to be an added tax, Wagner said.  It just seems would be counterproductive to getting us back on the path for economic recovery.

However, Feldblum argued that the report makes assumptions that may be inaccurate. The report uses data from 2019, which Feldblum argues is likely insufficient for projecting the cost of a program slated to begin in 2024, given the seismic economic changes in 2020.

Feldblum added that the reports narrow focus doesnt take into account the overall rising cost of health care, and the ways that expanded health care coverage can reduce costs in the long run.

When you have a large number of people who are uninsured, you have to factor in that theyre going to cost extra money, Feldblum said.

Feldblum said she doesnt expect HB204 to pass in the sessions final days, but said shes hopeful the groundwork has been laid for future efforts.
New Delhi:

The worlds most powerful X-ray laser called the European X-ray Free Electron Laser (XFEL) was officially inaugurated in Hamburg, northern city of Germany on Friday.

The 3.4km-long European XFEL will act as a high-speed camera that can capture images of individual atoms in a few millionths of a billionth of a second.

The facility that is housed in a series of tunnels up to 38 metres underground will generate up to 27,000 pulses per second which is 200 times more than other X-ray lasers.

It will allow scientists to map atomic details of viruses, create films of chemical reactions, and study the processes deep within stars and planets.

Read more: Exoplanets orbiting TRAPPIST-1 may hold water, says study

"The laser is the biggest, and the most powerful, source of X-rays ever made", said Olivier Napoly, a member of the French Atomic Energy Commission who helped build the complex.

The facility will provide qauntam leap in arenas of medicine, biology, chemistry, energy and information technology, according to its official website.

For all the Latest Science News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
CAPE ELIZABETH, Maine, March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- In honor of the debut of a newly revitalized CBD cream collection by Betoken CBD on March 22, 2021, founder Liz Kirby will be partnering with Bachelor alumna Chelsea Roy on a giveaway to celebrate the new launch.

Chelsea was a contestant on season 22 of The Bachelor and then she appeared on the 5th season of The Bachelor in Paradise, and Liz is a female-founder disrupting the male-dominated CBD industry. Since both women are accomplished working mothers currently living in Maine the upcoming partnership was a natural and authentic fit.

Betoken CBD Products

Centered around making adult life easier, the new Not This Month topical cream aims to alleviate the monthly aches and pains that come with PMS cramps for most women. The topical CBD cream also helps to soothe the chronic pain caused by diseases like Endometriosis, PCOS, adenomyosis, vaginosis, and more. The relaxing CBD cream contains 500mg of broad-spectrum hemp, cramp bark, chamomile, and ginger, as well as rose and wild-harvested Maine seaweed.

"Chelsea loves helping small and local businesses and at Betoken CBD we pride ourselves in bringing meaningful value to our customers. Since we're both located in Maine, it just made sense that we would partner to elevate both of our passions and to bring awareness to the relaunch of our CBD creams," says Liz on the genesis of her partnership with Chelsea.

Also included in the refreshed CBD cream collection is the Pain, Pain, Go Away topical pain cream that is formulated to target inflammation, swelling, muscle soreness, joint pain, nerve pain, headaches, and more areas of discomfort. The pain-relieving CBD cream has a wide variety of plant botanicals that consists of 500mg of hemp, arnica, comfrey root, lobelia, willow bark, cayenne, ginger, and wild-harvested Maine seaweed. Both CBD creams are eco-friendly and come in aluminum tubes that are 100% recyclable.

The highly anticipated Betoken CBD cream giveaway in partnership with Chelsea Roy will be held from March 22 - 26, 2021. Follow both Betoken CBD and Chelsea Roy on Instagram for the official rules, prizes, and how to enter.

ABOUT BETOKEN

Betoken is the only CBD company designed exclusively for grown-ups. What was once a routine morning 5k is now the source of chronic knee pain. Where falling asleep was once a matter of head hitting pillow, it's now a tossing and turning fiasco. Products are formulated to help people sleep, chill, and feel better.

ABOUT LIZ KIRBY

Liz and her husband have 2 young kids and live in southern Maine. Liz practiced law for 3 years before she "retired" in 2013 to embark on a series of more creative endeavors. She has been a CBD entrepreneur since 2018.

CONTACT

Contact Mikayla at [email protected].com for questions, samples or to schedule an interview.

Betoken CBD

553 Shore Rd, Unit 4

Cape Elizabeth, Maine 04107

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The lower house of the French parliament, the National Assembly, on Tuesday voted in favor of amending the country's constitution with provisions that include climate and biodiversity protection.

The 391-47 vote on the climate bill marks the first step towards a referendum on the constitutional amendment.

According to Justice Minister Eric Dupond-Moretti, this bill is a "real chance that [the French] will go to the referendum promised by the president."

In December, French President Emmanuel Macron announced his intention to hold a nationwide referendum on constitutional amendments related to the fight against

The amendments are set to add notions of biodiversity, the environment and the fight against global warming to the basic law's Article 1.

In late June, Macron voiced his support for the initiative to add provisions on biodiversity and the fight against to the country's constitution. The French leader proposed allowing the lawmakers to discuss the initiative and then hold a referendum in 2021.

(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.)
And now thou art high in thy mansions above

on Erins green valleys look down in thy love...

Windows in classrooms around the country once shook to the opening lines of this paean to our patron saint, in anticipation of the national day.

The transformation of the trafficked teenage sheep-herder into a global icon still inspires. What he would make of our country today, compared to the one he encountered arriving bound and enslaved many hundreds of years ago, is anyones guess.

He might take heart from State commitments to do away with Direct Provision, and make a better fist of being fair to those who have found themselves driven here by force of circumstance.

On the global stage, he might also breathe a faint sigh of relief that the Chicago River will once again flow green this morning, as it has on every March 17 since the tradition began, in 1962.

It had been touch-and-go there for a bit, in the Windy City, as the pandemic subdued festivities.

For generations out of mind, this was the day we opened our hearts to those to whom we have ties, around the world. We also reached back, remembering when leaving Ireland was a pre-requisite to finding work. Today, 73 million people claim Irish descent. In the US, 32 million people (9.7pc of the population)  identify as being Irish.

Many left on a one-way ticket, with no certainty of return, or reunion. Such hard times brought a bittersweet flavour to celebrations. Drowning the shamrock was, in part, a poignant toast to the absent: family members, friends and neighbours, lost to emigration.

The past year has kept loved ones from coming home again. Skype and Zoom may have replaced the emigrants letter, but they are a sorry substitute for the warm hug or reassuring presence of a missing special someone. With so many feeling the pain of absence, and so many more looking on fondly from afar, we have a duty to make sure todays Saint Patricks Day is dignified, and safe.

It is both sad and a little shameful that it has been necessary to put more than 2,500 gardai on duty at key locations, as well as at checkpoints, nationwide to keep a lid on potential trouble.

The colourful celebratory parades of the past must not be replaced by menacing intimidatory protests. Former Health Minister Simon Harris has pleaded: The most patriotic thing people can actually do in terms of our national battle against Covid-19 is stick to the public health advice.

We saw how rapidly dropping our guard can turn joy to tragedy over Christmas.

It is important to celebrate today. However, with new variants spreading fast, it is also important not to congregate. We can not risk a fall at the final fence with the vaccines so close to hand.

How we choose to enjoy the day, and elevate or enliven our spirits, is a personal matter.

But nobody has a right to put anyone else at risk, or risk inviting a fourth wave of this crushing virus, by so doing.
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(Newser)  A veteran Goldman Sachs trader gave himself quite the retirement present, partly courtesy of an early investment in Bitcoin. Michael Daffey, who worked at the firm for 28 years before retiring this month as chairman of the global markets division, has been revealed as the mystery buyer who paid $51 million for Jeffrey Epstein's former New York City mansion, per CNBC. The seven-story, 28,000-square-foot townhouse was sold earlier this month to benefit the victims of Epstein's sex crimes. "Mr. Daffey had never previously been in the home nor ever met its owner, but he is a big believer in New York's future and will take the other side of all the people who say the city's best days may be in the past," spokesman Stu Loeser said Tuesday. He said the mansion was paid for with cash and a bridge loan.

story continues below

Daffey joined Goldman Sachs in 1994 and was named partner in 2002, per Reuters. He was global co-chief operating officer of the equities business before assuming his latest role. He helped the firm prepare for Brexit, per Reuters, and has been "in charge of remodeling trade in Europe after Brexit" over the last year, per Fox Business. He's also made large profits investing in Bitcoin, sources tell Business Insider. The Australia native now plans to move from London to New York and live at the 40-room mansion on Manhattan's Upper East Side with his wife, per Fox Business. "They are planning a complete makeover, physically and spiritually," a source tells the outlet. (Read more New York City stories.)
At present, 5.6 million convenience stores of Zhongyan Corporation have covered most regions of the country and have achieved social retail and smart community service for 350 million smokers and their families. With the development of the Internet and digital economy, convenience stores have become active. However, due to the limitation of traditional operating models and hysteretic supply systems, they are facing issues of continuous expansion and revenue growth. Furthermore, the pandemic has brought a huge impact on the brick-and-mortar store economic model, giving rise to an innovative transformation demand for convenience stores.

For the cooperation, Mr. Zheng Dai, Chairman and CTO of WeTrade Group, commented that the company is very glad to reach the cooperation and to implement the YCloud into all 5.6 million convenience stores. In the future, WeTrade Group will provide a series of training services for their employees to familiarize the operation of the system. There are countless offline small retailers in China, they are the most direct service providers for communities. Only by solving their problems, the vitality of market economy can be protected and stimulated. WeTrade Group will continue to focus on the offline retailers and help more micro-businesses to attain the digital transformation and private traffic profit through the R&D and application of YCloud.

About WeTrade Group Inc.

WeTrade Group INC is the world's first technical service provider of Cloud Intelligent System for micro-businesses. It is the first internationalized system in the global micro-business cloud intelligence field and also the leader, innovator and promoter of the world's cloud intelligent system for micro-businesses. WeTrade Group independently developed the cloud intelligent system for micro-businesses (Abbreviation: YCloud). YCloud can strengthen users' marketing relationship and CPS commission profit management through leading technology and big data analysis. It also can help increase the payment scenarios, revenue and group leader management to increase customers' revenue by multi-channel data statistics, AI fission and management as well as improved supply chain system. Up to now, YCloud's business has successfully landed in mainland China, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Singapore and other countries, covering the micro business industry, tourism industry, hospitality industry, livestreaming and short video industry, aesthetic medical industry and traditional retail industry. For more information, please visit our website: https://ir.wetg.group.

SOURCE WeTrade Group Inc.
City of Laredo officials confirmed 23 COVID-19 positives on Wednesday, marking the third consecutive day the city has confirmed over 20 new cases after a five-day lull in positives in the Webb County area. From March 10 to 15, the city reported less than 10 positives daily.

The added positives mean the Laredo area has now surpassed 43,000 cases of the virus since the first case was recognized over a year ago. In total, 43,003 people have tested positive and 811 fatalities have been recorded. No new deaths were confirmed today.

While the 68 cases reported in the last three days might seem to indicate the rising spread of the virus in the Laredo, the figures are in line with the average number of cases reported daily, with 19 cases reported on average thus far in March.

With the added cases, Laredo is once again nearing 100 active infections of the virus in the community. As of the report, 99 people are actively infected with the virus, with 42,093 persons estimated to have recovered from a previous infection.

Laredo finally dropped below 100 actives on March 14, which was the first date the city had done so since April 5, 2020.

And though actives saw a rise, the number of patients hospitalized in Laredo saw a drop to another historic low in 2021. There are reportedly 20 patients with the novel coronavirus in Laredo hospitals, which is a figure not seen since late June last year. Of the total, 13 patients remain under intensive care.

Accordingly, the COVID-19 hospitalization rate should also see a drop, though information was not immediately available from the Texas Department of State Health Services.

According to DSHS data from March 15, the hospitalization rate saw a slight rise to 5.22%. However, the rate is still far below the 15% target set out by Governor Abbott in his plan to reopen Texas. As of the March 15 update, only two hospital regions in Texas, El Paso (11.52%) and Galveston (10.40%) are above 10%.

As of the noon update, 312,166 tests for the virus have been administered in the Laredo area.

Testing continues via eight decentralized testing kisoks in operation throughout the city. Appointments for COVID-19 tests can be booked via the company's website, curative.com.

Citizens interested in booking a vaccine appointment can also add their name to the city's vaccination wait list via the website. However, registration for the vaccine wait list is only open on Tuesdays and Saturdays.
The (EU) agreed on Wednesday to blacklist Chinese officials for human rights abuses, two diplomats said, the first sanctions against Beijing since an EU arms embargo in 1989 following the Tianamen Square crackdown. EU ambassadors approved the travel bans and asset freezes on four Chinese individuals and one entity, whose names will not be made public until formal approval by EU foreign ministers on March 22, as part of a new and wider rights sanctions list. Restrictive measures against serious and abuses adopted, one EU diplomat said. The Chinese officials were accused of human rights abuses against China's Uighur Muslim minority, EU diplomats told Reuters. They said the move reflected deep concern about the Uighurs in Europe, the United States and Canada. The EU last sanctioned China, its second-largest trade partner, in June 1989, imposing an arms embargo on Beijing that is still in place. Activists and UN rights experts say at least 1 million Muslims are being detained in camps in the remote western region of Xinjiang. The activists and some Western politicians accuse of using torture, forced labour and sterilisations. The Dutch parliament followed Canada and the United States in labelling China's treatment of the Uighurs genocide, which rejects. On Twitter, the Chinese mission to the EU republished comments on the new sanctions made on Tuesday by China's ambassador to the bloc, Zhang Ming, saying that Beijing would not change its policies. Sanctions are confrontational, the Chinese mission said on Twitter. We want dialogue, not confrontation.

We ask the EU side to think twice. If some insist on confrontation, we will not back down, as we have no options other than fulfilling our responsibilities to the people. denies any human rights abuses in Xinjiang and says its camps provide vocational training and are needed to fight extremism. The EUs full list of 11 names approved by EU ambassadors also include officials from Russia, Libya, South Sudan and North Korea, diplomats said.

Apple cuts ties with Chinas Ofilm over Xinjiang labour Apple has severed ties with Chinese component supplier Ofilm Group over allegations its involved in a program that transfers ethnic minorities from Xinjiang to other parts of the country for work, a person familiar with the matter says. Bloomberg
The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation shelled out at least N1.45 trillion to its subsidiaries in credit sales in 2019, and there is yet no evidence the amount has been repaid more than a year after, a Dataphyte analysis has shown.

The huge amount could be handy at a time the Nigerian government is scrambling for revenue to finance its 2021 budget deficit.

In all, 12 of NNPCs 22 subsidiaries owed trillions of naira to the parent company, an examination of their financial records show.

The monies were given for oil and gas supply, Dataphyte found.

Oil sales are Nigerias largest revenue source, and revenue shortages due to defrayed costs could cause a severe financial burden, including an increase in borrowings. This was evident in the corporations financial account, with the posting of a loss of 16.3 billion in 2019 while the overall Group reported a 20.2 billion loss. In 10 years, it reported a combined loss of 474 billion and 1.55 trillion, respectively.

NAPIMS and Kaduna refinery owe the bulk of unpaid bills

A breakdown of the credit sales showed that the loss-making Kaduna refinery and National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS), a subsidiary managing the Nigerian governments investments in the upstream sector, owed NNPC in unpaid bills to the tune of 470.08 billion and 534.8 billion, respectively.

Furthermore, Warri refinery (169.93 billion) and Nigerian Gas Company Limited (157.63 billion) trailed them in unpaid bills. The other subsidiaries are owing less than 10 billion each.

The NNPC wrote off N423 billion owed by one of its subsidiaries, the Pipelines and Product Marketing Company (PPMC). NNPC attributed it to the recapitalisation of PPMC through the transfer of the negative revenue reserve to CHQ.  captured here as well

BREAKDOWN: NNPC and its credit sales to subsidiaries in 2019

No. Subsidiaries Due to the parent company (NNPC)  bn 1 Warri Refinery 169.93 2 NPSC 30.43 3 Nigerian Gas 157.63 4 Nigerian Gas Marketing 11.59 5 NIDAS Marine 2.71 6 NETCO 2.71 7 NAPIMS 534.8 8 Kaduna refinery 470.08 9 IDS Limited 60.62 10 Duke Oil DMCC 0.673 (AED 6.5m) 11 Duke Oil UK 9.95 12 Duke Global Energy 0.777 (1.5m) Total 1451.9

There is yet no evidence these funds have been repaid. The spokesperson of the NNPC, Kennie Obateru, did not reply to WhatsApp messages and pick calls when contacted to explain how the National Oil Company is planning to recoup the funds.

Nigeria performs poorly among peers

Though the NNPC is producing about 2 million barrels per day (bpd), in terms of its profitability, the companys performance pales compared to other state-owned oil firms across the world.

In 2019, Saudi Arabian Oil (Saudi Aramco) posted a profit of $330 billion, Rosneft Oil Corporation (Rosneft), controlled by the Russian Government through Rosneftegaz, posted $140bn profit while the China National Petroleum Corp (CNPC) reported $396 billion profit.

In terms of oil production within the period, NNPC and CNPC are within capacity, producing between 1.8 million and 2 million barrels per day. Within the year under review, CNPC invested in research and development, including refining and petrochemicals to record growth.

Auditor PwC, SIAO Partners, and Muhtari Dangana & Company raised concerns about NNPCs future operations. The audit firms questioned NNPCs sustainability plan given a compounded 4.4 trillion ($11.58 billion) liability margin over its assets.

Impact of NNPCs financial performance on Nigerias revenue and economy

As of Q3 2020, Nigerias debt profile stood at 32.22 trillion. For Nigeria to ensure financial flexibility, it needs to increase its revenue by running a viable and profitable oil firm.

Last year, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) described high fiscal deficits as complicating Nigerias monetary policy. The Bretton Wood institution advised the country to perform major policy adjustments necessary to contain short-term vulnerabilities, build resilience, and unlock growth potential.

NNPCs 1.4 trillion credit sales tie down much-needed revenue by the government. This huge amount of unpaid debts by NNPCs subsidiaries is worth a substantial part of Nigerias annual budgets, and can significantly reduce the countrys rising debt profile.

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Findings also revealed that a quarter of the subsidiaries debts could have helped Nigeria to clean up the oil spills that plagues human and marine life in Ogoni land. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report had estimated an initial $1 billion (394.74 billion) for the cleanup.

Going by estimates from the National Primary Health Care Agency (NPHCDA) and fact checks by Africa Check, the fund held by these owing subsidiaries could have established 50,000 additional primary health centres and equip them with modern facilities. Also, at an estimated cost of 11 million each, it could have built 127,000 units of 3-block classrooms across the country.

Presently, Nigeria is estimated to have a deficit of 17 million houses; if channelled into it, the government could have built over 100,000 3-bedroom apartments (flat/bungalow) at an average cost of 15 million each across the country. A better-managed national oil firm could generate the much-needed revenue to fix many other infrastructural deficits as this in the country.

How to correct anomalies

Atiku Samuel, a policy analyst, decried a porous inventory management system at the NNPC that was responsible for shady receivables. He said the inefficiencies in supply chain management created room for corruption and a lousy audit control system.

If NNPC does not even know the amount of oil leaving Nigeria, how would the state-owned oil firm be able to audit the supply of crude and gas and collect appropriate revenue? he asked.

Generally, NNPC is poorly run, and its supply chain management is one of the most terrible in the world; it is old-fashioned and not driven by technology.

Mr Samuel called for an independent agency that will cross-check the entire audit system of NNPC and design architectural framework with oversight and adequate capturing of the supply chain.

He said this would ensure openness in the national oil companys activities and drastically reduce the impact of its inefficiencies on citizens.

In its policy recommendation on NNPC Audit Reports, industry experts at the Facility for Oil Sector Transparency and Reform in Nigeria (FOSTER) called for the unbundling of subsidiaries to allow NNPC optimise its commercial efficiency. This is to ensure higher revenues for the benefit of the country.

Overall, a quick passage of the long-awaited Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) would reposition the state-owned oil firm to run efficiently, and provide the template for restructuring the oil industry, thereby eliminating the usual causes of the countrys revenue shortages from the oil sector considerably.

In essence, the Nigerian citizenry can also enjoy a higher quality of life through its governments provision of adequate infrastructure, funded in part by increased revenues from an efficiently run oil industry.

...

Support for this report was provided by the Premium Times Centre for Investigative Journalism (PTCIJ) through its Natural Resource and Extractive Programme
There are a few reasons why business owners in Lake Tahoe may be feeling optimistic.

This week, COVID-19 restrictions eased up for businesses in Lake Tahoe. On the California side, Placer and El Dorado counties moved to the red tier in the state's reopening planning. Nevada also loosened restrictions, allowing restaurants, bars, gyms and casinos to open indoors at 50% capacity. In Nevada, public gatherings and events are also allowed at 50% capacity or limited at 250 people, whichever is less.

On Monday, restaurants around Lake Tahoe started serving indoors for the first time since the fall. While restaurants have been able to serve diners outdoors, other businesses finally were able to open their doors for the first time in months. After closing for most of 2020, Tahoe Art Haus and Cinema, Tahoe Citys only movie theater, is now open at 25% capacity and showing Nomadland.

The shift in guidelines comes on the heels of another big step for Tahoe businesses.

The Placer County Board of Supervisors unanimously voted last week to approve the North Tahoe Tourism Business Improvement District, finalizing a move that will bring millions of dollars into the community. The vote caps off a yearlong effort to organize local businesses behind a pitch to empower locals, generate new revenue and solve some of the biggest challenges in the region, like the housing crisis and traffic.

Called a TBID, the new district will trigger a 1% or 2% assessment on lodging, retail, restaurant and recreation purchases. It is expected to raise about $6 million annually to solve things like traffic solutions, tourism management, education and sustainability tactics. The move comes as Tahoe grapples with a surge of visitation and an influx of new residents who moved to the area during the pandemic.

The TBID also frees up about $4 million annually in county funds that the Board of Supervisors promised to earmark to Tahoe. At the March meeting, the board approved $1.1 million of those freed up dollars to expand public transportation and manage trash litter thats overwhelmed Tahoe during the pandemic.

I truly believe that a TBID establishes stronger equity among local businesses, while infrastructure and improved programs, such as transportation, workforce housing and environmental protection, will be hugely impactful for North Lake Tahoe, said Cindy Gustafson, Tahoes elected county supervisor, in a statement.
Healthcare API Market Will Generate New Growth Opportunities in Upcoming Year
Lebanon: young activist critical of Hezbollah released Woman was sentenced to jail as 'spy' for Israel

(ANSAmed) - BEIRUT, MARCH 17 - A young Lebanese woman, an activist who has explicitly expressed anti-Hezbollah positions, has been released in Beirut after nine months in jail. Lebanese media reported on Wednesday that the military cassation court of Beirut ordered the release of Kinda Khatib, 23, after the young woman was sentenced to three and a half years of forced labor after she was found guilty of "collaboration with the enemy" and of "intrusion in enemy territory", in a reference to Israel.



Lebanon and Israel have been in a belligerent situation since their birth as formally independent states over 70 years ago.



Khatib is from northern Lebanon, where she had a leading role in the organization of anti-government protests against corruption and the rising cost of life ongoing in the country since the fall of 2019.



The young woman was arrested in June 2020 after expressing on social media opinions critical of Hezbollah and its leader, Hasan Nasrallah.



Khatib was tried by a military court on charges of having contacts with the Israeli "enemy", referring to the fact that she exchanged messages with an Israeli journalist on Twitter.



Beirut military prosecutors claimed that the young Lebanese university student travelled to Israel through Jordan, a circumstance that was always denied by the woman and her family.



Many local commentators stressed the "political dimension" of the judges' decision, which was inspired - they said - by pressure exercised by Lebanese security services close to Hezbollah, which "doesn't tolerate criticism".



In 2017, the case of Ziad Itani, a filmmaker who was arrested and accused of spying for Israel, caused an uproar. Itani was detained for more than 100 days and later showed evidence that he was tortured during his detention. He was jailed at the order of the then-head of the department of cyber crime of General security, Suzanne al Hajj, considered close to Hezbollah.(ANSAmed).




AstraZeneca was suspended among European Union countries due to the reports of blood clotting after inoculation. Yet, some experts from the United States questioned their decision to stop the usage of AstraZeneca in their vaccine rollout efforts.

France, Spain, Italy, and Germany are among the European Union countries that have suspended the rollout of AstraZeneca. It can be remembered that the European Medicines Agency (EMA) argued that the benefits of AstraZeneca outweigh the risks that were reported. The World Health Organization (WHO) has also backed the vaccine saying that AstraZeneca's rollout should also continue.

ALSO READ: AstraZeneca Suspension: U.S. Questions E.U. on the Vaccine Suspension

U.S. Experts on AstraZeneca Suspension

USA Today mentioned that experts from the United States had labeled the move of EU countries to be irresponsible, adding that it may threaten the global vaccination efforts.

"While it's easy to scare people, it's very hard to unscare them," said Dr. Paul Offit, the director of the Vaccine Education Center. Offit is also an infectious disease specialist from the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.

Apart from the mentioned countries, Sweden also joined the suspension of AstraZeneca vaccine inoculation among their people. News Week noted that out of more than 17 million people vaccinated with AstraZeneca in the EU and Britain, there have only been 37 reports of blood clots.

The connection between the blood clots and the vaccine is still unclear. However, the developer of AstraZeneca has argued that there is no evidence of increased risk of clots and hemorrhages.

Akiko Iwasaki, an immunobiologist from Yale University, said it is dangerous to have those kinds of conclusions. Iwasaki furthered that halting the usage of the drug is not beneficial "unless there is an unusually high rate of blood clots among people receiving a particular vaccine."

However, apart from the blood clot that has been reported, Italy has another basis on why they halted AstraZeneca in their vaccine roll. Reuters mentioned a man that has lost his life hours after he received a shot of AstraZeneca. This led Italian prosecutors to confiscate 393,600 shots of the vaccine brand. However, the Italian government confirmed there is still no evidence of the connection between AstraZeneca and the man's death.

The U.S. Should not Worry

AstraZeneca is still seeking the Emergency Use Authorization from the U.S. FDA. Currently, the United States has Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson and Johnson in the vaccine roll.

Dr. Peter Hotez, Dean from the National School of Tropical Medicine in Baylor College of Medicine, noted that the "European countries may have created a new problem" He added that the temporary halt of AstraZeneca may "erode vaccine confidence across Europe and Africa." Hotez is also helping develop a vaccine in India.

Despite AstraZeneca's blood clot reports, Americans should not worry about the vaccines used in inoculating them. The nation's top infectious disease expert, Dr. Fauci, noted that there have been no major issues reported in the usage of the vaccines in the American rollout. There have been only allergic and anaphylactic reactions to Moderna and Pfizer. "Other than that there doesn't appear anything that is what we call a red flag."

RELATED ARTICLE: Oxford-AstraZeneca Vaccine Begins Clinical Trial on Children

WATCH: Germany temporarily halts AstraZeneca vaccinations - from DW News
When nine live oak trees were destroyed near Mobiles Bienville Square for a hotel development in 2015, outraged residents took to social media and fired off criticisms. One woman chained herself to a live oak tree in protest.

A year later, the removal of a massive cedar tree from a city park so it could be used as a prop during a Donald Trump rally, led to the eventual dismissal of the citys former chief of staff. In 2019, outraged residents pushed back at city plans to remove 60 live oak trees along Broad Street as part of a massive road reconstruction.

These incidences, and more, illustrate a vital part of Mobiles cultural and historic fabric. And for the first time in decades, the city made wide-ranging changes to Mobiles ordinance regulating its trees.

Trees are important for this city, said Peter Toler, the citys urban forester. This is transformational.

The council, with a 6-0 vote Tuesday, adopted a standalone 12-page ordinance regulating tree protection and management ordinance. It replaces a six-page version first adopted as part of the citys zoning code in 1961.

Councilwoman Gina Gregory, who oversaw the ordinance review, said she felt it was important for the tree regulations not to be buried in the citys zoning codes. She said separating the tree ordinance from the zoning code will make it easier for developers and residents.

She said the new ordinance balances tree advocates who want to see every tree remains as possible with the property rights of individuals.

Its not perfect  we wont satisfy 100 percent of the people, she said.

The biggest changes include the expansion of the number of trees that are considered heritage - a large tree, often considered irreplaceable. It also changes the diameter of the tree trucks requiring a permit for removal to 18 inches, down from 24 inches in the previous ordinance.

The previous ordinance also defined a heritage tree as a live oak only. The new definition expands the number of tree species to include magnolia, longleaf pine, river birch, sweet gum, sycamore and yellow poplar.

Preservation standards under the new ordinance are also stricter in the citys historic districts, where massive oaks are prevalent and tree canopies are promoted for their visual appeal. The new ordinance grants heritage tree protections for species with a diameter of 8 inches or more.

The new ordinance creates nine tree trails in the city, including Government Street where a tree canopy connects downtown Mobile with its midtown neighborhoods. Other tree trails are located throughout the midtown area on Houston Street, Old Shell Road Springhill Avenue and Michigan Avenue.

In addition, the new ordinance officially establishes an Urban Forestry Department within the city of Mobile even though the city has long employed an urban forester.

Fines also are established against violators, not to exceed $500 plus court costs and restitution as ordered by a municipal court judge. The ordinance also allows for up to three months of imprisonment.

But some advocates, including the chairman of Mobiles tree commission, say the ordinance doesnt go far enough.

Jesse McDaniel, who has been on the commission since 2014, said that $500 is not a large enough of a fine. He said he believes it will be viewed as a cost of doing business by developers who would rather pay a low fine for removing a protected tree than having to make adjustments to accommodate the protection of trees.

He said the commission recommended the city consider revoking a business license of a commercial entity that repeatedly refuses to obtain permits to remove protected trees.

I think that would be a strong enforcement mechanism available for the urban forester if they have a repeat offender, McDaniel said.

He said other recommendations the commission made -- including stricter protections in residential areas outside the historic districts -- went unaddressed in the final ordinance.

There are some commonsense stuff we need to step back and have a candid conversation about when it comes to trees, McDaniel said. Do we care about them or do we just pretend we do? Our goal is to come up with common sense and progressive policies that are vital to the culture of our city.

Bill Boswell, a representative with the Government Street Collaborative, said he was also concerned about the lack of teeth with the enforcement aspects of the ordinance.

I think we have some improvements with increasing the trees that are protected within the ordinance, said Boswell. But, again, its the enforcement. We feel like we dont have enough.

Boswell and McDaniel also said they are interested in adding more authority with the tree commission. Changes to the commissions duties would have to be approved by the State Legislature since the commission was established by state legislation, and not through the city, decades ago.

Gregory said there is nothing the city can do to change the directive of the tree commission.

She said the council will be open to amending the new document.

Any future changes the tree commission wants to advocate for, we are happy to listen, she said.

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  This Spring, Port Richmond Avenue will get some new historic threads.

The Historic Port Richmond Preservation Association (HPRPA) in partnership with the Reformed Church on Staten Island will present Port Richmond Honors Our Veterans, a series of banners to honor local military heroes.

The Reformed Church on Staten Island is inviting family, friends, and organizations to sponsor banners that will each feature a photo of a military veteran that they would like to honor. The veterans can be from any of the five branches of the military  Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines or Coast Guard.

Mary Bullock, project coordinator of Port Richmond Honors Our Veterans, emphasized that all veterans stories, regardless of how large a role they played in the military, are welcome and encouraged.

They are all heroes,' said Bullock. They have served to keep us safe and free; whether they served in a war zone, here in the states, or anywhere.

The Reformed Church on Staten Island and HPRPA plan to hang a total of 25 banners on lamp posts along Port Richmond Avenue between Albion Place and Church Street.

A map shows the suggested location of banners to be placed along Port Richmond Avenue in honor of local military veterans (Courtesy of Mary Bullock)

This specific location is especially significant because it is next to the Reformed Church on Staten Islands Burial Place, a cemetery that was designated a Landmark Site by New York Citys Landmark Preservation Commission in 2010.

The Purial Place sign is shown at the cemetery, which is a Historic Landmark Site, next to the Reformed Church on Staten Island in Port Richmond (Reformed Church on Staten Island/Gordon Donovan)

According to Reformed Church on Staten Island, 45 military heroes who fought in pivotal wars in Americas early history, including in the American Revolution, the War of 1812, and the Civil War, are buried at the Burial Place.

The banners are a continuation of honoring local military heroes legacies.

The people who are buried in our cemetery gave us this nation,' said Bullock. But, the people on the banners are the reason we still have it.

One of the historic cemeteries of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church on Staten Island fronts Port Richmond Avenue. Apr. 26, 2015. (Staten Island Advance/Virginia N. Sherry)

According to Bullock, this is believed to be the first time veterans will be honored on streetlight banners in New York City.

The vendor who is going to print [the banners] told us that thats because the permitting process in New York City is so difficult that, as far as we know, its never been done for veterans anywhere in New York City before us, said Bullock.

Mario Buonviaggo, of the Port Richmond Strong Civic Association, presented the idea for the banners to HPRPA and the Reformed Church on Staten Island after seeing some of them elsewhere.

I saw this done in upstate New York and thought this was something special that we could be doing in Port Richmond, which is the home of Veterans Park and a community that has a deep connection to many veterans, said Buonviaggo.

New York towns such as Elmira, Hamburg, and Troy all have their own traditions to honor hometown heroes with banners along designated streets.

There will be a launch event for the banners at the Reformed Church on Staten Island sometime around Memorial Day. The specific date is to be determined. A second event will be held when the banners are retired on Veterans Day in the fall.

Sample of banners to be hung along Port Richmond Avenue in Spring 2021 in honor of local military veteran heroes (Digital Illustration by Barbara Sanchez)

Those wishing to sponsor a banner must submit an application via the Reformed Church on Staten Islands website along with a brief biography, a photo of the veteran, and $250. The $250 covers the cost of the banner.

Due to the limited space, veterans with a specific connection to Port Richmond will be prioritized.
Mar. 17Former Honolulu Police Chief Louis Kealoha is set to for felony convictions relating to his use of police officers to help frame his wife's uncle. But that won't stop his $9, 700 monthly pension payments that come with having served 33 years on the police force.

The payments have fueled debate in recent years about Hawaii's practice of continuing to pay out retirement benefits to public employees who commit serious crimes related to their jobs. Hawaii lawmakers are looking to curb the benefits this year through legislation that would allow a court to order half of an employee's pension to be forfeited if they are convicted of a job-related felony.

has sailed through the full Senate, and on Tuesday it passed the House Labor and Tourism Committee. The bill still faces additional hearings in the House of Representatives, but a introduced by House Speaker Scott Saiki passed the House in 2019, an indication that the proposed legislation, which has been introduced numerous times over the years, could succeed this year.

Sen. Bennette Misalucha said she introduced this year's bill in response to waning public trust in government officials. "I think a bill like this will restore confidence in the state's commitment to holding officials to high ethical standards, " she said.

Misalucha said the bill wasn't just about the Kea loha scandal, though noted it had "left a bad taste in people's mouths."

SB 912 has the support of the State Ethics Commission and Common Cause Hawaii, which advocates on behalf of open and accountable government.

"Public employees are also public servants. They cannot defraud the public and destroy our confidence in government and still reap the benefits of their criminal misconduct, " wrote Common Cause Hawaii Executive Director Sandy Ma in testimony on the measure.

Unions representing government workers have been notably silent on the bill. Officials with the United Public Workers of Hawaii, which represents more than 12, 000 government workers throughout the state, including correctional workers and many blue-collar workers, didn't respond to a request for comment. A spokeswoman for the Hawaii Government Employees Association, which represents about 40, 000 largely white-collar state and county employees, also declined to comment, other than to acknowledge that the union had not submitted formal testimony on the bill.

Story continues

Misalucha said she hadn't gotten any pushback from the unions on the measure.

Hawaii is among 13 states that doesn't allow pensions to be revoked when a public worker is convicted of a felony, according to research published last year by the National Association of State Retirement Administrators. California's law, for example, allows retirement benefits to be rescinded for felonies involving crimes such as bribery, embezzlement or extortion relating to public funds.

Hawaii's proposed legislation spells out similar crimes, though doesn't set limits on the type of job-related felonies that could qualify. The bill leaves it up to the discretion of the courts to determine whether retirement benefits should be forfeited.

The legislation also stipulates that designated beneficiaries be allowed to receive benefits after the convicted government worker dies, limiting the effect the legislation would have on the families of government workers who have committed crimes.

If the bill passes, it's not expected to retroactively affect Kealoha's pension payments, which already have been partially diverted by the court. U.S. District Chief Judge J. Michael Seabright ordered that 75 % of Kealoha's pension payments go toward restitution of his victims, for which he owes $237, 698. His estranged wife, Katherine Kealoha, who was sentenced to 13 years in prison for the crimes relating to her uncle, does not have a government pension, . Her former attorney told the news station in 2019 that "she has no pension, no nothing, so she's going to get out of prison with nothing but the clothes on her back."
ROME, MAR 17 - Centre-left Democratic Party (PD) leader Enrico Letta said Wednesday a decision on the PD's candidate for Rome mayor would be made in April. Letta decried what he called "jumping the gun" on ex-economy minister Roberto Gualtieri's readiness to run, noting that the date of the local elections across Italy has yet to be set. Gualtieri, for his part, said he had not made is candidacy official for he same reasons, PD sources said after a meeting between the two men at the PD's Rome HQ. Gualtieri, an economics lecturer and former top EU economic expert, served as economy minister in law professor Giuseppe Conte's second government from 2019 to early 2021. (ANSA).
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Only days before Saturdays primary, Karen Carter Peterson is calling foul on Troy Carter for a television ad that slams her and her husband on education matters.

Troy Carters latest attack is a lie, Peterson, who like Carter is a state senator from New Orleans, said in a statement.

The 60-second ad, which began airing Monday, represents the first major confrontation between the two Democrats, who are favored to advance to an April runoff and replace Cedric Richmond in a district that includes most of New Orleans, the west bank of Jefferson Parish, the River Parishes and north Baton Rouge.

Others in the 15-candidate field include Gary Chambers Jr., a Baton Rouge activist and Democrat, Desiree Ontiveros, a small business owner and Democrat in New Orleans, and Claston Bernard, a small business owner in Gonzales who has the endorsement of the Louisiana Republican Party.

Carters ad implies that a 2004 law sponsored by Peterson led to the layoffs of 7,000 teachers and school workers in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina.

Thats not true, said several supporters of the 2004 law, which allowed a new state entity, the Recovery School District, to take over failing schools in New Orleans troubled school system after Katrina.

The Orleans Parish School Board laid off all teachers summarily because they had no money and no students, said Leslie Jacobs, who was then serving on the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, which sets state policy for K-12 schools. Teachers would have lost their jobs even if Karen Carter Peterson had not filed her bill.

The ad also suggests that Petersons 2004 led to the hiring of her husband Dana as deputy superintendent of the RSD.

In fact, Dana Peterson did not take that position until 2012.

Carters ad features three former teachers and principals  Eddy Oliver, Cheryllyn Branche and Deborah Richardson  linking Petersons 2004 law with the post-Katrina layoffs, which has remained a festering wound among those who lost their jobs and has become a symbol of the hollowing out of New Orleans Black middle class since then.

Under Karen Carter Peterson, all the teachers were fired, Oliver said to begin the ad.

He was identified as a teacher and principal for 34 years. It did not mention his testimony in the 2011 corruption trial of former City Council member Renee Gill Pratt, where he said he became a principal because of his work for the political machine led by then-U.S. Rep. Bill Jefferson, who with others later went to prison.

In 2004, the state Legislature approved Petersons bill, Act 193, to address chronic problems with New Orleans school system, which was running out of money because of misspending and corruption and because too many of the schools were failing state standards.

Act 193 allowed the RSD, which the Legislature had created the year before, to take over a handful of failing New Orleans schools. It had the strong support of then-Gov. Kathleen Blanco, a Democrat, and Cecil Picard, her state superintendent of education.

More than a year later, weeks after Katrina shut down New Orleans and emptied its schools, Blanco pushed Act 35 through the Legislature to allow the RSD to take over New Orleans entire school system. The sponsor was then-state Rep. Carl Crane, R-Baton Rouge.

Peterson voted against the bill, as did other members of the New Orleans legislative delegation. Carters ad does not mention this.

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Over time, the Orleans Parish School Board and the RSD transformed New Orleans system into one made up entirely of charters.

The School Board suspended the teachers shortly after Katrina and formally laid them off in March 2006.

Caroline Roemer, executive director of the Louisiana Association of Public Charter Schools, said the hurricane and the school systems financial mismanagement left the board with no other choice.

At the end of the day, an elected school board in Orleans had their own audit tell them that in six months they would be out of money, Roemer said. They had a storm. They had no money. They had people going to prison. They stopped operating schools. When you stop operating schools, theres no need for teachers.

Thats not how Carters ad portrays it.

There was money to be made off the kids, Oliver said.

Do you know why they did it? asked Richardson. Did you know why?

Viewers then heard Branche say, It appears as though her husband was going to be hired in the new school system.

In 2004, Dana Peterson moved to New Orleans to manage the state presidential campaign of John Kerry, the Democratic presidential candidate. In 2006, he managed Mitch Landrieus campaign for mayor, a losing effort.

In 2008, Peterson, now a political organizer for the Service Employees International Union, joined the board of FirstLine Schools, which operated two charter schools in New Orleans. In 2009, he became the board chair.

In 2012, Patrick Dobard, the then-RSD superintendent, hired Dana Peterson to be the districts liaison with the public. The job called for him to bring citizens concerns to Dobard and to help win their support as the RSD rebuilt New Orleans schools. Dobard said he knew Dana Peterson from his work for FirstLine.

Peterson, who earned more than $100,000 per year, remained with the RSD until 2020.

He did phenomenal work for almost a decade, Dobard said.

Carters ad, however, said that Dana Peterson had no prior experience in education and has made over $1 million since being appointed to his position.

In 2016, Karen Carter Peterson sponsored a bill approved by the Legislature to take oversight of New Orleans schools from the RSD and return it to the Orleans Parish School Board.
Health official: 'We are very pleased with the decline in case numbers'
(Alliance News) - Ireland's premier will hold talks with US President Joe Biden later as the traditional St Patrick's Day engagement goes online.

The Taoiseach traditionally travels to Washington DC for St Patrick's week to hold a series of high level meetings with the most powerful political figures in the US.

The pandemic has prevented Micheal Martin making the trip this year, with events taking place virtually instead.

Northern Ireland's First Minister Arlene Foster and Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill are also expected to hold a virtual call with Vice President Kamala Harris on Wednesday a a meeting that may also involve an appearance from President Biden.

Martin and Biden are both marking their first St Patrick's Day since they assumed office.

Keeping with tradition, their engagement will involve the presentation of a bowl of shamrock to Biden.

The president often speaks with great pride about his Irish roots, having heritage tracing back to Ballina in Co Mayo and the Cooley Peninsula in Co Louth.

Ahead of the meeting, the Taoiseach predicted the discussions would feature Brexit and the coronavirus crisis.

Ireland's problems securing Covid-19 vaccine supplies are also set to feature.

This week, President Biden said the US was in discussion with "several countries" over any surplus vaccines that may become available.

Commenting on the engagement with the president, Martin said on Tuesday: "I think the fundamental aspect of tomorrow's meeting is to strengthen and deepen even further the bilateral relationship between Ireland and the US."

Martin's programme of events begins in the early afternoon with a meeting with Speaker of the US House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi.

He will also meet Vice-President Harris.

The Taoiseach's virtual itinerary also includes a lunch hosted by Pelosi and a memorial event for the late SDLP leader John Hume.

By David Young

source: PA

Copyright 2021 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
A California-based company wants to prepare more Air Force fighter pilots to dogfight Chinese and Russian opponents by using artificial intelligence and augmented reality as antagonists while they're actually flying in real-time training.

Daniel Robinson, founder and CEO of Red 6 Aerospace, said his company's latest technology could provide more affordable and advanced training.

Robinson was the first British Royal Air Force pilot to train on the F-22 Raptor in the U.S., graduating from the two-month training program at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, in 2006. While assigned to Langley Air Force Base, Virginia, he said he observed the same thing that a Government Availability Office report found more than a decade later: Fighters like the F-22 are not being used to their full potential, with severely limited opportunities for pilot training.

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"I really identified the core of the problem that I wanted to solve, and that was, in essence, 'How do we train?'" Robinson said in an interview this month with Military.com.

The company, which received an investment from Lockheed Martin, has been working with AFWERX -- an Air Force innovation program that partners with small businesses and academia -- over the last three years through a series of Small Business Innovation Research contracts. The company expects to receive a Phase III SBIR contract soon valued between $25 million and $70 million, Robinson said.

Through the combination of modified hardware and software technologies Red 6 has created, pilots would wear a display technology or visor on their helmets while flying in a fighter aircraft.

Artificial reality is a smart computer or machine that learns over time. Augmented reality blends the digital space with the real world -- unlike virtual reality, which is all in the digital world.

"This technology works in a real airplane against artificial intelligence-driven augmented reality aircraft up in the sky, which is a fascinating thing to contemplate," Robinson said.

"When we look through that visor, we see synthetically generated aircraft, or virtual aircraft  that are not actually really there," he said. The generated images are made possible by the Airborne Tactical Augmented Reality System, known as A-TARS, which works in tandem with the tactical AI made by EpiSci.

The AI-driven image "looks at maneuvers and fights" in relation to a pilot, who is flying a real airplane at the time. "Those synthetically generated aircraft are driven and controlled by artificial intelligence -- so it's the craziest thing. You have something that doesn't exist, that you see and perceive to exist, controlled by artificial intelligence," Robinson said.

The Aggressor Gap

The Air Force has worked to contract more pilots, many of whom are U.S. military retirees, to fill the "red air" aggressor training gap, allowing more active-duty pilots to attain air-to-air training on the friendly, or "blue air," side.

In 2019, the service issued an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for the red air program to ATAC, a subsidiary of Textron Airborne Solutions; Air USA Inc.; Blue Air Training; Coastal Defense; Draken International; Tactical Air Support, known as TacAir; and Top Aces Corp.

Outsourcing the service's assault and combat training to these companies cost $6.4 billion, according to the contract announcement.

But is it enough? The service wants quality training, not quantity, said Mike Holmes, a retired general who was head of Air Combat Command between 2017 and 2020. He is now chairman of Red 6's board of directors.

"The real shortage that I faced was a shortage of experienced fighter pilots," said Holmes, who took part in the interview with Robinson. "There aren't enough hours and flight time available for pilots to practice advanced air training."

Contracting with more companies for additional aircraft isn't the solution, he said. "Even if there were enough contract sorties available to do it, can you afford to pay for the fuel for all those flying hours?" Holmes said.

Today's pilots need to practice against an aircraft that can behave like a Chinese stealth fighter -- not a dated aircraft, Robinson added.

"The kind of threats that we may be called to go against in any kind of near-peer conflict are very difficult for us to simulate in training, because gone are the days when we could use [F-15 Eagles] or [F-16 Fighting Falcons] or [F/A-18 Super Hornets] to simulate things like a MiG-29 or Su-27," Robinson said.

The training issue is compounded by years of budget cuts, alongside the "manpower, supply chains and everything that goes with it," he said.

Adjusting Flight-Hour Standards

For decades, the Air Force designated an advanced pilot as having 500 or more hours in the cockpit. That standard meant that "you've seen enough things to where you can be mature enough to make decisions under pressure," Holmes said.

But over the last three years, the service realized it needed to adjust that standard. Pilots were able to attain many flight hours just by conducting overwatch in Iraq or Afghanistan, simply flying in circles, Holmes explained.

"From that, you're not seeing all that you need to see," he said, referring to specialized training needed against a skilled adversary.

"The criteria an Air Force pilot must meet to be considered experienced varies by aircraft," said ACC spokeswoman Alexi Worley in an email Wednesday. "That said, around 2019, similar changes were made to each Air Force fighter aircraft's specific experienced pilot criteria, replacing the 500 flight-hour standard."

Now, the service weighs real-world events or training during an exercise more heavily.

Another change included using a "4-Ship Flight Lead Certification and a commensurate number of sorties, based on experience, in the[ir] assigned aircraft," Worley said.

Holmes said future red air training may include going up against both an AI and the contracted companies.

Proving the Concept

Robinson's vision to bring artificial intelligence into simulated dogfighting began on the ground: In 2015, he met virtual reality specialists Glenn Snyder and Nick Bicanic, who worked extensively in pairing AI with car racing. They both now work at Red 6.

Snyder "had taken two real race cars, put them on two separate racetracks at the same time with real race car drivers in them," Robinson said. Wearing virtual reality headsets, they raced in the virtual world, but they were still behind the steering wheel in the real world, he explained.

Robinson wanted to know whether a similar feat would be possible with fighter jets.

"With virtual reality, we disappear into an entirely virtual world, and we don't see the surroundings around us. Augmented is a more nuanced problem to solve, because we seek to place synthetic entities into the real world around us. We are just overlaying digital images into the real world," he said.

Though they encountered many challenges, Robinson, Bicanic and Snyder believe the technology is ready.

Depending on the need, the AI could play its traditional red air role or act as a wingman to the pilot, Robinson said. It could even have applications for student pilots, Holmes said.

"We think it has applications starting from the very earliest part of training," Holmes said, referring to undergraduate pilot training. Robinson said pilots also could practice refueling their jets via refueling boom from a tanker aircraft before they have their first tanker sortie.

Additional applications someday could include partners and allies that come to conduct large-scale training exercises in the U.S., such as Red Flag.

There is no official program of record to incorporate Red 6's technology into the service's everyday training. Before it can receive significant budget backing, it must prove its potential, said Robert Winkler, who serves as a staffer on the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Augmented reality has been incorporated into the military's day-to-day activities over the years, but the fast-paced training environment is a much larger undertaking, Winkler said during a Mitchell Institute event Tuesday. Robinson and Holmes were also part of the event with reporters.

"[You're] going to have to prove [it] to folks as far as latency as far as the ability to make a difference in training," Winkler said. "It is something that is easily explained, [but] based on our current culture that we have, we just have to go do it."

-- Oriana Pawlyk can be reached at oriana.pawlyk@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @Oriana0214.

Related: Air Force's Reforge Plan Could Put Some Older F-22s in 'Red Air' Role
CHICAGO, March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Three Lakes Foundation (TLF) has announced that it has selected Yale University School of Medicine and the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine to join the Three Lakes Consortium for Pulmonary Fibrosis (TLC4PF). Together, they will focus on advancing disease understanding with the goal to accelerate new treatments and curing this devastating lung condition.

Naftali Kaminski, MD, Yale School of Medicine and Melanie Konigshoff, MD, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine are joining forces with Three Lakes Foundation

"The TLC4PF is a multiyear, multimillion dollar initiative," said Dana Ball, executive director of Three Lakes Foundation. "The Consortium provides a framework for cooperation and coordination among leading pulmonary researchers at medical institutions dedicated to improving care and health outcomes through the development and delivery of new medicines."

Pulmonary fibrosis (PF) occurs when lung tissue becomes damaged and scarred. Over time, the scarring destroys the lungs, making it harder for oxygen to enter the bloodstream and causes breathing to become difficult. While 40-50,000 people are diagnosed each year with PF, another 40,000 die annually.

The TLC4PF aims to change how the disease is diagnosed and treated. The Consortium comprises three strategic workgroups that are interdependent of each other and each addresses a different challenge in new therapy development:

The PF Connectome workgroup will utilize artificial intelligence and cutting-edge, single cell profiling technologies to accelerate implementations of novel precision therapies in PF by creating a dynamic, public atlas of cell and compound fibrosis specific signatures. Naftali Kaminski , M.D., professor of medicine and pharmacology and chief of Pulmonology, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine at Yale University School of Medicine will serve as its lead principal investigator . Dr. Kaminski, an award-winning physician-scientist and renowned expert in pulmonary fibrosis, genomics and translational medicine, is a pioneer of implementation of high throughput technologies in advanced human lung disease. He is credited with multiple discoveries including peripheral blood protein and gene biomarkers and novel drug targets. Dr. Kaminski also currently leads multiple, single cell profiling efforts. He and others have recently completed the largest single cell analysis to date, publicly available at www.IPFCellAtlas.com. His team includes experts in computational biology, machine learning, single cell transcriptomics and proteomics. The team members are:

workgroup will utilize artificial intelligence and cutting-edge, single cell profiling technologies to accelerate implementations of novel precision therapies in PF by creating a dynamic, public atlas of cell and compound fibrosis specific signatures. . Dr. Kaminski, an award-winning physician-scientist and renowned expert in pulmonary fibrosis, genomics and translational medicine, is a pioneer of implementation of high throughput technologies in advanced human lung disease. He is credited with multiple discoveries including peripheral blood protein and gene biomarkers and novel drug targets. Dr. Kaminski also currently leads multiple, single cell profiling efforts. He and others have recently completed the largest single cell analysis to date, publicly available at www.IPFCellAtlas.com. His team includes experts in computational biology, machine learning, single cell transcriptomics and proteomics. The team members are: Xiting Yan, Ph.D ., assistant professor, Center for Precision Pulmonary Medicine (P 2 MED), Yale School of Medicine

., assistant professor, Center for Precision Pulmonary Medicine (P MED),

Ziv Bar-Joseph , Ph.D. , professor, Computational Biology, School of Computer Science, Carnegie Mellon University

, professor, Computational Biology, School of Computer Science,

Jun Ding , Ph.D. , assistant professor, Meakins-Christie Laboratory, McGill University

, assistant professor, Meakins-Christie Laboratory, McGill University

Geremy Clair , Ph.D. , scientist, Biological Science Division, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

, scientist, Biological Science Division, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Oliver Eickelberg , M.D. , visiting professor of medicine and vice-chair, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh

The PF Translation workgroup will create a unique pipeline of human translational PF models that will serve as a core resource for the PF community to expedite drug discovery and validation for PF. This workgroup will be led by Melanie Konigshoff, M.D., Ph.D., visiting professor of medicine at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine . Dr. Konigshoff is a world-renowned physician-scientist in pulmonary fibrosis. She leads a multidisciplinary and translational research program on age-related chronic lung disease at the University of Pittsburgh . She has pioneered the development and application of human tissue-based models to study the complex phenotypes of PF as well as potential therapeutic interventions thereof. Her team comprises outstanding experts in PF phenotyping and modeling, bioengineering and stem cell biology. The team members include:

workgroup will create a unique pipeline of human translational PF models that will serve as a core resource for the PF community to expedite drug discovery and validation for PF. . Dr. Konigshoff is a world-renowned physician-scientist in pulmonary fibrosis. She leads a multidisciplinary and translational research program on age-related chronic lung disease at the . She has pioneered the development and application of human tissue-based models to study the complex phenotypes of PF as well as potential therapeutic interventions thereof. Her team comprises outstanding experts in PF phenotyping and modeling, bioengineering and stem cell biology. The team members include: Kambez Benam, Ph.D. , visiting associate professor, Department of Bioengineering, Swanson School of Engineering, University of Pittsburgh

, visiting associate professor, Department of Bioengineering, Swanson School of Engineering,

Brigitte Gomperts , M.D. , professor, Pediatrics; Pulmonary Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles

, professor, Pediatrics; Pulmonary Medicine,

Ivan Rosas , M.D. , professor and section chief, Baylor College of Medicine

The PF Early Disease workgroup will focus on studying pre/early PF to understand the underlying biology of disease and progression; identify individuals at risk; and improve long-term outcomes. This workgroup is under development and is expected to launch in early summer 2021.

At least 10 institutions globally will be collaborating with Three Lakes Foundation and the TLC4PF investigators from the Schools of Medicine at Yale and University of Pittsburgh when the Consortium becomes fully operational. Their participation will be critical to paving the path to discovery, translation and development of clinical trials to study next-generation therapies designed to stop and repair PF.

"The Consortium is an integral component of our innovative PF ecosystem," said Cheryl Nickerson-Nutter, Ph.D., executive vice president of research & development at TLF. "Three Lakes Foundation is bringing together many of the top investigators in pulmonary research supported by well-known medical research institutions to collaborate on making a cure for PF a reality. Together, we can bring new hope to patients and their families."

About Three Lakes Foundation

Three Lakes Foundation (TLF) is a nonprofit dedicated to serving as a catalyst for uniting research, industries, and philanthropy in pulmonary fibrosis. We connect entrepreneurs, advocates and institutions to an innovation ecosystem that will transform our approach to improve time to diagnosis and accelerate new therapies. To learn more, visit threelakesfoundation.org.

FOR INFORMATION, CALL:

Marita Gomez

630-936-9105

SOURCE Three Lakes Foundation
Geneva, March 16, 2021 (SPS) - The United Nations International Youth and Students Movement and the Federation for the Protection of Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities expressed, Monday, their concern over the human rights situation in Western Sahara and the ongoing occupation of the Saharawi territories by Morocco.

"The human rights situation is deteriorating at various levels, as reported by reports from human rights organizations," both organizations affirmed during the 46th session of the UN Human Rights Council, held by videoconference.

The voices of those who defend the self-determination of the Saharawi people are "suffocated" and the natural resources belonging to the people of Western Sahara are "plundered", the authors of the declaration deplore. SPS

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The U.S. has seen some progress in its battle against COVID-19, but experts are worried some Americans are easing up on restrictions too early.

A report by CNN Health reveals that experts fear this is a critical time. There are looming dangers and rising cases of a dangerous variant, which are threatening to wipe out the progress the country has made thus far.

Despite the fact that cases of a dangerous variant are on the rise, this month at least a dozen state leaders have eased COVID-19 restrictions, citing the increase in vaccination numbers as well as improving COVID-19 trends.

Added to that is the increase in air travel, which is reaching pandemic-era records. CNN noted that the Transportation Security Administration reported screening more than 1.3 million people at airports Sunday -- meaning about 5.2 million travelers flew since Thursday, marking the highest number to have flown during any four-day period since the pandemic began.

The report said Florida and other sunny regions are seeing the first spring break crowds, with some Miami Beach officials reporting packed shores, swelling crowds and precautions going out the window.

Its a combination of all these factors.

Officials fear that the combination of all these factors could set the stage for another spike.

CNN cited Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky, who said Monday: We have seen footage of people enjoying spring break festivities, maskless. She added, This is all in the context of still 50,000 cases per day.

Is another surge inevitable?

CNN cited emergency physician Dr. Leana Wen, who told them on Monday: We could go in either direction. She added, What happens now is really up to us and whether we keep up masking and avoiding indoor gatherings as we should be until the point that were vaccinated.

A dangerous variant is expected to be dominant soon.

Practicing safety measures is especially crucial in light of the fact that multiple virus variants are currently circulating. This includes the highly contagious variant first detected in the U.K. Walensky said Monday about the new variant, it is projected to become the dominant variant in the U.S. by the end of this month or early April, CNN cited. The report noted that CDC data indicates it has been found, so far, in 48 states, Puerto Rico and Washington, DC.

CNN cited Dr. Richard Besser, the former acting CDC Director, who told them on Monday: The way the variants spread is by letting our guard down, he added, By not wearing masks, by not social distancing.

Besser continued, If we can hang in there for a few more months, there will be enough vaccine for every adult in America to be vaccinated.

Then we can truly let go of some of the restrictions that are in place. But if we do this too quickly, we could see an increase in cases, we could see a backslide that is occurring in many European countries and that does not have to be the outcome here in America, he added.

The variant is associated with a higher risk of death, research suggests.

Research published last week suggested that the variant was associated with an estimated 64% higher risk of dying from COVID-19, CNN said.

Coming in at a bit lower estimate was another peer-reviewed study, a paper accepted by the journal Nature, linking the variant to a higher risk of death, but this time, the risk of death from the variant was estimated around 55% higher than earlier strains after adjusting for a number of factors like age, sex, and where and when tests were conducted.

However, CNN noted that a subsequent analysis in the study that accounted for missing and potentially miscategorized test results found the overall increased risk of death may be somewhat higher -- around 61% more than earlier strains. Vaccination was not able to be factored in the study, CNN said, nor could it show why the variant might be more deadly than earlier strains.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-17 00:50:04|Editor: huaxia

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BELGRADE, March 16 (Xinhua) -- Faced with a rising number of new coronavirus cases, the government of Serbia decided on Tuesday to introduce stricter prevention measures.

From Wednesday, all businesses will have to remain permanently closed, with the exception of food stores, pharmacies and gas stations.

Prime Minister Ana Brnabic, who announced the decision after the session of Serbia's crisis response team, explained that the new measures will remain in force until next Monday, when the government will decide whether to extend them.

"We need to slow down life in Serbia to see the number of new infections stagnate," she said, according to the government's press release.

The country has already had similar measures in force on several weekends, and has often restricted the working hours of businesses, but the daily number of new cases has been peaking above 4,000 since the beginning of March.

In the past 24 hours, Serbia has confirmed another 5,201 infections by testing 17,782 people, bringing the overall number of confirmed cases to 526,112 and the death toll to 4,778.

Currently, 4,671 people are hospitalized with COVID-19, 211 of them are on ventilators.

Serbia, a country of around seven million people, started its vaccination campaign in mid-December, 2020. To date, around 800,000 people have received two vaccine doses, mostly of the Sinopharm vaccine from China. Enditem
The former daughter-in-law of Trump Organization CFO Allen Weisselberg is cooperating with prosecutors after claiming Donald Trump hit on her at a shivah and showed naked pictures of women to mourners.

Jennifer Weisselberg made the shocking allegations last week to the The New Yorker and claimed her uncomfortable run-in with Trump happened while mourning Allen's mother in the late 1990s, early 2000s at a shivah - the Jewish mourning period after a funeral.

Now her lawyer Duncan Levin said in a statement to Insider that Jennifer 'is committed to speaking the truth, no matter how difficult that may be.

'She will continue to cooperate fully with the various law-enforcement agencies that are investigating her ex-husband's family and the very powerful interests they represent.'

'Jennifer refuses to be silenced any longer by those who are conspiring to prevent her from sharing what she has learned over the past 25 years,' Levin said.

Jennifer Weisselberg told The New Yorker she met Donald Trump at her former father-in-law's mother's shivah and says he hit on her and showed naked pictures of women to mourners

Trump, Allen Weisselberg and Donald Trump Jr, in a photo taken at Trump Tower in 2017. Jennifer was married to Allen's son Barry between 2004 and 2018

The allegation surfaced in an article by The New Yorker about Cyrus Vance, the Manhattan DA, and his pursuit of Trump and Weisselberg.

Jennifer was married to Allen's son Barry between 2004 and 2018.

She did not give a date for when she met Trump but said it was before her wedding and was at Weisselberg's former home in Wantagh, on Long Island. Property records show he owned the property until 2001.

In a statement to Insider, Jennifer's lawyer said she 'will continue to cooperate fully' with law enforcement and 'refuses to be silenced any longer'

According to her, Trump got out of his car when he arrived at the property and said: 'This is where my C.F.O. lives? It's embarrassing!'

Once inside, she claims he showed around photos of naked women with him on a yacht, then started hitting on her.

'After that, he starts hitting on me.'

She sad she was irate that Allen did not 'stand up' for her. Weisselberg's lawyer did not comment on the alleged incident, and representatives from The Trump Organization did not immediately respond to inquiries on Friday.

Weisselberg started working for The Trump Organization in the early 1970s.

According to his ex-daughter-in-law, he only ever sought approval from his boss.

'His whole worth is "Does Donald like me today?"

'Its his whole life, his core being. Hes obsessed. He has more feelings and adoration for Donald than for his wife,' she said.

She was asked by the reporter if he would 'flip under pressure' from Vance, who is said to be investigating the Trump family business.

'I dont know. For Donald, its a business. But for Allen its a love affair,' she said.

She said that he knows 'everything' there is to know about the Trump business.

'You walk down the hall, its Allen-Donald, Allen-Donaldthey dont do anything separately. Allen would know,' she said.

Vance has already subpoenaed the Trump Organization's accounting firm, Mazars, for financial records between 2011 and 2016.

But on Friday, he announced he would leave office at the end of the year and hand over the investigation to his successor.

Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. made the announcement in a memo to his staff, ending months of speculation about his future. His term expires at the end of the year.

Jennifer was married to Allen's son Barry (right) between 2004 and 2018. Jack Weisselberg, Allen Weisselberg and Barry Weisselberg pictured together

Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance has already subpoenaed the Trump Organization's accounting firm, Mazars, for financial records between 2011 and 2016

Vance, a Democrat, counted Harvey Weinstein's rape conviction a year ago among his crowning achievements but faced withering criticism over other high-profile cases, including dropping rape charges against French financier Dominique Strauss-Kahn in 2011 and declining to prosecute Ivanka and Donald Trump Jr. over fraud allegations in 2012.

Vance also missed an opportunity to prosecute Weinstein in 2015, declining to file charges against him in a case of alleged groping due to a cited lack of evidence despite an incriminating tape possessed by the model making the accusation.

'He was cautious in what high-profile cases he brought,' Marc F. Scholl, who worked in the district attorneys office, told the New York Times. 'He was more interested in not making mistakes than anything else.'

Vance has also faced criticism for being slower to stop prosecuting low-level marijuana cases, doing so as recently as 2018.

'I never imagined myself as District Attorney for decades like my predecessors.

'I never thought of this as my last job, even though it's the best job and biggest honor I'll ever have. I said twelve years ago that change is fundamentally good and necessary for any institution,' Vance wrote in a statement about his decision.
Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam gestures during a news conference at the Capitol in Richmond, Va., on April 8, 2020. (Steve Helber/AP Photo)

Virginia Governor Signs Executive Order to Allow 69,000 Released Prisoners to Vote

Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam signed an executive order on Tuesday to allow released prisoners to vote in a move he claimed will restore their civil rights.

Going forward, any Virginian released from incarceration will qualify to have their rights restored, even if they remain on community supervision, a press release from Northam reads.

According to the governors office, the change builds on several bipartisan reforms that have been made to the restoration of rights over the last decade, including streamlining the process of having rights restored and eliminating the prerequisite that court costs be paid.

Under current law, anyone convicted of a felony in Virginia loses the right to vote, serve on a jury, run for office, become a public notary, or carry a firearm until they serve their sentence and finish the probation period. Northams order restores all but the right to carry a firearm.

The new eligibility criteria, which will impact at least 69,000 Virginians, mirrors a proposed amendment to the Constitution of Virginia that has passed in the General Assembly. The constitutional amendment has to be passed again by the General Assembly in 2022 before going to a voter referendum, according to the state constitution.

Northam, a Democrat, said that too many of the laws were written during a time of racism and discrimination, and they still bear the traces of inequality.

We are a commonwealth that believes in moving forward, not being tied down by the mistakes of our past. If we want people to return to our communities and participate in society, we must welcome them back fullyand this policy does just that, Northam said.

Secretary of the Commonwealth Kelly Thomasson said that restoring the rights of Virginians who have served their time makes it easier for them to move forward with their lives.

All Virginians deserve to have their voices heard, and these changes demonstrate the Northam administrations continued commitment to second chances, rehabilitation, and restorative justice, Thomasson said.

In 2018, Northam made national headlines when a photo surfaced from his 1984 yearbook showing two young men, one dressed in a Ku Klux Klan uniform, the other in blackface.

Republicans in the state opposed restoring rights before inmates complete their sentences, including any probationary period.

Democrats wont be happy until they can do an absentee voting drive at Red Onion [State Prison], said Jeff Ryer, press secretary for the Senate Republican Caucus, according to WINA.
The Daily Beast

Criminal ComplaintA Pennsylvania man accused of assaulting several Capitol Police officers during the Jan. 6 insurrectionand leaving one with a concussionhas an extensive history of violent and assaultive behavior against women, prosecutors said Wednesday.Ryan Samsel, 38, was charged in February with several crimes, including assaulting a federal officer, obstructing law enforcement, and obstructing a legal proceeding, after he was captured in videos and photos knocking over several officers
New Delhi, March 17 : Transaction details of individual tax filers with respect of capital gains, dividend income and interest income will soon become a standard of the pre-filled Income Tax return (ITR) form as the government looks to make tax compliance convenient for taxpayers.

The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has notified specified persons (reporting persons) that will furnish such information on behalf of individual taxpayers in the pre-filled ITR forms. This would help in easier filing of returns as taxpayers would just have to verify records of income accruing to them from such investments without having to source it individually before filling up the ITR form.

The CBDT notification has specified that details of an individual's capital gains on transfer of listed securities or units of mutual funds will be provided by recognised stock exchange, depository, recognised clearing corporation or registrar to an issue and share transfer agent. These agencies have now been included in new sub-rule of the Income Tax Act and designated as reporting persons who shall be required to furnish a statement of such financial transactions.

Similarly, details of dividend income will have to be provided by the company that has given dividend to an individual while details of interest income will be provided for pre-filled ITR forms by banking companies and cooperative banks, the Post Master General and NBFCs.

"Presently, the ITR Forms come pre-filled with details of salary income, tax deducted at source, tax payments, etc to ease the compliance burden of taxpayers. The Finance Minister, in her recent Budget speech for Finance Bill, 2021, announced that to further ease the filing of ITRs, details of capital gains from listed securities, dividend income and interest from banks, post office, etc, will be pre-filled in ITR Forms. The subject notification gives effect to the government's intent to ease the tax return filing compliance burden for taxpayers as well as to monitor compliance," tax and consulting form PwC said in a statement.

While the changes is expected to bring transparency in the tax filing process, for taxpayers, it would mean all their investment details would be shared with the IT platform and changing those details while filing the ITR would become complex. Also, it would also prevent taxpayers from hiding a portion of their income as all details would now be pre-loaded in their forms. Though in the present system, pre-filled information has to be first approved by the taxpayers.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had launched a platform for transparent taxation in order to strengthen the government's direct tax reforms. Under the reforms, the I-T Department had presented the pre-filled forms with the purpose of making the procedure of filing returns forms easier.

The intention of the pre-filled forms is also to make filing returns easier as well as encourage more persons to disclose their come. Earlier, linking the Aadhar card, PAN card and bank accounts allowed the tax department to pre-fill the forms for individual taxpayers.

(Subhash Narayan can be reached at subhash.n@ians.in)
Russia, the U.S.' long-standing partner in space, is turning to China for its lunar ambitions.

Why it matters: The U.S. and Russia have been uneasy partners in orbit for decades, but as the two grow farther apart in space, their rift could reshape the geopolitical landscape above Earth  and on it  for years to come.

"We're not going to see the same level of cooperation between the United States and Russia, compared to what we saw in the 1990s ... when Russia was broke, going through an economic catastrophe after the collapse of the Soviet bloc and was desperate," space policy expert Bleddyn Bowen told me.

Driving the news: Last week, China and Russia signed an agreement to work together to develop a lunar research station on or orbiting the Moon, allying Russia with a nation many see as in opposition to U.S. interests in space.

The memorandum of understanding comes after Russia declined to sign NASA's Artemis Accords governing international cooperation and uses of the Moon, and after a Russian official criticized NASA's plans to build a small space station in lunar orbit.

Russia was initially expected to provide an airlock for the small lunar space station, which is part of NASA's plans to land people on the Moon, but now "NASA will be pursuing other options for the provider of the airlock," NASA said in a statement.

The backstory: U.S.-Russia space relations began to sour in the early 2010s when Russia annexed Crimea.

The two countries' space programs kept them talking via the International Space Station, but since then, Russia's public posture toward the U.S. on space issues changed, experts say.

"We saw a marked change in how the Russians interacted in multilateral space forums," Brian Weeden of the Secure World Foundation told me. There was "a marked increase in the hostility of their language against pretty much anything the U.S. was proposing."

The intrigue: China's space program and industry is booming, with support from the government and a long-term vision of what the nation hopes to accomplish. Russia's star, on the other hand, is fading.

Russia is losing a significant source of revenue as SpaceX flies astronauts to the space station, ending NASA's reliance on the Russian-made Soyuz rocket.

This partnership with China will allow Russia to work with a nation on the rise when it comes to space, while China gets to take advantage of Russia's established technical acumen.

Just as important, if not more, the two powers together will wield geopolitical weight in forming international space policy.

As Europe, Canada, Japan and others are already partnering with the U.S. on its Moon plans, this partnership between Russia and China could potentially pull in support from other nations, if the two nations decide they also want partners.

What to watch: It's not clear how high a priority the Russia-China lunar research station will have as China works to build its own space station orbiting Earth in the coming years.
New Delhi, March 18 : The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Wednesday carried out searches at 10 locations of Cadbury India Ltd, now known as Mondelez Foods Private Limited, in connection with a case it registered for alleged corruption and misrepresentation of facts to fraudulently avail area-based tax benefits in Baddi, Himachal Pradesh.

A CBI source related to the probe told IANS, "Multiple teams of CBI carried out searches at 10 locations in Solan, Baddi, Mohali, Pinjore and Mumbai." The source said that the CBI registered a case after the preliminary enquiry it conducted against the company which showed that it allegedly "paid bribes, misrepresented facts and manipulated records to fraudulently avail area-based exemption benefits (central excise and income tax) in Baddi, Himachal Pradesh, knowing fully well that it was not entitled to avail area-based tax exemption benefits".

In the FIR, the CBI alleged that for availing the area-based exemption benefits, some members of the executive board of the company, along with key managers, collectively decided to manipulate records, engage mediators to route bribes and cover up all the evidence that had surfaced during the internal investigation.

Tue CBI has booked a total of 12 individuals, including two then Central excise officials, the then Cadbury India Limited (CIL) Vice President (finance and compliance) Vikram Arora and its directors Rajesh Garg and Jailboy Phillips.

Cadbury India Ltd had set up a manufacturing unit at the Sandholi village for manufacturing malt-based food (Bournvita). The unit started commercial production from May 19, 2005, the CBI said in the FIR.

Two years later, CIL proposed to expand production by setting up another unit for its products '5 Star' and 'Gems' as the second unit on the land acquired from Barmalt in 2007 in Baddi to avail an exemption from excise duty and income tax for 10 additional years, it said.

In the FIR, the CBI alleged that CIL had decided to expand its capacity and avail tax benefits from May 19, 2005, for which it applied for an amalgamation of the two units, stating that it has decided to have its second unit as a composite in the existing facility.

It further stated that the approval was granted on March 7, 2008 by the Directorate of Industries.

The CBI in its FIR further alleged that 15 months later, the company said that its second unit has started production, for which it should be given tax benefits, which was not possible as the company had already stated that it would be a composite unit of an already existing factory, which was getting tax benefits from 2005.

It further alleged that CIL again applied for deamalgamation and sought to set up the second unit as a different company -- Cadbury India Limited Unit II -- on March 29, 2010, two days before the cut-off date to avail the exemption.

"Senior executives of the company conspired with private individuals and made payments to get necessary approvals for setting up the second unit as a separate company to avail tax benefits for which it was not eligible," it said.

The CBI said that it has found details of various payments made to camouflage alleged bribes and commissions to get the work done. The agency also said that the Directorate General of Central Excise Intelligence (DGCEI) had also probed the matter and slapped a fine of Rs 241 crore on the company.




In a video of the radio program Economic Update posted on Aug. 24, 2020, Professor Richard Wolff rejected the demonization of China (Screenshot of YouTube website)

China is less a competitor and more a wannabe of the world, and the United States and China should learn from each others strengths and weaknesses to achieve prosperous coexistence, said American economist Richard Wolff.

In a video of Richard Wolffs radio program Economic Update posted on Aug. 24, 2020, the professor rejected the demonization of China, noting that China and the United States have more similarities than many would realize.

Richard Wolff is Professor Emeritus of Economics at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and a visiting Professor in the Graduate Program in International Affairs of the New School in New York.

However, there is a unique relationship problem between the two countries, the professor pointed out. China is clearly an ascending, rising economic, political and cultural power in the world; no one should be confused on that subject. In stark contrast, the United States is a descending power. The footprint of the United States is smaller in the world economy with each passing year, he said.

Wolff first attributed this trend to the difference between two countries systems, saying the Chinese system has grown much faster economically than the United States over the past 30 years, two to three times faster, not even close.

Charlie Murphy has confirmed she will not be appearing in the sixth season of Peaky Blinders.

The Irish actress, 32, played real-life character Jessie Eden, a British trade union leader who was close to Tommy Shelby (Cillian Murphy) in the fourth and fifth seasons, and was his occasional love interest.

However it's clearly not to be, as Charlie told Digital Spy on Wednesday: 'Yeah. I'm done now. But it was a lot of fun when we shot it. And that feels like an age ago as well. Which it was. It was about three years ago.'

She's out: Peaky Blinders star Charlie Murphy (pictured) confirmed in an interview on Wednesday that she won't be returning to the show's sixth season

Charlie's character Jessie was last seen during the tense climax of the fifth season, protesting outside the hall where right-wing politician Oswald Mosely (Sam Claflin) was holding a facist rally.

She was one of the only people Tommy told about his plan to assassinate Mosely, which unexpectedly went wrong after Tommy's would-be assassin and Aberama Gold (Aidan Gillan) were killed instead.

Discussing what could have happened to her character, Charlie said her real-life counterpart went 'to Russia and helps with the Communist Party there, and helps build the Metro system' so in her mind that's what has happened.

She added: 'I just think she was an incredible woman, and she's a bit of a spy. There's so much. I mean, you could make a TV series about her for sure.'

End of the road: Charlie's character Jessie Eden was close to Tommy Shelby (Cillian Murphy, pictured) in the fourth and fifth series, but she said: 'I'm done now. But it was a lot of fun'

The sixth series will pick up where the fifth series left off on 7 December 1929, the morning after a rally led by Oswald Mosley.

TV star Sam Clafin, 34, was recently seen on set for the first time since producers confirmed he'll be making his return as the politician.

Last month, Peaky Blinders revealed Oswald's fate in a tweet: 'Sam Claflin returns as Oswald Mosley in #PeakyBlinders series 6.'

The Hunger Games star played the fascist leader, who rose to fame in the 1920s as a Member of Parliament and later in the 1930s, having become disillusioned with mainstream politics.

Final appearance: Charlie's character was last seen at the end of the fifth season, protesting outside the hall where Oswald Mosely (Sam Claflin, pictured) was holding a facist rally

Peaky Blinders centres around its eponymous gang which is run by the ruthless Tommy and his family, and sees them build their power and influence over Birmingham and beyond.

The fifth season ended on a cliffhanger, with Tommy seeing visions of his late wife Grace (Annabelle Wallis) and turning a gun on himself following his botched assassination attempt of the British Union of Fascists leader.

Production on the show was delayed last year by the Covid-19 crisis, but shooting was able to begin last month with cast and crew adhering to strict coronavirus restrictions.

The BBC drama has been running for eight years and has enjoyed huge popularity but the sixth season has been confirmed as the final one, with creator Steven Knight confirming the story will return 'in another form'.
The company said the survey results are expected to be delivered within weeks and will be used to guide its 2021 exploration programs

Ximen Mining said its Providence property covers several mineral occurrences and historic mines, including the Freemont mine

( ) ( ) (FRA:1XMA) said it has completed its airborne geophysical survey of the Providence and Bud-Elk properties, part of the historic mining camps at Greenwood, British Columbia.

The company said the survey results, which are expected to outline conductive bodies related to massive sulphide occurrences, should be delivered within weeks and will be used to guide Ximens 2021 exploration programs.

Ximen noted that its Providence property covers several mineral occurrences and historic mines including the Freemont mine, where 2020 sampling returned values of 435 grams per tonne (g/t) silver and 4.4 g/t gold. The property also contains massive sulphide mineralization that previously assayed 0.23% copper and 3.4 g/t silver.

The company said drilling in 2020 on its ground adjoining the historic Providence mine intersected 178 g/t silver over 0.7 meters, which it said suggests a possible extension of the Providence deposit onto Ximen's property.

Ximen's Bud-Elk property, meanwhile, covers the historic Morrison mine, which produced 7.15 kilograms (kg) of gold, 26.0kg of silver and 10.7 tonnes copper from 2,647 tonnes mined. The property also lies 500 metres from the historic Motherlode mine, which produced 21,405,520 grams (g) of silver, 5,390,837g gold, and 34,915,323kg of copper from 4,245,875 tonnes mined.

The company also said porphyry copper-gold mineralization occurs at the Buckhorn and Moreen showings on the Bud-Elk property, as demonstrated by results from previous owners including 45 metres grading 0.57% copper and 0.40 g/t gold from trenching at the Buckhorn, and 32 metres grading 0.23% copper and 0.12 g/t gold at the Moreen.

Ximen Mining is a junior precious metals explorer with assets in prolific gold camps in southern British Columbia.

The company has an acquisition option on the former Kenville gold mine, which produced 65,236 ounces of gold, and 27,686 ounces of silver intermittently between 1889 and 1956.

Ximen has been expanding its footprint in the area via several claim groups near Kenville and last June reported that its total land package in the Nelson-Ymir-Salmo area since first acquiring Kenville in early 2019 stood at 19,582 hectares.

Kenville was formerly known as the Granite-Poorman mine and lies 7 kilometres (km) west of the town of Nelson in the West Kootenay region.

Contact Sean at sean@proactiveinvestors.com
Gandhinagar, March 17 : In a shocking revelation, the Gujarat government said on Wednesday that a total of 157 custodial deaths were reported from across the state in two years from 2019 to 2020. Surprisingly, out of these, the kin of only one victim was compensated by the government with an amount of Rs 2,50,000.

The information regarding custodial deaths was sought by the Congress legislator from Petlad, Niranjan Patel, who asked for data on deaths in police custody in the state in 2019 and 2020.

The state admitted that a total of 70 incidents of custodial deaths were reported in 2019 while 87 such incidents were reported in 2020.

Regarding Patel's question as to how much compensation was provided to the family members of the victims, Gujarat Home Minister Pradipsinh Jadeja informed the House that only the family of one victim was provided Rs 2,50,000 in Surat, while the others didn't need to be compensated as per the proposals received by the state government.

On another question over custodial deaths in Ahmedabad and Kutch in the last two years, raised by Jamalpur-Khadia legislator Imran Khedawala, the state answered that a total of 48 such deaths were reported by the police.

Action has been taken against three police inspectors, five sub-inspectors, 19 constables, four ASIs and seven other policing staff in connection with custodial deaths in the state reported in 2019 and 2020.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
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Utah Governor to Carefully Consider Signing Bill That Would Block Porn on Phones

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox will carefully consider signing a proposal that would automatically block pornography on cellphones and tablets sold in his state.

Advocates and critics are standing by on Coxs decision to sign or veto the bill that the state legislature recently passed.

Cox, a Republican, hasnt made known whether he will sign the bill, but his spokesperson, Jennifer Napier-Pearce, told The Associated Press in an email that the governor will carefully consider this bill during the bill signing period.

The deadline for the signing of the bill is March 25.

This bill establishes filter requirements and enforcement mechanisms for tablets and smart phones activated in the state on or after January 1 of the year following the year this bill takes effect, reads the bill.

If Cox approves the bill, it would only take effect after similar laws are passed in five other states.

More than 12 states advanced similar proposals to classify pornography as a public health crisis after Utah was the first to do so in 2016.

The National Center on Sexual Exploitation praised the bill, explaining that it can be hard for parents to turn on filters on phones or tablets.

Utah has passed a critical, common-sense solution to help protect vulnerable children from accessing harmful pornographic content on phones and tablets, Executive Director Dawn Hawkins said.

The sponsor of the filter measure, Utah state Rep. Susan Pulsipher said that the solution isnt complete.

A child that wants to find it and tries to would probably be able to still. Its just one step in the right direction, said Pulsipher, a Republican.

Although adults would be able to turn the filters off, some critics have raised concerns over the legality of the measure.

Youve basically got the state mandating the filtering of lawful content. That raises immediate First Amendment flags, said Samir Jain, policy director at the Center for Democracy and Technology, an internet policy group.

Parental filters already exist, said Jason Groth, an attorney, and every Utah parent can decide the level of access for their children.

Negative Effects of Pornography

Pornography is a threat to marriage, family, and individual happiness, according to the key findings of a report (pdf) on its effects.

Pornography is addictive, and neuroscientists are beginning to map the biological substrate of this addiction, reads the research paper, titled The Effects of Pornography on Individuals, Marriage, Family, and Community.

Users tend to become desensitized to the type of pornography they use, become bored with it, and then seek more perverse forms of pornography, Patrick F. Fagan Ph.D., the author, writes in the reports findings. Men who view pornography regularly have a higher tolerance for abnormal sexuality, including rape, sexual aggression, and sexual promiscuity.

Jaco Booyens, the founder of SHAREtogether, which combats child sex trafficking, previously told The Epoch Times that 68 percent of porn users divorce.

He also noted that on average, boys are introduced to porn at 8 years old.

Porn is the most addictive drug, its more dangerous than heroin, because it doesnt stop, and it progresses fast, Booyens said.

He said that the end drug of pornography is pre-puberty sex.

Theres not a single pedophile in history thats not a porn addict.

Theres also not a single mass shooter, mass murderer that was not addicted to porn.

If youre addicted to opioids, your hits are far in between, well, sex addiction, its not, its very frequent.

Booyens said that pornography causes a physiological and chemical reaction that literally shuts off areas of the brain to think rationally.

Its almost like tunnel vision, he added.
The MBS preschool also has stars on the floor to help children know where to sit so they can maintain physical distancing.
Australians looking for cheap flights are already benefiting from Rex's entry into the domestic market - with Jetstar and Virgin cutting prices in response.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission on Wednesday found Rex flights, which began this month, benefited customers of other airlines.

The new operator offered $49 flights on the Melbourne to Sydney route. Virgin matched the price, while Jetstar offered $29 fares.

Rex will soon fly to Adelaide, Canberra and the Gold Coast.

Rex Airlines has gone from flying regionally in NSW to taking on the Virgin and Jetstar on interstate routes (above)

ACCC chair Rod Sims said the competition had been vigorous and consumers were the beneficiaries.

The airlines continued to start new routes and exit others in response to an uncertain COVID-19 environment, according to the commission.

Mr Sims said the vigorous competition could have commercial consequences for airlines.

The findings were among those in the commission's Airline Competition in Australia report.

The report also said passenger numbers in December were 41 per cent of pre-COVID numbers. However, this was better than the 13 per cent of pre-COVID numbers reported in September.

Air travel received a boost last week through the federal government's $1.2 billion national airline ticket scheme.

The government will subsidise about 800,000 flights between April and July to more than a dozen regional areas, which will cut fares by half.

Yet critics have argued some areas have been overlooked and should also be included.
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[March 17, 2021] SPIE Photonics West Digital Forum Showcases Best of Optics, Photonics, Quantum, Biomedical Technologies in Applications and Research

SPIE, the international society for optics and photonics, welcomed an engaged global audience to its SPIE Photonics West Digital Forum 6-11 March with 8,000 registered attendees. Across the highly regarded BiOS, LASE, and OPTO symposia, as well as the new industry-focused Quantum (News - Alert) West conference, SPIE Photonics West showcased more than 20 plenary speakers, including Ursula Keller, Gerard Mourou, Susumu Noda, Satoshi Kako, Kohji Mitani, Sheila Nirenberg, Laura Fabris, and Yeka Aponte. More than 100 live events - including panel sessions, technical discussions, and networking events complemented the 3,200 on-demand presentations. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210317005651/en/ SPIE Photonics West Digital Forum showcases best of optics, photonics, quantum, biomedical technologies in applications and research (Photo: Business Wire) In addition, two Digital Marketplaces - one or Photonics West, one for BiOS - together showcased more than 400 exhibitors and over 100 product demonstrations of the latest innovations in optics and photonics.



The largest photonics virtual event of 2021, SPIE Photonics West spotlighted and recognized the best optics and photonics technologies, trends, and entrepreneurial innovations, offering many opportunities for attendees, presenters, scientists, and engineers to engage and discuss their latest research and work. From COVID-focused diagnostics advancements and neuro-technologies to lasers in manufacturing and data center communications, SPIE Photonics West offered a dynamic week of information sharing, learning, and conversation. Quantum West, a new conference on quantum technology held in partnership with the QED-C, featured industry leaders such as Celia Merzbacher, Peter Knight, Andrew Lord, Wilhelm Kaenders, and Kaitlin Moore exploring the role of photonics in quantum technology's growth from R&D into engineering products for commercial applications.

"I have worked with SPIE over many years, as both an exhibitor and conference chair, and am very happy to help build Quantum West together with them," said Quantum West Co-Chair Tim Day who serves as DRS Daylight Solutions GM and senior VP, as well as Member of the Board of ColdQuanta. "SPIE did a great job under challenging circumstances and is always a wonderful partner in terms of bringing the community together and helping to advance photonics technology. We, along with many others in the photonics community, are looking forward to an in-person meeting next January in San Francisco." Other industry-focused events featured live sessions with thought leaders discussing today's hottest application areas, including industrial lasers, sensing and imaging, and autonomous vehicles. "I come to Photonics West every year with my students," said Jennifer Barton, who is co-chair for BiOS as well as the director of the University of Arizona's BIO5 Institute and the university's Thomas R. Brown Distinguished Professor of Biomedical Engineering. "This year, three of them presented virtually, along with myself. I was very impressed with the high quality of live and prerecorded presentations, the flawless execution of events, and the surprisingly effective opportunities for networking and fun - go Trivia Night! Of course, I am looking forward to seeing everyone in person next year, but I loved how engaging and informative this conference week was." "Photonics West is the largest biomedical, laser, and optoelectronic event in our field, even when we cannot travel," noted SPIE Senior Director of Technical Programs Marilyn Gorsuch. "Given the virtual circumstances, our volunteer conference chairs rolled up their sleeves and produced an amazing offering to present and discuss the latest technical advancements. But nothing can replace the in-person experience and the excitement of gathering together at Photonics West in San Francisco. We are very much looking forward to hosting Photonics West in San Francisco next January." All the Photonics West content will be available on the SPIE Digital Library from 20 March. Photonics West 2022 will take place 22-27 January at the Moscone Center in San Francisco. The Call for Papers will be announced and open in the next few weeks. About SPIE SPIE is the international society for optics and photonics, an educational not-for-profit organization founded in 1955 to advance light-based science, engineering, and technology. The Society serves more than 258,000 constituents from 184 countries, offering conferences and their published proceedings, continuing education, books, journals, and the SPIE Digital Library. In 2020, SPIE provided over $5 million in community support including scholarships and awards, outreach and advocacy programs, travel grants, public policy, and educational resources. www.spie.org. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210317005651/en/

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According to geologists, lightning strikes were almost as critical as meteorites in providing the ideal conditions for life to arise on Earth.

Minerals brought to Earth in meteorites more than 4 billion years ago have long been regarded as essential ingredients in the evolution of life on our planet.

Scientists claim that billions of lightning bolts carried a small quantity of these minerals to the early Earth.

Related Article: [VIDEO] Birth of Bolt: Footage Shows 0.0003 Second Before Lightning Strikes

Importance of Lightning Strikes

However, University of Leeds researchers have discovered that lightning strikes were almost as important as meteorites in fulfilling this crucial role and causing life to emerge.

They claim that if the atmospheric conditions are correct, life might evolve on Earth-like planets by the same process at any time. Benjamin Hess led the study during his undergraduate studies in the School of Earth and Atmosphere at the University of Leeds.

Mr. Hess and his teachers were gazing at a huge and pure sample of fulgurite, a rock produced as lightning hits the earth. The sample was created when lightning struck a property in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, in 2016 and was donated to Wheaton College's geology department.

The Leeds researchers were originally interested in how fulgurite is produced. Still, they were blown away when they found a significant amount of schreibersite, a particularly peculiar phosphorus mineral, in the Glen Ellyn sample.

Creating the Perfect Atmospheric Conditions

Phosphorus is important for life and is involved in every part of it, from movement to development and reproduction. Phosphorus was found on the early Earth's surface in minerals that did not dissolve in water. However, schreibersite could.

"Many have speculated that life on Earth evolved in shallow surface waters, following Darwin's popular "hot little pond" idea," Mr. Hess, now a Ph.D. student at Yale University in Connecticut, USA, said.

"Most theories on how life began on Earth's surface depend on meteorites containing tiny quantities of schreibersite. The analyzed fulgurite contains a significant amount of schreibersite. According to the findings, " Lightning often hits Earth, suggesting that the phosphorus needed for the emergence of life on the planet's surface is not strictly obtained from meteorite impacts.

"Perhaps more significantly, this suggests that life could form on other Earth-like planets long after meteorite impacts are no longer common."

And Then, There Was Life

When the earth was about 3.5 billion years old, which is around the age of the oldest known microfossils, the team predicts that phosphorus minerals created by lightning strikes exceeded those produced by meteorites, making lightning strikes important emergence of life on the planet.

Furthermore, lightning strikes are much less damaging than meteor strikes, which means they were much less likely to damage life's fragile evolutionary pathways.

Working on the Study

The research, titled Lightning strikes as a significant facilitator of prebiotic phosphorus reduction on early Earth was published in Nature Communications.

The project was sponsored by the School of Earth and Environment as part of a program that allows undergraduates to do experiments using high-end analytical facilities.

Mr. Hess was mentored in the research project by Dr. Jason Harvey, Associate Professor of Geochemistry in Leeds' School of Earth and Climate, and Sandra Piazolo, Professor of Structural Geology Tectonics the School of Earth and Environment.

Dr. Harvey explained: "The early bombardment is a once-in-a-lifetime occurrence in the solar system. As planets grow in mass, the amount of phosphorus delivered by meteors becomes insignificant.

Findings

"Lightning, on the other hand, isn't a one-time occurrence. Elements necessary for the creation of life can be transported to the surface of a planet if atmospheric conditions are favorable for lightning production.

"This could indicate that life could appear on Earth-like planets at any moment."

"Our exciting research opens the door to many future avenues of investigation," Professor Piazolo said. "These include the search for an in-depth analysis of fresh fulgurite in an Early Earth-like environment; in-depth analysis of the effect of flash heating on other minerals to recognize certain features in the rock record; and further analysis of this exceptionally well-preserved fulgurite to identify the range of physical and chemical processes."

"Both of these studies will contribute to a better understanding of the role of fulgurite in modifying Earth's chemical atmosphere over time."

ALSO READ: Mars Dust Particles Equal to Lightning in Earth, Study Finds

For similar news, don't forget to follow Nature World News!
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Mixed race triplets born to a white mother and desperate to trace their father's ancestry discovered they are of West African and Irish descent on an emotional episode of BBC2's DNA Family Secrets.

Peter, David and Phillip, 35, who now live in County Antrim, were born in Merseyside and moved to Northern Ireland as children after being adopted at the age of four.

Their birth mother had died of pneumonia, and they never knew their father.

With the help of show experts, the brothers learned their father was of West African and Irish descent and, in a twist of fate, their mother was from County Down - the same part of Ireland where the boys had lived with their adoptive parents after leaving England.

However their father had died 10 years ago, and although the brothers have living relatives on his side, they did not want to get in contact.

Triplets Peter, David and Phillip, pictured as children, moved to Northern Ireland after being adopted at the age of four

Their mother Gillian (pictured) had passed away from phenomena at the age of 33 in 1987 when the boys were just two-years-old and her sons were eventually put up for adoption in Merseyside

'It gives us stronger roots where we live already which is nice,' said Peter, after discovering their ancestry. 'Our main aim was to find out where half of our DNA comes from and we've achieved that.'

Viewers were quick to take to Twitter to comment on the touching story, with one writing: 'DNA Family Secrets... amazing. The mixed race Irish triplets seem so lovely. Amazing stories. Stacey Dooley rocks.'

'DNA Family Secrets is excellent. Really well done,' wrote another.

A third said: 'Just stumbled across an episode of DNA Family Secrets, it's amazing what you can do with science. '

Extraordinarily, the brothers (pictured with host Stacey Dooley) discovered that their father was both West African and Irish, and that their grandmother was from the same area in Northern Ireland they grew up

Peter, David and Phillip, now 35, (pictured as children) currently live in County Antrim but were born in Merseyside before moving to County Down as young children

Peter, David and Phillip - who could not appear on the show because he was shielding due to an underlying health condition - had always been curious about their ethnicity, believing they could be Mediterranean or South American.

I think its to give you a sense of belonging', said Peter, 'Everybody deserves to know who created them.

Their adoptive parents made the triplets photo books to give the children as much knowledge as they could about their past, revealing that their birth mother was called Gillian and was 33 when the triplets where born.

Passages in the book read: 'Gillian did not find it easy to look after her little boys, this made her very unhappy.'

A teary Peter admitted: Im glad it was never hidden from us, the nitty gritty of it.

Viewers were quick to take to Twitter to comment on the touching story, admitting the show made them cry

Host Stacey Dooley asked: 'How often would you say you think about your birth mother?'

All the time', he responded. 'Nearly daily. I always think am I making her proud because shes our birth mother.

'I think she would want us to find answers, because we deserve to know I think. We have each other, no matter how bad it is it's still an answer.'

Before receiving their results, the brothers met with their adoptive parents, who Peter said they 'loved from the minute they met them'.

The triplets have always been desperate to know the heritage of their biological father, and brothers Peter (right and David (left) appeared on last night's episode of BBC2's DNA Family Secrets

'It was just a laugh a minute', said their mother, 'They were such little characters, when you've got three in an almost mirror image, it was exhausting it was exhilarating but I was just entranced by them.'

However she admitted that their mixed-race heritage was impacting their treatment at school, revealing they moved to Ireland so their children would be 'more accepted.'

She went on: 'But initially we had social services telling us about the fact they were mixed race and said would that be a problem.

'The way they were being treated even at primary school. I remember one of them being in the bath and somebody had said something to him, he was really rubbing his arm. He said "Im trying to take the black off" and that broke my heart. he was five.

Speaking to her adoptive sons, the mother went on: 'When we moved to Ireland we really went there because we knew you would be accepted more, you wouldn't be defined by your colour. And the fact you're still there says it all, it's home.'

Before receiving their results, the brothers met with their adoptive parents, where their mother (pictured) opened up about the children growing up without knowing their heritage

Admitting that it was difficult growing up in Ireland as mixed-race children, Peter spoke of the support that he and his brothers have always had for each other

Admitting that it was difficult growing up in Ireland as mixed-race children, Peter spoke of the support that he and his brothers have always had for each other.

Growing up it was a tough time', said Peter. 'Going to school we were the only coloured kids in school and children are ruthless and we needed each other for support, its made us stronger

Reassuring his adoptive parents, David said: 'If there's any time to get this information, it's probably going to be now or never.

'If it's never, we tried it, we did our best and that's all we can do. It's not going to change anything.'

Insisting that her sons have her full support, their mother went on: 'I wish I knew about their father, I tried to find out couldn't get anywhere at all.

Professor Turi King, a Professor of Public Engagement and Genetics at the University of Leicester, took a look at the brother's DNA to try and gain a clearer insight into their ancestry

The brothers were thrilled to discover their father was West African and Irish, with his mother originally from around the County Down and County Louth areas

'You need to know what your origins are, we take it for granted actually. And we will be there to support them 100 per cent.'

Professor Turi King, a Canadian-British Professor of Public Engagement and Genetics at the University of Leicester, took a look at the brother's DNA to try and gain a clearer insight into their ancestry.

She discovered that the triplet's father was West African and Irish, with his mother originally from around the County Down and County Louth areas, but that he died 10 years ago.

They also found out they have a living first cousin, however the family did not want to make contact with the brothers.

'We have that Irish connection, said David to his teary adoptive mother, 'Never in a million years would I have imagined that.'

Peter added: 'We have a great family around us, and it was about putting together all the final piece of the jigsaw.'
Were living in the season of voter suppression.

In response to a 2020 election in which a record number of mail-in votes helped carry Joe Biden to the presidency and swing control of the U.S. Senate to Democrats, GOP lawmakers in Texas, Arizona, Iowa and Georgia have filed bills to restrict voting access.

In the small town of Floresville, the City Council has been waging a persistent voter-suppression effort for nearly two years, but few people outside of Wilson County have taken notice.

It all started on July 17, 2019, when the Floresville City Council voted to cancel its scheduled November municipal election  three days before candidates were set to start filing.

The council repealed a 2011 city resolution which established that Floresville elections would be held every November, with three council seats on the ballot in odd-numbered years and the other two (plus the mayors office) up for grabs in even-numbered years.

The council pushed back the 2019 fall election and all future city elections from November to May. In doing so, council members effectively added six months to their own terms.

Wilson County Attorney Tom Caldwell immediately fired off a letter to Floresvilles city manager, calling the councils action illegal, unconscionable and voidable.

Floresville Mayor Cissy Gonzalez-Dippel and three residents who had planned to run in November 2019 agreed with Caldwell and filed a lawsuit challenging the councils move.

While the case was still pending, the COVID-19 pandemic prompted Gov. Greg Abbott to move all scheduled May 2020 municipal elections to November, meaning that the Floresville council didnt get the May election it wanted.

District Court Judge Lynn Ellison has repeatedly ruled that the Floresville council violated the Texas Election Code.

Even after Ellison issued a binding oral order in December voiding the councils resolution, the council proceeded with its plans for a May 1, 2021, general election.

Ellison eliminated all legal ambiguity with a written order, signed Feb. 8, declaring that Floresvilles regular municipal elections shall remain on the November general election date. The council nonetheless refused to rescind its planned May election.

On March 4, Ellison issued an injunction which canceled the May election, but Floresville has yet to budge.

So weve got city elected officials playing a game of chicken with our legal system, basically daring the courts to stop them from doing what theyve been ordered not to do.

What has driven this blatantly undemocratic crusade?

For one thing, voter turnout tends to be highest in November (particularly during even-numbered years), so moving city elections to May was an attempt to reduce turnout, thereby giving council members more control over their electoral fates.

Also, the switch meant taking election administration away from the county and giving it to the city.

Consider that Floresville, a town of roughly 8,000 people located 30 miles southeast of San Antonio, has a population that is 61 percent Latino.

Wilson County, which has a population of 51,000, is only 40 percent Latino and votes overwhelmingly Republican. (Former President Donald Trump carried the county by almost a three-to-one margin over Biden last November.)

Supporters of the councils 2019 action will tell you that they dont trust the county to run honest elections for the city of Floresville. They suggest that county elections administrators have allowed Wilson County residents who live outside the city limits to vote in city elections and dilute the power of Latino voters in Floresville.

Its a conspiracy theory. Just like all the conspiracy theories that Democrats decried when they heard Republicans across the country blame Trumps loss on widespread voter fraud.

If you hated that kind of conspiracy mongering when it came to the presidential election, you should hate it when its used to justify voter suppression in Floresville. It doesnt matter which end of the political spectrum benefits or suffers.

If politicians can arbitrarily lengthen their terms of office and repeal laws to push back imminent elections, our system has no chance.

Art Martinez de Vara, the former mayor of Von Ormy, represented the four plaintiffs in their case against the city of Floresville.

I think its the most egregious case of voter suppression Ive ever seen, Martinez de Vara said.

Its a city trying to manipulate the outcome of the election by changing the elections, then violating court orders and persisting at it. Usually, when courts say youre wrong on the law, people fall into line.

During the past two years, the Floresville City Council has been nothing if not stubborn. Too bad all that obstinance has been in the service of voter disenfranchisement.

ggarcia@express-news.net | Twitter: @gilgamesh470
Gloria Hunniford has joked that she wants to be buried in her shoulder pads and with her hair curlers.

Now living in Kent, she said that as a child growing up in Portadown, Co Armagh that she never liked her first name.

In a wide-ranging interview with Best magazine she revealed: I hated the name Gloria when I was young. Why would you call a child Gloria?

Imagine being two years old and someone shouting at you, Gloria, come in now. I hated it!

The Rip Off Britain host and Loose Women panellist also joked that she has instructed second husband, hairdresser Stephen Way, of her funeral wishes.

She said: Ill be buried with a pair of shoulder pads. And I like a set of hair curlers, I think theyll go in the coffin as well.

She also recounted how her parents did not attend her wedding to first husband Don Keating because he was a Catholic.

She said her mum May was upset at missing it after her dad Charles refused to go and forbid her from the ceremony.

Gloria (80) said: I wanted to introduce Don to my parents  it was then that I had to tell them he was a Catholic.

I can see my fathers face to this day, being a Northern Irish Protestant - it was a bit of a shock.

He said, If you marry this man, I cannot and will not go to the wedding and nor will your mother.

It was the saddest day of my mothers life but, back then, you did as the father said.

Don, was a BBC Northern Ireland cameraman when they met before becoming a director.

He was the father of Glorias children Paul, Michael and Caron, her late daughter who died from breast cancer in 2004.

Gloria and Don divorced in 1992, five years before he passed away.

She was 21 when they wed and said that eventually her dad welcomed Don into the family.

She added: He never held a grudge and nor did I.

She also recounted her upset at reporting on the Abercorn Restaurant bomb in 1972.

Two young Catholic friends  Anne Owens (22), who was employed at the Electricity Board, and Janet Bereen (21), a hospital radiographer  were killed in the blast which injured more than 130 people.

No one claimed responsibility for the atrocity but it was believed to have been carried out by the Provisional IRA.

Gloria said: By the time I arrived at the scene, there were scores of people over the floor, screaming in pain and terror.

Many had lost limbs. I will never forget seeing a charred teddy bear. It was so upsetting.

She also told how she stayed on air while the BBCs Broadcasting House building was evacuated because of another IRA explosion.

She said: The bomb went off and this mighty building just shook.

It was mayhem but we just continued  the show must go on.

Belfast was ring-fenced and security was on high alert  you could find yourself being searched 20 times a day just to go shopping.
Before the COVID-19 pandemic locked down the states nursing homes, Valerie Marcellas grandmother received daily visits from family members.

They ate dinner with her every night and had breakfast together on weekends. They rubbed lotion on her skin, cut her nails, organized her room and did her laundry.

That all ended when the coronavirus arrived in Connecticut. The ensuing months of isolation brought with it a sharp decline in Marcellas grandmothers physical and mental health.

Her dementia is progressing. She has lost her ability to read and her ability to write. She has forgotten family members,' Marcella told members of the legislatures public health committee Wednesday. She has lost muscle and movement. Her skin uncared for became dry and flaky, her lips sometimes look like raisins.'

Marcella is one of several residents with loved ones in nursing homes who urged the committee to address the enormous social costs of the pandemic. They support House Bill 1030, legislation that incorporates a number of recommendations issued last year by a panel examining the impact of the pandemic on long term care facilities.

The provisions of the bill include:

Requiring all nursing homes, assisted living providers and intermediate care facilities for people with intellectual disabilities to employ a full-time infection preventionist and establish an infection prevention and control committee.

Directing long-term care facilities and the state Department of Public Health to maintain a three-month stock of personal protective equipment. Early in the coronavirus pandemic, many facilities suffered a shortfall of such equipment, leaving workers and residents vulnerable to the virus.

Mandating that each long-term care facility to have a person on staff trained in starting an intravenous line.

Requiring each facility establish a family council to enhance communication between residents, family members and the facilitys staff.

Requiring every facility to use an iPad or other device to make it easier for residents to communicate with their families.

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Directing the state Department of Public Health to set minimum staffing requirements for all nursing homes.

During a lengthy public hearing on the bill, lobbyists for the nursing home industry expressed support for some of the bills provisions but not all of them. One of their major concerns is the minimum staffing requirements mandated by the measure.

We are 100% in support of increased staffing, including the very significant amount of new state and federal resources that we believe will be needed to increase staffing,' said Matthew Barrett, president and CEO of the Connecticut Association of Health Care Facilities.

But Barrett said the facilities want the flexibility to decide the type and level of staffing thats most needed. And without an infusion of government money, the staffing issues will just be exacerbated and it will contribute to the financial insecurity and instability of the system.

Rep. Michelle Cook, a Democrat from Torrington whose father-in-law lived in a nursing home and died of COVID-19, expressed frustration with the industrys request.

A few years ago, we did a rate increase and a good amount of the staff never received the rate increase because the facilities held on to that,' Cook said. And then they turned around and said we cant give it to you now because of the COVID expenses.

So it truly frustrates me that the money we have allocated, didnt get to the necessary folks in a timely manner....and that was specific dollars for direct care staff and CNAs and the nurses on the floors,' Cook said.

For Cook, the minimum staffing rules are a way of ensuring that vulnerable nursing home are treated with compassion.

We are not affording the respect or the dignity to our elderly population,' she said. They deserve much more from us....I just hope we can see above some of the dollars and cents...and realize this is about making a system better thats not actually working for the folks that need it now.

Her point was echoed by Sharon Echtman, whose husband Joe has Alzheimers and is legally blind. When the COVID-19 crisis began, he became depressed and scared, she said.

" He was put on medications for his behavior,' Echtman told members of the public health committee. He was not eating and lost 30 plus pounds. He can no longer walk...

The proposed bill would have a positive impact on her husband, and so many other nursing home residents, Echtman said.

Daniela Altimari can be reached at dnaltimari@courant.com.
The Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) is calling all UAE nationals to participate in the Emirati Genome Programme, a ground-breaking national genomics initiative and one of the worlds largest, and most comprehensive genomics programmes.

The programme aims to provide the best healthcare system for all Emirati citizens, understand the nature of the genetic diseases prevalent among the UAE population, implement personalised medicine for Emiratis to provide accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment, strengthen the prevention of genetic and chronic diseases in the coming generations, equip national competencies to reshape the future of healthcare policies in cooperation with the highest medical research centres, foster the countrys position as a global innovation hub in the health sector, and raise the countrys profile in the Global Competitiveness Index.

Open for all UAE nationals, the Emirati Genome Programme aims to deliver better insights into genetic variation in the Emirati population. By taking part in the programme, participants will contribute towards a process of scientific discovery with potential onwards benefits, such as tailored healthcare strategies across the UAE and support a transition from a reactive model of healthcare to more proactive and preventative healthcare management.

Launched in collaboration with the Department of Health  Abu Dhabi, the programme is one of the flagship initiatives of G42 Healthcares recently launched Omics Centre of Excellence, the largest and most technologically advanced omics facility in the region.

The pilot phase of the Emirati Genome Programme was successfully concluded with G42 Healthcare experts building the first de novo Emirati reference genome based on DNA samples from 1,000 UAE nationals, using cutting-edge next generation and third generation sequencing with artificial intelligence. The reference genome will be used as a type-standard against which individual genomes will be compared in the diagnosis of genetic conditions and informing treatment plans to provide personalised healthcare for UAE citizens.

Inviting UAE nationals to participate in the programme, Abdul Rahman bin Mohammed Al Owais, Minister of Health, Ministry of Health and Prevention, said: In line with the UAEs vision for the Next 50 years, development of a preventive healthcare system is one of our key priorities. As one of the most ambitious genomics programme worldwide, Emirati Genome Programme is our step towards providing preventive and personalised healthcare system for the Emirati population. I call upon all UAE nationals to participate in the programme and support us in achieving our goal of providing innovative and world-class healthcare services to all Emiratis for a healthier future.

Al Owais added: The Emirati Genome Programme is one of the flagship projects aimed to anticipate the healthcare future and enter a new era of genetic medicine based on the use of genetic information in the clinical care. By using genetic science and modern technologies of sequencing-based genomic profiling to identify the DNA fingerprinting, the Programme would help prevent genetic and chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes, hypertension, cancer, and asthma, as well as develop personalised treatment for each patient according to genetic factors.

Ashish Koshy, Chief Executive Officer of G42 Healthcare, said: Emirati Genome Programme is set to create a new milestone in the field of UAEs healthcare sector. We urge Emiratis across all age groups to participate in the programme and contribute to a healthier future for generations to come. We are pleased to have received an overwhelming response with its launch in Abu Dhabi and looking forward to reach more Emiratis across UAE, who will play a crucial part in shaping the future of healthcare system of this nation.

The success of the Emirati Genome Programme depends heavily on the voluntary participation of UAE nationals across the country. The more participants the Emirati Genome Programme has, the more comprehensive the resulting genetic data becomes, creating a rich base for scientists and medical professionals to build the Emirati reference genome.

Emirati volunteers can now visit the sample collection sites in Al Maared Hall at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (Adnec) and the Biogenix Lab Masdar City, Abu Dhabi, where team members will be available to guide them through the process. Additional collection sites will be open across the country in the coming weeks and months. Participation is voluntary, and participants would be required to go through an informed consent process before joining the programme. -- Tradearabia News Service
Maheep Kapoor of the Fabulous Lives Of Bollywood Wives fame, along with son Jahaan Kapoor, is currently enjoying her staycation in the Maldives and had recently expressed missing daughter Shayana Kapoor there. Now, on Wednesday, the beloved wife of actor Sanjay Kapoor dug up her family album to share a '#majorthrowback' photo of daughter Shanaya on Instagram. Almost a week ago, on the occasion of International Women's Day 2021, the Starkid had also taken to her Instagram handle to share an aww-dorable childhood photograph of herself with her mom and penned a heartfelt note for her.

Shanaya Kapoor's childhood photo is all things cute

Maheep Kapoor's love for her kids Shanaya and Jahaan had become one of the favourite aspects of Netflix's Fabulous Lives Of Bollywood Wives for a lot of fans. The celebrity wife also doesn't leave any opportunities to shell out major family goals on social media by giving fans glimpses of her we-time with her family or by posting some cutesy throwback pictures of her loved ones. Similarly, Maheep, who is currently on a vacay in the Maldives, expressed missing her beloved daughter on her trip with Jahaan by sharing Shanaya Kapoor's unseen photo on Instagram.

Earlier today, i.e. March 17, 2021, Maheep Kapoor took to her Instagram Stories to post a cutesy photo of Shanaya from one of their trips back in the days. In the picture shared by mom Maheep, a young Shanaya could be seen posing for the camera by a clear blue water body in red swimwear paired with green footwear and rounded off with a diving mask. Posting the photo on her IG stories, the 38-year-old wrote, "#throwback".

Check out the throwback picture of Maheep Kapoor's daughter below:

Meanwhile, on March 8, 2021, i.e. International Women's Day, Shanaya Kapoor shared a lovely throwback picture with her "Mumma" from her childhood days. In the picture, the mother-daughter duo flashed their beaming smiles at the camera in twinning baby pink outfits. She also shared a photo of her handwritten note for Maheep on the special occasion. Posting the pictures, the 21-year-old captioned the IG post writing, "Happy womens day to my support system, my best friend, my pillar...Mumma #igotyoubabe".

Take a look:

Get the latest entertainment news from India & around the world. Now follow your favourite television celebs and telly updates. Republic World is your one-stop destination for trending Bollywood news. Tune in today to stay updated with all the latest news and headlines from the world of entertainment.
This story originally appeared on Kveller, 70 Faces Medias Jewish lifestyle site.

More than half a decade ago, iconic Friends co-creator Martha Kauffman sold an American version of the Israeli mega-hit Shtisel to Amazon Prime. The series, like Shtisel, would focus on a Haredi family  except, instead of Jerusalem, this one would be based in Brooklyn.

Unfortunately, that show, titled Emmis, never materialized. Nonetheless, it appears an American Shtisel remake is now about to become a reality.

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Well. Sort of.

According to Deadline, global hit Israeli drama Shtisel is getting an American remake, written by Insatiable creator Lauren Gussis and directed by Oscar-winner Kenneth Lonergan.

When I first heard the news, I was truly excited. Two successful Jewish creators signing on to remake one of the most beloved Jewish shows of all-time is truly a reason for celebration.

But upon closer inspection, Im sad to report that well this show sounds absolutely nothing like Shtisel.

Shtisel, written by Gussis based on the Netflix-distributed Israeli series and to be directed by Lonergan, is a modern Romeo and Juliet tale of impossible love, according to Deadline. (OK, thats not really a central plot point in Shtisel? But Kiveh does fall in love with an older mother of one of his students in the first season of the show, which is a little bit of a forbidden romance so yes, go on, Deadline article.)

The female lead of the American show, the article continues, is the privileged daughter of a Hollywood power couple. Huh?? She seems to be the girl who has everything. But when she meets a twentysomething Hasidic young man to whom she is powerfully drawn the pull is so strong that she is willing to uproot her entire life to be with him.

OK wait what?! This is truly not the plot of Shtisel. In fact, aside from the fact that there is an attractive, male Hasidic character, it doesnt seem like there are many commonalities here at all. But it does sound like a mishmash of two other popular Israeli shows: A Touch Away  which is a Romeo and Juliette tale set in the religious city of Bnei Brak, between a Russian immigrant and his Haredi neighbor  and The Baker and the Beauty, which is about a forbidden romance between a successful international supermodel and a baker from a Yemenite Jewish family.

Dont get me wrong, both of these shows are very good! But Shtisel they are not.

Still, I wont deny that this American Shtisel show sounds very promising and that I am excited (and maybe a little scared) to watch it.

Of course, Kenneth Lonergans films and plays do showcase his ability to capture a sometimes depressing, moody, Shtisel-like sensibility. And they are very good (in fact, they are, as Deadline mentioned, Oscar-winning). Lonergan was raised in New York by a Jewish mother and Irish father, and attended the Walden School, a progressive private school with a host of famous Jewish alumni, including Matthew Broderick, Kyra Sedgwick, and Beastie Boy Mike D.

Lonergan, who is now most famous for his award-winning Machester By the Sea, has definitely written Jewish characters  for example, Anna Paquin played Lisa Cohen in his 2011 film, Margaret  but never Hasidic ones. Hes also never worked on TV before but he was persuaded to join the production of the show after he sparked to the material, following conversations with Gussis and calls with several rabbis. (Were these calls recorded and can we listen to them, please?)

As for Gussis, shes a Dexter alum who created Netflixs Insatiable, which is just an incredibly camp and somewhat ridiculous show whose first season I binged in record time because, well, Im not sure why! Honestly, I could not think of a show whose sensibility is more disparate from Shtisel  still, Im looking forward to seeing what she comes up with for the script for this show.

The show will be created by CBS Studios and is going on the marketplace, which means we dont know where it will air, or when. We will certainly keep our eyes and ears peeled! Also, just putting it out into the universe: Even if this show doesnt sound too much like Shtisel, we really wouldnt mind it if it starred Michael Aloni, too.
City of Springfield Second Phase Marijuana Public Presentation by Proposers City of Springfield Second Phase Marijuana Public Presentation by Proposers First of two meetings. Second meeting will be on Thursday 3/18. Posted by City of Springfield, MA - Office of Communications on Monday, March 15, 2021

SPRINGFIELD  The city, having recently launched a second phase in its efforts to bring more marijuana businesses to Springfield, heard a variety of proposals this week.

Nine companies made 15-minute presentations to a city review board and the public during a remote meeting on Monday, with another nine scheduled to make presentations Thursday.

Those 18 companies and others are all potential applicants for marijuana licenses and permits in Springfield. The deadline for proposals is Monday at 2 p.m. at the Office of Procurement at City Hall.

In Phase 2, the city is preparing to approve up to four retail businesses, and at least one cultivation business, among other cannabis ventures. Businesses must also get approval from the state Cannabis Control Commission.

Theo G. Theocles, the citys deputy director of procurement, said he was pleased with the enthusiasm shown by the presenters Monday.

The public presentations showed a high level of thought and sophistication for potential economic development in the city, Theocles said.

The businesses presenting Monday proposed locations in the Metro Center, the South End, McKnight, Pine Point and East Springfield, describing renovations of vacant buildings and new construction. The proposals ranged from retail businesses to cultivation to transportation.

Page Cultivate LLC presented an estimated $15 million to $16 million project to construct a new building at 299 Page Blvd. for its proposed marijuana cultivation and product manufacturing facility. A 40,000-square-foot facility is planned with approximately 50 employees, with a preference for local hiring. The building would be on Lot 2 of the property, behind a building leased by the city for its new Police Department shooting range.

Plans were provided by business CEO Mark Waldron and other members of his team. Waldron is also CEO of Vibe Growth Corp., described as having five retail and two cultivation operations in California and Oregon.

Hoop City Ventures LLC is proposing a retail marijuana site at 357 Cottage St. in an industrial area of East Springfield. The company, managed by Richard Rainone, plans a retail shop at the former Lime Light Pub, with plans for 21 parking spaces and substantial exterior renovations, he said.

It is mostly the same group that is preparing to open a retail marijuana business in Holyoke, Rainone said. He was joined by business partner Keshawn Warner and other representatives.

Lemonnade LLC, whose majority owner is Brittany Washum of Springfield, is proposing a retail marijuana store at 595 Main St., in the South End, in partnership with the Cookies cannabis company.

There is about 10,000 square feet of space including more than 2,000 square feet for retail, and there will be 41 parking spaces, officials said.

The company plans to set aside 3,000 square feet for a social equity impact center, to provide training, networking, work space and meeting space, officials said.

House of Cannabis LLC and its founder, Alphonzia Jacobs Jr., presented plans for a marijuana-related cultivation, manufacturing and retail business, listing its possible location as 135-155 Lyman St. downtown. The vacant building is owned by the city, which has tried to sell the property in the past without success, Jacobs said.

Approximately 50 to 75 employees would be needed. Growing would be done completely indoors, he said. The former mill has about 30,000 square feet of space.

Kur Retailers LLC, represented by President Sabino J. Caracciolo and other company officials, is proposing a retail marijuana site at 461 Boston Road in Pine Point. A new building is proposed on the lot that once housed Russells Restaurant, which has been vacant for for more than a decade, company officials said.

The company is proposing a 3,000-square-foot building fronting Boston Road, on an acre of land, along with an adjacent one-third-acre pocket park for use by residents. The total investment in the development was estimated $1.1 million. There would be 29 parking spaces, and there would be 16-20 jobs created, the company said.

Seashore Enterprises LLC, doing business as 365 Recreational Cannabis, is proposing a site at 822 Boston Road. Jordon Raftis, director of business development, cited experience with marijuana businesses in Washington and California.

The company plans to redevelop a vacant former Rent-a-Center. It would have 21 parking spaces and minimal traffic impact, and would prioritize the hiring of Springfield residents, company officials aid.

Boston Bud Factory was represented by business partners Frank Dailey, a longtime resident of Springfield, and Carlo Sarno, of Longmeadow, formerly of Springfield.

The company is proposing a retail marijuana business and listed two sites under consideration: a vacant building at 67 Allen St., near White Street, and a vacant building at 77 Warehouse St.

Primus LLC, led by CEO Lamont Clemons and principal partner Robert Kelly, both of Springfield, presented plans for 666 State St. in the McKnight neighborhood.

The site, in a commercial plaza near Thompson Street, is along a bus line and convenient for walkers and bikers, Clemons said. There will be about 27 parking spots, and the plans will increase real estate values in the area, he said. Primus will focus on jobs in the neighborhood and diversity hiring, company officials said.

American Transport of Springfield presented plans to apply for a third-party cannabis transportation license from its site at 200 Taylor St. downtown. The company plans to initially have six transport vans from its dispatch center, transporting marijuana products from business to business rather than conducting any sales on site.

The president is Angela Chagnon and the company is a subsidiary of American Hospitality Services Inc. The property is surrounded by an 8-foot fence with barbwire. It would have about 18 employees including two drivers for each van, recruited locally, company officials said.

Mayor Domenic J. Sarno and the City Council approved four retail recreational marijuana businesses in the first round of applications in 2019. One site, Liberty Springfield, has opened on Boston Road. Three other businesses approved in Phase 1 are in the process of opening.

A medical marijuana facility operated by Insa Inc. is open on Cottage Street.
LOS ANGELESAdult social network Adult social network JustFor.fans (JFF) has unveiled its latest personalized Recommendations page, which suggests new models to members.

The all-new feature uses Artificial Intelligence to detect existing models the JFF member has already subscribed to, and then suggest what other models they might like, based on who else subscribes to those models and who else they subscribe to.

JustFor.fans focuses a lot on providing internal traffic to our models; unlike other sites, in which models are responsible for bringing all of their own traffic, our models routinely attribute 30-40 percent of their sales to our internal traffic, said JFF CEO and founder Dominic Ford. We expect that percentage to go up with the launch of this new feature, which is one more way we introduce users to models they might not know about yet."

The Recommendations system takes many factors into account to assist JFF members, such as how long ago they subscribed to a particular model, how often that model updates their content, etc. The list of suggestions returned are models that have been active within the last two weeks on JFF, and exclusive models are shown first.

Before his work in the adult industry, Ford was a software engineer at an Artificial Intelligence think tank in Cambridge, MA. He later went on to lead development teams for personalization software (building and using systems like the one JFF is using) for major retail websites.

Artificial Intelligence software development is my background, so it was only a matter of time until I integrated a system similar to the ones I used to build for the Department of Defense and major retail websites into JustFor.fans, he added, and the results have been stunning. The page is already responsible for a large percentage of new sales per day.
Coronavirus cases: Karnataka faces oxygen shortfall even as active cases still on higher side

Less than three lakh active COVID-19 cases in Karnataka

Karnataka 'sex CD' scandal: Accused womans dad files kidnap complaint

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

Bengaluru, Mar 17: In a new twist, the parents of the woman allegedly involved in the sex for job CD scandal that resulted in the resignation of BJP minister Ramesh Jarkiholi, has lodged a complaint with the Belagavi police alleging that their daughter had been kidnapped from Bengaluru.

The father further claimed that his 25-year-old daughter had been kidnapped on March 2 itself.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Law and Order), Vikram Apte told reporters that a complaint of kidnap of daughter was filed by her father on Tuesday.

"We have booked his complaint under sections 363 (Kidnapping), 368, 343, 346 (Dealing with wrongful confinement) 354 (Assault) and 506 (Criminal Intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code," he said.

Karnataka 'sex' tape case: Ramesh Jarkiholi says it was conspiracy, knew about CD 4 months ago

A social activist on March 2 alleged that the minister exploited a woman on the pretext of giving her a job.

Soon, the objectionable videos went viral and news channels started airing selected parts of it.

Karnataka CD Scandal: Family claims woman kidnapped, files complaint| Oneindia News

The allegation forced Jarkiholi to resign as minister on March 3.

However, days after the allegation, the social activist announced withdrawing his complaint enabling the embattled MLA to claim his innocence. Jarkiholi claimed that there was a big conspiracy against him in which very big people were involved.

He, however, refused to name the conspirators.
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Nearly every older adult was prescribed a prescription drug that increased their risk of falling in 2017, according to new University at Buffalo research.

The study found that the percentage of adults 65 and older who were prescribed a fall- risk-increasing drug climbed to 94% in 2017, a significant leap from 57% in 1999. The research also revealed that the rate of death caused by falls in older adults more than doubled during the same time period.

Even minor falls may be dangerous for older adults. Falls that are not fatal can still result in injuries - such as hip fractures and head traumas - that may drastically lower remaining quality of life. Each year, nearly $50 billion is spent on medical costs related to fall injuries among older adults, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The alarming results solidify the importance of interventions to de-prescribe potentially inappropriate drugs among older, frailer patients, says Amy Shaver, PharmD, lead investigator and postdoctoral associate in the UB School of Public Health and Health Professions.

Our study indicates two trends increasing concurrently at a population level that should be examined at the individual level. Our hope is it will start more conversations on health care teams about the pros and cons of medications prescribed for vulnerable populations." Amy Shaver, PharmD, Lead Investigator and Postdoctoral Associate, UB School of Public Health and Health Professions

Additional investigators in the UB School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences include Collin Clark, PharmD, clinical assistant professor; David Jacobs, PharmD, PhD, assistant professor; Robert Wahler Jr., PharmD, clinical associate professor; and Mary Hejna, PharmD, pharmacy resident at Kaleida Health.

Recently published in Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety, the study examined data on deaths due to falls and prescription fills among people 65 and older from the National Vital Statistics System and the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey.

Fall-risk-increasing drugs include antidepressants, anticonvulsants, antipsychotics, antihypertensives (for high blood pressure), opioids, sedative hypnotics, and benzodiazepines (tranquilizers such as Valium and Xanax), as well as other nonprescription medications.

From 1999-2017, more than 7.8 billion fall-risk-increasing drug orders were filled by older adults in the United States. The majority of the prescriptions were for antihypertensives. However, there was also a sharp rise in the use of antidepressants, from 12 million prescriptions in 1999 to more than 52 million in 2017.

"The rise in the use of antidepressant medications seen in this study is likely related to the use of these agents as safer alternatives to older medications for conditions such as depression and anxiety," says Shaver. "However, it is important to note that these medications are still associated with increased risks of falls and fractures among older adults."

Women were also found more likely than men to be prescribed fall-risk-increasing drugs, particularly Black women, who received the medications at the highest rate compared to women of other races. White women who were 85 and older experienced the largest increase in deaths from falls, rising 160% between 1999 and 2017.

The investigators are involved in multidisciplinary de-prescribing initiatives conducted through Team Alice and the UB Center for Successful Aging. The efforts encourage and evaluate patient/caregiver-initiated de-prescribing conversations with health care providers, promote interprofessional education on de-prescribing, and advocate for policy and system changes.
TORONTO - Canada's main cybersecurity watchdog said Wednesday that it's likely too late to prevent criminals from using a vulnerability in Microsoft Exchange email servers, unless system administrators have already installed software patches that were issued in early March.

The Microsoft company logo is displayed at their offices in Sydney, Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Rick Rycroft

TORONTO - Canada's main cybersecurity watchdog said Wednesday that it's likely too late to prevent criminals from using a vulnerability in Microsoft Exchange email servers, unless system administrators have already installed software patches that were issued in early March.

Scott Jones, head of the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security, said after issuing an updated alert to IT professionals that "the law of probability states that it's almost certain that there are victims in Canada."

"We just don't know who they are yet," Jones said in an interview. "We're hoping that they know that they're victims, though, which is also another point of the alert."

He said he organizations that are statistically most likely to be at risk are those that have Microsoft Exchange server software on their own computers or on a smaller IT service provider, rather than through a major cloud service such as Microsoft Office 365 or Google Cloud.

Jones said organizational leaders need to ask: Have the security patches been installed? Have we checked to make sure we weren't compromised? If there was a compromise, who needs to be told?

"Once you've confirmed patching and confirmed that there's no compromise of the network, then (you) can breathe a sigh of relief and say we were lucky," Jones said.

He said there have been public reports of widespread compromises by criminals using the security gap to install a new family of ransomware called DearCry, which Microsoft warned about in a tweet last week.

"In terms of specific Canadian organizations, we would need them to report to us  meaning give us a call in let us know that they're victims," Jones said.

He said it's the responsibility of victim organizations to inform their customers, employees or any affected parties such as suppliers and insurers if there has been a security breach.

Jones said he's not authorized to answer questions about the security of the Canadian government's own email systems but said it has "a very robust and active" patch management program in place.

The Canadian Centre for Cyber Security's March 16 alert was the third since early March 2, when Microsoft published several security updates for Exchange email servers.

The head of German government's cybersecurity agency issued a similar warning to IT system administrators on Friday.

 With a file from The Associated Press

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 17, 2021.
Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at Nile Plaza has launched a selection of spring spa specials for a relaxing journey that will leave mind, body and spirit in total harmony.



The expert Four Seasons Spa team is offering all women an exclusive complimentary rose foot scrub on any treatment from March 14 to March 21.



Whether choosing a Nefertari Herbal massage, a hot stone massage, or any of the comprehensive selection of 60-minute massages, now is the time to escape the busy demands of life and enjoy a complimentary upgrade to a 90-minute massage, available from 10am to 4pm until May 11.



Guests are welcome to come with a company for a day of utter bliss to enjoy the indoor pool and other relaxing facilities when booking any of the 90-minute massages until May 11, a hotel statement said.  TradeArabia News Service
The controversial Trump Phone Call came from the Georgia Secretary of State Office. It falsely alleged that then-President Trump asked the investigator to look for fraud.

Georgia SOS: Single Source of the Trump Phone Call

President Trump's leaked phone call is an intentional issue that used to attack him. Details weren't clear, and the biased media swoops on it.

The phone called that falsely blame trump had one source with ill intent. An official in the Georgia secretary of state's office (SOS) leaked the story to the media, making President Trump look guilty when he told an associate of the SOS to find the fraud.

Jordan Fuchs, deputy secretary of state, reported the off-record administration's details to the Washington Post. Trump was talking to the Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, said the Epoch Times

The problem with the report is that Fuchs was not active in the call. Frances Watson, the investigator, told Fuchs about the call. This makes her an indirect source which is not accurate.

Eagerness to paint the president in an allegedly bad light, as biased media does. Outlets like the Post and anti-Trump publication printed false news. For many Trump supporters, this biased media made a grave mistake without confirmed sources.

Raffensperge's office called out the inaccuracies of Fuchs, saying the person cited wrong details that got Trump's statements all wrong.

A spokesperson from the Georgia SOS said the transcript was based on the Trump Phone Call not recorded. The investigator listened and wrote what was recalled during the call. Added that it was not a word-per-word they spoke of.

Attorney Lin Wood: Trump Campaign Lawyer says Trump Got 400 Electoral Votes not 232

The Post said that it was a misquote from an unreliable source. The WaPo cited Fuchs, who gave the inaccurate details for their report. The WaPo also made a grave error by citing her as familiar to the call.

According to the Associated Press, which issued its correction, its story was an error. Focusing on finding the fraud to encourage Watson was framed wrongly. Anti-Trump critics always jumped at the chance to fry him. They made a gross mistake relying on Fuchs, who misrepresented the facts.

CNN included an editor note paraphrasing Trump's comment. They added info that it was the Georgia elections investigator in the direct quotes.

The Associated Press and the Post did not give remarks. For them, the report had the wrong facts and omitted Fuchs as the source. Outlets like CNN, ABC News, NBC News, and Reuters just shut quiet over a false report. All of them updated articles except for Reuters.

It appears Jordan Fuchs of the Georgia SOS has explaining to do.

All the outlets that reported based on one source made a mistake. Andrew Schotz told the Epoch Times it was a mistake to publish the dubious source 'Fuchs.' Biased media will go to great lengths to discredit trump.

Despite the grave error of Fuchs on the Trump phone call, Raffensperger's office says that inaccurate details are still accurate. Thus, the Georgia SOS is not conceding the error as the news outlets.

Election Anomaly: The Chain of Custody Records for Absentee Ballots Cannot Be Found, DeKalb County

Michigan Poll Observer Claims Military Ballots Were Xerox Copies Marked Biden

Sidney Powell Case Against Georgia Election Set for Hearing Re Poll Cheating

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Several Democratic lawmakers are pushing Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey to accept more than $900 million in the COVID stimulus bill to expand Medicaid to the states low-income adults.

I dont care whether we call it Obamacare, said Sen. Bobby Singleton, D-Greensboro. We could call it Kaycare. It could be Alabama Health Care. But we need to expand Medicaid and the time to do it is right now.

Singleton, Sen. Linda Coleman-Madison, D-Birmingham, and Rep. Rodger Smitherman, D-Birmingham, spoke Tuesday in support of the expansion. The American Rescue Plan signed late last week by President Joe Biden offers $940 million over two years to help Alabama with the costs of providing healthcare to those who didnt previously qualify for coverage.

Alabama is one of 12 states that have not expanded Medicaid, which was part of former President Barack Obamas Affordable Care Act. The federal government funded 100 percent of the costs of expansion in the early years, which then fell to 90 percent. Alabama leaders have said in the past the state could not afford to pick up 10 percent of the expansion tab.

Under this American Rescue Plan, thats definitely going to greatly impact the state of Alabama, Coleman said. It gives states that failed to expand Medicaid a second chance to increase the federal funding to expand this.

Coleman said the stimulus gives the state much of funding it would need for the next two years.

One of the issues, as always, is how can we fund it? Coleman said. Well this is an opportunity to do that, but it does come with some strings.

When the Affordable Care Act first passed, many Alabama leaders referred to it as Obamacare and opposed the expansion of Medicaid. However, political opposition has faded over the years. Some Southern states, including Louisiana, Kentucky, Arkansas and Virginia, have chosen to expand Medicaid. A recent poll from the Cover Alabama coalition showed that a majority of Alabama voters, including Republican voters, supported Medicaid expansion.

While some Souhtern governors have continued to reject Medicaid expansion, The Washington Post recently reported that Ivey is open to the discussion. If the governor opted to expand Medicaid, it would require approval by the legislative council.

Sen. Singleton said it is the right time to expand Medicaid.

We have seen Covid ravage our communities, Singleton said. Weve seen local rural hospitals shut down. Weve seen the fact that we dont have telemedicine in communities. Weve seen the shortage of nurses in our communities.

Alabama has one of the most restrictive Medicaid programs in the country. It covers low-income children, seniors, pregnant women and people with disabilities. The program does not cover any adults without children or with grown children and sets the cutoff for caregivers at just 18 percent of the federal poverty level, or around $4,000 a year for a single mother. Any parent who earns more than that does not qualify for Medicaid coverage.

If Alabama expanded Medicaid, the program would cover single adults who earn about $13,000 a year or less and families of three with incomes of less than $22,000. Advocates estimate more than 300,000 people could gain access to Medicaid in Alabama.

The lawmakers said the expansion would not just help individuals and families struggling to obtain health care. It would also benefit hospitals, prisons and the mental health care system.

Rep. Smitherman said many people with mental illness cannot afford medication or treatment because they have no access to insurance coverage. Instead, they cycle in and out of crisis without the capability to obtain stabilizing treatment.

Its time now for us to put politics on the shelf and in a bipartisan manner help all our citizens, Smitherman said.
YEREVAN.  Members of the Liberation Movement, which demands the resignation of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, staged protest in front of the main building of the government of Armenia.

They sit on the ground in a group and chanted, "Nikol, the traitor."

A representative of this movement told reporters: "Our demand is but one: lets liberate Armenia from all enemies, as well as from the people who work in the government (). Our goal is to unite all Armenians, for the people to restore respect for each other, whereas the people were divided into different parts since 2018. Our demand is that the traitorous leaders leave. Our actions will be continuous. There were 5-6 of us at yesterday's action, we were few. Today the youth are gradually approaching, joining. We are growing [in number] day by day."

Police stand at the entrance to the aforesaid government building and guard the entrance.

After sitting in front of this government building for about 20 minutes, the protesters left.

The aforementioned representative of this movement informed that now they will walk around the capital Yerevan and chant.
With several Indian cities witnessing a surge in daily COVID-19 cases, state governments have decided to impose lockdown or curfew in order to curb the virus' spread. India on Wednesday recorded the highest new COVID-19 cases of this year. On March 17, India logged 28,903 new coronavirus infections and 188 new fatalities. Despite the vaccination drive against coronavirus, India is witnessing an upward trajectory in COVID-19 cases.

As per the union health ministry data, 83.91 per cent of the new cases are from Maharashtra, Punjab, Karnataka, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu, and Kerala. Maharashtra alone accounts for 61.8 per cent of the daily new cases with 17,864 cases.

Registering an increase for the seventh day in a row, the total active caseload has increased to 2,34,406 which now comprises 2.05 per cent of the total infections. Maharashtra, Kerala and Punjab account for 76.4 per cent of India's total active cases with Maharashtra alone contributing nearly 60 per cent.

Consequently, the Maharashtra government has imposed partial lockdown or curfew to prevent the further spread of COVID-19.

List of cities where the Maharashtra government has ordered restrictions:

1. Nagpur lockdown

A week-long lockdown with strict restrictions came into force in the Nagpur district of Maharashtra on March 15. The COVID-19 caseload in the city has climbed to 1,75,386 after 2,587 fresh infections were detected on Tuesday.

2. Pune curfew

The district officials in Pune have imposed a night curfew from 11 pm to 6 am. Additionally, the district administration has directed schools and colleges to remain shut till March 31. Hotels and restaurants have been allowed to function till 10 pm, and food deliveries have been permitted till 11 pm. Officials have directed malls and multiplexes owners to operate till 11 pm.

3. Wardha curfew

In Wardha, the district administration has imposed a curfew from 8 pm to 8 am on Monday. All shops, restaurants, hotels, petrol pumps have also been asked to shut their operation during this period. Only shops selling essential items have been allowed to remain open.

4. Nasik curfew

In Nasik, night curfew has been imposed between 7 pm and 7 am. However, hotels and restaurants can remain open till 9 pm with 50 per cent capacity. The district administration has also put a cap of 25-30 people at weddings or any other event.

5. Nanded curfew

Night curfew has been imposed on Nanded from 7 pm to 7 am until March 21.

6. Panvel curfew

In Panvel also night curfew has been imposed from 11 pm to 5 am until March 22. During this period all educational institutes will remain shut, except Class10 and 12 will.

Apart from Maharashtra, other Indian states which have imposed night curfews or lockdown are:

1. Madhya Pradesh

MP Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced night curfew in Indore and Bhopal from 10 pm to 6 am. Moreover, shops will be closed after 10 pm in Jabalpur, Gwalior, Ujjain, Ratlam, Chhindwara, Burhanpur, Betul, and Khargone. The state has also banned public programme on Holi festival but given permission to celebrate individually.

2. Gujarat

In Gujarat, which is also witnessing a surge in COVID-19 cases, the state government decided to increase the night curfew timings in four major cities by two hours. The curfew will now remain in force in Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara, and Rajkot from 10 pm to 6 am.

3. Uttarakhand

The Dehradun district magistrate ordered complete lockdown in parts of Mussoorie, which includes, Galway Cottage area, St. George's School, and Barlow Ganj area. As per the order, all shops and offices will be closed till further announcements.

4. Punjab

In Punjab, a total of eight districts are under the night curfew--Ludhiana, Mohali, Patiala, Jalandhar, Kapurthala, Hoshiarpur, Fatehgarh Sahib, and Nawanshahr. The curfew is imposed from 11 pm to 5 am in these eight districts. The Department of School Education has declared "preparatory leaves" for all classes in both private and government schools. However, teachers will continue to remain present in the schools.

Also read: Steelmakers to pare debt worth Rs 35,000 crore by FY22, says CRISIL

Also read: Despite higher education, women participation in labour market remains low: CMIE
Alphabet Inc., in which the company is accused of violating antitrust laws in order to develop an already dominant advertising business.

Alaska, Florida, Montana, Nevada and Puerto Rico joined the lawsuit filed in December, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said. Thus, the number of plaintiffs has reached 15 states and territories, reports Reuters.

The lawsuit was one of three filed last year by the federal government or states against Google.

The lawsuit alleges that Google is quietly teaming up with its closest online ad competitor, Facebook, and is using an excuse to protect user privacy to act unfairly. Publishers complain that one of the results has been a drop in revenue. Facebook and Google are working together to identify users who use Apple products.

Google, in a statement, described the new claim as a gratuitous addition to an already unfounded lawsuit.

The lawsuit notes that starting in 2015, Google can view WhatsApp messages that users back up to the Google Drive cloud storage system.

Google knew that users were not informed about its access, but "did nothing to correct this misunderstanding, the lawsuit says. By June 2016, Google D had attracted nearly 250 million new users through its partnership with WhatsApp.
GRAND HAVEN, Mich., March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- UV Angel, maker of next-generation pathogen control technology, today announced an agreement with Butler School District 53 to help create safer and cleaner environments for students, teachers, staff, and parents at its schools. Butler D53 serves students in early childhood through eighth grade in Oak Brook, Illinois.

On Monday, March 8th, the Butler D53 School Board approved a plan to install the patented UV Angel Clean Air technology at its two schools to keep students, teachers and staff as safe as possible for in-person learning. The system also gives families added peace of mind during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.

"Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, keeping our students, faculty, and staff healthy and safe has remained our top priority as we reopened our school buildings for full-day, in-person learning with a remote option since the fall of 2020," Butler School District 53 Superintendent of Schools Dr. Paul O'Malley said. "Our district's investment in UV Angel technology is further proof of our commitment to students, parents and staff that we continue to create the safest possible learning environments. We reviewed a wide range of options and UV Angel's system stood head and shoulders above the rest."

The technology is being installed at Brook Forest Elementary (grades K-5) and Butler Junior High (grades 6-8) to protect the more than 500 students in the Oak Brook community. Installation of UV Angel technology is already under way.

UV Angel is a West Michigan-based company that specializes in engineered pathogen control technology, which uses ultraviolet light to neutralize up to 99.99% of viruses, bacteria and fungi on surfaces and in the air. UV Angel designs their technology around a proven fundamental element, that pathogens are generated by people. The technology is different from many other solutions because it is an engineered "source-level" pathogen control, meaning it targets pathogens at the room-level, where and when they spread. Unlike most cleaning methods that only happen periodically and when people are not around.

UV Angel Clean Air technology is separate from the building HVAC system and is easily installed in the ceiling like any light fixture. The system continuously draws in air from the room into a sealed UV-C chamber, where the air is treated, and the clean treated air is returned to the room. The unique design allows the system to operate safely and continuously 24/7, 365 days a year while staff and students are present. The UV Angel technology uses a patented Shielded Chamber Design that is hidden away, so there is no UV-C exposure to those in the room. The units were originally designed for use in hospitals to help mitigate the risk of hospital-associated infections.

"At UV Angel, we understand how critical it is for students and teachers to return to classrooms safely," said Tom Byrne, CEO of UV Angel. "We view the installation of UV Angel technology in our nation's schools as paramount work, similar in how we view protecting our front-line healthcare workers. As experts in pathogen control, we understood how schools and other high-traffic environments can be an opportunity for quickly spreading infectious pathogens. Our technology is engineered to reduce the risk of person-to-person  or in this case, student-to-student  disease transmission and create safer, cleaner indoor air. We are proud to support Butler D53, which is among the leading school districts in the country to fully implement an engineered clean air solution."

During the COVID-19 pandemic, UV Angel saw a continued demand for its technology. That demand is surging in a post-pandemic environment as the technology has extended well beyond the health care industry, including in education, hospitality, food service, corporate office spaces and more. Industries realized implementing temporary measures like portable air treating systems were not nearly as effective and required much more maintenance than an engineered system like UV Angel. Another reason is that building-level air and ventilation technologies, such as large HVAC units, are important for occupants' comfort and provide fresh air to indoor spaces, but as the pandemic has highlighted, they are not enough to protect people now and in the future from the next highly transmissible pathogen. By contrast, UV Angel technologies are designed to help disrupt person-to-person pathogen spread.

For more information on UV Angel's technology and products, visit www.uvangel.com.

About UV Angel

UV Angel was founded with a mission to create safer environments around the world through the development of life-changing pathogen control technologies. The company uses years of advanced research and the latest technology developments in ultraviolet light, to help make the environments around us cleaner and safer by reducing harmful pathogens. Fully automated, patented and proven safe, the company's UV-C technology can be used in occupied spaces to clean the surfaces we touch and the air we breathe. UV Angel's technology is complemented by a proprietary data analytics platform that delivers critical insights and strategic advantages to leaders in healthcare, food service, retail, corporate, education and many more industries. Learn more at uvangel.com.

CONTACT

Olivia Lake

Lambert

[email protected]

269-685-7273

SOURCE UV Angel

Related Links

http://www.uvangel.com


Syrians are marking 10 years since peaceful protests against President Bashar Assads government erupted in March 2011, touching off a popular uprising that quickly turned into a full-blown civil war.

Despite a decade of fighting and a broken country, Mr Assad remains firmly in power.

Syria is economically devastated and divided into three parts.

An al-Qaida-linked group dominates the northwestern Idlib province, with Turkey-backed rebels controlling stretches along the Turkish border.

US-backed Syrian Kurdish forces hold around a quarter of the country in the northeast while Mr Assad controls the rest.

The conflict has killed around half a million people and displaced half of Syrias pre-war population of 23 million, including more than five million who are refugees, mostly in neighbouring countries.

Expand Close People fill plastic containers with water in Damascus (Hassan Ammar/AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook

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Whatsapp People fill plastic containers with water in Damascus (Hassan Ammar/AP)

Here is a timeline of key events in Syrias war:

 March 2011: Protests erupt in the city of Daraa over the detention of a group of boys accused of painting anti-government graffiti on their school walls.

On March 15, a rally is held in Damascus Old City.

On March 18, security forces fire at a protest in Daraa, killing four people in what activists say were the first deaths of the uprising.

Demonstrations spread, as does the crackdown.

 April 2011: Security forces raid a sit-in in Syrias third-largest city, Homs, where thousands tried to recreate the mood of Cairos Tahrir Square, the epicentre of protests against Egyptian autocrat Hosni Mubarak.

 July 18 2012: A bombing at the Syrian national security building in Damascus during a high-level government crisis meeting kills four top officials, including Mr Assads brother-in-law and the defence minister.

 July 2012: Fighting spreads to Aleppo, Syrias largest city and commercial capital.

 August 20 2012: President Barack Obama says the use of chemical weapons would be a red line that would change his calculus on intervening in the civil war.

 March 19 2013: Syrias government and opposition trade accusations over a gas attack that killed 26 people, including more than a dozen soldiers, in the northern town of Khan al-Assal.

A UN investigation later finds sarin nerve gas was used, but does not identify a culprit.

Expand Close Then US President Barack Obama (right) said the use of chemical weapons would be a red line (Dominic Lipinski/PA) PA / Facebook

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Whatsapp Then US President Barack Obama (right) said the use of chemical weapons would be a red line (Dominic Lipinski/PA)

 May 2013: Lebanons militant Hezbollah group officially joins the Syrian conflict on Mr Assads side by attacking and later capturing the border town of Qusair.

 August 21 2013: A chemical attack in Damascus eastern Ghouta suburbs kills hundreds.

The US and others blame Syrian government forces.

Mr Obama threatens punitive strikes but later backs down.

 September 27 2013: The UN Security Council orders Syria to account for and destroy its chemical weapons stockpile, following a surprise deal between Washington and Moscow that averts US strikes.

 October 14 2013: Syria becomes a signatory to the Chemical Weapons Convention, prohibiting it from producing, stockpiling or using chemical weapons.



 June 23 2014: The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons says it has removed the last of the Syrian governments chemical weapons.

Syrian opposition officials maintain government stocks were not fully accounted for, and that it retained supplies.

 June 30 2014: The Islamic State group declares its so-called caliphate in areas it controls in Iraq and Syria.

The refugee crisis accelerates.

Expand Close Displaced Syrian children play hopscotch outside their tent at a refugee camp in Bar Elias, Bekaa Valley, Lebanon (Hussein Malla/AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook

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Whatsapp Displaced Syrian children play hopscotch outside their tent at a refugee camp in Bar Elias, Bekaa Valley, Lebanon (Hussein Malla/AP)

 September 23 2014: The US launches airstrikes on IS targets in Syria.



 March 28 2015: Syrias northwestern city of Idlib falls to Islamic militants led by al Qaidas affiliate known as the Nusra Front.

 May 6 2015: Mr Assad acknowledges serious setbacks for his military.

 September 2 2015: The body of three-year-old Alan Kurdi is found on a Turkish beach, drawing attention to the plight of Syrian refugees taking desperate risks to reach the safety of Europe.

 September 30 2015: Russia begins launching air strikes in Syria in support of Assads forces.

 August 2016: Turkish forces cross into northern Syria, capturing areas along the border from the Islamic State group.

 December 2016: Syrian insurgents pull out of rebel-held eastern neighbourhoods of the northern city of Aleppo after a Russia-backed government offensive.

 April 4 2017: At least 58 die in what doctors say may have been a nerve gas attack on the town of Khan Sheikhoun in rebel-held Idlib.

Witnesses say either Russian or Syrian Sukhoi jets carried out the attack.

Moscow and Damascus deny responsibility.

Expand Close President Vladimir Putin addresses the troops at the Hemeimeem air base in Syria in 2017 (Mikhail Klimentyev/AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook

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Whatsapp President Vladimir Putin addresses the troops at the Hemeimeem air base in Syria in 2017 (Mikhail Klimentyev/AP)

 April 6 2017: The US fires a barrage of cruise missiles into Syria in retaliation for the Khan Sheikhoun attack, the first direct American assault on the Syrian government.

 May 2017: Rebels withdraw from the last neighbourhood they controlled in Homs, once dubbed the capital of the revolution.

 January 20 2018: Turkey begins a major military operation against Syrian Kurdish fighters in northern enclave of Afrin.

 April 2018: Syrian government forces capture eastern Ghouta, taking control of all Damascus suburbs and securing Mr Assads seat of power.

 April 14 2018: The US, Britain and France launch military strikes in Syria to punish Assad for an April 7 purported chemical weapons attack that activists say killed over 40 people in the Damascus suburb of Douma.



 October 10 2019: Turkey begins a ground offensive against Kurdish fighters in northern Syria after US troops pulled back from the area.

 March 5 2020: The presidents of Russia and Turkey say they have reached agreement on a ceasefire in northwestern Syria, where escalating fighting had threatened to put their forces into direct conflict.

The truce also stopped a Russian-backed government offensive on Idlib, the last rebel stronghold.

Expand Close Syrian government forces reinforcements arrive near the city of Ras al-Ayn, in the north of Syria (AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook

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Whatsapp Syrian government forces reinforcements arrive near the city of Ras al-Ayn, in the north of Syria (AP)

 June 17 2020: New sanctions known as the US Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act, targeting those who lend support to Syrian military efforts in the war, go into effect.
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Three cases of people who suffered from thrombosis after receiving the AstraZeneca vaccine, one of whom died, are under investigation, Spanish health officials said Wednesday.

The announcement by Madrid's AEMPS medicines agency came two days after the government suspended use of the vaccine for at least a fortnight as a precaution.

The three cases happened between late Monday and early Tuesday.

"It could be related to the vaccine or not," Health Minister Carolina Darias told a news conference.

"What we know so far is that in these three cases there is a temporal link but it has not been established that there is a causal link."

While she said she "understood the concerns", the minister stressed Spain has so far recorded just three cases of thrombosis out of the 975,661 people who received the AstraZeneca vaccine.

Press reports said the person who died was a 43-year-old maths teacher in the southern city of Marbella with no pre-existing health conditions.

She suffered a cerebral haemorrhage and had complained of headaches after having the jab, but doctors attributed it to the normal side effects associated with the vaccine, Diario Sur newspaper reported.

Monday's decision to suspend all AstraZeneca shots came just hours after Germany, France and Italy announced similar moves linked to fears the vaccine could generate serious side effects such as blood clots which can cause swellings, heart attacks and haemorrhages.

In a statement, the AEMPS said the three cases might be linked to the "formation of blood clots in areas of the body where they are less common" without drawing firm conclusions.

Investigators were "gathering more information and carrying out an exhaustive investigation".

Spain, which is also administering the Pfizer/BioNtech and Moderna vaccines, has so far recorded more than 72,500 coronavirus deaths from more than 3.2 million cases.

World Health Organization experts on Wednesday recommended countries continue to use the AstraZeneca vaccine.

That echoed a similar statement from the European Medicines Agency saying there was no link with clots.

The EMA is holding an extraordinary meeting Thursday to finalise conclusions on the blood clot issue and "make any necessary recommendations for further action".

Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak

 2021 AFP
Michigan Establishes Group to Allow Employees Safely Back in Office

Return-to-Office Workgroup established to keep track of company safety.

Some Michiganders are at the edge of their seats, eager to get back to the office. As the state increases vaccine distribution, more employees are preparing for in-person work.

The State of Michigan established the Return-to-office Workgroup consisting of business, labor and public health experts providing Governor Gretchen Whitmer with information on plans to reopen.

This will go along with the rules and regulations of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) as well as Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA).

Workplace safety still remains a concern even though COVID-19 cases are decreasing in the state. Local public health departments say office workplaces have had 275 outbreaks over the last six months.

Our priority remains the health and safety of Michigan workers and workplaces. Throughout the pandemic, we have worked closely with employers to provide strategies for safer in-person work and this group is an extension of that collaboration. Congregation in any setting creates risk, employers have implemented innovative approaches to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and bringing this new group together will provide a mechanism to capture key insights to align policies with best practices and health guidance, said Michigan COVID-19 Workplace Safety Director, Sean Egan.

The advisory groups first meeting is scheduled for March 18th. It will meet weekly to provide ongoing guidance for companies, updated health data and consultations with health experts.

To learn more about the states efforts to re-open safely, you can visit Michigans Government webpage.
Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism.
Tucson, Ariz. (March 16, 2021) - This week, a new, peer-reviewed scientific study finds that there is far more potential jaguar habitat in the U.S. than was previously thought. Scientists identified an area of more than 20 million acres that could support jaguars in the U.S., 27 times the size of designated critical habitat.

The results, published in the journal Oryx, are based on a review of 12 habitat models for jaguars within Arizona and New Mexico, conclusively identifying areas suitable for the recovery of these wild cats. Based on the expanded habitat area, the authors conclude that findings uncover new opportunities for jaguar conservation in North America that could address threats from habitat loss, climate change, and border infrastructure.

Bryan Bird, Director for Southwest Programs at Defenders of Wildlife and one of the study's co-authors, issued this statement:

"This fresh look at jaguar habitat in the U.S. identifies a much larger area that could support many more of these big cats. This expanded area of the Southwest is 27 times larger than the current designated critical habitat. We hope these findings will inspire renewed cooperation and result in more resident jaguars in the U.S."

###

Background

This study was an effort from a multidisciplinary team of scientists drawing from a wealth of expertise in jaguar ecology, including members of the team that worked on the original habitat analysis for the US Fish and Wildlife Service's (FWS) jaguar recovery plan.

In this study, co-authors took the model previously developed as part of FWS' endangered jaguar recovery plan process, and applied it to all of Arizona and New Mexico, including new habitat area that was not considered in the recovery plan. Using this FWS model and additional habitat models previously done by others, the co-authors determined an area of habitat approximately the size of Rhode Island in the central mountains of Arizona and New Mexico that was not considered by the FWS in its recovery planning. The authors titled the area the "Central Arizona/New Mexico Recovery Area" (CANRA).

According to the paper, extending the area of consideration for restoration to include the CANRA and other previously overlooked smaller areas substantially raised the carrying capacity in Arizona and New Mexico, from six to as many as 151 adult jaguars, using modified models from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS).

This area of habitat was not considered in the jaguar recovery plan developed by FWS, released in 2019. After 50 years of discussion among FWS and state agencies about whether jaguars were part of the U.S. fauna and their management, jaguars are now federally protected as an endangered species across their range (including the U.S.), and are protected at the state level in Arizona and New Mexico.

Jaguars are usually associated with tropical habitats such as the Amazon and Central America, but historically were found as far north as the Grand Canyon. The last jaguar north of the Interstate-10 highway in Arizona was killed by a U.S. government hunter in 1964. Over the last two decades a number of male jaguars have been photographed in the mountains south of I-10 and most recently in January 2021.

Far removed from the border, the CANRA area of habitat offers new opportunities for the U.S. to contribute to the recovery of these wild cats. The expanded area identified by the co-authors includes federal, state, tribal and private lands requiring support and cooperation from all landowners. This information does not assume that jaguars would be restored on lands without landowner cooperation.

An interactive map of historical jaguar observations in the U.S. and northern Mexico is available to the public at jaguardata.info
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

Coronavirus cases: PM Modi asks Karnataka to focus on controlling COVID-19 outbreak

India

oi-Ajay Joseph Raj P

Bengaluru, Mar 17: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has asked Karnataka to focus on Bengaluru, Kalaburagi and Bidar in view of the rising Coronavirus cases in these regions, Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa said on Wednesday.

Addressing reporters after the Prime Minister's video conference with chief ministers on the COVID situation in the country following spurt in cases in a few states, Yediyurappa said people should follow the appropriate guidelines.

"As cases are going up in Bengaluru, Kalaburagi and Bidar which are located at the border of Maharashtra, Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked us to focus on these three districts," Yediyurappa told reporters.

COVID-19: Ahmedabad zoo, lakefront, gardens closed

However, he said there was no need to panic as the cases were well under control. Quoting the Prime Minister, Yediyurappa said there was adequate vaccines. He added that coronavirus can only be controlled but cannot be wiped out completely.

Ruling out any curfew or night ban, the Chief Minister appealed to the people to observe the COVID guidelines and use masks and maintain social distancing. He also asked people to be extremely careful during congregation within four walls.

However, there will not be any restrictions on public gathering during the bypolls to Belagavi Lok Sabha constituency and Maski and Basavakalyan assembly segments.

Cooperation must for ensuring resilience of global system: PM Modi

According to the Chief Minister, Union Home Minister Amit Shah appreciated Karnataka for conducting over 93 per cent RT-PCR tests. The Prime Minister insisted that vaccines should be utilised optimally with less wastage.

Karnataka CD Scandal: Family claims woman kidnapped, files complaint| Oneindia News

Yediyurappa apprised Modi of the state government target's of vaccinating three lakh people everyday and its plan to take up the drive at old age homes and mega residential complexes.

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Story first published: Wednesday, March 17, 2021, 16:01 [IST]
Russia has recalled its ambassador to the U.S. in a dramatic escalation in the fraught relations between the two powers  after President Joe Biden referred to Russian President Vladimir Putin as a 'killer.'

The move comes after the White House has spent weeks telegraphing a tougher posture toward Russia under a Biden administration  and Moscow has once again bristled at accusations that it serves as a 'malign' influence in global affairs.

Fueling the rising tensions is a startling new assessment by U.S. intelligence that lays out Russia's campaign to influence the 2020 elections  on the heels of the Treasury Department slapping sanctions on officials as retaliation for the poisoning of opposition figure Alexei Navalny with a chemical agent. Among those hit with sanctions was the director of Russia's foreign intelligence service, the FSB.

The extraordinary move by Moscow  a gesture undertaken by nations wishing to send a serious diplomatic signal  came after Biden not only ripped into Putin but vowed the Russian strongman would 'pay a price.'

It was just the latest time when the new Biden team has sought to draw a sharp line on Russia distinguishing it from former President Donald Trump  who repeatedly praised Putin and even appeared to take Putin's side when he denied allegations of election interference during their infamous summit in Helsinki.

Despite Trump's repeated efforts to forge better ties with Moscow even after its election hacking, his administration tightened sanctions on Russia under laws enacted after his election meant to add pressure to sanctions already in place following Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014.

Biden made his comment about the 'price' Putin would pay just after the U.S. Director of National Intelligence released a report that assessed Russian intelligence officials fed disinformation to Donald Trump allies about the Bidens during the 2020 campaigns as part of an election influence effort.

It even said proxies for Putin himself pushed 'misleading or 'unsubstantiated' allegations about Biden during the campaign. Some of those attacks were amplified by President Trump, who regularly went after Biden for 'corruption' and brought up Hunter Biden's dealings in Ukraine, and who the intel report assessed Russia preferred in the election.

'The Russian ambassador in Washington, Anatoly Antonov, has been invited to come to Moscow for consultations conducted with the aim of analyzing what should be done and where to go in the context of ties with the United States,' according to a statement by Russia's foreign ministry.

Russian officials now say they will consult with its Washington envoy on the Kremlin's ties with the U.S. but stressed it wanted to prevent an 'irreversible deterioration' in relations.

Even with the high stakes drama between nuclear powers, recalling an ambassador can sometimes be less than meets the eye.

In 1988, Russia recalled its ambassadors to the U.S. and Great Britain to protest joint raids against Iraq. But it had little effect. 'Recalling an ambassador for consultations means absolutely nothing,' said former U.S. Ambassador to Russia Jack Matlock. 'It's just a gesture.' he said as quoted in a lengthy thesis by Olivia McCaffrey: 'Silent Statecraft: The Revocation of Ambassadors as a Diplomatic Tool.'

Joe Biden said in a sit-down with ABC News that aired Wednesday morning that Russia would 'pay a price' for interfering in the 2020 U.S. election

The U.S. had already hinted that additional sanctions on Russians are coming before the release of the 15-page declassified version of the report.

Asked about Biden's 'killer' comment at the White House Wednesday, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki responded: 'I don't have anything more for you to provide analysis on that.'

She also defended Biden's posture, saying he 'does not hold back on his concerns about what we see as malign and problematic actions' by Russia. She listed election interference, reported bounties on U.S. troops, and the poisoning of opposition leader Alexei Navalny.

On August 20, 2020, Navalny was poisoned with a Novichock nerve agent. Navalny was flying into Moscow when he became extremely ill and was hospitalized in Omsk, Russia after an emergency landing.

The opposition leader was transferred to a hospital in Berlin, Germany two days later - and ended up being hospitalized for more than a month.

He was discharged on September 22.

Russian prosecutors refused to open a criminal probe into Navalny's poisoning, claiming there was no evidence a crime had been committed.

Navalny returned to Russia after fleeing the country following his poisoning. His conviction and sentencing, which followed his claims of evidence showing corruption by Putin, led to nationwide protests.

On Wednesday the Commerce Department said it was ratcheting up sanctions on some Russian exports in response to Navalany's poisoning. They related to aviation and space equipment.

It tightened sanctions put in place following the 2018 poisoning of Sergei Skripal, a former Russian military intelligence officer in Great Britain.

'He's not going to hold back on his direct communications,' Psaki said, 'nor is he going to hold back publicly. And we have still found ways to work together on areas where we have mutual interests.'

Biden lashed out at the Kremlin in an interview that aired Wednesday morning. 'He will pay a price,' Biden told ABC News host George Stephanopoulos, without offering specifics.

'We had a long talk, he and I. I know him relatively well and the conversation started off, I said, 'I know you and you know me. If I establish this occurred then be prepared.'

Among the startling assessments of the DNI's report is that Russia will likely continue its election influence campaign, despite being publicly identified. The Kremlin considers it to be a 'manageable risk,' according to the report.

Recalled: Russia's ambassador to the U.S. Anatoly Antonov was returned to Moscow for 'consultations' after Joe Biden called Vladimir Putin a 'killer'

When pushed on what the consequences would be, the president said: 'The price he's going to pay, well, you'll see shortly.'

Biden said he wouldn't reveal exactly what consequences he would levy, but did indicate it is in America and Russia's 'interest to work together'

Biden's comments come as his Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines released a report revealing that the agency concluded while Putin did authorize an influence campaign, Russia did not target U.S. election processes in the 2020 contest.

According to the assessment, the Kremlin did not make 'persistent efforts' on election infrastructure.

'We had a long talk, he and I. I know him relatively well,' Biden said of his Russian counterpart, adding that he said during the talk: ''I looked in your eyes and I don't think you have a soul.' He looked back and said, 'We understand each other''

'The president's relationship and this administration's relationship with the Russians will be very different from what we've seen over the last four years,' White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki told DailyMail.com

RUSSIAN INTERFERENCE IN THE 2020 ELECTION Here are some of the stories the Kremlin pushed: - Corruption allegations against Biden's son Hunter, claiming he had communicated with a Ukrainian official about meeting his father  who at the time was vice president. The report released Tuesday details that Derkach and Kilimnich 'helped produce a documentary that aired on a US television network in late January 2020.' Likely referencing conservative outlet One America News, which announced January 2020 a three-part documentary series called 'The Ukraine Hoax: Impeachment, Biden Cash, and Mass Murder with guest host Michael Caputo.' - Moscow engaged in 'information laundering' by launching a massive propaganda campaign where Russia-affiliated news websites created fake reports with the expectation the stories would be spread by more legitimate news outlets. Some were picked-up by large U.S. outlets, causing certain disinformation campaigns to go viral. - Media narratives were also 'heavily amplified' by a slew of fake accounts on Facebook and Twitter  some run by bots  pushing disinformation. The DNI report indicates the message was pushed by 'Russian state media, trolls, and online proxies, including those directed by Russian intelligence.' The goal from these accounts was to amplify election-related content and stir up conspiracy theories, especially related to the COVID-19 pandemic and media censorship  hot topics in the U.S. political sphere. - Hunter's laptop scandal is one of the most notable instances of potential Russian influence in the 2020 elections  although it's still unclear what is true and not. The New York Post released a story last year detailing the contents of Hunter Biden's harddrive, which was supposedly left at a laptop repair shop and turned over by the owner to then Trump's personal attorney Rudy Giuliani. While the contents of the article are still a topic of debate, 50 former senior intelligence officials signed onto a letter claiming the story 'has all the classic earmarks of a Russian information operation.' Advertisement

The new report did find that Russian proxies tried to 'launder' their efforts to swing the election in favor of Donald Trump through people close to the former president.

The White House assured that Biden is taking a different approach with Russia and Putin than Trump  referring to criticism of the former president for his closer-than-comfortable relationship with the oppressive leader.

'The president's relationship and this administration's relationship with the Russians will be very different from what we've seen over the last four years  and we've already seen evidence of that from his first phone call with President Putin,' White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki told DailyMail.com during a press briefing on Wednesday.

'President Biden has been clear that the United States will also respond to a number of destabilizing Russian actions,' she continued, adding there are several new investigations related to relations with the Kremlin.

'The Russians have intervened, or attempted to intervene, in elections for many years  I mean, long before 2016. We certainly are eyes-wide-open about that and fully aware of that,' Psaki said.

'We are not going to look the other way, as we saw a bit over the last four years, and we will continue to press them on their actions,' she continued in reference to election interference and allegations of poisoning opposition leader Alexei Navalny.

During Biden's interview, which aired during 'Good Morning America' on Wednesday, the president called his Russian counterpart a 'killer' and claimed he has no soul.

'So you know Vladimir Putin. You think he is a killer?' Stephanopoulos asked Biden.

He responded: 'Uh-huh, I do.'

A bit earlier, the ABC anchor pointed out: 'You said you know he doesn't have a soul.'

'I did say that to him, yes,' the president affirmed.

'And his response was, 'We understand one another.' I wasn't being a wise guy. I was alone with him in his office. That's how it came about,' he described.

'It was when President Bush said he looked in his [Putin's] eyes and saw his soul. I said, 'I looked in your eyes and I don't think you have a soul.' He looked back and said, 'We understand each other.''

Biden continued: 'Look, the most important thing in dealing with foreign leaders in my experience and dealt with an awful lot over my career is just know the other guy.'

Biden's interview with ABC was only the second sit-down with the media since taking office January 20  his first aired right before the Super Bowl early last month.

The president has also yet to hold a news conference with members of the press.

On Tuesday, the White House finally announced Biden would hold a press conference on March 25, more than two months after becoming president.

Biden held a call just a few days after taking office with Putin to talk about a range of issues.

During the call, the White House said Biden demanded Putin 'unconditionally release' jailed Kremlin critic and Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who was taken into custody January 17, 2021.

The new DNI report Tuesday judges that Russia's campaign in the U.S. elections was aimed at 'denigrating President Biden's candidacy and the Democratic Party.'

'Moscow's strategy this election cycle was its use of proxies linked to Russian intelligence to push influence narratives  including misleading or unsubstantiated allegations against President Biden.'

President Joe Biden's Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines found Russia did not target U.S. election infrastructure in 2020

LIST OF PUTIN'S VICTIMS POLITICIANS, BUSINESSPEOPLE AND DIPLOMATS Alex Oronov, 69, died March 6, 2017 Ukranian-born millionaire businessman with ties toDonald Trump and Russian business elite died in unexplained circumstances. The naturalized American citizen ran an agricultural business in Ukraine. Oronov also had family ties to Michael Cohen, Donald Trump's personal lawyer by way of Cohen's brother, Bryan, who was Oronov's partner in an ethanol business in Ukraine. Boris Nemtsov, died February 2015 In the 1990s, Nemtsov was one of the leaders of post-Soviet Russia's 'young reformers.' He became deputy prime minister and was, for a while, seen as possible presidential material. When Vladimir Putin ultimately succeeded Boris Yeltsin in 2000, Nemtsov was initially supportive. However, he grew increasingly critical and in February 2015  in the midst of military involvement in Ukraine  Nemtsov was shot four times in the back. Putin took 'personal control' of the investigation into Nemtsov's murder, but the killer remains at large. Boris Berezovsky, died in 2013 Berezovsky was crucial to Putin's rise to power  including launching a media campaign smearing Boris Nemtsov as he competed to succeed Yeltsin. Soon after Putin took control, however, Berezovsky fell out with the leader and left Russia for self-exile in the United Kingdom. He declared from the UK that he would devote himself to bringing down Putin. At first, Berezovsky's death was ruled a suicide after he was found dead inside a locked bathroom at his home in London with a noose around his neck in 2013. The coroner's office could not conclusively determine the cause of death. Stanislav Markelov and Anastasia Baburova, died in 2009 Markelov was a human rights lawyer who represented Chechen civilians in human rights cases and journalists who were harassed by the regime after writing articles critical of Putin. Markelov was shot by a masked gunman near the Kremlin and Baburova, a journalist, was fatally shot while trying to help him. Russian authorities said a neo-Nazi group was behind the killings, and two members of the group, who protested that they were framed, were convicted of the deaths. Sergei Magnitsky died in 2009 Lawyer Sergei Magnitsky died in police custody in November 2009 after being brutally beaten and denied medical care. He had been working for British-American businessman William Browder to investigate a massive tax fraud case. Magnitsky was arrested after uncovering evidence suggesting that police officials were behind the fraud. Alexander Litvinenko, died in 2006 The former KGB agent, after leaving, became a vocal critic of the agency. He died three weeks after drinking a cup of tea laced with deadly polonium-210 at a London hotel. An investigation found he was poisoned by Russian agents Andrei Lugovoi and Dmitry Kovtun, who were acting on orders that had 'probably been approved' by Putin. Russia refused to extradite them, and in 2015 the Russian president granted Lugovoi a medal for 'services to the motherland.' Sergei Yushenkov, died in 2003 A former army colonel, Yushenkov just registered his Liberal Russia movement as a political party when he was gunned down outside his Moscow home. He was in the midst of gathering evidence to prove Putin was behind one of the 1999 apartment bombings. Vitaly Churkin, 64, died in February 2017 Russia's permanent ambassador to the UN died in New York after suddenly becoming ill on his way to work the day before his 65th birthday. It was reported he suffered a heart attack, but an autopsy proved inconclusive. Andrei Malanin, 55, died in January 2017 The Russian consul in Athens was found dead on the floor of his apartment in Greece. Greek police said there was no evidence of a break-in and he was believed to have died of natural causes. Alexander Kadakin, 67, died in January 2017 Russia's ambassador to India reportedly died of heart failure after a 'brief illness' Sergei Krivov, 63, died November 8, 2016 The senior Russian diplomat was found unconscious on the grounds outside his office at the Russian consulate in New York. He suffered severe and unexplained head injuries. Russian sources said he had fallen to his death following a heart attack, but a report from medical examiners was inconclusive. Andrei Karlov, died December 19, 2016 The Russian ambassador to Turkey was killed by a policeman at a photography exhibition Peter Polshikov, died December 18, 2016 The senior official at the Russian foreign ministry was shot dead in his Moscow apartment on the same day Andrei Karlov died Oleg Erovinkin, died December 26, 2016 The former KGB chief, who is said to have provided former British MI6 operative Christopher Steele with material for a dossier on Donald Trump, was found dead in the back of his car. Russian officials claimed he died of a heart attack. JOURNALISTS 2000: Ludmila Zamana Artyom Borovik Oleg Polukeyev Boris Gashev Georgy Garibyan Oleg Goryansky Raif Ablyashev Sergei Loginov Pavel Asaulchenko Nikolai Karmanov Valery Kondakov Igor Domnikov  Struck over the head with a hammer in the stairwell of his apartment building, resulting in a two-month coma Sergei Novikov  Shot in contract killing in stairwell of his apartment building Iskander Khatloni  Killed in axe attack outside his apartment Sergei Ivanov  Important player in political scene as TV director, Ivanov was shot five times in the head and chest in front of his apartment building Adam Tepsurkayev  Shot at his neighbour's house 2001: Eduard Burmagin Leonid Grigoryev Andrei Pivovarov Oleg Dolgantsev Vladimir Kirsanov Andrei Sheiko Elina Voronova Oleg Vedenin Alexander Babaikin Boris Mityurev Eduard Markevich  Shot in the back in a contract killing 2002: Svetlana Makarenko Konstantin Pogodin Natalya Skryl Valery Batuyev Sergei Kalinovsky Vitaly Sakhn-Vald Leonid Shevchenko Valery Ivanov Alexander Plotnikov Pavel Morozov Nikolai Razmolodin Maria Lisichkina Sergei Zhabin Nikolai Vasiliev Paavo Voutilainen Igor Salikov Yelena Popova Leonid Plotnikov Dmitry Shalayev Oleg Sedinko  Contract killing by explosive in a stairwell 2003: Vladimir Sukhomlin  Off-duty police convicted of his murder Ali Astamirov  Went missing in Nazran Yury Tishkov Sergei Verbitsky Alikhan Guliyev Martin Kraus Alexei Sidorov Alexei Bakhtin Yury Bugrov Pyotr Babenko Dmitry Shvets  Shot dead outside his TV offices after station received multiple threats for its reporting on local politicians Yury Shchekochikhin  Died from an acute allergic reaction a few days before his planned trip to the U.S. to discuss with the FBI the results of his journalist investigation into the Three Whales Corruption Scandal that involved high-ranking FSB officials 2004: Yefim Sukhanov Shangysh Mongush Paul Klebnikov Zoya Ivanova Pail Peloyan Vladimir Naumov Svetlana Shishkina Vladimir Pritchin Jan Travinsky Maxim Maximov  Body not found 2005: Alexander Pitersky Kira Lezhneva 2005: Vagif Kochetkov  killed and robbed Oksana Teslo  Arson attack Ilya Zimin Oleg Barabyshkin Vyacheslav Akatov Anton Kretenchuk Yevgeny Gerasimenko Anatoly Kozulin Anatoly Voronin Vadim Kuznetsov Alexander Petrov  Murdered with family while on holiday in Altai Republic by under-age murderer Anna Politkovskaya  Shot in apartment building's elevator 2006: Yury Shebalkin Konstantin Borovko Ivan Safronov Leonid Etkind  Abduction and homicide Marina Pisareva  found dead at her country cottage 2007: Yelena Shestakova  Killer sent to psychiatric prison Gadji Abashilov  Shot in his car Ilyas Shurpayev  Strangled with a belt by robbers in Moscow Mikhail Beketov Beketov  Suffered brain damage and lost a leg after a brutal assault in 2008, died five years later 2008: Magomed Yevloyev  Shot dead while in police custody Shafig Amrakhov  Shot and wounded by an unknown assailant at his apartment and later died in hospital 2009: Vladislav Zakharchuk  Died in a fire that engulfed a newspaper office Stanislav Markelov  Shot and killed by a masked gunman Anastasia Baburova  Died alongside Stanislav Marekelov after being shot Sergei Protazanov  Found unconscious at his home Vyacheslav Yaroshenko  Died of wounds from a severe beating Natalia Estemirova  Kidnapped outside her home, shot several times  including a point-blank shot in the head  and dumped in the nearby woods Malik Akhmedilov  Found shot dead Maksharip Aushev  Shot Olga Kotovskaya  Fell out the window on 14th floor of a building. Authorities classified death as suicide while colleagues believe she was murdered 2010: Konstantin Popov  Beaten to death by Russian police while in custody Ivan Stepanov  Stabbed to death Maxim Zuyev  Went missing and later found murdered in apartment Bella Ksalova  Fatally injured after being hit by a vehicle near her home Malika Betiyeva  Killed along with four members of her family when a speeding vehicle hit hers on a highway 2011: Gadzhimurat Kamalov  Shot six times in a drive-by shooting outside his newspaper's office 2012: Kazbek Gekkiev  Shot dead after receiving death threats from extremists 2013 Akhmednabi Akhmednabiyev  Killed while driving 2014 Timur Kuashev  Abducted from his home and later found dead 2017 Yevgeny Khamaganov  Died of unexplained causes Nikolay Andrushchenko  Died from wounds he received from a beating Dmitry Popkov  Found dead from gunshot wounds at a bathhouse 2018 Maksim Borodin  Fell out the window at his apartment. Authorities classified death as suicide while colleagues reject the notion Denis Suvorov  Found dead after being stabbed Sergei Grachyov  Went missing, body was found 11 days later Yegor Orlov  Disappeared, his body was later found in a river Advertisement

The assessment brings up a range of characters who have already been tied to efforts by Trump allies who sought to muddy Biden by bringing up ties between Biden and his son Hunter in Ukraine.

It describes a network of Ukraine-linked individuals, including 'Russian influence agent' Konstantin Kilimnik, who sought to 'denigrate' Biden and his campaign. Kilimnik was previously identified as a figure in the Russia probe.

It also sought to discredit the Obama administration by 'emphasizing accusations of corruption by U.S. officials  claims made repeatedly by Trump and his allies.

Moscow also sought to undermine 'public confidence in the electoral process and exacerbate sociopolitical divisions in the U.S.'  during a tense campaign and its aftermath that would result in a MAGA mob storming the Capitol when Congress met to count the Electoral College votes that made Joe Biden the winner.

The report also identifies Ukrainian parliamentarian Andrii Derkach as someone who tried to use 'prominent U.S. persons and media conduits to launder their narratives to U.S. officials and audiences.

In this handout photo provided by Adriii Derkach's press office, Rudy Giuliani, an attorney for U.S President Donald Trump, left, meets with Ukrainian lawmaker Adriii Derkach in Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, Dec. 5, 2019

Giuliani and Derkach appeared on One American News to charge the Bidens with corruption

The two men met while Giuliani was serving as Trump's personal lawyer and trying to dig up dirt on the Bidens in Ukraine. They also appeared jointly on One American News Network, a favorite outlet of Trump's, where they accused Biden of corruption.

Derkach released edited recordings four times during the campaign in an effort to discredit Biden's involvement in 'allegedly corrupt activities,' the report notes.

But Russia did not make 'persistent efforts' on election infrastructure, according to the assessment, which found the feat difficult to pull off and unlikely to avoid discovery.

In late 2019, Russia's GRU, or military intelligence, conducted a phishing campaign against subsidiaries of Burisma holdings, the Ukrainian company that gave Hunter Biden a lucrative seat on its board. The company became a feature of Trump's and Giuliani's attacks on the Bidens.

It was 'likely' an attempt to gather information on the Biden family and Burisma.

Russian state media, trolls and proxies published 'disparaging content' about Biden, his family, and the Democratic Party.

It 'heavily amplified' this content in the U.S. media, 'including stories centered on his son.'

The line was a possible reference to information that came out late in the campaign that contained information purported to be from Hunter Biden's laptop. It included multiple damaging photos including one with Hunter smoking what appears to be a crack pipe, as well as explosive information about his business dealings.

Russia and Iran both sought to influence the 2020 election, but China 'did not deploy' efforts to interfere, according to a new 15-page report into election interference published by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.

The Russians were responsible for 'denigrating President Biden's candidacy and the Democratic Party, supporting former President Trump, undermining public confidence in the electoral process, and exacerbating sociopolitical divisions in the U.S.,' the report said, according to CNN.

Iran, on the other hand, was working against Trump, the report said.

The report says Russians relied on people close to Trump to get the Kremlin's message out

'We assess that Iran carried out a multi-pronged covert influence campaign intended to undercut former President Trump's re-election prospects - though without directly promoting his rivals - undermine public confidence in the electoral process and U.S. institutions, and sow division and exacerbate societal tensions in the U.S.,' it said.

Unlike in 2016, the report said that Russia did not make 'persistent' efforts to gain access to election infrastructure.

Additionally, it found 'no indications that any foreign actor attempted to alter any technical aspect of the voting process in the 2020 U.S. elections, including voter registration, casting ballots, vote tabulation, or reporting results.'

The report said that what the Russian government did to was try to seed the 2020 campaign with 'misleading or unsubstantiated allegations' against Biden through allies of Trump, which underscores allegations that Trump's circle was playing into Moscow's hands by amplifying claims made against Biden by Russian-linked Ukrainian figures.

The report also punctures a counter-narrative pushed by Trump's allies that China was interfering on Biden's behalf, concluding that Beijing 'did not deploy interference efforts.'

'China sought stability in its relationship with the United States and did not view either election outcome as being advantageous enough for China to risk blowback if caught,' the report said.

U.S. officials said they also saw efforts by Cuba, Venezuela and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah to influence the election, although 'in general, we assess that they were smaller in scale than those conducted by Russia and Iran.'

Intelligence agencies and former Special Counsel Robert Mueller previously concluded that Russia also interfered in the 2016 election to boost Trump's candidacy with a campaign of propaganda aimed at harming his Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton.

Biden's Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines said that foreign election influence is an 'enduring challenge facing our country.'

'These efforts by U.S. adversaries seek to exacerbate divisions and undermine confidence in our democratic institutions,' she warned. 'Addressing this ongoing challenge requires a whole-of-government approach grounded in an accurate understanding of the problem, which the Intelligence Community, through assessments such as this one, endeavors to provide.'
A San Antonio man was arrested near the official residence of Vice President Kamala Harris in Washington on Wednesday and was charged with weapons-related offenses, the U.S. Secret Service said after he was found to be carrying a rifle and a high capacity ammunition clip.

The Secret Service, responsible for the security of the president and vice president, said the suspect, Paul Murray, 31, was detained by its uniformed officers on the street near a government complex that houses the vice president's residence and the U.S. Naval Observatory.

Washington's Metropolitan Police Department said its officers then arrested and charged Murray at around noon on Wednesday.

Video shot by PenguinSix filmed the arrest and posted it on YouTube.

Paul Murray of San Antonio is being held on charges that he carried a large-capacity ammunition-feeding device, a dangerous weapon, a rifle and ammunition

Murray was seen on Massachusetts Avenue and was detained by Secret Service officers stationed near the residence following an intelligence bulletin

District of Columbia police on Wednesday arrested a man near the vice president's residence on a weapons charge. The home is located on the grounds of the US Naval Observatory in DC

31-year-old Texas man is alleged to have had a rifle and ammo in his car when searched by cops

The Vice President's Residence (pictured) is being redecorated

The department said the arrest was sparked by an 'intelligence bulletin that originated from Texas.' The department did not elaborate on the bulletin's contents.

A reporter at Fox News' Washington affiliate tweeted a Texas law enforcement bulletin that said Murray had been experiencing 'paranoid delusions' that the military or government wanted to kill him, and that he sent his mother a text message saying he was in Washington and was going to 'take care of his problem.'

It is not known at this time if Murray was trying to harm or come in contact with Vice President Kamala Harris or any member of her family.

Authorities say Murray was an Army drone operator who started service in 2010 and was medically discharged in 2014.

The Blair house, also known as the President's guest house, is where Vice President Kamala Harris and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff are currently living

Documents say he recently complained to police that he wasnt getting support from Veteran's Affairs and was not taking prescribed medication.

D.C. police said Murray was charged with carrying a dangerous weapon, carrying a rifle or shotgun outside of a business, possession of unregistered ammunition and possession of a large-capacity ammunition-feeding device.

Police said a rifle and ammunition were also recovered from Murray's vehicle which was parked a block away.

Hurricane season 2021 is here: How do storms get their names?
London, March 18 : Another 5,758 people in Britain have tested positive for Covid-19, bringing the total number of coronavirus cases in the country to 4,274,579, according to official figures released on Wednesday.

The country also reported another 141 coronavirus-related fatalities, taking the national death toll to 125,831. These figures only include the deaths of people who died within 28 days of their first positive test, the Xinhua news agency reported.

More than 25.2 million people in Britain have been given the first jab of a coronavirus vaccine, according to the latest official figures.

According to the British Department of Health and Social Care, almost 50 per cent of all British adults have received a jab, while 90 per cent of those who are clinically extremely vulnerable and 95 per cent of over-65s have been vaccinated.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: "This latest milestone is an incredible achievement, representing 25 million reasons to be confident for the future as we cautiously reopen society." Health Secretary Matt Hancock confirmed the rollout is ahead of schedule as the country aims to vaccinate all adults by the end of July. He urged everyone who is eligible for a jab to come forward.

On February 22, Johnson announced his long-anticipated "roadmap" exiting the lockdown. The March 8 reopening of schools was the first part of the four-step plan which is expected to see all legal restrictions in England being removed by mid-June.

Other parts of Britain, including Wales and Northern Ireland, have also unveiled plans to ease the restrictions.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
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Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-17 10:53:38|Editor: huaxia

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SYDNEY, March 17 (Xinhua) -- The COVID-19 restrictions were further eased in Sydney on Wednesday, despite an additional case of the more contagious B117 virus variant linked to a hotel quarantine cluster in the Australian city.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said a third positive case had been reported at the quarantine hotel in Sydney, and appeared to be linked to a local security guard who tested positive last week.

"Overnight we did have an additional case. It was a person in the hotel on the same floor, on the 11th floor, the same floor as the guard as the overseas traveller who had the original virus," Berejiklian said.

The person is believed to have contracted the virus at the hotel, meaning they were classified as a locally acquired case -- the second in NSW in more than 50 days.

However with the risk to the public considered low due to the person already being in isolation, the state proceeded with a planned easing of restrictions on indoor venues, pubs and clubs.

"The person obviously is in quarantine and is already in isolation. Whilst every single case is a concern, it does not change anything here in Sydney," Berejiklian said.

"There are further easing of restrictions here in Sydney taking place and that will continue. Although as always, during a pandemic, we ask all of our citizens to be on high alert."

The new rules mean patrons will be allowed to stand up while drinking at venues, where previously they were required to be seated.

Deputy NSW Premier John Barilaro said the new rules would help make the upcoming St. Patrick's Day celebrations in Sydney much closer to normal.

"Our pubs and clubs have felt the impacts of COVID like nobody else," Barilaro said.

"Hopefully this further easing of restrictions will help them see the pint of Guinness at the end of the rainbow." Enditem
DGAP-News: IQAX / Key word(s): Miscellaneous

IQAX: IQAX Powers GSBN's Blockchain Platform



17.03.2021 / 12:50

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.





IQAX Powers GSBN's Blockchain Platform



Solution provider to spearhead the acceleration of digitalization in the shipping and logistics ecosystem for transparency and a harmonized global trade environment

HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach - 17 March 2021 - IQAX Limited, a leading-edge information technology company providing intelligent digital solutions for global shipping and trade, today announced it has been officially commissioned by the Global Shipping Business Network (GSBN) to develop, enhance and operate the world-class blockchain platform. The platform will enable real-time data sharing among authorized parties using blockchain technology for more transparent end-to-end supply chain visibility.

As a trusted partner IQAX will enable GSBN and its future members to develop standards and functionalities to seamlessly connect stakeholders in the global shipping and trading ecosystem while ensuring data integrity, security and service excellence are maintained.

Over the past year, the global health crisis catalyzed the need for business data and transparency in the supply chain as many businesses worked remotely, minimized contact points, and responded to the rapid changes in consumer demand. Many of those in the transportation and logistics sector faced mounting pressure on operations due to various challenges from labor availability, restrictive health protocols, to shifting trade patterns. In this environment, the need for a blockchain platform to facilitate tight, multiple-domain cooperation amongst every party in the global supply chain has become more important than ever before.

IQAX strives to create a harmonized global trade environment for the stakeholders in the multiple-domain ecosystem through its application development effort, products and services. Building solutions based on digital technologies including blockchain, IOT and AI, IQAX is connecting parties across multiple domains and creating intelligent solutions which help businesses embrace digitalization, information sharing and analysis, and respond faster to supply chain disruptions.

IQAX inherits the initial development of the blockchain platform from its business affiliate, CargoSmart Limited. Evolving and expanding upon its blockchain focus, IQAX will enable decentralized collaboration and governance to optimize cross-domain synergies and facilitate multiple-domain connectivity for the broader shipping ecosystem.

Bertrand Chen, Chief Executive Officer, Global Shipping Business Network, said "We are pleased to have IQAX as the platform provider for GSBN. We share the same vision of enabling and accelerating the digital transformation of the shipping industry. Through the platform built by IQAX, we will be able to bring all stakeholders together in a secure, neutral, trusted and equitable way, from logistics service providers to financial institutions. We aim to increase the speed of logistics and the ease of conducting trade globally, ultimately benefitting all parties involved. We are here to simplify trade for all."

Moving forward, IQAX will help GSBN drive digitalization mandates that best meet the needs of the global trade ecosystem. IQAX plans to build on its vision to digitalize to create a harmonized global trade environment, as well as offering technologically advanced applications for shippers and logistics service providers to address current challenges through smart solutions which enable contactless interactions, tracking of physical cargo and alerts with recovery recommendations.

Sign up for updates about solutions to increase visibility for the global trade ecosystem at www.iqax.com, and follow IQAX on LinkedIn and Twitter.



About IQAX

IQAX is a global information technology company that provides intelligent and digital transformation solutions using blockchain for enterprises in the logistics ecosystem. Backed by its strong heritage in container shipping, IQAX strives to foster a harmonized and connected global trade environment. As an industry leader, IQAX connects with shippers, freight forwarders, carriers, terminals, and financial institutions, and empowers them with digitized solutions to meet emerging business challenges throughout the supply chain.



About GSBN

Global Shipping Business Network (GSBN) is a data exchange platform established on a not-for-profit basis. Its shareholders are comprised of major global Carriers and Terminal Operators. Its mission is to enable and to accelerate the digital transformation of the global shipping industry by providing an end to end, secure, digital collaboration platform to share verified logistics and cargo data to benefit all stakeholders involved in global trade. Here to simplify trade for all. For more information please visit www.gsbn.trade

For Media Enquiries:

Kelvin Yeung

Kelvin.yeung@bcw-global.com
This unusual-looking gun, now exhibited at the Museum of Mourning Art in Arlington Cemetery, once kept body snatchers away from cemetery grounds and discouraged them from digging up dead bodies. The gun would be set near the foot of the grave and a series of tripwires would swing the gun in the appropriate direction when triggered, and fire upon the unsuspecting thieves.

The need for such an elaborate arrangement for the protection of the dead arose in the 18th century when cadavers were in high demand in medical schools but short in supply. Back then, the only legal supply of corpses were those condemned to death and dissection by the courts. This wasnt a problem during mediaeval times when hundreds were hung by the rope for trivial crimes providing medical students and surgeons a study supply of dead bodies to study anatomy with. But as times changed and barbaric methods of justice were gradually abandoned, the number of criminals who were sentenced to capital punishment came down drastically, creating an acute shortage of cadavers. Some people saw this as an opportunity and began to dig up dead bodies from graveyards and sold them to medical schools.

Cemeteries responded by appointing men to keep watch over the graves. Sometimes the families of the dead who lay buried in the graveyard paid for these guards. Eventually they figured out that instead of spending night after night in the cold, wet and miserable, they could booby-trap the graves with guns and explosives.

Spring-loaded guns that fired on any intruder when triggered by tripwires have been around since at least the 15th century. They could be armed and left active for as long as the powder stayed dry. The gun that became popular in cemeteries was designed by one Mr. Clementshaw. It had a large-bore, bell-mouthed flintlock affixed to a block of thick wood. The guns were fitted with iron pintles or swivels underneath, and had sliding trigger bars instead of conventional hook-shaped gun triggers that fired the gun when pulled forward and not backward. This allowed the forward motion of a tripwire to pull the trigger and fire the gun. At the front of the bar were usually three iron rings, allowing the trigger to be connected to up to three tripwires.

Related: The Udny Mort House

The gun would be loaded at night and left armed by the cemetery keeper. In the morning, it would be removed so that cemetery visitors during the day wouldnt trip it. Many crafty grave robbers would send women to the cemetery disguised as mourners and report on the position of the pegs to which the wires would be attached. Cemetery keepers defeated this by waiting until sunset to set up the gun.

From the 1860s through the 1890s, body snatching became a big problem in the United States, and cemetery guns evolved into a more fatal defense to fight the menace. One design invented in 1878 required an armed shotgun to be placed inside the coffin. When the lid was raised, it showered the thieves with lead pellets right on the face. Another invention, called Coffin Torpedoes, was essentially a landmine placed underneath the coffin. When the coffin was disturbed, the charge would detonate, tearing apart the grave robbers including the very cadaver they were trying to protect. At least three men were killed when one such device exploded at a cemetery near Gann in Knox County, Ohio.

While things like cemetery guns and coffin torpedoes are often seen as artifacts from a past era, body snatching as a trade is not entirely over. In India a network of body snatchers operate to this day, removing skeletons from graveyards in order to sell them to universities and hospitals abroad. For the last two hundred years, India has been the worlds primary supplier of bones used in medical study the world over, including the United States and Britain. The country is renowned, as per a report on Wired, for producing specimens scrubbed to a pristine white patina and fitted with high-quality connecting hardware. Not even China or Western Europe can produce such high-quality specimens. The trade is illegal and has been banned by the Indian government, but as long as there is a demand for skeletons, body snatching will continue to thrive.
As a lawyer for 44 years, nothing offends me quite like a lawyer stealing money from a client. Though exceedingly rare, it does happen.

One opportunity for this is in the context of lawsuit settlements. Typically, when a settlement is finalized the insurance company sends the check to the clients attorney. The lawyer finishes the accounting, covers fees and expenses and informs the client the money is in. Lawyers generally relish the day they can make that call; its a gratifying moment to share with ones client.

In rare cases, the client is never told the money has arrived, and is sometimes strung along for months or years. In a recent notorious case, the Oregon State Bar heard from 43 clients with claims of this type of malfeasance by just one lawyer. The losses ranged from $5,000 to $500,000.

This year, the Oregon State Bar has proposed a legislative fix that could help stop these losses before they happen. Senate Bill 180 would require that when the insurance company sends a check to the lawyer, it sends simultaneous notice to the plaintiff that the money is dispersed. Its called payee notification, and it is the law in 15 other states.

Rather than requiring the client to try to recoup losses or clean up other damages, this would be a significant deterrent, and would likely stop many of these losses from occurring. And all in the form of one simple letter to the claimant. The OSB urges support of SB 180.

David Wade, Eugene

Wade is president of the Oregon State Bar.
Aer Lingus is waiting final UK licences for the US routes. Photo: Johanna Geron/Reuters

Aer Lingus has begun hiring cabin crew for its Manchester base that will launch direct services to the United States later this year.

The services will require about 120 flight attendants and roughly 40 pilots.

The hiring comes even as Aer Lingus is completing a wave of redundancies initiated because of the pandemic.

It said last month that it has axed 500 jobs and was finalising an additional 84 layoffs.

Aer Lingus, which is part of the IAG group that also owns British Airways, Iberia and Vueling, will initially base four aircraft at Manchester.

It intends to operate direct services to destinations including New York, Boston and Orlando. Its expected that seats for the routes will go on sale within a couple of weeks.

Aer Lingus is using Irish HR outsourcing firm Nobox to hire staff for the Manchester services.

Nobox is majority-owned by Dublin-based Crewlink, the Irish firm that is the official recruitment partner of Ryanair.

Nobox has told prospective applicants that Aer Lingus will start the Manchester services to the US this summer.

The airline will use two A330s and two A321LRs. An A330-300 typically requires about eight flight attendants and two pilots. An A321LR needs about four cabin crew members and two pilots.

Aer Lingus usually hires between 10 to 12 pilots per aircraft and needs about five flight attendant crews per jet. That means that a single A330-300 needs about 40 flight attendants working on different shifts.

Aer Lingus declined to say how many people it intends to hire for its Manchester services, or if any staff based in Ireland had been offered to opportunity to relocate to the UK to operate the routes.

Aer Lingus continues to evaluate opportunities to operate North Atlantic routes from [a] regional UK airport, it told the Irish Independent.

A final decision has not been taken in relation to the launch of these services which are subject to the granting of all necessary approvals, it added.

Aer Lingus was granted tentative approval earlier this month by US authorities to operate services from Manchester to America. Full approval wont be awarded until UK authorities have issued licences to the carrier. US authorities also granted Aer Lingus permission to begin marketing and selling tickets in the UK for the flights.
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A Cork GP has urged caution despite not having a positive Covid-19 case in the past five weeks.

Dr Nuala OConnor, who is Covid-lead for the Irish College of General Practitioners, called on people to enjoy St Patricks Day safely as there is still quite a bit of the virus in the country.

In our practise, we havent had a Covid case positive for the last five weeks, the Douglas based GP told RTEs Morning Ireland.

Its easy to think sure things arent too bad near me, I havent heard of much Covid around.

But Covid is there. The virus hasnt changed. If we give this virus an opportunity to resurge it certainly will do.

With the weather being good for St Patricks Day, she urged people to be careful.

Health officials and the Taoiseach have urged people to stay at home today, and avoid house parties or congregating.

Micheal Martin told the Irish Examiner yesterday: I am asking people to enjoy a safe St Patrick's Day from a Covid perspective. It's very important that people avoid social gathering, congregation of any sort, given the state of play in relation to the virus itself. We are dealing with a variant that spreads far more easily.

Dr OConnor added: "This virus loves when people get together, particularly indoors and I think weve all heard of people planning to get together indoors.

Weve been hearing about playdates for children. Sometimes parents think that [the children] are together in school and that its no harm getting a few of them together.

Dr OConnor reiterated that the country is still in Level 5 and urged people to comply with the restrictions.

Things are going largely in the right direction, she said, adding that at the moment people need to focus on staying apart to stay safe.

The GP said it is a concern that some of the publics adherence to the restrictions appears to be fraying.

We know that when people started to socialise at Christmas among families and friends, this virus absolutely took off. And that could happen again.

Dr OConnor said that the appeal was for people to enjoy St Patrick's Day safely saying that if people are going out to get some exercise, they should not stand around or gather in groups.

The medic said that the virus hasnt changed adding that there is more of the transmissible UK variant in the country now.

The case numbers unfortunately in the last two weeks, they seem to have stalled in terms of the reduction," she said.

Theres still quite a bit of Covid disease in the community. And weve had one or two signals from the GP data in the last week or so that are concerning.

Our GP community tracker, again we can see that the number of cases meeting the criteria for Covid when people present with symptoms, that seems to have stalled. The reduction is not continuing.

Dr OConnor highlighted data from the GP Sentinel Practice Network, which tracks anyone presenting with symptoms of a flu-like illness, who are tested for Covid.

She said that the amount of people presenting with symptoms of flu-like illness has not increased but the number of positive Covid cases has gone from 9.7% to 13.9% over the course of the last two weeks.

Dr O'Connor said there were "some signals of concern there".
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Environmental and social justice groups on Wednesday condemned Italys anti-corruption laws as unfit for purpose.

The condemnation followed the acquittal of oil multinationals, Shell and Eni, on international corruption charges in Milan.

PREMIUM TIMES reported how officials of the oil companies were acquitted by the court Wednesday.

Thirteen other defendants in the case were also found not guilty.

But activists and anti-corruption advocacy groups monitoring the case expressed their disappointment in the verdict in a statement Wednesday night.

The judgment brings shame on Italy, says Lanre Suraju of HEDA, a Nigerian anti-corruption group that was among the first to expose the corruption allegations surrounding the OPL 245 deal.

One court has found the intermediaries of the OPL 245 deal guilty of international corruption, yet this court has found Shell and Eni not guilty. We await the full ruling of the Milan court to explain this bizarre outcome.

The two oil companies had been on trial in Milan since 2018, relating to their 2011 purchase of an offshore Nigerian oilfield, OPL 245.

Shell and Eni agreed to pay $1.3 billion for the license to explore the field. $1.1bn of the companys payment was to be paid to Malabu Oil and Gas, a company controlled by Nigerias former Oil Minister, Dan Etete.

Mr Etete had awarded his own company the license while in government. The Milan Prosecutor had alleged that the $1.1 billion paid by Shell and Eni was used to pay bribes to Nigerian politicians and kickbacks to managers at Eni.

This is a dismal judgment that reflects the dismal state of anti-corruption legislation in Italy, said Antonio Tricarico of Re:Common, one of the groups whose complaint led to the Milan Prosecutors investigation.

If allowed to stand, it creates a terrible precedent for the global fight against corruption and the ability to hold multinationals to account.

Barnaby Pace, Senior Campaigner at Global Witness said: Todays legal verdict is a disappointment but it will not stop us in our unrelenting quest to ensure accountability in the fossil industry. We urge the Milan prosecutors office to consider all options for an appeal and believe that this verdict shows just how hard it is to hold the fossil fuel industry to account.

Two middlemen have already been found guilty for their role in this deal in a separate trial. A criminal trial of Shell and Enis Nigerian subsidiaries is ongoing in Nigeria while they also face an investigation in The Netherlands where Shell has said they expect to face criminal charges. Todays verdict does not mark the final word in this scandal for Shell and Eni.

In their joint statement, the campaigners warned that shareholders should not take comfort from the Milan ruling.

Several trials are also ongoing in Nigeria, where Eni and Shell subsidiaries have denied charges of official corruption and conspiracy to commit official corruption. Enis CEO Claudio Descalzi is among several Eni executives currently under investigation over alleged obstruction of justice around the OPL 245 case where prosecutors have alleged he attempted to pollute the process of his own trial.

This is a case that will not go away, ensuring that Enis and Shells OPL 245-era underwear will continue to be washed in public for years to come, says Nicholas Hildyard of The Corner House, a UK environmental justice group.

For shareholders hoping Shell and Eni will ride off from Milan into a sunlit future, the prospects are of continuing controversy, potential convictions and headlines that link the companies to bribery, albeit bribery that is denied. For the companies, OPL 245 will remain an albatross around their necks.

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On Wednesday, Re:Common, HEDA, Global Witness and Corner House called on the Milan Prosecutor to appeal the Milan Courts verdict.

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The drama on "The Talk" continues as it has extended its hiatus as CBS probe into claims against host Sharon Osbourne.

'The Talk' Drama: How It All Started

Sharon Osbourne came to Piers Morgan's defense and got into a heated on-air conversation with her co-host Sheryl Underwood on Mar. 10.

Osbourne apologized on social media two days later, noting that she felt "blindsided" and worried people's negative reaction.

Amid all of this, "The Talk" canceled its Monday and Tuesday live shows and was set to return on Wednesday.

However, CBS confirmed that it would be extending its hiatus until Mar. 23 for further investigation.

Sharon Osbourne and Co-Hosts

Journalist Yashar Ali posted a Twitter thread of all the accusations made against Osbourne from multiple sources.

According to Ali, Osbourne "would frequently refer" to her then co-host Julie Chen, who is Chinese-American, as "slanty eyes" and "wanton."

1. Exclusive: Sharon Osbourne, co-host of the CBS daytime panel show The Talk, would frequently refer to then-co-host Julie Chen, who is Chinese American, as wonton and slanty eyes, according to multiple sources. https://t.co/6A4DrRnSVx  Yashar Ali  (@yashar) March 16, 2021

Another accusation was when Osbourne got Holly Robinson Peete fired from the show and even referred to her as a ghetto; Osbourne reportedly had her lawyers send Peete a cease and desist letter saying that if she didn't delete her tweet about the show and for exposing Osbourne, she would get sued.

3. After Osbourne's former colleague Holly Robinson Peete said Osbourne referred to her as "ghetto" and got her fired from "The Talk", Osbourne had her attorneys send a cease and desist letter saying if she didn't delete the tweet below, she would be sued

https://t.co/yxDdy7SDyZ  Yashar Ali  (@yashar) March 16, 2021

The tweet, which was posted on Mar. 13, said, "I'm old enough to remember when Sharon complained that I was too ghetto for 'The Talk'... then I was gone."

"I bring this up now bc I was mortified watching the disrespectful, condescending tone she had with her co-host, who remained calm and respectful because.... She HAD to..."

5. In response to an extensive list of details in my story, Sharon Osbourne's publicist Howard Bragman sent me this statement.



My Story: https://t.co/rQTAuHj2bj pic.twitter.com/s20vHnfZnF  Yashar Ali  (@yashar) March 16, 2021

Osbourne denied the claims that she ever used the word "ghetto" except to refer it to "Nazi Ghettos." But in 2011, she referred to co-host Leah Remini as "ghetto" because of how she talks. Ali posted the receipt.

Ali also shared from his source that on two different occasions in 2003, Osbourne called Iranian-American talent agent Renee Tab as a "Persian Carpet C-nt" after falsely accusing her of stealing jewelry that Tab "rightfully won at a raffle."

6. After @hollyrpeete said last week that Sharon Osbourne referred to her as "ghetto," not only did Osbourne deny it, she denied ever using the word except to refer to Nazi Ghettos.



But in 2011, she referred to @LeahRemini as "ghetto," because of the way she talks. pic.twitter.com/EfScyegqso  Yashar Ali  (@yashar) March 16, 2021

Sharon Osbourne Responds to Ali's Claims

A few hours after Yashar Ali tweeted those accusations against Sharon Osbourne, her publicist Howard Bragman sent him a lengthy email.

The email said that Osbourne had been "kind, collegial and friendly with her hosts" by "throwing them parties, inviting them to her home in the UK and other gestures of kindness too many to name."

"Sharon is disappointed but unfazed and hardly surprised by the lies, the recasting of history, and the bitterness coming out at this moment."

The email further said that Osbourne would survive this, and her heart will remain "open" and "good" as she "refuses others to take her down."

See Now: Famous Actors Who Turned Down Iconic Movie Roles
Sydney, March 17, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --

Calima Energy Ltd (ASX:CE1) (OTCMKTS:RLTOF) (FRA:R1Y) has received firm commitments totalling A$37 million that will part-finance the acquisition of Blackspur Oil Corp and grow oil and gas production to 5,500 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boed) by the year ending 2022. Click here

Lake Resources NL (ASX:LKE) (OTCMKTS:LLKKF) has refreshed the pre-feasibility study (PFS) for its flagship Kachi Lithium Brine Project based on revised lithium price estimates, which demonstrates a more robust financial outcome than the original conservative PFS price assumptions. Click here

Perpetual Resources Ltd (ASX:PEC) has completed a pre-feasibility study (PFS) that confirms Beharra Silica Sand Project as a compelling low capex and strong free cashflow project underpinned by a 64 million tonnes reserve supporting a 32-year mine life. Click here

Creso Pharmaceuticals Ltd's (ASX:CPH) (FRA:1X8) target acquisition company Halucenex Life Sciences has appointed True North Clinical Research as principal investigator for its proposed Phase II Clinical Trial to test the efficacy of psilocybin for treatment-resistant Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in veterans and first responders. Click here

Andromeda Metals Ltd (ASX:AND) has signed its first legally binding offtake agreement for the Great White Kaolin Joint Venture Project in South Australia, with highly respected Japanese porcelain manufacturer Plantan Yamada, which has factories in Japan and China. Click here

Blackstone Minerals Ltd (ASX:BSX) (OTCMKTS:BLSTF) (FRA:B9S) has intentions to expand downstream nickel refining capacity in light of recent Ta Khoa exploration success in Vietnam and strong indicative demand for the planned downstream products. Click here

Matador Mining Ltds (ASX:MZZ) mineral resource extension and geotechnical drilling at the Window Glass Hill (WGH) deposit of its Cape Ray Gold Project in Newfoundland, Canada, continues to return strong results. Click here

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Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-17 14:59:47|Editor: huaxia

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LONDON, March 17 (Xinhua) -- British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Tuesday warned that Britain must not get drawn into a "new Cold War" with China as he set out his vision for a post-Brexit foreign policy.

"Those who call for a new Cold War on China or for us to sequester our economy entirely from China ... are, I think, mistaken," Johnson told lawmakers at the House of Commons, the lower house of Parliament.

Britain would have to "work with China where that is consistent with our values and interests," said Johnson, adding this includes building "a stronger and positive economic relationship" and cooperation on climate change issues.

Johnson made the remarks as the government published a major defense, security and foreign policy review earlier Tuesday.

According to the document published on the government website, the policy review entitled Global Britain in a Competitive Age: the Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy, reveals "the government's vision for the UK's role in the world over the next decade and the action we will take to 2025."

Johnson has described the document, which runs more than 100 pages, as the biggest review since the Cold War.

According to the document, Britain needs to pursue a positive economic relationship with China, including "deeper trade links and more Chinese investment."

Professor Anthony Glees from the University of Buckingham, told Xinhua that the review shows plainly that China and Chinese investment play a key part in the ambitions of a "Global Britain."

"In his brief statement to Parliament today, Johnson made it crystal clear that there is to be no break with China," Glees said. "There was no suggestion in his remarks that he would give in to his own party's critics who seek a more adversarial policy."

CHALLENGES FOR AMBITIOUS BRITAIN

Meanwhile, the document also includes an emphasis on openness as a source of prosperity, a more robust position on security and resilience, and an increased determination to seek multilateral solutions to challenges like climate change.

"Whilst the review is billed as being about 'Global Britain,' it's not clear that 'Global Britain' is that much different from Britain the way it is," Glees said.

"In particular, it's one thing to say we do all these things but another to work out how to improve relations with the EU, Germany and France in particular, given all that has gone on since 2016 (after Brexit referendum)," he said.

"The review says on security we will work closely with partners, but at present we have no security treaty with the EU and the review skips over this issue," said Glees, adding "it takes two to tango."

Glees said it is not surprising that the review proposed levelling up and going all out for growth to nurture a strong British economy that benefits its citizens and is more competitive internationally.

"But given the current Brexit-deal-induced mess that has meant our exports to the EU are down by 41 percent at the moment, it's not clear where the cash is coming from," the professor said.

"We're told there is no money to reward nurses and carers for their efforts during the COVID crisis, so how can we afford the expense of this Review? Not answered," he added. Enditem
SEOUL  The United States punished 24 Chinese officials on Wednesday for undermining Hong Kongs democratic freedoms, acting just before the first scheduled meeting of senior Chinese and American diplomats since President Biden took office.

In diplomatic terms, the timing of the action was pointed and clearly intentional, continuing a testy start to relations between the Biden administration and China after a tumultuous four years under President Donald J. Trump.

The State Department announced that it would impose financial sanctions on a raft of officials, including a member of the Communist Partys 25-member Politburo, Wang Chen, over an issue that Beijing has repeatedly said is an internal political matter. Earlier sanctions imposed by the Trump administration had barred the same officials from traveling to the United States and frozen their assets in the country.

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken, who is visiting Japan and South Korea, said the move followed Chinas latest effort to erode Hong Kongs autonomy by rewriting the territorys election laws in Beijing and ramming the changes through its pliant Communist Party-controlled legislature.
CAIRO (Reuters) - An Egyptian court sentenced prominent female activist Sanaa Seif to a year and a half in prison on Wednesday for spreading false news, her sister and judicial sources said.

Seif was detained in June 2019 outside the public prosecutor's office as she tried to file a complaint about the detention conditions of her brother Alaa Abdel Fattah, one of Egypt's best-known activists, their family says.

She was also among the activists who had campaigned on social media for the release of some prisoners amid fears that coronavirus would spread in prisons.

Three other members of her family were briefly detained in March 2020 for protesting over the same issue.

A Cairo criminal court convicted Seif for spreading and broadcasting false news that would cause panic, the false allegation of the spread of the coronavirus in prisons and misusing social media sites, judicial sources said.

Seif has the right to appeal the ruling within 60 days, they said.

Her brother Alaa, a leading activist in the 2011 uprising that toppled former President Hosni Mubarak, was detained in September 2019, six months after his release from a five-year prison term.

Western countries on Friday called on Egypt to end the prosecution of activists, journalists and perceived political opponents under counter-terrorism laws, and to unconditionally release them.

Egypt said it was astonished by the statement, which it called groundless.

(Reporting by Cairo bureau)
Armenia acting health minister on citizens' demand for her resignation

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Armenia citizens throw polyethylene bags at Health Ministry building, police apprehend protesters

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Armenia official: Large number of projects being prepared in construction sector

Identity of man killed Wednesday morning in downtown Yerevan is found out

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Azerbaijan grossly violating 2 Armenian POWs rights, says international law expert

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Missing Armenian soldiers' relatives hand letter to Russia Embassy with request to solve captives' issue

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Sweden joined its Scandinavian neighbors and several other European countries on Tuesday in suspending use of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, citing reports of blood clotting among vaccine recipients. Thirteen European Union countries  including Germany, France, Italy, and Spain  have suspended use of the AstraZeneca vaccine until a review, expected Thursday, from the EU's drug regulator, the European Medicines Agency. EMA chief Emer Cooke urged those nations to resume vaccinations.

"We are still firmly convinced that the benefits of the AstraZeneca vaccine in preventing COVID-19 with its associated risk of hospitalization and death outweigh the risk of the side effects," Cooke said Tuesday. "At present there is no indication that vaccination has caused these conditions," but "this is a serious concern and it does need serious and detailed scientific evaluation." The World Health Organization and AstraZeneca also say there's no evidence the vaccine increases risk of blood clots.

Health authorities in the countries suspending use of the vaccine concede the lack of evidence but say they are acting out of an abundance of caution. Even with Poland, Romania, Greece, Belgium, and other EU countries continuing to use AstraZeneca's vaccine, almost half the bloc's 15 million doses are lying in storage even as European countries struggle to vaccinate their populations.

Somalia's health minister and Thailand's prime minister got the AstraZeneca vaccine publicly to boost confidence in the shot. Thailand was the first non-European country to suspend use of the AstraZeneca vaccine but reversed course Tuesday. "There are people who have concerns," Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha said after getting the shot. "But we must believe doctors, believe in our medical professionals."

AstraZeneca got more bad news Tuesday when a study from South Africa published in The New England Journal of Medicine showed the vaccine offered essentially no protection against mild or moderate infections from the South African variant of the coronavirus, B.1.351.

More stories from theweek.com

Michael Cohen says Trump is in for a 'proctological exam of the highest order' by New York prosecutors

Republican Rep. Chip Roy uses hearing on anti-Asian discrimination to 'glorify lynching' and criticize China

Let informed people be jurors


President Joe Biden delivers remarks in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington on March 15, 2021. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

Biden Says Cuomo Should Resign If Probe Confirms Misconduct Allegations

President Joe Biden said New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo should resign if an investigation confirms multiple allegations of sexual misconduct made against him.

Biden made the remarks during an interview on Tuesday with ABC News George Stephanopoulos, who asked him, If the investigation confirms the claims of the women, should he resign?

Yes, Biden replied. I think hell probably end up being prosecuted, too.

The president stopped short of asking Cuomo to resign immediately, noting that an investigation to determine the veracity of the sexual assault allegations is underway.

There should be an investigation to determine whether what she says is true, Biden added. Thats whats going on now.

It comes as Cuomo is facing calls from Democrats to resign as seven women have come forward to accuse the governor of inappropriate sexual conduct. New York Attorney General Letitia James is currently probing the allegations against Cuomo.

Biden has received pressure from the media to comment on the scandal following the push from several prominent Democrats to end Cuomos governorship. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) in a statement late March 12 urged Cuomo to resign, arguing that the governor has lost the confidence of his governing partners and the people of New York amid the controversy.

Other congressional lawmakers who have called for his resignation include Reps. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.), Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.), and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.).

Similarly, more than 55 Democratic state legislators signed a letter on March 11 calling for Cuomos resignation, and State Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie said that its Judiciary Committee has been authorized to initiate an impeachment investigation into the allegations. The probe will run parallel to Jamess review.

However, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) declined to say whether Cuomo should immediately resign.

Cuomo has remained adamant about not stepping down. He has blamed cancel culture for the pressure and denied the allegations.

Let the review proceed, Im not going to resign, I was not elected by the politicians, I was elected by the people, he previously told reporters.

I am not part of the political club, and you know what? I am proud of it, he added. I have been in the public eye my entire life. My entire life I have been under public scrutiny, since I was 23 years old and ran my fathers campaign. New Yorkers know me. Wait for the facts.

On Monday, one of the seven women who accused Cuomo of wrongdoing met with investigators in a Zoom meeting for more than four hours.

Charlotte Bennett, 25, a former aide, detailed her allegations and provided more than 120 pages of contemporaneous records and other records to corroborate her accusations.

Bennett and her legal team remain confident that the probe will substantiate the sexual harassment claims against Cuomo, 63, and the failure of his senior staff to meet their mandatory reporting requirements under laws the Democrat himself signed.

Zachary Stieber contributed to this report.

By Anna Mehler Paperny

TORONTO (Reuters) - Canada's Senate on Wednesday passed a bill expanding the scope of medically assisted death, which would make the option accessible to people with a serious medical condition but whose death is not considered imminent.

Assisted death has been legal in Canada since 2016 but a Quebec court in 2019 ruled the law's requirement that the person's natural death be "reasonably foreseeable" to be unconstitutional.

The new law will remove that requirement, and opens the door to allowing assisted death for people whose sole underlying condition is mental illness. It prohibits for two years assisted death for people whose only underlying condition is mental illness, after which the government is expected to bring forward a framework allowing people with mental illness to access assisted death.

Almost 14,000 people accessed medically assisted death in Canada between 2016 and 2019, according to government data.

Assisted death is legal in some form in Spain, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Switzerland and several U.S. states.

The new law would make it easier to access assisted death in Canada than in some other countries, said Jocelyn Downie, a law and health policy professor at Dalhousie University - a framework closer to Belgium and the Netherlands than the United States and Australia.

The bill's fundamental element is choice, Downie said, adding that better supports for people with disabilities or mental illness are still needed.

The bill drew vehement opposition from groups who say it devalues the lives of people with disabilities and people with mental illness.

"[The government's] actions set us back decades and will further entrench disability-based discrimination in this country," Krista Carr of advocacy group Inclusion Canada said in a statement last week.

Before it becomes law, the acting head of state will have to sign the bill, but it is a formality.

(Reporting by Anna Mehler Paperny in Toronto; Editing by Denny Thomas and Matthew Lewis)
Pelosi Says Cuomo Should Resign If Allegations Proven True

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said March 17 that New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo should resign if the probe confirms the sexual harassment allegations against him, joining President Joe Biden who made similar comments the day before.

People have to unlearn some bad behavior in order to learn how we should go forward, and again, if these allegations are proven to be true, then zero tolerance would follow that the governor should not continue, Pelosi said during an interview on MSNBC.

Pelosi described what happened as heartbreaking, and said, We have zero tolerance for the behavior that is alleged against the governor, and again, I think he is a supporter of zero tolerance in terms of sexual harassment.

Days ago, Pelosi was pressed on why she hadnt called on Cuomo to resign. During a March 14 interview with ABC, Pelosi suggested it was up to Cuomo whether or not he should continue in office.

I think we should see the results of the investigation  but he may decide, Pelosi responded at the time. And hopefully, this result will be soon. What Im saying is the governor should look inside his hearthe loves New Yorkto see if he can govern effectively. And that could be one of the considerations that he has.

Biden made similar comments on March 16, saying that Cuomo could potentially face prosecution if a probe confirms the allegations against him. Biden was asked by ABC News George Stephanopoulos about Cuomos fate, and specifically whether he should resign if the investigation confirms the womens claims. So far at least six women have come forward to accuse the governor of inappropriate behavior.

Yes, Biden said in response. I think hell probably end up being prosecuted, too.

Heres my position  a woman should be presumed to be telling the truth, should not be scapegoated and become victimized by her coming forwardbut there should be an investigation to determine whether what she says is true.

Later in the interview, Biden said, There could be a criminal prosecution attached to it, I just dont know.

The presidents comments mark his strongest response yet on Cuomo. The governorwho is also facing scrutiny and criticism over how he handled nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemichas repeatedly refused to resign and has urged the public to wait for the results of the investigation.

Both Pelosi and Biden stopped short of calling for Cuomos immediate resignation.

On March 12, Cuomo again said he wont resign from office after more than a dozen New York Democratic legislators said he should step down.

People know the difference between playing politics, bowing to cancel culture, and the truth. Let the review proceed. Im not going to resign, the New York Democrat said in a conference call.

Reps. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.), Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.), and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), among others, said he should step down amid the allegations. And New York Mayor Bill de Blasio said recently that Cuomo just cant serve as governor anymore.

Jack Phillips contributed to this report
A Morgan County grand jury has indicted a Decatur woman in connection with a 2019 fatal car crash.

Karla Gabriella Barrera, 23, has been charged with manslaughter and driving with a revoked license.

The charges came in connection with a fatal incident when a car driven by Barrera left Woodall Road near Trinity, struck a tree and burned. One-year-old Kamilah Elise Tibbs, of Decatur, died in the crash, which happened on June 2, 2019.

Barrera and another child was injured in the crash, according to an ALEA Troopers report at the time.

Barrera is free on a $25,000 bond and has a court date in May.
Minister of Defense of Ukraine Andrii Taran and Minister of Defense of Japan Nobuo Kishi held a two-hour online meeting, during which they discussed a very wide range of issues.

Ukraines Ambassador to Japan Serhiy Korsunsky wrote about this on his Facebook page.

"The online meeting of the defense ministers of Ukraine and Japan lasted for two hours - twice as long as planned. A frank and useful discussion on an extremely wide range of issues. No compromises on the content due to the chosen online form. Details will be disclosed in the official reports of the defense ministries of the two countries," Korsunsky wrote.

As Ukrinform previously reported, an offline meeting between Ukrainian Defense Minister Andrii Taran and Japanese Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi was canceled because one of the members of the Ukrainian delegation tested positive for COVID-19.

Taran held a video meeting with State Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan UTO Takashi, during which they discussed security issues in East Asia and Donbas, as well as Japan's participation in the Crimean Platform summit.

Minister Tarans visit to Japan  the first-ever in the history of bilateral relations  began on March 16.

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The royal family have taken their first steps towards a reconciliation with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex  but a friend of Meghan claimed initial talks were not productive.

US breakfast show host Gayle King said she had called the Sussexes and was told Harry had spoken to his father, the Prince of Wales, and brother the Duke of Cambridge  but no-one has yet spoken to Meghan.

King suggested that despite the conversations not bearing fruit, the Sussexes were glad dialogue had started.

Expand Close Harry has spoken to William and Charles, according to Gayle King (Phil Harris/Daily Mirror/PA) / Facebook

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Whatsapp Harry has spoken to William and Charles, according to Gayle King (Phil Harris/Daily Mirror/PA)

After the Sussexes bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey, the Queen said in a statement that the issues raised, including race, would be addressed by the family privately.

The couple had accused an unnamed royal, not the Queen or the Duke of Edinburgh, of raising concerns about how dark their son Archies skin tone would be, before he was born.

Meghan revealed she asked for help when she was suicidal, but said the institution gave her no support.

Expand Close Breakfast show host Gayle King is friends with Meghan (Ian West/PA) / Facebook

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Whatsapp Breakfast show host Gayle King is friends with Meghan (Ian West/PA)

King said on CBS This Morning: Im not trying to break news, but I did actually call them to see how they were feeling and its true Harry has talked to his brother and he has talked to his father too.

The word I was given was that those conversations were not productive but they are glad that they have at least started a conversation.

And I think what is still upsetting to them is that the palace keeps saying they want to work it out privately, but yet they believe these false stories are coming out that are very disparaging against Meghan still  no one in the royal family has talked to Meghan yet




California Governor Gavin Newsom is "worried" about a bid to recall him, an effort which has tapped into anger over his handling of the pandemic and appears on the cusp of triggering a rare special election, he said Tuesday.

Among 20 states that let voters force a leadership poll if they gather enough signatures, California last saw a recall election in 2003 -- which ultimately brought bodybuilder-turned-Hollywood star Arnold Schwarzenegger into office.

That was one of only three recall bids in US history to successfully force an actual vote, but Newsom said he expects campaigners to reach the threshold of just under 1.5 million signatures by Wednesday to do so again.

"Of course I'm worried about it... we're taking it seriously," Newsom told ABC's "The View," adding that the campaign "appears to have the requisite signatures."

Initially praised for his handling of the pandemic, Newsom has been increasingly blamed for lengthy business closures, a brutal winter Covid-19 spike, and -- more recently -- a slow and complicated vaccine rollout.

But Newsom, a Democrat, insisted the recall effort was driven by far-right supporters of QAnon conspiracy theories, and that it was "less about me, it's more about California and our values, Democratic Party values."

"I have to do my job every single day, but I'm gonna fight this thing because I'm gonna fight for California values and the things I hold dear," he said.

The recall bid has received support and funding from prominent Republicans and conservatives.

If the vote goes ahead, it would likely take place between August and November this year. Newsom is already up for re-election in November 2022.

Voters would be asked two questions -- whether they want to remove him, and which candidate should replace him if he goes.

Former "Terminator" actor Schwarzenegger, a Republican, tapped into discontent against then-Governor Gray Davis, a Democrat, to become leader of the nation's most populous state in 2003.

Story continues

But many experts are skeptical that Newsom would be removed in the deeply Democratic state, at a time of intense political polarization.

"It just takes one quarter of people that supported Donald Trump to put a... recall on the ballot," noted Newsom.

Former President Trump received more than six million votes in California last November -- more than he managed in any other US state.

But President Joe Biden topped 11 million votes in the massive state of some 40 million, where mainly liberal urban cities vastly outnumber large, more conservative rural regions in terms of the electorate.

amz/caw
(Photo : Youtube/ Stefan Malloch) Sony lens 50mm

Sony has announced that it will soon unveil its 60th E-mount lens, which is the 50mm f/1.2 G-Master. Sony hopes it will prove that not only can it continue to make lightweight and compact primes, but it can also do so while competing with lenses from Nikon and Canon.

Sony's GM 50mm lens

Sony's 50mm f/1.2 G-Master lens manages to combine the wide-open aperture of f/1.2 with a compact and lightweight design that is essentially the same size and weight as the Zeiss Planar T* FE 50mm f/1.4 ZA: It is the same length, the same width, and a half stop faster.

The size of the lens is due to two main factors, first is the focusing system that is in place, and the second is the lens elements that are used, according to DPReview.

Also Read: Sony Xperia 5 III: Specs, Price, Release Date, Leaks, and Everything You Need to Know!

Compared to the 50mm f/1.2 lenses of Canon and Nikon, each of them attempts to have different approaches to focusing on subjects.

Canon uses a rotational ultrasonic motor or USM that will physically move larger lens elements back and forth. In contrast, Nikon's system uses an internal focusing system based on a rotary stepping motor.

Sony says that both of the systems are inferior to its linear actuator focusing system that it has been using in its recent high-performance G-Master lenses.

The company also claims that its four extreme dynamic linear motors or XD linear actuators give the high thrust efficiency needed to position the two large focus groups of the lenses accurately and in a floating focus mechanism controlled by its dedicated lens drive algorithm. The actuators also contribute to a quiet focus drive.

Because of that motor, Sony can promise a perfect hit rate with an inch depth of field at up to 30 still frames per second.

Sony's lens can also shoot at 120 frames per second in 4K without missing focus, as evidence by clips posted online.

It is important to note that this hit rate will not be met every single time, but the fact that the benchmarks are still achieved is still very impressive, according to PRNewWire.

G-Master lens' features

The lens is constructed of 14 elements in 10 groups. Three of them are extreme aspherical elements that Sony says minimize aberrations and allow the lens to maintain sharpness and clarity from the center to the edge. As mentioned, it contributes to the small size of the lens.

It also has a minimum focusing distance of 0.4 meters or 15.75 inches with a maximum magnification of 0.17x.

The Sony 50mm f/1.2 G-Master weighs 778 grams, which is notably lighter than Canon's 50mm f/1.2, weighing 950 grams, and Nikon's 50mm f/1.2, which weighs 1090 grams, according to Imaging Resource.

The defocused areas are smooth thanks to a newly-developed 11-bladed circular aperture. The lens features a de-clickable aperture, programmable focus control buttons, a fluorine front element coating, and a focus mode switch.

The Sony 50mm f/1.2 G-Master will be available on May 13, and it will cost around $2,000. When asked about supply chain issues, a Sony representative assured that there are no current challenges in manufacturing and that there should be enough units to meet demand.

Related Article: Sony Launches 'Mandalorian'-Like Crystal LED Set Displays: Specs, Price, Release Date, and More

This article is owned by Tech Times

Written by Sieeka Khan

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
[March 17, 2021] Great Learning's new logo reinforces the brand's 'Power Ahead' positioning

The company recently crossed the milestone of having impacted 1 million learners on its platform NEW DELHI, March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Great Learning, one of India's leading EdTech companies for higher and professional education launched its new logo which represents its core philosophy of 'guided growth' for its learners so that they are able to power ahead in their careers. In the past 7 years, from the time of inception, the brand has been working towards empowering learners accelerate their careers through high-quality education, personalized mentorship and career support. Over the years, the brand has been successful in creating awareness about the importance of lifelong learning for sustained career success among its learners. Through this new logo, the brand reinforces its promise of guided growth, which is the foundation of its mentored learning approach. The new logo created by the Great Learning in-house design team is sleek, modern and vibrant. The arrow in the 'G' is a key visual element and symbolizes the upward journey of steady growth. The sharp contours of the icon 'G' blend with the rounded typeface for the lettering to bring alive what the brand stands for - a potent combination of cutting-edge skills delivered via a supportive and inviting learning experience. Speaking on the launch of the new logo, Mohan Lakhamraju, CEO Great Learning said, "Our experience has shown that mentorship and guidance are pivotal to the success of an individual's learning journey. It is this personalized attention and mentorship that has differentiated Great Learning and helped establish it as the most trusted edtech company in our space and enabled us to positively impact the careers and lives of our learners. Our new logo represents our continued commitment to helping our learners power ahead in their careers through our guided learning approach."



As a part of the logo launch, the brand also released a short video highlighting beautifully the brand philosophy of mentored learning, and the impact created since the company's inception. Click on the link to view the launch video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04JpfelD8mU

About Great Learning Great Learning is one of India's leading ed-tech companies for professional and higher education. It offers comprehensive, industry-relevant programs in Software Engineering, Business Management, Business Analytics, Data Science, Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, Cloud Computing, Cyber Security, Digital Marketing, Design Thinking, and more. Great Learning's programs are developed in collaboration with the world's foremost academic institutions like Stanford University, MIT, The University of Texas at Austin, National University Singapore, IIT Madras, IIT Bombay, IIT Roorkee and Great Lakes Institute of Management and are constantly reimagined and revamped to address the dynamic needs of the industry. Great Learning is the only ed-tech company to provide these programs in a blended mode, classroom mode and in purely online mode, relying on its vast network of expert mentors and highly qualified faculty to deliver an unmatched learning experience for learners in India and the world over. By delivering over 50 million hours of transformational learning, we have impacted over 1 million learners from 160 countries. Great Learning is on a mission to enable transformative learning and career success in the digital economy for professionals and students across the globe. Media Contact:

Rishita Chiranewala

rishita@greatlearning.in

PR Head

Great Learning Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1458124/Logo_with_Virat.jpg

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1458111/Great_Learning_Logo.jpg

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Alex Dimitriades has responded to claims he is 'too young' to play a grandfather in the new Channel Nine drama Amazing Grace.

The 47-year-old actor, who rose to fame on youth-driven shows in the '90s, addressed some of the criticism in an interview with TV Tonight on Wednesday.

'This is the first time I'll be playing a grandparent, which is just weird,' he said.

'It's really not impossible': Alex Dimitriades (right, with Alexandra Jensen) has responded to claims he is 'too young' to play a grandfather in the new Channel Nine drama Amazing Grace

'I mean, it's not impossible. I could have had three grandchildren by now,' he added.

Alex explained his on-screen daughter in Amazing Grace, Sophia, is actually 17, so it's not impossible that his character could be a grandfather.

'I'm 47. Sophia's 17. It's really not impossible at all even though it seems a little far fetched for my own life,' he said.

Believable: Alex told TV Tonight his on-screen daughter in Amazing Grace, Sophia, is actually 17, so it's not impossible that his character could be a grandfather

'When you sit down and do the math, well, actually it's totally feasible.'

Alex portrays Kirk in Amazing Grace. The series follows his teenage daughter as she tracks down her birth mother before welcoming her own child.

Alex stars alongside Kate Jenkinson, Alexandra Jensen, Sigrid Thornton and Ben OToole in the Nine program.

Aussie drama: Alex portrays Kirk in Amazing Grace. The series follows his teenage daughter as she tracks down her birth mother before welcoming her own child

Alex is one of Australia's most famous actors, but has also made a splash on the Sydney music scene, where he is known by the stage name DJ Boogie Monster.

He rose to fame in 1994 when he played student Nick Poulos in Heartbreak High.

Alex was just 20 years old at the time he was cast. He went on to appear in Blue Murder, Underbelly, Secret Circle and Tidelands.
Kerala elections 2021: Congress alleges rampant fraud in voters' list in State

India

oi-Ajay Joseph Raj P

Thiruvananthapuram, Mar 17: The Opposition Congress on Wednesday raised serious allegations of fraud and irregularities in the preparation of voters' list in Kerala ahead of the April 6 assembly polls.

Citing the voters' list published by the Election Commission on January 20 2021, Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Ramesh Chennithala said bogus votes have been added extensively in each constituency across the state.

There were instances of the name of a person being included in the voters' list of the same constituency five or six times, he told reporters here in a press meet. "In most cases, same address and photo have been used for committing the fraud. In some other cases, minor changes have been made in the address and the photo," the senior Congress leader alleged.

Accusing the Election Commission of issuing multiple voter identity cards to the same person in the same constituency, Chennithala cited an example of a person named Kumari, a 61-year-old voter in Uduma segment in northern Kasaragod district, who had allegedly been given five identity cards.

Turncoats turn the tables on old-timers in Bengal elections

To prove his point, the leader shared the serial numbers and voter identity card numbers of all the five cards issued to her. Noting that this was not an isolated incident, he said thousands of fake voters have been included in the same manner in each constituency, which is an "organised" attempt to sabotage the electoral process.

"It is a serious crime which would not be possible without the support of officials who were assigned to prepare voters' list. A clear conspiracy at the state level was behind the attempt to create bogus voters in all the 140 constituencies in the state," Chennithala said.

He also listed the number of bogus voters in seven constituencies including Kazhakkoottam, where state tourism minister Kadakampally Surendran was seeking a second term.

Chennithala sent a letter to Chief Electoral Officer urging him to scrutinize the voters's list in all the 140 constituencies and remove the names repeated. He also asked the Election Commission to hold the Assembly polls on April 6 only after removing the fraudulent voters from the list.

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Story first published: Wednesday, March 17, 2021, 17:48 [IST]

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Copyright  2021 Albuquerque Journal

Torrance County deputies shot and injured an Oklahoma man early Tuesday morning near Bosque Farms after he allegedly held a woman hostage and attempted to strike authorities with his truck, according to New Mexico State Police.

State Police spokesman Mark Soriano said Joshua Francis, 28, is recovering in the hospital and will face criminal charges when released. No deputies were injured in the incident.

This investigation remains active and open, and is being led by the New Mexico State Police, he said. The details of the shooting remain under investigation.

Soriano said Francis called 911 around 2 a.m. to report that he was holding a woman hostage at the Rock Motel in the Town of Mountainair and wanted to die in a shootout with police. He said Torrance County Sheriff's Office deputies and Mountainair police responded to the situation and found a 28-year-old woman, also from Oklahoma, on the ground in front of one of the rooms.

The female did not sustain any injuries, and was treated and released by emergency medical personnel at the motel, Soriano said.

He said deputies saw Francis leave in a silver truck and they gave chase as he drove, at times, over 100 mph. Soriano said a TCSO deputy used a pursuit intervention technique, or PIT maneuver, to stop the truck at South Bosque Loop and N.M. 47 in Bosque Farms.

He said Francis attempted to hit the deputy's vehicle, and a TCSO sergeant and deputy shot at Francis, striking him at least once. Soriano said deputies rendered aid until he was taken to a hospital in Albuquerque.

The identities of the TCSO sergeant and deputy involved will not be released until all interviews are completed, Soriano said.

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The Napa Farmers Market board of directors welcomed three new members: Karla E. Gomez-Pelayo, Imane Hanine, and Caroline Wiegardt.

"These dynamic new members bring fresh energy, expertise, and passion for advancing the markets goals for a more sustainable, equitable, and delicious Napa Valley food community," said a news release.

Karla Enedina Gomez-Pelayo was born in Jalisco, Mexico, and raised in the Napa Valley. She is a first-generation graduate from the University of California, Berkeley, and is currently pursuing a graduate degree at the California Institute of Integral Studies. A storyteller at heart, Gomez-Pelayo brings over a decade of marketing experience as a community organizer, educator, and artist. She now leads the marketing committee and supports the markets culturally responsive communications initiatives.

Imane Hanine is a first-generation New York City native currently getting her hands dirty in the vineyard and cellar as a wine educator, hospitality and sales specialist, and cellar hand for Matthiasson Wines. She brings to the board 15 years of experience in hospitality and production, and a passion for sustainable agriculture, and an equitable & just food system.
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In a shocking new TikTok video, a man wearing sinister looking red-colored contact lenses, illuminated by an eerie red glow, who refers to himself as a member of the Lucifer Gang, takes a moment to thank progressive Christians, saying, There is a wave of Christian people that I have met on this app, and I have found favor among them. Progressive Christians are what the world needs right now. The TikTokker, whose page is filled with anti-Christian arguments, as well as content promoting witchcraft, dark energy, and satanic imagery, goes on to say regarding progressive Christians, We both agree that religion needs massive amounts of change.

For those new to the term, progressive Christian isnt simply a reference to a democrat who is a Christian, but rather a specific viewpoint of both Jesus and the Bible. Progressive Christianity, also referred to as Liberal Christianity or the Christian Left (For more on Progressive Christianity, see Lucas Miles new book, The Christian Left: How Liberal Thought Has Hijacked the Church), emerged from Enlightenment and post-Enlightenment philosophers like Voltaire, Kant, and Hegel, as well as French Roman Catholic Richard Simon, often referred to as the Father of Biblical Criticism.

Progressive Christianity introduced to the world a belief in the historic Jesus, as an intentional distancing from the Biblically orthodox Christ presented in the scriptures. For the Christian Left, while the Bible may contain certain truths and historical accuracies, it cannot be trusted as a whole and requires human reason to evaluate each and every passage to determine whether or not that specific passage can be used to create a reliable portrait of Jesus. As such, a progressive view of scripture tends to reject and reason away all supernatural aspects of the Bible, including the miracles of Jesus and the resurrection. In the progressive historic view, Jesus is a good teacher, a social reformer, a rabbi, and a Cynic philosopher, but rarely the Son of God or Christ, the Savior of the world.

In our day, while beliefs among the Christian Left vary, most hold to a critical view of scripture (as opposed to a traditional view that holds the Bible to be the inerrant Word of God), an acceptance of Darwinism, a normalization of progressive views of gender and sexuality, and an emphasis of Jesus role in social justice and societal reform. Among those often regarded as being modern adherents to a form of Progressive Christianity are author and scholar Bart D. Ehrman, Democratic politician Pete Buttigieg, and journalist Jonathan Merritt. For Ehrman, his historic view of Jesus led him to a form of agnosticism, whereas Buttigieg still claims denominational affiliation with the Episcopal Church.

Describing his own de-conversion from traditional Christian faith, Merritt, a contributing editor at Religion News Service, confessed in a tweet, Like many, evangelicalism provided me with some wonderful gifts for a season, but I feel like I have grown beyond it in many ways. Its tools and frameworks are no longer sufficient to sustain me in this phase of life. While I honor my heritage, Im mostly seeking God elsewhere. For Merritt, his elsewhere, appears to be a form of progressively woke Christianity  the kind affirmed in the aforementioned TikTok video.

The reason this video is noteworthy is because it demonstrates the growing chasm between a Biblical view of Christianity and progressive view of Jesus. In the same video, the TikTokker goes on to attack traditional Christians, warning, Between your flawed bibles, asinine ideals, and just outright misinformation - weve had enough.

Surprisingly, due to the departure of certain Biblical ideas, such as the Lordship of Jesus and original sin, progressive Christianity apparently is able to stand unified alongside satanism, since the cause of division, namely viewing Jesus as Savior, has been removed. Biblical Christianity, on the other hand, while still offering love to someone caught in the deception of satanism, cannot find agreement or unity in belief, as the apostle Paul wrote, What harmony can there be between Christ and the devil?
Demand for information hardly slowed Wednesday: Wells Fargo said heavy traffic had temporarily caused problems for its online banking service. This does not affect stimulus payments with March 17 effective date, which were credited to accounts today, the company said in a statement.

For this round, payments top out at $1,400 per person, including children and adult dependents. To qualify for the full amount, a single person must have an adjusted gross income of $75,000 or below. For heads of household, adjusted gross income must be $112,500 or less, and for married couples filing jointly that number has to be $150,000 or below.

Partial payments are available to people who earn more, but they fall quickly to zero. For single filers, the checks stop at $80,000. For heads of household, the cutoff is $120,000. And for joint filers, its $160,000.

The payment amounts depend on the most recent information on file with the I.R.S., which could be from your 2019 tax return if you havent yet filed for 2020. (If youre newly eligible for a payment based on your 2020 income but havent yet filed your return, the I.R.S. will be able to continue making payments until September. And if you still dont end up with a payment by then, you can make a claim when you file your 2021 taxes.)

You can find information on the status of your payment by using the I.R.S.s Get My Payment tool. If the agency has your bank account information, the money should show up automatically if youre eligible. If you receive veterans benefits or Social Security payments, whether for retirement or disability, the I.R.S. will generally send payments the same way you normally get that money. The agency said it planned to announce a payment date for these groups shortly.

People who dont regularly file a tax return that includes any bank account information should keep an eye on the mail for a paper check or a debit card. But just because your previous two payments arrived one way doesnt mean this one will arrive the same way, according to the I.R.S., which may send debit cards to ensure payments are available to recipients more quickly. (If you received a payment on a debit card before, the I.R.S. has already said that it would issue new cards for this payment instead of adding money to the old one.)

In prior stimulus rounds, some recipients have been confused to see their payments destined for unfamiliar accounts  often because they used tax-preparation services that created temporary accounts to receive their refunds. Both H&R Block and Intuits TurboTax have posted messages attempting to reassure customers who previously experienced glitches or delays.
Her challenging performance in heartbreaking Netflix hit Pieces Of A Woman has drawn her an Oscar nomination this week.

But it seems Vanessa Kirby had somewhat more humble beginnings - as her career really began in Bolton, as a fresh-faced starlet at 21.

The thespian, now 32, can be seen in new pictures that detail her first foray into treading the boards at the Octagon Theatre in Bolton.

Glowing: Oscar nominee Vanessa Kirby had somewhat humble beginnings - as her career really began in Bolton, as a fresh-faced starlet at 21

Vanessa - the daughter of former Country Living magazine editor Jane and urologist Roger Kirby - knew she wanted to act as a teenager but was turned down by Bristol Old Vic Theatre School.

She says she was badly bullied at school - meaning drama was an escape.

'I became self-conscious about everything I did in relation to the bullies. But drama was the place where I didn't,' she said in 2018.

She took a gap year to travel before studying English at the University of Exeter.

And after turning down her place at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, she was signed to a talent agency before meeting theatre director David Thacker.

Oh my! They show her locking lips with fellow newcomer Oscar Pearce, who went on to take parts in Captain America, Resident Evil and War And Peace

Wow: Her challenging performance in heartbreaking Netflix hit Pieces Of A Woman has drawn her an Oscar nomination this week

As well as artistic director in Bolton, he was also a successful TV director, directing episodes of Silent Witness, Foyle's War, The Vice, and Waking The Dead.

At the time he was running the Octagon Theatre in Bolton and gave Vanessa three starring roles over the course of 2009.

Then just 21, these pictures show her taking on the part of Ann in Arthur Miller's All My Sons on October 1 that year.

The pictures are a far cry from the more polished Vanessa audiences see now.

Happy days: Then just 21, these pictures show her taking on the part of Ann in Arthur Miller's All My Sons on October 1 2009

Happy days: She is perhaps best known for her starring role as Princess Margaret in 2016's first series of the Crown, drawing her to the attention of widespread audiences

Oh my! She was putting on a steamy performance in the play

Here she is! She was clad in florals for the show

She is perhaps best known for her starring role as Princess Margaret in 2016's first series of the Crown, drawing her to the attention of widespread audiences.

She won the British Academy Television Award for Best Supporting Actress and earned a nomination for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for the role, which shows her weathering her father's death and trying to support her sister, the new Queen Elizabeth, played by Claire Foy.

She went on to land jobs in Mission: Impossible  Fallout (2018) and Hobbs & Shaw (2019), and won the Volpi Cup for Best Actress for her performance in Pieces of a Woman.

Then: And this week, her talent in the series, released on Netflix in January, was clear after she won an Oscar nomination for best actress for the part

And this week, her talent in the series, released on Netflix in January, was clear after she won an Oscar nomination for best actress for the part.

The film focuses on Martha and her partner Sean, played by Shia LaBeouf, who are devastated after losing their baby during a home birth.

Miss Kirby is expected to attend the Academy Awards, which will be held at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, on April 25.

Whereas audiences now are used to see her kissing equerry Peter Townsend in the Crown, the images taken in Bolton may well have been her first on-stage kiss.

That stare: She was prepping for her Oscar glory

Winner: Kirby won the BIZA Rising Star Award at the Manchester Evening News Theatre Awards, worth 5,000, for her first role

They show her locking lips with fellow newcomer Oscar Pearce, who went on to take parts in Captain America, Resident Evil and War And Peace.

Kirby won the BIZA Rising Star Award at the Manchester Evening News Theatre Awards, worth 5,000, for her first role.

And she went on to tackle Ghosts by Henrik Ibsen, and A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare at the same theatre over the next 12 months.

A source said: 'She was magnetic, even then. You could see all those years ago that she would go far.'
Work so far has produced a first concentrate to then be processed using the company's proprietary process into a direct end-product for electric vehicle (EV) battery manufacturing

The initial test work was carried out on 50 kilograms of tailings from drill samples from Canada Silver Works' Beaver mine

Canada Silver Cobalt Works Inc ( ) (OTCMKTS:CCWOF) (FRA:4T9B) said preliminary bench-scale testing involving its proprietary hydrometallurgical Re-2Ox process has "yielded excellent results".

Work so far has produced a first concentrate to then be processed using its proprietary process into a direct end-product for electric vehicle (EV) battery manufacturing, the company said.

The Re-2Ox process is the only known hydrometallurgical process purposely designed and adaptable to recover and recycle metals from lithium-ion, nickel-hydride and nickel-cadmium batteries.

The initial test work was carried out on 50 kilograms of tailings from drill samples from the firm's Beaver mine in the Gowganda silver district of northern Ontario.

"The core of the ability to meet EV battery manufacturers' needs, is a metallurgical process that can treat primary feeds and secondary feeds equally well into final end-user products," said Frank Basa, CEO at Canada Silver Cobalt Works.

"As the company has already produced cobalt sulfate from hard rock mineralized primary feed from the Castle mine it is now working on using the Re-2Ox process on tailings from the Cobalt camp and secondary feeds from spent batteries into final end-user products."

The company said first stage, flotation test rougher concentrate grades came in at 2,559 grams per tonne (g/t) silver, 0.28% cobalt and 0.072% nickel, while there were "excellent" preliminary, first stage flotation test rougher concentrate recoveries of 61% silver, 43% for cobalt and 21% for nickel.

The overall test program is expected to take six months from bench-scale to pilot plant for the Stage I program.

The program is designed to produce concentrates from hard rock mineralized material from the Castle Mine and from tailings from the Castle and Beaver mines, and to process spent Li-ion, Nickel Cadmium, Nickel Hydride batteries using the Re-2Ox process.

Contact the author at giles@proactiveinvestors.com
New Delhi:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was looking forward to fruitful discussions and pragmatic outcomes at the upcoming BRICS summit in China.He emphasized that it has to make vital contributions in sustaining peace and security and address global challenges.



"I look forward to building upon the results and outcomes of the Goa Summit. I also look forward to productive discussions and positive outcomes that will support the agenda of a stronger BRICS partnership under the chairmanship of china," the PM said in a statement.



Modi will leave tomorrow for Xiamen to attend the Brazil-Russia-India-China-South Africa (BRICS) summit on September 4.

The visit comes days after India and China managed to end the 73-daylong Dokalam standoff.

About his first bilateral visit to Myanmar, Modi said both countries will look at strengthening existing cooperation in areas of security and counter-terrorism, trade and investment, infrastructure and energy, and culture.

Also Read: BRICS 2017 | Can't divulge what PM will speak at summit: MEA

On BRICS, the Prime Minister said he will have the opportunity to meet leaders bilaterally on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit. Replying to a specific question, the Ministry of External Affairs yesterday did not rule out a possible meeting between Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping on the margins of the summit, saying it is a common practice to arrange bilateral meetings on the sidelines of such multilateral.

India had hosted the previous BRICS summit in Goa last year. "India attaches high importance to the role of BRICS thathas begun the second decade of its partnership for progress andpeace.

BRICS has important contributions to make in addressing global challenges and upholding world peace and security," the prime minister said.

The prime minister said he was looking forward to engaging with leaders of nine other countries, including BRICS partners, in an Emerging Markets and Developing Countries Dialogue, being hosted by Chinese President Xi Jinping on September 5.

"We will also interact with the BRICS Business Council represented by captains of industry from all five countries," he said. On his Myanmar visit from September 5-7, Modi hoped itwill help in charting a roadmap for closer cooperation betweenthe two countries.

He said both countries will review developments inbilateral ties with a focus on "extensive" program of development cooperation and socio economic assistance India is undertaking in Myanmar.

Also Read: China not in favour of discussing Pakistan's counter-terror record at BRICS summit

Both sides will also explore new areas of cooperation. The prime minister said he was looking forward to payinga visit to the famed heritage city of Bagan, where the Archaeological Survey of India has done "stellar work" inrenovating the Ananda Temple, and where it will be undertaking further restoration work on a number of pagodas and murals that were damaged in last year's earthquake.

Modi had visited Myanmar in 2014 to attend the ASEAN-India Summit. The prime minister will meet President U Htin Kyaw and hold talks with State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi. The Myanmarese president and Suu Kyi had visited India last year.

"I am also keen to meet and interact with the Indian-origin community of Myanmar, whose history goes back more than a century.

"I am confident that the visit will open a bright newchapter in India-Myanmar relations and will help in charting aroadmap for closer cooperation between our governments, our business communities and at the people to people level," Modi said.

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
Bangladesh: 3 MoUs to be signed with Maldives

March 17,2021 | Source: The New Age Bangladesh

At least three memorandums of understanding on cooperation in the areas of fishing, cultural exchange and holding foreign office consultations are expected to be signed during Maldives president Ibrahim Mohamed Solihs visit to Bangladesh, diplomatic sources said. Maldives president Ibrahim Mohamed Solih is scheduled for today to arrive in Dhaka today on the two-day state visit. Solih, also head of the Maldivian government, will join bilateral talks with Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina at her office on Thursday. Issues relating to the interests and welfare of Bangladeshi migrant workers in the island country would be a major focus of the talks, said a foreign ministry official. Bangladesh is the second country for the Maldivian president to visit, after concluding a trip to Qatar on Tuesday, since the archipelago reopened borders in July 2020 after nearly four months since borders were closed due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.



He would join the celebrations of the golden jubilee of Bangladeshs independence and the birth centenary of the countrys founding president Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. President Abdul Hamid will receive his Maldivian counterpart who is set to reach Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport by an Emirates flight in the morning. Ibrahim Solih will visit the National Memorial at Savar to pay respect to the martyrs of the War of Independence in 1971. He will also join and address a rally and a cultural programme at the National Parade Ground organised as a part of the celebration. Solih is set to leave Dhaka for home on early Friday.

 2021 Media New Age Limited
(Newser)  Eight people are dead after a suspect allegedly opened fire at three Atlanta-area spas Tuesday night. The horrific incident began in the suburbs, with five people shot, four of them fatally, around 5pm at Youngs Asian Massage Parlor in Acworth, about 30 miles from Atlanta, the AP reports. Less than an hour later, police responded to a report of a robbery in progress at Gold Spa in Atlanta, and found three women shot dead. While at that scene, a call was made to report shots fired across the street at Aromatherapy Spa; another woman was found dead there. By 8:30pm Robert Aaron Long, 21, was in custody, CNN reports.

story continues below

A motive is not yet clear, but the shootings come amid a wave of increasing violence against Asian-Americans that many have attributed to the coronavirus pandemic, and authorities say six of the Tuesday victims are Asian women, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. A white woman and a white man were also killed, and a Hispanic man was injured. Authorities in Acworth don't believe robbery was a motive, as nothing appears to have been taken from that spa, 11 Alive reports. "Our entire family is praying for the victims of these horrific acts of violence," Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp tweeted. Police say surveillance footage points to Long as the suspect in all three shootings; he has been charged with murder. (Read more Atlanta stories.)
Photo: The Canadian Press Durham Regional Police enter a home in Oshawa, Ont., on July 10, 2018. A verdict is expected today in the trial of a man accused of killing two Ontario women. Adam Strong has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder in the deaths of Rori Hache and Kandis Fitzpatrick. Hache's torso was found in Lake Ontario in September 2017, and police charged Strong in her death later that year. In July 2018, police alleged they had found Fitzpatrick's DNA in Strong's basement. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christopher Katsarov

This story contains graphic content that may disturb some readers.

Two young women who vanished nearly a decade apart were killed and dismembered by a Toronto-area man who then disposed of their remains by tossing them in a lake and flushing them down the toilet, an Ontario judge found Tuesday.

Adam Strong, 47, was convicted of first-degree murder in the killing of Rori Hache and of manslaughter in that of Kandis Fitzpatrick, after a judge rejected the suggestion he had cut up their bodies but not caused their deaths.

The two women died in Strong's apartment in Oshawa, Ont., and their remains were stored in a large freezer in his bedroom as he sought to get rid of them over a period of time, Ontario Superior Court Justice Joseph Di Luca said.

"To be blunt, the chances that Mr. Strong would have twice found himself in need of a chest freezer to store the dismembered body parts of young women who met their deaths innocently is so infinitesimally small that it suggests the opposite conclusion," he said.

Both Hache and Fitzpatrick struggled with drug addiction and their disappearances sparked significant search efforts by their distraught relatives, Di Luca said, noting both women were deeply loved by their families.

Though there are similarities between them and the circumstances surrounding their deaths, the evidence regarding Fitzpatrick's death is insufficient to support a murder conviction, which requires proof beyond a reasonable doubt that the accused intended to kill or to cause harm that was likely to kill, the judge said.

"While Miss Hache and Miss Fitzpatrick were similarly situated in terms of their life circumstances, and may well have fallen in with Mr. Strong for the same reasons, the almost 10-year gap in time and the absence of forensic or other evidence relating to what happened to Miss Fitzpatrick at the time of her death renders a singular inference on this issue impossible," he said.

Hache, who was 18 and pregnant, disappeared in August 2017. Her torso was found in Lake Ontario the following month, and Strong was charged in her death in late December of that year.

Fitzpatrick, meanwhile, was 19 when she was last seen in 2008. Her body was never found, but in July 2018, police alleged they had found her DNA in Strong's basement, including on a specialty hunting knife used for skinning and gutting animals.

The trial, in front of a judge alone, heard police were called to Strong's home in December 2017 after plumbers found a "flesh-like" substance in the pipes. Strong admitted to officers at the scene that the substance was "a body," court heard.

Investigators later found Hache's blood and DNA in multiple areas, including the wall and ceiling of his bedroom, and on items such as a bondage device and a pet leash, court heard.

In a ruling delivered in court and by teleconference, Di Luca found Strong killed Hache sometime between Sept. 1 and Sept. 3 by repeatedly hitting her in the head with a hammer or a similar object as she lay bound in his bedroom.

The killing constitutes first-degree murder because it occurred in the course of a sexual assault, he said. It's possible the encounter was initially consensual, potentially involving paid sex work, but that consent would have been negated once Strong hit Hache, he said.

Strong then "meticulously" dismembered Hache's body and dumped her torso in the lake on Sept. 4, the judge found.

The rest of her body was stored in Strong's freezer until Christmas Eve, when he cut it up further and disposed of the pieces by flushing them down the toilet, the judge found.

Some body parts were placed back in the freezer afterwards, though Strong planned to get rid of them at a later date, Di Luca said.

"I am satisfied that if Mr. Strong had not been arrested, he would have followed through with his plan, and would eventually have disposed of all of Miss Hache's body parts," he said.

Court heard Strong later told investigators who questioned him that he was surprised when Hache's torso was discovered in the lake because he had taken precautions to keep it from surfacing.

He also blamed his arrest on "faulty plumbing," and told police flushing remains down the drain was an efficient disposal method, court heard.

Di Luca ruled that Strong's surprise stemmed from the fact that he had successfully used those techniques in getting rid of Fitzpatrick's remains.

Court also heard Strong told investigators he regretted getting caught but otherwise had no remorse, and that he tried to negotiate a deal that would secure him a more comfortable imprisonment.
[March 17, 2021] TA Associates Announces New Hire in Boston

TA Associates, a leading global growth private equity firm, today announced the hiring of Andrew Lowry as a Vice President in its Boston office and as a member of the firm's Strategic Resource Group. "We are very pleased to welcome Andrew to TA," said Kevin Masse, a Managing Director and Chief Portfolio Officer at TA who leads the firm's Strategic Resource Group. "Andrew brings to the firm what we believe to be an ideal skill set to further our efforts as active, constructive and value-add partners with management teams. We look forward to his collaboration with our portfolio company management teams to help take their businesses to the next level of growth." "TA's Strategic Resource Group leverages diverse consulting, finance and operating experience to provide our portfolio companies with strategic and tactical support," said Ajit Nedungadi, Chief Executive Officer of TA. "With his many years of consulting and investment banking experience, we believe Andrew will prove to be a valuable member of our Strategic ResourceGroup. We are delighted that he has joined TA."



Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Lowry was a Project Leader at Boston Consulting Group. He earlier worked as an Analyst in the Investment Banking Division at Goldman, Sachs & Co. Mr. Lowry served for five years in the United States Marine Corps, rising to the rank of Captain. He received a BS degree in Commerce from the University of Virginia and an MBA from the Harvard Business School. About TA Associates

TA is a leading global growth private equity firm headquartered in the U.S. Focused on targeted sectors within five industries - technology, healthcare, financial services, consumer and business services - the firm invests in profitable, growing companies with opportunities for sustained growth, and has invested in more than 500 companies around the world. Investing as either a majority or minority investor, TA employs a long-term approach, utilizing its strategic resources to help management teams build lasting value in high quality growth companies. TA has raised $33.5 billion in capital since its founding in 1968 and is committing to new investments at the pace of over $3 billion per year. The firm's more than 100 investment professionals are based in Boston, Menlo Park, London, Mumbai and Hong Kong. More information about TA can be found at www.ta.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210317005230/en/

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US Vice President Kamala Harris is expected to hold a virtual meeting with Arlene Foster and Michelle ONeill today as Northern Ireland once again tops the St Patricks Day agenda.

Its understood the three female leaders will speak after President Joe Biden holds his own remote online talk with Taoiseach Micheal Martin, the Irish Times reported.

Read More

Yesterday the US Senate brought forward a resolution calling for the full implementation of the Good Friday Agreement, stating that any new US-UK trade deal should be in line with the 1998 peace deal.

Mr Biden, who has family roots in Ireland, previously stated any future trade accord between the US and the UK depended on respecting the Agreement and preventing the return of a hard border.

Meanwhile, Mr Martin has pushed back against calls in the US for a referendum on Irish unity.

The Fianna Fail leader said that discussions which took place around Irish unity immediately after Brexit were a mistake, the Irish Times reported.

Mr Martin said: I think it is divisive and puts people back into trenches too early.

My view is that I want to develop a shared dialogue, irrespective of ones constitutional preferences.

His comments come after a publicity and political campaign by Friends of Sinn Fein calling for a border poll was ramped up in the US.

Ads in newspapers said not calling a border poll would leave a divided Ireland at the mercy of the British Government.
NRG Energy, one of the biggest power generators and retailers in Texas, said Wednesday that it lost an estimated $750 million from February's winter storm that knocked out generators and electricity across the state.

NRG, which earned a $510 million profit in 2020, said the full financial impact of the winter storm has yet to be finalized due to recently proposed regulatory changes, including repricing wholesale power trades during some 30 hours in the final days of the power crisis.

The company, with headquarters in Houston and Princeton, N.J., said it is also due in part to the shortfall in payments to the power grid manager, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas. If ERCOT can't collect the money, the cost will be shared among the buyers and sellers who participate in the market.

Griddy files for bankruptcy: Citing financial woes due to February's power crisis

That cost is estimated to be $3.1 billion, nearly three times larger than an earlier estimate of $1.3 billion, NRG president and CEO Mauricio Gutierrez said Wednesday.

During the storms, ERCOT, under an emergency order from the Public Utility Commission, raised the price of electricity to its ceiling of $9,000 per megawatt hour to encourage generators to provide as much power as possible and ease the shortages. At issue now is whether ERCOT was justified keeping those prices high for several days, even as power reserves rebounded and shortages eased.

We believe our current estimate to be reasonable, but it is still subject to change given continuous resettlements amplified by the crisis at the cost of $9,000 per megawatt hour, Gutierrez said.

Gutierrez said NRGs 2021 bottom line could be affected by a number of repricing bills and other efforts by lawmakers and regulators to reduce the financial costs of the crisis.

But he seemed to reject attempts to correct a pricing error that cost Texans $16 billion.

I believe in the integrity of competitive markets are necessary for the long-term benefit of our franchise and consumers as a whole, so I don't support repricing, Gutierrez said.

Details matter here, he said. It will take time to fully understand the positive and or negative impacts of quiet potential changes in the market.

Gutierrez said he expects a resolution within the next couple of weeks.

NRG has said that rates will remain stable for its retail customers. Its retail brands include Reliant Energy, Direct Energy, Green Mountain Energy, Direct Energy, and Cirro Energy.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- New York City residents seeking a coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine can now go to any site in the five boroughs for their shot, following an eligibility expansion announced by Gov. Andrew Cuomo last week.

Many distribution sites previously had restrictions on who can be vaccinated at specific locations since the process started in December.

The only exception to the new guidelines are pharmacies, which are only permitted to vaccinate those 60 and older as well as teachers.

Also beginning on Wednesday, all public-facing government employees, non-profit workers and essential building service workers like porters and doormen are eligible for vaccination.

The newly eligible group includes DMV workers, social service workers, public works employees, government inspectors and more.

We finally have more freedom to vaccinate, and Id like more freedom to vaccinate, and Id like the city of New York to have total local control so we can get the job done, but were making progress, Mayor Bill de Blasio said Wednesday, while reminding city residents of the eligibility expansion.

This is important; we fought for this, he continued. Its going to help us reach people who serve us and do so much for us.

Although the mayor has been calling for local control to determine eligibility, President Joe Biden announced last week that he is mandating all states to open up eligibility to all adults over the age of 18 beginning on May 1.

Both the governor and the mayor have said they agree with the presidents decision; however, the supply must be available  and must come from the federal government  in order to make that happen.

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.

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.

FOLLOW KRISTIN F. DALTON ON TWITTER.
Live Games Hosted by Pooch Hall Move to Thursday Primetime with Bigger Money to Win

BEVERLY HILLS, CA / ACCESSWIRE / March 17, 2021 / Clickstream Corp (OTC PINK:CLIS) revealed today new features to be rolled out for its new trivia app WinQuik. Users will soon be able to win money by playing 1 vs. 1 challenges and daily games. In addition, WinQuik will debut a live weekly show called The Big Game, starting this Thursday. Users from across the globe will compete in primetime (9:30pm ET/6:30pm PT) against each other for the chance to win almost 4-times as much money as previous live games. WinQuik's hilarious and talented executive producer/host Pooch Hall will continue to star in the live games.

"Our number one priority is to give WinQuik users what they want, and people wanted the opportunity to win money anytime of the day 24/7. We listened and are really excited for this next level of competition," said WinQuik EVP Amber Theoharis. "Over the course of the next month, we are introducing cash prizes to the 1 vs. 1 challenges and our daily games. Users can challenge friends and family, and if they win more games than other competitors that week, money is up for grabs." Amber added, "My sister and I have an ongoing rivalry. I can only imagine the smack talk that is about to take place now that money can be won playing against a friend or family member."

WinQuik is steadily increasing its daily users and reached a milestone last week with over 12,000 sessions played and over 90% of the app's 1 vs. 1 challenges being played to completion. WinQuik offers three game types. The latest modifications include users being tracked to see who has played and won the most games in the fastest amount of time. Hundreds of users who finish at the top of the leaderboards will get paid out directly into their PayPal accounts.

WinQuik is available for free to download in the app store and Google Play.

ABOUT CLICKSTREAM CORPORATION

ClickStream is a technology company focused on developing apps and digital platforms that disrupt conventional industries. The company is currently marketing and developing WinQuik and HeyPal respectively. For more information, please visit website at https://clickstream.technology/ or Twitter at https://twitter.com/ClickstreamC or Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/clickstreamcorp/

WinQuik, is a free-to-play synchronized mobile app and digital gaming platform. The platform is designed to enable WinQuik users to have fun, interact and compete in order to win real money and prizes. WinQuik features celebrity host actor Pooch Hall. Show subject matter includes wide ranging pop culture categories. Game types are set up dynamically with weekly live games and non-live games available to play multiple times daily. As a free-mium platform, ClickStream intends to monetize the platform with corporate sponsors and advertisers. For more information please visit Website at http://www.winquik.com/ or Twitter at https://twitter.com/winquikapp or Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/winquiktrivia/.

HeyPal, by way of ClickStream subsidiary Nebula Software Corp., is a language learning app that focuses on "language exchanging" between users around the world. As opposed to quizzes, flash cards and other traditional language studying tools, HeyPal's approach to helping its users learn a new language is by matching them together with native speakers of their target language. For example, if User A speaks English, and wants to learn French, HeyPal will match the user with User B who speaks fluent French and wishes to learn English. This approach makes the language learning process more fun, engaging, and encourages faster learning speed. HeyPal also has many social media features, including posts and media uploading to "language boards", allowing users to post original content and be immersed completely in the language they are learning. Nebula intends to monetize HeyPal by integrating a unique and effective premium subscription model that will allow users to gain access to certain features that will enhance their social language experience. For more information about HeyPal, please visit Website at https://www.heypalapp.com/ Instagram at https://instagram.com/heypalapp/ or Twitter at https://twitter.com/HeypalA.

SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT

This press release contains forward-looking statements that can be identified by terminology such as "believes," "expects," "potential," "plans," "suggests," "may," "should," "could," "intends," or similar expressions. Many forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to be materially different from any future results implied by such statements. These factors include, but are not limited to, our ability to continue to enhance our products and systems to address industry changes, our ability to expand our customer base and retain existing customers, our ability to effectively compete in our market segment, the lack of public information on our company, our ability to raise sufficient capital to fund our business, operations, our ability to continue as a going concern, and a limited public market for our common stock, among other risks. Many factors are difficult to predict accurately and are generally beyond the company's control. Forward-looking statements speak only as to the date they are made, and we do not undertake to update forward-looking statements to reflect circumstances or events that occur after the date the forward-looking statements are made.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:

Heather Krug

Heather@heatherkrug.com

310-463-1415

SOURCE: ClickStream Corporation

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/635921/WinQuikTM-Trivia-App-Rolls-Out-New-Ways-to-Win-Money-247
He said a nearby clinics phone system had collapsed due to a high volume of calls from people wanting the COVID-19 vaccine. They have no phones to use this afternoon and that is a major problem, he said. The situation prompted the Australian Medical Association and The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners to issue a joint statement calling on the federal government to urgently clarify the booking process for patients. Its clear from the calls many general practices have received this morning that the government needs to better communicate with the community on the vaccine rollout process, and not build unrealistic expectations, particularly at this early stage, RACGP president Dr Karen Price said.

The RACGP also asked Australians to wait three weeks before booking a COVID-19 vaccine appointment to ease the demand. Loading Dr Mukesh Haikerwal, who works at a respiratory and medical clinic in Altona North, said his receptionists had received hundreds and hundreds of calls on Wednesday. Theres nothing to offer, no vaccines in the fridge, so we arent taking bookings, he said. You dont want to sabotage the system by not having vaccines on hand.

Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt called for calm, and suggested that GP receptionists could be turning away patients after not being provided with correct information Be calm this morning. This is a process thats going to take some months, he said. Its not all going to happen in one week. Mr Hunt said Victoria had received more than 120,000 vaccine doses in the previous four weeks, but a significant amount had not been distributed.

He said GPs would have 50, 100 or 400 doses a week, depending on their size, and respiratory clinics would be provided with either 400, 1200 or 2000. Australians eligible for the vaccine under stage 1b include those over 70, more healthcare and front-line workers and people with certain medical conditions. Phase 1b also includes critical workers, including members of the ADF, police, people working in meat processing and the household contacts of quarantine and border workers. As of Tuesday evening, more than 203,500 people nationwide had been vaccinated, including 45,607 residents of 509 aged care facilities.

Mr Hunt said he expected this phase of the rollout to be completed by the middle of the year. Australian Medical Association vice-president Chris Moy said people were apprehensive about the vaccine rollout because it was new and, unlike the annual influenza vaccine, wasnt being delivered in large quantities to GPs. Loading Replay Replay video Play video Play video This is going to take a little while, Dr Moy said. Dont view it like a Taylor Swift concert where the tickets are going to run out, therell be plenty of vaccine in the end.

Loading The practice manager of Caulfield Souths North Road Medical, Rebecca Laver, said her clinic told the 800 patients who called on Wednesday that it would delay bookings until next week while it awaited delivery of vaccines. The first 80 doses arrived later that afternoon and the clinic is now working out how to best dispense them. We are worried about the onslaught of the next lot of phone calls, Ms Laver said. None of the six GP clinics writer Adam Parker rang in Melbournes south-east on Wednesday morning, including North Road Medical, could book him in for a COVID-19 vaccination. Most of the clinics admitted they didnt yet have the vaccine and didnt know when they would be receiving it.

Mr Parker, a 54-year-old with type 2 diabetes, called news of the rollout a bureaucratic fantasy. Loading [I was] disappointed, because you hear on the news that  the rollout is happening and call now and make a booking, he said. You get a sense of optimism that everythings going to be okay and then youre, basically, left with  a complete mess up. Meanwhile, Nick Roberts, a 53-year-old diabetic, said he was unable to make a booking at the Delta Medical Services in Shepparton.
Mission Majnu Crew Calls Rashmika Mandanna By Her Character Name On Set; Find Out why

Rashmika Mandanna is currently stationed in Lucknow shooting for her debut Bollywood film 'Mission Majnu'. She has captivated the nation with her beautiful smile and now has taken on the character she is playing, full throttle.

A source close to the actress shared, "On the first day itself, Rashmika broke the ice around her. Even though she was working with a new team, she made everyone comfortable in her company. She is a ball of energy on the sets, and everyone is very fond of her."

The source further adds, "The cast and crew on sets also refer to her by her character's name which is hardly the case on any set. It is commendable how she has completely read the skin of her character right."

After being much sought after actress down south, with major hits she is now foraying into Bollywood and looks all set to win hearts with her debut film Mission Majnu. This is the first time that Rashmika is shooting in Lucknow and that too for her debut Bollywood film.

She is known for films like, "Dear Comrade', 'Geetha Govindam' and 'Sarrileru Neekevaru', the audiences are waiting eagerly to see her grace the Hindi Cinema too. Rashmika will be seen alongside Siddharth Malhotra in 'Mission Majnu'.
Vancouver, BC -- (SBWIRE) -- 03/17/2021 -- The research methodologies used for evaluating the Bioremediation market are inventive and also provides enough evidence on the demand and supply status, production capability, import and export, supply chain management and investment feasibility.



The global Bioremediation Market will be worth USD 334.70 billion by 2027, according to a current analysis by Emergen Research. Rapid growth in the quantity of hazardous wastes and to complement that, remediation of these wastes is becoming a major concern throughout the world. To emphasize on monitoring and tackling the contamination issues to secure the future generations from resource scarcity, governments of the developed as well as the developing economies are analyzing the pros and cons on bioremediation techniques. For instance, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are adopting techniques and taking initiatives to treat explosives-contaminated groundwater with the approach of bioremediation. In order to break down the explosive contaminants in Washington, the Federal agency is utilizing various types of microorganisms. Increasing rates of industrialization coupled with the population growth across major developing economies are also some of the major factors that are likely to fuel the market across the globe.



You Can Download Free Sample PDF Copy of Bioremediation Market at https://www.emergenresearch.com/request-sample/215



Furthermore, application of Porters Five Forces Analysis to determine the status of various aspects such as the capability of both the suppliers and customers, threats posed by different substitutes, the intensity of competition and promising new vendors makes the study a valuable resource. The researchers behind the market intelligence report examine the weaknesses, strengths, opportunities, and restraints expected to shape the progress of the Bioremediation market for the forecast period, 2020 to 2027. The market intelligence report includes detailed statistics on market segmentation based on product value, application, classification, and sale.



Key Highlights From The Report.

In April 2020, Gaia KlA"n, LLC, based out of North Carolina and owned by Delaware, came into an agreement with Capetown based Mavu Bio, to revolutionize the bioremediation industry with top of the line environment friendly products. The R&D is on its breakthrough to a proprietary product containing microorganisms that has natural cleaning capabilities.

Currently, the adoption of the products equipped with in situ bioremediation technology is significantly higher than that of ex situ bioremediation technology because of the economic benefits it has. This trend is expected to continue over the forecasted span. Majority of the extensively deployed in situ bioremediation technologies include natural attenuation, composting, bio slurping and venting, and microbe-assisted phytoremediation.

The increasing number of government initiatives to support the on-going R&D activities by various private and public bodies are anticipated to significantly boost the development of the services associated with the bioremediation market on a global scale. For example, in March 2019, the government of India initiated the Environmental Biotechnology program, which primarily focuses on helping the R&D activities within the bioremediation sphere. Although soil remediation and waste water treatment are anticipated to remain the prominent service types, the rising demand for degradation of dyes from the textile industry is likely to account for the accelerating development of phytoremediation treatment processes.

Key participants Probiosphere, Sarva Bio Remed, LLC, Altogen Labs, Aquatech International LLC, InSitu Remediation Services Limited, Regenesis, Ivey International, Inc., Drylet LLC, Sumas Remediation Services, Inc., and Xylem, Inc among others.

The Bioremediation market in the North American region held the highest market share in 2019 and is likely to continue its dominance over the coming years. The Asia-Pacific region is also estimated to consider a significant market share and in anticipated to grow at the fastest CAGR over the forecasted period because of the growing urbanization coupled with increased consumption of oil and gas across various industries in the region.



You Can Download Free Sample PDF Copy of Bioremediation Market at https://www.emergenresearch.com/request-sample/215



Technology Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion; 2017-2027)

Phytoremediation

Biostimulation

Bioaugmentation

Bioreactors

Fungal Remediation

Land-Based Treatments



Services Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion; 2017-2027)

Soil Remediation

Wastewater Remediation

Oilfield Remediation

Others



Helping you establish a strong foothold in the industry

The Bioremediation report highlights set of information related to pricing and the category of customers who are more than willing to pay for certain products and services. The information on opportunities as well as product features, determine which offerings or benefits command sale and identify the communications channels used by the market leaders to create premium positioning strategies as well as attract broadest share.



Apart from the above mentioned content the researchers go an extra mile to define the distinct usage occasions and lists the customer segments to leverage the brand and identify future opportunities. Besides, the subject matter expert segment the target customers purely based on their consumption patterns.



Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million; 20172027)

North America

Europe

Asia Pacific

Latin America

Middle East & Africa

Table of Content



Read more@ https://www.emergenresearch.com/industry-report/bioremediation-market



Table of Content

Chapter 1. Methodology & Sources

1.1. Market Definition

1.2. Research Scope

1.3. Methodology

1.4. Research Sources

1.4.1. Primary

1.4.2. Secondary

1.4.3. Paid Sources

1.5. Market Estimation Technique

Chapter 2. Executive Summary

2.1. Summary Snapshot, 2019-2027

Chapter 3. Key Insights

Chapter 4. Bioremediation Market Segmentation & Impact Analysis

Chapter 5. Bioremediation Market By Product Type Insights & Trends, Revenue (USD Million)

Chapter 6. Bioremediation Market By Application Insights & Trends Revenue (USD Million)

Chapter 7. Bioremediation Market Regional Outlook

Continued
Strong partners as Vizoo are a key component to teach state of the art technology and to further evolve 3D at our university.

Vizoo, the leading provider of digital 3D material digitization technology, works with the University of Albstadt Sigmaringen in Germany to offer online workshops and regular lessons for the students in the Textile and Clothing Technology bachelors program starting from the winter semester 2020. With the cutting-edge Vizoo xTex technology at their fingertips, students can quickly and easily transform their physical fabrics into photo-realistic materials for 3D fashion designs.

The first online workshop commenced in November 2020. Despite the severe lockdown in Germany, the workshop was held successfully online. In the 2-day workshop, Nolan West, 3D design expert with Vizoo, guided students from basic 3D knowledge to advanced material editing and tiling skills using the xTex software and Photoshop. More than 40 students who actively participated in the training had a chance to gain hands-on experience with creating digital material twins for lifelike garment visualization. The promising start of this partnership encourages the university and the software company to hold the online workshop regularly once per semester.

Nolan describes his expectation for these workshops, Keep providing workshops each semester and we will see how students transform from beginners to masters of the 3D technology. More partnerships with educational institutes like the University of Albstadt Sigmaringen will properly prepare students for the increasingly important digital fashion design and development workflows.

As virtual is the new normal, material digitization is not just the solution to logistics during a pandemic but also a sustainable and time-saving tool for business development. As the demand for 3D savvy grows within the fashion industry, students equipped with 3D knowledge and hands-on project experience will gain a competitive advantage in the future job market.

Strong partners as Vizoo are a key component to teach state of the art technology and to further evolve 3D at our university, said Prof. Dr. Christian Kaiser, expressing his great enthusiasm for this promising collaboration. Material digitalization is one missing key link in industrial use of 3D simulation. One can either address this issue with textile CAD systems already providing the needed meta information to the further tools used in the digital chain or by digitalization technologies making real fabrics digitally available. I have high expectations for Vizoos technologies helping us to bridge this gap as most garments and fabrics are not developed seamlessly at the moment and will not be in the close future, he adds.

Vizoo has been devoted to providing innovative solutions for material digitization since 2013. To date, the company has developed an extensive network of customers and distributors in more than 40 countries globally.

The University of Albstadt Sigmaringen offers a bachelors and masters degree in Textile and Clothing Technology which puts 3D garment development and presentation as an important focus area in teaching and R&D.

###
Moscow, March 17 : Russia's space agency Roscosmos is more interested in building a new Russian orbital station than an international one, the agency's CEO Dmitry Rogozin said on Wednesday.

His comments came barely a week after Russia announced an agreement with China on the creation of a lunar space station, the "International Scientific Lunar Station." "We are rather oriented towards a national station," Rogozin said, adding that Russian cosmonauts would then be able to feel they are totally in command on board the Earth's orbiter, TASS news agency reported.

A decision on a new station would be made by the end of this year, he said.

Rogozin said that current negotiations with NASA on the future of the International Space Station (ISS) were "shallow".

He speculated that ISS's life cycle would be repeatedly prolonged not by several years, but by one year.

Also, he said it might be possible to extend the service life not of the whole station, but of its individual modules.

"On the whole, I am looking forward to full-scale talks when NASA's new chief takes over. Possibly in May. We may have a meeting for a serious discussion then. So far we have been holding talks with acting officials," Rogozin said.
Photograph: Erik S Lesser/EPA

The suspect behind shooting attacks that killed eight people in Atlanta was charged with eight counts of murder on Wednesday, with officials saying he may have planned further attacks.

Police and city leaders also indicated they believe Robert Aaron Long, 21, who did not resist arrest when he was apprehended, was on his way to Florida after Tuesday evenings attack, where they suspect he may have planned to carry out additional shootings.

They said it was too early to determine whether the attacks, in which six of the victims were women of Asian descent, were racially motivated hate crimes.

The attacks sent terror through an Asian American community that has increasingly been targeted during the coronavirus pandemic. Atlantas mayor, Keisha Lance Bottoms, said that regardless of the shooters motivation, it is unacceptable, it is hateful and it has to stop.

Frank Reynolds, the Cherokee county sheriff, said: We were able to interview him with the Atlanta police department and the FBI. He made indicators that he has some issues, potentially sexual addiction, and may have frequented some of these places in the past.

Jay Baker, a Cherokee county sheriffs captain, said the parlors were a temptation for him that he wanted to eliminate, indicating a clash with his strong Christian faith.

Related: That hit home for me: Atlanta reeling after spa shootings of Asian Americans

Police said the suspect, who is understood to have acted alone, admitted to the shootings, and a 9mm firearm was found in his vehicle. His image had been captured on security cameras at the premises where he went on the shooting attack.

Long was charged with eight counts of murder and one count of aggravated assault and was kept in custody. He was expected to make his first court appearance on Thursday.

The shootings appear to be at the intersection of gender-based violence, misogyny and xenophobia, said the state representative Bee Nguyen, the first Vietnamese American to serve in the Georgia house of representatives and a frequent advocate for women and communities of color.

Story continues

Authorities on Wednesday afternoon released some of the names of the victims.

Frank Reynolds speaks at a press conference on Wednesday in Atlanta. Photograph: Megan Varner/Getty Images

The Cherokee county sheriffs office identified the victims who died in the first shooting, at Youngs Asian Massage in Acworth, as Delaina Ashley Yaun, 33, Paul Andre Michels, 54, Xiaojie Yan, 49, and Daoyou Feng, 44. The sheriffs office identified an injured person as 30-year-old Elcias R Hernandez-Ortiz.

On Wednesday, many people came to place flowers, candles and signs outside the three spas to honor the shooting victims.

Yalaba Mendoza arrived at Gold Spa and Aromatherapy Spa, which sit across the street from each other in Atlanta, with three flower bouquets: two bunches of white roses and one pink.

I had to support my brothers and sisters when they had this tragic loss. You have people [who will be] growing up without mothers and without fathers because of hate, said Mendoza, who is Black.

Christina Lee, a Georgia music and culture journalist, said her Vietnamese mother had come to mind when she heard about the shootings.

Im thinking about my mom, who owned a nail salon at one point, said Lee, a Georgia music and culture journalist. These are the kinds of businesses that open up to people who are new to this country. And to learn that the victims were Korean, that hit home for me too because Im half Korean.

How is it possible that this wasnt a hate crime? she added, referring to police, who said they have not yet established whether the crime was racially motivated. I dont understand that logic, and I hope someone will explain this to me.

A mourner with a sign stands at one of the shooting sites in Atlanta, Georgia. Photograph: Megan Varner/Getty Images

It is unacceptable. It has to stop

The Acworth shooting was reported at about 5pm local time.

At 5.37pm, police responded to a report of a robbery at Gold Spa and found the bodies of three women with gunshot wounds. They then received a report of shots fired across the street at Aromatherapy Spa where they found another womans body.

Long, of Woodstock, Georgia, who is white, was arrested after a manhunt about 150 miles south of Atlanta in Crisp county after police released surveillance footage from outside one of the massage parlors that was identified by his family. He was then tracked on his mobile phone.

Bottoms, Atlantas mayor, said: As tragic as this was  this could have been a significantly worse.

Related: Atlanta spa shootings: US on alert over possible anti-Asian American motive

She praised police coordination, saying if the suspect had not been quickly apprehended it is very likely that there would have been more victims.

Rodney Bryant, Atlantas police chief, said investigators were not ready to say whether the shootings were a hate crime, saying: We are still early in this investigation, so we cannot make that determination at this moment.

Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms speaks at a press conference on Wednesday. Photograph: Megan Varner/Getty Images

Regardless of motivation, Bottoms said: We know that many of the victims, the majority of the victims, were Asian. We also know that this is an issue thats happening across the country. It is unacceptable, it is hateful, and it has to stop.

Investigators believe the suspect bought the gun used in the attack this week, CNN reported. According to the news channel, law enforcement sources said nothing in Longs background would have prevented that purchase.

Joe Biden said on Wednesday that violence against Asian Americans was very, very troubling but that he was making no connection at this moment of the motivation of the killer.

The president added: I am waiting for an answer from, as the investigation proceeds, from the FBI and from the justice department. So Ill have more to say when the investigation is completed.

Biden has asked Susan Rice, domestic policy adviser, and Cedric Richmond, public engagement director and senior adviser, to put on community listening sessions following the shooting to determine how that should impact policies moving forward, the White House press secretary, Jen Psaki, said.

Kamala Harris condemned the tragic shooting, which she said speaks to a larger issue, which is the issue of violence in our country.

Addressing Asian Americans, the vice-president said: We stand with you and understand how this has frightened and shocked and outraged all people. But knowing the increasing level of hate crime against our Asian American brothers and sisters, we also want to speak out in solidarity with them and acknowledge that none of us should ever be silent in the face of any form of hate.

Barack Obama said the incident was a tragic reminder that America has neglected the epidemic of gun violence. Although the shooters motive is not yet clear, the identity of the victims underscores an alarming rise in anti-Asian violence that must end, the former president tweeted.

The first lady, Jill Biden, addressed the victims families during a visit to a school in Concord, New Hampshire, saying: My heart is with you. And I hope that all Americans will join me in praying for everyone touched by this senseless tragedy.
The director of a new Caroline Flack documentary about her life and tragic death has revealed how he was due to work with the star on the film before she took her own life.

Charlie Russell appeared on Sky News to talk about Caroline Flack: Her Life And Death on Wednesday, ahead of the film's broadcast on Channel 4.

Charlie explained: 'We met her early last year and she wanted to document what she was going through.

Tragic: The director of a new Caroline Flack documentary about her life and tragic death has revealed how he was due to work with the star on the film before she took her own life

She wanted to have a record - she felt that we would be supportive filmmakers that would listen to her and try and give a glimpse of what its like to be that famous and to be under that amount of scrutiny.

'Sadly we were never able to make that film.'

Caroline took her own life in February 2020, with Charlie presumed to have met with her just weeks prior to this.

He went on: 'We wanted to be able to honour that commitment that we had made to her. We wrote to her mum and twin sister who Caroline had said she'd wanted us to meet.

Director: Charlie Russell appeared on Sky News to talk about Caroline Flack: Her Life And Death on Wednesday, ahead of the film's broadcast on Channel 4

'We wanted to reach out and say how sorry we felt and, through that, eventually we started to have a conversation about what a film now would look like and what they would like to say about her and how they would like to remember her.

'We made something that is incredibly joyous in places but obviously also incredibly sad.

'We wanted to try to get to the truth of what it's like to be that famous and be under that spotlight but also a sense of what she was going through.'

The Love Island host's family have revealed they always feared she would take her own life.

Her mother Christine, 70, and twin sister Jody, 41, will talk about this in the documentary, and how Caroline was always 'fascinated' by suicide and previously tried to kill herself following a relationship breakup before she found fame.

And in a bid to encourage her fans to open up about mental health, they revealed Caroline attempted to hide her own problems  she had battled depression since becoming a teenager  because she was 'frightened' of the public's reaction and how it might impact her career.

'She didn't handle heartbreak well': The Love Island host's family have revealed they always feared she would take her own life

Christine said: 'She had a long relationship when she was in Cambridge but that ended and then we got a call, she'd taken some pills, she spent time in hospital and then you could tell it wasn't right, her reaction wasn't right. Yeah, she didn't handle heartbreak well.

'We went through all the doctors and they saw to her and thought no it's just a one off but there was always that fear after then that I don't know, you always worried in case anything happened.'

Jody added: 'It feels so weird talking about it because I know it's something she never wanted anybody to know about.

'Each serious boyfriend, she sort of took a lot of tablets, drank a lot, and ended up in an A&E situation a lot of times. She really didn't think she could cope with that feeling so it was her trying to control it.'

'You always worried': In a new C4 documentary, Caroline Flack: Her Life and Death, the late TV star's mum Christine and twin sister Jody tell how she was always 'fascinated' by suicide

Shining a light: In a bid to encourage her fans to open up about mental health, they revealed Caroline attempted to hide her own problems as she was 'frightened' of the public's reaction

Her family hope the film  which airs on Wednesday, March 17  will give Caroline's fans the confidence to talk about their problems and break down the stigma still attached to depression.

They believe if the former X Factor host had opened up about her illness, she may still be here today.

Christine explained: 'She hated the thought of people thinking she was this awful person.

'Even when she'd taken pills as a young person, she didn't want anyone to know, she didn't want anyone to know she got down and I know they say everyone's talking about it now but I think a lot of people that really suffer with depression still don't talk about it, they don't. I think people are still frightened to say it.'

'She didn't want anyone to know': Christine and Jody believe if the former X Factor host had opened up about her illness, she may still be here today (Caroline pictured in 2019)

'She wasn't perfect but that wasn't her': Christine explained that while Caroline had her flaws she didn't hurt anyone and she wants her daughter to be remembered in a 'positive light'

Before Caroline passed, she endured an onslaught of trolling on social media from tweeters that branded her an 'abuser' and said she deserved to be sacked from Love Island after she was charged with attacking boyfriend Lewis Burton, 28.

Christine feels more needs to be done from platforms like Twitter and Instagram to protect users from trolls after Caroline became 'addicted' to reading often-hateful comments about herself online.

She said: 'When I was young, if you were bullied at school you could get away from it but you can't get away from it now because it follows you home, it follows you on your phone and Carrie was the worst one, she would look at her phone all the time. It took her over.

'There could be 30 nice things said but one bad thing and that was it.'

Damaging: Before Caroline passed, she endured an onslaught of trolling on social media from tweeters that branded her an 'abuser' and said she deserved to be sacked from Love Island

Christine explained that while Caroline had her flaws she didn't hurt anyone and she wants her daughter to be remembered for more than just the final months of her life.

She said: 'I wanted to show Carrie in a positive light, I wanted all the last months of the things that were written about her and said about her, her being an abuser, and things like that, they're the things that stuck and got repeated and I just wanted to show she was an ordinary girl, that wasn't her.

'What was shown at the end wasn't her. She wasn't perfect but that wasn't her.

'Everyone was saying you can't say anything yet but I wanted to show a positive side to Caroline and the memory to be of this positive, nice person, and my daughter, and a sister, she never changed and she was good to us and lovely.

'It took her over': Christine feels more needs to be done from platforms like Twitter to protect users from trolls after Caroline became 'addicted' to reading often-hateful comments online

'For me, it's when she's little and you think she's got that life ahead and you don't know what's going to happen with your kiddies, do you?

'And you can protect them up to a certain age or time and then it's just how life goes, all the things that happened to her and it was just a silly thing at the end that happened and it ended her life.'

Director Charlie Russell had met with Caroline shortly before her death to discuss the makings of a documentary that would finally tell her side of the story following her 2019 arrest.

Charlie said Caroline felt like 'she wasn't being heard' in the mist of her axing from Love Island and the courts deciding to proceed with the case despite Lewis not pressing charges.

The film they created instead was about how her hidden battle with depression made the complexities of fame even more difficult to handle.

And for Caroline, she especially couldn't bear the thought of the world one-day knowing that behind her fun-loving personality she secretly suffered with terrible demons.

'Silenced': Director Charlie Russell had met with Caroline shortly before her death to discuss the makings of a documentary that would finally tell her side of the story following her arrest

During a Q&A held by BAFTA in honour of the documentary, Christine explained: 'It was strange because the coroner had sent me a note to say who was her doctor because they couldn't find one, and that was simply because she went to different doctors all the time so no one would find out that she had been because she was so fearful of anyone knowing anything and printing it.

'When she had these downtimes and went to clinics she would say "don't tell anyone", everything had to be so secret, which is so sad isn't it?

'Perhaps we should have said to her "no it can't be a secret" but she was in her 30s, you can't make someone do that.

'She was frightened certain jobs, "oh if you're going to have a bad day on this job" it would affect her but I don't think it would have done.

'Most of the productions she worked for did have care and they did look after her but she still didn't want them to know and she definitely didn't want the public to know, which was really hard, I wish she had.'

Johannesburg, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 17th Mar, 2021 ) :Clad in leopard skins and colourful beads, hundreds of mourners on Wednesday gathered to pay their respects to the king of the Zulus, South Africa's largest ethnic group, who died of illness last week.

King Goodwill Zwelithini was the longest-serving monarch in Zulu history, reigning for half a century through years of apartheid and democratic transition.

He died early on Friday in the eastern city of Durban, aged 72, after weeks of treatment for a diabetes-related illness.

His remains have been taken back to his birthplace, the small southeastern town of Nongoma in Kwa-Zulu Natal province, where he will be laid to rest after midnight.

The intimate ceremony, to be conducted behind closed doors at the KwaKhethomthandayo royal residence, is referred to as a "planting" rather than a burial.

Women in elaborate necklaces and headbands danced and sang as they paraded towards the mortuary where Zwelithini's body is being kept.

Men known as "amaButho", Zulu regiments, followed the maidens in traditional leopard skins and ostrich feathers -- wielding spears, shields and clubs known as "knobkerries".

The procession marched behind a banner that read "thank you for being the shining light of hope".
Women are significantly more likely to develop blood clots from taking the contraceptive pill than by having the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, doctors have pointed out.

Fourteen countries in Europe - including France, Germany, Italy and Spain - suspended use of the Oxford jab this week over unproven fears it increases the risk of thrombosis or pulmonary embolism.

Scientists fear Europe's moves could now fuel 'more extreme anti-vaccine sentiment' despite findings by the EU, UK, WHO and AstraZeneca that there is no evidence of a link to the sporadic blood clots.

Dr Paul Ettlinger, GP at The London General Practice, pointed out contraceptive pills taken by millions of women pose a far greater risk of blood clots as he accused governments of 'scaremongering' and told MailOnline there was 'no evidence' the vaccine increased risk.

While 37 people out of 17million inoculations in the EU and UK have reported blood clots, women taking certain types of the contraceptive pill face much starker odds each year.

One in 1,600 people taking combination hormonal birth control will suffer from blood clots, compared to just one in 459,000 of those taking the Oxford vaccine - as far as current figures reveal.

Information supplied with a packet of Evra, a contraceptive patch, says 'women using a combined contraceptive pill containing levonorgestrel, norethisterone or norgestimate' face an increased risk of 'developing a blood clot in a year'

Fourteen countries in Europe - including France, Germany, Italy and Spain - suspended use of the Oxford jab this week over unproven fears it increases the risk of thrombosis or pulmonary embolism (file image)

Dr Jane Leonard, a GP working in a coronavirus hub in Soho, London, said governments - which include those in Italy, Spain, Iceland, Portugal and Ireland - were 'being overly cautious', adding that women have a 'real risk of blood clots' with their hormonal contraception.

Oral contraceptives triple the risk of blood clots, according to research published in medical journal The Lancet, and a study by the University of Michigan found drospirenone, a type of progestin, increased the threat more than any other form of the hormone.

None were ever pulled from the market, even after the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a warning around several contraceptives because of their risk to health.

Susie Ramroop, 45, a mother-of-one from London, suffered with deep vein thrombosis and 'nearly died' in 2009

Amid reassurance the vaccine is safe, Italian PM Mario Draghi and French President today appeared to preempt an imminent climbdown as they committed to 'quickly' resume inoculations of the AstraZeneca vaccine once the European regulator gives the all-clear.

Meanwhile, Boris Johnson today revealed he will be getting the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine 'very shortly' as the government scrambles to reassure the public it is safe despite chaos in Europe.

The combined oral contraceptive pill is often just called 'the pill' and contains artificial versions of female hormones oestrogen and progesterone, which are produced naturally in the ovaries. These hormones work to prevent ovulation and avoid pregnancy.

But while countries have suspended the Oxford jab over a low number of people suffering with blood clots, there has been a known increased risk for those taking a certain type of hormonal contraceptive pill for decades.

Information supplied with a packet of Evra, a contraceptive patch, says 'women using a combined contraceptive pill containing levonorgestrel, norethisterone or norgestimate' face an increased risk of 'developing a blood clot in a year'.

It warned five to seven women out of 10,000 would develop blood clots if on certain types of the pill, compared to the two out of 10,000 who would be at risk without taking those forms of contraception.

Doctors justify the figures because women face a higher probability of the medical condition within pregnancy.

Meanwhile, AstraZeneca said out of 17million people to receive its vaccination, only 15 suffered DVT and 22 had a pulmonary embolism - when the clot enters the lungs.

Dr Ettlinger said governments were making 'a political gesture' as he blasted the policy.

He said: The contraceptive pill does have a higher risk than the vaccine and there is no evidence about the vaccine so it looks like its a political gesture.

'The WHO has encouraged patients to have the AstraZeneca vaccine. There is no obvious link between clotting and the vaccine. The figures are the same within the same population.

'Its scaremongering and a concern and Im worried about it being used by antivaxxers as an excuse to encourage others not to take the jab.

'This will result in increased incidents of covid. It would strike me as a political angle with Brexit and the failure of the EU community to vaccinate their populations.'

Susie Ramroop, 45, a mother-of-one from London, suffered with DVT and 'nearly died' in 2009.

Ms Ramroop has already had the Pfizer jab, but she told MailOnline she would not have taken the AstraZeneca vaccine if she was offered it after hearing countries had suspended its use.

Responding to mass criticism online from women concerned they have been allowed to take the pill despite a known risk of blood clots, Dr Ettlinger said: 'You have to weigh up the risks of pregnancy so its a balance.

'In our practice every single person who asks for contraception is assessed very carefully to ensure there are no increased risks.

Women have taken to social media in outrage at the decision to suspend the AstraZeneca jab over such a low number of cases

Panic set in amid reports of blood clots after AstraZeneca's vaccine, but data shows the same number of clots occurred after Pfizer vaccines - which Europe continues to use - and that none of the clots are actually linked to the shots

'If theres a family history or history of clotting within the patient then theyre not suitable. We ensure we prescribe appropriately so the patient understands the risk. Medicine is a balance at times and you have to do a risk analysis.'

What are the symptoms of a life-threatening blood clot? A deep vein thrombosis is the name given to a clot which develops in a muscle, usually the calf, causing swelling, redness and pain in the lower leg, says Dr Belinda Griffiths, GP at the Fleet Street Clinic. She added: 'A pulmonary embolus occurs when the clot travels to the lungs.' Symptoms of a pulmonary embolus are: Chest pain worse on deep breathing,

Coughing up blood,

Shortness of breath,

Rapid heart rate 'This is a life threatening emergency', she said. Advertisement

He said governments have to weigh up this risk to health when it comes to the vaccine but even if the Oxford jab did increase clots, which is currently unproven, coronavirus itself has been known to cause the medical condition.

And data from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) regulator in the UK has shown more people reported blood clots after having Pfizer's vaccine than the Oxford one  even though Pfizer's jab has not been suspended anywhere.

Despite EU countries suspending use of the jab, the bloc today declared vaccine war on the UK as it demanded Britain hand over doses of its AstraZeneca jab or else see exports from the continent blocked.

EU president Ursula von der Leyen fumed that Europe is exporting millions of doses to other countries while receiving few in return and threatened to impose bans to ensure 'reciprocity'.

She then called on Britain to begin sending AstraZeneca jabs overseas and lashed out at the drug-maker for 'under-producing and under-delivering' doses, saying it is to blame for the slow place of Europe's roll-out.

On the risk of the AstraZeneca vaccine, Dr Ettlinger said: Youve got the risk of clots with covid and were finding out the problems with long covid. The risk of getting a clot from covid, I know thatll be higher than the risk of a clot from the vaccines.

Dr Leonard told MailOnline women face a real risk of blood clots while on the contraceptive pill but it is not yet known if the vaccine is linked to the condition.

She added: 'No one can say the risk of blood clots is more than general life. Theyre being overly cautious.'

In terms of the contraceptive pill, Dr Leonard said there was a lack of education surrounding its safety.

It has a risk that can be highlighted to women. As youre getting older you have migraines. There are people on the pill with migraines that shouldnt be because of risk of stroke. People arent being educated enough, she said.

Women have taken to social media in outrage at the decision to suspend the Oxford-AstraZeneca jab over such a low number of cases.

One woman wrote: 'Blood Clots with #AstraZeneca: 6 in 1M - not scientifically proven, many countries decided to stop vaccinating. Blood Clots with #thepill: 1000 in 1M - scientifically proven & on the market for 61 years, most used contraception in Germany. Can you spot the mistake? #unbelievable.'

Another said: 'Speaking as a 1 in 1000 (0.10% if you prefer) woman who had stroke (blood clot) caused by the contraceptive pill, and who has had the AstraZeneca vaccine where the risks of a blood clot are <0.01% (roughly, I'm not a statistician) I would take the vaccine over the pill every time.'

One wrote: 'The contraceptive pill ive taken every single day since i was 16 is likely to cause blood clots too so i will more than happily drink the AstraZeneca vaccine.'

An AstraZeneca spokesperson said: 'The safety of all is our first priority. We are working with national health authorities and European officials and look forward to their assessment later this week.

Tory and Labour MPs highlighted the assurances given by regulators and experts as they appealed for Britons to ignore 'fake news' and accept invitations for jabs. Nearly half the UK population has now had their first dose of either the Oxford or Pfizer vaccine

Figures from AstraZeneca and the European Medicines Agency show the number of blood clot-related conditions from 17million doses dished out in the UK and Europe up to March 13

'Around 17 million people in the EU and UK have now received our vaccine, and the number of cases of blood clots reported in this group is lower than the hundreds of cases that would be expected among the general population.'

Alice Pelton, founder of review platform for contraception The Lowdown, told MailOnline the problem shone a light on 'inherent sexism that is at play on the development of contraceptive drugs compared with others'.

'Blood clots are the tip of the iceberg when it comes to contraceptive side effects. Only 25 per cent are satisfied with it,' she said, adding that 150million people in the world take the contraceptive pill - 80million more people than are currently inoculated with the AstraZeneca vaccine.

Ms Ramroop, who suffered with DVT for months before it was eventually diagnosed and 'nearly died' in 2009 told MailOnline she was worried when she heard use of the AstraZeneca vaccine had been suspended.

She said: 'I could have died with my clots and it took me a long time to normalise. I have had the Pfizer vaccine, and so Im not at risk, but it made me think about how I didn't question whether or not to have the vaccine, and didn't even consider possible downsides.

Europe's already-slow jab roll-out has been hit by further delays after the use of AstraZeneca's vaccine was temporarily suspended. The UK has relied heavily on AstraZeneca jabs to power ahead with its roll-out, which is one of the world's fastest

Doctors dont know what caused my clots, but I have my own opinions. I was on the pill for 20 years and I used to fly a lot for work and I returned from a trip to Alaska in 2009 with a pain in my leg.'

She said it took six months for a diagnosis, at which point the clot had travelled to both lungs.

'When I got the invitation for my vaccination I didnt even pause because Im high risk,' she said.

'Why am I, a 45-year-old woman, getting a vaccine this early? I think its because Ive had clots. Thats concerning that theyre offering people with clots something that could cause clots.'

Pfizer's Covid vaccine is linked to MORE blood clots than AstraZeneca's  so why isn't the EU banning it? Pfizer's Covid vaccine has been linked to more blood clots than AstraZeneca's in reports from the UK, statistics show amid Europe's 'baffling' mass revolt against the jab. Data from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) regulator in the UK show more people have reported blood clots after having Pfizer's vaccine than the Oxford one  even though Pfizer's jab has not been suspended anywhere. Up to February 28 there were 38 reports from approximately 11.5million doses of Pfizer's jab, compared to 30 from 9.7m AstraZeneca doses. However, neither figure  the equivalent of one blood clot seen in every 367,000 jabs  is thought to be higher than the risk expected in the general population. Chief of Italy's medicines regulator, Nicola Magrini, claimed the sweeping bans across Europe were part of a politically driven snowball effect which had seen countries within the bloc come under pressure to follow suit. Meanwhile, German regulators attempted to justify the controversial decision to suspend use of the jab by revealing seven out of 1.6million people are thought to have developed a deadly type of blood clot after getting AstraZeneca's vaccine. For comparison, they only expected to see one case of sinus vein thrombosis  a rare form of stroke. Breaking the silence on the decision to suspend use of the jab, Germany's Paul Ehrlich Institute said the condition is 'so serious that it is not justifiable to continue vaccinating without testing'. UK's drug regulators appear to have spotted the condition five times in 11million doses  but have yet to comment on Germany's figures. Advertisement

Dr Reyan Saghir, an A&E doctor at Huddersfield Royal Infirmary, said it wasn't a serious enough condition to warrant suspension of the vaccine.

He said: I think blood clots are a common and a naturally occurring thing. I come across two or three every day in A&E. They can have serious complications but the majority that come in are simple and can be treated with blood thinners.

Im surprised governments have turned around and say were going to suspend the drug. 37 people out of 17million is not statistically significant. Thats what we go by in science. Its the idea theres not a causational link.

'There could be a correlation and it needs further investigation but its not fair to say its been caused by the vaccine.'

Dr Belinda Griffiths, GP at Fleet Street Clinic, told MailOnline: 'Women who choose to take the contraceptive pill should have a medical history taken before it is prescribed for them, which includes the discussion about their individual risk of blood clotting.

'It is important to remember that for every 100,000 women, aged 15-44, who do not take oral contraceptive, approximately 5-10 will develop a blood clot in one year due to other factors. Taking a combined oral contraceptive increases this very small risk.

'Oral contraceptives vary and with that are varying associated blood clotting risks. Women using progesterone-only pills are at little or no risk of blood clots.'

It comes after health experts in Germany and France accused their governments of playing politics with the AstraZeneca jab, which is already an unloved choice in Europe after top officials lashed out at the firm in a post-Brexit row over supplies and raised unfounded doubts about its effectiveness.

The leaders of Italy and France today committed to 'quickly' resume inoculations of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine once the European regulator gives the all-clear.

Italian PM Mario Draghi and French President Emmanuel Macron appeared to suggest there would be an imminent climbdown.

On a call the two leaders agreed they were ready to resume using the jab 'quickly' if the European Medicines Agency (EMA) gives the green light on Thursday.

'The preliminary statement today from EMA was positive,' a statement from Draghi's office said.

Speaking at PMQs, Mr Johnson said he was 'pleased to discover' that he is in line for his jab, with over-50s now being covered.

And he delivered a defiant rebuke to countries such as Germany, France and Italy who have paused their rollout despite experts insisting there is no evidence of a link to blood clots.

'It will certainly be Oxford/AstraZeneca that I will be having,' the premier said.

The comments came amid fears Britons are cancelling appointments after being scared off by the European moves against AstraZeneca's jab.

Doctors involved in the UK's mammoth roll-out say patients due their second dose have called with concerns about the vaccine, despite the EU's own drug regulator, as well as the UK's and the World Health Organization all insisting it is safe.

One GP claimed up to 10 per cent of people scheduled for appointments were either not showing up, asking to cancel or double-checking which vaccine they were getting before turning up.

France's Emmanuel Macron (right) and Italy's Mario Draghi (left) have both signalled they are ready to U-turn on the issue when regulators publish a report Thursday, despite the regulators already insisting that AstraZeneca jabs are safe to use

NHS doctor and volunteer Dr Karan Raj claimed he was 'inundated' with people saying they were worried about it and Dr Mohan Sekeram, a GP in South London, said the international row has led to patients refusing the vaccine.

It comes as the former chief of Britain's vaccine regulator the MHRA, Sir Kent Woods, said European officials had 'dented public confidence' with their 'disorderly' reaction to the issue, and he described attempts to link the jab to clots as 'a big jump'.

Professor Jeremy Browne, a lung doctor and member of the JCVI, which drew up the UK's vaccine programme warned people will die of Covid because of the delays in Europe and the damage being done to public trust.

Doctors and officials warn it is far more dangerous for people to not get vaccinated and even the European Medicines Agency has urged people to keep taking the vaccine because blood clots don't appear to be any more common than usual.

Ursula von der Leyen has told Britain to hand over doses of AstraZeneca vaccine or else risk seeing jab exports from the continent blocked, despite the fact that most of Europe has halted its use

Meanwhile, Dominic Cummings launched a devastating attack on Matt Hancock today insisting the UK's vaccine drive was only a success because he and science chief Patrick Valance insisted he was stripped of control.

In an extraordinary assault, the maverick former No10 chief said the Department of Health was a 'smoking ruin' last spring after disasters over PPE procurement and therapeutics.

He revealed that senior figures including Sir Patrick and then Cabinet Secretary Mark Sedwill went to Boris Johnson and said a separate vaccine task force had to be created to get round to avoid the effort being derailed by more 'nonsense'.

Giving evidence to the science committee in his first public appearance since dramatically quitting No10, Mr Cummings also said that staying out of the 'guaranteed to fail' EU scheme was also critical.

Belgium's health ministry previously said it would continue using the jab because it was in a race against time to protect its population. Extraordinarily, one French minister told Politico that it decided to copy Berlin's move to avoid 'stress' - and at the same time Paris is threatening to sue AstraZeneca for failing to supply enough doses.

In an attempt to stem the tide of countries stopping the roll-out of the jab, the EMA insisted the rate of clots 'in vaccinated people seems not to be higher than that seen in the general population'.

Dominic Cummings branded Whitehall a 'disaster zone' and gave an extraordinary glimpse into his relationship with the PM as he gave evidence to the Science Committee

Mr Cummings said the Department of Health run by Matt Hancock (pictured today) was a 'smoking ruin' last spring after disasters over PPE procurement and therapeutics

Whitehall sources claimed the suspensions were a 'cynical attempt to discredit' AstraZeneca in the wake of the bloc's row with the Anglo-Swedish drugs firm amid a shambolic rollout.

'I genuinely don't know what they are playing at,' said one insider. 'There is no data to support what they are doing. They just don't seem to be able to get over their disputes with AstraZeneca.'

In Britain, Tory and Labour MPs highlighted the assurances given by regulators and experts as they appealed for Britons to ignore 'fake news' and accept invitations for jabs. Nearly half the UK population has now had their first dose of either the Oxford or Pfizer vaccine.

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said it was 'crystal clear' the vaccine was safe, while Conservative backbencher Anthony Browne said European leaders were driven by 'politics not science'. 'The EU's Brexit sulk will cost EU lives,' he said.

Mr Johnson and Nicola Sturgeon leapt to the defence of the jab yesterday, saying it is 'safe and effective' and no such side effects have been witnessed in the UK, which has used more doses than anywhere else in the world.

A spokesman for the Department of Health and Social Care said: 'Our advice remains that the benefits of the vaccines against COVID-19 continue to outweigh any risks and that the public should continue to get their vaccine when invited to do so, and that includes women on the contraceptive pill.

'We continue to advise pregnant women to talk to their healthcare professional about whether the benefits of having the vaccine outweigh the risks.'

The European Medicines Agency said it was 'firmly convinced' that injections with the AstraZeneca shot should continue, joining the WHO and the UK government in a full-throated defence of the vaccine amid fury at EU nations including France and Germany for suspending the jabs.

Ireland, the Netherlands, Denmark, Norway and Iceland have suspended their use of AstraZeneca's Covid vaccine over blood clot fears despite health bodies saying there is no link and cases trending upwards - threatening more lockdowns

EMA safety experts say a 'very small number of people' have come down with blood disorders but there is 'no indication' that these were caused by the jab, which 11million people have already had in the UK.

'We are still firmly convinced that the benefits of the AstraZeneca vaccine in preventing Covid-19 with its associated risk of hospitalisation and death outweigh the risk of these side effects,' said EMA chief Emer Cooke.

Countries including France will now face pressure to resume AstraZeneca jabs after the EMA delivered its verdict and reiterated that the number of blood clots 'seems not to be higher than that seen in the general population'.

Italy earlier admitted that its suspension of AstraZeneca jabs was a 'political' move while French doctors accused Emmanuel Macron of 'giving in to panic' and a German lawmaker said the ban could cause a 'catastrophe'.

Germany sought to justify its move by saying that one particular kind of blood clot, a 'sinus vein thrombosis', had occurred seven times among the 1.6million people vaccinated when only around one case would be expected. By contrast, only four such cases have been identified in the UK out of 11million doses administered.

Nicola Magrini, the head of Italian medicines regulator AIFA, said politicians had come under pressure to call off the jabs after Germany and France made similar moves in what one Tory MP described as a 'Brexit sulk'.

IRELAND: Ireland has seen infection rates fall (left) from the winter peak but is relying on AstraZeneca doses to fend off a third wave and enable an end to lockdown. Ireland's death rate (right) has also fallen but the government says hospital cases need to fall to 'low levels' before lockdown measures can be significantly eased

'We got to the point of a suspension because several European countries, including Germany and France, preferred to interrupt vaccinations... to put them on hold in order to carry out checks. The choice is a political one,' Magrini said in an interview with La Repubblica.

The countries around the world that have stopped using the Oxford jab Europe: Sweden France Italy Spain Germany Iceland Portugal Ireland Bulgaria Denmark Slovenia Netherlands Norway Luxembourg Stopped using one batch: Austria Lithuania Latvia Estonia Romania Non-Europe: Indonesia Thailand Venezuela Advertisement

The attempts to quell safety concerns over the jab came after a host of European nations announced they would be pausing their roll-out of the Oxford vaccine.

Swedish chief epidemiologist Anders Tegnell said it was suspending the jabs as a 'precautionary measure'.

Portugal, Spain, Ireland, the Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, Iceland, Slovenia and Bulgaria have also called a halt to the AstraZeneca's vaccine.

Meanwhile, Austria, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Romania have stopped the use of one batch of the jab.

Australian MP Matt Canavan said last night that he wants the country to follow the 17 European nations and stop using the vaccine.

Italian prosecutors on Monday also launched a manslaughter probe after a music teacher died at the weekend just one day after receiving AstraZeneca's jab. The judiciary in Biella, a city in the north of the nation, opened a preliminary probe into 57-year-old Sandro Tognatti's death to decide whether there is a case to answer.

Mr Magrini, the Italian medicines regulator said the AstraZeneca vaccine was safe and that the benefit to risk ratio of the jab is 'widely positive'.

There have been eight deaths and four cases of serious side-effects following vaccinations in Italy, he added.

German health minister Jens Spahn was accused by the opposition of caving in to political pressure by announcing the stoppage on Monday, which another German MP described as a potential 'catastrophe'.

'If AstraZeneca were completely dropped, that would be a catastrophe for Germany but also for the EU... there's no other vaccine that can replace it before the summer,' said epidemiologist-turned-politician Karl Lauterbach.

Germany has already had problems with public reluctance to take the vaccine, with around 1.3million doses of AstraZeneca's vaccine lying unused.

Frank Ulrich Montgomery, a German doctor and council chair of the World Medical Association, warned: 'The bottom line is that this good and effective vaccine is hardly going to gain higher acceptance as a result of this kerfuffle and the suspension in many countries'.

Spahn said the decision to suspend AstraZeneca shots was taken on the advice of the country's vaccine regulator, the Paul Ehrlich Institute, which called for further investigation into seven cases of clots in the brains of people who had been vaccinated.

In France, a medical union condemned Emmanuel Macron's move to suspend vaccinations on Monday, accusing him of 'giving in to panic' and failing to consult doctors.

The syndicate of private doctors 'believes that the subject of vaccination and the fight against Covid-19 is too serious to be left in the hands of politicians', it said.

'No clear instructions are given to doctors, who find themselves in the greatest embarrassment in the face of patients who are made more sceptical every day by the government's multiple communication errors'.

Macron said he will suspend shots until later this week, when the EMA could lay out firmer findings.

Many EU countries are seeing cases rise again with vaccines still coming too slowly to protect large chunks of the population against sickness and death

Europe minister Clement Beaune indicated that the EU could sue AstraZeneca for breach of contract after supplies were lower than it hoped.

'Europe is not going to be some sort of cuddly 'care bear' that hands over its money and then expects nothing in return,' he told French radio.

Paris's industry minister Agnes Pannier-Runacher said refusing to pause the jabs would have fuelled 'mistrust'.

And she suggested that the EU is determined to ratchet up the pressure on AstraZeneca boss Pascal Soirot to supply more doses.

'I think he is in the hot seat and that he absolutely aware of it,' she told France Info radio.

Jens Spahn, Germany's health minister, was facing down calls for his resignation today over his decision to block AstraZeneca jabs - while Angela Merkel (left) saw her party slump to its lowest poll rating of the crisis as people lost faith in her leadership

'In any business, there is a fiduciary responsibility, you have to be accountable. When you do not honour a contract, this can cause problems, individual problems.'

Italy's drug regulator announced a temporary ban less than 24 hours after saying the 'alarm' over the vaccine was unjustified. And Spain said it will stop using the vaccine for two weeks while experts review its safety.

But Belgian health minister Frank Vandenbroueke told local radio this morning: 'The health of people who have been vaccinated is much better than those who have not been vaccinated. Especially with older people. We will not let go of the older population.

'We have just started a major vaccination campaign. And they are vulnerable if they become infected. We know that our vaccines provide good protection against this. And we want to protect them. Especially now that the pandemic is gaining momentum.'

What deaths have been linked to the Oxford- AstraZeneca jab - and have they been proven? So far, more than 11 million doses of the Oxford jab have been administered in the UK alone, with countless more distributed worldwide. Out of the millions of vaccines already given, fewer than 50 reported blood-related issues post-vaccine, with no confirmed causal link to the jab. AstraZeneca, the World Health Organization and EU regulators have all rejected the blood clot fears. But even so, Ireland joined Denmark, Norway and Iceland in temporarily halting all AstraZeneca vaccinations following reports of 'serious blood clotting events' in Norway. Norwegian health authorities of Saturday confirmed that three healthcare workers who had the AstraZeneca jab were being treated in hospital for bleeding, blood clots and a low count of blood platelets. All three individuals in hospital in Norway for conditions including blood clots were under the age of 50. The Government were notified on Saturday. Meanwhile, the European Medicines Agency reported one person in Austria was diagnosed with blood clots and died 10 days after vaccination - but it stressed there is 'currently no indication that vaccination has caused these conditions'. A further patient was admitted to hospital in Austria with pulmonary embolism - a blockage in the arteries in the lungs - after being vaccinated, while one death involving a blood clot was reported in Denmark. A 50-year-old man is also thought to have died in Italy from deep vein thrombosis (DVT), while there has been an unconfirmed report of another death in the country. Italy also followed Austria, Estonia, Latvia, Luxembourg and Lithuania in banning jabs from one particular batch of one million AstraZeneca vaccines, which was sent to 17 countries, after reports that a 49-year-old nurse died soon after getting one of the jabs. On Saturday, US boxer Marvin Hagler, died aged 66, after he reportedly suffered side effects of the Covid-19 vaccine. What vaccine he received has not been confirmed and the link between his death and a jab has not been proven. Advertisement

News of the bans comes as Europe, the continent hardest hit by the pandemic, passed the 40-million-case mark.

It is the latest episode in a long-running saga between the EU and drug-maker AstraZeneca over its vaccine, which has seen the bloc accuse the UK-based firm of nationalism, impose export bans on its jabs, and reopen old wounds with recently-departed Brexit Britain.

Leading experts said it was 'reckless' to stop using the vaccine, that the decisions were 'baffling' and that the risk of catching the disease  which kills around one in 200 people and can cause blood clots  was far higher.

Meanwhile, Italy began a new lockdown yesterday, Paris is facing tighter measures as cases overwhelm hospitals, and German ICU doctors say an 'immediate' return to lockdown is necessary.

Covid cases are also rising sharply in countries such as Sweden, Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic and non-EU member Serbia as experts warn that a third wave has begun.

In a round of interviews this morning, Mr Raab told BBC Breakfast: 'Different countries have different approaches but I can tell you crystal clear that the UK regulator, the European EU regulator and the WHO all say that the AstraZeneca vaccine is safe and people should continue to take it.'

He added: 'It is safe, people should get the vaccine and I think it has been very clear, both from the MHRA, the UK regulator, that the risks of taking the vaccine are no more than, in terms of for example blood clots, than the population at large.

'There is no extra risk on the evidence that we've seen, which is why they have authorised the vaccine and haven't taken any further action.'

Peter Openshaw, professor of experimental medicine at Imperial College London, said the decision to pause rollout of the Oxford/AstraZeneca jab could be a 'disaster' for Covid-19 vaccine uptake in Europe.

Asked what he would say to those in the UK who are booked to receive an Oxford jab, Prof Openshaw told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'I really wouldn't be worried at the present time.

'I think it is very clear that the benefits of being vaccinated at the moment so far outweigh the possible concern over this rather rare type of blood clot.

'It really is a completely one-sided argument statistically that we need to be vaccinating.

'I think it is a disaster for the vaccination uptake in Europe, which is already on slightly unsteady ground in some countries.'

Asked why he thought the rollout pause had been taken so widely, he added: 'I think the committees are probably afraid of not making that decision to pause on the basis that they might be in some way thought culpable if they didn't, but actually these are such rare events.'

Joao Vale de Almeida, the EU's representative in the UK, stressed it was not the bloc's decision to suspend rollout of the AstraZeneca vaccine.

But he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that when there are doubts, the 'principle of caution prevails'.

He added: 'It is not an EU decision, these are decisions taken by individual governments.

'Like the British Government, all our governments are worried, concerned and focused on the safety of citizens, when doubts appear for whatever reason I think the principle of caution prevails.'

Sir David Spiegelhalter, a professor of statistics at Cambridge University, has compared the situation to the discredited claims that the MMR jab could trigger autism.

'There is mistrust in Europe about this specific vaccine, mainly due to grossly misleading statements that have been made about it,' he said. 'These pauses can only increase suspicion and cause more people not to have the vaccine and, God, Europe needs it. In Germany, cases are going up, it's got a higher death rate than the UK at the moment and they've got the AstraZeneca vaccine just sitting in fridges.

'I don't think you can consider these pauses as being cautious, they actually could be doing more harm than good.'

The WHO and the EMA have made assurances that the vaccines are 'excellent and safe', with updated guidance expected to be issued.

EU vaccine fiasco wrecks half-term holidays: Travel firms and airlines offer Britons option to move May bookings to summer for free Britons planning foreign holidays abroad are pushing them back again until after the May half-term amid mounting concerns over the coronavirus vaccine rollout and rising cases in the European Union. People who have already booked trips in May are now being offered the chance by tour operations and airlines to move them to later in the summer amid uncertainty on when it will be safe to travel abroad. The earliest date when the UK Government could lift the non-essential travel ban is May 17, with this set to be confirmed on April 12, but there are concerns over the delay to immunisation campaigns in EU countries. Britain's biggest tour operator Tui said most new bookings are now being made from July, while people who had booked May or June holidays last year are being offered free changes to different dates or destinations. All coronavirus restrictions are set to be lifted in Britain on June 21, while budget airline Jet2 has told tourism bosses on Majorca to prepare for the 'massive arrival' of British holidaymakers from June 2. Paul Charles, chief executive of the travel consultancy PC Agency, told the Daily Telegraph: 'Most people are waiting until July or August. That's when most of the bookings are. Half term will be a lot thinner. 'The Government's global travel taskforce is watching to see what happens in April to see how the vaccination programme progresses and whether more countries go backwards like Italy and Greece.' France, Germany, Italy and ten other EU states have paused vaccinations with the AstraZeneca jab pending the investigation of cases of cerebral thrombosis in a small number of people who had received it. Advertisement

The UK's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency also insisted that while it was reviewing reports, 'the evidence available does not suggest the vaccine is the cause' of blood clots.

Dr Michael Head, a global health expert from the University of Southampton, said the decisions across Europe to suspend the vaccine 'look baffling'.

He added: 'The data we have suggests that numbers of adverse events related to blood clots are the same (and possibly, in fact lower) in vaccinated groups compared to unvaccinated populations.

'Halting a vaccine rollout during a pandemic has consequences. This results in delays in protecting people, and the potential for increased vaccine hesitancy, as a result of people who have seen the headlines and understandably become concerned.'

Dr Simon Clarke, a microbiologist at the University of Reading, said it was 'reckless' to simply stop using the vaccine.

He warned: 'I keep hearing the phrase 'abundance of caution' being used in reference to countries pausing rollout of the Oxford vaccine but is it really caution?'

Tory MPs have said the chaotic situation underlined the failure of the EU to protect its citizens, and suggested political leaders were attacking the AstraZeneca vaccine as a smokescreen while the UK's roll-out forges ahead. Former Cabinet minister Owen Paterson accused the bloc of running a scare-mongering campaign against the vaccine, saying the EU launched a 'fake news' drive after it had bungling its orders for the jab.

On a visit in Coventry yesterday, Boris Johnson said the UK had 'one of the toughest and most experienced regulators in the world'.

'They see no reason at all to discontinue the vaccination programme... they believe that they are effective, highly effective in driving down not just hospitalisations but also serious disease and mortality. We continue to be very confident about the programme.'

At her daily briefing, Nicola Sturgeon said the MRHA watchdog had confirmed 'there is no current evidence of an increase in blood clots being caused by the AstraZeneca vaccine'.

'There is, however, significant and growing evidence of the benefits of vaccination reducing death, illness and we hope now reducing transmission as well,' she said. 'For all these reasons and based on the advice and opinion of the MRHA, I'd continue to urge people to come forward for vaccination including with the AstraZeneca vaccine when you are invited to do so.'

In a statement last night, the EMA said: 'Several authorities responsible for national vaccine campaigns in EU countries have temporarily paused vaccination with Covid Vaccine AstraZeneca.

'This is a precaution taken in the light of their national situation while EMA investigates a number of events of blood clots in people who had received the vaccine, as previously reported.

'Events involving blood clots, some with unusual features such as low numbers of platelets, have occurred in a very small number of people who received the vaccine.

Should anyone in Britain who's had the AstraZeneca vaccine be concerned? The UK has used more doses of AstraZeneca's Covid vaccine than anywhere else  approximately 11million  and both officials and scientists say there is no sign that it causes serious health problems. Side effects are normal, and around 53,000 have been officially reported across the UK so far, but the vast majority are mild and short-lived, such as headaches, muscle pains or fever. The 53,000 side effects out of 11million suggest just 0.5 per cent of people get them  one in 200. The frequency of severe side effects is much lower. But not everyone records their mild side effects. British drugs regulator the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), which approved the vaccine, insists the jab is safe and says people should continue to take it. Vaccine safety chief Dr Phil Bryan said: 'We are closely reviewing reports but given the large number of doses administered, and the frequency at which blood clots can occur naturally, the evidence available does not suggest the vaccine is the cause. 'People should still go and get their Covid vaccine when asked to do so.' The same message is being put out by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), which advises the Government on its vaccine rollout. Its deputy chairman Professor Anthony Harnden said on BBC Breakfast: 'Safety is absolutely paramount and we monitor this data very carefully. 'We have to remember that there are 3,000 blood clots a month on average in the general population and because we're immunising so many people, we are bound to see blood clots at the same time as the vaccination, and that's not because they are due to the vaccination. That's because they occur naturally in the population. 'One ought to also remember that Covid causes blood clots. So, the risks of not having the Covid vaccination far outweigh the risks from the vaccinations.' Advertisement

'Many thousands of people develop blood clots annually in the EU for different reasons. The number of thromboembolic events overall in vaccinated people seems not to be higher than that seen in the general population.

'EMA is working closely with the company, with experts in blood disorders, and with other health authorities including the UK's MHRA based on its experience with around 11million administered doses of the vaccine.

'EMA's investigation has been continuing over the weekend, and rigorous analysis of all the data related to thromboembolic events will be carried out in the coming days.'

It added: 'Experts are looking in great detail at all the available data and clinical circumstances surrounding specific cases to determine whether the vaccine might have contributed or if the event is likely to have been due to other causes.

'EMA's safety committee (PRAC) will further review the information tomorrow (Tuesday) and has called an extraordinary meeting on Thursday 18 March to conclude on the information gathered and any further actions that may need to be taken.

'While its investigation is ongoing, EMA currently remains of the view that the benefits of the AstraZeneca vaccine in preventing Covid, with its associated risk of hospitalisation and death, outweigh the risks of side effects.

The EU now looks set to embrace Russia's Sputnik V Covid jab even as its leaders shun British-made AstraZeneca vaccines, with multiple countries halting its use over fears it could cause blood clots.

European factories are gearing up to produce Russia's coronavirus vaccine as regulators move closer to approving it in the hopes of speeding up the continent's shambolic roll-out. Kirill Dmitriev, head of Russia's Direct Investment Fund which bank-rolled the Sputnik V jab, said it has reached agreements with Italy, Spain, France and Germany to begin making the jab.

The factories will then be used to supply Sputnik V vaccines to Europe 'once approval is granted by the European Medicines Agency,' Dimitriev said, in what would be a major PR coup for Vladimir Putin.

Europe's health body began a review of the vaccine's safety last week after several countries, led by Hungary, broke ranks with the EU and began using the jab after Brussels' roll-out turned into a shambles.

Dr Phil Bryan, a safety expert at the UK's medicines regulator (MHRA), said that 'people should still go and get their Covid-19 vaccine when asked to do so'.

'We are closely reviewing reports but given the large number of doses administered, and the frequency at which blood clots can occur naturally, the evidence available does not suggest the vaccine is the cause,' he said.

The WHO has similarly rejected concerns saying there is no reason not to keep using the AstraZeneca shot.

FRANCE: Infections have climbed to their highest levels since a November lockdown (left) despite a weeks-long curfew intended to ward off a third complete shutdown. More than 90,000 people have died and the daily death rate (right) has been persistently above 200 per day since the end of October

GERMANY: Cases are rising again in a trend blamed on the British variant (left), complicating efforts to lift a weeks-long lockdown which has drained public faith in the government's response. Deaths have finally fallen marginally below the peak of the first wave (right) but would be likely to rise again if infections soar back to Christmas levels as scientists fear

ITALY: Tougher restrictions are coming in to stem a rise in infections (left), almost a year exactly after Italy became the first country to impose a nationwide stay-at-home order. Deaths have ticked up again in the last two weeks (right), with 2,360 fatalities added to the tally in the last seven days compared to 2,086 the previous week

Left: Ireland - whose infection rate is shown in blue, compared to the UK in red - has paused the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine in a move which could imperil its plans to exit lockdown. Right: How the UK's infection rate compares to Germany's

Italy and France are now seeing Covid cases start to rise as new and more-infectious variant of the disease begin to spread - while the UK's number of cases drop due to lockdown restrictions and a fast vaccine rollout

Two doses of Pfizer or Oxford vaccine 'give the same protection against Covid as catching and recovering from disease' Two doses of either Pfizer or AstraZeneca's Covid vaccine offer the same protection against the illness as getting infected and recovering, research suggests. A study of 13,000 health workers in England revealed no-one who received both jabs suffered symptomatic illness in the fortnight after their booster dose. That's compared to the two per cent of Covid survivors who fell ill with the virus after recovering from an earlier infection. The sample size was too small to say for definite the vaccines gave more protection than previous illness. Oxford University researchers who carried out the research said the findings applied to the more infectious, and possibly deadlier, Kent variant. They also found a single dose of either vaccine reduced the number of people with symptomatic illness by 67 per cent. This finding highlights that healthcare workers 'should take up second vaccines as soon as these are available', they said. Dr Katie Jeffery, director of infection prevention and control at Oxford University Hospitals, who was involved in the study, said: 'We are grateful to the thousands of staff who work at OUH's hospitals who have taken part in the testing programme. 'In this case it is significant that two doses of the vaccines offer similar levels of protection to natural immunity, and that we saw no symptomatic infections among those staff who had had two vaccine doses. Advertisement

Last month, countries led by the likes of France and Germany blocked AstraZeneca jabs from being used in over-65s and claimed it wasn't effective, before being forced to reverse their stance after data proved otherwise.

Eurocrats were also involved in a bitter row with the UK-Swedish drug-maker back in January when they effectively accused bosses of playing favourites with Brexit Britain by fulfilling all of its vaccine orders while delaying those meant for the continent.

Europe is presiding over one of the world's slowest vaccine roll-outs having given first jabs to just eight per cent of its population, while the UK has given first jabs to at least 35 per cent.

The shambolic roll-out has left the continent vulnerable to a third wave of Covid infections which are already beginning, with multiple countries forced to tighten lockdowns once again.

Tougher restrictions came into force in Italy yesterday, while Paris had to airlift patients out of overwhelmed hospitals and experts in Germany warned that the British variant could send infections spiralling again by Easter.

Ireland is hoping to vaccinate 80 per cent of adults by the end of June but is relying on around 800,000 AstraZeneca doses being shipped in the spring and summer.

Dublin says that 'ongoing and steady progress on the vaccination programme' is needed before 'any significant easing of measures is contemplated' - meaning a lengthy delay could leave Ireland stuck in lockdown.

The ban in the Netherlands came as voters deliver their verdict on the country's coronavirus response on the first of three days of balloting in a snap election, weeks after a curfew led to several nights of rioting in major cities.

While Dutch authorities said it was 'wise to press the pause button now as a precaution', a series of top UK officials have rejected fears over the Oxford jab, saying the risks of Covid-19 are greater than those of vaccination.

In Ireland, health officials said there had been a 'small number of reports' of blood clots but none of them as serious as those described in Norway.

Irish authorities had recently been pushing AstraZeneca to speed up its vaccine supplies to the Republic, where 117,500 doses of the jab have been used so far.

A government plan to speed up the roll-out anticipates around 50,000 people per week getting the AstraZeneca shot from April to June.

Ronan Glynn, Ireland's deputy chief medical officer, said he hoped the delay would last only a week - with lockdown exit plans depending on the vaccine drive.

'We have a safety signal and when we get those we have to act and proceed on the basis of a precautionary principle,' he said.

'So hopefully, as this week goes on, we'll get more reassuring data from the EMA and we can recommence the programme.

'It may be nothing, we may be overreacting, and I sincerely hope that in a week's time we are accused of being overcautious.'

Norway said on Saturday that it had received reports of people 'bleeding under the skin' after receiving the shot, warning it could be a sign of low blood platelet counts.

The Nordic country suspended the AstraZeneca jab on Thursday and has since revealed that three more people have been treated in hospital for blood clots or brain haemorrhages soon after their vaccination.

But it said there was no proof of a link between the vaccine and the reported blood clots, which are now being probed by the country's medicines agency.

Dutch authorities blamed Norway's findings in part for their own decision to pause AstraZeneca vaccines, saying they were taking a 'precautionary measure pending further investigation'.

'The crucial question is whether these are complaints after or because of the vaccination,' Dutch health minister Hugo de Jonge said in a statement.

'We still need to be careful, so it is wise to press the pause button now as a precaution.'

No similar cases are currently known in the Netherlands, the ministry said, but it advised people who had received the vaccine to contact their doctor if they develop 'unexpected and/or unknown' symptoms after three days.

Austria has separately suspended the use of one batch of AstraZeneca vaccines after a 49-year-old nurse died of 'severe blood coagulation problems'.

Several others including Estonia, Latvia and Luxembourg have also suspended the use of vaccines from the so-called ABV5300 batch, a shipment of one million doses which was sent to 17 European countries.

Italy's Piedmont region meanwhile banned a separate batch, ABV5811, on Sunday after a teacher died following his vaccination the previous day.

The region had initially suspended all AstraZeneca vaccines until it tracked down the batch in question, which is now being probed by safety experts.

'It is an act of extreme prudence, while we verify whether there is a connection. There have been no critical issues with the administration of vaccines to date,' Luigi Genesio Icardi, head of regional health services, said in a statement.

AstraZeneca says it has found no increased risk of blood clot conditions in its analysis of 17million administered doses.

The company says that the numbers of blood clots 'are lower than the number that would have occurred naturally in the unvaccinated population'.

AstraZeneca has been embroiled in a row with EU leaders since the start of the year when it announced it would not be able to supply the number of doses promised.

Since then, European leaders have bitterly criticised the company and cast doubt on the vaccine's efficacy while at the same time blocking some exports of doses.

Combined with bureaucratic delays and vaccine hesitancy in some countries, the supply chaos has left the EU lagging way behind the UK and US in handing out jabs to its 447million people.

That has left countries such as France and Italy exposed to a third wave with only a fairly small proportion of the population protected against Covid-19 and herd immunity nowhere in sight.

The UK has given first doses to 24.2million people and second doses to 1.6million as of Sunday

The French government has been relying on curfews for months - along with the long-term closures of restaurants and some other businesses - to try to avoid a costly new lockdown.

But localized outbreaks are raising questions about the government's virus-fighting strategy.

Daily infections have risen to an average of nearly 24,000, the highest level since a November lockdown, and more than 90,000 people have died.

Meanwhile in Germany, Angela Merkel's party took a kicking in regional elections on Sunday as the public loses faith in her government's handling of the crisis.

Merkel's Christian Democrats slumped to historic defeats in two states amid frustration at the long lockdown and a scandal involving lawmakers who allegedly profited from mask procurement.

The party had enjoyed a bounce in the polls during Germany's early success against the pandemic, but it looks to have largely evaporated in recent months.

Merkel is not running for a fifth term in office at September's election but the party's poor performance will re-ignite questions over who should succeed her.

Italy imposed new lockdown measures starting yesterday, with a majority of the country placed in new 'red zones' where all shops except essential ones shuttered and travel outside the home restricted (pictured, Rome is deserted due to lockdown)

Venice was near-empty on Monday with its famous gondolas idle as new lockdown measures came into force, with only one region of the whole country - Sardinia - remaining lockdown-free

What is the truth about AstraZeneca's Covid vaccine and blood clots? Drug giant claims to have seen 37 events in 17million jabs, which top scientists say is LOWER than would be expected

There is 'no signal' that the Oxford and AstraZeneca Covid vaccine is causing blood clots, scientists have said in response to scaremongering from European officials.

At least five EU countries have stopped using the jab on members of the public after reports of people developing clots after having it in some nations.

But regulators and scientists say there's no proof that the vaccine had anything to do with this or that blood clots are any more likely after having it.

AstraZeneca has reported just 37 blood clot-related events out of 17million people who have been vaccinated so far in the UK and EU. There had been 15 cases of deep vein thrombosis, usually affecting the legs, and 22 pulmonary embolisms in the lungs.

Oxford's Professor Andrew Pollard (left) and the JCVI's Professor Anthony Harnden (right) both said there is no evidence that the vaccine was causing blood clots, but there is evidence it is saving lives

The chief medical officer at the firm said these numbers were actually lower than the 'hundreds' that would normally be expected in an average group that size.

And one scientist said countries ditching the vaccine were 'reckless' because Covid-19 is so dangerous.

Britain has used more doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine than anywhere else in the world  over 11million  and there has been no sign of a rise in blood clots.

NI medical chief has 'safe and effective' AZ vaccine Northern Ireland's chief medical officer said he did not hesitate in having an AstraZeneca vaccine, despite the temporary pause of its rollout in the Irish Republic. Dr Michael McBride received his first jab on Monday as the vaccination programme north of the border opened to those aged 50 and above. The latest phase of the rollout was announced after the Irish Republic joined a number of other European countries in temporarily suspending use of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine after reports from Norway of a small number of vaccinated people who had developed serious blood clots. Dr McBride, who received his shot at the Ulster Hospital at Dundonald near Belfast, insisted the vaccine was 'safe and effective'. He said the UK's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) had made clear there was no evidence of a link between the vaccine and reported cases of blood clots. He said there had been no reported concerns of vaccine linkage to clotting in Northern Ireland. 'I didn't need to be called a second time this morning when the opportunity was to get my vaccine,' he said. Advertisement

Professor Anthony Harnden, from the UK's official vaccination committee, said there was proof the vaccine would save lives from Covid but no proof it could lead to blood clots.

He said: 'The risks of not having the Covid vaccination far outweigh the risks from the vaccinations.'

Oxford's Professor Andrew Pollard, who helped develop the vaccine, said 'a lot of stuff happens to people all the time... so, when you put a vaccination campaign on top of that, clearly those blood clots still happen.'

Professor Pollard said there are 3,000 blood clots every month in normal times so it wasn't unusual to see people develop them. And people getting the first Covid vaccines are at higher than average risk of clots because they are older or unhealthy.

What is the blood clot controversy?

Experts in the UK have had to leap to the Oxford jab's defence after countries in Europe said they wouldn't use it while the blood clots were investigated.

Denmark, Norway, Iceland, Bulgaria and the Republic of Ireland have all paused the use of the vaccine because of concerns about blood clots.

Although clots are very common they can be serious and even deadly, potentially triggering strokes, heart attacks or blockages in the lungs.

Fears about the clots were escalated when patients died with clot-related illnesses in Austria, Denmark and Italy.

The European Medicines Agency said it has received 30 reports of people developing blood clots within days of having the vaccine, out of a total five million people.

It is carrying out a review of these cases to see if there is a link to the vaccine. But the numbers suggest that 4,999,970 out of the 5m did not get blood clots.

What does AstraZeneca say about the risk of blood clots?

In the midst of the crisis AstraZeneca put out a statement last night, March 14.

It said it has reported just 37 blood clot-related events out of 17million people who have been vaccinated so far in the UK and EU.

There have been 15 cases of deep vein thrombosis, which usually affects the legs, and 22 pulmonary embolisms, which are blood clots in the lungs.

Chief medical officer at the pharmaceutical firm, Ann Taylor, said: 'Around 17 million people in the EU and UK have now received our vaccine, and the number of cases of blood clots reported in this group is lower than the hundreds of cases that would be expected among the general population.

'The nature of the pandemic has led to increased attention in individual cases and we are going beyond the standard practices for safety monitoring of licensed medicines in reporting vaccine events, to ensure public safety.'

The AstraZeneca vaccine is one of the main jabs being used in the UK and scientists say they haven't yet noticed an increase in the number of blood clots developing (stock image)

What do vaccine officials in the UK say about the claims?

The UK has used more doses of AstraZeneca's vaccine than anywhere else  approximately 11million  and officials and scientists insist there is no sign that it causes serious health problems.

Side effects are common, and around 53,000 have been reported across the UK so far, but the vast majority are mild and short-lived, such as headaches, muscle pains or fever.

British drugs regulator the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has insisted the vaccine is safe and said people should continue to take it.

Its vaccine safety chief Dr Phil Bryan said: 'We are closely reviewing reports but given the large number of doses administered, and the frequency at which blood clots can occur naturally, the evidence available does not suggest the vaccine is the cause.

'People should still go and get their Covid-19 vaccine when asked to do so.'

The same message is being put out by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), which advises the Government on its vaccine rollout.

Its deputy chairman Professor Anthony Harnden said on BBC Breakfast: 'Safety is absolutely paramount and we monitor this data very carefully.

'We have given 11million doses of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine to date and there's no demonstrable difference between the blood clots in those that have been vaccinated from those in the general population.

'We have to remember that there are 3,000 blood clots a month on average in the general population and because we're immunising so many people, we are bound to see blood clots at the same time as the vaccination, and that's not because they are due to the vaccination. That's because they occur naturally in the population.

'One ought to also remember that Covid causes blood clots. So, the risks of not having the Covid vaccination far outweigh the risks from the vaccinations.'

What are blood clots and why should we care?

Blood clots are lumps of solid blood that form inside veins and arteries, which they shouldn't do.

The clotting process is normal and vital for the body to heal itself when it gets injured, such as when skin is cut and blood congeals and forms a scab.

But if this happens inside blood vessels it can lead to serious damage to the internal organs. If a clot forms on the wall of a vessel and doesn't move it is less serious than one that moves around the body.

Clots in the arteries are generally more dangerous than clots in the veins because they can get into the brain or the lungs, causing a stroke or a pulmonary embolism, but clots in the veins may travel to the heart and trigger a heart attack.

Blood clots that travel around the body can cause damage in any organ that they lodge in, because they can block the flow of blood and starve it of oxygen.

Symptoms of blood clots include pain, tenderness and swelling. They most commonly develop in the legs and may then move to other bits of the body.

Experts say around 3,000 people develop a blood clot each month in the UK.

Covid-19 is known to cause blood clotting in almost everyone who gets seriously ill with it which suggests that, for many people, even the risk of a clot being caused by a vaccine would be smaller than the risk of catching coronavirus.

What do scientists say about the blood clotting row?

Dr Simon Clarke, a microbiologist at the University of Reading, said it was 'reckless' to simply stop using the vaccine.

He said in a tweet: 'I keep hearing the phrase 'abundance of caution' being used in reference to countries pausing rollout of [the Oxford vaccine] but is it really caution?

'Isn't it actually reckless to expose your population to Covid-19 unnecessarily? Data needed or carry on vaccinating.'

And Professor Pollard, who ran the clinical trials of Oxford's vaccine, added on BBC Radio 4: 'A lot of stuff happens to people all the time in normal times and, in the case of blood clots here in the UK, we see about 3,000 cases of blood clots happening every month.

'So, when you then put a vaccination campaign on top of that, clearly those blood clots still happen and you've got to then try and separate out whether  when they occur  they are at all related to the vaccine or not.'

He said it was 'very clearly' shown in MHRA reports that blood clots were not happening any more often than they normally would.

Professor Pollard added: 'It's absolutely critical that we don't have a problem of not vaccinating people and have the balance of a huge risk  a known risk of Covid  against what appears so far from the data that we've got from the regulators  no signal of a problem.'

Professor David Spiegelhalter, a statistician at the University of Cambridge, said in a Guardian column that the links between the jabs and the blood clots could be 'the basic and often creative urge to find patterns even where none exist'.

He said: 'Deep vein thromboses (DVTs) happen to around one person per 1,000 each year, and probably more in the older population being vaccinated.

'Working on the basis of these figures, out of 5 million people getting vaccinated, we would expect significantly more than 5,000 DVTs a year, or at least 100 every week. So it is not at all surprising that there have been 30 reports.'

And Professor Spiegelhalter added: 'So far, these vaccines have shown themselves to be extraordinarily safe.'In fact, it's perhaps surprising that we haven't heard more stories of adverse effects.'
For consumers, it's one of the body blows of Brexit. Since Britain left the EU, tens of thousands of shoppers have been hit by a raft of unexpected extra charges when buying goods from websites based in Europe.

In some cases, there have been demands of nearly a half as much again on top of the asking price before couriers would hand over the goods.

Not only are these being imposed when consumers were promised a tariff-free future - but many of the shoppers had no idea that the websites were based overseas, and were never warned at the check-out that they would have to pay more.

Hidden fees: Since Britain left the EU, tens of thousands of shoppers have been hit by a raft of unexpected extra charges when buying goods from websites based in Europe

To make matters worse, the retailers often don't understand what charges they should apply under the new post-Brexit rules  some are rigorous in demanding the extra costs, while others don't bother and still more are charging far more than they should, often unwittingly.

So what exactly is behind these additional bills?

Here, we explain the complicated mix of VAT, customs and delivery charges, which has left shoppers baffled, angry and often without their shopping...

THE VAT BOMBSHELL

Some of the extra charges come in the form of a VAT bill, to be paid on delivery of the goods.

Before we left the EU, a British internet shopper buying, say, a shirt from Spain, would be quoted a price that included 20 per cent VAT and the retailer would pass on that VAT to the Spanish treasury.

Likewise, Spaniards buying British goods on the internet would be charged VAT by the retailer who passed it on to HMRC.

Now we have left the EU, UK shoppers are expected to pay the VAT themselves on many goods from EU websites - and retailers should not be including VAT in the price on the site for those goods.

'The sales are now treated as exports,' says Michelle Dale, a VAT specialist at the accountancy firm UHY Hacker Young.

'They incur no taxes in Spain. But when they arrive in the UK there will be 'import VAT' to pay to HMRC.'

But it is more complicated than that. For products from the EU worth less than 135, the EU retailer should be levying the VAT from the customer and passing it on to the HMRC, which means there should be no extra charge on delivery.

For goods worth 135 or above, the VAT should be paid in Britain by the customer on delivery.

However, while larger firms have registered with HMRC and will collect the VAT on behalf of the British customer, many smaller companies haven't done the paperwork, or think it is too much hassle to register with HMRC.

It means it's a lottery as to whether you are charged VAT by couriers and on what value products. Often, customers are being charged twice  both at the point of sale and on delivery.

Extra 40% bill for clothes New wardrobe: Penelope Pullan Penelope Pullan, 53, an author from Loughborough, lost 3 stone during lockdown and decided to buy new clothes. She ordered a cashmere cardigan and some tops from Scotch & Soda, which she thought was a British company, but it is based in Amsterdam. The bill came to 265.41 including 'free delivery' and VAT. She was later told by UPS that 'charges on delivery are due' for VAT and duty of 105.41. Penelope was shocked that the driver asked her to pay the fees if she wanted the parcel or it would be returned. The clothes were sent back to Scotch & Soda and she has been refunded. She says: 'I couldn't take the risk. It was an utter mess.'

CLOBBERED BY CUSTOMS DUTY

That arbitrary figure of 135 is also the value at which customs duty becomes liable post-Brexit and it will have to be paid on delivery as well as any VAT.

The duty level depends on what the item is, but it ranges from about 2 per cent up to 25 per cent of the value of the product, with most fashion items incurring about 10 per cent to 12 per cent.

This duty has to be paid by the UK shopper, not the EU shop. Delays are also leading to cancellations.

Anthony Bale, 46, an academic from South London, bought some sportswear online for 116 on January 6 from Spanish brand Joma.

Using the 'track my order' function, however, Anthony could see that his parcel was still sitting at Madrid airport until February 5.

Anthony then got an update to say the parcel had been sent back to Joma.

A further week later, the sportswear company emailed him with an explanation: 'We have to cancel your order, as we are having logistical issue and delayed in custom [sic] as a result of Brexit.' Anthony was later refunded by the company.

HIT BY HANDLING CHARGES

How does the UK shopper physically pay all this extra VAT or duty?

'It is up to the carrier, such as DPD or UPS to pay the import charges and collect them from the shopper before delivering the goods, but they will also levy a handling charge for doing this,' says Dale.

DHL, for instance, charges 2.5 per cent of the liable VAT and duty with a minimum fee of 11, while Royal Mail charges 8.

Courier driver turned debt collector Lisa Walpole spent 236 on clothes but received an email from UPS demanding customs charges of 121 Lisa Walpole wanted to buy something for herself for her 40th birthday in lockdown on January 15. I thought Id treat myself and my twin brother, Andrew, to a jumpsuit. Id bought one before, from OnePiece. And I thought itd be really fun: a red, velour jumpsuit, she laughs. The Norwegian company (now based in Amsterdam) claim to be responsible for the onesie boom a decade ago. Lisa put in the order after New Year totalling 236, but later received an email from UPS demanding customs charges of 121. The mum-of-three, who is a trainee therapy counsellor, couldnt get through to OnePiece. But when UPS delivered the parcel to her home in Norfolk, no one asked her to pay. The normal delivery driver was off. There was a replacement one and he didnt ask for any money. But, a few days later, Lisas usual delivery driver rang the bell. He said, I am really sorry but I need to ask you to pay this money. Lisa paid the bill by credit card. When she got through to OnePiece, she was promised a refund. OnePiece did the right thing  eventually. It has now sorted out its website.

PENALISED ON PRESENTS

To make matters worse, goods sent from abroad incur VAT if they are valued above 39.

Again, the recipient has to pay it, not the sender. If they are above 135 in value, they will also incur a customs duty of 2.5 per cent of the goods value.

WHAT ABOUT AMAZON OR EBAY?

Amazon, eBay, Etsy and other online marketplaces are now liable for paying VAT and duty on shoppers' behalf under new laws that came into force coincidentally at the end of the transition period on January 1.

So shoppers buying on these platforms should not be hit by unexpected charges  extra costs should be taken at the point of purchase.

But customers are still reporting problems.

Simon Grice, 60, a car mechanic from Sheffield, bought a 1970s Sicura watch from a Spanish watch dealer on eBay in early January. It cost 177, plus 15 postage and packaging.

But a week after paying via PayPal, he got an email from shipping firm UPS demanding a further 48 in import duties and VAT for the item to be released from Spanish customs.

Simon paid the fees, but the watch took another couple of weeks to arrive.

'From what I understood, Brexit was going to involve frictionless trade and I'd get any item within a week,' says Simon.

'I might get a small import charge, but I certainly didn't expect it to take four weeks and cost nearly 50 extra. I won't be shopping from Europe again.'
Iran revealed that it had tested a new SLV (Satellite Launch Vehicle) called Zuljanah in early February. The rocket was described as being able to put 220 kg (484 pounds) into a 500-kilometer-high orbit. The payload could be one satellite or up to ten smallsats. The 52 ton Zuljanah was a breakthrough for Iran because the first two stages used solid-fuel and only the third stage used more controllable liquid fuel propulsion to put the satellite in orbit or maneuver a nuclear warhead towards a target below. Iran denied that Zuljanah was really part of their continuing effort to develop an ICBM (Inter Continental Ballistic Missile) capable of delivering a nuclear warhead to the United States.

Iran has been developing SLVs for some time and that is seen as developing an ICBM openly, but not openly. Instead, Iran launches what it says are efforts to put satellites into orbit and despite numerous failures to do that, the launches continue. Since an SLV can also deliver a nuclear warhead over huge distances, the only real difference between an SLV and an ICBM is that the third stage of an ICBM has a warhead, not a satellite. For an ICBM to work you have to get the first two stages working reliably. In ICBM mode the flight control software is modified to go for distance, not orbital altitude.

Zuljanah did not put a satellite into orbit and reached an altitude of 320 kilometers in what was declared a successful test. Iran had originally announced that Zuljanah would be first tested in mid-2020 but there were the usual technical delays. There have been many previous SLV tests. In February 2020 Iran failed, for the fourth time in a row, to launch a satellite using its three-stage Simorgh SLV. The previous failures were in early 2019, mid-2017 and early 2016. The first two launches were tests with no payload. The first test was declared a success anyway even though the SLV did not reach a high enough altitude to achieve an orbit. The second test experienced a failure in the second stage while the 2017 test saw the third stage fail. During the latest test, the satellite failed to reach orbit. While that is a failure for an SLV, it is good enough for an ICBM. The third stage of an SLV has a much more complicated job than the third stage of an ICBM. In effect, these four failed Simorgh SLV launches were a success for a Simorgh ICBM.

Iran does have a satellite and SLV development program which is controlled by civilians. The ballistic missile programs are controlled by the IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps) and gets a lot more money than the SLV/satellite program. That is said to be the reason why Zuljanah did not have the solid-fuel flight control tech seen in IRGC developed rockets. Another reason could be cash shortages that prevented the new tech from being added to Zuljanah before its first test.

To make this ISBM development deception work Iran has to make a major effort to sell the SLV story. When Iran announced a successful second test launch of the Simorgh SLV in mid-2017, the claim was quickly demonstrated as false. Within a week American intelligence revealed that while the Simorgh took off and disappeared from view of people on the ground without visible problems, as it approached the point, outside the atmosphere where, as an SLV, it would insert a satellite into orbit, Simorgh malfunctioned and fell back to earth without accomplishing anything. Moreover, American, South Korean and UN ballistic missile experts agree that the Simorgh appears to be based on the North Korean Unha SLV/ICBM design. Why do so many different sets of experts agree on what Simorgh actually is and its origins? Thats because Iran and North Korea have been trading weapons and weapons tech since the 1980s. After 2001 that relationship, never really publicized by either party, tried to disappear from public view. Simorgh/Unha is a good example of why disappearing has not worked.

Simorgh itself is an 87 ton two-stage liquid-fuel rocket that can put satellites of up to 350 kg (770 pounds) into an LEO (low earth orbit) of 500 kilometers. The first test was in early 2016 and it was not successful. Iran says it plans to use Simorgh to put surveillance satellites into orbit. That was supposed to happen earlier in 2017 but apparently another test launch was considered necessary and since the second test also failed more are apparently on the way. The Simorgh appears to be stuck at the same stage of development as the North Korean Unha it is based on.

In early 2009, using a modified Shahab 4 two-stage ballistic missile, now called the Safir 1 SLV, Iran put a crude satellite into low earth orbit. This was done to coincide with the 30th anniversary of their Islamic revolution. The satellite was described as a "communications satellite", but it was actually nothing more than a transponder, giving off a signal that could be tracked. What Iran has done is carry out the same kind of early satellite launches Russia and the United States did in the 1950s. Iran says it is building four more satellites, but given the level of technology they have access to, these will be low capability birds, launched into low orbit with short lifetimes.

Beginning in 2008 Iran used the Safir 1 SLV eight times in efforts to put satellites in orbit. Since 2004 there had been reports of a longer-range Shahab 4, based on Soviet-era SS-9 ICBM and North Korean No-Dong 2 missiles, under development. This ICBM was also large enough to put a satellite into orbit. Iran claimed Shahab 4 had a range of 3,000 kilometers. Former Soviet and Chinese rocket engineers are alleged to have helped the Iranians design this missile, and adapt it serve as a satellite launcher. This rocket became an SLV with the modification of the third stage to put a satellite into orbit.

Iran began working on the Shahab 4 in 1997 and used it to try and launch a satellite in 2008, but it failed to achieve orbit. In 2007 it tested the Shahab 4 as a satellite launcher, without attempting to actually orbit a satellite. The key to putting a satellite in orbit is the final (second or third) stage containing the satellite and small maneuvering rockets and a computer to align and inject the satellite at the right time, speed and altitude to achieve orbit. They were successful in 2009, 2011, 2012 and 2015. The two attempts since 2015, both in 2019, failed.

Iran has been launching satellites using its own SLVs since 2009 and having the Russians or Chinese do it for them twice in 2005 and 2008. Since then, Iran has put four rather crude satellites into orbit using its own SLVs. Most of these satellites had short lifespans. But the SLV tests were a longer-term investment in developing ICBM technology.

The first Iranian satellite launch efforts were similar to the Russian Sputnik launch of 1957, which was the first satellite ever put into orbit. The U.S. followed in 1958. Since then, eight other nations, including Iran, have done the same. Ukraine was the last to do so, in 1995. Israel launched its first satellite in 1988. France launched its first satellite in 1965, Japan and China in 1970, Britain in 1971, and India in 1980.

Early ICBMs used the same tech as existing SLVs. After the Cold War ended in 1991 there were thousands of unneeded ICBMs to be deposed of. The U.S. and Russia agreed to allow each other, after verification, to use many of those surplus ICBMs as SLVs. This was economically viable because satellite technology had made it profitable to launch smaller and lighter satellites that could do useful work and pay for themselves. SLVs are larger than ICBMs because SLVs lift much heavier third stages. ICBMs as SLVs can still reliably put a few tons of satellites into orbit and many have done just that. Iran noted that and is using that capability in reverse. It is developing SLVs that, if unable to reliably launch satellites, can be put into service delivering nuclear warheads.
The first two known cases of the infectious B.1.117 U.K. variant of COVID in Contra Costa County have been confirmed by laboratory results, county health officials said Tuesday

The variant, believed to have originated in the United Kingdom, is more contagious than others and possibly more deadly, officials said.

"This is a reminder that even though COVID numbers are falling, we need to continue using all our tools to prevent another surge: wear masks in public, continue to physically distance, avoid both indoor and large gatherings, and get vaccinated when it's your turn," Dr. Chris Farnitano, the county's health officer, said in a statement.

Farnitano said there are likely many more in the community that have not been detected. "We can't say how widespread it is in Contra Costa, but it's concerning," he said.

Farnitano said the South African variant, which has also raised concern, has not been detected in Contra Costa yet, but that it should be assumed it is also circulating in California.

The U.K. variants were discovered as part of laboratory surveillance work during the pandemic, officials said. "One local person infected with the U.K. variant began displaying common COVID-19 symptoms such as cough and muscles aches and was able to isolate at home," officials said in a news release. "The other Contra Costa resident reported having multiple symptoms, including runny nose, cough, headache and loss of smell and taste."

Contra Costa data and COVID-19 health information is available online at cchealth.org/coronavirus.

Copyright  2021 Bay City News, Inc. All rights reserved. Republication, rebroadcast or redistribution without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. Bay City News is a 24/7 news service covering the greater Bay Area.

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Dr. Calvin Clements was officially named on Tuesday as the Democratic candidate to vie for the open Senate seat to represent all of Lebanon County and parts of Dauphin and York counties in the May 18 special election.

The partys executive committee accepted the recommendation from the 48th state senatorial districts committee people who picked the 70-year-old retired veterinarian from South Londonderry Township, Lebanon County, from a field of four-candidates at their nominating convention on Saturday.

It is with great honor and humility to have been chosen to represent the Democratic Party in the special election, Clements said in a statement. Although we have a fierce challenge ahead, find comfort in knowing, I truly enjoy challenges.

Clements now will face competition from three other candidates  Republican Christopher Gebhard and independent Ed Krebs, both of Lebanon County, and Libertarian Tim McMaster of York County  in the special election, which coincides with the primary.

The winner will fill the seat that became open due to the Jan. 17 death of Republican Dave Arnold and finish out his term which expires Nov. 30, 2022.

The GOP has had a stronghold on this seat since 1983, the first year the 48th Senate District included all of Lebanon County. In this Senate district, Republicans hold a near-30,000 voter registration edge over Democrats with third-party and other registrants comprising nearly 16% of registered voters.

Clements said his top priorities are to open Pennsylvania businesses and schools rapidly and safely and getting people vaccinated against COVID-19 as rapidly as possible. He also wants to protect free and easily accessible elections, stop the systematic gerrymandering of voting districts and courts and work to return PA to fiscal solvency.

There is work to be done in PA, the time is now, we cant be complacent, Clements said. I am ready to lead you to a better PA.

The 48th Senate District includes all of Lebanon County as well as the Dauphin County municipalities of Conewago, Londonderry, Swatara and Lower Swatara townships and the boroughs of Highspire, Middletown, Paxtang, Royalton and Steelton; and the York County municipalities of Conewago, East Manchester, Newberry and Springettsbury townships and the borough of Goldsboro, Lewisberry, Manchester, Mount Wolf, and York Haven.

Jan Murphy may be reached at jmurphy@pennlive.com. Follow her on Twitter at @JanMurphy.
Flansburgh Architects' rendering of what the renovated $8 million Ted Shawn Theatre will look like.

Jacob's Pillow Plans Festival 2021, Theater Renovations

BECKET, Mass.  After a year of pandemic struggles and a devastating fire, Jacob's Pillow is looking at a bright horizon in 2021.

The year 2020 saw the Pillow's first season cancellation in 88 years and ended in tragedy when the Doris Duke Theatre burned down in November.



"Sometimes I think it was a physical manifestation of everything people in our field were feeling," Executive and Artistic Director Pamela Tatge said in regard to the fire.



"In other words, so many people in the arts ecology, both artists and workers lost their work, lost their livelihoods, we canceled the performances by 15 companies last summer. So, to have the fire, destroy a place that has meant so much to so many people for three decades, was a huge blow."



Last week, the organization announced plans for Festival 2021, an $8 million Ted Shawn Theatre renovation, an intent to rebuild the Doris Duke Theatre, and a "Dance We Must" campaign to fund the completion of a five-year plan.



Festival 2020 had pivoted to a virtual event that reportedly drew thousands of people who had never experienced the Pillow's programming. Some 80 percent of virtual attendees were new to the Pillow, Tatge said, and that has inspired them to build on the pre-existing digital platform.



"That really gave us a sense of how important digital engagement is if we want to grow our audience," she added. "This was really a wonderful eye-opening experience so in our minds we knew that this summer we would do whatever we could do in terms of an in-person festival that would be safe for artists and audiences, while at the same time continuing or digital work."



Beginning in October and running through May, the Pillow created bubble artist residences under the advisory of a medical director so that dancers could continue their craft as normally as possible. Tatge explained that through testing, strict protocols, and financial support this was able to happen.



Though official artist and performance details will be announced in April, they are "committed to presenting a multiplatform dance festival in summer 2021 featuring in person, outdoor performances from leading dance artists across genres and virtual streaming of their work."



COVID-19 protocols will be included with the announcement of Festival 2021 based on the recommendations of medical professionals and in accordance with nation guidelines and state regulations.



The Ted Shawn Theatre was built in 1942 and was America's first performance space designed specifically for dance. Upgrades have been in the works since 2018, but Tatge said the pandemic has highlighted the importance of having a well-ventilated and air-conditioned theater in order for guests to feel safe.
The elections in the German states of Baden-Wurttemberg and Rhineland-Palatinate last Sunday revealed the growing dissatisfaction with the ruling elites profits before lives pandemic response, and the social spending cuts imposed by the federal Christian Democrat (CDU)/Social Democratic Party (SPD) grand coalition and state governments. The CDU, the party of Chancellor Angela Merkel, achieved its worst results in postwar history in both elections. The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), which has been built up by the ruling class in order to impose its right-wing agenda, lost close to half of its support.

In Baden-Wurttemberg, both the CDU with 24.1 percent of the vote (down 2.9 percent since the last election), and the Social Democrats with 11 percent (down 1.7 percent), achieved their worst ever results. The two parties, which took 78 percent of the vote between them in the southwestern German state just 20 years ago, received a mere 35 percent this time.

Results of the state elections in Baden-Wurttemberg in 2021 (2016) in percent

In Rhineland-Palatinate, the parties received a somewhat larger share of the vote, with 35.7 percent for the SPD and 27.7 percent for the CDU. But here too, both parties suffered losses. The SPDs share of the vote fell by 0.5 percentage points. Given the decline in voter participation, this translated into a 10 percent decline in total votes compared to 2016. The CDUs share of the vote dropped by 4.1 percentage points, which was also an historic low.

The biggest losses in both states were suffered by the AfD. In Rhineland-Palatinate, the right-wing extremists lost 4.1 percentage points and 40 percent of its voters in absolute terms, finishing with a result of 8.3 percent. In Baden-Wurttemberg, the AfDs share of the vote fell by 5.2 percentage points to 9.7 percent, which amounted to a loss of 42,000 votes compared to 2016.

The Green/CDU Baden-Wurttemberg state government led by Minister President Winfried Kretschmann suffered a major setback. The coalition lost 0.6 points in percentage terms, but due to the decrease in voter participation the governing parties total votes fell by over 10 percent compared to 2016. Although the Greens share of the vote increased by 2.3 percentage points to 32.6 percent, they lost tens of thousands of voters in absolute terms.

Absolute results of the state elections in Baden-Wurttemberg 2021 (2016) in millions

In Rhineland-Palatinate, the so-called traffic light coalition of the SPD, Greens and Free Democrats made slight gains thanks to the increase of 4 percentage points in support for the Greens. In absolute terms, however, the governing parties lost close to 40,000 votes.

The Left Party, which governs in Berlin, Bremen and Thuringia, and is also involved at the federal level in imposing social spending cuts, militarism and the mass infection of the population, saw its share of the vote stagnate well below the 5 percent hurdle for parliamentary representation in both states.

The election results are a distorted expression of the growing opposition to the governments coronavirus policy and the dramatic growth of social inequality. The largest growth of any group in the election was of non-voters, who are turning away from the entire political establishment. They rose by 6.6 percentage points in Baden-Wurttemberg and 6 percent in Rhineland-Palatinate. The share of the vote going to smaller parties without parliamentary representation increased by 4.8 percent in Baden-Wurttemberg and 6.1 percent in Rhineland-Palatinate. In Rhineland-Palatinate, the Free Voters (FW) even managed to gain parliamentary representation, with 5.4 percent of the vote.

The CDUs collapse was undoubtedly worsened by the so-called mask affair. Several days prior to the election, it was revealed that a number of CDU and Christian Social Union deputies exploited their positions to personally cash in by arranging government contracts for the purchase of masks from private companies.

Ergebnisse der Landtagswahl in Rheinland-Pfalz 2021 (2016) in Prozent

But these revelations merely gave sharp expression to the governments policy. Since the beginning of the pandemic, the banks and big business have been showered with hundreds of billions of euros through bailout packages and stock purchasing programmes. In order to ensure industrial companies could make record profits, workers were exposed to deadly dangers on a daily basis. All of the parties categorically excluded a full lockdown, including all nonessential businesses. As a result, over 73,000 people have already died in Germany from COVID-19.

The CDUs lead candidate in Baden-Wurttemberg, Susanne Eisenmann, is an especially aggressive advocate of this policy of death, and had extremely low popularity ratings as a result. As education minister in Kretschmanns cabinet, Eisenmann demanded the reopening of schools irrespective of incidence rates in January, at the height of the second wave. Under conditions of rapidly accelerating infection rates, she recently sent all year five and six students back into in-person classes without any steps being taken to ensure social distancing.

The AfD is the most vehement advocate of reopening the economy at any price, and backed the right-wing extremist protests organised by the coronavirus deniers. The fact that the fascist party suffered the largest losses in both states and lost almost half of its voters shows that, contrary to claims in the media, its policies do not enjoy mass popular support. The AfD is promoted above all by the ruling elite in order to enforce its reactionary agenda.

The murderous policy of mass infection is supported by all parties in parliament. Even though the mask affair focused particular attention on the role of the CDU, and Eisenmann strongly advocated the policy of reopenings, Green Minister President Kretschmann and his Social Democrat colleague in Rhineland-Palatinate, Malu Dreier, are no less vehement in their endorsement of reopening the economy.

The Baden-Wurttemberg and Rhineland-Palatinate elections underscore just how interchangeable the established parties are. Both Kretschmann and Dreiers coalitions are characterised by the mass deportations of refugees, the strengthening of the repressive state apparatus and the pursuit of an aggressive policy of profits before lives amid the pandemic.

Absolute results of the state elections in Rhineland-Palatinate 2021 (2016) in millions

In 2019, Kretschmanns government deported 2,648 asylum seekers, and it continued to remove numerous refugees during the pandemic. In the crowded and unhygienic refugee centres, the virus is running rampant. Instead of closing the camps, the authorities ordered the refugees to be confined inside and monitored by the military.

The armys intervention, under the pretext of providing official aid to the state authorities under conditions of the pandemic, is part of a comprehensive build-up of a police-state apparatus. The so-called night of violence in Stuttgart served as a pretext for the expansion of personal checkpoints, body cameras for police officers, widespread video surveillance and racist family tree criminal investigations.

All parties wasted no time in underscoring their readiness on election night to continue the governments policies in a variety of right-wing coalitions. SPD General Secretary Lars Klingbeil and the head of parliamentary affairs for the Greens, Britta Haelmann, declared their interest in forming a federal government coalition with the Free Democrats. The Greens are also still considering the option of a coalition with the CDU, with which the SPD is currently in a coalition at the federal level.

The Left Party is also prepared to join a federal government. Its federal affairs officer, Jorg Schindler, responding to a question on whether the Left Party would make itself capable of governing on foreign and security policy, answered, Of course, theres no question about that. Prior to this, the new party leadership of Susanne Henning-Wellsow and Janine Wissler made similar remarks.

The elections and the responses they have generated contain an urgent lesson. Amid the pandemic and the deepest capitalist crisis since the 1930s, all parties are closing ranks to intensify their policies of social spending cuts, militarism and mass infection with the coronavirus. The mounting opposition to this can only find a progressive expression if workers and young people intervene independently into political events.

The Sozialistische Gleichheitspartei (Socialist Equality Party) is standing in the federal election to fight for a socialist perspective. We are the only party opposing the all-party government and fighting for a socialist programme that places the protection of human lives ahead of corporate profits. Not a single job or a single cent should be sacrificed to the greed for profit of the rich. To the rise of militarism and fascism, we counterpose the international unification of working people.
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17 March 2020

KR1 PLC

("KR1" or the "Company")

Appointment of Non-executive Director

KR1 plc (KR1:AQSE), a leading digital asset investment company, is pleased to announce that Mona Elisa has been appointed as a Non-executive Director of the Company with effect from today.

Mona is the CEO of Avantgarde Finance and was formerly the co-founder and CEO of Melonport AG, which developed Enzyme (formerly Melon), an Ethereum-based protocol for decentralised on-chain asset management. Mona Elisa is a former star-trader at Goldman Sachs, promoted to Vice President by the age of 26 and made the "Top 30 Under 30" list in Trader Magazine in 2008 and Forbes Magazine in 2011 after profitably trading the 2008 and 2011 crashes. After that, she moved to Geneva-based macro hedge fund Jabre Capital in 2011, before deciding in 2014 that the future of finance lay in blockchain technology. Mona studied Economics & Statistics at the University College London.

Mona has been granted options to subscribe for 77,519 ordinary shares of 0.19p each in the Company ("Ordinary Shares") at a price of 193.5p per share, being the closing share price on the day prior to her appointment. These options will only be exercisable in the event that certain future milestones are achieved by the Company.

Mona Elisa commented: "I am honoured and delighted to be joining the board. The KR1 team are pioneers in the crypto investment space and first discovered Enzyme (then, Melon) in 2016 before we were even looking to raise capital. KR1 offers much more than capital, they understand the challenges an entrepreneur faces and have been around long enough to prove that they are there for their portfolio companies during the ups and the downs. This unique combination of skills and experience sets them up as the best kind of investor and mentor a founder could ask for."

Keld van Schreven, Managing Director and Co-Founder of KR1, commented: "We are thrilled to appoint Mona. Enzyme (formerly Melon) was the Company's first major investment and, since then, we have shared an incredibly successful journey together. Having been a star in traditional finance early in her career, Mona brings a lot of experience and an extensive network in the blockchain world to the table. Her energy and experience will be highly welcome and appreciated going forward."

The Directors of KR1 plc accept responsibility for this announcement.

--ENDS--

For further information please contact:

KR1 PLC

George McDonaugh

Keld van Schreven

Simon Nicol

+44 (0)16 2467 6716



simon@KR1.io Peterhouse Capital Limited

Mark Anwyl

Allie Feuerlein (AQSE Corporate Adviser)

+44 (0)20 7469 0930 Nominis Advisory Ltd

Angus Campbell (PR Adviser)

pr@KR1.io

Save as set out below, there is no further information regarding Mona Elisa that is required to be disclosed pursuant to Rule 4.9 of the AQSE Growth Market Apex Rulebook.

Current Directorships/Partnerships Past Directorships/Partnerships Avantgarde Core Melonport AG Avantgarde Finance Ltd Midas Technologies AG Near Foundation AG Multichain Asset Managers Association (MAMA)

About KR1 plc

KR1 is a leading digital asset investment company supporting early-stage decentralised and open source blockchain and DeFi projects. Founded in 2016 and publicly traded in London on the Apex segment of the AQSE Growth Market (KR1: AQSE), KR1 has built a notable reputation for generating significant returns by investing in many key projects that are designed to power the decentralised platforms and protocols that are emerging to form new internet infrastructures.

www.KR1.io

Market Abuse Regulation (MAR) Disclosure

The information contained within this announcement is deemed by the Company to constitute inside information as stipulated under the Market Abuse Regulation (EU) No. 596/2014. Upon the publication of this announcement via a Regulatory Information Service, this inside information is now considered to be in the public domain.
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everyone gets to define their own recovery and sobriety and i hope for the best for demi. its obviously worrying but hopefully it stays under control. hopefully in two years we dont get a "i was actually awful then!!!!" about this period in her life









PS- california sober tho usually is just weed, not booze too.

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people with addiction problems as bad as hers seem to be should not be fucking touching alcohol so already I'm worried about the future for her

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recovery is different for everyone.

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Nah, we had a whole discussion about this in one of my undergrad psych classes. Culture and society have a lot to do with how people define sobriety. As an example, the discussion was had that in certain countries, kids start drinking wine with dinner at a certain point. Its not really seen as drinking per se.

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jeeeeeesus christ





all that AND being assaulted on the same night?!? holy shit.

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When I read about celebrities sharing their traumas, I fear for them. Anything that is shared with the public becomes some sort of weapon against them in a way.

But I hope this is an empowering and healing step for her.



Im so sorry this happened.



Edited at 2021-03-17 12:15 am (UTC)

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Good luck to her, I hope she finds happiness she deserves.



My brother died of overdose yesterday and Ive been crying for hours. We all saw it coming but it is just surreal. He struggled a lot, but I just wish he was here :(

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I'm so sorry <3

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Omg, I'm so sorry for your loss

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Im so sorry

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Im so so sorry for your loss. :(

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My deepest condolences

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oh my god....Im so sorry :((

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I'm sorry <3 <3 <3

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FYI I think you chose the wrong reaction to the comment by mistake bb

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bb, you might want to change your reaction from the laughing one

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Thank you. Don't worry about the reaction, mistakes happen :)

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i'm so sorry for your loss.

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Im so sorry for your loss ): my love and light to you and yours <3

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I'm so sorry for your loss <3 <3 <3

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i'm so sorry. and please know, the person who used the wrong emoji reaction probably did so in error. we're all behind you here!

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I'm so sorry for your loss.

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I'm so profoundly sorry for both your loss and the deeply painful journey of having someone you love battle addiction. We're here for you and lifting you up. 

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Im so sorry for your loss.

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I'm so so sorry bb :(((

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so so sorry 

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I'm so sorry, bb

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I'm so sorry for your loss

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i'm truly truly sorry





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Im so sorry 

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Im sorry for your loss bb, I hope you and your family have some good support

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I am so sorry for your loss bb.

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Im so sorry :(

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oh bb i am so so sorry

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Im so sorry for your loss. I send you, your family & his friends lots of love. 

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Im so sorry for your loss. My condolences to you and your family. 

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I'm so sorry for your loss <3

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i'm very sorry to hear that. if you ever need someone to listen because you feel like talking about it, i'm only a message away <3 a friend of mine passed away for the same reason a few years ago, and of course it's incomparable to losing a brother, but just know i'm an nonjudgmental listener <3

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So sorry for your family bb

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*hug* *hug* *hug*



Im so sorry, dear

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Im sorry for your loss

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I'm so sorry for your loss <3



Edited at 2021-03-17 11:34 am (UTC)

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im so sorry, im keeping you and your family in my thoughts and prayers

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So sorry for your loss.

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I'm so sorry. All my love to you and yours.

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wow, I am so, so sorry.



I lost my brother in January. I wish I had some sage advice, but it's been two of the worst months of my life. Grief comes and goes in waves for me. I am trying to allow myself time to just...miss him instead of always running from that feeling or being too angry to breathe.





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i'm so sorry <3

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Im so sorry for your loss

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i'm so so sorry for your loss

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I'm so sorry. May his memory be a blessing.

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I'm so sorry

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i am so sorry.

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She worries me :/

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Me too.

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Partly out of time.

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That first bullet point is horrifying in every way. :(

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I feel like every album is her saying it's her realest, most personal album yet. I guess when you don't know who you are that's true :/

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I feel like every ex Disney star says this tbh

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i was gonna say selenas been attempting to get "real" for a decade now

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I mean can't you argue that people's truth and honesty about their lives changes as they get older? From a marketing standpoint, I'm sure it's annoying. Everyone's truth changes.

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Like everyone else, Im so worried about her. Its just....ugh theres just so much trauma there that I dont know if there will be enough time or capacity for her to unpack it in a healthy way. She clearly doesnt even view herself as even being able to exist in a healthy way, without drugs & alcohol. The best I can hope for is that shes microdosing or something (I know nothing about this sry, idek if thats a thing you can do with most drugs).

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I find the alcohol use the alarming considering she was extremely open about carrying it around in water bottles since she was in her early to late teens, if I'm being honest. I know people who have a program that works for them which includes mild social drinking and weed but those people primarily never had issues with those particular substances and they came to the point of using those substances years into their sobriety.

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It is alarming. Alcohol dependence is incredibly insidious, not to mention doubly toxic to someone whos trying to physically and emotionally recover the way she is.



I understand the situation with the people youre familiar with; Ive also heard that its usually easier to socially abuse substances that you never had an issue with. But yeahhhh, if youre carrying vodka in Sprite bottles around (just like my friends and I in college), its unlikely that your relationship to said drug will ever be casual or inconsequential enough to not escalate into former patterns.

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I read the whole interview, right after that part, thermy qote Elton John who says he disagrees with her. Moderation doesn't work. It's all or nothing. Oh, Demi. I feel so much for her.

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anyone that is justifying their "need" for substances isn't okay. it's just a cycle of going hard for one road of recovery only for it to fail, then going hard for another road, only for it to fail, etc. etc. if you're not ready to deal with the addiction you're not ready. that can kill you. rock bottom isn't enough for some people, and I feel fucking awful for people that deal with it. I deal with addiction badly, I am just *lucky* that it isn't with substances that can kill me with one bad night.



Edited at 2021-03-17 04:35 am (UTC)

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I can't be too judgmental of the last bullet point. I went to some AA meetings when I realized that every time I drank it was just a matter of time till I got out of control. But after a couple of weeks of trying to avoid alcohol simply for the sake of avoiding alcohol I realized the alcohol wasn't the problem, the problem was the anxiety I was drinking to mask. So I needed to get help for that instead and then a healthier relationship with alcohol followed.



But everyone is different. I've known people whose lives were completely changed by AA and have been in it for 10 years or more.

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Glad to hear youve found a formula that works for you.



I can somewhat relate. My past excessive drinking was solely anxiety related as well. I feel like Im JUST now unpacking and dealing with it. In college I had social anxiety, in grad school I had authority anxiety/imposter syndrome, in my mid-20s I had MASSIVE health anxiety surrounding my loved ones, then I had relationship/romantic anxiety, then a short period career anxiety, and then I dissolved into the greatest anxious crisis of my life in 2020, anxiety surrounding my own health. Last year was the first time I acknowledged that I had clearly had GAD my entire life (I grew up in a single parent home where it was, understandably, all about survival with no discussions of mental health) and had always dealt with it by going drinking with my friends. I was forced to develop healthy coping mechanisms and now I dont even think about drinking, much less do it....oop (I guess not really seeing my friends has helped, too). Im very lucky. I hope you continue on a good path as well 

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Yep! I went to AA and it didn't fit at all for me (their stories didn't mesh with mine) and I realized I drank when I was getting into manic states in order to calm my brain. Now that I am medicated, I don't alcohol binge. Funny how that works.



I am concerned about her dismissing her diagnosis - but I wish her well.

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Okay but what youre describing for you does not sound like Demis alcohol dependency or drug dependency. Were you hiding vodka in water bottles since you were a teenager? Binging on drugs constantly? Partying and doing drugs constantly? Overdosing to the point of three strokes and long term after effects?



The amount of people who try to excuse her choice is wild. She has severe substance abuse issues  something that has been stated in every single one of her Im sober now! Documentaries. She talks about being California sober but California sober does not include drinking alcohol.



She is an addict. Full stop. Addicts cant control or moderate because thats not how addiction works. She is an addict. Its a shitty hand, but it is what it is, and her thinking she can control her addiction or stop whenever she wants is textbook addict behavior. Moderation does not work, it is all or nothing and there are plenty of programs outside of AA or NA who all say the same thing.



Spreading this message out to her fans, whether shes stressing that its a personal choice or not, is dangerous ideologies to put out there about addiction.

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Hey I didn't even describe my drinking problem behaviors, bit bold of you to assume you know what I experienced based on like one sentence.



One thing I liked about AA was that they didn't rank or compete different people's experiences with alcohol. Someone who had nowhere to live and regularly woke up in the hospital from binge drinking didn't see themselves as "more of" an alcoholic than someone who realized they had a drinking problem because they needed a drink or two before coming home to their family every night after work. Sometimes the underlying problem is the same even if it manifests differently.



Anyway I'm not saying she's definitely right here, only that from the outside i don't think I or any of us have enough info to say that she's definitely wrong either. When I was younger I grew up with the idea that if you struggle with a substance you need to abstain completely and that's the only solution. But as an adult I got to know people who had abused hard drugs for years and then went into treatment, only to discover with the help of a professional that they weren't actually addicted to the substances they were self-medicating. So just eliminating drugs without addressing the underlying mental health condition would just lead them to other unhealthy coping mechanisms.

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this was me as well, I realized through AA and therapy that my main issues was my life and once I came to a better place, I don't drink at all like I used to. Mostly casually now in social situations. Proud of you! It's not easy.

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My best friend is struggling with this now. Were there any alternative programs you used? He doesn't want to go back to AA cause he "knows what they're going to say about my drinking" so now he's not doing any meetings.



sorry if this is too personal.

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My doctor suggested that I have bipolar, but I refused to consider it and walked away. I dont think I do have it. He just didnt understand the depression I was suffering from.

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When I was in treatment, I was misdiagnosed as bipolar and as soon as I got in to regular therapy outside therapy, my therapist who talked to me more one on one told me I did not have bipolar at all. Apparently, bipolar is the most misdiagnosed mental disorder.

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literally i feel like if you show any kind of signs of possible mania they immediately assume bipolar

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I just want to bring her to my house and give her boundaries and keep her hydrated and away from anything celebrity.

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Yes, at this point I'm just like girl, please get out of the entertainment business. It it's a toxic environment for anyone on a normal day, I can't imagine how much worse it is for someone like her who has gone through so many awful experiences and who has a history with substance abuse.



I feel like she has so few people looking out for her

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I feel the same. There are just so many people willing to hang on to a celebrity until the celebrity essentially breaks and then they're off to use someone new.

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Same. I know she has a genuine love for music but I think it would be best for her to release it on her own terms without feeling pressure to promote and appear a certain way. The celebrity life is way too toxic for her.

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No matter how angry she makes me sometimes, I feel really protective of her most of the time. She's had a tough go of it, still is.



About her broken engagement actor Max Elrich, Lovato says she "feel[s] like [she] dodged a bullet because [she] wouldnt have been living [her] truth for the rest of [her] life had [she] confined [herself] into that box of heteronormativity and monogamy."



Loving that for her!

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I feel like Scooter and whoever are still using her and capitalising on her misery.

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It's what makes him money :((

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Her entire career at this point is marketed around her relapse/recovery cycle. It's utterly toxic. They make story selling money when she relapses, then make money selling the triumphant recovery story.



Like, even for people who are well intentioned for her, I just don't see how you escape that conflict of interests at this point. There's an entire industrial complex selling her trauma.

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I remember her family, friends and team laying it all out in People with brutal honesty when she overdosed that Demi's claim of 6 years of sobriety was not true and that she had never gone more than 6 months sober the entire time. I hope that isn't true if she's still stating she was clean and sober for 6 years because if it is true and she isn't being honest then that does not bode well for her continued recovery.



The time frame of her diagnosis for BiPolar coincides with when it was unfortunately over-diagnosed quite a bit so I can definitely see it being something she experienced, though in my experience an ADHD diagnosis being missed is much more common in relation to anxiety disorders.



I wish her the best in her recovery program.

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i think Demi has BPD and is choosing to omit that* and just claim ADHD (which is fine). i was diagnosed as Bipolar for much of my teens and very early twenties, only to be properly recognized as having BPD a few years ago. BPD is SUPER commonly misdiagnosed as Bipolar because they can share so many symptoms. when i got proper treatment, my therapist shared with me just how...normal that misdiagnosis is and i was shocked.

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Yeah, as a therapist, it's sadly misdiagnosed a lot. Some folks sometimes choose to go with bipolar disorder for billing rather than BPD because some insurances wouldn't want to cover for a disorder that is long term for treatment, which is unfair for those on Medicaid for example. Sadly, some companies may even see it as "untreatable." Not my words, which is so disheartening. Also, some folks prefer not to put the accurate diagnosis on the chart because they don't want other providers to see the diagnosis due to fear of poor treatment and bias done by professionals onto the patients. Some just know but don't tell patients because some debate on whether telling patients up front would do more harm than good. There are also those cases when both can be diagnosed. BD is neurochemical. BPD is relational/personality.



I just want to point it out to people reading this, but I thank you for bringing this up.



People still confuse BPD with BD and vice versa. I honesty see BPD across a spectrum of presentations as I would for other disorders, some cases more severe than others. There are "subtypes." I am very certain Demi has it. I just think she she chooses to omit it because of the unfortunate stigma behind it, but I give it to people like Madison Bear for opening up about it and raising awareness to destigmatize it.

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I too think Demi has BPD and is probably omitting it. It makes sense with her identity issues.

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I have BPD and I totally agree with you. she's always reminded me a lot of myself. I don't know if she's necessarily omitting it or if it wasn't actually diagnosed (my psychiatrist has me in treatment for BPD and refers to it as BPD when he talks to me, but he's never written it down in my file because of how stigmatized it is). it could be something like that?

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wait i totally missed that about the six years thing. anyone have the link?

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Not that I put much credence in what that gremlin has to say, but even in the texts he leaked after the breakup, her ex said how she wasnt sober and needed help. Granted, his opinion means very little and the reason he was saying that was obviously not out of good intentions, but I def believe she hasnt been sober for a long time

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Mali and neighbors Burkina Faso and Niger have become the epicenter of Islamic terrorist violence since 2016. These three nations suffered over 4,000 such deaths in 2019 compared to a total of 770 during the three previous years. In 2020 the violence levels diminished a bit because of increased French-led counter-terrorism efforts. This resulted in the deaths of several key Islamic terror group leaders. This reduced the effectiveness of some Islamic terror groups until the leaders could be adequately replaced. Many of the Islamic terror groups in this region are very dependent on a few key leaders. Feuds and power struggles are a common problem within Islamic terror groups and the French have learned how to exploit that.

Since 2014 five nations; Iraq, Afghanistan, Nigeria, Syria and Pakistan, have accounted for most of the terrorism-related deaths. That list has recently changed with Syria and Pakistan replaced by Somalia and Mali (including neighboring Niger and Burkina Faso). The largest source of Islamic terror deaths during that period was ISIL (Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant), a more radical faction of al Qaeda that is currently the most radical practitioner of Islamic terrorism. Islamic terrorism continues to be, as it has been since the 1990s, the main source of terrorism-related deaths, accounting for about 90 percent of the fatalities. The remainder of the terrorism-related deaths are ethnic (often tribal) conflicts in Africa and Asia. Purely political terrorism accounts for a fraction of one percent of all terrorism-related deaths and are outnumbered by terrorism deaths inflicted by common (often organized) criminals.

In central Africa, landlocked Mali is the center of growing Islamic terrorist activity that has spread to neighboring Niger and especially Burkina Faso which is, like Mali, landlocked and has 17 million people (about 20 percent more than Mali). Burkina Faso also lacks the troublesome Tuareg/Arab minority in northern Mali. Because Burkina Faso is south of Mali it also lacks the semi-desert north in Mali. That is where the Tuareg/Arab minority live. Burkina Faso also has more religious diversity with a quarter of the population being Christian and 60 percent Moslem. Moreover, the Moslem population consists of several different schools of Islam, some of them quite hostile to Sunni Islamic terrorism as practiced by al Qaeda and ISIL. In contrast, Niger and Mauritania are almost all Moslem and have always been the home for some Islamic conservatives who were not satisfied unless their neighbors also adopted Islamic conservatism.

The epicenter of most Islamic terrorist violence has been the tri-border area were the borders of Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso meet. The Mali portion of the tri-border area is in northern Mali, which was the original hot spot for Islamic terrorism in central Africa, predating the rapid growth, and decline of Boko Haram violence in northeast Nigeria between 2013 and 2016.

ISIL does not have effective central authority at the moment with the senior leadership still dispersed and on the run from recent defeats in eastern Syria and western Iraq. In Nigeria Boko Haram is divided into factions and one of them, ISWAP (Islamic State West Africa Province) is one of two Central Africa ISIL affiliates. It is often difficult, at first, to determine which faction of Boko Haram made an attack. Ultimately one of the factions will take credit. ISWAP is usually quicker to do so and has a much more efficient media operation than most Africa based Islamic terror groups. ISWAP is also finding that there is a downside to using ISIL techniques. More Western nations are willing to help Nigeria or at least coordinate existing counter-terrorism in the region (from Somalia to Mali and the Atlantic coast). There are smaller ISIL factions in northern Somalia, southern Libya and eastern Algeria. These groups were once larger but have suffered heavy losses from local and/or international counter-terrorism efforts.

In Mali, the violence shifted since 2012 from northern to central Mali where about 70 percent of the 2019-2020 deaths took place. The rest were in the northeast where ISIL is most active. The situation in central Mali is worse than it appears because in neighboring Burkina Faso there were nearly as many deaths in 2019 and 2020. Mali and Burkina Faso can blame it on Islamic terror groups using the two nations for their drug/people smuggling operation (north to the Mediterranean coast) which is so lucrative that it has expanded, at least in central and northern Mali, to include extortion and all manner of criminal activity. At the center of all this violence and cash producing activity are Fulani tribesmen who are numerous (20 million in all) throughout a belt of territory stretching from Central Mali, through northern Mali then through southern Niger into northern Nigeria.

French troops in Mali killed the leader of AQIM (Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb) during a mid-2020 operation. This was a big deal because the Maghreb is the Arab word for North Africa and that is where AQIM came from. Most of the Islamic terrorist violence in North Africa took place during the 1990s and by 2000 Islamic terror groups were in decline. That decline continues to the present and led to many surviving al Qaeda men heading south where they tried to rebuild their strength by recruiting locals. This ran into problems because the largely Arab population of North Africa never got on well with the non-Arab people living south of the Sahara Desert. AQIM did introduce the concept of Islamic terrorism down there and that led to local Islamic terrorist groups forming and operating independently of AQIM. As a result, the largest Islamic terror group in Mali is JNIM (Jamaah Nusrah al Islam wal Muslimin, or Group for the support of Islam and Moslems). This is an al Qaeda coalition formed in early 2017 to consolidate the many separate Islamic terror groups in Mali. In part, this was a reaction to the growing threat from ISIL, which is hostile to everyone who is not ISIL and will attack or recruit from the JNIM members like AQIM, Ansar Dine, FLM and several other smaller groups. Another reason for the merger was to make it easier to pool resources, especially information and practical advice, and coordinate with other Islamic terror groups in the region. This reduces friction and destructive feuding. Making a coalition like this work is always difficult, especially considering the importance of ethnic differences.

FLM is Fulani (the largest local tribal contribution) while the other groups are largely Tuareg and Arab, and some have a lot of foreigners. Note that JNIM did not absorb all of AQIM groups in the area, just local groups that had long been identified with al Qaeda. Drug trade income keeps a lot of these factions in business and Islamic terrorists know that business and religious fanaticism do not mi. Those groups that do not go broke and wither to nothing.

Islamic terror group members evolved and the more radical JNIM members joined more radical groups like ISIL, which is universally hated by other Islamic terrorists and Moslems in general. In early 2020, Malian ISIL members released a video on the Internet in which the group pledged allegiance to Abu Hamza al Qurayshi, the new ISIL leader. By 2018 there were two ISIL provinces in central Africa. The smaller one was ISGS (Islamic State in Greater Sahara), which showed up in 2018. ISGS is currently active in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger. The other, slightly older and larger, ISIL province was ISWAP, which is actually a faction of the Nigerian Boko Haram Islamic terrorists who had been around since 2004. ISWAP personnel are mostly in northeastern Nigeria as well as smaller numbers in Chad, Niger and northern Cameroon.

There has been increasing friction between ISGS and JNIM (and other al Qaeda affiliates). This is not unusual because, worldwide, ISIL demands all other Islamic terror groups acknowledge the supremacy of ISIL. This rarely happens anymore. In areas where both ISIL and al Qaeda operate, there is usually an informal truce or, as is now the case in Mali, open warfare. ISIL groups are usually outnumbered but often survive because they are more ruthless and vicious. In northern Mali, ISGS also accuses JNIM of collaborating with the security forces against the ISIL group. That is not unusual worldwide but it is unclear if it is actually happening in Mali. What is happening is that ISGS continues to recruit new members from al Qaeda factions. This is how ISIL was created back in 2013 and the practice continues.

While Islamic terrorists are the source of much violence and death in Mali and neighboring countries, the main source of violent death is still tribal feuds. In Mali, the primary one is between the Fulani and Dogon and in 2020 that feuding has killed more people than all the Islamic terrorist violence in Mali.

March 15, 2021: In the northeast (south of Gao) in the tri-border area were the borders of Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso meet, there was a major terrorist attack in Mali where unidentified raiders slaughtered twenty people in four vehicles returning from a nearby market. The raiders then attacked and looted two nearby villages killing about thirty people as the raiders burned what they could not carry away. A number of Islamic terrorist groups operate in the tri-border area and often cross borders to make attacks like this.

On the Mali side of the border someone attacked an army base, killing two soldiers and wounding eight. The attack failed and the attackers left, taking their dead and wounded with them.

February 25, 2021: In central Mali (Mopti) unidentified attackers went after an army base and a nearby police base in a rural town. Eight police were killed and nine wounded as the raiders stole some vehicles and looted the police base of some weapons before fleeing.

February 24, 2021: In central Mali (Mopti) unidentified attackers ambushed a supply convoy guarded by soldiers. Two soldiers were killed and several wounded as the attackers fled.

February 19, 2021: The CNT (National Transitional Council) announced it would defy France and negotiate with some of the Islamic terror groups in Mali in order to make possible elections in early 2022. France points out that Islamic terrorists consider negotiations an acceptable way to deceive your enemies because their opponents will feel obliged to comply with any agreement while a defender of Islam (which is what most Islamic terrorists consider themselves) will violate any agreement when it is most advantageous for them. The CNT government believes that this deplorable Islamic terror group track record of exploiting agreements would not apply here because the CNT wants to address the non-religious grievances of Islamic terrorists in central Mali, where the violence is basically about economic disputes between the aggressive Fulani and other tribes. French criticism cannot be ignored as France is the backbone of foreign counter-terrorism and peacekeeping efforts as well as foreign aid in general. France wants the CNT government to concentrate on reducing the rampant corruption in government. This is what most Mali voters see as the primary problem. Many of those who have turned to Islamic terrorism agree.

The August 2020 coup ejected a corrupt president but failed to establish a military government. Instead, the CNT , an interim (temporary) government was organized, at the insistence of local politicians and major foreign aid donors. The CNT has until March 2022 to organize new elections and disappear. The CNT is composed of 121 members generally agreed to represent the Mali population and institutions. The CNT elected a president and vice-president who are both army colonels who were not part of the coup. The CNT serves as a temporary legislative group to determine and approve measures required to maintain order and organize new the 2022 elections.
STAMFORD  A Norwalk man was busted with a loaded gun and high-capacity magazine following a weeks-long narcotics investigation, police said.

Roy Wilson, 20, has been under investigation by Stamfords Narcotics and Organized Crime Unit since late February for a drug operation run out of his Norwalk home, Capt. Richard Conklin said.

Based on the investigation, officers received three search warrants for Wilson, his car and his Norwalk home, which were executed on Monday.

Wilson was arrested by police as he arrived at his job in the South End of Stamford, while Stamford police  aided by Norwalk officers  raided his home.

Conklin said police recovered a 9 mm pistol for which he did not have a permit, an illegal high-capacity magazine, $540 in cash and an ounce of marijuana.

As always, we are glad to get another illegal gun off the street, Conklin said.

Wilson was charged with possession of marijuana, possession of marijuana with intent to sell, operating a drug factory, carrying a pistol without a permit and possession of a high-capacity magazine.

He was held on a $75,000 bond and given a court date of May 11.
Tory MPs Push Johnson on China Over Foreign Policy and Security Revamp

Some leading backbench Tory MPs have criticized the governments long-awaited foreign policy and defence revamp for not going far enough when it comes to China.

The Integrated Review, published yesterday, designated China as a systemic challenge and spelled out a pivot to the Indo-Pacific to push back against Beijings dominance.

Announcing the reviewwhich was billed as the largest foreign policy reset since the Cold WarPrime Minister Boris Johnson also highlighted the ongoing human rights violations by Beijing, saying that China will pose a great challenge for an open society such as ours.

But a number of Tory MPs, including the chair of the defence and intelligence committees, and a former foreign secretary, suggested to the prime minister that an even tougher stance was needed.

Jeremy Hunt MP said that he welcomed the review. The former foreign secretary, however, added, I am worried about designating China simply as a systemic challenge, given the terrible events in Hong Kong and Xinjiang.

Then UK Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt in Nairobi, Kenya, May 3, 2019. (Baz Ratner/Reuters)

Julian Lewis MP, who chairs the Intelligence and Security Committee, criticised the reviews stance that communist China is an increasingly important partner in tackling global challenges like pandemic preparedness. He also noted the review calls for deeper trade links and more Chinese investment in the UK.

Lewis asked the prime minister, Does not that unfortunately demonstrate that the grasping naivety of the Cameron-Osborne years still lingers on in some Departments of State?

The chair of the Defence Committee, Tobias Ellwood, said, I very much welcome the comprehensive ambitions set out in this important integrated review paper. There is a 1930s feel to the scale of challenges that we face today, with rising authoritarian powers, weak global institutions, and an absence of western leadership and collective resolve.

However, he expressed disappointment with the stance on China, with a reference to Churchills famous 1946 iron curtain speech in Fulton, Missouri that for many historians marks the start of the Cold War.

I was hoping for a Fulton, Missouri moment when we finally call out China for the geo-strategic threat that it is, said Ellwood.

Johnson said that there is a balance to be struck. China is the second-largest economy in the world and a fact of our lives, and we must accept that fact in a clear-eyed way. But we also have to be tough where we see risk.

The prime minister said that Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab had done more than virtually any other Foreign Secretary around the world to call out what China is doing in Xinjiang.

He also highlighted the UK governments offer of refuge and abode to 3 million Hong Kong Chinese facing potential persecution.

Labour leader Keir Starmer said that they welcomed the deepening of engagement in the Indo-Pacific region. However, he said that it comes on the back of an inconsistent policy towards China for a decade.

Conservative Governments have spent 10 years turning a blind eye to human rights abuses while inviting China to help build our infrastructure, he said.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-17 06:36:35|Editor: huaxia

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SANTIAGO, March 16 (Xinhua) -- Chile on Tuesday marked the milestone of having vaccinated more than 5 million people against the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) since a mass vaccination campaign was launched Feb. 3, the Ministry of Health said.

Some 5,011,517 people have been inoculated with at least one dose, including 2,136,079 people who have already gotten their second jab, the ministry said.

"This achievement is a merit and belongs to all Chileans," Chile's President Sebastian Pinera said at a press conference, after meeting with representatives of the National Immunization Plan to celebrate reaching the goal.

Those first to get vaccinated were healthcare workers, people with medical conditions and older adults.

"Ensuring vaccines for all Chileans has been a difficult task, full of obstacles, but we came through," said Pinera, adding the next phase of mass vaccination will begin March 24 for people between 50 and 59 years of age.

"We are all working tirelessly to fulfill the second commitment we made to Chileans: to vaccinate the entire target population, that is 15 million people in the first half of this year," said the president. The figure represents 80 percent of the total population.

According to the ministry, some 900,782 people in Chile have tested positive for COVID-19 since the onset of the pandemic, and 21,789 have died from the disease. Enditem
An army of bomb squad technicians descended on an Ontario neighborhood Wednesday where 100 homes remain evacuated following a massive fireworks explosion that killed two people.

Cesar Paez-Vasquez, 20, and Alex Paez, 38, are believed to have died in the Tuesday explosion, according to preliminary identifications by the Ontario Police Department.

Both men, who have been missing since the explosion, are connected to the family that lived at the property, police officials said.

(Los Angeles Times)

Ontario Fire Chief Ray Gayk said the evacuation orders may remain in place awhile as bomb technicians comb the property and ensure that it is safe.

The city's bomb squad and SWAT team are being assisted by the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

"We have a tremendous amount of bomb technicians on scene," Gayk said. "From what we have seen so far, it is consistent with commercial-type fireworks. ... We are trying to determine what kind of ordnance the bomb squad is dealing with."

The two bodies are still at the scene, said Officer Bill Lee, a police department spokesman. "They have not been confirmed, because we haven't been able to go in to confirm their identities, but [that's] the preliminary identification," Lee said.

The Red Cross housed 16 displaced families the night of the explosion.

Two horses were rescued Tuesday in the aftermath by the Inland Valley Humane Society, according to Lee. He added that dozens of pets were likely frightened by the explosions.

It was like Fourth of July, but on steroids," he said.

Gayk said fireworks are illegal in Ontario.

The cause of the explosion and the specific type of explosives involved are still being determined, he said.

Ontario Fire Department crew treat 72-year-old David Nguyen, whose foot was injured as he rushed out of his home after a massive blast caused by exploding fireworks shook the neighborhood. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

Gayk said a horse was injured in the explosion. Video from KABC-TV Channel 7 showed a horse, smudged with black soot, trotting around the property after firefighters freed it from a building's wreckage.

Residents across a vast area reported hearing the blast and feeling the ground shake shortly before 1 p.m. Tuesday. The Ontario Fire Department issued an evacuation order for neighboring properties on West Francis and West Maple streets, between Fern and San Antonio avenues.

Story continues

A massive blast caused by exploding fireworks shook an Ontario neighborhood Tuesday afternoon. (KTLA)

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The city tweeted that a large cache of fireworks ignited at the house, setting the residence on fire. Smoke could be seen from as far as Anaheim.

Two structures on the same lot  a front and back house  were engulfed in flames after the explosion, said Dan Bell, a spokesman for the city of Ontario.

The roof is gone, burned out, Bell said of the rear property. The one on the front  I was on the street; I could see flames coming through the roof. It will most likely be a total loss.

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Investigators did not enter any of the structures Tuesday due to the danger posed by the remaining fireworks.

Were hoping we can get on scene and start this investigation process and get those neighbors home as quickly as possible," Bell said.

At about 5:40 p.m., someone behind the caution tape yelled "Fire!" as more fireworks crackled from inside the blast area and flames flared. Firefighters began cascading water at the property. Neighbors were concerned there could be another explosion.

By 7 p.m., fire officials still did not think it safe enough to bring crews onto the smoldering property. With flareups occasionally sending flames into the air, units were pulled back into a defensive position around the perimeter.

The reason for that is the debris field was larger than we originally anticipated," Gayk said during an evening media briefing. "And out of an abundance of caution, we wanted to make sure that all of our personnel were safe."

Authorities could take as long as four days to declare the area safe, Ontario Police Chief Michael Lorenz said.

Scores of residents in the immediate blast area were barred from returning to their homes. Bell said city officials would provide housing for those who needed it overnight. Evacuees were advised to seek help with housing at an evacuation post set up at De Anza Community and Teen Center at 1405 S. Fern Ave.

Jennifer Nalbandian, 43, said she was sitting on the couch in her living room when the initial explosion, which she said felt like an earthquake, shook her house.

"My daughter says to me, 'No, Mom, I think it came from the sky,' " Nalbandian said. She began picking up things around her apartment that had fallen. Then she opened her front door.

Debris is scattered after a massive blast caused by exploding fireworks in the 1700 block of Fern Avenue in Ontario. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

"The boom pushed me back, and the window shattered," she said. "I got hit with the after-blast when I opened the door."

The structures that were destroyed in the blast were visible from her balcony, Nalbandian said.

"Fireworks always go off over here. It shook the whole apartment from left to right," she said.

Oscar Vargas Ibarra, 17, who lives two houses from the site of the explosion, said he and his brother rushed for the door when the first blast hit. They grabbed their dog before bolting across the street. When the second, larger explosion hit, thats when everyone ran, ran for their lives, Oscar said.

Some neighbors were aware of the fireworks in the neighborhood long before Tuesday's explosion. Oscar said he knew that the people who lived at the now-smoldering home had a few fireworks, but he hadn't been aware of the extent of their stockpile.

They always pop them off, random sometimes, like at night shows or a holiday," he said.

Flying debris shattered windows and toppled televisions in Oscar Martinez's home a few houses from the site of the blast.

Martinez and six other members of his household were uninjured, but the 21-year-old was nevertheless shaken. He said fireworks go off in their neighborhood every few weeks, usually around midnight.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Moderna declared on Tuesday that the first children participating in its vaccine trial had been administered initial shots. The pharmaceutical company seeks to enroll about 6,750 children aged six months to less than 12 years old.

First Children Receive Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine

According to the biotechnology company's CEO Stephane Bancel, "It is humbling to know that 53 million doses had been administered to people in the U.S. This pediatric study will help us assess the potential safety and immunogenicity of our COVID-19 vaccine candidate in this important younger age population," reported US News.

Moderna is anticipating that its novel coronavirus vaccine could help children. The company behind one of the two-dose COVID-19 vaccines and are FDA-approved declared that participants had received their first shot in a new trial. The KidCOVE study, which is scheduled to enroll 6,750 healthy children in both the United States and Canada, is being conducted in collaboration with the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) targeted at children under 12 years old.

Dr. David Wohl, medical director of the vaccine clinic at the University of North Carolina, who is not involved in the study, remarked that there is a great demand to discover vaccinating children and what it serves. In a separate study, Moderna is testing its vaccine in 3,000 children between 12 to 17 years old.

According to the company, also on Tuesday, it has begun dosing patients in a mid-to-late stage study of its vaccine, mRNA-1273. The study will evaluate the safety and effectiveness of two shots of mRNA-1273 administered 28 days apart, reported Pharma Live.

The KidCOVE study has two phases. Part 1 is an open-label, age de-escalation, and dose-escalation. Part 2 is an observer-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled expansion study.

Boris Johnson Defends Safety of AstraZeneca Vaccine

The declaration comes exactly one year after the first adult was administered a test dose of the shot developed at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). It is now being used throughout the United States and in multiple other nations.

The findings of testing the vaccine in children aged 12 to 17 have yet to be released as the study in younger children will be more complicated. Researchers need to identify whether to use smaller doses compared to adults and adolescents.

According to Bancel, they are pleased to commence this Phase 2/3 study of mRNA-1273 in healthy children in the United States and Canada. She thanked NIAID and BARDA for their cooperation.

She added that it is humbling to be aware that 17.8 million adults in the U.S. have received the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine to date. These are encouraged by the primary analysis of the Phase 3 COVE study of mRNA-1273 in adults ages 18 and above. The pediatric study will help them evaluate the potential safety and immunogenicity of their COVID-19 vaccine candidate in this crucial younger age population, reported Fox 59.

The initial part of the trial will test varying dosages in children. An interim evaluation of the data will determine the number of dosages they receive in the second part of the trial.

Netherlands Suspends Usage of AstraZeneca COVID-19 Vaccine

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Marjorie Taylor Greene has complained to the Pentagon that she was 'harassed' and 'ambushed' after a Democrat representative for Guam asked the island's National Guard to accompany him bringing cookies to her - after she claimed Guam was a foreign country.

Michael San Nicholas, a Democrat who serves as Guam's only delegate to the House of Representatives, led about three dozen troops to Greene's office on Monday to deliver cookies and posted a video of it to social media.

The congresswoman's staff told him she was not in her office.

Michael San Nicholas on Monday took a basked of cookies to Marjorie Taylor Greene

He made the gesture after Greene listed Guam as a foreign nation, along with Russia and China

San Nicholas took along a delegation of his territory's National Guard with him on Monday

Taylor Greene, a strongly pro-Trump Republican representing Georgia, appeared last month to not known that Guam was a U.S. territory.

Speaking at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), she said: 'We love our country. We believe our hard-earned tax dollars should just go for America, not for what? China, Russia, the Middle East, Guam, whatever, wherever.'

San Nicholas, 40, took the opportunity to bring some of his fellow islanders when he visited Greene.

On Tuesday she sent a letter to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and National Guard Chief Gen. Daniel Hokanson, complaining of the 'harassment'.

'In recent days, there has been a dangerous and troubling trend in which members of our armed forces are being used to intimidate civilians, harass members of Congress and their staff, and attack conservative journalists for expressing their views,' Greene wrote.

'Imagine if I, or any of my Republican colleagues from Georgia, marched with members of the Georgia National Guard over to a Democrat Member of Congress' office to ambush and record their staff.'

Kevin McCarthy, the most senior Republican in the House, was also unamused by the Guam National Guard's presence.

Greene, a Georgia congresswoman, reacted angrily to San Nicholas' gesture

Kevin McCarthy, the House Minority Leader, said he felt it was inappropriate to bring the Guard

Defense Department Directive 1344.10 forbids troops from participating in any partisan political activities while in uniform.

Service members are allowed to engage in virtually any political activity out of uniform, but the activity cannot be perceived as being endorsed by the military.

It is unclear whether Monday's event violated any of those rules. No soldier in the video advocated for any political action, and simply meeting with a member of Congress in uniform is not against any military policy.

'@DeptofDefense is being politicized. Uniformed service members recently criticized a private citizen for his First Amendment rights, & today a Dem lawmaker used soldiers in a political stunt against a GOP member,' McCarthy wrote on Twitter on Monday. '@SecDef AustinThis sets a dangerous precedent. It must stop now.'

But San Nicolas scoffed at Republican criticisms of the visit, and denied 'using military service members for political props.'

'I was taking my Guardsmen on a tour of the Capitol, and we stopped by several members' offices, and we delivered some goodies,' San Nicolas told CNN.

'Cookies should never be considered a political prop, and neither should our military.

'But goodwill is absolutely something that we wish to extend from Guam to everybody.'

Major Gen. Esther Aguigui, adjutant general of the Guam National Guard, said the incident was in good spirit.

'We appreciate Congressman San Nicolas' efforts to represent our culture of Inafa' Maolek, or bringing harmony, practiced here in Guam,' Aguigui said in a statement, according to Politico.

'We also thank Congresswoman Greene for ultimately helping raise awareness of Guamanians as citizens of the United States, and our rich tradition of service and sacrifice to our nation.

'As a non-partisan entity, the Guam National Guard is here to continue this legacy of supporting and defending the Constitution of the United States and the freedoms it provides,' she said.
A substantial majority of North Carolinians support voter photo ID and tighter restrictions on absentee voting. While that will not come as a surprise to most common-sense folks, it does knock a hole in the Lefts push for looser voting requirements. Now there are solid numbers inform policy makers.

FirstInFreedomDaily.com is reporting:

As the Left marshals its forces for a coordinated attack demonizing all efforts to improve voter integrity and election security as racist voter suppression (of course), the People seem to have a clearer view of common sense.

New polling from the Carolina Partnership for Reform shows an overwhelming majority of North Carolinians support Voter ID  a voter integrity measure literally added to the State Constitution, passed into law, yet to present has been blocked by Lefty judges. In fact, the support is so strong, it is necessarily bipartisan.

Governor Roy Cooper may not have seen this poll before labeling Republican efforts as vote suppression pure and simple. Then again, maybe he did, but he just cannot bring himself to buck the Far Left narrative writers.

Trending: Cooper Pushes Voter Suppression Smear in National Spotlight

From CPR:

[] According to the Asheville Citizen, The appeals court said a federal judge was wrong to block the ID requirement last year, arguing the judge improperly used past examples of discrimination by the state legislature to conclude the ID law was unfair. The court stated, A legislatures past acts do not condemn the acts of a later legislature, which we must presume acts in good faith.

After the statement, NC House Speaker Tim Moore said, If the 2020 elections have taught us anything it is the fact that voting in person with a photo ID is the best way to ensure the integrity of our elections.

The struggle however it not over. The federal court ruling does not instantly put Voter ID back in place. There will likely be further action in the courts before Voter ID can be restored to be put in place for the next election like the people of North Carolina voted in 2018. []

In addition to the widespread support for Voter ID, respondents were asked about Mail-in Ballots as well, and whether they supported new restrictions on who can request this notoriously vulnerable voting method:

Now, in North Carolina, a voter is supposed to request an absentee ballot. This requirement is significantly more secure than that of universal mail-in voting in which ballots are sent to addresses automatically (a exponential increase in fraud opportunity).

The relative ease of voting absentee, experienced by a bigger group than ever before in 2020, seems to have sparked an affinity for the convenience.as long as a voter must request the option.

Still, the memories are fresh of elections board leveraging Pandemic Panic to unilaterally extend acceptance dates, eliminate signature requirements, and ignore harvesting prohibitions (not to mention the massive red flags of mail-in balloting fraud around the country) its easy to see why 40 percent of people could get behind making this form of voting more restrictive.

On this front well consider North Carolina lucky to have not been taken so far down to mail out ballots willy-nilly to every voter on the rolls. The same rolls that contains illegal aliens and felons and dead people and so on.

Overall, it appears that Democrats like Roy Cooper, raging against common sense election integrity measures like Voter ID with the laughable racism charge, are more than a little out of step with the majority of North Carolinians.

Read more from Carolina Partnership for Reform on these issues, and what respondents said about Big Tech Censorship, here.

Source: POLL: Overwhelming Majority of NCians (Still) Support Voter ID, Cool on Mail-In Ballots | First In Freedom Daily

The company behind sandwich and snack firms Upper Crust and Caffe Ritazza has warned it thinks commuter levels will only return to pre-pandemic levels in 2024.

SSP, which has already cut 14,000 jobs globally in the past year, said it burnt through 120.1million in the four months to the end of January.

The company, which is trying to raise more cash from investors again via a fresh rights issue, said: 'We harbour some concerns about the lasting impact of remote working on recovered air and rail passenger volumes.'

Shares in the FTSE 250-listed group fell over 8 per cent earlier today and are currently down 7.38 per cent or 25.52 points to 320.28p.

Warning: Upper Crust owner SSP is worried commuter levels won't return to normal until 2024

At the height of the pandemic SSP shut around 2,500 of its sites and furloughed over 22,000 staff.

In a bid to boost its balance sheet, SSP today announced plans to raise 475million via a rights issue.

Conditional to the rights issue, the Upper Crust owner secured the extension of its bank facilities that were previously due to mature in July 2022 to January 2024, as well as waivers and modifications of the existing covenants under those bank facilities and its US private placement notes.

The fully underwritten rights issue of 258.1million shares is priced at 184p a share, which is around 47 per cent below Tuesday's closing price of 345.8p per share.

SSP said: 'The impact of the pandemic on working practices may have a longer term impact on both business travel in Air and commuter travel in Rail.'

Rights issue: SSP is vying to raise cash via its shareholders once again via a rights issue

The London-based company said its financial situation had not improved as quickly as expected in the first two quarters of the 2020/21 fiscal year.

SSP, which also runs Burger King chains in airports and train stations across the UK, Belgium, Egypt, China and Hong Kong, has a portfolio of over 550 brands, including upmarket restaurants such as Le Train Blue in Paris.

Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell, said: 'SSP is asking investors for more cash for the third time since the pandemic started, showing just how brutal the crisis has been for some companies.

'Business has dried up for its cafes and restaurants in airports and train stations, forcing the company to go cap in hand and ask for more funds until travellers return. It raised 216 million a year ago going into the crisis and then a further 11 million in June to offset the costs of paying a dividend.

'Now it wants 475 million to give it several options depending on how the year plays out. The cash should provide a buffer if the pandemic goes on longer than expected.'

He added: 'Assuming wings get back in the sky and wheels start to turn again later this year, SSP would then have some money left over from the fundraise to invest for its future.'
There is a crisis brewing on the other side of the Atlantic, about the safety of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine against COVID-19. Europeans in multiple countries have reported blood clots and abnormal bleeding after receiving it, which has occasionally required hospitalization. In response, regulators across Europe, where this vaccine is most widely distributed, have suspended its use and are reviewing its safety. But scientific and medical experts are frustrated. They emphasize that the incidence of blood clots is actually much lower than in the general population and that the vaccine is safe. They worry that the regulators response will amplify vaccine hesitancy and increase potentially deadly COVID-19 infections. The science, they insist, is clear and should be trusted.

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But this crisis isnt about science at all. Its about public trust, and scared citizens cannot be easily convinced by expertise that feels remote. Our solutions need to reflect that.

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There is a long-standing perception that vaccine hesitancy is the result of public ignorance or a dismissal of science. But studies show that vaccine hesitancy is the result of mistrust in our governing institutions, including those dedicated to science and technology. Citizens are alarmed by the often cozy relationships between regulators and the industries they oversee and frustrated with the role of private interests in the research enterprise.

My own research, conducted through the Technology Assessment Project at the University of Michigan, adds two more types of institutional failure that lead to citizen distrust. We have seen serious problems due to what sociologist Diane Vaughan calls the normalization of deviance, where unsafe bureaucratic practices come to seem normal if they dont cause immediate catastrophe. Reviewing the space shuttle Challenger disaster, Vaughan discovered that NASAs organizational culture made it essentially impossible for managers to hear engineers concerns about the weaknesses of the O-ring, the technical component ultimately blamed for the explosion because it cracked in exceedingly cold temperatures. Similarly, organizational problems at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention led to its faulty COVID-19 test early in the pandemic.

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In addition, marginalized communities often feel that the decisions made by governments and technical experts simply do not represent them. Consider the recent water crisis in Flint, Michigan. Soon after leaders changed the citys water source in order to save money, residents (54 percent of whom are Black) noticed that their water had a foul smell and was discolored. They began losing their hair, and their skin was breaking out in rashes. Some people died of Legionnaires disease. They cried out to local experts and government officials, including environmental and health regulators, but their concerns were summarily dismissed for months. This episode inflamed existing concerns that government officials did not respect community knowledge or needs, and to this day there is great skepticism that their water is safe to drink and use.

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Seen in this light, we should applaud European regulators decisions to adopt a precautionary approach to the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine. To ensure public trust in vaccinesand technologies more generallygovernments need to take adverse events and emerging community concerns seriously. By suspending vaccine distribution and reviewing the data, European governments are allowing citizens to feel that their concerns are being heard and to trust that their governments are truly representing their interests. In the short term, these governments can continue to build community trust by being transparent about their findings on the vaccine, including the uncertainties, and the risks and benefits that they are balancing as they decide how to proceed. This is particularly crucial in Europe, where there were high rates of vaccine hesitancy even before the cases of blood clots came to light.

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But this episode also provides lessons for the long term. Reacting quickly and transparently during a crisis is not enough, especially because citizens often do not share the same priorities of, for example, achieving herd immunity. Instead, establishing and maintaining public trust requires systemic solutions.

First, medicine regulators need to create systems that require physicians to report all adverse drug reactions, coupled with clear rules about the types of data that might trigger further review. Both the data and the rules that guide government decision-making should be accessible to citizens. While most countries have reporting systems, few are mandatory. A mandatory system makes important data available, and, if communicated effectively, it can reassure citizens that their leaders are monitoring pharmaceuticals and are poised to act when necessary. It can also help curb the spread of false information, as citizens can view the data for themselves.

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Second, regulators should include citizens perspectivesparticularly from communities that are historically marginalized or that are likely to be skepticalwhen reviewing vaccines. Community members might advise bureaucrats during initial review processes and sit on advisory committees alongside technical experts. This would provide crucial expertise to policymakers, helping them understand which risks worry citizens and how they balance risks against benefits. It would simultaneously provide these communities with a sense of inclusion and empowerment while giving them greater insights into the vaccine approval process that they can bring back to friends and family who might be hesitant.

Finally, it is crucial that medicine regulators, research funding organizations, and other science and technology policy institutions bring community concerns centrally into their day-to-day work. In other words, we cannot only care about the concerns of alienated communities when it affects us directly. To build long-term trust, leaders must learn more about the concerns and priorities of historically marginalized populations and shift research and regulatory priorities to address them.

Some might argue that such measures are too time-consuming and will distract from the goal of developing science and technology in the public interest. But if the past year has taught us anything, its that broad social trust is crucial to successful public health initiatives and, ultimately, to our survival.

Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society.
On March 16, 9,840 people received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine in Ukraine, according to data provided by the Health Ministry.

Over the past day, 9,840 people have been vaccinated against COVID-19 in Ukraine. In particular, people vaccinated with first dose - 9,840, fully vaccinated people (received 2 doses) - 1, the Health Ministry wrote on its Telegram Channel.

The Health Ministry clarified that the second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine was given to a doctor who worked under contract in the Republic of Maldives, where she received her first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine (Covishield).

Since the start of the vaccination campaign, 71 923 people have been vaccinated against COVID-19 in Ukraine.

As reported by Ukrinform, on February 24, 2021, Ukraine launched the coronavirus vaccination campaign. In the first phase to receive the vaccine are medical staff from COVID-19 hospitals, ambulance brigades, employees of COVID-19 testing laboratories, residents and staff of nursing homes and the military at the frontline. All vaccinations are voluntary and free.

As of today, Ukraine has received 500,000 doses of the Oxford/AstraZeneca (Covishield) vaccine, purchased at the expense of the state budget.

The Health Ministry expects to receive another 1.5 million doses of the coronavirus vaccine by March 31. As many as, 117,000 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine are expected to be delivered to Ukraine as part of the global COVAX Facility.
Press Release

March 17, 2021 Amid rising COVID-19 cases, Bong Go urges gov't to strictly implement health protocols, heighten masks distribution and info campaign on the country's pandemic situation As numbers of COVID-19 infection cases in Metro Manila and other parts of the country continue to rise, Senator Christopher "Bong" Go urged the government to strictly enforce necessary health and safety protocols, particularly in public places. He also called for greater cooperation and continuing vigilance from the public to slow the spread of the virus. "I urge concerned agencies to strictly enforce necessary health and safety protocols, especially in public places," Go said. "Let us continue to work together and not waste the sacrifices we have done the past year in trying to control the spread of COVID-19. Let us support the National Vaccine Roadmap so we can all return to normalcy the soonest possible time," he added. In order to strictly implement health protocols, Go said that the government should continue to provide free masks in areas frequently visited by the public. He also asked concerned agencies to heighten the government's information campaign about the country's pandemic situation. "Let's be more proactive in implementing a stricter mask wearing policy. Kung walang mask ang tao, bigyan natin. Lalo na sa mga lugar na madalas puntahan at sa mga barangay," Go urged. "Paigtingin din natin ang ating information campaign laban sa pandemya upang alam ng mga Pilipino ang kanilang gagawin para makatulong sa pagtigil ng pagkalat ng virus," he added. In line with this, Go appealed to the public not to fall into compliance fatigue and continue to remain vigilant against the virus. "Iwasan po natin ang maging kampante. Filipinos must encourage each other, police each other, remind each other para mas mabilis tayo makabangon," he reminded. He assured the public that the government is accelerating the vaccine rollout and will ensure that other priority groups, particularly the poor and vulnerable sectors will not be left behind. "Pagkatapos po ng mga frontliners, dadalhin po natin yang mga bakuna sa mga mahihirap na komunidad. Uunahin natin sila. Sa ngayon, bigyan po muna natin sila ng kailangang proteksyon tulad ng masks, face shields, at sapat na paalala sa mga patakaran na dapat sundin," Go said. On top of distributing masks in public places, Go earlier urged concerned agencies to provide masks to those who cannot afford to buy their own and also help local industries by supporting local producers and manufacturers of masks. "Wearing masks can save lives. Buying locally made masks can also provide jobs. Magtulungan po tayo upang makabangon tayo muli mula sa krisis na ito," he said. Go echoed the observation of medical experts that the proper wearing of standard masks reduces the risk of contracting and spreading the virus by 85%. Meanwhile, proper wearing of masks, coupled with face shields and social distancing, further reduces the risk to more than 90%. The Senator assured that the government is working hard to secure more vaccines for Filipinos so normalcy may finally be restored in the country. "Allow me to reassure everyone that, as we navigate our lives during the pandemic, public service will not be hampered. We will stay truthful to our promise and commitment to serve the interest of the Filipino first before the political interests of anyone else," he also mentioned. He also urged fellow government officials not to waste their time on political bickering and partisan talks as Filipinos need full government attention to address the issues caused by COVID-19. "Bayanihan, serbisyo, at pagmamalasakit -- these remain our main focus. Let us honor our frontliners and help our government by following the necessary health and safety protocols while focusing our attention on how to best serve our communities," he said. "For us to heal as one and recover as one, we must act as one! Our unity and cooperation can save the lives of our fellow Filipinos!" he concluded.
The countrys top health officials have urged those with a history of anaphylaxis to still get vaccinated following four cases of severe allergic reactions to the AstraZeneca vaccine in Queensland and two cases in Western Australia.

Queenslands Health Minister Yvette DAth on Wednesday morning advised people who had suffered serious, significant anaphylactic reactions in the past to delay getting the AstraZeneca vaccine after four anaphylactic reactions in two days.

Professor Brendan Murphy and Professor John Skerritt said people should continue to get vaccinated. Credit:Dominic Lorrimer

After discussions between Commonwealth and state health experts, Federal Health Department Secretary Professor Brendan Murphy said people should continue to get vaccinated.

We would expect to see anaphylaxis, all our vaccine clinics are prepared and have adrenaline on hand, and know how to manage this condition, he said on Wednesday afternoon. We are confident that our program should continue to go ahead as it has. I am very confident this is a very safe and very, very effective vaccine.
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A MOTORIST who was caught driving without insurance for the sixth time has been sentenced to one month's imprisonment.

Ali Asar Haudhry, aged 47, who has an address at Ard na Luachra, Lower Park, Corbally was before Limerick District Court to face multiple charges relating to an incident at Dublin Road, Limerick on November 8, 2018.

Sergeant Michelle Leahy said while operating a checkpoint at 12.40am, gardai stopped a Toyota Corolla which was being driven by the defendant.

She said the vehicle was not taxed and did not have a valid NCT. It was subsequently established that Mr Haudhry was not insured.

While he has a number of previous convictions, the defendant was not disqualified on the night he was stopped.

Solicitor Darach McCarthy said his client, a married father of four, "should have known better" and that he is no longer driving and has no intention of doing so again.

He added that his client, who is originally from Pakistan, is currently unemployed and has limited means.

Imposing sentence, Judge Patricia Harney said she was horrified at Mr Haudhry previous record and she commented that his behaviour on the night was outrageous.

In addition to the one month prison sentence, she imposed fines totalling 750 and a ten year disqualification.

An appeal has been lodged.
DECORAH. Iowa  The central campus of Luther College has been added to the National Register of Historic Places.

The designation includes the colleges original 32 acres of land, 24 buildings, and nine objects or outdoor sculptures.

We are proud that Luther College is being recognized for its rich history, says President Jenifer K. Ward. From the walls we study and teach within, to the beautiful land that was founded where river, woodland, and prairie meet, history shapes us. As our mission statement says, a Luther education develops whole persons. This designation creates new student, faculty and staff opportunities for understanding the interplay between architecture, landscape and history.

This designation does not impose any preservation restrictions on Luther College. The process started in 2017 with the Decorah Historic Preservation Commissions ongoing project to catalog and celebrate the work of local architect/engineer Charles Altfillisch.

Our work on Altfillisch led us to Luther College, where Altfillisch has the remarkable record of having designed every major Luther building between the 1926 Preus Gymnasium and the mid-1960s Tower dorms, said Mark Z. Muggli, DHPC chair. The project initially focused on the under-appreciated 1952 Main III, but as we looked more broadly, we wanted to acknowledge Luthers large collection of midcentury modern buildings and its distinctive landscape.

Muggli says their work received crucial support from Ryan Engelman, a former Luther College staff member with historic preservation credentials; Eric Runestad, former vice president for finance and administration; President Paula Carlson; and Hayley Jackson, college archivist and DHPC member.
Leslie Bienen and Kim McGair

Bienen is a veterinarian, public health professor and parent of two high schoolers. McGair is an attorney and parent of two high schoolers. Both Portland residents, they are co-founders of ED300, a group advocating for reopening schools.

In her executive order mandating schools reopen for in-person instruction, Oregon Gov. Kate Brown directed the Oregon Health Authority and the Oregon Department of Education to revise the states safety guidance for schools.

The agencies made one important improvement in their update, released Monday, but the revisions can only be described as rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic. The changes do not go nearly far enough and will not enable most middle and high schoolers to get back to school for more than a few hours per week.

The requirement mandating each student come in contact with fewer than 100 people per week is gone. However, the most important metric limiting return of students to classrooms did not change  the requirement for 35-square feet of space per student in a classroom. This restriction is severely limiting the number of students in school on any day and keeps children and teachers in complicated hybrid plans where some students are in person and others are remote each week.

The requirement goes beyond what public-health experts and educational policymakers in other states say are necessary for COVID safety. To maximize the academic and social-emotional benefits of reopening schools, Oregon must adopt guidelines that eliminate the 35 square-foot rule and allow three feet of spacing rather than six. Massachusetts, Ohio, Illinois and other states with far more COVID-19 than Oregon has are using such metrics with excellent results. Anthony Fauci, the governments top infectious disease expert, suggested last Sunday that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention may soon change its guideline to three feet.

There are multiple reasons Oregons metrics need to change more dramatically. First, the draconian spacing requirements still in effect were devised prior to vaccinations being made available to teachers and staff. While there is not yet a vaccine for children under 16, the risk of a fatal car crash for 15 to 24-year-olds is 108 per million, orders of magnitude higher than their 10-in-a-million risk of dying of COVID-19, according to a December article for the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Second, the concern that students could bring the virus home to family members, which is driving the space requirement, is contradicted by ample studies showing mitigation at schools is highly effective and student-to-student spread is extremely low or zero when masks and air flow are present. One study of 4,876 K-12 students and 654 staff in Wisconsin schools documented seven children and zero staff who contracted COVID-19 at school over months, despite community COVID positivity rates up to 41%, variable spacing and no ventilation upgrades. A new study published March 10 in Clinical Infectious Diseases also found no significant difference in case rates in Massachusetts K-12 schools that mandated distances of three feet between students versus those that mandated six feet.

So far, vaccines continue to work extremely well against variants, as do mitigation measures. Case numbers and, more importantly, hospitalizations are falling in Oregon and across the country. If that changes and we see evidence of spread in schools, then we can take action to limit density.

What we cannot continue to do, however, is use hypothetical doomsday scenarios to keep kids out of school when science shows how to educate them in person safely. Oregon policymakers must revise the overly rigid requirements that make it impossible to meaningfully teach the vast majority of students. Give schools the tools they need to fully reopen now.

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The ambassadors of 27 European Union member states have wrapped up the process to agree on new sanctions against individuals, including Russian nationals whom the EU deems responsible for human rights violations, a source in one of the EU countries delegations to the Council of the EU said, TASS reports.

"The permanent members have given their final approval to a new blacklist of individuals involved in human rights violations, which includes individuals from various countries, namely Russia, China and Libya," the source said.

According to the diplomat, the foreign ministers of EU member states are expected to endorse the decision at their next meeting on March 22.

According to earlier reports, the EU ambassadors initially approved the blacklist on March 11.
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Amazon is facing the largest and most viable U.S. labor challenge in its history: a union vote at a warehouse in Bessemer, Ala.

Nearly 6,000 workers have until March 29 to decide whether to join the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union. A labor victory could energize workers in other U.S. communities, where Amazon has more than 800 warehouses employing more than 500,000 people.

This is happening in the toughest state, with the toughest company, at the toughest moment, said Janice Fine, a professor of labor studies at Rutgers University. If the union can prevail given those three facts, it will send a message that Amazon is organizable everywhere.

Over the last two decades, as the internet retailer mushroomed from a virtual bookstore into a $1.5 trillion behemoth, it has forcefully  and successfully  resisted employee efforts to organize. Some workers in recent years agitated for change in Staten Island, Chicago, Sacramento and Minnesota, but the impact was negligible.
WASHINGTON, March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Torch.AI, a leading global artificial intelligence (AI) firm that uses machine learning to enable massively scaled, ultra high performance data processing, today announced it raised $30 million in Series A funding to accelerate its overall growth strategy. The funding, led by Laurence Tosi's WestCap Group, a prominent San Francisco-based investment firm, will enable the company to rapidly scale its Nexus AI platform to meet increasing demand from clients including Fortune 100 companies and U.S. federal agencies charged with protecting national security.

"Torch.AI's philosophy embraces more open and adaptable architectures, allowing us to provide lower cost, future-proof solutions offering a dramatic departure from the monolithic black boxes and complex middleware that are the norm in the machine learning and data management landscape," said Brian Weaver, Torch.AI CEO. "This new funding and our partnership with WestCap Group provides welcome resources to further our marketplace disruption and accelerate the growth of our team to keep up with demand."

Founded in 2017, Torch.AI created a next-generation AI platform that instantaneously understands and richly describes any data in atomic detail, both in memory and in motion. The Nexus software creates an intelligent Synaptic Mesh across an organization's data and systems, increasing the surface area of data for discovery and action. Data is unified to address even the most vexing challenges for how data fuels operations and critical decisions in high-risk environments.

The new Series A funding  the firm's first institutional investment  allows Torch.AI to enhance its proprietary technology, product design, and user experience, while continuing to aggressively expand in the U.S.

Companies including Microsoft, H&R Block, General Electric, the U.S. Air Force, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the U.S. Department of Defense, have already benefitted from the Nexus platform's ability to put data to work to improve decision making. In 2018, the firm was tapped to help transform how data can be leveraged to improve security clearance decisions and diagnostics across 95% of the federal government's employee and contractor workforce. By mid-2020, the platform spanned data and business systems across more than a dozen federal agencies, providing the capacity for billions of real time data processing computations.

WestCap's Tosi will join the Torch.AI board of directors, whose members include Weaver; William Beyer, founding member of Deloitte Consulting's federal practice; and WestCap Principal Christian Schnedler.

"Over the past 20 years, we at WestCap have founded, operated and invested in more than 15 multi-billion-dollar companies including Airbnb, Ipreo, Skillz and iCapital, as well as cyber-security unicorns such as CarbonBlack and Cylance," said Westcap Partner Kevin Marcus. "In Brian Weaver and the team at Torch.AI, we recognize the leadership, competitive advantage and innovative spirit they share with those great companies. WestCap is thrilled to be part of the growth and development of Torch.AI as it redefines the data infrastructure marketplace."

Said Beyer: "We are proud to welcome WestCap to the Torch.AI family, and Laurence Tosi to our board of directors. Torch.AI is already an outlier  a fully U.S.-owned company, it's profitable, and one of the only AI firms with federal certifications at the highest levels. Now, with the backing of one of the smartest investment firms in the country, Torch.AI will accelerate its growth and more rapidly scale to meet increasing customer demand."

Prior to the investment, Torch.AI launched a strategic employee recruitment effort, adding executives and software developers in both Washington, D.C., and its engineering center in suburban Kansas City.

To learn more about Torch.AI, visit Torch.AI.

About Torch.AI

Torch.AI's Nexus platform changes the paradigm of data and digital workflows, forever solving core impediments caused by the ever-increasing volume and complexity of information. Customers enjoy a single integrated solution which begins by instantly deconstructing and identifying any data, in real-time, at the earliest possible moment. Purpose built for massively scaled, ultra high-speed data processing, the platform comes equipped with security features, flexible data workloads, compliance capabilities, and drag and drop functionality that is unrivaled in today's technology landscape. It's an enlightened approach. Learn more at Torch.AI.

About WestCap

The WestCap Group is a growth equity firm founded by Laurence A. Tosi, who, together with the WestCap team, has founded, capitalized, and operated tech-enabled, asset-light marketplaces for over 20 years. With over $2 billion of assets under management, WestCap has made notable investments in technology businesses such as Airbnb, StubHub, iPreo, Skillz, Sonder, Addepar, Hopper, iCapital and Bolt. To learn more about WestCap, please visit WestCap.com.

SOURCE Torch.AI
Amazon on Wednesday unveiled plans to launch a health care service to employers across the United States, including telemedicine and home care visits, opening up a new market for the tech giant that has increasingly woven its way into the lives of consumers.

The initiative will make Amazon Care, which so far had been offered to a limited number of the company's own employees, available to "millions" of people through their jobs, it announced in a blog post.

"By supplying Amazon Care as a workplace benefit, employers are investing in the health and wellbeing of arguably their most important asset: their employees," the company said.

The new initiative will offer "a range of urgent and primary care services" but will not replace comprehensive medical insurance.

Amazon Care, which has been tested since 2018 with some company employees in Washington state, includes a mobile app that will allow people to connect with medical professionals by video or chat "typically in less than 60 seconds."

A second element of the service available in some areas will involve in-person care, in which Amazon will send a medical professional to a patient's home for certain services such as blood draws or limited exams.

"Beginning this summer, Amazon Care will expand its virtual care to companies and Amazon employees in all 50 states across the US," the statement said.

Amazon Care's in-person service will expand to the US capital, Baltimore and other locations in the coming months.

The new service will be available to "companies of all sizes" and will offer services including Covid-19 and flu testing, vaccinations, treatment of illnesses and injuries, preventive care, sexual health and prescription requests.

- Expanding reach -

It comes following a period of spectacular growth for Amazon across several sectors -- and increased scrutiny of the company from antitrust enforcers in the United States and elsewhere.

Story continues

Amazon said it decided to expand the health care program based on feedback from its employees and increased interest in telemedicine, which exploded during the coronavirus pandemic, as people shied away from medical offices.

A recent McKinsey study showed 46 percent of Americans used telemedicine in 2020, up from 11 percent the prior year.

McKinsey sees the trend continuing, predicting that "up to $250 billion of current US health care spend could potentially be virtualized."

The new venture adds yet another market for Amazon, which has expanded from its origins in e-commerce to streaming media, cloud computing, robotics, artificial intelligence and groceries.

In the health field, Amazon last year launched an online pharmacy for US consumers, who will be able to order prescription medications directly from its website or mobile app.

That came two years after Amazon acquired PillPack, an internet pharmacy offering pre-sorted dose packaging and home delivery.

A separate venture launched three years ago by Amazon, Berkshire Hathaway and JPMorgan aimed at providing broader health services to US firms was disbanded earlier this year.

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, among executives called to testify at a congressional antitrust hearing on the growing dominance of Big Tech firms, has denied that the company stifles competition.

But along with its Big Tech peers, Amazon has seen its fortunes rise during the pandemic as more consumers turn to online goods and services.

In 2020, Amazon's full-year profit more than doubled to $21.2 billion while revenues jumped 38 percent to $386 billion.

Bezos has said he will step down as chief executive at Amazon later this year, taking the role of executive chair of the company he founded.

rl/sst
NAIROBI, Kenya  President John Magufuli of Tanzania, a populist leader who played down the seriousness of the coronavirus pandemic and steered his country away from democratic ideals, died on Wednesday in the port city of Dar es Salaam. He was 61.

Vice President Samia Suluhu Hassan said in a brief televised address that Mr. Magufuli had died of heart complications while being treated at Mzena Hospital. The announcement followed more than a week of intense speculation that Mr. Magufuli was critically ill with Covid-19  reports that senior government officials had repeatedly denied.

Ms. Hassan did not specify Mr. Magufulis underlying illness but said that he had suffered from chronic atrial fibrillation for more than a decade. She announced 14 days of national mourning and said that flags would fly at half-staff nationwide.

According to the Tanzanian Constitution, Ms. Hassan will be sworn in as president to serve the remainder of the five-year term that Mr. Magufuli began when he won re-election last October. The move will make her Tanzanias first female leader.
Archive photo

Crowsnest Pass Municipal Council from left tor right: Councillors Marlene Anctil, Dave Filipuzzi, Doreen Glavin, Mayor Blair Painter, Councillors Lisa Sygutek, Gordon Lundy and Dean Ward.

Bylaw 1065, 2021  General Repeal Bylaw  Second and Third Reading Council were presented with seven bylaws that Administration recommended for repeal. Council passed second and third reading of the General Repeal Bylaw, repealing the following bylaws. Bylaw 73/1980, Taking of Electors Bylaw. This bylaw is now covered under the Local Authorities Election Act Section 49(1). Bylaw No. 474, 1998, Voting Stations for Elections. This is now covered under the Local Authorities Election Act Section 80(1). Bylaw 656, 2005, Bridgegate Resort Village Area Structure Plan. This development is defunct and thus the ASP is no longer relevant. Bylaw No. 657, 2005, Charge for Information Bylaw. This is now within the Fees, Rates & Charges Bylaw and thus is no longer relevant. Bylaw 715, 2006, River Run Area Structure Plan. This development is defunct and thus the ASP is no longer relevant. Bylaw 773, 2008, Gold Creek Area Structure Plan. This development is defunct and thus the ASP is no longer relevant. Bylaw 789, 2010, Curfew Bylaw. This bylaw is no longer desired by Council.

Green Space Management Policy #1214-02 At a previous council meeting, The Green Space Management Policy was discussed regarding the leaving of Christmas lights on municipal thoroughfares in the off season. Council discussed that they would like to see any lights on Municipal property removed at the end of the Christmas season. Council were then approached by a local group stating to Council that removal of all lights that group put up by the given deadline would be a difficult task and would require the hiring of a company to aid in removal of lights in trees around the community. Council decided to revisit this policy. Administration changed Section 4.15 of the policy to reword for the allowance of lights in trees to be allowed to stay in place all year. After a short discussion, Council agreed that this more appropriately highlighted the wishes of Council.

Coleman Post Office Discussion



Council briefly discussed the level of service at the Coleman Post Office at the January 26, 2021 meeting of Council and had further discussion on February 23, 2021. Council moved to have the item deferred to March 9, 2021 to allow any further correspondence to be received for Council's consideration. The Revitalize the Coleman Post Office document prompted readers to contact Council and request that they meet with Canada Post to prompt this discussion. Council received three letters prior to the February 23, 2021 agenda package being prepared. Two additional letters were received after the agenda package was prepared but prior to the February 23, 2021 meeting. No additional correspondence was received since then. Councillor Sygutek made a statement on what she thinks Council should do regarding the Coleman Post Office. This was an interesting exercise in public input. I think we went above and beyond trying to get the public's opinion on whether or not we wanted the Coleman Post Office opened. I don't feel we have garnered enough information from the people of Coleman that fully opening the Coleman Post Office is something they want. I am going to let the issue rest. Councillor Sygutek added that while it was good to allow for public input on this topic, not much information on what the public would like to see done was provided. The responses that we got were all over the map. I'm glad this happened because it allowed the public to have some input. However, we didn't get a ton of input provided to us so as far as I'm concerned this issue isn't an imperative issue. Councillor Sygutek then made a motion to accept the letters as information. That motion was carried.


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About 5.5 percent of all the Red Cross blood donations from healthy, unvaccinated Connecticut residents since June have tested positive for COVID antibodies, the organization said this week.

Overall, the Red Cross tested 3 million blood donations, including 82,353 in Connecticut, between mid-June 2020 and mid-February.

The national positivity rate was 6.6 percent over that time, higher than Connecticuts average, suggesting the spread of the coronavirus was better contained in this state than in others. In fact, the Northeast had a lower positivity rate than other U.S. regions.

In the Northeast, only 13.86 percent of donations tested positive during the week of Feb 13, the lowest of the nations four Census regions. That same week, 24.54 percent of blood donations in the Midwest tested positive.

The percent of Red Cross blood donations that tested positive for COVID antibodies increased considerably in recent months, going from 1.18 percent nationwide in June to 20.20 percent in February.

That growth in positivity mirrors the increase in hospitalization rates and test positivity seen in Connecticut and nationwide over the holidays.

The Red Cross is careful to warn that the data does not necessarily indicate immunity, though Centers for Disease Control and Prevention adviser William Schaffner told CNN that the Red Cross data demonstrates the ineffectiveness of a herd immunity strategy.

Though the data does show that a substantial portion of the U.S. population has experienced COVID, at least the blood donor population, knowingly or unknowingly, he said, its not nearly enough to stop transmission of the virus, even if every one of those blood donors is immune.

"So we can't rely just on the strategy of letting herd immunity occur naturally, Schaffner said. We've got to vaccinate in order to get up to 80 percent of the population to be immune.
Hartman, who has a long history of trying to sneak onto flights in Chicago and around the country, was arrested at OHare in October 2019 just as she was trying to pass the second of two security checkpoints, prosecutors have said.
Yes, no matter what

Yes, but it depends on variety

No, for medical reasons, uncertainty

No, principle

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group plans to raise Rs 500 crore by issuing redeemable non-convertible debentures (NCDs). A finance committee set up by the board of directors approved the plan on Wednesday, the company informed the exchanges.

The Delhi-based groups latest bid to raise funds will be at a coupon rate of 8.25 percent. The secured, rated, listed, redeemable NCDs will be placed privately and in one or several tranches. Earlier, in February, it had expressed its willingness to raise Rs 375 crore through NCDs. The company, however, did not specify the purpose of the fund raising

This is DLFs first major in 2021. It last year raised Rs 2,400 crore from the State Bank of India through its rental arm Cyber City Developers to refinance debt and fund expansion.
NORTHAMPTON, Mass.  Renovating a historic building is rarely simple, whether its a Brooklyn brownstone or, in this case, the $120 million overhaul of Smith Colleges century-old Neilson Library. As any architect can attest, a venerable buildings emotionally attached owners can be far more challenging to manage than the actual construction. But any reservations Maya Lin may have had after being hired in 2015 by Smith to redesign the 200,000-square-foot Neilson fell away as soon as she stepped through its front doors. With a laugh, she recalled her reaction at the time: This is going to be easy, because this is so bad!

Three rounds of prior expansions to the librarys original 1909 structure  the centerpiece of the campus nestled near the Berkshires and designed in 1893 by Frederick Law Olmsted, the chief architect of Manhattans Central Park  had seen the Neilson morph into an eyesore. On a recent visit to the freshly remodeled library, Lin, 61, stood before its front steps and pointed to where hulking wings had been added to either side, effectively walling off the two halves of the schools sweeping lawns. It was even worse inside. They had put seven-and-a-half-foot-high mezzanines in, she said as we entered. You came in and you saw feet!
A San Francisco-based Uber driver, Shukhabkar Khadka, on March 7 had been subject to racist comments and attacks after he picked up three women in his Uber and asked one of them to wear a mask when he noticed her without it.

Upon refusal, he asked them to leave his car and the woman decided that the best course of action would be to literally cough on the poor guy  right in the middle of a deadly pandemic!

Thats not all she even tried to steal his phone and one of the other women also used pepper spray inside his car.

Well, luckily he had a dashcam and, soon after the incident, the internet rose to his support and his video went viral.

This the woman who cough on a uber driver. I hope she gets jail time, fined and gets marked with felony conviction. https://t.co/EU9D1UAShJ  escoismad (@ESCOISMAD) March 13, 2021

woman goes on IG and justifies her violence against an Uber driver????



All I did was smack  take his mask off and cough a little bit, but I dont even have corona,



????!!!  Steve Portigal  (@steveportigal) March 10, 2021

I would like to see them arrested. At minimum, I'd like to see the woman who coughed on the driver prosecuted for assault. A civilized society simply can't tolerate this.



Video: Maskless Uber riders assault and cough on driver in San Francisco https://t.co/wibGqRLgKv  Race Bannon  (@BannonRace) March 9, 2021

I don't know if they actually ID'd the woman in the Uber video who coughs on the driver and pulls his mask off w her two friends but I still do not understand how you can have massive online presence and not be aware of how quickly this machine will track you down for that shit  Mrs. McG (@mrsmcglover) March 9, 2021

If you spit/cough on someone & rip off their covid-protection face mask...it's assault.



Woman arrested in Vegas after allegedly pepper spraying, coughing on Bay Area Uber driver https://t.co/yr08aNIDes  zettie godwin (@zettie_geez) March 12, 2021

A GoFundMe was also started after Uber failed to provide him with appropriate compensation to get his car fixed and make up for lost wages.

The amount raised currently stands at $101,860, over 5 times the original $20,000 goal.

UPDATE: an early Uber investor @cyantist has started a @gofundme for Subhakar. She was appalled to learn Uber initially offered $20 & ultimately $120 for his experience. https://t.co/tdFTOLJPLT  Dion Lim (@DionLimTV) March 9, 2021

Fast forward to the present, the woman, Arna Kimiai, has now turned herself in to the police and is facing charges of robbery, assault and battery, conspiracy, and violation of the health and safety code. This could spell years in prison for Kimai.

Meanwhile, another suspect Malaysia King has also been charged with assault with a caustic chemical, assault and battery, conspiracy, and violation of health and safety code.

Well, people are saying that the women are simply getting what they deserve.

This the best news all day. Lock them up lmao https://t.co/2DaNUbzimw  Xavi (@Xavi_Farfan) March 16, 2021

Imagine facing years in prison coz your rachet ass thought it'll be cool to cough on an uber driver... Calling ulendo, trying to see something  Bags (@kasondechiti) March 16, 2021

Imagine being so bone chillingly stupid that you and your 2 idiot bf's decide after spending the past YEAR indoors you'll take a Uber harass the driver, cough on and pepper spray him for his request you wear a mask and wind up spending 20 years in prison!https://t.co/W9Qf2vTHls  StacesCases  (@CasesStaces) March 16, 2021

Khadka, who is from Nepal, told KPIX he believes he was targeted because he is a South Asian immigrant.

The police say that while arrests have been made, the investigation is still ongoing.
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An appeal to help the family of a little Co Limerick boy described as a lovely, bright and happy little chap after his tragic death has surpassed its fundraising target.

Mason OConnell tragically passed away after sustaining head injuries at his house in Rathbane, Co Limerick last Saturday.

The youngster was rushed to hospital in Limerick and Cork before being brought to Temple Street Children's Hospital in Dublin, where he sadly passed away on Tuesday.

And a GoFundMe page that was set up to raise 5,000 for the family of the four-year-old has seen almost 8,000 raised to give Mason "the send off he deserves".

The community of Castleconnell, just outside Limerick city where his family are from, is still reeling from the tragedy, local councillor Sean Hartigan has said.

Cllr Hartigan, who knows the family well, said many people in the village of Castleconnell would have recognised the child as a very happy little chap.

You would have seen him out and about with his parents and grandparents and uncles around the village, Cllr Hartigan said.

I know the mothers family and theyre all lovely people and well respected in the Castleconnell community.

Obviously, everybody is heartbroken, the family is heartbroken and the wider Castleconnell and Limerick community is heartbroken for them.

People would have known Mason to see as he went past with his family. He was a lovely, bright, happy little chap who everybody was mad about.

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Hardly a day would go by when I wouldnt stop and talk to one of the family. Id cycle around every day and meet lots of people connected with Mason. He had a very wide family and there would not be many people in Castleconnell that wouldnt know some relation of Masons.

It's absolutely, completely tragic, he added. There are tears being shed every place.

The fundraiser is by people that are connected with the family and anything that can be done to help them in this situation I'm sure would be appreciated.

The fundraiser states: As a lot of you may know, Mason has battled between Cork Hospital and Temple Street since Saturday when he received a life threatening injury due to a fall. Mason has since unfortunately lost his battle at the young age of four.

We are helping to raise money to give him the send off he deserves. Times are so tough for people but nothing compares to what his family are going through. Let's all come together and make things that little bit easier for them. Every little helps.
The worlds largest plant for storing green hydrogen in liquid organic hydrogen carriers (LOHC) on an industrial scale is being built at CHEMPARK Dormagen. The state of North Rhine-Westphalia is supporting the project with funding of 9 million from the progres.nrw program. The Krefeld-based subsidiary of Hydrogenious LOHC Technologies, LOHC Industrial Solutions NRW GmbH, will take charge of project management and plant operation.





Covestro production site at CHEMPARK Dormagen/Germany Covestro Deutschland AG

With its proprietary LOHC technology, the Erlangen-based parent company can contribute the key element and the corresponding scaled plant system. Its investor Covestro Deutschland AG will provide the site area and, in the future, the green hydrogen. The scientific partner is the Julich Research Center with its Institute for Energy and Climate Research; 2 million of the funding for accompanying scientific studies will go there.

Together with the Dutch co-investor Royal Vopak, a possible expansion of the project and potential establishment of a green hydrogen supply chain between the plant in Dormagen and Rotterdam is also being planned. There, the green hydrogen would be released from the LOHC and used primarily in the mobility and industrial sectors.

As part of our project, we are making the Dormagen CHEMPARK the home of the worlds largest pilot plant for storing green hydrogen in LOHC  we will use our proprietary technology based on the LOHC carrier medium Benzyltoluene for this purpose. With the planned plant capacity, about 1,800 tonnes of hydrogen per year can be stored in LOHC. This is not only a huge step forward in bringing our LOHC technology to industrial scale. At the same time, one of the currently largest supply chains for green hydrogen is being created. Dr Daniel Teichmann, founder and CEO of Hydrogenious LOHC Technologies

Prof. Dr. Peter Wasserscheid, Director at the Institute for Energy and Climate Research at Forschungszentrum Julich and Director of the Helmholtz Institute Erlangen-Nuremberg for Renewable Energies (HI ERN) has been a major co-developer of LOHC technology.

The planned plant in Dormagen represents a significant upscaling of hydrogen storage in the form of the LOHC carrier Benzyltoluene and has about twenty times the single-storage capacity of previous plant sizes. In our accompanying research, well concentrate on three aspects in the project: The catalyst behavior in real operation, possible influences of the LOHC or hydrogen quality on the hydrogenation process and on the further development of industrially usable quality assurance procedures for our LOHC system. Prof. Dr. Wasserscheid

Hydrogenious LOHC technology bonds hydrogen molecules to the organic carrier (dibenzyltoluene) via an exothermic catalytic process. The uptake is 57 kg of H 2 per cubic meter LOHC. The LOHC remains is a liquid state across a broad temperature range (-39 to +390 C) and ambient pressure. It is thus transportable using convention fuel infrastructure.

Dehydrogenationthe release of the H 2 from the carrieris an endothermic process with about 11 kWh th /kg H 2 required at 300 C.

One focus of the project is to integrate the heat energy released during the LOHC hydrogenation process into the steam network and thus into the sites energy supply. The overall efficiency of the LOHC cycle can thus be significantly increased. Commissioning of the plant is scheduled for 2023.

Covestro Deutschland AGa shareholder in Hydrogenious LOHC Technologies since mid-2019plans to supply the green hydrogen for this purpose. This will be produced at the site in future as an industrial by-product.

In addition to the established cooperation with Covestro Deutschland AG, Royal Vopak, one of the worlds leading companies in the provision of infrastructure for the chemical and energy industries and as well an investor in Hydrogenious LOHC Technologies, has also announced its support.

Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism.
Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism.
Samsung SDI CEO Jun Young-hyun appeals to shareholders during the company's 51th shareholders meeting at THE K Hotel in Seoul, Wednesday. / Courtesy of Samsung SDI



By Kim Hyun-bin



Samsung Group's key affiliates Samsung SDS, Samsung SDI and Samsung Electro-Mechanics see an optimistic year ahead with expected growth potential in their respective sectors.



The companies are set to increase investments to raise their competitiveness and market share for the coming year while seeking to strengthen environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) management throughout their corporate structures.



Samsung SDI is seeking to grab a piece of the burgeoning electric vehicle (EV) battery market, which is expected to show exponential growth in the coming years.



"The global battery market was scaled at $48 billion in 2020 and is expected to reach $145 billion by 2025," Samsung SDI CEO Jun Young-hyun said during the 51st shareholders meeting at THE K Hotel in Seoul, Wednesday. "The EV battery is expected to take up 75 percent of the pie worth $108 billion. Securing differentiated technology and quality products will bring us abundant opportunities."



Ahead of the expected growth, Jun called for large-scale investments to continue in the EV battery sector. However, he also pointed out potential obstacles for this year.



"The EV battery market is expected to grow this year, but uncertainties due to COVID-19 and fierce competition in the battery market will create some difficulties," he said. "However, in the long run, we will continue investments to mass produce and develop our game-changing, solid-state batteries. We aim to reach the part per billion (PPB) standards to enhance our quality from the current part per million (PPM)."



Jun said the company has been a model when it comes to implementing ESG management values and plans to further strengthen the initiatives in line with efforts by the government.



Samsung SDS CEO formally appointed



Samsung SDS shareholders formally appointed Hwang Sung-woo as the new CEO at the company headquarters in Seoul, Wednesday.









Samsung SDS was capable of making progress even during the pandemic.



"Through the tough times we were able to expand our manufacturing and financial units and cloud services and also establish next-generation enterprise resource planning (ERP) and supply chain management (SCM). We also strengthened our global businesses in Vietnam and China through the operation and expansion of our IT development center," the company's outgoing CEO Hong Won-pyo said.



"The 2021 global IT service market is recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic with more companies initiating digital transformation efforts. As a data-driven, digital transformation (DX) leader, we plan to continue our growth momentum after the COVID-19 crisis."



Samsung SDS plans to expand its DX expertise, utilize its enhanced digital technologies to expand its platform-based businesses and enhance distribution services as its top three priorities this year.



"With our specialty at the base, we plan to aid clients' DX efforts with our next-generation systems. We also plan to enhance competitiveness in the ERP and SCM sectors," Hong said.



In addition, Samsung SDS plans to expand ESG management practices.



"The company has been working endlessly to meet the environmental and societal continuous growth values and to seek positive results in non-financial sectors," he said.



Samsung SDS achieved 11.17 trillion won in sales with an operating profit of 871 billion won last year. Sales increased 297.8 billion won, but operating profit declined 118.5 billion won year-on-year.





Samsung Electro-Mechanics CEO Kyung Kye-hyun speaks to shareholders about possible growth potential during the company's 48th shareholders meeting in Seoul. / Courtesy of Samsung Electro-Mechanics
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Today

Cloudy skies this evening followed by scattered showers and thunderstorms overnight. Low near 70F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

Cloudy skies this evening followed by scattered showers and thunderstorms overnight. Low near 70F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%.
Caprice Bourret has received her first coronavirus vaccine after she was praised on Tuesday for her 'on the money' Covid predictions in a resurfaced video.

Taking to Instagram on Wednesday, the former Dancing On Ice star, 49, shared a picture of herself receiving the Oxford-AstraZeneca jab due to a 'last-minute' slot amid patients cancelling their appointments over 'unproven blood clot fears'.

It comes after Caprice was praised by Twitter users on Tuesday after she was dismissed for championing face masks and travel restrictions in a resurfaced clip from Jeremy Vine on March 16 2020.

First jab! Caprice Bourret has received her first coronavirus vaccine after she was praised on Tuesday for her 'on the money' Covid predictions in a resurfaced video

Writing a lengthy caption alongside her vaccination snap, Caprice revealed she was 'thrilled' to receive the jab and that she was now 'one step closer to getting back to some form of normality'.

Caprice also lamented the fact there have been cancellations due to the EU's mass revolt against AstraZeneca's jab over 'unproven blood clot fears'.

She penned: 'I did it!!! Better in my arm than in the bin there have been cancellations I suppose because of the controversy surrounding blood clots and AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccine so I was able to get in at last minute.

'If 12 countries think 30 ppl getting blood clots after the vaccine out of 17 million ppl already vaccinated is 2 dangerous then why r 1 in 14,000 allowed to develop blood clots through their contraception.

'Last-minute': Taking to Instagram on Wednesday, the former Dancing On Ice star, 49, shared a picture of herself receiving the Oxford-AstraZeneca jab due to a 'last-minute' slot amid patients cancelling their appointments over 'unproven blood clot fears'

Praise: It comes after Caprice was praised by Twitter users on Tuesday after she was dismissed for championing face masks and travel restrictions in a resurfaced clip from Jeremy Vine on March 16 2020 (pictured)

'Furthermore, 1,000 ppl naturally suffer from blood clots every year .. so wouldnt u expect out of 17 mil vaccinated already ... 17,000 would develop blood clots????

'With this kind of statistic ppl developing recent blood clots that have taken vaccine are much lower than would be expected in general population.'

Caprice encouraged her 100K followers to research and look at their own statistics before receiving the vaccination.

She continued: 'If you are dubious research first lots of stats available from scientists and other authoritative sources and no proof to substantiate there claims that the vaccine has links to blood clots to begin with.'

'Thrilled': Writing a lengthy caption alongside her vaccination snap, Caprice revealed she was 'thrilled' to receive the jab and that she was now 'one step closer to getting back to some form of normality'

Cancellations: Caprice also lamented the fact there have been cancellations due to the EU's mass revolt against AstraZeneca's jab over 'unproven blood clot fears'

Protection: Phillip Schofield, 58, and Lorraine Kelly, 61, (L-R) became the latest celebrities getting their Covid vaccinations last week

Caprice added that she was 'thrilled' over her vaccination and even poked fun at her 'salt and pepper roots' in the photos shared.

She concluded: 'I AM THRILLED I DID IT!!!! one step forward to us getting back to some form of normality and protection against this very scary virus btw the salt and pepper roots are embarrassing sos hairdresser!!!!!'

Caprice joins a slew of stars who have been vaccinated against coronavirus with Stephen Fry, Phillip Schofield, Lorraine Kelly and James Norton also getting jabs.

Doctors have claimed that British patients are cancelling their coronavirus vaccine appointments because of the EU's mass revolt against AstraZeneca's jab over unproven blood clot fears.

Last year: Caprice (right) got into a row with medical expert Dr. Sarah Jarvis (left) during an appearance on the Jeremy Vine Show in March 2020 as they discussed coronavirus

Medical professionals involved in the UK's rollout say Brits due their second dose have called with concerns about the vaccine, despite the EU's own drug regulator, as well as the UK's and the World Health Organization all insisting it is safe.

Doctors and officials warn that it is far more dangerous for people to not get vaccinated and even the EMA has urged people to keep taking the vaccine because blood clots aren't actually any more common than usual.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock has also urged people to keep getting the vaccine and said Britain must 'keep calm and carry on jabbing' if it wants to get life back to normal.

The NHS continues to steam ahead with its vaccine rollout and is now offering jabs to everyone over the age of 50.

Elsewhere, Twitter users have hailed Caprice 'the most sensible Government adviser in the country' a year after she was dismissed for championing face masks and travel restrictions as methods for tackling the Covid-19 pandemic.

Praise: On the anniversary of the show airing, social media users re-posted the clip and praised Caprice for being so 'well informed' and 'on the money'. Others have called fora formal apology from Jeremy Vine and Dr Jarvis

On March 16 2020 - a week before the UK went into lockdown - the model appeared on the Jeremy Vine Show where she clashed with GP Dr Sarah Jarvis on how best to curtail the pandemic's growth.

Caprice drew the ire of the medical expert when she suggested the UK go into a total shutdown for two weeks to contain the virus - a model which she insisted had worked in Asia - and drew attention to the efficacy of face masks.

Dr Jarvis and presenter Vine both dismissed Caprice's contribution, while viewers questioned what 'right' she had to challenge the 'expert' on a medical topic.

On the anniversary of the show airing, social media users re-posted the clip and praised Caprice for being so 'well informed' and 'on the money'. Others have called for a formal apology from Jeremy Vine and Dr Jarvis.

Caprice drew the ire of the medical expert when she suggested the UK go into a total shutdown for two weeks to contain the virus - a model which she insisted had worked in Asia - and drew attention to the efficacy of face masks.

Former Dancing on Ice contestant Caprice drew the ire of the medical expert when she suggested the UK go into a total shutdown for two weeks to contain the virus - a model which she insisted had worked in Asia - and drew attention to the efficacy of face masks

Dr Jarvis replied that the strategy had 'categorically not worked', adding: 'With the greatest respect, unless you have read every scientific paper and statistical modelling paper that's come out, you cannot argue with me on that. You can have an opinion but it's not a fact.'

Caprice stood firm, shooting back: 'But I can, I have an opinion. Let me read you the facts: In Taiwan and Singapore early on everyone was wearing surgical masks' before Dr Jarvis quipped: 'Which make no difference at all.'

When Caprice asked to be allowed to finish her point, host Jeremy then interjected with: 'Alright, but Sarah is the expert, but go on.'

Caprice continued: 'This is from a newspaper! This is from somebody from WHO!'

Hitting back: The clip resurfaced on the anniversary of the show, with Twitter users defending Caprice as 'smarter than the Government advisers

Mr Vine then interrupted her again commenting: 'I just don't want to get into things where we have the newspaper on the one hand and the expert on the other and we give them equal weight.

To which Caprice insisted the point she was referencing came from a spokesperson from WHO.

At the time many people took to Twitter to question why Caprice was even invited to debate such a topic on the show.

However the clip resurfaced on the anniversary of the show, with Twitter users defending Caprice as 'smarter than the Government advisers'.

One tweeted: 'One year anniversary of Caprice being the most sensible government adviser in the country - and being talked over by a smirking Jeremy vine and a GP.'

Another wrote: 'This has not aged well for @DrSarahJarvis, completely outsmarted by Caprice. Prelude to a public health disaster.'
A new property tax report is raising eyebrows  especially among Texans struggling to put food on the table. The report, published every other year by the Texas comptrollers office, confirms what most already suspect: Property taxes are big and growing fast.

In 2019, more than 4,200 local governments hit homeowners and businesses with property tax bills totaling $67.3 billion, a one-year increase of $3.5 billion, or 5.5 percent. More than half the burden came from school districts, which siphoned $36.2 billion out of the private sector. From 2014 to 2019, school taxes increased by almost $10 billion.

Whats more, the overall levy growth has been relentless. From 1998 to 2019, the average annual increase in the total property tax levy was 5.9 percent. That means local government coffers swelled year after year, decade after decade no matter the economic condition or catastrophe.

The 2019 Texas Legislature tempered these anti-taxpayer trends to some extent with historic new laws that provided billions in tax relief and increased voter input. Even still, local property taxes continue to strain family budgets.

Texas families need help. Fortunately, todays Legislature is in a position to do something about it.

Over the next few months, state lawmakers will consider many ideas, including some related to property tax reform. Strong taxpayer protections must make it across the finish line.

Texas Take: Get the latest news on Texas politics sent directly to your inbox every weekday

One place to start is to shore up the last sessions signature property tax reform. Over the past year, a few bad actors  38 local-level taxing jurisdictions, including Houston  sought to take advantage of the COVID-19 crisis to raise taxes to excess without voter approval. These cities and counties wrongly claimed that their interpretation of the law allowed them to increase taxes beyond 3.5 percent without asking the publics permission. New laws are needed to make it unmistakably clear there is no disaster loophole for local governments to exploit and to penalize those who acted in bad faith.

Another way to improve on the 2019 law: Expand its requirements to include other types of local governments that were left out. Hospital districts, community colleges and other small property taxing entities should also be required to seek voter approval for tax increases above 3.5 percent. The ideal system applies one low universal standard to all.

Other technical changes are needed, too. For instance, a debt payable by property taxes should be included in the calculation of the 3.5 percent limit. Right now, local officials have an incentive to finance ordinary spending with certain debt instruments, like certificates of obligation, because theyre excluded from the voter-approval tax rate calculation. Lawmakers should remove the temptation here.

Serious discussion should be given to proposals such as House Bills 59 and 958, which would eliminate a large portion of school district property taxes using either surplus state revenue or some other mechanism. Its this sort of redesign of Texas tax system that should be our ultimate goal this session.

Despite the last sessions signature property tax reform, local governments continue to assault property taxpayers, pushing many past their breaking point. More than ever, people need protection from local governments gone wild.

Over the next few months, state lawmakers have a chance to implement smart, aggressive changes that protect the most vulnerable and prioritize family budgets. They must not miss the moment.

James Quintero is the policy director for the Texas Public Policy Foundations Government for the People campaign. Anthony Poalillo is a research associate at the Texas Public Policy Foundation.
I've been a reporter and editor at Missouri community newspapers for 35 years and joined the Columbia Missourian in 2003. My emphasis at the Missourian is on local government and elections. You can reach me at swaffords@missouri.edu or at 573-884-5366.

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This year our dine and drink business locations throughout the Gorge have suffered with closures. You can help support your favorites by purchasing take out and gift cards. Many of these business will offer curb-side delivery and some will deliver to your home. Lets keep the Gorge going strong!
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These are the sectors which have suffered most during the pandemic and certainly some will go to the wall no matter when the restrictions are lifted

It is easy to understand the frustration of many sectors of the Northern Ireland economy at the lack of even indicative dates of when they may be allowed to reopen. It is made all the worse by the fact that every other region of the UK has a much clearer roadmap than the province on the way to recovery.

No one denies that the Executive is correct in being cautious about easing restrictions which have now been in place for 80 days. The lack of dates had a certain validity when first announced as the politicians had to be sure that the efforts to curb the spread of coronavirus was having an effect. Now there is no doubt that lockdown, allied to the roll-out of an impressive vaccination programme, has had the desired effect, even if the figures for infections are falling slower than hoped for.

The trend in all figures is downward. There are now only 18 people with Covid-19 in intensive care units in the province and one death was recorded on Monday. Northern Ireland has the lowest number of deaths by population in the UK which is another very encouraging trend, even if every single death is a tragedy for the relatives involved.

As expected, the emphasis has been on getting children back to school, not only for their educational and social development but also for the sake of their mental health.

The return to the classroom has developed with all primary school pupils back in the classroom from next Monday and all post-primary pupils returning on April 12 providing no unexpected spikes in infection become apparent.

Some sports, an extension of click-and-collect to non-essential retail and an easing of the ban on people meeting will take place from April 1 - but that is essentially as far as the Executive is prepared to predict. It leaves the opening of retail and hospitality outlets in the dark about what the future holds.

These are the sectors which have suffered most during the pandemic and certainly some will go to the wall no matter when the restrictions are lifted.

But the rest need dates to aim for. That would be a positive move in that it would encourage the businesses to prepare for reopening, give them hope that their darkest days are almost over and be the greatest indication to society at large that coronavirus can be contained, if not beaten.

These sectors have followed all the rules, spent a lot of money on safety measures and deserve to be treated better. They know everything depends on continued constriction of the virus but the Executive is also squeezing hope out of many of them. That is unfair.
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.
One of Australia's most senior police officers has proposed the introduction of a time-consuming sex consent app where permission can be granted for intercourse.

NSW Police commissioner Mick Fuller said the app - which is already in use in Denmark - would help normalise conversations around consent and how to actively seek it out.

But the long-winded interface would require users to enter their name and age, declare they understand sexual consent, send a request and swipe to accept before any sexual activity can even begin.

The encrypted data is stored on the app in case it is needed for criminal inquiries, although experts have cast doubt on whether it would ever really be used in court.

NSW Police commissioner Mick Fuller told the Today Show on Thursday that 15,000 women in NSW reported sexual violence last year alone

In New South Wales in the 12 months to June 2019, only 1099 of the 14,171 reports of alleged sexual assaults progressed to final charges. Just 376 guilty verdicts were recorded

How the app could potentially work Enter name and age Declare you understand what sexual consent is Send a request to sexual partner Swipe to accept The app encrypts and stores the digital agreement Advertisement

Mr Fuller told the Today show on Thursday that 15,000 women in NSW reported sexual violence last year alone.

'That's increasing quicker than any other violent crime. So at the end of the day we can't ignore the fact that consent is a big issue,' he said.

'In many of the cases of sexual violence often a woman has left a restaurant or a pub or a party with someone they think they can trust and sometimes these are friends, neighbours, relatives and they are impaired by alcohol or other substances and that in a way is being concluded by these offenders as consent.

'You are much more vulnerable to get robbed or have any type of crime happen to you if you don't have control and awareness of yourself because you are intoxicated.'

Mr Fuller said a consent app could be one of many solutions in curbing sexual violence in Australia.

'If you are online or dating or looking for friendship you have to be up front with that in terms of what your expectations are from the relationship,' he said.

'This app or this concept of implied consent - whether it's on an app or otherwise - it protects everybody. It's not the entire solution but the reality is, consent is by far the biggest issue that we are facing.'

His proposal comes a month after Denmark launched its iConsent app which allows users to grant permission for 'one intercourse', which is valid for 24 hours and can be withdrawn at any time.

Sex assault reports up 10 per cent in NSW SEXUAL ASSAULTS ARE UP * Child victims reporting current sexual assaults - up 21.3 per cent * Historical child sexual assault reports - up 11.2 per cent * Adult victims aged 16+ years - up 4.4 per cent Source: NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research Advertisement

The Scandinavian country introduced the app after its parliament passed a new law expanding the definition of rape to include any sex without explicit consent.

But the app has met with a frosty reception in Denmark, where one newspaper called it 'as unsexy as another corona press conference'.

Developers say the app gives people the 'opportunity to document your consent to intercourse' by allowing lovers to send and receive requests via their phones.

But they add that 'consent in the app can never stand alone, and that it is up to you and the other party to secure your consent before, during and after intercourse'.

Users can call up their consent history which the app says is 'stored on secure servers' and only shared in the event of a criminal investigation.

Mr Fuller acknowledged such an app in Australia would pose legal challenges, including in cases where sexual consent was granted but later withdrawn.

Legal experts have also raised concerns the app would not stack up in court, with Greg Barns, the national criminal justice spokesman for the Australian Lawyers Alliance, believing it would be 'difficult to admit into evidence'.

Mr Fuller said the time had come for technology to be utilised to record consent, which can no longer be implied.

'There is no implied consent. It needs to be positive consent. How do we do that in this day and age? One option is with technology,' Mr Fuller told The Daily Telegraph.

The digital consent agreement would be encrypted and stored on the app, to be used later if necessary.

Shocking figures have laid bare just how difficult it is for alleged sexual assault victims to have their perpetrators brought to justice.

In New South Wales in the 12 months to June 2019, only 1099 of the 14,171 reports of alleged sexual assaults progressed to final charges. Just 376 guilty verdicts were recorded.

'When someone, often a young woman, comes forward, police have to explain to them the journey ahead to conviction. It's a bloody tough one,' Mr Fuller said.

'Juries are struggling to come to terms with consent and we've seen high-profile matters before the courts with hung juries where they were reputable, decent witnesses.'

The New South Wales Police commissioner has proposed the introduction of an app where users can record consent for sexual activity (stock image)

Mick Fuller (pictured), the New South Wales Police commissioner, said utilising technology was one way people could record their consent before a sexual encounter

Consent is a murky area in New South Wales, with the laws last modified 20 years ago allowing alleged rapists to avoid conviction if they genuinely believe the person is consenting - simply because they didn't say 'no'.

New South Wales Police child abuse and sex crimes squad boss Stacey Maloney is now leading a push to overhaul consent laws amid a rise in rapes from dating app meetups.

'Consent shouldn't be a confusing area, it should be quite clear that you need to ask for consent essentially. In terms of other jurisdictions, they certainly make that clear,' she told Nine News last month.

The push for an overhaul comes as a petition by former Kambala student, Chanel Contos, 22, uncovered disturbing allegations against boys from prestigious private schools and led to calls for consent to be taught in schools.

On Monday, thousands rallied across the country, including just outside Parliament House in Canberra, in the March 4 Justice calling on political leaders to make greater strides towards equality and ending violence towards women.
UCLA surgeon Peyman Benharash, left, and intensivist Vadim Gudzenko talk with former COVID-19 patient Blanca Lopez on Jan. 26. (Los Angeles Times)

To the editor: Much gratitude for reporter Thomas Curwen's exhaustive piece on what it is like to fight serious COVID-19 illness  from the very real cost to patients and their families, to the toll on the physicians and nurses trying to bring patients back at any cost.

In my 70 years on this planet, several surreal moments stand out. One happened three decades ago on a foggy night in the Bronx. As I was driving home, I saw emerging from the thick mist a giraffe, two zebras and monkeys. Another is happening right now: Patients with a modicum of common sense and plenty of IQ points insist to me that COVID-19 isn't real, and that the vaccines aren't actually vaccines.

These strange events all have an explanation. What I saw on that foggy night in New York was the result of a small traveling circus that had been vandalized. What I am seeing now is fear of the unknown triggering a lack of empathy and understanding in an otherwise reasonable group of people.

In my own medical practice, I show these people articles and try not to lose patience when discussing antibodies and viral mutation. Above all I try to see our current challenging reality from their point of view. Slowly, I believe I am winning in the struggle against ignorance and terror of the unknown.

Curwen's article is a godsend. It will help in this battle to achieve a new normal, where mask-wearing, distancing and kindness become standard.

Stephen Patt, M.D., Santa Monica

..

To the editor: Curwen brilliantly drew us into what COVID-19 survivor Blanca Lopez experienced as a hospitalized patient. He drew us into the heroics of the hospital staff by sharing some details of major medical decisions made.

Thank you for once again sharing with the public what families go through while their loved ones are hospitalized and how dedicated medical staff answer the call with compassion, empathy and support.

For those of you who still think COVID-19 is overblown, think again.

Georgette Rieck, Santa Monica

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
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Is it fair or even patriotic to threaten states that do not conform to the Democratic Socialists' mandate to control the outcome of Free and Fair elections enacted by constitutionally guaranteed states' legislatures?

Yes, all elections must be federalized so that the whim of the majority political party can set the standard for all elections.

No, Our Founders purposefully decentralized elections by guaranteeing only states' legislatures the independent right to enact Free and Fair elections.
New Delhi, March 17 : The Supreme Court on Wednesday agreed to hear a plea seeking directions to the Centre to mandatorily provide a common duct for all public utilities in the construction plan of highways and other roads, to avoid unnecessary re-digging.

A bench, headed by Chief Justice S.A. Bobde and comprising Justices A.S. Bopanna and V. Ramasubramanian, after examining the plea, said: "It is a good idea". The top court issued notice to the Centre, the National Highway Authority of India and others on the plea by Harapriya Patel.

Patel claimed her residence is situated along the National Highway No 10 and she was deeply aggrieved by the perennial maintenance work of highways on account of re-digging and trenching, leading to numerous road accidents leading to loss of life and traffic jams, inconveniencing commuters.

"The nature of injury caused or likely to be caused to the public is that huge amount of public funds goes to waste each year on account of duplication of civil work on account of construction of road at first and re-digging it to lay utility ducts later," said the plea filed through advocate Anirudh Sanganeria.

The plea contended that the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways saw an increase of 10 percent in its budgetary allocation, but a large chunk of it is through monetisation of national highways by the NHAI which can be further boosted by commercial usage of common utility duct.

The petitioner said the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways on November 22, 2016 issued guidelines for provision of utility ducts, preferably "as close" to the extreme edge of the Right of Way (RoW). "It has been made mandatory by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways in the construction of National Highways with four and six lanes. However, the said guidelines are compulsorily applied in most of the Road Projects," added the plea.

The petitioner also cited Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari's statement that country's two lakh kilometres of highways can be used for laying optic fibre and oil and gas pipes, which will help the ministry earn additional revenues.
Nokia appoints Melissa Schoeb as Chief Corporate Affairs Officer and member of the Group Leadership team

Nokia Corporation

Stock Exchange Release

17 March 2020 at 9:45 (CET +1)

Nokia appoints Melissa Schoeb as Chief Corporate Affairs Officer and member of the Group Leadership team

Espoo, Finland - Nokia today announces the appointment of Melissa Schoeb as Chief Corporate Affairs Officer and member of the Group Leadership Team, effective from 12 April 2021.

Nokia's Chief Corporate Affairs Officer oversees Communications, Government Relations, Brand and Sustainability.

Melissa has extensive experience in corporate affairs and joins Nokia from Occidental, one of the world's largest independent oil and gas companies, where she is Vice President, Corporate Affairs, advancing the company's reputation in support of its global business strategy. Prior to working at Occidental, she held a number of senior leadership positions at FleishmanHilliard, one of the world's leading communications consultancies, and was Director of Global Communications for Nortel Networks, a multinational telecommunications and data networking equipment manufacturer.

Melissa also has significant management consulting and business management experience having held a business director role at The VenCom Group, a venture capital company focused on the telecommunications sector, and consulting roles at Gemini Consulting.

"I'm delighted to welcome Melissa to Nokia's Group Leadership Team. She has extensive experience in managing company reputations and enabling organizations to achieve their objectives. As Nokia embarks on the next stage of its journey, we will play a key part in providing the technology that will enable positive change for the planet, our economy and our society. Melissa's knowledge in helping shape these relevant debates and ensure a strong voice for Nokia will be crucial to our future success," said Pekka Lundmark, President and CEO of Nokia.

"I'm thrilled to be joining the Nokia team at this pivotal time in the company's history. Its leading technology and intellectual property, iconic brand and differentiated strategy position it for sustained long-term growth. I look forward to advancing Nokia's global reputation with its stakeholders to drive and support the company's business goals," Melissa Schoeb commented.

Melissa will be based in Espoo, Finland and report to Nokia's President and Chief Executive Officer, Pekka Lundmark.

Additional background information on all current members of the Group Leadership Team can be found at www.nokia.com/en_int/investors/corporate-governance/group-leadership-team .

About Melissa Schoeb

Born: 1968

Nationality: US national

Experience:

Occidental, Houston, US, 2007-

Vice President, Corporate Affairs, 2017-

Vice President, Communications and Public Affairs, 2012-2017

Senior Director, Communications and Public Affairs, 2007-2012

FleishmanHilliard, US, 2002-2007

Senior Vice President and Senior Partner, General Manager, Southern California

Senior Vice President and Partner General Manager, San Diego

Senior Vice President, San Francisco

Nortel Networks, Santa Clara, US, 2000-2002

Director of Global Communications

FleishmanHilliard, San Francisco, US, 1998-2000

Vice President, Technology

The VenCom Group Inc, Chicago, US, 1995-1997

Business Director

Gemini Consulting, London UK, Washington DC, US, 1991-1995

Consultant

Education:

Fellowship Recipient, Four Freedoms Foundation, Rome, Italy, 1990-1991

Double Major, Bachelor of Arts in International Relations and Spanish, 1990

Mary Washington University, Virginia, US, 1986-1990

Languages:

Fluent in English, Spanish and Italian

Additional positions:

Member of the Arthur Page Society and The Seminar

Board member of Mary Washington University's College of Business Executive Advisory Board

Media Enquiries

Nokia

Communications

Tel. +358 (0) 10 448 4900

Email: press.services@nokia.com

Katja Antila, Head of Media Relations

About Nokia

We create the critical networks and technologies to bring together the world's intelligence, across businesses, cities, supply chains and societies.

With our commitment to innovation and technology leadership, driven by the award-winning Nokia Bell Labs, we deliver networks at the limits of science across mobile, infrastructure, cloud, and enabling technologies.

Adhering to the highest standards of integrity and security, we help build the capabilities we need for a more productive, sustainable and inclusive world.

For our latest updates, please visit us online www.nokia.com and follow us on Twitter @nokia.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

It should be noted that Nokia and its businesses are exposed to various risks and uncertainties and certain statements herein that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements reflect Nokia's current expectations and views of future developments and include statements regarding: A) expectations, plans or benefits related to our strategies, growth management and operational key performance indicators; B) expectations, plans or benefits related to future performance of our businesses (including the expected impact, timing and duration of that impact of COVID-19 on our businesses, our supply chain and our customers' businesses) and any future dividends including timing and qualitative and quantitative thresholds associated therewith; C) expectations and targets regarding financial performance, cash generation, results, the timing of receivables, operating expenses, taxes, currency exchange rates, hedging, cost savings, product cost reductions and competitiveness, as well as results of operations including targeted synergies, better commercial management and those results related to market share, prices, net sales, income and margins; D) expectations, plans or benefits related to changes in organizational and operational structure; and E) statements preceded by or including "believe", "expect", "expectations", "deliver", "maintain", "strengthen", "target", "estimate", "plan", "intend", "assumption", "focus", "continue", "should", "will" or similar expressions.

These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control, which could cause our actual results to differ materially from such statements. These statements are based on management's best assumptions and beliefs in light of the information currently available to them. These forward-looking statements are only predictions based upon our current expectations and views of future events and developments and are subject to risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that will occur in the future. Factors, including risks and uncertainties that could cause these differences include, but are not limited to: 1) our strategy is subject to various risks and uncertainties and we may be unable to successfully implement our strategic plans, sustain or improve the operational and financial performance of our business groups, correctly identify or successfully pursue business opportunities or otherwise grow our business; 2) general economic and market conditions, general public health conditions (including its impact on our supply chains) and other developments in the economies where we operate, including the timeline for the deployment of 5G and our ability to successfully capitalize on that deployment; 3) competition and our ability to effectively and profitably invest in existing and new high-quality products, services, upgrades and technologies and bring them to market in a timely manner; 4) our dependence on the development of the industries in which we operate, including the cyclicality and variability of the information technology and telecommunications industries and our own R&D capabilities and investments; 5) our ability to manage and improve our financial and operating performance, cost savings, competitiveness and synergies generally, expectations and timing around our ability to recognize any net sales and our ability to implement changes to our organizational and operational structure efficiently; 6) our global business and exposure to regulatory, political or other developments in various countries or regions, including emerging markets and the associated risks in relation to tax matters and exchange controls, among others; and 7) the scope and duration of the COVID-19 impact on the global economy and financial markets as well as our customers, supply chain, product development, service delivery, other operations and our financial, tax, pension and other assets, and the shape of the economic recovery following the pandemic as well as the risk factors specified in our 2020 annual report on Form 20-F published on March 4, 2021 under "Operating and financial review and prospects-Risk factors" and in our other filings or documents furnished with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Other unknown or unpredictable factors or underlying assumptions subsequently proven to be incorrect could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. We do not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except to the extent legally required.
Syracuse, N.Y. -- Temperatures are expected to climb back into the 60s across Upstate New York by early next week, but we might see some light snow first.

The northern edge of a strong storm moving through the Plains and mid-Atlantic will reach parts of Upstate New York Thursday afternoon, bringing light to moderate rain. Temperatures are expected to drop low enough Thursday night and early Friday for an inch or so of snow, mostly along and south of the Thruway. Two to 3 inches is possible on hilltops in the Southern Tier and Catskills.

That storm is being held in check by a building high pressure system, which will dominate Upstate weather Saturday through at least Tuesday. High pressure fends off moisture and clouds, so Upstate will be bathed in sunshine through Tuesday, too.

There should be ample clear skies for spring sunshine and mainly clear nights, said the Albany office of the National Weather Service.

Fridays high will be in the 30s, and it drop drop to 20 or the teens early Saturday morning. But all that sunshine will bring increasingly warmer temperatures each day: 40s on Saturday, 50s on Sunday, and 60s on Monday and Tuesday.

It hasnt been that warm since March 11, when Syracuse set a daily temperature record of 73 degrees.

The normal high this time of year is in the mid-40s.
Amidst rise in COVID-19 cases, Pune mayor says complete lockdown not needed

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

Pune, Mar 17: The mayor of Pune said that a complete lockdown would not be necessary amidst the rising number of COVID-19 cases.

Pune's mayor Muralidhar Mohol told news agency ANI that they had made micro containment zones and increased screening and testing. I don't think a complete lockdown is needed right now. He also said that the authorities in the district have increased screening and testing to contain the fresh surge.

On Tuesday Pune reported a huge spike in cases as the infections surpassed the 3,500 mark. The total cases in the district stands at 4,10,347. The death toll reached 9,4430 with 12 fatalities being reported on Tuesday.

Explained: Would a return of lockdown help curb Covid-19 spike?

Karnataka CD Scandal: Family claims woman kidnapped, files complaint| Oneindia News

The vaccination drive in Pune continues to remain a concern. Data until March 12 shows that only 10 per cent above the age of 45 with comorbidities and 13 per cent above the age of 60 have been administered the first dose of the vaccine.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Wednesday, March 17, 2021, 10:34 [IST]
Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 30 giorni fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili.

According to Stratistics MRC, the Global Aerospace Maintenance Chemicals Market is accounted for $6.93 billion in 2017 and is expected to reach $8.52 billion by 2026 growing at a CAGR of 2.3% during the forecast period. Increasing air passenger traffic and rising stringency of safety and environmental regulations are some of the factors fueling the market growth. However, high maintenance cost and lack of players and shortage of skilled expertise are hindering the market growth.

Aerospace maintenance chemicals are used to maintain the operational efficiency of aircraft. Surrounding temperature and climatic conditions associated with aerospace industry have generated the need for maintenance activities which in turn created the demand for aerospace maintenance chemicals.

On the basis of product, Aircraft Cleaning Chemicals has significant market growth owing to increase in air passengers and steady aircraft iterations degrade interiors and need cleaning ensuring cabin hygiene. By geography, North America holds the largest market share during the forecast period due to growing investments in military and defence sector and increasing air fleet will push maintenance operations are some of the factors driving the market growth in this region.

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Some of the key players profiled in the Aerospace Maintenance Chemicals Market include 3M, The Dow Chemical Company (Dow), Eastman Chemical Company, Florida Chemical, Nexeo Solutions, LLC , McGean-Rohco, Inc., Pexa, Shell, Sil-Mid Limited , Socomore, Aviation Chemical Solutions, Exxon Mobil Corporation and Callington Haven Pty Ltd.

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 Business Aircraft

 Space Aircraft

 Helicopter

 Single Engine Piston

 Commercial Aircraft

 Defense Aircrafts

 Other Aircrafts

Natures Covered:

 Inorganic

 Organic

Products Covered:

 Aircraft Leather Cleaners

 Specialty Solvents

 Aircraft Wash and Polish

 Aircraft Cleaning Chemicals

 Aviation Paint Removers

 Degreasers

 Aviation Paint Strippers

 Aluminum Brighteners

 Aviation Paint Strippers

Applications Covered:

 Maintenance Repair and Overhaul (MRO)

 Aircraft Parts

 Other Applications

Regions Covered:

 North America

o US

o Canada

o Mexico

 Europe

o Germany

o UK

o Italy

o France

o Spain

o Rest of Europe

 Asia Pacific

o Japan

o China

o India

o Australia

o New Zealand

o South Korea

o Rest of Asia Pacific

 South America

o Argentina

o Brazil

o Chile

o Rest of South America

 Middle East & Africa

o Saudi Arabia

o UAE

o Qatar

o South Africa

o Rest of Middle East & Africa

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What our report offers:

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 Strategic analysis: Drivers and Constraints, Product/Technology Analysis, Porters five forces analysis, SWOT analysis etc.

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Along the way, Reese's will be right there with fans, witnessing and reacting to the most epic, unbelievable, and downright salty tournament moments. We've been salty once before , but this time we want everyone to join.

"In a year that has given us way too many reasons to be salty, the Reese's brand is giving fans a voice to share their saltiness. And what better time than one of the saltiest seasons of the year, March Madness," said Margo McIlvaine, Reese's Brand Manager. "From bracket fails to epic upsets, we will be right there with fans reveling in the saltiness and giving fans something sweet (and salty) to numb the pain  our new Reese's Big Cups with Pretzels."

Starting tomorrow March 18th and throughout the tournament, 1,200 lucky fans each will win one pack of delicious Reese's Big Cups with Pretzels - just a bit saltier than the classic Reese's Peanut Butter Cup.

In addition to the giveaway and to spread the love, a few salty college towns may get a pallet of Reese's Big Cups to sweeten any disappointment they may be feeling around the tournament.

Rules and more information:

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. A PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. Open to legal residents of the 50 United States (D.C.) 18 (except 19 in AL/NE and 21 in MS) years of age and older. Void where prohibited. Sweepstakes begins at 9:00 AM ET on 3/18/2021 and ends at 11:59:59 PM ET on 4/5/2021. Sweepstakes consists of four ten-minute entry periods during the Promotion Period. Entries do not carry over to subsequent entry periods. For Official Rules, including how to enter, description of entry periods, prize descriptions and odds disclosure, visit https://www.saltyreeses.com/. Sponsor: The Hershey Company, 19 E Chocolate Avenue, Hershey, PA 17033

About The Hershey Company

The Hershey Company is headquartered in Hershey, Pa., and is an industry-leading snacks company known for bringing goodness to the world through its iconic brands, remarkable people and enduring commitment to help children succeed. Hershey has approximately 17,000 employees around the world who work every day to deliver delicious, quality products. The company has more than 80 brands around the world that drive more than $8 billion in annual revenues, including such iconic brand names as Hershey's, Reese's, Kit Kat, Jolly Rancher, Ice Breakers, SkinnyPop, and Pirate's Booty.

For more than 125 years, Hershey has been committed to operating fairly, ethically and sustainably. Hershey founder, Milton Hershey, created the Milton Hershey School in 1909 and since then the company has focused on helping children succeed.

To learn more visit www.thehersheycompany.com

Follow:

Twitter

LinkedIn

Facebook

YouTube

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SOURCE The Hershey Company

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New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Bangladesh on March 26 and 27, his first visit to a foreign country since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) made an announcement on Tuesday on Modi's visit to the neighbouring country following an invitation from Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Narendra Modi

"This visit is in connection with the commemoration of three epochal events -- Mujib Borsho, the birth centenary of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman; 50 years of the establishment of diplomatic ties between India and Bangladesh; and 50 years of Bangladesh's war of liberation," it said.

Modi had last visited Bangladesh in 2015.

During his visit, the prime minister will attend the National Day programme of Bangladesh on March 26 as the guest of honour.

PM Modi"The visit of the prime minister to Bangladesh will be the first visit to a foreign country since the outbreak of the Covid pandemic. This highlights the priority India attaches to Bangladesh," the MEA said in a statement.

Modi's programme, apart from holding bilateral consultations with Hasina, also includes a call on the President of Bangladesh, Md Abdul Hamid, the MEA said.
BEIRUT (AP)  Lebanons president called Wednesday on the prime minister-designate to form a government immediately or step aside as the country plunges deeper into economic crisis.

In turn, Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri swiftly challenged President Michel Aoun to step down  a sign of a prolonged political crisis.

The intractable political battle comes against the backdrop of an economic crash that is proving to be the most serious challenge to the small country's stability since its 15-year civil war ended in 1990.

In a televised statement Wednesday, Aoun said that Cabinet lists proposed by Hariri, who was named to the post of premier last October, did not meet the minimum requirements needed to preserve national accord.

Aoun urged Hariri to meet him at the presidential palace and work together on forming a government or step aside if they cannot agree. The call seems an attempt to deflect blame for months-long political battle in which both sides have traded accusations of obstruction.

In response, Hariri tweeted that he was surprised by the president's televised invitation and instead urged Aoun to approve Hariri's last list, which he described as consisting of experts and not political nominees.

Hariri also called on Aoun to spare the Lebanese more suffering by allowing early presidential elections, and challenging him to spell out why he has so far declined all Cabinets proposed by the premier-designate.

Aoun was elected to a six-year term by parliament in 2016, after Lebanon had been nearly two years without a president. He is an ally of the Iran-backed Hezbollah group. Hariri, who has worked closely with Hezbollah before, is locked in a power struggle with Aoun's political party and is under pressure to exclude Hezbollah from a future Cabinet.

Underscoring Lebanons complicated balancing act, Hezbollah says it backs Hariri  even as he loses international support amid frustration over the stalemate.

Story continues

Legally, a president cannot dismiss a premier-designate, chosen by Parliament. It is unclear what would break the stalemate. According to the constitution, the president could suggest names to the prime minister-designate, who is ultimately responsible for forming a Cabinet.

Shock after shock, each day brings its burdens and worries, and the concern grows because of the inability to have the simplest means for an honorable life, Aoun said.

Amid the political blame-trading, Lebanon's local currency continues to crash, losing over 90% of its value since October 2019. The economic crisis has pushed nearly half the population into poverty.

Banks have imposed informal controls on people's savings, and the Central Bank's foreign reserves are dwindling in a country dependent on imports of over 80% of its basic needs. Desperate and enraged, Lebanese protesters have turned to the streets to demand a way out of the crisis as prices soar and goods disappear from the market.

But public anger has not spilled into nationwide protests similar to those in 2019 even as Lebanon is being gripped by multiple crises, including a surge in coronavirus infections and pressure on the health sector.

The outgoing government resigned last August, following a massive explosion at Beiruts port that killed 211 people, wounded more than 6,000 and damaged entire neighborhoods in the capital.
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.
With changing times, India Post is moving towards non-traditional businesses, including e-commerce, payments banks and other value-added services. The postal department earned Rs 9,530.9 crore from its non-traditional verticals between FY18 and FY20, as per a reply by the Ministry of Communications in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday.

Minister of State for Communications Sanjay Dhotre told the Lower House that India Post earned earned Rs 3415.35 crore from non-traditional sectors like e-commerce and payments bank during 2017-18, Rs 3051.55 crore in 2018-19, and Rs 3,064 crore in 2019-20. Till January 21, 2021, the earnings from these channels stood at Rs 1,565.71 crore.

ALSO READ: Govt explains why Koo app has Chinese investment

Speed Post remained the biggest earner for India Post, accounting for 54 per cent to 63 per cent of revenue from value-added services and non-traditional sectors between FY18 and FY20. Meanwhile, the revenue share of Business Post declined sharply from 21.88 per cent in 2017-18 to 8.9 per cent in 2018-19 and 4.39 per cent in 2019-20.

Miscellaneous services including e-commerce, Greeting Post, National Bill Mail, Flat Rate Parcel, over night parcel, e-VPP, International Speed Post, retail activities such as sale of forms, examination/recruitment fee, cable TV registration fee, fee from ATM interoperable, CSC, gold bond, etc, cumulatively were another major source of revenue for India Post. The postal department earned Rs 477 crore from these services in FY18, Rs 556 crore in FY19 and Rs 768 crore in FY20. In FY21, till January 21, the figure stood at around Rs 294 crore.

Notably, India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) didn't earn anything in the past three financial years. In FY21, till January 21, 2021, the payments bank raked in revenue of Rs 26 lakh, or 0.02 per cent of the total revenue earned from value-added and non-traditional services.

ALSO READ: India closely engaging with US on H-1B visa restrictions: External Affairs Ministry
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Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-17 19:15:29|Editor: huaxia

Video Player Close

BEIJING, March 17 (Xinhua) -- The following are the updates on the global fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

- - - -

NEW DELHI -- India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday expressed his concern about the recent surge in COVID-19 cases in the Asian country.

Speaking to chief ministers of all states, Modi called for immediate steps to curb a spike in the pandemic cases in India.

- - - -

MANILA -- The Philippines has announced that it will temporarily suspend the entry of foreigners and some citizens as the Southeast Asian country battles a renewed spike in COVID-19 cases.

In a statement issued on Tuesday night, the Philippines' coronavirus task force said foreign citizens and returning nationals who had not been working overseas will not be able to enter the country from March 20 until April 19 under the ban.

- - - -

BANGKOK -- Thailand reported a new surge of domestic coronavirus infection with 248 cases confirmed on Wednesday, according to Center for the COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA).

Of Wednesday's new cases, 242 were domestic infections while six others referred to imported cases, said CCSA spokeswoman Apisamai Srirangsan.

- - - -

VIENTIANE -- A total of 40,732 people including medical workers and officials in high-risk groups in Laos have received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, local media reported.

The local Vientiane Mai newspaper on Tuesday quoted Deputy Director General of the Department of Communicable Disease Control under the Lao Ministry of Health Latsamy Vongkhamsao as saying that authorities have vaccinated priority groups, particularly at-risk groups across the country.

- - - -

PHNOM PENH -- Cambodia confirmed 75 more local COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, raising the total number of infected people linked to the third community transmission to 990, the Ministry of Health (MoH) said in a statement.

Of the new cases, 50 were found in capital Phnom Penh, 22 in Kandal province, two in Prey Veng province and one in Takeo province, the statement said.

- - - -

ULAN BATOR -- Mongolia registered 130 new COVID-19 infections in the last 24 hours, raising the total number of cases in the country to 4,340, the National Center for Communicable Diseases (NCCD) said Wednesday.

A total of 129 were locally transmitted or detected in the country's capital Ulan Bator in a day, and another one was imported from abroad, the NCCD said in a statement. Enditem
Specifically, it is asking for direction regarding the use of DMT as an adjunctive treatment with constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT)

Another pre-IND meeting request for its use to treat acute stroke will be filed once additional preclinical work is completed, added Algernon

Algernon Pharmaceuticals Inc ( ) ( ) (FRA:AGW) has started formal communication with the US regulator, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), over its previously announced stroke clinical research program, sending shares higher.

The company said it had now filed a pre-IND (Investigational New Drug) meeting request with the agency about its investigation of psychedelic compound DMT as a treatment for stroke.

Specifically, it is asking for direction regarding the use of DMT as an adjunctive treatment with constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT) to treat upper-limb dysfunction in stroke patients.

Another pre-IND meeting request for its use to treat acute stroke will be filed once additional preclinical work is completed, added Algernon.

CIMT is a therapy, which involves intensive training of the weaker limb while restricting the stronger limb, and has shown it can enhance recovery in patients post-stroke.

CIMT is also used in the treatment of other movement disorders, including traumatic brain injury, multiple sclerosis, and Parkinsons disease.

Unlike other companies researching such drugs, Algernon has said it will focus on a sub-hallucinogenic, or microdose of DMT given via continuous intravenous administration - the aim being the patient will not have a psychedelic experience.

The company has noted that this approach may also allow for a quicker pathway to regulatory approval, including a Breakthrough Therapy designation from the US FDA.

On March 1 this year, Algernon reported that a Phase 1 study on the psychedelic compound DMT to treat stroke will be carried out by London-based contract research organization (CRO) Hammersmith Medicines Research (HMR).

The Phase 1 study is anticipated to begin as soon as the company has cGMP drug product from its recently appointed manufacturer Dalton Pharma and will evaluate the safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics of the proposed sub-psychedelic DMT dosages in healthy participants with no prior history of psychedelic exposure. It will provide essential data on the proposed dosing regimen, and also inform the design of the planned Phase 2 trials.

Algernon also recently hired Charles River Laboratories to conduct its preclinical studies of DMT for the stroke research program.

Shares in the company added nearly 8% on the day to C$0.34 each.

---Updates for share price---

Contact the author at giles@proactiveinvestors.com
SAN FRANCISCO, March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Treasury teams are keeping cash safe and liquid in the first half of 2021 but are going further out on the curve in search of yield, according to a recent survey from ICD, treasury's trusted independent portal provider of money market funds and other short-term investments.

According to the ICD 2021 Client Survey, 70% of Americas respondents said they are expanding their investment portfolios to include new products beyond traditional cash investments. This sentiment is in keeping with a poll from the ICD webinar, Short-Term Investment Options in a Low-Rate Environment, in which the 71% of attendees said the same.

"With more visibility into operating cash requirements, companies are feeling more confident with T+1 versus same-day liquidity in exchange for a higher return," says ICD Chief Executive Officer Tory Hazard. "Currently these products are yielding significantly more than traditional cash investments." According to Crane Data, short duration bond funds, for example, were yielding 32 times government money market funds, on average, as of February 28, 2021.

Over 150 treasury professionals from the U.S., Canada, the UK and Europe participated in the ICD 2021 Client Survey, providing insights on trends in institutional investments and technology. Across all regions, 61% said they are maintaining or increasing their cash balances.

To see the full ICD 2021 Client Survey report, visit ICD Resources. For more information about alternative investments on ICD portal, visit icdportal.info/icd-portal/investing/ or contact [email protected].

About ICD

ICD is treasury's trusted, independent portal provider of money market funds and other short-term investments. We provide intuitive technology and unbiased access to over 300 investment products through ICD Portal, a model in the industry for trading, reporting and analysis. Through our Global Trade Desk, located in London, Boston and San Francisco, we offer follow-the-sun support and expert service.

ICD Media Contact

Zoe Sochor

+1 646.581.3277 [email protected]

SOURCE Institutional Cash Distributors, LLC

Related Links

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Philenmon Laar, has resigned from his position as President of the SRC of the Ghana School of Law. This comes after the Ghana School of Law management withdrew its recognition of the SRC president, Philemon Laar for failing PLC Part 1 exams.



A copy of a letter communicating his resignation dated March, 16,2021 to Speaker SRC Congress Ghana School of Law, Irene Dery said the decision takes immediate effect.



He contends there are unjust reasons for his removal after an administrative fiat to withdraw recognition of his reign as SRC president.



The decision to resign was occasioned by the apparent deadlock between the SRC and Management of the Ghana School of Law on whether or not an administrative fiat should be the basis to withdraw recognition for me as a democratically elected executive of the SRC.



I was unsuccessful in the October 2020 PLC examinations. Like several other students displeased about their results, and convinced that the examination results did not reflect their industry and performance, I applied to have my scripts remarked. Results of the said remarking are yet to be released.



Based on the above facts, Management of the Ghana School of Law communicated their unwillingness to engage with the SRC if I remain President. They have also refused to release any funds to the SRC for the same reason.



I disagree with this position by Management because this singular action is an affront on the constitution of the SRC and represents undue interference in the affairs of students. The withdrawal of recognition of me as President, and the accompanying actions prejudices the outcome of my application for remarking which in itself has delayed unduly contrary to the timelines provided in the students handbook.



I was elected to serve, but I cannot in the circumstances, offer leadership that my constituents deserve.



Meanwhile, US-based Ghanaian lawyer, Prof. Kwaku Asare has expressed disquiet about the GLCs delay in the remarking of scripts in October/November 2020 examination after collecting 1,500 per paper.



He described the General Legal Council(GLC) as a failed monopolist.



The time to break up this non-performing, moribund monopolist is now! Prof. Kwaku Asare popularly known as Kwaku Azar said in a recent Facebook post.







Source: kasapafmonline.com









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Illinois five state-run funds are the nations worst off, while Chicagos crisis, with several funds now near total insolvency, is also in a category by itself. At the municipal level, Rockfords situation, for example, is far different from that of Harveys. And Illinois retiree health insurance plans, now $74 billion in the hole, deserve their own set of reforms. The legislature needs flexibility.
by Francis Khoo Thwe

The Mahana, the state committee of the Sangha Maha Nayaka, is preparing an official statement condemning the violence against the demonstrators, along with the torture and killings. Threats of strike in activities in Buddhist temples and schools.

Yangon (AsiaNews) - The state committee of the Sangha Maha Nayaka, the most powerful group of Buddhist in Myanmar, has asked the junta to stop the violence against demonstrators and accuse "an armed minority" of torturing and killing innocent people. The "Mahana" - the Committee acronym - is expected to issue a statement tomorrow, after a meeting with the minister of religious affairs.

News of the strong stance of the most authoritative body of Buddhist monks was shared with Myanmar Now, a local newspaper targeted by the junta along with other media.

The condemnation of violence and killings is the most official and toughest stance to date taken by the world of Buddhist monks regarding the coup.

So far minks have participated in demonstrations in different cities - Mandalay, Yangon, Pegu, Pakokku - but their requests were more general: peace for the nation and victory of evil over good. In recent weeks, news circulated that Shwe Nya War Sayadawa, a monk very close to the NdL (the National League for Democracy, the party that emerged as the super-winner of last November's elections), had been arrested.

The strikes, fasts, processions of Buddhist monks were fundamental in 2007, in the so-called "saffron revolution" against the military junta of the time. Although it did not achieve tangible results, it served to draw the attention of the international community to Myanmar, initiating a process of change.

After 2007, however, the junta changed all the authorities of the various monasteries in the country. Since then, the Mahana has been trying to guide the monks to stay out of political issues. This is why its taking a stand today is of great significance.

According to a member present at the Mahana meeting, the monks are threatening to stop all their activities in Buddhist temples and schools.

According to 2016 data, the Mahana oversees nearly 600,000 Buddhist monks and nuns, of whom about half are novices. The Buddhist religion is practiced by 90% of the Burmese population.
Scientists now realize that the chemicals used in various consumer products are more harmful than commonly believed.

It's a smart idea to become mindful of these products and take measures to eradicate them wherever possible, but health and wellbeing aren't just about food and exercise. It's also about minimizing exposure to dangerous products.

A harmful substance is one that has the potential to be dangerous or has negative health effects. People are usually nervous about chemicals collected at hazardous waste facilities, such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and dioxin. Household chemicals, prescription, and over-the-counter medications, gasoline, alcohol, poisons, cooking oil, and cosmetics are only a few examples of harmful products. In such circumstances, any chemical may be poisonous or dangerous.

Meat, plastics, clothing, food cover, cookware, containers, carpets, shower curtains, appliances, and even shampoo include these common chemicals, which include organophosphates, flame retardants, and phthalates. They're pretty much all over the place.

According to scientists and researchers, many of these compounds can be carcinogenic or disrupt our hormones, our body's controlling mechanism. However, Perera believes that the effects of these chemicals are more intense on the developing brain.

Related Article: Seafood's Secret Ingredient: Microplastic

Here are some of the most common harmful substances that people are exposed to every day:

Organophosphate pesticides

Organophosphate pesticides are a form of neurotoxic pesticide used as a weapon in the 1930s. They do, though, account for about half of the pesticide use in the United States today. And they have the ability to contaminate crops that we consume. Pesticide-sprayed areas, such as plantations, can have higher rates of exposure.

A greater attention deficit hyperactivity disorder has been observed in children exposed to higher levels of these pesticides.

You will reduce the susceptibility to them by consuming healthy by using non-chemical pesticides.

Phthalates

These additives soften plastics and aid in the binding of scents and chemicals.

Phthalate exposure has been linked to a reduction in IQ.

Shampoos, conditioners, body sprays, hair sprays, perfumes, colognes, soap, nail polish, shower curtains, surgical tubes, IV containers, vinyl flooring, and wall coverings, food wrapping, and coatings on time-release pharmaceuticals are only a few of the items that contain them.

Using unscented lotions and laundry detergents, microwaving meals in glass containers rather than plastic, cleaning products without scents, and eliminating air fresheners and plastics numbered No. 3, No. 6, and No. 7 will help you prevent phthalates.

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers

These chemicals are used as flame retardants or chemicals that slow down the rate at which a flame burns. Televisions, monitors, insulation, and foam items, including children's toys and baby pillows, all include them.

Products can emit ethers, which can collect in the soil. Thyroid problems have been linked to exposure to these ethers.

While there isn't a directory that lists which products contain these ethers, customers can also limit their risk by searching for products that claim to be flame-retardant-free. Since these contaminants were detected in many older foams, uncovered foam items, such as sofas and pillows, should be replaced. To sweep up pollen, use a vacuum with a high-efficiency HEPA filter.

Lead

Lead is a metal that is used in nature. While leaded paint was phased out of gasoline in the 1970s, it can still be seen in older homes with leaded paint. Corrosion from old water pipes can also allow the lead to reach the water system. Industrial colors, auto batteries, and tire weights are only a few of the lead items.

ADHD, lower IQs, and developmental delays have all been linked to lead toxicity.

Since they often place their hands and toys in their mouths after being exposed to lead in soil, babies and toddlers are the most prone to lead poisoning.

Mercury

While mercury is a naturally occurring chemical, it can also be emitted into the atmosphere as coal and oil are burned. Any household products, such as thermometers, light bulbs, and older-model clothes dryers and washing machines, contain mercury. Mercury can contaminate fish and shellfish if it is found in the water. Mercury levels can be higher in certain species, such as some types of tuna.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, Mercury consumption during breastfeeding can impair memory, concentration, and cognitive ability.

Although you won't totally remove mercury from the atmosphere, you will reduce your mercury intake by avoiding mercury-rich seafood. Using mercury-free thermometers wherever possible. If you need assistance getting rid of mercury-containing household products, call the state or local household hazardous waste collection center.

ALSO READ: Common Every Day Activities that Help Mitigate Climate Change!

For more health & medicine news, don't forget to follow Nature World News!
Instagram is continuing with its efforts to make the platform safer for its young user base and has introduced updates on new features and resources. In order to protect teens from unwanted contact from adults, Instagram is introducing a new feature that prevents adults from sending messages to people under 18 who dont follow them. In a blog, Instagram explained that when an adult tries to message a teen who doesnt follow them, they receive a notification that DMing them isnt an option. This feature relies on our work to predict peoples ages using machine learning technology, and the age people give us when they sign up.

In addition to this, in the coming weeks, Instagram will start exploring ways to make it more difficult for adults who have been exhibiting potentially suspicious behaviour to find, follow and interact with teens. This may include things like restricting these adults from seeing teen accounts in Suggested Users, preventing them from discovering teen content in Reels or Explore, and automatically hiding their comments on public posts by teens, Instagram said in its blog.

A user has to be at least 13 years of age to use Instagram. New users will now be required to provide their age when they sign up for an account for some time. To meet the challenge in the case when young users lie about their age, Instagram is developing new artificial intelligence and machine learning technology to help the platform keep teens safer and apply new age-appropriate features.

Along with these, the Facebook-owned photo-sharing platform is also empowering parents to keep track of their kids online presence. In February 2021, Instagram had launched a parents guide, How to Talk With Your Teen About Instagram, which was aimed at equipping parents with the tools they need to start the dialogue with their children. Instagram has updated the guidelines with the latest safety tools and privacy settings, as well as a list of tips and conversation starters to help parents navigate discussions with their teens about their online presence. This updated Guide has been launched with expert partners in the US, Argentina, Brazil, India, Indonesia, Japan, Mexico and Singapore, and will continue to be rolled out in more countries soon.

Instagram is also encouraging the young users to be cautious in conversations with adults theyre already connected to, via prompts or safety notices. Instagram in its blog explained that safety notices in DMs will notify young people when an adult who has been exhibiting potentially suspicious behavior is interacting with them in DMs and give kids an option to end the conversation, or block, report, or restrict the adult.

Moreover, a new step was recently added when someone under 18 signs up for an Instagram account, they are given the option to choose between a public or private account. Our aim is to encourage young people to opt for a private account by equipping them with information on what the different settings mean, Instagram said in its blog.
Conroe history was made Tuesday night at the Conroe Symphony Centre.

The Conroe Symphony Orchestra Board of Directors officially welcomed the orchestras first female conductor at a small reception Tuesday.

Anna-Maria Gkouni, from Athens, Greece takes the reigns as the Symphonys new Conductor and Music Director. Gkouni is set to lead the all-volunteer symphony in its 24th season, which hopes to begin performing again this summer following a pause because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Gkouni is a Greek orchestral conductor, pianist and piano instructor. A native of Athens, she holds a piano performance and a music theory degree from Philippos Nakas Conservatory. After graduating with her bachelor of arts from Ionian University in Corfu, a Greek island, Gkouni moved to Nebraska to pursue her master of arts in orchestral conducting from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and currently she is pursuing her doctorate of musical arts in orchestral conducting at the University of Houston.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Active COVID-19 cases continue downward trend in Montgomery County

She also holds something that you would only hope for in a music conductor/director, and that is the very spirit and passion of music. Anna-Maria is intent on this 24th season of the Conroe Symphony Orchestra standing out from all past sessions as she brings a love for various art forms  including theater  to the concert performances. She cant wait to innovatively guide the amazing music of the Conroe Symphony Orchestra to tell beautiful, poetic things to all of our hearts, said Judge Kathleen Hamilton, board of directors chair.

Gkouni began playing piano when she was six. At age 11, she found out about a special high school that concentrated on music education and begged her parents to send her there.

Music was moving something inside me that I could not consciously understand, she told those gathered.

She next set her sights on the National Youth Choir of Greek radio. She auditioned three times and didnt give up until the conductor finally accepted her to the choir.

She was able to collaborate often with the National Symphony Orchestra of Greece and its various symphony conductors.

Eventually saw herself standing on the podium, instead of singing in the choir.

These dreams lead her to America, first Nebraska, then Houston and now in Conroe.

To lead the Conroe Symphony Orchestra is a dream come true, said Gkouni. I am so grateful for the opportunity to conduct this exceptionally talented group of musicians. My greatest aspiration for the future is to create innovative shows that will combine multiple forms of art such as theater, which is my second passion. We are all very much looking forward to bringing music back to the city of Conroe.

More from Sondra Hernandez: Conroe's First Thursday Free Concert series, Market Days return

Don Hutson, who led the search for the new conductor, and served as the music director for 13 years said of Gkouni, shes precisely the fresh new talent that is needed to take the Conroe Symphony Orchestra in a bold new direction. As Board members our desire is to create experiential new works of art that help expand the reach of the orchestra. I believe that Anna-Maria will take us there.

At the conclusion of the reception, Hutson handed Gkouni a bouquet of yellow roses officially welcoming her to Texas and to Conroe.

The Conroe Symphony Orchestra has not yet announced its first performance date but is hopeful that it will be sometime this summer and potentially with a patriotic theme around July 4.

For information and concert dates visit conroesymphony.org or follow the CSO on Facebook @ConroeSymphonyOrchestra.

shernandez@hcnonline.com
Kibrom Hailu wasn't too worried when his 15-year-old son stepped out to play volleyball one morning last month near their home in Wukro, in Ethiopia's conflict-hit Tigray region.

There had been protests in town that week -- young men burning tyres and denouncing Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed -- but his son, Henok, wasn't involved and promised not to go far.

Only when he heard gunfire did Kibrom realise the danger, and by then it was too late: Henok's body lay dead in the dirt road right outside the gate of their compound.

Henok was one of 18 civilians shot and killed that day by Ethiopian soldiers, according to a tally provided by St Mary's College in Wukro, which has documented abuses by security forces against civilians in the town since fighting erupted last November.

For Kibrom, though, the timing was just as revealing as the toll: the killings came around two and a half months after Abiy announced military operations in Tigray had "ceased" and life would return to normal.

In fact the opposite is true, Kibrom and other Wukro residents told AFP journalists who reached the town earlier this month.

Kibrom Hailu's 15-year-old son Henok was killed by Ethiopian soldiers /  AFP

"The war is escalating. Now it is focused on the civilians," Kibrom said.

"How can we live like this?"

Every phase of the four-month-old conflict in Tigray has brought suffering to Wukro, a fast-growing transport hub once best-known for its religious and archaeological sites.

Ahead of federal forces' arrival in late November, heavy shelling levelled homes and businesses and sent plumes of dust and smoke rising above near-deserted streets.

Since then the town has been heavily patrolled by soldiers -- Eritreans at first, now mostly Ethiopians -- whose abuses fuel a steady flow of civilian casualties and stoke anger with Nobel Peace Prize-winner Abiy.

"We are constantly receiving patients who are injured by the war," said Dr Adonai Hans, medical director of Wukro General Hospital.

"If somebody says there is no war in Tigray, that would be a joke for me."

- 'Sons of the junta' -

Abiy sent troops into Tigray on November 4 after blaming the region's once-dominant ruling party, the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), for attacks on army camps.

Several weeks later, as federal forces advanced on the regional capital Mekele, Wukro residents realised their town, 50 kilometres (31 miles) north, would be overrun.

Many fled to the surrounding mountains, looking on in horror as shells rained down on the town, some recording the carnage with their cellphones.

Buildings in Wukro including schools and hospitals have been looted, with residents blaming Eritrean troops /  AFP

What they returned to was even worse: Angry Eritreans who spent days looting homes, banks and factories and shooting dead scores of young men suspected of sympathising with the TPLF "junta", according to religious and medical officials.

"Killing is their kind of daily work. They don't even sense they are killing people," a Catholic official in Wukro said of the Eritreans, requesting anonymity to avoid reprisals.

Nebiyu Kiflom, a building materials vendor, was home with his housemates -- including three of his brothers -- when Eritreans barged through the door one night in late November.

"They said, 'You are the sons of the junta,'" he recalled. "We were just sitting at home. We weren't doing anything."

Priest Gebrehana Hailemariam says he has buried dozens of young men killed in Wukro /  AFP

The soldiers killed six people that night, and Nebiyu was stuck indoors for three days with the bodies before he summoned the courage to go for help.

By early December, scores of young men were dead in Wukro, including 81 now buried at the back of an Orthodox church.

"We have seen the bodies with our own eyes. We have buried them," said priest Gebrehana Hailemariam.

"They were killed in the town and brought to us."

None of the death tolls provided could be independently verified.

- Hospital shelled -

During the first wave of killings, Wukro residents had almost no access to medical care.

Damage from shelling and looting destroyed 75 percent of the hospital's facilities and equipment, forcing it to close for a month, said Dr Adonai, the medical director.

The timing could not have been worse for Elisabeth Gebrekidan, who delivered twins in early December and suffered what her family believes was postpartum haemorrhage.

Elias Gebrekidan (C) is now helping raise his nieces after their mother, his sister, died for lack of medical care /  AFP

Her brother, Elias, pleaded with a soldier for permission to hire an ambulance to take her to Mekele for treatment but was rebuffed.

"He said to me, 'Get out of my face, you are a son of the junta'," Elias recalled, tears streaming down his face at the memory.

Elisabeth died after four days at home, leaving Elias to raise the twins -- girls named Tsion and Roda -- with the help of his mother.

These days, the hospital is open and running, albeit at limited capacity.

Patients include rape survivors -- some of whom wait weeks or months before seeking medical care -- and freshly-wounded civilians who give an idea of just how close fighting continues to be.

Looting and shelling has left Wukro's hospital badly damaged and under-equipped /  AFP

One recent afternoon, a 45-year-old construction worker named Meles was being treated for a gunshot blast to his right thigh.

He said Eritrean soldiers had opened fire on civilians in his hometown of Agula, 12 kilometres south of Wukro, one morning in late February after pro-TPLF forces ambushed one of their positions in the town.

"Still the fighting continues," Meles said.

"The international community needs to act now before it's too late, before we vanish."

- 'This is our home' -

Ethiopia's military did not respond to requests for comment, though Abiy's government has previously rejected allegations that soldiers have killed civilians in Tigray.

Both Addis Ababa and Asmara deny Eritrean soldiers are in the region at all, despite contrary accounts from residents, aid workers, diplomats and members of Tigray's Abiy-appointed interim government.

Wukro's shop owners are still trying to scrape a living from what is left after shelling and looting /  AFP

These claims draw mocking laughter on Wukro's main commercial drag, where glass from shot-out windows litters sidewalks, and shopkeepers stand before empty shelves clutching photographs of what their businesses looked like before the war.

The pro-TPLF network Dimtsi Weyane recently aired a 13-minute video highlighting the scars of conflict in Wukro, with a narrator lamenting that the town, once an "earthly paradise", now "looks like Syria and Yemen."

Residents, for their part, said what they want most is for soldiers to leave so they can rebuild.

"They shouldn't stay here even for a single night," said Nebiyu, the building materials vendor.

"This is our home. It's where we live. Otherwise, we would leave."
Irelands premier will hold talks with President Joe Biden later as the traditional St Patricks Day engagement goes online.

The Taoiseach traditionally travels to Washington DC for St Patricks week to hold a series of high level meetings with the most powerful political figures in the US.

The pandemic has prevented Micheal Martin making the trip this year, with events taking place virtually instead.

Joe Biden (Niall Carson/PA)

Northern Irelands First Minister Arlene Foster and deputy First Minister Michelle ONeill are also expected to hold a virtual call with Vice President Kamala Harris on Wednesday  a meeting that may also involve an appearance from President Biden.

Mr Martin and President Biden are both marking their first St Patricks Day since they assumed office.

Keeping with tradition, their engagement will involve the presentation of a bowl of shamrock to Mr Biden.

The president often speaks with great pride about his Irish roots, having heritage tracing back to Ballina in Co Mayo and the Cooley Peninsula in Co Louth.

Ahead of the meeting, the Taoiseach predicted the discussions would feature Brexit and the coronavirus crisis.

Irelands problems securing Covid-19 vaccine supplies are also set to feature.

This week, President Biden said the US was in discussion with several countries over any surplus vaccines that may become available.

Commenting on the engagement with the president, Mr Martin said on Tuesday: I think the fundamental aspect of tomorrows meeting is to strengthen and deepen even further the bilateral relationship between Ireland and the United States.

Mr Martins programme of events begins in the early afternoon with a meeting with Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi.

He will also meet Vice-President Harris.

The Taoiseachs virtual itinerary also includes a lunch hosted by Ms Pelosi and a memorial event for the late SDLP leader John Hume.
The Daily Beast

REUTERSIt appears that Benjamin Netanyahu is finally on his way out as Israels prime minister. With just minutes to spare ahead of a midnight deadline on Wednesday, opposition leader Yair Lapid notified Israels president that he had formed a new government.But if Benjamin Netayahus 12-year run is indeed at an end, expect key segments of the GOP will treat Bibi as though he had not lost power, much as they continue to venerate Donald Trump and look at Joe Bidens victory as illegitimate.Israel
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This Friday, March 19, thousands of young activists around the world will march and strike for climate action as part of Fridays for Future, a movement launched by Greta Thunberg and other organizers. Events are planned on five continents. The theme: #NoMoreEmptyPromises. Those in power continue to only deliver vague and empty promises for far off dates that are much too late, reads a statement by Fridays For Future. What we need are not meaningless goals for 2050 or net-zero targets full of loopholes, but concrete and immediate action in-line with science.

For some journalists, covering activism presents an uncomfortable dilemma. Too much coverage might come across as cheerleading or make journalists look like they are activists themselves, contradicting institutional notions of neutrality. A reporters job is to cover the news, the argument goes, not boost one side or the other.

Fair enough. But activists are newsmakersjust like the politicians, scientists, and corporate officials we cover all the time.

Youth-dominated groups have upended global climate politics over the last two years and injected a much-needed emphasis on environmental justice into the public conversation. Whether by scolding jet-setting elites at Davos for their obliviousness, as Thunberg did, or occupying House Speaker Nancy Pelosis Capitol office, as Sunrise Movement activists did to demand that Democrats walk their talk on climate change, youth activists have forced the climate issue onto government and, yes, media agendas around the world.

During the 2020 US election campaign, youth activists grassroots pressure pushed then-candidate Joe Biden to dramatically strengthen his climate proposals even as it helped raise climate change to a top-tier campaign issue. For the general election in November, Sunrise and other youth-led groups mobilized large numbers of new voters, including in Georgia and other swing states, that helped elect Biden president and gain Democrats a razor-thin majority in the US Senate. Now, with Biden in the White House, activists are continuing to push him to make good on his promise to treat climate change as the existential crisis he rightly says it is.

In short, climate activists are a potent political force. Covering them is no act of favoritism, but simply a matter of accurately telling the climate story.

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Indeed, one could argue that activists, as a whole, have been ahead of journalists on this story. Media coverage of the climate crisis has long lagged behind warnings from scientists and other expertsespecially in the US, where coverage was sporadic at best, and often descended into a scientifically indefensible bothsidesism that portrayed corporate flaks and real scientists as equally credible. Improved news coverage overlaps with the emergence of the youth climate movement: According to a 2020 analysis by the watchdog outfit Media Matters for America, the outpouring of climate activism in 2019especially a global youth strike in September of that year, led by Thunberg and involving some 6 million peoplewas largely what finally shocked the media out of their collective climate silence. In other words, despite a wealth of evidence establishing climate change as a story of massive, global importance, many news organizations still needed to be led out of the darkness.

With a climate realist now in the White House, a new era of possibility in the climate story has arrived. Its more important than ever for journalists to cover activist groups and their activities accurately and fairly, showing them no more fear or favor than we show any other type of newsmaker.

That task begins with doing a better job of portraying who the climate movement actually is. Even after news organizations finally recognized that young climate activists were making news, too many stories fixated on the celebrity of Thunberg and a small handful of others while giving short shrift to the substance of their message. Instead of focusing on the climate and listening to the scientific message, people are instead listening to and talking about me, Thunberg remarked in September 2020. Such coverage gives the impression that Thunberg was the only young activist worth hearing, a grievous misrepresentation. Dear media, I see you are writing about the international climate crisis lawsuit @GretaThunberg and I launched today with 15 other child plaintiffs, Alexandria Villasenor, a prominent activist from New York, wrote on Twitter in 2019. The other plaintiffs have names, experiences and stories. Make sure you write about them, too.

Some outlets have done well on that front, featuring a range of activists in their stories and even profiling them or publishing their op-eds. For example, both CNN and PBS NewsHour recently ran extensive stories about the Indigenous activists in Minnesota fighting the Line 3 tar sands pipeline overseen by Enbridge, a Canadian multinational company. PBS correspondent Ivette Feliciano interviewed Winona LaDuke of the Indigenous climate justice organization Honor the Earth, who said the greenhouse gas emissions of the Line 3 pipeline are the equivalent to 50 new coal-fired power plants. So, you know, if youre trying to save the planet, this is not the way to do it.

Other times, outlets have struggled to show the diversity and breadth of the climate movement. In an emblematic incident from January 2020, the Associated Press cut Vanessa Nakate, a 23-year-old climate activist in Uganda, out of a photo depicting four other influential young activists, including Thunberg, all of whom are white. (Reuters, at the same time, misidentified Nakate as Zambian activist Natasha Mwansa.) At first, the AP said the crop was a deadline decision made to improve the photos composition; the agency later apologized for the error. Nakate responded that the APs action was evidence of how Africans and others from poor countries are often excluded from the climate conversation. It showed how we are valued, Nakate said.

The modern climate and environmental movements are diverse and enormous. Rather than select, elevate, and revisit a handful of celebrities, journalists should seek out a range of voices, especially activists at the local level representing Indigenous groups or people of color whose communities are often disproportionately affected by climate change.

That said, thoughtful reporting on climate activism should not preclude journalists from asking probing questions about the activists platforms, tactics, and operations. For example, many young activists engage the climate crisis as an intersectional issue, in which individual and overlapping identitiesincluding those of race, class, and gendershape their platforms and their work, including dealings with older activist organizations and policymakers. Some of the best-funded climate-advocacy groups have long been far from diverse in their staffing and leadership, despite repeated promises to improve. News coverage should engage the full substance of activist groups agendas in an ongoing way, with attention to their complexities and efficacyand not only when theyre marching in the streets.

As many activists would say, ultimately the climate story is not about them; its about whether humanity can defuse the climate emergency in time to preserve a livable planet. By telling that story, journalists can get themselves, and their audiences, up to speed on the defining challenge of our time.

THE MEDIA TODAY: The Covid Tracking Project is (nearly) gone. Can we see clearly now?

Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today

Mark Hertsgaard is the executive director of Covering Climate Now, a global journalism initiative committed to more and better coverage of the climate story. He is also the environment correspondent for The Nation and author of books including HOT: Living Through the Next Fifty Years on Earth.
Additional Attorney General (AAG) Aamir Rehman on Wednesday informed the Supreme Court (SC) that the federal government would oppose Justice Qazi Faez Isa's request for live broadcast of the review petition proceeding

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 17th Mar, 2021 ) :Additional Attorney General (AAG) Aamir Rehman on Wednesday informed the Supreme Court (SC) that the federal government would oppose Justice Qazi Faez Isa's request for live broadcast of the review petition proceedings.

A ten-member SC larger bench comprising Justice Umar Ata Bandial, Justice Maqbool Baqar, Justice Manzoor Ahmed Malik, Justice Mazhar Alam Khan Miankhel, Justice Sajjad Ali Shah, Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah, Justice Munib Akhtar, Justice Yahya Afridi, Justice Qazi Muhammad Amin Ahmed and Justice Aminuddin Khan heard the review petition seeking removal of paragraphs 2 to 11 of the June 19, 2020 verdict.

On June 19, 2020, seven judges of a 10-judge bench quashed a presidential reference against Justice Isa but also ordered the Federal board of Revenue (FBR) to conduct an inquiry into the judge's family members' foreign assets and submit a report to the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC).

During the course of proceedings, Aamir Rehman while objecting the live broadcast of the case said live coverage would lead to a public debate on the conduct of judges. "Judges speak through their decisions, not on television," he added.

He said it was feared that court decisions in live coverage would not be legal but would be based on popularity.

Addressing the AAG, Justice Umar Ata Bandial remarked that his arguments were strong and need to be reviewed.

The AAG said media houses would not be able to take a stand on either side due to their institutional policy.

He said Justice Qazi Faiz Issa argued that live broadcasts would educate the people. He asked if law students did not learn from books, what would they learn from live broadcasts? He said the justice delivered by the judges reaches the people through decisions. Showing court proceedings on television would cause many problems, he added.

He said media representatives were present in the courtroom to convey the proceedings of the SC to the public. Media representatives conveyed court proceedings to the public in simple language, he added.

He said there was no justification for direct action in the presence of media representatives.

He said judges had special powers in the courtroom.

He pleaded the court to reject Justice Qazi Faez Isa's request to show the proceedings of the case live.

Justice Qazi Faez Isa in his arguments said freedom of the media was being compromised.

Justice Bandial said court proceedings were recorded in the United States of America.

Sarina Isa, wife of Justice Qazi Faez Isa, alleging government machinery misusing its authority said the property she bought with her own money was turned into her husband's overnight.

Later, hearing of the case was adjourned until Thursday.
NEW YORK, March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ --

The Media Training market will register an incremental spend of about USD 0.68 Billion, growing at a CAGR of 4.10% during the five-year forecast period. A targeted strategic approach to Media Training 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

Media Training Market Procurement Research 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 KPI's 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 Media Training market. The report also aids buyers with relevant Media Training 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 2.00%-5.00%.

Identify favorable opportunities in Media Training 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 Media Training suppliers listed in this report:

This Media Training procurement intelligence report has enlisted the top suppliers and their cost structures, SLA terms, best selection criteria, and negotiation strategies.

Daniel J. Edelman Holdings Inc.

Weber Shandwick Inc.

Fleishman-Hillard Inc.

Ketchum Inc.

BCW Global

MSLGROUP

Hill+Knowlton Strategies

The Ogilvy Group

BlueFocus Communication Group

Havas Group

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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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Tanzanian President, John Magufuli, has died of heart complications, vice president Samia Suluhu announced on a live TV Wednesday.

Mr Magufuli, who had not been seen in public for more than two weeks, was 61.

There were speculations that he was infected with COVID-19, a disease he downplayed its severity, but vice-president Suluhu brushed this aside.

Ms Suluhu said in a statement she issued live on local TBC that Mr Magufuli died of heart complications on Wednesday at about 6 p.m. in a hospital in Dar es Salaam.

COVID-19 skeptic

Mr Magufuli, without proof, repeatedly made fun of his countrys COVID-19 testing, after which the East African country stopped sharing updates on the number of people infected and killed by the virus.

While neighbouring Kenya and Uganda imposed lockdowns and curfew, Mr Magufuli maintained business as usual in his country.

We Tanzanians have not locked ourselves down, and I dont expect to announce even a single day that we are implementing a lockdown because our God is still alive, and he will continue protecting us Tanzanians, DW quoted the late president once telling a crowd.

But we shall also continue taking precautions, including steaming. You steam, at the same time pray to God, and go on with your daily activities so that you eat well and your body builds immunity against the coronavirus.

But he began to acknowledge the severity of the virus after Zanzibars first vice-president, Sharif Hamad, died from the virus in February.

Life and time

Born on October 29, 1959, Mr Magufuli earned his masters and doctorate degrees from the University of Dar es Salaam in 1994 and 2009, respectively.

He taught briefly at Sengerema Secondary School after which he worked as an industrial chemist before he went into politics under the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party.

In 1995, he was elected a member of parliament, then appointed deputy minister of works the same year before becoming a minister in 2000.

His re-appointment as works and transportation minister for the second time earned him so much popularity and paved the way for him to hold the number one job in Tanzania.

He earned the moniker the bulldozer because of his bullish leadership style and anti-corruption fight in the road construction industry. His critics accused him of being autocratic.

In 2015, he ran for president and won 58 per cent of the vote, defeating Edward Lowassa of the Chadema opposition party.

Last year, he was re-elected  a result that was rejected by opposition presidential candidate, Tundu Lissu.
Former mayoral aide and police union lobbyist Tim McOsker, shown in November, says he will run for Los Angeles City Council in the district that includes the Port of Los Angeles. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)

A lawyer, lobbyist and onetime aide to former Los Angeles Mayor James Hahn is jumping into the race for a Watts-to-San Pedro seat on the City Council, reshuffling the campaign for the second time in a week.

Councilman Joe Buscaino, after nearly a decade in office, announced Monday he would not seek reelection in the port district and would instead run for mayor in June 2022. On Wednesday, attorney and nonprofit executive Tim McOsker launched his own campaign to replace Buscaino in the district, which takes in areas such as Wilmington, Harbor City and the Los Angeles harbor.

McOsker, 58, was a high-level aide to Hahn from 1997 to 2005, serving as chief of staff when Hahn was city attorney and later as mayor. More recently, he has worked as an attorney and registered city lobbyist, representing such clients as the hotel industry and the Los Angeles Police Protective League, the union that represents rank-and-file police officers.

How that private-sector work will play out in a political campaign is unclear. After the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis last year, activists across the city pressed council members to defund the Los Angeles Police Department and shift the money to programs that help the city's neediest, while also denouncing the police union for having too much political clout.

Black Lives Matter-Los Angeles recently launched a campaign against the Police Protective League, calling for the county's powerful Federation of Labor to cut ties with the union. BLM-LA also has been staging weekly demonstrations outside the league's offices, arguing the union should be dismantled and the LAPD abolished.

In an interview, McOsker said he is running to help rebuild the city's economy, take on the city's homelessness crisis, address rising rents, and fix roads and other public works. The lifelong San Pedro resident said he supports efforts to "reimagine" public safety, shifting some tasks out of the LAPD if they can be done more effectively by other professionals, and in turn freeing up funds to address rising crime.

Story continues

"My familiarity with the city in general, and with the Police Department in particular, is a positive," he said. "Who better to help navigate the issues of constitutional policing and, if we are reimagining public safety, how we do so and keep our communities safe?"

McOsker also serves as chief executive of AltaSea, a research institute and business incubator at the Port of Los Angeles.

L.A. City Council candidate Bryant Odega. (Courtesy Bryant Odega)

For now, the only other candidate in the race to replace Buscaino is Bryant Odega, an environmental activist who has argued that city leaders spend too much money on police. Odega, who resides in Harbor Gateway, said Wednesday that at least $100 million should be cut from the LAPD next year, with the proceeds moved into such programs as public housing, mental health counseling and public transportation.

In a city dealing with police brutality and police misconduct, having a lawyer for the police union join the council is the last thing we need, said Odega, a volunteer organizer with Sunrise Movement Los Angeles, an environmental and social justice group.

"I think it also begs the question: Whos he going to be fighting for? Whose interests is he going to be pushing over others? said Odega, who sits on the Harbor Gateway South Neighborhood Council.

Odega, 23, also supports a Green New Deal and has called for the cancellation of rent for every Angeleno who is unable to pay because of economic hardships brought on by the outbreak of COVID-19.

The race to replace Buscaino is one of eight council contests scheduled for next year. Six incumbents  Gil Cedillo, Bob Blumenfield, Monica Rodriguez, Curren Price, Mike Bonin and Mitch O'Farrell  have filed paperwork to run for another four-year term. In some of those races, incumbents are facing challenges from candidates running on a platform of cutting LAPD spending.

In the southwest San Fernando Valley, for example, high school teacher Yasmine Pomeroy is seeking to unseat Blumenfield, arguing that the LAPD budget is "bloated" and should be reduced, with the proceeds diverted to other needs. Blumenfield, for his part, was coauthor of a motion last year to have the city develop a system of sending unarmed crisis responders out to nonviolent calls, instead of armed police officers.

The other council race without an incumbent can be found on the Westside, where Councilman Paul Koretz is facing term limits. Koretz launched a bid last year to replace City Controller Ron Galperin, who is facing term limits himself.

Several council candidates have launched campaigns in Koretz's Westwood-to-Encino district, including Jeff Ebenstein, a policy advisor to Koretz, and Katy Young Yaroslavsky, an aide to Los Angeles County Supervisor Sheila Kuehl. She is also the daughter-in-law of Zev Yaroslavsky, the former councilman and county supervisor who represented the Westside for decades.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
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[March 16, 2021] Athena Technology Acquisition Corp. Announces Pricing of $250 Million Initial Public Offering

Athena Technology Acquisition Corp. (the "Company") announced the pricing of its initial public offering of 25,000,000 units at $10.00 per unit. The units will be listed on the New York Stock Exchange (the "NYSE") under the symbol "ATHN.U" commencing on March 17, 2021. Each unit consists of one share of the Company's Class A common stock and one-third of one warrant, each whole warrant entitling the holder thereof to purchase one share of the Company's Class A common stock at an exercise price of $11.50 per share. Once the securities constituting the units begin separate trading, we expect that the Class A common stock and warrants will be listed on the NYSE under the symbols "ATHN" and "ATHN WS," respectively. The Company is a blank check company whose business purpose is to effect a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses, which we refer to as our initial business combination. While the Company may pursue an initial business combination target in any industry, it currently intends to focus its efforts identifying businesses in technology, direct to consumer and fintech industries. Citigroup Global Markets Inc. ("Citigroup") is acting as sole bookrunner and representative of the underwriters and CastleOak Securities, L.P. an Siebert Williams Shank & Co., LLC are acting as co-managers of the offering. The Company has granted the underwriters a 45-day option to purchase up to 3,750,000 additional units at the initial public offering price to cover over-allotments, if any.



This offering will only be made by means of a prospectus. Copies of the preliminary prospectus relating to the offering and final prospectus, when available, may be obtained from Citigroup, c/o Broadridge Financial Solutions, 1155 Long Island Avenue, Edgewood, New York 11717 or by telephone at (800) 831-9146. A registration statement relating to these securities has been declared effective by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the " SEC (News - Alert) "). This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any State or jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such State or jurisdiction.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This press release contains statements that constitute "forward-looking statements," including with respect to the proposed initial public offering and the anticipated use of the net proceeds. No assurance can be given that the offering discussed above will be completed on the terms described, or at all, or that the net proceeds of the offering will be used as indicated. Forward-looking statements are subject to numerous conditions, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, including those set forth in the Risk Factors section of the Company's registration statement and preliminary prospectus for the Company's offering filed with the SEC. Copies are available on the SEC's website, www.sec.gov. The Company undertakes no obligation to update these statements for revisions or changes after the date of this release, except as required by law. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210316006142/en/

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Creating the next generation of solar cells and sensors requires a close look at how light interacts with light-responsive materials. Research at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory is advancing this understanding toward a future with flexible, highly efficient solar cells and cutting-edge optical tools.

To design new technologies that harness light using organic materials, scientists are exploring the basic molecular functions at play. For example, the use of specially designed carbon-based components could enable flexible, thin-film solar cells, or photovoltaics. This type of material could enable everything from tinted power-generating windows to portable chargers, expanding solar energy far beyond traditional, silicon-based roof panels. However, much remains to be discovered about which building blocks for these organic photovoltaics will deliver high efficiency, durability and low cost.

"In some ways, photovoltaics today are like the early auto industry," said Richard Schaller, a physical chemist at Argonne and professor at Northwestern University. "A dozen or more different engineering and materials approaches all aim to utilize solar energy, but they target multiple identified markets, as well as respond to different cost and performance drivers."

Such materials span thick, high-purity crystalline inorganics like silicon to low-cost, much thinner organic plastics and small molecules that need less initial energy input to fabricate.

The heart of organic solar cells is composed of separate regions known as electron donors and electron acceptors. When photons from sunlight hit these regions, the photons deposit energy into negatively charged electrons, which are excited and produce positively charged holes where the electrons were. These electron-hole pairs stick together due to their opposite charge and are called excitons. When excitons meet the interface between donor and acceptor, they can split, facilitating the separate transfer of electrons moving toward one electrode and holes toward the other, generating a current.

Spherical, hollow carbon molecules known as fullerenes make great acceptors within a cell, but fullerenes have drawbacks, said Lin Chen, a Distinguished Fellow at Argonne and chemistry professor at Northwestern University.

"Fullerene is hard to synthesize, and more expensive by weight than gold," she said. "It's been an ongoing process to find non-fullerene acceptors that are cost-effective and robust for long-lasting organic solar cells."

Chen, Schaller and colleagues are studying perylenediimide (PDI) derivatives, which are potential alternatives to fullerenes based on a class of inexpensive pigments. In a recent study, the researchers examined six variations of PDIs synthesized by Luping Yu, a study co-author and chemistry professor at the University of Chicago, and his colleagues. The goal was to see how changes in molecular structure affected the PDIs' light-converting efficiency.

These PDI molecules are linked together into pairs called dimers to enhance their electronic communications with donor materials. The study compared activities among these dimers with linkers of different length and rigidity. The research, which was published in the journal Chemical Science in June, 2020, combined experimental and theoretical expertise among the collaborators to assemble the most comprehensive characterization yet of different PDI structures for photovoltaics.

On the experimental side, researchers examined the dimers with ultrafast emission and transient absorption spectroscopy to measure in real time the dynamics of exciton generation, evolution and decay. These optical studies, which help sensitively track exciton activity by recording different spectra of light as the photons are absorbed or emitted by the material, were conducted at Argonne's Center for Nanoscale Materials (CNM), a DOE Office of Science User Facility.

The time-resolved light measurements were validated via comprehensive calculations by George Schatz, study co-author and a chemistry professor at Northwestern University, who together with colleagues examined the structural dependence of energy levels in these molecules, such as how the linker between two PDIs modifies the density of the electron flow between them.

In a separate study, Chen, Schaller and colleagues evaluated the exciton activity of assembled molecules known as two-dimensional covalent organic frameworks, or 2D COFs, designed by study co-author William Dichtel and colleagues at Northwestern University. COFs have potential for use in light-emitting diodes, chemical sensors and photovoltaicstheir geometric precision lends itself to efficient energy transport. But little is known about how electrons actually behave in these emerging materials.

2D COFs resemble snowflakes that can be stacked or linked to create an electron-transporting network. As they join together, their properties change, and the researchers wanted to know why. They inspected these crystalline structures, again using transient absorption spectroscopy at Northwestern University and the CNM and also the DuPont-Northwestern-Dow Collaborative Access Team (DND-CAT) beamline at the Advanced Photon Source, a DOE Office of Science User Facility at Argonne.

Powder scatters light to an extent that makes it difficult to characterize with spectroscopy. To get around this problem, the researchers created a colloidal solution of COFs, allowing for photophysical characterization that wouldn't have been possible otherwise.

"Colloidal COFs are at a pretty early stage," Schaller said. "In the past, they've only been made as solid powders, and so even just studying their properties has been a challenge that William Dichtel has been able to break open."

Spectroscopy was used to gauge electron activity, while the DND-CAT beamline helped measure the size and molecular packing of the COFs' crystalline domain.

"We discovered a very high mobility of excitons in the 2D COFs, which was unexpected," Chen said. "The findings reinforce these structures' promise for potential opto-electronic applications."

The team's results are detailed in the paper "Large exciton diffusion coefficients in two-dimensional covalent organic frameworks with different domain sizes revealed by ultrafast exciton dynamics," which was published last July in the Journal of the American Chemical Society.

Explore further Small molecules could hold the key to enhancing the efficiency of organic solar cells

More information: Nathan C. Flanders et al. Large Exciton Diffusion Coefficients in Two-Dimensional Covalent Organic Frameworks with Different Domain Sizes Revealed by Ultrafast Exciton Dynamics, Journal of the American Chemical Society (2020). Journal information: Journal of the American Chemical Society , Chemical Science Nathan C. Flanders et al. Large Exciton Diffusion Coefficients in Two-Dimensional Covalent Organic Frameworks with Different Domain Sizes Revealed by Ultrafast Exciton Dynamics,(2020). DOI: 10.1021/jacs.0c05404
Gov. Charlie Baker announced Wednesday an updated timeline for when not-yet eligible Massachusetts residents can expect a chance at the COVID-19 vaccine, ranging from residents just below age 65 to 16 year olds. Read more here.

When will all Massachusetts residents be eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine? Gov. Charlie Baker and other top state officials are set to discuss this Wednesday.

Baker and Lt. Governor Karyn Polito will join Secretary of Health and Human Services Marylou Sudders and Brockton Neighborhood Health Center CEO Sue Joss for a press conference announced for Wednesday morning.

Officials will tour a vaccination site at The Shaws Center in Brockton at 10:30 a.m., with a press conference scheduled to begin after.

The press conference will be livestreamed.

This announcement follows a shift in the states online vaccination portal last week, which now allows all who live, work or study in Massachusetts to pre-register for the vaccine.

Residents will be notified when they may book an appointment, and officials urged patience.

It could still take several weeks for eligible individuals to receive a notification, Baker told reporters Thursday, citing limited doses from the federal government.

For those who register and are eligible, residents started getting notified starting March 16 for open appointments, Baker said during a press conference on Friday.

The website was launched to replace the states previous online booking platforms.

Numerous issues were reported with the previous system. The morning nearly a million Massachusetts residents became eligible to book their vaccine appointments, the website crashed.

Leadership at PrepMod, the company which created Massachusetts previous booking platform, said the issue was due to the team being unaware state health officials were expanding eligibility and hadnt scale up the website in time.

Thursday marked the one-year anniversary of Baker declaring a state of emergency in Massachusetts due to the pandemic.

Massachusetts has administered over two million doses of COVID vaccine since the vaccination effort began in late in 2020.

Who is currently eligible to receive the vaccine?

Massachusetts entered Phase 2 of the vaccine rollout last month.

Residents 65 years and older and individuals with two or more medical conditions considered at increased risk for severe illness from the virus, and residents and staff of low income and affordable senior housing are eligible to receive the vaccine.

Medical conditions prioritized include:

Asthma (moderate to severe)

Cancer

Chronic kidney disease

COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)

Down Syndrome

Heart conditions, such as heart failure, coronary artery disease or cardiomyopathies

Immunocompromised state (weakened immune system) from solid organ transplant

Obesity and severe obesity (body mass index [BMI] of 30 kg/m2 or higher)

Pregnancy

Sickle cell disease

Smoking

Type 2 diabetes mellitus

Got a news tip or want to contact MassLive about this story? Email newstips@masslive.com or message us on Facebook or Twitter. You can also call our news tips line at 413-776-1364.
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Maharashtra, Punjab, Karnataka, and continue to report a high number of daily COVID-19 cases, accounting for 71.10 per centof the 28,903 new infections, the Union Health Ministry said on Wednesday.

It said 83.91 per cent of the new cases are from Maharashtra, Punjab, Karnataka, and and Kerala.

alone accounts for 61.8 per cent of the daily new cases with 17,864 cases. It is followed by Kerala with 1,970 while reported 1,463 new cases, the ministry said.

Kerala is reporting a consistently declining trend over the last one month.

India's total active caseload has reached 2.34 lakh (2,34,406) comprising 2.05 per cent of the total infections.

"Maharashtra, Kerala and account for 76.4 per cent of India's total active cases, with alone contributing nearly 60 per cent," the ministry highlighted.

Over 3.5 crore (3,50,64,536) vaccine doses have been administered through5,86,855 sessions,as per the provisional report till Wednesday 7 am, the ministry said.

These include75,06,155 healthcare workers (HCWs) who have been given the 1st dose,45,54,855HCWs who have been administered the 2nd dose),76,00,030 frontline workers (FLWs) who have taken the 1stdose) and16,47,644FLWs who have been given the 2nd doses.

Besides, 21,66,408beneficiaries aged more than 45 years with specific co-morbiditiesand1,15,89,444individuals aged more than 60 years have been administered the 1st dose.

As on day-60 of the vaccination drive (16th March, 2021), more than 21lakh (21,17,104)vaccine doses were given.

Of these, 17,82,553 beneficiaries were vaccinated across 30,871 sessions for 1stdose and 3,34,551 HCWs and FLWs received the 2nd dose of vaccine.

India's cumulative recoveries surged to 1,10,45,284.

The ministry stated that188 deaths were reported in a span of 24 hours.

Six states account for 86.7 per cent of the new deaths. saw the maximum casualties (87). follows with 38 daily deaths. Kerala reported 15 deaths.

Fifteen states and UTs have not reported any COVID-19 deaths in a span of 24 hours. These are Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Uttarakhand, Lakshadweep, Sikkim, Meghalaya, Daman and Diu & Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Nagaland, Tripura, Ladakh, Manipur, Mizoram, Andman and Nicobar Islands and Arunachal Pradesh.

(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 17 : The withholding tax for foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) funds dealing in debt securities will continue to be levied at concessional rate of 5 per cent, the Finance Ministry said on Wednesday.

In a clarification issued on the issue, the ministry said that that there is no change in the said proviso even after amendment of Section 115AD vide Taxation and Other Laws (Relaxation and Amendment of Certain Provisions) Act, 2020 and the concessional rate of tax of 5 per cent shall continue to be applicable for interest income on debt securities subscribed by FPI.

Media reports and experts had earlier pointed out that the provision providing for concessional income tax rate of 5 percent on debt return for foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) has been omitted after the amendment to tax laws.

The Finance Ministry said that Section 115AD of the Income Tax Act, 1961 inter alia contains provisions for taxation of income of FPIs. Proviso to section 115AD (1)(i) provides that the tax shall be chargeable at the concessional rate of 5 per cent on interest income referred to in section 194LD. So, even after amendment of Section 115AD the concessional rate specified in section 194LD remains, the Ministry said in the clarificatory press release.

The removal of concessional tax on FPIs would have impacted at least 4,000 international funds that collectively maintain debt paper of over Rs 4 lakh crore in value. It would have meant that FPIs interest income from debt instruments would have surged to 20 per cent with effect from April 1. Several tax consultancies and FPI advisors had also earlier sought clarification from the Finance Ministry on the issue.
President Joe Bidens steps to bring the US back to centre stage on global health, on climate and on human rights have been praised by Taoiseach Micheal Martin.

Mr Martin met Mr Biden virtually on St Patricks Day.

The Taoiseachs traditional visit to the White House and shamrock presentation was cancelled this year because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Earlier, Mr Martin also had virtual meetings with US Vice President Kamala Harris and Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Mr Biden said he hopes the traditional visit and shamrock ceremony can take place at the White House next St Patricks Day.

He thanked the Taoiseach for a bowl of shamrock which had been delivered to him, and said the White House will be lit up green to celebrate the deep, deep affection that we Americans have for Ireland and the people of Ireland.

It includes millions of Americans like my great-great grandfather, my great grandfather and my grandfather, all of whom were Irish-Americans, on both sides of the family, he said.

Read More

Mr Biden said Ireland and the United States have a robust agenda, including combating Covid-19, strengthening global health security, discussions on economic co-operation and Irelands leadership on the UN Security Council.

He also restated his support for the Good Friday Agreement, adding it was critically important it was maintained.

The political and economic stability of Northern Ireland is very much in the interest of all of our people, he said.

Mr Biden also referred to the two countries working together on cancer research.

Everything between Ireland and the United States runs deep  our joys, our sorrows, our passion, our drive, our unrelenting optimism and hope, he said.

Responding, Mr Martin told Mr Biden that the people of Ireland are so proud of your election as a proud son of Ireland.

It feels strange to have to celebrate apart. As you know well, Irish people love to come together to celebrate our heritage and culture with song, with dance, with parades, with poetry and with pride, and this year because of the pandemic it just simply isnt possible, he said.

I greatly look forward to you being able to visit Ireland as you have done so many times and so memorably before. I also hope it will not be long before I can visit the United States again.

For now, the bowl of shamrock in front of you is a symbol of the undying friendship between our two countries, a symbol of the good times we have shared and the challenges we have endured, always at each others side.

Mr Martin went on to tell Mr Biden that the policies of their respective countries are closely aligned on the big challenges the world faces.

He also told him that the world has rightly taken great heart from the steps you have already taken to bring the US back to centre stage on global health, on climate and on human rights.

Earlier, US Vice President Kamala Harris told Mr Martin that her countrys commitment to Ireland remains steadfast and strong.

Ms Harris spoke of her regret that they were not able to meet in person and expressed hope that next year they will share a good breakfast together.

I will tell you that our commitment to Ireland remains steadfast and strong, she said.

Mr Martin told Ms Harris that the ties between their two nations were rich and deep.

He also congratulated her on becoming the first female US vice president, adding: You may be the first woman in your role, but you will not be the last.

I hope that I will have the opportunity to welcome you to Ireland too during your time as vice president.

I look forward to our discussions but, most of all, I am delighted to have this opportunity to get to know you and to wish you a very happy St Patricks Day.

Mass shootings in Atlanta which saw eight people killed were mentioned.

Ms Harris described the incident as tragic, adding she and Mr Biden were grieving for those lost.

Mr Martin expressed his condolences to the president and vice president, the American people and the grieving families of those killed and injured.
Trans teenager Stella Keating testifies to the Senate Judiciary Committee as part of a hearing regarding the Equality Act (C-SPAN)

Transgender high school student Stella Keating testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee asking that Congress pass the Equality Act to allow her to live her life with the same protections as other Americans.

The committee hearing on the landmark legislation that would add sexual orientation and gender identity to existing federal civil rights legislation, focussed primarily on transgender issues.

Ms Keating provided a human face to the discussion and she bravely introduced herself to the assembled lawmakers via video conference on Wednesday morning.

I am 16-years-old, and I live in the state of Washington, she said after saying her pronouns were she/her. I am a sophomore in high school and just got my drivers license, which was a great day!

After speaking about her love of politics and her role in the GenderCool Project, and advocacy group, she reintroduced herself to the assembled senators, many of whom were unlikely to have met a transgender individual.

"Hi, Im Stella, and Im transgender. Im here before you today, representing the hundreds of thousands of kids, just like me who are supported and loved by their family, friends, and community across the country.

While Ms Keating said that while she now lives in a state that provides her with equal protection under the law, she worries that when she moves on to college or pursues a career, what will happen to her in a state in which she is discriminated against.

Noting that she could be denied medical care or be evicted in many states, she asked: How is that even right? How is that even American?

Even if my employer is supportive, I still have to live somewhere, eat in restaurants, have a doctor, she said. And why am I having to worry about all of this at the age of 16?

Story continues

Much of the testimony and the questioning focussed on the issue of sport at the high school and college level, though others touched on issues in prisons, individuals self-identifying and exploiting laws, and alleged conflicts with religious freedoms.

Senator Ted Cruz said the legislation amounted to a war on women accusing the Democratic Party of getting more and more radical and turning everyone into victims.

A less combative tone was set by Senator Thom Tillis whose vote would be key in moving the bill forward: I want to find a compromise, one that prevents discrimination against anybody in the LGBTQ community, any American, but also want to protect Americans of faith.

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Committee chair Dick Durbin responded to Senator Tillis: I want to just say, with the tone that you set with your question and comment, is one I hope the committee can follow up on.

In the conclusion of her statement, Ms Keating said that she aims to become a civil rights lawyer and one day run for political office.

For my generation to achieve all that  We just need to be able to lead our lives, she said.

Ms Keating was commended for her testimony by Senator Durbin at the close of the hearing.
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By Ko Dong-hwan







Eone Diagnomics Genome Center's (EDGC) latest COVID-19 test kit attained the European CE mark on March 15, paving the way for the Korean genetic analysis company to export its product to the continent.







The EDGC COVID-19 Ag Test can now be exported to European Union member states where the mark is a prerequisite for products sold to consumers.







EDGC said the CE, along with the certifying marks by Korea's Ministry of Food and Drug Safety and the United States' Food and Drug Administration (FDA), entail particularly high standards when approving medicinal products and medical devices for licensed use.







"With the European mark, our plan to export the kit to the United States, Europe, Central and South America and Asia has achieved visible progress, and the prospect now looks promising," said Lee Hwa-seop, chief of the company's virus testing business department.







The portable kit takes less than 15 minutes to confirm whether the user is infected with COVID-19 by analyzing protein from phlegm or mucus. The kit, EDGC said, is better than more conventionally used polymer chain reaction (PCR) methods that require equipment costing thousands of dollars and takes up to six hours to show the results.







According to the company, the kit has 93 percent "sensitivity," or true-positive accuracy, in detecting those infected with the virus, and 100 percent "specificity," or true-negative accuracy, in screening those not infected. The kit's sensitivity level beats the FDA's standard for testing kits, which is 80 percent.







In February, Korea's Ministry of Food and Drug Safety approved the kit for overseas shipments.


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Nearly half (45%) of Oxford/AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine doses have gone unused across the EU. (PA)

More than seven million Oxford/AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine doses delivered to EU countries have not been used.

European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) figures show 7,187,963 doses have not been administered out of a total 15,853,227 delivered.

That means 45% have gone unused across the EU.

The number of unused doses in EU countries is demonstrated on this interactive map...

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...and the number of unused doses compared to doses deployed is demonstrated on this map.

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Of the 27 EU countries, Germany and France alone have 2,728,138 unused doses of the jab.

They are among 13 EU countries which have paused the rollout of the jab in recent days due to reports of some people suffering blood clots following vaccination.

While an investigation has been launched, the EUs own regulator, the European Medicines Agency, has insisted the jab is safe.

Prof Jeremy Brown, from the UKs Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), said on Wednesday that the move to suspend the vaccine will cause more illness and more deaths from COVID-19 than they would ever prevent in the unlikely situation that there is an increased risk of blood clots from a vaccine.

Boris Johnson once again led the UKs defence of the jab on Wednesday, telling MPs at Prime Ministers Questions: I think perhaps the best thing I can say about the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine programme is that I finally got news that Im going to have my own jab very shortly.

Watch: Boris Johnson to receive AstraZeneca COVID vaccine

It will certainly be Oxford/AstraZeneca that I will be having.

It is understood the NHS told the PM he would receive the AstraZeneca jab because of the public interest surrounding the vaccine, though it is unclear whether Downing Street specifically requested it.

Prof Jonathan Van-Tam, England's deputy chief medical officer, also pointed out the potential side effects of paracetamol to demonstrate why people shouldn't worry about the jab.

Story continues

The Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine is one of two approved jabs currently being deployed in the UK, and its use has been a major factor behind the UKs hugely successful rollout.

Even before the 13 countries paused the AstraZeneca vaccine, EU member states have been well behind the UK amid wider supply problems and hesitancy, in some quarters, about its effectiveness.

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Meanwhile, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen suggested exports of vaccines could be halted to countries with higher vaccination rates.

In what appeared to be a veiled threat to the UK, she told reporters in Brussels: We are exporting a lot to countries that are themselves producing vaccines and we think this is an invitation to be open, so that we also see exports from those countries coming back to the European Union.

Read more:

Jonathan Van-Tam reads out paracetamol side effects on live TV to prove COVID vaccine safety

Dominic Cummings: MPs should take 'very hard look' at government's COVID mistakes

The second point that is of importance to us: we will reflect on whether exports to countries who have higher vaccination rates than us are still proportionate.

Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine doses for Europe, including the UK, are being produced in BioNTechs German manufacturing sites, as well as in Pfizers manufacturing site in Belgium.

Foreign secretary Dominic Raab accused the EU of brinkmanship and warned it not to block exports.

Watch: Do coronavirus vaccines affect fertility?
Israels President Reuven Rivlin met today in Berlin with his German counterpart, Frank-Walter Steinmeier. Speaking at a joint press conference, Rivlin thanked Germany for its commitment to Israels security, calling on all European countries to stand by Israel on the Iranian nuclear file, on the International Criminal Court (ICC) probe against Israel, and on the issue of Israeli civilians and bodies of IDF soldiers held by Hamas in Gaza.

At this time, the international community must stand firm and uncompromisingly against Iran's nuclear intensification and its support for terrorist organizations that threaten Israel and the region. We trust our friends in Europe to stand by us in our fight against the misuse of the International Court of Justice in The Hague, against our soldiers and citizens," said Rivlin.

He further argued that while the balance of powers in the region is changing, following the Abraham Accords, Iran keeps threatening its neighbors.

Berlin is the first stop on a three-day tour by the president in Europe. Tomorrow, he will fly to Austria, where he will meet with Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen. Both men will then participate in a memorial ceremony for Jews who perished in the Holocaust. Rivlin will finish his tour on Thursday, meeting French President Emmanuel Macron at the Elysee Palace in Paris.

This presidential tour is exceptional on several levels. Rivlin was invited a while ago by his German and Austrian counterparts to visit, yet the coronavirus pandemic made things complicated. With the skies now opening, the decision by International Criminal Court Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda at the beginning of March to open a probe against Israel certainly pushed for the visit to take place rapidly. Apparently, this was also the reason Paris was added to the tour. Rivlin had traveled to France in January 2019 for an official state visit, where President Macron received the president and his wife, Nechama (now belated), with honors, for a festive 200-guest dinner. This second visit was set up for a good reason.

The two main themes of the visit  Iranian nukes and the ICC probe  explain the participation of Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Aviv Kochavi on this trip. Kochavi joined the president for the meeting this afternoon with Steinmeier for an update on the regional security situation. Kochavi is also expected to join the president for his meetings with the Austrian and French heads of state. The only professional meeting scheduled for Kochavi during this trip is with his German counterpart, Gen. Eberhard Zorn.

Still, beyond briefing European leaders on the security challenges faced by Israel, the mere presence of Kochavi on such a trip sends a clear message. Israel will let no one, not even the ICC, probe Israeli officers.

President Rivlin is considered very popular in Israel and has taken the cause of Israeli Arabs and against discrimination on several occasions. He was also one of the first Israeli officials to react to Bensoudas decision, describing it as scandalous and stating, We will not accept claims against the exercise of our right and our obligation to defend our citizens. The State of Israel is a strong, Jewish and democratic state that knows how to defend itself and investigate itself when necessary. We are proud of our soldiers, our sons and daughters, the essence of our people, who stand guard for their country generation after generation, a defensive wall against all those who seek our harm. We will stand guard to ensure that they are not harmed because of this decision.

Indeed, before embarking, the president came back to this issue, saying, This important diplomatic visit I am taking, together with the chief of staff, is highly significant at this time.  It is important to ensure that the international community is ready, determined and uncompromising, to oppose Irans nuclear plans.  My agenda for this trip also includes the misuse of the International Criminal Court against our soldiers and citizens.

For Rivlin to take on the ICC reflects his understanding that a great majority of Israelis are united against such a probe. By bringing Kochavi along on this trip, Rivlin tells the international community: Here is our top soldier, standing by my side, on European soil, under my protection.
The University of Delaware's Donald Sparks, Unidel S. Hallock du Pont Chair in Plant and Soil Sciences and director of the Delaware Environmental Institute (DENIN), has won the 2021 Philippe Duchaufour Medal given by the European Geosciences Union.

EGU's Soil System Sciences Division established the award for "distinguished contributions to soil science, defined in its widest sense."

Sparks has been a global leader in environmental soil chemistry for more than 30 years. The nomination cited Sparks' "groundbreaking research on soil processes influencing plant available potassium levels within soils" and said "He has pioneered the application of chemical kinetics to soils and soil minerals, including development of widely used methods." The nomination also cited Sparks' "seminal papers on soil carbon dynamics," and said that "Sparks has changed our understanding of and our approach to studying soils, providing a legacy of innovation and advancement."

In his letter of support for Sparks' nomination, Scott Fendorf, Huffington Family Professor in the Department of Earth System Science at Stanford University, said, "I have marveled at his ability to run a premier research program, chair a department for 20 years, run a research center, direct an institute, be a prominent leader in many professional societies, and yet be a superior mentor for his students and post-docs."

Balwant Singh, professor of soil chemistry at the University of Sydney, Australia, supported the nomination, noting "Professor Sparks is one of the most influential soil scientists globally who is driving novel basic and applied research in his discipline."

Sparks is only the second American to win the Duchaufour medal since it was first given in 2005.

Matthew Siebecker, assistant professor of applied environmental soil chemistry, Texas Tech University, also wrote in support of Sparks' nomination. "Don is an excellent choice for this award because he has carried out visionary science throughout his career. His work on the rates and reactions of heavy metal contaminants in soils has fundamentally changed the way we teach, research and understand their environmental fate."

Sparks is the author of three books on soil chemistry and is the editor of 132 books, including 120 volumes of Advances in Agronomy. He is author or coauthor of more than 290 refereed publications and 62 book chapters. He has received nearly $100 million in research grant awards.

He has received numerous other honors and awards. Among them, he is a Fellow of five professional societies and recipient of UD's Francis Alison and Doctoral Student Advising and Mentoring Awards, the Soil Science Research Award of the Soil Science Society of America, the Geochemistry Medal of the American Chemical Society, the Liebig Medal of the International Union of Soil Sciences, and the Pioneer in Clay Science Award of the Clay Minerals Society.

Sparks served the broader scientific community as president of both the Soil Science Society of America and the International Union of Soil Scientists. He also led the U.S. National Academy of Science's standing committee on soil science.

Sparks has supervised more than 60 master's and doctoral research students, mentored more than 30 postdoctoral fellows and hosted 36 international researchers in his laboratory.

Beyond the publications and grant dollars, Sparks' legacy is the students and people he has helped and trained. Many of his former graduate students and postdocs have also become independent teacher-scholars.

Siebecker, who completed a doctorate and postdoctoral research with Sparks, said, "I think an important reason that has facilitated Don's enduring success is that he is a very kind, generous, and understanding person. Don's ability to empathize with students provides them with the space and time to think more deeply and critically about their research, which in the end allows for enormous growth in the student. Those traits make him an excellent mentor and effective collaborator."

The Duchaufour medal will be presented at EGU's virtual annual meeting in April, where Sparks will deliver a lecture.

###

EGU is Europe's premier geosciences union. It is "dedicated to the pursuit of excellence in the Earth, planetary, and space sciences for the benefit of humanity, worldwide."
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The first 1,000 doses of Sputnik V vaccine presented by the Russian Federation to Vietnam have been placed in cold storage in Vietnam.

The vaccines were brought to Vietnam by Nikolai Patrushev, Secretary of the Security Council of the Russian Federation, on March 16, during his two-day business trip to Hanoi.

Dang Viet Hung, Head of the International Cooperation Department of the Health Ministry, said the Ministry of Health received this batch of vaccine at Hanoi-based Noi Bai international airport on March 16. The vaccines were immediately transported to cold storage at the Central Institute for Hygiene and Epidemiology for preservation.

The use of the 1,000 doses of Russian Covid-19 vaccine will be decided by the Government, which may be allocated to the Ministry of Health or other agencies.

These are the first doses of Covid-19 vaccine from Russia imported into Vietnam.

Deputy Health Minister Tran Van Thuan said that this year Vietnam will have 60 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine, including 30 million doses from the global vaccine supply program COVAX and 30 million doses bought by Vietnam.

The Ministry of Health is also negotiating with pharmaceutical firms Pfizer, Moderna (USA), and Sputnik V (Russia) to buy more vaccines.

On February 25, the advisory council for the registration of drug circulation proposed that the Ministry of Health approve two additional Covid-19 vaccines - Moderna (USA) and Sputnik V of JSC Generium (Russia) for use in Vietnam, besides AstraZeneca.

Vietnam aims to have 150 million doses of vaccine this year before it can locally produce its own vaccine by the end of this year or early next year.

Sputnik V was the world's first approved Covid-19 vaccine. From August 11, 2020, the Russian Ministry of Health implemented a national vaccination campaign, using the Sputnik V vaccine when it had not completed the clinical trial of phase 3.

However, to date, the Sputnik V vaccine has been approved for use by more than 50 countries.

According to the results of the Phase 3 clinical trial published in The Lancet, Sputnik V is 91.6% effective. The rate is 91.8% for volunteers of over 60 years old. After vaccination, 98% of volunteers produced antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

Thuy Hanh

Ministry asked to approve US, Russian COVID-19 vaccines Vaccination will start in early March, and 1.2 million more doses may be added to the programme in late March.
The on Tuesday released the second list of four candidates for the assembly elections.

According to the list, JG Prince has been fielded from Colachel, from where he is the sitting MLA currently.

Another party MLA S. Vijayadharani will contest from the Vilavancode constituency.

Youth President JMH Hassan will contest the polls from the Velachery constituency. S Rajakumar has been fielded from Mayiladuthurai.

had released the first list of 21 candidates for the polls on March 14.

The 234-member Tamil Nadu assembly elections will be held in a single phase on April 6 and the counting of votes will be done on May 2.

Tamil Nadu Congress chief KS Alagiri had said that the party has reached a seat-sharing pact with Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and will contest 25 assembly seats in the upcoming

(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.)
Apple has been handed an initial victory in France over its contentious bid to implement stricter privacy changes in iOS 14. The French competition regulator today rejected a request from lobbying groups for the online advertising sector to block Apple's anti-tracking controls. First announced last June, Apple has since delayed plans to force stricter data collection transparency rules on developers. The updates would essentially require apps to ask a user's permission to access the ad-tracking ID on iOS 14.

A referral asking for the measures to be stopped on antitrust grounds was submitted to the French competition watchdog in October. But, the regulator has sided with Apple in its preliminary decision. The Autorite de la concurrence said it did not view the new feature as an abusive practice by a company in a dominant position, effectively quashing the complainant's objections.

The watchdog  which also consulted with France's data protection regulator on the case  said it still plans to pursue an in-depth investigation of the updates to verify whether they constitute a form of self-preferencing by Apple. It will now examine whether Apple could be applying more binding privacy rules on third-parties than those it reserves for itself.

We cant intervene just because there might be a negative impact for companies in the ecosystem, said Isabelle de Silva, head of Frances competition authority, reports The Wall Street Journal. At this stage, we havent found flagrant examples of discrimination.

The decision deals a blow to businesses in the wider tech industry that are looking to halt Apple's plans over their perceived negative impact on digital ad revenue. Europe already has some of the strictest privacy laws in the world and it seems its regulators are in no mood to relinquish those data-tracking controls for citizens.

Facebook, among the most vocal opponents to the privacy updates, has attacked Apple's policy in newspaper ads in the US. It is also preparing an antitrust suit against the iPhone maker over fears that the changes would give it an unfair advantage in the ads that are displayed on the iOS App Store and elsewhere.
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Ultimately, she decided to chance it and go for her scheduled appointment. Despite what shed been told over the phone, she was given the vaccine at the store Monday. She again indicated, on another form at the store, that she qualified because of her health conditions. Anger brought a screenshot of her medical records on her phone to prove her health conditions, but no one asked to see it, she said.
The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has approved an intergovernmental agreement between Ukraine and Slovakia to resume the operation of the Uzhgorod International Airport.

As Ukrinform reports with reference to the website of the Ministry of Infrastructure, this agreement will allow to resume the full-fledged operation of the airport and link Zakarpattia region by air with other regions of Ukraine and foreign countries.

"We are completing all domestic procedures required for the entry into force of the new intergovernmental agreement between Ukraine and Slovakia on the Uzhgorod International Airport. Its implementation will allow to resume the full operation of the airport in the near future because the airport can service planes only using Slovak airspace due to its territorial features and close location to the border with Slovakia. I am grateful to the Government of the Slovak Republic for cooperation and the colleagues for supporting this important decision," said Minister of Infrastructure Vladyslav Kryklii.

As reported, on September 24, 2020, Minister of Infrastructure of Ukraine Vladyslav Kryklii and Minister of Transport and Construction of the Slovak Republic Andrej Dolezal signed a bilateral intergovernmental agreement on the provision of aviation maintenance services by a Ukrainian service provider in a certain part of Slovakia's airspace relative to Uzhgorod International Airport.

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Busy is an understatement for Imanouel Tsimchi.

The 25-year-old is enrolled in his third year at Texas A&M College of Medicine, which means he often spends about 80 hours a week on rotation at Houston Methodist.

Coming home and grabbing a meal after his long shifts can be difficult enough. Then add the pressures of completing his medical degree in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.

At least Passover wont be added to his list of concerns, said Tsimchi, who plans to let Houston Hillel take care of the details, just like last year.

When Passover comes this year, Im counting on Hillel for everything, Tsimchi said.

Houston Hillel is a nonprofit faith-based agency, operating in partnership with the Jewish Federation of Greater Houston, that paves the way for Jewish students and young professionals to stay connected to each other and their religion.

On HoustonChronicle.com: A church and hospital race to grant COVID patient's dying wish: Baptism and 'eternity' with his wife

Tsimchi, originally from Los Angeles, joined UCLA Hillel as an undergraduate. When he moved to Houston for med school, he signed up with Houston Hillel.

I grew up around other Jews, and because of that, I was looking for a Jewish connection, he said.

Thats exactly what Houston Hillel provided. And when the pandemic struck, the organization helped save Passover, he added.

The holiday, also known as Pesach, is usually celebrated with a Seder, or holiday meal, and reading the Haggadah, which tells the story of the exodus of Israelites from slavery in the Old Testament.

As part of the Seder, Jewish people eat matzo, or unleavened bread, as well as other symbolic foods.

For the week of Passover, Jews also abstain from eating bread and a number of other grains. Finding matzo or other Passover foods during COVID-19 was a challenge, as was figuring out how to Zoom a Seder. Tsimchi called his mother in California. Were in the middle of a pandemic, Im in med school, and Im stressed. I might not keep Passover, he told her.

My mom was freaking out, Tsimchi recalled. She said, You need to find a way to do it. Houston Hillel really helped.

The organization provided virtual Passover discussions and a Zoom Seder, which Tsimchi attended, alternating the screen between Hillels celebration and his familys dinner.

I didnt feel like I was isolated during Passover, and that was the most important thing, Tsimchi said.

Alyssa Silva, assistant executive director of Houston Hillel, refers to this years Seder-in-a-box as Passover survival kits.

Each kit will contain a box of matzo, recipe cards for traditional foods and a DIY Seder plate kit. There will also be a few fun Kosher for Passover treats, crafts and plastic frogs to throw when the plagues are recited during the Seder.

The boxes will also contain the Express Haggadah by Houstonian Dr. Ron Moses.

For the past couple of years, Moses has worked to modernize and compress the ancient telling. Last year, he rushed the release of the Express Haggadah, knowing that a quicker story would better fit a Zoom Seder. Silva said the text works perfectly with their Passover-in-a-box offering.

Passover is all about being able to sit around the table and do traditions with our family, eating traditional foods and telling the Passover story, she said. Zoom has made it possible to have those experiences online, but its not the same. Our Passover boxes give people a tangible piece of the puzzle.

On HoustonChronicle.com: 'Dogs are a gift from God': Here's how local churches use man's best friend for outreach.

Silva explained that Houston Hillel serves undergraduate and graduate students at all area colleges, including the University of Houston, Houston Community College, Rice University and Texas Southern University School of Law, as well med students scattered at hospitals in the Texas Medical Center.

Houston Hillel also offers its Jewston program for young professionals in their 20s.

Passover is the most celebrated Jewish holiday in the world, Silva said.

Its so important for us to keep Passover going, and its important to enable people to celebrate in their own homes, she added.

Houston Hillel executive director Rabbi Kenny Weiss usually hosts 40 to 50 guests at his home for Seder.

Last year, it was just his immediate family. It was demoralizing and sad, he said.

This year, even with vaccines, he expects most Seders will remain on Zoom or within small pods. He is contemplating ways to get the old crew back together for his own virtual event.

Most students plan to celebrate virtually with their families, Weiss said. For Jewston members, Houston Hillel plans to offer funds to enable 20-somethings to host their own Seders.

This fits with the organizations You do Jew! student-initiated programs, Weiss said.

Our goal is to create a situation where they dont need Hillel, he added. We get them to do something on their own.

Weiss explained that Houston Hillel has also created boxes for other Jewish holidays, such as Rosh Hashana and Hanukkah. They offer Shabags for Shabbat, or sabbath, complete with candles, wine and challah.

The Passover box will be another way to keep the Houston Hillel community together.

Were taking the community we have and maintaining and nurturing it, Weiss said.

For Ling DeBellis, 20, Houston Hillel has provided a home away from home.

From Minneapolis, she is a sophomore at Rice University, studying evolutionary biology and digital fine arts.

I didnt grow up in a Jewish household, DeBellis explained.

Instead, her parents were interfaith, mixing her fathers Catholic traditions with her mothers Jewish ones.

In college, I decided to get more connected with the Jewish community, she said.

DeBellis joined Houston Hillel for a Shabbat dinner soon after moving to campus and has been going ever since  before the pandemic that is.

It was the first real Shabbat Id ever done, she said. I fell in love with the community and the food.

Last year, when Rice canceled classes, DeBellis went home and missed Passover with Houston Hillel.

This year, however, she plans to pick up a Passover survival kit and perhaps gather with a few friends from Rice outside to have a Seder safely and socially distanced.

I think it will be really fun to have a Passover box during a pandemic, she said. It could be really great to spark a new tradition.

Lindsay Peyton is a Houston-based freelance writer.
Normally, around 1,500 volunteers help make the Panoply Arts Festival happen.

This year that number is down to 200.

Cautiously easing back to life after a pandemic-canceled 2020, Panoply 21 is a slimmed-down affair organizer Arts Huntsville is calling A Taste of Panoply.

Set for April 23 - 25 at the fests standard location, Big Spring Park, address 200 Church St., Taste of Panoply involves key changes in pricing and programming. As AL.com previously reported, Fridays admission cost is $20, up from the festivals usual $10 day passes. But Saturday and Sunday are free to attend this year

Some of Panoplys central facets, like an array of visual artists and solid local-centric music lineup, are back. Others, like craft beer and the student art tent (perhaps not best consumed in that order) are not. Only Friday night at Panoply will culminate in a fireworks display this year, instead of the usual Friday and Saturday. Tickets are on sale at artshuntsville.org.

But Panoply is happening, by God. Which, after 12 months of COVID-cramped life, is excellent news for North Alabama residents ready to reconnect with local culture and a beloved Huntsville event. Panoply has been around since 1982. Its easily the citys most significant festival, after multi-day music fest Big Spring Jam went kaput after 2011. According to Arts Huntsville, Panoplys average attendance over an entire weekend is 70,000 to 75,000.

Recently, I connected with Arts Huntsville executive director Allison Dillon-Jauken to learn more about what the Panoply experience will be like this year. Below are edited excerpts.

Allison, is Panoplys footprint at Big Spring Park going to be the same size this year as normal years?

Panoplys footprint is the same as it has been for recent festivals. To allow more space in the park for social distancing among festivalgoers, A Taste of Panoply is offering fewer activity tents and stages, but the 2021 programmed activities are spread out across the same area you would visit each year for the event.

How many tickets are available for Friday night? (In addition to being the sole fireworks night at Panoply 2021, Friday is also when the festivals musical headliner, roots duo The War and Treaty, will perform.)

Currently, we are releasing 1,500 tickets for Friday night, and this number may be adjusted as we approach the event.

Is there a capacity for attendance Saturday and Sunday too? Or a number Arts Huntsville has planned for in designing this years Panoply?

Arts Huntsville, in cooperation with our public safety partners, will assess the capacity of the park throughout the weekend. Capacity is dependent upon how crowds are dispersed throughout the festival. The Showcase Stage area and the large expanse of park surrounding the stage has more capacity than some areas within the Art Marketplace.

For the 2021 Arts Marketplace, in addition to Huntsville and Alabama, where else are these artists coming from?

Approximately half of the artists in the Art Marketplace are Alabama artists. Overall, roughly 75 percent of the artists are from the Southeast, including artists from Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky, Louisiana, North Carolina and South Carolina. Other artists from states like Colorado, Illinois and Kansas also travel to Huntsville to participate in Panoply each year. All of these artists have lost multiple art festivals and shows since March 2020.

Has Panoply done free admission before?

As Panoply has grown thru the years, the festival instituted a $10 day pass and $18 weekend pass to offset costs associated with the event. The 2021 A Taste of Panoply will be the first time in nearly two decades that the festival will be free to the public, with a suggested donation of $10 per adult.

On the free days this year at Panoply, can people make donations without using cash?

Festivalgoers may drop cash into the donation boxes as they enter, or you can scan QR codes at the entry gates and throughout the park to make donations online via PayPal or Venmo.

Besides only doing one day of ticketing, what are some other ways Panoply is limiting touch points this year, with pandemic safety in mind?

Panoply has wholly revamped its hands-on STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math) and art interactive areas. Fewer STEAM and art activities will be offered and festivalgoers will be provided takeaway bags to enjoy with their family in the park or at home after the festival. Additionally, several popular activities, like face painting, will not be offered in 2021.

What was the reasoning behind doing one paid day and two free days, with a suggested donation, this year?

The Panoply 2021 Friday Preview is a limited, four-hour event showcasing the Art Marketplace, two performances on the Showcase Stage and great festival food. With limited festival hours and activities on Friday and the featured Friday night performance beginning at 7:30 p.m., capacity and access is limited for this brief opening event.

What are some food trucks and vendors people can expect at Panoply this year?

The full list of food trucks and vendors will be released in the coming days at artshuntsville.org and across Arts Huntsvilles social media. To share just a few highlights, festivalgoers can watch for Mac & Snacks, New South Hot Dog & Sushi, the Get Loaded food truck and more.

And finally, I understand Panoply is a little different this year. But a lot of the familiar components are there, so why call this years festival A Taste of Panoply?

Festivalgoers this year will experience a taste of the full Panoply Arts Festival: One performance stage with 15 acts instead of three performance stages offering more than 60 performances during the weekend, as well as select takeaway STEAM and art interactives instead of more than 10 in-park, hands on creative activities for festivalgoers of all ages. As this years event is offering a selection of the popular experiences festivalgoers typically enjoy at Panoply, Arts Huntsville dived into the archives and pulled out the name A Taste of Panoply. Exactly 10 years ago, the Panoply Arts Festival was set up and ready to welcome festivalgoers when the 2011 tornadoes hit our region. Following the tornadoes, Arts Huntsville shared A Taste of Panoply with the community throughout the summer months. As Arts Huntsville planned for a scaled-back Panoply Arts Festival for 2021, it was time to once again offer A Taste of Panoply.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 17)  State-run People's Television Network will impose sanctions on its employees over the use of a #DutertePalpak hashtag in one of their social media posts on Tuesday night.

In a statement on Wednesday, PTV said the gaffe was due to a "predictive system in the text entry phase," a common feature on mobile devices which suggests the next word based on what has been typed on the screen.

PTV also cited the team's "failure to adequately review and screen the message that actually got posted."

"The management will certainly institute disciplinary sanctions against members of the social media team who are behind the erroneous posting," it said.

At around 7 p.m. on Tuesday, PTV's Twitter account posted a link to a story on President Rodrigo Duterte's call for localities to provide more face masks amid rising COVID-19 cases.

RELATED: Duterte repeats call for LGUs to provide face masks for everybody as coronavirus cases surge

The social media caption of its tweet read: "President Rodrigo R. #dutertepalpak BTS reiterated his order to provide free masks for the public especially to those who cannot buy their own."

The tweet was deleted a few minutes after, but netizens were quick to share screenshots of the gaffe.

PTV clarified in its previous statement that the hashtag was not supposed to be indicated in its original caption. It also described the post as "malicious."

"PTV New Media deeply regrets the error and take full responsibility for the oversight," it said.

The hashtag #DutertePalpak was among the trending topics on Twitter for the past two days as netizens looked back on how the government dealt with the pandemic a year into lockdown.

"Palpak" is a Filipino word which refers to failure.

The country logged 4,437 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, with 57,736 patients active cases or patients who are currently ill. Total COVID-19 cases are now at 631,320.

Foreign nationals and non-overseas Filipino workers are also now temporarily banned from entering the country, while minors in Metro Manila are prohibited from going outdoors as new COVID-19 cases continue to surge.

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Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Wednesday that he will not let the Centre affect the development being done by the elected government of the national capital.

"We emerge protesting here at the same Jantar Mantar of Delhi so we don't worry about hurdles coming before us. I promise you, I would do everything that I can do for you, but I won't let you down," Kejriwal said to his party leaders and workers gathered to protest against the Centre's move to amend the National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2021.

"No matter how hard the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led Centre tries to derail us, we will not let the Centre take away the power of people of Delhi who have an elected government," Kejriwal added.

He urged the Centre to take back the bill that seeks to define certain roles and powers of the Lieutenant Governor of the national capital. "I want to appeal to the Centre to take back the GNCTD Bill, don't cheat the people with this legislation. Because, if it means that an elected government has no power, then it would cheat the people of this country in the name of electing their government," Kejriwal said.

The Centre has presented NCTD (amendment) 2021 in the Lok Sabha stating that the proposed amendment will 'promote harmonious relationship between the legislature and the executive and further to define the responsibilities of elected government and the appointed Lieutenant Governor of the national capital.

One major reason behind this agitation is that (as has been attributed by the AAP and the Congress) the amendment notes that the opinion of the LG will have to be sought on every decision taken by the ministers. Kejriwal recalled the incident in 2015 when he along with other cabinet colleagues had sat in protest at LG house for over three days.

"Our government proposed to install CCTV cameras across the national capital I had promised to the people of Delhi during our first election. LG office did not approve the project and put that file on hold for several months. Me and my other cabinet ministers sat in protest and came out only after the file was approved. So we do not worry about any hurdle that comes across while serving the people," Kejriwal said.

The AAP leadership has also argued that the amendments are intended to nullify the impact of the Supreme Court judgement in 2018, in which the top court clearly laid out that the LG would be bound by the aid and advice of the elected government except in matters pertaining to Police, Land and Law and Order of the city.

The AAP has been opposing the amendments, arguing that if the proposed Bill (NCTD - Act 2021) is passed by the Parliament, it would impact the power of the Delhi Assembly and the Government's schemes would be at the mercy of the LG.

Earlier in the day, the Congress also held a protest on the same issue and accused the BJP-led Centre of dictatorship and an attempt to murder democracy.

The Congress leaders also accused the Kejriwal-led AAP of acting at the behest of the BJP. "It's been more than two months, the Centre put a proposal to amend the NCTD Act 2021, and Kejriwal maintained a complete silence," said Anil Chaudhari, president of Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee.
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Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-16 23:54:56|Editor: huaxia

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ADDIS ABABA, March 16 (Xinhua) -- The Ethiopia Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) said on Tuesday a total of 888 nationals have returned home from the Middle Eastern country of Saudi Arabia in recent days.

Dina Mufti, Spokesperson for MoFA, said in addition to the 888 Ethiopian nationals who returned home in recent days, activities are being undertaken to repatriate an additional 150 Ethiopian migrants from war-torn Yemen.

It is estimated every year thousands of Ethiopians looking for better economic opportunities abroad are trafficked through neighboring countries to reach the Arabian Peninsula.

Desperate Ethiopian migrants, who often attempt to cross the dangerous Red Sea route via neighboring nation Djibouti, regularly endure deadly incidents along the Red Sea as well as imprisonment and killings in the war-torn Yemen.

In recent months, Ethiopia has stepped up efforts to return home tens of thousands of its citizens stranded in various foreign countries, as part of the government's newly unveiled "citizen focused diplomacy."

The Ethiopian government is also working to dismantle sophisticated human trafficking networks, as well as create economic opportunities for nationals with low incomes. Enditem
YEREVAN.  A criminal case has been initiated on the controversial video released from the military positions of Kapan town in Syunik Province of Armenia, on March 14.

The case has been opened under Section 3 (negligent attitude towards military service during martial law) of Article 376 of the Criminal Code of Armenia. Arevik Khachatryan, head of the Public Relations Department of the Prosecutor General's Office, stated about this Wednesday in response to Armenian News-NEWS.am's inquiry.

She added that the criminal case has been sent to the Investigative Committee with an instruction to conduct an investigation.

To note, in the aforesaid video that was shot in one of the military positions in Syunik Province, the soldier was complaining about the poor conditions of this military position.
BOSTON, March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Artemis Capital Partners ("Artemis" or "Firm"), a Boston-based private equity firm focused exclusively on manufacturers of differentiated Industrial Technologies announced today the appointment of Rudi Coetzee as an Artemis Operating Partner effective immediately.

Commenting on the appointment, Artemis Managing Director James Ward stated, "Rudi has driven innovation, operational success, and cultural progress in industrial technology focused businesses for over three decades and has been an integral member of the Artemis family for several years. We, as a firm, continue to enjoy his creativity in management and passion for innovation. His experience and track record speaks for itself."

Prior to joining the Artemis family, Rudi worked for over a decade at Saint-Gobain in various business development, general management and operations roles. Thereafter he served as Executive Vice President at Active Minerals International before becoming President and CEO of Aventics, one of the world's leading manufacturers of pneumatic components and systems. Mr. Coetzee holds a National Higher Diploma in Physical Metallurgy from Vaal University of Technology in Vanderbijilpark, South Africa.

Artemis Managing Partner, Peter Hunter, said of Mr. Coetzee's appointment, "Rudi has proven to be an instrumental member of the team through his strategic leadership as Executive Chair at Ohio Tool Works and STC, fueling growth in the advanced ceramic technology and honing equipment niches respectively."

As an Operating Partner at Artemis, Rudi will assist in the evaluation of potential acquisitions, develop thesis driven approaches to a variety of established and emerging Industrial Technology subsectors, and support portfolio company management teams as they execute on their value creation plans.

ABOUT ARTEMIS

Artemis Capital Partners is a Boston-based private equity firm focused exclusively on buyout equity investments in developers and manufacturers of differentiated industrial technologies, including but not limited to specialty coatings, polymers, flow control products, sensors, optics, specialty materials, specialty chemicals, unmanned vehicles and robotics, analytical instrumentation, and radio frequency/microwave devices. For more information, please visit artemislp.com

SOURCE Artemis

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John Glidden

Bay City News Foundation

The Solano County Transit (SolTrans) Board of Directors will decide Thursday whether to award a multi-million dollar contract for transit operations to a well-known service provider, ending an eight-year relationship with its current vendor.

SolTrans staff is recommending the board approve a five-year contract with Transdev Services Inc., which includes five one-year options that can extend the life of the contract through June 30, 2031. Transdev has over 200 contract operations throughout the nation, with many of those agreements in California, staff added.

If approved by the board, Transdev will take over operations on July 1, which will cost the transit agency about $9.1 million for fiscal 2021-22. The 10-year budget estimate over the life of contract is about $120 million.

Five transit operators responded to a request for proposals put out by SolTrans last year. During an extensive review of the proposals, transit staff concluded that National Express LLC, (NEXT), the current transit service provider for SolTrans, scored in the middle of the pack, failing to reach the required 80 percent range necessary for consideration.

Each of the five transit vendors submitted a proposal outlining fixed and variable costs. NEXT came in last place, proposing that SolTrans pay $156 million over the next 10 years, which was outside SolTrans' budget, John Sanderson, SolTran's transit service manager, wrote in the staff report.

National Express was selected to provide transit operations for Solano County Transit in 2013 -- two years after the agency was created. SolTrans provides transit services for the cities of Vallejo and Benicia.

Sanderson praised Transdev for providing ongoing professional development for managers and supervisors in the organization.

"This will ensure that motivated personnel working on the SolTrans contract have access

to opportunities for advancement and will help retain and enhance institutional knowledge by creating a sustainable development pipeline for new leaders," said Sanderson in a staff report to the board.

Sanderson further applauded Transdev for having "extensive experience maintaining and managing electric bus fleets, which will be critical to SolTrans' success during the new contract term as the SolTrans Operations and Maintenance Facility is built out with electric charging infrastructure and SolTrans transitions to an all-electric local fleet."

The Solano County Transit Board of Directors will meet at 4 p.m. Thursday, via teleconference.

Copyright  2021 Bay City News, Inc. All rights reserved. Republication, rebroadcast or redistribution without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. Bay City News is a 24/7 news service covering the greater Bay Area.

Copyright  2021 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited.
Stacey Solomon has confirmed that she has tested negative for coronavirus but revealed she is 'still feeling gross' with a mystery illness.

The Loose Women star, 31, returned to social media on Wednesday after worrying fans by taking a break yesterday saying she felt 'rough'.

Taking to her Instagram Story, the mother-of-three updated her followers as she showed a picture of her children's breakfast.

Poorly: Stacey Solomon has confirmed that she has tested negative for coronavirus but has revealed she is 'still feeling gross' with a mystery illness

Stacey wrote in the caption: 'Still feeling so gross, it's not Covid thankfully - we've been tested Boys have to be tested for school so it's good to know.

'I think it's just, I don't know if anyone else gets this, but you know when you've had an intense few weeks/months and then your body just shuts down a bit at the end? I think that's what it is.'

She continued: 'The boys are in school, they asked for a green breakfast for St Patrick's Day (Joe's family are Irish so he's been telling them all about it).

'So they got some green M&Ms in their cereal, it's all I could muster up this morning.

Update: Taking to her Instagram Story, the mother-of-three updated fans as she showed a picture of her children's breakfast

'I'm going to make myself another honey and lemon and attempt to actually move today. Hope you're all okay.'

It comes after yesterday Stacey decided to take another break from social media after revealing she felt 'rough'.

The TV star announced that she was not going to be active on her Instagram Stories on Tuesday morning.

The mother shared a sweet video of her son Rex, 21 months, cuddling her other son Leighton, eight, as she told her followers the news.

Time away: It comes after yesterday Stacey decided to take another break from social media after revealing she felt 'rough'

She wrote in the caption: 'Morning. Sorry I've been so quiet I feel soooo ROUGH.

'I've just got the boys into school (Rex is hating it when they leave he cuddles them all morning) I'm going to try and settle him and keep him happy until nap time then I'm sleeping with him.

'Until it's school run again. So I'll be off of stories until I get rid of this rough feeling. Hope you're ok...'

It comes after earlier this month the TV star said she was going to put her phone 'in a drawer for a while' after a troll called her 'horse face' on Instagram.

Cruel: It comes after earlier this month the TV star said she was going to put her phone 'in a drawer for a while' after a troll called her 'horse face' on Instagram

The presenter took to her Stories and shared the cruel comment the troll had left on a photo of Stacey cradling her son Rex.

Stacey responded to the comment, which also included a vomit emoji, by sarcastically thanking the person.

She wrote: 'Horses are so beautifulthank you. Looks like youre not feeling great. Wish you better. '

The mother received plenty of support from her followers as she also shared several comments from people defending her.

She wrote: 'Honestly, this is why I love this little world so muchbecause it just proves.

'For every unhappy, mean individual out there, theres so many more kind, supportive, loving humans to outshine the nastiness. What a lovely thought.'

Later, Stacey shared a video of herself getting ready to tuck herself in and jokingly wrote: 'Taking this gorgeous horse face to bed.'

In another clip, the star said she would likely be taking a break from social media for a while after seeing the hurtful comment.

She wrote: 'I'm going to sleep now, probably for a few days! Spend some time with the boys before school and just put my phone in a drawer for a while.'

She added: 'Don't ever feel less than what you are. F*****g perfect.'

Stacey is mother to Zachary, 12, and eight-year-old Leighton  who she has from previous relationships  and shares son Rex with fiance Joe Swash.
Whats the craic?, he/shes an eejit and its grand are some of the most popular Irish slang phrases commonly used by the English, Welsh and Scottish. However, only 16 per cent of them could identify the Irish term deadly as being something with positive connotations rather than bad, with the rest assuming it meant something not good, expensive or likely to kill you, according to a poll of 2,000 UK adults in the lead up to this years St Patricks Day celebrations.

Interestingly, only 26 per cent of people in the UK understood that someone was asking for the toilet if they asked for the jacks, with the remainder assuming they were being asked for money owed or the police, according to the survey carried out by OnePoll for online lottery company Lottoland.

The research into all things Irish also found that 46 per cent surveyed across the water often used the term Im knackered but only 11 per cent were aware that its origins are commonly credited to the Emerald Isle, while a further 92 per cent assumed their frequently used reference to being wrecked was of English heritage  when in fact it is considered more Celtic in origin.

What people in the UK think of Irish drinks: Overall when it comes to Irish drinks, its Baileys that perhaps surprisingly turned out to be the favourite Irish tipple (30%) with UK adults, followed by Guinness (21%) and then Irish Whiskey (13%), with the ladies definitely preferring the world famous creamy liqueur and the men plumping for the Black Stuff. Funnily enough, 1 in 7 respondents didnt realise a pint of the black stuff referred to a pint of Guinness!

What people in the UK think of Irish accents: Three in 10 English people admit they cant resist putting on a dodgy Irish accent when they encounter an Irish person! Three in every five surveyed said they couldnt tell the difference between Southern and Northern Irish accents but despite the confusion, 7 in 10 adults in the UK claim to love both versions, with Liam Neeson getting the female vote for sexiest Irish accent and Nadine Coyle getting the nod from UK men. Overall, 4 in 10 adults find Irish accents charming, while just over 3 in 10 describe them as lilting and a further 25 per cent musical and jolly.

Maybe its the rain but only 45% of adults polled via OnePoll for Lottoland have visited Ireland but the good news is that post Brexit and the COVID-19 pandemic, an incredible 71% would love to come back or visit for the first time when current restrictions allow.

Graham Ross, Country Manager for Lottoland Ireland said Theres no better time than St Patricks Day to celebrate all the amazing things to have originated in Ireland and while we cant claim to have invented everything, we certainly seem to have our UK neighbours drooling over our accents, our drinks and our culture. Its probably not hugely surprising that so many well-known Irish phrases have jumped across the Irish Sea into common UK usage but its always surprising how little UK people realise the connection between our two islands. One big positive to take away from our fascinating survey is that over 70% of UK adults literally cant wait to visit Ireland again and thats surely the ultimate jackpot payout for the Irish economy when it happens!

TOP IRISH PHRASES USED BY THE UK ADULTS

1. Im knackered

2. Its been donkeys years

3. Its bucketing down

4. Have a gander

5. Im on me Tod

6. Ive had a whale of a time

7. Shut your gob

8. Im wrecked

9. Hes/shes an eejit

10. Its grand

11. Whats the craic?

12. Yer man

Others in Top 20

Youre a chancer

Thats deadly

Where are the jacks?
[March 17, 2021] Shiv Nadar University Delhi NCR Conferred 'Institution of Eminence' Status by Government of India

Shiv Nadar University (Delhi NCR) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Education, Government of India, for granting of the prestigious status of 'Institution of Eminence Deemed to be University' (IoE). With this MoU, it has become the youngest recognized IoE and part of the hallowed league of top 20 public and private institutions mandated to elevate Indian higher education on the global stage with complete academic and administrative autonomy. "This is a historic achievement in the journey of what we now proudly call 'Shiv Nadar Institution of Eminence'. It's a heartening testament of our commitment to redefining higher education in India and to helping transform the future of human capital emerging from our country. We are grateful to the Ministry of Education for recognizing Shiv Nadar University as a role model for private higher education as India addresses the needs for enhancing access to modern, high-quality education and cutting-edge research," said Mr. Shikhar Malhotra, Pro-Chancellor of Shiv Nadar University. Shiv Nadar University (Delhi NCR) has been granted the 'IoE' status upon duly clearing a wide-ranging assessment by the Government of India-appointed Empowered Expert Committee (EEC). The assessment included several legislative and procedural requirements under the University Grants Commission (UGC) regulations and guidelines. It took into account all aspects of the University's functioning including but not limited to curriculum, research, faculty, campusinfrastructure, student selection parameters and the Institution's long-term vision, culminating in the MoU signed.



Dr. Rupamanjari Ghosh, Vice-Chancellor of Shiv Nadar University, said: "This achievement is direct result of our pioneering multidisciplinary approach to education in India and an unwavering focus on driving research that can help solve issues of global importance. The recognition is also a shot in the arm for the vision of our Founder, Shiv Nadar, whose life's work is based on the philosophy of 'creative philanthropy' - to build institutions that outlast individuals and create transformational impact on future generations." "To be the youngest IoE is a matter of great pride, and to get this recognition in the 10th year of the Institution's existence makes it even more special," she added.

Shiv Nadar University (Delhi NCR) was recommended as an 'IoE' by the EEC in August 2019 after the 'Institutions of Eminence' scheme was rolled out by the UGC in 2017. The 20 'IoEs' were selected from a total of 114 applications received from public and private universities. About Shiv Nadar University, Delhi National Capital Region (NCR): Shiv Nadar University is a student-centric, multidisciplinary and research-focused University offering a wide range of academic programs at the Undergraduate, Master's and Doctoral levels. The University was set up in 2011 by the Shiv Nadar Foundation, a philanthropic foundation established by Mr. Shiv Nadar, founder of HCL. The University is in the quest to become a globally acclaimed center for learning and innovation in the fields of Engineering, Natural Sciences, Humanities & Social Sciences, and Management. The core of the University consists of a select, world-class faculty with doctoral and postdoctoral experiences from ranked universities all over the world. Shiv Nadar University has been selected as one of the ten private 'Institutions of Eminence' by the Government. In the NIRF (Government's National Institutional Ranking Framework), the University has been the youngest institution in the 'top 100' Overall list, and its score has been rising steadily. In NIRF-2020, it ranked 56 in the 'University' category. Shiv Nadar University has been accredited with Grade 'A' by NAAC (National Assessment and Accreditation Council), valid for a period of five years from 26 November 2019. It is also among a select group of institutions in the country which were awarded the prestigious Atal Incubation Center grant by the NITI Aayog, Government of India, in the very first round in 2017. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210317005607/en/

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In an eight-minute video posted to Twitter on Monday, Podemos leader Pablo Iglesias announced he will resign as deputy prime minister from the Socialist Party (PSOE)-Podemos government to run an anti-fascist campaign in the snap regional elections in Madrid. He also announced that Podemos Minister of Labor Yolanda Diaz would take over as deputy prime minister and would be the partys lead candidate in the next general elections.

Iglesias said he made the decision to prevent the far right from taking over the institutions in Madrid. This was a reference to projections showing that a coalition between the right-wing Popular Party (PP) and the fascistic Vox party would win the Madrid regional elections, set for May 4.

Pablo Iglesias (Wikimedia Commons)

Fascistic forces pose a very real, mortal threat to the working class, as Donald Trump showed on January 6 by leading a fascist mob to try to overturn the results of the US elections. The working class cannot entrust the struggle against this danger, however, to Iglesias and Podemos, a pseudo-left party of the affluent middle class. Indeed, Podemos has become the principal instrument through which Spains increasingly fascistic ruling establishment implements policy.

Referring to Vox, Iglesias cynically said: we must prevent these criminals, these criminals who support the [fascist Francisco Franco] dictatorship; who apologize for state terrorism; who promote violence against migrants, against homosexuals and against feminists; who, when some military men speak of shooting 26 million reds, say its their people. These forces may attain power in Madrid, with all that that this implies for the rest of the country.

It was the PSOE-Podemos government itself, however, that implemented a fascistic herd immunity policy, opposing lockdowns and letting the COVID-19 virus spread in order to save profits. This has led to over 100,000 deaths and 3.2 million infections in Spain. Social opposition has been met with police crackdowns and threats to deploy the military onto the streets of Madrid.

The individual Iglesias leaves behind as deputy prime minister, Podemos and Communist Party (PCE) member Yolanda Diaz, bears direct responsibility for these infections and deaths. Working closely with the Stalinist Workers Commissions (CCOO) and social-democratic General Union of Labor (UGT) trade unions, she imposed a return to non-essential work, accelerating the virus spread.

The PSOE-Podemos government is now busy lifting social distancing measures to boost the tourism industrys summer profits and pay for its 140 billion bank and corporate bailout package. As a result, a fourth wave is widely expected that would lead to tens of thousands of avoidable deaths.

The PSOE-Podemos government in fact relied on Voxs support in parliament to get its bailouts passed. Podemos has increasingly adopted Voxs programme, whipping up the fascistic anti-Catalan campaign, incarcerating Catalan politicians under fraudulent charges and seeking the extradition of former regional Catalan premier Carles Puigdemont. It also relentlessly intensified the persecution of migrants and denounced youth protests against its jailing of Stalinist rapper Pablo Hasel.

As for the WhatsApp chats where senior military officers said they were good fascists and called to start shooting 26 million sons of b*tches to extirpate the cancer of left-wing sentiment, Iglesias reacted by covering up this danger. In prime-time television, amid mass anger on social media, Iglesias brazenly insisted that nothing of any importance had been revealed: What these gentlemen say, at their age and already retired, in a chat with a few too many drinks, does not pose any threat.

In fact, it is nearly a year since Vox, reacting against mass strikes demanding a shut-down of non-essential production across Spain and Europe amid the pandemic, began to conspire with sections of the army to prepare a coup. One of its principal aims, the officers comments made clear, was to ensure that the government continued to implement a herd immunity policy.

Iglesias sudden discovery of the threat of fascism is a contemptible manoeuvre, arising from the factional intrigues of the major Spanish bourgeois parties and growing working class anger.

Madrid regional premier Isabel Diaz Ayuso (PP) called snap elections in Madrid fearing an attempt by the PSOE to cut a deal with her current coalition partner, the right-wing Citizens party. A similar attempt by the PSOE had just failed in Murcia. Ayuso set elections for May 4, announcing plans for an alliance with Vox.

This comes only a few months after youth protests broke out in working class districts of Madrid against herd immunity policies dictated by both Ayuso and the PSOE-Podemos government.

A conservative daily ABCs poll shows the PP with nearly 40 percent of the votes and 57-59 deputies, and Vox getting 14 to 16 deputies. The PP-Vox coalition would have an absolute majority in the 136-member regional assembly. Vox leader in Madrid Rocio Monasterio told the far-right daily OkDiario that Vox is going to an election to rule and to lead the [regional] government, adding that PP will have to reach an understanding with Vox, and I will have to do the same.

Voxs entry into government would be the first time a far-right party ruled in Spain since the 1978 fall of the fascist dictatorship set up by Francisco Franco. It would help rule Spains richest and third-most populous region (6.6 million inhabitants), comprising nearly 15 percent of Spains population.

Far-right rule in Madridwhich withstood a Francoite siege for three years during the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939), suffering tens of thousands of deaths, and was then a centre of fascist repression for four decades during the Francoite dictatorshipwould have explosive consequences. The mass working class opposition to Vox and its policies would inevitably be directed as well against the PSOE-Podemos government.

In 2019, the entry of Vox in the Andalusian parliament, the first time in its history that it gained electoral representation, provoked mass protests across Spain. In recent weeks, mass youth protests erupted after the PSOE-Podemos government incarcerated rapper Pablo Hasel for over two years, on trumped-up charges.

Terrified at growing social opposition, Iglesias is trying to lull it to sleep by nominally remaining outside and organising an impotent anti-fascist campaign based on identity politics. His move has been designed at the top levels of the state, with Prime Minister Pedro Sanchezs seal of approval. As Iglesias stated on the programme El Intermedio, Sanchez is clear that we have to win Madrid, and we have to do that together.

So far, More Madrid, the right-wing split off led by Podemos co-founder Inigo Errejon, has rejected such an anti-fascist alliance. Its candidate, Monica Garcia, railed against Iglesias for being a man, saying: We women know how to stop the extreme right without being protected by anyone, we cannot add more spectacle and more testosterone to [PP leader of Madrid, Isabel] Ayusos frivolity.

Many workers and youthincluding among Podemos, More Madrid and PSOE votershate everything Vox stands for and despise the PSOE-Podemos reactionary policies. They are looking for a way forward. It is critical that they not be railroaded by Iglesias and his political allies into the blind alley of a vote for a left unity candidate.

The working class is making enormous political experiences regarding the bitter costs of opportunism and the rejection of revolutionary principles. One must recall how in the 1930s, Stalinist politiciansthe forbears of Podemostold workers they had to sacrifice their interests for an alliance with progressive sections of the ruling class against fascism during the 1930s. This led to historic defeats in Spain and across Europe. These lessons must be assimilated.

The working class needs its own party and programme. The way forward is the construction of sections of the International Committee of the Fourth International in Spain and beyond, fighting to build a socialist and internationalist movement in the working class and prepare a political general strike against herd immunity policies and the threat of authoritarian rule.
Asylum seekers who cross the Channel illegally to reach Britain face being sent to another country.

Priti Patel plans to take a much tougher stance on unauthorised migration to stop people smugglers exploiting desperate migrants and putting their lives at risk.

Those who come to Britain from a safe country such as France will have their claims deemed inadmissible.

The Home Secretary wants to change the law so they can then be sent to a third country such as Turkey to await being returned to their home nation or the safe country they arrived from.

While Turkey is one option, there are others being considered closer to home.

According to The Times, islands off the coast of Scotland are under consideration, while the Isle of Man and Gibraltar have also been discussed by top officials.

Charities have branded the proposals 'inhumane,' while an immigration expert said there was 'bound to be a court case about it'.

Priti Patel plans to take a tougher stance on illegal migration in a bid to clampdown on people smugglers who exploit vulnerable people fleeing war-torn countries

Migrants who enter the UK illegally by crossing The Channel from France could be sent to a third country, such as Turkey, where they will either be returned to their home nation, or the safe country they arrived in Britain from. Pictured: Border Force officials taking a child refugee ashore in Kent

Speaking to The Times, the unnamed expert said: 'There is no law that explicitly prevents people from being removed to a third country.

'But it is arguable and theres bound to be a court case about it  therell be arguments both ways. A refugee is going to not want to be removed to a third country and will no doubt instruct lawyers to try to prevent that. So they will bring a case to try to stop it happening.'

Officials have opened discussions with several non-EU countries about taking the migrants in return for money, similar to a controversial scheme operated by Australia.

Speaking of the Australian method, Enver Solomon, chief executive of the Refugee Council charity, told the paper: 'It is an inhumane policy that undermines our nations proud tradition of providing protection to people fleeing persecution and terror many of whom have gone on to work as doctors and nurses in the NHS.'

At the same time, ministers will create legal safe routes for more refugees to come to the UK directly from war zones.

Asylum seekers crossing the Channel from France to the UK will be sent to a third country under radical plans drawn up by Priti Patel.

The Home Secretary is poised to publish a fair but firm shake-up of Britains asylum system designed to end illegal Channel crossings.

Last year set a new record for the highest number of migrant to cross The Channel, 8,420, while more than 800 have crossed already this year.

The plans, to be set out as part of the UK Sovereign Borders Bill, will establish new legal safe routes allowing genuine refugees to secure the right to come to the UK directly from war zones.

Refugees arriving in Britain from safe countries, like France, will have their asylum application deemed 'inadmissible,' under plans being looked at by the Home Secretary

British officials are understood to be in discussion with non-EU countries over plans for them to pay to take refugees, under a similar plan currently used by Australia. Pictured: Australias detention centre on Manus Island in Papua New Guinea

Turkey could be one of the countries Britain pays to host migrants, as it already has a deal in place with the EU. Pictured: Syrian children at a refugee camp in Sanliufra, Turkey

But the proposals, which constitute the biggest shake-up of asylum laws in a generation, will also see Britain take a much tougher line on unauthorised immigration.

Migrants will be banned from claiming asylum in the UK if they have arrived from a safe country such as France, with their cases deemed inadmissible.

Miss Patel is working on plans to allow the swift return of inadmissible migrants to the country where they came from.

But with EU countries dragging their heels in taking back failed asylum seekers, she is also drawing up proposals for them to have their cases dealt with in a third country, such as Turkey.

Migrants arriving in the UK via illegal routes would be removed to the third country and would remain there until they could be repatriated, either to their home nation or the safe country they arrived from  a process that could take months or years.

A Home Office source said the move was designed to break the link between getting in a dinghy or lorry in France and securing a new life in the UK.

Any proposal for sending migrants to a third, holding country, like Turkey, (pictured, a site in Hatay) would be subject to a public consultation

A similar scheme has been operated by Australia for years. Asylum seekers travelling by sea have been banned from entering the country, and redirected to accommodation centres in neighbouring states such as Papua New Guinea (pictured)

CRISIS THAT NEEDS BADLY TACKLING NOW By David Barrett, Home Affairs Correspondent What is the problem? Many asylum seekers pass through safe countries such as France to reach the UK. Critics say this indicates many who claim to be refugees  and may have paid thousands of pounds to people traffickers  are actually economic migrants who take up space in the system that could be allocated to people whose lives are in peril. How is the system failing? Once asylum seekers reach the UK it can be very difficult for the Government to remove them, even if their claims for refugee status are groundless. The number of asylum seekers living in Britain at taxpayers expense reached a record 64,041 at the end of last year, costing 1 billion annually. The growing backlog is partly due to Home Office bureaucracy but also to the rising use of legal challenges. Britain made more than 8,500 requests to European countries last year, asking them to take back asylum seekers who had passed through a safe country. Only 105 were transferred out. How many pass through a safe country to Britain? There are no official figures, but a rough estimate can be provided by looking at the numbers who came here on small boats from France, who should have claimed asylum there, according to EU rules. That figure was just over 8,500 in 2020, and there were just over 36,000 asylum applications last year, including dependants. So at least one in four arrivals came from a safe country. What is the Government proposing? Asylum seekers who have passed through a safe country on their way to the UK will have their claims ruled inadmissible. Ministers will aim to sign deals with countries outside Europe to accommodate asylum seekers who have reached Britain and are thought to have passed through a safe country. They would then be moved to those foreign-based centres while their claims are processed. How does this compare with other countries? The European Union has paid Turkey more than 5 billion since 2016 to accommodate four million migrants  mostly from war-ravaged Syria. The scheme was designed to prevent migrants continuing their journey to Europe. Australia brought in mandatory offshore processing centres in 2013 for anyone who arrives without a visa. Asylum seekers travelling by sea are redirected to accommodation centres in countries such as Papua New Guinea. The policy has led to allegations that Australia is neglecting its duties to genuine refugees. Where could asylum seekers be held? Ministers are understood to be negotiating with several countries outside Europe. Turkey is believed to be a front-runner. Could the proposals face legal challenges? Yes. They will be highly controversial. One focus will be how the UK could transfer asylum seekers to another country. Many destroy their passports before arriving here and try to keep their true nationality secret. In those circumstances it is not known how they could be relocated. The Home Office could be subject to challenges under international human rights or refugee conventions. Advertisement

If people know that they are not going to get to stay in the UK then they are less likely to make that perilous journey, the source said.

People are dying  we have to break that link, which is what the people smugglers rely on. Yes, it will be controversial with some, but while we have people dying we have to consider everything.

The Home Office was tight-lipped last night about exactly where inadmissible asylum seekers might be sent, or how much countries will be paid to take them.

Last year ministers briefly considered sending asylum seekers to far-flung British dependencies, including St Helena and Ascension Island in the South Atlantic.

The remote islands were rejected as impractical. But the idea of sending asylum seekers offshore for processing has survived.

A similar scheme has been operated by Australia for years.

Asylum seekers travelling by sea have been banned from entering the country, and redirected to accommodation centres in neighbouring states such as Papua New Guinea.

The Pacific island was reportedly looked at by Foreign Office officials as a potential spot for detention centres, along with Moldova and Morocco, before plans were deemed unrealistic.

Sources confirmed that several non-EU countries have been sounded out about the idea.

Turkey is thought to be a likely candidate as it already has a multi-billion-pound deal with the EU for hosting millions of migrants who might otherwise have made their way to Europe.

Britain is also in discussions with several EU countries, including Denmark, who are interested in off-shoring their own asylum seekers to a third country.

Home Office sources stressed that the idea of sending asylum seekers abroad to be processed will be subject to consultation.

But the proposal is likely to prove highly controversial with human rights groups, and is certain to face legal challenges.

Although ministers considered pulling out of the 1951 Convention on Refugees they decided against the move. The UK will also remain a signatory of the European Convention on Human Rights.

Campaigners argue that international law does not require refugees to seek asylum in the first safe country they can reach. But Miss Patel has privately told colleagues she is determined to end the practice of asylum shopping, where people can travel through a string of safe countries before trying to make the journey across the Channel to the UK. There is no justification for people travelling through safe countries like France in order to claim asylum in the UK, a source said.

They are not at risk from persecution in France, but they are putting their lives at risk if they try to cross the Channel illegally. The plans are due to be published later this month and will be included in the UK Sovereign Borders Bill in the summer.

The new measures will also include tougher enforcement action against the people smuggling gangs, including the introduction of life sentences for the worst offenders, up from a current maximum jail term of 14 years.

A separate review to be published today will recommend reforms to the judicial review process to curb the scope for repeated claims in immigration and asylum claims.

However, the plans are likely to take many months, or possibly years, to implement fully.

In the meantime, ministers are braced for the flow of migrants across the Channel to continue. And there are fears that the controversy surrounding the new plans could spark a surge from migrants desperate to get to the UK before the door is closed.

Internal Home Office projections seen by the Mail forecast that an average 500 migrants a month will successfully make the crossing this year.

The projection would suggest around 6,000 migrants are expected to make the crossing this year  lower than the record 8,417 last year, but far higher than the 1,890 in 2019.
Two men were brutally attacked in separate incidents in San Francisco and police have arrested a man in connection with the aggravated assaults, police said Tuesday evening.

On Monday at 1:30 p.m., police responding to reports of a stabbing near the 16th and Mission BART station found a 64-year-old man suffering from a wound to his cheek. Eyewitnesses said a man cut the victims face with a knife, knocked him to ground and fled into the BART station, police said.
Construction crews work on a new section of the U.S.-Mexico border fencing at El Nido de las Aguilas, eastern Tijuana, Baja California state, Mexico, on Jan. 20, 2021. (Guillermo Arias/AFP via Getty Images)

41 GOP Senators Ask GAO to Evaluate Bidens Border Wall Funding Freeze

Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) on March 17 led 40 Republican colleagues to sign a letter asking the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) to evaluate whether President Joe Bidens suspension of funding and construction of the southern border wall was justified under federal law.

On his first day in office, Biden signed an executive order that halted construction on the wall and ordered a suspension of congressional funds allocated for the project. Biden also signed an order that canceled the emergency designation at the U.S.-Mexico border.

The senators wrote (pdf) that despite the progress being made to control illegal immigration, with additional funds being authorized by Congress for the wall, Biden still signed a proclamation directing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Office of Management and Budget to pause immediately the obligation of funds related to the construction of the southern border wall and pause work on each construction project on the southern border wall.

Bidens proclamation stated that the wall was a waste of money and isnt a serious policy solution.

The group of Republican senators believes the actions violate the Impoundment Control Act (ICA) but they want a legal evaluation from Comptroller General Gene Dodaro.

They are also a blatant violation of federal law and infringe on Congresss constitutional power of the purse. We are writing regarding these actions. We believe they violated the ICA, as interpreted by your office, and we request your legal opinion on the matter, wrote the senators.

The Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 reconfirmed Congresss power of the purse. In addition, the law established ways to prevent the sitting president and other government officials from single-handedly replacing their own funding preference for that of Congress.

The president is not vested with the power to ignore or amend a duly enacted law, instead he must faithfully execute the law as Congress enacts it, the GOP letter continued.

The senators said they believe the freezing of the border wall funds and constructions contributed to the humanitarian and national security crisis at the border.

A border patrol agent told Full Measure News that the halting of the southern wall construction was hasty and has left wide roads that drug cartels can now use for illegal activity.

Now what we have is an infrastructure that the cartels can benefit from, said the border patrol agent.

Meanwhile, border states such as Texas are trying to work around Bidens border wall policies. Texas, which shares 1,200 miles of border with Mexico, is one of the states that bears the brunt of the huge influx of illegal immigrants.

On March 15, Texas state Rep. Bryan Slaton, a Republican, filed HB 2862, which would fund the completion of the border wall in Texas with state funds.

Apprehensions at the southern border have climbed every month since April 2020 and reached 96,974 in February, according to new data from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, an agency that includes Border Patrol.

Opponents to Bidens immigration policies say that his other decisions to reverse Trump-era policies, such as the remain-in-Mexico program, which required asylum-seekers to wait in Mexico until their claims could be heard, are contributing to the surge in migrants at the border.

Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) took to Twitter on March 16 to comment on the crisis at the border.

Halting border wall construction, reducing enforcement, pausing deportationsBiden sent the message loud and clear that our border is open. Now, were seeing a predictable crisis of Dems own making, on pace to break 20-year records, wrote Thune.
Mumbai, March 17 : The OTT giants Amazon Prime are foraying into film production, and the first film to be co-produced by the banner is the Akshay Kumar-starrer Ram Setu. Amazon Prime Video India tweeted the news on their official account on Wednesday.

"So excited to announce our first co-production -- #RamSetu -- a film which is a bridge between generations past, present and future! Looking forward to bringing this story to y'all with an exemplary cast and dream team! @akshaykumar @Asli_Jacqueline @Nushrratt @Abundantia_Ent," the tweet read.

Trade analyst Taran Adarsh also confirmed the news with a tweet. He wrote: "BIGGG NEWS... #AMAZON GETS INTO FILM PRODUCTION IN #INDIA... #Amazon forays into film production in #India... Will co-produce #RamSetu... Stars #AkshayKumar... Directed by Abhishek Sharma." Akshay Kumar is all set to commence shooting for "Ram Setu" from Thursday. The film will be shot at multiple locations with a major portion being in Mumbai.

Akshay, along with director Abhishek Sharma and creative producer Dr Chandraprakash Dwivedi, will fly to Ayodhya on March 18 for the mahurat shot of the film, which also stars Jacqueline Fernandez and Nushrratt Bharuccha.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
As SVP, Investor Relations & Corporate Development, Mr. Conn is responsible for leading the strategic development and execution of the investor relations program including serving as the primary investor contact, overseeing investor communications and supporting other strategic initiatives of the Company.

"Kevin's extensive background in equity research, strategy practice and relationship management at various institutional investors will enhance our investor relations function and build deeper relationships with our shareholders," stated Nitin Mhatre, CEO of Berkshire Hills Bancorp and Berkshire Bank. "His talents are well suited to assist in driving Berkshire's transformational strategic plan to enhance stakeholder value."

Before joining Berkshire, Conn also held roles at MFS Investment Management in Boston, MA where he ran several financial industry portfolios, Sanford Bernstein in New York, Gemini Consulting in Cambridge, MA and JP Morgan in New York. He has years of experience in equity research, advising on strategy and investor communications.

"I am thrilled to join a community bank with a deep commitment to its values, communities, employees and shareholders," said Conn. "Berkshire Bank is making great strides in the market and we will be able to demonstrate that a purpose-driven community-dedicated bank creates significant value for all its stakeholders."

Conn has a BA in Economics from Haverford College and an MBA from Stanford University. He resides in Newton, MA with his family. A long-time supporter of Cradles to Crayons in Boston, MA he is a former member of their Family Advisory Council.

ABOUT BERKSHIRE HILLS BANCORP

Berkshire Hills Bancorp is the parent of Berkshire Bank , a community bank committed to purpose driven performance based on its Be FIRST corporate responsibility culture. Headquartered in Boston, Berkshire operates 124 banking offices in seven Northeastern states, with approximately $12.8 billion in assets.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This document contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. You can identify these statements from the use of the words "may," "will," "should," "could," "would," "plan," "potential," "estimate," "project," "believe," "intend," "anticipate," "expect," "target" and similar expressions. There are many factors that could cause actual results to differ significantly from expectations described in the forward-looking statements. For a discussion of such factors, please see Berkshire's most recent reports on Forms 10-K and 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and available on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov .

Further, given its ongoing and dynamic nature, it is difficult to predict what continued effects the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic will have on our business and results of operations. The pandemic and the related local and national economic disruption may result in a continued decline in demand for our products and services; increased levels of loan delinquencies, problem assets and foreclosures; an increase in our allowance for loan losses; a decline in the value of loan collateral, including real estate; a greater decline in the yield on our interest-earning assets than the decline in the cost of our interest-bearing liabilities; and increased cybersecurity risks, as employees increasingly work remotely. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which reflect our expectations only as of the date of this document. Berkshire does not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements.

SOURCE Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.berkshirebank.com


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A coalition of 16 European media outlets conducted a year-long investigation into financial documents related to companies registered in Luxembourg. The investigation found that 90% of the companies registered in the country are owned by non-residents, and these offshore companies saw investments amounting to 100 times the countrys GDP in the 2018-2019 fiscal year, which has led to accusations of the country being one of the worlds biggest tax haven.

Also Read | Supreme Court 'Marry Rape Victim' Remark: CJI SA Bobde Issues Clarification, Says His Remarks Are Misreported, Didn't Ask Accused to Marry Girl

Luxembourg is a small landlocked European country with a size approximating the US state of Rhode Island. The countrys relatively lax regulations, stable government, and business-friendly tax code make it an attractive spot for companies and rich individuals seeking to offshore financial assets.

In 2018, the European Union voted in favor of a directive that forced all EU member states to create public registers with the real owners of companies registered within their borders. Late in 2020, the US also implemented similar transparency measures, approving the NDAA which will force American LLCs to disclose their true owners to governmental institutions. This change at the federal level will not impact state-level legislation, which means LLCs registered in Wyoming and other states can still remain anonymous, but it is a step in the right direction.

Also Read | Rajasthan Horror: Rape Accused, Out on Bail, Sets Woman on Fire; Victim Battles for Life

The decisions were largely a result of a global push for more financial transparency, which gained traction after a decade of financial scandals within the EU and around the world. Scandals like the Panama Papers, which connected European shell companies to criminal activities, tax fraud, and money laundering schemes around the world.

Luxembourg was one of the first to apply the European directive, making its register public in autumn 2019, explained Lemonde.fr, a major French publication that was part of the coalition that investigated the country. In a way, it is therefore paying the price of transparency.

Story continues

The collation of media outlets looked at over 4 billion financial documents related to the Luxembourg registry. It found that the country has companies belonging to a vast number of celebrities and business magnates from around the world, who were likely attracted by the favorable tax legislation.

On a territory of 2,586 km2, Tiger Woods and the Hermes family rub shoulders with Shakira and the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia. Hundreds of multinationals (LVMH, Kering, KFC, Amazon, etc.) have opened financial subsidiaries there, Le Monde wrote, another outlet involved in the investigation.

This is not the first time that Luxembourg has been in hot waters under accusations of aiding tax evasion and being a tax haven. In 2014, a series of documents made public in the LuxLeaks investigation revealed that the country had been offering ultra-advantageous tax arrangements for large multinational companies.

The more recent investigation, dubbed OpenLux, also pointed out that local institutions appear to be poorly equipped to handle the vast number of offshore companies operating in the country.

[The governments] services seem to be more calibrated to the size of the country than to its offshore activity, wrote Lemonde.fr. The trade register has only 59 employees to enforce the legal obligation to declare the actual beneficiaries of more than 100.000 entities and to carry out an initial control of the declarations. The Financial Sector Supervisory Commission (CSSF) has only 900 employees, even though the financial sector accounts for a quarter of the countrys economy.

The government of Luxembourg, headed by the Grand Duchy, already released a statement refuting accusations made by the investigation. The official statement, made in French, said that the country is compliant with all EU and international regulations and is continuously updating its arsenal of measures to prevent money laundering and other financial crimes.
Shiv Nadar University

News Summary

Shiv Nadar University (Delhi NCR) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Education, Government of India, for granting of the prestigious status of Institution of Eminence Deemed to be University (IoE).
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 17)  Human rights violations in the country have worsened over the past year, according to an independent international commission probing abuses in the Philippines.

In its initial 196-page report submitted to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) on Tuesday, Investigate PH said the current situation is graver since June 2020, when the OHCHR released its own findings on the issue.

"Political repression and the human rights violations that result from it have become more institutionalized, streamlined, and brazen," the group said.

Investigate PH is an independent international commission, composed of civil society organizations, which seeks to investigate the human rights situation in the Philippines.

"Extrajudicial killings of human rights defenders, lawyers and judges, and peace consultants, have continued to climb," it added.

The enactment of the controversial Anti-Terrorism law, as well as the creation of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), have provided institutional mechanisms to facilitate the said abuses, according to Investigate PH. To justify repression, the group said individuals and organizations are "red-tagged," even by the President himself, with such accusations escalating "to false charges, unlawful detention, and summary executions."

READ: Here are the major issues raised against the Anti-Terrorism Act

Investigate PH also cited the Human Rights Watch report, which found a 50% to 76% spike in the number of extrajudicial killings linked to the war on drugs during the first months of the COVID-19 lockdown. Meanwhile, communities in the countryside are forced to evacuate because of the settlement of military detachments inside barangays, it said.

But not only is the implementation of human rights laws "lacking," the government itself has also undermined these legal protections and "obstructed" past investigations, the report stated.

"Investigations that are carried out have usually been neither impartial nor independent, but are overseen wholly or in part by the agencies responsible for abuse, such as the police, military, and drug enforcement agency," it added.

Investigate PH urged the UN to further probe human rights concerns and continue exerting pressure on the Duterte administration "to provide immediate and unhindered access" to international human rights monitoring and investigative mechanisms. It also asked the organization to ensure protection of all witnesses in the cases being investigated, as well as of victims of red-tagging and supposed threats from state forces.

Investigate PH's initial report is based on an examination of 49 cases of human rights violations from 2020 to 2021. A second report will be released in July, while a final one will be submitted to the OHCHR in September this year.

Malacanang has yet to comment on the report filed by Investigate PH before the OHCHR.
State and federal investigators are scrambling to learn more about Robert Aaron Long, the suspect in a string of deadly shootings at three Atlanta-area Asian spas, and his alleged motive.

Not much information has surfaced about the 21-year-old from Woodstock, about a half-hour drive north of Atlanta.

He is being held without bond in Cherokee County, where he faces four counts of murder and a charge of aggravated assault, according to the county sheriff's office. He also has been charged with more four counts of murder, Atlanta Police Department said.

Tuesday's shootings took place at two spas in Atlanta and another in Acworth, about 10 miles west of Woodstock -- which left eight people, at least four of them Asian women, dead.

The four killed in the shooting near Woodstock were Delaina Ashley Yaun, 33, of Acworth; Paul Andre Michels, 54, of Atlanta; Xiaojie Tan, 49, of Kennesaw; and Daoyou Feng, 44.

The injured survivor was Elcias R. Hernandez-Ortiz, 30, of Acworth, authorities said.

Authorities located Long about 150 miles south of Atlanta in Crisp County. State troopers took him into custody after using a special pursuit maneuver to spin his car out of control.

The suspect 'did take responsibility for the shootings,' Capt. Jay Baker of the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office said.

Suspect had been treated for sexual addiction

Sheriff Frank Reynolds of Cherokee County, where the Acworth shootings took place, told reporters Long 'made indicators that he has some issues -- potentially sexual addiction -- and may have frequented some of these places in the past.'

Reynolds said those issues could be the motivation behind the shooting.

A law enforcement source said the suspect was recently kicked out of the house by his family due to his sexual addiction, which, the source said, included frequently spending hours on end watching pornography online.

According to an incident report from the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office, a 911 caller said the suspect could possibly be his son and 'does have a tracker on his phone.' Another anonymous caller to 911 told dispatch the suspect was 'kicked out of his parents' house last night,' adding that he 'was emotional,' the incident report says.

It is not clear whether the businesses affected were places of sex work. During a news conference on Tuesday, Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms stated the businesses were 'legally operating' and had not previously been on the Atlanta Police Department's radar.

'We are not about to get into victim blaming, victim shaming, here. As far as we know in Atlanta, we have not had any 911 calls from that location. I believe one minor call on someone stealing some keys,' Bottoms said. 'So we don't know additional information about what his motives were, but we certainly will not begin to blame victims.'

Tyler Bayless said he shared a housing unit with Long at Maverick Recovery, a rehab facility in Roswell, Georgia, between August 2019 and January or February 2020. He said that most residents were suffering from drug or alcohol addiction, but Long was being treated for sex addiction.

'It was something that absolutely would torture him,' Bayless said. He said Long was a 'deeply religious person -- he would often go on tangents about his interpretation of the Bible,' and was distraught about his addiction to sex.

Bayless said that on multiple occasions during his stay at the facility, Long told him that he had 'relapsed' and 'gone to massage parlors explicitly to engage in sex acts.'

After hearing Long was the suspect in the shootings, Bayless said he was shocked that his former roommate would do such a thing.

Mason Clements, who is listed as the registered agent at Maverick Recovery in business filings, said in a text message that 'I am unable to comment on any client past, present or future due to confidentiality agreements.'

Another former roommate of Long's also told CNN that Long had been in rehabilitation for sex addiction, and that in summer 2020 he had lived with Long at a transition house for people leaving rehab, though he declined to name the facility or divulge the state where it's located. He said he had not spoken to Long 'in a long time.'

He recognized Long from the surveillance footage disseminated by authorities, he said, and Cherokee County dispatch records indicate the ex-roommate called police Tuesday night.

A Facebook spokesperson confirmed to CNN they removed an Instagram account the company believed was linked to Long.

The account had been inactive for some time, the spokesperson said.

A screenshot of the account, obtained by CNN, showed it used the name 'Aaron Long' and the bio section caption read, 'Pizza, guns, drums, music, family, and God. This pretty much sums up my life. It's a pretty good life.'

Long told police the shootings were 'not racially motivated,' according to Baker, of the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office. Baker also referenced Long's 'sex addiction,' saying that Long sees the spas as a 'temptation' that he 'wanted to eliminate.'

According to two law enforcement sources involved in the investigation, Long attempted to justify his actions when he told police he thought about killing himself, but decided instead to 'help' others with sexual addictions by targeting spas.

Investigators believe that when he was captured, Long might have been en route to Florida to perpetrate more shootings, Lance Bottoms told reporters.

Gun was purchased legally

Long had a 9 mm firearm in his car when he was arrested, Baker said.

Long purchased his gun legally at a local gun store, Big Woods Goods in Holly Springs, Georgia, an attorney for the company confirmed to CNN.

In a brief statement to CNN, Matt Kilgo said the company is fully cooperating with law enforcement and there is no indication that there was anything improper with the transfer on Tuesday.

It was Long's family who turned him in Tuesday, Reynolds said, indicating the parents called police after seeing surveillance footage that authorities posted to social media.

'We were contacted by members of the family indicating that may be their son, so we met with them,' Reynolds said. 'They were very distraught, and they were very helpful in this apprehension.'

Once investigators identified Long, the sheriff said, they tracked his phone and anticipated his movements, leading to his arrest in Crisp County.

CNN went to the home of Long's grandparents in Morristown, Tennessee, on Wednesday.

'All I want to say is that he is our grandson and we still love him very much,' said Long's grandmother, Margaret Long, who was visibly upset. Long's grandfather interrupted the conversation, saying they'd been told not to speak to anyone and gave no further comment.

In his mugshot, Long is wearing a suicide prevention suit as a precautionary measure, which is customary, Crisp County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Haley Little said.

Correction: An earlier version of this story misspelled Xiaojie Tan's last name based on information provided by the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office.
Modified French amateur radio callsign for Great Britain nationals

ANFR  Agence Nationale des FRequences - the French telecom regulator, published the following news on their website

 After the United Kingdoms request to no longer be part of the European Union, nationals of Great Britain who come for the first time to France for a temporary stay are now assigned an F4W type (non-EU CEPT) code.

https://www.anfr.fr/licences-et-autorisations/radioamateurs/actualites/actualite/actualites/indicatif-radioamateur-modifie-pour-la-grande-bretagne/
PLYMOUTH, Mich., March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Jason Walker, Chief Operating Officer of United Road, the largest provider of finished vehicle transport logistics in North America today announced the recipients of the inaugural Haully Carrier of the Year Award for 2020. The award recognizes and rewards United Road's independent carrier partners that have met or exceeded its quality performance metrics in 2020 for on-time, damage-free delivery, app compliance, and revenues.

Day in and day out, these carriers enable United Road to fulfill its mandate to deliver vehicles to customers on-time and damage-free. Tweet this Eastside Auto Transport, Haully Carrier of the Year - large category winner. Family-run business in Connecticut is top performer on quality metrics. Is in the 97th percentile for damage-free delivery. Advises other carriers to use Haully to make their businesses more efficient.

"The 2020 Haully Carrier of the Year Award recipients set the bar high on every quality metric. They consistently go above and beyond to support our customers' business success," said Walker. "Day in and day out, these carriers enable United Road to fulfill its mandate to deliver vehicles to customers on-time and damage-free so they can meet the needs of their customers without delay or disruption. The award recipients are truly proponents of our customers' success."

Recipients of the Haully Carrier of the Year Award for 2020 in three categories are:

- Large

East Side Auto Transport of Wallingford, Connecticut. East Sides services lanes along the I-95 corridor from Maine to North Carolina and in between. They also move dealer, rental, auction, fleet units. United Road dispatcher comments: "Working with East Side Auto is so simple, their knowledge and also their drivers' professionalism makes it a great fit. Always courteous and they pay attention to United Road procedures. They are a pleasure to work with."

- Mid-Sized

Davidson Transport LLC of Quincy, Ohio. Led by Brett Davidson who primarily hauls OEM vehicles in Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana areas. United Road dispatcher comments: "Davidson has been our go-to subcontractor for years. Always dependable at picking up loads in a timely manner. Great communication. Always willing to move loads that other 3rd party wouldn't. Wherever we need him, he'll go. He gets the job done 100% on time, with professionalism."

- Small

LTT Trucking LLC of Mabank, Texas. Led by LeAnn Manning and family. LTT hauls between Texas and Louisiana. United Road dispatcher comments: "(LTT is) very ambitious. When they commit to a transportation assignment, they see it through to the endLeAnn always goes above and beyond on follow-up."

Eligibility for the Haully Carrier of the Year Award was based on a carrier being in the 97th percentile among their peers for quality as measured by damage-free delivery, the 90th percentile for quality as measured by on-time or early delivery, the 90th percentile for compliance with United Road's proprietary V-TAS and load management tools that, among other information, give customers visibility into status of their shipments, and business revenue with United Road.

In recognition of this honor, Haully Carrier of the Year Award for 2020 recipients will receive quarterly rebates throughout the year 2021, a special trophy and Haully merchandise.

"The majority of our independent carriers are small to mid-sized business owners where cash flow is king," explained Walker. "The success of each of our carriers from the smallest to the largest is important to United Road. United Road developed Haully and its suite of business tools and offerings including this annual recognition award to support carriers  from self-assigning loads including backhauls to becoming eligible for quick pay options. When our carrier partners are successful, United Road is successful."

The Haully Carrier of the Year Award for 2020 evolved from United Road's Haully, a logistics technology platform for third-party carriers introduced in 2019 that provides hassle-free access to quality vehicle loads, including backhauls and business tools. Click on HaullyPro for information including profiles of the 2020 Haully Carrier of the Year Award winners.

ABOUT UNITED ROAD

Founded in 1997, United Road is the premier finished vehicle logistics company in North America. Each year, coast to coast and across borders, United Road manages the transport of over four million vehicles for OEMs, remarketers, on-line sellers/buyers, fleet owners and individuals. Headquartered in Plymouth, Michigan, with operating terminals across the U.S. and Canada, the company has over 1,700 employees and operates an integrated national network that includes a total of 2,500 company-owned and independent contractor units as well as 15,000 power units of dedicated third-party vehicle carriers.

SOURCE United Road
Mayank Bidawatka, co-founder of Koo, a social media platform tipped to be the Indian alternative to Twitter, has said that curbs on Chinese investments do affect the Indian startup ecosystem, but there are alternate sources of funds available.

In an exclusive interview with BusinessToday.In, Bidawatka explained the reason why Chinese funds flow into Indian startups.

"Most startups have some Chinese money in them. I think it's a factor of them (Chinese investors) having seen some progress on the internet way before India did. They want to get that experience they've had in China and back Indian entrepreneurs to create products similar to what they've seen and understood in China. So that's the reason why they want to participate," Bidawatka said.

"You know whatever has happened has happened with the government banning some Chinese apps and putting a cap on the funding amount. That does have an effect on the ecosystem but it's not like you don't have alternate sources of funds available," he added.

Paytm, Ola, Zomato, BigBasket and Dream11 are some of Indian unicorns that have Chinese investment. Tencent, Ant Financial Alibaba, Hillhouse, Steadview, Fosun are some of the major Chinese companies that have invested in Indian startups. While the exact amount of investments are not known, Chinese investments are believed to have touched $4 billion in 2019. But, recent border tensions between the countries have dampened the mood with India imposing investment curbs targetting China.

Koo's parent company - Bombinate Technologies Pvt Ltd. - too had China-based Shunwei Capital as an investor for another project titled Vokal. However, Shunwei, which was a single-digit shareholder, exited the company on Wednesday, selling its stake to existing investors. Meanwhile, Koo's parent company recently received an investment of $4.1 million led by 3one4 Capital, which is an Indian investor.

Also read: MeitY coochy-coos KOO - India's alternative to Twitter

KOO's GROWTH

Koo had observed a massive surge in downloads in the first two weeks of February when the Indian government officials urged people to join the desi app amid a spat with Twitter. Bidawatka said a month since, growth has slowed down but it's still good.

Bidawatka revealed that the $4.1 million Koo had recently raised in Series A funding would be used in building assets and expanding operations. "Most of the funds will go to product development and we're, at the core, a technology and product company. We will build our assets in that area. Yes there are costs on the server side but it is about us building a better product, you have to invest in technology, and you know hiring more engineers, better features."

"We are a language app so a lot of machine learning happens in Indian languages. That's what I mean by assets. There's a lot of under-the-hood technology that goes into recommendations. Those are some examples," he explained.

PRIVACY

On allegations of privacy concerns and data leak, Bidawatka dismissed the claims.

He said: "These are actually not concerns. This is just naivety of people who don't understand what they are saying so I'm happy to explain it. There are private platforms (Facebook, WhatsApp) and then there are public platforms (Twitter, Koo). When you're using a public social platform, you don't have to worry about what information the user is disclosing because it's optional if they want, they will share that information and if they don't want to share it, they don't need to. Only information the user gives us that he does not want us to share is his personal mobile number, which they use when they sign up on our platform.

Also read: Koo app: Why it's trending, who's behind it -- all you need to know

Why do we have mobile numbers as sign-in? Because that's what the majority would use. I don't think someone in a Tier-4 city or in a village would have an e-mail ID. When you're building for a wider base in India, you need to recognise the fact that more people have mobile numbers than e-mail IDs.

Now, have mobile numbers of users been leaked? No, it has not. The information that anyone talks about saying there is a leak, is the information the user has put out so that people can connect with them better. It's not called an information or a data privacy issue."

ECHO CHAMBER?

On the issue of most people subscribing to a particular ideology using the app, Bidawatka said it was not a matter of concern.

"It's not a concern because every product has early adopters. This is something that the government has recognised when they selected us in the Atmanirbhar challenge; they understand the importance of this so they've been the first and early adopters. We have people talking about poetry, so it's not all about politics and people discussing all kinds of daily things.

There are millions of users, how many politicians you think there are? There are less than 0.1% of politicians on the platform. Somehow, what the media really loves to look at is you have so many politicians and they are from BJP. Well, the fact is you have Kamal Nath who's joined and he is from Congress, you have HD Deve Gowda, he's an ex-Prime Minister and he's on the platform. These are convenient views that some people share. We let our success speak for itself. You have people from all parties joining because this is an open platform and it is meant for the entire country to express their opinion and does not belong to one party."

Also read: What's Koo App? Know all about govt's answer to Twitter

Also watch:
An Indian-American businesswoman, who imports goods and supports widowed women in India, has participated in a round table with and asked the Vice President to back a global plastic policy.

Lalitha Chittoor, the owner of Eco All Trading LLC, a small micro business involved in wholesale trading of sustainable products such as stainless steel, bamboo, birch wood attended the round table with Harris in Denver, Colorado on Tuesday along with her daughter.

Harris brought up the administration's climate change efforts and said a policy staffer would follow up with her. Chittoor's business founded in 2019, is women-owned and imports goods from and supports widowed women in

She told the round table that the small businesses were really part of the heartbeat of every community.

"Our small business leaders are not only business leaders, you are civic leaders, community leaders, role models, she said.

"It is our small businesses that hire from the community, that uplift the community, that have regular customers who come in and you can recognize if they're having a bad day and you already know what they want to they don't even have to put in an order, she said.

Harris said those in need of assistance have been opening up their car trunks to pick up food boxes, but leave handwritten notes and sometimes a tip thanking the volunteers.

"These families who have nothing because they've lost so much, tipping the volunteers for their generosity and recognizing the dignity of their work, she said.

Born in Chennai and a naturalised citizen of the US, Chittoor started her business at the behest of her daughter. Her primary customers are restaurants, federal government, state government, school cafeterias, prison cafeterias, hospital cafeterias.

During the round table, Chittoor asked Harris to back a global plastic policy.

Joining Harris and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff for this listening session were Lorena Cantarovici, CEO and Founder of Maria Empanada; Jack Briggs, President & CEO of Springs Rescue Mission; Gabriela Salizar, Owner of Colorado Artisan; along with Chittoor.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 17, 2021) -Southern Silver Exploration Corp. (TSXV: SSV) (OTCQB: SSVFF) ("Southern Silver" and the "Company") reports:

PROPERTY MATTERS: Cerro Las Minitas Project, Durango Mexico- increase of drill program

The Company is doubling the size of the current drilling program on the Cerro Las Minitas Ag-Pb-Zn project from an initial 10,000 metre program to a 20,000 metre program. Drilling will continue with two drills targeting the east side of the Cerro where to date three near-surface sulphide lenses with Bonanza-grades of silver have been identified. Shallow oxide Au-Ag mineralization has also been confirmed in the Mina La Bocona area. Mineralization in all of these new target areas is separate from the existing mineral resources. The current program has completed 28 core holes totaling 12,040 metres since restarting drilling in September 2020. Assay results from 11 drill holes are pending and are anticipated over the coming weeks.

Highlights from the current 2020-21 drill program include the following previously reported intercepts:

15.1m down-hole (8.0m est. TT) averaging 1,072g/t Ag, 18.8% Pb and 7.5% Zn (2,040g/t AgEq; 51.7% ZnEq); and

20.9m down-hole (9.0m est. TT) averaging 212g/t Ag, 0.64g/t Au, 3.7% Pb and 3.3% Zn (512g/t AgEq; 13.0% ZnEq) from the Bocona Chimney;

9.3m down-hole (6.1m est. TT) averaging 344g/t Ag, 0.59g/t Au. 5.7% Pb and 3.9% Zn (728g/t AgEq; 18.5% ZnEq) from the Muralla Chimney; and

9.0m down hole interval (6.7m est. True Thickness) averaging 625g/t Ag, 11.8% Pb and 7.5% Zn (1,454g/t AgEq; 30.0% ZnEq) at the South Skarn target.

The Cerro Las Minitas project is an advanced exploration-stage polymetallic Ag-Pb-Zn-Cu Skarn/CRD project located in southern Durango, Mexico.

The Cerro Las Minitas project as of May 9th, 2019 contains a Mineral Resource Estimate, at a 175g/t AgEq cut-off, of (1)

Indicated - 134Moz AgEq: 37.5Moz Ag, 40Mlb Cu, 303Mlb Pb and 897Mlb Zn

37.5Moz Ag, 40Mlb Cu, 303Mlb Pb and 897Mlb Zn Inferred - 138Moz AgEq: 45.7Moz Ag, 76Mlb Cu, 253Mlb Pb and 796Mlb Zn

A total of 162 drill holes for approximately 71,750 metres have been completed on the Cerro Las Minitas project to date, with acquisition and exploration expenditures of over USD$27.0 million spent.

Oro Project, New Mexico, USA-drill program planned

The Oro Project is a 100% owned porphyry copper-gold property, located in southwestern New Mexico, USA, which includes patented land, State leases and BLM mineral claims totalling 22.3 sq. km., upon which several historic mines are located. The property covers a large, zoned Laramide-age mineralizing system containing a number of highly prospective, district-scale, copper-molybdenum and distal sediment-hosted, oxide-gold targets.

Targeting has been finalized based upon geophysical surveys and permits are pending for a 5,000m drill program, designed to test several of the copper-molybdenum porphyry and copper-gold skarn targets within a broad quartz-sericite-pyrite alteration zone, interpreted to overlie an unexposed porphyry centre. Drilling is expected to commence in Q3, 2021.

CORPORATE MATTERS:

Cerro Las Minitas working interest : In 2020, Southern Silver purchased a 60% indirect working interest in the Cerro Las Minitas property from Electrum Global Holdings LP for payment of US$15.0 million in periodic payments, the second of which was paid on March 15, 2021 in the amount of US$4.0 million as to 50% cash and 50% shares valued at a 20-day VWAP. 5,216,533 shares were issued, bringing Electrum's current holdings to approximately 27 % of current issued capital.

: In 2020, Southern Silver purchased a 60% indirect working interest in the Cerro Las Minitas property from Electrum Global Holdings LP for payment of US$15.0 million in periodic payments, the second of which was paid on March 15, 2021 in the amount of US$4.0 million as to 50% cash and 50% shares valued at a 20-day VWAP. 5,216,533 shares were issued, bringing Electrum's current holdings to approximately 27 % of current issued capital. Warrant Exercises: In Summer 2020, Southern Silver raised $14.2 million in Unit sales. Since the closing of the equity raise and the working interest purchase in September 2020, the Company has received a total of $2,428,228 from shareholder exercises of share purchase warrants, inclusive of the recent 6,000,000 share purchase warrant exercise by Electrum Global Holdings LP for proceeds of $480,000. Additionally, the Company has received $477,470 from the exercise of incentive stock options and finders' warrants.

About Southern Silver Exploration Corp.

Southern Silver Exploration Corp. is a precious and base metal exploration and development company with a focus on the discovery of world-class mineral deposits in north-central Mexico and in the Southern USA. Our specific emphasis is the Cerro Las Minitas silver-lead-zinc project located in the heart of Mexico's Faja de Plata, which hosts multiple world-class mineral deposits such as Penasquito, San Martin, Naica and Pitarrilla. We have assembled a team of highly experienced technical, operational and transactional professionals to support our exploration efforts in developing the Cerro Las Minitas project into a premier, high-grade, silver-lead-zinc mine. Our property portfolio also includes the Oro porphyry copper-gold project located in southern New Mexico, USA. The Company engages in the acquisition, exploration and development either directly or through joint-venture relationships in mineral properties in major jurisdictions.

The 2019 Cerro Las Minitas Resource Estimate was prepared following CIM definitions for classification of Mineral Resources. Resources are constrained using mainly geological constraints and approximate 10g/t AgEq grade shells. The block models are comprised of an array of blocks measuring 10m x 2m x 10m, with grades for Au, Ag, Cu, Pb, Zn values interpolated using ID3 weighting. Silver and zinc equivalent values were subsequently calculated from the interpolated block grades. The model is identified at a 175g/t AgEq cut-off, with an indicated resource of 11,102,000 tonnes averaging 105g/t Ag, 0.10g/t Au, 1.2% Pb, 3.7% Zn and 0.16% Cu and an inferred resource of 12,844,000 tonnes averaging 111g/t Ag, 0.07g/t Au, 0.9% Pb, 2.8% Zn and 0.27% Cu. AgEq cut-off values were calculated using average long-term prices of $16.6/oz. silver, $1,275/oz. gold, $2.75/lb. copper, $1.0/lb. lead and $1.25/lb. zinc. Metal recoveries for the Blind, El Sol and Las Victorias deposits of 91% silver, 25% gold, 92% lead, 82% zinc and 80% copper and for the Skarn Front deposit of 85% silver, 18% gold, 89% lead, 92% zinc and 84% copper were used to define the cut-off grades. Base case cut-off grade assumed $75/tonne operating, smelting and sustaining costs. All prices are stated in $USD. Silver Equivalents were calculated from the interpolated block values using relative recoveries and prices between the component metals and silver to determine a final AgEq value. The same methodology was used to calculate the ZnEq value. Mineral resources are not mineral reserves until they have demonstrated economic viability. Mineral resource estimates do not account for a resource's mineability, selectivity, mining loss, or dilution. The current Resource Estimate was prepared by Garth Kirkham, P.Geo. of Kirkham Geosciences Ltd. who is the Independent Qualified Person responsible for presentation and review of the Mineral Resource Estimate. All figures are rounded to reflect the relative accuracy of the estimate and therefore numbers may not appear to add precisely.

Robert Macdonald, MSc. P.Geo, is a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and is responsible for the supervision of the exploration on the Cerro Las Minitas Project and for the preparation of the technical information in this disclosure.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

"Lawrence Page"

Lawrence Page, Q.C.

President & Director, Southern Silver Exploration Corp.

For further information, please visit Southern Silver's website at southernsilverexploration.com or contact us at 604.641.2759 or by email at ir@mnxltd.com.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This news release may contain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements address future events and conditions and therefore involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward looking statements include the timing and receipt of government and regulatory approvals, and continued availability of capital and financing and general economic, market or business conditions. Southern Silver Exploration Corp. does not assume any obligation to update or revise its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except to the extent required by applicable law.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/77507
Reporter

Mary Schenk is a reporter covering police, courts and breaking news at The News-Gazette. Her email is mschenk@news-gazette.com, and you can follow her on Twitter (@schenk).
Top Senate Democrat says Biden's Immigration Bill will not pass. He said making it easy for illegal immigrants to acquire citizenship is not likely to happen. Not all Democrats agree with the immigration policies, especially the Biden bill.

Most Americans are not for legalizing aliens who take away resources. This proposal will impact America greatly but getting a Democrat voter base is okay for some.

Biden's Immigration Bill Will Not Pass Legislation

Senate Judiciary Chairman Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) thinks that the bill will not pass congress. This is one of the concerns Biden campaigned on during elections, reported the Epoch Times. He clarified that not all might be willing to vote for Biden's campaign promise.

He said that it would be hard to get votes to support the bill last Monday. He added that he wanted it, but some parts will be controversial. Immigration has been an issue for Biden that the GOP criticized excessively.

Senator Lindsey Graham said the Biden administration should deal with the immigration problems decisively. Aspects of the border crisis that affects people on both sides of the border are bad. Graham pointed out they want to change the law. Biden removes Trump's immigration policies; now he wants to change the law.

Durbin admitted that Biden's Immigration Bill has many problems, as Graham pointed out. It's too complicated that makes it unlikely to pass. He added that it should be one item at a time. Moving it as one bill cannot be done when asked if it can be passed in Congress for a vote. He added it might not happen now.

White House Still Denies Surging Border Crisis

Graham stresses that Biden made the problem worse with his blunder. It makes reaching a compromise too compromised by the bad White House decisions. The Republican thinks the immigration bill is doomed to fail, based on this year like many rushed decisions by Biden in barely one hundred days of non-transparency.

He added that a bipartisan bill would not work. How the legal aspect of the immigration bill is done is unknown. Fixing the immigration problems before approving the bill, but the White House wants to ram it.

Nancy Pelosi said the U.S. Citizenship Act would allow illegals to become naturalized faster. It will cover illegal immigrants living in the US without authorization. Other qualifiers will be qualifying Dreamers, TPS (Temporary Protected Status) holders, and essential farmworkers for immediate green cards. But some aspects of the bill need clarification.

The proposed bill will fast-track illegals as naturalized Americans compared to other administrations. One drawback is a loose border with an increased entry of migrants. Some time ago, they were used to get votes for the GOP. No one agrees with Biden's failed border policy, except the DEMs.

No matter what the DEMs offer to get, it is not approved by the GOP. It will be the Republicans refusing to allow such a bill to give legal status to illegals.

Republican Bill Johnson (R-Ohio) posted on social media that the immigration bill should not be passed. He said it's a bad time, and Biden's policies are not correct. He'd rather support American aliens making it more difficult to do it.

Bidens immigration policies are reckless and irresponsible. https://t.co/AmWDxBGBDM  Bill Johnson (@RepBillJohnson) March 16, 2021

Biden's Immigration Bill is pushed by the left agenda that's against Americans. Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) said that Biden would pay for aliens but not a border wall.

Ranchers to Biden: 'Do the Right Thing' about Mexico Border

Migrants at the US-Mexico Border Wear Shirts Pleading Biden to Allow Entry into the US

Biden Adopts Changes on PPP to Target Small Businesses Owned by Minorities

@ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Illustrative image (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi - The rapid suppression of the new COVID-19 outbreak in late January 2021 has helped maintain Vietnams positive outlook for economic recovery this year, the World Bank (WB) has said.

In its latest Vietnam Macro Monitoring report, the WB said, looking ahead, special attention should be paid to how the COVID-19 vaccinations will be rolled out domestically and globally as they will impact the pace of Vietnams economic growth. Further fiscal and monetary policy interventions may be needed to support recovery of private demand.

According the WB, the Vietnamese government quickly introduced strict but targeted measures to suppress this new outbreak of COVID-19 in Hai Duong, the epicenter, including during the Tet holidays.

As a result, the number of new cases started decreasing, and restrictions were partly eased in the second half of the month.

In the meantime, Vietnam has approved three types of vaccines. The government also approved a resolution to purchase a total of about 150 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines, and prioritized recipient groups.

The WB noted that industrial production slowed as factories closed in observance of the Tet holidays. Industrial production index dropped by 7.2 percent year-on-year in February 2021. This decline is mainly reflecting the cross-year difference in the timing of the Tet holidays, when factories shut down for a week. The two-month moving average still registered an increase of 8.8 percent year-on-year in the first two months of 2021. Metals production, and electronics, computers and optical products continued to grow by 8.6 percent and 3.2 percent, respectively in February, thanks to strong external demand.

Despite the new COVID-19 outbreak, retail sales in February grew by 0.3 percent month-on-month and by 8.3 percent year-on-year due to higher consumption demand associated with the Tet holidays. While lower than pre-COVID-19 performance, this growth suggests that the governments targeted response to the outbreak mitigated the spillover of the negative impacts of anti-COVID stringency measures on economic activities to provinces outside the epicenter.

Vietnams merchandise exports fell by 4.2 percent year-on-year while imports grew by 11.8 percent year-on-year in February 2021, resulting in the first month of trade deficit since April 2020.

Preliminary data show that exports to the US and China rose while those to EU, ASEAN, the Republic of Korea, and Japan decreased. The increase in imports was driven by a doubling of imports from China in February 2021 compared to the same period last year, mirroring January 2021 import patterns. In January 2021, imports of phones, computers, electronics and their parts, and machinery accounted for half of total imports from China and grew by over 75 percent year-on-year. This reflects both Vietnams heavy reliance on imported inputs in manufacturing.

In the first two month of 2021, the Vietnamese government collected 286.7 trillion VND of revenues, which is 0.6 percent higher than the same period last year. This good performance  the first time that government total revenue is increasing since the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis a year ago reflects the ongoing recovery and the elimination of most tax incentives that were adopted in April 2020.

The Ministry of Finance proposal for a second round of tax and land rental deferrals is being discussed by the cabinet. The total size of the package was estimated at 115 trillion VND (5 billion USD). If approved and implemented well, it is expected to help businesses and households maintain their economic activities, particularly in tourism, which remains depressed.
A much-anticipated foreign policy move by the US Biden administration on how to counter Chinas unhindered economic growth and political ambitions came in the form of a virtual summit on Friday, linking America with India, Australia and Japan, Eurasia Review reports. Although the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue  known as the Quad  revealed nothing new in its joint statement, the leaders of these four countries spoke about the historic meeting, which was described by The Diplomat website as a significant milestone in the evolution of the grouping.

However, the joint statement contained little of substance and certainly nothing new by way of a blueprint on how to reverse  or even slow down  Beijings geopolitical successes, growing military confidence and increasing presence in and around global strategic waterways. For years, the Quad has been busy formulating a unified China strategy, but it has failed to devise anything of practical significance.

The Quad began in 2007 and, after an eight-year hiatus, was revived in 2017 with the obvious aim of repulsing Chinas advancement in all fields. Like most American alliances, the Quad is the political manifestation of a military alliance, namely the Malabar naval exercises. These started in 1992 as a bilateral US-India exercise but soon expanded to include all four countries.

Since Washingtons pivot to Asia  the reversal of established US foreign policy, which was predicated on placing greater focus on the Middle East  under Barack Obama, there is little evidence that its confrontational policies have weakened Beijings presence, trade or diplomacy throughout the continent. Aside from some close encounters between the American and Chinese navies in the South China Sea, there is very little to report.

While much media coverage has focused on Americas pivot to Asia, little has been said about Chinas pivot to the Middle East, which has been far more successful as an economic and political endeavor than the American geostrategic shift.

The American seismic change in its foreign policy priorities stemmed from its failure to translate the Iraq invasion of 2003 into a decipherable geoeconomic success, despite seizing control of Iraqs oil  the worlds fifth-largest proven reserves. The US strategy proved to be a complete blunder.

Financial Times Asia Editor Jamil Anderlini raised a fascinating point in an article last September. If oil and influence were the prizes, then it seems China, not America, has ultimately won the Iraq war and its aftermath  without ever firing a shot, he wrote. Not only is China now Iraqs biggest trading partner, but Beijings massive economic and political influence in the Middle East is a triumph. China is now, according to the Financial Times, the Middle Easts biggest foreign investor and a strategic partner for all Gulf states save Bahrain. This can be contrasted with Washingtons confused foreign policy agenda in the region, its unprecedented indecisiveness, the absence of a definable political doctrine, and the systematic breakdown of its regional alliances.

This paradigm becomes clearer and more convincing when understood on a global scale. By the end of 2019, China had become the worlds leader in terms of diplomacy, as it boasted 276 diplomatic posts, including many consulates. Unlike embassies, consulates play a more significant role in terms of trade and economic exchanges. According to the 2019 figures published in Foreign Affairs magazine, China had 96 consulates compared with Americas 88. As recently as 2012, Beijing had lagged 23 posts behind Washingtons diplomatic representation.

Wherever China is diplomatically present, economic development follows. Unlike Americas disjointed global strategy, Chinas ambitions are articulated through a massive network known as the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). When completed, the BRI will unify more than 60 countries around Chinese-led economic strategies and trade routes. To help this materialize, Beijing has moved to establish closer physical proximity to the worlds most strategic waterways, heavily investing in some and even establishing its first overseas military base in Djibouti overlooking the Bab Al-Mandab Strait.

At a time when the US economy is faltering and its European allies are politically fractured, it is difficult to imagine that any American plan to counter Chinas influence, whether in the Middle East, Asia or anywhere else, will have much success.

The biggest hindrance to Washingtons China strategy is that there can never be an outcome in which the US achieves a clear and precise victory. Economically, Beijing is now driving global growth, thus balancing out the international crisis resulting from the coronavirus pandemic. Hurting China economically would weaken the US, as well as the global markets.

The same is true politically and strategically. In the case of the Middle East, Americas pivot to Asia has backfired on multiple fronts. It has registered no palpable successes in Asia, while also creating a vacuum in the Middle East for China to fill.

Some wrongly argue that Chinas entire political strategy is predicated on its desire to merely do business. While economic dominance is historically the main driver of all superpowers, Beijings quest for global supremacy is hardly confined to finance. On many fronts, it has already either taken the lead or is approaching the front. For example, China and Russia last week signed an agreement to construct an International Lunar Research Station. Considering Russias long track record in space exploration and Chinas recent achievements in the field  including landing the first ever spacecraft on the South Pole-Aitken Basin area of the moon  these two countries look set to take the lead in the resurrected space race.

The US-led Quad meeting was neither historic nor a game changer, as all indicators attest that Chinas global leadership will continue unhindered. This is a consequential event that is already reordering the worlds geopolitical paradigms, which have been in place for more than a century.
Mamta Banerjee has been campaigning with her life to win the power of West Bengal for the third consecutive time. The Election Commission has asked for an unedited video of Purulia District Magistrate to announce Mamata's plan to provide free ration to every poor's house in the election meeting. TMC is going to release its election manifesto today.

Mamta Banerjee has been campaigning with her life to win the power of West Bengal for the third consecutive time, and this time the biggest obstacle in her campaign is the BJP. The dates for the West Bengal assembly elections are near. Meanwhile, a round of accusation between the two parties continues. But now, beyond this allegation, the fight in Bengal is going to come on the promises made to the people, because today the Trinamool Congress will issue its manifesto.

The election campaign is in full swing. At the same time, difficulties have increased before the release of the manifesto of West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Mamata Banerjee. The Election Commission has called a report on the announcement of Mamta Banerjees plan to provide free ration to the homes of every poor in Purulia. TMC will release its manifesto on Wednesday i.e. today.

Also Read: PM Modi to visit Bangladesh next week, first foreign trip since Covid-19 outbreak

The Election Commission, taking automatic cognizance of this matter, has asked for an unedited video of Purulia District Magistrate, i.e., the current District Election Officer, to announce Mamatas plan to provide free ration to every poors house in the election meeting. The Election Commission wants to know whether any such policy was announced earlier by the Trinamool government or is this step a violation of the Model Election Code of Conduct? As The Trinamool Congress is going to release its election manifesto today.

Also, there is news from TMC source that there will be emphasis in health and education. Development is one point agenda of TMC in the manifesto. TMC has plans to continue the schemes like Kanyashree, Yuvashree, Sabuj Saathi in front of it. There is a possibility that schemes like Duare Sarkar and Swasthya Saathi will also continue.

Also Read: Kim Jong Uns Sister warns US as Biden administration officials arrive in Japan, South Korea
SAGINAW, MI  Several Saginaw police officers have filed a lawsuit against the city they work in and their own union, alleging a contract change is forcing them to work years longer before they can retire with full health care coverage.

Attorney Victor J. Mastromarco Jr. on Feb. 9 filed the lawsuit in Saginaw County Circuit Court on behalf of current officers Bradley Holp, 37; Roger Pate, 45; Matthew Carpus, 35; and Steven Lautner, 38; and former officer Richard Thompson, 48. The city of Saginaw and the Police Officers Association of Michigan, or POAM, are named as defendants.

All five officers were hired by the city between Jan. 1, 2005, and Feb. 9, 2009, the suit states. Their employment was governed by a contract effective through June 30, 2011. Part of that contract stated those officers who retire with 20 or more years of service after Feb. 9, 2009, would have their health care covered 100 percent, the suit states.

However, a new contract signed Sept. 12, 2011, that was to be effective through June 30, 2014, states retirees are only eligible for 100 percent of their health care coverage if they retired at age 55 or older. The new contract also states that all Health Care Vesting schedule requirements would apply along with the required employee contribution as the time of requirement.

This change effectively takes away vesting dates and requires that the police officer work until age 55 or later to obtain health care benefits, the suit states.

Its a huge deal to eliminate the medical benefits for these guys, said Mastromarco in an interview with MLive. The way it was set up, once you get 20 years in, youve got benefits for life. By changing it, instead of putting a grandfather-type clause in there that would not have affected the agreement, they said, Now you got to work till youre 55.

The two youngest officers, Holp and Carpus, would have to work an additional 10 and 12 years, respectively, or receive no benefits, the suit states. Thompson left the department after 10 years in July 2018, at which time he would have been 50% vested and, thus, due partial medical coverage under the previous contract language, the suit states.

Police officers tend to retire around 45 years old, a lot of them, Mastromarco said. The city knows that, so by extending it to 55 theyre affecting certainly these five guys.

The five plaintiffs are the only officers affected by this change, which Mastromarco claims was made without their knowledge. He further claims in the suit that the contracts language unfairly discriminates against the (officers) since they are members of a protected class, because of their age.

Other employees are not affected as they were not employed under the old contract when the changes were made, the suit alleges.

Its not right at all, what they did, Mastromarco said. They knew what they were doing when they were doing it. They knew darn well it was going to be affecting these guys. With police officers, one of the biggest things for them is the benefits that they get for risking their lives for many years. And by them taking it away just shows a complete disregard for reality.

POAM membership did not agree to the change in contract language, nor were the changes discussed or proposed to members in writing. In the alternative, POAM leadership conspired with the city to deprive the five officers of their property rights due to their ages, the suit alleges.

The suit lists four counts against the defendants  violations of procedural and substantive due process, discrimination based on age, conspiracy to violate the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act, and fraud and/or silent fraud.

The suit is seeking a minimum of $25,000, plus costs, interests, and attorney fees. That amount is the minimum figure needed to file a lawsuit at the circuit court level.

Mastromarco said the ideal outcome is for the city and POAM to reverse course and reinstate the five plaintiffs rights under the previous contract.

In my opinion, that would be the smartest thing for them to do, he said. Otherwise, theyre staring at a lot of damages. If you were to calculate what those medical benefits are, it would be tremendous. What we would be seeking is the cost of the medical benefits for the rest of their lives.

Saginaw Police Department declined to comment on the lawsuit, citing its pending status. Calls seeking comment from POAM President James Tignanelli were not returned.

A court date for the lawsuit is yet to be scheduled.

Read more:

Police debunk social media rumors of spike in overdoses in Saginaw, Bay counties

Hearing held for teen brothers charged as adults in shooting death at Saginaw gas station

Saginaw man has armed robbery, sexual assault charges dropped in plea deal
Ashley Jacobs is officially off the market, with the former Southern Charm star now engaged to boyfriend Mike Appel.

The 35-year-old Jacobs, who first appeared on Southern Charm's fifth season as Thomas Ravenel's girlfriend, has been dating the 40-year-old Appel since the summer of 2019.

Appel, who owns the Related Garments clothing apparel company and Nnovate agency, proposed during a snowy getaway in Park City, according to People.

Engaged: Ashley Jacobs is officially off the market, with the former Southern Charm star now engaged to boyfriend Mike Appel

Appel popped the question while they were out on a snowmobile ride in Park City, and Jacobs said yes.

'After a year and half of dating, we can both agree that this adventure we're on together is just getting started,' Jacobs said.

'We're a great team and we can't wait for what's ahead! Buckle up!' Jacobs added.

Adventure: 'After a year and half of dating, we can both agree that this adventure we're on together is just getting started,' Jacobs said

She also shared some of the snowy engagement day photos on Instagram, where she was showing off the engagement ring.

'My fiance!! (Kinda has a nice ring to it!)' Jacobs said, while giving 'special thanks' to People for, 'covering our engagement story.'

Jacobs revealed that they met at a rooftop party in Jacobs' hometown of Santa Barbara in the summer of 2019.

First meeting: Jacobs revealed that they met at a rooftop party in Jacobs' hometown of Santa Barbara in the summer of 2019

'I was taking a picture of the ocean sunset when Mike kindly interrupted and asked, "Would you like me to get a picture with you in it?" Jacobs said of their first meeting.

'We sparked up a conversation after that. Mike is from Los Angeles and he asked, "Do you ever come to L.A.?" I thought to myself, "No," but responded with, "Not that often."'

She added that she had to remind herself she, 'previously dated someone who lived in South Carolina, so L.A. is nothing in terms of distance.'

Ocean: 'I was taking a picture of the ocean sunset when Mike kindly interrupted and asked, "Would you like me to get a picture with you in it?" Jacobs said of their first meeting

Jacobs added that Appel invited her to Los Angeles a week later, and, 'The rest is history.'

The pair went 'Instagram official' a few months after that initial encounter, which was a year after she split with Southern Charm star Thomas Ravenel.

The pair dated for more than a year before they split in 2018, but not after she appeared on Southern Charm and feuded with Kathryn Dennis, Ravenel's ex and mother of his two kids.

History: Jacobs added that Appel invited her to Los Angeles a week later, and, 'The rest is history'
Even though shipment delays and unsteady deliveries have raised concerns people might not be able to get their second COVID-19 vaccine dose on time, research released March 15 shows the problem is not widespread: Just 2.5 percent of South Carolinians missed their second dose.

A research paper published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention analyzed data from 12.5 million vaccine recipients in the United States, including 182,000 people in South Carolina.

The number of missed doses in South Carolina was better than the national average of 3.4 percent; Virginia had the highest rate of missed doses, at 7.8 percent.

If they get one of the two-dose vaccines, people are supposed to wait four weeks for the Moderna option and three weeks for Pfizer. But the CDC has said the second shot "may be administered up to 42 days after the first dose when a delay is unavoidable."

In South Carolina, among those people who had both doses, 95 percent got their follow-up shot during the recommended time frame, a bit below the national average.

Though the percentages of people missing their shots are small, the CDC still thinks there is work to be done on the issue.

"Public health officials should work to better understand whether missed doses or delays are caused by challenges to vaccine access ... or because of other challenges related to vaccine confidence or acceptance," researchers wrote.

Another key takeaway: All told, nine in 10 people are getting both shots on time.

Statewide numbers

New cases reported: 733 confirmed, 228 probable.

Total cases in S.C.: 456,296 confirmed, 79,804 probable.

Percent positive: 4.5 percent.

New deaths reported: 38 confirmed, 14 probable.

Total deaths in S.C.: 7,890 confirmed, 1,043 probable.

Percent of ICU beds filled: 68.95 percent.

How does S.C. rank in vaccines administered per 100,000 people?

42nd as of March 16, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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Hardest-hit areas

In the total number of newly confirmed cases, Greenville County (101), Charleston County (62) and Richland County (62) saw the highest totals.

What about the tri-county?

Charleston County had 62 new cases on March 17, while Berkeley had 21 and Dorchester had 25.

Deaths

Thirteen of the new confirmed deaths reported were people age 35 to 64 and 37 were patients age 65 and older.

Hospitalizations

Of the 576 COVID-19 patients hospitalized as of March 17, 130 were in the ICU and 58 were using ventilators.

Long-term care facilities

There have been 19,459 confirmed coronavirus cases in nursing homes and assisted-living facilities: 12,047 residents and 7,412 staff workers, according to DHEC data.

That's an increase in cases of less than 1 percent over a week.

So far, 1,888 residents have died from the virus, a mortality rate of 16 percent. Twenty-nine workers also have died. Together, they account for 24 percent of deaths in the state, the data from March 14 shows.

Of the 688 facilities DHEC monitored, the virus has been found in 507. There are active outbreaks at 100 of them, a 31 percent drop in one week.

Some type of visitation  indoor, outdoor or both  is allowed at 493 facilities; 177 do not allow it; and 18 did not report.

What do experts say?

Dr. Linda Bell, DHEC's chief epidemiologist, said antibody tests cannot be used as a reliable method to measure how your body responded to the COVID-19 vaccine. The tests can be unreliable, she said, and while the vaccine mounts an immune response, the test could be measuring different antibodies.

"You can be immune and have a negative antibody test," Bell said.
GREENWICH  Every Friday is a little different in Audrey Jankiewiczs eighth-grade English class.

Jankiewicz, who started working at Western Middle School at the beginning of the year, had a tradition known as First Chapter Friday while teaching in a different district.

Each week, she reads her class the first chapter of a different book, exposing them over a school year to nearly 40 books. This year, titles have included A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness, Notes from the Midnight Driver by Jordan Sonnenblick, Enders Game by Orson Scott Card and The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne.

Sometimes I try to use books that relate to the unit we are studying, but other times it is more random, Jankiewicz said. I also love to accept recommendations from other teachers or students.

Despite the disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic, First Chapter Fridays has remained a constant in Jankiewiczs class.

The tradition has been a highlight of the school year for at least one student, the son of Natalie Adee, a co-president of the Western Middle School Parent Teacher Association.

Adee had the idea in February to thank teachers and educators, such as Jankiewicz, who have gone above and beyond the call of duty or have otherwise worked to maintain a sense of normalcy during the pandemic.

I came up with idea of trying to figure out how to do more than just regular teacher appreciation, Adee said. I wanted to do something more, especially because this year hasnt been normal.

Through the Parent Teacher Association Council  an umbrella group of districtwide PTA members  Adee circulated a Thank a teacher/staff/administrator survey, a simple online form that allowed Greenwich parents to individually thank school staff members who have made a difference in the past year.

More than 1,000 people responded.

RELATED: See the notes of gratitude to Greenwich educators

The response was so overwhelming that we are only seeing the wonderful results now, three weeks later, PTAC President Brian Peldunas said. I think the results speak for themselves as to the care demonstrated by the GPS team.

The responses vary widely and were directed at teachers, support staff and administrators.

Some of them are blanket ones, Adee said. But even in the kind and patient comments, a lot of them go much deeper into the human connection. ... So many are, They noticed my child, they reached out and talked to us personally. When schools closed last spring they made a point of having a five-minute Zoom each week with just my child. So its all about that connection with staff administrators and teachers.

Adee, for instance, singled out Jankiewicz and highlighted the importance of First Chapter Fridays. And parents thanked countless other teachers for challenging their children, pushing them to succeed.

Mrs. Salomon helped the class to transition with the abrupt shift to distance learning and provided ongoing individual learning and support to our daughter throughout, said one comment that celebrated Julian Curtiss kindergarten teacher Michelle Salomon. She took the time to provide one on one feedback and engagement.

Tyler Sizemore / Hearst Connecticut Media

Multiple parents also thanked the nurses at Julian Curtiss, North Mianus, North Street, Parkway and Riverside schools.

Making going to the nurses office the highlight of the day. For moms too, said another, addressed to Parkways nurse, Julie Prescott.

Carol Rende, who works in the main office at Glenville School, was among the support staff who was thanked individually.

She helps me with care and patience, every time that I call or I when to the school. She always has a smile, one parent wrote.

Principals and other administrators throughout the district, too, were oft-shouted out, with Eastern Middle School Principal Jason Goldstein among them.

Principal Goldstein has been a rock throughout this pandemic, hes upbeat, informative, kind and funny, a parent wrote.

The survey responses have been circulated among school staff, so that each person can see what was submitted. And Adee said there has been some discussion at individual schools about displaying the positive comments in buildings.

Superintendent of School Toni Jones  who got her own shout out in the survey  expressed her thanks for the initiative.

We are so grateful to the members of PTAC for leading this initiative to thank our incredible GPS team, Jones said. Our teachers and staff always go above and beyond for our students and families, and this year their efforts are truly amplified. Im thrilled they are being recognized so thoughtfully by members of our school community for their dedication and compassion.

justin.papp@scni.com; @justinjpapp1; 203-842-2586
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Late last year the company announced an exclusive Heads of Agreement with leading Australian Islamic financial group Crescent Group to deliver a pioneering Islamic home finance product.

DomaCom Australia Ltd ( ) has enhanced the skillset of its board through the appointment of Hilal Yassine as a non-executive director.

Yassine is group managing director of First Quay Capital, a private equity firm that invests in early-stage high growth businesses, and is also a director of Crescent Wealth, Australias leading Islamic super and investment fund.

Legal and regulatory experience

DomaCom chairman Grahame Evans said: I am delighted to welcome Hilal to the board. The appointment adds valuable skills and independence to our board.

Hilal brings significant legal and regulatory experience as well as a passion for innovative financial solutions.

We particularly look forward to Hilals contribution to the success of DomaComs Shariah-compliant financing solution currently being developed.

Shariah-compliant financing solution

Late last year the company announced an exclusive Heads of Agreement with leading Australian Islamic financial group Crescent Group to deliver a pioneering Islamic home finance product.

The product will leverage DomaComs innovative fractional model that will allow Australias 700,000-plus Muslim population to purchase a property using Shariah-compliant financing.

Product launch in Q3 2021

The legal structure of Islamic finance prohibits the paying or receiving of interest which makes traditional home loan products problematic for Muslims who wish to comply with their religion but still need financing to purchase a home.

DomaCom and Crescent Group have been working on a model which enables Australian Muslims to purchase a property with leverage using Islamic finance while maintaining the familiar structure of a traditional home purchase.

The company's unique fractional investment platform is being extended to be able to deliver on this goal with the product launch targeted for the third quarter of 2021.

Crescent Group will lead the Shariah certification of the product and the delivery to the Australian Muslim community and engage its extensive global Islamic network to source institutional funding for these products.
The European Union on March 17 recognized the zoning of Ukraine for highly pathogenic avian influenza, which will allow the country to supply safe poultry products from uninfected areas to the EU countries, even taking into account the current quarantine restrictions in areas where cases of the disease were previously recorded.

This was announced by the State Service of Ukraine for Food Safety and Consumer Protection on Wednesday.

"The recognition of the zoning will allow Ukraine to resume trade with the EU in poultry products. This will happen, even taking into account the fact that there are still quarantine restrictions in the zones where there have been cases of the disease and supply safe products from uninfected areas," Head of the service Vladyslava Mahaletska said.

In addition, Deputy Minister of Development of Economy, Trade and Agriculture, Trade Representative of Ukraine Taras Kachka wrote on Facebook that the export of poultry meat to the EU was stopped for the zoning period due to several outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza in Ukraine.

"In a few weeks, exports will be restored. And this is a sign of normal, high-quality and friendly interaction between Ukraine and the EU, which is provided by the Ministry for Development of Economy, Trade and Agriculture of Ukraine and the State Service for Food Safety and Consumer Protection," Kachka said in a Facebook post.
Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue.

The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website:

We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service.
North Augusta, SC (29841)

Today

Mostly cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low near 70F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Mostly cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low near 70F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph.
ONTARIO, Calif. (AP)  Authorities say two people were killed when a fireworks stash exploded in inland Southern California, setting a house on fire, blowing out windows across the neighborhood, and sending up a huge plume of smoke.

Multiple blasts were reported around midday in Ontario, east of Los Angeles.

TV news footage showed at least one home burning and a shed and scattered debris in a yard also on fire.

Firefighters managed to free a horse on the property that was trapped against a wall near a pile of burning debris.
An Instagram post featuring a six word WhatsApp message has gone viral in Australia, as the shocking murder of Sarah Everard on the other side of the world strikes a chord with local women amid a renewed public debate over sexual abuse.

Personal trainer Lucy Hamilton posted the WhatsApp screenshot on Instagram with the seemingly mundane message: 'Text me when you get home'.

The post was an example of the precautions women take to protect themselves and each other from sexual predators, and highlights the problems of a society where these kind of posts between women are commonplace.

Sarah Everard was abducted and murdered in London just days before thousands of women around Australia took to the streets on Monday in the March 4 Justice rallies.

While the genesis of those rallies were a couple of high profile sex assault allegations involving political figures, Sarah's killing was also cited by some marchers as evidence of a the continued ubiquity of sexual assault.

Lucy Mountain's post received widespread support and was liked by over 2.5million people

Lucy Mountain shared the post to raise awareness around the 'engrained behaviours' women developed as self defence

In the caption to her post, Ms Hamilton said she had felt a connection between herself and other women for whom fear of sexual assault was ever-present.

'Ive had conversations about how being hyper-conscious of our safety is just something weve done throughout our entire lives.' She wrote.

She listed a number of 'ingrained behaviours' women had developed to stop feel safer.

Lucy Mountain's Instagram post has helped raise awareness about how women's 'hyper-conscious' about their safety is so common

'We have all shared our live locations.'

'We have all changed our shoes.'

'We have all held our keys between our fingers.'

'We have all made phone calls, both real and fake.'

'We have all tucked our hair inside our coats.'

'We have all ran down dark roads.'

'We have all theorised our escape routes.'

Lucy Mountain's post was part of a wave of posts shared about the sexual assault of women

She wrote: 'Whats so insidious is that these things dont even feel like "special safety tools".'

'Theyre literally just engrained behaviours and actions weve had to pick up since we were little girls. Because "thats just the way it is",' the post's caption read.

The post was supported strongly in Australia and received over 2.5million likes in total, and was shared widely on Instagram.

Many showed their support in the comments of the post.

'Thank you for wording this so well', one wrote.

'Verified this explains everything we feel so well. Thank you xxx', another commented.

Social media has been a portal for women to share their experiences and support around sexual assault

'Thank you for saying this so eloquently,' a third wrote.

The post is one of many social media campaigns raising awareness about the sexual harassment and abuse of women and accusations that not enough is being done to change it.

That includes the viral petition shared by Chanel Contos that received over 3,400 testimonies from sexual assault victims.

The campaigns in Australia were sparked by the recent allegations by former Liberal Party staffer Brittany Higgins that she was raped inside Parliament House in 2019.

Chanel Contos shared a petition asking people to share their experiences with sexual assault leading to many victims speaking out for the first time

Thousands participated in 40 different March 4 Justice protests across Australia that agitated for more action against violence toward women.

The campaign also encouraged sexual assault victims to speak up about their experiences and encourage others to realise they are not alone.

If you feel you need help regarding sexual assault please contact:

1800 RESPECT

Phone: 1800 737 732
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 17, 2021) - Better Plant Sciences Inc. (CSE: PLNT) (OTCQB: VEGGF) (FSE: YG3) ("Better Plant" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the launch of new products for Jusu Home, an eco-friendly line of household products, including a Rosewood Sweet Orange Laundry Detergent and a Sweet Orange Lime Stainless Steel Cleaner.





Better Plant's Jusu Home Expands Line of Eco-Friendly Household Cleaning Products

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/6377/77542_ba076e16847aba05_001full.jpg

To round out the Jusu Home lineup, new Home Care Bundles are now available on Jusu's recently revamped website, Getjusu.com. Better Plant currently has 67 different plant-based Jusu Home and Body products for sale and plans to regularly launch new products from its extensive catalogue of proprietary formulas, based on market and consumer data.

A campaign to promote Jusu Home products is underway to run ad placements on Oprah's SuperSoul Conversations, SHE with Jordan Lee Dooley, and Nutrition Diva podcasts. Jusu Home products are available in Canada at getjusu.com and from trusted retailers such as Nature's Way Holistic Health Center, Purple Carrot Health Foods and Wellness Inc., and The Cleaning Co-operative.

"The demand for hygiene and cleanliness products suitable for both residential and commercial spaces has been rising, and is expected to continue to rise," said Joelle Fiorito, Director of Operations for Better Plant. "Jusu Home products are high-quality, eco-friendly, non-toxic, naturally fragrant, and contain no harmful chemicals. They function as a suitable eco-friendly alternative to harsh chemical cleaners and bleaches, which can cause irritation and skin allergies."

Better Plant has increased research and development in this area and is focused on launching high-quality eco-friendly goods.

"We have a loyal customer base that has guided us along the way with genuine feedback and love for our home cleaning products," said Joelle Fiorito. "Our long-time wholesale customers call us often just to say they don't know what they would do without our products and that their customers feel the same. It's an exciting time for Jusu not only because we have our long-term, loyal customers, but also because we are gaining new customers that have just as much love for our products."

With this new product launch, Getjusu.com is also getting a fresh new look with improved usability and eye-catching features. Notable features of the new eCommerce site include updated images and video content, improved U/X, and subscription services for customers to build their own bundles to reorder.

According to a report by Prophecy Market Insights, The global green cleaning products market accounted for US$ 3.9 billion in 2019 and is estimated to be US$ 11.6 billion by 2029 and is anticipated to register a CAGR of 11.8%.

About Jusu Wellness Inc.

Jusu Wellness Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Better Plant and it owns and operates Jusu, a full spectrum wellness brand with a mission to enlighten consumers to the protective and effective properties of plant based products. Jusu is committed to making pure, organic, plant-based products for consumption, home and personal care. This includes one JUSU Bar location and brick-and-mortar juice bar franchise opportunities as well as an extensive direct-to-consumer product offering including cold-pressed juices, skin care and body products, and a home cleaning line. Jusu is fully dedicated to offering consumers healthier alternatives to currently available chemical-based products.

To purchase Jusu Wellness products visit getjusu.com, or follow @jusu on Instagram.

About Better Plant Sciences Inc.

Better Plant offers plant-based products for optimum health and wellness. It is a vertically integrated company with a team whose complementary experience enables acquisition, development, manufacturing, and direct-to-consumer distribution of its products. Its all-natural products vary from juice cleanses to home products to personal care products, all without chemicals or harmful ingredients. It has an extensive catalogue of over 400 proprietary plant-based product formulas. Better Plant currently has over 70 plant-based products for sale through eCommerce and/or in retail stores under the brands Jusu, Urban Juve, and Wright & Well. Better Plant also offers operational and support services to companies in which it has an equity interest. Better Plant also owns approximately 27.7% of NeonMind Biosciences Inc. (CSE: NEON).

For more information on Better Plant, visit betterplantsciences.com or follow @betterplantsciences on Instagram.

Penny White, President & CEO

penny@betterplantsciences.com

1-833-515-2677

Investor Relations:

Alexandra Dumanski

invest@betterplantsciences.com

1-833-515-2677

The Canadian Securities Exchange has not reviewed, approved or disapproved the contents of this news release.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes forward-looking information and statements (collectively, "forward looking statements") under applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates, forecasts, beliefs and assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks, uncertainties and factors include, but are not limited to: risks related to the development, testing, licensing, brand development, availability of packaging, intellectual property protection, reduced global commerce and reduced access to raw materials and other supplies due to the spread of COVID-19, the potential for not acquiring any rights as a result of the patent application and any products making use of the intellectual property may be ineffective or the company may be unsuccessful in commercializing them; and other approvals will be required before commercial exploitation of the intellectual property can happen. Demand for the company's products, general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties, delay or failure to receive board or regulatory approvals where applicable, and the state of the capital markets. Better Plant cautions readers not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements provided by Better Plant, as such forward-looking statements are not a guarantee of future results or performance and actual results may differ materially. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date of this press release, and Better Plant expressly disclaims any obligation to update or alter statements containing any forward-looking information, or the factors or assumptions underlying them, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/77542


It sometimes seems that we live in a time without leaders. Congress is pathetic. When it bothers to work at all, we see would-be presidential candidates whose preening and pandering would be humiliating if they were at all self-aware.



We find we look to sports, or to people like Bill and Melinda Gates, for examples of human initiative. For leadership requires a prophetic sense and guts. There is always risk in leadership.



But there is one great exception to our leaderless age  Pope Francis. Eight years into his papacy, and now at the age of 84, he keeps on, through his own highs and lows, and not only with doggedness but that necessary prophetic sense and courage.



The pope's March 5-8 trip to Iraq is a prime example. It was a risk on many levels. And it will not be understood as the profound act it was by many. Most of the media's reaction has been: That was nice.



But this pope does not go for nice and is not himself particularly "nice." This pope is a bulldozer of a man, who believes in the radical change made possible by the mercy of Jesus of Nazareth.



So, Pope Francis went to one of the most war-torn places on earth  with some of the worst ethnic and tribal rivalries ever (in 2017, the State Department said the Islamic State engaged in genocide against the country's Yazidis and other minority groups) and one of the oldest and most persecuted Catholic populations  to preach. He went to Iraq to give the message of reconciliation, coexistence and love.



The pope visited four cities, including Mosul, the former ISIS fortress where churches were destroyed. He walked among the ruins.

He said Mass in the open air where bombs fell and bullets flew for so long. He reached out to the broken and oppressed of a land he called "martyred."



And the dispossessed reached back toward him, in large crowds and at risk to themselves. Joseph R. Biden, only the second Catholic president of the United States, often quotes Pope Francis. He has called him a personal hero.



He said this about the pope's trip: "To see Pope Francis visit ancient religious sites, including the biblical birthplace of Abraham, spend time with Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani in Najaf, and offer prayers in Mosul  a city that only a few years ago endured the depravity and intolerance of a group like ISIS  is a symbol of hope for the entire world."



Pope Francis' visit, said Biden, "sent an important message that 'fraternity is more durable than fratricide that hope is more powerful than death, and that peace is more powerful than war.'"



This is the true scope of the pope's visit to Iraq. Yes, he built a bridge between Christians and Muslims. And, yes, he may have made life a little safer and better for Catholics in Iraq.



But, more than these things, by walking with some of the most hurting people in one of the most ravaged places on earth, he showed us what fraternity looks like, and what hope might feel like.



Some called this trip reckless. Some called it audacious. The pope called it a "duty"  an act of witness.



This was the true, pure audacity of hope  the most hopeful and honest act of pastoring, and leadership, that the world has seen in a very long time.





This editorial appeared at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and was distributed by Tribune Content Agency.


"One persistent myth about palm oil is that it is unhealthy because it contains saturated fatty acids (SAFA). However, whole palm oil is typically 50% saturated, and 50% unsaturated fatty acids, which is quite different when compared to dairy and cocoa butters," said Dr. Paul Wassell, Head of Research and Development.

In fact, depending on the degree of refining, palm oil is the richest source of Beta-carotene, a natural source of Pro-Vitamin A. It is also a great source of tocotrienols (Vitamin E).

"Another confounding myth is that palm oil increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases, which is simply untrue. This is due to fundamental knowledge gaps about the differences between SAFA type: long, medium, and short chain, and their function." Wassell pointed out, "For instance, palmitic fatty acid (the most common SAFA) in oleic-palmitic-oleic (OPO) fats for infant formula, does mimic the OPO molecule that is naturally present in mother's milk."

Eliminating trans fats entirely from food supply

The fear of increased risk of heart diseases is driving global health regulators to ban trans fats, which can be found in partially hydrogenated vegetable oils. The U.S. Federal Drug Administration and the WHO plan to eliminate industrial trans fats by 2020 and 2023 , respectively.

F&B conglomerates have turned to natural palm oil, due it being naturally free from industrial trans fatty acids and not needing to undergo hydrogenation to be modified, unlike sunflower, rapeseed, and soybean oils. Among the four major commodity oils, palm oil remains free from genetic modification  a non-GMO oil.

"Adding hydrogen makes an oil more saturated and may result in the formation of trans-fatty acids, so palm oil's ability to be fractionated naturally and then recombined into other products without hydrogenation is a massive advantage," Wassel remarked.

Innovating to adapt to customer needs

At GAR's R&D centre in Marunda , Jakarta, food technologists develop margarines with different flavour profiles, shortening with special whipping capabilities, or unique specialty ice-cream coatings.

"Milk fat replacers -- like palm oil-based margarines to replace butter -- have gained prominence as food producers try to cater to consumers who are lactose intolerant, while avoiding trans fats entirely. We also reduce Sodium (salt) in our margarine type products. We understand this will bring additional health benefits to the wider community.

We've also seen continued interest in plant-based foods. We have new concepts in our innovation pipeline for both local and international customers, while fulfilling our customers' bespoke requirements," Wassel added.

A year into the COVID-19 pandemic, policymakers have shifted their focus to food security and nutrition among lower income groups, especially rural populations.

Wassell believes indigenous populations can consider minimally-processed palm oil that retains natural tocotrienols, a maximum concentration of Pro-Vitamin A, while keeping an ultra-low carbon footprint.

Find out more about the company's R&D initiatives in the GAR's Palm Oil Facts Booklet.

About Golden Agri-Resources (GAR):

Founded in 1996, Golden Agri-Resources (GAR) is now one of the largest palm oil plantation companies in the world. GAR's plantations are located in Indonesia, and the company manages nearly half a million hectares of palm oil plantations (including smallholder farmers). A leader in seed-to-shelf agribusiness, GAR actively engages with clients across the globe to innovate products that cater to consumers' food health and safety needs.

SOURCE Golden Agri-Resources
It is a massive change in the business model of a company which had argued before Britain's Supreme Court that its drivers were self-employed.

Uber on Tuesday said it is granting its UK drivers worker status, with benefits including a minimum wagea world first for the US ride-hailing giant.

Weeks after a top court ruling that could shake up Britain's wider "gig economy" of 5.5 million people, Uber said its drivers would also get holiday pay and a pension.

It is a massive change in the business model of a company that had argued before Britain's Supreme Court that its drivers were self-employed.

From Wednesday, "more than 70,000 drivers in the UK will be treated as workers, earning at least the national living wage when driving with Uber," the taxi app said in a statement.

"This is a floor and not a ceiling, with drivers able to earn more."

The court ruled last month that Uber's drivers are entitled to worker's rights.

The decision capped a protracted legal battle between UK drivers and the Silicon Valley taxi and delivery company.

'Flexibility remains'

Uber said its action over workers' rights "means drivers will earn with greater security, helping them to plan for their futures while maintaining the flexibility that is integral to the private-hire industry."

The higher costs for Uber come as it faces sliding driver bookings owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, despite strong demand for the Uber Eats food delivery service during national lockdowns.

Uber did not expect the change in driver compensation to affect its net income this year, the company said in a US regulatory filing.

"We've come to recognise that platforms like ours will work differently in different countries," Uber chief executive Dara Khosrowshahi said in an editorial published in the Evening Standard.

"The future of work is too big of an issue for a one-size-fits-all solution, and that's OK," said Khosrowshahiwho has previously argued for a "third way" to classify gig workers, rather than as employees or independent contractors.

Gig workers

The Services Employees International Union, which has been working to secure labour protections for Uber drivers in the United States, welcomed the UK development.

"This debunks nearly a decade of scare tactics from rideshare companies like Uber and makes clear that Uber can choose at any time to properly classify their drivers and pay them a living wage with good benefits," SEIU president Mary Kay Henry said in response to an AFP inquiry.

The British ruling comes after California's top court last month upheld a referendum that let "gig workers" like Uber be treated as contractors.

Drivers for ride-share and meal delivery apps had filed suit attempting to nullify the legislation known as Proposition 22.

Proposition 22passed in November and heavily backed by Uber, Lyft and other app-based, on-demand delivery serviceseffectively overturned a state law requiring them to reclassify their drivers and provide employee benefits.

The vote followed a contentious campaign with labour groups claiming the initiative would erode worker rights and benefits, and with backers arguing for a new, flexible economic model.

Under the proposition, drivers remain independent contractors but Uber and Lyft are to pay them a number of benefits including a minimum wage, a contribution to healthcare and other forms of insurance. Critics of the measure said it failed to take into account the full costs borne by drivers.

In a first for the European Union, Spain's government earlier this month announced a deal that will recognise riders working for food delivery firms such as Deliveroo and Uber Eats as salaried staff following complaints about their working conditions.

In Italy, prosecutors have told Uber Eats and other food delivery platforms their couriers were employees and not independent workers, fining them 733 million euros for breach of labour safety rules.

Explore further UK top court shakes up gig economy with ruling against Uber

 2021 AFP
As a line of people waited to get vaccinated at San Francisco General Hospital, Mayor London Breed celebrated Wednesday how far the city has come since she somberly ordered the city to lock down exactly a year ago.

Breed has been hailed around the country for her swift decision to shut down San Francisco before many other major cities. Experts say that move likely saved thousands of lives, and kept the death rate the lowest of any large city in the country.

We all did our part and it was hard, she said as a group of doctors and nurses in their scrubs, who have been at the forefront of the crisis, looked on. We didnt get to see our loved ones. We had to separate. Our kids are still struggling to get back into school. We sacrificed and we made it through.

But she acknowledged that the fight isnt over: We just need a little bit more, she said. Just a little bit more.

Over the past year, the virus has taken a brutal toll on San Franciscans, with loved ones and jobs lost. And for all of the national attention Breed received for locking the city down early  even appearing on national television to explain the strategy  her decision has not been without criticism at home.

Many local businesses have complained that San Franciscos health department has been too conservative in re-opening bars, restaurants and retailers, which were already struggling before the pandemic.

Public school classrooms are still closed, which has infuriated many students, parents and teachers who said children struggling academically and socially from distance learning. Meanwhile, homeless people are still left out on the streets on crowded sidewalks. And the loneliness and isolation caused by the lockdowns has also lead to a surge in mental health issues and contributed to drug overdoses.

Gabrielle Lurie/The Chronicle

The virus has disproportionately affected Black, Latino and Asian San Franciscans and worsened the citys gaping disparity between the rich and the poor. Breed started the press conference by acknowledging the shooting in Atlanta that left several Asian people dead, and also the rise in hate crimes against Asian-Americans.

I want to make it clear that we won't tolerate it, she said.

San Francisco will take what it has experienced this year as an opportunity to address issues around inequities that have only been lifted higher as a result of this pandemic, Breed said.

San Francisco, now averaging 33 cases per day, is still slightly above where it was during the summer surge. But its nowhere near where it was during the winter onslaught, where the city saw as many as 375 cases a day. In total, 448 people have died of the virus so far.

Even before shelter in place, Breed had declared a state of emergency in late February to prepare the city for what was ahead.

Then, on March 16, 2020, Breed gravely told San Franciscans that they must stay at home beginning the next day, except for essential outings.

These measures will be disruptive to day to day life but there is no need to panic, she said then. San Francisco has  as we know  experienced challenges in the past and because of those challenges weve become more of a resilient city.

Now, 12 months later, San Franciscans are still largely relegated to their homes. But there have been some flickers of normalcy and hope: hugging a vaccinated loved one, eating dinner outside under a heat lamp and stimulus checks in the mail for those in need.

If San Franciscos cases continue to fall at the current clip, the city will move into the orange tier March 24. That means offices may reopen and more people can dine at restaurants inside. Still, Breed said when the city reaches the orange tier, she expects it to be more conservative than state guidance.

Officials suggested at the Wednesday press conference that the worst of the pandemic is hopefully behind us. It was a simple ceremony  but it also had an air of celebration, relief and lightness that has been rare over the past year.

I have to say, when this is over, Im looking forward to a big party and dancing with you, Dr. Grant Colfax, director of the Department of Public Health said, as his voice began to crack and he turned back to look at the mayor.

And shouting with joy, and raising our hands, and celebrating that we made it through this, he said to cheers.

Trisha Thadani is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: tthadani@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @TrishaThadani
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-16 04:33:07|Editor: huaxia

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UNITED NATIONS, March 15 (Xinhua) -- The new notification of humanitarian travel plans rather than first seeking permission has improved access in some regions in Tigray, Ethiopia, while access is still lacking in other parts, a UN spokesman said on Monday.

Sending an email to the government with notice of humanitarian movement is much easier than requesting and waiting for permission to enter specific areas, said Stephane Dujarric, the chief spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

"The access is much improved in terms of sending staff in," Dujarric said. "We're seeing more goods flow, but we still do not have a clear picture of the holistic needs in Tigray because we've not been able to access every part of the province that we would need to access."

The new notification system has allowed several organizations to deploy more international staff to Tigray to support the response, he said. Overall, there are 240 UN staff members in Tigray and more than 1,000 non-UN humanitarian staff.

Assistance delivery has also been stepped up, with humanitarian partners reaching 900,000 people with food baskets, almost 700,000 with water, and 136,000 with shelter, the spokesman said. However, much more remains to be done.

"Humanitarians urgently need an estimated 400 million U.S. dollars in additional funding to meet needs in Tigray," the spokesman told a regular briefing. "The full scope of the needs is not yet clear."

Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), or Doctors Without Borders, said Monday that health facilities in the Tigray region have been looted, vandalized, and destroyed in a deliberate and widespread attack on health care.

Of the 106 health facilities visited by MSF teams in Tigray from mid-December to early March, nearly 70 percent had been looted, and more than 30 percent were damaged. Only 13 percent were functioning normally, said the MSF in a press release.

"The attacks on Tigray's health facilities are having a devastating impact on the population," said Oliver Behn, MSF general director. "Health facilities and health staff need to be protected during a conflict, in accordance with international humanitarian law. This is clearly not happening in Tigray." Enditem
The NACI initially recommended that people over the age 65 should be prioritized for the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines instead of the AstraZeneca, because of "limited information on the efficacy of this vaccine in this age group."On Monday, Germany, France, Italy and Spain joined a list of European countries to suspend use of the AstraZeneca vaccine following reports of blood clots in some recipients.AstraZeneca has said that a review of 17 million people who have received their vaccine in Europe and Britain found no evidence of an elevated blood clotting risk.On Monday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau assured Canadians that the AstraZeneca vaccine is safe for use."Health Canada and our experts and scientists have spent an awful lot of time making sure every vaccine approved in Canada is both safe and effective," Trudeau said.Health Canada approved the AstraZeneca vaccine for use in anyone 18 years or older in late February. It became the third Covid-19 shot green-lighted in Canada, joining vaccines from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna.Canada's initial 500,000 doses of the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine have been manufactured by the Serum Institute of India.Health Canada said that the AstraZeneca vaccine has an efficacy of 62.1 per cent among people 18 to 64 years old.In total, Canada is reportedly scheduled to receive 23.9 million doses of the vaccine.As of Monday evening, more than 3.1 million COVID-19 vaccine doses were administered across the country, meaning approximately 4.2 per cent of the Canadian population has been immunized against the virus.Source: IANS
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo received Johnson & Johnson's coronavirus vaccine during a visit to a pop-up vaccination site at a church in Harlem on Wednesday as the state surpassed seven million doses administered.

Cuomo gave brief remarks at an event at the Mount Neboh Baptist Church, saying that he wanted to get his shot on camera to help boost New Yorkers' confidence in all three vaccines available.

'Today I'm going to take the Johnson & Johnson vaccine because I want to make the point: "Take whatever vaccine you can take,"' he said. 'They all work, they are all safe, don't try to pick one over the other.'

The governor noted that as an essential government worker he could have gotten vaccinated weeks ago, but said he waited until the shots were more widely available to marginalized groups hit hardest by the pandemic.

'Communities that suffered most should be first on the vaccine line,' he said.

The Johnson & Johnson shot that Cuomo got is a single-dose vaccine, unlike those by Pfizer and Moderna which require two doses.

Cuomo did not take any questions from reporters at the event, nor did he address the sexual harassment allegations that have dogged his administration in recent weeks.

He did, however, take questions at a briefing on Wednesday afternoon - but refused to talk about the allegations. It came as a plane was spotted flying over the Capitol in Albany with a banner that read: 'New Yorkers say Cuomo's got to go.'

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo received Johnson & Johnson's coronavirus vaccine during a visit to a pop-up vaccination site at a church in Harlem on Wednesday

Cuomo gave brief remarks at an event at the Mount Neboh Baptist Church, saying that he wanted to get his jab on camera to help boost New Yorkers' confidence in all three vaccines

'Today I'm going to take the Johnson & Johnson vaccine because I want to make the point: "Take whatever vaccine you can take,"' Cuomo said. 'They all work, they are all safe, don't try to pick one over the other'

'The Assembly announced a law firm to conduct their review [of the allegations],' Cuomo told reporters on a conference call.

'I'm not going to take any questions or have any comments on the review. At this time, let the lawyers do the job and let them conduct the review.'

The first reporter up during the Q&A portion of the briefing ignored Cuomo's warning and brought up specific allegations from one of his earliest accusers, 15-year-old former aide Charlotte Bennett.

Cuomo refused to answer, saying: 'I won't comment on issues that are subject to the review.'

A plane was spotted flying over the Capitol in Albany on Wednesday with a banner that read: 'New Yorkers say Cuomo's got to go'

Cuomo announced that the state has administered over seven million shots on Wednesday

Instead the governor appeared to try to shift the spotlight away from the scandal by announcing that the state is expanding vaccine eligibility beginning Wednesday to include more than 12 million New Yorkers.

The newly-eligible group includes social service and child service caseworkers; sanitation and DMV workers; county clerks, building service, nonprofit and election workers; public works employees and government inspectors.

Notably left off that list were journalists, despite the fact that they were labeled as essential workers at the start of the pandemic.

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio publicly called for Cuomo to make journalists eligible, telling the New York Times this week: 'Certainly members of the media should be vaccinated.'

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends that journalists be eligible to receive the vaccine in Phase 1C of distribution - which is already underway in New York.

Cuomo also announced the opening of 10 new mass vaccination sites, bring the total across the state to 23.

As of Wednesday New York has administered more than seven million vaccine doses, Cuomo said, with more than a million of those going into arms in the past week, according to the state website.

Nearly 4.8 million people, or 22.9 percent of the population, have received at least one dose and 2.375 million, or 11.8 percent, are fully vaccinated.

Cuomo announced the opening of 10 new mass vaccination sites, bring the total across the state to 23. Pictured: People line up outside the Javits Center in New York to receive a vaccine

The list of New Yorkers eligible for a vaccine as of March 17 is shown above

In recent days Cuomo has sought to change the conversation around his administration back to the pandemic as the media has focused heavily on the sexual harassment allegations levied against him by multiple women.

'He's focused on the budget, he is focused on getting vaccines into arms and he is focused on continuing to reopen the economy and rebuild following this health and economic crisis,' an aide to the governor told CNN on Tuesday.

'Those are his focuses, and he is working every day to advance the ball on those things.'

Cuomo has denied all the misconduct allegations against him but promised to cooperate with an investigation by New York Attorney General Letitia James.

President Joe Biden weighed in on the scandal in an interview on Tuesday night with ABC News host George Stephanopoulos.

'I know you said you want the investigation to continue,' Stephanopoulos said. 'If the investigation confirms the claims of the women, should he resign?'

'Yes,' Biden responded. 'I think he'll probably end up being prosecuted, too.'

'Takes a lot of courage to come forward,' Biden added in recognition of the women who have made allegations. 'So, the presumption is they should be taken seriously. And it should be investigated. And that's what's underway now.'

The president also said 'a woman should be presumed telling the truth and should not be scapegoated and become victimized by her coming forward.'

As for whether or not Cuomo can still lead New York, Biden said 'that's a judgment for them to make,' in reference to some of the senators who have asked for Cuomo to resign, including Kirsten Gillibrand and Chuck Schumer.

Former US Representative Charlie Rangel of New York stood up for Cuomo at the vaccine event in Harlem on Wednesday, saying that the governor deserves 'due process'.

'Due process and hearing is basically what we believe in in this country,' Rangel said.

'Back off until you've got facts, and at the same time thank the governor for what you have done, what you are doing and what you will do.'

Cuomo greets reporters outside Mount Neboh Baptist Church in Harlem on Wednesday

Cuomo gives a thumbs up as he leaves Mount Neboh Baptist Church in Harlem on Wednesday
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Boris Johnson today revealed he will be getting the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine 'very shortly' as the government scrambles to reassure the public it is safe despite chaos in Europe.

Speaking at PMQs, Mr Johnson said he was 'pleased to discover' that he is in line for his jab, with over-50s now being covered.

And he delivered a defiant rebuke to countries such as Germany, France and Italy who have paused their rollout despite experts insisting there is no evidence of a link to blood clots.

'It will certainly be Oxford/AstraZeneca that I will be having,' the premier said.

The comments came amid fears Britons are cancelling appointments after being scared off by the European moves against AstraZeneca's jab.

Doctors involved in the UK's mammoth roll-out say patients due their second dose have called with concerns about the vaccine, despite the EU's own drug regulator, as well as the UK's and the World Health Organization all insisting it is safe.

One GP claimed up to 10 per cent of people scheduled for appointments were either not showing up, asking to cancel or double-checking which vaccine they were getting before turning up.

NHS doctor and volunteer Dr Karan Raj claimed he was 'inundated' with people saying they were worried about it and Dr Mohan Sekeram, a GP in South London, said the international row has led to patients refusing the vaccine.

It comes as the former chief of Britain's vaccine regulator the MHRA, Sir Kent Woods, said European officials had 'dented public confidence' with their 'disorderly' reaction to the issue, and he described attempts to link the jab to clots as 'a big jump'.

Professor Jeremy Browne, a lung doctor and member of the JCVI, which drew up the UK's vaccine programme warned people will die of Covid because of the delays in Europe and the damage being done to public trust.

Doctors and officials warn it is far more dangerous for people to not get vaccinated and even the European Medicines Agency has urged people to keep taking the vaccine because blood clots don't appear to be any more common than usual.

Speaking at PMQs, Mr Johnson said he was 'pleased to discover' that he is in line for his jab, with over-50s now being covered

Officials and scientists fear the knee-jerk reactions from more than a dozen countries in Europe, which is staring down the barrel of a third wave because of its own haphazard vaccination drive, risk derailing Britain's attempts to vaccinate its way out of lockdown if people start to back out of getting their jabs.

Britons on the street yesterday claimed the row hadn't put them off, calling it 'scare-mongering' and saying 'the chances of getting hit by a bus are probably higher'  but others said it had made them nervous about getting the jab or added to concerns they already had about its safety.

Matt Hancock today urged people to keep getting AstraZeneca's vaccine and said Britain must 'keep calm and carry on jabbing' if it wants to get life back to normal.

The Health Secretary is expected to reassure the public at a Downing Street press conference scheduled for 5pm tonight. He is also expected to brag about the vaccine roll-out steaming ahead, with everyone over the age of 50 in England now being invited for their appointment.

It came as Dominic Cummings today launched a devastating attack on Mr Hancock, insisting the vaccine drive was only a success because he and science chief Patrick Valance insisted he was stripped of control. In an extraordinary assault, the maverick former No10 chief said the Department of Health was a 'smoking ruin' last spring after disasters over PPE procurement and therapeutics.

Dr Karan Raj, a surgeon and lecturer at Imperial College London (left), said he has been 'inundated' with comments on TikTok from people who are worried about the vaccine. But David Sharp, 71 (centre), a retired chef from Hackney, and Amanda Emin, 35 (right), a customer support worker from Leytonstone, said they were not worried about the news

More than a dozen countries in Europe have stopped using AstraZeneca's vaccine amid unproven concerns it is linked to blood clots

Dr Raj, who is an NHS surgeon and Imperial College London lecturer, said the hysteria in the EU was having a knock-on effect in the UK, particularly among younger people.

He is part of of a team of volunteers trying to educate people about vaccine lies and myths online and said he felt compelled to create a video after being contacted by hundreds of people worried about getting the jab.

Dr Raj said: 'I have been inundated in comments on my videos about people scared about the AstraZeneca vaccine and blood clots and worried about receiving first and second doses.

'They've seen the news from Europe about different countries suspending their vaccination and that has made them worried with some saying they won't get a jab or will wait for a Pfizer one.

'It's one thing to have some sort of conspiracy that goes online and that becomes a vaccine myth which is worrying, but this is at a governmental, official level. Naturally people listen to this and are led more easily by these concerns because it's at official level.

'But the UK has delivered more of these jabs than the rest of Europe put together and hasn't seen the concerns that have been highlighted in Europe so I thought it was the opportune moment to put out a video to emphasise that.'

FORMER REGULATOR CHIEF SLAMS 'DISORDER' IN EUROPE The former chief executive of the UK's MHRA drug regulator said what is happening in Europe is 'disorderly' and the connections being made were a 'big jump'. Sir Kent Woods told BBC Breakfast that the way Europe has dealt with the blood clot issue has put a 'dent in public confidence'. He said: 'I'm afraid there will have been a denting of public confidence because of this disorderly situation in Europe where individual countries have done different things for different reasons. 'The intention was that there should be a single safety review at the European Medicines Agency and that the member states would follow the advice. 'There was a press conference from the EMA yesterday afternoon in which the advice was repeated that the vaccine was considered to be safe and that countries should continue to use it.' Stopping vaccination with the AstraZeneca jab would put significantly more people at risk that continuing with immunisation while the alleged link is investigated, he said. Sir Kent added: 'The events that have been described are events that occur not infrequently in the general population, and to establish a link with vaccination is a big jump. 'The second point to remember is that the people who have been preferentially vaccinated are not simply the average population  they are older people and people with less good health histories, so you will expect these events to occur to some extent anyway. 'And the key challenge for the regulatory agencies is to establish whether the event rates which are being seen in vaccinated people is any higher than would occur in the population if they were not vaccinated.' Advertisement

GPs say they have been contacted by patients who are either worried about the vaccine, have questions about it, or don't want to have it any more.

Dr Mohammed Abbas Khaki, a doctor in London, told The Times his patients were 'worried' by the reports.

'They've already had one dose and they felt maybe that will be okay,' he said patients had told him in discussions. 'Or maybe they should switch to Pfizer-BioNTech and restart the whole process with Pfizer.'

Switching to the Pfizer vaccine is not expected to be allowed by the NHS because regulators have not yet tested whether the jabs can be mixed up in short succession.

And there aren't enough Pfizer doses to go around even if everybody wanted one, so the NHS doesn't let people choose which vaccine they have  speed is the number one priority and both are proven to be safe and effective.

Dr Sarah Jarvis told Times Radio that one in 10 of her patients were either 'just not showing up', phoning with concerns or asking before they left home whether they were going to be given the AstraZeneca jab.

Dr Mohan Sekeram, a GP in South London, said the international row has led to patients refusing the vaccine with concerns over blood clots.

He said surgery staff had been working hard to 'alleviate people's concerns and give them as much information as possible because there's a lot of misinformation out there.'

He added: 'We've had to explain to them that actually, there's no evidence around this and that the MHRA also holds the line there's no substantive evidence that the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine is causing blood clots in patients who have had the vaccine.'

Dr David Fox, a clinical director in Hastings, told doctors' news website Pulse that patients were turning up for their appointments but then refusing to have the AstraZeneca jab despite reassurance from doctors.

Dr Dave Triska, a GP in Surrey, said his local vaccination centre was empty this morning because people had failed to turn up for appointments amid mounting concern over the vaccines.

And Dr Rupa Joshi, in Wokingham, said patients had initially favoured the British-made jab but she was now worried how many people who had appointments would actually turn up. She added a neighbouring practice had quite a few no-shows already today.

The suspension follows reports of 37 incidents around Europe of people becoming ill with blood clots shortly after having the jab.

Officials from the World Health Organisation (WHO), the European Medicines Agency and UK regulators have advised countries to keep using the vaccine because there is no evidence that these incidents were linked to vaccine.

Health workers are afraid that Europe's row over the safety of the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine will have knock-on effects on people in Britain, and there are already reports of members of the public turning down the Oxford jab. Scientists and regulators in the UK, EU and World Health Organization insist it is safe to continue using (Pictured: A man receives a vaccine at a church in west London)

VACCINATION EXTENDS TO OVER-50s All over-50s in England are now eligible for the coronavirus vaccine, Matt Hancock confirmed today as the programme expands downwards from over-55s. The Health Secretary said he was 'delighted' the roll-out was being expanded to the final age group on the priority list. NHS boss Sir Simon Stevens added it was 'another milestone' reached in the race to beat the virus. NHS England's website for booking jab appointments now allows everyone 'aged 50 and over' to check-in. Once all 2.4million people in this age group  the last on No10's nine-point priority list  have been offered a dose, over-40s will be invited. Estimates suggest the roll-out could move onto that next stage before the end of March. The expansion comes exactly 100 days after Britain became the first country in the world to begin vaccinating the public against Covid. Maggie Keenan received her first dose on December 8 in Coventry. More than 24.8million Britons have already received their first dose of the Covid jab  and half of all adults are expected to be vaccinated by the end of the week. Advertisement

Experts say all the evidence suggests the cases have been coincidental, with the numbers of blood clots actually lower than in the general population. Germany raised concerns about a very specific clotting condition that can affect the brain, which it claims has happened unusually often, but it has still only had seven cases.

Professor Jeremy Brown, who sits on the Joint Committee on Vaccinations and Immunisations (JCVI), said the move by some EU members was 'not sensible' and 'not logical'.

'Many of these countries are going through a third wave, and by stopping using the vaccine they're actually literally causing more problems,' he told Good Morning Britain.

'By not using the vaccine, this is going to directly lead to an increased incidence of Covid infection and people will die as a consequence of these decisions.'

He added: 'There is the concern that what's happening in Europe might make people in the UK less confident in the AstraZeneca vaccine, unnecessarily so, because it's perfectly safe.'

The former chief executive of Britain's MHRA  the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency  Sir Kent Woods said that European countries have overreacted.

He said on BBC Breakfast: 'The intention was that there should be a single safety review at the European Medicines Agency and that the member states would follow the advice.

'There was a press conference from the EMA yesterday afternoon in which the advice was repeated that the vaccine was considered to be safe and that countries should continue to use it.'

He added: 'The vaccine has a very strong safety record, and [people] shouldn't hesitate to get the vaccine.

'The events that have been described are events that occur not infrequently in the general population, and to establish a link with vaccination is a big jump.

'The second point to remember is that the people who have been preferentially vaccinated are not simply the average population  they are older people and people with less good health histories, so you will expect these events to occur to some extent anyway.'

The UK has given 11 million doses of the AstraZeneca jab so far, with the number of blood clots reported after having the vaccine 'no greater than the number that would have occurred naturally in the vaccinated population'.

Matt Hancock, pictured leaving 10 Downing Street today, urged people to keep getting AstraZeneca's vaccine and said Britain must 'keep calm and carry on jabbing' if it wants to get life back to normal. The Health Secretary is expected to reassure the public at a Downing Street press conference scheduled for 5pm tonight

The Government is desperate to reassure people that the vaccine is safe and that it should continue to be used.

Business Secretary Kwasi Karteng said on BBC Breakfast this morning: 'The first thing I would like to say is that the jab is safe.

PEOPLE 'ARE DYING BECAUSE OF HOLD-UP' Professor Jeremy Brown, who sits on the Joint Committee on Vaccinations and Immunisations (JCVI), said the decisions of European countries suspending the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine were 'not sensible' and 'not logical'. 'Many of these countries are going through a third wave, and by stopping using the vaccine they're actually causing more problems,' he told Good Morning Britain. 'By not using the vaccine, this is going to directly lead to an increased incidence of Covid infection and people will die as a consequence of these decisions.' He added: 'There is the concern that what's happening in Europe might make people in the UK less confident in the AstraZeneca vaccine, unnecessarily so, because it's perfectly safe.' The use of the vaccine has been stopped in Bulgaria, Cyprus, Denmark, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden. Advertisement

'We've got an extremely effective rollout programme  I think by the end of the week 50 per cent of the British adult population will have been vaccinated  and if people do get the call, I think they should take the jab.

'And we are looking at the effects of the vaccine rollout day by day. Hospitalisation rates have fallen, the death rate thankfully from the disease has fallen considerably and incidence of people catching Covid has also fallen  the R rate is well below 1.0 and I think it has been a very effective programme.'

Despite doctors and officials worrying that people will turn down the vaccine because of the blood clot row, members of the public have been more optimistic.

David Sharp, 71, a retired chef from Hackney, who recently had the jab, said: 'It went brilliantly. I had no concerns going into it whatsoever.

'I couldn't care less where I got it from. You don't get a choice. If they've done all their research, then that's fine with me.'

James Danby, 58, a retired locksmith from Stratford, who had the jab yesterday, said: 'It went really well. I got here, I was early, and then it was done and dusted in 12 minutes.

'I haven't really paid much attention to the press around it. I think it's all a bit scare-mongering too much to be honest. I think Europe is being a bit overly cautious. I trust our National Health Service and I think our scientists are the best in the world.'

Amanda Emin, 35, a customer support worker from Leytonstone, east London received the Oxford-AstraZeneca jab yesterday.

James Danby, 58, a retired locksmith from Stratford, said the European decisions were 'scare-mongering'

Ms Emin, who has fibromyalgia, said she was nervous about getting the jab at first, but has since been convinced.

She said: 'A few months ago I was really apprehensive about the vaccine. It was rolled out so soon. I didn't know in five or 10 years time what the repercussions could be.

'Several of my friends and my friends' parents have been getting it, and I just thought what are the chances? The chances of getting hit by a bus in the street are probably higher.'

But some were more apprehensive about the risk, saying this had added to old concerns or brought up new ones.

Muriel Tattersall, 75, from Bristol, admitted she was a little more hesitant about having her Astra-Zeneca vaccine.

She said: 'I had my first dose on February 15 - but I initially wasn't going to take it up when I first got the letter. It took me quite a while to actually book it - I was hesitant at first.

'I have been a bit bothered by what I've seen on the news about it. I don't particularly want to go back and have my second dose.

'I think if there is any measure of hesitation over the safety of it, then maybe it's just as well to suspend it. These vaccines are quite new and have been done quite quickly.

'I didn't have any side effects from my first dose, apart from a bit of stiffness in my joints. I don't have a date for my second dose yet, and I don't know whether I will book it. But I suppose since I have had the first then I might as well and I'll be fine.'

Muriel Tattersall, 75, from Bristol, admitted she was a little more hesitant about having her Astra-Zeneca vaccine amid the row; Ashley Woodhouse, 35, from Leeds, said he did not want to get the vaccine and this had strengthened his resolve

Kat Blazeka, 22, from Leeds, admitted she is concerned about getting the Oxford vaccine but still intends to get it, while Linda Sweeney, 60 and also from Leeds, said she would be 'reluctant' now but would probably still get the jab

Ashley Woodhouse, an unemployed 35-year-old, from Leeds, was not going to get the vaccine prior to the news about the blood clots and has had his belief confirmed even more.

'There is NO indication AstraZeneca jab caused blood clots', EU drug regulator insists EU regulators yesterday shot down the blood clot fears which have prompted 14 European countries to call a halt to AstraZeneca jabs, saying there is no evidence the vaccine causes dangerous side-effects. The European Medicines Agency said it was 'firmly convinced' that injections with the AstraZeneca shot should continue, joining the WHO and the UK government in a full-throated defence of the vaccine amid fury at EU nations including France and Germany for suspending the jabs. EMA safety experts say a 'very small number of people' have come down with blood disorders but there is 'no indication' that these were caused by the jab, which 11million people have already had in the UK. 'We are still firmly convinced that the benefits of the AstraZeneca vaccine in preventing Covid-19 with its associated risk of hospitalisation and death outweigh the risk of these side effects,' said EMA chief Emer Cooke. Countries including France will now face pressure to resume AstraZeneca jabs after the EMA delivered its verdict and reiterated that the number of blood clots 'seems not to be higher than that seen in the general population'. Italy earlier admitted that its suspension of AstraZeneca jabs was a 'political' move while French doctors accused Emmanuel Macron of 'giving in to panic' and a German lawmaker said the ban could cause a 'catastrophe'. Germany sought to justify its move by saying that one particular kind of blood clot, a 'sinus vein thrombosis', had occurred seven times among the 1.6million people vaccinated when only around one case would be expected. By contrast, only four such cases have been identified in the UK out of 11million doses administered. Advertisement

He said: 'Hearing about people suffering from blood clots after getting their vaccines makes me not want to get one even more. I didn't want one anyway but this news just adds to that.

'I suffer from MS and I'm worried about putting anything into my body which I don't know the effects of. I don't think we know enough about the vaccinations to be offering them to anyone and everyone.

'Maybe this blood clot thing will help people see that. I don't trust the jab and I won't be getting it even if it's offered.'

And Linda Sweeney, a 60-year-old gran-of-nine from Leeds, admitted the news of the potential blood clots has made her worried about receiving the Oxford vaccine.

She said: 'I have my jab tomorrow and, after seeing the news about some people getting blood clots, I'm very worried about it. I don't know which jab I'm getting until I arrive at the surgery, so I'm quite concerned they'll try and give me the Oxford one.

'After hearing how some people have reacted I don't really want it but what can I do? I won't get a choice in the matter. If it does turn out to be the Oxford one I think I'll reluctantly take it.

'I don't feel very comfortable about it but what if I don't take the vaccine then get Covid? That would be terrible.'

Kat Blazeka, 22, from Leeds, admitted she is concerned about getting the Oxford vaccine but still intends to get it.

She said: 'I'm due to get the vaccine today [Tuesday] and I'm not sure which one it will be yet so I'm a bit anxious.

'The news today has left me feeling particularly apprehensive. I'm young but I do have a weak immune system because I have asthma, so there is a real concern about after-effects.

'Despite that, I still intend to get the jab today, even if it is the Oxford one.'

Professor Martin Marshall, Chair of the Royal College of GPs, moved to reassure patients that the vaccine was safe.

He said: 'Over 24 million people in the UK have now been vaccinated, many of whom have successfully received the Astra Zeneca vaccine with no side effects. Where patients have reported side effects such as flu-like symptoms and muscle aches, these have been minor and transient.

'The public should be reassured that whilst these new vaccines were developed and approved at speed, no corners were cut and patient safety has been, and remains, paramount.'

Government ministers are also desperate to encourage people to keep accepting the AstraZeneca vaccine.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said in an op-ed in The Sun: 'We know getting the jab is the best way to protect ourselves and the people around us. It is also our way out of this pandemic.'

He added: 'Blood clots can occur naturally and are not uncommon. More than 11million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine have now been administered across the UK and, in fact, the reported cases among the people vaccinated is lower than what would be expected to happen naturally in the general population...

'Vaccines are the way out of this pandemic and the most important thing we can do right now is keep calm and carry on jabbing.'

DANIEL HANNAN: Europe is playing politics with lives. They banned our Covid jab and fought to keep it. They can't agree with themselves - and the fallout could be fatal

This was the week that the EU utterly lost its head. To the incredulity of its health chiefs, and the horror of its friends overseas, it has dragged its vaccine policy to the level of the Kindergarten.

On the one hand, we've seen member states ban the export of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine and threaten legal action against the manufacturer for not getting it to them quickly enough.

On the other hand, they've been busy casting doubt over the jab's effectiveness, seizing consignments, and suspending its distribution in 15 countries because of health fears.

We are in the realm of playground politics. 'Give me your vaccine! Gimme, gimme! ... Yeah, well I never wanted your stupid vaccine anyway!'

The vaccination centre at the Erfurt, Germany, exhibition centre is deserted on Tuesday, March 16, 2021. After the stopping of AstraZeneca vaccinations thousands of appointments are cancelled in Thuringia.

It's not even as if EU leaders have shifted position. They make both complaints simultaneously.

France's Emmanuel Macron has said the Oxford/AstraZeneca jab is 'quasi-ineffective' for people over 65, yet his ministers have since been all over the airwaves threatening to sue the company for not allowing the EU to queue-jump and get more of it.

'Europe is not going to be some Care Bear that sends money and expects nothing in return,' said France's Europe Minister, Clement Beaune, in an odd reference to the cuddly toy popular in the 1980s.

The Portuguese prime minister, Antonio Costa, revealed that he 'can't wait for a second dose'; but then on Monday his government halted distribution of the first.

Seized

Italy banned a consignment of the vaccine from going to Australia on grounds that it was needed at home. It then seized a batch being distributed in Piedmont in Northern Italy after a man died following vaccination (officials have now confirmed his death was unrelated to the jab).

Meanwhile, the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, last week outrageously asserted it is the UK which is limiting supply by prohibiting the export of vaccines  a false claim Eurocrats had been making for weeks and which prompted a formal rebuke from the Foreign Office.

It is hard to imagine that any of this would be happening if, instead of being the Oxford vaccine, it had been the Bologna vaccine or the Toulouse vaccine or the Heidelberg vaccine.

Indeed, as Nicola Magrini, the head of Italy's medicines authority  which says the vaccine is safe  said yesterday: 'We got to the point of a suspension because several European countries, including Germany and France, preferred to interrupt vaccinations . . . The choice is a political one.'

Medical staff transport a patient to a waiting ambulance after arriving on a medical helicopter evacuated from another hospital, at CHU University Hospital in Angers, France, March 15

Last night there were signs from France and Italy of an imminent U-turn. But it is already too late. The damage has been done.

The suspensions were notionally justified by fears of a link to blood clots. Even if such a risk existed, it would not justify causing thousands of needless Covid deaths. Yet there is no evidence of any such link.

The question is whether the number of such incidents  fewer than 40 following more than 17 million vaccinations is higher among people who have had the jab than among people who haven't.

The answer is it is not. On the contrary, it appears to be lower than both the proportion among people who have had the Pfizer/BioNTech jab and people who have had no jab.

The European Medicines Agency made clear that 'the benefits of the vaccine outweigh the risk of side-effects'. Our own regulators agree, as does the World Health Organisation.

'The bottom line, sadly, is that this good and effective vaccine is not being accepted by the public in many countries because of the row and the suspension,' said Frank Ulrich Montgomery, the German head of the World Medical Association.

The International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis agreed: it said that 'the small number of reported thrombotic events relative to the millions of administered Covid-19 vaccinations does not suggest a direct link.'

In plain English, the jab is safe. So why have so many EU member states stoked needless fears, reduced vaccine take-up and so guarantee a higher rate of fatalities?

When the first vaccine was authorised, I worried that prioritising the most vulnerable might undermine confidence in the inoculation programme.

Since, by definition, these groups are the likeliest to die, there was, I felt, a danger that people would blame the vaccine for what were, in fact, normal fatalities.

I had read about an outbreak of swine flu in New Jersey in 1976, to which the Ford administration responded with a national vaccine rollout.

Because 45 million Americans got the jab, some (as was statistically inevitable) died soon afterwards  in one case, dropping dead in the surgery.

It was pure coincidence, but it caused a panic  even in a pre-internet age when there was very little in the way of an anti-vax movement.

I suggested to the Health Secretary, Matt Hancock, that he should begin with healthcare workers and care home staff. He disagreed, arguing the absolute priority was to save as many lives as possible.

He was right and I was wrong. The British people have been admirably calm and level-headed, ignoring the deranged conspiracies of anti-vaxxers.

Distract

Across the Channel, sadly, it has been a different story.

By calling the Oxford vaccine's safety into question, initially to distract from their own procurement failures, Eurocrats might have ended up stopping millions of people protecting themselves.

It seems EU countries will restart their programmes soon and even if the vaccine slightly increased clot risk, the balance of advantage will surely be found overwhelmingly to favour a continued rollout.

As epidemologist Dirk Brockmann from the German government's Robert Koch Institute for infectious diseases said, 'it is probably 100,000 times more likely [for someone] to die of Covid than because of an AstraZeneca vaccine.'

But crucial days have been lost in inoculating hundreds of thousands of people, with confidence so shaken in Covid vaccines that many will ignore the call to get a jab.

The Continent will remain closed for longer than it needed to have been  especially if rising cases (like those seen in Italy) turn into a third wave.

The EU, by peddling the sorts of scare stories we would expect from Russian or Chinese agent provocateurs, is endangering lives.

After the EU's behaviour in recent months, you might be tempted to shrug and say 'serves them right'.

Incompetence

But that would be a mistake. So far, almost 27 million doses have been administered here with no ill-effects beyond the mild symptoms that we expect after any vaccine  which show that it is working.

That number is more than in France, Germany, Italy and Portugal combined. The danger is irrational fears spread from the Continent to Britain  so our aim should be to lead by example, thereby reassuring nearby countries.

Ordinary Europeans are hardly to blame for Brussels incompetence. We wish our neighbours good health.

We also want their economies humming, buying our stuff and selling us theirs. And we want their hotels open to British travellers.

In fact, as we approach the point when most Britons are protected, I hope that we make some surplus doses available to Europe.

Eurocrats might resent it. They might even ramp up their anti-British micro-aggressions. But someone has to behave like a grown-up.

Lord Hannan is a former Conservative MEP and serves on the UK Board of Trade
An unusual but apropos topic for a Womens History Month lecture is the role that gender played in the New England witch trials.

Womens historian Dr. Leslie Lindenauer, a history professor at Western Connecticut State University, will present a virtual lecture for the Norwalk Historical Society called Giving Entertainment to Satan: Witchcraft and Witch Persecution in Early New England on Thursday, March 25. A Q&A follows the lecture.

When you mention witch trials, nearly everybody will conjure up thoughts of Salem, Mass. While the infamous witch trials that began there in 1692 are well known, even more people were accused of being witches and put on trial in Connecticut. Men were sometimes accused of witchcraft, but overwhelmingly women were persecuted.

Lindenauer explores these points in a lecture that looks at witch hunting in the 17th century with keen attention to the role gender played in the trials and in Puritan culture in general. A Q&A follows the lecture.

I am trained as an early American historian, Lindenauer said, noting her doctoratal dissertation and another book she wrote that focuses Puritan culture. Its really hard to study American history without studying witches, so thats how I got into it, but its really hard to let it go because its so fascinating on so many levels.

A commonly accepted tenet among historians is that if you write a book about the Civil War or Salem, youre bound to get it published. This speaks to the inexhaustible supply of interpretations about witchcraft, the enduring interest in the subject and how widespread the practice was in New England.

Decades before the Salem witch trials, there were trials in Connecticut and elsewhere in Massachusetts.

There were almost 100 cases in New England before Salem between 1647  which is the first documented trial  and 1687, Lindenauer said. With 50 cases in Massachusetts and 43 in Connecticut, the split is pretty even.

Across the board, from New England to Europe, about 75% of all those cases involved women.

There are endless theories about the causes of the persecution, from male Puritanical fears of strong women to needed to control them.

Thats part of it, Lindenauer said, noting that women who had inherited money and had no male heirs were more vulnerable to accusations, along with others who simply didnt fit into conventional society.

There is some evidence to suggest that women who were sort of outliers, women who were brash or women who used language that was untoward for a Puritan woman would be more vulnerable, she said. There are all sorts of Puritan religious descriptions that might have led Puritans to believe that women would be more vulnerable to the devil.

A good portion of women who were accused were past their childbearing years. If you think about what that means with regards to the stages in a womans life, it is not that big of a leap, Lindenauer said. These are women, some or many of whom are still married, who are beyond their primary goal in life, which was to bear children... so theres something that women are more vulnerable when theyve gone beyond when they are most useful as part of a Puritanical community.

In her research, Lindenauer discovered that, even as witch trials decreased, vilifying women continued, though stories about evil stepmothers continued for some time.

I think that there is a relationship there, but it surprised me how directly related those two things were not just in fairy tales but in popular culture in general, she said. Somehow culture needs to have the woman who at the very least had a troubled relationship with children and who was outside the norm of society.

Lindenauers lecture will be held over Zoom on March 25 at 5:30 p.m. Tickets for the Zoom lecture are $5 per household and available at norwalkhistoricalsociety.org .

Andrea Valluzzo is a freelancer.
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She is the new face of Lanvin for the brand's Spring/Summer 2021 Collection.

And on Tuesday, Paris Hilton posed up a storm in a pink dress by the French fashion house alongside her matching pink Bentley Continental.

The 40-year-old worked the look in style as she playfully touched the hood of the luxury vehicle while gazing directly into the camera.

Working it: Paris Hilton, 40, posed up a storm in a pink dress by Lanvin alongside her pink Bentley Continental after being unveiled as the new face of the French fashion house Tuesday

The draped lurex dress had a plunging V-neck and long sleeves.

It was gathered at the waist with a belt and had an Ascot collar.

Paris went bare-legged in the outfit and added a pair of contrasting stiletto heels.

Stylish: The draped lurex dress from Lanvin's spring/Summer 2021 Collection had a plunging V-neck and long sleeves. It was gathered at the waist with a belt and had an Ascot collar

Paris said Tuesday: 'I'm humbled to be working with Lanvin for their Spring/Summer campaign and to be able to contribute to the brand's legacy.'

The socialite and hotel heiress went on: 'I've always been a fan of the house and personally admire the founder Jeanne Lanvin. She was able to build an empire from one small shop that still exists 130 years later.'

For the campaign, Paris transformed into a modern-day version of a 1950s socialite, known for their draped dresses, ballerina pumps and jeweled sunglasses for the campaign.

New gig: The socialite and hotel heiress said: 'I'm humbled to be working with Lanvin for their Spring/Summer campaign and to be able to contribute to the brand's legacy'

Promotional campaign: The brand's creative director, Bruno Sialelli explained how he wanted to switch up Paris' 'glimmery style' to hone in on her natural beauty

The brand's creative director, Bruno Sialelli explained how he wanted to switch up Paris' 'glimmery style' to hone in on her natural beauty.

He said: 'She is quite known for her long blonde hair and glimmery style and we wanted to shed light on her ability to transform  much like a swan.

'As the originator of the influencer movement and the idea of 'famous for being famous,' I wanted to show the world how far she has come in the industry that she created. We stripped back the styling and allowed her natural beauty to be captured.'

Last month, Paris announced her engagement to boyfriend Carter Reum on her 40th birthday.

She said on her website that the proposal, which took place during a pre-dinner walk on the beach, was everything she had 'dreamed of.'

After Reum went down on one knee and she said yes, the couple then celebrated with family and friends gathered for the socialite's birthday.

The couple have been dating since 2019.
Conviction to Correction: Behind the Walls: a poignant inspiration of finding freedom and fairness to injustice and living a life driven by God. Conviction to Correction: Behind the Walls is the creation of published author Takasha L. Stevenson, a writer born and raised in Alabama. She graduated with a business administration associates degree in May of 2020 from Lawson Community College in Birmingham, AL. She is currently enrolled in a business management/paralegal associate degree, graduating in May of 2021.

Stevenson shares, I started out as an innocent bystander, and I ended up suffering to the Bureau of Prison system. Because of Wesleys prolonged disobedience to the law, Ive allowed myself to become a victim for accepting child support without the use of the court of law. With courage and faith in God, I filed an appeal with the help of my mom, Pokey, Shay, Cynt, and Tonio purchasing me a private attorney; but I still lost. My wrongful conviction gave me insight as how to deal with unfair circumstances in my life.

After being taken from my family and friends, I now realized God had another plan and purpose for my life, one that did not involve a drug dealer taking care of me or retiring from Mercedes Benz, but going back to school to practice law to help the next person. I did not use my incarceration as an excuse for continued failure. Instead, I now live my life trusting in God, and more determined to do his will. Because of my faith and courage in God alone, he did not only deliver me from this difficult circumstance, he is also using me by telling my story so that other young ladies will not fall victim to the prison system by becoming involved with a baby daddy, boyfriend, or husband whos a drug dealer.

With the knowledge and wisdom I have learned, I want to help prove Gods existence and power to others as well. We need people in our justice system who will create wise solutions toward the various problems of our justice system and in our community such as more schools, rehabs, and just simple counseling, to transform and redirect our minds. I can never sit back and accept whatever has been handed down to me again. I will put up a fight so that the human race can start being treated more justly.

Published by Christian Faith Publishing, Takasha L. Stevensons new book is a touching journal that is shared to encourage many in their individual journeys. The author wishes that her story brings everyone much empowerment and freedom from sins.

View a synopsis of Conviction to Correction: Behind the Walls on YouTube.

Consumers can purchase Conviction to Correction: Behind the Walls at traditional brick & mortar bookstores, or online at Amazon.com, Apple iTunes store, or Barnes and Noble.

For additional information or inquiries about Conviction to Correction: Behind the Walls, contact the Christian Faith Publishing media department at 866-554-0919.
NEW YORK, March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- August 2020 marked the centennial of the ratification of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which provided a constitutional right to vote by prohibiting voter discrimination against women.

Titled A Vote for Women: Celebrating the Women's Suffrage Movement and the 19th Amendment, this fully illustrated and beautifully designed hardback book charts the history of the women's suffrage movement in the U.S., the fight for the vote, and some of the advances that have resulted from that victory.

Book Cover

In addition to exploring the history of women's suffrage in the U.S., the book brings together important stories from the fields of equality and women's rights. It also offers an insight into Congress and U.S. government departments, and the contributions they have made in shaping the U.S. of today.

A Vote for Women features editorial contributions from academics, government agencies, charities, corporations, and other organizations, alongside archival photography that vividly brings the battle for the ballot to life.

The book is being published by St James's House  an imprint of the SJH Group  in association with the 2020 Women's Vote Centennial Initiative (WVCI), and is being promoted as part of WVCI's ongoing celebration of centennial activities around the country, which have been extended into 2021 due to the impact of Covid-19 and the desire to bring the centennial story to as wide an audience as possible.

Ahead of the book's launch, Anna Danby, Publishing Director at the SJH Group, said: "This book celebrates the work of the remarkable women behind this achievement, and will heighten awareness around the ongoing work of our partner organizations to support social equality."

Nancy Tate, Co-Chair of WVCI with Krysta Jones, said: "WVCI serves as a central information-sharing entity for activities around the country that commemorate the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment and the long struggle that produced it. St James's House has beautifully combined the work of many contributors into a keepsake book that celebrates both the centennial and the contributions made by many women over the last 100 years."

The book will be launched through a digital launch event on March 31, 2021 at 11am PDT/ 2pm EDT/ 7pm GMT. To attend the virtual book launch, please register at: https://hopin.com/events/a-vote-for-women-book-launch. The deadline for registration is March 26, 2021.

To pre-order a copy of A Vote for Women, please visit: www.stjamess.org.

Notes for editor

About St James's House

Based in London, UK, St James's House is part of the SJH Group. To learn more about St James's House, please visit: www.stjamess.org

Contact:

Claire Godeaux

+44(0) 208 371 4026

[email protected]

About the WVCI

The 2020 Women's Vote Centennial Initiative (WVCI) is a collaborative effort created to share information and stimulate activities around the country in the years leading up to 2020. The mission of the WVCI is to serve as a central organizing and information-sharing entity for programs, projects, and activities that commemorate the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, educate the public on the legal and social advances resulting from the amendment, and stimulate dialogue to address the ongoing fight for women's rights.

https://www.2020centennial.org

SOURCE St James's House

Related Links

https://www.stjamess.org


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A 21-year-old woman fell to her death after a marauding tribe of monkeys chased her off a roof in southern India.

The victim, named only as G. Sirisha, was playing a game of badminton with her friends on their terrace when a group of monkeys went after her in the Warangal district of Telangana.

Sirisha and her friends had initially tried to scare the monkeys and drive them away but to no avail.

A 21-year-old woman fell to her death after a marauding gang of monkeys chased her off a roof in southern India (file photo)

Fearing they would be attacked, the group panicked and began fleeing - but Sirisha fell off the roof to her death in the process, reports News Meter India.

Sirisha, a Master of Computer Applications graduate, had been living with friends in an apartment while they received professional training in the district when the attack happened on March 10.

Local police have launched an investigation after Sirisha was found dead with multiple injuries.

The victim, named only as G. Sirisha, was playing a game of badminton with her friends on their terrace when a tribe of monkeys went after her in the Warangal district of Telangana

Fatal monkey attacks in India are rare but not unheard-of.

In November 2019, two attacks claimed the lives of a 12-day-old baby and a 58-year-old woman in the city of Agra.

During the first attack, monkeys broke into a woman's home while she was breastfeeding her child snatched the baby from her, and bit it to death.

In the second attack, a 58-year-old woman was bitten by monkeys as she went to relieve herself outside her home on the outskirts of the city and bled to death.

Monkeys have also inadvertently caused deaths - in January last year a woman hanging washing on her roof died after monkeys attacked and she slipped and fell.

In a similar case in October last year, a 13-year-old girl collecting laundry from the roof died after she was chased off a roof by monkeys.

In the same month, a pack of monkeys that began fighting in the city of Agra caused a frail wall to collapse, killing two men who were standing nearby.
Armenia acting health minister on citizens' demand for her resignation

Karabakh's new State Minister Artak Beglaryan on his appointment and future activities

Armenian, Russian and Azerbaijani representatives hold consultations in Moscow

2 Armenian soldiers receive slight injuries after incident with Azerbaijani servicemen in Armenia's Gegharkunik

Armenian boy weighing 5 kg born at Goris Medical Center

"Armenia" bloc representative presents purpose of participation in elections and plans

Isaac Herzog elected President of Israel

Rouhani: Main issues between Tehran, Washington resolved in Vienna

Charles Michel calls on Armenia and Azerbaijan to resume constructive negotiations

US Department of State responds to Pashinyan's proposal to deploy international observers on Armenia-Azerbaijan border

Head of Armenia 2nd President's Office: Robert Kocharyan's public meetings are held in warm atmosphere

Opposition "Armenia" bloc's representative on photos and videos showing bags of deceased servicemen's bodies

Armenia Ombudsman, AGBU President discuss war crimes committed by Azerbaijan during Karabakh war

Opposition "Armenia" bloc's representatives to hold briefings three times a week

Opposition "Armenia" bloc member: Blood-freezing photos and videos from morgue in Abovyan are authorities' reflection

Yerevan mayor receives Netherlands Ambassador

Armenia Health Ministry, Investigative Committee keep info about sending remains of dead soldiers abroad confidential

Armenia Prosecutor General's Office launches case regarding leaving sacs of servicemen's bodies/remains in basement

Peskov: Putin and Biden to discuss cybersecurity issues

Armenia's Pashinyan meets with Belgian PM Alexander De Croo

Armenia acting MOD receives Netherlands Ambassador

Armenia Police: 3 citizens apprehended during protest demanding acting health minister's resignation

NATO warns Minsk about further consequences of Ryanair incident

Armenia economic competition protection commission: Experts forecast inflation of butter prices

Armenia citizens' protest against acting health minister is over

Pashinyan visits France, judicial farce against Armenian POWs kicks off in Baku, Jun. 2 digest

Armenian Ambassador, FMO representatives consider opportunities for expansion of cooperation in Armenia

Armenia Prosecutor General is on working visit to Russia

Armenia acting PM meets with European Council President in Brussels

Armenia citizens throw polyethylene bags at Health Ministry building, police apprehend protesters

Acting deputy minister: Armenia authorities plan to build 46km section of North-South highway in 2021

Dollar is stable in Armenia

Armenia official: Large number of projects being prepared in construction sector

Identity of man killed Wednesday morning in downtown Yerevan is found out

Armenian lawyer: Azerbaijan poses a threat to security in Europe

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

Missing Armenian soldiers' relatives hand letter to Russia Embassy with request to solve captives' issue

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

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By Jessica Schladebeck | New York Daily News

Moderna has begun testing its COVID-19 vaccine on babies and young children, the drug company announced Tuesday.

A first group of kids received their initial shot of the vaccine through a two-phase clinical trial, dubbed the KidCOVE study, in which researchers intend to recruit nearly 6,800 children in the U.S. and Canada between 6 months and 11 years old.

An analysis of how the young patients respond to different dose amounts in the first phase will help create the proper dosage used in the second phase, which will also include a placebo.

The pediatric study will help us assess the potential safety and immunogenicity of our COVID-19 vaccine candidate in this important younger age population Moderna CEO Stephane Bancel said in a statement.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration in December approved the Moderna vaccine for adults and the Pfizer/ BioNTech shot for people ages 16 and older. Johnson & Johnsons shot for those 18 and up was approved in February.

More than 53 million doses of the Moderna vaccine have been administered in the U.S.
Britain is ready to strike trade deals with countries that fail to meet Western standards on human rights, Dominic Raab has warned.

In a speech today, the Foreign Secretary will say Britain should aim to cement its role as a force for good in the world over the coming decade.

But in a question-and-answer session with officials, he suggested ministers were willing to turn a blind eye to human rights abuses in pursuit of trade.

In a video of the session leaked to the HuffPost website, Mr Raab warned that limiting deals to countries whose standards were compliant with the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) would result in the UK missing out on economic opportunities.

Britain is ready to strike trade deals with countries that fail to meet Western standards on human rights, Dominic Raab (pictured) has warned

I squarely believe we ought to be trading liberally around the world, he said. If we restrict it to countries with ECHR-level standards of human rights, were not going to do many trade deals with the growth markets of the future.

The Foreign Secretarys private words highlight a reality faced by successive governments when dealing with repressive regimes.

Campaigners have called for an end to arms sales to Saudi Arabia for years because of its human rights record.

But successive governments have argued Saudi is a key strategic partner  and that lucrative defence contracts protect British jobs at home.

However, Mr Raabs comments appeared to be at odds with Boris Johnsons claim in the Commons yesterday that Britain would use trade policy to help drive up global standards on things such as human rights.

The Prime Minister told MPs: Our newly independent trade policy will be an instrument for ensuring that the rules and standards in future trade agreements reflect our values.

Mr Raabs comments appeared to be at odds with Boris Johnsons claim in the Commons yesterday that Britain would use trade policy to help drive up global standards on things such as human rights

Mr Johnson said Britain would seek closer economic ties with China, where he said trade was already worth more than 80 billion a year. But he played down the prospect of a full-blown trade deal.

The Foreign Office last night said Mr Raabs comments had been selectively leaked in order to distort his views.

A spokesman said he had made it crystal clear in his full answer that the UK always stands up for and speaks out on human rights.

A source at the department said Mr Raab had gone on to confirm that some countries would be considered beyond the pale because of their human rights records.

In his speech today, Mr Raab will warn that democracy is in retreat around the world, and he will urge like-minded countries to work together to promote Western values.

Stable, freedom-respecting democracies are much less likely to go to war, house terrorists or trigger large scale flows of migrants, he will say.

And they are generally, not always, but generally easier to trade with, and easier to cooperate with to solve our shared problems.

A Whitehall source last night said applying ECHR standards strictly to trade would mean ending links with the United States, Britains biggest trade partner, because of its use of the death penalty.

That does not mean we are turning a blind eye to human rights issues  quite the opposite, the source said.
Follow Accounts That Inspire You

When you find an Instagram account that you like, follow the account so that its future posts will appear in your news feed. The accounts that you follow dont even have to be wedding related, said Katie OMalley Maloney, the owner of Katie O Weddings & Events, a boutique wedding planner based in Latham, N.Y. Think of artists, interior designers or influencers who share your style.

If you find a vendor you like, click on the arrow next to the contact box in their profile and Instagram will show you other vendors like them that you can follow, Ms. Leahy said.

Look at Vendor Credits in Captions

Photo captions can provide useful information. Theres an unspoken rule in the wedding world that when anybody in the industry  wedding planners, photographers, florists, etc.  posts a photo of a wedding they did, they credit all the other vendors involved by tagging their social media page, Ms. Baker said. This makes it easy for couples to reach out directly to the vendor they are interested in, even if they arent the vendor that posted the photo.

Vet the Vendors That You Like Before Hiring Them

According to Ms. Leahy, its easy to buy followers, likes, and repost pretty content, but you want to make sure the company has a solid website, reviews online and experience before you hire them.

Mr. Andonoplas, the event planner in Chicago, recommends couples also read reviews of vendors on Google, WeddingWire, and the Knot.

Here are seven Instagram accounts to follow for wedding inspiration:

Theres no shortage of Instagram accounts featuring stunning wedding cakes, but this one shines by highlighting the owners unique sugar flower work, which uses an array of colors to turn wedding cakes into pieces of art. Recording and sharing my process helps me better define my path as a creative person, said Maggie Austin, a designer and the artistic director of Maggie Austin Cake, a company that offers sugar flower and cake design workshops in Alexandria, Va.
Big City Exodus Spells Relief for Californias Rental Market

Opinion

The once piping-hot rental markets in Californias largest cities have finally stabilized.

San Francisco rents are down 24 percent from a year ago, while Los Angeles rents are down 15 percent year-over-year, according to data provider Zumper.

During the past year, many people have moved away from Californias high-density areassuch as San Francisco, San Jose and Los Angelesand toward inland areas.

In the bay area, rents for one-bedroom apartments in San Jose fell 18 percent during the past year. Meanwhile, rents for one-bedroom apartments in Sacramento rose 10 percent as people from San Francisco and San Jose moved inland, as well as to other areas such as Idaho and Utah.

The SoCal Experience

In Southern California, people also moved away from high-density areas into lower-density areas. Throughout the past year, rent for one-bedroom apartments fell 15 percent in Los Angeles, according to Zumper.

Conversely, rent in Ontario and Riverside rose 20 percent and 23 percent respectively as people found homes. For such people, renting a single-family home meant they wouldnt have to share elevators with neighbors. It also allowed them to walk through suburban streets in comfort.

As people were moving away from some large cities, the experience of the San Diego and Irvine rental markets differed.

Both Irvine and San Diego are relatively self-contained economic geographies and already had many of the benefits being sought by people leaving places such as Los Angeles and San Francisco. Both boast nature trails, relatively low-density housing, and plenty of green space.

The average rent in San Diego was unchanged during the past year (pretty amazing for a major city during the COVID-10 crisis) while rents in Irvine actually climbed one percent from March 2020 to March 2021, according to Zumper.

The Rent Also Rises

Meanwhile, rental markets in Southern Californias Inland Empire remain in flux. Even though rent was up 23 percent from the year-ago period, it is a still climbing. It increased by an additional six percent in Riverside during the past month, Zumper reported. Conversely, rents in Ontario have started falling. Although its rent is up 20 percent from last March 2020, it dropped seven percent from last month.

Rent differentials likely explain the differing trajectories of the Inland Empire cities.

The median rent for a one-bedroom Ontario apartment is $1,747 today, compared with $1,903 in Los Angeles. For only about $150 more per month, many more people will likely choose not to leave Los Angeles and move further east. This is especially now that sporting venues, concern venues and bars and restaurants are reopening.

However, moving inland still may make sense for many people commuting into Irvine: the median rent in Irvine is $2,153, still about one-third higher than in Riverside, where the median rent for a one-bedroom apartment is only $1,645.

Tim Shaler is a professional investor and economist based in Southern California. He is a regular columnist for The Epoch Times, where he exclusively provides some of his original economic analysis.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Imagine not a white, but a green Arctic, with woody shrubs as far north as the Canadian coast of the Arctic Ocean. This is what the northernmost region of North America looked like about 125,000 years ago, during the last interglacial period, finds new research from the University of Colorado Boulder.

Researchers analyzed plant DNA more than 100,000 years old retrieved from lake sediment in the Arctic (the oldest DNA in lake sediment analyzed in a publication to date) and found evidence of a shrub native to northern Canadian ecosystems 250 miles (400 km) farther north than its current range.

As the Arctic warms much faster than everywhere else on the planet in response to climate change, the findings, published this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, may not only be a glimpse of the past but a snapshot of our potential future.

"We have this really rare view into a particular warm period in the past that was arguably the most recent time that it was warmer than present in the Arctic. That makes it a really useful analogue for what we might expect in the future," said Sarah Crump, who conducted the work as a PhD student in geological sciences and then a postdoctoral researcher with the Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research (INSTAAR).

To gain this glimpse back in time, the researchers not only analyzed DNA samples, they first had to journey to a remote region of the Arctic by ATV and snowmobile to gather them and bring them back.

Dwarf birch is a key species of the low Arctic tundra, where slightly taller shrubs (reaching a person's knees) can grow in an otherwise cold and inhospitable environment. But dwarf birch doesn't currently survive past the southern part of Baffin Island in the Canadian Arctic. Yet researchers found DNA of this plant in the ancient lake sediment showing it used to grow much farther north.

"It's a pretty significant difference from the distribution of tundra plants today," said Crump, currently a postdoctoral fellow in the Paleogenomics Lab at the University of California Santa Cruz.

While there are many potential ecological effects of the dwarf birch creeping farther north, Crump and her colleagues examined the climate feedbacks related to these shrubs covering more of the Arctic. Many climate models don't include these kinds of changes in vegetation, yet these taller shrubs can stick out above snow in the spring and fall, making the Earth's surface dark green instead of white--causing it to absorb more heat from the sun.

"It's a temperature feedback similar to sea ice loss," said Crump.

During the last interglacial period, between 116,000 and 125,000 years ago, these plants had thousands of years to adjust and move in response to warmer temperatures. With today's rapid rate of warming, the vegetation is likely not keeping pace, but that doesn't mean it won't play an important role in impacting everything from thawing permafrost to melting glaciers and sea level rise.

"As we think about how landscapes will equilibrate to current warming, it's really important that we account for how these plant ranges are going to change," said Crump.

As the Arctic could easily see an increase of 9 degrees Fahrenheit (5 degrees Celsius) above pre-industrial levels by 2100, the same temperature it was in the last interglacial period, these findings can help us better understand how our landscapes might change as the Arctic is on track to again reach these ancient temperatures by the end of the century.

Mud as a microscope

To get the ancient DNA they wanted, the researchers couldn't look to the ocean or to the land--they had to look in a lake.

Baffin Island is located on the northeastern side of Arctic Canada, kitty-corner to Greenland, in the territory of Nunavut and the lands of the Qikiqtaani Inuit. It's the largest island in Canada and the fifth-largest island in the world, with a mountain range that runs along its northeastern edge. But these scientists were interested in a small lake, past the mountains and near the coast.

Above the Arctic Circle, the area around this lake is typical of a high Arctic tundra, with average annual temperatures below 15 F (?9.5 C). In this inhospitable climate, soil is thin and not much of anything grows.

But DNA stored in the lake beds below tells a much different story.

To reach this valuable resource, Crump and her fellow researchers carefully balanced on cheap inflatable boats in the summer--the only vessels light enough to carry with them--and watched out for polar bears from the lake ice in winter. They pierced the thick mud up to 30 feet (10 meters) below its surface with long, cylindrical pipes, hammering them deep into the sediment.

The goal of this precarious feat? To carefully withdraw a vertical history of ancient plant material to then travel back out with and take back to the lab.

While some of the mud was analyzed at a state-of-the-art organic geochemistry lab in the Sustainability, Energy and Environment Community (SEEC) at CU Boulder, it also needed to reach a special lab dedicated to decoding ancient DNA, at Curtin University in Perth.

To share their secrets, these mud cores had to travel halfway across the world from the Arctic to Australia.

A local snapshot

Once in the lab, the scientists had to suit up like astronauts and examine the mud in an ultra-clean space to ensure that their own DNA didn't contaminate that of any of their hard-earned samples.

It was a race against the clock.

"Your best shot is getting fresh mud," said Crump. "Once it's out of the lake, the DNA is going to start to degrade."

This is why older lake bed samples in cold storage don't quite do the trick.

While other researchers have also collected and analyzed much older DNA samples from permafrost in the Arctic (which acts like a natural freezer underground), lake sediments are kept cool, but not frozen. With fresher mud and more intact DNA, scientists can get a clearer and more detailed picture of the vegetation which once grew in that immediate area.

Reconstructing historic vegetation has most commonly been done using fossil pollen records, which preserve well in sediment. But pollen is prone to only showing the big picture, as it is easily blown about by the wind and doesn't stay in one place.

The new technique used by Crump and her colleagues allowed them to extract plant DNA directly from the sediment, sequence the DNA and infer what plant species were living there at the time. Instead of a regional picture, sedimentary DNA analysis gives researchers a local snapshot of the plant species living there at the time.

Now that they have shown it's possible to extract DNA that's over 100,000 years old, future possibilities abound.

"This tool is going to be really useful on these longer timescales," said Crump.

This research has also planted the seed to study more than just plants. In the DNA samples from their lake sediment, there are signals from a whole range of organisms that lived in and around the lake.

"We're just starting to scratch the surface of what we're able to see in these past ecosystems," said Crump. "We can see the past presence of everything from microbes to mammals, and we can start to get much broader pictures of how past ecosystems looked and how they functioned."

###

Additional authors on this study include Jonathan H. Raberg, Julio Sepulveda and Gifford H. Miller at the University of Colorado Boulder; Gregory de Wet of the University of Colorado Boulder and Smith College; Sam Cutler of the University of California; Beth Shapiro of the University of California and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute; Bianca Frechette of the Universite du Quebec a Montreal; Matthew Power of Curtin University; Michael Bunce of Curtin University and the New Zealand Environment Protection Authority; Martha K. Raynolds at the University of Alaska Fairbanks; Jason P. Briner and Elizabeth K. Thomas of the University at Buffalo.
Credit: NASA/Johns Hopkins APL

This decade promises to be an exciting time for space exploration. Already, the Perseverance rover has landed on Mars and begun conducting science operations. Later this year, the next-generation James Webb Space Telescope, the Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART), and Lucy spacecraft (the first mission to Jupiter's Trojan asteroids) will launch. Before the decade is out, missions will also be sent to Europa and Titan to extend the search for signs of life in our solar system.

Currently, NASA's plan for exploring Titan (Saturn's largest moon) is to send a nuclear-powered quadcopter named Dragonfly to explore the atmosphere and surface. However, another possibility that was presented this year as part of the NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) program is to send a sample-return vehicle with Dragonfly that could fuel up using liquid methane harvested from Titan's surface.

Known as A Titan Sample Return Using In-Situ Propellants, this mission would present some serious advantages over conventional sample-return missions. Ordinarily, missions to distant celestial objects either need to bring along enough propellant for the return trip (which means a lot of added mass and higher costs), or to have a nuclear battery that can provide power for several years.

The Dragonfly mission, which is scheduled to launch by 2027 (and arrive at Titan by 2036) will spend 2.7 years exploring Titan as part of its primary mission. In order to operate so far from home, it will rely on a Multi-Mission Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator (MMRTG), where the heat caused by the slow radioactive decay of plutonium generates electricity.

Artists Impression of Dragonfly on Titans surface. Credit: NASA/Johns Hopkins APL

Meanwhile, the sample-return concept would provide fuel for its return flight using volatile elements harvested from Titan's surface. As you can see from the illustration at the top, it would consist of a lander and an ascent vehicle. Once these set down on the surface of Titan, they could assist the Dragonfly mission by receiving samples collected by the quadcopter.

Using resources harvested in-situ, the lander could provide liquid methane and liquid oxygen fuel (created from the local ice) for the ascent vehicle. This vehicle would then be loaded up with samples collected by Dragonfly and then carry them back to Earth. By not transporting its own propellant, the sample-return element of the mission would have a lower overall mass and therefore would cost less to launch.

On top of that, the sample-return mission would exponentially increase the scientific returns of a Titan mission. For years, scientists have been hoping to get a better look at the moon's surface to investigate its particular mysteries. These include (but are not limited to) its dense nitrogen-rich atmosphere, its hydrological cycle (but with methane), and the rich organic chemistry and prebiotic conditions on its surface.

The concept was developed by a team led by Steven Oleson, the COMPASS Concurrent Spacecraft Design Team leader at NASA's Glenn Research Center. NASA described this concept, as part of the 2021 NIAC Phase I Fellows announcement, as follows:

This artists concept of a lake at the north pole of Saturns moon Titan illustrates raised rims and rampartlike features such as those seen by NASAs Cassini spacecraft around the moons Winnipeg Lacus. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

"A Titan Sample Return Using In-Situ Propellants is a proposed Titan sample return mission using in-situ volatile propellants available on its surface. This approach for Titan is very different from all conventional in-situ resource utilization concepts, and will accomplish a return of great science value toward planetary science, astrobiology, and understanding the origin of life, that is an order of magnitude more difficult (in distance and ?V) than other sample return missions."

The concept is similar to the sample-return mission for Mars currently being developed by NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA) that would transport samples collected by the Perseverance rover. According to the current mission architecture, this sample-return will also consist of a lander and a two-stage solid-fueled ascent vehicle (developed by NASA) and a rover (developed by ESA) that would collect the samples.

This sample-return mission is scheduled to launch in July of 2026 and would land near the Perseverance rover (in the Jezero crater) by August 2028. The NIAC program, which is overseen by NASA's Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD), seeks to engage American innovators and entrepreneurs to foster innovative concepts and breakthroughs that will help transform space exploration.

For 2021, STMD selected 16 NAIC proposals to become Phase I Fellows, each of which will receive a grant of up to $125,000 from NASA. Upon the successful completion of an initial nine-month feasibility study, the NIAC Fellows can apply for Phase II awards. As Jenn Gustetic, the director of early-stage innovations and partnerships within NASA STMD, explained in a recent NASA press release:

A fish-eye view of Titans surface from the European Space Agencys Huygens lander in January 2005. Credit: ESA/NASA/JPL/University of Arizona

"NIAC Fellows are known to dream big, proposing technologies that may appear to border science fiction and are unlike research being funded by other agency programs. We don't expect them all to come to fruition but recognize that providing a small amount of seed-funding for early research could benefit NASA greatly in the long run."

This is merely one of several cutting-edge proposals that have been accepted for Phase I development, as part of NASA's NAIC program for 2021. While only a handful (or none at all) may be fully-realized and go to space in the coming years, the program is leading to inspired ideas that illustrate what the future of humanity in space will look like.

Explore further NASA moves forward with campaign to return Mars samples to Earth
By COLLIN BINKLEY, AP Education Writer

BOSTON (AP)  New evidence that it may be safe for schools to seat students 3 feet apart  half of the previous recommended distance  could offer a way to return more of the nations children to classrooms with limited space.

Even as more teachers receive vaccinations against COVID-19, social distancing guidelines have remained a major hurdle for districts across the U.S. Debate around the issue flared last week when a study suggested that masked students can be seated as close as 3 feet apart with no increased risk to them or teachers.

Published in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases, the research looked at schools in Massachusetts, which has backed the 3-foot guideline for months. Illinois and Indiana are also allowing 3 feet of distance, and other states such as Oregon are considering doing the same.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is now exploring the idea too. The agencys director, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, said the 6-foot guideline is among the biggest challenges schools have faced in reopening.

The CDC included the larger spacing in its latest school guidelines, which were issued in February and concluded that schools can safely operate during the pandemic with masks, distancing and other precautions. It suggested 6 feet and said physical distancing should be maximized to the greatest extent possible.

Other organizations have issued more relaxed guidelines, including the World Health Organization, which urges 1 meter (a little more than 3 feet) in schools. The American Academy of Pediatrics says to space desks 3 feet apart and ideally 6 feet apart.

Dan Domenech, executive director of AASA, a national superintendents group, said he expects more states and schools to move to the 3-foot rule in coming weeks. With the larger guideline, he said, most schools only have space to bring back half of their students at a time. Moving to 3 feet could allow about 75% at a time, he said.

There are districts that have been doing 3 feet for quite some time without experiencing any greater amount of infection, he said.

In Illinois, health officials said last week that students can be seated 3 feet apart as long as their teachers are vaccinated. Before, state officials required 6 feet.

The Massachusetts Teachers Association, a statewide union, argues that seating students closer will increase the risk for everyone in the classroom. It also poses a problem for districts that have agreed to contracts with teachers adopting the 6-foot rule as a requirement.

They cant just throw 6 feet out the window. They cant throw away what has been agreed upon, said Merrie Najimy, president of the union. If they cant make it work, then theyre going to have to come to a new agreement.

Public schools in Worcester are among those pushing back against the closer spacing. Tracy OConnell Novick, a member of the district school committee, said switching to the 3-feet standard would be betting the health of thousands of students and staff.

In Bostons public schools, desks will be spaced at least 3 feet apart, but teachers and staff will be asked to keep 6 feet from students and other staff when feasible, district spokesperson Xavier Andrews said. Schools will also use larger rooms and outdoor spaces to keep students at a safe distance, he said.

In some states that already allow 3-feet spacing, schools say they have seen no evidence of increased risk. School officials in Danville, Indiana, which moved to 3 feet in October, said students have been in the classroom all year with no uptick in virus transmission.

Its gone very well for us. I wont say there has been no transmission, but its been staggeringly low  like one time or something like that, said Tim McRoberts, vice president of the school board. Weve kept our doors open. Weve had no temporary shutdowns.

More:

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Natalie Portman took to Instagram on Tuesday as she explored the Blue Mountains in New South Wales, Australia with husband Benjamin Millepied.

The 39-year-old actress shared a sweet photo of her and Benjamin, 43, hugging with a panorama view of the mountainous range behind them.

'Favorite person to explore the Blue Mountains with... @visitnsw #loveNSW @wolganv,' Natalie wrote in the caption for her roughly 7.3 million followers.

Favorite person: Natalie Portman took to Instagram on Tuesday as she explored the Blue Mountains in New South Wales, Australia with husband Benjamin Millepied

Natalie wore a light blue T-shirt and beamed while wrapping her arms around her husband's waist.

Benjamin wore a plain black T-shirt and tan cap as he smiled for the camera with an arm draped around Natalie.

Natalie also shared a nature shot of a rock formation with canyons in the background.

She also shared a photo of kangaroo relaxing in the shade on a field with a rainbow arc in the upper right corner.

Nature shot: The 39-year-old actress also shared a nature shot of kangaroo and a rainbow

Rock formation: The Oscar-winning actress also posted a photo of a rock formation with canyons in the background

Natalie in her post tagged One&Only Wolgan Valley, a luxury conservation-based resort in New South Wales.

The Blue Mountains are a short drive from Sydney where Natalie has been filming Thor: Love And Thunder.

Natalie will reprise her role as astrophysicist Jane Foster in the sequel and her character will gain powers similar to Thor.

Going strong: Benjamin and Natalie, shown in February 2020 in Los Angeles, have been married since 2012

Kat Dennings, 34, who starred with Natalie in Thor in 2011 and its sequel Thor: The Dark World in 2013 commented on her Instagram post Tuesday with four red heart emojis.

Thor: Love And Thunder is scheduled for release on May 6, 2022.

It was reported earlier this month that Natalie and Lupita Nyong'o, 38, will team up for the Apple TV+ limited series Lady In The Lake based on the bestseller of the same name by Laura Lippman, 62.

Natalie and Benjamin have nine-year-old son Aleph and four-year-old daughter Amalia together.
A woman in an IDP camp spoke of how her 12-year old boy was beheaded.

Save the Children, has been listening to horrifying scenes of murder and grief told by displaced families in Mozambiques Cabo Delgado province.

Paul Samasumo  Vatican City



According to Save the Children, mothers have told the Aid agency, children as young as 11 are being beheaded, by militants, in Mozambiques troubled Cabo Delgado province. The conflict in the region has displaced thousands.

Traumatised mothers

One mother spoke of her eldest child being beheaded near to where she was hiding with her other three children.

That night, our village was attacked, and houses were burned. When it all started, I was at home with my four children. We tried to escape to the woods, but they took my eldest son and beheaded him. We couldnt do anything because we would be killed too, the distraught mother told Save the Children. The boy was 12 years old.

Another mother spoke of how her fourth child, 11 years old, was murdered by militants. She fled without even the chance of giving her son a proper burial.

After my 11-year-old son was killed, we understood that it was no longer safe to stay in my village. We fled to my fathers house in another village, but a few days later, the attacks started there too. Me, my father and the children spent five days eating green bananas and drinking banana tree water until we got transport that brought us here, the mother said.

A Province reeling from climate shock

Nearly 670,000 people are now displaced inside Mozambique due to the Cabo Delgados conflict  almost seven times the number reported a year ago. At least 2 614 people have died in the conflict, including 1 312 civilians. The situation has seriously deteriorated over the past 12 months, with the escalation of attacks on villages, reports Save the Children.

Cabo Delgado is also reeling from consecutive climatic shocks, including 2019s Cyclone Kenneth, the strongest cyclone to hit the northern part of Mozambique. In 2020, the region witnessed massive flooding that destroyed crops ans property.

Distressing stories

Save the Childrens Country Director in Mozambique, Chance Briggs, spoke of the immense grief among his staff.

Reports of attacks on children sicken us to our core. Our staff have been brought to tears when hearing the stories of suffering told by mothers in displacement camps. This violence has to stop, and displaced families need to be supported as they find their bearings and recover from the trauma.

He added, A major concern for us is that the needs of displaced children and their families in Cabo Delgado far outweigh the resources available to support them. Nearly a million people are facing severe hunger as a direct result of this conflict, including displaced people and host communities, said Save the Childrens Country Director.

No quick fix

Dr Alex Vines, of Chatham House, in an analysis that first appeared in the Mail and Guardian, says that the attacks are a sign that the jihadist-linked insurgents are growing in confidence as they face demoralised Mozambican security forces who show little appetite for fighting.

Chathams conclusion is that there is no quick fix. However, the Mozambican government could still contain and prevail if it seriously reforms its military, builds strong alliances with its regional neighbours (especially Tanzania), chooses its private security contractors and international partnerships wisely, and backs military efforts with better intelligence and developmental interventions that offer alternative pathways to potential recruits, said Dr Vines.

Archbishop Luiz Fernando Lisboa

Pope Francis has constantly spoken about Cabo Delgado. He has assured the people of the province of his closeness and prayers.

On 11 February this year, the Pope transferred Brazilian-born Bishop Luiz Fernando Lisboa, who was Bishop of Pemba Diocese in Capo Delgado. The Bishop was transferred to the Diocese of Cachoeiro de Itapemirim in the Southeast Region of Brazil. Pope Francis also conferred on the 65-year-old Bishop the title of Archbishop.

While in Pemba, Archbishop Lisboa was an outspoken government critic and defender of the troubled region. He believed the government of Mozambique could do more to protect the people of Cabo Delgado.

Archbishop Lisboa has always attributed the conflict to the discovery of gas. Cabo Delgado is home to Africas largest liquid natural gas.
More than 22,000 Connecticut businesses were approved for nearly $2 billion in loans in the first few weeks following the federal Paycheck Protection Programs re-opening in January.

But officials said Tuesday that there is still a great deal of funding available for small businesses that are struggling during the COVID-19 pandemic.

There is still PPP money out there, Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz said during an online forum hosted by the Womens Business Development Council. I was on the phone today with banks that have that money ready to go. You just have to apply for it.

Elected officials and the WBDC leaders are again urging small businesses to avail themselves of initiatives such as the Paycheck Protection Program after the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan was signed into law last week. The PPP was created through the CARES Act passed by Congress in March 2020 and has been replenished through the ARC and the $900 billion stimulus approved last December.

You can get them through a bank, and so long as the expenses in that (PPP) loan are used for payroll, rent, mortgage, utilities  that sort of thing  they become grants, said U.S. Rep. Jim Himes, a seventh-term Democrat whose district covers most of Fairfield County. The good news is that the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan added another $7 billion to that fund, and we still have substantial money left in that fund. When I last checked, it was about $120 billion. If youre a nonprofit organization, a small business or sole proprietor and havent thought about a Paycheck Protection Program loan, now is the time.

At WBDC, services include weekly information sessions on PPP and appointments with business advisers.

WBDC has been and will continue to work with business owned by women  and men  throughout our state, Pastore said. We will hand-hold you through the PPP application process. If you do need help, please reach out to us.

Businesses can apply again if they have already received a PPP loan.

I highly recommend that wherever you did get the first round of PPP that you first approach that financial institution for your second round, Pastore said. Its easier and cleaner if you stick with the same financial institution.

Among other Small Business Administration programs created through the stimulus bills approved in the past year, Himes cited the $15 billion Shuttered Venue Operators Grant program and the $29 billion Restaurant Revitalization Fund.

In addition, Himes is hopeful that small businesses would benefit from the aid being disbursed to local and state governments through the American Rescue Plan.

The reason I bring it up in this context is its also allowed to be used  both state and local money  for projects around water, sewer and broadband infrastructure, Himes said. The reason I wanted to mention that is because projects that involve sewer, water and broadband infrastructure often involve contractors  electrical contractors, construction contractors, etc.

Among other initiatives, the WBDC is running its Equity Match Grant Program, which provides grants between $2,500 and $10,000 to help women-owned businesses pivot, expand or restructure. The application window for its second round has closed, but a third round will be announced next month.

Many small business owners  particularly in industries such as leisure and hospitality  will also likely benefit from the next phase of the states re-opening, which starts Friday. Among the key changes, businesses will generally be able to return to full capacity, although they will still have to adhere to social distancing guidelines.

Whats really important to remember is that our ability to re-open is really dependent upon all of us continuing to do our part to keep each other safe, said Bysiewicz, a Democrat serving her first term as lieutenant governor. Its really important that everybody continues to wears their masks, washes their hands and keeps their distance.

pschott@stamfordadvocate.com; twitter: @paulschott
President Joe Biden said he doesn't understand the 'macho' thinking of vaccine skeptics, as former President Donald Trump urged MAGA-world to get shots.

'I just don't understand this sort of macho thing about, "I'm not gonna get the vaccine. I have a right as an American, my freedom to not do it,"' Biden said in his ABC News interview with George Stephanopoulos. 'Well, why don't you be a patriot? Protect other people.'

Trump brought up that he respected people's freedom, but he also encouraged Americans to get the vaccine and admitted some anti-vaxxers were part of his fan-base.

President Joe Biden said he didn't understand the 'macho' thinking of vaccine skeptics in a new interview with ABC News' George Stephanopoulos

'I would, I would recomment it, and I would recommend it to a lot of people who don't want to get it and a lot of those people voted for me, frankly,' the ex-president told Fox News Channel's Maria Bartiromo Tuesday night.

Trump had called into her show for an interview.

'But again we have our freedoms and we have to live by that and I agree with that also,' Trump added.

Trump and his allies knocked Biden for not giving the former president enough credit for Operation Warp Speed, the government initiative to get quick COVID-19 vaccines.

The Pfizer vaccine wasn't fully part of that project, but Moderna's successful shot was.

Biden and members of his administration have hit Trump for not having a fullly-formed vaccine distribution plan - and for politicizing aspects of fighting the virus, like wearing masks.

Biden made the 'macho' comment after Stephanopoulos asked how he got politics about of this vaccine talk.

'I honest to God thought we had it out,' Biden replied. 'I honest to God thought that, once we guaranteed we had enough vaccine for everybody, things would start to calm down.'

'Well, they have calmed down a great deal,' he added.

But polling this week showed that 49 per cent of Republican men said they wouldn't take the coronavirus vaccine.

Biden previously argued that local doctors and clergy could play a part in getting those Americans to accept the vaccine - and may be better surrogates than Trump.
Mumbai, March 17 : In a massive fallout of the SUV case, the Maharashtra government on Wednesday shunted out Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh and replaced him with current Director General of Police Hemant Nagrale, Home Minister Anil Deshmukh announced.

Senior IPS officer Rajnish Sheth has been entrusted additional responsibility as the DGP, while Singh will be posted as DGP, Home Guards.

Shortly after taking over, Nagrale said it would be inappropriate to comment on the "under investigations cases" but assured that he would make all efforts to improve the image of the Mumbai Police.

"The Police Department is passing through a rough phase. It is not proper if policemen are involved in criminal acts. In future, we shall ensure such things don't recur. The NIA and ATS are investigating, so I cannot comment on the cases," he added.

The fast-paced developments came after an internal tug-of-war among the ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi constituents - the Shiv Sena, the Nationalist Congress Party, and the Congress - in the past two weeks after a SUV was found abandoned outside Antilia, the home of industrialist Mukesh Ambani, on February 25.

The situation turned grim with the subsequent death of Thane businessman Mansukh Hiran on March 5, the arrest and suspension of Mumbai Police official Sachin Vaze and a belligerent Bharatiya Janata Party clamouring for the scalp of Singh and others.

According to political sources, while Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar (NCP) wanted to wait for the ATS probe report, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray was keen on effecting a major shake-up in the police force after the two cases became a major embarrassment for the state government.

Even as Mumbai Police was probing the matter, the Centre stepped in and abruptly handed over the SUV case to the National Investigation Agency (NIA), while the Hiran death is being probed by Maharashtra Anti Terrorism Squad (ATS).

Since both the cases are directly linked with wider ramifications, the NIA is likely to also take over the Hiran death matter from the ATS, official sources revealed.

Late on Tuesday, the NIA seized a black Mercedes car which it said was used by Vaze, along with Rs 5 lakh case, a currency counter, some clothes and other things in the vehicles.

Not satisfied with the transfer of the Mumbai Police chief, BJP's Leader of Opposition Devendra Fadnavis, ex-city MP Kirit Somaiya and others said Singh and Vaze are "very small fry" and suggest that the "bigger political players" allegedly involved in the entire episode must be identified and exposed.

Referring to Fadnavis' revelations on Hiran case in New Delhi this evening, Maharashtra Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant took a swipe at the BJP leader, saying "it conveys an impression that he (Fadnavis) was personally present at the crime scene and knows more about the cases than the NIA or ATS".

"At this rate, he should be made the head of NIA and help unravel the mystery cases like the Pulwama attacks, how the huge quantity of RDX was brought there... He can even set up his own investigation agency and help serve the country," Sawant said sarcastically.

He also slammed Fadnavis for not handing over the CDR and other information to the investigators and accused him of "backing the culprits" in these cases.

Earlier on Wednesday, attempting damage control, the MVA Coordination Committee met followed by a meeting between Thackeray and leaders of the three ruling parties.

Prior to that, late on Tuesday, Thackeray called both Singh and Nagrale and discussed the cases with them threadbare before effecting the anticipated changes in the police force.
A man who stabbed his ex-girlfriend to death after stalking her as she went on a Tinder date with another man has been jailed for a minimum of 19 years.

Cruise line worker Cristina Ortiz-Lozano, 28, was murdered by Abdelaziz El Yechioui Ourzat, 31, in a 'frenzied' stabbing attack after he followed her home in Southampton, Hampshire, on September 21 2019.

The defendant had been in a relationship with Miss Ortiz-Lozano, who he met at school in Spain, for 12 years which had ended a month before the attack.

Ourzat was caught on CCTV 'hiding in the shadows' outside a pub his ex had visited with another man a month after she broke up with him.

He then followed her home and stabbed her to death as her horrified date stood outside.

Cruise line worker Cristina Ortiz-Lozano, 28, (left) was murdered by Abdelaziz El Yechioui Ourzat, 29, (right) in a 'frenzied' attack at her home in Southampton, September 21 2019

Miss Ortiz-Lozano's father today told a court that their family is 'emotionally destroyed' and asked his daughter's killer 'how could you do this to us?'

A judge branded Ourzat's attack 'savage, ferocious and sustained' as she passed a life sentence with a minimum term of 19 years.

Ourzat, who is of Moroccan descent, remained emotionless as his sentence was read out today at Winchester Crown Court, Hampshire.

Judge Jane Miller QC said: 'After she told you it was over, you clearly saw red. In the months after and on the night you killed Cristina, you adopted a 'poor me' attitude.

Ourzat was caught on CCTV 'hiding in the shadows' outside a pub where Miss Ortiz-Lozano (left) had gone with a man she had met on Tinder, Vincente Breso-Biosca, 30 (right)

Chilling CCTV images show Ourzat stalking his former girlfriend while she was on a Tinder date shortly before he stabbed her to death. The footage was shown to a jury at Winchester Crown Court

'You didn't accept at any stage that the end of the relationship was your fault.

'After the relationship ended in that month you decided to wallow in self pity.

'You saw Cristina sitting, talking with a young man. You were jealous and were upset at her moving on and from jealousy to anger is a short step.'

The former couple moved to the UK in April 2018, living in Liverpool before moving to Southampton the following year.

Manuel Ortiz-Cortez, Cristina's father, who lives in Spain, provided a statement about the death of his youngest daughter, which was read out to the court by prosecutor Kerry Maylin.

Ourzat trailed the couple as they returned to her house before following her inside and stabbing her 23 times with a kitchen knife while her date waited outside

Mr Ortiz-Cortez wrote: 'We have been destroyed as people and as a family.

'Every day at around 9pm Cristina would call us to tell us about her day to day life. Now that has become our worst time of the day. It's emotionally destroyed us.

'We will probably have to move house after nearly 40 years because we live barely 200 metres from his family.

'We included him in our family... He told me that I was like his second father.'

He then addressed Ourzat directly, asking him: 'What reason did you have for killing my daughter? How could you do this to Cristina and the rest of our family?

'You knew how much we loved both of our daughters. I asked you to look after her because we loved her very much.'

Ourzat stalked his victim all the way to her home in Southampton before stabbing her 23 times in her kitchen with a knife, the court heard

Stephen Moses, mitigating for Ourzat, read out a letter from the killer.

He said: 'I feel ashamed as to who I have become. I don't know how i was able to cause such damage and destruction.

'Everything got out of hand. I never thought of hurting the person I love the most. I live in a nightmare and I hate myself.

'I am disgusted. I will never feel peace again living with what I did. To Cristina's family and her father Manuel, I beg for your forgiveness.

'I do not deserve anything good from this life.'

The two week murder trial heard Miss Ortiz-Lozano was on a date with hotel receptionist Vincente Breso-Biosca, 30, in Southampton, Hampshire, on September 21, 2019.

They went to Sprinkles ice cream parlour and the Giddy Bridge pub, but left early after she spotted Ourzat entering the pub.

However, Ourzat stalked the couple home before following her inside and stabbing her 23 times with a kitchen knife while her date waited outside.

Frightened Mr Breso-Biosca told neighbours to 'call the police and somebody help me because he's going to kill her'.

He kicked the door down and ran inside the house to see Ourzat on top of her, already dead, as the man held a knife in his hand.

Police at the scene in Portswood, Southampton, where Cristina Ortiz-Lozano was killed

During the trial, jurors heard that the couple met at school in Spain and had been together for about 12 years before Miss Ortiz-Lozano split up with Ourzat when he was arrested for drink driving in August 2019.

At the time, they were living together in Southampton and she was working for the Norwegian Cruise Line. Mr Ourzat was a baggage handler for Port Skills at the city docks.

A Hampshire police spokesman said the pair split up after Ourzat was arrested for failing to give a breath test which led to an argument and the defendant causing criminal damage to their home address in August 2019.

Later that month, he was arrested again for sending abusive emails to Ms Ortiz-Lozano and was bailed with conditions not to contact her.

The force spokesman said that on September 21, Miss Ortiz-Lozano went on a date and decided to return home after she spotted Ourzat come into the pub.

The spokesman said: 'When they arrived, El Yechioui Ourzat was waiting outside of the address. Cristina let herself into the property and El Yechioui Ourzat followed her into the kitchen, where he carried out his brutal attack.'

Detective Inspector Toby Elcock said: 'I welcome today's sentence. El Yechioui Ourzat has been shown to be an extremely dangerous man whose abusive and jealous behaviour led him to take the life of a young woman who had her whole life ahead of her.

'I know today's sentence will not bring Cristina back, but I hope it goes some way to give her family and friends some closure and a degree of comfort that justice has been done.

'This was a brutal attack on a young woman who had her whole life ahead of her.

'The court heard how El Yechioui Ourzat's abusive and jealous behaviour culminated in the brutal murder of Cristina.'

Miss Ortiz-Lozano suffered stab wounds to her chest, neck and abdomen and had 'defensive' wounds on her arms, 'where she raised her arms in front of her body in an attempt to protect her torso and her neck'.

Ourzat, who initially told police he was stabbed first by Miss Ortiz-Lozano and was on anti-depressants, denied murdering his victim, instead claiming he was only guilty of manslaughter by diminished responsibility.

The jury took just five and a half hours to convict him of murder.
IRVINE, Calif., March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Today Shoe MGK is launching their brand new shoe cleaning resource center, Shoe Care University, on their newly updated website; ShoeMGK.com. The site's development comes from a need to create a solution for the vast world of shoe cleaning information.

Shoe MGK in an effort to assist consumers with education and resources to help them best care for their footwear has created Shoe Care University, a one-stop shoe cleaning resource center.

The resource center features extensive step by step guides to clean almost every pair of shoes. Shoe Care University is poised to be the largest collection of shoe cleaning information on the internet. Anyone looking to learn more about proper shoe care and cleaning can use this free resource to gain valuable insights and tips.

From material to brand, or even shoe type, MGK has got everyone covered with curated guides. The resource center features step by step guides but also has a series of videos explaining how to use all of their shoe cleaning products in great depth and detail. Shoe Care University center will teach the world how to clean their shoes.

Shoe MGK is all about empowering entrepreneurs in every way possible. It is the largest and fastest-growing business opportunity in the Shoe Cleaning industry. With carts and kiosks in nearly 130 malls across the country, Shoe MGK is truly nationwide.

For more information, visit https://shoemgk.com/resources/

About Shoe MGK

Shoe MGK was founded in 1992 in Southern California at a time when sneaker lovers needed something to clean up their kicks. Now considered by many to be the world's greatest shoe cleaner , our line has grown to include care and protection of all types of footwear. For over 28 years, we have been providing the highest quality in shoe care products across the nation. After years of developing our brand by cleaning shoes in fairs, shows, and malls, we quickly grew our customer base by inspiring entrepreneurs to join our team with their own Shoe MGK locations. Through our highly motivated Brand Partners, millions of bottles have been sold!

Media Contact: Media, 18774447463, [email protected]

SOURCE Shoe MGK
Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism.
Chandigarh, March 17 : As active Covid-19 cases in the state surged to 12,616, with daily positivity rate climbing to over five per cent, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Wednesday urged the Centre to review its immunization strategy to vaccinate all age groups in selected areas, while announcing a stricter policy to deal with the problem.

The Chief Minister also called for occupation-based immunization for school and college students and teachers, judges, bus drivers and conductors, etc., to pave the way for normalisation of crucial activities and check super-spreaders.

He advocated early opening of the courts to end the wait for justice for citizens, and also of schools and colleges to bridge the gap between poor and affluent families in terms of education.

The Chief Minister blamed the surge in cases on laxity in following COVID appropriate behaviours, large social and religious gatherings, and efforts at normalisation such as opening of schools and colleges.

Large positivity was seen in the state's young population, he said. He said the trend was worrying as the state had reported 1,475 cases and 38 deaths on Monday, preceded by 1,843 cases and 43 deaths the day before.

He pointed out that state Finance Minister Manpreet Badal and SAD president Sukhbir Badal had also tested positive for coronavirus. "We are making a policy, we will get stricter from tomorrow," he added.

During Prime Minister Narendra Modi's virtual Covid-19 review meeting with chief ministers of all states, Amarinder Singh suggested that any area where weekly testing shows a doubling of positivity rates should immediately be considered for vaccination of all age groups.

This, he said, would lead to better outcomes than the periodic cycles of vaccination targeting a small section of the population at each cycle.

The daily positivity rate has climbed to more than five per cent in March from a low of less than one per cent in January.

So far, 1.99 lakh positive cases had been reported from 54 lakh tests and 6,099 people have died of the infection, he added.

Apart from covering the entire population in selected areas, certain co-morbidity situations among those below 45 years, such as kidney and liver diseases, should also be covered across the state, the Chief Minister recommended, as Punjab continued to grapple with its second peak, which started from mid-February.

With the role of virus mutation still unclear, the Chief Minster underlined the need to strengthen viral sequencing particularly in Punjab, "as over 50 per cent positive cases now are below 40 years of age, and we need to urgently assess whether this is due to any variant." The state, he disclosed, had sent a large number of samples for genome sequencing but very few results had been received, of which two indicated presence of variant.

Amarinder Singh again reiterated the demand for permission by the Centre to use the State Disaster Relief Fund, already available with the state, for COVID management. The Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India may issue the approval urgently, he stressed.

Talking about the progress on the vaccination front, he informed the meeting that more than 50 per cent healthcare workers and frontline workers have got the first dose.

More than 1.10 lakh public aged 60 plus and 45 plus with co-morbidities have taken first dose of vaccination.

More private healthcare facilities are being motivated to work as vaccination centres, said Amarinder Singh.

Listing out the measures taken by his government to battle the ongoing second wave, the Chief Minister revealed that the state has imposed restrictions on social gatherings -- maximum of 100 for indoor events and 200 for outdoor events.

Nine districts have imposed night curfew from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m., while other districts have been asked to assess the situation and take action accordingly.

On the testing, the Chief Minister revealed that more than 30,000 tests per day were being conducted by the state, of which more than 90 per cent were through RT-PCR and less than 10 per cent Rapid Antigen Test (RAT).

Punjab's testing per million has been maintained at higher than national average, he added.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Retailers Association of India (RAI) has appealed to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to consider prioritising vaccination for the frontline retail workers who face hundreds of people in the course of dispensing their duties and run the risk of getting infected.

In a submission to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, RAI expressed that the hard work, struggles, and risk of retail frontline workers must also be appreciated along with the frontline workers of the medical and the law enforcement staff.

Just as the healthcare staff, front-end employees of retail stores have risked their lives to serve citizens during the peak of the pandemic by keeping their stores open ensuring that citizens had access to essential items. They are continuing the relentless effort even today.

Speaking about the submission, Kumar Rajagopalan, CEO, Retailers Association of India, said, "It is known that the Indian Retail industry employs about 46 million people, which sustains the livelihood of 250 million Indians. These include individuals engaged in the supply, retail and delivery of products across all channels of retail. An opportunity of getting vaccinated should be given to all those Employees/Salespersons of the Retail Stores who continue to serve the general public every day."

"This will not only benefit the retail industry but also benefit the public at large who continue to rely on the frontline retail workers for their daily needs."

The pandemic-led had significantly impacted the Indian Retail industry, which hasn't yet been able to achieve the pre-pandemic level of sales. As consumers start to resume to their regular shopping needs, retailers are hopeful of recovery in the first six months of 2021.

At this juncture, all efforts are required to boost the local economy to help the survival of the retail and restaurant sectors, thus saving millions of jobs, RAI said.

Retail in India which is sized around $ 854 billion continues to be one of the country's largest industries that makes up for over 10 per cent of the GDP.

--IANS

sn/dpb

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - March 17, 2021) -SoLVBL Solutions Inc. (CSE: SOLV) ("SoLVBL" or the "Company"), an innovative cybersecurity company that provides proprietary data authentication SaaS that uniquely features advanced cryptography for data authentication at unprecedented speed and scalability, today announced that the CEO, Raymond Pomroy will be joined by CFO, Khurram Qureshi, members of its Board of Directors, and leadership team to ring the virtual opening bell at the Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE) on Wednesday, March 17, 2021.

The video of the Market Open Ceremony will be posted on the CSE web site www.thecse.com along with an interview of SoLVBL's CEO, Ray Pomroy by Barrington Miller, Director Issuer Engagement at the CSE. Both videos will subsequently be posted on SoLVBL's web site at www.solvbl.com.

"We are immensely thrilled to ring the virtual opening bell at the CSE to celebrate our accomplishment as one of the only CSE-listed cybersecurity companies," said Ray Pomroy, CEO of SoLVBL Solutions Inc.

About SoLVBL

SoLVBLis an innovative cybersecurity company. The Company's mission is to empower, better, faster decisions by developing a universal standard for establishing digital record authenticity. The lead product Q by SoLVBL, is a proprietary software of the Company, designed to be easy to use and adopt, economically priced and provide digital record authentication at lightning fast speed. Q by SoLVBL allows organizations to establish trust in their data. The company is currently pursuing the following verticals: chain of custody for digital evidence; including, NG-911, data used in the financial sector, medical applications and critical IoT infrastructures.

For further information, please contact:

SoLVBL Solutions Inc.

Raymond Pomroy, CEO

15 Toronto Street, Suite 602

Toronto, Ontario, M5C2E3

E: Ray.Pomroy@SoLVBL.com

T: 905.510.7982

Forward-Looking Statements

The CSE has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release.

NEITHER THE CSE NOR ITS MARKET REGULATOR (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE CSE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE. CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION: This news release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. Any statement that involves discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as "expects", or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "budget", "scheduled", "forecasts", "estimates", "believes" or "intends" or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results "may" or "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to: the ability of the Company to successfully achieve its business objectives, including, the implementation and success of Q by SoLVBLTM, and expectations for other economic, business and/or competitive, factors. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release. Except as required by law, SoLVBL assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements of beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change, except as required by law.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities described herein in the United States. The securities described herein have not been registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or any state securities law and may not be offered or sold in the "United States", as such term is defined in Regulation S promulgated under the U.S. Securities Act, unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration requirements is available.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/77570
LONDON, March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Neudata, an alternative data research and SaaS technology platform, has launched its new legal and compliance intelligence product - Neudata Sentry - to help alternative data buyers reduce risk & delays, track market practices and increase the quality of their data compliance efforts.

The new software platform, which is now live, is comprised of several tools that asset managers can use to conduct up-front due diligence on vendors and to stay on top of industry best practices in a rapidly changing regulatory environment.

"Ensuring that alternative datasets are compliant with local, national and international regulations is a key hurdle for many asset managers," said Don D'Amico, Neudata's general counsel. "As alternative data usage becomes more mature within the financial services space, we expect regulators to pay more attention to how asset managers conduct diligence checks on datasets and vet vendors for a variety of different risks."

"These risks will continue to evolve, often outside of geographic areas where our clients may conduct business," he added.

The Neudata Sentry platform is comprised of several tools that asset managers can use to reduce risk within their compliance process and speed up vendor on-boarding efforts, including:

A standardised due diligence questionnaire (DDQ) collection system, featuring:

daily, passive DDQ intake from Neudata's highly engaged universe of vendors, and



a-la-carte DDQ gathering done on-demand, with each DDQ stored in Neudata's vault for easy client access and periodic vendor updates

Automated risk alerts designed by Neudata's in-house attorney, with the ongoing input of the buy-side community

Consolidated market feedback via research reports and case-study articles on the issues presented by new and popular data vendors (to document or supplement the diligence process)

Guides to current industry best practices for emerging areas of alternative data law, including privacy, web-scraping, and permanency-risk mitigation techniques

Access to legal & compliance masterclass events and roundtables, where participants meet with industry peers to share their experiences and feedback

Through the use of these tools, alternative data users have a better chance of understanding the regulatory risks that go into using alternative data, according to Neudata's CEO Rado Lipus. "The Neudata Sentry product combines Neudata's expert alternative data market analysis with a software platform that gives users the tools they need to mitigate risk in the midst of a changing regulatory landscape for alternative data."

To arrange a product demo of Neudata Sentry, contact info@neudata.co.

About Neudata

Neudata is the industry's only objective and neutral data scouting FinTech firm and is dedicated to finding alpha-generating alternative data for the world's leading asset managers, private equity/venture capital firms and corporations.

Neudata's Software as a Service (SaaS) catalogue of 5000+ dataset reports provides tools for users to easily search, source, manage, and compare data, while leveraging real-time insights from its team of expert research analysts based in London, New York and Shanghai.

Its core philosophy is simple - Neudata catalogues and assesses datasets based on over 100 unique factors & delivers metadata reports and advice for a fee. It doesn't buy data, sell data, or require revenue-shares or commissions from the data vendors that it recommends. That means users get unbiased intelligence that's tailored to their specific investment thesis.

Media Contact:

Sondra Campanelli,

Head of News and Marketing,

press@neudata.co
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va., March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The ongoing pandemic continues to impact families across the country, but its lasting effects on women, especially new moms with infants and toddlers, are still being measured. Moms are often the keeper of their families' emotional well-being, but how has the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic taken its toll on moms of babies and toddlers one year later?

(PRNewsfoto/Store Brand Formula) StoreBrandFormula.com

Perrigo Nutrition, makers of Store Brand Infant Formula, in conjunction with OnePoll, released findings today from a nationwide survey* of 2,022 moms with babies and children under the age of two to gain insights into the incredible emotional and financial impact that the pandemic has had on this vulnerable population. Not surprisingly, 68 percent of moms surveyed stated 2020 was the most stressful year they have ever experienced, with top emotions being stress, exhaustion, depression, anxiety and isolation.

The survey also found 64 percent of moms had to sacrifice a lot because of financial reasons with nearly two in three (65 percent) cutting costs just to feed their family. Three in 10 moms said the ability to afford enough food for the family was causing the most financial stress, and 30 percent revealed they have skipped meals so their children could eat. Although moms are accessing resources such as The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC), a staggering 88 percent of moms enrolled in WIC reported they run out of infant formula before the end of the month. In fact, nearly half (49 percent) were left without WIC-supplied formula for three to five days. Even with money tight, 77 percent of moms enrolled in WIC said they purchased the more expensive nationally advertised name brands over store brands.

"You don't have to cut back on nutrition or jeopardize your family's well-being to make ends meet; instead, families should focus on making wise choices to stretch their dollars further and safely," says financial expert and founder of Clever Girl Finance, Bola Sokunbi. "If you use infant formula, consider using Store Brand Infant Formulas because they provide complete nutrition and meet the same FDA standards as the big-name brands but cost up to 50 percent less**. That's an average of $64 a month in savingswhich is huge, especially right now."

More than half of moms (54 percent) agreed they had to make difficult decisions just to feed their baby in 2020. Some of these decisions could be harmful to a baby. For example, 52 percent of all moms stated they have used more water than required by the instructions to save money and to make infant formula last longer. Formula over-dilution is dangerous because it dilutes critical nutrients in formula at a time of rapid growth. In addition, more than half of surveyed moms agree that if they had known that the lower-cost option, Store Brand Infant Formula, provides complete nutrition just like the nationally advertised brands Enfamil and Similac***, they would have been more likely to purchase. This number is even higher among WIC-enrolled moms, at 65 percent.

"Caregivers experiencing food insecurity are often met with unimaginably tough decisions when it comes to feeding their family," said Perrigo Nutrition Marketing Director Jeremy Jones. "At Perrigo, we strive to provide families access to complete and affordable nutrition. There's no need for parents to take unnecessary risks such as over-diluting formula to save money when they can trust that Store Brand Infant Formula is a no-compromise, safe solution."

With all the emotional and financial stress, mothers found themselves turning to a patchwork of resources for help, such as the local food bank or charity, WIC, family members, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or a pediatrician/HCP. In fact, 40 percent of moms surveyed applied for WIC or SNAP to help support their family within the last year.

"WIC and SNAP are amazing supplemental programs that help millions of families across the country, but many will still run out of benefits before the end of the month," added Jones. "This is why it's so important for families to understand their options and make informed financial decisions. For example, many don't realize that when using SNAP dollars to buy Store Brand Infant Formula instead of the nationally advertised brands, you can get twice as many days of safe, complete nutrition, so you can buy more of the other nutritious foods you need to feed your whole family."

Store Brand Infant Formula wants to help educate families on all available options to ensure vulnerable infants are receiving complete nutrition, safely. Store Brand Infant Formulas were recently featured in "The Best Baby Formula" guide by Wirecutter, a New York Times product review website, which has helpful information for parents. Additional resources can also be found at www.storebrandformula.com.

About Store Brand Infant Formula

Store Brand Infant Formula is manufactured in FDA-inspected facilities in Vermont and Ohio, U.S.A. Dairy ingredients are sourced from leading dairy markets, including the United States, Canada, Europe and New Zealand. Perrigo is also fully compliant with the Safe Quality Food (SQF) Code, which certifies that a supplier's food safety and quality management system complies with this international and domestic food-safety standard. Learn more at (http://www.storebrandformula.com).

*The Perrigo Nutrition "Reassess-ion" Survey was conducted between January and February 2021 among 2,022 American mothers of babies and children under two years old using an e-mail invitation and an online survey. Fifty-five percent of the moms surveyed are on the WIC program. Margin of error is +/- 3 percent.

**Calculation based on December 2020 IRi Market Advantage annual retail sales data of national brand infant formula powder compared to store brand infant formula powder cost per week based on an average weekly usage of 1.5 pounds of powder.

***Enfamil is a registered trademark of Mead Johnson & Co. Similac is a registered trademark of Abbott Laboratories. Store brand infant formula is NOT made by or affiliated with Mead Johnson & Co. or Abbott Laboratories.

SOURCE Store Brand Formula

Related Links

http://www.storebrandformula.com


SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Grayhawk Capital, Arizona's longest operating venture capital firm with a focus on early growth Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) technology companies, today announced it has named Leib Bolel as a partner and full member of the firm. Bolel first joined Grayhawk Capital in 2019 as venture partner on the heels of establishing his own fund.

"Having created significant impact within Arizona's technology ecosystem as founder of the Arizona Israel Technology Alliance, Leib is highly respected across the industry," said Sherman Chu, founder and managing partner of Grayhawk Capital. "Leib has brought immense value to Grayhawk Capital as a venture partner and we're excited to have him join as a partner. In his new role, he will continue executing on our strategy of investing in the most promising of technology companies founded in Arizona, across the U.S. and Israel."

Grayhawk Capital is Arizona's most established and largest venture capital firm. It was founded in 1999, has more than $550 million managed by its partners and is currently raising its third fund. To-date, Grayhawk Capital has made 58 investments and completed 43 exits including six IPO's. The firm currently has 14 active companies in its portfolio including Arizona-based SaaS telehealth leader eVisit and visual collaboration software provider Lucid of Utah, whose vibrant worldwide growth has earned it unicorn status.

"Joining a team with exceptional leadership, over eighty years of venture capital experience and the remarkable results they have been able to achieve, sustain and grow, is a true privilege," said Bolel. "Grayhawk Capital has been a consistent top quartile/decile fund over the last twenty years and I look forward to being a continued part of its success."

With over a decade of experience in the area of new business development and startups, Bolel offers the highest level of analytical skills, ensuring investments are forthcoming and available for continuing growth. He has held a number of past and current board and advisor roles in early-growth technology companies as well as volunteer engagements that include the International Leadership Council for the Greater Phoenix Economic Council, World Vision, Smile Train and the Jewish Federations. Bolel holds an MBA from Walden University and a bachelor's degree from Tannenbaum College.

About Grayhawk Capital

Based in Scottsdale, Arizona, the partners of Grayhawk Capital are a seasoned and cohesive management team with 80+ years of collective experience over 10 venture funds. Their superior track record and strong returns are based on a proven investment model providing post revenue Series A and Series B funding to the dynamic and rapidly growing Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) market in emerging tech hubs. With a current target fund size of $75M for Fund III, Grayhawk invests in the information technology industry in sectors such as mobile computing, cloud, security, enterprise & application software, business intelligence, healthcare IT, and financial. To learn more, visit http://grayhawkcapital.us.

SOURCE Grayhawk Capital

Related Links

https://www.grayhawkcapital.us


Former GOP Rep. Doug Ose enters California recall election View Photo

LOS ANGELES (AP)  Former Republican congressman Doug Ose announced Tuesday hes entering the recall election aimed at ousting California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a day after the Democratic governor began raising money to defend his seat in a likely election this year.

Ose becomes the third established Republican to enter the emerging contest, joining former San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer and businessman John Cox, who was defeated by Newsom in a landslide in 2018.

Its possible they could eventually be among dozens of candidates. There were 135 on the ballot in the states 2003 recall election that removed former Democratic Gov. Gray Davis from office and replaced him with Republican Arnold Schwarzenegger.

The former congressman said he was ready to work across party lines to reopen schools and businesses in a state upended by the coronavirus, while taking on the long-running homelessness crisis.

Californians are tired of having a governor whose operating themes are hypocrisy, self-interest, half truths and mediocrity, Ose, 65, said in a statement announcing his candidacy.

Newsom sides with unions that close our schools while sending his own kids to private school. He dines in the states fanciest restaurants while telling everyone else to stay at home. He lives in a gated mansion while allowing the states homeless crisis to spin out of control. Enough is enough, added Ose, who served in Congress from 1999 to January 2005.

On Monday, Newsom launched his campaign with an attack on the senior recall organizers, depicting them as political extremists loyal to former Republican President Donald Trump. Recall organizers said Newsom was attempting to smear an effort that has gathered over 2 million petition signatures statewide to place the proposal on the ballot this year.

About 1.5 million signatures are needed for the recall to qualify for the ballot, though hundreds of thousands must still be validated by election officials. The deadline for submitting signatures is Wednesday.

In an interview last month, Ose said voters are clamoring for new leadership after Newsoms wobbly COVID-19 vaccine rollout and long-running coronavirus rules that have shuttered businesses and public schools.

Ose, a businessman from the Sacramento region, said he will run in the recall if it qualifies or, if it doesnt, challenge Newsom when he is expected to seek a second term in 2022.

He faces the challenge of quickly becoming better known across California, home to 40 million. Ose, a political moderate, briefly ran for governor in 2018 before dropping out of the race, citing a lack of funding.

In interviews Tuesday, the governor kept up his criticism of leaders of the recall drive, telling CNN we are taking it very seriously. Newsom also defended his leadership during the pandemic, saying his decision to issue the nations first statewide stay-at-home order saved thousands and thousands of lives.

Hes also been forced to defend his decision to attend a birthday party with friends and lobbyists at an opulent restaurant while telling residents to stay home.

In a Tuesday appearance on The View he said attending the dinner was a one-time mistake.

Of course it was a mistake, and I didnt shy away from that and never made one prior in that respect and since, Newsom said.

The Sacramento Bee reported that a new policy will ban Jason Kinney, a lobbyist whose birthday was being celebrated at the restaurant, from lobbying the governor or his administration. Technically, the policy expanded a ban on political consultants lobbying Newsom to include unpaid consultants. The policy change followed criticism Newsom faced for attending the party.

Newsom also has lined up support from national Democrats to defeat the campaign against him, including Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren.

Its probably too early to say how a widening Republican field will affect the likely election.

The recall is divided into two parts: First, voters are asked if Newsom should be removed, yes or no. The second question is a list of replacement candidates, should the governor be ousted.

So far, no prominent Democrat has entered the recall election.

Claremont McKenna College political scientist Jack Pitney said the emergence of several candidates running on pro-Trump agendas would be an advantage for the incumbent in a state where Democratic voters outnumber Republicans by nearly 2-to-1 and Republicans havent won a statewide race since 2006.

Trump lost California in November by over 5 million votes.

If its Newsom versus Trump, then Newsom wins, Pitney said.

MICHAEL R. BLOOD

AP Political Writer
HONG KONG, March 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Global Shipping Business Network (GSBN) has incorporated in Hong Kong after securing the requisite regulatory approvals across multiple jurisdictions, and has officially started its operations to help accelerate the Digital Transformation of the Shipping industry. GSBN has been established on a not-for-profit basis to enable stakeholders involved in global trade to increase delivery reliability, streamline operations, and embrace digital transformation. Its shareholders are comprised of major global Carriers and Terminal Operators: COSCO SHIPPING LINES, COSCO SHIPPING PORTS, Hapag-Lloyd, Hutchison Ports, OOCL, SPG Qingdao Port, PSA International and Shanghai International Port Group.

COVID-19 and Digital Transformation of the Shipping Industry

Over the last year, the pandemic has demonstrated the world's interdependence and the importance of global trade. Widespread production shutdowns in various countries had unpredictable effects on major businesses' supply chains across all sectors. Lockdowns and the following explosive growth in e-commerce business have pushed the industry as a whole to its limits.

GSBN's vision is to enable and accelerate the digital transformation of the shipping industry, through the setup of a secure Data Exchange Platform, which will enable the shipping industry to improve its resilience by:

Facilitating better digital connection and collaboration between stakeholders

Improving the visibility to enhance sustainability and reliability of operations

Creating a data utility platform to unlock the value of digital transformation for all

Martin Gnass, Managing Director IT of Hapag-Lloyd, said, "The foundation of GSBN symbolizes an important milestone towards establishing an industry-wide, secure, digital collaboration platform that aims to benefit all parties in the global supply chain. GSBN will accelerate the sharing of verified logistics and cargo data, streamline business operations across the whole supply chain, and create value to each stakeholder."

A Data Exchange Platform built with ease of use, access control, and a sustainable economic model in mind.

Leveraging Blockchain technology, GSBN will provide a platform, which enables its users to exchange first party, real-time, and trusted logistics data. The platform will provide a better user experience, enabling industry players to interact with data and redefine legacy processes. For example, many industry stakeholders still rely on manual processes or traditional EDIs instead of APIs for some of their most critical tasks.

Additionally, the platform has strong data governance, to ensure that only authorised parties are granted access rights to view and use the data. Data submitted to GSBN's platform are fully encrypted with private keys, and the data access rights are managed at the data field level. Enhanced data security measures will also ensure commercially sensitive information is protected against unauthorised or inappropriate disclosure or use.

GSBN has also been set up on a not-for-profit basis so that it can economically motivate each member to participate and contribute high quality data. In the future, GSBN will establish a framework with all stakeholders to share the benefit derived from data products built on top of the platform using their data.

Ho Ghim Siew, Head of Group Commercial, Strategy and Cargo Solutions, PSA International, said, "The ability to collaborate in a trusted and secure manner is key for us to fully realise the opportunities from our increasingly digital and interdependent world. The GSBN platform will allow stakeholders and industry players to share timely information to facilitate downstream transactions and activities, with the assurance that their data is protected by strong data governance structures. PSA International is excited to be part of GSBN's incorporation milestone. We look forward to co-creating innovative solutions with industry players through the GSBN platform, and generating new value for cargo owners and supply chain stakeholders."

Product Roadmap and Network to Network connection

During the preparatory phase of GSBN, the founding members have conducted various proofs of concept in China and Southeast Asia to demonstrate the value of products built on top of the platform. As a result, GSBN intends to pursue the deployment of "Cargo Release" as its first product. During an initial pilot this product was very well received by a wide range of customers, within the context of the pandemic, as it allowed a "no touch" process for a traditionally very manual and time consuming cargo release process.

Another successful proof of concept relates to using shipping data to empower trade finance. As global trade does not rely only on logistics but also on trade financing, GSBN intends to establish network to network connection with trade finance (banks and other fintechs), to provide a better user experience for the ultimate customer.

Only by collaborating with a broad spectrum of stakeholders in global trade, can the value of digitalisation be truly unlocked. GSBN invites interested parties to partner with it on creating new data products for the whole industry.

"We are excited to share with our partners our experience with innovative blockchain-based products. Such digital products have helped our customers cut down their costs as they incorporate them into their existing processes. As an example, the Cargo Release pilot has enabled hundreds of our customers to eliminate their current manual steps and remove the need for any physical exchanges of paper documents. This not only reduced the overall time from 2-3 days to 1-2 hours, but also provided health benefits with regard to COVID-19. With the establishment of GSBN, we are keen to work with all the stakeholders to further develop digital products, fully leverage the blockchain technology and offer more digital services to improve customer experience," Kenny Ye, Deputy Managing Director of COSCO SHIPPING Lines and COO of OOCL, said.

"Here to simplify trade for all" and Membership

Many industries have been disrupted by the emergence of new technologies, which enable the exploration of new business models, tapping into data and leveraging software to enhance the customer experience. The shipping industry has been looking at digital transformation for years, but there has been no reliable way to bring everyone together in a secure, neutral, trusted, and equitable way. Until now.

Bertrand Chen, Chief Executive Officer, Global Shipping Business Network, said: "I am grateful for the trust our Shareholders have put in me to head up this new and exciting business venture. We will build a diverse, multi-cultural, and innovative team to collaborate with stakeholders across regions and industries, from logistics service providers to financial institutions. We aim to increase the speed of logistics and the ease of conducting trade globally, ultimately benefitting all parties involved. We are here to simplify trade for all."

GSBN will open its membership in the coming months. There will be a multiple tier membership scheme linked to different data volume commitment, participation in early release of new products and other associated privileges. For more details, please visit www.gsbn.trade.

Technology Solution Partner  IQAX Limited

To support GSBN's vision, IQAX will be the technology provider, taking over from its business affiliate CargoSmart, to manage the GSBN platform from end to end.

SOURCE Global Shipping Business Network

Related Links

http://www.gsbn.trade


TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

The Bahrain Film Festival administration has announced the allocation of the Student Film Award in the name of the late Farid Ramadan.

The announcement of the festivals first session results was postponed last year due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Instead, the organisers will make the announcement next month.

The festival management confirmed the change of the name of the Student Film Award to Unique Ramadan Award for Student Films to bear the name of the writer, scriptwriter and late producer, with the allocation of a financial reward worth BD1,000 to the winner provided by Nuran Pictures.

The films participating in the festival competition include five categories, namely short fictional films, documentaries, animation, films of the Center for Excellence for Women, and the Farid Ramadan Award for Student Films.

The festival management named Farid Ramadan on the first session of the festival in honour and appreciation of his role in the field of cinematic production, as he provided many film scripts and supported throughout his career many promising Bahraini energies in the Kingdom of Bahrain
Jammu and Kashmir's former Deputy Chief Minister and BJP leader Dr Nirmal Singh on Wednesday hit out at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. Dr Nirmal Singh lashed out at Gandhi and condemned his 'Saddam, Gaddafi' remark. Launching an attack on the grand old party, Singh stated that the Congress party and Rahul Gandhi have decided to insult India in front of foreigners and on international platforms. In addition, he also suggested that Saddam Hussein and Muammar Gaddafi can instead be compared to former Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi.

"Rahul Gandhi should compare Saddam Hussein and Muammar Gaddafi with Indira Gandhi. His grandmother imposed the Emergency in 1975 and imprisoned leaders like Jayaprakash Narayan and other opposition leaders. She also curbed the freedom of expression and the press by jailing journalists. It also crippled the judiciary and the youth was forcefully sterlised. This is the Congress' history." said Dr Nirmal Singh.

In a statement directed towards Rahul Gandhi, Dr Singh spoke about the 'G-23' dissidents lack of 'internal democracy' within the grand old party. He criticised Rahul Gandhi for not listening to them. Moreover, he also highlighted India's position on a global level. Concluding his statement, Dr Singh said that Rahul Gandhi is 'jealous'

"These 23 leaders are saying that they don't want Rahul Gandhi as a leader and have opposed him. Today, India is known for its democractic values, whether it is our election commission, judiciary or the press freedom. Today, the world is appreciating and India is positioning itself in the world under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi. Looking at all this, you are jealous. I urge you to refrain from making such statements"

'Saddam Used To Win Polls Too': Rahul Gandhi

Meanwhile, during his interaction with Professor Ashutosh Varshney of Brown University, Rahul Gandhi launched an attack on the Centre. Gandhi stated that Iraq's dictator Saddam Hussein and Libya's Muammar Gaddafi used to win elections as well. In addition, he also claimed that his mic was switched off in the Parliament while he was speaking.

"Saddam Hussein and Gaddafi used to have elections. They used to win them. It wasn't like they weren't voting but there was no institutional framework to protect that vote," said Rahul Gandhi. "My mic was turned off in the Parliament in the middle of my speech. The essence of the Parliament is that I should be allowed to speak and when I am speaking it should be shown on TV to the country but the TV doesn't show what's going on in the Parliament," said Congress leader.
The Minister for Education Norma Foley TD has today welcomed the publication of an evaluation report on the implementation of the Gaeltacht e-Hub Pilot Project, which was recently completed by the Education and Training Inspectorate (ETI) Northern Ireland.

Minister Foley said: I am delighted that the independent ETI evaluation found the e-Hub Pilot Project to be highly effective.

The purpose of the three-year e-Hub Pilot Project, which commenced in schools in 2019, is to utilise online blended-learning delivery to extend the subject range available through the medium of Irish to students in Gaeltacht post-primary schools, starting with higher-level Leaving Certificate Physics.

I wish to commend the Gaeltacht e-Hub Pilot Project as an excellent example of innovation and congratulate all those involved in the provision of this excellent e-Hub Project. I pay special tribute to the students and their parents for their participation in the project, and commend the efforts of the e-Teachers and e-Mentors and the co-operation of principals and staff in the receiver schools.

I note the conclusions of the ETI Report that the success of the e-Hub Pilot Project demonstrates the potential for more extensive online collaboration across Irish-medium post-primary schools in Gaeltacht areas.

This excellent report reflects the commitment and dedication of all involved in the project. I wish all students studying higher-level Leaving Cert Physics in the project, the very best with their ongoing studies.

The evaluation found the project to be efficient in enabling students in Gaeltacht post-primary schools to study Leaving Certificate Physics through the medium of Irish using online learning. The ETI reported that it is a successful project, which is fit for purpose, well resourced, and managed effectively by the Department of Education and its agencies, H2 Learning, the e-Teachers in the two e-Hub provider schools, and the e-Mentors in the eight receiver schools.

The report found that e-Hub Pilot Project facilitated the creation of a safe digital learning environment for students which supports collaborative teaching and learning and has helped strengthen Irish-medium educational provision in post-primary schools in Gaeltacht areas.

Currently there are three e-Teachers based in two e-Hub schools - Colaiste na Coiribe in Galway and Pobalscoil Chorca Dhuibhne in Kerry  delivering the Leaving Certificate course to 22 students in eight Gaeltacht post-primary receiver schools (including three island schools) under the supervision of e-Mentors.

Two students from the first cohort of participating students completed the Leaving Certificate in 2020, while up to six students are expected to complete the Leaving Certificate in 2021 and up to 16 students are due to complete the Leaving Certificate in 2022.

The Independent Evaluation of the Gaeltacht e-Hub Pilot Project published report can be found here: https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/e1a72-independent-evaluation-of-the-gaeltacht-e-hub-pilot-project/

ENDS

Notes to Editors
NEW YORK, March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- While 61% of New York State residents support the legalization of adult-use recreational marijuana sales, more than half (52%) of those living in New York City would oppose its sale in their neighborhood. This disparity between general support and willingness to actually live near one is a significant problem when communities decide where, if anywhere, they want to allow marijuana retail sales.

With 61% of New York state residents believing a community should have the right to "opt-out" and ban marijuana sales in their community all together, the battle to site facilities is likely to require extensive community outreach and education efforts.

"Legalization is only the beginning of the battle," said Patrick Fox, CEO of Consensus Strategies, a research and strategy firm with extensive experience in the siting of cannabis facilities, "The fight to find viable sites will be intense. We often hear from cannabis entrepreneurs who think that the level of support for legalization will translate into support for siting a retail or cultivation facility. It often does not."

Local zoning and planning authorities will have the ability to decide where retail and cultivation facilities will be able to locate within their communities. They can choose to allow them in higher visibility general retail zones treating them like a liquor store. They can relegate them to more obscure, lower profile areas like an industrial park and restrict signage and visibility or they can ban the use in their community completely. The majority of New Yorkers (53%) believe that marijuana retail should keep a low profile and locate outside of high visibility retail areas.

Gaining support for cultivation facilities where marijuana is grown and processed will be even more challenging with 62% of those over 50 opposed to cultivation facilities in their neighborhood. 53% of Black/African-Americans and 61% of Hispanic/Latinos statewide oppose cultivation in their communities.

Other findings include:

New Yorkers are split on social equity and social justice. Support for license preferences for social equity applicants (51% support) and 50/50 on allowing those with former convictions for cannabis distribution to operate a legal cannabis shop.

More than a quarter (27%) of those supporting legalization say they are unlikely to ever shop there if they open.

More than 1 out of 10 (13%) of those opposed to legalization say they are likely to be a customer if they open.

53% support for home delivery.

Strong support (59%) for directing a portion of marijuana tax revenue to minority communities that were impacted by the war on drugs.

52% believe the law should allow people to legally grow a limited number of marijuana plants at home. 78% support from those 18-34.

The New York state survey was conducted by Consensus Strategies March 5-7, 2021. The sample consisted of 515 New York residents, with a Credibility Interval (CI)/margin of error (MOE) of +/- 4.3 percentage points. Data was collected using a mixed mode including mobile data collection via SMS-to-web, landlines using IVR, and an online panel.

About Consensus Strategies

Consensus Strategies is a research and strategy firm with extensive experience in the siting of cannabis facilities and other large-scale projects in virtually every industry. They have conducted survey research projects in over 22 countries and all 50 states working with leading universities, institutions, corporations, and others to turn accurate data into strategic plans and results.

Media Contact:

Courtney Graziano

720.308.6878

[email protected]

SOURCE Consensus Strategies
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Pharmacy Benefit Management Services Market Research Future Offerings A Detailed Analysis Of Which Researched Industry Situations, Pharmacy Benefit Management Services Market Size, Growth And Demands, Outlook, Business Strategies Utilized, Competitive Analysis By Market Players, Deployment Models, Opportunities, Future Roadmap, Value Chain, Major Player Profiles. A Comprehensive Description Of The Industry Value Chain, As Well As The Distributor Analysis, Has Been Provided By The Industry Experts.

According to a thorough report published by Market Research Future (MRFR), the Global Pharmacy Benefit Management Services Market Is Expected To Record A Substantial Market Valuation At A 5.8% CAGR Over The Forecast Period Of 2019 To 2024.

The noteworthy factors influencing the growth of the global pharmacy benefit management services market are the increasing healthcare expenditure globally, the efforts undertaken forth the expansion of the healthcare industry, the rising digitalization, and the increased demand for advanced healthcare management systems. These factors are expected to contribute significantly to the global market share of the pharmacy benefit management services during the review period.

However, the lack of awareness in the underdeveloped countries across the globe and the increasing issues arising concerning the security of patients medical data is likely to hinder the market growth of the global pharmacy benefit management services market over the forecast period.

Key Players

The Key Players In The Pharmacy Benefit Management Services Market Growth Are Abarca Health LLC., Mckesson Corporation, CVS Health, Express Scripts Magellan Rx Management, Medimpact Healthcare, Meridianrx, Vidalink, Optumrx, Humana Pharmacy Solutions, (Unitedhealth), Prime Therapeutics, Sea Rainbow, And Others.

Segmental Analysis

The global market for pharmacy benefit management services is segmented on the basis of service and end-user.

Based on service, the pharmacy benefit management services market has been segmented into benefit plan design and consultation, drug formulary management, retail pharmacy services, specialty pharmacy services, and others.

Based on end-user, the market for pharmacy benefit management services is segmented into drug manufacturers, employers, healthcare providers, and others.

Regional Analysis

Based on the region, the global pharmacy benefit management services market is segmented into the Asia Pacific, the Americas, Europe, and the middle east and Africa.

The Americas are assessed for the largest region in the global pharmacy benefit management services market and are probable to retain the leading market share over the forecast period. This is attributable to the early adoption of technological advancements, the higher number of hospitals and medical centers in the region. Additionally, the increased healthcare expenditure, especially in developed countries such as the US and Canada, along with the rising number of the insurance protected the population in the region are driving factors for the pharmacy benefit management services market over the review period.

Europe accounts for the second largest regional market in the global pharmacy benefit management services market and is expected to maintain the market standing over the review period. This is accredited to the increased prevalence of chronic diseases, adoption of advanced healthcare technology, higher healthcare expenditure sector by the government, and the favorable reimbursement policies. These factors are expected to fuel market growth over the estimated period.

The Asia Pacific (APAC) has been anticipated as the fastest growing region in the global pharmacy benefit management services market over the evaluation period, owing to the rising demand for advanced healthcare management systems, increased awareness of pharmacy benefit management services. Additionally, the growth in the geriatric population and the rise in government expenditure towards the improvement of the healthcare sector in emerging economies such as India and China are also significant driving factors over the review period.

The middle east and Africa region accounts for the smallest market share in the global pharmacy benefit management services market owing to the lack of technological advancements, weak economic development, and inadequate healthcare facilities in Africa. Additionally, the presence of political unrest in certain parts of the middle east and Africa is likely to contribute to the gradual growth of the market in the region. The government efforts towards the improvement of the healthcare sector, expansion of medical infrastructure to provide basic healthcare facilities is the primary driving actor in Africa. Additionally, the middle eastern developing countries are likely to contribute to the majority of the market share over the forecast period.

Potential of the Report

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Key parameters which are driving this market and restraining its growth

What all challenges manufacturers will face as well as new opportunities and threats faced by them.

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BROWSE COMPLETE 100 PAGES PREMIUM RESEARCH REPORT ENABLED WITH 40+ RESPECTIVE TABLES AND FIGURES @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/pharmacy-benefit-management-services-market-7845

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At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services. MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients
Tuesday, March 16, 2021

Bookpleasures.com welcomesas our guest Debora G. De Farias author of Standing Tall.Debora graduated in Dentistry from the University of Brasilia,followed by a Master's Degree in Health Sciences, she also obtainedher equivalent D.D.S degree from the University of Florida when shemoved to the United States in 2001.





Debora is passionate abouther health career, literature and arts. An avid reader since the ageof four, she grew up surrounded by books, fascinated especially bythe true stories of those unknown heroes and heroines that are partof our history.

She lives in Jacksonville,Florida, with her husband, Toan Nguyen, and their son, Andrew. Whennot writing, reading, or promoting beautiful smiles, Debora can befound painting. Her art reflects her interest in travel and culture,the realistic depictions of the transformative effects of light andcolor.

Good day Debora andthanks for taking part in our interview.



Norm: Pleasetell our readers a little bit about your personal and professionalbackground.





Debora: First, thank you for thisincredible opportunity! Thanks to the readers out there too. I am aBrazilian, a dentist, a wife, a mother, and more recently, an authorand a painter.

I grew up in Brasilia,Brazil, where my family still lives. I always wanted to be a dentistand that became a reality when I graduated from the University ofBrasilia in 1995.

By that time, I wasthinking about following an academic career, therefore I completed aMaster program in Health Sciences, after my residency. Nevertheless,Destiny had other plans. I met my husband before I finished myMaster, and we got married two years later. He is an American and anelectronic engineer in Florida, the reason why I moved to the USA.



Norm: I notice youspeak and write a few languages. How has this impacted your writing?

Debora: I think it forcesyou to go beyond your comfortable zone. It forces you to read andlearn more. Portuguese is my native language, but I was veryfortunate to learn English when I was a teenager.

I always loved Englishmore than Portuguese), so the process of learning English as asecond language, and now writing a novel in English was actually fun.

I did take some classes inSpanish after my first trip to Buenos Aires (that was when I realizedjust knowing English and Portuguese would not be enough in thatcountry), and although I cannot speak or write in Spanish as well asI would like, I can read it and I can communicate when needed.

People ask me if I wrotemy first book in Portuguese, and they get surprised when I say no.The book was written in English. I actually had a little hard time totranslate it to Portuguese. Portuguese is a beautiful language, butextremely complex, full of rules that I have forgotten!

Norm: Whatdid you find most useful in learning to write? What was least usefulor most destructive?



Debora: The most useful aspect in learning to write was having a clearoutline. Learning to create a road map was decisive. I would not havea great book if it were not for all that I learned in one singlebook: Save The Cat Writes a Novel, by Jessica Brody. I am abook obsessed.

I need a book withinstructions to fry an egg. Therefore, when I went to a FloridaWriters local meeting and they told me about this book, Iimmediately got it. It was a lifesaver. I am sure there are othergreat material out there, courses and so on. I had no experience inwriting. But I trusted that book and my instincts. It seemed itworked well, for me at least.

I am not sure if I trulyencountered anything destructive. The entire process was actually funand relaxing. I knew I had this story to tell, to write, andeverything literally felt into place.



Norm: Howdid you become involved with the subject or theme of Standing Tall?



Debora: I had part of this story in my head.The romantic side of the story. I only knew few things: theprotagonist would be a female with a strong personality; she would bea healthcare professional (as a dentist, it would be easier to writeabout someone in the health field); her name would be Ceciliamy great-grandmothers name); the story would be set in BuenosAires, Argentina (I love that city, its rich culture, music,architecture).

Thatwas it. I had no idea I was going to write a historical novel. Thatwas not in the plan at all. Until my local book club, a groupcomposed of several Brazilian women, suggested the novel, TheAir You Breathe, by Frances De PontesPeebles.

This book portraits a deepcomplicated friendship between two very different women who grew upon a sugar cane plantation in the Northern Brazil and their passionfor music, samba.

The story is inspired bythe lives of Carmen Miranda and the songwriter Chavela Vargas,tracing the story of Brazil from the 1930s to the 1950s, aswell as Hollywoods prevailing attitudes toward foreign and femaleartists.

The sensitive, poeticwriting evokes Brazils rough beauty and the sensual lure of themusic shapes the protagonists lives. The Air You Breathehas the power to leave an indelible mark on the readers soul.

It was only after readingDe Pontes Peebles book that intuition whispered into my earswhat about writing a historical novel, based on the life of afirst woman? A first woman who became a doctor, for example, inArgentina?

As I searched on Googlefirst woman physician in Argentina, I could barely believe whatappeared in front of my eyes  the name Cecilia Grierson.

An advocate for women andchildrens rights, Dr. Cecilia Grierson, the daughter ofimmigrants, was the first woman who became a doctor in her country.

She was a teacher and acommunity leader. She incredibly founded the first School of Nursesin Latin America, during a cholera epidemic, while still being theonly woman attending medical school. She was a freethinker, an artlover, a world traveler. She was the perfect inspiration for a greatnovel and yet, there was little information about her personal life,her struggles, her battles and victories. She was the typical unknownheroine, calling out to be discovered.

From that moment on,imagination took the lead. A creative outline was born and the storygrew, based on dedicated research and unexpected encounters.Characters and new chapter sets came to life as I was transported tothe turn of the twenty century.

A friend of mine inCalifornia once told me that sometimes, the story and charactersfind you when you least expect. I truly believe this was my case.

Norm: You are adentist. How did you balance your practising dentistry and writingthe book?

Debora: I laugh every timeI hear this questionI read and write at night, after dinner,shower, tucking my ten-year-old in his bed. My husband helps metremendously with house and my office chores. This way I can be adentist during the day and a writer at night.



Norm: What was the mostdifficult part of writing this book and what did you enjoy most aboutwriting this book?

Debora: The most difficultpart was to start a chapter. Every single one of them, except thefirst one (for some reason I had the beginning of the first chapterin my head, for years)

I remember staring at thecomputer and typing: Chapter 2. (Deep breath). Now what?Nevertheless, those moments were brief. I cannot remember whatexactly made me start the chaptersbut the words and ideas came.One thing led to another. I did all the research almost at same timeI was writing.

As I researched, severalcharacters were actually born, based on the history of real men andwomen that crossed my way. I remember walking to a library one day toget a book for my son. At the entrance, the book, The Dream Lover,by Elizabeth Berg was on display. Somehow, the title caught myattention and I borrowed the book. I loved it. That was when Ilearned about Lord Byron and George Sand. If you read my book, youwill find those names there too.

What I loved the most?Those unexpected encounters. The serendipity. The inspiration foundon little corners. The books I read, the unknown stories they shared.I also love the fact that there was no draft.

I wrote the manuscript,read it couple of times, send it to my editor and that was prettymuch it.

Norm: What wereyour goals and intentions in this book, and how well do you feel youachieved them?



Debora: My goal? To havethe entire world reading this book. It is an audacious goal, but Ihave an audacious book to share. Seriously! (LOL). I also want peopleto be inspired. Inspired by the story, by the character, and in away, by the author.

Although this is a bookset in the beginning of the twenty century, the parallels with thecurrent time always amaze me. The subjects involved, the writings andthe message are all very pertinent for this post pandemic era we livein.

Norm: Didyou write the book more by logic or intuition, or some combination ofthe two? Please summarize your writing process.



Debora: Great question. Ibelieve both. However, more intuitionperhaps.

Half of the book wasplanned. The other half was not. The last chapter took a verydifferent turn from what I originally planned and expected. So yes,there is structure, there is order, and there is law in writing.

However, for me, there wasa lot of unexpected great lines and messages that simply appeared inmy heart or in my mind or both. When I think about that, I cannothelp but being thankful for the Creator, the Greatest Artist andAuthor of allI believe all great things come from above;therefore, a great book would not be an exception. The words ofSalman Rushdie fits this perfectly: Books choose their authors;the act of creation is not entirely a rational and conscious one.

Norm: Is there anythingof you in Standing Tall? If so, please elaborate.

Debora: Oh Norm! You area killer! I cannot elaborate that! (LOL). One thing I learned withthe brilliant author Neil Gaiman is that an author always leave apiece of himself or herself in their pages, and vice-versa  thebook itself leaves something in the author. Even if the book is abouta mermaid being saved by a prince on a unicorn!

Norm: In fiction aswell as in non-fiction, writers very often take liberties with theirmaterial to tell a good story or make a point.

Buthow much is too much?





Debora: I took the libertyto make a historical book. It is a fictional book, so we must haveliberty with our material to tell and produce a good story. I do notthink there will be a black and white answer to this question.

We cannot measure libertyand there is no set of established rules regarding our freedom ofspeech. We must analyze the historical context (in the case ofhistorical novels), the author background and the target audience.

At the end, you must havenot only a good story, but also have characters that you would beproud of and vice versa. If your characters could come back in reallife and sit down in a cafe with you, would they be proud of you,what you have created, or would they not sit with you at all?

Norm: Did you learnanything from writing your book and what was it?

Debora: I learned so manythings. I learned women are more resilient than what I thought. Ilearned that, many times, we do not get the immediately recognitionfor our values, efforts, dedication, hard work. And that could stillbe okay. I learned there is so much history, love and great storiesout there that need to be told, must be told. I learned:Yes, we can. Yes, we can Stand Tall.

Norm: How has yourenvironment/upbringing colored your writing?



Debora: My passion forbooks, arts, traveling and international culture is spread all overthe book. The book would be utterly boring without my own experiencesin these areas.

Norm: What projects areyou working on at the present? We would love to hear about them.



Debora: I am stilloverwhelmed by the recently publication of Standing Tall, andthe warmth readers response. For this reason, I am enjoying thispart of the ride.

I am trying to promote thebook and have feed backs from authors and readers all over the world.I am also working on having the book translate into Spanish andPortuguese, so we can have it published in South America, Portugaland Spain.

In addition to that, I dohave an idea for a second book. It will follow the same theme/ genre.Another great woman. American one this time. 1870s to 1900salso. Little is known about her, so I have tons to read, learn andcreate. But that is another chapter down the road.

Norm: Where can ourreaders find out more about you and Standing Still?



Debora: Theycan follow me on INSTAGRAM

My bloginside Goodreads Debora De Farias (Author of StandingTall) | Goodreads

And my WEBSITE:



Norm: As this interviewcomes to an end, if you could invite three people, dead or alive, toyour dinner table, who would they be and why?

Debora: Love it.

1) J.JBenitez. I am an unconditional fan of this great Spanish author andinvestigator. His books changed my life.

2) Einstein.Not sure how we would care a conversation, as I hate mathbut Iwould love to just sit with him and admire he for who he is.

3) Michelangelo.I would probably make Leonardo da Vinci jealous for my choice). Heis simplyphenomenal.



Norm: Thanks onceagain and good luck with all of your future endeavors




(Natural News) Australian Minister of Health and Aged Care Greg Hunt was hospitalized after getting the Wuhan coronavirus vaccine made by AstraZeneca. The health ministers office said Hunt was admitted with a suspected infection, but was expected to make a full recovery. Hunt got the first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine on March 7, one of two approved vaccines in the country.

A spokesperson for Hunts office said March 9 that the minister was being kept for observation, receiving antibiotics and fluids while confined. They added that Hunts condition is not considered to be related to the vaccine. The spokesperson did not elaborate what symptoms Hunt experienced or when was he admitted to the hospital.

The day before, the health minister posted on Twitter that he got the first dose of the AstraZeneca Wuhan coronavirus vaccine. He added that former Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard, who accompanied him, also received the jab made by the British pharmaceutical firm.

The 55-year-old federal health minister spent a night in the hospital. He was subsequently discharged on March 13 and posted a statement on his Twitter. According to the statement, Hunt received treatment for cellulitis of [the] upper right leg and accompanying fever. He added that he will return to normal parliamentary duties on March 15 and will follow a course of antibiotics.

Hunt thanked the medical staff that attended to him during his short confinement, alongside those who sent messages of support.

Currently, the vaccine candidates from AstraZeneca and Pfizer/BioNTech are the approved jabs for COVID-19 in the Land Down Under. The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), which is in charge of regulating vaccines in the country, approved the Pfizer vaccine for emergency use in January 2021. Less than a month later, the TGA approved the AstraZeneca jab for emergency use.

European countries have suspended use of AstraZeneca vaccines

While the British drug manufacturers vaccine made in partnership with the University of Oxford received emergency approval in Australia, it encountered many roadblocks in its development stage. (Related: Expert points out shaky science behind AstraZenecas coronavirus vaccine trial results.)

Back in January 2021, the president of the Australian Medical Association in Western Australia (AMA-WA) cast doubt on the AstraZeneca jabs ability to generate herd immunity. AMA-WA President Dr. Andrew Miller said: Until we get more data [showing] that AstraZeneca is as good as the [other vaccines], the scientific and medical risk that you take is that you wont get herd immunity. He added: The political risk is that you will get a good vaccine for the rich and a not-so-good vaccine for the poor.

Miller suggested that Australia halt the planned rollout and source the best vaccines available to avoid these risks and build public confidence. However, Canberra has insisted on the efficacy of the AstraZeneca jab.

Australia Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly remarked: The AstraZeneca vaccine is effective, it is safe and its a high-quality vaccine. It will be available as soon as the TGA gives its tick. True enough, the Australian regulator green-lit the jab in February 2021.

Following the incident with Hunt, eight countries in Europe also suspended their use of the AstraZeneca vaccine against COVID-19. ZeroHedge reported that Norway, Denmark, Estonia, Iceland, Luxembourg, Italy, Latvia and Lithuania halted the use of the jab after some of their vaccinated citizens developed blood clots. Similar cases have been recorded in Austria, but the Austrian government permitted the vaccine for continued use. (Related: Oxford-AstraZenecas COVID-19 vaccine experiment is tied to eugenics-linked institution.)

Danish Minister of Health and Elderly Affairs Magnus Heunicke confirmed that the country suspended the use of AstraZenecas vaccine in a tweet. He said that the suspension was part of precautionary measures  following a signal of a possible serious side effect in the form of fatal blood clots. Heunicke added: It is currently not possible to conclude whether there is a connection.

Meanwhile, the British drug manufacturer claimed its vaccine is subject to strict and rigorous quality controls. It added that there have been no confirmed serious adverse events associated with the vaccine. Nevertheless, the firm remarked that it was in contact with authorities and would fully support the investigation on the matter.

Visit VaccineInjuryNews.com to read more reports about the AstraZeneca/Oxford jab against the Wuhan coronavirus.

Sources include:

GreatGameIndia.com

Twitter.com 1

Twitter.com 2

TGA.gov.au 1

TGA.gov.au 2

FT.com

ZeroHedge.com
Employers see a faster return to the office than their employees do.

It's a question occupying the minds of millions of employees who have worked from home the past year: Will they still be allowed to work remotelyat least some daysonce the pandemic has faded?

On Wednesday, one of America's corporate titans, Ford Motor Co., supplied its own answer: It told about 30,000 of its employees worldwide who have worked from home that they can continue to do so indefinitely, with flexible hours approved by their managers. Their schedules will become a work-office "hybrid": They'll commute to work mainly for group meetings and projects best-suited for face-to-face interaction.

Ford's announcement sent one of the clearest signals to date that the pandemic has hastened a cultural shift in Americans' work lives by erasing any stigma around remote work and encouraging the adoption of technology that enables it. Broader evidence about the post-pandemic workplace suggests that what was long called tele-commuting will remain far more common than it was a year ago.

A report this week from the employment website Indeed says postings for jobs that mention "remote work" have more than doubled since the pandemic began. Such job postings are still increasing even while vaccinations are accelerating and the pace of new confirmed COVID cases is declining.

"If job postings are a guide, employers are increasingly open to remote work, even as some employees return to the workplace," said Jed Kolko, chief economist at Indeed.

The share of Indeed's job postings that mention "remote work" or "work from home" reached 7% last month, up from just below 3% a year ago. But in some industries, the gains were far more dramatic, including those that haven't traditionally welcomed remote work.

In legal services, for example, remote-work postings for jobs including paralegals and legal assistants jumped from under 5% in the second half of 2019 to 16% in the second half of 2020, according to Indeed data. In banking and finance, for such jobs as actuaries and loan underwriters, remote-work postings surged from 4% to nearly 16%. For mental health therapists, they rose from 1% to nearly 7%.

Such shifts could, in turn, trigger changes in where people live and affect the varying economic health of metro areas. Some highly skilled workers could migrate from high-cost coastal cities, where they had clustered in the decade after the Great Recession, to more affordable cities or small towns. Downtown offices could shrink and exist mainly for collaborative work. The tax revenue of large cities could tumble as fewer workers patronize downtown bars, restaurants and coffee shops.

"The pandemic has broken the social and cultural norms for how we work," said Timothy Golden, a professor of management at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. "Remote work has become much more accepted."

Ford is just the latest company to allow more work from home after the pandemic. Salesforce, Facebook, Google and other tech firms have said they'll continue work-from-home policies indefinitely. Target Corp. will leave one of four downtown Minneapolis office locations because it's moving to a hybrid model for 3,500 workers. It will keep other downtown offices.

Flexible remote work is hardly an equal opportunity perk. It is disproportionately concentrated among more educated, well-paid workers. The jobs of lesser-paid employees generally require on-site work or face-to-face contact with the public.

More than one-third of Asian employees and a quarter of whites worked from home because of the pandemic in January, according to an analysis of government data by the Conference Board, a business research group. Just 19% of Black workers and 14% of Hispanics were able to do so.

Ford has found over the past year that employees and supervisors believe that more work can be done remotely, that they can still connect with each other and that they have the means to do their jobs, said Kiersten Robinson, chief people and employee experiences officer. So when its hybrid schedule begins in July or soon thereafter, Ford will give teams a choice of when to come to the office.

Robinson said a flexible schedule will also help Ford compete for talent.

This Feb. 15, 2018, file photo shows a Ford logo on the grill of a 2018 Ford Explorer on display at the Pittsburgh Auto Show. Edsel B. Ford II is retiring from the board of Ford Motor after serving as a board member for 33 years. The automaker also named some other members of the famous family as board nominees. Board nominees will be up for election at Ford's annual meeting on May 13, 2021. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File)

"I do think we're seeing a real shift in expectations among candidates," she said.

Among the employees pleased by the new policy is Kelly Keller, Ford's chemistry and material compliance manager. Keller, who has been working a hybrid schedule since the pandemic erupted a year ago, wouldn't want to go back to commuting to work each day. Now she generally works three days from home and then commutes for the next three workdays, an hour each way, to a lab in Dearborn, Michigan.

Sometimes when she's home, she gets to take her daughter to elementary school and start work a little late before finishing later in the day.

"I definitely enjoy the flexibility," Keller said. "I would be grateful for the opportunity to continue the hybrid arrangement, for sure."

Of the workers she supervises, seven commute to the lab every day; four work from home. The at-home workers, Keller said, have been more productive than they were before the coronavirus struck because they often work during the time they would have been commuting.

"For most," she said, "I think they put in longer days."

A study last month by Alexander Bick, an economist at Arizona State University, and two colleagues found that nearly 13% of workers they surveyed plan to work from home full time after the pandemicnearly double the 7.6% who did so in February 2020. An additional 25% expect to do so at least one day a week, up from 17% before the pandemic.

Company executives overwhelmingly report that remote work has succeeded during the pandemic, according to research by consulting firm PwC. About 55% said they envision allowing continued remote work, according to the survey of 133 executives of mostly large companies. Just 17% said they wanted employees back in the office as soon as possible. An additional 26% said they preferred only limited remote work but recognized that it's become popular with employees.

Ford and other companies have been redesigning their offices, or considering doing so, to reflect fewer cubicles and personal offices and more conference rooms and other spaces for workers, who may be on-site for just part of the week, to collaborate.

A more flexible attitude about workplaces could deal a blow to the largest U.S. cities. Many Americans are already capitalizing on remote work to leave New York, Los Angeles, Boston and the San Francisco Bay Area in favor of Phoenix; Tampa, Florida; Austin, Texas; Charlotte, North Carolina; and other less expensive areas, real estate data shows.

One telling detail: Even as the number of homes for sale has tumbled nationally in the past year, the supply of for-sale houses in New York, San Francisco and Los Angeles has actually increased, according to the real estate brokerage Redfin. And the drop in available homes has been much smaller than the national average in other large coastal cities, such as Seattle, Boston and Washington.

Many cities may also absorb a financial hit even if remote workers don't move. One academic study estimates that spending by workers at downtown businesses will shrink 5% to 10% after the pandemic.

Daryl Fairweather, chief economist at Redfin, said the pandemic has accelerated a trend that predated the virus: More Americans have sought cheaper homes in lesser-known cities and suburbs.

Fairweather herself left Seattle last summer after wildfires in Oregon turned the city's skies smoky and dark. Originally, she, her husband and two small children planned to stay for just a month in a small town in Wisconsin, near his family. Soon, though, they decided to make it permanent, and Fairweather has been able to work remotely.

"We liked the pace of lifewe liked being near family," she said. "It's so affordable here."

Explore further Amazon extends remote work option to mid-2021 for some employees

 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Srinagar, March 17 : Lt. General B.S. Raju has handed over the command of the strategic Kashmir-based 15 Corps to Lt. General D.P. Pandey, the army said in a statement on Wednesday.

Lt. Gen. Raju will be the new Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) of the Indian Army.

The General commanded the 15 Corps in tough phase in 2020 when the valley was confronted with the twin challenges of terrorism and Covid-19.

"Lt. Gen. Raju's tenure over the last one year is defined by an improved security environment prevailing both on the Line of Control and in Kashmir. With the civil administration and security forces synergising their efforts to bring normalcy back to Kashmir, terrorism is on decline with assessed residual terrorist numbers being the lowest in a decade," the army statement said.

The statement added that on the Line of Control, his approach combined a forward heavy deployment enabled by a dense electronic and surveillance grid. Pakistani ceasefire violations were dealt with punitive responses resulting in operational ascendancy by the Indian Army.

"To complement relentless and successful counter-terrorist operations, Lt. General Raju ensured an improved Soldier-Citizen connect. This effort included many successful events all over the Kashmir Valley, co-opting the 'Awaam' in various sports, culture, arts, education, skilling and health initiatives. The army effectively used its deployment grid, especially in far-flung areas to be the first respondent in case of need. Grassroots interactions such as intra-dialogue within the youth and 'Day with Company Commander' received overwhelming response," the statement said.

"Gen. Raju strongly propagated for a second chance to the misguided youth, as he believes this to be critical to achieving lasting peace in J&K. The Army has taken proactive steps to connect with the youth including those who have picked up the weapons against the state. There has been a collaborative effort along with society members, families and other stake holders to encourage and facilitate return of the misguided youth from the path of terrorism. The effort has got an encouraging response, success in terms of surrenders and support from all the sections of the society, and will get additional impetus in the coming months." Having served as Uri Brigade Commander, GOC of Victor Force and now as GOC Chinar Corps, Gen. Raju reinforced and institutionalised high professional standards and ethical conduct in combat operations. He now moves to assume higher responsibilities as Director General of Military Operations of the Indian Army.

On the occasion of Republic Day, Lieutenant General B.S. Raju was awarded the prestigious Uttam Yudh Seva Medal (UYSM), in recognition of his contribution in taking Kashmir on a positive trajectory on the path of lasting peace.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Fairbanks, AK (99707)

Today

A mix of clouds and sun. High around 65F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Some clouds. Low 47F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph.
European Unions drug regulator, on March 17, urged the government to continue the use of vaccines developed by AstraZeneca as more and more countries showed scepticisms towards the jabs. The European Medical Association (EMA), stressed that there was no indication the vaccine shots caused blood clots. In addendum, it stressed that the coronavirus infection was still on the rise, and any suspension in vaccine use could not only result in greater loss of lives but also fuel the already prevalent vaccine hesitancy.

We are still firmly convinced that the benefits of the AstraZeneca vaccine in preventing COVID-19 with its associated risk of hospitalization and death outweigh the risk of the side effects, said Emer Cooke, the head of the agency.

On March 17, Sweden and Latvia became the latest countries to join the overwhelming list of countries that have suspended the rollout. Other nations include Germany, Italy, France, Spain, Denmark, Norway, and The Netherlands, among others. All the countries have said that they would not restart the rollout before the EMA gives a revised review on Thursday, March 18. On the contrary, British PM Boris Johnson sided with the EMA and defended the safety of AstraZeneca/Oxford COVID-19 vaccines saying that the jabs were highly effective in bringing down both disease and deaths.

'could fuel vaccine scepticism'

The AstraZeneca shot has already struggled to gain public trust after troubles with reporting its data and concerns about its effectiveness in older people. More than half of the 15 million AstraZeneca doses delivered to the EUs 27 member states are still lying in storage, according to data compiled by the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control. Meanwhile, the EMA stressed that any suspension in the vaccine rollout could erode public confidence not only from AstraZeneca shots but also COVID-19 vaccines in general.

We are worried that there may be an effect on the trust of the vaccines. But our job is to make sure that the products that we authorize are safe, Cooke added.

(With inputs from AP)
The Daily Beast

REUTERSIt appears that Benjamin Netanyahu is finally on his way out as Israels prime minister. With just minutes to spare ahead of a midnight deadline on Wednesday, opposition leader Yair Lapid notified Israels president that he had formed a new government.But if Benjamin Netayahus 12-year run is indeed at an end, expect key segments of the GOP will treat Bibi as though he had not lost power, much as they continue to venerate Donald Trump and look at Joe Bidens victory as illegitimate.Israel
A year after "15 days to flatten the curve" began our lockdowns, we have enough data to answer the classic question about lockdowns (which still exist a year later in many places, including much of California): cui bono? (Who benefits?)



Twitter video screen grab (cropped).

The answer is, as an individual, Jeff Bezos. His stock in Amazon, the single biggest beneficiary of lockdowns, is worth billions of dollars more than before the lockdown. As a group: educated professionals, able to work from home via Zoom and other internet-based services and able to afford home delivery. The Ace of Spades pungently summarizes:

The general lockdowns weren't general lockdowns. As a friend said, we didn't have a lockdown, we had poor people delivering s--- to rich people.

Instead of protecting the people really at risk, the Ruling Class  the "Zoom class," the people who can work completely remotely  protected itself, and killed half a million people.

Small businesses, the bedrock base of the GOP, have been severely damaged and even bankrupted in mass numbers. Government workers, the base of the Democrats, have not missed any paychecks for the most part.

Unionized teachers in public schools, members of the lower-income tier of educated professionals, still have not gone to work in schools in many places, as their unions scheme to use taxpayer relief dollars to pay them bonuses for trips to Hawaii and other goodies, while supermarket and other retail clerks have labored unceasingly, interacting with adult members of the public who are a far greater health risk than children.

Oxfam, nobody's idea of a right-wing outfit, reports on its own study of the economic impact of COVID, "The Inequality Virus":

The report shows that COVID-19 has the potential to increase economic inequality in almost every country at once, the first time this has happened since records began over a century ago. Rising inequality means it could take at least 14 times longer for the number of people living in poverty to return to pre-pandemic levels than it took for the fortunes of the top 1,000, mostly White male, billionaires to bounce back. (snip) The world's ten richest men have seen their combined wealth increase by half a trillion dollars since the pandemic began  more than enough to pay for a COVID-19 vaccine for everyone and to ensure no one is pushed into poverty by the pandemic. At the same time, the pandemic has ushered in the worst job crisis in over 90 years with hundreds of millions of people now underemployed or out of work.

Martin Kulldorff, an epidemiologist at Harvard Medical School and co-author of the Great Barrington Declaration, has a Twitter account full of stunning statistics. Way back in April last year, he advised that locking down the entire society made no sense, because most age groups are at little risk of mortality from COVID:

"Since COVID-19 operates in a highly age specific manner, mandated counter measures must also be age specific. If not, lives will be unnecessarily lost." https://t.co/M0FQOVgQZy pic.twitter.com/8XR9869fHe  Martin Kulldorff (@MartinKulldorff) April 10, 2020

He reiterated that point the day before yesterday:

No. Thinking that everyone must be vaccinated is as scientifically flawed as thinking that nobody should. COVID vaccines are important for older high-risk people, and their care-takers. Those with prior natural infection do not need it. Nor children. https://t.co/qXtpM3QRY3  Martin Kulldorff (@MartinKulldorff) March 16, 2021

One person who listened to Dr. Kulldorff was Florida's Governor Ron DeSantis:

After @GovRonDeSantis had talked to @MartinKulldorff & @MLevitt_NP2013 at the end of September 2020  Florida decided against further lockdowns.



California went the "John Snow" way with further lockdowns.

Which way was better? Draw your own conclusion.https://t.co/41Jo4uGAil pic.twitter.com/ZUqA2aZ6Xn  SecondOpinion  (@DaFeid) March 8, 2021

Florida has avoided the huge costs imposed on Californians, New Yorkers, and others economically crippled by lockdowns, and done at least as well as they did when it comes to mortality.

Forcing lower-income people to work as clerks, delivery people, and other service occupations exposes them to more risk than the Zoom Class endures. A study from Toronto, where a general lockdown was enforced, is revealing:

Of Torontos 140 neighbourhoods, in the 2nd wave



The 35 lowest income neighbourhoods vs. the 35 highest income neighbourhoods had*:



2.9x more cases

2.7x more hospitalizations

2.2x more deaths



*all figures are per 100,000 pic.twitter.com/Ms6WCQ0yBE  Kelly Brown (@rubiconcapital_) March 15, 2021

America's progressives, when forced to choose between strengthening arbitrary state power and protecting the lower-income working classes, seems to choose government power. Why is it that Republican governors like DeSantis do a better job of protecting the welfare the working class than Democrats like Andrew Cuomo? Maybe because Progressives are elitists who believe they are better, smarter, and more virtuous and should tell everyone else how to live.
Dust storm affecting the Canary Islands and heading toward continental Europe on 18 February 2021, with a dust plume stretching from the Canary Islands to the Iberian Peninsula. Black marks are areas with no satellite information. NASA Worldview

Over the last month, parts of Europe were hit by intense dust storms. First, a massive dust plume that originated in northeast Algeria caused reddish skies in large parts of Europe. Then, dust deposits tinted the snow-covered Pyrenees and the Alps brown. In late February, a Saharan dust outbreak severely affected the Canary Islands before heading toward continental Europe, reaching as far north as Scandinavia.

While such intense and persistent dust activity is unusual, it's not uncommon for Europe to experience a few large dust outbreaks every year.

Why is dust a problem?

Desert dust is produced by wind erosion of arid and semi-arid surfaces. It affects weather, climate and atmospheric chemistry, delivers iron and phosphorus to land and ocean ecosystems, and increases photosynthesis and biological productivity.

While there are some positive effects, overall dust storms have severe negative impacts, particularly in countries downwind of major sources in Northern Africa, Middle East, and Central and East Asia. In such regions, the unusually high dust levels that were reached in Europe this February are common.

Dust storms increase eye infections and the incidence of respiratory and cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, and are associated to meningitis incidence rates in the African Sahel. Intense outbreaks can disrupt communications, force closing of roads and airports due to poor visibility, and can damage croplands and livestock.

Dust affects solar-energy production by reducing surface solar radiation and by accumulating on the surface of solar panels. Dust deposited on snow drastically reduces its reflectivity and increases absorption of solar radiation, leading to a faster melting of the snowpack.

Forecast of the dust content in the atmosphere for February 18 by the MONARCH model developed at the Barcelona Supercomputing Center. The comparison with observations showed that models forecasted well the timing and geographic extension of the dust plume reaching Europe. Credit: . CC BY

Mitigate sources or mitigate impacts?

Source mitigation is possible in regions where wind erosion is exacerbated by human activities that disturb the soil, including cropping, livestock grazing, recreation and suburbanization, and water diversion for irrigation. A classic example is the 1930s "Dust Bowl" in the High Plains of the United States, where poor land-management practices along with the duration of the drought led to strong wind erosion and dust storms on an unprecedented scale.

When the dust sources are of a natural origin (e.g., a desert area), source mitigation is possible by stabilizing the surface and deploying fences when blowing sand and dust challenge human activities. However, neither are feasible nor desirable at large scale. Globally, the potential for source mitigation is rather limited, which makes impact mitigation even more crucial.

Mitigating the negative impacts of dust storms, rather than their sources, requires monitoring, modeling, forecasting and early warning systems. The tactical mitigation applications focus on actions that can be taken in the short term, whenever forecasts predict a dust storm at a certain location and time. For example, dust forecasts can help hospitals anticipate peaks in respiratory-related emergency room visits, optimize the time of planting and harvesting crops, shelter livestock, manage solar-power generation schedules and cleaning of solar panels, and minimize the time when low-visibility procedures in airports are in place.

Strategic mitigation applications are those related to long-term planning and investments, such as the decision of where to place a solar power plant. Another application is to assist with post-dust-storm assessments, as governments and international institutions need to know the precise causes for air quality degradation, epidemic outbreaks or crop damages. Finally, scientific communities, such as the public health community, need spatially and temporally resolved dust data to assess the effects of dust particles upon a range of ailments.

Modeling and forecasting capabilities

There is a tremendous effort toward developing reliable global and regional dust models and forecasts for impact mitigation, for example at the World Meteorological Organization's Sand and Dust Storm Warning Advisory and Assessment System Regional Center for Northern Africa, Middle East and Europe.

An official of the US National Weather Service explains the use of radar to track and forecast dust storms.

Dust models use mathematical and numerical techniques to simulate the atmospheric dust cycleincluding how dust is emitted, transported and deposited, and also how it interacts with solar radiation and clouds.

To calculate dust emissions, we use input parameterssurface, soil and meteorological features. However, the success of emission schemes is limited by parameter uncertainties, including those related to spatial and temporal heterogeneities. Indeed, due to the nonlinear relation between wind and dust mobilization, small errors on the surface wind speed in models can lead to large errors in predicted dust emissions. The processes controlling the deposition of dust particles, particularly those that are coarse, are also subject to substantial uncertainty.

All in all, dust models show relatively good behavior when dust outbreaks are caused by synoptic-scale systems  that is, with features around 1,000 kilometers across or more. A good example is the successful prediction of the February events in Europe in terms of timing and geographical extension.

Challenges ahead

In contrast, the representation of haboobs  immense walls of blowing sand and dust produced by strong downdrafts that regularly occur in arid and semi-arid regionsrequires resolving convection explicitly, which represents a formidable challenge.

Dust forecasts that use actual satellite aerosol data perform better than forecasts that depend only on modeling to define initial conditions. Further improvements of global observation systems and assimilation techniques show further exciting perspectives.

In addition to model and forecast improvements, effectively mitigating the negative effects of dust storms requires more work. The limited integration of quantitative dust information and forecasts into practice and policy is often due to a lack of understanding of the precise impact of storms on certain sectors. Other factors include the need for products tailored to specific applications; the lack of awareness, understanding, capacity or structures in place to use the information; and the overall challenge of incorporating uncertain information or forecasts into management practices.

Explore further Saharan dust expected to hit Europe again this weekend

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
The Assemblys impeachment investigation into Gov. Andrew Cuomo took a small step forward Wednesday, as Speaker Carl Heastie and Judiciary Committee Chair Charles Lavine announced theyve hired a law firm to assist with the probe. But the announcement was met with almost immediate backlash because the firm, Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, has ties to Cuomo allies. The announcement also comes as Heastie reels from a leaked conference meeting in which some Assembly members suggested that hes using the impeachment investigation to stall for time and potentially to protect Cuomo.

Three lawyers from Davis Polk will take charge with the Judiciary Committee to investigate allegations of sexual misconduct, Cuomos handling of nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic and an alleged coverup of structural problems with the Gov. Mario M. Cuomo Bridge. Greg Andres was notably part of then-special counsel Robert Muellers team investigating Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election and potential collusion with the Trump campaign. He prosecuted ex-Donald Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort as part of that probe. Martine Beamon is a former federal prosecutor in New York and Angela Burgess leads the law firms White Collar Defense and Investigation Group. Hiring Davis Polk will give the Committee the experience, independence and resources needed to handle this important investigation in a thorough and expeditious manner, Heastie said in a statement, adding that he has the utmost faith that Lavine and the Judiciary Committee will conduct a full and fair investigation.

But already, questions have arisen about the Assemblys choice of law firms. Observers on Twitter pointed out that Davis Polk has ties to Chief Judge Janet DiFiore, a Cuomo ally and appointee. Last month, after two former aides had come forward with accusations of sexual harassment, the governor tapped DiFiore to jointly appoint an independent investigator with Attorney General Letitia James after receiving backlash for attempting to appoint an investigator himself. Cuomo soon caved to continued public outcry and referred the investigation to James alone (James investigation of sexual misconduct allegations is independent of the Assemblys.). DiFiores husband Dennis Glazer, now chair of the SUNY Purchase College Council, spent over 30 years at Davis Polk, where he led its litigation practice. Cuomo appointed Glazer to his SUNY Purchase position in 2019, and since 2014 has been a member of the state Gaming Commission.

The decision drew the ire of Debra Katz, the attorney for Charlotte Bennett, one of Cuomos accusers. We were alarmed to learn that Speaker Heastie has hired Davis Polk to assist with the investigation, given the connection between Dennis Glazer, who spent over 30 years as a partner at Davis Polk, and the Governor, Katz said in a statement. This is an unacceptable conflict of interest.

Republican Assembly Member Michael Montesano, the ranking member of the Judiciary Committee, expressed confidence in both the investigation and choice of law firm his Democratic counterpart decided to hire. I think it's going to be fair, I think it's going to be equitable, Montesano told City & State after the hiring was announced. I have confidence in what we do. Like I say, a lot of us argue about a lot of things, but when certain things have to get done, they get that. He said that looking at Davis Polk, the law firm seems to have the background and experience not just to help conduct a thorough and fair investigation, but to do so expeditiously.

The hiring announcement came the morning after a leaked conference meeting laid bare divisions within the Democratic conference about the investigation. At the leaked March 11 meeting, in which he futilely criticized such leaks, Heastie emphasized the importance of due process as he defended his decision to move forward with a preliminary investigation rather than formally beginning impeachment proceedings. We need to get witness testimony, Heastie said, according to Yahoo News. We need to hear from people who have this information. You put them under oath.

Some progressive members of the conference, including Assembly Members Ron Kim and Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas, criticized the move in the closed-door meeting as an attempt to buy time for Cuomo. And Heastie admitted he has no idea how long the investigation may take.

The leaked conference led Heastie to abruptly pause session on Tuesday in the middle of voting on high-profile legislation to end solitary confinement in prison to conference with his members. According to reports, he said he would no longer hold virtual meetings with the full conference, instead meeting with members in smaller groups.

With reporting by Zach Williams
Queensland Government Backs Young Girls Push for More Public Female Statues

The Queensland government has thrown its backing behind a nine-year-old girls push to have more female public statues, pictures, and plaques across the state.

The young girl, Malia Knox, called on the Queensland government through her FemaleFaces4PublicFaces initiativecreated with the help of her mother, who is a member of the Queensland Teachers Union.

In a post on Facebook, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk called Malia a young woman making big changes.

Thanks to Malias advocacy, weve amended the framework for monuments to make sure diversity is considered when commissioning new statues, pictures, or plaques so more women are represented, Palaszczuk wrote.

Queensland Attorney-general Shannon Fentiman is also supportive of the changes. She said there are only three statues of women in Brisbane and applauded Knox for her efforts in raising the issue with the government and authorities.

Its fantastic to see young Queenslanders like Malia are passionate about gender equality, speaking out and calling for change, Fentiman said in a statement.

We know there is a huge disparity between male and female representation across our public monuments thanks to Malias work on her #femalefaces4publicplaces project, she said.

Queensland minister Shannon Fentiman and Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk in Brisbane, Australia, on March 15, 2021. (Jono Searle/Getty Images)

Malia and her mother created the movement to pass a law, similar to one in San Francisco, that mandates 50/50 gender representation on statues, pictures, and plaques in public.

In 2018, San Francisco acknowledged that the citys public statues were overwhelmingly male. As a result, the city government passed a new law requiring that at least 30 percent of artworks installed on city streets depict real-life women.

In a letter to the Queensland government, Knox wrote that she was horrified to find, when visiting a display of the 100 Queensland Greats Awards, that only a quarter of the plaques were dedicated to women.

I dont want young girls like me who are constantly seeing important men to start believing that only men are important, she wrote in the letter (pdf).When young girls cant see important, accomplished women in public life, it starts to feel like its impossible to become one, she said.

I always say you cant be what you cant see, Fentiman echoed the sentiment. And if we can honour womens achievements and have them on display for young girls everywhere, then we are helping to show young girls that they can do anything.

Malias campaign to the Queensland parliament has so far received nearly 800 signatures.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-17 04:35:14|Editor: huaxia

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CAIRO, March 16 (Xinhua) -- Iran on Tuesday began the clinical human trial of a new homegrown COVID-19 vaccine called Fakhra. Meanwhile, Iraq decided to ease some of the anti-coronavirus restrictions to offset the economic impacts.

The new vaccine's trial on animal types has been "extremely effective" and its testing on human being began on Tuesday, Iranian Minister of Health and Medical Education Saeed Namaki said in a ceremony for the inoculation of the vaccine on a volunteer.

On Monday, Iran kicked off the final stage of the clinical trial of its domestic COV-Iran Barekat vaccine.

Iran reported 8,380 new COVID-19 cases and 97 new deaths from the disease, raising Iran's total infections to 1,763,313 and its death toll to 61,427.

A total of 1,506,360 people in Iran have recovered from the disease and been discharged from hospitals, while 3,848 others remained in intensive care units.

In Iraq, the government on Tuesday decided to ease part of the restrictions imposed to contain the COVID-19 pandemic that have had huge economic impacts on the war-shattered country.

Hassan Nadhim, spokesman for Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi, announced that starting March 22, the full curfew will be imposed on Fridays and Saturdays every week, instead of Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, and the partial curfew will run between 9 p.m. (1800 GMT) and 5 a.m. (0200 GMT), instead of between 8 p.m and 5 a.m., for the rest of the week.

The government also decided to reopen the malls, shops, restaurants and cafes under strict health measures after March 22, Nadhim said at a press conference after the weekly cabinet meeting.

The Iraqi Ministry of Health reported 5,267 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, the new record daily spike since the outbreak of the pandemic, raising the total nationwide caseload to 768,352.

It confirmed 39 more fatalities and 4,564 new recoveries, pushing up its COVID-19 death toll to 1,3,827 and its total recoveries to 695,184.

Israel's Ministry of Health reported 1,718 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, raising the tally of confirmed cases in the country to 822,507.

The COVID-19 death toll in Israel reached 6,047 with the addition of 18 new fatalities, while the total recoveries rose to 790,136, with 2,160 newly recovered cases.

The number of people vaccinated against COVID-19 in Israel stands at about 5.13 million, or 55.1 percent of its total population, since the vaccination campaign began on Dec. 20, 2020.

Turkey on Tuesday confirmed 16,749 new COVID-19 infections and 71 more deaths, pushing up its tally of confirmed cases to 2,911,642 and its death toll to 29,623.

The tally of recoveries from the disease in Turkey surged by 17,893 to 2,734,862, according to the Turkish Health Ministry.

Lebanon registered 3,480 new COVID-19 cases, raising the tally of infections in the country to 423,433.

The Lebanese health ministry also reported 52 new coronavirus-related deaths, taking its death toll to 5,474, while the total recoveries in the country climbed by 2,142 to 333,648.

Morocco reported 526 new COVID-19 cases, taking the total tally in the North African country to 489,622, the Moroccan health ministry said in a statement.

The total number of recoveries from COVID-19 in Morocco increased to 476,727 after 601 new ones were added, while the death toll rose by four to 8,737, it added.

In Palestine, the health ministry reported 2,397 new COVID-19 cases and 27 more deaths, bringing the tally of infections in Palestinian territories to 241,286 and the death toll to 2,561.

The tally of recoveries in Palestine rose by 2,547 to 215,235, while there are 23,490 active COVID-19 cases.

The Kuwaiti Health Ministry confirmed 1,314 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total confirmed cases in the country to 212,169.

The ministry also announced seven more deaths, taking the death toll to 1,186, while the tally of recoveries rose by 1,314 to 196,821.

The Qatari health ministry announced 479 new COVID-19 infections, raising the total number of confirmed cases in the Gulf state to 171,212.

It also confirmed 345 more recoveries and one more death, bringing the overall recoveries to 158,853 and the death toll to 268.

The Omani health ministry reported 587 new COVID-19 infections, raising the total confirmed cases in the sultanate to 148,010.

It confirmed 258 new recoveries and five more deaths, raising the tally of recoveries to 137,028 and its death toll to 1,614. Enditem
They're known for their no-nonsense attitudes with guests.

And on Wednesday, Kyle Sandilands and Jackie 'O' Henderson gave up halfway through an interview with Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Lisa Vanderpump that was plagued by technical problems.

'I'm not going to put up with two seconds of delay so some slob can listen on the phone,' Kyle said, referring to how Lisa's publicist being on the line was causing a major delay with their chat.

Awkward! On Wednesday, radio hosts Kyle Sandilands and Jackie 'O' Henderson gave up halfway through an interview with Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Lisa Vanderpump (pictured) that was plagued by technical problems

Prior to hanging up, Kyle and Jackie had nothing but praise for the popular reality star as they rang her to discuss her latest project.

But after two seconds of silence while waiting for her response to a question, Kyle said: 'That's not workable. The publicist can listen on the radio - I'm not wasting my life re-routing it through New York, it's a joke!'

'What Kyle is saying is when there's a publicist on the phone, it holds up the delay even more,' Jackie explained.

Rage: After two seconds of silence while waiting for her response to a question, Kyle said: 'That's not workable. The publicist can listen on the radio - I'm not wasting my life re-routing it through New York, it's a joke!'

'The publicist is in New York, then we've got to ring through New York... it's just too much. It's a live radio show man,' he continued.

Kyle then asked his producer what the delay was for, to which she replied: 'It is because of the publicist connects.'

'I told you no publicist connects! This is a live radio show on the other side of the planet,' Kyle responded, before labelling the publicist a 'slob'.

No hard feelings: Kyle admitted he had nothing against Lisa, and had even invited the Vanderpump Rules star to his house previously

'We don't know what they're like, Kyle!' Jackie responded.

'If you want a good flowing interview, you do it the proper way. So dumb, all these publicists p**s me off,' Kyle concluded.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Lisa's representatives for further comment.

Kyle admitted he had nothing against Lisa, and had even invited the Vanderpump Rules star to his house previously.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has asked to focus on Bengaluru, Kalaburagi and Bidar in view of the rising cases in these regions, Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa said on Wednesday.

Addressing reporters after the Prime Minister's video conference with chief ministers on the COVID situation in the country following spurt in cases in a few states, Yediyurappa said people should follow the appropriate guidelines.

"As cases are going up in Bengaluru, Kalaburagi and Bidar which are located at the border of Maharashtra, Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked us to focus on these three districts," Yediyurappa told reporters.

He, however, said there was no need to panic as the cases were well under control. Quoting the Prime Minister, Yediyurappa said there was adequate vaccines. He added that can only be controlled but cannot be wiped out completely. " will take measures to tackle surge of cases, will increase testing to 1 Lakh/day, set up 3,500 vaccination centres to step up coverage to 3 lakh per day," CM said on Twitter after the meeting

Took part in the VC chaired by PM @narendramodi Ji with CMs to review Covid19 situation & progress of vaccination. Karnataka will take measures to tackle surge of cases, will increase testing to 1 Lakh/day, set up 3,500 vaccination centres to step up coverage to 3 lakh per day. pic.twitter.com/jHci3JfVHB  B.S. Yediyurappa (@BSYBJP) March 17, 2021

Ruling out any curfew or night ban, the Chief Minister appealed to the people observe the COVID guidelines and use masks and maintain social distancing.

He also asked people to be extremely careful during congregation within four walls.

However, there will not be any restrictions on public gathering during the bypolls to Belagavi Lok Sabha constituency and Maski and Basavakalyan assembly segments.

According to the Chief Minister, Union Home Minister Amit Shah appreciated for conducting over 93 per cent RT-PCR tests.

The Prime Minister insisted that vaccines should be utilised optimally with less wastage.

Yediyurappa apprised Modi of the state government target's of vaccinating three lakh people everyday and its plan to take up the drive at old age homes and mega residential complexes.

Out of 2,042 centres selected for carrying out the vaccination drive, 1,439 are yet to resume their task, the chief minister 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.)
Update from the Senior Executive Team - 17 March 2021

Update to staff and students.

We have entered into the second week of the academic programme, and we would like to thank you for your perseverance and commitment to the University under the current circumstances. We know that it is not easy and we appreciate your adaptability and resilience in the face of uncertainty.

Online logins

The latest learning management system reports reflect that the unique weekly logins from 8-14 March 2021 were 30 678, whilst the average unique daily logins were 22 148. Last week, about 89% of students logged in at least once. Faculty averages for students logging in at least once a week ranged between 81% and 97%.

Registration update

As at 12 March 2021, Wits had registered 97% of all full-time students (36 332), as reflected in the presentation made to the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Higher Education and Training. The target for 2021 is an average of around 37 500 full-time students. The closing date for undergraduate registrations is Friday, 19 March 2021. There are three more postgraduate intakes in April, July and September.

Financial Assistance

We remain committed to enabling as many students as possible to register, provided that these students have applied for the 2021 academic year, meet the academic requirements, and can be accommodated within the resources that we have available. To this end, Wits received 1 351 requests for financial assistance from the Wits Hardship Fund. To date, 834 students have been assisted and have been able to register for the academic year. We are working on a case by case basis through the remaining 517 applications and commit to processing them before this Friday.

Engagement with the SRC

Members of the Senior Executive Team (SET) met with a delegation from the Students Representative Council (SRC) again on Tuesday evening. At the meeting, the SET made the commitment to assist all qualifying students on the list of 300 put forward by the SRC. While they accepted the concession, the SRC still persisted with their demands and the meetings ended in deadlock.

Student demonstrations continued this week.

Parliamentary Portfolio Committee

Wits presented to the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Higher Education and Training today, in a session that included presentations by the Minister of Higher Education and Training, the Wits SRC, the South African Union of Students leadership and the CEO of Universities South Africa. The presentation made by the Chairperson of Council and the Vice-Chancellor and Principal is available here: Presentation to Portfolio Committee

In memory of Mthokozisi Ntumba

Today marks exactly one week since the passing of Mr Mthokozisi Ntumba, a husband, and father of four, who died on the streets of Braamfontein last week, after being shot in the chest with rubber bullets. Four police officers appeared in court today regarding the shooting. The Vice-Chancellor has engaged with Mr Ntumbas close family and has expressed condolences on behalf of the University.

We are also glad that the two students who were injured in the protests last week are recovering.

Conclusion

We know and understand the anxiety of members of the Wits community. We are grappling with multiple challenges  the coronavirus pandemic, student protests, new modes of learning and teaching and power outages. Please take care of yourself, your colleagues and friends, and loved ones.

If required, students can access the CCDUs Counselling Services or call the 24 hour Wits Student Crisis Line (0800 111 331). Staff can access Kaelos counselling services by calling 0861 635 766 OR dialling *134*928 OR Sending a Please call Me to 072 620 5699 OR email asknelson@kaelo.co.za.

Take care and keep safe

SENIOR EXECUTIVE TEAM

17 MARCH 2021
Most Republican senators signed onto a letter to the Government Accountability Office accusing Joe Biden of 'unlawful' acts in stopping construction of Donald Trump's southern border wall on Day One of his presidency.

'[I]n one of the first official acts of his presidency, Joseph Biden suspended border wall construction and ordered a freeze of funds provided by Congress for that purpose,' the 40 senators wrote. 'In the weeks that followed, operational control of our southern border was compromised and a humanitarian and national security crisis has ensued.'

The group, led by Ranking Member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia, claims the president can not provide a sweeping action to freeze funds that were already appropriated for construction of the wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.

In the letter, they also allege that Biden signing the executive order stopping construction on January 20 is to blame for recent massive influx in immigration at the southern border and the ensuing overcrowding crisis, which they claim was 'entirely avoidable.'

'The President's actions directly contributed to this unfortunate, yet entirely avoidable, scenario,' they wrote. 'They are also a blatant violation of federal law and infringe on Congress's constitutional power of the purse.'

Forty Republican senators sent a letter to the Government Accountability Office Wednesday claiming Joe Biden freezing border wall construction is 'unlawful' because funds were already appropriated for that project

The group's effort is being led by Ranking Member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security Shelley Moore Capito (left) and Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Richard Shelby (right)

Biden's administration is struggling to deal with the growing crisis as hundreds of thousands of undocumented immigrants are arriving at the southern border

Notably, the Republican lawmakers referenced in their letter a possible parallel with the GAO calling foul for Donald Trump, during his time as president, deciding to halt military aid to Ukraine without first getting consent from the Hill.

They claim that Biden is doing the same thing now by misdirecting funds away from the wall.

'We believe they violated the Impoundment Control Act (ICA), as interpreted by your office, and we request your legal opinion on the matter. Prompt action to end these violations is required to restore order at the border,' the senators wrote of the administration to the GAO.

Only 10 of the 50 sitting Republican U.S. senators did not sign the letter. Appropriations Ranking Member Richard Shelby of Alabama was one of those who signed on.

In a statement announcing the letter, Shelby said they aimed to bring attention to 'President Joe Biden's suspension of border wall funding and construction without lawful justification, as required by the Impoundment Control Act.'

During Biden's campaign, he made it clear that under his presidency he would accept all asylum seekers to the U.S.  a severe left turn from Trump's hard-line immigration policies.

Since taking office, Biden's administration has faced a growing crisis at the southern border where holding and detention facilities for illegal crossers has reached over 700 per cent capacity.

The White House, however, has continued to refuse to call the situation a 'crisis,' instead labeling it a 'big problem.'

During his second-ever interview as president with ABC News, which aired Wednesday morning, Biden finally told immigrants to stop migrating to the southern border.

'I can say quite clearly: Don't come over,' Biden said to ABC host George Stephanopoulos during a pre-recorded interview in Darby, Pennsylvania on Tuesday.

'Don't leave your town or city or community,' he pounded home the message.

During an interview that aired Wednesday morning, Biden told ABC News migrants shouldn't come to the U.S. 'I can say quite clearly: Don't come over. Don't leave your town or city or community'

Biden's Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said Tuesday that the U.S. is on track to see the highest number of arrivals across the southern border in 20 years.

'Currently, CBP is overwhelmed and overcapacity,' Shelby wrote in his letter on the immigration crisis.

'Reports indicate that nearly all border patrol sectors are above 100 percent capacity, with some sectors double, triple, or even at significantly higher levels of overcapacity,' he continued

'Since President Biden's election in November 2020, CBP [Customs and Border Protection] numbers have increased significantly,' Shelby penned in his statement Wednesday, detailing' 'In February 2021, CBP had 100,441 border encounters, amounting to a 39 percent increase from 71,946 encounters in October 2020 and a 173 percent increase from the 36,687 encounters in February 2020  just one year prior. Additionally, there have been 325,012 border encounters since November 2020, while there were only 220,563 in the four months prior  a 68 percent increase.'

Just days before ending his term, Trump visited his southern border wall to celebrate 400 miles of new construction under his administration  which was built with funds from Pentagon budget

He also praised Trump's work securing the southern border, including construction of his promised wall.

'Due to efforts by the Trump administration to secure the southern border with new infrastructure, illegal crossings in the Yuma Sector decreased by 87 percent from Fiscal Year 2019 (FY19) to FY20 in areas with new border wall system,' Shelby lauded.

He also listed improvements under Trump in the Rio Grande Valley and El Paso.

On one of his last days in office, Trump went to the border to tour part of the wall and celebrate more than 400 miles of new border constructed during his four years in office.

In an executive order on Day One of his presidency, Biden ordered a halted construction despite millions already appropriated from Department of Defense funds for the wall.
President of the Republic of Lithuania Gitanas Nauseda will be on an official visit to Ukraine on March 18-19, the press service of the head of the Ukrainian state reports.

"At the invitation of President Volodymyr Zelensky, President of Lithuania Gitanas Nauseda will pay an official visit to Ukraine on March 18-19, 2021," the report reads.

The heads of state will meet in vis-a-vis format and hold a regular meeting of the Council of Presidents of Ukraine and the Republic of Lithuania.

Following the Councils meeting, a number of bilateral documents are to be signed.

Volodymyr Zelensky and Gitanas Nauseda will take part in the All-Ukrainian Forum "Ukraine 30. Small and Medium-Sized Business and the State", and greet the participants of the Ukrainian-Lithuanian Economic Forum "Economy and Pandemic: Crisis and New Opportunities".

As reported, President Volodymyr Zelensky was on an official visit to Lithuania in November 2019.

ish
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After a tense two-year stalemate, Elsevier and the University of California this week announced they have struck a groundbreaking open access agreement.

The four-year deal is set take effect on April 1, and will enable UC researchers and faculty to access virtually all of Elseviers journal content while also giving UC authors the option to publish their research in Elsevier journals under an open access modelincluding in Elseviers prestigious Cell Press and Lancet titles, the first such open access agreements for those journals, according to the journal Science.

The agreement is a major milestone for the open access movement in the U.S., and comes after UC officials walked away from its subscription deal with Elsevier in February 2019, demanding that the publisher negotiate a fair transformative open access deal. No stranger to tough negotiations, Elsevier held its ground, cutting off UC's access in July 2019. And in turn, some UC researchers publicly announced their refusal to submit articles to Elsevier journals or serve on Elsevier editorial boards.

Meanwhile, over the last two years UC officials have negotiated transformational open access deals with eight other scholarly publishers, including a groundbreaking open access agreement with the world's second leading academic publisher, Springer Nature, in June, 2020. It announced three more deals just last week with The Royal Society, The Company of Biologists, and Canadian Science Publishing.

For its part, Elsevier also struck a handful of open access agreements in Europe including one with the Royal Danish Library.

In a statement announcing the deal, both Elsevier and UC officials acknowledged the groundbreaking nature of the agreement and sounded a conciliatory note after a bruising negotiation. Elsevier CEO Kumsal Bayazit said that "both sides showed flexibility to reach a truly tailored approach," while Jeffrey MacKie-Mason, university librarian and economics professor at UC Berkeley and co-chair of UCs publisher negotiation team, said the deal "would not have happened without Elsevier and UC having worked together to find common ground.

Meanwhile, MacKie-Mason elaborated on the Elsevier negotiation and UC's broader goals in a Q&A on the UC Berkeley website this week, noting that after more than a yearlong break, negotiations with Elsevier heated up last July.

"They came back to us in June with a new offer, responsive to our main goals. That was the real turning point. They came to us with an attitude of wanting to work with us to find common ground, so that they could reenter business with us, as were a major customer. It was a promising new offer, and one we thought we could start negotiating about," MacKie-Mason said, noting that UC represents some 10% of total U.S. research output.

As for what comes next, MacKie-Mason framed the Elsevier deal as a turning point for UC and for the future of scholarly publishing.

"Elsevier is our ninth open access publishing agreement, all in the past two years. We want to do this with every publisher, and there are dozens and dozens," MacKie-Mason said. "Ultimately, were trying to make this a standard way of doing business, so that all agreements are open access and all scholarly publishers will stop selling subscriptions."
Gurugram, March 17 : A 31-year-old woman was allegedly raped by a man on the pretext of marriage over a period of two years in Gurugram, the police said on Wednesday.

The victim is a native of Kanpur district in Uttar Pradesh and currently resides in DLF Phase-3 in Gurugram with her grandparents.

The woman in her police complaint said she came in contact with the accused Adnan Khan two years ago on an online dating app. Adnan is a Delhi resident.

The complainant said she used to work in the garments business. Later, the accused had also joined her business and frequently visited her house.

"Adnan told me that he was unmarried and later on the pretext of marriage developed a physical relationship against my wishes for two years. I was unaware about his marriage and two children. After I came to know the truth, I confronted him but he beat me up and threatened me with dire consequences if I revealed the matter to anyone," the woman told the police.

"A case has been registered in the matter at DLF Phase-3 police station," said Subhash Boken, Gurugram police Spokesperson, adding that the matter is being investigated.
Actor Johnny Depp has done plenty throughout his life; hes played guitar on stage with some of the biggest musicians, hes certainly acted in his share of successful movies  and apparently, hes even been intimate on a moving aircraft. The Pirates of the Caribbean star once admitted that, yes, hes an exclusive member of the mile high club.

Johnny Depp attends the premiere of Disneys Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales in 2017 | Rich Fury/Getty Images

Johnny Depp was brutally honest during his Ellen appearance in 2015

The actor has been on The Ellen DeGeneres Show a number of times over the years, but in 2015, he made an appearance alongside Gwyneth Paltrow and Paul Bettany, with whom he starred in the 2015 film Mortdecai.

The three co-stars spoke with Ellen about what it was like working together, and she asked them to play a game of Never Have I Ever. Ellen asked a series of questions, and the three guests responded with whether they had or had never done that particular activity.

When asked about any tattoos, all three of them responded that they didnt have any regrets about their body art. Depp and Bettany later admitted that theyve lied to get a job, while Paltrow claimed she never had.

Johnny Depp, Paul Bettany and Gwyneth Paltrow attend the premiere of Mortdecai in 2015 | Kevin Winter/Getty Images

RELATED: Inside Johnny Depps Complicated Relationship With Ex Winona Ryder

Johnny Depp admitted hes joined the mile high club

One of the statements that received the most reaction from the audience was when Ellen read a card with Never have I ever joined the mile high club on it. Everyone hesitated for a moment, but Depp ultimately flipped his card to read that he had joined. The audience laughed and yelled, but Paltrow quickly followed by noting that she had joined as well. Bettany followed after with a yes, too.

Depp didnt reveal when or with whom hed joined the exclusive fictional club. But perhaps the response that received the most reaction was Ellens admittance of having joined the club as well. Paltrow broke out in laughter, and the audience only grew louder.

None of the stars discussed anything about their in-flight experiences, but it certainly made the remainder of the questions less exciting  its hard to find something juicier than that. Depp said hes never lied on a talk show, nor has he ever forgotten the name of a date (while with that person, at least).

Johnny Depp says hes been to a nude beach  but it could be the one on his own island

One of Depps other interesting confessions is that hes spent some time on a nude beach. Bettany said the same, though Paltrow admitted shes never been to one.

Depp didnt provide any specifics for that question, either, though its known that he developed a love for the Caribbean back when he was filming the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise. Its possible that Depp explored those beaches while on location. But he also purchased his own private island in the Bahamas around that time, so whos to say he didnt turn that into his own private nude beach, right?
Stanton Healthcare will Conduct Live Ultrasounds in Front of the Idaho State Capitol Building as a Senate Committee Votes on 'Heartbeat Legislation'

NEWS PROVIDED BY

Stanton Healthcare

March 16, 2021



WASHINGTON, March 16, 2021 /Christian Newswire/ -- The vote will take place on Thursday, March 17, before the Senate State Affairs Committee. The bill is SB 1183, "The Fetal Heartbeat Preborn Child Protection Act."

SB 1183 prohibits abortions after a fetal heartbeat can be detected.



The ultrasounds will be performed by our Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer (RDMS) in Stanton's mobile medical unit on several pregnant women.



The Stanton Mobile Clinic will be parked at the steps of the Capitol, 700 W Jefferson St, from 7:30AM 12:00 PM. Ultrasounds will be performed between 10:30AM -12:00 PM.



State legislators and members of the press are invited to attend the ultrasounds and tour the Stanton Mobile clinic after the Senate Committee vote.



At the Mobile Clinic, the Stanton team will include: Physician Assistant, Samantha Doty, licensed Sonographer, McKinzy Troudt, lead Client Advocate, Angela Dwyer, Director of Operations, Nancy Ferris and Director of Community Outreach, Linda Thomas. They will also be testifying in support of the legislation.



Linda Thomas, Stanton's Director of Community Outreach, states;

"No one deserves to have a voice in the fight for life more than those whose lives are violently ended by abortion. That's why we're excited to bring preborn babies to the Capitol to testify. When the Senate Committee hearing concludes, our licensed Stanton sonographer and Physician Assistant will be available at the Stanton Mobile Clinic as we all celebrate the precious lives of preborn babies via ultrasound...and witness their beating hearts. What could be a more powerful testimony for life?"

Brandi Swindell, Founder and CEO of Stanton Healthcare, comments;

"We want to thank the members of the Senate State Affairs Committee for holding a vote on this powerful and life-saving piece of legislation. We also want to thank the Family Policy Alliance of Idaho for introducing the bill and Right to Life of Idaho along with the Roman Catholic Diocese of Boise, for supporting it.



"Stanton is honored to have legislators and the press see and hear what we do every day at our clinics. That is, the precious heartbeats of these beautiful children in their mothers womb. We believe this Heartbeat Bill will be a powerful step in bringing an end to abortion violence by giving women medically accurate information and ensuring every child in Idaho is protected and treated with equality."

Stanton Healthcare, based in Boise, has life-affirming clinics in Idaho and affiliates across America and internationally. We provide compassionate and professional women's health care along with holistic services to clients experiencing an unexpected pregnancy.



For more information please contact

Linda Thomas at: 208.803.1646



SOURCE Stanton Healthcare



CONTACT: Linda Thomas, 208-803-1646



Related Links



www.stantonhealthcare.org


Gasoline prices are considerably higher than they were in November, with the possibility of reaching $3 per gallon by summer. It sparked controversy over whether President Joe Biden, who has been president for fewer than two months, is to blame.

Biden likely to push gasoline price even higher

Since the inauguration, Republicans and right-wing analysts have taken every chance to link the price increases to Biden's policies and warn that the worst is yet to come. "Average gasoline prices have jumped more than 50 cents per gallon since President Biden took office," Florida Senator Rick Scott said in a written statement this week, opposing the $1.9 trillion COVID-19 stimulus bill enacted by Democrats in Congress.

Biden's Border Policies Cause Smuggling of People

"Gas prices have gone up since President Biden took office," Scott's press secretary, McKinley Lewis, replied via email when asked if Gov. Scott would clarify how Biden triggered the increase in gasoline prices. However, organizations such as the U.S. Energy Information Administration, which publishes weekly gas price forecasts and analysis, claim that price increases are due to increasing demand and stagnant supply.

Unleaded daily prices in the United States increased at $2.94 in June 2018, $2.88 in October 2018, and $2.89 in April 2019 under President Donald Trump. Most drivers recall the summer of 2008, when gas prices reached $4 per gallon, shortly before the Wall Street meltdown ushered in the Great Recession, SunSentinel via Yahoo reported.

McConnell Slams Biden's Adults COVID-19 Vaccination Target

Expert says Biden wants gasoline price even higher

According to AAA, the average price of a gallon of gasoline has risen 30 percent nationwide since November, from $2.20 to $2.85, and shows no signs of slowing down, as per an analyst. The Washington Times reported that petrol rates topped $3 in nine states over the weekend, and some experts say $4-per-gallon gas is on the way.

The biggest factor pushing up prices is supply and demand. The Association of Petroleum Exporting Countries announced it would prolong its oil production cuts for another month amid growing demand for gasoline as the global coronavirus pandemic eases. Though high gas prices are nothing new, there is fear that they could surge if President Joe Biden and Democrats in Congress implement policies that restrict the use of nonrenewable energy sources.

According to Myron Ebell of the Competitive Enterprise Institute's Center for Energy and Environment, liberal proposals to combat climate change will be a losing problem politically. Still, Democrats might be able to take the risk. The decision by OPEC to maintain the same amount of supply cuts, along with Biden's willingness for the U.S. to move to renewable oil, is a nightmare for American consumers, as per The Western Journal.

Democrats Pressure Biden on Taxes in Infrastructure Bill

@ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
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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AUSTIN, Texas, March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Financial Gravity Companies, Inc. (OTCQB: FGCO) will hold an Informational Meeting for Shareholders on March 25, 2021 beginning at 3:00p.m., central standard time. Due to the current public health crisis related to COVID-19, the meeting will be held virtually. This meeting is strictly informational.

Information will be presented by Scott Winters, CEO of Financial Gravity Companies; Paul Williams, CFO of Financial Gravity Companies; Ed Lyon, J.D., CEO of Tax Master Network; William R. Nelson, Ph.D, CEO of Sofos Investments; Dave O'Rourke, President of Sofos Investments; Mark Williams, EVP of Operations, Financial Gravity Companies; and John Pollock, CEO of MPath Advisor Resources.

Scott Winters, Chairman & CEO of Financial Gravity Companies explained, "Several executives from the parent company and officers of the different subsidiaries will report on accomplishments, trends and vision. We appreciate the continued interest in our company."

You may gain access to the meeting by going to financialgravity.com/shareholders and clicking on "Register Now".

About Financial Gravity Companies, Inc.

Financial Gravity Companies, Inc. is the parent company of the best of bread stock brokerage, investment advisory, asset management, tax planning for business and personal, and financial advisor services companies. Financial Gravity's mission is to provide truly comprehensive financial guidance through our unique combination of services that include tax planning and the ability to deliver in-depth advice on a comprehensive range of investment services and products. For investment advisors, tax advisors, and financial advisors we provide platforms to access proprietary and non-proprietary tools and services to deliver what is best for clients, all coupled with technology to deliver a state-of-the-art experience. www.financialgravity.com

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and involve inherent risks and uncertainties, including factors that could delay, divert or change any of them, and could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from the current expectations. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed. Forward-looking statements in this press release should be evaluated together with the many uncertainties that affect Financial Gravity's business, and Financial Gravity undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

SOURCE Financial Gravity Companies, Inc.

Related Links

http://financialgravity.com


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Atlanta: Shootings at three massage parlours in and near Atlanta, Georgia, have left eight people dead, some of them women of Asian descent, authorities said.

Atlanta police said they found four women  who all appeared to be Asian  dead inside two massage parlours across the street from each other in Atlanta.

Sheriffs officials in nearby Cherokee County said four people were killed and one more injured at an Asian massage parlour there, declining to provide the victims races and genders.

Law enforcement officials confer outside a massage parlour following a shooting in Atlanta. Credit:AP

The attacks began about 5pm on Tuesday (US time), when five people were shot at Youngs Asian Massage Parlour in a shopping strip near Acworth, 50 kilometres north of Atlanta, Cherokee County Sheriffs Office spokesman Captain Jay Baker said.
Rand Paul Suggests People Who Had COVID-19 Dont Need Vaccine

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) on Tuesday suggested people like himself who have had COVID-19 and recovered do not need to get a COVID-19 vaccine.

About 30 million people have gotten the infection naturally like myself. The interesting thing is that [there is] no more than a handful of reports of people getting it again, so theres every indication that having been infected with it provides strong, natural immunity, Paul told reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington.

The interesting thing is that of the 30 million people who have gotten it once, theres not even a report of someone getting it again or dying. So the statistics are overwhelming that acquiring the infection naturally provides immunity, he added.

Paul, 58, said he has not received a vaccine as of yet.

Im going with the science on this one. Yeah I have not chosen to be vaccinated because I got it naturally and the science of 30 million people and the statistical validity of a 30-million sample is pretty overwhelming that naturally immunity exist and works, he added.

Paul noted that he has spoken in support of getting vaccinated for those who have not been infected with COVID-19, the disease caused by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus.

Herd immunity is the concept of building enough protection among a population through vaccination or prior infection to diminish the circulation of a virus. Public health officials in the United States have largely focused on vaccination, rather than prior infection, in the bid to reach herd immunity.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), people who have gotten COVID-19 should still get a vaccine.

You should be vaccinated regardless of whether you already had COVID-19. Thats because experts do not yet know how long you are protected from getting sick again after recovering from COVID-19. Even if you have already recovered from COVID-19, it is possiblealthough rarethat you could be infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 again, the CDC says on its website.

People who received monoclonal antibodies or convalescent plasma should wait 90 days before getting a vaccine, the agency added.

A health care worker prepares the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine at Lestonnac Health Clinic in Orange, Calif., on March 9, 2021. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

On another webpage, the CDC says that getting COVID-19 may offer some natural protection or immunity.

Current evidence suggests that reinfection with the virus that causes COVID-19 is uncommon in the 90 days after initial infection. However, experts dont know for sure how long this protection lasts, and the risk of severe illness and death from COVID-19 far outweighs any benefits of natural immunity, it states. COVID-19 vaccination will help protect you by creating an antibody (immune system) response without having to experience sickness.

Paul is one of at least four U.S. senators who have declined to get vaccinated, for now at least.

Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) told reporters that hes been in discussion with his doctor as they test to see if he has antibodies against the virus. Some 71 members of Congress have tested positive for COVID-19, including Scott, according to a database. Rep. Ron Wright (R-Texas) died after testing positive for the disease, as did Rep.-elect Luke Letlow (R-La.).

Sen. Mike Braun (R-Ind.) said he was waiting for the Johnson & Johnson shot, which requires one injection versus two, but that he then learned that the company used aborted fetus cells in creating the vaccine. He now believes hell get either the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine.

Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) also said he hasnt been vaccinated, telling reporters, No, I had COVID.

Roughly a quarter of the members of the lower chamber have also not gotten a vaccine, or been partially vaccinated, House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) said in a letter last week.

McCarthy was writing to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) to inquire about when she will open the House of Representatives, arguing the rate of vaccination, coupled with the drop in COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths, should lead to House business returning to normal.

Theres a strong desire to get back to a regular floor schedule here on the floor where we are conducting our business, we have the ability to interact with each other as colleagues, it is a much different experience than when people have to trickle in, trickle out, House Republican Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) said on the House floor during a recent debate.
Mumbai: Maharashtra accounts for nearly 61 per cent of the daily new COVID-19 cases in India, the Union Health Ministry informed on Wednesday (March 17, 2021). Nearly 61% of infections and 46% of deaths were reported in the past 24 hours from Maharahstra making it the countrys worst affected state.

The Centre observed that Maharashtra is on the verge of a second wave with highest single day infections reported since September.

Maharashtra, Kerala and Punjab account for 76.4 per cent of Indias total active cases, with Maharashtra alone contributing nearly 60 per cent, the ministry said.

The Centre claimed the reason for the spike is a general reluctance to wear masks and it ruled out the mutated strains of the virus as a been a factor. Maharashtra, home to Indias commercial capital of Mumbai, is among the states that have already tightened rules to curb the spread of the virus.

Meanwhile, Indias total active caseload has reached 2,34,406 comprising 2.05 per cent of the total infections.

The spike is predominantly in Nagpur and Amravati divisions while Mumbai and Pune were witnessing a sudden rise in coronavirus cases every day, the daily number of cases in Nagpur have exceeded that in Mumbai and have made the district a hotspot.
King Nagarjuna received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. He got vaccinated at Star Hospitals in Banjara Hills in Hyderabad on Tuesday.

Sharing the pictures of getting vaccinated, he tweeted, Got my #covaxin jab yesterday .. absolutely no down time.

The 60-year-old handsome actor is currently shooting for director Praveen Sattarus action thriller. He is the first popular Telugu celebrity to have got a jab of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Amaravati, March 17 : Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy on Wednesday recommended retired high court judge M. Seetharama Murti as the chairperson of the state human rights commission (SHRC).

He chaired the SHRC meeting and recommended retired district judge Dande Subramanyam as judicial and advocate G. Srinivasa Rao as non-judicial members of the commission.

The meeting was held at the secretariat to finalise the names for chairperson and members of AP SHRC.

Home Minister Mekathoti Sucharita proposed the names and the selection committee approved them.

Legislative council chairman MA Sharif and Assembly Speaker Tammineni Sitaram, along with Sucharita were present in the meeting.
Vehicles to be Assembled in U.S.

Company's U.S. Market Growth Accelerating, Creating Jobs and Deeper Local Investment

WASHINGTON, DC / ACCESSWIRE / March 17, 2021 / Hitachi Rail Washington, LLC. ("Hitachi Rail") has been awarded a contract worth up to $2.2 billion with the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority ("Metro") to design and build 256 of the 8000-series railcar vehicle. The Contract includes options, if exercised, to build up to 800.

Among the nation's premier public transit providers, the heavy rail system covers a combined 118 miles, with six rail lines, 91 stations and some 1,292 railcars. More than half of the region's jobs are within a half-mile radius of all Metro stations.

"Investing in the 8000-series railcars, is an investment in safe, reliable transportation for Metro's customers and an investment in the region we serve by contributing to the local economy," said Metro General Manager/CEO Paul J. Wiedefeld. "This is a win-win that supports the future of Metro, the local economy, and job creation throughout the National Capital Region."

The new 8000-series railcars are designed to be lighter, safer and more energy-efficient with improved regenerative braking technology, ventilation system improvements, high-definition cameras and stringent cybersecurity requirements to enhance security. Metro and Hitachi Rail share a commitment to sustainability and this is applicable for the new model.

The new vehicles will further improve customers' on-board experience with more digital screens and real-time information, dynamic maps, electrical outlets for charging personal devices, and additional hand-holds throughout the interior.

"We are honored to help Metro meet their mobility needs, providing innovative solutions to customers and improving the passenger experience," said Andrew Barr, Chief Executive Officer, Hitachi Rail Group. "The rapid growth of our business translates into direct and indirect U.S. jobs, and further capital investments. The 8000-series award signals a major expansion of our U.S. business."

Hitachi Rail will manufacture the carbody structure, perform the equipment installation and will do the final assembly of the 8000-series cars in the Metro region, creating new skilled trades' jobs in the local region. The initial pilot vehicles are expected to be delivered in 2024.

Hitachi Rail's U.S. growth and emergence stems from a century of service to passenger and freight customers as a rail business originally established by famed U.S. inventor and rail pioneer George Westinghouse. Today, the company's U.S. operating footprint includes East and West Coast U.S. railcar assembly plants as well as a manufacturing plant dedicated to signalling solutions, with plans to add a new assembly plant for the 8000-series in the region. With many partnerships, Hitachi Rail's assembly plants are serving customers in Baltimore, Honolulu and Miami.

Visit www.hitachirail.com/careers to learn about Hitachi Rail's career opportunities.

About Hitachi, Ltd.

Hitachi, Ltd., headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is focused on its Social Innovation Business that combines information technology (IT), operational technology (OT) and products. The company's consolidated revenues for fiscal year 2019 (ended March 31, 2020) totaled 8,767.2 billion yen ($80.4 billion), and it employed approximately 301,000 people worldwide. Hitachi drives digital innovation across five sectors - Mobility, Smart Life, Industry, Energy and IT - through Lumada, Hitachi's advanced digital solutions, services, and technologies for turning data into insights to drive digital innovation. Its purpose is to deliver solutions that increase social, environmental and economic value for its customers. For more information on Hitachi, please visit the company's website at https://www.hitachi.com.

About Hitachi Rail

Hitachi Rail is a fully integrated, global provider of rail solutions across rolling stock, signalling, service & maintenance, digital technology and turnkey solutions. With a presence in 38 countries across six continents and over 12,000 employees, our mission is to contribute to society through the continuous development of superior rail transport solutions. We are proud of our global achievements, from our world famous 'bullet trains', to our signalling solutions and turnkey projects, state-of-the-art traffic management and digital solutions. Drawing on the wider Hitachi Group's market-leading technology and research-and-development capabilities, we strive for industry leading innovations and solutions that can deliver value for customers and sustainable railway systems that benefit wider society. For information about Hitachi Rail, visit www.hitachirail.com.

Contacts:

Lane Cigna

Corporate Media Relations - Americas

lane.cigna@hitachirail.com

Work: +1 (412) 688-2324

https://www.hitachirail.com/careers

https://www.hitachirail.com/

SOURCE: Hitachi Rail

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/635880/Hitachi-Rail-Awarded-up-to-22-Billion-8000-Series-Railcar-Contract-with-Washington-Metropolitan-Area-Transit-Authority
Ohio and Indiana are the latest states to announce significant expansions in Covid-19 vaccine eligibility for their residents, joining other states that have been broadening the criteria for who can get vaccinated weeks ahead of the May 1 deadline set by President Biden to open vaccine eligibility to all adults in the country.

In Ohio, eligibility will be extended to anyone 40 years and older as of Friday, as well as for residents with certain medical conditions. Indiana extended its group of eligible residents to people 45 and older, effective immediately. And Wisconsin on Tuesday said residents 16 years and older with certain medical conditions will be eligible for vaccinations a week earlier than initially planned.

Since vaccinations began in December, the federal government has delivered nearly 143 million vaccine doses to states and territories, of which more than 77 percent have been administered, according to data maintained by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And the White House on Tuesday said it was sending another 22 million doses this week in total to states and other jurisdictions as well as pharmacies and community health centers. Recently, the United States has averaged about 2.4 million shots a day.

The country first prioritized the distribution of vaccines for the most vulnerable members of the population, including health workers, nursing home residents and people 65 years and older.
Somerset County prisons toured in wake of COVID

A media tour was held Wednesday at both Somerset County prisons to show how officials have adapted to COVID-19.
Australias retail sector could enjoy its COVID-induced purple patch for potentially another year, the head of electronics retailer JB Hi-Fi has said, as travel-restricted consumers continue to spend big in local stores.

Richard Murray, who helms the $5.7 billion retailer, told a conference hosted by the Australian Retailers Association on Wednesday he couldnt see retail spending slowing down while Australians were unable to travel.

JB Hi-Fi chief executive Richard Murray expects retail sales to remain elevated for as long as Australians cant travel. Credit:Tash Sorensen

Last year, we suddenly discovered a number: $60 billion - which is money that Australians spend overseas, Mr Murray said. I think most retailers will never ever forget that number again.

Whilst we feel for international tourism operators...while Australians cant travel, the harsh reality is that money is staying in Australia. And with low-interest rates being pretty good for the property market...[this has been] very good for retail.

Many thanks to quite a few people who sent this local meme and sign of the times our way today . . .



THE KANSAS CITY STAR MARQUEE ERASED FROM DOWNTOWN!!!



To be fair, they're printing the paper in Iowa nowadays but nobody has bothered to track down the current location of their offices which might be from their mom's basement like all bloggers.



Doesn't matter and I don't really wanna know . . . Reality check:



The Kansas City Star is no longer the prime mover in the Kansas City discourse.

TV news stations fight over that distinction whilst partisan activists turn to cable news talk shows for their marching orders.



Moreover, the demand for local news is overrated as so many people have used advanced mobile technology to merely spy on former girlfriends and frenemies.



Developing . . .


SAN FRANCISCO, March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Wonderschool, an innovative online platform that connects families to a diverse set of child care options and supports the providers, today announced the child care providers within its network can now access support applying for federal financial assistance, as well as discounted tax preparation services.

"It's critical we give our child care providers the resources they need to effectively serve children and families and to efficiently manage their businesses. This is true always and especially now as they navigate the financial impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on their businesses," said Wonderschool Co-Founder and CEO Chris Bennett. "We're thrilled to offer our child care providers these expanded supports to ensure their businesses can not only sustain but thrive."

Wonderschool partnered with Womply, a local commerce platform, to help care providers, who act as small businesses, submit applications for federal financial assistance to offset the financial impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The assistance comes from the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), which provides forgivable emergency loans. With an injection of $7.25 billion with the latest round of stimulus, the program is designed for "Paycheck Protection" so businesses can keep and rehire employees. As a result, if a business spends its loan on payroll, rent, mortgage interest, or utilities then the government will forgive the loan and the business doesn't have to pay it back.

Womply simplifies the complex application process and connects businesses directly with an approved SBA-certified lender to help them quickly get the funds they need. The deadline to apply is March 31, 2021, but those interested are encouraged to complete an application as soon as possible to ensure they can secure funds.

Wonderschool is also working with tax prep professionals with expertise in child care businesses to provide comprehensive financial services at a discounted rate, including preparation for annual taxes. These services include but are not limited to tax reporting and preparation, financial advising and planning, and consultation on resolving debt and budgeting.

Today's announcement marks the latest effort by Wonderschool to offer robust shared services support to the care providers within its network. Earlier this year, for example, Wonderschool partnered with Yelp, the company that connects people with great local businesses, to provide its child care providers with $300 in upfront advertising credits to help them promote and market their programs in new ways.

Wonderschool also began collaborating with AccuTrak/CACFP.Net , a web-based solution for the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) , a federal program that provides nutritious meals and snacks to eligible children and adults. This partnership helps to ensure that care providers who also participate in the program can easily access the system to request meal reimbursements.

About Wonderschool

Wonderschool is building the largest network of high-quality early education programs. Wonderschool offers a diversity of options and combines engaged teachers and thoughtful education with the warmth of a family program while maintaining standards that go above and beyond state requirements. By providing dedicated support, technology, training, mentorship, and community, Wonderschool lets teachers focus on what they do best teachingand allows them to earn a sustainable living in the field they love. Named one of Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies in Education in 2019, Wonderschool is based in San Francisco and venture-backed by Andreessen Horowitz, First Round, Omidyar, Unusual Ventures, and Gary Community Investments, among others. Learn more at www.wonderschool.com .

SOURCE Wonderschool

Related Links

https://www.wonderschool.com


Global smartphone shipments will rebound +6.5% YoY

According to the latest research from Strategy Analytics, the global smartphone shipments will rebound +6.5% YoY to reach 1.38 billion units in 2021. The growth is driven mostly by the improved economic situation as the COVID-19 pandemic weakens, a growing stock of aging smartphones and the operator/vendor push for migration to 5G.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210316006064/en/

Top 5 Smartphone Vendors: Global Smartphone Shipment Market Share %: 2020 vs 2021 (Source: Strategy Analytics, Inc.)

Abhilash Kumar, Smartphone Analyst at Strategy Analytics, said, "For 2021, we believe Xiaomi will emerge as the third largest global smartphone vendor surpassing Huawei. Xiaomi has been performing well in the India and Russia markets, and has also been very aggressive in Central Eastern Europe and Western Europe."

Commenting on the regional outlook of the Chinese vendors, Linda Sui, Senior Director at Strategy Analytics, added, "2021 is going to be the year of Chinese smartphone vendors. In Asia Pacific, vivo, Xiaomi and OPPO will become top 3 players driven by aggressive marketing, expanding channel footprints and competitive pricing."

The report also notes that in Africa Middle East, Transsion will pass Samsung as the largest vendor with Samsung falling to second place. Xiaomi will surge into third place ahead of Apple. In the Western European markets, Xiaomi will solidify its grip on third place after Apple and Samsung.

About Strategy Analytics

Strategy Analytics, Inc. is a global leader in supporting companies across their planning lifecycle through a range of customized market research solutions. Our multi-discipline capabilities include industry research advisory services, customer insights, user experience design and innovation expertise, mobile consumer on-device tracking and business-to-business consulting competencies. With domain expertise in smart devices, connected cars, intelligent home, service providers, IoT, strategic components and media, Strategy Analytics can develop a solution to meet your specific planning need. For more information, visit us at www.strategyanalytics.com.

Source: Strategy Analytics, Inc.

SA_Devices

For more information about Strategy Analytics

Smartphone Strategies: Click Here

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210316006064/en/

Contacts:

Report contacts:

Abhilash Kumar, Analyst, akumar@strategyanalytics.com

Linda Sui, Senior Director, lsui@strategyanalytics.com
One hundred years ago, a treaty now forgotten by many was signed in the Latvian capital, Riga. It formally ended an undeclared war between Poland, just reemerging on the map after being wiped out centuries earlier, and upstart Bolshevik Russia, which was preaching world communist revolution.

The Treaty of Riga redrew the borders of much of Eastern Europe, but for many it came to be seen as an unmitigated disaster -- in particular among Lithuanians, Belarusians, and Ukrainians whose hopes for democratic independent states were largely dashed as a result of the pact.

Instead of unified nations, Belarusians, Ukrainians, Lithuanians, and to an extent Poles found themselves split among competing states that at times viewed them with suspicion at best and hostility at worst, especially during Soviet dictator Josef Stalin's Great Terror in the 1930s.

For Bolshevik leader Vladimir Lenin, the stronger Soviet-styled republics that would emerge because of the treaty in Belarus and Ukraine would bolster his government, leading to the formal establishment of the Soviet Union in December 1922.

But outside of ending the conflict, the Treaty of Riga "satisfied nobody," explained Christoph Mick, professor of modern European history at the University of Warwick in the United Kingdom.

"It ended the Soviet-Polish war, but left territories with a Ukrainian and Belarusian majority in Poland. It undermined the plans of the Polish chief of state, Marshall Jozef Pilsudski, to create an intermarium federation [from the Baltic to Black seas] under Polish leadership in Eastern Europe or have at least a Ukrainian buffer state between Poland and Soviet Russia," Mick said in e-mailed comments to RFE/RL.

"It ended Soviet hopes to export the revolution to the West and later made the Soviet Union a revisionist power -- in its attempt to regain control of the lost Ukrainian and Belarusian lands," he added. At the same time, however, "Ukrainians were disappointed because Poland had abandoned them and by losing their chances of independent statehood."

The new order would prove ephemeral, in any case. In 1939, the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact would include secret protocols enabling Stalin's Soviet Union and Adolf Hitler's Nazi Germany to divide Poland and the Baltic states and would lead quickly to World War II. After the war, the borders were shifted again -- but the Treaty of Riga would leave its legacy, sowing distrust in Eastern Europe, for example between Poles and Ukrainians, that are still evident today.

War After War

World War I left a wave of destruction across Europe, leaving 40 million soldiers and civilians dead or wounded. The German, Russian, Habsburg, and Ottoman empires all crumbled. New states emerged from their ashes, among them Poland.

Torn apart by Russia, Prussia, and the Habsburg empire in the 18th century, Poland reemerged on the map. The young reborn state, however, faced numerous challenges, including its unsettled borders on its eastern frontier with Russia.

Russia was thrown into civil war after the Bolshevik Revolution. Having withdrawn from the fighting of World War I, the country had no representation at the talks that resulted in the Treaty of Versailles, leaving issues impacting Russia -- like borders -- largely unresolved.

The vacuum sparked conflict between Soviet Russia and the new Polish state. Poland was eager to acquire more land it had held in the past, especially in what is now Ukraine. Lenin viewed Poland as the "Red Bridge" across which communist revolution would spread to Germany, the industrial country he believed best suited to embrace the doctrine.

Fighting flared in 1919-20. Troops from Poland and Ukraine marched into Kyiv in April 1919, before they were ultimately pushed back by the Red Army, which advanced as far as the gates of Warsaw. There, in August 1920 outnumbered Polish forces defeated them in what became known as the Miracle on the Vistula.

Peace talks opened in Minsk on August 17, 1920, shifting to Riga on September 21 amid a strong Polish counteroffensive. After months of negotiations, a treaty was signed in the Latvian capital on March 18, 1921. Here's how it affected peoples and countries in the region.

Poland

Its forces advancing, Poland was in a stronger position as talks opened. Bolshevik Russia had largely vanquished opposition White forces, but faced growing unrest, perhaps best illustrated by the Kronstadt rebellion. Lenin offered to cede lands captured by advancing Polish forces, including Minsk, but Polish negotiators balked. Why? The Polish negotiating team was led by Stanislaw Grabski, a leader of the National Democratic Party, which feared that non-Poles from the "kresy," or borderlands, would be an unfriendly voting bloc.

The Polish state that emerged from the Treaty of Riga included 27 million people and nearly 400,000 square kilometers, making it the sixth-largest in Europe. Poles left behind in Soviet territory would suffer. During the Great Terror, Stalin's secret police, the NKVD, rounded up more than 150,000 during its Polish Operation in 1937-38, 110,000 of whom were shot dead.

Lithuania

During the fighting between Polish and Soviet Russian forces, an independent Lithuania was already established that included Vilnius. But in October 1920, Polish troops moved in on the orders of Jozef Pilsudski, the Polish general and head of state, who yearned to resurrect the old Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, stretching from the Baltic to the Black Sea. In Vilnius, a city with large ethnic Polish as well as Jewish populations, "Central Lithuania" was declared, which was to be one canon in a planned Polish-led federation.

Lithuanian nationalists -- now based in Kaunas -- were opposed. To make that point clear, they formally renounced the 1569 Lublin Union that had enshrined the old Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth centuries earlier. Minorities in Vilnius boycotted a 1922 referendum on whether it should be annexed to Poland. Losing Vilnius hobbled the new Lithuanian state and fueled ethnic-based nationalism, according to historian Timothy Snyder. "Whatever Pilsudski thought he was doing, taking the city by force of arms was bound to drive Lithuanian nationalists away from a political and toward an ethnic understanding of the nation," Snyder wrote in The Reconstruction Of Nations, Poland, Ukraine, Lithuania, Belarus, 1569-1999.

Ukraine

Ethnic Ukrainians, numbering some 10 million people, were spread across the lands controlled by Poland and Bolshevik Russia. After World War I, a Soviet-backed Ukrainian state emerged with its center in Kharkiv. In western parts of Ukraine, the Ukrainian People's Republic led by Symon Petliura emerged. Forces loyal to Petliura fought alongside the Poles during the Polish-Bolshevik Russian war, briefly taking control together of Kyiv in April 1920. The alliance dissolved, however, and at Riga, Ukrainian hopes of an independent state were dashed. Instead, it was divided between Poland and Soviet Russia, which had a delegation from the Soviet republic of Ukraine -- but not Belarus -- take part.

Angered by the agreement, which he felt was shortsighted and cynically political, Pilsudski, who was an observer at the talks, reportedly later apologized to Ukrainian officers for it. Out of this frustration arose in the Galician region of Poland the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN), an extremist group bent on establishing a state along ethnic lines in which non-Ukrainians would not be welcomed -- including Poles and Jews, who were targeted in attacks by the OUN. "Interwar Poland included hundreds of communities, barely touched by the state, whose residents knew who was Polish and who was Ukrainian," Snyder wrote.

While Ukrainians under Polish rule experienced forced Polonization, their ethnic brethren in the Ukrainian Soviet republic initially experienced a brief cultural boom, with newspapers, books, and schools using the Ukrainian language appearing. This would all end under Stalin, culminating in the Holodomor, or Great Famine, that left millions of Ukrainians dead.

Belarus

By the time the treaty was signed, the short-lived Byelorussian National Republic of 1918 was just a memory, crushed by the Bolsheviks. Any hope that a free, unified Belarus could emerge from the Treaty of Riga, would prove illusory. Like the Ukrainians, Belarusians found themselves torn apart. The Treaty of Riga left the Belarusian-speaking minority in Poland, "small and rural, as the National Democrats intended," Snyder noted. And without Minsk, the Belarusian intelligentsia was too small to serve as any ally for any Polish political formation, Snyder explained, adding that "once Minsk became Soviet, Belarusian national aspirations within Poland were seen as crypto-Bolshevism."

Like in Ukraine, Belarusians inside Poland faced forced Polonization, while Belarusians inside the Soviet republic enjoyed a brief cultural rebirth, including the establishment of Belarusian-language schools and an Institute of Belarusian Culture. However, under Stalin these policies were reversed with a vengeance. In the 1930s, up to 60 percent of the native Belarusian intelligentsia was killed in Stalin's purges. Mass murders were carried out in the Kuropaty Forest near Minsk between 1937 and 1941. Those crimes have never been fully investigated by Belarus, which under Alyaksandr Lukashenka has championed the Soviet past.
The four-day work week is gaining popularity around the world, and many countries are willing to test the method on a trial basis to understand if the move will really be feasible and beneficial.

The latest addition to the bandwagon of countries experimenting with the idea is, Spain. The Spanish government has reportedly agreed to the launch of a new pilot project that would allow companies to give their employees a four-day workweek, with the goal of boosting not only productivity, but improving workers' mental health as well.

If all goes to plan, Spain will become the first country in Europe to have a four-day work week. It is estimated that the pilot could get under way as soon as autumn.

Exactly what the pilot program will look like is unclear. An individual with the industry ministry told The Guardian that nearly every detail was still up for negotiation, including how many companies will be involved and how long the experiment will last.

Also read: More Companies Are Saying A Four-Day Work Week Is Actually Good For Business

Representational Image/Pinterest

Earlier in the year, left-wing Spanish party Mas Pais announced the government had accepted its proposal to test out the idea.



Supporters of the four-day work week model say employees being better rested leads to increased productivity and more committed, happy workers.

Also read: The Centre May Soon Allow Us To Have A Four-Day Work Week

Representational Image/Pinterest

It is also believed that the less time spent at work is better for the environment as workers will leave a smaller carbon footprint, and it would also allow parents looking after children to have a more effective work-life balance.



Although the push for a four-day work week was already gaining support before the pandemic, the radical changes to office life has made the idea seem more viable to politicians around the world.



Also read: NZ PM Jacinda Ardern Floats 4-Day Working Week Plan To Let People Travel More & Boost Economy
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Long Covid is one of the most devastating outcomes of the pandemic, and will likely put a strain on our society and economy for years to come. There is little to indicate that global health systems are prepared for it. In response to this lack of recognition, long Covid patient advocacy is emerging as a health movement that will be increasingly hard for governments to ignore.

As the world moves toward what many are hoping will be a final phase of the pandemic, governments and policymakers must begin to deal with long Covid. And when we talk about vaccine efficacy or when to reopen schools and businesses, we should also consider the possibility that the health crisis may not end when infections decline. For example, while the approved vaccines are remarkably effective at preventing severe illness and death from Covid-19, they may not prevent mild or asymptomatic infections that could subsequently develop into long Covid.

Predictions about the pandemics resolution must account for the burden that long Covid could place on our health care and disability benefits systems. We need health care workers to be trained in long Covid as a possible outcome of coronavirus infection, and for disability policies to be updated to account for it.

Heres one example: Many long Covid patients are struggling to receive disability benefits because of the Social Security Administrations requirement that people prove their condition affects their ability to work for 12 months or more. That is not possible for most long Covid patients, many of whom are only just approaching a full year of symptoms this spring.

Across the globe, people with long Covid report problems getting medical care, and some have even been told their symptoms are psychological.

One way to begin to account for the needs of people with long Covid is to start counting. Dashboards that track daily and weekly numbers for infections, hospitalizations and deaths should also make more effort to estimate and track the number of people who are recovering. We need to know how many people recover fully from Covid-19 and how many continue to need care months after.

Until recently, there have been no significant efforts by government health agencies to do this. Previous attempts to estimate how common long Covid is have often fallen short by focusing solely on hospitalized patients. This gives the mistaken impression that long-term symptoms result only from severe illness, even though new data suggests many people with long Covid had initially mild or asymptomatic cases.
Over 50s across North Wales to receive vaccine invitations from next week

This article is old - Published: Wednesday, Mar 17th, 2021

Those in the remaining top priority groups are to start receiving invitations for their coronavirus vaccinations.

Over 317,000 vaccines  259,918 first doses and 57,475 second doses  have already been administered across North Wales since the rollout began in early December.

Last week saw Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board receive a higher number of vaccines, with more doses administered by GPs.

This week the health board will receive 54,240 vaccines (18,720 doses of the Pfizer vaccine and 35,520 doses of AstraZeneca), which is a decrease on last week.





So far those in groups one to six have either been vaccinated or are having appointment booked, however Gill Harris, deputy chief executive the health board, has confirmed the timeline for when those aged over 50 and in the remaining top priority groups will be contacted ahead of the next vaccination milestone in mid-April.

Group 6 (people aged 16-65 years in an at-risk group): all invitations due to be sent by the end of this week.

Group 7 (people aged 60-64 years): all invitations due to be sent by 22 March.

Group 8 (people aged 55-59 years): all invitations due to be sent by 29 March.

Group 9 (people aged 50-54 years): starting 22 March with all invitations due to be sent by 5 April.

This process will take place alongside providing second doses to people and the remainder of those in groups 5-7.

Ms Harris added that throughout this week the health board will continue to provide vaccination to the following groups, with invitations made by letter, text message and phone call:

People aged 65-69 years (Priority Group 5)

People aged 16-64 years in an at risk group (Priority Group 6)

People aged 60-64 years (Priority Group 7)

Second doses within 12 weeks to those who have received their first vaccination

Those in groups one to five who have previously been offered a vaccine, but were unable to attend an appointment or have changed their mind about being vaccinated are also being encouraged to come forward and contact the health board.

Ms Harris said: People in these priority groups may not have been able to take up an appointment because they have had COVID within the last 28 days, or been ill for other reasons; theyve had a different vaccination within the last 7 days; or they may not have wanted the vaccine when it was first offered. The door is always open for anyone who has changed their mind.

Our COVID-19 Vaccination Booking Centre number should only be used by people invited by letter or text message to contact us to arrange or amend an appointment, or by people in Priority Groups 1-5, who want the COVID-19 vaccine, but havent yet been able to take up a first appointment.

People in Priority Groups 1-5 can contact their GP to book a local appointment, or, for an appointment at a Mass Vaccination Centre (MVC), the telephone number for our COVID-19 Vaccination Booking Centre is 03000 840004.

Opening hours are currently 8am to 8pm, seven days a week. However, effective from Saturday 20th March, the Booking Centre opening hours will change to 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday and 9am to 1pm Saturday and Sunday.

Speaking at a Plenary session yesterday, Health Minister Vaughan Gething said the rollout in Wales was progressing with confidence and pace towards the April milestone of offering a vaccine to everyone in the top nine priority groups.

He said: With increased vaccine supply at present, we expect to see higher numbers of first doses administered whilst also maintaining the pace of our second base programme at the same time. We have flexed our delivery capacity upwards in response to the increase in supplies. It remains the case that if supplies are provided, then we will deliver.147

More than 90 per cent of people between the ages of 65 and 69 have already received their first dose of the vaccine, and people between the ages of 50 and 64 are beginning to be called for their appointments.

We are making strong progress. Our second dose programme has been running for around a month now, and already, over a quarter of a million people here in Wales have had their full course of the vaccine, which is of course encouraging news. This includes more than one third of care home residents and over half of their care staff.

The second dose is essential for longer-term protection, so its really important that second dose offers are taken up.

Mr Gething also moved to offer reassurance about the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine after a number of European countries temporarily suspended the rollout of that specific version.

The move came after reports from Norway over the weekend that three health-care workers who had received the vaccine were treated for blood clots.

The European Union medicines regulator reiterated yesterday that there is no indication that the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine causes blood clots, after several countries paused their rollouts.

Mr Gething said: And I want to reassure Members that peoples safety will always come first. We continually and closely review vaccine safety reports and the independent regulator, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, continues to review the evidence on safety.

I recognise the reports about some European countries pausing AstraZeneca delivery because of concerns around blood clots. Across the UK, over 12 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine have now been delivered.

But the MHRA state reports of blood clots received so far not greater than the number that would have occurred naturally in the vaccinated population.

People should still go and get their COVID-19 vaccine when asked to do so.

The World Health Organisation, the European Medicines Agency, Thrombosis UK and all four UK chief medical officers all support the MHRA position on the safety of our vaccines, and the alternative risk of not receiving the protection that the vaccines provide.
Catholic Bishops' Agency Admits to Deceptive Funding Scheme, Breaking Own Grant Rules

NEWS PROVIDED BY

Lepanto Institute

March 17, 2021

PARTLOW, Va., March 17, 2021 /Standard Newswire/ -- The Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD), the official domestic anti-poverty agency of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) admitted that the $50,000 grant listed as going to the Workers Defense Project (WDP) actually went to an entirely different coalition not listed on the CCHD grants recipient list according to a new report published by the Lepanto Institute: www.lepantoin.org/catholic-bishops-agency-admits-to-deceptive-funding-scheme-breaking-own-grant-rules/

The Lepanto Institute was provided an email exchange between a concerned Catholic and CCHD grants specialist Randy Keesler. Keesler claimed that, despite WDP being listed on CCHD's own grants lists, WDP was actually given the grant to fund a non-listed Nashville coalition called the People's Alliance for Transit, Housing and Employment (PATHE).

When questioned on if this is a violation of the CCHD guideline that it will not fund organizations that would use CCHD money for re-granting purposes or to fund other organizations, Keesler replied that this was a restricted pass-through grant and not a violation.

The Lepanto Institute attempted to contact PATHE and found the listed phone number to not be in service, and the only publicly available address to be the same as WDP's. Other CCHD grant guidelines, including its primary guideline to only fund 501c3 non-profit organizations also appear to have been violated with this off-the-books "re-grant."

"Are the US Bishops aware that CCHD is funding organizations not included on its grants list," asked Michael Hichborn, president of the Lepanto Institute. "Given this complete lack of transparency, how can ANYTHING listed on the CCHD grants list be trusted? If the CCHD lists one organization on its grants list, but it is, in fact, using that money to give to another organization NOT identified by the CCHD, then how can we possibly know that the CCHD isn't fraudulently funding organizations for the purpose of giving that money to Planned Parenthood, the Chinese Communist Party, Antifa, Black Lives Matter, or the Democratic National Committee? How can the CCHD's own published grants list be trusted at all?"

The Lepanto Institute noted deep concern over the lack of transparency as well as questioned CCHD's ability to apply its "rigorous screening process" to an organization with no working phone or apparent physical address. Hichborn stated:

"Who did CCHD call to discuss PATHE's mission, plans, use of funds, and to ensure that PATHE wouldn't violate Catholic moral or social teaching? What phone number did they use? What office did they meet at, and what financial documents did they review? Who signed for the grant, promising not to attack Catholic moral teaching? Considering that CCHD broke two of its own rules just to get funding to PATHE to begin with, and also considering that it seems very unlikely that PATHE (as an organization) was interviewed or vetted, it's not unreasonable to wonder if CCHD is funding an organization that doesn't really exist at all. We really do have to wonder -- Is CCHD funding some kind of shell corporation?"

The Lepanto Institute is conducting a joint petition with LifeSiteNews asking bishops to shut down the CCHD, which can be viewed here: https://lifepetitions.com/petition/bishops-shut-down-the-campaign-for-human-development

SOURCE Lepanto Institute

CONTACT: Michael Hichborn, 540-847-5501

Related Links

www.lepantoin.org
Looking back at the 2020 elections, Harris County leaders  and voters  have a lot to be proud of.

Faced with a pandemic that fundamentally altered day-to-day life and threw the nation into disarray, we stepped up to the plate in a big way. Local leaders innovated in response to health and safety concerns, tripling the number of early voting sites in the country, creating 24-hour voting locations and introducing drive-through voting for the first time in state history.

Voters responded in kind, casting 1.6 million ballots in Harris County, up from the previous record of 1.3 million in the 2016 presidential election. The overall turnout rate was 68 percent. Not too shabby.

Sadly, Republican leaders didnt consider this outburst of civic participation to be heartwarming. In fact, they seem to see it as a threat.

Gov. Greg Abbott in February listed election integrity as one of his emergency items for this years legislative session. And last week  in advance of the March 12 deadline for filing bills this year  Republicans unveiled a slew of proposals to that effect. The most sweeping, Senate Bill 7, was authored by state Sen. Bryan Hughes of Mineola and would bar many of the reforms Harris County adopted last year.

On Monday, at a press conference in Houston touting the proposed new restrictions on voting, Abbott explicitly acknowledged that the measure in question was prompted by the efforts of local officials such as former Harris County Clerk Chris Hollins, who served on an interim basis during the run-up to the election and after the retirement of Democrat Diane Trautman in May.

Election officials should be working to stop potential mail ballot fraud, not facilitate it, said Abbott, noting that Hollins had moved to send applications for mail-in ballots to all registered voters in Harris County before the Texas Supreme Court put a kibosh on that plan.

Abbott was joined by state Sen. Paul Bettencourt, a Houston Republican who has long sounded the alarm about alleged voter fraud and similar hijinks in Harris County, and state Rep. Briscoe Cain, a Deer Park Republican who serves as chair of the House Elections Committee and has authored several measures related to election integrity this session as well.

They are, at best, a solution in search of a problem. But to many Democrats, that would be a charitable way to look at it.

Senate Bill 7 is a voter suppression bill, plain and simple, said Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis in a statement. It pulls straight from the Jim Crow playbook, targeting communities of color to silence their voices.

Texas Senate Bill 7 isnt about election integrity, said Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo. It just makes it harder to vote. Thats it.

Hidalgo also labeled the bill a poll tax, noting that it would require voters with disabilities from receiving accommodations unless they substantiate their disabilities via medical documentation  not an insignificant hurdle for Texans who lack health insurance.

Cain countered in a text message to me, The integrity of our elections has been an issue raised by my constituents and other Texans since I first ran for office.

Abbott also defended the renewed interest in restrictive legislation, which followed the best showing by a Democratic presidential candidate in Texas since Jimmy Carter in 1976.

The fact is, election fraud does occur, Abbott said at the press conference, which was held at Bettencourts district office.  I know that in part because of my time as attorney general in Texas, when I did make arrests and engage in prosecutions of people across the state for election fraud. The current attorney general similarly has made arrests and prosecutions for voter fraud.

Yeah, about that. Texas Attorney Gen. Ken Paxton last year allocated nearly 22,000 staff hours to ferreting out voter fraud cases, according to a December review of records by the Houston Chronicle. His office was able to resolve a whopping 16 voter fraud cases as a result. All of them were in Harris County. None were elaborate conspiracies, or even resulted in jail time.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Ken Paxton's beefed-up 2020 voter fraud unit closed 16 minor cases, all in Harris County

Given that there were 17 million registered voters in the state that year, more than 11 million of whom voted, taxpayers may well wonder whether this is an efficient use of the attorney generals time. Of course, in light of the long-indicted Paxtons ongoing legal travails  a nearly six-year-old securities fraud case that inexplicably hasnt come to trial, an FBI probe into allegations that he abused his office  perhaps this kind of wild goose chase isnt the worst way to keep him occupied.

Still, in light of the underwhelming results of Paxtons dragnet, Texans may well wonder why lawmakers are bothering to file bills such as SB7, or the similar House Bill 6, filed by Cain, which seeks to preserve the purity of the ballot box  an infelicitous phrase that also appears in the Texas Constitution, adopted at the tail end of Reconstruction, in 1876.

Raw politics may be the answer. DonaldTrump carried Texass 38 electoral votes, winning by nearly 6 points statewide. But Joe Biden routed him in Harris County by more than 200,000 votes out of 1.64 million cast, or 13 percentage points. Realistically, the path to statewide glory for Texas Democrats most likely involves making some inroads in rural Texas. But its arithmetically conceivable that they could win the state simply by running up their margins in urban centers  and Republicans cant ignore that possibility, because Texas turning blue is a doomsday scenario for the modern GOP.

Whats especially chilling about this new focus on election integrity by our Republican leaders is that its part of a nationwide trend.

Ive never seen anything like this, having worked on these issues for a long time, said Sarah Walker of Secure Democracy, a nonpartisan nonprofit that works to improve election integrity across the United States.

Hundreds of such bills have been filed in state legislatures across the country, she said  a deluge. Many of them, like the Texas bills pushed by Republicans, aim to restrict mail-in voting, which many Americans made use of during the pandemic.

Its very clearly and obviously a holdover from the Big Lie that was propagated by Donald Trump, Walker continued, referring to the former presidents repeated, thoroughly debunked assertions that he would have won a second term if not for widespread voter fraud in crucial battleground states. Trump actually lost the popular vote by more than 7 million votes.

There are, she noted, some meaningful steps that states could take that would help improve both the security of our elections and the confidence we have in them. One section of SB7, for example, would require the secretary of state to develop an online tool that would allow Texans who vote by mail to track the location and status of their ballot.

Perhaps Texans should hope that the bill in question is whittled and watered down during the course of the legislative process, so that it simply includes a few common-sense provisions such as that one rather than needlessly restricting access to the ballot box and creating a slew of new criminal offenses. Republicans such as Abbott might well be content with such an outcome, after all; they would still be able to go on Fox News and proclaim that their election integrity bill passed.

But what Texans should really hope for is that our states Republican leadership stop playing politics with our most fundamental right as citizens  even though we may use it to express our displeasure with them.

erica.grieder@chron.com
KALAMAZOO, MI  An attorney for the former director of nursing at Lakeside Academy has filed a motion to dismiss charges against his client in the death of 16-year-old student Cornelius Fredricks.

Heather McLogan, 49, is charged with involuntary manslaughter and second-degree child abuse in Fredricks death, which stemmed from an April 29, 2020, incident at the now-closed residential youth treatment facility.

Fredricks died two days later in a Kalamazoo hospital as a result of sequelae of restraint asphyxia, meaning the teen was receiving a lack of oxygen and blood flow. After being rendered unconscious during the April 29 incident at the academy, in which he was restrained for 12 minutes after throwing food in the cafeteria, Fredricks never regained consciousness.

McLogan, according to video evidence presented during a September 2020 preliminary hearing in Kalamazoo County District Court, was present for roughly the final two minutes of the restraint and waited 10 minutes before placing a call to 911 after the child was rendered unconscious. The nurse, the video showed, did not come into physical contact with the child until after she placed the call to 911.

Former Lakeside Academy staff members Zachary Solis and Michael Mosley, who can be seen restraining Fredricks in the video, face charges of involuntary manslaughter and second-degree child abuse in connection with the teens death. Solis, Mosley and McLogans cases were all bound over to Kalamazoo County Circuit Court in 2020, and all three defendants are awaiting trial. Solis and Mosley are scheduled for status hearings on April 14.

Related: Security camera footage released of staff restraining Lakeside Academy teen

McLogans attorney, Anastase Markou, argued during his clients preliminary hearing that evidence presented did not offer proof of whether she failed to timely assess Fredricks condition or that if his client stepped in more quickly the child would have survived.

She was the director of nursing. She had a duty to provide care, Kalamazoo County Assistant Prosecutor Jeff Williams said at the preliminary hearing. For over 10 minutes Heather McLogan does nothing.

Theres a person laying on the ground, a person who she just saw seven adult males get off of. She doesnt touch him, she doesnt take his pulse, she doesnt even get down on her knees to administer aid herself ... That is gross negligence.

Related: Teens death comes after pattern of improper restraints at now-closed facility, investigation shows

In a written motion filed this week with Kalamazoo County Circuity Court, Markou states that during his clients preliminary examination in Kalamazoo County District Court, the prosecution did not present even a scintilla of evidence that McLogan caused the death of Fredricks.

At the preliminary examination, the People did not identify any specific legal duty imposed by Ms. McLogan, Markou states in the motion. The District Court claimed that Ms. McLogan had a legal duty, but did not cite any case law or statutory provision that actually imposed such a duty on Ms. McLogan.

Ultimately, there was clear and unequivocal evidence that the restraint caused the death of Mr. Frederick. Ms. McLogan had no role in the restraint.

If successful, the motion would overturn the district courts decision and charges against McLogan could be dismissed after a hearing on Markous motion, set for April 7.

When reached for comment, Kalamazoo County Prosecutor Jeff Getting said his office is reviewing the motion and will file a timely response. Getting said he could not comment on specifics of the case, as it is active and ongoing.

This type of motion is commonly filed in felony cases, he said. The standard applied by the reviewing court is abuse of discretion. This is a very high standard and one that is difficult for the moving party to prove.

Also on MLive:

Suspect in Lakeside Academy students death turns self in, charged with manslaughter

Lakeside Academy was out of control prior to student death, police say

3 face criminal charges in death of 16-year-old housed at Kalamazoo youth facility

Family of Lakeside Academy student seek answers about his death

Nothing like this has happened before, Lakeside Academy board chair says of student death
Kendallville, IN (46755)

Today

Light rain this evening. Then becoming foggy. Low 56F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 70%..

Tonight

Light rain this evening. Then becoming foggy. Low 56F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 70%.
The government has



urged the (NTA) to conduct the All- India 2021 examinations in all the 30 districts of the state instead of selected seven cities.

The request was made by Additional Chief Secretary, Health and Family Welfare, P K Mohapatra in view of the COVID-19 pandemic situation still prevailing in the state.

The All India Examination is conducted by the NTA for admission to MBBS/BDS courses and other undergraduate medical courses in approved/recognized Medical/Dental and other Colleges/ Institutes in India.

In a letter to NTA Director General, Vineet Joshi on Monday, Mohapatra said the state's plea should be taken into consideration and the examination be conducted in all the 30 districts.

The NTA has notified to set up examination centres in seven urban pockets of namely in Angul, Balasore, Berhampur, Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Rourkela and Sambalpur.

In view of COVID-19 pandemic, it will be highly unsafe for students to visit the few examination centres to physically appear for the NEET UG 2021 test. Further, due to frequent lockdown and shutdown imposed by different district administrations the transportation system is very often disrupted making the movement of student's further worse, Mohapatra mentioned in the letter.

" has got vast tribal pockets having geographically inaccessible areas and far away from the urban centres of the state for which the students of this state may be deprived of appearing the NEET UG as they will have to move long distance for appearing the test," the letter said.

Mohapatra also reminded the NTA about the March 9, 2021 meeting where the state government had raised such an issue.

(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.)
Chilean filmmaker Maite Laberdi. Juan Naharro G./El agente topo / EFE

The classified ad placed years ago in Chiles El Mercurio newspaper was easy to miss: Wanted: adult male aged 80-90 years old. Independent, in good health, discreet and adept with technology. It was posted by a private detective looking to plant an elderly man in a retirement home to spy on the staff and check whether they were abusing a female resident living there. The ladys daughter had her suspicions, and had hired the detective to assess them.

Sergio Chamy read the ad, saw that he fit the profile, and decided to respond. He was bored with life, and thought he didnt have much to lose. Chamy would go on to become the mole in the Chilean documentary The Mole Agent. Its director, Maite Alberdi, had planned to film an investigation into abuse, but the documentary turned into something totally different: a meditation on families abandoning their elderly loved ones and on the loneliness of old age. Alberdi spoke to EL PAIS just before learning that her film was nominated for an Oscar in the Best Documentary category.

Question. How did you film such intimate moments in the retirement home? A woman makes a declaration of love to Sergio, and another lady in the early stages of Alzheimers bursts into tears in front of the cameras.

Answer. The filming process took about four months and we became part of the furniture. We were there all day with the cameras. We went in to film as a team before Sergio arrived. We interacted with him, but in the manner that you see on screen: we are following Sergio through this process, during which he strikes up these relationships. If we had not had him as a character, those bonds would probably not exist. What he does is the same thing we do with the camera.

There were days when we didnt shoot anything and the camera was there, waiting. There were ladies there who are completely alone, sometimes all day long, but now the camera was there too. I felt that they began to build up a confidence that is evident in the scene you mention: someone with the confidence to cry in front of her friend, and cry in front of a camera, is very aware that we are there. But its not just the camera; we were a group that had welcomed her, and listened to her, and kept her company for months. [The documentary] started from a place of acceptance, and followed the spontaneous relationships that developed. It happened by waiting, with patience, and by taking the time.

Q. The documentary is very respectful of the people we see, but they didnt know that you were also a mole like Sergio, and they trusted you to film with them. They will have seen a very different result from what they expected. Did that create a dilemma for you?

A. Of course there is a big ethical dilemma. They didnt know the specific story of The Mole Agent. But the idea that we presented to them, I think, is the subject of the film. We told them that it was going to be a documentary about the elderly, and that we wanted to film the good and the bad, all day long. Of course, they didnt know that I was filming a spy, and I feel that I went in without being transparent about the story. That was an ethical dilemma for me. But at the same time, when they saw the film, they felt that the film represented them. We showed what everyday life there was like.

You realize that the most important thing is the relationships made and the bond that is produced when older people are open to the experience

I began from a point of prejudice, thinking that something bad was happening [in the retirement home], because thats what we were investigating. I think perhaps that unconsciously helped me to tell this lie. When I realized that this was a good place for the elderly, I had the dilemma of I didnt tell them this was a spy movie, and I wasnt transparent about it, and I came here under a different pretext. That receded when they saw the film and it fascinated them, and they felt represented, and they started promoting it.

Q. So you also thought it would be a documentary that would expose the mistreatment of the elderly?

A. Totally. I went in with my own prejudice, that this was an abusive situation. I was going to make a detective film where the case was very important, and the evidence, and the client. In reality you realize that the most important thing is the relationships made and the bond that is produced when older people are open to the experience. From there, by giving time for peoples identities to show through, I feel that what Sergio does in the film goes in another direction, and the investigation doesnt matter so much.

My detective film is really an excuse to look at a subject that, without that excuse, we might never see. If we invite viewers to watch a documentary about how lonely old people feel, we are probably not going to see it. But here its the other way around. My excuse, the film that I wanted to make at the beginning, ends up hooking you in, and holding the viewers hand in order to confront issues that we dont want to talk about, that we dont want to look at. We dont talk about how we would like to experience getting older. As children we talk a lot about how we want to grow up. As a young person we think about the adult we want to be. But we never get asked about the old person we want to be.

Q. Its a topic that is now being discussed more since the recent demonstrations in Chile, and specifically pensions for the elderly. How does this retirement home fit in as a metaphor in the current context?

A. There are several things in the film that speak to the current political context. One is the poor pension system, and the fact that life expectancy has increased but not necessarily opportunities to stay within the fabric of society, or to maintain the will to live. The increase in life expectancy has not been associated with a new life, or a new stage in life. Old age is still linked to opportunities receding, and there has been a lot of discrimination against the elderly. In this new political context, where new opportunities and new horizons are opening to minorities  I would put the elderly in that category  this film shows an older group that wants to work, and wants to be active. The first sequence of the film shows that, and raises the question of how we want to grow old. It is a question about the future.

The pandemic forced them to self-isolate and officially close the doors. But that closure had already happened symbolically

We are thinking about a new constitution in Chile, and we are thinking about the country we want to have. Part of that future is a projection of how we want to grow individually and as a community. What Chile has done, in general, is that all people who are dependent for some reason, physical or mental, end up isolated. We have to break that isolation, and that is part of the discussion on the table today in the creation of the new constitution.

Q. What has happened in the retirement home during the pandemic?

A. Of course they suffered losses due to Covid, as the elderly were the most affected. But for me the strongest feeling I have is that there was already a pandemic in that place  the pandemic of loneliness. They were already socially isolated, and the doors of their home were metaphorically closed before lockdown. Many of them had no visitors; there is a character who had not had a visitor for two years. There were funerals that family members did not attend. Of course, the pandemic forced them to self-isolate and officially close the doors. But that closure had already happened symbolically.

The character of Marta, who is at the fence saying I want to get out and I want to live in another moment, even if she has dementia, she is representing all of them. The previous lockdown stays with her. The pandemic made those of us on the outside more aware, and we started asking: How long has it been since Ive seen my dad or my grandfather or my grandmother?. People started calling them. But this awareness was not for those who were there [in the retirement home], who were already alone and isolated.




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Armenia acting health minister on citizens' demand for her resignation

Karabakh's new State Minister Artak Beglaryan on his appointment and future activities

Armenian, Russian and Azerbaijani representatives hold consultations in Moscow

2 Armenian soldiers receive slight injuries after incident with Azerbaijani servicemen in Armenia's Gegharkunik

Armenian boy weighing 5 kg born at Goris Medical Center

"Armenia" bloc representative presents purpose of participation in elections and plans

Isaac Herzog elected President of Israel

Rouhani: Main issues between Tehran, Washington resolved in Vienna

Charles Michel calls on Armenia and Azerbaijan to resume constructive negotiations

US Department of State responds to Pashinyan's proposal to deploy international observers on Armenia-Azerbaijan border

Head of Armenia 2nd President's Office: Robert Kocharyan's public meetings are held in warm atmosphere

Opposition "Armenia" bloc's representative on photos and videos showing bags of deceased servicemen's bodies

Armenia Ombudsman, AGBU President discuss war crimes committed by Azerbaijan during Karabakh war

Opposition "Armenia" bloc's representatives to hold briefings three times a week

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Deputy economy minister: There are signs of rapid tourism recovery in Armenia

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Georgia Internal Affairs Ministry reveals international narco crime, narcotic drugs were sent from Armenia

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Armenian advocate: Azerbaijan is creepily expanding towards Armenia

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Armenia legislature, government reduce expenses for bonus pays, business trips

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World oil prices continue to be on the rise

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Acting premier meets with Armenian community in France

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WASHINGTON  President Biden said it would be tough to meet a May 1 deadline to withdraw all remaining U.S. troops from Afghanistan, publicly indicating for the first time that he could extend the American troop presence there.

Mr. Biden, in an interview with ABC News that aired on Wednesday, said he was consulting with allies on the pace and scope of the drawdown, and added that if the deadline were to be extended, it would not be by a lot longer.

The United States has about 1,000 more troops in Afghanistan than the 2,500 it has disclosed, The New York Times reported on Sunday. That has further complicated the current debate at the White House over whether to abide by a deal, struck last year by the Trump administration and the Taliban, that calls for removing the remaining American forces by May 1.

Mr. Bidens own inclination, when he was President Barack Obamas vice president, was toward a minimal U.S. presence, mainly to conduct counterterrorism missions. But as president, he must weigh whether following such instincts would run too great a risk of the Taliban overwhelming government forces and taking over Afghanistans key cities. Many senior American commanders and intelligence analysts still argue that a full withdrawal may lead to Al Qaeda and other groups hostile to the United States seizing wide swaths of the country.
Editor

Darren Marcy, a journalist since 1992, is the editor of the Manchester Journal. A New Mexico native, he previously worked for newspapers in the Land of Enchantment before moving to Vermont in 2004. He joined the Journal in October 2018.
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Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349
Armenia acting health minister on citizens' demand for her resignation

Karabakh's new State Minister Artak Beglaryan on his appointment and future activities

Armenian, Russian and Azerbaijani representatives hold consultations in Moscow

2 Armenian soldiers receive slight injuries after incident with Azerbaijani servicemen in Armenia's Gegharkunik

Armenian boy weighing 5 kg born at Goris Medical Center

"Armenia" bloc representative presents purpose of participation in elections and plans

Isaac Herzog elected President of Israel

Rouhani: Main issues between Tehran, Washington resolved in Vienna

Charles Michel calls on Armenia and Azerbaijan to resume constructive negotiations

US Department of State responds to Pashinyan's proposal to deploy international observers on Armenia-Azerbaijan border

Head of Armenia 2nd President's Office: Robert Kocharyan's public meetings are held in warm atmosphere

Opposition "Armenia" bloc's representative on photos and videos showing bags of deceased servicemen's bodies

Armenia Ombudsman, AGBU President discuss war crimes committed by Azerbaijan during Karabakh war

Opposition "Armenia" bloc's representatives to hold briefings three times a week

Opposition "Armenia" bloc member: Blood-freezing photos and videos from morgue in Abovyan are authorities' reflection

Yerevan mayor receives Netherlands Ambassador

Armenia Health Ministry, Investigative Committee keep info about sending remains of dead soldiers abroad confidential

Armenia Prosecutor General's Office launches case regarding leaving sacs of servicemen's bodies/remains in basement

Peskov: Putin and Biden to discuss cybersecurity issues

Armenia's Pashinyan meets with Belgian PM Alexander De Croo

Armenia acting MOD receives Netherlands Ambassador

Armenia Police: 3 citizens apprehended during protest demanding acting health minister's resignation

NATO warns Minsk about further consequences of Ryanair incident

Armenia economic competition protection commission: Experts forecast inflation of butter prices

Armenia citizens' protest against acting health minister is over

Pashinyan visits France, judicial farce against Armenian POWs kicks off in Baku, Jun. 2 digest

Armenian Ambassador, FMO representatives consider opportunities for expansion of cooperation in Armenia

Armenia Prosecutor General is on working visit to Russia

Armenia acting PM meets with European Council President in Brussels

Armenia citizens throw polyethylene bags at Health Ministry building, police apprehend protesters

Acting deputy minister: Armenia authorities plan to build 46km section of North-South highway in 2021

Dollar is stable in Armenia

Armenia official: Large number of projects being prepared in construction sector

Identity of man killed Wednesday morning in downtown Yerevan is found out

Armenian lawyer: Azerbaijan poses a threat to security in Europe

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

Missing Armenian soldiers' relatives hand letter to Russia Embassy with request to solve captives' issue

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
PHOENIX, March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- SinglePoint Inc. (OTC: SING) ("SinglePoint" or the "Company"), a company focused on providing renewable energy solutions and energy-efficient applications to drive better health and living, closes a transaction for an aggregate of $2,000,000 in preferred stock, that has a fixed price at which it converts into shares of common stock. The terms and conditions of the preferred stock can be accessed via the Company's latest U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission filings. The Class D preferred subscriptions, executed with GHS Investments, LLC, allows the Company to access additional equity capital from GHS via this equity structure.

Proceeds from the financing will be used for sales and marketing initiatives for the Company's recently acquired leading solar lead provider, Energy Wyze, and exclusive distributor of an industrial grade, American-made, high-proficiency energy-efficient air purification technology Box PureAir.

"GHS Investments has been a true partner in looking at the long-term growth of the Company and working to achieve those goals through financing. We are pleased to continue our work with them as we build momentum and propel the Company forward. This is another step in the right direction for SinglePoint to solidify operations, improve the balance sheet and continue towards the overall goal of up-listing to a national exchange," adds Wil Ralston President of SinglePoint

Mr. Ralston also added an update on the Company's recent subsidiaries, "As schools look to reopen, the need for clean air in the classroom has become the leading priority. Just this week the ESSER II funds have been assigned in many states and schools will be able to begin to take action and purchase the necessary equipment to meet the established guidance. Box Pure Air has submitted bids in schools throughout the nation and we hope that new orders will start to be completed soon and inventory will begin shipping. This funding will help drive the Company's goals through adding additional sales support functions among other opportunities that with capital can be acted upon."

In addition to Box Pure Air, SinglePoint will be able to drive new lead acquisition through its recent acquisition of Energy Wyze. The Company will now have additional working capital to drive more leads to its existing customers.

"We have accomplished a lot in the last year, from acquisition to debt repayment, which has strengthened the Company as a whole. This capital raise is the culmination of all the work we have put in to setting up the Company for long term success. With the clean-up of debt and hopefully reaching operational profitability soon within our existing business units we will be able to simply focus on growing shareholder value," concluded Mr. Ralston.

About SinglePoint Inc.

SinglePoint Inc. is a renewable energy and sustainable lifestyle company focused on providing environmentally friendly energy efficiencies and healthy living solutions. SinglePoint is initially focused on building the largest network of renewable energy solutions and modernizing the traditional solar and energy storage model. The Company is also actively exploring future growth opportunities in air purification, electric vehicle charging, solar as a subscription service, and additional energy efficiencies and appliances that enhance sustainability and a healthier life. For more information, visit the Company's website (www.singlepoint.com) and connect on LinkedIn and Twitter.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this news release may contain forward-looking information within the meaning of Rule 175 under the Securities Act of 1933 and Rule 3b-6 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and are subject to the safe harbor created by those rules. All statements, other than statements of fact, included in this release, including, without limitation, statements regarding potential plans and objectives of the Company, the use of proceed, anticipated growth and future expansion, are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties.

There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements.

Technical complications, which may arise, could prevent the prompt implementation of any strategically significant plan(s) outlined above. The Company undertakes no duty to revise or update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this release.

Investor Contact:

JTC Team, LLC

Jenene Thomas

833-475-8247

[email protected]

SOURCE SinglePoint Inc.

Related Links

https://www.singlepoint.com


NCT (Amendment) Bill giving more power to L-G in Delhi gets Rajya Sabha nod

BJP tally in Rajya Sabha likely to go up by 1 next year

Bill passed in Rajya Sabha to raise upper limit for permitting abortions

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Mar 17: Rajya Sabha passed a Bill to raise the upper limit for permitting abortions from the present 20 weeks to 24 weeks for "special categories of women" including rape survivors, victims of incest, minors and the differently-abled.

The Medical Termination of Pregnancy (Amendment) Bill, 2020 to amend the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971 was passed by voice vote. The Bill was passed by Lok Sabha about a year ago.

A demand to send the Bill to a select committee of Rajya Sabha was defeated by voice vote, along with some other amendments proposed by members.

Parliament passes bill to replace ordinance regularising Delhis unauthorised colonies

"The Bill as amended is passed," Rajya Sabha deputy chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh said.

Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said the amendments in the Bill have been made after studying global practices and wide consultation within the country.

"Under the leadership of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, we will not frame any law which harms women. This is to preserve and protect dignity of women," he said.

Karnataka CD Scandal: Family claims woman kidnapped, files complaint| Oneindia News

The minister said the suggestions and objections made to the Bill by some members were symbolic in nature and aligned with their party ideology.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Wednesday, March 17, 2021, 8:35 [IST]
[March 17, 2021] Onit Named by Forbes as One of America's Best Startup Employers

HOUSTON, March 17, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Onit, Inc., a leading provider of enterprise workflow and artificial intelligence platforms and solutions, including enterprise legal management, contract lifecycle management and business process automation, today announced that Forbes has ranked it #160 out of 500 total companies on its list of Americas Best Startup Employers for 2021. The awards program, which researches and identifies up-and-coming companies liked best by their employees, evaluated more than 2,500 businesses on employer reputation, employee satisfaction and growth.

The pandemic presented multiple challenges that led us to reevaluate how we do business. But no matter what, we prioritized our employees, protected jobs and continued to hire. We hired more employees in 2020 than in 2019, and we will hire even more this year as we continue to grow, said Eric M. Elfman, CEO and co-founder of Onit. Im excited that Forbes has acknowledged Onit as a leading employer. Recognition like this and our commitment to the talent that powers Onit ensure our ongoing success in 2021 and beyond. The 500 companies on the list of Americas Best Startup Employers have had to rapidly pivot business strategies and employee outreach in 2020 because of the global pandemic and the new normal virtual environment. Onit embraced a multilayer approach for employee engagement that included transparent and two-way communications, fun virtual events, gift cards, care packages and additional time off to ensure mental and physical health. Additional Awards Last year marked an exceptionally busy one for Onit. It acquired a legal AI company McCarthyFinch and document automation provider AXDRAFT, launched three AI offerings (business intelligence platform Precedent and contract AI software ReviewAI and ExtractAI) and added more than 500 new customers, expansions for existing customers and implementations.



Onit has earned multiple awards for its strong growth and employee commitment. Deloitte named it #190 on its Technology Fast 500 in October. Growjo listed Onit as #52 for growth in the technology services category, #20 for Texas and #648 on its overall Growjo 10K. And Inc. Magazine and the Syracuse Universitys Institute for Veterans and Military Families included Onit on their Vet100, a list of the 100 fastest-growing veteran-owned businesses. The company also won recognition locally from both the Houston Business Journal (#9 on its 2020 Fast 100 and #3 on the inaugural Middle Market 50 awards) and the Houston Chronicle (#30 on its Top Workplaces awards program, along with the programs only Communications Award). About the Forbes Americas Best Startup Employers Awards Program

To be considered for the award, employers must have their headquarters based in the U.S., be founded between 2011 and 2018 and have more than 50 employees. Forbes partnered with market research company Statista to identify the candidates liked best by their employees, analyzing more than seven million data points for its list of 500. All companies considered were started from scratch and not spun out of existing enterprises. See the complete list here. About Onit Onit is a global leader of workflow and artificial intelligence platforms and solutions for legal, compliance, sales, IT, HR and finance departments. With Onit, companies can transform best practices into smarter workflows, better processes and operational efficiencies. With a focus on enterprise legal management, matter management, spend management, contract lifecycle management and legal holds, the company operates globally and helps transform how Fortune 500 companies and billion-dollar corporate legal departments bridge the gap between systems of record and systems of engagement. Onit helps customers find gains in efficiency, reduce costs and automate transactions faster. For more information, visit www.onit.com or call 1-800-281-1330. Media inquiries:

Melanie Brenneman

Onit

(713) 294-7857

Melanie.brenneman@onit.com



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The latest challenge she is facing is the pandemic and the restrictions that go with it, which include implementing social distancing measures inside the restaurant. Murray said it is important to her that her store plays a role in turning the corner on COVID-19 rates by ensuring her family, co-workers and guests continue to take the pandemic seriously. But she acknowledges that is tough on someone like her, who likes to show her affection toward people.
[March 17, 2021] Inclusion of ESG Metrics in Incentive Plans: Evolution or Revolution?

Pay Governance, a major board-level executive compensation advisory firm, conducted a survey of companies in January to document how they are responding to the focus on environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) issues and whether it is resulting in a change in the design of incentive compensation plans. Survey goals: Establish if companies had already incorporated ESG metrics into either their annual or long-term incentive plans

Determine if companies that had not included ESG metrics in prior incentive plans were adding or considering adding them to their 2021 incentive plans

Ascertain if companies that had already incorporated ESG metrics in incentives plans were retaining the same approach or altering either the metrics or plan design

Develop a more detailed understanding of the specific ESG metrics selected and how they are measured to better equip companies that are considering including ESG in their incentive plans with key design details

Get a better understanding of shareholder input into theuse of ESG in incentive plans



The survey revealed that an increasing number of companies are including ESG metrics in their incentive plans in 2021, with most utilizing social and environmental metrics.

"The inclusion of ESG metrics in incentive plans is perhaps one of the most significant changes in executive compensation in more than a decade", said Pay Governance Partner Mike Kesner. "As an emerging trend, several companies have selected approaches, such as the scorecard approach, that provide a high level of flexibility, but have also incorporated metrics that can be measured quantitatively, for example employee engagement, diversity/representation levels, reduced waste, etc., to provide goal clarity and measure progress towards longer-term objectives." Most companies surveyed are taking a "wait and see" approach to incorporating ESG metrics in their incentive plans, he added. Pay Governance expects many companies will use 2021 as a "launching pad" for finalizing and rolling out ESG metrics in 2022 given the strong interest of institutional shareholders and the investment community in ESG. Pay Governance LLC is an independent consulting firm focused on delivering advisory services to compensation committees. The consultancy also advises the management of companies in situations in which the firm does not serve as the independent committee advisor. Pay Governance has locations throughout the United States in New York, Boston, Detroit, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Cleveland, St. Petersburg, San Francisco and Los Angeles. The firm also has strategic affiliate relationships with Pay Governance Japan and Pay Governance Korea. For more information, visit www.paygovernance.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210317005234/en/

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CHAMPAWAT (UTTARAKHAND) : India has asked Nepal to remove encroachment from the 'no man's land' on the border between the two countries in Uttarakhand's Champawat district, an official said here on Wednesday.

"We had an understanding with the Nepal administration to maintain the current status but after receiving inputs from SSB about encroachment on 'no man's land', a team of police, administration and SSB inspected the area and we found that encroachment has increased," said Tanakpur Deputy Collector Himanshu Kafaltia.

"We had a conversation with Nepal administration and we have strictly asked them to remove the encroachment. The administration has also assured that encroachment will be removed within one to two days," he added.

Nepal had reopened its border with India on January 29 this year after keeping it closed for months due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text.

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West Bengal elections 2021: Mamata Banerjee releases TMC manifesto

India

oi-Ajay Joseph Raj P

Kolkata, Mar 17: TMC Chief and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday released her party's poll manifesto for the upcoming Assembly elections. Among some prominent promises, Mamata Banerjee said that the manifesto was meant for 'all religions'.

From doorstep delivery of ration, Ma, Mati, Manush to financial assistance to poor and widows are some of the other focus areas of the document.

"This is not a political manifesto, it is a development-oriented manifesto. This a manifesto of the people, for the people, and by the people," Banerjee said while releasing the manifesto. Elaborating upon the achievements of her government, Banerjee said that when the TMC came to power, the state revenue was about Rs 25,000 crores. "It is now over Rs 75,000 crores," she said.

West Bengal elections 2021: 'TMC government playing with emotions of Hindus,' says UP CM Yogi Adityanath

Some of the important announcements made by Banerjee in the manifesto include:

a. Increase in annual financial aid to farmers from Rs 6,000 to Rs 10,000

b. Credit card of Rs 10 lakh for students for pursuing higher studies; only 4 per cent interest will be charged

c. Ensure minimum annual income of Rs 6,000 and Rs 12,000 for general category and backward community people respectively in Bengal

d. Doorstep delivery of ration

e Financial assistance to poor and widows

f. Special task force to examine and propose OBC status to all communities that are not recognised

Kerala elections 2021: Congress alleges rampant fraud in voters' list in State

Addresing the media, Mamata Banerjee said, "Our work has caught the attention of the world. For Kanyashree, we were awarded the first position by UNESCO."

It can be seen that the release date of the manifesto was postponed after Banerjee was injured in an alleged attack in Nandigram last week.

Elections for the 294-seater West Bengal Assembly will take place in eight phases starting March 27. The final date of voting is April 29. The counting of votes will take place on May 2.
Atlas Copco, a global provider of sustainable productivity solutions, said it has installed its TwinPower generators at a factory of Saudi-based Jasmin Water and Beverages located in a remote desert region of the kingdom, to power its production unit.

The TwinPower is a unique containerised portable generator that delivers unrivalled versatility, fuel economy, and twice the amount of on-site power than conventional independent power plants (IPPS).

Following the installation, which has been done through Atlas Copco Power and Flows official distributor in Saudi Arabia, GCC Olayan, the Saudi plant is now getting reliable and uninterrupted power supply for its 24/7 operations.

Atlas Copco TwinPower is a 20-ft ISO containerised unit housing two compact 500 kVA generators; powered by compact Scania engines. This configuration, with an advanced control system, allows the two generators to work independently or in parallel with each other.

This makes it ideally suited for applications that have variable power needs, whether due to the time of day or the current usage requirement.

When a large water and beverage factory like Jasmin Water and Beverages, which is based 120 km west of Riyadh city, needed a reliable and uninterrupted power supply for its 24/7 operations, they turned to Atlas Copcos partner GCC Olayan for a solution, which inturn recommended four TwinPower generators, said a senior official.

"The QAC 1100 TwinPower is perfect for applications that require intensive use because it delivers high performance while maximising fuel efficiency, cutting associated running costs, and low-cost of ownership, amongst other benefits," remarked Ahmed R. Badawi, Regional Product Manager - Power and Flow.

"Also, thanks to its flexible design of two generators in one platform, it gives our client flexibility and the QAC 1100 generator works in the harshest conditions, such as a very hot climate in a Saudi desert," explained Badawi.

Ashraf El Nahas, the factory general manager at Jasmin Water and Beverages Factory, said: "Since the plant is in a remote location in the desert, without access to stable power grid, we had been facing frequent power failures, which hit our production. That is why Jasmin Water and Beverages required a reliable generator."

Engineer Ibrahim Nazih, Atlas Copco division manager- GCC Olayan, said: "As Jasmin needed 4,000 kVA to work in synchronisation, this is working together and not as separate units, Atlas Copco modified the totalization and distribution panel and fuel systems of the TwinPower units."

To ensure the best fuel optimisation, the company recommended using the PMS (Power Management System) mode, he stated.

"We are delighted Jasmin Water and Beverages Factory trusted us with this project, and we look forward to continuing working with them via our service package," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
Legislation introduced in the U.S. Senate Wednesday would prevent private debt collectors from garnishing the $1,400 direct payments provided for in the coronavirus stimulus law.

The bill was sponsored by U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez along with Senate Banking Committee Chair Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, Finance Commitee Chair Ron Wyden, D-Ore. and U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md.

Countless New Jerseyans are struggling to get by during the pandemic and need all the help they can get, Menendez said. For many families, the stimulus checks are a lifeline to help pay rent or a mortgage and put food on the table. No predatory debt collector should be able to sweep in and swipe these funds from those who need it most.

CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES: Live map tracker | Newsletter | Homepage

The $1.9 trillion stimulus law provides direct payments of $1,400 for individuals earning up to $75,000 and couples earning up to $150,000. The amounts quickly phase out to where individuals making more than $80,000 and couples making more than $160,000 do not get any money.

The U.S. Treasury Department said Wednesday that around 90 million stimulus payments totaling $242 billion already have been sent out.

On Tuesday, the Internal Revenue Service announced that it would not withhold the stimulus payments to cover back taxes.

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Japan pledges USD 800 mln to COVAX facility 02 Jun 2021 | 11:29 PM New Delhi/Tokyo, Jun 2 (UNI) Amid the widening gap between nations in administering COVID-19 vaccines, Japan on Wednesday pledged another 800 million dollars to ensure a fair distribution of shots. see more..

India to get 8 new Flying Training Academies 02 Jun 2021 | 11:18 PM New Delhi, Jun 2 (UNI) India is set to get eight new Flying Training Academies under the liberalised Flying Training Organisation (FTO) policy of the Airports Authority of India (AAI), the Ministry of Civil Aviation said here on Wednesday. see more..

Centre amends service rules, bars retired officials from publishing sensitive information 02 Jun 2021 | 10:15 PM New Delhi, Jun 2 (UNI) With an intention to secure sensitive information does not go out in public domain, the Government has amended and added up new clauses and conditions that bar the officers who had worked in intelligence and security related organizations from making sensitive information public. see more..

Delhi records 103 COVID-19 deaths, 576 cases 02 Jun 2021 | 8:55 PM New Delhi, Jun 2 (UNI) Delhi registered 103 deaths from COVID-19 and 576 new cases of the virus in the past 24 hours, a health bulletin said here on Wednesday. see more..
TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

The High Criminal Court sentenced four Health Ministry employees to one year behind bars for manipulating their attendance record in order to add overtime hours on top of their original extra working hours, for which they received various amounts.

The four men were paid a total amount ranging between BD1,900 and BD600 each, and the High Criminal Court ordered them to return the money they unduly received.

On top of that, they were also fined equal amounts each for the crime.

The defendants were tried after they triggered suspicions for demanding to be paid extra for staying at work for extra hours.

They submitted their electronic attendance log as proof after they found a way to rig it. They were investigated and, later, tried for forgery and dishonesty.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 18)  The Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission on Thursday announced that it too is investigating allegations of corruption in the issuance of meat import certificates under the minimum access volume or MAV scheme..

It is latest agency to announce a probe into the issue. The Department of Agriculture and the Senate earlier said they are investigating the matter.

PACC will investigate. In fact, we have already started the investigation last December 2020. The PACC issued a resolution to conduct motu propio investigation on the alleged corruption in pork importation and will issue the corresponding subpoena, PACC chief Greco Belgica said in a Viber message. The PACC will be submitting its report and recommendation to the President, he added.

The Agriculture Department announced in a statement Wednesday that it has created a special committee to look into the allegations of kickback. It said the committee will be headed by its legal service chief, and the inquiry will be based on preliminary findings of the DA-MAV Secretariat.

This came after Senator Panfilo "Ping" Lacson flagged a supposed kickback placed on each kilo of imported pork products under the said scheme by a "syndicate" within the department.

"I received this disturbing information from a highly placed source who has knowledge of the modus operandi within the agency that at present rates of 30% tariff on in-quota hog importation and 40% for off-quota importation, mayroong umiiral na kalakaran na tong-pats [there currently exists a kickback] or 'SOP' of 5 to 7 per kilo," Lacson told fellow lawmakers.

Lacson has filed a resolution, which the Senate adopted Wednesday afternoon, calling for an inquiry on the matter.

The approved Resolution No. 685 will launch a Senate Committee of the Whole probe into the alleged anomaly that's feared to aggravate the pork supply crisis in the country brought by the African Swine Fever outbreak.

According to Lacson, the over-importation of pork and poultry products and the proposed reduction of tariff rates would not only cause billions of revenue losses, but would also be detrimental to the local hog industry and pose "serious threats to public health and safety." He cited accounts of improper handling of meat products, which were reportedly stockpiled on wet floors and sold in public markets without appropriate refrigeration facilities.

RELATED: DA warns vs. buying improperly stored frozen meat in wet markets

The senator earlier noted that whoever is behind the money-making scheme stands to gain billions with the lowering tariff rates and increasing the MAV of imported pork products. Assuming these measures are in place, Lacson said the "syndicate" can hike their kickback to 10 to 15 per kilo, yielding them 4 billion to 6 billion in earnings with the proposed higher number of imports under the MAV. Lacson did not say if the amount refers to kickbacks for a year, but MAV covers minimum annual imports.

The DA wants the MAV bumped up to 404,000 metric tons from the current 54,000 MT. For the first 90 days, the department wants a 5% tariff on imports falling within the quota and 15% for those outside the MA -- less than the 30% and 40% rates imposed at present, respectively.

RELATED: DA: Approved recommendation to Duterte on pork import tariffs involves higher rates after 90 days

However, Agriculture Secretary William Dar emphasized the agency's objective for the said measures is to stabilize pork supply and prices.

The DA-MAV Secretariat likewise noted the alleged corruption in getting an import certificate is "remote," as current licensees are the same ones yearly and have been accredited before by previous DA administrations.

There are also no disparities between the allocations of the scheme's current licensees and those given before the incumbent department's term, it added.

Senators have called for the declaration of a national state of emergency due to the spread of ASF, which has gravely affected the country's pork supply. The DA earlier said it will submit a recommendation to Malacanang taking into account the Senate's suggested measures.

READ: DA to submit reco on declaring ASF state of emergency, observes declining incidents since October

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said during his Tuesday briefing that this recommendation will include a 1 billion contingency fund for the indemnification and hog repopulation for ASF-affected farmers, along with authority to refocus and realign the agency's current budget to address ASF concerns.

He said it will also cover instruction from the Interior Department to local governments on allocating specific funds from their current budgets for ASF-related activities and strengthening the participation, coordination and commitment of agencies in fighting the hog disease.
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Sonia Bermudez has devoted her life to making sure everyone gets a decent burial.  UNHCR/Nicolo Filippo Rosso

Over the nearly half-century that she worked in forensics, there was one thing Sonia Bermudez simply could not abide: the sad fact that those whose families could afford funerals were given very different treatment from those who could not.

And so, she set about eliminating that disparity, founding a non-profit organization dedicated to making sure the poorest and most vulnerable people receive a dignified burial  regardless of their nationality or their loved ones ability to pay.

"The dead ask for clemency, they ask for help."

Called Gente Como Uno, or People like Us, it started back in 1996 when Colombia was in the throes of a bloody, 50-year-long armed conflict, and it carries out the whole funeral process for the destitute.

It acquired a cemetery, and now more than 300 plots are occupied by Venezuelans  refugees and migrants, driven from home by hunger and insecurity, who perished in their search for safety.

It made me so sad to see what shape they were in after crossing the border, said Sonia, a coroner by training who retired after 46 years with the medical examiners office in Riohacha, a city on Colombias north-eastern border with Venezuela.

A final resting place for Venezuelans in Colombia ( Jorge Berdugo Siosi, camera; Angela Maria Mendez Trivino, producer; Biel Calderon, editor )

An estimated 1.7 million Venezuelan refugees and migrants have sought safety in Colombia in recent years. Thousands more have made the risky journey through the country, often on foot, en route to Ecuador, Peru and even Chile. Not all of them make it to their destinations.

While there is no estimate of how many Venezuelans who have fled the country have perished abroad, stories of people hit by vehicles as they trudge along the shoulders of highways, or succumbing to illnesses or exhaustion along the way, are tragically frequent throughout the region.

At first, Sonia helped one single family. Burying their loved one in the charitys cemetery brought them peace and tranquillity, Sonia said.

And now, when deaths occur in the Venezuelan community in Riohacha, this border municipality of nearly 200,000 people, bereaved family, friends or even casual travelling companions of the dead know to reach out to Sonia.

Imagine the trauma of a family thats not able to bury their loved one.

Some of the stories of the dead stay with her, among them that of a Venezuelan mother and her adult son. Under terrible stress, the mother died from a heart attack, and her heartbroken son took his own life soon after. They are both buried in Sonias cemetery.

I will never forget them, said Sonia, adding, their story really left a mark on me.

See also: Venezuelans defy the pandemic to seek a future in Colombia

People Like Us got its start 25 years ago after authorities in Riohacha told Sonia there was no more space to bury several so-called no names  unidentified remains that had gone unclaimed.

Sonia simply would not stand for it. She pestered municipal authorities until she eventually secured a 5.5-hectare plot on the outskirts of town to establish her project.

The dead ask for clemency, they ask for help, said Sonia, whose empathy for the deceased is so strong she routinely refers to those she helps bury as my dead ones.

See also: Colombian woman devotes life to helping sexually exploited children heal

The work of People Like Us has also been draining, both emotionally and financially, Sonia says. While she has received funding from organizations including UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, the costs of running the small NGO often outstrip its small budget, meaning that Sonia must reach into her own pocket to bury those in need.

Yet still, Sonia remains unflaggingly committed to her mission of making sure that the poor and most vulnerable are buried with dignity, regardless of their nationality or legal status.

Imagine the trauma of a family thats not able to get help to have a dignified burial for their loved one, she said, adding that such trauma can often spark social problems later on. I see the work I do helping the most vulnerable as the biggest thing I can do to build peace.
Transgender actress Indya Moore covers the newest issue of V Magazine, posing in a series of Tommy Hilfiger outfits including suits, coats, and underwear  paired with a fanny pack for a bra.

The 26-year-old star, who plays Angel Evangelista in the FX series Pose, flaunted her fashion chops for the special re-edition of V129, but also took a serious turn in the accompanying interview, opening up about he abuse she suffered as a child and her crisis of faith in a religious upbringing.

Speaking to author Adrienne Maree Brown, Indya explained how she 'chose peace and joy for myself at a very early point in my life,' even after growing up in an 'isolated' Jehovahs Witness home where she was taught that it was 'wrong for me to exist in the way that I do.'

Ta-da! Transgender actress Indya Moore covers the newest issue of V Magazine, posing in a series of Tommy Hilfiger outfits

Bam! The 26-year-old star, who plays Angel Evangelista in the FX series Pose, flaunted her fashion chops for the special re-edition of V129

Interview: Speaking to author Adrienne Maree Brown, Indya explained how she 'chose peace and joy for myself at a very early point in my life'

Indya, who uses the pronouns she/they, has opened up in the past about her traumatic upbringing with a a Puerto Rican Jehovahs Witness teen mom and a Catholic father from the Dominican Republic.

She was punished frequently for presenting as female, though she was born male, and was constantly pressured to be more masculine.

'I think every queer person goes through a time in their life where theyre at a crossroads of understanding queerness through a "right" and "wrong" kind of binary,' she told V magazine.

'Its like, "Alright, is who I am wrong, or not? What is this? Because Im getting so many messages." Its all very confusing. I know how I feel, but the world seems to continue to create messages that its wrong for me to exist in the way that I do and feel the way that I do.'

She particularly grappled with the juxtaposition of a loving God and a God who rejects certain types of people  like her.

Struggle: Indya, pictured as a child, grew up in an 'isolated' Jehovahs Witness home where she was taught that it was 'wrong for me to exist in the way that I do'

'I think every queer person goes through a time in their life where theyre at a crossroads of understanding queerness through a "right" and "wrong" kind of binary,' she said

Hard to make sense of: She particularly grappled with the juxtaposition of a loving God and a God who rejects certain types of people  like her

'I realized how stupid it was that we live in a world that just so heavily criminalizes queerness,' she said. 'It was spiritual. I was raised very Christian, my mom was a Jehovahs Witness and my dad inherited Catholicism.

'It was just really interesting to see myself process my own principles around myself and my own ethical grounding around myself, and realizing how stupid it is that spiritual bias exists.

'It was just like, wow, how can we simultaneously create these teachings about God being such a loving person, but there seems to be character traits of who is spiritually eligible to access God?

'So I realized how stupid that was, and I just knew that God would not be pleased or happy with the ways that I suffered because of what people thought they were doing in the name of God, or whatever excuse peoples used to create false harm and misery.

Even with her own changing understanding of God, Indya was still subjected to her parents' ideas of religion, and says she was 'vilified' and 'disciplined frequently' for not fitting into their gendered expectations.'

Upbringing: Indya was still subjected to her parents' ideas of religion, and says she was 'vilified' and 'disciplined frequently' for not fitting into their gendered expectations'

She asked, 'How can we simultaneously create these teachings about God being such a loving person, but there seems to be character traits of who is spiritually eligible to access God?'

Speaking out: Her upbringing planted the seeds for her activism as an adult (pictured of FX's Pose)

Positive: Ultimately, she made a choice to embrace 'peace and joy for myself at a very early point in my life'

That planted the seeds for her later activism. Though Indya would move out of her parents home at age 14 and enter foster care, she continued to think about how gender differences could be discussed in a way to help people better understand them  and change society.

She still had more struggles to endure. She entered foster care 'traumatized from abuse and PTSD,' was misdiagnosed and medicates, and continued to live 'in trauma soup all the time.'

Though she concedes that it was 'very hard,' she persevered, and said that her 'spirit wanted change nevertheless.'

Ultimately, she made a choice to embrace 'peace and joy for myself at a very early point in my life.'

'It was corny for a lot of kids in school, the thought of peace and joy,' she recalled. 'But you know, for me, I was just like: why cant I claim that for myself? Why isnt peace something that I can say that I want for myself and other people?'

'I was just like: why cant I claim that for myself? Why isnt peace something that I can say that I want for myself and other people?' she said

Experience: Indya has previously modeled for Calvin Klein and Kason Wu. She has covered Elle magazine and ES Magazine and appeared in the 2020 Pirelli Calendar

'I dont ever try to hide my socio-political boundaries or standards, because theyre very important [in creating] greater safety for people like me,' she said

Indya also discussed her work with designer Tommy Hilfiger, a brand that collaborated with V Magazine for her shoot, which was shot by Adrienne Raquel and styled by Anna Trevelyan.

She praised the designer for working with her and 'seeing her,' while not trying to change her or cover anything up.

'I dont ever try to hide my socio-political boundaries or standards, because theyre very important [in creating] greater safety for people like me,' she said.

'I made sure that my involvement in Tommy was as inclusive as possible, in every way that it could be,' she added.

'I made sure that the team was right, also making sure theyre hiring our folks behind [the scenes] and in front. I made sure that this is a project that is a continuum of something theyre actually working on, not just a moment.'

Indya has previously modeled for Calvin Klein and Kason Wu. She has covered Elle magazine and ES Magazine and appeared in the 2020 Pirelli Calendar.
Convincing and credible In her 2019 report, Ms Bryant-Smith found Ms Frederes testimony convincing and credible. She accepted four of Ms Frederes seven allegations as proven and concluded a further three allegations had elements that could be substantiated but were not sufficient to classify them as proven. Ashley Frederes The investigation also found Professor Lopez raised concerns about Ms Frederes job performance with her superiors after the alleged incidents in 2015. But Ms Bryant-Smith found it could not be proven that Professor Lopezs comments about her performance were linked to her rejecting his alleged advances. Ms Bryant-Smith, a former workplace relations lawyer at Clayton Utz and Allens, formed workplace consultancy Worklogic in 2017. She is a former editorial board member of the Melbourne University Law Review.

Professor Lopez, 69, was awarded a companion of the order of Australia in 2016 for his service to public health. He has more than 75,000 citations to his research and was chief epidemiologist for the World Health Organisations tobacco control program during the 1990s. Ms Frederes told The Age and Herald she had been motivated to speak publicly because of the apparent lack of action by the university despite the adverse findings. I realised that people in positions of authority aim to indoctrinate us in the lies that we are too weak to stand up, she said. There is power in revealing the truth and I hope others will feel empowered to stand up for themselves and say enough. University of Melbourne student union president Jack Buksh said the university had yet to deliver on a promise to introduce a stand-alone policy to protect students and staff from sexual harassment and assault and hasnt had that leadership that is required to deal with those issues. Its been more about the cover-up, Mr Buksh said.

National Tertiary Education Union president Alison Barnes said the union viewed sexual harassment as not only a workplace health and safety issue, but one of gender inequality. Where complaints are substantiated, the Universitys response must be fair and proportional, enacted without delay, and with the well-being and wishes of the complainant first and foremost, she said. You are going to be a distraction In October 2015, Ms Frederes and Professor Lopez flew to Shanghai to meet senior Chinese health officials as part of an international data for health project involving the University of Melbourne, the World Health Organisation and John Hopkins University. Professor Lopez was one of the leaders of the project, which was designed to improve the cause of death reporting in low to middle income cities and was funded in part by the Australian Government and Bloomberg Philanthropies. The US-based Ms Frederes, who was then 27, was a program officer for another project partner, the US-based health organisation, Vital Strategies.

Ms Frederes told the investigator that on the night they arrived she and Professor Lopez met in Professor Lopezs room because the hotels meeting rooms were closed. When Ms Frederes went to leave, Professor Lopez stood between her and the door. He was physically blocking me from leaving and thats when he went in to hug me, and I just went to hug back to make it quick and leave, Ms Frederes alleged in written and verbal accounts. But thats when he didnt let go, and when he started moving his hands over my body and putting his face down closer, leaning in like he was going to kiss me, I froze, because I was very afraid and uncomfortable. Ms Frederes, another colleague, and Professor Lopez on the Shanghai trip. She said she pushed Professor Lopez away and left. She did not raise the incident with Professor Lopez the next day, and nor did she report anything to her employer or the University of Melbourne because she feared it might jeopardise her involvement in the project, she told the investigator. Professor Lopez told the investigation he denied any physical contact with Ms Frederes, save for perhaps European-style cheek kissing. He was also adamant that he had never had her in his hotel room. I firmly and absolutely deny ever having touched or intimidated her in the manner which she alleges: none of the actions she described happened then, or on any other occasion, he said in response.

The next morning Ms Frederes arrived at breakfast dressed in black business dress, black blazer and with her hair and make up done in preparation for a meeting. According to her account, Professor Lopez came to breakfast where he said she looked stunning, sexy, and beautiful and would be a distraction for all the men. Professor Lopez denied the account, saying: Those who know me know that I would never tell, nor have I ever told, a female colleague what I am alleged to have told Ms Frederes. That would simply be unprofessional, disrespectful and dismissive. Ms Bryant-Smith accepted Ms Frederes account of both incidents. His breath on my neck A few days later, Professor Lopez was on the verge of returning to Melbourne and he and Ms Frederes had one drink in the lobby to reflect on the past few days. As she left, Professor Lopez followed her into the lift.

He was standing in the corner of the elevator, so his back to the corner, and I was sort of standing next to him, but then I turned to say, Goodnight, because we were approaching my floor, and so thats when he went in to hug me again, and  this time mostly groped my butt and my waist, sort of moving his hands around my hips and my butt and touching my waist, she alleged to Ms Bryant-Smith. Hes over six feet tall and Im about five-foot-three, so he would just bend his head down and have his sort of mouth very close to my ear and my neck, like I remember feeling his breath on my neck. Ms Frederes said she froze, then pulled away and ran to her room. She contacted a co-worker and friend. Then, according to her complaint, she cried in the shower. Ms Frederes friend and colleague confirmed to the investigator that she did receive a call from the young American about the alleged encounter. She remembered Ms Frederes being upset but composed and saying she did not want to pursue legal action because she feared for her career. Ms Frederes also reported the incident to two other female friends. Another senior female academic working on the project told the investigation how she had detected tension between Ms Frederes and Professor Lopez after the 2015 overseas trips.

Professor Lopez again denied, verbally and in writing, any physical contact with Ms Frederes, except for possibly kissing her on the cheek three times. Ms Frederes said she also complained about Professor Lopez to her US boss at Vital Strategies, Philip Setel. Project funder Bloomberg Philanthropies was also made aware about the alleged harassment. Vital Strategies said in a statement that it supported Ms Frederes and her participation in the Melbourne University investigation. We do not condone harassment of any kind, it said. The statement said Mr Setel had agreed to participate in the investigation but was delayed in providing responses. Ms Bryant-Smith accepted Ms Frederes account and rejected Professor Lopezs claim that the young woman had invented the harassment allegations to deflect attention from his criticisms of her job performance in 2017 and 2018. Ms Bryant-Smith also accepted Ms Frederes claims that Professor Lopez had talked in a suggestive and inappropriate manner about his past sexual relationships and body parts during their Shanghai trip. But Professor Lopez told the investigator he could not recall any discussion with Ms Frederes about matters involving his personal life and said he had never before heard of the supposed correlation between a large shoe size and large penis. Ms Frederes produced to the investigation an email sent to her late at night by Professor Lopez during a work trip to Peru a month earlier in which he asked her to join him for a late night drink just the two of us. Ms Bryant-Smith said the email was suggestive but Professor Lopez was not to know at that point that it was unwanted by Ms Frederes.

Deciding to come forward It took almost three years after the alleged incidents for Ms Frederes to lodge a formal complaint with the university in August 2018. She said she had been was prompted by the momentum of the #MeToo movement. Loading In 2015, you either quit your job or accepted the fact that misogyny is rampant in all workplaces. When ... other high-profile cases started garnering attention, I felt like it was safe and the right time to file a complaint with the university, she said. But the universitys investigation process was slow. Professor Lopez did not provide a written response to Ms Frederes allegations until May 2019. The general counsel for Ms Frederes employer, Vital Strategies, was moved to complain to the university about the sluggish pace.
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Oregons top health official said Wednesday the state would comply with a federal order and make all residents 16 and older eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine May 1.

Patrick Allen, director of the Oregon Health Authority, made that commitment Wednesday during an interview with Oregon Public Broadcastings Think Out Loud.

Allens remarks came six days following President Joe Bidens announcement that all states would have enough vaccine supply to make all residents eligible by May 1, two months earlier than Oregon previously planned.

Oregon last week was reluctant to commit to that timeline, with Gov. Kate Brown and Allen on Friday saying they wanted to see doses arrive before committing to it.

Less than a week later, Allen now said the state still doesnt have more clarity about whether it will be receiving enough vaccines in coming weeks to meet Bidens accelerated schedule, which is fueled by the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine being available across the nation.

Allen told OPBs Dave Miller that the state received an order from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services directing vaccination sites to meet the new timeline.

We will be complying with that order and making all Oregonians eligible on May 1, Allen said.

Allen said Oregon is a little bit nervous about committing to the new eligibility timeline because it doesnt have certainty it will receive the commensurate vaccine doses needed to open the floodgates to hundreds of thousands of additional Oregonians by May 1. Oregon previously made a pledge to vaccinate seniors in January but had to backtrack when anticipated doses from the Trump administration never arrived.

Oregon is still vaccinating seniors and wont make the next group of residents  those ages 45 and older with underlying conditions and certain frontline workers in agriculture and food processing industry  eligible until March 29.

Officials had planned to expand eligibility May 1 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. Under that original timeline, everyone else would have become eligible July 1.

The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services issued a two-page directive Wednesday outlining the requirement to make Americans 16 and older eligible May 1.

Norris Cochran, the acting secretary of the federal agency, wrote that limiting vaccine administration to high-risk and priority groups made sense in the first months after doses became available in December.

However, given substantial increases in the supply of vaccines, Cochran wrote, it is appropriate to transition beyond priority groups.

Exactly what that substantial increase in vaccine supply means for Oregon is not yet clear.

States typically have a three-week window through the federal vaccine distribution website where they can look ahead and see what number of doses are coming. Allen said the necessary doses dont yet appear in that three-week window, which makes him nervous.

To be fair, he told OPB, this administration has generally been pretty good on making good on what it assured us we would be able to see in terms of doses.

Oregon is still weeks away from what Allen said will be a good problem to have  where the insatiable demand for vaccines gives way to a glut of doses available statewide at providers offices, pharmacies and at mass clinics in populated areas. So far, about one in five Oregonians has received at least one dose of vaccine.

In the meantime, the state health authority anticipates that vaccine hesitancy will remain an issue in some parts of the state, with Allen saying that theres a real patchwork across Oregon when it comes to people wanting to be immunized.

Erica Heartquist, an Oregon Health Authority spokesperson, said the Biden administration briefed governors earlier this week about his expanded eligibility push, calling it welcome news that vaccine production will meet the demand nationally for making all adults eligible by May 1.

Heartquist said officials would honor their pledge to ensure equitable access to vaccines under the new timeline, finding ways to prioritize at-risk groups  even if that means doing so after everyone is eligible.

We will continue to center equity in all of our vaccine distribution efforts, whether that means ensuring that seniors, people with underlying conditions, frontline workers and Oregonians most vulnerable to COVID-19 have the opportunity for vaccinations prior to May 1 - or after May 1, working with local health partners to ensure these priority groups continue to have access to appointments, she said in a statement.

Update: This story was updated to reflect that Oregon is committing to making all residents 16 and older eligible, not 18 and older. President Biden previously stated all people 18 and older would be eligible

-- Andrew Theen; atheen@oregonian.com; 503-294-4026; @andrewtheen
Nearly all women who deliver babies through cesarean section at Columbia University Irving Medical Center in New York City receive injections of the blood thinner heparin for weeks after the procedure, to prevent potentially life-threatening blood clots.

Obstetric leaders there say that's good medical practice because the formation of those clots, called venous thromboembolism or VTE, though uncommon, is a leading cause of maternal death after delivery, particularly C-section delivery. Broad use of heparin has been shown to be effective and safe in the United Kingdom in reducing that risk and should be adopted in the U.S., they argue.

But there's sharp debate among physicians about whether wide use of heparin is effective, worth the cost and safe, since it carries the risk of bleeding. Last year, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine recommended heparin only for women at elevated risk of VTE, citing a lack of evidence supporting near-universal use.

The controversy illustrates a classic dilemma for physicians: whether and how to adopt promising new treatments before studies have proven their safety and effectiveness. There also are questions about keeping drug company funding from influencing clinical recommendations around the drug.

The Columbia doctors were lead authors of 2016 guidelines from the National Partnership for Maternal Safety  a multidisciplinary group of medical experts  encouraging doctors to give heparin shots to all women after C-sections, except patients with specific risks. Previously, only a small percentage of mothers received them. Nearly 1.2 million U.S. women deliver via C-section each year.

Other U.S. physician groups generally promote heparin use only for women with a personal or family history of deep vein thrombosis or blood clots in the lungs, called pulmonary embolism, or other high-risk factors. They are estimated to make up less than 5% of pregnant or postpartum women.

Despite gaps in evidence, experts said, the use of heparin has increased across the U.S. since the 2016 guidelines came out, though practices vary widely among doctors and hospitals. One reason for the rise is that more women giving birth have risk factors for VTE, such as obesity and older age.

"We have to make sure we're doing everything possible to reduce preventable maternal death," said Dr. Mary D'Alton, chairperson of obstetrics and gynecology at Columbia University and lead author of the 2016 guidelines. She called heparin treatment "very reasonable" after a cesarean delivery.

One of her co-authors has had second thoughts, however.

"I'd have to agree with some of the critics that there isn't solid evidence we should be giving heparin to as many patients as we do here at Columbia," said Dr. Richard Smiley, an anesthesiologist. "I'd probably want to take a step back. But physicians are willing to be a little more aggressive on this because maternal death is so traumatizing."

The deputy editor of BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology scathingly compared widespread use of heparin for post-delivery patients to debunked obstetric practices of the past like enemas and pubic hair shaving. In a 2018 editorial, he suggested that obstetricians deserved a "booby prize" for adopting this practice without adequate scientific evidence.

One big reason for the lack of evidence is that it's a difficult issue to study, because VTE is relatively rare in women during pregnancy and after delivery, with an estimated incidence of 1 in 1,500 patients. A 2014 study found that out of 466,000 women who delivered through C-section and received the standard nondrug therapy of pneumatic compression devices applied to the legs to reduce clotting risk, just one woman died from pulmonary embolism.

"If those data are valid, and heparin were 50% effective in preventing fatal embolism, we'd have to treat almost 1 million women with heparin to prevent a single maternal death from embolism," said Dr. Dwight Rouse, a professor at Brown University and editor-in-chief of Obstetrics & Gynecology, ACOG's journal.

The cost of preventing that one death? A 2016 editorial he co-authored estimated the minimum national cost associated with widespread use of heparin after C-sections would be $52 million to $130 million annually, not counting the cost of treating serious bleeding complications caused by the drug.

Rouse and other critics say there have been no solid studies either of how effective heparin is at preventing clots or of how many women suffer adverse effects from heparin such as hemorrhage or problems in wound healing. Without those numbers, it's impossible to determine how effective and safe heparin is, they argue. There's also a lack of research on how to best calculate patients' clotting risk based on various individual factors.

While D'Alton and her co-authors claim U.K. data show that maternal deaths from VTE have dropped since British obstetricians recommended broad use of heparin in 2004, critics note that deaths actually have ticked up slightly in recent years to the same level as in the 1980s and '90s.

From 2007 to 2017, the death rate in Britain increased from less than 1 per 100,000 births to about 1.5, according to an analysis by Dr. Andrew Kotaska, an adjunct professor of epidemiology at the University of British Columbia who wrote a 2018 BJOG article arguing that broad heparin use may cause more harm than good.

"The basic rule in evidence-based medicine is you don't implement large-scale interventions that have side effects without first demonstrating net benefit over harm," Kotaska said in an interview. "And this is being done to women without discussing it with them and getting their informed consent."

Obstetricians followed other medical specialties in using heparin after surgical procedures. But the American College of Chest Physicians, whose previous guidelines had strongly advocated giving heparin to post-surgical patients, softened its support in 2012 by saying the evidence for net benefit over harm wasn't clear.

The ACCP also acknowledged that the authors of its previous guidelines promoting heparin use had "highly problematic" financial and intellectual conflicts of interest, including financial relationships with major drug companies that produce anti-clotting drugs. To eliminate such conflicts, the ACCP sharply revised its process for choosing the experts who write its guidelines.

A controversy over drug company funding also arose in connection with the 2016 National Partnership for Maternal Safety guidelines on VTE prevention. In 2019, the editors of Obstetrics & Gynecology, which published the guidelines, disclosed that the National Partnership's guidelines effort received funding from industry groups, including three companies that produce anticoagulant drugs  though the journal said none of the authors received any of those funds.

"We didn't disclose the funding originally because we had no knowledge of it," D'Alton said.

Some critics say funding from drugmakers and other health industry players casts doubt on the credibility of this and other guidelines from physician groups.

"It's a toxic problem for medicine and the care of women," said Dr. Adam Urato, chief of maternal and fetal medicine at MetroWest Medical Center in Framingham, Massachusetts, who pressed Obstetrics & Gynecology to disclose the partnership's drug company funding. "Corporate cash will push guidelines toward things that are good for corporate profits, not for patients."

Meanwhile, Canadian researchers are planning to test an alternative drug that may be equally effective, safer and cheaper in preventing VTE in women after delivery  aspirin.

Orthopedic surgeons have reported that aspirin is as effective as injectable blood thinners at preventing clots.

"I'm not against heparin, but we don't know the best way to prevent clots," said Dr. Leslie Skeith, an assistant professor of hematology at the University of Calgary who launched a five-nation study. "We just need better evidence."
Washington: Almost two months into his presidency, Joe Biden has plenty to feel pleased about. Coronavirus cases in the US have plummeted, the pace of vaccinations has increased dramatically and last week he signed a giant $2.5 trillion economic recovery package into law.

But one issue is fast becoming a major vulnerability for the US President, in terms of both policy and politics: immigration. A surge in migrants trying to cross from Mexico into the US at the southern border has given Republicans an opening to go on the attack against the new administration.

A Honduran man seeking asylum in the United States wears a shirt that reads, Biden please let us in, as he stands among tents that line an entrance to the border crossing in Tijuana, Mexico. Credit:AP

According to Bidens Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, US officials soon expect to encounter more individuals at the south-west border than they have in the past 20 years.

US Border Patrol agents apprehended nearly 100,000 migrants at the border in February, and that number is expected to balloon in March. An estimated 5000 people are now being apprehended at crossings each day.
Janet Hamada and Kathleen Holt

Hamada is executive director of The Next Door and vice chair of the Meyer Memorial Trust board of trustees. Holt is interim executive director of APANO.

As Asian leaders in Oregon, we are compelled to speak out in response to a recent spike in hate and bias incidents against Asian-American and Pacific-Islander communities on behalf of the populations we represent, serve and help to lead.

In Oregon, this includes two physical attacks: One, on an Asian American mother and son using public transit in Portland and the other, on a Willamette University student on her way to the grocery store in Salem. Many Asian-owned businesses along 82nd Avenue and in Portlands Jade District have been vandalized. The Oregon Department of Justice bias hotline has received 99 reports from Asian Americans since January 2020. This uptick mirrors a disturbing national trend, with more than 2,800 incidents reported to Stop AAPI Hate from March to December 2020.

Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, the use of phrases like China virus and attempts by national and local leaders to scapegoat Asian Americans have stoked fear and emboldened intolerance and hate. As a recent White House memo acknowledges, our own government has played a role in spreading anti-Asian bias and must take steps to prevent and address it.

The false characterization of Asian Americans as a foreign threat fuels the animus against us. Those who have engaged in these violent acts often target those most vulnerablethe young, the elderly and women.

Unfortunately, history shows us such attacks are not new. The injustice faced by Oregon native Minoru Yasui, the first Japanese American to receive a law degree at the University of Oregon, is an example of our racist past. After protesting a curfew order targeted at Japanese Americans in the wake of the Pearl Harbor attack, he was stripped of his citizenship and spent nine months in solitary confinement. The U.S. Supreme Court eventually affirmed, his citizenship, but upheld the guilty verdict. He was released from Minidoka incarceration camp in 1944.

But his story also shows how our country is recognizing that our cultural and ethnic diversity is a uniquely American strength. Yasui was posthumously honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2015, the first Oregonian ever to receive the distinction.

To those who are struggling and fearful: No matter what has been said or done to you by classmates, strangers or cowards who seek to intimidate and destroy your livelihoods, know that you belong.

To those who remain confused about the Asian American/Pacific Islander communitys place in Oregon and American society, know this: We belong, and we are here to stay.

Community members who have been impacted by a bias-driven incident can refer to APANO and Portland United Against Hates Resilience to Hate Resource Guide. Incidents can be reported at www.reporthatepdx.com, the Bias Response Hotline at 1-844-924-BIAS or at StandAgainstHate.Oregon.gov.

Our friends, neighbors, and allies can help create safer communities for all by addressing the words, jokes, slights and comments that underlie these more violent actions. Hollaback!, in partnership with Asian Americans Advancing Justice, offers resources and training for bystander interventions.

Building a more inclusive and equitable region requires that we also work in solidarity with Black, Indigenous and people of color communities. We call upon all Oregonians to actively participate with us, so that people from all races, cultures and communities are safe, respected and protected.

Cindy Adams, United Way of the Columbia-Willamette president and chief executive officer, and Lee Po Cha, Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization executive director, also co-authored this op-ed.

To read a translation of this op-ed in Chinese, visit Facebook.com/TheOregonian

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Yaphet Kotto, an actor whose credits include the films Alien and Live and Let Die as well as a long tenure on TV series Homicide: Life on the Street, has died, his agent announced. He was 81.

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Kotto, whose career spanned from the 1960s to the 1990s, died Sunday in the Philippines, where he lived with his wife, agent Ryan Goldhar said. The cause of death was not released.

The actor's long list of credits includes the films Alien, The Running Man, Midnight Run, The Thomas Crown Affair and horror sequel Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare. In 1973, he portrayed iconic James Bond villain Mr. Big in Live and Let Die.

Kotto was nominated for an Emmy Award in 1977 for his role as Ugandan President Idi Amin in the TV movie Raid on Entebbe. He was best known to TV audiences as Lt. Al Giardello on NBC's Homicide: Life on the Street.

"Memories and respect for Yaphet Kotto, whose film career was legend even before he came to Baltimore to grace our television drama. But for me, he'll always be Al Giardello, the unlikeliest Sicilian, gently pulling down the office blinds to glower at detectives in his squadroom," Homicide writer and producer David Simon wrote on Twitter.

Kotto's wife, Tessie Sinahon, first revealed his death in a Facebook post Monday night.

"I'm saddened and still in shocked of the passing of my husband Yaphet of 24 years. He died last night around 10:30pm Philippine time," Sinahon wrote. "You played a villain on some of your movies but for me you're a real hero and to a lot of people also."

Directors Ava DuVernay and Edgar Wright also tweeted tributes to the actor.

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"Yaphet Kotto. My Mom's favorite," DuVernay wrote. "He's one of those actors who deserved more than the parts he got. But he took those parts and made them wonderful all the same. A star. Rest well, sir."

"RIP Yaphet Kotto, a brilliant magnetic presence, bringing gravitas & naturalism to deep space or underground Bond lair. So memorable as Parker in Alien, Kananga (Mr Big) in Live & Let Die, Smokey James in Blue Collar or in the simmering funny rage of Midnight Run's Alonzo Mosely," Wright tweeted.
A Georgia city, a textile manufacturer and others are being sued by a former Summerville, Georgia, city council member over a water crisis that forced Summerville to distribute bottled water for weeks and still could cost taxpayers millions.

On Jan. 31, Summerville residents were advised not to consume their tap water after cancer causing chemicals were discovered during a quality inspection done by the Environmental Protection District of Georgia.

Earl Parris, who served two years on the city council in the 1990s and again for four years ending in 2020, wants the people responsible for the contaminated water to cover the cost of a long-term solution, The Chattanooga Times Free Press reported.

Parris lawsuit alleges the town of Trions Water Pollution Control Plant disposed sludge and biosolids in Raccoon Creek, which is the main source for Summervilles water. It also alleges the company Mount Vernon Mills has discharged harmful chemicals into Trions plant that then entered Summervilles water source.

The suit, filed in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, also names 3M, Daikin America, Huntsman International and Pulcra Chemicals, whose products are used at Mount Vernon Mills to provide stain resistance and water resistance to its fabrics.

As a taxpayer and water customer in Summerville, its not our responsibility and not our fault the waters contaminated, Parris said. Somebodys at fault here. Nobody wants to take the blame, of course not.

Summerville Mayor Harry Harvey and City Administrator Janice Galloway did not return phone calls from the newspaper for comment. A call and voicemail to Mount Vernons office in Trion was not returned, and Trion city officials were not available for comment.

Parris is using the Clean Water Act and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act for the basis of his lawsuit. He mentioned several similar lawsuits against companies such as Dupont as inspirations to having companies be on the hook in such cases instead of residents.

This whole lawsuit is in hopes that the city of Summerville gets a new reverse osmosis plant, Parris said. That is the only type of plant that will remove the chemicals.

The EPA notified city officials in January 2020 that water from Racoon Creek showed high levels of two human-made chemicals  perfluorooctane sulfonate and perfluorooctanoic acid  which are used to make carpet, clothing fabric, cookware, paper, food packaging and other materials. The city has said the levels of both chemicals have not increased, but the EPA standards changed in 2016.

The water has been safe for most people to drink for months. The health advisory was mainly aimed at more vulnerable populations such as infants and pregnant women, according to the EPA.

Over the summer, city officials found that a test-well site on Highway 48 will be able to supply the amount of water needed to dilute the current supply and provide drinking water that will meet government standards. The goal for diluting the water is to have the threshold for the chemicals fall below 70 parts per trillion, which is the state standard.

Sarah Sprayberry, one of the local activists, wondered if that method went far enough to ensure people in Chattooga County will have clean and safe water to drink.

Parris also does not believe blending the water with cleaner water is a sufficient answer to the problem.

We trust our city leaders, we believe in them, Parris said. We vote for them to do the right thing and the right thing wasnt happening. What theyre doing right now is nothing more than a Band-Aid.

Early estimations for the project and a long-term solution were between $1 million and $1.2 million. Now that number is closer to $3 million.

Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Lawsuits Georgia Chemicals
Israeli archaeologists announced this week the discovery of dozens of new Dead Sea Scroll fragments. Found in a desert cave and likely stashed away during a Jewish revolt against Rome nearly 1,900 years ago, the scraps of biblical texts offer a rare window into the history of Judaism, early Christian life, and humankind.

CBS News' Imtiaz Tyab reports that when the first fragments of the Dead Sea Scrolls were found over 70 years ago, it was widely considered to be one of the most significant archaeological discoveries of the 20th century.

To make the new discovery, archaeologists rappelled down a sheer cliff into the Cave of Horrors  so named for the dozens of human remains found inside. But while the history of the cave is as dark as its name implies, excavators have described what they found inside as "between heaven and Earth."

D.C. Bible museum says 5 Dead Sea Scrolls are fake

Dozens of fragments of the Dead Sea Scrolls were uncovered after nearly two millennia. The pieces of parchment are small  some miniscule  but they're big enough to draw wisdom from, according to Dr. Oren Ableman.

"These are the things you are to do," he quotes from one of the fragments' Greek text. "Speak the truth to one another, render true and perfect justice in your gates and do not contrive evil against one another. And do not love perjury because those are things that I hate, declares the Lord."

An archaeologist at the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) shows an ancient lice comb from the Bar Kochba Jewish revolt period, excavated from an area in the Judean Desert, after conservation work is done at the IAA's Dead Sea conservation laboratory in Jerusalem, March 16, 2021. / Credit: MENAHEM KAHANA/AFP/Getty

The arid conditions of the Judean Desert ensured that dozens of other objects found alongside the scroll fragments also withstood the test of time, including ancient olive pits; remnants of clothing and sandals and a wooden lice comb similar to one that might be used today.

Protecting culture, or stealing it?

Archaeologist Chaim Cohen says the four-year project has been vital to protect the treasures inside the cave system from future plunder.

"This project is the protection of the area because, again, it is almost impossible to beat the looters," he said. "They're working, and the solution was to get to the case before the looters."

Story continues

The massive excavation site spans parts of southern Israel and the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Israel has long been criticized for removing objects found in the Palestinian territories.

According to international law, taking cultural property from an occupied territory is forbidden, but those concerns haven't prevented the Israeli Antiquities Authority from putting the discoveries on display.

Beyond the biblical

Some of the artifacts go well beyond the biblical, including the 6,000-year-old skeleton of a small child, and an almost perfectly preserved basket, which wouldn't look too out of place at a home furnishings store today.

Archaeologist at the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) Haim Cohen shows a 10,500-year-old basket, dating back to the Neolithic period, that was unearthed in Murabaat Cave in the Judean Desert, displayed at the IAA's Dead Sea conservation laboratory in Jerusalem, March 16, 2021. / Credit: MENAHEM KAHANA/AFP/Getty

"We didn't understand because we thought the cave is empty, and then when we came we were looking at a whole huge intact basket," said Yaniv Berman, of the Antiquities Authority. He said when they got the results of carbon dating analysis, "we were shocked! It is 10,500 years old!"

It was another dazzling puzzle piece from the past, found alongside ancient wisdoms that still resonate today.

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Migrants: rescue operation ongoing off Canary Islands Fifty-two people rescued so far. Toddler in serious condition

(ANSAmed) - MADRID, MARCH 17 - Spanish authorities have received several distress calls from boats travelling towards the Canary Islands with dozens of migrants on board. They are currently using an aircraft to find them, according to Salvamento Maritimo, the public agency in charge of rescue operations at sea.



On Tuesday night, 52 migrants were rescued from a boat and disembarked in the island of Gran Canaria. They included nine minors aged one to 13, according to Efe news agency. A little girl from Mali is in serious condition after suffering a cardiac arrest. Two healthcare workers were able to resuscitate her. She is now in intensive care. The other minors were also hospitalized, Efe added.



On Wednesday the Salvamento Maritimo found another boat. A rescue vessel is en route to aid the migrants. The number of migrants on board has not been determined yet. Maritime rescue authorities, moreover, have been unable to confirm so far whether the two boats detected were among the four that sent out distress calls over the past few days. Search operations on Tuesday were unsuccessful.(ANSAmed).




A New Jersey gym owner, who is charged with storming the U.S. Capitol and punching a police officer, is a QAnon believer who allegedly boasted he would go again and has previously threatened a congresswoman, authorities said in court documents Wednesday.

In seeking to have Scott Fairlamb, of Sussex, detained pending the outcome of his criminal case, prosecutors said Fairlambs actions  most of which were caught on video  on Jan. 6 show an absolute disregard for the rule of law coupled with a willingness to engage in violence.

Based on citizen tips and video footage of the attempted insurrection, authorities said Fairlamb participated in the riot and could be seen assaulting a police officer, carrying a baton around Capitol grounds and standing on scaffolding outside the building, according to an affidavit.

His actions and words on that day all indicate a specific intent to obstruct a congressional proceeding through fear, intimidation, and violence, including violence against uniformed police officers, prosecutors wrote in seeking detention.

In one Facebook video that was submitted to the FBI, Fairlamb could be heard saying, What (do) Patriots do? We f----n disarm them and then we storm the f----n Capitol, according to the affidavit.

After being one of the first people to breach the western front of the Capitol, Fairlamb later harassed a line of police officers outside the building by shouting in their faces and blocking their movement, according to citizen video and body camera footage.

Are you an American? Act like a f---ing one! Fairlamb can be heard shouting, according to the video. ... You guys have no idea what the f--k youre doing!

Fairlamb can be seen screaming at police officers moments before video shows him punching one of them.

As one officer attempted to move Fairlamb out of the way, Fairlamb, a former mixed martial arts fighter, forcefully shoved the officer and stuck his finger in the officers face. When the officer pushed Fairlambs hand away, Fairlamb punched him in the face, according to the videos.

The officer did not seek medical attention, according to court documents.

After being initially arrested in January, Fairlamb, whose brother was previously a secret service officer assigned to protect Michelle Obama, was indicted on 12 charges last month, including assaulting a federal officer, entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds with a deadly weapon, and act of physical violence on the Capitol grounds, among other charges.

Fairlamb, who runs a gym in Pompton Lakes, is one of more than a dozen New Jersey residents to be charged with participating in the attack on the U.S. Capitol.

He was ordered to be released by a magistrate judge following his arrest, but has been held after the government said it would appeal the decision.

Fairlambs attorney did not immediately return a request for comment.

In their memo filed Wednesday, prosecutors said Fairlamb appears to subscribe to the QAnon conspiracy theory, according to information seized from search warrants of his social media accounts.

QAnon is a far-right conspiracy theory movement that falsely believed a powerful group of Satan-worshipping pedophiles were undermining the 2020 election and former President Donald Trumps re-election hopes. One theory, which Fairlamb believed, according to prosecutors, was that Trump would become the first President of the new Republic beginning March 4, which did not happen.

Prosecutors also said Fairlambs social media postings indicate he traveled to the Capitol prepared to commit violence, and that he has no remorse to the events that occurred.

On Jan. 9, three days after he was seen storming the Capitol, one Instagram user asked Fairlamb what would happen if Trump did become the new president on March 4.

War Vs patriots, he reportedly said. They dont want that lol.

That same day, according to court documents, a tipster sent the FBI a post Fairlamb made on Instagram threatening U.S. Rep. Cori Bush, a newly elected Black Democratic legislator from Missouri.

@coribush Youre full of s---, shoulda lit your a-- up, the post says.

It includes threatening messages others sent to Bush, including one that read, I wish someone would put a knee on your neck for spreading lies. #whitelivesmatter.

Authorities attempted to interview Fairlamb on Jan. 14, but he declined. The next day, he messaged an individual saying the FBI was aware he was at the Capitol on Jan. 6.

All good, Fairlamb reportedly said. Id go again.

He was subsequently arrested on Jan. 22.

During a search warrant of his home, authorities discovered the baton he is seen holding during the riot, as well as ammunition shells. Prosecutors expressed concerns that Fairlamb, who has previously posted himself on social media with firearms, removed weapons he had after the FBI initially contacted him and in the time before he was arrested.

Prosecutors described Fairlamb as a danger to the community, as evidenced by multiple previous assault convictions, his actions at the Capitol and his social media activity before and after Jan. 6. They also noted that Fairlamb defied stay-at-home orders when he re-opened his gym in May amidst the coronavirus pandemic.

Fairlamb, prosecutors allege, has a history of defying lawful orders weighs heavily towards detention in this matter.

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HANGZHOU, China, March 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- WuXi Biologics ("WuXi Bio") (2269.HK), a global company with leading open-access biologics technology platforms, today announced that it has entered into an equity agreement with Pfizer China ("Pfizer") to acquire its state-of-the-art biologics manufacturing facilities as well as its labor force in Hangzhou, China. The transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2021, which will immediately boost the commercial Drug Substance (DS) and Drug Product (DP) capacities for WuXi Biologics to address surging manufacturing demands.

The state-of-the-art 50,000 m2 facilities, GMP operational since 2018, includes DS capacities equipped with 2x2000L single-use bioreactors expandable to 4x2000L (MFG20) and DP capacities of vial filling (DP9) and pre-filled syringe (DP10). Leveraging the facilities' experienced workforce and WuXi Biologics' extensive expertise in manufacturing and regulation, the production is expected to commence shortly after the deal closure.

Dr. Chris Chen, CEO of WuXi Biologics, commented, "We are pleased to work with Pfizer and add the new Hangzhou biologics manufacturing facilities to our global network to address the surging manufacturing demands for late-stage and commercial projects due to the success of our Win-the-Molecule strategy. Globally DS and especially DP capacities are in urgent need now. The acquisition will allow us to better enable our global partners to develop and manufacture premier-quality biologics to benefit patients around the world."

About WuXi Biologics

WuXi Biologics (stock code: 2269.HK), a Hong Kong-listed company, is a leading global open-access biologics technology platform offering end-to-end solutions to empower organizations to discover, develop, and manufacture biologics from concept to commercial manufacturing. The company's history and achievements demonstrate its commitment to providing a truly one-stop service offering and strong value proposition to its global clients. As of June 30, 2020, there were a total of 286 integrated projects, including 141 projects in pre-clinical development stage, 125 projects in early-phase (phase I and II) clinical development, 19 projects in late-phase (phase III) development and one project in commercial manufacturing. With total estimated capacity for biopharmaceutical production planned in China, Ireland, the U.S., Germany, and Singapore exceeding 300,000 liters after 2023, WuXi Biologics will provide its biomanufacturing partners with a robust and premier-quality global supply chain network. For more information about WuXi Biologics, please visit: www.wuxibiologics.com.

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On Wednesday, the U.S. Secret Service arrested Paul Murray, 31, of San Antonio near the residence of Vice President Kamala Harris, according to a report from CNBC. Police said they found a rifle and ammunition in Murray's car.

He was stopped near the northwest section of Washington on Massachusetts Avenue near the Naval Observatory, which contains Harris' residence, after a "be on the lookout" alert for Murray was sent out to law enforcement agencies in the area.
Press Release

March 17, 2021 Senate forms Committee of the Whole to investigate pork import "tong-pats" The Senate on Wednesday adopted a resolution calling for the constitution of the Committee of the Whole to conduct an inquiry into the food security crisis brought about by the severe outbreak of the African swine fever as well as the alleged "tong-pats" or padded costs per kilogram of imported pork. In adopting Senate Resolution No. (SRN) 685 introduced and sponsored by Sen. Panfilo "Ping" Lacson, the Senate constituted the Committee of the Whole in Food Security Crisis and the African Swine Fever (ASF) with Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III as chairman. SRN 685 also seeks the adoption of policy solutions on importation which is foreseen to cause billions of revenue losses and further perpetrate the unabated corruption in the form of "tong-pats" and technical smuggling of poultry and pork products. In sponsoring the measure, Sen. Lacson said the inquiry will be about finding out if there is truth to information that there is a padded cost of P5 to P7 per kilogram of pork that would go to the pockets of unscrupulous officials. Lacson also said he deemed it wise to request that the resolution be referred to the Committee of the Whole because it involves issues that go beyond the jurisdiction of the Committee of Agriculture, Food and Agrarian Reform, such as corruption, health, and foregone revenues. "It is high time for the Senate as a whole to take the bull by its horn, face the problem squarely, and adopt policies and measures that will alleviate the sufferings of the local industries that are already reeling from the ASF crisis compounded by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and fundamentally, accord them the support and opportunity as active partners in development and nation-building," the resolution stated. According to the resolution, the ASF problem began as early as 2018 when certain officials of the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) illegally permitted the entry of pork meat and other pork products from banned countries like Hungary, Belgium, Germany and China into the Philippines in violation of existing Memorandum Orders issued by the Department of Agriculture banning the importation of said agricultural products. Lacson said the inquiry will also focus on the reasons that caused the transfer of former BAI Director Ronnie Domingo to the Philippine Carabao Center in Nueva Ecija. SRN 685 also takes into account the call of the Agricultural Sector Alliance of the Philippines (AGAP) Partylist, representing 80,000 backyard hog raisers, for the Senate to investigate the proposed expansion of the minimum access volume (MAV) from 54,000 metric tons (MT) to 400,000 MT and the imposition of a reduced tariff from 30 percent to five percent for in-quota importation and 40 percent to 15 percent for out-quota importation of pork products. The group is emphasizing that the MAV of 400,000 MT will cause oversupply not only in Luzon, but in Visayas and Mindanao as well, where there is ample supply of pork. "We received reports that on top of this burden to our local hog industry, unscrupulous individuals have found a way to illegally profit from this new scheme through the imposition of "tong-pats" amounting to P5.00 to P7.00 per kilo of imported pork at present rate which could significantly increase upon the approval of the proposed tariff rate reduction from 30 percent to 5 percent for in-quota and 40 percent to 15 percent out-quota, and the MAV allocation is increased under this proposition," the resolution stated. AGAP also asserted that the foregone tariff revenue of P13.95 billion is enough to finance the indemnification of all ASF infected hogs as the remaining hog population is 8.5 million. It also recommended to allocate P8.5 billion (10 percent of 8.5 million hogs at P10,000 per head) to finance indemnification of all ASF infected hogs to backyard and commercial raisers. "So we want to find out what caused the transfer, and if there is really truth to the report that I received that P5.00 to P7.00 padded cost per kilogram of pork. And that would translate, if the volume is increased to 400 million kilos, and the so-called tong-pats will double up, easily that would translate to P6 billion," Lacson said.
Ely Gold Retains Two Key Royalty Interests

Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 17, 2021) - Ely Gold Royalties Inc. (TSXV: ELY) (OTCQX: ELYGF) ("Ely Gold" or the "Company") is very pleased to welcome First Majestic Sliver Corp. ("First Majestic") to Nevada, a premier global mining jurisdiction. On March 12, 2021 First Majestic announced its acquisition of the Jerritt Canyon Mine ("Jerritt Canyon") through an all-stock deal with Sprott Mining valued at over US$470 million (the "Acquisition"). Concurrent with the Acquisition, Eric Sprott, President of Sprott Mining, will complete a US$30 million private placement investment in First Majestic. Eric Sprott is also Ely Gold's largest shareholder.

Ely Gold holds a 0.5% net smelter returns royalty (the "JC NSR"), which includes the entire 119 square mile land package at Jerritt Canyon and a per ton royalty interest ("PTR") on all ore processed through the Jerritt Canyon mill. Ely Gold acquired the JC NSR, from Eric Sprott, in 2020 (refer to news release, May 13, 2020), and acquired the PTR through a private transaction in 2019 (refer to news release, May 23, 2019). The PTR is linked to a perpetual license for the patent to certain proprietary scrubbing technology involved in the removal of mercury from gas that is currently being used at the Jerritt Canyon Processing Facilities.

Current Operations at the Jerritt Canyon Mine

Jerritt Canyon currently operates as an underground mine and has one of only three permitted gold processing plants in Nevada that uses roasting in its treatment of refractory ore. The other two plants are owned by Nevada Gold Mines (joint venture between Barrick and Newmont Gold). The 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 its two underground mines. In 2020, Jerritt Canyon produced 112,749 ounces of gold at a cash cost of US$1,289 per ounce. Sprott Mining has identified several opportunities to expand production at Jerritt Canyon. These are outlined in an NI 43-101 Technical Report on the Jerritt Canyon Mine, Elko County, Nevada, USA filed by Ely Gold on SEDAR, June 25, 2020 and available on the Company's website at http://www.elygoldinc.com/.

Development opportunities at Jerritt Canyon include:

Near-term brownfield mine development potential between the SSX and Smith mines;

Additional brownfield mine development potential between SSX and West Mahala mines;

Nearly one million ounces of defined high-grade resources located below the water table at the Smith, SSX and West Mahala Mines, now accessible with a new water treatment plant completed by Sprott Mining in 2019;

Potential for open pit pushbacks for future mill feed at different targets;

Potential for improvements in metallurgical recoveries through fine grinding and other R&D

First Majestic's expertise in underground mining and milling operations combined with their significant treasury is expected to drive development at Jerritt Canyon forward and ramp up production quickly. An updated NI 43-101, currently being prepared by Sprott Mining, will now be released by First Majestic in the near future. The report is expected to include a cost analysis for expanding mining operations and production.

The exploration potential at Jerritt Canyon provides significant upside. The 119 square mile land package includes some of the most highly prospective, under-explored Carlin ground in Nevada. Jerritt Canyon has not seen a district-wide drill program since the early 90's when AngloGoldAshanti Limited ("Anglo") owned the operation. Anglo instituted a first-pass, district-wide drill program and although the program delivered multiple high-grade intercepts, many of the targets were never followed up.

Trey Wasser, President and CEO of Ely Gold commented; "Ely Gold is a prime beneficiary of the change of control at Jerritt Canyon. We will benefit in two ways as production increases - in ounces sold and tons per day processed. Jerritt Canyon is a unique asset, and while Sprott Mining successfully continued its refurbishment, we feel that Keith's group will now provide the expertise and capital necessary to bring Jerritt Canyon to its full potential as a Tier 1 mining operation. Ely Gold's 'Key Assets' already include most of the best operators in Nevada, now we are pleased to include one of Mexico's best operators to our portfolio. Welcome to Nevada, Keith."

Qualified Person Stephen Kenwood, P. Geo, is a director of the Company and a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101. Mr. Kenwood has reviewed and approved the technical information in this press release.

About Ely Gold Royalties Inc. Ely Gold Royalties Inc. is a Nevada focused gold royalty company. Its current portfolio includes royalties at Jerritt Canyon, Goldstrike and Marigold, three of Nevada's largest gold mines, as well as the Fenelon mine in Quebec, operated by Wallbridge Mining. The Company continues to actively seek opportunities to purchase producing or near-term producing royalties. Ely Gold also generates development royalties through property sales on projects that are located at or near producing mines. Management believes that due to the Company's ability to locate and purchase third-party royalties, its strategy of organically creating royalties and its gold focus, Ely Gold offers shareholders a favorable leverage to gold prices and low-cost access to long-term gold royalties in safe mining jurisdictions.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors

Signed "Trey Wasser"

Trey Wasser, President & CEO

For further information, please contact:

Trey Wasser, President & CEO

trey@elygoldinc.com

972-803-3087

Joanne Jobin, Investor Relations Officer

jjobin@elygoldinc.com

647-964-0292

FORWARD-LOOKING CAUTIONS: This press release contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation, including, but not limited to, statements regarding completion of the Transaction. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts; they are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "intends," "estimates," "projects," "aims," "potential," "goal," "objective," "prospective," and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will," "would," "may," "can," "could" or "should" occur, or are those statements, which, by their nature, refer to future events. The Company cautions that forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made and they involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Consequently, there can be no assurances that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Except to the extent required by applicable securities laws and the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements if management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change. Factors that could cause future results to differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements include the Company's inability to control whether the buy-down right will ever be exercised, and whether the right of first refusal will ever be triggered, uncertainty as to whether any mining will occur on the property covered by the Probe Royalty such that the Company will receive any payment therefrom, and the general risks and uncertainties relating to the mineral exploration, development and production business. The reader is urged to refer to the Company's reports, publicly available through the Canadian Securities Administrators' System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval (SEDAR) at www.sedar.com for a more complete discussion of such risk factors and their potential effect.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/77624
A homeless woman who punched a man in his rear end before stabbing him with a suspected syringe in a row over cigarettes has been jailed for two and a half years.

Sarah Dunne (29) was engaging in bizarre conduct, with no rhyme or reason when she accosted the man who was standing outside the shop he worked in on North Portland Street, Dublin, in November 2019, defence counsel said.

Dunne asked the man for a cigarette before throwing her bike on the ground and screaming at him when he said he had none left, Garda Conor Mulhern told Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on Tuesday.

As the man, who was with his girlfriend, walked back into the shop, Dunne punched him twice in his backside before he felt something cutting him in his right side. She then left the scene.

Dunne, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to one count of assault causing harm to the man.

After the attack, the victim was fearful he had been stabbed with a syringe. He went to Mountjoy garda station in a panicked state and was taken by ambulance to hospital, where doctors found a cut consistent with a syringe puncture mark, the court heard.

He was giving preventative treatments for Hepatitis A, B and C, along with a tetanus shot. He also had to take medication to prevent HIV for the next three months.

The victim was very upset and couldn't stop thinking about what had happened, Dara Hayes BL, prosecuting, told the court. He has since returned to his native Brazil and declined to make a victim impact statement.

Dunne was arrested in May 2020 after she broke into at a house in Cabra. In relation to that offence, she pleaded guilty to one count of trespass and theft at Cabra Park on May 26, 2020 and will be sentenced on July 29.

Cathal McGreal BL, defending, said his client had been homeless for a number of years and suffered from mental health issues and heroin addiction. She is on anti-psychotic and anti-depressant medication.

She is now clean of heroin and is no longer on methadone, the court heard. She has 24 previous convictions including burglary and theft.

Sentencing Dunne, Judge Melanie Greally said Dunne had left her victim terrified. The offence involved the victim being punched in his rear end and it involved the use of a sharp object believed to be a syringe, the judge said.

(The victim) had to endure the worry of possible health implications of the possible use of a syringe, the judge said.

She handed down a two-and-a-half year sentence and backdated it to May 2020 when Dunne went into custody.
Eddie McGuire will be returning to hosting Footy Classified tonight.

While the situation has been fluid as to his return, a Nine spokesperson has now confirmed the info.

McGuire took time out from media commitments following the end of his presidency at Collingwood, but has also recorded Hot Seat episodes.

FOX Footy is yet to confirm a return date.

10pm tonight on Nine (Melb, Adelaide and Perth).

Related
[March 17, 2021] PHD Named EMEA Media Network of the Year and UK Media Agency of the Year at Campaign Awards 2021

LONDON, March 17, 2021 /CNW/ -- Award-winning media agency PHD, part of Omnicom Media Group, has received top honours after being named EMEA Media Network of the Year and UK Media Agency of the Year by global business magazine Campaign. The accolades reflect the network's significant new business growth, including winning Diageo's global media planning and buying account; its expanded product and service proposition, which includes collaboration and work-flow platform Omni Studio; and PHD's commitment to talent development. Commenting on the wins, Philippa Brown, Chief Executive Officer at PHD Worldwide said, "I am very proud of our PHD teams across EMEA and what we have achieved during what has been a very challenging year. This recognition is only possible because of the talent at PHD and the collaborative partnerships built with our clients and partners. We share this award with them as they've given us opportunities to make the leap in our output and deliver true impact." Campaign's EMEA Network of the Year accolade was introduced three years ago. PHD won EMEA Network of the Year in its inaugural year, was then shortlisted last year and regained its winner title most recently. PHD UK has been shortlisted for Media Agency of the Year for 12 years in succession, winning three times. The Campaign Agency of the Year awards highlights strong leadership, creativity and innovation, stellar new business performance, the development of talent, and contribution to the industry. Ian Clarke, President at PHD EMEA, commented,"PHD is a very special agency due to the commitment and dedication of our teams. We are driven by core values of openness, curiosity, collaboration, courage and creativity. With all the unique pressures of the pandemic in 2020, these values really came to the fore to support our clients and partners."



Since its launch in London in 1990, PHD has been a pioneer of strategic and creative media planning, and today exists to help clients make the leap above their competitors to achieve disproportionate growth. The agency has invested heavily in the EMEA region over the past few years with recent new leadership appointments including Ali Reed, incoming CEO at PHD UK, Daniel Kallberg as CEO at PHD Sweden and Luca Allam's promotion from managing director to CEO of PHD MENA. With dedicated media expertise, supported with specialist capabilities in eCommerce, creative and digital, PHD has grown to represent companies including Diageo, Volkswagen Group, HSBC, HP, LG, Lindt, ManoMano, McCain, Oatly!, SC Johnson, Stars Group, Unilever, Warner Bros, VF Group, Aldi and Arla, to name a few.

About PHD:

PHD is a growth-obsessed agency that believes in the remarkable power of imagination.??? Since it was founded in London in 1990, as the first media agency to offer strategic and creative planning, PHD has been helping clients achieve disproportionate growth.??? Today with over 100 offices in 74 countries, PHD remains in the business of growth, with a challenger mindset and focus on creativity.??? Using its proprietary gamified operating system: Omni Studio, which enables us to work together in a live environment, PHD creates ideas that go beyond expectations; ideas that enable brands to move beyond incremental improvements and make the leap above their competitors.??? This approach has paid dividends for PHD's clients as well as the network. PHD is ranked in the top four most globally awarded networks in the world (according to the 2020 WARC Media 100)?and crowned Network of the Year at M&M Global?2020.? The PHD network is part of the Omnicom Media Group, a division of Omnicom Group Inc. (NYSE: OMC).?? PHD | Make the Leap???

www.phdmedia.com ?? View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/phd-named-emea-media-network-of-the-year-and-uk-media-agency-of-the-year-at-campaign-awards-2021-301249600.html SOURCE OMG Europe (PHD WW)

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[March 17, 2021] Aptitude Research Examines Benefits of Programmatic Job Advertising

NEW YORK and HERZLIYA, Israel, March 17, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- PandoLogic, the worlds leading provider of programmatic recruitment advertising, shared findings from recent report conducted by Madeline Laurano, principal analyst at the talent acquisition industry firm Aptitude Research. Laurano presented the primary research, titled Dont Get Left Behind: The Programmatic Revolution Starts Now, at this weeks Spring HR Tech Conference.

Frustration abounds with traditional job advertising models, given its expensive, inefficient and, most times, ineffective results. These older approaches assume that already stretched recruiters have the time and skills to negotiate, purchase and monitor job advertising investments across a range of job sites, making it no surprise that the ROI is low. In sharp contrast, programmatic job advertising enables companies to re-direct their existing job advertising budgets to modern technology-driven models that provide immediate improvements. Laurano commented, In talent acquisition, every company is at a different stage in their advertising and recruitment marketing journey. Although some companies are using programmatic advertising to further their brands, theyre not yet applying it as part of their recruiting strategy. Our findings include a maturity model that will help them determine how much of their job advertising budget is being wasted by not using programmatic. Among the benefits of programmatic job advertising, the research identified the ollowing key points:



Companies that leverage programmatic are twice as likely (60 percent versus 29 percent) to reduce time-to-fill

These companies are also nearly three times (56 percent versus 19 percent) likely to improve quality-of-hire compared to companies using traditional advertising

As opposed to traditional advertising, programmatic job advertising advances diversity hiring efforts (47 percent versus 27 percent)

The research was sponsored by the global programmatic job advertising market leader, PandoLogic. Jennifer Ravalli, vice president, Marketing at PandoLogic, said, We were proud to sponsor this much needed research with Aptitude. Programmatic job advertising as a category still has relatively low adoption, despite a strong track record for delivering amazing outcomes for clients. As we look toward job recovery over the next year, we believe programmatic job advertising can be a game changing tool for talent acquisition professionals. This research will help support growth of the category overall, by sharing quantitative data that illuminates the results early adopters are seeing.

Laurano concurred, Weve observed evidence of programmatic in action. For example, it was used by a restaurant company with high turnover. They were able to increase applicant volume by 472 percent, reduce cost-per-applicant by 533 percent plus reduce the monthly recruitment investment by 19 percent. The Aptitude Research report is available for complimentary download. Please visit https://go.pandologic.com/state-of-programmatic-job-advertising-report to access your copy. About PandoLogic PandoLogics pandoIQ platform enables employers, staffing firms and RPOs to source qualified applicants faster and more efficiently. pandoIQ maximizes job advertising spend through the use of data science, machine learning and proprietary campaign algorithms that fully automate and optimize the job advertising business process. Since 2007, over 125,000 employers and more than 700 digital publishers have benefited from PandoLogics programmatic solutions resulting in over 5 billion programmatic job campaigns based on more than 200 billion historical job performance data points. To learn more, visit https://pandologic.com/

Note to editors: Trademarks and registered trademarks referenced herein remain the property of their respective owners. Media Contact: Kate Achille The Devon Group +1-732-706-0123, ext. 703 kate@devonpr.com

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(Natural News) Kassidi Kurill, a 39-year-old single mother from Utah, died four days after getting her second dose of the Moderna coronavirus vaccine last month.

She had no known health problems or pre-existing conditions. An autopsy had been ordered to determine the cause of her death.

Kurills death was reported by her father through the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS)  a national vaccine safety surveillance program run by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Her case was the latest of four reported deaths related to coronavirus vaccine in Utah. The first three involved elders belonging in the same category as those at most risk of dying from coronavirus.

As of March 3, the CDC has received reports of 97,458 adverse events with 1,381 deaths in people who have taken at least one dose of the approved coronavirus vaccines. (Related: 271 deaths, nearly 10,000 serious adverse reactions from coronavirus vaccines (so far).)

Adverse events following coronavirus jab in Utah

People from Utah shared the adverse events that theyve experienced following a jab.

Eunjin Kim said she felt like shed been hit with an instant case of influenza after getting her second shot of the Moderna vaccine. I was laying there with a down comforter and with the electric blanket and still shivering, Kim said.

Carissa Spencer had swelling that moved down the right side of her body after her first shot of the Pfizer vaccine. I was extremely nervous, it wasnt very attractive at all, Spencer said.

Some used the social media to share their story.

An intensive care unit (ICU) nurse and expectant mother suffered miscarriage a few days after getting her first dose of coronavirus vaccine. She posted her vaccine experience on the Intermountain Moms Facebook group.

I am an ICU nurse. I am highly exposed to COVID patients. I am a firm believer in vaccines. I felt strongly that I needed to get the vaccine. Unfortunately, I found out that baby girl no longer had a heart beat last week. The size of baby at time of miscarriage correlates within a few days of my first dose of Pfizer vaccine. We had already heard baby girls heart beat and were told that we had a less than 5% chance of miscarriage. I will never know if it was the vaccine, but I will always wonder. I am now fully vaccinated, but with my experience I dont think I would do it again, she wrote.

One of the more terrifying adverse events was experienced by Cari Banks, a 62-year-old grandmother. She rushed to the nearest hospital hours after receiving the Pfizer vaccine.

Banks said she had difficulty breathing and was treated at her local hospital with epinephrine, a drug used for asthma attacks and allergic reactions.

I couldnt process the air fast enough, Banks said.

After several hours of breathing treatment, she was exhausted but breathing easier and sent home for the night. By the next morning, she was in distress again and straight to the University of Utah trauma center.

I immediately went to the COVID-ICU, she said. They did the swab and determined it wasnt COVID, but it was a reaction to the shot or vaccine.

Banks spent three days in the ICU. Shes still working to get her strength and her voice back and shes not getting enough sleep as she fights post-traumatic stress and the worry that she will stop breathing if she goes to sleep.

Coronavirus vaccines have more allergic reactions than expected

Constriction of airways, which can cause wheezing and trouble breathing, is one of the symptoms of anaphylaxis  one of the rare adverse reactions after vaccination.

Dr. Tamara Sheffield, a vaccine specialist with Intermountain Healthcare, said that there are more allergic reactions than expected from the coronavirus vaccines. (Related: Rate of adverse events caused by coronavirus vaccines 50x higher than flu shots.)

In terms of what is higher than we would see in other vaccines, anaphylaxis is moderately higher, Sheffield said.

Theres normally only one anaphylactic reaction per 1.5 million doses of vaccine. With Pfizer, we are getting five per million doses who have an anaphylactic reaction and for the Moderna, 2.8 reactions per million doses, Sheffield said.

Utah Department of Health Director of Immunizations Rich Lakin said that all medications have side effects and everyone is going to have a different response.

Lakin said the caregiver, the hospital and the patient should all be reporting reactions to VAERS. He receives a weekly VAERS report from the CDC on Utah cases.

VAERS is an important but imperfect tool. It relies on individuals to report and document their experiences. The system gathers information that may or may not show unexpected or concerning patterns for researchers, doctors and drug manufacturers to consume and analyze.

Follow Pandemic.news for more news and information related to the coronavirus vaccine pandemic.

Sources include:

NOQReport.com

KUTV.com
VANCOUVER, BC, March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Animawarriors announced that they will be launching a new online platform to give learners a new approach to 3d animation education. The platform is suitable for anyone, anywhere in the world who wants to learn, or improve their creativity and skills in 3d animation arts in a balanced, learner focused way.

Jorge Vigara Creator of Animawarriors ToyRig AAA character rig

Learners will work with industry professionals - such as Annie Award nominee Andres Bedate, Jorge Vigara, and Scot Write - who are passionate about mentoring and sharing knowledge. Animawarriors' teaching philosophy understands the need to balance the individual, their creativity, and their professional career.

Director and Founder, Jorge Vigara said, "Be Unique. That's the point". He went on to emphasize "we are trying to create a high-quality e-learning user experience that is accessible, flexible to everyone with a wide range of teaching formats". Animawarriors online platform is focused on building a healthier culture for both professional and personal artists across the creative landscape to help ideas thrive.

To find out more about the courses please visit Animawarriors at animawarriors.com

ABOUT ANIMAWARRIORS ONLINE SCHOOL

Animawarriors was founded in June 2019, by Jorge Vigara and was incorporated under the British Columbia Business Corporations Act. Animawarriors is an online animation platform school that aims to provide students with a variety of animation industry courses and feedback so they can improve their skills and freely explore their creativity in a balanced way. To date, the school has kick started the journey for more than 500 students.

MEDIA CONTACT INFORMATION

Name of Media Contact: Jorge Vigara

Contact Phone: +1 778 846 7611

Contact email: [email protected]

Company Name: Animawarriors Online School inc.

Website URL: www.animawarriors.com

SOURCE Animawarriors
VANCOUVER, BC, March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Summa Silver Corp. ("Summa" or the "Company") (TSXV: SSVR) (OTCQB: SSVRF) (Frankfurt:48X) is pleased to announce that it has engaged National Drilling EWP of Elko, NV to carry out drilling at the Company's high-grade silver-gold Hughes Property near Tonopah, Nevada in 2021.

Drilling is expected to start in early to mid-April. The focus of the drilling will be to expand on previously reported high-grade silver and gold intercepts at hole spacings suitable for mineral resource estimation. Further details on specific targets and total meters to be drilled will be finalized and announced in due course as the Company continues to await assays from the 14 outstanding holes remaining from the 2020 drill program.

Key highlights from the 2020 drill program so far include*:

3,760 g/t silver equivalent (1,762 g/t Ag and 19.99 g/t Au) over 2.5 m from 347.1 m within

596 g/t silver equivalent (286 g/t Ag and 3.10 g/t Au) over 18.5 m from 347.1 m in SUM20-06

(1,762 g/t Ag and 19.99 g/t Au) over from within (286 g/t Ag and 3.10 g/t Au) over from in 6,220 g/t silver equivalent (2,910 g/t Ag and 33.1 g/t Au) over 0.7 m from 397.4 m within

3,182 g/t silver equivalent (1,495 g/t Ag and 16.9 g/t Au) over 1.4 m from 397.4 m in SUM20-20

*see news releases dated September 30th, 2020 and December 17th, 2020 for more details

Galen McNamara, CEO, commented: "With the closing of our $10,168,00 financing last month which included a significant investment from Mr. Eric Sprott, the Company has approximately $13,500,000 in cash on hand. We are fully financed to complete aggressive drill programs at both Hughes, NV and Mogollon, NM in 2021 as we push towards mineral resource estimates. National Drilling EWP is a safety, environmental and client focused leader in both reverse-circulation and core drilling in the United States with clients that include some of the largest mining companies in the world. We're happy to welcome National back to the project after executing a safe and efficient program last year. In addition, we look forward to releasing the remaining results form the 2020 drill program and will do so once results become available."

2020 Drill Results Update

Due to ongoing delays at geochemical analytical labs, assay results for 14 of 29 holes drilled during the 2020 drill program remain pending. Samples submitted to ALS Global of Reno, NV in early December are now being assayed in Vancouver after being crushed and pulverized at preparation facilities in Mexico. The Company will release results once the data have been received, interpreted, and modelled. The Company is currently reviewing all available options to speed up analytical turn-around times for exploration programs in 2021.

Qualified Person

The technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by Galen McNamara, P. Geo., the CEO of the Company, and a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101.

About Summa Silver Corp

Summa Silver Corp is a Canadian junior mineral exploration company. The Company has options to earn 100% interests in the Hughes property located in central Nevada and the Mogollon property located in southwestern New Mexico. The Hughes property is host to the high-grade past-producing Belmont Mine, one of the most prolific silver producers in the United States between 1903 and 1929. The Mogollon property features a number of high-grade past-producing mines which operated between the 1880's and 1942.

Follow Summa Silver on Twitter: @summasilver

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/summa-silver-corp/

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

"Galen McNamara"

Galen McNamara, Chief Executive Officer

[email protected]

www.summasilver.com

Investor Relations Contact:

Kin Communications

Nima Shafigh

604-684-6730

[email protected]

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary 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. Forward-looking statements and information can generally be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "may", "will", "should", "expect", "intend", "estimate", "anticipate", "believe", "continue", "plans" or similar terminology. The forward-looking information contained herein is provided for the purpose of assisting readers in understanding management's current expectations and plans relating to the future. These forwardlooking statements or information relate to, among other things: the closing of the Offering, the expected use of proceeds of the Offering, the participation of Eric Sprott in the Offering, and the exploration and development of the Company's mineral exploration projects.

Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual actions, events or results to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including but not limited to: the requirement for regulatory approvals; enhanced uncertainty in global financial markets as a result of the current COVID-19 pandemic; unquantifiable risks related to government actions and interventions; stock market volatility; regulatory restrictions; and other related risks and uncertainties.

Forward-looking information are based on management of the parties' reasonable assumptions, estimates, expectations, analyses, and opinions, which are based on such management's experience and perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, and other factors that management believes are relevant and reasonable in the circumstances, but which may prove to be incorrect.

The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information except as required by applicable law. Such forward-looking information represents management's best judgment based on information currently available. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed, and actual future results may vary materially. Accordingly, readers are advised not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information.

SOURCE Summa Silver Corp.
A protester holds a placard during a demonstration against the heavy-handed response by the Metropolitan Police to the Sarah Everard vigil on Clapham Common. (PA)

Boris Johnson has hit back at Labour claims that rape has effectively been decriminalised under the Conservative government.

On Tuesday, a tweet from the Labour Party made the assertion alongside figures showing how many charges of rape were brought in 2019-20 in England and Wales compared with the number of allegations made.

The tweet, which infuriated Tory MPs, read: Under the Tories, rape has effectively been decriminalised. We need to do so much more to end violence against women and girls.

When questioned about the tweet at Wednesdays Prime Minister's Questions, Johnson called Labour's claim a regrettable mistake.

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Boris Johnson said at PMQs that he did not believe rape had effectively been decriminalised in England and Wales. (Getty)

The tweet came months after similar comments made by the governments own victims commissioner, Dame Vera Baird.

In a report published in July last year, Baird said rape had effectively been decriminalised because of a collapse in prosecutions, allowing many offenders to escape justice.

Watch: Hundreds protest in central London over government's police bill

Johnson said of Labour's tweet: I think it was certainly a mistake, and a regrettable mistake, for anybody to suggest that rape had been decriminalised in this country, because we must do everything we can to reassure victims of rape and sexual violence and get them to come forward and that is what were doing.

And I also think it would be a good thing if together we could vote for some of the tougher sentences that weve put forward in this bill.

Tory MPs were quick to condemn Labours tweet on Tuesday evening, branding it incredibly irresponsible and dangerous.

Dehenna Davison, MP for Bishop Auckland, said: This is not just fake news  this is dangerous.

Has any thought been given to the fact this messaging in itself could discourage women from reporting rape and sexual assault?

Tory party chair Amanda Milling added: This is simply not true  and a disgusting thing to tweet.

Its incredibly irresponsible to spread this misinformation on such a sensitive topic.

Story continues

Nick Timothy, who served as Theresa Mays chief of staff when she was prime minister, tweeted: A grown-up party of government has a duty to engage in debate responsibly.

However, Labour MPs defended the content of the tweet, with several highlighting how the words came from the government-appointed victims commissioner.

In her report, Baird criticised the 3% charge rate for rape allegations made in 2019.

She wrote: In effect, what we are witnessing is the decriminalisation of rape. In doing so, we are failing to give justice to thousands of complainants.

In some cases, we are enabling persistent predatory sex offenders to go on to reoffend in the knowledge that they are highly unlikely to be held to account.

This is likely to mean we are creating more victims as a result of our failure to act.

The row over the tweet came as MPs voted in favour of the government's Policing Bill, which Labour says does not satisfactorily tackle the issue of violence against women.

The tweet was posted just minutes before the bill was voted on, with Labour voting against.

Protesters demonstrate in Parliament Square against the passage of a new policing bill in the House of Commons. (Getty)

Labour tabled an amendment intended to block the bill from being considered further, although this was defeated by 359 votes to 225.

The motion from Labour was based on support for some sections  such as tougher sentences for serious crimes including child murder  alongside warnings that the legislation rushes changes to protest law and fails to take action to protect women.

MPs debated the bill as hundreds of demonstrators gathered in Parliament Square to protest against it, in the latest public display of anger following the Metropolitan Polices much-criticised handling of the vigil for Sarah Everard at Clapham Common on Saturday.

Watch: Starmer says Everard case is a 'watershed moment'
Photo: The Canadian Press Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg

While Parliament pressures Facebook over online hate speech and the networks impact on the Canadian news media, the federal government spent more money than ever last year with the company.

Federal spending on social media grew in the 2019-2020 fiscal year to $8.5 million, an all-time high, with the majority of that ($5.8 million) being spent with Facebook and Instagram.

Spending with Twitter grew to $1.1 million, while another $920,000 was spent with Snapchat and $670,000 spent with LinkedIn, according to the most recent federal reports.

In all, federal spending on social media has grown by more than three-fold since 2015-2016.

The surge comes at a time when Ottawa has promised to follow in the footsteps of Australia and force Facebook and Google to pay publishers for the ability to link to news content.

"We must address the market imbalance between news media organizations and those who benefit from their work, said Canadian Heritage Minister Steven Guilbeault last month.

The government is also working to draft legislation on policing hate-speech online, regulations welcomed by Facebook.

This is a case where the government likes to say in public one thing, but does something else. It is very hypocritical and it makes people skeptical of the government, said Dan Albas, Conservative MP for Central OkanaganSimilkameenNicola.

If you look at the amount of money that the government now gives to this specific company, Facebook, over the past five years  every year it's gone up.

Guilbeault admitted last week that the climbing federal spending on social media was a problem.

We need to change this, he said. We have started to change the investment we made in publicity away from online platforms.

But leading Canadian academic on the issue Michael Geist noted earlier this month that Guilbeault personally ran 54 ads on Facebook worth over $10,000 during the last election campaign.

And despite the tough talk from the Liberals, the government has been slow on making actual legislative changes.

Bill C-11 makes changes to privacy law impacting big tech, but Albas notes it has languished in the House of Commons since being introduced last year.

They are simply just using this issue to see if they can attract electoral support. Its hypocritical given that they are probably one of the largest buyers of social media in the country, Albas said.

Of the $44.8 million the federal government spent on media last fiscal year, 55 per cent of it ($24.7 million) was spent online, 26 per cent ($11.7 million) went to TV, with the remainder going to print, radio and billboards.

In addition to social media, the rest of the federal governments spend on internet advertising went towards display ads and search-engine marketing, much of which would have been purchased through Google.

Federal advertising spending has declined generally over the past decade down from $83 million in 2010-2011.

BC SPENDING

The provincial government and Crown corporations are also spending significant dollars with social media networks.

Of the $1.1 million BC Hydro spent conservation advertising campaigns in 2020, just over $300,000 was on social media. The utility says its shift towards online marketing has helped cut campaign budgets in half since 2010.

ICBC is in the middle of a $2.8 million advertising campaign on the province's shift to no-fault insurance, with $258,000 of that going towards social media and Google Adwords.

Online billboards ($269,000), online video ($294,000), online audio ($40,000) and banner ads ($218,000) make up the remainder of ICBCs digital spending. TV ($571,800) and radio ($418,500) still make up a large portion of ICBCs advertising budget on the campaign.

Enhanced Care represents the biggest change to auto insurance in our provinces history, and we want to make it easy for British Columbians to get information about how this change impacts them, ICBC said in a statement.

The provincial government spent $567,000 on promotion of its 2020 budget, with $65,000 on social media and the rest on television.

Castanet News is a member of Kelowna's Local Advertising Initiative, which advocates for all local media companies in the Central Okanagan.
Now Open

17 March 2021

Delta Hotels by Marriott Virginia Beach Bayfront Suites, an all-suite, 295-room property, opens today on the shores of the Chesapeake Bay. The

nine-story hotel focuses on delivering the fundamentals of a good travel experience and features a clean aesthetic and a modern take on comfort. Guests will be able to enjoy spacious, efficiently designed one- and two-bedroom suites, a signature restaurant with an expansive outdoor patio, robust meeting and event capabilities, and lifestyle amenities such as a Bayfront pool, private beach and watersport rentals.

The Delta Hotels by Marriott brand is rooted in simplicity and focused on perfecting the small details that make all the difference during travel. Thoughtful design, a full-service fitness center, on-site Grab + Go market and a fully-stocked Delta Pantry for Marriott Bonvoy Elite members are just a few of the elements that bring this brand promise to life.
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

The WHO's expert vaccine advisers on Wednesday recommended Johnson & Johnson's COVID-19 jab for use in countries where coronavirus variants of concern are circulating.

The World Health Organization gave its seal of approval on Friday to the vaccine, which has the advantages of being a single-shot jab that can be stored at regular refrigeration rather than ultra-cold temperatures.

After meeting on Monday, the WHO's Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) on Immunization issued its recommendations Wednesday on how the vaccine should be usedand said it had proven effective against what are termed variants of concern.

Comparing mass trials of the vaccine in different countries, SAGE said that despite the South African variant being predominant in that country, "similar efficacies were observed as in the US", it said, "where newly-emerging variants of concern were not predominant" during testing.

The same was true in Brazil, which has had its own predominant variant in circulation.

"We have a vaccine that shows to be safe and it shows to have the necessary efficacy to be recommended by us for use in people above the age of 18, without an upper age limit," SAGE chair Alejandro Cravioto told reporters.

"In the countries where there is a high spread of the variants and in countries where we now have information about the use of this vaccine to control SARS-CoV-2 caused by these variants, we recommend that you use it."

SARS-CoV-2 is the virus that causes COVID-19 disease.

Efficacy

Across the board, a single dose of the vaccine has 66.9 percent efficacy against symptomatic infection; 76.7 percent efficacy against severe COVID-19 disease after 14 days; and 85.4 percent efficacy after day 28, SAGE said.

"Vaccine efficacy against hospitalisations was 93.1 percent. Vaccine efficacies were maintained across genders, age and ethnicities," the experts said.

SAGE said that as with other COVID-19 jabs, it should be injected under health care supervision, with medical treatment on hand in case of allergic reactions.

People should wait at least 14 days before receiving any other vaccine.

As for pregnant women, there was insufficient data to assess vaccine-associated risks, though breastfeeding women should be offered the jab as normal.

People who have already had COVID-19 should be offered the vaccine, but may opt to wait until up to six months after infection, because they will already have a degree of natural protection.

However, in areas with variants of concern, they should not step back in the queue as "emerging data indicate that symptomatic reinfection may occur".

"The optimal interval between a natural infection and vaccination is not yet known," said SAGE.

Welcome weapon

The J&J vaccine is the only single-shot jab to have been granted WHO authorisation.

Annelies Wilder-Smith, technical advisor to the SAGE secretariat, told reporters the jab was a "welcome additional weapon" rather than a game-changer in the fight against COVID-19.

It joins the two-dose Pfizer-BioNTech jab and the AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccines made in India and in South Korea as having been signed off by the WHO.

The J&J jab won approval from the European Union on Thursday. It has also received the green light from regulators in the United States, Canada and South Africa.

The jab is one of the main vaccines being lined up for distribution to poorer countries around the world via the Covax global vaccine-sharing scheme.

Some 500 million J&J doses have been promised to the facility and the WHO hopes it can be rolled out through the programme from July, if not earlier.

Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak

 2021 AFP
The U.S. Army has announced the launch of an updated strategy for its forces in the Arctic, which the military branch said is a 'vital area' for national resources and key shipping channels.

The Army announced the strategy called, 'Regaining Arctic Dominance,' in a statement released Monday.

The strategy will encompass the Army's plans to operate in the Arctic region, including training, organizing and equipping its forces 'to partner with Arctic allies and secure our national interests and maintain regional stability.'

The Army said the strategy, detailed in an unclassified document released with the statement, is timely because of increased levels of 'great power competitor activities' in the Arctic.

U.S. military officials have previously made no secret of the view that both Russia and China are considered competitors for northern sea routes and in the Pacific Ocean.

'The United States is an Arctic nation,' the strategy document said. 'As such, the Arctic security environment contributes directly to homeland defense and is of vital importance to our national interests.'

A paratrooper from the 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team of the U.S. 25th Infantry Division, the 'Spartan Brigade,' moves to an assembly area during an airborne operation near Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, on March 2

Operating in the Arctic will enable the Army to project its forces and respond in situations involving 'competition, crisis and/or conflict,' Monday's statement said.

The report said the strategy is an update of the most recent strategical document released by the Department of Defense in June 2019.

'The Arctic is an opportunity to rapidly employ the speed, range and convergence of cutting-edge technologies being developed for Multi-Domain Operations to strengthen our deterrence capabilities in the region,' said Gen. James McConville, the Army chief of staff.

The report said virtually all permanent Army forces in the Arctic and sub-Arctic are stationed in Alaska at its three major installations including Fort Wainwright in Fairbanks, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage and Fort Greely, located about 149 kilometers (90 miles) southeast of Fairbanks.

'The Arctic is an opportunity to rapidly employ the speed, range and convergence of cutting-edge technologies being developed for Multi-Domain Operations to strengthen our deterrence capabilities in the region,' said Gen. James McConville, the Army chief of staff

The report defines the Arctic region as being part of three American geographic combatant commands - USNORTHCOM, USINDOPACOM and USEUCOM - and eight countries in all time zones. The North-West Passage and the Northern Sea Route are identified as the two primary transit routes through the Arctic.

The strategy announcement identified three primary areas of its objectives.

The Army plans to establish a headquarters with specially trained and equipped combat brigades, improve the preparedness of Arctic units to conduct extended operations in the region and improve individual and collective training to operate in the Arctic and 'other mountainous and high-altitude environments.'

The Army said it will improve the quality of life for soldiers, civilians and families at facilities in the region.

The Arctic is also a 'shared region and a potential corridor for strategic competition,' the report said, noting the interests of nations connected to treaty organizations including the European Union, NATO and Artic-specific groups.

The 'overlapping relationships complicate the geopolitics of the region' with international disputes focused on maritime boundaries and economic claims, the report said.

U.S. Army forces in the Arctic and sub-Arctic are stationed at its three major installations in Alaska including Fort Wainwright in Fairbanks, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage and Fort Greely, located about 149 kilometers (90 miles) southeast of Fairbanks

Russia was singled out as exerting claims 'to regulate the Arctic beyond established international laws' by demanding other nations seek permission and receive escorts through the region.

Climate change is likely to become a significant factor for countries competing in the Arctic, the report acknowledged.

'The decreasing amount of sea ice will lead to new routes opening in the future and may become an area of contention as Arctic nations attempt to exert control over key sea lanes,' the strategy report said.

Beyond the possibility of sparking disputes, the change in climate was described as an opportunity.

'The region north of the Arctic Circle is warming twice as fast as the rest of the world, opening up new opportunities for natural resource extraction, shipping routes, and commercial fishing,' the report said.

The Army also plans to use the strategy to improve its communication capabilities.

Working with military command groups, allies and other partners, the Army will attempt to identify ways to enhance satellite communications to mitigate the impact that solar weather patterns and the region's unique electromagnetic spectrum have on radio communications. These may include sheltered communications and retransmission sites or communications relay towers, the report said.
Given his output from the mid-90s onwards, French filmmaker Cedric Klapisch was the ideal person to introduce Call My Agent! (2015-2020) to the world. It wasnt intentional, but everything that Ive come up with, every story thats interested me, deals with what binds people, he told me more than a decade ago. How boundaries exist in a family, or a group of friends, or a couple, or a company. If I deal with only personal problems, for me that wouldnt be enough.

He was talking then about his very appealing films (which include When the Cats Away, Un air de famille and Lauberge espagnol), but he was inadvertently describing the exact elements that have made the Netflix series tick. Its known in France as Dix pour cent (which translates as ten per cent, an agents take of a clients salary). Across four seasons and 24 episodes, it has become a global hit, a wry, affectionate, satirically astute portrait of the workings of the fictional Paris-based Agence Samuel Kerr (ASK)  which is housed at 149, Rue Saint-Honore, an auspicious address not far from the Louvre  and the mixed-up personal lives of the men and women who work and schmooze there. Wheeling and dealing is the general order of their business in both realms. Its a way of life.

French comedy Call My Agent! is set at the fictional Paris-based Agence Samuel Kerr (ASK). Credit:Netflix

The first episode, smoothly directed by Klapisch, economically acquaints us with the characters and ASKs everyday business. The guileless Camille Valentini (Fanny Sidney) serves as our guide. The daughter of self-appointed head honcho Mathias Barneville (Thibault de Montalembert), shes come to Paris from Mandelieu-La Napoule on the Cote dAzur to look for work. She belongs to a life hes left behind and he doesnt want her there. Its an industry full of sharks, he warns her. Either you eat everyone or else you get eaten. He also doesnt want anyone to know that hes her father.

But she persists, inveigles her way into a job as an assistant to her fathers chief rival at the firm, the short-tempered, bisexual Andrea Martel (Camille Cottin), and gradually comes to terms with many eccentricities of the ASK staff: the generally genial but impulsive Gabriel (Gregory Montel), and his delightfully playful gay assistant, Herve (Nicolas Maury); the well-seasoned veteran Arlette (Liliane Rovere), who prefers to be known as an impresario, and her faithful little dog, Jean Gabin (a nod to her past); Mathias flaky but surprisingly astute assistant, Noemie (Laure Calamy); and the enterprising Sophie (Stefi Celma), the glamorous receptionist who dreams of being a star. Office subterfuge is rife and everything they do confirms Mathias warning to Camille, but we grow to like, even love, them all despite it.
A Japanese court on Wednesday ruled for the first time that the government's failure to recognise same-sex marriage is unconstitutional as it violates the right to equality.

According to Kyodo News, but the Sapporo District Court, ruling on a suit brought by three same-sex couples in Hokkaido, rejected their demand for 1 million yen each for psychological damage caused by what they called the government's negligence in not amending the law to allow them to marry.

It reported that the plaintiffs were among 13 couples who filed similar lawsuits on Valentine's Day in 2019 in Sapporo, Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya. Another three same-sex couples filed a suit in Fukuoka in September that year.

Kyodo news further reported that the three couples in Hokkaido -- two male couples and one female couple -- said they had tried to register their marriages with local authorities in January 2019 but were rebuffed on the grounds that same-sex marriage has no legal status.

The three couples in Hokkaido -- two male couples and one female couple -- said they had tried to register their marriages with local authorities in January 2019 but were rebuffed on the grounds that same-sex marriage has no legal status.

The court went in favour of the couples who claimed the government is violating Article 14 of the Constitution, which ensures the right to equality.

The crux of the lawsuit revolved around the interpretation of marriage in Article 24 of the Constitution. It stipulates that "Marriage shall be based only on the mutual consent of both sexes and it shall be maintained through mutual cooperation with the equal rights of husband and wife as a basis."

According to CNN, homosexuality has been legal in since 1880, and the country is relatively liberal compared with some other Asian nations. Only one place in Asia has legalised same-sex marriage -- Taiwan.

Two Tokyo wards passed an ordinance in 2015 that allowed same-sex couples to get "partnership certificates" giving them some of the same rights as married heterosexual couples. Since then, dozens of municipalities have passed ordinances unofficially recognizing same-sex relationships.

(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 Frenchman and his wife have been convicted of murdering a British businessman in 1996 after more than two decades evading justice.

Jean-Claude Lacote, 54, and Hilde Van Acker, 57, two of Europe's most wanted fugitives, were found guilty of shooting dead Marcus John Mitchell, 44, by a court in Bruges, Belgium late Tuesday.

Lacote and Van Acker, nicknamed the 'Devil's Couple', were convicted in absentia in 2011 for the execution style killing of Mr Mitchell who was shot twice in the head in the coastal town of De Haan 24 years ago.

The pair were arrested in the Ivory Coast two years ago after living an astonishing life on the run in the US and Africa.

Jean-Claude Lacote, 54. (left) and Hilde Van Acker (right) have been convicted of murdering British businessman in 1996 Marcus John Mitchell, 44. Pictured: The pair at the beginning of their trial on March 5

They had pleaded not guilty but now face possible life imprisonment.

The trial, which began March 5, revealed the multiple lives of Lacote, who has a clothing business in the US and in the past has been a television producer in South Africa and ran an airline in the Ivory Coast.

Prosecutors said the couple were 'professional criminals' and said the murder was linked to an attempted fraud.

Mr Mitchell, a married father-of-three from Surrey, met Lacote after being duped into fronting money for what he thought was a deal to buy aviation parts.

After his money went missing he confronted Lacote to demand it back, and was shot twice in the head in May 1996.

Lacote (left) and Van Acker (right), nicknamed the 'Devil's Couple', were convicted in absentia in 2011 for the execution style killing of Mr Mitchell who was shot twice in the head in the coastal town of De Haan 24 years ago. Pictured: The pair at the beginning of their trial on March 5

His body was hidden in nearby sand dunes and discovered by playing children in De Haan, an upscale Belgian North Sea beach resort.

Investigators quickly discovered that he had been in regular contact with Lacote and Van Acker by telephone.

According to prosecutors, Mitchell had loaned Lacote a large sum of money for a false lead on a potential lucrative deal and the pair had fallen out.

It is believed Lacote and Van Acker fled to the UK on a ferry the day after the murder.

The pair were arrested at Charleroi aiport outside of Belgium later that year but were released on bail by police while the investigation was ongoing.

The pair were arrested in the Ivory Coast two years ago after living an astonishing life on the run in the US and Africa

Despite being the subject of an Interpol red notice they were able to flee to the US where they founded a clothing business in Miami, Florida.

Lacote and Van Acker were then able to flee again to South Africa.

While there Lacote got work in TV, helping to produce a ten-episode series called Duty Calls which ran between 2000 and 2003.

The show followed real police officers to show how they 'dealt with violent criminals and dangerous crime scenes.'

In 2003, after the show had ended, Lacote allegedly masterminded another plot to con a wealthy Irish businessman - again using the ruse of buying aeroplanes.

The businessman was put in touch with Lacote - posing as money lender Roger Wilcox - who offered to lend him 1.5million but with a surety of 1million.

The businessman agreed and paid the money into a South African account, before it vanished.

Van Acker (left) and Lacote (right) evaded justice for more than 20 years using fake identities during which time he became host of a reality TV series in South Africa

Lacote was arrested in 2007 and taken to a a Johannesburg jail where he was awaiting trial when he managed to escape.

Van Acker and others posed as police officers, using fake paperwork to free Lacote on the pretense of interviewing him for an investigation.

It took a week for South African police to notice he was gone, by which time he was thought to have gone to Brazil.

The couple then moved to Ivory Coast and lived there for a decade, raising a daughter born in 2007.

Lacote had taken charge of an aviation company backed by a Lebanese businessman and gained access to high-level Ivorian political circles.

In 2012 they were also convicted in absentia in France and Germany of making death threats and fraud.

Belgian police said they were aware of a Ferrari and house linked to Lacote being auctioned in 2013, but otherwise had seen no sign of the couple.

In 2016 they were placed on Europol's most-wanted list, and in 2019 Van Acker featured heavily in the agency's 'crime has no gender' campaign.

The pair were eventually arrested in the Ivory Coast in November 2019 under the pseudonyms Stephane Lacote and Marlene Lacote Vacker.
DatchanaMoorthy Ramu, a noted social worker and politician from Tamilnadu were honoured with Bharat Jothi Award for his noteworthy contribution in the field of social work and promotion of Peace. The award was conferred by The Universal Tamil University, a leading Tamil University across 6 countries. Three other noted personalities from various fields were also honoured with Bharat Jothi Award on the occasion. DatchanaMoorthy Ramu, apart from being Office Bearer of Youth 
New Delhi, March 17 : Solicitor General Tushar Mehta on Wednesday urged the Supreme Court to demarcate the role of the amicus curiae in the alleged fake encounters in Manipur.

Mehta submitted before a bench headed by Justice N.V. Ramana that the role and ambit of assistance by an amicus needs to be decided by the court.

"They (amicus) cannot be running the government," he submitted before the bench also comprising Justices Surya Kant and Aniruddha Bose. Senior advocate Menaka Guruswamy is the amicus curiae in the matter.

Meanwhile, the top court also allowed discharge of Senior Superintendent of Police Mahesh Bhardwaj from the probe into the alleged fake encounters, as he has been promoted as DIG in his parent AGMU cadre. The top court allowed the plea filed by the NHRC seeking release of its senior officer and directed the government to expeditiously provide a suitable officer to the rights panel.

During the hearing, the bench noted that on the previous hearing, the amicus curiae had to say something. Mehta contended that the amicus curiae have no role in deciding what the CBI should do, and its role is limited in assisting the court on law. He insisted that this is a matter where soldiers are protecting our borders and facing cases.

However, the bench told Mehta that it knows the scope of role of an amicus.

"Let us not get into all that. Tell us who you will replace the officer with," said the top court. Mehta then said it he will submit a list in the matter.

Senior advocate Colin Gonsalves, representing an NGO, had submitted that the new officer must come immediately as there is a backlog of 655 cases of alleged extra-judicial killings in Manipur.

The top court is hearing a plea seeking investigation into 1,528 cases of alleged extra-judicial killings in Manipur. In July 2017, it had constituted an SIT and ordered probe into many cases. Two officers of the NHRC in July 2018, including Bhardwaj, were made members of the SIT.
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Prisoners are three times as likely to die from coronavirus as the general population and should be prioritised in the vaccine roll-out, according to academic researchers.

There were 118 deaths related to Covid-19 among people in prisons in England and Wales between March 2020 and February 2021. This represents a risk of dying 3.3 times higher than that of people of the same age and sex in the community, according to a research team at University College London (UCL).

This is despite extensive physical distancing measures, including prisons keeping many inmates in their cells for 23 hours a day  which the prisons watchdog has warned are leading to a disturbing decline in the emotional and physical wellbeing of inmates.

UCLs study compared the higher deaths rates in prisons with that of the general population, accounting for the age and sex structure of people in prisons.

The Ministry of Justice said the study was highly misleading, saying the numbers did not adjust for worse health in prisons and the fact that thousands of people enter and exit prisons each year. They cited a lower figure of 93 deaths where Covid-19 was mentioned as a contributory factor.

But the researchers said that while determining the precise ratio with publicly-available data was an imperfect science, it was clear that the rate of excess deaths related to Covid-19 in prisons was substantially higher than in the community.

The higher death rates in prisons are likely to be caused by typically overcrowded conditions with inconsistent access to washing and toilet facilities, according to the study.

People in prison also often have underlying health problems or other risk factors that increase the likelihood of severe disease, the researchers added.

Lead author of the study, Dr Isobel Braithwaite, of UCLs institute of health informatics, said that in light of the findings, both inmates and prison staff should be given high priority in the rollout of vaccines.

This has recently been agreed for people experiencing homelessness, who face similarly high risks, she said.

We believe the current methods of regime restriction are not enough to protect people adequately, and a systematic, whole-prison approach to vaccination is key to preventing further outbreaks and reducing overall deaths in prisons.

Currently, people in prisons are being offered Covid-19 vaccines in line with the general UK prioritisation criteria, based on age and presence of long-term conditions.

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has said it recognises that there may be an increased risk of transmission in prisons due to the high concentration of people, and that there may be difficulty in maintaining social distancing.

Read more:

Severe Covid restrictions in jails causing disturbing decline in prisoners health

Coronavirus could lead to rising crime, watchdogs warn

Strangeways prison hit by coronavirus outbreak

However, after considering this in detail, the committee agreed that it would be difficult to advise additional prioritisation of inmates above the wider population. Instead, the committee advised that prisoners should be offered vaccination in line with the offer to people in the wider community, with appropriate support to promote high vaccine uptake.

But the UCL researchers said that identifying eligible people in prisons could be difficult due to a lack of previous health information and limited interaction with health services - both during and before prison.

Dr Jake Hard, co-author and chair of the Royal College of GPs secure environments group, said the simultaneous vaccination of whole prison populations - including staff - was vital and could help alleviate mistrust, increase uptake and speed up recovery.

At the moment, vaccinating the small numbers of people in any specific risk group in a single prison risks leftover doses and possible wastage of vaccine - and isnt happening fast enough to protect either people in prison or prison staff, he said.

A change of approach is urgently needed to help prevent further outbreaks in prisons and to ensure that the unacceptable higher rate of death we found in our study doesnt continue.

Peter Dawson, director of the Prison Reform Trust, said: This research confirms that prioritising Covid vaccination in prisons  staff and prisoners alike  should be about public health not politics.

The current situation prolongs an unnecessary level of risk both for people living and working in prison and for the families to which they return.

Professor Wei Shen Lim, Covid-19 chair for JCVI, said: As the single greatest risk of death from Covid-19 is older age, prioritisation is primarily based on age. It is estimated that vaccinating everyone in the priority groups would prevent around 99 per cent of deaths from Covid-19.

A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: The suggested death rate is highly misleading and fails to take into account tens of thousands of additional offenders who move in and out of prisons every year.

We have protected the lives of thousands of staff and prisoners  deaths are significantly lower than predicted and cases have fallen for seven consecutive weeks as our strict measures limit the spread of the virus.
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Market Research Future Published a Half Cooked Research Report on Global Potash Ore Market.

Market Overview:

Potash ore is used in a wide range of applications that play an important role in developing fruits, plants, vegetables, and others. Owing to these factors, they are used in the heavy end industries such as agriculture, chemical, metallurgical, and others. The global potash ore market is spanned across five regions of the world namely Asia Pacific, Europe, North America, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa. Among these, North America holds the major share of the global market and is projected to continue leading, owing to the increasing consumption of the product in agriculture, chemical, metallurgical, and others. It is estimated that the agriculture segment is set to observe the highest CAGR in the market due to growing use of the product in the production of fertilizers, and others. The increasing demand for the product in chemical and metallurgical sectors have propelled the market to witness a rapid growth during the forecast period. These factors led the U.S., Canada, and Mexico to be the leading players in this region.

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The Asia Pacific market is expected to grow at a higher CAGR due to extensive consumption of the product in end-use industries such as agriculture, chemical, metallurgical, and others. The growing demand for hygienic food and changing lifestyles is projected to fuel the market in the coming years. China, Japan, and India have achieved a significant stage in the market due to rising per capita income and high disposable income in the end-use industries. Therefore, the growing demand for the product in end-use sectors is estimated to drive the market during the forecast period.

A notable development is achieved in Europe due to the growing demand for organic food, in hotels and restaurants. Potash ore is used for the production of fertilizers, and other chemical compounds. Moreover, the growing innovation and technological advancement have propelled the market to witness a higher growth. Owing to these factors, countries such as Germany, the U.K., and Italy are the major contributors to this market.

A considerable development is predicted in the Latin American region such as in Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina due to growing production capacity and demand for potash ore in agriculture industries. Moreover, a rapid development is estimated in the Middle East & African region such as Qatar, the U.A.E, and others due to extensive use of the product in major industries.

Some Of The Well-Known Players Operating In The Global Potash Ore Market Are: EuroChem (Switzerland), Intrepid Potash, Inc. (U.S.), Uralkali (Russia), Mining Associates (India), Nutrien Ltd (Canada), JSC Belaruskali (Belarus), K+S KALI GmbH (Germany), ICL (Israel), Kore Potash Limited (Australia), and Encanto Potash Corp. (EPO) (Canada) among others.

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Segmentation:

The global potash ore market is segmented into the source and application. On the basis of the source, the market is segregated into potassium chloride, sodium chloride, and others. On the basis of application, the market is bifurcated into agriculture, chemical, metallurgical, and others.

Manorhamiltons newest public amenity, the recently constructed Sextons House Community Hub, located just outside the Church of Ireland on Church Lane, was officially opened at noon on Monday via a live broadcast of the event on the YouTube Channel.

It was an occasion of celebration for the local community and the Leitrim Co. Councils Peace IV Programme, which provided the bulk of the funding for the successful completion of the work on the Sextons House Community Hub buildings, etc.

The new Sextons House Community Hub will provide an excellent venue for many community events to take place in Manorhamilton in the future, and particularly so once things start going back to normal when the Covid 19 lockdowns, which have dragged on for over a year now, end.

The Hub is a beautiful new community space, and it was developed through the Shared Spaces initiative, which was fully backed by Leitrim Co. Council. The project entailed the refurbishment of old Sextons House and the building of a hall at the rear of it.

The inspired Sextons House Community Hub project visionaries say its objective is to promote positive relations characterised by respect, cultural diversity, so that people can live, learn, and socialise together.
Police personnel have been visiting villages of Maoists and interacting with their families.  Representational Image

Hyderabad: The police have been successful in curbing Maoist activities over the last few years, even as there existed a shortage of personnel, according to partial data compiled by the South Asia Terrorism Portal (SATP).

The portal said 14 Naxalites had been arrested in the state till March 13 this year. Fatalities were recorded in three districts last year: Bhadradri Kothagudem, Mulugu, and Komaram Bheem Asifabad.

According to the data on police organisations (DOPO) released by the bureau of police research & development (BPR&D), as of 2020, the sanctioned strength for the police was 78,369 but only 48,877 personnel were at work, leaving 29,492 posts, or 37.63 per cent, vacant.

As part of their efforts, police personnel have been visiting villages of Maoists and interacting with their families. Apart from promising them assistance, they have also been addressing civic issues in the villages.

"We want to show the citizens that we are with them and our efforts are yielding good results. We would be providing skill training to surrendered Maoists, and also offer them jobs with the help of government departments," an official from the Bhadrachalam police said.

Recently, the police met the parents of Maoist party central committee member Yakkati Seetarami Reddy and top leader Thota Seetaramaiah at Chintirela in Aswapuram mandal. They urged the families to get their sons to surrender.

Pressure from the department has resulted in the surrender of 134 Maoists since the formation of the state. At least five Naxalites have surrendered this year. The total number of such surrenders through 2020 stood at 50, and nine in 2019.

Maoists killed 10 civilians since June 2, 2014, but have failed to inflict any fatality on security forces personnel. Two civilians each were killed in 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018 and 2020.
East Chinas Anhui province posted an 11.8 percent year-on-year increase in the volume of trade with countries and regions involved in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in 2020, customs data showed.

The provinces trade with the BRI markets reached 131.27 billion yuan (about US$20.18 billion) last year, accounting for 24.3 percent of its total foreign trade value, Hefei Customs said.

Its exports to the BRI markets stood at 98.38 billion yuan, up 10.2 percent, while imports rose 17 percent to 32.89 billion yuan.

Private enterprises became a major driving force for Anhuis foreign trade growth. Their trade with the BRI countries and regions reached 74.79 billion yuan, or 57 percent of the provincial total. The volume was 12.8 percent higher than that in 2019.

State-owned enterprises saw an increase of 16.4 percent, while foreign-funded companies registered a 5.3 percent increase.

In 2020, the provinces trade with its major trading partners - Vietnam, India, Singapore and Malaysia - reached 50.72 billion yuan, or 38.6 percent of the total. Except for a slight decrease of 1.4 percent in its imports and exports to India, the province saw nearly 30 percent increases in trade with the remaining three countries.

The provinces mechanical and electrical imports from the BRI countries and regions went up 3.9 percent to 9.7 billion yuan. Its food imports surged 69.3 percent, while high-tech imports declined 3.6 percent.




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registered a marginal 1.2 per cent sequential growth in February. This was the second consecutive single-digit traffic growth and came in the backdrop of tightening of travel restrictions and introduction of RT-PCR tests by more states. February had three fewer days than January and that too impacted the traffic figure.

In February, domestic airlines flew 7.82 million passengers compared to 7.73 million in January. On a year-on-year (YoY) basis, traffic declined by 36.7 per cent.

Total number of departures declined by 5.7 per cent in February, resulting in improved load factors for airlines.

In the month, regional airline Star Air reported 79 per cent seat occupancy followed by SpiceJet (78.9 per cent) and Air India (78.3 per cent).

has been growing in double digits since August and the pace slowed down in January. Sequential growth slowed to 5.5 per cent in January and fell further in February as customers postponed travel plans.

Late last month, West Bengal and Karnataka joined Maharashtra as they began insisting on negative RT-PCR tests for travellers from certain states. This had resulted in a drop in last-minute bookings and passenger load, an airline executive said.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 16)  Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque has declined to make public his COVID-19 test result, noting that "it's not important," despite requests for it to be shown for transparency.

"Bakit naman gusto nilang makita? I don't understand that but let me see if I have it. Hindi ko maintindihan why I have to show it actually," he said in his briefing on Tuesday.

[Translation: Why do they want to see it? I don't understand that but let me see if I have it. I don't understand why I have to show it actually.]

"I don't think it's important." he added.

Roque bared on Monday that he yielded a positive test result, the same day that he was supposed to attend the Cabinet meeting with President Rodrigo Duterte.

Roque is already in quarantine in an Oplan Kalinga isolation facility.

Testing czar Vince Dizon and Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Marcos-Manotoc also announced that they placed themselves under isolation as they were close contacts of Roque during the ceremonial vaccination of healthcare workers in Laoag City on March 12, two days before Roque took his last swab test.

Roque said he was still negative for the virus on March 10, a day before he attended an inauguration ceremony with Duterte and other Cabinet officials in Dumaguete. Roque maintained that he observed minimum health protocols.
The Center will provide training, research, and accelerate innovation in the field of DNA forensics

Thermo Fisher Scientific, the world leader in serving science, signed an MoU with the National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU) on March 15th, 2021. The collaboration is to establish the NFSU-Thermo Fisher Scientific Centre of Excellence for DNA forensics.

The center will be at NFSUs premises in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. The state-of-the art facility will focus on conducting research, method/workflow development and provide scientific demonstrations and training in the field of DNA forensics.

At Thermo Fisher, we deliver some of the most comprehensive validated products, expertise and application support to the forensic science community. Through the center we aim to facilitate training and ensure access to industry-leading solutions that provide highly accurate results while fulfilling the demand for forensic experts in the country and around the world. Our partnership with NFSU reinstates our commitment to fulfill our mission which is to enable our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner and safer, said Amit Chopra, managing director, India and South Asia, Thermo Fisher Scientific.

Technology innovation, automation, databases, and good laboratory practices are essential to the pursuit of justice. The objective of Thermo Fishers collaboration with NFSU is to bring together leading minds and instrumentation, supporting the development of workflows and integrated solutions designed to increase efficiencies, and bring awareness regarding the advancements in DNA forensics.

The Centre of Excellence is uniquely placed to help forensic scientists, partners and law enforcement bodies to collaborate and develop workflows that will help push use of cutting-edge technology in the field of DNA forensics. The collaboration will take us a step closer in making the world a safer place to live, said Peter Waterman, global commercial leader, human identification business for Thermo Fisher Scientific.

We welcome the establishment of this advanced and first of its kind CoE in the country. The center will significantly improve access to integrated, high-quality human identification solutions and positively impact capacity-building of forensic scientist and students in the country. We look forward to a highly impactful collaboration with Thermo Fisher in India, said Honble Vice Chancellor Dr. J.M Vyas, NFSU.
Nigeria must improve on its health sector financing if the country is to meet the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) target by 2030. This was the consensus when some stakeholders gathered in Abuja on Wednesday to deliberate on ways to strengthen community systems towards achieving UHC.

Tagged Universal Health Coverage by 2030: Driving the Agenda with community at the centre, the event was organised by the Nigeria Network of Religious Leaders Living with or Personally Affected by HIV/AIDS (NINERELA+), a non-governmental organisation.

To achieve UHC, Innocent Ujah, president of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), said the country must strengthen its Primary Health Care system (PHC) and improve health sector financing.

Represented by Usman Galadima, Chairman Advocacy, monitoring and evaluation, NMA, he said PHCs in the country are dilapidated and can no longer provide quality services to the people.

We have to strengthen existing health infrastructures, including primary health care system as most of the centres are dilapidated, Mr Ujah said.

2030 is still nine years away so we have to increase health sector financing and involve innovative means to strengthen infrastructure.

UHC, which entails providing effective access  including financial risk protection  to essential healthcare for, at least, the poorest and the most vulnerable population, is key to achieving the worlds Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

It is the central target of the SDG 3, one of the 17 goals set by the United Nations General Assembly in 2015.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), a viable and people-oriented PHC system and robust financing structure is key in achieving UHC.

Only about 20 per cent of the 30,000 public PHCs in Nigeria is fully functional, according to a survey carried out by a non-governmental body, CISLAC in 2018.

Community participation

The National Coordinator of NINERELA+, Amber Erinmwinhe, said UHC has gained tremendous global momentum in the last few years and Nigeria must build on the momentum through strengthened community participation.

Ms Erinmwinhe explained that for UHC to be achieved, citizens must be part of a system that is designed to improve their access to quality health services without suffering financial hardship.

Like the WHO rightly stated, UHC will not be achieved until health systems and their diverse stakeholders engage with each other in effective ways, she said.

She noted that social participation has been a key component of advances toward UHC and a key element of an effective and equitable extension of health coverage.

Today, we are setting the grounds for effective engagement between communities and other healthcare stakeholders and we are hopeful to engender more active participation of communities in the UHC agenda, she said.

Ms Erinmwinhe appreciated partners who have worked to assist communities, particularly the vulnerable people who are at risk of being left behind.

In her remarks, a representative of Christian AID UK, Adam-Ogoh Anne, said the sustainable way to address poverty is by providing UHC to the people.

In our strategic plan for the next seven years, we are committed to standing together with poor and marginalised people to ensure that we address poverty, speak truth to power and amplify the voices of the people who cannot do so through our 3P agenda, Ms Anne said.

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We believe everybody is just one sickness away from poverty and therefore the sustainable way to address poverty is by providing UHC since health and poverty are intricately intertwined.

She said for UHC to become the foundation of health care in the country, communities must come to the table and be part of the conversation that designs the framework for a healthcare system suitable for their population.

We believe that UHC addresses issues of equity, access, and uptake of quality and affordable services.

We believe that we need to contextualise the framework for the establishment of UHC If the programme will bring about deep lasting and sustainable change.

We also believe that communities must contextualise the ideal situation to reflect the reality of their existence and get in the drivers seat to take responsibility for their health-seeking behaviour, she said.
Former Chief Minister of Maharashtra Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday said that Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray had called him in 2018, requesting him to reinstate Sachin Vaze in the police.

Addressing a press conference, Fadnavis demanded that a proper investigation be done to find out who the the all-powerful people in the government allegedly "operating Vaze" were.

Fadnavis said that when he was chief minister in 2018, there was pressure from the Shiv Sena to reinstate Vaze in service. "Several Shiv Sena ministers in my government requested me to reinstate Sachin Vaze. Even Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray had called me, asking me to reinstate Sachin Vaze," Fadnavis said.

Fadnavis revealed that he took the opinion from the advocate general, who suggested it was not lawful to reinstate Vaze, who had been suspended by the High Court.

"In 2020, citing the pandemic, the Shiv Sena government reinstated Vaze and made him head of the Crime Intelligence Unit. After joining back, his stature grew. He acted like de facto Commissioner of Mumbai Police," alleged the former Maharashtra chief minister.

Fadnavis further demanded that National Investigation Agency probe must both the cases -- the Hiren murder and explosives-laden SUV found near Mukesh Ambani's residence -- as these were inter-connected.

"A proper investigation will bring out the truth and the entire conspiracy theory," he said.
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Nurses at St. Vincent Hospital in Worcester, Massachusetts, have entered their second week of an ongoing strike. They are demanding that Tenet Healthcare, which owns St. Vincent Hospital, agree to establish strict ratios for safer patient and workplace conditions. The roughly 700 nurses on the picket line, members of the Massachusetts Nurses Association, have been joined by other health care workers, including personal care assistants (PCA), pulmonary technicians and housekeepers, who face similarly dangerous conditions at the hospital.

On February 10 the nurses gave 89 percent approval to authorize a strike. Negotiations resumed the next day but quickly stalled again, as hospital management refused to address their central concern: assignment limits of four patients to every nurse on medical-surgical floors.

Currently, medical-surgical nurses can be assigned up to five patients. Long before the emergence of the novel coronavirus, medical-surgical care in general was less acute. However, with the onset of the pandemic, non-COVID-19 medical-surgical patients required much more attention, central monitoring and carefully controlled medications. During the first surge of the pandemic in Massachusetts, and with greater volumes of highly acute patients with COVID-19, nurses at St. Vincent were pushed beyond their capacity. Patients died not for the inadequacy of modern medicine, but for lack of enough health care workers to attend to them.

Tenet, the Dallas, Texas-based health care giant that owns St. Vincent, posted a $414 million profit in 2020. St. Vincent is Tenets most profitable facility in Massachusetts and has made four times the average profit of other hospitals in the state. Patients continue to fall through the cracks at the hospital, whether they have COVID-19 or not, because health care in America is dominated by for-profit conglomerates like Tenet that are more concerned about securing dividends for their shareholders than providing the best medicine technology and society can offer.

Cheryl Lataille and Trish Wilmot

Speaking with the WSWS, an outpatient personal care assistant described a scenario at St. Vincent Hospital in which two to three PCAs and one secretary were assigned to three separate inpatient units. Such short staffing in one area inevitably increases the burden on staff elsewhere. Last week, Jessica, a nurse, described to the WSWS how more clerical work for nurses increases the number of preventable complications, which result from patients going without necessary attention for sometimes hours at a time.

When the pandemic erupted in Massachusetts, St. Vincent Hospital, like other hospitals and health care systems across the country, refused to address the metastasizing health crisis with rational policies. While management did initially designate certain units as COVID-specific to mitigate its spread, it sought to recoup its losses by furloughing health care workers deemed expendable because elective procedures had been cancelled.

Bill Lahey

Bill Lahey, an endoscopy nurse of over 40 years, expressed his frustration to WSWS reporters over nurses conditions. Although it had been a while since he had worked on the medical-surgical floor, like other furloughed nurses he wanted to help his colleagues treating the influx of patients with a novel and deadly disease that was rapidly spreading in the community.

Those nurses who were kept on the job were expected to confront the pathogen and its disease without adequate equipment. Every nurse speaking to the WSWS confirmed that personal protective equipment was rationed by management and kept under lock and key. This led to absurdities like nurses being told to keep their normally disposable masks in paper bags and Tupperware containers and to use them until they were soiled. Nurse Sally Kwasny, who has worked at St. Vincent Hospital for almost 20 years, described such practices as nonsensical when dealing with a microscopic pathogen. Without proper gowns, nurses had to wear plastic sheeting reminiscent of shower curtains. As Kwasny described it, It just felt dirty.

Joanne Boucher and Sally Kwasny

After enduring the initial surge of the virus and the havoc it created, nurses from the medical-surgical units forcefully raised their demand for safe ratios. The union, however, was resistant to following their lead, opting to test sentiment for a strike, educate nurses within the rest of the bargaining unit and turn to a federal mediator to lead negotiations.

WSWS reporters noted the inadequacy of masks, plastic dividers, handwashing stations and the soon-to-be-reduced (from six feet to three feet) restrictions on social distancing, given the proven aerosolized nature of the virus. Nurse Mary Marengo confirmed that the expertise of health care workers such as her has been ignored and conveniently lost in the drive to reopen the economy. We were downplayed on the airborne quality of it for a long time, she said, I would buy my own N-95 because I was like, you dont get this rate of spread unless it has some serious airborne qualities. I mean, thats basic infection control.

Left to right: Louisa Moraes, Mary Marengo, Joe Stafford (Credit: WSWS)

Speaking with WSWS reporters last week, MNA Executive Director Julie Pinkham alluded to the leverage the MNA might have over Tenet Healthcare because there is a need for trained health care professionals to administer vaccines. In other words, if nurses need a dependable income but the strike hasnt succeeded, they will have to find it elsewhere. Also outstanding is whether or not striking nurses will be eligible for unemployment insurance.

There are two reasons the St. Vincent strike is of particular significance. One is that it is ongoing (open-ended), which is a departure from most health care strikes during the pandemic, which are usually contained not only to one bargaining unit but also to a set amount of time. Several such short-term strikes have taken place across the country during the pandemic, resulting in agreements that include modest increases in pay if workers are lucky, without addressing the more fundamental concern of patient and workplace safety, namely safe staffing ratios.

Another reason is that 600 St. Vincent PCAs (personal care assistants), pulmonary technicians, operating room aides, clerks, housekeepers and other workers, members of the United Food and Workers Local 1445, are also working without a contract and have joined nurses on the picket line in solidarity. It remains to be seen, however, whether the UFCW will call this vital but low-paid workforce out on strike.

The nurses unions have a record in the pandemic of organizing isolated protests and limited strikes to blow off steam, while acceding to the demands of the health care conglomerates. quickly settled with little changes to the conditions they face. They have failed to mobilize the support of other health care workers to back nurses struggles.

The UFCW has also refused to defend workers against the dangers of the pandemic. UFCW Local 431 at the Tyson Foods pork plant in Waterloo, Iowa, has kept meatpacking workers on the job despite the fact that more than 1,031 of the 2,800 workers at the plant tested positive for COVID-19 and 6 had died as of January this year. UFCW President Marc Perrone made $340,000 in union salaries and disbursements in 2019, at least 10 times the average wage of a UFCW meatpacking, grocery or hospital worker. But the UFCW spent just three-quarters of 1 percent of its nearly $400 million in assets on benefits for striking workers in 2019.

Rank-and-file nurses have demonstrated their resolve to pursue their demands with an open-ended strike as is evident by the sacrifice this entails. By leaving their posts, which takes a lot, nurses said, they are foregoing their wages and health care benefits. For financial security, all they can rely on is what they have saved, what they can earn elsewhere working per diem, or what they receive if their application to the MNAs Emergency Relief Fund is approved. These funds should be made immediately available to the striking nurses.

When asked why it was that the MNA did not have an established strike fund, despite the fact that depending on hours worked, nurses pay roughly $100 per month in dues and the MNA represents over 20,000 nurses in Massachusetts, two nurses did not have an answer.

The unavoidable but entirely preventable effect of squeezing as much profit as possible from a skeleton staff of nurses and support staff is increased patient suffering. The St. Vincent strike comes at a critical time in the pandemic. Mass vaccinations of the population have begun, but are still far short of the levels that will significantly slow the rate of transmission. In Worcester, as in other school districts across the country, students and teachers are being forced back into the classroom.

Michael Osterholm and other prominent epidemiologists, however, have warned that the false sense of security being projected by the Biden administration is belied by growing cases of faster-spreading Sars-Cov-2 variants. Nurses who spoke with the WSWS expressed their concern that schools be reopened only if it is safe; one was particularly concerned for her granddaughter, who is a cancer survivor. Health care workers, educators and other workers face a common struggle and must link up to stop the spread of the coronavirus pandemic and its attendant misery.

The Socialist Equality Party calls on the nurses, PCAs, housekeepers, critical care technicians, clerks and all other workers at St. Vincent Hospital to form their own rank-and-file committees, independent of the unions, to defend workers conditions and patient safety. Genuine socialized medicine, democratically overseen by the working class, is the only viable alternative to a health care system based on the accumulation of private profit by health care conglomerates such as Tenet Healthcare.
New York, March 17 : As a border crisis is building, President Joe Biden is appealing to people to not come to the US, dispelling the impression for some from the campaign rhetoric that immigration restrictions would be dismantled.

"Don't come over," he said on Tuesday, repeating a plea by officials to people from Central America converging along the border with Mexico.

"Don't leave your town or city or community," he said in an interview on ABC TV.

Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas assured a House of Representatives Committee on Wednesday, "Border is secure, it is not open." While White House spokesperson Jen Psaki has denied that there was a "crisis" at the border, Mayorkas said: "The Department is responding to historic and unprecedented challenges at the border, including the arrival of record levels of unaccompanied children." Earlier he had warned: "We are on pace to encounter more individuals on the southwest border than we have in the last 20 years." US border security personnel caught more than 97,000 people illegally crossing into the US.

"The idea that Joe Biden said, 'Come' -- because I heard the other day that they're coming because they know I'm a nice guy. Here's the deal: They're not," Biden said in the interview.

In one of his manifestos, he had said: "It is a moral failing and a national shame when a father and his baby daughter drown seeking our shores" and added there would be a "humane" immigration policy.

He promised to give legal status with eventual citizenship for an estimated 11 million illegal immigrants in the country.

But his manifesto also said that he would enforce the laws on immigration and border security.

Biden is also facing criticism from his party's left for not being liberal enough.

Democrat member of the House Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez tweeted: "DHS (Department of Homeland Security) shouldn't exist, agencies should be reorganised, ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) gotta go, ban for-profit detention, create climate refugee status & more".

Republicans are savouring the crisis in the hope that it would become an issue in the midterm elections next year.

Kevin McCarthy, the Republican leader in the House of Representatives, said after a visit to the border areas earlier this week that situation was a "heartbreak".

"This crisis is created by the presidential policies of this new administration. There's no other way to claim it than a Biden border crisis," he said.

Politico quoted Democrat Representative Vicente Gonzalez from a border area in Texas as saying: "Our party should be concerned", adding, "Biden is going to be dealing with a minority in Congress if he continues down some of these paths".

Biden's administration has upheld an executive order imposed by former President Donald Trump to send back immediately to Mexico those entering the country illegally and make them wait there for asylum hearings.

Trump based his order on the Covid-19 pandemic as a measure to prevent its spread.

Biden has also not lifted Trump's restrictions on asylum seekers.

However, Biden's administration allows unaccompanied children and families with children under six years into the country.

The crisis is most visible among children estimated to number about 4,000, who are straining the system.

Biden had said in his manifesto, "When children are locked away in overcrowded detention centres and the government seeks to keep them there indefinitely." The Democrats and the media had denounced Trump for the harsh conditions in which children were being held but that appears to be recurring.

Neha Desai, an Indian American lawyer authorised by a court to monitor the conditions under which children are detained by immigration officials, told CBS TV that some of them said they were hungry, "they had to take turns sleeping on the floor" and the only time they could see the sun was when they were allowed to take showers, sometimes only once every seven days.

Ocasio-Cortez tweeted about the condition of the children in custody: "This is not okay, never has been okay, never will be okay - no matter the administration or party." Democrats have blamed Trump for the border situation because, they said, he had dismantled the earlier system for dealing with migration.

The "fairness and efficiency in our immigration system", Mayorkas said, "was systematically dismantled during the last four years".

(Arul Louis can be reached at arul.l@ians.in and followed on Twitter at @arulouis)
The controversy over the use of the hijab on Wednesday degenerated to violence at Baptist Secondary School, Ilorin, Kwara State.

The school was one of the 10 shut down last month by the state government over the controversy and reopened only on Wednesday.

The state government had waded in and ordered the closure of the schools to avert violent clashes by Christian and Muslim groups.

On Tuesday, it announced that the schools had been told to reopen but must respect its policy that allows the use of the hijab in all public schools.

The government is convinced that its policy to allow willing Muslim schoolgirls to wear their hijab in public schools will lead to sustainable peace and communal harmony anchored on mutual respect and understanding, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education and Human Capital Development, Kemi Adeosun, said on Tuesday night while announcing the reopening of the schools.

According to her, the schools were reopened to enable students to prepare for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination.

However, PREMIUM TIMES gathered that Christian parents at the school barred female Muslim students from entering the school on Wednesday.

This led to a clash with their Muslim counterparts, which later escalated to the rival groups throwing stones and plastic chairs at themselves.

Some of the people were injured before security agents arrived to disperse the fighters.

The spokesperson of the police in the state, Ajayi Okasanmi, was yet to respond to telephone calls put across at press time.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the President, Kwara Baptist Conference, Victor Dada, told journalists that the state government does not respect the rule of law by making pronouncement over a case already at the Supreme Court.

What transpired this morning is simply because the government led by Governor AbdulRahman Abdulrazaq is not respecting the rule of law and if the state government does not respect the rule of law, there will be chaos.

A case that is in Supreme Court and judgment has not been given, the governor is making pronouncement.

As long as the state government doesnt respect the rule of law, we will defend our property and our faith.

We will not allow Hijab in our school because this is a Christian mission school, let Kwara State government respect the rule of law, Mr Dada said.

At C & S College, Sabo Oke, christians were seen carrying placards with various inscriptions like Kwara State is for all, not an Islamic state, We say no to Hijab and Our school is our heritage.

The protestors prevented the students and teachers from entering the school premises.

Similarly, at St. Anthonys Secondary School, Offa road, teachers and students were also seen hanging around the school premises as the police, soldiers and Civil Defence personnel were seen trying to calm frayed nerves.

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At the Bishop Smith Secondary School, Agba Dam, the school remained shut with few students and security personnel seen around the institution.

However, at ECWA School Oja Iya, academic activities have resumed as students were already seated in their classrooms when NAN correspondent visited.

Background

The state government had shut 10 grant-aided schools on February 19.

It also set up a committee to decide the way forward and later said it had been agreed after consultations that hijab-wearing students be allowed in the schools.

The affected schools are Cherubim and Seraphim (C&S) College, Sabo-Oke, St, Anthonys Secondary School, Offa Road, ECWA School, Oja-Iya, Surulere Baptist Secondary School and Baptist Smith Secondary School, Agba Dam.

Others are CAC Secondary School, Asa Dam Road, St. Barnabas Secondary School, Sabo-Oke, John School, Maraba, St. Williams Secondary School, Taiwo-Isale and St. James Secondary School, Maraba.

While the schools were earlier scheduled to resume last Monday, the government postponed the reopening, citing safety reasons owing to the opposition of the Christian leaders.

In-house sources have told PREMIUM TIMES that the government is not ready to reverse the approval of hijab because the affected schools belong to the government and not the Christian missions.

The military government, in the 1970s, took over these schools from the missions who founded the schools.

The schools, now grant aided by the government, had their names changed, but some, like those in Kwara, retained their names.

The missions in Kwara had twice challenged the government take-over of the schools in court but lost the suit at the high court and appellate court.

The missions, comprising different Christian denominations, have taken the case to the Supreme Court.
The Met Police officer suspected of the kidnap and murder of Sarah Everard will receive his full salary while facing criminal charges, it has been claimed.

Wayne Couzens, 48, is reportedly paid at least 33,000 per year for his role in Scotland Yard's Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection Unit.

He will continue to be remunerated during the criminal proceedings brought against him following the death of 33-year-old marketing executive Ms Everard.

This is despite the Met suspending Couzens from duty in the wake of his charging on March 12.

Wayne Couzens, 48, (right) is reportedly paid at least 33,000 per year for his role in Scotland Yard's Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection Unit. He will continue to be remunerated during the criminal proceedings brought against him following the death of 33-year-old marketing executive Sarah Everard (left)

Standard protocol is for officers under suspicion to be paid until they are dismissed, keeping with the presumption of innocence.

Speaking generally, a Police Federation spokesperson added: 'The situation for police is in some ways not different to any other employee who has been arrested and charged for offences.

'They would continue to be paid until the disciplinary process is invoked, the speed of which would be down to the employer.

'While instant dismissal without pay doesn't exist within policing, a Fast Track Disciplinary process does exist along with the ability for pension forfeiture, which doesn't exist outside of policing.'

Couzens's plea hearing has been scheduled for July 9, while a provisional trial date has been pencilled in for October 25.

If the case goes to trial, it could mean a verdict is not reached by as late as the end of November.

Couzens appeared to have a left black eye as he appeared by videolink to the Old Bailey

Yesterday Couzens made his first appearance in London's Old Bailey, bearing a large injury on his head and black left eye.

The court heard that the armed officer had finished work at least nine hours before Miss Everard went missing on the evening of March 3 as she walked home from a friend's flat in Clapham, south London.

Prosecutor Tom Little, QC, told the court: 'There's been a very significant and wide-ranging investigation.

'The position is that Sarah Everard was walking home a distance of some two and a half miles - if she had made it home - at 9 o'clock on the evening of March 3.

'The defendant had finished his last shift earlier that day, in fact that morning.'

The prosecutor said the case has received 'almost unprecedented media and public attention.'

Couzens appeared via video link for the hearing yesterday, wearing a red sweatshirt and grey jogging bottoms.

He spoke only to confirm his name and date of birth at the hearing, before the Recorder of London Judge Mark Lucraft QC.

Judge Luckraft said a plea hearing would be held on July 9 at the Old Bailey and a provisional date for a trial - which could last up to four weeks - was set for October 25. Couzens kept his head bowed for the proceedings.
Jaipur, March 17 : A POCSO court in Rajasthan's Jhunjhunu on Wednesday awarded death sentence to one Sunil Kumar (20), who was convicted of raping a five-year-old girl on February 19.

Following the verdict, the special public prosecutor of the court asked the jail management to provide religious and motivational books to Kumar, who had admitted that he was a habitual porn watcher besides being drunkard.

The verdict was pronounced by Judge Sukesh Kumar Jain, while Lokendra Singh Shekhawat represented the court as the special public prosecutor.

Meanwhile, the Director General of Police, M.L. Lathar, praised the efforts of Inspector General Havasingh Ghumaria and his team which produced the challan in the court within nine days of the incident.

Ghumaria said that the accused had raped the minor on February 19 under the Pilani police station in Jhunjhunu district. The victim was playing with her siblings in the farm when Kumar came on a Scooty and kidnapped the girl. Her brothers and sisters tried to chase the accused, but they could not catch him.

The police were informed immediately and all roads were blocked under the direction of DSP Manish Tripathi. At around 8 p.m., the minor was found bleeding in a nearby village. After she was rushed to a nearby hospital, the police nabbed Kumar within five hours. As the challan was produced against the accused on the ninth day itself, the case was being heard regularly.

While over 40 witnesses were gathered in connection with the case, the police also produced 250 documents as evidence.

After the court's decision, the victim's father said that their daughter has got justice today.

During the hearing, the accused told the court that he had committed the crime in an inebriated state. To which, the court said that he drove the Scooty for about 40 km and gave chocolates and chips to the girl, which meant that he was in his senses.

The accused also confessed before the court that he was a habitual porn watcher, apart from being a drunkard.

This is the second case in Jhunjhunu district where a rape convict has been awarded death sentence after the implementation of the POSCO Act. Three years ago, a convict named Vinod Kumar was sentenced to death in a similar case.
BELLEVUE, Wash., March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Acumatica, the world's fastest-growing cloud ERP company, today announced the release of Acumatica 2021 R1, the first of its semiannual product updates. The release includes comprehensive updates that deliver superior usability and best-in-class functionality with its powerful, flexible cloud platform, to help customers gain a competitive edge.

"Acumatica delivers award-winning usability unrivaled in the industry," said Jon Roskill, CEO of Acumatica. "Acumatica consistently ranks highest in usability in the industry due to our modern UI and flexible workflows. As a 100% browser-based cloud ERP, users can access their data from any location using an internet-connected device. We value customer feedback, which is why many of the improvements in this release came from community suggestions on the Acumatica Feedback Site."

In 2021 R1, Acumatica continues to build out its comprehensive AI/ML mobile image recognition capabilities. Users can scan business cards with their mobile device camera and automatically create contacts within Acumatica's CRM. In addition, Acumatica enhanced dashboard side panels with ordering and visibility and enabled users to seamlessly navigate to external URLs from General Inquiry results. Now, Acumatica users are better equipped to deliver their best work in less time.

Acumatica is tailor made for midmarket growth businesses. The platform delivers intelligent, industry-focused business functionality with the mission-critical capabilities and productivity aids required for Commerce, Construction, Distribution, Field Service, Financials, CRM and Manufacturing. Acumatica provides best-in-class capabilities by embedding core functions into a single business-wide software suite.

In 2021 R1, Acumatica delivers new features and enhancements to all its industry editions.

Financials and CRM Highlights:

Simplify operations with centralized vendor management

Enhance the quality of CRM data with Acumatica's intelligent deduplication technology

Maximize potential sales and simplify support by tracking contacts on sales orders

Distribution and Commerce Edition Highlights:

Streamline cross-company sales with stock items and automatically create corresponding purchase orders and sales orders

Maximize product offerings to target markets through enhanced drop-ship workflows

Reduce collections by gathering commerce order risk data

Increase control through granular sync options with custom commerce fields

Manufacturing and Field Service Edition Highlights:

Access product lifecycle management capabilities through Arena integration

Make accurate delivery commitments to customers through APS capable-to-promise capabilities

Simplify cost tracking by linking AP bills to field service appointments

Boost customer responsiveness by simplifying field service invoice correction

Construction Edition Highlights:

Increase usability with Procore integration enhancements

Benchmark against peers and see how your company is performing with CFMA benchmark

Acumatica provides a future-proof cloud platform with native mobility, an intuitive user interface and unique features that connect easily to extended applications with artificial intelligence and machine learning. Acumatica's true cloud platform is optimized for performance, scalability and security.

Platform Highlights:

AI/ML-powered mobile image recognition for business cards

At-a-glance KPI tracking with a new speedometer on dashboards

Localization support for Canadian marketing including French-Canadian language

Optimize application workflows throughout the Acumatica suite with its workflow engine

ERP usability is a top priority for Acumatica. The cloud-based ERP solution is user-friendly, intuitive, customizable and mobile. With a modern UI and flexible workflows, it's the business management solution every business across every industry needs if they want to succeed in today's digital and pandemic-altered marketplace.

Customers interested in learning more about 2021 R1 can visit our website at https://www.acumatica.com/acumatica-2021-r1-virtual-launch-event/

About Acumatica

Acumatica Cloud ERP provides the best business management solution for transforming your company to thrive in the new digital economy. Built on a future-proof platform with open architecture for rapid integrations, scalability, and ease of use, Acumatica delivers unparalleled value to small and midmarket organizations. Connected Business. Delivered.

SOURCE Acumatica

Related Links

http://www.acumatica.com


Wondershare DemoCreator is an all-in-one and easy-to-use screen recorder and video editor toolkit.

Wondershare DemoCreator has come up with its latest campaign to encourage YouTube content creators to take the benefit of the application. With over 300,000 users, DemoCreator is one of the most resourceful video editors and screen recording tools. Now, anyone can participate in the event by sharing their YouTube videos and get a chance to win several weekly and quarterly prizes. With this, users can utilize the available resources and inbuilt templates of DemoCreator that would help them create stunning videos for their YouTube channel.

Any YouTube content creator can participate in the DemoCreator activity by visiting its dedicated page: https://dc.wondershare.com/campaign/start-youtube-with-democreator.html

To get a chance to win the hosted prizes and participate in the event, the following steps can be taken:

1. Download Wondershare DemoCreator from its official website or the activity page.

2. To participate, log-in using Wondershare ID and enter its details by registering for the event.

3. Enter the name of the YouTube channel and provide the URL of the YouTube channel.

4. Submit all the details and start using DemoCreator to create or edit YouTube videos.

5. Log-in on DemoCreator and export the video to YouTube with the tag-#StartYouTubeWithDemoCreator.

6. Subscribe to the DemoCreators YouTube channel to get updates about the winners.

The event has hosted tons of weekly, quarterly, and special prizes with the following things up for grabs:



Weekly prizes: 1x free license of DemoCreator for a month and 2x 50% off coupon for a 1-year DemoCreator license.

Quarterly prizes: 1x Canon PowerShot SX420, 2x Zhiyun Smooth XS Gimbal Stabilizer, 3x 1-year free DemoCreator license, and all the participants would get a 7-day free license of DemoCreator.

Special offer: Based on the quality of the work, several participants would be selected for DemoCreators KOC project with their work being showcased on the products website.

The winners for the Weekly prizes will be announced on every Friday from March to May, while the results for the Quarterly prizes will be shared on June 1, 2021. The event has already been started and is valid till May 23, 2021.

Wondershare DemoCreator is one of the most resourceful tools for video content creators as it provides screen recording and editing services in one place.

Advanced screen recording: Users can easily record the screen activity and even include audio input via microphone or webcam recording.

Screen drawing tool: DemoCreator has an inbuilt drawing tool that can be used while screen recording to highlight, annotate, and draw anything on the screen.

Inbuilt video editor: There is also an inbuilt video editor in DemoCreator that can be used to trim, crop, split, rotate, and perform various video edits.

Advanced video effects: Users can also explore hundreds of readily available effects like transitions, captions, stickers, green screen, audio fade in/out, zoom and pan, and so much more.

Now, with the ongoing DemoCreator event for YouTube, the company is expected to expand its users and help various content creators by offering its excellent services at the same time. The DemoCreator YouTube event is already live, and anyone can participate in it to get a chance to win exciting prizes.

About Wondershare DemoCreator

Developed by Wondershare Technology, DemoCreator can be used to create educational video contents, demo videos, gaming tutorials, and more. The application can help users express their ideas and share their knowledge all over the world seamlessly. More and more content creators use DemoCreator for sharing their gaming experience, programming techniques, video presentations, and more.
Syria Surging Poverty FILE - In this Jan. 20, 2017 file photo, Syrian men carry bags of bread on their heads while walking back to their homes in the once rebel-held Bustan al-Qasr neighborhood in the eastern Aleppo, Syria. As Syria marks the 10th anniversary Monday, March 15, 2021, of the start of its uprising-turned-civil war, President Bashar Assad may still be in power, propped up by Russia and Iran. But millions of people are being pushed deeper into poverty, and a majority of households can hardly scrape together enough to secure their next meal. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar, File)

DAMASCUS, Syria (AP)  Amid sharp economic decline, Syrian President Bashar Assad issued a decree on Tuesday granting hundreds of thousands of public sector workers and soldiers a one-time financial stimulus, equivalent to an average monthly salary.

The stimulus  the third since October  comes as the national currency is crashing, now at more than 4,000 Syrian pounds to the dollar on the black market, compared to 700 a year ago. The official rate for the dollar is fixed at 1,256 Syrian pounds for $1.

The decision comes a day after the government raised the price of fuel, including subsidized, by more than 50% in the third increase this year. It also raised the price of cooking gas.

Nearly 80% of Syrians live in poverty, and 60% are food insecure  the worst food security situation ever seen in Syria, according to the United Nations.

The decree stated that a one-time 50,000 Syrian pounds, which is nearly $11 on the black market, would go to public sector workers, including those on part-time contracts and conscripts. And 40,000 Syrian pounds would be dispensed to pensioners.

Inflation has hit between 180 and 300%, according to the Syria Central Bureau of Statistics. The price of a kilogram (2.2 pounds) of sugar has gone from 700 Syrian pounds to around 2,400 this year.

The Ministry of Interior Trade and Consumer Protection said the price of unsubsidized fuel would go up from 1,300 Syrian pounds per liter to 2,000 pounds, a more than 50% increase. The price of subsidized fuel would increase by nearly 60%, to 750 Syrian pounds per liter. The price of butane gas for cooking went up 37%.

Economist Ziad Ghosn said the one-time payment is equivalent to the average monthly salary and estimated the cost of the stimulus would be around 120 billion Syrian pounds. He also estimated the stimulus would reach about 2 million people.

Syrians have been struggling with deteriorating economic conditions, shortages of basic goods and medicine, and have been forced to wait in long lines to buy subsidized bread and fuel.

A decade of conflict has caused huge devastation to the Syrian economy, isolated its government and displaced its people, driving most of them into poverty. The pandemic restrictions have added to pressure on the economy, compounded by the financial crisis in neighboring Lebanon, which has been a bridge to Syria economically and financially.

More than half a million people have been killed in Syria's 10-year conflict that has also left the country's infrastructure in ruins and most of its oil and agriculture resources outside of government control.
U.S. Secretary of State Lloyd Austin speaks during his first in-person meeting with South Korean Defense Minister Suh Wook at the Ministry of National Defense in Yongsan District, Seoul, Wednesday. Yonhap



By Jung Da-min



U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin has called for a trilateral cooperation between the U.S., South Korea and Japan, to counter regional challenges posed by China and North Korea.



The U.S. defense chief emphasized the importance of the three-way cooperation for regional security in Northeast Asia, during his first in-person meeting with South Korea's Defense Minister Suh Wook at the defense ministry in Seoul, Wednesday, the first day of his visit here together with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken.



Noting it was his first visit to South Korea since the launch of the Joe Biden administration in late January, Austin said his visit was to "reaffirm the United States' commitment to defense of the Republic of Korea" (ROK), as the Biden administration has stressed its commitment to reinvigorating its alliances in Asia.





Blinken stresses China's 'clear self-interest,' 'critical' role in North Korean denuclearization North Korea says will ignore contact from US unless Washington withdraws hostile policies Blinken emphasizes S. Korea-US alliance to counter China's influence The U.S. defense chief said the U.S.-South Korea alliance has become more important due to "the unprecedented challenges posed by both the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and China." The Democratic People's Republic of Korea is the official name of North Korea.



"Secretary Austin said, to counter these regional challenges, security cooperation between the U.S., South Korea and Japan is important, saying this requires improved relations between South Korea and Japan," a ministry official said after the meeting.



Relations between Seoul and Tokyo have been at their worst level in recent years, mainly after Japan imposed export controls on South Korea in apparent retaliation to a 2018 South Korean court ruling that ordered Japanese companies to compensate surviving South Korean victims of wartime forced labor.



"The ROK is also a critical partner of our shared priorities in the region. A principle among them is upholding the rules-based international order. You have become the key provider of security and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. For that we're grateful," Austin said.



U.S. Secretary of State Lloyd Austin, left, and South Korean Defense Minister Suh Wook pose before their first in-person meeting at the Ministry of National Defense in Yongsan District, Seoul, Wednesday. Yonhap

Regarding the matter, Suh replied that the South Korean government's New Southern Policy shares common goals with Washington's Indo-Pacific strategy in that they both seek to establish the rules-based international order, according to the official.



The defense chiefs also reaffirmed principles of the transfer of wartime operational control (OPCON) of Korean troops from Washington to Seoul, while evaluating that the combined military exercise between the allies conducted earlier the month was "successful," according to the ministry official.




Maine Church's Discipleship Program Changes Lives

NEWS PROVIDED BY

Liberty Counsel

March 16, 2021



BANGOR, Maine, March 16, 2021 /Christian Newswire/ -- Calvary Chapel of Bangor's residential discipleship program is helping to save lives like Emily's.

Emily was a drug addict, a thief, and a manipulator. She had failed out of college, lost many jobs, and caused division in her family. She felt hopeless. Then Emily was caught stealing at her workplace and faced jail for grand larceny. But God intervened and led her to the Calvary Residential Discipleship (CRD) program, the church's Christ-centered alternative to secular recovery programs within the drug and alcohol community. There Emily learned about God's love and how to surrender. She participated in the work program, daily Bible studies, devotional readings, and prayer. She attended mandatory church services. She turned away from addiction and embraced Jesus Christ.

Emily recently celebrated 16 years of sobriety.

Liberty Counsel will soon file the reply brief to the U.S. District Court of Maine regarding a renewed preliminary injunction on behalf of Calvary Chapel of Bangor asking the court to strike down Governor Janet Mills' unconstitutional 50-person restriction imposed against churches and places of worship.

Pastor Ken Graves said, "It is the language chosen by our governor's order that reveals the Christian church is in fact being targeted and discriminated against. Our state government has told the church that it is nonessential. I disagree in the strongest terms. We are among the most essential things that must remain open. Wiser governments in the past actually looked to the churches to gather and pray and to pool their resources in times of crises. The government has told the church that it is irrelevant and that it offers nothing. I reject that. We are not irrelevant, and we have more to offer than our governor apparently realizes."





Regular attendance at church services is mandatory for the students in the program. Therefore, there will always be a minimum of 48 students at worship services on any given Sunday and Wednesday. When combined with Pastor Graves, the staff of seven or eight, and the other pastors, the governor's orders preclude Calvary Chapel's CRD residents from worshipping in the church. They can meet for substance abuse counseling that does not involve Bible studies and worship, but as soon as they worship, the assembly is illegal.

Moreover, the 50-person limit also prevents any other church members who are not in the CRD program from attending worship. Yet, worshipping with those not in the residential program is essential for the CRD program. It is not an option for Calvary Chapel to preclude its members and congregants from attending religious worship services as that is the reason this church exists.

Pastor Graves, said, "The government wrongly presumes to have the authority to violate our constitutionally guaranteed and God-given rights to freedom of religion and peaceful assembly."

Liberty Counsel Founder and Chairman Mat Staver said, "Governor Janet Mills' unconstitutional actions must end. Calvary Chapel of Bangor and all houses of worship are not only essential to the community but have special protections under the First Amendment. Liberty Counsel is continuing to defend Calvary Chapel until the governor's unconstitutional ban is lifted because lives like Emily's are worth the fight."

Liberty Counsel provides broadcast quality TV interviews via Hi-Def Skype and LTN at no cost.



SOURCE Liberty Counsel



CONTACT: Mat Staver, 407-875-1776, Liberty@LC.org



Related Links



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Our company is based in Italy and we are looking for a reliable supplier of high quality wood pellets of white colour (pinewood). Please, share us your best offer with price including the cost of delivery to 89028, Italy.
NEW YORK, March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Hilco Streambank (www.HilcoStreambank.com) announced that it is seeking offers to acquire the intellectual property assets associated with the Robert Talbott brand, including trademarks and the www.RobertTalbott.com domain.

Since 1950, the Robert Talbott brand has grown from its roots as a designer of fine quality men's neckwear to a beloved brand known for its array of bespoke products for men and women. After the successful introduction of neckwear, the brand introduced men's dress shirts, sportswear, sweaters and outerwear, followed by the complete Audrey Talbott women's line of shirts, shearling and leather outerwear and accessories. The Robert Talbott brand is known for its ready to wear offerings as well as a unique made-to measure tailored clothing program of fine, custom-made shirts and neckwear. In recent years sales of Robert Talbott branded product were split equally between retail and wholesale.

"There are not many menswear brands with the cachet and exclusivity of Robert Talbott," commented Hilco Streambank senior vice president Richelle Kalnit. "The brand is uniquely positioned to appeal to discerning customers in multiple channels and categories seeking its casual yet sophisticated statement for today's relaxed work and event needs."

The deadline for submitting offers to acquire the property is Thursday, April 8, 2021 at 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time (U.S.), and a sale of the property will be conducted pursuant to Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code on Tuesday, April 13, 2021 at 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time (U.S.), by Hilco Streambank as agent for Crossroads Financing, LLC, a secured lender. Parties interested in learning more about the Robert Talbott intellectual property assets should visit www.hilcostreambank.com/robert-talbott, or contact Hilco Streambank representatives directly.

David Peress Executive Vice President [email protected] 617.642.1909 Richelle Kalnit Senior Vice President [email protected] 212.993.7214 Ryan Brenner Analyst [email protected] 212.993.7213

About Hilco Streambank: Hilco Streambank is a market leading advisory firm specializing in intellectual property disposition and valuation. Having completed numerous transactions including sales in publicly reported Chapter 11 bankruptcy cases, private transactions, and online sales through IPv4.Global, Hilco Streambank has established itself as the premier intermediary in the consumer brand, internet and telecom communities. Hilco Streambank is part of Northbrook, Illinois based Hilco Global, the world's leading authority on maximizing the value of business assets by delivering valuation, monetization and advisory solutions to an international marketplace. Hilco Global operates more than twenty specialized business units offering services that include asset valuation and appraisal, retail and industrial inventory acquisition and disposition, real estate and strategic capital equity investments.

For media and Press:

Gary C. Epstein

EVP Chief Marketing Officer

Hilco Global

[email protected]

847-418-2712

SOURCE Hilco Streambank
17 March 2020



Notice of 2020 IFRS Results

Acron (LSE: AKRN) will release its IFRS financial results for 2020 on Friday, 19 March 2021 at 11.00 am (Moscow time).

Mediacontacts:

Sergey Dorofeev

Anastasiya Gromova

Tatiana Smirnova

Public Relations

Phone: +7 (495) 777-08-65 (ext. 5196)

Investor contacts:

Ilya Popov

Investor Relations

Phone: +7 (495) 745-77-45 (ext. 5252)

Background Information

Acron Group is a leading vertically integrated mineral fertiliser producer in Russia and globally, with chemical production facilities in Veliky Novgorod (Acron) and the Smolensk region (Dorogobuzh). The Group owns and operates a phosphate mine in Murmansk region (North-Western Phosphorous Company, NWPC) and is implementing a potash development project in Perm Krai (Verkhnekamsk Potash Company, VPC). It has a wholly owned transportation and logistics infrastructure, including three Baltic seaport terminals and distribution networks in Russia and China. Acron's subsidiary, North Atlantic Potash Inc. (NAP), holds mining leases and an exploration permit for ten parcels of the potassium salt deposit at Prairie Evaporite, Saskatchewan, Canada. Acron also holds a minority stake (19.8%) in Polish Grupa Azoty S.A., one of the largest chemical producers in Europe.

In 2019, the Group sold 7.6 million tonnes of main products to 78 countries, with Russia, Brazil, Europe and the United States as key markets.

In 2019, the Group posted consolidated IFRS revenue of RUB 114,835 million (USD 1,774 million) and net profit of RUB 24,786 million (USD 383 million). Acron's shares are on the Level 1 quotation list of the Moscow Exchange and its global depositary receipts are traded at the London Stock Exchange (ticker AKRN). Acron employs over 11,000 people.

For more information about Acron Group, please visitwww.acron.ru/en.
| By Lou Cortina

The issue of food insecurity is real among students at the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB), with nearly one-third surveyed in fall 2020 saying they felt some level of uncertainty regarding their food supply.

Erika Malone, the mother of UMB CURE Scholar Emani Malone, picks up food at the Intercultural Centers Pop-Up Pantry with the help of UMB Police Officer Yale Partlow. (Matthew Paul DAgostino/UMB Staff Photo)

UMBs Intercultural Center, Division of Student Affairs, and Police Department (UMBPD) took a step toward combating the problem March 13, collaborating with other partners to provide 30-pound boxes of nonperishable food items to students as well as employees and community members at a Pop-Up Pantry.

UMB volunteers gave away 30 boxes to drive-up and walk-up recipients at an area between Pratt Street Garage and the University of Maryland School of Nursing building. With COVID-19 safety protocols requiring masks and physical distancing in place, volunteers placed the boxes inside the vehicles. For a few students who walked up to the site, UMBPD officers assisted with transporting the boxes to their residences.

The boxes included items such as pasta, cereal, peanut butter, nonperishable milk, canned soup, and canned vegetables. The food was provided through a partnership among UMB, the University of Maryland Medical System, the city of Baltimore, the Maryland Food Bank, and Saval Foodservice, said Courtney Jones Carney, MBA, director of the Intercultural Center and executive director of intercultural leadership and engagement at UMB.

Its extremely important for us to have pop-up events like this and to make sure students and others connected to UMB receive shelf-stable food that they can use, Jones Carney said. Once we received the food, we reached out to UMBPD to see if they could partner with us in the distribution, because it definitely matches with their community outreach efforts.

Acting Sgt. Hazel Lewis, who was among the UMBPD officers aiding the effort on a pleasant Saturday afternoon, was happy to lend a hand.

Its a great idea for the University to be giving out this food, because it helps those who are in need, said Lewis, who also noted a side benefit. A lot of people have not been on campus because of the pandemic, so its also a good way to say hi and maybe even call it a thank-you box. 

Lewis colleague, Sgt. Thaddeus Baker, agreed. There are people in dire need right now, so for the University and the Department of Public Safety to reach out and provide food to students and others who need it is very special, he said. This gives people what theyd need to make some nutritious meals.

Jones Carney said about 70 boxes remain to be distributed and efforts are underway to figure out how to do that, with additional pop-up events or possibly delivery by vehicle.

In the survey of UMB students in fall 2020, 29 percent of respondents said they were worried that their food would run out before they had money to buy more; 22 percent said the food they had bought didnt last and they didnt have money to get more; and 33 percent said they could not afford to eat balanced meals.

The Pop-Up Pantry is one facet of UMBs efforts to address that level of food insecurity. Before the COVID-19 pandemic unfolded in March 2020, the Division of Student Affairs/Campus Life Services was planning to implement a food pantry in the Southern Management Corporation Campus Center that would have been available to students in the 2020-21 academic year.

The space remains under construction and should be completed within the next couple of months, hopefully by June 1, Jones Carney says. While the pantry will be a physical space for storage, we also are looking into purchasing lockers so students could pick up food at their convenience, she said. COVID has slowed the process of launching the pantry, but we are working through it.

Jones Carney adds this message for students: Dont hesitate to ask for help.

Weve heard from some students who think their need is not great enough to benefit from the food pantry or to benefit from student emergency funds, she said. I remind students that there is no particular threshold we are measuring for them to receive these benefits. So if students do not have enough funding to eat or to replenish their food supply in a timely manner, we want to make sure theyre taking advantage of these opportunities.

Members of the UMB community wishing to help students with food insecurity can contribute to the UMB Student Food Insecurity Fund. Students experiencing food insecurity can check out these resources on the Intercultural Centers website.


Bhopal, March 17 : With the date for the by-election for the Damoh Assembly constituency in Madhya Pradesh being announced, the BJP has declared its candidate while the Congress is yet to decide on its party nominee. This election holds significance in the context of the politics in the state.

The Election Commission has released the poll programme for the by-elections in other states of the country which also includes the Damoh Assembly constituency of Madhya Pradesh. The voting would take place on April 17 and the results would be declared on May 2. The Model Code of Conduct has come into force here with the announcement of the poll dates.

This election is considered to be important for both the ruling party BJP and the opposition Congress. This is because former Congress MLA, Rahul Lodhi, recently joined the BJP. The BJP has also fielded Lodhi as its poll candidate, while the Congress is still looking for an ideal candidate.

According to political expert Santosh Gautam, "While this election will be an interesting contest, the prestige of many other leaders would be at stake. The challenge for the BJP is that how much its major leader Jayant Malaiya, who lost the 2018 state Assembly elections to Rahul Lodhi, lends support to him. Jayant Malaiya has a strong presence in this region which cannot be disregarded. On the other hand, a lot will also depend upon the Congress candidate. If the Congress fields a leader with an uncompromising and clean image, it will make the political contest more potent." The BJP is taking this election quite seriously which is why medical colleges and many other development projects have been earmarked for Damoh in the recent days.

The BJP also knows that if Malaiya does not support them, then they will have to work harder but with his support, the party can win easily. On the other hand, the Congress is assuming that this election is going to give it a lease of life, so it is thinking about fielding a better candidate.

Damoh is situated in Bundelkhand with many BJP veterans who are in active politics coming from this region. These include Union Minister Prahlad Patel, Madhya Pradesh unit President Vishnu Datt Sharma, State ministers Gopal Bhargava, Bhupendra Singh, Govind Singh Rajput and Brijendra Pratap Singh.

The Congress does not have any big political leader from this region. Those leaders who once used to be identified with the Congress like Satyavrat Chaturvedi, Mukesh Nayak, Raja Pateriya are being left out by the grand old party.

Looking at the history of this Assembly seat, out of 15 Assembly elections held so far, Jayant Malaiya of BJP has won six times. The Congress candidates have won seven times and Independent candidates have won twice. This scenario shows that this seat is not a stronghold of any one party in particular.
New Delhi: The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) on (March 17, 2021) said that they have held two Chinese nationals with forged Aadhaar cards at Siliguri's Bagdogra Airport.

The CISF informed that while checking tickets and identity documents at the departure gate of the Bagdogra airport around 9:20 AM on Tuesday, a CISF constable noticed two passengers who appeared to be Chinese nationals. They came to the departure gate and produced their tickets and identification document (Aadhaar cards) to gain access into the terminal building.

"During checking of travelling documents of both the passengers, Aadhaar cards appeared to be forged. On suspicion, the constable immediately informed the matter to his seniors. On arrival of senior officers of CISF, the matter was informed to Local Police, Army Intelligence Unit and IB Officials," CISF said in an official statement.

The CISF said that on questioning, both the suspected passengers revealed their identity as Zhang Jun and Kaileng who were supposed to travel from Bagdogra to Hyderabad by an Indigo Airlines flight and further bound from Hyderabad to Tirupati by an Indigo Airlines flight.

Later, both the suspected passengers were handed over to the local police for further investigation.

"On joint interrogation, it came to light that the suspected passengers were Chinese national and visited India in 2020. As per their passport, they had visited Pakistan in 2018 and 2019. They have also visited Nepal and exited Nepal on January 13, 2021. They were staying in India even after expiring of their Visa and were using fake Aadhaar cards to travel within India," the CISF said.
Nineteen Australians have suffered allergic reactions to Covid-19 vaccines with 203,557 administered so far, it was revealed on Wednesday.

But Health Department Secretary Brendan Murphy said anaphylactic reactions to vaccinations are to be expected and are not unique to Covid jabs.

He recommended that anyone who suffers from anaphylaxis should still get their jab but should wait in the clinic for 30 minutes after receiving it in case they have a reaction.

Only 0.01 per cent of vaccine patients - or one in 10,000 - suffered an allergic reaction.

Nineteen Australians have suffered allergic reactions to Covid-19 vaccines with 203,557 administered so far. Pictured: Health Minister Greg Hunt

Health officials have assured Australians that reactions among people with a history of allergies are to be expected (pictured nurse receives Covid-19 jab as Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk looks on)

Of the 19 reactions, 15 were caused by the Pfizer vaccine and four were caused by the AstraZeneca vaccine.

Anaphylaxis is a potentially deadly form of allergic reaction that can cause skin rash, nausea, vomiting, difficulty breathing and shock. It is common in people who are allergic to animals and nuts.

'There is to my knowledge, no reason at all for concern,' Professor Murphy said in a press conference on Wednesday after four Queenslanders suffered anaphylactic reactions this week.

'We have seen anaphylaxis with the Pfizer vaccine, we have seen it with the AstraZeneca vaccine, and they have all been expertly treated.

'We would expect to see anaphylaxis, and we would have adrenaline on hand and know how to manage the condition.

'We are confident the program should continue to go ahead as it has. I have had the AstraZeneca vaccine more than a week ago, with Minister Hunt, and I am very confident this is a very safe and very, very effective vaccine,' he added.

Officials also reassured Australians that the AstraZeneca vaccine was safe after several European countries paused their rollout over fears it causes blood clots.

Professor John Skerritt of the Thereputic Goods Admistration - the body that approves the vaccines in Australia - said there was no evidence the vaccines cause the clots and it is probably a coincidence.

'We know that sadly people get sick every day. In Australia, the statistic is 165,000 people die every year, and it would be a crowded planet if they did not,' he said.

Professor Skerritt said 11million Britons and 1million Saudi Arabians had been vaccinated with AstraZeneca without any reports of clots.

It comes after it was announced police, army personnel, health workers and anyone over the age of 70 are among six million Australians who can now book to receive their coronavirus vaccine (pictured, ambulance and police officers after getting their jab on March 7 in Perth)

The Queensland patients who suffered allergic reactions received the AstraZeneca jab in Ipswich, Toowoomba and Bundaberg but have since recovered.

All four had histories of severe allergic reactions or anaphylaxis.

The reactions came from around 3,000 vaccinations of the AstraZeneca jab rolled out across Queensland so far.

Minister Hunt on Wednesday announced police, army personnel, health workers and anyone over the age of 70 are among six million Australians who can now book to receive their coronavirus vaccine.

Phase 1B of Australia's biggest ever vaccination program is to be unveiled on Wednesday in the first large-scale roll out to the general public.

Australians now eligible include everyone over 70, other healthcare workers, plus Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged over-55.

Adults of any age with underlying medical conditions which make them vulnerable to the virus are also on the list, and some high-risk workers including army, police and those working in meat processing plants.

Around 200,000 aged care residents, quarantine workers and frontline health workers have been vaccinated so far, well behind the federal government's timeline.

The government initially estimated four million vaccinations would be achieved by the end of March.
"I'm here nurturing primarily emerging artists who have been under-recognized," Michelle Barnes told Chron. "It's very gratifying."

Launched as a non-profit to support African-American artists, the Community Artists' Collective in downtown Houston has helped nurture the talent of Houston art icons like Annette Lawrence, Robert Hodge, Tierney Malone and, most recently, Ricardo Osmondo Francis.

HOUSTON SPOTLIGHT: A Houston nurse returns to work after losing her brother to COVID

Collective co-founder Barnes said that when she and her co-founder, Dr. Sarah Trotty, first established the Collective in 1985, she discovered that Houston artists voiced a need for a venue for exhibition.

"What the artists wanted was a venue to show and sell their work so they work as the professional artists they are," Barnes said. "We started to do exhibitions and programs and discovered the real needs and the chasms that existed, between the market and artists."

At the age of 14, Francis forged a strong connection to Barnes after he sold his first painting to her. Now, at 44, Francis has unveiled his solo exhibition of new work at the Collective. Even though he now lives and works in New York through Leonides Arts NY, Francis calls Houston his creative home. A native of the Third Ward, Francis said his work grew through his introduction to Barnes and his HSPVA (now Kinder) teacher, John Gaines.

Ricardo Osmondo Francis

"It changed my perspective of what art is," Francis said. "I definitely wanted to be a painter after that."

The Community Artists' Collective goes a step beyond serving the community as a platform for emerging artists. Today, the 36-year-old nonprofit blends art forms including woodworking, pottery and quilts into a vibrant educational experiences for both children and adults. The Collective has collaborated with Project Row Houses to coordinate classes for youth at Emancipation Park and SHAPE Community Center.

It hasn't been an easy road this past year because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Barnes said.

"By the time COVID-19 hit, we were inspiring each other as artists. The classes for children were essential for grounding us and keeping us rooted in our purpose," Barnes said. "Our expertise is best supplied in small groups."

What the Community Artists' Collective excels in is providing a nurturing home for African-American artists in Houston.

"I do believe artists have an extended family. My own mother calls Michelle Barnes my extended mother," Francis told Chron about the Collective. "...The Collective helps you deal with the demands of being a visual artist."

Ricardo Osmondo Francis

Barnes said that she had an epiphany of sorts about artists and their involvement in the Collective.

"One of the jarring kind of moments included that artists don't like to be organized," Barnes said. "They don't necessarily like to be pulled away from the artist's studio. They are ready to plug in for a short period of time and then in-and-out later."

The work that was cut out for Barnes was more in the realm of organizing and spotlighting the work of Houston's emerging artists. Built on a legacy of serving the Houston community, the Collective has grown even stronger despite COVID-19, Barnes said.

"It's cooperative, collegial and it's collaboration," Barnes said. "The job of coordinating all of that energy is creative work. We intend to support our artists. We intend to support our program. We dont overpromise."

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Gardai are appealing to the public for any information on the whereabouts of Cork man Michael Deasy (49).

Mr Deasy is missing from his home in Macroom. According to Gardai he was last seen yesterday in the Douglas area of Cork.

He is described as being 5 9 (179cm) in height, with a slim build, as well as blonde, fair hair.

Gardai and Michaels family are concerned for his welfare.

Anyone with information on Mr Deasys whereabouts is asked to contact Macroom Garda Station on 026 20590, or the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111.
KERRY officials insisted there is "huge respect" for the Irish language in the Kingdom after uproar amongst locals who complained a new housing estate name is effectively meaningless.

Kerry Co Council is now to liaise with the development agency, Cluid, over a new name for a Dingle housing estate located beside one of Ireland's proudest Gaeltacht areas.

The estate was named 'Pairceanna na Glas' - with west Kerry locals furious that, in Irish language terms, the name is effectively meaningless.

One translation is 'Green Fields' or 'Green Parks'.

Kerry County Council chief executive Moira Murrell insisted there was no intention to cause offence or disrespect - and stressed that there was enormous respect for the Irish language throughout the entire county.

She said that the council is now reviewing its development naming procedures and will review any issues identified locally in respect of Irish names.

West Kerry Councillors Breandan Fitzgerald and Seamus Cosai Fitzgerald told Radio Kerry they had brought an emergency motion before Kerry Co Council because of the level of local concern at the housing estate name.

The project is a new 20-house Cluid development at the Grove just outside Dingle.

However, Irish speakers pointed out that the name chosen for the estate is effectively meaningless - despite the rich history, folklore and geography locally which could have been used to select a more appropriate title.

Both Kerry Co Council and Cluid Housing are reviewing the matter to select a more suitable name.

Locals are expected to be consulted over the process over the coming weeks.

But Councillor Fitzgerald said it was astonishing that it had progressed to this stage - with local concerns over the naming of the estate highlighted over six months ago.

He added it was very sad that during Seachtain na Gaeilge or Irish language week the issue of a housing estate with a meaningless name should have dominated local headlines.

Councillor Deirdre Ferris pointed out that it was not an isolated case in Dingle with a similar development naming issue at Ardfert in north Kerry.
Vatican says Catholic Church can't bless same-sex marriage: God 'cannot bless sin

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The Vatican released a statement Monday announcing that churches have no power to bless same-sex marriage since God cannot bless sin, which clarifies Pope Francis stance on same-sex unions.

The Vaticans Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith issued a formal response to a question about whether Catholic churches have the power to bless same-sex unions. The question comes when plans and proposals for blessings of unions of persons of the same sex are being advanced in some ecclesial contexts.

 It is not licit to impart a blessing on relationships, or partnerships, even stable, that involve sexual activity outside of marriage , the Vatican statement reads.

As is the case of the unions between persons of the same sex. The presence in such relationships of positive elements, which are in themselves to be valued and appreciated, cannot justify these relationships and render them legitimate objects of an ecclesial blessing, since the positive elements exist within the context of a union not ordered to the Creators plan.

In a Monday interview with The Christian Post, Bill Donohue, president of the Catholic League, which claims to be the nations largest Catholic civil rights organization, said the statement was very much welcomed because it removed doubt about the Vaticans position on this topic.

This [decision] finishes it, Donohue said. Theres nothing left to discuss. Its non-negotiable. The Vatican left nothing on the table with these people pushing this agenda. It made it very clear that the Church can bless homosexuals as individuals, but it will never ever bless homosexual unions, never mind gay marriage.

Same-sex marriage cant be considered lawful in the Church because there are no grounds to consider it even remotely analogous to Gods plan for marriage and family, the statement written by Cardinal Luis Ladaria, a Spanish Jesuit, shared.

The Vaticans statement comes after Pope Francis said during a documentary interview last October that he believes civil union laws should be created to legally cover same-sex couples in the civil sphere.

Homosexual people have a right to be in a family. They are children of God and have a right to a family. Nobody should be thrown out or be made miserable over it, the pope said.

Donohue said this was an awkwardly-phrased statement by the pope. But while some Catholics have urged Pope Francis to bless gay marriage in the past, the statement released today settles his position on same-sex unions.

Donohue said the statement came from the top doctrinal office of the Catholic Church and would not be released without receiving the Popes blessing.

I was actually struck by the fact that it was so definitive, Donohue said. They really slammed the door shut on this issue. And I think its welcome because some Catholics and non-Catholics say, Well, where is the Church on this issue? It seems to be bending toward their way. And now, I think this will put an end to it. And if people who are Catholic dont like it, well, they are going to have to change their status then.

In its statement, the Vatican said that the unlawful blessing of same-sex unions is not a form of unjust discrimination, but rather a reminder of the truth of the liturgical rite and of the very nature of the sacramentals, as the Church understands them.

The Vaticans response said the Christian community and pastors should welcome with respect and sensitivity persons with homosexual inclination and find appropriate ways to proclaim to them the Gospel in its fullness.

But [God] does not and cannot bless sin: he blesses sinful man, so that he may recognize that he is part of his plan of love and allow himself to be changed by him. He in fact takes us as we are, but never leaves us as we are, the statement added.

The Catholic Churchs stance goes beyond gay marriage since it will not bless any union against Gods design of marriage, Donohue concluded.

We can take it a step further, he shared. The Church will never bless cohabitation. This is not just with homosexuals. There are guys and gals who live together outside of marriage, and the Church does not recognize that. This is not strictly about homosexuals, although they are the ones who are pushing for it, obviously. But it would apply to any union that is outside of [licit marriage].
President Joe Biden, who has long defended the existence of the Senate filibuster, said Tuesday that he supports drastically revamping the procedure.

I dont think that you have to eliminate the filibuster, Biden said in an interview with ABCs George Stephanopoulos. But, Biden said, you have to do it what it used to be when I first got to the Senate back in the old days.

In other words, he supports some reversion away from the current ruleswhich allow the minority to simply announce its intention to block legislation unless a 60-vote supermajority says otherwiseto the previous process of a talking filibuster. Under that system, Biden recalled, you had to stand up and command the floor, you had to keep talking in order to prevent the majority from moving forward with legislation.

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Its getting to the point where, you know, democracy is having a hard time functioning, Biden said.

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Democrats have been preparing for a showdown over the filibuster ever since they won the Georgia Senate runoffs, securing control of a 5050 Senate and completing a narrow trifecta of the presidency and both chambers of Congress. The party was able to pass its first piece of major legislation, the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan, through reconciliation, a budget process that cannot be filibustered. Democrats may also be able to do most of their planned infrastructure package through the same process.

But the entirely party-line vote on the American Rescue Plan, and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnells history of using the filibuster as an all-encompassing blocking device, served as a warning that the rest of the Biden legislative agendaon democracy reform, voting rights, boosting unions, police reform, gun control, and anything else where new policy that cant be strictly measured in taxes and spending needs to be donecould be dead on arrival if the legislative filibuster remains as is.

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Bidens remarks, as Democratic supporters of reform said following the interview, suggest that hes come to terms with that.

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He gets it, Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar, chairwoman of the Senate Rules Committeewho said earlier this month that she would get rid of the filibuster to move ahead with Democrats agendatold reporters. We just cant wait two years to get things done.

Although unspecific, President Bidens remarks are a major shift in his position, so it seems to me, and should spur reform, Connecticut Sen. Richard Blumenthal said. Clearly, President Biden was encouraging us to reform, even without specifying the exact kind of reform. He has given new energy and potential movement to reform efforts.

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In past debates over the filibuster, defenders of the processincluding Democrats like Joe Bidenhave successfully hailed it as a vital Senate tradition, one that sets the chamber apart from the House by requiring deliberation and cooperation. The proposal for the talking filibuster, though, casts reform as the true traditionalist position.

I think a talking filibusters entirely appropriate, Montana Sen. Jon Tester, a senator closer to the caucus center flank, told reporters. This is the way it always shouldve been. Tester clarified that this wouldnt change the 60-vote threshold for ending debate itself. But I think it would reduce the number of filibusters, he said.

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Theres good evidence for that. Prior to the 1970s, a filibuster could consume days and days of precious floor time and generally throw scheduling into chaos. Then the Senate moved to a two-track system in 1970, allowing the body to shift away from filibustered items onto other matters of business. The change, which was meant to make things run more smoothly, eliminated the pain of underwriting the filibusterleading to a substantial increase in its use, and eventually to the current age of full-time obstruction.

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Party leaders on both sides of the aisle thought tracking would help them make the floor schedule more predictable, George Washington University professor Sarah Binder explains in the Washington Post. But tracking also made it easier for senators to filibuster. Even threats to filibuster could be sufficient to move the Senate onto the second track. As the Senate became more partisan, while blocking bills required so little effort, leaders filed an exponentially increasing number of cloture motions, routinizing the silent filibuster.

Democrats dont have the votes to nuke the legislative filibuster entirely. But making filibustering more of a burden on the minorityan idea that even West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin, a filibuster enthusiast, might be willing to considercould give them a way to mitigate its routine use. Bidens comments push the notion even more firmly into the partys mainstream.

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A talking filibuster may sound like small beans, compared with sweeping it away entirely, but the discussion has been serious enough to prompt McConnell, who perfected the routinization of the filibuster in his last stint as minority leader, to predict a new age of hell on earth should Democrats eliminate or weaken the procedure. After spelling out several, self-contradictory ways in which such a change would backfire against Democrats in a Tuesday speech, McConnell followed up on Wednesday with a warning about the national security implications of eliminating the filibuster.

As a general rule: If a minority leader is warning that the majority could endanger national security by reforming the Senate procedure for ending debate on legislation, things are getting real.
It is with great satisfaction that we welcome the European Commissions decision to authorise the 63-million-euro aid package allocated by the Italian Government to companies operating in the trade fair sector affected by the coronavirus epidemic. Trade fairs play a decisive role both in supporting the internationalisation effort of the countrys economy as a whole and boosting the local economies of the areas in which they are held. Therefore, I believe that supporting trade fairs means supporting a crucial sector for our economy, which has been hit particularly hard by the pandemic and is therefore in dire need of special measures.

The approval of the aid by Brussels will allow us to reimburse up to 10 million euros of fixed costs incurred by trade fairs entities and organisers which were not covered by profits, insurance or other types of aid last year. I would also emphasise that this 63-million-euro package allocated by the Italian Government, and authorised by the Commission today, comes on top of the almost 100 million euros already earmarked through the 394 Fund managed by Simest, for the capitalisation of 43 trade fair entities and organisers. I will be personally committed to ensuring that this sector continues to receive the necessary resources to overcome this difficult phase.

This was the comment by the Foreign Minister, Luigi Di Maio, on the decision made public today by the European Commission, which approved the aid plan prepared by Italy in favour of the trade fair management companies and the organisers of trade fair events whose activities have been severely affected by the pandemic.
Volt Bank is betting fintechs, retailers, and real estate agents will be keen to offer banking services to their customers, using the neobanks banking license and infrastructure.

The digital bank on Wednesday unveiled the next leg of its strategy, saying it would accelerate plans to offer banking as a service to corporate clients that were looking to deepen relationships with customers.

Volt chief executive Steve Weston Credit:Christopher Pearce

Banking as a service, also offered by Westpac, is when a bank allows a non-banking business to offer banking products such as transaction accounts under their own brand, but using the banks licence and infrastructure.

Volt, which flagged a move into banking as a service last year, has now formed a partnership with UK business Railsbank, to be known as Railspay in Australia due to restrictions on use of the word bank.
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Turning 98 in October, Walt Disney Animation Studios has recently welcomed its first Southeast Asian heroine, Raya.

Also the first original animated tale created by Disney in five years, Raya and the Last Dragon has opened across Chinese theaters on March 5, in both the original English language and the Mandarin voice-over version for which A-list actress Zhao Liying has lent her vocal cords to the protagonist.

Interestingly, there is perhaps one less-known fact that also connects the film with the audience. Two Chinese animators have been part of the yearslong project to bring to life the fantasy.

Benjamin Huang and Joyce Tong are part of the creative team that have put together such a compelling story.

Born in Jiujiang, Jiangxi province, Huang studied in a Tianjin university before he moved to the United States to receive a further art education at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco.

Working as the "environment-look supervisor" of the film, Huang recalls that he joined the project around three years ago when there were just a few people engaged in the research and development work.

Huang says the film is entirely inspired from Southeast Asian culture, with one of the top highlights being the creative design of the fantasy world Kumandra, for which Huang's team is responsible for animating its surfaces and textures.

Featuring a geographical shape wearing the resemblance of a dragon, Kumandra is fictionalized to be a utopian kingdom where human beings and dragons live together in harmony. But an evil force-depicted as amorphous spirits born out of human conflict-brings an unprecedented threat, turning people into stones with a single touch.

Dragons sacrifice themselves to rescue the world, with the last dragon falling into a centuries-long sleep deep in a river. Around 500 years later, Raya-a tribe princess of one of the five lands in the divided Kumandra-embarks on an adventure to seek the last dragon, named Sisu, to reunite the lands and revive her father who is also a victim turned into a stone by the evil force.

Huang reveals that the last dragon's look was revised many times, with the creature's archetype inspired from the mythical Asian figure Naga, semi-divine beings that can manifest as serpent or human.

"So, the dragon is quite different from such creatures depicted in Chinese mythology, but you will find it is very cute and has a great sense of humor," explains Huang.

Huang's cultural background, with his knowledge of traditional values and the nuance involved in expressing family affection and dinner etiquette, has helped him to obtain a deep understanding of the story.

Disney relishes creating stories inspired from exotic cultures and the studio had arranged two groups of filmmakers to go on research trips throughout Asia-including Laos, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia and Malaysia-in order to experience local cultures.

"Coincidently, I traveled to Thailand a few months before starting to work for the movie. I was very impressed by the 'tuk-tuk' (an auto rickshaw), which has also inspired an important figure in the film," says Huang.

In the movie, Tuk Tuk is a fictional hybrid creature. Raised as a little, adorable pet by Raya, it has grown up to a giant "horse" to transport the princess like a high-speed vehicle which rolls rapidly on bumpy roads.

As a sizable project, the film animates more than 72,000 individual elements, including nearly 19,000 human characters and over 35,700 nonhuman figures, among which are 23,836 fish, according to Disney.

Joyce Tong, the other Chinese animator and the film's effects lead, shares her insight.

"I spent most of my work time just sitting in front of the computer," she says.

"I need to use many Lego bricks (referring to program instructions) to build objects that match the depictions from the directors," says Tong, who comes originally from Hunan province.

Revealing she's responsible for creating effects based on concept art drafts and setting up simulations of natural elements such as water and fire, Tong recalls one of the most challenging parts of the work was to animate the "raindrops", a magical thing created by dragons. When the dragons zoom to fly across the sky, the raindrops emerge under their claws sort of like antigravity pedals to help them move and ascend.

"More than 100 dragons appear in the last epic sequence. I believe most audience will be stunned to see this spectacle," she says.

Tong says the film has made her feel more culturally relatable than her US colleagues.

She says her knowledge of Chinese culture has helped her better understand the designs, citing the example that in most ancient mythologies, celestial beings could summon clouds to stand above them and travel to the heaven palace.

A group interview was held recently online for the Chinese media to hear more behind-the-scene views from the film's major creators.

Vietnamese-American scriptwriter Qui Nguyen says during the interview that they created Raya and her story "kind of the same way that the West built King Arthur's legend and Camelot" through a dramatic re-creation of Irish and English legends.

"But it has been special to build a fantasy that is uniquely our own. So I think all the elements that we're pulling from Southeast Asian cultures were to better enhance that story," he says.

"The characters and the fantasy world came from something that was real. If children love it-even if they are not from Southeast Asia-they could experience the beautiful cultures in Southeast Asia, from the food to the martial arts and the clothing," adds Nguyen.

Because of unprecedented COVID-19 outbreak, nearly all production for the film took place from the homes of more than 450 artists and crew members. In total, more than 900 Disney employees worked remotely contributing to this film.

Speaking about the pandemic impact, director Don Hall says: "We have been making films for nearly 100 years. The technology has obviously changed quite a lot since the 1920s. But the way we make our films is essentially the same. It all starts with a group of creative people in a building together, working very closely."

"We love this story. We have put everything we had into it. Despite it being a massive culture shift for us, we were able to make that transition," says Hall.


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New Delhi, March 17 : Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the aviation regulator, on Wednesday told the Delhi High Court that it is keeping a strict vigil on the non-compliance of Covid-19 protocols on flights.

DGCA's response came after the court took suo motu cognizance of the fact that passengers in an Air India flight from Kolkata to New Delhi on March 5 wore masks below their chin and showed a stubborn reluctance to wear them properly.

"We are keeping strict vigil. Surprise checks would be carried out. Four people on way to Jammu were declared unruly passengers for not complying with Covid-19 norms," Advocate Anjana Gosain appearing for the DGCA told the court.

Counsel for the Air India informed that Standard Operating Procedures (SoP) have been issued, while Gosain said that private airlines should also issue such SoPs. "It was most needed step," Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Chetan Sharma said.

To this, the court said that the guidelines should continue to be implemented while keeping in mind the safety of the passengers.

On March 13, the aviation regulator had asked airlines to deboard passengers who do not wear their masks properly despite repeated warnings. The watchdog also directed airlines to treat a passenger as unruly in case the person violates the protocols.

This came days after Justice C. Hari Shankar took suo moto after noticing that many passengers exhibited a stubborn reluctance to wear their masks properly in a Delhi-bound flight.

"On the cabin crew being questioned in this regard, they stated that they had directed all the passengers to wear masks, but were helpless in case they did not comply," the court noted.

Justice Shankar made clear that masks should be worn as directed by governmental instructions, covering the nose and mouth, and not worn merely covering the mouth or below the chin.

"In the event of any passenger being unwilling to follow this protocol prior to the flight taking off, the passenger should be offloaded without delay." If a passenger, despite being reminded more than once in flight, refuses to follow this protocol, the Court directed that action should be taken against the passenger, including placing the passenger on a "no-fly" regimen, either permanently or for a stipulated, sufficiently long, period.

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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Mary Schenk is a reporter covering police, courts and breaking news at The News-Gazette. Her email is mschenk@news-gazette.com, and you can follow her on Twitter (@schenk).
SPRINGFIELD  The City Council gave unanimous first-step approval Monday to a historic district for the former All Saints Church, noting a connection to Springfields founder, William Pynchon.

The designation is being sought by the property owner, The Drama Studio, and is supported by the Springfield and Massachusetts historical commissions.

Its a wonderful facility, said Steve Hays, founding director of The Drama Studio. Its a very plain building but full of atmosphere.

The church, built in 1908, is at 41 Oakland St. in the Forest Park neighborhood, and has the home to The Drama Studio since 1987. The studio purchased the property in 2017.

A report provided by the Springfield Historical Commission states that the design of this simple, diminutive front-gabled church was intended to mirror an 11th century church in Chelmsford, England, where Springfield founder William Pynchon served as a warden.

The architect was Guy Kirkham, a grandson of Charles Merriam of Springfield dictionary publisher Merriam-Webster Co., the report said.

Historic district status would strengthen the value of this stretch of Oakland Street which leads to the entrance of beautiful Forest Park, the Historical Commission report stated.

Hays said the studio is trying to groom this 1908 facility up to code so we can better serve our constituency but also expand our programs in the Springfield public schools.

Creating a historic district improves access to funding, including the Springfield Community Preservation Fund, Hayes said. The designation also would prohibit exterior changes to the building without local Historical Commission approval.

The Drama Studio is a fantastic organization in and of itself, Councilor Jesse Lederman said, also praising its stewardship of the former church.

Councilor Victor Davila said the building is within his district, Ward 6, and that the proposed historic district has a letter of support from the Forest Park Civic Association. The studio has been honored by the association as a good neighbor, having a positive influence on the area, he said.

There are 16 local historic districts in Springfield, including several single-property districts.

Final approval of the All Saints Church Local Historic District will be considered at the next regular council meeting April 5.

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Joe Biden and Taoiseach Micheal Martin are both marking their first St Patricks Day in office.

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Traditional St Patricks Day talks between Irelands premier and the president of the United States will be held online today due to the pandemic.

President Joe Biden and Taoiseach Micheal Martin are both marking their first St Patricks Day since assuming office.

The talks, which will be held virtually this year, are set to feature discussions on Brexit, the coronavirus pandemic and Irelands vaccine supply issues, the Taoiseach had predicted.

The Taoiseach traditionally holds a series of high-level meetings with US political figures during a week-long trip to Washington DC. However, the pandemic has prevented Michael Martin from attending the trip this year.

In line with tradition, Mr Biden will be presented with a bowl of shamrock at the engagement.

The events will begin with a meeting with Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, who will also host a lunch during the events.

Vice-President Kamala Harris will also attend talks and a memorial event for the late SDLP leader John Hume will be held as part of the virtual engagements.

Commenting on the engagement with the president, Mr Martin said on Tuesday: I think the fundamental aspect of tomorrows meeting is to strengthen and deepen even further the bilateral relationship between Ireland and the United States.

Northern Irelands First Minister Arlene Foster and deputy First Minister Michelle ONeill are also expected to hold a virtual call with Vice President Kamala Harris on Wednesday - a meeting that may also involve an appearance from President Biden.

The president often speaks with great pride about his Irish roots, having heritage tracing back to Ballina in Co Mayo and the Cooley Peninsula in Co Louth.

Last week, President Biden said the US was in discussion with several countries over any surplus vaccines that may become available.

Story continues

Mr Biden said: This is not something that can be stopped by a fence, no matter how high you build a fence or a wall. So were not going to be ultimately safe until the world is safe.

So were going to start off making sure Americans are taken care of first, but then were then going to try to help the rest of the world.

Last week, Tanaiste (Irish Deputy Prime Minister) Leo Varadkar, complained that AstraZenca was failing to meet its supply requirements to the country and other EU nations.

However, this week, Ireland suspended the rollout of the AstraZeneca vaccine due to reports of blood clots associated with the jab surfacing across Europe.

In an email to The Independent, a spokesperson for the Irish Department of Health said the administration of the AstraZeneca jab had been temporarily deferred as of Sunday morning.

Additional reporting by Press Association

Read More

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AstraZeneca vaccine rollout suspended after blood clot reports, Irelands medical chief says

Biden news  live: President says Cuomo will probably be prosecuted as Trump finally says vaccine is safe
Investigations editor

Larry Parnass, investigations editor, joined The Eagle in 2016 from the Daily Hampshire Gazette, where he was editor in chief. His freelance work has appeared in the Washington Post, Boston Globe, Hartford Courant and CommonWealth Magazine.
South Africa: SAHPRA approves Section 21 use of Pfizer vaccine

The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) has approved the Section 21 application for Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine.

This approval is subject to conducting a post Section 21 authorisation efficacy and safety surveillance of Comirnaty vaccine in South Africa, said SAHPRA on Tuesday.

According to SAHPRA, the main purpose of Section 21 is to provide access to medicines on an exceptional basis, where conventional therapies have been ruled out, have failed or are unavailable as marketed products.

This must always have regard to the safety, efficacy and quality of medicines accessed through Section 21 which are set out in Regulation 29.

South Africa has ordered 20 million doses of Pfizer/BioNTech vaccines.

Early this month, Health Minister, Dr Zweli Mkhize, said the country was anticipating about 600 000 Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines to land in South Africa before the end of March.

Pfizer/BioNTech is 95% effective, requires two shots and efficacy was consistent across age, gender, race and ethnicity demographics, according to the phase three study.

According to the American multinational pharmaceutical corporation, it is expected to produce up to 1.3 billion doses by the end of 2021.

Meanwhile, more Johnson & Johnson doses of COVID-19 vaccines are expected to arrive this week.

According to the latest data, the number of healthcare workers vaccinated has now risen to 157 286 as of 16 March.  SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2021-03-17. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Here's a preview at the problems confronting an upcoming transit effort that hopes gentrification will solve the dilemma of rowdy Midtown denizens.



Convincing speculators to buy in is an interesting proposition.



Read more on last night's hot mess at what is the busiest QT in all of the Midwest . . .


Intelligent.com, a trusted resource for online degree rankings and higher education planning, has announced the Top 14 Colleges In Rhode Island for 2021. The comprehensive research guide is based on an assessment of 76 accredited colleges and universities in the nation. Each program is evaluated based on curriculum quality, graduation rate, reputation, and post-graduate employment.

The 2021 rankings are calculated through a unique scoring system which includes student engagement, potential return on investment and leading third party evaluations. Intelligent.com analyzed 76 schools, on a scale of 0 to 100, with only 14 making it to the final list. The methodology also uses an algorithm which collects and analyzes multiple rankings into one score to easily compare each school.

To access the complete ranking, please visit: https://www.intelligent.com/best-colleges-in-rhode-island/

2021 Colleges In Rhode Island featured on Intelligent.com (in alphabetical order):

Brown University

Bryant University

Community College of Rhode Island

IYRS School of Technology and Trades

Johnson & Wales University

Lincoln Tech

New England Institute of Technology

Providence College

Rhode Island College

Rhode Island School of Design

Roger Williams University

Salve Regina University

University of Rhode Island

About Intelligent.com

Intelligent.com provides unbiased research to help students make informed decisions about higher education programs. The website offers curated guides which include the best degree programs as well as information about financial aid, internships and even study strategies. With comprehensive, user-friendly guides and hundreds of program rankings, Intelligent.com is a trusted source among students and prospective students. To learn more, please visit https://www.intelligent.com/.
External Affairs Minister will hold extensive talks with his Kuwaiti counterpart Sheikh Ahmed Nasser Al-Mohammed Al-Sabah on Thursday covering entire expanse of bilateral cooperation and evolving situation in the Gulf region.

The Kuwaiti foreign minister is scheduled to arrive here on Wednesday evening on a nearly 18-hour visit.

remains a reliable supplier of crude oil and LPG to India.

Historically, India-Kuwaiti ties have always had an important trade dimension. India has consistently been among the top trading partners of

In the financial year 2019-20, was the 10th largest oil supplier to India and it met about 3.8 per cent of India's energy needs.

The total bilateral trade with Kuwait during 2019-20 was USD 10.86 billion, according to official data.

Various aspects of bilateral ties and regional issues are expected to be discussed in the talks between the two foreign ministers, said a diplomatic source.

The evolving situation in the Gulf region is also expected to figure in the deliberations.

Around 641,000 Indians are living in Kuwait and the community adds an important dimension to the ties between the two countries.

Indian nationals are the largest expatriate community in Kuwait.

Over the last few years, India has been expanding its overall ties with the Gulf region which is home to an estimated 8.5 million Indians.

(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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Copyright  2021 Albuquerque Journal

SANTA FE  For the second year in a row, COVID-19 has put a halt to a Holy Week tradition for thousands of New Mexicans.

The Archdiocese of Santa Fe announced Monday in a news release that it was canceling the annual pilgrimages to El Santuario de Chimayo or Tome Hill, as well as other gatherings out of an abundance of caution during the pandemic and for safety concerns.

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In addition, the archdiocese announced El Santuario de Chimayo will be closed from Thursday, April 1, to Monday, April 5, which includes Good Friday and Easter Sunday. The entire grounds, chapel and restrooms will be closed.

It is the archdioceses hope the pilgrimages will resume full scale next year, but still want to do the utmost to protect life in this continuing  though attenuating  pandemic, the archdiocese said.

The decision to cancel the pilgrimages was made by Archbishop John C. Wester in collaboration with the Rev. Julio Gonzales of Holy Family Church/Santuario de Chimayo out of an abundance of caution due to the gravity of out current situation and concern for the safety of the pilgrims journeying to these sacred sites, according to the release.

Its unfortunate, but I understand why they are doing it, said David Soveranez after the 12:10 p.m. Mass at Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi in downtown Santa Fe.

Soveranez said hes done the pilgrimage to Chimayo  about 26 miles from Santa Fe  many times before, but less frequently as hes gotten older.

The walk is supposed to be a sacrifice and suffering for our sins, he explained. Its a very personal thing.

Each year, tens of thousands of people make the walk to Santuario de Chimayo in Rio Arriba County or climb Tome Hill in Valencia County on Good Friday as an expression of their devotion to Jesus Christ.

In a separate announcement on Tuesday, the state Department of Transportation and New Mexico State Police also urged people to stay home.

State Transportation Secretary Mike Sandoval said the department would not be setting up traffic signs, electronic message boards, safety barrels, lighting and trash receptacles along the routes, as has been done in past years.

The COVID danger remains and without added safety provisions the risk of injury or death by walking on poorly lit, high-traffic roadways is too great, he said in a statement. Please take care and celebrate at home.
The project was announced today in Molsheim in the presence of EU Commissioner Thierry Breton and the French Minister of Industry, Agnes Pannier-Runacher.

"The pandemic has confronted the world with inconceivable challenges. MilliporeSigma's science and technology efforts have resulted in significant contributions since the outset of Covid-19. Our new European production unit will increase capacity of the urgently needed supply of single-use assemblies to vaccine and therapeutic manufacturers worldwide. Today's announcement of our expansion in Europe speaks of the company's global commitment during and beyond this pandemic," said Belen Garijo, vice chair of the Executive Board and deputy CEO of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany. The Life Science business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany operates as MilliporeSigma in the U.S. and Canada.

The investment in Molsheim will add more than 350 new jobs in total along with 18,300 square feet of ISO7 or ISO5 cleanrooms, using modular building design and existing infrastructure to allow future expansions without any disruptions. The new unit will produce Mobius single-use assemblies, a key offering that is part of MilliporeSigma's Mobius MyWay program. It is planned to be operational by the end of 2021.

With more than 1,700 employees of 32 different nationalities, and producing more than 10,000 products, the Molsheim hub is MilliporeSigma's third largest site globally. It supplies the world market, exporting more than 85 percent of its production. It hosts three production units dedicated to the manufacture and assembly of products and solutions for pharmaceutical manufacturing processes and applied solutions products for analysis in clinical and industrial environments and water purification systems.

"In recent years, many biopharmaceutical manufacturers have turned to single-use technologies for their flexibility, cost savings, speed and reduced risk, leading to double-digit market growth for this segment. The coronavirus pandemic has accelerated this trend, with most programs using single-use production templates," said Chris Ross, interim CEO of MilliporeSigma. "Our Molsheim site has been a global center of excellence for BioMonitoring and water purification activities for many years. With this new single-use production unit, we will add critical capabilities to meet our customers' needs, while creating new jobs for our community."

Recently, MilliporeSigma announced expansion projects in Darmstadt, Germany; Cork, Ireland; Buchs, Switzerland; Carlsbad, California; Madison, Wisconsin; Jaffrey, New Hampshire; and Danvers, Massachusetts. At the latter site, MilliporeSigma is currently working to double the local single-use production capacity by the end of 2021. These expansions are part of an ambitious, multi-year program to increase the industrial capacity and MilliporeSigma's capabilities to support growing global demand for lifesaving medications and to make significant contributions to public health.

Follow MilliporeSigma on Twitter @MilliporeSigma, on Facebook @MilliporeSigma and on LinkedIn.

All Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany news releases are distributed by email at the same time they become available on the EMD Group website. In case you are a resident of the U.S. or Canada please go to www.emdgroup.com/subscribe to register again for your online subscription of this service as our newly introduced geo-targeting requires new links in the email. You may later change your selection or discontinue this service.

About the Life Science business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany

The Life Science business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, which operates as MilliporeSigma in the U.S. and Canada, has some 22,000 employees and 59 manufacturing sites worldwide, with a portfolio of more than 300,000 products focused on scientific discovery, biomanufacturing and testing services.

Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, a leading science and technology company, operates across healthcare, life science and electronics. Around 58,000 employees work to make a positive difference to millions of people's lives every day by creating more joyful and sustainable ways to live. From advancing gene-editing technologies and discovering unique ways to treat the most challenging diseases to enabling the intelligence of devices  the company is everywhere. In 2020, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany generated sales of  17.5 billion in 66 countries.

The company holds the global rights to the name and trademark "Merck" internationally. The only exceptions are the United States and Canada, where the business sectors of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany operate as EMD Serono in healthcare, MilliporeSigma in life science, and EMD Electronics. Since its founding 1668, scientific exploration and responsible entrepreneurship have been key to the company's technological and scientific advances. To this day, the founding family remains the majority owner of the publicly listed company. For more information about Merck, KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, visit www.emdgroup.com.

SOURCE MilliporeSigma

Related Links

http://www.milliporesigma.com/


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Commissioner for Tourism in Cross River, Eric Anderson, has urged the federal government to support the state in repairing properties destroyed by hoodlums in the state last year in the state as a fallout of the #EndSARS protest.

There are at least 156 of such vandalised and looted properties in the state, he said.

Mr Anderson made the request while addressing members of the Governing Council of the Federation of Tourism Associations in Nigeria (FTAN) at its first quarterly council meeting in Calabar.

FTAN is the national umbrella organisation for tourism business, comprising hoteliers, restaurateurs, travel agents, tour operators, car hire and cultural operators.

A statement issued on Wednesday by a member of Board of Trustees of FTAN, Ikechi Uko, said the commissioner indicated that the properties destroyed were worth about N73 billion, and that they belonged to individuals, firms, state and the federal government.

Mr Anderson also told the council that the state government already repaired the Waterparks at Tinapa and the art and craft village just in time for the last Christmas, the statement said.

Mr Uko earlier led FTAN members to pay a courtesy visit to the Speaker, Cross River House of Assembly, William Eteng, who informed the association that the 2020 edition of the annual Calabar Carnival was cancelled because of COVID-19.

Mr Eteng thanked the members for choosing Calabar for its first physical meeting.

Nkereuwem Onung, the deputy national president of FTAN, who represented the National President, Rabo Saleh, told the speaker that the association decided to host a physical meeting to kick-start tourism events across the nation.

He said zoom meetings were not good for tourism businesses.

If people dont move, tourism would not work; so movement has to begin within the accepted COVID-19 safety protocols, Mr Onung said.

He appealed to the Cross River State Government to consider moderating the 2021 Calabar Carnival, instead of cancelling it.

Mr Onung told the speaker that COVID-19 pandemic affected tourism business the most and that there was no support or subsidy extended to FTAN members.

(NAN)
MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 17th March, 2021) A Spanish frigate Mendez Nunez entered the Black Sea waters on Wednesday and the NATO vessel is already escorted by forces of Russia's Black Sea Fleet, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

"Means and forces of the Black Sea Fleet have started monitoring activities of the Spanish navy's Mendez Nunez frigate that entered the Black Sea waters on March 17," the ministry told reporters.
Earl Hoffman has had multiple convictions for child molesting, the last one in 1988. After being held for 20 years in a state mental hospital awaiting a verdict on whether he should be confined as a sexually violent predator, Hoffman argued that, at age 74, and with no record of violence for many decades, he is too old to be dangerous.

A state appeals court was unpersuaded.

While a person may slow down with age, it does not necessarily follow that interest in sexual deviancy slows down. ... Old age, standing alone, does not relieve a person from SVP commitment, the Second District Court of Appeal in Ventura said Tuesday in upholding a trial judges decision to keep Hoffman in the hospital.

Hoffmans case illustrates the wide reach of Californias SVP law, which authorizes the state to hold sex offenders in mental hospitals at the end of their prison term if a judge or jury finds they have a mental disorder and are likely to commit violent sex crimes if freed. They can be confined until state officials or a court find that they are safe to release.

Hoffman was first convicted of a sex-related crime, contributing to the delinquency of children, in Michigan in 1963 for marrying a 16-year-old girl when he was 19. He was sentenced to five years in prison in 1967 for molesting a 13-year-old girl, moved to California after his release, and was convicted of various sex and drug-related offenses in Placer and Ventura counties through 1997, serving time in prison and 15 months in a mental hospital.

After completing his last prison term, for a drug crime, Hoffman was taken to another mental hospital in 2000 to determine whether he should be confined indefinitely as a sexually violent predator. Hoffman committed no further violations in the hospital, but the court said he also refused to take part in treatment or cooperate with staff psychologists before his case finally went to trial in 2020.

When prosecutors argued that Hoffman would molest additional victims if released, Hoffman and his lawyer noted that his last sex crime conviction was more than 30 years ago. Among five psychologists who assessed him, two said he was too old to pose a threat.

A males sexual drive, and propensity for committing sexual offenses, diminishes drastically with age, Hoffmans attorney, Gerald Miller, said in a court filing.

But the appeals court said there was evidence to support a Ventura County Superior Court Judge Anthony Sabos conclusion, after a non-jury trial, that Hoffman should remain confined.

At one point during the proceedings, the court said, Hoffman declared: Nobody can predict what I can do in the future. Not even I can.

We take (Hoffman) at his word, Justice Kenneth Yegan said in the 3-0 ruling.

Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @BobEgelko
State Duma MPs call on IT companies to comply with Russian laws

 pixabay.com

12:16 17/03/2021

MOSCOW, March 17 (RAPSI)  The State Duma Commission on the Investigation of Foreign Interference in Russia's Internal Affairs has taken a decision to urge the management of social networks TikTok, Facebook, Twitter, and Google corporation to undertake measures aimed at prevention of violations of Russian laws involving their platforms, according to Chair of the Committee on Security and Corruption Control of the lower house of Russias Parliament Vasily Piskarev.

Earlier, at the request of the Prosecutor General's Office, the Russian media watchdog Roskomnadzor restricted access to 1,600 Internet websites used as the media to disseminate calls for illegal actions. At the same time, Piskarev noted, by March 10, 3,168 posts containing prohibited information remained on Twitter, among them 2,569 urging minors to commit suicide, 450 publications containing child pornography, and 149 demonstrating information on use of drugs.

One can confidently note the fact that these website are out of control, they demonstratively and maliciously ignore Russian laws, the lawmaker observed.

In addition, the Commission backed legislative fixation of the obligation of foreign platforms to establish official representations on the territory of Russia in order to ensure that citizens could protect their rights at the location of the defendant, that is within jurisdiction of Russia.

GARNER, Iowa  An investigation into drug dealing at an apartment complex has led to trial for a Hancock County man.

Jody Jay Sundvold, 52 of Garner, has pleaded not guilty to possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine. His trial is set to begin on June 9.

The Garner Police Department says it received multiple complaints about the buying and selling of drugs at the Garner Village Apartments on 12th Street. With the help of the North Iowa Drug Task Force, police say they arranged a drug buy on December 18, 2020. Court documents state a confidential informant bought 3.5 grams of meth from Sundvold at the Garner Village Apartments.

Investigators say the drug buy was recorded.
(Natural News) The Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) is not the only trick up communist Chinas sleeve, says conservative columnist Gordon Chang.

Chang told War Room that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is working on other designer viruses that it intends to unleash upon civilization that will kill untold millions of people.

Weve obviously got to do something and the reason is this is not the last pathogen that will come from Chinese soil, Chang is quoted as saying. Xi Jinping now knows he can spread disease virtually without cost.

In other words, these hypothetical viruses do not even have to be real. Similar to computer viruses, they could spread digitally via the mainstream media and establishment sick care systems and still infect the world with fear and paranoia.

These future fake viruses will lead to more mass vaccination, which in turn will destroy peoples health while killing many of them. This process is the true virus, of course, and it is being used right this moment in response to fears about the Wuhan flu to massively depopulate the world.

China is working on pathogens that will leave the Chinese alone, claims Chang. The Chinese will be immune. But they will sicken everyone else.

China is working on civilization killers, he adds. This could leave China as the only viable society.

More related news about the current Chinese virus along with future ones soon to be unleashed can be found at Pandemic.news.

American taxpayers are paying for their own extermination

It is important to remind our readers that China is not paying for these operations with its own money. The regime is using American taxpayer money to fund the destruction of other civilizations, including the United States.

The CCPs illegal gain of function research is bankrolled by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), a major division of which is controlled by fake television doctor Anthony Fauci.

A guy named Fauci [was] responsible for a $3.7 million grant in 2015, Chang explains about the CCPs source of cash for developing the Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19).

Such research is indefensible, Chang says. Conducting it here in the U.S. is illegal as well, so it was outsourced to communist China  perhaps the worst part being that American taxpayer dollars make it all happen.

Chinas decades-long goal has been to depopulate the U.S. in order to colonize it, and the Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) charade is moving that agenda along exactly as planned.

We were one of the ethnicities that they had in mind for this purpose going back to 1991, Gaffney said during an interview with Chang.

Could it be possible that this gain of function experimentation being funded by taxpayers is in part enabling the generation of the ethnically targeted techniques by which we, those very same taxpayers, will be eliminated by communist China?

Chang responded to this in the affirmative, adding, theres no question about it when it comes to communist Chinas plan for our country.

Its suicidal, Gaffney responded back.

In other words, American taxpayers are funding their own extermination, as Fauci and others in the federal government funnel their money over to China for the purpose of developing new weapons of attack to obliterate our country.

Communist China is also attacking our country in other ways, including by demoralizing our nations people and turning our homeland into a third-world banana republic where the ruling class does whatever it wants outside of the law and gets away with it every single time.

Just like I said once before: The United States is becoming a carbon copy of Venezuela,' one of our own commenters wrote on an article about the collapse of America.

Sources for this article include:

Pandemic.WarRoom.org

NaturalNews.com

NaturalNews.com
A moving moment. Grandma prescribed a post-vaccine hug View Photo

NEW YORK (AP)  For Laura Shaw Frank, seeing her mother hug her daughter for the first time since the onset of the pandemic was a light at the end of the tunnel.

It just felt like all this love was pouring out and also that there was like this feeling of hope, like maybe theres a future, maybe were going to get out of this, Frank said Tuesday about her mother and daughter embracing for the first time after becoming vaccinated.

Evelyn Shaw, who lives about a mile from Franks home in the Bronx and lives alone, spent a lot of time with her four grandchildren before the pandemic. She moved there four years ago to be closer to them. But when it hit, the family made the difficult decision to stay as distant as possible in order to keep her safe.

It was a note from the family doctor that cleared Shaw to hug her 23-year-old granddaughter Ateret once they had been fully vaccinated.

We were all just bawling, Frank told The Associated Press. She hadnt been touched in a year. It was such a moving moment.

Frank said coming together as a family during religious holidays is the next challenge. After that, the family dreams of Broadway  but only if her mother will be safe.

We feel very comfortable, given the guidance that weve gotten, that we can have our Seder together in a week and a half, but I do really understand my momI really do get it. Shes at much higher risk than we are, and it takes a while, Frank said. It takes a while to sort of let go of that fear and return to some sense of normalcy.

___

AP journalist Joshua Housing contributed to this report from Phoenix, Arizona.

By VANESSA A. ALVAREZ

Associated Press
A self-described 'fashion detective' who has a treasure trove of second-hand designer garments reveals how she sold of more than 100 pieces found in an abandoned storage container to the makers of The Crown.

Chiara Menage, 54, who lives in central London, runs Menage Modern Vintage, an online clothing boutique which caught the eye of Amy Roberts, the costume designer for the Netflix hit.

Dozens of her authentic vintage pieces ended up on the stars of season four, in particular Emma Corrin's Princess Diana and Erin Doherty's Princess Anne.

Some of the more memorable outfits include the chic pale yellow Hardy Amies ensemble she wore for a lunch with love rival Camilla Parker Bowles, and the floral Liberty dress she had on when Prince Charles proposed.

Speaking to FEMAIL, Chiara said she always sources pieces through word-of-mouth- - and even revealed a striking red Valentino suit worn by Diana in the final episode was given to her by a late-friend who was once married to a European prince.

Chiara Menage, 54, who lives in central London, runs Menage Modern Vintage, an online clothing boutique which caught the eye of Amy Roberts, the costume designer for The Crown (pictured: Emma Corrin as Diana in one of Chiara's suits)

Dozens of her authentic vintage pieces ended up on the stars of season four, in particular Emma Corrin's Princess Diana, pictured wearing a red Valentino suit she provided

Chiara, who keeps her clients names strictly private, revealed she only sources garments for her websites through friends, explaining: 'I still only take things from people through word of mouth, through connections, then you know where they come from.'

She added: 'I have to be 100 per cent sure that its a genuine piece. I dont take unsolicited emails or phone calls because I need to know [an item] is real.'

Calling the process of finding designer garments 'a treasure hunt', Chiara sources most of her vintage designer clothes from people who no longer want or need them, with many having been stowed away gathering dust without once being worn, and stashes her treasure trove in a storage unit.

She recalled just one occasion when she bought items blind, buying five storage units full of unseen clothes, which took 'months' to sift through.

Chiara sources most of her vintage designer clothes from people who no longer want or need them, with many having been stowed away gathering dust without once being worn, and stashes her treasure trove in a storage unit (pictured: Diana in another of Chiara's garments)

Chiara said she'd been prompted to buy the storage units because she 'knew it was good' after seeing they were packed full of 72 suitcases, among which several were vintage Louis Vuitton.

She said the items had belonged to a Swedish heiress, but called the situation a 'one-off', adding: 'I would never do it again, I will never be that lucky again. It was an almost fluke.'

Having worked in film in the past, Chiara was delighted when The Crown got in touch with her in order to source several outfits for its fourth season.

A houndstooth suit and Yves Saint Laurent jumper worn by Emma Corrin as Princess Diana in the programme were both sourced from Chiara's storage unit.

The floral Liberty dress Emma Corrin's Diana wore when Prince Charles proposed came from Chiara

And speaking of a Valentino suit worn by Princess Diana in the final episode of the series, Chiara explained it had belonged to a late friend whom she played tennis with.

She revealed after a 'chat in the street', the friend invited her over to see her things, saying: 'She was always immaculately dressed. She looked Grace Kelly, platinum blonde.

'I went round to her flat, and there was a picture of her with daughters all in matching outfits and I said, "God, you look like Grace Kelly".

'She replied, "Oh darling, that was back when I was a princess." She had been a princess, had been married to some crown prince of Europe.'

Chiara sources most of her vintage designer clothes from people who no longer want or need them, with many having been stowed away gathering dust without once being worn (pictured, Emma Corrin weaing a jumper from Chiara)

A yellow suit worn by Emma had belonged to the mother of a friend of hers who was a film producer.

Chiara said she had initially been unsure about taking the garment because she 'didn't think it was going to work' on her website' but her friend gently persuaded her to 'just take it because she didn't know what to do with it.

Chiara explained: 'We sold a lot of her stuff to the crown, including that suit, and a few of her other pieces and now she has told her other friends about it.'

And a floral liberty dress worn by Diana when Charles proposes came from a 'chance meeting' at the start of her journey with the site.

Writing on Instagram, Chiara said: 'It has been so interesting to watch how the brilliant @thecrownnetflix costume designer Amy Roberts manages to reveal so much about a character through what they wear. These images show Dianas progress from shy, demure wife to sexy strong woman as she starts to become aware of her own power.' Pictured in a top she provided for the show

Chiara said: 'I met an elderly lady through a friend and she said, "Come and see my stuff". It was just one of the small things she had, including her wedding dress, that she sold.'

Speaking to The Telegraph about her work, Chiara explained: 'For shows like these you have to be a detective, and The Crown is looking for clothes that help to tell the story.

'So you do all your research about what the characters wore at the time and then the final outfit may not be identical but it will look great on screen and encapsulate where they were at that point in history.'

She added that she was 'very lucky' to have got talking to Amy before filming of season four commenced, which coincided with her buying the storage units full of unseen clothes.

Chiara believes Princess Anne (pictured played by Erin Doherty, wearing an outfit she sourced for Balmoral scenes) and Princess Margaret had 'some really stylish' clothes and were 'English gentlewomen at their best'

'We found suitcases with old smoked salmon in them and bills for the Dorchester for millions of pounds. I ended up selling nearly 100 pieces to The Crown,' Chiara told the publication.

Chiara and Amy spent an entire day going through every item, with her laying out rails and selecting what she thought might work for the award-winning drama.

'[The production team] went nuts,' she previously told 9News Australia. 'It wasn't until I saw The Crown, I saw the actual garments on the actual actresses, Princess Diana in her key moments, it was really, really exciting for me, it was so much fun.

'And it was really exciting for my clients who'd given me the clothes because I sent them pictures from the screen and said, "Look out, this is your suit from the Sixties or Eighties or whatever that's on this person in this scene," and they were thrilled.'

Chiara, who previously worked as a film producer, has been selling garments on her website for two-and-a-half years - and since The Crown, business has been booming. Pictured: Diana in one of her Guy Laroche quilted velvet jackets (left) and right, Anne in a buckled fur hat which she provided

Chiara, who previously worked as a film producer, has been selling garments on her website for two-and-a-half years - and since The Crown, business has been booming, with traffic to menagemodernvintage.com increasing from 300 visitors a week to an average of more than 20,000.

She originally set up the website to sell on her own beloved hoard of vintage clothes which she no longer wore; this included a rainbow sequin catsuit by Rifat Ozbek (one of only two in existence, with the other owned by Grace Jones) - the sale of which helped fund setting up her small home studio.

While it was difficult to part with the jumpsuit, she told The Anglofile she finds it 'liberating' to pass things on and gets a lot of pleasure out items going to good homes and seeing them 'live on' - particularly when they end up on screen.

She even listed her own wedding dress on her website, and sold the Chanel suit her now-husband bought for her during their first trip to Paris.

The chic pale yellow Hardy Amies ensemble Diana wore for a lunch with love rival Camilla Parker Bowles was sourced from Chiara's collection

'I just think they deserve to be enjoyed and worn rather than sit in a wardrobe,' she said.

Chiara told The Anglofile her favourite British designer of all time is Vivienne Westwood, for her 'endless inventiveness and wit combined with beautiful tailoring, her celebration of sexiness and subversiveness, her always being ahead of the curve from early punk to championing sustainability in recent years'.

She is currently busy sourcing items for a big-budget show set in the Nineties, which she wasn't allowed to name.

And while she 'can't really see' many of Lady Diana's early looks from The Crown catching on, Chiara believes Princess Anne and Princess Margaret had 'some really stylish' clothes and were 'English gentlewomen at their best'.

Chiara (pictured) said she was 'very lucky' to have got talking to Amy before filming of season four commenced, which coincided with her buying five storage units full of unseen clothes, which took 'months' to sift through

'I think the royals have always played a valuable role in promoting fashion and communicating messages. I like the new generation's less formal approach,' she said.

'Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle are relatable in what they wear and often favour brands which are accessible to the general public. Princess Beatrice gets a special round of applause for borrowing her granny's vintage dress for her wedding.'

Speaking about The Crown, she added: 'I'm already looking forward to Diana's revenge looks in season five.'
Etienne Boiteux France

A musical artist, Etienne left his home region of Doubs when he was twenty years old to move to the capital after having studied classical piano for several years. He painted his first work, an auto portrait covered with a transparent lily pad leaf at age 23. He learned drawing at the Sevres Workshop, and painting with Christian Zeimert, and attended the School of Visual Communication (ECV). He worked as a graphic artist for twenty years, which allowed him to renew his relationship with imagery, while keeping a critical eye on his work as an artist. His first exhibition was held in Tours in 1993. 2010 marked a turning point in his artistic career. Etienne decided to dedicate himself exclusively to his passion. He found the medium of paint more fascinating than the flat surface of advertising graphic work, finding inspiration in his different travels (Turkey, Burkina Faso), natural elements (water, earth, air, fire) and in his urban environment. The sight of Parisian walls, worn and covered with graffiti makes him question the traces of time on modern society. The artist defines his melancholic works as ""scenic abstraction"". Searching for a language that is void of all artifice, Etienne doesn't hesitate to question the medium in an ""archaeological"" approach to art. His colour palette is reduced to a minimum. Sombre tones invade the battered space of a canvas that is scraped, scratched and attacked by the coloured material. This purist conception of art shows the influence of his models, Antoni Tapies (Spanish artist, 20th - 21st century), Pierre Soulages (French artist), Alberto Burri (Italian artist, 20th century) and Anselm Kiefer (German artist). A constant need for novelty pushes him to explore different techniques (painting, collage, engraving) and to use different and varied materials (resin, zinc, lead, coal, glass, gold leaf). During his travels, photography helps him fix ""instants"" of life that feed his active imagination.
In the ongoing first phase, the employees who crossed 45 years and have comorbidities are being vaccinated; 302 employees took the jab in the TTD Central Hospital. (Representational image/PTI)

TIRUPATI: With six more students along with four faculty members at S.V. Veda Patashala, in Dharmagiri at Tirumala, reportedly testing positive for Covid-19, the parents of other students are getting jittery.

Only last week, 57 students had tested positive at the school. When the school was reopened after the lockdown, all the 435 students had submitted negative RT-PCR reports for Covid-19.

On March 9, however, when a second round of rapid antigen tests was conducted on all students, 57 tested positive and were admitted at the SVIMS Hospital for treatment. In view of this, the TTD also carried out tests to the remaining 378 students and 10 faculty and everyone tested negative.

When the TTD authorities conducted another round of spot rapid antigen tests, six more students and four faculty members tested positive on Monday. They were immediately taken to the SVIMS Hospital for treatment. They are said to be asymptomatic and doing well now.

Health minister Alla Kali Krishna Srinivas (Nani) inquired about the health of the students and faculty and instructed Chittoor district medical and health officer Dr M. Penchalaiah and SVIMS Hospital superintendent Dr R. Ram over phone to provide best treatment, according to a release from the ministers office.

On the other hand, over 1,000 employees of TTD were vaccinated in 10 days and one reported side effects. On Tuesday, TTD additional executive officer A.V. Dharma Reddy and Srivari temple chief priest Venugopala Deekshitulu also took their Covid-19 vaccines at Tirumala.

In the ongoing first phase, the employees who crossed 45 years and have comorbidities are being vaccinated; 302 employees took the jab in the TTD Central Hospital and while 710 at the Aswini Hospital in Tirumala.

Meanwhile, a 14-day partial lockdown was imposed at Kammapalli village of RC Puram mandal in Chittoor district, after five people tested positive for the virus. Around 37 cases were reported in the district by Tuesday morning. At present, there are 484 active cases in the district.
New Delhi: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday (March 17, 2021) released Trinamool Congress' manifesto for the upcoming West Bengal Assembly polls and promised five lakh jobs in one year.

"We will decrease unemployment. 5 lakh job opportunities will be generated in a year," Mamata Banerjee said while releasing the party's manifesto.

"For the first time ever, a new scheme is being launched, wherein female heads of 1.6 crore households will benefit from universal monthly income support," said TMC's manifesto.

The TMC supremo added that her government will also set up 10 lakh MSME units in West Bengal.

I humbly present my 10 Ongikars to build a stronger & more prosperous Bengal so that the wheels of development keep moving forward in the third term of our government. The aim is just one, to sustain Bengal as one of the leading states in the country. (1/4) pic.twitter.com/K0xNtrt7GB  Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) March 17, 2021

She said that when TMC came to power, West Bengal's revenue was about Rs 25,000 crores, which has now been increased to Rs 75,000 crores.

"We will increase annual financial aid to farmers from Rs 6,000 to Rs 10,000, said West Bengal Chief Minister.

Mamata Banerjee said that she will bring a credit card of Rs 10 lakh for students for pursuing higher studies. "Only 4 per cent interest will be charged," Mamata promised.

She also said that the TMC government will ensure a minimum annual income of Rs 6,000 and Rs 12,000 for general category and backward community people respectively in West Bengal.

"We will form a special task force to examine and propose OBC status to all communities who are not recognised," Bengal CM added.

The ruling party's chief said that they have also reduced poverty by 40 per cent in the state.

Mamata Banerjee also took on the Election Commission and said that it is being guided by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

"They are misusing the powers of the Election Commission," alleged the West Bengal CM. Her statement comes a day after she received a stern message from the EC, which said that it was not proper to belittle the institution by calling it as being close to the ruling party. The EC also asserted that it would not like to be repeatedly 'put in the dock' with innuendos and averments.

The polls to 294-member West Bengal Assembly will be held in eight phases starting from March 27. The final round of voting will take place on April 29, whereas, the counting of votes will take place on May 2.

(With inputs from agencies)

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The record date is fixed on Saturday, 27 March 2021.

The board of BPCL on 16 March 2021 declared a second interim dividend of Rs 5 per equity share for the Financial Year 2020-21.

The record date for the purpose of payment of interim dividend is Saturday, 27 March 2021 and the dividend will be paid on or before 12 April 2021.

At BPCL yesterday's closing price of Rs 453.80 per share, this translates to a dividend yield of 1.10%.

BPCL operates in refinery and marketing activities, which includes downstream petroleum sector. The Government of India holds 52.98% stake in BPCL as of 31 December 2020.

The public sector oil marketing company's net profit surged 120.3% to Rs 2,777.62 crore on 10.7% decline in net sales to Rs 66,731.39 crore in Q3 FY21 over Q3 FY20.

The scrip fell 1.74% to Rs 445.90 on the BSE. It traded in the range of 439.50 and 446.50 so far during the day.

Earlier this month, BPCL Trust for Investment in Shares (BPCL Trust) liquidated its treasury shares worth over Rs 5,500 crore in BPCL.

According to the bulk deal data on 9 March 2021, BPCL Trust sold 12,60,33,090 shares (5.81% equity) of BPCL at Rs 438.41 each for a total of Rs 5,525 crore.

Separately, ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund (ICICI Prudential Value Discovery Fund) picked up 1,38,84,962 shares (0.64% equity) at Rs 438.10 each, aggregating to Rs 608 crore. Both the transactions took place on the same day on the NSE.

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
[March 17, 2021] Analytics Insight Announces 'The 10 Most Disruptive Companies to Watch in 2021'

Analytics Insight has announced 'The 10 Most Disruptive Companies to Watch in 2021' in its March magazine issue. The issue features innovative companies that aim to deliver superior business performance while addressing the market demands. By integrating cutting-edge technologies in the business pipeline to create solutions, the companies push the boundaries of digital transformation to new benchmarks. Let's look at the ten companies that made it to the list in 2021. Featuring as the Cover Story is Grow.com, a no-code full-stack business intelligence (BI) platform that empowers enterprises to make data-driven decisions. The platform achieves this by combining data integrations, data warehousing, and visualization in one easy-to-use platform, to connect and explore its data. Further, Grow's unlimited-user license gives everyone access to the answers they need without waiting for an analyst. The issue features Emonics, Eugenie.ai, Loamics as Company of the Month.



Emonics: An IT staffing and software development company that focuses on placing IT consultants on the job by acting as a bridge between consultations and clients. The company gets the consultant jobs done and fulfills the clients' requirements by delivering the most optimal IT staffing solutions by listening to their needs. It also has a large software development team that develops products and services. Eugenie.ai: A unique decision intelligence and execution platform which enables enterprises to make efficient and optimal operational decisions about their assets and processes. The company addresses issues related to anomalies in operations such as unscheduled downtime detection, production quality issue detections, process-deviation detection, etc., using its descriptive, prescriptive, and predictive analytics products.

Loamics: The company specializes in data management, making data truly accessible for analytics and AI. By making data readily available, both dynamically and automatically, Loamics enables data adaption as per the needs of business function. It democratizes data by transforming it into datasets and saving data scientists time on no-added-value tasks and allowing them to focus their energy on more complex tasks. Other honorable companies include: INTSITE: The company utilizes AI and machine learning to improve efficiency and safety on construction job sites and mines. Its clients benefit from real-time actionable insights about the onsite occurrences and a web-based platform for analytics, zoning applications, and more. OpsTree Solutions: The company empowers product & engineering teams with best of breed Cloud & DevOpSecOps platform implementations that enable getting to market faster, more securely and with ability to maintain the platform much more efficiently. Predictive Black: A company that offers transformational cash visibility, management and forecasting software that for the first time combines macro market and economic sector data with the client's financial data to create machine learning-based predictive forecasts. Thinkers360: The company is the world's first open platform for thought leaders and influencers to share opportunities, promote and advance their expertise. Its tools help in finding and working, and even showcasing premier thought leaders and authentic influencers in B2B community. T-Systems (News - Alert): It is the world's leading IT service provider and supplier of digital services. As a subsidiary of Deutsche Telekon, the company provides all essential building blocks for innovative information technology and digitization to more than 1,000 global clients. Digitate: A leading software provider that brings agility, assurance and resiliency to IT and business operations. Its software suite - ignio, reimages the enterprise IT landscape with a unique and innovative design that blends artificial intelligence technologies and advanced software engineering. The featured companies are transforming the way industries operate to bring broad portfolio of next-generation tech solutions and offerings. They have displayed resilience and agility to dynamic industry trends and challenges. In this issue, Analytics Insight Magazine highlights the success stories of top disruptive companies that have driven themselves into profitable and exponential growth via disruptive innovation. Read their detailed coverage here. For more information, please visit https://www.analyticsinsight.net/. About Analytics Insight Analytics Insight is an influential platform dedicated to insights, trends, and opinions from the world of data-driven technologies. It monitors developments, recognition, and achievements made by AI, big data and analytics companies across the globe. The Analytics Insight Magazine features opinions and views from top leaders and executives in the industry who share their journey, experiences, success stories, and knowledge to grow profitable businesses. To set up an interview or advertise your brand, contact info@analyticsinsight.net View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210317005632/en/

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When Partap Singh bought a taxi medallion  a permit to independently operate a cab in New York City  in 1993, he thought hed struck gold. As a Sikh immigrant from the Indian state of Punjab, hed bought into the idea that the $140,000 investment was a ticket to a middle-class life.

For years, Singh woke up at 4 a.m. to work 16-hour shifts, six days a week. As a result of the grueling hours, he developed a host of serious health problems, including chronic back pain and eyestrain that required surgery.

But after three decades, Singh, 62, still owes more than $65,000 in medallion loans.

Its a long-standing crisis related to bloated fees for licenses that has been aggravated by Covid-19, which has crushed demand for rides. Singh, who drives 60 hours a week, said he makes $10 an hour on a good day, which doesnt always cover his costs. His loan and insurance payments, as well as gas, surcharges and repair fees, can add up to more than $3,000 a month. He is also behind on his medallion loan, credit card bills and property taxes.

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I have no future, no health care plan, no savings, no retirement, nothing, Singh said. I dont know how we can survive in our old age and whos going to take care of us.

Last week, the city announced a plan to spend $65 million from a federal stimulus package on a relief fund to provide drivers with up to $29,000 in interest-free loans to refinance their debts. The proposal is the first concrete step the city has taken to address the plight of drivers. But driver advocates and some elected officials say it falls far short of the sort of bailout most drivers need. Every day and night last week, drivers protested the citys plan outside Gracie Mansion, the mayors residence.

In 2018, a spate of driver suicides exposed how predatory lending practices and government complicity trapped thousands of medallion buyers in risky loans they couldn't pay back. Throughout the 2000s, industry leaders artificially inflated medallion prices from $200,000 to more than $1 million  by overpaying for and marketing them as foolproof vehicles for economic success  while extracting windfall profits from interest payments and fees. Since the market crashed in 2014, in part because of the rise of Uber and Lyft, nearly 1,000 owner-drivers have filed for bankruptcy.

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The average driver today owes about $500,000 in loans, to be paid in monthly installments of about $3,000.

Now, in a market-cratering global pandemic, medallion debt has become a crisis for immigrant seniors, many of whom have drained their retirement savings and could lose their homes as they enter the twilight of their lives. The fallout could hit New Yorks South Asian community particularly hard, as immigrants from India, Bangladesh and Pakistan make up more than 43 percent of the citys cabdrivers, according to 2014 data from the city Taxi and Limousine Commission.

These drivers have given 30 to 40 years of their lives to these streets of New York, and all theyve incurred is debt, said Bhairavi Desai, executive director of the New York Taxi Workers Alliance, a labor union representing 21,000 cab and ride-share drivers. I think nine to 12 months from now, youll see massive foreclosures and bankruptcies.

More than 90 percent of drivers over age 62 have active loans, according to a recent survey the union conducted. Four in 5 reported being food insecure; 1 in 3 has either contracted Covid-19 or lives with someone who has.

The union also proposed a debt relief plan. In contrast to the mayors plan, it would reduce loans to a maximum of $125,000 and restructure monthly repayments to about $750. It would cost the city $75 million over 20 years.

Desperation over their situation has turned seniors into activists and pushed their adult children to run for office. Over the past few weeks, immigrant drivers have organized a series of actions to demand debt relief, including shutting down the Brooklyn Bridge and delivering searing testimony at Zoom hearings.

The medallion debt crisis has pushed Felicia Singh, a public schoolteacher and City Council candidate, and her family to the brink of homelessness. Last summer, her father lost his medallion  which he bought for a quarter-million dollars in 1988  after he fell behind on his $3,200 monthly loan payments. In February, the bankruptcy court put their home on the market, giving the Singhs less than 80 days to scrape together $100,000 in debt settlement.

The citys failure to advocate for working-class people, Singh said, is one reason shes campaigning to represent Southern Queens.

The hard part here for me is that nine people have taken their lives, and that was not enough for the city to stop and do something, she said. Us being unhoused in a pandemic is still not making the city move with urgency.

Desai said elder South Asian drivers also have to navigate language and cultural barriers in seeking social and public health services. In many cases, she said, the lack of appropriate language resources has limited their ability to get vaccinated, apply for pandemic relief loans and file for unemployment benefits.

At the same time, working into old age can cause complications for a group with underlying health conditions.

The Taxi Network, a research and community health program developed by the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centers Immigrant Health and Cancer Disparities Service, organizes free health fairs for drivers at taxi garages and community-based organizations. Doctors said that when they conducted health screenings in South Asian enclaves, they found staggering rates of unaddressed hypertension, high cholesterol and diabetes.

South Asians have added risk of propensity for metabolic syndrome, so theyre at tremendous risk for heart disease, said Dr. Francesca Gany, a co-founder and director of the initiative. Its a terrible problem that could be addressed by taking some financial stress off drivers.

For many working-class South Asian immigrants, the lasting legacy of the medallion crisis may be the accumulation of generational debt.

When the medallion market crashed in 2014, Partap Singhs daughter, Jaslin Kaur, had just begun her first year in college. With medallion prices plummeting, her family could no longer finance her education, so to finish school, she had to take out a hefty loan, which she is still paying off today.

Its a number of crises all at once, she said, adding that her familys financial struggles inspired her to run for a City Council seat this year in an Eastern Queens district with a large working-class South Asian population.

Fighting for debt relief is about labor justice, Kaur said, for people who were effectively scammed out of something that was meant to provide a pathway to economic stability and economic prosperity.
(Newser)  The 21-year-old man accused of killing eight people Tuesday at three Atlanta-area massage parlors, most of them women of Asian descent, claims racism wasn't the motive, police say. Cherokee County Sheriff Frank Reynolds says Robert Aaron Long indicated he has issues, "potentially sexual addiction," and "may have frequented some of these places in the past," NPR reports. He says Long denied there was any racial motive involved. Capt. Jay Baker of the sheriff's office says Long, who was arrested after a manhunt Tuesday night, saw the spas as "a temptation for him that he wanted to eliminate." More:

He may have planned more attacks. Long was taken into custody around 150 miles south of Atlanta after police tracked his vehicle on the interstate. Police say he was on his way to Florida to attack "some type of porn industry," the AP reports.

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The timeline . Police believe Long bought the gun hours before the killings, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. Investigators say the killing spree began at Youngs Asian Massage Parlor in Acworth in Cherokee County around 5pm. Three women and one man were shot dead at that location. An hour later, police in Atlanta found three women shot dead at Gold Spa. Another woman had been killed across the street at Aromatherapy Spa. Long was taken into custody around 8:30pm.

. Police believe Long bought the gun hours before the killings, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. Investigators say the killing spree began at Youngs Asian Massage Parlor in Acworth in Cherokee County around 5pm. Three women and one man were shot dead at that location. An hour later, police in Atlanta found three women shot dead at Gold Spa. Another woman had been killed across the street at Aromatherapy Spa. Long was taken into custody around 8:30pm. The victims . Police say six victims were of Asian descent and two, including the only man, were white, the New York Times reports. A Hispanic man was injured. The South Korean consulate in Atlanta says four of the victims were ethnic Koreans. The victims of the first shooting were identified Wednesday as Delaina Ashley Yaun, 33; Paul Andre Michels, 54; Xiaojie Yan, 49; and Daoyou Feng, 44.

. Police say six victims were of Asian descent and two, including the only man, were white, the New York Times reports. A Hispanic man was injured. The South Korean consulate in Atlanta says four of the victims were ethnic Koreans. The victims of the first shooting were identified Wednesday as Delaina Ashley Yaun, 33; Paul Andre Michels, 54; Xiaojie Yan, 49; and Daoyou Feng, 44. Long's family helped investigators . CNN reports that Long's family contacted police after authorities shared a photo of a suspect from the scene of the first shooting. His relatives "are very distraught, and they were very helpful in this apprehension," Reynolds says.

. CNN reports that Long's family contacted police after authorities shared a photo of a suspect from the scene of the first shooting. His relatives "are very distraught, and they were very helpful in this apprehension," Reynolds says. Mayor: "It has to stop." Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms says the shootings were a tragedy whether investigators determine it to be a hate crime or not. "Whatever the motivation was for this guy, we know that the majority of the victims were Asian, she said. "We also know that this is an issue that is happening across the country. It is unacceptable, it is hateful and it has to stop." Georgia state Rep. Bee Nguyen said the shootings appeared to be at the "intersection of gender-based violence, misogyny, and xenophobia."

Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms says the shootings were a tragedy whether investigators determine it to be a hate crime or not. "Whatever the motivation was for this guy, we know that the majority of the victims were Asian, she said. "We also know that this is an issue that is happening across the country. It is unacceptable, it is hateful and it has to stop." Georgia state Rep. Bee Nguyen said the shootings appeared to be at the "intersection of gender-based violence, misogyny, and xenophobia." "People in the Asian American community are scared." Georgia state Sen. Michelle Au says that while she won't jump to conclusions about the motive for Tuesday's killing spree, "people in the Asian American community are scared" amid increasing violence and discrimination, the Washington Post reports. "It is taking place in a landscape where Asian Americans are increasingly terrified and fearful for their lives and their safety because of these escalating threats against our people, she said.

Georgia state Sen. Michelle Au says that while she won't jump to conclusions about the motive for Tuesday's killing spree, "people in the Asian American community are scared" amid increasing violence and discrimination, the Washington Post reports. "It is taking place in a landscape where Asian Americans are increasingly terrified and fearful for their lives and their safety because of these escalating threats against our people, she said. Celebrities speak out . USA Today rounds up some of the reactions from celebrities. George Takei called the killings a "hate crime" and said Republican leaders should "stop fanning violence with anti-Asian rhetoric." Daniel Dae Kim tweeted: "The race of the person committing the crime matters less than the simple fact that if you act with hate in your heart, you are part of the problem."

. USA Today rounds up some of the reactions from celebrities. George Takei called the killings a "hate crime" and said Republican leaders should "stop fanning violence with anti-Asian rhetoric." Daniel Dae Kim tweeted: "The race of the person committing the crime matters less than the simple fact that if you act with hate in your heart, you are part of the problem." Obama calls for new gun laws . "Even as weve battled the pandemic, weve continued to neglect the longer-lasting epidemic of gun violence in America," the former president tweeted Wednesday. "Yesterday's shootings are another tragic reminder that we have far more work to do to put in place commonsense gun safety laws and root out the pervasive patterns of hatred and violence in our society."

. "Even as weve battled the pandemic, weve continued to neglect the longer-lasting epidemic of gun violence in America," the former president tweeted Wednesday. "Yesterday's shootings are another tragic reminder that we have far more work to do to put in place commonsense gun safety laws and root out the pervasive patterns of hatred and violence in our society." Deadliest in years. The attack marks the sixth mass killing of 2021 in the US and is the deadliest since 9 people were killed in Dayton, Ohio, in August 2019, according to a database compiled by the AP, USA Today and Northeastern University.

(Read more Atlanta stories.)
Mar. 17For the first time since spring of 2019, Miami University will hold a variation of its annual graduation ceremony in May with precautions, said school officials.

Commencement for more than 4,000 Miami graduates will be spread over three days with all ceremonies held outside in Yager Stadium instead of the traditional site indoors at the school's Millet Hall.

The return to an in-person commencement is important and all the more so during the pandemic, said Miami President Gregory Crawford.

"Commencement is a beloved tradition and our opportunity to celebrate the accomplishments of our students as they reach this milestone in their academic journey," said Crawford in a statement released by the school.

"The pandemic has shaped this last year in many ways, and in the face of the unprecedented challenges, these students have shown remarkable creativity, flexibility, and fortitude. We are thrilled to be able to recognize their achievements in person this spring."

"In alignment with state of Ohio capacity guidelines, Miami will host eight divisional ceremonies at Yager Stadium rain or shine," according to school officials.

More details regarding tickets will be announced later but as of now the various graduation ceremonies, which includes graduates from Miami's regional campuses in Hamilton and Middletown, will be conducted starting Friday May 14 and then on Saturday and Sunday.

Last week Miami officials announced the school will return to in-person classes for the 2021-2022 school year.

Unlike the coronavirus-cancelled, live commencement of spring 2020, graduates this year will be individually recognized as they walk across the commencement stage.

"To maintain social distancing and to meet capacity limits, each graduate is permitted to invite up to six guests to the ceremony. Guests will have assigned seats in 'pods' that are socially distanced from other attendees. All participants, graduates, guests, and staff will be required to wear a face mask and maintain social distancing during the events."

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Thousands of Miami students this school took the remote learning option and did not return to live on the main Oxford campus.

The graduations will also be broadcast online for remote students and their families who chose not to attend.

"University officials continue to monitor the evolution of the COVID-19 pandemic and are working with the Butler County General Health District to ensure proper distancing and the implementation of strategies to help minimize the risk of coronavirus transmission."

"Should parameters for safely gathering change and ceremony details change, Miami will notify the community as soon as possible," said school officials.
Cambodian women pray to Buddhist monks on a street in Phnom Penh in a Jan. 29, 2018 photo.

A video circulating widely in Cambodia on Facebook this week shows a senior monk in a Buddhist temple beating three young monks with sticks, prompting an investigation by authorities and calls from a local rights group for justice for the victims of the assault.

Each monk was struck 50 times in the March 13 incident at the Reach Bo Pagoda in Siem Reap city as punishment for what Pin Sem, the chief monk who administered the beatings, called infractions of monastic discipline.

This was not a violent act, but only a form of discipline intended to encourage our students to abandon bad deeds, Pin Sem told RFAs Khmer Service on Wednesday.

He added that he told investigating authorities who visited the pagoda at the weekend and confiscated his sticks that he would only use nonviolent methods of correction in the future.

Also speaking to RFA, But Buntenhthe founder of Cambodias Independent Monk Network for Social Justicesaid that Pin Sem had done nothing wrong in beating the young monks, and that monastic rules allow senior monks to enforce order by beating younger monks with sticks or forcing them to miss their breakfast.

Imposing terms of community service is also allowed to discourage misbehavior, he said.

The use of violence in any setting is against the law, though, Chan ChamroeunSiem Reap provincial coordinator for the rights group Adhoctold RFA, calling on Cambodias Ministry of Culture and Religion to seek justice for the beaten monks.

A decision is up to the authorities, but if those beatings inflicted injuries, a prosecutor can bring charges against [the chief monk], Chan Chamroeun said.

Attempts to reach Ministry of Cults and Religions spokesperson Seng Somony for comment on Wednesday were unsuccessful.

Buddhist monks in Cambodia mainly follow the Theravada, or Southern, branch of the religion, and young boys often enter Buddhist monasteries as novices for short periods of time without taking lifelong vows.

Reported by RFAs Khmer Service. Translated by Samean Yun. Written in English by Richard Finney.
The Government is to approve in Wednesday's meeting, by a decision, the integration within the "Cantacuzino" National Research Institute of the Medical-Military Scientific Research Centre and the taking over of the specific objectives held by it, according to AGERPRES.

"The crisis generated by the appearance of the pandemic with the SARS-CoV2 virus that Romania, together with the whole world, has been facing, imposes the acceleration of the implementation process of NATO specific requirements, resulting in the need to establish a single pole of medical-military scientific research by integration of the Medical-Military Scientific Research Centre within the 'Cantacuzino' National Research Institute and taking over the specific objectives held by it. The project aims to establish the specific activities that will be carried out by the Cantacuzino Institute after taking over and integrating the centre, as well as establishing the maximum of positions and its organizational chart," shows the substantiation note of the draft normative act.
A judges ruling in the disputed reopening of the South Orange-Maplewood school district has cleared the way for additional students to return to classrooms, starting next week.

The ruling by Superior Court Judge Jodi Alper on Tuesday is the latest twist in a battle over COVID-19 protocols, with the K-12 districts officials seeking a full return to in-person instruction and the teachers union continuing to raise safety concerns.

While Alper ordered teachers in the 6th and 9th grades to return to classrooms, which administrators said will happen starting Monday, the ruling did not uphold the districts request for an injunction against teachers union for exiting classrooms and working remotely from their homes, according to statements on the ruling from the district and the union. The judges written decision was not immediately available.

Students in kindergarten through second grade returned to classrooms on Monday.

Both sides issued statements characterizing the ruling as a vindication for their positions.

Rocio Lopez, president of the South Orange-Maplewood Education Association, called it a win for the association, the community, and the district.

This has never been about a challenge to the district; this was about having our concerns and ideas heard, respected, and able to put into action so that schools could open safely, Lopez said.

The school district, in its statement, said it had previously offered to assign the 6th and 9th grade teachers to classrooms deemed acceptable to the teachers union  an outcome it said was formalized in the judges ruling.

This is an important and critical step in the right direction as we resume in-person instruction. The legal significance of the Courts Order is to ensure that our community is not faced with another work district-wide interference, stated the school district.

The battle over returning to school in South-Maplewood-Orange, a regional district with 11 school buildings and 7,200 students, is among the local reopening disputes that have drawn wider notice in New Jersey. Parents and students held an outdoor sit-in by one of the schools on Friday.

The school district withdrew from a mediation process a week ago after the union downgraded its offer to return to classrooms, starting March 15, to only grades K-2, and sought to add as a condition the board approving three additional medical accommodation requests for educators.

The outcome of that request was not addressed in the unions statement last Thursday, in which teachers in grades K-2 agreed fo return to classrooms.

In-person instruction in South Orange-Maplewood began on Jan. 19, after more than 10 months of remote learning, beginning with hybrid instruction for grades K-2, 6 and 9, along with students in special education and English language learners. The plan was to phase in additional grades, but teachers began raising concerns about air ventilation and circulation.

On Jan. 25, after the boiler broke at one school and teachers had to keep windows open, the union voted to work from home, but then reached an agreement with administrators to continue with hybrid learning. Then teachers opted to stay home starting Feb. 15 after raising more concerns.

Tuesdays ruling may not be the last word in court.

Another hearing is schedule for April 19, the school district said.

We will continue to work toward greater availability of in-person instruction over the coming weeks as we target April 19 for our next phase, the school district said.

Please subscribe now and support the local journalism YOU rely on and trust.

Rob Jennings may be reached at rjennings@njadvancemedia.com.
It's difficult to recall the furore last year when there was a national conversation about whether St Patricks Day celebrations would go ahead.

That crammed throngs watching parades march all over the country with brass bands, complicated floats and frozen American majorettes was even considered a possibility looks, with hindsight, an enormous folly.

How innocent we were back then. Cheltenham had gone ahead, other countries were doing things differently and to some, lockdown appeared far too much, too soon. An over-reaction even.

Cancel Paddys Day? The disappointment, the what-will-we-do-instead no prospect of flat green pints or blow-up leprechaun hats. Think of the children, someone, please!

As if our annual shindig was such a monumental event that its impossible not to celebrate it in the time-honoured fashion. There were some people who couldnt believe it. Couldnt cope.

But still, wed have an almighty party in 2021 instead, right?

The Big T himself, Leo Varadkar off at the White House with his sombre address to us, gave us hope.

I need to speak to you about coronavirus, he started, eyes directed straight at the camera.

Im here doing the daft Paddys Day thing so you dont have to, was the message, shamrock swiftly removed from his lapel.

He told us the coming lockdown, unprecedented and shocking, would be imposed until March 29. He meant the whole of 2020.

Outdoor gatherings of more than 500 people should be cancelled, he went on, and we could hardly believe it. And, with his best Morgan-Freeman-as-president tone, added: Our economy will suffer. It will bounce back. Lost time in school or college will be recovered. In time, our lives will go back to normal.

There wasnt a whimper about Paddys Day this year of course. Its all online, like everything else these days.

That its landing on a sunny, warm day only adds insult to injury. But weve given up, become inured. Garda checkpoints will be manned at city junctions, pubs remain closed. There will be little detritus marking the big clean-up tomorrow. No tricolours littering the streets, no drunken hoards marauding across town clutching cans of Dutch Gold. How well miss it.

So how about we spend the day instead working out how to move it?

I vote for a sunny Sunday in June. Is it too early to hope for 2022?

Wrestling skills may help Matt in political fight

I think most of us can agree that parachuting celebrities into high political office rarely ends well.

The venn diagram of a famous, if inexperienced, personality being high-profile enough to get themselves elected and actually being capable of doing the job is minuscule, but enough about George Lee.

Across the pond, the latest to chuck his acting experience into the ring is Matthew McConaughey, who has tilted his Stetson at governor of Texas. Actors pursuing a political career isnt unknown in La La Land, of course. Swashbucklers Arnie Schwarzenegger and Clint Eastwood both did so, and of course Ronnie Regan made it to the big house.

McConaughey is nothing if not ambitious. The Wolf of Wall Street star has also expressed an interest in professional WWE wrestling, which may be better preparation for life in politics than his career to date.

Multi-billionaire sons owe it to their mammy

Mammies hearts swelled at the news that multi-billionaire Collison brothers, from Limerick no less, are now even bigger multi-billionaires.

The Stripe founders did a blah-blah-financial thingy which is very clever by all accounts.

So lets hope they remembered to send their own mammy, Lily, a bunch of daffs for Mothers Day.
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The vehicle pulled up behind me. I heard what sounded like ... automatic gunfire. I thought my car was getting shot at and then I got out and I had my police star around my neck, Bunge said on the 911 call. And I walked up to their car with my gun out ...
Former Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii has signed a statement of concern with other antiwar leaders on a report released by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) with regards to Syria.

Gabbard was skewered by the War Party for years because she contradicted propaganda meant to compel the U.S. into another endless war with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Time has proven her instincts to be correct, and she refuses to drop the issue even though she has left the U.S. House.

The full text of the letter can be seen here:

We wish to express our deep concern over the protracted controversy and political fall-out surrounding the OPCW and its investigation of the alleged chemical weapon attacks in Douma, Syria, on 7 April 2018.

Since the publication by the OPCW of its final report in March 2019, a series of worrying developments has raised serious and substantial concerns with respect to the conduct of that investigation. These developments include instances in which OPCW inspectors involved with the investigation have identified major procedural and scientific irregularities, the leaking of a significant quantity of corroborating documents, and damning statements provided to UN Security Council meetings. It is now well established that some senior inspectors involved with the investigation, one of whom played a central role, reject how the investigation derived its conclusions, and OPCW management now stands accused of accepting unsubstantiated or possibly manipulated findings with the most serious geo-political and security implications. Calls by some members of the Executive Council of the OPCW to allow all inspectors to be heard were blocked.

The inspectors concerns are shared by the first Director General of the OPCW, Jose Bustani, and a significant number of eminent individuals have called for transparency and accountability at the OPCW. Bustani himself was recently prevented by key members of the Security Council from participating in a hearing on the Syrian dossier. As Ambassador Bustani stated in a personal appeal to the Director General, if the Organization is confident in the conduct of its Douma investigation then it should have no difficulty addressing the inspectors concerns.

To date, unfortunately, the OPCW senior management has failed to adequately respond to the allegations against it and, despite making statements to the contrary, we understand has never properly allowed the views or concerns of the members of the investigation team to be heard or even met with most of them. It has, instead, side-stepped the issue by launching an investigation into a leaked document related to the Douma case and by publicly condemning its most experienced inspectors for speaking out.

In a worrying recent development, a draft letter falsely alleged to have been sent by the Director General to one of the dissenting inspectors was leaked to an open source investigation website in an apparent attempt to smear the former senior OPCW scientist. The open source website then published the draft letter together with the identity of the inspector in question. Even more alarmingly, in a BBC4 radio series aired recently, an anonymous source, reportedly connected with the OPCW Douma investigation, gave an interview with the BBC in which he contributes to an attempt to discredit not only the two dissenting inspectors, but even Ambassador Bustani himself. Importantly, recent leaks in December 2020 have evidenced that a number of senior OPCW officials were supportive of one OPCW inspector who had spoken out with respect to malpractice.

The issue at hand threatens to severely damage the reputation and credibility of the OPCW and undermine its vital role in the pursuit of international peace and security. It is simply not tenable for a scientific organization such as the OPCW to refuse to respond openly to the criticisms and concerns of its own scientists whilst being associated with attempts to discredit and smear those scientists. Moreover, the on-going controversy regarding the Douma report also raises concerns with respect to the reliability of previous FFM reports, including the investigation of the alleged attack at Khan Shaykhun in 2017.

We believe that the interests of the OPCW are best served by the Director General providing a transparent and neutral forum in which the concerns of all the investigators can be heard as well as ensuring that a fully objective and scientific investigation is completed.

To that end, we call on the Director General of the OPCW to find the courage to address the problems within his organization relating to this investigation and ensure States Parties and the United Nations are informed accordingly. In this way we hope and believe that the credibility and integrity of the OPCW can be restored.

Gabbard recently appeared on Fox News Tucker Carlson Tonight to discuss why she signed onto the letter.



Its very clear now as time has gone on that there was a cover-up, and why was there a cover-up? It became very clear that this OPCW report, this final report, was tailored before it was actually released in order to provide cover for that unconstitutional military strike that the U.S. launched against Syria in April of 2018, she told Carlson.

And really, whats at stake here is the credibility of this international organization, the OPCW, that people are supposed to be able to trust to be a neutral entity, to provide objective facts based on what their investigators have found on the ground, and its very clear that this did not happen in this instance, Gabbard added.

Gabbard is advocating for a non-interventionist foreign policy in the same vein as former Texas Congressman Ron Paul but only coming from the Left. She is a voice of reason in a dysfunctional political system that desperately needs it.

The post Tulsi Gabbard Blasts Globalist Organization for Releasing Fake News Report to Foment War with Syria appeared first on Liberty Conservative News.
The View Gavin Newsom

California Gov. Gavin Newsom said this week that he is "of course" worried about a potential recall vote that could force him out of office, but he intends to remain at the helm.



Newsom, 53, appeared on The View on Tuesday as pressure has grown from California Republicans in recent months to remove their state's leader.

"Am I worried about it? Of course I'm worried about it," Newsom said.

As the Associated Press detailed last month, the governor has faced criticism over his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic  including vaccine rollout and a decision to lift a stay-at-home order that drew conflicting reactions  as well as problems in his administration related to $10 billion in unemployment fraud.

The GOP-backed recall push, which started before COVID-19 according to the AP, has gained momentum with more and more people.

Organizers have until Wednesday to submit 1.5 million voter signatures to show support for holding a recall election later this year, according to USA Today.

Newsom said on The View that this is the sixth effort in 25 months to force a recall vote that could potentially remove him from office. However, "this one appears to have the requisite signatures," he said.

RELATED: Families Will Receive Thousands More to Support Their Kids: What 'Game-Changing' New Child Tax Credit Means

The Los Angeles Times reported last month that Newsom's popularity in the state has "plummeted" over the past year, with a University of California Berkeley poll showing one-third of Califorinians support the effort to remove him from office.

"People are reevaluating how well Newsom is doing handling the pandemic," the pollster told the Times. "Once your job performance rating starts to decline, it's more difficult to put it back in the right direction. You kind of accumulate negatives over time."

However, the full picture remains unclear: The AP also reported last month that 54 percent of Californians still approved of Newsom's leadership, according to a Public Policy Institute of California poll.

Story continues

What's more, an election would still be months away when political circumstances could be different and Newsom's trajectory is not the same as former Gov. Gray Davis, who was recalled in 2003 in favor of Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Newsom would be removed with more than 50 percent of voters voting "yes" on the question of ousting him in the recall election.

The governor's successor would be whomever gets the most votes on the second question  who should replace Newsom?  though they would not need to get a majority.

Lamenting that California has the "lowest threshold" in the country to force a recall vote, Newsom told The View: "It just takes one quarter of the people who supported Donald Trump,"

Mario Tama/Getty

RELATED: Dad-of-4 Goes Viral with Speech About His Transgender Daughter: 'Let Them Be Who They Are'

Rich Pedroncelli/AP/Bloomberg via Getty Gavin Newsom

Newsom used his appearance on the show to defend his COVID-19 response and insisted the recall effort was being promoted by anti-economic shutdown protesters, right-wing militia groups, and other Trump supporters.

"That's the origin here," the governor said.

"It's the anti-maskers and the anti-vaxxers ... that are behind this recall," he added.

Nonetheless, Newsom has been criticized for wavering guidance on the pandemic, which has had a vast economic impact on the tourism-heavy state. California has the second-highest unemployment rate in the country, behind Hawaii, according to the Labor Department's latest assessment.

The governor told The View the state's unemployment rate has been "stubborn and consistent with other tourism states like Hawaii."

RELATED: Michelle Obama Weighs in on Meghan Markle's Interview: 'I Just Pray That There Is Forgiveness'

Newsom also apologized for photos showing him eating dinner at a restaurant with a crowded table, in violation of health recommendations. The incident exasperated criticism against him last November.

"It was a terrible mistake," he said, adding that it was a dinner to celebrate a friend's 50th birthday. "Of course it was a mistake. I didn't shy away from that. Bottom line is I own that."

But the choice increasingly looks to be in the voters' hands, as Newsom recognized Tuesday the recall vote is now expected to go forward later this year.

"The zero-sum nature of the question is challenging. It's vexing," he said. "We're taking it seriously. I have to do my job every single day, but I'm going to fight this thing."
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The Commissioner of Police in Lagos, Hakeem Odumosu, has disclosed his intention to adopt an abandoned baby rescued by the police in the state.

In a statement released by the police spokesperson, Muyiwa Adejobi, on Tuesday, the baby boy was found at Oladejo Street, Oko Oba, Lagos, on Monday by a Lagosian.

A distress call was made to the police and the baby was retrieved from the scene at about 10:30 p.m., the police said.

Following the rescue operation, Mr Adejobi, a Chief Superintendent of Police, said the Commissioner expressed his intention to start processes of adopting the handsome looking boy.

No information is known about the mother or any relative of the abandoned baby, the police said.

The baby was found by a good Lagosian at Oladejo Street, Oko Oba Lagos on Monday at 10:20 pm and informed the police operatives attached to Abattoir Division of the command who quickly raced to the scene and picked up the baby for necessary medical attention and safety,  Mr Adejobi said.

The Commissioner of Police thereafter received the baby in his Ikeja office on Tuesday and ordered the Gender Unit of the command to hand over the baby to the Child Protection Unit of the Ministry of Youthand

Social Development of Lagos State.

The unit is presently having the custody of the rescued baby. The Commissioner of Police, however, expressed his intention to discuss with the Ministry of Youth and Social Development on processes of adopting the handsome looking boy as soon as possible, the police spokesperson said.
A senior Government minister today rejected calls for a public inquiry into Britain's coronavirus response amid growing pressure for an independent probe.

Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng said it would be 'premature' to launch the inquiry now, adding that ending lockdown and reopening the economy was the main priority.

He claimed there was no 'appetite' for the probe at the moment, telling Sky News: 'Personally I think what we've got to do is get through the roadmap and reopen the economy.

'And then once the economy is reopened, once we've got through the worst of the pandemic  and it's still with us  we can have a debate and I'm sure that there'll be plenty of room for an inquiry. But we haven't  it seems premature to launch an inquiry when pandemic is still all around us.'

When pressed on whether the inquiry would come after summer, when all Covid legal restrictions are due to be dropped, he refused to commit to a timeline.

He added: 'We should wait and see this process through, we've got a roadmap  We've got to try and get through that process, reopen the economy and see what the medium-term effects of Covid have been, look at the employment situation,' Kwarteng said.

'And then I'm sure there'll be plenty of room and plenty of appetite for a full inquiry into what happened.'

Boris Johnson is facing growing calls for a public inquiry into his Government's response to the crisis, which has resulted in the UK having the worst death toll per capita in the West. So far more than 126,000 Brits have been killed by Covid.

Speaking at Prime Minister's Questions today, he said 'there will be time for a full inquiry' but did not call for one immediately.

Scientific advisers, bereaved families, senior doctors and an ex-head of the civil service under David Cameron have all come out in support of the probe this week.

An investigation into the Government's handling of the crisis would examine the use of lockdown, test and trace and other attempts to stop the spread - with a focus on learning what works and what does not to bolster the response to future pandemics.

Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng said it would be 'premature' to launch the inquiry now, adding that ending lockdown and reopening the economy was the main priority

The Prime Minister had promised last July there would be an 'independent inquiry', but Downing Street is not yet willing to begin the process

Lord Kerslake (left), who was head of the civil service under David Cameron, said it would be 'criminal not to learn the lessons'. Professor John Edmunds (right), a government Covid adviser, said: 'An event of this magnitude needs to be looked at in detail, including  if necessary  compelling witnesses to attend'

Speaking at Prime Minister's Questions today, Boris Johnson said: 'I certainly take full responsibility for what the Government did and of course we mourn the loss of every coronavirus victim and we sympathise with their families deeply and their loved ones.

Am I sorry for what has happened to our country? Yes of course I am deeply, deeply sorry.

Of course there will be time for a full inquiry to enable us all to understand what we need to do better when we face these problems in the future and I think that is something that I think the whole house shares.

Lord Kerslake, who was head of the civil service under David Cameron, told The Guardian it would be 'criminal not to learn the lessons'. He said the inquiry should start by summer, adding: 'We can't rule out the possibility that we will hit this problem again.'

And Professor John Edmunds, a government Covid adviser, said: 'An event of this magnitude needs to be looked at in detail, including  if necessary  compelling witnesses to attend.'

The Prime Minister had promised last July there would be an 'independent inquiry', but Downing Street is not yet willing to begin the process.

A government spokesperson said: 'We are focused on protecting the NHS and saving lives and now is not the right time to devote huge amounts of official time to an inquiry.

Boris Johnson 'suggested the UK should ignore coronavirus at the start of pandemic' Boris Johnson suggested the UK should 'ignore' coronavirus when it was spreading in China at the start of last year, a bombshell account of the Government's handling of the pandemic has claimed. The Prime Minister was said to have been wary of an overreaction to the disease, according to a behind-the-scenes report by the BBC. The report, based on conversations with a raft of senior figures, also claimed that Mr Johnson ignored advice on not shaking hands in the early stages of the pandemic. It claimed Mr Johnson had been prepared by aides to tell the nation to stop shaking hands at a briefing on March 3 last year. The PM was said to have been prepared to answer the question, should it have been asked by a journalist, but when the moment came he said the opposite. He said at the time: 'I was at a hospital the other night where I think there were actually a few coronavirus patients and I shook hands with everybody and I continue to shake hands.' A Downing Street spokesman said in response to the handshaking claim: 'The Prime Minister was very clear at the time he was taking a number of precautionary steps, including frequently washing his hands. 'Once the social distancing advice changed, the Prime Minister's approach changed.' The BBC report paints a picture of a complacent Government in the early stages of the pandemic. One source said that at the end of January when the crisis was in its nascent stages there was a 'lack of concern and energy' and 'the general view was it is just hysteria'. Meanwhile, Mr Johnson is said to have been heard saying 'the best thing would be to ignore it' amid fears of an overreaction. Advertisement

'There will be an appropriate time in the future to look back, analyse and reflect on all aspects of this global pandemic.'

General secretary of public service union Unison, Christinea McAnea, says a judge-led public inquiry should be launched as soon as Britain returns to normality - which is currently set to happen on June 21.

General secretary of the Royal College of Nursing Professor Dame Donna Kinnair is among those calling for an inquiry, along with secretary of the Muslim Council of Britain Zara Mohammed and chair of the British Medical Association Chaand Nagpaul.

Nobel Laureate and director of the Francis Crick Institute, Prof Sir Paul Nurse, is among leading scientific figures calling for the inquiry.

Professor Andrew Hayward, who sits on the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage), said in a personal capacity that the focus should be on 'learning' for future crises, rather than focusing on 'culpability'.

High-ranking figures in the Conservative Party have already indicated they want a public inquiry to be held - and former PM David Cameron said he expects an inquiry.

Last summer the Commons constitutional affairs select committee, whose chairman is Conservative backbencher William Wragg, called for an inquiry.

The British Medical Association and the Royal College of Nursing also backed calls for the inquiry.

It comes after a bombshell account of the Government's handling of the Covid crisis yesterday claimed Mr Johnson told aides the UK should 'ignore' coronavirus when it was spreading in China at the start of last year.

The Prime Minister was said to have been wary of an overreaction to the disease, according to a behind-the-scenes report by the BBC.

The report, based on conversations with a raft of senior figures, also claimed that Mr Johnson ignored advice on not shaking hands in the early stages of the pandemic.

It claimed Mr Johnson had been prepared by aides to tell the nation to stop shaking hands at a briefing on March 3 last year.

The PM was said to have been prepared to answer the question, should it have been asked by a journalist, but when the moment came he said the opposite.

He said at the time: 'I was at a hospital the other night where I think there were actually a few coronavirus patients and I shook hands with everybody and I continue to shake hands.'

The BBC report paints a picture of a complacent Government in the early stages of the pandemic.

One source said that at the end of January when the crisis was in its nascent stages there was a 'lack of concern and energy' and 'the general view was it is just hysteria'.

Meanwhile, Mr Johnson is said to have been heard saying 'the best thing would be to ignore it' amid fears of an overreaction.

The Prime Minister's Official Spokesman did not deny the claim during a briefing with journalists.

Asked about the alleged 'ignore it' comment, the spokesman said: 'I would point back to what the Prime Minister said and set out at the time.

'It has always been our focus to reduce the cases of transmission, to protect the NHS and to ultimately protect lives.

'That's what we did when we first locked down the country last year and that's what we have sought to do throughout the pandemic.'

When it was pointed out he was not denying the claim, the spokesman said: 'I'm pointing out that throughout the pandemic what we have done is do what we think was the best course of action in terms of protecting lives and in terms of protecting the NHS.

'That has been our focus throughout the pandemic.'

The early stages of the pandemic saw a row break out over whether the Government had considered adopting a strategy of herd immunity.

Sir Patrick Vallance, the Chief Scientific Adviser, said on March 13 that the 'aim' was to 'try and reduce the peak - not suppress it completely, also because most people get a mild illness, to build up some degree of herd immunity whilst protecting the most vulnerable'.
New Delhi, March 17 : Actor Jisshu Sengupta said his autobiography "Abahaman: My Journey So Far" would help those who are trying to make a mark in the film industry.

The 44-year-old actor also reveals what prompted him to come up with his autobiography, which will release in 2022. "Last year, the entire world went through lot of emotions. I was at home, spending time with my family, but I also spent a lot of time with myself, which I don't get time for otherwise. I was seeing people around me and they were going through so much anxiety and negative thoughts. I was thinking that you don't know about the future, you don't know what is going to happen tomorrow. What we went through last year with the pandemic is still going on. I think it was the right time to talk about it," he told IANS.

Teasing the idea of a sequel to his book, he added: "There are many problems I have faced through my career and it might help people in the industry who are trying to make a mark. If it helps even one person who reads my book, I think I have done my job. That's why the book's name is 'Abahaman', which in Bangla means 'continuously flowing'. It says 'journey so far'. So, it is about my journey till now. Probably in the next 10 years there might be a second version." The actor started his career with television and eventually ventured into films. Many of his Bangla films have won critical and commercial acclaim, before he ventured Bollywood and the OTT space.

Jisshu recalled being called "Unlucky" before he made a name for himself.

"I have 23 long years of career. I started my career with television and came into films and was labelled an unlucky actor. I then became and actor, went on to become a hero and then started working in Indian cinema in different languages. It's a huge journey till date. There are lots of ups and down I have gone through. Whenever I speak to the next generation, they always ask me how I did this and what my inspiration was. I have said things in a few interviews but not in details. That is what people will like about this autobiography," he said.

The book's title is that of his acclaimed film "Abahaman", which was directed by acclaimed director Rituparno Ghosh. Is there a connection between his autobiography and the movie? "There is no connection with the film, but yes there is a connection with the name and, of course, Rituporno Ghosh. The name suggests that life is continuously flowing. Change is the only constant. I thought this name would be apt for the book," he said.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
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New York, US (PANA) - The UN Secretary-General has urged corporate leaders to achieve gender equality, highlighting the benefits for the private sector and society at large
Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal has appealed to the local authorities, if necessary, to strengthen the introduced quarantine restrictions as part of countering the spread of the coronavirus infection COVID-19.

"Adaptive quarantine continues to operate in Ukraine, which means that local authorities have the right to strengthen quarantine restrictions. Therefore, I urge local leaders not to wait for instructions, but to make the necessary decisions. If you observe an increase in patients, see an increase in hospitalization cases, then introduce additional restrictions," Shmyhal said at a government meeting on Wednesday.

The prime minister noted that if everyone observes anti-epidemiological restrictions and reduces social contacts, then there will be no need to introduce a new lockdown.

At the same time, if most regions enter the "red" zone, the government will be forced to tighten restrictions.
The Centre For Justice and Accountability (CJA) has filed on behalf of four victims asking court to find Moses Thomas, a colonel in the AFL and commander of its Special Anti-Terrorist Unit liable for extrajudicial killings, attempted extrajudicial killings, torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, war crimes and crimes against humanity.

The motion, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania says because there is no issue of material fact in dispute, plaintiffs ask for the court to grant their motion. Victims ask for $US4m in compensatory and punitive damages.

A U.S. federal court in Philadelphia could pass judgement in the absence of Thomas, who fled to Liberia in 2020.

The St. Peters Lutheran Church Massacre is the single worst atrocity in the Liberian Civil War (1989-2003), with 600 peoplepredominantly Gios and Manoskilled on July 29th, 1990.

If he is found responsible Thomas will be the first person held liable for the massacre more than 30 years since it happened.

Four Liberian survivors and children of victims of the St. Peters Lutheran Church Massacre, who filed a lawsuit against former Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) colonel, Moses Thomas, in 2018, have asked a federal judge in the United States to find Mr Thomas responsible for the massacre and numerous crimes against humanity.

Lawyers for the victims filed 2000 pages of evidence with the court Tuesday saying, because there is no issue of material fact in dispute the court should grant their motion to find Thomas liable for the crimes and award them $US4m in compensatory and punitive damages.

We believe that todays court filing presents conclusive evidence that Thomas was responsible for the Lutheran Church Massacre and we are asking the court to hold Thomas liable for extrajudicial killing, torture, war crimes, and crimes against humanity, said Elizabeth Nielson of Debevoise & Plimpton, which alongside the Center for Justice and Accountability (CJA) represents the plaintiffs in the case in the statement on Tuesday.

The lawyers brought the suit on behalf of the Liberia-based victims in part because they were unable to obtain justice in Liberia. Today the lawyers urged the government of Liberia to act.

Liberia has yet to see meaningful accountability for the atrocities committed during its civil wars, despite demands from Liberian civil society and recommendations by the United Nations, said Ela Matthews, a lawyer at CJA. The catalog of evidence filed today not only proves our clients claims against Thomas, but shows why Liberia must finally take action to end impunity.

CJAs filing for a summary judgement comes a year after Mr Thomas fled the United States and returned to Liberia.

He had not responded to his February 12, 2018 indictment as well as two requests from the court for him to do so. The court had also denied his motion to dismiss the case on grounds that the alleged offences had taken place a long time ago.

The case was brought under the U.S. Torture Protection Act and the Alien Tort Statute which allow victims to bring civil actions against alleged perpetrators for acts committed outside the United States.

The plaintiffs accused Thomas, a former commander of the Krahn-dominated Special Anti-Terrorist Unit (SATU) of the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) of masterminding the killing of some 600 civilians, predominantly of the Gio and Mano ethnic groups, over a brutal 8-hour period.

Victims statements contain harrowing stories. One victim was clear that the attack was directed at ethnic groups believed to support the growing rebellion of Charles Taylor in the northern county of Nimba.

The soldiers said not one Nimba man will leave. Before the arrival of Taylor, there will be no Gio men. I heard people begging for their lives and saw soldiers searching everywhere for survivors and killing people, including a man wearing a Red Cross vest, with cutlass, axes and guns.

Another victim, named John Y, a child at the time, described hiding in the churchs pulpit with a little boy. He explained, I whispered my little brothers name at this boy, even though I knew that my little brother was in the school building with my mother. I just wanted to have my family alive with me, and the thought that my brother was next to me kept me believing that I could survive.

Injured civilians who fled the church were killed at the John F. Kennedy Medical Center, St. Joseph Catholic hospital and on the runway of the James Spriggs Payne Airfield, eyewitnesses told New Narratives. The plaintiffs are only identified in court as Jane W, John X, John Y and John Z for their safety.

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CJA and the Liberia-based Global Justice Research Project investigated Thomas for eight years. Apart from the testimonies of the plaintiffs, evidence against him includes sworn statements from BBC journalist Elizabeth Blunt, expert reports from a former American envoy, an ex-soldier of the Armed Forces of Liberia and experts from declassified diplomatic cables, Liberias Truth and Reconciliation Commission and UN reports.

Mr Thomas, 67, reached by phone by New Narratives last week, angrily denied the charges and refused repeated requests to talk on the record.

He has previously denied the accusations. Its all lies, he told the Philadelphia Enquirer after he was sued in 2018. The stuff theyre talking about is nonsense. You can call anyone in the Republic of Liberia and give them my name, and they will tell you that this is nonsense.

CJA lawyers were unable to confirm Mr Thomass legal status in the US but they believe he was there legally and voluntarily surrendered his legal status to return to Liberia, likely to escape the court action.

CJA is confident they can win the case without a trial, which would not be possible now that Thomas has left the U.S. Under U.S. Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure, complainants can file a summary motion for a judge to decide a case based on the evidence they provide as long as the defendant in the case does not dispute the evidence.

CJA has won cases via summary judgement, including in 2012 against Somali Colonel Abdi Aden Magan, for the torture and arbitrary detention of law professor and human rights advocate Abukar Hassan Ahmad.

It is not a criminal case. Mr Thomas will not face jail time. The US District Attorney office in Philadelphia which prosecuted criminal immigration fraud cases against Mohammed Jabbateh and Tom Woewiyu could not find a US crime to charge Mr Thomas with.

Unlike Jabbateh and Woewiyu, he had not applied for US permanent residency and so had not lied about his wartime activity in immigration proceedings as they had.

First Victory

Mr Thomas is now the only person who has been held to account for the St. Peters Lutheran Church Massacre, the single worst atrocity in the Liberian Civil War (1989-2003).

It was widely blamed as the catalyst for the escalating tit-for-tat killings between ethnic groups which spiralled into the 14-year conflict which killed an estimated 250,000 people. It was not just the church killings that SATU is associated with.

The group is also responsible for 53 crimes in total during the first half of the civil war documented by the TRC. Other members of the elite Executive Mansion battalion named in the commissions reports are Youbu Tailey, George Dweh and Jerry Gban, all deceased.

Plaintiffs filed this case in the United States because they have been unable to obtain accountability in Liberia. Jane W. lamented this failure of justice in a press release from CJA.

Everybody knows that the Lutheran Church Massacre happened, but there has been no accountability. The people responsible for the Lutheran Church Massacre remain free.

Victim John Z said, It is very difficult for me to remember and speak about these events, because it makes me feel terrible. But I joined this case and am speaking out now because I know that what Moses Thomas did was wrong, and I want to bring him to justice. I want him to be held accountable for what he did to me and so many others at the Lutheran Church.

Victims and campaigners for a war crimes court for Liberia welcomed the motion against Mr Thomas.

We feel justice is closer, said Marcus Quoigoah, president of the Lutheran Church Massacre Survivors Association. Its victory number one because over the past years, since 1990 up to current, for us as survivors of this [massacre], this is the first victory we see coming so closer to us right now.

Too often alleged perpetrators of gross human rights violations during the Liberian civil wars evade justice thanks to the prevailing impunity in Liberia, said Alain Werner of Civitas Maxima, which collaborates with the GJRP. We applaud the Center for Justice and Accountability (CJA) for filing this case on behalf of survivors and family members of those killed during the devastating July 1990 St. Peters Lutheran Church massacre.

This story was a collaboration with New Narratives as part of the West Africa Justice Reporting Project. Additional reporting by Anthony Stephens.
When I set out to make a COVID-19 vaccination appointment for my immunocompromised husband on the first day he was eligible, I knew he had the flexibility to travel out of Charleston for a shot. But I still had to decide which rural South Carolina town to search on the CVS website.

Unfortunately, I dont have a firm handle on which pharmacies are most likely to have an abundant vaccine supply and a vaccine-hesitant customer base.

Fortunately, I do know a few things about barbecue.

It took me just two tries at entering in the states barbecue capitals to yield an available appointment. My husband got his first dose in Hemingway, down the street from Scotts Bar-B-Que. (Fans of Sweatmans BBQ in Holly Hill must have beaten me to the strategy.)

At the time of this writing, there are no available vaccination appointments in or around Hemingway, although vaccine trackers know that status can turn on a dime. Yet even if you dont narrow down your vaccination destinations by eating opportunities, you can still eat well in conjunction with your clinic or pharmacy visit.

Heres where to eat in the towns within 125 miles of Charleston that appear to turn up most frequently in appointment searches (and if your vaccination road trip takes you up Interstate 26, dont forget to consult our guide to the best restaurant at every exit.)

ALLENDALE (81 miles away): Rizers Pork and Produce

Greater Allendale is short its best restaurant right now because the cafeteria at Allendale County Hospital is closed to the public. In pre-pandemic days, the hospital fried chicken so magnificently that the institution had to open an overflow room to accommodate fans when it appeared on the menu.

But if youre headed to Allendale from the coast, youll reach the turnoff for Rizers Pork & Produce just before you get to town. Take it.

The Rizers have been raising hogs and vegetables in the town of Lodge since 1952, but didnt start serving them in a restaurant setting until 2000. As the week goes along, the buffet at Rizers Pork and Produce grows, with Wednesday customers paying $10 for access to homemade sausage, ribs, barbecue hash, rice, collard greens and mac-and-cheese.

By Thursday, when the buffet has reached its full $13 expression, the selection also includes pork chops, fried chicken, fatback, cream peas, green beans, lima beans, pinto beans, cheese biscuits and squash casserole, with pound cake and banana pudding for dessert.

That pudding is a favorite of food writer Michael Stern, who describes it as a creamy, uncomplicated masterpiece made by proprietor Philip Rizers 90-year-old mom: unimprovable.

For hungry vaccine seekers, its an apt adjective for the whole operation.

2357 Confederate Highway, Lodge, 843-866-2645, rizersporkandproduce.com. Open 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday.

FLORENCE (95 miles away): Rogers Bar-B-Que House

Rogers Bar-B-Que House still bears the name of Florence barbecue legend Roger Pope, but the restaurant hasnt belonged to him since 2003 when Rob Goff bought it.

(Pope went on to open and sell Woodstone BBQ, and then open and close The Flaming Pig BBQ, making him largely responsible for Florences inclusion on any decent barbecue map.)

Even though Goff didnt have any previous experience in the barbecue trade, he was confident he could maintain Rogers status as Florences standout smoked meat experience, in part because pitmaster Lonnie Grant stayed on when the restaurant changed hands. Grants expertly pulled pork, glossed with a sharp elixir of white vinegar and red pepper, is the restaurants defining item.

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Yet Rogers repertoire isnt limited to barbecue. Locals are wise to the restaurants tomato-sweet catfish stew, served over rice, and exceptional hash. Goff bought the liver-forward recipe along with the business.

Still, not everything at Rogers is a holdover. The restaurant in February underwent renovations, gaining a new floor and furnishings.

2004 2nd Loop Road, Florence, 843-667-9291, rogersbbqhouse.com. Open 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday; 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Sunday.

DARLINGTON (100 miles away): Jewels Deluxe Restaurant

In a city as trend sensitive as Charleston, menu changes can be radical. Favorite dishes vanish in favor of new formats designed to draw a crowd.

By contrast, when Jewels Deluxe in early March announced it was making a menu change, the meat-and-three didnt mean that it was shifting cuisines. As the beloved restaurant announced on its Facebook page, Instead of a menu for Sunday and the week, we will be combining them. They will be located at the door with pencils as they usually are.

Henceforth, Sundays specials will be featured on the gridded sheet that amounts to a crash course in the best of homestyle Southern cooking. On March 17, for example, pencil wielders have their pick of fried chicken, baked chicken, rice-and-gravy, butterbeans and collards, among other choices, with lucky cake or Watergate salad for dessert.

And while many restaurants have scaled back their meat-and-three plates to a meat with two sides, Jewels Deluxe offers the full complement for $8. Tea costs $1.50.

Even allowing for that generous stance, it would still take multiple visits to try every item on Jewels Deluxe 65-slot menu. Happily, theyre all terrific.

32 Public Square, Darlington, 843-393-5511, facebook.com/Jewels-Deluxe-Restaurant-222837257732636. Open 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday-Thursday.

HARTSVILLE (110 miles away): Yogi Bear Honey Fried Chicken

If 100-plus miles feels like a long way to drive for a vaccination, keep in mind how far some Yogi Bear fans drive for its stupendous fried chicken.

Its not uncommon, employees say, for a New Yorker to cross five state lines just to pick up a box of their golden-crusted drumsticks and thighs.

When The Post and Courier named Yogi Bear to its list of the states five best fried chicken purveyors, a customer reported that she regularly froze Yogi Bear chicken to bring to her father in Connecticut: He ate it as it arrived, never finding the willpower to wait for it to thaw.

There were supposed to be Yogi Bear Honey Fried Chicken stores across the Carolinas, or at least thats what promoters promised Jackie Gleason when he signed on as pitchman. But Hardees bought the nascent chain so it could own its proprietary sweetening system and let the branded locations flounder.

The Yogi Bear in Hartsville is the last of them.

They say no matter where you go, you cant get no better, one of the chains founders told The Post and Courier, a rare example of understatement from a lifelong salesman.

514 S. 5th St., Hartsville, 843-332-7031, yogifriedchicken.com. Open 10:30 a.m.-9 p.m. daily.
New Delhi: A baby girl was born onboard an IndiGo flight from Bengaluru to Jaipur. The baby was delivered with the help of a crew assisted by a doctor on board. Jaipur airport was also informed to arrange for a doctor and an ambulance on arrival, according to IndiGo.

In a statement, IndiGo said, "Baby born on board IndiGo 6E 469 a baby girl was born mid-air onboard flight 6E 469 from Bangalore to Jaipur. The baby was delivered with the help of the IndiGo crew, effectively assisted by Dr Subahana Nazir, travelling with us on the same flight."

Dr Subahana Nazir, who helped deliver the baby, was welcomed into the arrival hall and a Thank You card was handed over by our Jaipur staff. Great teamwork by all our staff concerned: IndiGo pic.twitter.com/Frzv0FnXkc  ANI (@ANI) March 17, 2021

"Jaipur airport was immediately informed to arrange for a doctor and an ambulance on arrival. Both the baby and mother are stable," the aviation firm said, adding "Dr Nazir, who helped deliver the baby, was welcomed into the arrival hall and a Thank You card was handed over by our Jaipur staff. Great teamwork by all our staff concerned."

Live TV
The home addresses of Leo Varadkar and Simon Coveney have been graffitied on two Belfast walls amid increasing tensions over Brexit.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) has launched an investigation into the graffiti, which is being viewed as a sinister threat.

It is understood the PSNI considered the content of the graffiti as serious enough to warrant being immediately raised with their counterparts in An Garda Siochana.

The garda teams who provide protection for the Tanaiste and Foreign Affairs Minister have since been briefed on the development.

The graffiti appeared across two locations in east Belfast earlier this week and presented in a similar fashion to paintwork aimed at UK Cabinet Officer Minister Michael Gove last week.

The addresses were accompanied by the words: We dont forget, we dont forgive.

A PNSI spokesperson told the Irish Independent: Police are aware of graffiti at the junction of Newtownards Road and Belvoir Street and at commercial premises at the Newtownards Road in east Belfast. Relevant partner agencies have been informed and inquiries are ongoing.

No arrests have been made, but the graffiti is suspected to be part of a campaign by loyalists who are increasingly unhappy with the implementation of the Northern Ireland protocol in the EU-UK Brexit agreement.

Mr Gove has co-chaired the joint EU/UK committee charged with implementing the protocol, which effectively creates a border in the Irish Sea for goods moving between Britain and Northern

Ireland.

A spokesperson for Mr Coveney declined to comment last night, while a spokesperson for Mr Varadkar did not respond to queries.

It is understood both men have been briefed on the investigation by gardai.

A Garda spokesperson said: The PSNI are the primary investigators of these incidents and are best suited to provide comment.

As is usual in any such matters, An Garda Siochana will provide whatever assistance is required.

An Garda Siochana does not comment on security matters relating to named VIPs.

Sources said they view the use of Mr Varadkars Dublin address and Mr Coveneys Cork address in this manner as an attempt to intimidate the two politicians.

PSNI officers are already investigating what they describe as a hate crime targeting the Tanaiste.

In January, graffiti warning Mr Varadkar to stay out of Ulster was scrawled on a wall in the Belvoir area of south Belfast, around 6km from the site of the latest incident.

Fine Gael TD Fergus O'Dowd condemned the graffiti, saying: "It is despicable. No politician or government minister anywhere on this island should have to countenance that  it is completely wrong. Hopefully, the PSNI can identify those responsible.

"In these times when our lives are severely restricted with the pandemic, it is even more important we continue to foster and unify relationships, in the spirit of the Good Friday Agreement, across the island of Ireland and worldwide.

"Incidents such as the daubing of graffiti in Belfast to try to intimidate political leaders will never succeed and our resolve to ensure peace and a bright future on this island will never be defeated."
Total Measured and Indicated resources of 610.0 million tonnes grading 0.38% copper equivalent (see Table 1, Note 1)

resources of grading (see Table 1, Note 1) Measured resource containing 207.2 million tonnes grading 0.45% copper equivalent

resource containing grading Pit constrained resource with total strip ratio of 1.85:1

High-quality resource estimate with 96% contained within the Measured and Indicated categories

contained within the categories Deposit remains open with good expansion potential laterally and at depth

Leif Nilsson, Chief Executive Officer of Surge, commented: "This updated resource represents a moment in time snapshot of the Berg deposit based on the significant investment and high-quality work performed by prior operators, updated for today's commodity pricing and cost benchmarking environments. For Surge, it serves as a baseline prior to our maiden work program under our operatorship, and will guide our investment programs to deliver value in key focus areas. More generally, this resource estimate underscores the strategic significance of our acquisition and the district scale potential we see in our assets. Recent corporate transactions have demonstrated the strategic value and significance of porphyry deposits in British Columbia with a similar overall size and grade tenor to Berg. Combined with our Ootsa Property, Surge controls four advanced porphyry deposits with Measured and Indicated resources totaling 834 million tonnes in an attractive jurisdiction with excellent infrastructure."

The Berg deposit is located within the 34,798 hectare Berg Property, in which the Company is earning a 70% interest from Centerra Gold Inc. through spending commitments totalling C$8 million over a five-year period (see December 16, 2020 news release). The Berg Property is contiguous with the Company's 100% owned Ootsa Property, which hosts 224.2 million tonnes of NI 43-101 compliant mineral resources in the Measured and Indicated categories, containing resources of copper, gold, molybdenum, and silver.

Shane Ebert, President and VP Exploration, commented: "As evidenced by this resource update, our acquisition of Berg was a step change for Surge in terms of our total resource base. The deposit's size, grade profile, and near-surface geometry make it a highly attractive open pit target in the district, and there is significant potential to both increase the size of the deposit and define the near-surface higher-grade zones."

Table 1. Mineral Resource Estimate for the Berg Deposit at 0.2% CuEq Cut-off with Effective Date of March 9, 2021.





Grade

Contained Metal Material Type Resource Category Tonnes Cu Mo Ag CuEq

Cu Mo Ag CuEq



(Mt) (%) (%) (g/t) (%)

(Mlbs) (Mlbs) (Moz) (Mlbs)























Supergene Measured 86.9 0.41 0.03 2.46 0.50

789 52 6.9 960

Indicated 88.5 0.29 0.02 2.67 0.37

572 43 7.6 724

Measured & Indicated 175.4 0.35 0.02 2.57 0.44

1,362 95 14.5 1,685

Inferred 7.2 0.23 0.01 4.26 0.29

37 2 1.0 47























Hypogene Measured 120.3 0.28 0.04 3.42 0.41

752 97 13.2 1,098

Indicated 314.1 0.22 0.03 3.10 0.34

1,537 226 31.3 2,343

Measured & Indicated 434.3 0.24 0.03 3.19 0.36

2,289 323 44.6 3,441

Inferred 20.8 0.22 0.02 3.57 0.30

101 8 2.4 138























Leachate Measured 0.0 0.04 0.09 5.62 0.21

0 0 0.0 0

Indicated 0.2 0.14 0.12 2.37 0.25

1 1 0.0 1

Measured & Indicated 0.2 0.13 0.12 2.41 0.25

1 1 0.0 1

Inferred 0.1 0.11 0.09 6.13 0.21

0 0 0.0 0























Total Measured 207.2 0.34 0.03 3.0 0.45

1,541 149 20.1 2,058

Indicated 402.8 0.24 0.03 3.0 0.35

2,110 270 39.0 3,069

Measured & Indicated 610.0 0.27 0.03 3.0 0.38

3,651 419 59.1 5,126

Inferred 28.1 0.22 0.02 3.8 0.30

138 11 3.4 185

Notes: 1) Copper Equivalent (CuEq) calculated using metal prices of $3.10/lbs Cu, $10.00/lb Mo, and $20/oz Ag. Recoveries were applied to correspond with estimated individual metal recoveries based on limited metallurgical testwork for production of a copper and molybdenum concentrate: supergene zone (Cu = 73%, Mo = 61%, and Ag = 52%), hypogene zone (Cu = 81%, Mo = 71%, and Ag = 67%), leachate zone (Cu = 0%, Mo = 61%, and Ag = 52%). Smelter loss was not applied. 2) A cut-off value of 0.2% CuEq was used as the base case for reporting mineral resources that are subject to open pit potential. The resource block model has been constrained by a conceptual open pit shell, however, economic viability can only be assessed through the completion of engineering studies defining reserves including PFS and FS. The CIM Definition Standards (May 10, 2014) were followed for classification of Mineral Resources. It cannot be assumed that all or any part of Inferred Mineral Resources will be upgraded to Indicated or Measured as a result of continued exploration. 3) Dry bulk density has been estimated based on 2,996 in situ specific gravity measurements collected between 2007 and 2011. Values were applied by geology model domain (n = 18) representing the weathering profiles and major lithological units; values ranged from 2.38 t/m3 to 2.74 t/m3. 4) There are no known legal, political, unnatural environmental, or other risks that could materially affect the potential development of the mineral resources. 5) All numbers are rounded. Overall numbers may not be exact due to rounding.

Background and Description of Resource

The Berg deposit forms a ring-like shape around a quartz-monzonite intrusive body called the Berg Stock. A total of 53,754 metres of drilling in 215 drill holes has been completed between 1964 and 2011 by previous operators including Kennecott, Placer Dome, Terrane Metals and Thompson Creek. This drilling has defined two highly-fractured mineralized zones in the northeast and southern portions of the ring. A well-developed supergene enrichment zone is superimposed on hypogene mineralization, and is predominantly controlled by topography, fracture intensity, and hypogene sulphide abundance. Drilling in many areas of the deposit remains widely spaced and mineralization is open to depth and outwards from the Berg Stock. Additionally, metallurgical test programs have been conducted on the resource, most recently between 2007 and 2012. This body of work indicates that conventional flotation processes can be used to produce marketable copper and molybdenum concentrates from the mineralization, with copper recoveries locally exceeding 80%.

The resource model was developed utilizing a database containing 20,281 assays from 49,461 metres of drilling in 201 drill holes. Drill hole assay data was composited into 3 metre intervals and a block model with 10m x 10m x 10m block size was constructed using Datamine modeling software. To better honour geological contacts, sub-celling was allowed to a minimum dimension of 5m x 5m x 5m. Mineralized domains with reasonable prospects for economic extraction were constrained incorporating geological, structural, and lithological parameters and using a 0.2% CuEq cut-off value. Within these domains, grades for copper, molybdenum, and silver were estimated using ordinary kriging (OK) grade interpolation guided by geostatistical analysis. The resulting resource model was subject to pit optimization to define a pit constrained mineral resource.

Table 2. Berg Deposit Resource Estimate Sensitivity to Cut-off Grade CuEq % Cut-off Category Tonnes CuEq % Cu % Mo % Ag g/t 0.1 Measured 224,609,062 0.43 0.32 0.03 2.91 0.1 Indicated 573,094,464 0.29 0.20 0.02 2.57 0.1 M&I 797,703,526 0.33 0.23 0.03 2.67 0.2 Measured 207,228,768 0.45 0.34 0.03 3.02 0.2 Indicated 402,757,347 0.35 0.24 0.03 3.01 0.2 M&I 609,986,115 0.38 0.27 0.03 3.01 0.3 Measured 171,106,355 0.49 0.37 0.04 3.19 0.3 Indicated 237,451,842 0.41 0.28 0.04 3.43 0.3 M&I 408,558,197 0.45 0.32 0.04 3.33 0.4 Measured 124,735,864 0.54 0.41 0.04 3.38 0.4 Indicated 111,967,437 0.49 0.34 0.04 3.82 0.4 M&I 236,703,301 0.52 0.37 0.04 3.59 0.5 Measured 71,641,098 0.61 0.47 0.04 3.54 0.5 Indicated 38,519,523 0.57 0.41 0.05 4.31 0.5 M&I 110,160,621 0.60 0.45 0.04 3.81

2021 Work Program

Surge's maiden work program at Berg will focus on defining and expanding known near-surface high-grade zones, identifying the outer limits of mineralization which remain open in several areas, and improving understanding of structures which may influence mineralizing controls, particularly for high-grade silver occurrences. Drill planning is currently underway, anticipating an initial program to commence in mid-summer 2021 following completion of access upgrade work. Prior drilling at Berg was inconsistently assayed for precious metals, and given the significant economic contribution, especially from silver, this represents a low-cost opportunity to re-assay existing core and pulps and potentially increase the precious metal content in the resource. Recommended metallurgical test work to optimize process conditions and improve target metal recovery will be further planned and progressed. Additionally, an airborne ZTEM geophysical survey is being planned for early summer to cover the entire Ootsa-Berg project area. Field teams will be active throughout the summer conducting surface work on existing regional exploration targets (see Figure 4) including any new ZTEM anomalies. Surge plans to conduct sufficient field work on regional targets to allow them to be prioritized for advanced exploration work and drill testing.

Qualified Person

The Berg mineral resource estimate has been completed by Tetra Tech in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. The mineral resource estimate has been prepared by Cameron Norton, P.Geo., Independent Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, and has an effective date of March 9, 2021. The mineral resource estimate technical report will be filed on SEDAR within 45 days of this news release.

Cameron Norton, P.Geo. has reviewed and approved the technical disclosure in this news release for Tetra Tech. Shane Ebert, Ph.D., P.Geo. is the Qualified Person for Surge and has reviewed and approved the contents of this release.

About Surge Copper Corp.

The Company owns a 100% interest in the Ootsa Property, an advanced stage exploration project containing the East Seel, West Seel and Ox porphyry deposits located adjacent to the open pit Huckleberry Copper Mine, owned by Imperial Metals. The Ootsa Property contains pit constrained NI 43-101 compliant resources of 224 million tonnes in the Measured and Indicated categories with contained metals of 1.1 billion pounds of copper, 1 million ounces of gold, and 20 million ounces of silver as summarized in the table below.

Ootsa Project Pit Constrained Mineral Resource Estimate at $8.50/t NSR Cut-off Value Category Tonnes

('000's) CuEq % Cu % Au g/t Mo % Ag g/t CuEq M lbs Cu M lbs Au K oz Mo M lbs Ag K oz Measured 187,148 0.38 0.23 0.15 0.021 2.8 1,568 934 916 85 17,089 Indicated 37,041 0.35 0.21 0.12 0.023 2.8 286 175 146 19 3,368 M&I 224,189 0.37 0.22 0.15 0.021 2.8 1,854 1,109 1,062 104 20,457

Notes: The current technical report supporting the resource statement and PEA is available on SEDAR or the Company's website at www.surgecopper.com and has an effective date of January 2016. The resource estimate uses $8.50 per tonne NSR cut-off value. Mineral resources are not mineral reserves and by definition do not demonstrate economic viability. There is no certainty that all or any part of the mineral resource will be converted into mineral reserves. A 'Measured Mineral Resource' is that part of a mineral resource for which quantity, grade or quality, densities, shape and physical characteristics are so well established that they can be estimated with confidence sufficient to allow the appropriate application of technical and economic parameters, to support production planning and evaluation of the economic viability of the deposit. An 'Indicated Mineral Resource' is that part of a Mineral Resource for which quantity, grade or quality, densities, shape and physical characteristics can be estimated with a level of confidence sufficient to allow the appropriate application of technical and economic parameters, to support mine planning and evaluation of the economic viability of the deposit. Copper Equivalent (CuEq) calculations are based on base case metal price (US$3/lb Cu, US$1260/oz Au, US$10.30/lb Mo, and US$17/oz Ag) and process recovery assumptions and take into account smelter payable rates and refining costs. M&I = measured and indicated. The resource update and Preliminary Economic Assessment was completed by P&E Mining Consultants Inc. in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

The Company is also earning into a 70% interest in the Berg Property from Centerra Gold. Berg is a large, advanced stage exploration project located 28 km northwest of the Ootsa deposits. Berg contains pit constrained 43-101 compliant resources of copper, molybdenum, and silver in the Measured and Indicated categories. Combined, the adjacent Ootsa and Berg properties give Surge a dominant land position in the Ootsa-Huckleberry-Berg district and control over four advanced porphyry deposits.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors

"Leif Nilsson"

Chief Executive Officer

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This News Release contains forward-looking statements, which relate to future events. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as "will", "may", "should", "expects", "plans", or "anticipates" or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. All statements included herein, other than statements of historical fact, are forward looking statements, including but not limited to the Company's plans regarding the Berg Property and the Ootsa Property. These statements are only predictions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the Company's actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking-statements. Such uncertainties and risks may include, among others, actual results of the Company's exploration activities being different than those expected by management, delays in obtaining or failure to obtain required government or other regulatory approvals or financing, inability to procure equipment and supplies in sufficient quantities and on a timely basis, equipment breakdown and bad weather. While these forward-looking statements, and any assumptions upon which they are based, are made in good faith and reflect the Company's current judgment regarding the direction of its business, actual results will almost always vary, sometimes materially, from any estimates, predictions, projections, assumptions or other future performance suggestions herein. Except as required by applicable law, the Company does not intend to update any forward-looking statements to conform these statements to actual results.

SOURCE Surge Copper Corp.

Related Links

https://surgecopper.com/


Taoiseach Micheal Martin talks to US President Joe Biden today for the annual St Patricks Day meeting. While it is being conducted remotely this year because of the pandemic, there are several vital issues that the Taoiseach must broach:

Its St Patricks Day, not score vaccines day, and the Taoiseach would breach diplomacy and protocol if he were to shove forward the begging bowl (tipped empty of shamrock) to seek supplies from America. He would also likely endanger the long-term future of this annual one-on-one opportunity with the most powerful politician in the world.

But politics is the art of the possible, even when skirting around the subject by talking in general terms of the global threat. The Taoiseach knows that a word in the Oval Office ear just might lead to another word in someone elses ear, like some pharmaceutical philanthropist waiting in the wings who just happens to have Irish roots. And Bidens contacts book is legendary in that context.

So forgive any references to Irish scientists who have been at the heart of the global response to Covid, like Dr Mike Ryan of the WHO, and Dr Gordon Joyce who led a team of virologists who worked on vaccine treatments at Walter Reed Army Institute in Maryland, beside the hospital where Trump was treated. Its all going somewhere, even if unspoken.

Read More

2. Northern Ireland

The Taoiseach can be more meaty in enlisting the help of the new administration on the overall defence of the Good Friday Agreement, now threatened by proxy because of the row over the Northern Ireland protocol.

Here Mr Martins key input will be on answering questions from a well-briefed president who really does want to help. Ireland is already receiving solid support from the EU, which has launched legal action over the UKs second breach of a binding international treaty it signed up to itself, through Londons arbitrary extension of a transition period on checks on goods coming into Northern Ireland. We could do with a squeeze also coming from the other side of the Atlantic.

Thankfully the stars are all aligned for Ireland in this regard, with Congress also onside, and it may be that the presidents pro-Irish feelings and willingness to help might actually have to be restrained and carefully channelled in order to do the most good. Everyone knows a wider and more long-term game is now in play here.

3. The Undocumented Irish

The last incumbent of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue saw immigration in a one-dimensional and hostile light, despite having assembled a property empire on the backs of an army of workers from overseas, often underpaid. His America First mantra automatically put non-Americans in a subservient place.

The raids on illegals by ICE and other agencies caused a profound trauma to those we call the undocumented, which has hardly been recognised on this side of the pond, except for the sundered families of emigrants who have felt unable to return home even on a visit.

Mr Biden is sympathetic and built much of his campaign around a plan to reform immigration and to provide a path to US citizenship, a theme hammered home by Vice President Kamala Harris.

The Taoiseach has said he will raise the issue of E3 visas, previously exploited by Australia, which would confer on Ireland a kind of most favoured nation status in immigration terms.

4. Investment

Ireland as a special case will also be the argument made by the Taoiseach in trade and investment terms. And he is completely correct  and least on the geography and geo-politics.

The UKs exit from the European Union leaves Ireland more perfectly placed than ever as a bridge between American enterprise and the European consumer, with none of the pesky tariffs, customs and delays that would be caused by further indulging the so-called special relationship with the United Kingdom.

Post-Covid, the Irish economy could find itself extensively challenged. Not only would an E3 visa scheme provide a safety valve for specialist skills to find employment and gain experience in the US, but renewed emphasis on Irelands low corporation tax and unfettered EU access could win the investment that would provide jobs at home.

Some 180,000 people here are employed by US multinationals, but Ireland is catching up in the other direction, with our firms and their subsidiaries employing 110,00 over there. The relationship cries out to be deepened to help safeguard our economy.

5. The Visit

Its not all about eager schoolchildren, shoal-deep crowds and a tour of some lichen-eaten old stones in Co Mayo. A US presidential visit to Ireland is a demonstration of soft power at its most puissant. Irish glad-handling and presidential grandstanding have always gone well together  and they project soft-focus warm fuzziness not just to voters back home in the United States, but to onlookers across the world.

We underestimate the attractiveness of Irishness itself, but a glance at worldwide monuments clad in green today will demonstrate the point  which is not just about tourism but about opening doors everywhere and the important old business trick of gaining an inside track.

If that calls for a bit of schmaltz and shamroguery, then kindly pass out the plastic flags  well wave em with gusto.
MARLBOROUGH, Mass., March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The results of DALBAR's annual Trends and Best Practices in Investor Statements study are in, and BNY Mellon's Pershing, BlackRock, Merrill and AIG all landed in the top spot within their respective lines of business.

Pershing's brokerage statement topped the list for the third consecutive year, achieving the highest brokerage statement score of all time.

"We are honored to receive this recognition, acknowledging our commitment to taking action on client feedback and delivering investor communications excellence," said Katie Swain, director of Global Strategy and Product Management at Pershing.

Merrill, Morgan Stanley, Edward Jones and Raymond James join Pershing among the top five scoring companies for brokerage statements.

BlackRock's mutual fund statement incorporated even more design improvements on their way to placing first for the 14th consecutive year. BlackRock is joined by Voya, Invesco, American Funds and Federated Hermes to round out the top five ranked mutual fund statements.

Merrill continues a streak of 10 consecutive years at the top of the heap for Defined Contribution statements, also achieving the DALBAR designation of "Excellent" for fifteen years running. Merrill is joined by Prudential Financial, MassMutual, Securian Financial and Principal Financial to complete the top 5.

Holding a substantial point lead, AIG Life & Retirement has topped the list of variable annuity statements for a staggering 19 years.

"We are proud to receive DALBAR's top ranking for variable annuity statements for another year," said Tina Haley, Senior Vice President, AIG Individual Retirement. "We remain focused on providing a high level of service to our customers and distribution partners."

Lincoln Financial, AXA, Pacific Life and Thrivent join AIG Life & Retirement among the 5 highest scoring variable annuity statements.

Hats off to these top-ranked firms for recognizing that highly effective communication is not only key to meeting client needs, but also critical to fostering positive relationships and a sense of trust and confidence among those who do business with them.

DALBAR's Trends and Best Practices in Investor Statements report ranks client account statements across multiple lines of business and highlights enhancements noted during the 2020 review. Also included is an analysis of Client Relationship Summaries (Form CRS) and best-in-class practices that have been implemented.

For more information about DALBAR Awards and Statement Services, please contact Jared Licklider at [email protected].

SOURCE DALBAR, Inc.

Related Links

www.dalbar.com


A seal has put on an adorable display for Sydneysiders while it enjoyed a morning dip in the harbour.

The playful animal was seen twirling through the water at Mosman Bay in the city's lower north shore on Monday morning.

Sydney local, Jimmy Hazelwood, was lucky enough to film the spectacular sight and said he was shocked to see one of the beloved mammals swimming in the wild.

The playful seal was seen twirling through the water at Mosman Bay in the city's lower north shore on Monday morning

The seal splashed around the boat jetty, spinning around in circles before coming up to the surface to spit out a spray of water.

Mr Hazelwood, who recently moved from New Zealand, told Daily Mail Australia he initially thought the large animal was a dog splashing around the water.

'I noticed a lot of plastic rubbish and bottles that had clumped together, I thought ''man, the poor sea life''. A few seconds later, what I thought was a dog rushed past me in the water,' he said.

'It seemed to be loving the attention and made its way towards the Mosman Rowers Club.

'I've only ever seen trout and other fish in Mosman Bay so it definitely seems out of the ordinary.'

My Hazelwood, an aspiring musician, said he's currently working on a music project about the ocean, teasing the seal 'might get his own song'.

The seal was seen splashing around the jetty and twirling around in circles in Mosman in Sydney's lower north shore

Seals have been making regular appearances around Sydney's beaches recently.

Bondi's local legend, Alex the seal, shocked a group of unsuspecting swimmers on Monday when he took to the waves just metres away from beachgoers.

Back in December, another seal who frequents the Northern Beaches area lounged around in the sun at Dee Why Beach.

Bondi's local legend, Alex the seal, shocked a group of unsuspecting swimmers on Monday when he took to the waves just metres away from beachgoers

The exhausted seal hauled itself up three flights of stairs to take a rest on the grass, attracting attention from hoards of curious spectators.

Police and animal authorities cordoned off the area surrounding the seal to the public to allow the animal to rest undisturbed.

While seals prefer to swim in cold waters, wild seals will occasionally stray as far north as Sydney and the Coral Coast in Western Australia.

People lucky enough to spot one of the beloved mammals are urged to keep a distance of around 40 metres.
iPSC industry-leaders combine tools, talent, and technologies to drive life science discovery forward

Merger accompanied by 3.8million ($5.3m USD) investment across shareholders, which will be used to fund recruitment and growth of the business

Axol Bioscience Ltd, an established provider of iPSC-derived cells, media, and characterization services, and CENSO Biotechnologies, a cell biology CRO with focused expertise in iPSC-related technologies, today announced that the two companies have signed a merger agreement. The new entity will become a leading provider of product and service solutions in the iPSC-based neuroscience, immune cell, and cardiac modeling for drug discovery and screening markets. It will offer customers validated ready-to-use cell lines and a suite of services with broader expertise, robust functional data, and customization capabilities, all with shorter lead times.

Axol Bioscience's investors include Dr Jonathan Milner and award-winning EIS fund manager, Calculus Capital. CENSO Biotechnologies' major investor is leading Edinburgh-based EIS fund manager, Par Equity. The transaction, effective today, is accompanied by a fundraising round in excess 3.8m, led by Calculus Capital and Par Equity. The investment will be used to enable growth of the business and acquisition of talent to meet customer demand.

Under the terms of the agreement, Axol Bioscience CEO, Liam Taylor, and the Axol senior leadership team will take over the management of the combined entity, with the intent to migrate the brand to Axol Bioscience. The agreement sees CENSO's interim CEO, Dr Tom Stratford, appointed non-executive director of the combined board, on behalf of Par Equity.

Liam Taylor, CEO Axol, said: "Axol has experienced a rapid increase in demand for their iPSC-based products and services over the last three years. Merging with CENSO immediately and significantly grows our scientific team and breadth of expertise. That, and the addition of two sites for iPSC-derived cell line manufacturing and custom service work, will increase our production capacity and future-proof our organization to ensure demand can continue to be met with the short lead times and quality that our customers depend on."

Dr Tom Stratford, CENSO interim CEO and non-executive director of the combined board, on behalf of Par Equity said: "CENSO's strength is our scientific team, as trusted partners in designing, executing, and managing custom project work. The combined entity will now be able to leverage Axol's strength in iPSC-derived cells as well as complementary services such as electrophysiology to further our ability and efficiency to serve customers. We bring to bear capabilities, bandwidth, and expertise to scale the manufacturing of those tools in a way that benefits both customer bases and the wider market."

Dr Jonathan Milner, founder, and former CEO of Abcam and chairman of the Axol Bioscience board, said: "Consolidating these two players in the iPSC space that have complementary expertise and offerings is the most direct and low risk path to gaining a more competitive market position and moving both organizations from thriving start-ups to a more polished commercial entity that is able to meet aggressive demand increases."

For further information about Axol's products and services, please visit: https://www.axolbio.com

For high-resolution images please contact Zyme Communications

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210317005377/en/

Contacts:

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Dr Ben Rutter

Tel: +44 (0)7920 770 935

E-mail: ben.rutter@zymecommunications.com
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We have a tiny bird thats been making a nest in the birdhouse outside our kitchen window and trilling loudly when hes done for two years in a row. I went online and searched for tiny brown bird hoping to get it identified, but I couldnt find any photo of a bird that looked like it. I re
SAN RAMON, Calif., March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- WANdisco , the LiveData company, announced today that it donated its LiveData Platform to help Korea Research Institute of Bioscience & Biotechnology conduct faster analysis in its efforts towards Covid-19 research. Using the automated data migration and replication platform, the institute has been able to replicate files between Hadoop-based big data clusters and Linux-based analysis clusters 13 times faster than before, and reduce analysis time by over 30 percent.

In early 2020, WANdisco announced free access to their suite of cloud migration and big data tools for teams involved in research and developing potential treatments and cures for the Covid-19 pandemic. WANdisco provided its LiveData Platform along with technical resources to Korean Bioinformation Center (KOBIC) to assist the organization in enhancing its architecture, developing products, and introducing WANdisco's automated replication technology into KOBIC's workflow.

"Donating our LiveData platform to the Covid-19 research was absolutely the right thing to do," said David Richards, Chairman and CEO, WANdisco. "Every minute, new data is being generated about people suffering from Covid-19. Velocity has become more important than anything else in the development of vaccines and treatments to overcome infectious diseases. We were grateful for the opportunity to assist Korea accelerate its Covid-19 research and analysis."

KOBIC provides Bio-Express, a cloud service free to bio-engineering researchers at Korean hospitals, businesses, universities, and research institutes for large-capacity genome analysis and storage. Since March 2020, the platform's Covid-19 research information portal has provided Covid-19-related genomes and proteomic data from around the world. As the amount of data and users skyrocketed last year, so did the time to replicate terabytes of data between the Hadoop Distributed File System (HDFS) and the Linux/Unix based Lustre file system to support the analysis tools within different operating environments. More than 40 percent of Bio-Express's total processing time was solely dedicated to replicate an average of 20TB of data per day.

Upon hearing about Korea's data replication challenges, WANdisco donated its LiveData Platform to reduce large-scale data replication time while ensuring data availability and consistency to researchers. KOBIC administrators could easily and immediately move HDFS data to Bio-Express with automated migration and replication capabilities. No changes were required to applications, cluster or node configuration or operation while ensuring data changes were replicated completely and consistently.

With this new capacity, KOBIC expects to significantly increase the next generation of Bio-Express's efficiency to perform large-scale genome analysis in 2021. WANdisco has since provided KOBIC with an ongoing license to LiveData Platform alongside technical support to help enhance its architecture, developing products, and applying automated replication into the workflow.

"KOBIC uses the WANdisco live data platform to automate file transfer 13 times faster in both directions between Hadoop-based Big Data Analysis Program Execution Cluster (HDFS) and Linux-based Genomic Analysis Program Execution Cluster (Lustre)," said Kun-Hwan Ko, Researcher at KOBIC Computational Development Team. "We were able to reduce the overall average time to analyze user genomic data of Bio-Express service by more than 30 percent."

About WANdisco

WANdisco is the LiveData company. WANdisco solutions enable enterprises to create an environment where data is always available, accurate and protected, creating a strong backbone for their IT infrastructure and a bedrock for running consistent, accurate machine learning applications. With zero downtime and zero data loss, WANdisco LiveData Platform keeps geographically dispersed data at any scale consistent between on-premises and cloud environments allowing businesses to operate seamlessly in a hybrid or multi-cloud environment. For more information on WANdisco, visit www.wandisco.com .

About KOBIC

The Korea Bioinformation Center (KOBIC) is a national bio-resource information center for general management of domestic bio-resource information and research in the field of bioinformation. KOBIC helps domestic research institutes, hospitals, companies, and universities to research genomic data and Covid-19 for free. One of KOBIC's main missions is to develop and operate a system that can analyze large-scale genomic data using the state-of-the-art information technology.

Media Contact:

Josh Turner

Silicon Valley Communications

[email protected]

+1 (917) 231-0550

SOURCE WANdisco
Before leaving for work, Chancellor Philip Rogers says goodbye to his son Dean. | Photos: Rhett Butler

Vince Smith, left, secretary of the ECU Board of Trustees, walks across campus with Chancellor Philip Rogers, center, and Vern Davenport, right, chair of the board, on Rogers first day.

Rogers looks at a homecoming float designed by ECU students Izzy Gonzales, left, and Brianna Cavicchia in the Main Campus Student Center.

This post appears here courtesy of ECU News Services . The author of this post is Crystal Baity Monday marked a homecoming for Dr. Philip Rogers' first official day as chancellor at East Carolina University.His office in the 90-year-old Spilman Building, tucked in a corner on the first floor facing Fifth Street, is familiar. Rogers once worked just up the stairs when he served as chief of staff from 2008-2013.He has known many of the people who work there for years, and those longtime connections and relationships will help ease the transition this week.While many ECU employees are still working from home because of the pandemic, Rogers made the rounds talking with several people who were physically in the office between meetings, phone calls and other obligations.Among those were Dr. Grant Hayes, acting provost and senior vice chancellor of academic affairs; Dr. Virginia Hardy, vice chancellor of student affairs; Dr. Ron Mitchelson, outgoing interim chancellor; and Dr. Chris Locklear, chief of staff.Hardy said.Rogers was also welcomed by Board of Trustees chairman Vern Davenport and secretary Vince Smith, who wanted to be in Greenville to show their support on his first day.said Smith, who lives in Vienna, Virginia.said Davenport, who lives in Wake Forest.A 20-member search committee chaired by Davenport formed in November 2019  before the pandemic put a temporary halt to the committee's work. Almost a year later, Rogers was appointed as ECU's 12th chancellor on Dec. 17 by the UNC System Board of Governors (BOG) following a recommendation by UNC System President Peter Hans.By mid-morning, Rogers had met virtually to answer questions from reporters ranging from his short- and long-term plans to his priorities for dealing with issues resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.he said.While walking to the Main Campus Student Center, Rogers happened upon a campus tour with prospective students, so he stopped to welcome them and encourage them to enroll.At the student center, Rogers met with Student Government Association members and other students enjoying lunch and shopping in Dowdy Student Stores.Tucker Robbins, SGA president, said Rogers' presence means a lot to him.said Robbins, a senior who looks forward to Rogers bringing stability and longevity to ECU.Robbins also noted Mitchelson's generous service as interim chancellor since October 2019.Seniors Tavion Yorke-Goins and Jonathan Fleming, who work in the student center, also enjoyed meeting Rogers.Fleming said.Rogers' personal homecoming coincided with ECU's week-long homecoming celebration. Rogers attended Monday's Cannonball Kickoff, the official start of ECU's homecoming week, which was postponed from the fall due to the pandemic.On March 18, Rogers will headline ECU's Cupola Conversations, a virtual event at 4 p.m. that will cover a variety of topics from Rogers' personal and professional path to becoming ECU chancellor to where he sees ECU fitting into the state and national landscape in higher education.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-18 04:49:05|Editor: huaxia

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SANTIAGO, March 17 (Xinhua) -- Chilean Interior Minister Rodrigo Delgado was hospitalized on Wednesday with COVID-19, after testing positive on Friday, the Ministry of Interior and Public Security said.

In a statement, the ministry said Delgado went to the Clinical Hospital of the Chilean Air Force as a "preventive measure," undergoing various tests, and was declared in "normal condition, pending any changes" by the attending doctor.

On March 12, the ministry confirmed that Delgado had been infected with the virus, after returning from a work trip in the northern city of Arica, where he presented COVID-19 symptoms.

That same day, it was ruled out that the minister had had close contact with Chilean President Sebastian Pinera.

In recent weeks, the South American country has seen an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases, leading to the administration's decision to revert to total quarantines in certain towns, in addition to strengthening restrictive measures.

The health ministry reported 905,212 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 21,816 accumulated deaths on Wednesday. Enditem
Press Release

March 17, 2021 De Lima commends Palawenos for exercising their rights and for their extraordinary manifestation of democracy Opposition Senator Leila M. de Lima lauded the residents of Palawan for the result of the recently concluded plebiscite on the ratification of Republic Act (RA) No. 11259, intending to divide the province of Palawan into three separate provinces. De Lima, a staunch social justice and human rights champion, said the praiseworthy move of Palawenos is a beacon of democracy in the country and a strong reminder of the importance of valuing and participating in the democratic process. "The people of Palawan have spoken. I laud and congratulate Palawenos for this historic victory and embodiment of democracy," she said. "Sa kabila ng matinding udyok mula sa mga nasa kapangyarihan para baguhin ang nakagisnan, nanindigan ang mga kababayan natin sa Palawan kung ano ang sa tingin nila ay makatarungan at tunay na makabubuti sa kanilang lalawigan. Mulat nilang tinimbang at pinagdesisyunan ang nararapat sa kanilang pamamalakad at para sa kanilang kinabukasan," she added. Last March 16, the Commission on Elections' (COMELEC) Provincial Plebiscite Board of Canvassers proclaimed that the "no" vote won in the plebiscite that asked residents if they agreed to ratify RA No. 11259 splitting Palawan into three provinces. RA No. 11259, which was signed into law by President Rodrigo Duterte on April 5, 2019, would have split Palawan into the provinces of Palawan del Norte, Palawan Oriental, and Palawan del Sur. COMELEC official results showed that 172,304 voted "no" for dividing Palawan into three while 122,223 voted for "yes", as of 5:00 pm, March 16. According to the poll body, the plebiscite for RA No. 11259 posted a 60.06 percent voter turnout. De Lima, Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Social Justice, Welfare and Rural Development, said she also commends the residents of Palawan for their "no" vote because such move could help prevent further attempts by China for a territorial expansion. "As early as 2018, top international political risk analyst Anders Corr already warned that splitting Palawan would end up benefitting China amid its continued encroachment in the West Philippine Sea. As such, such move by the Palawenos is beneficial for Filipinos," De Lima noted. It may be recalled that Corr, an expert in China's influence operations, earlier said that "China would likely welcome the breakup of Palawan, because the country sees the Philippine province as having important strategic military and resource uses." Meanwhile, the hashtag #NoTo3in1Palawan trended on Twitter as Palawan voters took part in a plebiscite last March 14, with one netizen writing that "Palawan should be one solid and unified province. Dividing the island into three provinces would only worsen the existing problems." Likewise, netizens lauded the residents of Palawan for rejecting RA 11529 when official results of the plebiscite came out. "BRAVO. PALAWAN VOTED TO STAY PALA-ONE. POCHERS, MINERS, LOGGERS, TRAPOS, CHINA & DAVAO GROUP LOST," one wrote. "'Overwhelming No votes' sa Palawan ay HUDYAT ba na si Duterte ITINATAKWIL na ang Taong-bayan?" another said. It can be recalled that the Save Palawan Movement (SPM) previously accused the measure creating the Provinces of Palawan del Norte, Palawan Oriental, and Palawan del Sur, of having a gerrymandering agenda that will run counter to laws and policies meant to protect the biodiversity and natural resources of Palawan.
Health official: 'We are very pleased with the decline in case numbers'
Zenoti provides the seamless solutions we need to unify our data across all locations. That makes it simple to maintain exceptional experiences no matter the location students visit, said Courtney Gruber, Chief Operating Officer, CorePower Yoga.

Zenoti, the leading cloud-based platform for beauty and wellness businesses, today announced a partnership with CorePower Yoga to provide elevated student experiences and advanced data solutions. As the largest yoga studio brand in the United States, CorePower Yoga operates more than 200 studios nationwide with a mission to share the transformative power of yoga with individuals every where.

Clean data combined with powerful technology will improve student and instructor experiences by unlocking new capabilities on the CorePower Yoga interface for booking reservations, class check-in, retail purchasing, and managing teacher substitutions across all studios. These improvements will streamline and simplify business operations for higher student, teacher, and employee satisfaction.

Zenotis centralized data solutions and powerful analytics tools will empower CorePower Yoga with access to data analytics, enabling them to make data driven business decisions. Zenoti also brings together all the sales lead management tools under one umbrella to track and measure membership conversions, effectiveness of lead sources, and more across all outlets.

CorePower Yoga is committed to providing our students exceptional experiences. We understand that maintaining our high-quality experiences require centralized data solutions that offer convenient access for better business decision-making. Zenoti provides the seamless solutions we need to unify our data across all locations. That makes it simple to maintain exceptional experiences no matter the location students visit, said Courtney Gruber, Chief Operating Officer, CorePower Yoga.

To learn more about Zenoti visit https://www.zenoti.com

ABOUT COREPOWER YOGA

CorePower Yoga shares the transformative power of yoga with every mind, every body, everywhere. With almost 200 studio locations in 21 states, virtual live streaming and video on demand classes, and passionate teachers, CorePower offers a physically intense workout that is rooted in the mindfulness of yoga.

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:

For Zenoti: Janine Worthington / +1 206 354 9093 / janinew@zenoti.com

For CorePower Yoga: Ketchum / mediaCPY@ketchum.com
In an exclusive interview with NewsX under its special segment NewsX India A-List, Richa Rajya Lakshmi, founder of Chitranjani talked about her brand, its values, and its commitment towards supporting a cause.

Talking about the conceptualization of the brand, Richa said that the main hand block prints are the main element of the brand. She said, My mother used to make these hand block prints and hence I really feel connected to it. it connects me directly to my home and I have a nostalgic feeling attached to it. It defines comfort for me, so even when I am selling these products, my mind often goes back to the memory attached to it.

As someone who has worked in corporate sectors and has gained hands-on experience in the textile industry and design, Richa talks about the time when she used to work for an export house and how it further motivated her to start her own brand. She said, When I was working there as a production manager in an export house, I used to deal with a lot of buyers who would come from different places and countries and thats where I learned about different types of fabrics, color patterns, and techniques and I realized that I wouldnt have learned this much if I hadnt talked to these people. I personally believe that there is a lot of scope for growth when you are working.

Sharing her personal story behind formulating a brand that stands for a cause, Richa stated that her company is named after her sister Chitranjani who is hearing impaired since birth. I have a very close connection with these people as I had someone in my own family and I have an immense feeling for these people. My sister used to go to this school which at that time was the only school in Lucknow for hearing-impaired kids and I started supporting the school in which she was studying and then eventually I decided that I will connect my brand with a cause that everything that you purchase from my brand, a large portion of the same will go towards the upliftment of these people, added Richa.

Speaking about how Chitranjani is different from the other brands functioning presently in the market, Richa expressed, Anyone who is using hand block print will kind of end up creating similar products. However, one thing which sets us apart is the quality of our products. many people might assume that just because our brand supports a cause, it might lack in quality as I have seen many NGOs who do this. but thats not the case with our brand. We really focus on the quality of the fabric. I do not want to compromise on the quality, I want my customers to feel satisfied with every purchase that they make.

Talking about the latest trends, the value of the work done by artisans, and the impact of covid-19 on these small businesses, Richa said that the country has although lost touch with its authentic belongings but she is hopeful that it is coming back in a steady manner.I believe that there will always be support for local businesses and artisans in the country. if you look at history, the buildings that are turned into hotels were all the work of artisans and local workers, said Richa. She also said that the artisans in her company, who worked on daily wages really suffered during the pandemic resulting in which the chain of the work got perturbed and her businesses, just like many others also got affected.

On a parting note, she shared the plans of the future for her brand. My future plan would be to get into export and expand the possibilities further. I want people from other places and countries to notice my work and introduce them to artisans who have been doing most of the work in my brand. I am also planning to get into touch with design universities in India so that artisans can get to interact with the budding students of art and design and would directly learn from the experts, added Richa.
Overview

March 25

11AM PT, 2PM ET



Watch Now

After what has been deemed as one of the largest breaches in U.S. cybersecurity in recent history, an estimated 18,000 public and private sector entities will spend billions of dollars over many months to contain and fix the damage. As just one example of how sophisticated and stealthy hackers have become, the attack leaves many asking when and where will the next one happen  or has it already?

On March 25 at 11am PT/2pm ET, Government Technology is hosting a webcast to share best practices around how state and local governments can better defend against and respond to evolving and difficult-to-detect threats. You dont want to miss our cybersecurity experts discussion of critical topics such as:
Kotto made two key impressions in the early 70s. In The Liberation of L.B. Jones, he rammed a racist white Southern policeman through a threshing machine. In Across 110th Street, he held his own and then some against Anthony Quinn. In a parallel Hollywood universe of the 70s and 80s, Kotto wouldve been a marquee brand. He turned down the role of Lando Calrissian in The Empire Strikes Back, though that was hardly the stuff of major stardom; the George Lucas space escapades were still mainly white (and alien-green). Years later, Kotto nearly landed Patrick Stewarts role on Star Trek: The Next Generation; some say he turned it down. Every actor who carves out a screen career has a considerable couldve/wouldve/shouldve list.
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Starting on March 17th, Uber will classify all of its UK-based drivers as workers, reports The New York Times. While not full employees of the company, that's a distinction that will grant more than 70,000 individuals access to benefits like a minimum wage. In a filing with the SEC, Uber said it would enroll eligible drivers in a plan where the company will contribute approximately three percent of their pay toward their pension. It will also provide all drivers with paid holiday time at a rate of 12.07 percent of their earnings.

The decision comes after the company lost a decisive legal battle in February. Partway through last month, the UK's Supreme Court upheld a ruling that said Uber drivers in the country are entitled to the legal rights and protections afforded to workers. The case involved a small group of drivers, and at first it appeared Uber would resist attempts to force it to provide additional protections to its other drivers. "The verdict does not focus on the other drivers on the app, nor does it relate to couriers who earn on Uber Eats," the company said in a blog post on the ruling. However, in an op-ed published today in The Evening Standard, CEO Dara Khosrowshahi said, "We could have continued to dispute drivers' rights to any of these protections in court. Instead, we have decided to turn the page."

It's not clear how today's decision will affect the company's stance toward worker protections in the future. Uber has historically fought hard to maintain the contractor classification that underpins its business model. In California, the company spent millions to support Proposition 22 during the 2020 election to skirt the state's AB5 law, which sought better rights and protections for gig economy workers.
SODERTALJE, Sweden, March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- For the first time since Scania set its Science Based Targets, the company reports on the progress on emission reduction both from its own operations and from vehicles in use.

In its own operations, Scania has already decreased carbon emissions by 43 percent from 2015 levels, through increased energy efficiency, reduction of energy waste and transfer to renewable energy. This means Scania is well on track to achieve the target of a 50 percent reduction by 2025 (scope 1 and 2) .

"We are ahead of plan with the reduction of carbon emissions from our operations globally, a lot thanks to our transition to fossil-free electricity for all our production sites that we reached during 2020," says Scania President and CEO Henrik Henriksson.

Scania has also committed to reduce CO2 emissions from its products in use by 20 percent by 2025 (scope 3), with a 2015 baseline.

"We also see progress in reducing the emissions from when our vehicles are in use, which constitutes over 90 percent of Scania's total emissions," Henriksson continues. Currently Scania is at 95.8 percent, a reduction of just above 4 percent. Starting on 100 percent in 2015, Scania aims to reach 80 percent by 2025 at the latest. Carbon emissions from Scania's products in use are measured as well-to-wheel i.e. emissions generated in the production of the fuel or electricity are taken into account.

More significant steps are underway, as Scania continues to work closely with customers, focusing on energy efficiency in the conventional powertrain and increasing the share of biofuels which has an immediate as well as a retroactive effect on the rolling fleet of vehicles.

Scania will ramp up the volumes of electric vehicles with at least one new electric product application commercially launched in the bus or truck segment annually.

"Our climate targets are deeply embedded in daily decisions we make across the company. They are fundamental to our strategy and part of our corporate targets. They are our North Star - a guide that shows us the direction. We seek to continuously improve the environmental performance of our products, processes and services," Henriksson concludes.

The information is released as part of Scania's Annual and Sustainability Report 2020, find the full report here 

For further information, please see link and contact below:

More information about Scania's Science Based targets 

Complete scope reporting in accordance with the GHG protocol 

Scania's European cab production fully fossil free 

Scania's production worldwide completes fossil-free transition 

Karin Hallstan

Head of Corporate Communication

Phone: +46 76 842 81 04

E-mail: [email protected]

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/scania/r/scania-reports-progress-on-climate-targets,c3308291

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https://mb.cision.com/Main/209/3308291/1388274.pdf Release https://news.cision.com/scania/i/science-based-targets,c2890004 Science Based Targets

SOURCE Scania
People should avoid gatherings in homes or in large groupings on St Patricks Day, Taoiseach Micheal Martin has said.

Speaking in Dublin today, Mr Martin said the occasion presents a challenge to the country in terms of battling the transmission of Covid-19.

It's very, very important that we avoid household gatherings, that we avoid congregation in general, he told the Irish Examiner.

Occasions like tomorrow can potentially create opportunities for the spread of the virus which we must resist. That is my appeal to people more generally. We've made a lot of sacrifices, the sacrifices have been effective, that brought the numbers down, let's keep at it.

I am asking people to enjoy a safe St Patrick's Day from a Covid perspective. It's very important that people avoid social gathering, congregation of any sort, given the state of play in relation to the virus itself. We are dealing with a variant that spreads far more easily, he said.

Really, the key issue is the avoidance of congregation, the avoidance of gathering.

With this variant, if we gather together, the risk of spread is very, very significant.

Mr Martin said the experience of other EU countries is a sharp rise in Covid-19 cases which he said is evidence of the transmissibility of the B117 variant strain.

Meanwhile, 18further deaths and 349 new cases were confirmed this evening by Department of Health officials.

Seventeen of the deaths occurred this month and one more occurred in February.

Ireland's Covid-19 death toll is now 4,552, while the total number of cases confirmed here since the outbreak began is now 227,663.

Meeting with US President Joe Biden

Ahead of his meeting with US president Joe Biden, Mr Martin said the fundamental aspect of tomorrow's meeting is to strengthen and deepen even further the bilateral relationship between Ireland and the US.

That is critical, he said.

There's an economic dimension that is a cultural dimension to that. And given the president's warm affection for Ireland, I think we can look forward to in the context of EU-US relationships, and the role that Ireland can play in nurturing that, he added.

He said the bilateral aspect of the relationship is key, adding that Covid will be obviously a theme of tomorrow's discussions.

Te Taoiseach has said he will not not be seeking direct support from US President Joe Biden in terms of vaccine supply. Picture: Niall Carson/PA

As for the vaccine issue, it is clear Mr Martin will not be seeking direct support from Mr Biden in terms of vaccine supply but will be making the point that global interdependence here is important as is the need to avoid protectionism by any one country.

I will also update the president on the workings of Brexit, thank him for the work he has been doing and his consistent support for Ireland in relation to peace on the island of Ireland and in relation to the Brexit agreement itself.

He also said he will be seeking an update from Mr Biden as to progressing the issue of regularising the status of undocumented Irish in the US.

This is a longstanding issue and we will ask the president for an update and we will also be speaking to speaker Nancy Pelosi, he said.

'Engineering' controversy

Mr Martin also accused Sinn Fein of engineering a controversy around the position of Tanaiste Leo Varadkar who is reportedly subject to a criminal investigation into his leaking of a GP contract in 2019.

He said the partys actions were deeply cynical.

I dont take their comments as sincere comments. Actually, I find them deeply cynical, he added.

He said the device of Mary Lou McDonald writing letters to him and trailing them publicly in advance is a well-worn device at this stage.

So it's a tactic that's deployed but they don't seem to be frank, I don't see a whole lot of sincerity behind there, he said.

The Taoiseach said An Garda Siochana must be given space to conduct its inquiries.

In my view, you know, if the gardai have inquiries, they need to be allowed the space to continue with those inquiries, he said.

I am not officially aware of the nature of those inquiries in any shape or form, I read newspaper reports. But that's about the size of it from my perspective. The gardai should be allowed do their work. And that to me is the most important principle at play here. And I don't think people should play politics with it, he added.

Asked should Mr Varadkar not step aside, without prejudice, to allow gardai to conclude their work and to prevent the inquiry overshadowing the work of the Government, the Taoiseach said: There's also a presumption of innocence before I give them anything, that's a very basic principle.

He said the Tanaiste apologised at the time when that debate happened for his actions and said clearly it was an error of judgement.

That's a matter for the gardai. I don't involve myself in that. And that's the way it should be left and they should be allowed the space to do what they have to do and that should be that separation between politics and the justice side, he said.
COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa  On May 26, my husband and I were in Norfolk to pick up a dog. We were to meet the seller at the main entrance to Ta-Ha-Zouka Park. We arrived and I did not think we were at the right entrance. I flagged down a young man and he told me where the right entrance was, and 
When you consider that Centreville, Ill., is one of the poorest cities in the state, its easy to see how the citys flooding and sewage problems have plagued it for decades without help.But there is hope that all with those problems on the radar of some in higher government, things will change. With the support of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency, Gov. J.B. Pritzker, who called the situation a textbook example of environmental racism, Centreville, Cahokia and Alorton hope to share $22 million through a FEMA BRIC (Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities) grant.The grant will supply funds to repair and maintain sewage systems in the area that have long been neglected. Residents have, for decades, routinely experienced yards and houses flooded with sewage, with little or no help from officials. Residents filed a lawsuit last summer seeking help with the sewage and flooding issues We believe that this grant will fix our sewage problem, but there is also a drainage problem, said Centreville Township Supervisor Curtis McCall, who will become mayor of Cahokia in May.McCall described these cities as a bottomlands, where runoff from local bluffs drains. The cities also rest on what was historically the Mississippi River band in the flood plain. The flooding is an issue that has been around all my life, McCall said. Im 59 and I lived in Centreville and when I was a kid there was flooding on my streets.The cities are not unlike countless others around the country that face additional risk from environmental factors and natural hazards because of economic disadvantages and/or race.Hundreds of studies have shown that racially marginalized communities and indigenous communities, and also working class white communities, are disproportionately burdened by environmental harms such as these, said Dr. Jill Lindsey Harrison, associate professor of sociology at the University of Colorado, Boulder.We call these environmental inequities or injustices, and they stem from a lot of different historical factors, Harrison said. Most people think this stems from intentionally discriminatory practices where industries choose their sites.Indeed, residents in Centreville and surrounding cities migrated from the South to this area in the '50s and '60s to work in the industrial plants.These plants used to use ground water to cool refineries, but when the EPA halted the practice in the 1970s, that ground water began to build up, exacerbating the flooding and sewage issues.This [environmental racism] has been documented probably since Hurricane Katrina where it was for everyone to see; there was no longer any argument, said Dr. Earthea Nance, associate professor at Texas Southern University. Were using the fact that the governor is trying to use that issue to fix this situation.It took support from Gov. Pritzker, Sen. Tammy Duckworth and others to put together the application for the FEMA grant. We reached out to our state reps and they reached out to our federal representatives, and they are pushing the funding through FEMA to help us get awarded the grant, McCall said.Whether the cities are granted the money wont be known until December.You have a sewage system that is aging like most of the infrastructure throughout our country, and you have cities in poverty and none of them could do it by themselves, McCall said. They needed county, state and federal help to alleviate the sanitation problem, but once that is addressed we have to come back and look at the drainage problem.Citizens have, for decades, complained about flooding issues that have all but destroyed their homes yet were never addressed by the local governments. Its something that continues to plague certain communities during environmental disasters and other matters, including the current pandemic.You see a number of folks suffer more than others around this pandemic where weve seen how deadly it can be to people with preexisting conditions and those in marginalized communities that get hit harder, said Dr. David Pellow, director of the Global Environmental Justice Project at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Communities that are marginalized economically or culturally have had to deal with this going back decades.
WALES  U.S. Rep. Richard Neal is scheduled to join state Sen. Anne M. Gobi, D-Spencer, and state Rep. Brian M. Ashe, D-Longmeadow, April 6 on a tour of a home deteriorating because the concrete it was built on contains reactive pyrrhotite and is relentlessly crumbling.

Gobis office announced Tuesday the April 6 event in the town of Wales. She, Ashe and state Sen. Eric P. Lesser, D-Longmeadow, have introduced state legislation to help homeowners faced with six-digit repair bills as they watch the equity they thought they had in their homes literally erode.

Neal, D-Springfield, chairman of the House and Means Committee, was involved in the crumbling concrete problem even before it showed up in his district. Connecticut Democratic Reps. Joe Courtney and John Larson enlisted him to help homeowners get a tax write-off for the repairs. The tax rules were changed in 2018 to allow for the deduction. Neal has also worked with the Massachusetts attorney generals office and mortgage lenders from across the state on the problem.

Its estimated that as many as 1,500 Massachusetts homes were built with contaminated concrete thats now crumbling to dust, and there is nothing that can be done to stop it.

Pyrrhotite naturally occurs in rock that was mined at the Beckers Quarry in Willington, Connecticut. J.J Mottes Concrete Co. of Stafford Springs, Connecticut, used the stone from 1983-2015. But there are no good records about where the concrete was used.

Last year, a Massachusetts panel identified 95,073 homes that were built at the time the tainted concrete was used and in places the company was known to do business. That includes Charlton, Monson, Brimfield, Palmer, Longmeadow and elsewhere.

Everything is fine at first, but over time the mineral reacts with air an d water and swells, forcing the concrete apart. The only solution is to replace the foundation.

In 2018, then-U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson visited a Willington, Connecticut, home to see the damage first-hand.

He came with Courtney and Connecticut U.S. Sens. Chris Murphy and Richard Blumenthal, who were looking for a federal disaster declaration to fund repair efforts.

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WASHINGTON, March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The United States World War I Centennial Commission in cooperation with the Doughboy Foundation, the National Park Service and the American Battle Monuments Commission is sponsoring a major event to celebrate the inaugural raising of the American flag over the nation's soon to open World War I Memorial in Washington, DC on Friday, April 16 at 10:00 a.m. EDT / 7:00 a.m. PDT.

The FIRST COLORS Ceremony will be an emotionally powerful, live-broadcast program that commemorates the generation of Americans who fought, with our allies, in the trenches and on the home front to bring an end to one of the most consequential wars in history.

Hosted by award-winning actor and humanitarian Gary Sinise, the 75-minute program will pay tribute to America's role in WWI and highlight our national unity with military fanfare, musical performances, and guest appearances by notable participants from across the country. Viewers will hear insights from high-profile elected officials, military leaders, and the dedicated team who has enriched the nation's understanding of World War I and created a lasting tribute in our nation's capital to engage Americans for generations to come.

"A century ago, 4.7 million Americans sent their sons and daughters off to fight a war that would change the world. They traveled to a country they had never visited, to fight in a war they didn't start, to achieve peace and liberty for a people they didn't know. FIRST COLORS takes a look at the how and why of the Memorial that honors their service," said Daniel Dayton, Executive Director, US World War I Centennial Commission.

The FIRST COLORS Ceremony is designed to "bring our history home." It marks the final leg of a journey that began with an American flag that first flew over our nation's capital on April 6, 2017, commemorating the Centennial Day that the United States went to war in 1917. This Commemorative Flag has since flown over American battlefield cemeteries in Europe, honoring the Doughboys who gave their all during the war. The colors will now return home to their final destination, forever flying above the new National World War I Memorial.

"The extraordinary sacrifice made by Americans to conclusively end a world war is more than worthy of this recognition; one that is long overdue. I'm proud to participate in this landmark event honoring their sacrifices, and to renew our pledge: To protect our future by remembering our past," said Sinise.

All are invited to be a part of American history and watch the free live-broadcast event. To register to watch and learn more about the Memorial and the FIRST COLORS Ceremony, please visit www.ww1cc.org/firstcolors. The live broadcast will be available for public viewing at www.ww1cc.org/firstcolors.

A complete media resource kit can be accessed at www.ww1cc.org/presskit.

Media may request site tours and interviews by contacting Abigail Kelly at [email protected] , or 314-520-9505

About the WWICC

The U.S. World War I Centennial Commission established by Public Law 112-272, passed by the 112th Congress on January 14, 2013 and signed by the President on January 16, 2013, and further refined by Public Law 113-291, Subtitle J, Section 3091. The Commission's responsibilities included: planning, developing, and executing programs, projects, and activities to commemorate the centennial of World War I; encouraging private organizations and State and local governments to organize and participate in activities commemorating the centennial of World War I; facilitating and coordinating activities throughout the United States relating to the centennial of World War I; serving as a clearinghouse for the collection and dissemination of information about events and plans for the centennial of World War I; and developing recommendations for Congress and the President for commemorating the centennial of World War I. The Commission is building the National World War I Memorial in Washington, DC with private donations, in partnership with the Doughboy Foundation. The Commission will sunset after the Memorial is dedicated.

About the Doughboy Foundation

The Doughboy Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, supports and encourages planning and execution of programs, projects, and activities commemorating and educating the public on America's role in World War I, "The War that Changed the World." The Foundation encourages private & educational organizations, Federal, State, and local governments, and all individual Americans to Keep Faith with the American Doughboys and every American who served in WWI. The Foundation's three-fold mission: Commemorate the experience of those Americans who served; Honor the 4.7 million Americans who put on the uniform to answer the call of their country; Inspire 21st-century Americans and all future generations to learn about, remember, and understand how WWI transformed our country and the world. The Doughboy Foundation has worked in partnership with the U.S. WWI Centennial Commission to build the new National World War I Memorial in Washington, DC. When the Centennial Commission sunsets after the Memorial is dedicated, the Doughboy Foundation will continue its mission of stewardship for the National WWI Memorial, and the remembrance of all those who served and sacrificed in WWI.

About Gary Sinise

For 40 years, award-winning actor and humanitarian Gary Sinise has stood as an advocate on behalf of America's defenders. He began in the early '80s, supporting local Vietnam veterans' groups in the Chicago area, and continued into the '90s, when his portrayal of "Lt. Dan" in Forrest Gump formed an enduring connection with service members throughout the military community. Following the attacks of September 11, 2001, Sinise's dedication to our nation's active-duty service members, veterans, first-responders and their families who sacrificed alongside them, became a tireless crusade of support and gratitude for all those who protect our freedom and serve our country.

In 2011, to expand upon his individual efforts, he established the Gary Sinise Foundation with the mission to "always do a little more" for our those who serve. Its programsdesigned to entertain, educate, inspire, strengthen, and build communitiesserve America's heroes and their loved ones 365 days a year. Learn more: www.garysinisefoundation.org

SOURCE World War I Centennial Commission
[March 17, 2021] Brinks Home Announces Long-Term Contract with California-based B&D Security

Brinks Home has announced a new agreement with B&D Security that extends their partnership for another five years. The new agreement will help both companies expand further into the commercial market, improve Brinks Home's profitability through a reduction in the up-front cost to acquire accounts, and provide B&D Security with an increased share of long-term revenues. "This agreement aligns both of our companies around the goal of creating forever customers, and it will continue the rapid growth in our dealer program," said Wade Gibson, senior vice president Network Sales, Brinks Home. "We have the best dealer program in the industry and are looking for more partners focused on growth and providing world-class service to our customers." Based in Southern California, B&D Security has more than 15 years of experience in the smart home security industry. "Being a dealer for Brinks Home has allowed me to build a business I am proud of," said Oz Lerma, president, B&D Security. "I am excited to partner with Brinks Home for another 5 years. Their new leadership team has given us the flexibility to focus on what we are best at and really grow our commercial business." The new agreement is part of ongoing efforts by Brinks Home to transform its sales network by realigning Brinks Home and its patners' incentives around creating highly satisfied, long-term customers and enabling dealers, sales representatives, and other sales organizations to partner with Brinks Home in the way that best suits their businesses.



About Brinks Home

Brinks Home is one of the largest home security and alarm monitoring companies in North America. Headquartered in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, Brinks Home provides platinum grade protection to over 950,000 residential and commercial customers through highly responsive, simple security solutions backed by expertly trained professionals. The company has one of the nation's largest networks of independent authorized dealers and agents - providing products and support to customers in the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico - as well as direct-to-consumer sales of DIY and professionally installed products. To learn more about Brinks Home or how to become an Authorized Dealer, Partner, or Representative, visit brinkshome.com or brinkshome.com/partners. About B&D Security

Founded in 1999, B&D Security is headquartered in Bellflower, California, and offers both residential and commercial smart security systems to customers in California and neighboring states. The company's mission is to create valuable relationships with both customers and partners. To learn more about B&D Security, visit mybdsecurity.com.

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In a video of the radio program Economic Update posted on Aug. 24, 2020, Professor Richard Wolff rejected the demonization of China (Screenshot of YouTube website)

China is less a competitor and more a wannabe of the world, and the United States and China should learn from each others strengths and weaknesses to achieve prosperous coexistence, said American economist Richard Wolff.

In a video of Richard Wolffs radio program Economic Update posted on Aug. 24, 2020, the professor rejected the demonization of China, noting that China and the United States have more similarities than many would realize.

Richard Wolff is Professor Emeritus of Economics at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and a visiting Professor in the Graduate Program in International Affairs of the New School in New York.

However, there is a unique relationship problem between the two countries, the professor pointed out. China is clearly an ascending, rising economic, political and cultural power in the world; no one should be confused on that subject. In stark contrast, the United States is a descending power. The footprint of the United States is smaller in the world economy with each passing year, he said.

Wolff first attributed this trend to the difference between two countries systems, saying the Chinese system has grown much faster economically than the United States over the past 30 years, two to three times faster, not even close.

(Screenshot of YouTube website)

Moreover, he said the Chinese have been better able to mobilize society to solve key social problems with the Chinese system. Citing the coronavirus pandemic as an example, Wolff said the Chinese focused on closing down Wuhan and Hubei province, striking hard at COVID-19 so that it didnt spread. In contrast, the US parties and government bicker, delay and stall, and cant mobilize anything comparable, so that we have here in the United States 4 percent of the worlds population and 25 percent of the worlds corona cases and corona deaths. [The Chinese] have been better able to handle that kind of emergency with their system.

Thirdly, the Chinese government has been able to make enormous decisions, the likes of which the US hasnt. They committed themselves 20 years ago to develop their infrastructure, their roads, their highways, their trains, their cities, their apartment buildings. They have been so successful. They build in advance, he cited as an example.

The professor pointed out that the Chinese have committed themselves to becoming less dependent on world trade, and more focused on the domestic economy. As a result, China has gotten through economic crashes, like those in 2008 and 2020, better than the United States, said Wolff, adding that the kinds of social organization that the Chinese have put into place is something other countries need to learn from.

According to Wolff, struggles can happen when up and coming powers threaten the dominant powers as shown by historical precedents, and the China-US relationship has two ways forward.

The United States and China can end up going to war against each other, he noted. But there is an alternative, which is to understand that we could learn from each others strengths and weaknesses, and an exchange of information, products and technologies could make both societies continue the prosperous coexistence that characterized the last 30 years and could continue.

(Screenshot of YouTube website)

The video garnered over 14,000 likes from netizens after it was posted on YouTube, with many, especially Americans, saying their perception of China has been changed by Wolffs words. One YouTube comment reads, First time in my life, I was freed from the brainwashing of the American ideology and saw the truth about China.

Many users are also calling for cooperation between China and the US. The United States should cooperate with China for common development and common progress, read one comment, while another user asked, As Professor Wolff said, the two great powers should learn from each other and cooperate. China is doing that, what about the US?
Researchers at Lund University in Sweden have designed a new bioink which allows small human-sized airways to be 3D-bioprinted with the help of patient cells for the first time. The 3D-printed constructs are biocompatible and support new blood vessel growth into the transplanted material. This is an important first step towards 3D-printing organs. The new study has been published in Advanced Materials.

Chronic lung diseases are the third leading cause of death worldwide with an EU cost of more than 380 billion annually. For many chronic diseases there is no cure and the only end-stage option for patients is lung transplantation. However, there are not enough donor lungs to meet clinical demand.

Therefore, researchers are looking at ways to increase the amount of lungs available for transplantation. One approach is fabricating lungs in the lab by combining cells with a bioengineered scaffold.

"We started small by fabricating small tubes, because this is a feature found in both airways and in the vasculature of the lung. By using our new bioink with stem cells isolated from patient airways, we were able to bioprint small airways which had multiple layers of cells and remained open over time", explains Darcy Wagner, Associate Professor and senior author of the study.

The researchers first designed a new bioink (a printable material with cells) for 3D-bioprinting human tissue. The bioink was made by combining two materials: a material derived from seaweed, alginate, and extracellular matrix derived from lung tissue.

This new bioink supports the bioprinted material over several stages of its development towards tissue. They then used the bioink to 3D-bioprint small human airways containing two types of cells found in human airways. However, this bioink can be adapted for any tissue or organ type.

"These next generation bioinks also support the maturation of the airway stem cells into multiple cell types found in adult human airways, which means that less cell types need to be printed, simplifying the nozzle numbers needed to print tissue made of multiple cell types", says Darcy Wagner.

Wagner notes that the resolution needs to be improved to 3D-bioprint more distal lung tissue and the air sacks, known as alveoli, that are vital for gas exchange.

"We hope that further technological improvements of available 3D printers and further bioink advances will allow for bioprinting at a higher resolution in order to engineer larger tissues which could be used for transplantation in the future. We still have a long way to go", she says.

The team used a mouse model closely resembling the immunosuppression used in patients undergoing organ transplantation. When transplanted, they found that 3D-printed constructs made from the new bioink were well-tolerated and supported new blood vessels.

"The development of this new bioink is a significant step forward, but it is important to further validate the functionality of the small airways over time and to explore the feasibility of this approach in large animal models", concludes Martina De Santis, the first author of the study.

###
WASHINGTON, March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, 151 bipartisan mayors sent a letter to members of the U.S. House of Representatives, urging them to support the passage of H.R. 6, the American Dream and Promise Act. The bill would enable Dreamers, children who came to the United States at a young age and have since built their lives here as adults, a pathway to lawful permanent residence and American citizenship.

On a bipartisan basis, the U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM) has supported granting permanent legal status to Dreamers for more than 10 years and first called for establishment of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program in 2012. The organization adopted policy in 2019 specifically calling for enactment of the American Dream and Promise Act.

In the letter, they write, "Our bipartisan organization has adopted this policy because it is the right thing to do  for Dreamers, for our communities and for our country. The cultural, economic, and social contributions of the 800,000 DACA recipients and their families to their communities cannot be overstated; particularly during a global pandemic where over 200,000 DACA recipients are working in essential roles including 27,000 in health care positions."

The full text of the letter can be found here and below:

Dear Members of the U.S. House of Representatives:

We write on behalf of the nation's mayors to urge you to quickly pass H.R. 6, the American Dream and Promise Act. This legislation would enable Dreamers  people who have lived in America since they were children and built their lives here  to earn lawful permanent residence and eventually American citizenship if they meet certain criteria. We pledge to work with you in this effort and to do whatever we can to assist you in seeing it enacted into law.

The United States Conference of Mayors has had strong policy supporting permanent legal status for Dreamers and extension of the DACA program for many years. Our bipartisan organization has adopted this policy because it is the right thing to do  for Dreamers, for our communities and for our country. The cultural, economic, and social contributions of the 800,000 DACA recipients and their families to their communities cannot be overstated; particularly during a global pandemic where over 200,000 DACA recipients are working in essential roles including 27,000 in health care positions.

In 2019 the Conference adopted policy specifically "calling on Congress to pass H.R. 6 the American Dream and Promise Act to ensure that Dreamers and TPS and DED recipients continue to live in, contribute to and ensure the prosperity of the cities they call home." Dreamers and TPS and DED beneficiaries are longtime residents who call the United States home. The average TPS holder has been here for 22 years, and the average DACA recipient came at age 6.

Many Dreamers and TPS and DED holders are essential workers, working on the frontline to fight the Covid pandemic and helping to save lives. The time for Congress to act is now.

About the United States Conference of Mayors -- The U.S. Conference of Mayors is the official nonpartisan organization of cities with populations of 30,000 or more. There are more than 1,400 such cities in the country today, and each city is represented in the Conference by its chief elected official, the mayor. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.

SOURCE U.S. Conference of Mayors

Related Links

www.usmayors.org


Detroit Service Learning Academy Celebrates Learn & Serve Challenge Kick Off

Detroit Service Learning Academy Celebrates Learn & Serve Challenge Kick Off

Contact:

Chawn Greene-Farmer

Public Relations Director

(517) 335-7875 - office

734-646-1515-cell

greenefarmerc@michigan.gov



Detroit, Michigan - Today, Michigan Community Service Commission Executive Director, Paula Kaiser VanDam, was on hand to recognize the 3rd Annual 2009 National Learn & Serve Challenge at Detroit's Service Learning Academy (DLSA). VanDam will join 250 students in a kick off celebration at the DLSA at 3:00 p.m. During the celebration, she will present a proclamation from Governor Jennifer M. Granholm recognizing Learn & Serve Challenge Kick Off.

"Service learning provides an opportunity to learn and reinforce academics while addressing community needs," said VanDam. "This type of unique programming is a perfect way to build a foundation of civic engagement to provide students relevant and important learning experiences."

The Learn & Serve Challenge Kick Off, which runs from October 5-11, encourages students to engage in service-learning activities that address the needs of the community in five critical areas: community renewal, education, energy/environment, health, and safety and security. This year-long challenge is a national sustained, focused effort to promote youth civic engagement and service-learning, a hands-on teaching method that engages young people in solving problems within their schools and communities as part of their academic studies.

"It is critical that we provide students with educational experiences that are not only meaningful, but engaging," said Eylastine Davis, DLSA Superintendent. "Our academic service-learning component allows the classroom teacher to focus on academics, while also giving the students real life, real world experiences to apply what they have learned."

To commemorate this week, the Detroit Service Learning Academy students collected 1,500 toiletries from the community which will be donated to the Grace Center of Hope of Oakland County. A representative from the Center will be on hand to accept the donation. This activity kicks off DSLA's service-learning efforts by helping students focus on the needs that exist around them and on their ability to address those needs. Teachers will be working to incorporate these types of service into their normal classroom curriculum.

Learn and Serve America is the nation's largest source of support for service-learning. Last year the program supported 1,700 grantees across the country that engaged more than 1.4 million students who served 27.9 million hours with more than 124,000 community partners.

Additionally, Learn and Serve - Michigan, managed by the Michigan Community Service Commission on behalf of the Michigan Department of Education, supported 22 programs, which included 1,305 teachers engaging 35,531 students in nearly 1.1 million hours of service learning. For more information, visit www.michigan.gov/volunteer or call (517) 335-4295.

BACKGROUND

The Learn & Serve Challenge is a signature event of the National Service-Learning Partnership, made possible with support from State Farm Companies Foundation, and Lead Organizing Partners which include SEANet - the State Education Agency K-12 Service-Learning Network, America's Promise Alliance, Camp Fire USA, Campus Compact, The National Service Clearinghouse, National Youth Leadership Council, and Youth Service America. In Michigan, the Learn & Serve Challenge is supported by the Michigan Community Service Commission.

The Michigan Community Service Commission (MCSC) builds a culture of service by providing vision and resources to strengthen communities through volunteerism. In 2009-2010, the MCSC is granting more than $8.2 million in federal and state funds to local communities for volunteer programs and activities. The MCSC is funding 19 AmeriCorps programs and 20 Learn and Serve programs. The Governor's Service Awards and Mentor Michigan are also premier programs of the MCSC. The MCSC is housed in the Michigan Department of Human Services, whose mission is to assist children, families, and vulnerable adults to be safe, stable, and self-supporting. The Corporation for National and Community Service grants federal funding that the MCSC administers to its programs.



The Detroit Service Learning Academy prepares students for academic success, lifelong learning, leadership, and meaningful service to the community. Since 1999, the Detroit Service Learning Academy (DSLA) has provided a first-class education in a clean, safe and nurturing environment. The DSLA is a public school academy, more popularly known as a charter school. The school's charter to operate is granted by Lake Superior State University(LSSU) trustees.
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This is as dystopian a vision of the future as any British Prime Minister has offered the public since the Cold War. In Boris Johnsons dark new world of international relations, the 2020s will see the breaking down of rules-based world order, the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and, more than likely, a successful chemical or nuclear attack by terrorists.

And that is before we get to the apocalyptic double whammy contained in the Governments landmark review of defence, security and foreign policy  the shock pledge to increase Britains stockpile of nuclear weapons by 40 per cent followed by a broadening of the scenarios in which the UK would consider using these very expensive missiles.

The Governments view is that in the decade ahead conventional threats and weapons will pass into obsolescence. This may explain why the British Army is to lose thousands of soldiers  perhaps as many as 10,000  while the RAF and Navy will lose frontline aircraft and ships.

They will be replaced eventually by high-tech alternatives  drones, for example, instead of minehunters and submarine-hunting frigates  most of which come with a huge price tag for Armed Forces so indebted they could effectively be declared bankrupt.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson leaves to give his Integrated Review statement in the Houses of Parliament from 10 Downing Street, Tuesday

Who needs infantry battalions when were prepared to increase the size of our nuclear armoury? That at least seems to the logic behind the PMs nuclear or bust approach.

My fear is that his dramatic move could make people less safe. Because the reduction in the scale and capability of the UKs conventional military options may restrict our ability to intervene effectively in any international conflict. The review makes clear the past decade has seen an increase in conflict globally and the years 2016 and 2019 witnessed the highest number of active armed conflicts internationally since 1946.

The majority of these were civil wars  the sorts which call not for nuclear capability but back-to-basics soldiering in hot, dusty climates if the UK wants to bring any influence to bear on the ground. And while Boris says he wants to revolutionise warfare with investment in artificial intelligence and directed energy weapons, the review concedes our enemies do not need to spend fortunes on shiny, computerised kit to be effective. It says: The advantages offered by high-tech capabilities may be eroded by affordable, easily-available, low-tech threats such as drones and improvised explosive devices.

Any UK soldier who served in Afghanistan could have reminded the Prime Minister that the British Army lost more than 100 lives and countless more wounded to basic Taliban roadside bombs.

Missile firing from HMS Vigilant, which fired an unarmed Trident II (D5) ballistic missile. Boris Johnson is set to raise the cap on Britain's stockpile of Trident nuclear warheads

As for the escalation in nuclear capability, nobody predicted such a dramatic shift of emphasis. The UK was one of the first signatories to the nuclear non-proliferation treaty in the 1960s and in recent years had abided by a capability ceiling of 180 warheads. Raising the total to 260 undoubtedly sends a strong message to US President Joe Biden that Britain remains committed to global security and perhaps strengthens the UKs position as a permanent member of the UN Security Council.

But it also sends a clear signal to Russian leader Vladimir Putin that the era of disarmament in the West is over and could possibly trigger a new nuclear arms race.

Equally, Iran will now surely redouble its efforts to acquire nuclear weapons capability. One of the most dramatic proposals concerns the use of the new nuclear weapons. Previously the UKs position was that it would only use them against another nuclear power. Now Britain reserves the right to review this position and engage non-nuclear states if the future threat of weapons of mass destruction, such as chemical and biological capabilities or emerging technologies that could have a comparable impact, makes it necessary.

These are not small bombs. While the UKs nuclear arsenal will remain tiny compared to Russia and the US  with an estimated 4,300 and 3,800 warheads respectively  each bomb will be around seven times as powerful as the atomic device dropped on Hiroshima in 1945.

And yet despite the bellicose content of the Governments plans, there was widespread confusion and despair yesterday among defence-minded MPs over ministers hesitant approach to China and the failure to identify the country as a hostile state.

The description systemic competitor smacked of not wishing to offend the Chinese and was in stark contrast to the rhetoric towards Russia, which is singled out as posing the most acute threat to our security.

Remarkably, there was scant mention of Chinas vast and rapidly expanding naval and air forces, its unilateral territorial expansions or its occupation of island chains in international waters. The undeniable reality is that the strategic balance of global security and influence has shifted, if not entirely from Nato countries towards China, then much of the way there.

Chinas influence is undoubtedly malevolent. Yet Britains defence review for 2020 to 2030 declines to declare China an enemy.

The PMs claim yesterday that Britain had led the international community in expressing concern over Chinas human rights abuses had a deeply hollow ring.

Fury grows over 40% rise in Trident arsenal

Shock plans to increase the countrys nuclear warheads by 40 per cent were met with fury last night amid fears it could spark an international arms race.

In a pledge which overshadowed the release of the UKs landmark defence, foreign policy and security review, Boris Johnson said he would raise the number of Trident nuclear missiles from 180 to 260.

The remarkable move comes more than 50 years after the signing of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty in which the Government committed to gradual nuclear disarmament.

In another controversial policy shift, the Integrated Review revealed that the UK could consider deploying its nuclear arsenal against non-nuclear countries if they possess equivalent weapons of mass destruction  which would include new emerging technologies.

And while the document states that the UK will not fire or threaten to use its missiles at a non-nuclear state, it also says that this could be reviewed in future so as to maintain the deterrent effect against potential adversaries.

Tobias Ellwood, Conservative chairman of the defence committee, said the plans warranted further scrutiny.

He added: I have written to the Ministry of Defence seeking an explanation as to whether [the plan] is in response to an increased nuclear threat.

We also need clarity on how the Government is blurring the lines in what constitutes a justified retaliation.

Caroline Lucas, co-leader of the Green Party, said: The Prime Minister set out that the climate crisis was his number-one priority then spent billions on more nuclear warheads...

They wont protect us from the climate emergency but will fuel a nuclear arms race.

However, last night, Downing Street insisted that the 260 number was only a ceiling not a target.

A spokesman added: We believe the best way to protect ourselves and our Nato allies is to ensure that we continue to have a credible independent nuclear deterrent.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi will make his first foreign visit since the Covid-19 outbreak last year to Bangladesh during March 26-27, highlighting the priority attached by India to the country in its Neighborhood First policy.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will make his first foreign visit since the Covid-19 outbreak last year to Bangladesh during March 26-27, highlighting the priority attached by India to the country in its Neighborhood First policy. Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to Dhaka later this month, officials of India and Bangladesh will be meeting in New Delhi to discuss issues related to river water sharing and flood forecast, today.

The Indian delegation will be represented by Pankaj Kumar, secretary in the Jal Shakti Ministry, while the Bangladeshi delegation will be headed by senior secretary Kabir Bin Anwar. India and Bangladesh are expected to discuss water sharing of Manu, Muhuri, Khowai, Gumti, Dudhkumar and Dharla rivers. Flood forecasting is another area around which the discussions will take place. According to a PTI report, the officials may discuss a matter related to drawing water from Feni river for the Sabroom town in Tripura, and deliberate upon the possible signing of MoU regarding drawing water from the Suma river, besides other matters.

Modi will be participating in the commemoration of what the Ministry of External Ministry described as three epochal events  Mujib Borsho, the birth centenary of Bangladeshs father of the nation, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, 50 years of diplomatic ties, and 50 years of Bangladeshs war of liberation. Prime Minister last visited Bangladesh in 2015 though Modi and Hasina have interacted virtually several times during the pandemic.

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During the visit, Modi will attend the national day programme of Bangladesh on March 26 as the guest of honor and will also be holding bilateral consultations with Hasina as well as will hold talks with President Mohammad Abdul Hamid and foreign minister AK Abdul Momen. Both the countries have launched several initiatives amid the pandemic to boost connectivity, including a new cross-border bridge over Feni river that was opened earlier this month to make Agartala, the capital of the northeastern state of Tripura, the Indian city closest to an international sea port.

The Ministry of External Affairs in a statement said, The visit of the prime minister to Bangladesh will be the first visit to a foreign country since the outbreak of the Covid pandemic. This highlights the priority India attaches to Bangladesh. Bangladesh is the largest recipient of Indian-made Covid-19 vaccines, having received nine million doses so far, including two million doses provided as a grant in January. External affairs minister S Jaishankar travelled to Dhaka on March 4 to prepare the grounds for Modis visit. Jaishankar held talks with Momen and met Hasina, and the two foreign ministers reviewed the overall relationship and India-backed development projects.

Also Read: Anti-China protests erupt in Myanmar: Chinese factories set ablaze
ROME, MAR 17 - Health Minister Roberto Speranza said Tuesday that Italy's COVID-19 vaccination campaign is set to go ahead full steam with the European Medicines Agency (EMA) expected to continue to back AstraZeneca's jab. Italy and several other countries have suspended use of the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine, pending renewed backing from the EMA, amid fears about possible links to blood clots. "The Italian government considers vaccines the key to bringing this period to an end," Speranza told a joint session of the Lower House's and Senate's social affairs committees. "What has happened does not dent our faith. "So our vaccination campaign is going ahead and it must accelerate. "The hope is that the (final) response from the EMA will come tomorrow. "We have the utmost faith and we demand the maximum level of safety". The minister added that the government was working on getting Italy's pharmacies and nurses involved in the vaccination campaign. (ANSA).
A series of Georgia massage parlor shootings transpired on Tuesday evening. It recorded eight fatalities, six of them were women of Asian descent. One man, 21, has been taken into custody in southwest Georgia.

Georgia Massage Parlor Shootings

According to Cherokee County Sheriff Department Capt. Jay Baker, Robert Aaron Long from Woodstock was arrested in Crisp County on Tuesday evening, around 150 miles (240 kilometers) south of Atlanta.

Baker stated the fatal shootings started at the Young's Asian Massage in Cherokee County, north of Atlanta, on Tuesday. Of the four killed, two were women of Asian descent, while the other two were a white man and a white woman. A fifth victim who survived is Hispanic. Two persons were injured in the attacks.

Over in Atlanta, Georgia, police officers responded to an ongoing robbery a little before 6 p.m. When they arrived at the Gold Spa beauty salon, they found three dead women, all shot, Police Chief Rodney Bryant said, reported Buzzfeed News. While still at the scene, they were called to a separate alarm just across where they were, an aroma-therapy spa across the street. A fourth victim with a gunshot wound was found dead inside. All the women killed in Atlanta were of Asian descent.

Baker stated the suspect was captured by surveillance video pulling up to the area at about 4:50 p.m. on Tuesday, minutes before the shooting. Authorities on Tuesday were searching for a suspect who was driving a dark-colored SUV.

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Police did not divulge whether they think the Atlanta shootings were associated with the Cherokee County shootings, which is about 30 miles northwest of Atlanta. Multiple people had been transferred to hospitals for treatment, reported The Guardian.

On its Facebook page, the sheriff's office posted surveillance pictures. He asked people to share the photos that displayed the man near the vehicle. People described the man as the suspect. He appealed for anyone who recognizes him or the vehicle to call 911.

Long of Woodstock was arrested at 8:30 p.m. eastern time on Tuesday. He said investigators from the two jurisdictions were "very confident" that he was the same gunman responsible for the three fatal shootings at massage parlors in the metro Atlanta area.

According to the Atlanta Police Department, footage from their Video Integration Center places the Cherokee County suspect's vehicle in the area. This was around the time of the Piedmont Road shootings. That, alongside video footage monitored by investigators, suggests a high possibility that the suspect is the same as that of the Cherokee County's, who is in custody. Therefore, an investigator from APD is in Cherokee County, and they are cooperating with them to confirm with certainty that their cases are connected, reported KEZI.

The murders came amid a recent series of attacks against Asian Americans. The shooting temporarily halted traffic near the Cherokee County business located in the 6400 block of Highway 92, around 30 miles (50 kilometers) northwest of Atlanta.

Georgia Department of Health Launches COVID-19 Vaccine Providers' Locator

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Former Union Minister and BJP leader Dilip Gandhi, who had tested positive for Covid-19, passed away at a private hospital in Delhi on Wednesday during treatment. He was 70.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the demise of Gandhi, saying the leader will be remembered from his rich contributions to community service.

"Saddened by the demise of former MP and Minister Shri Dilip Gandhi Ji. He will be remembered for his rich contributions to community service and helping the poor. He made numerous efforts to strengthen the BJP in Maharashtra. Condolences to his family and supporters. Om Shanti," the Prime Minister tweeted.

Gandhi had served as the Minister of State for Shipping in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led central government. He was Union Minister of State, Ministry of Shipping from January 29, 2003 to March 15, 2004.

He recently tested positive for coronavirus and was undergoing treatment for multiple ailments, sources said.

Gandhi had started his career as a corporator in the late 1980s and won the Lok Sabha election three-times since 1999 from Maharashtra's Ahmednagar. He was denied ticket in the 2019 general election. In 2014, Gandhi was re-elected with a margin of more than 200,000 votes in 2014.
Pervis Payne is set to be executed on April 9, 2021 (Tennessee Department of Correction)

As the execution of a Tennessee man approaches, voices across the internet are defending his innocence.

Pervis Payne, 54, has been on death row since 1988, when he was convicted of murdering Charisse Christopher and her two-year-old daughter. In the 33 years since then, Mr Payne has maintained his innocence, and a wide range of people and organisations have criticised the case  from the Innocence Project to TikTok.

The Innocence Project, a criminal justice group now representing Mr Payne, says key evidence in his trial was withheld or mysteriously misplaced, DNA testing of evidence was refused for decades, and claims Mr Payne  who is Black  was unfairly stereotyped by the prosecution.

Despite all this, Mr Paynes execution is set to take place on April 9  after a four-month delay due to to the Covid-19 pandemic  and people all across social media are speaking out. On Wednesday, the hashtag #justiceforpervis was trending on Twitter and TikTok.

In this country, theyll tell you youre innocent until proven guilty  unless youre Pervis Payne. Then youre guilty with proof of innocence, the TikTok user PositiveAF said in a video that has been viewed over three million times, calling the execution a modern day lynching.

More prominent figures have chimed in as well.

Today, I join more than 150 faith, civil rights, legal, and legislative organisations across Tennessee in calling for clemency for #PervisPayne, Martin Luther King III tweeted on 10 March. There is too much doubt in the evidence to allow for his execution - it would be unconstitutional.

Mr Payne says that on the day of the murders, he actually tried to help Ms Christopher and her daughter, Lacie. In June 1987, Mr Payne says he was in his apartment in Millington, Tennessee, when he heard a cry for help. When he arrived at the apartment of his neighbour, Ms Christopher, he says he found her and Lacie already bleeding from stab wounds. Frantically trying to help, Mr Payne says, he removed the knife from her neck.

Story continues

When a police officer approached, Mr Payne, realising he had connected himself to the murder weapon, says he panicked and ran away. Police arrested him later that day.

In September 2020, a judge finally allowed DNA testing to be done  for the first time  on evidence from the crime scene, and the genes of another man were found on the bloody knife. But by that time, it was too late.

Male DNA from an unknown third party was found on key evidence including the murder weapon, but unfortunately, is too degraded to identify an alternate suspect via the FBIs database, the Innocence Project said in a statement.

We continue to find it frustrating and disturbing that the State still has no explanation for how key pieces of DNA evidence that could conclusively prove who committed this crime  including the victims fingernail clippings  have gone missing, the statement went on. Todays results make crystal clear that it would be a gross miscarriage of justice for Tennessee to execute Pervis Payne.

Read More

Tests show DNA of death row inmate, unknown man, on knife

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Tennessee inmate who claims innocence asks for clemency

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A trade association on Wednesday asked the government to take "strict action" against Amazon and Flipkart, accusing the e-commerce companies of violating Indias rules on foreign direct investment (FDI).

The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), which claims to represent 80 million retail stores, was among associations that met officials from the governments department for promotion of industry and internal trade (DPIIT) on Wednesday. The department is holding a series of stakeholder consultations on issues pertaining to foreign direct investment (FDI) in e-commerce.

The meeting was held after Piyush Goyal, commerce and industry minister, said the government is considering clarifying rules on e-commerce. The government has received complaints against e-commerce companies alleging violations of the FDI policy.

Government policy allows 100 per cent FDI in marketplace e-commerce platforms and prohibits the FDI in inventory-based models of e-commerce.

To protect the small merchants/kirana, FDI in inventory based models of e-commerce has been banned and the companies with FDI are supposed to operate the marketplace based e-commerce platform only. However, due to creative interpretations about the relationship between marketplace and sellers, these companies are controlling either the sellers on their platform or their inventory, said Praveen Khandelwal, secretary general of CAIT.

The control of foreign marketplace platform entities, over the sellers on their platform, enables them to do anti-competitive practices such as predatory pricing and deep discounting through capital dumping that has led to closure of a large number of small merchants/kiranas leading to job loss for lakhs of people every month, he said.

CAIT sought a regulator to monitor e-commerce business in India. The regulator can then take immediate action against violations such as deep discounting, preferential arrangements with sellers, among others.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have joined world leaders in wishing the Irish a Happy St Patrick's Day.

William and Kate appeared in the special video greeting, as did US president Joe Biden, Canadian PM Justin Trudeau, New Zealand's leader Jacinda Ardern and Australian PM Scott Morrison, among others.

The duke began by delivering his greeting in Irish, saying: "Beannachtai na Feile Padraig oraibh" - Happy St Patrick's Day - followed by Kate, who said: "We're delighted to wish you all a very Happy St Patrick's Day."

William quipped to his wife: "How come you got that easy bit?"

The couple, who were both dressed in shades of green recalled the warm welcome they received during their visit to Ireland last March just ahead of the first lockdowns.

William said: "We were so thrilled to be able to visit Ireland just over a year ago, a few short weeks before all of our lives were turned upside down by the pandemic."

Kate added: "The warm welcome that we received everywhere was a testament to the friendship between our two countries, and the strength of the relationship between the UK and Ireland."

Expand Close Britain's Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge speak in a 2021 video by Irish Department Of Foreign Affairs with St Patrick's Day wishes. Department Of Foreign Affairs/via Reuters / Facebook

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The duke said they recognised this St Patrick's Day would be different, but he hoped people would still be able to celebrate safely.

William added: "We know that for Irish people all around the world today won't be the same as normal, but we hope you can celebrate safely in any case."

The duke, who is Colonel of the Irish Guards, and the duchess traditionally attend the Guards' St Patrick's Day parade each year at barracks in London.

Read More

William sent a letter to the British Army regiment, expressing his pride at the "grit and determination" they have shown over the last year during the pandemic.

Taoiseach Micheal Martin has already urged the public to enjoy a safe St Patrick's Day.

He stressed it was very important that people avoid social gatherings amid the ongoing Covid-19 crisis.
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KEWA PUEBLO  Greeted by tribal leadership, second gentleman Douglas Emhoff arrived at the Santo Domingo Health Center on Wednesday afternoon as part of the Biden administrations efforts to promote the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan.

Ill never forget it because its the first time Im doing it, and Ill never forget it because of the amazing place you have here, said Emhoff, the husband of Vice President Kamala Harris. He told those gathered it was his first solo trip as the countrys first second gentleman.

During his afternoon-long trip to central New Mexico, Emhoff stressed the importance of getting COVID-19 vaccinations and said the rescue plan, which was signed into law by President Biden last week, will bring immediate relief to people across the country.

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His visit was part of a large effort by the Biden administration to promote the package. Emhoff was with Harris in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Monday and Denver on Tuesday before making the trip to New Mexico.

He met with tribal leaders at the health clinic, then made a trip to Albuquerque to visit with working women at the National Hispanic Cultural Center.

Sending Doug Emhoff to the Duke City doesnt change the fact that Joe Bidens $1.9 trillion boondoggle of a spending bill is full of pork and unrelated projects that have nothing to do with COVID relief, Michael Joyce, spokesman for the Republican National Committee, said in an email. If Joe Biden wanted to deliver actual relief to New Mexicans, he should have passed a bill that isnt a progressive wish list.

No Republican members of Congress voted for the relief package.

Native American tribes will specifically benefit from the bill, which includes more than $20 billion for their communities and governments.

Emhoff toured the health clinic with New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and Kewa Pueblo Gov. Sidelio Tenorio while vaccinations were underway. A group of patients in the lobby gave him a brief round of applause.

Emhoff walked into a room as Kylea Garcia, 23, was preparing to get her COVID-19 vaccine.

I bet you didnt expect your second shot to be in front of the entire world, Emhoff told the patient.

A medical assistant plunged the needle into her left arm.

Its already done, Emhoff said. Get the shot when its your turn because it will save your life and the lives of others.

The majority of Kewa Pueblo members are already vaccinated. Leaders of other New Mexico tribes and pueblos, such as Sandia Pueblo, told the second gentleman that more than 90% of their members have already been vaccinated.

Emhoff said that, despite being hit hard by the coronavirus, tribal governments have developed a model for distributing the vaccine that other communities should emulate.

Its an incredible story, Emhoff said of their vaccination efforts, one that I will share with the president and vice president as soon as I see them.

Emhoffs visit to the vaccination clinic also included a meeting with several New Mexico tribal leaders about resources Native American communities will receive as part of the recovery package. The plan will bring $20 billion in emergency funding for tribal governments to manage the pandemic, $1.1 billion for education, and funding for housing, businesses and essential services.

Gov. Brian Vallo of Acoma Pueblo said that tribe has prioritized cultural leaders for the vaccine. He said many of their customs have been sacrificed during the pandemic.

We did not have the ability to be true Acoma  during this time, he said.

After leaving the clinic, Emhoff traveled to Albuquerque, where he hosted a listening session with working women in a courtyard at the National Hispanic Cultural Center. He listened to an intensive care unit nurse, a small-business owner, a domestic violence advocate and a teacher talk about how their lives have been affected by the pandemic.

Suzanne Bell, an ICU nurse at University of New Mexico Hospital, was one of the women in the session. She talked about spending a year on the front lines of the pandemic, where she treated patients who were sick and isolated from their loved ones.

Emhoff asked her what she thought about the rescue plan.

She said shes gone from being scared to optimistic about the future.
Recently, Kendall Jenner announced her new venture, a tequila brand she called 818. But although some people were excited about it, others werent impressed. People quickly responded with accusations of cultural appropriation. This isnt the first time a Kar-Jenner has angered people with their insensitive use of something thats important to another culture. Kim Kardashian West has had similar issues. In fact, she faced a huge problem when she first announced her new shapewear line. What will it take for this famous family to learn this particular lesson?

Kendall Jenner | Theo Wargo/Getty Images

Kendall Jenners 818 tequila

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Insider reports that Jenner was excited to share news of her new business with the world. In February, she took to Instagram to announce the launch of 818, a tequila that she says shes been working on for over three years to perfect. It seems that tequila lovers agree because 818 has won multiple awards, including best reposado at the World Tequila Awards. However, not everyone is as impressed with Jenners new venture. The comments on her post were filled with people saying that the whole thing just didnt sit right with them. They said that she was taking something from a culture that shes not a part of and exploiting it for financial gain.

The importance of tequila in Mexican culture

RELATED: Kardashian/Jenner Critics Fight Over Which Sister Is the Least Controversial

Thrillist explains that to understand how deep the history of tequila runs in Mexican culture, you have to go back as far as 1000 B.C. The Aztecs used the sap of the agave plant to make a milky alcoholic drink called pulaque. This drink was so valued that the Aztecs even worshipped two gods that were connected to the drink. When the Spanish invaded Mexico in the early 1500s, they made their own version of the drink, using the agave to distill liquor. Within a hundred years, that liquor had evolved into tequila.

Through the centuries, Mexican distillers have perfected the art of making tequila. Today, the drink can only legally be called tequila if its made and aged in a certain way and in specific areas of Mexico. 818 does meet the requirements to be called tequila, but its believed that the name refers to Jenners hometown of Calabasas, California. Critics say that by claiming she developed it and naming it after an American city, shes erasing its deep Mexican roots.

Kendall Jenner didnt learn from the Kimono fiasco

Japan official to Kardashian West: Kimono belongs to Japan https://t.co/h8aSr7qsUa pic.twitter.com/qWVQ6tdIfW  CP24 (@CP24) July 2, 2019

RELATED: Kim Kardashian Responds to The Kimono Shapewear Backlash

If Jenner seems surprised by the backlash to her new venture, perhaps she shouldnt be. Her older sister faced a similar outcry not long ago. In 2019, Kardashian announced that she was launching a shapewear brand named Kimono. According to CNN, the name sparked immediate outrage. The mayor of Kyoto, Japan, Daisaku Kadokawa, expressed how problematic the name choice was in an open letter to Kardashian.

He asked her to reconsider the name, explaining that Kimono is a traditional ethnic dress fostered in our rich nature and history with our predecessors tireless endeavors and studies, and it is a culture that has been cherished and passed down with care in our living. Also, it is a fruit of craftsmanship and truly symbolizes sense of beauty, spirits and values of Japanese. He stated that the name should not be monopolized.

Popbuzz reports that on Keeping Up with the Kardashians, Kardashian expressed disbelief that people thought she was trying to be disrespectful. She also complained that no one mentioned that the name was problematic earlier. We brought the name to retailers, she said. 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. In the end, Kardashian agreed that the name was a mistake, and she decided to call the line Skims instead.

Since the Kar-Jenners dont seem to be very sensitive to cultural issues, perhaps they should consider hiring consultants who can let them know when theyve crossed a line. If Jenner didnt learn from Kardashians experience, maybe this latest backlash will help her and the rest of her famous family understand how important these issues are.
The head of the Libyan Government of National Accord (GNA) Faiez Serraj handed over power Tuesday to new leaders of the oil-rich country tasked with holding elections at the end of this year.

Serraj met in Tripoli with the new Presidential Council Head, Mohammed Menfi, and the Prime Minister of the Government of National Unity, Abdul-Hamid Dbeibah for the handover ceremony, Libya Observer reports.

The outgoing GNA leader, the Libyan media notes, urged the new executive authority to work on holding elections to allow Libyans to have their say in their leadership, in addition to achieving national reconciliation across the country.

Both Menfi and Dbeidha were elected early last month by the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum, LPDF, made of the 75 Libya delegates chosen across the country by the United Nations.

Dbeidha formed the Government of National Unity (GNU) that earned early this week a confidence vote from Tobruk-based House of Representatives (HoR), the countrys legal legislature.

Serraj ascended to power in December 2015 as result of the Libyan Political Dialogue signed in Morocco. The GNA arrived in Tripoli in Mars but had encountered challenges to impose itself as it faced resistance from rival administration in Beida backed retired Gen Khalifa Haftar.

Haftar in 2019 sought to unseat the GNA but the offensive went bust as Turkey and Qatar threw their weight behind Serraj.
MONTEREY PARK, Calif., March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plan (Blue Shield Promise) has received the Multicultural Health Care Distinction from the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA). This nationally recognized distinction reflects Blue Shield Promise's mission-driven commitment to elevating the standard of care for the diverse populations they serve.

NCQA's Multicultural Health Care program evaluates how well organizations comply with standards in:

Collecting race, ethnicity and language data

Access and availability of language assistance services

Cultural responsiveness of the practitioner network

Providing culturally and linguistically appropriate services

Reducing health care disparities

"Earning Multicultural Health Care Distinction shows that an organization is making a breakthrough in providing excellent health care to diverse populations. I congratulate any organization that achieves this level of distinction," said NCQA President Margaret E. O'Kane. "Eliminating racial and ethnic disparities in health care is essential to improving the quality of care overall."

"We are honored to receive the Multicultural Health Care Distinction from the National Committee for Quality Assurance," said Dr. Susan Fleischman, chief medical officer for Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plan. "We are committed to working to reduce health care disparities, and to being a resource and advocate that positively impacts the health of the communities we serve."

About Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plan

Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plan is a managed care organization, wholly owned by Blue Shield of California, offering Medi-Cal and Medicare-Medicaid Plans. It is led by healthcare professionals with a "members-first" philosophy and committed to building a quality network of providers and partnering with community organizations for more than 400,000 members. For more information about Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plan, please visit www.blueshieldca.com/promise . For more news about Blue Shield of California, please visit www.news.blueshieldca.com . Or follow us on LinkedIn , Twitter , or Facebook .

About National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA)

NCQA is a private, nonprofit organization dedicated to improving health care quality. NCQA accredits and certifies a wide range of health care organizations. It also recognizes clinicians and practices in key areas of performance. NCQA's Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS) is the most widely used performance measurement tool in health care. NCQA's website (ncqa.org) contains information to help consumers, employers and others make more informed health care choices. NCQA can be found online at ncqa.org, on Twitter @ncqa, on Facebook at facebook.com/NCQA.org/ and on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/company/ncqa.

CONTACT: Mashi Nyssen

Blue Shield of California

626-436-4345

[email protected]

SOURCE Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plan

Related Links

https://www.blueshieldca.com



New Delhi, March 17 : In an explosive revelation in the Ambani threat case, the former Chief Minister of Maharashtra,Devendra Fadnavis indicated on Wednesday that the owner of the explosives-laden SUV, Mansukh Hiren, did not commit suicide but was murdered.

Fadnavis alleged Hiren's body was later thrown in the creek to bury evidence in the case which seems to have shaken the confidence of the people in the state government.

The BJP leader said that the motive of burying evidence was to save the real masterminds, which seem to be the political bosses of Sachin Vaze, the encounter specialist presently been questioned by the NIA.

Citing autopsy reports, Fadnavis asserted that less water in the lungs of the deceased suggests that Hiren did not jump into the sea to end his life (as claimed by the cops) but was probably murdered and his body was thrown into the creek. "If someone dies of drowning, then water in the lungs should have been in excess. However in this case it's just the opposite. I have seen the postmortem report which reveals that there was no water in Hiren's lungs. Moreover, the nature of anti-mortem injuries indicates that a handkerchief was forcibly tied to strangulate the SUV owner," Fadnavis disclosed to media at the BJP headquarters in New Delhi.

The leader of Opposition in Maharshtra Assembly, Devendra Fadnavis, who initially raised the issue on Hiren's alleged murder on floor of House, said that cops involved in the alleged crime have planned to dispose of Hiren's body into the high tide. "However their plan got delayed by half an hour as by the time the body was thrown into the creek, there was a low tide. Despite recovering the body the next day, the police ignored crucial facts pointing towards murder," said Fadnavis, adding, "It shows that someone powerful in the government was behind Sachin Vaze and other key officers who made desperate efforts to destroy evidence. Time has come to unmask the big faces in the government shielding people like Vaze." Initially a suspect in the Ambani threat case, Mansukh Hiren, a businessman and owner of the SUV, was found dead on March 5 at Mumbra Reti Bunder on the banks of a creek that flows towards Mumbra from Thane.

According to NIA sources, Hiren was once close to Assistant Police Inspector(API) Sachin Vaze, now an accused in the case. Vaze was using Hiren's SUV for past few months and used the vehicle to plant the explosives.

Raising questions on the investigation of ATS Mumbai, probing the mysterious death of Mansukh Hiren, the former CM said that crucial evidence was blindly ignored by the top cops. "I know that there are certain audio tapes with the police, which include the voice of Mansukh Hiren, revealing about the instructions given to him by Sachin Vaze. These tapes and other documentary evidence require a threadbare probe. However ATS seems to have developed cold fleet in identifying the mastermind. I feel the Hiren Mansukh case should also be investigated by the NIA," Fadnavis added.

On the transfer of Mumbai police Commissioner Parambir Singh in connection with the Ambani threat case, the BJP leader said that Param Bir and Sachin Vaze were pawns in the hands of the state government. "By transferring Vaze's boss(Param Bir Singh), the actual operators of crime cannot be unmasked. Therefore the agencies should identify the political bosses of Sachin Vaze and they must be brought to justice," said Fadnavis, who also met senior BJP leaders in Delhi on Wednesday.
Bangladesh: Fisherman killed during police raid in Meghna river

March 17,2021 | Source: The Financial Express

A fisherman was shot to death during a river police operation against illegal fishing in the Meghna River in Matlab North in Chandpur district early on Tuesday. The deceased has been identified as Mohammad Masud, 22, a resident of Kalirchar in Munshiganj district, reports UNB. Mohammad Quamruzzaman, superintendent of Chandpur Police, said a river police team led by inspector Aul Hossain was patrolling the Meghna River in Mohanpur. The team spotted a group of fishermen on a boat. When the cops sought to inspect the boat they believed was illegally fishing, the fishermen hurled brick chips on the police and also attacked them with sticks. In self-defence, the police team opened fire, leaving one fisherman injured. Masud was taken to Matlab North Upazila Health Complex but had to be later shifted to Dhaka Medical College and Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries around 4 am. Police also arrested two persons and seized 25 kgs of hilsa fish, the boat, and a 2,000 metre net, said Shahajahan Kamal, officer-in-charge of Matlab North Police Station. The government has imposed a two-month ban on catching, selling, hoarding and transporting hilsa from March 1, with a view to boost its production. A 90-kilometre area stretching from Shatnal in Matlab North upazila to Char Bhairabi in Haimchar upazila in the Padma and the Meghna rivers has been turned into a sanctuary for hilsa. The ban will be lifted on May 1.

 2021 - The Financial Express
NEW YORK, March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Cambridge Assessment International Education, the world's largest provider of international education programs, today announced that more than 5,400 students from the United States will be recognized for their exceptional achievement on Cambridge examinations. Cambridge Scholar Awards honor students with the awards to celebrate and recognize their success on Cambridge International AS and A Level exams.

First introduced in the US in 1995, the Cambridge International program has grown rapidly in popularity. More Cambridge Advanced coursework and exams are now taken in the US than in any other country, and Cambridge International partners with schools across 35 states and the District of Columbia.

In recent years, school and district demand for Cambridge International has been primarily driven by the program's alignment to state and local equity priorities  in particular, providing access to high quality curricula and advanced course offerings for underrepresented students. Over the past decade, the number of U.S. students participating in the Cambridge program has increased by a compound annual rate of 45%; the largest growth has occurred at the high school level where the number of schools offering Cambridge International AS and A Level exams has grown by 220%.

"We congratulate all of our Cambridge students on their exceptional level of achievement this year," said Mark Cavone, Cambridge International Regional Director, North America. "Our program challenges and engages students across achievement levels, and its assessments and support resources are designed to be accessible for all students so they can be successful in college and beyond."

"Congratulations to each of our students whose high academic achievement earned them recognition from Cambridge International," said Chris Reykdal, Washington State Superintendent of Public Instruction. "Despite challenges presented by the pandemic and the transition to remote learning last spring, you persisted and still outperformed your peers across the nation, especially in science and math. Good luck on your next step; we are proud of you."

"We are excited to see so many of our Palm Beach students recognized by Cambridge International for their achievements. The strong performance of our students is a testament to the hard work of our educators in preparing students for their future educational endeavors," said Dr. Glenda Sheffield, Chief Academic Officer, The School District of Palm Beach County. "The Cambridge program provides our students with access to the type of rigorous coursework that is of critical importance to our district. The accessibility and scaffolding of the Cambridge program allows us to expand access to more students and maintain this incredible level of achievement."

The Cambridge International program is an integrated curriculum and examination system that emphasizes the value of a broad and balanced study. Alongside in-depth understanding of a variety of subjects, students master a broader range of critical skills that will equip them for a world that is changing, both technologically and economically, at an unprecedented pace. The curriculum is designed to develop learners who are confident in working with information and ideas, equipped for new and future challenges, and engaged intellectually and socially.

Each year, nearly 1 million students participate in Cambridge International programs worldwide, making more than 1.75 million exam entries. More than 600 U.S. colleges and universities, including all members of the Ivy League, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Duke University, New York University, University of Washington, and University of Virginia now accept Cambridge exams for credit and placement. Outside the U.S., Cambridge programs are offered at more than 10,000 schools in over 160 countries.

About Cambridge Assessment International Education

Cambridge Assessment International Education prepares school students for life, helping them develop an informed curiosity and a lasting passion for learning. We are part of the University of Cambridge.

Our Cambridge Pathway gives students a clear path for educational success from age 5 to 19. Schools can shape its curriculum around how they want students to learn  with a wide range of subjects and flexible ways to offer them. It helps students discover new abilities and a wider world, and give them the transferable skills they need for life, so they can achieve at school, university and work.

Learn more! Visit www.cambridgeinternational.org

SOURCE Cambridge International
The Daily Beast

REUTERSIt appears that Benjamin Netanyahu is finally on his way out as Israels prime minister. With just minutes to spare ahead of a midnight deadline on Wednesday, opposition leader Yair Lapid notified Israels president that he had formed a new government.But if Benjamin Netayahus 12-year run is indeed at an end, expect key segments of the GOP will treat Bibi as though he had not lost power, much as they continue to venerate Donald Trump and look at Joe Bidens victory as illegitimate.Israel
Lawsuit over Mount Rushmore fireworks dismissed

U.S. District Court Judge Roberto Lange in a ruling Wednesday dismissed a lawsuit brought against President Joe Biden's administration by Gov. Kristi Noem after the NFS a fireworks display there next month.
The Luzerne County Flood Protection Authority might partner with Duryea to upgrade that boroughs flood control system and prevent flood insurance rates paid by Duryea property owners from rising sharply next year.

On Tuesday, the authority board voted to pursue the potential rehabilitation of the Duryea levee system, after authority officials attended a recent Duryea borough meeting, said board Chairman Dominic Yannuzzi.

The plan is in the preliminary stages, said Yannuzzi and authority Executive Director Christopher Belleman.

Authority solicitor Christopher Slusser will look into potential legal issues and will consult the solicitors of Duryea and Luzerne County, Yannuzzi said. The authority will work with county council to develop the plan if it is deemed feasible, he said.

Something needs to be done about flood protection along the Lackawanna River in Duryea, because preliminary flood maps released by the Federal Emergency Management Agency last fall designate the borough as unknown flood risk, Belleman said.

That would be bad news for Duryea property owners who pay for flood insurance coverage.

The Duryea levee is not accredited by FEMA, Belleman said. If nothing is done, insurance premiums will increase dramatically.

The goal is to rehabilitate the levee system to meet standards set by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers by the time the flood maps take effect in late 2022, he said.

Duryea does not have the resources to do that alone, so the borough reached out to the flood protection authority, Belleman said.

Later this month, the authority will issue a request for proposals for engineering and surveying services regarding the proposed levee system rehabilitation. It will likely take about a year to develop a project plan, Belleman said.

Many questions need to be answered before the levee system upgrade can proceed, according to Belleman and Yannuzzi.

For one thing, it is not clear how the project would be funded, though the authority would seek grant funding, they said.

The project would also require numerous approvals, at the borough, county, state and federal levels, Belleman said.

The authority would need to revise its bylaws, he said.

It is also not clear how Duryea property owners who live in the flood plain would pay for the upgraded levee protection.

It is possible they would pay a levee fee, which the authority collects from its existing ratepayers in the Susquehanna River flood plain.

Or Duryea might pay a flat fee to the authority to cover the cost of levee protection, Belleman said.

The authority board should know more about the status of the project by its next meeting on April 20, Yannuzzi said.
Somerset County prisons toured in wake of COVID

A media tour was held Wednesday at both Somerset County prisons to show how officials have adapted to COVID-19.
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Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-16 02:10:55|Editor: huaxia

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UNITED NATIONS, March 15 (Xinhua) -- UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen on Monday highlighted the atrocities of the Syrian civil war, which has raged for 10 years.

"The Syrian tragedy will go down as one of the darkest chapters in recent history. The Syrian people are among the greatest victims of this century," he told the Security Council virtually in a briefing, which coincides with the 10th anniversary of the Syrian conflict.

"On this grim anniversary, I want to commemorate Syrian victims and remember Syrian suffering and resilience in the face of unimaginable violence and indignities that all Syrians -- men and women, from all areas and all backgrounds -- have faced over 10 long years," he said.

They have been injured, maimed and killed in every way imaginable -- their corpses even desecrated. They have been snatched from the streets, thrown into prisons or abducted, disappeared, mistreated, tortured, paraded in cages, and ransomed or exchanged in prisoner swap deals, he said.

They have witnessed their homes, markets, hospitals, schools and utilities being destroyed by airstrikes, barrel bombs, rocket and mortar fire and improvised explosive devices. They have endured the unspeakable horrors of chemical weapons.

They have been denied humanitarian assistance, sometimes under sieges in which perpetrators deliberately starved the population. They have faced human rights violations on an enormous and systematic scale and endured countless violations of international humanitarian law.

They have seen the largest Security Council-listed terrorist organization in recent memory, the Islamic State, take over a third of their country -- a group so violent and extreme that it enslaved women and girls and sold them in markets. They have seen foreign fighters flooding into their country. They have seen front lines and fault lines emerge across their country, as five foreign armies jostle in the theater, said Pedersen.

They have been displaced into city-sized camps, or to sleep in the open in olive groves and abandoned houses, only to be displaced again and again, in baking heat and freezing snow. They have fled Syria, often only to face further poverty and discrimination, or worse, perishing at sea in search of refuge.

They have been dispossessed of their lands and homes. They have watched their middle-income country dragged back into de-development and destitution on such a scale that it will take generations to rebuild. They have experienced corruption, mismanagement, sanctions and economic meltdown. Nine in 10 Syrians now live in poverty. Their currency has collapsed, with savings and livelihoods evaporating overnight, and their money worth a minuscule fraction of what it was before the war. They have waited for hours queueing for bread and fuel, searched the pharmacies for medicines that were not on the shelves, or found their hospitals lacking essential medical equipment. They have faced the COVID-19 pandemic with a depleted and devastated health system, he said.

Syrian women have faced conflict-related sexual violence -- from all parties -- and the rise in early and forced marriages. Most Syrian children have never lived a day without war. Many have gone without food, medicine or education, or been detained, recruited for battle, injured or killed. And every Syrian parent must feel the anguish that the legacy of this conflict will last for the lifetime of every treasured newborn child, he said.

Syrians meanwhile observe that those responsible for actions that may amount to crimes against humanity or war crimes enjoy near-total impunity. Ordinary Syrians have also seen no compromise between incompatible political visions, and no real progress in talks between the government and opposition to reconcile those visions, he said.

All Syrians have seen that the international community has been divided, trapped in geopolitical competition, caught in their own competing narratives, and often focussed on supporting one side or other in the conflict. The world has not succeeded in helping deliver the Syrians from what UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called "a living nightmare."

"I express the profound regret of the United Nations that we have yet not been able to mediate an end to this tragic conflict," said Pedersen. Enditem
Regulatory News:

Air Liquide (Paris:AI) and ArcelorMittal have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the objective of implementing solutions to produce low-carbon steel in Dunkirk. The two companies are joining forces to transform the steel production process through the development of innovative solutions involving low-carbon hydrogen and CO2 capture technologies. This partnership is the first step towards the creation of a new low-carbon hydrogen and CO2 capture technologies ecosystem in this major industrial basin.

Air Liquide and ArcelorMittal have signed an MOU that aims to contribute significantly to the decarbonization of the Dunkirk industrial basin. In the context of the Paris Agreement, the European Commission's Green Deal, and in line with Air Liquide and ArcelorMittal's commitments to energy transition, the project will reduce yearly CO2 emissions from ArcelorMittal's steel-making facilities in Dunkirk by 2.85 million tons by 2030. Air Liquide and ArcelorMittal have jointly applied for large projects funding under the Important Project of Common European Interest (IPCEI) scheme for hydrogen. Funding from European and/or French schemes supporting decarbonization is key for the implementation of the project.

ArcelorMittal is ready to implement an innovative production unit on its Dunkirk site, combining two steel production technologies DRI: direct reduced iron unit, and submerged arc furnace in dimensions never seen before. As a low-carbon technology, the DRI and submerged arc furnace unit will enable the production of steel with lower CO2 emissions. This initiative was the subject of a preliminary study announced by ArcelorMittal last October. It comes in addition to the initiatives already implemented by ArcelorMittal on its Dunkirk site to lower its CO2 emissions.

Air Liquide will support this strategic initiative through the massive supply of low-carbon hydrogen and the implementation of CO2 capture technologies in Dunkirk, one of Air Liquide's historical industrial basins in France. The Air Liquide group has developed a unique expertise both for hydrogen all along the value chain, from production and storage to distribution, as well as CO2 capture technologies. Leveraging this know-how and in line with its Climate objectives, Air Liquide is committed to develop sustainable solutions in supporting its customers in the steel industry to reduce carbon emissions.

This partnership between Air Liquide and ArcelorMittal is a first step towards the creation of an ecosystem at the forefront of low-carbon hydrogen and CO2 capture solutions that will be a source of competitiveness and attractiveness for various players in the Dunkirk industrial and port basin.

Francois Jackow, Executive Vice-President and a member of the Executive Committee supervising Europe Industries activities, said:  Decarbonizing the Industry is at the heart of Air Liquide's strategy and we are committed to accompanying our customers with a wide range of innovative solutions. The Group will contribute its unique expertise along the entire hydrogen supply chain developed over the last 50 years and its mastery of CO2 capture technologies. The time to act is now, and Air Liquide is pleased to support ArcelorMittal in this project aiming to decarbonize a major industrial basin. 

Geert van Poelvoorde, CEO of ArcelorMittal Europe, said:  This project represents a major technological breakthrough and confirms ArcelorMittal's willingness to profoundly and sustainably transform our production technologies, in line with our objectives to reduce our CO2 emissions by 30% by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. We count on the strong support of the French and European authorities in order to decarbonize the steel industry and are hopeful that this project will receive the support it needs to deliver large-scale CO2 emissions savings. The partnership with Air Liquide will enable us to further accelerate the decarbonization of our steel production and contribute to the creation of a low carbon industrial and port basin. 

About Air Liquide

A world leader in gases, technologies and services for Industry and Health, Air Liquide is present in 78 countries with approximately 64,500 employees and serves more than 3.8 million customers and patients. Oxygen, nitrogen and hydrogen are essential small molecules for life, matter and energy. They embody Air Liquide's scientific territory and have been at the core of the company's activities since its creation in 1902.

Air Liquide's ambition is to be a leader in its industry, deliver long term performance and contribute to sustainability with a strong commitment to climate change and energy transition at the heart of its strategy. The company's customer-centric transformation strategy aims at profitable, regular and responsible growth over the long term. It relies on operational excellence, selective investments, open innovation and a network organization implemented by the Group worldwide. Through the commitment and inventiveness of its people, Air Liquide leverages energy and environment transition, changes in healthcare and digitization, and delivers greater value to all its stakeholders.

Air Liquide's revenue amounted to more than 20 billion euros in 2020. Air Liquide is listed on the Euronext Paris stock exchange (compartment A) and belongs to the CAC 40, EURO STOXX 50 and FTSE4Good indexes

For more information please visit: www.airliquide.com

About ArcelorMittal

ArcelorMittal is the world's leading steel and mining company, with a presence in 60 countries and primary steelmaking facilities in 17 countries. In 2020, ArcelorMittal had revenues of $53.3 billion and crude steel production of 71.5 million metric tonnes, while iron ore production reached 58.0 million metric tonnes.

Our goal is to help build a better world with smarter steels. Steels made using innovative processes which use less energy, emit significantly less carbon and reduce costs. Steels that are cleaner, stronger and reusable. Steels for electric vehicles and renewable energy infrastructure that will support societies as they transform through this century. With steel at our core, our inventive people and an entrepreneurial culture at heart, we will support the world in making that change. This is what we believe it takes to be the steel company of the future.

ArcelorMittal is listed on the stock exchanges of New York (MT), Amsterdam (MT), Paris (MT), Luxembourg (MT) and on the Spanish stock exchanges of Barcelona, Bilbao, Madrid and Valencia (MTS).

For more information please visit: http://corporate.arcelormittal.com or https://france.arcelormittal.com

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210317005631/en/

Contacts:

AIR LIQUIDE

Corporate Communications

media@airliquide.com

Investor Relations

IRTeam@airliquide.com

ArcelorMittal CONTACTS

Image 7

+33 (0)1 53 70 74 70 arcelormittal@image7.fr

ArcelorMittal France Isabelle Chopin

+33 (0)6 15 21 59 25 isabelle.chopin@arcelormittal.com
[March 17, 2021] SafeFun Digital Health App Allows Users to Share Vetted Test Results and Vaccination Status to Instill Comfort and Confidence in a Post-Covid World

SafeFun - a revolutionary new consumer-facing app developed by a team led by Houston-based software and hospitality entrepreneur Carson Hager - was born out of a desire to help everyone, everywhere, once again gather together following a year defined by fear, isolation and loss due to the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210317005702/en/ Programmed to be effortlessly and intuitively navigated, users register and download the app to secure a complimentary, password protected SafeFun account before uploading their test results or vaccination records. Download SafeFun from the Apple (News - Alert) App Store or Google Play Store. Photo courtesy of Michael Anthony. The socially-focused digital health passport - which is completely free to use in its launch phase - powers a game-changing app that allows users to voluntarily and easily share COVID-19 test results and vaccine records with everyone in their social network - from friends and family to co-workers and first dates. The community-focused document wallet combines industry expertise with technology, data science and ease to provide comfort knowing the people around you have either undergone a recently validated negative Covid test or have received an approved vaccination. Programmed to be effortlessly and intuitively navigated, users register and download the app to secure a complimentary, password protected SafeFun account before uploading their test results or vaccination records. SafeFun, in turn, extracts those results from the document, instantly analyzes and validates it with hundreds of known testing and vaccination record formats from around the world, then summarizes and adds the users' most current health records into their digital health wallet so they can be displayed on the SafeFun Passport. The internationally compliant app not only offers On Demand access to records anywhere in the world at any time, it also provides visual cues that help users immediately identify when they - and the people in their sharing network - are up to date on tests and vaccinations. "SafeFun is your passport to begin sharing memorable moments and enjoying life again," said SafeFun founder Carson Hager. "In addition to encouraging responsibility, it opens up a world of opprtunities to comfortably reengage in person with friends, family and co-workers or to display for entry at designated SafeFun programming and events."



Hager, who made a name for himself in the tech world in 1996 as the founder of Cynergy Systems, was uniquely qualified to develop and launch the COVID-era digital tool in record time following two decades of creating enterprise and consumer-facing software applications for companies servicing the healthcare, manufacturing, financial services and government market industries. By 2008, the privately held Cynergy - headquartered in Washington D.C - had sprouted U.S. field offices from Boston to San Diego along with European operations in London and Asia Pacific operations in Taipei, Taiwan and Sydney, Australia. In 2014, Hager sold the company to the U.S. advisory firm KPMG and soon traded in developing software programs in the cloud for opening watering holes on the grid. Under a newly formed umbrella organization - The Hospitable Viking - he launched a trio of bars in his native Houston that ultimately led to the idea for SafeFun.

As the severity of the then-called Corona Virus began to take root, Hager realized that the only way he would get customers back into not only his - but everyone's - establishments would be if he could somehow make people feel comfortable, and that would only happen if they could confidently demonstrate to others around them that they were at low or no risk. In the flash of a lightbulb moment, SafeFun was born. Dusting off his programmer's hat, Hager and team immediately began working around the clock to develop an intelligent system that could import any number of PDF health records from anywhere that could quickly identity and validate them by incorporating the data into an aggregated digital health wallet for users. The resulting SafeFun platform runs on the Microsoft Azure cloud and includes native mobile applications for iOS and Android (News - Alert) as well as a full web version for those users who do not own smartphones. "We tried to think of everything that would prevent someone from having the option to utilize the technology, so we did our best to ensure that SafeFun would be accessible to everyone, everywhere, who are in need of some serious comfort right about now." SafeFun supports molecular/diagnostic, antibody and antigen results from hundreds of testing centers around the globe, including national testing providers like Walgreens, CVS, Walmart/eTrueNorth and Curative as well as local and regional testing centers in every major market. The app ranks molecular testing as the gold standard in determining a true negative diagnosis for COVID-19 and grants a 48-hour window from the time of testing to determine strong or weak comfort levels to account for the possibility of contracting COVID-19 after taking a test. If the app doesn't currently support a testing center, users can simply upload the result so that SafeFun can validate the testing center and add it to their system within 24 hours. "We are not epidemiologists," emphasized Hager. "We rely on the experts at the CDC, FDA, NIH and others to provide conservative guidelines around safety and use them in our algorithms to provide comfort. Ultimately, it is the users - not the app - that decides what they are comfortable with and what they are not." The platform also comes with follower and following categories that will be familiar to anyone using popular social media channels. Once downloaded, users can search contacts and request friends who then have the option of approving requests so they can monitor and determine who they're comfortable gathering with in their vetted social network. "Imagine returning to a time when a couple can plan on inviting all - and not just a handful - of their family and friends to their wedding and feeling confident enough to book a honeymoon with non-refundable reservations," Hager said. "That's the kind of hope we're trying to instill." In addition to weddings, birthdays, graduations, holidays and social gatherings of all kinds, Hager sees SafeFun credentials being embraced by SafeFun-designated venues as people look to transition back into a life worth living comfortably and confidently. The app is available to all ages, but parents must set-up their child's account in order to be activated. About SafeFun Developed by software veteran and hospitality entrepreneur Carson Hager, SafeFun was born out of a desire to "help everyone get back to living" with a full consumer-facing digital health passport that allows users to voluntarily share their COVID-19 test results and vaccine records with friends, family and coworkers. The community-focused social app combines industry expertise with technology, data science and ease with a mission to provide peace of mind that the people around you have had a recent negative COVID-19 test or vaccine. SafeFun aims to greatly reduce the risk of contracting COVID-19 by utilizing conservative safety guidelines set by the CDC, FDA, NIH and others in its algorithms to provide safe spaces for just about anywhere else a crowd might gather. For more information, please visit https://safefun.com. Media assets, including images, video and FAQ's please visit here How to video here View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210317005702/en/

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Hurricane season 2021 is here: How do storms get their names?
Derry Aontu Cllr Emmet Doyle has slammed what he claims is Sinn Feinsduplicity, claiming it makes the republican party unworthy of the public trust.

Speaking last night, Councillor Doyle said: Sinn Feins policy of duping and dodging on issues such as public sector pay, the Irish language and now abortion shows their word cannot be trusted by the public. Only last night in the Assembly they turned their backs on those they had made a commitment on abortion by speaking repeatedly against a Bill but then abstaining on it.

Sinn Fein have been speaking from both sides of the mouths on abortion in the North for years. At the doors they are prolife. On twitter theyre for abortion without limit or protection. They speak in Stormont on supporting disability rights. Yet without compassion they abstain on a bill that seeks to protect children with Down Syndrome from abortion.

We have seen them do the same to public sector workings by voting to wreck their pensions one week and the next, turning up to protests about the same issue. They hammer the southern government on the reduction of capacity in hospitals in the south yet they have presided over the loss of 100s of beds and hundreds of staff from the NHS in the North.

Time and time again they have told the public one thing and then done the opposite, and what is worse, they have then sought to tell the public mistruths about their position. SF seek to ride two horses at once. Aontu will not accept this approach from any political party.

"We will end their duplicity by exposing them at every turn. At every u-turn Aontu will be there to remind Sinn Fein what they have said and done and the promises they have broken time and again to our community.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-16 23:06:28|Editor: huaxia

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China's top legislature has approved a decision to improve Hong Kong's electoral system, in line with ardent public calls for Hong Kong to be administered by those who love the city and the country.

Those claiming the move would harm Hong Kong's democracy are turning the facts upside down. Their attempt to leave the special administrative region in the hands of haters and traitors is doomed to failure, for no one truly caring about Hong Kong will allow it to remain haunted by the fallout of colonial rule.

During Britain's rule of Hong Kong, there was no democracy to speak of. Hong Kongers were "second-class citizens" for 156 years and had no right to elect the colony's governor. That was the job of the British monarchy. Read Xinhua Commentary.

Produced by Xinhua Global Service
(@ChaudhryMAli88)

WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 18th March, 2021) Texas authorities will begin interviewing migrant children as part of a statewide operation to crack down on human trafficking on the southern US border, Governor Greg Abbott's office said on Wednesday.

"Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) troopers and agents, as well as the Texas Rangers, will conduct interviews with unaccompanied minors who crossed the border to identify victims of human trafficking and gain actionable intelligence that will aid in the arrest of traffickers," Abbott's office said in a press release.

Abbott has asked the Biden administration to grant Texas authorities' access to a convention center in the city of Dallas that will house up to 3,000 migrant children who arrived in the United States from Mexico without thier parents.

There are about 1,000 Texas state police officers deployed at the Texas border with Mexico as part of the mission to better secure the border, the release said.

Data from US Customs and Border Protection shows 9,457 unaccompanied migrant children were apprehended at the southern border in February, which is a substantial increase from the 5,858 unaccompanied migrant children apprehended in January. At least 29,729 migrant children have been apprehended at the US-Mexico border in the period from October to February.
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Longtime industry participant Ron Slack, of Cobourg, Ont., recently passed at the age of 78.

Slack enjoyed racing Standardbreds as a diversion from his work at General Motors. Among his favourite horses were Happy Hooves and Luvs For Ever. In recent years, he loved watching his children enjoy success with Cold Creek Cabo and Ideal Jet.

Slack is survived by his wife of 56 years, Frances; a son, Bill; a daughter, Rhonda; and sisters, Marie Arsenault and Marilyn Somerville.

Arrangements are private. Memorial donations may be made to Northumberland Humane Society, and will be received at www.rossfuneralchapel.com.

Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the friends and family of Ron Slack.
McConnell: Do not let me anywhere near power. Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

A specter is haunting the Republican Party. And that specter, oddly enough, is a future world in which Republicans control government and pass bills that they campaigned on.

Mitch McConnells latest defense of what remains of the filibuster yesterday veered wildly between two irreconcilable claims. On the one hand, he warned a majority-rules Senate would be a scorched earth, disaster, hundred-car pileup in which nothing happens. On the other hand, he warned that once Republicans gained control of government, the chamber would become a smooth-running machine in which conservative priorities are quickly enacted.

Here is McConnells complete account of the horrors that await the country were the legislative filibuster to perish:

As soon as Republicans wound up back in the saddle, we wouldnt just erase every liberal change that hurt the country. Wed strengthen America with all kinds of conservative policies with zero input from the other side. Nationwide right-to-work for working Americans. Defunding Planned Parenthood and sanctuary cities on day one. A whole new era of domestic energy production. Sweeping new protections for conscience and the right to life of the unborn. Concealed-carry reciprocity in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Massive hardening of security on our southern border.

The Wall Street Journal editorial page, echoing McConnell (as it usually does) chimes in: Republicans would be in position to rule the Senate without a filibuster. Imagine what they might pass? Mr. McConnell gave a few examples  defunding Planned Parenthood  but for political flavor think GOP Senators Josh Hawley and Rand Paul unbound. This, as well see later, is telling.

McConnell has made gridlock so routine that both he and his imagined audience see the idea of a party enacting the proposals it advocates as fantastical and scary. But if you go to any of the 50 states, that is not how political rhetoric operates. Candidates for office advocate positions, then try to pass them into law when elected, and take credit for them if they work. The opposition party either accepts those changes, modified, or runs against them and tries to reverse them if they remain unpopular. Likewise, every democratic government in the world that Im aware of operates on the same principle.

None of these democracies, domestic or foreign, needs a supermajority to protect against an elected government carrying out its promised agenda. Obviously, temporary majorities need some restraint to prevent excess. But those restraints exist  in the American system, not only multiple veto points and courts that can curtail unconstitutional laws, but democracy itself. The dynamic that inhibits majorities from exceeding their mandate is the prospect that their policies will create a backlash and be subject to reversal.

In place of this, we have the peculiar dynamic in which the leader of a major party is invoking his own agenda as something that cannot and should not happen.

Obviously, I dont like the policies McConnell described. What I cant understand is how McConnell is supposed to feel about them. If he truly thinks theyd strengthen America, then shouldnt he want to have the chance to enact them, and then have his party run on the results?

Democrats think of their agenda this way: They believe their policies would prove popular if enacted. Republicans might think theyll hate them, but once they have seen them in action, theyll come to realize those policies make most peoples lives better. Nancy Pelosis frequently mocked line about Obamacare (We have to pass the bill so that you can find out what is in it) captured this idealistic belief. And her prediction was borne out  once Obamacare was up and running, people understood what it did and wanted to keep it.

The Journals version of a scary Republican government (Josh Hawley and Rand Paul unbound) is self-evidently preposterous  by definition, unpopular gadfly legislators dont have the power to amass majorities in two chambers. McConnells list combines policies that the last GOP administration enacted without any input from Congress at all (new era of domestic energy production, massive hardening of security on our southern border) and policies Republicans would probably be unwilling to vote for (defunding Planned Parenthood, sweeping new protections for conscience and the right to life of the unborn).

Maybe Im wrong about some of these items. Perhaps the next Republican government can pass a sweeping anti-abortion bill, presumably after the courts strike down Roe v. Wade. There are certainly a lot of conservative voters who desperately want this to happen. Has McConnell told them that the goal they have been pouring their hearts into is impossible, because of rules McConnell is fighting to keep in place? I cant think of any way to read his comments other than a backhanded admission that what the Christian right considers the murder of the unborn cannot be stopped unless the filibuster is defeated.

Obviously, McConnell would never concede this openly, even though it follows straightforwardly from his logic. His agenda exists in a netherworld where one group of people is told it will happen if they vote Republican, and another group is reassured it never will.

This kind of doublethink is a product both of the unique supermajority requirement in the Senate and the Republican Partys retreat from serious governing. Conservatives are increasingly unable to conceive of legislation as anything other than a zero-sum exercise in punishing and humiliating the other party. They imagine Democratic laws are merely pretexts to expand government power, and then internalize the same logic for their own agenda.

McConnell benefits from rules that allow him to enact all the changes he cares about  lax regulation of business, tax cuts, and confirming judges  either with just the presidency, or the presidency plus a majority. He fears allowing his caucus to actually enact laws carrying out most of their promises. That is why the bogeyman role of Hawley and Paul is so revealing. They represent McConnells fear of having to translate conservative demands into concrete legislation. Hed much rather use the passions of his base to get elected, and then use that power for ends McConnell cares about.

That is McConnells problem. How much sympathy he deserves is a matter of personal taste. But why should his travails dictate the workings of a great democracy?
Alberta Introduces Legislation That Would Help Voters Fire Elected Officials

Alberta has introduced a bill that would allow voters a chance to fire their elected representatives if they break public confidence, says Premier Jason Kenney.

Introduced on Monday, Bill 52, the Recall Act, would allow Albertans to initiate a process that could lead to the removal and replacement of elected members of the legislative assembly (MLAs), municipal officials, and school trustees during their term.

To make it clear that at the end of the day, ordinary Alberta voters are the boss in our democracy, and if they lose faith in their elected representatives, that they can hold them to account in between elections Kenney said in a press conference on Monday.

The recall bill, according to Kenney, is part of a commitment the Conservative Party made during the last election and was also recommended by a legislature committee in November 2020.

Interest in the bill increased after Christmas, when several of the premiers caucus members, including a cabinet minster, were spotted vacationing in sunny locales, ignoring COVID-19 health measures he set in place. COVID-19 is the disease the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus causes.

Minister of Justice and Solicitor General Kaycee Madu said the proposed window to begin the recall process will be 18 months after an election and six months before the next one.

To recall a MLA, an Albertan would have to apply to the chief electoral officer for a petition. Upon approval, the applicant would have 60 days to gather signatures from 40 percent of eligible voters in that constituency. If the petition threshold is met, a recall vote would be held in that constituency. If the majority agrees with the recall, the MLA would be removed from office and a by-election would be triggered, said Madu.

In the case of municipal officials, Albertans would need to apply for a petition through the chief administrative officer of the municipal. The petitioner then has 60 days to collect signatures from 40 percent of the population of the municipality or ward. If the recall petition is successful, the elected official would lose the seat automatically once the petition is presented at the next council meeting.

For school board trustees, the recall process differs slightly. Instead of 60 days, Albertans who apply the petition through the secretary of the relevant school board would have 120 days to gather signatures from 40 percent of eligible voters in that school district or ward. If the petition meets the requirement, the trustees would be asked to leave the board. After which the board will decide if a by-election is needed.

Theres a $500 application fee for the petition to recall a municipal official or school board trustee, according to Kenneys office.

NDP Opposition critic Heather Sweet posted on Twitter that the bill imposes hurdles so high that its virtually impossible to use in the real world.

Kenney said he expects Bill 52 to be accepted by the legislature, with the government caucus voting in faith this spring.

A drug addict who partially stripped his victim at scissors-point and cut his hair in a humiliating attack has been jailed for five years.

Myles Connors (24) was jailed on Monday for carrying out the false imprisonment and assault of Edward Babos in April 2020 as well as a robbery in November 2018.

Connors and another man stripped-search Mr Babos in his friend's home because they thought he had a bag of gear on him, Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard.

Connors then cut Mr Babos's hair with the scissors and forced him into Mr Babos's car to bring him to an ATM to get any money he had.

Connors, of Bearna Park, Sandyford in Dublin pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and false imprisonment of Mr Babos at Ballyogan Road, Carrickmines on April 27, 2020.

He also pleaded guilty to one count of robbing a phone and cash at Kilcross estate in Sandyford on November 12, 2018.

In that offence, the court heard Connors and two other men surrounded the victim as he walked along the road with a friend.

Connors, described in court as the ringleader, pointed a knife at the young man's stomach before making him reset his iPhone. The trio made off with the phone and 150 in cash.

One other man is still before the courts in relation to that case.

Connors has 17 previous convictions for road traffic offences, trespassing, theft, criminal damage and failure to appear in court.

Sentencing Connors on Monday, Judge Pauline Codd said the attack on Mr Babos involved particularly humiliating tactics including partially stripping him and forcibly cutting his hair.

She noted the assault took place over an hour and involved Mr Babos being forced into his own car, which was then driven at dangerous speeds throughout the neighbourhood.

A threat to jam the scissors in his eyes was particularly serious, the judge said.

She noted Connors didn't use much cleverness in terms of how he carried out the attack and did not try to hide his identity. The judge said he instead relied on threats and intimidation. He is a bully, she said.

In relation to the robbery, Judge Codd noted the victim was a young man who had a knife pointed at his stomach.

She handed down a four year sentence for the false imprisonment and assault of Mr Babos and a three year sentence for the robbery and ordered that they run consecutively. She suspended the final two years on a number of conditions.

She backdated the sentence to when he first went into custody in May 2020.

Additional evidence

Detective Sergeant Seamus Ryan told Elva Duffy BL, prosecuting, that Mr Babos was at a friend's home at around 5pm, when Connors and another man, whom Mr Babos knew from his teenage years, walked in.

Connors then picked up a pair of scissors from the kitchen counter and asked the victim's friend to leave before both men began to punch Mr Babos, the court heard.

Myles came over and hit me. He picked up a pair of scissors and started threatening me. He gave me a good belt like, a few punches to the face. He started cutting my hair - he got the hair and put it in a plastic bag, Mr Babos later told gardai.

The court heard that both men had been taking cocaine.

They went on to ask Mr Babos to go to the ATM with his bank card and get any money he had. He said he didnt have any but they said to take them in his car.

They thought I had a bag of gear on me  they were telling me to pull down my trousers to see if I had a bag on me, Mr Babos said.

He was partially stripped before being dragging outside the house by Connors, who was still holding the pair of scissors.

I was getting a lot of kicks in the back as well, he told gardai. Detective Ryan confirmed that the victim's friend saw Connors and the other man moving Mr Babos into the car.

I was in the passenger seat. Myles was driving. He reversed out onto the road and almost crashed into another car, Mr Babos told gardai.

The driver continued as far as the second roundabout in Carrickmines, where he drove onto a curb, damaging one of the wheels.

Detective Ryan confirmed that the car had to be written off as a result of the damage that was done to it.

Mr Babos managed to jump from the passenger seat to the driver seat while both Connors and his co-accused were outside the car.

They shouted: If you go to the guards, we will kill you, as he drove away and they fled the area.

Dean Kelly SC, defending, told Judge Pauline Codd that both of these men were in the middle of a drug-fuelled binge, which makes it worse and more terrifying.

He said no effort was made to conceal identities and that the behaviour displayed was wild, unplanned and without reason.
Manafort, an international political consultant and Republican Party operative, was pardoned by then-President Donald Trump on Dec. 23 after hed been convicted in August 2018 of lying to tax authorities about tens of millions of dollars he earned as a political consultant in Ukraine and misleading banks about his financial health to get loans. He was serving a 7-year prison term when he was released in May to home confinement due to the coronavirus pandemic.
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EDWARDSVILLE  A Glen Carbon man was charged Monday with aggravated DUI after an incident Saturday.

Andrew J. Bridges, 32, was charged with aggravated driving while under the influence, a Class 2 felony.

The case was presented by the Glen Carbon Police Department.

According to court documents, on March 13 Bridges allegedly was driving a 2013 Volkswagon Passat while under the influence of alcohol. It was noted that he had a conviction or court supervision for related crimes in 2007 and 2012.

Bail was set at $25,000.

Other felony charges filed March 15 by the Madison County States Attorneys Office include:

 Billy J. Clark, 40, of Hartford, was charged with offenses relating to motor vehicles and unlawful possession of an altered license plate, both Class 2 felonies, and forgery, a Class 3 felony. The case was presented by the Madison County Sheriffs Department. According to court documents, on March 13 Clark allegedly was found to be in possession of a stolen 2000 Dodge Ram, and an altered temporary license plate. He also attempted to pass a bad check for $742,31 to another person. Bail was set at $50,000.

 Andrew J. Main, 49, of Wood River, was charged with unlawful possession of methamphetamine, a Class 3 felony. The case was presented by the Wood River Police Department. On March 14 Main allegedly was found to be in possession of less than five grams of methamphetamine. Bail was set at $15,000.

 Roger D. Hyde, 35, of Granite City, was charged with unlawful use of a debit card, a Class 4 felony. The case was presented by the Pontoon Beach Police Department. Hyde allegedly used a Granite City Steel Credit Union debit card without the consent of the cardholder to purchase less than $300 in goods from two separate businesses a total of seven times. Bail was set at $60,000.

 Karla K. Peters, 62, of Washington Park, was charged with retail theft over $300, a Class 3 felony. The case was presented by the Edwardsville Police Department. On March 14 Peters allegedly took liquor, paper goods, clothing, towels, and a flat-screen TV with a wall mount from the Edwardsville Target, 2350 Troy Road. Bail was set at $15,000.

 Thomas D. Kemper, 20, of Marion, Kentucky, was charged with unlawful possession of a fraudulent drivers license, Class 4 felony. The case was presented by the Alton Police Department. On March 14 Kemper allegedly was found to be in possession of a fraudulent Missouri drivers license. Bail was set at $15,000.

 Shawn R. Murphey, 38, of Wood River, was charged with driving while license revoked (third subsequent offense), a Class 4 felony. The case was presented by the Wood River Police Department. On Jan. 27 Murphey allegedly was found to be driving a 1994 GMC Suburban with a revoked drivers license. It was noted the license was revoked in 2007 for a DUI conviction, and he had multiple convictions for driving while revoked. Bail was set at $15,000.
North Augusta, SC (29841)

Today

Mostly cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low near 70F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Mostly cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low near 70F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph.
In October of 2017, a series of destructive wildfires blazed through Northern California, including the Tubbs fire which burned 36,807 acres from Eastern Napa County to Santa Rosa, in which Sonoma County lost 6,000 structures and 21 lives. Sonoma County opened an RFP to the public primarily in response to this event, as the fire was not detected until it was already too late. In January 2021, Sonoma County officially selected Alchera as the contract winner after reviewing the submitted proposals.

According to Sam Wallis, the Community Alert & Warning Manager of Sonoma County, "Sonoma County continues to invest in wildfire detection technology that will provide advanced smoke detection warning to emergency managers and first responders. As the field of artificial intelligence has advanced in sophistication, we are excited to add such a monitoring system to our alert and warning toolkit."

The company has been working to develop camera-based fire detection algorithms or visual anomaly detection technologies since 2018. The first such deployment was with Korea's largest utility, KEPCO (Korea Electric Power Corp.) to deploy fire detection systems in both indoor and outdoor environments. From then, Alchera has been processing millions of imagesdetecting hundreds of early-stage wildfire ignitions from ALERT Wildfire cameras since June of 2019 through various proof of concepts and trials.

"With our cutting-edge AI-based wildfire detection system, we are able to help reduce the damage of forest fires in California, which, as we have seen, suffers greatly from this phenomenon every year," said Young-Kyoo Hwang, CEO, Alchera. He added, "We are very grateful and honored to see our firm's technology being recognized worldwide. We are now expanding into global markets in earnest with this export to the US market."

The firm will start to implement real-time early wildfire detection on Sonoma County cameras from March 2021. The project is intended to run until March of 2023.

To visit the website

https://fire.aiir.ai/sonoma

Learn more about Alchera's visual anomaly detection solution at

https://aiir.ai/industries/fire-detection/

For video, visit https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1RmP3AaVFAgaZZzlTUDT8Pu5Se0eQKj7q?usp=sharing

About Alchera

Alchera Inc. is one of Korea's fastest-growing technology companies, providing visual AI to the most prominent corporations and the South Korean government. With more than 80 employees at the headquarters, Alchera Inc. employs 50+ engineers, the majority specializing in machine learning and computer vision, the others specializing in data and software engineering.

Learn more at www.alcherainc.com.

SOURCE Alchera Inc.

Related Links

http://www.alcherainc.com


Saoirse Ronan appeared hard at work on Wednesday as she sat in a 1950s car on set for a new untitled murder mystery feature in London.

The Irish actress, 26, rocked smart attire, reminiscent of the era, as she hastily sped off in the blue vehicle.

The entire mise-en-scene of the film, including the street layout and outfits of her fellow actors, reflected the 1950s.

Getting into character: Saoirse Ronan appeared hard at work on Wednesday as she sat in a 1950s car on set for a new untitled murder mystery feature in London

The upcoming mystery thriller follows a desperate Hollywood producer whose mission is to transform a popular West End play into a film.

However, when production members begin dropping like flies, Inspector Stoppard, played by Sam Rockwell, begins to investigate the murders with the help of an overzealous rookie, Constable Stalker, played by Saoirse.

The duo are thrown into London's sordid underground and glamorous theatre scene as they try to solve the puzzling investigation, once and for all.

At the helm of the new production is This Country director, Tom George and Mark Chappell as the screenwriter.

Speedy exit: The Irish actress, 26, rocked smart attire, reminiscent of the era, as she hastily sped off in the blue vehicle

Vintage: The entire mise-en-scene of the film, including the street layout and outfits of her fellow actors, reflected the 1950s

Adulthood's Damian Jones is producing the new film for Searchlight Pictures UK.

Director of Production Richard Ruiz and Senior Development Executive Pete Spencer will oversee the feature in addition to Katie Goodson-Thomas, Head of Development & Production.

Saoirse's latest released film was the British period drama, Ammonite, which followed the story of her character, Charlotte Murchison, and the intense romantic relationship she develops with Mary Anning, played by Kate Winslet.

In January, she gushed over co-star Kate's a decision to move their steamy sex scene to land on her 25th birthday.

Team: However, when production members begin dropping like flies, Inspector Stoppard, played by Sam Rockwell, begins to investigate the murders with the help of an overzealous rookie, Constable Stalker, played by Saoirse

Whodunit: The duo are thrown into London's sordid underground and glamorous theatre scene as they try to solve the puzzling investigation, once and for all

The America Irish actress said that it was the 'greatest present I could have asked for' after the Titanic star, 45, asked the film's director to rearrange filming for the moment their characters gave into their passion.

Speaking to The Mirror, Saoirse told how she had a 'wonderful time' filming the intimate scenes with Kate, adding that because it was her birthday, they had a few glasses of prosecco before hand.

Saoirse said of their passionate onscreen act: 'I had a wonderful time. Ive never done a sex scene so intense and full-on before. But to be able to do that with her I did feel very safe, like we could go anywhere with it.'

After describing Kate's request as the 'greatest present I could have asked for', she added: 'I am very appreciative she scheduled it for my birthday. It also gave us the excuse to have a couple of glasses of Prosecco before we got into it.'

Behind the scenes: At the helm of the new production is This Country director, Tom George and Mark Chappell as the screenwriter

Production: Adulthood's Damian Jones is producing the forthcoming film for Searchlight Pictures UK

In charge: Director of Production Richard Ruiz and Senior Development Executive Pete Spencer will oversee the feature

The Little Women star went on to say that she and the Hollywood starlet had the freedom to be more imaginative during the love-making scenes after Ammonite director Francis Lee gave them the green light to improvise.

She explained: 'It was such a great opportunity to be quite creative with the sex scenes; to explore the intimacy between two people who hadnt been touched in a very long time.'

The beauty explained that their freedom to explore felt 'true and right', added that she 'paralleled' it on what the gay women she knows have discussed with her about the 'intimacy shared' with another woman.

Eye-catching: Another stunning vintage car was seen on set

Filmography: Saoirse's latest released film was the British period drama, Ammonite, which followed the story of her character, Charlotte Murchison, and the intense romantic relationship she develops with Mary Anning, played by Kate Winslet

Meanwhile, Kate told how the duo became close off screen and their chemistry continued long after filming as she gushed they 'totally adored' one another.

She also noted how their 'utterly equal' sex scene made her 'angry' that she hadn't felt that way in previous submissive roles during sex scenes with male co-stars.

Kate plays 19th-century British paleontologist Mary, who ends up having an affair with Saoirse's character, Charlotte, who is a married woman.

Saoirse has previously detailed why she wasn't nervous about getting intimate with Kate in the romantic drama set in 1840s England.

Dedicated: In January, she gushed over co-star Kate's a decision to move their steamy sex scene to land on her 25th birthday

Character: She said that it was the 'greatest present I could have asked for' after the Titanic star, 45, asked the film's director to rearrange filming for the moment their characters gave into their passion

She told The Sunday Telegraph: 'I wasn't nervous, no. I never really feel nervous doing sex scenes because I've always worked with people I trust, which is massive, and I know not everyone can say that.

The five-time Oscar nominee added that having the director, Francis Lee, let the pair move freely with the scenes' 'choreography' helped make them both comfortable.

'It was great to have that authority over those intimate scenes, which can often make you feel incredibly vulnerable, but instead we felt empowered by it,' Saoirse said.

'We really felt like we were steering the ship. There was a plan in place for us that we created for ourselves, so there were no surprises and nothing was unexpected.'

Honest: Speaking to The Mirror , Saoirse told how she had a 'wonderful time' filming the intimate scenes with Kate, adding that because it was her birthday, they had a few glasses of prosecco before hand

On set: The Little Women star went on to say that she and the Hollywood starlet had the freedom to be more imaginative during the love-making scenes after Ammonite director Francis Lee gave them the green light to improvise

Her comments follow Kate revealing why her sex scene with the young actress in her latest film felt 'very different' compared to her heterosexual love scenes.

'It did feel very different,' Kate told The Weekend Australian's Review in January.

'I've played LGBTQ characters before. In fact, I played an LGBTQ character in the first film I ever did, Heavenly Creatures.'

However, she added in those days she lacked the confidence she now has.
Colorado Springs, CO (80903)

Today

A few clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 49F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

A few clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 49F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph.
By Benjamin Jumbe

Farmers are now calling for representation in parliament.

Masudio Eberu a farmer from West Nile says at the moment farmers in the country are facing several challenge but dont have a strong voice to advocate for them at policy level.

She says the current policies do not favor them and leave them exposed and exploited hence the need to have them represented in parliament.

She also calls for increased sensitization of farmers at the grass root about required standards and quality of the various produce to avoid situations like what happened with Kenya and Burundi over a week ago.
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Indiana parental consent abortion law defeated at 7th Circuit after being remanded by Supreme Court

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A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit has once again ruled against an Indiana law limiting a minor's ability to get an abortion without parental consent.

In a 2-1 decision last Friday in Planned Parenthood of Indiana and Kentucky v. Kristina Box, the appeals court panel ruled against an Indiana law passed in 2017.

Known as Senate Enrolled Act 404, the law allows for a minor to get an abortion without parental consent, provided they can obtain a court order allowing them to pursue the procedure.

Although the Seventh Circuit had affirmed a lower court decision against the new law in 2019, the Supreme Court vacated the judgment last July and sent the case back to the appeals court.

Seventh Circuit Judge David Hamilton, an Obama appointee, authored the majority opinion, concluding that the judges again affirm the district courts preliminary injunction barring enforcement of the challenged law pending full review in the district court.

At specific issue was an amendment requiring a minor seeking permission to get an abortion through the courts to notify her parents of the process, unless the judge finds that such parental notice, as distinct from requiring parental consent, is not in the minors best interests.

Hamilton argued in the majority opinion that the State chose not to offer evidence of benefits that might justify the burdens here.

The lopsided evidence of substantial burdens and little or no benefits convinced the district judge to issue the preliminary injunction and convinced us to affirm that decision, wrote Hamilton.

Seventh Circuit Judge Michael Kanne, a Reagan appointee, authored the dissent. He stated that the Supreme Court has confirmed that parental-notification requirements are constitutional time and again.

Planned Parenthood has failed to show that requiring mature minors to notify their parents that they intend to have an abortion (where a judge has found that avoiding notification is not in their best interests) constitutes an undue burden, continued Kanne.

This court should reverse the district courts injunction and let Indiana exercise its legislative judgment that a parental notification law best serves the interests of its citizens.

In June of last year, the Supreme Court ruled 5-4 in June Medical Services v. Russo that a Louisiana law requiring abortion providers to be held to similar standards as ambulatory surgical centers is unconstitutional.

Although generally considered a victory for the pro-choice movement, Chief Justice John Roberts' concurring opinion has been used by other courts to uphold pro-life legislation.
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The nations big business lobby group is asking the government to extend paid parental leave and provide more generous childcare subsidies, commit to net zero carbon emissions by 2050 and spearhead a national deregulation agenda in a bid to boost the economic recovery.

The Business Council of Australias pre-budget submission released on Wednesday morning includes a swathe of policy suggestions to help lift workforce participation and improve the financial future of the nation following the coronavirus pandemic-induced recession, warning the government not to rely on the economys remarkable short-term recovery.

Business Council of Australia boss Jennifer Westacott wants major changes in the federal budget. Credit:Louie Douvis

BCA chief executive Jennifer Westacott said expanding the economy by 1 per cent a year, or about $20 billion, would leave each Australian $770 better off annually and help boost employment. The industry groups members include the chief executives of the nations 100 biggest corporates.

[We] need to grow faster than the below 3 per cent growth rates we were experiencing prior to the pandemic, Ms Westacott said. Right now, we have a window to begin reshaping our economy to create new and better jobs, equip people with world-leading skills and pay higher wages.
A Gold Coast man, believed to have a firearm and who triggered a school lockdown and made threats against police, has been charged.

The 37-year-old suffered a dog bite to his forearm on Wednesday afternoon when police arrested him after a search that lasted more than 24 hours.

Police are searching for the man in an exclusion zone in Ormeau on the Gold Coast on Tuesday. Credit:Nine News

Police wanted to question the man over an incident in Upper Coomera on Monday.

However, police began searching an area in Ormeau, causing an emergency declaration to be made for five hours, and forcing the Ormeau State School into lockdown for five hours on Tuesday.
Were a year into the pandemic, and even as some restrictions to curb the spread of COVID-19 are lifted, theres no return to what was normalcy. How are Hudson Countys art venues doing and what have they learned? Heres the final part of series answering that question, this time focusing on the possibilities that the future could hold, both in arts and beyond, with Jersey City Theater Center director Olga Levina.

In mid-2018, a press release announced that architectural firms OMA/AMO and AEA were selected as architectural and creative consults on a new Jersey City Museum slated for the Pathside Building in Journal Square. There hadnt been much news since then, and with the COVID-19 pandemic often making for less foot traffic in Journal Square, the large, unused building loomed just that much more.

The pandemic has slowed the timeline on the arts and culture PathSide project, but we are still working towards our initial goals of turning Journal Square into a destination for the arts, Jersey City spokeswoman Kimberly Wallace-Scalcione said. As we are seeing an increasing number of people get vaccinated, we are also increasingly optimistic about what is possible there. As soon as we have meaningful information to share, we will let the public know.

That museum will not house the collection of the longtime Jersey City Museum that shuttered in late 2010, according to past reports, but it is slated to have a section specifically devoted to Jersey City artists.

When it does come to fruition, it may do so in a Journal Square with taller, filled-to-the-brim residential buildings  some of which will look out at other sides of the city itself. From Downtown to the Heights all the way through Bergen Lafayette and South Greenville.

For Jersey City Theater Center (JCTC) founder/director Olga Levina, the citys adoption of an art tax, if only down the line, makes that vision more equitable on all sides.

But equity is also important right now, and for Levina, the arts are only important for one reason.

It is really putting the story of whats going on with people and whats going on in our society in order for us to find solutions.

As a child in Belarus, Levina recalled feeling alienated as the daughter of a single mother and the only dark-haired girl, and the only person of Chinese-Ukrainian heritage, in a class full of Bela-Russians. My mom was very, very ill so a lot of times I felt alone, hungry, and I know the importance of education.

My mother didnt have a lock on a door, so we basically had people who had no where else to go come into our place and tell their stories, because everybody was welcome.

The way Levinas upbringing resonates is part of the reason JCTC helped facilitate Stories of Greenville in 2019, an arts program part of a neighborhood improvement initiative created by the Greenville Community Partnership. The Greenville neighborhood can be a challenging place with poorer quality of life fixtures.

Especially after what happened with COVID, the government should step in, especially in neighborhoods like Greenville, because people cannot and will not pull themselves by bootstraps, Levina said. Its impossible. Im only where I am today because of my education, because somebody cared, because my teachers  if I went to school, if I didnt have dinner, they gave me free dinner in cafeteria. So I got in on two scholarships at age of nine in art school, and thats when my life completely changed, and I wish that for kids everywhere, because everything I know deeply about I know through arts.

I came as a Jewish immigrant. The only thing I was lacking as an immigrant was I couldnt speak English. This is what a lot of immigrants  especially from the former Soviet Union  they dont see it. Theyre like, oh we came here, we worked hard  but they all came with great educations.

Levina is proud that JCTC was one of the first arts organizations to close because it saw how serious the pandemic was. But she couldnt imagine jumping into the Zoom pool the way they did, with a series of programs designed for what was then a new frontier.

It was amazing ... Conversations around the world  new play festival, with playwrights from all over the country, then we had education programming with I love Greenville over the summer.

When the Black Lives Matter protests happened last summer, Levina felt like the Uprising series it produced built on JCTCs history of shows that focus on addressing racial inequity.

But there was no money to help the nonprofit operation stay afloat or pay employees, so JCTC had to lay them off.

Im also co-owner of White Eagle Hall, and White Eagle Hall is closed so 100 percent of our revenue since March weve lost because a lot of the events that have been open to the public are free of charge, Levina said.

Right now, White Eagle Halls stage is used for in-house restaurant Madame Claudes Bistro to help its customers socially distance.

We gave them opportunity to use the whole hall and they can set the whole tables .. the jazz band plays three nights, and were very happy to give opportunity to local restaurants so they can survive, Levina said.

Our investors obviously know the situation were in.

White Eagle Hall was part of the state contingent of the National Independent Venue Association (NIVA) that successfully lobbied Congress for help. We dont know how much were going to get but of course in order for us to be open were going to need some help, Levina said.

During the thick of the pandemic last year, Beth Cope, JCTCs managing director, helped initiate a charge with several Jersey City arts organizations to the art tax measure on the ballot last year.

We did the poll, Levina said. 60 percent of the residents wanted to fund the arts, and when we bought that poll to the mayor, he changed his opinion and said, Okay, lets put this measure on the ballot.

It was a huge win, not only for us, but for the city. Because the money, you know, for me, its a little bit easier, because to some kid in Greenville who wants to sing or who wants to express or tell their story, its so difficult to survive in art. Its almost impossible. And this is why we dont really have a private organization in the Greenville area, because I worked for free for 10 years. who can do that? Levina said.

So Im very, very happy. It means Jersey City is going to have a shot at art  those kids growing up now are going to have opportunities  because money brings money.

Levina believes in five years, Jersey City is going to experience a renaissance. We do have to take care of our own, but I believe if theres something to do in a community and people feel their voice is heard they most likely, first of all, bring their kids to the shows and educate them. They going to get inspired, theyre going to be something ... Like my mother used to say, A piece of bread is going to last you a day, inspiration a lifetime,

And that possible renaissance makes Levina feel like her work hasnt been in vain. Shes been keeping busy on the an advisory board helping to establishing a professional arts program, and hopes to address the way that many of the city schools look to make them more welcoming.

Kids should feel like theres hope out there in the world, Levina said. So Ive been concentrating on that educational component, which included programming at Snyder High School that brought in international artists.

2020 left JCTC exhausted, and for Levina, now is a time to ask questions, look in the mirror, and adjust accordingly.

Because we all have a beginning and end, and I understand that Im already in Jersey for 15 years and maybe 10, 15 more, so what can I do as artistic director to really help the next generation?

What is a way to unite all the communities in Jersey City that doesnt have to be benefit just Downtown? So we can really be the Jersey City Theater Center, not just the Downtown center.
The Senate on Wednesday voted unanimously to approve the nomination of Katherine Tai to be U.S. Trade Representative, thrusting the former House trade lawyer into numerous commercial disputes initiated by the Trump administration.

A worker-centered agenda, eventually: In her new role, Tai has pledged to pursue a worker-centered trade agenda that will build on environmental and labor protections she helped Democrats win in the updated NAFTA trade deal last year. But action on that front is not imminent, as President Joe Biden has promised a pause in new trade negotiations and Tai pledged to review Trumps tariffs before making changes , instead focusing on enforcing the new NAFTA deal and other pacts first.

Broad support: Every present senator voted to approve Tai in the 98-0 vote, a first for a Biden nominee, reflecting broad bipartisan support for the former head trade lawyer for the House Ways and Means Committee. That included a dozen or so Republicans who have objected to Biden foreign policy nominees over concerns they will be soft on Beijing.

Senators of both parties praised Tai's experience as Congressional staff and USTRs enforcement chief for China during the Obama administration.

Katherine Tai is just the kind of qualified and mainstream person who is positioned to serve President Biden and the country quite well," Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said on the Senate floor before the confirmation vote. "That is why she received broad bipartisan support from the Finance Committee and why the vote to advance her nomination yesterday was 98-0."

Historic confirmation: Tai, 46, enters the administration as the first Asian American in Bidens Cabinet and the first woman of color to hold the trade representative post. She's also the first trade representative since the George W. Bush administration to be approved unanimously by the Senate, though the nominees from Presidents Obama and Trump were also approved by wide margins.

Story continues

Tariff talks with EU: The vote places Tai at the center of ongoing trade disputes with U.S. allies and adversaries. In early March, the Biden administration announced it would lift some t ariffs former President Donald Trump imposed on the European Union for four months to allow both sides to negotiate an agreement to end a 17-year dispute over aircraft subsidies.

China trade review: In Asia, Tai will play a key role in the White Houses review of Trumps trade policies, including tariffs on Chinese steel, aluminum and consumer goods, as well as the so-called Phase One trade deal, whose commitments Beijing has still not met.

The administration has refused to say how it will handle China beyond general pledges to stay tough on the ruling Communist Party. The issue is fraught with domestic politics, pitting American importers who are desperate for tariff relief against labor unions and U.S. steel producers in critical Midwestern swing states, who want the duties to stay in place.

TPP redux: Tai will also be an important influence on the administrations decision whether to reopen Asia-Pacific talks on a trade deal to replace the Trans-Pacific Partnership, from which Trump withdrew U.S. participation. Moderate Democrats and some industry interests are already pushing the White House to restart those negotiations, but Tai has refused to commit. During her nomination hearing, she told senators that the TPP was a solid formula to contain China, but that the world has changed since the U.S. left it.

Issues with neighbors: Tai will also face immediate decisions close to home, like how to handle a dairy enforcement case the Trump administration brought against Canada under the updated NAFTA, and whether to initiate a labor enforcement action against Mexico called for by U.S. unions.

Battery blues: Shell also have to decide whether to recommend that Biden overturn a recent International Trade Commission ruling against a South Korean batterymaker that threatens its new factory being built in Georgia. Republican Gov. Brian Kemp has asked the president to reverse the ruling, something not done since 2013, and federal law designates USTR as the agency responsible for the policy review.
Regulatory News:

Press release Paris, 17th March 2021

Pernod Ricard (Paris:RI) announces a collaboration with Lafayette Imports, a new company founded by Biggar Leith partners Elwyn Gladstone and Mark Teasdale. The new venture will bring unique brand-building capabilities to certain super-premium brands in the Group's portfolio.

Lafayette Imports will take on Pernod Ricard's Plymouth Gin, Powers Irish Whiskey and a range of craft Irish Whiskey brands including Knappogue Castle Single Malts and Clontarf. These brands will be combined with Biggar Leith's spirits portfolio of Spytail Rum, Hotel Starlino Vermouth, Stambecco Amaro, The Gladstone Axe Malt Scotch, Shanky's Whip and The Butterfly Cannon Tequila to create a dynamic portfolio of noteworthy imports in fast growing and dynamic categories.

Alexandre Ricard, Chairman and CEO of Pernod Ricard, said: "Plymouth, Powers, Knappogue Castle and Clontarf have strong potential in growing categories. As we strive to constantly strengthen our brand-building, this dedicated and fit for purpose approach allows these brands to have renewed development and to meet new consumers. The Gin Hub and Irish Distillers global brand companies will work closely with Lafayette Imports to support this innovative approach."

For Lafayette Imports, Mark Teasdale commented: "The Spirits market is driven by innovation and premium high-quality brands with provenance and heritage. We are excited to be bringing our expertise, track-record and know-how to an entirely new company which will house a noteworthy portfolio of brands in exciting categories with huge growth potential."

About Pernod Ricard

Pernod Ricard is the world's No 2 in wines and spirits with consolidated sales of 8,448 million in FY20. Created in 1975 by the merger of Ricard and Pernod, the Group has undergone sustained development, based on both organic growth and acquisitions: Seagram (2001), Allied Domecq (2005) and Vin&Sprit (2008). Pernod Ricard, which owns 16 of the Top 100 Spirits Brands, holds one of the most prestigious and comprehensive brand portfolios in the industry, including: Absolut Vodka, Ricard pastis, Ballantine's, Chivas Regal, Royal Salute, and The Glenlivet Scotch whiskies, Jameson Irish whiskey, Martell cognac, Havana Club rum, Beefeater gin, Malibu liqueur, Mumm and Perrier-Jouet champagnes, as well Jacob's Creek, Brancott Estate, Campo Viejo, and Kenwood wines. Pernod Ricard's brands are distributed across 160+ markets and by its own salesforce in 73 markets. The Group's decentralised organisation empowers its 19,000 employees to be true on-the-ground ambassadors of its vision of "Createurs de Convivialite." As reaffirmed by the Group's strategic plan, "Transform and Accelerate," deployed in 2018, Pernod Ricard's strategy focuses on investing in long-term, profitable growth for all stakeholders. The Group remains true to its three founding values: entrepreneurial spirit, mutual trust, and a strong sense of ethics, as illustrated by the 2030 Sustainability and Responsibility roadmap supporting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), "Good times from a good place." In recognition of Pernod Ricard's strong commitment to sustainable development and responsible consumption, it has received a Gold rating from Ecovadis. Pernod Ricard is also a United Nations' Global Compact LEAD company. Pernod Ricard is listed on Euronext (Ticker: RI; ISIN Code: FR0000120693) and is part of the CAC 40 and Eurostoxx 50 indices.

About Biggar Leith and Lafayette Imports

Mark Teasdale and Elwyn Gladstone have worked together for approximately 20 years first at William Grant and Sons and later at Proximo Spirits. They have a track record of creating highly successful brands, including, Hendrick's Gin and The Kraken Rum. Elwyn Gladstone founded Biggar Leith in 2015. Mark Teasdale joined him in 2018. Biggar Leith owns and imports a portfolio of wines and spirits from family-owned producers who are dedicated to quality, innovation and craftsmanship. The company searches the globe for brands whose bottles transmit the personality and stories of the people who make them. Biggar Leith developed MALFY Gin to be a highly successful international gin brand which was acquired by Pernod Ricard in 2019. The portfolio consists of Hotel Starlino Aperitivos and Vermouths; Monte Stambecco Amaro; Spytail Rum; Butterfly Cannon Tequila; Gladstone Axe Malt Whisky and Shanky's Whip Black Irish Whiskey Liqueur.

Biggar and Leith is owned by Elwyn Gladstone and Mark Teasdale and has offices in the New York Area and Ireland. Lafayette Imports is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Biggar and Leith and is based in the New York Area.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210317005145/en/

Contacts:

Pernod Ricard

Julia Massies VP, Financial Communications Investor Relations +33 (0) 1 70 93 17 03

Charly Montet Investor Relations Manager +33 (0) 1 70 93 17 13

Emmanuel Vouin Head of External Engagement +33 (0) 1 70 93 16 34

emmanuel.vouin@pernod-ricard.com
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BEIJING  China has protested to the United States and Japan over a joint statement it said maliciously attacked its foreign policy and seriously interfered in Chinas internal affairs, the Foreign Ministry said Wednesday.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said China was strongly dissatisfied and resolutely opposed to the statement.

His comments came a day before U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is due to meet with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and top foreign policy adviser Yang Jiechi in Alaska.

The China-Japan statement expressed concern over threats to Taiwan, Beijings human rights violations in Xinjiang, its activities in the South China Sea and unilateral action that seeks to change the status quo over Japan-controlled East China Sea islands that China also claims.

The statement maliciously attacked Chinas foreign policy, seriously interfered in Chinas internal affairs and tried to harm Chinas interests, Zhao told reporters at a daily briefing. China is strongly dissatisfied and resolutely opposed to this, and we have made solemn representations to the United States and Japan respectively.

There was no indication that the Alaska talks had been derailed and Zhao said China was prepared to discuss its policies on Xinjiang and Hong Kong.

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But the U.S. attempt to deliberately mislead public opinion before the meeting and exert pressure on China will not succeed, Zhao said. We urge the U.S. side to adhere to the basic norms of international relations and not to engage in things that endanger Chinas core interests.

Blinken and U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin held talks with Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi and Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi Tuesday, afterwards saying that democracy and human rights are being challenged and the United States will push with its partners for a free and open Indo-Pacific.

Blinken said the Biden administration is committed to work with U.S. allies as they face challenges from China and its ally North Korea, which is pursuing an illicit nuclear weapons program.

We will push back if necessary, when China uses coercion or aggression to get its way, he said.

Blinken has said the Alaska meeting is part of an effort to introduce new clarity into the relationship between the worlds two biggest economies.
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President Muhammadu Buhari is presiding over the 38th virtual meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Ministries of Agriculture, Water Resources, Health, Petroleum, Works and Housing are expected to make presentations during the meeting.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha and Chief of Staff to the President, Ibrahim Gambari and 11 ministers are physically attending the meeting.

The affected ministers include those of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed; Finance, Zainab Ahmed; Justice, Abubakar Malami; Agriculture, Sabo Nanono and Water Resources, Suleiman Adamu.

ALSO READ: Buhari appoints two Nigerians on boards of international banks

Others are the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, Industry Trade and Investment, Niyi Adebayo, and Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire.

The Minister of State for Petroleum, Timipre Sylva, as well as that of Budget and National Planning, Clement Agba are also physically attending the meeting.

The Head of Service of the Federation, Folasade Yemi-Esan and other ministers are participating in the weekly cabinet meeting from their various offices in Abuja, online.

(NAN)
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 17)  Up to 9 million Filipino senior citizens may receive doses from China's Sinovac Biotech next month, despite previous recommendations to limit its use on healthy individuals aged 18 to 59.

Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. said this is because Sinovac's CoronaVac vaccine has so far shown minimal adverse effects and is the only brand that provides the shortest time interval between the administration of the two doses.

"Sa master list natin, ang senior citizens ay 4 to 9 million. Ang titingnan po nating possibility ay ang Sinovac po," Galvez told a briefing on Wednesday.

[Translation: Our masterlist has 4 to 9 million senior citizens. We are considering the possibility of providing Sinovac.]

"Nakita natin 'yung Sinovac, very minimal yung adverse effects....ang interval natin na two doses is four weeks. Iyong AstraZeneca ay 12 weeks," he added.

[Translation: We've seen that with Sinovac, the adverse effects are very minimal...our interval between the two doses is four weeks. For AstraZeneca, it would take 12 weeks.]

On Feb. 26, the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases approved the recommendation to use Sinovac's vaccine on health care workers, despite its previous warning that it has a low efficacy rate of 50.4% for this group.

The Department of Health said CoronaVac is still 100% effective against moderate and severe symptoms and can reduce morbidity and mortality. Health workers currently have the freedom to decide whether or not they would take this vaccine.

The FDA previously granted Emergency Use Authorization to Sinovac but recommended that the vaccine must only be used on clinically healthy individuals aged 18-59.

Galvez said more than 200,000 health care workers already received their first COVID-19 shot so far, with the available doses from Sinovac and British-Swedish drugmaker AstraZeneca. The government targets to finish the inoculation of this group by next month, with senior citizens as next in line.

"Magsisimula po tayo sa seniors ng April. Most likely, 'pag AstraZeneca, magkakaroon po sila ng second dose, June or July," Galvez explained. "Iyon po 'yung intricacies natin kasi two doses and different intervals. Sa Sinovac wala tayong obligations."

[Translation: We will start vaccinating senior citizens by April. Most likely, with AstraZeneca, the second dose will have to be administered by June or July. Those are our intricacies because you have two doses but different intervals. With Sinovac, we have no obligations.]

Health authorities have not yet issued a formal recommendation on the use of Sinovac vaccines for senior citizens.

Meanwhile, the government is already planning to use up all of the initial 525,600 AstraZeneca doses as a first shot to provide partial protection to frontliners and to also prevent wastage since the doses have a shelf life of only three months, according to Health Secretary Francisco Duque III.

Galvez said 1.4 million more Sinovac doses will arrive next month, while 979,200 additional AstraZeneca doses will be delivered within the month or early April via the World Health Organization-led COVAX facility.
With pooled COVID-19 testing underway at more than 1,000 Massachusetts schools as health metrics improve, few positive cases are being reported among the students and staff who submit a nose swab each week.

For the amount of testing were doing, were just seeing whats coming back is very, very low and its working as a screening mechanism, said Bill Jacobson, the head of pooled testing at CIC Health, which is among the vendors providing pooled testing at Massachusetts schools through a program currently funded by the states Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Week-over-week in the same groups, youre not getting additional positive results.

Tim Rowe, the co-founder and CEO at CIC Health, said the company has had zero instances of finding a new positive case from the same pool in the next week of testing.

What that tells you is either quarantining [the student] worked or the masking and social distancing was already working anyway, Rowe said.

CIC Health first started working with schools for coronavirus testing in August as districts first looked at getting children back into schools during the pandemic. By September, the company was testing at 50 or 100 schools, Rowe said.

Its grown since then. As of Tuesday, Rowe believes CIC Health is testing at about 600 schools.

CIC Health works with the Broad Institute for lab services. The institute developed pooled testing in the fall, Rowe said. Schools already using CIC Health for individual testing started to switch to the pooled process, and then the state moved forward with its program.

With pooled testing, 10 nose swabs from one classroom or cohort of students and staff go into one tube to be tested together at the lab. If the pooled sample comes back positive, individual tests are necessary.

DESE is covering costs during the initial phase of the program, which is estimated to be between $15 and $30 million and is funded by federal stimulus money. Schools and districts participating receive the test kits, support from a testing service provider and the testing software to track results at no cost until April 18.

As of last week, a total of 177 school districts, charter districts and collaboratives have applied to participate in the states pooled testing program, representing more than 1,000 schools and 325,000 students, state officials said.

Many schools started the pooled testing last month. Initial data has shown a low prevalence of the virus in schools, officials said. In the first month of the program, vendors have conducted more than 8,500 pools across the state at elementary, middle and high schools. Only 0.7% of those pools have been positive, officials said, and because most pools have contained only one positive individual, the prevalence among the tested school population is likely less than 0.2%.

Rowe said the Massachusetts model is expected to be mirrored for a similar nationwide program in K-8 public schools recently announced by the administration of President Joe Biden.

CIC Healths specific testing serves more than 160,000 students, faculty and staff members and Rowe believes the company is testing about half the schools involved with the states program. With weekly testing, more than 600,000 tests are done a month.

We want a testing program thats as simple to operate as possible for schools, teachers and students, and just having all the collection done in the first couple minutes of school time so people can get back to learning, Jacobson said.

Pooled testing costs 75% less than the cost of an individual test, officials have said.

The Watertown Public Schools, was which among the first districts to work with CIC Health on pooled testing, went a month with no positives, Rowe said.

People say well how is that even possible, Rowe remarked. Schools are actively trying to make sure anyone who might have COVID isnt in the school. If you have symptoms, if youve been exposed, if youre concerned you have it, youre not in school and youre not testing.

In addition to Watertown, CIC Health also provides the testing at schools in Boston, Framingham, Lowell, Wayland, Sudbury, North Adams and Cambridge, among others.

After DESE funding for the program cases on April 18, CIC Health plans to work with schools that are interested in continuing the testing. It costs about $5 per nose swab, which amounts to about $1 per student/staff member per day, Rowe explained.

Pooled testing is among school mitigation efforts like mask-wearing and distancing. But many teachers and educators unions say they would feel more comfortable in classrooms after being vaccinated.

In Worcester, where hybrid learning began on Monday for a smaller group of students, many educators are going back into classrooms without being inoculated. Union members at a recent rally called for immunizations. While K-12 employees are eligible to get the vaccine, some have had trouble securing an appointment. Demand outweighs supply, and the state only receives about 150,000 first doses every week.

On March 29, when thousands more Worcester students are back in schools for hybrid learning, the number of fully vaccinated teachers and staff members will likely be low based on timing and supply.

Related Content:
By Moira Warburton

VANCOUVER (Reuters) - Canada has called for two of Huawei Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou's main arguments in her fight against U.S. extradition to be dismissed, saying her claims are not backed with evidence and one issue has been ruled on, court documents released on Tuesday showed.

Meng, 49, was arrested at Vancouver International Airport in December 2018 on a warrant from the United States, where she faces charges of bank fraud for allegedly misleading HSBC about Huawei's business dealings in Iran, causing the bank to break U.S. sanctions.

Meng, who has said she is innocent, has since been on house arrest in Vancouver.

Meng's claim that Canadian and American authorities inappropriately coordinated her interrogation and arrest "is supported only by speculation and innuendo, and she has failed to establish the existence of the conspiracy she alleges," Canadian government lawyers said in written submissions.

The claims are "serious allegations that must be supported by strong evidence," the submissions to the British Columbia Supreme Court said.

They also accused Meng of attempting to re-litigate an issue that the presiding judge has ruled on, specifically whether Meng's actions could be considered illegal in Canada. Meng's legal team has accused the United States of misleading Canada in its description of her alleged crimes.

Huawei officials were not immediately available for comment.

Meng will return to court on Wednesday. Her case is scheduled to wrap up in May, although the potential for appeals on either side mean it could continue for some years.

The case has caused a deterioration in relations between Ottawa and Beijing. Shortly after Meng's arrest, China detained two Canadians - Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig - on espionage charges, which Canada has called retaliation.

(Reporting by Moira Warburton in Vancouver; Editing by Denny Thomas and Edwina Gibbs)
According to recent studies from The Australian National University, the critically endangered regent honeyeater is losing its "song culture" due to the bird's steadily decreasing population (ANU).

Many birds learn to sing by associating with older birds of the same species, just as humans learn to communicate. If adults become too scarce, they will lose this capacity. And their odds of breeding are diminished if they don't learn to sing the proper tune.

Related Article: Believed to be Extinct Lady Amherst's Pheasant Shocked Everyone with a Sighting

Songbirds

"It has a significant effect on endangered birds' abilities to speak if they are unable to understand how to sing properly," said lead author Dr. Ross Crates.

"This may also be contributing to the honeyeater's population loss, as we know that a sexy song raises the likelihood of songbird reproduction. Males who sing strange songs would be rejected by females."

According to the report, males sang rich and nuanced songs in areas where there were still fair numbers of regent honeyeaters. Males sang simplified or "still incorrect" songs where the birds were scarce.

"For example, 18 male regent honeyeaters-roughly 12% of the total population-could only mimic the songs of other bird species," said study co-author Dr. Dejan Stojanovic.

"In a wild animal, this lack of ability to interact with their own kind is unprecedented. We may believe that regent honeyeaters have been extinct to the point where some young males will never find an older male instructor."

Regent Honeyeaters

The Regent Honeyeater has a black head, collar, and upper breast, a lemon yellow back and breast that is scaled black, a white rump, black wings with prominent yellow spots, and a black tail edged yellow. The black eye in males is encircled by yellowish warty bare eyes. Females have a bare yellowish spot under the eye and less black on the throat than males. Young birds are browner and have a paler bill than females. This species is gregarious, and it travels in groups. When it calls, it bobs its ears.

The Regent Honeyeater eats nectar and other plant sugars primarily. Insects and spiders, as well as wild and cultivated fruits, are also potential food sources. It feeds on flowers and foliage but may also descend to the ground to bathe in puddles or ponds and even hawk insects on the wing.

The decline in breeding success is believed to be caused by habitat loss, environmental depletion, and changes in the numbers of nest predator species.

The reduction in the population of regent honeyeaters can also lead to lower nest success. "It's common for royal honeyeaters to breed in groups. Protection in numbers may have helped them protect their nests from predators in the past, but population loss has left them vulnerable."

Honeyeaters in Captivity

Regent honeyeaters born in captivity have entirely different songs than wild birds, according to the report.

This, according to the study team, may be critical in terms of conservation.

"Captive-bred birds' uncommon songs can limit their appeal to wild birds when they are finally released," Dr. Crates said.

"So, using audio recordings, we've devised a new technique for teaching young captive regent honeyeaters to sing the same song as wild birds."

The regent honeyeater's disappearance of song culture is a huge warning sign that it is on the verge of extinction, and we still have a lot to say about how to help them."

The research was presented in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B journal.

ALSO READ: The World's Biggest Owls Are Now Endangered: Is it too late to save them?

For more animal related news, don't forget to follow Nature World News!

She has strutted down runways around the world.

And Ashley Graham managed a fashion shoot even in her own shower for her Instagram page this Tuesday.

The 33-year-old plus-size model proudly showed off her armpit hair while modeling a set of lingerie and striking pinup poses reminiscent of Bettie Page.

Making it happen: Ashley Graham managed a fashion shoot even in her own shower for her Instagram page this Tuesday

Her hair was wrapped up in a towel and the bathtub was still partially full of water when she embarked on her latest Instagram shoot.

The Nebraska-born cover girl wrote in her caption that she 'went through every shower joke in my head and landed on this caption instead.'

Ashley has been married to her husband Justin Ervin since 2010 and they share a one-year-old son called Isaac.

She revealed recently in WSJ Magazine that she wants another baby and gushed that she 'would get pregnant yesterday if I could.'

Pout: The 33-year-old plus-size model proudly showed off her armpit hair while modeling a set of lingerie and striking pinup poses reminiscent of Bettie Page

Ashley joked: 'I've "accidentally" had unprotected sex while I'm ovulating just to see if I can while I'm breastfeeding.'

Two months after she gave birth the coronavirus lockdowns swept the country, and another two months later she began therapy.

Early in the pandemic Ashley, Justin and the baby went into self-isolation with her mother Linda at the family farm in her native Nebraska.

Baby mine: Ashley has been married to her husband Justin Ervin since 2010 and they share a one-year-old son called Isaac

Ashley made her grand return from maternity leave in September with a set of triumphant catwalk appearances during Milan Fashion Week.

Her first time back on the runway was during the Fendi show and she kept up the pace by walking for Erto during her whirlwind trip to Europe.

After her four-day trip abroad she returned to New York City where she is currently hunkering down with her husband of 10 years and their baby.
Chinese envoy warns EU against sanctions over Xinjiang

CGTN) 11:10, March 17, 2021

People attend a culture and tourism festival themed on Dolan and Qiuci culture in Awat County of Aksu Prefecture, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, northwest China, October 25, 2019. /Xinhua

Zhang Ming, head of the Chinese Mission to the European Union (EU), on Tuesday warned the bloc against imposing sanctions on Beijing over northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, and urged the EU to reject fake news and lies concerning Xinjiang.

"I want to emphasize that sanctions are confrontation. Sanctions based on lies could be interpreted as deliberately undermining China's security and development interests," Zhang said in a videoconference with the Brussels-based think tank European Policy Center.

"We want dialogue not confrontation. We ask the EU side to think twice. If some insist on confrontation, we will not back down, as we have no option but to fulfill our responsibilities to the people of our country."

The EU is set to debate sanctions on four Chinese officials and one entity over Xinjiang, according to EU diplomats. The measures will be submitted to EU foreign ministers for approval next week when they meet to prepare for the EU summit from March 25-26 to decide the bloc's strategy toward China.

Zhang said he has noticed the report and expressed grave concern on it.

"We have always advocated non-interference in other countries' internal affairs, opposed the erroneous approach of resorting to sanctions, and opposed reckless fabrications that ignore the facts," Zhang stressed.

The Chinese government has launched anti-terrorism and de-radicalization efforts in Xinjiang in accordance with the law to protect people's lives, he said.

Pointing out that the essence of Xinjiang-related issues is counter-terrorism and de-radicalization, Zhang said the region is faithfully implementing the UN Plan of Action to Prevent Violent Extremism.

It also draws lessons from similar practices in other countries to carry out de-radicalization in accordance with the law, and it is in full compliance with the principles and the spirit of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, he continued.

Xinjiang has not reported any case of violent terrorism for more than four consecutive years, Zhang said, adding that the region enjoys social stability and steady progress, and people enjoy their lives and work.
Louis Huang of Vancouver Freedom and Democracy for China holds photos of Canadians Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig, who are being detained in China, outside the B.C. Supreme Court in Vancouver on March 6, 2019. (Jason Redmond/AFP)

Kovrig, Spavor Scheduled to Stand Trial in China in Coming Days

Former Chinese senior judge concerned about the fate of the two Canadians

Canadas embassy in Beijing has been notified that court hearings for Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig have been scheduled for March 19 and 22 respectively, Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Marc Garneau said in a statement on March 17.

Garneau said that Canadian officials are seeking continued consular access to the two Canadians and that no further information can be provided due to privacy concerns.

Li Jianfeng, a former judge in China who now lives in Vancouver, says he is concerned about the upcoming trials of Kovrig and Spavor given the past conduct of the Chinese communist regime.

When looking at Chinas judicial issues, you must never just look at the judicial system. We must consider its political system, Li told The Epoch Times.

I have been in the courts for so many years and I know this very well.

Li was formerly the director of the education section of the Justice Bureau of Ningde City, Fujian Province, and last held the position of chief justice of the economic tribunal of the Intermediate Peoples Court of Fujian Province. An underground Christian who secretly undertook activities to support vulnerable groups and human rights activists, Li says he was arrested on trumped-up gun charges in 2002 and sentenced to 16 years in prison. He was released after serving 11 years and eventually came to Canada as a refugee.

Li Jianfeng, a former judge in China, speaks at an event in Vancouver on June 4, 2016, to commemorate the June 4, 1989, Tiananmen Square massacre. (The Epoch Times)

Li says that because the detention of Kovrig and Spavor was in retaliation for the arrest of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou in Canada, all of the court decisions will be a reflection of the will of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

Given the non-transparent and opaque nature of the court system, they will convict them of any charge they wish, he said, adding that the sentencing could be harsh and that concern remains about what the authorities may do to the two men while in custody.

He says past experience shows Kovrig and Spavor could potentially be forced to provide fake confessions in front of cameras. There have been a number of recent cases where foreigners in China say they have been forced to provide televised confessions.

Swedish human rights activist Peter Dahlin was detained for three weeks in 2016, brought in front of cameras, and made to confess to endangering state security. Dahlin has called on Canada and other countries to cancel the licences of CGTN and CCTV-4, the Chinese state-owned television networks that aired his confession, which he says was forced and not true.

Another case is that of British citizen Peter Humphrey, who was arrested in China after he was hired to investigate bribery claims and was shown on CGTN confessing to a crime. The British broadcasting regulator ruled that CGTN had been unjust to show footage of Humphreys confession while in Chinese custody.

Li says another possibility for Kovrig and Spavor is that their cases will remain in limbo and they will be held in detention indefinitely, depending on what happens with Mengs case.

Kovrig and Spavor were detained in China in December 2018, shortly after Canadian authorities arrested Meng on a U.S. extradition request. Meng is accused of fraud related to violating Iran sanctions and is under house arrest at one of her mansions in Vancouver as her case makes its way through court.

The two Canadians were formally charged with spying in June 2020. Documents from the Peoples Procuratorate of Beijing Municipality say Kovrig, a think tank scholar and a former diplomat, is charged with spying on state secrets and intelligence. Documents with the Peoples Procturatorate of Dandong say Spavor, a businessman, is charged with spying and illegally providing state secrets.

Li explains that since 2000, Beijing has considered itself more powerful and resists pressure from foreign powers.

Before 2000, the CCP needed the help of foreign countries. But especially after joining the WTO [World Trade Organization, in 2001], it considers itself a world leader, and so pressure from foreign governments is not that effective. The only language the CCP can understand is force, he says.

Under such circumstances, the international community must increase its efforts to rescue the two innocent Canadian citizens.

In his statement, Garneau said that the issue of the arbitrary detention of Kovrig and Spavor is a top priority for Ottawa and that the government is working to secure their release.

Canadian officials will continue to provide consular support to these men and their families during this unacceptable ordeal, Garneau said.

Donald Clarke, a law professor at George Washington University and an expert in Chinese law, wrote on the blog Lawfare in 2019 about a number of irregularities in the case of Robert Schellenberg, a Canadian convicted of drug charges in China.

Schellenberg was originally sentenced to 15 years in prison, but shortly after Mengs arrest he was brought back to court and given a death sentence.

Among irregularities in the case noted by Clarke were that the outcome of his appeal was announced after only 20 minutes of deliberations, suggesting that it was decided in advance. The fact that the appeal court sent his case back to the original trial court for retrial was another unusual occurrence, Clarke wrote, something that only happens in at most 2 percent of criminal cases. Another observation was Chinese officials prodding of the international press to cover the event.

Besides Schellenberg, Canadian citizens Fan Wei, Ye Jianhui, and Xu Weihong have also been sentenced to death on drug charges in China over the past two years.

With reporting by Allen Zhou
An ex-Rebels bikie is believed to have permanent damage to his penis after he was shot at least three times through the window of a taxi.

Chris Rymer, 30, was gunned down while sitting in a Silvertop taxi in Riverstone, in Sydney's north-west, shortly after 9am on March 3.

Two bullets hit the heavily-tattooed father-of-two in the stomach, but another allegedly struck him in the penis, The Daily Telegraph reported.

Rymer was rushed to Hawkesbury Hospital before being transferred to Westmead Hospital for emergency surgery, but doctors may have been too late to save his genitalia.

Chris Rymer (pictured at the grave of slain Rebels bikie Michael 'Ruthless' Davey) was shot through the rear window of a taxi on March 3 in north-west Sydney

Pictured: Chris Rymer with his partner. The damage to his penis during the March 3 shooting could be irreversible

A stray bullet also hit the taxi worker, who is in his 40s, but the hero driver managed to steer the pair to hospital.

He is expected to make a full recovery.

Police believe the shooting was a targeted attack and were investigating whether it was linked to mounting tensions between the Rebels and Lone Wolves gangs.

Officers were angry innocent lives were allegedly caught up in the gangland war.

Police are trying to determine whether Chris Rymer (pictured) was lured to the scene of the shooting

Officers were angry innocent lives were allegedly caught up in the gangland war. Pictured: Chris Rymer

'You fire enough shots at someone you want to kill and you hit someone innocent and it is really unacceptable,' Detective Superintendent Rob Critchlow told reporters at the time.

'People in Sydney should be able to go about their lives without some fool trying to shoot another fool.'

Investigations by the Robbery and Serious Crime Squad continue to investigate.

They are specifically looking to see whether Rymer was lured to the scene of the shooting for an assassination attempt.

Pictured: Chris Rymer and his partner celebrate getting pregnant after his prison release in 2018

CCTV footage captured a dark ute (circled right) following the taxi down Junction Road

CCTV recorded the moments before the shooting and showed a dark-coloured ute following the silver taxi along Junction Road.

The ute was seen speeding away a short time later and was then found burnt out in nearby Beaumont Hills.

Rymer was once known as one of Sydney's most notorious bikies, renowned for uploading photos of his lavish lifestyle on Instagram including shopping trips to Louis Vuitton and visits to theme parks on the Gold Coast.

He is understood to have left the bikie gang in 2019 to become a devoted family man to his two young daughters and start up a dog breeding business.
UN General Assembly President Volkan Bozkir (at podium), addresses the opening of the 65th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) at the UN headquarters in New York on March 15, 2021. [Eskinder Debebe/UN Photo/Handout via Xinhua]

UNITED NATIONS, March 15 (Xinhua)  UN undersecretary-general and executive director of UN Women, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, on Monday called for bold and strong moves toward gender equality at this year's session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW).

"Let this be a defining CSW session of our time and in a time of crisis. It is my heartfelt hope that in this year, also my last year at UN Women, we can witness bold and strong moves that will propel us in a much stronger way to gender equity and will end the discrimination against women and girls and empower all of us," she told the opening of the 65th session of the CSW.

Under-representation of women is a factor in the slow progress in all aspects of gender equality, she said. "It is inconceivable that we can address this situation that is faced in the main by women and solve problems that women and girls face without the women themselves taking part in decision-making."

"We currently confront the two biggest challenges of our generation: the COVID-19 pandemic and its consequences, and the unfolding climate change crisis. In both, women are disproportionately affected. In neither are women appropriately represented as negotiators and policy-makers," she noted.

In a recent survey of COVID-19 task forces from 87 countries, it was found that less than 5 percent of those task forces had gender parity in the composition of their membership. This gives men the self-imposed, impossible task of making the right decisions about women without the benefit of women's insights, she said.

"Neither the pandemic nor the financial crisis deters us from making progress in the representation of women. In fact, quite the opposite, the pandemic shows us how much we need to change so that we can truly build back better. Representation of women in decision-making is the only way to build back better  in a gender-responsive manner, in an equitable manner, and in a greener manner."

Change is possible and political will is critical in that respect, said Mlambo-Ngcuka.

In Estonia, both the head of state and head of government are women. In Lithuania, the share of women in government has risen from 8 percent to 43 percent. In Rwanda, more than half of ministers are women. In the United States, women in charge of ministerial portfolios rose from 17 percent in 2020 to 46 percent in 2021, she noted.

She called for special measures to boost gender parity in leadership positions. "Most important is to institute special measures, like well-designed and effectively implemented gender quotas and targets."

Only 13 countries currently have gender-equal cabinets, a number way too low, she said.

The premise of this year's priority theme  women's full and effective participation and decision-making in public life  is that it is not acceptable that institutions that are male-dominated should decide on matters that affect women's lives and concern the lives of all humanity, she said.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres addresses the opening of the 65th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) at the UN headquarters in New York on March 15, 2021. [Eskinder Debebe/UN Photo/Handout via Xinhua]

Photo taken on March 15, 2021 shows a view of the opening of the 65th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) held at the UN headquarters in New York. [Eskinder Debebe/UN Photo/Handout via Xinhua]

UN undersecretary-general and executive director of UN Women, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, addresses the 65th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) at the UN headquarters in New York on March 15, 2021. [Eskinder Debebe/UN Photo/Handout via Xinhua]

(Source: Xinhua)
Lieutenant Governor on Tuesday called upon stakeholders to double the efforts for the branding and marketing of local besides seamless extension of technology from lab to field for bringing long-term changes in the sector.

Speaking during the inaugural ceremony of a five-day-long Kisan Mela" here, the Lt Governor suggested to focus on strategic and professional approach for branding and marketing of local products to increase the income of the farming community.

The Lt Governor observed that J-K farmers have huge potential for becoming agriculture entrepreneurs.

The theme of this event, Self-sufficient Agriculture, Self-Reliant India, is not merely a slogan, it's a vision given by the prime minister for taking a leap towards the transfer of new knowledge and making farmers of the country Aatmanirbhar, he said.

The Lt Governor observed that the event will provide an exclusive platform to farmers to exchange ideas and gain new knowledge in farming.

Emphasising on increasing productivity and making agriculture sustainable, he said reformative measures are being taken for the growth of agriculture and horticulture sectors.

The Lt Governor called for taking the event to the panchayat and block level.

He emphasised on promotion of village markets with the help of Krishi Vigyan Kendras and agriculture universities.

He also stressed on promoting success stories of progressive and award-winning farmers on all platforms.

Laying a special emphasis on realising the true growth potential of the local agriculture sector, the Lt Governor called for better branding and the availability of wider market for the local products to benefit farmers.

The Lt Governor further suggested that expert teams be formed by agricultural universities and Krishi Vigyan Kendra so that the desired focus could be given on the marketing component.

Focus must given to branding, packaging, distribution and self-promotion, he added.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
New evidence suggests malaria has been plaguing humans for thousands of years more than scientists previously believed.

The deadly parasite, which kills more than a million people each year, is transmitted by mosquitoes.

The theory is the introduction of irrigation and slash-and-burn agriculture created stagnant pools that were fertile breeding grounds for malaria-carry mosquitos.

But genetic mutations in the bones of ancient Vietnamese hunter-gatherers from thousands of years before that culture adopted farming could push back the clock on malaria to long before we put down our spears for plowshares.

Scroll down for video

Researchers studying 7,000-year-old bones from Vietnam found evidence of genetic mutations linked to malaria, suggesting humans were combatting the parasite before switching from hunting-gathering to farming

Caused by parasites carried by mosquitoes, malaria is prevalent in marshes, swamps and tropical areas.

Common symptoms include high fever, fatigue, headache and vomiting, though it can lead to coma and death.

Malaria is still a global health issue, with an estimated 229 million cases in 2019 alone, according to the World Health Organization.

Two-thirds of the more than 400,000 malaria fatalities every year are in children under the age of 5.

Under the microscope, the ancient remains should evidence of thalassemia, a devastating genetic blood disorder. In its milder form, thalassemia can actually provide some protection against malaria and is thought to have become prevalent in humans as an adaptive response to the disease

Carried by mosquitoes, malaria is still a global health issue, with an estimated 229 million cases and a million fatalities each year, mostly children under the age of 5

Plasmodium falciparum, the deadly parasite that causes malaria in humans, is believed to have been in existence for 50,000 years.

But scientists have long believed that the disease became a threat to humans when we moved from being hunter-gatherers to farmers.

Communities became more settled and irrigation and slash-and-burn agriculture created stagnant pools of water for the mosquitoes that carry the infectious disease to thrive in.

The 7,000-year-old bones of hunter-gatherers in Vietnam showed the abnormal porousness associated with thalassemia

While agriculture began in the Middle East some 12,000 years ago, parts of Southeast Asia remained nomadic hunter communities for millennia after.

In 2015, Hallie Buckley, a bioarchaeologist at the University of Otago in Dunedin, New Zealand, found genetic mutations in 7,000-year-old bones in Vietnam that suggested locals were fighting off malaria long before adapting to agriculture.

WHAT IS MALARIA? Malaria is an infection of the liver and red blood cells caused by parasites spread through the bite of certain mosquitoes It's most often contracted in tropical and subtropical areas of Asia, Africa, Central and South America, the Pacific Islands and parts of the Middle East Symptoms include sudden fever, chills, headache, sweating, nausea, vomiting and joint pain. Serious cases can lead to difficulty breathing, seizures, kidney failure, coma and even death. Nearly 230 million cases of malaria are diagnosed each year, with more than 400,000 deaths. Advertisement

Malaria doesn't leave a trace in the archaeological record, but Buckley and her team noticed that, under the microscope, changes in the bone of these ancient hunter-gatherers showed the abnormal porousness associated with thalassemia, a devastating genetic blood disorder that can often be fatal.

But in its milder form, thalassemia can actually provide some protection against malaria and is thought to have become prevalent in humans as an adaptive response to the disease.

That suggests the locals were combating malaria 7,000 years ago, long before agriculture took over the region.

The team also found changes in bones excavated in a 4,000-year-old agricultural site in the same region as the 7000-year-old hunter-gatherer site.

'Until now we've believed malaria became a global threat to humans when we turned to farming,' says lead author Melandri Vlok, a biological anthropologist.

'But our research shows in at least Southeast Asia this disease was a threat to human groups well before that.'

That's because, according to Vlok, malaria-carrying mosquitoes are ubiquitous in the forests of Southeast Asia and wouldn't need stagnant water to attract them.

The research, published this month in the journal Scientific Reports, suggests a long history of malaria among humans that started before the move to farming.

'A lot of pieces came together, then there was a startling moment of realization that malaria was present and problematic for these people all those years ago, and a lot earlier than we've known about until now,' Vlok said.
US commitment to Ireland remains steadfast and strong, Vice President Kamala Harris has said.

Ms Harris met Taoiseach Micheal Martin virtually on St Patricks Day.

The call came as the Taoiseachs traditional visit to the White House and shamrock presentation was cancelled this year because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Delighted to meet @VP @KamalaHarris. Good discussion on the issues facing our interconnected world and the need to work together - Covid 19, economic recovery, climate change and democracy. Ireland and the U.S. - partners as well as friends.  pic.twitter.com/vLZWZMgm7w  MicheAl Martin (@MichealMartinTD) March 17, 2021

It was both Ms Harriss and Mr Martins first experience of the tradition in their respective leader roles.

Ms Harris spoke of her regret that they were not able to meet in person and expressed hope that next year they will share a good breakfast together.

I will tell you that our commitment to Ireland remains steadfast and strong, she said.

Mr Martin told Ms Harris that the ties between their two nations were rich and deep.

He also congratulated her on becoming the first female US vice president, adding: You may be the first woman in your role, but you will not be the last.

I hope that I will have the opportunity to welcome you to Ireland too during your time as vice president.

I look forward to our discussions but, most of all, I am delighted to have this opportunity to get to know you and to wish you a very happy St Patricks Day.

Mass shootings in Atlanta which saw eight people killed were mentioned.

Ms Harris described the incident as tragic, adding she and President Biden were grieving for those lost.

Mr Martin expressed his condolences to the president and vice president, the American people and the grieving families of those killed and injured.
~ Transaction Anticipated to Close by End of March ~ VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / March 17, 2021 / VanGold Mining Corp (the "Company" or "VanGold") (TSXV:VGLD) is pleased to announce it has signed a definitive asset purchase agreement with Endeavour Silver Corp. ("Endeavour") (NYSE:EXK) (TSX:EDR) to acquire the El Cubo mine and mill complex (the "El Cubo Complex") located 8km by road northeast of the Company's El Pinguico silver-gold project near the city of Guanajuato, Mexico. Closing the El Cubo Acquisition: On March 16, 2021 the Company signed a definitive asset purchase agreement with Endeavour (the "Endeavour Agreement") to acquire the El Cubo Complex, finalizing the binding letter agreement entered into by VanGold and Endeavour on December 17, 2020. VanGold anticipates completing the purchase of the El Cubo Complex from Endeavour by the end of March, 2021, with the signing of customary closing documents in Mexico and Canada. Chairman and CEO James Anderson said: "Everyone at VanGold is excited to be completing the Endeavour Agreement and looks forward to welcoming Endeavour as our largest shareholder. Immediately after closing, we will focus all our attention on refurbishing the El Cubo mill in order to begin processing mineralized material later this year." VanGold's newest advisory board member Ramon Davila said: "With this acquisition VanGold can readily combine the El Cubo and El Pinguico assets to create Mexico's newest silver and gold producing company. The availability of mineralized material from El Pinguico's historic stockpiles and El Cubo's current resources, as well as a new approach from management, gives us great flexibility in deciding where to source material for the mill, and how to sequence that throughput. As a graduate of the University of Guanajuato School of Mines, it is very satisfying to see both of these past producing mines returning to operating status, and taking their rightful place within the Guanajuato mining district that has been the source of so many successful mining operations." El Cubo Complex: As part of the El Cubo Complex, VanGold will acquire the El Cubo mine including silver and gold resources outlined below, the El Cubo floatation mill, and approximately 7,000 hectares of prospective mining concessions located adjacent to El Cubo and within the greater Guanajuato mine region. In the coming months, the Company intends to refurbish the El Cubo mill and begin processing resources from both its El Pinguico and El Cubo properties (the "Combined Project") beginning in Q4, 2021, ramping up to a throughput of ~750 tonnes per day. As a result of the Company's recently completed non-brokered private placement announced March 10, 2021, the Company will have cash on hand of approximately C$6.55 million. This is after giving effect to the US$7.0 million cash payment - plus 16% Mexican VAT where applicable - to Endeavour on closing of the Endeavour Agreement - see "The Endeavour Agreement" below. Current funds will be used to refurbish the El Cubo mill, begin processing resources and carry out additional exploration and definition drilling at the Combined Project. According to the Company's recently announced PEA from Behre Dolbear and Company (USA) Inc., ("Behre") the Combined Project contains total indicated resources of 718,655 tonnes grading 160 gpt Ag and 1.90 gpt Au, or 306 gpt AgEq, which equates to 7.2 M oz AgEq; and total inferred resources of 1,453,000 tonnes grading 214 gpt Ag and 2.78 gpt Au, or 435 gpt AgEq, which equates to 20.4 M oz AgEq. These estimates use a 1:80 ratio for Au and Ag prices. Behre prepared a discounted cash flow model for the Combined Project to determine the Net Present Value (NPV), Internal Rate of Return (IRR), Initial Capital and Sustaining Capital, and payback period. Cash flow estimates were prepared on an after-tax basis and in accordance with NI 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for PEA studies, using Base Case metal prices of $19.49/oz for silver and $1527/oz for gold. The PEA considers a plan to ramp up to a 750 tonne-per-day operation, with an initial mine life of 7.0 years. On an after-tax basis, the Combined Project generates a Base Case NPV (5%) of $32.9 M and an IRR of 105%, excluding El Cubo acquisition costs. Using commodity prices of $22.41/oz Ag and $1756/oz Au, which are +15% above the Base Case the after-tax NPV (5%) is $79.0 M and the IRR is 344%. Behre calculates a Base Case payback period of 1.87 years.

Behre's PEA provides us with a high-level view of VanGold's plan to process resources from both El Pinguico and El Cubo at a centrally located mill. This study is an important step in unlocking value for all stakeholders at the Combined Project in Guanajuato.

The PEA summarized above is preliminary in nature, is based on numerous assumptions and includes the use mineral resources including inferred mineral resources considered too speculative geologically to have the economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as mineral reserves. There is no certainty the PEA will be realized. Mineral Resources that are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability and may be materially affected by environmental, permitting, legal, title, socio-political, marketing, and other relevant issues. See the Company's news release dated February 16, 2021 for a more complete description of the key parameters, assumptions and risks associated with the PEA.

Current Mineral Resources at the Combined Project:

The Mineral Resource estimates for the Combined Project detailed in the Behre's NI 43-101 PEA (effective date Jan. 31, 2021) are shown below in tables for El Cubo and for El Pinguico respectively.

The remaining Mineral Resources in 2021 at El Cubo, are shown in Table 1.1 and total approximately 1.96 million tonnes. Mineral Reserves have not been identified for El Cubo.

Table 1.1

Estimate of the Remaining El Cubo Mineral Resources as of 31 December 2020 Classification Tonnes Silver Gold Silver Eq g/t g/t Oz g/t oz Measured None Indicated 508,055 194 3,169,000 2.44 39,860 389 Inferred 1,453,000 214 10,004,000 2.78 129,900 435 Notes: 1. Silver Equivalent calculated using 1 ounce of gold is equal to 80 ounces of silver, on the basis of the average 5-year historic silver and gold prices. 2. Numbers have been rounded.

The Mineral Resources in 2021 at El Pinguico are shown in Table 1.2 and total approximately 210,000 tonnes. Mineral Reserves have not been identified for El Pinguico.

Table 1.2.......

El Pinguico Mineral Resources as of 31 December 2020 Classification Tonnes Silver Gold Silver Eq g/t g/t oz g/t oz Measured None Indicated Surface Stockpile 185,000 67 398,500 0.45 2,680 103 Underground Stockpile 25,600 166 136,600 1.67 1,375 300 Total 210,600 79 535,100 0.60 4,055 127 Notes: 1. Silver Equivalent calculated using 1 ounce of gold is equal to 80 ounces of silver, on the basis of the average 5-year historic silver and gold prices. 2. Numbers have been rounded.

Mineral Resources that are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. There has been insufficient exploration to allow for the classification of the inferred resources at El Cubo as an indicated or measured mineral resource, however, it is reasonably expected that the majority of the inferred mineral resources could be upgraded to indicated or measured mineral resources with continued exploration. There is no guarantee that any part of the mineral resources discussed herein will be converted into a mineral reserve in the future.

The Endeavour Agreement:

As announced by the Company on Dec. 18, 2020, VanGold will pay US$15,000,000 for the El Cubo Complex as follows:

An upfront non-refundable down-payment of US$500,000 cash (paid).

US$7.0m cash on closing.

US$5.0m in VanGold common shares on closing - priced at C$0.30 per share for a total of 21,331,058 VanGold shares.

US$2.5m promissory note due 12 months from closing.

Endeavour has agreed to (a) abstain from voting its shares of VanGold, other than as recommended by VanGold's management, for a period of 2 years and (b) a 12-month restriction on the resale of any VanGold shares acquired in this transaction.

VanGold has also agreed to pay Endeavour up to an additional US$3.0m in contingent payments based on the following:

US$1.0m - upon VanGold producing 3,000,000 AgEq ounces at the El Cubo mill, derived from either the El Cubo or El Pinguico properties.

US$1.0m - if the price of gold closes at or above US$2,000 per ounce for 20 consecutive days within two years after closing.

US$1.0 m - if the price of gold closes at or above US$2,200 per ounce for 20 consecutive days within three years after closing.

About Endeavour:

Endeavour Silver Corp. is a mid-tier precious metals mining company listed on the NYSE:EXK and TSX:EDR. Endeavour owns and operates three underground silver-gold mines in Mexico and is currently advancing the Terronera Mine Project towards a development decision. Endeavour is also exploring its portfolio of exploration and development projects in Mexico and Chile to facilitate its goal to become a premier senior silver producer.

About VanGold Mining Corp.:

VanGold Mining is an exploration and development company engaged in reactivating past producing silver and gold mines near the city of Guanajuato, Mexico. The Company's El Pinguico project is a significant past producer of both silver and gold located just 7 kilometers south of the city. Upon closing of the El Cubo acquisition, the Company will focus on the refurbishment of the El Cubo mill, and swift commencement of production from the El Cubo and El Pinguico Combined Operation, as well as delineating additional silver and gold resources through underground and surface drilling on its projects located in this 480 year old mining camp.

Hernan Dorado Smith, a director of VanGold and a "qualified person" as defined by National Instrument 43-101, Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, has approved the scientific and technical information contained in this news release.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

"James Anderson"

Chairman and CEO

For further information regarding VanGold Mining Corp, please contact:

James Anderson, Director, +1 (778) 989-5346

Email: james@vangoldmining.com

Continue to watch our progress at: www.vangoldmining.com

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains certain forward-looking statements and information, which relate to future events or future performance including, but not limited to, the successful acquisition of El Cubo on the terms and conditions contemplated, the proposed use of proceeds from VanGold's recently completed private placement financing, the ability of VanGold to successfully re-start the El Cubo mill and supply sufficient mineralized material from El Cubo and El Pinguico for processing through the El Cubo mill at projected rates, the ability to generate positive cash flow from the El Cubo mill as contemplated or at all, the exploration and development potential of El Cubo and El Pinguico and the potential existence of additional mineral resources thereon. Such forward-looking statements reflect management's current beliefs and are based on assumptions made by and information currently available to the Company. Readers are cautioned that these forward-looking statements are neither promises nor guarantees, and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause future results to differ materially from those expected including, but not limited to, market conditions, availability of financing, currency rate fluctuations, actual results of exploration and development activities, unanticipated geological formations and characteristics, environmental risks, future prices of gold, silver and other metals, operating risks, accidents, labor issues, delays in obtaining governmental or regulatory approvals and permits, and other risks in the mining industry. There are no assurances that VanGold will successfully complete the acquisition of El Cubo on the terms contemplated or at all or, if acquired, that the Company will be able to re-start the El Cubo mill to process mineralized materials in the amounts and at the costs anticipated. In addition, there is uncertainty about the spread of COVID-19 and the impact it will have on the Company's operations, supply chains, ability to access El Pinguico or El Cubo or procure equipment, contractors and other personnel on a timely basis or at all and economic activity in general. All the forward-looking statements made in this news release are qualified by these cautionary statements and those in our continuous disclosure filings available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances save as required by law.

Cautionary Note for U.S. Investors regarding Reserve and Resource Estimates

Canadian public disclosure standards, including NI 43-101, differ significantly from the requirements of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") set forth in Industry Guide 7 ("Industry Guide 7"), and information concerning mineralization, deposits, mineral reserve and resource information contained or referred to herein may not be comparable to similar information disclosed by U.S. companies in accordance with Industry Guide 7. In particular, but without limiting the generality of the foregoing, this news release uses the terms "measured mineral resources", 'indicated mineral resources' and 'inferred mineral resources'. U.S. investors are advised that, while such terms are recognized and required by Canadian securities laws, Industry Guide 7 does not recognize them. U.S. investors should also understand that "inferred mineral resources" have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence and great uncertainty as to their economic and legal feasibility. It cannot be assumed that all or any part of "inferred mineral resources" exist, are economically or legally mineable or will ever be upgraded to a higher category. Under Canadian securities laws, estimated "inferred mineral resources" may not form the basis of feasibility or pre-feasibility studies except in rare cases. Disclosure of "contained ounces" in a mineral resource is permitted disclosure under Canadian securities laws. However, Industry Guide 7 normally only permits issuers to report mineralization that does not constitute "reserves" by Industry Guide 7 standards as in place tonnage and grade, without reference to unit measures. Accordingly, information concerning mineral deposits set forth herein may not be comparable with information made public by companies that report in accordance with Industry Guide 7.

VANGOLD MINING CORP.

PH: +1(778) 989-5346 E: info@vangoldmining.com W: vangoldmining.com

CA: Suite 2820 - 200 Granville Street, Vancouver B.C. V6C 1S4

MX: Carretera - Guanajuato - Silao km 5.5, Int 4, Col. Marfil CP36250, Guanajuato, Gto., Mexico

SOURCE: Vangold Mining Corp.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/635980/VanGold-Signs-Definitive-Purchase-Agreement-with-Endeavour-Silver-Corp
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According to Stratistics MRC, the Optical Film Market is accounted for $12.7 billion in 2017 and is expected to reach $26.6 billion by 2026 growing at a CAGR of 6.9% from 2017 to 2026. The factors include increasing demand for larger screen sized televisions and mobile phones, Increasing product development, launches and advancements in electronic goods. However, the emergence of new display technology like active matrix organic light-emitting diode (AMOLED) screens or displays in TV, mobile and other electronic applications expected to hamper the growth of the global optical films market up to a certain extent. Optical films are thin multilayered films, used in various display applications in order to improve reduce reflection, anti-glaring, light transmission and many more are specify as optical films..

Based on the product, Optical films use Anti-reflection film in order to sputtering process controls thin-film thickness at the nano-level to form an anti-reflection film consisting of multiple layers with different refractive indices. This structure uses the interference of light to reduce reflection. The AR film has excellent anti-fouling and anti-scratch properties, making it an excellent choice for the surface layer of touch panels.

By Geography, Asia Pacific commanded the global optical films market in terms of revenue contribution as compared to that of markets in other regions. This is mainly associated with the availability of a large number of local manufacturers in the region along with comparatively low-cost labor and availability of cost-effective raw material in countries in the region.

Request for Report Sample: https://www.trendsmarketresearch.com/report/sample/11309

Some of the key players include in this market are Dexerials Corporation, Fujifilm, LG Chem, MNTech, Nitto Denko Corporation, Polatechno Co., Ltd., Samsung SDI, Sumitomo Chem, Zeon Corporation, American Polarizers., Toray Industries Inc, Mitsubishi Polyester Film GmbH, Hyosung Corporation.

Products Covered:

 Indium Tin Oxide (ITO) Film

 Backlight Units (BLU) Film

 Backlight optical films

 Polarizer and Sub films

Applications Covered:

 Monitors

 Mobile Phones

 Notebooks

 Televisions

 Smart Electronic Wearable

 Signage & Advertising Display Boards

 Control Panel Displays

 Other Applications

End-Users Covered:

 Lighting

 Industrial

 Optical Equipment

 Consumer Electronics

 Automotive

 Other End Users

Regions Covered:

 North America

o US

o Canada

o Mexico

 Europe

o Germany

o UK

o Italy

o France

o Spain

o Rest of Europe

 Asia Pacific

o Japan

o China

o India

o Australia

o New Zealand

o South Korea

o Rest of Asia Pacific

 South America

o Argentina

o Brazil

o Chile

o Rest of South America

 Middle East & Africa

o Saudi Arabia

o UAE

o Qatar

o South Africa

o Rest of Middle East & Africa

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 What our report offers:

o  Market share assessments for the regional and country level segments

o  Strategic recommendations for the new entrants

o  Market forecasts for a minimum of 9 years of all the mentioned segments, sub segments and the regional markets

o  Market Trends (Drivers, Constraints, Opportunities, Threats, Challenges, Investment Opportunities, and recommendations)

o  Strategic analysis: Drivers and Constraints, Product/Technology Analysis, Porters five forces analysis, SWOT analysis etc.

o  Strategic recommendations in key business segments based on the market estimations

o  Competitive landscaping mapping the key common trends

o  Company profiling with detailed strategies, financials, and recent developments

o  Supply chain trends mapping the latest technological advancements

 Free Customization Offerings:

o All the customers of this report will be entitled to receive one of the following free customization options:

o Company Profiling

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o Market estimations, Forecasts and CAGR of any prominent country as per the clients interest (Note: Depends of feasibility check)

o Competitive Benchmarking

o Benchmarking of key players based on product portfolio, geographical presence, and strategic alliances.

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Emboldened by the deadly breach of the U.S. Capitol and fueled by conspiracy theories promoting violence, domestic extremists will almost certainly attempt to strike again this year, U.S. officials said in a newly declassified threat assessment.

The report  assembled by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, National Counterterrorism Center, FBI and Department of Homeland Security  concluded that the threat posed by racially and ethnically motivated extremists, along with those associated with violent militias loomed as the "most lethal."

Tracking an uptick in activity involving militia members, the report found that the threat "will almost certainly continue to be elevated throughout 2021 because of contentious socio-political factors that motivate (militia-associated extremists) to commit violence."

Read it yourself: Domestic Violent Extremism Poses Heightened Threat in 2021

Facebook booted Donald Trump after a riot at the Capitol, but the company's Oversight Board received an appeal arguing that the former president's Facebook and Instagram accounts should be restored.

The new assessment echoed a January warning that a "heightened threat environment" across the country would persist into the spring.

More: Homeland Security worries extremists 'emboldened' by Capitol riots may cause more violence

In the earlier bulletin issued by the DHS, authorities said they "remain concerned that individuals frustrated with the exercise of governmental authority and the presidential transition ... could continue to mobilize a broad range of ideologically motivated actors to incite or commit violence."

Poll: 70% of Americans think white nationalism played role in Capitol attack

At least a dozen members of the paramilitary group Oath Keepers have been charged in connection with the Capitol riots. And federal prosecutors signaled last week that they are pursuing a broad conspiracy involving "a large number of participants" who were involved in pre-planning and coordinating their actions during the siege.

"Several factors could increase the likelihood or lethality of (domestic violent extremist) attacks in 2021 and beyond, including ... growing perceptions of government overreach related to legal or policy changes and disruptions," the new report found, adding that new high-profile attacks could prompt "follow-on attacks and innovations in targeting and attack tactics."

Story continues

Underscoring a long-standing concern, officials said lone offenders or small cells of extremists who adhere to a varied set of ideologies are "more likely" to carry out attacks in the homeland.

"Attackers often radicalize independently by consuming violent extremist material online and mobilize without direction from a violent extremist organization, making detection and disruption difficult," the report found.

The January DHS bulletin recalled the 2019 mass shooting in El Paso, Texas, carried out by a lone attacker who killed 23 and later told police that he had targeted Mexicans.

The new intelligence report comes as police were investigating the fatal shootings of eight people in Atlanta, including six women of Asian descent, as Asian communities across the country remained on edge because of a recent surge of racially motivated violence.

Though police said early indications did not suggest Tuesday's attack was a hate crime, authorities cautioned that they had not settled on a motive for the 21-year-old white shooter.

Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Mark Warner, D-Va., said Tuesday's report affirmed years-long concern of a simmering threat from within the U.S.

"Domestic violent extremist groups represent a grave security threat and that social media platforms have served as core organizing infrastructure for white supremacists, violent extremist groups and militia movements  facilitating online radicalization and helping them recruit, organize, and in some cases, even coordinate across continents," Warner said.

What happened on January 6 highlights the need to tackle the growing threat posed by domestic violent extremism in this country, and the Senate Intelligence Committee will continue to examine these issues closely.

House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff, D-Calif., characterized the risk as far-reaching.

This violence is not confined to lone wolves carrying out mass shootings or attacks, but more sophisticated cells and plots, as well," Schiff said. "Nevertheless, lone actors pose some of the most difficult challenges to detect, as they may keep their plans to themselves, or find like-minded individuals in private chat rooms."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: US intelligence warns of domestic extremist threat, possible attacks
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IF you have absolutely no urgent or emergency need to be outdoors today, then remain at home.

Should you take a chance and decide to tempt fate, then it may most likely result in you being stopped and questioned by police officers and members of the Defence Force, or even find yourself charged and taken before a court.
Samsung has now officially peeled back the wraps on its Galaxy A52, Galaxy A52 5G, and Galaxy A72.

The new devices build on their top-ranked budget-friendly predecessors in nearly every way. Thats not just in terms of specs either. The company started by ensuring the new Galaxy-branded handsets fit in better with the Galaxy ecosystem. Thats across PCs, tablets, wearables, TVs, and more. And the company is bringing more flagship features over to the mid-rangers too.

For starters, these Galaxy A series devices are better integrated with SmartThings. That includes the ability to control a smart home ecosystem. But also the ability to use SmartThings Find to locate paired gadgets and the Galaxy SmartTab Bluetooth locater to find non-connected devices and other objects.

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Other flagship additions to this lineup include Music Share, Quick Share, Private Share, Samsung Knox, and Samsung Care+. The latter is effectively a subscription coverage plan for phones that offers immediate support options and covers even theft or loss. And, of course, Samsung Knox is a defense-grade security system built right into the device.

But the other features are more user-facing. Music share, for example, allows syncing with a friends device to share music. It also allows two sets of Galaxy Buds to be paired  via Buds Together  for a more intimate sharing experience. Quick Share, conversely, lets users share pictures and videos to nearby Galaxy devices without size limitations. While Private share allows users to give or revoke photo and video sharing permissions on-demand.

Flagship features here are stacked atop better internals and hardware features

In terms of exactly what users are getting from these devices, thats actually going to vary very little at the surface level. Both the Samsung Galaxy A52 and the Galaxy A52 5G will, for example, come with the same display, battery, cameras, and more, with very few exceptions. Even the same processor appears to be in use. Moreover, some of those specs will stay the same for the Samsung Galaxy A72  at least at first glance.

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For example, the Samsung Galaxy A52, Galaxy A52 5G, and Galaxy A72 all come with an octa-core processor with two 2.3GHz cores. Those are coupled with six 1.8GHz cores. And, underneath, coupled with 6GB or 8GB RAM options. Although the LTE Galaxy A52 does have a 4GB option. More specifically, thats the Snapdragon 720G for the Samsung Galaxy A52 and Galaxy A72. The Samsung Galaxy A52 5G comes with a Snapdragon 750G SoC.

For each device, thats placed under a better display than ever too. The Samsung Galaxy A72 and Galaxy A52 come with 90Hz screens compared to the Galaxy A52 5Gs 120Hz refresh rate, each has a brightness of up to 800nits. The biggest other difference, on a first read-through of the specs, is of course the 5G support for the Samsung Galaxy A52 5G.

Each of those is a Super AMOLED panel too, with Eye Care certification and an Eye Comfort Shield feature to adjust the color temperature based on usage patterns. That will, Samsung says, reduce eye fatigue. All stacking atop a two-day battery rated at 4,500mAh and 5,000mAh  depending on whether the Galaxy A52 or Galaxy A72 is purchased.

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The design itself is a more refined look, with a minimal camera hump designed to blend seamlessly with the back panel. Samsung is still including stereo speakers, USB-C charging too, as well as expandable memory up to 1TB. While the software experience will be driven by Android 11, with One UI 3 laid out over top. As with other Samsung phones this generation, up to three generations of firmware updates and four for security have been promised for these Galaxy handsets.

The cameras are another highlight for Samsung Galaxy A52, A52 5G, and A72

Another area these phones will differ is in the cameras, although the differences arent taking away from flagship-like features. For instance, each of the new Galaxy A series handsets will come with stabilization for shots and videos, including in Night mode via multi-frame processing and OIS. And each brings along AR Emoji and My Filter too.

AR, in particular, extends well beyond standard camera captures with these handsets, with a new Fun Mode. That adds AR Lenses from Snapchat to the native camera app. So users can take advantage of the best filters and effects from the popular app directly in the Camera application.

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Continuing in that same vein, each of the new devices is led by a 64-megapixel high-resolution primary snapper. Thats also capable of catching video in brilliant 4K, and distilling video into 8-megapixel photos via a feature dubbed 4K Video Snap. The AI-driven Scene Optimizer, conversely, holds no fewer than 30 categories to provide optimal settings for captures. Those range from food to landscapes and pets.

The differences between the phones on the camera front are minimal in other ways too. Each of the new phones utilizes secondary lenses, including a 12-megapixel fixed-focus Ultra-Wide snapper with an F/2.2 aperture and 1.12m pixel size. A 5-megapixel Macro lens is included as well. Thats set with a fixed-focus and f/2.4 aperture with the same pixel size as the ultra-wide lens.

However, the Samsung Galaxy A52 and Galaxy A52 5G ship with a 5-megapixel depth sensor too. And can only shoot with up to 10-times digital zoom. The Samsung Galaxy A52, conversely, shoots at up to 30-times digital zoom with up to 3-times optical zoom. It also eschews the depth camera to accomplish that, using an 8-megapixel OIS auto-focus lens instead.

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Both series ship with a selfie snapper rated at 32-megapixels. Thats a fixed-focus lens with an f/2.2 aperture and 0.8m pixel size.

Specs

For those who are looking for more detailed specifications for the Galaxy A52, Galaxy A52 5G, and Galaxy A72, those are included below as provided by Samsung.

Samsung Galaxy A52/Galaxy A52 5G Samsung Galaxy A72 Screen size 6.5 FHD+ Super AMOLED

Infinity-O Display (1080 x 2400),

407 ppi

90 Hz refresh rate/120Hz refresh rate 6.7 FHD+ Super AMOLED

Infinity-O Display (1080 x 2400),

394 ppi

90 Hz refresh rate Dimensions & Weight 75.1 x 159.9 x 8.4mm

189g 77.4 x 165.0 x 8.4mm

203g Cameras Main: 64MP OIS AF (F1.8, 0.8m)

Ultra-Wide: 12MP FF (F2.2, 1.12m)

Macro: 5MP FF (F2.4, 1.12m)

Depth: 5MP FF (F2.4, 1.12m)

Digital Zoom up to 10XSelfie: 32MP FF (F2.2, 0.8m) Main: 64MP OIS AF (F1.8, 0.8m)

Ultra-Wide: 12MP FF (F2.2, 1.12m)

Macro: 5MP FF (F2.4, 1.12m)

Tele(3x): 8MP OIS AF (F2.4, 1.0m)

Digital Zoom up to 30X

Optical Zoom at 3XSelfie: 32MP FF (F2.2, 0.8m) Processor Octa-Core (2 x 2.3GHz + 6 x 1.8GHz) Octa-Core (2 x 2.3GHz + 6 x 1.8GHz) RAM & Storage Galaxy A52 RAM: 4/6/8GB

A52 ROM: 128/256GBGalaxy A52 5G RAM: 6/8GB

A52 5G Storage: 128/256GB RAM: 6/8GB

ROM: 128/256GB Expandable Memory & SIM 2 slots (SIM 1 + Hybrid)

Micro SD: Up to 1TB 2 slots (SIM 1 + Hybrid)

Micro SD: Up to 1TB Battery 4,500 mAh 5,000 mAh Charging 25W Fast Charging 25W Fast Charging OS Android 11 Android 11 Charging Type-C USB 3.2 Gen 1 with DisplayPort out Type-C USB 3.2 Gen 1 with DisplayPort out Network LTE / 5G Sub6 FDD, 5G Sub6 TDD LTE Connectivity Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (2.4G+5GHz)

Bluetooth v 5.0

USB Type 2.0-C

Location (GPS, Glonass, BeiDou, Galileo) Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (2.4G+5GHz)

Bluetooth v 5.0

USB Type 2.0-C

Location (GPS, Glonass, BeiDou, Galileo) Payment NFC

MST (A52 5G KOR Only) NFC

MST (A52 5G KOR Only) Sensors Accelerometer,

Fingerprint sensor,

Gyro sensor,

Geomagnetic sensor,

Hall sensor,

Light sensor,

Virtual Proximity sensor Accelerometer,

Fingerprint sensor,

Gyro sensor,

Geomagnetic sensor,

Hall sensor,

Light sensor,

Virtual Proximity sensor Authentication Lock Type: Pattern, PIN, password

Biometric lock type: Face Recognition, Fingerprint sensor Lock Type: Pattern, PIN, password

Biometric lock type: Face Recognition, Fingerprint sensor Audio [Stereo speakers sound by AKG]

Surround sound with Dolby Atmos technology[Ultra high-quality audio playback]

UHQ 24-bit

PCM: Up to 24 bits[Audio playback format]

MP3, M4A, 3GA, AAC, OGG, OGA, WAV, AMR, AWB, FLAC, MID, MIDI, XMF, MXMF, IMY, RTTTL, RTX,

OTA

[Bluetooth]

Dual Audio: Connect two Bluetooth devices to play audio through the two devices simultaneously.

Scalable Codec: Enhanced Bluetooth connection under ambient radio frequency interference. [Stereo speakers sound by AKG]

Surround sound with Dolby Atmos technology[Ultra high-quality audio playback]

UHQ 24-bit

PCM: Up to 24 bits[Audio playback format]

MP3, M4A, 3GA, AAC, OGG, OGA, WAV, AMR, AWB, FLAC, MID, MIDI, XMF, MXMF, IMY, RTTTL, RTX,

OTA

[Bluetooth]

Dual Audio: Connect two Bluetooth devices to play audio through the two devices simultaneously.

Scalable Codec: Enhanced Bluetooth connection under ambient radio frequency interference. Video playback [Video playback format]

MP4, M4V, 3GP, 3G2, AVI, FLV, MKV, WEBM[TV connection]

Wireless: Smart View (screen mirroring 1080p at 30fps) [Video playback format]

MP4, M4V, 3GP, 3G2, AVI, FLV, MKV, WEBM[TV connection]

Wireless: Smart View (screen mirroring 1080p at 30fps) Water Resistance IP67 IP67

Pricing and availability for Samsung Galaxy A52, A52 5G, and A72 are still unknown

Now, Samsung hasnt provided details about pricing or availability for its Galaxy A52, Galaxy A52 5G, or Galaxy A72 just yet. Those details will undoubtedly be forthcoming in the coming weeks. And theyll vary significantly by region. But the company did, at the very least, detail what colors theyll be available in and the options are wider than ever.

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The standard colors will be available, of course, starting with Awesome White and Black. But itll also make the handsets available in Awesome Violet and Awesome Blue. Each of which appears to be a matte coloration, which should mean great protection against fingerprints and smudges. And the company is utilizing pulp mold and paper to minimize space and material for the packaging, promoting greater sustainability on that front.
AUBURN, Wash., March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Span Alaska Transportation, the largest freight forwarder serving Alaska, announced today that its President, Tom Souply, will retire from that position and assume a strategic development role as Executive Vice President, Corporate Development, effective April 1, 2021.

Michael Johnson, currently Executive Vice President, will be promoted to President effective April 1, 2021. He will have responsibility for operations, sales, and administration companywide and will be based in Auburn, Wash.

"Tom's transition toward retirement at the end of this month is bittersweet for me," said Rusty Rolfe, President of Matson Logistics, the parent company of Span Alaska. "Tom has been and will continue to be a driving force behind Span's success, and while his leadership will be sorely missed, I understand his decision to move on to a well-earned new chapter in his life."

Souply began his career in transportation more than 35 years ago, starting at UPS. He then moved to Roadway, where he spent 25 years in various management roles. Souply joined Span Alaska in 2010 as Chief Operating Officer and was promoted to President in 2013. He was the first president recruited from outside the family-owned business. He managed the acquisition of Pacific Alaska Freightways in 2015 and Span Alaska's sale to Matson Logistics in 2016.

"His contributions to Span's success have touched every part of the organization," Rolfe added. "I am grateful he is staying on in this new role to provide his experience and logistics acumen in leading several strategic initiatives."

Michael Johnson joined Span Alaska in 2017 after more than 27 years in operational leadership positions with YRC Freight/Roadway and two years in sales leadership at Reddaway. Since joining Span Alaska, Johnson has made significant contributions in process improvement, employee development, strategic planning, and safety management.

Both Johnson and Souply were instrumental in the planning and building of Span Alaska's Anchorage Service Center, a state-of-the-art operations and administration facility that was the largest private construction project in Alaska at the time.

"I am delighted Michael will be leading Span Alaska going forward," Rolfe said. "He brings a wealth of experience and passion for continuous improvement that will help the company to expand its service to customers and support for communities throughout Alaska."

About Span Alaska Transportation

Span Alaska Transportation has 43 years of experience serving as a transportation lifeline to cities and communities throughout Alaska, moving more than 400 million pounds of freight annually to, from, and within the state.

Span Alaska employs more than 200 people and operates more than 500 units of rolling stock. In addition to its highway, rail, and ocean network connecting the Lower 48 to Southcentral Alaska, the company also offers overnight service from Anchorage to Fairbanks and the Kenai Peninsula, and provides LTL (less-than-truckload) service via dedicated barge from Seattle to Southeast Alaska.

The company is based in Auburn, WA, where it operates a 93-door terminal on 15 acres. It also operates freight terminals in Anchorage, Fairbanks, Kenai, Kodiak, and Wasilla.

Span Alaska is a subsidiary of Matson Logistics, which offers domestic and international rail intermodal service, long haul and regional highway brokerage, warehousing and distribution, and less-than-truck-load (LTL) transportation services throughout North America. It also offers third-party logistics and supply chain services that include warehousing, distribution, less-than-container-load (LCL) consolidation, and international freight forwarding in the United States and Asia.

Media Contact:

Jahan Byrne, Corporate Marketing, Matson Logistics

t 510 220 5550 | [email protected]

SOURCE Matson Logistics, Inc.
Nazi Hunter: We Want to Bring Them to Justice

As the 88th anniversary of Nazi Germany's launch of anti-Semitic laws approaches, Nazi hunter Steven Rambam talks about what motivates him

Over fruitcake and schnapps, a man who identified himself as Antanas Kenstavicius hosted doctoral student Salvatore Romano at his home in Hope, B.C., in 1992 and regaled Romano with the highlight story of his Nazi past.

Kenstaviciuswho served as a police chief in Nazi-occupied Lithuania during World War IIalong with accomplices allegedly murdered some 5,000 Jews in six days, including children, in the town of Ignalina in October 1941. Like sheep, they went, Kenstavicius told Romano.

Kenstavicius believed that Romano was a student at St. Pauls University in Belize who was gathering information for his doctoral thesis. Little did he know that Romano was the undercover identity of Steven Rambam, a New York-based Jewish private investigator who had taken up the mission of hopscotching the globe to elicit confessions from former Nazis and bring them to justice.

Rambam tape-recorded every detail of the two-hour meeting for his supposed thesis.

After the war, Kenstavicius would make his way to Canada, planting roots in Hope, where Rambam paid him the visit in 1992 that eventually led to charges for his alleged crimes. He died in 1997 awaiting his court hearing.

It was my first interview, and I had to pause the investigation for a few days and mentally regroup, Rambam told The Epoch Times.

Ive interviewed murderers, child molesters, rapists, a lot of horrible people. This guy was just being casual about murdering, co-ordinating the murder of thousands of Jews. It made me nuts. It motivated me for years.

People walk past a wall of photos from the town of Eishyshok, Lithuania, where the Nazis first began to implement the Final Solution, at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington on Jan. 26, 2007. (Brendan Smialowski/Getty Images)

In the recording made by Rambam, the man he identifies as Kenstavicius describes rounding up Jews and taking them to a forest where they were shot, but he does not acknowledge pulling the trigger himself.

Two cases saw the issue of Nazi war criminal prosecution in the news again recentlythat of 96-year-old Helmut Oberlander of Waterloo, Ont., who worked as an interpreter for a German death squad during World War II; and 95-year-old Friedrich Karl Berger, who was a guard at the Neuengamme concentration camp in Northern Germany.

On Feb. 20, Berger was deported to Germany from the United States, while Oberlander was successful in having his Feb. 8 deportation hearing postponed as he continues his long-running legal battle to remain in Canada.

It was 88 years ago in April 1933 that the Nazi Party enacted its first of many anti-Semitic lawsthe boycott of Jewish-owned businessesin what was to culminate in the so-called Final Solution.

But what happened to hundreds of thousands of Nazis after the war?

Rambam has been asking for 40 years. Hes the founder and CEO of Pallorium Inc., a Brooklyn-based investigative agency with offices and affiliates worldwide, including in Toronto and several U.S. states. Since 1981, the agency has closed 15,000 cases, from homicide and missing person cases to money laundering and financial fraud investigations.

On the Hunt

In 1982, Rambam assisted in locating witnesses for a Nazi-hunting case, but it wasnt until a decade later that a stranger approached him with a list of 85 Ukrainian Nazi collaborators, including a short descriptor of what each did. The third on the list resided in Montreal and specialized in the murder of children.

Bruno Dey, a former SS watchman at the Stutthof concentration camp in Poland, covers his face as he is brought out of a courtroom during his trial in Hamburg, Germany, on Feb. 26, 2020. In July 2020, 93-year-old Dey was found guilty of complicity in the murder of more than 5,000 prisoners and was given a two-year suspended prison sentence. (Markus Scholz/Pool/AFP via Getty Images)

Though Rambam has received plenty of false leads and hoaxes, this one turned out to be verifiable. With a hunch that there could be others, he and his team discovered the names of 1,000 war criminals in Canada, and hundreds more in Europe, the United States, and Australia. About 300 in Canada were located through the phone book in just one afternoon; others required deeper paperwork, such as digging up land deeds, car registrations, and business licences.

He compiled the worst of the worst in a shortlist of 200 that he and his team dedicated their time to finding, interviewing, and recording.

They talked freely about what they did, and who they worked with. To the end, they were all true believers, Rambam said, adding that because they had eluded the law for a half-century, they had no fear of justice catching up.

There are still tens of thousands of Nazis living in North America, South America, and Europe, Rambam maintains. Some came in through stealth or claimed refugee status, while others played the anti-communist card: A Nazi just had to roll up his sleeve and show his SS tattoo, tell the official about killing communists, and the official would say welcome!

Rambam said in a CBC documentary in 1996 that Canada was a primary refuge for former Nazis.

Meanwhile, another full confession came from Antanas Ceponis, who welcomed Romano into his Toronto-area home (findable, at the time, in the phone book). No shame, no fear, Rambam says of the Nazi collaborator.

Ceponis was gracious enough to pose for a photograph with his rifle in front of the fridge where Hitlers picture was posted. However, rather than prosecute, authorities merely seized the firearm.

Every war criminal in this country could have been made to fear their future, Rambam says. Theres no reason why these Nazis couldnt have been found and pursued before.

Snaring Julius Viel

During those years, a flurry of media reported on Rambams findings, including 60 Minutes in 1997, which played the recordings of 10 war criminals confessing. The following year, the Canadian government pledged $47 million over three years to find and deport war criminals, but nothing happened, he says.

White roses left by visitors stand among train tracks at the Track 19 memorial prior to a ceremony to commemorate the anniversary of the deportation of Berlins Jews to concentration camps in Berlin, Germany, on Oct. 19, 2016. (Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

The growing spotlight on the matter spurred Albert Laullier, a professor at Montreals Concordia University, to reach out to Rambam. Laullier had been a guard near the Theresienstadt concentration camp, and wanted the Nazi hunter to know about his commander, Julius Viel.

As told to Rambam, Viel shot seven Jews in a ditch and reported them to the Red Cross as heart attacks; the Red Cross accepted it.

Laullier, who had not committed war crimes, turned over a manila envelope full of documents.

Using contacts in Germany, Rambam tracked Viel to Wangen im Allgau, a city in Southern Germany. After comparing surveillance photographs to photographs from the war, Laullier was able to conclusively identify his former commander.

They built a dossier on Vielwith the help of German news broadcaster ZDF and journalist Stefan Schlentrichand an inmates diary from the Theresienstadt concentration camp describing the incident.

In 2001, the German war crimes prosecutors office sentenced Viel, then 83, to 12 years in jail. He died the following year.

Rambam says the fact that Nazi war criminals are now elderly shouldnt be a deterrent to bringing them to justice.

Theres no statute of limitations on murder. Ethically and morally, no statute. Its not like were shooting an 85-year-old and shoving them in a ditch, as they did to us. We want to bring them to justice, he says.

If youre a decent person, you have to say someone has to speak for the murdered. You need to seek justice for them.
UK Prime Minister confirms his visit to India next month. the confirmation has come two months after he had to cancel his visit to India in January 2021 due to rising coronavirus cases in his country, the trip will be his first major international trip after Brexit.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is going to visit India next month as part of the efforts to boost the UKs opportunities in the region and to strengthen Indo-Pacific ties. This trip will be his first major trip abroad after Brexit.

The confirmation of his visit comes two months after he had to cancel the visit to India in January this year due to the surge in coronavirus infections in the UK. Johnson, who was invited as a Republic Day chief guest by India had planned the trip in January 2021 to as part of the efforts to speed up trade relations between India and the UK.

Downing Street, which houses the official residence of the UK Prime Minister had made an announcement saying that Johnson will travel to India in January 2021 to invigorate a key strategic relationship that supports employment opportunities and investment across the United Kingdom as part of his first major bilateral visit since taking office and the first visit ever since the Brexit.

Also Read: Anti-China protests erupt in Myanmar: Chinese factories set ablaze

On the upcoming visit, PM Johnsons office has stated that it would tilt its focus towards the Indo-Pacific region as part of its Integrated Review of government policy for the coming years, stating that the area represented the geopolitical centre of the world.

Britain has made a formal appeal to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) in February, seeking membership of the 11- nation bloc to open up new opportunities for post-Brexit trade and influence, connecting itself to the huge growth market for the future. The country has also requested to join the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to become a dialogue partner.

Also Read: Bengaluru assault case: Zomato delivery agent lodges a counter complaint against woman
DODs 5G foundation to support telerobotic surgery pilot

The Defense Department is preparing for 5G-based telemedicine experiments with technologies such as augmented reality (AR) and robotic surgery.

DOD is expected to issue requests for prototype proposals from Joint Base San Antonio (JSBA) in Texas after releasing a statement of work for a 5G telemedicine and medical training project. The SOW sought industry input on development related to 5G-enabled AR/virtual reality-guided medical training, advanced telehealth information access, advanced robotic surgery and telementoring via AR for medical procedures.

The 5G network is critical to telemedicine because it shifts from the voice-centric 4G network to application-to-application communication without human intervention, National Spectrum Consortium (NSC) Vice Chairman Randy Clark said.

Considering military hospitals, Department of Veterans Affairs medical facilities and the sheer number of people DOD is responsible for taking care of at peacetime and at war, it becomes a very important strategic decision to modernize, leveraging the benefits of 5G for health care, Clark said.

With 5G, telemedicine stands to become more efficient as providers diagnose and care for people while they are at home. Whats more, 5G-supported business process improvement and robotics mean that cardiovascular surgeons could put their expertise to use anywhere in the world, even performing AR- and VR-assisted robotic surgery. That spreads knowledge exponentially, especially for an organization with constituents worldwide.

The network, through cognition and [artificial intelligence], will be able to make decisions in milliseconds  perhaps hundreds of thousands of decisions in milliseconds, Clark said. This is why we have to harness and accelerate the disruptive technologies in the ecosystem around 5G to create those advantages for our economic strength, and our economic strength is ultimately our best national defense.

Experiments in the four technical areas DOD specified will include the design and development of full-scale prototypes of 5G telemedicine applications running in real time on a the JSBA 5G core network. For instance, the purpose of AR-guided medical training is to prototype and demonstrate the application of the network to enhance in-garrison or just-in-time medical training.

The 5G Advanced Telehealth Information Access experiment will provide mobile enhancements that can handle on-demand, near-real-time and low-latency access to electronic health records. The final two experimentation areas focus on remote telerobotic surgery and the use of real-time 3D imagery and surgical video for tactical or airborne medical care.

The experimental areas that the government chose to prioritize pre-dated COVID, Clark said, adding that there will probably be long-term benefits to this experimentation and the reference architectures that are created for COVID and other pandemic-related crises that we could potentially see in the future.

In December 2020, DOD awarded 400-member NSC the Spectrum Forward OTA, which has a term of five years and a ceiling of $2.5 billion. Under it, NSC members will perform coordinated research and development projects designed to accelerate streamlining and upgrading of communications infrastructure, improving efficient spectrum utilization, and advancing microelectronics to enable protected and resilient networks, according to a press statement.

The first phase of DODs effort is the largest full-scale 5G test for dual-use applications in the world, according to a Jan. 6 announcement. The telemedicine testing is part of the second phase, or Tranche 2.

Were really trying to reach out to the entire 5G industry -- from the big companies to the traditional defense industrial base, and to small businesses and startups that are trying to create new and interesting technologies in 5G that can support DOD missions, said Joseph Evans, principal director for 5G in the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering. Were focused on getting those solicitations out and making sure we get the best players providing technologies to DOD.
Experts say there's a tough race between Covid-19 vaccinations and a contagious variant that's rapidly spreading across the US, threatening another dangerous surge -- and the eased restrictions only further complicate things.

"It's going to be a close call," Dr. Ashish Jha, dean of the Brown University School of Public Health told CNN on Tuesday. "We are vaccinating really well, that's the good news. These variants are spreading pretty quickly across the country, that's the bad news."

"To me, I think the vaccine should win out," Jha added. "Here's the big but: What Texas, Mississippi, other states are doing to relax and get rid of the mask orders and kind of act like everything is back to normal, that is definitely coming down on the side of the variants."

The governors in Texas and Mississippi are among at least a dozen state leaders that have eased restrictions this month -- many crediting improved Covid-19 numbers and increased vaccinations.

Mississippi, for instance, has seen new cases jump 19% from last week, according to Johns Hopkins University data. The state has an average of 463 new cases per day. Case counts have been increasing over the last eight days.

In 15 states, new Covid-19 cases reported over the week that ended on Tuesday were at least 10% higher than a week ago, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. In two of those states -- Minnesota and Michigan -- cases were more than 40% higher than a week before, according to the data.

New cases are still trending down in the US overall and experts say that typically more sustained data -- of at least a couple weeks -- is needed to identify a trend. But with multiple concerning variants circulating in the country, catching early warning signs may be key to limiting continued spread.

You asked, we answered: Your top questions about Covid-19 and vaccines

US creating 'perfect storm' scenario for variant spread

There are several variants that worry experts right now.

They include two coronavirus strains first detected in California that are now officially "variants of concern," according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The variants may be about 20% more transmissible, the agency said, citing early research, and some treatments may also be less effective against the strains. The CDC did not say that vaccines would stop working against them.

The two variants first identified in California have also been designated as "variants of interest" by the World Health Organization.

"Outside of the US, reported detections of the (variants of interest) are currently limited to a relatively low number of sequences, suggesting it has not yet resulted in widespread disease in other countries," the WHO said in its weekly epidemiological update.

According to the WHO, a "variant of interest" is a variant that has been identified to cause community transmission, multiple Covid-19 cases or clusters, or has been detected in multiple countries. The WHO defines a "variant of concern" as one that increases transmission or virulence, or decreases the effectiveness of public health and social mitigation measures, diagnostics, or vaccines.

But there's one that's "front and center," said Dr. Michael Osterholm, director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota.

It's the B.1.1.7 variant, that was first detected in the UK and is now projected to become the dominant variant in the US in just a matter of weeks, according to the CDC.

"Our current models ... project that by end of March, early April, B.1.1.7 will be the dominant variant," CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said on Monday.

There have been at least 4,690 cases of the variant reported in the US -- and that likely doesn't represent the total number of cases across the country, but rather just those that have been found by scientists analyzing positive samples. The variant has been detected in at least 48 states, Puerto Rico and Washington, DC.

Recent research suggests the variant could be tied to a higher risk of dying from Covid-19. But there's growing evidence the variant poses little threat to the efficacy of current vaccines.

"I think the next several weeks are going to be all about B.1.1.7 and the race we have between vaccine and the variant," Osterholm said. "Loosening up as we are right now... we are creating a perfect storm scenario for this virus to spread."

Florida leads the US with the most B.1.1.7 variant cases reported, according to the CDC. It has reported 738 cases of the variant -- which totals 15% of all cases reported in the US, CDC data shows.

In Texas, 235 cases of the B.1.1.7 variant have been identified, according to the CDC. That's the sixth highest number in the nation.

An ensemble forecast published Wednesday by the CDC projected 554,000 to 574,000 coronavirus deaths in the United States by April 10. The previous ensemble forecast, last Wednesday, projected up to 571,000 coronavirus deaths by April 3.

At least 536,925 people have already died from Covid-19 in the US, according to Johns Hopkins University.

Different approaches to St. Patrick's Day

At a time health officials say is critical in determining how the pandemic continues to unfold, celebrations for St. Patrick's Day will also look different in some parts of the country.

Some Irish pubs in New Orleans announced they will not be opening for the celebrations, citing concerns of Covid-19 spread and restrictions on businesses.

Finn McCool's Irish Pub, located in the Mid-City area, wrote on Facebook on Monday that the crowds "would not allow us to stay compliant with state and city rules."

"As much as we would love to be open and see everyone's faces, doing so would endanger not only our staff but also the community," the post said.

New Orleans officials had further eased restrictions last week, allowing retail stores, restaurants, salons, and other businesses to increase to 75% capacity. Bars, breweries, gyms and other venues are now able to operate at 50% capacity.

Meanwhile in Georgia, Savannah Mayor Van Johnson said Tuesday the city is open, while urging Covid-19 mitigation efforts be upheld.

"It's important to note that Savannah is wide open. We've been wide open. And the way we stay open is to require the use of masks," the mayor said, highlighting how important St. Patrick's Day celebrations are to the local economy.

Despite the pandemic and a city-issued mask mandate, thousands of residents and tourists, some maskless and many not socially distanced, packed the city's streets and businesses over the weekend.

All states have vaccinated at least 10% of adults

The partying in Savannah and the spring break crowds in Florida are examples of the hunger for a return to normal.

Disneyland, the company's flagship theme park located in Anaheim, California, plans to reopen with limited capacity on April 30, Disney announced on Wednesday. The Disney resort, which houses Disneyland and its sister theme park California Adventure, has been closed for more than a year because of the pandemic.

In at least 34 states, Covid-19 test positivity rates are higher among older children between the ages of 12 and 17 than any other age group, according to a CNN analysis of the latest Covid-19 Community Profile Report published by the federal government.

On average, test positivity rates among the 12-17 age group were more than double state rates over the past week, the federal data shows. Three states did not have test positivity data by age group available.

The US Department of Health and Human Services on Wednesday announced a $10 billion initiative to implement Covid-19 surveillance testing in schools across the country.

Experts say now is not the time to ditch safety precautions. A safer future is just a few months away, when more of the country is vaccinated.

Nearly 74 million Americans have so far received at least one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine, according to CDC data. More than 39 million are fully vaccinated -- some 11.8% of the US population.

More than 113 million doses of Covid-19 vaccine have been administered -- or about 77% of the 147,590,615 doses delivered -- in the US, the CDC reported Wednesday.

That's about 2.3 million more administered doses reported since Tuesday -- a new record seven-day average of nearly 2.5 million doses per day.

Among the country's 65-and-older population, more than a third are fully vaccinated and nearly two-thirds have received at least one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine.

Additionally, all states have fully vaccinated at least 10% of their adult population.

To boost vaccination numbers faster, many state leaders have recently announced expanded eligibility guidelines, adding millions of Americans to the list of people who can get a shot. President Joe Biden has said he wants all American adults to be eligible for a vaccine by May 1 -- and some states have said they're planning on getting there sooner.

Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker announced Wednesday that as of April 19, people ages 16 and older will be eligible for a Covid-19 vaccine.

A study published by the CDC Wednesday said counties considered to have high social vulnerability had lower vaccine coverage than counties considered to have low social vulnerability during the first two and half months of Covid-19 vaccine distribution in the US.

The CDC social vulnerability index identifies communities that may need additional support during emergencies based on 15 indicators across four categories: socioeconomic status, household composition, racial/ethnic minority status and housing type. Counties were split equally between high, moderate and low social vulnerability.

By March 1, nearly 52 million vaccine doses had been administered in the US, and about 15.1% of the population had received at least one dose. But vaccination coverage was about 2 percentage points higher in counties with low social vulnerability (15.8%) than in counties with high social vulnerability (13.9%), according to the study.

The differences were largely driven by socioeconomic disparities, particularly differences in the share of the population with a high school diploma and per capita income.

The Biden administration on Wednesday announced a new $2.25 billion initiative to address health equity issues related to Covid-19.

"Everyone in America should have equal opportunity to be as healthy as possible," Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said in a statement.

Here is what vaccine eligibility looks like across the US

While vaccinations have accelerated, challenges -- including vaccine hesitancy and disinformation -- remain.
Russell Impagliazzo, a professor of computer science at the University of California, San Diego, said the LLL algorithm has also led to what is known as homomorphic encryption, which allows calculations to be performed on encrypted data without ever decrypting it.

Dr. Impagliazzo said homomorphic encryption could allow you to provide encrypted financial information to a credit bureau, and the credit bureau to, in turn, calculate your credit score without ever learning anything about you.

The algorithms, he said, were already almost fast enough to be practical.

One of Dr. Wigdersons key advances involves what are known as zero-knowledge proofs. It is often important to show that you possess something  for cryptocurrency, that you actually have the money  without divulging any information about what you know.

You should really think of two parties that dont trust each other, Dr. Wigderson said.

A fanciful example is that someone has a Wheres Waldo? puzzle where the small character Waldo (outside of North America, Waldo is usually known as Wally) is hidden within a complex drawing and this person has not found Waldo. You, on the other hand, have found Waldo and are willing to sell the solution. How could you convince the other person you actually have found Waldo without giving away the answer for free?

What you could do is ask the other person to turn around as you place a large piece of cardboard over the image with a small window cut that allows Waldo to be seen without revealing his exact location.

What Dr. Wigderson, working with other mathematicians, showed was that any mathematical proof could be cast as a zero-knowledge proof. Its amazing to me, he said.

Dr. Lovasz was born in Budapest in 1948. As a teenager, he won gold medals at the International Mathematical Olympiads in 1964, 1965 and 1966. Following the path of Paul Erdos, perhaps the most famous Hungarian mathematician of the 20th century, Dr. Lovasz focused on the field of combinatorics, which studies patterns in selecting, arranging and counting objects. That area became important for many problems in computer science like the design of computer networks.
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Army training officials said Wednesday that the service is working to equip Opposing Force, or OPFOR, units at the National Training Center in Fort Irwin, California, with a new, modern combat vehicle that replicates Russian or Chinese battle wagons.

Currently, the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment at the National Training Center, or NTC, uses OPFOR Surrogate Vehicles, or OSVs, constructed out of M113 chassis and equipped with Bradley turrets. They are designed to replicate Russian Army BMP 3 fighting vehicles and T90 tanks and face Army brigade combat teams, which rotate through the combat training center.

NTC officials said they have been slowly updating the outdated vehicles with modern technology to make them a more realistic foe for Army combat units.

Read Next: Top Military Court Considers Challenge to DoD's Authority to Court-Martial Some Retirees

"Over the last year or so, we have been outfitting them with night-vision devices, thermals -- something that truly makes them a near-peer threat, the type of threat that we would anticipate fighting in the future, that we really want [Army units] to train against," Col. Michael Simmering, commander of NTC's operations group, told an audience at the Association of the United States Army's Global Force Next symposium.

But as a permanent fix, the Army is working on fielding a new OPFOR vehicle to replace the current fleet of "atrophied" vehicles at NTC, said Col. Charles Lombardo, deputy commander of the U.S. Army Combined Arms Center-Training.

"We are at that point where it's a safety issue; we need a better vehicle," he said.

The effort is working its way through the Army Requirements Oversight council process and will likely consist of tracked and wheeled versions, Lombardo said.

"It will replicate a near-peer competitor whether it's Russia or China ... so it's a very realistic OPFOR maneuver variant vehicle," he said. "I know they are working through some type of prototyping  of the new ones over the next two years."

The new OPFOR variant vehicle will likely be based on an existing Army combat vehicle platform, so it will be easy to maintain and "help our soldiers training and serving in those formations maintain those common skills that can carry back over ... into the operational Army," Lombardo said.

-- Matthew Cox can be reached at matthew.cox@military.com.

Related: NTC in Pictures: A Look at an Army Brigade's Decisive Action Rotation
A condition attached to $350 billion in relief for state and local governments by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), P.L. 117-2  that states may not use the money to offset their own tax reductions  may prove problematic, and is perhaps unconstitutional, tax practitioners said.

ARPAs Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund appropriates $220 billion in fiscal year 2021 for states, U.S. territories, and Tribal governments to mitigate the fiscal effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, available through the end of 2024. Another $130 billion is earmarked for similar payments to cities, counties, and other local governments (Section 9901 of ARPA, Title IX, Subtitle M). The funds may be used for a broad range of state and local governmental costs and aid, assisting households, small businesses, and not-for-profit organizations. The money may be used for grants and premium pay to essential workers, infrastructure investments, and aid to pandemic-affected industries such as tourism, travel, and hospitality.

The funds may not be deposited into any pension fund. But an even broader, tax-related restriction has some state and local government leaders concerned. The money may not either directly or indirectly offset a reduction in the net tax revenue of such State or territory resulting from a change in law, regulation, or administrative interpretation during the covered period that reduces any tax (by providing for a reduction in a rate, a rebate, a deduction, a credit, or otherwise) or delays the imposition of any tax or tax increase (Social Security Act 602(c)(2)(A), as added by ARPA Section 9901).

Implementing the provision leaves much to interpretation, but conflicts between states own tax incentives and drawing upon the funds may be brewing, observers said.

The timing of this provision will make it difficult for several states to figure out whether their current tax cut and relief proposals will cross the finish line this spring, if they want to be eligible for the ARPA funding, because some of these proposals could be construed as indirect offsets to revenue  even if planned prior to ARPA, said Jamie Yesnowitz, CPA, principal and State and Local Tax leader in the Washington National Tax office of Grant Thornton LLP and a member of the AICPA Tax Executive Committee.

Many states have enacted their own tax credits and other relief stemming from the pandemic or have introduced pending legislation. For example, in a law enacted March 5, Maryland expanded its earned income credit and created a new child tax credit, available in tax years 2020 through 2022 (Md. S.B. 218). The enactment date would appear to fall within the ARPA provisions covered period, which began on March 3 and extends through 2024. Similarly, New Mexicos S.B. 1 2021 was signed by its governor on March 3 and grants a $600 income tax rebate to families and individuals claiming the states working families tax credit, and, for businesses, establishes a holiday on gross receipts taxes for food and beverage establishments.

But much could hinge on how Treasury regulations will parse the new law. Although the federal legislations language is broad enough to potentially encompass even indirect offsets planned prior to ARPAs enactment, measures such as New Mexicos and Marylands could wind up being excepted, Yesnowitz observed. States might have known the federal funding was forthcoming, but not the exact amount they stand to receive, or of the laws condition for receiving it.

Theres a difference between obtaining federal funds and then enacting legislation cutting taxes in response, and enacting legislation cutting taxes as part of a planned relief measure before receiving the federal funds, Yesnowitz said.

However, the ARPA provision doesnt prevent states from lowering taxes, said Laura Schultz, executive director of research at the Rockefeller Institute of Government. They just cant use the funding to offset revenue losses that arent directly related to COVID-19 and its economic fallout, Schultz said. If a municipality received $5 million in ARPA funding and lowered property tax rates in the same fiscal year, they would need to clearly document that the entire $5 million was spent on allowable expenses such as investment in infrastructure, support for public transit, assistance to households, businesses, nonprofits, and impacted industries, and pay premiums to essential workers. The $5 million could not be used to pay for ongoing government operations that would have otherwise been reduced or eliminated to finance the unrelated property tax cut.

Many practical difficulties loom in enforcing the restriction, said Antonio Di Benedetto, J.D., LL.M., founder and president of ABD Advisors in Boston and author of a forthcoming article in the JofA on state sales taxes. The provision would appear to cover the broad range of types of taxes that state and local governments impose, from income to sales and use to property taxes.

How is Congress or Treasury going to administer, police, and prove that any legislative enactment is specifically tied to or associated with the money? Di Benedetto asked. If the federal government took states to court over the provision, I would argue the language of the legislation is sufficiently vague and unclear that it would be hard to prove specific correlations, he added.

Even more fundamental is the question of the constitutional relationship between the federal government and the states with regard to their respective taxing authorities, he said.

Most critically, states have the right to determine their own tax rules and laws without direct interference from Congress, unless it rises to the level of impacting interstate commerce or a federal issue is involved, Di Benedetto said. This legislation appears to impinge on states ability to govern themselves.

On Wednesday, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost filed a lawsuit on behalf of the state in federal district court against Treasury and officials including Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen requesting injunctive and declaratory relief against the provision, which the lawsuit dubs the tax mandate. Ohio has no real choice but to accept the estimated $5.5 billion available to it from the fund, but to do so, the state must sacrifice its sovereign authority to set tax policy as it sees fit, the lawsuit alleges.

More than 20 state attorneys general have signed on to a letter to Yellen dated Tuesday, asking her to confirm that the law does not prohibit states from generally providing tax relief.

 Paul Bonner (Paul.Bonner@aicpa-cima.com) is a JofA senior editor.
Art Acevedo wasnt looking for another gig, he said Tuesday. Then, a few weeks ago, Miami called.

It was the city where, in 1968, he and his parents arrived, new immigrants to the United States.

We went all the way to California, to Austin, came here, Acevedo said, choking up as he reminisced.

During an emotional and at times combative press briefing  a textbook example of the chiefs bombastic, gregarious and heart-felt style  Acevedo explained his decision to leave the city where he has worked since 2016, and which has served as a launch pad onto the national stage.

Acevedo has had a national profile after he took on the NRA in the wake of mass shootings and accompanied marchers after the George Floyd killing. He sparred frequently on social media with politicians, criticized judges who he felt were too lenient on people accused of violent crimes and spoke at the Democratic National Convention.

He said he contemplated pursuing a job in the Biden administration; going back to Los Angeles, running for sheriff or working in the private sector. Instead hes headed to Miami.

There, he will oversee a department of some 1,400 officers, about a quarter of the size of the Houston department. Hell receive a pay bump  to $315,000  along with a $50,000 relocation fee, a take-home car, and other perks, according to reports from Florida outlets.

Surprise departure: Turner says Acevedo departure caught him by surprise, will announce new chief by end of week

Acevedo said his personal ties, the conversations with Miami leadership, and a desire to continue working in law enforcement motivated his decision.

We really connected, he said, of conversations with Miami Mayor Francis Suarez and City Manager Art Noriega. Acevedo said Mayor Sylvester Turners dwindling time in office (his term ends January 2024) also helped sway the decision.

When opportunity strikes, you have two choices, right? he said. You either seize upon an opportunity, or you don't. When I leave I'm opening up a position with somebody else. And look, I'm not gonna ... justify it. I've got my own family reasons, my own reasons.

He hopes to spend at least five years in Miami, he said.

As he reflected on his time in Houston, Acevedo noted the citys proclivity for disaster, and praised the performance of his troops through the many emergencies and high profile incidents over the past five years.

If it can happen  other than a meteor strike, or an earthquake  it's happened in Houston, he said.

He praised the departments officers for their handling of Hurricane Harvey and the protests last summer after the killing of George Floyd, which caused riots in cities across the country.

This team that you see behind you, it didn't allow this city to turn into a Katrina situation where 75 percent of first responders went AWOL, he said, gesturing at more than a dozen of the departments top administrators.

He recalled the most tragic moments of his tenure  the deaths of six officers, and children who were murdered.

After 4  years, I can tell you we've had missteps, he acknowledged. We've had tragedy, we've had problems in this dynamic profession  like any other profession  from Harding Street and beyond. But on balance, our department is second to none.

And so I leave with a great satisfaction in my heart that I've given my best, he continued, choking up for a moment. I've had the best team. And it's hard to say goodbye. We've buried six officers. And we've buried children that have been shot.

He also defended his performance and that of his subordinates in the wake of the citys rising homicides and rising crime, heaping vitriol on a broken criminal justice system and blaming much of the problem on the regions backlogged courts system and judges who he said are all too ready to give violent criminals personal recognizance bonds.

Unsolved: Houston's rate of unsolved murders is soaring. Experts blame changes at HPD.

Acevedo said he believed that dynamic could fuel as many as 500 murders in Houston this year.

If you want to march and you want to save lives, let's march on the criminal courts building, he said. March on the DA's office; march on the criminal justice system that is getting people hurt and getting people killed  Get those courts open. If (judges) don't want to work, get out. We have come to work every single day with COVID. We've lost four firefighters, we've lost a police officer, to our support team members. We've lost family members, you come to work? Why don't you guys go into the courts camping out and asking these judges to get out of the shadow and start answering questions.

Acevedo said he also believed his departure would clear the way for one of his assistant chiefs to have an opportunity to lead the department.

I hope that what's next and I think that what is next is that one of these executive system chiefs will be the next chief of police, he said, gesturing at Executive Assistant Chiefs Troy Finner and Matt Slinkard, who flanked him at the podium. I've been praying for that.

Acevedo said that the amount of time left in Turners term made it unlikely that the mayor would seek an outside candidate to lead the department.

Turner is expected to name Acevedos replacement later this week.

'Time to get it done': Texas Commission on Law Enforcement needs overhaul, officials say

Both Finner and Slinkard have the support of the Houston Police Officers Union, according to HPOU President Doug Griffith.

From a union standpoint, I think anyone in-house could do the job and be very effective, Griffith said. I think our two executive assistant chiefs would be a benefit to the department and do phenomenal job. They possess the skills to lead our organization.

Law enforcement veterans say one factor they believe may prompt Turner to choose one of the two is that if he picked someone else within HPD, it would amount to an obvious vote of no-confidence in the two men, with whom he has worked for the last five years.

Turners remaining time in office is another consideration. Given the custom of new mayors to choose their own leadership when they take office, outside candidates are presumably less interested in a job that they know has an obvious expiration date of just a few years from now.

That would likely weigh into Turners decision, Acevedo said.

I don't know any major city chief with a lot of experience is going to come to a city with  by the time they get here  its going to be maybe two years left in that administration; move their families, uproot for two years. I just I'm not sure what kind of what kind of candidate pool you're going to get.

Finner and Slinkard have both been in the department for decades, serving in numerous assignments during that time. Longtime law enforcement leaders described Finner as more outgoing, with a history of working in patrol or operations assignments, while Slinkard is known as a more reserved, analytical leader.

A fight to survive: Deep freeze imperiled Texas' most vulnerable

Finner was sworn in as a Houston police officer in 1990; Slinkard joined four years later.

Finners career took him on patrol assignments in Southwest Patrol and South Gessner; he also handled assignments in Communication Services, Internal Investigations, Criminal Investigations and Public Affairs. Finner spent 12 years working as a patrol officer before being promoted to sergeant in 2002. He spent five years in that role before becoming a lieutenant, and then was promoted directly to assistant chief in 2014.

After Acevedo arrived, he tapped Finner to be one of his two top subordinates. Finner now oversees the departments Field & Support Operations, which includes all of the departments patrol commands, as well as the property room, fleet maintenance, the joint processing center and the traffic enforcement division.

Slinkards career took him on a more analytical path, with assignments in communication services, tactical support, Investigative and Special Operations, the Narcotics Division  where he worked as a lieutenant  as well as assignments in crime analysis and as former Chief Charles A. McClellands chief of staff. Slinkard was promoted to captain in 2009, then to assistant chief in 2011.

Acevedo tapped him as the departments other executive assistant chief in January 2017, and he now oversees HPDs Investigative & Special Operations command, which includes investigative units such as the Homicide Division, Burglary and Theft, Robbery. It also includes undercover divisions such as the Narcotics Division, Vice Division and Auto Theft Division.

Ray Hunt, the unions former president, said Finner and Slinkard are very close, and work well together.

I have no doubt if those two are the choices and Turner selects one, the other will remain supportive and remain with the police department, he said.
We may have seen the price of the average home go up by around 15,000 last year in Britain despite the pandemic - but this paled in comparison to other countries which saw astronomical rises of more than 30 per cent.

Eleven countries saw bigger property price increases than in the UK, including New Zealand, the US and Canada.

Turkey topped the table with the cost of the average home increasing by almost a third, according to the global house price index compiled by estate agent Knight Frank.

The country has led the index for the past four consecutive quarters.

Wellington in New Zealand, which saw the second-highest house price rises in the world

It was followed by New Zealand, where prices went up by nearly 19 per cent in 2020, and Slovakia, where they increased by 16 per cent.

According to Knight Frank's index, house prices in the UK increased by 8.5 per cent in 2020, putting it 12th in the list.

Along with New Zealand, Russia, the US and Canada, the UK rocketed up the rankings in the final quarter of 2020.

While the Knight Frank index does not include average house prices, analysis of other indexes suggests that the average house price in the UK increased by around 15,000 last year.

On the up: House prices increased in the majority of the countries in Knight Frank's index

Price growth accelerated toward the end of 2020 in the UK, among other countries

In 2020 as a whole, house prices in the UK increased substantially more than some of our European neighbours.

Homes in Germany increased in value by 7.8 per cent on average, while in France they grew by 6.4 per cent, and in Ireland, 2.2 per cent. In Jersey, meanwhile, they grew 6 per cent.

Countries traditionally buoyed by holiday home sales performed less well.

Spain was among the worst-performing countries in the index, as prices dropped by 1.8 per cent, while Italy was also in the bottom ten having seen growth of just 1 per cent.

Istanbul, Turkey. House prices in the transcontinental country rose by nearly a third last year

Chicago, US. House prices in the US also grew more than the UK in 2020, increasing by 10.4%

'With travel bans in place, demand is coming from domestic buyers who have reassessed their lifestyles since the pandemic hit, many now seeking home offices and outdoor space,' the report said.

Only six countries in the index saw house prices decline. The steepest fall was seen in India, where the value of the typical home fell by 3.6 per cent, while Hong Kong experienced a marginal 0.1 per cent fall.

Across the world, Knight Frank said house prices were rising at their fastest rate in nearly three years.

Prices increased by 5.6 per cent on average in 2020, up from 5.3 per cent in 2019.

Nearly nine out of ten countries saw prices increase in 2020, fuelled by demand from those wanting to move because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

However, the analysts at Knight Frank warned that prices could begin to soften this year as government support measures put in place during the pandemic were gradually withdrawn.

'The speed with which the vaccine is rolled out and economies reopen will directly affect the performance of housing markets in 2021,' the report said.

'As policymakers step away from stimulus measures leaving jobs and mortgages less protected we may see prices weaken, but the easing of travel bans may see cross-border transactions start to recover mitigating some of this impact.'
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Bigg Boss 14 fame Rahul Vaidya, Aly Goni and Jasmin Bhasin were recently spotted in Mumbai as they joined RKV's girlfriend Disha Parmar for dinner. It was a double date, which the trio - Rahul, Jasmin and Aly were planning inside the house. The two lovebirds of Bigg Boss 14 posed for the perfect pictures as they made a stylish appearance for the dinner date.

Talking about Rahul Vaidya and Disha Parmar, the Indian Idol fame looked uber cool in a black full-sleeve t-shirt and blue jeans while the Pyaar Ka Dard Hai Meetha Meetha Pyaara Pyaara actress looked beautiful in a black dress. On the other hand, Jasmin Bhasin and Aly Goni aka JasLy were looking adorable together. The Dil Se Dil Tak actress wore a mint-green top and light blue denim whereas, the Yeh Hai Mohabbatein actor looked stylish in a black sweatshirt and blue jeans. The couples had a lot of fun on their dinner date, as some of the inside pictures also went viral on social media.

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For the unversed, Jasmin Bhasin and Aly Goni's relationship went from strong friendship to love inside the Bigg Boss 14 house. Apart from that, Aly Goni also bonded well with Rahul Vaidya, as the duo was seen taking a stand for each other quite often during the show. Notably, Bigg Boss 14 will always be memorable for RKV as he had proposed to Disha Parmar on national television, and later, she surprised him by visiting the madhouse during the Valentine's Day Special episode.

On the professional front, Jasmin Bhasin and Aly Goni were recently seen in Tony Kakkar's special song 'Tera Suit'. The couple is currently spending time with each other before deciding on marriage. On the other hand, Rahul Vaidya and Disha Parmar's families have already started prepping for their wedding. If reports are to be believed, the duo will tie the knot in June 2021.

Also Read : Sonali Phogat Recreates Aly Goni-Jasmin Bhasin's Tera Suit Song; Aly's Comment Is Unmissable

Also Read : Rahul Vaidya Says Alcohol Is Definitely Not Served In Bigg Boss House
It was an emotional day in the war crimes trial of Gibril Massaquoi (Angel Gabriel) as one of the witnesses broke down in tears as he described the day he said fighters under Massaquois command locked 75 people in a kitchen and set them ablaze in 2001 in Kiatanhun in Lofa County.

Over the past three weeks the Finnish court, holding hearings in Liberia, heard from witnesses who accused Mr Massaquoi of atrocities at the Waterside Bridge in Monrovia.

On Tuesday the focus of his alleged crimes moved to Lofa County, in Liberias north-western region which had been a base for RUF fighters when they first entered Sierra Leone to start the rebellion that would plunge that country into 11 years civil war in 1991.

When the soldiers, some of them speaking Mende, Creole, and the Liberian English, came and captured us, they put 75 of our people in a kitchen and set them ablaze because these soldiers believed that the people were bulletproof and could not be killed using guns, the witness told the court.

I can say I was the only survivor because one of those soldiers, God First, had love for me and asked his soldiers not to kill me, the man, codenamed Civilian 50 told the four-judge panel through tears. The court was suspended for a time as the man regained his composure.

The witness said before the rebels killed the group in the kitchen, they had killed an old man named Siafa Tulay. He told the court that he was kept alive because he was literate and the fighters decided he was useful to them.

They put on my head a tin of red oil to take to Sierra Leone through Vahun to sell and we used bush roads through Kpokolahun, he told the court.

I was among them in Sierra Leone when they were saying who wants short or long sleeve? When you say you want a long sleeve, they cut your hand right here, said the witness pointing to a place on his arm that indicated arms would be cut above the elbow. The RUF terrorized Sierra Leone cutting the hands and arms from civilians including children.

The witness made clear that the man on trial directed the events that he witnessed in Lofa.

I saw Gibril Massaquoi and Zigzag Maza in Kpokolahun, and I saw him (Massaquoi) among the soldiers and they were paying courtesy to him. He called his name Angel Gabriel, but not Mr Massaquoi, and this is how I knew him.

Unlike past witnesses who described Mr Massaquois height and skin colour, Civilian 50 said he could not recognize him by anybody feature because the fighters had masks on their faces and were dressed in an unusual way.

There was some inconsistency in the testimonies on Tuesday. Most could not remember the actual dates of their encounters with Mr Massaquoi. But Civilian 50 was clear on his dates. He said it was April 7 in 2001 when the soldiers first entered his town. He said he was captured with others on August 13, 2001.

Witnesses Give Conflicting Accounts

Another witness took the court back to Waterside Bridge in Monrovia where previous witnesses had testified to Mr Massaquois alleged atrocities.

One of the witnesses, a nurse codenamed Civilian 08, testified that he heard from witnesses who had seen dead bodies floating in the water. He said was caring for people who were injured between 2001 and 2003 at the nearby Kriston Family Medicine Store.

Defence lawyer, Kaarle Gummerus, pointed out that Civilian 08 had told investigators that he had seen the bodies himself. Civilian 08 had an explanation.

It is a common practice in Liberia that whenever someone tells you something, you narrate the story as if you were present. This is why I said I saw bodies, but I was quoting the patients who came to me for medication. I cant lie under oath.

Another witness codenamed Civilian 36 struggled to remember the year of his alleged encounter with Mr Massaquoi but said it happened between 2001 and 2003. He claimed to have known Mr Massaquoi as Angel Gabriel or Next to God in Kiatanhun.

He also claimed that his wife, brother-in-law, an Imam, and several others were killed by RUF rebels under the command of Angel Gabriel who he said is the same Gibril Massaquoi.

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He and his bodyguards were speaking Mende, and I dont understand. The Mende tribe is in Sierra Leone, about three hours walk away from our town, he said.

Civilian 43, the fourth witness of the day, told the court that she and her brother were young children when fighters under Massaquois command killed her mother and father leaving them orphans.

For that, I didnt go to school because no one to help me. My brother and I left for Kolahun after killing our parents, she said.

Civilian 43 also did not remember the day or year of her ordeal but could recall the name Angel Gabriel whom she later referred to as Angel Michael.

She told the court she could not recall the exact name that she gave to the Finnish police who interviewed her before the trial. She said both Angel Gabriel and Michael refer to Gibril Massaquoi who she said was a name well known among the soldiers who entered Kiatanhun.

This story was a collaboration with New Narratives as part of the West Africa Justice Reporting Project.
According to information published by Daily Sabbah on March 16, 2021, Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) and the U.S. military are expected to carry out some comprehensive training to increase interoperability in the Eastern Mediterranean.

According to information published by Daily Sabbah on March 16, 2021, Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) and the U.S. military are expected to carry out some comprehensive training to increase interoperability in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Follow Navy Recognition on Google News at this link

G-class Frigate TCG Gemlik F-492 of the Turkish Navy (Picture source: Daily Sabbah)

As part of that plan, Turkish frigate TCG Gemlik, affiliated with the Naval Forces Command, will meet up with an Aircraft Carrier Task Group, led by the USS Eisenhower, in the south of Rhodes on Tuesday, according to Turkish Defense Ministry sources.

TCG Gemlik, G-class Frigate, which will sail for a while with the aforementioned task group, will join some extended training in the Eastern Mediterranean on March 18.

Transition training will also be held in the Eastern Mediterranean with the USS Eisenhower Aircraft Carrier Task Group, with the participation of frigates from the Naval Forces Command.

Turkey is at loggerheads with EU members Greece and the Greek Cypriot administration over energy resources in disputed waters in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Turkey, which has the longest continental coastline in the Eastern Mediterranean, has rejected Greece and the Greek Cypriot administration's maritime boundary claims and stressed that these excessive claims violate the sovereign rights of both Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots.

Ankara has sent several drillships in recent months for hydrocarbon exploration in the Eastern Mediterranean, asserting its rights in the region as well as those of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC).

The G class is one of the frigate classes of the Turkish Navy. They are extensively modernized versions of ex-Oliver Hazard Perry-class guided-missile frigates of the US Navy, mainly designed for air defense with a weapons configuration that is optimized for general warfare.

The G-class frigates have undergone a major modernization program which included the retrofitting of a Turkish digital combat management system named GENESIS (Gemi Entegre Savas Idare Sistemi). The system was designed and implemented jointly by the Turkish Navy and HAVELSAN, a Turkish electronic hardware systems and software company.
CAE USA issues challenge to $106.9M Space Force award

CAE USA Mission Solutions is pushing back on the government's decision to award a $106.9 million Space Force training contract to a competitor.

The contract was awarded to Sigmatech through the Federal Supply Schedule vehicle to support the National Security Space Institute.

CAE is arguing that the bids were not properly evaluated. If they had been, CAE says they would have won.

The contract covers instructor services to the National Security Space Institute.

The institute is the U.S. Space Forces organization for continuing education and as well as supporting education programs at the Air University, Naval Postgraduate School, and the Air Force Institute of Technology.

Courses offered there range from the basics -- Introduction to Space to higher level classes such as the Joint Space Planners Course.

Classes can take anywhere from a few hours to multiple weeks.

CAE filed its protest March 11 and a decision is expected by June 21.
Girl Scouts of NYPENN Pathways is proud to announce that 29 girls from across its territory earned the Girl Scout Gold Award  the highest achievement in Girl Scouting  during the 2019-20 member year. Since 1916, the Gold Award has stood for excellence and leadership, and millions of girls have positively impacted their communities and the world with creative, impactful and sustainable Take Action projects.

GSNYPENN typically honors each class in-person during late fall. Due to the pandemic, the celebration was moved and reimagined as a virtual recognition. It was held Feb. 27 with recipients and their families, council staff and the board. The keynote speaker was Girl Scout alum Alexandra Jacobs Wilke, a village trustee in Potsdam and director of public relations at SUNY Potsdam.

Gold Award Girl Scouts change the world by tackling issues theyre passionate about while learning essential skills that prepare them for all aspects of life. They problem-solve, inspire, advocate, educate and make a difference. We applaud the commitment and dedication required to earn this award and are proud of our Class of 2020 Gold Award Girl Scouts. We know they will continue to make the world a better place well into the future, says GSNYPENN CEO Julie Dale.
With Toyota modifying its models continuously over these years, it has snowballed to high expectations for the next-generation 2022 Toyota Tundra.

Toyota Tundra has been slated for redesign since December of 2021, which would be the first time since 2007. Its overall technology is rapidly falling behind the new generation pick-ups, so the development is a long time coming.

2022 Toyota Tundra Specs

Official details about the upcoming car are currently unavailable. However, there have been several rumors and speculations, especially as the car manufacturer continues to develop it. There have been multiple spy shots, giving fans some hint about what to expect.

As reported by Torque News, the 2022 Toyota Tundra could have both CrewMax and Double Cab configurations. These configurations would dictate the interior dimensions and bed-length of your cab. A CrewMax, has a 5.5' length, but spy photos suggest it could have a 6.5-footbed or longer.

Next-generation Toyota Tundra caught testing with coil springs in spy photos: https://t.co/K3MvRYXG5u pic.twitter.com/QqJaEKwofk  Autoblog (@therealautoblog) March 11, 2021

Talking about Tundra's engine, it is rumored to have a Twin Turbo 3.5 V6 engine with perhaps a Tundra hybrid option. However, there will no longer be any Toyota car with the V8 engine because the production would be discontinued.

There is also a level of suspicion that the new Toyota has a 10-speed automatic transmission.

Toyota Tundra remains to be a popular favorite among drivers, especially for its interior space. Rear seat passengers have at least 42.3 inches of legroom.

Some images also made people think that the pick-up has a 6-lug wheel with a 10,200-pound towing rating. The 2022 Tundra would also have Toyota's Safety Sense driver assistant technology, a new and intuitive infotainment system created by the automotive giant.

Read Also: 2022 Toyota Tundra Leak Photos Show New Rear Suspension-Air Suspension Option Not Happening?

2022 Toyota Tundra Other Features

Additional features of the car might include a hybrid powerpack, extra-large sunroof, and retractable sidesteps.

Edmunds speculated the 2022 Toyota Tundra might be price at $34,000. It is a hefty price but worth every cent for a redesigned interior and exterior, powertrains, suspension improvements, and a third major redesign from the Tundra generation.

Toyota reportedly plans to dominate the community with its new generation Tundra. This is not the first time Toyota made a big statement, and they often have the evidence to back it up.

According to YouTuber NeoAuto, Toyota Camry remains to be one of the best-selling units in the United States since 2002. Toyota RAV4 and Toyota Tacoma have also continuously prevailed in their market sales.

Up-to-date, Toyota still refuses to give an official statement on when the 2022 Toyota Tundra when it will be released or finished. This is perhaps because Toyota plans to deliver a big surprise that will dominate the pick-up world.

It remains to be seen what Toyota really has in store for its fans with its new Tundra. However, based on what has been rumored and leaked so far, there is definitely reason to get hyped about the upcoming powerful car.

Related Article: 2022 Toyota Tundra Sees Early Positive Impressions; 'World-Beater' and 'Best in Class' Remarks Bagged
ACWORTH, Ga.  The man who police say went on a rampage at three spas in the Atlanta area, killing eight people, was charged Wednesday with several counts of murder in connection with the attacks.

The brazen shootings, which took the lives of six people of Asian descent, stirred considerable outrage and fear in the Asian American community. Investigators said they had not ruled out bias as a motivating factor even as the suspect denied such racial animus once in custody.

The gunman told police that he had a sexual addiction and had carried out the shootings at the massage parlors to eliminate his temptation, authorities said Wednesday. He also said that he had frequented massage parlors in the past and launched the attacks as a form of vengeance. All but one of the victims were women, police said.

Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms of Atlanta said that regardless of the determination about motive, the tragedy was clear.

Whatever the motivation was for this guy, we know that the majority of the victims were Asian, Bottoms said. We also know that this is an issue that is happening across the country. It is unacceptable, it is hateful and it has to stop.

Capt. Jay Baker of the Cherokee County Sheriffs Office said Robert Aaron Long, 21, had been charged with four counts of murder and one count of aggravated assault for the shooting at a spa in that county. Officials have not yet announced charges in connection with the attacks on two spas in the city of Atlanta.

Baker said the gunman had told them he was driving to Florida when he was caught after the shootings on Tuesday evening, and that he said he may have been trying to commit similar violence at a business connected to the porn industry there. He was stopped after his parents alerted police that they believed their son might be the suspect, and police were able to track his phone.

Sheriff Frank Reynolds of Cherokee County said the gunman may have frequented these places in the past and may have been lashing out.

The police arrested Long, of Cherokee County, who is white, about 150 miles south of Atlanta after a manhunt, authorities said. They had earlier released a surveillance image of a suspect near a Hyundai Tucson outside one of the massage parlors. Baker said Long had admitted to the shootings and that he appeared to be acting alone.

Rodney Bryant, the acting chief of the Atlanta Police Department, said it was not yet clear whether the shooting spree would be classified as a hate crime.

We are still early in this investigation, so we cannot make that determination at this moment, Bryant said. We are just not there as of yet.

A Justice Department official said Wednesday that Attorney General Merrick Garland was briefed on the shooting, and the department would likely have more to say on the matter later that day.

Four people died in the first shooting, at Youngs Asian Massage near Acworth, a northwest suburb of Atlanta, Baker said. That shooting, in which a Hispanic man was injured, was reported around 5 p.m.

At 5:47 p.m., Atlanta police said, officers responded to a robbery at Gold Spa in the northeast part of the city, where they found the bodies of three women with gunshot wounds. While the officers were at the scene, police said, they received a report of shots fired at the Aromatherapy Spa across the street, where they found the body of another woman.

This article originally appeared in The New York Times.
A year after contracting the virus that left him fighting for his life in his US home, West Kerry man Maurice Brick is finally vaccinated against the possibility of a repeat serious illness from COVID.

And the 78-year-old, a native of Gorta Dubha, Baile an Fheirtearaigh, is urging anyone with reservations over the vaccines to consider his cautionary story. Maurice was diagnosed with COVID on March 24, days after getting tested after developing a cough amid crippling lethargy.

His condition deteriorated rapidly, to the point where he started praying to his recently-deceased beloved wife, Mary Ellen, to take him with her.

Soon after he began to improve, regaining his health in the months since. Maurice contracted the virus at a time when his home of New Rochelle, NY, had the largest cluster of COVID-19 cases in the US. Maurice is now living in Chicago with his daughter, Eilis, and her family, and he was vaccinated there on Monday: "I hope this will encourage the naysayers and skeptics," Maurice told The Kerryman. "I'm fine. I'll tell you, it's much better than the prospect of ending in hospital, hooked to a breathing apparatus. I didn't get that far when I had COVID-19...But I'm not taking any chances because next time I might not be that lucky.

"Get the shot, for God's sake, as soon as it's available. Ni he la na Gaoithe la na scolb (a windy day is not a day for thatching)."
Palm Coast, Florida--(Newsfile Corp. - March 17, 2021) - Gold River Productions, Inc. (OTC Pink: GRPS) announces the appointment of the Dr. Bruce Bond in this integral role of the company.

Dr. Bond practiced for twenty-two years and the Company will be utilizing his vast experience in clinical practice along with his experience in the nutraceutical industry, which includes eighteen years as a nutritional and marketing consultant for Standard Process, where he contributed as a national speaker for that period as well. With almost 500 national lectures, he spoke on the topics of endocrinology, cardiology, hepatic dysfunction, immune disorders and more with regards to nutraceutical, whole foods and herbal therapy. In his capacity, he introduced and trained physicians in the science of nutraceuticals and herbs as alternatives to traditional pharmacologic medicine. Dr. Bond provided developmental input on many new products that afforded Standard Process immense national and international success. His landmark book, published in 2013, "Practicing with Integrity and Excellence, How to Take Your Practice from Good to Great," sets a new standard for the incorporation of nutraceuticals into traditional medical, chiropractic, osteopathic, acupuncture, and naturopathic practices.

Dr. Bond has been working closely with Dr. Goulding in the creation of the Company's new gummy line and future products. "I've known Bruce for a number of years and feel truly blessed to have him on our team. With a truly unique background of expertise in not just nutraceuticals and herbs, but compliance of federal regulations, he brings a serious approach to moving forward. Having developed over a dozen new and exciting products for GRPS, we are anticipating robust growth." Dr. Goulding goes on to explain, "As a traditionally trained physician at Loyola Medical School in Chicago, I became aware of a vast dearth of knowledge in most physicians. Relying on traditional pharmaceuticals for treatment, we were ignoring important breakthroughs in alternative medicine, including cannabinoids and nutraceutical combinations that in many ways are superior to traditional practice. I began to realize after much encouragement from Dr. Bond, that a preventative approach to wellness and a gentler approach to therapy is not just better but preferable on many levels. Even more important, quite possibly, was the ability to possibly deal with addiction and the toxicity of the various pharmacological compounds that are currently being used."

Dr. Bond is excited about moving forward and states, "I see an opportunity with GRPS to utilize my background in ways that I never thought possible. With the growth of the company, we will showcase products and product combinations that are going to be widely enjoyed by customerspharmaceutical companies maybe not so much."

Working on completing an important board of directors, GRPS will be announcing the production of future lines soon.

About Gold River Productions Inc. (GRPS):

Gold River Productions will focus on market-targeted products including, but not limited to rare cannabinoids and effective products where a particular need is identified. Products for pain relief, sleep, etc. that will be distributed through convenience stores, independent pharmacies and more will have mass appeal to the market.

This document contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are outside Gold River's control. These include but are not limited to the impact of competitors' products, services and pricing; product demand; market acceptance; new product development; reliance on key strategic alliances; the regulatory environment; fluctuations in operating results; and other risks which are detailed from time to time in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and/or OTC Markets. Gold River disclaims any obligation to update or alter its forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, subsequent events or otherwise.

Investor caution/added risk and uncertainties for investors in companies claiming involvement in COVID-19 initiatives

On April 8, 2020, SEC Chairman Jay Clayton and William Hinman, the Director of the Division of Corporation Finance, issued a joint public statement on the importance of disclosure during the COVID-19 crisis.

The SEC and Self-Regulatory Organizations are targeting public companies that claim to have products, treatments or other strategies with regard to COVID-19.

The ultimate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Company's operations is unknown and will depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted with confidence, including the duration of the COVID-19 outbreak. Additionally, new information may emerge concerning the severity of the COVID-19 pandemic, and any additional preventative and protective actions that governments, or the Company, may direct, which may result in an extended period of continued business disruption, reduced customer traffic and reduced operations. Any resulting financial impact cannot be reasonably estimated at this time.

CONTACT:

Gold River Productions, Inc.

support@grpsinc.com

www.GRPSInc.com

@grpsinc

goldriversocialmedia@gmail.com

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/77546
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Iran's final technical report on the causes of the crash of the Ukraine International Airlines (UIA) flight PS752 is nothing more than a cynical attempt to hide the true causes of its downing, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said.

"Today Iran publicly released the final report of the technical investigation of the downing of the UIA flight PS752 in the sky above Tehran. Previously, Ukraine sent Iran more than 90 pages of remarks and proposals to the draft final report and insisted on Iran including them into the final document, but what we saw published today  just a cynical attempt to hide the true causes of the downing of our passenger aircraft," Kuleba said in an address posted on the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry's Facebook page on Wednesday.

According to him, the analysis of the document proves that Iran has carried out a technical investigation with numerous violations of international standards of the Chicago Convention and the International Civil Aviation Organization.

"We are forced to conclude that the investigation has been biased, presented proves are selective, and conclusions are deceptive. The document does not cover all the circumstances, it does not reveal neither causes of the tragedy nor the chain of events which led to it. This is not a report, this is a collection of manipulations, aimed not at establishing the truth, but to acquitting the Islamic Republic of Iran," the minister said.

Kuleba said that this is a great despair for Ukraine and the entire civilized world.

"Iran could not find the strength to take responsibility for ensuring that such tragedies do not repeat in the future. If Iran does not want to voluntarily demonstrate its willingness to establish the truth of the tragedy, we, together with our partners, will find ways to establish it. We will not let Iran to hide the truth or avoid responsibility for this crime. Justice will prevail, no matter how much effort and time it will take. This is not only a matter of principle, but also a moral obligation to the victims of this terrible tragedy," the Ukrainian Foreign Minister said.

As reported, the UIA Boeing 737-800 passenger plane, which was supposed to operate flight PS752 on the Tehran-Kyiv route, was shot down near the Imam Khomeini International Airport in Tehran immediately after takeoff early in the morning on January 8, 2020.
PRINCETON, N.J., March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Maplewood Senior Living is pleased to announce the hiring of Lisa Williams as Executive Director, Michael Tucker as Director of Business Development and Leslie Conover as Community Relations Director to the provider's new Princeton, NJ location. Located on the campus of Penn Medicine-Princeton Health, Maplewood at Princeton is set to open this summer and will offer assisted living, memory care and short-term care options to the greater Princeton area.

"As we continue to grow our footprint with the addition of Maplewood at Princeton, we are proud to build a carefully-selected team of seasoned professionals who will undoubtedly further our mission to provide an exceptional senior living and care experience for all residents and their families," said Gregory D. Smith, president and CEO of Maplewood Senior Living and Inspir. "Lisa, Michael and Leslie bring a combined 50+ years of experience in the fields of business administration and pharmaceutical and hospitality sales, all of which parlays seamlessly into their new roles at Maplewood at Princeton."

As Executive Director, Ms. Williams will provide leadership and oversee day-to-day operations including the planning, development, implementation, evaluation and improvement of program services, management of staff and the delivery of high-quality service to the residents and their families. Ms. Williams has over 20 years of senior living care experience, with 16 of those spent as an administrator. She graduated from Rowan University and earned her Master's in Public Administration from Kean University. She currently serves as a chair on the NJ Assisted Living Council and was recently named a member of the Health Care Association of New Jersey (HCANJ).

Named Director of Business Development, Mr. Tucker will be responsible for establishing strategic partnerships with healthcare professionals and community organizations that assist seniors who are looking to move into a first-class residence that meets their care needs and lifestyle. Mr. Tucker has extensive experience building relationships with healthcare professionals and has worked with the top pharmaceutical companies in the world, specifically in sales and marketing. He graduated from Rider University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration.

As Community Relations Director, Ms. Conover will work directly with families, providing them with the necessary information to assist them in selecting the best possible living options. She will also act as a community resource for those in need of senior living planning. Ms. Conover has over 25 years of sales experience in hospitality and senior living. She received her degree from Rider University and also provides life counseling to families who need support in the areas of geriatrics and health and wellness.

"In offering a best-in-class senior residence to the community, we hope to meet and exceed the demands of older adults in the area who want to continue to lead dynamic lifestyles, yet need additional support in their daily lives," said Smith. "We look forward to watching the Princeton team and community flourish as we near the highly-anticipated grand opening this summer."

Maplewood Senior Living is also offering exclusive Founder's Club membership for early depositors and future residents of Maplewood at Princeton. The first 15 residents to submit a community fee and move in within the first 45 days of the community's opening will be eligible to partake in exclusive benefits and services such as complimentary tickets to cultural events; selective, pre-opening pricing; complimentary salon and spa services and much more.

Additionally, the leasing gallery is now open onsite at One Hospital Ave in Plainsboro and Maplewood is also offering a variety of virtual events and resources to support those who are considering a senior living community.

The first New Jersey property in the company's portfolio, Maplewood at Princeton is a 98,000-square-foot modern senior living community with 105 studio deluxe and one-bedroom units offering a range of apartment styles and care options to suit residents' unique needs. Every detail of the assisted living and memory care community has been carefully considered. Maplewood at Princeton features sun-drenched indoor/outdoor amenity spaces; onsite healthcare and wellness activities; unmatched services and priority access to innovative 24/7 care; resort-style amenities; innovative programming and cutting-edge technology; fresh, locally sourced dining; and more.

Maplewood at Princeton is purposely designed to fit into the culture and community of the greater Princeton area, so residents feel at home in an environment created with them in mind. Just beyond the grounds, residents and their families can enjoy a wide array of cultural and historic attractions including the prestigious Princeton University, world-class McCarter Theatre Center, Institute for Advanced Studies, Palmer Square and more. Additionally, Maplewood at Princeton is highly accessible as it is conveniently located midway between New York City and Philadelphia, offering a variety of day trip options for residents and their families.

To learn more about Maplewood at Princeton, call 844-782-3078 or submit a contact form here.

About Maplewood Senior Living

Maplewood Senior Living is known for its upscale senior living residences, offering a broad range of premier services, amenities and care to its residents. Based in Westport, CT, Maplewood Senior Living owns and operates 16 senior living communities in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York and Ohio. There is an Upper East Side location in Manhattan, NY within the company's newest brand, Inspir. This new senior living offering was launched to provide a luxurious option for seniors looking to join a residential community in major metropolitan areas. For more information, please call 203-557-4777 or visit http://www.maplewoodseniorliving.com.

SOURCE Maplewood Senior Living

Related Links

https://www.maplewoodseniorliving.com


COPENHAGEN (Reuters) - Iceland will this week open its borders to all visitors who have been vaccinated against COVID-19 without mandatory testing or quarantine, as it seeks to attract more tourists to help revive its coronavirus-hit economy.

The North Atlantic country, which will become one of the first to open its borders since the beginning of the pandemic, saw tourist numbers plummet by 75% last year to just under half a million, causing its economy to contract by 6.6%.

"The world has been through a lot in the past twelve months, and we are all hoping for a slow and safe return to normalcy," Prime Minister Katrin Jakobsdottir said in a statement

"This also includes the resumption of the opportunity to travel, which is valuable to culture, trade and enterprise."

Iceland had until now allowed vaccinated visitors from European Union countries to enter without restrictions, but from March 18 this exemption will apply to citizens outside the Schengen area, including Britain and the United States, it said.

Visitors must present proof of vaccination with a vaccine that has been certified by the European Medicines Agency, which excludes Chinese and Russian vaccines.

(Reporting by Jacob Gronholt-Pedersen; Editing by Giles Elgood)
Redmi just launched the Redmi Smart TV X series, the companys first set of smart TVs in India, as it had promised. The 50, 55 and 65-inch 4K TV models have Dolby Vision, HDR, HDR 10+, HLG and the Reality Flow tech offering blur-free rendering of high-speed action for sportscasts, games and much more with the dedicated MEMC chip and has Automatic Low Latency Mode (ALLM), 5ms Input Lag @ 4K 60fps for the best gaming experience.

These TVs run Android TV 10 with support for Google Assistant and Chromecast built-in. All three HDMI ports feature HDMI 2.1 and also supports Dolby Atmos via eARC when you connect to Dolby Atmos speakers. The TV has 30W speakers with DTS Virtual:X and Dolby audio, and is the first TV from the company to get the Smart Home app that lets you check the status from the Xiaomi ioT devices.

The Remote replaces the Mi logo with the Patchwall logo in the Redmi TV. The remote offers Quick Mute (Double tap volume down key to mute), Quick Setting (Long press Patchwall button to access picture, sound and more settings) and Quick Wake (Turn on TV in less than 5 sec) features.

Redmi Smart TV X50, X55 and X65 specifications

50 / 55 / 65-inch (3840  2160 pixels) 4K display with 178-degree viewing angle, 92% DCPI-3 color gamut, Dolby Vision, HDR 10+, HLG, Reality Flow, Auto Low Latency Mode, 5ms response time

Quad core MediaTek MT9611 (A55) processor with Mali G52 MP2 GPU

2GB RAM, 16GB storage

Android 10 with PatchWall

WiFi 802.11 ac (2.4GHz / 5GHz) (22 MIMO), Bluetooth 5.0, 3 x HDMI 2.1 with eARC, 2 x USB, Optical, AUX port, Ethernet

AV1, H.265, H.264, H.263, VP8/VP9. MPEG1/2 etc

Mi Voice remote

30W (15W x 2) speakers, Dolby Audio, DTS Virtual: X, Dolby Atmos pass through via e-ARC

The Redmi Smart TV X50 model is priced at Rs. 32,999, the X55 costs Rs. 38,999 and the top-end X65 model is priced at Rs. 57,999. It will be available from Amazon.in, mi.com, Mi Home and Mi Studio starting from March 26th and will be available from other offline stores soon. The Redmi Smart TVs come in eco packaging that lets you cut open the box to make a Mi Bunny storage unit.

Launch offer

Rs. 2000 instant discount for ICICI Bank Credit cards and EMI during first sale on March 26th

Save up to Rs. 1700 on subscription offers from Zee5, Aha, Hungama Play, Hoichoi

Commenting on the launch, Raghu Reddy, Chief Business Officer, Mi India said:

India today has 170 million households with a television but less than 20million homes own Smart TVs. We launched our range of Mi TVs over 3 years ago and have been leading the Smart TV market since the past 10 consecutive quarters. Enhancing the at-home viewing experience, Mi TVs have played an important role in ushering a new era of Smart TVs in India, by providing an unparalleled lineup of options that deliver on engineering, technological prowess, and a large pool of content across genres.

Eshwar Nilakantan, Category Lead  TV, added:

When we looked closely we understood that there are still certain gaps and a huge market potential to be tapped into. With todays launch, we are focused on moving closer to our dream of providing Smart TV Innovation for every Indian Home. We believe that our first Redmi TV line-up will be able to drive the next level of Smart TV penetration in the country, thereby making it more accessible to the end users. With Redmi Smart TV X Series, we are bringing larger than life visual experiences and immersive audio experience to the users, and transporting viewers beyond the surface of a display. We will also be manufacturing 100% of our Redmi TVs in India, staying true to our commitment of Make in India.
Second wave worrisome, vaccine wastage must stop: PM at meet with CMs

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Mar 17: During the meeting with the Chief Minister said that the second wave is worrisome. The PM said that testing in smaller towns and cities have to be ramped up.

Most of the affected nations had to face a second wave of the virus. In our country too cases have suddenly started increasing in some states and the CMs too have expressed concern about this. The test positivity rate in Maharashtra and MP is very high and the cases are also rising the PM said.

The PM also said that the states must act against vaccine wastage. He also said there is a need to control the second wave.

India's fight against COVID cited as example in world, our recovery rate over 96 percent and fatality rate is among the lowest, the PM also said.

Such an increase is being seen in many districts that had protected themselves so far and were kind of safe-zones. 70 districts of the country have seen an increase of more than 150 per cent in last few weeks. If we don't stop it here, a situation of nationwide outbreak can come up, the PM said.

It has now become necessary for us to become pro-active. The option of making micro-containment zones wherever necessary, we should not bring leniency. We don't have to bring the public into panic mode. We don't have to bring a situation where there is an atmosphere of fear. We have to free the people off difficulties by taking some precautions and initiatives, PM Modi also said.

It is a matter of contemplation that why is there less testing in some areas only. Why is there less vaccination in these areas? I think it's a time of test for good governance...Our confidence should not turn into overconfidence, the PM said.

Over 10 per cent vaccine wastage in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. Vaccine wastage in UP is almost the same. It should be reviewed in states that why's vaccine wastage happening? Monitoring must be done every evening and pro-active people should be contacted so that there's no wastage, the PM said.

COVID-19 pandemic has taught us that in an inter-dependent and inter-connected world, no country- rich or poor, in the east or west, north or south- is immune to the effect of global disasters, the PM further added.

West Bengal Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee and CM of Chhattisgarh Bhupesh Baghel have skipped the meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi being held to review the COVID-19 situation in the country.

Mamata Banerjee said that she was skipping the meeting as she has pre-scheduled election meetings.

The PM had lasted interacted with the CMs in January before the vaccine was rolled out. The meeting comes in the backdrop of rising cases in some states.

Karnataka CD Scandal: Family claims woman kidnapped, files complaint| Oneindia News

States like Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka have continued to report a surge in case, account for 78.41 per cent of the new cases, the Union Health Ministry said on Monday.

"A rising trajectory of daily new cases is visible in eight states. These are Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi, Gujarat, Karnataka and Haryana," the ministry added.
YEREVAN.  Bright Armenia is the third force in the parliament and has been advocating for snap elections for more than a month now, and has made concessions on all its preconditions posited. Edmon Marukyan, chairman of the opposition Bright Armenia Party (BAP) and head of the Bright Armenia faction in the National Assembly, on Wednesday told this to reporters in parliament, and referring to the statement of NA vice speaker Alen Simonyana member of the majority My Step faction in parliamentthat in his opinion, the BAP, as well as virtually 80 percent of the opposition, do not want snap parliamentary elections, as they know their actual popularity rating, and therefore may not have seats in the next parliament.

According to Marukyan, they proposed to introduce in the new Electoral Code the mechanism of voting by open proportional electoral liststhat is, to have a rating election system, but in the whole country and the voters be able make changeswith their ballotsto the electoral lists submitted by the political parties.

However, as per Marukyan, this approach has not been accepted by the government, and the ruling power is in favor of a closed proportional election system. "Now, we either go to the election under the current [Electoral] Code, or they [the ruling power] want it to be under the [Electoral] Code presented by them. So, they have to vote quickly, adopt the [Electoral] Code they want. And let them not expect the opposition to vote for the [Electoral] Code it opposes. (). And now, there is a condition posited to vote for the Electoral Code. If we [the parliamentary] do that, too, they will want my watch now," Edmon Marukyan added.
North Korea under fire for hostile rhetoric



North Korea has come under criticism for repeating its outdated hostile rhetoric against South Korea and the United States. While denouncing the springtime joint military drill between Seoul and Washington, Kim Yo-jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, warned of the possible collapse of inter-Korean relations Tuesday.



The warning came in time for a March 17-18 visit to Seoul by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin for a "two-plus-two" meeting with their South Korean counterparts. Kim's statement is apparently in line with the North's stance calling on the U.S. to withdraw its hostile policy toward North Korea. She threatened the U.S. not to make a "stink" if it wants to "sleep in peace."



In response, Blinken said he would cooperate with allies in the process of reviewing policies toward the North. He said the U.S. is looking at various options including pressure and diplomacy to achieve the complete denuclearization of North Korea, during a press conference after meeting with Japanese foreign and defense ministers Tuesday.



In a statement from the Rodong Sinmun, the mouthpiece of the North's ruling Workers' Party, Kim threatened to end the military agreement between the two Koreas and disband South Korea-related organizations like the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Country and the Mount Geumgang International Tourism Bureau.



"The warm spring days seen three years ago will not come again," she said referring to the detente with the three inter-Korean summits in 2018. Kim never appreciated the efforts by Seoul and Washington to abandon field exercises to facilitate dialogue atmosphere. Concern is growing that Kim's hostile remarks could possibly lead to the North resorting to military provocations or causing further military tension on the peninsula.



As a matter of fact, the North demolished the inter-Korean liaison office in its border town of Gaeseong only days after Kim Yo-jong's previous warning over South-North ties. Should the North want to take a similar path this time, it would bring about a very precarious situation. The inter-Korean military accord, struck in Sept. 19, 2018, has been playing the role of a safety bumper on the peninsula. North Korea should refrain from taking such reckless actions under any circumstances.



Pyongyang has remained silent despite the relentless efforts by Seoul for dialogue. It never accepted the South's proposal for talks on the combined drill in accordance with the military agreement and has yet to respond to the requests for contact by the Biden administration.



Should the North make any attempt at military provocation to turn the situation to its advantage, it would be a grave mistake. Its possible show of military strength will only further isolate the country and face growing diplomatic and economic pressures. Seoul and Washington should concentrate on working out more concrete measures to lure the recalcitrant North back to dialogue. All relevant parties should cooperate more closely to bring a warm spring back to the peninsula.


Pornography could be automatically blocked on all cellphones and iPads sold in Utah if the state's new Republican Governor signs a proposal being pushed by conservative lawmakers.

Gov. Spencer Cox, who assumed office in January, has not yet indicated whether he will sign proposal, which was passed by the state's GOP-controlled Legislature last month.

He has until next Thursday, March 25, to make a decision.

Supporters argue that the restriction is a critical step to help parents keep explicit content away from their kids - especially as more children have their own electronic devices and have been forced to spend more time online during the pandemic.

But detractors say the proposal is unconstitutional and would be a significant intrusion on free speech.

Pornography could be automatically blocked on all new cellphones and iPads sold in Utah if the state's new Republican Governor Spencer Cox (pictured) signs a proposal being pushed by conservative lawmakers

Supporters argue that the restriction is a critical step to help parents keep explicit content away from their kids - especially as more children have their own electronic devices and have been forced to spend more time online during the pandemic

However, even if Cox signs the measure, it will not go into effect unless five other states also enact similar laws - a provision that was added to the proposal after manufacturers and retailers voiced concerns that it would be difficult to implement filters for a single state.

But there is some precedent for other states following in Utah's footsteps, so the proposal is not entirely out of the question.

More than a dozen states advanced resolutions to declare porn a public-health crisis after Utah became the first to do so in 2016.

Combating porn is a perennial issue for conservative Utah lawmakers who have previously mandated warning labels on print and online pornography.

Almost 72 percent of Utah's 1.8 million residents are Mormon, and the state is known for having a generally conservative culture. Leaders of the predominant Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints faith have also drawn attention to what they consider the harms of pornography.

Utah lawmakers have voted to require every cellphone and tablet sold there to automatically block pornography. The proposal will now go to Gov. Spencer Cox

The proposal was sponsored by Republican Rep. Susan Pulsipher, and focuses primarily on prohibiting children from viewing X-rated materials by imposing a filter. Adults would be able to turn off the automatic filter if they consented.

If the bill is signed into law, any manufacturer who does not abide by the law could receive a civil penalty ranging from $10 to $500.

Rep. Susan Pulsipher has acknowledged it is not a complete solution, as minors may find ways around the filtering system.

'A child that wants to find pornography and tries to would probably be able to still. It's just one step in the right direction,' she stated.

The National Center on Sexual Exploitation, an anti-porn group, cheered the bill, saying that while many electronic devices come with filters installed, turning them on can be challenging for parents.

'Utah has passed a critical, common sense solution to help protect vulnerable children from accessing harmful pornographic content on phones and tablets,' Executive Director Dawn Hawkins said in a statement to the Associated Press.

Meanwhile, Boston University professor Emily Rothman, says research has raised questions about how pornography shapes children's attitudes about sex, and content filters can be an important tool in keeping children from being exposed before it is healthy.

The proposal was sponsored by Republican Rep. Susan Pulsipher. She has acknowledged it is not a complete solution, as minors may find ways around the filtering system

However, Samir Jain, policy director at the Center for Democracy and Technology, a Washington, D.C.-based internet policy group, says the proposal raises a myriad of concerns.

'You've basically got the state mandating the filtering of lawful content. That raises immediate First Amendment flags,' Jain stated.

Jain also claims that the bill as written could apply to any device 'activated' in Utah, raising the possibility that it could require location tracking to activate filters on the phones of anyone coming into the state.

Meanwhile, the American Civil Liberties Union of Utah said the bill is an overreach that imposes the same standards on everyone.

'Parental filters already exist,' attorney Jason Groth told the Associated Press.

'Every Utah parent can already decide the level of access for their children.'
Highlights :

Gold Royalty Corp. ( "GRC" ) has agreed to a acquire a 1.2% net smelter royalty ( "NSR" ) royalty on the advanced-stage Seguela Project for cash consideration of approximately US$15.5 million subject to certain conditions.

( ) has agreed to a acquire a 1.2% net smelter royalty ( ) royalty on the advanced-stage Seguela Project for cash consideration of approximately subject to certain conditions. The transaction further diversifies and enhances GRC's royalty portfolio by adding an advanced-stage gold project located in Cote d'Ivoire and operated by Roxgold Inc. (" Roxgold "), a producer with experience advancing projects into production in the region.

"), a producer with experience advancing projects into production in the region. Gold Royalty Corp. considers Seguela a highly prospective project with significant exploration potential. The project contains a Mineral Resource estimate of 1,044,000 ounces gold (12.8 million tonnes at 2.5 g/t gold) and 370,000 ounces gold (2.4 million tonnes at 4.8 g/t gold) in the Indicated and Inferred Mineral Resource categories, respectively (See table 1 below).

VANCOUVER, BC, March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Gold Royalty Corp. (the "Company" or "GRC") (NYSE American: GROY) is pleased to announce it has entered into an agreement to acquire a 1.2% net smelter return ("NSR") royalty on the Seguela Project located in Cote d'Ivoire (the "Agreement").

David Garofalo, Chairman, President and CEO of GRC, commented: "We are pleased to announce this acquisition, which represents an important milestone in the execution of our previously stated acquisition strategy and builds upon our recent successful initial public offering. The addition of an advanced-stage project to the GRC portfolio builds upon the significant resource base underlying our existing project portfolio. We are especially intrigued by the Seguela opportunity given Roxgold's stated goal of commencing construction at Seguela in 2021 and commissioning a mine in 2022."

The Acquisition

Pursuant to the Agreement, GRC has agreed to acquire a 1.2% NSR royalty on the Seguela Project from a subsidiary of Apollo Consolidated Ltd. The purchase price payable by GRC at closing is AUD$20,000,000 (approximately US$15.5 million).

The acquisition is conditional upon the satisfaction of customary closing conditions and the expiry of a 14-day right of first refusal held by the owner of the Seguela Project. Subject to satisfaction of such conditions, GRC currently expects the transaction to close on or about April 1, 2021. The transaction will be financed by the Company through cash on hand. Pursuant to the underlying royalty agreement, the owner of the Seguela Project has certain rights to repurchase the royalty at fair market value in the event that it makes a decision to mine the property.

The Seguela Project

The Seguela Project, owned by a subsidiary of Roxgold, is located in Cote d'Ivoire and consists of the near surface Antenna, Agouti, Boulder, Koula and Ancien deposits. There are numerous additional prospective exploration targets within a total land package of 36,300 hectares. Roxgold holds an additional exploration permit external to lands subject to the NSR.

In April 2020, Roxgold completed a preliminary economic assessment (PEA) and Mineral Resource estimate for the project. The PEA disclosed, among other things:

life of mine gold production of 841,000 ounces with average annual gold production of 103,000 ounces;

average annual gold production of 143,000 ounces over the first three years of production with an estimated annual production peak of 154,000 ounces in year three;

conventional processing plant with a processing rate of 1.25 million tonnes per year with scalability incorporated into plant design for potential expansion;

project payback of 1.2 years; and

after-tax internal rate of return of 66% utilizing a base case gold price of $1,450 per ounce.

The PEA is preliminary in nature, includes Inferred Mineral Resources that are considered too speculative geologically to have the economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as Mineral Reserves, and there is no certainty that the PEA will be realized. Mineral Resources that are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability.

Subsequent to the date of the PEA, in December 2020, Roxgold released the results of an updated Mineral Resource estimate for the project which included an additional maiden Mineral Resource estimate for the Koula deposit. The updated estimate is summarized in the table below. While the PEA was based on a prior estimate that did not include such deposit, Roxgold has disclosed that the updated Mineral Resource estimate does not negatively impact or otherwise adversely affect the PEA. Additionally, Roxgold has reported that it is on track for the completion of a feasibility study and a construction decision on the project in the first half of 2021.

Table 1 - Seguela Mineral Resources reported effective November 30, 2020

Mineral Resources - Seguela Gold Project





Measured

Mineral Resources Indicated

Mineral Resources Measured & Indicated

Mineral Resources Inferred

Mineral Resources

Tonnes

(kt) Grade

(g/t) Ounces

(koz) Tonnes

(kt) Grade

(g/t) Ounces

(koz) Tonnes

(kt) Grade

(g/t) Ounces

(koz) Tonnes

(kt) Grade

(g/t) Ounces

(koz) Antenna - - - 8,180 2.2 586 8,180 2.2 586 1,110 1.9 69 Boulder - - - 1,740 1.7 97 1,740 1.7 97 80 1.2 3 Agouti - - - 1,420 2.4 111 1,420 2.4 111 100 1.8 6 Ancien - - - 1,440 5.4 250 1,440 5.4 250 30 10.6 11 Koula - - - - - - - - - 1,080 8.1 281 Total - - - 12,780 2.5 1,044 12,780 2.5 1,044 2,400 4.8 370

Qualified Person

Mr. Alastair Still, P.Geo., Director of Technical Services of the Company, 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.

Technical Information

The information herein regarding the Seguela Project has been derived from a Technical Report prepared for Roxgold titled "NI 43-101 Technical Report  Seguela Project, Worodougou Region, Cote d'Ivoire" released on December 14, 2020 with an effective date of November 30, 2020, Roxgold's Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2020 and its other public disclosure documents, copies of which are available under Roxgold's profile at www.sedar.com. For information with respect to the key assumptions, parameters and risks associated with respect to the Seguela Project, including the Mineral Resource estimate and the PEA, please refer to the aforementioned Technical Report and Annual Information Form.

The terms "Mineral Resource", "Indicated Mineral Resource", and "Inferred Mineral Resource" used herein are Canadian mining terms used in accordance with NI 43-101 under the guidelines set out in the Canadian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy and Petroleum (the "CIM") Standards on Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves, adopted by the CIM Council, as may be amended from time to time. These definitions differ from the definitions in the United States Securities & Exchange Commission ("SEC") Industry Guide 7. As such, information contained herein concerning descriptions of mineralization and resources under Canadian standards may not be comparable to similar information made public by U.S. companies in SEC filings.

Inferred Mineral Resources have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence and great uncertainty as to their economic and legal feasibility. It cannot be assumed that all or any part of an Inferred Mineral Resource will ever be upgraded to a higher category. Under applicable Canadian rules, estimates of Inferred Mineral Resources may not form the basis of feasibility or pre-feasibility studies. It cannot be assumed that part or all of an Inferred Mineral Resource will be upgraded to a Mineral Reserve.

About Gold Royalty Corp.

Gold Royalty Corp. is a gold-focused royalty company offering creative financing solutions to the metals and mining industry. Its mission is to acquire royalties, streams and similar interests at varying stages of the mine life cycle to build a balanced portfolio offering near, medium and longer-term attractive returns for our investors. GRC's diversified portfolio currently consists of net smelter return royalties ranging from 0.5% to 2.0% on 18 gold properties covering 12 projects located in the Americas.

Forward-looking Statements

This document contains certain forward-looking statements that reflect the current views and/or expectations of the Company with respect to its business and future events, including statements regarding its business plans and goals, expectations and future plans respecting the completion of the proposed acquisition and, the disclosed plans of the operators of the underlying project. Forward-looking statements are based on the then-current expectations, beliefs, assumptions, estimates and forecasts about the business and the markets in which the Company operates, that the acquisition will be completed as contemplated, including the satisfaction of closing conditions and that the applicable right of first refusal will be waived or expire and that the operator will complete proposed work and development plans as disclosed by it and meet its project goals. Investors are cautioned that all forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including: that the parties may not satisfy all of the conditions under the Agreement, including, the exercise by the project owner of certain rights of first refusal, the inherent risks involved in the exploration and development of mineral properties, the uncertainties involved in interpreting drill results and other exploration data, the potential for delays in exploration or development activities, the geology, grade and continuity of mineral deposits, the possibility that future exploration, development or mining results will not be consistent with expectations, fluctuating metal prices, unanticipated costs and expenses and risks inherent in the royalty business model adopted and the other risks factors that are described more fully in the section titled "Risk Factors" in the final prospectus relating to the offering, a copy of which is available on the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com and on EDGAR under GRC's profile. Forward-looking statements contained in this announcement are made as of this date, and GRC undertakes no duty to update such information except as required under applicable law.

SOURCE Gold Royalty Corp.
Like Ms. Tai and Mr. Lighthizer, many past presidents and trade officials emphasized fair trade and the idea of holding foreign countries accountable for breaking trade rules. But many also paid homage to the conventional wisdom that free trade itself was a worthy goal because it could help lift the economic fortunes of all countries and enhance global stability by linking economies.

That idea reached the height of its popularity under the presidencies of George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, where the United States negotiated the North American Free Trade Agreement, led the talks that gave the World Trade Organization its modern format, granted China permanent normal trading relations, and sealed a series of trade agreements with countries in Latin America, Africa and the Middle East.

President Barack Obama initially put less emphasis on free trade deals, instead focusing on the financial crisis and the Affordable Care Act. But in his second term, his administration pushed to sign the Trans-Pacific Partnership, which came under criticism from progressive Democrats for exposing American workers to foreign competition. The deal never won sufficient support in Congress.

For Democrats, the downfall of that deal was a turning point, propelling them toward their new consensus on trade. Some, like Dani Rodrik, a professor of political economy at Harvard, argue that recent trade deals have largely not been about cutting tariffs or trade barriers at all, and instead were focused on locking in advantages for pharmaceutical companies and international banks.

David Autor, an economist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, said economic theory had never claimed that trade made everybody better off  it had said trade would raise overall economic output, but lead to gains and losses for different groups.

But economists and politicians alike underestimated how jarring some of those losses could be. Mr. Autors influential research shows that expanded trade with China led to the loss of 2.4 million American jobs between 1999 and 2011. Chinas growing dominance of a variety of global industries, often accomplished through hefty government subsidies, also weakened the argument that the United States could succeed through free markets alone.

Today, people are much more sensitive to the idea that trade can have very, very disruptive effects, Mr. Autor said. Theres no amount of everyday low prices at Walmart that is going to make up for unemployment.
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A recent four-day visit by Pope Francis to Iraq was bound to attract attention, given that he is the pope and Iraq is, well, Iraq. Some of the media coverage, however, demonstrated just how little the press gets religion. In one especially funny and now-deleted example, CNN referred to the Vatican as the Holly Sea, instead of the Holy See.

Still, this visit was full of meetings that mattered, such as the popes meeting with the Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, the leader of the Shiites in Iraq. This meeting took place in Najaf in what is called the Plain of Ur (yes, that Ur, the one where Abraham came from). In a statement issued after the meeting, the Ayatollah affirmed his concern that Christian citizens [of Iraq] should live like all Iraqis in peace and security, and with their full constitutional rights.

That would be a welcome development given the suffering Iraqi Christians have faced at the hands of their Muslim neighbors. About two-thirds of Iraqis identify as Shia Muslims so, if their leader can persuade them that Christians belong and deserve the same rights they have, it could make a significant difference.

The popes visit also focused much-needed attention on the plight of one of the oldest and most-vulnerable Christian communities in the world. The antiquity of this Christian community is apparent in a name: Chaldean Catholic Church (yes, that Chaldean, as in Ur of the Chaldeans, from the book of Genesis.)

Around 70%-80% of all Iraqi Christians belong to this particular group, which traces its origin to the Apostle Bartholomew. Its distinctive historical identity is well-attested all the way back to the early-to-mid third century, and its liturgy is conducted in Syriac, a dialect of Aramaic, the language Jesus spoke. These Christians begin their remembrance of Lent with what is called the Fast of Nineveh, which commemorates the repentance and fast of that ancient city as told in the Book of Jonah.

For these Christians, the biblical account is more than familiar. Its something akin to family lore. Plus, in addition to their close connections with ancient history, they model faithfulness and perseverance.

Iraq, like so much of the Middle East, is mostly Islamic. Since the early seventh century, this Christian community has experienced oppression at the hands of Muslim rulers. The severity and nature of this oppression varied, converting to Islam would have made their lives much easier. But they didnt.

Despite their oppression, these Christians have made significant contributions to their society. They were the ones who translated Greek texts on science, math, and philosophy into Arabic. Thus, in a way, Chaldean Christians made Islams often-heralded contributions in these areas possible.

Recent events in the region have nearly accomplished what 14 centuries of Islamic oppression couldnt. Iraqs Christians are, as the Archbishop of Irbil put it in 2019, perilously close to extinction. At the time, he was specifically referring to the threat of ISIS, but the dispersion of Iraqi and other Middle Eastern Christians had begun long before and with them went the culture and wealth which flowed from the Christian presence.

Hopefully, the Grand Ayatollahs statement will make a difference. Meanwhile, the communitys way of life is providing a compelling witness of the power of the Gospel. A mother who had lost her son to ISIS told Pope Francis, Our strength undoubtedly comes from our faith in the Resurrection, a source of hope. My faith tells me that my children are in the arms of Jesus Christ our Lord. And we, the survivors, try to forgive the aggressor, because our Master Jesus has forgiven his executioners. By imitating Him in our sufferings, we testify that love is stronger than everything.

Her words left Pope Francis, as he put it, speechless. Not only should we pray for our brothers and sisters in Iraq; we should watch them and learn what we can about faithful perseverance and reliance on the risen Christ. We may be put to the test ourselves, soon enough.

Originally published at Break Point

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  On Forest Avenue in the heart of West Brighton, St. Patricks Day in restaurants would be the equivalent to Mothers Day with the crowds and bustle  under normal circumstances. Yet while the Irish sweaters and shamrocks abound in the neighborhood, the sidewalks are notably quiet one year into the pandemic.

Megan Coppola at her West Brighton coffee shop, Beans 'n' Leaves (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)

Megan Coppola of Beans n Leaves said in the morning, Its a dismal year. Theres nothing going on in Staten Island. Her newly expanded coffee shop sported green decorations and served a Lucky Charms frappe. Coppola hoped that the hot beverage and waffles would put more pep in peoples step. And she hoped it would add some color to an otherwise gray, mizzly day.

Retired school teacher Trevor Mills is a regular of the Forest Avenue restaurant circuit with Jodys as his favorite watering hole. While at Starbucks in the morning he said, I noticed right away there was nothing to show much activity going on. I think its obvious that people are being very careful about restrictions especially with the authorities around. This year he considered also checking out The Kettle Black and Sallys Southern.

Sallys, a red and blue corner spot thats a newbie to the block, did not miss out on the Gaelic-inspired goodness, despite its Americana theme. In the spirit of the day, chef Peter Botros place turned out baked potato soup, Shepherds pie and a Baileys spiked panna cotta.

By the early afternoon, restaurant owners in the strip colloquially known as Peter Pan Alley reported a steady stream of customers and a palpable vim in the air. Kettles co-owner Tom Casatelli said, Pre-orders are through the roof as usual. We are very lucky to have such a loyal customer base. We prepared extra today because so many people are excited to be out.

John Dixon, left, with coffee clutch pal Bulent Karabag on St. Patrick's Day, 2021, at Beans 'n' Leaves (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)

He said the neighborhood exuded a noticeable energy by midday. Casatelli explained, Its funny, it seems like no matter how much we prepare we always run out a half hour before we close. Good problem to have, I guess.

Gene and Marie Kenney at Duffy's (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)

Between catering orders and corned beef platters, customers chatted with co-owner Cormac Gordon. This would be his first St. Patricks Day with people in the dining room proper. His inaugural year as the business new owner was crushed by the pandemic but he looks on the bright side.

It was actually a blessing, he said, especially with expanded seating with the backyard patio area.

Getting the Irish on at the Greek diner: Kings Arms, West Brighton. (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)Pamela Silvestri

GREEN AT THE GREEK DINER

Aliki Koutsovasilis at the Kings Arms hoped for a repeat of last years stunning corned beef performance. She said, Its a big thing every year. Even last year the phones did not stop ringing. And we ran out of corned beef in 2020  the first time! That was the first day we were closed for indoor dining. So Im hoping this year will be better whether customers come late or come home from work late, were going to deliver to them. The diner delivers to the immediate area up to Victory Boulevard and from St. George to Rosebank.

From left to right: Catherine Palmer, Aliki Koutsavasilis and Mary P. Rosa at the Kings Arms Diner on St. Patrick's Day, 2021. (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)Pamela Silvestri

Sans parade and traditional revelry, the St. Patricks Day spirit expressed itself in food on the North Shore. Mike Peccerillo of Renatos tricked out a Guinness-fueled chocolate cupcake with Jameson shots and Irish cream-chocolate buttercream. Morettis Bakery flew through its Irish soda bread and shamrock, white chocolate lollipops with only few to spare by 3 p.m. closing time.

Irish soda bread gifted from patients at Dr. Craig Campbell's office in West Brighton (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)

Dr. Craig Campbell showed his offices kitchen with its collection of Irish soda breads  five so far and counting by noon. Generous patients of his podiatry practice gifted the treat to the former St. Paddys parade marshal who promised bagpipes to play that evening at his nearby tavern, Doc Hennigans.

After missing two New York City parades and one Staten Island parade I hope and pray to God and St. Patrick that we have some normalcy going forward! said Dr. Campbell.
Google has a lovely doodle today honoring St. Patrick, patron saint of all Ireland, whose feast day is today. It's a tightly focused design, colored with a series of greens and a pop of complementary violet and gold, done in the spare, trendy, minimalist near-"kawaii" style, which is big among web designers today. It's also clever, using pictures to illustrate each letter of the Google logo into a well unified whole. It's definitely the work of a pro who's well schooled in UX/UI design.

There's just one problem with it: It completely leaves out ... St. Patrick.

Nothing, zip, nada. And there sure as heck isn't any hint of what St. Patrick was about, which was bringing Christianity to pagan Ireland in the fifth century.

According to the designer, in his statement for Google:

Today's Doodle, illustrated by Dublin-based guest artist Arron Croasdell, honors a beloved Irish holiday celebrated worldwide: St. Patrick's Day.

Today's Doodle artwork features symbols that represent Ireland's diverse geography, architecture, and history.

Google says the doodle honors Ireland's geography (diverse, of course), architecture, and history  never mind the actual person of St. Patrick, who really existed, from 402 to 491 or 493 A.D.

The doodle doesn't mention St. Patrick at all, or more important, that thing he's famous for bringing to Ireland, Christianity, which is what the old bishop was about.

It reminds me of the scrubbing of history we have seen in California, the leftist bid to erase any sign or knowledge of the state's founder, Catalan padre St. Junipero Serra, or any of his dreaded Christian missions and crosses, from California.

Now, obviously, nobody wants a Google doodle to be extremely religious in tone, given the company's global reach. But a nod to St. Patrick himself, or a sign of the religion he brought, which was his mission, and which has been integral to the Irish identity, at least until recently, should not have been eliminated, either, because it's a matter of simple history. It's actually essential to Ireland and its identity, and without it, the place is a soulless eurozone drone state that doesn't really have a point.

They could have put something in there in some kind of sanitized form about St. Patrick or the Christianity he brought  nothing too religious, but not utterly absent, either. They didn't to any meaningful extent. It's a kind of censorship, actually.

What they honored instead was about what you'd expect of Google: they honored the state, Big Government, and threw in some stuff about the environment. Here's the Google statement below, emphasis mine:

The first icon signifies the country's verdant mountains, forests, and coastal lighthouses, many of which stand near popular walking and swimming sites. The imagery in the first "o" is a nod to the hands and heart of the legendary Claddagh ring, a symbol of love, loyalty, and friendship. The second "o" incorporates a vase holding Irish wildflowers  spring squill and crocuses  as well as a three-leafed clover, an iconic state emblem of Ireland that represents faith, hope, and love.

A depiction of the numerous rivers that run through many Irish towns and cities replaces the "g" as the "l" stands for Ireland's natural woodlands, much of which are being restored thanks to new state reforestation initiatives. Finally, the "e" is replaced by a Celtic knot, a symbol of Irish hope in the infinite interconnectedness of humanity.

They honored some pagan symbols with their "icons" (gee, what does "icon" mean?), but not Christian ones, which have been a lot more important to Irish identity. Some of the symbols were actually invented or adapted and replicated for use in the tourist trade. Google paid significant tribute to the environment and ecology, as global warmers like to do, which is OK but hardly the full story of Ireland. Worst of all, they praised what they really like, which is the state, citing its reforestation initiatives, the state being Google's idea of religion. So much for St. Patrick; he didn't have a chance. It reminds me of that repugnant display in London at the Olympics of British dancers flitting around to honor the National Health Service as if that's what Britain is about. Google did praise Ireland's architecture with a generic-looking icon depiction, omitting that, like Padre Serra, St. Patrick's the guy who brought Ireland its most beautiful architecture, in its ancient monasteries. St. Patrick was also an engineer, an influential one, as it happened. They couldn't even honor St. Patrick for that.

And St. Patrick himself? Well, there was that tiny shamrock, perhaps; you have to look to find it. You could argue that that is a symbol of St. Patrick, but Google doesn't mention it.

Legend has it (unverified but certainly logical) that St. Patrick used shamrocks to teach the pagans about the nature of the Holy Trinity as three in one, which, in a more sanitized form, is identified by Google as "faith, hope, and love." That isn't wrong, but it's not the big one. Patrick didn't go to Ireland preaching "faith, hope, and charity," which are Christian derivatives; he went and preached Christianity. It's simple history. In fact, the most famous symbol St. Patrick gave Ireland, and this one is verifiable, is the beautiful Celtic cross, which remains extremely popular today as crosses go, a design that Patrick integrated with the Irish pagan symbol for the sun, which is commonly done in Christianity. No Celtic crosses for sure in the Google doodle, even though it's a big-time symbol of Ireland. Other icons Google noted had descriptions that were over-sanitized. According to this authoritative-appearing account, the last knot is not about the interconnectedness of humanity as Google claims; it's about love.

That was a shame, because St. Patrick does have a compelling personal story that should have gotten some kind of nod from the design.

He was a son of Roman-empire aristocrats, probably Britons, captured as a 16-year-old by vicious Irish pirates, dragged far from home in chains, forced to tend sheep in a lonely captivity with almost no human contact, and being awakened in a dream by angels who told him a ship was waiting for him at a nearby harbor, which allowed him to escape and return home. In gratitude, he became a priest, and then he was sent to Paris for clerical education by his rich parents, with a likely pleasant, meditative, and peaceful life ahead of him. But he got another call from the angels, asking him to go back to that hellhole that had imprisoned him and convert those pagans, including the hideous elites, the dreaded Druids, whose first thought upon seeing him was "let's kill him." He converted them instead by some amazing sort of faith and commitment, and the rest is history.

None of that merited a nod in Google's doodle to St. Patrick? No pirates, no scary Druids, no ship to freedom, no beautiful architecture? I'm not Irish, not even Irish heritage. Like Patrick, I'm non-Irish, but I love and appreciate this interesting story, and lots of people of whatever faith can appreciate it. Apparently, Google doesn't.

They should have called it Irish State and Environment Day, not St. Patrick's Day, given what they honored. The Google doodle is charming, but on St. Patrick's Day, it's missing something awfully big.

Image: Google screen shot.
KASSON, Minn. - As kids return to in-person learning in Minnesota, the CDC is looking at how many students can safely fit into classrooms.

The CDC recommends seating or desks in the classrooms be at least six feet apart when possible.

However, a new report suggests three feet may be as safe as six feet as long as everyone is wearing a mask. The study was published in a Clinical Infectious Disease publication.

Kasson-Mantorville superintendent Mark Matuska says its difficult for the district to maintain the current six feet distance recommended by the CDC.

He explained, It's really caused some issues for us because with a district our size and the classrooms the size they are it's extremely difficult for us to keep the kids six feet apart.

Matuska says he believes the study is promising and hopes the new guidelines are adopted.

He added, If we can keep the kids with their masks on and keep our sanitary systems and all our protocols in place so that kids can stay safe we'd hope that the 3-foot rule not only is in place for our kids in the classroom but it also extends past the quarantine rule.

The CDC says it will update its guidance if the data continues to prove the studys findings.
World Health Organization (WHO) experts on Wednesday recommended countries continue to use the AstraZeneca vaccine, but said they were looking into the shot's safety after a slew of countries suspended its use over health fears.

The WHO, Europe's medicines regulator and AstraZeneca itself have repeatedly said the vaccine was safe after several countries reported feared links with blood clots or brain hemorrhages despite rates being no higher than those seen with other shots.

The suspensions have marred the global vaccine drive aimed at ending the pandemic as at least 10 countries pause using the portion of their supply that came from AstraZeneca.

But the WHO's vaccine experts said Wednesday it was still better to take the AstraZeneca vaccine than not - adding that it was looking into available data on the jab.

At this time, WHO considers that the benefits of the AstraZeneca vaccine outweigh its risks and recommends that vaccinations continue,' the global agency said in a Wednesday statement.

WHO officials are urging countries to continue giving AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine because the 'benefits outweigh the risks' of blood clots that have prompted at least 10 nations to pause their distribution of the shot

The recommendation echoed a similar statement from the European Medicines Agency on Tuesday advising countries to continue using the vaccine, saying there was no link with clots.

The Amsterdam-based agency said in a statement is holding an extraordinary meeting Thursday to finalize its conclusions on the blood clot issue and 'make any necessary recommendations for further action'.

Several countries from France to Venezuela to Indonesia said they would not use the vaccine after several reports emerged of blood clots and brain haemorrhages in people who had received the vaccine.

The British-Swedish jab has been dogged by controversy from early on in its rollout, after some countries initially recommended it for people over the age of 65 and then backpedalled, saying there was insufficient data for people in the age group that had received the shot.

Even before rollout began, its trials raised the questions as well. The trial group who got the best protection from the vaccine had been given an accidental dosing regimen.

And AstraZeneca found itself at odds with the US after American regulators said the firm took too long to turn over information about the death of a trial participant in Brazil.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has since faced criticism for moving too slowly to authorize the shot in the midst of a pandemic, but has continued to insist that the firm complete U.S. trials before it gets greenlit in America.

With 150 COVID-19 illnesses reported in its US trial, AstraZeneca should be nearing the point that it can request authorization from the FDA.

Last week, the firm said that it expected to ask for emergency use authorization by the end of this month or beginning of next month.

In the meantime, tens of millions of doses of the shot are sitting in the US stockpile, thanks to an early agreement to buy 300 million doses of the vaccine.

Outside experts have begun reviewing data on AstrAzeneca's vaccine to prepare their report to the FDA.

The slew of freezes on distribution for the vaccine across the globe have raised concerns that the expected authorization from the FDA could be in jeopardy.

However, the statement from WHO adds to a growing number of experts who say they don't find the data on AstraZeneca's shot and blood clots terribly concerning.

Blood clots strike about one per every 1,000 adults in the US each year.

So far, the rate of blood clots among AstraZeneca vaccine recipients appears to be comparable to that of the general population.

In fact, women on birth control face higher risks of clotting than current data suggests vaccine recipients do.

There have been 37 reports of blood clots among some 17 million people vaccinated with AstraZeneca's shot in the UK and EU.

But about one in every 16,000 people women on birth control develop blood clots each year, which comes out to it being about 286-times more common than blood clots from shots.

If the FDA still authorizes the vaccine as expected, it may face additional hurdles familiar to other countries.

Because the cheap, easy-to-store shot has lower overall efficacy than the expensive, fragile Moderna and Pfizer shots, some Europeans and Britons have refused their doses of AstraZeneca's vaccine.

That coupled with the widespread reports of blood clots could fuel greater hesitancy in the US, where polls suggest up to a quarter of Americans are already skeptical of getting the COVID-19 vaccine.

AstraZeneca's shot, among the cheapest available, was billed as the vaccine of choice for poorer nations and the clot reports have had an impact beyond Europe.

The suspensions come as some countries see worrying new caseloads, including in Iraq and India, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for 'quick and decisive steps' to halt a new wave of infection.

In France, President Emmanuel Macron was to decide Wednesday whether to impose a weekend lockdown on the Paris region as it faced its own third wave of infections that have bloated hospital ICUs.

And Poland announced a three-week partial lockdown of its own, while in the South Pacific the health minister of Papua New Guinea issued an urgent appeal for vaccines to stave off a wave of new infections.

'The community transmission is out there, and I'm pretty sure that we haven't detected a lot of it,' Jelta Wong told AFP, saying his country was 'running at full throttle' to prevent further spread.
The Nagol is Back! VTOs guide to this years Nagol, plus where to stay and play in south, central and north Pentecost.
A man, believed to be armed with a gun, remains on the run on Wednesday after he was at the centre of a Gold Coast primary school lockdown that caused chaos during the afternoon school pick-up.

Police have named Mark Lutgenau, 37, as the alleged offender involved. He is wanted for questioning over a domestic violence incident on Monday night at a Gannon Way home in Upper Coomera.

Nobody was physically harmed in the domestic violence incident, but Mr Lutgenau fled the scene before responding police officers could catch up with him.

Mr Lutgenau is Caucasian, about 190 centimetres tall and with a proportionate build. He has short brown hair and hazel eyes. Police said there was no known threat to members of the broader community.
Editor's note: Keeping you in the know, Culture Queue is an ongoing series of recommendations for timely books to read, films to watch and podcasts and music to listen to.

(CNN)  She unearthed fantastic prehistoric creatures that had been lost to the sands of time, and her achievements  overlooked and uncredited while she was alive  also almost remained buried.

An unsung pioneer of paleontology, Mary Anning is finally getting some of the recognition she deserves thanks to the tireless work of academics and campaigners.

A new movie starring Kate Winslet called "Ammonite," which will be released on streaming services in the United Kingdom March 26 and is already available in the US, shines a fresh light on her life.

Anning made several pivotal fossil discoveries in the early 1800s on the beaches of Dorset in southwest England -- now known as the Jurassic Coast -- despite living in dire poverty and lacking a formal education. She forged an unusual path in the face of the deeply ingrained sexism and rigid social structures of the Victorian era.

"Mary Anning is recognized by many as the first female vertebrate paleontologist and an extraordinary fossil collector," said Annalisa Berta, an American paleontologist and the co-author of the book "Rebels, Scholars, Explorers: Women in Vertebrate Paleontology."

Anning's most notable finds included the 3-meter-long (9.8-feet-long) Plesiosaurus, which she unearthed around 1823, according to The Natural History Museum in London. The incredible fossil, the first of the species to be found intact with its snakelike neck, wowed the world, setting in motion a dinomania that gripped Victorian England and continues to this day.

The discovery also sparked controversy, challenging the prevailing religious beliefs of the time and those who opposed the ideas of extinction and evolution. Some thought the fossil was a fake.

"Like most women of her time, she was not university educated and so turned over her fossil discoveries to her male colleagues to describe. She was, however, rarely given credit for her discoveries," said Berta.

The movie stars Winslet as Anning, who sells her fossils -- including the the distinctive whorls of the ammonite shells the movie is named for -- to tourists and to eminent geologists who described them in scientific papers without crediting her. She encounters and falls in love with Charlotte Murchison, a customer's wife who -- as portrayed by Saoirse Ronan -- develops her own interest in ancient bones.

The real Mary Anning

"Ammonite" accurately depicts many details of Anning's life, particularly her hardscrabble beginnings. Eight of her nine siblings died before making it to adulthood, and the movie often shows Anning's mother caring for eight animal figurines she calls "her babies." As a child, she helped her father collect fossils he sold in his seafront shop, but when Anning was 11, he died of tuberculosis. She continued to hunt fossils, selling them to tourists and collectors to help her mother make ends meet.

"The way that she excavates the fossils and looks for them (in the movie) is super accurate, said Caitlin Syme, a paleontologist who works at the Office of the Queensland Chief Scientist in Australia, who wrote about the movie for The Conversation.

"It was really because of her work that other geologists and paleontologists around her began to piece together what came before," Syme said. "And this was before evolutionary theory had been proposed."

Anning taught herself so well she received visits from European royalty and the big-name geologists and paleontologists of the day. But she was never allowed to become a member of Geological Society of London, the main forum in that day for fossil collectors and those who studied them.

Berta, who is a professor emerita at San Diego State University, said she wishes the the movie had dug deeper into Anning's work.

"I was disappointed that the movie focused on the physical relationship between Mary and Charlotte Murchison," she said. "There is no evidence of the two women having had an intimate relationship, although they were friends."

She felt the relationship took the focus off Anning's accomplishments.

"The movie could have delved into the social and cultural environment of the time and the fact that Mary was self taught and initially had difficulty finding scientists who were willing to give her credit and help her learn more about the fossil vertebrates that she had discovered," Berta said.

"Her legacy is one of being recognized today as a female role model for young girls interested in fossils."

"Ammonite" director and screenwriter Francis Lee has defended the decision to depict Anning in a same-sex relationship. Anning's real-life sexual preferences are unknown. She died in 1847 at age 47 from breast cancer. She never married.

"I wanted to give her a relationship but I wanted to give her a relationship that felt worthy of her, that felt equal, and that elevated her," Lee told Deadline magazine. "In this society where men overlooked her and reappropriated her work, I didn't feel that that could be with a man." He declined to speak to CNN.

Syme said the depiction of Murchison as a depressed young bride to be entrusted into Anning's care didn't ring true, although she doesn't think the relationship between the two women was implausible.

Murchison was 11 years older than Anning and a serious fossil collector, attending geological lectures and working alongside her husband in the field.

"It is unfortunate that, in telling this story of one female scientist, the film diminishes the complexity and success of another. I wish Ronan's Murchison had been given the chance to be depicted as the passionate geologist she truly was," said Syme in the Conversation article.

An overdue legacy

Anning's accomplishments were overlooked during her lifetime -- and she felt slighted as a result, according to Berta's book.

Her name wasn't mentioned in scientific papers that were written by male geologists about two of her biggest finds: the 1823 Plesiosaur skeleton and an ichthyosaur -- a marine reptile initially spotted by her younger brother that she carefully excavated in 1811, at the age of 12. In the film's final scene, she's shown looking at her fossil in what's now the British Museum, where it's attributed to Lord Henry Hoste Henley -- the man who bought the fossilized creature from her.

Her observations were also pivotal in the identification of what's now a gold mine of information for paleontologists: fossilized poop, officially known as coprolites. Anning spotted the stonelike objects in the stomach cavities of the reptiles she discovered, and it's something the film gives a nod to. In one scene, she goes through her customer's finds and pauses on a coprolite. However, her role in their discovery was only given a passing mention in the scientific papers of the day.

"The world has used me so unkindly. I fear it has made me suspicious of everyone," Anning confided in a letter quoted by Berta.

Her friend Anna Maria Pinney wrote in her diary, "These men of learning have sucked her brains, and made a great deal by publishing works of which she furnished the contents, whilst she derived none of the advantages."

While Anning's work has subsequently received some of the scholarly recognition it merits, it's only in recent years that she has been seen as a public figure and role model deserving of wider acclaim.

A crowdfunding effort to get a statue of Anning in her hometown of Lyme Regis reached its initial 100,000-pound (138,920-dollar) target in February. The campaign -- started by 11-year-old fossil finder Evie Swire, who lives on the Jurassic Coast -- aims to erect a bronze statue by next year that depicts Anning fossil hunting with her faithful dog, Tray.

Add to the queue: More women overlooked by history

Watch: "Radioactive"

Starring Rosamund Pike, the movie "Radioactive" spotlights the achievements of Marie Curie, who discovered radioactivity. The movie depicts how she struggled with the male-dominated scientific community and strove for justice and recognition.

Read: "Remarkable Creatures" by Tracy Chevalier

This historical novel from the author of "Girl With a Pearl Earring" imagines the story of Mary Anning and another female fossil hunter named Elizabeth Philpot.

Read: "Hidden Figures"

The 2016 book by Margot Lee Shetterly on the untold story of the Black women working for NASA who helped win the space race was made into a heartwarming movie that was nominated for three Oscars.

Listen: "In our time"

This episode of the BBC radio show and podcast hosted by Melvyn Bragg discusses the life of Rosalind Franklin, who made a crucial contribution to the discovery of the double helix structure of DNA but was largely robbed in her lifetime of recognition for that achievement.

Read: "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" by Rebecca Skloot

Cells taken in 1951 from Lacks by a surgeon without her knowledge became the first human cell line to reproduce outside the body. The cells lived on and became an invaluable tool for researchers around the world -- contributing to the development of the polio vaccine, in vitro fertilization and gene mapping. In her book, Rebecca Skloot introduces the real woman, her family and details how the interaction of race, poverty and science came together to revolutionize medicine.

This story was first published on CNN.com 'Ammonite' and 5 more works about women overlooked by history
Volvo Group Venture Capital AB has invested in Driivz Ltd., a global EV charging software company which has developed a platform for managing large charging networks for electric vehicles from end-to-end.

The Driivz platform functions as an operating system for electric vehicle (EV) charging networks and is used by the operators of charging points, EV fleets and other key players in the ecosystem. As an example, EVgo, the largest public fast charging network in the United States, recentlyt signed a long-term agreement with Driivz.





EVgo utilizes the Driivz platform for EV charging operations management, retail billing, charging programs & plans, and transaction management, and focused in-house development on customer facing applications, APIs to enable 3rd party application integration and platform extension, and other solutions to enable a first-class customer experience for individual drivers and fleets alike.

Driivz technology also helps EVgo maintain charger reliability and availability with proactive issue detection and remote resolution.

Driivz has a large and growing number of customers in the utility, oil and gas, and automotive industries and among charging network operators, which are all leading the way in the rapid adoption of electric transport.

There is a significant and growing interest in electric vehicles and machines among Volvo Group customers, which is speeding up the transition to more sustainable transport. The collaboration with Driivz will play an important role in the Volvo Groups efforts to help customers to electrify their transport solutions. We are impressed by the company and we believe the Volvo Group can add considerable value to the development of the business in the future. Erik Johansson, Investment Director, Volvo Group Venture Capital

A joint pilot project between Volvo Trucks, the Volvo Group and Driivz is ongoing with the aim of developing and testing new and innovative charging services to meet the specific needs of electric truck customers and drivers.

The Volvo Group ambition is to offer state-of-the-art truck charging services for a seamless charging experience. Working with Driivz enables us to begin putting our ambition into effect. Marcus Anemo, Senior Innovation Manager at Volvo Group Connected Solutions

The role of Volvo Group Venture Capital is to make investments that drive transformation by facilitating the creation of new services and solutions and to support collaborations between start-ups and the Volvo Group.

Against the background of the trends shaping the future of transportation and the strategic priorities of the Volvo Group, the key areas of investment for Volvo Group Venture Capital are currently logistics services, site solutions and electrical infrastructure. The organization has a global scope, but currently focuses on Europe and North America.

The transaction has no significant impact on the Volvo Groups earnings or financial position.
Shadow, the Weimaraner, pictured enjoying an ice cream in the Phoenix Park Picture: Colin Keegan, Collins Dublin.

A dry and sunny St Patricks Day is expected today, with some light drizzle set to occur daily from tomorrow.

All signs are pointing to good weather for this national holiday, despite an original status yellow fog warning this morning.

Yesterday, Met Eireann issued a status yellow fog warning for Cavan, Donegal, Monaghan and Connacht. They warned it will lead to reduced visibility, but it should start to lift by 9am.

Read More

As for later today, Met Eireann said: Cloud will build over Connacht and Ulster through the afternoon, bringing some patchy drizzle to the northwest.

It will be brighter over Leinster and Munster, where it will be mildest with highest temperatures of 12 to 15 degrees, they said. Feeling cooler in Connacht and Ulster with highest temperatures of 10 to 13 degrees in a light northwest breeze.

Tonight, clouds will spread further southwards over the country with scattered patches of drizzle drifting across the country. Temperatures will hit lows of six to nine degrees, with mist and fog patches forming in a light north-westerly breeze.

Unlike today, tomorrow will be rather dull and misty, with scattered patches of drizzle.

It will remain cloudy through the day but turning drier in the afternoon as drizzle becomes confined to the north and northwest, Met Eireann said. Highest temperatures of 10 to 13 degrees in light to moderate northwesterly breezes.

Patchy light drizzle will continue in places on Thursday night but many areas will be dry with occasional clear spells.

Meanwhile, Friday will be mainly cloudy but dry over most of the country - apart from light drizzle on west and northwest coasts. Some bright or sunny spells will also develop over southern counties.

Friday night will similarly be dry for most of the country, though scattered patches of drizzle will develop overnight. It will continue generally cloudy with occasional clear spells developing later, with lowest temperatures of five to eight degrees.

As for the weekend, itll be: mainly cloudy again on Saturday with a good deal of dry weather.

However, there will be patches of drizzle, mainly on hills and coasts, Met Eireann said. Highest temperatures of nine to 12 degrees in a light northerly or variable breeze.

Patchy drizzle will linger in places on Saturday night but clear spells will gradually develop overnight.

Current indications suggest that Sunday will be largely dry with just isolated patches of drizzle.

Beyond that, current forecasts predict that high pressure will continue to be the dominant feature of Irish weather early next week, bringing a good deal of dry and bright weather. Theres a suggestion that midweek will bring a breakdown of this settled spell, with Atlantic frontal systems crossing the country and bringing rainfall.
Gold Terra Announces Significant Increase of 64% for the Inferred Mineral Resource to 1,207,000 Ounces at its Yellowknife City Gold Project

Posted by Publisher Internet

Gold Terra Resource Corp. (TSX-V: YGT; Frankfurt: TX0; OTC QX: YGTFF) (?Gold Terra? or the ?Company?  https://www.commodity-tv.com/ondemand/companies/profil/gold-terra-resource-corp/) is pleased to announce an updated mineral resource estimate on its Yellowknife City Gold project (the ?YCG Project?), located 12 kilometres from the City of Yellowknife, NWT. The classification of the mineral resource estimate was completed in accordance with the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (?CIM?) Definition Standards incorporated by reference in National Instrument 43-101 (?NI 43-101?). This updated mineral resource estimate includes the Sam Otto, Crestaurum, Barney and Mispickel gold deposits (see Figure 1) previously reported in the initial November 2019 mineral resource estimate prepared in accordance with NI 43-101 and includes assay results from the 2020 drill program on the Sam Otto (9,622 metres) and Crestaurum (7,648 metres) deposits.

The 1,207,000 ounce inferred mineral resource consists of an:

Open pit constrained inferred mineral resource of 21.8 million tonnes averaging 1.25 g/t for 876,000 ounces of contained gold, and an

Underground inferred mineral resource of 2.55 million tonnes averaging 4.04 g/t for 331,000 ounces of contained gold.

President and CEO David Suda stated, ?We are pleased to announce the significantly expanded inferred mineral resource for the YCG Project, which demonstrates the growth potential of this project to all stakeholders. With a 1.2 million ounce inferred mineral resource, the mineralized system is open for further expansion in most directions. Currently, our focus is drilling the unexplored potential of the Campbell Shear structure which produced more than five million ounces of high-grade gold at the Con Mine. The Campbell Shear drilling, which commenced in late 2020, has the potential to demonstrate that our district scale YCG Project may host multiple deposits.?

To hear about the updated inferred mineral resource and the YCG Project, please join us at our webinar event: ??????????????

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Topic: Update by Gerald Panneton and David Suda

Date and Time: March 17, 2021 03:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

The 2021 updated mineral resources and its upside potential

The 2021 inferred mineral resource estimate illustrates the growing value of the Yellowknife camp and has opened-up several exploration opportunities to increase mineral resources on the Northbelt property. The Yellowknife camp was developed along the Campbell Shear, the main structure in the belt and host to the largest gold plumbing system of the area on which both the Giant (8 million ounces produced) and Con Mines (6.1 million ounces produced) were developed. Similar to most Archean gold camps in Canada and in the world, numerous gold deposits within the YCG Project may re-establish Yellowknife as a premier mining camp in close proximity to the City of Yellowknife where all the infrastructure is already in place, making the development of these deposits much easier. Specific targets with the potential to increase mineral resources include:

The untested depth extension on both the Sam Otto Main and the Sam Otto South deposits. Both Sam Otto deposits are open to the North and at depth and it is recommended to follow up with a drill program at depth below the current deposit outline or below the 250 metre vertical depth.

Selective closer spaced drilling at the Crestaurum deposit can potentially increase mineral resources below the 300 metre depth. SGS Geological Services constrained the Crestaurum deposit to above 300 vertical metres as 2020 drilling below this depth and down to 500 vertical metres that successfully intersected the gold structure was deemed too widely spaced to be included in the inferred mineral resource.

In addition, 2020 drilling on the Crestaurum deposit revealed an untested three-kilometre strike length of this gold bearing structure to the south of the current resource, possibly extending to the Ranney Hill high-grade showings on surface and effectively tripling the strike length of this gold bearing structure.

A review of the structural controls on the Mispickel and Barney deposits during the 2021 mineral resource estimation revealed potential for increasing these higher grade zones both along the plunge of the known high-grade zones, and for discovery of new high-grade lodes over a potential three-kilometre mineralized structure at Mispickel.

Estimation Methods

The mineral resource estimate for 2021 includes the four gold deposits previously reported in the initial mineral resource estimate prepared in accordance with NI 43-101 in November 2019: Sam Otto, Crestaurum, Barney and Mispickel, which are all within a three-kilometre radius. The initial mineral resource estimate incorporated the results from the 463 drill holes totaling 90,751 metres used in the 2019 mineral resource estimate, and for this update an additional 59 holes totaling 17,540 metres are incorporated from drilling completed in 2020 on the Crestaurum and Sam Otto deposits. In general, the drilling is variably spaced reflecting different mineralization styles and ranges from 25 to 100 metres apart.

The mineral resource estimate was prepared by Dr. Allan Armitage, P.Geo., from SGS Geological Services (?SGS?). SGS used Geovia Gems software to construct mineralized wireframes for each zone and then interpolated tonnage and grade into block models constrained by the mineralized wireframes and used inverse distance squared (ID2) or inverse distance cubed (ID3) interpolation. Appropriate interpolation parameters were generated for each deposit based on the mineralization style and geometry.

The pit shells were created using Whittle pit optimization software and applying the following optimization parameters: US$1,500 gold price; US$2.20/tonne for mining cost; US$16.00/tonne for processing and G&A costs; 90% metallurgical recovery; 5% dilution (external); 5% mining loss; and 60? pit slopes (the deposits occur in areas of extensive outcrop with negligible overburden).

A review by SGS engineers of the size, geometry and continuity of mineralization was conducted to determine underground mineablility of the deposits. On the Sam Otto deposit it was concluded that bulk underground mining below the pit shells was possible, and a cut-off grade of 1.4 g/t Au is used to define underground inferred mineral resources on this deposit using an underground mining cost of US$44.00/tonne and US$16.00/tonne processing and G&A costs. Similarly, bulk underground mining at the Barney deposit uses a cut-off grade of 2.0 g/t Au and a mining cost of US$68/tonne with US$16.00/tonne processing and G&A costs. Crestaurum is considered a high-grade selective mining deposit and a 2.5 g/t cut-off grade is used with a mining cost of US$79.00/tonne with US$16.00/tonne processing and G&A costs.

The mineral resource estimates are summarized in the following table. A supporting technical report prepared in accordance with NI 43-101 will be filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com within 45 days of this release.

The classification of the current mineral resource estimate into an inferred mineral resource is consistent with current 2014 CIM Definition Standards  For Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves

All figures are rounded to reflect the relative accuracy of the estimate.

All mineral resources are presented undiluted and in situ and are considered to have reasonable prospects for eventual economic extraction.

Mineral resources which are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. An inferred mineral resource has a lower level of confidence than that applying to a measured mineral resource and an indicated mineral resource. The quantity and grade of reported inferred mineral resources in this estimation are uncertain in nature and there has been insufficient exploration to define these inferred mineral resources as a measured mineral resource or an indicated mineral resource and it is uncertain if further exploration will result in upgrading the inferred mineral resource to a measured mineral resource or an indicated mineral resource.

It is envisioned that parts of the Sam Otto/Dave?s Pond, Mispickel and Crestaurum deposits may be mined using open pit mining methods. Open pit mineral resources are reported at a cut-off grade of 0.4 g/t Au within a conceptual pit shell.

It is envisioned that parts of the Sam Otto/Dave?s Pond and Barney deposits may be mined using lower cost underground bulk mining methods whereas parts of the Crestaurum deposit may be mined by underground selective narrow vein methods. A selected cut-off grade of 1.4 g/t Au is used to determine the underground mineral resource for the Sam Otto/Dave?s Pond deposit, 2.0 g/t Au for the Barney deposit (assuming it can be accessed underground from the Crestaurum deposit), and 2.5 g/t for the Crestaurum Deposit.

High-grade capping was done on 1 m composite data. Capping values of 55 g/t Au were applied to Crestaurum and 60 g/t Au for Mispickel.

Specific gravity values were determined based on physical specific gravity test work from each deposit: Crestaurum at 2.85; Barney at 3.00; Sam Otto and Mispickel at 2.80.

Cut-off grades are based on a gold price of US$1,500 per ounce, a gold recovery of 90%, processing cost of US$16.00 per tonne milled, and variable mining costs including US$2.00 for open pit and US$44.00 to US$79.00 for underground.

The results from the pit optimization are used solely for the purpose of testing the ?reasonable prospects for economic extraction? by an open pit and do not represent an attempt to estimate mineral reserves. There are no mineral reserves on the Property. The results are used as a guide to assist in the preparation of a mineral resource statement and to select an appropriate resource reporting cut-off grade.

The estimate of mineral resources may be materially affected by environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation, socio-political, marketing, or other relevant issues.

Significant increases in the in situ mineral inventory from the 2019 mineral resource estimates was achieved by the 2020 drilling at Sam Otto and Crestaurum, which increased the strike and dip of both these deposits.

Increases in reported total inferred mineral resources in 2021 also reflects the change in gold price from $1,300/oz Au in the 2019 resource estimate to $1,500/oz Au in the 2021 mineral resource estimate. Other economic parameters for generating cut-off grades remained the same as in 2019. The increase in gold price resulted in a drop in open pit cut-off grade from 0.50 g/t Au in 2019 to 0.40 g/t Au in 2021.

Additionally, changes in underground mining methods and higher gold price resulted in a lowering of underground mining cut-off grades from 3.0 g/t Au in the 2019 mineral resource estimate to 2.5, 2.0 and 1.4 g/t Au for Crestaurum, Barney and Sam Otto respectively.

It should be noted that for the Crestaurum deposit, the reported inferred mineral resource estimate was only extended to 300m vertical depth. Gold Terra drilled several holes below this depth in 2020 that intersected the Crestaurum mineralized structure, but it was decided by SGS that the spacing between these deep holes, and their distance from the shallower drilling on Crestaurum precluded their inclusion in the 2021 mineral resource estimate.

Technical Information and Quality Control Procedures

The technical information contained in this news release has been verified, reviewed and approved by Dr. Allan Armitage, P.Geo. from SGS, who is an independent Qualified Person under NI 43-101. The information contained in this news release was also verified, reviewed and approved by Joe Campbell, P. Geo., Chief Operating Officer for Gold Terra and a Qualified Person under NI 43-101.

Gold Terra?s drilling programs are monitored through the implementation of a quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) program. The drill core (NQ size) is logged and sample intervals for assay are selected by Gold Terra?s geologists. In general, the sampling intervals vary from half a metre to one metre in length depending on the geology and mineralization observed. The drill core samples are cut by diamond saw at Gold Terra \-\-s core facilities in Yellowknife. Half of the core sample is left in the core box and stored in a dedicated core storage facility in Yellowknife. The other half-core samples are transported in securely sealed bags by Gold Terra personnel to ALS Limited (?ALS?) preparation laboratory in Yellowknife. After sample preparation, samples are shipped to ALS Vancouver facility for gold and a complete digestion four acid ICP analysis for 33 elements. Gold assays of >3 g/t are re-assayed on a 30 gram split by fire assay with a gravimetric finish. ALS is a certified and accredited laboratory service operating to ISO 17025 standards. ALS routinely inserts certified gold standards, blanks and pulp duplicates, and results of all QC samples are reported. Gold Terra inserts certified standards and blanks into the sample stream as a check on laboratory QC.

In addition to traditional assay methods, Gold Terra also carries out a variety of spectrometry tests on selected core and rock samples to determine the associated mineral characterization and the gold deportment within the mineralized zones. ?

About Gold Terra?s Yellowknife City Gold Project

The YCG Project encompasses 800 sq. km of contiguous land immediately north, south and east of the City of Yellowknife in the Northwest Territories. Through a series of acquisitions, Gold Terra controls one of the six major high-grade gold camps in Canada. Being within 10 kilometres of the City of Yellowknife, the YCG is close to vital infrastructure, including all-season roads, air transportation, service providers, hydro-electric power and skilled tradespeople.

The YCG Project lies on the prolific Yellowknife greenstone belt, covering nearly 70 kilometres of strike length along the main mineralized shear system that host the former-producing high-grade Con and Giant gold mines. The Company\-\-s exploration programs have successfully identified significant zones of gold mineralization and multiple targets that remain to be tested which reinforces the Company\-\-s objective of re-establishing Yellowknife as one of the premier gold mining districts in Canada.

Visit our website at www.goldterracorp.com.

For more information, please contact:

David Suda, President and CEO

Phone: 604-928-3101 | Toll-Free: 1-855-737-2684

dsuda@goldterracorp.com

Mara Strazdins, Manager of Investor Relations

Phone: 1-778-897-1590 | 604-689-1749 ext 102

Strazdins@goldterracorp.com

In Europa:

Swiss Resource Capital AG

Jochen Staiger

info@resource-capital.ch

www.resource-capital.ch

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information

Certain statements made and information contained in this news release constitute \forward-looking information\ within the meaning of applicable securities legislation (\forward-looking information\). Generally, this forward-looking information can, but not always, be identified by use of forward-looking terminology such as \plans\, \expects\ or \does not expect\, \is expected\, \budget\, \scheduled\, \estimates\, \forecasts\, \intends\, \anticipates\ or \does not anticipate\, or \believes\, or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events, conditions or results \will\, \may\, \could\, \would\, \might\ or \will be taken\, \occur\ or \be achieved\ or the negative connotations thereof.

All statements other than statements of historical fact may be forward-looking information. Forward-looking information is necessarily based on estimates and assumptions that are inherently subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. In particular, this news release contains forward-looking information regarding the future plans for drilling and exploration at the YCG Project; current drilling at the YCG Project; the ability of the Company to expand the mineralized system at the YCG Project; forward looking assumptions used relating to the mineral resources estimates; statements related to the growing value of the Yellowknife camp; future development at specific targets; the possibility of bulk underground mining below the pit shells at the Sam Otto deposit; statements with respect to mineral reserves and mineral resource estimates (including proposals for the potential growth, extension, update and/or upgrade thereof, the anticipated timing thereof and any future economic benefits which may be derived therefrom; the timing for filing an updated mineral resource estimate; and the Company\-\-s objective of re-establishing Yellowknife as one of the premier gold mining districts in Canada.

There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as the Company\-\-s actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in this forward-looking information as a result of the factors discussed in the \Risk Factors\ section in the Company\-\-s most recent MD&A and annual information form available under the Company\-\-s profile at www.sedar.com.

Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that would cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. The forward-looking information contained in this news release is based on information available to the Company as of the date of this news release. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. All of the forward-looking information contained in this news release is qualified by these cautionary statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information due to the inherent uncertainty thereof. Except as required under applicable securities legislation and regulations applicable to the Company, the Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update this forward-looking information.

CAUTIONARY NOTE TO?UNITED STATES?INVESTORS CONCERNING ESTIMATES OF MEASURED, INDICATED AND INFERRED RESOURCES

The Company prepares its disclosure in accordance with the requirements of securities laws in effect in?Canada, which differ from the requirements of U.S. securities laws. Terms relating to Mineral Resources in this news release are defined in accordance with NI 43-101 under the guidelines set out in CIM Standards.

The United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the \SEC\) has adopted amendments effective?February 25, 2019?(the \SEC Modernization Rules\) to its disclosure rules to modernize the mineral property disclosure requirements for issuers whose securities are registered with the SEC under the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The SEC Modernization Rules have replaced SEC Industry Guide 7, which will be rescinded following a transition period and after the required compliance date of the SEC Modernization Rules.

As a result of the adoption of the SEC Modernization Rules, the SEC will now recognize estimates of \Measured Mineral Resources\, \Indicated Mineral Resources\ and \Inferred Mineral Resources\, which are defined in substantially similar terms to the corresponding CIM Standards. In addition, the SEC has amended its definitions of \Proven Mineral Reserves\ and \Probable Mineral Reserves\ to be substantially similar to the corresponding CIM Standards.

United States?investors are cautioned that while the foregoing terms are \substantially similar\ to corresponding definitions under the CIM Standards, there are differences in the definitions under the SEC Modernization Rules and the CIM Standards. Accordingly, there is no assurance any Mineral Resources that the Company may report as \Measured Mineral Resources\, \Indicated Mineral Resources\ and \Inferred Mineral Resources\ under NI 43-101 would be the same had the Company prepared the resource estimates under the standards adopted under the SEC Modernization Rules.

United States?investors are also cautioned that while the SEC will now recognize \Measured Mineral Resources\, \Indicated Mineral Resources\ and \Inferred Mineral Resources\, investors should not to assume that any part or all of the mineral deposits in these categories would ever be converted into a higher category of Mineral Resources or into Mineral Reserves. Mineralization described by these terms has a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence, and great uncertainty as to their economic and legal feasibility. Accordingly, investors are cautioned not to assume that any \Measured Mineral Resources\, \Indicated Mineral Resources\, or \Inferred Mineral Resources\ that the Company reports are or will be economically or legally mineable.

Further, \Inferred Resources\ have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence and as to whether they can be mined legally or economically. Therefore,?United States?investors are also cautioned not to assume that all or any part of the Inferred Resources exist. In accordance with Canadian securities laws, estimates of \Inferred Mineral Resources\ cannot form the basis of feasibility or other economic studies, except in limited circumstances where permitted under NI 43-101.

In addition, disclosure of \contained ounces\ is permitted disclosure under Canadian regulations; however, the SEC has historically only permitted issuers to report mineralization as in place tonnage and grade without reference to unit measures.
 Flash

Eight people were killed and another one was injured in three shooting incidents Tuesday in the metropolitan area of Atlanta, Georgia.

In Cherokee County, a shooting was reported around 5:00 p.m. local time (2100 GMT) at Young's Asian Massage Parlor near Acworth, a northwest suburb of Atlanta. The death toll of the incident rose to four as one injured person has been treated in hospital.

The Cherokee Sheriff's Office said the shooting suspect, 21-year-old Robert Aaron Long, was captured in Crisp County after a chase. The motive behind the shooting is still under investigation.

Shortly after the Cherokee County shooting, Atlanta police responded to a robbery call on Piedmont Road in the northeast part of the city. Atlanta Police Chief Rodney Bryant later confirmed that four females, all believed to be Asian, were shot and killed at two massage parlors close to each other.

Bryant said an investigation is still in the early stage. "I've had conversations with Cherokee County," he said of the earlier shooting, adding it's still early to say the three shooting incidents were connected.

Bryant said the exact motive of the shootings is yet to be determined. "Right now there's no immediate threat to the public at large, but we are having conversations with different law enforcement agencies," he added.
Showtime said it ordered a pilot for a possible TV series based on the Swedish novel and film, Let the Right One In.

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Demian Bichir will produce the project and play Mark, "a husband and father who had the perfect life until it was turned upside down by a mysterious creature who bit his daughter (Eleanor) and then vanished into the night," the cable network said in a news release Monday.

Andrew Hinderaker -- whose credits include Away and Penny Dreadful -- will serve as showrunner and will executive produce, along with Seith Mann (Homeland, Blindspotting), who will direct the the first episode.

"The series is both a love letter to the original film, and a story entirely our own," Hinderaker said in a statement Monday. "And casting a true artist like Demian epitomizes our bold aspiration to be one of the most terrifying shows on TV, and one of the most moving."

Bichir is known for his performances in A Better Life, The Hateful Eight, Alien: Covenant, The Nun, The Grudge, The Midnight Sky, Land, Weeds and The Bridge. He will soon be seen in Godzilla vs. Kong.
Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism.
DETROIT  A woman could lose her nursing license and face criminal charges after she was caught trying to leave a Michigan COVID-19 vaccine clinic with two doses, FOX 2 Detroit reports.

The woman, a nurse, was arrested Monday, March 15, at the TCF Center in Detroit after another worker reported the missing doses, the TV station reports. She was caught leaving her workstation with two doses of the Moderna vaccine.

The doses were confiscated as evidence and could not be distributed, the report said. However, the loss did not prevent anyone scheduled from receiving the vaccine.

Security protocols at TCF are what led to the woman being caught before she left the building, a Detroit city official said.

READ MORE:

Michigans positive test rate and daily coronavirus cases continue to climb

Michigan unsure when it will see boost in COVID-19 vaccine allocation

Two arrested after standoff with Michigan State Police in U.P.

Gas station clerk, 19, to stand trial for murder of man allegedly breaking into coin game

Pedestrian struck by Grand Rapids police patrol car
Baby Stricken With 100 Seizures a Day Overcomes, Now Hes a Teen Mastering a Third Language

A baby born with a life-threatening seizure disorder has beaten the odds. He was not expected to live to see his first birthday, yet hes seen 18, and his diagnosis has even been changed.

The teen, James Laberee, is now thriving and is mastering a third language.

The day James came home and was surrounded by his siblings. (Courtesy of Rosemary Ward Laberee)

Jamess parents Rosemary and Peter had three children before he was born.

I walked away from a thriving career when my husband and I were welcoming our first child into the world, mom Rosemary, 62, told The Epoch Times via email. I was 37 then. I had three more children, and decided to apply my managerial skills to raising and teaching them myself.

The parents homeschooled their three kids in New Jersey with great success.

When the couples fourth child, James, was born, he was diagnosed with MMPSI: Malignant Migrational Partial Seizure Disorder of Infancy. This severe form of epilepsy begins at a very early age and the seizures dont tend to respond well to treatment, according to Medline Plus, an online information service produced by the United States National Library of Medicine.

The hospital had social workers in the room with us when they told us that James would not likely survive his first year, Rosemary told The Epoch Times. It felt like a physical body blow  It was made harder to believe because James was physically so beautiful and perfect.

James at approximately 1012 months of age. (Courtesy of Rosemary Ward Laberee)

Rosemarys pregnancy had been easy. James weighed a healthy 8.5 pounds (approx. 3.8 kg) at birth. Yet his seizures were intractable, only stopping when most of his brain activity was subdued by a cocktail of medications.

We were very scared, said Rosemary. Scared for him. Scared for our future. Scared for the pain and loss this represented for our whole family.

James spent several weeks in the NICU with his brokenhearted mother by his side, experiencing seizures up to 100 times a day. However, the most challenging task was explaining Jamess condition to his three older siblings, aged 9, 7, and 3 at the time.

James carried by his siblings before being able to walk on his own. (Courtesy of Rosemary Ward Laberee)

Through a cloud of grief, we told them that God might want to have James back, that we might not get to keep him, Rosemary explained. They listened to the simplified explanation I gave them about his rare seizure disorder, and they cried.

Yet a childs mind, said Rosemary, deals with what it sees. The children saw their adorable baby brother; they believed they would heal him with their love, said their mom. Maybe they did.

[T]hey held him constantly. Sang to him. Read to him. Played music for him. Fussed over him. Called 911 when he wasnt breathing after a particularly long seizure, Rosemary shared in a Quora post titled, Whats the hardest thing you have ever had to tell your children?

James with his first National Latin Exam Gold Award, aged around 8. (Courtesy of Rosemary Ward Laberee)

Jamess first year was difficult for everyone. Yet with the support of myriad doctors, social workers, and therapists, they coped. Faith and family played starring roles.

We had strong faith. We had each other. We prayed, Rosemary told The Epoch Times. I wasnt sure how wed cope if James died, but I knew the best path forward was to make our days as normal as possible.

James accompanied his family for hiking, birthday parties, playdates, outings, and church activities, albeit heavily sedated. Yet Rosemary began to notice a change: James was having fewer and fewer seizures. Encouraged by what she witnessed, Rosemary sent videos of James to the neurologist where he was alert for long stretches of time and had not seized once.

James with his MENSA Reading Challenge Award t-shirt, aged 12 or 13. (Courtesy of Rosemary Ward Laberee)

His neurological team then admitted him for a four-day observation, drawing an incredible conclusion after just 24 hours: For the first time in Jamess short life, his EEG activity was normal. They were delighted and flabbergasted, Rosemary said.

James was then weaned off his medication over the course of a year, and by the age of 2.5 years old, he began to walk. When he took his first steps unaided, we all exploded with joy, Rosemary recalled. Honestly, at that moment, I thought anything at all was possible.

While behind his peers in gross and fine motor skills, James was sharp as a tack, cognitively-speaking. He learned to read soon after learning to walk.

James (second from left) with his siblings on a yacht in Puerto Rico. (Courtesy of Rosemary Ward Laberee)

Rosemary constantly worried that her youngest sons seizures would return, but her four blessings, as she calls her children, thought otherwise.

When [James] was almost 10, my older kids urged him to participate in a homeschool swim class, Rosemary recalled. I watched warily  Then I saw him take 20 messy strokes forward.

I just wept, she remembered. It was a turning point for me. I stopped worrying, then.

Meanwhile, Jamess official records in the hospital, and his diagnosis, were changed when he was 10 years old.

Peter and Rosemary with their four children. (Courtesy of Rosemary Ward Laberee)

Before long, he began to show an aptitude for languages. He is very bright, with a gift for learning new languages, Rosemary said. He is working on mastering his third language.

He was exposed to Latin at an early age. His skills even won him a scholarship to the Balkans, where he lived for seven months.

He is completely fluent in Macedonian and can get by in Bulgarian and Russian, too, Rosemary told The Epoch Times. Now, he is becoming fluent in German.

Rosemary returned to work when James left for the Balkans. Currently, she is a remote worker at the Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia in the Strategy and Innovation department.

James as a novice rower in 2018. (Courtesy of Rosemary Ward Laberee)

James is a healthy, thriving teen who loves lifting weights, running, rowing, and fishing. He also loves reading and gaming. He is very funny, said his mom; he makes us laugh out loud every day.

In August 2021, James will depart for a year in Germany.

I feel like the luckiest mother in the world, Rosemary reflected. Every day, I am grateful beyond measure.

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
Hyderabad, March 17 : Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao on Wednesday told the Assembly that an announcement on the Pay Revision Commission (PRC) recommendations for government employees will be made in the next couple of days.

He said the announcement will be made in the Assembly after the results of elections to two Legislative Council seats are declared.

KCR, as the Chief Minister is popularly known, assured the government employees that the PRC implementation will meet their expectations. "In fact, Telangana government employees will feel proud to be among the highest paid in the country," he said.

Replying to the debate on the motion of thanks to the Governor's address, he promised that all the issues of the employees will be addressed.

The Chief Minister also told the Assembly that an unemployment allowance is under the consideration of the government. He pointed out that Covid pandemic put a burden of Rs 1 lakh crore on the state exchequer.

KCR said the government was in the process of framing guidelines to pay unemployment allowance to the unemployed youth but due to the pandemic, the government could not even pay full salaries to the employees and thus in such a difficult situation, it could not pay unemployment allowance.

He, however, assured the house that unemployment allowance is under the consideration of the government and nobody should have any doubts about its implementation.

Replying to the issues raised by Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) leader Akbaruddin Owaisi, the Chief Minister said the government was focusing on allotment of double bed-room houses to applicants in the old city of Hyderabad and problems faced by minority residential schools.

KCR reiterated that the places of worship damaged during the demolition of old state Secretariat will be rebuilt on their original sites.

When BJP member Raghunandan Rao stated that the eligible people are not getting ration cards, KCR said the government issued large number of ration cards. He pointed out that the number of ration cards before 2014 was only 14 lakh and the number has now gone up to 39 lakh.

Stating that the government is working with an aim to help the poor, he said the pension for various categories of beneficiaries which was just Rs 200 per month in the past has been raised to Rs 2,016. The number of beneficiaries also increased from 29,21,520 to 39,36,520.
Realme to launch Realme C25 with 6000mAh battery on March 23

New Delhi, Wed, 17 Mar 2021 NI Wire

Realme is launching its new smartphone Realme C25 with 6000mAh battery and Helio G70 SoC on March 23. Recently the Company launched C21 smartphone and they launching another phone C25 with powerful features.

Chinese mobile phone manufacturer Realme announced to launch its flagship smartphone Realme C25 with Helio G70 SoC and whooping 6000mAh batter on March 23. The announcement came just after the recent release of C21 smartphone.

According to the announcement Realme will launch this phone Indonesia first on March 23, still there is no word about the launch of this phone in other countries.

Realme is expanding its C-series phone as compared to the other brands in the market. Earlier Realme launched C21 as the successor to the C20. Now the company is launching C25 smartphone in the market to grab the smartphone market. While this phone is being launched in Indonesia first, but we expect that the company will soon launch this phone in other parts of the world.

Realme website is displaying a page featuring Realme C25, which shows the design of the upcoming smartphone. The webpage on the Realme website reveals some of the important specification of this smartphone.

Last year Realme launched C11, C12, and C15 smartphones. This time Realme C25 is being first launched in Indonesia on 23 March.

Due to Covid-19 pandemic the Realme C25 launch event will be in the online mode on 23 March at 1.30pm WIB. Although the company is launching this phone in Indonesia, still there is no official word on the worldwide launch of this smartphone. Even we dont know when it will be launched in India.

Realme C25 specifications

According to the Realme website the new Realme C25 will be powered with MediaTek Helio G70 processor and it is going to be a low-end smartphone. There no further information about the RAM and storage of this phone.

The Realme C25 is coming with huge 6000mAh battery which good to run the phone for longer duration. This phone comes with the support for 18W charging.

This phone will have a 6.25-inch display with TUV Rheinland certification on the phone. Realme C25 is coming with a 48MP triple camera setup, which is good for taking high quality photos and videos.

Phone will have a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor.
Salt Lake City, Utah--(Newsfile Corp. - March 17, 2021) - Gaensel Energy Group, Inc. (OTC Pink: GEGR) Board of Directors announce today the completion of the agreements for the acquisition of SSCB Swiss Stem Cells Biotech SA.

Gaensel Energy Group, Inc.



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Swiss Stem Cells Biotech



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The Company is pleased to announce the first of at least 2 acquisitions in the Biotech Industry.

SSCB is a world renowned participant in Stem Cell Technology and places Gaensel in the front of this exciting and revolutionary health technology.

The Board expressed its pleasure working with the President Claudio Massa where he and his advisors have worked tirelessly over the past ninety days to ensure the success of the negotiations and final agreements being completed. The Shareholders of Gaensel will see the long term value this new partnership brings to the Company.

ABOUT SSCB

SSCB Swiss Stem Cells Biotech SA is a Biotech Company; SSCB was born in 2005 as a spin-off of Cardiocentro Ticino of Lugano - Switzerland and is also present with other offices in Italy, Spain, Albania and Balkan countries.

SSCB was founded as a private bank for the cryopreservation of human stem cells obtained from blood and cord tissue for both autologous and allogeneic intra-family use.

SSCB also allows the preservation of stem cells from adipose tissue. These cells have great potential in regenerative medicine, thanks to their ability to differentiate into numerous cell types and thus reconstruct many compromised tissues and organs.

SSCB operates in the field of cellular therapies with specialization in the collection, purification, characterization, processing and storage of stem cells for therapeutic and aesthetic uses and for the development of new experimental protocols.

Story continues

Thanks to the constant commitment in biotechnology in the cellular field, over the years a highly specialized know-how and cutting-edge methods have been developed in the processes, quality and safety of storage and release of stem cells.

The headquarters in Vacallo, Switzerland, is a complete and self-sufficient structure of 1,600 square meters. It houses the bio-bank, the Laboratories for processing and characterization of samples, Scientific Direction, Quality Control laboratory, Quality Assurance Department, Medical Direction, Administration and Customer Care. Through these functions it guarantees the direct and complete management of all the phases of the relationship with the final customer, also guaranteeing him a unique logistic reference.

THE EXCELLENCE OF SSCB

SSCB adheres to the strictest guidelines specific to the field of cellular therapies and therapeutic agents. This makes SSCB a highly specialized and cutting-edge company in the field, able to process, store and release safe and certified samples.

SSCB has been the first private bio-bank in Europe to be certified since 2012 by FACT-NetCord, the specific accreditation for cord blood banks. This accreditation places SSCB at the same quality levels as public cord blood bio-banks.

In 2014, SSCB obtained the validation of the protocols for the extraction of stem cells from adipose tissue (SVF-Stromal Vascular Fraction).

SSCB is recognized and listed in the 2019 World Marrow Donor Association (WMDA) registry (https://share.wmda.info/display/WMDAREG/Database#) as a private biobank capable of processing and releasing donation samples.

In 2020, SSCB was chosen as the only private biobank by the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health in the Public-Private Hybrid Bank project.

SSCB receives regular inspections by SwissMedic, Swiss Institute for Therapeutic Products, and FACT-NetCord to process and store stem cells in their laboratories.

SwissMedic, through their inspections of our processes and laboratories, ensures the quality of the methods and protocols that SSCB performs: from logistics to sample release.

Moreover, in 2020 SSCB Laboratories have been certified GMP, (Good Manufacturing Practices) obtaining the qualification to produce pharmaceutical products based on stem cells.

To support the quality and safety applied to processing and preservation techniques, SSCB employs international personnel, highly trained and qualified in the most modern preservation techniques applied to regenerative therapies.

SWISS STEM CELL FOUNDATION AND FREE ADVICE ON INTERNATIONAL CLINICAL TRIALS

The (SSCF) Swiss Stem Cell Foundation (https://sscf.ch/), is a independent and non-profit, collaborates with SSCB and has as its goal the research and development in the field of stem cells, the development of new cell therapies in the human field based on stem cells, as well as the training, consulting and dissemination of knowledge in this field to professionals and the public.

SSCB also collaborates with prestigious international hospitals in the treatment of patients affected by diseases subject to clinical trials and supports parents who have relied on the conservation of their children's stem cells. Thanks to the collaboration with, for example, Duke University in North Carolina and the University Hospital of Monterrey in Mexico, SSCB has released stem cell samples successfully used for the treatment of two separate cases of cerebral palsy .

WHAT SSCB DOES

Our Bio-bank has a capacity to cryopreserve a wide range of biological materials:

Bio-bank of Cells, Tissues and DNA

Cord blood stem cells

Cord tissue stem cells

Adipose tissue stem cells

Peripheral Blood Conservation

Preservation of Plasma and Serum

DNA storage

The cryopreservation of cells is carried out both in liquid nitrogen and nitrogen vapors, depending on the biological material to be stored to guarantee its highest quality and safety

Research and Development

Development of stem cell extraction protocols from different sources

Development of tissue preservation protocols

Development of protocols for the preparation of PRP, PDGF and PRGF

Translation of search protocols into GMP

Research Training and Development for Regenerative Medicine

Development of clinical protocols for the use of stem cells

Preparation of IMPD and documentation for the Ethics Committee

Partners in clinical trials using stem cells

Development of anti-aging therapies

Basic and advanced training courses to support regenerative medicine and new application frontiers in this field

Consulting

Recruitment advice in international clinical trials

Advice in the field of personalized medicine

Predictive genetics

Prenatal genetic testing

Genetic tests on cord blood

Anti-aging genetic testing

Nutrigenomic genetic tests

Microbiome test

SSCB - SWISS STEM CELLS BIOTECH SA

Via Pizzamiglio, 12 - 6833 Vacallo - Switzerland

Offices in: Italy, Spain, Albania, Balkan countries

https://www.sscb-stembiotech.com/

About Gaensel Energy Group, Inc. (OTC Pink: GEGR):

Gaensel Energy Group asset base currently consists of proven companies in Biotech, Commodities, Apparrel - Fashion, Green and Renewable Energy, and Technology. The management teams for each of these divisions are actively seeking similar partners in each space for expansion and additional acquisitions. We have been listed on the United States OTC Markets since 2002 and the Company is current.

Gaensel Energy Group, Inc.

57 West 200 South

Suite 300

Salt Lake City, UT 84101

admin@gegrgroup.com

Phone: +1 518-567-3649

https://www.gegrgroup.com

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/77566
For seven years, Morgan Galen King was vigilant about not updating his Windows PC. From 2014 onward, he skipped every prompt on his work computer, attempting to preserve the Photoshop and Premiere tools he had built to animate his ultra-violent high-fantasy film, The Spine of Night. He was rotoscoping the entire thing, drawing over live-action scenes, frame-by-frame, until they came to life under his stylus.

King was working alongside co-writer and co-director Philip Gelatt, and a small team of accomplices. The project consisted of thousands of live, hand-drawn layers and a batch of custom software tools, all of which worked specifically with the version of Windows on Kings computer in 2014.

I had been very meticulous to not update anything, which was hard for such a long production cycle, King said. Seven years is a long time to not update your software.

And then, just as King was preparing to export the final cut of The Spine of Night for its debut at SXSW 2021, his PC received seven years of updates.

The Spine of Night (2021)

It was the absolute deadline coming up, King said. I went to bed, I came back and Windows had updated itself.

He couldnt even open the project. His PC no longer recognized the video card Premiere used to run the bulk of the films effects. There was a solution, but like every other step in The Spine of Nights production, it was incredibly tedious.

I had to get in there and as it was trying to load, before it failed, export each section as an individual project, so that I could slowly piece it back together, King said.

Gelatt, Kings co-conspirator on The Spine of Night, added, It was arduous.

It took about two weeks to rebuild The Spine of Night this way. But, they did it. The movie is an official selection of the SXSW 2021 Film Festival, debuting on Thursday night. It stars a handful of heavy hitters in the voice cast, including Betty Gabriel, Richard E. Grant, Lucy Lawless, Patton Oswalt and Joe Manganiello.

The Spine of Night (2021)

The Spine of Night is a violent and trippy epic inspired by 1981s Heavy Metal and the works of classic animators Ralph Bakshi (the director of the 1978 Lord of the Rings movie) and Frank Frazetta (the veritable godfather of fantasy art). Bakshi and Frazetta famously collaborated on the 1983 film Fire and Ice, using rotoscoping for the animation.

Story continues

Fire and Ice was a crucial touchstone for King and Gelatt in the creation of The Spine of Night. In fact, its the main reason King built so many custom Premiere and Photoshop tools to get the job done.

I looked at the special features of Bakshi's Fire and Ice DVD, King said. I think it's the only place where I've really seen anyone showing how they used to do it. I kind of just reverse engineered that, as best as I could, for drawing on a computer.

The rotoscope process involves filming scenes with actual people and then tracing over those frames one at a time. When done right, it results in fluid, lifelike movements, while allowing animators to sketch in all the wild characters and impossible actions they want.

For The Spine of Night, King and Gelatt filmed the motion reference in a warehouse in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, in March 2014. Only one of the big-name actors in the voice cast actually performed in that warehouse: Betty Gabriel, who was fresh out of drama school at the time (and so great to work with, Gelatt said). She would go on to become a star of Get Out and multiple Blumhouse projects.

A green-screen studio would have been ideal, but we just had the white walls and wooden floors of this place, and we dragged in lights and fans to blow the hair around, and tried to get everyone to mimic the actions that we needed, in live action, as best as they could, King said.

The Spine of Night (2021)

There are some scenes of characters riding horses or soaring over the city on batlike wings, and for these moments, the actors sat astride yoga balls or balanced on them, belly-down.

We obviously didn't have horses in the warehouse, and so we had them just galloping as hard as they could on yoga balls, King said. This was an absolutely hysterical sight. What an indelible image.

They edited down the live-action footage, yoga balls and all, and King began rotoscoping on top of the resulting full-length film, using his custom, Bakshi-inspired Adobe tools.

There are existing programs offering AI-assisted rotoscoping, such as EbSynth, but these wouldnt cut it for The Spine of Night. AI cant capture the intuitive magic of hand-drawn rotoscoping, King said.

I think AI doesn't have the ability to discern when to deviate, he said. Whereas, for what we were doing, deviating from the video is a very common occurrence. When two people are talking and you're just really focusing on lip sync and eye movement, well, then the video is extremely important for that. But for things like combat, where obviously we're not chopping each other's heads off in the footage, the ability to seamlessly switch from using a video reference to just becoming pure animation  there's a lot of dismemberment in this movie. It was just all pure image. The style needed to be able to switch between those in every single shot, pretty much. It's much more of a traditional frame-by-frame, onion skin situation, than I think AI would have allowed us to do.

As a result, The Spine of Night took seven years to animate. It seems like it paid off  the film is alive with depth and flow driven by its thick, snakelike animation lines and a timeless story of survival. Its an instant cult classic with buckets of blood, skeletons, and violent psychedelic imagery, steeped in 1970s high-fantasy nostalgia.

It also feels entirely fresh.

I love fantasy so much, and I love cheeseball covers with women in scantily clad armor, Gelatt said. That's what I grew up with. But when you have an opportunity and you take this much time to make a thing, you really want to make it forward-facing and something that you can be really proud of from any perspective. We definitely had a lot of conversations about just the genre in general, and what you could do to drag it forward to the 21st century.

The Spine of Night (2021)

The Spine of Night stars a Black woman, something rarely seen in high fantasy, and it doesnt hyper-sexualize its female characters. It tells the stories of multiple people from various backgrounds fighting for a singular epic cause.

I think fantasy has such a tendency to be regressive in its gaze, King said. You have so much interest in the legacy of kings and their families and the hierarchies and the old gods. ...I think that was something we wanted to sort be like, Well, yeah, but what if we went the other way with that?

Gelatt agreed and said, I'm really into fantasy that hates kings. I like Tolkien and all that stuff, but I always think about Return of the King as a title, and how I just feel like it should be threatening, not happy. I don't want a king. Why would we be excited about that?

The Spine of Night premieres Thursday evening as part of SXSW 2021, and after that, it should see a wider release. Hopefully soon, for the sake of Kings PC.

As soon as we get this finally, fully off my computer and into the hands of someone putting it on a Blu-ray, I cannot wait to update literally everything I use and start with a clean slate, he said.
YEREVAN, MARCH 17, ARMENPRESS. French Ambassador to Armenia Jonathan Lacote thanked the Armenian authorities for contributing to the spread of teaching of French in the country.

I would like to thank also the great community of French teachers who work hard every day. The success of the presence of French in Armenia is largely due to the success of French, French-speaking educational facilities in Armenia, the Ambassador said at a press conference in Yerevan. He also highlighted the role of the French University in Armenia which today has 1300 students and their number is gradually growing.

Jonathan Lacote also praised the fact that today many young Armenians, who have never studied French, today are starting their career by learning French.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
Bengaluru: IAF to set up 100-bed COVID care hospital at Air Force Station Jalahalli for general public

From China face off to the fight against COVID-19, how the IAF is doing India proud

MiG-21 crashes in central India, pilot killed

India

oi-Deepika S

New Delhi, Mar 17: An Air Force pilot was killed in a MiG-21 Bison accident when the aircraft was taking off for a combat training mission at an airbase in central India. The Air Force lost Group Captain A Gupta in the accident.

The accident took place when the aircraft was taking off for a combat training mission, the IAF said on Twitter.

"The IAF lost Group Captain A Gupta in the tragic accident. IAF expresses deep condolences and stands firmly with the family members. A Court of Inquiry has been ordered to determine the cause of the accident," the air force said in a tweet.

Karnataka CD Scandal: Family claims woman kidnapped, files complaint| Oneindia News

A court of inquiry has been ordered to determine the cause of the accident.
FIDA Ghana and the National Coalition on Domestic Violence Legislation in Ghana (DV Coalition) have commended the Ghana Police Service for the swift arrest and remand into custody of Mr. Prince Charles Dedjoe by the East Legon police for allegedly beating his wife to death.



According to the two entities, news of the death of Mrs. Lillian Dedjoe, wife of Mr. Dedjoe, at East Legon in the past week once again raised questions regarding the effective protection of women and girls from intimate partner violence and domestic violence.



FIDA Ghana



According to FIDA Ghana, continuing reports of intimate partner violence signalled that advocacy strategies against domestic violence and intimate partner violence by womens rights defenders needed to be deepened to stimulate actions by state actors to bring perpetrators to book.



A statement signed by the President of FIDA Ghana, Mrs. Efua Addotey, said intimate partner violence had cut short the lives of many women in the country.



It said intimate partner violence also negatively impacted the health of victims and devastated homes and the well-being of dependents.



It added that domestic violence and intimate partner violence were pervasive human rights concerns that had engaged the attention of womens rights defenders for over two decades.



The statement said the feeling of being trapped in an abusive relationship because of poor community support systems, weak enforcement of laws, lack of shelters and the continual denial of womens agency demanded an urgency to remove those serious obstacles to accessing justice.



Aside from the legal services, women, FIDA Ghana said, needed financial stability to live independently.



DV Coalition



On its part, the DV Coalition, hosted by the ARK Foundation Ghana, in a statement, called on the GPS and the National Coordinator of DOVVSU to thoroughly investigate the matter as there appeared to be evidence of a history of domestic violence in the relationship of the couple.



Pre Order Ghana Year Book 2021

It said that was evident from the pictures of the deceased which had appeared on social media.



It is of concern to the coalition that because the alleged perpetrator appears to be a popular and wealthy businessman, reports are that attempts are being made to help him evade justice, the statement said, adding that it was the hope of the coalition that that was not the case.



Manipulation



The statement said because there were many other known stories of manipulation by family and community members to assist perpetrators of gender-based violence evade the criminal justice system, the coalition cannot take this issue for granted.



We strongly urge the police to be mindful of the dynamics of domestic violence and the possible history of such violence in this matter.



Everything possible must be done to ensure thorough investigation and prosecution where the evidence procured warrants such, it said.



The coalition also called on the Prosecutions Department of the Attorney-Generals Office to provide the police with the necessary legal assistance and advice on the docket.

Source: Graphiconline.com









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Scores of workers have been laid off amid the uncertainty, with bars and restaurants hit particularly hard. Illinois has lost more than 500,000 jobs since 2020 began, according to data from the Illinois Department of Employment Security. Nearly 43% of those were in the leisure and hospitality sector, which saw employment drop by 215,800 jobs year over year as of the end of January.
....these innovative projects are investments in both students and educators; we find them particularly relevant this year.

With educators facing a year of pandemic related challenges, from remote learning to socially distanced hybrid schedules, its exciting to celebrate exceptional educators improving the experiences of their students. Despite the constraints on educators in 2020, classroom innovation continues in the new year. Educators are tackling important topics and integrating real world themes as evidenced in the latest awardees of projects funded by the McCarthey Dressman Education Foundation (MDEF) for this school year.

Whether its connecting real world experiences to science, or developing culturally relevant learning experiences, educators supported by MDEF are invested in projects that give students opportunities to learn by doing and highlight meaningful ways for teachers to reduce racism and increase critical thinking.

These projects reflect the thoughtful approaches of educators who are interested in preparing students for an uncertain future. We are confident these projects will impact individual students while also informing teaching communities, said Sarah J. McCarthey, President of the Foundation which awarded over $167,000 in grants and scholarships for the 2020-21 academic year.

While the projects take a variety of forms, their focus on enriching the lives of each student is evident.

The project Children with Incarcerated Parents, based in Oxford, MS, bridges the challenges of imprisonment for female inmates and their children to provide weekly literacy activities where they can work with their children to develop technical and creative reading and writing skills. In Where the Light Travels at Ibarra Elementary School in San Diego, CA, serves refugee childrento bridge the cultural and language gaps facing youth and families through multimedia and arts integration.

Immersing students in hands on inquiry is also a key focus of these projects. Students at the Academy of Math and Science Desert Sky in Glendale, Arizona will investigate the impact of composting at their school campus as it relates to greenhouse gas emissions; they will use sensors, 3D modeling and data modeling to discover how they can reduce waste at their school. At Cesar E. Chavez Middle School in San Bernardino, California an after-school technology club will explore animatronics and programming and share what they learn with elementary school students.

Teacher development is also an area of focus in the grants awarded by the Foundation. Educators at Bard Early College DC in Baltimore, Maryland will provide teachers a ten week training program to support them in affirming Black identities throughout their teaching and curriculum as part of the Black Excellence Project. Teachers in Milwaukee, Wisconsin will challenge systemic racism participating in monthly workshops to support them in facilitating conversations within their schools as part of the project Brave Space to Talk about Race.

To increase teacher confidence and effectiveness in teaching science, DeKalb Middle School, in DeKalb, Texas, will offer Inside Out: Linking Experiential Learning within Classroom Science to the Real World. Participating educators will explore best practices in inquiry-based learning, hands-on manipulatives and interactive outdoor education strategies to make an impact on their students awareness of real world science.

For the 2020-21 academic year, the Foundation has funded four new Academic Enrichment Grants at schools serving minority and economically disadvantaged students; three Teacher Development grants with similar demographics; and four student teacher scholarships. Recipients include:

Academic Enrichment Recipients

Dr. Louis Bourgeois, Children With Incarcerated Parents Wellness Program  Oxford, MS

Jana Mcbeath, Where The Light Travels  San Diego, CA

Leon Tynes, AMS Campus Sustainability Project  Glendale, AZ

Gina Baragone, STEAM Powered Community  San Bernardino, CA

Teacher Development Recipients

Dr. Cassandra St. Vil, The Black Excellence Project  Publishing Program For Young Authors  Baltimore, MD

Jon Jagemann, Brave Space To Talk About Race  Milwaukee, WI

Joshua Sciara, Inside Out: Linking Experiential Learning Within Classroom Science To The Real World  DeKalb, TX

Scholarship Recipients

Elizabet Montoya, Stephen F. Austin State University

Austin De Rubira, University of California, Santa Cruz

Payam Gregory Etemadzadeh, University of California, Santa Cruz

Lani Alameda Almand, University of California, Santa Cruz

The mission of McCarthey Dressman Education Foundation (mccartheydressman.org) is to serve as a catalyst in maximizing the skills and creativity of educators at the K-12 levels and in cultivating pioneering approaches to teaching that result in dynamic student learning. The Foundation sponsors proposals that enhance student learning and educational quality, paying particular attention to those that best serve under-funded schools. Only 200 applications will be accepted this year. The application deadline is April 15 of each year for proposals with significant potential to enrich the educational experiences for youth, but the application will close before that date if 200 submissions have been received.
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Company News: Radware has reported a series of new zero-day exploits in Microsoft Exchange Servers discovered late last year has evolved into a global hacking spree now impacting hundreds of thousands of organisations worldwide.

On 2 March, Microsoft released critical security updates for four crucial zero-day vulnerabilities discovered in Exchange Servers and reported that the exploits are being actively exploited by an actor called HAFNIUM, a state-sponsored group operating out of China.

Within one week, at least 30,000 U.S. organisations and hundreds of thousands of organisations worldwide have fallen victim to an automated campaign run by HAFNIUM that provides the attackers with remote control over the affected systems.

In the past week, the patched vulnerabilities have been weaponised by over 10 different APT groups and are being leveraged in ransomware and cryptomining campaigns.

Radware assesses the threat as critical for all industries across the globe, from small to large corporations. Initial reports indicated the involvement of advanced Chinese actors. Chinese APT groups are known for espionage and targeting governments, pharmaceutical/research institutions, research in general and corporate research assets.

Last week, exploits started to circulate and ransomware and cryptocurrency campaigns started exploiting the vulnerabilities. Consequently, the threat is now generic and global, putting any organisation, independent of industry or location, at risk of falling victim to ransomware and cryptomining abuse.

ProxyLogon

On December 10, 2020, Orange Tsai, a researcher working for the Taiwanese security consulting organisation DEVCORE, discovered a pre-authentication proxy vulnerability (CVE-2021-26855) in Exchange Servers that allows a remote actor to bypass authentication and receive admin server privileges.

Combined with a post-authentication vulnerability (CVE-2021-27065) that allows arbitrary file writes to the system (discovered by Tsai three weeks later), an actor can achieve remote command execution of arbitrary commands through internet-exposed Exchange Servers. Initial access is achieved through uploading a web shell, commonly referred to as a China chopper.

CVE-2021-26855: Server side request forgery

The server-side request forgery (SSRF) vulnerability provides a remote actor with admin access by sending a specially crafted web request to a vulnerable Exchange Server. The web request contains an XML SOAP payload directed at the Exchange Web Services (EWS) API endpoint.

The SOAP request bypasses authentication using specially crafted cookies and allows an unauthenticated, remote actor to execute EWS requests encoded in the XML payload and ultimately perform operations on users' mailboxes. This vulnerability, combined with the knowledge of a victim's email address, means the remote actor can exfiltrate all emails from the victim's Exchange mailbox.

Organisations that received this letter were companies that received threats in August and September of 2020. Analysis of this new wave of ransom letters suggests that the same threat actors from the middle of 2020 are behind these malicious communications.

CVE-2021-26857: Remote code execution vulnerability

A post-authentication insecure deserialisation vulnerability in the Unified Messaging service of a vulnerable Exchange Server allows commands to be run with SYSTEM account privileges.

The SYSTEM account is used by the operating system and services that run under Windows. By default, the SYSTEM account is granted full control permissions to all files.

A malicious actor can combine this vulnerability with stolen credentials or with the previously mentioned SSRF vulnerability to execute arbitrary commands on a vulnerable Exchange Server in the security context of SYSTEM.

CVE-2021-26858 and CVE-2021-27065

Both of these post-authentication arbitrary file write vulnerabilities allow an authenticated user to write files to any path on a vulnerable Exchange Server.

A malicious actor could leverage the previously mentioned SSRF vulnerability to achieve admin access and exploit this vulnerability to write web shells to virtual directories (VDirs) published to the internet by the server's Internet Information Server (IIS).

IIS is Microsoft's web server, a dependency that is installed with Exchange Server and provides services for Outlook on the web, previously known as Outlook Web Access (OWA), Outlook Anywhere, ActiveSync, Exchange Web Services, Exchange Control Panel (ECP), the Offline Address Book (OAB) and Autodiscover.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-18 05:47:01|Editor: huaxia

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UNITED NATIONS, March 17 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday called for the condemnation of racism, which he described as a deeply rooted global evil.

Last year, people around the globe took to the streets to protest the vicious "global pandemic of racism." They recognized racism for what it is: dangerous, abhorrent, ugly, and everywhere, he said in a message for the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, which falls on March 21.

"Racism is a deeply rooted global evil. It transcends generations and contaminates societies. It perpetuates inequality, oppression and marginalization."

There is racism in the pervasive discrimination against people of African descent, in the injustices and oppression endured by indigenous peoples and other ethnic minorities, and in the repugnant views of white supremacists and other extremist groups, he said. "Wherever we see racism, we must condemn it without reservation, without hesitation, without qualification."

He noted that this year's theme of the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination highlights the important role of youth.

"Young people's attitudes and behavior will dictate the future shape and look of our societies. So, I appeal to young people everywhere, as well as educators and leaders, to teach the world that all people are born equal," he said. "Supremacy is an evil lie. Racism kills."

Guterres called for collective efforts to rid the world of the pernicious evil of racism so all people may live in a world of peace, dignity and opportunity. Enditem
EU to sanction Chinese officials over 'crackdown'

The sanctions have to be formally confirmed by EU foreign ministers meeting on Monday. Image: Shutterstock

EU member states have agreed to impose sanctions on four Chinese officials and one state-owned entity over Beijing's crackdown on the Uighur minority, European diplomats said on Wednesday.



Ambassadors from the 27 countries gave the green light for the measures as part of a package of human rights sanctions that will also see individuals in Russia, North Korea, Eritrea, South Sudan and Libya targeted, diplomats said.



The sanctions  set to hit around a dozen people in total with asset freezes and visa bans  have to be formally confirmed by EU foreign ministers meeting on Monday.



China has already reacted angrily to the prospect of punishment over its actions in the western Xinjiang region.



"Sanctions based on lies could be interpreted as deliberately undermining China's security and development interests," Zhang Ming, Beijing's ambassador to the EU, said on Tuesday.



"We want dialogue not confrontation. We ask the EU side to think twice. If some insist on confrontation we will not back down as we have no options but fulfilling our responsibilities to people of our country."



Rights groups believe at least one million Uighurs and other mostly Muslim minorities have been incarcerated in camps in the northwestern region, where China is also accused of forcibly sterilising women and imposing forced labour.



China has strongly denied allegations of forced labour involving Uighurs in Xinjiang and says training programs, work schemes and better education have helped stamp out extremism in the region.



The EU faces a delicate balancing act over relations with China as it treats Beijing as a rival and also a potential economic partner.



Brussels late last year sealed a major investment pact with China after seven years of negotiations, but is under pressure from the administration of new US President Joe Biden to form a united front against Beijing.



Washington on Wednesday added 24 more senior Chinese officials to its blacklist over what it characterises as Beijing's clampdown on democracy in Hong Kong. (AFP)
Ricardo Defense has secured a three-year, $89M contract to provide critical safety upgrades protecting the lives of thousands of HMMWV operators around the world.

The Army today awarded Ricardo Defense a base contract to provide up to 9,480 critical safety improvement Antilock Brake System / Electronic Stability Control (ABS/ESC) retrofit kits over the next three years for the U.S. Armys High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV). The first delivery order, under the three-year base contract, will include $10M to deliver 1,200 ABS/ESC retrofit kits by August 2021. A second delivery order is expected later this year to increase deliveries to approximately 2,000 ABS/ESC retrofit kits over the next 12 months.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210317005179/en/

High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV) (Photo: Business Wire)

Historical data presented by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) indicates that the application of ABS and ESC reduces the number of fatal rollovers by 74%, and fatal impacts by 45%. Todays initial award marks the beginning of a multi-year contract for Ricardo Defense to improve the safety and operational readiness of the fielded HMMWV fleet for U.S. soldiers and HMMWV operators worldwide.

Chet Gryczan, president of Ricardo Defense said: "This is a significant milestone and strong example of Ricardo Defenses commitment to provide solutions to meet the tough challenges facing our customers and ensure the safety of our men and women in uniform. In fielding this system, we are tremendously proud to contribute to the Armys commitment to the safety of our soldiers and civilians alike."

The HMMWV is projected to remain in the U.S. Armys fleet until 2050. In 2018, the Army mandated that all new HMMWVs coming off the new vehicle production line must have the ABS/ESC system installed. Since July 2018, more than 5,000 new production or Recapitalized HMMWV vehicles have been delivered to the US Army with Ricardos ABS/ESC technology. In 2019, the Army provisioned Ricardos ABS/ESC retrofit kit into the national stock system for retrofit of vehicles not addressed during new production or Recapitalization. This dual-approach ensures that all HMMWVs in the enduring fleet are eventually fit with the ABS/ESC rollover mitigation technology.

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A spokesperson for the U.S. Army, Product Director Light Tactical Vehicles said, "The ABS/ESC retrofit contract award is a culmination of a lot of great work from all parties, and is an essential step in providing this critical safety solution to our fielded HMMWV fleet. We are extremely proud of the Armys collaboration with Ricardo Defense to provide an affordable and attainable solution that significantly reduces loss of control incidents, vehicle rollover incidents, and ultimately helps save lives."

Red River Army Depot, in partnership with Ricardo Defense, will complete ABS/ESC retrofit installations at the Armys Center of Industrial and Technical Excellence for tactical wheeled vehicles in Texarkana, Texas and at regional sites across the U.S. beginning in March 2021.

ENDS

About Ricardo

Ricardo plc is a world-class environmental, engineering and strategic consulting company listed on the London Stock Exchange. With over 100 years of engineering excellence, we provide exceptional levels of expertise in delivering leading edge and innovative cross sector sustainable products and solutions, helping our global customers increase efficiencies, achieve growth and create a clear and safer future. Our mission is clear - to create a world fit for the future. For more information visit www.ricardo.com

About Ricardo Defense, Inc

Ricardo Defense Inc. is a Ricardo subsidiary delivering high-value system engineering, mission critical software, vehicle builds, and safety-critical products to the US Department of Defense as well as governments and defense industry suppliers world-wide. Ricardo Defense is a recognized leader in the integration of complex systems and acquisition planning and system support services for major defense programs around the globe.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210317005179/en/

Contacts

For Ricardo:



Kate Caulfield

Ricardo Defense

Email: kathryn.caulfield@ricardodefense.com

Telephone: (586) 899-7668



Ricardo Media Office

Gill Gibbons

Email: media@ricardo.com

Telephone: +44 (0) 7795 342804
The gallantry medals awarded to one of the RAF's finest Battle of Britain aces are being sold by his family for 200,000.

Air Commodore Peter Malam Brothers destroyed 16 enemy aircraft during the Second World War.

He was a veteran of the Battle of France, the Battle of Britain, the Dieppe raid and D-Day.

In his RAF log books, which are also being sold, he drew red swastikas to mark all his 'kills' and wrote the words 'Good Show' to describe the 1944 Normandy invasion.

Most of his 'kills' came in 1940 when he served as one of the 'The Few' who defeated the German Luftwaffe and stopped Adolf Hitler's invasion of Britain.

The then Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill famously referred to the pilots in a speech in which he uttered the words, 'Never was so much owed by so many to so few.'

Air Commodore Brothers was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross twice, the Distinguished Service Order and the CBE for bravery, skill and service to the RAF.

The ace was even known to unwind from a dog fight by sliding his cockpit canopy back and lighting a cigarette as he flew home.

The gallantry medals awarded to one of the RAF's finest Battle of Britain aces are being sold by his family for 200,000. Air Commodore Peter Malam Brothers destroyed 16 enemy aircraft during the Second World War

Air Commodore Brothers flew up to four sorties a day in his Hurricane to repel enemy bomber and fighter planes from attacking airfields in southern England.

On one occasion he found himself heavily outnumbered by Messerschmitt 109s but still broke away to shoot down a Dornier 215 bomber.

After lunch he went up again and destroyed a Junkers 88 bomber.

In 1942, Air Commodore Brothers flew four sorties in support of the disastrous Dieppe raid in northern France.

During the ill-fated invasion, several RAF fighter planes were shot down by friendly fire from Royal Navy ships.

It was thanks to Air Commodore Brothers' observations at Dieppe that 'friendly' stripes were later painted underneath Allied aircraft so the same mistake could not be repeated for D-Day.

Air Commodore Brothers was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross twice, the Distinguished Service Order and the CBE for her bravery, skill and service to the RAF. The medals include Peter's CBE (top) and(from left to right) the Distinguished Service Order, Distinguished Flying Cross with Second Award Bar, 1939-1945 Star with Battle of Britain clasp, Air Crew Europe Star with France and Germany Clasp, Defence Medal, War Medal and General Service Medal

On D-Day, on June 6, 1944, when Allied troops invaded Nazi-occupied France, the air ace was there to support ground troops the Allied armada and flew low over the beaches to protect soldiers.

He and his squadron spotted a German anti-aircraft armoured train heading for the coast and led a low-level attack to put it out of action.

He noted in his logbook the words 'Operation Overlord' and wrote: 'Last night, this morning, Britain + Allied forces set foot on Hitler's "European Fortress".

'Landings all according to plan with only light opposition + few casualties.

'Out of 1,100 British + American a/c (aircraft) only 23 were lost. 4,000 ships taking part + 11,000 aircraft.

'Air opposition nil. Bridgehead firmly established + troops pressing on behind Caen. Good show.'

His family now feel it is the right time to sell on his medals and five log books and have made them available for sale at Dominic Winter Auctions of Cirencester, Gloucestershire.

His family now feel it is the right time to sell on his medals and five log books (number two pictured) and have made them available for sale at Dominic Winter Auctions of Cirencester, Gloucestershire

On D-Day, on June 6, 1944, when Allied troops invaded Nazi-occupied France, the air ace was there to support ground troops the Allied armada and flew low over the beaches to protect soldiers. He noted in his logbook the words 'Operation Overlord' and wrote: 'Last night, this morning, Britain + Allied forces set foot on Hitler's "European Fortress"'

Henry Meadows, medals specialist at the saleroom, said: 'Air Commodore Brothers was one of finest pilots the RAF has ever seen.

'He flew from the start of the war all the way through, downing 16 enemy aircraft and damaging others.

'The medals have come via the family and are hugely desirable for collectors, museums and institutions.

'Not only was Brothers a brilliant pilot, but during the most difficult time of the Battle of Britain he helped restore the confidence of the young, inexperienced airmen of 257 Squadron which had seen heavy losses.

'When he and his wingman jointly shot down a bomber he refused to claim the victory and insisted it was his inexperienced colleague who should be credited.

'Five logbooks including the one with his Battle of Britain victories are also in the lot - he marked his success against the enemy with swastikas.

Another page from one of Air Commodore Brothers' logbooks shows how he has stuck in newspaper cuttings about operations he was involved in

'There really will be huge interest in the sale that also includes his CBE which he was awarded in 1964.

'Without Pete Brothers and his fellow flyers who Churchill famously referred to as The Few, the outcome of the war would have been very different.'

Andy Saunders, a Battle of Britain historian, said: 'Peter Brothers was a remarkable man with an exceptionally distinguished RAF career.

The D-Day Normandy landings that turned the Second World War in the Allies' favour Operation Overlord saw some 156,000 Allied troops landing in Normandy on June , 1944. It is thought as many as 4,400 were killed in an operation Winston Churchill described as 'undoubtedly the most complicated and difficult that has ever taken place'. The assault was conducted in two phases: an airborne landing of 24,000 British, American, Canadian and Free French airborne troops shortly after midnight, and an amphibious landing of Allied infantry and armoured divisions on the coast of France commencing at 6.30am. The operation was the largest amphibious invasion in world history, with over 160,000 troops landing. Some 195,700 Allied naval and merchant navy personnel in over 5,000 ships were involved. Approximately 10,000 allies were injured or killed, including 6,603 American, of which 2,499 were fatal. Between 4,000 and 9,000 German troops were killed - and it proved the pivotal moment of the war, in the allied forces' favour. Advertisement

'I was privileged to know him and found him a modest and unassuming man - although he had every reason to be far from modest, given his stellar career from the Battle of France, Britain and beyond - right up to service in the Malayan campaign of the early 1950s.

'He was a gentleman through-and-through, the very epitome of a Battle of Britain pilot.'

Air Commodore Brothers was born in Prestwich, Greater Manchester in 1917. He learned to fly as a 16-year-old and joined the RAF in 1936 as a pilot in 32 Squadron.

He took part in the Battle of France, downing two Messerschmitt 109s in May 1940.

During the Battle of Britain that followed he flew Hurricanes from Biggin Hill, Kent.

He recalled later that the moment the war 'became personal' for him was when the mirror his wife Annette was applying make-up in was shattered by a splinter caused by a German bomb.

Despite the astonishing danger he faced in the air, he was also nearly killed as he slept when a line of enemy bombs landed yards from his bed.

He didn't even stir and was surprised when he woke in the morning to find craters and spent anti-aircraft shells all around.

By August 1940 he had achieved 'ace' status with eight kills and was awarded his first DFC.

The citation for it notes one of his hair-raising dog fights: 'This officer's flight encountered about one hundred enemy aircraft.

He led the flight in attack against them, but before this could be pressed home, he himself was attacked by a number of Messerschmitt 110s.

'Turning to meet them, he found himself in a stalled position; he spun out of it and immediately sighted and engaged a Dornier 215 which was shot down.. Later in the day he destroyed a Messerschmitt 109.'

He went on to serve in 457 Squadron as acting squadron leader and then 602 Squadron as wing leader

He received a bar for the medal in June 1943 for displaying 'outstanding keenness and efficiency' and in November 1944 was awarded the DSO for his 'courageous, outstanding and brilliant' leadership.

At the end of the war Brothers he had notched up 875 operational hours and took part in the first Battle of Britain flypast led by the legendary Douglas Bader

Although he left the RAF in 1947 he re-joined two years later.

In March 1950 his bomber squadron was the first to participate in the Malayan Emergency and he finally retired from the RAF in 1973 and set up a consultancy.

He remained an active supporter of the Battle of Britain Memorial Trust and died in 2008, three years after his wife with whom he had two daughters.

He lived in the village of Eastbury, near Newbury, Berkshire, before his death.

A replica of his 32 Squadron Hurricane stands outside Fighter Command's former HQ at Bentley Priory, north London.

His medals and log books will be sold on May 20.
Frankfort, KY (40601)

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Cloudy skies with periods of rain late. Low 62F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch..

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Cloudy skies with periods of rain late. Low 62F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch.
Something's brewing at a local business, and it isn't beer.

Amid a trademark lawsuit, San Antonio's newest brewery Brew Monkey Beer Co. is changing its name to Second Pitch Beer Company, according to an Instagram post from the establishment. Brew Monkey, which is owned by Jim Hansen, opened not that long ago in August on the Northeast Side at 11935 Starcrest Drive.

Shortly after opening, Dripping Springs brewer Suds Monkey Brewing Co. sued Brew Monkey on Sept. 11 for trademark infringement. Suds alleged the name is "confusingly similar" to their name, according to a San Antonio Express-News report from Patrick Danner.

READ ALSO: Pat O'Brien's opens upstairS space for first time since start of pandemic for St. Patrick's Day

Last month, Brew Monkey announced its name change, giving the story behind Second Pitch Beer Company. However, towards the end of its lengthy post the brewery wrote, "long story short, another company felt our name was too similar to theirs and we don't have enough money to legally argue about it."

According to the post, the name Second Pitch comes from the brewing process of pitching yeast. Once a beer is completed, you can use the same yeast to make something completely new and different, the company noted.

"The name is our way of honoring where we started, in many different ways, while we keep moving forward, holding true to our roots," the post stated. "... We are excited to close this chapter but remain dedicated to what our original name reflected - that beer should be fun."

Brew Monkey plans to host a re-launch party on March 27 to celebrate the new name. More details will be announced on its social media.

Priscilla Aguirre is a general assignment reporter for MySA.com | priscilla.aguirre@express-news.net | @CillaAguirre
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Search of Mayfield Home Leads to Meth Arrest

By West Kentucky Star Staff

MAYFIELD - A Mayfield woman was arrested last week on methamphetamine charges after police searched a home on West Oak Street.Detectives with the Mayfield Police Department along with the Kentucky State Police's Drug Enforcement Special Investigations Branch executed a narcotics search warrant Thursday at a home in the 300 block of West Oak Street in Mayfield. During the search, police reportedly found one and a half pounds of meth along with drug paraphernalia.Thirty-eight-year-old Christy Burton was arrested on charges of trafficking in meth and possession of drug paraphernalia. She was lodged in the Graves County Jail.
Funds investing in brown or polluting companies would be hit far harder than environmentally friendly green funds in a climate-related market shock, the European Unions securities watchdog said on Wednesday in its first study of its kind.

Brown funds spread investments over a large number of the same companies, while green funds herd less, with each one investing in a different selection of companies, the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) said.

Related: Swiss Re Announces Net-Zero Climate Targets in Underwriting, Investments AXA, Other Mega-Investors Seek to Avoid Portfolios with Global Warming Potential

This suggests greater concentration risks existing across funds whose portfolios contain more polluting assets, ESMA said.

ESMA published what it described as a first attempt to assess vulnerabilities to climate-related financial risks using data from 23,965 EU-based funds worth 10.7 trillion euros ($12.7 trillion).

Within the European financial sector, investment funds are more exposed to climate-sensitive economic sectors than banks, insurers and pension funds. However, few investment fund climate-related financial risk assessments have been conducted, ESMA said in its latest summary of market risks.

A preliminary climate risk scenario exercise showed that most brown funds losses ranged from 8% to 19% of affected assets, while losses in green funds ranged from 3% to 7%, ESMA said.

Brown funds also contributed more to total system-wide losses because they are more interconnected.

This also relates to discussions around Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) ratings for investment funds, and the need for greater fund transparency on exposure to climate-sensitive sectors, ESMA said.

It looked at the growing use by investors of unregulated raters of company ESG scores as over 2.5 trillion euros in institutional assets globally track inconsistent ESG ratings.

ESMA, which has called for ESG raters to be regulated in the EU, said the absence of a common definition for ratings leads to diverging performance, and investor and issuer confusion and misunderstandings.

These issues are ultimately detrimental to investor confidence and to the transition towards a more sustainable financial system, ESMA said.

($1 = 0.8396 euros)

(Reporting by Huw Jones. Editing by Mark Potter and David Evans)

Topics Europe
New Delhi, Mar 17 (PTI) The Embassy of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam here has signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with three Indian institutions for the establishment of Ambassadors scholarship program for students of Vietnam to study undergraduate and postgraduate courses.

The three institutions are Integral University (Lucknow), Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (Bhubaneshwar) and Rishihood University (Sonepat).

'Our objective is to stimulate and facilitate the development of collaborative and mutually beneficial programs which serve to enhance the intellectual life and cultural development of both countries, and to contribute to increased international cooperation between India and Vietnam, said Ambassador of Socialist Republic of Vietnam to India, Pham Sanh Chau.

According to the MOUs, Vietnam nationals can apply for 2021 Ambassador's undergraduate, masters and PhD Scholarship tenable in India for four courses commencing in September or October 2021.

Vietnamese students are not required to pay any application fee. Each scholarship provides approved tuition fees as well as accommodation and meal costs on campus. While Integral University will provide 6 scholarships to Vietnamese students under the Ambassadors Scholarship programme every year, KIIT will provide 55 scholarships and Rishiwood will provide 10 scholarships.

Syed Nadeem Akhtar, Pro-Chancellor, Integral University, Lucknow said 'We feel privileged to offer merit scholarships to Vietnamese students, who have a distinct reputation for being laborious, hardworking and disciplined and look forward to further promoting Indo-Vietnamese relations and making them stronger through education.' Bandita Sahoo, Assistant Director General International Relations KIIT University, said, 'We also offer different scholarships to students which we elaborately mentioned in the MoU. We would like to express our gratitude to the Vietnam embassy for this opportunity and look forward to various collaborations with the embassy and other academic institutions of Vietnam in the coming future as well.' 'We have students from more than 50 different countries and we would like to have students from Vietnam to experience the exposure be it academic, research or cultural,' Sahoo said.

Sahil Agarwal CEO, Rishiwood University said 'We aim to promote appropriate joint research projects and joint courses of study, with particular emphasis on internationally funded projects and conduct joint cultural projects and study tours. PTI GJS AAR AAR
The inventions submitted through Invention Convention show that these students are ready to rise to the challenges we are currently facing and provide the solutions we as adults, might not always see

The Henry Fords Invention Convention Worldwide is pleased to welcome Raytheon Technologies as the title sponsor of Invention Convention U.S. Nationals. The sixth annual event will be titled as Raytheon Technologies Invention Convention U.S. Nationals powered by The Henry Ford. Raytheon Technologies has been a partner and presenting sponsor of Invention Convention U.S. Nationals since 2016. Held virtually, this years competition is anticipating more than 400 participants showcasing their inventions that solve problems they see in their every day lives and issues facing our world. An online awards ceremony hosted on the Invention Convention Worldwide and the social channels of The Henry Ford will take place on June 24, 2021.

The inventions submitted through Invention Convention show that these students are ready to rise to the challenges we are currently facing and provide the solutions we as adults, might not always see, said Patricia Mooradian, president and CEO of The Henry Ford. Theyre not only the innovators of tomorrow, but the innovators of today. We look forward to celebrating all of their hard work and thank our partners at Raytheon Technologies for assisting us in providing the mentorship needed to take these inventors to the next level.

The team building skills and hands-on experience gained through Invention Convention competition are invaluable to all students, said Pam Erickson, Raytheon Technologies chief communications officer and head of corporate social responsibility. Fostering an innovative spirit and career aspiration will lead to a work-ready, diverse talent pipeline for the jobs of the future.

Invention Convention Worldwide is a global K-12 invention education curricular program mapped to national and state educational standards that teaches students problem-identification, problem-solving, entrepreneurship, and creativity skills. The program builds confidence in invention, innovation, and entrepreneurship for life. More than 120,000 K-12 inventors from across the country participate in Invention Convention Worldwide programs each year, with the hopes of advancing to the U.S. national competition.

Students compete at local and regional levels before advancing to the U.S. national competition. Students without access to local competitions are welcome to participate by submitting a video presentation of their invention, a prototype, an inventors logbook showing the journey of their invention process, and a poster board highlighting key points of the invention process.

The mission of Invention Convention Worldwide is to bring Invention Education to students everywhere. Organizations interested in bringing the year-long program to their region can get more information at inventionconvention.org/contact.

About The Henry Ford

Located in Dearborn, Michigan, The Henry Ford is a globally-recognized destination that fosters inspiration and learning from hands-on encounters with artifacts representing the most comprehensive collection anywhere focusing on innovation, ingenuity, and resourcefulness. Its unique venues include Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation, Greenfield Village, Ford Rouge Factory Tour, Benson Ford Research Center, the Giant Screen Experience and Henry Ford Academy, a public charter high school. The Henry Ford inspires individuals to unlock their potential and help shape a better future through a variety of channels including its online presence thehenryford.org, its Emmy-winning national television series, The Henry Fords Innovation Nation, and The Henry Fords Invention Convention Worldwide, a global K-12 invention education curricular program that teaches students problem-solving, entrepreneurship, and creativity skills. With the support of a growing community of affiliates and supporters, The Henry Ford is the home of Raytheon Technologies Invention Convention U.S. Nationals, Invention Convention Globals and Invention Convention Michigan.

About Raytheon Technologies

Raytheon Technologies Corporation is an aerospace and defense company that provides advanced systems and services for commercial, military and government customers worldwide. With four industry-leading businesses  Collins Aerospace Systems, Pratt & Whitney, Raytheon Intelligence & Space and Raytheon Missiles & Defense  the company delivers solutions that push the boundaries in avionics, cybersecurity, directed energy, electric propulsion, hypersonics, and quantum physics. The company, formed in 2020 through the combination of Raytheon Company and the United Technologies Corporation aerospace businesses, is headquartered in Waltham, Massachusetts.

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Mumbai Police Commissioner Param



Bir Singh met Chief Minister against the backdrop of the arrest of city police officer Sachin Waze by the over its probe into the recovery of an explosives-laden SUV near industrialist Mukesh Ambani's house.

Singh met Thackeray at the latter's official residence 'Varsha' here on Tuesday night, sources said.

Waze, arrested by the Investigation Agency (NIA) on March 13, was attached to the Crime Intelligence Unit (CIU) of city police's crime branch till recently.

The has so far recorded the statements of seven officials of the crime branch, including an assistant commissioner of police, in connection with the case related to the recovery of the vehicle with explosives near Ambani's house in Mumbai last month.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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BERLIN, March 17 (WNM) - The market power of major tech companies like Google, Apple or Facebook is a matter of concern for lawmakers in the EU, the USA and Russia. Now they want to try to prevent the formation of digital cartels. As Alexander Kulitz, spokesperson on foreign trade for the parliamentary party of the FDP (the pro-business Free Democrat Party) in the German federal parliament, explained to the World News Monitor, "Governments all over the world are now adopting measures on this issue, ...

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
Sharon Osbourne's show "The Talk" is on hiatus. Entertainment Tonight YouTube

Sharon Osbourne has denied allegations of racism from her former "Talk" cohost Leah Remini.

Remini said Osbourne would call her former cohost Julie Chen "wonton" and "slanty eyes."

Osbourne said in an interview with ET: "Don't accuse me of something that's a lie."

Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

Sharon Osbourne has denied allegations of racism from her former "Talk" cohost Leah Remini, who said Osbourne used racial and homophobic slurs against other former cohosts.

Remini told the journalist Yashar Ali that Osbourne would call Julie Chen, who is of Chinese descent, "wonton" and "slanty eyes."

Ali's report also cited multiple sources as saying another cohost, Sara Gilbert (who is a lesbian), was often called a "pussy licker" and "fish eater" by Osbourne.

In a sit-down interview with "ET," Osbourne denied all allegations of racism and homophobia.

"People who are let go along the way get pissed off," she said. "I'm the big girl with the big mouth, so they fire it at me."

She added: "But I'm not a fool - don't accuse me of something that's a lie."

This comes three days after Osbourne denied allegations of racism from her former cohost Holly Robinson Peete, who tweeted that Osbourne got her fired from the CBS show for being "too ghetto."

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Osbourne responded to Peete on Twitter. "In response to Holly Robinson Peete's accusation of me getting her fired from 'The Talk,' I am sharing an email sent to me from Holly one month after she was let go by CBS," Osbourne wrote.

"As I have stated before, I have never had the ability/authority to get anyone fired from 'The Talk.'"

In the same interview with "ET," Osbourne also spoke about the anger she felt in the original episode of "The Talk" that led to this drama. In the episode, Osbourne broke down in tears in defense of Piers Morgan after her cohosts criticized Morgan for his reaction to the Meghan Markle and Prince Harry interview with Oprah.

Story continues

Osbourne on "The Talk." Monty Brinton / CBS via Getty Images

Osbourne told "ET" that the hosts of "The Talk" had made a pact last year to never ask one another questions that the others hadn't prepared for.

Osbourne said that she was caught unaware by the question, however, and that executives had told Sheryl Underwood and Elaine Welteroth to ask Osbourne questions around Morgan that she wasn't prepared for.

Osbourne said she felt set up by the show: "I'm like, 'I've been set up.' And I went like, 'How dare you all do this to me?' I'm your sacrificial lamb.

"I was so angry, I cannot begin to tell you. Not with Sheryl, not with Elaine, not with anybody. But a company that I've worked at for 11 years."

Osbourne said CBS might have been annoyed with her for defending Morgan, as Markle and Harry's interview was aired by CBS.

"It's the cancel culture, isn't it? Throw her under the bus," Osbourne said.

Osbourne previously made similar comments in an interview with Variety in which she said she felt "blindsided" by the questions in the episode, and blamed the executives of CBS for the incident. Osbourne said: "I was just so hurt, caught off guard and stunned by what I was being asked and not prepared."

"The Talk," which usually airs Monday through Friday, is on hiatus following Osbourne's debate with Underwood. This started Monday and was meant to last two days, but the hiatus has now been extended as a result of these allegations. The show is rumored to return next Tuesday.

CBS is also conducting an internal investigation into the show following that episode, which Page Six reported was triggered by a complaint from Welteroth and her hairstylist. The two reportedly filed complaints about a "racially insensitive and hostile environment" on the set of the show.

Read the original article on Insider
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Brattleboro, VT (05301)

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Rain showers this evening with overcast skies overnight. Low 54F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 70%..

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Rain showers this evening with overcast skies overnight. Low 54F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 70%.
SBI PO Recruitment 2021: The State Bank of India (SBI) has declared the final results of the Probationary Officer (PO) recruitment examinations.

Candidates who had cleared the written test and appeared for the interview round can check the results on the official website of the bank on sbi.co.in.

The bank has posted the list of selected candidates on their website on Tuesday (March 16). The list contains the roll numbers of the selected candidates as Probationary Officers.

Direct Link to check SBI PO Recruitment Results 2021:

Click here to check the list of selected candidates in SBI PO Recruitment exams 2021.

Steps to Download SBI PO Recruitment Results 2021:

Step 1: Visit the official website of SBi on sbi.co.in

Step 2: Go the Careers section

Step 3: Click on the Final Result link under RECRUITMENT OF PROBATIONARY OFFICERS (Advertisement No. CRPD/ PO/ 2020-21/ 12).

Step 4: The list of selected candidates will be displayed on the screen in PDF format

Step 5: Check if your Roll Number is present in the list

Alternatively, you can click on the Direct Link mentioned above.

SBI PO preliminary exams were conducted on January 6, 2021, and the mains were held on January 29, 2021.

The results of the mains were declared on February 17. The interviews of the shortlisted candidates were held in March.

The final merit list has been prepared on the basis of marks obtained by the candidates in the written exams and interview.

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DETROIT, March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute invites health care professionals, including trainees and students, as well as community members to participate in the second installment of its Health Equity Book Club. This quarter's conversation will focus on "Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents" by Isabel Wilkerson. The virtual discussion will take place on March 25, 2021, 4-5:30 p.m. via Zoom.

Participants can register at www.karmanos.org/bookclub.

Created by Michael Simon, M.D., MPH, co-leader of the Breast Cancer Multidisciplinary Team, the purpose of the Health Equity Book Club is to enhance awareness of systematic racism, inequality and misinformation within the medical community. This is achieved through research and reading, followed by honest and transparent conversations about difficult topics.

"To deliver outstanding and equitable medical care to every patient we serve, as well as their caregivers and family members, we must provide support and empowerment within and beyond the scope of the practice of medicine," said Dr. Simon. "This requires us to understand the experiences and history of people from a wide range of cultural and social backgrounds. By reading and discussing books that shed light on disparities and inequities, we can open doors to an honest dialogue that may lead to meaningful and positive enhancement of the doctor-patient relationship."

Panelists:

Special Guest M. Roy Wilson , M.D.

President of Wayne State University

, M.D. President of Michael Simon , M.D., MPH

Moderator, Co-Leader, Breast Cancer Multidisciplinary Team; Medical Director, Cancer Genetic Counseling Service at Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute; Professor of Oncology at Wayne State University School of Medicine

, M.D., MPH Moderator, Co-Leader, Breast Cancer Multidisciplinary Team; Medical Director, Cancer Genetic Counseling Service at Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute; Professor of Oncology at School of Medicine Louis A. Penner , Ph.D.

Professor Emeritus of Oncology, Karmanos Cancer Institute and Wayne State University

, Ph.D. Professor Emeritus of Oncology, Karmanos Cancer Institute and Mindy Kim

Third Year Medical Student, Wayne State University School of Medicine

Third Year Medical Student, School of Medicine Anitta Orr

Connor Creek Cancer Action Council Member

Connor Creek Cancer Action Council Member Denise Henderson , M.Ed., BSN, RN, OCN

Oncology Nurse and Patient and Community Educator, Karmanos Cancer Institute

About the Book

In "Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents," Isabel Wilkerson provides a portrait of an unseen phenomenon in America as she explores how a rigid hierarchy of human rankings has shaped America today and throughout its history. The book is a #1 New York Time Bestseller, Oprah's Book Club Pick and National Book Award Longlist selection. Read more about the book from the publisher at penguinrandomhouse.com.

"For our first Health Equity Book Club discussion, we read "Medical Apartheid" by Margaret Washington, which provided a solid foundation for our understanding of health inequity in the U.S. Now, 'Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents' will build on that foundation by providing explicit examples of how the 'caste system' in the US is built into all fabrics of daily life. This book also widens the scope of the discussion by incorporating the experience of other exploited groups, including Dalit in India and Jews in Germany before and during WWII," said Dr. Simon.

About the Karmanos Cancer Institute Health Equity Book Club

The Karmanos Cancer Institute Health Equity Book Club's mission is to build awareness across the Karmanos Community and amongst health care professionals of issues related to and stemming from systematic racism in the health care system and society in the United States. By revealing the contributing factors and results of racism, we seek to highlight an important goal for us as a cancer institute: to expose and better understand the impact of racism on our practice of medicine. We believe that open dialogue within our community of colleagues, patients and families will help to facilitate Karmanos Cancer Institute's goal of equal access and provision of culturally competent, quality care to all patients and their families regardless of race, ethnicity, gender or sexual orientation.

ABOUT THE BARBARA ANN KARMANOS CANCER INSTITUTE

Karmanos Cancer Institute is a leader in transformative cancer care, research and education through courage, commitment and compassion. Our vision is a world free of cancer. As part of McLaren Health Care, Karmanos is the largest provider of cancer care and research in the state of Michigan. For more than 75 years, our administrative and research headquarters, along with our premier specialty cancer hospital, have been located in downtown Detroit. Our 15 network sites throughout the state deliver market-leading cancer care and clinical trials conveniently to the communities where many of our patients live. Karmanos is recognized by the National Cancer Institute as one of the best cancer centers in the nation. Our academic partnership with the Wayne State University School of Medicine provides the framework for cancer research and education  defining new standards of care and improving survivorship. For more information, call 1-800-KARMANOS (800-527-6266) or visit www.karmanos.org. Follow Karmanos on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.

SOURCE Karmanos Cancer Institute

Related Links

www.karmanos.org


Chelsea Curry of Rushville  70 miles north of Carrollton  is a second-generation bird-watcher, so she knew she was seeing something special last year when a handsome lemon-yellow songbird made his first appearance at her bird feeders.

Thats a cardinal, said her husband, Richard.

No its not. Theres no such thing as a yellow cardinal, Chelsea replied. And yet, there was no denying the birds jaunty head feathers and his distinctive jet-black markings.

Im tellin you, Richard said. Thats a cardinal.

As it turns out, a one-in-a-million yellow cardinal had decided to make himself at home at the Currys bird feeders in rural Rushville. Yellow cardinals have been spotted in Alabama, Arkansas, Ohio and Florida in recent years. And now, according to Auburn University biological sciences professor Geoffrey Hill, who reviewed photos of the Currys cardinal, Illinois has a yellow cardinal of its own.

That is a legit yellow cardinal, Hill declared.

Of the 12 million (mostly fiery or red-tinged) cardinals in North America, there are about 12 yellow cardinals, according to Hill, who said the eye-popping coloration is due to a genetic mutation that prevents the birds from converting yellow pigment in their food into red pigment for their feathers. The pigment stays yellow, and so do the cardinals.

All of the yellow cardinals sighted to date are male, with the more intense coloration of their sex, Hill said. Female cardinals are light brown with red highlights.

The genetic mutation that produces yellow cardinals isnt new, but interest exploded in 2018, when a professional photographer snapped photos of a bird in Alabama. The striking photos helped the bird, dubbed Mr. Yellow, become international news.

Hill, who was in Australia at the time, recalls being bombarded with yellow cardinal questions by college students  in a country with no cardinals, yellow or otherwise.

All of a sudden, the yellow cardinal was the talk of the world, he said.

The Rushville cardinal first appeared among the browns and grays of February 2020, shortly before the COVID-19 pandemic closed schools and workplaces throughout Illinois. After that, the bird became a regular guest at the Currys backyard bird feeders, visiting daily, for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

At some point, he started showing up with a mate, a female cardinal with the usual light brown coloration marked with red highlights. And in spring, the cardinal couple started bringing a young bird with them that was brown with a touch of red.

Female cardinals are attracted to bright-red males, so its interesting that the Rushville cardinal attracted a mate and may have reproduced, Hill said.

But other factors also come into play when cardinals mate, such as a males ability to hold a territory, which could trump plumage. Yellow coloration could theoretically be passed on to offspring, but in practice, no one has documented that, Hill said.

The Rushville cardinals visits to the Currys bird feeders continued until August, and then stopped, according to Chelsea, 37, a school paraprofessional.

Is he gone forever? she wondered.

But when the weather got cold, the yellow cardinal returned.

Chelseas 14-year-old son and 20-year-old daughter would roll their eyes as their mom ran for her camera, eager to take yet another photo of their unusual feathered guest. But for Chelsea, the thrill never got old.

In the early days, the cardinal would initially flee as soon as he heard the back door start to open, she said. But now she can step outside and stand maybe 20 yards away from the bird feeders. Sometimes she feels as if hes watching her while she snaps photos, or even posing.

When it was noted that the one-in-a-million cardinal has the right to preen a bit, Chelsea agreed.

I wish I could tell him how special he is, she said.
Yesterday we saw the debut of the iQOO Neo5, but it will only hold the title The latest iQOO smartphone for a very short time. A new device, supposedly called iQOO Z3 has been teased by the company and it made an appearance on the Google Play Console.



vivo iQOO Z poster

The listing at Google Play Console says the new phone with model number vivo V2073A will have 6 GB RAM and a Qualcomm SM7250 chipset. This is the codename for Snapdragon 765G, but is also shared with the overclocked and newer platform Snapdragon 768G.

The iQOO Z3 will also run Android 11 out of the box, likely with OriginOS on top, and will come with Full HD+ resolution.

vivo iQOO Z3 on Google Play Console

The phone has already been certified at 3C with a 55W fast charger, which would be a 25% increase over the predecessor iQOO Z1 that had 44W fast-charging for its 4,500 mAh battery. A launch date for the iQOO Z3 is not announced, but we expect the phone to arrive in the next few weeks.

Via 1  Via 2
Federal Department of Foreign Affairs

Bern, 17.03.2021 - Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis received Foreign Minister of North Macedonia Bujar Osmani on a courtesy visit to Bern on 17 March 2021. Mr Osmani was in Switzerland for a meeting with representatives of his countrys diaspora. The exchange focused on bilateral relations and Switzerland's significant involvement in North Macedonia.

Switzerland and the Republic of North Macedonia maintain good bilateral relations with a focus on international cooperation. The talks in Bern between Mr Cassis and his counterpart Mr Osmani focused not only on the government of North Macedonias progressive reform plans but also on the country's prospects in the EU accession process, and its future chairmanship of the OSCE.



New cooperation programme

Switzerland will continue to support North Macedonia in its implementation of reforms in the areas of governance and economic development within the framework of a new cooperation programme of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO). The cooperation programme for North Macedonia 202124 is in line with the current objectives of Swiss foreign policy and the International Cooperation Strategy 202124 derived from it. The programme will be presented shortly and will include a continuation of previous priorities in the areas of democratic governance, sustainable economic development and environmental protection. In addition, Switzerland will focus on digitalisation and cooperation with the private sector in the region.





Switzerland's engagement in the Western Balkans

Stability and economic development in the Western Balkans are of great importance to Switzerland. About 500,000 people with roots in the region live in Switzerland.

Address for enquiries

FDFA Communication

Federal Palace West Wing

CH-3003 Bern, Switzerland

Tel. Communication service: +41 58 462 31 53

Tel. Press service: +41 58 460 55 55

E-mail: kommunikation@eda.admin.ch

Twitter: @SwissMFA

Publisher

Federal Department of Foreign Affairs

https://www.eda.admin.ch/eda/en/home.html




other got the j&j

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Got my first shot this morning!

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Newsom hasn't handled the pandemic perfectly and he's not my ideal governor. But the recall effort is clearly driven purely by disgruntled Republicans. It's obnoxious.



Also, apparently Biden is now supporting filibuster reform. So we might not get rid of it, but if we can reform it to force the people wanting to block legislation to actually have to hold the floor... idk. We might get some stuff done?

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Newsom hasn't handled the pandemic perfectly and he's not my ideal governor. But the recall effort is clearly driven purely by disgruntled Republicans. It's obnoxious.



THIS. Criticism of Newsom is definitely warranted (ex. him flipping the vaccine rollout was especially shitty for the disabled community and only got fixed upon massive outrage that I happily contributed to), but the recall effort is so clearly being done in bad faith by people mad that we even had a lockdown to begin with that any criticism of him at this point is seen as being on the side of Trumpsters.

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California Republicans try to recall every Democratic governor it seems.

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Now would be a good time for Feinstein to retire. Also wtf is Stephen Breyer waiting for.

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I'd bet good money on him retiring at the end of the session in June as they usually do.

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I'm wondering if he's waiting until the end of the June sessions?

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I read through the section on the post about who'd Newsom replace Feinstein with if she retired early and got excited and went off to Google -- only for her to say yesterday she has no plans to retire. Everyone else in this thread seems to think June? I hope you or someone else here is right!

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Its annoying how many restaurants around here host recall newsom signature gathering cause they want to open fully. I feel bad for their employees

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i agree.



i've seen some arguments that he's fucked up the EDD, because I read that no one on unemployment has gotten paid in almost three months, some even longer. but that's not on him, that's on the new person in charge of the EDD lol.

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I'm Canadian, so at this rate I expect to get my vaccine in, hmm, September?

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Rofl ikr. Here they said they'd open it up to everyone by June but they're slow af so far.

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Same, and in MB where it is like the slowest rollout ever.sigh

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Australian and Ill be lucky to get it by the end of the year.

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you all dont even need the vaccine that badly.



not to say you dont deserve it...



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That's the fault of the US basically; they don't allow any export of vaccines even if it doesn't yet have approval in the US.

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I don't know where in Canada you are, but it's looking like BC and Alberta will have vaccines available for everyone by late June or early July. So some good news!

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ikr... and yet people are back to coming into our store and everything and Im like Okay but... what exactly changed...?

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On March 29, Ohio is letting anyone over 16 sign up. Don't know when I'll get through the waiting list, but I'm signing up immediately.

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Michigan is doing the same thing. Some of our hospitals and places are letting people already sign up for when appointments become available. My workplace is actually having a clinic next week so I should be able to get my first dose then.

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I got my first shot a week and a half ago. Yesterday I developed a massive rash on my arm. Doctor Google told me it happens to 1% of the people who get the Moderna shot so lucky me. Its already gone and didnt itch, but thanks a lot Dolly!!!

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Ohh, that explains why they were telling me what to do about itch. Got my first shot today. I've had a lot of vaccinations and didn't know itching was a side effect of anything.

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".... In a lot of ways, Im very innocent, like the fact that Im still a virgin. I still love playing football. I still love swimming. I love camp. Im still a kid in a lot of ways. But I also dont feel 16. . . .Im half 16 and half an old soul."



https://web.archive.org/web/20210302144049/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-05-06-ca-31957-story.html







Edited at 2021-03-17 01:55 am (UTC) Charlie Sheen sleeping with Soleil at 18 was so wrong :X Especially looking back at this:".... In a lot of ways, Im very innocent, like the fact that Im still a virgin. I still love playing football. I still love swimming. I love camp. Im still a kid in a lot of ways. But I also dont feel 16. . . .Im half 16 and half an old soul."

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I am so confused. Both me and the person I watched it with thought she was accusing him of being the guy who raped her. I guess we read it completely wrong. The way she went from talking about the assault immediately into Charlie seemed to imply it was him, but I guess not. It still doesnt make him look great but I really thought she had called him out and now I need to rewatch it.

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the doc framed it like it was some rando (possibly a famous person, idk, they obviously disguised the voice) who raped her first, but then charlie was the first guy she was for real with.

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She totally brushed it off like it was nbd.



Though the entire doc was kinda navel gazing overall. It never went in depth about any heavy topics. Like she experienced being sexualized at a young age, Hollywood child actor, drug addiction, friends dying left and right bc xyz, rape, toxic relationships, etc. and she never sat and discussed why it was an issue or the lasting effects it had on her.



It was a cool doc but pretty empty



Edited at 2021-03-17 03:02 am (UTC)

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Has Chris Cuomo berated his brother about being a predator the same way hes berated his brother about being their mothers favorite?

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That would imply hes a real journalist interested in doing journalism

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Lol, you know off camera they have locker room talk.

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getting my first shot Thursday!



the one time i'm happy to be what the BMI calls "obese". (i respectfully disagree but i'll take it for now lol)

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Same, I was going to wait because I didn't want to admit that was the reason I was eligible but then I thought fuck it, might as well use it to my advantage for once. I went for my first shot today and they didn't even ask.

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i live in TN and very few people who are eligible are actually getting the vaccine (ugh) so i doubt they'll ask too :\

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I got mine based on BMI as well. Louisiana added an 'overweight' category last week BMI 25-29. BMI is total BS imo but it worked for me this time lol.

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lol saaaaaame.



I think the way BMI is used is generally bullshit. But if I can exploit it to qualify for the vaccine? I'll take it.

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Lmao I have a friend on Facebook who says the same thing. "Go on a diet they said - who's laughing now?"

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lol I went to the doc for an annual checkup and I have a BMI of 30 so she wrote me a note and I got an appointment. I feel somewhat guilty because I don't think I'm high risk really but I do technically qualify. IDK comorbidities in NYC have had a month now to get vaccinated, and 65+ only can get vaccinated at pharmacies so I don't think I'm stealing a spot, and if I qualify what's the point in waiting. I am a bit embarrassed though because I've gained a lot of weight this year and if anyone asks I may say that I lied or that I have asthma (which I do want to get tested for anyway) but honestly, who cares.

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I can related to Soleil Moon Frye regarding and how having big breasts as a young girl can be so hard to deal with, I hated it and I think it really impacted lifelong feelings I have for my body and clothing.



I got my first shot of Moderna, next shot is the 2nd. I would have given me whatever they had.



Did we see about the shooting in Atlanta? It is so scary and infuriating.

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I can related to Soleil Moon Frye regarding and how having big breasts as a young girl can be so hard to deal with, I hated it and I think it really impacted lifelong feelings I have for my body and clothing.



Same. Boys in grade school would say really disgusting things to me so when I when to high school I used to wear men shirts so I didn't feel like people were staring at my chest all the time.



I still have some hang ups about my breasts since they are still large and I'm in my 30s.

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Yeah, I used to always wear clothes way to big mostly to hide my chest. I had a reduction in my early 20s but even ten years later I still have a lot of issues with not buying too big clothes.

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Just by looking at the suspect in the shooting its wouldnt been a surprise that it was a hate crime.

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stupid fucking pube-goatee racist. he looks like he smells like old tobacco and dried shart. put him in a cage and let him take over for animals in testing facilities.

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same tbh. ill probably forever have complicated feelings on my body and boobs and clothing.

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I just saw it. Those poor women. This is so awful.



It made me think of the Charleston Church shooting (and Idk if they are similar) but the shock /horror. :(



With the rise is hate vrimes against Asian people and this happens. Just terrifying and upsetting



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I had massive breasts at 10. And I was already a year young.



I very likely became fat so I could avoid the comments and constant hitting on I experienced from 10-14.

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Mom got her first shot last week, and I just scored an appointment for my first on Friday! My husband is a baby and won't get a shot, and he was also raised by rabid conspiracy theorists who are currently on FB ranting about nanobots. Me & mom will be fine, don't know what I'm supposed to do about the husband. He's otherwise lovely but I wish I could trade the inlaws in for better.



Texas is still technically on category 1B. Most of the lists wouldn't even let me sign up because of my age, but the one that let me in came through. My county is super Q Trumpers so I guess that's what's causing all the available appointments.



Edited at 2021-03-17 02:33 am (UTC)

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I still don't get why Meghan is allowed to contribute anything of value especially since she's a literal propaganda machine for her dead war criminal dad.



That image of all of them laughing Brady bunch style while she's making a pissy face brings me joy and delight

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Im not eligible yet but my parents keep getting intel on leftover shots that are open to all age groups and Ive been really wrestling with the morals of it. I read one ethicists take that as long as youre not lying to get the shot, a shot is a shot. But I think Id still feel bad?



My parents are both vaccinated, thank goodness

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I felt horrible when I got mine even though I was eligible, I feel like I'm stealing it from someone more deserving but I remind myself that a shot in the arm is a move in the right direction.



Edited at 2021-03-17 02:23 am (UTC)

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If they're leftover, the other option is that it goes to waste. Unfortunately there's no accurate, practical way to make sure everyone who needs it more is done first, so you're better off not delaying just for the sake of it.



Plus, the more people who are vaccinated the better/safer it is for everyone, so it's not even purely selfish even though it can feel that way.

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there are ways to dish out the leftovers to those that are eligible instead of to whoever is available.

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I got a left over shot and to me it's either it's going to get tossed out or go to someone who wants it so I have no hard feelings about taking it.

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you could be like my friend who is a nanny for a ENT, and helped her jump line to get the vaccine so she can go to disney on sunday after getting married on saturday with a crowd in attendance.



once things settle down from her wedding, i'm breaking off our friendship and giving her a list of bulletpoints as to why we won't work out anymore. and no, i won't be at the wedding.

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I got a leftover one! Its us or someone else who isnt eligible either. Theyre leftovers and scrambling to get them into arms according to my pharmacist friend. I didnt feel bad at all

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I keep seeing ppl mention this, and my opinion is that if you are validly being offered the vaccine for whatever reason, theres no reason to feel bad about it. The actual downer is that the vaccine needs to be prioritized in the first place

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the way i see it, there's supposed to be enough shots for everyone. there's people out there spouting anti-vax nonsense and misinformation and not getting the shot. if i have to step over them to get the shot, it's no skin off my back. as long as you're getting yours through the proper channels left over or not, you are in the clear and shouldn't feel bad about it. the quicker people are vaccinated the better overall!

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do not feel bad, they're leftover! they'd go to waste otherwise. everyone who can get a shot should, it makes everyone safer.

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Two points. The rollout has been a mess from the start, with people "qualifying" for the vaccine even though they don't really in the spirit of the guidelines or any logical sense (i.e. remote workers in the healthcare industry, rich people, cops, people from outside their localities). Secondly, obsessing this much over perceived "fairness" is a waste of time and resources when it comes to overall public health. Get a shot if you can and get it over with.



Obviously, don't be an asshole and take one from a native reservation or nursing home if you don't live or work at those places, but nobody's going to care if you go to a suburban Walgreens or popup city clinic.

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I feel the same way but my local bartender said something that has changed my mind. She said, Id rather a shot go to someone ineligible than to see a shot thrown out. I have to agree on that front.

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the faster people get shots the better. so many states are holding on to their vaccines to make sure ppl are qualified which is good but at the same time it's going to prolong us getting to herd immunity

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Just think that youre not just protecting yourself if you get vaccinated, youre protecting everyone you come in contact with, everyone you work with, your family, etc. And not just now, for the next several months at least. Youre helping to keep community spread down. And if theres leftover shots, theres always the possibility that theyll just go to waste anyway. So just do it

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If you can get a leftover shot, do it.

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I have no idea when I will get my shot and bit worried that we only have AZ one here since I had a small blood clot last year

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Got my first dose of Moderna today! My arm's pretty sore, but no other side effects apart from that.

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wait for that 2nd shot.



its a doozy

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South Africa: SANParks welcomes successful prosecution of rhino poachers

The South African National Parks (SANParks) on Wednesday commended the National Prosecuting Authority in Mpumalanga on the successful prosecution of two long-standing rhino poaching trials in the Mhala Regional Court.

In February 2021, three accused persons who were arrested in August 2018 were sentenced after a long trial by the Mhala Regional Court.

They were all found guilty of rhino poaching related charges, including the possession of two sets of rhino horns, a high caliber hunting rifle, ammunition and trespassing in a national park with the intention of committing crime and the illegal hunting of an endangered animal.

Accused number one, Peter Mathebula was given an effective sentence of 23 years behind bars while the two co-accused, Mustard Mathebula and Artur Valoyi, were sentenced to an effective four years in jail.

The three were arrested by SANParks Rangers in the Houtboschrand section of the Kruger National Park (KNP) after reacting to shots that were fired.

On 15 March 2021, the court concluded yet another long running rhino poaching case dating back to 2016.

Two accused persons Bennet Martin Lubisi and Bennet Johannes Bendane were sentenced to an effective eight years behind bars for poaching related charges.

They were found guilty of trespassing in a national park, possession of an unlicensed fire arm, ammunition with the intention to commit a crime. They were arrested before they could kill an animal.

The Managing Executive of the KNP, Gareth Coleman, praised those who made the initial arrests, the investigative and prosecuting teams.

Although it has taken some time, we are proud of the work done by the rangers, the investigating and prosecuting teams under very difficult circumstances.

Successes of this nature show the importance of co-operation between the various state agencies to help combat the assault on the rhino population in the Kruger National Park.

We hope that the many outstanding cases can be concluded as soon as possible so as to act as a clear deterrent to those involved, Coleman said.  SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2021-03-17. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Heres what else you need to know.

Why is Israel holding so many elections?

The simplest explanation is that since 2019, neither Mr. Netanyahu nor his opponents have been able to win enough seats in Parliament to form a coalition government with a stable majority. That has left Mr. Netanyahu in office, either as a caretaker prime minister or at the helm of a fragile coalition with some of his fiercest rivals, though not wholly in power. And that has forced the country to vote again and again in an attempt to break the deadlock.

Underlying this drama, analysts say, is one of Mr. Netanyahus motivations for seeking re-election  his hunch that he can best fight his prosecution from the prime ministers office. They say he is ready to take the country to election after election  until he wins a stronger parliamentary majority that could grant him immunity from prosecution.

I dont know any serious thinker who says Israel is going to another round of elections for reasons other than Netanyahus personal interests, said Gayil Talshir, a professor of political science at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

Supporters of Mr. Netanyahu, however, reject the notion that his personal interests have pushed Israel from election to election. They contend that his critics simply resent that Mr. Netanyahu is a fierce and savvy competitor, and they blame Benny Gantz, his rival and centrist coalition partner, for making the coalition untenable.
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A private school in Manhattan is encouraging its students to stop using the terms mom, dad, and parents because the words make assumptions about kids home lives. Instead, children are encouraged to use the terms grown-ups, folks, family, or guardians as substitutes.

In its push for gender inclusion, the school wants its students to substitute people for boys and girls. Rather than lining up as boys and girls, they are to line up alphabetically or by types of shoes. If someone says, a boy cant marry a boy, they are encouraged to respond by saying, People can love and commit to whomever they please, its their choice who they marry. Instead of wishing each other Merry Christmas! or even Happy Holidays!, they are to say, Have a great break!

When I saw the story, I assumed it was about another highly secularized school at war with Judeo-Christian morality. Multiple examples of such conflicts are in the news these days. For instance, a curriculum being considered in California seeks to displace Christian culture and recommends that teachers instead lead students in a series of songs and chants to the Aztec gods (whom the Aztecs traditionally worshiped with cannibalism and human sacrifice, by the way).

It turns out, the school in Manhattan is Grace Church School. A school official explained their language policy: As part of our Episcopal identity, we recognize the dignity and worth common to humanity.

Why we must be spiritual fruit inspectors

There are two kinds of threats in our fallen world: those we can identify and those we cannot.

Examples of the former abound: a New York bill that could force schools to teach sex education to kindergartners and gender identity to second graders; the escalation of forced marriages and physical violence against Christian women around the world; and the Biden administrations push for taxpayer-funded abortions, for instance. Like an Eiffel Tower-sized asteroid that missed our planet on March 5 but will return in eight years, we can see these threats coming.

Other threats are not obvious until they are dangerous, like a meteor that caused Earth-shaking booms over Vermont on March 7. Such threats are especially insidious because, by the time we know we are in a conflict, it can be too late to respond.

This is true medically of cancer, heart disease, and other ailments. It is true geopolitically with rising threats from China and elsewhere. And it is true spiritually as well.

In fact, I fear threats from within the body of Christ far more than those from without.

Jesus warned us to beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheeps clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves (Matthew 7:15). How are we to identify them? He told us, You will recognize them by their fruits (v. 16). Ultimately, our Lord assured us, Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire (v. 19).

In the meantime, it is vital that we be fruit inspectors of those who claim to serve and represent our Lord.

The Bible is an anvil

Grace Church School is an example of this challenge. I wholeheartedly agree that we should recognize the dignity and worth common to humanity. Every human is created in the image of our Creator (Genesis 1:27), someone for whom Jesus died (Romans 5:8) and therefore a person of sacred worth.

However, we do not recognize the dignity and worth common to humanity by violating Gods word and will for humanity. Scripture not only tells us that we are loved by God (John 3:16)it also tells us how to live our best lives and how to relate to others in truthful, redemptive ways. When we alter or reject biblical revelation on sexuality or any other issue, however kind our motive might seem, we do far more harm than good.

The Bible has been likened to an anvilwe do not break Gods word; we break ourselves on it.

This threat of internal compromise in the body of Christ is growing exponentially today. As I have written previously, for the first time we are facing widespread claims that religious freedom is being used by evangelicals to harm others and thus should be disallowed. We are being caricatured as homophobic, bigoted, and dangerous. We are seen as the majority oppressing the minority. If we stand for biblical truth, increasingly we will stand alone.

Such pressure is especially difficult for those whose institutional futures are in question. Religious schools who affirm biblical morality could risk the loss of Title VI federal assistance for their students, inclusion in the NCAA and other organizations, and even their tax-exempt status. Trustee boards composed primarily of businesspeople will be sorely tempted to concede their moral codes rather than risk their institutions financial health. Similar risks await religious hospitals, adoption agencies, churches, and other ministries.

What Christians should do

How should followers of Christ respond to the cancel culture phenomenon?

One: See persecution as a call to courageous perseverance.

David said to the Lord, Consider how many are my foes, and with what violent hatred they hate me (Psalm 25:19). This was the experience of someone the Lord described as a man after my heart (Acts 13:22). If he faced violent hatred, we should expect the same. And we should pray for Gods protection as we continue to share Gods word.

Here was the secret to Davids courage: I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken (Psalm 16:8). Lets do the same.

Two: Seek the reward of God before the acclaim of the culture.

It is often possible to serve both Christ and Caesar (cf. Matthew 22:21). Joseph was able to serve the Egyptian pharaoh and his Jewish family. Nehemiah was cupbearer to the Persian king and governor of Jerusalem. Esther was queen in Persia as well as her peoples protector.

But when we must choose, we must choose Christ over Caesar.

Peter and John said to the Sanhedrins demand that the apostles cease preaching: Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard (Acts 4:1920). Daniel continued praying to God in defiance of the kings edict (Daniel 6:10). Jeremiah risked his life to speak prophetic truth to the king (cf. Jeremiah 38:1423).

It is a paradoxical fact that the less we seek the acclaim of people, the more faithfully we can minister to them. Henri Nouwen noted: We can really be in the world, involved in the world, and actively engaged in the world precisely because we do not belong to it, precisely because that is not where our dwelling place is. Precisely because our home is in God, we can be in the world and speak words of healing, of confrontation, of invitation, and of challenge.

Three: Choose to engage the culture with truth and grace.

Jesus words are emblazoned on libraries and universities across the land: You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free (John 8:32). But context is vital.

In the previous verse, our Lord said to the Jews who had believed in him, If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples' (v. 31). Only on this condition would they know the truth and be set free by it.

Here we learn this vital fact: humans find true freedom only in obedience to the word of God.

As a result, when we speak truth to culture, we are giving others a gift they desperately need but can find nowhere else. Counter to the postmodern claim that all truth is personal and subjective, which makes evangelism and ministry an imposition of our beliefs on others, we are sharing good news that is vital and transforming.

An oncologist is not intolerant when she tells her patient that he needs lifesaving surgery. An attorney is not intolerant when he advises his client that she needs to plead guilty to avoid an even harsher sentence.

It is urgent that we continue to speak biblical truth to cultural issues. But it is also urgent that we speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15). In fact, such kindness is especially important as our response to the unkindness of others.

Jesus told his followers, You have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also' (Matthew 5:3839). In Jesus day, the left hand was never used in public. As a result, if I were to slap you on the right cheek with my right hand, I must employ a backhanded motion. This is obviously a shaming action rather than a life-threatening attack.

Jesus words depict physically what cancel culture through social media attempts to do verbally. According to our Lord, we must not respond in kind.

Scripture is clear: we are to put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander (1 Peter 2:1). Instead, we are to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people (Titus 3:2).

With our words and attitudes, we are to reflect the truth and grace of our Lord.

Conclusion

Paul encouraged Timothy to fight the good fight of the faith (1 Timothy 6:12).

We do this by our personal character: Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness (v. 11). To pursue (the Greek word means to run hard after) these virtues in our fallen culture is indeed a fight.

And we do it by our public words: Devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching (1 Timothy 4:13).

Im convinced that if Paul were alive today, he would be using social media to spread the good news of Gods love and the truth of his word. And he would face criticism and worse.

Cardinal Newman was right: Nothing would be done at all, if a man waited till he could do it so well, that no one could find fault with it. Those who oppose biblical truth may try to cancel those who proclaim it, but we know how the story ends. As my college professor said, we can summarize the book of Revelation in two words: We win.

In the meantime, lets be faithful to speak biblical truth with biblical grace. Lets remember that those who reject this truth need it the most. And lets choose the courage that honors Jesus and demonstrates the relevance and power of our faith to our fallen world.

Albert Schweitzer testified, Truth has no special time of its own. Its hour is nowalways.

Do you agree?

Originally published at the Denison Forum
President Joe Biden kicked off his Help is Here tour on Tuesday with a visit to a small business in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, outside of Philadelphia. Biden and other leading figures in his administration are touring the country to promote the recent passage of the $1.9 trillion American Recovery Act.

The Biden administration has paid a significant amount of attention to the impact of the pandemic on small businesses. It estimates that approximately 400,000 small businesses have closed, with millions more struggling to survive. Bidens relief package includes a $28 billion grant program to support restaurants and drinking establishments, in addition to $15 billion in flexible grants that can be allocated.

Biden is advancing a racialist narrative as a key part of the promotion of his American Rescue Plan. He is particularly focusing on minority business owners. On Tuesday, he visited Smith Flooring Inc. in Chester, Pennsylvania, a black-owned business that supplies and installs flooring.

President Joe Biden speaks with owners Kristin Smith and James Smith as he visits Smith Flooring in Chester, Pa., Tuesday, March 16, 2021. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

In essentially restating Richard Nixons program of black capitalism, Biden is seeking to consolidate support within affluent sections of the African-American population and other minority groups.

The Philadelphia Inquirer reported that Biden spoke briefly, mostly promoting his administrations vaccine program. As part of his pledge to administer 100 million vaccinations within this first 100 days, Biden said he was working to distribute vaccines to pharmacies, community centers and schools in order to better reach minority communities.

People hardest hit are in minority communities, Biden said. The rate at which they get COVID is higher, death rate is higher.

Biden told Smith Flooring owners Kristin and James Smith that more help is on the way. He added that small businesses would see more relief than was available in the first relief package enacted last spring.

Tuesday marked the beginning of a travel blitz across the country. First Lady Jill Biden visited an elementary school in Burlington County, New Jersey on Monday, while Vice President Kamala Harris and her husband were in Nevada. President Biden and Harris will travel to Atlanta, Georgia later this week.

The Democratic Party and allied media outlets have promoted the American Recovery Act as one of the most progressive pieces of legislation in US history, with comparisons to social reform programs such as the New Deal and the Great Society. Senator Bernie Sanders applauded the bill for allegedly cutting child poverty in half. Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer said it was the biggest package of relief since the New Deal.

Congressional Republicans, for their part, are absurdly denouncing the package as socialist.

All such claims are grotesquely inflated and false. Michael Gerson, former chief speechwriter and senior policy advisor to President George W. Bush, criticized the rhetorical hyperbole in an opinion piece (Bidens plan is far from a new New Deal) published Tuesday by the Washington Post .

Gerson acknowledged the substantial size of the $1.9 trillion stimulus package, which equals about nine percent of the US gross domestic product, but rightfully called comparisons between the measure and the New Deal or Great Society strained to the point of silliness.

Roosevelt and Lyndon B. Johnson established new federal roles in retirement security and health care, which were fulfilled by vast new federal bureaucracies, Gerson wrote. Biden is mainly adding more money to existing programs and mediating institutions. For the most part, he is dramatically increasing the funding pressure in existing pipes. This does nothing to change the fundamental relationship between the citizen and the state.

Gerson hastened to add, For me, this is not a criticism. He went on to state: The American Rescue Plan reduces economic inequalitybut not in such a way that it punishes the wealthy. According to the Tax Policy Center, the legislation will boost after-tax income in the lowest quintile by about 20 percent. Those in the top quintile will see their after-tax income rise by 0.7 percent. This is a pretty anemic socialist revolution. He concluded by praising the package for achieving liberal goals by market-oriented methods.

In fact, Bidens relief package does not establish a single social reform. All of its provisions are temporary, ending by 2022. While they provide welcome cash in the immediate term to families reeling from the economic impact of the pandemic, they are designed to prevent a collapse in consumer spending until Bidens back-to-school and back-to-work drive, combined with expanded vaccination of the population, can bring about a revival of economic growth. The cash supplements will go largely to pay back rent and accumulated consumer debt, and then disappear.

With his cash handouts to sections of the working class and middle class, Biden and the forces on Wall Street for which he speaks hope to avert a social explosion amid mounting working class anger over being forced to work under unsafe conditions and worsening social inequality, while carrying forward the brutal ruling class policy of reopening the economy and boosting corporate profits, regardless the cost in human lives.

Hence the accompanying endorsement of the unionization drive at Amazon, aimed at further integrating the unions into the state and using them to suppress working class opposition, combined with the promotion of racial politics to sow divisions within the working class.

The New Deal included a series of major public works projects, such as the Tennessee Valley Authority, which brought electric power to large parts of the country and created thousands of jobs. It included the Social Security Act, which provided a permanent and universal retirement benefit as a social entitlement. Johnsons Great Society program, through limited and cut short by the Vietnam War, established Medicare and Medicaid, providing basic health insurance to the elderly and the poor.

Roosevelts liberal reforms were not freely given, but wrung from the ruling elite through mass struggles of the working class. Roosevelt represented a faction of the ruling class that understood concessions were necessary to preserve the capitalist system, which was widely discredited as the Great Depression devastated workers. The threat of socialist revolution compelled the ruling class to adopt reformist policies.

Similarly, Johnsons Great Society was implemented amidst social upheavals during the 1960s, including the Civil Rights and anti-war movements, the urban rebellions and a massive strike movement for higher wages, which threatened to develop out of the control of the ruling class. Johnsons War on Poverty ended almost as quickly as it began. It turned out to be not the start of a new period of social reform, but the last gasp of the period of reform that began with the New Deal. By the end of the 1960s, the Democratic Party had largely abandoned its efforts to secure the support of the working class and moved sharply to the right.

The Biden plan assiduously avoids any infringement on the wealth of the financial oligarchy, whether through increased taxes or other means, including the hundreds of billions in new wealth it has amassed in the course of the pandemic.
NEW YORK, March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- JLL Capital Markets announced today that it has arranged a $393 million construction financing for the redevelopment of 125 West End Ave. into a world-class life sciences facility in the West Side cluster of Manhattan.

photo credit: Viewpoint Studios

JLL worked on behalf of the borrower, a partnership controlled by Taconic Partners and Nuveen Real Estate, to secure a four-year, floating-rate senior loan through funds managed by Apollo Global Management, Inc. and a mezzanine loan through Oaktree Capital Finance. The same JLL team also arranged $181 million in acquisition and bridge financing for 125 West End and the surrounding campus in Fall 2019.

The 125 West End Ave. project involves the conversion of an existing 399,309-square-foot office building into a state-of-the-art, purpose-built research and laboratory complex. The existing building's floor plates are ideal for a life science conversion ranging from 37,000 to 53,000 square feet and featuring 15'9" heights, industrial grade floor loads, direct loading access on multiple floors and gated shipping and receiving points.

The project benefits from immediate proximity to the West Side life sciences cluster and access to both public transportation and commercial thruways. The location on West 66th St. provides direct access to the Central Park 65th St. traverse. 125 West End Ave. is also a short walk from Lincoln Square and the 1, 2 and 3 subway lines as well as close proximity to the West Side Highway, providing access to the entire Tri-State area.

According to JLL's recent 2020 Life Sciences Outlook, New York boasts industry-leading demand drivers on par with major U.S. life sciences markets such as Boston, San Francisco and San Diego, including a highly skilled talent pool, proximity to Big Pharma, and world class academic institutes. New York City and New York State have also committed more than $1 billion to facilitate the growth of the life science industry and the city ranks second in NIH funding over the past five years, only behind Boston / Cambridge. Despite all of this, life science companies comprise only 1.1% of the total New York City office investment market as compared to 12% in San Francisco, 25% in San Diego and 32% in Boston.

The JLL Capital Markets team representing the borrower was led by Senior Managing Director Evan Pariser and Managing Director Geoff Goldstein.

"Taconic and Nuveen had a vision for an Upper West Side life science cluster years ago," noted Pariser. "It's been really exciting to witness this vision turn into reality as they successfully build out 125 West End Ave. and create a truly dynamic life science cluster in New York City that one day may rival the likes of Boston or San Diego."

"The transformation of 125 West End Ave. into a state-of-the-art life science hub and our financing of this project is a testament to the resilience of New York City and the promise of this emergent sector," said Taconic President and Chief Investment Officer Chris Balestra. "We are pleased to be working with our partners to realize this projectthe largest of its kind to move forward since COVID-19 impacted our great city."

JLL Capital Markets is a full-service global provider of capital solutions for real estate investors and occupiers. The firm's in-depth local market and global investor knowledge delivers the best-in-class solutions for clients  whether investment sales advisory, debt placement, equity placement or a recapitalization. The firm has more than 3,700 Capital Markets specialists worldwide with offices in nearly 50 countries.

For more news, videos and research resources on JLL, please visit our newsroom.

About Taconic Partners

Headquartered in New York, Taconic Partners has successfully developed and repositioned over 12 million square feet of office, mixed-use and retail space, and close to 6,500 units for-sale and rental multi-family housing, with a total transaction value of over $5 billion. To learn more, please visit: taconicpartners.com.

About Nuveen Real Estate

Nuveen Real Estate is one of the largest investment managers in the world with $133 billion of assets under management. Managing a suite of funds and mandates, across both public and private investments, and spanning both debt and equity across diverse geographies and investment styles, Nuveen provides access to every aspect of real estate investing.

With over 80 years of real estate investing experience and more than 600 employees* located across over 25 cities throughout the United States, Europe and Asia Pacific, the platform offers unparalleled geographic reach, which is married with deep sector expertise. For further information, please visit nuveen.com/realestate.

*Includes 300+ real estate investment professionals, supported by a further 300+ Nuveen employees. Source: Nuveen, 31 Dec 2020.

About JLL

JLL (NYSE: JLL) is a leading professional services firm that specializes in real estate and investment management. JLL shapes the future of real estate for a better world by using the most advanced technology to create rewarding opportunities, amazing spaces and sustainable real estate solutions for our clients, our people and our communities. JLL is a Fortune 500 company with annual revenue of $16.6 billion, operations in over 80 countries and a global workforce of more than 91,000 as of December 31, 2020. JLL is the brand name, and a registered trademark, of Jones Lang LaSalle Incorporated. For further information, visit jll.com.

Connect with us:

https://www.linkedin.com/company/jll

https://www.facebook.com/jll

https://twitter.com/jll

https://www.instagram.com/jll

Contact: Kristen Murphy, JLL Senior Manager, Public Relations

Phone: +1 617 848 1572

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE JLL
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 17)  As the country continues to grapple with rising COVID-19 cases, some private hospitals were forced to even reduce their manpower and other resources due to unsettled claims from Philippine Health Insurance Corporation.

Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines President Jose de Grano said in a briefing on Wednesday that the state health insurer failed to pay private hospitals at least 6 billion worth of reimbursements.

"Sinasabi po ng PhilHealth every time that they have the money to pay us. We're asking na for the reimbursement of our claims, medyo hindi po dumadarating," De Grano said on Wednesday.

[Translation: PhilHealth always tells us every time that they have the money to pay us. Now we're asking for the reimbursement of our claims, we have not received them yet.]

"Malaki pong problema iyan sa downsizing," he added. "The private hospitals, 'yun lang po ang kayang i-manage nila, kahit sabihihin ng DOH na 'you are mandated to make use of 20% of your bed capacity to COVID beds' but if our nurses can only manage 10 beds paano po iyon?"

[Translation: It's a big problem on downsizing. The private hospitals can only manage what they can, but if the DOH tells them 'you are mandated to make use of 20% of your bed capacity to COVID beds,' but if our nurses can only manage 10 beds, how could that be?]

"Marami pong members na umaangal na. Supposedly hindi ma-release ang pera, bakit di ma-release? Kaya nag downsize na, dati 150 beds to 95 beds just to minimize the expenses."

[Translation: A lot of our members are complaining. Supposedly they can't release their money, why can't they? That's why they were forced to downsize, from 150 beds to 95 beds just to minimize the expenses.]

In a statement sent to CNN Philippines, PhilHealth Spokesperson Rey Balena said their records show the state insurer received a total of 2.9 million claims amounting to around 28.3 billion from PHAPi members in 2020. Of this, 87% or 24.9 billion were already paid, 8% or 2.4 billion were denied or returned to hospitals due to deficiencies, and 5% or 1.07 billion are still being processed.

"Recognizing the importance of timely reimbursements to the continuous operations of hospitals especially at this time of the pandemic, PhilHealth remains committed to paying its accredited providers within the prescribed Turn-Around Time, he said, noting that current national average turn-around time is 39 days that is way faster than the 60 days prescribed by law.

Balena added that their regional offices are continuously coordinating with healthcare providers to help them comply and avoid having their claims denied.

The Health Department warned last week about the rising number of COVID-19 patients being admitted to hospitals, with some facilities reporting a doubling and even tripling of cases.

The country logged 4,437 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, with 57,736 active cases or patients who are currently ill. Total COVID-19 cases are now at 631,320.

CNN Philippines' Tristan Nodalo contributed to this report.
One year later, Laredo has finally started to see the light of the end of the tunnel as it comes to the coronavirus pandemic.

March 16 marked the first confirmed case of the novel coronavirus, and since that fateful day, Laredoans have experienced a year that could never have been imagined. Schools, parks and nonessential businesses were shuttered, and friends and families were forced to socially distance in respect to a deadly virus whose effects were not truly known at the time.

While much more is known about its spread and vaccines have begun to make their way into the arms of Laredoans, the physical and psychological effects of the virus and the resulting pandemic will be felt for many months, maybe years, into the future.

811 lives have been lost to COVID-19, with 42,980 people testing positive in total as of Tuesday.

Yet, life seems to be on its way back to normalcy. Active cases and hospitalizations are at a low after two strong surges of the virus shook Laredo. Statewide restrictions barring capacity at businesses and requiring masks in public have been stricken down.

And while fears persist of possible variants of the virus and the effect of the loosened restrictions, Laredo has certainly come a long way from March 2020. While the pandemic will not truly end until each and every Laredoan is vaccinated, perhaps for the first time since the pandemic's arrival, Laredoans can feel hope.

In light of the one year observance of the first case of COVID-19 in the Laredo area, LMT has decided to take a look back at the year in COVID-19.

Continue scrolling to see a timeline of events of the COVID-19 pandemic in Laredo.




By Nicola Harrington, Deputy Director, OECD Development Centre



Partnerships were central from the adoption of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in 2000. Public, private and civil society entities forged ties, leading to some outstanding results. This was notable in health, where path-breaking co-operation across governments, companies and foundations improved millions of lives through medicines and vaccines. Given this track record, why do the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 15 years later require revitalising global partnerships? What was missing the first time, and what should be different now?





First off, the definition of partnership has evolved, and so has what we expect partnerships to accomplish. Partnerships in the MDG-era were defined essentially by the north giving the south aid, debt relief and trade access. We called on the private sector to provide medicines and information and communications technology to people in developing countries. The SDGs, on the other hand, call for partnerships forged on mutual terms and on a more equal footing. This difference may result, in part, from the shift in the global economys centre of gravity from developed to developing countries. The change also reflects todays agenda. In virtually no area  from poverty to climate, to peace and security and even social protection  can we see our futures as independent of one another. Domestic and international policy agendas are fast becoming fused, as the current migration challenges dramatically demonstrate. Both the proverbial woman in the street and policy makers express the need for collective responses in this era of interdependence.



Second, what partnerships can bring to this collective agenda is shifting. MDG Goal 8 invested in partnerships for aid, trade and technology; SDG Goal 17 invests in knowledge-centred partnerships. The SDGs require a knowledge base that goes far beyond sharing what is already known, towards co-creating new knowledge to stimulate greater shared understanding. Knowledge becomes a catalyst for broadening collaboration and building much-needed trust among stakeholders. So, co-ordinating multiple stakeholders to mobilise, process, develop and share knowledge will help countries, in turn, apply that knowledge to their own experiences and their own policy choices to drive their own development priorities.



When the Government of Cote dIvoire, for example, asked the OECD Development Centre for support in designing its 2015-20 national development plan, it benchmarked options against the Centres geographically diverse members. This meant looking at not only other African countries but also Brazil, Colombia, Indonesia and Korea. In both their similarities and differences, each country offered Cote dIvoire a mirror for self-assessment. Data shed light on particular areas where the country lags compared with its peers, generated greater awareness of the bottlenecks to development and precipitated reflection on the policies needed to unlock opportunities. While each country is different, by comparing itself with others, the Ivorian government is able to consider a range of policy options to make better-informed choices on the priorities in its national plan and to accelerate its development.



Consider also how industry and governments look to others to deploy country branding to improve their chances of succeeding in global value chains. Not surprisingly, governments often look to Italy, a country widely associated with design and fashion. The Made in Italy brand has been a key component of Italian companies international success. Less obviously, governments are also looking to Peru. Alpaca del Peru provided a powerful case of how close cooperation among government, industry and communities boosted sales of high-end fashion, taking alpaca fibre from the Andean mountains into the international luxury fashion markets while simultaneously creating jobs and improving the livelihoods of local farmers.



The static concept of exchanging best practices is moving towards a two-way process of mutual learning. Such a dynamic process builds new evidence on what can work and how. It also stimulates the horizontal co-operation across sectors and actors that is key to achieving the SDGs.



Take the value of encouraging undergraduates to study science, technology, engineering and math in todays knowledge economy. These fields can deepen a countrys ability to increase productivity and competitiveness in global and regional markets. China, for instance, currently has 31 million tertiary students in school, with over half studying these subjects. Panama turned to Uruguay, a country relatively well-advanced in science and innovation, to examine its experiences in this domain. While further ahead in several areas, Uruguay took home and applied valuable lessons from Panamas success in conveying to its people the importance of science for the countrys wellbeing, development and access to markets. Messages reached remote communities through internet points, a trained cadre of scientific journalists feeding the media, and science clubs and digital colleges that made studying science cool.



Take also the value of data as a powerful tool to compare and learn from experiences. The MDGs taught us that what is measured matters, and that lesson is part and parcel of the SDGs as well. We see this in how data on gender is being applied. Progress in reaching gender equality goals proved slower and more uneven than anticipated under the MDGs. While the number of female members of parliaments has doubled since 2000, gender equality is not a reality in all countries. The OECD Development Centres Social Institutions and Gender Index (SIGI) gets to the root causes of persisting inequalities by measuring social norms in 160 countries. SIGI is a powerful data tool for shining the spotlight on issues such as who can own land, who can open a bank account or have a say in household decisions. In a number of OECD countries, many social institutions continue to discriminate against women despite laws guaranteeing equal rights. SIGIs data shows that no country has a perfect record on gender equality and reinforces the value of comparing those track records and making sustained investments in removing discrimination in laws, practices and attitudes.



While the success of the MDGs depended on money and political will, the success of the SDGs in todays world is more likely to depend on the ability of several partners to act collectively. Knowledge will help. Sharing knowledge will help more. Interactive settings that allow a range of partners to define common questions and come up with mutually acceptable solutions, to pool and co-create new knowledge and to shape and test innovative solutions should go a long way to redefine and revitalise global partnerships for development.

For comments please contact dev.contact@oecd.org This article should not be reported as representing the official views of the OECD, the OECD Development Centre or of their member countries. The opinions expressed and arguments employed are those of the author.

 OECD All rights reserved
The professor spotted his first one in 1998 and, after a decade of observing them, estimated that there were about 100 living in the area.

With a small grant for a teaching project, he bought a camera and telephoto lens, which led to a close encounter and a breakthrough discovery.

It was the mating season, he recalled. I ran to the road, and the male ran toward me to defend his females. It was very unusual.

When he examined the photos, he realized the gazelles differed from those in southeastern Turkey.

This one was light brown, with some parts white, and the horns were completely different, he said. He was sure he was looking at the mountain gazelle, but found little interest in his claims in academic circles, he said.

I sent the photographs around  professors just laughed, he said.

He drew on the help of Tolga Kankilic, a biologist, who gathered samples of dung, fur and skin from the remains of dead gazelles for genetic testing, and found that the DNA matched that of mountain gazelles.

The discovery presented Mr. Ergun with an altogether more important task: to help the gazelles survive. There were several threats to them  lack of water and habitat especially  but by far the greatest danger was illegal hunting. Hunting is allowed only under license in designated areas in Turkey, but illegal hunting is rife.
The northern elephant seals that overwinter on California beaches each year then go for a long swim, spending seven months migrating halfway to Japan and back to gorge on squid and fish.

By studying their movements, researchers at UC Santa Cruz have gained new insight into how the 1,000-pound marine mammals behave during their epic sea journey and the risky choices they make between feeding and resting to avoid becoming supersized prey themselves.

Theres no kelp forest, theres nothing for the seals to hide under or in. Theyre just exposed, Roxanne Beltran, assistant professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at UC Santa Cruz, said of the seals time spent in the open ocean. Darkness is the only thing that they have to hide in. They can use light strategically to make themselves more safe.

Beltran and fellow researchers attached satellite tags and time-depth recorders to 71 adult female northern elephant seals at Ano Nuevo State Reserve on the San Mateo coast before the animals made their annual 6,000-mile migration. In a study published Wednesday in Science Advances, they found that the animals behavior was riskier at the beginning of the journey, when they had gone months without food. They took fewer risks as they became fatter, which was measured by the seals buoyancy in the water.

Theyre strategically taking more risks when theyre at their skinniest and they need to make up for lost time, basically, Beltran said. And what that means is feeding during the night, when the prey are closer to the surface and feeding is more efficient, and the result of that is they have to rest during the day when theyre more vulnerable to predators.

Carlos Avila Gonzalez / The Chronicle

Though the researchers dont know that much about how the seals interact with predators in the open ocean, they believe their main predators are sharks and killer whales  on shore, many seals show signs of shark attacks. Because those predators are visual hunters, the seals are at their most vulnerable during daytime and close to the oceans surface, which is why they spend about 90% of their time during the entire seven-month migration underwater holding their breath.

The researchers found that the seals dive for an average 23 minutes at a time to fish or rest, only taking a breath at the surface for 2 minutes in between. They might dive down 1,300 feet to fish at night and about 2,000 feet during the daytime, while they typically rest at around 1,200 feet.

Carlos Avila Gonzalez / The Chronicle

Resting dives, when they fall on their backs and drift through the water like falling leaves, Beltran said, was the period that researchers could measure the animals fat levels by their rate of buoyancy. While skinnier animals tend to sink, fatter ones float upward.

The research found that while they are still skinny, the seals fish more at night and rest more during daylight hours, which is riskier because theyre more vulnerable to predators. But as they get fatter, they can prioritize resting at night for safety.

Carlos Avila Gonzalez / The Chronicle

The findings confirm long-held ideas among biologists that less stressed, fatter animals take fewer risks. But monitoring terrestrial animals fat levels in the wild isnt really possible, which is why having the ability to track the elephant seals buoyancy in the ocean is a breakthrough, Beltran said.

Beltran was joined by several collaborators, including Daniel Costa, director of UC Santa Cruzs Institute of Marine Sciences, which has studied elephant seals for decades.

Each year from December to March, female northern elephant seals head to the coasts of Baja California and California, including at Ano Nuevo and Point Reyes National Seashore, to give birth to their pups, nurse them for about six weeks and breed again. The cows then go on a short foraging trip that lasts about 70 days and return to shore to molt for about 90 days before embarking on their long migration.

Carlos Avila Gonzalez / The Chronicle

COVID Resources Coronavirus Map Tracking COVID-19 cases across the Bay Area and California.

Male elephant seals travel similar distances but stay closer to Washington and Alaska, where they likely feast on coastal fish species during the migration. But it takes female elephant seals two months just to get to their foraging grounds, where they gravitate especially toward small, very fatty deepwater lantern fish.

We think elephant seals have this sort of unique deep-diving, small-fish-eating niche out in the middle of the ocean, said Beltran.

By the time they reach their fishing grounds, the seals have dropped about 36% of their weight and are down to 20% body fat. Within 100 days of heavy feeding, they shoot back up to 35% body fat and reach around 1,000 pounds, Beltran said.

Carlos Avila Gonzalez / The Chronicle

Beltran describes the animals behavior during the migration as lightscapes of fear, a phrase she based on the scientific theory called the landscape of fear, which says that animal movement in the wild is dictated by the sense that predators are lurking everywhere. In the case of elephant seals, they lurk most in the sunlight or shallower waters.

We took that idea  risk in two-dimensional space  and extended it to include both three-dimensional space with depth in the ocean and also with time, she said. What we know is animals experience very different conditions based on not just time but space in three dimensions in the oceans. This idea captures all of that together, which is what excites me so much.

Tara Duggan is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: tduggan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @taraduggan
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-17 02:03:16|Editor: huaxia

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Turcks of a logistics company are seen in Farwaniya Governorate, Kuwait, March 13, 2021. (Photo by Asad/Xinhua)

KUWAIT CITY, March 16 (Xinhua) -- With a worrying increase in COVID-19 cases in Kuwait, there have been marked changes in the residents' habit as more of them now avoid going to public places and fill their needs by online shopping.

Modhi Al-Otaibi, a 46-year-old retiree from the Kuwaiti Ministry of Electricity, said she purchases her grocery from online sites, and all the needed items such as vegetables, fruits, bread, cheese and clothes are just a click away.

For Hamad Al-Enzi, a 35-year-old employee of a local bank, the hands-on visit to the old Al-Mubarakiya market for meat is no longer necessary, because his mobile phone serves him well in ordering meat directly from the supplier Al Mawashi company.

Currently, it comes as no surprise to see many delivery trucks loaded with goods travelling across Kuwait.

"This scene was imposed by the coronavirus outbreak and encouraged by companies which provided and developed their online services for customers, and competed through their offers," Khalid Al-Otaibi, vice-president of the Kuwait Union of Consumer Cooperative Societies, told Xinhua.

E-shopping saves time and effort and provides safety in such circumstances of COVID-19, Al-Otaibi said.

Research showed that the online grocery in Kuwait exceeded 500 million U.S. dollars in 2020, with expectations of a further jump to more than 700 million dollars by the end of 2021, an impressive fact for a country known for its commercial complexes which were almost always crowded before the coronavirus outbreak.

Tamadur Al-Saleh, who works for the Kuwaiti Ministry of Education as a teacher, told Xinhua that she was a shopaholic like most of the people in the country.

"Before the coronavirus, I would go to Avenues Mall (the largest shopping mall in Kuwait) at least twice a week, to keep up with the new trend and fashion and buy whatever suits me," she said.

However, her fear of getting infected led her to buy new collections online from the famous clothing stores that have activated their websites and social media accounts with discounts to attract more customers.

Nadine Aref, a 37-year-old Jordanian who works for a private company in Kuwait, told Xinhua that she has become more economical in spending money amid the instability of the labor market and the high risk of being laid off, and turned to a grocery app to buy vegetables and fruits.

"I spend about 10 Kuwaiti dinars (33 dollars) a week in buying vegetables and fruits through this app," Aref said.

"Their service is very good and fast, and it allows me to save time and avoid exposure to the risk of infection, in addition to a very competitive price," she added.

Maitham Al Shakhs, a Kuwaiti economic analyst, told Xinhua that consumer goods have played a major role in promoting e-commerce in Kuwait after coronavirus changed the people's purchase behavior and motivated them to buy online.

He expected the delivery applications and electronic website services to expand in the future to include other sectors such as maintenance services if the current anti-coronavirus precautionary measures continue.

Kuwait has imposed a partial curfew from 5 p.m. to 5 a.m., starting March 7 until April 8, as part of its efforts to curb the spread of COVID-19. Enditem
BALTIMORE  After days of increasing slightly, the number of people hospitalized with the coronavirus in Maryland as well as the states COVID-19 testing positivity rate held steady Wednesday.

Heres where the rest of the states pandemic-tracking statistics stood.

CASES

Maryland reported 917 new coronavirus cases, increasing the states case count to 395,633 since health officials began monitoring the disease more than a year ago.

DEATHS

Nineteen more Marylanders were reported dead from COVID-19 Wednesday, with the diseases casualty count rising to 7,915 people in the state.

HOSPITALIZATIONS

The number of people hospitalized because of the disease held steady Wednesday at 805. However, the proportion of those hospitalized who required intensive care grew compared to a day earlier. About 226 patients were in intensive care, 13 more than the day before.

Hospitalizations had ticked up slightly for four days consecutively before Wednesday, though the figures were still less than half the pandemic peak of 1,952 hospitalized with the disease on Jan. 13.

More than 36,400 people have been hospitalized because of COVID-19 in the state since last March.

VACCINES

Maryland health officials reported 46,737 vaccines were administered across the state Wednesday. About 31,576 received an initial immunization of the two-dose vaccines made by Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna and 14,415 received their second dose. Just 746 people received one of the single-dose immunizations made by Johnson & Johnson.

Vaccinators in the state have shot almost 2 million immunizations into arms. Approximately 725,210 people have been fully vaccinated, almost 12% of the states population, and almost 1.27 million have received their preliminary immunization, nearly 21% of the states 6 million residents.

An average of 43,487 vaccine doses have been administered daily in Maryland over the last week.

TESTING POSITIVITY

Like hospitalizations, the states average testing positivity rate did not change over the last 24 hours, staying at 3.96%. The indicator, which measures the number of COVID-19 tests returned positive over the last week, had increased for six days in a row before leveling.

The state reported 24,617 tests for the disease were completed over the last 24 hours, and approximately 8.36 million swabs conducted since testing began last year.
[March 17, 2021] Imperva Hires Akamai Vet Micheal McCollough as Global Vice President of Strategic Growth

SAN MATEO, Calif., March 17, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Imperva, Inc. (@Imperva), the cybersecurity leader whose mission is to protect data and all paths to it, welcomes Micheal McCollough as Global Vice President of Strategic Growth. In this role, he will be responsible for scaling the channel business, further developing and growing the Imperva Partner Ecosystem, and creating new partnerships.

Micheal is an exceptional leader who will accelerate our transformation to a channel-first company while delivering innovative solutions to our Partners to help address the challenges around securing the edge, applications and data, says Paul Loftus, Chief Revenue Officer, Imperva. His knowledge and global experience building programs that scale along with his service provider experience will enable all routes tomarket.



McCollough was previously at Akamai, where he was Global Vice President, Channels & Alliances. He led Indirect Sales and the Partner Program, and built the enablement framework and marketing strategy for their Partner ecosystem. Prior, he spent two years in APJ leading their Strategic Alliances and Channel Organization. Partners are the lifeblood of any channel-first strategy, and Ive been impressed with the commitment Imperva is making to be easy to work with, predictable and transparent, says Micheal McCollough, Global Vice President, Strategic Growth, Imperva. I look forward to working closely with the partner community globally and helping them grow their business with the robust security solutions that Imperva delivers.

McCollough brings more than two decades of experience to Imperva and has worked in four continents covering various markets. As the Managing Director of Dell Managed Services for APJ based in Singapore, he was responsible for growth and service delivery for the region. Prior to relocating to Asia, he was the Managing Director for Dell Managed Services EMEA based in Paris, with responsibility for the growth, profitability and customer satisfaction of Dells Strategic Outsourcing customers. Prior, he held senior leadership roles with Schlumberger as West Africa Regional Director and Managing Director based in Douala, Cameroon. He has a Global Executive M.B.A. from Duke University, and a Psychology and Sociology degree from The University of Houston. McCollough serves as a Member on the Minority Alumni Advisory Board of Duke Universitys Fuqua School of Business. He is also part of a leadership forum of 50 Global Channel Executives whose responsibility is to define global strategy and solutions impacting the Channel. About Imperva

Imperva is the cybersecurity leader whose mission is to protect data and all paths to it. Customers around the world trust Imperva to protect their applications, data and websites from cyber attacks. With an integrated approach combining edge, application security and data security, Imperva protects companies through all stages of their digital journey. Imperva Research Labs and our global intelligence community enable Imperva to stay ahead of the threat landscape and seamlessly integrate the latest security, privacy and compliance expertise into our solutions.

Press Contact Diana Wong diana.wong@imperva.com

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In spite of being a beloved companion to computer hobbyists the world over, the Raspberry Pi doesn't get enough credit. In fact, single-board computers of all stripes haven't gotten their due -- I just happen to have a Raspberry Pi. It was upon casting a stray glance into the corner of my room where my Pi is, churning away on the previous task I assigned it, that I pondered all the loftier projects I have in mind for it.

It will probably be a while before I tackle those grand designs. But the next best thing to following my dreams is to share them. The ideas here are charcoal sketches, not full illustrations, but they yield a rough picture.

I should also note that these projects all contain Linux in their blueprints (shocking, I know). As this is the preliminary stage, we can leave the exact distribution blank for now. You can safely trust, though, that any services we might need our Pi to run will fasten flush onto a Linux base.

You Can't Phone Home if You Don't Have the Number

Two of the three projects below will require server configuration -- and because servers are most useful when accessible on the wider Internet, this also entails some network tinkering. Specifically, whenever you want to reach your own private network from the outside, you will need to nail down the IP address and ports on the Internet-facing side.

First, figure out what your IP address is and whether it is dynamic or static on the wide area network (WAN). For our purposes, treat our WAN as the Internet. If your WAN IP is static, great. It will always be the same (as long as you pay your ISP on time), so you can start working on ports.

However, if your WAN IP is dynamic, meaning it changes periodically, there are additional steps. You will need to register a domain for it, and then get the global DNS infrastructure to honor that. Easy! In a nutshell, this involves registering a domain, like you would for a website, but setting it to your home's WAN IP address.

But if your WAN IP address constantly changes how does this solve anything?

With a special DNS entry called Dynamic DNS (DDNS), once you associate your router with your domain, it will automatically update itself as your router's WAN IP changes. This way, your domain will always point to whatever WAN IP is currently assigned to your router.

When you want to access your LAN from the Internet, instead of entering an IP address you would input your domain. DNS then resolves it to your WAN IP, and you're all set. Any further detail is beyond the scope of this article, but that's the gist.

No matter which IP adventure you chose, you then have to decide what ports to open on your router's WAN IP. If we liken IP addresses to postal addresses, think of ports as unit numbers. Basically, your Pi will sit on your network with its service opening up whichever of its own ports it needs, and your router will map that Pi port to one of the router's WAN-facing ports. If you hit the right port on your WAN IP (the router), your router will pass the traffic to your Pi, on its associated port, on the LAN. Appropriately enough, this is called "port mapping" or "port forwarding."

For example, imagine your router is 5.6.7.8 on the WAN. Let's say your router's LAN IP is 192.168.1.1 and your Pi's LAN IP is 192.168.1.37. If you wanted to SSH into your Pi from anywhere on the planet, you would set port 22 on 192.168.1.37 to be open as normal. Your router would then map port 22 on 192.168.1.37 to (for instance) port 2222 on its WAN IP, 5.6.7.8.

Again, there's a lot more to it, but that's essentially how network configuration for your Pi goes.

To the Drawing Board

With our prep work out of the way, let's cook up some Pi recipes.

1. VPN Server

At the top of my list of Pi experiments is creating a VPN server. Why pay for a cloud VPN when you can tunnel home for free? Most of us leave our best stuff, physical and digital, at home anyway. Once you punch into your home VPN, you can access media files, backups, or anything else squirreled on your LAN.

In this arrangement, your Pi is the VPN server, and the end-user devices you want to connect to it, e.g. laptops or mobile devices, are the clients. Your Pi resides on your LAN, with your router mapping the Pi VPN port to a port on its WAN IP. Dial your home's IP and port, present the required key, and you will open an encrypted line back to home base.

2. Transparent VPN Proxy

This project is unique because it doesn't provide a service (and so isn't a server), but it facilitates the use of an existing service. When converted to a transparent VPN proxy, your Pi becomes a portable security device that automatically confers VPN protection on your other devices.

To build your transparent proxy, first you will need to ensure that your Pi has two wireless interfaces. Pi models come with, at most, one wireless interface, so you'll have to pick up at least one USB-connected wireless device. Second, you'll need a VPN service. If your VPN was the server described above, I guess you'll need another Pi.

A transparent VPN proxy is designed to solve the problem of not trusting a network enough to connect your end-user devices directly to it, but still needing connectivity. In essence, the proxy device does so by interposing itself between the untrusted network and end-user device, and then routes the end-user device through your VPN of choice. This leaves the untrusted network carrying purely encrypted traffic.

To pull this off, you configure your Pi as an access point (AP) and as a VPN client. What is it an AP for? The suspect network. Its role as a VPN client works as you would expect, with its traffic encrypted to the VPN server.

The interesting stuff happens when your end-user device connects to the Pi AP. Because the Pi's traffic is the end-user device's traffic (as with typical APs), and the Pi's traffic is also encrypted, your end-user device traffic is transitively encrypted. But you get that encryption without altering any settings on the end-user device. Your laptop or mobile device just thinks it's on a normal network. Even better, at no point has it ever interacted with the sketchy network. Neat trick, huh?

3. File Storage Server

We're back to server mode here, so the networking prerequisites are back in force.

A Pi file storage server can stand in for cloud storage while offering added perks. The general concept is that, like with the VPN, it lives on your LAN with its file service port mapped to a port on your router's WAN IP. You then access the file server by punching in your home router's IP and port, plus the server username and password, into your network storage client program and you throw open your vault of stashed files.

The advantages of running your own networked file storage are substantial. For one thing, you can store way more data. Want more space? Attach a bigger hard drive. For another, you own the infrastructure. You're not entrusting your data to some company, but to your own hardware and open-source software -- and it costs much less. You really only sink one-time costs into the Pi and hard drive, and just pay for electricity.

On Your Mark, Get Set, Boot!

Those aren't even all the schemes I've concocted for my Pi, but they are the ones I'm most excited about and that I thought others might find most intriguing. You'll definitely know when I get around to these, since I'm certain to share my findings. Until then, I hope these give you raspberry-flavored food for thought.

Jonathan Terrasi has been an ECT News Network columnist since 2017. In addition to his work as a freelance writer, he is a full-time computer science educator and IT decision-maker. His main interests are information security, with a focus on Linux desktops, and the influence of technology trends on current events. His background also includes providing technical commentary and analysis for the Chicago Committee to Defend the Bill of Rights.


PENSACOLA, Florida  The assistant principal of an elementary school and her 17-year-old daughter are facing charges after they were accused of hacking student records in order to rig a homecoming queen election last fall.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement announced in a Facebook post that Laura Rose Carroll, 50, and her daughter, a senior at Tate High School, were arrested on multiple charges in connection with fraudulently accessing confidential student information.

The FDLE says it was contacted in November by the Escambia County School District when it discovered there had been unauthorized access into hundreds of student accounts. Investigators say they found that Carroll, an assistant principal at Bellview Elementary School, and her daughter had accessed student FOCUS accounts. Carroll reportedly had district-level access to the accounts.

According to the FDLE, hundreds of votes for the homecoming queen in October had been flagged as fraudulent. Investigators say 117 votes originated from the same IP address in a short amount of time.

Agents reportedly tracked unauthorized access to the students accounts to Carrolls cellphone and to computers in her residence. There were 246 votes for homecoming court from the devices. Investigators say Carrolls daughter told other students about using her mothers account to cast homecoming votes.

Since August 2019, Carrolls FOCUS account had accessed 372 high school records, with 339 of those of Tate High School students, according to the FDLE.

Carrolls daughter was crowned homecoming queen on Oct. 31, the Washington Post reports. According to arrest documents, the senior has been expelled from the high school. She was taken to a juvenile detention center after her arrest Monday, the FDLE says, but its unclear if shes still being held.

Carroll has been released from the Escambia County Jail on an $8,500 bond. She has been suspended from her job as assistant principal, CNN reports.
Prosecutor General: investigating authorities do not bring me materials on Medvedchuk

Prosecutor General Iryna Venediktova notes that there are a number of criminal proceedings in which MP from the Opposition Platform - For Life party Viktor Medvedchuk is involved, but she did not receive materials for signing a suspicion.

"To date, not a single body of pretrial investigation has provided materials [for Medvedchuk's suspicion]," Venediktova told reporters in Kyiv on Wednesday.

At the same time, she clarified that there are several criminal proceedings in which Medvedchuk appears, including factual ones.

"There are a lot of cases, which of them are promising  we shall see, we are working on it," the Prosecutor General said.
Japan and the United States jointly criticized Chinas coercion and aggression in Asia on Tuesday.

The statement came as senior officials from both countries held their first in-person meeting since President Joe Biden took office in January.

The meeting in Tokyo and a planned stop in Seoul, South Korea are an effort by the Biden administration to re-establish relationships with allies in Asia. Some are worried after four years of uneven relations under the Trump administration.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin discussed security and other issues with Japans Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi and Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi.

Blinken said democracy and human rights in Asia are being threatened. He added that the U.S. and its allies will push for a free and open Indo-Pacific.

The American diplomat said the Biden administration is committed to work with U.S. allies as they face threats from China and North Korea  with its nuclear weapons program.

We will push back if necessary, when China uses coercion and aggression to get its way, he said.

In a joint statement released after the talks, the ministers shared strong worry over Beijings human rights violations. It condemned Chinas behavior in the South China Sea and Chinas actions over the Japan-controlled East China Sea. China has made claims over islands in both areas. The statement also called for peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.

Blinken and Austin also agreed with Japanese officials to work together on the coronavirus pandemic and climate change. They will also work together on the situation in Myanmar after its military coup and the nuclear threat posed by North Korea.

On Tuesday, one day after their arrival, North Korean leader Kim Jong Uns sister warned the U.S. to refrain from causing a stink if it wants to sleep in peace for the next four years. She also criticized the U.S. and South Korea for holding military exercises.

Uns sister, Kim Yo Jong, is a senior official who handles inter-Korean affairs. She also said the North would consider leaving a 2018 agreement on reducing military tensions.

Kim Yo Jongs statement was North Koreas first comments to the Biden administration.



Importance of visit to Japan

Bidens decision to send top ministers to Japan as their first overseas visit means a lot for Japan. The country considers its alliance with the United States its most important international relationship.

Before the official start of the meeting, Blinken said it is no accident that we chose Japan for the first Cabinet-level overseas travel of the Biden administration. He added that he and Austin were here to reaffirm our commitment to the alliance and to build on it.

Blinken also said that the U.S. and Japan reaffirmed the importance of their three-way partnership with South Korea. He did not discuss the difficult relations between Japan and South Korea over World War II-related issues.

Austin said the allies need to develop operational abilities to answer quickly a security threat from China and other nations.

He called for the spirit of teamwork.

Japans constitution bars the use of force in settling international disputes. Any attempt to increase its military capability is a sensitive issue in Asia. But Defense Minister Kishi said Japan will work with the U.S. and increase its readiness.

Japan is also in a difficult diplomatic situation because its economy, like those of other countries in Asia, heavily depends on China.

From Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian on Tuesday said U.S.- Japan agreements should not target or harm the interests of third parties.

Later Tuesday, the American officials met with Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga. He is expected to visit Washington sometime in April to meet with Biden. He will be the first foreign leader to do so since Biden became president.

Blinken will meet senior Chinese officials in Anchorage, Alaska, on his way back to Washington. And Austin will go from Seoul to New Delhi for meetings with Indian leaders.

Im Susan Shand.

The Associated Press reported this story. Susan Shand adapted it for Learning English. Hai Do was the editor.

________________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

coercion - n. to make (someone) do something by using force or threats

commit - v. to decide to give your support, or effort to someone or something in a serious or permanent way

stability - n. the quality or state of something that is not easily changed or likely to change

stink - n. an unpleasant situation

overseas - adj. travelling to a foreign country

reaffirm - v. to restate one's commitment to someone or something

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Andrea Helms felt lucky to snag a COVID-19 vaccination appointment at a Walgreens store in Lakeview earlier this month  until it was time to get her shot.

She arrived at the store on time, filled out a form, and was taken to a room to receive her inoculation. The woman who was to give her the shot then took another look at her paperwork.

She said: Im sorry, but I cant give you the shot today. Were only doing health care workers and over 65, recalled Helms, who had indicated she had a qualifying health condition when making her appointment online. Helms was caught off guard. She left the store, unvaccinated.

Its such a roller coaster, said Helms, 47, of Uptown. Everyone is struggling in some way. Its an added stress.

In recent weeks, a number of people with health conditions who now qualify for vaccinations under state guidelines say theyve been turned away from some Chicago Walgreens stores despite the fact that many other Walgreens stores in the city and suburbs are vaccinating that group. The inconsistency at Walgreens, which has the largest vaccination program of any pharmacy in the state, has created yet another layer of confusion and anxiety for a group thats already having trouble finding vaccines.

Though Illinois expanded vaccine eligibility to people under 65 with certain health conditions Feb. 25, most Chicago-area health departments and hospitals are not yet vaccinating people in that group, saying theyre still focusing on seniors and essential workers because of limited vaccine supply. Chicago is set to begin vaccinating people with health conditions March 29, Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced Wednesday.

Illinois residents under 65 with health conditions have instead been left to hunt for shots mostly at retail pharmacies, including Walgreens, which has more than 500 stores offering vaccines in the state.

Walgreens did not respond with a comment when asked about vaccination inconsistencies at its stores.

Story continues

Theyre disparities that have proved frustrating to a number of people.

Sachin Master, 42 of West Town, was thrilled to get an appointment for a shot at a Walgreens in the Gold Coast neighborhood last weekend. He has type II diabetes and was looking forward to getting vaccinated so he could take his 6-year-old daughter to see her cousins in Michigan this summer, after not visiting them for a year.

When making his appointment online, he indicated that he qualified because of a health condition. He filled out a form after arriving for his appointment but was told the store wasnt vaccinating people in his category, 1b+.

He tried to explain that Illinois had opened eligibility to people under 65 with health conditions and that he knew people in that group who had been vaccinated at other Chicago Walgreens stores.

But he still left without the shot.

I know plenty of 1b+ people whove gotten them without any issue, Master said. It seems like its very random, and I was just unlucky.

He found another appointment online at a CVS store in Kankakee for this week, but hes been searching for something closer in hopes of being able to cancel that CVS appointment.

Some say even calling Walgreens stores ahead of appointments, to make sure they really are vaccinating people with health conditions, doesnt always provide clarity.

Carly Anger, 40, of the Loop, spent about 10 hours visiting pharmacies websites and typing in ZIP codes looking for appointments, before finally securing one at a Walgreens in the South Loop.

But Anger, who has moderate asthma and several autoimmune disorders, had seen people in the Facebook group Chicago Vaccine Hunters warning that some stores were turning people away. So she called the South Loop Walgreens, after making her appointment, just to double check.

The person she spoke with told her the store was not vaccinating people with health conditions, despite the fact that she had just made an appointment there online by indicating she had a health condition.

She agonized about what to do. She didnt want to take the spot if it wasnt meant for someone like her. But she hadnt lied to get the appointment, and she knew she qualified for the vaccine under state guidelines.

Ultimately, she decided to chance it and go for her scheduled appointment. Despite what shed been told over the phone, she was given the vaccine at the store Monday. She again indicated, on another form at the store, that she qualified because of her health conditions. Anger brought a screenshot of her medical records on her phone to prove her health conditions, but no one asked to see it, she said.

The whole situation made her feel anxious, and a little guilty, she said. But she wanted the vaccine to help keep herself, and everyone else, safe. She felt that it was her duty to get vaccinated. I feel if we all get vaccinated, we can make a collective difference, she said.

Helms, the woman who was turned away from the Lakeview Walgreens, also ultimately got a vaccine  but at a different Walglreens. A couple of days after she was turned away in Lakeview, she found an appointment online at a Walgreens in Evanston.

Again, she indicated online and on her form that she qualified because of a health condition. She brought her medical records to the Evanston store, but they said they didnt need to see them.

Despite her experience, she sympathizes with the pharmacies.

I think everyone is just trying to do the best they can, Helms said. Things are moving fast. Things are changing fast. Its frustrating ... but on the other hand, I dont have a better answer.
New Jersey lawmakers will begin debate on a bill Wednesday to give residents more power to investigate local cops, the first time the Legislature has scheduled a discussion for one of the most sweeping reforms proposed in the wake of protests last year after George Floyd was killed in Minneapolis.

The bill (A4656) would allow towns statewide to create civilian complaint review boards, which could force departments to hand over internal documents and run inquiries at the same time officers were investigating their own.

The state Assemblys Community Development and Affairs Committee is scheduled to consider the proposal at 9:15 a.m., and the virtual hearing will be streamed online.

The bill is still a long way from becoming law. If the committee approves it, the proposal will still need to be voted on by the full state Assembly and Senate before it can head to the governors desk.

Gov. Phil Murphy has previously signaled support for at least parts of the bill.

While many residents have recently called for broad policing reforms, lawmakers have so far opted for more moderate changes.

Newark tried to create a board with broad investigatory powers, but the state Supreme Court ruled last year that current law doesnt allow boards to issue subpoenas or run simultaneous investigations.

If residents wanted those powers, the justices wrote, theyd need to change the law.

A broad coalition of activists, religious and community groups are expected to testify Wednesday in support of the bill, some of whom have been fighting for decades for more civilian oversight.

Police union leaders did not immediately respond to questions about whether they planned to attend the hearing, but officials have previously argued that boards threaten to obstruct a departments ability to fairly and effectively investigate complaints.

If the bill became law, both cities and counties would be able to create boards to oversee police in their area.

Local officials would appoint seven members familiar with community relations, civil rights, law enforcement, sociology, or other relevant fields, according to the proposal. The board would work for free, but members could have expenses reimbursed and the bill would set aside $600,000 for training.

If a resident complained about excessive force or abuse of authority, the board could launch an investigation.

However, that review would have to stop if prosecutors launched a criminal review into the same incident.

A board could recommend discipline, but it couldnt force a department to punish or fire an officer.

The public would also be blocked from knowing the names of anyone the board interviewed, including officers.

Another bill (S2656) could make those names available by making internal police documents public, but that proposal has stalled since it was introduced in June.

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Blake Nelson can be reached at bnelson@njadvancemedia.com.

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A 10-year-old photo of army veteran Matt Page holding his daughter for the first time after stepping off a plane back home to Australia brings a tear to his wife's eye to this day.

Karen Page snapped the picture of her husband and daughter Willow at the arrivals lounge of Sydney airport in 2009 while he was on leave from Afghanistan.

'After she was born I was holding my breath waiting for that photo. Just to have them together and that connection. I just wanted her to have something,' Ms Page said.

Matt Page meeting his daughter Willow for the first time at Sydney Airport in 2009 after returning from Afghanistan

After going through unsuccessful IVF treatment, Ms Page had miraculously become pregnant naturally and given birth to Willow two months earlier.

As her husband was away to complete a six-month tour of Iraq and then another eight-month tour of Afghanistan she had constantly worried he would not make it back home.

The army reservist did arrive back, however, an injury while training on Australian soil just one year later unexpectedly turned their world upside down.

The accident led to years of medical issues for Mr Page where he would experience lapses in memory and moments where he would not recognise his daughter.

They say they also struggled to receive support from the Department of Veterans Affairs and were flooded with bureaucratic paperwork on top of dealing with his rehabilitation.

'What they make you go through is daunting and overwhelming. It's really been a decade of fighting for us to get to a point where we're getting adequate support,' Mr Page told Daily Mail Australia.

In December 2010 while performing night exercises at Puckapunyal in Victoria Mr Page's Bushmaster vehicle hit a ditch and he was thrown out of the manhole.

He collided with a remote weapons station on top of the heavily armoured vehicle.

'The next thing I remember is just hanging there by my equipment struck up in the gun ring and I can hear my driver yelling at me through my earpiece asking, am I OK, what do we do?' he recalled.

Running on adrenaline and not realising the extent of his injuries, Mr Page continued the training but then collapsed as he tried to exit the vehicle.

He subsequently spent three days in hospital before doctors discharged him.

Monitored by medics he then returned to his camp for the remainder of the training.

'I had a pinkish discharge from my nose for several days and was in constant pain. However, I was advised by medics that the pink fluid was of no concern because the doctor had released me,' Mr Page said.

The discharge was brain fluid, with the extent of his injuries becoming apparent after he returned home.

Matt Page and his wife Karen (pictured) are releasing a book detailing their struggles after Matt suffered an injury in an army training exercise in 2010

Mr Page described constant headaches, gaps in his memory, and moments were he would simply zone out of consciousness for a minute - later diagnosed as partial focal seizures.

He even said there were occasions where he would look at his daughter and not grasp who she was but also thinking in the back of his mind that he should know.

After a years-long struggle to gain recognition of his injuries and support from the defence force, Mr Page was finally granted medical discharge in 2013 and pension in 2015.

They claim the army had largely brushed off his injuries until he penned a letter to then Defence Minister Warren Snowden.

In being medically discharged he was found to be suffering adjustment disorder  anxiety and depression, mild traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic epilepsy.

Ms Page has written a book 'My Broken Soldier' to be released on Anzac Day which details not only their struggles with his injuries but also their whole family's journey from when Mr page was first deployed overseas.

The book also details her realisation that her husband was not quite the same man when he returned to their Armidale property from Puckapunyal.

By releasing the book the pair hope to encourage other soldiers to speak up about their struggles.

They are also calling for better procedures to be implemented in the defence force around evaluations before enlistment, support for families, and to cut through bureaucracy when trying to get help.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted the ADF for comment.
India recorded its highest daily tally of cases this year with 28,903 new infections, taking the total Covid-19 tally to 11,438,734, according to the Union data updated on Wednesday.

The death toll increased to 159,044 with 188 new fatalities, the highest in around two months, the data updated at 8 am showed. Registering an increase for the seventh day in a row, the total active caseload has increased to 234,406 which now comprises 2.05 per cent of the total infections, while the recovery rate has further dropped to 96.56 per cent, the data stated.

As many as 30,254 new infections were recorded in a span of 24 hours on December 13.

The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 11,045,284, while the case fatality rate has dropped to 1.39 per cent, the data stated.

India's Covid-19 tally had crossed the 2-million mark on August 7, 3 million on August 23, 4 million on September 5 and 5 million on September 16. It went past 6 million on September 28, 7 million on October 11, crossed 8 million on October 29, 9 million on November 20 and surpassed the 10-million mark on December 19.

Maharashtra

The state reported as many as 23,179 new cases on Wednesday, the highest single-day infection count so far in 2021, a health official said.

This is the sixth highest one-day spike of infection cases in the state since the pandemic began last year.

With these new cases, Maharashtra's overall infection count rose to 2,370,507, the official said.

Delhi

The Union Territory on Wednesday recorded 536 new cases, the highest in about two-and-a-half months, while there more persons died from the pathogen, the Health Department said.

The number of active cases rose to 2,702 from 2,488 a day ago, according to a health bulletin.

The 536 new cases took the infection tally to 6,45,025 and 6.31 lakh people have recovered so far. The positivity rate rose to 0.66 per cent. Three new fatalities took the toll to 10,948, the bulletin said.

Second wave or ripple

The surge in cases in Mumbai and other parts of in the past few days is not the "ripple in the first wave" but a "mighty scary second wave", a top health official said on Wednesday.

Speaking during a discussion on news channel NDTV 24x7, civic-run KEM Hospital's Dean Hemant Deshmukh said the case numbers were now getting scary.

"Of late, we realise that this (surge) is not a ripple in the first wave, but a mighty scary second wave itself, which is starting," Deshmukh told the television channel.

Deshmukh said the mortality rate was less this time, and it may be because the virulence is low.

"A virus is likely to mutate all the time and so this mutation is definitely causing a different kind of and a different kind of Covid-19 presentation altogether in March, 2021," he said.
So you think that you know everything about St Patrick? It's all just the driving the snakes from Ireland, converting the pagans and using the shamrock to teach about the Holy Trinity?

We should be really wearing blue

The original color first associated with St Patrick was blue. But because the Saint preached about the Holy Trinity through the symbol of the shamrock gradually it became the most common shade in connection with him.

You weren't legally allowed to drink on St Patrick's Day

Due to strict laws curtailing the of sale of alcohol on Holy Days in Ireland, from 1927 to 1961, the only place you could legally get a drink on Paddys day was at The Royal Dublin Dog Show. Of course, if you had access to your own drink at home there was nothing stopping you enjoying a tipple or two but those relying on pubs back then were all very sadly disappointed.

He wasn't Irish

Ok, we probably all should know this by now but you would be surprised by the number of people who insist that St Patrick was actually Irish. He wasn't. Patrick was born in what was then Roman Britain at the end of the 4th century AD and taken to Ireland by slavers when he was a teenager. The exact location of his birth is still debated with some believing he hailed from Wales and others convinced he came from Scotland.

He wasn't originally called Patrick

Surprisingly enough St Patrick's name wasn't actually Patrick - at least it wasn't his birth name. He was named Maewyn Succat, and according to legend changed his name to Patricius, or Patrick, which derives from the Latin term for "father figure," when he became a priest.

There were never any snakes in Ireland

This could be a bit contentious but there weren't any snakes in Ireland despite the tradition that St Patrick drove them all from our shores. The reference is thought to be metaphorical: St. Patrick  who converted pagans to Christianity  was the man who supposedly drove "evil" non-Christians from the land.

Parades first started in America

It may surprise you to know but the first St Patrick's Day parade wasn't held in Ireland but in America, New York City to be exact. According to historians the first St. Patrick's Day celebration in America was in 1737 hosted by the Charitable Irish Society of Boston.

An illustration of a New York City St Patrick's Day Parade in the 1800s.

St Patrick's Day isn't just a national holiday in Ireland

March 17 is also a national holiday on the island of Montserrat in the Caribbean, a tiny island with around 4,000 inhabitants which became home to a large number of Irish emigrants in the 17th century. Montserrat is holding an entire week of celebrations, including a Patricks Day dinner, a calypso competition and a church service.
One of the best ways to study human evolution is by comparing us with nonhuman species that, evolutionarily speaking, are closely related to us. That closeness can help scientists narrow down precisely what makes us human, but that scope is so narrow it can also be extremely hard to define. To address this complication, researchers from Stanford University have developed a new technique for comparing genetic differences.

Through two separate sets of experiments with this technique, the researchers discovered new genetic differences between humans and chimpanzees. They found a significant disparity in the expression of the gene SSTR2 - which modulates the activity of neurons in the cerebral cortex and has been linked, in humans, to certain neuropsychiatric diseases such as Alzheimer's dementia and schizophrenia - and the gene EVC2, which is related to facial shape. The results were published March 17 in Nature and Nature Genetics, respectively.

"It's important to study human evolution, not only to understand where we came from, but also why humans get so many diseases that aren't seen in other species," said Rachel Agoglia, a recent Stanford genetics graduate student who is lead author of the Nature paper.

The Nature paper details the new technique, which involves fusing human and chimpanzee skin cells that had been modified to act like stem cells - highly malleable cells that can be prodded to transform into a variety of other cell types (albeit not a full organism).

"These cells serve a very important specific purpose in this type of study by allowing us to precisely compare human and chimpanzee genes and their activities side-by-side," said Hunter Fraser, associate professor of biology at Stanford's School of Humanities and Sciences. Fraser is senior author of the Nature Genetics paper and co-senior author of the Nature paper with Sergiu Pa?ca, associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences in the Stanford School of Medicine.

Close comparisons

The Fraser lab is particularly interested in how the genetics of humans and other primates compare at the level of cis-regulatory elements, which affect the expression of nearby genes (located on the same DNA molecule, or chromosome). The alternative - called trans-regulatory factors - can regulate the expression of distant genes on other chromosomes elsewhere in the genome. Due to their broad effects, trans-regulatory factors (such as proteins) are less likely to differ among closely related species than cis-regulatory elements.

But even when scientists have access to similar cells from humans and chimpanzees, there is a risk of confounding factors. For example, differences in the timing of development between species is a significant hurdle in studying brain development, explained Pa?ca. This is because human brains and chimpanzee brains develop at very different rates and there is no exact way to directly compare them. By housing human and chimpanzee DNA within the same cellular nucleus, scientists can exclude most confounding factors.

For the initial experiments using these cells, Agoglia coaxed the cells into forming so-called cortical spheroids or organoids - a bundle of brain cells that closely mimics a developing mammalian cerebral cortex. The Pa?ca lab has been at the forefront of developing brain organoids and assembloids for the purpose of researching how the human brain is assembled and how this process goes awry in disease.

"The human brain is essentially inaccessible at the molecular and cellular level for most of its development, so we introduced cortical spheroids to help us gain access to these important processes," said Pa?ca, who is also the Bonnie Uytengsu and Family Director of Stanford Brain Organogenesis.

As the 3D clusters of brain cells develop and mature in a dish, their genetic activity mimics what happens in early neurodevelopment in each species. Because the human and chimpanzee DNA are bound together in the same cellular environment, they are exposed to the same conditions and mature in parallel. Therefore, any observed differences in the genetic activity of the two can reasonably be attributed to actual genetic differences between our two species.

Through studying brain organoids derived from the fused cells that were grown for 200 days, the researchers found thousands of genes that showed cis-regulatory differences between species. They decided to further investigate one of these genes - SSTR2 - which was more strongly expressed in human neurons and functions as a receptor for a neurotransmitter called somatostatin. In subsequent comparisons between human and chimpanzee cells, the researchers confirmed this elevated protein expression of SSTR2 in human cortical cells. Further, when the researchers exposed the chimpanzee cells and human cells to a small molecule drug that binds to SSTR2, they found that human neurons responded much more to the drug than the chimpanzee cells.

This suggests a way by which the activity of human neurons in cortical circuits can be modified by neurotransmitters. Interestingly, this neuromodulatory activity may also be related to disease since SSTR2 has been shown to be involved in brain disease.

"Evolution of the primate brain may have involved adding sophisticated neuromodulatory features to neural circuits, which under certain conditions can be perturbed and increase susceptibility to neuropsychiatric disease," said Pa?ca.

Fraser said these results are essentially "a proof of concept that the activity we're seeing in these fused cells is actually relevant for cellular physiology."

Investigating extreme differences

For the experiments published in Nature Genetics, the team coaxed their fused cells into cranial neural crest cells, which give rise to bones and cartilage in the skull and face, and determine facial appearance.

"We were interested in these types of cells because facial differences are considered some of the most extreme anatomical differences between humans and chimps - and these differences actually affect other aspects of our behavior and evolution, like feeding, our senses, brain expansion and speech," said David Gokhman, a postdoctoral scholar in the Fraser lab and lead author of the Nature Genetics paper. "Also, the most common congenital diseases in humans are related to facial structure."

In the fused cells, the researchers identified a gene expression pathway that is much more active in the chimpanzee genes of the cells than in the human genes - with one specific gene, called EVC2, appearing to be six times more active in chimpanzees. Existing research has shown that people who have inactive EVC2 genes have flatter faces than others, suggesting that this gene could explain why humans have flatter faces than other primates.

What's more, the researchers determined that 25 observable facial features associated with inactive EVC2 are noticeably different between humans and chimpanzees - and 23 of those are different in the direction the researchers would have predicted, given lower EVC2 activity in humans. In follow-up experiments, where the researchers reduced the activity of EVC2 in mice, the rodents, too, developed flatter faces.

Another tool in the toolbox

This new experimental platform is not intended to replace existing cell comparison studies, but the researchers hope it will support many new findings about human evolution, and evolution in general.

"Human development and the human genome have been very well studied," said Fraser. "My lab is very interested in human evolution, but, because we can build on such a wealth of knowledge, this work can also reveal new insights into the process of evolution more broadly."

Looking forward, the Fraser lab is working on differentiating the fused cells into other cell types, such as muscle cells, other types of neurons, skin cells and cartilage to expand their studies of uniquely human traits. The Pa?ca lab, meanwhile, is interested in investigating genetic dissimilarities related to astrocytes - large, multi-functional cells in the central nervous system often overlooked by scientists in favor of the flashier neurons.

"While people often think about how neurons have evolved, we should not underestimate how astrocytes have changed during evolution. The size difference alone, between human astrocytes and astrocytes in other primates, is massive," said Pa?ca. "My mentor, the late Ben Barres, called astrocytes 'the basis of humanity' and we absolutely think he was onto something."

###

Additional Stanford co-authors for the Nature paper are former research assistant Danqiong Sun, postdoctoral scholar Fikri Birey, senior research scientist Se-Jin Yoon, postdoctoral scholar Yuki Miura and former research associate Karen Sabatini.

This work was funded by a Stanford Bio-X Interdisciplinary Initiatives Seed Grant, the National Institutes of Health, the Department of Defense, the Stanford Center for Computational, Evolutionary and Human Genomics, the Stanford Medicine's Dean's Fellowship, MCHRI, the American Epilepsy Society, the Stanford Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute's Big Idea Grants on Brain Rejuvenation and Human Brain Organogenesis, the Kwan Research Fund, the New York Stem Cell Robertson Investigator Award, and the Chan Zuckerberg Ben Barres Investigator Award.

Additional Stanford co-authors for the Nature Genetics paper are graduate student Maia Kinnebrew; former undergraduate Wei Gordon; former technician Danqiong Sun; postdoctoral research fellows Vivek Bajpai and Sahin Naqvi; Dmitri Petrov, the Michelle and Kevin Douglas Professor in the School of Humanities and Sciences; Joanna Wysocka, the Lorry Lokey Professor and professor of developmental biology; and Rajat Rohatgi, associate professor of biochemistry and of medicine. Researchers from University of California, San Francisco; University of Michigan, Ann Arbor; Yerkes National Primate Research Center; Emory University School of Medicine; and University of Pennsylvania are also co-authors.

This work was funded by the Human Frontier, Rothschild and Zuckerman fellowships, and the National Institutes of Health.

Fraser is a member of Stanford Bio-X, the Maternal & Child Health Research Institute (MCHRI), and the Stanford Cancer Institute. Pa?ca is a member of Stanford Bio-X, MCHRI and the Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute, and a faculty fellow of Stanford ChEM-H.
A row has begun in the art world over the authenticity of works which their seller says are by Co Antrim-born man Basil Blackshaw - described as one of Ireland's finest artists.

Viewers of the BBC art programme Fake or Fortune? are often on the edge of their seat as host Fiona Bruce and her team try to establish the authenticity of paintings.

Now art lovers in Northern Ireland have their own Fake or Fortune? mystery after the late artist's estate issued an alert over some of the Blackshaws on sale.

The estate of Blackshaw, who died in 2016, warned that there were a "huge amount of paintings purporting to be painted by Basil Blackshaw".

"In our opinion the works are unlikely to have been painted by Basil. Anyone thinking of buying should be aware," the estate said.

The estate told the Belfast Telegraph it did not wish to comment further but is understood to be disputing the paintings' provenance.

The works include some with prices running into many thousands of pounds.

Their seller did not wish to be identified but insisted that the provenance - an art world term for the trail of evidence that proves a work is by a particular artist - was genuine.

And he said he would consider seeking legal advice over the issue. Four years ago, gardai investigated claims by a family member that paintings wrongly described as Blackshaws had been sold by auction.

But auctioneers insisted they were genuine and legal action to prevent the works being returned by gardai after an investigation did not go ahead.

Dublin auction house Whyte's was caught up in that controversy. But Ian Whyte said he had been in no doubt that the paintings were genuine.

Some of the Blackshaws Whyte's sold previously include equine-themed works, with Race Horse 1990 selling for 40,000.

He described the latest allegation about other paintings as "bad news".

"Yes, there are forgeries and you have to be careful but the paintings I dealt with are good as gold," Mr Whyte said.

"The experts I respect would say the same though it is a criminal offence to sell forgeries."

The PSNI said it had not received any reports of complaints on the matter.

Mr Whyte said provenance issues could emerge where artists did separate deals to sell paintings, or exchange them for something else, rather than just selling through galleries.

For some, Blackshaw was the greatest artist of his generation, he added.

Blackshaw was born in Glengormley in 1932 and studied at the Belfast College of Art.

He later won a scholarship to study in Paris.

His work was acclaimed for its traditional approaches to painting, and according to a Whyte's auction brochure, was "concerned with both his immediate surroundings and the tradition of western art". Blackshaw's interest in painting horses connected him with other artists like Degas, Marc and Munnings.

His collectors have included journalist Eamonn Mallie, who has also written a book on Blackshaw.

In 2017, Mr Mallie sold some of his Blackshaws, including a portrait of Van Morrison, which fine art writer Michael Parsons called "the ugliest painting - by any artist - to appear at auction in quite some time".

Dan Albas is the Member of Parliament for the riding of Central Okanagan Similkameen Nicola which includes of Kelowna (specific boundaries), West Kelowna, Peachland, Summerland, Keremeos, Olalla, Princeton, Merritt and Logan Lake. To contact the writer: 1-800-665-8711 or visit: DanAlbas.com
Musician-turned preacher Lovy Longomba says he wasnt exactly surprised by the death of his brother Christian because God had told him about it.

Lovy, a self-proclaimed prophet and healer, said God spoke to him on the day(Saturday) Christian Longomba succumbed in a hospital in Los Angeles.

My brother fought for a long time. Sometimes to know things prophetically, is not always the best, but God knows.

On the day that he was leaving, God spoke to me and told me, Christian is leaving today. I tried everything, spiritually, physically, and materially to keep him here, but man, when God speaks, God speaks and there is nothing you can do about it and it is always for the better. Even in this, Jesus is still glorified, said the LA-based preacher.

Check Out  Lovy Longomba is Now a Preacher in California Watch Him Heal a Blind Woman

Adding: Im not crying because I dont know where Christian is, I know where he is, God told me exactly when it was going to happen, we are not surprised by it, you know, living through it is a different thing.

The founder of Revelation Church Of Jesus Christ (RCJC Ministries) also dismissed reports that Christian Longomba succumbed to brain cancer.

He explained that Christian died as a result of brain injuries caused by a surgery he underwent six years ago to remove a tumor.

The tumor wasnt cancerous, it was malignant but stage 4 meningioma (a tumor that forms on membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord just inside the skull). Surgeons took the tumor out but it was so big, really big. It grew over time and was pushing the brain on one side, Lovy said.

The tumor was successfully removed in 2015.

So, when they took it out, there was some damage done to the brain tissue that was really severe. The first two years Christian was fine and then the complication from the damage is what caused a lot of things. The overall damage to the brain. The tumor was removed once and for all it never came back, he said.

Lovy added that doctors gave Christian only two years to live but he went to live for five years and several months.

The doctors did not expect him to live more than two to three years but Christian outlived that by many years, he said.
Bloomberg

(Bloomberg) -- Sign up for the New Economy Daily newsletter, follow us @economics and subscribe to our podcast.Australias central bank maintained its policy settings as it prepares to decide on extending its yield target and quantitative easing programs, with a Covid-19 lockdown complicating the outlook.The Reserve Bank of Australia kept the cash rate and three-year yield target at 0.10% in Sydney on Tuesday, as expected. It will make a decision in July on whether to extend the yield target and undertake further quantitative easing. A weeklong shutdown in the nations second-largest city adds a layer of uncertainty to the outlook.Despite the strong recovery in the economy and jobs, inflation and wage pressures are subdued, Governor Philip Lowe said. The board is committed to maintaining highly supportive monetary conditions to support a return to full employment in Australia and inflation consistent with the target.The Australian dollar edged lower, trading at 77.41 U.S. cents at 2:53 p.m. in Sydney from 77.62 cents just before the release.The case for Lowe to maintain the April 2024 bond as the target maturity had been strengthening amid strong hiring, sentiment and investment plans. This was reinforced by the government keeping open the fiscal spigot in the May budget as it joins the RBA in seeking to drive down unemployment to revive wages growth and inflation.Progress in reducing unemployment has been faster than expected, Lowe said in his statement. There are reports of labor shortages in some parts of the economy.Risks AheadYet the RBA may be encouraged to err on the side of caution if Melbournes outbreak worsens and extend both of its bond programs to keep maximum support for the economy.An important ongoing source of uncertainty is the possibility of significant outbreaks of the virus, although this should diminish as more of the population is vaccinated, Lowe said. The board continues to place a high priority on a return to full employment.Globally, central banks are beginning to edge away from emergency monetary settings. The Reserve Bank of New Zealand surprised markets last week in presenting projections of its official cash rate rising in the second half of next year.Back in Australia, economists predicted ahead of data Wednesday that gross domestic product rose 1.5% in the first three months of the year from the prior quarter, and advanced 0.6% from a year earlier.Treasury Secretary Steven Kennedy, in testimony to a parliamentary panel earlier today, said partial data showed around 56,000 workers had lost their jobs in the four weeks following the end of the governments JobKeeper wage subsidy that expired March 28.He said strong employment data and forward indicators continue to give us confidence that the labor market has the underlying strength to absorb workers transitioning off the JobKeeper payment.End of Australias $68 Billion Job-Saving Stimulus Tests EconomyLowe estimates Australias jobless rate will need to fall to close to 4% before driving economy-wide pay increases. It stood at 5.5% in April.The governor expects wages growth will need to increase at a pace faster than 3% -- more than double the current rate -- for inflation to return sustainably to the central banks 2-3% target.Lowe reiterated that this is unlikely to be until 2024 at the earliest.(Updates with further comments from governor throughout text.)More stories like this are available on bloomberg.comSubscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source.2021 Bloomberg L.P.
The intense public debate about the suicide of a woman and her allegations against federal Attorney-General Christian Porter is likely to produce not one, but two, public inquiries. For those friends who urged this course, this might be the end of the good news. Their wish has been granted but it is likely to be uphill from here.

Much has been said about one inquiry, the defamation action that Porter, who vehemently denies the claims, has taken against the ABC and its reporter Louise Milligan. While undoubtedly it will test the events the woman described in such disturbing detail, it will not be wide-ranging; the limits will be set by the truth or otherwise of the imputations and the meaning of words; it will be adversarial in nature. The womans family will be bit players.

Attorney-General Christian Porters Mach 3 press conference in Perth, where he strongly denied the allegations. Credit:Trevor Collens

The second inquiry, however, is likely to be a coronial inquest in South Australia, where the alleged victim died. While suicides are mostly not the subject of an investigation, relying instead on police reports about the circumstances of death, it is difficult to see the South Australian Coroner not launching an inquest. The strong national interest in the case, the alleged victims ongoing contact with the NSW Police until the day before she died, and the difficulties COVID restrictions imposed on her contact with her family and other supports are all reasons that such an inquiry would be held.

Coronial inquiries are very different beasts to defamation trials. Their investigative powers are wide and lines of inquiry are driven by the coroner, rather than by adversaries with differing accounts of the circumstances. Their purpose is usually to determine not only the immediate circumstances of a death but to examine broader factors that may have contributed, such as the safety of a particular aircraft or motor vehicle, and the role that the state or other institutions may have played in the death. So inquests are usual following the deaths of children known to child protection agencies, or prisoners or mental health patients.
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TV actor Parth Samthaan is currently going through a sad moment in his life. The Kasautii Zindagii Kay 2 actor recently penned an emotional post for his maternal grandmother, who passed away recently. Parth was very close to his granny, as he shared a couple of pictures with his 'naani' (ajji) on Instagram and paid tribute to her with a lovely gesture.

Parth Samthaan captioned the post as, "My entire family including me came into existence coz of this woman , my ajji (naani) And it's time for her to leave and start her new journey ..my cutie ....RIP AJJI cutest doll in our family ...Love you." In the pictures, Parth and his late grandmother are looking adorable together. Especially, his caption is indeed leaving everyone teary-eyed. Celebs like Hina Khan, Esshanya Maheshwari and others too mourned Parth's grandmother's death.

A few days ago, Parth Samthaan had celebrated his 30birthday with his close friends from the television industry. His friends like Aamna Sharif, Hina Khan, Arjun Bijlani and others shared pictures from Parth's birthday bash on their Instagram handles.

On the professional front, Parth Samthaan was last seen in a music video titled 'Pehle Pyaar Ka Pehla Gham'. The last show he did was Kasautii Zindagii Kay 2, in which he portrayed the lead role of Anurag Basu, opposite Erica Fernandes. For the unversed, Parth shot to fame with his appearance in MTV Youth Show, Kaisi Yeh Yaariyan. He later featured in shows like Pyaar Tune Kya Kiya, Yeh Hai Aashiqui and so on.

May Parth's grandmother's soul rest in peace!

Also Read : Parth Samthaan Parties With Hina Khan, Rocky, Arjun Bijlani, Pooja Banerjee & Others On His Birthday (PICS)

Also Read : Parth Samthaan Reveals He Had Eaten Samosas Like Ranbir Kapoor In Rockstar After His Heartbreak
(TNS)  The mammoth $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief and stimulus bill enacted last week will deliver to the Cullman area a significant infusion of new money to county and municipal governments. The question is  how will it be spent?States, counties, and municipalities nationwide are set to receive $350 billion from the American Rescue Plan Act, which President Joe Biden signed into law last week. Overall, Alabama is expected to receive $4.043 billion in funding, according to the state Department of Finance, with $2.1 billion going toward a statewide COVID-19 relief fund.An additional $951 million in stimulus spending is marked to be divided among Alabama's 67 counties. On top of that, metro-area cities statewide will receive a total of $417 million, while municipalities that aren't part of metropolitan area are set to receive a combined $362 million.The Cullman area is slated to receive more than $21 million share of that total, including $16 million for the county and approximately $3 million for the city of Cullman. Cullman's smaller municipalities may receive anywhere from $50,000 (Colony) to $640,000 ( Hanceville). The infusion of cash comes at a time when revenues from local sales taxes have actually increased over the previous year, leaving the Cullman County Commission and Cullman City Council to decide how the additional funds will be used.Unlike the CARES Act funds, which had to be used in a relatively short period of time and were limited to reimbursements for COVID-19 related expenses, the latest federal spending bill gives local governments two years to use the funds and expands the way they can be used. The funds will be delivered in two separate payments, one coming this year and the other next year.One way local governments can use the funds is to make up revenue shortfall.Even with increased revenue in sales tax, Cullman Mayor Woody Jacobs noted that the pandemic hit the city's tourism revenue. "We took a hit on lodging tax," he said.Cullman County administrator John Bullard said Tuesday that county commissioners are waiting for consensus-based guidance as the Association of County Commissions of Alabama ( ACCA) prepares a statewide committee to get conclusive answers on how the funds can be spent. But, like the City of Cullman, the commission is considering using some of the money to replace non-sales tax revenues affected by the pandemic in 2020."You can't use this money to lower taxes and then replace that missing revenue. But you can make up lost revenue," said Bullard. "We lost about $200,000 in gas tax revenue last year, so we could apply to replace that."We learned from the CARES Act last year that the spending won't be carte blanche, although we do expect a lot more flexibility this time around," he added. "The state county commission association ( ACCA) is setting up a committee to look at it, and it will be made up of commissioners and administrators. I'll be serving on that committee, so Cullman will be among the first to know what is going on as we get answers."The county is set to receive the first half of its share  about $8 million  sometime in April. Bullard said the money will go into a fund to be held until the commission is satisfied with the answers it learns on spending stipulations, and forms a spending plan from there. In all, the entire $16 million allotment must be spent before the end of December of 2024.County commission chairman Jeff Clemons said it's too early to wish-list all the ways the county's three commissioners could envision spending the funds until after the ACCA refines some of the questions that county commissioners across the state are asking."When you get money from the government, there're always stipulations about what you can use it for. We haven't come to any conclusions, this early, on what that will be," he said. "We do hope we can use some of it to compensate for COVID-related illnesses for our employees across the board, because it's still affecting a number of our employees in a pretty bad way."Greg Cochran, executive director of the Alabama Municipal League (AML), said municipalities that attract tourism and host large events have been the ones hardest hit by the pandemic. "Our middle to smaller towns, they did okay," he said.The funding from the American Rescue Plan gives municipalities a rare opportunity, said Cochran. "We're telling them, 'Put this money in your account and take a breath. Think about legacy projects that you can do. Think about water and sewer projects that are going to make a long-term impact.'"According to the AML, the money can be used to:Respond to the COVID-19 emergency and address its economic effects, including through aid to households, small businesses, nonprofits and industries such as tourism and hospitality.Provide premium pay to essential employees or grants to their employers. Premium pay couldn't exceed $13 per hour or $25,000 per worker.Make investments in water, sewer and broadband infrastructure.State and local governments could transfer funds to private nonprofit groups, public benefit corporations involved in passenger or cargo transportation, and special-purpose units of state or local governments.State and local governments cannot use the funds towards pensions or to offset revenue resulting from a tax cut enacted since March 3, 2021. Cochran said the bill does not include funding road infrastructure, but Congress is working on a bill they hope to pass this fall that addresses that. He said the association is also cautioning municipalities to consider what other entities are getting funding through the $1.9 trillion bill.In an email to members, the AML said, "We ask that you be aware of the following groups and categories who are also receiving funding directly from the relief package and, therefore, may not need additional funds from municipalities: agriculture, education, small businesses, restaurants, event venues, health and human services, transportation and infrastructure, unemployment, housing, technology, broadband and cyber, homeland security, energy and environment, as well as other entities. It is unusual to receive this type of funding so please be sure to carefully consider how your dollars are invested into your community."Jacobs said the City of Cullman is still getting information from AML about the funding, and has not made any decisions about how to use the money. "We'll take a look at it and come up with a plan," he said.Good Hope stands to receive $440,000 in federal funding from the bill, and while Mayor Jerry Bartlett said he hasn't had a chance to discuss the influx of money with the members of the Good Hope City Council, he anticipates much of it will go towards the city's sewer projects that are in the works.He said the city has two projects in the planning stages: expanding the sewer system along Reid Road to County Road 222 and the west side of Interstate 65; and increasing the capacity of the wastewater treatment plant.Expanding the sewer system into the west side of the city is important because there are businesses that are already planned for the area or are looking at the possibility of coming there, Bartlett explained.Good Hope recently entered into an agreement with the city of Cullman to allow a new convenience store that will be located within the Good Hope city limits on County Road 222 to tie into the Cullman sewer system. Good Hope, said Bartlett, will need to expand its own system into the area as more businesses look to move there.The new sewer lines, pump station and other equipment that will need to be installed for the expansion have been estimated to cost somewhere around $700,000 to $1 million, so the federal funding could help that project along, Bartlett added.Good Hope is growing and seeing more subdivisions and businesses moving into the city, so increasing the capacity of the water treatment plant is also an important project to account for future growth, Bartlett said. "We haven't outgrown our capacity yet, but we're inching towards it," he said.Because Good Hope still has time to gradually increase the capacity, the city is working to plan out the project that will see new equipment installed in several stages that will allow the costs to be spread out and will not result in one bill of several hundred thousand dollars, Bartlett said."We wouldn't have to spend it all at one time, so that's one option that we're looking at," he said.Hanceville mayor Kenneth Nail could not be reached by phone before deadline for this article. Hanceville is set to receive $640,000 in direct federal relief funds.
The charity responsible for the upkeep of some of Britain's most famous Royal palaces and residences has settled bullying and racial discrimination complaints from staff with confidential 'five-figure' payouts.

Historic Royal Palaces, governed by trustees partly appointed by the Queen, maintains sites including the Tower of London, Hampton Court and Kensington Palace, where the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge live.

Staff have described witnessing or experiencing discrimination at the residences, with a black employee being paid after a senior manager allegedly described visitors to the Tower as being from 'bongo-bongo land'.

The 2017 incident reportedly took place during a meeting and sparked an external investigation following a complaint from the BAME staffer. The black employee was paid a settlement and moved to a difference residence.

Others described a 'culture of favouritism' and alleged they had been discriminated against and passed over for promotion, the Guardian reports.

Another claimed they were bullied by their manager and left the charity after fearing they would be 'hounded out' if they did not accept a voluntary redundancy offer. Several felt they had been discriminated against because of their background, and questioned the management's determination to tackle racial discrimination.

A spokesperson for Historic Royal Palaces told MailOnline said that non-disclosure agreements have been signed, but said they were not uncommon for charities seeking to resolve disputes cost-effectively.

Staff have described witnessing or experiencing discrimination at the Royal residences, with a black employee being paid after a senior manager allegedly described visitors to the Tower of London, pictured, as being from 'bongo-bongo land'

Historic Royal Palaces, governed by trustees partly appointed by the Queen, maintains sites including the Tower of London and Hampton Court, pictured

They said the agreements did not necessarily prove wrongdoing or liability, but acknowledged staff grievances.

A member of its board of trustees will be tasked with conducting an internal review of the charity's working environment.

Historic Royal Palaces has made 25 payments with confidentiality agreements to members of staff over the past eight years worth 488,090, according to information obtained through Freedom of Information requests by the Guardian.

Not all the payments related to instances where staff complained of bullying or racial discrimination, though at least two employees who did raise such concerns received settlements with confidentiality clauses.

A spokesperson told this publication that individual cases frequently concern a number of matters, and cannot necessarily be attributed to a particular category.

The charity said that for that reason, it was difficult for them to give a specific figure for cases related to bullying or racial discrimination.

MailOnline has contacted the charity for further information.

In September, Historic Royal Palaces said it had been forced to reduce its workforce in the face of an almost 90 per cent reduction in income to about 10million due to the brutal cycle of coronavirus lockdowns.

Up to 145 roles are at risk of redundancy, it added in a statement.

In a statement to MailOnline, spokeswoman Laura Hutchinson said: 'Historic Royal Palaces does not tolerate bullying and racial discrimination of any kind, and is committed to treating all staff with dignity and respect in the workplace.

Kensington Palace, pictured, was the birthplace and childhood home of Queen Victoria and also the London residence of Princess Diana

'We have comprehensive policies and procedures in place to support this commitment and ensure that any concerns are properly investigated and dealt with. We have never sought to conceal allegations of this nature.

'On the contrary, on the rare occasions where settlement agreements are required, they include provision for employees to make disclosures, such as the reporting of misconduct.

'Creating a culture where everyone feels included, valued and respected requires constant attention. Where there are lapses in our standards we must acknowledge our responsibilities, respond in a robust fashion to address and grievances and learn from the experience.

'For this reason, the recently appointed chair of our people committee and trustee, Sarah Jenkins, will now oversee a review, looking at how the culture of the organisation can fully reflect our commitment to equality and diversity.'

The six sites have set the scene for some of the most remarkable moments in British history, such as the negotiation of the Good Friday agreement.

Kensington Palace was the birthplace and childhood home of Queen Victoria. It was also the London residence of Princess Diana, whose dresses were rescued by the charity from private ownership and are still among the biggest attractions today.

The Tower of London is a World Heritage Site and boasts more than 1,000 years of history. It is famously also home to the 23,578 gemstones that make up the Crown Jewels, which are still used in our royal ceremonies.
They made their relationship Instagram official in February.

And Bella Varelis, 25, couldn't help but gush over her relationship with photographer beau Will Stokoe, 30, in a loved-up Instagram post on Wednesday.

The Bachelor runner-up uploaded a photo of herself and Will kissing and cuddling outdoors on a wharf.

Honeymoon phase: Bella Varelis, 25, has gushed over her relationship with Will Stokoe, 30, in a loved-up Instagram post on Wednesday

'Never thought Id find something that makes me happier than pineapple on pizza... until this guy came around', she wrote in the caption.

Bella's happiness was evident over the weekend, when she posted a photo of herself beaming while sitting on a rock.

The reality TV star beauty showed her fabulous figure off in a skimpy bikini for the sun-soaked beach post.

Aww: The Bachelor runner-up said that her photographer beau makes her 'happier than pineapple on pizza' in her heartfelt caption

That lovin' feeling: Bella's happiness was evident over the weekend, when she posted a photo of herself beaming while sitting on a rock

Despite Bella having shared many posts about Will, his Instagram almost exclusively boasts shirtless selfies.

But the Sydney native finally added an image of his girlfriend in a skin-baring snap of the couple uploaded last week.

The genetically-blessed duo showed off their svelte figures in the mirror selfie.

There she is! His Instagram boasts hundreds of mostly shirtless selfies. But Will Stokoe has finally added an image of girlfriend Bella Varelis, in a skin-baring snap of the couple uploaded on Tuesday

Of particular note were Will's shredded abs, while Bachelor star Varelis showed off her wild side in an animal print bikini, worn upside down.

Meanwhile, it was recently revealed that the new Bachelor, Jimmy Nicholson, 31, dated 2020 runner-up Bella shortly after her heartbreaking rejection from last season's Bachelor Locky Gilbert, 31.

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.

Case of the ex: Channel 10's new pilot Bachelor Jimmy Nicholson (pictured) dated Bella shortly after placing runner-up on Locky Gilbert's season in 2020

'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 on Thursday.

She added: 'Hes a really lovely human, definitely deserves to find love!

While the rest of Jimmy's dating history is yet to be revealed, Bella has previously been on dates with other Bachelor stars in the past.

'We went on a couple dates towards the end of last year': After being rejected by Bachelor Locky Gilbert (left) in July, Bella (right) dated Jimmy after being set up by a friend

'He's really lovely human, definitely deserves to find love! Bella only had kind words to say about Jimmy (pictured) to the publication

She was rumoured to have gone on a few Bondi dates with Adam Todd (Becky and Elly Miles' 2020 Bachelorette season) last year, and was in a brief relationship with Samuel Johnston from Georgia Love's 2016 Bachelorette season.

Bella and Samuel both share Jimmy as a mutual friend on Instagram. Interestingly, Sam's brother is a pilot, so that could be how the pair met or became friends.

While Jimmy is looking for love on the 2021 Bachelor season, Bella went Instagram official with photographer beau Will in February.

Off the market: Bella went Instagram official with photographer beau Will (right) in February after weeks of dating speculation

Reality TV connections: Bella and Bachelorette star ex Samuel Johnston both share Jimmy as a mutual friend on Instagram. Interestingly, Sam's brother is a pilot, so that could be how the pair met or became friends

Grounded: Jimmy was most recently working as a first officer for Jetstar Australia, but was stood down from his job due to the coronavirus pandemic

Jimmy was most recently working as a first officer for Jetstar Australia, but was stood down from his job due to the coronavirus pandemic.

He told Sydney Confidential he'd signed up for The Bachelor because his career had made it difficult for him to find a long-term partner.

'I was never in the same spot for too long,' he explained.

The new Bachelor is of New Zealand and Fijian heritage, and has not appeared before on The Bachelorette or any other dating show.

The Bachelor is coming soon to Channel 10 in 2021
A man accused of enslaving his partner and coercing her into sexual servitude has been denied bail, after a defence barrister argued the case involved a strange lifestyle of consensual sexual role-play, which used ornamental affectations such as collars.

James Robert Davis, 40, who lives on a rural property near Armidale, was arrested last week by Australian Federal Police officers and charged with reducing a person to slavery, intentionally possessing a slave, and causing a person to enter or remain in servitude.

James Robert Davis was arrested on Thursday in Armidale and charged with three slavery and sexual servitude offences, under modern slavery laws. Credit:AFP

Police allege Mr Davis manipulated a woman between 2012 and 2015 as part of a cult, during which she was subjected to physical, sexual and psychological abuse and degradation. This allegedly included being coerced to engage in sex work, for which she received no payment.

In a statement, Australian Federal Police said the woman alleges she was physically assaulted by Mr Davis, who styles himself the patriarch of the House of Cadifor  a group of five women living in a relationship with him, who have allegedly signed slavery contracts.
Last week, Piers Morgan stormed off the set of Good Morning Britain after one of his colleagues, Alex Beresford, had the temerity to challenge him on how he had spoken about Meghan Markle the day before. Morgan, you may recall, stated that he didnt believe a word Markle said in her bombshell sit-down interview with Oprah Winfrey. Given that Markle spoke candidly in the interview about experiencing suicidal ideation and claimed to have been denied access to mental healthcare by officials within the Palace, many were less than impressed with Morgans outright dismissal of her. Indeed, Ofcom received over 41,000 complaints about the segment within a day of it airing. Hours after his onscreen outburst, ITV announced that Morgan would be parting ways with Good Morning Britain, effective immediately.

As I watched the sorry saga unfold, I was reminded of the fact that Morgan is the son of an Irish man. He was born Piers OMeara and his late father was from Co Offaly. Over the years, Morgan has made it clear that he at least partly identifies as Irish. Yes, I was born in England and support England at sport, but I have zero English DNA and am Irish by blood and birthright, he tweeted in 2019.

Some reading this might be surprised to learn of Morgans Irish heritage. Despite the fact that he is one of the best-known journalists and television personalities in the UK, his connection to Ireland is not something we shout about.

In Ireland, we are quick to claim celebrities as our own if they have so much as a drop of Irish blood in them. Ed Sheeran? One of us! Muhammad Ali? A son of Co Clare. President Barack Obama? So Irish, we named a service station after him. In the past, we have bestowed makey-uppy certificates of Irishness to celebrities like Tom Cruise. Last year, we were this close to saying, Feck it, will we give Matt Damon an Irish passport?

Funny then that we choose to remain quiet about someone like Piers Morgan. Is it because he is controversial? Is it because he is divisive? Or is it because he doesnt fit the image we have of ourselves?

In Ireland, we pride ourselves on being warm, welcoming and open-minded. As a former colony, many of us identify and empathise with the experiences of the oppressed and downtrodden. Were not like the Brits or the Yanks, we tell ourselves. Were nice. Were friendly. Were sound. Its a nice story, but one thats incomplete. Many people who identify as Irish are nice, friendly and empathetic. But equally there are many people who identify as Irish who are unpleasant, misogynistic, bigoted or even racist. For every Dermot OLeary, theres a Piers Morgan.

Another case in point is how we in Ireland have rallied around President Joe Biden over the last few months. President Biden, who identifies as Irish-American, has roots in Co Mayo and Co Louth. In Ballina, distant relatives and local supporters gathered to celebrate his election. Taoiseach Micheal Martin tweeted about welcoming him back home at some point.

Compare that to how we dealt with the Trump administration. It boasted a number of personnel with Irish heritage, including Vice President Mike Pence, Sean Spicer, Steve Bannon, Kellyanne Conway and John Kelly. But we didnt roll out the red carpet for these people because there was a consensus that to do so would be harmful to our image. Instead we kept the head down and tried our best not to draw attention to the fact that half of Trumps staff seemed to be named things like Caitlynne Kilduff.

In refusing to acknowledge these people  the ones who go against the idea we have of ourselves  we reinforce a false and idealised version of what it means to be Irish. Its one that celebrates Joe Biden and his folksy Irish catchphrases while conveniently ignoring the Irish diaspora who continue to uphold white supremacy or hold views that are at odds with the vast majority of Irish people.

We cant pick and choose who is Irish. To look at someone like Piers Morgan and say hes not one of us is disingenuous. He is one of us. So is Mike Pence. So is Morrissey. So is Sean Hannity. That doesnt mean we have to present them with a bowl of shamrock or open a museum in their honour, but we shouldnt delude ourselves either.

To be Irish does not necessarily mean to be good and virtuous. The sooner we reckon with this, the better.

We Need to Talk About

The murder of Sarah Everard has sparked conversations about womens safety. On social media, women have shared stories of being harassed by men and having to take certain measures to protect themselves from the threat of male violence: taking longer routes home, avoiding poorly lit areas or texting friends to let them know they got home safe.

Such discussions are much needed but it does strike me that the onus is often on women to share their harrowing experiences online. Wouldnt it be more helpful if men took the lead on a conversation about the behaviour of other men?

Rather than expecting women to pour their hearts out time and time again, I would like to see men reflect on their own past behaviour and engage in honest conversations about harassment, consent and other thorny issues. Unless this happens, we wont end the scourge of male violence.
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The Middle East is a region encompassing parts of eastern Europe, western Asia and northeastern Africa. The borders of this region are defined differently depending on the source, but it is made up of at least 20 countries that bear geographical and cultural similarities.

A map of the Middle East.

The region's western border is generally considered to be the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea. To the south, the Middle East is bordered by the Arabian Sea. To the west, it is bordered by the countries of Kazakhstan, China, and either India or Pakistan. Pakistan is sometimes considered part of the Middle East, but due to its shared history with India, it is also sometimes considered to be part of South Asia. The northern border includes the countries of Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan. Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia are sometimes considered to be part of the Middle East, and sometimes part of Europe. Egypt is also occasionally included in this region.

Geographically, the Middle East is characterized by desert terrain and mountains, and it experiences an arid climate. A description of the major landforms of the region is included below.

Contents:

The Major Landforms Of The Middle East

Anatolian Plateau

This barren and arid plateau is located at an elevation of at least 500 m in the central upland region of Turkey. The plateau is surrounded by the Pontic Mountains in the north and by the Taurus Mountains in the south. The plateau region experiences extreme climatic conditions with severely cold winters and hot and dry summers. Due to the extreme temperatures, different occupations like farming are difficult. Nevertheless, several scattered towns and villages cover the entire landscape.

An-Nafud Desert

An-Nafud Desert, Saudi Arabia.

Covering an area of about 65,000 sq. km, the An-Nafud Desert is positioned in the northern portion of the Arabian Peninsula in the north-central part of Saudi Arabia. Often referred to as the Great Nafud, it is the second largest expanse of the Arabian Desert. An-Nafud Desert is noted for its gigantic sand dunes, some of which reach more than 30 m.

Asir & Hejaz Mountains

The western coast of the Arabian Peninsula comprises two mountain ranges, namely the Hejaz (Hijaz) Mountains in the north and the Asir Mountain in the south. These lower mountain ranges run along Saudi Arabias border with the Red Sea and have an elevation of about 1,829 to 2,130m.

Caucasus Mountains

Caucasus Mountains, Georgia.

These mountains are located between the Caspian Sea in the east and the Black Sea in the west and dominate the landscape of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Russia. The Caucasus Mountains comprise two separate mountain ranges, namely the Greater Caucasus in the north and the Lesser Caucasus in the south. Situated in the Greater Caucasus mountain range is Mount Elbrus in Russia, which rises to an elevation of 5,642 m and is the highest peak in the Caucasus Mountains.

Dasht-e Kavir (Kavir Desert)

Often referred to as the Great Salt Desert, this desert is located in the north-central part of Iran, extending from the Elburz Mountain range to the Dasht-e Lut desert. It occupies parts of the Iranian provinces of Isfahan, Khorasan, Semnan, Tehran, and Yazd. The Dasht-e Kavir is the 24th-largest desert in the world, encompassing an area of about 77,600 km2. This large desert is mostly an uninhabited wasteland covered with crusty salt ridges.

Dasht-e Lut (Lut Desert)

Dasht-e Lut, also called Lut Desert.

Lut Desert is a large salt desert located in the south-eastern part of Iran in the provinces of Kerman and Sistan and Baluchestan. It is the 25th-largest desert in the world, occupying an area of about 51,800 km2. With surface temperatures reaching as high as 70 C in the summer months, the Dasht-e Lut desert is considered to be one of the driest and hottest regions on Earth.

Elburz Mountains (or Alborz)

Extending for about 900 km along Irans northern border with the Caspian Sea, these mountains separate the Iranian plateau and the Caspian Sea region. The jagged Elburz Mountains have an average height of about 2,750 m, but there are also many peaks in the range exceeding 4,000 m. Mount Damavand, a dormant volcano rising to an elevation of 5,670 m, is the highest point in the Elburz mountain range.

Hadramawt Mountains

Also referred to as the Mahrat Mountains, these mountains are located in the east-central part of Yemen, along the shores of the Gulf of Aden. These low mountain ranges have an average height of about 1,000 m, with their highest peak estimated at 2,440 m.

Hindu Kush Mountains

Hindu Kush mountains, Pakistan.

This 800 km-long mountain range in South-Central Asia, stretches from northern Pakistan through Afghanistan and into Tajikistan. These mountains form a natural border between Pakistan and Afghanistan and comprise several high snow-capped peaks. Located in Pakistans Chitral district is Tirich Mir, which is the highest peak in the Hindukush Mountain range at an elevation of 7,708 m.

Karakum Desert

Covering about 350,000 km2 in south-central Turkmenistan, this desert is noted for its towering sand dunes which extend in all directions. The Karakum Desert is one of the largest and hottest deserts in Central Asia and also hosts the Darvaza Gas Crater, known as the Gates of Hell or Door to Hell.

Pamir Mountains

Located at the junction of the Himalayas, the Tien Shan, the Kunlun, the Karakoram, and the Hindu Kush mountain ranges is the Pamir Mountain range. These mountains stretch across most of Tajikistan and parts of Afghanistan, Pakistan, and China. Like the Hindu Kush, the Pamir Mountain range also comprises several high snow-capped peaks. Located in the Pamir Mountains is the Ismoil Somoni Peak (Pik Samani), which rises to an elevation of 7,495 m and is the highest point in Tajikistan.

RubAl Khali Desert

Rub'Al Khali Desert, Saudi Arabia.

Also known as the Empty Quarter and covering an area of about 660,000 sq. km, the RubAl Khali Desert is the worlds largest continuous sand desert. The desert occupies the major south-central portion of the Arabian Peninsula, including parts of Oman, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen. The desert is noted for its large reddish-brown sand dunes that alternate with sabkhas or interdune salt flats. It is also one of the worlds most hyper-arid regions. The Ad-Dahna is a northern sandy expanse that connects the RubAl Khali desert with the An-Nafud desert.

Syrian Desert

At approximately 500,000 km2, the Syrian Desert covers parts of Jordan, Syria, Saudi Arabia, and western Iraq. This arid wasteland receives less than 125 mm of rainfall annually, but Arab nomads inhabit the desert region and have successfully raised camels and cattle. Scattered oases and oil pipelines are common in the desert area.

Taurus Mountains

Taurus Mountains, Turkey.

This rugged mountain chain extends across southern Turkey and forms the southern border of the Anatolian Plateau. Located in the Eastern Taurus range is Mount Ararat, an extinct volcano, which rises to an elevation of 5,137 m and is the highest point in the Taurus Mountains. This mountain range also contains important mineral deposits like copper, silver, iron, zinc, arsenic, and lignite.

Tien Shan Mountains

This mountain range stretches across Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, and western China. Situated on the border of Kyrgyzstan and China is Jengish Chokusu Mountain/Pik Pobedy/Victory Peak, which rises to an elevation of 7,439 m and is the highest point in the Tien Shan Mountain range. Also, located in the north-eastern part of the mountain range is Lake Issyk-Kul, which is the worlds highest mountain lake.

Zagros Mountains

The 1,600 km-long Zagros mountain range extends across southeastern Turkey and northern Iraq to the Strait of Hormuz. Located in the central part of the range is Mount Dena, which rises to an elevation of 4,409 m and is the highest point in the Zagros Mountain range.
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Regulatory News:

Pershing Square Holdings, Ltd. (LN:PSH) (LN:PSHD) (NA:PSH) today released its regular weekly Net Asset Value ("NAV") and performance returns on its website, https://www.pershingsquareholdings.com/company-reports/weekly-navs/. The NAV and returns were computed as of the close of business on Tuesday, 16 March 2021.

PSH NAV per share as of close of business on 16 March 2021 was 49.07 USD 35.31 GBP and year-to-date performance was 7.9%.

Weekly net asset value ("NAV") is calculated as of the close of business on each Tuesday and posted on the following business day. In the event that Tuesday is not a business day, the Company will calculate the close-of-business NAV as of the business day immediately preceding that Tuesday. The end-of-month NAV is calculated as of the close of business on the last day of the month and posted on the following business day. For weeks that include a month-end NAV report, PSH will provide only the month-end NAV and not report the Tuesday NAV. Monthly NAVs are published in accordance with the Decree on Conduct of Business Supervision of Financial Undertakings under the Wft (Besluit Gedragstoezicht financiele ondernemingen Wft).

Performance is presented on a net-of-fees basis and reflects the deduction of, among other expenses: management fees, brokerage commissions, administrative fees and accrued performance fees, if any. The performance figure includes the reinvestment of all dividends, interest and capital gains. Depending on the timing of a specific investment, net performance for an individual investor may vary from the net performance as stated herein. Net performance is a geometrically linked time weighted calculation.

Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future results. All investments involve risk including the loss of principal.

About Pershing Square Holdings, Ltd.

Pershing Square Holdings, Ltd. (LN:PSH) (LN:PSHD) (NA:PSH) is an investment holding company structured as a closed-ended fund that makes concentrated investments principally in North American domiciled companies.

Category: (PSH:WeeklyNAV)

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210317005856/en/

Contacts:

Camarco

Ed Gascoigne-Pees Hazel Stevenson +44 020 3757 4989, media-pershingsquareholdings@camarco.co.uk
They might be different disease processes and you manage them differently, said Dr. Adam Lauring, a virologist and infectious disease physician at the University of Michigan. It might be that theres a subset of people who have a certain type of long Covid, who respond well to vaccines, but there might be other people who have a different subtype that we havent quite defined yet.

Akiko Iwasaki, an immunologist at Yale, said that a vaccine, by generating antibodies to the coronaviruss spike protein, could potentially eliminate vestiges of the virus or remnants of viral RNA that may linger in some patients.

If this is occurring, she said, it could suggest that the vaccine might be like a permanent cure for those patients.

Dr. Iwasaki said the vaccine might also help people whose long Covid symptoms may be caused by a post-viral response resembling an autoimmune disease if the vaccine stimulates innate immune responses that dampen these kinds of autoreactive responses, she said. But based on experiences of people with other autoimmune diseases, that relief would not be very long-lasting and they would kind of revert back to having symptoms like fatigue, she said.

Dr. Eric Topol, a professor of molecular medicine at the Scripps Research Institute in San Diego, said he is starting a study to measure physiological information like heart rate, respiratory rate, temperature and markers of immune system response in people with long Covid before they receive a vaccine and weeks afterward.

Its plausible that you have your immune system revved up when youre fighting a reservoir of virus or RNA remnants, he said, and that could be an explanation of why youre in overdrive with your heart rate. He wants to see if these biological indicators improve post-vaccine.

Wed really like objective metrics that show that you not just feel better, Dr. Topol said. You could feel better from the placebo effect, but its unlikely your heart rates going to go from 100 to 60 because of a placebo effect. And if we keep seeing that pattern, that would be like Eureka.
[March 17, 2021]

Fairview Microwave Debuts Series of Waveguide Components in WRD-180, WRD-650 and WRD-750 Sizes

IRVINE, Calif., March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Fairview Microwave Inc., an Infinite Electronics brand and a leading provider of on-demand RF, microwave and millimeter wave components, has just launched a new line of double ridge waveguide components that are ideal for radar, wireless and satellite communication, and test and instrumentation.

Fairview Microwave's new double ridge waveguide components consists of 28 models in straight sections, bends and twist configurations. These transmission line components cover wider frequency bands, deliver superior RF performance and offer lower cut-off frequencies compared to conventional rectangular waveguide WRD-180(18-40GHz), WRD-650 (6.5 to 18GHz), WRD-750 (7.5 to 18GHz) sizes. Plus, double ridge waveguide-to-coax adapters are available in WRD-180, WRD-650 and WRD-750 waveguide sizes, SMA, N-type and 2.92mm connectors, UG-style square cover flanges and with typical VSWR performance as ow as 1.5:1.







"These double ridge waveguide components are available with same-day shipping, meaning we can immediately meet our customers' need for complete construction of transmission lines in a double ridge waveguide configuration," said Steven Pong, Product Line Manager

Fairview Microwave's new double ridge waveguide components are in-stock and available for immediate shipping with no minimum order quantity (MOQ) required.

For inquiries, Fairview Microwave can be contacted at +1-972-649-6678.

About Fairview Microwave:

A leading supplier of on-demand RF and microwave products since 1992, Fairview Microwave offers immediate delivery of RF components including attenuators, adapters, coaxial cable assemblies, connectors, terminations and much more. All products are shipped same-day from the company's ISO 9001:2015 certified production facilities in Lewisville, Texas. Fairview Microwave is an Infinite Electronics brand.

About Infinite Electronics:

Based in Irvine, Calif., Infinite Electronics offers a broad range of components, assemblies and wired/wireless connectivity solutions, serving the aerospace/defense, industrial, government, consumer electronics, instrumentation, medical and telecommunications markets. Infinite's brands include Pasternack, Fairview Microwave, L-com, MilesTek, ShowMeCables, NavePoint, INC Installs, Integra Optics, PolyPhaser, Transtector, KP Performance Antennas, RadioWaves & Aiconics. Infinite Electronics serves a global engineering customer base with deep technical expertise and support, with one of the broadest inventories of products available for immediate shipment.

Press Contact:

Peter McNeil

Fairview Microwave

17792 Fitch

Irvine, CA 92614

(978) 682-6936

View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/fairview-microwave-debuts-series-of-waveguide-components-in-wrd-180-wrd-650-and-wrd-750-sizes-301249037.html

SOURCE Fairview Microwave Inc.
TikTok logo on phone against Chinese flag. Photo: Rafael Henrique/SOPA/LightRocket via Getty

A new report from UK MPs has raised concerns about the potential information sharing between TikTok UK and its parent company ByteDance, which could be subject to China's National Intelligence Law.

A report from parliament's Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) Select Committee, released on Wednesday, raised concerns about the alleged censorship of content critical of the Chinese government on the video-sharing platform.

The issues were raised within a paper on Uyghur forced labour in Xinjiang and its impact on UK value chains.

READ MORE: TikTok Prompts EU Watchdogs Warning on Data Being Sent to China

In written evidence to the committee, TikTok UK stated it does not operate in China and does not censor content critical of China or content related to Uyghurs. MPs said they remained "deeply concerned" about the possibility of information flow between the UK and Chinese subsidiaries.

Watch: How do Influencers make money from TikTok?

The BEIS Committee said that it "invites TikTok to publish independently verified governance and data flow arrangements to confirm full legal separation between TikTok UK and other ByteDance Ltd group companies." The UK government has been invited to TikTok's offices to review the company's algorithm.

A TikTok spokesperson told Yahoo Finance: "As we made clear to the committee in both our written response and appearance, the TikTok app is not available in China, TikTok user data is held on secure servers in the US and Singapore and we have strict access controls in order to protect user data.

"We have also invested heavily in our Dublin-based European data protection and privacy teams to ensure we are meeting our data protection obligations."

READ MORE: 'Compelling evidence' of Chinese forced labour links with UK companies

Security concerns surrounding data sharing and TikTok have been an issue for global governments and the company for some time now. In September last year, then US president Donald Trump announced plans to officially block new downloads of TikTok in the US, citing national security concerns.

Story continues

This led to talks of a selloff of its US division and a bidding war between Microsoft and Oracle, which has reportedly since been shelved.

In February this year, new president Joe Biden paused legal action against TikTok and fellow Chinese app WeChat. The new administration has asked for an "abeyance"  or suspension  of proceedings while it revisits whether the apps really pose a threat.

TikTok and WeChat both collect data on things like where users are and mobile browsing history. The Commerce Department originally said it was concerned this information would be shared with the Chinese government, given the close links between the state and industry in China.

The EU has also expressed concerns in recent weeks. According to a report from Bloomberg, the main data-protection watchdog in the EU warned that the app may be sending some EU user data to China.

TikTok tells us that EU data is transferred to the U.S. and not to China, however we have understood that there is possibility that maintenance and AI engineers in China may be accessing data, Irish Data Protection Commissioner Helen Dixon said.

Watch: What could scrapping EU labour rights mean for UK workers?
The city of Pittsburgh recently announced a partnership with Google Cloud that may serve as a blueprint for other cities looking to modernize legacy IT infrastructure.Google Cloud has worked to develop its own cloud service specifically designed to serve governments in their push toward cloud-based storage. In the case of Pittsburgh, the city has been working aggressively to modernize its IT holdings for several years  a move accelerated by the pandemic. The partnership with Google has helped to quickly advance these efforts.The city of Pittsburgh looks forward to this partnership with Google Cloud as a first-of-its-kind relationship and having the capability to quickly expand the work and service delivery of city operations to meet our communities needs, explained Heidi Norman, Pittsburghs acting director of the Department of Innovation and Performance.According to Norman, the partnership serves as a pilot partnership for Google Clouds added value for municipalities, including migration, storage, applications, computing and professional services.Another key feature of the collaboration is the training offered. City staff will receive training and certification to be sure the service is being used efficiently and that the city is receiving maximum value. Officials say Google has worked with the city to address its IT infrastructure constraints.Theyve really helped design an innovative solution that few other cities so far have had the opportunity to accomplish, Norman added.The migration process is not a simple one, Norman explained, saying that the city is still in the initial phases. The process includes several stages, starting with migration of IT tools and applications to monitor and manage the infrastructure. The next phase will move compute and storage capacity into the cloud, followed by migrating applications. When those steps are complete, the Department of Innovation and Performance will work with its departments to further improve service delivery, both internally and externally.Security throughout the entire process is also a key focus for the city, Norman said.The city of Pittsburgh has a multi-faceted cybersecurity program to respond continuously and proactively to reduce risks and deter threats to our enterprise, explained Norman. Google Cloud is now part of our overall cybersecurity program.Specifically, the company follows strict protocols and implements measures to ensure security for users with tactics like data encryption and enhanced monitoring.As far as enabling the city to make data-driven decisions, the move is introducing new analytics opportunities.Different departments in the city are now able to use query tools to analyze data, build dashboards, report data and make better decisions for constituents. Ultimately, the 19 city departments will be able to leverage this technology to improve various areas of governing, starting with transportation and public safety.
Feature Article

Reshaping the future of the electric grid through low-cost, long-duration discharge batteries

DOE/Argonne National Laboratory

Form Energy sprang out of JCESR research on the air-breathing sulfur battery. (Credit: Image courtesy of JCESR.)

A new era of energy provided by renewables may be close at hand, thanks to research begun at the Joint Center for Energy Storage Research (JCESR), a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Energy Innovation Hub led by DOE's Argonne National Laboratory, and continued at spinoff company Form Energy.

The challenge JCESR addressed is long duration storage -- stabilizing a renewable grid against several consecutive days of calm or overcast days when wind and solar generation is absent or severely limited. Today's lithium-ion batteries can discharge at full power for 4-6 hours, enough to stabilize against most intra-day variations due to passing clouds or fluctuating winds, or to extend solar electricity a few hours past sunset to serve the evening demand peak. A full day or consecutive days of windless or overcast weather is stabilized by natural gas peaker plants that can run indefinitely as long as they are supplied with fuel. The downside of this solution is the carbon dioxide that gas peaker plants emit, adding greenhouse gases to the atmosphere that accelerate harmful climate change. In the net-zero carbon emissions world that suppresses climate change, these emissions must be eliminated or captured and sequestered away from the atmosphere.

"We are thrilled that Form Energy commercialized JCESR's innovations for long duration discharge batteries so quickly. This is a model for how the lab to market transition should work." -- JCESR Director George Crabtree

At JCESR, scientists from 18 universities, companies and laboratories seek to find battery chemistries that can solve energy storage problems beyond the reach of today's batteries. The challenge of creating a battery that can cost-effectively provide days of storage instead of hours was right up their alley.

"The objective was to create a battery to back up wind and solar generation on consecutive overcast or calm days and to do so with a commercially viable solution," said Yet-Ming Chiang, a JCESR member, co-founder of Form Energy, and professor of materials science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). "The long-duration battery has to compete with gas peaker plants on cost."

JCESR solved the problem by addressing both the cost of the energy storing materials and the design of the battery, since both contribute to the cost of the final battery. Analysis by the JCESR team showed that for multi-day storage, the entire battery must have a cost less than that of the energy-storing electrodes alone in batteries such as today's lithium ion. Therefore, the long-duration storage challenge requires new materials solutions.

"We wanted to design batteries from the most abundant, lowest-cost materials on the planet," Chiang said. "One of our designs was a flow battery that used water-based electrolytes operating at room temperature, dissolved sulfur for one electrode, and oxygen from the air as the other. It is hard to find less expensive starting materials than these."

Pivotal JCESR research first laid out the case for an air-breathing aqueous sulfur chemistry in long-discharge applications, comparing this kind of battery against established technologies such as lithium-ion and pumped hydroelectric storage as well as other emerging technologies such as underground compressed air storage. Later studies showed that renewable generation combined with storage, with very-low-cost new chemistries, could deliver electricity in many U.S. locations more cheaply than coal or nuclear power plants and cost-competitively with natural gas. Meanwhile, the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) at DOE was also looking to explore long-duration discharge storage in its program called Duration Addition to electricitY Storage (DAYS).

Encouraged by these developments, Chiang launched a startup company based on JCESR intellectual property in 2017 with Boston-area colleagues Ted Wiley, Billy Woodford, and Marco Ferrara. Within months, the company was renamed Form Energy when it merged with a West Coast startup founded by Mateo Jaramillo, a former executive at Tesla. From the start, Form Energy was laser-focused on addressing the need for multi-day energy storage created by the growing deployment of low-cost renewable electricity, using the technical foundations laid by the work of the JCESR team to establish the nation's longest-discharge, lowest-cost electric grid battery.

"We are thrilled that Form Energy commercialized JCESR's innovations for long duration discharge batteries so quickly. This is a model for how the lab to market transition should work," said George Crabtree, JCESR Director.

Worldwide, grid energy storage could be a 100-terawatt-hour proposition or more -- equal to a billion Tesla Model S battery packs -- to keep the country's power grid humming uninterrupted as it taps renewable resources. Form Energy's battery technology is being designed with rapidly scalable manufacturing in mind, and while the batteries will first be made and deployed in the United States, the technology could eventually be exported anywhere in the world.

In May 2020, just three years after its founding, Form Energy signed its first contract with Minnesota-based Great River Energy, the second-largest electric utility in the state and one of the largest generation and transmission cooperatives in the nation. This pilot project will deliver a battery system, planned for 2023, designed to discharge over 150 hours at 1 megawatt power (equaling 150 MWh of capacity), demonstrating the ability of Form Energy's technology to cost-effectively back up wind and solar generation over multiple days.

"This project represents a bold step toward proving that an affordable, 100% renewable future is possible without sacrificing grid reliability," said Jaramillo, who serves as the Form Energy CEO.

Another mark of the success of technology started at JCESR and continued by Form Energy is the amount of investment that the spinoff company has attracted. To date, Form Energy has secured about $120 million of private investment in addition to U.S. government support it has received through the ARPA-E DAYS project.

In addition to JCESR's culture of thought leadership and innovation, Form Energy has also benefited from the highly skilled early career scientists and engineers who have passed through the center. Co-founder Billy Woodford, an early JCESR researcher who studied sulfur battery chemistries, is Form Energy's chief technical officer. JCESR alumni are also represented among the scientists and engineers at the company, as well as among Form Energy's academic partners and technical advisors.

"A company is only as good as its people," Woodford said. "Form Energy is tackling one of the toughest problems in energy, and we're all aware of that. My own experiences in JCESR, and that of our other Form Energy employees and partners, have informed the culture of mission-driven technical excellence, and the clear-eyed optimism, that we've tried to build into our core values at Form Energy."

JCESR aims to understand the materials and phenomena of energy storage so that it can continue to push the frontier of energy storage science.

"You can never predict the future in this business. The only successful path is to continuously innovate and push the frontier," Crabtree said. "The combination of JCESR and Form Energy resulted in a potential solution to the long duration storage challenge. This is exactly what we hoped JCESR would do -- be on the edge, create and invent. This is a case where everyone wins. At this early stage, we're the only ones with a commercial contract for a 150-hour discharge battery, to be delivered in 2023. No one else is in that space."

###

The Joint Center for Energy Storage Research (JCESR), a DOE Energy Innovation Hub, is a major partnership that integrates researchers from many disciplines to overcome critical scientific and technical barriers and create new breakthrough energy storage technology. Led by the U.S. Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratory, partners include national leaders in science and engineering from academia, the private sector, and national laboratories. Their combined expertise spans the full range of the technology-development pipeline from basic research to prototype development to product engineering to market delivery.

Argonne National Laboratory seeks solutions to pressing national problems in science and technology. The nation's first national laboratory, Argonne conducts leading-edge basic and applied scientific research in virtually every scientific discipline. Argonne researchers work closely with researchers from hundreds of companies, universities, and federal, state and municipal agencies to help them solve their specific problems, advance America's scientific leadership and prepare the nation for a better future. With employees from more than 60 nations, Argonne is managed by UChicago Argonne, LLC for the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Science.

The U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Science is the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States and is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information, visit https://energy.gov/science.
A study in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (JAACAP), published by Elsevier, reports on the young adult assessment of the now 20-year longitudinal Boricua Youth Study (BYS), a large cohort that brings much needed insight about development and mental health of children from diverse ethnic background growing up in disadvantaged contexts.

The present article, with its companion report on prevalence of conditions and associated factors, provides an update on the study's fourth wave, which follows-up two probability-based population samples of children of Puerto Rican heritage. Unique to the study is its two-site design, which allows for comparison of a single ethnic group in two contexts: one in which the group is an ethnic minority living in an disadvantaged area (South Bronx, NY); and another where though challenges are many, children do not grow up being part of an ethnic minority group (San Juan, Puerto Rico).

The BYS provides a unique opportunity to understand developmental processes relevant to young adults who are not easily included in clinical, school, internet or telephone-based studies. By focusing on an underserved ethnic group (Puerto Ricans), whose risk for future psychiatric disorders has been well documented in the USA, we add relevant information to a rich tradition of population-based longitudinal studies that have informed our knowledge of developmental psychopathology." Cristiane Duarte, PhD, MPH, Lead Author, Ruane Professor at the Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York

Children have been followed since the year 2000, when the original 2,491 participants were between the ages of 5 to 13 years old. Young adults were re-assessed on average 11.3 years after the last study contact, with retention of more than 80 percent of the original sample. The current article presents the cohort composition during young adulthood as it pertains to survival, mobility, parental involvement and other parameters that are crucial to the understanding of developmental psychopathology processes but are not frequently captured by more selective studies.

Hoping to help advance the field, the paper also provides detailed descriptions of methods and measures used, plus strategies utilized to engage and retain a low-income ethnically diverse cohort. The main aim of the first three waves of the study, initiated by Drs. Bird and Canino at the turn of the 21st century was to investigate development, specifically related to antisocial behaviors at the two study sites.

Co-author Glorisa Canino, PhD, Professor at the Department of Psychiatry, University of Puerto Rico, Puerto Rico, said: "The study included the ascertainment of a wide array of putative risk factors that could be related to differences across contexts. After the completion of the first three waves, the question remained as to whether similar patterns observed in childhood would persist into late adolescence and early adulthood."

The risks threatening the positive development of Puerto Rican youth and other diverse racial/ethnic youth, living in disadvantaged contexts, are now likely being compounded by number of relevant factors. These include the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on underserved racial/ethnic minorities; a prolonged economic depression; and a recent major natural disaster (Hurricane Maria) together with the long-term experiences of discrimination and structural racism that have afflicted these same families for centuries.

The BYS gathers data from childhood through young adulthood on areas such as family relationships, cultural stress and psychiatric disorders, with the addition of domains specific to late adolescence and young adulthood (e.g., sexual risk behaviors, substance use, and financial independence). As such, the study is poised to answer questions that are important to the lived experiences of this ethnic group as they might pertain to mental health and has the capacity to assess the role of context and gender in these associations.

"This study is distinctive and even more relevant today as we unpack the role of minority status in the development of Latinx youth," said co-author Margarita Alegria, PhD Professor, Harvard University. "This represents a unique opportunity to identify assets and risks of Latinx youths' mental health as they transition to emerging adults."

Of note, currently Hector Bird, MD, study co-author states, "The retention of over 80 percent of a sample of children, now young adults, seen more than ten years after the last encounter, has been remarkable. We sincerely hope that the current readers and those of years to come will benefit from the results of this work both in informing epidemiologic methodology as well as from the implications of the findings for the mental health of Puerto Rican and other ethnic groups."
TRINIDAD and Tobago Unit Trust Corporation (UTC) executive director, Nigel Edwards, says the changes the 39-year-old financial institution is undergoing at this time are transformational.

The UTC is now in the middle of a three-year cycle of strategic changes that will culminate in 2023 and beyond, he said.

Assembly elections 2021: PM Modi to address rallies in West Bengal, Assam

India

oi-Ajay Joseph Raj P

New Delhi, Mar 17: A day before addressing rallies in poll-bound West Bengal and Assam, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Wednesday that there is a desire for a change in Bengal with the BJP's agenda of good governance striking a chord among the people.

"Glad to be getting the opportunity to be among my sisters and brothers of West Bengal tomorrow, 18th March. I would be addressing a rally in Purulia. Across West Bengal, there is a desire for change. BJP's agenda of good governance is striking a chord among the people," he tweeted.

Tamil Nadu elections 2021: Liquor ban promise surfaces again in poll-bound State

In another tweet, PM Modi said, "Will be in Assam tomorrow, 18th March. Looking forward to being among the people of this great state during the rally in Karimganj. Assam has witnessed positive changes across various sectors over the last 5 years. NDA seeks people's blessings to continue the development agenda."

While the BJP is running a campaign to end the running Trinamool Congress' 10-year rule in Bengal, it is working to retain power in Assam.

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Story first published: Wednesday, March 17, 2021, 21:02 [IST]
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The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (Sahpra) has approved the Section 21 application for Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine.

This approval is subject to conducting a post Section 21 authorisation efficacy and safety surveillance of Comirnaty vaccine in South Africa, said Sahpra on Tuesday.The main purpose of Section 21 is to provide access to medicines on an exceptional basis, where conventional therapies have been ruled out, have failed or are unavailable as marketed products.This must always have regard to the safety, efficacy and quality of medicines accessed through Section 21 which are set out in Regulation 29.South Africa has ordered 20-million doses of Pfizer/BioNTech vaccines.Early this month, health minister, Dr Zweli Mkhize, said the country was anticipating about 600,000 Pfizer Covid-19 vaccines to land in South Africa before the end of March.Pfizer/BioNTech is 95% effective, requires two shots and efficacy was consistent across age, gender, race and ethnicity demographics, according to the phase three study.According to the American multinational pharmaceutical corporation, it is expected to produce up to 1.3-billion doses by the end of 2021.Meanwhile, more Johnson & Johnson doses of Covid-19 vaccines are expected to arrive this week.According to the latest data, the number of healthcare workers vaccinated has now risen to 157,286 as of 16 March.
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Matt Hancock today insisted the UK 'fully expects' all of its contracts with vaccine manufacturers to be delivered on as ministers condemned Brussels' 'brinkmanship' after the EU threatened to block exports of the jabs.

The Health Secretary told a Downing Street press conference this evening he believes vaccines manufactured inside the bloc which have been purchased by the UK will still be shipped because it is 'fulfilling contractual responsibilities'.

He was the latest senior member of the Government to rebuke the EU after a rattled Ursula von der Leyen complained the bloc is sending millions of doses to other countries while receiving few in return as she warned of action to ensure 'reciprocity'.

Speaking as the EU's vaccine rollout descended deeper into chaos, Ms von der Leyen called on Britain to begin sending AstraZeneca jabs overseas.

She lashed out at the drug-maker for 'under-producing and under-delivering' doses, saying it is to blame for the slow place of Europe's roll-out.

That is despite the fact that 19 countries, including France, Germany, Italy and Spain, have halted the use of AstraZeneca jabs over unfounded fears they cause blood clots, meaning around 7.5million doses are currently sitting unused.

'All options are on the table. We are in the crisis of the century. And I'm not ruling out any anything for now,' Ms von der Leyen told reporters in Brussels. It raises the possibility that stocks of Pfizer vaccine manufactured in Belgium could be prevented from going to Britain - although most of the UK's AstraZeneca supplies are made in this country.

In an ominous sign this afternoon, the NHS has warned vaccination centres that there will be a 'significant' constraint on jabs for the next month - although it is not clear whether the shortage is linked to the spat with Brussels.

But the sabre-rattling drew a furious British response, with Dominic Raab saying Ms von der Leyen's comments flew in the face of 'direct assurances' that contracts will be honoured and Tory MPs accusing her of 'playing politics with people's lives'.

'I think it takes some explaining because the world's watching,' Mr Raab told Reuters. 'We've, all of us, including with our European friends, been saying throughout the pandemic, that you'd be wrong to curtail or interfere with lawfully-contracted supply. We all said it last year on PPE. We've been saying it this year, on vaccines and other things.

Mr Raab said the stance 'cuts across the direct assurances that we had from the Commission'. 'We expect those assurances and legal contracted supply to be respected,' he added.

'Frankly, I'm surprised we're having this conversation. It is normally what the UK and EU team up with to reject when other countries with less democratic regimes than our own engage in that kind of brinkmanship.'

Boris Johnson's spokesman said the EU must stand by its 'commitments' and not restrict vaccine exports that have been legitimately agreed.

Mr Hancock told the briefing this evening: 'This vaccine is provided at cost to the whole world, so it is now being manufactured all the way round the world and we legally signed a contract for delivery of the first 100million doses here for people in the UK as you would expect, both to ensure that people in the UK can get their jab and also because this is a UK funded, UK delivered vaccine.

But we are very happy for others around the world to be able to also manufacture it at cost but at the same time as President Von der Leyen has said, she said there should not be restrictions on the export of vaccines by companies where they are fulfilling contractual responsibilities.

And so the supply of vaccines from EU production facilities to the UK is indeed fulfilling contractual responsibilities and we fully expect those contracts to be delivered on.

Earlier, Tory MPs Andrea Jenkyns, Chris Green and Marcus Fysh all hit out at the EU's actions, accusing Eurocrats of 'giving up' on free trade and behaving like communists.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock today said he 'fully expects' the UK's vaccine contracts with manufacturers to be delivered on

Ursula von der Leyen has told Britain to hand over doses of AstraZeneca vaccine or else risk seeing jab exports from the continent blocked, despite the fact that most of Europe has halted its use

European leaders have turned on one-another in the latest episode of the bloc's shambolic jabs saga, amid fury at the decision to block the use of AstraZeneca vaccines as a third wave of infections looms

Europe's already-slow jab roll-out has been hit by further delays after the use of AstraZeneca's vaccine was temporarily suspended. The UK has relied heavily on AstraZeneca jabs to power ahead with its roll-out, which is one of the world's fastest

HOW BADLY WOULD UK'S VACCINE DRIVE SUFFER IF THE EU BLOCKED VACCINE EXPORTS? If the European Union blocked all exports of coronavirus vaccines made on its turf, Britain could remain self-sufficient and still get jabs to the entire population. However, it could come under pressure on second dose supply. EU president Ursula von der Leyen suggested today that the bloc could start an export ban on vaccines  the second time that threat has been made  because the continent's rollout is going so badly. WHICH VACCINES ARE MADE IN THE EU? The Pfizer/BioNTech jab is currently the only vaccine used in the UK but manufactured in the EU, at the company's plant in Puurs, Belgium. AstraZeneca's jab is made at home in England and Wales. Moderna's  which will become available in about two weeks' time at the start of April  is produced in Switzerland, which is not an EU member and so not under von der Leyen's jurisdiction. The Janssen vaccine, which has not yet been approved by Britain but is likely to be next, will be made in various factories around the world, including in France, Belgium, the US and Japan. Britain's supply is likely to come from the EU but is not expected until the second half of this year in any case. CAN WE RELY ON ASTRAZENECA? The good news is that the UK has ordered so many doses of the Oxford/AstraZeneca jab  100million  that in a worst-case scenario it could immunise the entire adult population (around 50million people) using that one alone. And supply of the Oxford/AstraZeneca jab in April and May will be around three to four times larger than of Pfizer and over 20 times as large as those from Moderna  at around three to four million available per week, according to a delivery schedule leaked by the Scottish Government in January  meaning the country will be able to rely on those for the vast majority of its vaccinations. WHAT ABOUT PFIZER SECOND DOSES? The bad news is that around 13million people have already had at least one dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, and the majority of them are still waiting for a second jab, which are likely only to come from within the EU. This means that Britain has to have another 13million doses at least, in order to make sure those people are fully protected. And it also hopes for another 14million so it can immunise the total 20million for whom doses were ordered. Pfizer and the UK Government have both refused to comment on the supply chain but deliveries are expected to be smaller in April. The Department of Health may have to stop using Pfizer supplies for first-time vaccinations within weeks if the spectre of export issues remains, MailOnline understands, because it must begin to stockpile supplies to cope with the huge demand for second doses that will come in April, three months after the rollout exploded in January. The delivery projections accidentally published by the Scottish Government suggest its supplies of Pfizer will tumble from 130,000 per week throughout March to just 78,000 per week in April and May. This could equate to approximately 1.5million per week for the whole UK dropping to 950,000 per week, according to the distribution formula used by the Government. The UK vaccinated more than 2.5million people per week throughout most of January and February and around half of all doses used were Pfizer, meaning the demand for second doses could exceed one million per week in April and May. If this is the case the Government will have to use all of the projected 950,000 per week suggested in the Scottish delivery schedule while also hoping it has enough left over to meet this rolling demand  leaving little to no capacity for people to receive the Pfizer jab for the first time. Pfizer declined to comment on its supply chain but said: 'In the UK, we are continuing to liaise closely with the Government to deliver the 40million doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine that we have committed to supply before the end of the year and can confirm that overall projected supply remains the same for quarter one (January to March).' Advertisement

Elsewhere Jeremy Brown, who is part of the committee advising the UK government on its vaccine drive, said today that he cannot understand the logic of Europe's ban and warned that it will cost more lives than it saves.

He added that links between AstraZeneca's jab and blood clots appears 'spurious' with fears being 'overblown', and that Europe's actions will hurt vaccine drives around the world by casting doubt on an 'incredibly safe [and] very effective' jab.

Speaking to reporters in Brussels today, Von der Leyen said: 'AstraZeneca has unfortunately under-produced and under-delivered, and this painfully, of course, reduced the speed of the vaccination campaign.'

'Where the UK is concerned, we have observed that in the last six weeks 10 million doses by now have been exported to the UK.'

The UK was 'country number one' in terms of exports from the EU, she said.

'Indeed the UK is producing AstraZeneca. In our contract with AstraZeneca there are even two sites in the UK that are put in the contract for potential deliveries for the European Union.

'We are still waiting for doses to come from the UK, so this is an invitation to show us that there are also doses from the UK coming to the European Union so that we have reciprocity.'

Von der Leyen said the company originally pledged to deliver 90 million doses of its shot in the first three months of 2021, but later said it could only provide 40 million, then more recently only 30 million.

For the second quarter of 2021, she said, AstraZeneca will only deliver 70 million doses, less than half of the 180 million it was 'contractually obliged to deliver.'

Von der Leyen also noted the EU has exported around 41 million vaccine doses to other countries. 'But open roads run in both directions, and this is why we need to ensure that there is reciprocity and proportionality,' she said.

'If the situation does not change, we will have to reflect on how to make exports to vaccine producing countries dependent on their level of openness,' she added, without naming any country.

But In a break with other European leaders she insisted that she 'trusts' AstraZeneca's vaccine and that the main problem is not safety, but supplies.

Australia asks EU for 1m jabs to help outbreak in Papua New Guinea Australia said on Wednesday it will ask the European Union to release 1 million doses of a COVID-19 vaccine to help Papua New Guinea (PNG) battle a dangerous outbreak that authorities fear could spread to other parts of the region. The request could inflame existing tensions between Canberra and Brussels amid claims of vaccine nationalism after the EU recently blocked an Australia-bound shipment of the doses. Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Wednesday said the vaccines were contracted to Australia and were now badly needed to contain a surge in coronavirus cases in the Pacific island nation, parts of which are just a short boat ride from Australian territory. 'We've contracted them. We've paid for them and we want to see those vaccines come here so we can support our nearest neighbour, PNG, to deal with their urgent needs in our region,' Morrison told reporters in Canberra. 'They're our family, they're our friends. They're our neighbours. They're our partners... This is in Australiaas interests, and is in our region's interests.' Australia will donate 8,000 locally produced COVID-19 vaccines to PNG as an immediate response to the outbreak, and would make a million doses available as soon as they arrived from Europe, he said. Earlier this month, the EU, at Italy's request, blocked a shipment of 250,000 doses of the AstraZeneca PLC vaccine to Australia, citing vaccine shortages in Europe. Advertisement

Von der Leyen joins a growing body of policy experts, politicians and medical professionals urging European leaders to lift a temporary ban on using the vaccine that was rushed into place in the last few days.

Professor Brown, who is also head of respiratory diseases at UCL, told BBC Radio 4 earlier today that he cannot understand the logic of blocking the treatment.

He said: 'I don't understand why this is happening... because we do know the vaccine works, it prevents about 85 per cent of admissions to hospital after one dose. Even in the very old and the frail.

'By rolling out the vaccine you prevent deaths, by stopping the vaccine they will cause more illness and more deaths by this week or two hiatus using the vaccine than they will ever prevent.

'I honestly don't really know [how they reached that conclusion].

'If people sit back and look at the overall picture which is this vaccine is incredibly safe, its very effective, and we are in the middle of a pandemic that we will not get out of until everyone has been vaccinated.

'To interrupt the vaccine for what will turn out - most likely - to be a spurious reason seems unnecessary.'

European countries rushed to halt their roll-out of the jabs this week, following the lead of a few smaller countries which paused vaccination last week, after a few dozen cases of blood clots occurred amid millions of doses that have been handed out.

But the hasty decision has now sparked a civil war, with the European Commission issuing a rare rebuke to EU leaders on Tuesday, urging them to keep using AstraZeneca shots to protect as many people as possible.

'Every dose counts,' health minister Stella Kyriakides told a virtual summit, pointing to 14million vaccines that have gone un-used in Europe including 7.5million AstraZeneca jabs.

Meanwhile Poland's Prime Minister vowed to keep administering the shots in defiance of 19 countries which have paused their use, accusing other leaders of 'giving in to panic' about blood clots.

In Germany, health minister Jens Spahn is facing calls to resign over his handling of the crisis including the decision to block AstraZeneca jabs, with Wolfgang Kubicki, leader of the FDP, accusing him of undermining trust in the vaccine.

'We should open up AstraZeneca to everyone,' he said. 'The vaccine is of no use if it is not vaccinated quickly enough.'

Angela Merkel's CDU party also slumped to its lowest rating since the start of the Covid pandemic in a new poll released today, as public confidence in her management of the crisis ebbs away.

Elsewhere France's Emmanuel Macron - also facing an election this year - and Italy's newly-installed premier Mario Draghi signalled an imminent U-turn on AstraZeneca once the European Medicines Agency gives its final verdict on Thursday.

But the EMA has already insisted twice - once last week and once on Tuesday - that any risks from AstraZeneca's vaccine are far outweighed by the benefits and that there is no reason to stop using it.

Italy's medicines authority yesterday admitted the decision to stop using the Oxford-AstraZeneca was 'political', while in Germany, Angela Merkel's closest allies hit out against the decision to suspend its use when cases were rocketing across the country.

Berlin officials yesterday defended the move, claiming that seven cases of a rare type of blood clot had occurred in the 1.6 million people it had given the jab - a higher number than expected. The German Health Ministry argued 'it would not be responsible to continue vaccinating without an investigation'.

But in sign of the chaos, France and Italy were last night already signalling they could make a U-turn - suggesting they could restart use of jab once EMA gives its final verdict tomorrow (Thursday).

Poland said yesterday that it would carry on using the AstraZeneca jab, accusing other states of giving in to 'disinformation'.

The PM's chief of staff said: 'Most countries that have temporarily suspended (AstraZeneca) vaccinations have given in to panic caused by media-fuelled information about alleged complications.'

British regulators, politicians and scientists maintain the jab - which has already been given to 11 million Britons - is safe and that any links to blood clots are purely coincidental.

Last night, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said: 'The Oxford/Astra-Zeneca jab is safe that is what the British regulator says, but also the World Health Organisation and even the European regulator.

'We know that over 10 million people have had it in this country.'

'We keep the effects of these vaccines under review all the time and we know that the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine is saving lives in the UK right now. So if you get the call, get the jab.'

Sweden, Portugal and Lithuania became the latest EU countries to pause use of the vaccine yesterday, taking the total number who have suspended or restricted use to 19.

Downing Street suggested these countries were wrong to stop administering the Astra-Zeneca jab and that Boris Johnson would be 'perfectly happy' to receive it himself.

Reassurances from the World Health Organisation (WHO) and EMA have so far failed to quell the growing crisis, with both holding emergency meetings this week.

The EMA confirmed it has been investigating since the concerns were first flagged last week, with its full findings due to be published tomorrow afternoon (Thurs).

Emer Cooke, executive director of EMA, told a press briefing on Tuesday there was no current indication that the Oxford vaccine was the cause of the 'very rare' reported blood clots.

Stella Kyriakides, the EU's health commissioner, issued a rare rebuke to leaders and urged them to push ahead with getting vaccines to people as a third wave of virus looms

France's Emmanuel Macron (right) and Italy's Mario Draghi (left) have both signalled they are ready to U-turn on the issue when regulators publish a report Thursday, despite the regulators already insisting that AstraZeneca jabs are safe to use

Boris Johnson tonight hailed the UK hitting the milestone of 25million people given first doses of vaccine

She said: 'I want to stress at present there is no indication that vaccination has caused these conditions.

'They have not come up in the clinical trials and they are not listed as known side events with this vaccine.

'In clinical trials both vaccinated people and people who received the placebo have shown some very small number of blood clot developments.

'The number of thromboembolic events overall in vaccinated people seems not to be higher than that seen in the general population.' She said the EMA remains 'firmly convinced' that the benefits of the Astra Zeneca outweigh any risks and admitted she was worried about the effects of the suspensions on vaccine trust among citizens.

She added: 'Thousands of people are dying across the EU every day. We have authorised for highly effective Covid vaccines that can protect against severe Covid disease. These are very rare thromboembolic events, or blood clots. We need to evaluate these very carefully.'

Elsewhere, Stella Kyriakides, health commissioner of the European Commission, urged countries to start protecting citizens again by giving them the jab.

Speaking following a virtual meeting of EU health ministers in Brussels, she said: 'Even with the immense and regrettable challenges around production capacity and deliveries, there are reports of unused reservoirs of vaccines across the European Union.

'We currently see the proportions of available vaccine doses distributed range from 50 to 100 per cent across member states.

'Every dose counts and every dose is providing a protective shield for our health workers, our elderly, or our vulnerable groups.' EU governments have so far used just 48 million doses out of 62.2 million delivered so far, according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.

Almost 15 million of those doses were supplied by UK-based drugs giant AstraZeneca, with more than 7.5 million of the unused vaccines now said to be sitting unused in fridges.

Germany's national disease centre warned that the country is now in the grips of a third wave and facing an exponential rise in cases, that could see it break previous records within weeks.

The crisis has led Angela Merkel's closest ally, the Bavarian regional leader, Markus Soder, to break ranks, telling German television he would take the vaccine 'immediately'.

The chancellor was also accused of having 'no clear policy' by her main coalition partners, the Social Democrats (SPD), who called on Jens Spahn, the health minister, to resign.

As the row intensified, the German Health Ministry tried to justify its decision by announcing further details about the cases which had led to the decision.

It revealed there had been seven cases of cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT), a rare type of blood clot, three of which had been fatal, out of the 1.6 million people vaccinated so far.

It said the cases were in conjunction with thrombocytopenia, a condition characterised by abnormally low levels of platelets, with experts adding they would only have expected between 1 to 1.4 cases in the fortnight following vaccination.

The statement said: 'This illness is so serious... that it would not be responsible to continue vaccinating without an investigation,' adding that it was 'striking that young people, too, were affected, especially women'.

Germany's Paul Ehrlich Institute said the condition is 'so serious that it is not justifiable to continue vaccinating without testing'.

Panic set in amid reports of blood clots after AstraZeneca's vaccine, but data shows the same number of clots occurred after Pfizer vaccines - which Europe continues to use - and that none of the clots are actually linked to the shots

Figures from AstraZeneca and the European Medicines Agency show the number of blood clot-related conditions from 17million doses dished out in the UK and Europe up to March 13

However, German newspaper BILD appeared to hit back at the suggestion, with the headline: 'Thrombosis risk after vaccination at 0.0004 percent while the opposition Free Democrat Party said the German government had 'unnecessarily endangered human lives'.

The UK's drug regulators appear to have spotted the condition five times in 11million doses - but have yet to comment on Germany's figures.

Data from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) regulator in the UK has also shown more people have reported blood clots after having Pfizer's vaccine than the Oxford one - even though Pfizer's jab has not been suspended anywhere.

The MHRA said that, in the UK up until February 28, it had received 30 reports of blood clots in people who had the Oxford/AstraZeneca jab and 38 reports associated with Pfizer/BioNTech.

It said more than 11 million doses of AstraZeneca had been given in the UK so far.

'Such reports are not proven side effects of the vaccine. Blood clots can occur naturally and are not uncommon,' a statement said.

The WHO released a statement yesterday afternoon saying there had been reports of clots in 'very few people', but 'there are several aspects of these cases which require careful evaluation, including the age of patients, clinical features and severity of conditions'.

It added: 'This data is now being collected and carefully reviewed by WHO and the European Medicines Agency. At this time, we do not know whether some or all of the conditions have been caused by the vaccine or by other coincidental factors. As soon as the review is finalised, we will inform of any findings.

'For the moment, based on the evidence reviewed to date by the EMA, the benefits of the AstraZeneca vaccine in preventing hospitalisation and death due to Covid-19 outweigh the risks of side effects.'

Earlier, the director general of Italy's medicines authority, Nicola Magrini, told Italian daily newspaper la Repubblica that the decision by some European countries to suspend the roll-out was a 'political one'.

Jens Spahn, Germany's health minister, was facing down calls for his resignation today over his decision to block AstraZeneca jabs - while Angela Merkel (left) saw her party slump to its lowest poll rating of the crisis as people lost faith in her leadership

He said the vaccine was safe and added: 'We got to the point of a suspension because several European countries, including Germany and France, preferred to interrupt vaccinations... to put them on hold in order to carry out checks. The choice is a political one.'

According to AstraZeneca, about 17 million people in the EU and the UK have received a dose of the vaccine, with fewer than 40 cases of blood clots reported.

Last night, the Prime Minister's spokesman said the EU crisis was 'obviously a matter for those countries' but stressed the World Health Organization has been clear that the AZ vaccine is both safe and effective.

Asked how the Government would allay concerns at home, the spokesman said: 'We continue to roll out both vaccines and we continue to see an incredibly high take up in terms of those who are offered the vaccine.

'As you will have seen over recent days and weeks we continue to provide the vaccine to literally hundreds and hundreds of thousands of people every day and we will continue to roll the vaccine programme out.

'You've heard the MHRA come out and be extremely clear that both vaccines are both safe and effective.

'Anybody who's invited to come forward to take a vaccine should do so.' Peter Openshaw, professor of experimental medicine at Imperial College London, said the decision to pause rollout of the Oxford/AstraZeneca jab could be a 'disaster' for vaccine uptake in Europe.

Asked what he would say to those in the UK who are booked to receive the vaccine, he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'I really wouldn't be worried at the present time.

'I think it is very clear that the benefits of being vaccinated at the moment so far outweigh the possible concern over this rather rare type of blood clot.'
COVID-19: Be alert about any symptoms in children, Uddhav Thackeray to parents

Maharashtra Lockdown-like Covid curbs to continue beyond June 1, unlocking to be in phased manner

Cong, NCP leaders meet CM over Sachin Vaze issue

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

Mumbai, Mar 17: Leaders from allies Congress and NCP on Tuesday met Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray against the backdrop of the arrest of assistant police inspector Sachin Vaze in the case of explosives-laden SUV found near industrialist Mukesh Ambani's house here.

Sources from both the parties said they pointed out during the meeting that vaze's arrest has caused embarrassment to the Shiv Sena-led government.

The Congress was already miffed with Vaze being reinstated in 2020 and getting special treatment despite his alleged involvement in the custodial death of Khwaja Yunus, an accused in a blast case, 16 years ago.

Ambani bomb scare case: Sachin Vaze suspended

Vaze was arrested by the NIA on Saturday following the mysterious death of businessman Mansukh Hiran who had claimed that the Scorpio found near Ambani's house had been stolen from his possession.

Hiran's wife has alleged that Vaze played a role in her husband's death.

Opposition BJP had alleged that Vaze was a Shiv Sena member, but Thackeray had clarified that he was a member in 2008 but his membership was not renewed and now he has nothing to do with the party.

Karnataka CD Scandal: Family claims woman kidnapped, files complaint| Oneindia News

"If there is substantial evidence of senior police officials being mixed up with Vaze's activities, they should be removed. We need to give a strong message to the police department," said a senior Congress leader.

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Story first published: Wednesday, March 17, 2021, 9:33 [IST]
Amazon defends removal of Ryan Anderson's trans-critical book; author refutes reasoning

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Online retailer Amazon has defended its decision to remove prominent conservative scholar Ryan Andersons book critiquing the transgender movement. However, its reasoning has been refuted by the author.

Last Thursday, Amazon Vice President for Public Policy Brian Huseman sent a response letter to Republican lawmakers in the U.S. Senate who questioned why the company was no longer selling Andersons 2018 book, When Harry Became Sally: Responding to the Transgender Moment.

Huseman sought to justify the decision by stating that Amazon doesnt sell books that frame the LGBTQ+ identity as a mental illness.

But the author clarified in a statement published by the Daily Signal that his book does no such thing.

Sens. Marco Rubio of Florida, Mike Lee of Utah, Mike Braun of Indiana and Josh Hawley of Missouri had asked Amazon to explain why Andersons book was pulled out of the platform.

"We reserve the right not to sell certain content. All retailers make decisions about what selection they choose to offer, as do we, Huseman added in the letter.

The book borrows its title from the 1989 romantic comedy film When Harry Met Sally.

Nowhere have I ever said or framed LGBTQ+ identity as a mental illness, Anderson, formerly a scholar at the conservative think tank Heritage Foundation who now serves as president of the Ethics & Public Policy Center in Washington, D.C., said.

Andersons book explores the meaning of human embodiment and public policy considerations related to transgender issues.

Even the pages to purchase used copies have been removed. It is no longer possible to purchase the Kindle or Audible versions of the book on the website.

In an email to The Christian Post last month, Anderson said that the book was criticized twice on the New York Times editorial page when released three years ago.

He said The Washington Post also ran a hit piece on the book and subsequently rewrote the article to fix all the errors.

Its obvious the critics hadnt read the book, Anderson said. People who have actually read my book discovered that it was a thoughtful and accessible presentation of the state of the scientific, medical, philosophical and legal debates. Yes, it advances an argument from a certain viewpoint. No, it didnt get any facts wrong, and it didnt engage in any name-calling.

Part of the Amazon.com guidelines includes a section on offensive content.

We dont sell certain content including content that we determine is hate speech, promotes the abuse or sexual exploitation of children, contains pornography, glorifies rape or pedophilia, advocates terrorism, or other material we deem inappropriate or offensive, the section reads.

A 2018 book written in response to Anderson's book is titled Let Harry Become Sally: Responding to the Anti-Transgender Moment. That book is still available for purchase on the site.

In their Feb. 24 letter, the Republican lawmakers argued that "[t]he internet is at its best when it is an open marketplace of ideas that brings people together to share, learn from one another, and engage in a range of commercial activities."

"Many Americans have come to rely on online retail more than ever before to meet their basic needs, particularly in light of the COVID-19 pandemic," they argued. "In its decision to remove Mr. Andersons book from its platforms, Amazon has openly signaled to conservative Americans that their views are not welcome on its platforms."

Last June, the tech giant banned the Christian conservative activist group Family Research Council from its AmazonSmile program on recommendations from the Southern Poverty Law Center.

The program allows customers to choose a charity to receive proceeds from their purchases. The SPLC frequently labels conservative and Christian organizations as hate groups.

The Scottsdale, Arizona-based Christian legal firm Alliance Defending Freedom, which has won several Supreme Court cases in recent years, was also banned in 2018 after SPLC labeled it as a hate group due to its biblical views on sexuality.

In 2017, Amazon also banned D. James Kennedy Ministries from participating in the AmazonSmile program after being labeled a hate group by the SPLC.

Robert Netzly, CEO of Inspire Investing, expressed concerns in an op-ed for The Christian Post that Amazon wasnt living up to its commitment to viewpoint diversity. He specifically called out Amazons board for recommending that shareholders vote against a resolution on viewpoint diversity.
Hurricane season 2021 is here: How do storms get their names?
The American College of Cardiology (ACC), in collaboration with Novo Nordisk A/S, today announced a new global program to support improvements in multidisciplinary care for people with Type 2 diabetes. Through the global UNITE (Multidisciplinary Teams In Cardiometabolic Care) program, clinicians across multiple specialties will receive the education and tools needed for an integrated approach to Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease care.

"Despite advances in care, people with Type 2 diabetes continue to face a higher risk of death and disability from cardiovascular disease," said Athena Poppas, MD, FACC, ACC president. "New strategies for managing this complex disease are needed. Through UNITE, we're meeting that need by providing guidance and tools that can be easily integrated into day-to-day clinical practice to optimize cardiovascular risk through treatment pathways and collaborative management of comorbidities."

Cardiovascular disease is the No. 1 cause of death among people with Type 2 diabetes. While recent clinical guidelines have begun to reflect the increased cardiovascular risk associated with Type 2 diabetes, barriers to achieving optimal care remain. The ACC recognized this in the 2020 Expert Consensus Decision Pathway on Novel Therapies for Cardiovascular Risk Reduction in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes, which recommends a multidisciplinary approach to managing this high-risk patient group with multiple comorbidities, but additional work is needed to help clinicians implement these recommendations.

"People with Type 2 diabetes are two to four times more likely to experience a stroke or heart attack compared to people not living with Type 2 diabetes. We know that we can help improve these outcomes, but it requires strong alignment across different medical specialties," said Stephen Gough, chief medical officer at Novo Nordisk. "Novo Nordisk is proud to collaborate with two of the foremost associations in the complementary fields of diabetes and cardiology to move forward in achieving our shared goal of improving outcomes for people with Type 2 diabetes."

UNITE will be launched in targeted countries around the world in 2021 to promote implementation of the multidisciplinary approach and foster increased collaboration. The program will offer a series of six educational webinars on cardiometabolics, cardiometabolic education modules for the cardiovascular care team and a live cardiometabolic clinic for clinicians, developed in collaboration with the American Diabetes Association (ADA) and MedAxiom, an ACC company. The first program was successfully initiated in the United Arab Emirates in December 2020, with additional countries to be announced later this year.

"Every day more than 4,000 people are newly diagnosed with diabetes in America. A priority of the ADA is to increase adoption of its evidence-based 'Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes - 2021' to improve diabetes-related health outcomes. These standards emphasize the need for aggressive risk factor reduction and targeted use of pharmacologic therapy to prevent and better manage atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and to reduce heart failure in people with Type 2 diabetes," said Ruth S. Weinstock, MD, PhD, ADA, president, medicine and science. "We look forward to collaborating with the ACC and others to help health care providers deliver care that improves the lives of people affected by diabetes."

###

For the latest information on UNITE, visit ACC.org/UNITE.

The American College of Cardiology envisions a world where innovation and knowledge optimize cardiovascular care and outcomes. As the professional home for the entire cardiovascular care team, the mission of the College and its 54,000 members is to transform cardiovascular care and to improve heart health. The ACC bestows credentials upon cardiovascular professionals who meet stringent qualifications and leads in the formation of health policy, standards and guidelines. The College also provides professional medical education, disseminates cardiovascular research through its world-renowned JACC Journals, operates national registries to measure and improve care, and offers cardiovascular accreditation to hospitals and institutions. For more, visit acc.org.
This year our dine and drink business locations throughout the Gorge have suffered with closures. You can help support your favorites by purchasing take out and gift cards. Many of these business will offer curb-side delivery and some will deliver to your home. Lets keep the Gorge going strong!
General Secretary of the Convention Peoples Party (CPP), Nana Yaa Jantuah has disclosed the intention of her party to carry out an intensive investigation to fish out the people behind the publication of the controversial history textbooks for primary schools.



Describing the history textbooks as the mischief of some people to play politics and to further disintegrate the existing cohesion the country has enjoyed from the days of former President Kwame Nkrumah, Nana Yaa Jantuah asserted that the distorted history textbooks are still available in bookshops except that they are out of stock.



We have made our mind to investigate this issue and we have gone far with our investigation and we intend to intensify the investigation to get to the bottom of the issue, she disclosed.



I deliberately went round to a lot of book shops to find out what is going on and what I heard was that they are out of stock in the various bookshops I visited. They did not tell me that the books are not available but rather the books are finished in their shops . . . it means that the books are available but just that they are out of stock, she hinted.



Speaking on Okay FMs 'Ade Akye Abia' Morning Show, the former Public Affairs Director of Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) raised mind-boggling questions as to how the books came out and the authors behind the history books and the authority that sanctioned the publication of the history textbooks.



How did the book come out? Who is the author of the book? Who allowed for such a book to be written and published? There are a lot of questions to be asked because it is about content. Who created the content for the publisher? I dont think that if you give a contract to a publisher, he has to create the content of the book. Who proofread the book and gave approval for the book to be published? she raised questions.



She added that the process leading to the publication of the history textbooks did not go well; wondering the person or the authority who instructed the authors to write about the tribes of Ghana in that ill manner the book came out with.



To her, the country has gone past the level of writing history to primary pupils to poison their minds about certain tribes in the country as we are now engaging in cross marriages and making friends with each other and diffusing that notion of bigotry among tribes.



Nana Yaa Jantuah in her attempt to remedy the situation suggested that the school authorities and stakeholders find a way to reorient the children and some youth who have been wrongly fed with these distorted facts about Ghanas history.

Source: Daniel Adu Darko/Peacefmonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Microsoft has offered users of Exchange Server a means of mitigating the so-called ProxyLogon attack, a one-click tool that it says has been tested across the 2013, 2016 and 2019 versions of Exchange Server.

But the company said the tool was not totally fool-proof.

The company has not said anything about reports emerging last Friday that exploit code for attacking mail servers had been leaked by Microsoft's security partners.

The Wall Street Journal cited "people familiar with the matter" as making the claim. A wave of attacks used code similar to that which Microsoft provided to anti-virus companies on 23 February, the report claimed.

An information sharing program known as the Microsoft Active Protections Program was set up in 2008 and includes about 80 companies. Some of them were sent the code by Microsoft.

iTWire has sought comment from Microsoft as to why there has been no further word on this alleged leak.

As for the one-click tool, it is called Microsoft Exchange On-Premises Mitigation Tool and aims "to help customers who do not have dedicated security or IT teams to apply these security updates".

On 3 March, Microsoft disclosed that four zero-day exploits were being used to attack on-premises installations of Exchange Server.

Proof-of-concept code was released on GitHub on 10 March but was taken down by the Microsoft-owned code repository.

The code was again uploaded to GitHub a day or two later, by people other than the original poster.

Of the one-click tool, Microsoft said: "The Exchange On-premises Mitigation Tool is effective against the attacks we have seen so far, but is not guaranteed to mitigate all possible future attack techniques.

"This tool should only be used as a temporary mitigation until your Exchange servers can be fully updated as outlined in our previous guidance."
She recently revealed that she feels more body confident and 'more sexually liberated' than ever since becoming a mum to her daughter Demelza.

And Amy Willerton reaffirmed her sentiments on Wednesday as she revealed she feels she's 'never been happier' after 'gaining a few pounds and a human'.

The model, 28, took to Instagram to share bikini bike ride videos of before and after the arrival of her daughter Demelza, whom she welcomed in January 2020.

Happy: Amy Willerton took to Instagram on Wednesday where she revealed she feels she's 'never been happier' after 'gaining a few pounds and a human' following the birth of daughter Demelza

The now and then video sees her enjoying a bike ride three years apart, one on her own and other with 13-month-old Demelza whizzing along in the bike trailer behind her.

The clip starts of in 2018 with Amy, in a bikini, riding her bike while on holiday in the Maldives.

The beauty is seen grinning into the camera as she rides along one-handed as she shows off her figure in her bikini and tiny sarong.

The scene then cuts to Amy riding along in beachwear again in 2021, but this time, little Demelza is seen enjoying the ride with her.

Changes: The model, 28, took to Instagram to share a now and then video of her enjoying a bike ride three years apart, one on her own and other with 13-month-old Demelza whizzing along in the bike trailer behind her

Captioning her snap, Amy penned: ' Gained a few pounds and a human ...never been happier #nowandthen .'

The sweet post garnered several comments from her fans as they praised her both before and now.

It comes after Amy recently said although she is 'heavier' now before pregnancy, she feels accepting of the changes carrying her child has brought to her body.

Body confident: The scene then cuts to Amy riding along in beachwear again in 2021, with the beauty stating she's 'never been happier'

Life changes: Captioning her snap, Amy penned: ' Gained a few pounds and a human ...never been happier #nowandthen '

The mother of one also discussed how she thinks she looks 'terrified' in pictures of herself from old photoshoots and felt 'scared' to be sexy.

Speaking to Hello! magazine, Amy said: 'I've learnt I don't need to punish myself to be perfect. I've accepted and love the changes pregnancy has brought. I'm heavier but I feel more confident and - I'm going to say it - sexually liberated than ever.'

'I look back at myself doing sexy photoshoots and in my eyes I look terrified. Back then I was scared to be sexy, but since motherhood, I feel able to express myself exactly how I wanted, with no apologies.'

Feeling good: Amy recently opened up about how becoming a mum to her daughter Demelza has made her feel body confident and 'more sexually liberated' than ever

'I've got to be a strong woman to raise a strong woman, and to be a role model I've got to be confident in my convictions.'

During the interview, revealed her plans to permanently move to Dubai with her fiance Daniel Day and their 13-month-old daughter.

The family have called the UEA home for the past five months after deciding to extend their holiday their before the second UK lockdown.

'Scared': The mother of one also discussed how she thinks she looks 'terrified' in pictures of herself from old photoshoots and felt 'scared' to be sexy (pictured 2013 Miss Universe)

The couple decided to stay longer in the country to make the most of it after their daughter fell ill on the trip and have now decided to stay put for good.

Last month, Amy took to Instagram to announce that she had joined racy subscription site OnlyFans.

She said in her video announcement: 'Hi, it's Amy Willerton. I have joined OnlyFans. So much of social media is dishonest now and I want a place that's honest, open and somewhere that I can get to know you guys and you can really get to know me.'

Changes: The model, 28, said although she is 'heavier' now before pregnancy, she feels accepting of the changes carrying her child has brought to her body (pictured with daughter)

Signed up: Last month, Amy took to Instagram to announce that she had joined racy subscription site OnlyFans

Hinting potential subscribers are in for a wild ride, she concluded: 'It's just whether you can handle me or not. Subscribe now.'

While a number of celebrities have joined OnlyFans, some have shared x-rated images of themselves, while others have used the platform to post workouts and other lifestyle content.

She wrote: 'I did two things that scared me this week...1) I sang karaoke alone for the first time ( normally I drag on a cop out sidekick ) and 2) I launched my @onlyfans account #subscribenow for exclusive content you wont find anywhere else!'
Woodstock, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - March 17, 2021) - Joshua Gold Resources Inc. (OTC Pink: JSHG) ("JSHG" or the "Company") an American gold and mineral exploration company headquartered in Canada, is pleased to announce that it has completed a bulk sampling report on gold recovery from mineralized vein material on the Kenty property.

The property is located approximately 125 km (78 mi) southwest of Timmins, Ontario. The bulk sample was collected on a small block of mining patents, referred to as the Kenty mine site. The property contains numerous gold bearing quartz veins, two shafts, and underground workings dating back to the 1930's.

Prospecting and sampling gold zones on the property in July 2020 defined the sample area to Hopkins Vein #2; a north-south trending quartz vein system typically 2-4" wide in a trench located approx. 150 meters north of Shaft #1. (GPS - E: 379203, N: 5299435, UTM Zone: 17) Sampling of Vein #2 assayed gold grades of 23.8 g/t, or 0.765 per troy ounce (2020-02 Vein #2). The bulk sample was collected in a pile of blasted material from a previous operator and consisted of quartz vein and altered wall rock material. Mineralization is characterized by quartz, ankerite, pyrite and lesser chalcopyrite.

The bulk sample was extracted by Mag Rock Drilling during July and August via drilling and blasting methods in the mineralized Vein #2 area. The ore was then loaded and transported to the mill site on August 14th, 2020. Processing of material through crushing, grinding, pulverization and gravity concentration occurred in two Batch's - Batch #1 and Batch #2 .

Batch # 1 was run through the mill on August 25th, 2020, consisted of 1761 lbs (0.799 tonne) of hand cobbled rock containing primarily quartz vein. Batch # 2, ran on October 24th, 2020 and October 25th, 2020, consisted of 1778 lbs (0.806 tonne) of quartz vein and mineralized wall rock material.

To process the sample, first the rock was crushed, weighed, pulverized to 80% minus 200 mesh, and passed through a gravity concentration sluice system. Next the concentrate was passed through a milling circuit, which began with ore fed through a primary jaw crusher (9" x 12" - crushed to minus 1.5"), followed by a secondary jaw crusher (4" x 6" - crushed to minus "). The crushed ore was slowly fed into a ball mill for pulverization using a vibratory feeder integrated into an ore bin. After the ground material exited the ball mill's discharge, it entered a slurry pump reservoir equipped with a centrifugal pump connected to a cyclone to either classify material for re-pulverization or gravity concentration in sluices.

Gold was collected using gravity concentration from course and fine sluices lined with miner's moss. The course sluice was positioned between the slurry pump and ball mill's discharge; the fine sluice positioned after the cyclone.

The results were obtained by assaying concentrates for the total weight of gold recovered. Concentrates were dried and brought to Activation Laboratories in Timmins, ON for analysis. Activation passed samples through a riffle split to ensure proper grade control. Batch # 1 measured 20.84 grams of collected gold, which represents an approximate grade of 26.1 g/t normalized by sample weight. Batch # 2 measured 7.32 grams of collected gold, which represents an approximate grade of 9.1 g/t normalized by sample weight. Both results are encouraging for demonstrating recovery of gold from the vein samples.

Further exploration is planned to examine the vein at depth and its relationship to, or intersection with, the Kenty No. 1 Vein 150 meters to the south.

Ben Fuschino comments on the Kenty bulk testing, "We are encouraged by the excellent results of the bulk testing. Our geological team will be preparing further testing on Vein #2 which the Company will be commencing after the Spring ice break-up to more fully test the vein."





Kenty Vein Samples



To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/6845/77461_807c3fb774a5ca57_001full.jpg



Kenty Vein Samples - 1



To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/6845/77461_807c3fb774a5ca57_002full.jpg

Above is a view of the blasted surface of Vein #2 looking north along strike, and a close-up of the mineralized vein material with hammer for scale

Joshua Gold Resources Inc. (OTC Pink: JSHG) a publicly traded American gold and mineral exploration company headquartered in Canada, home to the three-billion-year-old Canadian Shield which contains a wealth of minerals from nickel, gold, copper, cobalt, niobium to chromium. Please visit http://www.joshuagoldresources.com/ for more information or contact investor relations:

Peter J. Nicosia

President

Bull In Advantage, LLC

585-703-6565

info@bluehorseshoestocks.com

bullinadvantage@aol.com

Safe Harbor Statement: This press release contains forward looking statements of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. Forward looking statements are not a guarantee of future performance and results, and will not be accurate indications of the times, or by, which such performance will be achieved.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/77461
[March 16, 2021] Isotrol and Berkana Resources Corporation Partner to Accelerate Growth in the North American Renewable Energy Market

Isotrol, an international benchmark in engineering and control software solutions focused on improving the operational efficiency of Renewable Energy assets, and Berkana Resources, a leader in Operational Technology (OT) for the Energy market, have recently signed a partnership Agreement to address the rapidly expanding North American Renewable Energy market. As a result of this collaboration, both companies will jointly provide a better and more competitive solution, tailored to local needs in the execution of projects for their clients. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210316006109/en/ Isotrol has been present in the North American market for more than seven years and brings to this partnership its Renewable Energy knowledge, experience and technology including Bluence, Isotrol's comprehensive management platform for Renewable Energy. Berkana Resources has been providing Operational Technology services in North America since 2004 and brings its control system operational, technical, security and compliane knowledge to the partnership, along with a strong local position.



For Isotrol "this agreement enhances our strategic commitment to be consolidated in the North American market," declared the COO of Isotrol Manuel Losada. "Partnering with a company like Berkana Resources, with its extensive experience and position in the O&G sector, is a privilege that allows us to jointly offer a competitive and quality tender to a client that is steadily expanding towards renewable energies." For his part, the President of Berkana Resources Jeff Whitney, added, "Partnering with Isotrol gives us access to exceptional knowledge and solution capabilities to address the Renewal Energy market."

This partnership consolidates the appreciable position previously achieved by each party in North America. Isotrol currently has more than 13 GW of installed power monitored with its systems on the continent and maintains offices in Boston (USA) and Calgary (Canada). Berkana Resources provides support to multiple large and mid sized Oil & Gas concerns, assisting with Oil & Gas and Renewal Energy projects, and maintains offices in Denver, Colorado; Houston, Texas and Calgary, Alberta (Canada). About Isotrol Isotrol develops technology for the international energy market and specializes in optimizing the efficiency and profitability of renewable energy plants. The company was established in 1984 as pioneers of monitoring and control systems and, today, their solutions are managing over 53 GW of installed power capacity in 45 countries around the world. About Berkana Resources Corporation Berkana Resources Corporation (BRC) was established in 2004 and provides Operational and Information Technology consulting, integration, security and compliance solutions to customers in the Oil & Gas and Electric Utilities markets. Their clients include major Oil & Gas Companies, Utility Companies and Mid-Stream MLPs. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210316006109/en/

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Israel's parliament has approved a law mandating electronic bracelets for all arrivals to Israel who are required to quarantine due to the coronavirus.

The new law states that people sent to quarantine at home must wear the tracking bracelet to ensure compliance.

If they refuse, they must quarantine in a state-run hotel. Exceptions will be made for children under the age of 14, and other humanitarian cases.

Currently, all people entering the country are required to isolate, unless they can present a vaccination certificate, or a certificate issued by the country's health ministry that shows they have recovered from the disease.

Israel's parliament has approved a law mandating electronic bracelets for all arrivals to Israel who are required to quarantine due to the coronavirus. Pictured: A traveller shows his electronic bracelet and its box on March 1, used to enforce quarantine. They were initially voluntary, but now the choice will be between a hotel quarantine and a bracelet

Those who have been vaccinated or have recovered abroad can be released from quarantine if they undergo a test to prove their anti-body levels.

The contentious requirement passed a final vote in the Knesset 4-1 on Wednesday, with only five of the parliament's 120 members voting on the bill. Critics, including the sole dissenting lawmaker, said that it violates individuals' privacy.

For several weeks, electronic devices have already been employed on a voluntary basis to ensure that people don't break the quarantine.

The bill states that private companies will carry out the programme on behalf of the government, with all information being stored in servers owned by the government, but maintained by the companies.

An individual's data will be deleted at the end of the quarantine period, so long as there is no report of an infraction, or in no longer than 30 days.

The private companies will alert the government if it appears the person has left their home where they should be quarantining.

The bracelet cannot collect any other details about the person who is wearing it, except for whether they are complying with their quarantine, according to The Jerusalem Post that spoke with SuperCom president and CEO Ordan Trabelsi.

The devices won't track a person's location if they violate the quarantine order, but will alert authorities if the person has left the area they were supposed to remain.

At the same time, the country's Supreme Court struck down a series of measures restricting the entry and exit of Israeli citizens from the country, saying those limitations were illegal.

The regulations limiting the number of people entering the country per day to 3,000, and requiring those unvaccinated to receive approval from a committee to leave the country, will expire Saturday and cannot be renewed.

As Israel's vaccination programme continues to lead the world in terms of the percentage of its population inoculated, serious cases of coronavirus dropped bellow 600 for the first time since December, according to its health ministry.

Currently, 578 patients are in a severe condition, of whom 269 are in a critical condition while 202 are on ventilators.

Israel has now given 109.79 doses of Covid-19 vaccines per 100 people, meaning it has given more doses than there are people in the country. By comparison, the UK has given 39.04 doses per 100 people.

Pictured: Travellers sit for the Covid test at Israel's Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv on March 8, 2021. Those who have been vaccinated or have recovered abroad can be released from quarantine if they undergo a test to prove their anti-body levels

A total of 9,502,677 doses have been administered, out of a population of around 8.6 million, while over four million citizens are eligible to receive the coronavirus green passport that grants entry to restaurants, gyms and theatres, and exempts holders from quarantine.

Individuals are eligible for the passports if they are inoculated against the coronavirus, meaning they have either had two doses of the vaccine, or have recovered from the disease.

'We see how effective the vaccine is, and how dangerous coronavirus can be,' Health Minister Yuli Edelstein tweeted on Wednesday. 'We see already some places open only to green passport holders  isn't it a shame that you are left behind?'

Meanwhile, Israel has seen 6,048 deaths as a result of the coronavirus, and total 822,703 cases. Of a total of 72,600 tests taken since Tuesday night, with 2.1 percent coming back positive - the lowest rate in the country since December.

The Palestinian Authority said Wednesday it will receive around 60,000 coronavirus vaccine doses over the next 48 hours, the first shipment provided by a World Health Organization partnership aimed at helping poor countries.

With its world-leading vaccination programme, Israel has been able to open up bars, restaurants and other leisure facilities to people who have green passports - proof that they are inoculated from the virus, either with two vaccine doses or having recovered from covid

Pictured: A Palestinian man receives a dose of Russia's Sputnik V COVID-19 coronavirus vaccine at the Ministry of Health Sabha Al Harazeen clinic, in Al Shejaeiya neighborhood, in the east of Gaza City, 17 March 2021

That's only enough doses to vaccinate 31,000 people out of a population of nearly 5 million Palestinians in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and Gaza.

Israel, which has faced criticism for not sharing more of its supplies with the Palestinians, has already vaccinated 5 million people- more than half of its population - and has largely reopened its economy.

Palestinian Health Ministry spokesman Kamal al-Shakhra said authorities would receive 38,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine and 24,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine. The AstraZeneca vaccines will be kept in storage until the WHO reviews recent safety concerns.

An Israeli security official confirmed the shipment, which arrived in Israel's Ben Gurion International Airport, and said about a third of the vaccines would be sent to Gaza on Wednesday. The official spoke on condition of anonymity in line with regulations.

These are the first doses to arrive through the WHO's COVAX initiative, a global humanitarian partnership that has been slow to get off the ground, facing shortages of cash and supplies as rich countries have galloped ahead with their vaccination campaigns.


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TSUKUBA, Japan, March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- A research team at WPI-MANA has demonstrated a laser-assisted non-volatile memory device based on two-dimensional van-der-Waals heterostructures.

(Image: https://kyodonewsprwire.jp/prwfile/release/M105739/202103102063/_prw_PI1fl_sdz7zZcv.jpg)

The researchers designed and investigated a few-layer rhenium disulfide (ReS2) field-effect transistor with a local floating gate (FG) of monolayer graphene separated by a thin hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) tunnel layer, and applied it to non-volatile memory (NVM) devices.

FG-NVM devices based on 2D van-der-Waals heterostructures (atomically thin layers that are attached to each other via very weak van-der-Waals interactions) have been the focus of considerable attention recently, as their tuneable and multibit operation under laser light could make them important components in future digital electronics and multifunctional memory applications.

The team demonstrated multi-level memory operation via 532nm laser pulse and electrostatic gate pulse coupling. The robustness and stability of the laser-assisted tuneable ReS2/h-BN/FG-graphene device show the potential for multibit information storage.

Laser-assisted memory operation provides a new degree of freedom for multifunctional optoelectronic devices with the extra functionality of optically communicated multilevel access. Since laser light can travel through free space without losing power, it allows operation of optoelectronic devices from a distance at low power and with little need for maintenance.

The WPI-MANA researchers used direct bandgap multilayer ReS2 because the material satisfies various requirements as a channel material for electronic devices, as well as being a strong light-absorbing layer, which makes it useful in light-assisted optoelectronic applications.

The device exhibits the functionality of a conventional electronic memory and can store laser pulse-excited signal information for future all-optical logic and quantum information processing.

It also addresses the need for a low-power and optical control of multi-level operation of NVM devices, as well as for an NVM optoelectronic device that can distinguish light wavelengths for color sensing in digital imaging.

This research was carried out by Yutaka Wakayama (Group Leader, Quantum Device Engineering Group, WPI-MANA, NIMS) and his collaborators.

"Laser-Assisted Multilevel Non-Volatile Memory Device Based on 2D van-der-Waals Few-Layer-ReS2/h-BN/Graphene Heterostructures"

Bablu Mukherjee et al., Advanced Functional Materials (August 25, 2020)

https://doi.org/10.1002/adfm.202001688

MANA E-BULLETIN

https://www.nims.go.jp/mana/ebulletin/
We are listening to those concerns and that measure is under review. Mr Morrison announced $328 million for family violence measures in 2019 but Labor promised greater spending, while the government has to decide how much more to commit in another national action plan to start next year. If the government drops the idea of allowing women to use their super, it may face calls to offer more direct grants to women who need emergency help. Labor Senator Janny McAllister said the government should abandon the super proposal. If there were ever a week for the Prime Minister to listen to the women of Australia, it is this week. This proposal is without friends amongst women and their advocates, she said.

Frontline workers and survivors are clear that asking women to fund their own escape will make things worse not better. Instead of making women use their retirement savings to leave a violent relationship, the Prime Minister should join with Labor and commit to paid domestic violence leave, [which] gives women the financial support they need, without exposing them to further risk of danger and a lifetime of economic insecurity. With the treatment of women dominating Parliament this week, Labor leader Anthony Albanese asked Mr Morrison for an update on a review by the Secretary of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, Phil Gaetjens, into Mr Morrisons own office and its response to the alleged rape of Ms Higgins. Mr Morrison said that review, sought three weeks ago, was yet to be finished. Labor also challenged Mr Morrison over his defence of Attorney-General and Industrial Relations Minister Christian Porter, who intends to keep his cabinet position and portfolios while taking defamation action against the ABC over its reporting of allegations he raped a woman in January 1988.

Loading Mr Porter has strongly denied the allegations and is planning to return from personal leave on March 31, with Employment Minister Michaelia Cash and Assistant Minister Amanda Stoker likely to take some of his duties. The government has said Mr Porter would not be responsible for the Federal Court, the ABC or defamation law reform, raising questions for Labor over what other parts of the Attorney-Generals portfolio he could keep. Under questioning from Labor, Mr Morrison would not say whether Mr Porter would have responsibility for the Sex Discrimination Act. Senator Stoker has been asked to manage the government response to the Respect@Work report on workplace sexual harassment, which Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins delivered a year ago with 55 recommendations.

Labor MPs heckled Mr Morrison when Tanya Plibersek, the shadow minister for women, asked him when he would respond to the Respect@Work recommendations. Shadow minister for women Tanya Plibersek reacts to Prime Minister Scott Morrison. Credit:Dominic Lorrimer Mr Morrison replied by speaking instead about the fourth action plan agreed with the states in October 2019 to reduce violence against women, leading the Speaker, Tony Smith, to remind him to answer the specific question. With Labor seeking to put the government under pressure, ministers hit back by citing the abuse aimed at Liberal MP Nicolle Flint during the last election campaign, an issue she spoke out about in Parliament on Tuesday. Environment Minister Sussan Ley praised Ms Flint for being brave in the face of a despicable campaign against her, hours after Mr Albanese said the attacks on Ms Flint should not have happened.

The Labor leader said his office also faced abuse from protesters from groups such as Extinction Rebellion, while Greens leader Adam Bandt said he was not aware of any abuse aimed at Ms Flint by his party. Loading While the attacks on Ms Flint took place outside Parliament, they heightened the debate about the culture of politics as the government sets up a review into the parliamentary workplace. Women including Therese Rein and Lucy Turnbull issued an open letter on Wednesday seeking confidentiality for submissions to the review, which will be led by Ms Jenkins as Sex Discrimination Commissioner. The open letter said submissions should not be subject to Freedom of Information release and should not be subject to the Archives Act, because this would release the documents after 20 years.
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- Four new board members and two new advisory board members bring further industry, commercial and financial experience and expertise

- Joe Bakaj and Nick Spencer join the Britishvolt Advisory Board, adding expertise in product development, electrification strategy, global supply chains and automotive manufacturing

- Sir Michael Snyder, Lord Chadlington, William Harrison and Jolyon Price join the Britishvolt Board

- Britishvolt to build the UK's first battery gigaplant in North East England which will be operational by the end of 2023

LONDON, March 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Britishvolt, the UK's foremost investor in battery technologies, has announced four new board members and two new advisory board members, bringing further experience and talent to its leadership team.

Joe Bakaj joins the Britishvolt Advisory Board following 34 years of experience in the automotive industry. His latest position was Vice President Product Development for Ford of Europe. Prior to that he served as Ford's Vice President Global Powertrain and Electrification. Nick Spencer also joins the Britishvolt Advisory Board, bringing over three decades of automotive industry expertise in complex manufacturing and global supply chains, at both Jaguar Land Rover and the BMW Group.

Sir Michael Snyder, Jolyon Price, Lord Chadlington and William Harrison bring vast industrial, commercial and financial expertise to Britishvolt as it delivers Britain's first battery gigaplant, investing 2.6BN and directly creating 3000 skilled jobs. Making world-class lithium-ion batteries is widely regarded as being strategically critical for the UK economy.

Orral Nadjari, CEO Britishvolt "We are delighted and honoured that Sir Michael Snyder, Jolyon Price, Lord Chadlington and William Harrison are joining Britishvolt as non-executive directors, along with automotive experts Joe Bakaj and Nick Spencer joining our Advisory Board. Their skills, experience, long history of success and senior counsel will be invaluable to our business as we prepare to lead the UK's electrified future.

"These appointments underpin the huge progress that we have made in a short period of time and the world-class capability that is now driving Britishvolt forwards at pace. We are firmly on track with construction, product development, funding, and engaging all future customers. We will be production ready by 2023."

Britishvolt's Board of Directors is led by Chairman Peter Rolton and now comprises of:

Orral Nadjari, Chief Executive Officer

Isobel Sheldon, Chief Strategy Officer

Sir Michael Snyder, Non-executive Director and Chair of Audit Committee

Lord Chadlington, Non-executive Director

William Harrison, Non-executive Director

Charles Morgan, Non-executive Director

Jolyon Price, Non-executive Director

Joe Bakaj has been appointed Interim Chairman of Britishvolt's Advisory Board and is joined by:

Sacha Dench

Jon Sigurdsen

Nick Spencer

Sebastiaan Welling

SAFE HARBOR

Certain statements in this press release concerning our future growth prospects are forward-looking statements regarding our future business expectation intended to qualify for the 'safe harbor' under the U.S. Private Securities Reform Act of 1995, which involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements. The risks and uncertainties relating to these statements include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties regarding fluctuations in earnings, fluctuations in foreign exchange rates, our ability to manage growth, competition including those factors which may affect our cost advantage, equipment procurement, wage increases, our ability to attract and retain highly skilled professionals, time and cost overruns on fixed-price, fixed-time contracts or time and material construction contracts, customer concentration, restrictions on immigration, industry segment concentration, our ability to manage international operations, reduced demand, disruptions in telecommunication networks or system failures, our ability to successfully complete and integrate potential acquisitions, liability for damages related to battery service agreements, the success of the companies in which Britishvolt has made strategic partnerships, withdrawal or expiration of governmental fiscal incentives, political instability and regional conflicts, legal restrictions on raising capital or acquiring companies and unauthorised use of our intellectual property and general economic conditions affecting our industry. In addition, please note any forward-looking statements contained herein are based on assumptions we believe to be reasonable as of the date of this press release.

Notes to Editors

About Britishvolt

Britishvolt is Britain's foremost investor in battery technologies. It is dedicated to supporting the future of electrified transportation and sustainable energy storage, producing world-leading lithium-ion battery technologies.

Britishvolt's aim is to establish the UK as the leading force in battery technology. It is working with leading partners and suppliers to achieve this because it is of paramount importance to the future of the UK automotive industry and the overall economic and industrial health of the UK.

The company believes that the UK is the right place for its investments because of the strength of its automotive and energy industry, its expertise and history of industrial and academic battery research and development.

Quarter four of 2023 has been targeted as the start of production in Britain's first gigaplant in Blyth, Northumberland.

Britishvolt's new board members

Sir Michael Snyder, Non-executive Director and Chair of Audit Committee  An esteemed British businessman, Sir Michael Snyder joins Britishvolt as a Non-executive Director and Chair of Audit Committee. Snyder previously held the positions of Managing Partner and Senior Partner of Kingston Smith, a top 20 UK accountancy firm. He currently serves as a Non-Executive Director on the board of Metro Bank and held the position of interim Chairman between October 2019 to November 2020.

Lord Chadlington, Non-executive Director  Lord Chadlington has been involved in national and local politics for many years and is an active member of the House of Lords. He has served as a director on the Boards of a multitude of public and private companies ranging from communications to healthcare, banking and procurement. His current portfolio includes directorships for companies in public relations, venture capital, political strategy and digital banking.

William Harrison, Non-executive Director - William Harrison, Chairman ISG Ltd, brings long-standing boardroom level experience to Britishvolt. One of the largest global construction companies, ISG has a 30-year track record of large-scale production projects. Harrison is also CEO of Cathexis Holdings, a global multi-strategy holding company.

Jolyon Price, Non-executive Director - Jolyon Price joins the Britishvolt board as a non-executive director after over 20 years at Ridge & Partners LLP. In his current position, as one of the owners of Ridge sitting on the Executive Board, Price has gained unrivalled experience managing multi-million-pound projects worldwide. He has particular expertise in the construction industry, delivering projects for 15 Formula One teams and some of the world's largest OEMs across five continents, making him well placed to help oversee the delivery of Britain's first battery gigaplant.

Joe Bakaj, Advisory Board Interim Chairman - Bakaj joins Britishvolt with over 34 years of experience in the automotive industry. During his career he has held senior positions at Ford and Mazda working in Europe, Japan and North America. His last position was as Vice President Product Development for Ford of Europe. Prior to that he served as Ford's Vice President Global Powertrain and Electrification.

Nick Spencer, Advisory Board member - Nick Spencer has over three decades of automotive industry expertise and is a recognised expert in complex manufacturing and global supply chains. After training as an electronics engineer, he spent nine years at BMW's global headquarters in Munich, before becoming Managing Director of its Hams Hall engine plant in the UK. He then joined Jaguar Land Rover leading its global powertrain manufacturing operations, before heading up a global procurement division.

SOURCE Britishvolt
The cellar of The Temple Bar in central Dublin would normally be stacked head-high with enough kegs of Guinness to serve thousands of pints to revellers toasting Ireland's patron saint.

But this St Patrick's Day on Wednesday, only a smattering of empty caskets line the chilled basement of the crimson-coloured pub, the cornerstone of the capital's drinking district.

For the second year in succession, the normally raucous celebrations have been cancelled by coronavirus curbs.

"It's a year on now and... we seem to be back where we started," said publican Tom Cleary, perched on a barstool next to a Guinness tap fashioned in the shape of the Celtic harp.

"It's sad there's no end in sight," he told AFP. "I mean, will we be here next St Patrick's Day with the same problems?"

St Patrick's Day is traditionally a bonanza trading day for publicans across the Republic of Ireland.

Huge crowds heave into city centres on the national holiday, jamming pubs cheek by jowl and spilling out into the streets in an alcohol-fuelled, shamrock-themed celebration of the Emerald Isle.

But the global health emergency has brought Ireland's most emblematic industry to a grinding halt.

- Closing time -

The first case of Covid-19 was confirmed in Ireland on February 29 last year. The government asked all pubs to cease trading after March 15 -- just 24 hours before "Paddy's Day" 2020.

In the last year, 4,534 people have died after testing positive for coronavirus in Ireland -- home to just 4.9 million -- and the nation is currently in the midst of its third lockdown.

As case figures waned last year, pubs in certain counties and those serving food were permitted to open for short spells.

But cases surged after the government loosened restrictions ahead of Christmas, and in early January Ireland was the most infectious nation in the world, according to Oxford University data.

All pubs nationwide have now been shut since Christmas Eve and the government said they are unlikely to reopen until mid-summer.

Story continues

"We've endured the longest most severe lockdown in Europe," said Donall O'Keeffe, head of the Licensed Vintners Association, which represents pubs in Dublin.

"When you've been closed for a year, every day is an eternity."

- Police raids -

In Ireland pubs and pints hold a semi-mystical status and there are signs that drinkers have sought to recreate the magic at home during the pandemic.

Irish police have raided numerous "shebeens" -- illicit unlicensed bars operating below the radar while the nation has been in lockdown.

Images from one show a ramshackle setup: a wooden bar with a single tap assembled under a corrugated metal roof.

But others are more convincing stand-ins for the real thing.

One raided on New Year's Eve even had a pool table, a woodburning stove and an arcade machine perched in the corner.

More broadly there are signs of discontent in Ireland as a third lockdown stretches on, with a sluggish vaccine rollout hampered by supply issues across the European Union.

- Sombre mood -

Last month an anti-lockdown protest which drew hundreds in central Dublin turned violent.

Protesters shot fireworks at riot police who charged the crowd with batons drawn.

But the protest quickly evolved from clashes with police into a party atmosphere, with live music and drinking in the street.

Further protests are scheduled to go ahead on Wednesday, with fears that moods of merriment will be replaced by scenes of violence.

Police said "checkpoints will be in place on arterial routes into the city" with dog units, riot police, horseback officers and a helicopter unit on standby.

Outside The Temple Bar -- which lends its name to Dublin's famed "Temple Bar" drinking district -- the cobbled streets are framed by desolate pubs.

Some have had their windows boarded up for months, settled in for another year of muted St Patrick's celebrations and a long lockdown with no end in sight.

"The mood is sombre," explained Martin Harte, head of the consortium which oversees the district.

"I don't think anyone is thinking that we're going to open soon and people are ... fearful and unsure."

jts/phz/ach
WASHINGTON (AP)  Lawmakers expressed frustration Tuesday with how slowly improvements are being made to criminal investigation at Fort Hood, Texas, where rates of violent crime and sexual assaults are particularly high.

They grilled the commander of the Army's Criminal Investigation Command, or CID, who said she is seizing this moment to correct the staffing and resource problems within her agency that led to sweeping failures in tracking and solving cases.

We can and we will do better," Maj. Gen. Donna Martin told the House Armed Services subcommittee on military personnel. She said the Army is working to restructure and modernize CID, and is considering adding more civilian investigators and creating special teams that could respond to major criminal cases when needed at any base.

More than two dozen Fort Hood soldiers died in 2020, including in multiple homicides and suicides. The death of Vanessa Guillen, whose remains were found in July, and other cases prompted an independent review, which found that military leaders were not adequately dealing with high rates of sexual assault, harassment, drug use and other problems at the base. The review also concluded that the Army CID was understaffed, overwhelmed and filled with inexperienced investigators.

Members of the independent review panel told lawmakers on Tuesday that the CID investigators lacked the acumen to identify key leads and connect the dots.

Christopher Swecker, chairman of the review panel, said the agents were victims of the system, which he said failed to train them and often had them doing administrative tasks. And he said the base leadership was focused on military readiness, and completely and utterly neglected the sexual assault prevention program. As a result, he said, lower-level unit commanders didn't encourage service members to report assaults, and in many cases were shaming victims or were actually the perpetrators themselves.

Story continues

Lawmakers pressed Martin for specific changes she has made to staffing, case loads and tracking at Fort Hood, but she gave limited answers and said decisions are still being made, further frustrating the lawmakers.

I'm truly disappointed that that is the extent of what you have gleaned from the report, Rep. Jackie Speier, D-Calif., the subcommittee chairwoman, told Martin.

Under questioning from others, Martin said Army leaders are reviewing a number of options, including adding more civilian investigators, creating eight major case response teams and hiring 30 support personnel to do administrative and technology tasks. She said the Army also could put military police in charge of the administrative jobs to free up investigators for cases.

Martin also came under fire from Rep. Stephen Lynch, D-Mass., about the case of Sgt. Elder Fernandes, who was missing for more than a week last year before he was found dead about 28 miles from Fort Hood.

Fernandes, who was from Lynchs congressional district, had complained of sexual harassment, but the case was determined to be unsubstantiated after the accused passed a polygraph test. Lynch complained that CID hasn't given Fernandes' parents the report on their son's death, despite repeated requests.

Martin said she would personally ensure that the family gets the report.

As a result of the independent review and other investigations, the Army earlier this year took action against 14 officers and enlisted soldiers at Fort Hood. The actions included the firing of three top commanders and suspension of two others, pending a further investigation. The Guillen familys lawyer said CID agents were among the 14.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 17)  The Senate on Wednesday approved on second reading a bill extending the franchise of third telco player Dito Telecommunity by another 25 years.

The current franchise of the company, formerly known as Mindanao Islamic Telephone Company or Mislatel, expires on April 24, 2023.

House Bill 7332 requires Dito to offer at least 30% of its outstanding stocks to Filipino citizens. It also requires the company to submit an annual report to Congress on its compliance to the terms of its franchise. Failure to do so will result in a 1-million fine for each day it fails to submit a report.

During the plenary session, the bill's sponsor Senator Grace Poe accepted a proposed amendment requiring Dito to submit a report to the President and Congress any time it discloses data or provides assistance to foreign governments, instrumentalities or agents. Violating this should be a ground for revocation of its franchise, said Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon, who recommended the revision.

Also adopted was an additional provision which states the National Telecommunications Commission shall have the authority to reallocate redundant frequencies held by the company. This was proposed by Senator Risa Hontiveros, who also asked that Dito submit regular security audits of its networks and facilities to Congress.

Concerns on national security were front and center during the deliberations on the measure. Dito is 40% owned by a Chinese state-run company, raising fears it may be used by the East Asian giant to conduct surveillance activities in the country.

Apprehension over possible security breaches and spying have been fueled last year by the Defense Department's decision to allow the installation of Dito cell towers within military camps all over the country, while the territorial dispute in the South China Sea remains.

"Maitatanong po na okay na bang kapalit ang unli data sa West Philippine Sea? [Is it ok to accept unlimited data in exchange for the West Philippine Sea?]" Hontiveros said. "How can Dito ensure us that it is not the Chinese government that's calling the shots?

Senator Richard Gordon also expressed his reservations, citing the same issue.

"They take our islands, they ram our boats, and they shoo away our air force, our navy and coast guard," Gordon said, referring to the Chinese government. "I don't think that's an act of a very good neighbor so that I would let them into my home, where they can have...the ability to surveil and conduct espionage, as well as propaganda."

Poe, however, said Dito has committed to "prosecute" Chinese board directors if they use company data and send it to the Chinese government by virtue of China's national intelligence law.

The Department of Information and Communications Technology earlier said it will also continuously assess the cell towers of the China-backed company inside military camps.

The telecommunications network passed its first technical audit in February and initially launched its mobile services in select areas in the Visayas and Mindanao earlier this month. According to Poe, the company has so far put up 2,360 cell towers nationwide in a span of one year, although those located in Luzon are not yet operational. The new player has vowed to provide an average broadband speed of 27 megabits per second, covering 37% of the country's population for its first year of operations.
Hamish and Zoe Foster Blake have settled the argument on the age-old debate of which city is better: Sydney or Melbourne.

The former Melburnians, who recently relocated to Sydney's eastern suburbs, offered a surprising answer to the question.

Speaking to 9Honey on Wednesday, it appears the overall winner is Sydney.

Sydney or Melbourne? Hamish (left) and Zoe Foster Blake (right) have finally settled the age-old argument on which city is better, with their surprising answer being Sydney

'Melbourne has great people, Sydney has great people. Melbourne has great food, Sydney has great food. But I think Sydney has to have it for geography,' Hamish said.

The funnyman added: 'There's not a city like it in the world when it comes to the beaches and harbour that become part of your day there.'

The couple recently spent nearly $9million on a mansion in Vaucluse.

Winner: Hamish said, 'There's not a city like it in the world when it comes to the beaches and harbour that become part of your day there.' Zoe agreed on the natural beauty of Sydney

Skincare mogul Zoe was recently estimated to be worth $36million, thanks to her Go-To beauty empire.

Zoe went on to also praise Sydney for its harbour and picturesque beaches.

'Camp Cove and Nielsen Park for a swim, walking the Hermitage trail, the Bondi to Bronte, these are some of the nature best-ofs,' she said.

Tick of approval: 'Camp Cove and Nielsen Park for a swim, walking the Hermitage trail, the Bondi to Bronte, these are some of the nature best-ofs,' Zoe said of the city

While the pair were happy to spruik Sydney's natural wonders, they were more than happy to praise Melbourne's cultural aspects, too.

The couple spoke of their fondness for the city's dining scene, with Hamish naming Capitano, Chin Chin, Tonka and Attica among his favourites.

Zoe then rattled off her own favourites in the Victorian capital.

Melbourne's a winner, too! The couple gushed over Melbourne's incredible dining scene listing Capitano, Tonka and Attica among their favourites. Here at the Australian Open

'My favourite food event is always going to be pizza in Carlton (the grandma pie at Capitano) then a huge whack of gelato at Pidapipo, a browse in Readings, then a movie at Nova with a negroni in hand. Oof! Perfection,' she said.

'Also I want to see the Triennial at the NGV and I miss my favourite shops, Filly's Stable in Albert Park, Grace in Hawksburn and just all of High St, Armadale, really.'

Zoe and Hamish are currently fronting Tourism Australia's Holiday Here This Year campaign, which focuses on domestic Australian experiences.
Britney Spears' conservatorship battle and the #FreeBritney movement is to be explored in a new BBC Two documentary.

The Baby One More Time hitmaker, 39, has been held under the conservatorship for 13 years following her much publicised breakdown - leading fans to launch the #FreeBritney movement to back her fight to have autonomy over her finances.

The documentary, operating under the working title 'Britney' comes after a judge ruled that Britney's father and the Bessemer Trust will maintain equal power over the star's vast $60 million fortune - following a court battle.

Battle: Britney Spears' conservatorship battle and the #FreeBritney movement is to be explored in a new BBC Two documentary

Britney will follow BAFTA-winning journalist Mobeen Azhar as he journeys from Britney's hometown of Kentwood, Louisiana to Los Angeles, and delves into one of the most passionate fan bases in modern celebrity.

Along the way he attends a court hearing, finding himself in the midst of the ongoing battle between Britney's conservatorship team and the ardent fans behind the #FreeBritney movement.

Mobeen also speaks to those fighting to free Britney and meets the people closest to Britney herself to learn more about the person behind the headlines.

Mobeen said: 'I went to LA in search of the truth of how Britney Spears, one of the biggest pop stars on the planet, ended up in a conservatorship.

Controversial: The documentary, operating under the working title 'Britney' comes after a judge ruled that Britney's father Jamie and the Bessemer Trust will maintain equal power over the star's vast $60 million fortune - following a court battle

At the helm: Britney will follow BAFTA-winning journalist Mobeen Azhar (above) as he journeys from Britney's hometown of Kentwood, Louisiana to Los Angeles, and delves into one of the most passionate fan bases in modern celebrity

'I found myself in a world of lawyers, superfans and paparazzi and spent time with many of the people who've had a front row seat in Britney's life.

'This film taps into the energy of the #FreeBritney movement and questions the industry, fandom and the laws that facilitate conservatorships.'

Britney will air on BBC Two later this spring.

Britney's father Her father, Jamie, and a lawyer oversee her finances as part of a court-approved conservatorship implemented in 2008.

Last month, Spears' father insisted he's always done what's best for his daughter, after the documentary Framing Britney Spears sparked calls from fans for his legal control to end.

Tough time: The Baby One More Time hitmaker, 39, has been held under the conservatorship for 13 years following her much publicised breakdown - leading fans to launch the #FreeBritney movement to back her fight to have autonomy over her finances (pictured 2003)

Family: Last month, Spears' father insisted he's always done what's best for his daughter, after the documentary Framing Britney Spears sparked calls from fans for his legal control to end (pictured 2006 with mother Lynne and brother Brian)

It comes after a judge ruled that Britney's father and the Bessemer Trust will maintain equal power over the star's vast $60 million fortune.

In the wake of the ruling, Jamie's legal team have insisted the judge's decision proves he isn't out to cause any harm to his daughter.

Currently his conservatorship means Britney cannot make any financial or professional decisions without her father's approval, following her much-publicized breakdown 13 years ago.

As reported by The Mirror, Jamie's lawyer Vivian Lee Thoreen said: 'My client, Jamie Spears, has diligently and professionally carried out his duties as one of Britney's conservators and his love for his daughter and dedication to protecting her is clearly apparent to the court.'

The judge's ruling came after Jamie submitted a proposed order arguing that he lost some of his powers over Britney's estate when he and the Bessemer Trust became co-conservators in November 2020.

Despite the hitmaker's lawyers arguing she no longer wishes to have her father in such a position, the conservatorship was extended until September 2021, with further hearings schedule for March 17 and April 27, according to Variety.
DETROIT - Saeedeh Elahi, 41, of Livonia, is charged with felony larceny in a building after allegedly stealing two COVID-19 vaccine doses and two vaccination cards.

Around 1:50 p.m. on Monday, March 15, Detroit Police officers responded to the third floor of the TFC Center for a reported larceny. Elahi is accused of placing two syringes filled with the Moderna vaccine and two vaccination cards in her pocket.

There is simply no excuse for this alleged conduct, said Wayne County Prosecutor Kim Worthy. This case should send a loud and clear message that this conduct is criminal and will be taken seriously.

Elahi is expected to be arraigned today in 36th District Court.
Thiruvananthapuram, March 17 : With the biennial elections for three seats to the Rajya Sabha to take place on April 12 as announced by the Election Commission on Wednesday, it will be curtains for one of Kerala's stalwart Congress' politician, Vayalar Ravi, who will turn 84 in June.

Ravi will be one of the three Upper House members who would be retiring. Of the three seats, two are certain to be won by the present ruling CPI-M led Left and the third seat will go to the Congress-led UDF, which has already been given to Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) -- the second biggest ally of the UDF. The IUML has renominated retiring member P.V. Abdul Wahab for another term.

This brings down the curtains on the long and eventful political career of Ravi, who is often said to have missed the post of Chief Minister as at that time the Congress politics was fully under the control of K. Karunakaran and A.K. Antony.

Incidentally, Ravi is the last state Congress president in Kerala who won through balloting which took place in the eighties, when he defeated Antony.

He won his first election in 1971 from the Chirayinkil Lok Sabha seat and had another term before returning to state politics and became the state Home Minister under K. Karunakaran from 1982 to 86.

Then he shifted base again to Delhi through the Rajya Sabha in 1994.

Since then he has been based in Delhi and was part of both the UPA governments headed by Manmohan Singh holding portfolios of Overseas Indian Affairs, Civil Aviation to name a few.

His wife Mercy Ravi, a one time Congress Legislator, passed away in 2009.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
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A joint Michigan Senate committee meeting heard testimony Tuesday from Canadian officials and business leaders as a potential shutdown of Enbridges Line 5 oil pipeline is on the horizon.

The joint meeting from for Senate Energy and Technology, and Natural Resources committees, follows calls from Republican legislatures to President Joe Biden to stop Gov. Gretchen Whitmers shutdown order from taking effect. Whitmer revoked the easement for the pipeline, which runs through the Straits of Mackinac, and ordered it shutdown in May. Pipeline owner Enbridge has filed a lawsuit contesting the order and Canadian officials have also put pressure on Biden and Whitmer to keep it open.

State Sen. Ed McBroom, R-Vulcan, who chairs the Natural Resource Committee, said shutting down the pipeline is more than just a Michigan issue, since the pipeline runs through other Midwest state and Canada, and provides propane and jobs throughout the region.

Rocco Rossi, President & CEO of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce, noted Line 5 is an important piece of North American infrastructure that is critical to the energy security that President Biden and Prime Minister Trudeau spoke of at the recent bilateral meeting.

That has been a key part of this relationship (between the U.S. and Canada), Rossi testified before the joint committee. The Ontario-Michigan relationship is that on steroids because (it accounts for) 10% of all of the trade between Canada and the United States.

Related: Canadian minister: The operation of Line 5 is non-negotiable

Legislators questioned whether shutting down the pipeline would violate a 1977 international pipeline treaty between the U.S. and Canada, an issue that has been raised by Canadian officials and Enbridge, but has not been invoked.

If our governor was to go through with what she is proposed, she would be violating international treaty between the United States and Canada, said Sen. Dan Lauwers, R-Brockway, who chairs the Energy and Technology committee. This is a couple of months away. Our governor has proposed to withdraw from an international treaty, which she does not have the authority to do, and disrupt the economies of both the Great Lakes states and our good partners in Ontario.

Whitmers office told MLive the governor fully stands behind her decision to revoke and terminate the 1953 easement allowing for Line 5s operation. A spokesperson for Attorney General Dana Nessels office said the treaty issue most likely will be resolved in court through pending litigation.

Related: Some Michigan propane suppliers switching to rail cars in anticipation of Line 5 closure

The pipeline situation exemplifies the reality of transitioning away from natural gas dependence. According to Rossi, Line 5 is currently the best option to transport oil and gas products to market.

If you dont have the pipeline, because of the transition, youre still going to have to get the products to market, and the alternatives are far worse, Rossi said.

McBroom also inquired for more information regarding the shutdowns potential impact on agriculture. Bob Bailey, a member of the Canadian Provincial Parliament representing Sarnia-Lambton, said shutting the line down would require farmers to source propane used to dry crops elsewhere.

This is going to impact many farmers across Ontario. They spoke to that. They have no other way of heating because they are not near other natural gas, Bailey said. (Farmers) use propane to heat their homes and to keep their chickens warm.

Related: Canadian pressure mounts on Michigan governor to back off Enbridge pipeline

Joseph Mancinelli, international vice president and regional manager of central and eastern Canada for the Laborers International Union of North America, said neither country is ready to fully transfer their energy sectors away from natural gas and oil.

If all of our rail and all of our shipping was dedicated to oil, currently, you simply wouldnt have the capacity, Mancinelli said. There would have to be a significant build. Our members take exception casual to environmentalists who feel that they own the right to defend the planet and the environment. I think that that is silly.

President and a legal adviser of For the Love of Water, an environmental advocacy group, Jim Olson said state legislatures have a duty to protect Michigans natural resources because of the Public Trust Doctrine.

Pipelines for oil and hydrocarbon transport are important, but they are not dependent on or part of the rights and protected uses of the Great Lakes, Olson said. Gov. Whitmer has, under the rule of law, fulfilled the mandatory duty to prevent grave harm to the public trust.

Morrow Dam and Morrow Pond on the Kalamazoo River shown on July 29, 2010 following the Enbridge oil spill near Marshall, Mich. (MLive file photo | Jerry Campbell).Jerry Campbell

State Sen. Sean McCann, D-Kalamazoo, inquired how Canada could ensure Line 5 wouldnt spill oil into the Great Lakes. Kalamazoo County was impacted by a devastating oil spill in the Kalamazoo River in 2010, from an Enbridge-owned pipeline, with about a million gallons of oil spilling into the Kalamazoo River.

An oil pipeline operated by Enbridge ruptured and caused one of the worst inland spills in US history, McCann said. I vividly remember the horrifying feelings I and many others in Kalamazoo experienced that day and many days following months and months of cleanup. So, we must remain fiercely protective of our freshwater resources. I cannot fathom, as I imagine most Michigan residents cannot fathom, what a disaster like that on the scale of the Great Lakes would look like and what it would mean for our state.

Bailey said Enbridges proposed pipeline tunnel would reduce the oil spill risks because it uses technology that didnt exist when Enbridge built Line 5.

Michigan environmental regulators on Jan. 29 approved several permits that Enbridge needs to build a tunnel underneath the Straits of Mackinac that would house a replacement section of the Line 5 oil pipeline. The permits are not the final word on the tunnel project, which still needs to clear similar federal approvals and must yet get through a lengthy review by the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC).

Can I guarantee somebody wont mess up? No, I cant, Bailey said. But we can put everything in place in the meantime to build that new tunnel below the riverbed so we can ensure good jobs, safety and health, and environmental protection.

Related: Whitmer releases U.P. propane heating plan as Line 5 shutdown looms

McBroom said the joint senate committees meeting was held after the state released an exceptionally frustrating plan on finding alternatives to delivering propane in Michigans Upper Peninsula.

Meanwhile, at a state task force meeting on U.P. Energy needs, that occurred simultaneous to the legislative hearing Tuesday, the rollout of Whitmers propane security plan for the U.P. after Line 5 closes was sharply criticized by some panel members, who called it very poorly timed, and questioned why it was released before the task forces report was final in just a couple of weeks.

Michigan Public Service Commission chair Dan Scripps acknowledged the rollout criticism but said the propane plan overall is a good starting point for how to meet, meet the needs of Upper Peninsula residents, sort of going into next winter and beyond.
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COVID-19 deaths are set to decline dramatically over the coming four weeks, according to the latest Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) predictions.

Even as the agency's director Dr Rochelle Walensky warns that the virus is set to surge on the heels of Spring Break and maskless revelling, the CDC's latest forecasting suggests that between 3,200 and 10,100 Americans will die of COVID-19 during the week of April 4-10.

By comparison, 10,248 people died of coronavirus in the US over the past seven days, including 1,286 on Tuesday.

Cases are on a slow but steady decline as well, with 53,579 new infections recorded yesterday, driving the seven-day rolling average down to 54,875, according to a DailyMail.com analysis of Johns Hopkins University data.

It's a drop from the previous Tuesday's 58,589 - and each of eight Tuesdays before that.

These are encouraging signs, even as the CDC's predictions suggest that the US COVID-19 death toll could rise as high as 574,000 by April 10. As of Wednesday morning, more than 536,000 Americans had died of coronavirus and more than 29.5 million people in the US had been infected.

About one quarter of Americans have had at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, and nearly 12 percent are fully vaccinated, according to tracking from Bloomberg - rates that may be helping to drive down fatalities.

Despite all the good news, health officials and some political leaders remain on edge. CDC director Dr Rochelle Walenksy warned Monday of an oncoming surge as Spring Breakers party maskless and offer a chance for more infectious variants to spread across the US with them.

The latest CDC's predictions suggest that the US COVID-19 death toll could rise as high as 574,000 by April 10, but that between 3,200 and 10,100 Americans will die of the infection during the week of April 4-10, a decrease from previous weeks, including the last seven days when 10,248 people died of coronavirus in the US

Spring Breakers have 'forgotten there is a pandemic', the mayor of Miami Beach has warned, telling of his concern at 'too many people coming with a desire to go wild'.

Young people were flocking to the city of 90,000 people to party on the sand, in a state which has has few COVID restrictions.

And, while much of the country remained under some form of lockdown, Florida was welcoming the college-age revelers.

Dan Gelber, the mayor of Miami Beach, said people were arriving with an 'anything goes' mentality.

Yet Florida Governor Ron DeSantis was singing his own praises for Florida's relaxed approach to the pandemic and middling coronavirus numbers.

'Everyone told me I was wrong,' DeSantis, a Republican, said during a Tuesday fundraiser.

'I faced continued pressure from radical Democrats and the liberal media, but I refused to back down. It's clear: Florida got it right.'

So far, Florida has more COVID-19 cases per capita than the national average, but only by about three percent. Its deaths per capita fall in the middle of national rankings, at 24th.

The state has more cases of the 50-70 percent more infectious and 50 percent more deadly UK B117 variant of coronavirus than any other in the nation, at 738.

Cases are increasing in parts of the country. Michigan saw 50 percent more new infections in the past seven days compared to the prior week.

New infections have climbed by more than 10 percent in the past week in 13 other states:

Delaware

Montana

Alabama

West Virginia

New Hampshire

Hawaii

Mississippi Maine

Nevada

Connecticut

North Dakota

Idaho

Maryland

But not in Florida.

Daily cases there continue to decline on average, as they have since mid-January. There were 4,179 new cases reported there on Tuesday, according data from Johns Hopkins University, compared to 6,297 a month prior.

The high prevalence of the variant, plus the influx of vacationers make it a public health officials nightmare, but so far their fears haven't materialized.

Nonetheless, as South Florida county officials have begged Governor DeSantis to reinstate fines for flouting COVID-19 restrictions - which he cancelled - struggle to enforce social distancing among throngs of college students and others.

In Fort Lauderdale, where the film Spring Break was set, police were patrolling the beach but large crowds of carefree partygoers were still lapping up the sunshine, regardless of the pandemic.

Corey Falcon, of Baltimore, picks up two women on Fort Lauderdale Beach on Tuesday as Spring Break continues

College students descended on Fort Lauderdale to make the most of the warm weather and freedom from lockdown

Police in in the city ended up shooting pepper balls at the weekend to disperse a crowd that had gathered around officers who were making an arrest.

One of the officers body-slammed James Harrison, 19, from New York City, as he was being taken into custody, and the crowd became 'extremely aggressive towards officers,' according to a copy of the police report.

An officer fired pepper balls 'due to the large, aggressive, unruly crowd and the immediate posing threats to officer safety,' the police report said.

The Miami Beach Police Department made 163 arrests over the past seven days, spokesman Ernesto Rodriguez told USA TODAY.

Gelber said the influx was 'a triple threat'.

He said: 'We've got too many people, too many coming with a desire to go wild, and we have the virus.

'It really poses a multifaceted peril for us.'

Florida does not require people to wear face masks and there were none in sight on Tuesday amid the celebrations

Police in Fort Lauderdale were patrolling the beach but could not enforce mask wearing

On Tuesday night officers from Miami-Dade County and from neighboring Coral Gables were joining the Miami Beach Police on patrol.

A man was taken to hospital from the city's bar district, having shot himself in the leg by accident, WSVN reported.

Gelber said the city was not equipped to handle so many people.

'I think it might be a little bit related to just people looking to let loose after being pent up, but some people are coming here with sort of an anything-goes mentality and even if it's just a small percentage - it's a small percentage of an enormous amount of people,' Gelber said.

The city has brought in 'zero tolerance for all of our ordinances,' which means Miami Beach Police are making arrests for having open containers.

But there are no fines or arrests for refusing to wear face masks.

'I've been on Ocean Drive almost every day in the last week, and the number of people not wearing masks or just not bothering with any of the healthy practices is very disturbing,' he said.

'An enormous number of people are coming our way, and many of them, if not most, seem to have forgotten that there's a pandemic.'

According to the Florida Department of Health, new cases in the county have hovered between 800 and 1,900 since the beginning of the month.

COVID Act Now, a nonprofit that analyzes COVID-19 data, categorizes the county as 'very high risk'  the fourth-highest tier on its five-tier scale.

'We have seen footage of people enjoying spring break festivities, maskless. This is all in the context of still 50,000 cases per day.' Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) director Dr Rochelle Walensky said on Monday.

'Cases climbed last spring, they climbed again in the summer, they will climb now if we stop taking precautions when we continue to get more and more people vaccinated.'

It's also in the context of a dangerous coronavirus gaining ground in the US.

The B117 variant first found in the UK is now in 48 US states, Washington, DC and Puerto Rico.

A study published last week suggested it is not only more infectious, but up to 55 per cent deadlier.

CDC officials predicted it would reach dominance in the US in March.

About 30 per cent of the most recent batches of virus samples tested (as of March 15) were positive for the variant. That's up from nine per cent of the samples sequenced on February 15.

Over the past five days to Tuesday, 6.4 million people flew across the US, breaking the pandemic travel record of 5.6 million people who boarded airplanes in the five days leading up to Christmas, according to Travel Security Administration (TSA) data.

That includes 1.2 million people who flew on Monday. On Friday, more than 1.3 million people flew - a record high in the past year.

Popular warm destinations like Miami Beach saw influxes of college students and others.

In preparation for their arrival, Governor Ron DeSantis dropped fines for people who flout COVID-19 safety measures.

It's the latest push in his campaign to keep a tight grip on how cities and counties enforce - or rather don't enforce - restrictions.

The group of South Florida counties inundated with visitors sent the governor a letter pleading with him to allow fines to be reinstated, but so far it appears that their law enforcement agencies are facing exactly the challenges they anticipated.
(Natural News) Volcanoes are usually a worry for people on land. But what if volcanoes under the ice erupt? According to a fascinating study, if volcanoes under the icy waters of Antarctica erupt, the planet would become uninhabitable.

What are underwater volcanoes?

Underwater volcanoes are also called submarine volcanoes. Experts estimate that there are around 1,500 active volcanoes on the surface of the plane, but there are at least 10,000 volcanoes in the Pacific Ocean alone.

Water exerts at least 250 times more pressure on the surface of the earth than air and this higher pressure can lead to an underwater explosion.

Because most underwater volcanoes erupt at a depth of about 2200 meters below sea level, where the pressure is more than 218 atmospheres, water cant boil. The absence of a boiling sound makes it almost impossible to detect an underwater eruption, even with hydrophones or the underwater device used to detect and record ocean sounds from all directions.

Volcanoes in Antarctica

At least 5,000 researchers from all over the world reside in Antarctica to study the icy, unspoiled continent. These experts brave the extreme cold in the hopes of learning more about the Earths history.

Antarctica is a boundless region covered by the worlds largest ice sheet that contains at least 90 percent of fresh water on the planet. This ice sheet acts as a massive heat sink and its meltwater is responsible for the worlds oceanic circulation.

The ice sheet has a crucial role in the planets climate. Yet while people may know about the ice covering Antarctica, not everyone is aware that the region also has several active volcanoes.

These volcanoes are part of a massive volcanic province that stretches across thousands of kilometers along the western edge of Antarctica. This volcanic province has been the focus of various studies for decades, but in 2017 researchers recently discovered at least 100 new volcanoes under the ice using satellite data and ice-penetrating radar while they searched for hidden peaks.

While these sub-ice volcanoes are currently dormant, what will happen if Antarcticas volcanoes finally erupt?

Mount Takahe: Learning from the past

In a 2017 study, researchers took a closer look at Mount Takahe, one of Antarcticas volcanoes near the remote center of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet.

Researchers hypothesized that Takahe may be involved in a series of eruptions rich in ozone-consuming halogens that occurred around 18,000 years ago. The experts explained that these eruptions could have set off an ancient ozone hole that warmed the southern hemisphere and made glaciers melt, finally ending the last ice age.

This kind of environmental impact is unique and before it can happen again, a series of eruptions also enriched in halogens from several volcanoes currently exposed above the ice must be active.

Scientists warn that this scenario is unlikely, as suggested by the Takahe study, but it isnt impossible. Theres a chance that one or more of the many subglacial volcanoes, some of which remain active, could erupt in the future.

Underwater volcanic eruptions

Overlying ice in the Antarctic is very thick, making it unlikely that volcanic gases could ever reach the atmosphere. An eruption wouldnt have the same impact as suggested for Takahe, but the volcanoes could still melt huge caverns in the base of the ice, which will result in huge quantities of meltwater.

The West Antarctic Ice Sheet is wet, not frozen to its bed. This means the meltwater would act as a lubricant that can make the overlying ice slip and move more rapidly. These volcanoes may also stabilize the ice because theyre giving it something to grip onto.

The volume of water generated by a large volcano is inconsequential compared with the volume of overlying ice. While one eruption wont significantly affect the ice flow, experts note that several volcanoes erupting close to or beneath any of West Antarcticas prominent ice streams may cause massive destruction.

Ice streams are rivers of ice that flow much faster than their surroundings. These zones are responsible for getting most of the ice in Antarctica delivered to the ocean. Any fluctuations in their speed will affect the sea level.

If the additional lubricant from several volcanic eruptions was channeled beneath ice streams, the following rapid flow may move West Antarcticas thick interior ice into the ocean, making sea levels rise. Experts suggest that under-ice volcanoes could have set off the rapid flow of ancient ice streams into the vast Ross Ice Shelf, Antarcticas largest ice shelf.

Its also believed that something similar could have happened 2,000 years ago with a small volcano in the Hudson Mountains underneath the West Antarctica Ice Sheet. If the small volcano erupted again, it could make the nearby Pine Island Glacier speed up.

Understanding the volcanoice melt feedback loop

A large series of eruptions could also destabilize a lot more subglacial volcanoes.

When volcanoes cool and crystallize, their magma chambers become pressurized.

The only thing preventing the volcanic gases from escaping violently via an eruption is the weight of overlying rock or several kilometers of ice in the Antarctic. If this ice becomes much thinner, the pressure reduction can set off eruptions.

With more eruptions and ice melting, even more meltwater would be channeled under the ice streams.

Researchers are worried about a runaway effect taking place and the thinning ice causing even more eruptions. A similar incident occurred in Iceland, which recorded an increase in volcanic eruptions as glaciers started to recede at the end of the last ice age. (Related: Scientists accidentally discover life 3,000 feet under Antarctic ice.)

Things seem quiet for now, and the greatest threat from Antarcticas many volcanoes will only occur if several erupt within a few decades of each other.

If those volcanoes have already grown above the ice and their gases were rich in halogens, their eruption could result in enhanced warming and rapid deglaciation. Thankfully, eruptions would need to take place repeatedly over many tens to hundreds of years before having enough of a climatic impact.

Theres a greater chance of the generation of large quantities of meltwater from subglacial eruptions potentially lubricating West Antarcticas ice streams. The eruption of even a single volcano close enough to any of Antarcticas ice streams can result in significant amounts of ice being swept into the sea.

Its also possible that the resulting thinning of the inland ice could set off further subglacial eruptions that produce meltwater over a wider area and cause a runaway effect on ice flow.

The threat seems distant for now, but funding continued research into the freezing waters of Antarctica may be key to preparing for the worst, especially when the regions ice-covered volcanoes eventually erupt.

Sources include:

StrangeSounds.org

ScienceStruck.com

OceanService.noaa.gov

TheConversation.com
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 17)  A Mandaluyong judge was red-tagged in a tarpaulin along Shaw Boulevard near EDSA after she ordered the release of a journalist and a union organizer.

Mandaluyong Regional Trial Court Branch 209 Judge Monique Quisumbing Ignacio earlier cleared journalist Lady Ann Salem and trade unionist Rodrigo Esparago of charges of illegal possession of firearms and explosives.

Bayan Muna Rep. Ferdinand Gaite criticized the attack against Quisumbing-Ignacio.

"The Courts are under attack! After PNP's attempt to profile HR lawyers, now we're seeing harassment vs. judges who expose their flawed searches!" Gaite posted on Twitter along with a photo of the tarpaulin.

I condemn this act of intimidation against Judge Quisumbing-Ignacio. Hands off the Judiciary! Hands off Human Rights Lawyers!" he added.

Prisoners' group Kapatid also called out the red-tagging of the judge.

"The tarps speak for themselves. Independent, fair minded judges are under attack. Who has the motive to produce such inanity other than those extremely fond of red-tagging. Their handiwork will boomerang on them," the group said in a statement.
Chennai, March 18 : The Vaiko-led MDMK, which is part of the DMK-led front in Tamil Nadu, has promised to lift the ban on the LTTE and promised support for the trial in the International Court of Justice of those responsible for killing Tamils in Sri Lanka.

The MDK's election manifesto, released on Wednesday, also promised 50 per cent reservation for women in the Assembly, total prohibition, allocation of 30 per cent of the state's revenue to panchayats and a resolution against the Citizenship Amendment Act.

It also promised 90 per cent reservation for locals in public sector undertakings, strengthening public sector undertakings and closure of atomic power stations.

The manifesto said that party General Secretary Vaiko had undertaken a 3,000 km yatra across Tamil Nadu for total prohibition and also proposed a committee of experts to examine how to compensate for revenue losses following the liquor ban.

MDMK stressed the need to do away with all the nuclear power plants. "As a political party which has been in the forefront in the fight against Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KNPP), the party assures that it will strive hard to make Tamil Nadu a nuclear power-free state." The party manifesto also stressed the need on stringent measures against illegal sand mining from the banks of the rivers in Tamil Nadu and that it would press for implementation of the National Green Tribunal order against sand mining.

It also expressed its opposition to the port at Kattupalli and promised to create a separate railway division by excluding Tirunelveli from Thiruvananthapuram division.

The MDMK manifesto also said that it would put pressure on the Central government to declare 12 temples in Tamil Nadu as World Heritage Centres.
Furthering its commitment to leveraging its technology and platform to create a positive social impact on the lives of many Filipinos, Grab Philippines, together with Zagana - the Philippines leading agri-social enterprise is launching its Salamat Sa Ani initiative on 17 March 2021.

Through Grab and Zaganas partnership, local farmers are able to leverage Grab's technology and platform to help them reach and serve their customers and provide for their families.

Through the Salamat Sa Ani initiative, Grab is leveraging its technology and platform to encourage more Filipinos to show care and gratitude to their loved ones and frontliners who have been helping them to cope with the challenging times. At the same time, the initiative will also provide support to the farming communities that Grab helped digitalize since the Enhanced Community Quarantine phase, as contents of the Salamat Sa Ani gift sets are sourced directly from Zagana farmers in Benguet, Pangasinan, and Cavite. Each Salamat Sa Ani gift set - which includes fresh corn, bananas, and lime, is exclusively available on GrabMart for only Php299.00.

Salamat Sa Ani is one of the latest GrabForGood initiatives led by Grab Philippines where Grabs technology and platform are leveraged to support the needs of the Filipino communities and help improve their lives and livelihoods. During the height of the pandemic, one of the key GrabForGood initiatives led by Grab Philippines is GrabBayanihan - a program that leveraged Grabs technology and platform to provide much-needed support to driver-partners, frontliners, displaced individuals, farming communities, and local governments.

Leveraging Grabs technology and platform to help local farmers overcome supply chain challenges

As highlighted in the June 2020 Report of the World Bank, the supply chain of fresh produce and agricultural products in many parts of the Philippines was greatly impacted since the implementation of the lockdowns. With limited logistics options for transporting the produce from the farms to the public markets and groceries and the sharp decline in customer foot traffic in physical marketplaces, the livelihoods of Filipino farming communities - as well as the food security across many households, were at risk to certain points that farmers were forced to throw away their produce.

Through Grabs technology, platform, and its partnership with the Department of Agriculture and Zagana, fresh produce from farming communities were given wider market access through the Grab app through the Department of Agricultures 2020 Program Kadiwa ni Ani at Kita. Now, with a few taps on the app, Grab consumers get to enjoy fresh produce from local farmers, delivered straight into their doorsteps in as quick as less than an hour and at the same time supporting the local farming communities.

For Benguet-based farmer Ardan Copes, the partnership between Grab and Zagana provided new technology to farmers like himself who are used to traditional models for distributing and selling their produce. His main challenge when the pandemic hit was that there were too many vegetables wasted due to the absence of buyers brought by the quarantine. Copes shares that through Grabs technology and platform, Zagana farmers like himself were able to better reach and serve new consumers. The partnership also gave farmers like Copes a good market price for their produce which is why they did not hesitate to join the platform. Copes adds that they were able to continue with their livelihood despite the challenges of ECQ, which gave them a huge relief.

Co-creating positive social impact within and beyond the Grab platform

Committed to contributing towards the Philippines longer-term socio-economic recovery and development, the Grab platform not only provides its consumers with the everyday value and convenience, but it also allows its users to co-create a positive social impact - within and beyond the Grab platform, with every transaction made on the Grab app.

With every order of fresh produce made on the Grab app, users are able to support the livelihoods of tens of thousands of driver-partners, MSMEs, and local farming communities who are also facing the socio-economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The pandemic has truly impacted a lot of lives. Our partnership with Grab has allowed us to continuously serve our customers and support our local farmers, by leveraging Grabs platform and technology to provide our kababayans access to fresh produce, delivered right at their doorsteps while providing livelihood for both the delivery partners and local farmers during these uncertain times, said Zagana Chief Executive Officer Joshua Aragon.

Using our platform and technology to help improve the lives and livelihoods of many Filipinos is what differentiates Grab as a community partner. We are grateful to have made a difference in the lives of millions of Filipinos through our GrabForGood program and we will continue with our commitment of using technology and our platform to encourage meaningful collaboration within our communities and help our kababayans overcome their daily struggles, says Grab Philippines Country Head Grace Vera Cruz.

To know more about Grab and Zaganas Salamat sa Ani initiative, visit: grb.to/salamatsaani
Taiwan Fishery Agency responds to US DoL blacklisting

by Mark Godfrey

March 17,2021 | Source: SeafoodSource

Taiwans fishing authorities have responded to being placed on a U.S. government blacklist by listing a series of measures it introduced in the past year to combat forced labor.



In October 2020, the U.S. Labor Department placed Taiwan on its 2020 List of Goods Produced by Child Labor or Forced Labor. In response, Taiwans Fisheries Agency has ordered the countrys Department of Transport to ensure that all vessels than 24 meters and longer in length must comply with the International Labour Organizations Convention 188, also known as the 2007 Work in Fishing Convention. Additionally, Taiwan has added forced labor to its requirements for reporting of cases of human trafficking among foreign crew aboard Taiwanese vessels, it said in a statement to SeafoodSource.



In 2020, the agency ran one joint inspection of distant-water vessels with Taiwans Ministry of Labor, intended to be a model for additional inspections, the Fisheries Agency said. And it built five new showering facilities for foreign crew members at Taiwanese reports and said it has organized listening sessions where foreign crew members, government agencies and NGOs can talk.



As for Taiwanese vessels operating under flags of convenience, the Fisheries Agency said it has drafted an amendment to regulations governing foreign-flagged vessels entering Taiwanese ports if reports have been received from international agencies or other governments the vessels are suspected of being involved in human trafficking or forced labor.



Greenpeace was one of 34 organizations which last November sent a letter to Taiwans parliament seeking action on forced labor it said it uncovered in the countrys distant-water fishing fleet. Greenpeace has called for all migrant fishers on Taiwanese vessels to come under the administration of the Ministry of Labor instead of the Fisheries Agency, as it claims the latter doesn't have labor expertise.



Making the Labor Departments list  which is used as a reference by U.S. food-sourcing companies and retailers  jolted the fishing industry in Taiwan, home to the worlds second-largest fleet after China. Leading Taiwanese firms include Fong Chun Formosa Fishery (FCF), which owns U.S.-based tuna canner Bumble Bee Foods in January. Greenpeace has called out FCF by name for labor-related problems in its supply chain.



FCF, a Taiwan-based seafood company and one of the worlds top three tuna traders, should take more responsibility for forced labor risks in its supply chain and be a leader by revamping its business so it fosters an ethical seafood industry that effectively prevents forced labor, Greenpeace East Asia Ocean Campaigner Pearl Chen said in October 2020.



In January, U.S. Customs and Border Protection issued a withhold release order against a Taiwanese tuna trawler, saying it has received credible information that the vessel was involved in the use of forced labor.

 2021 Diversified Communications. All rights reserved.

Theme(s): Communities and Organisations.
A community cafe known for a global menu of Peruvian, Italian and American dishes is making a move to continue its mission of giving back to families in Central New York and around the world.

Hope Cafe and Tea House, currently located on Vine Street across from The Retreat in the village of Liverpool, is moving to space formerly occupied by Village Burger on Old Liverpool Road. They hope to open the new location on May 1.

Hope Cafe had to call off their move to downtown Syracuse last year due to the pandemic, which almost put them completely out of business and in massive debt. The small cafe is currently tucked away in the Village Mall and struggled adjusting to the limited customers. With the shutdown they resorted to delivery drivers and to-go orders, but business still went down from 100 percent to 18 percent.

Village Burger closed its doors in December, also citing pandemic pressures.

Big News! As most of you know, this pandemic has devastated small business, including ours. We barely survived the... Posted by Hope Cafe Coffee and Tea House on Thursday, February 25, 2021

The cafe is now revamping the former McDonalds restaurant into a relaxed lounge where people drink tea and eat. It has a drive-thru window to pick up online orders, an outdoor patio where patrons can spread out, and comfy chairs inside for a larger place where people can work, relax and eat.

Owner Matthew Cullipher started the Hope Cafe in 2017 to support The People Project, a charity that provides humanitarian support for families living in poverty in Central New York and around the world. They have done work with more than a dozen countries, supporting schools, rehabilitation centers, and soup kitchens.

The recipes come from around the world: Peruvian empanadas and emoliente (a homemade tea which is used as holistic medicine in South America and are a staple street food), Kenyan roast coffee, Liege Waffles from Belgium, and Argentinian tea. With a focus on authentic and fresh fare, the menu includes smoothies with Peruvian fruit and coffee made without syrup and is based off of cane sugar. They also serve vegan, gluten free, and alternative milk options.

Outside its global menu, the cafe is dedicated to helping others, whether its a tangible need, or just a hug and a prayer. Cullipher is ecstatic for the new space and the new people it will be bring in for relaxation, community, prayers, and good food.

Sometimes I feel like we are more of a counselor than we are a cafe because a lot of people come in to ask Christians for a prayer, a lot more people ask than you would expect, Cullipher said. Our mission is before anything else, if we see someone who needs food, clothes, or someone whos hurting we take care of that first.

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American Airlines is investigating whether US climate envoy John Kerry broke the rules and took off his mask on a recent flight.

According to the Tennessee Star, which first reported the story, Mr Kerry was photographed without a mask as he sat first-class on a flight between Boston and Washington.

Masks are required on board our aircraft, American Airlines said in a statement to The Independent. Our team works diligently to make sure customers are wearing masks properly as they travel with us, and flight attendants pass through the cabin several times during flight to ensure compliance. The crew did not observe Secretary Kerry without a mask, and they were not alerted by other customers to a non-compliance issue. We continue to review the matter and we are reaching out to Secretary Kerry to underscore that all customers are expected to wear masks for the duration of their trip.

The envoy said on Twitter on Wednesday if the mask slipped, it was only briefly.

Feels like theres some St. Patricks day malarkey afoot on Twitter, Mr Kerry said in a tweet on Wednesday afternoon. Lets be clear: If I dropped my mask to one ear on a flight, it was momentary. I wear my mask because it saves lives and stops the spread. Its what the science tells us to do.

Texas senator Ted Cruz was criticized in 2020, after photos of him sitting on a flight with no mask were widely shared. Mr Cruzs office said he followed airline policy and was taking off his mask to sip coffee.

Conservatives online pointed to the photo as a sign of liberal hypocrisy around wearing masks.

Read more:

Hey @AmericanAir, youve clearly reversed your mask policy as @JohnKerry here demonstrates, TV host John Cardillo wrote in a tweet on Wednesday. All passengers will enjoy the same comfort now, right?

Mr Kerry, who is 77, is likely vaccinated, as many top federal officials have already gotten the vaccine, and he would also be eligible under Washington DCs general vaccination guidelines, which allow anyone over age 65 to get the jab.

Since the pandemic began, air travel has emerged as one of the main flash points when it comes to people followingor ignoringcoronavirus rules. Scores of viralvideos show passengers having meltdowns when asked to wear masks, and some have been kicked off of flights entirely for noncompliance. Airlines have reported placing hundreds of passengers on no-fly lists over mask-wearing issues.

Some studies have found that despite packing people in closely on commercial flights, taking a flight can actually be safer than other routine activities like going to the grocery store if everyone wears a mask the entire time and the planes air filtration systems are working properly.

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Politicians across the political spectrum have been criticised for appearing not to honour coronavirus directives their constituents have to follow.

In November, California governor Gavin Newsom attended a dinner party with lobbyist at a high-end French restaurant in Napa, and was pictured without a mask at times. Earlier that year, White House chief of staff Mark Meadows hosted a lavish wedding for his daughter in Atlanta that defied state and citywide coronavirus restrictions.
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BANGALORE, India, March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Rare Earth Elements Market is Segmented Type (Cerium, Dysprosium, Erbium, Europium, Gadolinium, Holmium, Lanthanum, Lutetium, Neodymium, Praseodymium), Application (Magnets, Catalysts, Metallurgy, Polishing, Glass, Phosphors, Ceramics, Other). The report covers global opportunity analysis and industry forecast from 2021 to 2026. It is published on Valuates Reports in the Metals & Mining Category.

The global Rare Earth Elements market size is projected to reach USD 3757.7 Million by 2026, from USD 2664.5 Million in 2020, at a CAGR of 5.9% during the Forecast Period 2021-2026.

Global shift towards clean energy with rising demand for electric and hybrid vehicles is propelling the growth of a rare market.

View Report Details Before Purchasing: https://reports.valuates.com/market-reports/QYRE-Othe-4C401/rare-earth-elements

TRENDS INFLUENCING THE GROWTH OF Rare Earth Elements Market SIZE

It is expected that the growing demand for electric vehicles to minimize carbon-dioxide emissions would propel the growth of rare earth elements market size. Neodymium and praseodymium are majorly used for producing permanent magnets used in electric and hybrid vehicles. Neodymium magnets have an excellent coercive force and flux density. The high coerciveness and excellent flow retention capacities make it highly desirable for use in electric vehicles worldwide.

As the sales of automotive increases, the demand for catalytic converters also increases. A catalytic converter is a device that uses a catalyst to convert harmful compounds into harmless ones. The catalytic formulation consists of three key components: precious metals (platinum, palladium, rhodium), alumina, and rare-earth-based materials that enhance the catalytic activity of metals. This increasing demand for catalytic converters is expected to increase the growth of rare earth elements market size.

In petroleum refining, cerium and lanthanum catalysts are used to turn crude oil into gasoline. The catalysts are used by Fluid Catalytic Cracking (FCC) to stop metal deactivation and to stabilize the zeolite structure during crude oil conversion. This, in turn, is expected to fuel the growth of rare earth elements market size.

Furthermore, the increasing alloy applications and demand in various end-use industries are anticipated to propel the rare earth metals market demand over the forecast timespan. On the contrary, the gaps in supply and demand for rare earth metals and their fluctuating prices are a major downside to the overall market's development.

Request a Sample Copy of the Report For Growth & Trends Analysis on Rare Earth Elements Market : https://reports.valuates.com/request/sample/QYRE-Othe-4C401/Rare_Earth_Elements_Market

RARE EARTH ELEMENTS MARKET SHARE ANALYSIS

Based on product, the Cerium segment is expected to hold the largest rare earth elements market share during the forecast period. Cerium is used as a catalyst in catalytic converters in the automotive industry to minimize emissions. It's also present in nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) batteries.

Based on application, the magnet segment is expected to hold the largest rare earth elements market share during the forecast period. They're used in a number of ways, including computer hard drives, linear actuators, servo motors, microphones, and sensors.

Based on region, North America is expected to witness the highest growth during the forecast period. This rapid growth in the region is attributed to the expanding automotive industry in the region. Furthermore, the consumer electronics and nuclear energy industries are also expected to boost rare earth elements demand in the region.

Inquire for Regional Report : https://reports.valuates.com/request/regional/QYRE-Othe-4C401/Rare_Earth_Elements_Market

Key Players:

The major players that are operating in the global Rare Earth Elements market are

Arafura

Alkane Resources

Avalon Rare Metals

China Rare Earth Holdings

Indian Rare Earths

Lynas

Great Western Minerals

Greenland Minerals & Energy

Rare Element Resources

Molycorp

Inner Mongolia Baotou Steel Rare Earth Hi-Tech

Frontier Rare Earths.

"We can also add the other companies as you want".

Segment by Type

Cerium

Dysprosium

Erbium

Europium

Gadolinium

Holmium

Lanthanum

Lutetium

Neodymium

Praseodymium

Segment by Application

Magnets

Catalysts

Metallurgy

Polishing

Glass

Phosphors

Ceramics

Other

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SIMILAR REPORTS :

- The global Europium market size is projected to reach USD 262.5 Million by 2026, from USD 201.6 Million in 2019, at a CAGR of 3.8% during the forecast period 2021-2026.

This report focuses on Europium volume and value at the global level, regional level, and company level. From a global perspective, this report represents the overall Europium market size by analyzing historical data and future prospects.

- The global Refinery Catalysts market size is projected to reach USD 6076.3 Million by 2026, from USD 5118.6 Million in 2020, at a CAGR of 2.9% during the forecast period 2021-2026.

- Gadolinium Market Size, Share, Trends, Growth, Industry Analysis, Forecast 2021 to 2026. The Report contains segmentation By Type (Gadolinium Acetate, Gadolinium Acetylacetonate, Gadolinium Oxide, Gadolinium Nitrate, Gadolinium Chloride, Others), By Application (Electronics, Medical Equipment, Imaging Agents, Nuclear Reactors, Others) and Regional Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast.

- Europium Market Size, Share, Trends, Growth, Industry Analysis, Forecast 2021 to 2026. The Report contains segmentation By Type (Eu(II), Eu(III), By Application (Catalysts, Metal Alloys, Glass PolishinG, Permanent Magnets, Glass Additives, Ceramics, Phosphors, Others) and Regional Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast.

- Neodymium Magnet Market Size, Share, Trends, Growth, Industry Analysis, Forecast 2021 to 2026. The Report contains segmentation By Type (Bonding, Sintering), By Application (Electro-acoustic Field, Electronic Appliances Field, Mechanical Equipment Field, Others) and Regional Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast.

- Holmium Oxide Market Size, Share, Trends, Growth, Industry Analysis, Forecast 2021 to 2026. The Report contains segmentation By Type (3N, 4N, 4.5N, 5N), By Application (Special Glass, Special Catalyst, Laser Material, Other) and Regional Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast.

- Rare Earth Permanent Magnet Market Size, Share, Trends, Growth, Industry Analysis, Forecast 2021 to 2026. The Report contains segmentation By Type (Rare-earth Sintered Magnet, Rare-earth Bonded Magnet, Others), By Application (Automotive, Aerospace & Defense, Power Generation, Consumer Goods & Electronics, Industrial Machinery, Other) and Regional Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast.

- Mining Lubricants Market size is projected to reach USD 2215.7 Million by 2026, from USD 1853.7 Million in 2019, at a CAGR of 2.6% during the forecast period 2021-2026.

- The global Industrial Catalyst market size was valued at USD 11760 Million in 2019 and it is expected to reach USD 14100 Million by the end of 2026, growing at a CAGR of 2.6% during 2021-2026.

- The global Samarium market size was valued at USD 189.5 Million in 2019 and it is expected to reach USD 1334.6 Million by the end of 2026, growing at a CAGR of 31.8% during 2021-2026.

- The global Inorganic Scintillators market size was valued at USD 249.9 Million in 2019 and it is expected to reach USD 355.3 Million by the end of 2026, growing at a CAGR of 5.1% during the forecast period 2021-2026.

- The global Permanent Magnets market size was valued at USD 3383.8 Million in 2019 and it is expected to reach USD 3580.2 Million by the end of 2026, growing at a CAGR of 0.8% during the forecast period 2021-2026.

To see the full list of related reports on the Rare Earth Elements

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Five young people from Afghanistan were caught trying to leave the country illegally, hiding in a truck loaded with car accessories, which was checked at the Nadlac II Border Crossing Point, according to AGERPRES.

The truck was driven by a Bulgarian and was transporting the goods to Germany, the Arad Border Police informed on Wednesday.

In the trailer, the border police found, among the boxes of goods, the five foreigners, and after the verifications it was established that they are citizens of Afghanistan, aged between 15 and 27, asylum seekers in Romania.

Migrants risk being prosecuted for attempting to cross the border illegally, and the driver for trafficking in migrants.
Purchases made via links on our site may earn us an affiliate commission
Antioch police officers forced their way into a middle school teachers home, punched him in the head and gave him a concussion, according to a lawsuit the man filed Monday.

Miguel Minjares, 45, of Antioch, said police assaulted him after showing up at his home during a dispute he was having with his 18-year-old daughter on Sept. 26, 2019. He said police wrongfully accused him of assaulting his daughter and threw him on a couch, put their knees on his back and punched him in front of his youngest daughter, aged 11, who videoed the incident.

As a result of what he called a wrongful arrest, Minjares said in the lawsuit, he was denied a teaching opportunity in August 2020, and was forced to take a twenty percent pay cut for the 2020-2021 academic school year at a Hayward middle school, where he is now a physical education teacher.

He is seeking an undisclosed amount of damages.

Antioch police could not be reached for comment on Tuesday afternoon.

Now Playing: Video: Video provided courtesy of Melissa Nold

Minjares said that on the day of the incident, he argued with his 18-year-old daughter and told her to leave the house for a breather. When officers arrived, the lawsuit says, police asked if the daughter could go back inside the home to fetch some clothing, but Minjares declined.

Minjares said police officers asked for his identification to run his name through their system but Minjares realized he left it in his vehicle. He said he then questioned police why they needed his ID.

When Minjares noticed the two officers creeping up the steps of his residence, and toward the open door, he said he started to close the door  but officers forced their way in, the lawsuit said, without warning, legal cause or a warrant.

Police arrested Minjares on suspicion of resisting arrest and was later taken to Sutter Delta Hospital in Antioch, where the lawsuit says he was treated for a concussion and a black eye. The Contra Costa County district attorney did not file charges against Minjares, said district attorneys office spokesperson Scott Alonso.

Minjares, who spent a night in jail, went back to work as a middle school special education teacher the day after his release, but said he wore sunglasses to cover his blackened eye for the following two weeks.

Melissa Nold, Minjares attorney, said hes hoping to prevent this kind of stuff from happening in the future, saying his family has already been incredibly negatively impacted by police violence. In 2017, Fremont police officers fatally shot Minjares pregnant niece Elena Mondragon, 16.

There has to be a change somewhere, Minjares told The Chronicle. Since my niece, how many more people have been killed by police violence after that? A lot. How many are getting beat up? A lot. Im a teacher. Im a single father with three daughters. Im educated. And look what happened. It still happens. My hope is to bring awareness... to what is going on.

Lauren Hernandez is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: lauren.hernandez@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ByLHernandez
"The Casados deposit is exceeding our expectations in both the width of the structures and the grade. These holes drilled at Casados are some of the best grades and widths we've seen and are below the previous limited mining which went down to 160m," said Brad Langille, President and CEO. "Not only does the Los Ricos district have very high grade quartz veins in the kilos of silver equivalent, but they are enveloped in tens of metres of silicification and stockworks with very good grades. We know from our experience in Los Ricos South that the ore shoots can extend down over 800m from surface, so we see the potential for a very significant resource at the Casados deposit. We believe Los Ricos North's Casados, El Favor, El Orito, and La Trini are quickly developing into a significant resource for GoGold."

Table 1: Drill Hole Intersections

Hole ID Area From To Length1 Au Ag AuEq2 AgEq2



(m) (m) (m) (g/t) (g/t) (g/t) (g/t) LRGCS-21-010 Casados  Vein 13 120.6 133.5 10.3 0.43 115.6 1.97 148.0

Casados  Vein 2 147.2 168.5 21.4 0.44 97.8 1.75 131.0

including 158.9 167.2 8.3 0.68 167.8 2.92 218.8 LRGCS-21-011 Casados  Multi 156.0 205.1 49.1 0.54 250.5 3.88 290.9

Casados  Vein 1 161.5 174.7 13.3 0.67 203.6 3.39 253.9

including 162.5 168.1 5.6 1.13 343.1 5.71 428.0

Casados  Vein 2 200.0 205.1 5.1 1.94 1,269.9 18.88 1,415.7

including 201.1 202.9 1.8 5.16 3,471.8 51.46 3,859.2

including 201.1 201.9 0.8 10.31 6,842.4 101.54 7,615.7 LRGCS-21-013 Casados  Multi 152.6 204.6 52.0 0.47 127.1 2.17 162.5

Casados  Vein 1 155.2 163.5 8.3 0.94 278.7 4.65 349.0

Casados  Vein 2 182.7 185.8 3.1 2.89 604.7 10.95 821.1

including 184.9 185.8 0.9 8.55 1,731.9 31.64 2,373.1 LRGCS-21-014 Casados  Vein 1 134.4 158.0 23.6 0.58 155.6 2.65 198.7

including 140.9 151.8 10.9 1.05 307.5 5.15 386.2

including 140.9 143.6 2.7 3.70 1,135.1 18.83 1,412.3

Casados  Vein 2 166.4 200.0 33.6 0.23 94.8 1.49 111.8

including 181.6 188.0 6.4 0.65 309.9 4.79 358.9

including 181.6 183.1 1.5 2.18 1,120.8 17.12 1,284.1

Not true width AqEq converted using a silver to gold ratio of 75:1. Excludes 2.7m of historically mined void LRGCS-21-012 is excluded as assays are still pending

These are the second set of drill holes released on the Casados deposit in Los Ricos North, and these holes stepped out 50m deeper than the previously released holes. Mineralization is open both along strike and at depth on the target.

The Casados Veins strikes nearly E-W, dips 45o to the north and is hosted in andesitic tuffs and is exposed on surface for about 400 metres along strike. In the 7 metres of old stope that is above the water level at the Casados mine, the vein shows as a zone of quartz stringers about a meter wide, but at other places it is more than 2 metres wide. A zone of silicification up to 50 metres wide envelopes the vein and this resistant outcrop forms a steep ridge along the strike of the vein, particularly on the north or hanging wall side.

Table 2: Drill Hole Locations

Hole ID Easting Northing Elevation Azimuth Dip Length LRGCS-21-010 583465 2337822 664.1 180 -45 198.0 LRGCS-21-011 583441 2337848 738.0 180 -55 261.0 LRGCS-21-012 583487 2337809 661.0 185 -45 216.0 LRGCS-21-013 583465 2337823 664.1 185 -70 289.5 LRGCS-21-014 583487 2337810 661.0 183 -70 261.0

VRIFY Slide Deck and 3D Presentation

VRIFY is a platform being used by companies to communicate with investors using 360 virtual tours of remote mining assets, 3D models and interactive presentations. VRIFY can be accessed by website and with the VRIFY iOS and Android apps.

Access the GoGold Company Profile on VRIFY at: https://vrify.com/

The VRIFY Slide Deck and 3D Presentation for GoGold can be viewed at: https://vrify.com/decks/9404 and on the Company's website at: www.gogoldresources.com.

Los Ricos District Exploration Projects

The Company's two exploration projects at its Los Ricos property are in Jalisco state, Mexico. The Los Ricos South Project began in March 2019 and an initial resource was announced on July 29, 2020 which indicated a Measured & Indicated Mineral Resource of 63.7 million ounces AgEq grading 199 g/t AgEq contained in 10.0 million tonnes, and an Inferred Resource of 19.9 million ounces AgEq grading 190 g/t AgEq contained in 3.3 million tonnes. An initial PEA on the project was announced on January 20, 2021 indicating an NPV 5% of US$295M.

The Los Ricos North Project was launched in March 2020 and includes drilling at the El Favor, La Trini, Casados and El Orito targets. During 2020, GoGold's exploration team identified over 100 targets on the Los Ricos North properties, demonstrating the significant exploration potential. The Company plans to drill 10 of these targets as part of its 2021 drilling program which is planned to exceed 100,000 metres of drilling and will be one of the largest in Mexico.

Procedure, Quality Assurance / Quality Control and Data Verification

The diamond drill core (HQ size) is geologically logged, photographed and marked for sampling. When the sample lengths are determined, the full core is sawn with a diamond blade core saw with one half of the core being bagged and tagged for assay. The remaining half portion is returned to the core trays for storage and/or for metallurgical test work.

The sealed and tagged sample bags are transported to the ActLabs facility in Zacatecas, Mexico. ActLabs crushes the samples and prepares 200-300 gram pulp samples with ninety percent passing Tyler 150 mesh (106m). The pulps are assayed for gold using a 50-gram charge by fire assay (Code 1A2-50) and over limits greater than 10 grams per tonne are re-assayed using a gravimetric finish (Code 1A3-50). Silver and multi-element analysis is completed using total digestion (Code 1F2 Total Digestion ICP). Over limits greater than 100 grams per tonne silver are re-assayed using a gravimetric finish (Code 8-Ag FA-GRAV Ag).

Quality assurance and quality control ("QA/QC") procedures monitor the chain-of-custody of the samples and includes the systematic insertion and monitoring of appropriate reference materials (certified standards, blanks and duplicates) into the sample strings. The results of the assaying of the QA/QC material included in each batch are tracked to ensure the integrity of the assay data. All results stated in this announcement have passed GoGold's QA/QC protocols.

Mr. David Duncan, P. Geo. is the qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and is responsible for the technical information of this release.

About GoGold Resources

GoGold Resources (TSX: GGD) is a Canadian-based silver and gold producer focused on operating, developing, exploring and acquiring high quality projects in Mexico. The Company operates the Parral Tailings mine in the state of Chihuahua and has the Los Ricos South and Los Ricos North exploration projects in the state of Jalisco. Headquartered in Halifax, NS, GoGold is building a portfolio of low cost, high margin projects. For more information visit gogoldresources.com.

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT:

The securities described herein have not been, and will not be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or any state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for the benefit of, U.S. persons (as defined in Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act) except in compliance with the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or pursuant to exemptions therefrom. This release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy of any of GoGold's securities in the United States.

This news release may contain "forward-looking information" as defined in applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements other than statements of historical fact, included in this release, including, without limitation, statements regarding the Los Ricos South and North projects, and future plans and objectives of GoGold, including the intention to undertake further exploration at Los Ricos North, and the prospect of further discoveries there, constitute forward looking information that involve various risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking information is based on a number of factors and assumptions which have been used to develop such information but which may prove to be incorrect, including, but not limited to, assumptions in connection with the continuance of GoGold and its subsidiaries as a going concern, general economic and market conditions, mineral prices, the accuracy of mineral resource estimates, and the performance of the Parral project. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking information.

Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from GoGold's expectations include exploration and development risks associated with GoGold's projects, the failure to establish estimated mineral resources or mineral reserves, volatility of commodity prices, variations of recovery rates, and global economic conditions. For additional information with respect to risk factors applicable to GoGold, reference should be made to GoGold's continuous disclosure materials filed from time to time with securities regulators, including, but not limited to, GoGold's Annual Information Form. The forward-looking information contained in this release is made as of the date of this release.

SOURCE GoGold Resources Inc.

Related Links

http://www.gogoldresources.com/


[March 17, 2021] Ascendas Reit makes debut investment in European data centres for S$904.6 million

SINGAPORE, March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Ascendas Funds Management (S) Limited (the "Manager"), in its capacity as the manager of Ascendas Real Estate Investment Trust ("Ascendas Reit"), is pleased to announce the Proposed Acquisition of a portfolio of data centres located across Europe (the "Proposed Acquisition")[1], for S$904.6 million[2] ("Total Consideration") from subsidiaries of Digital Realty Trust, Inc. ("Vendor"). The portfolio comprises 11 data centres (the "Target Portfolio" or "Target Properties") located across the United Kingdom ("UK") (4 properties), the Netherlands (3 properties), France (3 properties) and Switzerland (1 property). Mr William Tay, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Manager said, "This acquisition gives us a unique opportunity to own a portfolio of well-occupied data centres located across key markets in Europe. It complements our existing data centre portfolio in Singapore and will increase the sector's contribution to S$1.5 billion or 10% of investment properties under management. We see good potential in the data centre business and will continue to source and make further acquisitions when the opportunities arise." K ey Merits of the Proposed Acquisition 1. Enlarges Ascendas Reit's exposure to the resilient data centre asset class Demand for data centres is expected to grow due to increasing reliance on data and online applications as well as accelerating digitisation across industries. Some of the key trends that continue to underpin demand for data centres include the increasing adoption of cloud computing, the growing number of internet users and mobile devices, larger data storage requirements and fast-growing technology trends such as big data analytics, Internet of Things (IoT), Industry 4.0, 5G network, e-commerce, video streaming services etc. Additionally, data sovereignty laws are expected to benefit the European data centres as companies choose to store data within Europe to serve the large local markets. The Target Portfolio will increase Ascendas Reit's investment in data centres to 10% (S$1.5 billion) of total investment properties of S$15.0 billion (from 4% or S$0.5 billion as at 31 December 2020). 2. 93% of the Target Portfolio (by asset value) is located in key European data centre markets The Target Portfolio comprises 11 data centres, of which nine (93% of Target Portfolio by asset value) are strategically located in London, Amsterdam and Paris, which are top data centre markets in Europe. London, Amsterdam and Paris are ranked the first, third and fourth largest colocation markets in Europe respectively, with a combined colocation market size of approximately 1,383 megawatts ("MW") as at 31 December 2020.[3] They benefit from being close to large population centres and have the connectivity and infrastructure to attract the data centre providers. 3. European data centre markets are recording strong capacity growth driven by robust take-up levels According to CBRE, take-up of colocation data centres outstripped new supply in 2020 across the FLAP markets[4] as more companies embark on their digital transformation plans. Companies are increasing their consumption of cloud services, in turn driving colocation demand from cloud providers. Colocation is also increasingly being used to satisfy companies' IT requirements which are growing in scale and complexity. During 2020, a total of 201 MW was taken up in FLAP markets (Frankfurt 67 MW, London 86 MW, Amsterdam 32 MW and Paris 17 MW) on the back of new supply of 174 MW (Frankfurt 62 MW, London 26 MW, Amsterdam 57 MW and Paris 29 MW). As a result, FLAP markets' vacancy rate improved to 19% (from 21% in 2019). In 2021, vacancy rate is expected to fall further to 17% driven by strong demand. Market absorption, which is the number of years it would take current vacant supply to be fully let[5] was 2.4 years as at 31 December 2020 (down from 3.0 years in 2019) and is expected to decline to 2.3 years in 2021.[3] 4. Improves diversity of Ascendas Reit's portfolio and offers more freehold land With the Proposed Acquisition, Ascendas Reit's portfolio will be geographically diversified, with 60% of investment properties in Singapore, 14% in the United States ("US"), 14% in Australia and 12% in the UK/Europe. Approximately 67% of the Target Portfolio (by asset value) is located on freehold land whilst the remaining 33%[6] is on leasehold land with a weighted average land lease to expiry of 42.9 years[7]. Ascendas Reit's portfolio will further strengthen from the increase in proportion of freehold land (by asset value) from 35.4% to 37.5%[8] assuming completion of the acquisition of the Target Portfolio. 5. Stable and sustainable income stream with long weighted average lease to expiry ("WALE") and triple net lease structures The Target Portfolio has a long WALE of 4.6 years by rental income. About 83% of the leases (by rental income) have embedded annual rent escalations of between 1.0% to 3.0%, providing organic growth.[9] As at 31 December 2020, 58% of the Target Portfolio by rental income is leased on a triple net basis where all property outgoings such as maintenance, tax and insurance are borne by the tenants. The remaining 42% comprises leases within colocation data centres where Ascendas Reit will own the M&E and is responsible for property outgoings. 6. Strengthens overall customer base with high-quality companies The Target Portfolio is 97.9%[9] occupied by 14 high-quality and established customers. These customers operate in a range of industries such as financial services, telecommunications, information technology, retail (supermarkets) and education, and are leasing the properties for their data centre requirements. 7. Distribution per Unit ("DPU") accretive acquisition Net property income ("NPI") yield[10] for the first year is approximately 6.0% and 5.7% pre-transaction costs and post-transaction costs respectively. The pro forma impact on the DPU for the financial year commencing on 1 January 2020 and ended 31 December 2020 is expected to be an improvement of 0.189 Singapore cents assuming the Proposed Acquisition was completed on 1 January 2020.[11] Details of the Acquisition Ascendas Reit, through its wholly owned subsidiaries, has today entered into a sale and purchase agreement with the Vendor and is expected to complete the Proposed Acquisition today in UK time. The total consideration of S$904.6 million is in line with the independent market valuations of the Target Properties, which amount to S$905.0 million[12]. Ascendas Reit is expected to incur an estimated transaction cost of S$55.4 million, which includes stamp duty, professional advisory fees, and acquisition fees payable to the Manager in cash (being 1% of the Total Consideration of S$904.6 million, which amounts to approximately S$9.0 million). The total acquisition cost of S$960.0 million, will be financed with proceeds from the Equity Fund Raising[13] announced on 10 November 2020, debt financing and/or internal cash resources. About the Target Portfolio The 11 data centres have a total net lettable area of 61,637 sqm. Six data centres are located on freehold land whilst the remaining five data centres[14] are sited on leasehold land with a weighted average land lease to expiry of 42.9 years. Including the Target Portfolio, Ascendas Reit will own 212 properties worth S$15.0 billion comprising 96 properties (S$9.0 billion) in Singapore, 37 properties (S$2.1 billion) in Australia[15], 49 properties (S$1.7 billion) in the UK/Europe and 30 properties in the US (S$2.1 billion). For more details about the Proposed Acquisition and the individual data centres, please refer to the accompanying (1) announcement, and (ii) investor presentation, both titled "Proposed acquisition of a portfolio of 11 data centres in Europe" dated 17 March 2021.







Target Portfolio Statistics Location & Number of Properties 11 data centres London, UK: 3 properties Amsterdam, Netherlands: 3 properties Paris, France: 3 properties Manchester, UK: 1 property Geneva, Switzerland: 1 property Land Area 136,816 sqm Land Tenure (by asset value) Freehold: 6 properties Leasehold: 5 properties[16] with weighted average land lease to expiry of 42.9 years Total Net Lettable Area 61,637 sqm WALE (by gross revenue) 4.6 years Occupancy Rate 97.9% Total Number of Customers 14 Lease Structures (by rental income) 58% triple-net 42% colocation

[1] The Proposed Acquisition will be made through the acquisition of the entire issued share capital of certain corporations which own the Target Properties. Total Consideration is subject to a completion working capital adjustment, as set out in the Sale and Purchase Agreement. Please refer to the announcement titled "Proposed Acquisition of a Portfolio of 11 Data Centres in Europe" and dated 17 March 2021 for more details. [2] Comprising approximately GBP250.25 million for the target properties located in the UK and approximately EUR276.85 million for the other target properties located in the Netherlands, France and Switzerland. Illustrative exchange rates of GBP1.0000: S$1.8395 and EUR1.0000: S$1.6047 are used for all conversions from Pound Sterling and Euro amounts into Singapore Dollar amounts respectively in this press release. [3] Source: CBRE Research, Q4 2020. Data refers to the carrier-neutral colocation market in each city. [4] "FLAP" refers to the four largest colocation markets in Europe: Frankfurt, London, Amsterdam and Paris. [5] Based on the fixed average take-up of the previous five years. [6] Includes two properties on perpetual leasehold basis. [7] As at 31 December 2020. [8] Pro forma as at 31 December 2020. [9] As at 31 December 2020. [10] The NPI yield is derived using the estimated NPI expected in the first year of acquisition. [11] The annualised pro forma DPU impact is calculated based on the following assumptions a) Ascendas Reit had completed the Proposed Acquisition on 1 Jan 2020, held and operated the Target Properties through 31 Dec 2020, b) the Proposed Acquisition is funded by equity of approximately S$612.5 million (approximately 63.8% of Total Acquisition Cost) and additional borrowings of S$347.5 million (36.2%) and, c) the Manager elects to receive its base fee 80% in cash and 20% in units. [12] The valuations were commissioned by the Manager and HSBC Institutional Trust Services (Singapore) Limited (trustee of Ascendas Reit) and carried out by Newmark Knight Frank Valuation & Advisory, LLC, using the sales comparison and income capitalisation approaches. The independent valuations concluded an aggregate market value of GBP250,250,000 for the UK Properties and EUR277,100,000 for the other Target Properties. Please refer to the announcement titled "Proposed Acquisition of a Portfolio of 11 Data Centres in Europe" dated 17 March 2021 for the dates of valuation. [13] Please refer to "Launch of Equity Fund Raising to Raise Gross Proceeds of Approximately S$1,200 million" announcement dated 10 November 2020. [14] Includes two properties on perpetual leasehold basis. [15] Includes 1-5 Thomas Holt Drive in Sydney, Australia, acquired on 13 January 2021. [16] Includes two properties on perpetual leasehold basis. About Ascendas Real Estate Investment Trust (www.ascendas-reit.com) Ascendas Real Estate Investment Trust (Ascendas Reit) is Singapore's first and largest listed business space and industrial real estate investment trust. It was listed on the Singapore Exchange Securities Trading Limited (SGX-ST) in November 2002. As at 31 December 2020, Ascendas Reit's investment properties under management stood at S$13.7 billion. The portfolio comprises 200 properties across the developed markets of Singapore, Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States. Ascendas Reit's portfolio includes business and science parks, suburban office properties, high-specifications industrial properties, light industrial properties, logistics and distribution centres, and integrated developments, amenities and retail properties. These properties house a tenant base of more than 1,450 international and local companies from a wide range of industries and activities, including research and development, life sciences, information technology, engineering, light manufacturing, logistics service providers, electronics, telecommunications, manufacturing services and back-room office support in service industries. Major tenants include Singtel, Stripe, DSO National Laboratories, Pinterest, DBS, CareFusion, Wesfarmers, Citibank and JPMorgan. Ascendas Reit is listed in several indices. These include the FTSE Straits Times Index, the Morgan Stanley Capital International, Inc (MSCI) Index, the European Public Real Estate Association/National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts (EPRA/NAREIT) Global Real Estate Index and Global Property Research (GPR) Asia 250. Ascendas Reit has an issuer rating of 'A3' by Moody's Investors Service. Ascendas Reit is managed by Ascendas Funds Management (S) Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Singapore-listed CapitaLand Limited, one of Asia's largest diversified real estate groups. About CapitaLand Limited (www.capitaland.com) CapitaLand Limited (CapitaLand) is one of Asia's largest diversified real estate groups. Headquartered and listed in Singapore, it owns and manages a global portfolio worth about S$132.5 billion as at 31 December 2020. CapitaLand's portfolio spans across diversified real estate classes which includes commercial, retail; business park, industrial and logistics; integrated development, urban development; as well as lodging and residential. With a presence across more than 230 cities in over 30 countries, the Group focuses on Singapore and China as its core markets, while it continues to expand in markets such as India, Vietnam, Australia, Europe and the USA. CapitaLand has one of the largest real estate investment management businesses globally. It manages six listed real estate investment trusts (REITs) and business trusts as well as over 20 private funds. CapitaLand launched Singapore's first REIT in 2002 and today, its stable of REITs and business trusts comprises CapitaLand Integrated Commercial Trust, Ascendas Real Estate Investment Trust, Ascott Residence Trust, CapitaLand China Trust, Ascendas India Trust and CapitaLand Malaysia Mall Trust. CapitaLand places sustainability at the core of what it does. As a responsible real estate company, CapitaLand contributes to the environmental and social well-being of the communities where it operates, as it delivers long-term economic value to its stakeholders. Important Notice This press release may contain forward-looking statements. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which are based on the current view of management regarding future events. Neither Ascendas Funds Management (S) Ltd nor any of its affiliates, advisers or representatives shall have any liability whatsoever (in negligence or otherwise) for any loss howsoever arising, whether directly or indirectly, from any use of, reliance on or distribution of this press release or its contents or otherwise arising in connection with this press release. The past performance of Ascendas Reit is not indicative of future performance. The listing of the units in the Ascendas Reit ("Units") on the Singapore Exchange Securities Trading Limited (SGX-ST) does not guarantee a liquid market for the Units. This press release is for information only and does not constitute an invitation or offer to acquire, purchase or subscribe for the Units. For the complete disclaimer, please click here. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1457910/Areit_Logo.jpg

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Deputy Prime Minister Dan Barna discussed today with European Commission Vice President Vera Jourova, focusing mainly on the future Rule of law Report on Romania and Romania's progress towards closing the process of the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism (CVM).

"Both parties share the goal of bringing CVM monitoring to end and I noticed an open attitude on the part of the European Commission. Yet achieving this goal depends only on Romania. The priority efforts for our agenda are correcting the justice package, dismantling the Section for the Investigation of Judicial Crimes and bringing the Criminal Code and the Criminal Procedure Code in accordance with the rulings of the Constitutional Court. After 13 years during which Romania has been subject to exceptional monitoring by the European Commission, with major setbacks in 2018 and 2019, I am confident that our intensified efforts in the next period will lead to a normal and predictable functioning of the rule of law in Romania," Dan Barna wrote on the government's Facebook page.

The Deputy Prime Minister underlined: "Mrs. Jourova and the Commission's message was very clear: expectations of Romania are firmness and results, and we commit to deliver on this."

AGERPRES
The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) on Wednesday arrested two Chinese nationals from West Bengal's Bagdogra Airport with forged travel documents and fake Aadhaar cards. As per an official statement on the CISF, the two identified as Nav Jang Jung (39) and Kai Leng (42) were attempting to board a flight from Siliguri to Hyderabad and were scheduled to travel to Tirupati. Upon checking their passports, the CISF found out that they did not possess the necessary authorizations including a basic Visa. The duo is reported to gave entered India through the Nepal border at Panitanki in North Bengal.

West Bengal: Siliguri Metropolitan Police (SMP) detained two Chinese nationals from Bagdogra Airport today. Following an interrogation, one Chinese passport and two Aadhaar cards have been seized from their possession. pic.twitter.com/gUE2LXAUTf  ANI (@ANI) March 16, 2021

"During checking of traveling documents of both the passengers, Aadhaar cards appeared to be forged. On suspicion, the constable immediately informed the matter to his seniors. On arrival of senior officers of CISF, the matter was informed to Local Police, Army Intelligence Unit, and IB Officials," CISF said in an official statement.

Their Aadhaar Cards bore the address of Uttar Pradesh's Gautam Buddh Nagar.

"On joint interrogation, it came to light that the suspected passengers were Chinese national and visited India in 2020. As per their passport, they had visited Pakistan in 2018 and 2019. They have also visited Nepal and exited Nepal on January 13, 2021. They were staying in India even after expiring of their Visa and were using fake Aadhaar cards to travel within India," the force added.

The local police will also interrogate the hotel in Bagdogra where the duo was allowed to stay in the absence of visa permits and necessary documents.

Back in January, the Anti-Terrorist Squad of the Uttar Pradesh police had arrested two Chinese nationals from Noida in Gautam Buddh Nagar for their involvement in a money laundering case. The duo also possessed forged documents that they had used to open bank accounts for alleged criminal activities.

(With Agency Inputs)
Denton, TX (76205)

Today

Partly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 62F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

Partly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 62F. Winds light and variable.
[March 17, 2021] ServiceNow, Supporting Vaccinations for More Than 20 Million People Globally, Enhances Vaccine Administration Management Solution to Help Organizations Rapidly Administer COVID Vaccines at Scale

ServiceNow (NYSE: NOW), which is supporting vaccinations for more than 20 million people with the Now Platform and its Vaccine Administration Management solution, today released further product enhancements to its Vaccine Administration Management solution to help organizations quickly meet the "last-mile" challenges of vaccinating and protecting people at scale. The latest enhancements make it easier for people to schedule vaccination appointments and for providers to manage vaccine inventory. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210317005521/en/ (Graphic: ServiceNow (News - Alert) ) With the Biden administration directing states to make all U.S. adults eligible for vaccinations by May 1, ServiceNow is committed to leveraging the Now Platform to help states and healthcare providers convert vaccines into vaccinations as quickly as possible. The Now Platform and Vaccine Administration Management solution are being deployed in just days by some providers, using ServiceNow's workflow technology to rapidly improve vaccine distribution, administration, and monitoring. The NHS National Services Scotland, for example, is using ServiceNow to help quickly vaccinate Scottish citizens. Additionally, Children's Minnesota, one of the largest pediatric health care systems in the U.S., recently went live with ServiceNow Vaccine Administration Management in just five days. When Children's Minnesota expanded its vaccination rollout beyond staff, to patient caregivers and the most vulnerable members of the community, it experienced similar challenges as those faced by other organizations across the country. With its new system, Children's Minnesota has reduced wait times from three hours in a walk-in model to 20 minutes with an appointment and successfully vaccinated nearly 1,400 staff members, caregivers and the community in 11 hours. "At Children's Minnesota, our mission is to champion the health needs of children and families. Right now, that means ensuring our vaccine management process is efficient and able to get our community vaccinated as quickly as possible. After all, one arm at a time is how we can get out of this pandemic," said Patsy Stinchfield, MS, CPNP, Nurse Practitioner, senior director of infection prevention at Children's Minnesota and head of the health care system's COVID-19 incident command center. "We're thrilled that we are efficiently vaccinating our staff, caregivers and our most vulnerable patients." ServiceNow is helping organizations across healthcare, government, education, and the private sector distribute COVID-19 vaccines and get people vaccinated quickly, including: The Department of Homeland Security is facilitating vaccinations for its 240,000 employees via ServiceNow for vaccination eligibility checks, communication management, and coordinating mass vaccinations at Veterans Affairs facilities.

via ServiceNow for vaccination eligibility checks, communication management, and coordinating mass vaccinations at Veterans Affairs facilities. The University of Central Florida is leveraging ServiceNow to coordinate and schedule first and second dose vaccinations for its faculty and staff.

is leveraging ServiceNow to coordinate and schedule first and second dose vaccinations for its faculty and staff. The State of North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) is relying on ServiceNow's technology as the foundation for its command center for healthcare providers, clinicians administering the vaccine, and supporting NCDHHS staff to access the latest information related to state vaccine requirements and to get their vaccine-related questions answered.

is relying on ServiceNow's technology as the foundation for its command center for healthcare providers, clinicians administering the vaccine, and supporting NCDHHS staff to access the latest information related to state vaccine requirements and to get their vaccine-related questions answered. Outside the U.S., The NHS National Services Scotland is using ServiceNow's Now Platform as the digital backbone of its program to rapidly roll out the vaccine to protect citizen health in the fiht against COVID-19. Over 220,000 vaccination appointments were booked in the first 12 hours of the Now Platform going live.



Introducing more control and visibility for vaccination scheduling The latest updates to the ServiceNow Vaccine Administration Management solution improve the vaccination scheduling process for vaccine recipients, administrators, and clinicians, providing increased visibility into inventory, to help convert all available vaccines into vaccinations.

New capabilities announced today offer increased control and visibility over available vaccine doses to help match vaccine appointments with inventory supply to minimize waste and avoid overbooking appointments. This has been a challenge for many organizations, leading to long wait times and leaving many recipients in line with cancelled appointments. New capabilities include: The ability to schedule and cancel appointments based on vaccine inventory as vaccines are distributed. Organizations can automatically track vaccine inventory in real-time and open, close, and reschedule appointments based on the number of vaccines they have available.

as vaccines are distributed. Organizations can automatically track vaccine inventory in real-time and open, close, and reschedule appointments based on the number of vaccines they have available. Location-level configuration capabilities enable organizations managing multiple vaccination sites to specify inventory, available hours, and appointment slots by location. Additionally, new capabilities announced today give vaccine recipients more control over the scheduling process for a seamless booking experience, including: The ability to select a specific day and time for appointments and independently book second appointments. Previously, users were automatically booked into the first available spot.

and independently book second appointments. Previously, users were automatically booked into the first available spot. The ability for contact center agents to book appointments on behalf of recipients.

to book appointments on behalf of recipients. Options for family scheduling will be available soon, allowing families to book appointments together and at the same time, rather than signing up individually with different accounts at varying times. These updates will support smoother and more efficient experiences for both those receiving and administering vaccinations as more people become eligible and vaccines are made widely available. "The rapid distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine is one of the greatest workflow challenges of our time," said Mike Luessi, AVP and GM, Healthcare and Life Sciences Industry at ServiceNow. "We are working closely with organizations to rapidly ramp their vaccination efforts and adding new capabilities to our Vaccine Administration Management solution twice a month as the landscape evolves and more vaccines become available." Workflowing a healthier future The recently passed U.S. stimulus package has prioritized helping state and local governments recover from the challenges of COVID-19 to get people back to work and to restart the economy. ServiceNow also continues to innovate its previously announced Safe Workplace suite to allow governments and organizations to safely return to work. ServiceNow's Safe Workplace suite supports all aspects of creating a safe and efficient return to work for governments, campuses, and companies. This now includes Vaccination Status, an app that helps public and private sector companies track the status of vaccinations in the workplace. With the ServiceNow Vaccination Status app, employees and stakeholders in an organization can easily submit documentation of completed health vaccinations to meet return to workplace requirements, where permissible by law. Organizations can also collect vaccination data to assess when it's safe to bring employees and stakeholders back to a workplace and provide benefits to employees who received vaccinations, in accordance with their respective policies. To date, more than 1,000 organizations globally have downloaded the Safe Workplace suite of apps with over 12,000 unique installations. Availability and additional information New features are currently available in the ServiceNow Store and caregiver scheduling options are expected to be available in April. Additional Resources: ServiceNow Blog: ServiceNow simplifies vaccine management with new capabilities What customers are saying about ServiceNow's vaccine solutions: University of Central Florida "When educators became eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine in Florida, we quickly began working with the Florida Department of Health in Orange (News - Alert) County to coordinate the safe and efficient vaccination of faculty and staff," said Dr. Michael Deichen, Associate Vice President of UCF Student Health Services, University of Central Florida. "We knew we needed a solution to seamlessly manage the vaccine scheduling process." "We worked diligently with ServiceNow to build a solution that would meet our goal of safely vaccinating more than 2,000 faculty and staff in just five days," said Scott Baron, Associate Director, Performance and Service Management, University of Central Florida. "This is a continuation of the work we've done with ServiceNow throughout the pandemic to build solutions that support faculty, staff and students." Use of Forward-Looking Statements This release contains "forward-looking statements" about the expectations, beliefs, plans, and intentions relating to new capabilities. Such forward-looking statements include statements regarding expected performance and benefits of such capabilities. Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are based on potentially inaccurate assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expected or implied by the forward-looking statements. If any such risks or uncertainties materialize or if any of the assumptions prove incorrect, our results could differ materially from the results expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements we make. We undertake no obligation, and do not intend, to update the forward-looking statements. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those in any forward-looking statements include, without limitation: (i) delays and unexpected difficulties and expenses in making available additional capabilities; (ii) changes in the regulatory landscape related to vaccine development and distribution and the availability of vaccines; and (iii) changes in the duration or severity of the COVID-19 pandemic. Further information on factors that could affect our financial and other results is included in the filings we make with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time. About ServiceNow: ServiceNow (NYSE: NOW) is making the world of work, work better for people. Our cloud-based platform and solutions deliver digital workflows that create great experiences and unlock productivity for employees and the enterprise. For more information, visit: www.servicenow.com.  2021 ServiceNow, Inc. All rights reserved. ServiceNow, the ServiceNow logo, Now, and other ServiceNow marks are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of ServiceNow, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. Other company names, product names, and logos may be trademarks of the respective companies with which they are associated. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210317005521/en/

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The Horsham, Pennsylvania-based company will gladly work with just about anything thats currently popular on the market, from the F90 BMW M5 to the Jeep Wrangler , C8 Corvette, and Ford Raptor. But, judging by their recent teaser for a 132-mph (212 kph) flying quarter-mile A90 GR Supra, we already knew that something new was on the menu for the Japanese coupe as well.While AWE Tuning is better known for its best sounding exhaust suites , this time around, the aftermarket specialists decided to work directly under the hood. Meet the latest addition to their AWE S-FLO Carbon Intake System series: the 4.5-inch carbon induction assembly for the 2020 A90 GR Supra.The shops S-FLO Carbon Intake is labeled as a full, modular replacement for the factory airbox. It comes in the form of a 4.5-inch inlet tube, a rather hulking-looking oil-less inverted cone filter (responsible for a 71% increase in filter surface over standard fitment), a unique aluminum support bracket, as well as a genuine 2x2 twill carbon construction (that) integrates a machined aluminum sensor fitting for OE-like fitment and CEL-free performance.According to AWE, the carbon fiber intake assembly is responsible for a subtle dose of additional performance compared to stock Supras. That's because it delivers an additional 15-wheel horsepower and 21 lb-ft (28 Nm) when combined with a stage 1 software tune.In addition, the company offers an optional S-FLO Carbon Lid available separately for anyone looking not just for the power gains but also for the best looks for the engine area of their GR Supra. It comes with the same 2x2 twill carbon design as the filter and will be installed easily because it mounts to the same CNC laser-cut aluminum support bracket as the filter assembly.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-17 05:53:09|Editor: huaxia

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ALGIERS, March 16 (Xinhua) -- Algerian Foreign Minister Sabri Boukadoum on Tuesday met with UN Special Envoy to Libya Jan Kubis over the developments of the war-torn country after the swearing-in of a new government.

Boukadoum said on his official Twitter account that he had "constructive" talks with the UN envoy and they "hailed the recent positive steps" by Libya to "reunite its ranks."

They reaffirmed their determination to support the peace and reconciliation process in Libya, the Algerian top diplomat noted.

The UN-sponsored Libyan Political Dialogue Forum (LPDF) recently selected a new executive authority for the North African country, which was welcomed by all the Libyan parties.

Moahmmed Menfi was appointed as President of the Presidency Council while Abdul Hamid Dbeibah was elected by the LPDF as new Prime Minister.

The new government's main task is to hold general elections on Dec. 24 as agreed by the LPDF. Enditem
US helicopter guns will be equipped with a version of Apache chain guns. These weapons are anti-armor and anti-personnel with a high rate of fire.

Attack helicopters have missiles and rockets, but their guns are for all-around use. Modern attack helicopters use these in any engagement it can be used. It can be called an up-close weapon.

Brand new chain gun

The US Army's next helicopter gunship might be using the Sky Viper chain gun developed by Northrop Grumman, that is a scaled-down version of the AH-64. These helicopters have been sold to India to improve their offensive capability.

A smaller version of the Apache weapon that has destroyed targets easily is so effective it will be armed on the next attack choppers. The U.S Army's next-generation scout helicopter might have it armed soon.

The 20mm Sky Viper chain gun was designed and built by Northrop Grumman. It might be equipped in the Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) competition.

Under evaluation is the Sky Viper, the XM915 Gatling gun, developed by General Dynamics Ordnance for the same purpose. Sky Viper is similar to the M230 chain gun on the nose of the AH-64. The success of the Apache's cannon prompted adaptation for the advanced chopper. It is used by the US Army for close air support of infantry.

Futuristic 'Defiant X' Flies to Be the Next Generation Long-Range Assault Helicopter of the US Army

Apache variants

Of all the variants, the Apache Guardian or E-model used by India is the updated version. Over 17 countries have the Apache Guardian that has the latest equipment on board. Improved radios and satellite communications, navigation, sensors with lethal weapons systems.



India used these attack choppers in Ladakh to support ground troops. Its presence was threatening to the Chinese troop with no similar weapon system.

Made to bring the pain: AH-64

Armed with anti-tank guided missiles, air-to-air missiles, rocket, and the extra weapon, it can harrow from enemies but the nose gun "M230 chain gun" brings the hurt in full measure. It can fire 625 rounds a minute to wreck men and armored vehicles.

It is powered by an external source to control its mechanical systems. It does not use gases to move the mechanical parts; instead uses an external power to drive it.

The Sky Viper is working similarly to the M230 chain gun with the same mechanics. The Sky Viper cannon is a smaller 20-mm to the 30-mm Apache monster weapon.

Next-generation choppers

The smaller cannon for the FARA and Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) are not for smashing tanks. The FARA and FLRAA will be the replacements of the UH-60 Black Hawks. Carrying equipment and supporting troops at longer ranges than the Black Hawk, they are the next generation to replace older choppers in the US Army.

The Apache Guardian will be accompanied by FARA and FLRAA, which are light air scouts. They are faster and lighter to keep up with fast-moving ground forces. It will scout forward and show where to aim Apache chain guns or missiles. They zip front and back to update combat gunships.

US Army Has the Most Advanced Apache Helicopter Gunship with Updated Features

Australia Increases Attack Helicopter Force, Updates US AH-64 Guardian Helicopters for Armed Reconnaissance

U.S. Navy MH-60R Seahawk Equipped with Magnetic Anomaly Detectors Will be Submarine Hunters

@ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
The Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) has signed a strategic partnership agreement with the Saudi Telecom Company (STC) to develop solutions using artificial intelligence (AI) for health fields, smart cities and infrastructure.



The agreement also aims to study the establishment of AI infrastructure, empower AI experts in the field of business, expand and implement technological solutions, provide joint services with government entities, and discuss the development of investment opportunities that ensure the provision of comprehensive and integrated technological solutions to serve government entities and the Kingdom's Vision 2030, reported Saudi Press Agency (SPA).










Sexual harassment and sexual violence is a health and safety issue for corporate Australia and must also be taken seriously in parliament, influential lobbyists say.

'All of corporate Australia would say that the tone of any organisation is set at the top and the tone of our nation is set therefore in this building,' KPMG national chairwoman Alison Kitchen told reporters on Wednesday.

'We would like to see this building address and take this issue seriously.'

Sexual harassment and sexual violence is a health and safety issue for corporate Australia and must also be taken seriously in parliament, influential lobbyists say (stock image)

At Parliament House to spruik the Business Council of Australia's budget demands, executives sidestepped questions about whether they would stand down a colleague facing allegations of rape or sexual harassment.

But they acknowledged parliament could learn from best practice in parts of corporate Australia.

Coca-Cola Amatil Group managing director Alison Watkins said she was very confident in the processes at her company.

KPMG national chairwoman Alison Kitchen (pictured) speaks to the media during a press conference at Parliament House in Canberra

'We are very very focused on creating an environment where our employees are safe and protecting their interests.'

Ms Kitchen said KPMG had a very victim-led approach to investigations of these issues and respected the rights of both parties equally.

'Certainly in my organisation, and I'm sure in many, we see sexual harassment and sexual violence as a health and safety issue first and foremost and therefore it's an issue we take very seriously,' she said, flanked by BCA president Tim Reed and chief executive Jennifer Westacott.

'We're all very pleased to see the sex discrimination commissioner investigate these issues and we look forward to her report.'
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"Danyelle has played an integral role in overseeing and managing the U.S. subsidiary and the ever-changing evolution of its business, driving the digitalization of Clarins in the market. She has been a very committed partner to the Brand, and we want to express our sincere gratitude to Danyelle for her solid contribution," said Jonathan Zrihen, Clarins Global CEO.

Lionel Uzan, General Manager of Clarins Canada, will be assuming the role of President of Clarins North America and General Manager of Clarins USA, effective September 1, 2021. Uzan has spent 17 years in the United Statesmost recently heading the Clarins Fragrance Group Division. His visionary leadership, deep knowledge of the company and extensive experience in marketing and general management poise him to further develop Clarins' presence in North America. He will be reporting to Christophe De Pous, President of Clarins' newly established International Markets Division.

Clarins remains fully committed to the unlimited potential of the US as one of the top beauty markets in the world.

For press inquiries, please contact:

Melissa Reidhead [email protected]

Lucas Petry [email protected]

ABOUT CLARINS

Founded in a professional Parisian beauty institute by Jacques Courtin-Clarins in 1954, Clarins has become the #1 prestige skincare brand in Europe. More than 65 years later, the brand remains family-owned and is distributed in more than 140 countriesoffering skincare innovations for face and body, men's and makeup. With unique expertise in Phyto-chemistry, Clarins Laboratories are considered pioneers in the fields of plant science and technology. The brand values are rooted in an ongoing dialogue with women, an abiding respect for nature and people, and commitments to sustainable sourcing, including Le Domaine Clarinsour organic farm and open-air laboratory in the French Alps. Clarins is accelerating its sustainable actions to become a Certified B Corporation by 2023. Currently carbon neutral the company will further reduce its carbon footprint by 30% and become 100% plastic neutral using 100% recyclable packaging by 2025. Partners include: Pur Projet  over 440,000 trees planted to date, Plastic Odyssey  a three-year expedition across three continents, 30 stopovers to fight against plastic pollution, and FEED  over 36 million school meals provided to children in need by the end of 2021

*B Corp: founded in 2006 in the USA, a body that brings together companies wishing to affirm or reaffirm their societal mission and demonstrate their positive impact via global performance assessment every 3 years.

SOURCE Clarins USA

Related Links

www.clarinsusa.com


People with high-risk medical conditions would be allowed to jump the line when the coronavirus vaccine registration opens to everyone over the age of 16 on April 5, but how that will work is still unclear.

Though Gov. Ned Lamont announced Monday the state will accelerate access for those with preexisting conditions, which medical ailments will count and whether it can be handled on a unified, statewide level is still an open question, according to health experts.

Nothing has been fully fleshed out, said Ohm Deshpande, vice president for population health and a physician leader for Yale New Haven Healths vaccination program. Our goal is to come to some sort of consensus that is not at the level of a health provider or health system. Wed like to be working along the same guidelines.

Kimberly Metcalf, associate vice president for pharmacy and ancillary services at UConn Health, said they were waiting on clarification from the state as to which preexisting conditions will be prioritized in order to determine how to proceed in operationalizing the states guidance.

But the state said its leaving the details of vaccine distribution for people with high-risk conditions to the individual providers and health systems.

All of those decisions will be made by the vaccine providers, who know their patients and the populations they serve the best, said Maura Fitzgerald, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Public Health.

But that means the states providers need to coordinate with each other, and decide which conditions are acceptable and how a patient would prove eligibility.

The states vaccine providers have been working toward a unified approach on vaccinations. There were preliminary discussions about three weeks ago, said Tom Balcezak, chief medical officer at Yale New Haven Hospital.

But more discussion is necessary, now that decisions on who gets vaccinated first falls more squarely on their shoulders, to try and see if theres a statewide way that we can coordinate and do this, he said.

One question is which medical conditions get priority.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention maintain a list of conditions that carry a heightened risk of hospitalization or death from a coronavirus infection, including obesity (defined as a body-mass index of 30 or above), smoking, Type 2 diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and kidney disease, among others.

But all patients in those categories dont carry the same risk, Balcezak said. Should a 22-year-old smoker in otherwise good health have the same priority as a 44-year-old with kidney disease?

Were going to need to be clear about what are the conditions, Balcezak said. There are a lot of questions there about what would qualify.

A patient on kidney dialysis is an obvious choice. Hospitals know which of their patients require dialysis and there is data showing an increased risk for those patients from the coronavirus.

There are certain high-risk, well-defined clinical conditions, Balcezak said. We are thinking thats one of the populations thats probably very reasonable to include. Its a very well-defined population, theres objective criteria for what the condition is, and there's also data to show that that condition leads to an increased risk of death from COVID-19.

Other conditions raise questions, like how to prove a patient is at increased risk. How do you prove if someone is a smoker? How much more risk does a patient bear if they have well-controlled Type 2 diabetes?

In New York, patients are required to show a doctor's letter, medical records or a signed certification. But those options could be problematic, experts said.

Its not reasonable for us to say, produce medical records, Deshpande said, suggesting they may need to rely on a little bit of the honor system.

Doctors notes are easier to obtain for people with good relationships with their physician, but are more difficult to obtain for those who rely on a community health center.

The hope, according to Balcezak, is to find some objective measure.

Something like a physician attestation on what you do or do not have, without some objective criteria, I think thats something we would want to avoid, he said. That will exacerbate some of the inequities early on we saw in the numbers.

Some statewide communication between vaccine providers will be critical when about 1.3 million people become eligible to be vaccinated on April 5.

Patients can make appointments with several providers and, if they dont cancel, leave an empty slot when they dont show up.

People may make a bunch of different appointments in a bunch of different places, Deshpande said, an issue that will grow in scope if there is no effective communication between providers.

There are a few systems already in place on which more effective solutions can be built. A medical records system called Epic, used by many of the larger providers in the state, could be a part of the solution, as might CT WiZ, Connecticuts statewide immunization information system.

It has been useful, Deshpande said. Now we are all uploading vaccination data to CT WiZ. We are able to download that data into our health records.

The first step is Friday, when people ages 45 and over become eligible, about 480,000 people minus those who fell into groups that already qualified like health care workers.

But April 5 is the real deadline.

The advantage is we have a couple of weeks to figure it out, Balcezak said, though when pressed he called it a relative advantage.

We have next week to get some consensus on this, he said.
Terming it 'a smear campaign', Meghan Markle has legally demanded proof against allegations that she bullied Palace staff during her time as a frontline royal with Prince Harry in Britain.

According to a report by The Mail on Sunday, a senior Buckingham Palace aide had accused Meghan of 'unacceptable behaviour' towards two personal assistants and undermining the confidence of a third.

Earlier this month, the palace had confirmed that a probe would be conducted after The Times published a leaked email from a staff member alleging that the former American actress drove two personal assistants out of the royal household and undermined the confidence of a third member of staff.

The complaint against Meghan dates back to October 2018 when an email was sent by a member of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's staff to a senior courtier. The email was forwarded to the HR department, but the complaint did not progress.

The email leaked by staff member Jason Knauf, the couple's then press secretary to The Times reads:

Also read: Buckingham Palace to get law firm to conduct Meghan bullying probe

'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'

After the leak, the Palace has reportedly decided that a third-party law firm would conduct an independent investigation into the matter rather than an in-house body.

Our commitment to look into the circumstances around the allegations from former staff of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex is being taken forward but we will not be providing a public commentary on it, a Buckingham Palace spokesperson said.

Several former and current royal aides, who could not give evidence in court during Meghan Markles recent legal case about privacy against a British newspaper, are expected to speak to the inquiry.

The palace inquiry into the exact circumstances was announced days before Harry and Meghans explosive interview with Oprah Winfrey which aired last weekend. The interview made headlines due to the shocking claims made by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex around the lack of mental health support offered to a suicidal Meghan and unnamed royals raising concerns about the skin colour of their mixed-race son Archie.

(With PTI inputs)
The Polar Vortex forecast over the next two weeks is showing the weakening that usually leads to a final warming and disappearance of the Polar Vortex until next winter. At the same time, the Polar Vortex shows one sign of being able to deliver one last blast of cold.

Judah Cohen, Climatologist at AER, A Verisk Business, has studied the Polar Vortex and long-range forecast for over 20 years. He says the Polar Vortex is heading for the exits. Cohen cautions though that he sees one Polar Vortex condition that could bring one last bout of colder than normal temperatures. Cohen calls this condition a stretching of the Polar Vortex. The stretching is slightly indicated by computer modeling to occur over the next two weeks. When Polar Vortex stretching occurs, Cohen says cold air can move from Siberia across the North Pole and into eastern Canada.

The forecast below shows the strong Polar Vortex now weakening some by April 1. It also shows the tight circle of the swirling vortex becoming pulled out on two ends, which Cohen calls stretching.

Polar Vortex forecast from March 16 to April 1, 2021 (courtesy Judah Cohen and AER, A Verisk Business)

But Cohen cautions this stretching to produce cold has only a 25 percent chance of happening. Its more likely that the Polar Vortex is on its timeframe to a typical fade-away for summer.

While the Polar Vortex is stronger than normal for the moment, some weakening is also expected in the next two weeks. Cohen expects the Polar Vortex to be dissolved sometime in the first half of April, which is a typical timeframe.

Cohen says that if Polar Vortex stretching did produce some cold over Michigan and the eastern U.S., it wouldnt be a month of cold. It would be more on the order of one week of cold.

So Cohen definitely thinks winter is heading for the exits. But he thinks the possibility of a Polar Vortex stretching is still significant enough that he cant say winter is done.

On a note from me, agreed with by Judah Cohen- the various computer models all show no sign of abnormally cold weather at ground level coming to Michigan in the next two weeks. When we talk about the Polar Vortex, it is an upper-air situation that eventually can influence weather here at the ground. So, while the Polar Vortex could look like it can bring cold, the surface weather doesnt always get in sync with that idea.

Those of you that want winter to be over- the signs point toward it. If you get disappointed with one last blast of winter, it wont be a long blast.

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The vaccine rollout was plunged into its first real crisis last night as the NHS revealed a major four-week fall in supply, meaning millions of people under 50 now face waiting a much longer wait for their first vaccine appointment than many had hoped. Here, we take a look at what is causing the shortage, how it differs from EU supply threats, and what it actually means for those still waiting for a jab.

What has happened?

The NHS has written to GPs, hospitals and councils to warn of a looming fall in the supply of coronavirus vaccines.

It said the Vaccines Task Force (VTF) had warned of a significant reduction in supplies from the week starting March 29. The VTF, which agreed vaccine deals on behalf of the Government, predicted this would continue for four weeks and blamed reductions in national inbound vaccines supply.

The letter said volumes for first doses would be significantly constrained. But jab manufacturer AstraZeneca insisted last night the UK supply chain was not being disrupted.

What does this mean?

People would no longer be able to book a jab at a vaccination centre or pharmacy from March 29 to April 30. Anybody already booked in for their first or second dose will not be affected and those in priority groups one to nine can still book for dates before that.

The NHS will continue to focus on ensuring as many as possible in these groups, including all over-50s and the clinically vulnerable, receive the jab. GPs will run pop-up clinics in the likes of retail parks, where eligible people will be able to get the jab even if they have not booked.

But people in lower priority groups, including the over-40s who were next in line, now face a longer wait than was previously expected. The pause in new bookings will be reviewed at the end of March.

The NHS has written to GPs, hospitals and councils to warn of a looming fall in the supply of coronavirus vaccines. Pictured: A pharmacist giving out jabs at a vaccination centre in Kingston, London

How does it affect Government targets?

The Government is confident it will be able to offer a first dose to everyone in the top nine priority groups by April 15. And it is still expecting enough supplies to be able to offer a first dose to all adults by the end of July, as previously promised.

Everyone will be able to get their second dose within six weeks of the first, as advised by the medical regulator. Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the nation was ahead of schedule on the April 15 target. No 10 insisted there would be no delay to easing lockdown.

The AstraZeneca/Oxford Covid-19 vaccine

When will over-40s get their jab?

The over-40s are next in line and it was anticipated they would be offered an appointment when a significant number of over-50s had had theirs.

The over-50s became eligible this week and the pace of the rollout suggested the NHS could move on to the next cohort by the end of March or early April.

This is now likely to be delayed until May. But some over-40s could be invited for their vaccine after April 15 if supplies allow, sources suggest.

Medics have been told to focus on maximising vaccination uptake in groups 1 to 9 and offering second doses instead of expanding it to others.

What has caused the shortage?

Whitehall sources suggested AstraZeneca had informed officials that the firm would not be able to deliver as many vaccine doses of the jab it developed with Oxford University as it had planned.

This was due to a production issue in one of its factories abroad. The UK, Netherlands and Germany are among the countries making the Oxford jab. Separately, a Government source told the Mail last night that supplies had been disrupted due to a range of production issues.

The source revealed that this included the need to re-test a large batch of the vaccine, although they did not specify from which manufacturer.

The NHS will still receive enough supplies to offer people a second dose of the AstraZeneca jab when it is due and they will also receive supplies from Pfizer. A third vaccine from Moderna is also expected to arrive on time from the beginning of next month.

Mr Hancock tried to downplay the issue, saying: Vaccine supply is always lumpy. But last week Vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi told the House of Commons that the NHS could expect a big uplift in supply in the second half of March.

Is it linked to EU supply threats?

Brussels yesterday threatened to block exports of coronavirus vaccines from the EU and complained about a shortage of AstraZeneca supplies. European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said she wanted reciprocity and proportionality in exports, pointing out that 10million doses of vaccine had gone from the EU to the UK.

Although Pfizer jabs were crossing the Channel to the UK, AstraZeneca vaccines are not heading the other way, she indicated. She warned the bloc would reflect on whether exports to countries who have higher vaccination rates than us are still proportionate.

But Government sources last night insisted the two issues were not connected. The UK is not volunteering any of its supplies to the EU and none of its orders are being siphoned off by AstraZeneca, sources insisted.

Mr Hancock said the supply of vaccines to the UK from EU production facilities was fulfilling contractual responsibilities and we fully expect those contracts to be delivered on.

The Department of Health and Social Care said 25,273,226 in the UK have received their first dose of AstraZeneca of Pfizer vaccine between December 8 and March 16

How many jabs have been given so far?

The bombshell letter came as the Government celebrated reaching the milestone of vaccinating 25million people in the first 100 days of the programme.

The Department of Health and Social Care said 25,273,226 in the UK have received their first dose of AstraZeneca of Pfizer vaccine between December 8 and March 16. Around 1.7 million have also had their second dose. Half of the adult population of the UK is 26.3million.

Officials said the milestone brings people one step closer to safely seeing our friends and family again. Some 95 per cent of people aged 65 and over have had their first dose, as have nine in ten of those clinically extremely vulnerable.

Boris Johnson said: This latest milestone is an incredible achievement  representing 25 million reasons to be confident for the future as we cautiously reopen society.

How badly would the UK's Covid vaccine drive suffer if the EU cut off exports of Pfizer's jab? And has Britain given the bloc any doses of AstraZeneca's? Your questions answered amid diplomatic row over Brussels' lagging rollout

The European Union today effectively declared vaccine war on the UK by threatening to block exports of Pfizer/BioNTech's coronavirus jab.

Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, suggested that the bloc could start an export ban on vaccines  the second time that threat has been made  because the continent's rollout is going so badly.

She said the EU may have to 'reflect whether exports to countries who have higher vaccination rates than us are still proportionate'.

It has led to fears it could interfere with the UK's successful rollout, which has seen 25million Brits already given at least one dose.

However, because AstraZeneca's jab is mainly manufactured in the UK, Britain more than likely will be able to remain self-sufficient and still get jabs to the entire population.

But it could come under pressure on second dose supply, given that 13million Brits have had Pfizer's jab and need their top-up shot.

The MHRA said an estimated 10.7million first doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine had been dished out by February 28, compared to 9.7million of the Oxford-AstraZeneca jab. If the same 54/46 per cent split is still being used, it would suggest the Pfizer figure now stands at 13.6million

Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, suggested that the bloc could start an export ban on vaccines

WHICH VACCINES ARE MADE IN THE EU?

The Pfizer/BioNTech jab is currently the only vaccine used in the UK but manufactured in the EU, at the company's plant in Puurs, Belgium.

AstraZeneca's jab is made at home in England and Wales.

Moderna's  which will become available in about two weeks' time at the start of April  is produced in Switzerland, which is not an EU member and so not under von der Leyen's jurisdiction.

The Janssen vaccine, which has not yet been approved by Britain but is likely to be next, will be made in various factories around the world, including in France, Belgium, the US and Japan.

Britain's supply is likely to come from the EU but is not expected until the second half of this year in any case.

IS THE UK EXPORTING VACCINES TO THE EU?

There is no evidence the UK has exported any vaccine doses to the EU and there has been no public announcement about a deal.

The Department of Health said it didn't know whether there had been a deal between AstraZeneca and the EU to ship doses from Britain and the vaccine maker has refused to comment.

Boris Johnson told the House of Commons last week that 'we have not blocked the export of a single Covid-19 vaccine or vaccine component'.

Daily coronavirus deaths in Britain are falling at a faster rate than they did when the first wave began to tail off, according to official data which provides even more evidence that vaccines are saving lives

However, Mrs von der Leyen claimed today: 'Indeed the UK is producing AstraZeneca. In our contract with AstraZeneca there are even two sites in the UK that are put in the contract for potential deliveries for the European Union.

'We are still waiting for doses to come from the UK, so this is an invitation to show us that there are also doses from the UK coming to the European Union so that we have reciprocity.'

HOW MANY DOSES OF ASTRAZENECA'S VACCINE ARE BEING MADE IN THE UK?

Ian McCubbin, the manufacturing lead for the UK's Vaccine Taskforce said in January that the 'vast majority' of the Oxford University/AstraZeneca vaccine will be manufactured in the UK.

Britain is dishing out at least 2.1million vaccines every week, and using almost a 50/50 split of Pfizer and AstraZeneca's jabs, meaning the company is at least making a million doses per week.

The production sites making the vaccine are located in Oxford and Keele in Staffordshire, with the finishing touches being completed in Wrexham in North Wales.

AstraZeneca also has some sites in Germany and the Netherlands where it produces the jab, but it's unclear how many doses are shipped to Britain.

CAN WE RELY ON ASTRAZENECA?

The good news is that the UK has ordered so many doses of the Oxford/AstraZeneca jab  100million  that in a worst-case scenario it could immunise the entire adult population (around 50million people) using that one alone.

And supply of the Oxford/AstraZeneca jab in April and May will be around three to four times larger than of Pfizer and over 20 times as large as those from Moderna  at around three to four million available per week, according to a delivery schedule leaked by the Scottish Government in January  meaning the country will be able to rely on those for the vast majority of its vaccinations.

WHAT ABOUT PFIZER SECOND DOSES?

The bad news is that around 13million people have already had at least one dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, and the majority of them are still waiting for a second jab, which are likely only to come from within the EU.

This means that Britain has to have another 13million doses at least, in order to make sure those people are fully protected.

And it also hopes for another 14million so it can immunise the total 20million for whom doses were ordered.

Pfizer and the UK Government have both refused to comment on the supply chain but deliveries are expected to be smaller in April.

The Department of Health may have to stop using Pfizer supplies for first-time vaccinations within weeks if the spectre of export issues remains, MailOnline understands, because it must begin to stockpile supplies to cope with the huge demand for second doses that will come in April, three months after the rollout exploded in January.

The delivery projections accidentally published by the Scottish Government suggest its supplies of Pfizer will tumble from 130,000 per week throughout March to just 78,000 per week in April and May.

This could equate to approximately 1.5million per week for the whole UK dropping to 950,000 per week, according to the distribution formula used by the Government.

The UK vaccinated more than 2.5million people per week throughout most of January and February and around half of all doses used were Pfizer, meaning the demand for second doses could exceed one million per week in April and May.

If this is the case the Government will have to use all of the projected 950,000 per week suggested in the Scottish delivery schedule while also hoping it has enough left over to meet this rolling demand  leaving little to no capacity for people to receive the Pfizer jab for the first time.

Pfizer declined to comment on its supply chain but said: 'In the UK, we are continuing to liaise closely with the Government to deliver the 40million doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine that we have committed to supply before the end of the year and can confirm that overall projected supply remains the same for quarter one (January to March).'
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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.  The state Court of Appeals has overturned a district judges order requiring the state Office of the Medical Investigator to rule that the manner of a prominent Albuquerque attorneys 2010 death was unknown.

The Court of Appeals ruling Monday said the judge abused his discretion by ordering the Office of the Medical Investigator to change its finding that lawyer Mary Hans death was a suicide, as police believed.

Hans family plans to appeal the ruling.

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For this family, the arc of the moral universe is indeed a long one, but we believe justice has always been on our side, Diane Garrity, an attorney for the family, said in a statement. We intend to ask the New Mexico Supreme Court to review this decision. We will continue to seek justice on Marys behalf.

OMI praised the ruling.

The Office of the Medical Investigator appreciates the decision of the New Mexico Court of Appeals that we believe upholds the law and reverses the lower courts decision in this case, spokesman Mark Rudi said in a statement. Our commitment continues to be to investigate deaths to serve the living. Our thoughts are with the Han family as they continue to grieve the loss of their loved one.

Han was found dead of carbon monoxide poisoning in a vehicle in her garage, and her estate argued that police violated state constitutional protections for Han as a crime victim when her death was investigated.

Then-1st Judicial District Judge David Thomson ruled, in part, that the Albuquerque Police Departments investigation into Hans death was so flawed that OMI couldnt reach a conclusion of suicide and should make changes to her death certificate. Thomson, who is now serving on the state Supreme Court, said OMIs conclusion was arbitrary and capricious.

But the appellate court said Thomson erred by granting the writ of mandamus ordering OMI to change the manner of death. Specifically, it held that writs of mandamus can be issued only to direct a government official to carry out a ministerial duty, a function that is required and that doesnt involve discretion.

This directive exceeded the proper bounds of mandamus because Respondents conclusion as to manner of death is not a ministerial act, Judge Jacqueline R. Medina wrote in the opinion. Rather, based on the record before us, we hold that it is an opinion reached through the exercise of discretion.

The Appeals Court said other avenues besides mandamus exist to challenge administrative decisions for being arbitrary, an abuse of discretion or unsupported by substantial evidence. Judge Kristina Bogardus and Judge Pro Tempore Richard C. Bosson joined in the opinion.

The Appeals Court upheld Thomsons ruling that Hans family is not entitled to recover attorney fees.
A Houston-area doctor accused of stealing a vial of COVID-19 vaccine has been officially cleared by the Texas Medical Board.

After reviewing the case, the Texas Medical Board stated that there was insufficient evidence to prove that Dr. Hasan Gokal had violated the Medical Practice Act.

CONTAGIOUS U.K. VARIANT: U.K. variant found widespread in Houston's wastewater, city says

"The investigation determined that Dr. Gokal appeared to have administered doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to patients that were properly consented, in the eligible category, and they were given doses that would have otherwise been wasted, " the Board stated in a letter shared with the Houston Chronicle's Zach Despart.

At the onset of 2021, Dr. Hasan Gokal initially made national headlines when he was fired from his position with Harris County on January 7. Gokal faced allegations that he had stolen a vial of Moderna vaccine in order to give injections to his wife and other family members, according to Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg.

After the accusations were leveled against Gokal, D.A. Kim Ogg announced he would be charged with theft. In January, Ogg accused Gokal of abusing his position in order for his family and friends to get the vaccine.

"He abused his position to place his friends and family in line in front of people who had gone through the lawful process to be there, Ogg said in a press release after the January incident. What he did was illegal and hell be held accountable under the law.

Shortly after the Texas Medical Board cleared Gokal's name, the doctor's attorney, Paul Doyle, weighed in on the case.

"He had a leftover vial that had six hours of shelf life left and he had to make a decision: Does he waste it and throw it away, or does he find others that qualify and do that?" Doyle told KPRC's Michael Lopardi.

Marie D. De Jesus, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer

Doyle added that the decision from the Texas Medical Board was a significant victory.

"It's a huge relief, " Doyle said. "It's a big win and it was the right thing to do."

Despite the win with the Texas Medical Board, the case is not completely over. Harris County prosecutors stated that they may still take the case to a grand jury. Harris County District Attorney's spokesman Dane Schiller issued this statement about the incident:

"We anticipate presenting all of the evidence in this matter to a grand jury, so representatives of the community can determine whether a criminal charge is appropriate. There has been a difference of opinion on the evidence, with a magistrate judge finding that there was probable cause to charge a crime and a misdemeanor judge finding that there was not. Our work continues."

The exoneration by the Texas Medical Board has been an uplifting relief, Gokal told the Houston Chronicle.

When peers judge you, and tell you that theyve looked at the same data as everyone else and find that they dont believe you did anything wrong, its an uplifting feeling," Gokal said.
By Juliet Nalwooga

A fatal accident along the Kampala Masaka road has claimed a 31 year old traffic police officer.

According to Lydia Tumushabe the Katonga region police spokesperson, the accident this morning happened at the Kampiringisa check point involving a Motor Vehicle reg number UAX 542N, Toyota Harrier black in colour being driven by a one ,Charles Tuhimbise 60, resident of Makindye, who was coming from Kampala heading to Masaka .

It is alleged that he was driving at a high speed and on reaching the checkpoint lost control, overturned and knocked two(2) police officers on duty who were on the opposite side.

One of the victims PC Alex Khakosi 31 yrs old traffic officer attached to Kamengo Police Station died on spot while PC Elias Hasahya attached to FFU Kamengo taken to Mpigi Health Center iv in a critical condition.

The body of the deceased has been taken to Mulago for postmortem, and the ravaged vehicle towed to Kamengo parking yard as the suspect is in custody to help with inquiries.
Damascus, March 17 : The Syrian Foreign Ministry has stressed its rejection of foreign interference in China's affairs, saying no country or party has the right to interfere in the internal affairs of independent and sovereign states, according to the state news agency SANA.

In a statement on Tuesday, the ministry said that all kinds of interference in China's affairs are considered as a flagrant violation of international law and the principle that a country has sovereignty over its territory, Xinhua reported.

It also voiced support for the one-China principle, which Damascus called on all states to respect.

Meanwhile, the ministry said the Syrian government supports the decision made by China's top legislature on improving the electoral system of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

The decision, following the enactment of the national security law last June, is another major step to improve the city's legal and political systems, it added.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
As part of the company's planned $4.7 billion Green Bond spend, Apple has funded 17 Green Bond projects in 2020. These projects will avoid an average of 921,000 metric tonnes of carbon emissions annually, which is equivalent to removing nearly 200,000 cars from the road, says Apple. The projects will generate 1.2 gigawatts of renewable energy globally, with Apple adding over 350 megawatts of newly installed renewable energy over the last year in Nevada, Illinois, Virginia, and Denmark.

Apple's latest investments in renewable energy including onsite solar project outside of Reno Nevada that is powering Apple's Nevada data centre, the wind farm outside of Chicago - a 112-megawatt virtual power purchase agreement with this wind farm in Illinois covers Apple's electricity use in the Chicago region, Solar project in Fredericksburg, Virginia. In addition, Apple has completed construction of two of the world's largest onshore wind turbines, a source of clean, renewable energy that is now operational. Located near the Danish town of Esbjerg, the power produced will support Apple's data centre in Viborg, with all surplus energy going into the Danish grid.

"Apple is dedicated to protecting the planet we all share with solutions that are supporting the communities where we work. We all have a responsibility to do everything we can to fight against the impacts of climate change, and our $4.7 billion investment of the proceeds from our Green Bond sales is an important driver in our efforts. Ultimately, clean power is good business," says Lisa Jackson, Apple's vice president of Environment, Policy, and Social Initiatives.

Since the historic climate change agreement at the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP21) in Paris, Apple has invested the proceeds from three issuances of Green Bonds to support global efforts in carbon emissions reductions. In February 2016, the company issued its first $1.5 billion Green Bond, following up with its second round of $1 billion in June 2017 after the former US Administration's announcement of its intention to withdraw from the agreement reached at COP21. In November 2019, Apple issued its third set of Green Bonds and its first in Europe, with two bonds each at 1 billion euros (totalling approximately $2.2 billion). Last July, Apple unveiled its plan to become carbon neutral across its entire business, manufacturing supply chain, and product life cycle by 2030. Apple is already carbon neutral today for its global corporate operations, and this new commitment means that by 2030, every Apple device sold will have net zero climate impact.

Also read: Apple beats Samsung to become top smartphone player for first time in four years

Also read: Apple updates Platform Security Guide; details privacy security features
A worker at Amazons Bessemer fulfillment center told the U.S. Senates Budget Committee this morning that forming a union there would allow employees to feel more comfortable and feel their voices were being amplified.

Were already coming there with commitment, but we would come to work understanding that theyre being fair with us, Bates said. It would bring us respect. It would bring us a sense of empowerment.

Just yesterday, Bates said, one of her co-workers were turned down for an apartment because she didnt make more than $39,000 a year.

Were living paycheck-to-paycheck, trying to not just pay the rent or the mortgage, but we also have to live, Bates said. I think the union coming to Bessemer, coming to Amazon, would open a lot of doors.

The hearing, on The Income and Wealth Inequality Crisis in America, didnt focus solely on the union drive in Bessemer but mentioned it in relation to the larger topic of wages and the power of large corporations like Amazon.

Sen. Bernie Sanders, (I-Vt.), the committee chairman, during his opening statement, observed that Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos declined his invitation to testify. Sanders said he had planned to ask Bezos, You are worth $182 billion, thats billion with a B. Youre the wealthiest person in the world. Why are you doing everything in your power to stop your workers in Bessemer, Ala., from joining a union so they can negotiate for better wages, better benefits and better working conditions?

Sanders today planned to introduce legislation that would seek to apply an additional tax on corporations where the CEO is paid more than 50 times the median worker, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Ranking minority member, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), made some comments about possibly breaking up big tech companies, which threaten brick and mortar retailers, echoing some rhetoric last week from Republican colleague Marco Rubio. Other Republicans made similar comments, saying they were not as concerned with accumulations of wealth as much as accumulations of power.

Bates, 48, lives in Birmingham and began working at Amazon in May, after previous jobs in everything from the steel industry to automotive to being an administrative assistant. She told AL.com last month she had previously been a member of unions at those workplaces. She said her involvement was based on getting the company to be more receptive to employee needs.

Here is full coverage of the Alabama Amazon unionization effort

Bates has been the most visible of Amazon workers involved in the unionization effort in Bessemer. Ballots went out in February to more than 5,000 workers in Bessemer to determine if they will be represented by the Retail, Wholesale & Department Store Union (RWDSU). Votes will be counted March 30.

An Amazon spokesperson said the company takes employee feedback seriously but does not believe Bates comments represent the more than 90% of her fulfillment center colleagues who say theyd recommend Amazon as a great place to work to friends and family.

We encourage people to speak with the hundreds of thousands of Amazon employees who love their jobs, earn at least $15 an hour, receive comprehensive healthcare and paid leave benefits, prefer direct dialogue with their managers, and voted Amazon #2 on the Forbes best employers list in 2020, the spokesperson said.

During a seven-minute opening statement, Bates said workers at the center began organizing because of conditions in the 855,000-square-foot building, which opened last March during the height of coronavirus measures.

Amazon brags it pays workers above the minimum wage, Bates said. What they dont tell you is what those jobs are really like. And they certainly dont tell you they can afford to do much better for the workers.

Working at Amazon, she said, entails long shifts of grueling work at a superfast pace with constant monitoring. Limping employees deal with pain from perpetual motion between the buildings four floors. Two 30-minute breaks during a 10-hour shift are strictly timed, and elevators are marked for materials rather than employees. Workers are sometimes subjected to random security checks that eat up break times. Bates said after a few days, her sister, who later quit, told her, It only gets worse.

They seem to think you are another machine, she said. If your computer isnt scanning, you get charged with being time off task. From the onset, I learned if I worked too slow, or had too much time off task, I could be disciplined or even fired.

Bates said Amazon should pay its workers a living wage with benefits that match living costs. Amazon touts that its workers start out earning more than $15 an hour. She also decried what she called the impersonal nature of management at the center, where employees are notified by text of work developments. She said this makes workers nervous about their job security.

Why cant a large and wealthy company do better for their workers? she asked. Amazon has made tons of money during the pandemic. Jeff Bezos is the richest man in the world, and now hes even richer... Yet they expect us not to expect anything we didnt already have before we started to work there.
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The Oyo State government said it is conducting sterility test on the 127,740 doses of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines it received from the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHDA).

The Commissioner for Health, Bashir Bello, made this known on Wednesday in Ibadan while briefing journalists on the outcome of the weekly states Executive Council meeting.

Mr Bello said complaints and rejection of the vaccine by some countries, particularly some European countries, over the safety status of the vaccine,necessitated the decision.

The sterility test is to determine if the vaccines do not actually have other secondary form of infective substance; these are being carried out at our two laboratories and in the next few days, we will have the result, he stated.

The commissioner said the outcome of the sterility test and other precautionary measures would determine when to administer the vaccines on the people of Oyo State.

We too in Oyo State have to take some basic precautionary measures. One of such was the provision of a safe place to keep the vaccines to ensure their potency.

The type that we got is the one that can only operate between +2 degrees centigrade and +8 degrees centigrade.

He said three centres were being prepared for the vaccination.

They are hospitals and immunisation centres already in existence in local government areas; temporary centres, for people specifically in large areas, particularly high incident areas and the third centre will be for specialised groups.

In another briefing about the Council meeting, Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Olasunkanmi Olaleye, said the state government had approved the upgrade of its College of Education (Emmanual Alayande College of Education, Oyo), to a University of Education.

Mr Olaleye said the upgrade was to contribute to the production of competent teachers with required skills.

He stressed that the institution has all the requisite human and material resources to fully transform into a full fledge university.

Mr Olaleye said, however, that efforts were on-going to apply to the relevant authority for the upgrading of the institution. (NAN)
Somerset County prisons toured in wake of COVID

A media tour was held Wednesday at both Somerset County prisons to show how officials have adapted to COVID-19.
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Man gets death sentence for raping minor girl, court hails police's action

India

oi-Ajay Joseph Raj P

Jaipur, Mar 17: A special POCSO court on Wednesday awarded death sentence to a man for raping a 5-year-old girl in Jhunjhunu district of Rajasthan. The court also applauded the police for swift action in the case.

According to police, 21-year old Sunil Kumar abducted the girl who was playing in an agriculture farm near her house in the evening of February 19. He took her away on his scooty.

Other children informed her parents who in turn informed the police, Chirawa CO Suresh Sharma said. All police stations were alerted and the girl was later found in an injured state at an isolated area.

Kumar was arrested after five hours, he said. The officer said the court convicted Kumar under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act on Tuesday and pronounced the sentence on Wednesday.

West Bengal elections 2021: Mamata Banerjee releases TMC manifesto

"Swift action was taken in the case and all the evidence was collected. The charge sheet was filed within 10 days of the incident and the court pronounced the judgment today," Sharma said.

The court appreciated the investigation conducted by the police, saying it was the example of an ideal probe which contained direct evidence, scientific evidence, electronic evidence and circumstantial evidence.

It observed that circumstantial evidence collected by the police was enough to crack the case.

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Story first published: Wednesday, March 17, 2021, 18:43 [IST]
(JTA)  When Menachem Kaiser set out to reclaim a building his grandfathers family owned before the Holocaust in Sosnowiec, Poland, he thought it would take him 18 months at most. His grandfather, a Holocaust survivor, had already meticulously gathered paperwork and the documentation necessary.

Instead its been over six years since Kaiser began the journey  and hes no closer to an ending.

Kaiser documents his journey in Plunder: A Memoir of Family Property and Nazi Treasure, out March 16, where his quest to reclaim his familys building leads him to discover his grandfathers first cousin, Abraham Kajzer, the closest relative to survive the Holocaust. Abraham, Kaiser learns, actually wrote a Holocaust memoir, Za Drutami Smierci, that in part details his time spent in Riese, vast underground tunnels constructed by the Nazis where many suspect treasure looted during the Holocaust was hidden.

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Abrahams words, in modern-day Poland, have become a key text for the treasure-hunting community. They also became a central part of the story Kaiser ended up telling.

Our stories are even richer and more complicated than we sometimes realize, especially stories that are the most familiar to us, the stories that have been passed down. Kaiser explained in an interview with the Jewish Telegraphic Agency. I was really lucky to have the opportunity to push and probe, but I think a lot of people have these remarkable stories in their family. The sneakiest ones are the ones we think we know. They will just always have a trapdoor. Thats the takeaway: The journey inward into what you think is familiar territory turns out to be radically not.

We spoke to Kaiser about his travels in Poland as a Jew, the frustrations of not having a neat ending and the ever-evolving nature of Holocaust memory and storytelling.

This interview has been lightly edited and condensed for clarity.

JTA: Lets start at the very end. You write that you were maybe going to write this story as a novel, but eventually, of course, you wrote the nonfiction book Plunder instead. The ending, then, is not the one you hoped for  in terms of reclaiming your grandfathers building  but the one you have. Why do you feel like it was important to end Plunder as you ended it, with no definite conclusion to your saga?

Kaiser; I stumbled accidentally into what I consider a more interesting and more meaningful ending. Originally, when I set out to write the book, I had a pretty clear idea of what was going to happen: I was going to get the building back. Its a very neat ending. And then, things kept getting delayed and delayed, and I got very nervous that the whole ship was sinking. My whole project felt undermined. I set the stakes, and now its like, okay, I guess the stakes dont matter. How do you end the book like that?

What it forced me to do was [reassess]: What does any of this actually mean? I could have got the building back, and it could have ended that really neatly, in a really familiar way, and I think thats what everyone expects  including me. The fact that I didnt, and that I felt that I had to finish the book anyways, forced me to struggle and articulate what it all means. What does it mean to try and reclaim a building that my grandfather once owned, but hadnt lived in? Who am I, in this respect? Whats my role? How does this memory get passed down? It was very frustrating, and I was very nervous that the whole narrative structure was about to crumble. But at the end of the day, I feel very lucky that I was backed into a corner, which actually forced me to really figure out what it was I was actually doing.

In the alternate world where you did fictionalize your story as a novel, what would have been some key things you would have changed in that version?

Thats a good question. Had it been a novel, it would have been a much more familiar story. One of the central struggles in the book, and that I had while writing the book, was how much does this mean to me? How do I articulate what it means to me? I never knew my grandfather, I didnt grow up with a sense of return, or of trauma. There wasnt an obvious narrative arc to what I was doing.

In a novel, I probably would have gone for that more familiar route. I dont even have to be the protagonist  I could have imagined my grandfather. Or, I could have known him. I could have known the fictional version of my grandfather. In non-fiction, youre left with this gap. You cant make it up. You can gesture at something, but you cant pretend.

You write about how Jews travel on these heritage trips to Eastern Europe, with a destination as much mythological as it is geographical, and trying to figure out their familys story but maybe not finding much once they got there. Do you feel like, in your travels to Poland, you found a connection there? Did you uncover your familys origin myths?

In terms of hard data, no. I didnt learn anything about my grandfather. But in terms of banging my head against the wall, I think theres something valuable there. Theres something valuable in failing to connect. And then I had this weird experience of finding this other guy, who wasnt my grandfather, whose legacy was insanely rich, and, for lack of a better word, sexy. For a while, it got conflated in my head: Heres my alternate grandfather, and heres my real grandfather. But throughout the book, that starts to split. And hes not a stand-in for my grandfather; rather, its putting into relief how inaccessible my grandfather is. Again, I didnt learn anything about him, but I feel closer to something. I tried!

Thats the book, right? Its searching for something.

I feel definitely connected to the place, lets say it like that. And then, this building, I do feel like Im in conversation with my grandfather, even though I cant tell you exactly what it means because I dont have insight into what it meant to him.

Do you think your relationship to your Jewishness evolved over the course of your travels in Poland and your struggles in the Polish bureaucracy?

I grew up Orthodox, and everyone I knew was Orthodox. Almost everyone I knew growing up, their grandparents were [Holocaust] survivors, and most of them from Poland. All of which is to say, there were very familiar narratives and received wisdoms that you inherit. Thats everything to do with how Polish people are, or what kind of country it is, and what to expect. Even though I spent a lot of time in Eastern Europe before all this began, those were pretty deeply ingrained. To sort of tweak your question a little bit, I think that definitely evolved over the course of the book. Struggling, and at times resisting, and at times resisting my resisting, the received wisdoms of my community vis-a-vis Eastern Europe.

You write about how for some members of your community, and your family, the hatred of Poles almost outweighed the hatred of the Nazis, writing, The Poles who saved Jews were the exception but your average Pole was  at best  perfectly content to see Jewish neighbors carted off to the ovens.

Thats something my father told me that my grandparents would say. One of the things I tried to do is acknowledge the gap between someone like me, who grew up in comfort, to trying to understand the position of a Holocaust survivor. To the extent I can: Maybe it felt more like a betrayal. Maybe it felt like these were your country people, or maybe your neighbors. I dont have any anecdotes, or personal data, to back that up or support it. But to me, thats how I would imagine that sentiment.

When you were in Poland, what surprised you most about how the Holocaust is discussed and acted upon? Both in your experience of the bureaucracy that you encounter in the legal system, but also the broader society.

One of the things that I wish I could have included in the book was my time in Poland. But it didnt really fit into the narrative. The truth of matter is Ive been going since 2011, and my time there has been so overwhelmingly positive. Obviously, my story goes on these detours and does spend time on my frustrations. In terms of my day to day interactions, especially in large cities like Krakow and Warsaw, I was overwhelmed by how supportive and interested everyone was. And how at a grassroots level, theres so many artists and activists and institutional support [for Jews]. The Poland I was interacting with in the cities, there was like a tremendous grappling [with the past]. When you go to Krakow in the summer, its a wild meeting place of Jewish people and ideas, and a lot of that is fueled by non-Jewish Poles.

This whole journey started when I moved to Lithuania on a Fulbright, and that got started when I studied Yiddish in college. My Yiddish teacher was a native Cracovian, a Polish person who decided to take Yiddish.

Knowing what you know now about the Polish legal system and bureaucracy, would you still file claims about the building and your relatives?

Thats a good question. Its tricky. I started this whole thing not as a writer; I was not interested in writing this book about my grandfathers building. [I thought,] Ill go, Ill do this thing that seems interesting and meaningful. At a certain point, though, I did become a writer. And so, you have to be honest about how you take in experiences. On one hand  Im nervous to say this, because it sounds a little cheeky  the frustrations are real. Theyre really frustrating. On the other hand, they are pretty good material. I dont love pointing to the meta structure of the book. But would I do it again, in a vacuum? Probably not. No book, just me trying to reclaim it, if I understood I really thought it would be done in 18 months. I was like, great, we have these documents! Everythings so easy! But I didnt realize. Its going on six years now.

I was really struck by your discussion of the Polish courts and their inability to declare your relatives, who were murdered in the Holocaust, dead. That was honestly one of the most shocking parts of the books to me. These people are clearly no longer with us!

I go back and forth in terms of how patient and generous are you? On one hand, [Im] like, This is absurd, theyre out to get me. On the other, it is a bureaucracy. Its a bureaucracy trying to grapple with a huge rupture. Things are going to be tricky. Its hard.

Abraham Kajzers memoir is a key part of your own  how did you feel when you discovered it for the first time? And that he had been a writer, and written one of these really early Holocaust memoirs?

When I first discovered it, I couldnt read it, because it was in Polish. My relationship with Abraham Kajzers book [at first] was very much defined by the treasure hunters relationship to it as an artifact. I paid to have it translated into English, but that took a while. So it wasnt until I read it for myself that I was like, whoa, this is quite a moving [story]. Its a Holocaust memoir. Its very stark, and tragic. [After I had it translated,] I re-acquainted myself with it, and I was able to re-approach Abraham  not as this myth, but as a person. The fact that I was related to him made it more poignant; I found the Holocaust legacy in my family, whereas I never had one before. The more time I spent with it, the more I was able to see him as a person  rather than this mythological feature.

That also brings up when you write about the difference between the Polish version, Za Drutami Smierci, and the Hebrew one, Bein Hamitzarim. The Polish version is a treasure map, with a hero, whereas Hebrew version is bearing witness and giving testimony. How do you see the impact of the lack of the bearing witness in the Polish version in the treasure hunter community?

Theyre not reading it for that [testimony], but I think a lot of it gets in anyways. When I finally had it translated, and then also was able to read the Hebrew [version], I was like, theres so little [detail] in here. Yet, I would meet people who had read it 40 times. Theres no information!

On some level, and again, its hard for me to speak to because I am removed by language and by demographics, I do think Abrahams book takes on a higher order. It becomes the memoir that they all read, and they do care. They do care about the victims, but thats not their primary narrative of these sites.The memoir takes on a textual memorial; its something they really care about, to an astonishing sense. They really cherish this book. It keeps getting reprinted. Its sold at the gift shops; theres no other Holocaust memoir sold at those gift shops. Its valuable to them, and theyre protective of it.

You write, Which is preferable? The celebrated myth, which is at least partly false? Or the uncelebrated person, the memory of whom so quickly disappears? How did you feel meeting all these treasure hunters who knew Abraham  but knew this not-real version of him. Was it meaningful?

The contrast was very much between Abraham in the treasure hunter world in Poland, and Israel. I would go to Israel  I visited his grave site, I spent time with his family  and the myth, the special status of the treasure hunter manual, doesnt attach to him in Israel. Its not the narrative there.

The mechanisms we have to memorialize people can be very strong, but sometimes theyre not that accurate. So if someone gets sort of stuck in a story, the longer you go, the story will start warping, and less and less resemble the original person it had described. But is that better than the person, or event, being forgotten? To me, this was a really sharp contrast of a single person being remembered so differently. And one being barely remembered; it took me two years to find a copy of the Hebrew [edition], as opposed to the Polish one. The Polish [readers], theyre a few more degrees removed from the person. They dont have a relationship with him, they have a relationship with this idea of him. Hes a symbol.

That actually made me think of how Holocaust memory plays such a role in American Jewish narratives. Well, I know youre Canadian, so perhaps Jewish narratives in America & Canada. How do you see Holocaust memory in 2021? How do we tell those stories, and what stories are we focusing on?

Im this interesting case study, because I grew up with survivor grandparents, but growing up, I did not feel like it was a central part of my identity. I actually had quite a hard time relating to some of my peers who did. As I got older, people started speaking about their trauma, and of their parents who were second generation I had a hard time relating.

But when I fell into this story, it was examining my own relationship, and my own consciousness of [Holocaust memory]. I feel very lucky that I was able to tell this story. And for me, I dont think Im able to speak about the Holocaust without talking about how the Holocaust is told. Thats had a lot of influence on how I think about the history of the Holocaust. I do feel degrees removed, and its important for me to acknowledge and interrogate how Im removed from that. Even though its obviously hugely important to an American Jewish identity.

As were nearing a point where Holocaust survivors will no longer be with us, its that question of memory, as youre saying, is really fascinating. How do we tell those stories? And what types of stories are we telling?

Yeah, its just a hard thing to grasp because the trauma is so great and so overwhelming. And yet weve all grown up with so many of these stories and so part of your brain sort of understands them too well, in a crazy way.

Almost becomes numb to them, in a sense.

Youre like, Ive heard this story a million times! Then you take a step back, youre like, Wow. Ive heard this story a million times. Thats almost a terrifying thing to behold.

Ive been very privileged, Ive gotten to spend a lot of time in Eastern Europe and get a firsthand experience of the vastness. If you grow up in the US, or Canada, within the Jewish communities, you hear about the vastness all the time. But then, you just go to these tiny villages, and theres two concentration camps in this tiny village. When you sort of get to touch, a little bit, the vastness of the inhumanity, its really humbling. Its really something.

Has your family read Plunder yet? How did they feel?

My parents have read it. Theyre schepping nachas. Some parts were hard for them, but theyve been super supportive. They saw some of an earlier draft, and they had notes, some of which I was able to address and some of which I wasnt. Overall, its not a tell-all, Im not mining them.

Its really been an interesting journey for my father, because it all of a sudden put a new member in his family. He was flabbergasted that there was this person he had never heard of. So he had to come to terms with that.

Your grandfather died before you were born. If by some magic you could talk to him and ask him something, what would you want to know?

To imagine actually meeting my grandfather would be a really remarkable thing. I would want to know what he went through. Theres still a throbbing ignorance there of, what happened? What were his parents like? What were his siblings like? What was his life like? Honestly, what was he like? These unknowns, which, its funny, you take for granted your whole life thing.

I never really thought about it. I never thought about how I didnt know him, I just had never known him. And then you sort of face that ignorance, and its darker and deeper than you had thought. To sit and talk with him, it would be a special thing. Its hard to answer that question in a neat way.

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Cyclone Yaas to make landfall near Odishas Balasore around Wednesday noon; Flight services may be hit

NEET UG 2021: Odisha govt urges NTA to open additional exam centres amid COVID-19

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

Bhubaneswar, Mar 17: The Odisha government has urged the National Testing Agency (NTA) to conduct the All- India NEET UG 2021 examinations in all the 30 districts of the state instead of selected seven cities.

The request was made by Additional Chief Secretary, Health and Family Welfare, P K Mohapatra in view of the COVID-19 pandemic situation still prevailing in the state.

The All India NEET UG Examination is conducted by the NTA for admission to MBBS/BDS courses and other undergraduate medical courses in approved/recognized Medical/Dental and other Colleges/ Institutes in India.

NEET 2021: Exam dates announced by NTA

In a letter to NTA Director General, Vineet Joshi on Monday, Mohapatra said the state''s plea should be taken into consideration and the NEET UG examination be conducted in all the 30 districts.

The NTA has notified to set up examination centres in seven urban pockets of Odisha namely in Angul, Balasore, Berhampur, Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Rourkela and Sambalpur.

In view of COVID-19 pandemic, it will be highly unsafe for students to visit the few examination centres to physically appear for the NEET UG 2021 test. Further, due to frequent lockdown and shutdown imposed by different district administrations the transportation system is very often disrupted making the movement of student''s further worse, Mohapatra mentioned in the letter.

"Odisha has got vast tribal pockets having geographically inaccessible areas and far away from the urban centres of the state for which the students of this state may be deprived of appearing the NEET UG as they will have to move long distance for appearing the test," the letter said.

Mohapatra also reminded the NTA about the March 9, 2021 meeting where the state government had raised such an issue.
[March 17, 2021] Brookfield Renewable Ireland Goes Live with PCI's Cloud Platform to Meet its Customer Billing Requirements

Brookfield Renewable Ireland Limited ("BRIL" or "Brookfield Renewable") has gone live with PCI's (News - Alert) Enterprise Platform to manage its customer billing requirements in the Irish energy market. As part of its partnership with Brookfield Renewable, PCI deployed its specifically tailored, cloud-based, integrated platform to replace the Irish business' legacy system and several in-house applications. The new Customer Billing Solution implemented by PCI enables Brookfield Renewable to: Manage complex bilateral contracts, including power purchase agreements (PPAs)

Leverage PCI's settlements calculation business rules engine to perform billing allocation

Perform counterparty checkouts and meter data management (MDM)

Interface with upstream and downstream (physical, telemetered, and accounting) systems

Maintain comprehensive auditability with all data versions

Automate invoice creation and management workflows

Drill-down and quickly extract data to perform reporting BRIL Chief Commercial Officer Ciaran O'Brien noted, "We are excited at the launch of our new cloud-based customer billing system which will be transformational for our renewable energy business, bringing increased flexibility and supporting further growth with a scalable, best-in-class solution." Adding, "We are proud to partner with PCI on this project and appreciate the professional collaboration with ou team for an on-time and on-budget delivery."



"We have found a great partner in Brookfield Renewable, one that has a matching ethos and customer-centric mindset. The successful go-live represents a major milestone for PCI's global, remote software deployments that feature 24x7 operations," said PCI Vice President Shailesh Mishra. As part of the next phase of this project, Brookfield Renewable's Irish business plans to leverage the PCI Platform to provide its customers with a dedicated application for on-demand access to energy data and enhanced reporting. PCI's Platform offers unmatched functionality for renewable energy players to optimize their portfolios, including co-optimization of Energy Storage Systems (ESS) in wholesale power markets. PCI works with numerous renewable energy providers, including BHE (News - Alert) Renewables, RWE Renewables, Iberdrola, Acciona, Xcel Energy, DTE Energy, and others.

About Brookfield Renewable Brookfield Renewable operates one of the world's largest publicly traded, pure-play renewable power platforms. Its portfolio consists of hydroelectric, wind, solar, distributed generation, and storage facilities in North America, South America, Europe, and Asia, and totals approximately 20,000 megawatts of installed capacity and an approximately 23,000-megawatt development pipeline. Brookfield Renewable's Irish onshore wind portfolio is a fully integrated development, operations, and renewable energy solutions business with 365 MW of operating capacity and a significant onshore wind development pipeline. Further information is available at www.brookfield.com/our-businesses/renewable-power. About Power Costs, Inc. (PCI) PCI is the leading provider of energy trading software, superior customer support, and value-added services for energy companies worldwide. Founded in 1992, PCI continues to refine and develop new solutions that meet the ever-evolving needs of its clients which include investor-owned, municipal, and cooperative utilities, renewable energy companies, energy marketers and traders, as well as independent power producers. PCI optimizes more than half the power generated in North America and more than 60% of Fortune 500 Utilities in the U.S. are PCI customers. The firm is privately held and based in Norman (OK) with regional offices in Houston (TX), Raleigh (NC), and Mexico City. To learn more, please visit www.powercosts.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210317005052/en/

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Daily coronavirus deaths in Britain are falling at a faster rate than they did when the first wave began to tail off, according to official data which provides even more evidence that vaccines are saving lives.

Figures from No10's Covid dashboard show that fatalities in the second wave peaked higher and fell further in the following seven weeks than during the same time period last spring.

For example, daily Covid fatalities hit 1,362 on deadliest day of the pandemic on January 19. This had fallen to 138 seven weeks later on March 8, the most recent snapshot available  a drop of 90 per cent.

By contrast, the first wave peaked at a lower 1,073 on April 8 and fell by 80 per cent to just 213 in the same amount of time.

The early signs of the vaccine effect come as the Government announced more than 25million Britons have had at least one dose of either the Pfizer/BioNTech or Oxford University/AstraZeneca jabs.

The milestone, which means almost half of all adults in the country have been inoculated, was hit exactly 100 days after the mammoth rollout launched. Latest figures show 25,273,226 Brits have received the first injection, while 1,759,445 of them have had their second dose.

Boris Johnson said the vaccine milestone represented '25million reasons to be confident' about a post-lockdown Britain. Health Secretary Matt Hancock described the achievement as a 'national mission'.

It comes amid a huge European row over the safety of the Oxford University/AstraZeneca vaccine which experts say is costing lives. Nineteen countries, including France, Germany, Italy and Spain, halted the use of the jab over unproven fears they cause blood clots  even though the continent is staring down the barrel of a third wave and further lockdowns.

There are now fears the public fallout has made Britons even less likely to go for their jab, following anecdotal reports of people in England cancelling their appointments. Doctors and officials warn it is far more dangerous for people to not get vaccinated and even the European Medicines Agency has urged people to keep taking the vaccine because blood clots don't appear to be any more common than usual.

Meanwhile, the Department of Health announced another 5,758 Covid cases today, down 3 per cent on last week, and 141 deaths, down a quarter from last Wednesday.

While the Government's figures highlight a slight speeding up in the rate of decline in deaths at the start of the year thanks to the jabs, scientists say their true effects will only truly bear fruit as we move into the spring.

This is because it takes three weeks for immunity to kick in after vaccination and then the same amount of time between getting infected and dying.

The results mimic what is happening to the epidemic in Israel, the only country dishing out the vaccines quicker than Britain, where Covid deaths have come down 97 per cent since their roll out.

It came after 433,000 first doses and 95,000 follow-up jabs were administered across the UK on Tuesday. The Department of Health said it was on track to achieve the Prime Minister's target of offering the first dose of all adults by August.

Boris Johnson says he will be getting AstraZeneca vaccine 'very shortly' Boris Johnson today revealed he will be getting the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine 'very shortly' as the government scrambles to reassure the public it is safe despite chaos in Europe. Speaking at PMQs, Mr Johnson said he was 'pleased to discover' that he is in line for his jab, with over-50s now being covered. And he delivered a defiant rebuke to countries such as Germany, France and Italy who have paused their rollout despite experts insisting there is no evidence of a link to blood clots. 'It will certainly be Oxford/AstraZeneca that I will be having,' the premier said. The comments came amid fears Britons are cancelling appointments after being scared off by the European moves against AstraZeneca's jab. Doctors involved in the UK's mammoth roll-out say patients due their second dose have called with concerns about the vaccine, despite the EU's own drug regulator, as well as the UK's and the World Health Organization all insisting it is safe. One GP claimed up to 10 per cent of people scheduled for appointments were either not showing up, asking to cancel or double-checking which vaccine they were getting before turning up. NHS doctor and volunteer Dr Karan Raj claimed he was 'inundated' with people saying they were worried about it and Dr Mohan Sekeram, a GP in South London, said the international row has led to patients refusing the vaccine. It comes as the former chief of Britain's vaccine regulator the MHRA, Sir Kent Woods, said European officials had 'dented public confidence' with their 'disorderly' reaction to the issue, and he described attempts to link the jab to clots as 'a big jump'. Professor Jeremy Browne, a lung doctor and member of the JCVI, which drew up the UK's vaccine programme warned people will die of Covid because of the delays in Europe and the damage being done to public trust. Doctors and officials warn it is far more dangerous for people to not get vaccinated and even the European Medicines Agency has urged people to keep taking the vaccine because blood clots don't appear to be any more common than usual. Advertisement

The rollout in England officially opened up to people over 50 today, while Wales started inviting over-50s for shots earlier this month and Northern Ireland expanded its roll-out to the age group two days ago. Scotland will start offering those in the 50-54 age group appointments from next week.

Boris Johnson said: 'This latest milestone is an incredible achievement - representing 25million reasons to be confident for the future as we cautiously reopen society. Thank you once again to the brilliant NHS, scientists, armed forces, volunteers, and all those who've helped our rollout.'

Health Secretary Matt Hancock added: 'This is an extraordinary feat, coming exactly 100 days after Margaret Keenan received the first authorised jab in the whole world.

'It has been a national mission, one of the one of the biggest logistical exercises since the war and I'd like to thank everyone who played their part, including every NHS vaccinator, GPs, pharmacists, volunteers and the armed forces for their crucial role in every corner of the UK.

'We're ahead of schedule to offer a first dose to all in these groups by the 15 April and I urge everybody eligible to come forward.'

Public Health England analysis published earlier this month found the UK's two Covid vaccines reduce virus deaths by 85 per cent in over 70-years-olds and slash hospital rates in the elderly by about 80 per cent.

The elderly were prioritised for the vaccines because they are statistically the most likely to die from the disease and so far more than 90 per cent of everyone in the UK over 60 has had at least one dose.

Data from both Israel and the UK show the power of the vaccines on curbing epidemics and should cool fears about their safety in Europe.

Scientists have said that there is no evidence the vaccines caused blood clots in the handful of affected patients and claimed statistically, the rate of blood clots in vaccinated patients was the same as the general population.

There are fears that Britons are cancelling appointments after being scared off by the European moves against AstraZeneca's jab.

Doctors involved in the UK's mammoth roll-out say patients due their second dose have called with concerns about the vaccine, despite the EU's own drug regulator, as well as the UK's and the World Health Organization all insisting it is safe.

One GP claimed up to 10 per cent of people scheduled for appointments were either not showing up, asking to cancel or double-checking which vaccine they were getting before turning up.

NHS doctor and volunteer Dr Karan Raj claimed he was 'inundated' with people saying they were worried about it and Dr Mohan Sekeram, a GP in South London, said the international row has led to patients refusing the vaccine.

The former chief of Britain's vaccine regulator the MHRA, Sir Kent Woods, said European officials had 'dented public confidence' with their 'disorderly' reaction to the issue, and he described attempts to link the jab to clots as 'a big jump'.

Professor Jeremy Browne, a lung doctor and member of the JCVI, which drew up the UK's vaccine programme warned people will die of Covid because of the delays in Europe and the damage being done to public trust.

Doctors and officials warn it is far more dangerous for people to not get vaccinated and even the European Medicines Agency has urged people to keep taking the vaccine because blood clots don't appear to be any more common than usual.

It comes as Matt Hancock confirmed today that all over-50s in England are now eligible for the coronavirus vaccine. Mr Hancock said he was 'delighted' the roll-out was being expanded to the final age group. NHS boss Sir Simon Stevens added it was 'another milestone' reached in the race to beat the virus.

NHS England's website for booking jab appointments now allows everyone 'aged 50 and over' to check-in. Once all 2.4million people in this age group  the last on No10's priority list  have been offered a dose, over-40s will be invited. Estimates suggest the roll-out could move onto the next stage before the end of the month.

The expansion comes exactly 100 days after Britain became the first country in the world to begin vaccinating the public against Covid. Grandmother Maggie Keenan received her first dose on December 8 in Coventry.

More than 24.8million Britons have already received their first dose of the Covid jab  and half of all adults are expected to be vaccinated by the end of the week.

Britain is in a race to vaccinate as many people as possible before medics must start dishing out millions of second doses. Regulators widened the gap between doses to 12 weeks, paving the way for the UK to vaccinate millions more vulnerable residents.

Mr Hancock will hold a Downing Street press conference at 5pm today to update the country on the pace of the vaccine roll-out. He will also likely attempt to reassure the public about the safety of AstraZeneca's jab.
FRIDLEY (dpa-AFX) - Medtronic plc (MDT) announced the FDA has approved revised commercial labeling for the Intellis Platform with Differential Target Multiplexed programming for the treatment of chronic, intractable back and leg pain. The company noted that the new labeling will include study outcomes from a multicenter randomized control trial reflecting superior back pain relief with Differential Target Multiplexed Spinal Cord Stimulation when compared to conventional Spinal Cord Stimulation. Charlie Covert, vice president and general manager, Pain Therapies within the Neuromodulation business, which is part of the Neuroscience Portfolio at Medtronic, said: 'The updated labeling further strengthens the credibility of the outcomes from this therapy, and parallels the profound benefits our clinician partners are seeing with their own patients.' Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
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Columns are hyper-specific to opinion and are written by only columnists employed by the Iowa State Daily. Columnists are unique because they have a specific writing day and only publish on those writing days. Each column undergoes a thorough editing process ensuring the integrity of the writer, and their claim is maintained while remaining research-based and respectful. Columns may be submitted from community members. These are labelled as Guest Columns. These contain similar research-based content and need to be at least 400 words in length. The following requirements should be met: first and last name, email and relation or position to Iowa State. Emails must be tied to the submitted guest column or it will not be accepted or published. Pseudonyms are prohibited and the writer will be banned from submissions.

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Fireworks are set off outside the stadium during the match. Roland Weihrauch/picture alliance via Getty Images

Two people are dead after a massive fireworks explosion in Ontario, California.

Officials said they found large amounts of commercial-grade fireworks on the property.

The smoke from the explosion could be seen nearly 30 miles away in Anaheim, The Los Angeles Times reported.

Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

Two people died after a massive explosion that rocked a Southern California neighborhood.

The explosion was set off by commercial-grade fireworks that caused a fire at a residential lot in the city of Ontario, the city's Fire Chief, Ray Gayk, said in a news conference.

The identity of those who died is not yet known.

Local police and fire departments are investigating, as well as the Federal Bureau of Investigations and the state fire marshal.

Footage captured by ABC shows large amounts of smoke engulfing the neighborhood. Residents can be seen running away from the explosion.

Steve Bailey, who lives nearby, told ABC7 that his whole house shook from the explosion.



"It felt like something hit the roof, or a car crashed into the house," Bailey said.

The Los Angeles Times reported that the smoke could be seen from as far away as Anaheim, about an hour's drive away.

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At around 3 p.m. local time, the Ontario Fire Department issued an evacuation order for those living near the explosion site and established a temporary care and reception center.

Two horses and a dog also needed to be rescued. One horse was injured.

Ontario spokesman Dan Bell told Insider that the fireworks found on site were commercial grade. The city has a ban on all fireworks.

"All fireworks are prohibited in Ontario, including the Safe and Sane fireworks. You may not sell, buy, transport, store, or use fireworks in the City of Ontario," their website said.

Police said they were investigating the explosion as a potential felony.

Read the original article on Insider
A Honduran mother-of-two who was attempting to illegally enter the United States from Mexico drowned after she tried to swim around a border fence.

Yuri Rios was accompanied by her brother-in-law, Jose Duenas, when the pair were separated by a strong current in the Pacific Ocean beach waters in Tijuana on Saturday.

Duenas told Univision that he safely made it back to shore and tried to go back for her before he found her lying on the beach sand.

'We did not have another option. Our thought was to cross and I had to take her by the hand since she was a woman,' Duenas said.

'A wave took her away from me when we were in the sea about to cross the fence. I came back for her, but when I found her she was already face down.'

Yuri Rios drowned Saturday after she attempted to swim from Tijuana, Mexico, to the United States. The 28-year-old mother of two boys was with holding on to the hands of her brother-in-law, Jose Duenas, when the pair was separated by a current as they were set to go around a border fence.

Jose Duenas attempted to unlawfully enter the United States on Saturday by swimming around a border fence in Tijuana, Mexico. He was holding on to his sister-in-law, Yuri Rios, when a wave separated them. He told Univision that he found her lying in the sand and that paramedics tried to revive her before declaring her dead

Tijuana, Mexico, was the site of Saturday's tragic incident when a Honduran migrant woman drowned as she attempted to swim around a border fence that separates Mexico and the United States

Mexican news outlet Milenio reported that Duenas sought the assistance from a man at the beach who was able to pull the 28-year-old woman from the water.

Paramedics later arrived and attempted to resuscitate her, but declared her dead on the scene.

It's unknown if Rios previously had applied for asylum and how much time she had been in Tijuana, a Mexican border that has been overwhelmed with the arrival of thousands of Central American migrants seeking asylum from the Unites States.

Before setting out on the deadly trek across the Pacific Ocean waters, Rios had left her two sons, aged 11 and 13, under the care of her aunt at a shelter in Tijuana.

Norma Rios told Univision the family is looking to repatriate her niece's remains to Honduras and is looking into how they can help the children petition for asylum so that they can be reunited with their father in California.

'May the children have a future, may the sacrifice of my niece be worth it so that they may be given asylum and have a better life in the United States,' Rios said.

Paramedics attempt to revive Honduran migrant Yuri Rios moments after she was brought to shore by a man in Tijuana, Mexico

Yuri Rios leaves behind two children. Pictured with to her left is her 11-year-old son

Yuri Rios leaves behind two children. Her 11-year-old son is pictured to the left and her 13-year-old is on the right

Family members of Yuri Rios are now looking into how they can seek asylum for her two sons so that they can rejoin their father in California

Yuri Rios is the second Honduran migrant since February who drowned while attempting to reach the United States from Mexico.

Eight-year-old Anderson Gabriel Ramirez died February 18 while trying to follow his parents and sister across the Rio Grande.

Ramirez 'was in the company' of a group of adults on an islet in the middle of the river that serves as a border barrier between Mexico and Texas, but was not able to 'withstand the pounding water, which covered him and kept him submerged for several meters.'

The boy's father, Alex Ramirez, told Univision that he placed his daughter on the river's shore and attempted to go back for his son, but by then he had already been swept by the freezing river's current.

In September 2019, Idalia Herrera and her two-year-old son also drowned in the Rio Grande during an ill fated attempt to cross rom Ciudad Acuna, Mexico, to the shores of Del Rio, Texas.

Mexican officials stand near a spot where paramedics attempted to save the life of 28-year-old Honduran migrant Yuri Rios, who died Saturday while attempting to swim around a fence at the Tijuana-United States border

The United States for 10 consecutive months has seen an uptick in apprehensions of undocumented immigrants at the border.

According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection data, the month of February registered 100,441 apprehension, expulsion, and inadmissible encounters, the most since 104,311 such incidents were reported in June 2019.

Despite an openness towards working with migrants seeking asylum at the southwestern border with Mexico, President Joe Biden on Tuesday begged them not to come because his administration is still not ready to handle the large volume migrants at the border entry points.

'I can say quite clearly: Don't come over,' said Biden in an interview with ABC's George Stephanopoulos.

'Don't leave your town or city or community.'

The Biden administration has also been dealing with a rise in unaccompanied migrant children at the border.

The Border Patrol had more than 4,000 migrant children in its custody as of Sunday. At least 3,000 had been held past the 72-hour limit set by a court order, a U.S. official told AP.

The agency took in an additional 561 on Monday, twice the recent average, according to a second official.

The number of children crossing by themselves, mostly from Central America, appears to be surging in particular in the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas. The Border Patrol took in 280 there alone on Monday.

The total of 561 unaccompanied minors from Monday offers a snapshot of how quickly conditions have changed along the border. That was up 60 per cent from the daily average in February, officials said.

In May 2019, during the last surge, the one-day peak was 370 teens and children.
What just happened? In addition to his movie roles, you may recognize actor Justin Long as the "I'm a Mac" guy from Apple's "Get a Mac" commercials that were so popular in the mid-2000s. He's now back in a similar ad campaign. This time, though, he's mocking Apple's products while highlighting the benefits of owning a PC.

Intel's new ads begin with Long in front of the familiar white background seen in Apple's old commercials. He starts with "Hello, I'm a... Justin," before listing the M1 Macs' shortcomings.

One ad compares the flexibility of an Intel 2-in-1 (Lenovo Yoga 9i) to a MacBook Pro, noting the former's ability to work as both a traditional laptop and a tablet. The ad implies similar functionality within Apple's ecosystem would require an iPad, keyboard, stylus, and a dongle.

Another commercial features someone gaming on a Core i7-powered MSI Gaming Stealth 15M, noting that "no one games on a Mac." Apple's computers are also mocked for their Touch Bars, lack of touchscreens and M1 multi-monitor support, and the color choices of "gray and grayer."

The positive reception to Apple's M1 chip saw Intel launch a public offensive against Cupertino, starting with a series of "Go PC" ads in February that boasted only PCs could "power a rocket launch and launch Rocket League."

Intel wasn't the first company to use an actor from the "I'm a Mac, and I'm a PC" commercials. John Hodgman reprised his role as the PC guy to boast about M1 performance during Apple's announcement of the SoC.
MONTREAL - A "suppressive" approach to controlling the spread of more transmissible coronavirus variants in Montreal has prevented a spike in COVID-19 cases involving those mutations, the city's public health director said Wednesday.

A syringe is prepared with COVID-19 vaccine at a vaccination clinic in Montreal, on Monday, March 15, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson

MONTREAL - A "suppressive" approach to controlling the spread of more transmissible coronavirus variants in Montreal has prevented a spike in COVID-19 cases involving those mutations, the city's public health director said Wednesday.

Dr. Mylene Drouin said the more aggressive strategy explains the difference between Montreal, where the number of new COVID-19 cases has remained stable, and Ontario, where a government scientific advisory panel has said variants account for nearly half of all new cases and are driving a third wave of the pandemic.

In Montreal, Drouin told reporters Wednesday, the number of new cases has hit a plateau of about 325 for three weeks. The proportion of those cases involving variants has also levelled off at 20 per cent since Feb. 20.

The B.1.1.7 variant, first detected in the United Kingdom, is the only variant of concern with community transmission in Montreal, she said.

"I think we're delaying the predominance of the U.K. variant, and when we compare to our neighbour from Ontario, we see they do not have this plateau, so we can see what would be the progression if we did not have a suppressive approach," she said.

That approach involves more extensive contact tracing for variant cases, she said. In addition, contacts that would normally be classified as "low risk" are deemed "moderate risk" when a variant is involved. That means they are asked to get tested and to self-isolate for 14 days.

"When we have a variant in a specific setting, a school, daycare or workplace, we identify more contacts, we do massive screening, and during this massive screening of contacts, we ask the people that live with those contacts to isolate themselves while we're waiting for the results of the tests," Drouin said.

Still, Drouin expects that the variant will become the predominant form of the virus being spread in Montreal within the next four weeks.

Taking an aggressive approach is the right strategy, Dr. Catherine Hankins, co-chair of the federal government's COVID-19 Immunity Task Force, said Wednesday.

"This variant is up to 50 per cent more transmissible, if you don't jump on it aggressively, you're going to have much more transmission happening and it will take over much more rapidly and once there's more of it around, then more cases are generated from it and it just spirals," said Hankins, who is also a professor of population and public health at McGill University.

"I think it's important to be aggressive now," she added.

Montreal is the region of Quebec that has been hardest hit by the pandemic, and it has the majority of cases involving variants in the province.

Quebec's public health institute on Wednesday confirmed 19 more cases involving variants of concern, for a total of 541, most of which involve B.1.1.7. It said it has detected 2,352 presumptive variant cases, an increase of 173. Montreal has had 327 of the confirmed cases and 1,094 of the suspected cases.

The variant is primarily spreading in neighbourhoods in the western part of the city, Drouin said. In those areas, it is being carried from schools and daycares to homes, where it infects parents, who can then transmit the virus in the workplace.

Sonia Belanger, CEO of the regional health authority in south-central Montreal, told reporters 287,000 people in Montreal have received at least one dose of vaccine and that over 75 per cent of Montrealers over 65 have received at least one dose or have an appointment to receive one.

She said, however, a little less than 70,000 of the 250,000 health-care workers in the city have received a dose. But not all of those workers are yet eligible to receive the vaccine.

Belanger did not specify how many health-care workers are part of the "priority group" who are eligible to be vaccinated. She said vaccination remains voluntary for health-care workers and that she doesn't want to create a list of workers who have refused to be vaccinated.

Quebec on Wednesday reported a sharp rise in the number of intensive care patients in COVID-19 wards, up by 16 for a total of 107. The number of people in intensive care varies on the medical needs of patients, Health Department spokeswoman Marie-Louise Harvey wrote in an email, describing the rise as "not worrying."

Health officials also reported 703 new cases of COVID-19 and 13 more deaths attributed to the novel coronavirus, none of which occurred in the past 24 hours. Total hospitalizations dropped by one, to 532.

The province says it administered 28,812 doses of vaccine Tuesday, for a total of 804,806. Quebec has reported 299,450 infections and 10,570 COVID-19 deaths since the pandemic began and it currently has 6,833 active reported cases.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 17, 2021.

This story was produced with the financial assistance of the Facebook and Canadian Press News Fellowship.
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PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP)  Masked officers who said they belonged to a disgruntled sector of the Haitian police force known as Fantom 509 stormed several police stations in Port-au-Prince on Wednesday, freeing jailed comrades accused of participating in an alleged coup against embattled President Jovenel Moise last month.

The group of officers, along with some civilians, set a police station ablaze and then headed to a local Nissan auto dealership, which was looted and vandalized. Among the officers storming the station were police in uniform with their faces covered to avoid being recognized.

The day began with officers and police academy cadets marching toward police headquarters to demand that the bodies of five officers killed during a raid last week on the Village of God shantytown be recovered from the gang still holding them. The shantytown is run by the 5 Seconds gang.

The ill-fated raid, which took place five days ago, was aimed at arresting gang members but resulted in the death of the five officers and the wounding of several others.

Things heated up in Haiti's capital Wednesday when disgruntled officers took to the streets demanding the release of their arrested colleagues. They told local media they belonged to Fantom 509.

Political strife in Haiti has deepened as opposition leaders claim Moises five-year term has expired. They had demanded that he step down on Feb. 7. On that day, Moise announced that authorities had arrested 23 people accused of plotting a coup to kill him and overthrow his government, including a high-ranking police official and a Supreme Court judge favored by the opposition.

Hours after the arrests, the opposition nominated a supposed transitional president that no one has recognized and have organized protests.
By Park Yoon-bae





Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl's resignation in early March has prompted speculation about a possible entrance into politics. Many pundits and politicians already believe that it is a fait accompli for him to make his debut as a politician sooner or later.







His abrupt move looked like a bombshell announcement that he would run for president next year, drawing mixed reactions from the political establishment. But still no one knows for sure what Yoon is up to as he has yet to clearly reveal his political ambition.







Many predict Yoon will begin to engage with politics soon after the April 7 mayoral by-elections in Seoul and Busan. Some opposition parties such as the People's Party are trying to woo him to boost their political clout. Yoon has already emerged as a "political bigwig" whether he admits it or not.







He has been widely regarded as one of favored presidential hopefuls. In a survey conducted March 12 to 13 by the Korea Society Opinion Institute (KSOI), Yoon topped the list of best qualified presidential candidates with a 37.2 percent support rate, followed by Gyeonggi Governor Lee Jae-myung (24.2 percent) and ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) Chairman Lee Nak-yon (13.3 percent).







There are many reasons to believe that Yoon will soon become a politician, although he has kept mum about the course of his future. The first thing is the timing of his resignation that came March 4.







In an apparent move to foil Yoon's possible presidential bid, Rep. Choe Kang-wook of the minority Open Minjoo Party presented a revision bill to the National Assembly in December. The bill calls for incumbent prosecutors and judges to retire at least a year before any election if they want to become a candidate.







The next presidential poll is scheduled for March 9, 2022. Suppose the bill becomes law. In that case, Yoon might have missed his chance to run for president had he not quit his job before March 9 this year. This shows how shrewd he was in deciding when to resign.







Another reason is the rhetoric he used in his resignation statement. "I am offering to resign as of today," Yoon said. Then he added, "The spirit of the Constitution and the system of rule of law are crumbling. And it will cause damage to the people. It is hard to watch common sense and justice collapsing." He also promised to defend liberal democracy and protect the people whatever position he will be in.







Such remarks were construed as throwing his hat into the political ring. DPK lawmakers lambasted Yoon for trying to take advantage of his career as prosecutor general to gain a political foothold after retirement.







But it is not Yoon, but the Moon Jae-in administration that should be blamed for forcing him to dabble in politics. Yoon had apparently tried to serve out his two-year term set to end July, despite the government's relentless attempts to kick him out of the prosecution.







In fact, Yoon has invited the rage of the powers that be only because he was waging an anti-corruption campaign against President Moon's aides, bureaucrats and ruling party politicians. His conflict with the government began to flare up when he launched an investigation into Cho Kuk, President Moon's confidant and justice minister-nominee, over alleged corruption and admissions fraud involving his family in 2019.







Before that, Moon undoubtedly regarded Yoon as an anti-corruption crusader who played a crucial role in probing and indicting former President Park Geun-hye who was ousted for corruption and abuse of power in March 2017. Yoon was also lauded for digging into a corruption case of another former president, Lee Myung-bak, who was also convicted and imprisoned on graft charges.







That's why Moon appointed Yoon to lead the prosecution in July 2019. At that moment, Yoon was seen as a "hero" who cleaned up what the President called "old evils" of the previous administrations. But Yoon was soon branded as a "turncoat" simply because he targeted the inner circle of political power for bribe-taking, election rigging and influence-peddling.







Yoon's showdown with the government escalated when Moon appointed former DPK Chairwoman Choo Mi-ae as justice minister last year. She was engrossed in blocking the prosecution from digging up dirt on corrupt officials and politicians. She also tried to stop the law enforcement agency from investigating officials who were suspected of manipulating data to shut down the Wolsong-1 reactor under Moon's nuclear phase-out policy.







The row culminated in late 2020 when Choo was desperate to suspend Yoon's duties and take disciplinary action against him for no other reason than continuing his drive against corruption. The government also went all-out to weaken the power of Yoon and the prosecution in the name of prosecutorial reform.







At last, Yoon had to resign to protest the ruling party's push to separate the prosecution's investigative power and indictment right. The Moon administration and the DPK cannot avoid criticism for violating the prosecution's political neutrality and independence, and undermining the rule of law.







Now, we have to figure out why Yoon resigned and what made him set his eyes on politics.







The author (

) is the chief editorial writer of The Korea Times.


A visit by European Union ambassadors to the Xinjiang region of China has stalled over their request for access to jailed Uighur academic Ilham Tohti, a diplomatic source confirmed Wednesday.

Since 2019, China says it has invited foreign diplomats and UN human rights chief Michelle Bachelet to visit Xinjiang, where rights groups allege more than one million Uighurs and other Muslim minorities are detained in internment camps.

But there has been little sign of progress.

A European diplomat told AFP it was because the mission wants to visit Tohti, a Uighur economist jailed for life on separatism charges in 2014.

He received the Sakharov Prize -- the EU's top human rights award -- in 2019.

"Negotiations are in a stalemate because of Tohti and other conditions," the diplomat said. "I don't think they are going soon."

China's ambassador to the European Union, Zhang Ming, on Tuesday said "almost everything had been arranged" for EU member states' ambassadors to visit Xinjiang.

But it had snagged on "unacceptable requests," he added.

"They insist on a meeting with one criminal convicted by Chinese law," he said. "This is unacceptable, I'm so sorry."

China strongly denies allegations of abuse involving Uighurs in Xinjiang and says all inmates have "graduated" from "vocational training centres", which it claims have helped stamp out extremism in the region and raise incomes.

A delegation of three EU officials who took part in a carefully organised Xinjiang visit in January 2019 previously said they believed the people they met in a "training centre" were reciting a dictated speech.

Zhang added that Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi extended an invitation to Bachelet on March 7, after she called for an "independent and comprehensive assessment of the human rights situation" in Xinjiang late February.

He insisted that Xinjiang is "open to foreign diplomats, journalists and tourists."

All foreign journalists face extensive harassment and surveillance from Chinese authorities when attempting to report from Xinjiang over the past year, according to the Foreign Correspondents' Club of China.

lxc/apj/mtp
Vials labelled "AstraZeneca COVID-19 Coronavirus Vaccine" and a syringe are seen in front of a displayed AstraZeneca logo, in this illustration photo taken on March 14, 2021. (Dado Ruvic/Illustration/Reuters)

Australian Government to Continue Rollout of AstraZeneca Vaccine Despite International Suspensions

The Australian rollout of the AstraZeneca vaccine will continue despite 17 countriesincluding Indonesia, France, Ireland, Germany, Italy, and Swedensuspending their vaccine programs after reports of blood clots in people having received the shot.

Australias Chief Medical Officer Professor Paul Kelly in a statement on March 16 said that the government remains confident that the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine is fit for use and that there is currently no indication there is a link between the vaccine and the blood clot incidents.

We are aware of some further European countries pausing the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine due to reports of blood clots in people who have been vaccinated, Kelly said. While the European Medicines Agency is investigating these events, it has reinforced its view that the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine is successful in protecting against COVID-19, and should continue to be used in the rollout.

The suspension of the AstraZeneca vaccine occurred after reports emerged of five deaths in Europe in people who had received the vaccinethree in Norway, one in Denmark, and one in Italy.

The Danish Medicines Agency, which alerted the European Medicines Agency (EMA) to the issue, said in a press release on March 14 that a Danish woman who had died showed highly unusual symptoms.

The Danish woman had an unusual clinical picture with a low platelet count, blood clots in small and large vessels as well as bleeding, Tanja Erichsen, head of division at the Danish Medicines Agency, said.

Similar findings were found in the Norwegian and Italian cases. Both countries have since then suspended the vaccine rollout.

Meanwhile, Austrias medical authority suspended the AstraZeneca vaccine last week after issues arose with blood coagulation disorders, Reuters reported.

However, head of the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), John Skerritt, has challenged the decision of the European nations, saying on Wednesday that the bans were an excessive approach.

We certainly dont believe there is any specific problem, Skerritt said. At this stage, we dont believe there is conclusive evidence for cause-and-effect on the clotting issue.

Not all members of parliament are happy with the TGAs decision.

Queensland National Party Senator Matt Canavan has called for a pause in the rollout.

I think a pause right now is the prudent path, Canavan said on Wednesday. Obviously there is concern enough to cause a lot of countries to pause their rollouts.

Canavan noted that Australia had been careful at the start of the year, waiting months for approvals on vaccines.

I think that approach served us well and it should be a similar approach we take right now. Were in the lucky position of not having the risk of widespread coronavirus in this country, he said.

In a statement to The Epoch Times, AstraZeneca said that their primary concern is the safety of everyone.

We are working with national health authorities and European officials and look forward to their assessment later this week, the company said.

Around 17 million people in the EU and UK have now received our vaccine, and the number of cases of blood clots reported in this group is lower than the hundreds of cases that would be expected amoung the general populations.

The AstraZeneca vaccine is the primary vaccination available to Australians after the federal government secured around 54 million doses of the vaccine50 million to be produced locally in Melbourne.
The status of depends fundamentally on the empowerment of women, whose exclusion from decision-making is a marker of a "flawed democracy", has said in her first address to the United Nations as the Vice President of the US.

Harris voiced concern over the decline of and freedom across the globe in her address to the 65th Session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women.

"Today, we know that is increasingly under great strain. For 15 consecutive years, we have seen a troubling decline in freedom around the globe. In fact, experts believe that this past year was the worst on record for the global deterioration of democracy and freedom, she said.

Harris said Washington was strengthening its engagement with the world organisation and the broader multilateral system, as well as rejoining the Human Rights Council.

She emphasised that even as the world confronts a global health crisis and an economic crisis, it was critical that we continue to defend democracy.

"The status of democracy also depends fundamentally on the empowerment of women. Not only because the exclusion of women in decision-making is a marker of a flawed democracy, but because the participation of women strengthens democracy. And that's true everywhere, Harris said.

The Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) is the principal global intergovernmental body exclusively dedicated to the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women.

Representatives of Member States, UN entities, and ECOSOC-accredited non-governmental organisations (NGOs) from all regions of the world are virtually attending the session that will run from March 15 to 26.

The theme for this year's session is Women's full and effective participation and decision-making in public life, as well as the elimination of violence, for achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls.'



Harris, America's first woman and first Black and South Asian-descent Vice President, told the high-level session that the COVID-19 pandemic has threatened the economic security, the physical security, and the health of women everywhere.

'As women struggle to get the healthcare they need, the pandemic appears to be reversing the global gains we've made in the fights against HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, malnutrition, and maternal and child mortality, she said.

She cautioned that when women face obstacles to obtaining quality healthcare, face food insecurity, are more likely to live in poverty, and therefore disproportionately impacted by climate change, are more vulnerable to gender-based violence, and therefore disproportionately impacted by conflict, it is harder for women to fully participate in decision-making, which, in turn, makes it that much harder for democracies to thrive.

UN Secretary-General Antnio Guterres, in his remarks to the opening of the 65th session of the Commission on the Status of Women on Monday, said the pandemic was having a devastating impact on women and girls.

"COVID-19 is a crisis with a woman's face. The fallout has shown how deeply gender inequality remains embedded in the world's political, social and economic systems. Those disparities have themselves exacerbated the damage and we have all paid the price, he said.

Quoting former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, who had shaped the Universal Declaration on Human Rights, Harris said: "Without equality, there can be no democracy."



Harris said the status of women is the status of democracy and the United States will work to improve both.

She stressed that this year, in considering the status of women, especially as it pertains to the participation of women in decision-making, nations must also consider the status of democracy.

Underscoring that democracy protects human rights, promotes human dignity, and upholds the rule of law, Harris said it is a means to establish peace and shared prosperity.

It should ensure every citizenregardless of genderhas an equal voice. At the same time, democracy requires constant vigilance, constant improvement. It is a work-in-progress, she said.

Highlighting progress in women's empowerment in the US, Harris said in every presidential election for the last 56 years in the United States, more women have voted than men, more women than ever before serve in the US Congress and more women than ever before are their family's breadwinner.

"Women in the United States lead our local, state, and national governments, make major decisions regarding our nation's security, and drive major growth in our economy. These are signs of progress. These are signs of strength, she 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.)
[March 17, 2021] Klen Launches AI-Driven Mobile App in Austin, Texas to Help Businesses, Consumers Navigate COVID-19 Safety

Klen (pronounced "clean"), an AI-driven app that changes how businesses communicate COVID-19 safety measures to customers, today announced Austin, Texas as the first city for the launch of its pilot program. Klen's multi-sided platform centralizes the most accurate, up-to-date COVID-19 safety protocols for business owners, and serves as a database for consumers to self-select their individual preferences and search for businesses based on those requirements. Businesses can log and update their safety measures through the app in real-time, which generates a user-friendly Klen score based on adherence to those guidelines. It also encourages consumers to share their experiences and feedback directly with businesses so they can adjust their protocols accordingly. "Despite ongoing vaccine rollout efforts, the emergence of new variants and ever-changing COVID-19 guidelines has created a lingering uncertainty," said Sol Girouard, CEO and founder of Klen. "Every individual has their own perception of COVID-19 safety-the public's varying response to Governor Abbott's decision to lift the statewide mask ban is a clear example of that. With Klen, consumers can feel confident about the businesses they go to based on their individual needs and preferences." Klen's core underlying technology is a deep learning AI platform that aggregates CDC, state, local and industry guidelines, and delivers recommendations for users and predictive busness insights. The company is led by Girouard, who is also the CEO of Data Innovation Labs, a full-service data science and decision intelligence consulting group, graduated top of her class at Harvard University, and is a former head teaching fellow for data science at Harvard University's School of Engineering.



"Throughout the pandemic, businesses have been at the mercy of conflicting information from the city, state and federal level," said Girouard. "There's been a burden on the private sector, now shouldered with the responsibility to ensure consumer safety as well as protect their business and employees from increased liability. We want to give businesses the tools to gain more control and foster transparency with consumers, so they can make the best decisions for their business and their customers." The pilot program is now available for businesses in the Greater Austin metro area. To activate your profile and begin communicating COVID-19 safety on the Klen platform, sign up at: klen.io/business/.

For more information about Klen, visit klen.io. About Klen Klen is changing how businesses communicate COVID-19 safety to customers using AI-powered technology. The platform delivers business insights across industry verticals and locations, and highlights which protocols consumers value the most to gain insight into customer behaviors and preferences during COVID-19. Staffed by elite data scientists, Klen helps businesses showcase their commitment to health and safety, keep customers informed, and increase public confidence and trust. For more information, visit klen.io. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210317005222/en/

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Hyderabad, March 17 : Schools in Telangana are turning to be new hotspots of Covid-19 as the state faces a sudden spurt in new infections.

Over 100 students and staff members of at least seven schools have tested positive during the last two days, worrying the state authorities.

The state government is likely to announce new measures, including possible closure of schools to contain the spread.

Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao said on Wednesday told the Assembly that the government will review the situation and make an announcement in the next couple of days.

He told the house that while the second wave of Covid-19 pandemic was on the decline in other countries, it has just started in India and numerous cases were being reported from neighbouring states.

The Chief Minister said the government was taking all precautions to contain the spread of the pandemic.

Rao said though the situation is better in Telangana compared to other states, there can't be any compromise on the health of children. "We will take a decision after examining the situation across the country and in adherence with the Centre's guidelines," he said.

KCR, as the Chief Minister is popularly known, said the government was constantly monitoring the situation. The Centre was also working in close coordination with the state and making suggestions to check the spread of the virus.

Certain residential welfare hostels including a school in Mancherial had reported several cases of students testing positive for Covid-19.

The Zilla Parishad Girls High School in Mancherial emerged as an epicentre of a major Covid outbreak, with as many 56 students, teachers and other staff members tested positive during last two days.

Two teachers at two Zilla Parishad schools in the same district had also tested positive. The district accounted for the highest daily count of cases on Wednesday.

A Minorities Residential Girls School at Balanagar also emerged as another hotspot with as many as 38 students testing positive. All 184 students from Class 8 to 10 in the school were tested after the head cook tested positive.

In the Rapid Antigen Test, 38 students have tested positive. All are asymptomatic and healthy, an official said.

Telangana Minorities Residential Educational Institutions Society (TMREIS) Secretary B. Shafiulla said 38 students tested positive in Rapid Antigen Test. As a precautionary measure, authorities conducted RT-PCR tests for those who tested negative in RAT.

Nine students and a teacher of a residential school in Bhainsa town of Nirmal district tested positive on Wednesday.

Another five students from a private school in Choutuppal also tested positive.

The state government had allowed reopening of schools for Class 6 to 8 from February 25.

Schools for Class 9 and above were re-opened from February 1.
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Easter is the highest, holiest of holidays for Christians around the world.

We celebrate Jesus victory over death and believers ultimate salvation because of His atoning sacrifice on the cross for our sin. When we accept Jesus as Lord, we stand cloaked in his blood, righteous before God, and we are declared innocent. We have eternal life in heaven because of the price he paid and the victory he won.

But, like the secularized Christmas holiday, nonreligious elements have found their way into our Easter celebrations, and many who observe it have no idea of its true meaning.

Much of the celebration these days depicts white bunnies and colorful eggs. In the northern hemisphere, it is spring. The warmth is returning and flowers are blooming. Its a time of renewal and anticipation of the outdoors.

For most Christians, Easter is the celebration of the resurrection of Christ. But many modern-day, less-than-biblical Easter traditions have crept into its observance in western culture. The most popular cultural symbol of this holiday, the Easter Bunny, was likely introduced by the German immigrants who brought their stories of an egg-laying hare with them. Even further back historically, the decoration of eggs at Easter is believed to date back to the thirteenth century or earlier.

Why do we celebrate with the Easter Bunny?

The Easter Bunny has become a prevalent symbol of the springtime Easter holiday. Of course, the Bible makes no mention of any creature who delivers decorated eggs to children on Easter Sunday. So why has it become the prominent symbol of Easter in the US?

No one is completely sure, but rabbits are an ancient symbol of procreation and new life. As stated, the Easter Bunny may have first arrived in America with German immigrants. Their children made nests in which this creature could lay colorful eggs. Over time, the custom spread across the US. Easter morning deliveries by the fabled rabbit expanded to include chocolate and other candies and gifts. Today, decorated baskets replace nests.

Why do we celebrate with Easter eggs?

Easter eggs are sometimes said to represent Jesus emergence from the tomb. But Easter eggs are generally linked to more pagan traditions. The egg is an ancient symbol of new life in many cultures. It has often been associated with pagan festivals celebrating spring.

Decorating eggs for Easter dates back to at least the thirteenth century, according to some sources. One explanation for this custom is that eggs were once a restricted food during Lent. So people would sometimes paint and decorate them to celebrate the end of the period of penance and fasting, then eat them at a celebration on Easter day.

White Easter lilies are the unofficial flower of Easter celebrations in the United States. They symbolize the purity of Christ for many Christians and are commonly seen in churches and homes around Easter. Their growth, from dormant bulbs in the ground to flowers, symbolizes the rebirth and hope of Christs resurrection.

Why do we have Easter parades and events?

Egg rolling and Easter egg hunts are two popular traditions during this springtime holiday. The White House Easter Egg Roll is an annual event held the Monday after Easter in the US. The first official White House egg roll occurred when Rutherford B. Hayes was president in the late 1870s. While the event has no religious significance, some people consider egg rolling symbolic of the stone being rolled away from the tomb at the time of Jesus resurrection.

In New York City, the Easter Parade dates back to the mid-1800s, when well-to-do citizens wearing their new spring outfits and hats attended Easter services at Fifth Avenue churches, then strolled down the street afterward. Average citizens started showing up along Fifth Avenue to observe their finery.

The popular film Easter Parade was released in 1948, starring Fred Astaire and Judy Garland and featuring the music of Irving Berlin. Today, other cities across the US also have their own parades.

Easter processions have been a part of Christianity since its earliest days. While Manhattans parade has never had any religious significance, the tradition continued as conditions have allowed, with Fifth Avenue from 49th Street to 57th Street being shut down to traffic during the day.

Should Christian parents allow their children to participate in Easter egg hunts and receive Easter baskets from the Easter Bunny?

The balance Christians face of being in the world but not of the world is never more evident than deciding how deeply to embrace the cultural versions of holidays that have spiritual meaning, particularly Christmas and Easter. Rightly so, protecting our children from worldly influences is always a high priority for Christian parents.

I recommend parents who are struggling to find that balance read two short articles which put this matter in perspective. Several years ago, BaptistPress ran FIRST-PERSON: Whats a Christian to do with the Easter Bunny? by Steve Russo. It is relevant and helpful to better understand the issue and how to deal with it.

If Christian parents determine they want to embrace the Easter Bunny and Easter eggs on a limited basis, this Focus on the Family article provides innovative ideas on how to use these symbols to teach children about the faith.

Why does Easter fall on different days?

Have you ever wondered why the date for Easter moves around so much? Why cant we pick a specific date for Easter, as we do with Christmas? Or, if we want Easter to be on Sunday each year, why not specify a particular one, as we do with observing Thanksgiving on the fourth Thursday of November?

And, calculating the dates of the Lenten season depends on the date of Easter, of course. If you thought Lenten math was confusing, wait until you read how the date for Easter is determined.

Simply, Easter is observed on the Sunday after the first full moon after March 21  unless that full moon is on a Sunday in which case we wait a week. Not so simple. Heres how this came to be.

The ancient Jews observed Passover on the fourteenth day of their month Nisan (the first month of their year). Apparently, the first Christians celebrated Easter annually on the day immediately after this Passover event, regardless of the day of the week on which it fell. Those in the Eastern churches perpetuated this tradition, tracing it to St. John the Apostle. Their position was called Quartodeciman (from their word for fourteen).

However, Christians of Gentile origin wanted their Easter to be on Sunday, whether the day was close to Passover or not. Their sentiments prevailed in the West and became the official position of the Roman Catholic Church. We would think that this disagreement would be minor, but we would be wrong. Pope Victor (late second century) actually excommunicated Polycrates, the bishop of Ephesus, for refusing to comply with the Roman method. The Quartodecimans organized themselves into a separate church and survived as a sect into the fifth century.

The Council of Nicaea (AD 325) once again settled things for Western Christians. They determined that Easter would be celebrated on the first Sunday after the full moon following the vernal equinox. But if this full moon should occur on a Sunday and coincide with the Passover festival, Easter would be commemorated on the next Sunday.

So, as stated above, Easter would be the Sunday after the first full moon after March 21unless that full moon is on a Sunday, in which case we wait a week. We then back up seven weeks to Ash Wednesday and start Lentunless were in the Orthodox Church, in which case we begin two days earlier.

Arent you glad we cleared that up?

What about Lent? Is it relevant today?

This years Lenten season began on Ash Wednesday, February 17. While we are already several weeks into this tradition, many who do not observe it often have questions about it. What is it? Is it biblical? Does it really matter?

Let me answer the last question first: yes.

Your soul and mine need what Lent intends to provide. But many of us dont know much (if anything) about this historic strategy for personal spiritual renewal and growth. This is our loss. While we wont elaborate here, wouldnt a spiritual discipline practiced for more than seventeen centuries by the vast majority of Christians be relevant for our souls today?

So, why is Lent relevant for all Christians?

Three reasons for observing some form of Lenten practice suggest themselves, in ascending importance.

One: we need to live in community with the larger body of Christ.

Since the vast majority of Christians practice some form of Lenten observance, joining them in some way is a good step toward solidarity of faith and ministry. This is also an important witness to others, answering Jesus prayer, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me (John 17:23).

Two: we cannot fully appreciate Jesus resurrection unless we have experienced something of his sufferings.

A fast of some sort is an appropriate means of spiritual identification with our Lords suffering for us.

Three: we need a period each year for intentional spiritual introspection and contemplation.

John R. W. Stott said that he required an hour a day, a day a week, and a week a year to be alone with his Lord. We need a time every year for spiritual renewal. Just as students need a spring break, so do souls. Lent is a wonderful season for such renewal: as the physical world is renewing itself, so should the spiritual.

As I asked above, can a spiritual discipline practiced for more than seventeen centuries by the vast majority of Christians be irrelevant for our souls today? If you will go through a spiritual Lent, you can celebrate a spiritual Easter on earth, and one day in heaven. This is the promise of God.

Originally published at the Denison Forum where you can read the rest of the article
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Yerevan mayor receives Netherlands Ambassador

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Peskov: Putin and Biden to discuss cybersecurity issues

Armenia's Pashinyan meets with Belgian PM Alexander De Croo

Armenia acting MOD receives Netherlands Ambassador

Armenia Police: 3 citizens apprehended during protest demanding acting health minister's resignation

NATO warns Minsk about further consequences of Ryanair incident

Armenia economic competition protection commission: Experts forecast inflation of butter prices

Armenia citizens' protest against acting health minister is over

Pashinyan visits France, judicial farce against Armenian POWs kicks off in Baku, Jun. 2 digest

Armenian Ambassador, FMO representatives consider opportunities for expansion of cooperation in Armenia

Armenia Prosecutor General is on working visit to Russia

Armenia acting PM meets with European Council President in Brussels

Armenia citizens throw polyethylene bags at Health Ministry building, police apprehend protesters

Acting deputy minister: Armenia authorities plan to build 46km section of North-South highway in 2021

Dollar is stable in Armenia

Armenia official: Large number of projects being prepared in construction sector

Identity of man killed Wednesday morning in downtown Yerevan is found out

Armenian lawyer: Azerbaijan poses a threat to security in Europe

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

Missing Armenian soldiers' relatives hand letter to Russia Embassy with request to solve captives' issue

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
By David Shepardson and Ben Klayman

WASHINGTON/DETROIT (Reuters) - When U.S. President Joe Biden flies to Georgia Friday, he will land in the middle of an increasingly politicized battle between two South Korean electric vehicle battery makers and the state and federal politicians who want to prevent their feud from costing American jobs.

The companies, LG Chem and rival SK Innovation Co, are trying to take advantage of past and promised U.S. investments, and ties to politicians in Georgia, Ohio and Tennessee, to win the end game in a long-running legal dispute over intellectual property and access to the growing U.S. electric vehicle market.

The Biden Administration, through the U.S. Trade Representative's office, may ultimately pick a winner by the early April deadline. Both declined to comment.

The global auto industry is racing to develop EVs. Batteries made by LG, SK and other suppliers are critical to meeting the target of building zero-emission vehicles.

Georgia is the center of action. Unless the White House intervenes, SK says a Feb. 10 ruling by the International Trade Commission would force it to halt construction on a $2.6-billion factory in a state whose two newly-elected Democratic Senators are the linchpin of Biden's slim Democratic Congressional majority.

Democratic Georgia Sen. Raphael Warnock told Reuters he has spoken with the Biden administration and hopes a deal can be reached. "I am working to make sure Georgians will benefit from the jobs they were promised."

LG wrote to Warnock, arguing SK is "holding the people of Georgia hostage in a last-ditch lobbying effort to avoid settling." LG said, if SK abandoned the plant, LG "will do our best to fill in any voids."

Concern in Georgia is bipartisan. On Friday, Governor Brian Kemp, a Republican, urged Biden to overturn the decision, noting SK's plant will employ nearly 2,600 people in the largest foreign investment in Georgia history. "Simply put: the livelihoods of thousands of Georgians are now in your hands."

Story continues

BATTLEGROUND STATES

LG's political allies warn that reversing the ITC could hurt workers in Michigan and Ohio, also key political battleground states.

LG is nearing completion of a cell manufacturing plant in Ohio with General Motors and sources said they are in talks to build a second facility in Tennessee.

"LG Chem's stolen intellectual property should not be used to directly compete against Ohio workers at the new factory or the Ohio- and Michigan-based businesses in the factory's supply chain," Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine wrote in a March 8 letter to Biden.

In Tennessee, home to SK customer Volkswagen's U.S. assembly plant, state economic development chief Bob Rolfe said politics and jobs take center stage.

"You can weigh certainly the political side of this and then you also need to weigh the impact to the economy," said Rolfe, who declined to support either battery maker.

LG said it plans to invest more than $4.5 billion in U.S. battery production over the next four years and build at least two plants, including possibly in Georgia. LG insists it can handle auto industry's battery needs if SK abandons its Georgia plant.

SK said LG's spending plans are meant to sway Biden and added it would be impossible for LG to handle the VW and Ford Motor Co contracts.

"Georgians know the difference between our real commitment to the state and LG's paper promises," an SK spokeswoman said.

SK warned Chinese manufacturers may replace lost battery capacity, striking a chord with some lawmakers sensitive to ceding ground to a major trade rival.

(Reporting by David Shepardson in Washington and Ben Klayman in Detroit; Editing by Nick Zieminski)
ASECNA completed installation of third delivery point in Dakar, enabling AFISNET VSAT integration for member states

MCLEAN, Va. and DAKAR, Senegal, March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Agency for Aerial Navigation Safety in Africa and Madagascar (ASECNA) announced today their continued commitment to the Single African Sky initiative through the installation of a third Aireon Service Delivery Point (SDP) in their Dakar, Senegal operations center. The installation of this tertiary SDP allows ASECNA to receive triple-redundant data to all six ASECNA controlled Flight Information Regions (FIRs)- Antananarivo, Brazzaville, Dakar Oceanic, Dakar Terrestrial, Niamey and N'Djamena - over three independent telecommunications lines. Each line is also feeding data into the ASECNA AFISNET Very-Small-Aperture Terminal (VSAT) network, making space-based ADS-B highly available in the region.

ASECNA, first initiating the Aireon service operational deployment in January 2020, now has one of the most robust networks for space-based ADS-B data. The AFISNET VSAT network allows every ASECNA center to receive Aireon data, which is seamlessly integrated into their Thales TopSky automation platform, with minimum latency. Space-based ADS-B is being used throughout their airspace, augmenting ground sensors. With the upcoming African ADS-B mandate, this technology will facilitate a more dynamic, safe and efficient airspace and allow these multiple FIRs to operate as one, harmonious airspace, furthering the objectives Single African Sky initiative. Also, the connection to the AFISNET VSAT network will make it easier for Member States to access full air traffic surveillance data and coordinate with regions throughout the continent.

According to Mohamed Moussa, ASECNA Director General, "Single African Sky is the fundamental goal of ASECNA. By deploying Aireon data throughout our region, we are maintaining the highest level of safety and providing the most robust data to all member states through the AFISNET VSAT network. ASECNA is leading the global aviation community by eliminating the reliance on ground-based surveillance and transitioning it to satellites, in line with a complete satellite CNS strategy that also includes satellite-based augmentation system - SBAS - for Africa. Every region, no matter how remote, now has access to this data."

Don Thoma, Aireon CEO said, "Working with ASECNA throughout their deployment has been an honor. DG Moussa and his team have made Single African Sky their largest priority. During the COVID-19 pandemic, they have taken this opportunity to enhance their technology and operations. ASECNA has made the investment to position their airspace as one of the most advanced and efficient in the world, leading the African continent to be the gold standard in air traffic surveillance."

About ASECNA:

ASECNA is an International public institution. Its main mission consists in ensuring safety in air navigation by covering an airspace surface area of about 16.5 million square kilometers that is divided into six flight information regions (F.I.R) as defined by the International Civil Aviation Organization. In addition, ASECNA develops solutions related to airport management, studies and aeronautical infrastructure realizations, aeronautical equipment maintenance, calibration of air navigation instruments and training dedicated to the civil aviation. Its 18 Member States are Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Comoros, Congo, Ivory Coast, France, Gabon, Guinea Bissau, Equatorial Guinea, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal, Chad and Togo.

About Aireon LLC

Aireon operates the first ever, space-based air traffic surveillance system for Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) equipped aircraft throughout the entire globe. Aireon harnesses next-generation aviation surveillance technologies that were formerly ground-based and extends their reach throughout the world to significantly improve efficiency, enhance safety, reduce emissions and provide cost savings benefits to all stakeholders. Aireon's high-fidelity, low-latency surveillance data is available for various applications, allowing aerospace industry partners access to revolutionary data capabilities that enhance asset tracking, aircraft situational awareness and decision support analytical tools. In partnership with leading ANSPs from around the world, like NAV CANADA, Enav, NATS, the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) and Naviair, as well as Iridium Communications, Aireon provides global, real-time, space-based aircraft data for enhanced air traffic surveillance, innovation and analytics. For more information, please visit www.aireon.com.

Press Contact:

Jessie Hillenbrand

Aireon

+1 571 401 1407

Jessie.Hillenbrand@Aireon.com

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Boris Johnsons former chief adviser Dominic Cummings has claimed the department of health was a smoking ruin while trying to run key parts of the UKs response to the Covid-19 outbreak.

The coronavirus vaccination programme only succeeded because it was taken away from Matt Hancocks department, Mr Cummings said as he called for an urgent inquiry into the governments handling of the pandemic .

The departments initial response to the crisis had been an absolute total disaster, he said as he gave evidence to MPs.

Mr Cummings, who left Downing Street last year after losing a power struggle at the heart of government, was scathing about what he said were failings in the ability to procure personal protective equipment.

In the wake of that disaster it was a deliberate decision to split off the vaccine programme, he told members of the Commons Science and Technology Committee.

It is not coincidental that we had to take it out of the Department of Health. We had to have it authorised very directly by the prime minister, he said.

Read more:

In spring 2020, you had a situation where the Department of Health was just a smoking ruin in terms of procurement and PPE and all of that. You had serious problems with the funding bureaucracy for therapeutics.

We also had the EU proposal, which looked like an absolute guaranteed programme to fail  a debacle.

Therefore, Patrick Vallance, the cabinet secretary, me and some others said obviously we should take this out of the Department of Health, obviously we should create a separate taskforce and obviously we have to empower that taskforce directly with the authority of the prime minister.

Mr Cummings added that there was a need for an urgent and very, very hard look at what went wrong and why.

Mr Cummings also suggested the recent row over the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine in Europe showed the benefits of leaving the EU, even though decisions to suspend the use of the jab have been taken by individual member states.

During his evidence session Mr Cummings also revealed he outlined conditions in a deal with Mr Johnson before entering No 10, including a doubling of the science budget and a mandate to reform the disaster zone of Whitehall.

And he claimed he had told the prime minister last July that he would leave by 18 December at the latest, adding that his departure from No 10 was not exactly as it appeared.

He was giving evidence on the multimillion pound Advance Research and Invention Agency (Aria), an independent body of which he is regarded as an architect.

Downing Street defended the response of the Department of Health and Social Care to the coronavirus pandemic after Cummingss comments

The prime ministers official spokesperson said: Covid challenged health systems around the world. From the outset, it was always our focus to protect the NHS and save lives.

I would point to what was achieved last year in terms of establishing one of the biggest diagnostic networks in UK history, in terms of increasing the number of tests we are able to undertake every day.

We have procured over 9 million items of PPE, we have established the NHS test and trace system which has contacted millions of people and asked them to isolate.

DH [the Department of Health] and the NHS were central to the rollout of the vaccination programme.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-18 00:08:29|Editor: huaxia

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JERUSALEM, March 17 (Xinhua) -- The Israeli state-run company Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) on Wednesday said it will establish an aircraft maintenance center in Lithuania.

This is a part of an agreement jointly announced by the IAI and the Lithuanian maintenance repair organization Aviatic.

The maintenance center will be set up at Siauliai International Airport in northern Lithuania, IAA and Aviatic said.

The new site will provide aircraft maintenance and overhaul services, the conversion of passenger airplanes into cargo configuration, and the training, certification, and licensing of personnel.

Aviatic will run the maintenance center and will support the interaction with the Lithuanian regulators, including planning and infrastructure development.

The new center is expected to start operation in 2022 in an innovative hangar that will allow the performance of all its operations immediately after opening.

The center will be set up by the IAI's Aviation Group that consolidates crewed aircraft operations, civilian and military, under one roof.

As Israel's aviation home, the group is responsible for aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul, design and manufacture of jet aircraft, passenger-to-freighter conversions, avionic assemblies and structures, aircraft refurbishment, and more.

Aviatic focuses on continuing airworthiness management, line maintenance, supply and assets management solutions. Enditem
FLINT, MI -- A Flint attorney is asking a federal court judge to make it clear he did not violate any rule of professional conduct and never intended to mislead anyone involved in the Flint water crisis settlement.

Attorneys for Flint lawyer Loyst Fletcher filed a motion in U.S. District Court on March 15, asking Judge Judith Levy to modify her previous orders tied to Fletchers mailings to potential clients in the $641-million proposed Flint water settlement, correspondence Levy has previously said contained misleading and incorrect information.

This motion seeks a very narrow form of relief. During the February 5, 2021 hearing, this Court suggested that Fletcher violated the Michigan Rules of Professional Conduct, the filing says. But the Court was mistaken about the governing rules. It misquoted Rule 4.2 (possibly because plaintiffs misquoted that rule in their brief) and it misapplied Rule 7.3 (possibly because plaintiffs didnt yet have all the facts when they argued that Fletcher violated Rule 7.3).

In addition, the Court erroneously applied a rule governing contingent fees in personal-injury actions to a non-personal-injury action, the motion continues. Although the Courts February 8, 2021 order didnt reference these alleged violations, it did incorporate the Courts statements on the record. Consequently, the Courts order creates a risk of professional sanctions for Fletcher based on an erroneous interpretation of the governing rules.

Levy last month ordered Fletcher to mail court-approved retractions to nearly 300 individuals who were sent the informational packets by his law office after having ordered him two weeks earlier to stop sharing misinformation about the settlement. She also said his proposed 40 percent fee for representing clients was an illegally excessive contingency fee provision in likely violation of the Michigan Court Rules and the Michigan Rules of Professional Conduct.

Fletchers attorneys, Donald D. Campbell and Trent B. Collier, said Fletchers letter to residents contained information that was in error and which could have caused misunderstandings, but says there is no evidence he intended to deceive anyone. In their motion, they argue that Michigan law does not categorically prohibit a 40 percent contingency fee for an unjust-enrichment case like the one Fletcher has pending in Genesee Circuit Court.

That lawsuit seeks refunds for money residents paid for water they could not drink during the water crisis.

Fletcher also filed a motion to intervene in the federal court cases, which Levy denied, and on Feb. 9, he filed a notice of appeal of that order with the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Levys Feb. 5 ruling came after other attorneys involved in the settlement requested a temporary restraining order against Fletcher and asked the court to forbid him from communicating with residents who are already represented by other attorneys in the settlement.

Information mailed to Flint residents by Fletcher included a form letter that could be sent to Levy, telling the judge that the individuals are residents of Flint who have no medical records to indicate they were harmed by Flint water and have no proof of any damage to their property. It says they intend to opt out of the settlement agreement and requests 2 percent relief as filed by my attorney Loyst Fletcher Jr.

Levys order says every sentence that Mr. Fletcher encouraged these individuals to state to the Federal Court are either unverified, incorrect, misleading, or improper and says Fletcher likely violated the Michigan Rules of Professional Conduct by, for his own pecuniary gain, improperly soliciting various individuals who had already retained other attorneys.

A retainer agreement included in the original mailings also contains an illegally excessive contingency fee provision in likely violation of the Michigan Court Rules and the Michigan Rules of Professional Conduct, the order says.

Read more on MLive:

Flint attorney ordered to retract incorrect and misleading statements about water crisis settlement

Judge orders Flint attorney to stop spreading very misleading water settlement information

Judge gives preliminary OK to $641 million Flint water crisis settlement
CLEVELAND, Ohio  Federal authorities arrested a Lorain man Wednesday and accused him of beating a Capitol police officer during the riots Jan. 6 in Washington, D.C.

Officials charged Clifford Mackrell, 20, with assaulting an officer, entering a restricted building or grounds without lawful authority, obstruction of justice and violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds. If convicted, he could face a maximum of 14 years in prison.

He appeared in U.S. District Court in Cleveland before Magistrate Judge William Baughman for an initial hearing, and his case was transferred to the District of Columbia. Baughman released Mackrell on a personal bond and restricted his travels to northern Ohio and Washington.

Mackrell is one of more than 200 people, including several from Ohio, charged in the rioting at the Capitol. The attack followed a speech by then-President Donald Trump to thousands of supporters seeking to toss aside the results that declared Joseph Biden the winner of the November election.

An FBI affidavit says a video of the attack shows a man pushing back barricades and later repeatedly striking a Capitol police officer and grabbing the officers gas mask.

At the same time, the affidavit says, a member of the crowd sprayed what appeared to be bear spray toward officers. The document says the man tried to expose the officer to the spray.

After the man struck the officer and grabbed the mask, another officer sought to protect his colleague, the affidavit says, and they were able to knock the attacker down. He later left the area.

A person with a camera followed the man and asked him his name and where he was from, according to the affidavit. The man called out and said he was Cliff from Ohio.

Whatever it takes for my country, the man said, according to court documents. Im not done. Im going back in.

The FBI publicly displayed a still image of the video. On Feb. 7, a tipster told the agency that the person in the photo was named Cliff and graduated from Wellington High School in 2018, according to the affidavit. Investigators later seized messages from his Facebook page, which showed various posts from days near the attack on the Capitol.

On Jan. 6, the affidavit says, Mackrell wrote: It is our literal job as Americans to kill the tyrannical government.

In a message the next day, he wrote: We didnt destroy peoples lives for no reason. I mean the cops got their ass handed to them, but at the same time we also made sure they were OK. He later claimed that officers attacked him and struck him 10 to 15 times in the head, according to the document, which quoted a message Mackrell sent to a Facebook follower.

Video from journalists and clips circulated through Facebook, Twitter and Parler showed hundreds of protesters force their way into the Capitol the same day both chambers of Congress certified Biden the winner of the November presidential election.

The Stop the Steal rally, held near the Capitol, saw Trump give a heated speech that criticized Vice President Mike Pence for refusing to interfere with the largely ceremonial certification process. Video captured people chanting, Hang Mike Pence.

Pence and several lawmakers evacuated the House and Senate chambers as insurrectionists ran through the building taking videos and pictures of themselves.

During the hearing Wednesday, Mackrell answered Baughmans questions slowly. He said he worked for a roofing company and could not afford his own attorney. Baughman appointed Brian McGraw for the hearing. Mackrell said his family might hire an attorney for him later.

Mackrell, who has family in Wellington, moved to Lorain about two years ago and lives with a relative there, according to interviews and county records.
In the time reserved for motion hearings yesterday morning Judge Cahill heard defense counsel Eric Nelsons offer of proof on George Floyds May 2019 encounter with the Minneapolis police. Floyd was high at the time and in medical distress. Previously ruled inadmissible, Judge Cahill indicated he would revisit the issue and took it under advisement. He indicated he would announce his ruling on Thursday, as I understood his comments. My assessment is that the evidence may be admissible in part insofar as it bears on the cause of death, but it is otherwise not coming in.

Although precisely no jurors were seated, the day proved interesting and eventful in its own way. Judge Cahill announced that he would himself conduct voir dire of the seven jurors selected last week to ascertain their awareness of the $27 million wrongful death settlement in the related civil litigation. As I understood the arrangements, he will briefly examine each available juror via Zoom this morning.

He has also taken defense motions for a continuance and change of venue under advisement. He should have something to say about these motions soon, if not today.

Nelson also raised the issue of pretrial publicity in the context of the wrongful death settlement. He cited the March 12 Washington Post story in which an unnamed city official expressed his awareness of the possible impact of the settlement on the criminal case and spoke with Chief Hennepin County District Judge Toddrick Barnette. Nelson referred to this passage in the Post story:

A Minneapolis official said the city had been concerned that the announcement could affect the trial. The official, who was not authorized to speak publicly, said the city consulted with Hennepin County Chief District Judge Toddrick S. Barnette, who told the city it could proceed. Barnette did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Having taken up the issue with Judge Barnette, Judge Cahill disputed the accuracy of the officials account of his conversation. Judge Barnette was said to have advised the city that he had no control over its handling of the federal wrongful death case. Judge Cahill quoted him as saying words to the effect that We cant tell you what to do, not as authorizing the announcement of the settlement.

Expressing his annoyance, Judge Cahill observed, I think the city is trying to dump their responsibility back on the court, where it does not belong. My notes reflect that Judge Cahill said he would deal with this today, but Im not sure what that means.

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison was, as usual, in the courtroom yesterday. His office is handling the prosecution of Chauvin with the assistance of an all-star team of outside attorneys who are contributing their services. The Star Tribune reports that Ellison was guarded on the settlement. He declined to comment when asked by a reporter whether he or the court knew that a settlement had been reached before it was announced Friday. His son Jeremiah Ellison is a Minneapolis City Council member and voted for the settlement.

Judge Cahill also expressed particular concern about Tim Arangos February 10 New York Times story on the negotiations of a guilty plea in this case based on unnamed law enforcement sources.

Jurors 63, 64, and 66 were excused for cause. Juror 67 was up next. I have early in my notes on Nelsons examination of him that he was dangerous for the defense. He is the director of a youth organization  a youth ministry, I think  who wanted to serve as a juror. He would like to participate in justice, as he put it in the responses to the juror questionnaire. He had formed the opinion that Floyds death is wrong and we should speak up, or words that effect. However, he professed concerns both for Floyd and for Chauvin. He had prayed for everyone involved in the case. He would follow the law as given by Judge Cahill. Nelson exercised a peremptory challenge to strike him (his tenth of 15).

Juror 69 was the last examined before lunch. He was aware of the $27 million wrongful death settlement and understood it had no bearing on the criminal case. He said he was not excited about sitting as a juror in this case of global scale and would have concerns about his safety whichever way it would go. I dont really think he would have worries about his safety in the event of Chauvins conviction, but that is how it goes with some prospective jurors. Speaking circumspectly, he subsequently conceded he would have more concerns if the case resulted in a not guilty verdict.

He observed that the media coverage of the case had evolved in the days following March 25 from the death of George Floyd to the murder of George Floyd. I have down in my notes that he adopted this media stance. His juror questionnaire indicates that he has formed a very negative opinion of Derek Chauvin. The presumption of innocence would accordingly be difficult to afford in this case, but he stated that he could set aside his preconceptions to do the right thing. He understood that the right thing might be finding Chauvin not guilty. He stated that he could serve as an impartial juror in the case. I have in my notes at this point that he was obviously tough for the defense. He had formed the opinion that what happened to Floyd was an injustice. Nelson exercised a peremptory challenge  his eleventh of 15  to strike him.

Having thought about it over lunch, Nelson had second thoughts. He moved to have his peremptory restored and juror 69 stricken for cause. He asked Judge Cahill to presume the prejudice of prospective jurors from the pretrial publicity. He referred to the prejudicial statements made about Chavins guilt by elected officials roughly from the day of Floyds death. He asked for more latitude ta examine prospective jurors about the settlement.

In response, Steve Schleicher  the Maslon lawyer who is contributing his services to the prosecution  pooh poohed Nelsons concerns about the settlement. He described them as overblown. With respect to juror 69s professed ability to disregard the settlement, Schleicher argued that Nelson was asking for a presumption of lying. What we have here is elected officials doing their job. Schleicher deserves some kind of award for his ability to keep a straight face.

Schleicher added that the court had 329 prospective jurors at its disposal and had set aside three weeks for jury selection. There is world enough and time to get the job done. He urged Judge Cahill not to overreact to whats been happening. Juror 69 had demonstrated no reason to strike him for cause.

Judge Cahill denied Nelsons attempted reclamation of his peremptory, but his remarks revealed the misguided constraints Nelson seems to have imposed on himself in voir dire. Judge Cahill stated that he would exercise discretion in making the judgment whether a prospective juror could in fact be fair and impartial. He cant presume prejudice, he said, and he did not see juror 69 to be lying, but some jurors lack the introspection to acknowledge they cant be fair. He will make the judgment based on his reading of juror under the circumstances. My translation is that Nelson should at the least have moved to strike juror 69 (and others) for cause.

Jurors 71 and 73 consumed the rest of the afternoon. They were both stricken for cause, 71 on Nelsons motion and 73 on Schleichers.

UPDATE: In comments Wednesday morning Judge Cahill stated he will rule orally on the pending motions referred to above on Friday morning. Judge Cahill conducted void dire of the seven jurors selected before the citys $27 million settlement of the Floyd case took place this morning and excused two of the seven for cause. As we crank up today, we have gone from nine to seven jurors on our way to 14.
The super PACs supporting Mr. McGuire and Mr. Donovan hauled in more than their respective campaigns raised during the most recent city filing period, which began in January. Mr. Donovan, who ran Mayor Michael R. Bloombergs housing agency before joining President Barack Obamas cabinet as budget director and housing secretary, is participating in the citys public funding program. Mr. McGuire, a former vice chairman at Citi and one of the highest-ranking African-Americans on Wall Street, is not.

The super PAC supporting Mr. McGuire, New York for Ray, plans to spend its bounty on advertising  television, digital and print  in an effort to cut through the clutter and introduce a larger number of voters to Ray McGuire, his story and inclusive plans to revitalize and rebuild New York City, said Quentin Fulks, the groups executive director.

Kenneth I. Chenault, the former chairman and C.E.O. of American Express, who, with his wife, Kathryn, donated $250,000 to the super PAC for Mr. McGuire, said he had known Mr. McGuire since they attended Harvard University together and that he wanted to help him get his name out.

Were convinced that he can be a strong leader, Mr. Chenault said, adding that it was important for people to understand Rays story and to hear Rays story. We think its compelling and thats why were doing it.

Brittany Wise, the treasurer for the super PAC supporting Mr. Donovan, New Start N.Y.C., did not specify how the funds would be spent, saying only that the group would promote Mr. Donovan as having the experience to tackle Covid, racial equity, and affordable housing and move New York City forward.

Perhaps inevitably in the small world of political professionals, both super PACs are staffed and funded by people whose circles overlap with the campaigns.

Ms. Wise worked on Mayor Bill de Blasios 2013 campaign with Bill Hyers, who served as Mr. de Blasios campaign manager and is now advising Mr. Donovans campaign.
NORTH CHICAGO, Ill., March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- AbbVie, a global research and development-based biopharmaceutical company, today announced that the AbbVie CF Scholarship program is now accepting applications for the 2021-2022 academic school year. Eligible undergraduate and graduate students are invited to apply for the scholarship until April 30, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. U.S. eastern time by visiting www.AbbVieCFScholarship.com. Students can apply online or by downloading an application on the official scholarship website.

"It is truly an honor to be a recipient of the AbbVie CF Scholarship," said Sophia Klaudt, 2020 Scholar. "I'm excited to continue to pursue my studies and know that this award will help me towards my dream of becoming a doctor. I am so grateful for everything that AbbVie has done and continues to do for the CF community."

Now in its 29th year, the AbbVie CF Scholarship has awarded more than $3.4 million in scholarships to remarkable students living with CF who demonstrate academic excellence, creativity and community involvement. As in previous years of the program, this year's AbbVie CF Scholarship will award $3,000 scholarships to 40 exceptional students for use toward higher-education expenses. The top 40 students selected to receive the $3,000 scholarships for use during the 2021-2022 academic school year will also be given the opportunity to compete for an additional $22,000 through one of two AbbVie CF Scholarship award categories: Thriving Undergraduate Student and Thriving Graduate Student.

The 2021 Thriving Undergraduate and Thriving Graduate Scholarship recipients will be announced by AbbVie this fall. Both larger awards are granted based on a combination of exceptional academics, achievements, creative presentation and, by public votes cast over a two-week period in the fall.

"We are proud of our continued commitment to all of the remarkable students living with CF, who with great determination and resilience were able to lead meaningful, impactful lives and make valuable contributions in their schools and local communities even during these unprecedented times," said John Duffey, vice president, U.S. Specialty, AbbVie. "It's a privilege to recognize the amazing accomplishments of our AbbVie CF Scholarship recipients."

The AbbVie CF Scholarship is part of the company's ongoing commitment to the CF community, which is comprised of more than 30,000 people in the United States. Today, more than half of the CF population is age 18 or older.1 For more information about the scholarship, please visit www.AbbVieCFScholarship.com.

About Cystic Fibrosis

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is an inherited chronic disease that affects the lungs and digestive system of those living with this condition.1 In patients with CF, a thick, sticky mucus is produced in certain organs throughout the body, most commonly the lungs and digestive system. The mucus build-up in the lungs can cause difficulty breathing and may lead to life-threatening lung infections. In the digestive system, the thick mucus may prevent proper food digestion, potentially leading to malabsorption and malnutrition.

About the AbbVie CF Scholarship

The AbbVie CF Scholarship was established 29 years ago in recognition of the financial burdens many families touched by CF face and to acknowledge the achievements of students with CF. Since its inception, the scholarship program has awarded over $3.4 million in scholarships to over 1,000 students. The AbbVie CF Scholarship is part of AbbVie's ongoing commitment to the CF community, which is comprised of more than 30,000 people in the United States. As of 2016, more than half of the CF population are 18 years or older.1

It is not necessary for scholarship applicants to have taken, currently take, or intend to take in the future, any medicine or product marketed by AbbVie, and this is not a consideration in the selection criteria. More information about the AbbVie CF Scholarship criteria and application can be found at www.AbbVieCFScholarship.com.

About AbbVie

AbbVie's mission is to discover and deliver innovative medicines that solve serious health issues today and address the medical challenges of tomorrow. We strive to have a remarkable impact on people's lives across several key therapeutic areas: immunology, oncology, neuroscience, eye care, virology, women's health and gastroenterology, in addition to products and services across its Allergan Aesthetics portfolio. For more information about AbbVie, please visit us at www.abbvie.com. Follow @abbvie on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn.

References

Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. About Cystic Fibrosis. Diagnosis and Genetics. Available at: https://www.cff.org/What-is-CF/About-Cystic-Fibrosis/. Accessed March 2021.

SOURCE AbbVie

Related Links

abbvie.com


Dozens of people incarcerated at the Orleans Justice Center received COVID-19 vaccines last week as Louisianas local lockups begin their vaccination campaigns.

The Orleans Parish Sheriffs Office said 33 people in its custody, who were 65 years of age and older with health conditions that make them more vulnerable to COVID-19, were vaccinated on Friday.

The jail received another 100 doses of the single-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine on Tuesday and expects delivery of another 200 doses of the Moderna vaccine next week. The agency intends to target the first available doses toward incarcerated people 55 years and older.

In a statement, Orleans Parish Sheriff Marlin Gusman said hes mounting an aggressive effort to make sure that all of the jails incarcerated people are offered vaccines. Meanwhile, the Sheriff's Office is requiring all of its employees and contractors to receive a vaccine or to apply for an exemption. Staffers who opt out and don't receive an exemption will be placed on unpaid leave, according to agency policy.

+4 Most Louisiana adults can get a coronavirus vaccine, but who can't? Some essential workers When Louisiana expanded vaccine eligibility earlier this week to anyone over 16 with a long list of medical conditions, the state shifted over

As of Monday, seven inmates and two Sheriffs Office employees or contractors were positive for coronavirus. There were 912 people in Orleans Parish Sheriffs Office custody on Tuesday, according to New Orleans City Council data.

The availability of vaccines will likely come as a relief to inmates whove spent the past year enduring coronavirus outbreaks that infected hundreds of people and shut off visits from lawyers and loved ones.

At one point in May, the New Orleans jail had 94 incarcerated people who were testing positive for the coronavirus, showing how rapidly the virus can spread in spaces where people live in close quarters.

As Louisiana began receiving coronavirus vaccines, some of the first doses went to correctional officers. Advocates said the inmates in their custody were at just as high if not higher a risk from the respiratory illness.

The state Department of Public Safety & Corrections began vaccinating inmates as they were otherwise eligible under state guidelines, with the first doses going to older inmates. Those inmates have opted to receive the vaccine at high rates, the state prison system said last month.

Increasing vaccine supply coupled with Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards decision last week to expand vaccine eligibility may have made it more feasible -- and politically palatable -- for officials to vaccinate local inmates, who skew younger than state prisoners. An estimated 80 to 90% of adults in Louisiana are now eligible for a shot in the arm.

Vaccine news in your inbox Once a week we'll update you on the progress of COVID-19 vaccinations. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up

Elizabeth Cumming, an attorney with the MacArthur Justice Center who represents people incarcerated in the New Orleans jail under the auspices of a court-ordered reform agreement, praised the Sheriff's Office vaccination push thus far.

"After a year of deep concern about the risks COVID-19 poses to people confined in the jail, we are relieved that our class members have started to be vaccinated, and that efforts to secure more doses for everyone in the jail are underway," Cumming said in a statement. "We look forward to hearing more from OPSO about future vaccine distribution to all those eligible to receive it."

Besides the Orleans Parish Sheriffs Office, other jailers in the New Orleans area have also begun to vaccinate people in their custody or lay plans to do so.

The Jefferson Parish Correctional Center will begin offering vaccines to a broad group of inmates within the next week or two, according to Jean Llovet, health services director for the jails contracted health provider, CorrectHealth. Some older inmates have already been vaccinated, she said.

The private company also provides health care to inmates in Plaquemines, St. Bernard, Lafourche, Iberia, Jefferson Davis, Acadia, East Baton Rouge, St. James, St. Tammany and Tangipahoa parishes. Llovet said her company is in the process of coordinating with the state and surveying inmate demand.

St. Charles Parish Sheriff Greg Champagne said he is waiting to receive vaccines from the state to administer to willing inmates who are eligible under state guidelines. He said about 70% of his correctional staffers have been vaccinated. More than 200 inmates have tested positive during the pandemic but none are known to have COVID-19 at present, Champagne said.

St. Tammany Parish Sheriff Randy Smiths office said that he has offered vaccines to all employees. The process of vaccinating inmates is underway, agency spokesman Capt. Lee said, although he did not offer statistics. The Sheriff's Office has had a cumulative 141 inmates test positive for coronavirus during the pandemic.

St. Bernard Parish Sheriff James Pohlmanns office said that about 27% of his inmate population has thus far expressed interest in receiving a COVID-19 vaccine. The jail has not yet begun administering the vaccines, according to his office. One inmate has tested positive for coronavirus at present.
The greener the neighborhood, the lower the stroke risk, a new study suggests.

Researchers matched images gathered from space to health data from residents to come up with their findings. The work adds to evidence that shows where someone lives affects their health, said study co-author Dr. William Aitken. He is a cardiology fellow at the University of Miami and Jackson Memorial Hospital in Florida.

"There's a lot of evidence that our natural environment does influence health, and we wanted to look at it particularly with stroke," Aitken said.

The study used records from more than 249,000 Medicare beneficiaries ages 65 and older who lived in Miami-Dade County in 2010 and 2011. The records were matched against satellite measures of their neighborhood's greenness"whether that be trees or shrubs or grasses or whatnot," Aitken said.

Researchers adjusted for factors such as gender, income and race and ethnicity. They also took into account whether residents had health factorssuch as diabetes, high blood pressure or high cholesterolthat would affect their risk of having a stroke.

When compared to people residing in the least-green areas, those living in the most-green had a 20% overall lower risk of a stroke or transient ischemic attack, also known as a TIA or "mini-stroke."

Specifically, the greenest neighborhoods correlated with 26% lower odds of TIA and 16% lower odds of ischemic stroke, the most common type of stroke. The odds of hemorrhagic stroke weren't reduced by a statistically notable amount.

But overall, the apparent effect of greenery was noteworthy, Aitken said. He estimated the increased stroke risk of living in the least-green neighborhoods as compared with the most-green may be comparable to what someone would get from developing diabetes.

The study was presented Wednesday at the American Stroke Association's virtual International Stroke Conference. It's considered preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal.

Previous research using the same Medicare data linked green spaces to reduced risk for heart disease and heart attacks.

Aitken said he and his colleagues couldn't account for how much time people spent outside or how they interacted with the environment. But he said there are several possibilities.

Dr. Elizabeth Jackson agreed.

"It makes sense to most people that if you've got walking paths and green spaces, people will tend to take advantage of them," said Jackson, the Bourge Endowed Professor in Cardiovascular Disease at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Jackson, who was not involved in the study, noted that in the urban park near her, "It's not hard to see lots of different people walking and running," or doing outside yoga or aerobics classes.

People who don't have access to such spaces or who face safety or other barriers to getting outside would have fewer opportunities to be physically active, which she called "super important" to their health.

Jackson, who helped write an American Heart Association statement on housing and cardiovascular risk in 2020, said green spaces might also provide a buffer against problems such as stress and air pollution.

Aitken said the study could help leaders and policymakers think about the potential of fighting stroke in large swaths of people at once, instead of just individuals.

It can be tough to convince large numbers of people to get regular exercise, quit smoking and watch their blood sugar and cholesterol, he said. But nudging cities to incorporate more green spaces and providing encouragement for people to spend "a little more time in the environment, maybe that would affect everybody living in that area."

Jackson praised the researchers for being part of a trend of not just looking at people in isolation but "thinking about the whole personwhere they live, where they work, where they play."

Explore further More green spaces can help boost air quality, reduce heart disease deaths

Copyright  2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved.


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"Natural language processing has never been more advanced, making exceptional search experiences possible  yet most businesses still use keyword search technology that hasn't changed much since the late '90s," said Marc Ferrentino, Chief Strategy Officer of Yext. "With our new Spring Release features, we're making our search platform better, faster, and ultimately cheaper for those looking to transform their businesses with modern, answers-led search."

The Yext Spring '21 Release includes the following features, which are available for early access:

Document Search powered by Extractive Question Answering (QA): Unlike traditional keyword search, Yext's platform leverages multiple advanced NLP algorithms to deliver a modern, exceptional search experience drawing from structured and semi-structured data. Its latest addition, extractive QA, adds a powerful dimension to the platform by answering complex questions against unstructured, long-form documents. When someone asks a specific question, whether it's the difference between a 401(k) and a Roth IRA on a bank's website or how to assemble a product on a retailer's site, extractive QA looks at the unstructured data from a business's webpages, blog posts, help articles, and product manuals in their unique knowledge graph (a brain-like database of facts) to find the most relevant word, sentence, or paragraph, and then delivers a direct answer in the form of a rich snippet at the top of the results page.

Data Connectors, Including Website Crawler: It can be a challenge for brands to centralize the data they need to populate their knowledge graphs  whether it's support articles, product information, professional records, or another source  to answer their customers' complex questions. Yext's new data connectors streamline this process by offering a low-code, point-and-click way to add data sources and transform them into structured facts. This includes a website crawler that can scan a business's website and extract data to be loaded into their knowledge graph.

Developer Tools: Developers now have everything they need to interact with the Yext platform and build custom solutions on their own. Users can manage their account configuration without logging into the Yext platform using the new Yext Command Line Interface (CLI), and build a completely custom Answers front end with two new Answers SDKs and a direct Answers API.

Authenticated Use Cases: To meet strong demand for search experiences that live behind a firewall, Yext has introduced new security measures that allow businesses to deploy Answers for authenticated, employee-facing use cases, from company intranet search for employees to support search for agents. Yext's new security page will outline all of the details of the company's related best practices, certifications, and protocols.

Yext's Founder and CEO Howard Lerman and Chief Strategy Officer Marc Ferrentino will be joining members of the company's product and engineering teams in a Clubhouse talk titled "Tech Happy Hour: Join Yext at the [Search] Bar" to discuss the announcement at 9 p.m. (ET) today. Reporters are welcome to join the room as listeners or raise their hand to ask questions.

Visit the Spring '21 Release Notes here for more information and join the Clubhouse talk here at 9 p.m. (ET).

About Yext

The ultimate source for official answers about a business online should be the business itself. However, when consumers ask questions on company websites, too often they are left in the dark with wrong answers. Yext (NYSE: YEXT), the Search Experience Cloud, solves this problem by organizing a business's facts so it can provide official answers to consumer questions  wherever people search. Starting with the company website, then extending across search engines and voice assistants, businesses around the world, like T-Mobile, Jaguar Land Rover, BBVA USA, and Kiehl's  as well as organizations like the U.S. State Department and World Health Organization  trust Yext to radically improve the search experience on their websites and across the entire search ecosystem.

Yext's mission is to help businesses and organizations around the world deliver official answers everywhere people search. Yext has been named a Best Place to Work by Fortune and Great Place to Work, as well as a Best Workplace for Women. Yext is headquartered in New York City with offices in Amsterdam, Berlin, Chicago, Dallas, Geneva, London, Miami, Milan, Paris, San Francisco, Shanghai, Tokyo, and the Washington, D.C. area.

CONTACT: Amanda Kontor, [email protected]

SOURCE Yext, Inc.

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California officials appeal for Asian attorney general View Photo

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP)  Elected officials from Californias Asian and Pacific Islander communities urged Gov. Gavin Newsom on Wednesday to appoint an attorney general of Asian descent, saying its critical to have a top law enforcement official who understands and will combat anti-Asian violence.

Newsom, a Democrat, will appoint Californias next attorney general if Xavier Becerra is confirmed as expected this week as the U.S. Health and Human Services secretary.

The news conference came the day after a man was accused of killing eight people, most of them women of Asian descent, at three massage businesses in the Atlanta area. The county sheriff said it was too early to know if the attack was racially motivated.

There has been a wave of assaults targeting Asian Americans during the coronavirus pandemic, including in California, which is home to the nations largest Asian population, at more than 6 million people.

Assemblyman Rob Bonta of Oakland is considered one of the top contenders and would be the states first Filipino attorney general if approved.

He understands as the son of immigrant parents what its like to come to this country when English is not your first language, for example, when there is mistrust of law enforcement, state Treasurer Fiona Ma said.

Democratic Assemblyman David Chiu of San Francisco said Californias next attorney general will need to be a leader for API Americans everywhere.

We have to continue to build bridges of trust between our API communities and law enforcement, he said.

An API attorney general could help bridge strained relations between immigrant groups and law enforcement. API elected officials have proposed a 24-hour hate crime hotline and the creation of a racial bias task force of immigrant advocates, mental health workers and educators to better address violence against Asians, Chiu said. Newsom recently signed legislation sending $1.4 million in funding to the Stop AAPI Hate reporting center.

Sacramento City Council member Mai Vang said the states next attorney general must understand the trauma and hurt our Asian American and Pacific Islander communities are feeling.

Several Latino elected officials joined the call in a show of solidarity, with speakers noting Newsom recently boosted the representation of Latinos by naming former Secretary of State Alex Padilla, the son of Mexican immigrants, to the U.S. Senate. He then appointed former Assemblywoman Shirley Weber as the states top elections official, making her the first Black woman to the hold the job.

Today I am proud to stand with my API brothers and sisters and calling on Governor Newsom to be courageous once again, to do what is just, Monterey County Supervisor Luis Alejo said.

Others who are considered top contenders for the job include Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg and U.S. Rep. Adam Schiff. Other API officials, including state Supreme Court Justice Goodwin Liu, Assemblyman Ash Kalra and U.S. Rep. Ted Lieu have also expressed interest or received support.

The governor will make his appointment after Becerra is confirmed, Newsoms spokesman Jesse Melgar said.

He is considering a range of qualified candidates, Melgar said in an email.

By KATHLEEN RONAYNE

Associated Press
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Queen Letizia of Spain nailed workwear chic, p in a recycled blazer as she announced the winner of an award bestowed by a charity named after her daughter Princess Leonor in Madrid today.

The Spanish monarch, 48, re-wore the 186 double-breasted houndstooth blazer from affordable brand Uterque to announce the winner of the Princess of Girona Foundation 2021 award - a charity set up in 2009 that aims to support young people in their professional and personal development.

Typically stylish, Letizia paired the chic jacket with a pair of smart black culottes and matching black stiletto heels.

She first wore the double breasted blazer, which is sold-out online, in November 2019 as she joined King Felipe to board their flight to Havana for a four day trip to Cuba, and for a second time as she attended a meeting for FEDER, the Spanish Federation for Rare Diseases in January 2020.

Letizia of Spain, 48, put on a stylish display in a recycled houndstooth blazer during an award ceremony in Madrid today (pictured)

The mother-of-two looked stylish as she arrived at the Princess of Gironda Foundation 2021 Award ceremony in Madrid

The Spanish Queen, who wore a mask in keeping with coronavirus regulations in Spain, opted to wear her glossy hair loose for the engagement and ensured all focus was on her eyes with a splash of eye-shadow and mascara.

Letizia kept her jewellery minimal with a just pair of simple stud earrings and a delicate ring.

During the event she heard about stories of some of the young people who were working with the foundation.

Created in 2009, the Princess of Girona Foundation is a private civil society entity looking to promote development among youngsters.

Known for her love of minimalist looks, Queen Letizia opted for neutral make-up, with just a dash of mascara and eye-shadow (left) and a discreet pair of stud earrings, right

The mother-of-two's husband King Felipe VI is the honourary chairman of the foundation on behalf of their daughter Infant Leonor, 15, who counts Princess of Gironda among her titles and will become chairwoman after him.

Some of its work focuses on identifying talented young people who have the potential to become role models through the foundation awards.

The awards recognise the exemplary work of people aged 16 to 35 around the world.

In total, five categories are represented: Scientific research, Arts and Literature, Business, Social and International Award.

The loose cut of Letizia's culottes added some relaxed flair to her outfit, while her statement jacket stole the show

Letizia listened with interest during a conversation with the Foundation's staff and young people in attendance

Its Talent rescuers programme also works on helping young talents improve their employability and to fostering educational innovation and teacher training.

This is the second time in a row that Letizia has opted for a monochrome this week.

On Tuesday she looked chic as ever in an asymmetrical plaid skirt during a Madrid outing with her Felipe VI.

The royal mother-of-two paired the skirt with a black blouse with a v-neck and black belt as she arrived at Spanish Royal Tapestry Factory as it celebrated its 300th anniversary.

She previously wore the skirt from Massimo Dutti in October last year, when opening the Vocational Training courses for the 2020/2021 academic year.

All attendees were wearing masks in keeping with Spanish coronavirus regulations - including the monarch (pictured)

The Foundation aims to reward the efforts of outstanding young people with its awards. Letizia chatted with the young people in attendance today (pictured)
Global fashion brand Gucci has revealed a new shirt boldly proclaiming "Houston vs Everybody," as first reported by Steven Devadanam at CultureMap Houston.

What may seem like a conscious effort to do some good, there are a few reasons Houstonians should steer clear of the brand.

POLITICS AND FASHION COLLIDE: What's 'disaster casual'? Gov. Abbott's winter storm fashion can't compare to my 'fits

For starters, the simple black T-shirts retail at $390.00. The original designer, Tommey Walker, and his homegrown label, "DETROIT VS. EVERYBODY" was created in response to the city not receiving the cultural recognition it deserved. Gucci partnered with Walker as an initiative to "celebrate each of the 11 Changemaker communities," according to their website.

On Walker's website, the original "DETROIT VS. EVERYBODY" shirts go for $25.00. A hiked-up price for an added Gucci logo? I think not.

A black tee-shirt with a Gucci label, which totals out to be over $400.00 after taxes. That's a "hell no" in and of itself.

Via Gucci website

Via Gucci website

To make matters worse, there are local Houston brands doing good in the community that don't receive as much recognition as they should. In fact, the Houston brand Rep The City made their own play on the "VS EVERYBODY" movement, with their "HOUSTON VS. ALL Y'ALL" tees and hoodies that sold for a much more reasonable price for years.

According to a press release, the shirts are apart of Gucci's "Changemaker" program, which launched in 2019 to provide donations to nonprofits in the 11 cities that support social change and help to build strong connections and opportunities within communities of color.

The mega-brand supposedly will give proceeds from the shirt sales to Houston charity Magpies and Peacocks, who are dedicated to sustainability in fashion.

The cause is good but quite tone-deaf on Gucci's part. While sustainability in the fashion industry is an issue that should be addressed, asking people for almost $400 in an ongoing pandemic is inappropriate.

While it may sound good, the campaign reads to me "If you buy this expensive shirt, you're supporting Houston." This shouldn't feel like representation, because it's not. It's just very bad marketing.
He came with a complete blueprint for what the Romanians, and therefore the Russians, were trying to do to us, said Michael A. Ledeen, a scholar at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, a conservative think tank, and a former consultant to the National Security Council.

Ion Mihai Pacepa was born in Bucharest on Oct. 28, 1928. His father worked for the countrys General Motors subsidiary.

He is survived by his daughter, Dana, from a first marriage in Romania, and a second wife, Mary Lou, whom he married in the United States. His daughter, who arrived in the United States in 1990, lives under an assumed name, as does his wife. Even after the Romanian government officially rescinded the death sentence, Mr. Pacepa and his family maintained their assumed identities to avoid upending their new lives.

Mr. Pacepa studied chemistry at the Polytechnic University of Bucharest, and later joined the Securitate, Romanias intelligence service. At the time of his defection he was the acting head of Romanias foreign intelligence service and an adviser on industrial policy to Mr. Ceaucescu.

Once in the United States, he became a favorite of anti-Communists; Ronald Reagan reportedly called Red Horizons his Bible for dealing with dictators.

But while many in the U.S. intelligence community welcomed his insights into Soviet strategy, others came to feel he relied too much on the disinformation strategy as an all-encompassing explanation for the worlds ills. He claimed, for example, that the Soviets had created the left-leaning doctrine of Liberation Theology, planted stories about American war crimes in Vietnam and fomented Islamic terrorism by seeding anti-Semitism around the Middle East.

He was not afraid to wade into the world of conspiracy theories, either. He insisted that the KGB had ordered Lee Harvey Oswald to kill John F. Kennedy; the agency later changed its mind, he said, but Mr. Oswald decided to go ahead. Much of his argument, which he presented in two books, relied on thin evidence and did little to undermine the consensus that Mr. Oswald had acted alone.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-17 03:40:17|Editor: huaxia

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TEHRAN, March 16 (Xinhua) -- At least three people were killed and 480 others injured during the celebrations of Chaharshanbe Suri, or Fire Festival, in Iran on Tuesday, Iranian Student News Agency reported, citing the head of the country's Emergency Organization.

A total of 47 people were amputated for severe injuries and 135 others injured in their eyes, said Pir Hossein Kolivand.

The number of injured people has increased by seven percent compared with last year, he added.

The celebrations were held despite the fact that the authorities had demanded public gatherings be avoided over the spread of COVID-19.

Fire Festival is celebrated by Iranians on the eve of the last Wednesday before Nowruz, the Iranian new year, which begins on March 21 this year.

Iranians celebrate the Fire Festival by jumping over bonfires and using firecrackers in public places. For Iranians, the rites are performed to bid farewell to the old year and welcome the new year. Enditem
Working with instrument manufacturers such as PTI to share our knowledge and experience in an objective and educational format is core to the mission of CS Analytical

CS Analytical Laboratory, the worlds only cGMP, FDA-registered and inspected contract laboratory exclusively designed and dedicated to container testing for the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device industries, is pleased to announce that Chief Scientific Officer, Brandon Zurawlow, will be presenting two educational webinars on Helium Leak Detection. Hosted by Package Technologies & Inspection (PTI), the series is part of a broader educational webinar initiative PTI has developed to provide insight and training on key aspects of USP 1207 Container Closure Integrity Testing. Key program takeaways include a history of the leak test technology, principles of operation, and method overviews and case examples of applications as part of a comprehensive USP 1207 lifecycle approach to CCI assurance. The two-part series will take place on Thursday April 8, 2021 and Thursday May 13, 2021 at 10:00 am (EDT).

While USP 1207 has provided industry with an unprecedented volume of information regarding the various CCI technologies, many readers come away thinking: Now, how do I put this into practice? states Zurawlow. Working with instrument manufacturers such as PTI to share our knowledge and experience in an objective and educational format is core to the mission of CS Analytical.

Having worked with Brandon on other PTI sponsored educational programs, we know he brings a wealth of knowledge and hands-on experience to these programs and participants can be sure to walk away with a much better understanding for the use of helium leak detection as part of their overall USP 1207 strategy, commented Michelle Wolf, Marketing Manager for PTI.

Intended for individuals of all CCI experience levels, this first of two helium-related webinars provides participants with historical context on the use of helium leak detection, an understanding of its key operating principles, and how the technology is most commonly applied to assess pharmaceutical packaging. As with all CCI methods, helium leak detection has advantages and disadvantages that largely dictate the applicability of the technology in a specific use-case. Key considerations for applications of helium shall be discussed, including a brief comparison to other deterministic CCI methodologies listed in USP 1207. The second webinar, building off of the basic operating principles and test techniques employed for pharmaceutical packaging discussed in Webinar 1, will discuss helium leak detection in the context of the USP 1207 Lifecycle approach to CCI and its applicability in package development and validation, including assessment to the MALL. Participants shall gain insight into real-world applications through review of use-cases such as vial capping optimization, plunger movement studies, and cold-storage assessments.

To Register for these webinars, please visit:



About CS Analytical Laboratory

The worlds only cGMP, FDA-registered contract laboratory exclusively designed and dedicated to container testing for the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device industries, the CS Analytical Team includes world-leading experts and thought-leaders on FDA and EU regulatory expectations and USP and EP primary package testing requirements inclusive of container closure integrity (CCI) testing (CCIT). Test services include CCI method development, validation, and analysis, USP/EP/JP physical and physicochemical testing, and Comprehensive and Complementary services for all common or unique primary packaging components and systems inclusive of glass, plastic, elastomeric, and more. CS Analytical is the single source to ensure a regulated industry product-package system meets strict, complex, and ever-changing regulatory requirements.

About Package Technologies & Inspection (PTI)

PTI is headquartered in Hawthorne, New York, a Westchester county community close to New York City. We serve the packaging industry as a leading equipment manufacturer and global supplier of package inspection equipment for the pharmaceutical, medical device and food industries. PTIs focus for 35+ years has been on developing non-destructive sensory inspection technologies that perform with a high degree of precision and reliability for package testing. PTIs technologies have been used to establish global science-based test standards, such as ASTM test methods and ISO standards, for these highly regulated industries. We offer extensive experience and expertise in the field of container closure integrity (CCI) testing and are a complete global CCI solutions provider.


A shopper walks pass advertising billboards at Canary Wharf DLR station in central London. Photo: James Akena/Reuters

The government is being called on to toughen anti-modern slavery requirements for businesses and develop new measures compelling companies to ensure forced labour plays no part in their supply chains.

This follows "compelling evidence" of Chinese slave labour links to major brands.

The calls come in a Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) Committee report published on Wednesday, amid mounting evidence of forced labour and wider human rights abuses affecting Uyghur and other ethnic minorities in Xinjiang.

The Uyghur forced labour in Xinjiang and UK value chains report notes compelling evidence that many major companies in the fashion, retail, media and technology sectors with large footprints in the UK are complicit in the forced labour of Uyghurs in Xinjiang.

Given that evidence of serious human rights abuses in Xinjiang has been widely reported over many years, the committee says it is appalled that companies still cannot guarantee that their supply chains are free from forced labour.

READ MORE: Factory workers 'robbed of tens of millions' UK retail group tells Priti Patel

The report recommends the government accelerates proposals to amend and strengthen the Modern Slavery Act 2015, to enhance the transparency and accessibility of modern slavery statements and develop options for civil penalties in the event of non-compliance.

It also calls on the Department for BEIS to develop a policy framework for creating a whitelist and blacklist of companies which do and do not meet their obligations to uphold human rights throughout their supply chains.

For this inquiry, the BEIS Committee heard from a variety of witnesses including Boohoo (BOO.L), H&M (HM-B.ST), TikTok, The North Face, and Nike (NKE).

Nusrat Ghani, Conservative MP for Wealden and lead BEIS Committee member for the Forced labour in UK value chains inquiry, said: It is deeply concerning that companies selling to millions of British customers cannot guarantee that their supply chains are free from forced labour.

Story continues

"Modern slavery legislation and BEIS Department policy are not fit for purpose in tackling this grave situation."

Amid mounting evidence of abuses, it is deeply disappointing that the government appears to lack the urgency and commitment to take the tough action which is both necessary and overdue.

"Amid compelling evidence of abuses, there has been a sorry absence of significant new government measures to prohibit UK businesses from profiting from the forced labour of Uyghurs in Xinjiang and other parts of China.

The report includes a series of recommendations to strengthen the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and strengthen the UK sanctions regime. The report also calls on the BEIS Department to commit to full transparency in terms of official development assistance channelled to China.

WATCH: The scale of modern slavery in Britain and around the world
Media outlets worldwide have been reporting the shocking case of a young Turkish woman who had allegedly been allegedly conning her poor mother into sending her money by claiming that she was studying medicine at the prestigious Oxford University, in the UK. In reality, she was living it up while working as a real estate agent in Istanbul.

25-year-old Merve Bozkurt has attracted a lot of criticism for her actions, after it was revealed that she had been lying to her penniless mother for years, as a way of getting extra money from her. The woman went to great lengths to make her parent believe that she had been admitted at the prestigious English university, where she was studying to become a doctor. She even sent her mother photos of herself wearing a white robe and face mask, to create the illusion that she was doing hands-on medical training. All the while, the poor mother was selling flowers in front of a cemetery in the city of Antakya, to support her daughter.

Photo: Marlon Rondal/Pixabay

Merves deception may have gone unnoticed by her parents for far longer than it did, were it not for her mothers dedication attracting the attention of local media. The efforts of Gulseren Bozkurt to keep her daughter at Oxford by selling flowers in front of a cemetery were considered news-worthy by a Turkish publication who interviewed both the woman and Merve about it.

Believe it or not, Merve Bozkurt had the audacity to actually pose with her mother and go on record that she would do everything in her power to honor Gulseren and make sure her efforts were rewarded. She even boasted that she was on her way to becoming a neurosurgeon.

My mother plants flowers on her own, picks them, and sells them here, and sometimes she goes to the mountain to pick flowers, Merve said. My brother is also a university graduate. He is currently working as a non-commissioned officer in Hakkari. My mother is very fond of us. We are everything to her, and she is for us.

Speaking to a local television station, Gulseren Bozkurt said that her husband works when and where he can, so she is the main bread-earner in the family. Her drive to wake up every morning and go to work was the ability to keep her children in school and make sure they got a good education.

With the money I earn selling flowers, I cover my childrens education costs, the mother-of-two said. If a person is in good health, working is the best thing they can do. Its nice to spend the money I earn on my children. I want every woman to work and stand on her own two feet.

The one thing that Merve wasnt counting on was her mothers story going viral, but Gulserens dedication and her ability to keep her daughter in university  Oxford, no less  touched the hearts of many, and the news coverage quickly went viral. People were tweeting and sharing links to the article, expressing their admiration.

But as it often happens when a spotlight is cast on certain situations, the ugly truth was brought front and center. People who knew Merve Bozkurt started commenting that she was actually in Istanbul, not in the UK, and when reporters started checking her status at Oxford, they were shocked to find that there was no one by that name enrolled there.

Further investigations revealed that the 25-year-old year five Oxford student had actually been living in Istanbul for years, working as a real-estate agent. As her big lies started coming apart, Merve had no choice but to admit that she had lied to her mother and herself for years.



I feel very bad because I upset my mother, I made up a story. I made everybody believe this story, including myself, Merve wrote in a heartfelt public apology. I was actually working in a real estate office in Istanbul all this time.

As you can imagine, the apology did little to appease the people, many of whom simply couldnt understand how someone could con their own mother, knowing she could barely make ends meet. After doing the rounds in Turkey, the story was picked up by British tabloid The Sun, and subsequently other western news outlets.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is advising people not to drink the Real Water brand of alkaline water or use it to cook after five children in Nevada were diagnosed with non-viral hepatitis and all had consumed the water.

The FDA, CDC and the Southern Nevada Health District is investigating a number of reports of acute non-viral hepatitis in the state of Nevada.

The FDA said it was alerted on March 13 to five cases that resulted in acute liver failure in infants and children that happened in November 2020.

All the children have since recovered.

All patients were reported to have consumed Real Water brand alkaline water. These patients came from four different households.

Five additional people, two adults and three children, from two of the four households were reported to have experienced other symptoms as well. Less severe symptoms included fever, vomiting, nausea, loss of appetite, and fatigue.

The consumption of Real Water brand alkaline water is the only common link identified among all of these cases to date. This brand of alkaline water is owned by Real Water Inc., headquartered in Mesa, Arizona, the FDA said.

The FDA said that the investigation is continuing but epidemiologic information currently indicates that this alkaline water product may be the cause of the illnesses.

The FDA recommends that consumers and restaurants not drink, cook with, sell or serve the Real Water brand.

Symptoms of all types of hepatitis, according to the FDA, including non-viral hepatitis, are similar and can include fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, dark urine, clay or gray-colored bowel movements, joint pain, yellow eyes, and jaundice.

READ MORE

Heal the World hand sanitizer recalled because package resembles a water bottle.
SAN FRANCISCO, March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Teens and young adults have spent the last year isolated from friends, dealing with the coronavirus, and reckoning with the country's racial and political divisions. Now a major national study released today, Coping with COVID-19: How Young People Use Digital Media to Manage Their Mental Health, shows that while depression rates increased significantly from 2018, especially for teens and young adults who have had coronavirus infections in their families, so, too, has the importance of social media.

The report, released by Common Sense, the California Health Care Foundation, and Hopelab, found that 43% of those surveyed say that using social media makes them feel better when they're depressed, stressed, or anxious, compared to 27% who said so two years ago.

The report presents findings from a nationally representative survey of more than 1,500 14- to 22-year-olds in the U.S., and reveals these additional key findings:

An increase in depression : Nearly four in 10 teens and young adults (38%) report symptoms of moderate to severe depression, up from 25% just two years ago.

: Nearly four in 10 teens and young adults (38%) report symptoms of moderate to severe depression, up from 25% just two years ago. Coronavirus impacts : Depression is much higher among young people who report a coronavirus infection in their family (51%) than among those not directly affected by the coronavirus (36%).

: Depression is much higher among young people who report a coronavirus infection in their family (51%) than among those not directly affected by the coronavirus (36%). Social media: Those with depression are twice as likely to say social media is "very" important for getting support or advice than they were two years ago (26% vs. 11% in 2018).

"We have an entire generation of teens and young adults who are significantly affected by COVID-19," said James P. Steyer, founder and CEO of Common Sense. "The research is clear that our youth are suffering, and any road map for COVID recovery has to center on their mental well-being. But this report also shows that young people are using technology to take control of their mental health, and it would be wise for tech companies to do more to support them where they are."

The report takes a deeper dive to illustrate the unique and nuanced roles social media and technology play in the well-being of teens and young adults during the pandemic, including connecting with family and friends, seeking health information online, and accessing mental health tools:

Social connection : The vast majority of youth say social media has been "very" or "somewhat" important during the pandemic in staying connected to friends and family (86%), staying informed about current events (77%), and learning how to protect themselves from the virus (70%).

: The vast majority of youth say social media has been "very" or "somewhat" important during the pandemic in staying connected to friends and family (86%), staying informed about current events (77%), and learning how to protect themselves from the virus (70%). Information access : More than 8 in 10 youth (85%) have looked for health information online, with "depression," "stress," and "anxiety" among the top searches.

: More than 8 in 10 youth (85%) have looked for health information online, with "depression," "stress," and "anxiety" among the top searches. Mobile apps : Nearly 7 in 10 (69%) have used mobile apps related to health, including apps for sleep, meditation, and stress reduction.

: Nearly 7 in 10 (69%) have used mobile apps related to health, including apps for sleep, meditation, and stress reduction. Digital health tools: Nearly half (47%) have used digital tools to connect with health providers, such as doctors, nurses, or therapists, through video appointments, texting, online messaging systems, or other apps, and the vast majority found it helpful.

"Understanding how young people respond to challenges, such as isolation, loneliness, depression, anxiety, and other mental health concerns, will allow us to address these issues more effectively," says Margaret Laws, president and CEO of Hopelab. "These findings suggest the need for even greater investment in the digital mental health space and equitable access to these important tools."

"We all have a shared responsibility to create the societal conditions to help young people thrive," says Sandra R. Hernandez, M.D., president and chief executive officer, California Health Care Foundation. "Teens and young adults faced substantial mental health challenges before the pandemic took hold of their lives. Their schooling and social connections have been radically disrupted, and they are relying even more heavily on digital media. We are just beginning to understand the consequences of these trends."

Other key findings from the report include:

Social media has played an especially important role for those directly affected by COVID-19. Young people who say that they or a family member have been infected by the virus are more likely than their peers to consider social media "very" important in keeping up with current events (47% vs. 32%) and learning how to protect themselves from the virus (43% vs. 29%).



Young people who say that they or a family member have been infected by the virus are more likely than their peers to consider social media "very" important in keeping up with current events (47% vs. 32%) and learning how to protect themselves from the virus (43% vs. 29%). LGBTQ+ teens and young adults face serious health concerns compared to non-LGBTQ+ youth. The majority of LGBTQ+ youth (74%) encounter homophobic content online and on social media, and 65% report symptoms of moderate to severe depression, twice the percentage of non-LGBTQ+ youth (31%). Meanwhile, social media is even more important to LGBTQ+ youth than for others their age for finding inspiration, support, and advice, and for expressing themselves creatively. Almost all (98%) LGBTQ+ youth have looked to digital tools for health purposes, and more than half have used telehealth services.



The majority of LGBTQ+ youth (74%) encounter homophobic content online and on social media, and 65% report symptoms of moderate to severe depression, twice the percentage of non-LGBTQ+ youth (31%). Meanwhile, social media is even more important to LGBTQ+ youth than for others their age for finding inspiration, support, and advice, and for expressing themselves creatively. Almost all (98%) LGBTQ+ youth have looked to digital tools for health purposes, and more than half have used telehealth services. Black youth are disproportionately affected by COVID-19, and most encounter racist content online. One in five Black youth (20%) had a coronavirus infection themselves or in the family (twice as high as White youth), the majority of Black youth (69%) have encountered racist content online or on social media, and 37% report symptoms of moderate to severe depression. Ninety percent of Black youth have used digital tools for health purposes, while four in 10 Black youth have used telehealth services to connect with providers online.



One in five Black youth (20%) had a coronavirus infection themselves or in the family (twice as high as White youth), the majority of Black youth (69%) have encountered racist content online or on social media, and 37% report symptoms of moderate to severe depression. Ninety percent of Black youth have used digital tools for health purposes, while four in 10 Black youth have used telehealth services to connect with providers online. Hispanic and Latinx youth have more family responsibilities during COVID-19. Nineteen percent of Hispanic/Latinx youth had a coronavirus infection themselves or in the family (also twice as high as White youth), and almost a quarter of Hispanic/Latinx youth have taken on more family responsibilities since the start of the pandemic; sixty-seven percent also encounter racist content online, and 37% report symptoms of moderate to severe depression (an increase of 25% compared to Hispantic/Latinx youth in 2018). The majority of Hispanic/Latinx youth (93%) have used digital tools for health purposes, and almost half (43%) have used telehealth services to connect with providers online.



Nineteen percent of Hispanic/Latinx youth had a coronavirus infection themselves or in the family (also twice as high as White youth), and almost a quarter of Hispanic/Latinx youth have taken on more family responsibilities since the start of the pandemic; sixty-seven percent also encounter racist content online, and 37% report symptoms of moderate to severe depression (an increase of 25% compared to Hispantic/Latinx youth in 2018). The majority of Hispanic/Latinx youth (93%) have used digital tools for health purposes, and almost half (43%) have used telehealth services to connect with providers online. Female youth are more likely than males to use digital tools around mental health. For example, they are more likely to search for mental health information online (71% vs. 49%), with substantial differences on issues such as anxiety (21 percentage points), eating disorders (18 percentage points), and depression (17 percentage points). They are also more likely to use mobile apps on mental health topics such as meditation, mood tracking, and stress reduction (38% vs. 24%). More teen girls (age 1417) say they "often" encounter sexist content on social media in 2020 than those who did in 2018 (24% vs. 14%), but the percent who say social media makes them feel "less lonely" has also increased, from 25% in 2018 to 50% during the pandemic.



For example, they are more likely to search for mental health information online (71% vs. 49%), with substantial differences on issues such as anxiety (21 percentage points), eating disorders (18 percentage points), and depression (17 percentage points). They are also more likely to use mobile apps on mental health topics such as meditation, mood tracking, and stress reduction (38% vs. 24%). More teen girls (age 1417) say they "often" encounter sexist content on social media in 2020 than those who did in 2018 (24% vs. 14%), but the percent who say social media makes them feel "less lonely" has also increased, from 25% in 2018 to 50% during the pandemic. Young people at risk for problematic substance use are turning to the internet for help. One in ten U.S. young people are at risk for problematic drug or alcohol use. The vast majority of those at risk are accessing digital health tools, and they are doing so at an even higher rate than others their age: Forty-six percent have searched for information on drug and alcohol abuse, compared to just 15% of those not at risk; and nearly two-thirds (63%) have searched for information about smoking or vaping (compared to 19% of others.)

Methodology

The report presents data from a nationally representative survey of more than 1,500 14- to 22-year-olds in the U.S., conducted in SeptemberNovember 2020 by the National Opinion Research Center (NORC) at the University of Chicago, on behalf of Common Sense, the California Health Care Foundation, and Hopelab. The extensive use of open-ended questions allowed teens and young adults to share their experiences in their own words. The survey included a screener (CRAFFT) to identify youth at risk for problematic substance use and a screener (PHQ-8) to identify youth with symptoms of depression. The findings include comparisons with 2018 surveys of separate samples of 14- to 22-year-olds (Rideout & Fox, 2018) and 14- to 17-year-olds (Rideout & Robb, 2018). The report was written by Victoria Rideout of VJR Consulting , Susannah Fox of Internet Geologist LLC, and Alanna Peebles and Michael Robb of Common Sense.

A copy of the report and fact sheets can be downloaded here .

About Common Sense

Common Sense is the nation's leading nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of kids and families by providing the trustworthy information, education, and independent voice they need to thrive in the 21st century. Learn more at commonsense.org .

About Hopelab

Hopelab is a nonprofit social innovation lab based in San Francisco that creates behavior-change tech to help teens and young adults live happier, healthier lives. The organization works with young people to co-create interventions grounded in behavioral science and human-centered design, conducts rigorous testing, and distributes these solutions in collaboration with partners. Learn more at hopelab.org .

About the California Health Care Foundation

The California Health Care Foundation is dedicated to advancing meaningful, measurable improvements in the way the health care delivery system provides care to the people of California, particularly those with low incomes and those whose needs are not well served by the status quo. We work to ensure that people have access to the care they need, when they need it, at a price they can afford. CHCF informs policymakers and industry leaders, invests in ideas and innovations, and connects with changemakers to create a more responsive, patient-centered health care system. Learn more at chcf.org .

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Officer Brian Hunzeker on Tuesday resigned as president of the Portland Police Association over what the union called his serious, isolated mistake related to a hit-and-run callers report that erroneously identified Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty as the suspect.

When we make mistakes, we must hold ourselves to account. That is what the public expects of us. That is what we expect of ourselves. Over the last 24 hours, we learned that Portland Police Association (PPA) President Brian Hunzeker made a serious, isolated mistake related to the Police Bureaus investigation into the alleged hit-and-run by Commissioner Hardesty, a statement from the unions executive board said.

We apologize to Commissioner Hardesty for that mistake and will be reaching out to meet with her personally, the statement said.

Hunzeker, who joined the Police Bureau in July 2000 and took over as union president last fall, didnt immediately return messages seeking comment.

The union didnt identify the mistake, but the Police Bureau has assigned an internal affairs investigator to look into the dissemination of information regarding a March 3 computer dispatch report by a woman who called the non-emergency line. The woman told the dispatcher that Hardesty was the driver of a car that had rear-ended her car on Northeast 148th and East Burnside Street earlier that night.

On March 4, a Facebook site called Savepdx.org posted a Zoom live chat hosted by a former Multnomah County Republican Party chair ,Jeff Reynolds, who cited a Portland police incident report on a hit-and-run involving Hardesty. The Coalition to Save Portland, which runs the site, hosted a live chat titled Scandal at City Council. Guess who?

Hardesty later in a statement to The Oregonian/OregonLive denied any involvement in the collision, saying her car was inoperable and she hadnt driven at all that night. Police officials at the time confirmed that they were investigating the crash report but said the investigation was in its early stages. Later that day, the Police Bureau announced it ruled out Hardesty as a suspect.

At Hardestys urging, Mayor Ted Wheeler called for an internal police inquiry to determine how the information about the hit-and-run allegation got shared before the case was fully investigated.

The mayor also has ordered an independent review into how the hit-and-run report got out and Hardesty wants that expanded into a wider probe of potential political and racial bias within the Police Bureau.l

On Friday, police released their investigative records and identified a Vancouver woman as the hit-and-run suspect.

Hunzeker will be returned to an assignment in the Police Bureau, which is continuing its internal investigation into the release of information concerning Hardesty, according to a bureau statement.

Retired Officer Daryl Turner, who was Hunzekers predecessor and served 10 years as head of the police union, will serve as the unions executive director until a new president is selected in elections in fall.

Brians mistake was not driven by malice. But it was a serious mistake. He has held himself to account by resigning his position as PPA President effective immediately, the union statement said. The PPAs Executive Board has accepted his resignation. As an organization, we recognize the impact of this mistake. We acknowledge the need to improve, starting from within.

Wheeler, who serves as police commissioner, said Hunzekers sudden resignation still raises significant questions that remain unanswered, such as the reason for his resignation. He called on Hunzeker to explain immediately to Hardesty and the public what he did and why.

Mr. Hunzeker has given no reason for his resignation except that he made a serious mistake about an ongoing criminal investigation, the mayor said in a statement. As the police commissioner, I demand to know what that mistake was. I have called for an internal investigation to clarify the circumstances.

Heres the mayors full statement:

I have reviewed the Portland Police Associations news release about Brian Hunzekers resignation as union president. I appreciate the associations call for accountability, but his resignation raises significant questions that remain unanswered. Mr. Hunzeker has given no reason for his resignation except that he made a serious mistake about an ongoing criminal investigation. As the police commissioner, I demand to know what that mistake was. I have called for an internal investigation to clarify the circumstances. While I appreciate Mr. Hunzekers self-described act of accountability, I demand he give a full and transparent accounting of what he did and what his motivations were to Commissioner Hardesty and the public. I call on him to do so immediately.

Turner, in response, said a police internal investigation is ongoing and it would be inappropriate for Hunzeker to speak out at this point. As we all know theres an investigation already in progress and part of the investigative process is to be able to give everyone a fair and equitable chance by investigators to give their side of the story. That is a process thats been agreed upon and has been a practice of the Portland Police Bureau for decades. That is the process that Brian Hunzeker will go through and will be afforded all his rights to that process.

Heres the full union statement:

Accountability Starts from Within

PORTLAND, OR: When we make mistakes, we must hold ourselves to account. That is what the public expects of us. That is what we expect of ourselves.Over the last 24 hours, we learned that Portland Police Association (PPA) President Brian Hunzeker made a serious, isolated mistake related to the Police Bureaus investigation into the alleged hit-and-run by Commissioner Hardesty. We apologize to Commissioner Hardesty for that mistake and will be reaching out to meet with her personally.Brians mistake was not driven by malice. But it was a serious mistake. He has held himself to account by resigning his position as PPA President effective immediately. The PPAs Executive Board has accepted his resignation. As an organization, we recognize the impact of this mistake. We acknowledge the need to improve, starting from within. To help with that process, we have asked Daryl Turner to return to the PPA as Executive Director in the interim to help our union rebuild trust within our membership, with City Hall and the Police Bureau, and with the community.Portland Police Association Executive Board

To help with that process, we have asked Daryl Turner to return to the PPA as Executive Director in the interim to help our union rebuild trust within our membership, with City Hall and the Police Bureau, and with the community.Portland Police Association Executive Board
The is working with allies and partners to strengthen its hand against China and the recent summit was probably the most important illustration in practical terms of exactly what it was trying to achieve, a Biden administration official has said on the eve of a crucial meeting with top Chinese foreign policy officials.

The relations between the and China are at an all-time low. The two countries are currently engaged in a bitter confrontation over various issues, including trade, the communist giant's aggressive military moves in the disputed South China Sea and human rights in Hong Kong and Xinjiang region.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken and National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan are set to meet on Thursday with the foreign affairs chief of the ruling Communist Party of China, Yang Jiechi and Chinese State Councilor Wang Yi in Anchorage, Alaska.

We are working actually with allies and partners to strengthen our hand. The last week was probably the most important very clear illustration in practical terms of exactly what we're trying to achieve here, bringing together the four leaders in a virtual summit for the first time to actually do something together that we couldn't do individually, particularly on the vaccine distribution deliverable, said the official.

Known as the "Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, the grouping comprises the US, India, Australia and Japan. The representatives for the four-member nations have met periodically since its establishment in 2007.

US President Joe Biden on Friday opened the first Quad Leaders' Summit held virtually and attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga.

"This isn't just about something that is here to counter China; this is about something that's actually about doing something that enhances our leverage, enhances the quality of life in the region in meaningful ways," said the official, who briefed reporters ahead of Thursday's meeting on the condition of anonymity.

The Anchorage meeting, the official said is not the resumption of a particular dialogue mechanism or the beginning of a dialogue process.

This is very much about sitting down, getting an understanding of each other, and then taking that back and taking stock, the official said.

Blinken and Sullivan are scheduled to meet Yang Jiechi and Wang on Thursday and Friday in Anchorage, the first high-level in-person US-China meeting since Joe Biden became American President in January.

The conversations in Anchorage are very much intended as an initial discussion to understand US interests, intentions, and priorities, and frankly, to get a bit of an understanding of where the Chinese are at, the official told reporters during a conference call.

We think it's really important that our Chinese interlocutors hear from Secretary Blinken and National Security Advisor Sullivan directly about our priorities and our intentions," the official said.

"We know that sometimes there is a sense, potentially a perception, or maybe it's a hope, in Beijing that our public message is somehow different than our private message, the official said.

It is really important that we dispel that idea very early and that we're very clear with delivering the same messages in private that you have heard from us in public.

"That includes making very clear our deep concerns about a range of issues, whether it's Xinjiang, Hong Kong, Chinese economic coercion of our allies and partners, China's increasingly aggressive activities across the Taiwan Strait, the official said.

According to the official, the Biden administration will absolutely make those points very clear.

But this is really about having a broader strategic conversation, it's about communicating the areas where we intend to take steps, and it's about understanding where our Chinese interlocutors are at, the official said.

America's diplomacy as it relates to the Indo-Pacific is not limited just to the Indo-Pacific, the official said, adding the Biden administration has been engaged in some pretty intensive diplomacy with European partners and allies on the Indo-Pacific region, including on China.

We've had a series of engagements at all levels with European partners and allies. We've been doing a bit of a virtual roadshow with a number of different capitals, having interagency conversations with key interlocutors there to really compare notes, the official said.

According to another senior administration official, there will be no joint statement after the Anchorage meeting.

Responding to a question, the official said that there is increasing global concern about Chinese actions.

We see that in particular on Xinjiang. We see that on Hong Kong, where you're seeing mounting not only condemnation but action by a number of countries to really make clear that China's violation of rules, norms, and universal values does have consequences for its relationships and its engagements with other countries, the official 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.)
Gold Coast police stations remain open despite threats made by a Gold Coast man, believed to be armed with a firearm, who triggered a school lockdown on Tuesday.

The search for Mark Lutgenau near Ormeau State School caused a five-hour emergency declaration.

The search for Mark Lutgenau, 37, near Ormeau State School caused a five-hour emergency declaration on Tuesday, causing chaos during the afternoon school pick-up.

It followed a domestic violence incident on Monday night at a Gannon Way home in Upper Coomera.

Mr Lutgenau fled the scene before responding police officers could catch up with him.
These tiny fossil bones belonged to a Haitian cave-rail, Nesotrochis steganinos, an extinct species unique to the Caribbean. While the bird likely resembled an American coot, pictured here, ancient DNA analysis reveals Nesotrochis' closest relatives are found in Africa, New Guinea and New Zealand. Credit: Jeff Gage/Florida Museum of Natural History

In a genetic surprise, ancient DNA shows the closest family members of an extinct bird known as the Haitian cave-rail are not in the Americas, but Africa and the South Pacific, uncovering an unexpected link between Caribbean bird life and the Old World.

Like many animals unique to the Caribbean, cave-rails became extinct soon after people settled the islands. The last of three known West Indian species of cave-railsflightless, chicken-sized birdsvanished within the past 1,000 years. Florida Museum of Natural History researchers sought to resolve the group's long-debated ancestry by analyzing DNA from a fossil toe bone of the Haitian cave-rail, Nesotrochis steganinos. But they were unprepared for the results: The genus Nesotrochis is most closely related to the flufftails, flying birds that live in sub-Saharan Africa, Madagascar and New Guinea, and the adzebills, large, extinct, flightless birds native to New Zealand.

The study presents the first example of a Caribbean bird whose closest relatives live in the Old World, showcasing the power of ancient DNA to reveal a history erased by humans.

The discovery was "just mind-blowing," said study lead author Jessica Oswald, who began the project as a postdoctoral researcher at the Florida Museum.

"If this study had not happened, we might still be under the assumption that the closest relatives of most things in the Caribbean are on the mainland in the Americas," said Oswald, now a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Nevada, Reno and a Florida Museum research affiliate. "This gives us an understanding of the region's biodiversity that would otherwise be obscured."

Many animals evolved unusual forms on islands, often making it difficult to classify extinct species based on their physical characteristics alone. But advancements in extracting viable DNA from fossils now enables scientists like Oswald to answer longstanding questions with ancient genetic evidence. Oswald described her work as similar to a forensic investigation, tracing the evolutionary backstory of extinct animals by piecing together fragmented, degraded genetic material.

"Understanding where all of these extinct species fit into a larger family tree or evolutionary history gives us insight into what a place looked like before people arrived," she said. "That's why my job is so fun. It's always this whodunit."

This box contains the fossil remains of several Haitian cave-rails, Nesotrochis steganinos, collected in the 1980s by Charles Woods, then curator of mammals at the Florida Museum of Natural History. At that time, "nobody was thinking about ancient DNA," said ornithologist David Steadman. Credit: Jeff Gage/Florida Museum of Natural History

Oswald was just starting her ancient DNA work at the Florida Museum when David Steadman, curator of ornithology and study co-author, suggested the Haitian cave-rail as a good candidate for analysis.

Cave-rails share physical characteristics with several types of modern birds, and scientists have conjectured for decades whether they are most closely related to wood rails, coots or swamphensbirds that all belong to the rail family, part of a larger group known as the Gruiformes. Oswald and Steadman hoped that studying cave-rail DNA would clarify "what the heck this thing is," Oswald said.

When preliminary results indicated the species had a trans-Atlantic connection, Steadman, who has worked in the Caribbean for more than 40 years, was skeptical.

The genetics also showed that the cave-rail isn't a rail at all: While flufftails and adzebills are also members of the Gruiformes, they are in separate families from rails.

"It just didn't seem logical that you'd have to go across the Atlantic to find the closest relative," Steadman said. "But the fact that people had a hard time classifying where Nesotrochis was within the railsin hindsight, maybe that should have been a clue. Now I have a much more open mind."

One reason the cave-rail was so difficult to classify is that when birds lose the ability to fly, they often converge on a similar body plan, Steadman said. Flightlessness is a common adaptation in island birds, which face far fewer predators in the absence of humans and invasive species such as dogs, cats, rats and pigs.

"You don't have to outfly or outrun predators, so your flying and running abilities become reduced," Steadman said. "Because island birds spend less energy avoiding predators, they also tend to have a lower metabolic rate and nest on the ground. It's no longer life in the fast lane. They're essentially living in a Corona commercial."

Because Haitian cave-rails share physical characteristics with several modern birds, scientists debated which species were their closest relatives. Various proposed closely-related species included, from top, the gray-necked wood rail, American coot and common gallinule. Credit: Jeff Gage/Florida Museum of Natural History

While sheltered from the mass extinctions that swept the mainland, cave-rails were helpless once people touched foot on the islands, having lost their defenses and cautiousness.

"Being flightless and plump was not a great strategy during human colonization of the Caribbean," said study co-author Robert Guralnick, Florida Museum curator of biodiversity informatics.

How did cave-rails get to the Caribbean in the first place? Monkeys and capybara-like rodents journeyed from Africa to the New World about 25-36 million years ago, likely by rafting, and cave-rails may also have migrated during that timespan, Steadman said. He and Oswald envision two probable scenarios: The ancestors of cave-rails either made a long-distance flight across an Atlantic Ocean that was not much narrower than today, or the group was once more widespread across the continents, with more relatives remaining to be discovered in the fossil record.

Other researchers have recently published findings that corroborate the story told by cave-rail DNA: A study of foot features suggested Nesotrochis could be more closely related to flufftails than rails, and other research showed that adzebills are close relatives of the flufftails. Like cave-rails, adzebills are also an example of a flightless island bird extinguished by human hunters.

"Humans have meddled so much in the region and caused so many extinctions, we need ancient DNA to help us sort out what's related to what," Oswald said.

The findings also underscore the value of museum collections, Steadman said. The toe bone Oswald used in her analysis was collected in 1983 by Charles Woods, then the Florida Museum's curator of mammals. At that time, "nobody was thinking about ancient DNA," Steadman said. "It shows the beauty of keeping things well curated in a museum."

The study is published in Biology Letters.

Explore further Miniscule flightless birds have lived in New Zealand's wetlands for millions of years

More information: Ancient DNA from the extinct Haitian Cave-rail (Nesotrochis steganinos) suggests a biogeographic connection between the Caribbean and Old World, Biology Letters, royalsocietypublishing.org/doi  .1098/rsbl.2020.0760 Journal information: Biology Letters Ancient DNA from the extinct Haitian Cave-rail (Nesotrochis steganinos) suggests a biogeographic connection between the Caribbean and Old World,
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The Mauritanian is a legal drama film that is directed by Kevin Macdonald. The Mauritanian cast includes Jodie Foster, Tahar Rahim, Shailene Woodley, and Benedict Cumberbatch in the lead roles. The movie was released in the US on February 12, 2021 and is about to release in India next month. Trade Analyst, Taran Adarsh, recently took to his Instagram account to share The Mauritanian release date in India.

The Mauritanian release date in India announced

Taran Adarsh shared a poster of the film that featured the lead cast. In the caption, Taran wrote, IN CINEMAS, THIS APRIL... Based on a true-life story...#PVR Pictures to release #TheMauritanian in #India on 2 April 2021. The poster of the film also revealed that the movie had been nominated for 5 categories in BAFTA awards. Take a look at the post below.

The movie is based on the 2015 memoir Guantanamo Diary by Mohamedou Ould Salahi. It is a true story of Salahi's experience. He was held for fourteen years without charge in the Guantanamo Bay detention camp. The movie received generally positive reviews from critics. Rahim and Fosters performances were praised and they have been nominated for Best Actor - Motion Picture Drama and Best Supporting Actress  Motion Picture at the 78th Golden Globe Awards. At the 74th BAFTA awards, the film received five nominations, including Best Film. The IMDb rating of the film is 7.4 out of 10.

About The Mauritanian cast

Tahar Rahim as Mohamedou Ould Salahi

Tahar plays the main role of Mohamedou Ould Salahi in the movie. He is known for films such as A Prophet, The Looming Tower, Mary Magdalene and more. He has received several awards and nominations for his performances.

Jodie Foster as Nancy Hollander

Jodie plays the role defense attorney in the film. She began her career as a child artist in the television sitcom Mayberry R.F.D. She is known for films such as Panic Room, Flightplan, Inside Man, and The Brave One.

Shailene Woodley as Teri Duncan

Shailene portrays Teri in the movie, an associate of Jodi Foster's character. She gained prominence for her role in the drama series The Secret Life of the American Teenager. She appeared in films such as The Fault in Our Stars, The Divergent Series and more.

Benedict Cumberbatch as Lt. Colonel Stuart Couch

Benedict Cumberbatch plays a military prosecutor in the film. His television appearances include Sherlock, Silent Witness, Fortysomething, The Hollow Crown: The Wars of the Roses and Patrick Melrose and more. He is known for films such as Thor: Ragnarok, Avengers: Infinity War, and Avengers: Endgame among others.

Get the latest entertainment news from India & around the world. Now follow your favourite television celebs and telly updates. Republic World is your one-stop destination for trending Bollywood news. Tune in today to stay updated with all the latest news and headlines from the world of entertainment.
ATLANTA (AP)  A white man accused of killing eight people, most of whom were of Asian descent, at massage parlors in the Atlanta area told police the attack was not racially motivated and that he potentially had a sexual addiction, officials said Wednesday.

Still, authorities said they were investigating whether the deaths were hate crimes amid concerns over a wave of attacks on Asian Americans. Six of the victims were identified as Asian and seven were women.

Officials did not say that Robert Aaron Long, 21, ever went to the parlors where the shootings occurred. They also said he was planning to go to Florida in a plot to attack some type of porn industry.

He made indicators that he has some issues, potentially sexual addiction, and may have frequented some of these places in the past, said Sheriff Frank Reynolds, of Cherokee County, where one of the targeted businesses was.

He said it was too early to tell if it was racially motivated  but the indicators right now are it may not be. He added: We believe that he frequented these places in the past and maybe have been lashing out.

The attack was the sixth mass killing this year in the U.S., and the deadliest since the August 2019 Dayton killing that took the lives of nine people, according to a database compiled by The Associated Press, USA Today and Northeastern University. It follows a lull during the pandemic in 2020 that had the smallest number mass killings in more than a decade. The database tracks mass killings defined as four or more dead, not including the shooter.

Many suspects who commit mass shootings have a history of violence against women. Still, the attack haunted members of the Asian American community who saw the shootings as an attack on them, given a recent wave of assaults that coincided with the spread of the coronavirus across the United States. The virus was first identified in China, and then-President Donald Trump and others have used racially charged terms like Chinese virus to describe it.

Georgia state Rep. Bee Nguyen said the shootings appear to be at the intersection of gender-based violence, misogyny and xenophobia.

Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms said that regardless of the shooters motivation, it is unacceptable, it is hateful and it has to stop.

Officials stand in front of a massage parlor after a shooting, Tuesday, March 16, 2021, in Atlanta. Shootings at two massage parlors in Atlanta and one in the suburbs left multiple people dead, many of them women of Asian descent, authorities said. A 21-year-old man suspected in the shootings was taken into custody in southwest Georgia hours later after a manhunt, police said. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

The attacks began Tuesday evening, when five people were shot at Youngs Asian Massage Parlor near Woodstock, about 30 miles (50 kilometers) north of Atlanta, Cherokee County Sheriffs spokesman Capt. Jay Baker said. Two people died at the scene, and three were taken to a hospital where two died, Baker said.

About an hour later, police responding to a call about a robbery found three women dead from apparent gunshot wounds at Gold Spa near Atlantas Buckhead area, where tattoo parlors and strip clubs are just blocks away from mansions and skyscrapers in one of the last ungentrified holdouts in that part of the city. Officers then learned of a call reporting shots fired across the street, at Aromatherapy Spa, and found another woman apparently shot dead.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said President Joe Biden has been briefed on the horrific shootings and would receive an update later Wednesday from Attorney General Merrick Garland and FBI Director Christopher Wray. The FBI is assisting Atlanta and Cherokee County authorities in the investigation.

Vice President Kamala Harris expressed support to the Asian American community after the tragic shooting, as she sent condolences to the victims families.

Were not yet clear about the motive. But I do want to say to our Asian American community that we stand with you and understand how this has frightened and shocked and outraged all people, said Harris, who is the first Black and South Asian woman to hold the office of vice president.

Over the past year, thousands of incidents of abuse have been reported to an anti-hate group that tracks incidents against Asian Americans, and hate crimes in general are at the highest level in more than a decade.

We are heartbroken by these acts of violence, Asian Americans Advancing Justice  Atlanta said in a statement. While the details of the shootings are still emerging, the broader context cannot be ignored. The shootings happened under the trauma of increasing violence against Asian Americans nationwide, fueled by white supremacy and systemic racism.

Police in Atlanta and other major cities deplored the killings, and some said they would increase patrols in Asian American communities. Seattles mayor said the violence in Atlanta was an act of hate, and San Francisco police tweeted #StopAsianHate. The New York City Police counterterrorism unit said it was on alert for similar attacks.

Surveillance video recorded a man pulling up to the Cherokee County business about 10 minutes before the attack there, and the same car was spotted outside the Atlanta businesses, authorities said. A manhunt was launched, and Long was taken into custody in Crisp County, about 150 miles (240 kilometers) south of Atlanta, Baker said.

Rita Barron, the store manager of a business neighboring Youngs in Cherokee County, said a bullet was shot through their shared wall. She said that security footage of the parking lot showed the gunman had been sitting outside in his car for about an hour just watching the stores.

South Koreas Foreign Ministry earlier said that its diplomats in Atlanta have confirmed with police that four of the victims who died were women of Korean descent. The ministry said its Consulate General in Atlanta is trying to confirm the nationality of the women.

Crisp County Sheriff Billy Hancock said in a video posted on Facebook that his deputies and state troopers were notified Tuesday night that a murder suspect out of north Georgia was headed their way. Deputies and troopers set up along the interstate and made contact with the suspect, he said.

A state trooper performed a PIT, or pursuit intervention technique, maneuver, which caused the vehicle to spin out of control, Hancock said. Long was then taken into custody without incident.

Crisp County sheriffs spokeswoman Haley Wade said Wednesday morning that Long, who is white, is no longer in their custody and that her office has turned over its information to the other Georgia agencies and the FBI.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who is in South Korea meeting with Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong, mentioned the killings during an opening statement.

We are horrified by this violence which has no place in America or anywhere, he said.
ROCHESTER, Minn. - As many secondary students approach their return to in-person learning, Rochester Public Schools is detailing its plan to keep students safe.

During a school board meeting Tuesday night, RPS staff discussed the measures they're planning to take to stop the spread of coronavirus is their buildings. Meeting documents also included formal guidance from the district on mitigation strategies in school buildings.

Some of the district's preparations include installing additional plexiglass, removing unnecessary furniture to better space students, and increasing fresh air levels to buildings. RPS also detailed guidance on mitigation strategies like social distancing, face coverings, and handling suspected cases of COVID-19.

Additionally, RPS students will have to check into mealtimes like lunch using a QR code for contact tracing purposes.

However, staff say their planning isn't all about academic activities. The district is also getting ready for special social events like prom and graduation.

"We are planning for social-emotional supports for students, and activities such as prom, graduation, senior party kind of things," said Jacque Peterson, the Executive Director of Elementary and Secondary Education at RPS. "In fact, we'll be meeting this week with high school principals to just take a pulse on where we're at."

Secondary students at RPS will be able to return to full in-person learning April 5th. Staff say between 29% and 38% of high school students in the district have requested to remain in distance learning for the time being.
Fifty-seven Black Christian leaders have written a letter to members of the US Senates Judiciary Committee expressing support for sweeping LGBT rights but asking for a new bill that includes religious exemptions.

The signers, including representatives of the major black Christian denominations, said passage of the Equality Act would deny federal funding for faith-based programs that profess a traditional view of sexuality. For example, it would end free and reduced-cost lunch programs for children who attend religious schools and revoke federal loan eligibility for tens of thousands of students who attend hundreds of religious colleges.

We want to clearly state our support for federal protections for LGBT persons in employment, housing and the like, the letter states. Were committed to embracing and advocating for those safeguards. Unfortunately, the collaborative process and substance of the Equality Act fall well beneath the standard necessary to cultivate a healthy pluralistic society.

The Equality Act, which passed the Democratic-controlled US House of Representatives on February 25, would amend the Civil Rights Act to ban discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. It does not include exemptions for religious groups, and it would override the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, which prohibits the federal government from substantially burdening individuals exercise of religion unless theres a compelling government interest.

The Senates Judiciary Committee held a hearing on the Equality Act on Wednesday. Despite broad Democratic Party support, in its current form the bill probably has no chance in the Senate, given it will need 10 Senate Republican votes in order to beat back a GOP filibuster.

The faith leaders are advocating for a rival bill called Fairness for All, which would provide broad protections for LGBTQ people and, at the same time, provide exemptions for religious institutions that uphold traditional beliefs about marriage and sexuality. That bill was introduced in the US House last month and is modeled on the Utah Compromise, a 2015 state law that strengthened religious freedom and protected LGBTQ people from discrimination.

The letter was written as part of the And Campaign, a Christian advocacy group committed to bringing conviction and compassion into the public square. The group is led by Justin Giboney, an Atlanta lawyer and political strategist who was a delegate to the 2012 and 2016 Democratic National Convention.

We want to be clear that we want to embrace and advocate for LGBTQ rights, Giboney told Religion News Service. But we have to do it in a more thoughtful manner than the Equality Act does. Religious liberty and LGBTQ rights are not necessarily in conflict. The Utah Compromise and Fairness for All has shown us that.

The letter is noteworthy because many evangelical and conservative Christians, such as the Southern Baptist Convention and the US Conference of Catholic Bishops, oppose the idea of adding sexual orientation and gender identity as protected classes.

Among the signatories are A. R. Bernard, pastor of a Brooklyn megachurch and onetime evangelical adviser to former President Donald Trump (Bernard stepped down from that unofficial board in 2017); the Rev. Suzan Johnson-Cook, who served as ambassador-at-large for international religious freedom under former President Barack Obama; and the Rev. Barbara Williams-Skinner, a former executive director of the Congressional Black Caucus.

The signers said that the Equality Act was not the result of a collaborative process and that it excluded the voices of faith leaders. (Several faith groups on the political left advocated for it.)

The Equality Act is a reflection of our broken system, not an example of the civic spirit and good faith measures necessary to heal it, the signers said.

In addition to threatening free lunch programs and Pell grants to religious institutions, the pastors said the bill would convert houses of worship and other religious properties into public accommodations. That means churches might be compelled to rent out their facilities for same-sex weddings, for example, despite objecting to the practice.
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Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-17 10:59:06|Editor: huaxia

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Airport employees wearing face masks are seen inside the Terminal 1 of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila, the Philippines, on March 17, 2021. The Philippines said it will temporarily suspend the entry of foreigners and some citizens as the Southeast Asian country battles a renewed spike in COVID-19 cases. In a statement issued on Tuesday night, the country's coronavirus task force said foreign citizens and returning nationals who had not been working overseas will not be able to enter the country from March 20 until April 19 under the ban. (Xinhua/Rouelle Umali)

MANILA, March 17 (Xinhua) -- The Philippines said it will temporarily suspend the entry of foreigners and some citizens as the Southeast Asian country battles a renewed spike in COVID-19 cases.

In a statement issued on Tuesday night, the country's coronavirus task force said foreign citizens and returning nationals who had not been working overseas will not be able to enter the country from March 20 until April 19 under the ban.

The task force also directed concerned agencies to limit the number of inbound international passengers to 1,500 a day. However, the ban doesn't include foreign government officials, diplomats, and Filipino workers returning from overseas.

The Southeast Asian country has just opened its door to allow the entry of some foreigners who already have visas and exemption letters.

But the country is experiencing a surge in COVID-19 cases and increasing infections of new variants. The Philippines recorded 5,404 COVID-19 cases on Monday, the highest in nearly seven months.

The country has so far reported 631,320 cases, including 12,848 deaths. Enditem
US President Joe Biden's administration intends to show its firmness against Beijing in its first meeting with Chinese diplomatic leaders in Alaska on Thursday, but does not expect immediate results, US officials said.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken and White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan are set for talks with senior Chinese official Yang Jiechi and Foreign Minister Wang Yi that represent "an initial discussion to understand... our interests, intentions and priorities," one senior US official told reporters Tuesday.

"Sometimes there is sense, potentially a perception, or maybe it's a hope in Beijing, that our public message is somehow different than our private message. And we think it's really important that we dispel that idea very early," the official added.

The American diplomats will therefore be as firm in the closed-door meetings as they have in recent public statements, including "deep concerns" about the treatment of the Uighur minority in Xinjiang, a crackdown in Hong Kong, Chinese "economic coercion" and Beijing's "increasingly aggressive" stance towards Taiwan, the official said.

US relations with China have plunged in recent years, and the Alaska talks will be the first between the powers since Yang met Blinken's hawkish predecessor Mike Pompeo last June in Hawaii -- a setting similarly far from the high-stakes glare of national capitals.

The Biden administration has generally backed the tougher approach to China initiated by former president Donald Trump, but has also insisted that it can be more effective by shoring up alliances and seeking narrow ways to cooperate on priorities such as climate change.

Another senior US official said Beijing "has been talking about its desire to change the tone of the relationship."

But Washington will be weighing "deeds not words on that front," that official added, keeping in mind China's "pretty poor track record of keeping its promises."

Story continues

The Biden administration says it does not want to enter into detailed negotiations at this stage and therefore does not expect any immediate announcements. There will be no joint statement at the end of the meeting in Anchorage.

"We are in the middle of a pretty extensive China strategy development process" and the meeting is "just the beginning of that process," the first official said, adding that the diplomats plan to raise some specific issues.

But they are not asking China "to do anything other than abide by international rules," the second official continued, adding they have no "unrealistic" expectations but want to "open up the lines of communication."

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The state House of Representatives unanimously approved a bill Tuesday to ensure the General Assembly has an equal voice with Gov. Ned Lamont in carving up more than $2.6 billion in new federal pandemic relief headed Connecticuts way.

The measure, which the Senate is expected to approve next week, also directs the administration to give lawmakers a detailed accounting of how federal coronavirus aid has been allotted to date.

The bill, lawmakers asserted, is not a power grab or an effort to battle Lamont for control of the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act funds authorized by Congress and President Joe Biden earlier this month.

Connecticuts recovery will be planned, said Rep. Toni E. Walker, D-New Haven, longtime co-chairwoman of the Appropriations Committee, as a team, as a state. We do it along with the governor. We do it side-by-side, Democrats and Republicans.

Paul Mounds Jr., Lamonts chief of staff, said after Tuesdays House session that this legislation is consistent with Gov. Lamonts approach since the beginning of the pandemic, which has been to work with the legislative branch throughout the pandemic emergency on critical decisions.

Mounds added that the administration has followed a transparent process regarding the use of federal relief funds since the pandemic began. All expenses relating to federal funding have been posted online and reported to the General Assembly and Office of the Comptroller, he said.

But legislators from both parties have complained periodically that the administration hasnt provided sufficient detail on how previous rounds of federal relief have been spent.

This measure directs the governor to provide a detailed accounting on past spending, and a proposal for how he would use the latest round of relief, to lawmakers by April 26.

From there, the Appropriations Committee would have until May 16 to develop its proposal, which then would go to legislative leaders and the governors office for final negotiations.

Connecticuts state and local governments are expected to receive about $4.35 billion as part of the American Rescue Plan, with more than $2.6 billion sent directly to state government.

The remainder would be distributed among municipalities and regional organizations.

House Minority Leader Vincent J. Candelora, R-North Branford, objected in early January when Lamonts emergency powers were kept in place through April 20, instead calling for an extension only through March 1.

While the governor needed emergency authority during the early months of the pandemic, Candelora said, the time is overdue for legislators to plan a holistic recovery from the coronavirus  one that addresses not only vaccine distribution but also a host of education, health care and economic issues.

This is the time, now, where we start to be part of the process and make sure that the people we represent are being addressed, Candelora said, adding that legislators are the segment of government most in touch with the public and best-suited to tackle problems in all of the nooks and crannies of Connecticut.

House Speaker Matt Ritter, D-Hartford, and Senate President Pro Tem Martin M. Looney, D-New Haven, wrote in a joint statement that a strong partnership between both branches of government is key.

The very nature of any pandemic response requires agility and flexibility - federal guidance has changed and evolved throughout the past year - and we recognize that there will likely be changes even after the governor provides us with his allocation plan in April, they wrote.
The special operation to detain fighters of the private military company (PMC) Wagner is a state secret, which cannot be discussed and commented on, since it violates the law of Ukraine on state secrets and may have consequences in the form of criminal punishment, Oleksiy Arestovych, adviser to the head of the Ukrainian delegation in the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG), has said.

"According to the law of Ukraine on the protection of state secrets, the very fact of conducting or not conducting operations of this kind is a state secret. Any person who says that there was an operation, or who says that there was no operation at all, commits an act that, in itself, violates the law. This is a criminal offense. It is shocking how many people are running around our vast country and speculating about whether or not such an operation took place. I don't comment. I still don't know if this operation took place. All I can say is that the information in the recent version of events does not stand up to any criticism. It fails an elementary check of logic and facts," Arestovych, who is also a non-staff advisor to the head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, said on the Ukraina 24 TV channel on Tuesday evening.

Arestovych said sending Wagner PMC fighters abroad via Turkey "to guard towers" was strange, because ordinary guards could be employed to handle such a task.

"There was no need for Wagner PMC fighters to fly through Minsk to Turkey, a NATO country, because they have acted against Turkish interests for a long time and could have been detained there  Volunteer professionals are taught the sense of danger. They do not like risk. They try to minimize it. It would have been strange to fly through a country whose intelligence services can catch you for killing its citizens..." he said.

Arestovych also noted that it is worth paying attention to the testimony of the Belarusian transportation company that picked the PMC Wagner fighters up at the Belarus-Russia border.

"It noted that the men were suspect and were required get off the bus. The bus was held up for 24 hours. After that, the Russian border guards said they contacted their Belarusian colleagues, who said that we would not let them in, because they [Wagner PMC fighters] were in the database of the Myrotvorets website. According to the bus driver, a call was then made giving permission to let them in," he said.

"I have a question, which of the Ukrainian special services has the power to order simultaneously the Russian and Belarusian border guards with one call [to let the representatives of PMC Wagner into Belarus], or the American or Turkish special services. But I strongly doubt that all they can order the border guards of two independent countries [Belarus and Russia] to allow the bus with the Wagner PMC fighters to pass through. Who made the call?"

"These men [Wagner PMC fighters] were given accommodations 5.5 kilometers from a protected zone  Lukashenko's residence, a place where every concierge, every district police officer and janitor, that is, everyone, reports. A 30 kilometer radius [from the presidential residence] is a protected area, and 13 kilometers is a critical protected area, while within a 5 kilometer radius is a critical protected area, a threat to Lukashenko's power... and the planners of the operation bring them into this protected area [to the Belorusochka rest house near Minsk], despite the fact that before that their Belarusian driver had said that they looked suspicious. It's like finding them a temporary shelter on Bankova Street [near the Office of the President of Ukraine]" Arestovych said.

He added that "providing accommodations to Wagner PMC fighters so close to Lukashenko's residence in Minsk could be perceived as an attempt to put pressure on the Belarusian authorities."

"Some 33 (Wagner PMC) fighters who shot down a plane and are connected with Russian agents ... in a country that is integrated with Russia [in Belarus], where part of the Belarusian opposition works for Russian agents, are housed within 5 kilometers from the guarded residence of Lukashenko. What would the Belarusian special services do? And what would Lukashenko himself do? Why give them accommodations within 5 kilometers from Lukashenko's residence?" Arestovych said.

"Wagner PMC fighters were scheduled to fly from Minsk, but there was no plane. Their tickets were taken, turned in, and that's separate story. Another question is the plan to use an airplane of a NATO country, Turkey, to land them (in Ukraine). The decision to land is taken by the plane's pilot and no one else. This is his decision, even if it is reported that there are explosives onboard or if he simply did not obey his country's special services," Arestovych said, adding that it would also be difficult to separate 33 Wagner PMC fighters from the other passengers after the plane made an emergency landing.

"It's not so easy, taking them from an airplane where there are civilians. It is difficult to imagine how to do this" Arestovych said, adding that only careless adventurers would have put the lives of 140 passengers of the plane at risk.
Australia, Victoria, Melbourne, March 17, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- - Enegix Energy Pte Ltd (Enegix) is developing Base One, a green hydrogen project in cooperation with the State Government of Ceara, an investment of US$5.4 billion. Enegix will set up the worlds largest green hydrogen plant that will produce over 600 million kg of green hydrogen per year when fully operational in 2025.

Headquartered in Overland Park, Kansas, Black & Veatch is a global engineering, procurement, construction and consulting company specializing in infrastructure development in power, oil and gas, water, telecommunications, government, mining, data centers, smart cities and banking and finance markets.

Enegix and Black & Veatch signed a Memorandum of Understanding on the 16th February 2021 to develop Base One, with Black & Veatch providing the feasibility study for the project. The scope of works includes technical design, supplier and technology selection, planning of execution, project time schedule, risk assessment, logistics strategy, and procurement strategy.



Black & Veatch was selected because of its experience with major gas and hydrogen projects.

Black & Veatchs team has the capability to assess all aspects of the project, with transferable skills that cover hydrogen production, handling, transportation, storage and distribution following the highest standards for safety and efficiency. Black & Veatch is well-positioned to provide these type of services, contributing to the transition of fossil fuels to hydrogen. Wesley Cooke, Enegix Founder and Chief Executive Officer

Hydrogen project developers and investors need confidence in the quality of the advice they receive. The most complete analysis will come from partners with expertise in hydrogen, renewable energy generation, and the complex interfaces between them that define projects like Base One, said Gary Martin a Managing Director with Black & Veatchs Oil & Gas business. Facilities such as the one proposed by Enegix in Ceara are at the heart of making hydrogen a core component of a zero-carbon global economy; so we are excited to be in a position to contribute.



About Enegix Energy

Enegix Energy is registered in Singapore and Australia and is currently relocating its corporate head office to Switzerland. The company has been established with a vision to deploy and manage renewably powered, utility-scale energy grids powered by hydrogen which is a key component in our strategy and will be used for electricity storage and distribution, transportation, fuel applications and re-electrification power plants to power the shift to renewable, zero-emission economies in key markets.

To discover more, please visit their website https://enegix.energy



For media enquires

Email: press_enegix.energy@customers.prdistribution.org



Australia: +61 3 7003 9349

Singapore: +65 3163 0306

Brazil: +55 62 3142 2148





Forward Looking Statement

Any forward-looking statements in this press release are based on Enegix Energys current expectations and beliefs of future events and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially and adversely from those set forth in or implied by such forward-looking statements.

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"The Falcon and the Winter Soldier" writer Malcolm Spellman asked fans to prepare for their tissues as the upcoming series will not be all about action scenes.

After "WandaVision" stint on Disney+, the Marvel Cinematic Universe will launch another series this week.

On Friday, "The Falcon and the Winter Soldier" will finally arrive on Disney+. It will be the second series and second flick to arrive for Phase 4.

Fans are expecting the series to provide more action scenes as it will tell the story after the events on "Avengers: Endgame."

However, the series' writer Malcolm Spellman revealed that it will be different from what people expected it to be.

In an interview with comicbook.com, the film writer revealed that he is excited for everyone to see a particular episode.

"Hands down, five, it just gets real. And five, you're going to cry," he warned.

In the first part of the interview, he already explained how the story will turn into a dramatic one after showing action scenes MCU has always been known for.

Bucky's Mental Health, Steve Rogers' Departure

Elsewhere in the interview, the news outlet asked how Spellman was able to make connections between the new characters in the series.

Comicbook also dived into the fact that the feeling of loss will still linger especially since the MCU already lost Steve Rogers, Tony Stark, and Natasha Romanoff during the "Avengers: Endgame."

"Well, the loss of Steve is the big one, because it hits on multiple levels, right? You have a planet that is now completely spun-out post snap, post Blip, right?" he said. "And that's the kind of problem when the entire world is dealing with one problem. That's the kind of thing only a hero like Steve is qualified for, right."

Spellman went on to say that Steve Rogers/Captain America plays a huge role in Falcon and Winter Soldier's lives. Thus, Rogers' departure led him to create a bigger plot level and dramatized the scenes to break fans' hearts.

Aside from the dramatic scenes, the writer also focused on bringing the villain into the show.

In the same conversation, Spellman detailed how bringing Baron Zemo received the accurate purple mask like the one he has in the comics.

According to the writer, the team made different iterations just to perfectly bring the character to life. Zemo also reportedly believes that he is the hero in the series, which will create more conflicts in the upcoming episodes.

See Now: Famous Actors Who Turned Down Iconic Movie Roles
Joe Plenzler and Scott Cooper are both retired U.S. Marine Corps lieutenant colonels and combat veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"Thank you for your service." Since 9/11, we have heard these words of appreciation.

But what if, instead of enjoying America's admiration and respect, military veterans were automatically assumed to be disloyal insurrectionists seeking to overthrow the government? What would America look like if veterans were distrusted and considered dangerous to our civil liberties?

The Jan. 6 insurrection should be a wake-up call for all veterans, especially since veterans were among the leaders of the mob and over-represented among those arrested. About 13% of the people arrested and charged with crimes were veterans, though vets make up only about 7% of the overall population. About 40% of the veterans arrested were Marines, who are supposed to be our nation's most elite and loyal troops.

It is clear that a significant number of our compatriots have lost their way. We witnessed the violence, and our shock and anger have now turned to resolve. We know the veteran community cannot remain silent bystanders to this assault on American values. We all must stand up, speak out and remind our veteran community of our common values and our duties as citizens in post-military life.

As combat veterans, we were shocked and appalled to see fellow veterans assault the seat of our democratic republic and others cheering them on. All of us swore an oath to defend the Constitution of the United States, and any veteran who crossed the line from peaceful protester to violent insurrectionist should be arrested, charged, prosecuted and punished to the fullest extent of the law. We condemn their actions in the strongest terms. Any veteran committing insurrection brings shame and dishonor to our community.

Veteran involvement so alarmed senior military leadership that the Joint Chiefs of Staff sent an unprecedented letter to the force condemning the attack and reminding service members, "We support and defend the Constitution. Any act to disrupt the Constitutional process is not only against our traditions, value, and oath; it is against the law."

While we are confident that the new secretary of defense will take swift action to cull extremists from the ranks and prevent them from joining, he has little influence over how veterans conduct themselves, and this is where the veteran community needs to police its own.

The active-duty force comprises 1.2 million service members, but there are more than 18 million veterans in the United States today. Our country's veteran service organizations have a critical role to play in restoring America's faith in our institutions and our system of government. We believe there are three critical things they should do.

1. Wake Up

The fact that so many veterans attacked the Capitol to stop Congress from declaring the winner of a presidential election should be a wake-up call to us all. This was not merely trespassing or damage of federal property. It was an assault on everything that military members swear to defend.

We live in a dangerous era full of political partisanship, and it is vital to our long-term stability and prosperity for people of good faith to come to the middle and work for the common good. There is an expression in the military that we all bleed green -- that it doesn't matter where you come from, the color of your skin, what God you pray to, or what political party to which you choose to belong. We are Americans, and we serve the same cause: our country. As veterans, we must recommit ourselves to these values.

2. Speak Out

We were heartened by the "Statement on the Peaceful Transfer of Power," in which a group of 39 veteran and military family organizations joined together in "condemning this violent attack on our country." But too few of America's largest veteran service organizations spoke out and condemned the insurrectionists. A wise sergeant major once taught us that "the wrongs we observe and ignore, we condone." We must support our democracy.

3. Police Our Own

Veteran groups should purge their rolls of any member who was part of the mob and remind their members of our values. Our good reputation as veterans has been earned both on the battlefield and by our example as good citizens.

We believe our country is at a crossroads with a choice between continued division and eventual demise or good-faith cooperation, healing and strength. We call on all of America's veterans and the veteran organizations that represent them to once again display their courage, refuse to be silent, and speak out for what is right. We live in troubling times, but we can once again defend America by working to reunite our people.

May we live up to Gen. George Washington's words when he commended his troops: "When we assumed the Soldier, we did not lay aside the Citizen."

Our greatest service in uniting and healing our country lies ahead.

-- The opinions expressed in this op-ed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Military.com. If you would like to submit your own commentary, please send your article to opinions@military.com for consideration.
(Natural News) The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic continues to infect millions of people across the globe as new strains are also rumored to be spreading in certain countries.

With several vaccines approved and already being given to the public, it looks like theres a reason to think twice about getting inoculated. Shocking leaked emails from the European Medicines Agency (EMA), one of Europes medical regulators, have revealed that [m]ajor concerns were raised about the quality of early batches of Pfizers coronavirus vaccine.

The documents were leaked to the British Medical Journal (BMJ) after a cyberattack on the EMA in December 2020.

Details from the leaked emails

According to the leaked documents, the researchers in charge of evaluating the chemicals sent to the bloc for approval in 2020 discovered that the doses were of a lower standard than Pfizer had promised.

Back in November 23, 2020, an email from a senior EMA warned of a significant difference in the quality of the vaccines compared to doses used in Pfizers clinical trials.

It remains unknown why earlier batches of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine were of poorer quality. The email also revealed that the impact on the safety and efficacy of the vaccine was yet to be defined.

Details were also scarce on the possibility of similar quality issues being raised in the U.K., where the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is one of two vaccines that has already been given to 23 million Brits.

EMA targeted in a 2020 cyberattack

The Dutch newspaper De Volkskrant reported that a Russian intelligence agency and Chinese spies were behind the 2020 cyberattacks on the EMA based on data from sources close to the investigation.

De Volkskrant reported that the EMA was targeted by Chinese spies in the first half of the year while Russian intelligence agents launched cyberattacks later in 2020. The Chinese first hacked the systems of a German university.

Meanwhile, the Russians were said to have exploited flaws in the EMAs two-step verification login and other kinds of cyberdefense.

In an emailed response EMA spokeswoman Monika Benstetter explained that law enforcement authorities and other entities have launched a criminal investigation, with the agency fully cooperating. Benstetter declined to comment any further.

The Russian hackers supposedly had access to the EMAs systems for over a month, sources told De Volkskrant. The Russians were said to be interested in which countries would use the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine and how much they would pay for the jabs.

After EMA announced the data breach, Pfizer and BioNTech also revealed that documents concerning their vaccine were also accessed in the cyberattacks. Following the EMA breach, EU officials filed two major objections to Pfizer and other quality control questions it wanted to be resolved before approving the vaccine.

The trouble with mRNA

Pfizer-BioNTechs vaccine contains messenger RNA (mRNA), an extremely volatile genetic material that needs to be stored at exactly -94 F (-70 C). Because of its unstable nature, when not stored or transported properly the mRNA in vaccines can be damaged by other molecules in the environment, along with light and temperature.

According to updated guidance, the vaccine can be stored at normal freezer temperatures for at least two weeks. Once it arrives at a clinic, the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine can be stored in a fridge for five days before being administered.

The EMA reported that only 55 percent of the mRNA in the vaccines shipped to the EU were stable and intact. At least 78 percent of the mRNA in the vaccine remained stable in Pfizers studies. Its unclear how this affects the vaccines, but experts warn that intact mRNA is crucial for the potency of the vaccine.

Individual emails were authentic, but leaked information was partially doctored

The EMA approved the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine on Dec. 21. The agency also said that the vaccines quality was sufficiently consistent and acceptable, but there were no details on how the EMNAs objections and concerns were satisfied.

In a leaked email dated Nov. 25, one EMA official said that vaccines from the most recent batch had at least 70 to 75 percent of mRNA intact, leaving officials cautiously optimistic that additional data could help resolve the matter.

This email was only one of over 40 megabytes of classified information from the EMAs review that was released on the dark web after the cyber attack. Journalists, along with experts from the BMJ, and academics worldwide received copies of the leaked EMA emails from anonymous email accounts.

Most of the senders were unreachable and none of them revealed their identity. The EMA announced that it will be pursuing a criminal investigation.

In a statement, the EMA clarified that while the leaked information was partially doctored, the emails were real. Additionally, hackers selected and accumulated data from different users.

The hackers also created screenshots from multiple folders and mailboxes and added more titles used in the data leak.

Lack of transparency from regulators and vaccine makers will be a problem in the future

Despite the leaked data about the compromised quality of their product, Pfizer insists that affected vaccines werent distributed. The company added that the EMA now double-checks their vaccine supply shipments.

Pfizer noted that all pending questions have been duly addressed during the review process. The positive opinion granted by EMA on December 21 are results of this process, meaning that all the questions raised during the procedure were addressed satisfactorily and the efficacy, safety and quality of the vaccine could be demonstrated on the data submitted, added the company.

All batches of the vaccines are tested by the official medicinal control laboratory (OMCL), the Paul-Ehrlich Institute in Germany, before final product release. Pfizer insists that the quality of all vaccine doses placed on the market in Europe was double-tested to ensure compliance with the specifications agreed upon by the regulatory authorities.

If a batch doesnt meet these required specifications, the product cant be released in Europe. Additionally, equivalent quality controls are in place with the U.S. FDA and other regulators worldwide where the vaccine was authorized for use.

However, the email leaks cast doubt on the quality of other mRNA vaccines, particularly the Moderna vaccine, which is already being distributed in America. Modernas jab will also be shipped to Britain within the following weeks. (Related: UK government reports over 240 deaths shortly after coronavirus vaccination.)

Both Pfizer and Moderna have declined to reveal what percentage of mRNA integrity is considered acceptable for vaccines against the coronavirus. According to both the EMA and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), that specific information on criteria is confidential.

Pfizer also refused to comment on what percentage of mRNA integrity it is aiming for. It also didnt explain what could have caused quality dips in the earlier batches of the vaccine.

The lack of transparency from both regulators and vaccine makers undoubtedly raises concerns about similar problems that may arise in the future.

Do you still think its safe to get vaccinated?

Sources include:

DailyMail.co.uk

Reuters.com
Exxon Mobil said proposals put forth by an activist investor pushing for changes at the oil giant threaten future cash flows and the sustainability of its dividend.

Exxon said in a letter to shareholders Tuesday that Engine No. 1s approach ignores the role oil and natural gas will play in the future, and the leadership role the oil giant intends to take in reducing emissions through the development of lower-carbon technologies.

To put it bluntly, we have a plan that will grow earnings and cash flow, pay and grow the dividend, fund future growth and position the company to have a meaningful role in the energy transition. Engine No. 1 does not,  Chief Executive Officer Darren Woods and lead director Kenneth Frazier said in the letter.

Woods has sought to reposition Exxon as a reliable cash cow in the wake of Covid-19 by aggressively cutting capital spending, delaying growth plans and slashing the companys workforce. The simple goal is to ensure the sustainability of the S&P 500 Indexs third-largest dividend, worth $15 billion a year. The stocks yield rose to the highest on record last year as the drop in oil prices threatened the payout but it has since reversed course, now standing at around 5.9 percent.

Woods and Frazier accused Engine No. 1 of making false statements and said its board candidates lacked the experience or knowledge to help lead Exxon through what they called one of the most complex and challenging transitions the world has ever faced. The pair encouraged investors to vote for Exxons slate, which includes activist investor Jeff Ubben and two other new directors.

The newly-formed Engine No. 1 disclosed a stake in Exxon in December and has nominated four candidates for the board. The hedge fund, whose stake amounts to about 0.02 percent of Exxons shares, has criticized the company for poor returns and poor environmental stewardship. It has called on Exxon to set more aggressive targets of being net-zero greenhouse-gas emissions by 2050, and said its nominees will help guide that transition.

Exxon has jeopardized its own dividend through years of wasteful, debt-fueled spending on projects with a low average return on capital, Engine No. 1 said in a statement Tuesday. In recent years, the companys debt has skyrocketed, its credit rating has been downgraded by S&P three times, and the market has ascribed a higher risk to its dividend than its peers.

The firm said it would continue to make its case for adding directors with successful and transformative energy experience who can help generate long-term value, including through a sustainable dividend.

The plan Engine No. 1 is proposing to radically reduce investments would endanger future cash flows that are needed to sustain and grow the dividend, and fund future projects and low-carbon initiatives, Woods and Frazier said. They noted that 40% of Exxons operating cash flow in 2025 will be generated by new projects, and Engine No. 1 has not said where that cash flow would be derived otherwise under its plan.

Exxons board is overseeing a strategy that we believe will deliver the most value from our industry leading portfolio of resources, while ensuring we play an important role in reducing our emissions, mitigating the risks of climate change and participating in the energy transition, they said.
The overwhelming majority of Ukrainian citizens believe that tariffs for electricity, gas and heat for the population are too high, according to the results of a poll conducted by the Razumkov Center from March 5 to March 9.

According to the poll, 93% of Ukrainians believe that the tariffs for electricity, gas and heat for the population are too high, 3% consider them normal, and 0.4%  too low. So, the lower the level of the respondents' well-being, the more often they consider them high  the share of such people grows from 81% among those who answered that in general they live well, to 95% among the poorest strata.

According to the poll, citizens most often attribute responsibility for the growth of utility tariffs to the government of the country (29% of respondents) and the President of Ukraine (24%), 13% attribute responsibility to the National Energy and Utilities Regulatory Commission of Ukraine (NEURC), 9.5%  to the Verkhovna Rada, 7%  to energy companies, 6%  to companies providing utility services, and 5%  to NJSC Naftogaz Ukrainy.

At the same time, representatives of the electorate of opposition parties are more likely to blame the president for the growth of utility tariffs.

Also, the lower the level of well-being of the respondents, the more often they blame the president for the increase in utility tariffs (the share of such people increases from 22% among those who answered that in general they live well, to 33% among those who answered that their the family does not even have enough money for the necessary food) and the government is blamed by 25% and 36%, respectively.

Thus, most often the respondents believe that fair tariffs for electricity, gas and heat, first of all, should be provided by the government (31%) and the president (28%). Another 20% name NEURC, 11%  the Verkhovna Rada, and 3% are of the opinion that no one should do this, and tariffs should be formed according to the market.

The poll was conducted by the face-to-face method at the place of residence of the respondents. A total of 2,018 respondents aged 18 and over were interviewed in all regions of Ukraine, with the exception of Crimea and the occupied territories of Donetsk and Luhansk regions, according to a sample representing the adult population in terms of basic socio-demographic indicators.

The theoretical sampling error (excluding the design effect) does not exceed 2.3% with a probability of 0.95.
Strange as it may sound, vaccines are now the key to reviving the transatlantic relationship. Former US president Donald Trumps America First administration had left ties between the United States and its European allies badly frayed. So, in his address to the Munich Security Conference in February, President Joe Biden thought it best to reaffirm Americas support for Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty: an attack on one Nato member would be considered an attack on all.

That is all to the good. Yet a speech is still a speech, and some wonder what Article 5 and the Alliance is worth when Europes shortage of Covid-19 vaccine supplies is putting European lives and livelihoods in danger while the US is swimming in doses. The Biden administration has not even pressed for Food and Drug Administration approval of the United Kingdoms Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, despite having an estimated 60 million doses on hand.

There is no doubt about Bidens desire to revitalise ties with Europe, which is why his administration must address this egregious vaccine imbalance and help the Europeans in their moment of need. The fastest way to do this  and to strengthen the transatlantic relationship  is US-European joint production of vaccines in Europe. Here, the Biden team should follow the model of the highly successful deal it brokered in the US, where Merck is manufacturing millions of doses of Johnson & Johnsons (J&J) vaccine under licence. Co-operation in production and distribution across borders, and even oceans, is a more effective way to promote diplomatic objectives than simply selling vaccine supplies to the Europeans (though that is better than nothing at a time when Europe lags far behind the US in terms of vaccine delivery). Russia, not famous for sharing anything, understands this, and has just signed a deal to produce its Sputnik V vaccine in Italy, with similar arrangements reportedly in the works in France, Germany, and Spain.

By cutting such deals, the Kremlin has succeeded in leveraging a critical area, public health, while seeking to divide and hollow out the European Union. Given this, the obvious question is, why hasnt the US government done more to push US pharmaceutical firms to agree to joint production agreements with European pharmaceutical firms? Read More True, Pfizer/BioNTech (which is a German firm) has a deal with Novartis to produce their vaccines in Marburg  60 million doses per month at full capacity. And J&Js vaccine is being produced in Leiden, with the company having signed in February a deal with Sanofi to produce 12 million doses per month in Marcy-lEtoile, France. Moderna has now contracted with the Lonza Group to manufacture its vaccine in Switzerland. But all of these moves came late (thanks to Trump), after it became clear that the EU was far behind in delivering vaccines to its citizens. And that inability to deliver vaccines gave both Russia and China a window of opportunity to position themselves as Europes health saviours, which they are now seeking to exploit. By pushing joint vaccine ventures, US national security would be enhanced without an additional dime of defence spending. Just as the US cemented its ties with Europe after World War II with Marshall Plan aid, it should encourage as many co-operative vaccine production agreements as the Europeans need to meet their needs. The Marshall Plan helped to keep the Soviets out of Western Europe; joint production of vaccines in Europe would limit the malign (and costly) influence that Russia and China seek to exercise. Hungary, for example, is paying many times more for its Chinese vaccines than it would for the UK or US versions. But jabs are only part of the story. The Biden administration has already made solid progress in mending US relations with Europe, particularly by ending a long-standing, and poisonous, dispute over aircraft production subsidies. Biden and Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, agreed in early March to suspend all tariffs imposed in the subsidies dispute for an initial period of four months. This agreements commercial significance is matched by its symbolic importance as a signal of a revitalised transatlantic partnership. Bidens preservation of steel tariffs represents a victory of domestic politics over sound foreign policy. But Biden also recognises that an America estranged from its allies is a weaker America. By helping Europe produce vaccines, he will demonstrate not only that America is back, but that it is the far-sighted America of the Marshall Plan, not the sneering America First of Trump, that has returned. Melvyn B Krauss is Professor Emeritus of Economics at New York University (Panet Syndication)
Fisheries agreement between Norway, EU and Great Britain

March 17,2021 | Source: High North News

Norway, EU and Great Britain have agreed on common management of North Sea fish stocks. In addition to the three-party agreement, Norway and the EU have entered into a two-party agreement about the North Sea and Skagerak, as well as a neighborly agreement about Sweden. Thus, Norway and the EU agree about access to fisheries in each others zones and also quota swaps.



With quota swaps in place, Norwegian fishermen may start fishing also near Greenland and in the EU zone.



All that remains now, is to enter into a two-party agreement with Great Britain, the negotiations for which are currently ongoing, says the Norwegian Fisheries Minister.

 2018 High North News. All Rights Reserved.

Theme(s): Fisheries Development and Aquaculture.
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A 33-year-old man, admitted at the LNJP hospital, became the first confirmed case of South African COVID-19 variant in Delhi. He was admitted to the hospital about a week ago and has been kept in isolation at a separate unit.

He was asymptomatic initially, but nothing is known about his present condition as of now. "He is kept in a very different isolation area and was brought here about a week ago and then tested. He came positive for the South Africa variant," a source told PTI.

LNJP Hospital has not only reported the first confirmed case of the South African strain of the novel coronavirus, but it also admitted people who tested positive for the UK strain of coronavirus and two such patients stayed at the hospital till February end after their treatment.

The Centre said India had reported four cases of the South African variant of SARS-CoV-2 and one case of the Brazil variant a month ago.

According to ICMR director Dr. Balram Bhargava, the South African strain was detected in four people who returned from abroad-one from Angola, one from Tanzania and two from South Africa in January. Dr. Bhargava also mentioned that all travellers and contacts had been tested and quarantined.

Union Minister of State for Health Ashwini Choubey told the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday that three new variants of COVID-19-- Brazil, the UK and South Africa, have been reported so far in India.

Citing the World Health Organisation (WHO), Choubey said that the South African and Brazilian variants do have the potential to reinfect people who have been infected with SARS-CoV-2 earlier.

He also stated that these variants were driving the pandemic in their countries of origin. The Union Minister added the Centre has revised its guidelines for international travel to minimise the spread of these mutant variants in India. No case of reinfection by mutant variants has been reported from India so far, the minister said.

With PTI inputs

Also read: Retail sales at 93% of pre-COVID levels in Feb; industry expects revival by June

Also read: PM Modi to visit Bangladesh on March 26-27
The UK has lost more than twice as many jobs in aviation and related industries during the coronavirus pandemic than France or Germany, according to new figures.

Analysis commissioned by trade union Unite found that 61,973 UK jobs have been lost across aviation and aerospace since February 2020, as firms slashed their workforces in response to the virus crisis.

This includes 12,000 at British Airways, 3,150 at Virgin Atlantic, 3,000 at Rolls-Royce and 2,200 at Airbus.

Germany and France have lost 28,964 and 20,409 jobs respectively, according to the report by research firm Acuity Analysis.

The study also stated that the French government has provided 26,000 euro (22,300) of support for each aviation and aerospace job, with the German state supplying 23,000 euro (19,700).

Researchers calculated the equivalent UK figure to be just 12,000 euro (10,300).

The report was published on Wednesday to mark the anniversary of Chancellor Rishi Sunak stating that some sectors are facing particularly acute challenges from the pandemic as he promised to discuss a potential support package for specifically airlines and airports.

The aviation industry believes that help never arrived.

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Unite assistant general secretary for transport, Diana Holland, said: It has been heart-breaking to see so many UK jobs go in aviation when we know that demand will come back.

A staggering number of workers in the sector are now unemployed but when we look across the Channel, we see that a different approach from governments actually saves these jobs.

All we are asking is that the Government keeps to its promise. It has been a year since the Chancellor promised a support package for UK aviation.

This may now be the final call for that support. Without it, this industry will not recover at the speed nor on the scale of our competitors.

Analysis by the Airport Operators Association (AOA) found that just 14.2 million passengers travelled through UK airports between July and September last year, which was the lowest total since 1975.

Across the year as a whole, passenger numbers were down 75% compared with 2019.

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AOA chief executive Karen Dee claimed Mr Sunak has been proven right about the challenges but has failed to deliver sufficient support.

She said: The Chancellors failure to deliver on his promise has resulted in UK airports facing huge losses and trailing behind international competitors, who did receive significant support from their governments.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has repeatedly defended the UK Governments backing of the aviation sector.

He said last month that taxpayer-funded support during the pandemic had reached 7.2 billion.
Leaders from Aveva, a global leader in engineering and industrial software, and the Shell Oil Company joined forces to discuss the future of Smart Production recently and provided perspective on how Industry 5.0 will connect human elements to Smart Production.

Brent Kedzierski, Head of Learning Strategy and Innovation at Shell and Ian Willetts, Vice President for Process & Simulation at Aveva explored how more personalised solutions will empower workers to take greater control over their work experiences creating, more adaptive, on demand experiences which will increase worker confidence, resulting in greater workforce creativity, autonomy and performance.

According to Kedzierski, Industry 5.0 will be characterised by mass personalisation and greater workforce collaboration.

Human Intelligence to Work in Harmony with Cognitive Computing Capabilities

The discussion highlighted the need to accelerate the movement to better blend Industry 4.0 connected technologies with the humanistic practices and expectations of Industry 5.0 to deliver even more personalised worker experiences characteristic of higher concept and touch designs.

Combining the power of Industry 4.0 connected technologies with the human element of Industry 5.0 will pave the way for human intelligence to work in greater harmony with cognitive computing capabilities, said Kedzierski.

While Industry 4.0 was about smart production, IoT, sensors and drones, the discussion highlighted that Industry 5.0 will be differentiated by mass personalisation and experience design. Kedzierski is hopeful that Industry 5.0 will be a turning point for the human condition at work as physical and environmental safety competence is mastered and industry can shift to addressing psychological safety. Industry 5.0 will offer greater opportunity, prosperity and sustainability for our workforce, commented Kedzierski.

AI Infused Micro Learning will pinpoint a learners Strengths and Weaknesses

The speakers agreed that the need of the hour is to make the operator training environments more mobile, on-demand and collaborative to drive personalised worker experiences. The goal is to have an OTS where operators can come and build their own training exercises and easily share, test, and even gamify those with their colleagues.

In this regard, Willetts revealed that Aveva has now integrated operator training simulators with a learning management system (LMS) so that the competency set that must be developed as part of a classroom, lesson or experiential learning exercise can be managed and tracked by the LMS.

We've also integrated AI infused micro learning that can build upon that learning profile and identify an individuals strengths and weaknesses, Willetts said. We can also absolutely use the behavioural digital twin in experiential learning scenarios. The Digital Twin is not just a data representation of an asset, it provides insight and knowledge that helps companies better understand the behavior of the process. Kedzierski added,

We have witnessed this evolution reflected in the design of our operator training simulators (OTS) as well as the industry award winning behavioral based VR learning solution that Shell created with Aveva for frontline staff.

Kedzierski concluded that delivering more personalised worker experiences as we progress is necessary to serve the new industrial agenda of achieving the goals of both the enterprise as well as the welfare of humans.

Industry 5.0 will be about connecting human cognition, collaboration and creativity to smart production. Progress will be judged on not just the connection of data between the Internet of Things (IoT), but how connectivity enhances the human experience. The age of mass personalisation will be about achieving large-scale impact, one individual at a time.

Working on projects with innovative companies such as Shell is placing Aveva way ahead of the curve. Our mission is to help the people behind complex industrial processes with information and solutions that combine data, AI and smart analytics to optimise efficiency and will help to shape a sustainable future, Willetts also concluded.--TradeArabia News Service
People pull up in their vehicles for COVID-19 vaccines in the parking lot of The Forum in Inglewood, Calif., on Jan. 19, 2021. (Frederic J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images)

Orange County Inches Toward Moderate Reopening Tier

Orange County was one-tenth of a percentage away from advancing to a less-restrictive set of reopening rules March 16.

Although it missed the mark for the states most recent weekly review of COVID-19 data, it could reach the orange tier by April 7 if metrics continue a downward trend.

Reaching the orange tier would allow bars to open outdoors with modifications, so long as meals are not served alongside alcoholic beverages. Bowling alleys and indoor playgrounds will be allowed to reopen at 25 percent capacity for naturally distanced activities.

Orange County moved from the purple tier to the less restrictive red tier March 14, allowing for movie theaters, gyms, and restaurants to reopen at limited capacity. Retail stores can now operate at half capacity, while museums, zoos, and aquariums can function at 25 percent capacity.

To reach the orange tier, the county must meet state requirements along three guidelines. The state, which provides weekly updates on Tuesdays, indicated that Orange County met two of the three guidelines March 16.

The countys test positivity rate improved from 3.2 percent to 2.2 percent from last week. The county met the minimum requirement of 4.9 percent to reach the next tier.

The countys Health Equity Quartile rate, which measures positivity in hotspots in disadvantaged communities, improved from 4.1 percent to 3.5 percent. The county met the minimum requirement of 5.3 percent to reach the next tier.

The case rate per 100,000 improved from six to four on a seven-day average with a seven-day lagonly one-tenth of a percentage point away from the 3.9 per 100,000 cases needed to graduate to the orange tier.

The county must be in the red tier for at least three weeks before going into the orange zone, and needs to achieve two weeks of orange tier COVID-19 numbers prior to moving into the moderate tier.

If its downward COVID-19 trend continues, the county could move into the orange tier by April 7, just a few days after Easter.

While the red tier allows theme parks to open at 15 percent capacity, the orange tier allows them to operate at 25 percent capacity.

Wineries, breweries, and distilleries can open indoors with max 25 percent capacity or 100 people.

In the orange tier, churches and places of worship can open indoors at half capacity, as opposed to 25 percent in the red tier.

Offices can reopen indoors with modifications.

Outdoor live events can open from 20 percent to 33 percent, or 67 percent if all guests are tested or show full proof of vaccination.

Shopping centers can fully reopen indoors with modifications in the orange tier. Cardrooms and satellite wagering can open indoors at a 25 percent max capacity.

The county reported 164 positive cases of COVID-19 on March 17, and 25 fatalities.

Hospitalizations decreased from 216 on March 16 to 199 on March 17, with intensive care unit (ICU) patients declining from 62 to 54.

Our hospitalization and ICU numbers are down today, so thats good, Orange County chief executive Frank Kim said.

As well, people with certain chronic health conditions from 16 to 64 years old are now eligible to get vaccinated.

So far, the county has at least partially vaccinated more than one million people, or around one-third of the countys total population.

County officials said they were concerned about a potential outbreak and surge in cases as people mingle due to relaxed restrictionsespecially when spring break is right around the corner.

We had a meeting the other day where we were concerned about making sure we werent going to have a second surge with people maybe feeling a little bit too free from the lifting of restrictions, Kim said.

However, Andrew Noymer, a University of CaliforniaIrvine professor of population health and disease prevention, said vaccinations could help mitigate the impact of a surge in cases.

Im not crazy about the timing of spring break, but  its not automatic it will be a calamity, Noymer said.

I know a lot of people will ignore this advice [to avoid traveling], and given the declines we continue to see, Im optimistic that well somehow skate through.  But its a little hard to predict. If we get another wave in the U.S. the same way as Germany and Italy, then spring break may yet be indicted as an accessory after the fact.

The biggest fear is grandma as opposed to the kid who goes to Daytona Beach. The difference this year is weve vaccinated 100 million Americans, including many grandmas, so Im not quite as severe with my finger-wagging as I was a year ago, but I still think the prudent step is to just skip it.

City News Service contributed to this report.
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Taron Egerton as Elton John in Rocketman. Photo: Paramount Pictures

The Catholic Church restated its stance against same-sex marriage on March 15, with the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith saying God cannot bless sin. In the wake of this news, Elton John would like to remind the Catholic Church that it once blessed his sinful 2019 biopic Rocketman with funding. How can the Vatican refuse to bless gay marriages because they are sin, yet happily make a profit from investing millions in Rocketman  a film which celebrates my finding happiness from my marriage to David?? John tweeted, literally @-ing Pope Francis himself. John cited a December 2019 investigation in which Italian newspaper Corriere Della Sera uncovered significant Vatican ties to the Centurion Global Fund in Malta. The fund, in turn, contributed $4.5 million to Rocketman and Men in Black: International in February 2019, the Daily Beast noted, per the Corriere report. Investigations are in process, the Vatican told the Beast at the time. Rocketman doesnt just portray Johns marriage  it notably depicted gay sex, which led the film to be censored in countries like Russia. Plus, The Two Popes was right there on the 2019 release calendar for the Vatican to fund instead.

How can the Vatican refuse to bless gay marriages because they are sin, yet happily make a profit from investing millions in Rocketman - a film which celebrates my finding happiness from my marriage to David?? #hypocrisy@VaticanNews @Pontifex pic.twitter.com/sURtrWB6Nd  Elton John (@eltonofficial) March 15, 2021
The mouse embryos looked perfectly normal. All their organs were developing as expected, along with their limbs and circulatory and nervous systems. Their tiny hearts were beating at a normal 170 beats per minute.

But these embryos were not growing in a mother mouse. They were developed inside an artificial uterus, the first time such a feat has been accomplished, scientists reported on Wednesday.

The experiments, at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel, were meant to help scientists understand how mammals develop and how gene mutations, nutrients and environmental conditions may affect the fetus. But the work may one day raise profound questions about whether other animals, even humans, should or could be cultured outside a living womb.

In a study published in the journal Nature, Dr. Jacob Hanna described removing embryos from the uteruses of mice at five days of gestation and growing them for six more days in artificial wombs.
DICOT, UK / ACCESSWIRE / March 17, 2021 / Altus Strategies Plc (AIM:ALS)(TSXV:ALTS)(OTCQX:ALTUF) announces the completion of a strategic review ("Strategic Review") by independent consultants Mining Plus UK Ltd ("Mining Plus"), on the Company's 97% owned high-grade Bikoula iron ("Fe") project ("Bikoula" or the "Project") located in southern Cameroon. The Strategic Review will be used to determine the next steps for the development of the Project.

Highlights:

Strategic Review of high-grade Bikoula iron project in southern Cameroon

Processing, product specification, development and shipment options reviewed

Historical drilling includes 30.8m at 57.9% Fe from 3.8 m (potential true width of interval)

Bikoula hosts a deposit with a historic independent JORC compliant Mineral Resource Estimate of 46 million tonnes at 44% Fe

At least 75% of the 13 km long priority target area remains untested

Prior metallurgical test-work yielded 62.26% Fe concentrate using gravity separation

Bikoula is located approximately 350 km by road from recently completed deep water port

Environmental and Social Impact Assessment Study has been completed

Steven Poulton, Chief Executive of Altus, commented:

"We are pleased to report that independent consulting firm Mining Plus has completed a strategic economic review of the Company's high grade Bikoula iron project in southern Cameroon. The Project hosts a substantial colluvial iron weathered blanket, which rests above a primary iron deposit. The Strategic Review examined the processing, product specification and transportation options for Bikoula and will assist the Company in advancing the Project through next stages of development.

'As previously reported, preliminary metallurgical test-work on representative samples from Bikoula has yielded a high grade 62.26% Fe concentrate, using gravity separation alone. With only 25% of the 13 km long strike length of Bikoula having been tested to date, we believe the Project has considerable exploration upside potential. Recent infrastructure improvements in the region, including a containerised deep-water port at Kribi as well as significant road improvements, are expected to further enhance the economics of the Project.

"The Project's economics are supported by the price of iron ore, which has traded above US$100/tonne since June 2020. The Company believes Bikoula represents an attractive standalone iron asset and we look forward to providing an update on the Project in due course."

Bikoula: Strategic Review

Mining Plus was engaged by the Company to produce an in-depth Strategic Review of the Project, analysing the work completed to date to create an updated financial model. The Strategic Review incorporates the potential positive impacts from recent infrastructure upgrades in Cameroon, including the completion of the deep water port at Kribi (located 350 km to the west of the Project) and the construction of new roads.

Mining Plus modelled the likely capital and operational expenditures, including transportation costs from the Project by road to Kribi. The likely product specification, processing routes and shipping options (including via container) were also reviewed. The Strategic Review will now be used by the Company to determine the next steps for developing the Project, including the potential to undertake a resource expansion drilling programme.

Bikoula: Project Summary

The 194 km2 Bikoula Project comprises the contiguous Bikoula and Ndjele exploration licences which are 99 km2 and 95 km2 in size respectively. Both of these licences were selected based on the presence of a significant magnetic anomaly coincident with historically mapped Banded Iron Ore Formation ("BIF"). The BIFs form the westerly strike extension of the Nkout iron deposit and are approximately 160 km northwest of the Mbalam iron deposit. A high resolution airborne magnetic survey completed by the Company has identified numerous priority drill targets.

Bikoula: Colluvial Blanket

Mineralisation at Bikoula comprises a blanket of colluvial haematite, which is typically mapped as 200-300m wide and reaches up to 500m wide in places. The colluvial blanket is located at surface and is typically up to 10m deep and reaches up to 23.7m based on drill undertaken by Altus. In places, it rests directly above a horizon of supergene enriched haematite, which in turn sits above a significant BIF.

Bikoula: Historic Work

As previously reported, Altus has undertaken systematic drilling and surface pitting over approximately 25% of the 13 km long Libi Hills Prospect.

Historic drilling by Altus

As previously reported, Altus has to date completed 48 diamond drill holes, totalling approximately 3,900m, at Bikoula. Over half of the holes intersected at least 20m of >40% Fe. Significant intersections (considered approximate true width) include:

57.8m @ 51.4% Fe (including 30.8m at 57.9% Fe, from 3.8m)

35.0m @ 55.9% Fe from 10.0m

28.3m @ 49.9% Fe from 15.0m

JORC Mineral Resource Estimate

The Project hosts an iron deposit which is the subject of an historic independent Mineral Resource Estimate ("MRE") prepared by Coffey Mining South Africa (Pty) Ltd entitled "Mineral Resource Estimation and Classification of the Bikoula Iron Ore Project in Cameroon" dated April 2014 which Altus believes remains relevant and reliable. The MRE is reported in accordance with the JORC Code (the Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves) under which an "inferred resource" is considered substantially similar to NI 43-101.

Table 1. JORC Inferred MRE (non-43-101), dated April 2014 (non-beneficiated)

Zone Rock Type Tonnes

(t) Fe

(%) SiO2

(%) P

(%) TiO2

(%) Al2O3

(%) S

(%) LOI3

(%) Libi Colluvium 39,000,000 43.0 13.1 0.09 0.8 14.8 0.04 9.3 Supergene 5,000,000 52.7 14.3 0.07 0.7 5.1 0.02 4.1 Lombo Colluvium 1,000,000 43.6 22.0 0.09 0.4 8.1 0.03 6.2 Supergene 1,000,000 38.9 35.3 0.08 0.2 4.4 0.02 3.4 Total 46,000,000 44.2 13.9 0.08 0.7 13.4 0.03 8.5

Notes:

The three dimensional block models were created using Inverse Distance Weighting in the estimation of all zones No cut-off grade considerations were made as modelling was based on lithology Loss on ignition

The key assumptions, parameters, and methods used to prepare the MRE were:

Data from 48 diamond drill holes, totalling 3,889m and a database containing assay values for 1,300 samples.

Coffey Mining South Africa (Pty) Ltd created a geological model based on the lithological logging and magnetic susceptibility data. A detailed statistical analysis was undertaken according to the geological model for each domain. Statistics for the raw and composited datasets were calculated. The compositing of the samples were undertaken for each domain. The mineralised layers were composited vertically into 5m composites.

A geological model was constructed using Micromine modelling software. Grade estimation was undertaken using Datamine's Studio 3 software.

No bulk density measurements were determined on the colluvial and supergene materials. Densities used in the mineral resource estimation were sourced from information on similar properties in the region.

Half overall average drill hole spacing was used in the construction of the block model.

The block sizes for the Lombo prospect and the northern portion of Libi prospect used 100m x 100m x 5m. The southern part of the Libi prospect used 250m x 500m x 5m. In all models, sub-celling was allowed to better represent the mineralisation volume.

All the major oxides, total sulphur and loss on ignition (LOI) were estimated.

Different search volumes were used for well-informed and less informed areas.

A three-pass estimation strategy was applied to all models, applying an expanded and less restrictive sample search to the second and subsequent estimation passes, and only considered blocks not previously assigned an estimate. Inverse distance weighting technique (power 2) was used for all the domains.

The grade estimation within the block model was validated by comparing the average block model grades with the average drillhole grades and by visual inspection. There were no material differences between these means.

The MRE was classified based on drilling technique, logging quality, drill hole sampling recovery, sub-sampling techniques and sample preparation, quality of data, verification of assay, location of the sampling points, data density and distribution, database integrity, geological interpretation, modelling and estimation technique.

A Qualified Person has not done sufficient work to classify the historical MRE as a current mineral resource and Altus is not treating the historical MRE as a current mineral resource. However, it remains relevant to the Project and Altus believes it is also reliable. To verify the Historical Mineral Resource so that it can be considered a current mineral resource, a qualified resource consultant would need to review historical drilling data and prepare a mineral resource estimate in accordance with current resource methodology.

Metallurgical testwork

As previously reported, the colluvial and supergene mineralisation from Bikoula has been tested by Bureau Veritas (Perth) and SGS (Truro), respectively, and returned positive results, indicating a yield of 62.26% Fe concentrate from gravity separation alone.

Illustrations

The following figures have been prepared by Altus and relate to the disclosures in this announcement and are visible in the version of this announcement on the Company's website (www.altus-strategies.com) or in PDF format by following this link: https://altus-strategies.com/site/assets/files/5062/altus_nr_-_bikoula_17_march_2021.pdf

Location of the Bikoula Project in Cameroon is shown in Figure 1

Magnetic survey results of the Bikoula Project is shown in Figure 2

Location of Bikoula MRE in relation to magnetic anomalies is shown in Figure 3

Priority targets at Bikoula are shown in Figure 4

Bikoula Project: Location

The 194 km2 Bikoula Project, comprising the Bikoula and Ndjele exploration licences, is located in southern Cameroon, approximately 150 km southeast of the capital city of Yaounde. The Project is accessible via a network of predominantly paved roads which also connect the Project to the recently constructed deep-water container port at Kribi. Bikoula is situated within 30 km from a proposed trans-Cameroon railway line that aims to service a number of iron deposits in the region, including the Mbalam and Nkout deposits, the latter of which is located directly along strike of the Project.

Bikoula Project: Geology

The Bikoula project was selected based on the presence of a significant magnetic geophysical signature. The Project area is underlain by the Ntem Unit of the Archaean Ntem Complex which is comprised of two main 'series' - an intrusive group comprising tonalities and granodiorites, as well as a banded group made up of deformed granulitic gneisses. In addition, the complex hosts a number of discontinuous greenstone belts that are typically sheared and faulted, containing paragneisses, amphibolites, pyroxenites and banded iron formations.

Within the Project, metasedimentary rocks represent an interbedded sequence of exhalative chemical sediments and clastic units which weather near surface and grade into primary banded iron formations at depth. These steeply dipping iron-rich units trend along an approximately NW-SE strike and are sporadically cut by a number of E-W and NE-SW trending faults. Colluvial iron mineralisation at Bikoula comprises a blanket of unconsolidated weathered supergene BIF clasts, with grains of oxidised magnetite and depleted levels of silica. The colluvial material is usually found as a layer of variable thickness above BIF.

Qualified Person

The technical disclosure in this regulatory announcement has been approved by Steven Poulton, Chief Executive of Altus. A graduate of the University of Southampton in Geology (Hons), he also holds a Master's degree from the Camborne School of Mines (Exeter University) in Mining Geology. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining and has over 20 years of experience in mineral exploration and is a Qualified Person under the AIM rules and NI 43-101.

For further information you are invited to visit the Company's website www.altus-strategies.com or contact:

Altus Strategies Plc

Steven Poulton, Chief Executive Tel:+44 (0) 1235 511 767

E: info@altus-strategies.com SP Angel (Nominated Adviser)

Richard Morrison / Adam Cowl Tel: +44 (0) 20 3470 0470 SP Angel (Broker)

Grant Barker / Richard Parlons Tel: +44 (0) 20 3470 0471 Yellow Jersey PR (Financial PR & IR)

Charles Goodwin / Henry Wilkinson Tel: +44 (0) 20 3004 9512

E: altus@yellowjerseypr.com

About Altus Strategies Plc

Altus Strategies (AIM: ALS, TSX-V: ALTS & OTCQX: ALTUF) is a mining royalty company generating a diversified and precious metal focused portfolio of assets. The Company's focus on Africa and differentiated approach, of generating royalties on its own discoveries as well as through financings and acquisitions with third parties, has attracted key institutional investor backing. The Company engages constructively with all stakeholders, working diligently to minimise its environmental impact and to promote positive economic and social outcomes in the communities where it operates. For further information, please visit www.altus-strategies.com.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Certain information included in this announcement, including information relating to future financial or operating performance and other statements that express the expectations of the Directors or estimates of future performance constitute "forward-looking statements". These statements address future events and conditions and, as such, involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the statements. Such factors include, without limitation, the completion of planned expenditures, the ability to complete exploration programmes on schedule and the success of exploration programmes. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking information, which speak only as of the date of this announcement and the forward-looking statements contained in this announcement are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement.

Where the Company expresses or implies an expectation or belief as to future events or results, such expectation or belief is based on assumptions made in good faith and believed to have a reasonable basis. The forward-looking statements contained in this announcement are made as at the date hereof and the Company assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking information or any forward-looking statements contained in any other announcements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required under applicable law or regulations.

TSX Venture Exchange Disclaimer

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor the Investment Industry Regulatory Organisation of Canada accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Market Abuse Regulation Disclosure

Certain information contained in this announcement would have been deemed inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of Regulation (EU) No 596/2014 ("MAR") until the release of this announcement.

Glossary of Terms

The following is a glossary of technical terms:

"BIF" means Banded Iron Formation

"grade(s)" means the quantity of ore or metal in a specified quantity of rock

"Fe" means iron

"JORC Code" means the 2012 edition of the "Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves" prepared by the Joint Ore Reserves Committee of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, Australian Institute of Geoscientists and Minerals Council of Australia. The JORC Code is an acceptable foreign code for purposes of NI 43-101.

"km" means kilometres

"m" means metres

"MRE" means Mineral Resource Estimate

"NI 43-101" means National Instrument 43-101 "Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects" of the Canadian Securities Administrators

"Qualified Person" means a person that has the education, skills and professional credentials to qualify as a qualified person under NI 43-101

SOURCE: Altus Strategies PLC

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/635877/Strategic-Review-of-Bikoula-Iron-Project-Southern-Cameroon
On the 10th anniversary of the uprising against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, the top diplomats of the United States, Germany, France, Italy and Britain reaffirmed their commitment to a political solution to the conflict.



In a joint statement on Monday, they recalled the human rights abuses, violations of international law, war atrocities and the humanitarian crisis triggered by the civil war.



"It is imperative the regime and its supporters engage seriously in the political process and allow humanitarian assistance to reach communities in need," it said.



"The proposed Syrian presidential election this year will neither be free nor fair, nor should it lead to any measure of international normalization with the Syrian regime.



Any political process needs the participation of all Syrians, including the diaspora and the displaced, to enable all voices to be heard," it said.



The statement was issued by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas, Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio and British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab.



They said they too were committed to "reinvigorating the pursuit of a peaceful solution" and will "firmly continue to press for accountability for the most serious crimes."



The Syrian crisis, which started with peaceful pro-democracy protests on March 15, 2011, soon evolved into a full-blown conflict, drawing in foreign fighters and powers.



The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said on Sunday that at least 388,652 people have been killed in Syria's conflict.



Around 62 per cent of Syria is under the control of government forces and allied paramilitaries, while the remainder is divided among Kurdish militias, Turkish-backed rebels and Islamist fighters, the monitor said.

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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The National Investigation Agency (NIA) is likely to take over the probe of the death of Mumbai-based businessman Mansukh Hiren, whose dead body was found in a creek in Thane here, sources said.

On March 3, the NIA has taken over the probe of the explosive laden SUV found outside the residence of Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani's house Antilia in Mumbai with 20 gelatin sticks and a threat note on February 25.

The anti-terror probe agency arrested Mumbai police official Sachin Vaze on March 13. He was sent to NIA custody till March 25.

An NIA source said that the anti-terror probe is likely to over the case soon as there are several threads connected with the two cases.

The NIA also seized the balck colour Mercedes Benz which was used by Vaze on Tuesday night.

Besides the Mercedes, the NIA also seized Rs 5 lakh cash, a currency note counting machine and some clothes.

The case of the death of Hiren is currently being probed by the Maharashtra Police's Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), which is being monitored by its Chief Additional Director General Jai Jeet Singh and Deputy Inspector General Shivdeep Lande.

Dead body of Mansukh Hiren was found on March 5, a day after he disappeared.

The Maharashtra Police sources said that on the night of March 4, the mobile locations of Hiren changed frequently.

The source claimed that Hiren's mobile phone last location was the Tungareshwar National Park before it went off.

The source further claimed that in the night of March 4, the last location was of Vasai city and by the time it was switched off.

He further claimed that surprisingly the phone location in next 15 minutes shifted to a spot at the Tungareshwar National Park, which is 14 km away from Vasai city.

The source said that the mobile phone of Hiren is yet to be recovered.

An NIA source related to probe said that Vaze was reportedly present on the spot near Antilia where the explosives-laden SUV was parked on February 25.

Vaze, the controversial API, who was suspended on Monday, used a police car (Toyota Innova) as a getaway vehicle to flee from the spot. The Innova was later seized from the Mumbai Police Commissionerate office.

He said that during preliminary investigation, it was found that while the Innova was driven out of the Commissionerate office on February 25 night of executing the crime, no entries of the vehicle's movement were logged on the registers.

Another crucial evidence which puts Vaze in the dock is registration of an FIR of the stolen SUV (Mahindra Scorpio) at the Vikhroli police station.

NIA officials suspect that the SUV was never stolen. The vehicle was being used by Vaze and was parked at his residential society.

After the execution of the crime, Sachin Vaze has reportedly taken away the Digital Video Recorder (DVR) to seize the CCTV footage of the SUV parked at his society. Before registration of an FIR, the Vikhroli police failed to do due diligence on the whereabouts of the SUV, which was reportedly in Vaze's possession.

API Vaze, who was placed under suspension in 2004 over a case of custodial death, was reinstated in the police department months after the Shiv Sena joined hands with the NCP and the Congress to form a government in Maharshtra in late 2019.

In a relaxed development, BJP ex-MP Kirit Somaiya on Wednesday demanded that the NIA should order a probe into what he alleged the irregular reinstatement of Vaze to the Mumbai Police last year.

Claiming that the Mansukh Hiren family is scared, he also sought protection from them from the NIA.
Real estate agent Karl Howard (pictured) has been charged with attempted murder over an alleged attack on two women

The $2.2million home where a real estate agent allegedly threatened to kill a woman with a samurai sword has hit the market, touted as a 'peaceful sanctuary'.

Karl Howard, 44, allegedly attacked his date and her friend inside his home in Annandale, in Sydney's inner-west, just after 5am on February 8.

He was arrested and charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm, wounding with intent to murder and trespassing.

Howard, who has since been stood down from Ray White in Balmain, has now listed his multimillion-dollar property at 73 Ferris Street in Annandale - the scene of the alleged crime.

The home, listed by Belle Property, is open for inspection this Saturday ahead of the April 10 auction.

The three-bedroom, two-bathroom property is described as a 'peaceful executive sanctuary with an emphasis on alfresco entertaining'.

'There are not many urban residences that can create such a unique sense of space, privacy and ease of indoor/outdoor living,' the property description reads.

The home features a landscaped open centre court, large alfresco terrace and a double lockup garage.

'The house was always planning to go on the market. Regardless of the circumstances, the family instructed me to proceed with the sale,' Simone Azzi from Belle told the Sydney Morning Herald.

'I don't believe the property holds any psychological stigma for anybody.'

Howard, who has since been stood down from Ray White in Balmain, has now listed his multimillion-dollar property at 73 Ferris Street in Annandale - the scene of the alleged crime

The three-bedroom, two-bathroom property is described as a 'peaceful executive sanctuary with an emphasis on alfresco entertaining'

Police say Howard's alleged attack on a 27-year-old woman he met online and her 29-year-old friend took place at the picturesque home.

According to the Sydney Magistrate Glenn Bartley's remarks, the 'extremely traumatic' evening began when the 29-year-old friend - who can only be referred to as 'Victim 2' - arrived at Howard's Annandale property about 7.15pm on Sunday, February 7.

After chatting, Victim 2 noticed both Howard, 44, and her mate appeared disoriented, were talking quickly and weren't making much sense, the court heard.

'Have you taken something?' Victim 2 reportedly asked.

Howard ran around the property, saying 'I want to keep drinking, I don't want to go to sleep,' the court heard.

Victim 2 would later learn Howard had taken four cialis pills (a brand of Viagra), snorted cocaine and wouldn't disclose if he had consumed anything else.

Later that night he became paranoid, thinking the two women were talking about him, the court heard.

Victim 2 attempted to calm Howard, before he allegedly announced: 'I have to f***ing kill her,' the court heard.

The home features a landscaped central atrium, large alfresco terrace and a double lockup garage

The home, listed by Belle Property, is open for inspection this Saturday ahead of the April 10 auction

'At some stage following this, the accused began skipping around the house signing "I'm going to kill her" and gesturing at (Victim 1),' the court heard.

Howard then allegedly pushed Victim 1 into some kitchen bar stools, causing her to cry.

The court was told Howard then went and grabbed a pair of scissors from a kitchen drawer and made violent gestures - before dumping them in the kitchen sink.

Then he threw a kitchen drawer across the room, slamming it into a wall, the court heard.

Victim 2 began removing knives from a drawer to hide the potential weapons from Howard, the court heard.

'I love you,' Howard then allegedly told Victim 1. 'Don't leave me.'

He then allegedly struck her, with his elbow, to the top right of her forehead.

Victim 2 tried to calm Howard before grabbing her purse as Victim 1 cried: 'I can't believe what I've seen.'

Howard then allegedly put his hand around the throat of Victim 1, before attempting to kiss her with an open mouth.

He then punched her, with a closed fist, to the head - causing her to fall to the ground.

Howard has been remanded in custody and hasn't applied for bail. The case returns to court in April

Howard was eventually arrested on the above street and suffered an injury to his elbow

In the chaos, as Victim 2 tried to order an Uber and the friends planned to escape, Howard then went downstairs, the court heard.

He allegedly returned upstairs carrying a metre-and-a-half long samurai sword, and removed it from its sheath.

Howard then swung the sword at his date's friend - knocking her to the ground and slashing her deeply - while his love interest ran from the property to get help.

'After Victim 1 had exited the property, the accused began singing to Victim 2: "I'm going to kill you",' the magistrate read to the court.

Howard allegedly continued to slash her, hitting her wrist and knocking her again to the ground where she bled profusely.

He has been remanded in custody and hasn't applied for bail. The case returns to court in April.
Emily Grene logo Our business is constantly changing, but our commitment to our customers is steadfast. Were consistently redefining the way clients realize the benefits from our integrated technology solutions. We are flexible and continue to adapt how we work with our clients to ensure their long-term success. Past News Releases RSS

Inc. magazine today revealed that EMILY GRENE is No. 165 on its second annual Inc. 5000 Regionals: California list, the most prestigious ranking of the fastest-growing California-based private companies. Born of the annual Inc. 5000 franchise, this regional list represents a unique look at the most successful companies within the California economys most dynamic segmentits independent small businesses.

"Achieving consistent growth while improving upon our solutions is a testament to our team's talent and commitment to our company's mission," says Emily Grene CEO Burke Ewers. "Our business is constantly changing, but our commitment to our customers is steadfast. Were consistently redefining the way clients realize the benefits from our integrated technology solutions. We are flexible and continue to adapt how we work with our clients to ensure their long-term success.

The companies on this list show stunning rates of growth across all industries in California. Between 2017 and 2019, these 250 private companies had an average growth rate of 535 percent and, in 2019 alone, they employed more than 40,000 people and added nearly $7 billion to the California economy. Companies based in major metro areasLos Angeles, the Bay Area, and San Diegobrought in the highest revenue overall.

At Emily Grene, were rebels committed to challenging the status quo. When we hear that something cant be done, we work together to find a way to make it happen, said Ewers. This award acknowledges that ethos. Weve learned from the past, assessed the present, and embrace the promise of a successful future.

Complete results of the Inc. 5000 Regionals: California, including company profiles and an interactive database that can be sorted by industry, metro area, and other criteria, can be found at https://www.inc.com/inc5000/regionals/california starting March 16, 2021.

This list proves the power of companies in California no matter the industry, says Inc. editor-in-chief Scott Omelianuk. The impressive revenues and growth rates prove the insight and diligence of CEOs and that these businesses are here to stay.

About Emily Grene

As a national provider of clean energy technologies and services, Emily Grene helps businesses find cost-effective green solutions that reduce energy consumption and negative environmental impact. We work across many sectorsincluding industrial, commercial, institutional, and residential. In each, we support our clients in implementing initiatives that focus on environmental policy and its impact on customers. Emily Grenes success in meeting our customers goals is touted by clients across all our divisionselectrical, low voltage, air conditioning, automation, security, construction, and smart home installation. Our innovative design and technological integration provide solutions that maximize efficiency, reduce energy consumption, and increase savings and profits. We bring a whole different energy; asking better questions to get to better answers.

CONTACT:

Deanna Masiar

Director, Marketing Content & Strategy

Emily Grene

+1 626 222 8870

dmasiar@emily-grene.com

https://www.linkedin.com/company/emilygrene/

More about Inc. and the Inc. 5000 Regionals

Methodology

The 2021 Inc. 5000 Regional are ranked according to percentage revenue growth when comparing 2017 and 2019. To qualify, companies must have been founded and generating revenue by March 31, 2017. They had to be U.S.-based, privately held, for profit, and independentnot subsidiaries or divisions of other companiesas of December 31, 2019. (Since then, a number of companies on the list have gone public or been acquired.) The minimum revenue required for 2017 is $100,000; the minimum for 2019 is $1 million. As always, Inc. reserves the right to decline applicants for subjective reasons.

About Inc. Media

The worlds most trusted business-media brand, Inc. offers entrepreneurs the knowledge, tools, connections, and community to build great companies. Its award-winning multiplatform content reaches more than 50 million people each month across a variety of channels including websites, newsletters, social media, podcasts, and print. Its prestigious Inc. 5000 list, produced every year since 1982, analyzes company data to recognize the fastest-growing privately held businesses in the United States. The global recognition that comes with inclusion in the 5000 gives the founders of the best businesses an opportunity to engage with an exclusive community of their peers, and the credibility that helps them drive sales and recruit talent. The associated Inc. 5000 Conference is part of a highly acclaimed portfolio of bespoke events produced by Inc. For more information, visit http://www.inc.com.
[March 17, 2021] Former Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency Joins Deep Water Point

ANNAPOLIS, Md., March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Deep Water Point announced that LTG Robert (Bob) Ashley, USA, Ret. joined its team in support of the company's defense and intelligence business. General Ashley is a senior leader with 36 years of experience in operational combat, intelligence, global security, cybersecurity, analytics, and risk management. His most recent position was the Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) from 2017-2020. His full biography can be found on the company's website: https://www.deepwaterpoint.com/robert-ashley/. Deep Water Point has recruited some of the nation's top federal civilian and military leaders to suport its growing consulting practice -- particularly in the areas of defense and intelligence. Other military leaders who have joined the firm include the former Deputy Commanding Generals of U.S. European Command, U.S. Southern Command, and U.S. Northern Command. The former Commanding General of U.S. Army Special Operations Command and the Chief of Staff of U.S. Cyber Command joined the firmed in prior months.



"Providing exceptional service to our clients requires us to recruit and sustain the best people industry and government have to offer," said Howard Seeger, Deep Water Point's Managing Partner. "General Ashley will be joining a very strong team of former senior government, military, and industry executives who understand the market and provide real value to our clients," he said. Deep Water Point is a Federal Management Consulting firm located within the Washington, D.C. National Capital Region (NCR). Its consulting team consists of roughly 300 subject matter executives spanning the defense, intelligence, and federal civilian markets. Deep Water Point's primary headquarters is in Annapolis, Maryland. Members of its team are geographically dispersed across the NCR and other parts of the United States. For more information about Deep Water Point, its services, or General Ashley visit: www.deepwaterpoint.com

Deep Water Point, Point of Contact:

John C. Johnson, Partner

Marketing, Recruiting, and Communications

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SEOUL (dpa-AFX) - Eight people, including six women of Asian origin, were killed in shooting spree at three massage parlors in Atlanta, Georgia. South Korea's foreign ministry has confirmed that four of the victims were of Korean descent. Two other victims were a white woman and a white man, according to the spokesman for Acworth, Cherokee County Sheriff's office. Public officials raised doubt if the attacks were racially motivated as a rise in hate crimes targeting Asian-Americans were reported in recent months. The first attack took pace at Youngs Asian Massage Parlor, northwest of Atlanta, at about 5 PM local time Tuesday, followed by shootings at Gold Spa and Aromatherapy Spa, both in north-east Atlanta. All attacks took place within one hour. Prime suspect, 21-year-old Robert Aaron Long of Woodstock, Georgia, was arrested about 150 miles away from the shooting site Tuesday night. Advocacy group Stop AAPI Hate [Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders] condemned the incident. 'The reported shootings of Asian American women on Tuesday in Atlanta is an unspeakable tragedy - for the families of the victims first and foremost, but also for the AAPI community - which has been reeling from high levels of racial discrimination,' it said on Twitter. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
This illustration depicts ultraviolet polar aurorae on Jupiter and Earth. While the diameter of the Jovian world is 10 times larger than that of Earth, both planets have markedly similar aurora.

New results from the Ultraviolet Spectrograph instrument on NASA's Juno mission reveal for the first time the birth of auroral dawn storms the early morning brightening unique to Jupiter's spectacular aurorae.

These immense, transient displays of light occur at both Jovian poles and had previously been observed only by ground-based and Earth-orbiting observatories, notably NASA's Hubble Space Telescope. Results of this study were published March 16 in the journal AGU Advances.

First discovered by Hubble's Faint Object Camera in 1994, dawn storms consist of short-lived but intense brightening and broadening of Jupiter's main auroral oval an oblong curtain of light that surrounds both poles near where the atmosphere emerges from darkness in the early morning region. Before Juno, observations of Jovian ultraviolet aurora had offered only side views, hiding everything happening on the nightside of the planet.

"Observing Jupiter's aurora from Earth does not allow you to see beyond the limb, into the nightside of Jupiter's poles. Explorations by other spacecraft Voyager, Galileo, Cassini happened from relatively large distances and did not fly over the poles, so they could not see the complete picture," said Bertrand Bonfond, a researcher from the University of Lige in Belgium and lead author of the study. "That's why the Juno data is a real game changer, allowing us a better understanding what is happening on the nightside, where the dawn storms are born."



Researchers found dawn storms are born on the nightside of the gas giant. As the planet rotates, the soon-to-be dawn storm rotates with it into the dayside, where these complex and intensely bright auroral features grow even more luminous, emitting anywhere from hundreds to thousands of gigawatts of ultraviolet light into space. The jump in brightness implies that dawn storms are dumping at least 10 times more energy into Jupiter's upper atmosphere than typical aurora.



"When we looked at the whole dawn storm sequence, we couldn't help but notice that they are very similar to a type of terrestrial auroras called substorms," said Zhonghua Yao, co-author of the study at the University of Lige."



Substorms result from brief disturbances in the Earth's magnetosphere the region of space controlled by the planet's magnetic field that release energy high into the planet's ionosphere. The similarity between terrestrial and Jovian substorms is surprising because the magnetospheres of Jupiter and Earth are radically different. On Earth, the magnetosphere is essentially controlled by the interaction of the solar wind the stream of charged particles flowing from the Sun with Earth's magnetic field. Jupiter's magnetosphere is mostly populated by particles escaping from the volcanic moon Io, which then get ionized and trapped around the gas giant via its magnetic field.



These new findings will allow scientists to further study the differences and similarities driving the formation of aurora, providing a better understanding how these most beautiful of planetary phenomena occur on worlds both within our solar system and beyond.



"The power that Jupiter possesses is amazing. The energy in these dawn aurorae is yet another example of how powerful this giant planet really is," said Scott Bolton, principal investigator of Juno from the Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio. "The dawn storm revelations are another surprise from the Juno mission, which is constantly rewriting the book on how giant planet's work. With NASA's recent mission extension, we're looking forward to many more new insights and discoveries."

More About the Mission

JPL, a division of Caltech in Pasadena, California, manages the Juno mission for the principal investigator, Scott J. Bolton, of the Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio. Juno is part of NASA's New Frontiers Program, which is managed at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, for the agency's Science Mission Directorate in Washington. Lockheed Martin Space in Denver built and operates the spacecraft.

More information about Juno is available at: https://www.nasa.gov/juno https://www.missionjuno.swri.edu

Follow the mission on Facebook and Twitter at: https://www.facebook.com/NASASolarSystem https://www.twitter.com/NASASolarSystem



Please follow SpaceRef on Twitter and Like us on Facebook.
Hurricane season 2021 is here: How do storms get their names?
On Sunday, Zach Fisch, the chief of staff for New York Democratic Representative Mondaire Jones, discovered a copy of the notorious anti-Semitic propaganda screed, Protocols of the Elders of Zion, on the desk of a Capitol Police officer.

On Monday evening, acting Capitol Police Chief Yogananda Pittman released a statement confirming the suspension of an unnamed police officer Monday evening, pending an investigation, after anti-Semitic reading material was discovered near his work area on Sunday.

Pittman confirmed in congressional testimony last month that 35 Capitol police officers were being investigated for their actions during the January 6 fascistic insurrection.

Capitol police officer photo by Lorie Shaull/Wikimedia Commons

Fisch, who is Jewish, said he was horrified after discovering, in his words, a tattered printout that was over two years old sitting in plain sight at the security checkpoint.

On Twitter, Fisch posed multiple pertinent questions: Why did that officer feel comfortable leaving this out in the open? This printout was tattered, over two years old. Had it been passed around? How many other USCP officers share these beliefs?

Fisch also noted that there were not an insignificant number of Capitol Police officers on January 6 who were indifferent toand even accommodating ofwhite supremacist insurrectionists, some of whom wore Camp Auschwitz t-shirts.

Two other developments underscore the close relationship between far-right and fascistic groups, including the Proud Boys and the Oath Keepers, and the police and military.

Fresno cop suspended after ties to fascistic groups exposed

On Sunday, Fresno, California, Police Chief Paco Balderrama announced an internal affairs investigation and placed Fresno cop and admitted Proud Boys member Rick Fitzgerald on leave after footage emerged of Fitzgerald at a protest the previous Sunday.

Fitzgerald was positively identified online as a cop via his tattoos by anti-fascists who compared pictures of a man identified as Rick claiming to be part of a group called Sons of 76 at the protest to a Proud Boy who was photographed last November in Sacramento during a Stop the Steal protest.

Fitzgerald has confirmed that he was a recent member of the Proud Boys, but said he left the group in order to start the Sons of 76. Speaking of the Proud Boys, Fitzgerald said he did not disparage them and what they do, and encouraged others to join them or the III Percenters, another fascist group. He said he was no longer a member of the Proud Boys because he wanted to do something, a little more proactive in the community.

The Fresno Bee reported that Fitzgerald said in a podcast he hosted, in which he goes by the moniker Sheepdog, that he had been a Proud Boy for about a year and reached the third degree and leadership level of membership before he left.

In the same podcast, recorded the day after the siege on the Capitol, Fitzgerald admitted he got a little giddy inside seeing politicians hiding behind walls and scared and running in their bunkers because thats what needs to happen.

In a now-deleted Instagram post, Fitzgerald posted a picture of himself holding a shotgun with a Punisher-style skull mask with the caption sh*t is a lot easier when you can kill people.

Fitzgerald was one of eight officers who shot and killed 23-year-old Rod Fironi, a student at Fresno Pacific University, in October 2010. While Fironi was holding a gun when police encountered him, he never fired the weapon. After allegedly refusing to drop the weapon, Fitzgerald and seven other officers discharged 63 rounds into Fironi, killing him. None of the officers were ever disciplined for their actions.

Prosecutors argue neo-Nazi Army Reservist should remain imprisoned

Federal prosecutors revealed in court documents released March 12 the results of a recent Naval Criminal Investigative Service investigation into the activity of a previously arrested Capitol insurrectionist, Navy federal contractor and now former Army Reservist, Sgt. Timothy Hale-Cusanelli.

Prosecutors are seeking to keep Hale-Cusanelli in pretrial detention due to the risk that he will obstruct or attempt to obstruct justice, or threaten, injure, or intimidate, or attempt to threaten, injure, or intimidate, a prospective witness.

Hale-Cusanelli was arrested in January and is facing seven criminal charges for his actions at the Capitol on January 6, which include obstructing congressional proceedings, civil disorder and disorderly conduct.

According to the Army, up until this month, Hale-Cusanelli, who enlisted in 2009, served in the 174th Infantry Brigade out of Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in New Jersey. In his civilian job, he worked as a security contractor at the Naval Weapons Station Earle where he held a secret security clearance, and as federal prosecutors previously noted, had access to a variety of munitions.

During their investigation, NCIS found that out of 44 interviews conducted with co-workers of Hale-Cusanelli, 34 agreed that Hale-Cusanelli held extremist or radical views pertaining to the Jewish People, minorities and women.

Hale-Cusanelli was very open with his Nazi affinities, showing up to work at the Weapons Stations Earle last year, according to one of his supervisor, donning a Hitler mustache, which police later discovered selfies of on his phone. Copies of Mein Kampf and The Turner Diaries were found during a search of Hale-Cusanellis residence.

Investigators also cited a YouTube channel Hale-Cusanelli had in which he openly broadcasted his fascist, anti-Semitic views: You know, New Jersey will recover from the coronavirus, but it will not recover from the Hasidic Jewish invasion, he declared.

The NCIS report notes that one Navy petty officer said that Hale-Cusanelli, talked constantly about Jewish people and remembered [him] saying Hitler should have finished the job.

One Navy seaman recalled hearing Hale-Cusanelli say, Babies born with any deformities or disabilities should be shot in the forehead, while another petty officer heard Hale-Cusanelli refer to black people as sh*t skinned minorities.

That someone felt comfortable enough to air such reactionary trash in front of dozens of co-workers speaks to the fascistic culture endemic to police departments and military units across the US and internationally.

One of his co-workers, Sgt. John Getz, submitted a letter in support of Hale-Cusanellis release. In his letter, Getz said he was appalled at how [Hale-Cusanelli] was slandered in the press in regards to him being a white supremacist.

This is despite Getz himself admitting to NCIS investigators after submitting the letter that Hale-Cusanelli would walk up to new people and ask Youre not Jewish are you? Getz described Hale-Cusanellis demeanor to prosecutors when he interrogated co-workers on their religion as joking but not.

Hale-Cusanelli had been reported multiple times to the local authorities, according to Avi Schnall, an advocate for the Orthodox Jewish community of New Jersey. Schnall said in an interview with the PBS Newshour program that Hale-Cusanelli frequently targeted members of the community in his social media rants.

Schnall said that Hale-Cusanellis comments were reported to different law enforcement agencies, the prosecutor's office. He was reported to the attorney general's office. I think I think they dropped the ball on it.
Kim Yo-jong was quoted in the official Rodong Sinmun newspaper as saying: "A word of advice to the new administration of the United States that is struggling to spread the smell of gunpowder on our land from across the ocean. If it wants to sleep in peace for [the] coming four years, it had better refrain from causing a stink at its first step."

Kim Y-Jong, younger sister of the North Korean dictator recently in a state-media report criticized the US and South Korea for conducting joint military exercises. Her comments came in the backdrop before top officials are due to arrive in Seoul. The US has for weeks been trying to establish diplomatic relationship with South Korea. However, Pyongyang has yet to acknowledge that President Biden is now in office. US and North Korea remain at loggerheads over the Norths nuclear and ballistic missile programmes.

Kim Yo-jong was quoted in the official Rodong Sinmun newspaper as saying: A word of advice to the new administration of the United States that is struggling to spread the smell of gunpowder on our land from across the ocean. If it wants to sleep in peace for [the] coming four years, it had better refrain from causing a stink at its first step.

She emphasized her countrys opposition to the joint military exercises  which North Korea describes as preparations for invasion  saying: The South Korean government yet again chose the March of War, the March of Crisis. The aim of the statement by Kim Y-Jong was to target the joint drills and the visit to Seoul by the US secretary of state and the defense chief. Nonetheless, Ms. Kim mostly levied insults at the Seoul government and didnt mention President Biden by name.

Also Read: Boris Johnson to visit India: Talks on boosting trade on agenda

Also Read: Anti-China protests erupt in Myanmar: Chinese factories set ablaze

It cannot be denied that she has been increasingly serving as Pyongyangs mouthpiece, although she had not issued any statement since December, when she had stringently attacked South Koreas the Foreign Minister for raising doubts about North Koreas legitimacy of having zero Covid cases.

North Koreas state media missive which serves a hallmark for the regimes foreign affairs came as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin were in Japan, with plans to next travel together to South Korea. The visits represent the first foreign trip for each. North Koreas denuclearization is a key focus for the stops in Tokyo and Seoul.

However, the nuclear talks between both the countries have not witnessed any improvement and the Biden administration had tried to conduct a dialogue on Pyongyangs nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles which received no response, the White House commented on Monday.

Also Read: Tamil Nadu elections: Indian envoy visits Tamil-dominated Sri Lankan provinces
China has approved its fifth Covid-19 vaccine, one produced by Anhui Zhifei Longcom Biopharmaceutical Co. and the Chinese Academy of Sciences. It was developed by a team led by George Gao, the head of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

The Chinese Academy of Sciences said in a statement on Tuesday that the Chinese government had given the shot authorization for emergency use on March 10. This is the fourth vaccine China has approved for emergency use after two vaccines made by Sinopharm, a state-owned vaccine maker, and one developed by Sinovac, a private Beijing company. It has also approved a fifth vaccine, made by the Chinese company CanSino Biologics in partnership with the military, for general use.

Neither the company nor the institute behind the latest vaccine to be approved has published efficacy data from its Phase 3 trials, which are taking place in China, Ecuador, Indonesia, Pakistan and Uzbekistan.

Uzbekistan has approved the vaccine. The Chinese Academy of Sciences said that Phase 3 clinical trials, which involve 29,000 volunteers, were progressing smoothly.
New Delhi: Reliance Industries Limited on Wednesday (March 17) refuted claims of Nita Ambani joining Banaras Hindu University (BHU) as a visiting faculty.

The company's statement came a day after several university students protested against the so-called "appointment" outside the Vice Chancellor's residence.

RIL clarified that Ambani has not received an invitation from BHU.

"Reports that Nita Ambani will be a visiting lecturer at Banaras Hindu University (BHU) are fake. She hasn't received an invitation from BHU," news agency ANI quoted RIL as saying.

Reports that Nita Ambani (in pic) will be a visiting lecturer at Banaras Hindu University (BHU) are fake. She hasn't received an invitation from BHU: Reliance Industries Limited spokesperson to ANI pic.twitter.com/dd8MUpER8T  ANI (@ANI) March 17, 2021

Some BHU students sat outside the VC's residence to mark their protest on Tuesday. They demanded that the University should not be "privatised".

The top officials of the University, including the Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, came to the protest site to placate the students. In a bid to convince the students, the dean said that no such decision has been finalised yet.

Following the commotion, VC Rakesh Bhatnagar came out to discuss the matter with the students.

According to the students, Bhatnagar assured them that no such decision has been taken.

Earlier, media reports claimed that Ambani had received a proposal from the university to join as a visiting professor.

She was reportedly asked to be a part of the universitys Centre for Women Development and Studies in order to help improve the living standard of women from the Purvanchal area of Uttar Pradesh.

Live TV
Amaravati, March 17 : Following a CID case against Telugu Desam Party (TDP) supremo and former chief minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu for allegedly grabbing land from Dalits, party state president Kinjarapu Atchannaidu questioned if the complainant, Mangalagiri MLA Alla Ramakrishna Reddy, belongs to the Dalit community? "Does Mangalagiri MLA Alla Ramakrishna Reddy belong to SC or ST castes? How will a case be registered under the SC/ST Act when he complains? Atrocities law is being debilitated," claimed Atchannaidu.

In his tirade against the ruling Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP), the TDP state president questioned if a former chief minister has ever been prosecuted under the SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act? Atchannaidu claimed that the then TDP government offered the same compensation package to assigned farmers as well as part of the land pooling in 2015.

"Would it not be factional to file a case against it now with CID notices? CM YS Jagan Mohan Reddy still uses poor assigned lands for his purposes," he claimed.

The TDP leader alleged that Reddy has a history of building houses on assigned lands and claimed that hundreds of acres of assigned lands were confiscated in the name of housing.

According to the north Andhra leader, Reddy used assigned lands in Idupalapaya and also without allegedly providing compensation to Vadrevu and Nizampatnam Industrial Corridor (VANPIC) land victims.

"False allegations are being made against TDP president Chandrababu with political malice. We have undertaken land pooling for capital construction, and none were used for personal purposes," he claimed.

He claimed those lands were acquired with the permission of famers and alleged if it was not true that Reddy ordered seizure of assigned lands for a solar company's needs? "Cultivated assigned lands were forcibly encroached from the poor to convert them into housing plots. Seven hundred acres of assigned lands in Idupulapaya were used for 30 years by his family (Jagan)," Atchannaidu claimed.

He claimed that former chief minister Y. S. Rajasekhar Reddy said in the Assembly that 610 acres were returned to the government after the matter allegedly came to light.

"And then changed his course by saying that (he) will return only 300 acres. Can you say no to the fact that your father, Y. S. Rajasekhar Reddy amended the assigned land transfer prohibition Act in 2007 and enacted by ordinance?" he claimed.

Fresh trouble is brewing for Naidu as the CID filed an FIR naming him and a minister from his cabinet for allegedly being involved in a case of land grab from Dalits in Amaravati capital region.

The other accused person is education baron Ponguru Narayana who owns the Narayana group of educational institutions. Narayana served as the municipal minister in Naidu's cabinet.

This case has been registered following a complaint by Mangalagiri MLA Alla Ramakrishna Reddy, who alleged that up to 500 acres have been grabbed from Dalits in this particular case and many more at other places.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Train passengers carried out a Covid-19 detection test with the GeNose C19 screening at Pasar Turi Station, Surabaya, February 15, 2021.

ANTARA FOTO/Didik Suhartono/rwa

Electronic nose detecting COVID19 through expiratory gas







Standardisation test and diagnostic trial







Advantages and disadvantages

Yet, testing capacity remains the foremost determinant of a countrys success in containing the virus. Lack of testing can paralyse any plan to curb the outbreak, as tracing and isolating Covid-19 suspects can only be done as much as the tests tell us.We can see this in the high positivity rates of countries with lower testing capacity relative to their population size. While WHO has capped a maximum positivity rate at 5% , countries like Indonesia, Ukraine, Mexico, as well as several South American and African countries could hardly go below 15%. This is essentially the problem of low testing capacity.These countries need testing innovation that can provide cheap, accurate and practical Covid-19 tests.To answer this challenge, two of us (Dian and Kuwat) invented GeNose C19 , a breath-based COVID-19 detection device. Our diagnostic trial on the device revealed 89-92% sensitivity for detecting positive cases, comparable to RT-PCR (89%) and antigen-based rapid test (89.9%).Among its advantages, the tool that detects the infection through exhaled volatile organic compounds gives you the result in only three minutes. It costs only $ 0.7-1.7 or around 11-140 times cheaper than the other two tests.Indonesian Covid-19 authorities has deployed the tool in train stations and bus terminals , in the hope that the device can speed up the passengers screening process.A scientific manuscript containing detailed and sensitive information on the diagnostic trial and its working mechanism, including detailed artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms, is currently in preparation, pending patent issuance by the Indonesian Ministry of Law and Human Rights.GeNose C19s development is based on an AI-powered sensory system originally used for analysing food beverage , and detecting tuberculosis GeNose C19 is an electronic nose mimicking the mechanism of the human nose for Covid-19 detection. The machine-learning-based AI system is trained to recognise the distinctive response pattern of an object. As such, GeNoses artificial intelligence can be improved by increasing data input from the valid measurement results.GeNose C19 went through three phases of development: response pattern discovery to determine its working mechanism, test standardisation, and diagnostic trial.The research team carried out the first phase throughout April to August 2020, comparing the composition patterns of expiratory gases exhaled by patients warded in two hospitals. They compared over 316 COVID-19 positive breath samples to 299 breath samples with negative confirmation of Covid-19.The research team discovered unique patterns in the composition of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) exhaled by Covid-19 patients from the first phase. VOC is composed of various gases exhaled when we breathe. Such gasses were formed through many biological mechanisms, including inflammation caused by viral or bacterial infections.Our research found that the unique pattern identified in Covid-19 patients VOCs were not affected by existing co-morbid conditions, such as hypertension, asthma, and non-COVID pneumonia (lung inflammation caused by bacteria or other viruses).VOC patterns obtained from infections of other viruses, such as paramyxovirus (that causes measles and acute respiratory infection), rhinovirus (cause of common cold), respiratory syncytial virus (most common cause of viral pneumonia) as well as bacteria are significantly different from that obtained from SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19.The researchers embed the unique VOC pattern from exhaled Covid-19 patients breath into a machine learning module integrated into an AI-powered sensory system. In simple terms, this is akin to planting intelligence into a machine so that the device can complete specific tasks with high precision and speed.Subsequently, the research team spent October up to December 2020 to standardise the test and carry out diagnostic trials.Test standardisation results establish the technical quality of the machine. Meanwhile, diagnostic trials results demonstrate the machines accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity compared to RT-PCR, the WHO-recommended gold diagnostic standard for Covid-19.The sensitivity value refers to the ability of the tool (GeNose C19) to accurately detect cases that have been detected Covid-19 positive through PCR tests (also called true positive cases) as positive. In other words, the ability of GeNose C19 to suppress as low as possible the number of people it detected negative but were detected positive by the gold standard RT-PCR (also called false negative). Or the ability to detect true positives and avoid false negatives.Meanwhile, specificity value refers to the ability of GeNose C19 to ensure that cases detected negative for COVID-19 by RT-PCR as the gold diagnostic standard (also known as true negative cases) are also detected negative by GeNose C19. In other words, the ability of GeNose C19 to suppress as low as possible the number of people who were detected positive with GeNose C19 but were detected negative by the gold standard RT-PCR (also called false positives). Or the ability to detect true negatives and avoid false positives.The combination of the two, called the accuracy value, is the tools ability to provide correct diagnostic decisions, either positive or negative.Indonesian Ministry of Healths Agency for Monitoring of Health Facilities has issued a certification that GeNose fulfils standardisation requirement for a diagnostic tool, involving standards in the electricity system, pump response, mechanisms, module and other relevant aspects.Subsequently, the diagnostic trial was carried out based on approvals on scientific merits and ethical standards. Scientific merit approval from the Ministry of Health after independent reviews involving relevant experts from the University of Indonesia, Bandung Institute of Technology, University of Airlangga, and the University of Hasanuddin established that the protocol had fulfilled standard for a diagnostic trial . Ethical approval was obtained after rigorous reviews by the research ethics committees of Universitas Gadjah Mada (where the research was based) and the Ministry of Health.For transparency, the diagnostic trial protocol is registered and open for public access through an international database under registration number NCT04558372 Initially, the diagnostic trial tested more than 2,500 breath samples from 1,476 Covid-19-suspected outpatients at seven hospitals. Breath sampling for GeNose C19 was conducted simultaneously with swab sampling for RT-PCR. Each was taken twice in two consecutive days. The research team also collected from each patient clinical, demographic and other relevant data such as sign and symptoms, race, contact history, food, drink, laboratory results and X-ray images (when indicated).Following the completion of the initial recruitment and analyses in mid-December, the Ministry of Healths team of independent reviewer requested additional research subjects recruited from the general public to determine the tools performance in an out-of-hospital setting. The research team added 523 additional subjects by randomly sampling office workers on several premises.Finally, the diagnostic trial of 1,999 subjects revealed a sensitivity of 89% - 92%, specificity of 95-96% and an accuracy of 93-94%. The trial also provided a basis for the team to establish a standard operating procedure.A sensitivity of 89-92% means that out of 100 people who were detected negative for Covid-19 with GeNose C19, there is a possibility that eight to eleven people would be detected positive by RT-PCR. This is also called a false negative.A specificity of 95-96% means that out of 100 people detected positive for Covid-19 with GeNose C19, there may be four to five people detected negative by RT-PCR. This is also called a false positive.The level of accuracy is obtained from a combination of sensitivity and specificity calculations.The table shows that GeNose C19 provides a sensitivity value above 80%, as recommended by WHO , and comparable to RT-PCR as well as antigen-based rapid test.Admittedly, the specificity value is slightly below 97%, as recommended by WHO . There have been debates among experts as to which one is more important, sensitivity or specificity.Low sensitivity will potentially miss too many cases, which would lead to failure in isolating them from spreading the virus. Low specificity will unnecessarily overwhelm health and quarantine facilities from accommodating false-positive cases. On December 24 , Indonesias Health Ministry issued a distribution license for GeNose C19.We have to admit that none of the currently available diagnostic methods provides 100% accuracy, as the table above indicated.A report showed that RT-PCR would detect the virus by day four or five after exposure . From GeNose C19 diagnostic trial, it was found that the tool was able to detect positive -and asymptomatic- cases two days after exposure.Another advantage of GeNose C19 is that the method does not require delicate handling of virus specimen and complicated procedures, which take time as in RT-PCR. This enables GeNose to perform repeated testing in a general public setting at low cost and high speed, such as in train stations, airports, offices, schools and other public places.The only limitation is that the tool becomes less accurate when the testing was interfered with several types of food, such as durian, bitter bean (petai), stinky bean (jengkol), onion, tea, coffee, and alcohol , if taken within 30 minutes before GeNose C19 testing.To overcome this, GeNose C19 standard operating procedure requires fasting as least 30 minutes to one hour before breath sampling.It is expected that GeNose C19 would help bump up Indonesias testing capacity. In the current situation of uncontrolled transmission, an impactful strategy would be one that can detect positive cases as many as possible to help trace and isolate patients and disrupt the chain of infection.This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article
Some of the recommendations under this imperative include: reinforcing the centrality of the role of principals as instructional leaders; introducing a new model that removes principals and vice-principals from the Manitoba Teachers Society; and creating business manager positions to enable principals to focus primarily on the role of instructional leadership.

"Some of the recommendations under this imperative include: reinforcing the centrality of the role of principals as instructional leaders; introducing a new model that removes principals and vice-principals from the Manitoba Teachers Society; and creating business manager positions to enable principals to focus primarily on the role of instructional leadership."

 From the Report of the Commission on K to 12 Education

"I just worry that someone who has no experience is going to come in and start changing things that are actually really valuable."

 Katie Hurst, a performing arts teacher in Winnipeg

Among the many startling changes proposed by the Manitoba governments review of education  which was finally made public on Monday after a year-long delay  was a recommendation that principals and vice-principals be removed from the Manitoba Teachers Society, the union that represents teaching staff in this province.

Its not exactly a new idea  removing principals and vice-principals from MTS has been floated before, mostly by those on the political right who would see the power of labour unions diminished when it comes to education.

For example, in a March 2008 report by the Frontier Centre for Public Policy, writer Michael Zwaagstra proposed that the province follow the lead of British Columbia and Ontario and separate out principals and vice-principals due to what it called an "inherent conflict" within MTS.

"It is impossible or MTS to adequately represent the interests of principals when it regularly takes the side of teachers at Board of Arbitration hearings," the analysis read. "Principals have found that the Manitoba Teachers Society has been an active opponent of any attempt to exercise their management prerogatives in areas such as work assignments to employees."

Yet, rather than have these management positions merely chopped out of the union, the Frontier Centre think piece suggested that the province also create the Manitoba Principals Society  a regulatory body that would be akin to the College of Physicians & Surgeons of Manitoba, and oversee the qualifications of those individuals who handle school administration.

That kind of organization would alleviate at least one concern that was voiced by the performing arts teacher above in a conversation with CBC. Hurst said the removal of principals from the union could lead to anyone applying for a principal or vice-principal position, and that it was her opinion that someone with teaching experience should fill those roles.

We would tend to agree with that position, and the province needs to ensure that if it goes through with this plan, that such school administrators are more than just glorified bean counters.

In a conversation with CTV News on Monday, Nathan Martindale, vice-president of the Manitoba Teachers Society, said the union was strongly opposed to the removal of principals and vice-principals.

"We will strongly oppose that decision and fight back with all the force available to us," said Martindale.

Martindale told CTV that he was worried such a move would create an "adversarial work environment" within Manitoba schools, and damage the current relationships between teachers and principals, thus preventing them from working together in the best interests of students.

Yet the Frontier Centres argument isnt an unfair one. There is an inherent opposition built into union and management relationships. How can any one union represent the interests of principals and vice-principals that are charged with managerial duties, while also representing the teachers who need to abide by decisions made by that management?

Nevertheless, on the MTS website yesterday, Martindale was quoted as saying students have better outcomes when all educators  including principals and vice-principals  are part of the same union.

"In other jurisdictions where principals and teachers are not part of a common professional organization, a lot of energy and effort is redirected into dealing with union issues and other hierarchal conflicts. This undermines attempts to move forward, affecting the quality of teaching and student learning."

And to Martindales point, principals and vice-principals have been part of the teachers union since its inception, so this would be a rather sizable change to the status quo. No doubt there already exist working solutions to how MTS represents all its members  if not, principals and vice-principals themselves would be actively agitating to be removed.

Its obvious, then, that the loss of several hundred union members from its ranks will mostly serve to weaken the teachers union, a fact that makes Martindales opposition to the idea quite understandable.

It also strongly suggests the reasoning of our Progressive Conservative government, which has shown a proclivity for diminishing the influence of organized labour in this province, since it came to power.
Santa Ana Allows Non-Citizens to Serve on Public Boards and Commissions

Santa Ana has become the first Orange County city to allow non-U.S. citizens without legal immigration status to serve on its commissions and boards.

City council voted unanimously March 15 to amend the language of an ordinance that allows non-registered voters to run for board and commission seats. The term qualified elector of the city was changed to resident of the city.

Santa Ana desires to remove barriers that prevent active participation by all city residents in city government, the ordinance said. Consistent with this philosophy is the inclusion of all residents of the city for consideration for appointment to the citys boards and commissions.

The amendment opens the door to noncitizens wishing to participate in the citys policy-making decisions.

Removing Barriers

In 2019, Gov. Gavin Newsom passed a bill allowing non-U.S. citizens to serve on boards and commissions in an effort to remove barriers to service and authorize all California residents, including those without lawful immigration status  so that their perspectives and voices are heard.

Santa Anas ordinance is consistent with the bill, as board and commission appointees are required only to be a resident of the city.

The city has 11 existing boards and commissions, two of whichthe youth commission and Measure X citizens oversight committeehad not previously required appointees to be qualified electors.

Now included in the ordinance are the personnel board, community development commission, planning commission, environmental and transportation advisory commission, arts and culture commission, historic resources commission, parks and recreation and community services commission, workforce development board, and oversight board.
She welcomed her first child, daughter Harper, with her husband Karl Stefanovic 10 months ago.

And Jasmine Yarbrough was every inch the doting mother as she attended the Tutu Du Monde X House of K'DOR Picnic In The Courtyard event in Sydney on Wednesday.

The shoe designer, 37, couldn't wipe the smile off her face as she posed with her baby girl shortly after arriving at the event.

All smiles: Karl Stefanovic's wife Jasmine was every inch the doting mother as she posed with her 10-month-old daughter Harper at an event in Sydney on Wednesday

Jasmine looked stylish in beige pants, a white shirt and a black blazer as she carried Harper Mae.

The proud mum teamed the ensemble with a pair of white flat shoes and wore gold statement earrings to the event.

Harper looked adorable in a white tulle dress and a pair of matching coloured shoes.

Style: Jasmine looked stylish in beige pants, a white shirt and a long black blazer as she carried Harper Mae

Final touches: The proud mum teamed the ensemble with a pair of white flat shoes and wore gold statement earrings to the event

Jasmine and husband Karl welcomed Harper on May 1, 2020. She was born at North Shore Private Hospital in Sydney.

In a statement to Nine's Today show at the time, Karl said: 'Harper and Jasmine are doing well and dad had a great night's sleep.'

He added: 'I am in awe. Harper is absolutely perfect.'

Adorable: Harper looked adorable in a white tulle dress and a pair of matching coloured shoes

Karl met Jasmine in late 2016, five months after he separated from his first wife, former TV producer Cassandra Thorburn.

The couple wed in a lavish ceremony at the One&Only Palmilla resort in San Jose del Cabo, Mexico, in December 2018.

In addition to Harper, Karl has three children from his marriage to Cassandra: sons Jackson and River, and daughter Ava Willow.
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LONDON, Ohio  Five girls were taken into custody after they reportedly used a stolen SUV to lead police on a chase following accusations of theft at a Walmart.

The girls ranged in age from 12 to 14 years old, police tell WBNS Channel 10. Three of the girls were runaways, WCMH Channel 4 reports, and one had pending felony charges of aggravated robbery, burglary, and kidnapping in Franklin County.

The incident started Saturday night when police were called to a Walmart, where the girls were accused of stealing about $150 worth of candy, food and clothes, ABC 6 reports. Security workers in the store were unable to catch the girls, who drove off in a BMW SUV that had been reported stolen from the Columbus area.

A police officer spotted the vehicle at a gas station and tried to pull it over, ABC 6 reports. It sped off, leading police on a chase that lasted about 20 minutes and reached speeds of 80 mph, according to reports.

Officers were able to stop the vehicle on Ohio 323 and the girls were arrested without incident, WBNS reports. They were taken to the Central Ohio Youth Center and now face charges of theft and receiving stolen property.

The surprise to the officers was how young they were, London Police Chief Glenn Nicol tells ABC 6. Now, youre seeing more and more of these younger ones with weapons and committing crimes like robbery, assaults.

More crime-related content on cleveland.com:

2 dead, 2 injured after high-speed 30-mile chase on Ohio Turnpike from Trumbull to Summit County

Brothers charged in killing of off-duty corrections officer, patron at Parma bar due in court Wednesday

One arrested in fatal shooting of man, woman in Clevelands Stockyards neighborhood

Grand jury indicts woman accused of driving drunk at 90 mph, causing deadly Lakewood crash

Man found killed, burned in vacant Akron lot; accused killer reported him missing, police say
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In late January 2020, as the U.S. presidential campaign started to take shape, a video documentary appeared on U.S. television -- part of an effort, according to the U.S. intelligence community, to bolster Donald Trump's reelection bid and denigrate one of his strongest challengers, former Vice President Joe Biden.

Neither the documentary nor the network on which it aired is identified in a new report by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.

But the source of the information is.

"Russian proxies [who] met with and provided materials to Trump-administration-linked U.S. figures...made contact with U.S. established media figures and helped produce a documentary that aired on a U.S. television network in late January 2020," the report said. "Russian state and proxy actors who all serve the Kremlin's interests worked to affect U.S. public perceptions" during the campaign, it said more broadly.

The conclusions, released on March 16, are a coda to a question that hung over the entire 2020 election that ultimately saw Trump defeated and Biden victorious: How much did foreign countries try, and succeed, to interfere and sway the U.S. electorate?

The declassified 15-page report is the most comprehensive U.S. intelligence assessment released to date on that question. And while China, Iran, and other countries also sought to sway voting, Russia's efforts are the most prominent, and possibly the most closely scrutinized.

The Kremlin rejected the conclusions outright.

Here are five notable details from the report:

So, What About This Documentary?

The report gives few specifics about the actual production. But the details that are provided match up with a film that aired on One America News Network, an eight-year-old channel with a largely conservative slant and until recently a relatively small audience.

During the Trump administration, the channel was a cheerleader for many administration policies, and Trump often favored the channel over other conservative-leaning U.S. networks like Fox.

On January 21, the channel aired a one-hour video called The Ukraine Hoax hosted by a Republican operative named Michael Caputo.

Caputo was a longtime Republican activist who helped Trump's 2016 presidential campaign. Long before that, he spent years working in Russia, first for the U.S. Agency for International Development and then starting his own public relations company. In 2000, he was hired by state-controlled Gazprom-Media to try and improve Putin's image in the United States.

In 2020, he was appointed spokesman for the U.S. government's health and welfare agency, but after he was heard calling on Trump supporters to prepare for armed insurrection in September, he left his job.

Caputo could not be immediately reached for comment.

Among other things, the film sought to undermine the case for Trump's first impeachment, which was sparked by a phone conversation Trump had with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in July 2019, in which Trump is heard seeming to condition further U.S. military assistance on Zelenskiy investigating Biden and his son, Hunter.

Released just two weeks before the U.S. Senate acquitted Trump of the impeachment charge, the film featured, among other things, the appearance of Andriy Telizhenko, a former low-level official in the Ukrainian Embassy in Washington. He is also a close associate of Trumps personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani, who accompanied Giuliani on a 2019 trip to Kyiv, and also participated in efforts to spread the debunked theory that it was Ukraine, not Russia, that meddled in the 2016 election won by Trump.

In October 2020, the U.S. State Department revoked Telizhenko's U.S. visa.

In a message via Twitter, Telizhenko told RFE/RL that I never said that Russia did not interfere in the U.S. elections in 2016 as they did and not only in U.S. elections but [the] Kremlin regularly does interfere in Ukrainian elections and politics.



The Kremlin interferes in my country and we have a 7 year war continuing today between Ukraine and Russia so I would ask not to use dirty political tricks against me in this matter again, he wrote.



Asked about his visa revocation, he said the only notice he received was only that without explanation they sanctioned me falsely connecting me to Derkach-- referring to Ukrainian lawmaker Andriy Derkach.



There was no immediate response to an e-mail sent to One American News Networks press office.



Telizhenkos name does not appear in the new U.S. intelligence report.



But Derkachs does.

'A Prominent Role'

The report's mention of Derkach is not the first time the Ukrainian lawmaker has figured in U.S. intelligence and law enforcement conclusions. As recently as September 2020, the Treasury Department imposed financial sanctions on Derkach, saying he "has been an active Russian agent for over a decade, maintaining close connections with the Russian Intelligence Services."

The March 16 report echoes that assessment and goes further, saying that Derkach's actions were likely directed by the Kremlin, possibly by Putin himself. "We assess that Putin had purview over the activities of Andriy Derkach," the report says. "Derkach has ties to Russian officials as well as Russia's intelligence services."

Putin "was aware of and probably directed the influence operations, including those of Derkach," it says.

Derkach attended the Dzerzhinsky Higher School of the KGB in Moscow. His father was a KGB officer in the Soviet era -- as was Putin -- and then later became the head of Ukraine's intelligence agency in the late 1990s.

Since 1998, Derkach has been a member of Ukraine's parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, where he is now an independent and previously was affiliated with a pro-Russian bloc.

He also worked closely with Giuliani, who traveled to Ukraine multiple times as part of efforts to gather information on Biden and, according to U.S. officials, undermine the U.S. intelligence conclusions that it was Russia that interfered in 2016, in part by seeking to denigrate Trump's opponent in that election, Hillary Clinton.

The new intelligence report reiterates earlier findings that one of Russia's goals was to try to persuade U.S. politicians that it was Ukraine, not Russia, that meddled in 2016.

In late 2019, Giuliani traveled to Ukraine and met with Derkach. And the two men also appeared together on One America News Network, where they pushed their allegations about Ukraine and the Biden family.

In May 2020, Derkach released leaked phone calls four times in an effort to undermine Biden and link him to Ukrainian corruption.

Derkach could not immediately be reached for comment.

Konstantin Kilimnik

The other person called out specifically in the March 16 report is Konstantin Kilimnik, a Ukrainian-Russian man who at one point worked in Moscow for the International Republican Institute, a U.S. funded democracy organization.

Kilimnik later went to work with veteran Republican strategist Paul Manafort, who was hired by a Ukrainian political party in the late 2000s to help elect Viktor Yanukovych to the Ukrainian presidency.

Manafort became Trump's campaign chairman in 2016. While in the post, Manafort secretly met with Kilimnik and shared internal campaign polling data with him.

"A network of Ukraine-linked individuals -- including Russian influence agent Konstantin Kilimnik -- who were also connected to the Russian Federal Security Service took steps throughout the election cycle to damage U.S. ties to Ukraine, denigrate President Biden and his candidacy, and benefit former President Trump's prospects for reelection," the report concludes.

Manafort was later prosecuted by Special Counsel Robert Mueller for tax and bank fraud. He was found guilty by a jury. In December 2020, Manafort was given a full pardon by Trump.

In 2018, meanwhile, the United States issued an arrest warrant for Kilimnik, who is now believed to living near Moscow, accusing him of obstruction of justice for trying to persuade witnesses to change their testimony in Manafort's earlier criminal trial.

The FBI later put Kilimnik on its wanted list and offered a $250,000 reward for information leading to his arrest.

"Kilimnik likely served as a channel to Manafort for Russian intelligence services, and that those services likely sought to exploit Manafort's access to gain insight into the [Trump] campaign," the U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee said in its own report released last year on 2016 U.S. election interference.

Kilimnik did not respond to a text message seeking comment.

Election Infrastructure

In 2016, U.S. intelligence and congressional investigators found, Russian hackers targeted a range of computer systems in the United States: political parties, prominent figures, even some of the databases and servers used in different U.S. states to register voters or tally election votes.

That includes the theft of e-mails from the Democratic Party that were later published and helped undermine Clinton's campaign against Trump.

Mueller later concluded that the Russian military intelligence agency known as the GRU was behind that effort. Other Russian agencies, including the Federal Security Service and the Foreign Intelligence Service, were also alleged to have hacked and spied on U.S. networks.

Unlike in 2016, however, "we did not see persistent Russian cyber-efforts to gain access to election infrastructure" in 2020, the new report said.

Instead, "we judge that Russian cyber-operations that targeted and compromised U.S. state and local government networks in 2020 -- including exfiltrating some voter data -- were probably not election-focused and instead part of a broader campaign targeting dozens of U.S. and global entities."

Still, the report does note that GRU hackers targeted a Ukrainian energy company called Burisma Holdings, a finding publicized by a private cybersecurity firm at around the same time that the Ukraine documentary was shown on One America News Network.

Burisma, which was at the center of the first Trump impeachment, had hired Biden's son Hunter to serve on its board when Biden was vice president. Trump allies, Republican operatives, and some Ukrainians, including Telizhenko and Derkach, pushed the allegation that Biden sought the firing of Ukraine's then-top prosecutor in order to protect his son.

U.S. Senate Republicans later found no evidence that Biden's work as vice president was influenced by his son's employment at Burisma.

E-mails and other potentially damaging materials related to Hunter Biden and Burisma circulated in some U.S. news media just weeks before the presidential election. Former U.S. intelligence officials warned the materials were part of a Russian hacking and disinformation campaign.

'A Manageable Risk'

The new report points to a streak of pragmatism within the Kremlin. As was the case in 2016, Moscow had a clear preference for Trump, who was seen as less hostile than Biden, the report says.

During his presidency, Trump repeatedly voiced conciliatory opinions of Putin, and Russian policies in general, rhetoric that often conflicted with harder-line policies instituted by his administration.

By contrast, Biden, when he was vice president, was a vocal supporter of Ukraine after Russia seized the Crimean Peninsula and stoked open war in eastern Ukraine in 2014 -- support that earned him Kremlin enmity. "Russia leaders viewed President Biden's potential election as disadvantageous to Russian interests and that this drove their efforts to undermine his candidacy," the report finds.

Aside from Ukraine, the report says, the Kremlin focused on what it saw as Biden's belief in "American exceptionalism" -- that the United States is inherently different from other nations due to its values, history, and its political system.

"The Kremlin views him as part of the reflexively anti-Russia U.S. foreign policy establishment," the report says. "Putin also probably considers President Biden more apt to echo the idea of American 'exceptionalism,' which he and other Kremlin leaders have often publicly criticized as problematic and dangerous."

Last year, amid growing indications that Biden was likely to defeat Trump, the Kremlin prepared for the possibility of a Biden administration, the report says. One particular area where the Kremlin was keenly interested in cooperation: extension of the New START nuclear arms treaty.

Shortly after his inauguration in January, Biden agreed with Moscow to extend the treaty for five years.

Overall, the Kremlin saw meddling in the U.S. political system as fair game; retribution for what it has long insisted is U.S. meddling in elections in Russia and other countries. And besides, the report says, where bilateral relations were concerned, things couldn't get any worse.

"Russian officials probably also assess that continued influence operations against the United States pose a manageable risk to Russia's image in Washington because U.S.-Russian relations are already extremely poor," it says.
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[March 17, 2021] Texas Medical Technology Launches Its Smart iNitrile Device for Putting on Sterile Gloves Easily, Safely, and Automatically

Texas Medical Technology, a leading medtech company, launches its iNitrile disposable glove dispenser to combat infections in businesses and organizations. The machine utilizes an automated process to help organizations streamline tedious daily tasks, minimize waste, and improve cost-efficiency. Infections can often come from places people seldom consider, and with COVID-19, simply washing your hands or wearing a mask isn't enough. Many infections today, for instance, are transmitted as a result of wearing disposable gloves incorrectly, or leaving the glove box open so that germs are transmitted through them. Following the 2016 regulation prohibiting the use of disinfecting powder in gloves, their sterility became compromisedand their efficacy waned. Additionally, close to half of the dispensable gloves used worldwide are discarded even before use, as a result of wearers tearing a glove while putting it on or accidentally taking out several at a time. With a viral pandemic in our midst, the need for a smarter and safer approach is more urgent than ever.



Texas Medical Technology tackles this challenge with its state-of-the-art iNitrile disposable glove dispenser. The machine first verifies an authorized user through its check-in function, utilizing radio-frequency identification to scan their badge or tag (News - Alert) . A compartment then opens, allowing them to insert their hand into an inflated glove. Each iNitrile device is connected and submits information to a cloud-based network, allowing users to maintain a clear overview of operations, requirements, and usage statistics. The machine is suitable for both latex and nitrile non-powdered gloves. iNitrile glove dispenser ensures organizations substantially improve upon their own safety protocols amidst a pandemic. An easily accessible and plentiful supply of disposable gloves will greatly improve sterilization rates, as well as prevents inadvertent infection from being transmitted within a workplace or venue. The ongoing use of the device helps organizations achieve significant savings in operating costs, reducing up to 40 percent in glove waste over the first year of operation. iNitrile's built-in, cloud-based, management software enables business to streamline stock management by managing the usage process and supply levels.

"It's been our mission since the get-go to get organizations back to operational capacity," says Omri Shafran, Founder & CEO of Texas Medical Technology. "iNitrile will really help companies gain the initiative to begin implementing safer protocols, where employees are protected, resources are saved, and peace of mind is afforded." About Texas Medical Technology

Texas Medical Technology, one of the fastest growing companies in the U.S., has taken the supply challenges and placed them on its shoulders by shifting attention to COVID-related PPE. Providing an array of advanced tech and non-tech equipment to empower administrators to monitor potential medical crises and protect employees. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210317005717/en/

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This booking photo provided by the Crisp County Sheriff's Office shows Robert Aaron Long, on March 16, 2021. (Crisp County Sheriff's Office via AP)

Atlanta Shooting Suspect Tells Cops Attacks Not Racially Motivated, Allegedly Driven by Sexual Addiction

Atlanta massage parlor shooting suspect 21-year-old Robert Aaron Long took full responsibility for a series of shootings on Tuesday night, officials said, adding that Long may not have targeted the parlors out of a racially motivated animus but because he wanted to end his addiction.

In the string of shootings, eight people were killed, including six of Asian descent, authorities said. The other two victims were white, officials added.

Cherokee County Sheriff Frank Reynolds told reporters that Long was apparently a frequent visitor at the massage parlors prior to his shooting spree.

The suspect has been interviewed, which indicated he has some issues, potentially sexual addiction. He may have frequented some of these places in the past, he said, adding that allegedly, the gunman sought to eliminate the temptation by committing acts of violence against them.

Reynolds added that the indicators right now are it may not be. It may be targets of opportunity. Again, we believe that he frequented these places in the past and maybe have been lashing out.

Atlanta Police Chief Rodney Bryant also said that officers are just not there yet about whether the shooting was racially motivated.

Without elaborating on the details, Atlanta Mayor Keisha Bottoms added that it appeared Long was on his way to Florida to shoot up some type of porn industry, before deputies arrested him.

He does claim that it was not racially motivated, Capt. Jay Baker of the sheriffs office elaborated in saying to reporters, adding that the investigation is ongoing.

The attacks began Tuesday evening, when five people were shot at Youngs Asian Massage Parlor near Woodstock, about 30 miles north of Atlanta, Baker said. Two people died at the scene, and three were taken to a hospital where two died, Baker said.

Surveillance video recorded a man pulling up to the Cherokee County business about 10 minutes before the attack there, and the same car was spotted outside the Atlanta businesses, authorities said. A manhunt was launched, and Long was taken into custody in Crisp County, about 150 miles south of Atlanta, Baker said.

FBI spokesman Kevin Rowson said the agency is assisting Atlanta and Cherokee County authorities in the investigation.

Long is expected to be arraigned on Thursday morning.

The FBI is assisting both Cherokee County and Atlanta police in investigating the case, authorities said Wednesday.

Other details about the case, including the suspect, were not provided by officials during the news conference.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
NEW YORK, March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Papadopoulos Group is pleased to announce the completed buyout of Eteo Goods L.P, the luxury goods company based in Athens, Greece. Founded in 2015, Eteo specializes in fine, handcrafted, ultra-premium products. Eteo in Greek translates to "genuine," which outlines the company's vision perfectly; to share genuineness with the world while providing a unique customer experience through the creation of superior, art-like products.

Eteo Drops of Blessing - Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil

The flagship product, Drops of Blessing, is a bespoke 100% handmade porcelain and olive wood, organic, extra virgin olive oil that is unparalleled to anything on the market. As the world's first bottle that is 100% handmade from top to bottom, Drops of Blessing has received numerous global awards and patents for its exquisite taste, artistic design, and innovative concept. Its one-of-a-kind packaging creates a new level of luxury and elegance, wowing consumers worldwide, and harnessing media mentions as exclusive as Vogue.

Global partners and clients of the Eteo brand include iconic companies such as Hotel Grande Bretagne, Rolls Royce and Rolls Royce Enthusiasts Club (RREC), St. James's House, and more. The leadership of Papadopoulos Group is certain to nurture and guide future partnerships and products for years to come.

"We are thrilled about the acquisition and look forward to our global expansion under Papadopoulos Group's leadership. We strongly believe that creativeness can be a powerful motivation especially when it honors the wisdom of genuineness. It's our mission to share our genuine products with the world," - Dr. Georgios Halambalakis, Eteo's Co-Founder and creator of the Drops of Blessing product line.

Papadopoulos Group President and Chief Executive Officer Alexandros Papadopoulos comments, "We are pleased to have successfully closed this transaction. Eteo Goods has a very unique market position, elegant and superior products, as well as a very innovative product development roadmap. By combining our core values, strengths, and aligned vision, we will create synergies on a global scale."

Through proof of concept, commitment to brand ethos, and unwavering commitment to quality; the acquisition of Eteo Goods brings the purpose-driven vision of Papadopoulos Group to fruition. Eteo Goods will maintain its headquarters and operations in Athens, Greece.

About Papadopoulos Group Inc.

Papadopoulos Group Inc. is a collection of ultra-premium luxury goods with a vision to bring to life ingenious, art-like concepts, combining luxury with fine quality to transform markets around the world. Headquartered in New York City, Papadopoulos Group has a plethora of clients throughout Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and North America. For more information please visit: www.papsgroup.com

Website: www.eteogoods.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/eteogoods

Instagram: www.instagram.com/eteogoods

For more information or press inquiries please contact:

Alexandros Papadopoulos

Papadopoulos Group Inc.

President & Chief Executive Officer

[email protected]

617-816-4392

SOURCE Papadopoulos Group Inc.

Related Links

https://www.papsgroup.com/


Braxton got away at first, but a sergeant who gave chase spotted him throwing a firearm as he ran, officials said. Braxton was arrested a short time later, and police said they found the black gun, which was loaded with one round in the chamber and had a defaced serial number. Investigators later matched ballistics evidence from the gun to the weapon used in the crimes, officials said.
(Photo : Screenshot From Pexels Official Website) Tesla Tries to Raise Taxes on Gas-Powered Vehicles by Lobbying with the UK Government

Tesla has been trying to lobby with the United Kingdom government to promote higher taxes for their gas-powered vehicles or rather known as petrol cars. This includes a proposed ban generally on internal combustion engine vehicles.

Tesla lobbies for EV benefits

According to an article by Electrek, over the course of the years, Tesla has occasionally been lobbying with the UK government in order to get electric vehicle incentives.

However, the automaker has always made his position quite clear when it comes to the best solution: the taxation of products that reportedly result in more polluting emissions for them to represent their true cost.

Tesla is trying to call for a rise in fuel duty as well as a charge in general on diesel and petrol car purchases, which would reportedly pay for grants and tax breaks, just like a VAT exemption for the general battery-powered cars.

If they are successful, this would benefit Tesla as they would then be able to make EVs even more affordable than fossil fuel-powered vehicles.

Fossil-fueled cars higher taxes

While the higher taxes on fossil-fueled cars, in general, could accelerate the global adoption of sustainable transportation, the governments usually end up hesitating due to the general threat of political backlash. Considering the UK alone, the said Conservative government has now frozen the fuel duty for well over a decade, a subsidy for both petrol and diesel that is well estimated over $69 billion.

Lobbying efforts against the government initiatives are now aimed at generally banning both petrol and diesel cars. This would include hybrids that have reportedly been opposed by several of Tesla's competitors within the automotive industry.

Sometime in November 2020, the general government reportedly noted that hybrid vehicles should still be allowed well until 2035. This will be an extension of five years compared to their initial goal of 2030, according to an article by Teslarati.

Read Also: Elon Musk: 2021 is Tesla Solar Roof Tiles' Year-'Killer Product' Silently Dominates 'Almost Tripling' in Q3

Tesla zero-emissions

Tesla's general lobbying efforts not only called for higher taxes of fossil-fueled cars as well as VAT exemptions to owners of battery-electric vehicles, but the company also noted that automakers should be generally required to sell a proportion of zero-emissions vehicles in their own lineup.



This would work largely in favor of Tesla as well as other electric car makers.



Tax breaks made for corporate car users who reportedly utilize battery-electric cars have a new "charging promise" coming from the government that could potentially increase the total number of public charging stations.



An initiative that would result in people getting paid to switch from fossil-fueled vehicles to EVs was also part of the suggestion by Tesla. While this move is generally beneficial for electric car makers, Tesla is an all-electric car company which means none of its manufacturing efforts will be wasted.

Related Article: Tesla FSD Mode Will Be Available for $100 Monthly Subscription in 2021

This article is owned by Tech Times

Written by Urian Buenconsejo

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Graphic/Xinhua

HEFEI, March 16 (Xinhua) -- It's not unusual for some bigoted Western media to report China using cherry-picking, and a recent BBC program has once again showed how the broadcaster used such techniques to smear China regardless of the logical fallacy.

In its latest report alleging "forced labor and assimilation" in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, the "new compelling evidence" uncovered by the BBC program has proved to be old clips from China's national broadcaster. Such materials were cherry-picked by the BBC to lie about the country's efforts in helping end poverty in the region.

In the 2017 TV report by China Central Television (CCTV), a work team from Anhui Province was sent to Xinjiang to recruit locals for companies in the eastern costal province, a pairing approach China has been promoting to fight poverty in Xinjiang by offering locals with job opportunities in the more prosperous eastern and southern regions. However, the BBC program took snippets and manipulated them to suit its false narrative.

In the BBC program, they used some dubious footage of factory facades, claiming that Xinjiang workers were brought to Anhui as part of a forced massive relocation scheme and could not leave the factory premises.

One cited footage showed that a reluctant 19-year-old Xinjiang girl, Buzaynap, told recruiters that she'd rather stay at home. But this is in no way a proof that they are "forced" to leave their homes. It is all too natural for local young people to feel timid to leave home and work in cities thousands of kilometers away, where they had to overcome the difficulties brought by different languages, food and living habits.

In fact, none of the migrant workers was "forced" to leave their homes. For those who chose to join the program, they enjoyed a much higher pay than what they could earn back at home. They could also go home as they like or share the income with their families.

To help less developed and remote areas, the Chinese government launched a pairing-up support mechanism, under which affluent areas are tasked with helping less developed ones.

To take Xinjiang more specifically, a total of 19 provinces and municipalities across China are engaged in pairing-up support for different parts of Xinjiang. Enterprises from Anhui Province have set up factories and extended job opportunities to people from Hotan in Xinjiang.

The pairing-up support often involves providing better-paying internships or jobs that would otherwise be in short supply in the region. It provides an opportunity for Xinjiang residents to enrich experiences and gain skills, so that when they return to their hometown, they can either start up their own businesses or be hired by local enterprises as skilled workers.

Aynur Memet, who joined a one-year internship program in November 2017 in Hefei, said she brought home some 50,000 yuan (around 7,716 U.S. dollars) when she finished her training, and that was more than double the per capita disposable income of Xinjiang residents.

She took out 25,000 yuan to help her mom open a small shop in her home village in Pishan County, Hotan Prefecture. The rest was saved for daily expenditures and her brothers' schooling.

It is worth noting that such pairing-up support programs span different parts of the country and have been in place for many years. The regions that have benefitted from the scheme also include Tibet, Qinghai, Guizhou, among others.

Xinjiang and local residents are simply not particularly "targeted." Therefore, the BBC's fabrications that it is a "scheme" China uses to transfer ethnic minorities from Xinjiang to assimilate them is totally unsubstantiated.

In the BBC program, the journalists did not interview even a single person from Xinjiang who works or had worked in Anhui to show how they live today. A CCTV follow-up report, in which a happy and confident Buzaynap visited her hometown two years later, was never mentioned in the BBC piece.

By cutting clips from CCTV, twisting the words, and selectively providing only part of the picture, the BBC program deceived its viewers. Concocting the so-called evidence in such an arbitrary way will only make the BBC lose its credibility.

Nebraska Governor Blasts Marijuana Legalization Push: Youre Gonna Kill Your Kids

Nebraskas Republican Gov. Pete Ricketts on March 10 said that pushing for marijuana legalization is putting children in danger.

If you legalize marijuana, youre gonna kill your kids, Ricketts said at a news conference held by Smart Approaches to Marijuana before a committee hearing. Thats what the data shows from around the country.



Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts speaks during a conference at National Harbor, Md., on Feb. 24, 2017. (Mike Theiler/AFP via Getty Images)

Its dangerous to go around the established process we have to determine whether or not drugs are safe and effective, Ricketts said.

A bill (pdf) in the legislatures Judiciary Committee would legalize medical marijuana recommended by a practicing physician, and the physicians would have control over their patients marijuana consumption.

The bill, sponsored by state Sen. Anna Wishart of Lincoln, allows for the cultivation, processing, and use of cannabis for medical purposes, as well as creating a regulatory and fee structure, oversight board, and enforcement department.

Wishart told the committee that a lot has changed in the hearts and minds of countless Nebraskans who are impacted by the bill, hoping the bill could pass in the legislation this year, according to The Grand Island Independent.

After a similar bill last year didnt pass, Wishart helped to push a petition to put the question of legalizing medical marijuana onto the ballot.

A Nebraska Supreme Court removed the legalization measure last year from the ballot with a vote of 52 because of a rule that does not allow issues being bundled into a question with a simple yes or no answer. The measure included the right to use and grow marijuana as well as how to regulate it.

Wishart, a major supporter of legalizing marijuana, said Wednesday that advocates would propose a one-sentence ballot measure in case the medical marijuana legalization bill does not pass the Judiciary Committee of the state legislature.

The Associated Press reported that advocates believe the court will accept this year on the ballot as they have revised the measure.

The medical use of marijuana has been legalized in many states. Some states have even legalized recreational use, which remains controversial.

While most West Coast states have legalized use, including recreational use, such as California, Washington, Oregon, Nevada, Arizona, and Hawaii, most of the states in the central and southeastern region of the country continue to criminalize the drug. Marijuana is a controlled substance in the six states of Idaho, Wyoming, Kansas, Tennessee, Alabama, and South Carolina. Most other states have legalized it, meaning that there are no arrests, prison time, or criminal records for the first-time possession of a small amount of marijuana for personal consumption, according to DISA Global Solution, a drug testing and pre-employment drug screening firm.

The House passed legislation on Dec. 4, 2020, decriminalizing marijuana at the federal level, but it wasnt brought up in the Senate. During the campaign trail, President Joe Biden said that he may not legalize marijuana on the federal level, as hes concerned the substance is a gateway drug.
Amelia Gray Hamlin confessed she's ready for spring as she shared a snap in an orange workout set on Tuesday.

The 19-year-old girlfriend of Scott Disick, 37, continued to showcase her model frame in Alo Yoga, asking her 816K followers: 'orange you glad it's almost spring?'

Linked to Disick since October she seems to have solidified her place in his life, despite him revealing in a new clip from Keeping Up With The Kardashians that Kourtney Kardashian will always be a 'priority.'

Orange you glad? Amelia Gray Hamlin, 19, is ready for spring as she flashes her model frame in a neon orange workout set during backyard photoshoot

She has been tapped as an ambassador for the celeb-favorite athleisure line, along with Stella Maxwell, Alessandra Ambrosio and even Kendall Jenner.

In the snap she flashed her tummy and a hint of cleavage as she reclined on a white chair in the backyard.

Her brown tresses were down and she wore a light face of makeup while posing with her mouth ajar.

The model parlayed her mom Lisa Rinna's Real Housewives fame into a lucrative career, notably her influencer status attracting the likes of Disick.

Scott's house? It has been said that Amelia spends a lot of time over at Scott's house and that the KarJenner clan approves of their relationship; pictured Monday

Harsh reality: She has gushed over him on social media calling him her 'dream man,' but Disick revealed in a new clip that taking care of Kourtney and also their kids is a 'priority' which has caused relationship strains in the past

They stepped out together for the first time in October at Jenner's Halloween birthday party and have continued to be an item, amid his once revolving interest in many models including Bella Banos and Megan Blake Irwin.

Things have grown serious, him even introducing her to kids Mason, 11, Penelope, eight, and Reign, six, but despite being welcomed into the family, Disick revealed in a KUWTK cip that he still prioritizes Kourtney.

He asked the Poosh founder if they would ever be 'together at some point' in the future, or if they would be relegated to a life of 'traveling the world with the kids, living one house down from each other.'

Kourtney did not outwardly answer his question, but instead boasted about their co-parenting relationship, adding, 'I think that it's great that we can do that with the kids.'

Holding out hope: He asked the Poosh founder if they would ever be 'together at some point' in the future, or if they would be relegated to a life of 'traveling the world with the kids, living one house down from each other'

Balancing act: Scott spoke about the strain that their close relationship had on his relationship with Richie, saying that their unconventional family dynamic comes with a lot of 'baggage'

Initial concerns: It was reported that her famous parents Lisa and Harry Hamlin were 'skeptical' about the relationship on account of Amelia's past mental health issues and their age gap; pictured March 15

He spoke about being on a break from Sofia Richie, 22, Scott sharing that he and Kourtney's close relationship comes with a lot of 'baggage,' while telling her that she would always be a 'priority', in his life.

Disick and Richie called it quits for good over the summer, after it was said they were on two different paths, and her young age did cause a bit of a disconnect.

That didn't stop him however from going even younger when it came to Amelia, the pair having spent New Year's in Tulum and Valentine's Day in Miami.

They have been spotted looking at luxury real estate together, which one source chalked up to her interest in real estate, but it has been reported that they definitely spend a lot of time together.

His bathroom? She has photographed herself in stripped down underwear selfies from what appears to be Scott's bathroom

Grand gesture: The pair spent Valentine's Day in Miami and she has enjoyed dinner with his kids on many occasions

Though her parents Rinna and Harry Hamlin were concerned about their age gap at first and were 'skeptical' it was anything more than just a phase, it has been said that they trust Amelia's judgement.

Additionally she has gotten the seal of approval from his famous family, a source telling Us Weekly that the Kardashians, 'really like the two of them together and think Amelia is a great influence on Scott.'

They have not been shy about PDA, one insider saying that the pair looked 'very much in love,' while they were in Miami.

A grand gesture for Disick, he even posted a snap of the two on his Instagram.
For Michelle Obama, the former Meghan Markles experiences at Buckingham Palace  particularly her account of how she encountered racism within the royal family  didnt come as a shock.

In a Tuesday interview with NBCs Today show, the former first lady recalled what it was like to be in the public eye and offered words of hope for the British monarchy.

In a conversation with Oprah Winfrey earlier this month, Meghan and husband Prince Harry discussed why they decided to step away from royal life in 2020. Because Meghan is biracial, they said, unnamed members of the royal family raised concerns, while she was pregnant with Archie, about the babys possible skin color.

When asked what ran through her mind as Meghan described that experience, Obama said that public service was a bright, sharp, hot spotlight, and most people dont understand it  nor should they.

The thing that I always keep in mind, she added, is that none of this is about us. In public service, its about the people that we serve.

What about when she talked about how she experienced racism? TV host Jenna Bush Hager asked.

Race isnt a new construct in this world for people of color, said Obama. So it wasnt a complete surprise to sort of hear her feelings.

The thing I hope for and the thing I think about is that this, first and foremost, is a family, she added. And I pray for forgiveness and healing for them so that they can use this as a teachable moment for us all.

Obama is among a string of public figures whove backed Meghan following her bombshell interview with Winfrey. Beyonce posted a photo of herself and Meghan on her website, accompanied by a message that read: Thank you Meghan for your courage and leadership. We are all strengthened and inspired by you.

The palace, meanwhile, issued a statement a few days after Meghan and Harrys Oprah interview. The issues raised, particularly that of race, are concerning, it read. While some recollections may vary, they are taken very seriously and will be addressed by the family  privately.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

___

(c)2021 the Los Angeles Times

Visit the Los Angeles Times at www.latimes.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Image: Tim Mossholder | Pexels

As legislatures in Washington, D.C. and across the country discuss issues surrounding individuals who identify as a gender different from their biological sex, a clear majority of U.S. Protestant pastors see such gender fluidity as morally wrong.

In a study from Nashville-based Lifeway Research, around 3 in 4 Protestant pastors say identifying as a gender different from ones biological birth gender is morally wrong. Similar numbers say the same about attempts to physically change genders.

American culture increasingly views morality differently than historic Christianity, said Scott McConnell, executive director of Lifeway Research. When pastors articulate Christian teaching, it often sounds very different from the cultural narrative because it rejects a basis for morality centered on the individual.

Identity Issues

Among U.S. Protestant pastors, Lifeway Research found 72% say it is morally wrong for an individual to identify with a gender different from the biological sex they were born, including 62% who strongly agree. Around 1 in 7 (14%) disagree, and another 10% do not believe it is a moral issue.

In an earlier study Lifeway Research asked the same questions of Americans. Forty-four percent of Protestant Americans and 35% of all Americans agreed it is morally wrong for someone to identify with a gender different from the sex they were born. In the 2020 State of Theology study from Lifeway Research, however, 79% of American adults agree God created male and female.

Protestant pastors are more likely than Americans who identify as Protestant to consider it wrong to identify as a gender different from your biological sex, said McConnell. While most Americans accept the biblical narrative of God designing male and female, pastors take changing that design much more seriously.

Evangelical pastors are more than twice as likely as mainline Protestant pastors to agree identifying with a different gender is immoral (84% to 32%).

Denominationally, Pentecostals (90%) and Baptists (89%) are more likely to agree than pastors in the Restoration movement (69%), Lutherans (60%), Presbyterian/Reformed pastors (45%) and Methodists (43%).

Image: Lifeway Research

Protestant pastors in the Northeast are the most likely to say this is not a moral issue (17%).

Gender Changes

More than 3 in 4 pastors (77%) say it is morally wrong to change the gender you were born with through surgery or taking hormones, with 71% strongly agreeing. Fewer than 1 in 8 disagree (12%), and 7% say its not a moral issue, according to the Lifeway Research study.

Whether it is a physical sex-change or public identification, a large majority of pastors see a persons biological sex as something a human should not change, said McConnell.

Evangelical pastors are again more than twice as likely as mainline pastors to say this is immoral. Nine in 10 evangelical pastors (90%) believe attempting to physically change genders is morally wrong, compared to 37% of mainline pastors.

Denominational groups also have a similar breakdown as the previous question. Pentecostals (96%) and Baptists (94%) are more likely to view attempts to change gender as immoral than Restorationist movement pastors (75%), Lutherans (69%), Presbyterian/Reformed pastors (49%) and Methodists (48%).

Personal Knowledge

The latest estimation from Gallup finds 0.6% of the U.S. adult population identifies as transgender. Only among the youngest generations does the amount top 1%1.2% of millennials and 1.8% of Generation Z.

Still, according to the Lifeway Research study, close to half of pastors (48%) say they know someone who is transgender. Slightly fewer (41%) say they dont know any individuals who identify as transgender, while 11% say not that they know of.

In 2015, Lifeway Research found 27% of Americans personally knew someone who identifies as transgender.

Mainline pastors are more likely than evangelicals to say they know someone who identifies as transgender (63% to 45%). Methodists (63%) are more likely to know an individual who identifies as transgender than are Restorationist movement pastors (47%), Lutherans (47%), Pentecostals (40%) and Baptists (39%).

Pastors who are of other ethnicities (57%) are more likely than African American pastors (36%) to say they personally know someone who identifies as transgender. White pastors are in between at 48%.

Additionally, pastors with graduate degrees and pastors of churches with more than 250 people are more likely to say they know someone who identifies as transgender.

Despite close to half of pastors saying they personally know someone who identifies as transgender, most still view identifying as a different gender as immoral, said McConnell. As lawmakers debate establishing protections for those who identify as a different gender from their biological sex at birth, it waits to be seen if Congress will seek to force pastors and their churches to implement changes contradictory to their religious convictions.
She always knows how to put her best fashion foot forward.

And Katie Price put on a stylish display as she wore all-pink for an appearance on Steph's Packed Lunch in Leeds on Wednesday

The former glamour model, 42, was sure to turn heads in her bright ensemble as she donned a pink, star-spangled cardigan over a light pink vest top.

Glamorous: Katie Price put on a stylish display in an all-pink ensemble and a face shield as she headed over to her TV appearance on Steph's Packed Lunch in Leeds on Wednesday

Katie accentuated her slender legs by slipping into a pair of pink leggings, while she boosted her height in Gucci wedge heels.

She kept safe amid the coronavirus crisis by wearing a face shield as she made her way to the studio to film her interview on the show.

As she got ready to appear on the programme, Katie was seen taking a look at her phone, and her case was decorated with a picture of her and Carl.

Fashionista: Katie accentuated her slender legs by slipping into a pair of pink leggings, while she boosted her height in Gucci wedge heels

During her appearance on the show, Katie admitted she was still 'in pain every day' after breaking both her feet last year during a holiday in Turkey.

She explained: 'Its a pain I just have to deal with. Ive got painkillers but I dont take them because then its another thing my body will rely on. I just try and cope without it, I know Im going to be in pain forever'

Katie went on: 'Mentally, when youre told youve got a life-changing injury, Im told I cant run again. I am going to be determined, the fact that they said that, I want to run the marathon next April

'Id have to do a fast walk or something, I dont want that to be taken away and Ill do everything I can to do it.'

Chat: During her appearance on the show, Katie admitted she was still 'in pain every day' after breaking both her feet last year during a holiday in Turkey

She went on: 'I am in pain every day and it gets so aggravating. I get restless legs Although I look fine and Im getting on with stuff, I find being busy helps because it takes my mind off the pain.

'Ive proved Im determined. To be told Im in a wheelchair, told I cant walk for 18 months, Im already walking and its been nine months, because Im determined. I dont want to sit there.'

Earlier in the day, Katie appeared to be more loved-up than ever with her beau Carl Woods as they headed to the TV appearance.

She and Love Island star, 32, looked smitten as they held hands while making their way to the studios where the Channel 4 show is filmed.

Sweet: Earlier in the day, Katie appeared to be more loved-up than ever with her beau Carl Woods as they headed to the TV appearance

Katie kept things casual as she donned an oversized black jumper over a pair of black shorts and matching jogging bottoms.

She stepped out in a pair of black trainers, and kept her personal items in a Louis Vuitton handbag that appeared to be stuffed with clothes - potentially for her appearance on the show.

Kate styled her blonde locks into a sleek, straight style, and wore a light palette of make-up for the occasion.

Carl, meanwhile, looked relaxed in a black hoodie that he teamed with light-wash jeans and grey trainers.

Loved-up: The former glamour model and Love Island star looked smitten as they gazed lovingly into each other's eyes

Comfy: Katie kept things casual as she donned an oversized black jumper over a pair of black shorts and matching jogging bottoms

On Tuesday, Katie revealed her eldest children have issued an ultimatum, where they'll cut her off if she ever takes cocaine again.

The TV personality had to check herself into the Priory in 2018 for PTSD, after a video emerged of her rapping about cocaine use while on a hen do in Majorca.

Now sober and loved-up with boyfriend Carl, the mother-of-five vowed she would never take the drug again because she wouldn't want to do anything to damage her relationship with her children.

Warning: On Tuesday, Katie revealed her eldest children have issued an ultimatum, where they'll cut her off if she ever takes cocaine again

Katie is mum to Harvey, 18, Junior, 15, and Princess, 13, Jett, seven, and Bunny, six.

Speaking about her lowest point, she told The Sun: 'My kids thought I had lost the plot and was partying, they didn't realise it was me breaking down trying to block things out - they needed to know the truth.

'All the kids say that I am so much better now. But they say, "mum if you ever get back to how you were, we are never going to speak to you again".'

Mother-of-five: Katie is mum to Harvey, 18, Junior, 15, and Princess, 13, Jett, seven, and Bunny, six

Back to her best: She said: 'All the kids say that I am so much better now. But they say, "mum if you ever get back to how you were, we are never going to speak to you again"'

Katie continued: 'Junior didn't understand at the time but he looks back and says he feels bad because he realises more about mental health and what I was going through. He says he wishes he could have spoken up.'

The television personality said she had a frank discussion with her son about why she took the Class A drug during the height of her depression and told him 'I couldn't see a light at the end of the tunnel'.

Katie visited The Priory in September 2018 and spent 28 days in the facility after her family urged her to seek help following wild partying antics in Mallorca and a turbulent year in which she was arrested for drink-driving.

At the time, she was confronted by her loved ones after shocking footage emerged of her rapping 'I love coke' during a booze-fuelled hen do.

Katie broke down after the intervention and admitted she needed help to get over her chaotic behaviour, which she blamed on her PTSD.

She previously said on Loose Women: 'It was what I went through at the beginning of the year, they told me mum was dying, my dog got run over and killed on my drive, my horse was killed outside my house, I had a kidnap threat against Harvey, my ex-husband cheated again, hijack and held at gun point in South Africa, imagine all of that and having a divorce.'

The reality star has sworn off cocaine for good and said she 'just couldn't do it' to her children.

Breakdown: Katie visited The Priory in September 2018 and spent 28 days in the facility after her family urged her to seek help (pictured in December 2017)

In December, Katie spent her first Christmas sober after admitting that she didn't think about having a drink during the festive celebration with boyfriend Carl, 31, quitting booze in solidarity.

The reality star said that it makes her 'sick' thinking back on her past decisions and that seeking professional help and becoming an inpatient at The Priory was the 'best thing she's ever done'.

Katie bravely told The Sun that she got to 'breaking point' where she felt she 'couldn't cope', but thankfully had a wake-up call and put herself into rehab.

The mother-of-five said that there is now no alcohol in her house at all and proudly admitted that she didn't think about having a drink on Christmas day this year.

Stephs Packed Lunch airs weekdays at 12.30pm on Channel 4.
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[March 17, 2021] CPI Aerostructures Receives $9.2 Million Follow-On Order From Lockheed Martin for F-16 Structural Assemblies

EDGEWOOD, N.Y., March 17, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CPI Aerostructures, Inc. (CPI Aero) (NYSE American: CVU) today announced that it was awarded a follow-on order from Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) to manufacture structural assemblies for new production F-16 Block 70/72 aircraft ? the newest and most advanced F-16 production configuration.

In February 2019, CPI Aero announced a multi-year contract with Lockheed Martin to provide Rudder Island and Drag Chute Canister (RI/DCC) assemblies for the F-16 and has received a number of orders since then. This new order, the largest order under this contract thus far, more than doubles the order book for this structural assembly to $17.9 million. Recently, CPI Aero delivered the first production unit to Lockheed Martin. Deliveries under the order announced today are expected to occur in 2022 and 2023. CPI Aero president and CEO Douglas McCrosson stated, CPI is proud to be the single source supplier of RI/DCC assemblies for the F-16 Block70/72. Last August, the USAF and Lockheed Marti announced the 10 Year Indefinite-Delivery/Indefinite-Quantity contract in support of Foreign Military Sales Orders for the F-16. We believe that this contract vehicle will facilitate and accelerate foreign sales of this iconic aircraft and we look forward to supplying RI/DCC assemblies for many years to come. As a supplier on multiple Lockheed Martin platforms, including the F-35, the worlds premier 5th Generation fighter, and numerous Sikorsky helicopters, we thank the company for its continued confidence in CPI Aeros execution capabilities.



About CPI Aero CPI Aero is a U.S. manufacturer of structural assemblies for fixed wing aircraft, helicopters and airborne Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance pod systems in both the commercial aerospace and national security markets. Within the global aerostructure supply chain, CPI Aero is either a Tier 1 supplier to aircraft OEMs or a Tier 2 subcontractor to major Tier 1 manufacturers. CPI also is a prime contractor to the U.S. Department of Defense, primarily the Air Force. In conjunction with its assembly operations, CPI Aero provides engineering, program management, supply chain management, and MRO services. CPI Aero is included in the Russell Microcap Index.

The above statements include forward looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, which are described from time to time in CPI Aero's SEC reports, including CPI Aero's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, and Form 10-Q for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2020, June 30, 2020, and September 30, 2020. CPI Aero is a registered trademark of CPI Aerostructures, Inc. For more information, visit www.cpiaero.com, and follow us on Twitter @CPIAERO. Investor Relations Contacts: LHA Investor Relations

Jody Burfening

(212) 838-3777

cpiaero@lhai.com

www.lhai.com



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Israeli archaeologists discover biblical scroll fragments for the first time in 60 years

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Dozens of 2,000-year-old fragments from scrolls containing portions of the books of Nahum and Zechariah have been unearthed in Israel, an extremely rare discovery in the Judean Desert.

The Israel Antiquities Authority announced the discovery of the uncovered fragments on Tuesday. They are the first of such discoveries in approximately 60 years. The Dead Sea Scrolls are fragments of religious manuscripts that were originally found in the Judaean Desert decades ago.

The newly discovered fragments are Greek translations of the two minor prophets. Despite most of the fragments being in Greek, the name of God is written in Hebrew.

The fragments come from a larger scroll found in the same place in the 1950s in Nahal Hever in the Cave of Horror that is approximately 80 meters below a cliff top and can only be reached by rappelling down the cliff.

In addition to the biblical fragments, a 10,500-year-old woven basket from the Pre-Pottery Neolithic period was excavated, and a 6,000-year-old mummified skeleton of a child was also found.

Also known as Cave 8 in the Judean Desert, Israeli archaeologist Yohanan Aharonin gave it the nickname "Cave of Horror" because the skeletons of 40 men, women and children were discovered there during the Judean Desert Expeditions in the 1960s, according to the Encyclopedia of the Dead Sea Scrolls.

The Israel Antiquities Authority has been more active in rescuing ancient artifacts in the region since 2017.

Significant looting has plagued the area ever since Bedouin shepherds first discovered the Dead Sea Scrolls, also known as the Qumran Caves Scrolls, in 1946.

The desert team showed exceptional courage, dedication and devotion to purpose, rappelling down to caves located between heaven and earth, digging and sifting through them, enduring thick and suffocating dust, and returning with gifts of immeasurable worth for mankind, IAA Director Israel Hasson, who led the rescue operation, said in a statement.

The newly discovered scroll fragments are a wake-up call to the state. Resources must be allocated for the completion of this historically important operation. We must ensure that we recover all the data that has not yet been discovered in the caves before the robbers do. Some things are beyond value.

The IAA team has thus far reconstructed 11 lines of Greek text from Zechariah 8:16-17 and Nahum 1:5-6.

The entire passage from Zechariah reads: These are the things you are to do: Speak the truth to one another, render true and perfect justice in your gates. And do not contrive evil against one another, and do not love perjury, because all those are things that I hatedeclares the Lord.

The Nahum passage reads: The mountains quake because of Him, And the hills melt. The earth heaves before Him, The world and all that dwell therein. Who can stand before His wrath? Who can resist His fury? His anger pours out like fire, and rocks are shattered because of Him.

The fragments were written in a new Greek translation that differs from the traditional Masoretic texts.

According to the IAA, the translation's differences reveal quite a bit regarding the transmission of the biblical text until the time of the Bar Kochba Revolt.

The Bar Kochba revolt was a rebellion of the Jews led by Simon bar Kochba against the Romans around 132-136 A.D., the last of the three major Jewish-Roman wars. The revolt is also called the Third Jewish-Roman War or Third Jewish Revolt.

These finds are not just important to our own cultural heritage but to that of the entire world, Avi Cohen, CEO of the Ministry of Jerusalem and Heritage, said in a statement. Without the consistent and coordinated action of the various government offices, the Israel Antiquities Authority and the Civil Administration, these special assets would not be made accessible to the public, rather would remain in the possession of antiquities looters.

Amir Ganor, who heads the IAAs Theft Prevention Unit, said the agency finally decided to pre-empt the thieves before the treasures were looted. The scraps containing lines from Nahum and Zechariah were discovered in clumps and rolled up in the Cave of Horror.

He estimates that approximately 25% of the Judean Desert has not been surveyed, according to The Times of Israel. By using drone technology and rappelling gear, those rescuing the ancient artifacts can explore caves that have been considered unreachable, some of which human beings have not entered for nearly 2,000 years.
Washington:

President Donald Trump has sent lawmakers an initial request for a USD 7.9 billion down payment toward Harvey relief and recovery efforts.

The request, expected to be swiftly approved by Congress, would add USD 7.4 billion to rapidly dwindling Federal Emergency Management Agency disaster aid coffers and USD 450 million to finance disaster loans for small businesses.

Republican leaders are already making plans to use the aid package, certain to be overwhelmingly popular, to win speedy approval of a contentious increase in the federal borrowing limit.

A senior House Republican, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the deliberations were private, disclosed the approach. It ignores objections from House conservatives who are insisting that disaster money for Harvey should not be paired with the debt limit increase.

Other senior GOP aides cautioned that no final decision had been made, and Democrats, whose votes would be needed in the Senate, have not signed off on the approach.

For GOP lawmakers who support a straightforward increase in the debt limit, pairing it with Harvey money makes the unpopular vote easier to cast.

Congress must act by September 29 to increase the United States USD 19.9 trillion debt limit, in order to permit the government to continue borrowing money to pay bills like Social Security and interest. Failing to raise the debt limit would risk a market-shattering first-ever US default.

Look, some members are going to vote against the debt ceiling under any circumstances and they want their no vote to be as easy as possible, said Pennsylvania Representative Charlie Dent. The issue is not making the debt ceiling vote easier for the no votes. The issue is making it easier for the yes votes.

The governments cash reserves are running low since the nations debt limit has actually already been reached, and the Treasury Department is using various accounting measures to cover expenses. Billions of dollars in Harvey aid are an unexpected cost that at least raises the potential that Congress would have to act earlier than expected to increase the governments borrowing authority.

The House is likely to pass the Harvey aid as a stand-alone bill, but GOP leaders are signalling that the Senate may add the debt increase to it. Then the House would swiftly vote again to send it to Trump. The plan is still tentative, but the White House signalled its on board with the idea.

White House budget director Mick Mulvaney urged lawmakers in a letter outlining the aid request to act expeditiously to ensure that the debt ceiling does not affect these critical response and recovery efforts.

Meanwhile, despite threats from Trump that he would shut down the government if his US-Mexico border wall is not paid for, lawmakers and aides say the White House has eased off that threat and any fight over the border wall will be delayed until later in the year.

I just dont think a shutdown is in anyones interest or needed for anyones interests, House Speaker Paul Ryan, Representative from Wisconsin, said in an interview today with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

The initial package of Harvey aid would replenish Federal Emergency Management Agency disaster funds through September 30.

The initial Harvey package is just the first instalment for immediate disaster response like housing assistance, cleanup and FEMA-financed home repairs. The White House says more than 436,000 households have registered for FEMA aid.

Estimates for longer-term rebuilding costs will take weeks or month to prepare, but the magnitude of the disaster could rival or exceed the damage from Hurricane Katrina in 2005, which cost taxpayers USD 110 billion.

An additional USD 5 billion to USD 8 billion for Harvey could be tucked into a catch-all spending bill Congress must pass in the coming weeks to fund the government past September 30, according to the senior House Republican. The final rebuilding package would be far larger and is likely by years end.

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Jenelle Evans' ex Nathan Griffith has gone from being a wanted man to an exonerated man in less than 24 hours.

Griffith, 33, who shares six-year-old son Kaiser with the Teen Mom OG star Evans, 29, was issued a warrant for his arrest by a North Carolina judge on Monday.

Though on Tuesday, it was revealed that a mistake was made by the court, with his arrest order recalled, according to TMZ.

Exonerated: Jenelle Evans' ex Nathan Griffith has gone from being a wanted man to an exonerated man in less than 24 hours

Father and son: Griffith, 33, who shares six-year-old son Kaiser with the Teen Mom OG star Evans, 29, was issued a warrant for his arrest by a North Carolina judge on Monday

Griffith's attorney, James Jackson, revealed on Tuesday morning that there was a mistake with the court, since his client wasn't required to show up for those hearings.

The attorney said that Griffith, who was arrested on DWI charges in October 2019, wasn't supposed to appear at a February court date, and he didn't need to appear at an upcoming May hearing either.

Jackson added that he was heading down to the courthouse to try and get everything ironed out, adding he believed the arrest order would be recalled.

Attorney: Griffith's attorney, James Jackson, revealed on Tuesday morning that there was a mistake with the court, since his client wasn't required to show up for those hearings

The court clerk confirmed just a few hours later that the arrest order was in fact recalled and Griffith is no longer a wanted man.

Griffith was arrested outside of a grocery store in Cary, North Carolina last October, and taken into custody.

He posted a $10,000 bond and was released, though he revealed a few days later in an interview with TMZ that the arrest shouldn't have happened because he wasn't even in the car.

Recalled: The court clerk confirmed just a few hours later that the arrest order was in fact recalled and Griffith is no longer a wanted man

He revealed there was a call of a man sleeping behind, or inside, his car, but by the time the cops go there, Griffith claims he was already walking away from the car for five minutes when the police brought him back.

'I pretty much practically told them I didn't want to deal with them and I said everything was fine,' Griffith said.

He added he was 'going ahead and meeting some friends' so he locked his doors and was walking down the street, and five minutes later he got 'pulled over by a police officer.'

Sleeping: He revealed there was a call of a man sleeping behind, or inside, his car, but by the time the cops go there, Griffith claims he was already walking away from the car for five minutes when the police brought him back

Griffith added that the cops told him to 'walk back to your vehicle' and he denied that he was sleeping or operating the vehicle.

The cops gave him a field sobriety test and arrested him because witnesses said they saw him sleeping behind the wheel, which Griffith disputed because he couldn't even get into his car.

Griffith was locked in a nasty custody battle with Griffith over their son Kaiser, which was ultimately settled in October.

Test: The cops gave him a field sobriety test and arrested him because witnesses said they saw him sleeping behind the wheel, which Griffith disputed because he couldn't even get into his car
Spending more than an hour a day watching programmes on devices may increase the risk that toddlers will have emotional and behavioural issues, a study has warned.

These issues include hyperactivity, poor concentration, short attention spans and trouble connecting with other children and forging friendships.

The researchers have speculated that devices are reducing the time that children spent reading, playing and interacting with family, other kids.

This, is turn, may impact their social and emotional development, they suggest, with such depending on the interplay between social learning and environmental factors.

Certainly, patterns of electronic media use by children are changing rapidly  with studies showing that many 4-year-olds now regularly use smartphones and tablets.

In fact, studies have suggested that the use of devices by preschool-age children has tripled between just 2013 and 2017.

Spending more than an hour a day watching programmes on devices may increase the risk that toddlers will have emotional and behavioural issues, a study has warned (stock image)

The study was conducted by social scientist Janette Niiranen of the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare in Helsinki and her colleagues.

'Our results show that 5-year-old children spend considerably more time on e-media than is recommended by professionals,' the researchers said.

'High levels of e-media use, especially programme viewing, are associated with problems with psychosocial outcomes, while use of electronic games was only associated with hyperactivity in the crude models.'

'Although children's e-media use patterns might not seem problematic when considering use on a daily level, they do have risks in the long term.'

In their work, the researchers analysed data collected by the Finnish 'CHILD-SLEEP' study, which has been monitoring the health and psychological wellbeing of 699 children from before birth to the age of five by means of parental questionnaires.

As part of the study, parents were asked to report how much time their child spent using electronic media  including watching television and playing games on computer, console, smartphone or tablet  at both 18 months and 5 years.

And at age five, each child was assessed for emotional and behavioural issues including short attention span, hyperactivity, and difficulties making and keeping friends.

At 18 months old, the toddlers were found to spend an average of 32 minutes of each day on electronic media device  a figure which had increased to 114 minutes daily on average by age five.

Furthermore, the researchers reported that nearly a quarter of all children spent more than one hour a day watching screens at age 18 months, but by age five this level of device use was found across 95 per cent of the toddlers.

At age five, 67 per cent of kids watched television programmes for more than one hour a day and around one-in-ten spent the same time gaming.

Experts have recommend that pre-schoolers spend no more than 60 minutes using electronic media on a daily basis.

Looking at the emotional and behavioural assessments, the team found that extended use of electronic media at age 18 months was associated with a 59 per cent increase in the risk of developing peer relationship problems by the age of 5.

At age five, extensive time spent gaming was initially found to be associated with a heightened risk of hyperactivity  although this was found to disappear when confounding factors were taken into account.

However, lengthy consumption of television programmes was found to increase the risk of attention and concentration difficulties, hyperactivity and impulsivity, and other emotional and behavioural problems.

The researchers cautioned, however, that the observational nature of the study mans that they have been unable to establish a causal link between screen time and the behaviour issues.

The full findings of the study were published in the journal BMJ Open.
Nearly three-quarters of American voters support President Joe Bidens $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package, a new poll from POLITICO and Morning Consult shows.

The poll, which surveyed almost 2,000 registered voters, comes nearly a week after Biden signed the comprehensive American Rescue Plan into law and just as millions of $1,400 stimulus checks are directly deposited into Americans bank by the Internal Revenue Service.

The broad-based, bipartisan support for stimulus checks is evidence of the broad awareness that many Americans need a lifeline right now, John Leer, economist for Morning Consult, said in a statement. Its no surprise the extension of unemployment benefits is also extremely popular: Americans acknowledge unemployed workers deserve additional financial support until job growth resumes.

The poll, which had a margin of error of plus or minus 2%, showed 95% support among Democrats and 69% among independents. The Democrats, who narrowly control both houses of Congress, pushed the bill through without bipartisan support using the annual budget reconciliation process, which requires only a simple majority vote. No Republican in Congress voted in favor of the measure.

But nearly half of Republican voters disagree with their counterparts on Capitol Hill; 44% of GOP voters back Bidens broad relief efforts while 48% oppose.

A majority of respondents supported both the stimulus checks and the extension of unemployment insurance of $300 weekly until September. The unemployment benefits were set to expire on March 14, but Americans largely still support efforts to bolster families whove lost work as a result of the pandemic.

Bidens plan will also provide $350 billion to help state and local governments overcome pandemic-linked budget shortfalls; $130 billion to help schools reopen; more than $50 billion to boost vaccination and testing efforts; and tens of billions to help small businesses and restaurants hit hard by the pandemic.

The plan also temporarily expands the Child Tax Credit, from $2,000 per child to at least $3,000 spread out over year in monthly payments that will begin in July.

Related Content:
has expressed concern over the recent escalation in hostilities in several parts of Yemen, saying it is "worrisome" that this situation will provide opportunities for such as al-Qaeda and the Islamic State to spread their presence in the strife-torn country.

Speaking at the UN Security Council monthly meeting on on Monday, India's Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Nagaraj Naidu termed as "deeply concerning" the reports of military confrontations in Taiz, Al Jawf and Sana'a governorates, asserting that it has resulted in several casualties, extensive destruction and renewed displacement of civilians.

"We are concerned at the recent escalation in hostilities in several parts of Yemen, especially in Marib which hosts a large number of internally displaced Yemenis, Naidu said.

"The current escalation will also provide opportunities for such as Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State to spread their presence in Yemen, which is worrisome, he said.

Naidu also condemned the drone and missile attacks launched by Ansarallah into Saudi Arabia and the deliberate targeting of civilian and energy infrastructure in the country, calling upon all parties to the conflict to eschew violence and to take meaningful steps towards dialogue and negotiations for a political settlement.

Special Envoy for Martin Griffiths told the Council that there has been a dramatic deterioration of the conflict in and Ansar Allah's offensive on Marib governorate continues, putting civilians, including an estimated one million internally displaced persons, at risk.

"Cross-border attacks have also increased significantly in recent weeks. I am like all of us concerned by the intensification of the missile and drone strikes, including ones that have targeted civilian and commercial infrastructure in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Subsequently, airstrikes took place within the confines of Sana'a city, endangering civilians there as well, he said.

Griffiths stressed that there should be no preconditions for resuming the political process. Resuming the process, and engaging seriously in it, is an obligation upon the warring parties anywhere. They need to engage constantly and seriously at all stages with the United Nations to make this happen, he said.

He said they owe it to the people that they represent to provide hope even in these days that there is an end in sight to this conflict.

"I am alarmed, to be very frank, that the mere fact of meeting across the table to discuss with us or with others or with each other the contours of ending the war is being framed by some, not by all, as a concession rather than an obligation, as a transaction rather than a priority, the UN special envoy said.

Naidu recalled that two years ago, when Yemen was faced with a perilous situation in Hudaydah, the community had acted swiftly and decisively, which resulted in the signing of the Stockholm Agreement and averted a humanitarian catastrophe.

"A similar focused diplomatic push is required now, not only to stop the battle for Marib, but also conflicts elsewhere in the country, he said.

Underlining that the already dire humanitarian situation in Yemen requires the full attention of the community, Naidu said pledges from Yemen's regional partners to support humanitarian and aid operations in the country and the enhanced contribution of some donor countries give reasons for hope.

expressed disappointment over recent talks on exchange of prisoners and detainees ending without any agreement between the parties, voicing hope that there is resumption of talks in the near future.

Expressing support for the contribution made by Yemeni women to peace efforts in the country, Naidu said has consistently held that greater participation of women in areas of conflict resolution, peace negotiations, peacekeeping and peacebuilding is conducive for lasting peace and security.

(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 Marine scout sniper received his service's top noncombat heroism award for saving a 10-year-old boy who'd been carried 100 yards out to sea by a dangerous rip current.

Sgt. Danny McDonald, with 2nd Battalion, 6th Marines, received the Navy and Marine Corps Medal during a ceremony Wednesday at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. The medal is the sea services' highest award for acts of heroism that don't involve conflict with an enemy force.

McDonald was recognized for his heroic actions on May 4, 2019, at Surf City Beach -- about 20 miles from the Marine Corps base, according to a 2nd Marine Division news release. A corporal at the time, McDonald said he first thought the yelling he heard was from kids playing in the water.

Read Next: West Coast Marines Are First to Try Out New Amphibious Combat Vehicle to Replace Legacy AAV

Then it became more frequent and louder as a crowd began to gather, he said.

"I got up to see what was going on, and I saw him struggling out in the water," McDonald said in a statement about the incident. "I immediately sprinted across the sand and dove into the water."

McDonald did so "with complete disregard for his own personal safety," according to his award citation. When the Marine reached the boy, he realized the child wasn't just stuck in the strong current but was also having a seizure.

"After securing the child under his arm and ensuring his head was above water, he began fighting the rip current and tide, which pushed them both toward a nearby pier," the citation adds. "Despite Corporal McDonald's severe exhaustion and in complete disregard for his own preservation, he struggled tirelessly to reach the shore and, in so doing, ensured the young boy's safety."

Once ashore, a Navy corpsman helped McDonald provide medical aid until emergency personnel arrived. Witnesses on the beach said the boy might have drowned if McDonald hadn't decided to swim out to him when he did.

"If not me, then who?" McDonald asked. "That's what it boils down to. I would do it to anyone in any situation, and I would hope someone would help me if I'm ever in trouble."

Capt. Walter Graves, Weapons Company, 2/6's company commander, said the sergeant's actions exemplify what it means to be a Marine.

"The initiative, fearlessness in the face of danger and hardship, it's exactly what we want all Marines to do," Graves said. "We have all of these characteristics that define Marines -- our honor, our courage and our commitment. Sgt. McDonald models each of those characteristics."

-- Gina Harkins can be reached at gina.harkins@military.com. Follow her on Twitter @ginaaharkins.

Related: Sailors and Marines Receive Heroism Medals, Purple Hearts for Pensacola Attack
A report from the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission notes that Disproportionate Share Hospital payments dont always align with key metrics such as uninsured rates and uncompensated care costs.

DSH payment cuts of $8 billion per year over four years are scheduled to begin in FY24, potentially exacerbating the imbalance in state distributions.

DSH hospitals with higher shares of Medicaid-enrolled and low-income patients had negative margins in FY18, the most recent year for which financial data was available.

A new report highlights drawbacks with the system of Medicaid Disproportionate Share Hospital (DSH) payments, noting the payments historically havent been proportional to key criteria.



The report, issued to Congress by the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC), includes a chapter on the federally funded system of DSH payments, which are allocated to hospitals by states. The report finds a lack of meaningful relationship between DSH allotments [to states] and measures of need for DSH funds.

Those measures include:

Changes in the number of uninsured individuals

Amounts and sources of hospitals uncompensated care costs

Number of hospitals that have high levels of uncompensated care and also provide essential community services for low-income, uninsured and vulnerable populations

Those disparities arise in part because DSH allotments are largely based on states historical DSH spending before federal limits were established in 1992, the report states.

Given the imbalance between relevant measures and DSH funding, hospitals in some states may be at a particular disadvantage when scheduled DSH payment cuts are implemented starting in FY24. The variation among states is projected to continue after federal DSH allotment reductions take effect, the report notes.

DSH payment cuts continue to loom

Cuts to the Medicaid DSH program were included in the Affordable Care Act (ACA) as a mechanism to fund the accompanying coverage expansions. The date at which the cuts take effect has been postponed several times, most recently in the 2020 year-end Consolidated Appropriations Act, which delayed the reductions until FY24.

Starting then, cuts of $8 billion per year are scheduled to be implemented for four years. The decrease in FY24 is projected to amount to 57.8% of the unreduced allotment.

The impact of the reduction could vary significantly from one state to the next, MACPAC projects. State reductions will amount to the maximum 90% of unreduced allotments in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, for example, and more than 80% in Ohio and Michigan. But the decrease will be less than 20% in 17 states with historically low DSH allotments.

States may take different approaches to reductions, with some states applying them to all DSH hospitals and others reducing DSH payments only at specific hospitals, the report notes.

That variation is in keeping with states diverging approaches to DSH payment distribution, including how much of a states total funding is targeted to deemed DSH hospitals (those that are statutorily required to receive DSH payments based on their share of Medicaid-enrolled and low-income patients).

In 2019, MACPAC recommended that Congress require the secretary of the Health and Human Services to distribute reductions in a way that gradually improves the relationship between DSH allotments and the number of non-elderly low-income individuals in a state, after adjusting for differences in hospital costs in different geographic areas.

The recommendation has not been heeded.

Costs of uncompensated care continue to climb

In 2019, the number of uninsured was 29.6 million (9.2% of the population), an increase of 1 million from the year before, according to the report. The total in 2020 likely increased, perhaps significantly, as unemployment rates surged during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The recently signed COVID-19 relief legislation included funding to bring down the cost of premiums in the ACA insurance marketplaces. The Congressional Budget Office projected the new legislation would reduce the number of uninsured by 1.7 million.

Rising uninsured rates correlate to increases in bad debt and charity care. Uncompensated care totaled $40.7 billion among all hospitals in FY18  an increase of $2.8 billion (7.1%) from the prior year.

A more positive trend was seen in the Medicaid shortfall, which measures the difference between payment and cost of care for treating Medicaid beneficiaries. That deficit shrunk by $3.2 billion (14%) from FY17 to FY18, according to an American Hospital Association survey cited in the MACPAC report.

The precise impact of the pandemic on DSH hospitals isnt clear

For most measures cited in the report, data was not available for 2020, when hospitals dealt with the financial turmoil of the pandemic.

Safety-net providers that serve a high share of Medicaid and uninsured patients are particularly vulnerable to financial pressures caused by the pandemic because prior to the pandemic they often had low operating margins, the report states. In addition, Medicaid-enrolled patients, the majority of whom identify as Black, Hispanic, Native American, or other non-white race or ethnicity, have been disproportionately affected by COVID-19.

In FY18, U.S. hospitals had an aggregate operating margin of 0.6% after accounting for DSH payments. In comparison, deemed DSH hospitals had a collective operating margin of -2.3%. Those hospitals comprised about 12% of all hospitals as of 2016.
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Police officers escort a woman, center, who is accused of switching her baby with her adult daughter's baby, out of Gumi Police Station in Gumi, North Gyeongsang Province, Wednesday. Yonhap



By Jun Ji-hye



Police wrapped up their investigation into the death of a three-year-old girl and alleged baby swap by her biological mother and transferred the case to the prosecution, while many allegations remain unsolved.



Gumi police said, Wednesday, they faced limitations in finding out the truth as the biological mother, the key suspect, continues to deny all allegations in the absence of concrete evidence.



The case has shocked the public as DNA tests confirmed that the baby's biological mother was her 48-year-old grandmother according to the family registry, identified only by her surname Seok, and not the 22-year-old woman  Seok's daughter  who raised the baby.



The girl was found dead in an empty home in Gumi, North Gyeongsang Province, Feb. 10, after the 22-year-old woman, believed to be the girl's mother, identified only by her surname Kim moved out leaving the three-year-old girl to fend for herself.



The National Forensic Service (NFS), which conducted an autopsy, failed to find the exact cause of the girl's death, but officers suspected she died of starvation after being left in the empty home that was part of a multi-story building.



Kim confessed to abandoning the girl after facing difficulties raising her alone following the end of her marriage.



But the case took a totally unexpected turn after four separate DNA tests confirmed that the dead girl's biological mother was not Kim, but her mother, Seok, who was living on the lower floor of the same building. Seok was the person who found the girl's dead body and called the police.



Police suspect Seok and Kim each gave birth to babies around the same time, while Seok switched the babies to hide the fact that she gave birth, as the DNA tests showed Seok's husband was not the girl's father.



The DNA of a man who Seok was having an extramarital affair with also didn't match that of the girl.



Despite results of the DNA tests, Seok claims that she did not give birth to a baby while refuting the results. According to the NFS, the DNA test results are more than 99 percent accurate.



But police have failed to determine the whereabouts of Kim's child. When Kim learned about the DNA test results, she told police that she had not been aware that the babies had been switched.



As Seok continues to deny the allegations, much of the truth in the case may remain uncovered.



Both faces charges under violation of the Child Welfare Act: Kim for child negligence and Seok for abduction of a minor.


Leisure travel is currently banned for people living in the UK (Yui Mok/PA)

The European Union has set out its plan for coronavirus vaccine certificates that could be used by UK holidaymakers this summer.

Digital Green Certificates will be accepted as proof that a person has had a Covid-19 jab, received a negative test result or recovered from the virus, according to the European Commissions proposal.

They will facilitate safe and free movement within the EU but could also be obtained by non-EU nationals in countries from where travel to the bloc is permitted.

We are proposing to create a Digital Green Certificate to facilitate safe free movement inside the EU during the pandemic.



The certificate will:

a Be accessible and secure for all EU citizens

a Be non-discriminatory

a Contain only essential information#StrongerTogether  European Commission  (@EU_Commission) March 17, 2021

That means they are likely to be available for UK holidaymakers, as a number of countries such as France, Greece, Turkey and Cyprus have confirmed they expect to welcome the return of British tourists this summer.

The process for obtaining a certificate has not been confirmed, as the plan stated they will be issued by national health authorities.

The document  which the EU is not describing as a passport  will be available in digital and paper formats.

Southern European states including Spain and Greece have pushed for the measure to be introduced as their economies are heavily reliant on the summer holiday season.

But several EU members, such as France, have expressed concern it could discriminate against the majority of people who have not been offered a vaccine.

A digital green certificate is a proof that a person:

has been vaccinated against COVID-19,

recovered from COVID-19,

or received a negative test result.



It will be available free of charge as an electronic or paper version and will include a QR code to ensure authenticity. pic.twitter.com/2Y618sVjwE  European Commission  (@EU_Commission) March 17, 2021

The plan will be discussed next week during a summit of EU leaders.

Rory Boland, editor of magazine Which? Travel, said: If international travel resumes this summer, many people in the UK will be looking to head to destinations in the EU and thousands have already booked.

It is crucial that requirements for tests and vaccines are made clear well ahead of countries opening up, so consumers arent at risk of losing their trip and their money if they do not have the right tests or correct evidence of vaccination.

Its important that these rules and requirements remain consistent, as changing them could leave travellers footing the bill again and further risk undermining consumers confidence in booking a holiday.

Meanwhile a flight from Singapore to London Heathrow on Wednesday carried the worlds first passengers to use a health pass developed by airline trade body the International Air Transport Association.

Iata director-general Alexandre de Juniac said the Travel Pass is being developed to enable passengers to efficiently and securely carry proof of vaccine and tests.

The organisation hopes to demonstrate to the UK Government that the solution works as part of efforts to help the world get moving again.

Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove is heading up a review into Covid status certificates.

It is understood he is considering the possibility of the NHS coronavirus app featuring a digital health passport, which would carry details of vaccinations and negative test results.

Boris Johnson told a Downing Street press conference last month that documents providing proof that someone has received a jab raise all sorts of issues, but he added that certificates enabling international travel will be a feature of our life in the future.

The Governments Global Travel Taskforce will provide a report to the Prime Minister on April 12 setting out recommendations for how and when foreign holidays could resume.

Leisure travel is currently banned for people living in the UK, but the rule could be relaxed for those in England from May 17.
Four Leaf Properties announces the immediate availability of homes in the new Phase 3 Meadowstone Community development in Hastings, Michigan. The Phase 3 Grand Opening kick-off event, hosted April 9th, 10th, 11th 2021, will showcase the final new development phase with 34 home lots. Homes are available for immediate occupancy and home site reservations are being taken for additional move-ins throughout Spring and Summer 2021.

The Meadowstone community is located at 1812 Lavender Drive, Hastings, Michigan



34 Lots in Phase 3 (Final Phase)

Premium lots Available

3 and 4 Bedroom Homes offering Immediate Occupancy

Low Maintenance, Energy-Efficient, Single-Story Homes

Open Concept Floor Plans + On-Trend Finishes

Spacious Homes from 1012 sq ft  1568 sq ft.

Home Prices Start at $1165/month*

In-House Financing and Free Application

Community Amenities ~ New Clubhouse, New Playground

Resident Lifestyle Experience; parties, clubs, events

Home Warranties

On-site Professional Management

Meadowstone is a thriving community with wonderful neighbors and amenities that were now expanding. Located on two new cul du sac streets, Phase 3 of our Meadowstone community offers gorgeous new homes in quiet surroundings. Said Michael Callaghan, Managing Partner of Four Leaf Properties. Move-ins start this month with several homes already sold. Monthly payments starting at $1165* is a game changer in Hastings where home prices continue to rise.

Our safe, socially distanced Phase 3 Grand Opening event at Meadowstone will educate participants on the homes, financing options and our community lifestyle. The event takes place at The Meadowstone Clubhouse on April 9th-11th, 2021.

More information is available on our website at http://www.fourleafprop.com, our Facebook page and Youtube channel.

About Four Leaf Properties

To learn more, visit http://www.fourleafprop.com.

*Financing offered through First Choice MH LLC, a licensed mortgage loan originator in the State of Michigan. Main office 600 W. 22nd Street Suite 101 Oak Brook, IL 60523. NMLS# 1241272. Equal Housing Lender. Estimated monthly payment based on price of $68,652 9.93% APR, 10% down, 240 payments of $1,086. Site rent, insurance or local site taxes are included. All conditions are subject to credit approval and approval for residency within an authorized community. Contact local Community Manager for details. Amounts rounded to the nearest dollar.
Health official: 'We are very pleased with the decline in case numbers'
New Delhi: The festival of colours - Holi, will be celebrated this year on March 28 and 29 respectively. A day prior to the main festival, Chhoti Holi or Holika Dahan takes place which celebrates the victory of good over evil. This year March 28 marks Chhoti Holi followed by Holi on the next day.

On the auspicious occasion of Holi, wish your loved ones with warm and heartfelt messages. Check it out here:

Grab some gulal and shout 'Bura Na Mano, Holi Hai'!

On Holi, after starting your day with the traditional puja at home, put on your best foot forward celebrate the day with full gusto. You can plan a small get-together with friends and relatives or organise a grand Holi bash at home.

Keep herbal colours, pichkaris and some white clothes handy. After all, what's Holi without these and do not forget to munch on those gujias and mithai.

Amid all the fun and frolic, do not forget that water is precious so try not wasting it!

Here's wishing everyone a happy and safe Holi!
Police in Georgia have arrested a 21-year-old white man, identified as Robert Aaron Long, after shootings at three Atlanta massage parlours on Tuesday evening left eight people dead.

Mr Long was wanted by police in connection to the worst of the three shootings, at Youngs Asian Massage Parlour in a strip mall near a rural area of Acworth about 50km north of Atlanta.

But police also said they are working on the basis that the three shootings are linked. The attacks collectively killed eight people, including six Asian-American women, one white man and one white woman.

Cherokee County Sheriffs Office spokesman Captain Jay Baker said Mr Long, of Woodstock, was taken into custody in Crisp County, about 240km south of Atlanta, after a manhunt of a few hours.

According to the Crisp County Sheriff, Billy Hancock, his deputies and state troopers used a pursuit intervention technique causing the suspects black Hyundai Tucson car to spin out of control, following which he was then into custody without incident.

FBI spokesman Kevin Rowson said the agency was assisting Atlanta and Cherokee County authorities in the investigation.

Read more:

Though the exact motive behind the shootings is not yet known, police were asked at a press conference whether the attacks could be connected to a broader rise in hate crimes against Asian-Americans in the aftermath of the Covid pandemic.

Only a day before the shooting, Georgia state senator Dr Michelle Au spoke out about the rise in such incidents and said attackers were referring to the China virus during recent assaults - the term used by former president Donald Trump to describe Covid-19.

President Joe Biden, on the other hand, has spoken out to condemn anti-Asian hate crimes, calling such acts un-American.

Atlanta police said it was too soon to ascribe motive to Tuesdays shooting, but confirmed a high number of the victims were Asian-American and said other similar massage parlour businesses would be visited by officers to provide reassurances.

Mr Long was described as big into religion and sorta nerdy by a former classmate at Sequoyah High, where he graduated in 2017.

Mr Long and his family have a long association with the Crabapple First Baptist Church in Milton, Georgia, according to social media posts dating back several years reported by The Heavy.

A statement from the church said it was grieved to hear the tragic news about the multiple deaths in the Atlanta area.

We are heartbroken for all involved. We grieve for the victims and their families, and we continue to pray for them. Moreover, we are distraught for the Long family and continue to pray for them as well.

Additional reporting by agencies
According to a new survey by the Florida-based Saint Leo University Polling Institute, residents of Florida worry about climate change more than most Americans.

Nearly 40 percent reported of the 1,500 respondents said they are very concerned with75 percent saying they are concerned about climate change.

The level of concern is distinctly higher between young people (ages 18 to 35) and older people (at least age 56), according to the polling results announced Monday.

Political scientist Frank Orlando, director of Saint Leos Polling Institute, said in the press announcement that this years survey found that climate change is of concern to 61 percent of Florida Republicans, which is 10 percentage points higher than Republicans nationwide.

Dr. Laura Altfeld, associate professor of biology and ecology at the university, said in the press announcement that the survey confirms what common sense dictates: that young people believe their future is in trouble if climate change is not halted soon. Theyve got a lot longer to deal with this, Altfeld said.

Other findings from the St. Leo survey on climate:

- More than 35 percent of respondents in Florida said they strongly support the United States rejoining the international Paris Climate Agreement to reduce greenhouse gases that accumulate in the atmosphere and cause the climate to change. President Joe Biden has rejoined the treaty, after former President Donald Trump withdrew the nation from it.

- Nearly 68 percent of Florida respondents said it is important that cities and regional coalitions establish local offices for addressing climate change.

- 68 percent of all respondents said climate change should be taught in primary and secondary public schools as accepted theory.

For the complete research findings, click here.

Parts of this report first appeared on the website of the Florida Phoenix, a nonprofit news organization dedicated to coverage of state government and politics from Tallahasse.
Christians worldwide reacted this week after the Vatican issued a statement declaring that the Roman Catholic Church cannot bless same-sex romantic unions.

The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith declared on Monday that it is not licit to impart a blessing on relationships, or partnerships, even stable, that involve sexual activity outside of marriage.

As is the case of the unions between persons of the same sex. The presence in such relationships of positive elements, which are in themselves to be valued and appreciated, cannot justify these relationships and render them legitimate objects of an ecclesial blessing, since the positive elements exist within the context of a union not ordered to the Creators plan, the statement stressed.

The statement clarified Pope Francis' position on the issue after he reportedly voiced support for legal civil unions in the civil sphere last year. The statement also comes as plans and proposals for blessings of unions of persons of the same sex are being advanced in some ecclesial contexts.

Source:The Christian Post
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At least eight people were killed and another has been injured in a series of shootings at three spas in the Atlanta, Ga, area on Tuesday and one suspect has been taken into custody, multiple news outlets are reporting.

It's unclear if all three incidents, which happened within hours of one another, are connected.

LAist has reached out to local law enforcement officials to ask if the shootings have prompted any increase in patrols in Southern California.

These homicides have alarmed the Asian American community. The anti-violence group Stop AAPI Hate released the following statement Tuesday night:

"The reported shootings of multiple Asian American women today in Atlanta is an unspeakable tragedy -- for the families of the victims first and foremost, but also for the Asian American community, which has been reeling from high levels of racist attacks over the course of the past year. Few details about these shootings have been released, including whether or not they were motivated by hate. This latest attack will only exacerbate the fear and pain that the

Asian American community continues to endure."

Cherokee County Sheriff's announced Robert Aaron Long, a 21-year-old white man, was arrested at about 8:30 p.m. local time following a chase that led officers into Crisp County -- about three hours away from where the first shootings at a massage parlor, WSB TV reported.

The Associated Press says Long appears to look similar to surveillance images released by Cherokee County deputies.

Jay Baker with the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office said when officers arrived at Young's Asian Massage, two victims were already dead and another three were still alive, 11Alive reported. The wounded were rushed to a local hospital, but two have since died. One of the victims was a man, as is a survivor, officials said.

The names of the four victims killed at Young's Asian Massage, as well as that of the person who was injured, have not been released by authorities.

About an hour after that shooting, Atlanta police officers were called to respond to a robbery in progress at Gold Spa. Once there, they discovered the bodies of three women who had been fatally shot. Moments later, officers were called to a another shooting across the street at a different spa -- Aromatherapy Spa -- one more woman was found dead of a gunshot wound.

Authorities said many of the victims appeared to be women of Asian descent.

This is a developing story. Some things reported by the media will later turn out to be wrong. We will focus on reports from officials and other authorities, credible news outlets and reporters who are at the scene. We will update as the situation develops.

WE ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS
The Deputy Majority Leader in Parliament, Mr. Alexander Afenyo-Markin has defended governments decision to introduce new levies in the 2021 budget.



Government is seeking to introduce four new levies and increase other existing ones this year.



Some of the levies in question are COVID-19 health levy, Petroleum levy, Sanitation and Pollution levy as well as financial sector clean up levy.



While presenting the 2021 budget in Parliament on Friday, March 12, 2021, Caretaker Minister for Finance, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu explained that Ghana has over the years faced difficulties with the economy arising from high excess capacity payments in the energy sector and other non-recurrent expenditures.



Despite the substantial progress made by the Akufo-Addo Government, there is the need to find additional resources to cover the excess capacity charges that have resulted from the Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) signed by the previous Government which required payments for capacity charges even when the plants involved were idle or unutilised.



Mr. Speaker, it has become very necessary for Government to consider a review of the energy sector levies. The Energy Sector Recovery Levy of 20 pesewas per litre on petrol/diesel under the ESLA is hereby submitted to this House for approval.



The Minority has however kicked against the decision.



They argued that the taxpayer is already burdened by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and will be worse off with the introduction of the new taxes.



But the Effutu legislator in a Citi News interview justified the need for the levies.



According to him, they are needed for the efficient management of the economy.



Look at the over GHS 21 billion that government had to give out to those who lost their investments and the social interventions the government had to give out to Ghanaians due to the COVID-19 pandemic and all these have to funded.

Source: citi news









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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DESPITE the political battle that has erupted in Madrid, which could open the door to two very odd scenarios - the extreme right could take control of Madrid while the independence parties (left and right) could take control of Barcelona, Spains second most important capital - there is another very important motion doing the rounds and which is gathering support: a four-day week.

Spain could become one of the first countries in the world to trial the four-day working week after the government agreed to launch a modest pilot project for companies interested in the idea.

Earlier this year, the small left-wing Spanish party Mas Pais, created by the original co-founder of Podemos, Inigo Errejon, announced that the government had accepted its proposal to test out the idea. From New Zealand to Germany, the idea has been steadily gaining ground globally.

Hailed by proponents as a means to increase productivity, improve the mental health of workers and fight climate change, the proposal has taken on new significance as the pandemic sharpens issues around well-being, burnout and work-life balance.

Errejon maintains that while Spain has some of the longest working days in Europe, it is one of the least productive countries and therefore now is the time for change, considering that working habits have changed so much lately.
Loaded with doles and freebies to woo the electorate ahead of the April 6 Assembly polls in Tamil Nadu, archrivals and AIADMK's populist agenda driven election manifesto are also being debated for the financial implications on a state already burdened with high debts.

With late chief M Karunanidhi's 'hero' manifesto of 2006 that promised among others, free colour TV sets, virtually setting the trend for similar races in the future, Tamil Nadu has seen it all--- free laptops, milch cows, mixer-grinder and gold for thali (mangal sutra) among others.

In 2021 too, the Dravidian majors chose to dish out a slew of promises that carry the 'free of cost' tag, a more politically correct term used to describe freebies by the proponents of such largesse.

The two parties-- seeking a record third term and the planning a strong combeack after a decade in opposition, have converged not only on such freebies, but also on other contentious issues like the repeal of Citizenship Amendment Act and release of seven convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination.

Free washing machine, housing for all, solar cookers, education loan waiver, government jobs to families without anyone in state service etc are AIADMK's promises to the voter while that of DMK includes Rs 4,000 relief to COVID-19 hit rice ration card holders, laws to reserve 75 per cent jobs for locals and waiver of various loans and provision of various assistance.

Both have promised phased prohibition in a state whose coffers are largely filled by liquor sales, even as DMK's ally Congress promised to implement the dry regime soon after the 'new government', apparently headed by DMK, is installed post polls.

However, on the economic front, experts feel the new government will inherit the mantle of huge fiscal debt and the onus of balancing developmental programmes and sourcing new funds for poll assurances.

It will encounter several challenges, especially amidst apprehension of second covid-19 wave post-election, while both the and DMK argue their assurances will get transformed into government schemes when elected to power.

"In my personal view the freebies announced by both the parties are phenomenal. I wonder if anybody has done any financial burden calculation if the party were to implement all its promises when it comes to power," M R Sivaraman, former Union Revenue Secretary, said.

In an apparent reference to the AIADMK, he said "one party" has promised government job to one person from every family without anyone in service.

"This was apparently announced without a reality check on the number of households in the state. Imagine the fiscal commitment which the government would accrue in terms of salaries to all government employees if lakhs of households are accommodated," he told PTI.

K R Shanmugam, director and professor of Madras School of Economics, argues that one-time freebies may not strain the economy in the long run.

"Recurring expenditure in the form of implementing the populist schemes may require huge volume of funds and could leave the government hardly any time and resources to devote to other development activities," he said.

When the poll promises become government schemes, the government would evolve a funding pattern in order to improve the lives of the people, he said.

The state government has performed commendably well to improve the situation during the pandemic and made conditions operational to revive the economy, he noted.

"Tamil Nadu's economy is expected to register a positive growth rate of 2.02 percent in 2020-2021 at a time when the country is facing a negative growth rate of 7.7 percent", he said.

Agreeing there were apprehensions of second COVID-19 wave, he said its effect on economy is debatable.

Maintaining that many of AIADMK's poll assurances are part of the ongoing welfare schemes, former minister and party spokesman S Vaigaiselvan claimed that funding will never be a constraint for the party-led government.

"The performance of the Palaniswami government, the election manifesto and our achievements will ensure us a third successive victory," Vaigaiselvan, also party candidate from Aruppukottai assembly constituency, said.

The DMK is also confident of meeting the financial requirements for implementing its slew of populist promises.

"Our leader M K Stalin and election manifesto are the two heroes in this assembly election. Our poll assurances are doable," DMK spokesperson A Saravanan said.

On Tamil Nadu's huge debt burden of about Rs 5.70 lakh crore by March 2022, he said "the debts and borrowings are because of financial mismanagement by the government. It lacks administrative efficiency. Corruption too played a huge role."



Incidentally, the DMK manifesto, released on March 13, said that implementing all promises was possible by eradicating corruption, pursuing measures including austerity and increasing tax revenue.

Pointing out that the history of such populist promises in the state date back to 1967 when DMK founder C N Annadurai assured three measures of rice for Re 1 through the public distribution system, BJP vice president M Chakravarthy claimed the party failed to implement it when it stormed to power then.

After coming to power, the party changed its slogan to "moondru padi latchiyam, oru padi nichayam" (3 padi (approximately 1.5 kg) is the goal, 1 padi is certain)," he said.

"The DMK also failed to deliver upon its promise of two acres of land to landless poor (made in 2006). But the has fulfilled almost all its election assurances," the BJP leader, whose party is an ally of the AIADMK, asserted.

The BJP is fighting the election to ensure the development and welfare initiatives of Prime Minister Narendra Modi reach Tamil Nadu, too.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
By Rollo Ross

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Fans disappointed by 2017 film "Justice League" will finally be able to see the original director's vision for the movie that united several DC Comics superheroes on screen for the first time.

Zack Snyder's cut of "Justice League" debuts Thursday on HBO Max, a subscription streaming service launched last year by AT&T Inc's WarnerMedia.

"This movie would not exist at all without the fans, without the fans' pressure and without their constant drumbeat and without their dedication on such a level that you can't even imagine," Snyder told Reuters in an interview.

Snyder and his wife Deborah, a producer, left the original film before it was finished following the death of their daughter. The movie was completed by "Avengers" director Joss Whedon and fell flat with critics and fans who thought the storytelling was disjointed and the visual effects messy.

Fans began lobbying for WarnerMedia to release Snyder's version of the film. They even bought a billboard in New Yorks Times Square in October 2019 to promote their cause.

In an unusual move, the company agreed and let Snyder rework a black-and-white version that he had completed in 2017.

The new movie goes into greater detail about many characters, which include Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, The Flash, Aquaman and Cyborg, and explains the motives of their enemy, Steppenwolf. Stars include Ben Affleck as Batman, Henry Cavill as Superman and Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman.

Critics have generally applauded Snyder's version. The film scored a 77% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes, a website that aggregates reviews, as of Tuesday, compared with 40% for the 2017 movie.

The new film runs four hours and is divided into chapters of around 30 minutes each to give options for viewers watching at home, Deborah Snyder said.

"They can watch it, binge watch it all the way through or they can watch it in parts," she said.

(Reporting by Rollo Ross; Writing by Lisa Richwine; Editing by David Gregorio)
TORONTO - Canadians urged to be extra restrained if celebrating St. Patrick's Day in light of the COVID-19 pandemic appeared to be heeding the advice.

Police patrol the empty streets of Waterloo, Ont. on St. Patrick's Day on March 17, 2020. It's St. Patrick's Day but the pandemic is taking at least of the fizz out of the annual Irish-themed celebration. Restrictions on gatherings abound and officials across Canada are urging restraint. The main worry is that out-of-control revelry will spark a spike in COVID-19 cases. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn

TORONTO - Canadians urged to be extra restrained if celebrating St. Patrick's Day in light of the COVID-19 pandemic appeared to be heeding the advice.

There were no immediate reports Wednesday of revellers defying pandemic restrictions, even in places where bars were allowed to open.

In the university area in London, Ont., people lined up outside bars but police said they were encouraged by everything they had seen.

"It appears Londoners are celebrating responsibly and we haven't responded to anything significant at this point," Const. Sandasha Bough said Wednesday afternoon.

In a tweet posted on social media, a bookstore in downtown London said it had decided to close early because of nearby would-be celebrants. The post featured a photograph of people lined up on the sidewalk waiting to enter a nearby establishment.

"We just closed our shop for the day because of the super spreader event happening down the block," the Brown and Dickson post read.

Vanessa Brown, co-owner of the store, said she saw a crowd outside in "various states" of masking on Wednesday morning and decided to close as a precaution.

"I don't understand the mentality of going out to a St. Patrick's Day party of any variety during the plague," Brown said. "The bars shouldn't be open today at all. They are going to infect one another and we are going to have another outbreak."

Brown and her husband, co-owner Jason Dickson, who said some bars in the area were even offering beer sales, said the patrons would likely head to house parties after drinking at the bars and such gatherings have caused outbreaks previously.

"We don't want to sound like teetotallers," said co-owner Jason Dickson. "We see a whole lot of people lining up to drink at 11 o'clock in the morning, and add a pandemic to that, and we were just exceptionally pissed off to see it, so we closed."

Police, however, said while there were indeed lineups, officers were only monitoring the situation. Information on any fines, Bough said, would be provided Thursday.

Ottawa police also said they had no reports of any problems.

Health officials had warned about the dangers of St. Patrick's Day festivities with COVID-19 still spreading.

Earlier public holidays have led to spikes in infections and authorities opted for a mix of heightened restrictions, threats of fines, and pleas for people to behave responsibly.

Toronto police said they would be doing checks for drinking and driving.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 17, 2021.
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The source of Irans relative independence in international affairs can be attributed to its oil and gas wealth. The countrys massive oil resources have contributed to a steady source of income which has fueled Tehrans foreign policy. The election of President Trump in 2016 was the beginning of the biggest crisis in Iran since the war with neighboring Iraq in the 1980s. Chinese support is proving to be crucial as its buyers are stocking up on oil. The recent import volumes are so massive that certain Chinese ports are clogged up with ships carrying oil from Iran.

The Sino-Iranian oil connection

Ever since Deng Xiaopings market liberalization policies and, consequentially, massive economic expansion, Chinas oil industry hasnt been able to keep up with demand. Therefore, Middle Eastern imports are crucial for the Asian giants economy.

Iran's oil industry has been operating under sanctions for decades. The JCPOA, or the Iran Nuclear Deal, of 2015 provided sanctions relief in exchange for restrictions on the country's nuclear program. President Trumps election, unilateral withdrawal from the agreement, and subsequent maximum pressure policy significantly reduced Irans crude exports significantly and curbed production by approximately 2.5 mbpd.

Related Video: Why The Oil & Gas Rig Count Matters

Despite the restrictions, Iranian oil has found its way to international markets through the black market. Especially ship-to-ship transfers have obscured oils origin and provided moderate export capabilities. According to Kevin Wright, a Singapore-based analyst with Kpler, Chinese imports of Iranian crude will rise to 856,000 bpd in March which is a 129 percent rise from last month.

However, the vast majority of buyers are reluctant to import oil from Iran due to U.S. sanctions. Tehran, therefore, has used aggressive marketing to increase exports. Chinese buyers can receive a $3 to $5 discount compared to the Brent benchmark. Steadily rising global prices of oil, which briefly hit $71 for a barrel, have made Iranian crude popular in China.

The Sino-Iranian political axis

Since the revolution in 1979 Iran has followed a unique, Islamic, and revolutionary ideology that has set itself apart from its neighbors. Also, during the Cold War Tehran was staunchly independent from the leading powers of the time. The crises Iran is currently facing, however, are the most challenging since 1980s and the war with Iraq. Related: Are Analysts Underestimating Chinese Oil Demand?

The success of Irans foreign policy concerning the extended political influence in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and Yemen, has been perceived as threatening to its Sunni Arab neighbors. The unthinkable has even happened: a rapprochement between Sunni Arabs and Israel. Arguably, the Abraham Accords have been made possible by the perceived threat from Iran.

The combined economic, military and political pressure has reduced Tehrans options. China is one of the few countries in the world with the resources and capabilities to alleviate some of the pressure. The New York Times leaked a preliminary $400 billion deal last year of a strategic agreement for the next 25 years. In it, Iran would receive an economic lifeline from China in exchange for preferential access to its massive oil and gas reserves. It would shake up the geopolitical balance of power in the region and threaten the United States position.

New President in the White House

The election of President Biden is a relief for the Iranian leadership. The Presidents intention to revive the Nuclear Deal could be a sign of improving relations between the countries. Iranians, however, arent particularly eager to directly engage with the Americans. Especially, the current unilateral sanctions from the Trump era are a showstopper.

Tehran has made it clear that it won't enter into new negotiations until the sanctions are lifted. The scheduled presidential elections in Iran could be the cause for the countrys restraint. After 4 years of Trump, the positions have hardened. Moderates, including the current President Rohani, are careful as they could lose the elections to hardliners.

However, time is running out for the Americans. Every day that the economic crisis in Iran continues, the country slowly drifts into the Chinese sphere of influence. The growing energy relations between the countries is a clear sign of changing attitudes. President Biden has an incredibly difficult task: getting Tehran to sign a revised and updated Nuclear Agreement without strengthening Iran too much or driving it into the hands of its strategic rival.

By Vanand Meliksetian for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
After days of official cover-ups, it has been revealed that three Aboriginal people recently died in custody in one week alone.

The latest death occurred on March 7. An indigenous man died in Ravenhall Correctional Centre in the western suburbs of Melbourne, the Victorian state capital. On March 5, in New South Wales (NSW) a 44-year-old woman serving an eight-month sentence was found unresponsive in Sydneys Silverwater Womens Correctional Centre. Her subsequent death followed that of a 35-year-old man who suffered from a pre-existing medical condition and was found unresponsive in Sydneys Long Bay Jail Hospital on March 2. The cause of death is currently unknown.

In what can only be described as a breathtaking example of callous indifference and deception, the NSW deaths were not reported publicly by the Corrective Services Department, but revealed in a parliamentary budget estimates hearing into Corrections. Corrective Services Commissioner Peter Severin said the service did not make public such deaths due to a Corrective Services policy. The Victorian Correctional Department took two days to report the death in Ravenhall.

According to Victorian Greens Senator Lidia Thorpe, Prime Minister Scott Morrison has refused to meet with the families of the deceased.

NSW Greens MP David Shoebridge said NSW Corrective Services had described the womans death as unnatural and acknowledged that the likely cause of death was hanging in a cell with known hanging points. Removal of hanging points in jails was one of the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody report in 1991, yet Severin stated: There is no dedicated budget for removing hanging points.

The three deaths occurred as the findings of the inquest into the 2018 death of 36-year-old Aboriginal man Nathan Reynolds in Sydney were released. Reynolds died on his prison cell floor at John Moroney Correctional Centre in Sydneys western suburbs from an asthma attack one week before he was due to be released. NSW Deputy Coroner Elizabeth Ryans report said Reynolds was deprived of at least some chance of surviving his acute asthma attack by the confused, uncoordinated and unreasonably delayed response to his emergency by prison guards and health staff.

Ryan declared that: These failures were due both to numerous system deficiencies and to individual errors of judgement. The inquest heard that Reynolds, struggling to breathe, urgently called for help at 11.27pm on August 31, 2018. It took more than 11 minutes for correctional officers to reach his side, during which time other inmates desperately tried to assist him. At 11.48pm an ambulance was called and two minutes later the registered nurse on duty arrived, but by then he was already unresponsive. Paramedics pronounced him dead at 12.44am.

While Corrective Services was aware of Reynolds history of asthma, no Asthma Action Plan was compiled in May 2018 when he entered the jail for a four-month prison term, despite his attendance at the prison clinic on multiple occasions. According to his sisters, Taleah and Makayla, their brothers health deteriorated markedly in that four months. During the eight weeks before his death he was issued with six Ventolin puffers, regarded by respiratory specialists as a huge red flag, but still no plan was developed.

Ryan declared that the Corrective Services actions did not even comply with NSW Healths own policies to prevent chronically ill prisoners from deterioration and death.

Nevertheless, Ryan declared that her focus was not attributing blame. She ruled that Reynolds death was from natural causes contributed to by deficiencies in the management of his severe asthma ... and in the immediate response to his medical emergency. No charges have been laid.

Reynolds family responded to Ryans decision with fury, saying they will continue to fight for justice for the death of their brother.

In the Northern Territory, an inquest is underway of the death of 47-year-old Kumanjayi Bloomfield, who died in a car accident on the Plenty Highway near Harts Range while trying to evade police in July 2019.

Three other inquests are about to commence. In the northern Queensland city of Townsville, a coroner will hear of the death of a 39-year-old Aboriginal man, known as Noomba. He died at the hands of police, who used a neck hold banned in jurisdictions throughout the world. His wife had called the police because she was concerned about his mental wellbeing.

In Western Australia, a coroner will hear evidence on the drowning deaths in Perths Swan River of two Aboriginal teenagers. They entered the water, fleeing pursuing police, after police reportedly received reports of teenagers jumping fences.

Next month will mark 30 years since the 1991 Royal Commission report. The Hawke-Keating Labor government called the inquiry in 1987 after 99 indigenous deaths in custody had fuelled widespread anger. The inquiry was designed to channel the legitimate outrage of broad sections of the populationindigenous and non-indigenousinto the deadend and bankrupt perspective of an official investigation.

The Royal Commission resulted in not one person being charged or prosecuted, a record that has continued for the past three decades. In effect, as the Socialist Labour League, the forerunner to the Socialist Equality Party, warned at the time, it gave a green light for the killings to continue with impunity.

Most of the Royal Commissions 339 recommendations were designed to strengthen the operations of the state with the assistance of Aboriginal consultative and watch committees, which have become part of the system itself.

By 2019, according to the Australian Institute of Criminology, 455 indigenous people had died in custody as a result of abuse by correctional officers and police, denial or delay of medical treatment for pre-existing conditions or injuries sustained while in custody, accident and natural causes.

Of all deaths in custody, Aboriginal people comprise 18 percent despite constituting only 3.3 percent of the population. The overriding reason is the disproportionately high incarceration rate of indigenous people. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the overall national incarceration rate for 2020 is 208 per 100,000 people. The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander incarceration rate is 2,333 per 100,000.

The figures also reveal that 4.7 percent of Aboriginal men were in custody, compared to 0.3 percent of the non-Aboriginal population. Almost a third of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander defendants were jailed, compared to 18 percent of non-Indigenous defendants, despite the two groups having similar conviction rates (85 percent and 81 percent, respectively).

A petition signed by 15 families of Aboriginal people who died in custody has been presented to Prime Minister Morrison, calling on him to meet with them on the 30th anniversary of the Royal Commission report to explain why his government has done nothing to prevent the carnage inside correctional institutions and police custody. Morrison refused to meet with them.

This should come as no surprise. Over the past three decades, no government, Labor or Liberal-National Coalition, has enacted any measures that would address the growing death toll. This includes Kevin Rudds Labor government, notwithstanding his much-hyped 2008 apology to the Stolen Generationthe thousands of indigenous children forcibly separated from their families as a means of seeking to wipe out the Aboriginal population as a whole.

While racism certainly exists in the police and prison system, in the final analysis the reason for the level of Aboriginal incarceration rates lies in the fact that most indigenous people are poor and working class, as are the vast majority of non-indigenous prisoners, who are also dying in custody at a frightening rate.

The very fact that indigenous deaths in custody have continued since the Royal Commission highlights that the purpose of the inquiry was not to address the real causes but to quell the anger and opposition to the deaths. Appeals to Morrison, the government and the political establishment only serve to promote illusions that they can be pressured to act in the interests of the Aboriginal population.
New Delhi, March 17 : Alleging that some Trinamool Congress workers are creating an atmosphere of fear and terror by killing its workers, the BJP on Wednesday approached the poll panel in Kolkata, demanding a ban on such workers from campaigning in the run-up to the Assembly elections in West Bengal.

In a complaint lodged with the Chief Electoral Officer of West Bengal, state BJP Vice President Pratap Banerjee said, "Bapi Ankure, an active worker of the BJP, was ruthlessly murdered by the goons of Trinamool Congress because of his political affiliation, which is akin to murdering democracy ahead of the Assembly elections." The BJP further alleged that the killing of Ankure by Trinamool workers was not just an act of terror, but it was the coldblooded murder of democracy, where a person opposing the Trinamool is not allowed to profess his political affiliation, nor is he permitted to express dissent.

"It is apparent that the Trinamool is planning to manipulate the upcoming elections by brazenly indulging in booth capturing, rigging, intimidating the voters and through other illegal and criminal acts," the BJP said.

The saffron party further said that the aforesaid incident is a clear indication that the Trinamool is brazenly planning to make a mockery of the upcoming elections.

"The conduct of free and fair elections is at the heart of a functioning democracy which is at peril in the state of West Bengal as the ruling party is brazenly planning to terrorise the voters so that they don't turn up to vote," the BJP alleged.

The BJP also demanded that the poll panel should debar Trinamool leader Anubrata Mondal and other party workers from campaigning any further or appoint special observers to monitor the daily activities of these leaders till the date of declaration of results to ensure that free and fair elections are held in every polling booth in West Bengal.
The operation is ongoing, but AFP Counter Terrorism and Special Investigations Assistant Commissioner Scott Lee said there was no threat to community safety. The community can be reassured that weve taken action at an early stage to ensure that theres no risk to the public, and were confident that the action that weve taken today has mitigated that risk, Mr Lee said. Assistant Commissioner Michael Hermans, Victoria Police Counter Terrorism Command and Assistant Commissioner Scott Lee, AFP Counter Terrorism and Special Investigations. Credit:Victoria Police Mr Hermans said the trio raised concerns due to religious extremism. It is Islamic, but let me make it very clear that we target the crime not the ideology, he said.

Police say two of the men are from the same family. Mr Hermans said the arrested men could face attempted terrorism or acts in preparation of terrorism charges, which can carry heavy penalties, including life in prison. The 16-year-old was interviewed, released and was being provided with counselling services, Mr Hermans said. Investigator escort a suspect to be interviewed by police. Credit:Nine Victoria Police will continue to engage with this young man, offer him support and hopefully divert him away from the activity thats come to our attention this morning, he said.

Mr Lee said aspects of the fire in February made investigators suspect it was motivated by terrorism. There is an ideology, and a violent extremist ideology, that has caused us concern, and its as a result of that ideology that were looking at these incidents being connected to a terrorism motivation, Mr Lee said. There are certain aspects to the lighting of the fire that led us to suspect it was a terrorism motivation. Loading Replay Replay video Play video Play video Mr Hermans said the age of those arrested was very concerning.

Mr Lee said the COVID-19 pandemic had seen a magnification of the online environment, both nationally and globally. Loading What weve seen throughout the COVID period as people have come out of the physical world and been in isolation and driven into the online environment ... thats exacerbated some of the radicalisation that weve seen, he said. Professor Greg Barton, a counter-terrorism expert at Deakin University, confirmed that Victoria Police and other law enforcement agencies had experienced an increase in counter-terrorism case-loads during the COVID-19 lockdown, particularly in relation to far-right extremism and conspiracy theorists. However, Professor Barton said there had also been a jump in online radicalisation by Islamic extremists.

Theres a strong desire now theres no more al-Qaeda attacks in big cities and the Islamic State thing has come and gone to think we can breathe easy, he said. Loading But the agencies are saying that their case-loads are going up and the amount of time they are spending on Islamic radicalisation is also increasing. In November last year, the United Nations expressed concerns about intensified terrorist activities during the pandemic and that violent extremist groups would seek to exploit the global disruption caused by COVID-19. Separately on Wednesday, the head of the nations domestic spy agency, ASIO boss Mike Burgess, announced he will stop referring to Islamic extremism and right-wing extremism, saying his organisation needs to be conscious that the names and labels it uses are important.

He said his agency would now use the umbrella terms of religiously motivated violent extremism and ideologically motivated extremism in a significant change to the language it uses to talk about the threats facing the nation. Director of the Forum of Australias Islamic Relations, Kuranda Seyit, who has worked in anti-radicalisation programs for Muslim youth, said it was premature to make any comments about the arrests but he was concerned authorities had identified the religious background of the offenders. I feel this is something that should be avoided, because crime has no religion, Mr Seyit said. He shouldnt have mentioned the persons religion because nothings been ascertained as to their religious backgrounds or their religiosity. Police have encouraged anyone with information about extremist activity or possible threats to the community to come forward.
The equity barometers once again slipped into the negative terrain and were hovering near the day's low in early afternoon trade. Metal and pharma stocks witnessed selling. Investors remained cautious ahead of U.S. Federal Reserve's two-day policy meeting which will conclude later in the day.

At 12:20 IST, the barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, declined 119.13 points or 0.24% at 50,244.83. The Nifty 50 index lost 55.15 points or 0.37% at 14,855.30.

In the broader market, the S&P BSE Mid-Cap index fell 1.13% while the S&P BSE Small-Cap index slipped 0.78%.

The market breadth was weak. On the BSE, 997 shares rose and 1,723 shares fell. A total of 167 shares were unchanged.

Derivatives:

The NSE's India VIX, a gauge of market's expectation of volatility over the near term, fell 1.52% to 19.8825. The Nifty 25 March 2021 futures were trading at 14,900, at a premium of 44.70 points as compared with the spot at 14,855.30.

The Nifty option chain for 25 March 2021 expiry showed maximum Call OI of 25.3 lakh contracts at the 16,000 strike price. Maximum Put OI of 28.2 lakh contracts was seen at 14,500 strike price.

Economy:

The Union Cabinet on Tuesday cleared the proposal to set up a Development Finance Institution (DFI). Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had announced in the Union Budget that the government will set up DFI to fund long-term infrastructure projects in the country.

The government will initially infuse Rs 20,000 crore in the DFI, Sitharaman said while briefing the media on Cabinet decisions, adding that the government plans to raise up to Rs 3 lakh crore in the next five years. The government will provide tax exemptions and also amend the Indian Stamp Act to attract pension funds, sovereign funds to invest in DFI.

DFI will have a professional board. At least 50% of the members will be non-official directors. Persons of eminence are envisaged to be on the board. "We are making sure that Board will be such as to meet the requirements of 21st century," Sitharaman said.

The DFI will start with 100% ownership of Government of India, and gradually government's ownership will be brought down to 26%.

Coronavirus Update:

Total COVID-19 confirmed cases worldwide stood at 12,06,95,785 with 26,70,453 deaths. India reported 2,34,406 active cases of COVID-19 infection and 1,59,044 deaths while 1,10,45,284 patients have been discharged, according to the data from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India.

Buzzing Index:

The Nifty Pharma index fell 1.34% to 11,851.55. The index declined 3.74% in four days.

Sun Pharmaceutical Industries (down 2.33%), Lupin (down 2.15%), Cipla (down 1.70%), Cadila Healthcare (down 1.67%) and Torrent Pharmaceuticals (down 1.66%) were the top losers in Pharma segment.

Stocks in Spotlight:

GMM Pfaudler gained 1.77% after the company announced the acquisition of assets of HDO Technologies for a consideration of Rs 58.46 crore. The company said that it had participated in the e-auction process for sale of assets (factory land, building, plant and machinery, office equipment, computers, furniture and fixtures, vehicles and capital work in progress) owned by HDO Technologies (in liquidation). It was declared as the successful bidder by the liquidator.

Bharat Forge slipped 0.74%. The company intends to consolidate its EV initiatives under one single wholly-owned subsidiary. The auto components firm on Tuesday said it intends to undertake electric vehicle (EV) business through a special purpose vehicle (SPV), which would be a wholly-owned subsidiary of the company. As an initial step, the company has decided to acquire newly formed group firm Kalyani Powertrain (KPPL), Bharat Forge said in a filing.

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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TALLAHASSEE  Gov. Ron DeSantis and Florida legislative leaders still arent interested in expanding Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, despite the federal governments offer to defray the cost to the state for two years as part of the $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package signed by President Biden last week.

Democrats and advocates whove pushed for expansion say theres no excuse not to offer coverage to 800,000 more Floridians now that the cost to the state would be less.

Sen. Annette Taddeo, D-Miami, for example, noted that DeSantis doesnt plan on giving back to the federal government any of the $10 billion in direct aid Florida is getting, as U.S. Sen. Rick Scott requested, so traditional GOP arguments in favor of fiscal restraint seem to have evaporated in Tallahassee, she said.

Even Gov. DeSantis said to former governor and senator Rick Scott, thats crazy to turn back money, Taddeo said Wednesday. Well, I feel exactly the same way  thats crazy to turn back money for Medicaid expansion in the middle of a global pandemic, to say to people, you still cant have insurance.

Medicaid expansion would provide coverage under the program, which is run jointly by the state and federal government and covers poor families, children and pregnant women, to people who earn up to 138% of the federal poverty line, which stands at $18,000 per year for a person and $37,000 for a family of four.

The federal government would cover the entire cost of expansion at first before their share reduces to 90%, with the state paying the remaining 10%. The usual cost share of the current Medicaid program varies by year but can reach as high as 60% paid by the federal government and 40% paid by Florida.

Under the relief package, for two years the federal government would pay an extra 5% of its share of the main Medicaid program, which is expected to serve nearly 4.6 million Floridians next fiscal year before enrollment drops in future years due to a rebounding economy.

Story continues

Floridas Medicaid program is projected to cost $31.6 billion this year, or about one-third of the states $92.2 billion budget. State economists estimate the states share this year to be $11 billion and it is expected to rise to $13 billion next year.

Florida Policy Institute, a liberal think tank based in Orlando, estimates expanding Medicaid now would save the state $3.5 billion.

That would free up money for other things, such as education and the environment, and advocates argue the savings would be even greater, because the cost of uncompensated care at hospitals would go down, eventually reducing health care premiums across the entire system.

There is no excuse fiscally for any lawmaker to say it would be fiscally undoable, said Holly Bullard, FPI chief strategy and development officer. The fiscal argument isnt there, its really reversed.

But GOP leaders still have an eye on the 10% cost to the state in future years.

The president has concerns about the long-term, recurring costs associated with Medicaid expansion, Katie Betta, spokeswoman for Senate President Wilton Simpson, R-Trilby, stated in an email explaining his opposition.

DeSantis office didnt return a request for comment Wednesday, but his spokeswoman told the Washington Post this week he remains opposed to the expansion of Medicaid in Florida.

House Speaker Chris Sprowls, R-Palm Harbor, is more concerned about allowing more residents coverage, an echo of the criticism from past GOP House leaders that able-bodied adults would be eligible for Medicaid under expansion.

The Speaker will not pursue a Medicaid expansion, Sprowls spokeswoman Jenna Sarkissian stated in an email. He believes Medicaid should be reserved for our most vulnerable residents, such as low-income senior citizens, people with disabilities, children and pregnant women.

Sarkissian added that Sprowls has expressed a strong desire to address disparities in maternal health care for low-income women and invest in areas like career and higher education help to generate better outcomes for Floridians and put them on a path to employment, financial resilience and prosperity.

After years of intense debate over Medicaid expansion, the fight over the issue in the Legislature has cooled.

In 2013, Florida House Democrats demanded all bills be read in full, slowing down the chamber to protest the lack of action on the issue, but a Senate plan to allow newly eligible enrollees to receive private health plans paid by the federal government was rebuffed by House Republicans.

At the time, then-Gov. Rick Scott had come out in favor of expansion, as long as the federal government was covering the costs. After he was reelected in 2014, he reversed course and didnt speak in favor of a plan pushed by Senate Republicans in 2015 to expand Medicaid while imposing work requirements and attaching other strings. House Republicans again rejected the plan, but only after a standoff between the chambers that delayed the budget.

Faced with the stalemate in the Legislature, those in favor of expansion have turned to a potential ballot measure that would put the issue before voters. Those efforts, however, have been stymied so far, too.

The Florida Decides Healthcare political committee halted its petition gathering push in 2019, saying it would be unable to gather enough petitions in time to be placed on the 2020 ballot. The group will try again for the 2022 ballot, but the Legislature last year passed a law placing greater requirements on petition gatherers and increased the amount of petitions needed for a Florida Supreme Court review.

Taddeo wants the Legislature to eliminate the need for that process by putting the measure on the ballot itself. Shes filed SJR 276 to put Medicaid expansion on the 2020 ballot, but that avenue is unlikely, too, because it requires 60% support in both chambers.

After this icing on the cake is handed to us from the federal government  and we still dont do it  its so sad because were playing with peoples lives, Taddeo said.

grohrer@orlandosentinel.com
Greg Sukiennik has worked at all three Vermont News & Media newspapers and was their managing editor from 2017-19. He previously worked for ESPN.com, for the AP in Boston, and at The Berkshire Eagle in Pittsfield, Mass.
North Korea said Thursday it will ignore all US efforts to foster contact or dialogue unless Washington changes course, hours before President Joe Biden's top envoys held talks in Seoul.

The comments from the North's first vice foreign minister Choe Son Hui came with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin in the South for the second leg of an Asian tour to bolster a united front against the nuclear-armed North and an increasingly assertive China.

The pair have repeatedly called for the "complete denuclearisation of North Korea" on their trip, which began in Japan.

There could be no contact nor dialogue between Washington and Pyongyang "unless the US rolls back its hostile policy towards the DPRK", Choe said in a statement carried Thursday by the official Korean Central News Agency, referring to the North by its official name.

"Therefore, we will disregard such an attempt of the US in the future, too."

The "new regime" in the US, she added, had only put forward a "lunatic theory of 'threat from north Korea' and groundless rhetoric about 'complete denuclearisation'".

Pyongyang has closed its borders for more than a year to try to protect itself against the coronavirus pandemic that first emerged in neighbouring China.

It had maintained silence during the first weeks of the Biden administration, with state media not even mentioning the new US leadership until this week.

Blinken's comments in Japan had "seriously rattled us", Choe added.

"We are curious what senseless rhetoric he would make in south Korea to take the world by surprise."

- No response -

The US envoys held joint talks with their counterparts Thursday and were due to meet later with President Moon Jae-in, who brokered the talks process between Kim and then US president Donald Trump in 2018.

Blinken and Austin are consulting on a review of Washington's policy towards the North being carried out by the new administration.

Story continues

Trump's unorthodox approach to foreign policy saw him trade insults and threats of war with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un before an extraordinary diplomatic bromance that saw a series of headline-grabbing meetings, beginning in Singapore.

But ultimately no progress was made towards Washington's declared aim of denuclearising North Korea, with a second summit in Hanoi in early 2019 breaking up over sanctions relief and what Pyongyang would be willing to give up in return.

The North remains under multiple international sanctions for its banned weapons programmes, which it says it needs to deter a possible US invasion.

Shortly before Biden's January inauguration, leader Kim decried the US as his country's "foremost principal enemy" and Pyongyang unveiled a new submarine-launched ballistic missile at a military parade.

Choe said Thursday that for talks to take place, Pyongyang and Washington would have to meet as equals.

"We make it clear that we won't give it such opportunities as in Singapore and Hanoi again," she said.

Since mid-February, Washington has attempted to reach out to Pyongyang "through several channels", state department deputy spokesperson Jalina Porter said earlier this week.

"To date, we've not received any response from Pyongyang," she added.

So far, the North has refrained from carrying out any direct provocations since Biden was inaugurated, but is now beginning to amplify its rhetoric.

Seoul and Washington are security allies and kicked off joint military exercises last week. That prompted the North Korean leader's influential sister Kim Yo Jong to warn the new US administration against "causing a stink at its first step" if it wants to "sleep in peace for coming four years".

sh/slb/jah
By David Shepardson

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Travel spending by Americans plunged by 42%, or $492 billion, in 2020, according to a report by an industry group, amid social, travel and business restrictions aimed at curbing the spread of COVID-19.

The U.S. Travel Association said the industry shed 5.6 million direct and indirect jobs last year, and the decline in travel dragged down total economic output to $1.5 trillion, from 2019's $2.6 trillion. U.S. tax revenue collected from travel plummeted by $57 billion in 2020.

"While the gradual progress of vaccinations has provided hope that a turnaround may be on the horizon, it is still unclear when travel demand will be able to fully rebound on its own," said U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Roger Dow.

As millions of Americans get vaccinated and travel destinations begin to reopen, the industry is optimistic that demand will return this spring. Disney said Wednesday its California theme parks will reopen April 30.

Last year, U.S. passenger airline traffic sank 60.1% to the lowest since 1984, while Americans took far fewer road trips as millions stayed home instead of commuting.

In total, there were 368 million air passengers in 2020, down from 922.6 million in 2019. U.S. driving fell by 430.2 billion miles, or 13%, to 2.83 trillion total miles in 2020, its lowest level since 2001.

Business and international travel were especially hard hit and have been slower to recover. The United States still imposes restrictions that bar the entry of nearly all non-U.S. citizens who have recently been in Brazil, South Africa and much of Europe.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention still recommends Americans avoid all nonessential travel, even for those who have been vaccinated.

However, more Americans are resuming travel.

The Transportation Security Administration said last week it screened 1.357 million U.S. airport passengers on Friday, the highest number screened since March 15, 2020 in the early weeks of the pandemic, as air travel begins to rebound.

Travel-related employment has been rebounding this year as some pandemic restrictions have been lifted. In February, employment in leisure and hospitality increased by 355,000 jobs.

(Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Bernadette Baum)
Archaeologists have unearthed fragments of a 1,900-year-old Biblical scroll in Israel, in what experts are calling the most important discovery in the last 60 years.

By Devin Watkins

The Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) has unveiled an historic discovery of Biblical proportions in several desert caves.

In a dig that began in 2017, archaeologists discovered around 80 new parchment fragments of Old Testament texts.

They contain verses written in Greekwith the name of God appearing in Hebrewfrom the books of Zechariah and Nahum, which are part of the Book of the Twelve Minor Prophets.

The fragments form part of a scroll which experts believe belonged to Jewish rebels, led by Simon Bar Kokhba, who hid in the caves after a failed revolt against Roman rule between 132 and 136 AD.

Israeli archaeologists began the operation in the Judean desert to prevent caves from being looted. They also unearthed a cache of rare coins from the same period, a 6,000-year-old skeleton of a child, and a large woven basket dating from around 10,500 years ago, the oldest intact in the world.

A cache of rare coins was also unearthed

Cave of Horror

The discovery was made in a difficult-to-reach mountain enclosure known as the Cave of Horror, which lies some 40 km south of Jerusalem.

It acquired that intriguing name after 40 human skeletons were found there during excavations in the 1960s. Experts say they were the remains of men, women, and children who fled to the cave to escape the Romans but died instead of hunger and thirst.

They brought with them what are now precious objects, including cooking utensils, personal belongings, and documents and Biblical texts.

A 6,000-year-old skeleton of a child was found in the caves

New page in biblical discoveries

Marcello Fidanzio, the Director of the Archaeological and Cultural Institute of Biblical Lands in Lugano, described the find to Vatican News as a new page in the history of archaeological excavations.

He said it is the first discovery of note since the great excavations in the 1940s and 50s, which brought the Dead Sea Scrolls to light in Qumran and the Judean desert.

Discoveries of such significance, he pointed out, rekindle the excitement of pioneers.

The Cave of Horror lies high above the Judean desert

Much left to find

The Israel Antiquities Authority says some 600-odd caves were mapped using drones and advanced survey technology. Besides the announced discovery, some 20 caves could still contain important artifacts.

This is something we Bible scholars are passionate about, according to Prof. Fidanzio, but the discovery is also of great importance to Israelis, who highlight this research as being linked to their identity and the history of their presence in the land of Israel.

Witness of textual fluidity

The fragments contain very small amounts of text from the Old Testament, but they still have something to offer scholars.

Prof. Fidanzio noted that they provide evidence of textual fluidity, which was when the Biblical text was not yet stable or fixed. It was only later that the Scriptures were canonized, fixed, and then handed down with great fidelity to the present day.

He said the Cave of Horror scroll can help scholars understand a stage which led to the definitive text.

These discoveries show us an extremely fascinating historical moment: one in which the Bible finds its final form, said the Lugano professor.

The fragments shown together

Respect for Gods name

As mentioned, the fragments are written primarily in Greek, with only the name of God written in Paleo-Hebrew, which was used at the time of the First Temple (until 586 BC).

Prof. Fidanzio said it shows great respect for the unutterable name of God.

Writing it in another alphabet, he concluded, is a scribal strategy that seeks to focus the readers attention on those letters. It points Gods name out as something which commands great respect and sacredness.
Six Asian women were among the eight murdered in shootings at three Atlanta-area spas on Tuesday  a tragedy that comes at a time when Asian hate crimes in America have been on an alarming rise.

There have been 3,795 reported anti-Asian incidents between March 19, 2020 and Feb. 28, 2021, according to the Stop AAPI Hate coalition. Violent incidents against Asians from coast to coast have already led to deaths this year, including that of 75-year-old Pak Ho in Oakland and 84-year-old Vicha Ratanapakdee in San Francisco. The numbers reported since the onset of the coronavirus are devastating  but even worse, the actual amount of occurrences is believed to be far higher. The AAPI community is all too aware this is nothing new, however. The nation's history has long perpetrated the divide, dating back as far as the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act and 1885 Rock Springs Massacre.

Volunteer for your local community.

In this moment, the best way to show support for the community is by taking action. "Those of us in the Asian American community know that this has been going on since last March. It shows up almost daily in our news feeds and yet despite our pleas nothing has really been done and no one has really amplified this issue," actor Daniel Dae Kim, who has become a leading advocate against Asian hate crimes, said in a video interview. "Awareness is really just the first step. Now it's about volunteering, it's about contacting community organizers who are working in communities like Oakland, the Bay Area, and New York City, where so many of these attacks are happening, and donating to these causes. And it's about speaking up  it's about not being silent."

Immediately report all incidents.

It's important to report all incidents of anti-Asian sentiment, no matter how great or small, to Stop AAPI Hate  a joint project the Asian Pacific Planning and Policy Council (A3PCON), Chinese for Affirmative Action (CAA), and the Asian American Studies Department of San Francisco State University launched last spring. Since the language barrier is thought to be a hurdle, the site allows for incidents to be reported in English, as well as Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Japanese, and Tagalog, among others.

Story continues

"Whether you're a witness or a victim, report these incidents because we know there's a tendency in the Asian American community not to report," Kim continued. "These figures that we're citing now are not accurate. They're actually very underreported. So we need to know the scope and the breadth of the problem, so reporting is part of it."

Enroll in bystander intervention training.

Also essential is training on how to stop harassment as a bystander, as Hollaback! and Asian Americans Advancing Justice have teamed up to do in hour-long Bystander Intervention to Stop Anti-Asian American Harassment and Xenophobia workshops. Check here for upcoming sessions.

Check in on your friends.

Checking in with your Asian friends during this harrowing time is another major way to show support, as the Asian and Pacific Islander nonprofit collective Gold House advised, tweeting: "We want you to check in on your API friends and neighbors. But we also want you to know that we're fired up and are actively planning tonight. When life gets tough, we get tougher."

Donate.

For those looking to contribute to causes to combat the racist rhetoric, these are just a few of the many organizations working to support the community:

Support AAPI-owned brands.

Additionally, the purchase of the products on this list, like the Jing Fong mug and #StopAsianHate keychain, also support AAPI initiatives.

Keep the conversation going.

Engaging in difficult conversations with an open mind is also one of the most helpful ways to show solidarity  and then spreading that word. "Amplifying the message is part of it," Kim added. "If you have a Twitter, if you have any social media, get the message out. Contact your legislators and your district attorneys and ask what they're doing."

"There's something in the psyche of people that somehow makes it okay for us to attack and verbally abuse Asian Americans," the actor best known for Hawaii Five-O explained. "It's really just a question of speaking up, speaking out, and really fighting the injustice that we've been subject to historically since our immigration to this country, but especially now."
I collect Soviet newspapers. Years ago, I used to travel to Moscows Izmailovsky flea market every few weeks, hooking up with a dealer who crisscrossed the country digging up front pages from the Cold War era. I have Izvestias celebration of Gagarins flight, a Pravda account of a 1938 show trial, even an ancient copy of Ogonyek with Trotsky on the cover that someone must have taken a risk to keep.

These relics, with dramatic block fonts and red highlights, are cool pieces of history. Not so cool: the writing! Soviet newspapers were wrought with such anvil shamelessness that its difficult to imagine anyone ever read them without laughing. A good Soviet could write almost any Pravda headline in advance. What else but A Mighty Demonstration of the Union of the Party and the People fit the day after Supreme Soviet elections? What news could come from the Spanish civil war but Success of the Republican Fleet? Who could earn an obit headline but a Faithful Son of the Party?

Reality in Soviet news was 100 per cent binary, with all people either heroes or villains, and the villains all in league with one another (an SR was no better than a fascist or a Right-Trotskyite Bandit, a kind of proto-horseshoe theory). Other ideas were not represented, except to be attacked and deconstructed. Also, since anything good was all good, politicians were not described as people at all but paragons of limitless virtue  95 per cent of most issues of Pravda or Izvestia were just names of party leaders surrounded by lists of applause-words, like glittering, full-hearted, wise, mighty, courageous, in complete moral-political union with the people, etc.

Some of the headlines in the U.S. press lately sound suspiciously like this kind of work:

 Biden stimulus showers money on Americans, sharply cutting poverty

 Champion of the middle class comes to the aid of the poor

 Bidens historic victory for America

The most Soviet of the recent efforts didnt have a classically Soviet headline. Comedians are struggling to parody Biden. Lets hope this doesnt last, read the Washington Post opinion piece by Richard Zoglin, arguing that Biden is the first president in generations who might be impervious to impressionists. Zoglin contended Biden is impregnable to parody, his voice being too devoid of obvious quirks, his manner too muted and self-effacing to offer comedians much to work with. He was talking about this person:
GREENWICH  On Monday afternoon, staff at the Hyatt Regency Greenwich began greeting people in cars as they drove up to the facilitys lobby.

Company leaders grabbed bags filled with three-course meals, giving them to laid-off and actively working employees alike. The culinary team prepared the special meals, which included a salad, braised short ribs, mashed potatoes, mixed vegetables, dessert and a card from the hotels leadership committee, for families of four to enjoy at home.

General Manager Sherry Hicks-Buckles said the drive-through dinner is a great way to show care to local Hyatt employees. The fully prepared dinner required no shopping nor cooking and gave employees a safe way to quickly gather in an outdoor setting. Many Hyatt Regency employees have not seen each other face-to-face since last year when the pandemic began, Hicks-Buckles said.

We miss that human interaction with them, she added.

Its just a matter of keeping in constant contact with our colleagues. We obviously have a fair amount that have returned, and are working with us, but we also have a fair amount that are still in layoffs, just based upon our business needs, and theyre still our Hyatt colleagues and we want to just keep in constant communication with them, she said.

Back in March 2020, when the pandemic first hit Connecticut, Hyatt Regency Greenwich leaders chose to temporarily close their doors and lay off around 150 employees. But as COVID-19 infection rates drop, and state officials move to increase capacity at larger scale events, Hicks-Buckles said the number of furloughed employees continues to drop. For example, before the first round of layoffs last March, the local hotel had employed around 220 people. Now, it employs 188, Hicks-Buckles said.

Unfortunately, it was a fair amount of our workforce that we did have to lay off. But as business levels continue to progress, its nice, because we can bring more colleagues back into the workforce, she said.

Before the Monday afternoon event began, Hicks-Buckles said Hyatt Regency staff had sent invites to more than 100 of their colleagues.

And the hotel wasnt the only entity giving back to the community on Monday.

Colleagues who were not able to make it to the event could donate their meal to another colleague with a bigger family or more pressing need for the food, Hicks-Buckles said.

So, thats another nice gesture that people will do as well, she said.

tatiana.flowers@thehour.com @TATIANADFLOWERS
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Russian President Vladimir Putin participates via video link in a ceremony launching a gold processing facility in Kyrgyzstan, in Moscow on March 17, 2021

President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday oversaw the opening of a Moscow-backed gold refining plant in Kyrgyzstan, pledging the impoverished country's second largest mine would see $600 million in investments from Russia.

Russia, China and the West have competed for influence in Central Asia including in Kyrgyzstan whose economy relies on gold mining, among other industries.

Moscow has watched billions in investments from China pour into Central Asia in recent years, with Russian companies struggling to compete.

On Wednesday, watching the opening of the gold processing plant at the Jerooy mine in northwestern Kyrgyzstan via video link, Putin said the project would see "record volumes" of investment totalling $600 million by the end of its lifetime.

The plant at Jerooy, a mine operated by Russia's Alliance Group had been expected to go on line last year, but was attacked during unrest that saw a Kyrgyz administration toppled and populist Sadyr Japarov emerge as leader.

The group said the arson attack cost the company over $10 million in damages, delaying production at Jerooy, which holds nearly 90 tonnes of gold and 25 tonnes of silver.

Kyrgyz leader Japarov thanked Putin for his support of the project.

Gold is central to the threadbare economy of the majority Muslim country of 6.5 million people which sends hundreds of thousands of its citizens to work in Russia each year.

But mining projects, including a flagship Canadian mine and several Chinese projects, have been flashpoints of contention in recent years.

During his trip to the largely agrarian province of Talas on Wednesday, Japarov met with demonstrators who have protested against the Jerooy project over environmental concerns.

At the ceremony, he appealed for stability, stressing the project's importance to the state budget.

"We have great goals and common intentions. They are a bright future for our country and the well-being of our people," said Japarov, who was serving jail time for hostage-taking when he was freed during October's anti-government uprising.
Australia is working to give one million doses of the internationally-produced AstraZeneca vaccines originally destined for Australia to Papua New Guinea, as the country battles a widespread outbreak of COVID-19.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison also announced Australia will send 8000 locally-produced AstraZeneca vaccines to PNG to help immunise health workers, as the local health system struggles to contain the spread.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced further aid to PNG as the country battles a major epidemic. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

Weve known that that challenge was always going to be too great for Papua New Guinea, as time went on, and that indeed is proving to be the case now, he said on Wednesday morning.

Australia is making a formal request to both AstraZeneca and the European health authorities to send one million doses of the 3.8 million internationally-produced doses contracted by Australia to PNG.
Intelligent.com, a trusted resource for online degree rankings and higher education planning, has announced the Top 45 Colleges In Texas for 2021. The comprehensive research guide is based on an assessment of 161 accredited colleges and universities in the nation. Each program is evaluated based on curriculum quality, graduation rate, reputation, and post-graduate employment.

The 2021 rankings are calculated through a unique scoring system which includes student engagement, potential return on investment and leading third party evaluations. Intelligent.com analyzed 161 schools, on a scale of 0 to 100, with only 45 making it to the final list. The methodology also uses an algorithm which collects and analyzes multiple rankings into one score to easily compare each school.

To access the complete ranking, please visit: https://www.intelligent.com/best-colleges-in-texas/

2021 Colleges In Texas featured on Intelligent.com (in alphabetical order):

Abilene Christian University

Alamo Colleges District

Austin College

Baptist University of the Americas

Baylor University

Dallas Baptist University

East Texas Baptist University

Houston Baptist University

Howard Payne University

Lamar University

LeTourneau University

Lubbock Christian University

Midwestern State University

Our Lady of the Lake University

Prairie View A&M University

Rice University

Saint Mary's University

Sam Houston State University

Southern Methodist University

Southwestern Adventist University

Southwestern Assemblies of God University

Southwestern University

St. Edwards University

Stephen F. Austin State University

Tarleton State University

Texas A&M International University

Texas A&M University, Commerce

Texas Christian University

Texas Lutheran University

Texas State University

Texas Tech University

Texas Woman's University

University of Dallas

University of Houston

University of Houston-Downtown

University of Houston, Victoria

University of North Texas

University of St. Thomas

University of Texas, Arlington

University of Texas, Austin

University of Texas, Dallas

University Of Texas, El Paso

University of Texas, Permian Basin

University of Texas, Rio Grande Valley

West Texas A&M University

About Intelligent.com

Intelligent.com provides unbiased research to help students make informed decisions about higher education programs. The website offers curated guides which include the best degree programs as well as information about financial aid, internships and even study strategies. With comprehensive, user-friendly guides and hundreds of program rankings, Intelligent.com is a trusted source among students and prospective students. To learn more, please visit https://www.intelligent.com/.
A city view shows the French flag above the skyline of the French capital as the Eiffel Tower and roof tops are seen in Paris, France, on March 30, 2016. (Benoit Tessier/Reuters)

Chinas Ambassador to France Pressures French Senator to Cancel Visit to Taiwan

French media revealed on March 15 that Chinas ambassador to France, Lu Shaye, pressured a French lawmaker to cancel a planned official visit to Taiwan. In response, Taiwans Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the move and called out the Chinese regimes wolf warrior diplomacy.

According to French newspaper La Lettre A, Lu learned from the French Senate website that Senator Alain Richard, chairman of France-Taiwan Friendship Group, was planning to lead a parliamentary delegation to visit Taiwan in the summer to learn how the Taiwanese government successfully handled the COVID-19 pandemic.

Lu wrote a letter to Richard on Feb. 18, pressuring him to cancel the trip. Lu reportedly told Richard that Taiwan is an indivisible part of China, and his planned visit is a violation of the one-China principle and will affect the status quo between Beijing and Taipei, the report said.

The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) views Taiwan as part of its territory, despite the fact that Taiwan is a de facto independent country, with its own military, democratically-elected government, and constitution. Beijing has threatened to reunite the island with the mainland with military action.

Since the CCP took over mainland China in 1949, China and Taiwan have had independent forms of government, and the two sides fought several times in the 1950s and 1960s. Since that time, while there hasnt been an armed confrontation across the strait, the situation hasnt eased either. Instead, it has deteriorated in recent months.

The CCP has opposed foreign governments official visits to Taiwan and pressured nations to sever diplomatic relations with the self-ruled island.

During a press conference in Taipei on March 16, Kendra Chen, the deputy director-general of Taiwans Department of European Affairs, said, The ministry strongly condemns Beijing for its rudeness, Taiwan media Taipei Times reported. She also said that Beijings wolf warrior diplomacy is the reason why the tension between Taiwan and China has escalated in recent years.

Taiwans foreign minister, Joseph Wu, said on the same day that Beijings wolf warrior diplomacy is not acceptable to any civilized country that respects the rule of law and stressed that Taiwan welcomes friends from around the world, Hong Kong media The Standard reported.

Wolf Warrior is the name of a 2015 Chinese war movie that promotes an aggressive and combative attitude towards the West and enemies of the communist regime. The aggressive style and approach adopted by Chinese diplomats under CCP leader Xi Jinping is described as wolf warrior diplomacy.

Taiwans premier, Su Tseng-chang, criticized the Chinese regimes actions: Beijings attempt to block exchanges between Taiwan and France on the coronavirus disease only created a bad impression of China on the international stage, according to The Standard.

Senator Richard served as French Minister of Defense from 1997 to 2002. He led delegations to Taiwan in 2015 and 2018.

Its not the first time that the Chinese Embassy in France has caused a diplomatic rift with their wolf warrior tactic.

In April 2020, French lawmakers condemned the Chinese Embassy for posting false accusations on its official website with regards to the COVID-19 pandemic and the World Health Organization (WHO). The unnamed diplomat claimed that Taiwan and 80 French lawmakers had cosigned a disparaging statement about WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and accused him of being pro-China.

The post defended Beijings response to the pandemic, while criticizing western countries. The diplomat said that healthcare workers at Western nursing homes abandoned their jobs, leaving the residents to die. The post came just days after France had raised its pandemic death toll, which included victims from nursing homes.

Chinese ambassador Lu was summoned by French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian on April 16, 2020 over his inappropriate statements that are not in line with the quality of the bilateral relationship between our two countries, according to a statement from the French ministry.
Emma Watson developed a major crush on Tom Felton while filming the Harry Potter movies. And although she claims her feelings for her co-star fizzled out, Watson can still admit that she was crazy about him during their younger years.

But when she found out he didnt feel the same way about her, she was left heartbroken. Watson even claims that after all these years, she is still crushed over his rejection!

Emma Watson attends Disneys Beauty and the Beast premiere in 2017 | Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

Are Emma Watson and Tom Felton still friends?

Draco and Hermione are mortal enemies in the series. In fact, the two cant seem to be in the same room with each other without one of them getting hurt. Whether its Draco calling Hermione a Filthy Mudblood or Hermione swinging punches right in his face, its pretty clear that the two of them wont be getting matching friendship bracelets anytime soon.

Yet despite the hostility between Draco and Hermione, things are quite different for Felton and Watson.

Disney Channel Kids Awards 2003 Emma Watson and Tom Felton | Brian Rasic/Getty Images

In fact, out of all the Harry Potter cast members, Watson and Felton seem to have developed the closest bond. At least, this seems to be the case as of late, considering they are frequently seen hanging out together whenever they can. The two love to post about their little reunions on social media as well, making Dramione shippers feel complete at last.

Some of their hangouts include Watson sharing a skateboard ride with Felton and the two of them having a jam session with Feltons guitar.

They even went on vacation together to South Africa back in 2019.

Talk about a true friendship!

Emma Watson had a big crush on Tom Felton while filming Harry Potter

Actors Emma Watson and Tom Felton with the award for Best dvd  Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets | Andy Butterton/PA Images/Getty Images

RELATED: Why Emma Watson Felt Like a Prisoner in the Harry Potter Films

Back in the day, though, their relationship was a lot less platonic- at least on Watsons end. According to the Beauty and the Beast star, she developed a terrible crush on Felton while filming the first few Harry Potter movies.

She confessed her feelings while appearing on The Jonathan Ross Show, saying that she loves a bad guy.

Between the ages of 10 and 12, I had a really terrible crush on Tom Felton, she revealed (via Elite Daily.) We love a bad guy, and he was a few years older, and he had a skateboard, and that just did it really. (Tom) used to do tricks on it. He was so cool. He totally knew [I had a crush]. And the thing is, hed turn and go, Oh, I see her in a younger sisterly way. And it just broke my heart.

Emma Watson and Tom Felton from the Harry Potter film series at the London premiere of Scooby-Doo | Dave Benett/Getty Images

Surprisingly, she adds that it still does.

Does this mean that Watson still has some feelings for Felton? Perhaps not, considering she has been walking around sporting what looks like an engagement ring!

Is Emma Watson engaged?

Emma Watson in 2014 | Vera Anderson/WireImage

Engagement rumors have sparked ever since Watson was seen wearing a new ring on her left hand. But despite the piece of jewelry, Watson has not yet confirmed nor denied the speculation.

The Harry Potter star is currently dating Leo Robinson.

According to Hollywood Life, they were first spotted kissing back in October of 2019.

Watson is pretty keen on keeping her romantic life private, but it seems as though theyre perfectly happy together.
Netflix's animated children's film Bigfoot Family has been accused of 'spreading misinformation and peddling lies' about the oil, gas and energy sector.

Furious viewers have launched an attack on the movie, which is set in the US, and created a 'tell the truth' campaign in Canada on the Support Canadian Energy website, which is funded by the province of Alberta.

The film, which is described as a 'family comedy', follows Bigfoot who fights against an Alaska oil company who is planning to bomb a valley so they can remove the oil.

Accusations: Netflix's animated children's film Bigfoot Family has been accused of 'spreading misinformation and peddling lies' about the oil, gas and energy sector

When Bigfoot one day goes missing, his 'tech-savvy son' has to take on an 'evil CEO to save his family and a wildlife preserve'.

Despite being set in the US, Support Canadian Energy has launched a 'Tell The Truth Netflix' campaign against the movie and accused it of 'peddling lies' about the sector and 'brainwashing our kids'.

The website reads: 'Netflix recently added a kids movie that is spreading misinformation about the oil and gas industry.

'The movie - called Bigfoot Family - was number one in Canada and the U.S. when it debuted on the streaming service earlier this year  and peddles lies about the energy sector.

Fury: Furious viewers have launched an attack on the movie, which is set in the US, and created a 'tell the truth' campaign in Canada on the Support Canadian Energy website, which is funded by the province of Alberta

'It even shows oil being extracted by blowing up a valley using glowing red bombs that look like something out of an action movie.

'Tell Netflix this is unacceptable  send a letter to Lindsey Scully, Netflix Canada's Head of Communications!'

It continues: 'Canada's world-class oil and gas industry is one of the top in the world when it comes to environmental, social and governance standards. It spends billions of dollars every year to protect the environment.

Fight: The film, which is described as a 'family comedy', follows Bigfoot who fights against an Alaska oil company who is planning to bomb a valley so they can remove the oil

Missing: When Bigfoot one day goes missing, his 'tech-savvy son' has to take on an 'evil CEO to save his family and a wildlife preserve'

'The industry is constantly innovating to reduce the impact it has and is playing a key role in the transition to a lower-carbon future. Brainwashing our kids with anti-oil and gas propaganda is just wrong  and Netflix needs to know that!

'Our children are the key to the future  but they can't succeed if they're filled with misinformation.'

The campaign ends with: 'Stand up for our kids  tell Netflix this is just plain wrong!'

Support Canadian Energy claims it has received 3106 supporters so far.

MailOnline has contacted Netflix for comment.

Campaign: Despite being set in the US, Support Canadian Energy has launched a 'Tell The Truth Netflix' campaign against the movie and accused it of 'peddling lies' about the sector and 'brainwashing our kids' (pictured)

Despite the campaign, some viewers were quick to praise the animation on Twitter as they insisted they still 'love Alberta' after watching the film.

One person said: 'I was looking forward to watching Bigfoot Family with my kids this weekend, but it turns out theyve already seen it. And, amazingly, they still love Alberta. Go figure.'

While a different fan joked about Bigfoot trending and quipped: 'For one hot second I assumed there was a Bigfoot sighting in Alberta and I WAS PUMPED. #ableg #bigfootfamily.'
SACRAMENTO, Calif., March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The California Lawyers Association (CLA) Ethics Committee has issued its first formal ethics opinion, Formal Opinion 2021-1, addressing Ethical Screens. The opinion promises to be a vital resource for any law firm wishing to minimize the risk of conflicts. Several Rules of Professional Conduct expressly provide for implementation of a screen without client consent to rebut the presumption of shared confidences, and CLA's opinion clarifies and expounds on those Rules, including 1.0.1(k) (which provides a definition of the term "screened").

The opinion addresses the elements an ethical screen must have in circumstances where such a screen is expressly required by the Rules. Importantly, the opinion notes that there may be a distinction between what is ethically required to comply with professional obligations and what a court may view as necessary to avoid disqualification, which sometimes may be granted without a violation.

The most critical ethical screen factors are those expressly set forth in the Rules. The screen must be implemented in a timely manner, and include preventative measures to protect against the confidential information of the former or potential client from being shared with others in the firm. There should be no communications related to any matter being protected in either direction across the screen. The lawyers whose conflict results in them being screened off should not receive any portion of the fees from the matters they are screened from. And the affected clients must receive notice of the fact of the screen and its terms so they have an opportunity to comment about them. Additional factors may help the efficacy of the screen in preventing the sharing of confidential information, but whether they should be implemented largely depends on the circumstances.

Any ethical screen must ultimately be judged by whether it is sufficient to meet its purpose, to satisfy concerns that a prohibited attorney has not and will not have any involvement with, or communication concerning, the screened matter that would support a reasonable inference that confidential information was or will be disclosed.

CLA's CEO and Executive Director Ona Alston Dosunmu lauded the Committee's first opinion. "This important opinion demonstrates our commitment to provide analysis and thought leadership to support the ethical practice of law. CLA will continue to provide its members and the legal community with guidance and resources to promote excellence in the practice of law," Dosunmu said.

About CLA's Ethics Committee:

The Ethics Committee provides feedback and comment on proposed opinions, rules and legislation impacting attorney ethics and professionalism; writes advisory opinions on ethical issues where guidance is needed; develops educational content on ethics issues impacting the entire profession; acts as a resource to Sections and the CYLA who provide practice area-specific ethics content; and works closely with both internal and external ethics groups, including COPRAC and county bar associations.

For information on applying to join the Ethics Committee or to suggest topics for advisory opinions, contact us at [email protected].

About California Lawyers Association:

Established in 2018, CLA is the bar association for all California attorneys. CLA's mission is to promote excellence, diversity and inclusion in the legal profession and fairness in the administration of justice and the rule of law.

SOURCE California Lawyers Association
General Assignment Reporter

Chris Mays is a general assignment reporter for the Brattleboro Reformer. He has been with New England Newspapers Inc. since 2012.
BAY CITY, MI - One of the most popular restaurants in Bay City, and a perennial favorite on Michigans Best searches, is about to undertake what might be their biggest challenge yet. In addition to surviving and working through a pandemic, two key members of the DAngelos team will now undergo a life-saving medical procedure.

David Baranowski and Kellie Berry are partners in life, and at their restaurant, which Baranowski opened in 2009. Together, the couple have been running the restaurant like a well-oiled machine, with each of them taking on key roles in the kitchen, and kicking out some of Michigans Best burgers, wings and pizzas over the last few years.

But just 36 hours after what was supposed to be a routine physical last fall, Baranowski, a talented chef and the backbone to DAngelos, was undergoing dialysis and placed on the list for a kidney transplant. He went from working every day open-to-close, to not working at all, Berry told MLive in an earlier interview. Baranowski was given a devastating diagnosis of end-stage renal failure.

Baranowski said hes now on the path to recovery - but only because of a very special gift.

Kellie is going to be my kidney donor, hopefully, he revealed. So everything should be back to normal.

Berry never hesitated about donating a kidney to Baranowski, who has a rare blood type that Berry happens to match. I told him from the start that if you need one, I have one, she said. I have one to spare, and I would never want someone to go through what hes going through. Its horrible to see someone living life to all of a sudden, they cant get up off the couch.

The diagnosis meant some big changes for the restaurant as well. Berry took over for Baranowski when he got sick, stepping up from cooking to being head chef and chief line cook. Suddenly, I found myself in the position of keeping DAngelos afloat, Berry said in an email. And dealing with Daves health issues and all the fun that comes with it: dialysis, doctor appointments, sorting out insurance, the changes at home. Add on a pandemic. Stressful is an understatement.

Related: How 3 Bay City restaurants are leaning on each other, helping out the community

During the first pandemic shutdown, DAngelos closed completely for a month and a half. When they reopened, they had a bare-bones staff. Dave was still working, Berry said. And we were doing record numbers, record sales. Customers were being so gracious and patient with us, and just thankful for us to be open. The restaurant closed again in August, which is when the couple typically takes some time off of work for themselves. One day after reopening, Baranowski was diagnosed.

He was in the hospital for two weeks, Berry said. When we decided to open back up, I slid over to grill - a position she had never worked before. I took one of the counter girls and put her at prep. We had many Friday and Saturday nights where we ran DAngelos with only three people.

She did good, Baranowski said proudly.

You Just Put Your Head Down and Do the Work.

In her email, Berry shared that over the last year, her fear of failure has been driving her. Im generally a confident person, she said. Im stubborn and strong. Running and being responsible for DAngelos had me quaking in my work shoes.

Berry had a lot of thoughts running wild in her head. What if people stopped coming because Dave wasnt cooking? What if I wasnt able do the job well enough, or fast enough? What if I wasnt able train people well enough? How was I going to get everything done when we barely had enough employees to be open? How was I going to keep my head on a swivel to make sure everything ran smoothly and was organized (sort of)? The time, the energy, where was it going to come from? What if I let everyone down?

So how have they survived this last year? You just put your head down, and do the work, Berry said. Baranowski interrupted her to ask How is she still surviving, cause its still going on?

You figure it out, Berry said. You get up early, you stay late, you make sure everything gets done.

Baranowski said that hes totally shocked that Berry figured it all out. Then he laughed, and said Im sorry, I dont mean that. There just were very few people who could have done my job. Multi-tasking so many different things at once, and she had never done the job. So I was like Oh my God, I was having anxiety attacks upstairs, because I couldnt be down here. The couple live in an apartment right about the restaurant. Id be watching on the cameras with anxiety when all the orders are coming in, and Im having panic attacks. And shes killing it.

She did good, and Im super proud, Baranowski said. My family was amazed and proud of her. Shes kept DAngelos making money and paying bills.

RELATED: These are the 10 best burgers in Michigan.

The couple has their biggest challenge looming. Theyll be going to the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota for the transplant surgery, which is tentatively scheduled for the end of May. DAngelos will be closed during this time, which will probably last a month. Berry will head back to work then, while Baranowski will continue to recover for a few more months.

I highly recommend if you are willing to, and able, to get tested, and offer to be a donor, Berry said of organ donation. I cant recommend it enough.

Its been quite a journey over the last 12 years for DAngelos, as theyve evolved from a pizza joint into a mostly take-out restaurant with a huge menu, including a whole vegan section. They pride themselves on making everything in-house, and fresh to order.

When we first started, I was just like lets make some pizzas, make the best pizza we possibly can, Baranowski said. And then it was, we can make this, and we can make that. And we have enough room to add that, and the menu just kind of expanded into what it is now. In the beginning it was just supposed to be pizza, and we make everything now.

You can listen to our podcast with Baranowski and Berry below.

D'Angelo's in Bay City is known for great pizza, wings, an extensive vegan menu and award-winning burgers. We tried six, and each one was spectacular.John Gonzalez

If you go:

DAngelos

1305 Columbus Ave.

Bay City, Michigan 48708

(989) 894-7117

More info: https://www.facebook.com/1305ColumbusAveBayCity or https://dangelostakeout.com/

A look at the Wicked Chicken Pie available at D'Angelo's located at 1305 Columbus Avenue in Bay City on Thursday, Sept. 17, 2020. (Kaytie Boomer | MLive.com)Kaytie Boomer | MLive.com

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How 3 Bay City restaurants are leaning on each other, helping their community

The Win Tavern is known for its burgers, but loved because it takes care of those in need

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A British hospital is the first in the world to use a 'sponge on a string' to detect oesophageal cancer in a Covid-safe way.

It allows health workers to collect cell samples from the food pipe without the need for an endoscopy, biopsy or sedation.

Endoscopies, which involve passing a thin tube containing a camera and light into the body, were suspended during the pandemic because they can cause the virus to be sprayed into the air.

But University College London Hospital continued to assess patients by switching to the pioneering Cytosponge.

It will now be the hospital's usual standard of care after proving quicker, cheaper and more effective at detecting disease.

Endoscopies, which involve passing a thin tube containing a camera and light into the body, were suspended during the pandemic because they can cause the virus to be sprayed into the air. But University College London Hospital continued to assess patients by switching to the pioneering Cytosponge

NHS England and NHS Scotland are looking to offer it nationwide later this year.

Cytosponge is the size of a multivitamin tablet that can be easily swallowed without the need for sedation or a specialised endoscopy suite.

It is given to patients as a pill attached to a string, which they hold while swallowing with water.

What is Barrett's oesophagus? Barrett's oesophagus is a pre-cancerous condition where the normal cells lining the oesophagus are replaced with abnormal cells. They start from where the oesophagus meets the stomach and spread upwards. Causes It is strongly associated with gastro-oesophageal reflux disease, which can cause a symptom of heartburn. Approximately one in ten patients experiencing this will develop the condition. Old age, being male, obesity, smoking, high alcohol intake and a family history of the condition can increase the risk. Symptoms The main symptom is a reflux, or regurgitation of food, alongside nausea and pain in the upper abdomen. Treatment This depends on whether it has developed into cancer. Charity Guts UK says it is mostly treated through an endoscopy to remove or treat affected parts of the oesophagus. Removal of the whole oesophagus is only used for patients who have the cancer. Advertisement

Once in the stomach, the pill dissolves within seven to eight minutes, releasing the sponge, which is then gently pulled out by a nurse.

It collects cells from along the entire length of the oesophagus, or gullet, with 365-degree coverage, as it is removed.

Cytosponge does this without using biopsy - where tissue is cut away to be tested.

UCLH is the first hospital in the world to use the device outside of academic research and detected two cancer cases in its first month.

These patients were classified as high risk and brought back for further tests and life-saving surgery to remove cancerous cells.

Check-ups with the sponge costs a quarter of the price of endoscopy and can be done in primary care by a nurse, without the need for a dedicated room.

Sally Thorpe, a clinical nurse specialist, said: 'Cytosponge can be performed in under 10 minutes, from instructing the patient to cell collection.

'In contrast, an endoscopy of the oesophagus with biopsy can take up to an hour.

'It is very simple to use and well tolerated by patients, the only side effect is a mild sore throat.' The sponge is used to monitor patients with Barrett's Oesophagus, a condition in which the lining of the oesophagus becomes inflamed.

They may develop lesions, or precancerous cells, which can lead to oesophageal cancer.

Oesophageal cancer has a five-year survival rate of less than 20 per cent but this rises to 90 per cent if detected early, at stage one.

People with Barrett's Oesophagus are invited for 'surveillance' appointments every three months to five years, depending on the severity of their condition.

Trust chief executive Professor Marcel Levi said: 'UCLH has adapted quickly to implement screening with Cytosponge.

'We are so proud of the innovative thinking of the team who have worked together to modify care for our Barrett's Oesophagus patients in such a clever way.

'It is cost and resource-efficient compared to routine endoscopy, and non-aerosol generating which is helpful to manage risk during the Covid-19 pandemic.' Conventional surveillance with endoscopy is invasive and increases the risk of side effects such as infection or perforation. The need for sedation may carry further complications.

The procedure is also expensive, costing over 1,500 a time.

There are around 9,200 new oesophageal cancer cases in the UK every year, with 8,000 deaths.

It is estimated that there are between 375,000 and one million people in the UK who have Barrett's Oesophagus, with up to 13 per 100,000 developing oesophageal cancer in their lifetime.
TORONTO - Changes to federal quarantine requirements for temporary foreign workers do nothing to protect them from COVID-19, advocates said Wednesday, calling for the workers to be granted permanent resident status as a way to increase their rights.

TORONTO - Changes to federal quarantine requirements for temporary foreign workers do nothing to protect them from COVID-19, advocates said Wednesday, calling for the workers to be granted permanent resident status as a way to increase their rights.

Ottawa announced adjustments Tuesday that mean migrant workers are no longer entirely exempt from having to stay in quarantine hotels after landing in Canada.

The Migrant Rights Network said the changes, which take effect March 21, ignore long-standing requests to give permanent resident status to the thousands of workers who take up jobs at Canadian farms and greenhouses each year.

"This announcement does not address this fundamental need and isn't actually providing any protections to migrant workers," said Syed Hussan, spokesman for the group.

"(That status) would help them access and enforce rights to protect themselves without fear of homelessness, deportation, losing their job and not being able to come back in the future,"

Hussan said migrant advocates would also like to see the government focus on improving housing conditions and workplace inspections to keep workers safe as the pandemic continues.

Under the new rules announced Tuesday, workers who do not have private transportation to their places of employment have to wait in quarantine hotels for up to three days until they receive the results of a COVID-19 test all travellers must take on arrival.

The hotel quarantine is part of a 14-day isolation period all incoming travellers have to complete.

Asymptomatic foreign workers who have private transportation can head to their work locations to quarantine, so long as they are accompanied only by others who came with them to Canada.

The federal government said it intends to ensure employers and temporary foreign workers will not assume "incremental costs" associated with the hotel quarantine requirement.

Last year, migrant workers were ordered to isolate for 14 days on the farms where they would be working.

The president of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture said Wednesday that farmers expected that would continue to be the policy, but the new changes have created "frustration and confusion".

Keith Currie said in Ontario, where 20,000 temporary foreign workers are employed on farms each year, the new rules will complicate the arrival of many workers.

"We support the public health initiatives to make sure everybody coming into Canada is healthy ... but a lot of the logistics just haven't been worked out," he said. "We're working with the government to get these frustrations fixed as soon as possible."

Currie said farms charter flights and ground transportation in many cases and can work with the new requirements, but it's not possible in all instances.

Employers are responsible for paying for the costs associated with migrant workers' quarantine, as well as paying them for that time.

Farmers and workers are concerned that despite the federal pledge to offset costs, they may still be on the hook for fees associated with hotel stays and additional testing, he added.

"If workers have to go into hotels at a cost of a couple thousand dollars per worker, and somebody has 500 workers ... that's a little bit unrealistic," he said.

During the first wave of the pandemic, dozens of farm outbreaks were reported across Ontario as the province struggled to test and isolate workers.

More than 1,780 temporary foreign workers in Ontario tested positive for COVID-19 in 2020, and three died of the virus.

Employment and Social Development Canada did not immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday.

But federal Employment and Workforce Development Minister Carla Qualtrough said Tuesday that the health and safety of temporary foreign workers is a key priority for the government.

"This comprehensive plan builds on and strengthens existing measures to ensure workers and employers are well prepared to meet public health requirements to mitigate the risk of the spread of COVID-19," she said.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 17, 2021.

Note to readers: This is a corrected story. A previous version provided the incorrect name for the Migrant Rights Network.
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As Syria's deadly civil war marks a grim 10-year milestone, Russia is opening the door for potential cooperation with a new U.S. administration struggling to reorient after a series of mission shifts has left Washington outpaced by other foreign powers active in the country, Newsweek writes. "There is an urgent need for the international community to put aside politically motivated aspirations and join efforts to help the Syrians rebuild their country heavily damaged by the war," the Russian embassy in Washington told Newsweek. "There is always room for cooperation between Russia and the U.S. in Syria."

To do so would necessitate overcoming a rivalry that dates back to the Cold War and remains rife with bad blood over opposing interests and dueling accusations of wrongdoing at home and across the globe. Washington and Moscow have previously found common ground in Syria in the multinational battle against the Islamic State militant group (ISIS), which the two powers fought as part of separate campaigns. Advancing any joint efforts today, however, would mean identifying additional areas of mutual understanding.

Moscow sees three. "We would only welcome collaboration with Washington in providing humanitarian assistance to those in need, countering terrorism and pushing forward political process with a common goal to achieve peace," the Russian embassy said.

It would also entail reconsidering the approaches pursued by Biden's predecessors, who sought to leverage U.S. economic and military pressure against the Syrian government and its longtime leader, President Bashar al-Assad, in response to widespread war crimes allegations.

Moscow sees these punitive actions as merely adding to the miseries of everyday Syrians while undermining the sovereignty of a nation suffering from conflict, financial crisis and COVID-19. "We sincerely hope that the new administration will try to rethink previous strategies on Syria," the embassy said. "It is important to cease the cruel sanction campaign against the Syrian people and put an end to illegal military presence in the Arab Republic."

After the beginning of the Syrian conflict scores of loosely affiliated rebel groups began to emerge, some backed by the U.S. and its regional partners, and some with close ties to jihadi ideologies that would consume the insurrection, especially with the rise of ISIS in 2013. With ISIS gaining ground across half of Syria and a third of neighboring Iraq, another Middle East power stepped in: Iran. Tehran doubled down on support for its longtime ally in Damascus in 2014, in part through the mobilization of militias originating from Lebanon to Pakistan, and also shored up paramilitary forces against ISIS in Iraq.

The U.S. launched an anti-ISIS military coalition in both countries that same year, and in 2015 teamed up with a new non-state faction on the ground in Syria, the Syrian Democratic Forces, a group comprised of mostly Kurdish fighters. Around this same, Russia staged a direct military intervention in Syria.

Today, Syria is divided among rival factions. The government controls up to two-thirds of the country as well as the lion's share of its population. The Syrian Democratic Forces run much of the northeast.

Damascus has joined Moscow in calling for the new U.S. leader to adopt a new approach to the conflict, one which diverges from the paths taken by his predecessors. Syria has specifically requested that Biden abandon policies "aimed at destabilizing the security and stability of Syria through acts of aggression, occupation, utilizing terrorism, sponsoring separatist proxy militias in northeastern Syria, looting cultural property, oil, and gas, in addition to imposing unilateral coercive measures that have catastrophic impacts on the daily life of millions of Syrians."

Russia has taken the lead alongside Iran and Turkey in seeking to end Syria's conflict through international dialogue and mediation. The three have established themselves as guarantors of Syria's beleaguered peace process, a track guided by the unanimously passed U.N. Security Council Resolution 2254, which calls for ceasefire, negotiations and political settlement.

Under the Biden administration, a State Department spokesperson told Newsweek last month that the U.S. "is committed to a political settlement in line with UNSCR 2254 to end the conflict in Syria, in close consultation with our allies, partners, and the U.N."

But this settlement, as envisioned by Washington, appeared to involve consequences for Assad and his government over their alleged wrongdoings. The U.S. spokesperson said the administration "would use the tools at our disposal, including economic pressure, to push for meaningful reform and accountability for the Assad regime."

The 22-member Arab League that suspended Syria's participation in late 2011 may be closer than ever to restoring Damascus' seat at the table. The top diplomat of Saudi Arabia, arguably the most influential single nation of the grouping and an outspoken critic of Assad, recently spoke in favor of Syria's return, a development that comes amid concerns over the level of influence held by non-Arab nations like Iran and Turkey. The remarks came amid Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's tour of the region. Lavrov also stopped in the United Arab Emirates, whose foreign minister joined the call for the easing of international pressure against the Syrian government just a day earlier.

U.N. Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen issued virtual remarks in which he described a "fragile calm" that has recently gripped the embattled country, potentially allowing for a fresh diplomatic push among the international community. He said this new format "will have to involve, one way or the other, the United States, Russia, Iran, Turkey, Arab States and the European Union" as well as all permanent members of the Security Council, which also includes China, France, Germany and the U.K. But, for now, the ball appeared to be in Washington's court. And Pedersen warned no one country would be able to set the rules of play moving forward.

"As you know it is still early days for the Biden administration, and we will also need a more in-depth discussion with the Biden administration and then with the other interlocutors that I just mentioned to you now," Pedersen said. "But I think the key for me is that it is now necessary for all these actors to seriously sit down and develop a Syrian policy based on the understanding that none of them can dictate the outcome of the Syrian conflict," he added.

One Syrian source with whom Newsweek spoke on the condition of anonymity expressed desperation as to what appeared to be a lack of urgency on the part of the U.S. to address the ongoing war. As of now, however, the Syrian source noted that "Russia is doing the heavy lifting in talks with the leading Arabs, Turkey and Iran, and, at the same time, the solution will be utilized to cross the issues between Iran and the U.S.," which continue to feud over the latter's unilateral exit from a nuclear deal in 2018.
Al Simmons needs an audience. To the beloved Manitoban childrens entertainer, butts in seats are almost as crucial as well-placed puns. Many performers make themselves the centre of attention or the ultimate decision-maker, but whats made Simmons an icon for over 50 years is that he does precisely the opposite: he lets the audience participate, inviting five-year-olds to sing with him, heckle him, and sometimes, stage bomb him.

Al Simmons needs an audience. To the beloved Manitoban childrens entertainer, butts in seats are almost as crucial as well-placed puns. Many performers make themselves the centre of attention or the ultimate decision-maker, but whats made Simmons an icon for over 50 years is that he does precisely the opposite: he lets the audience participate, inviting five-year-olds to sing with him, heckle him, and sometimes, stage bomb him.

"In front of an audience, they become my directors. Thats what Ive done my whole career: I hear when they laugh, and I hear where they dont," says Simmons, now 72. "I instruct the audience at the beginning that I expect them to yell things at me, to laugh at me, to have fun. I encourage hecklers. It just makes everybody remember: Hey, Im watching a live performance."

Take an archival clip from 1980. At Assiniboine Park, the Human Jukebox stands tall and attracts a dense crowd, wondering who or what is inside. A coin is dropped into a Rube Goldbergian slot, rolling through a tube. The audience is quiet, until a hand pops through to catch it. A child screams, a bell dings, and out pops Simmons. "Now for this tune, Im going to use a very special horn," he says. "The noise of this horn comes out of your mouths. When I squeeze it, you all go, HONK." They oblige.

Theres real artistry at play when Simmons performs live, which is why the last 12 months have been such a strange, inexplicable era in his life. 2020 was supposed to be the busiest year of his career, but it came screeching to a halt with the pandemic, right after a run of his one-man production of Rossinis opera The Barber of Seville wrapped up in Manitoba schools. (He developed the show with Manitoba Opera in 2009, and has toured it for the organization since).

"I wouldnt say I was depressed. I sort of accepted it," recalls Simmons. "To me, it felt like a forced retirement. Youre done. Were all in. Its over."

He started doing housework in Anola with his wife, Barb. He didnt touch a musical instrument for months. "I did whatever I felt like doing, and to tell the truth, it was amazing. It was the first time in 52 years I was home, just my wife and I. Glorious," he says, despite the huge financial hit.

But Simmons got antsy. He set up a barebones home studio  his former studio-workshop, along with 50 years worth of props, memorabilia, and home-made instruments was destroyed in a 2018 fire  and started producing some pandemic-related short videos. In one, he cuts the bottom off a milk jug and wears it like a medical mask. "The only problem is, everything smells like dairy air," he says.

Simmons was somewhat content, schticking it to the pandemic as only he could. He had to be, with no clue when a return to crowds would come. One day this winter, his phone rang. It was Larry Desrochers, Manitoba Operas general director and CEO, and he wanted to know if Simmons was interested in filming his Barber of Seville for an online recorded performance.

"I said no," says Simmons. "It was designed as a live show with audience interaction. They played a part. They were the chorus, and they holler when theyre supposed to. At first, I flatly refused. It was precious to me, and I didnt want to mess with it."

Then, he thought about it. He called back Desrochers, and met with the production company, Moose Toque, which changed his outlook, finding unique workarounds to compensate for the lack of crowdplay. He agreed to do the show, which runs online from March 20-28. Over five eight-hour shoots at the Tom Hendry Warehouse Theatre, Simmons got to work.

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Theres real artistry at play when Al Simmons performs live, which is why the last 12 months have been such a strange, inexplicable era in his life.

"What we did was, (in addition to Al playing every role), we had Al narrating his own show, reacting from the audience to whats happening on stage," says Moose Toques Alex White. "He talks to the kids through the camera." At other times during the 45-minute show, using editing tricks, Simmons appears on screen in duplicate.

"When its for kids, it allows you to play and have fun. If youre shooting a commercial, a movie, or documentary, there has to be a certain sense of realism," says White. "With Al, it doesnt have to be real all the time."

Click to Expand The Barber of Seville as styled by Al Simmons will be available free to stream online at mbopera.ca from March 20-28. The show is sponsored by Safe at Home Manitoba, Canada Life, Manitoba Hydro, Payworks, and the Canada, Manitoba, and Winnipeg arts councils. The plot, per Manitoba Opera: Rosina is in love with the Count, who is pretending to be someone else; Dr. Bartolo is determined to wed Rosina, and Figaro, the jack-of-all-trades barber, is having a bad hair day. On March 25, the Free Press is hosting a subscribers-only livestreaming event at 7 p.m., featuring a live chat with Al Simmons. Visit this page for more information.

Thats probably a fair thesis statement for Simmons whole career and a key reason for his longevity: he toes the line between pure inventiveness and realism, gleefully tap-dancing back and forth over it. He makes child-like wonder an ideal state of mind, constantly rejigging old lyrics and one-liners to keep up with the changing times.

To do that on a production like Barber, Simmons takes his cues from its composer and librettist, Gioachino Rossini and Cesare Sterbini, who built their show in the tradition of Commedia dellarte, with characters like Figaro and Bartolo filling archetypal roles. "They were making fun of the music and the styles of the previous century," he says. "Ive done what I can to poke fun at other styles of music as well." An example: he samples both Lizzo and Carly-Rae Jepsen, whose music echoes themes of courtship and bravado present throughout the production.

Manitoba Operas Larry Desrochers says the reason, aside from Bugs Bunny, that the Barber has resonated for so long is its funniness and the relevance of its themes. "Its an old man, trying to control the free will of a young woman, and he gets his comeuppance," he says.

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Simmons normally takes his cues from his audience for his performances. It took some time to convince him the show could go on  online.

Desrochers understood Simmons initial reticence about filming his production, given the lack of an audience. "He gets his energy from the kids, and they get theirs from him," he says. "We couldnt duplicate that, so we had to think of this as a different experience."

For Simmons, "different" isnt necessarily a bad word, even if in this instance the change  performing with nobody to direct him, aside from the paid crew  was an unexpected and unwelcome one. He misses audiences dearly, but against even his most pessimistic expectations, the production is one hes proud to have made, he says. So, what did the process teach him about being a childrens performer during the pandemic, with no audience to show him the way?

"The main thing I learned is, its possible," he says.

ben.waldman@freepress.mb.ca
Governor Nigel Dakin urged Haitian residents to get the Covid-19 vaccine this week after revealing that the Haitian community in the TCI has the lowest uptake rate.





The governor and InterHealth Canada CEO Dr Denise Braithwaite spoke about the vaccine on a radio call-in show on Haitian station Hope Radio TCI on Thursday, March 11.





The duo answered a number of questions while clearing up some misinformation during the two-hour show which was live streamed on the stations Facebook page.





Broadcaster Joseph Vixaille hosted the programme, which amassed some 3,700 views, and translated questions and answers between the guests and callers.





Governor Nigel Dakin explained that the Haitian community has the lowest uptake for the vaccine in the territory, hence the need for more targeted public awareness.





"If youve decided that youre not going to be vaccinated, youre part of the reason why were still wearing masks, why we still have curfew, why we still have reduced numbers in churches. Youve become part of the problem, he said.





"And it wont take long for society to become quite intolerant of those people that are holding the society back because they wont be vaccinated.





"And Im being very frank with you, we dont want the Haitian community being that group and at the moment the Haitian community is the group that is least likely to take the vaccine.





Dakin said it is critical for every community in the TCI to embrace the vaccine as the Government works to restore a normal society.





He said: "We need to get ourselves to a position of over 80 percent of adults vaccinated on the Islands.





"That will bring huge benefits in terms of personal health, reduction of pressure on hospitals, economic recovery as we become one of the worlds safest destinations and also significant changes to the health regulations.





Vaccine could save your life

The governor said there is very strong global evidence that the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine dramatically reduces hospital admissions and death.





He said: "The vaccine also appears to significantly reduce transmission - that was not what it was designed to do but that is the impact it is seemingly having.





During the interview, a caller asked why people should take the vaccine if it will not prevent them from getting Covid-19.





In response, Dr Braithwaite explained that the vaccine was made to prevent untimely Covid-19 deaths.





"The main reason why they made the vaccine is to prevent someone from dying  thats the number one reason, she said.





"By taking this vaccine the goal is to prevent you from getting severe disease and dying.





"What we are discovering is, this vaccine seems to also prevent you from transmitting the virus, but we are gathering more and more data.





"But the number one reason is saving your life. That if you catch Covid-19 disease you dont end up in the hospital, you dont end up on the ventilator.





Dr Braithwaite stressed that while some people may experience mild symptoms after contracting the virus others are not that lucky.





"Yes, the majority of people go into quarantine and they do well but there are people who do not do well and the ambulance has to rush them out of quarantine to the emergency room.





"We have to apply high amounts of oxygen to them and for some of them weve had to put them on a ventilator for more than a week to try and save their lives.





Governor Nigel Dakin who lost his father earlier this year to Covid-19 underscored the importance of the vaccine.





"To make this real, if my father had had the vaccine he wouldve got Covid-19 but he would not have died.





"If police officer Cedric had had the vaccine he wouldve got Covid-19 but he would not have died. This is a life-saving vaccine.





Another caller asked the governor about the need to take a Covid-19 test when travelling to another country after being vaccinated in the TCI.





Governor Dakin said that talks are ongoing internationally about this aspect.





"At the moment thinking is happening globally about whether there is utility about having a Covid passport to allow travel. Thats yet to be decided.





He said that some countries are already adopting a no test policy if travellers have been vaccinated.





" once, for example, America decides this then the world is going to decide it, so were monitoring this very closely.





Concerns were also raised about the need to continue wearing masks after taking the vaccine.





Dr Braithwaite said: "The reason why youre still wearing the mask is not because youre afraid of getting Covid-19 and getting very ill; youre wearing the mask because you may potentially get the virus and transmit it to someone who hasnt been vaccinated who may get very ill and end up in the hospital. So, youre wearing it to protect the other person.





"That is why we all need to get vaccinated to be protected and live freely and our children can go back to school instead of being locked up in the house...we want to get rid of the mask and socialize more than 30 percent. We want to get back to where we were before.
Former Metropolitan Opera conductor James Levine has died at 77.

Levines four-decade career at the opera ended after multiple accusations of sexual assault. Levines death was confirmed by his physician Dr. Len Horovitz on Wednesday morning. The cause of death is currently unknown. Levine had been living in Palm Springs.

In a New York Times report from 2017, three men accused the famed conductor of sexually assaulting them decades ago as teenagers, in separate incidents dating back to the summer 1968.

Also Read: Ex-Conductor James Levine Sues the Met for Firing Him After Sexual Abuse Investigation

The Met cut ties with Levine, saying in a statement that its investigation into those accusations uncovered credible evidence that Mr. Levine had engaged in sexually abusive and harassing conduct both before and during the period when he worked at the Met.

The investigation also uncovered credible evidence that Mr. Levine engaged in sexually abusive and harassing conduct towards vulnerable artists in the early stages of their careers, over whom Mr. Levine had authority, the statement continued. In light of these findings, the Met concludes that it would be inappropriate and impossible for Mr. Levine to continue to work at the Met.

Levine countered and sued the Metropolitan Opera for breach of contract and defamation. In a lawsuit filed against the Met in New York State Supreme Court, Levin accused the company and its general manager Peter Gelb of brazenly using vague and unsubstantiated accusations of sexual abuse as a pretext to end a longstanding personal campaign to force Levine out of the Met and cease fulfilling its legally enforceable financial commitments to him.

James Levine led more than 2,500 performances at the Met.

Read original story James Levine, Longtime Metropolitan Opera Conductor, Dies at 77 At TheWrap
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-17 10:07:32|Editor: huaxia

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SINGAPORE, March 17 (Xinhua) -- Singapore's non-oil domestic exports (NODX) grew by 4.2 percent year on year in February, following the 12.7 percent increase in the previous month, Enterprise Singapore, a government agency, announced Wednesday.

On a month-on-month seasonally adjusted basis, the NODX increased by 8.2 percent in February to 16.7 billion Singapore dollars (about 12.41 billion US dollars), following the 6.9 percent increase in the previous month.

In a breakdown of Singapore's total NODX, the electronic NODX grew by 7.4 percent year on year in February, following the 13.5 percent increase in January. Meanwhile, the non-electronic NODX rose by 3.3 percent year on year, after the 12.5 percent increase in the previous month.

The NODX to Singapore's top 10 markets as a whole declined in February, though exports to the Chinese mainland, the Republic of Korea, China's Taiwan and China's Hong Kong grew.

Singapore's NODX to the Chinese mainland increased by 17.4 percent year on year in February, compared to the 7.8 percent increase in the previous month.

In a breakdown, the electronic NODX to the Chinese mainland grew by 14.4 percent year on year in February, while the non-electronic NODX increased by 18.1 percent. Enditem


Trustees cut the cake at last. Photos, Neil Shepherd.



A singalong was part of the launch.

A trust that was set up in 2018 has waited a long time for its official launch, which was held last month, on February 26.

The Kahikatea Music Therapy and Community Arts Trusts main project is Sing Up Rodney therapeutic singing groups, held in Orewa and Warkworth. The singing sessions assist people with neurological conditions such as Parkinsons or stroke by improving breathing and vocal strength and, for people with dementia, connecting favourite tunes with memories. The sessions are also a social outlet.

Founding trustee and music specialist Alison Talmage says the launch of the Kahikatea Music Therapy and Community Trust has been planned and postponed three times for various reasons, including last years lockdowns.

She says it was important to eventually hold a function to bring together and thank supporters, including Whangaparaoa MP Mark Mitchell, Gary Silipa of Arts Access Aotearoa and Music Therapy NZ president Linda Webb.

Around 50 people attended the launch, held at St Chads church hall in Orewa. It included speeches from founding chair Lady Rhyl Jansen, chair David Talmage and Mark Mitchell, as well as displays about the trust and afternoon tea. Everyone joined in the singing of two waiata.

Alison says the trust hopes to link up with other local community groups and schools.

She says lockdowns have had an impact on the numbers attending the singing sessions.

Sing Up Rodney meets on Thursday mornings, 10.30am-12.30pm in Warkworth Methodist Church Hall.

She says anyone who would like to join a supportive daytime singing group is welcome to come along.

Info: Sing Up RodneyNZ on Facebook.
More than 400,000 educators have been vaccinated in California  and that number is expected to rise as vaccine supply increases, Gov. Gavin Newsom said Tuesday.

The news comes after Newsom pledged to set aside 10% of vaccines for teachers and other education workers starting March 1. The move was meant to push the states 1.4 million education workers to the front of the line for shots with the hope of kick-starting the reopening of schools.

In addition to the vaccinations, Newsom touted the passage of a $6.6 billion state package to fund safety, expanded learning and prioritize vaccinations for K-12 school staff. The package also includes three months of personal protective equipment and safety supplies to schools and supports COVID-19 testing to school districts.

The governor has come under fire for the slow reopening of the states schools, particularly large urban districts.

Approximately 9,000 of Californias 11,000 schools have reopened or are committed to resuming in-person learning, Newsom said Tuesday at Ruby Bridges Elementary School in Alameda, which reopened this week for in-person learning. Alameda Unified is using state funds from the $6.6 billion package, Newsom said.

Out of that $6.6 billion, $2 billion is set aside for school districts that reopen for in-person instruction by April 1. That $2 billion requires a set number of students in seats by the deadline. Schools that open from April 1 to May 15 lose 1% of the funding for each day they remain closed.

Newsom said the $6.6 billion is in addition to $15.9 billion the federal government is sending California to support public schools.

Thats what we have all been waiting for, Newsom said. We are one of the first states to set aside 10% of all our first dose vaccines to educators and now we are seeing that replicated across the country. We are encouraged by all this progress.

Pasquale Scuderi, the superintendent of Alameda Unified School District, said Tuesday this was a big week for families, students and staff.

Its a first step in what we hope will be a progressive reopening for our students, he said.

On Tuesday, the staff at Ruby Bridges Elementary School told Newsom that all of their teachers and workers had received at least the first dose of the vaccine.

California has received 1.75 million vaccine doses this week and is expected to get 1.8 million doses next week. So far, 12.6 million vaccines have been administered statewide.

Newsom and Assemblyman Rob Bonta visited classrooms and spoke to students about what they were most excited about. Bonta said the kids eyes lit up as they talked about being excited to play with their friends and see their teachers.

I am thrilled to see our students back where they belong, in the classroom, Bonta said.

Thats what this is about, Newsom said.

Newsom cautioned that school districts should start small by reopening pre-kindergarten to second grade first, then third to sixth grades and then sixth to 12th grades. He said Alameda Unified School District is expected to open sixth to 12th grades in April.

Sarah Ravani is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: sravani@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @SarRavani
Thousands of workers at Heathrow Airport are to stage a series of fresh strikes in the coming weeks in a long-running dispute over the company's decision to 'fire and rehire' its entire workforce, cutting pay and reducing conditions.

Unite, the UK's principal aviation union, has announced that there will be 41 strikes over a 25-day period this spring.

The targeted strike action, which is to run from Friday April 2 to Sunday April 25, will involve engineering, airside operations, land-side operations, fire service, campus security and central terminal operations.

Heathrow's passenger numbers have fallen to the lowest level since the 1960s with just 461,000 people travelling through the west London airport in February.

But earlier this year Heathrow bosses demanded more Border Force officials to bust the 'staggering' six-hour immigration queues due to coronavirus checks.

Meanwhile, the EU will confirm today that British holidaymakers are to be welcomed on the Continent as it unveils its 'vaccine passport' scheme.

The bloc publishing details of its 'digital green pass' is piling pressure on transport secretary Grant Shapps to green-light foreign travel in time for summer.

Thousands of workers at Heathrow Airport, are to stage a series of fresh strikes in the coming weeks in a long-running dispute over the company's decision to 'fire and rehire' its entire workforce, slashing their pay and reducing their conditions

Industrial action at Heathrow Airport started last December and has continued this year.

Unite officer Wayne King said: 'These strike days are avoidable, yet Heathrow is not listening. Heathrow Airport Ltd (HAL) railroaded these pay cuts through at a staggering speed, leaving thousands of workers on less pay just before Christmas.

'But while Unite put forward clear proposals in February to resolve the dispute, the company has yet to give any kind of formal response.'

Unite said the strikes will cause 'considerable disruption' and will show the airport's contingency plans are not fit for purpose.

Mr King added: 'There is a fortnight before Unite's spring strike offensive begins and HAL management could still resolve this dispute if it has the will to do so.'

Unite general secretary Len McCluskey said: 'Fire and rehire is ripping through our workplaces like a disease.

'Weak law lets bad bosses force through brutal changes to contracts, sometimes taking thousands of pounds off wages that families need to get by.

'It's a disgraceful practice that's outlawed in much of Europe and should be here.

'Unite is fighting for UK workers to be treated with the same decency. We won't stop until the law is changed to protect working people from attack.'

A spokeswoman for Heathrow Airport said: 'Every frontline colleague has accepted the new offer which pays above the market rate and London Living wage. Nobody has been fired and re-hired and indeed 48 per cent saw no change or experienced a pay increase.

Heathrow's passenger numbers have fallen to the lowest level since the 1960s with just 461,000 people travelling through the west London airport in February

'In addition, we have also launched a business recovery incentive payment to all colleagues which offers a renumeration reward if the airport has recovered sufficiently in two years' time.

'Despite losses of over 2bn since the start of the pandemic, our approach has protected jobs and avoided huge swathes of compulsory redundancies.

'These strikes unnecessarily threaten further damage to the business, but nevertheless, we have activated extensive contingency plans which will keep the airport open and operating safely over strike days.'

Heathrow's passenger numbers have fallen to the lowest level since the 1960s with just 461,000 people travelling through the west London airport in February - the lowest monthly total since 1966 and a 92 per cent drop compared with February 2020.

The airport blamed the decrease on the ban on non-essential travel, quarantine rules and the requirement for pre-departure and post-arrival coronavirus testing.

It said it is working with Boris Johnson's taskforce to reopen international leisure travel from May 17 but warned that the 'biggest single concern is the ability of Border Force to be able to cope with additional passenger numbers'.

Earlier this month airport boss Emma Gilthorpe called for more resources so that all the border desks could be manned to reduce the waiting time customers are facing.

She told the Commons Home Affairs Committee today that Border Force was already under a 'huge amount of pressure' at the airport and there were 'unacceptable levels of queueing'.

The aim is for EU passengers to wait no longer than 25 minutes, or 45 minutes for non-EU travellers, at the border.

But Ms Gilthorpe said: 'We are seeing significant pressure on the border and we are seeing very long queues and that is a worry.'

Earlier this month airport boss Emma Gilthorpe called for more resources

She later added: 'Now it is not uncommon to see queues of three hours and we have had queues extending out to nearly six hours on occasion.

'The extra layers that have been introduced are crippling the resourcing capability that Border Force has in place.'

Earlier this year chaos struck the airport as passengers queued for six hours to get through passport control with no social distancing, food or water.

Heathrow pinned the blame for the delays on the Home Office, saying Border Force desks were not sufficiently staffed to deal with arrivals and Covid-19 checks.

The Home Office vehemently denied that only two Border Force staff were working, stating that employees work in socially-distanced bubbles, and that other desks were open for arrivals.

Covid compliance checks - such as ensuring travellers have filled in a passenger locator form, have pre-departure test results, can justify their travel and whether they need to go into hotel quarantine after coming from a red list country - need to be made digital 'rapidly' so that E-gates can reopen and boost capacity, she added.

Ms Gilthorpe told MPs: 'We need a systematic and sustained focus on how we are going to resource so we can stop passengers having to queue for unacceptable lengths of time.

'We do all we can at Heathrow ... but ultimately, we need to get flow moving through the border far, far better than we have at the moment.'

Meanwhile the EU will confirm today that British holidaymakers are to be welcomed on the Continent as it unveils its 'vaccine passport' scheme.

Piling pressure on transport secretary Grant Shapps to green-light foreign travel in time for summer, the bloc is publishing details of its 'digital green pass'.

The EU's passport will allow those from non-EU countries to travel to the bloc if they are 'in a position to present certificates under a system deemed sufficiently reliable', according to a leaked document obtained by Bloomberg.

Dates are not specified but the document states the digital pass will also allow travel for those who have tested negative or who can prove they have gained a level of immunity having recovered from Covid.

Infections in the UK will also need to remain low for Britons to be allowed to travel to the EU.

However, in another boost, the document acknowledges that individual countries will be able to strike deals with Britain should the EU-wide scheme falter, mirroring last year's 'travel corridors'.

Greece, Portugal, Spain and Cyprus have signalled they are ready to arrange bilateral deals to welcome vaccinated Britons or those who test negative from mid-May.

Mr Shapps is leading a global travel taskforce that is looking into the use of vaccine passports for safely re-opening travel.

Hit taskforce will report by April 12, the date when an announcement will be made on when travel can re-open, with May 17 being the earliest possible date.
Former President Donald Trump's trade fight with the EU cost Ornua as well as American consumers. Photo: Carolyn Kaster/AP

Ornua paid around 50m in US tariffs last year after Kerrygold butter got caught up in a long-running transatlantic trade war.

The figure is roughly equivalent to the groups operating profit in 2019, the year Kerrygold became Irelands first billion-euro food brand.

Its also the number two butter brand in the US, with several million packets sold every week.

In essence, this was a tariff on Kerrygold, Ornuas CEO John Jordan told the Irish Independent.

It was very targeted by the Trump administration, and the purpose of the tariff was to make us less competitive.

It is penal and its been a tough period.

Former US president Donald Trump introduced the tariffs in October 2019, after a decades-long battle with the EU over airline subsidies.

Ornua had no choice but to pass that tariff on in full to the consumer, Mr Jordan said.

It meant a 25pc price rise, equivalent to around $1 a packet, putting Kerrygold at twice the price (per pound) of US butter.

Despite the triple threat of tariffs, Covid-19 and Brexit, Mr Jordan said the Kerrygold brand saw growth in 2020 but not the same rate of growth we would have seen if tariffs werent there.

Our growth has been dampened because of the tariff increases.

Theres been no big margin windfall for Ornua with the tariffs because the price went up on the shelf.

"In a tariff world, the loser is the consumer, so the American consumer had to pay that money. The benefit went to the US tax revenue.

The EU and US have agreed to suspend the tariffs for four months, but its still a challenging period for the company, Mr Jordan said.

Youre in a very difficult position whereby, over a four-month period, its very hard to make changes until we see what the permanent solution will be.

The company wont publish its full-year results for 2020 until 21 April, but it has had a good year and has managed to keep all of its supply chains intact, Mr Jordan said..

Ornua also expects growth in the UK, where it currently sees 26pc of total sales. Its Pilgrims Choice cheddar is now the number two cheese brand there.

The company also packs several British supermarkets own-brand cheeses and supplies a number of food processors and wholesalers.

The UKs decision to postpone the introduction of full customs controls means Irish exporters wont have to provide extra paperwork and face physical checks at UK ports until at least October.

Its a welcome respite because the UK are not ready, said Mr Jordan.

The risk was a lack of product on the shelf, and that would really frustrate consumers.

To pre-empt any shortages, Ornua sent 106 containers of produce over to the UK in the first week of December, meaning exports in January and February have been much lower and allowed the company to get up to speed on the new post-Brexit rules.

Weve been trying to mitigate the risk of Brexit for four years.

Brexit has also meant an increasing focus on diversifying into Europe.

According to data from consumer trends analysts GfK, Kerrygolds 250g packet of butter is now the number one product scanned at retail outlets in Germany.

We scan through faster than Coca-Colas biggest selling line, said Mr Jordan.

In all its markets - the US, UK and Ireland - Kerrygold butter continues to sell at a premium. And that should be good news at the farm gate, Mr Jordan said.

Established in 1961 by the government as An Bord Bainne, Ornua acts as a co-op of co-ops, buying up supplies from eight others across the country.

Ornuas monthly Purchase Price Index (PPI) - which shows its market returns on butter, cheese, whole milk powder and other products - rose in January and February, and is almost back to February 2020 levels.

What were trying to do is capture as much value for the product we buy, to give back to co-ops to allow them to pay the best possible milk price, said Mr Jordan.

His outlook for the rest of the year is very positive.

Brexit is pretty much resolved. US tariffs are suspended and wed be hopeful that in time they would be removed. Covid has an end in sight and whether thats two, six or eight months away, there will be a point where were all vaccinated and that will be resolved.
In Saturdays special election primary in the 2nd Congressional District, voters can choose a leading candidate whos been in New Orleans politics for more than two decades, who has ample legislative experience, who is closer to national Democrats than your average first-termer, and who has a track record of advocating for progressive causes popular with the districts Democratic majority.

If that pretty specific background is what people want in a new representative, theyve actually got two choices in the sprawling 15-candidate field who fit the bill, state Sens. Karen Carter Peterson and Troy Carter.

So parallel are their tracks that each has tried to get to Congress before. Peterson made it as far as the runoff in the 2006 election against scandal-plagued but not-yet-indicted U.S. Rep. William Jefferson. Carter ran in that election too, as well as the subsequent contest for Congress and before that, the 2002 mayors race, finishing no better than 5th each time. So at this point, both are no longer up-and-comers but seasoned pols, with Peterson having served consecutive tenures in the state House and Senate, and Carter having taken a break from politics after stints in the state House and on the City Council and returned to public office in 2016.

There are still more similarities.

Peterson can claim a leg up through the contacts she made as state Democratic Party Chair and a member of the Democratic National Committee and has endorsements from past national party chairs Tom Perez, Donna Brazile and Howard Dean, plus star organizer Stacey Abrams of Georgia. But Carter can point to his own endorsements, from former U.S. Rep. Cedric Richmond, who left the seat to join the Biden administration, and from Richmond allies such as U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn of South Carolina, the Houses third-ranking Democrat.

Peterson is touting a long history of supporting causes important to women, but then, so is Carter. Theyve both passed significant legislation, but have each run into the headwinds of a Republican legislative majority that opposes their more liberal goals.

There are some marginal variations between their platforms. Both embrace President Joe Bidens agenda of raising the federal minimum wage substantially and aggressively tackling climate change, although Carter said hes open to allowances for small business and would push back against Bidens temporary ban on drilling in the Gulf of Mexico. Both back expanding access to public health insurance, with Peterson endorsing a single payer system and Carter favoring a public option alongside existing private, employer-based insurance.

In perhaps the only stark policy-related point of contention, Carter has attacked Peterson for writing the bill that opened the door for the states takeover of failing New Orleans public schools (and for her husbands eventual job in the new system), but doesnt mention that she later shepherded the charter schools return to local control, which she said she considers among her proudest legislative accomplishments. Carter wasnt in the Legislature when Petersons original bill passed, so hes not on record as having a position back then.

Still, its hard to imagine that their votes on issues before Congress would diverge.

But political contests hinge on differences between candidates, not their similarities. And there is one big one. Call it style, or personality, or  as both would probably cast it  effectiveness.

Peterson is combative and feisty, someone who pushes hard and doesnt mind rubbing people the wrong way. Her schools fight is an example; while she worked closely with then-Democratic Gov. Kathleen Blanco and the campaign to raise standards had loud cheerleaders, it also drew harsh criticism from some constituents, including teachers in traditional schools. More recently Peterson, while still state party chair, undermined Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards when she used her senatorial privilege to block several high-level, well-regarded appointees, without offering a public explanation at the time.

Carter is generally regarded as more genial and cooperative, which may explain why he has more endorsements. He doesnt have a record of taking on an issue as thorny as the schools, though.

This type of choice is sometimes posed as a question of which politician voters would rather share a beer with. A better way to frame it might be: Which person would voters rather see next to them in the trenches?

This time around, the answer may well determine who finally makes it to Washington.




KEY TAKEAWAYS

The lower House of Congress in Mexico approved a bill to decriminalise the use of cannabis for recreational, medical and scientific uses.

Such bill received 316 votes in its favour and 127 votes against.

Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, the President of Mexico, is in favour of the said bill.

The bill is awaiting review and approval from the Senate, after which it would become a law.

People of the age of 18 years and older, are allowed to grow, carry or consume marijuana and its derivatives.

Five types of licenses for the cultivation, transformation, sale, research and export or import of cannabis is enlisted in the bill.

The bill proposes to establish a system of licenses required for the entire chain of production, distribution, transformation and sales.

The approval of such bill is believed to be able to pave the way for the creation of one of the world's largest lawful marijuana markets.



INTRODUCTION

Mexico's lower house of Congress on Wednesday approved a bill that would decriminalize cannabis for recreational, medical and scientific uses. Such bill was approved in general with 316 votes in favour of the bill and 127 votes against. The bill is pending review and approval by the Senate.

Only people 18 years and older, and with a permit, would be able to grow, carry or consume marijuana and its derivatives.

The bill would allow five types of licenses for the cultivation, transformation, sale, research and export or import of marijuana.

The bill proposes to establish a system of licenses required for the entire chain of production, distribution, transformation and sales.

Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, the President of Mexico since 2018, a member of the ruling Morena party has a majority in both chambers of Congress in Mexico. He is of the opinion that decriminalizing cannabis and other narcotics could help in combatting Mexico's powerful drug cartels, which as of now lead to massive drug wars.

CONTEXT

The legalisation of the cannabis for recreational purposes as well would be an effective means to put a check on the drug wars occurring frequently in the country. The President of the nation is also of such opinion.

The provisions of the legislation would allow adults, that is, people over the age of 18 years, to smoke marijuana, or consume it for recreational purposes other than medical benefit, and allows them to grow a small number of cannabis plants at their homes, provided a permit to that effect has been obtained. It would also grant licenses for producers both from small farmers to commercial growers to cultivate and sell the crop.

The provisions of the bill would users with a permit to carry up to 28g of cannabis on their person as opposed to the 5g of the plant that is permissible to be carried now. They would further be permitted to grow as many as six plants at home for their personal use.

FURTHER DETAILS

In 2015, the Supreme Court of Mexico ruled in favour of the recreational use marijuana. In 2019, the court ordered the government to create legislation, arguing that prohibiting its use was unconstitutional.

Such legislation had already been approved in the Senate in November of 2019 but subsequent alterations by the lower house made it another vote a requisite for the passing of such bill.

Simey Olvera, a lawmaker from Lopez Obrador's ruling Morena party who was wearing a mask with marijuana leaves printed on it as a gesture to support the cause of such legalisation, commented on the bill to have legalised marijuana and said, "Today we are making history." She further stated that, "With this, the false belief that cannabis forms part of Mexico's serious health problems is left behind."

The supporters of the bill strongly believe that an accountable state regulation of the drug will undermine the link between organised crime and the cannabis trade, thus curbing the loss of life due to drug wars every year.

Green Party Senator Raul Bolanos was of the opinion that such legislation served Mexico's best interests and commented that "The day has come, after two years of hard work in this Senate, we will be able to end 100 years of unnecessary prohibition." He further said, "In these two years of work, we have come to a verdict which allows for the free development of character, for the health of Mexicans and for the well-being of the entire nation."

Lopez Obrador, the President in relation to such legislation opined that the legislation could combat drug-related violence and improve security in the country.

Members of the right-wing Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) and conservative National Action Party (PAN) stand strongly to oppose such legislation.

Damian Zepeda Vidales from the National Action Party commented in opposition to such legislation, that When we are going to vote for a reform, we should always ask ourselves whether it is going to bring something positive to the country or not. He said, Without a doubt in this case, we feel it won't. We don't think it's positive that it will be accessible to youngsters and also children.



POSITION OF CANNABIS LEGALITY WORLDWIDE

After approval of the bill by the Senate, Mexico would the most recent country to have joined the group of countries which had already legalised the uses of cannabis for recreational purposes.

The use of cannabis for recreational purposes is prohibited in most countries.

The policies with regard to the legality of cannabis in most countries are regulated by the following three United Nations treaties: (i) the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, 1961, (ii) the Convention on Psychotropic Substances, 1971, and (iii) the Convention Against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, 1988.

Cannabis is classified as a Schedule I drug under the Single Convention treaty, meaning that signatories can allow medical use but that it is considered to be an addictive drug with a serious risk of abuse.

Uruguay has legalised the recreational use of cannabis for adults in the year 2013.

Jamaica has legalised the use of cannabis for religious and medicinal purposes since 2015.

The Constitutional Court in South Africa decriminalised the possession, growing and usage of weed by adults in private in 2018.

Canada allows people who are 18 years of age and above to legally possess up to 30 grams of cannabis in public since 2018 and can even grow up to four marijuana plants at home. They can also purchase marijuana from licensed producers and retailers.

Columbia has decriminalised the possession of up to 20 grams of marijuana since 2012.



CONCLUSION

Uruguay became the first country in the world to legalize the production and sale of marijuana in 2013. Countries such as Argentina, Chile, Colombia and Peru, allow the medical use of cannabis.

In 2018, Canada also legalized marijuana, including recreational use, with several large U.S. states also regulating its legal use.

The Senate encapsulated the bill's objective to be "to promote peace and security in society, contributing to the reduction of the illegal market for psychoactive cannabis and with it, organised crime, corruption and violence.

Such legislation is supposed to bring the Nation a step closer to creating one of the worlds largest markets for the plant. With more than 120 million people, Mexico would represent the largest marijuana market in the world by population. The crop could become big business in Mexico, a potential financial lift for an economy badly battered by the coronavirus crisis.

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The European Union today effectively declared vaccine war on the UK by threatening to block exports of Pfizer/BioNTech's coronavirus jab.

Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, suggested that the bloc could start an export ban on vaccines  the second time that threat has been made  because the continent's rollout is going so badly.

She said the EU may have to 'reflect whether exports to countries who have higher vaccination rates than us are still proportionate'.

It has led to fears it could interfere with the UK's successful rollout, which has seen 25million Brits already given at least one dose.

However, because AstraZeneca's jab is mainly manufactured in the UK, Britain more than likely will be able to remain self-sufficient and still get jabs to the entire population.

But it could come under pressure on second dose supply, given that 13million Brits have had Pfizer's jab and need their top-up shot.

The MHRA said an estimated 10.7million first doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine had been dished out by February 28, compared to 9.7million of the Oxford-AstraZeneca jab. If the same 54/46 per cent split is still being used, it would suggest the Pfizer figure now stands at 13.6million

Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, suggested that the bloc could start an export ban on vaccines

WHICH VACCINES ARE MADE IN THE EU?

The Pfizer/BioNTech jab is currently the only vaccine used in the UK but manufactured in the EU, at the company's plant in Puurs, Belgium.

AstraZeneca's jab is made at home in England and Wales.

Moderna's  which will become available in about two weeks' time at the start of April  is produced in Switzerland, which is not an EU member and so not under von der Leyen's jurisdiction.

The Janssen vaccine, which has not yet been approved by Britain but is likely to be next, will be made in various factories around the world, including in France, Belgium, the US and Japan.

Britain's supply is likely to come from the EU but is not expected until the second half of this year in any case.

IS THE UK EXPORTING VACCINES TO THE EU?

There is no evidence the UK has exported any vaccine doses to the EU and there has been no public announcement about a deal.

The Department of Health said it didn't know whether there had been a deal between AstraZeneca and the EU to ship doses from Britain and the vaccine maker has refused to comment.

Boris Johnson told the House of Commons last week that 'we have not blocked the export of a single Covid-19 vaccine or vaccine component'.

Daily coronavirus deaths in Britain are falling at a faster rate than they did when the first wave began to tail off, according to official data which provides even more evidence that vaccines are saving lives

However, Mrs von der Leyen claimed today: 'Indeed the UK is producing AstraZeneca. In our contract with AstraZeneca there are even two sites in the UK that are put in the contract for potential deliveries for the European Union.

'We are still waiting for doses to come from the UK, so this is an invitation to show us that there are also doses from the UK coming to the European Union so that we have reciprocity.'

HOW MANY DOSES OF ASTRAZENECA'S VACCINE ARE BEING MADE IN THE UK?

Ian McCubbin, the manufacturing lead for the UK's Vaccine Taskforce said in January that the 'vast majority' of the Oxford University/AstraZeneca vaccine will be manufactured in the UK.

Britain is dishing out at least 2.1million vaccines every week, and using almost a 50/50 split of Pfizer and AstraZeneca's jabs, meaning the company is at least making a million doses per week.

The production sites making the vaccine are located in Oxford and Keele in Staffordshire, with the finishing touches being completed in Wrexham in North Wales.

AstraZeneca also has some sites in Germany and the Netherlands where it produces the jab, but it's unclear how many doses are shipped to Britain.

CAN WE RELY ON ASTRAZENECA?

The good news is that the UK has ordered so many doses of the Oxford/AstraZeneca jab  100million  that in a worst-case scenario it could immunise the entire adult population (around 50million people) using that one alone.

The early signs of the vaccine effect come as the Government announced more than 25million Britons have had at least one dose

And supply of the Oxford/AstraZeneca jab in April and May will be around three to four times larger than of Pfizer and over 20 times as large as those from Moderna  at around three to four million available per week, according to a delivery schedule leaked by the Scottish Government in January  meaning the country will be able to rely on those for the vast majority of its vaccinations.

WHAT ABOUT PFIZER SECOND DOSES?

The bad news is that around 13million people have already had at least one dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, and the majority of them are still waiting for a second jab, which are likely only to come from within the EU.

This means that Britain has to have another 13million doses at least, in order to make sure those people are fully protected.

And it also hopes for another 14million so it can immunise the total 20million for whom doses were ordered.

Pfizer and the UK Government have both refused to comment on the supply chain but deliveries are expected to be smaller in April.

The Department of Health may have to stop using Pfizer supplies for first-time vaccinations within weeks if the spectre of export issues remains, MailOnline understands, because it must begin to stockpile supplies to cope with the huge demand for second doses that will come in April, three months after the rollout exploded in January.

The delivery projections accidentally published by the Scottish Government suggest its supplies of Pfizer will tumble from 130,000 per week throughout March to just 78,000 per week in April and May.

This could equate to approximately 1.5million per week for the whole UK dropping to 950,000 per week, according to the distribution formula used by the Government.

The UK vaccinated more than 2.5million people per week throughout most of January and February and around half of all doses used were Pfizer, meaning the demand for second doses could exceed one million per week in April and May.

If this is the case the Government will have to use all of the projected 950,000 per week suggested in the Scottish delivery schedule while also hoping it has enough left over to meet this rolling demand  leaving little to no capacity for people to receive the Pfizer jab for the first time.

Pfizer declined to comment on its supply chain but said: 'In the UK, we are continuing to liaise closely with the Government to deliver the 40million doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine that we have committed to supply before the end of the year and can confirm that overall projected supply remains the same for quarter one (January to March).'
For the study, the research team analyzed survey responses from over 160 pregnant and postpartum women between April 28 and June 30, 2020. The survey had both quantitative and qualitative responses.Findings revealed that 52% of pregnant women and 49% of postpartum women were worried about their babies contracting the virus, and 46% had asked for extra information on COVID-19 protocols from the hospital where they planned to deliver or had delivered their babies.Many serious concerns were reported in the qualitative portion of the survey. Some were -1) Contracting COVID-19 and dying.2) Contracting the virus in the hospital during delivery and isolating from their newborn due to COVID-19 policies3) Keeping their partners out of the birthing roomBarbosa-Leiker reports that in the beginning, hospitals had varying policies, but now the recommendation is to keep babies and mothers together.The survey also revealed that 27% of pregnant women did not have access to healthy food, and 25% had missed prenatal appointments. In addition, 19% reported their income had reduced, 9% had been laid off, and 10% reported that someone in their household had lost their job.In the study, pregnant women appeared to be more stressed than postpartum women who had already delivered. This may be because pregnant women were less likely to practice stress-coping behaviors like exercising, taking breaks from the news, and making time to relax.Women of color and low-income pregnant women had greater stress levels and a lack of social support, revealing an increase in health disparities that existed even before the pandemic.Barbosa-Leiker said.She believes that the findings emphasize the need for more resources and support for pregnant women, especially during the pandemic.she said.She further adds,Source: Medindia
Hurricane season 2021 is here: How do storms get their names?
Conversation Lab continues to accelerate growth in South Africa and the UK, adding Elkanah House, Greenwood Bay College and Glenwood House to its roster.

Uyanda Manana

The agency has been a long-standing strategic partner to ADvTech, the JSE-listed education group in SA. It has been responsible for the Groups key brands, including Varsity College, Vega School of Branding and Design, Rosebank College, Crawford International and Trinityhouse.Each school caters for pre-primary, primary and high school and is built on a progressive approach to education that encourages independent, critical and creative thinking. The schools are located in Cape Town, Plettenberg Bay and George.Conversation Lab has been tasked with driving awareness for these schools and their offerings, as well as delivering new admission numbers; all in a highly competitive education sector heavily disrupted by Covid-19.Uyanda Manana, MD at Conversation Lab, said: 2020 was a hugely challenging year for schools up and down the country  for both parents, scholars and teachers. Our agency is passionate about education and we are thrilled to add these exciting and niche independent school brands to our stable. The pace of change in the sector is hugely exciting and we love being at the forefront of this with the ADvTech Group.Adam OHara, ADvTech Group digital marketing manager, added: We get a lot of agencies knocking on our door promising us many things and often not delivering. With Conversation Lab we have found a partner that is completely accountable and keeps delivering across a range of brands and capabilities, day in and day out. It was a fairly easy decision to award the agency more of our school brands as we continue to grow and move forward together.
Published: 17 March 2021

Number of passengers at Finnish airports plummeted in 2020

In 2020, altogether 6.5 million passengers flew through Finnish airports, which was only one-quarter of the number of passengers in 2019. The number of passengers in international air transport decreased by 78 per cent and that in domestic air transport by 66 per cent. There were 5.1 million passengers at Helsinki Airport and a total of 1.4 million passengers at other domestic airports. Helsinki Airport accounted for 79 per cent of all passengers at domestic airports.

In January to February, the number of passengers was still on level with the previous year, but in mid-March the global COVID-19 pandemic temporarily stopped air traffic almost completely. During the summer, the number of passengers in air traffic recovered slightly but the end of the year was again declining. In all, 76 per cent of the passengers in air transport in 2020 flew in January to March. In April to December, the decrease in the number of passengers was 92 per cent compared with 2019.

Passengers of international and domestic flights year 2019 and 2020

Compared with the previous year, the number of passengers in air transport dropped by over 80 per cent at the airports of Savonlinna, Jyvaskyla, Tampere-Pirkkala, Kokkola-Pietarsaari, Joensuu, Enontekio, Vaasa and Kajaani. In relative terms, the number of passengers decreased least at the airports of Kuusamo (-38%) and Kittila (-43%).

In 2020, altogether 69 per cent of the passengers were from international flights and 31 per cent from domestic flights. Of the passengers at Helsinki Airport, 80 per cent were from international flights. At Turku airport, the share of passengers in international traffic was 78 per cent and at Tampere-Pirkkala airport 53 per cent. A total of 20 per cent of the passengers at the other domestic airports came from international flights. Ninety-seven per cent of the passengers at Helsinki Airport flew on scheduled flights and three per cent on chartered flights. At the other domestic airports, 12 per cent of the passengers flew on chartered flights.

In 2020, air freight and mail transport decreased by one-third from the previous year. Freight and mail transports amounted to 147,210 tonnes in total, and 97 per cent of the tonnes were transported through Helsinki Airport. Ninety-nine per cent of the freight tonnes were transported between Finland and foreign countries. Altogether 79,082 tonnes of the transported volume of goods were outgoing and 68,129 tonnes were incoming.

Source: Transport and tourism, Statistics Finland

Inquiries: Jukka Tuominen 029 551 3635, jukka.tuominen@stat.fi

Head of Department in charge: Hannele Orjala

Publication in pdf-format (167.6 kB)

Updated 17.3.2021

Referencing instructions: Official Statistics of Finland (OSF): Air transport [e-publication].

ISSN=2670-1847. 2020. Helsinki: Statistics Finland [referred: 3.6.2021].

Access method: http://www.stat.fi/til/ilma/2020/ilma_2020_2021-03-17_tie_001_en.html
GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- Grand Rapids officials say talks of potential layoffs, furloughs and service cuts are off the table now that theyll receive an estimated $94 million in federal relief funding.

Were all breathing a sigh of relief, said Molly Clarin, the citys chief financial officer. We were heading into another budget and we were digging into reserves and we were going to have to start making those decisions: service rollbacks or staff reductions, either through a furlough or layoffs or something like that. Those things were definitely on the table.

The estimated $94 million coming to Grand Rapids is the citys share of $4.4 billion in federal funding headed to cities, townships, villages and counties across Michigan thanks to the recent federal stimulus package. That same package is responsible for the $1,400 stimulus checks.

Related: See how much stimulus money your town gets; Michigan splits $10.3B in funding

Before the assurance of millions in federal relief dollars, city staff were drafting their spending plan for fiscal year 2022, which begins July 1, with an estimated $15 to $20 million shortfall in income tax revenues last year and no way to plug those losses except by dipping into savings or making cuts and other adjustments.

Clarin said city staff never detailed an exact number of staffing cuts or days of furlough needed to offset the shortfall. However, they did run through certain scenarios, such as how much could be saved if some employees worked one less day a week or how much could safely be cut from certain department fund balances.

Without cuts or relief dollars, the income tax shortfall would cause the city to expend its reserves and be in a $6.5 million deficit by fiscal year 2024, Clarin said.

That projection also includes estimates that it will take four to five years for income tax revenues to return to normal, creating a $45 million funding gap at current levels of city service over that time.

Related: COVID-19 income tax losses could drive Grand Rapids into budget deficit without cuts

With a slow return of income tax revenues in mind, city leaders are being cautious on placing extra expenditures, especially longer-term ones, into the upcoming budget proposal. City staff will present the draft fiscal year 2022 budget to the Grand Rapids City Commission in late April.

Were planning on a continuation budget where were not going to reduce any service levels we provide to the community but also we wont be programming anything that has a long-term cost, Clarin said, because we still have to figure out the long-term problem, which is income tax -- this withholding issue from our non-residents -- and also the impact that unemployment and business closures have had on our tax base.

About half of the $94 million in federal funding will help address the citys income tax problem.

Portions of the other half, Clarin said, will likely go toward housing issues, stimulation of local businesses for economic recovery, helping vulnerable populations, such as people experiencing homelessness, and more.

Much of that will be outlined in the budget proposal in late April, she said.

Grand Rapids will receive the estimated $94 million in two chunks, with the first half coming soon and the second half in 12 months.

The citys income tax problem is a product of the pandemic.

Many people who live outside the city but normally work in the city were allowed or forced to work from home to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

The unintended consequence: those same non-city residents, with confirmation from their employer, can choose to withhold a portion of their city income tax for the period they were working from home over the 2020 calendar year.

Of the tax returns so far, about 80% of non-city residents have chosen to withhold a portion of their income tax from Grand Rapids, Clarin said.

The calendar year 2020 income tax shortfall is estimated around $15 to $20 million. That also includes income taxes not paid by city residents while they were unemployed, which more than usual experienced last year because of the economic shutdown.

The city had expected about $86.5 million of the general funds revenues this fiscal year to come from income taxes. About $46.6 million of that was to be generated by non-residents working in the city.

The citys general fund expenditures total about $149.3 million this fiscal year. The total spending plan, which includes other funds and revenues, was approved at $531 million.

City leaders, which drafted and approved the current spending plan in summer 2020, anticipated revenue shortfalls because of the pandemic and shaved off about $22 million from the prior years budget.

The city implemented a hiring freeze and other spending reductions but made no cuts to full-time staff.

Grand Rapids last year received about $13.6 million in federal COVID-19 relief grants, with some distributed through the state and others through Kent County.

Other municipalities in Kent County, as well as the county itself, are also slated to receive funding from the recent federal stimulus package.

Some, but not all, of the estimated payments include $127.4 million to Kent County, $14.4 million to Wyoming and $5.1 million to Kentwood.

Read more:

Mercy Health St. Marys president resigns

Pilot study reduces social distancing rules for Kent County schools to 3 feet

Michigan officials hope vulnerability index, Ford Field clinic will help address vaccination disparities

Chandrashekar Rao admitted to the involvement of local TRS leaders in the incident, saying they have been expelled from the party and the police arrested them immediately.  DC file photo

Hyderabad: Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao on Wednesday rejected the demand of Congress party to hand over the investigations into the case of the recent murder of the advocate couples to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

Gattu Vaman Rao and his wife P.V. Nagamani, both practising lawyers in the High Court, were murdered in broad daylight in February in Peddapalli district, when two assailants intercepted the couples car in which they were travelling.

Congress Legislature Party leader Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, speaking in the Assembly, demanded that the state government hand over the case to the CBI, arguing that ruling TRS local leaders themselves were facing charges of murdering the couple, and therefore, the police department under the state government cannot conduct an impartial inquiry.

Chief Minister Rao categorically announced that his government will not hand over the case to the CBI as Telangana police was capable enough to investigate the case and bring the culprits to book at the earliest.

Incidentally, Mr Chandrashekar Rao admitted to the involvement of local TRS leaders in the incident, saying they have been expelled from the party and the police arrested them immediately.

Mr Rao said the High Court was directly monitoring the case. Since the matter was under consideration of the courts he said he cannot comment further. The TRS chief informed that police investigations were going on at a brisk pace and four persons had been arrested in this case.

He said that the government will not spare anyone in this case, now matter how powerful or influential they might be, adding that law and order remained a topmost priority for the government.


The Slovenian government has dropped plans to establish a new national carrier using European Union funds. The Ministry for Economic Development and Technology confirmed the draft of Slovenias Recovery and Resilience Plan, which must be approved by the European Commission in order for it to allocate the country 1.6 billion euros in grants and 3.6 billion in repayable funds to soften the economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic, no longer contains a proposal to co-finance a new flag carrier. European officials previously expressed concerns over plans to allocate 76 million euros towards the creation of a new national airline. The Slovenian government has dropped plans to establish a new national carrier using European Union funds. The Ministry for Economic Development and Technology confirmed the draft of Slovenias Recovery and Resilience Plan, which must be approved by the European Commission in order for it to allocate the country 1.6 billion euros in grants and 3.6 billion in repayable funds to soften the economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic, no longer contains a proposal to co-finance a new flag carrier. European officials previously expressed concerns over plans to allocate 76 million euros towards the creation of a new national airline.





The Ministry noted that plans to finance a new airline were not in line with the European Unions green policies. "As aviation has not yet switched to renewable energy sources and predominately uses fossil fuels, this principle could not be met. As a result, we have withdrawn the proposal and we are currently trying to find a solution to obtain an alternative source of funding", the Ministry told the Delo daily. Slovenia saw the greatest decline in commercial flights in Europe last year after Georgia, impacted both by the coronavirus pandemic and also the collapse of former national airline Adria Airways in late 2019.





Meanwhile, the Minister for Economic Development and Technology, Zdravko Pocivalsek, has held talks with Air Serbias General Manager for Commercial and Strategy, Jiri Marek. They discussed possibilities to cooperate in improving Slovenias connectivity with the world. Due to the disclosure of confidential business information, we cannot comment on this matter, the Ministry told Delo. According to the daily, Air Serbia has expressed interest in establishing a base in Ljubljana.





Air Serbia was the third busiest transfer airline in the Slovenian capital in 2020, improving its position on 2019, when it was the eighth busiest. The Serbian carrier managed to increase its transfer market share in Ljubljana from 4% in 2019 to 10% in 2020. Contributing to its improved performance was the collapse of Adria Airways, as well as it being one of the few carriers to have maintained operations to Ljubljana for the majority of last year, with most airlines temporarily suspending operations. In 2020, some 51% of all travellers on Air Serbias Ljubljana route were transfers. In 2019, they made up some 22.4% of all passengers. Last year, inbound and outbound travellers from Ljubljana flying with Air Serbia connected most onto flights to or from Skopje, while in 2019 Athens was most popular.








The success of the Covid jabs were highlighted again tonight as officials unveiled fresh data confirming they reduce deaths in the elderly by 85 per cent.

Public Health England's vaccine chief Dr Mary Ramsay told tonight's Downing Street conference that 'every day we vaccinate more people, we prevent more deaths'.

She unveiled a raft of new data showing the real-world impact of a single dose of Pfizer or AstraZeneca's jabs on the UK's crisis after it emerged 25million Brits have had at least one dose.

Among the promising findings were an 85 per cent reduction in deaths in the over-80s and an 80 per cent fall in hospitalisations in the same age group. The analysis also found a 60 per cent reduction in catching Covid after one dose for over-70s.

Dr Ramsay added the risk of getting infected is cut by a third if you live with someone who has been vaccinated.

She said the jabs' impact improves across the board when a patient has been fully vaccinated with both doses. The latest data confirms PHE's initial findings last month.

But Dr Ramsay urged Britons not to get complacent, adding: 'Please don't alter your behaviour when you have the vaccine. Don't take unnecessary risks.'

Despite the promising evidence, the NHS has warned it will face a 'significant reduction in weekly supply' of Covid vaccines from the week beginning March 29.

It has raised fears that appointments for under-50s could be delayed, but Matt Hancock said the Government was still on track to vaccinate all adults by the end of July.

Public Health England's vaccine chief Mary Ramsay (left) unveiled a raft of new data showing the real-world impact of Pfizer and Oxford's jabs on the UK's crisis. Matt Hancock said the highly successful jabs are why deaths are 'falling so fast'

The vaccine effect on catching Covid: The Pfizer (left) and Oxford (right) jabs slash the chance of getting infected in over-70s by 60 per cent after a single dose

The early signs of the vaccine effect come as the Government announced more than 25million Britons have had at least one dose

Daily coronavirus deaths in Britain are falling at a faster rate than they did when the first wave began to tail off, according to official data which provides even more evidence that vaccines are saving lives

Dr Ramsay said: 'We are showing good protection in the over-70s, we have compared individuals who test positive to those who test negative.

'There is a 60 per cent reduction in your chance of catching Covid if you are over 70 and have been vaccinated with both vaccines.

'Those effects are maintained for several weeks, they don't go away. They are still there even after a single dose and you get additional protection from the second dose.

'On top of that, even if you do get Covid, having been vaccinated, our data shows that your risk of requiring hospital admission is reduced by a further 40 per cent based on whether you've had the AstraZeneca vaccine or the Pfizer vaccine.

Early signs of vaccine effect as Britain's daily Covid deaths fall faster now than during first wave despite bigger winter outbreak Daily coronavirus deaths in Britain are falling at a faster rate than they did when the first wave began to tail off, according to official data which provides even more evidence that vaccines are saving lives. Figures from No10's Covid dashboard show that fatalities in the second wave peaked higher and fell further in the following seven weeks than during the same time period last spring. For example, daily Covid fatalities hit 1,362 on deadliest day of the pandemic on January 19. This had fallen to 138 seven weeks later on March 8, the most recent snapshot available  a drop of 90 per cent. By contrast, the first wave peaked at a lower 1,073 on April 8 and fell by 80 per cent to just 213 in the same amount of time. The early signs of the vaccine effect come as the Government announced more than 25million Britons have had at least one dose of either the Pfizer/BioNTech or Oxford University/AstraZeneca jabs. The milestone, which means almost half of all adults in the country have been inoculated, was hit exactly 100 days after the mammoth rollout launched. Latest figures show 25,273,226 Brits have received the first injection, while 1,759,445 of them have had their second dose. Boris Johnson said the vaccine milestone represented '25million reasons to be confident' about a post-lockdown Britain. Health Secretary Matt Hancock described the achievement as a 'national mission'. Advertisement

'When you put those two figures together, it means that in the over-80s we are preventing 80 per cent of hospital admissions.'

Hailing PHE's findings, Mr Hancock said the success of the roll out and effectiveness of the vaccines explained why deaths in the UK are 'falling so fast'.

They are down a third in the past week and have fallen 90 per cent from the peak of 1,300 on January 19.

He added: 'After a single dose of either vaccine, protection against Covid-19 is around 60 per cent, that's protection against getting it, protection against hospitalisation is around 80 per cent and protection against death is around 85 per cent.'

But the health secretary admitted the UK's vaccine rollout will be paused and under-50s will not be invited for jabs while supplies are used to mop up over-50s and second doses.

The NHS published a letter warning a 'significant reduction in weekly supply available from manufacturers' will mean 'volumes for first doses will be significantly constrained'.

It is not yet clear which company is causing the slowdown  sources and Scottish Government documents say Pfizer supplies will drop by almost half within weeks, while the BBC's Laura Kuenssberg said in a tweet: 'I'm told the problem is fewer AstraZeneca vaccines are available than expected'.

Britain had been on track to start offering vaccines to people under the age of 50 by the end of March but this now doesn't look likely to happen before May; the NHS letter said the supply issue looked set to last four weeks or more.

Daily coronavirus deaths in Britain are falling at a faster rate than they did when the first wave began to tail off, according to official data which provides even more evidence that vaccines are saving lives.

Figures from No10's Covid dashboard show that fatalities in the second wave peaked higher and fell further in the following seven weeks than during the same time period last spring.

For example, daily Covid fatalities hit 1,362 on deadliest day of the pandemic on January 19. This had fallen to 138 seven weeks later on March 8, the most recent snapshot available  a drop of 90 per cent.

By contrast, the first wave peaked at a lower 1,073 on April 8 and fell by 80 per cent to just 213 in the same amount of time.

The early signs of the vaccine effect come as the Government announced more than 25million Britons have had at least one dose of either the Pfizer/BioNTech or Oxford University/AstraZeneca jabs.

The milestone, which means almost half of all adults in the country have been inoculated, was hit exactly 100 days after the mammoth rollout launched. Latest figures show 25,273,226 Brits have received the first injection, while 1,759,445 of them have had their second dose.

Boris Johnson said the vaccine milestone represented '25million reasons to be confident' about a post-lockdown Britain.
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Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has launched a stinging attack on the Centre on the prevailing issue of unemployment in India. He alleged that the government is "penalising them" for having the required educational qualifications.

Gandhi tweeted, "Educated youth is facing severe joblessness. It seems GOI is penalising them, especially OBC-SC-ST candidates, for having real degrees!" He also shared news reports about the same.

According to one of the news reports shared by Rahul Gandhi, 62 per cent OBC and 63 per cent SC faculty positions were left vacant in IIMs whereas in IGNOU, 41 per cent SC and 67 per cent OBC faculty seats were left vacant. Another report shared by the former Congress president stated that IIMs had the highest percentage of vacancies at 73.7 per cent.





Educated youth is facing severe joblessness.



It seems GOI is penalising them, esp. OBC-SC-ST candidates, for having real degrees! pic.twitter.com/nyiUStdgtD a Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) March 17, 2021

India's unemployment rate peaked to 6.9 per cent in February 2021, according to the latest data by Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE).

The CMIE report stated despite a rise in the national joblessness figures, unemployment rate in urban areas fell from 8.08 per cent in January 2021 to 6.99 per cent in February 2021. Unemployment rate in rural areas however rose from 5.83 per cent in January 2021 to 6.86 per cent in February.

As per this data, states like Haryana (26.4 per cent), Rajasthan (25.6 per cent) and Goa (21.1 per cent) reported highest unemployment figures in February while unemployment figures fell in states like Assam (1.6 per cent) and Madhya Pradesh (2.1 per cent).

Also read: 80% firms wary of Haryana's job quota law, say it will negatively impact future ops

Also read: Haryana's recruitment rule "will spell disaster", says FICCI
As COVID-19 vaccine supplies ramp up across the country, most provinces and territories have released details of who can expect to receive a shot in the coming weeks.

Boxes of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine are pictured at a facility in Milton, Ont., Wednesday, March 3, 2021. As COVID-19 vaccine supplies ramp up across the country, most provinces and territories have released details of who can expect to receive a shot in the coming weeks. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Carlos Osorio, POOL

As COVID-19 vaccine supplies ramp up across the country, most provinces and territories have released details of who can expect to receive a shot in the coming weeks.

Also, the federal government said it will continue to include the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine in its inoculation program, even as more European countries suspend its use over concerns it could cause blood clots.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has said Health Canada regulators are constantly analyzing all the available information about vaccines and have guaranteed those approved in Canada are safe for use. He added none of the AstraZeneca doses Canada has received are from the batch linked to possible side-effects reported in Europe.

Here's a list of the inoculation plans throughout Canada:

Newfoundland and Labrador

The province says it is in Phase 1 of its vaccine rollout. Health-care workers on the front lines of the pandemic, staff at long-term care homes, people of "advanced age" and adults in remote or isolated Indigenous communities have priority.

Newfoundland and Labrador announced March 3 it was extending the interval between the first and second doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to four months.

Public health officials said the change will help them vaccinate 40,000 more people with a single dose by the end of March. Liberal Leader and incumbent Premier Andrew Furey said the decision is a game changer for the province's vaccination prospects.

Nova Scotia

Health officials in Nova Scotia announced March 2 that vaccination rollout plans for the month included the province's first pharmacy clinics. Prototype pharmacy clinics launched in Halifax and Shelburne on March 9, and will then start in Port Hawkesbury on March 16 and Springhill on March 23.

Nova Scotia plans to have vaccine available to at least 75 per cent of the population by the end of September 2021.

Health officials said March 3 the upcoming shipment must be used by April 2 and, therefore, all 13,000 doses will be administered to residents across the province aged 50 to 64 years starting March 15.

The vaccine will be given out at 26 locations in Nova Scotia on a first come, first served basis.

Prince Edward Island

Health officials in Prince Edward Island say they will shift their focus to getting a first dose of COVID-19 vaccine to all adults by July 1, even if it means delaying the second shot for some.

Chief medical officer Heather Morrison has said people over the age of 80 will get a second dose based on their existing appointments. Going forward, she said, other residents will get a longer interval between their first and second doses, but she didnt specific how long that will be.

New Brunswick

The province is also focusing on vaccinating those living in long-term care homes, health-care workers with direct patient contact, adults in First Nations communities and older New Brunswickers in the first phase, which lasts until at least March.

The next phase is scheduled to begin in the spring and includes residents and staff of communal settings, other health-care workers including pharmacists, first responders and critical infrastructure employees.

The government website says once the vaccine supply is continuous and in large enough quantities, the entire population will be offered the shots.

Quebec

Quebec started vaccinating older seniors March 1, after a first phase that focused largely on health-care workers, remote communities and long-term care. In Montreal, mass vaccine sites including the Olympic Stadium opened their doors to the public as the province began inoculating seniors who live in the hard-hit city.

COVID-19 vaccination appointments opened March 10 for residents aged 70 and older across Quebec.

Vaccines had previously only been accessible to people as young as 70 in Montreal and its northern suburb of Laval. Health Minister Christian Dube has said the arrival of more vaccine shipments could allow the government to open vaccination to people aged 65 and older in the Montreal area this week.

Premier Francois Legault told reporters this week his hope is that once those over 65 are vaccinated, more health orders could be relaxed, including the ban on indoor private gatherings. Legault says seniors aged 65 and older have accounted for 80 per cent of hospitalizations and 95 per cent of deaths attributed to COVID-19 in Quebec.

Ontario

Ontario stepped up its COVID-19 immunization campaign on March 15, rolling out an online vaccine booking portal and call centre. The provincial government has said it aims to begin vaccinating Ontarians aged 80 and older.

Ontario has focused its initial vaccine effort on those in long-term care, high-risk retirement home residents, some health-care workers and people who live in congregate care settings.

It has said the rollout will look different in each of its 34 public health units. Several regions in Ontario have moved ahead with their plans to vaccinate the general public using their own booking systems to allow residents aged 80 and older to schedule appointments.

The province has also said it will extend the interval between doses of COVID-19 vaccines to up to four months.

Toronto began vaccinating police force members who respond to emergency calls on March 1 and has also started offering vaccines to people experiencing homelessness.

The province has said the recently approved Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine will go to residents between the ages of 60 and 64.

A pilot project began Friday at more than 300 pharmacies in Toronto, Kingston and Windsor to give the Oxford-AstraZeneca shot to those aged 60 to 64.

Manitoba

Manitoba is starting to vaccinate people aged 77 and older and First Nation people aged 57 and older. Health officials plan to reduce the age minimum, bit by bit, over the coming months.

Eligibility has been expanded to include nearly all health-care workers, including those who do not provide direct patient care.

All people who work in congregate living facilities are also now able to get vaccinated. Immunization teams are also visiting these facilities to give residents a dose.

Dr. Joss Reimer, medical lead of the province's vaccine task force, has said inoculations could be open to all adults in the province by August if supplies are steady. There are supersites in cities where people can get vaccines and pop-up clinics have begun in rural and northern Manitoba communities for people who are eligible.

Manitoba has already indicated it would opt for a four-month interval between doses.

---

Saskatchewan

The Saskatchewan Health Authority says it's dropping the eligible age for seniors to book COVID-19 vaccination appointments to 80, down from 85.

March 11 was the start of the province's booking system, announced after people raised concerns about waiting to be contacted by public health to receive their shots. The health authority says about 4,300 appointments were made by phone or online. It was only open to residents 85 and older, but the authority says the age will drop to 80, starting March 12, after a successful first-day rollout.

The province has started vaccinating for long-term care residents and staff, health-care workers at elevated risk of COVID-19 exposure and anyone 50 or older living in a remote area.

Saskatchewan hopes to begin its mass vaccination campaign by April, but there if there isnt enough supply that could be pushed back to June. Saskatchewan will begin immunizing the general population in 10-year increments, starting with those 60 to 69. Also included in this age group will be people living in emergency shelters, individuals with intellectual disabilities in care homes and people who are medically vulnerable.

Police, corrections staff and teachers are among the front-line workers not prioritized for early access to shots. The government says supply is scarce.

Premier Scott Moe has said that people will get their second shot up to four months after the first, which falls in line with a recentrecommendation from Canada's national immunization committee.

Alberta

Health Minister Tyler Shandro has said the province expects to offer all Albertans aged 18 and over a first dose of vaccine by the end of June.

Shandro said residents aged 65 to 74, and First Nations, Inuit and Metis aged 50-plus, can begin booking March 15. The province had originally not expected to begin this stage of vaccination until April.

The phase started March 15 with anyone born in 1947 and Indigenous people born in 1971. More appointments are being booked by birth year as the week progresses.

In April, the Alberta government aims to start offering the vaccine to people with some chronic health conditions born between 1957 and 2005. That includes people with certain lung, kidney, liver and heart diseases, people treated for cancer in the past year, those with severe mental illness and substance use disorders, and pregnant women.

After that, vaccines will be available more health care workers and people with jobs in certain congregate living settings, such as jails and homeless shelters. Meat plant workers will also qualify in this phase.

Alberta has also said it will follow other provinces by extending the time between the first dose and the second to four months.

British Columbia

British Columbia will use its initial shipment of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine to inoculate front-line workers in industries where there have been outbreaks because the use of personal protective equipment is difficult, or because employees live together.

The highest-risk work categories were identified by a task force last November and include sites where poultry, fruit and fish are processed, as well as large industrial camps.

The provinces age-based vaccination plan is one week ahead of schedule. People aged 84 and older, plus Indigenous elders 65 and up, are able to book appointments for a shot.

The Health Ministry says people aged 83 and older can make a vaccination appointment starting on March 16. The age eligibility drops daily, so anyone 80 and up can arrange their vaccination by the end of the week.

The province also opened vaccination clinics across B.C. on March 15 for Indigenous elders and seniors over 90 who had appointments.

Clinics also began in Prince Rupert and Port Edward, where all adults are being immunized regardless of age, because of high infection rates in the northwestern region of the province.

The government has also extended the time between the first and second doses of COVID-19 vaccines to four months so all adults could get their initial shot by the end of July.

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry says evidence shows protection of at least 90 per cent from the first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines.

Nunavut

The territory says it expects enough vaccines for 75 per cent of its population over the age of 18.

After a COVID-19 vaccine is administered, patients will be tracked to ensure they are properly notified to receive their second dose.

Nunavut's priority populations are being vaccinated first. They include residents of shelters, people ages 60 years and up, staff and inmates and correctional facilities, first responders and front-line health-care staff.

Northwest Territories

The Northwest Territories says it expects to finish its vaccine rollout by the end of April. It also expects to receive enough doses of the Moderna vaccine by the end of March to inoculate 75 per cent of the adult population.

All 33 communities in the territory have received at least one dose of the Moderna vaccine.

All eligible adults can book an appointment to get vaccinated.

Yukon

Yukon says it will receive enough vaccine to immunize 75 per cent of its adult population by the end of March.

Priority for vaccinations has been given to residents and staff in long-term care homes, group homes and shelters, as well as health-care workers and personal support workers. People over the age of 80 who are not living in long-term care, and those living in rural and remote communities, including Indigenous Peoples, are also on the priority list for shots.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 16, 2021.
Move over spite houses and that YouTuber who burned all of Christopher Nolan's Tenet onto Game Boy Advance cartridges to piss of the theatrical-release loving director -- there's another purveyor of petty dominating the headlines -- none other than the state of Nebraska? On Monday, Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts made it clear he had beef with a Colorado initiative aimed at encouraging people to avoid meat for one day, dubbing the neighboring Centennial State's measure a "direct attack on our way of life" before signing a declaration installing a state-wide meat celebration, officials from Nebraska's meat, agriculture and restaurant industry looking on.

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Named "Meat on the Menu Day," the cholesterol-filled holiday will take place this coming Saturday, a direct jab at Colorado's MeatOut Day," a nonbinding proclamation signed by Gov. Jared Polis at the urging of animal rights group members.

That is a direct attack on our way of life here in Nebraska, Ricketts said of their neighboring state's decree at a press conference, conveniently located at a meat shop in Omaha.

Steve Wellman, the state's Department of Agriculture director expanded on the governor's sentiments, noting that meat is integral to the state's financial wellbeing. When agriculture does well, Nebraska does well, Wellman explained, noting that approximately a quarter of Nebraskans work in agriculture, an industry that brings in $21 billion annually. Agriculture is the heart and soul of Nebraska, and our 45,700 farm and ranch families keep our state going year after year." Nebraska which cited beef & beef products as one of its top exports in 2019, seems to take meat very seriously. Aside from acknowledging May as Beef Month, the state also offers residents beef-themed license plates.
Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) is interested in receiving Russian gas through the TurkStream pipeline, chairman of BiH's tripartite presidency Milorad Dodik said.

"The TurkStream gas pipeline has reached Serbia, and we are interested in the pipeline reaching BiH, as well. We must not miss this opportunity, we need to deliver gas to different cities of our country," Dodik, who is currently visiting Turkey, said at a press conference after holding talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Erdogan, on his part, made assurances that Ankara saw no obstacles in the construction of the TurkStream pipeline in BiH.

"As per the agreement with Russia, the TurkStream pipeline will stretch alongside a motorway that will also be built, and we will ensure the supply of gas to you," Sputnik cited the Turkish president as saying.

The Turkish Stream project consists of two lines, each capable of transporting 15.75 billion cubic meters a year, with its first leg delivering gas to Turkish consumers and the second to Southern and Southeast Europe.
[March 17, 2021] AirAsia Preserves Exceptional Customer Experience, Combats Fraud Loss with DataVisor's Comprehensive Fraud Management Solution

DataVisor, the leading fraud management company powered by transformational AI technology, announced today that AirAsia, the multi-national airline group headquartered in Malaysia, has successfully implemented DataVisor's comprehensive fraud management solution for ticketing fraud and promotion abuse, to capture unknown and ever-evolving fraud attacks in real time. Thanks to the power of DataVisor's machine learning algorithms, device intelligence that delivers extensive digital fingerprints of users accessing the AirAsia's platform via mobile devices, domain expertise and vast global intelligence network, AirAsia's fraud teams are now blocking a much greater percentage of fake holds, opening up inventory for legitimate customers. "We are excited to be partnering with AirAsia to help them address digital risk in real-time," said DataVisor CEO and Co-Founder Yinglian Xie. "AirAsia's dedication to delivering exceptional customer experiences aligns perfectly with our commitment to protect good customers and reduce friction while stopping fraud at the gate. DataVisor's advanced, AI-powered fraud and risk solutions provide continuous customer lifecycle protection, so AirAsia can improve user experiences and reduce loss by identifying fraud and bot-scripted attacks early and with high accuracy." DataVisor Reduces Held Seats, Chargebacks and Account Takeovers AirAsia was looking for a comprehensive fraud and risk solution that would help them combat bot-scripted ticketing fraud, in which fraudsters use scripted bots to purchase tickets in bulk and later resell or cancel the tickets. By fraudulently claiming seats and manpulating ticket prices, they cause substantial revenue loss and prevent good customers from booking travel. Fraudsters may also use sophisticated techniques to compromise good users' accounts and redeem loyalty points, save used credits or execute fraudulent transactions. Legacy fraud solutions often result in too many false positives, introducing friction to the customer experience (CX).



With its ability to detect and reveal hidden connections across millions of accounts, DataVisor has empowered AirAsia's teams to get ahead of fraud by exposing previously undetected fraud patterns on day one, without any impact to CX. Since implementation, AirAsia has detected 54% more fraud with 99% accuracy, stopping fraudsters at the point of entry while reducing false positives to improve the ticketing experience for good customers. DataVisor's comprehensive suite of solutions combines the power of AI and adaptive machine learning with unrivaled domain expertise and data analysis and data analysis and investigation tools to deliver complete protection for clients from known and unknown attacks. Proprietary Unsupervised Machine Learning capabilities boost detection accuracy without the need for historical data and lengthy training periods and without impacting good users. This ensures consistent and continuous protection in a high-QPS environment. DataVisor protects more than 4.2 billion accounts worldwide for many of the largest and most successful global enterprises. Learn more about DataVisor and explore additional client success stories.

About AirAsia AirAsia Berhad is a Malaysian airline headquartered near Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It is the largest airline in Malaysia by fleet size and destinations. AirAsia Group operates scheduled domestic and international flights to more than 165 destinations spanning 25 countries. About DataVisor DataVisor is the leading fraud detection company powered by transformational AI technology. Using proprietary unsupervised machine learning algorithms, DataVisor restores trust in digital commerce by enabling organizations to proactively detect and act on fast-evolving fraud patterns and prevent future attacks before they happen. Combining advanced analytics and an intelligence network of more than 4.2B global user accounts, DataVisor protects against financial and reputational damage across a variety of industries, including financial services, marketplaces, e-commerce, and social platforms. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210317005192/en/

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LONDON, March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Award-winning media agency PHD, part of Omnicom Media Group, has received top honours after being named EMEA Media Network of the Year and UK Media Agency of the Year by global business magazine Campaign. The accolades reflect the network's significant new business growth, including winning Diageo's global media planning and buying account; its expanded product and service proposition, which includes collaboration and work-flow platform Omni Studio; and PHD's commitment to talent development.

Commenting on the wins, Philippa Brown, Chief Executive Officer at PHD Worldwide said, "I am very proud of our PHD teams across EMEA and what we have achieved during what has been a very challenging year. This recognition is only possible because of the talent at PHD and the collaborative partnerships built with our clients and partners. We share this award with them as they've given us opportunities to make the leap in our output and deliver true impact."

Campaign's EMEA Network of the Year accolade was introduced three years ago. PHD won EMEA Network of the Year in its inaugural year, was then shortlisted last year and regained its winner title most recently. PHD UK has been shortlisted for Media Agency of the Year for 12 years in succession, winning three times. The Campaign Agency of the Year awards highlights strong leadership, creativity and innovation, stellar new business performance, the development of talent, and contribution to the industry.

Ian Clarke, President at PHD EMEA, commented, "PHD is a very special agency due to the commitment and dedication of our teams. We are driven by core values of openness, curiosity, collaboration, courage and creativity. With all the unique pressures of the pandemic in 2020, these values really came to the fore to support our clients and partners."

Since its launch in London in 1990, PHD has been a pioneer of strategic and creative media planning, and today exists to help clients make the leap above their competitors to achieve disproportionate growth. The agency has invested heavily in the EMEA region over the past few years with recent new leadership appointments including Ali Reed, incoming CEO at PHD UK, Daniel Kallberg as CEO at PHD Sweden and Luca Allam's promotion from managing director to CEO of PHD MENA.

With dedicated media expertise, supported with specialist capabilities in eCommerce, creative and digital, PHD has grown to represent companies including Diageo, Volkswagen Group, HSBC, HP, LG, Lindt, ManoMano, McCain, Oatly!, SC Johnson, Stars Group, Unilever, Warner Bros, VF Group, Aldi and Arla, to name a few.

About PHD:

PHD is a growth-obsessed agency that believes in the remarkable power of imagination.

Since it was founded in London in 1990, as the first media agency to offer strategic and creative planning, PHD has been helping clients achieve disproportionate growth.

Today with over 100 offices in 74 countries, PHD remains in the business of growth, with a challenger mindset and focus on creativity.

Using its proprietary gamified operating system: Omni Studio, which enables us to work together in a live environment, PHD creates ideas that go beyond expectations; ideas that enable brands to move beyond incremental improvements and make the leap above their competitors.

This approach has paid dividends for PHD's clients as well as the network. PHD is ranked in the top four most globally awarded networks in the world (according to the 2020 WARC Media 100) and crowned Network of the Year at M&M Global 2020.

The PHD network is part of the Omnicom Media Group, a division of Omnicom Group Inc. (NYSE: OMC).

PHD | Make the Leap

www.phdmedia.com

SOURCE OMG Europe (PHD WW)

Related Links

https://www.omnicommediagroup.com


By the early 1970s, following in the steps of the US movement, Australian women were angry  and motivated. What followed was the rise of second-wave feminism  one of the biggest social movements of the 20th century.

While Australia was at the forefront of womens rights at the dawn of the 20th century, with Australian women the second in the world to be given the right to vote (after New Zealand), by the 1960s, the lot of women had barely progressed.

This feature documentary from first-time director Catherine Dwyer is a compelling film, and in light of recent events, its a must-watch, offering an often-shocking history of the Australias womens movement.

Five years in the making, Brazen Hussies features some extraordinary archival footage  some not seen before, much not seen for years  as well as interviews with more than 25 of the movements key players, tracked down by Dwyer in her research.

The result is  bizarrely, given much of the action here took place 50 years ago  the first comprehensive chronicle of the Australian movement. Watching it, viewers are likely to experience a similar turbulence to the times. Brazen Hussies is a rollercoaster  informative, yes, but also angry, emotional and often shocking.

While some of the acts of activism in the doco will be widely known  Merle Thornton chaining herself to the bar at Brisbanes Regatta Hotel to protest against the fact that women couldnt drink in public bars, and unionist Zelda DAprano locking herself to the Commonwealth building during the 1969 protests for equal pay  Dwyer has uncovered footage from the movements earliest years, such as the consciousness raising meetings that proved turning points for many women. Women who had no access to childcare, who couldnt work after they got married, or open a bank account without a husbands signature.

While the movement gathered pace into the 1970s, Australia suddenly  briefly  raced back to the forefront of progressivism when, in 1973, academic Elizabeth Reid was appointed adviser on womens affairs to Prime Minister Gough Whitlam, the first such role anywhere in the world.

Reid, who is interviewed in the film, achieved extraordinary advances for women  funding for health services, childcare and rape crisis centres among them  yet even working within the government, she was mocked by the press for not smiling enough, not wearing make-up, and even not wearing a bra.
KYODO NEWS - Mar 17, 2021 - 20:22 | All, Japan, Coronavirus

The estimated number of foreign visitors to Japan in February fell 99.3 percent from a year earlier to 7,400 due to reintroduced travel restrictions on business travelers amid a surge in coronavirus cases, government data showed Wednesday.

The figure marked the 17th consecutive month of decline and sank under 10,000 for the first time since August last year, according to the Japan National Tourism Organization.

Visitors from China totaled 1,700, down 98.1 percent. Those from South Korea dropped 99.4 percent to 900, with India down 90.9 percent at 600.

Japan had partially eased entrance restrictions on people visiting the country for business purposes or long-term stays from last summer.

But following the Japanese government's declaration of a state of emergency in January for the Tokyo metropolitan area, which was later expanded to other parts of the country, the entry of foreign travelers has basically been banned.

Data also showed that 24,800 Japanese nationals left the country last month, down 98.1 percent from a year before.
[March 17, 2021] Axiad's SMARTidentity Wins Gold at the 2021 Cybersecurity Excellence Awards

SANTA CLARA, Calif., March 17, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Axiad, a leading provider of cloud-based passwordless authentication, today announced that it has earned top awards in four categories in the 2021 Cybersecurity Excellence Awards. Axiads SMARTidentity, a unified identity credential management platform, won the Gold Award for Best Passwordless Solution and the Silver Award for Zero Trust Security. Axiad Cloud also won the Gold Award for Multi-Factor Authentication and Axiad Airlock won Gold for Secure Remote Access. The Cybersecurity Excellence Awards recognize ground-breaking companies, leaders and products that demonstrate innovation and leadership in the information security community. We are honored to receive this industry recognition for Axiads SMARTidentity solution, said Bassam Al-Khalidi, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Axiad. Passwords are increasingly vulnerable to security attacks, and enterprises are looking for an easier way to secure and manage their user identification and authentication. Axiad changes the status quo by offering a unified experience that helps companies simplify, control and secure the lifecycle of their credentials. Axiad SMARTidentity is a cloud-based solution that enables the most secure and simple passwordless experience for any authentication method adopted within the enterprise, including biometrics, PKI, Mobile MFA, YubiKeys, TPM, smart cards, and others. SMARTidentity manages every credential's lifecycle holistically in one place, providing a cohesive experience for the business and its users, incluing privileged and non-privileged users. Axiad helps protect more than 2.5 million enterprise credentials for hundreds of customers across industries including finance, transportation, aerospace and defense, and healthcare.



In the last year weve seen the traditional security perimeter disappear as the workforce shifts to remote and companies bring more users and devices onto their networks than ever before, said Jerome Becquart, COO of Axiad. To protect the new perimeter, our customers need to ensure their employees are following MFA best practices, especially when theyre not in the office. This is why we offer Airlock, a feature that ensures every employee, no matter where they are, adheres to the security policies and protocols that have been set up. We are thrilled that Airlock has been recognized for Secure Remote Access. Axiad Airlock is a key feature of SMARTidentity. Airlock allows IT teams to assign actions that employees must take before they gain full access to their system  whether its activating a new device, updating a certificate, or taking a required security training. This ensures that remote employees use multifactor authentication securely and dont use workarounds to access their system.

"We congratulate Axiad for its recognition as a multiple Gold award winner in the 2021 Cybersecurity Excellence Awards," said Holger Schulze, CEO of Cybersecurity Insiders and founder of the 500,000-member Information Security Community on LinkedIn, which organized the 6th annual Cybersecurity Excellence Awards. "With over 600 entries in more than 100 award categories, the 2021 Cybersecurity Excellence Awards program was highly competitive and all winners reflect the very best in innovation and excellence in tackling today's urgent cybersecurity challenges." About Axiad Axiad delivers a cloud-based, user-centric passwordless identity platform that helps simplify and reimagine an organizations credential management. Founded by industry experts with extensive backgrounds in developing and deploying identity and access management solutions, Axiad helps enterprise and government leaders more effectively manage cybersecurity risks, compliance, and operational efficiency for their workforce, partners, and customers. For more information visit axiad.com and follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn.

Contact Suzanne Tuchler Eskenzi PR 408-307-6900 suzanne@eskenzipr.com

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Australian Education Minister Dan Tehan speaks at the National Press Club in Canberra, on Aug. 28, 2019. (Rohan Thomson/AAP Images via AP)

Tourism Operators in Victoria Want More Flights in Federal Rescue Package

Victorias tourism operators are requesting the federal government add four more regional airports, including Tullamarine, to the $1.2 billion federal tourism rescue package.

In a co-signed letter to federal Tourism Minister Dan Tehan, the operators said they are deeply disappointed with the fact that Avalon remains the only Victorian airport in the rescue package so far and calls on the federal governments to add Tullamarine, Albury, Bendigo, and Mildura airports to the package.

The vast majority of regional Victoria missed outand disproportionatelycompared with regional areas in other parts of the country, the tourism operators said.

The operators argued that their businesses were still severely impacted by the loss of both domestic and international tourists due to the border closures, with a 98 percent decline year-on-year of international passengers through Melbourne airport.

Not only does most of regional Victoria miss out under the current design, but the unintended consequences of this initiative is we become a source market for other states and territories, they said.

The Morrison Government package, announced last week, will provide 800,000 half-price flight tickets for domestic travellers to selected destinations in Australia. Scheduled to run from April to July this year, the program is seen as a new support for the hard-hit tourism industry after JobKeeper ends on March 28.

The program will be launched in Cairns this week, with Tourism Australia meeting with local operators and industry to discuss details.

We want Australians to do their patriotic duty and book a holiday, and thats why were turbo-charging confidence by providing 800,000 half-price airfares to tourist destinations around the country, Tourism Minister Tehan said in a press release on Wednesday.

Every dollar spent on a holiday in Australia is a dollar that supports tourism jobs and businesses, so we want people to book their holiday through a travel agent, stay in hotels, eat at restaurants and try tourism experiences.

The main beneficiaries of the package include Qantas, Virgin and some smaller regional carriers. The initial flight destinations include 13 regions all over the country, five of which are in Queensland, with Avalon the only one in Victoria.

The size of the package has met with criticism from both Flight Centres managing director Graham Turner and the tourism industry.

It is a very small, very meagre package at best, Turner told Nine last week. I dont think this is going to help at all, really. It is about the borders. Keeping the domestic borders open and getting the international borders open as soon as possible.




Haiti - Humanitarian : 14 million euros in EU aid for the most vulnerable populations





The European Commission has announced humanitarian aid of 17 million euros to meet the needs of the most vulnerable in Haiti and the Caribbean, which have been worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic.



Crisis Management Commissioner Janez Lenarcic said : "The EU continues to provide life-saving humanitarian aid support directly to the most vulnerable population. In Haiti as well as in the rest of the Caribbean, recurrent natural hazards further increase vulnerabilities, while also exacerbated by the coronavirus. In this challenging time, the EU is stepping up its long-standing humanitarian assistance to those most in need."



In Haiti, an amount of 14 million euros will save the lives of people suffering from extreme food insecurity, provide protection to migrants and victims of gang violence and increase resilience to disasters.



Let's recall that with 448 million euros allocated since 1994, Haiti is the main beneficiary of EU humanitarian aid in Latin America and the Caribbean. The coronavirus pandemic increases the vulnerability of the Haitian population and causes a sharp increase in the price of food and agricultural products, which leads to a further erosion of the purchasing power already undermined and, in turn, a worsening of the 'insecurity.



HL/ HaitiLibre


















A thief accused of robbing a pub suffered an embarrassing fall as he ran from the scene, unwittingly exposing his bare backside to CCTV cameras.

Police arrived at the Hilton Hotel, in the Adelaide suburb of Hilton, following reports of a robbery late on Monday night.

Two men - one armed with a kitchen knife - entered the gaming room of the South Road venue and held staff and customers at knife point as they emptied the tills.

As the pair fled the Hilton Hotel one of the men suffered an embarrassing fall, flashing his bare backside to CCTV cameras

Gaming room manager Pankaj Kaushik from the Hilton Hotel told Nine the pair 'came in, pointed the knife and then they left'.

As the duo ran from the scene, heading for nearby Mallen street, one of the men took a tumble, falling to his knees and exposing his bare bottom.

The man recovered from the fall quickly, using one hand to pull up his sagging pants while holding a black backpack in the other.

Mr Kaushik has suspicions the robbery could have been premeditated, with security scheduled to start work at 11:30pm, just after the men stormed the hotel.

The men entered the Hilton Hotel late on Monday night and proceeded to hold staff at knifepoint as they emptied the pub's gaming room tills

While no staff members or customers were physically injured during the robbery, impacted employees received a day off to recover.

' ... It is a stressful situation, if you look at it we are just coming to do our work and facing that kind of a scenario is pretty stressful for us,' Mr Kaushik said.

'We have got good protocols over here in the Hilton but we will still have to review it and see what best we can do for our staff protection.'

West Australian police have described the man carrying the knife as wearing a black hooded jumper, beige trousers and gloves, and grey shoes with a white sole.

His accomplice had light-coloured hands and wore grey tracksuit pants, a black hooded jumper, white running shoes and a Nike black backpack.
Terrifying footage has captured the moment a shark came within metres of a surfer at a popular suburban beach.

A drone operated by Carved Banks captured the roughly two-metre long shark gradually drawing closer to the surfer just metres from the shore at Maroubra Beach in Sydney's eastern suburbs last weekend.

At one point the shark swam to within about 20m of the surfer as he tried to catch a wave.

Terrifying footage has captured a two-metre long shark swimming gradually closer to a surfer as he caught a wave

Luckily for the surfer, the shark then did an about-turn and started heading away from the shore.

The breed is uncertain but the shark's wide pectoral fins suggest it is either a great white or a bull shark.

The near-miss follows a spearfisher filming his encounter with a two-and-a-half metre great white shark off Manly Beach on the city's northern beaches.

Jason Harris was in the surf with a mate when the shark glided past just metres in front of him followed by several kingfish.

Luckily for the surfer, the shark then did an about-turn and started heading away from the shore

'F***ing great white bro,' Mr Harris calls to his fellow spearfisher in the footage after immediately heading to the surface.

There were eight shark attack fatalities in Australia last year, making the country the deadliest in the world in that category.

Three fatal bites were in the US and one was in the Caribbean, according to the University of Florida's International Shark Attack File.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Bangladesh on March 26 and 27, his first visit to a foreign country since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) made an announcement on Tuesday on Modi's visit to the neighbouring country following an invitation from Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

"This visit is in connection with the commemoration of three epochal events -- Mujib Borsho, the birth centenary of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman; 50 years of the establishment of diplomatic ties between India and Bangladesh; and 50 years of Bangladesh's war of liberation," it said.

Modi had last visited Bangladesh in 2015.

During his visit, the prime minister will attend the National Day programme of Bangladesh on March 26 as the guest of honour.

"The visit of the prime minister to Bangladesh will be the first visit to a foreign country since the outbreak of the Covid pandemic. This highlights the priority India attaches to Bangladesh," the MEA said in a statement.

Modi's programme, apart from holding bilateral consultations with Hasina, also includes a call on the President of Bangladesh, Md Abdul Hamid, the MEA said.

Foreign Minister of Bangladesh A K Abdul Momen will call on Modi.

The two prime ministers held a virtual summit on December 17 last year, during which Modi said Bangladesh is a key pillar of New Delhi's "Neighbourhood First" policy.

On her part, Hasina described India as a "true friend" and said both countries could play a significant role in the global and regional value chains by further integrating their economies and boosting connectivity.

In a reflection of their rapidly growing ties, the two countries inked seven agreements in the summit to further broadbase cooperation in a plethora of sectors and restored a cross-border rail link snapped by the 1965 war with Pakistan.

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Robert Gavin, Times Union, Albany, N.Y. (TNS)

A man who sent 19 letters containing white powder falsely marked as anthrax to federal courthouses and Social Security offices in New York and Connecticut was sentenced Monday to two years of prison time  a punishment hes already served.

Jason Pantone, 36, of Hyde Park in Dutchess County, sent the powder  wheat flour  to offices that included the James T. Foley U.S. Courthouse in Albany because he was angry at being denied Social Security disability benefits.

U.S. District Judge Mae DAgostino, who works in the courthouse and presided over Pantones case, stressed to him Monday that government employees have a right to be secure in their workplace.

The case was extremely concerning to me, she told the defendant.

We cannot have a society where public servants and judges are targets every time someone is disgruntled with something that has taken place, DAgostino told Pantone. Hopefully, after spending two years of your life incarcerated, you get that.

Even though the powder ended up being wheat flour, it caused great alarm and concern, the judge told the defendant.

When one is confronted in this day and age with an envelope with anything like white powder, your sense of security is lost, DAgostino told Pantone. I cannot possibly minimize the harm that you did, Mr. Pantone. ... And it wasnt once once or twice. It was 19 times.

While DAgostino noted Pantone had a history of mental health issues, he knew what he was doing, understood right from wrong and sent the letters as retaliation for not receiving Social Security disability benefits.

Pantone sent the letters in February 2019. Some letters contained smiley faces with the letter X as eyes. One letter stated: The substance contained in this letter is Anthrax. Its very dangerous and can result in death if inhaled or touched, according to an FBI agents affidavit in a criminal complaint.

Pantone mailed the powder to Social Security Administration offices in Plattsburgh, Buffalo, Rochester, Binghamton, Utica, Syracuse, Corning, Batavia, Geneva, West Nyack and White Plains in New York and to the agencys offices in Hartford and Torrington in Connecticut. He sent letters to U.S. District Court offices in Albany, Syracuse, Binghamton, Plattsburgh and Utica, the affidavit said.

Pantone additionally sent a tip to the FBI  on himself  which stated: Jason Pantone has been mailing fake/hoax anthrax letters to the social security offices in upstate New York. He leaves the letters in his mailbox to be picked up by the mailman. Why? I think because he was very upset over his SSA disability denial. He was denied a while ago, but recently talks about it a lot. He has been sending letters for about a week or so.

Pantone was arrested in late February 2019 following an investigation by the FBIs Joint Terrorism Task Force, U.S. Postal Inspection Service and U.S. attorneys office in Albany. He had been incarcerated since his arrest. Hell serve three years of supervised release.

He pleaded guilty in October to conveying a hoax letter involving anthrax.

In a sentencing recommendation, Assistant U.S. Attorney Troy Anderson told the judge that Pantones crime led numerous police, fire, medical and emergency response teams to arrive at the office buildings under the possibility that anthrax had been delivered. Offices were evacuated and closed at times for multiple days. The Social Security and court offices lost about SSA and U.S. District Courts in the Northern District of New York caused these agencies to sustain a total loss of approximately $15,500, the prosecutor stated.

Disturbingly, the defendant did not address any of the letters to any particular person, the prosecutor said. He said Pantone intended for any unsuspecting individual to open the letter, read the note, see the powder, and be placed in fear of death. Put another way, the defendant meant for the recipient, who he had never met before to believe that death was about to befall them from anthrax poisoning.

On Monday, Pantones attorney, Assistant Federal Public Defender Matthew Trainor, told the judge that Pantone failed to consider the significance of what he was doing and its effect on the people who opened the letters. His client, he noted, has mental health issues.

When afforded a chance to speak, Pantone told the judge he identified himself in the letters and told his psychiatric nurse  all in efforts to help authorities catch him.

It was never my intention to harm anyone, Pantone said. ... I did not realize the repercussions that my actions would have. It was an impulsive decision that I deeply regret. Please be assured that I would never do anything like this again.

The judge made it clear she would not be lenient if Pantone was back before her. She said he cannot have direct or indirect contact with any of the offices he sent the letters without prior approval from the federal probation office.
A meeting between Ukrainian Defense Minister Andrii Taran and Japanese Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi, scheduled for March 17, has been canceled because one of the members of the Ukrainian delegation tested positive for COVID-19.

This was reported by the Ministry of Defense of Japan.

"On March 17, it was planned to invite an official delegation headed by Minister of Defense of Ukraine Andrii Taran and hold a meeting of the defense ministers of Japan and Ukraine. However, after receiving a message that one of the members of the delegation of Minister Taran tested positive for coronavirus, we are canceling this meeting, given the need to comply with anti-epidemic measures," the report reads.

Earlier, a member of the Ukrainian official delegation, Ukroboronprom Director General Yuri Husev wrote on Facebook that on March 16, during his stay in Tokyo, he tested positive for COVID-19 and self-isolated at the Ukrainian Embassy in Japan.

As reported, a visit of Ukrainian Defense Minister Andrii Taran to Japan  the first-ever in the history of bilateral relations  began on March 16.

ish
HOLYOKE  The City Council on Tuesday passed a home rule petition to eliminate a special election and require the council president to serve as acting mayor once Alex B. Morse resigns.

Morse plans to leave office March 26 at 4:30 p.m. to become town manager of Provincetown. The council formally accepted Morses resignation letter Tuesday.

The home rule petition also states the winner of the mayoral race in November would immediately be sworn in, rather than waiting for the typical January inauguration.

Council President Todd McGee has said work commitment and potential conflicts of interest make him unable to be a full-time acting mayor. But he said Tuesday he could serve in a temporary capacity until the petition is passed or rejected by the state Legislature. McGee works for Springfield-based MassMutual, a Fortune 100 company and insurance industry giant.

He asked that another councilor step up and serve as acting mayor for the remaining nine months of Morses term.

To walk into a full-time salary for part-time work is not who I am, McGee said. Thats why I came to you upfront to tell you as a group, what should we do.

Morse must sign the petition before state Rep. Patricia Duffy, D-Holyoke, and state Sen. John Velis, D-Westfield, deliver it to their legislative colleagues.

In an email, Duffy said the petition would likely end up before the Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Governance, then scrutinized by House counsel, voted on by both chambers and signed by Gov. Charlie Baker.

If the language is a simple ask for canceling a special election, we can look at the timeline for similar petitions from Boston and Lawrence and expect a timeline of possibly two or three weeks, Duffy stated.

She added, If the language is more complicated than that, I would expect some back and forth between House Counsel and the City Solicitor.

The Boston City Council filed a Home Rule Petition after President Joseph R. Biden nominated Mayor Martin Walsh as secretary of labor. City Councilor Kim Janey is in line to become acting mayor if Walsh is confirmed.

Holyokes petition, like Bostons and Lawrences, seeks permission to bypass a costly special mayoral elections, estimated at $75,000 to $100,000, with the ongoing pandemic driving up costs.

If the petition is not granted, Holyoke can expect four elections in a single campaign season  a special election, a special runoff, the September preliminary and November general election.

A slew of mayoral candidates are emerging, with City Councilor Rebecca Lisi and School Committee member Devin Sheehan already launching campaigns, while City Councilor Mike Sullivan and William Glidden, a former aide and speech writer to Morse, consider runs.

The current city charter lacks a mechanism if a City Council president cannot serve as acting mayor. The charter also does not have an order of succession or factor in the tenure of council members. For example, the city clerk or treasurer, who reside atop the citys government pecking order, cannot serve as acting mayor.

Sullivan and Councilor at Large Joseph M. McGiverin filed the home rule petition.

McGiverin served as Holyokes last acting mayor in the early-1990s after Mayor Martin J. Dunn was elected to a state Senate seat. Dunn, who remained active in local politics and the community, died in September at 64.

Morses March 26 departure caused the council and City Solicitor to react at a frantic pace, McGiverin said. He added the City Charter makes clear a special election must occur with more than six months remaining on a mayoral term.

Any councilor who assumes the acting mayor role would face incredible challenges in the coming months, McGiverin said, all while representing their ward or at-large constituents.

McGiverin added that no councilors were blindsided by McGees announcement. We draft a language this evening that works for everybody, he said. Lets keep cool heads and stop the conspiracy theories.

McGee garnered support from Councilors James Leahy and Peter Tallman to stay as council president.

Tallman said March 26 looms, and the amendments must remain in the petition. He noted that Lisi and Sullivan should not serve as acting mayor, which could provide a leg up.

Lisi supported appointing a councilor from within, whether a council president or a regular member. Later in the discussion, Lisi said McGee had the option to step down as council president, which aligns with the City Charter.

The incoming acting mayor must submit the annual fiscal budget by a June 30 and oversee $31 million in federal American Rescue Plan funding.
The head of the nations domestic spy agency has announced he will stop referring to Islamic extremism and right-wing extremism, saying his organisation needs to be conscious that the names and labels it uses are important.

Australian Security and Intelligence Organisation boss Mike Burgess also revealed ASIO had uncovered a nest of spies from a foreign intelligence service that had cultivated and recruited an Australian government security clearance holder who had access to sensitive details of defence technology.

Director-General of Security Mike Burgess made his annual threat assessment speech in Canberra on Wednesday. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

He said a significant number of foreign spies and their proxies have either been kicked out of Australia or rendered inoperative over the past 12 months, adding he couldnt provide an exact number but Im talking about a number in double figures.

Delivering his annual assessment of the threats facing the nation on Wednesday night, Mr Burgess confirmed so-called right-wing extremism had grown from about one-third of ASIOs priority counter-terrorism caseload to about 40 per cent over the past year.

Hurricane season 2021 is here: How do storms get their names?
The U.S. military is pushing woke, social justice leftism. Given the importance of this push, its otherwise bizarre attack on Tucker Carlson is not difficult to understand.

Lets step back for a moment. The left has been marching through Americas institutions for decades. The media was in the vanguard. Universities were captured easily. Corporations fell without much resistance.

The military is a tougher nut to crack, but its leaders are drawn from a pool not that different from those who run universities and corporations, and these leaders crave approval from the same elites. Universities sometimes select presidents from the military brass. Ex-generals run the University of South Carolina and Kansas State. Until recently, an ex-admiral ran the University of Texas. There is no disconnect.

Theres real disconnect, though, between enlisted men and women and college students. Almost by definition, the former group is much more patriotic than the latter. Significant differences exist between the two cohorts when it comes to class, income level, upbringing, and geographical home. Members of the two groups arent seeking approval from the same kinds of people.

Such differences also exist to some extent when you compare enrollees at service academies with college students. But these lesser differences can be washed away to a considerable degree during college and, thereafter, during the process of climbing the ranks of the military.

Ideological differences between enlisted men and women and college grads are far more difficult to wash away. They can be minimized only through the indoctrination by the military of its active duty service men and women. This is what the military is attempting.

And for good reason. There are limits to how far leftward our elites can push this country without buy-in, or at least acquiescence, from the military. And the military is limited in this regard by the extent to which those who fill its ranks buy in or at at least acquiesce.

The woke left can never firmly control America if there is a disconnect between its agenda and that of the military. It can never confidently control America if there is a disconnect between its agenda and the views and attitudes of the military rank-and-file.

Hence, the imperative that the rank-and-file be made woke through indoctrination and, if necessary, purging. Hence, the indoctrination.

The attacks on Tucker Carlson demonstrate both the great importance and the perils of the militarys wokeness program. The peril stems from the fact that the military holds itself out as apolitical. If it is seen to take sides prematurely in Americas culture wars, its cover is blown. But that peril is negated if no one points out that the military is taking sides.

Carlson is pointing it out, and to a very big audience. Thus, the military must take him on.

Ordinarily, the spectacle of the U.S. military going after a TV talk show host would not compute. In fact, it is unprecedented. But in this case, it makes perfect sense.
As the United States debates whether to pull its last 2,500 troops out of Afghanistan by May 1, the war-shattered nation "may be fighting for its very survival," John Sopko, the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction, or SIGAR, told lawmakers Tuesday.

But after nearly two decades of war, tens of thousands of dead and wounded American troops and countless more Afghans, and $143 billion in U.S. reconstruction support, Afghanistan's prospects for successfully governing and defending itself remain far off, Sopko told the House Oversight subcommittee on national security.

With just 45 days before that crucial deadline, time is running out to make critical decisions. And whether troops stay or go, Sopko said, Congress and the Biden administration need to figure out whether, and to what extent, U.S. support for Afghanistan's reconstruction will continue.

Read Next: Biden Calls Afghanistan Withdrawal Deadline of May 1 'Tough'

Though Sopko did not take a position on that issue, he cautioned lawmakers that the collapse of the Afghan regime in 1992 followed not the Soviet Union's 1989 troop withdrawal, but Moscow's withdrawal of funding.

The Trump administration signed a peace deal with the Taliban in February 2020, calling for the final pullout of international forces by the beginning of this coming May; that is now under review by the Biden administration. However, violence there has spiked recently as negotiations continue, and some in Washington feel the withdrawal deadline should be delayed -- though the Taliban is strongly against doing so.

Sopko's latest report spelled out eight areas of Afghanistan's reconstruction effort that remain at high risk and need Congress' and the White House's close attention:

Increasing insecurity, such as intensifying Taliban attacks

Declining donations and uncertain funding after a peace settlement is reached

Difficulty in reintegrating ex-fighters from both sides into civil society

Endemic corruption

Rampant poverty, illiteracy and other signs of poor economic growth and social development

Illicit narcotics production and trade, which continues virtually unimpeded

Threats to women's rights

Inadequate oversight

Attacks and assassinations carried out by the Taliban have actually increased since the U.S. reached a peace agreement with the insurgent force last February, Sopko told lawmakers.

And in another alarming sign, he said Afghan security forces are "nowhere near achieving self-sufficiency."

The Afghans cannot maintain their own equipment; manage their supply chains; or train new soldiers, pilots or policemen without the Defense Department's 13,000 contractors, who also are supposed to be withdrawn from Afghanistan on May 1 under the terms of the agreement, he said.

And without those contractors, Sopko added, the Pentagon believes every last aircraft in the Afghan air force will be out of commission and unable to carry out combat missions after a few months.

If U.S. troops, contractors and funding -- about 80% of the revenues the Afghan government relies upon come from the U.S. and donors -- are all withdrawn, "it's a disaster for Afghanistan," he said.

Entrenched corruption across Afghan society has hamstrung efforts to rebuild the nation, Sopko said. For example, the problem of "ghost soldiers" remains a major issue, he said. Under this scam, salaries are paid to phony Afghan soldiers and police who exist only on paper. In reality, the paychecks actually line officials' pockets -- and it's a widespread problem, Sopko explained.

"After spending millions of dollars in developing a personnel system to track the soldiers, [the U.S. government] basically said the Afghan government can't run it on their own," he said. "So it's still a problem."

Afghan soldiers are proud and have the will to fight, Sopko said, but the endemic corruption has dealt a blow to their morale and left soldiers wondering what they're fighting for. He cited the case of an Afghan general in the nation's southern region who was stealing government-provided food meant for his troops, forcing them to buy their own food, as an example.

"The Afghans will fight," he said. "The question is, will they fight for a corrupt, incompetent government?"

The embezzlement of reconstruction dollars doesn't just hurt the rebuilding efforts they were meant to fund, Sopko said; it also helps fuel the insurgency. The Taliban and other militants point to that theft, and the effective immunity corrupt officials enjoy, to discredit the Afghan government.

"If you're a high official in Afghanistan, and you're corrupt, you ain't going to jail," he said. Afghan officials "are very good at attending meetings, writing legislation or writing policies or creating organizations, but not too good at actually catching crooks and sending them to jail -- if [the crooks are] important Afghans."

Sopko told lawmakers that "quite a bit" of the $143 billion in reconstruction aid did not end up where it was supposed to. A SIGAR audit of about $63 billion in reconstruction spending found that about $19 billion, or nearly one-third, was wasted, stolen or didn't accomplish anything, he said.

When asked whether some of that money found its way to funding terrorist activity, Sopko replied, "Of course."

Years of trying to improve life for Afghan women have shown little result, he added.

"Despite everything we've done, it is one of the worst places to be a woman ... particularly a [woman] living in the rural environment," Sopko said.

Gains for women's rights have primarily been seen in cities, he said.

But even the Afghan government has a spotty record on women's rights, Sopko explained. He cited a recent announcement from the nation's education ministry barring Afghan girls from singing their national anthem with boys.

"No explanation," he said. "That came out of the blue. But that tells you about a cultural divide between the views of many Afghans, including Afghans in the government."

The Taliban expects to play a role in Afghan government and society after May 1, Sopko said, though it remains uncertain what that might be.

Further complicating matters is that the Taliban does not appear to be a "monolithic" organization, but instead includes individual factions that operate on their own, he explained. And it's hard to say whether the Taliban leaders who might reach a peace agreement can control those factions, he added.

The U.S. government has no idea exactly how much groups like the Taliban have spread their influence throughout Afghanistan, Sopko said, though recent legislation will allow that data to be collected in the future.

"We don't have the people to collect the data on what regions are controlled by the Taliban or other terrorist groups, or what districts," he said.

At one point, Sopko -- who has served as the SIGAR for nearly nine years -- vented his frustration at the U.S. government's perennial inability to hold the Afghans to conditions that were meant to be placed on the provision of aid.

"I feel like it's 'Groundhog Day,' in that movie," he said. "I keep coming back and repeating the same thing. And all of our ambassadors say, 'Oh, it's horrible about corruption in narcotics.' But they don't put any conditions [in place]."

-- Stephen Losey can be reached at stephen.losey@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @StephenLosey.

Related: Afghan Peace Talks Resume, but Path Is Anything but Certain
Michael D. Daffey bought the seven-story, 40-room property at 9 East 71st Street

Jeffrey Epstein's mansion on the Upper East Side of New York City has been purchased by a former Goldman Sachs executive for $51 million.

Michael D. Daffey bought the seven-story, 40-room property at 9 East 71st Street for far less than its original asking price of $88 million, the New York Post reported.

The Australian financial executive is reportedly moving to New York from London and plans to live with his wife in the 40-room home, which is one of the city's largest.

Daffey recently retired from the firm after spending the past year as Goldman's global markets chairman overseeing trade remodeling trade in Europe after Brexit.

Epstein was found dead in his prison cell in 2019 while awaiting trial for sex crimes abusing girls as young as 14. Epstein plead not guilty. During an FBI raid, federal agents found child sex abuse images in the mansion's safe.

Jeffrey Epstein's residence at 9 East 71st Street in Manhattan has sold for $51 million

Jeffrey Epsteinis pictured arriving at his New York City mansion in 2019

Daffey is reportedly determined not to retain any trace of the notorious former owner.

'Mr. Daffey had never previously been in the home nor ever met its owner, but he is a big believer in New York's future and will take the other side of all the people who say the city's best days may be in the past,' said Stu Loeser, a spokesman for Daffey.

Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell entertained the rich and powerful at the home, including Prince Andrew of the British royal family.

Multiple women claim Maxwell procured them for Epstein when they were underage and facilitated his pedophile ring by organizing travel for them or meetings with Epstein. Maxwell denies the charges.

The mansion was previously owned Victoria's Secret owner Les Wexner, an Epstein client.

Real estate broker Dolly Lenz, who was among those trying to sell the property, said the purchase price was probably about 'half off' what the mansion might have fetched.

'It is 28,000 square feet. That's less than $4,000 a foot for the most magnificent mansion on the best block, just off Fifth Avenue. It's the very best in New York,' Lenz said.

Even at the relatively low price, the home was a difficult sell, Lenz said.

'We offered it to a lot of people who said, "We don't want to go near that place,"' Lenz said. 'Fancy international people who are always in for a deal said "No way."'

Lenz said she believed Daffey's purchase was a good decision.

'I think he made a smart move, however, it will be a long time before people forget it was a place were children were abused,' Lenz said. 'But he's betting on it long term. That's what some people do.'

The sale was only completed after a judge in the U.S. Virgin Islands rejected an attempt by the territory's attorney general, Denise George, to freeze the sale of any further assets by Epstein's estate

The sale revenue is expected be transferred to the Epstein victims restitution fund, which is controlled by Epstein's estate.

The sale was only completed after a judge in the U.S. Virgin Islands rejected an attempt by the territory's attorney general, Denise George, to freeze the sale of any further assets by Epstein's estate, The New York Times reported.

The value of the estate has dropped to about $240 million from nearly $600 million. The estate has paid expenses including taxes and contributions to the restitution fund that has distributed about $55 million to dozens of Epstein's accusers, the Times reported.

George requested the asset freeze after the estate said it could not provide new money to the restitution fund. But the judge overseeing the administration of Epstein's estate ruled the Virgin Islands attorney general did not have legal standing to request the asset freeze.
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EL PASO, Texas, March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- DATAMARK, a leading business process outsourcing (BPO) company, will be holding a free webinar on March 30, 2021, at 12 pm CDT called Why Business Continuity Plans Fail and How To Avoid Repeating Others' Mistakes.

This webinar will reveal essential information about the reasons Business Continuity Plans fail, how to avoid common mistakes others are making, and how to experience a smooth recovery in order to stay open for business, scale, grow brand loyalty, and maintain stellar customer service, amid a crisis.

DATAMARK

People interested in attending the live event and learning about how to leverage Business Continuity Planning in their organization successfully can register for the free webinar here.

Kirk Laughlin with Nearshore Americas will be moderating the event and will be joined by Stephen Clancy CCWP with Staffing Industry Analysts, who will add depth of perspective on strategies for using Contingent Workforce Planning to proactively mitigate a Business Continuity Plan that may be deficient on the human component, Carol Delatte CBCP, MBCI with TEKsystems, who will bring the perspective of a proven Business Continuity planner with more than 20 years of experience, and Mark Conard, Senior Director - Revenue Management with R+L Carriers, who oversees their outsourced relationships and supply chain globally.

Complete information and registration details can be found here.

Founded in 1989, DATAMARK, Inc. is a leading Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) company headquartered in El Paso, Texas. DATAMARK serves Fortune 500 companies, government agencies, and other large enterprises at its delivery centers worldwide, including the U.S., Mexico, and India. It offers a wide range of BPO services, including call center services, high-volume digital mailroom and mail center management, data capture, document processing, document management, and business engineering services.

Thom Mead



123 W. Mills Ave., Suite #400



El Paso, TX 79901



915-275-0264



[email protected]

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SOURCE DATAMARK
The Carson Scholars Fund recognized 47 Hamilton County Schools students as 2021 Carson Scholars and awarded each student a $1,000 college scholarship. Thirty-two of these students are also 2021 Recognized Carson Scholars because they are repeat winners of the award.



The Carson Scholars Fund honors students who excel academically and are committed to giving themselves, their time and their talents to others. This years scholar selections include the 10,000th scholarship awarded by the organization, taking them one step closer to co-founders Dr. and Mrs. Ben Carsons ultimate goal of naming a Carson Scholar at every school in the country.



Hamilton County Schools is thrilled to see our list of Carson Scholars continue to grow each year, said Dr. Bryan Johnson, superintendent of Hamilton County Schools. Our Future Ready 2023 strategic plan focuses on accelerating the achievement of our students and ensuring every student is prepared for the path they choose in postsecondary. To see our students continue to receive these kinds of honors is validation of our work.



All 47 Hamilton County Schools students will be honored and recognized at festivities this fall hosted by the Carson Scholars Fund. To see a complete list of Hamilton County Schools 2021 Carson Scholars, click here.






Can you feel it? Spring is in the air. Longer days and warmer weather are on the horizon, and Blackfoot river fishing guides and outfitters are preparing for the oncoming guiding season - tying new flies, patching waders and dialing in gear before the skwala hatch. Soon, well be sliding boats into the water and taking guests on trips of their lifetimes.

We arent the only ones. Montanans and tourists alike turned to public lands and waters more than ever in 2020. As COVID curtailed many of our activities last spring and summer, we all sought relief in the outdoors. Montana also saw an influx of people relocating here, putting additional pressure on our public lands and facilities.

Our precious rivers couldnt keep pace last year. Our land and water need more dedicated state investments to keep up with demand.

Luckily, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity has presented itself and we would be foolish to not take advantage. In November, Montanans voted overwhelmingly to establish a new revenue stream to enhance state parks and trails, conserve public lands and boost river access through I-190 marijuana tax revenue. Were talking big money, estimated at over $25-million dollars, annually. Funding that would help maintain rivers like the iconic Blackfoot, our home office.

Specifically, this funding could be used to invest in new conservation easements that have been used in the past to protect working lands and riparian zones in the Blackfoot Valley. It could also be used to enhance public access and fishing access sites, which are in high demand along the river corridor.

Blackfoot outfitters and guides want to avoid a situation like we observed in 2020. The best way to do so is to invest in our rivers  dedicated funding will not only benefit our industry but the general public who rely on the same resources. Thats why were calling on Representative Mike Hopkins, who represents the Blackfoot river corridor, to ensure that our livelihood and the Blackfoot river has the funding it needs to combat overuse and abuse.

Representative Hopkins already knows this, but within his district (HD92) there are twenty-three Fishing Access Sites, three State Parks and four Habitat Montana conservation easements - all of which will benefit tremendously from I-190 revenue going to its intended purpose.

Representative Hopkins has an opportunity to lead the effort to direct new funding to these incredible assets. Not only will it benefit his constituents, and Montanas outdoor economy, which contributes $2.5 billion annually and employs 31,598 people (us included!), but by supporting new investments in our great outdoors, Representative Hopkins can honor the will of the voters.

Honoring the original intent of the I-190 revenue is an important way to support our growing outdoor industry and invest in the next generation. We invite Representative Hopkins to join us on the water this spring, so he can see with his own eyes how loved the Blackfoot River is, and how he needs to act on this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to invest in protecting Montanas special places.

Tony Reinhardt, Montana Trout Outfitters, Missoula, Montana

Russell Parks, Missoula Fly Fishing Outfitters, Missoula

Tom Jenni, Tom Jennis Reel Montana, Missoula

Jeff Lukas, Independent Guide, Missoula

Zach Scott, Independent Guide, Missoula
She's known as The Body - and continues to stun the modeling world with her phemonenal physique.

And Elle Macpherson, 56, let fans in on one of her beauty secrets on Wednesday as she documented an 'immediate liposculpture' prodcedure she was having on Instagram.

Posting a before and after shot of her bare torso, Elle tagged Sheila Perez, the founder of the method that saw her stomach shrink in size immediately.

Tricks of the trade: Elle Macpherson, 56, let fans in on one of her beauty secrets on Wednesday as she documented an 'immediate liposculpture' prodcedure she was having on Instagram

'Great way to combat plane travel and combat sluggish lymph and digestion,' was the caption.

According to Perez's website, the method 'is exclusive and unique with no similar in the world'.

The description adds: 'It works like an immediate manual liposculpture with effective results that can been seen in the very first session.

Lithe: She's known as The Body - and continues to stun the modeling world with her phemonenal physique [pictured last year]

'This is the most advanced Lymphatic Drainage Massage that provides a real body change, shaping with measurements reduction and cellulite elimination.'

Elle has been dating disgraced former doctor Andrew Wakefield since late 2017 - but rumours are swirling things could be all over for the couple, who haven't been seen together since they attended an anti-vaccine event in North Carolina in October - where Wakefield introduced Macpherson to the audience as 'my girlfriend'.

Macpherson's representative refused to deny the break-up on Monday when contacted for comment by Sydney's Daily Telegraph, stating: 'I'm not aware of anything. Elle is a very private person.'

Over? Rumours are swirling things could be all over for Elle and Andrew Wakefield, who haven't been seen together since they attended an anti-vaccine event in North Carolina in October - where the disgraced former doctor introduced the supermodel to the audience as 'my girlfriend'

A spokesperson for 63-year-old Wakefield said: 'He rarely answers press enquiries from mainstream news publications and doesn't comment on his private life.'

While neither representative was willing to confirm or deny the split, the pair's social media activity suggests they are living separate lives.

Macpherson, 56, recently returned from a retreat in Arizona, where she had gone to 'heal and realign herself'.

No denial: Macpherson's representative refused to deny the break-up on Monday when contacted for comment by Sydney's Daily Telegraph, stating: 'I'm not aware of anything. Elle is a very private person'

'Deeply grateful': Macpherson, 56, recently returned from a retreat in Arizona, where she had gone to 'heal and realign herself'

She cryptically wrote on Instagram: ' No looking back Arizona has always been a place of healing for me.

'A time to reset, rediscover, repose, realign with my authentic truth and values  I'm so deeply grateful for Mother Nature and all her beauty and her healing power.'

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Macpherson's representative for further comment.

Macpherson has been spending time in Florida with her two sons, Arpad Flynn, 23, and Aurelius Cy, 18, in recent months.

Meanwhile, Wakefield is believed to live in Texas, nearly 2,000km away.

No comment: A spokesperson for 63-year-old Wakefield said: 'He rarely answers press enquiries from mainstream news publications and doesn't comment on his private life'

The pair had been the subject of engagement rumours in September when Macpherson was spotted with a ring on her wedding finger.

Her reps shut down the gossip at the time.

Wakefield is notorious for falsely claiming the MMR vaccine causes autism.

The discredited former doctor was struck off the British medical register in 2010 for unethical behaviour and misconduct after it emerged his 'research' was fraudulent.

What went wrong? While neither representative was willing to confirm or deny the split, the pair's social media activity suggests they are living separate lives

He later moved to America, where he is lionised in certain anti-vaxxer circles, with his then-wife, Carmel, 62, and their four children.

He and Carmel, who settled in Austin, Texas, are believed to have separated in early 2017 after 32 years of marriage.

In November that year, he met Macpherson at a 'Doctors Who Rock' awards ceremony in Orlando, Florida.

The couple were first spotted kissing at a farmers' market in Miami in 2018.
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According to Stratistics MRC, the Global Optical Wavelength Services Market is accounted for $3.02 billion in 2017 and is expected to reach $6.86 billion by 2026 growing at a CAGR of 9.5% during the forecast period. Growing demand for high-speed internet and rising bandwidth-intensive applications are some of the factors fueling the market growth. However, less incremental bandwidth option is restraining the market growth.

Optical Wavelength Services (OWS) help to connect the locations and streamline the flow of information with impressively high bandwidth speeds. OWS uses Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (DWDM) to multiplex multiple wavelengths across a single strand of fiber optic cable to help to easily transport large files, apps and data sets between various facilities and your data centers.

By Interface, Ethernet segment has a steady growth during the forecast period owing to it has the maximum number of installations and cost-effective option for server connectivity. Based on geography, Asia Pacific holds the largest market share during the forecast period due to it has large number of IT sector businesses located and growing demand for end-to-end wavelength services is high are some of the factors driving the market growth in this region.

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Some of the key players profiled in the Optical Wavelength Services Market include Nokia, AT&T, Sprint, GTT Communications, Zayo Group, COX Communications, Centurylink, Jaguar Network, Colt Technology and Crown Castle.

Interfaces Covered:

 Ethernet

 Optical Transport Network (OTN)

 Sonet

Bandwidths Covered:

 More Than 100 Gbps

 100 Gbps

 40 Gbps

 Less Than and Equal to 10 Gbps

Organization Sizes Covered:

 Large Enterprises

 Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises

Applications Covered:

 Long Haul

 Metro

 Short Haul

Regions Covered:

 North America

o US

o Canada

o Mexico

 Europe

o Germany

o UK

o Italy

o France

o Spain

o Rest of Europe

 Asia Pacific

o Japan

o China

o India

o Australia

o New Zealand

o South Korea

o Rest of Asia Pacific

 South America

o Argentina

o Brazil

o Chile

o Rest of South America

 Middle East & Africa

o Saudi Arabia

o UAE

o Qatar

o South Africa

o Rest of Middle East & Africa

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What our report offers:

 Market share assessments for the regional and country level segments

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 Market Trends (Drivers, Constraints, Opportunities, Threats, Challenges, Investment Opportunities, and recommendations)

 Strategic analysis: Drivers and Constraints, Product/Technology Analysis, Porters five forces analysis, SWOT analysis etc.

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Benchmarking of key players based on product portfolio, geographical presence, and strategic alliances

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Wednesday, March 17, 2021

March 17, 2021

No doubt there are many people watching news reports and listening to various conferences and presentations from politicians who think that at last things are normalizing and we will again experience the freedom and safety we used to feel like working and living in America. Sure, there were always challenges- sometimes very grave- but there was also a sense of personal freedom clearly now challenged for journalists, doctors, scientists and activists who are now vocally disturbed by the facts and implications of the new normal. Somehow, their concerns, given our own rights and privileges as citizens, may be impact us in very serious ways- as freedom to speak and act intelligently is necessary to protect ourselves from incursions against our health, safety, loss of opportunity, value of our assets and other factors.

Heres a video from James Corbett, who describes his latest battle with censorship. This man has made a great many contributions to our understanding of the events displacing all we know, which has been steadily happening since 911 and spiking upwards since the alleged Pandemic. No matter where you are coming from, if you are a believer in freedom of the press, you should be very disturbed to what has been happening to James Corbett- and so many others.

[embedded content]

Will we feel this way again? To not feel suffocated when we walk into a store, to see peoples faces- even when they frown, to go near our neighbors, friends and even those we dont know, to not feel obligated to wipe everything we touch and to believe there is a government we can trust that insists on our Constitutional rights. There is, indeed, much work to be done- and we need to look at the challenges of the day- very carefully- because we are still part of a country that purports to be a democracy.

The Pandemic and all its implications are among the things we must face. It is the extraordinary challenge of today- and for those of us who believe, it is probably a good thing to seek some equally extraordinary guidance from another level to help us.

The following graph comes from an article by by Brian Shilhavy, Editor, Health Impact News. The article is called CDC: 1,524 DEAD 31,079 Injured Following Experimental COVID mRNA Vaccines It begins with-

The CDC added more data today into the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS), a U.S. Government funded database that tracks injuries and deaths caused by vaccines.

The data goes through March 5, 2021, with 31,079 recorded adverse events, including 1,524 deaths following injections of the experimental COVID mRNA shots by Pfizer and Moderna.

Read the entire article at https://healthimpactnews.com/2021/cdc-1524-dead-31079-injured-following-experimental-covid-mrna-vaccines/

Today, we will continue to examine the Pandemic, connecting to a very clear and well-made video by Professor Michel Chossudovsky from the Center for Research into Globalization. For those who watch this that have only recently felt the desire to penetrate the truth about what is happening to the world, it may give them a few steps towards the real truth of our urrent world. One of the sad truths we must face is about the genesis and progression of the New Normal.

[embedded content] The 2021 Worldwide Corona Crisis

From Professor Michel Chossundovsky of the Center for Research on Globalisation

Here is a very unusual video presented by Del BigTree, host of the High Wire. In it he comments on a video he has inserted into this video with an interview with a genuine Pro-Vaxer vaccination expert who believes the current vaccination scenario is very deadly and dangerous for millions of people. No matter what the source, no matter what the content, we are forced in these days to think for ourselves and make our own judgments.

[embedded content]

Next we have a powerful interview between Dark Journalist and Catherine Austin Fitts. For those of you wondering where the world is going, this might be a challenge to the tranquility and peace we are saying is possible even in challenging times. Note how, despite the dark nature of the conversation how the two remain upbeat and somehow confident despite what they know. Fear can be be our greatest enemy.

[embedded content] DARK JOURNALIST INTERVIEWS CATHERINE AUSTIN FITTS

Please take a look at this a GoFundMe link from Mona Motwani, a truly worthy person who has devoted her life as a civil rights lawyer to help the poor and disenfranchised who is now in a lot of trouble. Your donations and/or your shares and/or your prayers would be greatly appreciate. This is the link: https://gofund.me/51ec44b4. Heres an excerpt from her fund-raising campaign.

Mona Motwani is organizing this fundraiser.

Infinite gratitude to all those who have taken the time to read this and have opened their hearts, lending all possible assistance to Mona at this very difficult time. For those who know her well, you know what a blessing it is to bask in her sublime radiance and how difficult this must be for her, which is why we want to help her in any way possible to get through this This is from her journal:

DECEMBER 8, 2020 by Mona Motwani, OrganizerI moved home to Michigan 2 months ago so my parents (almost 80, and struggling immensely at their age) can care for me full time.

I have had really severe neurological complications the last couple months, and my condition has degraded the last month to the point where I cannot care for myself on most levels , and fully disabled at this point. Ive gone through intense dark nights of the soul with my health for over a decade but this has been the most terrifying time in my life.

The neurological condition escalated in August (right after Lions Gate portal ironically), and my health started to deteriorate rapidly. Though many of you know I have experienced chronic illness for the last 13 years (neurological Lyme encephalopathy/ myalgic encephalomyelitis/ toxic mold exposure/ autoimmune disease), the place I am at is a level that I have *never* reached.

My integrative doctors and holistic team are still uncovering what is happening, investigating neurodegenerative autoimmune dondition, MS, ALS, a rare but recent discovered condition called Anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis (featured in the film based on true story Brain on Fire.) There is brain inflammation / encephalopathy indicated on the SPECT. What it *feels* like in my body? Brain injury, dementia, severe brain inflammation, encephalitis, I am having new seizure-like activity, uncontrollable tremors and shaking/violent convulsions in arms and legs, excruciating pain, pressure and brain inflammation (that often feels like a large mass is inside my brain causing vomiting, dementia-like symptoms (where I cannot remember where I am, etc.), feel like I am on a roller coaster, vertigo/dizziness that makes it impossible for me to stand, excruciating pain moving all over and especially in the brain and cranial bones, acid-like electrocutions and burning in my nerves, constant tinnitus, noise above a whisper often send me into a panic attack, really intense psychiatric episodes that can disable me for days and weeks, loss of motor control, loss of feeling in some extremities at times, severely altered vision and seeing lights, neuralgia, psychosis, hallucinations, severe dissociation, plus dozens of other symptoms (some of which i have had in the past 15 years)..but the neurological symptoms and the SPEED at which I feel my body disintegrating is what is quite concerning. I was only able to walk 10 minutes twice in the last 60 days and the last time I walked, I found myself completely lost and had no idea how I had gotten where I was. It was terrifying. Even simple things like listening to music or a meditation can send my brain into feeling like its on fire.

Brain inflammation of this stage is brutal and beyond description in human terms. Late-stage Lyme (which I have dealt with on and off for 13 years) disease itself is violent as it ravages the brain, nervous system, and organs. Add on the brain injury + autoimmune neurological cascade of inflammation, and I am in a realm of hell I never imagined. I have a HIGHT tolerance for extreme physical pain, but this is beyond comprehension. On more days than I can count in the last 3 months, I have brought to my literal knees and been crying begging for mercy, locked in my bed in the fetal position, shaking and unable to get up. There is no quick fix for this kind of brain injury or the brutal effects of it, some days you just sit feeling like someone is lighting a fire to every cranial nerve and bone and inch of the inside of your brain.

Some days it feels like someone has put a blender inside and turned it on high. This requires the highest level of surrender and even with all my years of surrender and spiritual practice, I am sometimes speechless with the amount of seemingly inhumane symptoms in my brain. I have been given several medications from doctors to stabilize my brain, seizure activity, unbearable pain, and severe panic disorder from the brain injury BUT my body is so highly sensitive after coming off antidepressants of 24 years that I now have what is called kindling and now my body is having seizure-like convulsions, tremors, and histamine reactions to almost ALL medications (including Gabapentin which I already took for years, which would have helped with seizures and nerve pain). So far any of the medications they have given me worsen my symptoms like visual impairments, mania, neurological episodes that feel like my brain is literally on fire. This is why I am working closely with the holistic medical team, as they can look for and create holistic solutions when the medications do cause these severe reactions. It is not easy at the moment, we are sort of doing trial by fire and trying a new medication to stabilize seizure activity hoping that will help. Because of my extreme sensitivity, one small step off base and my whole system can go into full neurological and physical collapse for days.

The most crippling symptoms in some ways can be the overwhelming terror and PTSD, and almost hourly panic attacks. Yes, even with medication.

Here is the full link to her Go Fund Me project: https://gofund.me/51ec44b4

DISCLAIMER:

We Beg to Differ, a blog presenting alternative medias view of Mainstream Narratives, basically presents links, most often to whole videos and articles, from Mainstream Media and Alternative Media to contrast their views. If one wonders what alternative media means, it is media developed privately by independent producers, not owned or directed by the handful of media companies that control a vast amount of media output in the world.

We share various types of videos for you to scrutinize. Unless we specifically say so, we do not necessarily agree with their content, in whole or in part. Sometimes, we will present written or audio/video material concerned with health issues. We always recommend that before you try anything, you check with your medical or certified health professional.
HONG KONG  A pandemic illness had struck Hong Kong, and the Worley family had gamely followed the rules. They wore masks. They socially distanced. They skipped traveling overseas with their newborn baby to visit his grandparents.

Then the coronavirus came to the playgroup of their 15-month-old son. Now the three of them are stuck in a spartan government quarantine center for 10 days.

Weve done everything that was asked of us, said Kylie Davies-Worley, the mother, who is Australian. Weve complied with every regulation, weve stayed home when we needed to, yet we feel like weve been treated like second-class citizens. Its not humane.

Hong Kongs targeted approach to fighting the virus entails temporarily restricting the freedoms of a few for the benefit of the many. The Chinese territory has avoided full lockdown largely by moving aggressively to stamp out the virus wherever it may appear, whether among taxi drivers and restaurant workers, in densely crowded, low-income neighborhoods, or at dance halls popular with older women.
Even if youre eligible to get a Covid vaccine according to your states regulations, you might have a hard time finding out where to go. Starting this week, your iPhone will make it a little easier.

Apple has announced that Maps will now show COVID-19 vaccination locations through the U.S. using data from Boston Childrens Hospitals VaccineFinder. You can find a location by searching vaccine locations within Maps or by asking Siri, Where can I get a Covid vaccination.

In addition to the VaccineFinder data, healthcare sites can also submit locations on the Apple Business Register page. Apple said some 20,000 locations are already available, with more being added over the coming weeks. All eligible sites will be listed in the results, including hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies.

Each location will include all relevant information about the location, including operating hours, address, phone numbers, and a link to the providers website, where users can learn more about available vaccines and book appointments.

This latest efforts follows numerous initiatives spearheaded by Apple during the pandemic. Previously, Apple Maps listed Covid testing sites as well as updates to business with new hours or expanded takeout offerings. It also launched a contact tracing app with Google to help inform people who may have been exposed to the virus.
Dating and starting a healthy relationship amid a pandemic can be extremely difficult because of social distancing and other COVID-19 restrictions. Luckily, Tinder has found a way to meet your date while abiding by rules.

The dating app is set to hand out 500 users a pair of free mail-in COVID test kits, which includes one for them and one for their Tinder match, according to a The Verge report.

Tinder said this is to help people feel more comfortable meeting up with matches for real-life dates. The company will use COVID-19 tests from medical testing company EverlyWell.

EverlyWell is a company that makes at-home COVID-19 test kits, which usually cost around $109. Individuals taking EverlyWell's tests could get the results online one or two days after they mail the sample of the nasal swab done at home to the lab.

The dating app announced that more than 40 percent of its users under the age of 30 said they had not met up with a match in person in October last year, Fox News reported.

"Tinder members will be able to request a pair -- one for them, and one for the match they've been eager to meet IRL," according to the company's announcement.

Tinder's vice president of marketing for North America, Nicole Parlapiano, said the pandemic had created dating obstacles. But she added that their members are pretty optimistic about getting back out there.

"We're excited to be working with Everlywell to make it easier for our members to go and meet their matches safely," Parlapiano said.

Starting Mar. 20, Tinder users in the U.S. would be able to claim a code for their free tests from the Tinder app. However, the company clarified that a negative result does not mean that one does not have COVID-19 or cannot transmit the disease.

The dating app would start to ship out the COVID-19 tests on Mar. 22, and it would be given out on a first-come, first-served basis.

READ NEXT: Tinder Features: Celebrities Can Now Be Verified Users on Dating App

Young Adults Living with Their Parents

People ages 18 to 29 living with their parents had become a majority since the COVID-19 cases started spreading in 2020. The number surpassed the peak during the Great Depression era.

Fifty-two percent of young adults resided with one or both of their parents in July 2020, according to a Pew Research report. That was an increase from 47 percent in February of the same year.

The Pew Research survey also showed that young adults had been particularly hard hit by the pandemic, as well as the economic downturn it brought.

About one in 10 young adults said they relocated temporarily or permanently due to the pandemic, and about 10 percent had somebody move into their household. Some 23 percent said their reason was that their college campus closed, while 18 percent said it was due to work loss or other financial reasons.

Eagerness to Date

Meanwhile, Americans were found to be looking for partners who take precautions against COVID-19 seriously, according to a WebMD report.

In one survey, 57 percent said that they would not go on a second date if their potential romantic partner refuses to wear a mask, disobeyed stay-at-home orders and social distancing guidelines (55 percent), and unwilling to date virtually (21 percent).

Health experts recommend virtual dating as the safest way for people to communicate with one another. Lisa Bonos, a dating and relationships writer for The Washington Post Style Section, said that virtual dating has become popular due to the pandemic.

"A lot of first dates are taking place on FaceTime, Zoom, or Skype before people take the leap to meeting in person, such as a socially distanced walk," Bonos noted.

READ MORE: COVID-19 Home Test Kits to Be Picked Up and Delivered by Amazon

WATCH: Tinder Giving Free COVID-19 Tests to Users So They Can Meet Up Safely - From Breaking News
Barcelona billboard to purify port's air The prototype eliminates exhaust from 3,000 passing cars

(ANSAmed) - NAPLES, MARCH 17 - A commercial billboard that can purify the air around it is part of an experiment launched at the port of Barcelona where it was installed. It is the first prototype of the air purifier of multinational ad agency Clear Channel.



The air purifier, according to Spanish newspaper El Estrecho, generates areas of clean air around the place where it is installed and is able to purify 99% of particulates and 80% of poisonous gas. It was planned with the aim of filtering air all day long, eliminating in particular carbon monoxide, and particulates pm10 and pm2,5 that cause lung cancer and strokes.



The purifier alone eliminates pollution produced by 3,000 cars within 40 meters of the device, an ability to clean air that can be compared to 20 trees.



The project is unprecedented worldwide and it was made with the help of the port of Barcelona, a site where Clear Channel manages advertisements. The new installation allows to create small islands of clean air and is part of a wider pledge of the Catalan port to reduce emissions through the widespread use of renewable energy, starting with the electrification of piers to turn off the engines of docked ships. (ANSAmed)
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The inhumane conditions facing asylum seekers and migrants on the US-Mexico border have been accompanied by collaboration between the Biden administration and the Mexican government of President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador in a brutal campaign to suppress migration.

After ending the reactionary agreements with Guatemala and Mexico to force those seeking asylum in the United States to wait in those third countries, the Biden administration is working with these same governments to revoke the right to request asylum at all, from anywhere.

Mexican National Guard troops (Wikimedia Commons)

Mexico and the United States have turned to summarily deporting migrants under the pretext of health security over the COVID-19 pandemic.

Tens of thousands of migrants were encouraged by Bidens promise to end Trumps fascistic policies and turned themselves in at the US border, only to be deported. These included many of the 25,000 asylum seekers under Remain in Mexico, who had waited for months to present their case at US immigration court hearings.

At the same time, Mexican migration authorities and police have moved to forcibly disband the growing makeshift camps and harass asylum seekers along the border.

They are treating us like animals, a Guatemalan migrant told Excelsior on Friday, after his camp of about 100 asylum seekers was dispersed in the border city of Reynosa. He added in tears: If we return [to the US border], they will jail us for six months, so we will return to our country. Sadly, I have a lot of debt. I have nothing now in Guatemala, Im out in the streets.

The group had been deported by the Biden administration and told that they would not be transported to their countries of origin for five months, which constitutes yet another cruel dissuasive policy.

In other words, they were returned to Mexico even after the supposed ending of the Remain in Mexico policy.

Effectively, this is an escalation of the policy pursued under the Trump administration, which summarily deported over 400,000 migrants after March 2020, using the COVID-19 pandemic as a pretext. About 71,000 asylum seekers sent back to Mexico registered under the Remain in Mexico program, but the vast majority of their requests were rejected.

The number of unaccompanied migrant minors in US custody has risen to over 4,200, while the Mexican government has reported that it attended over 1,000 unaccompanied minors between January and February.

When asked by Jornada about how many minors it currently has in custody, the Mexican National Migration Institute (INM) claimed that it has no record of these numbers. Since November 2020, the custody of migrant children shifted to the System for Integral Family Development (DIF), which runs shelters for children in partnership with UNICEF.

Most minors seeking asylum who remain in Mexico, however, continue to wait in makeshift, unsanitary camps with their parents or other adults. Last weekend, over 50 minors had to be treated by doctors for respiratory illnesses at a tent camp in Tijuana, where migrants have faced hailstorms and near-freezing temperatures at night.

After an investigation of legal documents and interviews, Human Rights Watch (HRW) concluded in a report published last week that migrants in Mexico are exposed to rape, kidnappings, extortion, assault and psychological trauma.

The agency adds that the Biden administration continues to expel asylum seekers arriving at the border on misleading public health grounds, and has made no provision for the 30,000 whose asylum cases were unfairly terminated after they were sent to Mexico.

While Republican and Democratic officials and media spokespeople have insisted that smuggling by cartels is a key driver of the migration, the report makes clear that the Mexican security forces supported and financed by Washington are an integral part of these criminal structures abusing migrants. Uniformed police have constantly threatened to turn migrants over to the cartels or kill them if they fail to pay bribes of hundreds of dollars, with one victim saying, I dont understand who is a criminal and who is law enforcement.

On the other hand, while Lopez Obrador had decreed that asylum seekers waiting in Mexico can access an identification card known as the CURP to work legally and access health care and education services, migrants speaking with HRW said that, even with the CURP, the denial of jobs, education and health care for migrants was generalized.

Moreover, as favored targets for kidnappings and extortion, migrants told HRW that the police refuse to even file their complaints when they are victimized.

Washington and Mexico, meanwhile, are collaborating in a renewed, militarized campaign to cut off migration routes.

On January 22, shortly after officials from the Biden transition team and the Mexican government encouraged the Guatemalan military and police to violently break up a caravan of 8,000 Honduran migrants, Biden and Lopez Obrador held an initial call and agreed to work closely to stem the flow of irregular migration.

The Trump-appointed ambassador to Guatemala, William Popp, then announced at a meeting with his Mexican counterpart and the Guatemalan foreign minister that they had agreed on a renewed effort to keep the border safe during the COVID-19 emergency.

In Guatemala, far-right President Alejandro Giammattei promised Friday, in a ceremony with the families of 16 migrants massacred presumably by drug cartels in the northern Mexican state of Tamaulipas, that he would halt migration through walls of prosperity and development.

However, Giammatteis response to popular demonstrations against cuts to education and health care and the lack of aid for hurricane victims last November was the same as that meted out to the migrant caravans in January: walls of violent repression meted out by the US-trained and financed police and military.

Meanwhile, the Lopez Obrador government continues to deploy National Guard troops to round up migrants after Trump repeatedly praised his friend, Lopez Obrador, for mobilizing the Mexican military as an extension of the US border patrol.

Throughout February, the Mexican media reported that the National Guard rescued 108 Central American migrants in Nuevo Leon, 235 in Oaxaca and Veracruz, and 156 and then another 116 in Chiapas, only to add that the federal forces intercepted the trucks in which the migrants were traveling.

This is the result of dozens of chokepoints set up by the National Guard and the INM across roads and train tracks. As reported Sunday by the New York Times, those intercepted or caught in increased raids are being deported, with a Foreign Ministry official telling the Times that they have a right to deport undocumented migrants.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, officials of the Lopez Obrador administration told Reuters that they were working toward developing the infrastructure along the border with Guatemala to prevent migrants from coming in at all. Mexico spends more on every new wave of migrants than that would cost, one said.

As early as mid-November the UN International Organization for Migration warned that the back-to-back hurricanes and the pandemic crisis would spark a migration crisis, but neither the Mexican nor the US government prepared to receive and shelter these desperate refugees who had lost everything. Along with the pandemic, the migrant crisis underscores that capitalism and its nation-state system are utterly incapable of meeting the basic social needs of workers everywhere.
The Ghana Education Service (GES) has shot down reports that the reopening date for first-year Senior High Students has been rescheduled again.



Per an earlier communique, the freshers are supposed to be in school starting tomorrow.



The service had earlier postponed the reopening from Wednesday, 10 March 2021 to Thursday, March 18, 2021.



Management had decided that the reopening of schools for first-year students should be rescheduled for Thursday, March 18 through to Sunday, March 21, 2021 a press release signed by Anthony Boateng, the Deputy Director-General of GES indicated.



This was to give parents and guardians some additional time to prepare the students for school and for the schools to have additional time to prepare to receive themthe spread-out period is to enable the schools to structure the admission processes in such a way that not too many students get crowded at the school at one particular point in time.



Reports are however rife that the reopening date has been postponed again.



Speaking to this on Peace FM morning show 'Kokrokoo', the Director-General of GES, Prof Kwasi Opoku-Amankwa, stated that the reopening date remains March 18 through to March 21, 2021.



Double Track



Unlike earlier indications that there will be no double track for the first-year students, Prof Opoku-Amankwa says it has been reintroduced to ensure adherence to the COVID safety protocol.



However, all the students will report to school before they are divided into the gold and green track; and this will be done by the school according to the GES boss.



Listen to him in the video below:





Source: Rebecca Addo Tetteh/Peacefmonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Air India's regional arm Alliance Air has become one of the first airlines in India to put passengers on the No Fly List for not wearing masks on board.

The development comes after regulator DGCA issued a direction on Sunday saying that passengers who do not wear masks properly even after repeated warnings could be deboarded before departure.

The circular stated that people on board found not following Covid-appropriate behaviour or not wearing masks despite repeated warnings would be treated as unruly passengers and action would be taken against them by the concerned airline.

Four passengers travelling on from Jammu to Delhi were deboarded by the crew after they refused to wear mask despite repeated requests from the pilot in command.

After the flight landed at Delhi Airport, the four passengers were handed over to security agencies. The airline also informed DGCA that they had been marked as unruly passengers by the airline.

India's No Fly List rules, unveiled in 2017, have a provision for banning unruly passengers from a minimum three months to a maximum of two years depending on the severity of the incident.

In fact, India's largest airline IndiGo last year barred 9 TV journalists from flying with the airline for 15 days over their alleged unruly behaviour onboard a flight in which actor Kangana Ranaut was travelling to Mumbai from Chandigarh in September.

The journalists, while chasing Ranaut for a byte, had violated social distancing norms on board.
Tata Communications tumbled 5.96% to Rs 1140.75 on the BSE after the company's offer for sale (OFS) concluded on Wednesday, 17 March 2021.

The Government of India proposed to sell up to 2,85,00,000 equity shares (representing 10% stake) of the company through the OFS. The floor price for the OFS is Rs 1161 per equity share, a 10.51% discount to Tata Comm's closing price of Rs 1297.30 on Monday, 15 March 2021.

The Government of India held 26.12% stake in Tata Communications as of 31 December 2020.

The OFS opened on Tuesday (16 March 2021) for non-retail investors, while both retail as well as non-retail investors were allowed to subscribe on Wednesday (17 March 2021). A total of 10% of the total offer size was reserved for retail investors.

On Tuesday (T day), the OFS received subscription for 5,63,56,316 shares (equivalently was subscribed 219.71%) as against the base non-retail offer size of 2,56,50,000 shares.

Following the strong response on T day, the government decided to exercise the oversubscription option of 1,74,46,885 shares (6.12% equity) in addition to the base offer. Accordingly, the final share sale was 4,59,46,885 shares, constituting 16.12% of the paid-up equity share capital of Tata Communications.

As on 15:30 IST on Wednesday (T+1 day), the OFS received total bids for 48,61,212 shares or 105.80% of the total enhanced retail offer size of 45,94,689 shares.

The retail segment received bids for 67,212 shares or 1.46% of the total retail offer size.

The non-retail segment received bids for 47,94,000 shares or 104.34% of the total retail offer size.

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.

Panatone Finvest held 34.80% stake in Tata Communications (TCL) as on 31 December 2020.

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.

Immediately after the OFS, the government shall sell the remaining equity shares held by it in the company to Panatone. Upon completion of aforesaid transactions, the government will cease to be a shareholder of the company.

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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The estimates were based on actual observed changes and modelling exercises using data from before the pandemic in South Asia, where in 2019 alone 1.4 million children under five died, 63 percent of them newborn babies. (Representational image: AFP)

New Delhi: The coronavirus pandemic may have indirectly contributed to around 228,000 additional child deaths in 2020, 11,000 maternal fatalities and 3.5 million unwanted pregnancies in South Asia, the UN said in a report Wednesday.

The study commissioned by UNICEF blamed "drastic cuts in the availability and use of essential public health services" because of the pandemic across India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka, home to 1.8 billion people.

"The fall-off of these critical services has had a devastating impact on the health and nutrition of the poorest families," said UNICEF regional director George Laryea-Adjei.

"It is absolutely vital that these services are fully restored for children and mothers who are in desperate need of them, and that everything possible is done to ensure that people feel safe to use them," Laryea-Adjei said.

The estimates were based on actual observed changes and modelling exercises using data from before the pandemic in South Asia, where in 2019 alone 1.4 million children under five died, 63 percent of them newborn babies.

Countries in the region, like elsewhere, imposed stringent lockdown measures to halt the spread of coronavirus. Many restrictions have since been eased although many schools remain shut.

The report said that even where health services were not shut down, the number of people visiting them declined.

In Bangladesh and Nepal, for example, the number of young children being treated for severe acute malnutrition (SAM) fell by over 80 per cent, while child vaccinations fell sharply in India and Pakistan.

With some 420 million children in South Asia out of school due to the pandemic, the report also warned that nine million children were likely never to return to school, the report added.

This in turn is expected to lead to an increase in child marriages, resulting in an additional 400,000 adolescent pregnancies, as well as an increase in the number of maternal and neonatal deaths, and in rates of child stunting.
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Californians heading to recently reopened theme parks won't be able to scream as much as they want to when riding roller coasters.

The California Attractions and Parks Association (CAPA) shared a list of steps they would be taking to safely reopen theme parks, in hopes of better following the state's blueprint for determining risk associated with COVID-19.

The state blueprint calls for the ability 'to limit activities that are known to cause increased spread,' specifically highlighting singing, shouting and heavy breathing.

The California Attractions and Parks Association (CAPA) shared a list of steps they would be taking to safely reopen theme parks, honoring state guidelines

The state blueprint calls for the ability 'to limit activities that are known to cause increased spread,' specifically highlighting singing, shouting and heavy breathing

In response, the CAPA will require face covering usage on rides while also implementing modifications to seat loading patterns in a bid to 'mitigate the effects of shouting.'

'Additionally, on rides, guests generally face in one direction,' the CAPA added in their amusement park action for how to tackle the excessive noise.

CAPA is also limiting the number of people guests are exposed to by only sitting people from the same party for various rides and attractions, preventing the mixing and mingling of those visiting.

In response, the CAPA will require face covering usage on rides while also implementing modifications to seat loading patterns in a bid to 'mitigate the effects of shouting'

They've also worked to implement several designated areas for eating and drinking, making those the few places on park grounds where guests can take off their masks.

State officials' announced earlier in the month that reopening criteria for theme parks and outdoor stadiums will be relaxed from April 1, as a winter spike in coronavirus cases rapidly recedes.

Theme parks will only be allowed to reopen if their county drops below the state's most-restrictive coronavirus 'tier,' and then initially at 15 percent capacity and for California residents only.

Disneyland is aiming to reopen in late April at limited capacity after California eased Covid-19 restrictions, Disney CEO Bob Chapek said last week.

SkyStar Ferris Wheel reopens to tourists at the Golden Gate Park on March 12, 2021 in San Francisco

Disneyland is aiming to reopen in late April at limited capacity after California eased Covid-19 restrictions, Disney CEO Bob Chapek said last week

The world's second-most visited theme park has been closed for almost exactly a year, with the mega attraction near Los Angeles unable to reopen last summer even while other Disney resorts did so worldwide.

'Here in California, we're encouraged by the positive trends we're seeing and we're hopeful they'll continue to improve and we'll be able to reopen our Parks to guests with limited capacity by late April,' said Chapek.

A precise opening date would be confirmed 'in the coming weeks,' he added.

Chapek cautioned that Disneyland could not reopen on the first day of next month as it would take time to recall more than 10,000 furloughed staff members, and to retrain them in pandemic safety measures.

Disney, along with other operators and local officials, has ramped up pressure on state officials to allow swifter reopenings, after previous guidance meant theme parks would be among the last places to reopen in California.
YEREVAN, MARCH 17, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan held a phone conversation with Kazakhstans Prime Minister Askar Mamin at the latters initiative, the Prime Ministers Office said.

Pashinyan and Mamin discussed the upcoming EEU Intergovernmental Council session and its agenda.

The meeting of the heads of government of the Eurasian Economic Union will take place in Kazan, Russia on April 30.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan
Kids taking turns sleeping on floor as overcrowding impacts Texas migrant shelter: lawyer

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As unaccompanied minors and families seeking asylum continue to pour over the United States southern border with Mexico at a rapid rate, many of the children in one Texas shelter are sleeping on the floor due to a lack of space.

Neha Desai, a lawyer who represents illegal immigrant youth, spoke with CBS News about the crisis last week. Desai spoke with children detained at a U.S. Customs and Border Protection holding facility in Donna, Texas.

As of March 2, she said the Donna facility held more than 1,800 people, more than seven times its coronavirus-era capacity of 250.

Some of the boys said that conditions were so overcrowded that they had to take turns sleeping on the floor, Desai reported. They all said they wanted to shower more and they couldnt.

Additionally, Desai remarked that the children lamented to her that 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, the lawyer told the news outlet.

The crowded conditions at border detention facilities come as the U.S.-Mexico border experiences a surge in illegal border crossings.

Amid the concerns of overcrowding at holding shelters, a memo obtained by The Associated Press Monday states that the Federal Emergency Management Agency will temporarily house thousands of young migrant teenage boys at a Dallas convention center.

According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the number of encounters at the southwest border between law enforcement and illegal immigrants rose from 78,442 in January to 100,441 in February.

The number of encounters in February 2021 is nearly three times the number in February 2020 (36,687).

The border surge comes less than two months after President Joe Biden took office.

Biden has worked to undo most of former President Donald Trumps immigration policies, which were aimed at stemming the flow of illegal immigrants entering the U.S.

In early 2019, the Trump administration invoked the Migrant Protection Protocols, forcing those seeking asylum to wait in Mexico, independent journalist Sharyl Attkisson explained on a recent episode of her weekly newsmagazine series Full Measure.

As the coronavirus pandemic began to engulf the U.S. in March 2020, she said Trump enacted Title 42, an emergency health order that let border officials immediately turn back illegal immigrants.

She added that after both the Migrant Protection Protocols and Title 42 had been implemented, 90% of illegal immigrants caught at the southwest border [in May 2020] were being expelled, and the number intercepted dropped from about a million in 2019 to roughly half that in 2020.

Since taking office, the Biden administration has worked to reverse those policies, leading to illegal border crossers getting released inside U.S. border communities, Attkisson explained.

While Biden has yet to visit the southern border since the latest surge in border crossings began, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., led a delegation of congressional Republicans to visit the region Monday.

On March 5, McCarthy wrote a letter to Biden expressing concern about how his administration is handling the crisis.

Citing a prediction that 117,000 unaccompanied alien children (UAC) will be crossing the border this year, McCarthy warned that such drastic increases in apprehensions will, and no doubt already have, put a strain on the capacity of the U.S. Border Patrol and the Health and Human Services officials tasked with caring for unaccompanied alien children.

The House Minority Leader quoted Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas, who recently said that We are not saying dont come, we are saying dont come now.

To be clear, there is never a right time to enter the country illegally and violate the laws of the United States, McCarthy said. Signaling otherwise is reckless and will make the situation worse.

We must acknowledge the border crisis, develop a plan, and in no uncertain terms, strongly discourage individuals from Mexico and Central America from ever making the dangerous journey to our southern border, McCarthy wrote.

While the surge in border crossings comes in the context of a new administration, it also comes as the U.S. and the world continue to deal with the coronavirus pandemic.

As the Donna facility and others like it continue detaining migrants in numbers far exceeding their capacities, border crossers are testing positive for coronavirus at a higher rate than the American public as a whole.

Migrant families tested in Brownsville, Texas, have a 12% positivity rate, compared to a 3.5% positivity rate among the general U.S. public, according to The Washington Times.

A pastor who runs a shelter for migrant families in Harlingen, Texas claimed that 25% of one group of migrants who arrived at the shelter tested positive for coronavirus. The other group was not tested.

In addition to facing expected criticism from congressional Republicans, local officials and even some Democrats have also criticized the Biden administrations immigration policies.

Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Texas, who represents a border district in Congress, spoke of three messages that those seeking to enter the U.S. hear in an interview with CNN last Thursday.

Identifying the message from the White House as dont come now, come later, Cuellar contended that two other messages heard by would-be border crossers are far more attractive and encourage them to make the dangerous journey to the U.S.-Mexico border.

One message comes from their family and friends, who tell them, Hey, Pedro, ya pasamos. Were able to come. Come over right now.

The other message comes from criminal organizations, which say, Hey, I can get you across. Pay me a little bit of money.

Speaking to The Houston Chronicle, Cuellar warned that we are weeks, maybe even days from a crisis on the southern border, adding that inaction is simply not an option.

Earlier this month, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced his intention to deploy the states National Guard to the U.S.-Mexico border to address the crisis. Abbott slammed the president for advancing policies that refuse to secure the border and invite illegal immigration.

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. We will surge the resources and law enforcement personnel needed to confront this crisis, he continued.

Del Rio, Texas Mayor Bruno Lozano urged the Biden administration to halt policies that would lead to the release of immigrants awaiting court dates into Del Rio and the surrounding areas in a video last month.
GlaxoSmithkline Pharmaceuticals slipped 0.27% to Rs 1,421.50, extending decline for the seventh day.

The stock has corrected 7.95% in seven sessions from its recent closing high of Rs 1,544.20 recorded on 5 March 2021.

In the past one year, the stock has risen 14.22% while the benchmark Sensex surged 64.83% during the same period.

On the technical front, the stock's RSI (relative strength index) stood at 38.410. The RSI oscillates between zero and 100. Traditionally, the RSI is considered overbought when above 70 and oversold when below 30.

The stock was trading below its 50-day, 100-day and 200-day daily simple moving average (SMA) placed at 1487.43, 1501.06 and 1509.85, respectively.

Glaxosmithkline (GSK) Pharmaceuticals is a subsidiary of GlaxoSmithKline plc, one of the world's leading research-based pharmaceutical and healthcare companies.

On a consolidated basis, the company reported net profit at Rs 156.51 crore in Q3 December 2020 compared with net loss of Rs 661.16 crore in Q3 December 2019. Net sales jumped 10.1% to Rs 857.20 crore in Q3 FY21 from Rs 778.59 crore in Q3 FY20.

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Armenia acting health minister on citizens' demand for her resignation

Karabakh's new State Minister Artak Beglaryan on his appointment and future activities

Armenian, Russian and Azerbaijani representatives hold consultations in Moscow

2 Armenian soldiers receive slight injuries after incident with Azerbaijani servicemen in Armenia's Gegharkunik

Armenian boy weighing 5 kg born at Goris Medical Center

"Armenia" bloc representative presents purpose of participation in elections and plans

Isaac Herzog elected President of Israel

Rouhani: Main issues between Tehran, Washington resolved in Vienna

Charles Michel calls on Armenia and Azerbaijan to resume constructive negotiations

US Department of State responds to Pashinyan's proposal to deploy international observers on Armenia-Azerbaijan border

Head of Armenia 2nd President's Office: Robert Kocharyan's public meetings are held in warm atmosphere

Opposition "Armenia" bloc's representative on photos and videos showing bags of deceased servicemen's bodies

Armenia Ombudsman, AGBU President discuss war crimes committed by Azerbaijan during Karabakh war

Opposition "Armenia" bloc's representatives to hold briefings three times a week

Opposition "Armenia" bloc member: Blood-freezing photos and videos from morgue in Abovyan are authorities' reflection

Yerevan mayor receives Netherlands Ambassador

Armenia Health Ministry, Investigative Committee keep info about sending remains of dead soldiers abroad confidential

Armenia Prosecutor General's Office launches case regarding leaving sacs of servicemen's bodies/remains in basement

Peskov: Putin and Biden to discuss cybersecurity issues

Armenia's Pashinyan meets with Belgian PM Alexander De Croo

Armenia acting MOD receives Netherlands Ambassador

Armenia Police: 3 citizens apprehended during protest demanding acting health minister's resignation

NATO warns Minsk about further consequences of Ryanair incident

Armenia economic competition protection commission: Experts forecast inflation of butter prices

Armenia citizens' protest against acting health minister is over

Pashinyan visits France, judicial farce against Armenian POWs kicks off in Baku, Jun. 2 digest

Armenian Ambassador, FMO representatives consider opportunities for expansion of cooperation in Armenia

Armenia Prosecutor General is on working visit to Russia

Armenia acting PM meets with European Council President in Brussels

Armenia citizens throw polyethylene bags at Health Ministry building, police apprehend protesters

Acting deputy minister: Armenia authorities plan to build 46km section of North-South highway in 2021

Dollar is stable in Armenia

Armenia official: Large number of projects being prepared in construction sector

Identity of man killed Wednesday morning in downtown Yerevan is found out

Armenian lawyer: Azerbaijan poses a threat to security in Europe

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

Missing Armenian soldiers' relatives hand letter to Russia Embassy with request to solve captives' issue

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


remaining of

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Armenia acting health minister on citizens' demand for her resignation

Karabakh's new State Minister Artak Beglaryan on his appointment and future activities

Armenian, Russian and Azerbaijani representatives hold consultations in Moscow

2 Armenian soldiers receive slight injuries after incident with Azerbaijani servicemen in Armenia's Gegharkunik

Armenian boy weighing 5 kg born at Goris Medical Center

"Armenia" bloc representative presents purpose of participation in elections and plans

Isaac Herzog elected President of Israel

Rouhani: Main issues between Tehran, Washington resolved in Vienna

Charles Michel calls on Armenia and Azerbaijan to resume constructive negotiations

US Department of State responds to Pashinyan's proposal to deploy international observers on Armenia-Azerbaijan border

Head of Armenia 2nd President's Office: Robert Kocharyan's public meetings are held in warm atmosphere

Opposition "Armenia" bloc's representative on photos and videos showing bags of deceased servicemen's bodies

Armenia Ombudsman, AGBU President discuss war crimes committed by Azerbaijan during Karabakh war

Opposition "Armenia" bloc's representatives to hold briefings three times a week

Opposition "Armenia" bloc member: Blood-freezing photos and videos from morgue in Abovyan are authorities' reflection

Yerevan mayor receives Netherlands Ambassador

Armenia Health Ministry, Investigative Committee keep info about sending remains of dead soldiers abroad confidential

Armenia Prosecutor General's Office launches case regarding leaving sacs of servicemen's bodies/remains in basement

Peskov: Putin and Biden to discuss cybersecurity issues

Armenia's Pashinyan meets with Belgian PM Alexander De Croo

Armenia acting MOD receives Netherlands Ambassador

Armenia Police: 3 citizens apprehended during protest demanding acting health minister's resignation

NATO warns Minsk about further consequences of Ryanair incident

Armenia economic competition protection commission: Experts forecast inflation of butter prices

Armenia citizens' protest against acting health minister is over

Pashinyan visits France, judicial farce against Armenian POWs kicks off in Baku, Jun. 2 digest

Armenian Ambassador, FMO representatives consider opportunities for expansion of cooperation in Armenia

Armenia Prosecutor General is on working visit to Russia

Armenia acting PM meets with European Council President in Brussels

Armenia citizens throw polyethylene bags at Health Ministry building, police apprehend protesters

Acting deputy minister: Armenia authorities plan to build 46km section of North-South highway in 2021

Dollar is stable in Armenia

Armenia official: Large number of projects being prepared in construction sector

Identity of man killed Wednesday morning in downtown Yerevan is found out

Armenian lawyer: Azerbaijan poses a threat to security in Europe

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

Missing Armenian soldiers' relatives hand letter to Russia Embassy with request to solve captives' issue

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
Hayley Hadassins phone rang at 8.45pm. It was the principal at her nine-year-old sons international school in Hong Kong asking if she was ok. She had just been informed her sons entire class would be sent to government quarantine camps after a teacher tested positive for COVID-19.

Hong Kongs Centre for Health Protection called as soon as she put the phone down: pick up would be in the next 24 hours.

We didnt sleep that night, said the Australian mother of three, who is based in Hong Kong with her family.

Australian expat Hayley Hadassin with her family in Hong Kong.

Hadassin frantically packed enough suitcases, clothes, school books and toiletries to last the 14-day isolation period.
Wednesday afternoon, Lightfoot tweeted: Make no mistake about it: what happened in Atlanta was a hate crime against our entire Asian American and Pacific Islander communities. This was a crime against Asian women. Any crime against any one of our communities is a crime against all of us. We have to treat it like that. We have to feel it in that same way. And we have to attack these hateful acts in that vein.
HAMBURG  A Pottsville man is facing a slew of charges after leading authorities in a high-speed chase that started in Berks County on Saturday afternoon and ended in Schuylkill County.

State police Trooper Daniel Phillips of the Hamburg station said the incident involving Jason Smith, 45, began on Route 61 in Perry Township just after 4 p.m.

Phillips said police received numerous calls about a black Mercedes traveling north on Route 61 at a high rate of speed and driving erratically.

The vehicle was located in the area of Route 61 and Jetson Drive, where police tried to conduct a traffic stop, but the driver, later identified as Smith, refused to stop.

Phillips said Smith continued north on Route 61 into Port Clinton, where police tried to make him pull over but the man maneuvered around and passed the front of the police cruiser, hitting its front end.

Smith continued north on Route 61, hitting the back of a Ford SUV, causing one person to be injured, police said.

Phillips said Smith continued north followed by police. One officer, Phillips said, performed a precision immobilization technique maneuver but was not successful and Smith continued to flee.

He said stop sticks were successfully deployed but Smith managed to continue fleeing at extremely high speeds, causing police to lose sight of his car.

The car was subsequently located in the parking lot of Crossroads Inn at 2 E. Adamsdale Road, where Smith was also found and taken into custody without further incident, Phillips said.

Smith was returned to the Hamburg station, where it was learned there was an active warrant for his arrest in Wyomissing, where he allegedly hit a woman with his vehicle and attempted to hit several officers of the Wyomissing Police Department.

Smith was arraigned on charges related to the incident in Wyomissing and now faces charges of aggravated assault, fleeing or attempting to elude police, recklessly endangering another person, accidents involving injuries and other offenses.

Phillips said Hamburg station officers were assisted by police from the Schuylkill Haven station and Orwigsburg Police Department.
Part of Harry and Meghan's deal to do their two-hour bombshell interview with Oprah was to plug his upcoming Apple TV documentary on mental health, claim sources associated with the series to DailyMail.com.

A TV insider with knowledge of the deal claims that promoting the documentary within the interview was part of Harry's agreement as 'co-partner' and 'co-creator' of the Apple series. Oprah gave the upcoming series a shout out during the two-hour prime time special,

The Sussexes and Oprah both have publicly insisted no money was paid to the couple for the CBS interview, which was distributed to over 70 countries and watched live by 17.1 million people.

While their claims are technically true, Harry's lucrative deal with Apple includes promotional work, which could include its mention during the two-hour interview.

Harry is being compensated for his contribution as 'co-partner, co-creator and executive producer' on the as-yet-untitled forthcoming mental health series.

Oprah referenced the series during her sit-down with the Sussexes, saying on camera: 'Harry and I are working on this mental health series for Apple.'

The 'plug' for the documentary came about an hour into the interview, moments after Meghan revealed she had contemplated suicide in the depths of her row with the Royals.

'I just didn't want to be alive any more,' the Duchess said. 'And that was a very clear and real and frightening constant thought.'

Sources told DailyMail.com Prince Harry was paid for his contribution as a 'co-partner, co-creator and executive producer' of his upcoming Apple TV series, which was plugged on the two-hour prime time special on Sunday

The new show, which is weeks away from release on Apple TV+, is helmed by Harry and Oprah, with RadicalMedia as creative and production partner. Oprah mentioned the series after Meghan revealed she had suicidal thoughts

The Sussexes and Oprah both have publicly insisted no money was paid to the couple for the CBS interview, which was distributed to over 70 countries and watched live by 17.1 million people a week ago Sunday.

And a spokeswoman for CBS told DailyMail.com this week: 'there was no payment of any kind for the interview or any footage in any way to Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex or any of their charities.'

However one LA consultant, who works with Apple and Netflix, says that although Harry and Oprah's claims are technically true, the Prince's Apple show deal includes promotional work, which could include Sunday night's interview.

The documentary, which is weeks away from release, is a series about mental health for Apple TV+, helmed by Harry and Oprah, with RadicalMedia as creative and production partner.

The source says that the Apple media deal was a 'paying gig' for Harry.

The TV insider also claims that Harry, with Oprah, was expected to promote the show as part of that deal.

'Oprah and Harry mentioning their documentary in the CBS interview was a clear plug,' the source said.

Feeling lonely and isolated amid her row with the royals in 2019, Meghan tearfully admitted during the interview that she 'just didn't want to be alive any more'

Meghan cited this event at the Royal Albert Hall in January 2019, claiming she was forced to go when struggling with her mental health

'It is a very subtle mention, but given Oprah and her company Harpo Productions had editorial control over the show content, the fact it stayed in there spoke volumes.

'Sure, Harry and Meghan did not get paid for the Oprah interview. But the brand endorsements and recognition was significant... Subtle but significant.'

Another TV public relations source with knowledge of Harry and Meghan's TV and podcast deals claimed that Netflix and Spotify being mentioned by name in the CBS special was 'obviously promotion'.

'The interview was powerful, emotional and personal, but let's not forget they are in business now,' the second source said. 'Netflix and Spotify have paid them significant sums of money and those deals come with an expectation of promotion.'

Harry's as-yet unnamed Apple TV series aims to put a spotlight on the burgeoning social problems arising from mental health, breaking down its stigma and shame on a global scale.

Oprah's mention of the new show during Sunday's interview came as Meghan revealed that she became suicidal and lonely after feeling isolated at home in 2019.

The Duchess said her crisis hit a peak just before an official function at the Royal Albert Hall that year, telling Harry 'I can't be left alone.'

'I just didn't want to be alive any more. And that was a very clear and real and frightening constant thought,' she said. 'I'm scared, because this is very real. This isn't some abstract idea.'

Meghan added that while publicly she was smiling, inside she was terrified  pointing out how the couple were clutching each other's hands in one happy-seeming photo at a public event from the time.

During the interview, the Duchess of Sussex said she would answer 'honestly' before going on to claim there were 'concerns and conversations about how dark' her son's skin might be when he's born

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, who is joined by her mother Doria Ragland, show their new son Archie to the Queen and Prince Philip at Windsor Castle in 2019

'You can see the whites of our knuckles, because we are smiling and doing our job, but we're both just trying to hold on,' she told Oprah. 'And every time that those lights went down in that Royal Box, I was just weeping, and he was gripping my hand.

'You have no idea what's going on for someone behind closed doors. You have no idea. Even the people that smile the biggest smiles and shine the brightest lights, it seems, to have compassion for what's actually potentially going on.'

Shortly after the revelation, Oprah brought her and Harry's Apple TV series into the interview.

'Nobody should have to go through that,' she said. 'And, you know, Harry and I are working on this mental health series for Apple, and yeah we hear a lot of these stories.'

Meghan then replied: 'It takes so much courage to admit that you need help. It takes so much courage to voice that. And as I said, I was ashamed. I'm supposed to be stronger than that.

'I don't want to put more on my husband's shoulders. He's carrying the weight of the world. I don't want to bring that to him. I bring solutions. To admit that you need help, to admit how dark of a place you're in.'

Apple first announced Harry and Oprah's mental health documentary series in April 2019, one of the earliest TV projects in the Sussexes' new LA career.

Meghan finally addressed the couple's rift with the royal family that ultimately led to their departure last January, almost two years after they tied the knot (left). The Sussexes welcomed their first child , son Archie, in 2019 and are expecting their second later this year

In an interview with fellow TV titan Gayle King on CBS This Morning that month, Oprah revealed exactly how the project came about, explaining that she pitched the idea to Prince Harry during a discussion about global issues.

'I asked [Prince Harry] the question, 'What do you think are the most important issues facing the world right now?' and he said there are two,' the daytime TV queen said.

'He said climate change and mental wellness, mental fitness and mental health.'

She went on: 'As you know, he's spoken about his own issues and what he went through after his mother died and how being able to talk about it has benefited him.

'So it's a passion of his and, at the end of the conversation, I said, 'Oh, I'm going to be doing this thing with Apple. It's a big concern of mine too and I want to try to erase the stigma,' and he said at the end of the conversation, 'If there's anything I can do to help.''

It was then that Oprah decided to pitch the idea of Harry partnering with her on the Apple project, with the TV titan revealing that, since signing on, the royal has been incredibly involved in building the series.

Oprah had already been forging a close friendship with the royals ahead of her business partnership with Harry.

The Duke first revealed his personal struggles in 2017, saying he sought counseling. He also revealed how his brother William had been a 'huge support' in battling his demons

The chat show queen was a guest at the Sussexes' wedding at St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle in 2018, and was rumored to have been invited to Meghan's baby shower the following February in New York.

Oprah did not end up attending, but her close friend and fellow CBS veteran Gayle King, who sources say was involved in arranging last Sunday's interview with the Sussexes, did.

Oprah also revealed in her April 2019 interview that she had been in 'secret meetings in London' for months working on her documentary with Harry.

The partnership was a huge win for Apple, which had reportedly already signed up Oprah to a multi-year content deal including scripted and unscripted original TV material, podcasts, books and apps.

In a statement released when the Apple show was announced, Harry said: 'I truly believe that good mental health - mental fitness - is the key to powerful leadership, productive communities and a purpose-driven self. It is a huge responsibility to get this right as we bring you the facts, the science and the awareness of a subject that is so relevant during these times.

'Our hope is that this series will be positive, enlightening and inclusive - sharing global stories of unparalleled human spirit fighting back from the darkest places, and the opportunity for us to understand ourselves and those around us better. I am incredibly proud to be working alongside Oprah on this vital series.'

The documentarians are now even neighbors  last year the former royals bought a mansion in Montecito, California, just a few miles from Oprah's $100 million Promised Land estate.

The Duke first revealed his personal struggles in 2017, saying he sought counseling after two years of 'total chaos' having spent nearly 20 years 'not thinking' about the loss of his mother.

Speaking to The Telegraph, Harry revealed how his brother William had been a 'huge support' in battling his demons and that it was he who insisted it was 'OK' to talk to someone.

The Duke  who said he knew at the time he was struggling but 'didn't know what was wrong'  said his brother had gently tried to push him in the right direction, but it was only when the 'timing was right' that he was able to seek help.

His show is directed by Asif Kapadia, who directed Senna, and is produced by Dawn Porter with executive producer Kahane Cooperman.

It had been slated for 2020 release, but was delayed due to the pandemic.

A spokeswoman for Oprah declined to comment, and representatives for the Sussexes did not respond to requests for comment.
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Member of Parliament for Builsa South, Dr Clement Abas Apaak has made an audacious call for the rank and file of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to allow John Dramani Mahama a free pass to lead the party in the next presidential elections.



According to him, the former president won the 2020 elections but was just denied by institutions whose leaderships were handpicked by his competitor to do just that.



He said this truth is self-evident.



The call was contained in a tweet by the former lecturer of the University of Ghana. Mr Mahama lost the December 7 elections but challenged the results at the Supreme Court.



The Court, in turn, dismissed the petition filed in a unanimous decision.



The former president had previously led the NDC to victory in 2012 but lost in 2016.



If elected again, he will be a record flagbearer of the opposition party.

















JM2024. The man won the 2020 Presidential elections, this truth is self evident. He was denied his mandate by institutions whose leaderships were handpicked by his competitor to do just that. JM deserves a free pass to reclaim his stolen mandate. Only JM can rescue Ghana!





 Dr. Clement Abas Apaak (@DrApaak) March 17, 2021









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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TREMONT  With the Tremont Police Department no longer in existence, some of the money that was used for salaries and benefits can be used for other purposes.

One big item was what to do with the old police vehicle from the department, which was disbanded at the start of the year.

Tremont Fire Chief Brian Eisenacher had requested the vehicle be turned over to the fire company, which would pay all expenses including insurance. If the borough reconstitutes the police force in the future, Eisenacher agreed at the March 9 meeting that the vehicle would be returned.

The borough agreed, as long as the fire company would cover all expenses. What to do about the new police vehicle has not been publicly discussed.

According to Mayor Roger Adams, all equipment Frailey Township purchased was already returned to that municipality, which was covered by Tremont police, with hopes that one day it can be used again by a new force.

Since there will be savings, council President Bob Donmoyer said he thought about the outstanding loans the borough has and that it could possibly pay more on the loans, including the one taken out to pay contractors that the Federal Emergency Management Agency and Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency will be reimbursing for flood-related work.

Secretary Shea Lucas suggested that council use a quarter of what the police force cost until the borough determines what it can do with the new police vehicle that was purchased with a grant.

Councilman Jim Scheibley reported that he had had a meeting with the state engineer who inspected the boroughs bridges.

He went through step by step whose job it was to do certain things. Afterward, Scheibley said he talked with state Rep. Joe Kerwin, R-125, Lykens, asking him to look at two of the bridges to see if there was any state funding that the borough could seek.

Funding could possibly be available for one of the bridges, but a municipality can be on a waiting list for years.

Borough engineer John Pofff of Light-Heigel agreed.

You got to get on PennDOTS list, he said. Without that, PennDOT wont be thinking about you.

Scheibley also noted there was a member of the Tremont American Legion who wanted to know the status of the property once owned by the Legion and damaged during the 2018 flood. He wants to place some picnic tables on the lot and could be interested in a two-year lease.

According to Scheibley, he is aware of three or four other people who have shown an interest in the lot. After a brief discussion about who owns the property, Donmoyer said the borough would look into it.

Eisenacher provided a written report for February noting the fire company had responded to 14 calls during that month, including a structure fire, a tractor-trailer fire, two motor vehicle accidents and two odor investigations, a landing zone set up and plus four medical assists.

Time spent on various activities were 121 hours for incidents, 120 for administration, 30 for maintenance, 62 for training, and 425 for fundraising.

The departments fish fry fundraisers will continue every Friday through Lent. Anyone interested in volunteering, including for community service hours, should call the firehouse at 570-695-3915 and leave a message.
Breaking all the records of this year, Maharashtra on Wednesday reported the highest single-day spike of Covid-19 cases as it recorded 23,179 cases in the last 24 hours.

In the last 24 hours, the state reported 84 deaths and 9,138 patients discharged after recovery.

Mumbai's daily infection tally too breached the 2,000-mark as the city recorded 2,377 new infections on Wednesday.

There are currently 1,52,760 active cases in the state.
Two daughters who lost their mother to coronavirus now face being kicked out of the family's rented home because the tenancy ended with their parent's death.

Much-loved cafe worker Kyra King died aged 48 last month, just weeks after contracting coronavirus, meaning her devastated daughter Courtney Johnson, 23, is now set to take legal responsibility for her sister Milly, 16, who is currently living with her.

Kyra had rented a four-bedroom property in Bevan Lee Road in Cannock, Staffordshire, for 15 years before her death.

Yet Courtney, who is herself a mother of one, has now been told she cannot take over the tenancy of the long-term family home.

Instead, Milly is being forced to sleep on the settee at her three-bedroomed home, which she shares with her partner, her own three-year-old and his two children.

The family is now appealing to Sanctuary Housing to reverse the decision and have gathered 26,000 signatures on an online petition.

Courtney Johnson, pictured left, is now set to legally become the guardian of her sister Milly, following the death of their mother, Kyra King, pictured right

Support worker Courtney said: 'It means everything to me and Milly to live in my mum's house. This is our family home, where our memories are.

'My mum's passed away and now they're trying to take the house from us. This house is everything and more, we grew up in this house, and all our friends live on this estate.

'The younger sibling's friend, her best friend lives right next door, who actually helped look after my sister when my mum was in hospital.

'I can't explain to you how much staying in this house means to us.

'The house that I'm currently renting, it's a brand new house and I love it. But I don't care about all that. It's nothing. It's the memories and my sister's welfare that means more to me.

'I really don't care what house it is, I care that it's my mum's house and is full of memories.'

Mother-of-five Kyra fell ill with Covid over Christmas and was bedbound from New Year's Day. She was later rushed to hospital after suffering with breathing difficulties.

She was eventually placed in a coma but died on February 2 after developing pneumonia.

Support worker Courtney said: 'The day she passed away I actually had all my siblings with me and we were just setting up a Zoom meeting because even though my mum was in a coma, we were able to do Zoom meetings because they said that she could hear us.

'So I rang the hospital and said, 'Can we set up a Zoom meeting for 7 o'clock?' and they said yes and then within 20 minutes we had a phone call to say 'You need to come over to the hospital, your mum's now produced blood clots on her lungs, her blood oxygen levels have dropped to five, any minute now she's going to have a heart attack and her brain's going to shut down'.

'So we had to go to the hospital and turn the machine off.'

Courtney, who is herself a mother of one, has now been told she cannot take over the tenancy of the long-term family home in Staffordshire

As well as Courtney, Kyra left behind an older son Jordan, 27, as well as a younger 10-year-old daughter and 13-year-old son, who are now living with their dad, who is also Milly's father.

Courtney said: 'It was my mum's wish that Milly live with me and she wanted to stay with me and that's the agreement I have had with her dad.

'Her dad lives nearby and is very supportive and we're in the middle of finalising the guardianship.'

Courtney rents a property in Crab Lane, Cannock, which she shares with her three-year-old daughter, her partner and his two children who stay over four days a week.

That means that Milly has to currently sleep on her settee.

Courtney said: 'I'm just trying to be as strong as I can but Milly's not sleeping, she's constantly crying, she's asking when she can go home.

'She's suffering quite badly. I'm there for her all the way, she knows I'm there and she knows she can talk to me which is good.

'She's in Year 11, in the middle of doing her mock exams and she doesn't feel she's even got the headspace for it at the moment.

'With her sleeping at mine on my sofa she feels like she hasn't got the time to study.

'I've got three bedrooms, my daughter has a bedroom, I have a bedroom and my partner's children who come four times a week have a bedroom.

The family is now appealing to Sanctuary Housing to reverse the decision and have gathered 26,000 signatures on an online petition

'I've told Sanctuary I can afford the rent and that I'll give them three months up front if they want.

'It's the house, it's the memories, it's where we all grew up, it's where the grandchildren grew up.

'We all grew up here. Even though my daughter never lived here, she grew up here because she was always here with me.

'I was here every day with my mum.'

She added: 'They haven't taken the house away yet. They rang me yesterday and said there's a couple of weeks before they put the house up for rent.

'At the moment the house has still got a lot of my mum's furniture in. We've got a couple of weeks until the house has to be emptied.

'They're saying no to Milly and I having the house because they say we haven't got succession.

'If Milly was 18 she would automatically have succession to the house because she's lived here for the 12 years, but because she's 16 she can't have the house and because I haven't lived at the house since I was 16/17. I'm not on the tenancy so they're saying I can't take it on.

'I asked them if it was because of the number of bedrooms and they said it wasn't really because of that.

'It's because of the succession. 'None of you succeed the tenancy, we can't hand it over to any of you'. I've even offered to buy the property and they've said no.'

Sanctuary Housing said: 'We were saddened to hear Miss King had passed away and our thoughts remain with her whole family following their loss. Work is continuing to ensure the housing needs of all the family members are considered.'
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The President of the Baptist Conference in Kwara State, Victor Dada, says more than 20 people, including four pastors, were wounded during the clash between Muslim and Christian parents at Baptist Secondary School, Surulere, Ilorin on Wednesday.

The clash was a fall out of the hijab controversy that led to the closure of 10 schools in Ilorin last month.

The school where the violence erupted on Wednesday was one of the 10 shut down last month by the state government over the controversy and reopened only on Wednesday.

The state government had waded into the controversy and ordered the closure of the schools to avert violent clashes by Christian and Muslim groups.

On Tuesday, it announced that the schools had been told to reopen but must respect its policy that allows the use of the hijab in all public schools.

Clash

However, PREMIUM TIMES gathered that Christian parents at the school barred female Muslim students from entering the school on Wednesday.

This led to a clash with their Muslim counterparts, which later escalated with the rival groups throwing stones and plastic chairs at themselves.

Some of the people were injured before security agents arrived to disperse the fighters.

Mr Dada, in a statement issued Wednesday evening, said the christians, who were on peaceful demonstration with drums and trumpets, came under serious attack by Muslim fundamentalists who mobilised themselves and touts in large number to attack us.

He alleged they overpowered the police, forcefully removed the gate and signpost of the school, and threw stones at the protesters for over an hour.

Only the gallant resistance of members and eventual security reinforcements saved the church from being burnt. More than 20 people (including four pastors) were wounded with three hospitalised.

The fundamentalist in the presence of security officials vehemently attempted to burn the Church and when repelled threatened to burn the Church either during the day or at night. They threw petrol fire to the Church gate and vandilised the auditorium.

According to the Baptist leader, the Muslim fundamentalists went ahead to vandalise The Apostolic Church, Eruda Ilorin, a Church without any Grant Aided School.

It is surprising that the government has become a government of the Muslim by the Muslim for the Muslim in his (sic) policies, pronouncements and attitude.

He also restated that the affected schools are grant aided schools and not public schools.

At no time since the grant aiding policy started in 1974 has any government designed uniform for schools. This has always been the responsibility of the proprietors, be it community or mission. It should be noted that Christians have always complied with Islamic guidelines in grant aided Muslim school as Muslims do not allow any Christian practice in their schools.

The Muslim and government should not take our gentleness for weakness. The government has not employed Christian Religion Knowledge in the last fifteen years but kept employing and posting Imam and Islamic religious teachers in large numbers (even in Mission Schools).

We shall not allow Hijab in our schools. We will defend our faith and defend our inheritance. We demand that the government should return back our schools.

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Premium Times reached out to some of the Muslim stakeholders in the school but they said since they were not present at the venue of the protest, they could not comment on the claims by the Christian cleric.

The spokesperson of the police, Ajayi Okasanmi, was yet to respond to PREMIUM TIMESs telephone calls as of the time of filing this report.

Government position

But the government has maintained its stance on the issue, stating that the use of the head covering is the constitutional right of any female student who choose to use it.

It is important to clarify that the government is not imposing the hijab. It is not mandatory for all our schoolgirls to wear hijab. Rather, the state government approves hjab for any Muslim schoolgirl who wishes to use it. The government is only respecting a fundamental human right of those schoolgirls. Nothing more. This has been communicated to all school heads via a circular of the Ministry of Education and Human Capital Development, the Secretary to the State Government, Mamman Jubril, stated on Wednesday.

It should be noted that the military government, in the 1970s, took over these schools from the missions who founded the schools.

The schools, now grant aided by the government, had their names changed, but some, like those in Kwara, retained their names.

The missions in Kwara had twice challenged the government take-over of the schools in court but lost the suit at the high court and appellate court.

The missions, comprising different Christian denominations, have taken the case to the Supreme Court.
Were a nation of globe-trotting, last-minute flight booking, thong-wearing, beer-swilling, incorrigible travellers, stereotype would have it.

Leaving aside whether we all really live up to that Golden Standard, whats certainly true is that our horizons have been drastically shortened this last twelve months.

Rather than Ibiza, Mykonos, Barcelona, and The Amalfi Coast (challenge us to a cliche off  I dare you), Australians have been enjoying all sorts of alternatives to their dream destinations.

RELATED: The Stunning Maldives Alternative Few Tourists Know About

Though this started off as a trickle, with car conversions gradually popping off and Airbnb bookings gently massaging themselves back to life, over the last few months weve seen the van life movement explode in a mess of photogenic fear and loathing and scintillating domestic flight offers enticing Australians back into the skies.

Relatively reliable border openings have helped too.

The upshot? We are more willing to explore our home country than perhaps ever before. And with international tourism bookings in a steady zero holding pattern, we have more reason to travel domestically than ever before.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Claire Wood  (@clairey_wood)

Providing its done responsibly, tourism operators need our help more than ever. Fortunately, in that regard, Australians appear to be responding to the challenge.

In a recent survey conducted by KPMG, 61 percent of Australian respondents said they were planning on booking a holiday between January and June 2021 and 72 percent said they would book a holiday between July and December 2021.

In the same vein, Jetstar is predicting domestic bookings in 2021 to exceed pre-COVID levels as travel demand for low fares travel rises.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Coline & Jerem (@lesbonsvoyageurs)

As DMARGE reported this morning, this comes with its challenges (see: Iconic Australian Destination Closed After Disrespectful Tourist Behaviour). On a more positive note, however, it also comes with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to enjoy flexible flight booking.

As DMARGE correspondent recently discovered, after booking a Qantas flight to Melbourne (and then, due to illness, being forced to postpone it), we are currently sitting in a golden zone where airlines are still offering incredible deals to entice people back into the air, but in which not enough people are travelling (yet) for those deals to become obsolete, uneconomical, and swept off the table.

Last week there were $200 one-way flights being slung to Melbourne (and $99 flights being slung to Adelaide), with a generous flexibility program meaning even if you ended up not being able to travel when you planned, you could make use of your ticket another time via a flight credit system.

This is enabling Australian domestic travellers to be more whimsical than ever before (note: we say this not to recommend everyone abuse this feature  a drain on the airline  but to make the point theres never been a better and more flexible time to fly than right now).

Cabins are also still nicely uncrowded (when compared to normal times) too. Oh and the $200 Sydney to Melbourne fares were, last week, on offer even during peak times like Friday and Monday.

I started feeling unwell on Thursday, the aforementioned DMARGE source, told us of the credit system. So cancelled and rebooked two more times over this weekend without it costing a single cent. I was cancelling a few hours out when I woke up.

I eventually admited defeat and didnt fly just to be on the safe side but rescheduled for following weekend.

However, even since our correspondent told us this (last week) fares are starting to go up. Generally, now, there are less $200 fares and more $250-$300 fares. Perhaps the golden period is ebbing fast.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Australias Best Luxury Hotel (@sofiteldarlingharbour)

Our take? These are the Halcyon days of domestic travel. Get in while you still can.

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Mumbai, March 17 : Actress Vaani Kapoor says she has always tried to be fit but her upcoming film "Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui" pushed her to work harder.

"I have always tried to be fit but 'Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui' is a film that has really pushed me to work harder and to my limits. To pull off my role, I put myself through a grind that wasn't easy. It was what (director) Abhishek Kapoor saw me have on-screen and I dived headlong into the process of achieving this body type for the film," Vaani said.

The actress claims the film is a huge milestone in her career.

"I wanted to give it all. It required me to achieve a body type that I never had before. Of course, I wanted to nail this role and took this challenge head-on. I needed to appear like a really fit girl. I literally exhausted myself training," she said.

Vaani added: "After a difficult lockdown period and with almost no training, I had to spring back with rigorous workout sessions every day, but when I saw myself on the monitor, I felt it was all worth it".

"Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui" is set to release on July 9.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Susan Blackwell hesitated before setting a little sea turtle she called Proteus in the rolling waves along Grand Isle.

There was emotion involved because we've been with them so long," the Audubon Nature Institute volunteer said. But it felt good because this is where they belong.

On Monday, the first batch of 28 exceptionally rare and endangered Kemps ridley sea turtles were released into the Gulf of Mexico after almost freezing to death in New England, undergoing a harrowing cross-country plane and van trip and spending nearly four months at Audubons Coastal Wildlife Network rehabilitation center in Algiers.

Once their boxes were placed on the sandy beach, the dinner plate-sized turtles jolted to life. They began scraping at the sides and poking their noses out of the holes. When lifted out, their front flippers churned wildly.

Theyre like, Let me back in!" said Gabriella Harlamert, a network rehabilitation coordinator.

The turtles were barely alive when they arrived in New Orleans on Thanksgiving. They were a few of the hundreds of sea turtles  Kemp's ridleys and other threatened species such as loggerheads and greens  that washed up on the beaches of Cape Cod, Mass. after a sudden bout of cold weather in late November. Most turtles had already headed south for warmer waters, but this batch was caught behind the long, hook-shaped peninsula and held there by high winds. Many of the rescued turtles were cold stunned and dying from hypothermia and pneumonia.

Kemps ridleys are considered the worlds most endangered sea turtle. Only 22,000 are estimated to be alive today due to a host of challenges, including habitat loss, over-hunting and frequent drownings in shrimp trawler nets.

While the turtle ranges along the U.S. East and Gulf coasts, it nests only on western Gulf beaches in Mexico and Texas, making the Gulf critical to the species survival.

Climate change is increasing the number of turtle strandings and cold-stunning events along the north Atlantic coast, said Kate Sampson, a turtle rescue coordinator with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

The waters from the Gulf of Maine, which extends to Cape Cod, are warming up faster than 99% of the other water bodies in the world, she said. The turtles are coming farther north into that warmer water. Thats not a problem until temperatures drop in the fall and they cant get away fast enough.

In the 1990s, turtle strandings on the Massachusetts coast ranged around 100 per year. Now were getting about 600 per year, Sampson said. "And this year, we were completely overrun."

The number of turtles rescued in November overwhelmed wildlife centers and aquariums in New England, so dozens were flown to rehab centers along the East Coast and Gulf Coast. Much of the flying was done by volunteers with Turtles Fly Too, a nonprofit group that provides air transport to endangered turtles.

Jessica Regnante and her husband, Robert Tingley, agreed to fly 30 turtles tucked in banana boxes to New Orleans. It didnt go as planned.

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First, we were delayed by wind, and then there was the thunderstorm we kept trying to fly around, Regnante said. We were up there for so long.

While Tingley piloted the small plane, Regnante fussed over their towel-swaddled cargo. She kept an eye on the temperature gauge to ensure it didnt fall below 70 degrees and whispered encouragement to the turtles.

Low fuel forced Tingley to make an unplanned pit stop in Chattanooga, Tenn. Upon touching down, something struck the propeller.

My husband heard a ping and knew immediately what it meant, Regnante said. He said Oh my gosh, we cant take off again.'

With the plane grounded, frantic phone calls were made until someone reached the staff of the Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga.

It was the night before Thanksgiving, and everybodys getting their turkey ready, Sampson said. But the aquarium staff  they jumped on it.

The turtles spent the night at the aquarium under the care of a veterinarian. On Thanksgiving morning, Regnante and Tingley, who live near Boston, rented a van and drove the turtles to Tuscaloosa, Ala., where Coastal Wildlife Network staff met them and rushed the turtles to New Orleans. Network staff spent their Thanksgiving administering emergency medical care to sick sea turtles.

Theyve received round-the-clock care ever since. Most of the turtles have grown strong enough to swim freely in the Audubon rehab centers 5-foot-deep tank. Two turtles didnt recover.

They were really compromised when they came in, but saving 28 out of 30 was pretty good, Harlamert said.

The centers staff and volunteers grew close to the turtles. They noticed personality traits, had favorites and gave them New Orleans-themed names such as Rex, Zulu, Muff-a-lotta and Pete Fountain.

Blackwell, the volunteer who released Proteus, had trouble letting go.

They just came from being warm and fed everyday, and now its off into the great unknown, she said. Im 72, and Ive had to let two kids go. Youd think itd get easier.




By Park Ji-won







The Catholic Priests' Association for Justice held a street Mass on Monday near the Myanmar Embassy in Seoul, praying for Myanmar's democracy.







Up to 50 people consisting of priests of the liberal Catholic group joined the Mass. Several placards were hung nearby. One read "Myanmar's Military Coup, stop the massacre against citizens" and another read "Peace, freedom, hope for Myanmar."







"Korea had gone through similar experiences to what Myanmar is currently undergoing. I held this Mass for the citizens who are suffering amid despair," said Kim Young-sik, head of the group who presided over the Mass.







"We are planning to invite activists and students from Myanmar and financially support their tuition fees and living expenses in the long term."







The group has donated some $20,000 (22.6 million won) to the civic groups in Myanmar while starting raising funds for democracy of Myanmar which would be run through April.







Na Hyun-phil, head of the Korean House for International Solidarity, said, "It is an honor to join the Mass with a lot of nuns and priests. But my heart is heavy. About 40 people died yesterday in the industrial park in Yangon, Myanmar, because of military suppression."






Intelligent.com, a trusted resource for online degree rankings and higher education planning, has announced the Top 25 Colleges In West Virginia for 2021. The comprehensive research guide is based on an assessment of 68 accredited colleges and universities in the nation. Each institution is evaluated based on curriculum quality, graduation rate, reputation, and post-graduate employment.

The 2021 rankings are calculated through a unique scoring system which includes student engagement, potential return on investment and leading third party evaluations. Intelligent.com analyzed 68 schools, on a scale of 0 to 100, with only 25 making it to the final list. The methodology also uses an algorithm which collects and analyzes multiple rankings into one score to easily compare each school.

To access the complete ranking, please visit: https://www.intelligent.com/best-colleges-in-west-virginia/

2021 Top Colleges In West Virginia featured on Intelligent.com (in alphabetical order):

Alderson Broaddus University

American Public University System

Appalachian Bible College

Bethany College

Bluefield State College

Concord University

Davis & Elkins College

Fairmont State University

Future Generations University

Glenville State College

Marshall University

Ohio Valley University

Potomac State College

Salem University

Shepherd University

Strayer University

University of Charleston

West Liberty University

West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine

West Virginia State University

West Virginia University at Parkersburg

West Virginia University Institute of Technology

West Virginia University

West Virginia Wesleyan College

Wheeling Jesuit University

About Intelligent.com

Intelligent.com provides unbiased research to help students make informed decisions about higher education programs. The website offers curated guides which include the best degree programs as well as information about financial aid, internships and even study strategies. With comprehensive, user-friendly guides and hundreds of program rankings, Intelligent.com is a trusted source among students and prospective students. To learn more, please visit https://www.intelligent.com/.
The world's first satellite that uses magnets to gather up space junk will launch this weekend.

The craft, called ELSA-d and made by Japanese firm Astroscale, will blast off from Kazakhstan aboard a Russian Soyuz rocket at 6.07am GMT on Saturday (March 20).

The 200kg craft consists of two components that will perform a series of tests in space to trial the ability to retrieve junk with a magnetic mechanism.

The mission, licensed by the UK Space Agency, is acting as a test case for licensing future missions to remove defunct spacecraft and fragments of debris.

According to the European Space Agency (ESA), there are approximately 9,200 tonnes of space debris  defined as human-made objects that have fragmented from spacecraft and are now floating aimlessly above the Earth.

The world's first mission to demonstrate how space debris could be removed from lower Earth orbit will launch later this week. ELSA-d consists of two spacecraft that will perform a series of tests in space to test its ability to retrieve junk with its magnetic mechanism

Saturday morning's launch  which Astroscale says will mark the worlds first commercial mission to 'demonstrate the core technologies necessary for space debris docking and removal'  will be streamed live.

'Pre-launch activities have been successfully completed, and ELSA-d is now integrated on the rocket and ready to prove our technical capabilities to the world,' said Nobu Okada, Astroscale founder and CEO.

'This landmark mission will also enable better-informed policy developments and drive the business case for on-orbit services such as end-of-life and active debris removal.

'This is an incredible moment, not only for our team, but for the entire satellite servicing industry, as we work towards maturing the debris removal market and ensuring the responsible use of our orbits.'

As part of the upcoming demonstration, two components will be blasted into space together  a 180kg servicer satellite to collect the debris, and a 20kg 'client satellite'.

The smaller client satellite is a piece of replica debris fitted with a plate that enables docking with the servicer's magnetic mechanism when it gets close.

Close-up of the 180kg servicer satellite, equipped with a magnetic capture mechanism, which will repeatedly release and dock with the 'client' spacecraft

Astroscale intends to prove the capabilities required for debris removal, including client search, inspection and rendezvous, and both non-tumbling and tumbling docking

During the mission, the servicer will repeatedly release and dock with the client in a series of technical demonstrations, as a dummy run for how it would find and dock with defunct satellites and other debris.

Demonstrations include looking for the client, inspecting it and meeting up with it, and 'tumbling' docking  where the client satellite comes lose and tumbles away the servicer has to catch up with it.

ELSA-d, which is short for End-of-Life Services by Astroscale demonstration, will be operated from the National Facility at the Satellite Applications Catapult (SAC) at Harwell Campus in Oxfordshire.

'We will perform complex manoeuvres to demonstrate the release and capture of this debris,' said John Auburn, managing director of Astroscale UK and group chief commercial officer.

'This mission will prepare the way for Astroscale to scale-up our commercial debris removal services for satellite providers and government partners.'

Auburn said it will be the first semi-autonomous robotic magnetic capture of a piece of debris tumbling through space.

A collision with space debris could have a big impact on satellite services people rely on every day

The mission will use advanced software and autonomous control technology, rather than being completely under human control, however.

'These kinds of demonstrations have never been done before in space  they are very different to, say, an astronaut controlling a robotic arm on the International Space Station,' Jason Forshaw at Astroscale UK told New Scientist.

With up to tens of thousands of satellites launching in the coming years, space debris endangers 'a flourishing ecosystem in space', Astroscale says.

According to ESA, there are 34,000 pieces of space debris that greater than 4 inches in length, and another 130,000 bits of space debris smaller than this.

It estimates there have been more than 560 break-ups, explosions, collisions, or anomalous events resulting in fragmentation.

While rocket launches have placed about 10,680 satellites in Earth's orbit since 1957, around 6,250 of these are still in space, but only 3,700 are still functioning.

'A collision with debris in space could have a major impact on the many satellite services we rely on every day on Earth, from mobile phones to online banking,' said Dr Alice Bunn, international director at the UK Space Agency, which approved the licence for the launch earlier this month.

'The UK is taking a leading role in international efforts to clean up space debris as the largest investor in space safety for the European Space Agency,' Dr Bunn said.

'Astroscale's exciting ELSA-d mission is the world's first commercial demonstration debris removal mission and will show how we can make space safer for everyone.'
"What's in a Name is a new, twice a month feature, that looks into how or who things in the area were named after. If you are curious about a name, let us know: 970-256-4232; tips@gjsentinel.com.
(ANSAmed) - TUNIS, MARCH 17 - Tunisian President Kais Saied landed on Wednesday morning at Mitiga airport in Tripoli, where he was welcomed with military honors by the new head of the Libyan Presidential Council, Mohammed Menfi.



On Wednesday he is also scheduled to meet with the premier of the national unity government, Abdul Hamid Dbeibah, the Tunisian presidency said, stressing that the visit "is an opportunity to draft new visions that will consolidate the process of distinct cooperation between Tunisia and Libya and will lay the ground for global solidarity satisfying the legitimate aspirations of two friendly people for stability and development".



A joint press conference will be held after the meetings. The Tunisian president will be accompanied by the minister of foreign affairs, migration and Tunisians abroad, Othman Jerandi.



It is the first visit by a head of State to Libya after the new interim Libyan government was sworn in. The cabinet has the task of taking the country to elections scheduled on December 24, 2021. The last visit to Libya by a Tunisian president dates back to 2012.



Tunisia and Libya are also hoping for an economic recovery and bilateral trade. For this purpose, the third edition of the Tunisian-Libyan Business Forum was held on March 11 in Sfax, at the initiative of the Tabc (Tunisia-Africa Business Council).



It was attended by several ministers, officials and entrepreneurs from both countries. The volume of commercial exchanges between Tunisia and Libya has drastically plummeted (from 3.4 billion dinars in 2010 to today's less than a billion dinars), according to data presented by Tabc. (ANSAmed).


Chennai, March 17 : Manual scavenging continues to haunt Tamil Nadu. The Safai Karmachari Andolan (SKA), an umbrella body working for the welfare of manual scavengers, moved the Madras high court after the state witnessed the second highest number of deaths of manual scavengers.

Forty three people lost their lives in the last five years with 14 losing their lives in 2020 while they were engaged in manual scavenging, a figure which is second only to Uttar Pradesh which stands at 52 in the past five years.

The first bench of the Madras high court represented by Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice Senthilkumar Ramamurthy ruled that criminal proceedings will be initiated against the civic body chiefs like municipal commissioner or corporation commissioner if people die due to manual scavenging.

The judges observed that "Even after passing stringent orders people are dying in pits. It is really painful to hear that 6 people have lost their lives after the dawn of this year." The court observed, "It is high time that the heads of civic bodies are personally held liable to deaths owing to manual scavenging in their territories." It said that if any manual scavenging work is reported in Tamil Nadu, the concerned commissioner or civic body chief must be immediately arrested.

On February 14, 2021 three people had lost their lives owing to asphyxiation while they were cleaning the sewage pit of a catering unit at Kancheepuram.

When Murugan, who entered the pit was not responding to calls, his co-workers Bhagyaraj and Arumugam entered the pit to rescue him but all three lost their lives after inhaling toxic fumes.

On February 17 also one person died due to asphyxiation while trying to clean a 30 feet deep well in a residential premises at Saidapet, Chennai whose water was mixed with sewage water following a leak in a sewage pipe line. Workers Ravi and Kasi who entered the well fell unconscious and Ravi succumbed later while Kasi survived.

Samuel Raj, Secretary of the Tamil Nadu Untouchability Eradication Front (TNUEF) while speaking to IANS said, "Every year more than 20 people die while working as manual scavengers but the figure may go up as there is no proper data available and unless a door to door survey is conducted there will be no proper data." The Safai Karmachari Andolan reports that the figures of 43 deaths for the past five years is wrong and that according to the data available with them 69 people have lost their lives.

D Samuel Velanganni of the SKA told IANS, "These are figures we compiled but there may be many more as these people are not at all organized. The government has already declared the state as free of manual scavenging but it goes on unchecked. The court order is a welcome one and the government will now have to take action." India has officially banned manual scavenging with the passing of the Employment of Manual Scavengers and Construction of Dry Latrines (Prohibition) Act 1993.

SKA leader Samuel Velanganni said, "We conducted a survey in eight districts of Tamil Nadu in 2019 and found 3000 people engaged in manual scavenging in just eight districts of Tamil Nadu."
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - March 17, 2021) - Royal Road Minerals Limited (TSXV: RYR) ("Royal Road" or the "Company") is pleased to announce further interim drilling results and that it has recommenced drilling at its Caribe gold discovery in northeastern Nicaragua.

The Caribe project forms a part of the Company's Strategic-Alliance agreement (see press release; September 6, 2017) with Hemco Mineros Nicaragua ("Hemco" a subsidiary of Colombia's Grupo Mineros S.A. MINEROS:CB) and is located in the highly prospective "Golden Triangle" of northeastern Nicaragua. Royal Road Minerals is operator of the Strategic Alliance.

Royal Road's exploration team discovered the Caribe project during reconnaissance exploration in February of 2018. Outcrop at Caribe is concealed under soil and laterite cover and there is no previous record of mining or mineralization in the area. In 2019, Royal Road and Hemco completed an initial 4-hole, exploratory drilling program at Caribe which returned promising results for gold (see Press Release October 7, 2019). A follow-up diamond drilling program commenced at the project during August of last year and has returned encouraging initial results including; CB-DDH-016, 100.45 meters at 1.0 grams per tonne and CB-DDH-016, 63 meters at 1.0 grams per tonne gold (see Press Releases November 10, 2020, February 11, 2021 and Table 1). Results for a further 4 exploratory drill holes have now been returned. Significant results include:

CB-DDH-01790 meters at 1.0 gram per tonne gold ( bogged and abandoned above objective )

CB-DDH-01935 meters at 1.0 and 10 meters at 1.0 grams per tonne gold ( bogged and abandoned above objective )

(not true width and the company does not have sufficient information to make a determination of the true widths of the drill hole intersections)

In the majority of cases, individual drill holes at Caribe have been unable to reach their planned objective due to the drilling rods becoming stuck in zones of strong clay alteration. Drilling was suspended whilst a drilling rig with more depth capacity was sourced. Drilling has now recommenced with a new and more powerful drilling rig capable of transecting the problematic clay zones and testing the continuity of gold mineralization at depth.





Table 1



To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/4008/77572_table1_orig.JPG

Furthermore, anomalous gold has now been intersected in drill holes and in deep auger soil samples under soil and laterite cover over a distance of at-least 1.2 kilometers at Caribe. In order to fully test the spatial extent and continuity of gold at the project, Royal Road and Hemco have jointly acquired a portable Rotary Air Blast/Reverse Circulation (RAB/RC) drilling rig with capacity to test beneath more than 50 meters of soil and laterite cover. Grid-based RAB drilling is expected to commence at Caribe in May of this year.

Gold at Caribe occurs together with elevated copper and molybdenum and is hosted within a multi-phase, broadly trachytic polymictic breccia body and within a porphyritic monzonite intrusion which appears to be emplaced within the breccia body as steeply dipping dykes (see Figure 1). Gold of up to 19.0 grams per tonne has been returned from within the porphyritic monzonite intrusion (CB-DDH-009, 130-131 meters). Alteration is predominantly sericite-illite-pyrite overprinted by silica, with a late pervasive hematite. Although geological observations are limited to drill core only, the system is interpreted to represent a broadly alkaline gold mineralized diatreme breccia with a possibly associated porphyritic intrusion at depth.





Figure 1



To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/4008/77572_figure1-orig.jpg

"We are pleased to recommence drilling at Caribe and excited to explore the potential of the mineralized breccia and intrusive bodies at depth" said Dr Tim Coughlin, Royal Roads President and CEO. "The arrival of the RAB/RC rig is also eagerly awaited. We are of the opinion that Caribe is hosted in a concealed, district-scale, fault-magmatic zone which can only be tested by regional RAB drilling under soil and laterite cover."

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

The information in this news release was compiled, reviewed and verified by Dr. Tim Coughlin, BSc (Geology), MSc (Exploration and Mining), PhD (Structural Geology), FAusIMM, President and CEO of Royal Road Minerals Ltd and a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101. Royal Road Minerals employees are instructed to follow standard operating and quality assurance procedures intended to ensure that all sampling techniques and sample results meet international reporting standards. More information can be found on Royal Road Minerals web site at www.royalroadminerals.com

Quality Assurance and Quality Control:

Diamond drill core is cut in half over 1-meter downhole intervals using a core saw. Samples are prepared and assayed by independent and ISO accredited laboratories of Bureau Veritas Minerals (BVM) and their local subsidiaries. Bagged 1-meter samples are collected from site and delivered to BVM sample preparation laboratories in Managua. Samples are prepared using the BVM codes PRP70-250 plus PUL85, where samples are crushed to 70% less than two millimeters, a riffle split of 250 grams is collected and then pulverized to better than 85 per cent passing 75 microns. Prepared sample pulps are then sent for analysis to BVM labs in Vancouver Canada. Gold is analyzed by fire assay with an atomic absorption finish and a measurement range of 0.005 to 10 ppm. Samples over 10-ppm gold are re-analyzed by fire assay with a gravimetric finish. Multielement concentrations are analyzed by four-acid digestion and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer. Samples over 10,000ppm Cu, Zn, Pb or Mn and 200 ppm W, are re-analyzed with four acid digestion and Inductively Coupled Plasma Emission Spectrometer (ICP-ES). Commercially prepared standards (gold-copper pulps), blanks (pulps and coarse chips) and field duplicates are inserted into the sample stream by Royal Road Minerals for a total of 15% QA/QC to ensure sample precision. In the case of duplicate analyses of a sample, the average of both analyses is used as the final reported value. Unless otherwise stated, gold grades are not capped for calculation of length-weighted averages.

Cautionary statement:

This news release contains certain statements that constitute forward-looking information and forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws (collectively, "forward-looking statements") including statements relating to the Hemco-Mineros Alliance and those describing the Company's future plans and the expectations of its management that a stated result or condition will occur. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company, or developments in the Company's business or in the mineral resources industry, or with respect to the Hemco-Mineros Alliance, to differ materially from the anticipated results, performance, achievements or developments expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include all disclosure regarding possible events, conditions or results of operations that is based on assumptions about, among other things, future economic conditions and courses of action, and assumptions related to government approvals, and anticipated costs and expenditures. The words "plans", "prospective", "expect", "intend", "intends to" and similar expressions identify forward looking statements, which may also include, without limitation, any statement relating to future events, conditions or circumstances. Forward-looking statements of the Company contained in this news release, which may prove to be incorrect, include, but are not limited to, those related to the Hemco-Mineros Alliance, Hemco-Mineros, and the Company's plans exploration plans.

The Company cautions you not to place undue reliance upon any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. There is no guarantee that the anticipated benefits of the Hemco-Mineros Alliance and the Company's business plans or operations will be achieved. The risks and uncertainties that may affect forward-looking statements include, among others: economic market conditions, anticipated costs and expenditures, government approvals, and other risks detailed from time to time in the Company's filings with Canadian provincial securities regulators or other applicable regulatory authorities. Forward-looking statements included herein are based on the current plans, estimates, projections, beliefs and opinions of the Company management and, in part, on information provided to the Company by Hemco-Mineros, and, except as required by law, the Company does not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements should assumptions related to these plans, estimates, projections, beliefs and opinions change.

For further information please contact:

Dr. Timothy Coughlin

President and Chief Executive Officer

USA-Canada toll free 1800 6389205

+44 (0)1534 887166

info@royalroadminerals.com

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/77572
A new online film featuring a swarm of 500 drones animating the skies of Dublin in a spectacular light show has been unveiled, to wish the world a Happy St Patricks Day. The film  called Orchestra of Light  was created by St Patricks Festival, Tourism Ireland and Dublin City Council earlier this month. (Pic: Allen Kiely)

The Dublin skyline will feature in a spectacular new online film wishing the world a happy St Patricks Day today.

A swarm of 500 drones buzzing over some of the most iconic landmarks in the capital earlier this month created a dazzling light display with images of a Celtic cross, a shamrock and texts wishing viewers a Happy St Patricks Day as well as I love Ireland and this is Ireland shining in the night sky over the River Liffey.

The film, called Orchestra of Light, was created by the St Patricks Festival, Tourism Ireland and Dublin City Council.

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The film aims to tell a story of Irelands global influence and how a small island on the edge of Europe has spread its culture and traditions across the world, according to a publicist.

"Symbols of our traditional music and dance culture, a central part of our St Patricks Day celebrations in normal times , play out over the Dublin skies in the spectacular light show.

"The drones swarm into the image of a globe turning green and into formations of Celtic art, before wishing the world a Happy St Patricks Day in an explosion of glowing shamrocks.

The display is set to music by composer Eimear Noone and her husband Craig Stuart Garfinkle who collaborated with the RTE National Symphony Orchestra and the band Picture This, to produce a score featuring an orchestral remix of the bands latest single Things Are Different.

The film will be streamed on social media around the world today as well as on the Tourism Ireland website and database of more than 20,000 journalists and travel writers from around the world.

Niall Gibbons, Chief Executive of Tourism Ireland, said: Although St Patricks Day will be very different this year, our aim is to capitalise on the heightened exposure for Ireland around the globe on 17 March, to ensure that Ireland remains top of mind as a great holiday destination for bookings, when the time is right.
Strictly Come Dancing star Tess Daly has unveiled her luxury swimwear brand Naia Beach - which includes a line made from recycled fishing nets.

The presenter revealed her new line to fans earlier this week on her Instagram, after working on designs during lockdown with her friend and business partner Gayle Lawton.

The swimwear, which Tess says was inspired by a trip to the Maldives, put comfort at the fore, as well as being eco-friendly, with much of the nylon used coming from abandoned fishing nets.

The luxury swimsuits and bikinis don't come cheap though, retailing at 120 for a one-shoulder bikini and 130 for a one-piece.

Tess Daly unveiled her eco-friendly swimwear brand this week. Naia Beach includes a line that's made of recycled nylon and other materials such as plastic and discarded textiles. Pictured: the Selene swimsuit, priced at 130

The Strictly Come Dancing host, pictured right, created the venture with her friend and business partner Gayle Lawton (left)

Excited fans of the star said they couldn't wait for their next beach holiday to give the swimsuits a try.

Tess's website boasts that nearly three quarters of the black swimwear is made from 'abandoned or spent fishing nets.' Discarded plastic and textiles have also been used.

Tess, 51 - who is married to I'm a Celebrity star Vernon Kay, 46, says that the planet-friendly part of her range are some of her favourite pieces.

In a post ahead of Tuesday's launch, the star wrote: 'Me and my longtime friend Gayle have worked so hard to realise our dream of launching our collection of luxurious beachwear.

'We're really proud of the results and hope you love it as much as we do.

The Hera bikini, with a one-shoulder strap, is priced at 120. Tess said the piece was her 'favourite' on Instagram

Tess announced the brand's launch on March 15th on Instagram with a picture of her in the Maldives, saying the trip to the balmy islands had inspired the collection

The brand hails its Selene one-piece as the swimwear equivalent of the little black dress

'Our mission at NAIA is for you to feel comfortable, confident and special when wearing our collection and that's why each piece is designed for an ultra flattering fit.'

Sharing snaps of the Hera two-piece - made from re-purposed fishing nets - Tess added: 'My favourite bikini.'

Meanwhile, the Naia website hails the Selene one-piece as the swimwear equivalent of the Little Black dress, calling it 'modern yet timeless'.

The website also offers a range of 'cover ups' such as beach dresses and kaftans from 120 to 160 from their Goddess collection, which Tess and Gayle have modelled themselves on Instagram for the launch.

The Hera, pictured, has a one shoulder cut at the front, but at the back is supported by five stylish strings (right)

The line was designed with women and comfort in mind, says the star, promising to offer a flattering fit. Pictured: the back of the Selene one-piece, left and the back of the Hera, right

The Selene, priced at 130, is also made of recycled materials and included a stylish clasp at its back

The two women hit it off after meeting at a dinner party ten years ago, and Tess told Hello Magazine it had been like 'finding a sister.'

Fans and friends of Tess, including her fellow Strictly presenter Claudia Winkleman, encouraged her on social media with emojis and kind words.

ITV presenter Rylan Clark-Neal said: 'Well done babe,' while Big Brother star Brian Dowling wrote: 'Gorgeous so chic.'

Fans said they just need to be able to go on holidays post pandemic to enjoy them.

'Looks great, just need the world to open up so we can go on beach holidays,' one said.

Another joked: 'Wow, looks fabulous, now all I need is to be allowed to find a beach.'

An engraved clasp at the back of the Selene one-piece swimsuit reads 'Naia,' the name of the brand
There was no break-in period for the new Department of Homeland Security secretary.

Alejandro Mayorkas went from his confirmation hearing in the Senate to confronting a surge of migrants along the southern border almost immediately, and while the new DHS chief wont call the current situation a crisis, he did announce Tuesday that the nation is on track to record the highest number of apprehensions in over two decades.

It is a challenge, the White House regularly insists, that has only been made worse by the previous administrations policies.

When I started 27 days ago, Mayorkas told reporters at the White House in early March, I learned that we did not have the facilities available or equipped to administer the humanitarian laws that our Congress passed years ago. We did not have the personnel, policies, procedures, or training to administer those laws.

Quite frankly, he added, the entire system was gutted.

And yet, at least for now, rebuilding the system that Trump allegedly wrecked does not include surrounding Mayorkas with the executive personnel he doubtless needs to do his job. As the surge continues, President Biden continues to mull who he should name to key immigration posts.

We will dig out of the cruelty of the past administration and we will rebuild our nations asylum system, Mayorkas promised reporters two weeks ago. Asylum claims are up, as are the responsibilities of the office of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Biden has yet to nominate a new director for that agency.

Im working around the clock to replace the cruelty of the past administration with an orderly, humane, and safe immigration process, Mayorkas said of a system that includes both Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, two more agencies that Biden has left without permanent leaders.

If the administration is rebuilding immigration systems while also confronting an unprecedented migrant surge, why the delay?

He is eager to nominate individuals to fill all of those spots, White House press secretary Jen Psaki told RealClearPolitics on March 2. We need to find the right people and the right nominees. Hopefully, well have news on that in the coming weeks, but I dont have anything to preview for you, unfortunately, on personnel.

Two weeks later, as the migrant wave accelerates, Biden still hasnt named any new DHS nominees. The White House, meanwhile, remains mum. RCP requests for comment went unanswered.

The Senate Homeland Security Committee is ready to move on any nominees. A source close to Chairman Gary Peters told RCP that the senator is committed to working with President Biden to get qualified, Senate-confirmed nominees in place quickly as they are nominated.

The president has remained relatively silent about the situation at the border. Asked whether he plans to visit there, Biden told reporters at the White House, Not at the moment. Then he walked to Marine One to start the first leg of a tour touting his recently passed American Rescue Plan Act. The White House has remained focused on beating back the pandemic and reviving the economy, or as Biden recently summarized, getting shots in arms and money in pockets.

(In an interview with ABC News that aired Tuesday evening, the president said migrants are mistaken about the message hes sending. I can say quite clearly: Don't come over. Don't leave your town or city or community for the United States at this time.)

When asked if the vacancies made the situation more difficult, a DHS spokesperson told RCP that there are officials serving in those roles in an acting capacity. Halfway into his first 100 days then, Biden is relying on unconfirmed officials, not unlike his predecessor. Trump made headlines with his preference for acting secretaries. He often skipped the Senate confirmation process, raising constitutional questions and transparency concerns.

Auditioning for a job may not be the best way to do that job, wrote Carrie Cordero, a senior fellow at Center for a New American Security, and Joshua A. Geltzer, then a visiting professor of law at Georgetown University.

Its not just that acting secretaries have less ability to push back on the president; its also that they have less ability to lead their own organizations, both internally and across the governments national security apparatus, the pair wrote to commemorate day 79 of Patrick Shanahans tenure as Trumps acting secretary of defense.

While acting secretaries are generally able to exercise the technical legal authorities of their positions, they dont have the same practical ability to  drive change within their organizations internally or raise issues for congressional attention. And thats bad for U.S. national security, the pair concluded.

Cordero was unavailable Tuesday for comment. Geltzer joined the Biden White House in February as a special assistant to the president. He advises on issues of homeland security.
Plus, Bill's Message of the Day, say goodbye to law and order Joe.

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CAIRO  Egypt announced March 10 its intention to sign an agreement with Libya and Chad to establish a new road linking the three countries, opening the door for Chadian products to the Egyptian market.

This came on the heels of a March 1 visit to Chad led by the head of the Egyptian General Intelligence Service, Maj. Gen. Abbas Kamel. The Egyptian high-level military delegation visited Chad with the aim of boosting cooperation between the two countries and discussing ways to combat terrorist organizations in the landlocked state in north-central Africa.

Egypt has previously sought further rapprochement with Chad in a bid to support bilateral relations. On March 5, Egyptian Health and Population Minister Hala Zayed said that Egypt provided Chad with medical aid and support to stem the coronavirus pandemic. Egypt provided free treatment to Chadian citizens, set up field hospitals for ophthalmic surgeries and brought in Chadian specialists for training at the hospitals affiliated with the Health Ministry.

In a March 8 report, Al-Araby Al-Jadeed quoted sources saying that Kamel paid two visits to Chad in the past month, where he met with officials and confirmed Egypts readiness to upgrade its military, security and technical support to Chad, by organizing military exercises and offering grants for the military.

According to the same sources, Kamel agreed with Chadian officials on future mutual presidential visits. He noted that Egypt has turned its focus on Chad because Egyptian intelligence reports confirmed that Turkey has been seeking to establish a foothold in the country and the rest of the African Sahel region.

Chad is, in fact, preparing to host an international conference called for by the World Tourism Forum Institute (WTFI) in Turkey, which is designed to promote tourism in the country and increase tourism investments and the number of incoming tourists.

The Chadian Ministry of Tourism and WTFI signed an agreement in December 2020, in an attempt to boost tourism in Chad.

Hiba al-Bashbishi, a professor of political science at the Institute of African Studies and Research at Cairo University, told Al-Monitor that Egypt began to move toward African countries after years of neglect.

Under several previous regimes, Africa had remained neglected for decades. But Turkeys intention on gaining a foothold in Chad was Egypts wake-up call. Egypt is late to the party while Turkey has already a strong presence in Chad, she said.

On Nov. 24, 2020, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan made a phone call to his Chadian counterpart, Idriss Deby, assuring him of Ankaras desire to deepen trade and economic cooperation with N'Djamena, in all fields.

During the coronavirus crisis, Turkey intensified its support for Chad. On May 26, 2020, the Turkish Ministry of Defense announced that it was dispatching a military cargo plane carrying medical aid to help Chad cope with the outbreak of the pandemic.

On June 18, 2020, a military cargo plane carrying medical supplies and ambulances, took off from Turkeys Etimesgut air base to Chad at the directives of Erdogan.

On June 25, 2020, Maj. Gen. Ahmed al-Mismari, spokesman for the Libyan National Army (LNA), said that Turkey has been making efforts to infiltrate in several African countries, including Niger, Chad and the Horn of Africa.

According to Bashbishi, Turkey has been exploiting the crises gripping Chad, including poverty, famine, terrorism and internal conflicts. She argued that Turkey has been trying to gain a foothold in Chad at all levels  be it educational, economic or military  with the aim of creating areas of influence in Africa and bring about complete control over Libya, and tightening the noose on Egypt.

On May 5, 2020, Turkeys Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) announced the building of an applied agricultural school in Chad, in support of agricultural development in the African country.

TIKAs Chad Coordinator Melih Mucahid Ates said back then that the school that would be built within the framework of the Chad-Turkey Friendship Complex Project would significantly contribute to the countrys progress.

On Feb. 28, 2019, Erdogan signed with his Chadian counterpart four deals, including a military framework agreement, and other agreements in relation to cash assistance, cooperation in education and cooperation in the cultural field.

Bashbishi argued that Chad represents national security for Egypt, as it is a country with a pivotal role especially in relation to its influence on the situation in both Sudan and Libya. Through Chad it is possible to create chaos in and pose a threat to the Egyptian borders, she said.

She added, Chad has a direct road to Sudans Darfur, with no presence of any Chadian forces. Chad is also connected to Libya via a desert road, where weapons and individuals are smuggled. Therefore, Turkeys control over Chad threatens Egypts security."

Shifa al-Afari, an Eritrean writer and political analyst specializing in African affairs, concurred with Bashbishi. He told Al-Monitor that Egypts approach toward Chad has clear objectives, namely protecting Egyptian national security from any threats, as Chad is an extension of Egypts strategic depth.

This is also a move to cut off the path to Turkish hegemony in the region, and the emergence of Cairo as a strong competitor to Ankara in the field of military logistic support, Afari said.

He added that during his recent visit to Chad, the Egyptian intelligence chief discussed ways of military and logistic support that Cairo could provide to Chad to combat terrorism and armed groups.

On July 27, 2020, it was reported that the Turkish government had signed a military agreement with Niger and was preparing to announce a similar agreement with other countries neighboring Libya, including Chad, as part of Turkeys attempts to tighten control over Libya.

Afari believes that Egypt is also trying to gain a foothold in Egypt because Cairo wants to compensate for its loss in Libya, after the Turkish-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) defeated Egypts ally strongman Khalifa Hifter, leader of the LNA, which further increased Turkish influence in Libya.

On June 4, 2020, Hifter was dealt a series of defeats at the hands of the GNA, prompting him to completely withdraw from Tripoli. On June 20, 2020, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said the Libyan provinces of Sirte and Jufra were a red line for Egypt, for fear that the GNA, with Turkeys support, would control the eastern Libyan border with Egypt.
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.
New York, March 17 : The man who killed eight people in shootings at Atlanta massage parlours may have been impelled by "sex addiction", officials said on Wednesday although six of the victims were of Asian descent.

A 21-year-old White man, Robert Aaron Long, is in custody and he has admitted to carrying out the Tuesday evening shooting at three locations, officials said.

The killings of people of Asian descent came as the country was being swept by a wave of violence against them.

But Sheriff's Office Captain Jay Baker said at a news conference on Wednesday that two of the victims were White and that Long "does claim that it was not racially motivated".

Sheriff Frank Reynolds said Long "made indicators that he has some issues, potentially sexual addiction, and may have frequented some of these places in the past".

Baker added that Long told them he considered the spas "as an outlet for him" to do "something he shouldn't be doing" and that he wanted "to take out that temptation".

Seven of those killed were women and the South Korean Foreign Ministry said that four of them were of Korean descent.

At least one person was also injured in the attack.

Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms said: "Whether it's senseless violence that we've seen play out in our streets, or more targeted violence like we saw yesterday, a crime against any community is a crime against us all." Fears persisted in the Asian community that they were targeted because of the spate of violence against them.

Vice President Kamala Harris said: "Knowing the increasing level of hate crime against our Asian American brothers and sisters, we also want to speak out in solidarity with them and acknowledge that none of us should ever be silent in the face of any form of hate." An organisation, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the US, has said that 3,800 cases of violence and harassment have taken place in the past year.

Democrats and Asian activists have blamed former President Donald Trump for the violence because of repeated assertions calling Covid-19 the "Kungflu" and an "Asian virus", leading some people to blame Asians in the US for the pandemic.

Officials said that after images of Long were circulated, his family identified him and alerted them enabling them to track him using his mobile phone.

He was captured without incident about 240 km away. Officials said that he was on his way to Florida and may have been planning to attack a "porn" business.

(Arul Louis can be reached at arul.l@ians.in and followed on Twitter at @arulouis)
Measures unveiled to support Taiwan-funded enterprises development in agriculture, forestry on mainland

Xinhua) 10:06, March 17, 2021

Photo taken on July 21, 2019 from Xiangshan Mountain shows the Taipei 101 skyscraper in Taipei, southeast China's Taiwan. (Xinhua/Zhu Xiang)

BEIJING, March 17 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese mainland on Wednesday rolled out measures to support the development of Taiwan-funded enterprises in agriculture and forestry on the mainland.

Effective from the day of their promulgation, the measures cover a variety of aspects concerning the development of Taiwan-funded enterprises in agriculture and forestry, including the use of agricultural and forest land, financing and funding support, investment and business operation, research and development, innovation, and local market exploration.

They are launched to further provide equal treatment for compatriots and enterprises from Taiwan, support their participation in the high-quality development of agriculture and forestry on the mainland, and promote rural vitalization.

Known as "22 measures on agriculture and forestry," the document was jointly unveiled by the State Council's Taiwan Affairs Office, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, the State Forestry and Grassland Administration, the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Natural Resources, the Ministry of Water Resources, the Ministry of Commerce, the People's Bank of China, the State Administration for Market Regulation, and the All China Federation of Supply and Marketing Cooperatives.

It came among efforts to promote the implementation of the mainland's 14th Five-Year Plan for development and improve systems and policies to better protect the wellbeing of Taiwan compatriots and ensure that they receive the same treatment on the mainland.

It is believed that the measures will further promote exchanges, cooperation, and integrated development across the Taiwan Strait, and facilitate compatriots on both sides of the Strait to enjoy a better life.
Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost filed a lawsuit against the Treasury Department on Wednesday to fight a provision in Biden's $1.9 trillion coronavirus rescue package that prevents states from using the aid to reduce taxes.

The big picture: Yost's suit is the first of many efforts expected by Republican attorneys to target the tax mandate in the relief bill, Politico reports. The overall package has seen large bipartisan support, with 72% of Americans in a new Politico-Morning Consult poll in favor of the bill.

Stay on top of the latest market trends and economic insights with Axios Markets. Subscribe for free

What he's saying: It's a blatant violation of federalism, Yost told NBC News. Congress is without authority to enact this kind of law. His lawsuit argues that the provision is unconstitutional.

Let's say we're talking about an Amazon or an auto parts manufacturer  something that's got a lot of other players that are similarly situated, he said, using an example wherein the states tax commissioner would evaluate a tax dispute with a major employer.

Under this provision in the Covid bill, he would not be free to decide that question in a way that reduced Ohio's tax revenue."

The bottom line: The American Rescue Plan Act prohibits states from using any of the federal aid to "directly or indirectly" offset a "reduction in net tax revenue" caused by tax cuts or a chance in policy that would delay tax increases.

Read the lawsuit.

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BOSTON - March 16, 2021 - The fast-spreading UK, South Africa, and Brazil coronavirus variants are raising both concerns and questions about whether COVID-19 vaccines will protect against them. New work led by Bing Chen, PhD, at Boston Children's Hospital analyzed how the structure of the coronavirus spike proteins changes with the D614G mutation -- carried by all three variants -- and showed why these variants are able to spread more quickly. The team reports its findings in Science (March 16, 2020).

Chen's team imaged the spikes with cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM), which has resolution down to the atomic level. They found that the D614G mutation (substitution of in a single amino acid "letter" in the genetic code for the spike protein) makes the spike more stable as compared with the original SARS-CoV-2 virus. As a result, more functional spikes are available to bind to our cells' ACE2 receptors, making the virus more infectious.

Preventing spikes' shape change

In the original coronavirus, the spike proteins would bind to the ACE2 receptor and then dramatically change shape, folding in on themselves. This enabled the virus to fuse its membrane with our own cells' membranes and get inside. However, as Chen and colleagues reported in July 2020, the spikes would sometimes prematurely change shape and fall apart before the virus could bind to cells. While this slowed the virus down, the shape change also made it harder for our immune system to contain the virus.

"Because the original spike protein would dissociate, it was not good enough to induce a strong neutralizing antibody response," says Chen.

When Chen and colleagues imaged the mutant spike protein, they found that the D614G mutation stabilizes the spike by blocking the premature shape change. Interestingly, the mutation also makes the spikes bind more weakly to the ACE receptor, but the fact that the spikes are less apt to fall apart prematurely renders the virus overall more infectious.

"Say the original virus has 100 spikes," Chen explains. "Because of the shape instability, you may have just 50 percent of them functional. In the G614 variants, you may have 90 percent that are functional, so even though they don't bind as well, the chances are greater that you will have infection."

Chen proposes that redesigned vaccines incorporate the code for this mutant spike protein. The more stable spike shape should make any vaccine based on the spike (as are the Moderna, Pfizer, and Johnson & Johnson vaccine) more likely to elicit protective neutralizing antibodies, he says.

Future direction: A drug to block coronavirus entry

Chen and his colleagues are further applying structural biology to better understand how SARS-CoV-2 binds to the ACE2 receptor, with an eye toward therapeutics to block the virus from gaining entry to our cells.

In January, the team showed in Nature Structural & Molecular Biology that a structurally-engineered "decoy" ACE2 protein binds the virus 200 times more strongly than the body's own ACE2. The decoy potently inhibited the virus in cell culture, suggesting it could be an anti-COVID-19 treatment. Chen is now planning to advance this research into animal models.

###

Chen is senior investigator on the paper in Science. Jun Zhang and Yongfei Cai in Boston Children's Division of Molecular Medicine were co-first authors. Coauthors were Tianshu Xiao, Hanqin Peng, Sophia Rits-Volloch, and Piotr Sliz of Boston Children's; Jianming Lu of Codex BioSolutions, Inc., Sarah Sterling and Richard Walsh Jr. of the Harvard Cryo-EM Center for Structural Biology (Harvard Medical School); and Haisun Zhu, Alec Woosley, and Wei Yang of the Institute for Protein Innovation (Harvard Institutes of Medicine). The work was funded by the National Institutes of Health (AI147884, AI147884-01A1S1, AI141002, AI127193), a COVID-19 Award by MassCPR, and Emergent Ventures.

About Boston Children's Hospital

Boston Children's Hospital is ranked the #1 children's hospital in the nation by U.S. News & World Report and is the primary pediatric teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School. Home to the world's largest research enterprise based at a pediatric medical center, its discoveries have benefited both children and adults since 1869. Today, 3,000 researchers and scientific staff, including 9 members of the National Academy of Sciences, 23 members of the National Academy of Medicine and 12 Howard Hughes Medical Investigators comprise Boston Children's research community. Founded as a 20-bed hospital for children, Boston Children's is now a 415-bed comprehensive center for pediatric and adolescent health care. For more, visit our Discoveries blog and follow us on social media @BostonChildrens, @BCH_Innovation, Facebook and YouTube.
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San Francisco, March 17 : A hacking group, believed to be working out of China, is reportedly targeting telecom companies around the world in a bid to steal 5G technology secrets, among other sensitive information.

Telecommunications providers in Southeast Asia, Europe and the US are being targeted as part of the campaign uncovered by researchers at cybersecurity company McAfee, ZDNet reported on Tuesday.

The campaign has believed to have targeted at least 23 telecommunications companies.

However, it is not clear how many of these targeted companies have actually been compromised.

The group behind the campaign is dubbed Operation Dianxun.

The tactics, techniques and procedures (TTPs) used in the attack are like those observed in earlier campaigns publicly attributed to the threat actors RedDelta and Mustang Panda.

Most probably this threat is targeting people working in the telecommunications industry and has been used for espionage purposes to access sensitive data and to spy on companies related to 5G technology, McAfee said in a blog post.

While the initial vector for the infection is not entirely clear, the McAfee cybersecurity team believes that victims were lured to a domain under control of the threat actor, from which they were infected with malware which the threat actor leveraged to perform additional discovery and data collection.

"It is our belief that the attackers used a phishing website masquerading as the Huawei company career page," explained McAfee regional solutions architect, Andrea Rossini.

However, Huawei itself is not involved in the cyber-espionage campaign, according to the researchers.
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VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / March 17, 2021 / Cielo Waste Solutions (CSE:CMC)(OTCQB:CWSFF)(CNSX:CMC.CN)(WKN:C36) ("Cielo" or the "Company") is pleased to provide an update on its press release dated March 9, 2021 (the "March 9 PR"), which announced that the Company and Renewable U Energy Inc. ("RUEI") had entered into a Memorandum Of Understanding (the "MOU") to build, and commission, at no cost to Cielo other than internal costs, three (3) waste to high-grade renewable fuel facilities in British Columbia, Manitoba and the United States. Pursuant to the terms of the MOU, RUEI was required to pay an aggregate fee of CDN$750,000 (plus GST) (the "JV Fees"), one for each of the new territories, by March 31, 2021 and had, as at March 9, 2021, paid CDN$250,000 of the JV Fees. Cielo is pleased to announce that it has received the balance of the JV Fees.

Cielo had also announced in the March 9 PR, that RUEI was in the process of acquiring Seymour Capital Incorporation and/or its rights and obligations, which includes the right to enter into a memorandum of understanding with Cielo similar to the other RUEI memorandums of understanding for a territory in Ontario (the "Ontario Option"). Cielo is pleased to announce that RUEI has completed this process and wishes to exercise the Ontario Option. Cielo has received a fee of CDN$262,500 (including GST) from RUEI for the Ontario Option. RUEI and its partners have chosen Toronto, Ontario (within a 250km radius from the outer boundary) as the site for the first Ontario joint venture facility.

Ryan Jackson, newly appointed CEO of RUEI, stated "This is a very exciting announcement to be in one of the most populated provinces in the country and working with local partners and all levels of government. We are looking forward to working with all stakeholders, feedstock providers, businesses, and governments at the municipal, provincial and federal levels to build a high-grade renewable fuel facility in the province of Ontario. We cannot wait to learn more about all of the waste feedstock, and provide jobs, opportunities and economic stimulus to yet another province in Canada!"

Don Allan, President and CEO of Cielo, stated "We are pleased to have RUEI as a JV partner and excited to build and operate even more facilities converting waste to high-grade renewable fuels. Cielo may be an Alberta-based company but it has always been our vision to solve the extreme garbage crisis in all provinces of our great nation! This is another monumental step forward for our Company and its ability to reduce landfills and eliminate other problematic waste."

Early Repayment of Senior Secured Loan:

Cielo is also pleased to confirm that it has repaid its largest secured lender in full, eliminating a senior secured loan of approximately CDN$3,800,000 (the "Loan"). The Loan, which had a maturity date of June 2, 2022, was repaid early.

Don Allan, President and CEO of Cielo, stated "Cielo is thrilled to have the financial means to repay our largest secured debt ahead of schedule and, together with the recent conversions of convertible debentures, we are happy to be taking big strides to strengthen the Company's balance sheet."

On behalf of the Board of Directors of the Company,

Cielo Waste Solutions Corp.

"Don Allan"

Don Allan, President / CEO / Director

Investor Relations (Canada)

Lionel Robins (780) 832-6810

lionelrobins@cielows.com

Investor Relations (USA)

RB Milestone Group, LL

Trevor Brucato, Managing Director

New York, NY & Stamford, CT

cielo@rbmilestone.com

About Cielo Waste Solutions Corp.

Cielo Waste Solutions Corp. is a publicly traded company with its shares listed to trade on the Canadian Securities Exchange ("CSE") under the symbol "CMC", the OTC Markets Group, on the OTCQB, under the symbol "CWSFF" and the Frankfurt Securities Exchange under the symbol WKN: C36. Cielo is a waste to renewable fuel company with a game changing technology engineered to help solve the world's garbage crisis. Cielo's technology transforms landfill garbage into renewable high-grade diesel and kerosene (aviation jet and marine fuel). Cielo's proven and patented technology is currently being deployed in the Company's Aldersyde Facility, Alberta, where wood waste is currently being converted into renewable fuels.

Cielo is headquartered in Alberta, Canada with plans to build and operate green facilities across North America as well as globally.

Cielo has already begun expanding its footprint by signing multiple Memorandums of Understanding pursuant to which third parties are in negotiation with Cielo to build, at no cost to Cielo, Joint Venture Renewable Fuel Facilities in Grande Prairie, Calgary, Medicine Hat and Lethbridge, Alberta, as well as in Nova Scotia, Manitoba, Kamloops B.C., Toronto ON and at a location to be determined in the U.S. Each JV Facility is projected to cost, depending on throughput approximately $50 million to build, commission and place on production. Cielo will be the general contractor and operator of all the proposed JV Facilities. The feedstock that will be used in the Company's green facilities is the world's most available and inexpensive feedstock - garbage; including household, commercial/ construction/demolition garbage, used tires, railway ties and telephone poles as well as all types of plastic that currently cannot be recycled.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-looking Statements

This News Release contains certain forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively referred to herein as "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. All statements other than statements of present or historical fact are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "anticipate", "achieve", "could", "believe", "plan", "intend", "objective", "continuous", "ongoing", "estimate", "outlook", "expect", "may", "will", "project", "should" or similar words, including negatives thereof, suggesting future outcomes.

Forward-looking statements are subject to both known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward looking statements. CIELO is making forward looking statements related to: the MOU and all matters related thereto, including the joint ventures to be entered into as a result thereof; the exercise of the Ontario Option and the resulting joint venture; expansion of the Company's business to multiple provinces and the effects and implications thereof; and the effect on its balance sheet of the repayment of the Loan and the conversion of convertible debentures. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended.

Forward-looking statements are not a guarantee of future performance and involve a number of risks and uncertainties, some of which are described herein. Such forward-looking statements necessarily involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which may cause the Company's actual performance and results to differ materially from any projections of future performance or results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and, except as required by law, neither the Company assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise such statements to reflect new information, subsequent or otherwise. The CSE and the OTCQB have not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of the content of this News Release.

SOURCE: Cielo Waste Solutions Corp.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/635959/Cielo-Provides-Update-on-Entry-Into-Ontario-Marketplace-Receives-CDN750000-in-JV-Fees-and-Repays-Loan-Ahead-of-Schedule
A Brisbane startup says it can make the active ingredients for the new generation of mRNA vaccines in Australia, but more government funding and training support are critical to produce these products at scale.

Messenger-RNA vaccines are now world-renowned for leading the fight against COVID-19. However, Australia has been forced to import products that use these platforms, like Pfizers coronavirus vaccine, because there are no local manufacturing facilities to make these drugs at scale.

Biotechnology giant CSL, which is producing AstraZenecas vaccine locally, says it is not feasible for it to set up commercial manufacturing of mRNA vaccines during the pandemic.

The COVID-19 vaccine being delivered to Queensland Hospitals on Sunday.

However, contract manufacturing business Luina Bio, based out of Brisbane, says it already has the expertise to make mRNA products onshore.
(Natural News) In a flashback to how art that offended the Soviet regime was blacklisted, streaming giant Spotify is now censoring song lyrics that contain misinformation.

(Article by Paul Joseph Watson republished from InfoWars.com)

Yes, really.

Music icon Ian Brown revealed that Spotify had deleted his anti-lockdown song Little Seed Big Tree, which was originally released last September.

SPOTiFY stream the streams and censor artists like they have with my last song TOOK IT DOWN just put it down the memory hole! FREE EXPRESSiON AS REVOLUTION, tweeted Brown.

SPOTiFY stream the streams and censor artists like they have with my last song TOOK IT DOWN just put it down the memory hole! FREE EXPRESSiON AS REVOLUTiON  Ian Brown (@ianbrown) March 12, 2021

The song included the lyrics;

Masonic lockdown, in your hometown

Masonic lockdown, can you hear me now

From the top down, soul shock down

State shakedown, mass breakdown

Global orders, riding over borders

Get behind your doors for the new world order

Brown has been a vehement voice against lockdown and mandatory vaccines, announcing that he had refused to be the headliner of Manchesters Neighborhood Weekender festival because organizers indicated proof of COVID-19 vaccination may have been a condition of entry.

The former Stone Roses frontman asserted that he would, NEVER sing to a crowd who must be vaccinated as a condition of attendance. NEVER EVER!

Spotify prohibits content on the platform which promotes dangerous false, deceptive, or misleading content about COVID-19 that may cause offline harm and/or pose a direct threat to public health. When content that violates this standard is identified it is removed from the platform, a Spotify spokesperson told Reclaim The Net.

The practice is a continuation of enforcing a monoculture of thought by ensuring any form of art that carries a message which offends technocratic elites is blacklisted.

Throughout the course of the Soviet empire, dictators mandated that socialist realism be the prescribed style of idealized art.

This meant that every sculpture, statue and painting had to conform to an established aesthetic in order to educate citizens on how to be the perfect Soviets.

In order to entrench loyalty to the Communist Party and advance a utopian image of Soviet society, The purpose of socialist realism was to limit popular culture to a specific, highly regulated faction of emotional expression that promoted Soviet ideals.

Read more at: InfoWars.com and Suppressed.news.
A spectacular and dramatic ultraviolet auroras on Jupiter is generated by charged particles escaping its volcanic moon Io, according to a new NASA study.

The origins of the bright blue circular aurora were revealed by the NASA Juno spacecraft, which is currently studying the gas giant from orbit.

The Jovian polar light show, also known as the auroral dawn storms, brighten up the early morning north and south poles of the massive world.

These immense, transient displays of light evolve in a similar way to 'aurora substorms' that undulate across Earth's polar skies, according to NASA and the University of Liege team behind the new discovery.

Both planets generate magnetic fields that capture charged particles that react with their magnetic field to produce displays of bright swirling lights.

Lights making up Jupiter's dawn storm don't match to solar wind patterns, which led researchers to realise it is mostly populated by charged particles from the moon Io.

These particles get ionized and trapped around the gas giant planet by its magnetic field, creating the circular early morning light show around the polar regions.

The origins of the bright blue circular aurora were revealed by the NASA Juno spacecraft, which is currently studying the gas giant from orbit

Lights making up Jupiter's dawn storm don't match to solar wind patterns, which led researchers to realise it is mostly populated by charged particles from the moon Io (pictured)

IO: JUPITER'S VOLCANIC MOON Io was discovered on 8 January 1610 by Galileo Galilei. The discovery, along with three other Jovian moons, was the first time a moon was discovered orbiting a planet other than Earth. A bit larger than Earth's Moon, Io is the third largest of Jupiter's moons, and the fifth one in distance from the planet. Io's orbit keeps it roughtly at a distance of 422,000 km (262,000 miles) from Jupiter Io's volcanoes were discovered by NASA's Voyager spacecraft in 1979. Advertisement

First discovered by Hubble's Faint Object Camera in 1994, dawn storms consist of short-lived but intense brightening and broadening of Jupiter's main auroral oval.

This is an oblong curtain of light that surrounds both poles  near where the atmosphere emerges from darkness in the early morning region.

Before Juno, observations of these ultraviolet aurora had offered only side views, hiding everything happening on the nightside of the planet.

'Observing Jupiter's aurora from Earth does not allow you to see beyond the limb, into the nightside of Jupiter's poles,' said lead author Bertrand Bonfond.

Juno has been particularly useful, as previous spacecraft including Voyager, Galileo and Cassini, viewed the world from a distance - and didn't fly over the poles.

'That's why the Juno data is a real game changer, allowing us a better understanding what is happening on the nightside, where the dawn storms are born,' said Bonfond.

New results from the the ultraviolet spectrograph on Juno has shown the birth of these strange, fleeting aurora that flitter over the giant world's polar regions.

Researchers found dawn storms are born on the nightside of the gas giant and as it rotates the aurora rotates with it onto the dayside - becoming a dawn storm.

'At this point the complex and intensely bright auroral features grow even more luminous, emitting anywhere from hundreds to thousands of gigawatts of ultraviolet light into space,' the team behind the study explained in a blog post for NASA.

The jump in brightness implies that dawn storms are dumping at least 10 times more energy into Jupiter's upper atmosphere than typical aurora.

'When we looked at the whole dawn storm sequence, we couldn't help but notice that they are very similar to a type of terrestrial auroras called substorms,' said Zhonghua Yao, co-author of the study.

Researchers found dawn storms are born on the nightside of the gas giant and as it rotates the aurora rotates with it onto the dayside - becoming a dawn storm

First discovered by Hubble's Faint Object Camera in 1994, dawn storms consist of short-lived but intense brightening and broadening of Jupiter's main auroral oval

Io has a very young surface and is covered by volcanoes, spewing plasma out into space and towards Jupiter's magnetospheere

KEY FINDINGS FROM JUPITER'S AURORAS Polar aurorae are a direct consequence of the dynamics of the plasma in the magnetosphere. The sources of mass and energy differ between the Earth's and Jupiter's magnetospheres. This leads to fundamentally distinct auroral morphologies and very different responses to solar wind variations. Spectacular auroral events at Jupiter, called dawn storms, are the result of interactions between the volcanic moon Io and Jupiter's magnetosphere. This is surprisingly similar to auroral substorms at Earth, which are auroral events stemming from explosive magnetospheric reconfigurations. Advertisement

The substorms result from the explosive reconfiguration of the tail of the magnetosphere that surrounds planet Earth.

The magnetosphere is a region of space surround the planet where our magnetic field is dominant - rather than that of interplanetary space.

It is formed by the interaction of solar wind with Earth's own magnetic field and similar magnetospheres can be found around any world with a magnetic field.

On Earth, they are strongly related to the variations of the solar wind and of the orientation of the interplanetary magnetic field.

On Jupiter, such explosive reconfigurations are rather related to an overspill of the plasma originating from Io - that is matter leaving the active world.

'These findings demonstrate that, whatever their sources, particles and energy do not always circulate smoothly in planetary magnetospheres.

'They often accumulate until the magnetospheres collapse and generate substorm-like responses in the planetary aurorae,' NASA explained.

"Even if their engine is different, showing for the first time the link between these two very different systems allows us to identify the universal phenomena from the peculiarities specific to each planet," Bonfond said.

Results of this study were published in the journal AGU Advances.
Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry joined a challenge to the Biden Administrations recently passed $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package, saying the wording in the provisions for helping state and local governments could effectively forbid state legislators from being able to pass tax cuts.

Louisiana legislators are working on revamping the states tax system with an eye towards lowering the overall tax burden by removing exemptions and expanding who has to pay. The Legislature convenes on April 12.

Landry and 20 other Republican attorneys general wrote the wording in the 800-plus page bill that said the funds cant be used to either directly or indirectly offset a reduction in the net tax revenue and if that happens, the states will have to repay the federal government. At least thats the way the provisions wording seems to say.

GOP AG's letter 031621 Republican Attorneys General letter to US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellin raising concerns about portion of $1.9 trillion stimulus going to st

The import of the Acts prohibition against offsetting reductions in state tax revenue is unclear, but potentially breathtaking, the attorneys general wrote U.S. Department of the Treasury Secretary Janet L. Yellen in a seven-page letter. Such federal usurpation of state tax policy would represent the greatest attempted invasion of state sovereignty by Congress in the history of our Republic.

Landry warned that a single governor could accept stimulus funds and thereby bind both his state legislature and his successor from cutting any tax or tax assessments in the near future.

The scoop on state politics in your inbox Get the Louisiana politics insider details once a week from us. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up

The attorneys general asked the Treasury Department, which is currently writing the rules for how state and local governments can use the American Rescue, to specifically spell out whether the wording precludes express use of the relief funds to provide direct tax cuts.

We cannot allow the federal government to usurp Louisianas constitutional authority to govern itself, Landry said. If we do, it will be the end of state sovereignty.

Lafayette to get massive stimulus haul with few strings attached Lafayettes city and parish governments are about to get massive windfalls of federal stimulus money, and the possibilities for what to do wit

Landrys announcement has the support of Dawn Starns McVea, state director of the National Federation of Independent Business, a trade association representing small business owners.

We share the attorney generals concern regarding the provisions of the recently passed American Rescue Plan, McVea said. Since last years legislative session ended, lawmakers have been working on long-overdue tax reform for the fiscal session that begins in April.
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.
New Delhi, March 17 : Exactly one year after a United Kingdom-based auditor and two other staff members of a private company in Noida allegedly set off a chain reaction of Covid-19 infection among employees and their family members, the organisation is now fighting a legal battle.

External auditor John Humphreys landed in Delhi on March 11, took a flight directly to Dehradun and went to Selakui town.

From there, he had come to Noida on March 15 and left for the UK four days later. While in Noida, he visited the company on March 15 and met 10-20 employees.

He also visited another site where special fire safety equipment was being installed. The next day, he visited a Chinese restaurant to check a kitchen suppressant system.

The Noida district authorities blamed the auditor for spreading the infection at a time when the pandemic was at its nascent stage. The authorities scrambled for a month to track down people who came in his contact.

Noida District Magistrate Suhas LY had told IANS earlier that least 40 people got the infection from the auditor. Not just Humphreys, two other employees of the company had also travelled abroad.

The Managing Director, who later tested positive, had also returned from the UK on March 1 and another employee returned on March 7. According to health authorities, any of the three could have been the source.

"John is not working for us. No one from the company would like to comment because the matter is sub-judice and court proceedings are on. Anything said outside the court could be taken otherwise," a senior employee of the company told IANS a year after the incident.

In March last year, a case was registered against the private company under the Uttar Pradesh Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897, on the basic of a complaint by Gautam Buddh Nagar Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Anurag Bhargava.

The Chief Medical Officer said that Humphreys carried out the audit of the company on March 14, 15 and 16, but the company did not inform about it to the health department, due to which various people of this company, including their family members, got infected.

The first coronavirus positive case in Noida was reported on March 8 and till March 21 five more cases were found. The UK-based auditor went back on March 19 and then there was a spurt in cases. Till March 27, the number of Covid-19 cases rose to 17.

On March 23, a woman residing in Sector-137 informed health officials about Covid-19 symptoms. She said her husband was in touch with a UK-based man in his office.

On March 24, the woman and her husband tested positive for the virus, following which the society was sealed for three days. The next day, their daughter also tested positive.

Another couple from Noida's Sector 50 also tested positive the same day, after coming in contact with the Sector-137 couple. This is how the virus had allegedly spread.
Following the UK governments announcement of plans to increase its nuclear weapons stockpile, church leaders issue a joint statement denouncing the move as immoral and counterproductive to the gains of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

By Vatican News staff writer

Church leaders in the United Kingdom have expressed their opposition to an announcement by the government to increase its nuclear weapons capacity by more than forty percent.

The governments decision was included in the policy paper titled Global Britain in a Competitive Age: the Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy which was issued on Tuesday. The planned move proposes increasing the number of Trident nuclear warheads the UK can stockpile from 180 to 260.

In a joint statement, the church leaders described the governments announcement as a retrograde step which takes us in a worrying and wholly wrong direction.

Church leaders of seven denominations, including the Catholic Bishops Conference of England and Wales appended their signatures to the Tuesday statement. The others include the members of the Church of England, Church in Wales, the Baptist Union of Great Britain, the Methodist Church in Britain, Quakers in Britain and the United Reformed Church.

Progress through dialogue, not nuclear weapons

In the statement, the Church leaders highlight that this announcement puts the gains of nuclear non-proliferation in jeopardy, as over the last 50 years, the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty has restricted the increase of nuclear weapons worldwide, as well as the number of new nuclear-armed states.

They further note that warheads that the UKs Trident submarines already carry in total have an explosive yield equivalent to hundreds of the bombs that were dropped on Hiroshima.

In light of this, the church leaders said that it is immoral that the government is committing resources which could be spent on the common good to stockpiling even more nuclear warheads. They insist that progress on reducing the threat from nuclear weapons will come through dialogue, diplomacy and principled action.

Joint efforts towards Nuclear weapons prohibition

Hailing the entry into force of the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons as an encouraging development, the church leaders reaffirmed their commitment to join with millions across the world who are working towards the elimination of nuclear arsenals.

They added that living up to our responsibilities under the Non-Proliferation Treaty would be a step towards realizing that vision and encouraged Global Britain to strive for peaceful, cooperative international relationships, as well as joint endeavors on global poverty, climate change and other challenges.
Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism.
Has RBI Allowed SBI To Escape with Just Rs2 Crore Penalty for Paying Commission to Employees?

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has imposed a penalty of Rs2 crore on the State Bank of India (SBI) for contravention of provisions of Section 10 (1) (b) (ii) of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 and has issued specific directions on payment of remuneration to SBI employees in the form of a commission. However, this amount is minuscule compared with commissions earned by the Bank and its employees by mis-selling insurance policies and investment products like mutual fund schemes. SBI used to issue prepaid cards under the name of achiever's card to its own employees and, according to our sources, these were used for crediting commission to employees for selling products.

Responding to an application filed under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, SBI stated that it had issued 46,240 achiever's cards to its own employees and Rs151.79 crore were credited in these cards during FY2017-18. SBI also stated that as per RBI guidelines, the maximum outstanding value of such a prepaid card is Rs1 lakh. Over the past three years, these figures would have at least doubled as per information shared by SBI for three years up to FY17-18. (see image below)

Coming back to the RBI order, it says its statutory inspection of SBI with reference to its financial position as on 31 March 2017 and 31 March 2018, the risk assessment reports (RARs) and examination of the correspondence with the Bank regarding payment of remuneration to its employees in the form of commission, revealed contravention of the provisions of the Act and specific directions issued by the central bank.

SBI was issued a show-cause notice to explain why penalty should not be imposed for contravention of the provisions of the Act and specific directions issued by RBI.

"After considering the banks replies to the notice, oral submissions made in the personal hearing and examination of additional submissions made by it, RBI concluded that the aforesaid charges were substantiated and warranted imposition of monetary penalty," the central bank says.

Interestingly, it is the same RBI who, again in 2018, informed under RTI that the department of banking supervision (DBS) had received a complaint from the central vigilance cell and since the matter referred to in the complaint had already been dealt with in another case, no further action was deemed necessary.

So what was there in the complaint? On 10 September 2018, an undersecretary for vigilance in the department of financial services (DFS) under the ministry of finance (MoF) sent a letter to RBI on the commission paid to bank employees.

The letter states, "On perusal of the matter in this department, it is observed that the commission on cross-selling business should not be paid to the employees of the bank as they are full time employees and are paid fixed salaries. Commission on this business should be paid to the bank and should be its income."

Things become more interesting here. We asked the DFS under RTI about the total number of employees who received commission, how much amount was paid as commission, what was the highest amount paid as commission to a Bank employee and total amount received by the Bank from insurance companies as commission.

The central public information officer (CPIO) of DFS, however, forwarded the RTI application to all public sector banks and RBI for providing information. While many banks denied paying any commission to employees, SBI accepted the existence of achievers card and disclosed the amount credited in these cards over FY14-15 to FY17-18.

Separately, SBI also stated that mutual funds and insurance companies do not deposit the amount to be transferred through these prepaid cards issued to bank employees as incentives and bonus.

Over the past few years, we are hearing numerous cases where banks have used financial information of their clients and have exploited this to sell products that are often not suited to the clients needs. Such hard-selling bankers are aptly described as banksters these days, operating with a licence from top management to cheat the customers.

Banks and insurance companies have unrealistic monthly targets which often leads to mis-selling of policies to those who are easy targets. Insurance policies are sold by banks when the customers may think they are investing in a fixed deposit (FD) or ELSS (equity linked saving scheme).

Regular premium policies are still being sold when bank customers think they are buying single-premium policy with no further obligation to pay every year. Single-premium policies usually have cover less than 10 times the premium. It means that the maturity amount is taxable, but customers may not even realise it until the policy deducts tax at source on the maturity amount.

Insurance policies are sold in the name of son or daughter or sometimes even in the name of grandchildren when senior citizen customers do not qualify due to age limit.

Read: Moneylife Foundation memorandum to RBI on mis-selling by banks ) Moneylife has been reporting such rampant mis-selling for the last several years. After receiving numerous such complaints about banks cross-selling risky investment products, many of which are from senior citizens, in April 2013, Moneylife Foundation took up this issue with RBI. The memorandum, asked RBI to free the system of mis-selling of financial products by bankers, misusing the savers trust. (

But when it comes to earning money, there are no limits in banking since regulators do not believe in strict and strong punitive measures.

Unfortunately, such things allow the mis-selling menace to continue unabated and, even if caught, banks can get away easily by throwing aside what amounts to peanuts.
This is DRFortress' third expansion, providing exponentially more immediately available space, power, and environmental controls than any other local supplier. Based on DRFortress' latest high-power density "pod" design, the new expansion will accommodate up to 18kW in a single cabinet allowing customers to deploy more equipment in a smaller footprint. The pod design passes down power utilization cost savings to customers while meeting demand and enhancing operations.

The DRFortress world-class data center is an ideal location for Hawaii customers to connect to existing carriers with a simple cross connection. The facility is located outside of flood zones and extended tsunami areas, which is critical when making a data center investment in Hawaii. In addition to the expansion, the company recently added Cloud Connect , Hawaii's only on-ramp service to public clouds, and additional new services are planned for later this year.

"We continue to work toward our vision of becoming a major digital hub in the Pacific," said Fred Rodi, President and Founder of DRFortress. "This expansion gives our customers the power and cooling they need to bring in their next-generation equipment while taking advantage of our rich mix of carriers and ISPs."

For this expansion, DRFortress implemented several PUE efficiencies and designed private cages with customized power to accommodate its initial three anchor tenants being commissioned this month, including Stellar Technologies , a cloud and IT infrastructure services company. More tenants are scheduled to go live in the second quarter.

"DRFortress is a true IT partner," said Wayne Johnson, CEO of Stellar Technologies. "They configured our private cage design to meet the exact space and power requirements for our expansion in Hawaii. We now have the flexibility to scale our space as our business requirements evolve over the next few years."

Contact DRFortress to learn more about the expansion for Hawaii customers, or visit www.drfortress.com .

About DRFortress

DRFortress is the largest and the only carrier-neutral data center and cloud marketplace operating in Hawaii. For 14 years, our company has been meeting the data center needs of Hawaii's enterprises, content companies, system integrators, carriers, wireless service providers, cable companies and ISPs. DRFortress provides customers customized high-end, resilient, reliable, environmental-friendly, next-generation solutions to meet their data-intensive business requirements, enabling them to focus on their core business. As Hawaii's Digital Hub and largest business network, DRFortress houses the densest concentration of IP carriers and networks in Hawaii and is the only commercial Internet Exchange in the state to provide flexibility, cost-efficiency and scalability for customers. Our world-class data center facility is located well outside the island's extended flood and tsunami zones, ensuring your mission-critical data and systems are well-protected and your business' IT operations are uninterrupted during an emergency or natural disaster. For more information, please visit www.drfortress.com .

Media Contact

Jaymie Scotto & Associates (JSA)

+1 866.695.3629 ext. 11

[email protected]

SOURCE DRFortress

Related Links

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PLANO, Texas, March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- CRITICALSTART today announced it has been named a finalist for the Microsoft Security 20/20 Top MDR (Managed Detection and Response) Team award. The company was honored among a global field of industry leaders for demonstrating excellence in innovation, integration, and customer implementation with Microsoft technology.

"Microsoft has a long track record of providing value to its customers at every level, which is exactly where CRITICALSTART strives to be as an organization, so it is a tremendous honor to be recognized by such an industry giant for choosing to do things differently in the MDR space," said Rob Davis, founder and CEO of CRITICALSTART. "The world has changed tremendously during the last year, and it has never been more important for businesses to have trusted security partners. We are proud to be that partner because we believe that earning business is great, but earning trust is better."

At the second annual Microsoft Security 20/20 awards to be held May 12, 2021, we will celebrate finalists in 18 categories spanning security, compliance, and identity. CRITICALSTART has been nominated as a finalist for Top MDR Team.

"The pandemic has forever changed our perspective on the world, the role of technology, and how we work, learn, and live," said Rani Lofstrom, Senior Product Marketing Manager, Microsoft Global Security Partnerships. "In recognition of our new reality, the theme for the Microsoft Security 20/20 Awards this year is 'PerspectiveThrough the Looking Glass.' The awards ceremony this year will honor our security partners who have gone above and beyond during an unprecedented time of change to support, secure, and protect remote workers everywhere."

The Microsoft Intelligent Security Association (MISA) was established to help further the security ecosystem, fostering an environment where solution providers can collaborate to create a future that's safer for people and organizations alike. This year, the industry veterans in MISA will vote to select the winners of the Microsoft Security 20/20 awards, providing an opportunity for colleagues to honor their peers for delivering exceptional work to our shared customers.

ABOUT CRITICALSTART

CRITICALSTART is the only MDR provider committed to eliminating acceptable risk and leaving nothing to chance. We believe that companies should never have to settle for "good enough." Our award-winning portfolio includes end-to-end Professional Services and Managed Detection and Response (MDR). Our MDR puts a stop to alert fatigue by leveraging our ZTAP platform plus industry-leading Trusted Behavior Registry, which eliminates false positives at scale by resolving known-good behaviors. Driven by 24x7x365 human-led, end-to-end monitoring, investigation and remediation of alerts, our on-the-go threat detection and response capabilities are enabled via a fully interactive MOBILESOC.

Other cybersecurity providers might be good, but we're just better. To see why, visit criticalstart.com and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn or Facebook.

Product or service names mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.

SOURCE CRITICALSTART

Related Links

https://www.criticalstart.com



The federal government wants a yes or no from the three Prairie provinces on proposed upgrades to a program that protects farmers against large declines in income.

The federal government wants a yes or no from the three Prairie provinces on proposed upgrades to a program that protects farmers against large declines in income.

Federal Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau held a news conference Wednesday to give an update on planned changes to the AgriStability program that would increase payouts for production losses, increased costs and effects from market conditions.

Minister of Agriculture Marie-Claude Bibeau responds to a question during question period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Dec. 11, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Patrick Doyle

Ottawa would continue to pay 60 per cent of the costs, but the provinces would be required to come up with extra cash to make the program work.

"We have received positive responses from almost all other provinces in Canada, but in order to enact these changes we are still awaiting a clear response from all three Prairie provinces," Bibeau said from her home in Sherbrooke, Que.

"We are anxious to know: Have Prairie agriculture ministers taken the proposal to their cabinet and their premiers? Are they supportive of these changes?"

Bibeau said the current program expires in 2023 and the changes would be a short-term fix to help farmers now.

She said it has been 110 days since Ottawa proposed to eliminate the reference margin limit, which serves to reduce a farmers payout and to boost the compensation rate to 80 per cent.

That would result in an annual increase in payouts of 50 per cent, or $170 million, she said. Of that, $100 million would come from Ottawa and the remaining $70 million from the provinces and territories.

She said she's spoken with the three agriculture ministers in recent weeks and, with a deadline of April 30 for producers to join the program, it's time for an answer.

"I would like to have a clear answer. If it's no, it's no. I hope it's going to be yes, so we know where we stand if we have to find other alternatives to support our farmers."

Winnipeg MP Jim Carr, the federal minister responsible for the Prairies, said he's been in contact with some provincial ministers urging them to bring the matter forward.

"These changes are still on the tables of our friends in Prairie governments."

Bibeau hopes to hold another meeting of federal, provincial and territorial agriculture ministers in the next couple of weeks.

The terms of the existing program will continue if an agreement including the Prairie provinces can't be reached.

"It will be the status quo. That would be very unfortunate."

The Prairie agriculture ministers said they had been calling for another meeting to discuss their issues.

Manitoba Agriculture Minister Blaine Pedersen said it's important to discuss "short-term amendments and long-term reforms".

Saskatchewan Agriculture Minister David Marit said he hasn't talked to Bibeau since Jan. 29 where he requested a followup meeting of ministers.

"It is nice to see after all this time that the federal minister is finally willing to bring her provincial and territorial colleagues back to the table to complete this important discussion on enhancements to AgriStability," Marit said in an email.

Alberta Agriculture Minister Devin Dreeshen sent a letter to Bibeau two weeks ago and had also called for another meeting to "discuss and finally vote on short-term changes to AgriStability."

Dreeshen said he told Bibeau in the letter that making long-term improvements to business risk-management programs, including short-term changes to AgriStability, was a priority.

"To be successful such significant structural change requires adequate time and strong collaboration between (federal, provincial, territorial) governments as well as the agriculture sector," he wrote.

A number of national farm organizations released a statement Wednesday supporting the federal recommendations on AgriStability benefits.

We need to have tools that help us better manage the risks of weather, trade and production. The proposed program enhancements will do that, said Bob Lowe, Canadian Cattlemens Association President.

The president of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture said the deadline is approaching and farmers and ranchers are already making risk-management decisions for the year.

There is no time left to wait, we need clarity now," said Mary Robinson.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 17, 2021

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Conagra Brands, Inc., headquartered in Chicago, is one of North America's leading branded food companies. (PRNewsfoto/Conagra Brands)
1. Roads. The citys roads are a mess. Significant resources are needed to fix them.

2. Public safety. The crime rate is too high. Police pay and resources come first.

3. More city programs. The city must invest more in city programs and services.

4. Comprehensive plan. The city needs to focus on rebuilding and rebranding.

5. Cut city spending. City officials must get serious about trimming the budget.

Vote

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Extending losses for the fourth consecutive session, Indian benchmark indices ended lower on Wednesday as investors traded cautiously ahead of the US Fed meeting coupled with resurgence in COVID-19 cases. The BSE Sensex ended 562.34 points or 1.12 per cent lower at 49,801.62, and the NSE Nifty ended at 14,721.30, down by 189.15 points or 1.27 per cent. Among the individual stocks, ONGC, NTPC, Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, State Bank of India, IndusInd Bank, Reliance Industries, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Bajaj Finance and Bharti Airtel were among top losers on BSE Sensex pack. On the other hand, ITC, Infosys, TCS, HDFC were among notable gainers.

Stock Market Highlights: Sensex ends 562 pts lower at 49,801, Nifty at 14,721; Reliance, SBI, ONGC top losers

Here's a look at top five losers on BSE and NSE today:

ONGC

State-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) emerged as top loser on BSE and NSE on Wednesday, falling as much as 5.86 per cent in intraday. The shares of oil and gas major ended day's trade at Rs 109.40, down 4.95 per cent.

NTPC

NTPC shares remained one of top laggards on the BSE for second consecutive session. NPTC share price ended trade at Rs 106.45, down 2.92 per cent, against previous close of Rs 109.65 on the BSE.

Sun Pharmaceutical Industries

Shares of Sun Pharmaceutical Industries ended 2.8 per cent lower at Rs 585.20 apiece on the BSE on Wednesday. During the day's trade, the stock hit intraday high and low of Rs 603 and Rs 582, respectively.

State Bank of India

State Bank of India (SBI) shares ended 2.75 per cent lower at Rs 368.05 on the BSE today. The stock touched a day's low of Rs 366. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Tuesday slapped a fine of Rs 2 crore on SBI for contravention of norms, including specific directions to the lender on remuneration to its employees in the form of commission.

IndusInd Bank

Shares of IndusInd Bank settled Monday's trade at Rs 1,009.05, down 2.54 per cent on the BSE. The stock of private sector lender touched day's low of Rs 1,001.55.

Top losers on March 16: ICICI Bank, SBI, Kotak, HDFC Bank, NTPC fall up to 2%

Stocks in news: SBI, Vedanta, PNB Gilts, HUDCO, Godrej Properties, Bharat Forge
The Baker administration plans to distribute $27.4 million in federal funds to support vaccine clinics, transportation assistance and outreach, especially for 20 communities that have been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The federal grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention fund vaccination efforts from local officials, community health centers, religious leaders and other community organizations. Gov. Charlie Baker is expected to elaborate on the funding, as well as on the states updated vaccination timeline, at a news conference Wednesday morning in Brockton.

The funding will be used to increase trust, vaccine acceptance and administration rates as part of the administrations vaccine equity initiative and to meet the needs of high-risk populations, Health and Human Services Secretary Marylou Sudders said during the news briefing.

The state plans to set aside $10.6 million to community health centers and other local organizations for direct assistance with vaccine access including support with appointment registration, transportation to vaccination clinics and medical interpreters.

Another $5.1 million will go to community health centers through the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers, according to a news release.

Twenty communities the state identified as disproportionately affected by the pandemic will receive $4.7 million for vaccine clinics and another $4 million for community outreach and education with help from local community groups.

Those 20 cities and towns, where Black and brown residents have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic, include Boston, Brockton, Chelsea, Everett, Fall River, Fitchburg, Framingham, Haverhill, Holyoke, Lawrence, Leominster, Lowell, Lynn, Malden, Methuen, New Bedford, Randolph, Revere, Springfield and Worcester.

The state also plans to distribute $3 million for vaccine administrations by certain qualified organizations, according to a news release. Sudders said the funding could be used for vaccinating people in homeless encampments, people who are homeless and have serious mental illnesses, migrant farmworkers, LGBTQ residents, undocumented residents and others who might face barriers to getting a vaccine.

The state Department of Public Health created a COVID-19 Vaccine Ambassador Program to answer vaccinations questions in municipalities under the states Trust the Facts. Get the Vax. public awareness campaign. DPH also sent community liaisons to meet weekly with representatives from the 20 hard-hit communities to identify barriers preventing their residents from getting vaccinated and seek solutions.

Related Content:
Queensland has no plans to shut the border at this stage as state health authorities monitor coronavirus figures in NSW after three cases were linked to the same floor of a Sydney quarantine hotel.

Queensland Health Minister Yvette DAth said authorities would keep a close eye on NSW case numbers for the next few days.

We are not making any decisions in relation to NSW at this stage, based on the cases that they have, other than keeping a watching brief, Ms DAth said.

I would ask anyone in Queensland who has travelled to NSW in recent days to please check out the NSW COVID website.
Authorities said theyre continuing to search for a missing Massachusetts woman who was last seen nearly a week ago and whose car was found in New Hampshire earlier this week.

Sinead Lyons was last seen walking a German shepherd on or around March 11. Four days later, her car, a 2005 white Volvo with a Massachusetts registration of 926TN7, was located in the area of Ossipee Lake in New Hampshire, according to officials.

The 41-year-old Lowell, Massachusetts woman was wearing a white coat, a white knit hat and black knee-high boots when she went missing. She is 5 feet, 11 inches tall, weighs 150 pounds and has blonde hair and blue eyes, according to a statement from New Hampshire State Police.

State police, the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department, the Carroll County Sheriffs Office and the Ossipee Police Department continue to search for Lyon, the statement said.

There is no danger to the public, state police noted.

Anyone with information about Lyonss whereabouts has been urged to call state police Troop E in New Hampshire at (603) 323-3333.
New Delhi, March 17 : Meeting Chief Ministers amid growing alarm over resurgence of Covid-19, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday urged them to act fast against the emerging "second peak" of the pandemic, warning "if we do not stop this now, a country-wide outbreak can occur".

He called for taking quick and decisive steps for stopping this "second peak" of Covid-19 virus, in the meeting held via video conference.

Stressing the importance of solving problems of local governance, he warned that the confidence which came from the achievements in the battle against Covid-19 should not turn into negligence as he expressed concern about the high positivity rate in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh with 70 districts witnessing a 150 per cent rise in the last few weeks.

"Stop this emerging second peak of corona immediately," he urged the Chief Ministers.

At the same time, Modi stressed that the public should not be brought to panic mode.

The Prime Minister noted the need for provision of micro containment zones and to be serious about 'Test, Track and Treat' as "we have been doing for the last one year".

"It is very important to track every infected person's contacts in the shortest time and keep the RT-PCR test rate above 70 per cent. More RT-PCR tests should be done in the states like Kerala, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, and Uttar Pradesh, which give more emphasis to Rapid Antigen Tests." The Prime Minister urged to increase testing and to pay special attention to the "referral system" and "ambulance network" in small cities.

"This is because now the whole country has opened up for travel and the number of people travelling has also increased. There is need for a new mechanism for sharing information among people," he said, focussing on responsibility of following SOPs for surveillance of the contacts of the travellers coming from abroad.

The Prime Minister also said mutants of coronavirus must be identified and their effects assessed.

Lauding the increased pace of vaccination in the country and the vaccination numbers crossing more than 3 million in a single day, he, however, warned that the problem of vaccine doses wastage must be taken very seriously.

Citing the vaccine waste in Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh to the tune of 10 per cent, Modi sought immediate correction in the drawbacks of planning and governance at the local level to reduce this.

The challenge of maintaining Covid appropriate behaviour in the general public was also discussed, in light of the recent rise in the number of cases in some states. The Chief Ministers agreed on the requirement of greater vigilance and monitoring of the situation.

The Prime Minister also told the Chief Ministers said that more than 96 per cent of the cases in India have recovered and India has one of the lowest fatality rates in the world, as he stressed the basic steps -- wearing masks, maintaining physical distance and taking care of cleanliness -- to prevent the spread of this infection should not be abandoned.

There should be no laxity in such steps and people's awareness will have to be raised on these subjects, he said. He also called for increasing the number of vaccination centres.

The Prime Minister further asked the Chief Ministers to stay vigilant about the vaccine expiry date.

"Dawaai bhi aur kadaai bhi," he insisted.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
New York State Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie temporarily stopped voting in the chamber on Tuesday due to concerns over leaks to news media organizations regarding a contentious March 11 meeting of Democratic lawmakers. Heasties move followed the publication of a Yahoo News story that detailed the meeting of the Assembly Democratic conference on the subject of the potential impeachment of Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

Government was shut down, one lawmaker said of Heasties apparent reaction to the Yahoo News story. He came out onto the floor in the middle of voting and said the session is done.

Heastie interrupted the session as Assembly members were voting on the HALT Act, which would end solitary confinement in New York state. Due to the pandemic, voting was taking place via videoconference as well as in the Assembly chamber. According to the lawmaker, who requested anonymity due to Heasties anger over leaks, the speaker did not initially explain why he had stopped the Assembly session.

New York State Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie. (Erik McGregor/LightRocket via Getty Images)

The speakers decision to stop the vote came after Yahoo News reached out to him for comment on a story based on audio of a March 11 meeting about Cuomo. In that meeting, the Democratic conference discussed whether to impeach the governor in response to multiple allegations of sexual misconduct and an alleged cover-up of nursing home deaths during the early days of the coronavirus pandemic last year. During that videoconference, Heastie cited due process and said he had decided to conduct a preliminary investigation to determine whether to move forward with a formal impeachment. While the majority of the Assembly Democrats in the meeting agreed with Heastie, others argued he was buying time for the governor, who is also a Democrat.

Heastie and his office did not respond to requests for comment. During the March 11 conference, Heastie and other members of the Assembly expressed their frustration about prior leaks of their internal debates on Cuomo.

Story continues

I think whoever did that is a coward for going outside of this conference and doing something like that, and I just want to say it on the record. This shit needs to stop, Heastie said.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo. (Mark Lennihan-Pool/Getty Images)

A second lawmaker, who also requested anonymity, said Heastie stopped the Tuesday afternoon HALT Act vote right in the middle and took everybody into a virtual room. The second lawmaker said Heastie told the Assembly Democrats they cant be trusted and that he would no longer hold meetings with the full conference. Instead, Heastie said he would meet with smaller groups to keep track of what was said and any potential leaks. According to the lawmaker, voting on the HALT Act resumed following the conversation about leaks.

He was angrier than hes ever been, the second lawmaker said of Heastie.

____

Read more from Yahoo News:
recorded 1,122 COVID-



19 cases on Wednesday, the daily addition breaching the 1000- mark for the first time in nearly three months, taking the state's infection count to 2,81,173, a health official said.

The state's daily addition dropped below the 1000-mark on December 21, but a surge has set in since the last week of February, the official pointed out.

Three deaths, in Ahmedabad, Surat and Vadodara, took the toll to 4,430, while the recovery count reached 2,71,433, or 96.45 per cent of the caseload, after 775 people were discharged on Wednesday, he added.

The active caseload in the state is 5,310, of which 61 patients are on ventilator support.

"Surat led with 353 cases on Wednesday, followed by 271 in Ahmedabad, 114 in Vadodars and 112 in Rajkot," the official said.

With 67,734 people getting vaccinated on Wednesday, the number of people who have got the first and second dose stood at 22,71,145 and 5,54,662 respectively.

The neighbouring Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu reported no new case or recovery on Wednesday.

Its tally is 3,416, while 3,388 people have been discharged and two have died, leaving it with 26 active cases.

Gujarat's COVID-19 figures are as follows: Positive cases 2,81,173, new cases 1,122, death toll 4,430, discharged 2,71,433, active cases 5,310, people tested so far - figures not released.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Mr William Tay, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Manager said, "This acquisition gives us a unique opportunity to own a portfolio of well-occupied data centres located across key markets in Europe. It complements our existing data centre portfolio in Singapore and will increase the sector's contribution to S$1.5 billion or 10% of investment properties under management. We see good potential in the data centre business and will continue to source and make further acquisitions when the opportunities arise."

K ey Merits of the Proposed Acquisition

1. Enlarges Ascendas Reit's exposure to the resilient data centre asset class

Demand for data centres is expected to grow due to increasing reliance on data and online applications as well as accelerating digitisation across industries.

Some of the key trends that continue to underpin demand for data centres include the increasing adoption of cloud computing, the growing number of internet users and mobile devices, larger data storage requirements and fast-growing technology trends such as big data analytics, Internet of Things (IoT), Industry 4.0, 5G network, e-commerce, video streaming services etc.

Additionally, data sovereignty laws are expected to benefit the European data centres as companies choose to store data within Europe to serve the large local markets.

The Target Portfolio will increase Ascendas Reit's investment in data centres to 10% (S$1.5 billion) of total investment properties of S$15.0 billion (from 4% or S$0.5 billion as at 31 December 2020).

2. 93% of the Target Portfolio (by asset value) is located in key European data centre markets

The Target Portfolio comprises 11 data centres, of which nine (93% of Target Portfolio by asset value) are strategically located in London, Amsterdam and Paris, which are top data centre markets in Europe.

London, Amsterdam and Paris are ranked the first, third and fourth largest colocation markets in Europe respectively, with a combined colocation market size of approximately 1,383 megawatts ("MW") as at 31 December 2020.[3]

They benefit from being close to large population centres and have the connectivity and infrastructure to attract the data centre providers.

3. European data centre markets are recording strong capacity growth driven by robust take-up levels

According to CBRE, take-up of colocation data centres outstripped new supply in 2020 across the FLAP markets[4] as more companies embark on their digital transformation plans. Companies are increasing their consumption of cloud services, in turn driving colocation demand from cloud providers. Colocation is also increasingly being used to satisfy companies' IT requirements which are growing in scale and complexity.

During 2020, a total of 201 MW was taken up in FLAP markets (Frankfurt 67 MW, London 86 MW, Amsterdam 32 MW and Paris 17 MW) on the back of new supply of 174 MW (Frankfurt 62 MW, London 26 MW, Amsterdam 57 MW and Paris 29 MW).

As a result, FLAP markets' vacancy rate improved to 19% (from 21% in 2019). In 2021, vacancy rate is expected to fall further to 17% driven by strong demand. Market absorption, which is the number of years it would take current vacant supply to be fully let[5] was 2.4 years as at 31 December 2020 (down from 3.0 years in 2019) and is expected to decline to 2.3 years in 2021.[3]

4. Improves diversity of Ascendas Reit's portfolio and offers more freehold land

With the Proposed Acquisition, Ascendas Reit's portfolio will be geographically diversified, with 60% of investment properties in Singapore, 14% in the United States ("US"), 14% in Australia and 12% in the UK/Europe.

Approximately 67% of the Target Portfolio (by asset value) is located on freehold land whilst the remaining 33%[6] is on leasehold land with a weighted average land lease to expiry of 42.9 years[7]. Ascendas Reit's portfolio will further strengthen from the increase in proportion of freehold land (by asset value) from 35.4% to 37.5%[8] assuming completion of the acquisition of the Target Portfolio.

5. Stable and sustainable income stream with long weighted average lease to expiry ("WALE") and triple net lease structures

The Target Portfolio has a long WALE of 4.6 years by rental income. About 83% of the leases (by rental income) have embedded annual rent escalations of between 1.0% to 3.0%, providing organic growth.[9]

As at 31 December 2020, 58% of the Target Portfolio by rental income is leased on a triple net basis where all property outgoings such as maintenance, tax and insurance are borne by the tenants. The remaining 42% comprises leases within colocation data centres where Ascendas Reit will own the M&E and is responsible for property outgoings.

6. Strengthens overall customer base with high-quality companies

The Target Portfolio is 97.9%[9] occupied by 14 high-quality and established customers. These customers operate in a range of industries such as financial services, telecommunications, information technology, retail (supermarkets) and education, and are leasing the properties for their data centre requirements.

7. Distribution per Unit ("DPU") accretive acquisition

Net property income ("NPI") yield[10] for the first year is approximately 6.0% and 5.7% pre-transaction costs and post-transaction costs respectively. The pro forma impact on the DPU for the financial year commencing on 1 January 2020 and ended 31 December 2020 is expected to be an improvement of 0.189 Singapore cents assuming the Proposed Acquisition was completed on 1 January 2020.[11]

Details of the Acquisition

Ascendas Reit, through its wholly owned subsidiaries, has today entered into a sale and purchase agreement with the Vendor and is expected to complete the Proposed Acquisition today in UK time.

The total consideration of S$904.6 million is in line with the independent market valuations of the Target Properties, which amount to S$905.0 million[12].

Ascendas Reit is expected to incur an estimated transaction cost of S$55.4 million, which includes stamp duty, professional advisory fees, and acquisition fees payable to the Manager in cash (being 1% of the Total Consideration of S$904.6 million, which amounts to approximately S$9.0 million).

The total acquisition cost of S$960.0 million, will be financed with proceeds from the Equity Fund Raising[13] announced on 10 November 2020, debt financing and/or internal cash resources.

About the Target Portfolio

The 11 data centres have a total net lettable area of 61,637 sqm. Six data centres are located on freehold land whilst the remaining five data centres[14] are sited on leasehold land with a weighted average land lease to expiry of 42.9 years.

Including the Target Portfolio, Ascendas Reit will own 212 properties worth S$15.0 billion comprising 96 properties (S$9.0 billion) in Singapore, 37 properties (S$2.1 billion) in Australia[15], 49 properties (S$1.7 billion) in the UK/Europe and 30 properties in the US (S$2.1 billion).

For more details about the Proposed Acquisition and the individual data centres, please refer to the accompanying (1) announcement, and (ii) investor presentation, both titled "Proposed acquisition of a portfolio of 11 data centres in Europe" dated 17 March 2021.

Target Portfolio Statistics Location & Number of Properties 11 data centres London, UK: 3 properties Amsterdam, Netherlands: 3 properties Paris, France: 3 properties Manchester, UK: 1 property Geneva, Switzerland: 1 property Land Area 136,816 sqm Land Tenure (by asset value) Freehold: 6 properties Leasehold: 5 properties[16] with weighted average land lease to expiry of 42.9 years Total Net Lettable Area 61,637 sqm WALE (by gross revenue) 4.6 years Occupancy Rate 97.9% Total Number of Customers 14 Lease Structures (by rental income) 58% triple-net 42% colocation

[1] The Proposed Acquisition will be made through the acquisition of the entire issued share capital of certain corporations which own the Target Properties. Total Consideration is subject to a completion working capital adjustment, as set out in the Sale and Purchase Agreement. Please refer to the announcement titled "Proposed Acquisition of a Portfolio of 11 Data Centres in Europe" and dated 17 March 2021 for more details. [2] Comprising approximately GBP250.25 million for the target properties located in the UK and approximately EUR276.85 million for the other target properties located in the Netherlands, France and Switzerland. Illustrative exchange rates of GBP1.0000: S$1.8395 and EUR1.0000: S$1.6047 are used for all conversions from Pound Sterling and Euro amounts into Singapore Dollar amounts respectively in this press release. [3] Source: CBRE Research, Q4 2020. Data refers to the carrier-neutral colocation market in each city. [4] "FLAP" refers to the four largest colocation markets in Europe: Frankfurt, London, Amsterdam and Paris. [5] Based on the fixed average take-up of the previous five years. [6] Includes two properties on perpetual leasehold basis. [7] As at 31 December 2020. [8] Pro forma as at 31 December 2020. [9] As at 31 December 2020. [10] The NPI yield is derived using the estimated NPI expected in the first year of acquisition. [11] The annualised pro forma DPU impact is calculated based on the following assumptions a) Ascendas Reit had completed the Proposed Acquisition on 1 Jan 2020, held and operated the Target Properties through 31 Dec 2020, b) the Proposed Acquisition is funded by equity of approximately S$612.5 million (approximately 63.8% of Total Acquisition Cost) and additional borrowings of S$347.5 million (36.2%) and, c) the Manager elects to receive its base fee 80% in cash and 20% in units. [12] The valuations were commissioned by the Manager and HSBC Institutional Trust Services (Singapore) Limited (trustee of Ascendas Reit) and carried out by Newmark Knight Frank Valuation & Advisory, LLC, using the sales comparison and income capitalisation approaches. The independent valuations concluded an aggregate market value of GBP250,250,000 for the UK Properties and EUR277,100,000 for the other Target Properties. Please refer to the announcement titled "Proposed Acquisition of a Portfolio of 11 Data Centres in Europe" dated 17 March 2021 for the dates of valuation. [13] Please refer to "Launch of Equity Fund Raising to Raise Gross Proceeds of Approximately S$1,200 million" announcement dated 10 November 2020. [14] Includes two properties on perpetual leasehold basis. [15] Includes 1-5 Thomas Holt Drive in Sydney, Australia, acquired on 13 January 2021. [16] Includes two properties on perpetual leasehold basis.

About Ascendas Real Estate Investment Trust (www.ascendas-reit.com)

Ascendas Real Estate Investment Trust (Ascendas Reit) is Singapore's first and largest listed business space and industrial real estate investment trust. It was listed on the Singapore Exchange Securities Trading Limited (SGX-ST) in November 2002.

As at 31 December 2020, Ascendas Reit's investment properties under management stood at S$13.7 billion. The portfolio comprises 200 properties across the developed markets of Singapore, Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States. Ascendas Reit's portfolio includes business and science parks, suburban office properties, high-specifications industrial properties, light industrial properties, logistics and distribution centres, and integrated developments, amenities and retail properties.

These properties house a tenant base of more than 1,450 international and local companies from a wide range of industries and activities, including research and development, life sciences, information technology, engineering, light manufacturing, logistics service providers, electronics, telecommunications, manufacturing services and back-room office support in service industries. Major tenants include Singtel, Stripe, DSO National Laboratories, Pinterest, DBS, CareFusion, Wesfarmers, Citibank and JPMorgan.

Ascendas Reit is listed in several indices. These include the FTSE Straits Times Index, the Morgan Stanley Capital International, Inc (MSCI) Index, the European Public Real Estate Association/National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts (EPRA/NAREIT) Global Real Estate Index and Global Property Research (GPR) Asia 250. Ascendas Reit has an issuer rating of 'A3' by Moody's Investors Service.

Ascendas Reit is managed by Ascendas Funds Management (S) Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Singapore-listed CapitaLand Limited, one of Asia's largest diversified real estate groups.

About CapitaLand Limited (www.capitaland.com)

CapitaLand Limited (CapitaLand) is one of Asia's largest diversified real estate groups. Headquartered and listed in Singapore, it owns and manages a global portfolio worth about S$132.5 billion as at 31 December 2020. CapitaLand's portfolio spans across diversified real estate classes which includes commercial, retail; business park, industrial and logistics; integrated development, urban development; as well as lodging and residential. With a presence across more than 230 cities in over 30 countries, the Group focuses on Singapore and China as its core markets, while it continues to expand in markets such as India, Vietnam, Australia, Europe and the USA.

CapitaLand has one of the largest real estate investment management businesses globally. It manages six listed real estate investment trusts (REITs) and business trusts as well as over 20 private funds. CapitaLand launched Singapore's first REIT in 2002 and today, its stable of REITs and business trusts comprises CapitaLand Integrated Commercial Trust, Ascendas Real Estate Investment Trust, Ascott Residence Trust, CapitaLand China Trust, Ascendas India Trust and CapitaLand Malaysia Mall Trust.

CapitaLand places sustainability at the core of what it does. As a responsible real estate company, CapitaLand contributes to the environmental and social well-being of the communities where it operates, as it delivers long-term economic value to its stakeholders.

Important Notice

This press release may contain forward-looking statements. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which are based on the current view of management regarding future events. Neither Ascendas Funds Management (S) Ltd nor any of its affiliates, advisers or representatives shall have any liability whatsoever (in negligence or otherwise) for any loss howsoever arising, whether directly or indirectly, from any use of, reliance on or distribution of this press release or its contents or otherwise arising in connection with this press release. The past performance of Ascendas Reit is not indicative of future performance. The listing of the units in the Ascendas Reit ("Units") on the Singapore Exchange Securities Trading Limited (SGX-ST) does not guarantee a liquid market for the Units. This press release is for information only and does not constitute an invitation or offer to acquire, purchase or subscribe for the Units. For the complete disclaimer, please click here.

SOURCE Ascendas Reit

Related Links

http://www.ascendas-reit.com


The Union Health Ministry has asked states and UTs (Union Territories) to closely monitor adverse events following immunisation (AEFI) at block and state levels. In a meeting with state-level monitoring committees on Tuesday, March 17, the ministry asked the states to do it for both Covaxin and Covishield vaccines.

Meanwhile, a meeting of the national level monitoring committee on adverse events is underway.

The development comes after several countries in Europe have suspended the COVID-19 vaccine developed by AstraZeneca and the Oxford University, following reports of possible side-effects comprising incidents of blood clots in people who have been administered the shot.

Also Read: Germany, Italy, France suspend AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine amid safety fears

Meanwhile, Sweden on Tuesday became the latest European nation to suspend the rollout of AstraZeneca's coronavirus vaccine, following moves by Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Norway, and the Netherlands among others.

Over 10 European nations have suspended or limited vaccinations. National governments nonetheless have taken pre-emptive steps.

Several countries, including the UK, have also defended their use of the jab, saying that they will continue with their respective vaccination drives.

Austria was first to halt the use of a single batch of ABV 5300 on March 7 after a person under the age of 50 was reported to have died from blood clots after getting inoculated. Iceland, Denmark, and Norway followed suit by suspending AstraZeneca inoculations altogether last week following the so-called thromboembolic events.

Italy, France, Germany, Spain, and the Netherlands halted the use of shot on March 15, and Portugal suspended further use of the jab on March 16. In Asia, Thailand on March 12 became the first Asian nation to halt the use of the vaccine over safety concerns, right after Denmark announced a two-week recess for its countrywide rollout.

Also Read: Blood clotting incidents raise alarm; Denmark, Norway, Iceland suspend AstraZeneca vaccine supply

Although no links are found to be proven between the vaccine and the events, experts have cautioned that the suspension of the AstraZeneca-Oxford University vaccine may impair already feeble public confidence in the vaccine.

The European Medicines Agency and the World Health Organization (WHO) have stated that there was no proof so far that serious adverse events, particularly at least five deaths, were caused by the vaccine.

Meanwhile, AstraZeneca has articulated that it has concluded an assessment reviewing how safe its coronavirus vaccine is, basis data covering encompassing 17 million people who have been inoculated in the UK and the EU.

Also Read: COVID-19 update: India studies post-vaccination adverse events

"A careful review of all available safety data of more than 17 million people vaccinated in the European Union and the UK with COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca has shown no evidence of an increased risk of pulmonary embolism, deep vein thrombosis or thrombocytopenia, in any defined age group, gender, batch or in any particular country," the company said 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," it added.
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Even as things look promising for summer, the coronavirus is still finding new ways to threaten our creep back to normal and our general sense of health and safety. Lately, its been the so-called South Africa, U.K., and Brazil variants, as well as newer variants like the ones that have popped up in New York City and California. Its hard to keep track of them all and their whereabouts. The U.K. variant, which appears to spread easily, may become dominant in the U.S., the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Monday. On Tuesday, health officials announced theyd found the Brazil variant in Massachusetts. Frances health ministry just reported several cases of a new variant that may be harder to spot with tests.

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You might have some questions about what this all means for vaccines, masks (and lack thereof), and our general future. I spoke to four experts, and heres what they say we knowand what were still waiting to find out.

Why is the virus mutating?

Each time the SARS-CoV-2 virus infects a new person, it has to copy itself, says David Kennedy, a disease ecologist at the Penn State Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics. All these copies of the virus run around in your body, wreaking havoc and making you sick. With each new copy comes the chance to make mistakes in the duplication process. These mistakes are mutations. What each mutation means depends on the luck of the draw. Most mutations have no effect, make the virus worse at infecting people, or make it die right away. But some mutations make the virus better at infecting people. Those are the problematic ones.

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OK, how do I know which variants to freak out about?

Well, for starters, things seem mostly fine nowmore on why in a bit. But we just dont know yet whether all the newest variants are concerning. Just like it was hard to tell how the then-new coronavirus was going to play out globally in January 2020, you cant simply look at a variant and predict how its going to behave (and how people and governments are going to address it). But there are some things scientists look out for. The clearest sign that a variant is worrying is if its responsible for an increasingly large percentage of cases in a particular area, says Kennedy. Thats an indication that the variant is better at infecting people than the rest of the SARS-CoV-2 thats out there right now. It means that natural selection is causing that particular variant to take over.

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Increased transmission is another sign. Contact tracing can help researchers figure out if someone infected with a new variant is more likely to spread it around to others. Brianne Barker, a virologist at Drew University, says she began to be more concerned about the U.K. variant when contact tracing data showed that an infected person could spread it to more people than someone with the original SARS-CoV-2.

A third, less certain sign is whether the variant has one particular mutation. The South Africa, U.K., and Brazil variants have what scientists refer to as the 501 mutation. This is a change in those little spiky things that cover the virus, one that makes it better at getting into human cells, says Scott Weaver, a virologist and scientific director of Galveston National Laboratory. That one mutation appears to be responsible for most of the increased transmission, Weaver says. But just having the 501 mutation isnt enough to make a new variant concerning, says Kennedy. These mutations dont act by themselves, he says. Everything sort of interacts with everything else. So the same mutation on two different viruses could have very different effects.

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Which is to say: Figuring out whether a new variant is concerning is complicated, even if you happen to be equipped to examine its DNA. If youre just scanning the news, its even harder to tell. If a story about a new variant doesnt cite explicit evidence that its becoming more prevalent or more transmissible, its probably safe not to worry about it.

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Well, what about variants that are increasing transmission, like the U.K. one?

Even concerning variants shouldnt change your personal calculus that much, except to make sure youre avoiding other people indoors and wearing effective masks. Those strategies do work against the variants.

Is it possible that there could be a variant that would really change our strategysay, one thats more transmissible on surfaces?

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None of the current variants has been found to be better at surface transmission, says Weaver. Theoretically a variant could develop that was better at transmitting via surfaces. For example, it could be more stable and last longer on, say, a tabletop or doorknob. (But you should be washing your hands regularly now anyway.)

What is different about, say, the U.K. variant that makes it spread around more easily?

Right now, a few different things could give a variant increased transmission. It could reproduce more inside the nose and throat. More virus means more sheddingthat is, escaping your body and potentially making it into other peoples bodies. Hamsters with the U.K. variant shed more virus, Weavers lab found. Or a variant might need less virus to establish an infection.

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Are the vaccines less effective against the new variants?

We dont know the full picture in detail yet, but what we do know is actually fairly encouraging. The experts I spoke with agreed that the vaccines will likely be effective for preventing a lot of the risk of severe and critical disease. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine was tested against the South Africa variant in its clinical trial. It was 64 percent effective in South Africa. While thats less than its 72 percent effectiveness in the U.S., it still offers quite a bit of protection. Remember that before the vaccines were tested, the Food and Drug Administration was prepared to approve anything with more than 50 percent efficacy, and annual flu vaccines are 4060 percent effective.

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The variants didnt exist yet during Pfizers and Modernas clinical trials. But Kennedy says theres really good reason to think that theyll still have good efficacy against these variants, and the other experts I talked to agree.

Wait, but it sounds like the Johnson & Johnson vaccine is less effective against the South Africa variant. Why the optimism?

What would be really bad is a variant that could evade vaccine-induced immunity entirely. The good news is that none of the current variants seems to do that. According to a couple of papers that have not yet been published, antibodies produced with help from the vaccines seem to effectively neutralize the U.K. variant, Weaver says. Manufacturers design a vaccine to help the body throw a bunch of different antibodies at the virus so that in combination theyll all be enough to knock it out. Weaver says there is a pretty consistent picture emerging that the South Africa variant is probably a little bit nimbler against one antibody, but there would be still quite a bit of protection from the vaccine. Antibodies hamper the virus by glomming onto all those spikes that stick up from it. The spike protein is huge, so there are going to be antibodies to many different portions of it, says Barker. It would take a lot of mutations to make a variant that could dodge every one of those antibodies. Plus, the vaccines also nudge the body to produce T cells, and a recent preprint found that those T cells were still equally protective against the new variants. Normally people think of it as something thats binary, right? The vaccine works, or the vaccine doesnt work, says Kennedy. And thats not at all the way that it actually works.

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All the evidence so far says that the current variants cant make it past the vaccines to the point where we should really worry. We dont have data on how the New York or Southern California variants respond to the vaccines yet, but scientists should have it fairly soon, perhaps in a month or so, says Bryce Chackerian, an immunologist at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine.

Well, since at least one variant does diminish the protection from at least one vaccine somewhat  will we be getting booster shots eventually?

Maybe. We dont know, says Chackerian. All I can say is that the companies that are making the RNA vaccinesthe new, easily adaptable technology used by Pfizer and Modernaare planning for that right now. Manufacturers are already creating boosters that target either multiple variants or specific variants. An article at PBS explains that it takes about six weeks between getting the genetic sequence of a new variant and having a new mRNA vaccine booster ready to test in humans, plus extra time for clinical trials. In late February, the National Institutes of Health began a phase 1 clinical trial of a Moderna booster targeting the South Africa variant. Johnson & Johnson is also testing giving a second dose of its existing vaccine, and Moderna and Pfizer are testing a third dose. I think its quite possible next fall or winter wed get coronavirus boosters along with our annual flu vaccine, Weaver says.

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But again, all four experts I checked with said the existing vaccines have proved to be pretty good against the existing variants. The variants should be motivation to get a vaccine, says Kennedy. After you do, its reasonable to go ahead and take the CDCs recent advice on socializing for vaccinated people.

But there are an awful lot of people who havent gotten the vaccine who are socializing! What do the recent lifts on mask mandates and business restrictions in some states mean for the variants?

Yes, the really concerning thing is that opening up states now, while only about 10 percent of the country has been fully vaccinated, will likely lead to more variants. The more virus thats around, the more opportunity there is for new variants, said Kennedy. Every expert I spoke to agreed that careless reopenings could not just increase cases, but could help the virus mutate in ways that are harder to combat. I think its very risky, said Weaver. Some of those new variants will inevitably be harmless. But theres a chance that some will be even more concerning than the ones we are seeing now.
ISIS bride Shamima Begum begs Britons to 'put aside everything they've heard about me' and give her a 'second chance' in a new film set for release today.

The documentary captures Begum, who fled Britain in 2015 to marry an ISIS fighter, living at the Roj camp in Syria in 2019 after the fall of the terror group's 'caliphate'.

In it, she can be seen undergoing therapy sessions alongside other western women including US-born Hoda Muthana and Canadian Kimberly Polman during which they are encouraged to write letters to their younger selves about their regrets.

'Okay, um... My name's Shamima. I'm from the UK. I'm 19,' Begum says as she introduces herself to the group wearing a hijab, before she ditched it in favour of a more westernised look.

'I would say to the people in the UK, give me a second chance because I was still young when I left,' she tells the filmmakers.

'I just want them to put aside everything they've heard about me in the media.'

Shamima Begum, the British ISIS bride, appears in a new documentary due to air today as she begs for people to 'give me a second chance' (file image)

The footage of Begum was captured in 2019, shortly after she was discovered at a prison camp in Syria (pictured around the time) as she goes through therapy sessions

The documentary - 'The Return: Life After ISIS' - will premiere Wednesday at the online Texas-based South By Southwest festival.

Begum left her London home aged just 15 to travel to Syria with two school friends where she married an ISIS fighter and had three children by him.

She was 'found' by British journalists, heavily pregnant at another Syrian camp, in February 2019.

Spanish director Alba Sotorra got rare, extensive access to Begum and other Western women over several months starting in March that year, after meeting them while making a film about their Kudish guards.

In the film, Begum drops the defiant tone that saw her initially declare she 'doesn't regret' joining the terror group and claims she was forced to say those things for fear that other women in her camp might kill her otherwise.

Begum recalls feeling like an 'outsider' in London who wanted to 'help the Syrians,' but claims on arrival she quickly realized IS were 'trapping people' to boost the so-called caliphate's numbers and 'look good for the (propaganda) videos.'

On Sotorra's arrival in March 2019, the women - fresh from a warzone - were 'somehow blocked... not thinking and not feeling.'

'Shamima was a piece of ice when I met her,' Sotorra told AFP.

'She lost the kid when I was there... it took a while to be able to cry,' she recalled.

Begum no longer wears the black hijab and chandor robe in which she was found, and appeared last month in western dress after losing a Supreme Court hearing to return to the UK

Shamima Begum was 15 when she ran away with two other schoolgirls to Syria to marry a Dutch jihadi in 2015 (pictured)

'I think it's just surviving, you need to protect yourself to survive.'

Another factor is the enduring presence of 'small but very powerful' groups of even 'more radicalized women' who remain loyal to IS and exert pressure on their campmates.

'We had (other) women who joined in the beginning, and then they received pressure from other women so they stopped coming,' said Sotorra.

In the film, Begum claims she 'had no choice but to say certain things' to journalists 'because I lived in fear of these women coming to my tent one day and killing me and killing my baby.'

'I will never be able to understand how a woman from the West can take this decision of leaving everything behind to join a group that is committing the atrocities that ISIS is committing,' Sotorra told AFP.

'I do understand now how you can make a mistake.'

'It was known that Syria was a warzone and I still travelled into it with my own children - now how I did this I really don't know looking back,' says one Western woman.

The question of what can and should be done with these women - and their children - plagues Western governments, sowing divisions among allies.

Last month, Britain's Supreme Court rejected Begum's bid to return to challenge a decision stripping her citizenship on national security grounds.

Begum is now living at the Kurdish-run Roj camp in Syria while she fights a Home Office decision to strip her of her passport

How much the women knew about - and abetted - IS's rapes, tortures and beheadings may never be known.

In the documentary, Begum denies she 'knew about' or 'supported these crimes,' dismissing claims she could have been in IS's feared morality police as a naive '15-year-old with no Islamic knowledge' who did not even 'speak the language.'

'I never even had a parking ticket back in my own country before... I never harmed anybody, I never killed anybody, I never did anything,' says Canadian Kimberly Polman.

An incredulous Kurdish woman points out that 'maybe your husband killed my cousin.'

Sotorra believes the women could be useful back home in preventing the same mistake in future generations, and points to the cruelty of raising young children in this environment.

'It took them a while to realise that they have responsibility for (their) choice... they cannot just think 'Okay, I regret, I go back, as if nothing has happened,'' she said.

'No, it's not about this... you have to accept the consequences.'
Acclaim offers a sample of recent honors for Emory faculty and staff. Listings may include awards and prizes; election to boards and societies; and similarly notable accomplishments in the wider community. Acclaim is published monthly in Emory Report. To suggest items for the April 2021 column, please email your submission by March 25.

Emory faculty and staff are frequently recognized for their work locally, nationally and internationally. The following is a sampling of recent accolades, including fellowships and national awards for leadership and excellence.

Honors highlighted in this column:

Anderson selected as fellow of the American Academy of Political and Social Science

Carol Anderson, Charles Howard Candler Professor of African American Studies, is one of five distinguished scholars being inducted as Fellows of the American Academy of Political and Social Science (AAPSS) in 2021. The AAPSS inducts a new cohort of Fellows each year, in recognition of contributions that advance science and deepen public understanding of human behavior and social dynamics.

Andersons work focuses on public policy, particularly on how domestic and international policies intersect through the issues of race, justice, and equality in the U.S. Her research examines how policy is made and unmade, and how racial inequality and racism affect policy processes and outcomes.

Baumgart receives emerging leader award

Joel Baumgart, assistant vice provost for faculty support and recognition, was awarded the MacVittie Emerging Leader Award by the American Association of University Administrators.

Named for Robert W. MacVittie, first president of the association, the award is made to an individual who is currently engaged in a higher education administrative position below the level of vice president and who has completed no more than five years of service at the current level of appointment and who, by virtue of demonstrated professional accomplishment, is thought to have outstanding potential for higher education leadership.

Mentor-mentee research award goes to Bruner and Bai

The NINR-ONS-NCI Symptom Science Symposia recently awarded Deborah Watkins Bruner and Jinbing Bai the mentor-mentee research award. Bruner is the senior vice president for research at Emory and Bai is an assistant professor of cancer symptom and omics science at Emory School of Nursing. The award is conferred by a collaborative that comprises the National Institute of Nursing Research, the Oncology Nursing Society and the National Cancer Institute.

The award acknowledges mentors who serve as an exemplary role model and resource to their mentee in developing a program of oncology nursing research and the mentee for applying knowledge in developing an innovative and clinically relevant program of research.

Bai and his team, under the mentorship of Bruner, are conducting microbiome studies and its link to psychoneurological symptoms such as pain, fatigue and anxiety in children treated with chemotherapy and adults treated with chemo/radiotherapy. Their work is providing innovative evidence to design targeted interventions to decrease such symptoms among cancer patients.

Global health arts prize is awarded to Chakraborty

Saikat Chakraborty, visiting assistant professor of chemistry at Oxford College, is the 2020 awardee of the Emory University Warren Westerberg Global Health and the Arts prize. His environmental photo essay described the potential effects of climate change through a fictional photo essay based on scientific findings and similar events that are happening around the world.

The prize is given by Emory Global Health Institute and recognizes a member or members of the Emory community who have effectively used art to inspire, initiate or support action to address a global health challenge. View Chakraborty's winning submission online here.

NASPA honors Dos and Clark of Campus Life

The National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) has recognized two Emory staff members for their work.

NASPA Region III has selected David E. Clark, associate vice president of Campus Life and University Services, as the 2021 winner of the AVP/Senior Level Student Affairs Professional Award. This prestigious honor signifies that fellow student affairs colleagues highly value Clarks contributions to the profession, his institution and NASPA Region III.

DeLa Dos, director of social justice education, and the Social Justice Education Framework Program have received the 2021 NASPA Excellence Gold Award in the Equity, Inclusion and Social Justice Category, as well as the Grand Bronze Award Overall for the 2021 NASPA Excellence Awards.

NASPA is the largest and most prestigious professional association for those who work in the student affairs field, supporting a diverse network of 15,000 professionals and 1,200 institutions across the globe.

Fleischer chosen as a Scialog conference Fellow

Candace Fleischer, an assistant professor in Emory School of Medicines Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, is among 55 Fellows selected for Scialog: Advancing Bioimaging, a new initiative from Research Corporation for Science Advancement.

Scialog is short for science + dialog. Created in 2010 by RCSA, the Scialog format creates communities of early-career scholars selected from multiple disciplines and institutions across the U.S. and Canada. Conference participants form multidisciplinary teams to design research projects, which they pitch to a committee of leading scientists who have facilitated discussions throughout the meeting. The committee then recommends seed funding to catalyze the most promising of those team projects, based primarily on the potential for high-impact results.

Kancherla wins award for extensive birth defects work

Vijaya Kancherla, research assistant professor in the Department of Epidemiology at Rollins School of Public Health, recently won the 2021 F. Clarke Fraser New Investigator Award from the Society for Birth Defects Research and Prevention (SBDRP, previously Teratology Society) for her vast body of work on birth defects epidemiology.

This award honors F. Clarke Fraser, one of the founding members of the SBDRP for his many contributions to the field of developmental toxicology. During the awards ceremony this summer, Kancherla will give a presentation related to her research, which will serve as a demonstration to pre- and postdoctoral students of the development of an independent career in birth defects research. Read more here.

Klibanoffs Buried Truths podcast selected as finalist for ABA award

Buried Truths, a podcast led by Hank Klibanoff and produced by Atlanta NPR station WABE, has been named a finalist in the radio category for the 2021 Silver Gavel Awards for Media and the Arts. The awards are presented by the American Bar Association and recognize outstanding work that fosters the American publics understanding of law and the legal system.

Klibanoff is professor of practice in English and creative writing. The podcast is based on the work of students participating in Emorys Georgia Civil Rights Cold Cases Project, an undergraduate class led by Klibanoff. Season three of the podcast, which has been nominated for the award, focused on the shooting death of Ahmaud Arbery, an unarmed a 25-year-old Black man who was pursued by three armed white men near the coastal city of Brunswick.

The winners will be announced on May 20.

McDonald named interim chair of Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences

William M. McDonald has accepted the position to serve as interim chair of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences within Emorys School of Medicine. McDonald is professor and the JB Fuqua Chair for Late-Life Depression and also serves as vice-chair of psychiatry education.

McDonald graduated from Duke University Medical School and was a member of the Duke faculty before joining Emory in 1993. In 1999, with a gift from the JB Fuqua Foundation, he led the establishment of the Fuqua Center for Late-Life Depression where he currently serves as director. The Fuqua Center mission is to provide education and improve community access in the treatment of geriatric depression.

McDonalds clinical work and research has focused on understanding the neuroanatomy, clinical features and treatment of mood disorders such as mania and depression, particularly when these disorders occur late in life.

Shantha selected for leadership development program

Emory Eye Center uveitis and medical retina specialist Jessica Shantha has been selected to participate in the 2020-2021 Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) Womens Leadership Development Program.

The program prepares women to serve in leadership roles within ARVO and their clinical or academic institutions. It is designed to provide emerging leaders with a highly interactive, year-long learning experience focused on leadership skill development, facilitating leadership opportunities, and networking within ARVO.

Shantha joined Emory Eye Center in 2017. Her academic and clinical interests include infectious and non-infectious uveitis, emerging pathogen discovery and addressing clinical and research gaps within uveitis and retinal disease. Read more.

Weissman honored with Sloan Fellowship

Emory College physicist Daniel Weissman, who specializes in building mathematical models to better understand the rapid evolution of pathogens, has been named a 2021 Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellow.

The prestigious fellowship honors Weissman as among the most promising researchers working today. He plans to use the two-year award to amplify his latest effort, to examine antibiotic resistance by building a model from a massive database of genomes from Staphylococcus aureus, an opportunistically pathogenic skin bacterium.

The Sloan Research Fellowships are open to scholars in eight fields  chemistry, computer science, economics, mathematics, computational and evolutionary molecular biology, neuroscience, ocean sciences and physics  who have a record of distinguished performance and a unique potential to make substantial contributions to their field. Read more.
The suspect Robert Aaron Long - Reuters

Eight people have been shot dead at three spas in the US city of Atlanta.

Six of the victims were Asian women, police said, and a 21-year-old man is in custody on suspicion of the mass killing.

The shootings came with many Asian-Americans already on edge following a recent spike in hate crimes against the community, and triggered immediate fears that Asian-run businesses may have been deliberately targeted.

Four of the victims were killed at Young's Asian Massage near Acworth, a suburb of Georgia state capital Atlanta, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.

Captain Jay Baker of the Cherokee County sheriff's office told the paper the victims were two Asian women, a white woman, and a white man, while a Hispanic man was wounded.

Authorities have identified Robert Aaron Long as a suspect in all three shootings.

Long was taken into custody after a "brief pursuit" about 150 miles (240 kilometers) from Atlanta, according to a statement by the Georgia Department of Safety on Facebook.

Atlanta shooting map

Based on the pattern of surveillance video from the shooting scenes, Atlanta police spokesman Sergeant John Chafee said: "It is extremely likely our suspect is the same as Cherokee County's, who is in custody."

"We are working closely with them to confirm with certainty our cases are related," he added.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation was assisting in the investigation, a spokesman said.

Adriana Mejia, niece of one of the victims, said the family was "devastated" after her uncle was shot and that they were praying for his recovery.

"We never know when we're at the wrong place at the wrong time because this was so all of a sudden," she said.

Police separately confirmed that four women had been killed in attacks on two other spas in the northeast of the city.

Describing the scene in northeast Atlanta, the city police department said: "Upon arrival, officers located three females deceased inside the location from apparent gunshot wounds."

Story continues

While on the scene, officers were advised of shots fired across the street, where they found a fourth female victim.

Police told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that all four were Asian women.

South Korea's Yonhap News Agency reported the country's foreign ministry had confirmed that four of the victims were of Korean descent.

The Atlanta shootings, in pictures

Police believe the attacks were carried out by the same person - GETTY IMAGES

City of Atlanta police officers are seen outside of Gold Spa after deadly shootings in Atlanta - Reuters

Atlanta Police Department officers investigate the scene of spa shootings on Piedmont Road in Atlanta, Georgia - Erik Lesser/Shutterstock

Authorities investigate a fatal shooting at a massage parlor, late Tuesday, March 16, 2021, in Acworth - Mike Stewart/AP

Race hate crimes up since 'Chinese virus' Trump comments

The shootings come as reports of attacks against Asian-Americans, primarily elders, have spiked in recent months - fueled during the Covid-19 pandemic, activists believe, by talk of the "Chinese virus" by former president Donald Trump and others.

News of the shootings came just hours after the release of a report by the advocacy group Stop AAPI Hate suggested a marked increase in hate crimes against Asia-Americans - with women disproportionately affected.

In a tally of incidents reported to the group between March 2020 and February this year, almost 70 percent of Asian-American survey respondents said they had faced verbal harassment and just over one in 10 said they had experienced physical assault.

Georgia is home to nearly 500,000 Asian residents, or just over four percent of its population, according to the Asian American Advocacy Fund.

Georgia Senator Raphael Warnock condemned the violence in a tweet late Tuesday.

"My heart is broken tonight after the tragic violence in Atlanta that took eight lives broken tonight after the tragic violence in Atlanta that took eight lives," he said.

"Praying for the families of the victims and for peace for the community."

The Democratic party in the state called Tuesday's shooting spree "horrifying."

"As details continue to emerge, this attack sadly follows the unacceptable pattern of violence against Asian Americans that has skyrocketed throughout this pandemic," said Congresswoman Nikema Williams, who is also the state party's chairwoman.

In an address to the nation last Thursday, President Joe Biden forcefully condemned what he called "vicious hate crimes against Asian-Americans who have been attacked, harassed, blamed and scapegoated."

"It's wrong. It's un-American. And it must stop," he said.
OLMSTED TOWNSHIP, Ohio  Police are investigating after a swastika was spray-painted on the side of a home along with several other acts of vandalism to other homes in the area.

The incidents happened between 2:30 to 6 a.m. Sunday in the area of Glenbrook and Skyline drives, the police department posted on its Facebook page.

Olmsted Township police say these incidents are all likely connected.

The vandals set a dumpster on fire on the property of Olmsted Falls middle school and high school on Bagley Road near Glenbrook Drive, according to a news release from Olmsted Township police. Police also say vandals damaged other homes and cars during the incidents. Someone also damaged a homes air conditioning unit by dumping corn starch in it, police said.

Unknown suspect(s) vandalized several homes in the Glenbrook- Skyline neighborhood, Olmsted Township police Chief Matt Vanyo said in a statement. We take this matter very seriously and are actively investigating and have persons of interest.

The Olmsted Township community does not tolerate such violence and intimidation where our residents live, work, and travel, Olmsted Township Trustee Lisa Zver said. The safety and welfare of our residents is paramount and we will get to the bottom of this quickly.

Anyone with information on these incidents is asked to call 440-235-3335.

Read more crime stories on cleveland.com:

Lorain man attacked Capitol police officer during Jan. 6 riots following Stop the Steal rally, feds say

Two Cleveland brothers accused of fatal shooting outside Parma bar that killed off-duty corrections officer appear in court

Former Cuyahoga County Land Bank official gets probation, $5,000 fine for lying to federal agents

North Ridgeville police rid home of masked intruder ... a raccoon in the dishwasher

Inspector general said Cleveland police should update its policy on high-speed pursuits
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CHICAGO, March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- In-depth analysis and data-driven insights on the impact of COVID-19 included in this global single-use bioprocessing market report.

The single-use bioprocessing market is expected to grow at a CAGR of approximately 17% during the period 20192025.

Key Highlights Offered in the Report:

The shift of the biopharmaceutical industry from traditional stainless-steel bioprocessing equipment to single-use ones is majorly influenced by proven economic and operational benefits of SUB technology. As the drive towards personalized medicine and targeted therapies for treating a broad range of chronic and rare diseases continues, biopharmaceutical manufacturers are increasingly using SUTs to produce a large number of products in the same facilities with more changeovers. The increasing demand for biopharmaceuticals and biosimilars is boosting the adoption of single-use technologies. For instance, the global biopharmaceutical drugs market is growing at a healthy CAGR of more than 10%. Overall, the percentage share of biopharmaceuticals increased from around 25% in 2016 to around 30% in 2019. Vendors' ongoing R&D activities in biologics also reflect the steadily growing importance and the acceptance of biopharmaceuticals. For instance, biopharmaceuticals account for more than 50% of the total pharma R&D pipeline. Comparing SUB with stainless steel bioprocessing, end-users can potentially save around 50% in the total cost of goods (including amortized capital, raw materials, labor, water, utilities, and other plant infrastructure requirements). Contrary to industry perceptions, single-use biopharmaceutical manufacturing technology can help reduce CAPEX up to 50%, decrease water and energy consumption up to 80% compared to traditional manufacturing techniques. Mergers and acquisitions among market players will assist them in enhancing their product portfolio as well as expand their geographic reach. mAbs market segment is the major revenue contributor as the usage of SUB is relatively high both in research and mAb manufacturing. The purification market segment is likely to grow at a faster rate due to the growing usage of SUB in downstream bioprocessing.

Key Offerings:

Market Size & Forecast by Revenue | 20212026

Market Dynamics  Leading trends, growth drivers, restraints, and investment opportunities

Market Segmentation  A detailed analysis by product, application, end-users, method, and geography

Competitive Landscape  5 key vendors and 42 other vendors

Get your sample today! https://www.arizton.com/market-reports/single-use-bioprocessing-market

Single-Use Bioprocessing Market  Segmentation

Single-use bioprocessing products are observing growth due to advances in equipment, higher scalability, and the increased application in the biopharmaceutical industry. Bioreactors and fermenters cover significant shares among SUB. The use of bioreactors and fermenters is growing for the development of biosimilars & biologics.

The increased application of monoclonal antibodies (mABs) for the diagnosis and treatment of autoimmune disorders, cancer, and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) is boosting the single-use bioprocessing market growth. The production of mABs via single-use bioreactors reduces the operating cost and offers more flexibility than traditional stainless steel equipment.

Biopharmaceutical manufacturers occupy a significant share of the market, with single-use systems witnessing adoption in pre-commercial production processes. Several biopharmaceutical manufacturers have started to explore these solutions in commercial manufacturing.

Single-Use Bioprocessing Market by Product

Single-use Bioprocessing Equipment

Simple & Peripheral Devices

Single-Use Bioprocessing Market by Application

Monoclonal Antibodies (mABs)

Vaccines

Cell Therapies

Others

Single-Use Bioprocessing Market by End-users

Biopharmaceutical Manufacturers

Contract Manufacturing Organizations (CMOs)

R&D Companies & Research Institutes

Single-Use Bioprocessing Market by Method

Filtration

Storage & Transport

Cell Culture

Mixing

Purification

Single-Use Bioprocessing Market  Dynamics

Vendors in the biopharmaceutical industry are focusing on introducing innovative products in the market, which will eventually attract customers and enhance their market share in the future. New product launches in the market will offer diversity for consumers in terms of selecting products based on advanced features. It will also assist players in strengthening their product portfolio in the market. Several factors such as the change in technology, increasing competition, and growth and development, increasing demand for advanced products are contributing to new product launches. It was estimated that compared to biotherapeutic developers, CMOs participated more in introducing new products in the market. The interest in new product developments by CMOs was around 56% when compared to biotherapeutic developers with 27.7%.

Key Drivers and Trends fueling Market Growth:

Increasing Strategic Acquisitions & Partnerships

High Utilization of Single-use Bioprocessing for COVID-19 Vaccine Production

Increasing Adoption of Single-use Technologies Over Multi-use Bioprocessing Platforms

Lower Risk of Cross Contamination and Lower Manufacturing Cost

Single-Use Bioprocessing Market  Geography

Countries such as the US and Canada are the major revenue contributors in the region. The presence of large-scale manufacturing facilities, increasing expenditure on biopharmaceutical research activities in both the above-mentioned countries, as well as the growing demand for single-use technologies are major factors that are contributing to the market growth in North America. The increasing biopharmaceutical manufacturing facilities are majorly contributing to the growth of the single-use bioprocessing market in the region. A study investigating the global capacity of biopharmaceutical manufacturing demonstrated that North America dominated in terms of manufacturing facilities.

Get your sample today! https://www.arizton.com/market-reports/single-use-bioprocessing-market

Single-Use Bioprocessing Market by Geography

North America

US



Canada

Europe

UK



Germany



France



Italy



Spain



Switzerland

APAC

China



India



Japan



South Korea



Australia

Latin America

Mexico



Brazil



Argentina



Colombia

Middle East & Africa

Saudi Arabia



Turkey



South Africa



UAE

Major Vendors

Thermo Fisher Scientific

Sartorius Stedim Biotech

Danaher

Merck KGaA

Avantor

Other Prominent Vendors

Applikon Biotechnology

Eppendorf

CESCO Bioengineering

Corning

Rentschler Biopharma SE

Entegris

Meissner Filtration Products

Parker-Hannifin Corporation

PBS Biotech Inc.

Saint-Gobain

Sentinel Process Systems

ABEC

Adolf Kuhner

Charter Medical

Holland Applied Technologies

Repligen

Solaris Biotech Solutions

3M Company

Company Lonza

Pneumatic Scale Angelus

ARTeSYN Biosolutions

Wego Group

Distek

New Horizon Biotech

OmniBRx Biotechnologies

Yposkesi

Charge Point Technology

High Purity New England

PendoTECH

AdvantaPure

TBL Performance Plastics

Cellon

Sysbiotech

Broadley-James

CerCell A/S

PreSens-Precision Sensing GmbH

Emerson Electric Co.

Colder Products Company (CPC)

Watson-Marlow Fluid Technology Group

Foxx Life Sciences

DrM (Dr. Mueller AG)

W.L. Gore & Associates

Explore our healthcare & lifesciences profile to know more about the industry.

Read some of the top-selling reports:

About Arizton:

Arizton Advisory and Intelligence is an innovation and quality-driven firm, which offers cutting-edge research solutions to clients across the world. We excel in providing comprehensive market intelligence reports and advisory and consulting services.

We offer comprehensive market research reports on industries such as consumer goods & retail technology, automotive and mobility, smart tech, healthcare, and life sciences, industrial machinery, chemicals and materials, IT and media, logistics and packaging. These reports contain detailed industry analysis, market size, share, growth drivers, and trend forecasts.

Arizton comprises a team of exuberant and well-experienced analysts who have mastered in generating incisive reports. Our specialist analysts possess exemplary skills in market research. We train our team in advanced research practices, techniques, and ethics to outperform in fabricating impregnable research reports.

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Australia will send thousands of vaccines into Papua New Guinea within days and patrols will ramp up along Australias northern border as authorities scramble to contain an out-of-control coronavirus outbreak.

Australian Border Force, Australian Defence Force and Queensland Police will increase their regular patrols of the Torres Strait amid fears the virus could sneak across the border, with just 150km separating the PNG and Australian mainlands.

The situation in PNG has deteriorated in recent weeks. Credit:WHO/ Papua New Guinea

Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced on Wednesday that it was making a formal request to both AstraZeneca and the European health authorities to send one million doses of the 3.8 million internationally-produced doses contracted by Australia to PNG.

The government will also provide 8000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine from Australias domestic supply to PNG, with the jabs expected to arrive within a week. PNG was originally not slated to receive vaccines until next month at the earliest.
The Oakland City Council voted Tuesday to create a new agency within the Fire Department to handle the behavioral calls that traditionally have fallen on police, for people intoxicated in the street, disturbing the peace or acting erratically.

Although it had unanimous support from the council members, the resolution and ordinance to start the Mobile Assistance Community Responders of Oakland program, known as MACRO, left many questions unanswered.

The resolution instructed City Administrator Ed Reiskin to explore options for a yearlong test run that would begin in East Oakland and later expand to West Oakland.

The mental health program, billed as a temporary pilot and originally set to begin in January, is part of a larger effort to redistribute police duties to civilians. Cities across the country began contemplating alternatives to armed law enforcement after the Minneapolis police killing of George Floyd last year, and Oakland leaders saw an opportunity to create a national model.

I envision this will ultimately become a robust city agency within the Fire Department, Council member Dan Kalb said, adding that the new agency could respond to a range of calls for service, and ultimately save money.

Interim Fire Chief Melinda Drayton and Ian Appleyard, the citys director of human resources, highlighted the social benefits of the program in a memo to Reiskin, saying it could help connect people to longer-term and more effective care, including detox centers and residential rehabilitation facilities. But they also warned of complications.

Among them: The firefighters union contract precludes employees from responding to calls for 5150 incidents, the legal code for a mental health hold. Additionally, state law prevents the Oakland Fire Department from transporting patients during medical emergencies.

The memo also listed an array of new equipment the department would need to launch the program, and cited safety concerns, given the alarming rise of homicides and violence in the city.

Several council members insisted the city would not follow its original plan to hire nonprofit community organizations to run MACRO. Reiskin and City Council member Rebecca Kaplan suggested trying to partner with the county, which does to some extent have infrastructure to support this kind of response already.

He said a collaboration with the county might be the most expeditious path for us to go, but acknowledged that Oakland officials had only broached the subject in one preliminary conversation with their Alameda County counterparts.

Rachel Swan is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: rswan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @rachelswan
Government, China envoy discuss arms maintenance depot

THAILAND: Thailand and China discussed a proposal to develop an arms maintenance depot in the country during a meeting at Government House yesterday (Mar 16).

ChineseCoronavirusCOVID-19military

By Bangkok Post

Wednesday 17 March 2021, 10:27AM

Defence permanent secretary Nat Intaracharoen met the Chinese military attache in Thailand, Wu Xiaoyi, at Government House in Bangkok yesterday. Photo: supplied.

Defence permanent secretary Nat Intaracharoen met the Chinese military attache in Thailand, Wu Xiaoyi to discuss Chinas offer to develop a maintenance facility for equipment and weaponry imported from China.

Moves to encourage Chinese companies to invest in the Eastern Economic Corridor, involving special trade privileges, including tax exemptions, were also discussed.

We asked the Chinese military attache to help support Thailands plan to develop its defence sector, which is a part of the S-Curve industries that our country wants to promote among foreign investors, the permanent secretary said.

At the meeting, the government welcomed Maj Gen Wu, praising the 700-year-old relationship between the two nations and 45 years of modern diplomatic relations, Gen Nat said.

He said he also expressed this countrys gratitude to China for speeding up the delivery of COVID-19 vaccines to Thailand.

The attache also discussed closer cooperation regarding military training with Thailand, such as the Joint Strike, Blue Strike, Falcon Strike and and Cobra Gold exercises.

Gen Nat said the meeting also discussed the possibility of developing the ministrys personnel capacity further, by sending them on an exchange or to study at Chinas National Defence College.

In addition, he said that he also thanked Chinas defence ministry for their unconditional funding support for the development of the countrys security capabilities.

Gen Nat quoted Maj Gen Wu Xiaoyi as saying that he wished to see the COVID-19 situation in Thailand improve, before affirming Chinas commitment to supporting Thailands plan to develop its defence industry.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Yes, Theyre Open is a web series highlighting local bars and restaurants that are open for takeout, delivery, pickup or dining during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

Live streams from the featured restaurants are broadcast on the Advance Facebook page every weekday at around 3 p.m.

On Wednesday, the Advance/SILive.com visited Nurnberger Bierhaus at 817 Castleton Ave., which offers indoor dining and pickup from noon to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. It is closed on Monday. The biergarten also will be open for outdoor dining once the weather permits.

Call 718-816-7461 to place an order or make a reservation.

YES, THEYRE OPEN: Nurnberger Bierhaus offers indoor dining and pickup at 817 Castleton Ave. The Biergarten will be open once the weather permits. The restaurant is open Tuesday through Sunday noon to 10 p.m. Call 718-816-7461 to place your order or reservation. Posted by Staten Island Advance on Wednesday, March 17, 2021

Staten Island restaurant owners: If you would like your establishment featured for free as part of Yes, Theyre Open, email reporter Victoria Priola at vpriola@siadvance.com.

WANT MORE YES, THEYRE OPEN?

HoBrah, 31 New Dorp Plaza

Trackside Bar & Grill, 61 New Dorp Plaza

Fig & Vine, 710 New Dorp Lane

The Hop Shoppe, 372 Van Duzer St.

Kills Boro Brewing Co./Craft House, 60 Van Duzer St.
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Several groups, including farmers and cattle breeders, on Wednesday, rejected the grazing routes proposed in the Animal Grazing and Cattle Ranch Establishment Bill, being considered by the Ogun House of Assembly.

They called for the designated routes in the bill to be expunged, at a public hearing organized by the House at the assembly complex in Abeokuta.

Abiodun Ogunyemi and Abel Solanke, both cattle breeders and Kuforiji Oluwadamilare of the Animal Scientists Association of Nigeria, joined other groups to clamour for the removal of the sections seeking the creation of designated routes for grazing in the state.

They insisted that cattle rearing should be seen as a serious business, which required an individual to acquire land from the state government for the establishment of a Ranch, to put an end to frequent clashes between farmers and herders.

Another cattle breeder, Olusegun Osinowo, however, stressed the need for government to ease the process of acquiring the Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) and other necessary documents for land for the establishment of ranches.

Also, the State Chair of the Coalition of Civil Societies, Yinka Folarin, canvassed for stiffer punitive provisions for herders caught with guns and other dangerous weapons, from 10 years imprisonment to 21 years.

The State Chair of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Abubakar Ibrahim, accompanied by the Seriki-Fulani in the state, Kabir Mohammed, promised to present their position paper to the House on the bill.

Earlier, Olakunle Oluomo, the Speaker of the House, who presided over the public hearing, promised that members of the relevant committee would consider the suggestions made at the public hearing and accelerate the passage of the bill, ahead of the farming season.

Mr Oluomo, however, asked the State Ministry of Agriculture and other regulatory agencies, to consider the introduction of a census of animals, at entry points into the state, for proper documentation.

He added that such a head-count would serve as a source of revenue for the government and be part of security measures to control the movement of the cattle, as well as prevent the outbreak of diseases in the state.

The sponsor of the bill, Ganiyu Oyedeji, explained that the bill was part of proactive measures by the House, to forestall the activities of herdsmen and their frequent clashes with farmers.

(NAN)
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SANTA FE  The 2018 case of a teenager accused of fatally shooting a Michigan man ended in a mistrial Tuesday morning shortly after the trial began.

First Judicial District Judge Glenn Ellington declared a mistrial during opening arguments due to manifest necessity in order to protect the Constitutional rights of a key witness in the case, who is facing federal charges in another case.

The defendant, Zachary Gutierrez, who was 17 at the time of the shooting, is facing charges of second-degree murder and tampering with evidence for allegedly killing 64-year-old Richard Milan of Kalamazoo, Michigan. In September 2018, Milan was walking his dog on Airport Road near Lucia Lane when he came upon a group of teenagers and was allegedly shot by Gutierrez after an argument.

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During opening arguments, prosecutors objected to defense attorney Stephen Aarons bringing up federal charges against the prosecutions main witness, Jesus Chuy Arietta-Perez. Prosecutor Tony Long said if Arietta-Perez is asked about his pending federal gun and drug charges it could violate his rights in his federal case.

Ellington said Aarons would be allowed to ask Arrietta-Perez about those charges as they pertain to Gutierrezs case.

He needs an attorney here, unless you know how to do that in half an hour I think we have a mistrial, Ellington said, later adding that it would have been nice if prosecutors had brought up these concerns at their Friday motion hearing.

Ellington said the delay would be counted against the prosecutors speedy trial deadline.

After the mistrial, Aarons said he didnt know why the issues didnt come up earlier.

District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies wasnt happy about the delay and blamed Gutierrezs defense.

The time, energy and resources that our team expended to get this case to trial is undermined by defenses inappropriate commentary to the jury in opening statements, she said in an email to the Journal. The issue of a witnesss pending criminal charges was a subject of pretrial litigation and the Court set certain parameters for the parties. Defense was aware of the parameters, yet made comments to the jury that the Court determined crossed the line of its pretrial rulings.

She added prosecutors will be filing motion to get the case an immediate trial setting.

At the trial, Aarons said he needed to ask Arietta-Perez about his federal charges because he was arrested for them about an hour before he was interviewed by law enforcement about Milans death.

During this interview, Arietta-Perez said Gutierrez shot Milan, which is contradictory to what Arietta-Perez allegedly said in a previous statement to law enforcement. Law enforcement officers allegedly told Arietta-Perez that cooperating with them could be his moneymaker.

Aarons said he wouldnt ask Arietta-Perez to admit guilt for his federal charges, but just ask him to confirm what he told law enforcement.

All we are doing is affirming that he said what he said, Aarons said. I think its highly relevant to his bias and motive to lie.

This argument and line of questioning is essential to the defenses case, Aarons argued.

I understand what hes trying to do, but were also getting to the point where we are making the United States Attorneys Office case for them, said Long, the prosecuting attorney. All of a sudden weve got sworn testimony about this and he (Arietta-Perez) absolutely is going to have to have an attorney here.

Judges and prosecutors have an added responsibility of protecting peoples Constitutional rights, Long said. He said by allowing the Arietta-Perez to be asked these questions would absolutely be violating his Constitutional rights.
Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Russia's President Vladimir Putin (L) attend a summit for the Belt and Road initiative, at the International Conference Center in Yanqi Lake, north of Beijing, China, on May 15, 2017. (Lintao Zhang/AFP/Getty Images)

US Military Official: China and Russia May Be Collaborating South of US Border

A U.S. military official on Tuesday said Russia and the Chinese regime may be collaborating south of the U.S.-Mexico bordernamely, Venezuela.

U.S. Southern Command chief Navy Admiral Craig Faller said China and transnational criminal organizations are the two biggest threats that U.S. forces in the SOUTHCOM, or United States Southern Command, area face.

China is the greatest long-term strategic threat to the security in the 21st century, the Chinese Communist Partys insidious, and corrosive and corrupt influences at work globally and in this region, Faller said in a news conference.

Faller listed actions the Chinese regime has taken in the SOUTHCOM area of command in recent months.

Some examples include their pursuit of multiple port deals, loans for political leverage, vaccine diplomacy that undermines sovereignty, state surveillance I.T., and the exploitation of resources such as illegal, unregulated, and unreported fishing, he said, adding that the regime has outpaced the United States in vaccine diplomacy and is working to create economic networks and develop infrastructure.

The regime is engaged in this hemisphere to further their interests in economic dominance, the official said, referring to the Western Hemisphere that includes North and South America.

We see and are looking with our fellow combatant commanders at areas where China and Russia may be collaborating, Faller noted. That is a particular focus of ours and is a concern where and when we see it.

Russia and China, he said, are apparently converging their interests in Venezuela, as the two countries attempt to court the support of socialist strongman Nicolas Maduro. China and Russia dont have a formal alliance but have increasingly developed a strategic partnership based on economic and military cooperation.

Venezuela is the most notable example, where, at the diplomatic level, they were certainly and continue to be engaged to block any effort at U.N. solutions or global solutions, Faller said.

This week, Faller told members of the Senate Armed Services Committee that more funding is needed for SOUTHCOM to develop greater intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities.

The conditions that the pandemic has caused in Latin America and the Caribbean rival those of the Great Depression here in the United States, Faller told senators. China has moved in particularly heavy handed  and theyre using vaccines to leverage deals for their 5G, and theyre using it to drive a wedge between some nations in the region.

U.S. influence in the region, he added, is eroding due to Chinas influence.

What I hear from our partner is: We know that the United States military is the best, [and] we want to partner with you. But, were drowning, and we need a LifeRing, and were going to take the LifeRing from whoever throws it, including the Chinese, Faller remarked.


Dhanush is one actor who always packs a major punch with his action films down South. His action movies create an uproar at the box-office and attract major footfalls in cinemas. But his next action endeavour just gets bigger and better. The actor is a part of Russo Brothers The Gray Man and the actor is all set for the action-drama.



Russo Brothers who are known for directing Avengers  a multi-superhero flick and last year they even directed Chris Hemsworth in The Extraction, are all set for a new Netflix original  The Gray Man. With The Gray Man they pull in their Captain America star Chris Evans and Hollywoods hottest man Ryan Gosling and in this feature film, Dhanush has managed to grab a pivotal role. Last evening the Russo Brothers shared a monochrome picture of the clapboard from The Gray Man and commenced the shooting of the film. Now it's official that the film has gone on floors and we got to be ready for this drama to be streamed soon on the OTT giant.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Russo Brothers (@therussobrothers)

The Gray Man also stars Ana De Armas, Rege-Jean Page, Jessica Henwick, Wagner Moura, Julia Butters, Billy Bob Thornton and Alfre Woodard. Speaking about Dhanushs Netflix outing, the actors next South flick Jagame Thandhiram will also release on the digital platform. The teaser shows him as a quirky gangster and we are in love with the actors madness.

Dhanush will even be seen in Aanand L Rais Atrangi Re which also stars Akshay Kumar and Sara Ali Khan. Fun times for this genius.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-18 06:08:16|Editor: huaxia

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LIMA, March 17 (Xinhua) -- The Peruvian government is preparing for a possible third wave of infections of COVID-19, President Francisco Sagasti said on Wednesday.

Officials want to anticipate a third wave of COVID-19 cases because "there is a third wave throughout the world," Sagasti said in an interview with local radio station Radio Uno Tacna.

"We are in the middle ... between the second and a possible third wave, in the sense that we are not seeing uniformly across the country a significant increase in test positivity," he said.

In fact, several regions of the country have been seeing a slight slowdown in COVID-19 infections in recent weeks, according to health authorities.

Peru's transmission rate, or basic "reproduction number," in recent weeks fell below 1 to reach 0.7, the director of the National Center for Epidemiology, Prevention and Disease Control, Julio Ruiz, said recently.

In December, the rate reached 1.3, triggering a wave of infections starting in January.

Peru has registered 1,427,064 confirmed cases of COVID-19 since the onset of the pandemic and 49,330 deaths from the disease, according to the latest report from the Ministry of Health. Enditem
Dog owners unable to go to the pub this St Patrick's Day have celebrated by dressing up their beloved pups instead.

From shamrock accessories to leprechaun hats and beards, some really went all out to mark Ireland's national day - canine-style.

With the UK still in lockdown to stem the spread of Covid-19, this year's St Patrick's Day celebrations will be taking place at home for the majority of the population.

But while some pooches looked more than happy to get into the spirit, other appeared less than amused by their colourful costumes.

An Old English Bulldog looked particularly unimpressed by her vibrant pink tutu, while a Basset Hound dressed in a tartan flat cap gave its owner a distinctly withering look...

This adorable pair of Cavalier King Charles spaniels, called Olive and Clementine, from Newport, looked hilarious in their matching leprechaun hats and bright orange beards

An adorable hound from Pennsylvania has mastered the art of puppy-dog eyes as it posed in a St Patrick's Day inspired headband

Luci the Old English Bulldog marked the occasion from Canada, but didn't look too impressed by her green tutu and sequin bow

Rescue pup Hester-Beasley, from Nashville, looked to be offering sloppy kisses thanks to his St Patrick's Day headband

Morty the Basset Hound embraced the green tartan for his St Patrick's Day attire - but didn't look like he enjoyed it for a moment

Eddie the Cockapoo puppy, from Surrey, looked like he couldn't wait to crack open the Guinness as he posed proudly in his emerald green scarf

Aria Charlotte the Dalmatian, from Canada, looked too dog-tired to strike a pose in her green check bandana

Sir Henry Von Mountain Crest the Boxer, from Colorado, didn't look too chuffed with his leprechaun hat, even though he looked adorable

Ozzy the Border Collie cross and Spanky the French Bulldog looked the best of friends as they posed for their own in their St Patrick's Day bandanas

Cute Piper the Hungarian Vizsla, from New York, looked rather coy as she posed in her silky green tutu and bow tie

Pals Harley and Quill, a Cavachon and a Cockapoo, sported cute matching outfits as they wished people a Happy St Patrick's Day

Madame Piper the French Bulldog, from Kansas, was glowing as she posed in a string of shamrock fairylights

Reuben and Beau, a pair of Cockapoos from Northern Ireland, wished everyone a 'supaw' day this St Patrick's Day

Finn the black pug looked very dapper in his shamrock-embellished bandana to mark the occasion today

Cute Lola the Cockapoo looked very dapper in her emerald green shamrock bow tie
California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom has embarked on an aggressive new effort to push back against the well-funded effort to recall him, arguing that the campaign is being driven by followers and allies of former President Donald Trump, who is deeply unpopular in California, as he tries to marshal the state's Democrats to stand behind him.

In an interview with CNN's Jake Tapper on "The Lead" Tuesday, Newsom acknowledged that he is worried about the recall and expects it to qualify for the ballot, which could create a risky and unpredictable scenario for the California governor if Democrats do not show up to defend him with their votes in what could be a low-turnout election.

If the measure qualifies, voters would be asked in a first question whether they want to recall Newsom and then a second question asking who he should be replaced with. When California voters recalled former Gov. Gray Davis, a Democrat, in 2003, they chose from a long list of names and replaced him with former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, a Republican. To broaden his base of support, Newsom is framing the potential recall as being much bigger than himself -- and instead as a multi-layered partisan attack that threatens the progressive goals and agenda he has championed.

"All you need is about a quarter of the people that voted for Donald Trump to get this recall petition to the voters this November, so I'm anticipating it goes on (the ballot). We're taking it very seriously," Newsom told Tapper.

As he tries to portray the recall effort as a fight against Trumpism, the California governor has characterized some of the recall proponents as members of right-wing militia groups, QAnon sympathizers, conspiracy theorists and members of White supremacist groups. When Tapper noted that the recall has actually drawn a far broader base of support among Republicans and independents who are unhappy with his handling of the Covid-19 pandemic, Newsom acknowledged that "it's been a difficult year, and in hindsight, we're all experts."

A year ago this week, "California was the first state to initiate a stay-at-home order," he added. "I think we saved thousands and thousands of lives," he said, adding that he respects the views of those who believe the stay-at-home measures were too harsh and too detrimental to businesses.

Newsom also allowed that the recall effort gained momentum after he angered some Californians by attending a now infamous birthday dinner at French Laundry in Napa Valley last November at a time when he was encouraging Californians to mask up and avoid large social gatherings.

When pressed by Tapper about what he was thinking at the time, Newsom noted that restaurants were open in the vast majority of the state at the time, but said it was "a mistake" and that he "should have gotten up and left" when he saw that "there were too many people at the table."

"That was inconsistent with what I was expressing. I've made this crystal clear on ad nauseum occasions. It was a mistake. I haven't made a mistake like that before or since," Newsom told Tapper. "We own that. We're human. And you have to move on -- and I've been moving on doggedly to fight every single day to get our kids back into school, get people vaccinated and get this economy moving again."

The California Governor appeared on "The Lead" a day before the deadline for recall proponents to submit nearly 1.5 million signatures to the state's county registrars for verification. Organizers said last week that they had already collected nearly 2 million, a goal they set to make sure they had a cushion to account for duplicates or invalid entries. (The threshold set by the state of 1,495,709 signatures for the recall to qualify is equivalent to 12% of the vote in the last gubernatorial election.)

Now that the recall appears likely to qualify for the ballot, Newsom has abruptly changed strategy -- shifting from brushing off questions about it to calling it a serious threat to Californians. In the last two days, the governor has engaged in an unusual media blitz as his team has launched his new counter-effort, Stop the Republican Recall, to raise money and fire up Democratic support by casting recall proponents as extremists, anti-vaxxers and the kinds of violent insurrectionists who stormed the US Capitol on January 6 in support of Trump.

One reason the recall now looks likely to qualify is because of the high signature validity rate thus far. Though the verification effort is going slowly at the state level -- the most current report from the California Secretary of State's Office said that of the nearly 800,000 signatures verified by county officials so far, nearly 84% were valid.

"Am I worried about it? Of course I'm worried about it," Newsom said on ABC's "The View" earlier Tuesday. "The nature of these things -- the up or down question -- the zero-sum nature of the question is challenging ... so we're taking it seriously."

The recall effort was launched last year by Retired Yolo County Sheriff's Office Sgt. Orrin Heatlie and 124 other people who filed a petition to recall Newsom based on what they view as his role in the state's high taxes, widespread homelessness, lack of affordable housing, out of control wildfires and rolling blackouts.

But over the course of the year, the effort broadened to include Californians who were angered by Newsom's management of the coronavirus pandemic -- particularly the restrictive lockdowns last spring and then over the winter holidays that the governor believed would help control the spread of the virus as cases soared and intensive care units hit capacity in the Golden State.

The groups gathering the signatures have submitted them to county registrars across the state on a rolling basis, and county officials are verifying each submission to determine its validity, a process that could extend well into the end of April. After that process is complete, there are an additional series of procedural steps required by state law, so it is unclear exactly when a recall of Newsom -- if it qualifies -- would land on the ballot.

Newsom's blitz of interviews forced him into politically perilous territory when he answered a question Monday on MSNBC about whether he would replace Democratic California Sen. Dianne Feinstein -- if she were to retire -- with a Black woman to broaden representation in that chamber after Vice President Kamala Harris' exit.

Newsom said on MSNBC that he had "multiple names in mind" of Black women he could appoint to replace Feinstein. The subject has come up with some frequency in recent months as progressive activists angry with Feinstein have raised questions about her age and fitness to serve.

But Feinstein has no plans to step aside, confirming Tuesday to CNN that she plans to serve out the duration of her term. She said Newsom's comments were misinterpreted and described them as "very good friends," stating that reporters were making "a mountain out of a molehill."

Newsom told Tapper that he made the mistake of answering that direct question about Feinstein, but clarified that he expects her to remain in the US Senate and said he has "tremendous respect" for her. He called her a true friend and said he counts her among his mentors in San Francisco, where she was an "extraordinary" mayor and member of the county board of supervisors, he said.

"She's not going anywhere. I talk to her all the time," Newsom said. "But in the context of that question about a hypothetical, yeah, I answered it, and I stick by my answer, but I have all the confidence in the world that I'll never have to make that decision.

This story has been updated with additional quotes from Newsom's interview on "The Lead" and other context.
NEW YORK, March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Application of vinasse is increasing in the animals feed industry, owing to rising preference for natural and nutritious animal feed additives that improve the performance of animals. Vinasse is used as an additive in animal feed due to its probiotic properties, which results in better feed conversion and increased body weight. Sourced from sugarcane and sugar beet, the former outweighs the latter by a long way across geographies.

Vinasse can also be used as a carrier in premixes, as a palatability improver, or a ruminal activator. Presence of organic acid in vinasse supports better digestion, synthesis, and vitamin and mineral adsorption, and improves feed metabolism. Thus, animal feed manufacturers are increasingly preferring vinasse to make healthy animal feed additives. As such, the global vinasse market is set to experience a value growth of around 4.5% CAGR over the next ten years.

Key Takeaways from Market Study

The vinasse market in India and China is anticipated to grow at CAGRs of 6.7% and 5.7%, respectively, through 2030.

and is anticipated to grow at CAGRs of 6.7% and 5.7%, respectively, through 2030. By source, sugarcane is witnessing a prominent market value share at more than 90%. The key contributing factor for the high production of ratio of vinasse through sugarcane is low cost as compared to sugar beet.

North America and Europe hold around half the share of the global market, mainly on back of high consumption of vinasse-based products in these regions.

and hold around half the share of the global market, mainly on back of high consumption of vinasse-based products in these regions. In Asia Pacific , manufacturers are increasingly using vinasse sourced from sugarcane, owing to the presence of large sugarcane producing countries such as India , China , Indonesia , and Thailand .

, manufacturers are increasingly using vinasse sourced from sugarcane, owing to the presence of large sugarcane producing countries such as , , , and . Application of vinasse in animal feed is expected to surge at a value CAGR of more than 5% in Europe and 4% in the U.S., respectively, over the forecast period.

and 4% in the U.S., respectively, over the forecast period. Germany , the U.K., France , Italy , and Spain hold significant shares for vinasse in Europe .

, the U.K., , , and hold significant shares for vinasse in . COVID-19 has had a moderate impact on the progress of the vinasse market. However, with increasing demand for nutritious and high yielding animal feed products, losses are expected to be recovered in the near term.

Get Sample PDF of Report: https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/16693

"Vinasse is a rich source of organic matter, calcium, and potassium, followed by moderate amounts of nitrogen and phosphorus. Added in animal feed products, it aids in boosting weight and enhancing the health performance of animals. Thus, manufacturers could gain increased profits by offering vinasse for animal feed," says a Persistence Market Research analyst.

Know the Methodology of report by asking an expert: https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/ask-an-expert/16693

Competitive Landscape

Vinasse manufacturers are focusing on increasing its application by investing in research & development to develop new products. Manufacturers are constantly making efforts in increasing sales across various application industries.

In 2019, Tereos Group founded its Europe Campus in Paris, France , which hosts around 500 employees for the company's European operations. This expansion will help the company work in a more collaborative and cross-disciplinary manner as a team and leverage business complementarities.

, which hosts around 500 employees for the company's European operations. This expansion will help the company work in a more collaborative and cross-disciplinary manner as a team and leverage business complementarities. In 2015, E D & F Man acquired Mercatura, a Netherlands -based company that operates in the business of trading animal feed industry products. This acquisition will help E D & F Man strengthen its presence in the country as well as enhance its distribution system for products offered in the animal feed industry.

Get Full Access of report: https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/checkout/16693

Explore More Valuable Insights

Persistence Market Research, in its new report, offers an impartial analysis of the global vinasse market, presenting historical data (2015-2019) and estimation statistics for the forecast period of 2020-2030. The study offers compelling insights on the basis of source (sugarcane and sugar beet) and application (fertilizers, fermentation, animal feed, energy production, and others), across seven major regions of the world.

Browse Research Release at: https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/market-reports.asp

Browse End-to-end Market: Food and Beverages

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Functional Food Ingredients Market: https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/market-research/functional-food-ingredients-market.asp

https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/market-research/functional-food-ingredients-market.asp Heart Health Supplements Market: https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/market-research/heart-health-supplements-market.asp

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To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.

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NEW YORK, March 16, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bernstein Liebhard, a nationally acclaimed investor rights law firm, reminds investors of the deadline to file a lead plaintiff motion in a securities class action lawsuit that has been filed on behalf of investors who purchased or acquired the securities of Range Resources Corporation ("Range Resources" or the "Company") (NYSE: RRC) from April 29, 2016 through February 10, 2021 (the "Class Period"). The lawsuit filed in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania alleges violations of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.



If you purchased Range Resources securities, and/or would like to discuss your legal rights and options please visit Range Resources Shareholder Class Action Lawsuit or contact Matthew E. Guarnero toll free at (877) 779-1414 or MGuarnero@bernlieb.com

The complaint alleges that during the Class Period, defendants made materially false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) Range Resources had improperly designated the status of its wells in Pennsylvania since at least 2013; (ii) the foregoing conduct subjected the Company to a heightened risk of regulatory investigation and enforcement, as well as artificially decreased the Companys periodically reported cost estimates to plug and abandon its wells; (iii) the Company was the subject of a DEP investigation from sometime between September 2017 to January 2021 for improperly designating the status of its wells; (iv) the DEP investigation foreseeably would and ultimately did lead to the Company incurring regulatory fines; and (v) as a result, the Companys public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times.

On February 10, 2021, prior to the close of the trading session, the DEP issued a press release announcing the payment of a $294,000 civil penalty by Range Resources to the agency for the Companys violations of the 2012 Oil and Gas Act. The DEP had launched an investigation of the Company after finding conflicting and inaccurate information regarding the status of a Company well in Fayette County, Pennsylvania. After subpoenaing the Company for information about its wells, DEP found that between Tuesday, July 16, 2013, and Monday, October 11, 2017, 42 of Range Resources conventional wells were placed on inactive status but were never used again and that several of the Companys wells had not been used for 12 months at the time Range Resources submitted its applications for inactive status, even though after 12 consecutive months of no productive, the well would be classified as abandoned and must be plugged. The Company ultimately had to plug the wells identified by DEP as having no viable future use to remediate the issue.

On this news, Range Resources stock price fell $0.62 per share, or 6.08%, to close at $9.57 per share on February 11, 2020.

If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than May 3, 2021. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation. Your ability to share in any recovery doesnt require that you serve as lead plaintiff. If you choose to take no action, you may remain an absent class member.

If you purchased Range Resources securities, and/or would like to discuss your legal rights and options please visit https://www.bernlieb.com/cases/rangeresourcescorporation-rrc-shareholder-class-action-lawsuit-fraud-stock-374/apply/ or contact Matthew E. Guarnero toll free at (877) 779-1414 or MGuarnero@bernlieb.com

Since 1993, Bernstein Liebhard LLP has recovered over $3.5 billion for its clients. In addition to representing individual investors, the Firm has been retained by some of the largest public and private pension funds in the country to monitor their assets and pursue litigation on their behalf. As a result of its success litigating hundreds of lawsuits and class actions, the Firm has been named to The National Law Journals Plaintiffs Hot List thirteen times and listed in The Legal 500 for ten consecutive years.

ATTORNEY ADVERTISING.  2021 Bernstein Liebhard LLP. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Bernstein Liebhard LLP, 10 East 40th Street, New York, New York 10016, (212) 779-1414. The lawyer responsible for this advertisement in the State of Connecticut is Michael S. Bigin. Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future matter.

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HALIFAX - New research from a team including a Dalhousie University biologistsuggests sperm whales taught each other to avoid whalers in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Rescue personnel come to the aid of an injured sperm whale stranded in the coastal waters of in San Bartolo, Peru, Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2019. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Martin Mejia

HALIFAX - New research from a team including a Dalhousie University biologistsuggests sperm whales taught each other to avoid whalers in the 18th and 19th centuries.

A research paper published in the journal Biology Letters Wednesday indicates that in the North Pacific the whales  the same species hunted in Herman Melvilles "Moby Dick"  quickly changed their habits to avoid open-boat whalers.

What seems to have been going on is that the whales had been learning techniques to avoid this new threat that appeared, these guys in their boats, Dalhousie University professor Hal Whitehead said in an interview. They learned very quickly and they learned, it seems, from each other.

During the 18th and 19th centuries, whalers from Europe and North America searched the world's waters to find new species to exploit, the paper says.

After discovering sperm whales, they searched for the mammals in large, sail-powered whaling ships, and once whales were sighted, hunters would go out in row boats and attempt to strike them with hand-thrown harpoons. If the trip was successful, the bodies were towed back to the ship for oil processing.

Whitehead, co-author of the study, said log books from American whalers in the North Pacific show that successful harpoon strikes fell by about 58 per cent over the first few years of hunting in a region.

I didn't expect it to be that clear, frankly, he said of the results. I was pretty amazed when I looked at it.

The Halifax university professor said the large mammals may have learned to adopt defensive measures from others in their close social units.

Some of the evasive methodsnoted in the log books by whalers during the 19th century included swimming upwind to evade the hunters' row boats and getting close enough to attack the vessels.

The biggest change noted in the logs, however, was that the whales abandoned the characteristic defensive behaviour they had adopted against what was previously their main predator: killer whales.

Whitehead said sperm whales gather their young and create a barrier around them while fending off killer whales using their jaws and tails.

"This is exactly the wrong thing when you're faced with Captain Ahab," Whitehead said in reference to the "Moby Dick" skipper, "because to gather in a tight group, it's a lovely, big target for someone throwing a harpoon."

The research paper said fleeing whales possibly made themselves more visible from a distance "by blowing hard and showing their bodies forcefully, so increasing the number of sightings with groups that were not easily struck."

The research also indicated sperm whales could likely sense and co-ordinate behaviour over several kilometres. Sperm whales are highly communicative, Whitehead added, using their massive nose to make powerful sounds.

It's likely a group of sperm whales that had experienced whalers before and figured out how to deal with them communicated their strategy to other pods in the region, he added.

"Since the sperm whales are so social and communal, it makes sense that they do this socially and communally," Whitehead said.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 17, 2021.

- - -

This story was produced with the financial assistance of the Facebook and Canadian Press News Fellowship.
[March 17, 2021] Twenty of the Nation's Top Community College Students Named to 2021 All-USA Academic Team

JACKSON, Miss. and BOSTON, March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Twenty of the nation's top college students have been named to the 2021 All-USA Academic Team and will each receive a $5,000 scholarship. View the full list of Scholars. The All-USA program is widely recognized as the most prestigious academic honor for students seeking an associate degree or credential. Students were selected for their intellectual rigor, academic achievement, leadership, and civic growth, and for extending their educational experiences to better themselves, their colleges, and their surrounding communities. These students were nominated by their colleges for the scholarship program. The 2021 All-USA Academic Team is sponsored by Cengage, with additional support from Phi Theta Kappa and the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC). In addition to the scholarship, Team members receive a special medallion, and their college presidents receive a commemorative obelisk in recognition of their leadership. The All-USA Academic Team will be officially introduced and recognized during AACC's annual convention, to be held virtually on May 13. "More than 80,000 community college students completed an associate degree with grade point averages that were near perfect and could have been considered for this award," said Dr. Lynn Tincher-Ladner, President and CEO of Phi Theta Kappa. "Each scholar was nominated by their college before undergoing a rigorous judging process conducted by a national panel. "The All-USA Academic team represents the very best students from that process. We are proud of their outstanding work both in the classroom and in their communities, and we thank Cengage for recognizing these student leaders and for investing in their futures." Bernard Harrigan of Palm Beach State College (PBSC) in Florida was one of the 20 students named to the All-USA Academic Team. The 45-year-old first-generation college student is a disabled veteran of the Army's 82nd Airborne Division and is majoring in psychology. Prior to receiving this award, he never considered himself a scholar. "Colleges across the nation have been developing future leaders, entrepreneurs, and high-achieving students for decades," said PBSC President Ava Parker, J.D. "Programs such as the Phi Theta Kappa All-USA Academic Team showcase that history and our students prove that with the right environment and supporting structure, anything can be achieved." Harrigan lost his employment just prior to the coronavirus pandemic and his wife was furloughed in March 2020, leaving them unable to afford childcare for their young son. Now, he feels inspired to model leadership for his sons and for others like him. He plans to tranfer to Florida Atlantic University in August.



"To be a black American and living a life less desired or treated as not amounting to much is the usual for me," he said. "So, the feeling of acceptance and recognition is new, exhilarating, and empowering in so many ways. I know I want to make a difference for many and all who need it." In response to the social justice movement in 2020 and the racial inequities brought to the forefront by the coronavirus pandemic, Harrigan planned, co-hosted, and facilitated a two-day intercampus diversity, equity, and inclusion summit, "A Moment of Truth: A Conversation of Racial Injustice and What We Can Do to Help." The first day gave students an opportunity to share stories of prejudice and racism throughout the collegiate system without fear of repercussions. Day two featured a panel of college and community leaders discussing how they were chipping away at systemic racism. A second summit is being planned for spring of 2021.

"Community colleges play a critical role in educating the majority of underrepresented, low-income and first-generation students, as well as in providing reskilling opportunities that will be critical in our economic recovery," said Fernando Bleichmar, Executive Vice President and General Manager for U.S. Higher Education at Cengage, an education technology company that provides course materials to millions of college students each year. Its industry-leading subscription for textbooks and course materials, Cengage Unlimited, has helped community college students save nearly $90 million on materials since August 2018. "Yet, unfortunately, community college students have been most-impacted by the pandemic as many had to forgo or delay their education because of financial or other challenges. "We're honored to help these incredible community college students further their education and their impact by supporting the All-USA scholarship," said Bleichmar. Another All-USA Academic Team member, Jacquelyn "Jacqui" White, is 24 and pursuing a career as a physician assistant. She attends Johnson County Community College (JCCC) in Kansas and has worked for more than three years as a pharmacy technician to pay off $15,000 in student loan debt she accrued during her freshman year of college at a state university. As a non-traditional college student, White  like Harrigan  isn't eligible for many scholarships typically available. "Financial challenges can have a profoundly significant impact on community college students and their ability to persist and make meaningful progress toward earning their degree," said Dr. Andrew Bowne, JCCC President. "The All-USA Academic Team recognition and the corresponding scholarship allows students like Jacqui to take that next step of pursuing a bachelor's degree. It removes some of the financial pressures and allows them to continue their education more fully focused on their studies." As coronavirus cases spread across the country in early 2020, White became curious about how the virus' symptoms presented differently among various age groups. She partnered with the her local health department to research the relationship between age and COVID-19 symptomatic expression and soon learned the most common symptoms in different age groups. For instance, she found the most common COVID-19 symptom among adults 19 and older was a cough, but for children 11 and younger it's fever. This experience showed her that she can make a difference in her community beyond while pursuing her associate degree, and this scholarship award affirms that her hard work isn't going unnoticed. "For me, this award is about more than just the generous scholarship," White said. "This award confirms that my efforts in my school, Phi Theta Kappa, and community as a whole have been meaningful. Anyone can be a catalyst for positive change if they are determined to help others and diligently follow through." Learn more about the All-USA Academic Team Scholarship Program. About Cengage

Cengage, an education technology company serving millions of learners in 165 countries, advances the way students learn through quality, digital experiences. We serve the K-12, higher education, professional, library, English language teaching, and workforce training markets worldwide. We believe that through the power and joy of learning, students can enrich their lives and achieve their dreams  no matter their age, experience, abilities, or environment. Our industry-leading products and services make education more accessible and affordable, including Cengage Unlimited, the first-of-its-kind all-access digital subscription service. Visit us at cengage.com or find us on LinkedIn , Facebook or Twitter . About the American Association of Community Colleges

The American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) is the primary advocacy organization for the nation's community colleges. The association represents more than 1,100 two-year, associate degree-granting institutions and more than 12 million students. About Phi Theta Kappa

Phi Theta Kappa is the premier honor society recognizing the academic achievement of students at associate degree-granting colleges and helping them to grow as scholars and leaders. The Society is made up of more than 3.5 million members and nearly 1,300 chapters in 10 nations. Learn more at ptk.org. Contact: Erin Cogswell

erin.cogswell@ptk.org

601.987.5533 View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/twenty-of-the-nations-top-community-college-students-named-to-2021-all-usa-academic-team-301249254.html SOURCE Cengage

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Kill the Bill protesters meet again for the third night running as MPs vote in the House of Commons

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Kill the Bill protesters meet for the third time (March 16) as MPs vote for or against the protest bill this evening in the House of Commons.
Chief Minister Tirath Singh Rawat on Tuesday said that the coming times will be challenging for the state police considering the Kumbh, and COVID-19.

All preparations for the and should be completed on time, said the Chief Minister at a meeting with senior officers of the police department to review the law and order situation in the state.

Stating that the first Shahi Snan of the was very successful, he said, "The number of devotees will increase further in the upcoming three snans of the Complete preparations should be made for crowd management in the Kumbh and a proposal should be prepared if more force is needed."

Rawat said that Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had also assured that more force will be provided for the Kumbh.

Citing the Kumbh, and Covid-19, the CM pointed to the need for increasing the number of vehicles with the police department. He also stressed developing CCTV camera networks in small mountain towns. The Chief Minister added that the department should focus on modernisation considering the need of the times.

(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 timing could not be worse, not that theres ever a good time for an $1,100 tax increase.

Jersey City Superintendent of Schools Franklin Walker presented an $827.4 million budget for the 2021-22 school year to Board of Education members Monday night, a 9% increase over last year. The enormous budget carries a $1,168 tax increase for average property owners, double the tax increase placed upon homeowners last year.

But the good news is that the proposed budget, up from $736 million last year, would create a fully funded school district for the first time in years.

The bad news? The spending plans comes as the city and residents are struggling financially to cope with the year-long coronavirus pandemic and the district is in the midst of a state-imposed seven-year funding reduction plan.

My administration has presented a fully funded budget which will take in account all future needs and reverse the past budget deficit of deficiencies and give the students of Jersey City a real chance at the American dream, Walker said. I am asking the board for a bold step with an eye on the future.

I am asking tonight and on Wednesday to not just aim at the 2021-2022 budget, but taking an important step forward to reverse decades of underfunding and set up future and successive generations for success.

Walkers budget would bring 216 additional full-time employees, including teacher assistants, teacher aides, instructional specialists and transitional specialists, to the district. Some $17.9 million would be invested in programs that will allow all students to get eyeglasses, establish fencing programs in all the city high schools; and fund smartboard repairs.

Last year, the district, which educates some 30,000 students, was facing down an estimated $150 million budget shortfall, due in large part to drastic cuts in state funding. Despite that, the school board increased spending by nearly $100 million, which meant a hike in the school tax levy from $136 million to $189 million.

The district is losing an additional $71 million in state aid for the 2021-2022 school year and has lost a total of $157 million since the state aid formula was overhauled in 2018.

Under the new budget plan the school tax levy will go up to $293 million, and board trustees lamented having to raise taxes so significantly, especially given that the budget crisis is expected to only be exacerbated in years to come.

Every time we get to this point, we raise taxes, and the next year  we lose money with (the state), so we never really get anywhere, said Trustee Marilyn Roman. Our bills keep going up.

Other board members echoed Romans concern. With this budget, the average homeowners would contribute more than twice what they did the year prior, yet we dont have a practical way toward sustainability and a long-term solution, said Vice President Lekendrick Shaw.

Its a very tough pill to swallow, he said.

Property tax hikes of this size amount to an issue of housing affordability, said Trustee Alex Hamilton, referring to the probability of landlords passing along the tax increase to their tenants.

Are we really going to sit here and talk about pricing people out? he asked. Is that what the state wants?

Roman suggested communicating the situation directly to residents and city officials through a public letter as a way of pushing for more city money.

Vice President Lorenzo Richardson also said the city should contribute more.

We have to put pressure on the city to deal with this, he said. They have other revenue sources. They can share some of those revenue sources.

Meghan Howard Noveck, a parent leader with Jersey City Together with a student at School 17, said the board should stop shortchanging the students and work with JC Together to devise long term solutions to its budget problem.

Members of the board spent most of their time expressing surprise about state aid cuts they have known about for four years and discussing half-baked ideas about how to cut support to children, Noveck said. Superintendent Walker proposed a fully funded budget for the first time in a decade that will invest meaningfully in our children.

The school district will present a second budget not too different from the one presented Monday, on Wednesday and the board will decide between the two plans. The plan selected will then be sent to the county superintendent for approval, which the BOE will then revisit the budget once again before sending to the state.

City spokeswoman Kimberly Wallace-Scalcione said the city has avoided hurting the taxpayers. Residents cannot handle a tax increase from the schools, she said. She noted that Mayor Steve Fulop has recommended solutions that were rejected by the board.

Fulop last year proposed sharing more tax abatement revenue with the district and bringing $40 million to the schools over the next three years. His plan also called on the BOE to hike school taxes by $25 million each year for three years.

Unfortunately, the BOE has been unwilling to make any changes and continues the same hiring and waste practices even in a pandemic, Wallace-Scalcione said. Residents cannot handle a $1,000 tax increase from the Board of Education during a pandemic, and the board needs to make some responsible changes to help renters and homeowners while at the same time not impacting the classroom.

A homeowners property taxes are a combination of the municipal tax levy, school tax levy and the county tax levy.

Despite the sharp rise from $189 million to $293 million, the school tax levy is still below the local fair share  the states estimate of a districts ability to contribute funding toward its local schools. The Education Law Center, based in Newark, estimates that Jersey City taxpayers should be funding roughly $522 million of the budget.
Yonhap



Four people of Korean descent were among those killed in a series of deadly shootings in the U.S. city of Atlanta, the foreign ministry said Wednesday.



South Korea's Consulate General in Atlanta sent consular staff members to check if there were any other Korean causalities in the shootings, the ministry said.



The consulate has confirmed with the local police that the four killed in the shooting were of Korean descent, a ministry official said.






March 17 : Shweta Bachchan is celebrating her 47th birthday today. While the Bachchan lady has been wished by dad, megastar Amitabh Bachchan, and brother, Abhishek Bachchan, Shwetas daughter Navya Naveli Nanda has also wished mom with a heartfelt note on social media.

Amitabh Bachchan, who is in the hospital recovering from his eye surgery, took to his Instagram handle and shared a collage of pictures to wish his daughter dear in a special way. In one picture, little Shweta is seen with a young and handsome Bachchan, while she is clad in a saree. In another picture, Shweta can be seen hugging Big B as he wrote, Daughters are the best..

Abhishek Bachchan also took to his Instagram profile and shared a throwback picture from his and Shwetas childhood. In the picture, a young Amitabh Bachchan can be seen carrying both Abhishek and Shweta in his arms. Wishing Shweta, Abhishek wrote, Happy birthday to the big sis. Love you.

Shwetas husband Nikhil Nanda's birthday is on March 18. Sharing a beautiful family moment, daughter Navya Naveli Nanda wished both her parents with a heartfelt message. Happy birthday mom and dad. Nothing better than you. The picture features herself with mom Shweta, dad Nikhil Nanda, and brother Agastya. Navya, who was with her family in Mumbai since the coronavirus pandemic last year, recently flew back to New York for her studies. The picture looks like from Shwetas birthday celebrations in New York.

Shweta Bachchan Nanda is a writer and her book Paradise Towers was released in 2018 on Amitabh Bachchan's birthday. Shweta had also launched a designer label in collaboration with designer Monisha Jaising back in 2018. From time to time, Navya models for her mom's collection. Navya, who graduated from New York's Fordham University in 2020, started an online healthcare portal called Aara Health. Recently she had also announced that she will join her fathers business.
PET-CT imaging obtained 0, 25 and 45 minutes after the nanorobots were delivered in the presence of urea. Credit: Pedro Ramos, Cristina Simo / CIC biomaGUNE, IBEC, UAB

Nanobots are machines whose components are at the nano-scale (one-millionth of a millimeter), and can be designed in such a way that they have the ability to move autonomously in fluids. Although they are still in the research and development phase, significant advances are being made toward the use of nanorobots in biomedicine. Their applications are varied, from the identification of tumor cells to the release of drugs in specific locations of the body. Nanorobots powered by catalytic enzymes are among the most promising systems because they are fully biocompatible and can make use of "fuels" already available in the body for their propulsion. However, understanding the collective behavior of these nanorobots is essential to advance towards their use in clinical practice.

Now, in a new study published in the journal Science Robotics, researchers led by ICREA Research Professor Samuel Sanchez and his team "Smart Nano-Bio-Devices" at the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), together with the group Radiochemistry & Nuclear Imaging Lab from CIC biomaGUNE lead by Jordi Llop and the Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona (UAB), have managed to observe in vivo the collective behavior of a large number of autonomous nanorobots inside the bladder of living mice using radioactive isotope labeling.

"The fact of having been able to see how nanorobots move together, like a swarm, and of following them within a living organism, is important, since millions of them are needed to treat specific pathologies such as, for example, cancer tumors," says Samuel Sanchez, principal investigator at IBEC.

"We have demonstrated for the first time that nanorobots can be monitored in vivo through Positron Emission Tomography (PET), a highly sensitive, non-invasive technique used in the biomedical environment," says Jordi Llop, principal investigator at the Radiochemistry & Nuclear Imaging Lab from CIC biomaGUNE.

To do this, the researchers first carried out in vitro experiments, monitoring the nanorobots through optical microscopy and positron emission tomography (PET). Both techniques allowed them to observe how the nanoparticles mixed with the fluids and were capable of migrating, collectively, following complex paths. The nanorobots were then administered intravenously to mice and, finally, introduced into the bladders of these animals. Since nanorobots are coated with an enzyme called urease, which uses the urea from urine as a fuel, they swim collectively inducing fluid flows inside the bladder.

The collective movement of the nanorobots delivered in the presence of urea can be seen. Firstly, two phases are generated, but this effect ends up being cancelled, and a homogeneous distribution across the bladder is obtained. Credit: Pedro Ramos, Cristina Simo / CIC biomaGUNE, IBEC, UAB

Collective movements similar to flocks of birds or schools of fish

The team of scientists found that the distribution of nanodevices in the bladder of the mice was homogeneous, which indicates that the collective movement was coordinated and efficient. "Nanorobots show collective movements similar to those found in nature, such as birds flying in flocks, or the orderly patterns that schools of fish follow," explains Samuel Sanchez, ICREA Research Professor at IBEC. "We have seen that nanorobots that have urease on the surface move much faster than those that do not. It is, therefore, a proof of concept of the initial theory that nanorobots will be able to better reach a tumor and penetrate it," says Jordi Llop, principal investigator at CIC biomaGUNE.

ICREA Research Professor Samuel Sanchez (IBEC) explains how they have observed in vivo the collective movement of nanorobots. Credit: IBEC - CIC biomaGUNE

This study demonstrates the high efficiency of millions of nanoscopic devices to move in a coordinated way in both in vitro and in vivo environments, a fact that constitutes a fundamental advance in the race of nanorobots to become the key players in highly precise therapies and treatments. Future applications in medicine of these nano-scale devices are promising. It has also been demonstrated "that the movement of these devices can be monitored using imaging techniques that can be applied to the in vivo environment, in other words, they can be applied in test animals and offer the potential for transfer to humans," says Cristina Simo, one of the first authors of the study and a researcher in the CIC biomaGUNE group.

The spherical nanoparticles had an average diameter of 507.8  3.4 nanometers and a stochastic distribution of the gold nanoparticles on the surface. Credit: Hortelao et al., Sci. Robot. 6, eabd2823 (2021)

"This is the first time that we are able to directly visualize the active diffusion of biocompatible nanorobots within biological fluids in vivo. The possibility to monitor their activity within the body and the fact that they display a more homogeneous distribution could revolutionize the way we understand nanoparticle-based drug delivery and diagnostic approaches," says Tania Patino, co-corresponding author of the paper.

Video of fluoride and iodine isotope-labelled nanomotors showing a biodistribution profile with an initial accumulation in the lungs and the liver. Credit: Hortelao et al., Sci. Robot. 6, eabd2823 (2021)

Nanobot swarms could be especially useful in viscous media, where drug diffusion is often limited by poor vascularization, such as in the gastrointestinal tract, the eye, or the joints. "In fact, as different enzymes can be incorporated into the tiny motors, nanorobots could be tailored according to the part within the organism, adapting the device to the accessible fuel in the environment where they must move," concludes Professor Sanchez.

Explore further Enzyme conformation influences the performance of lipasepowered nanomotors

More information: A.C. Hortelao el al., "Swarming behavior and in vivo monitoring of enzymatic nanomotors within the bladder," Science Robotics (2021). Journal information: Science Robotics A.C. Hortelao el al., "Swarming behavior and in vivo monitoring of enzymatic nanomotors within the bladder,"(2021). robotics.sciencemag.org/lookup  /scirobotics.abd2823
Google has announced the second generation model of the Nest Hub. The new model features several hardware improvements and also a new sleep tracking feature.

The Nest Hub design has been updated by an edge-less glass front and four colors, Chalk, Charcoal, Sand, and the new Mist. The device is built using recycled materials.

The new Nest Hub also features updated speakers with 50% more bass. The motion sensors on the front allow you to play/pause music by just pointing your palm at the screen. Like the Nest Mini and Nest Audio, the new Nest Hub can also process some Assistant tasks on the device itself (US-only) with an on-device machine learning chip instead of first sending them over to Google's servers.

The main new feature here is Sleep Sensing. Using a feature called Motion Sense, powered by Soli low-energy radar on the front of the device, the new Nest Hub can track your body's movements as you sleep with the device next to you on the bedside table. Sleep Sensing can keep track of things like coughing and snoring, as well as light and temperature changes in the room using microphone, light, and temperature sensors.

Using all of this information, the device can produce a report sleep report for the person sleeping directly next to the device, which means it can only track one person at a time. The feature is completely optional and there are no cameras on the Nest Hub.

Sleep Sensing will be available as a free preview till next year. Google is also looking to integrate this feature with Fitbit's sleep tracking.

The second generation Nest Hub is priced at $100 and can be pre-ordered in the U.S., Canada, U.K., Germany, France and Australia at the Google Store and other retailers starting today.

Source
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-17 16:01:21|Editor: huaxia

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PHNOM PENH, March 17 (Xinhua) -- The Cambodian government on Wednesday established an ad-hoc committee for COVID-19 vaccination, according to a decision signed by Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen.

In the decision, Hun Sen appointed Ministry of Health Secretary of State Or Vandine as the committee's chairperson and 46 other officials from relevant ministries and institutions as the committee's deputy chairpersons and members.

"The committee has roles and duties to manage and lead the vaccination process across the country," the prime minister said.

He said the committee also has obligations to train medical staff for vaccination process and allocate vaccines to inoculation sites nationwide.

The Southeast Asian nation has launched a COVID-19 vaccination campaign with vaccines from China's Sinopharm and Indian-made AstraZeneca.

As of Tuesday, 255,817 people in the priority groups had been inoculated with the Sinopharm vaccine, and 41,768 with the AstraZeneca vaccine, according to a government report.

In a voice message posted on his official Facebook page on Tuesday, Hun Sen said Cambodia has planned to vaccinate at least 10 million of its 16 million population. Enditem
More than 1000 mining and energy jobs are up for grabs in the Queensland, with one-third of those positions available in Brisbane.

Queensland Resources Council chief executive Ian Macfarlane said despite COVID-19, international market conditions and commodity price fluctuations, the resources sector was continuing to hire staff.

The Abbot Point coal terminal. Credit:Glenn Hunt

The resources sector already supports one in six jobs across the state and is playing a central role in helping Queensland work, earn and employ its way through COVID, he said.

Right now the resources sector is offering more than 1000 opportunities for Queensland jobseekers, both in Brisbane and in the regions.
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Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism.
Matt Bruhn was strolling through his new Southtown neighborhood recently when he spotted a building that seemed like an ideal gallery space. As it happens, Bruhn, president of Pabst Brewing Co., was in the market for just that.

The beer company, which moved its headquarters to San Antonio last year, runs an annual art contest with a first prize of $10,000.

Entries dont have to reference beer beyond the companys familiar blue ribbon logo. This years winner, There Is No Place Like Home by Boise-based artist Ashley Dreyfus, features the colorful creatures that often recur in her work just hanging out.

While the winning work ends up on Pabst Blue Ribbon beer cans and merch, few get to see the other entries.

We get thousands of entries from around the country, and they are all so good, Bruhn said. Its uncool that we dont get to expose these artists work. So we thought, weve got all these cool art entrants, lets grab a quick space here and put them on the wall. And then invite people to hang out, check it out.

Pabst Blue Ribbon Studios opened Saturday. The space recently housed a yoga studio. Transforming it into an exhibition space was fairly easy, said Seamus Gallagher, senior brand manager for the company.

Pabst Blue Ribbon Studios Address: 1112 S. St. Mary's St. Hours: noon to 6 p.m. Saturdays-Sundays and 4-10 p.m. on First Fridays. On the web: pabstblueribbon.com/blue-ribbon-studios See More Collapse

On ExpressNews.com: Big Frida Kahlo exhibit coming to the San Antonio Botanical Garden

The good thing about a gallery is all it really requires is white walls, Gallagher said. We came in and just freshened the place up, gave it some fresh paint.

The first exhibit features the top 25 images submitted for the 2020 edition of the art can contest.

We invite consumers and fans alike to do whatever they want in terms of design to re-imagine our branding, Gallagher said. We give them very little direction. This year, we had over 4,000 entries in the contest.

The contest has run for nine years. It is not the companys only venture into the creative sphere. Pabst also operates 1700 Naud Gallery in Los Angeles and 98 Orchard in New York, and has supported mural programs, as well.

So, how did the company that brews Pabst Blue Ribbon, a favorite of hipsters, get involved in the arts?

We didnt aim to be involved in the arts, Gallagher said. The creative community adopted the brand early on.

Over the years we stayed true to that, and over time the level of engagement grew and grew, from art shows, to merch, to murals, to the art can. It wasnt through a ton of planning or insights but through the organic development of the relationships, which grew into what it is today.

On ExpressNews.com: Get to know five San Antonio filmmakers

The plan for the Southtown space is to follow the current exhibit with shows that most likely will spotlight works by artists in San Antonio and across the state.

Were still exploring all the possibilities, Gallagher said.

One of those possibilities is an artist residency program similar to the one the company offers in its Los Angeles gallery. Its also possible that Pabst might do pop-up exhibitions in other parts of town, Bruhn said.

Ive come to realize after living here for six months, its a very spread city, he said. People do commute down to downtown and Southtown, and thats cool, but equally, there might be an opportunity for us to pop up on the East Side, West Side, North Side, depending on where the wind takes us, so were debating whether or not (the Southtown gallery is) permanent.

The Pabst team may be announcing another art project in the next month or so, he said. He teased that, if it comes together, it will be similar to attractions in other cities.

I lived in Sydney, I lived in New York, I lived in L.A., I lived in Austin and there are public spaces for muralists in each of those cities, whether its the Coney Island Art Walls or the Bushwick art walk (in New York), he said. We think theres an opportunity for us to bring a few folks together in San Antonio to have something of that acclaim, using public street mural art in a really interactive way.

Thats our vision, so we have a little plan were cooking up. But Ill leave that to further announcement.

dlmartin@express-news.net | Twitter: @DeborahMartinEN
A critically ill baby was resuscitated on the dockside as six children and four adults were hospitalised with hypothermia after being rescued in a migrant boat off the coast of Gran Canaria.

Spanish authorities say 52 African migrants were pulled from the water more than seven miles from the island's coast on Tuesday evening.

Among the migrants were 29 women, one of whom was pregnant, along with 14 men and nine children.

A young child has been rushed to hospital in a critical condition after they were resuscitated dockside in Gran Canaria, where 52 migrants were rescued from the ocean

Ten people, including six children, have been rushed to hospital on the Spanish island of Gran Canaria, after Maritime Rescue teams spotted their vessel around seven miles off the coast

Ten people have been rushed to hospital with moderate to severe hypothermia, according to Spanish news website El Periodico.

Dramatic pictures taken dockside showed officials resuscitating a child back to life.

Six children have been rushed to children's ward of the nearby Las Palmas de Granaria, one remains in critical condition while five reportedly more have moderate hypothermia.

Among the migrants were 29 women, one of whom was pregnant, along with 14 men and nine children, aged between one and 13-years-old

Spanish Maritime Rescue teams flew a helicopter out to the vessel after spotting it in the water, and noticed that many on board were in need of medical help.

One woman is suffering with severe hypothermia, while a pregnant woman is also being treated, along with two men.

Occupants told officials they had departed from Dakhla, a city in the Western Sahara that is currently occupied by Morocco.

The migrants, who had departed from southern Morocco, were picked up by the Salvamar Macondo rescue ship

Ten people suffering with hypothermia have been rushed to hospitals in Gran Canaria, after they were spotted at around 7pm on Tuesday

One woman is suffering with severe hypothermia, while a pregnant woman is also being treated in hospital, along with two men

Spanish Maritime Rescue teams flew a helicopter out to the vessel after spotting it in the water, and noticed that many were in need of medical help.

Those on board were rescued by the Salvamar Macondo rescue ship.

El Periodico states the minors on board were aged between one and 13-years-old, and include two brothers who claim they were travelling alone.
A study from Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden, has yielded new answers to fundamental questions about the relationship between the size of an atom and its other properties, such as electronegativity and energy. The results pave the way for advances in future material development. For the first time, it is now possible under certain conditions to devise exact equations for such relationships.

"Knowledge of the size of atoms and their properties is vital for explaining chemical reactivity, structure and the properties of molecules and materials of all kinds. This is fundamental research that is necessary for us to make important advances," explains Martin Rahm, the main author of the study and research leader from the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering at Chalmers University of Technology.

The researchers behind the study, consisting of colleagues from the University of Parma, Italy, as well as the Department of Physics at Chalmers University of Technology, have previously worked with quantum mechanical calculations to show how the properties of atoms change under high pressure. These results were presented in scientific articles in the Journal of the American Chemical Society and ChemPhysChem.

The new study, published in the journal Chemical Science, constitutes the next step in their important work, exploring the relationship between the radius of an atom and its electronegativity - a vital piece of chemical knowledge that has been sought since the 1950s.

Establishing useful new equations

By studying how compression affects individual atoms, the researchers have been able to derive a set of equations that explain how changes in one property - an atom's size - can be translated and understood as changes in other properties - the total energy and the electronegativity of an atom. The derivation has been made for special pressures, at which the atoms can take one of two well-defined energies, two radii and two electronegativities.

"This equation can, for example, help to explain how an increase in an atom's oxidation state also increases its electronegativity and vice versa, in the case of a decrease in oxidation state," says Martin Rahm.

A key question for the science of unexplored materials

One aim of the study has been to help identify new opportunities and possibilities for the production of materials under high pressure. At the centre of the earth, the pressure can reach hundreds of gigapascals - and such conditions are achievable in laboratory settings today. Examples of areas where pressure is used today include the synthesis of superconductors, materials which can conduct electric current without resistance. But the researchers see many further possibilities ahead.

"Pressure is a largely unexplored dimension within materials science, and the interest in new phenomena and material properties that can be realised using compression is growing," says Martin Rahm.

Creating the database they themselves wished for

The large amounts of data that the researchers have computed through their work have now been summarised into a database, and made available as a user-friendly web application. This development was sponsored by Chalmers Area of Advance Materials and made possible through a collaboration with the research group of Paul Erhart at the Department of Physics at Chalmers.

In the web application, users can now easily explore what the periodic table looks like at different pressures. In the latest scientific publication, the researchers provide an example for how this tool can be used to provide new insight into chemistry. The properties of iron and silicon - two common elements found in the earth's crust, mantle and core - are compared, revealing large differences at different pressures.

"The database is something I have been missing for many years. Our hope is that it will prove to be a helpful tool, and be used by many different chemists and materials researchers who study and work with high pressures. We have already used it to guide theoretical searches for new transition metal fluorides," says Martin Rahm.

###

Read the scientific article "Relating atomic energy, radius and electronegativity through compression" here.

The article was written by Martin Rahm, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Paul Erhart, Department of Physics at Chalmers University of Technology, and Roberto Cammi, University of Parma.

For more information, contact:

Martin Rahm

Assistant Professor, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering

martin.rahm@chalmers.se

+46 31 772 3050

More about atoms and high pressures

At high pressures, atoms and molecules are squeezed closer together, which affects their electronic structure. Among other things, compression can lead to the formation of new chemical bonds. Semiconductors and insulators can also be turned into metals. In some cases, materials formed under high pressures may retain their structure and properties when the pressure returns to normal. A typical example is diamond, which is formed from ordinary graphite under high pressure.
As state lawmakers in Austin wrap up the latest legislative session, Gov. Greg Abbott on Monday threatened to withhold their pay by vetoing a line item in the states budget because a Democratic walkout killed his priority elections bill. No pay for those who abandon their responsibilities, Abbott tweeted. Should the governor veto Legislature funding?

You voted:
A federal grand jury indicted a Swoyersville woman for taking part in the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., alleging she cheered on rioters and sent videos of destruction and chaos from inside the building.

The FBI charged Annie Howell, 30, with trespassing, disorderly conduct, violent entry, obstruction of Congress and picketing in a Capitol building during the attack by supporters of then-President Donald Trump.

Federal prosecutors obtained a video where Howell is pictured inside a trashed conference room and is later heard chanting Whose house? Our House! and Fight for Trump, according to charging documents.

The FBI said it also got a search warrant for Howells Facebook account, which agents say she used to communicate with people from inside the Capitol, bragging Im inside the (Capitol).

At one point, a member of a group chat urged Howell to flee the building immediately.

She refused, the FBI said.

No ... No ... They just killex (sic) two (expletive) women  American women  No  I WATCHED THEM DIE  NO (EXPLETIVE) WAY, Howell responded, according to court documents.

Howell later appeared to claim she was a victim, the FBI said. She posted publicly on Facebook: I was personally tear gassed 8 times. I was hit in the head with metal rods. People were shot at with rubber bullets. We were gassed 5 times in the matter of 2 minutes and thousands fell to their feet and we couldnt see or breathe. They wouldnt stop and beat us relentlessly.

The FBI filed a sealed criminal complaint against Howell on March 2, charging her with four crimes. Federal prosecutors later obtained a grand jury indictment against Howell on five charges that was recently unsealed.

Court records indicate Howell was released on bail following an initial appearance in front of Karoline Mehalchick, chief U.S. magistrate judge for the Middle District of Pennsylvania.

She is slated for a video appearance at 1 p.m. today in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia in Washington to answer the charges and transfer bail.

Howell did not return phone calls and text messages Tuesday.

Howells public defender, Brandon R. Reish in Scranton, didnt respond to a request for comment.

The FBI said in the affidavit that one witness alerted them to social media posts in which Howell allegedly appeared to be inciting the crowd in order to storm the building.

Another informant told investigators Howell sent a 27-second video of a ransacked Capitol conference room with broken furniture and TVs ripped from the walls. The source told the FBI that Howell gave them the video directly.

The Justice Department has said about 300 people have been charged with federal offenses related to the riot, which occurred shortly after a speech by Trump who urged supporters to march to the Capitol, where Congress was about to certify the results of the 2020 presidential election.

Howell was one of Northeast Pennsylvanias most vocal Trump supporters during the campaign. She became a volunteer for the Trump campaign and felt she did all she could to help him get reelected.

I think I was able to break through to my generation. I made them see some things. I think I did the best I could, Howell said on election night.

Howell attended an election night watch party in Scranton, co-organized by Northeastern Pennsylvania Women and Men for Trump.

Court documents indicate Howell traveled to Washington, D.C., the day before the riot.

She wasnt part of the contingent led by Old Forge resident Frank Scavo, who organized several buses of people to protest the certification of Joe Bidens election.

Photos from multiple sources show Scavo was apparently among those who entered that Capitol that day, though he has not been charged.

On Tuesday, Scavo said hes spoken to the FBI and is laying low while awaiting the outcome.

I was on pins and needles for the first couple weeks. Ive talked to and cooperated with the FBI, Scavo said. Ive just been having my attorney watch the situation. I havent seen or heard anything, so who knows? On my end, its been very quiet. Ive taken myself out of the loop and devoted myself to my family and business. But well be back.
An overhaul of K-12 public education is being touted by the province as a way to give parents more power in decision-making.

An overhaul of K-12 public education is being touted by the province as a way to give parents more power in decision-making.

However, caregivers in the Manitoba capital question how their voices will be heard if a single entity represents Winnipeg  home to more than half of the provinces students.

Protesters gathered outside Manitoba Premier Brian Pallisters house on Wellington Crescent to protest the governments proposed Bill 64 in Winnipeg Monday. (John Woods / Winnipeg Free Press)

More than 100,300 students attend public schools in Winnipeg, River East Transcona, Seven Oaks, Louis Riel, Pembina Trails, and St. James-Assiniboia districts.

The provinces proposal is to shift these students into one of 15 regional entities that will report to a centralized education authority made up of government appointees.

The Winnipeg region will be upwards of eight times larger than the second-biggest region, which will swallow Frontier, Kelsey, Flin Flon and Mystery Lake in the North.

It will be 41 times the size of the smallest region, a combination of Evergreen and Lakeshore in the Interlake.

Changes expected to Manitoba education Existing public education system:  37 English-language public school divisions and the Division scolaire franco-manitobaine;  Each division is led by a superintendent and senior administration team, as well as an elected board made up of five to nine trustees;  Winnipeg School Division is the largest in the province, with approximately 33,000 students; click to read more Existing public education system:  37 English-language public school divisions and the Division scolaire franco-manitobaine;  Each division is led by a superintendent and senior administration team, as well as an elected board made up of five to nine trustees;  Winnipeg School Division is the largest in the province, with approximately 33,000 students;  Whiteshell School Division has the smallest student population, of about 210;  There are six English-language boards in Winnipeg;  Parents can reach out to school staff, local trustees, superintendent teams and parent advisory councils about concerns. and voice concerns at public school board meetings. Future public education system:  A provincial education authority made up of six to 11 government appointees will oversee 15 regional entities. The DSFM will remain intact to respect minority language rights;  The authority will determine schools in each regional catchment area and official programs and courses studied at each school;  The regional entities  one of which encompasses all six existing English school boards in Winnipeg  will be run by directors of education, who will have similar roles to current superintendents and engage with new community councils set-up in every school;  A single Winnipeg region will encompass more than 100,000 public school students, while 14 other regions outside the Manitoba capital will range in population size, from approximately 12,000 to around 2,500 students;  Every school will have a new volunteer-run, parent school community council. Executives on these councils will elect a member from each region to sit on the province's advisory council on education. The francophone board will also elect one of its trustees to this advisory council;  The centralized education authority will include a minimum of two current public school parents, who are members of the advisory council, on its appointee roster;  The advisory council of elected parents will provide advice to the education minister about concerns;  Parents can voice concerns to the director of their region and school principals. Close

"Who divided the lines? Who said that it was OK for one person to be in control of 100,000 kids? Our voices wont be any louder," said Crystal Webster, chairwoman of the Ecole South Pointe School parent advisory council in Pembina Trails.

Webster, a mother of four school-aged boys, is in favour of reform and redirecting administrative expenses to classrooms, but isnt convinced the changes will give families more influence in education.

She questions why rural divisions, including Brandon, Hanover and Seine River, will remain intact as regional entities with much smaller populations.

A slew of sweeping reforms announced this week will replace the provinces 37 English-language public school divisions and give a board composed of under a dozen government appointees ultimate authority on all things public education.

Protected by minority language rights, the francophone division will have the only democratically elected board of trustees in the province intact.

Police talk to people who gathered outside Manitoba Premier Brian Pallisters house to protest the governments proposed Bill 64. (John Woods / Winnipeg Free Press)

"Geographically speaking, Winnipeg is certainly a lot smaller than pretty well every other region will be. Thats just the way its worked out. We think its certainly manageable from an operation perspective," said Education Minister Cliff Cullen, during a media scrum Tuesday.

Cullen has said the new system will shift funds from administration expenses to classrooms, focus on student outcomes with more standardized tests, and put parents "front and centre" with new school community councils.

Premier defends decision to turf school trustees Click to Expand KEVIN KING / POOL Premier Brian Pallister: "We want to empower teachers and parents to have that relationship." Posted: 6:35 PM Mar. 16, 2021 Premier Brian Pallister argued the removal of elected trustees will make the Manitoba public school system more accountable, as he defended his government's proposed reforms. The Education Modernization Act (Bill 64) was introduced in November, but not unveiled until Monday, as the province also released its long-awaited kindergarten to Grade 12 education review. Read Full Story

In place of existing parent collectives, these councils will weigh-in on hiring decisions, student achievement, transportation and capital projects  items paid, elected trustees currently oversee. While these councils will rely on volunteers, they will receive some funding and guidance from a "parental engagement officer" at each school.

Council executives will elect a member from their region to sit on an advisory council on education, which will advise the education minister. Only the centralized authority board, which will include at least two parent executives, can make final decisions.

These are "big wins" for parents who have long requested more say in things such as curriculum development and a heads-up about "sensitive content" being taught in schools, said Brenda Brazeau, executive director of the Manitoba Association of Parent Councils.

Brazeau added: "Were just surprised at how much they are actually giving the parents, which is great, but until we find everything out on how its going to roll out, its still kind of hard to swallow."

The province published upwards of 500 pages of education-related materials Monday, including the K-12 education review, Bill 64 (Education Modernization Act), and an action plan called Better Education Starts Today (BEST).

Bill 64, a bill that will radically overhaul the Manitoba K-12 education system, is protested outside the home of Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister on Wellington Crescent Monday evening. (John Woods / Winnipeg Free Press)

The term "parent"  which refers to all guardians, caregivers and other family members  is mentioned 74 times in the BEST strategy; in comparison, "teacher" is mentioned 60 times.

"Parents should be involved and aware of whats going on in schools; however, I think that the professional judgment of educators should be centred in any decision about education," said Shannon Moore, an assistant professor of curriculum, teaching and learning at the University of Manitoba.

Moore links the playing down of teachers expertise  a degree in their subject area, a second degree in pedagogy, and their experience in the classroom  to the profession being made up primarily of women.

Charlene Hogg, vice-president of the Ecole Bannatyne parent advisory council, echoed similar sentiments Tuesday.

"Im not educated to know what my children need in the form of education  what reading level they should be at and what math level they should be at," said Hogg, who lives in St. James-Assiniboia.

"Im not educated to know what my children need in the form of education  what reading level they should be at and what math level they should be at."  Charlene Hogg, vice-president of the Ecole Bannatyne parent advisory council 

Hogg added shes worried Winnipeg students from diverse neighbourhoods will get lost in a regional entity of 100,000-plus pupils, at a time when students are struggling amid COVID-19 pandemic disruptions.

Parents can bring forward concerns to school staff, elected trustees, superintendent teams and parent councils, at present. The latter three will be replaced with a regional director and volunteer parents under the new system.

Jennifer Chen, a parent and school trustee in the Winnipeg School Division, called the proposal "a very colonial approach" that will further marginalize newcomer and low-income parents.

Chen said mistrust in authority, as well as language and cultural barriers, will dissuade parents from engaging.

 with files from Carol Sanders

maggie.macintosh@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @macintoshmaggie
WASHINGTON  F.B.I. agents have arrested two organizers for the Proud Boys in Philadelphia and North Carolina, and prosecutors filed new charges against two other prominent members of the far-right group in Florida and Washington State as federal authorities continued their crackdown on its leadership ranks, three law enforcement officials said on Wednesday.

With the new conspiracy indictment, prosecutors have now brought charges against a total of 13 people identified in court papers as members of the Proud Boys. Federal investigators have described the group, which appeared in force in Washington on Jan. 6, as one of the chief instigators of the riot at the Capitol that left five people dead, including a Capitol Police officer.

In the indictment, prosecutors accused Charles Donohoe, a Proud Boys leader from North Carolina, and Zach Rehl, the president of the groups chapter in Philadelphia, of conspiring to interfere with law enforcement officers at the Capitol and obstruct the certification of President Bidens electoral victory. Two other high-ranking Proud Boys who were already facing similar charges  Ethan Nordean of Auburn, Wash., and Joseph Biggs of Ormond Beach, Fla.  were also implicated as part of the conspiracy.

The F.B.I. declined to comment.

The Proud Boys, who emerged in recent years as some of former President Donald J. Trumps most vocal and violent supporters, describe themselves as Western chauvinists and have a history of bloody street fights with left-wing antifascist activists. Those clashes intensified last year during the nationwide protests stemming from the death of George Floyd at the hands of the police in Minneapolis. During a presidential debate in September, Mr. Trump refused to disavow the Proud Boys, telling them instead in a widely watched moment to stand back and stand by.
[March 17, 2021] GBT - 3D Chip and Memory Patent Enters the Regional Phase in Europe

SAN DIEGO, March 17, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- GBT Technologies Inc. (OTC PINK: GTCH) ("GBT or the Company), is pleased to report a continuation to its prior release - www.otcmarkets.com/stock/GTCH/news/story?e&id=1829166 that the above-mentioned PCT application has entered the regional phase in Europe on March 16, 2021. The application has been allocated the number 19862631.9 and designates all EPC states (as of the PCT filing date).

The Company filed its application on or around October 9, 2019. It is expected that the European Patent Office will shortly issue a communication under Rule 161 EPC. This will invite GBT to file a response to the WO (ISA)/IPRP as well as the opportunity to reduce the claims to avoid fees at that stage. The EPO will publish the bibliographic details of this application under a European publication number in due course. About Us GBT Technologies, Inc. (OTC PINK: GTCH) (GBT) (http://gbtti.com) is a development stage company which considers itself a native of Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Enabled Mobile Technology Platforms used to increase IC performance. GBT has assembled a team with extensive technology expertise and is building an intellectual property portfolio consisting of many patents. GBTs mission, to license the technology and IP to synergetic partners in the areas of hardware and software. Once commercialized, it is GBTs goal to have a suite of products including smart microchips, AI, encryption, Blockchain, IC design, mobile security applications, database management protocols, with tracking and supporting cloud software (without the need for GPS). GBT envisions this system as a creation of a global mesh network using advanced nodes and super performing new generation IC technology. The core of the system will be its advanced microchip technology; technology that can be installed in any mobile or fixed device worldwide. GBTs vision is to produce this system as a low cost, secure, private-mesh-network between all enabled devices. Thus, providing shared processing, advanced mobile database management and sharing while using these enhanced mobile features as an alternative to traditional carrier services.



Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements contained in this press release may constitute "forward-looking statements". Forward-looking statements provide current expectations of future events based on certain assumptions and include any statement that does not directly relate to any historical or current fact. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements because of various important factors as disclosed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission located at their website ( http://www.sec.gov). In addition to these factors, actual future performance, outcomes, and results may differ materially because of more general factors including (without limitation) general industry and market conditions and growth rates, economic conditions, governmental and public policy changes, the Companys ability to raise capital on acceptable terms, if at all, the Companys successful development of its products and the integration into its existing products and the commercial acceptance of the Companys products. The forward-looking statements included in this press release represent the Company's views as of the date of this press release and these views could change. However, while the Company may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, the Company specifically disclaims any obligation to do so. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing the Company's views as of any date subsequent to the date of the press release.

Contact:

Dr. Danny Rittman, CTO

press@gopherprotocol.com



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The Daily Beast

REUTERSIt appears that Benjamin Netanyahu is finally on his way out as Israels prime minister. With just minutes to spare ahead of a midnight deadline on Wednesday, opposition leader Yair Lapid notified Israels president that he had formed a new government.But if Benjamin Netayahus 12-year run is indeed at an end, expect key segments of the GOP will treat Bibi as though he had not lost power, much as they continue to venerate Donald Trump and look at Joe Bidens victory as illegitimate.Israel
The pandemic and its economic fallout have changed our world for good. Consumers are reassessing their needs and values, adapting their behaviours, and adjusting how they make decisions. Marketers that invest in understanding how people's emotions and values are changing in the face of multiple national lockdowns and Covid-19 waves will position their brands to thrive in this volatile landscape.

Consumers at the core

AI + behavioural science

An edge for the future

To keep pace, brands need to move beyond demographics and focus more than ever on psychographics. In a world where emotions such as anxiety are running high and people are preoccupied with mental and physical health, brands need to take a closer look at how they fit into the consumers personal life. In particular, they would be wise to focus on how consumers values and motivations are changing.Value systems influence human behaviour and shape what people want to hear from brands. At this time, we may see values such as freedom, togetherness, respect and time spent with their loved ones begin to trump socially oriented values like social status or materialism. Brands that can understand how their customers values are changing will be able to influence them more effectively.Consider the fact that 92% of respondents in a survey conducted by Wunderman Thompson said that they admire companies that are taking action to alleviate the impact of the coronavirus. This points to the emotional link consumers make with brands and the importance of fostering these links by aligning with their values.The WT Inspiring for Growth consumer study , meanwhile, shows that it matters how people feel about brands. Customers want brands to be inspirational (72%), but only 53% experience brand inspiration, presenting a major growth opportunity for brands. Furthermore, inspiration predicts 63% of a brands ability to drive demand, 52% of brands ability to command higher prices, and 48% of brands ability to convert customers at the point of purchase.Responsive, empathetic brands that put consumers at the core will be positioned to thrive in this landscape. Yet most companies have work to do before they reach this state. They depend heavily on demographic or behavioural data to understand their customerswhich paints an incomplete picture of what really drives customers decisions. They can see what customers are buying or not buying, but they have less insight into what actually drives the decision.To truly understand customers, brands should dig deeper to unravel their unconscious motivations and emotional needs. This is where the concept of actionable and scalable audience targeting via cognitive intelligence has a key role to play. Supported by behavioural science principles, this approach identifies the intrinsic emotions and motivations that influence consumer choices, and thus enabling brands to understand why people buy what they do.Using psychological principles to identify consumers ever-evolving motivations and leverage emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence to model how changing values, emotions and motivations shape customer choice. It adds an emotional dimension to the data we already have about customers.By tapping into the capabilities and technology cognitive intelligence can offer, brands can drive a more human customer-centric audience strategy. This will be built on an intimate understanding of consumers changing motivational mindsets, mapping the why behind the buy as well as identifying and quantifying winnable audiences.Motivational audience strategies inform the creative process by highlighting the role of emotions. People are not only driven by their own beliefs and motivations, but also by their feelings. Emotions play a central role in the decisions we make. Humans are, as Antonio R. Damasio, the neurologist said, not thinking machines that feel, but feeling machines that think.A meaningful connection with consumers unconscious needs will not increase the brands relevance, but also help it respond to moments of need at different stages of the consumer journey. Brands will be able to create better connections with consumers through engaging moments and content by delivering the right message at the right stage of the journey, and to the right audiences on the right channel.One real world example showing how this works in practice is a healthcare company that wanted to help people to stop smoking. Every smoker is aware of the rational reasons to quit smoking - meaning that rational content has limited efficacy in bringing about behavioural change. But using data and strategy, it could identify their underlying motivations related to quitting and tailored experiences to their needs.By hitting members of the audience with a message tailored to their motivations and emotional stateswhether health-related fears or optimism about a smoke-free future - the company experienced a tremendous increase in influencing behaviour, compared to previous attempts. Simply put, it broke through the consumers inertia with more "human" personally relevant content.Brands that lay a strong foundation for understanding consumers needs and motivations during this uncertain time will be able to get an edge for the future. This is an opportunity not only to steer through what remains of the pandemic, but also to enhance their brand equity and customer loyalty for the future.
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New Delhi: A Group Captain of the Indian Air Force was killed in an accident involving a MiG-21 Bison aircraft at an airbase in central India on Wednesday, the IAF said.

The accident took place when the aircraft was taking off for a combat training mission, the IAF said on Twitter.

IAF tweet

It said Group Captain A Gupta was killed in the accident. A court of inquiry has been ordered to determine the cause of the accident.

"A MiG-21 Bison aircraft of IAF was involved in a fatal accident this morning, while taking off for a combat training mission at an airbase in central India," the IAF said.


CUPERTINO (dpa-AFX) - Apple Inc. (AAPL) said Wednesday that it funded 17 Green Bond projects in 2020 that will avoid an average of 921,000 metric tons of carbon emissions annually, which is equivalent to removing about 200,000 cars from the road.



The company said it allocated $2.8 billion, which was more than half of its total green bond spend of $4.7 billion, for the green bond projects. It will continue to invest in projects that address carbon emissions.



The projects will generate 1.2 gigawatts of renewable energy globally, with Apple adding over 350 megawatts of newly installed renewable energy over the last year in Nevada, Illinois, Virginia, and Denmark.



Apple has issued three sets of green bonds since 2016 totaling $4.7 billion.



Last July, the company unveiled its plan to become carbon neutral across its entire business, manufacturing supply chain, and product life cycle by 2030.



Apple said it is already carbon neutral today for its global corporate operations, and this new commitment means that by 2030, every Apple device sold will have net zero climate impact.



A 180-acre site located within the Reno Technology Park is now providing power to Apple's Nevada data center. A 112-megawatt virtual power purchase agreement with this wind farm in Illinois covers Apple's electricity use in the Chicago region.



Apple noted that it worked with Etsy, Akamai, and SwissRE to support the development of 165 megawatts of renewable power through a solar photovoltaic project outside Fredericksburg, Virginia, which is now delivering energy to the broader electric grid in the region.



Apple said it has completed construction of two of the world's largest onshore wind turbines. Located near the Danish town of Esbjerg, the 200-meter-tall turbines are expected to produce 62 gigawatt hours each year - enough to power almost 20,000 homes. The power produced at Esbjerg will support Apple's data center in Viborg, with all surplus energy going into the Danish grid.



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

APPLE-Aktie komplett kostenlos handeln - auf Smartbroker.de
Our news media . . . do I even need to continue this sentence? Of course not. But Im going to. Because sometimes the media is so disgraceful and repugnant that the normal day-to-day epithets are insufficient.

It was almost exactly 40 years ago (April 1981) that the Washington Post had to return a Pulitzer Prize for Janet Cookes completely fake story of the eight-year-old heroin addict, Jimmys World, which no one at the Post thought to question (how does an eight-year-old support a heroin habit exactly?) because the story conformed exactly to elite liberal stereotypes about race and poverty.

The assistant managing editor of the Post at the time who signed off on the piece was a fellow named . . . Bob Woodwardyes, that Bob Woodward, who actually said the following after the hoax was revealed, the Pulitzer returned, and Cooke fired: It is a brilliant storyfake and fraud that it is. It would be absurd for me or any other editor to review the authenticity or accuracy of stories that are nominated for prizes. Well okay, but how about when it is initially turned in?

Since the Cooke scandal 40 years ago weve seen many sequels at the New York Times and elsewhere (Jayson Blair anyone? Stephen Glass? Sabrina Erdley? Jack Kelley?), and this sordid history of literal fake news comes to mind with the revelation earlier this week that the Washington Posts huge scoop in early January about Presidents Trumps phone call with Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensburger was incorrect. This has to rate as one of the most astonishing corrections in the annals of modern journalism:

Correction: Two months after publication of this story, the Georgia secretary of state released an audio recording of President Donald Trumps December phone call with the states top elections investigator. The recording revealed that The Post misquoted Trumps comments on the call, based on information provided by a source. Trump did not tell the investigator to find the fraud or say she would be a national hero if she did so. Instead, Trump urged the investigator to scrutinize ballots in Fulton County, Ga., asserting she would find dishonesty there. He also told her that she had the most important job in the country right now. A story about the recording can be found here. The headline and text of this story have been corrected to remove quotes misattributed to Trump.

Keep in mind that the fake quotes from the original piece was included in the articles of impeachment against Trump. Will there be any accountability for this at the Post? Will there be any transparency about how the mistake was made? Will we learn the identity of the source of the quotes? That might go a ways to helping judge the credibility of the entire journalistic process here.

Dont hold your breath. Increasingly it seems Trumps epithet fake news isnt strong enough.

UPDATE: The original source has been identified: Jordan Fuchs, Georgias deputy secretary of state, who told the Post that the original quotes were an interpretation, and not meant to be direct quotes. PJ Media reports: Fuchs was not identified in the original story, but referred to as an individual familiar with the call who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the conversation.' (Emphasis added, though that description should have raised alarm bells.)

Certainly builds a lot of confidence in the rigors of the Posts reporting and editing.

Want some good news (thats true)?

Biden-Era Layoffs Decimate Media Industry The Biden era is wreaking havoc on the media industry. BuzzFeed on Tuesday announced dozens of layoffs at HuffPost, just weeks after acquiring the liberal website from Verizon Media. The downsizing, which will affect 47 of the 190 HuffPost employees based in the United States, was designed to fast-track the path to profitability, BuzzFeed CEO Jonah Peretti told staff members. Additionally, HuffPost Canada will be shut down, affecting all of its 23 employees.

Whatthe COVID Relief for Liberal Interest Groups bill didnt include payoffs for the media? Serves them right for the complete incuriosity about reporting what was actually in the bill (less than 15% for actual COVID-related purposes). I guess the whole media take their editorial orders from Nancy Pelosi now: you have to pass the COVID Relief for Liberal Interest Groups bill to find out whats not in it.
The Daily Beast

REUTERSIt appears that Benjamin Netanyahu is finally on his way out as Israels prime minister. With just minutes to spare ahead of a midnight deadline on Wednesday, opposition leader Yair Lapid notified Israels president that he had formed a new government.But if Benjamin Netayahus 12-year run is indeed at an end, expect key segments of the GOP will treat Bibi as though he had not lost power, much as they continue to venerate Donald Trump and look at Joe Bidens victory as illegitimate.Israel
The behemos watch business of Seiko Holdings Corporation has been recording revenues in excess of $1 billion since 2010 and has been maintained, closing at more than $1.2 billion for the financial year ending 31 March 2020. This speaks volumes for Shinji Hattori, who in April 2010 was appointed President of Seiko Holdings Corporation. Currently the Chairman and Group CEO of both Seiko Holdings Corporation and Seiko Watch Corporation, Shinji is the great-grandson of Seiko founder Kintaro Hattori.

Born in 1953, Shinji first joined Seikosha Co., Ltd in 1984. In 2003, he became President and CEO of Seiko Watch Corporation. In 2004, he established the Shizukuishi Watch Studio located outside Morioka City. This is where high-end mechanical watchmaking by an elite core of skilled craftsmen takes place. The Grand Seiko Studio Shizukuishi was also established here in mid-2020, and is the home of Grand Seiko mechanical watches.

In terms of innovation, Shinji led the development of the automatic Spring Drive that was unveiled in 2004, launched highly complicated watches equipped with Spring Drives, namely the Credor Sonnerie (2006) and the Credor Minute Repeater (2011), as well as introduced Seikos very first tourbillon movement  the Credor Fugaku Tourbillon  in 2016.

Shinji Hattori  Seiko

Shinji was a key driving force behind the worlds first GPS solar watch  the Astron GPS Solar that made its debut in 2012. Around 2006, development began after Shinji asked the R&D department to build such a watch, that was not completed until six years later. The Astron GPS Solar perpetuates the strong legacy of the worlds first quartz watch  the Seiko Astron 35SQ of 1969.

In 2014, Seikos Prospex collection was finally offered worldwide. More significantly, Shinji firmly entrenched Grand Seiko on the worlds stage. Once offered in only a few countries outside of Japan, Grand Seiko was launched globally in 2010 and became an independent brand in 2017.

In June 2020, the largest Grand Seiko Boutique opened on Place Vendome in Paris, a move that showcases what this Japanese brand can truly offer to an international watch collecting audience.

*Written by Timmy Tan

*On the occasion of GMT Magazine and WorldTempus' 20th anniversary, we have embarked on the ambitious project of summarising the last 20 years in watchmaking in The Millennium Watch Book, a big, beautifully laid out coffee table book. This article is an extract. The Millennium Watch Book is available on www.the-watch-book.com, in French and English, with a 10% discount if you use the following code: WT2021.

Order now
A network of Ukraine-linked individuals connected to Russian intelligence relied on prominent US persons and media conduits to launder their narratives alleging corrupt ties among members of then-candidate Joe Bidens family and US officials with Ukraine, according to a recently declassified report from US intelligence officials.

Russian-backed operations sought to denigrate Mr Biden ahead of the 2020 presidential elections while undermining public confidence in the electoral process and exacerbating sociopolitical divisions in the country, according to a report from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.

The assessment reports that Russian president Vladimir Putin had purview over the activities of Andriy Derkach, a Ukrainian legislator sanctioned by the US government and an ally to Donald Trumps attorney Rudy Giuliani.

Mr Derkach, Konstanin Kilimnik and their associates met with and provided materials to Trump administration-linked officials to pursue formal investigations into Mr Biden, hired a firm to petition US officials, and attempted to make contact with several senior US officials and established media figures, according to the report.

The men helped produce a documentary that aired on a US television network in late January 2020, according to the report.

The network and contents of the segment are not included in the report.

Read more:

A network of online influence actors also sought to affect US public perceptions of the candidates while also undermining public confidence in elections and inflaming the nations existing social and political tensions, the report says.

According to the report, Russias online influence actors sought to amplify mistrust in the electoral process by denigrating mail-in voting, highlighting alleged irregularities and accusing the Democratic Party of voter fraud  claims that were central to Mr Trumps campaign and legal battle before and after his election loss, as well as a barrage of GOP-sponsored efforts to restrict ballot access.

The network relied on Kremlin-backed troll farms and social media, state media and online proxies to publish disparaging content about Mr Biden while also amplifying conspiracies and other stories in US media, including misinformation about the Covid-19 crisis, racial justice and allegations of social media censorship, the report found.

Intelligence officials assess that Russian leaders viewed Mr Bidens presidency as disadvantageous to Russian interests, which drove their efforts to undermine his candidacy, according to the report.

The Intelligence Community Assessment released today underscores what we all knew already  that Russia interfered to support former president Trump, hurt President Biden, and undermine confidence in our electoral process, said US Rep Adam Schiff, who chairs the House Intelligence Committee and led impeachment efforts against the former president ahead of his first trial

Through proxies, Russia ran a successful intelligence operation that penetrated the former presidents inner circle, he said.

The report also found evidence of a multi-pronged covert influence campaign from Iran to undercut former president Trumps re-election prospects  though without directly promoting his rivals  undermine public confidence in the electoral process and US institutions, and sow division and exacerbate societal tensions in the US.

But US intelligence officials did not discern that physical election interference took place throughout 2020 elections.

The report defines election influence as including overt and covert efforts by foreign governments [and their agents] intended to affect directly or indirectly a US election, such as wielding influence over certain candidates, political parties, voters and their preferences, or undermining faith in political processes.

Foreign malign influence is an enduring challenge facing our country, director of National Intelligence Avril Haines said in a statement on Tuesday. These efforts by US adversaries seek to exacerbate divisions and undermine confidence in our democratic institutions.

The Department of Homeland Security, FBI and Justice Department have found no evidence that any foreign government-affiliated actor prevented voting, changed votes, or disrupted the ability to tally votes or to transmit election results in a timely manner or otherwise compromised any part of the voting process or voter registrations.

Federal law enforcement agencies have recommended stronger cyber security measures and boosting supply chain security.

The agencies also recommend a stronger public messaging and education campaign to provide accurate and timely information about cyber threats pertaining to elections, including fact checks to control the proliferation of misinformation.

However, the resonance of baseless claims concerning foreign interference after the election demonstrates the need to bolster public confidence in reliable sources of information, such as state and local election officials, the agencies said on Tuesday. We recommend the US government continue to increase the quantity and quality of public messaging and education.
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Groundbreaking global study is the first to map ocean areas that, if strongly protected, would help solve climate, food and biodiversity crises

London, UK (17 March 2021)--A new study published in the prestigious peer-reviewed scientific journal Nature today offers a combined solution to several of humanity's most pressing challenges. It is the most comprehensive assessment to date of where strict ocean protection can contribute to a more abundant supply of healthy seafood and provide a cheap, natural solution to address climate change--in addition to protecting embattled species and habitats.

An international team of 26 authors identified specific areas that, if protected, would safeguard over 80% of the habitats for endangered marine species, and increase fishing catches by more than eight million metric tons. The study is also the first to quantify the potential release of carbon dioxide into the ocean from trawling, a widespread fishing practice--and finds that trawling is pumping hundreds of millions of tons of carbon dioxide into the ocean every year, a volume of emissions similar to those of aviation.

"Ocean life has been declining worldwide because of overfishing, habitat destruction and climate change. Yet only 7% of the ocean is currently under some kind of protection," said Dr. Enric Sala, explorer in residence at the National Geographic Society and lead author of the study, Protecting the global ocean for biodiversity, food and climate.

"In this study, we've pioneered a new way to identify the places that--if strongly protected--will boost food production and safeguard marine life, all while reducing carbon emissions," Dr. Sala said. "It's clear that humanity and the economy will benefit from a healthier ocean. And we can realize those benefits quickly if countries work together to protect at least 30% of the ocean by 2030."

To identify the priority areas, the authors--leading marine biologists, climate experts, and economists--analyzed the world's unprotected ocean waters based on the degree to which they are threatened by human activities that can be reduced by marine protected areas (for example, overfishing and habitat destruction). They then developed an algorithm to identify those areas where protections would deliver the greatest benefits across the three complementary goals of biodiversity protection, seafood production and climate mitigation. They mapped these locations to create a practical "blueprint" that governments can use as they implement their commitments to protect nature.

The study does not provide a single map for ocean conservation, but it offers a first-in-kind framework for countries to decide which areas to protect depending on their national priorities. However, the analysis shows that 30% is the minimum amount of ocean that the world must protect in order to provide multiple benefits to humanity.

"There is no single best solution to save marine life and obtain these other benefits. The solution depends on what society--or a given country--cares about, and our study provides a new way to integrate these preferences and find effective conservation strategies," said Dr. Juan S. Mayorga, a report co-author and a marine data scientist with the Environmental Market Solutions Lab at UC Santa Barbara and Pristine Seas at National Geographic Society.

The study comes ahead of the 15th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity, which is expected to take place in Kunming, China in 2021. The meeting will bring together representatives of 190 countries to finalize an agreement to end the world's biodiversity crisis. The goal of protecting 30% of the planet's land and ocean by 2030 (the "30x30" target) is expected to be a pillar of the treaty. The study follows commitments by the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, the European Commission and others to achieve this target on national and global scales.

Safeguarding Biodiversity

The report identifies highly diverse marine areas in which species and ecosystems face the greatest threats from human activities. Establishing marine protected areas (MPAs) with strict protection in those places would safeguard more than 80% of the ranges of endangered species, up from a current coverage of less than 2%.

The authors found that the priority locations are distributed throughout the ocean, with the vast majority of them contained within the 200-mile Exclusive Economic Zones of coastal nations.

The additional protection targets are located in the high seas--those waters governed by international law. These include the Mid-Atlantic Ridge (a massive underwater mountain range), the Mascarene Plateau in the Indian Ocean, the Nazca Ridge off the west coast of South America and the Southwest Indian Ridge, between Africa and Antarctica.

"Perhaps the most impressive and encouraging result is the enormous gain we can obtain for biodiversity conservation--if we carefully chose the location of strictly protected marine areas," said Dr. David Mouillot, a report co-author and a professor at the Universite de Montpellier in France. "One notable priority for conservation is Antarctica, which currently has little protection, but is projected to host many vulnerable species in a near future due to climate change."

Shoring up the Fishing Industry

The study finds that smartly placed marine protected areas (MPAs) that ban fishing would actually boost the production of fish--at a time when supplies of wild-caught fish are dwindling and demand is rising. In doing so, the study refutes a long-held view that ocean protection harms fisheries and opens up new opportunities to revive the industry just as it is suffering from a recession due to overfishing and the impacts of global warming.

"Some argue that closing areas to fishing hurts fishing interests. But the worst enemy of successful fisheries is overfishing--not protected areas," Dr. Sala said.

The study finds that protecting the right places could increase the catch of seafood by over 8 million metric tons relative to business as usual.

"It's simple: When overfishing and other damaging activities cease, marine life bounces back," said Dr. Reniel Cabral, a report co-author and assistant researcher with the Bren School of Environmental Science & Management and Marine Science Institute at UC Santa Barbara. "After protections are put in place, the diversity and abundance of marine life increase over time, with measurable recovery occurring in as little as three years. Target species and large predators come back, and entire ecosystems are restored within MPAs. With time, the ocean can heal itself and again provide services to humankind."

Soaking up Carbon

The study is the first to calculate the climate impacts of bottom trawling, a damaging fishing method used worldwide that drags heavy nets across the ocean floor. It finds that the amount of carbon dioxide released into the ocean from this practice is larger than most countries' annual carbon emissions, and similar to annual carbon dioxide emissions from global aviation.

"The ocean floor is the world's largest carbon storehouse. If we're to succeed in stopping global warming, we must leave the carbon-rich seabed undisturbed. Yet every day, we are trawling the seafloor, depleting its biodiversity and mobilizing millennia-old carbon and thus exacerbating climate change. Our findings about the climate impacts of bottom trawling will make the activities on the ocean's seabed hard to ignore in climate plans going forward," said Dr. Trisha Atwood of Utah State University, a co-author of the paper.

The study finds that countries with the highest potential to contribute to climate change mitigation via protection of carbon stocks are those with large national waters and large industrial bottom trawl fisheries. It calculates that eliminating 90% of the present risk of carbon disturbance due to bottom trawling would require protecting only about 4% of the ocean, mostly within national waters.

Closing a Gap

The study's range of findings helps to close a gap in our knowledge about the impacts of ocean conservation, which to date had been understudied relative to land-based conservation.

"The ocean covers 70% of the earth--yet, until now, its importance for solving the challenges of our time has been overlooked," said Dr. Boris Worm, a study co-author and Killam Research Professor at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia. "Smart ocean protection will help to provide cheap natural climate solutions, make seafood more abundant and safeguard imperiled marine species--all at the same time. The benefits are clear. If we want to solve the three most pressing challenges of our century--biodiversity loss, climate change and food shortages --we must protect our ocean."

Additional Quotes from Supporters and Report Co-Authors

Zac Goldsmith, British Minister for Pacific and the Environment, UK

"This paper is an important contribution to the science on ocean protection and highlights the need for countries to work together to protect at least 30% of the global ocean by 2030. In the UK we are at the forefront of marine protection, and are leading the Global Ocean Alliance of more than forty nations supporting this 30 by 30 target. We will do all we can to deliver it at the UN biodiversity conference in China."

Dr. Ben Halpern, Director of the National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis (NCEAS), UCSB

"Our research is a bit like building a race car. We didn't just look at how to put the best tires on the car and then install a lawnmower motor, or design an aerodynamic shell but then add wooden wheels. By looking at three different conservation objectives at once, we could find a design that produced a Formula 1 outcome for the oceans."

Kristen Rechberger, Founder & CEO, Dynamic Planet:

"The ocean's vast natural capital has been squandered for far too long. Our study shows that more ocean protection yields greater economic benefit and even opens up a new carbon market to help reach climate and nature goals. As the world pushes for a net-zero economy by 2050, and needs nature restored to get there, this study comes at the perfect time and shows where to invest."

Dr. William Chueng, Canada Research Chair and Professor, The University of British Columbia, Principal Investigator, Changing Ocean Research Unit, The University of British Columbia

"Now we have solid evidence that fully protecting over 30% of the ocean will be great for conserving fish stocks, improving fisheries production and helping to tackle climate change. The ocean will greatly benefit from an international agreement with clear ambitions for protection, similar to having the Paris Agreement to set the global warming target for climate actions "

Dr. Jennifer McGowan, Global Science, The Nature Conservancy & Center for Biodiversity and Global Change, Yale University

"Science shows us how, political will tells us when. The 'when' has to be now as we simply cannot allow the ocean to fail. This research sets the foundation for the next era of ocean conservation to be one that truly places biodiversity and people at the heart of national conversations. As the world prepares to set the global agenda for the next decade of climate and biodiversity policy, this research provides the bedrock upon which decisions-makers can map and plan interactions with the ocean to deliver multiple benefits for people and biodiversity. Our research provides evidence that the time has come to retire the narrative that conservation is at odds with economic prosperity. This must be the time to build prosperous and sustainable ocean economies and this research points out how to do that."

Dr. Alan Friedlander, Chief Scientist, Pristine Seas, National Geographic Society at the Hawai'i Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawai'i

"By identifying where and how much of the ocean to protect, we can insure a sustainable planet well into the future. Healthy oceans are essential to our existence and this work clearly identifies where and how much to protect for the maximum benefit to people. This framework identifies how much of the ocean to protect to maximize the benefits to humanity."

Dr. Whitney Goodell, Marine Ecologist, Pristine Seas, National Geographic Society

"The ocean is critical to global biodiversity, food security, and climate change mitigation. Ocean protection can be planned in a way to maximize the multiple benefits, and coordinated global efforts to do so can be substantially more efficient than isolated national efforts. For humanity to continue benefiting from the ocean, we must think and act globally, and maximize our efforts."

Dr. Lance Morgan, President and CEO, Marine Conservation Institute

"As the world focuses on a bold agenda to protect 30% of nature by 2030 these results provide a roadmap for conservation efforts aimed at healthier future for nature and humankind."

Dr. Darcy Bradley, Co-Director of the Ocean and Fisheries Program at the Environmental Market Solutions Lab, UCSB

"While we consider three key benefits that marine protection is known to confer, this is really just the beginning. Our approach is a way to bring multiple stakeholders to the table, to show that their interests can be prioritized, and ultimately to demonstrate that solutions that protect large ocean areas and benefit multiple simultaneous objectives exist."

###
Fidelity Bank Ghana Limited has donated items of need to the Ghana Infectious Disease Centre at the Ga East Municipal Hospital to support the treatment of patients in the wake of the continued spread of COVID-19 in Ghana.

The supplies, comprising of bed sheets, pillowcases, gum boots, blankets and desktop computers are to support the smooth running of the Ghana Infectious Disease Centre as they treat more patients.



While presenting the items to the Ghana Infectious Disease Centre, Owusu Boahen, Human Resources Director of Fidelity Bank Ghana, said, Fidelity Bank is a major stakeholder of this Centre and as COVID-19 infections continue to increase in Ghana, we deemed it appropriate to offer additional support to the facility. Fidelity is committed to the fight against the spread of COVID-19 and we will continue to support individuals and organizations who are at the forefront of combating this pandemic.



We want to congratulate all doctors, nurses and other frontline workers who are working tirelessly to contain the spread of the virus. There is still more work to be done and we encourage all Ghanaians to adhere to the safety protocols in order to eradicate COVID-19 in Ghana, he added.



Receiving the items on behalf of the Ghana Infectious Disease Centre, Dr. Joseph Oliver-Commey, Ag. Medical Director of the Ghana Infectious Disease Centre, said: These items are very valuable to our operations. We are grateful to Fidelity Bank Ghana for their support and we call on other organizations to support the Centre to effectively fight COVID-19.



In 2020, the Bank partnered with the Ghana COVID-19 Private Sector and supported the construction of the Ghana Infectious Disease Centre with a donation of GH1,000,000. They also donated over 3,000 PPEs to the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) in Accra, Kumasi and Takoradi and GH30,000 worth of PPEs to the Kumasi South Hospital.



Fidelity Bank in the last quarter of 2020 also introduced an auto loan package for members of the Ghana Medical Association who have been at the forefront of the pandemic. The auto loan package provides the members of the Ghana Medical Association with access to brand new vehicles from selected auto dealers at exceptional rates.

Additionally, in furtherance of its health-focused corporate social responsibility initiatives, Fidelity Bank donated GHC10,000 to the Kaneshie Polyclinic to help the facility organize its Community Wellness Clinic Outreach to promote health and to prevent diseases. The Kaneshie Polyclinic is a major government facility that provides healthcare for the people of Okaikoi South and other nearby towns.



The GHC10,000 support from Fidelity Bank will be used to procure medical supplies and to provide valuable medical guidance and treatment in the areas of mental health, tuberculosis, HIV, family planning, hypertension and diabetes, among others.



Fidelitys continuous support to the Ghana Infectious Disease Centre and other medical facilities like the Kaneshie Polyclinic, is part of the Banks Together Were More brand promise that views success as a collaborative effort among key stakeholders working together towards a greater good. Indeed, Fidelity has demonstrated that it is committed towards the general well-being of Ghanaians through its social impact programmes.

Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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Portable HEPA air purifer "This can be a major step forward for safe school reopenings."

Vaniman Manufacturing is pleased to announce delivery of 300 Pure Breeze HEPA Air Purifiers to Artesia Public Schools, the public K-12 school district in Artesia, NM.

Public schools across the US may purchase portable, high-efficiency air purifiers with relief funds provided by the federal government as part of the larger coronavirus relief package. Vanimans portable Pure Breeze units are small enough to fit in a classroom and quiet enough not to disrupt instruction, yet powerful enough to achieve multiple air changes per hour for a standard sized room. Its standard 550 CFM motor brings air through four stages of filtration, providing 99.997% filtration of aerosols as small as 0.3 microns. It is the most robust portable air purifier in its class and its specifications are unparalleled.

Were thrilled for Artesia, and were thrilled that school districts everywhere will be able to use the federal coronavirus relief funding for things like portable HEPA air purifiers, said Kyle Galenza, Vice President of Sales & Marketing at Vaniman. This can be a major step forward for safe school reopenings.

The CDC provides guidance to schools for safety and speaks to HVAC system use; however, most public schools have HVAC systems that are unable to provide air changes to HEPA specifications. Additionally, the CDC recommends opening windows to help facilitate air exchange, except in areas where pollution, excessive air particulates, or temperature extremes would cause danger or trigger adverse health symptoms (such as breathing difficulty for asthma sufferers). Where this guidance may not provide practical or adequate safety for a return to in-person instruction, a combination of PPE, behavioral best practices, and high-efficiency air purification would prove more useful.

Vaniman Manufacturing has been proudly delivering quality filtration solutions for over 30 years. Vanimans Pure Breeze HEPA Air Purifiers are manufactured in the USA.
WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 17th March, 2021) The US State Department approved the sale of Javelin missiles to Norway and $310 million in pilot training on AH-64 Apache helicopters with The Netherlands, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) said on Tuesday.

"The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Norway of [20] Javelin FGM-148 Missiles and related equipment for an estimated cost of $36 million," the release said. "The DSCA delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale today."

The State Department also approved two pilot military training agreements on AH-64 Apache helicopters worth a combined total of $310 million with the Netherlands, the DSCA said in two further press releases.
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The soreness that catcher Kyle Higashioka was feeling in his side on Monday enticed the Yankees to play in safe on Tuesday, so non-roster receiver Rob Brantly ended up bussing from Tampa to Lakeland, Fla., to be the battery mate for Gerrit Cole against the Detroit Tigers.

Brantlys showing wasnt his finest. Playing the six innings of the Yanks 7-4 victory, he stranded three baserunners going 0-for-3 with two strikeouts and 0-for-1 throwing out base stealers. Also, Cole wasnt dealing like he can allowing two runs on three hits (including two solo homers) and a walk over 3 2/3 innings.

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Worse yet, heres one of the things that Cole said about their pairing:

Sometimes we were caught off board on a couple things, but well be more prepared for next time.

This isnt what you want from your emergency catcher. And that is the current status of Brantly, who has 127 games of big-league experience over six seasons since 2010.

But theres a lot more to Brantlys 2021 story. For instance, Cole has felt comfortable throwing to Brantly this spring in side sessions and live BP, and for the most part liked their work on Tuesday.

It was really a fluent transition for me, Cole said. I thought we did a good job. I like some of his sequencing.

Also, the left-handed hitter is 3-for-7 at the plate this spring with a pair of two-run homers  one on his first at-bat  and a walk.

Robs done great, Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. Offensively, hes really swinging the bat in the big-league games, but also in our simulated games hes done a really good job.

Brantly hasnt contributed much offensively in previous big-league opportunities. The 6-foot-1, 190-pound San Diego native is a .228 hitter with seven homers in 391 at-bats playing for the Miami Marlins (2012-13), Chicago White Sox (2015, 2017), Philadelphia Phillies (2019) and Giants (2020). Hes done better in the minors, batting .271 over 10 seasons (2010-19).

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Brantlys current role as the Yanks top fill-in option if starting catcher Gary Sanchez or Kyle Higashioka hit the injury list early in the year manifested due to beloved journeyman Erik Kratz retiring after the 2020 season, veteran non-roster signee Robinson Chirinos breaking his wrist last week and none of the Yankees three standout catching prospects in camp  Austin Wells, Anthony Seigler and Josh Breaux  being Major League ready.

Obviously, we had (Brantly) last year, so he got integrated into our system, Boone said. He worked his tail off at the alternate site. I feel like hes improved his game a lot here over the last year.

He along with a couple other guys, I feel pretty good about the group of catchers that we have that could be an option for us if we need them.

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Posted Wednesday, March 17, 2021 4:13 am

- Washington State Journal

Connecting people considering suicide with immediate help is the aim of a proposed law that funds a 988 emergency number with a new tax on phone lines.

HB 1477, introduced by Rep. Tina Orwall, D-Des Moines, is aimed at tackling issues within Washingtons crisis response system and easing the transition to the new number.

This bill will do analysis of the current system including the gaps in crisis services, Orwall said. It will also consider more specialized crisis responses for tribes, youth and other high risk populations.

The Federal Communications Commission designated 988 as the new national suicide prevention hotline number and provided a two-year transition period, ending July 2022, for all phone service providers to make the switch from the current 1-800-273-TALK number.

According to a 2019 FCC report to Congress, changing the number to 988 would be easier to remember and also help decrease the stigma surrounding suicide and mental health issues.

The combination of the [988] number and the message that mental health crises and suicide prevention are of equivalent importance to [911] medical emergencies could improve local psychiatric crisis services over time, the FCC concluded.

The bill under consideration in the state Legislature would establish a 988 state Implementation Team to provide guidance and resources to raise the in-state answering rate from 80% to 90%. Calls not answered by an in-state center are routed to the nearest call center, often in a neighboring state with less information on Washington resources.

With a global pandemic still a threat, Orwall plans to increase the capacity of call centers in-state and assess the current crisis system in Washington with the Crisis Response Improvement Strategy Committee.

The Committee would assess and guide state behavioral health crisis services as well as analyze the current system within Washington to discover and patch any gaps while the Washington Department of Health would help designate new call centers.

Funding for the program would be generated through a phone services tax in the same way funds are generated for the states 911 call centers.

The Washington 988 Behavioral Health Crisis Response Line Tax would gradually increase from 30 cents per month starting in Oct. 2021 up to 75 cents beginning July 2024 and would apply to each phone line in service during that time period.

Proceeds from the tax could only be used to fund matters directly related to running the 988 hotline, such as personnel budgets, call routing and crisis outreach.

The tax for the bill hasnt received any negative public testimony since its introduction Feb. 3, which Rep. Orwall attributes to the bills necessity.

Rep. Drew Stokesbary, R-Auburn, the leading legislator against the current version bill, did not return emails asking for comment.

For me, its asking people to make that investment, Orwall said. For a penny a day, we can create an incredible system that will respond to what people really need, and potentially save lives.

Orwall sees rippling benefits generated by the investment.

One in four police shootings (involve) someone experiencing a behavioral health crisis, she said. And many families dont necessarily feel comfortable calling because theyre worried about an officer showing up. (The new 988 hotline) is allowing us to have a clinical response, and really move us in a direction where communities feel safe and supported.

The Washington State Journal is a non-profit news website managed by the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association Foundation. Learn more at wastatejournal.org.
Following a landmark American intelligence assessment which found that the Russian government meddled in the 2020 election to denigrate the candidacy of now United States President Joe Biden, the Biden statement emphasized that Vladimir Putin will 'pay the price' for the Russian efforts to undermine the 2020 U.S. election.

Biden Warns Putin for Meddling in the Election

In an interview on Wednesday on "Good Morning America," the United States President mentioned that Putin would pay the price. Biden also shared that he and Putin had a long talk, and he mentioned to the Russian President that he knows him just like Putin knows him.

According to CNN, Biden held his first call with Putin in late January, and at the time, the White House stated that Biden confronted the Russian president on several issues. That included Moscow's interference in the November 2020 U.S. presidential elections, the suspected poisoning of Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny, the massive Solarwinds cyberattack, and the bounties on American troops who are serving in Afghanistan.

Florida Baby, First to Be Born with COVID-19 Antibodies

However, the Biden statement ended there as the president refused to provide more details during the interview on what price Putin might be paying. Three U.S. State Department officials also shared to the news outlet that Biden's administration is expected to announce sanctions related to the election interference with next week as the latest.

The officials did not mention any details concerning the expected sanctions. But they stated that they would be targeting multiple nations, including Russia, Iran, and China.

On Tuesday, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence released an assessment regarding foreign threats to the 2020 U.S. federal elections. Based on the assessment, they found out that the Russian efforts aimed to 'denigrate the candidacy of not only President Biden but also the Democratic Party,' while supporting former President Donald Trump and undermining public confidence in the electoral process and worsening sociopolitical divisions in the U.S.

Stimulus Checks Availability Enrages JPMorgan Chase and Wells Fargo Customers

The said report is the most comprehensive assessment of foreign threats to the 2020 elections to date, which detailed extensive influence operations by U.S. adversaries seeking to undermine confidence in the democratic process while also targeting specific candidates for the presidency. The report also confirmed that what was largely assumed and barely hidden last year, the public embracing of Russia's disinformation campaign against Biden by not only Trump but also his closest allies, his meeting figures in Kremlin who were part of the effort, and the promotion of their conspiracy theories, The Guardian reported.

Biden also shared during the interview that the most important thing in dealing with foreign leaders, as he mentioned that he dealt with a lot of them over his career, is to know the other guy.

The President continued that the price that he is going to pay will be seen shortly, and there is a place where they want to work together; that is why they renewed the START agreement. Biden also added that it is overwhelming in humanity's interest that they diminish the prospect of a nuclear exchange, Bloomberg reported.

Also from HNGN:

North Korea to Test Intercontinental Missile

Stimulus Check Dispute Leads to Four Deaths in Indiana

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WEST SPRINGFIELD  As parked freight trains continue to block the bridge between Mittineague and North Agawam, the state is finally willing to stop, look and listen.

Last week, the state Department of Public Utilities started an investigation that may result in a $500 fine to CSX, which operates a long-haul rail line and freight yard in West Springfield, after documenting that a train blocked the level crossing at Front Street for 38 minutes in the early afternoon of March 9.

Next Monday, West Springfield Mayor William Reichelt plans to host an online public forum where residents of Agawam and West Springfield can share their experiences with blocked railroad crossings. Their testimony will be compiled and sent to the DPU.

Im hopeful the state follows through on this, said Reichelt. Theyre saying theyre going to investigate it for a month so they can see the amount of times and the length of time its blocked.

The railroad crossing on Front Street is the only way to access the West Springfield side of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Bridge. The bridge, also known as the Mittineague Bridge and Strathmore Bridge, connects West Springfield to Bridge Street in Agawam.

According to a DPU order relating to the March 9 blockage, it is illegal under state law for a railroad operator to block a public road for more than five minutes at a time. The railroad can be fined up to $500 for each incident.

When local mayors suggested enforcing the crossing blockage law in the past, they were told by state officials that, as a federally regulated railroad, CSX would not respond to state fines. The DPU acknowledged in its March 9 order that some courts have held that federal railroad law overrules state regulations on blocking public streets.

Sheriee S. Bowman, media relations manager for Florida-based CSX, said the railroad has no comment on the investigation.

CSX has been periodically blocking the Front Street crossing since at least 2014, said Reichelt, who was working in the towns Law Department at the time. The blockages do not follow any schedule, can last as long as 90 minutes and occur several times a week. Trains are parked across Front Street as freight cars are added or removed at the nearby yard.

Reichelt said the only concession the town has received from CSX was allowing access to the railroad crossing activation signals so that the state could install early warning signs on the main roads leading to the bridge, giving drivers a chance to detour away from the blocked crossing. Those warning lights were installed in 2019, though it took several months of coordination with CSX before they were working properly.

Reichelt said Agawam Mayor William Sapelli will attend the public hearing, which is at 6 p.m. on March 22. Participants can join the meeting at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84115582559, or by calling 929-205-6099 and entering the meeting code 841 1558 2569. City councilors and state legislators representing both towns have also been invited.

Anyone who cannot attend the meeting but wishes to give feedback can submit a written comment at tinyurl.com/2t6demv2.

West Springfield Councilor Sean Powers said this week he welcomes any public scrutiny of CSXs operations in town. Not only does the railroad company block the Front Street crossing, he said, it also makes it unnecessarily difficult for town workers to inspect infrastructure such as sewer lines, and fails to clean up trash on its property.

We have multiple issues, Powers said. This certainly isnt a rare occurrence for CSX.

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Bridge is one of just three links between the adjacent towns. The other two are Route 5, at the extreme eastern end of both towns, and the nearby Morgan-Sullivan Bridge, carrying Route 147. The Morgan-Sullivan Bridge is undergoing a multi-year reconstruction, with only one lane open in each direction.
A Phillipsburg councilwoman criticized her colleagues recent statements toward another woman during a town council meeting Tuesday night.

Councilwoman Danielle DeGerolamo said she condemns statements made by Council President Frank McVey at a recent Phillipsburg Land Use Board.

McVey, who previously said he was attending the Feb. 25 land use board meeting as a private citizen via Zoom, referred to a social media post by Warren County Democratic Committee Vice Chairwoman Theresa Bender Chapman.

McVey appears to pronounce Bender Chapmans name Theresa Bend-her-over Chapman. Warren County Democrats issued a statement earlier this month labeling McVeys words as an attack of a vicious and sexual nature.

McVey said he did not intentionally disparage Bender Chapman or purposely mispronounce her name.

I mispronounced her name because I dont know her name, McVey previously told lehighvalleylive.com. I attempted to say it, I dont know why I struggle with it.

DeGerolamo said Tuesday that everyone is responsible for what they say.

I found it inexcusable, DeGerolamo said. I honestly just dont care if it was intentional or not. We are responsible for what comes out of our mouth either way. Honestly, I didnt believe it until I looked into it and it was sent to me.

DeGerolamo said she recently attended a workgroup on harassment and misogyny in politics for women. She and other women shared stories of their political life in New Jersey that has been rampant with harassment and social media attacks, DeGerolamo said.

Were told how to vote or else, she said. Were told to stop asking so many questions at public meetings

After Tuesday nights meeting, Bender Chapman sympathized with DeGerolamo. I am saddened that she too has gone through being humiliated, based on her comments, and attempted to be silenced. She has a voice and that voice doesnt go along with what I can only describe as the good old boy mentality.

DeGerolamo called on McVey to apologize for his comments.

McVey did not respond to her remarks during the Tuesday night meeting.

John Best is a freelance contributor to lehighvalleylive.com. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.

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Lemon Projects virtual symposium to celebrate Black women

Keynote speakers: This year's symposium will include keynote addresses from (left to right) Catherine Meeks, director of the Absalom Jones Center for Racial Healing; Christy Coleman, executive director of the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation; and Karsonya "Kaye" Wise Whitehead, an associate professor of communication and African and African American studies at Loyola University Maryland and founding director of the Karson Institute for Race, Peace & Social Justice. Courtesy photos Photo - of - Hide Caption

William & Marys 11th annual Lemon Project Spring Symposium will feature panel discussions, keynote speeches and performances  all focused on the history and future of Black women in America.

The event, titled Four Centuries of Black Women in America: Freedom, Activism and Justice for All, will be held virtually March 22-27. It is free and open to the public, but registration is required.

One of the best parts of our annual spring symposium is how we bring people together  from community members to students to professionals and alumni  to learn and think about the experiences of African-American people. And this year, Im thrilled were focusing on Black women, said Assistant Professor of History Jody Allen, the Robert Francis Eng Director of the Lemon Project.

The Lemon Project is a long-term research effort to uncover W&Ms involvement with slavery, segregation and discrimination and to strengthen the relationship between the university and the local African-American community as well as students of color on campus.

The symposium will open March 22 with a panel discussion on women and slavery. The day will conclude with the first of three keynotes for the week, this one given by Christy Coleman, executive director of the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation. Coleman, who received an honorary degree from William & Mary last year, will speak on Black Women and the Conscience of a Nation, starting at 6:30 p.m.

Catherine Meeks, director of the Absalom Jones Center for Racial Healing, will present the next keynote  Without Ladyhood, Whiteness or Maleness to Stand Upon, African-American Women Invent Themselves  at 6:30 p.m. March 26. Meeks will also host a workshop titled Ida B. Wells, Mary McLeod Bethune, Malissa A. Jackson and Self Invention at 2 p.m. on March 27.

The final keynote address of the symposium, The Fire This Times: Racial Justice, COVID-19 and the Future of America, will be presented by Karsonya "Kaye" Wise Whitehead at 9:30 a.m. March 27. Whitehead is an associate professor of communication and African and African American studies at Loyola University Maryland and founding director of the Karson Institute for Race, Peace & Social Justice.

Although were saddened that we are not meeting in person this year, the Lemon team is glad that this virtual format allows us to host keynotes by three Black women who are leaders in their fields, Allen noted.

Throughout the week, community members, alongside faculty, staff, and students from William & Mary and other institutions will explore topics ranging from the fight for civil rights to the power of networks in activism.

The symposium will culminate March 27 with For Colored Girls Who Inspired the World: Performance Honoring the Impact of Black Women. The event, which begins at 6 p.m., will include dance, song, spoken word and other performances, including a poetry reading by Poet Laureate of Virginia Luisa Igloria. The event is a collaboration between the Lemon Project and W&Ms Asian Centennial, which kicked off this semester.

Eleven years ago when the first symposium was held, I had no idea that it would grow into what it is today, a days-long event where we all come together to encourage healing, Allen said. Im excited for the next 10 years.
Rakesh Pilkar, Ph.D. is a Senior Research Scientist in the Center for Mobility and Rehabilitation Engineering Research at Kessler Foundation and Assistant Research Professor in the Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation at Rutgers - New Jersey Medical School. Dr. Pilkar's expertise is in providing engineering solutions to biomedical research problems. Credit: Kessler Foundation

Kessler Foundation researchers have identified several practical and technical barriers to the widespread use of surface electromyography (sEMG) in clinical neurorehabilitation. Based on their holistic analysis of these factors, the researchers suggest a collaborative, interdisciplinary, and unified approach to enable rehabilitation professionals to routinely use sEMG.

The article, "Use of Surface EMG in Clinical Rehabilitation of Individuals With SCI: Barriers and Future Considerations," was published December 18, 2020, in Frontiers in Neurology. It is available open access at www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7780850/

The authors are Rakesh Pilkar, Ph.D., Kamyar Momeni, Ph.D., Arvind Ramanujam, Manikandan Ravi, Erica Garbarini, and Gail F. Forrest, Ph.D., affiliated with the Center for Mobility and Rehabilitation Engineering Research and the Tim and Caroline Reynolds Center for Spinal Stimulation at Kessler Foundation.

sEMG is a noninvasive technology that detects, records, and interprets the electrical activity of muscles. The quantifiable information on myoelectric output recorded by sEMG is extremely useful in assessing impairment and potentially determining patient-specific and effective interventions for individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI). However, while sEMG is commonly used in neurorehabilitation research, its integration into clinical practice has been limited, according to lead author Dr. Pilkar, senior research scientist at the Center for Mobility and Rehabilitation Engineering Research.

In their analysis, the research team determined several factors that prevent widespread use of sEMG in clinical practice. "One major obstacle is integrating the time-consuming aspects of sEMG into the already demanding schedule of physical therapists, occupational therapists, and other clinicians," explained Dr. Pilkar. "Also, clinicians are often unfamiliar with technical aspects of sEMG data processing and may not have been exposed to or trained in certain aspects of this technology," he added.

The research team also identified technical challenges such as transferring the frequent research updates to the sEMG systems used in a clinical setting; lack of user-friendly interfaces; and the need for a standardized, multidisciplinary approach to the handling and interpretation of data. An additional consideration, specific to research in SCI, is that reading and interpreting EMGs for this population requires an additional skillset, as the physiological and structural state of the spinal cord affect how data are interpreted.

To overcome these obstacles, Kessler researchers propose a series of actions to facilitate the use of sEMG by rehabilitation professions. First, including hands-on sEMG experience in educational and professional training programs, and exposing trainees to non-clinical experts in complementary fields such as engineers, technicians, and data scientists. Second, developing simpler, more user-friendly technology interfaces, as well as offering open-access user tutorials to make it easier for clinicians to integrate and use sEMG. Third, codifying a means to regularly transfer research-based knowledge about sEMG and its relevance to SCI rehabilitation from researchers to clinicians will empower rehabilitation professionals to use sEMG with more confidence.

"Addressing these barriers will improve our ability to objectively assess neuromuscular outcomes," Dr. Pilkar predicted, "which is fundamental to developing interventions that improve motor function and mobility in individuals with deficits caused by SCI."

Explore further Researchers propose high-density surface electromyography technique for automatic speech recognition

More information: Rakesh Pilkar et al, Use of Surface EMG in Clinical Rehabilitation of Individuals With SCI: Barriers and Future Considerations, Frontiers in Neurology (2020). Journal information: Frontiers in Neurology Rakesh Pilkar et al, Use of Surface EMG in Clinical Rehabilitation of Individuals With SCI: Barriers and Future Considerations,(2020). DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2020.578559

Provided by Kessler Foundation
Apparently, nominated Senator Millicent Omanga was a millionaire at the tender age of 19. The rabble-rousing lawmaker also bought her first car at the age of 20.

Omanga made the revelation during an interview on Jessy Junction. She told Mc Jessy that she started doing business while she was still a student at the University of Nairobi.

When I joined University, I started my business. I made my first million when I was 19 years old and by 20 I bought my first car. And even those I was with at the University could tell you Milly was a rich girl and not because I was being given money by my parents.

I would use the school kidogo, unaenda unanunua vitu, unauza and by the time exam inafika pesa yangu nitakuwa nimeiroll for three months imeleta profit na nimelipa school fees and I continued like that, she explained.

To become a teenage millionaire, Omanga, 38, said she supplied bedsheets to a hotel in Eldoret.

I was selling merchandise, including bed sheetsIm one of the biggest suppliers of bedsheets in this county up to date.

I supplied a hotel in Eldoret called Mariotit had 60 rooms and my working capital was not that much. So I went to the bank and they only gave me 150K basing on my transactionsSo I went and bought the bedsheets and supplied and thats how I got my first millionI was paid cash, the senator recounted.

Omanga later took to social media to post:  Milly wa ma-bedsheets. Hapo ndio story yangu ilianzia na bado ndio hustle yangu mpaka wa leo and at 19 years I made my first million. Kazi ni Kazi na inawezekana watu wangu . #MamaMiradi.
The Daily Beast

Criminal ComplaintA Pennsylvania man accused of assaulting several Capitol Police officers during the Jan. 6 insurrectionand leaving one with a concussionhas an extensive history of violent and assaultive behavior against women, prosecutors said Wednesday.Ryan Samsel, 38, was charged in February with several crimes, including assaulting a federal officer, obstructing law enforcement, and obstructing a legal proceeding, after he was captured in videos and photos knocking over several officers
George Floyd Officer Trial (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Two jurors were dismissed from the trial of Derek Chauvin after Minneapolis announced a $27m (20m) settlement with the family of George Floyd.

Hennepin County Judge Peter Cahill on Wednesday recalled the seven seated jurors after defence attorney Eric Nelson said the civil settlement announcement, by Mayor Jacob Frey and the city council in the middle of jury selection, was "incredibly prejudicial".

Judge Cahill asked jurors if "extensive media coverage about developments in a civil suit" affected their ability to serve impartially.

One was dismissed for saying he was shocked by the size of the settlement and wasn't sure if he could set the news aside. Another was dismissed for saying the settlement confirmed his opinions and that it would be hard to remain impartial.

Judge Cahill retained five of the remaining jurors and said he would rule Friday on the defence's motion to further delay the 29 May start date of the trial or move it to another city in Minnesota, where media coverage might not be so influential in the case.

The jury would not, however, be sequestered any sooner than deliberations or give the defence more strikes in jury selection as a result of the settlement, Judge Cahill said.

Read more:

The court is also expected to rule on Thursday whether the defence can include details from Mr Floyd's 2019 arrest. While previously rejected, Judge Cahill said he would consider new arguments that made the arrest admissible. Drugs were found as part of Mr Floyds 2019 arrest and 2020 arrest, while both encounters had similar details.

On both occasions, police drew weapons and struggled to get Mr Floyd out of the car while he called out for his mother, cried, and appeared to put drugs into his mouth. Fentanyl and methamphetamine were found in Mr Floyds system, with the cause of his death to be a key issue in determining criminal liability

Story continues

The similarities are incredible. The exact same behaviour in two incidents, almost one year apart, Mr Nelson said.

Prosecutor Matthew Frank argued the 2019 arrest was prejudicial and said it was an attempt by the defence to smear Mr Floyds character.

What these officers were dealing with is what they were responsible for, Mr Frank said. What is relevant to this case is what they knew at the scene at this time.

Mr Chauvin faces charges of second-degree murder, third-degree murder and manslaughter.

The Minneapolis City Council held a press conference on Friday with members of Mr Floyd's family and their attorney Ben Crump to announce the $27m civil settlement, in timing that Mr Nelson said goes "straight to the heart of the dangers of pretrial publicity".

Judge Cahill this week pushed back on reports that the court had given city officials the green light to announce the settlement in the middle of jury selection, saying the court has no authority to approve what the council could do.

The bottom line is this is a federal lawsuit. This court was not involved, he said n court on Tuesday. I think the city is trying to dump their responsibility back in the court where it does not belong, he added.

Additional reporting by the Associated Press.
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PUBLIC RECORDS: Let the sun shine

Across America, Sunshine Week is a time when newspaper editors celebrate the publics right to see government records and attend government meetings.

That makes this an especially good time to take stock of where the peoples right to know stands in our state. Unfortunately, for as long as anyone can remember, North Carolinians have suffered under the shroud of one of the worst public records laws in the country.

The examples right here in Henderson County are embarrassing and stark:

 Laurence McKisson sexually abused 17 children in Henderson County public schools between 1998 and 2001 before he was caught, arrested, convicted and sent to prison for 63 years. Parents of his victims filed a lawsuit against the school system for failing to vet, monitor and supervise McKisson, calling him a perverted child molester who was known to have a pedophilic interest in students and who sexually abused children. McKisson will likely die in prison and for as long as he languishes there personnel files that may shed light on how he was evaluated remain hidden from public scrutiny.

 Gail Goldstein, convicted of embezzling $372,000 from Henderson County schools from 1998 to 2002, served a prison term of 6 years. Efforts by the Times-News nearly 20 years to review her personnel file were rebuffed.

 When Sheriff Rick Davis was granted medical leave under shrouded circumstances in November 2011, details of what triggered his abrupt departure were never fully explained by Henderson County commissioners, nor discoverable by reading his personnel file.

For more than 50 years, transparency of North Carolina government has been badly hindered by the lack of public access to arguably the most important government records  those surrounding the hiring, promotion, suspension, demotion, termination or discipline of state and local government employees. And yet public access to these records  vital to holding public employees from teachers to law officers to DOT dump truck drivers accountable is guaranteed by law in the states surrounding North Carolina plus some 35 others.

This sad state of public affairs could change, thanks to a bill soon to be introduced in the General Assembly by Sens. Bill Rabon (R-Brunswick) and Norm Sanderson (R-Craven). The bill, entitled the Government Transparency Act of 2021, would crack the door slightly by allowing the public to see the reasons for terminating, promoting, suspending, demoting or disciplining a government employee. In states with aggressive sunshine laws, that may seem incremental. In North Carolina, its a sea change that we heartily applaud.

In a distorted twist of logic on the subject, other General Assembly members filed a bill at the behest of N.C. Attorney General Josh Stein this week that would reinforce, not topple, the wall of secrecy blocking access to public employee misconduct records. The Stein-endorsed bill would create a pair of databases to store law enforcement disciplinary and use-of-force incident records. Law enforcement agencies could access them while the public could not.

The spirit behind the Stein bill is the opposite of government transparency. The attorney general costumes the database of law officer misconduct as criminal justice reform. But by barring the public from seeing these records  access routinely permitted in 40 states  North Carolinians would remain in the dark about the records of those who police their streets and manage their state and local law enforcement agencies. Steins measure is a secrecy bill, not a transparency bill.

Instead of inspiring public confidence in government, blocking public access to government personnel records of this kind simply creates suspicion and mistrust. And that erodes our public institutions, which are by and large with principled and dedicated people.

The Senate sponsors behind the real government transparency measure recognize the need to cast aside a culture of secrecy that locks away government employee personnel records. The current policy prevents North Carolinians from gaining access to information that would help distinguish good teachers and law officers from bad ones. Thankfully, the wind in Raleigh may be shifting. The bill by Rabon and Sanderson charts a course for renewed public confidence in government through real transparency.
(Alliance News) - Serco Group PLC on Wednesday said it has won a contract to continue providing support services at a military air base in Goose Bay, Canada, for at least 10 more years.

The initial 10-year period will be worth as much CAD694 million, equivalent to around GBP400 million, Serco said. The contract has provision for two 5-year extensions, meaning it would be worth as much as CAD1.5 billion, or GBP870 million, if it lasts the full 20 years.

Shares were up 2.0% to 140.10 pence in London.

Serco, an outsourcing company based in Hampshire, said it expects annual revenue of GBP20 million to GBP30 million in the "opening years" of the contract, similar to its revenue from the existing agreement. Serco has provided services to the Goose Bay air base since 1998. The new contract was awarded after an open tender process and starts in September.

"Goose Bay has been operated successfully by Serco for more than 20 years and we are delighted to have been selected to continue to support the Canadian Department of National Defence on what is a vital piece of national infrastructure," Chief Executive Rupert Soames said.

By Ivan Edwards; ivanedwards@alliancenews.com

Copyright 2021 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
A growing TikTok trend has seen teenagers challenging each other to hide in IKEA overnight and film themselves running wild around the store.

The challenge encourages young people to build forts and climb up storage scaffolding before sneaking out undetected the next morning.

'We stayed at IKEA overnight and this is what happened,' a TikTok video, posted by user Ywys Offical, was captioned.

In the video, two teenage boys believed to be in Brisbane, Queensland, filmed customers leaving the store as it closed at 6pm, while they hid inside from workers.

The challenge encourages young people to build forts and climb up storage scaffolding before sneaking out undetected the next morning

The pair sat five metres above the floor in large warehouse scaffolding which holds boxes of inventory

'And it begins. On either the fourth or fifth floor,' the caption read.

The pair sat five metres above the floor in large warehouse scaffolding which holds boxes of inventory.

They then filmed themselves wandering aimlessly around the empty store before playing in hammocks.

With their sleeves covering their hands to cover fingerprints, the boys then opened the back door and fled.

They could be seen wheeling a large trolley full of what appeared to be plates and other small boxes.

It's not known if they had paid for the items before the store closed or if they were stolen after hours.

But the security alarm sounded as the pair ran away.

The bizarre challenge has been around since August 2016, when two Belgian YouTubers documented their overnight stay in an IKEA store.

The teens filmed themselves trying out various beds and rating the store's furniture for comfort.

IKEA has unsurprisingly strongly discouraged people from hiding out in their stores overnight.

'We appreciate that people are interested in IKEA and want to create fun experiences, however the safety and security of our co-workers and customers is our highest priority which is why we do not allow sleepovers in our stores,' a spokeswoman said.
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ORLAND, Calif.  The Optum Serve COVID-19 testing site at Orland Memorial Hall will now begin offering COVID-19 vaccinations, according to Glenn County health officials.

Optum Serve will continue to provide COVID-19 testing weekly, Monday through Wednesday. COVID-19 vaccinations will be provided Thursday through Saturday at this site.

The Optum Serve site will provide more than 600 vaccines per week with the ability to expand based on vaccine allocation, health officials said. The site will include evening and Saturday hours, expanding the access to the vaccine. The addition of this vaccine site will increase the delivery of the vaccine to the residents of Glenn County.

SEE IF YOU QUALIFY FOR THE COVID-19 VACCINE

Residents interested in an appointment at the Optum Serve Vaccine site can schedule through the California MyTurn system online. For those without internet access, call the State MyTurn scheduling hotline at (833) 422-4255.

Additional vaccine clinic dates will become available on this site next week. Health officials said they will be announcing more information on the clinics soon.

Residents must meet current State vaccine eligibility criteria to get an appointment.

Glenn County Public Health will be transitioning all vaccine registration to the MyTurn system. Residents are encouraged to use this system for finding vaccine appointments. Health officials also said residents interested in being on a quick call list for last-minute vaccine availability - at the end of a clinic - you can fill out the Vaccine Quick Call Survey on their website at www.countyofglenn.net/COVID19

Glenn County Public Health said the quick call list will be used by providers who have an open vial and need to administer the remaining doses. Those on the quick call list would need to live locally and be able to respond quickly when called. Residents on the quick call list would have the ability to decline when called and remain on the list until they receive their vaccination, according to public health.
Buckingham Palace has instructed an external law firm to assist with its investigation into bullying allegations made against the Duchess of Sussex.

Royal aides announced earlier this month that past and present employees of Meghan and Harry would be invited to speak in confidence about their experiences, after it was alleged she drove out two personal assistants and staff were humiliated on several occasions.

Now it is understood an outside legal company will help Buckingham Palaces human resources team as it examines the circumstance of the allegations, first reported by the Times newspaper.

Expand Close The Duchess of Sussex has been accused of bullying by former staff (Chris Jackson/PA) PA / Facebook

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Whatsapp The Duchess of Sussex has been accused of bullying by former staff (Chris Jackson/PA)

According to other reports, the Sussexes are not expected to be asked to contribute to the review, but the duchess has written to the palace asking for any documents, emails or texts relating to the allegations against her.

Lawyers for the duchess have denied the bullying allegations.

Harry was also accused of bullying, with the Times reporting earlier this month that a member of staff told a colleague the couple were outrageous bullies.

When the bullying allegations were first made, Buckingham Palace said in a statement it was very concerned about them, and stressed the Royal Household does not and will not tolerate bullying or harassment in the workplace.

It added: Accordingly, our HR team will look into the circumstances outlined in the article. Members of staff involved at the time, including those who have left the Household, will be invited to participate to see if lessons can be learned.

Expand Close Jason Knauf, the Sussexes former communications secretary (Dominic Lipinski/PA) PA / Facebook

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Whatsapp Jason Knauf, the Sussexes former communications secretary (Dominic Lipinski/PA)

The investigation was launched after the Times reported that Jason Knauf, the Sussexes then communications secretary, made a bullying complaint in October 2018 in an apparent attempt to force Buckingham Palace to protect staff.

A source told the newspaper that Harry begged his senior aide not to take the matter further, but it also reported that lawyers for the duke and duchess deny the meeting took place and that Harry would not have interfered with staff matters.

Mr Knauf reportedly sent an email outlining the duchesss alleged actions to Simon Case, the Duke of Cambridges then private secretary and now the cabinet secretary, after conversations with Samantha Carruthers, the head of human resources.

A Buckingham Palace spokesman said: Our commitment to look into the circumstances around allegations from former staff of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex is being taken forward but we will not be providing a public commentary on it.

A spokesman for the Sussexes declined to comment.

Soon after the bullying allegations were made, the monarchy was left reeling after Harry and Meghans interview with chat show host Oprah Winfrey, in which they made a string of allegations, including accusing a member of the royal family of making a racist comment about their son Archie.
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Describing the recently-concluded virtual summit as a "historic" moment, a senior American diplomat has said the four-nation grouping, including India, is uniquely positioned to help lead the strategically-vital Indo-Pacific region towards a more positive vision.

Known as the "Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, the grouping comprises the US, India, Australia and Japan. The representatives for the four-member nations have met periodically since its establishment in 2007.

President Joe Biden on Friday opened the first Leaders' Summit held virtually and attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga.

"The Quad is uniquely positioned to help lead the Indo-Pacific towards the more positive vision we all seek, Atul Keshap, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs said in his virtual address to the Perth USAsia Center and Studies Center Conference on Tuesday.

Australia and the United States are engaging in substantial regional multilateralism to work together on many issues facing the region, he said.

"Last week's Quad summit was a historic moment and showcased the Quad's ability to pool our capabilities and build habits of cooperation to address the world's most urgent problems together, Keshap said.

The Biden administration is looking forward to deepening cooperation on combating COVID-19 and climate change, he said, adding that Biden is deeply focused on the issue of expanding global vaccination, manufacturing, and delivery, which will all be critical to end the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Quad's COVID-19 engagement is a joint partnership to boost vaccine manufacturing and strengthen vaccinations to benefit the Indo-Pacific, he said.

"We are also looking forward to working together on emerging technologies and messaging the positive impacts of Quad cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, Keshap said.

"In addition to the key Summit deliverables on COVID-19, climate, and emerging technologies, the Quad will continue to advance coordination on issues including economic recovery, climate change, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, maritime security, counter terrorism, and countering disinformation, he said.

In his address to Quad leaders on Friday, Biden said it was going to be a vital arena for cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region. He also described Quad as a new mechanism to enhance cooperation and raise mutual ambition as they address accelerating climate change.

The evolving situation in the Indo-Pacific region in the wake of China's increasing military muscle-flexing has become a major talking point among leading global powers. The has been favouring making Quad a security architecture to check China's growing assertiveness.

China is engaged in hotly contested territorial disputes in the South and East China Seas. Beijing has also made substantial progress in militarising its man-made islands in the past few years.

Beijing claims sovereignty over all of the South China Sea. But Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines, Brunei and Taiwan have counterclaims. In the East China Sea, China has territorial disputes with Japan.

Both maritime areas in the South and East China seas are rich in minerals, oil and other natural resources and are also vital to global trade.

In November 2017, India, Japan, the US and Australia gave shape to the long-pending proposal of setting up the Quad to develop a new strategy to keep the critical sea routes in the Indo-Pacific free of any influence.

(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.)
TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism, Zayed bin Rashid Al Zayani, has affirmed that the United Kingdom is an essential investment partner at the global level. He stressed growing economic relations between the Kingdom of Bahrain and the UK, pointing out deep-rooted historical ties binding both countries and keenness on achieving common strategic visions.

Al Zayani was speaking during a meeting held with British Minister for International Trade, Ranil Jayawardena, in the presence of Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Tourism Undersecretary Imen Ahmed Al Dosari, Assistant Undersecretary for Local and International Trade Shaikh Hamad bin Salman Al Khalifa, Managing Director of the Economic Development Board (EDB) Simon Galpin and senior officials.

The meeting was held on the sidelines of the British Ministers visit to the Kingdom of Bahrain. Discussions focused on ways of boosting bilateral cooperation in the investment field to serve the strategic development visions of the two friendly countries.

Al Zayani pointed out the key role that can be played by the private sector in both countries to achieve common goals. He also spotlighted the suitable investment climate in Bahrain and the development initiatives undertaken by the government to attract investments. He stressed the kingdoms status as a favourable destination for many international projects and investments.

It is worth noting that the size of trade relations between Bahrain and the UK has grown remarkably with the current overall British investment in Bahrain attaining around $ 550 million in 2020.
Minari film follows real life journey of a man wrestling with God, Steven Yeun says

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The Golden Globe Award-winning film Minari, which is now available On-demand, has released a faith featurette that highlights the spiritual and emotional aspects of the heartwarming movie.

Jacob is an incredibly fascinating character. Hes a man wrestling with God, said Steven Yeun, the lead actor, of his role in the clip seen exclusively first on CP.

Minari follows a Korean American family that moves to an Arkansas farm in search of their own American dream. The family's home, however, is completely transformed with the arrival of their sly, foul-mouthed, but incredibly loving grandmother.

Amid the instability and challenges of this new life in the rugged Ozarks, Minari shows the undeniable resilience of family and what really makes a home, the synopsis reads.

Nominated for six Academy Awards, the film stars Yeun, Yeri Han, Alan Kim, Noel Kate Cho, Yuh-Jung Youn, and Will Patton.

The clip gives audiences a glimpse into various scenes in the family film, such as when the lead actor invites his wife to church after realizing she must be lonely in a new town.

Don't forget to keep praying, the mom is also heard telling her young son who struggles with a heart condition. The young boy in the film, who is loosely based on director and writer Lee Isaac Chung, hopes his prayer will help him to see Heaven.

The music featured in the cinematic film based on a true story was also inspired by the faith components in the film. Composer Emile Mosseri revealed that it was a dream for him to write music that felt spiritually connected to the film.

Watch the exclusive clip below:

Also seen in the faith featurette is the radical Christian man who the family meets along their journey. The white man is committed to helping the family on their farm and prays for them.

Although the film is not based on a Christian narrative, in particular, Chung, the filmmaker of Minari, told CP in a recent interview that the Christian character in the movie is based on a real person who had a lasting impact on his familys life.

He's based on someone from my real life. He was a Pentecostal man who worked on our farm. The sense I got with him, you see it in Scripture, it's the foolish who shamed the wise many times; I kind of felt that way with him, Chung told CP in an interview (watch below).

"He was a fool for Christ and he taught us a lot about what it means to love somebody, he added. There are people in the town that would make fun of him, to be honest. But yet, he became our friend, and he was the first guest we had in our house and he really welcomed us into that community.

"I always felt like, there's something in that that speaks to the Christian faith, the sort of connection that we're supposed to be making with people on the margins, and really welcoming in strangers and all these different elements of the faith that I respond to, he said.

"I wanted to show him in this way, this counterintuitive way. Because also, we see so many images of white Christians in the south, and they're treated with a lot of caricatures, he continued. So I thought, it's interesting if we can have this character in the film who feels like that at the beginning, but then you really realize that he's a fully fleshed out more complex human being than we were immediately expecting.

Chung said he wants his semi-autobiographical film to impact people in whichever way they need.

Visit the Minari website for more information.
Nation fighting COVID-19 with all its strength: PM Narendra Modi at Mann ki Baat

PM Modi to interact with Chief Ministers amidst in surge in COVID-19 cases

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Mar 16: Prime Minister, Narendra Modi will today hold a virtual meeting with all the Chief Ministers amidst the rising number of COVID-19 cases across the country.

The PM had lasted interacted with the CMs in January before the vaccine was rolled out. The meeting comes in the backdrop of rising cases in some states.

States like Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka have continued to report a surge in case, account for 78.41 per cent of the new cases, the Union Health Ministry said on Monday.

COVID-19 vaccine not exported at expense of Indians: Health Minister Harsh Vardhan

Karnataka CD Scandal: Family claims woman kidnapped, files complaint| Oneindia News

"A rising trajectory of daily new cases is visible in eight states. These are Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi, Gujarat, Karnataka and Haryana," the ministry added.

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CHELSEA, MI  Despite calls from some parents to begin offering more in-person learning by March 22, Chelsea School District Superintendent Julie Helber says she isnt budging in the name of safety.

Chelsea is eligible for $887,000 in funding the state is allocating to districts if they offer 20 hours of in-person instruction to all students by March 22.

With the 20-hour in-person requirement included in House Bill 4048 at the last hour when it was passed in early March, Helber said the district wasnt given enough notice to re-formulate a plan to bring more of its students back to four days a week of in-person classes to meet the 20 hour per week requirement.

The district still intends to follow its original plan of bringing students back for more in-person instruction when it returns from spring break on April 19 as a safety precaution, Helber said, allowing it to monitor any potential increase in COVID-19 cases while giving all staff the opportunity to be fully-vaccinated.

It has left schools rushing to try to jump through hoops just to try to get the money, Helber said. Weve just taken the stance that were going to continue to push forward with our plan because we feel its the safest plan. Theyve given us local control all along and to come back and tie (this funding to the in-person requirement) seems unconscionable to us.

Passed in early March, the state requires that some districts offer at least 20 hours of in-person instruction each week to all students, by no later than March 22, accounting for approximately $136 million in school aid funding.

The wording of the laws in-person requirement is as follows:

By not later than March 22, 2021, excluding days that are part of a previously scheduled period of time for which the district is not in session, the district offers in-person instruction at least 20 hours each school week if the districts school week includes 5 school days or, if the districts school week does not include 5 school days, offers in-person instruction in an amount of hours necessary each school week to provide the instruction it would have provided in 20 hours for a 5-school-day school week to all pupils enrolled in the district, regardless of whether or not all pupils enrolled in the district participate in the in-person instruction offered.

Spokesman Marty Ackley said the Michigan Department of Education has not received any further direction from the state legislature regarding this section of the law.

While much of the funding - $650 million - passed by the legislature in the bill is tied in with school districts Title I population, the money tied to the 20 hours per week in-person requirement primarily impacts wealthier, suburban districts and some rural districts with lower Title I populations, Michigan Education Association Spokesman Doug Pratt said. An estimated funding breakdown by different pots of money from the state has been provided by the MEA.

Its only a subset that the 20-hour requirement applies to, Pratt said. Within that subset, theres all sorts of questions because different districts have been offering in-person in different ways.

For Saline Area Schools, fulfilling this requirement would provide the district with an estimated $2 million, or $389 per student.

Interim Superintendent Steve Laatsch said the district is still awaiting guidance from the Michigan Department of Education for how it should implement 20 hours a week of in-person instruction as it scrambles to offer in-person instruction four days a week at three of its buildings.

While Saline still plans to increase in-person instruction to four days a week for grades 4-12 when it returned from spring break on April 4, Laatsch said it will offer students the option of additional in-person instruction by March 22 to satisfy the 20-hour per week requirement.

Its happening very quickly, Laatsch said. For a district to turn on a dime to make sure they figure that out is challenging.

Ann Arbor Public Schools Spokesman Andrew Cluley said the district has no plans of adjusting its return to the classroom, which starts for some students on March 25, leaving the district ineligible to receive an estimated $2.7 million if it offered in-person classes to all students by March 22. AAPS will receive an estimated $2.3 million in Title I funds via the passing of HB 4048.

Dexter Community Schools, on the other hand, will offer in-person classes to all students beginning next week, helping the district secure $889,000 in state funding.

Superintendent Chris Timmis said the March 22 deadline for offering all students in-person learning 20 hours per week caused the district to move up students return full time at some of the higher grade levels. Dexter added in-person time to grades seven and eight and is moving to offering four days a week of in-person instruction at the high school.

The 20-hour in-person requirement incentivized the district to move its timeline up to offer more face-to-face instruction, given that the local COVID-19 rate was close to its target of 10 cases per 100,000 residents, Timmis said.

We were going to do this in a few weeks anyways so we moved it up a few weeks, Timmis said.

Other districts in the county arent sweating the requirement.

Ypsilanti Community Schools, for example, will receive approximately $3.2 million in federal Title I funds allocated by the passing of HB 4048. Because that amount - $854 per student - is above the minimum $450 per student for schools based on a state formula, the district is not required to meet the 20 hours per week of in-person instruction.

Similarly, Lincoln Consolidated Schools and Whitmore Lake Public Schools arent eligible for additional funding for meeting the 20 hours per week in-person requirement due to the level of Title I funds the districts are receiving through HB 4048.

Potentially losing out on some of the state funding is a concern for Chelsea School District parent Bethany Goehmann, who has requested that the districts Board of Education call a special meeting to discuss returning to the classroom to meet the in-person requirements by March 22.

It stands to reason to adjust this start date and secure hundreds of thousands of dollars in (funding), said Goehmann, who has advocated for Chelsea offering more in-person instruction. This funding is important for our teachers and students.  What doesnt make sense is why CSD is ignoring this funding, not offering any explanations and losing the confidence of the families and communities that support it.

Helber said the district is sticking with the original plan, noting that she feels it is the safest plan for its staff, teachers and students.

Its prioritizing safety over money, she said. We are fortunate to be in a position to be able to do that.

With another $840 million in federal funding for schools still in limbo after Gov. Gretchen Whitmer vetoed the tie-barred House Bill 4049, Pratt said schools need more clarity on how they can offer in-person classes safely while meeting the 20 hour per week requirement to make sure they secure all eligible funding.

Were concerned about rushing through decisions, especially because COVID numbers are moving in the wrong direction, Pratt said. We cant shortchange the health and safety requirements that need to be in place to keep everybody safe.

READ MORE:

Whitmer signs bulk of coronavirus aid package, but vetoes limits on executive authority

Senate Republicans threaten to sue if Whitmer tries to use federal funds tied to vetoed bills

Michigan House clears $4.2B COVID-19 spending plan, ties some funds to limits on health departments authority
RTHK: Biden warns 'killer' Putin over election meddling

President Joe Biden said Russia will "pay a price" for meddling in US elections and he agrees with the assessment that his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin is a "killer."

In an interview with ABC News broadcast on Wednesday, Biden was asked about a declassified US intelligence report that Putin tried to harm his candidacy in the November 2020 election and promote that of Donald Trump.

"He will pay a price," the 78-year-old Biden said. "You'll see shortly."

The US president said he had a "long talk" with Putin after taking office in January and he knows him "relatively well."

"The conversation started off, I said, 'I know you and you know me. If I establish this occurred, then be prepared," Biden said.

Asked if he thought Putin, who has been accused of poisoning political opponents, is a "killer," Biden said, "I do."

The statement marked a stark contrast with Trump's steadfast refusal to say anything negative about the Russian president.

In a 2017 interview with Fox News, Trump was asked about Putin being a "killer." "There are a lot of killers," he replied. "You think our country's so innocent?"

Biden said that despite his thoughts about the Russian leader "there are places where it's in our mutual interest to work together."

"That's why I renewed the START agreement with him," he said of the nuclear treaty. "That occurred while he's doing this, but that's overwhelmingly in the interest of humanity that we diminish the prospect of a nuclear exchange."

The ABC News interviewer George Stephanopoulos also recalled to Biden that he once told Putin he "doesn't have a soul."

"I did say that to him, yes," Biden said. "And his response was 'We understand one another.'

"I wasn't being a wise guy," Biden said. "I was alone with him in his office, that's how it came about.

"Look, the most important thing dealing with foreign leaders in my experience, and I've dealt with an awful lot of them in my career, is just know the other guy," he added.

The speaker of Russia's lower house of parliament denounced Biden on Wednesday for agreeing with the description of Putin as a "killer."

"Biden insulted the citizens of our country with his statement," State Duma speaker Vyacheslav Volodin wrote on his Telegram channel. "Putin is our president. Attacks on him are attacks on our country."

Biden's statement was "hysteria from impotence," he said.

The Kremlin on Wednesday also dismissed the US determination that Russia had targeted election infrastructure during the 2020 US polls.

"It is absolutely groundless and unsubstantiated," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, adding that it was an "excuse" to consider new sanctions on Moscow.

His words were echoed by Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov, who also called the conclusions of the US report "groundless."

Ryabkov told state news agency RIA Novosti that "hostile steps towards Russia" have become "the norm of life" in Washington.

According to US intelligence, Putin and other senior officials "were aware of and probably directed" Russia's influence operation to sway the vote in Trump's favour.

It concluded, however, that the election results were not compromised.

Russia faced allegations of US election meddling in 2016 for launching a social media campaign to boost Trump's candidacy and discredit his opponent Hilary Clinton.

After Biden's victory over Trump, Putin was among the last world leaders to congratulate the newly elected president.

Tensions between the former Cold War rivals have soared in recent months over hacking allegations and Washington's demands that Russia free the jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny.

Earlier in March, the United States announced fresh sanctions over Navalny, who was jailed last month on returning from Germany where he was recovering from exposure to a nerve agent.

Those sanctions added to the series of penalties already imposed on Moscow since Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014. (AFP)

This story has been published on: 2021-03-17. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Few shows whip their fans into a frenzy like Line Of Duty does. The anticipation surrounding series six of the BBC police drama is immense  heightened, perhaps, because of a delayed air date (filming had to be halted thanks to the Covid-19 pandemic).

You see, Ted Hastings famous catchphrases  Mother of God!  Jed Mercurios clever, twist-heavy writing, and the impressively high calibre of guest stars are just a few elements that make Line Of Duty stand out in the world of TV dramas.

And you wont be disappointed by the seven new episodes, which are set 18 months on from series five, and see the return of stars Vicky McClure (DI Kate Fleming), Adrian Dunbar (Supt Ted Hastings) and Martin Compston (DS Steve Arnott), alongside new faces Shalom Brune-Franklin and Kelly Macdonald.

Here, we chat with those stellar cast members to find out more.

TENSE TEASERS

Scot Macdonald is this series guest lead; she plays Detective Chief Inspector Joanne Davidson, a senior investigating officer on an unsolved murder case.

Her suspicious conduct attracts the attention of Anti-Corruption and, as AC-12 uncover deeper and darker information, DCI Davidson could turn out to be their most dangerous adversary yet Meanwhile, we know theres a fourth and final H yet to be identified within the Central Police (thats the codename for a network of corrupt police which has been discovered in the previous series, remember?) The cast members are all very careful not to give away any spoilers, but Nottingham native McClure, 37, says: I think what we can safely say is that were all facing consequences from series five.

Kates always had a slightly tricky personal life, very dedicated to the job  and remains so. Scottish star Compston, who hails from Greenock, gives a little more away about the drama to come.

The relationship between all the characters is probably a bit strained after everything theyve been through  and Steve is struggling personally with his back, reveals the 36-year-old, who we saw lead another BBC drama, The Nest, last year.

Hes getting more and more problems with painkillers. Theres some darker stuff for him because hes kind of got this image in his head that hes sort of like Super Cop and he doesnt want to give that image away, so hes kind of coming to a breaking point.

There are some brilliant scenes as an actor in there so I was really excited reading it, and hopefully did the material justice.

FEELING THE PRESSURE

Discussing what we can expect from her role in the show, Trainspotting and Boardwalk Empire star Macdonald suggests her character is tortured and lonely.

I was extremely nervous to become involved in the project, she says.

The guest lead status does feel pretty momentous. It was a bit like being the new James Bond! So, its very flattering, and also exciting and nerve-racking. Twenty-six-year-old Brune-Franklin, whos appeared in Our Girl, plays diligent DC Chloe Bishop, and was also incredibly scared arriving at the readthrough with the cast.

I remember having a mental breakdown in the toilets before, going to my friend [on the phone]: I dont think I can do this, theyre all in there! The rising star  who was born in the UK, but moved to Australia as a teen  confides the difficult dialogue was the most challenging part of the role, recalling how the police interview scenes were sometimes half-hour-long takes. But theres a huge amount of support on set, she enthuses.

Martin was always going, Youre going to be fine. If you mess up, well just go back and go again. But I was like, I cant be the person to mess up, Im brand new!

EXTRA CHALLENGES

Vicky McClure as DI Kate Fleming, and Kelly Macdonald as DCI Joanne Davidson in Line of Duty.

Brune-Franklin also admits that filming during Covid meant the shoot was a more lonely experience than it would have been normally because the cast werent able to socialise together as much.

And asked how she has found life in lockdown, This Is England star McClure says it has been what its been for everybody  scary and difficult. Youve just got to be careful of how much news you watch.

Compston, meanwhile, reflects on what was heartbreaking about returning to film Line Of Duty in Belfast, after the first lockdown last spring.

Theres a wee lovely restaurant below the place we used to stay and you can see a lovely couple who ran the place was packing up, shutting down, he says.

And its the same back home in Greenock. Peoples livelihoods have been decimated by this, and theyre gonna be living with repercussions.

So, it really made you appreciate the fact that we can get back to work, and you dont take it for granted.

BEHIND THE SCENES

Many of us have turned to entertaining posts and videos on social media to cheer us up during the pandemic, and for Line Of Duty fans, one in particular may come to mind.

Last October, McClure posted a clip on Twitter of her, Compston, and Dunbar performing a TikTok dance, and it quickly went viral.

This is Vicky and her evil sense of humour; she ambushes you, quips Northern Irish star Dunbar, 62, whose breakout role came in 1993 when he starred in Bafta-nominated film Hear My Song.

She goes, Right, weve all got to dance and you go, What are you talking about? And she goes, Just dance to it! The next thing you know a million people have watched it.

A lot of the things that Vicky asks you to do is for charity and stuff like that, so you naturally go, Yeah, this is obviously for some kind of worthy cause, I dont mind making an idiot of myself That was for a worthy cause! We were going through a rough time as a country and I just wanted to make people smile and I knew if I got you two on a TikTok it would do just that, McClure chimes in, laughing.

Plus, she notes, when you are on set and it is quite wordy and theres a lot going on and its quite stressful, messing about and being a bit silly with co-stars is whats got to happen.

I dont know if I could do a job without being able to do that. And who knows what other funny videos from the Line Of Duty set could be shared online next We spent days perfecting an AC-12 Christmas song which we never got round to releasing, teases Compston. I thought it was pretty good in the end!

Line Of Duty returns to BBC One on Sunday, March 21
BELGRADE  Stained for years by its brutal role in the horrific Balkan conflicts of the 1990s, Serbia is now basking in the glow of success in a good war: the battle to get its people vaccinated.

Serbia has raced ahead of the far richer and usually better-organized countries in Europe to offer all adult citizens not only free inoculations but a smorgasbord of five different vaccines to choose from.

By contrast, the European Union has stumbled badly in providing shots, with a disjointed procurement and distribution strategy that bet big on the AstraZeneca vaccine. That strategy hit a roadblock this week after key members of the bloc, including Germany and France, suspended inoculations with the vaccine over concerns it might increase the risk of blood clots, compounding delivery problems that stemmed from a production shortfall the company announced in January.

Serbias unusual surfeit of vaccines has been a public relations triumph for the increasingly authoritarian government of President Aleksandar Vucic. It has burnished his own as well as his countrys image, weakened his already beleaguered opponents and added a new twist to the complex geopolitics of vaccines.
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Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism.
[March 17, 2021] JT INVESTOR NOTICE: ROSEN, GLOBAL INVESTOR COUNSEL, Encourages Jianpu Technology Inc. Investors with Large Losses to Secure Counsel Before Important Deadline - JT

WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of the securities of Jianpu Technology Inc. (NYSE: JT) between May 29, 2018 and February 16, 2021, inclusive (the "Class Period"), of the important April 19, 2021 lead plaintiff deadline. SO WHAT: If you purchased Jianpu securities during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement. WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the Jianpu class action, go to http://www.rosenlegal.com/cases-register-2033.html or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email pkim@rosenlegal.com or cases@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than April 19, 2021. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation. WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience or resources. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Cass Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 3 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020 founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.



DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, defendants throughout the Class Period made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) certain of Jianpu's transactions carried out by the Credit Card Recommendation Business Unit involved undisclosed relationships or lacked business substance; (2) as a result, Jianpu's revenue and costs and expenses for fiscal 2018 and 2019 were overstated; (3) there were material weaknesses in Jianpu's internal control over financial reporting; (4) as a result of the foregoing, Jianpu's fiscal 2018 Form 20-F was reasonably likely to be restated; and (5) as a result, Jianpu's public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages. To join the Jianpu class action, go to http://www.rosenlegal.com/cases-register-2033.html or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email pkim@rosenlegal.com or cases@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action.

No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor's ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff. Follow us for updates on LinkedIn (News - Alert) : https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter (News - Alert) : https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook (News - Alert) : https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/. Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210317005866/en/

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Doan Van Hieu poses for a picture in his school uniform. Photo courtesy of Hieu.

Doan Van Hieu of the Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City has become the first Vietnamese to win a medal at the International Microelectronics Olympiad of Armenia.

The 21-year-old computer engineering student beat hundreds of international contestants to win a bronze medal, his university announced on Tuesday.

The contest, which attracted 370 contestants from Armenia, Argentina, Brazil, Egypt, Peru, Russia, Serbia, UAE, Ukraine, and Vietnam, was forced online and delayed from December due to the Covid-19 outbreak.

"I was very happy to hear the result. The first people I called were my parents living in rural Binh Dinh Province," he said.

Hieu first knew about AMO more than a year ago and found it very interesting. He spent a year learning about microelectronics, including digital circuits, theory designs and object-oriented programming.

Last September he took a national competition and beat 110 other candidates to the right to represent Vietnam in the global event, where candidates got three hours to answer 18 questions.

He said the hardest were questions related to integrated circuit design, which he has not learned in college yet.

"Besides the correct answer, candidates also needed to provide scientific and reasonable solutions to the jury."

He got 12 questions right.

The annual contest for engineers and technology students under 30 is organized by Synopsys, which specializes in semiconductor design software.

A Serbian student won the first prize while second prize went to Armenia. Hieu shared the third prize with two others from Armenia and Brazil.
New Delhi, March 17 : Adar Poonawalla, CEO, Serum Institute of India (SII) has said that vaccine nationalism in countries, including the US and India is likely to derail efforts to deliver 2 billion doses to poorer and middle-income nations.

In an interview with a global news wire, Poonawalla said countries are holding tight to their supplies and restricting access to materials needed to make more.

Indian officials have also requested more vaccines than initially expected from the company, Poonawalla was quoted as saying.

"We had to dedicate a lot of our capacity, which was not originally planned for India," he said. "We're trying to balance it out as much as possible, but again for the first few months we have been directed to prioritise supplies to India and certain other countries that have a high disease burden." The company is responsible for providing more than half of the shots used so far in the WHO-backed Covax program that aims to provide equitable vaccine access across the world.

Poonawalla said it will take two to three months for shipments to Covax to really pick up, and reaching the 2021 target of 2 billion doses will be challenging, he said, predicting it will "spill over by a few months".

In an earlier tweet in February, Poonwalla had said SII has been asked to prioritise the huge needs of India and had asked "countries and governments" to be patient.

"Dear countries & governments, as you await #COVISHIELD supplies, I humbly request you to please be patient, @SerumInstIndia has been directed to prioritise the huge needs of India and along with that balance the needs of the rest of the world. We are trying our best," he said in the tweet.

He had also assured Canada of vaccine delivery. "Dear Hon'ble PM @JustinTrudeau, I thank you for your warm words towards India and it's vaccine industry. As we await regulatory approvals from Canada, I assure you, @SerumInstIndia will fly out #COVISHIELD to Canada in less than a month; I'm on it!"

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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Tripadvisor has revealed the trending destinations for Britons for post-lockdown trips - and domestically Portree on the Isle of Skye is No1 followed by Newquay in Cornwall, while top internationally is Soufriere, St Lucia, with Tulum in Mexico second.

Meanwhile, traditional big-ticket destinations Barcelona, New York, Rome, Venice and Amsterdam are the top five slowest-growing destinations.

Tripadvisor drew up two top 10 tables - one for domestic destinations and another for international spots - based on year-on-year increases in search volumes.

Tripadvisor has revealed the trending destinations for Britons for post-lockdown trips - and domestically Portree, pictured, on the Isle of Skye is No1

The fastest-growing international destination search-wise for Britons on Tripadvisor is Soufriere, pictured, on the Caribbean island of St Lucia

WHERE BRITONS MOST WANT TO VISIT BASED ON TRIPADVISOR SEARCHES - THE TOP 10 TABLES The top 10 fastest-growing domestic destinations 1. Portree, Isle of Skye 2. Newquay, Cornwall 3. Windermere, Cumbria 4. Bowness-on-Windermere, Cumbria 5. Torquay, Devon 6. Penrith, Cumbria 7. Inverness, Scottish Highlands 8. Weymouth, Dorset 9. Scarborough, North Yorkshire 10. Eastbourne, East Sussex The top 10 fastest-growing international destinations 1. Soufriere, St Lucia 2. Tulum, Mexico 3. Dubai, UAE 4. Cancun, Mexico 5. Punta Cana, Dominican Republic 6. Playa del Carmen, Mexico 7. Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt 8. Belek, Turkey 9. Hurghada, Egypt 10. Abu Dhabi, UAE Source: Tripadvisor Advertisement

The rest of the domestic table comprises Windermere (third); Bowness-on-Windermere (fourth); Torquay (fifth); Penrith, Cumbria (sixth); Inverness (seventh); Weymouth (eighth); Scarborough (ninth) and Eastbourne (10th).

Rounding off the top 10 in the international table are Dubai (third); Cancun, Mexico (fourth); Punta Cana, Dominican Republic (fifth); Playa del Carmen, Mexico (sixth); Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt (seventh); Belek, Turkey (eighth); Hurghada, Egypt (ninth) and Abu Dhabi (10th).

Separately, Tripadvisor carried out a worldwide survey of 2,000 people, which found that one in five (21 per cent) Britons are planning a trip between now and May 31.

UK Millennials (those born between 1981 and 1996) and those in Gen Z (born between 1997 and 2012) are more confident and eager to return to travel than any other generation - 54 per cent of UK Millennials and Gen Zs surveyed by Tripadvisor are planning a trip this spring, compared to 21 per cent of Britons in total.

Newquay in Cornwall, pictured, is the second-fastest-growing domestic destination in terms of Britons' Tripadvisor searches

Windermere in Cumbria, pictured, is third on the list of the fastest-growing destinations in the UK by search volume

Of those in this age bracket, 40 per cent believe day-to-day life will return to normal within three months compared to 18 per cent in total, with 55 per cent of them also believing they will be better off financially in the next 12 months than today. This compares to 21 per cent of those in the UK across all age groups.

In addition, 39 per cent of UK Millennials and Gen Zs are optimistic the economy will rebound within three months and grow just as strong or stronger than before, compared to 17 per cent of Britons in total.

Meanwhile, almost a third (31 per cent) of Britons surveyed say that they are less likely to take a city break than before the pandemic.

The second-fastest-growing international destination for Britons by Tripadvisor search volume is Tulum in Mexico, pictured

Dubai is the third-fastest-growing international destination for Britons, based on search volumes

But UK Gen-Z travellers are not quite so put-off by the idea of a city break. In fact, over a quarter (28 per cent) say they are now more likely to take this type of trip.

Tripadvisor also revealed that following Boris Johnson's lockdown exit plan announcement on February 22, travellers in the UK searching holidays on its website increased by 97 per cent month-on-month, and 107 per cent month-on-month for UK staycations. This was based on hotel clicks on Tripadvisor on February 28 compared with January 31, 2021.

And while 2020 was the year of the staycation, Tripadvisor says it looks like holidaying close to home is a trend that is set to continue.

Its site data shows that of those who are actively planning a trip, 60 per cent of Britons on Tripadvisor are searching for domestic destinations for travel between now and the end of May compared to 40 per cent searching for international locations.
Iran has begun enriching uranium at its underground Natanz plant using a cascade of advanced centrifuges, the latest breach of a 2015 nuclear deal with world powers.

The Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said on March 17 that two days earlier, Director General Rafael Grossi informed member states that Iran is now using faster IR-4 centrifuges to enrich uranium hexafluoride up to 5 percent purity.

The use of the advanced centrifuges is the latest violation of the nuclear accord, which only allows slower first-generation IR-1 centrifuges for enrichment.

After an explosion at the Natanz nuclear site in July that Iran blamed on sabotage, the country started moving different advanced models of the centrifuge to a below-ground Fuel Enrichment Plant (FEP).

Grossi said Iran plans to install a second cascade of IR-4 centrifuges at the Pilot Fuel Enrichment Plant, but installation has yet to begin.

Since the United States unilaterally withdrew from the nuclear accord in 2018 under former President Donald Trump, Iran has gradually breached restrictions in the deal.

Iran says the breaches can be reversed if the United States returns to the accord or the other remaining signatories -- China, Russia, Germany, France, and Britain -- comply with their commitments and offset U.S. sanctions with economic incentives.

In one of the more serious violations, Iran in February began restricting IAEA inspections of its nuclear facilities, although some access remains.

U.S. President Joe Bidens new administration, which took over from Trump in January, has indicated it is open to possible negotiations on a U.S. return to the agreement, but demands Iran act first to return to its commitment.

Tehran demands the United States return to the deal first and lift sanctions before it scales down its nuclear program.

Based on reporting by AP, dpa, and Reuters
Mary McGaw grew up in a Republican home on the rural prairie of south central Minnesota. But as she moved from her tiny town of Amboy to the nearest city of Mankato to study nursing, her politics migrated too.

McGaw was moved by the plight of underinsured and became concerned about the viability of safety programs. She cast her vote for Democrat Joe Biden in November, and nearly three months later, she is pleased with how hard the new president is fighting for his priorities.

Hes trying to get something done, even though theres pushback from all sides, said the 37-year-old registered nurse, who now works at a Mankato branch of the Mayo Clinic.

McGaws transformation is driving Democrats hopes as they charge into what the party considers its new frontier: small-city America.

As Democrats continue to lose votes in small towns, theyve seen clear gains in regional hubs that dot stretches of rural America. Biden carried roughly 60 counties President Donald Trump won in 2016, many were places anchored by a midsize or small city that is trending Democratic. They include places like Grand Rapids, Michigan; Wilmington, North Carolina; Dayton, Ohio and Mankatos Blue Earth County.

Their similarities are striking: Most include universities or, like Mankato, large medical centers that draw educated and racially diverse newcomers. Their economies are better than average. And in 2020, their voters showed a bipartisan streak  voting for Biden for president and Republicans down-ballot in large numbers.

These voters are in line with Bidens personal brand, said Robert Griffin, research director for the Democracy Fund Voter Study Group, a bipartisan demographic and public opinion team. Hes pegged as a moderate Democrat, rightly. But hes also making sure theres room for moderation in the party.

Biden won Blue Earth County by 4.5 percentage points, about the same percentage Democrat Hillary Clinton lost it by in 2016. In November, voters in the area dumped 30-year Democratic Rep. Collin Peterson, arguably the most conservative Democrat in Congress, but reelected two Democratic state lawmakers.

Interviews with voters around Mankato help make sense of this partisan zigzagging. While there remains robust support for Trump, voters stress that action carries more weight than ideological purity. Even devout Democratic activists who wish the new $1.9 trillion coronavirus aid package  Bidens chief legislative accomplishment so far  contained more arent frustrated.

Sure, I wish it had contained the $15 minimum wage, said Jim Hepworth, the areas Democratic chairman. But we can have that fight another day.

Blue Earth County has long swung back and forth in presidential elections. But the demographic trends are steady in Democrats favor.

The expansion of the Mayo Clinic to Mankato from nearby Rochester in 1996 increased the supply of medical professionals from around the country and the world. Since 2010, health care jobs have increased in the county by roughly 70%. About 40% of Mankato residents have college degrees a key indicator of Democratic voting  compared with 33% nationwide.

Racial diversity has accelerated  another boost for Democrats. Minnesota State University, Mankato, has drawn more international students to its expanded health care programs. And manufacturing and food-processing plants on the citys outskirts have attracted immigrants from North Africa and Latin America.

The transition has not been without tension, but the area has come a long way since Abdi Sabrie, a Somali-American member of the Mankato School Board, arrived in 2009.

Then, his two daughters were the only students of North African descent in their elementary school. Today, 28% of Mankatos enrollment are students of color.

The changes are welcome, but Sabrie gets frustrated.

Sometimes I want Democrats to use their control to the max, regardless of the other side, he said. But this diversity shows me we can bring back the politics of collaboration.

Annual household income in Blue Earth rose by roughly $20,000 over the past decade to nearly $60,000 in February, still below the state average of $71,300. Blue Earth housing, too, has jumped from an average home price of roughly $140,000 to $226,000. Buoyed by health care, unemployment was 3.2% in January, up slightly from 2.6% a year ago. The states was 4.5% in January.

Signs of changes are easy to find.

A decade ago, hijabs were forbidden for Mayo employees. Today, the colored head coverings worn by some Muslim women are common on campus. The nations racial reckoning has played out in a debate over whether to rename Sibley Park, whose namesake is a general who ordered the hangings of 38 Dakota warriors in 1862, the largest mass execution in U.S. history.

From near that solemn spot along the Minnesota River, Mankato grew east to its wooded bluffs. Along the river, brick hulls of grain exchanges still stand but now so does Karshe, an East African tea shop, and the arty Fillin Station coffee house, among used bookstores, spas and brewpubs.

Midway up the slope, Mayos campus sits among the tidy, middle-class homes that made the difference for Biden. In that precinct, Biden netted 500 more votes than Clinton did in 2016, a third of his winning margin in the county.

Fetching her children from school, McGaw says she and her husband, a Spanish-language medical interpreter, felt Biden was more task-oriented and less about himself than Trump. She voted straight-ticket, but groused Peterson had become too conservative for the district.

McGaw said her family has lived modestly during the COVID-19 pandemic. They qualify for $2,800 in household aid, and another $2,800 in child tax credits. McGaw sees others are more needy.

Weve been doing OK, she said. I was never nervous about my job security. In fact, I was always asked to work more. Do we need the money? Honestly, we can do without it.

McGaw isnt necessarily typical. Nationally, 53% of Democrats say they have experienced at least one form of income loss during the pandemic, slightly more than the 43% of Republicans, according to a March poll by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.

A few blocks away, retired office administrator Jaci Lageson said she was pleased with Bidens compromise with Senate moderates who wanted to lower the income threshold for those receiving the checks.

It gets money in the pockets of people who need it to survive, said Lageson, a 67-year-old former Republican who has voted Democratic over the past 20 years. Lagesons 73-year-old husband, Larry, a devoted Trump supporter, called Biden a pawn of Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

The number of counties Biden flipped in November is well short of the 206 Trump flipped from Barack Obama in 2016  proof partisanship has hardened across the U.S. But the Democratic trend in these smaller, well-educated pockets looks sustainable, researcher Griffin said.

Its not surprising to have higher-education areas shifting back to the Democrats, given that educational polarization has increased, he said.

Though Mankato remains among the smaller cities in this class, it has grown by 35% since 2000 to about 44,000.

The growth has turned this sleepy rural college island into a microcosm of Democratic America, mixed with pragmatic sensibility reflected in Elizabeth Van Slyke, a progressive willing to compromise.

Im not so dead set in my ways, the 57-year-old marketing executive said. Some progress in the right direction is better than no progress.
Meetings with Prime Minister Ana Brnabic and government

Focus on post-Covid recovery and greening economy

EBRD set new investment record of 679 million in Serbia in 2020

Marking 20 years of Serbias membership in the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) as well as record investments in 2020, EBRD President Odile Renaud-Basso will pay her first official visit to Serbia on 18 and 19 March in a virtual format for meetings with the government and the private sector.

As travelling and physical meetings continue to be disrupted by the coronavirus pandemic, the EBRD President will leverage digital platforms, which have profoundly reshaped ways of working and international relations over the past year.

During her visit the EBRD President will meet in a joint session the Prime Minister of Serbia Ana Brnabic and Minister of Finance and EBRD Governor, Sinisa Mali. She will also meet Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Mining and Energy, Zorana Mihajlovic.

President Renaud-Basso said: The impact of the EBRDs investments in Serbia over the past 20 years is visible everywhere, from our support for the private sector and small businesses, strengthening the banking sector, investment in road and railway infrastructure, environment and  lately and increasingly  in renewable energy and energy efficiency. I look forward to meeting the Serbian government and our business partners to discuss how we can continue to work together on further modernising, digitalising and greening the Serbian economy to yield an inclusive economic growth and enhance competitiveness.

Focusing on the economy, President Renaud-Basso will also speak with the Governor of the National Bank of Serbia Jorgovanka Tabakovic. She will also meet representatives of the private sector and key banks in Serbia. She will also talk to the EU delegation and international financial institutions in Serbia as well as with civil society organisations.

EBRD investments in Serbia 2020

Addressing urgent needs of the economy and laying the foundations for building back better, the EBRD invested a total of 679 million in Serbia in 2020. The Bank provided 450 million in support to the private sector and small businesses through credit lines, in partnership with commercial banks, reaching hundreds of small businesses. In addition to credit lines, beneficiaries received incentive grants and technical assistance funded by the European Union.

Strengthening infrastructure links in the country and the region, the Bank provided a 85 million loan for the construction of the Nis-Plocnik section of the Peace Highway. The road will connect Nis with Pristina, continue to Tirana and end in Durres on the Adriatic Sea, improving connectivity and facilitating trade in the region.

In addition to road infrastructure, the Bank also supported Serbia to improve its digital infrastructure and financed a project to extend the fibre broadband network reaching 600 schools and pupils in rural areas. The project will help improve the quality of education in less developed regions.
The brains behind a unique riverside pub development in Fremantle have brought new meaning to the terms local watering hole and pop-up bar as they tap into growing local demand for new tourism experiences.

The timber structure for Jetty Bar and Eats, a new project of WA hospitality heavyweight Miles Hulls Dark Horse Hospitality Group, would be erected in just one day  on Thursday  and reflect the Port Citys historic character.

East Street Jetty will transform to new venue Jetty Bar and Eats in just one day. Credit:Fran Rimrod

The raising of the bar at the old East Street Jetty site will begin Thursday at 7am, with the entire venue on track to open in June.

Raising the bar structure in one day will be no mean feat, but once the community sees the timber build sitting on the water, the vision for the bar will come to life, said Craig Peterson, director of venue builder ICS Australia.
The Member of Parliament for North Tongu constituency, Samuel Okudjeto Ablakwa has asked publishers of the 'juju-loving' textbook to render a proper apology to the chiefs and people of the Volta Region.



The publisher of the textbooks, Badu Nkansah Limited has also apologized for their ''offensive description'' of Ewes in the publication saying we sincerely regret this which wont happen again.



Unfortunately, while undergoing the review, a limited quantity of the unpublished draft found its way into the market. We have seen certain snapshots on social media which has generated justified public uproar due to their offensive tone.



Though it is not a deliberate attempt to berate such a huge section of our society, we wish to unreservedly apologize for the slip. Our brand stands for national unity, and we currently employ workers who originate from all parts of the country.



Once again, ours is a brand that values National unity. We apologize to all those affected and we apologize to all Ghanaians that such thing will never happen again, a statement from the publisher read.



Mr. Ablakwa, speaking to this in an interview on Peace FM's morning show 'Kokrokoo' said the apology "has not gone down well...they have to do better. I've spoken to some of the chiefs in the Volta Region and they are not pleased. If you read their apology with all due respect; they seem to be making excuses...it's as if they are insulting our intelligence. Their apology becomes an apology of an apology..."



Listen to him in the video below





Source: Rebecca Addo Tetteh/Peacefmonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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WASHINGTON, D.C. - President Joe Biden will make his first visit to Ohio as president next week as part of a push to promote his $1.9 trillion stimulus package in swing states. U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown told reporters Wednesday that Biden will visit the state early next week to promote the American Rescue Plan.

A White House news release issued later Wednesday said the visit would be Tuesday in Columbus. The date is the anniversary of the Affordable Care Act being signed into law under the Obama-Biden administration. The release said Bidens visit will highlight how the American Rescue Plan will lower health care costs for many American families.

Yes, he will be coming to Ohio, said Brown. Hes been to Ohio dozens of times. Ive ridden in buses with him through eastern Ohio, southern Ohio, all over, and hes coming back again. Hes not been here as president, hes been here as a candidate.

On Tuesday, Biden visited Chester, Pennsylvania and Vice President Kamala Harris met with small business owners in Denver, Colorado as part of what they call a Help is Here tour focusing on how the American Rescue Plan will help families, small businesses, schools and more. Upcoming visits are planned to states like Georgia and Nevada that are deemed critical to helping Democrats maintain control of the U.S. Senate in next years elections.

Brown predicted that in addition to health care, Biden will talk about the child tax credit, earned income tax credit and his work with small businesses during his trip to Ohio.

Bidens White House has indicated it doesnt believe that former President Barack Obamas administration did enough to promote an $800 billion economic rescue plan adopted soon after Obama took office amid a recession. Polls find that that most Americans support the package that Biden signed earlier this month, and the current administration hopes its popularity will help Democrats avoid losing their narrow control of Congress in 2022.

Shots in arms and money in pockets -- thats important, Biden said Monday. The American Rescue Plan is already doing what it was designed to do: make a difference in peoples everyday lives.

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said Tuesday the administrations promotional efforts wont be limited to states that voted for Biden last year. President Donald Trump won Ohio by 8 percentage points in 2016 and 2020, but Obama prevailed in Ohio during the two previous presidential elections.

She described Ohio as one of many states that might be considered a red state that Biden could visit to boost the stimulus package.

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University study deems Jim Jordan ineffective at passing legislation, says other Ohioans get better results

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House votes to expand gun background checks over objections from Ohios Jim Jordan

Senate confirms Rep. Marcia Fudge as President Bidens Housing and Urban Development Secretary

Rep. Jim Jordan climbs aboard Free Britney Spears bandwagon, questions conservatorships

Jim Jordans campaign faces questions over accounting discrepancies that exceed $100K

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President Biden signs executive order to secure U.S. production of semiconductors and other essentials after meeting with Sen. Rob Portman
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-17 18:30:36|Editor: huaxia

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-- Around the time of the spring equinox, a major season for farming in China, farming activities are in full swing across the country, from the north to the south.

-- To complement the use of large agricultural machinery and even drones, Chinese researchers have developed a number of high-tech products to help farmers get better access to agricultural know-how, use intelligent management platforms, and better control pests and plant diseases.

-- China reaped a bumper harvest last year despite the impacts of the COVID-19 epidemic, typhoons, floods and droughts, with an annual grain yield of 669.5 million tonnes. The country has shown the capability to feed its population and withstand threats to grain production.

by Xinhua writers Han Yu, Liu Fangqiang, Sun Xiaoyu and Li Baojie

HEFEI/HARBIN, March 17 (Xinhua) -- Luo Yingdi, 50, has been busy spraying pesticide in wheat fields for over a month, covering about 67 hectares of land per day with the help of his agricultural spraying tractors.

"I have six agricultural sprayers and two drones to spray pesticide and herbicide. Seven employees from my agricultural service company do the spraying work," said Luo, who has been farming for 21 years in Yingshang County, east China's Anhui Province. Besides looking after his own 53 hectares of farmland, he also provides the spraying service to other farmers.

Tractors spray pesticide in the wheat fields in Wanggang Town, Yingshang County of east China's Anhui Province, March 6, 2021. (Xinhua/Huang Bohan)

The spring equinox, or Chunfen in Chinese, the fourth solar term in the Chinese lunar calendar, falls on March 20 this year. After the spring equinox, the days get longer, the weather becomes warmer, and plants start to grow fast.

Around the time of the spring equinox, a major season for farming in China, farming activities are in full swing across the country, from the north to the south.

In northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Li Fuqiang, 38, has stored enough fertilizers and soybean seeds for the upcoming spring plowing. Li, who was awarded the title of "Soybean Master" in the province in 2018 for planting quality soybeans, plans to plant 3,333 hectares of non-GMO quality soybean this year.

Heilongjiang is China's largest soybean-producing region, accounting for about half of the country's total soybean acreage. The soybean acreage in the province exceeded 4.66 million hectares in 2020 and will remain stable this year, according to the provincial department of agriculture and rural affairs.

UPGRADING AGRICULTURE

To complement the use of large agricultural machinery and even drones, Chinese researchers have developed a number of high-tech products to help farmers get better access to agricultural know-how, use intelligent management platforms, and better control pests and plant diseases.

"I learned how to make better use of fertilizers and herbicides by watching an agricultural livestreaming show. I'm confident that I'll have a good harvest this year," said Jiang Deying from Baoqing County of Heilongjiang Province.

On Hongwei Farm of Heilongjiang Province, the use of an intelligent agriculture platform supported by a monitoring system can increase the rice yield by about 5 percent while also reducing the use of fertilizers by about 7 percent, said He Peixiong, director of the farm's agriculture department.

A farmer uses a drone to spray pesticide in the fields in Huagang Town, Feixi County of Hefei, east China's Anhui Province, Feb. 23, 2021. (Xinhua/Liu Junxi)

In Changfeng County of Anhui Province, a group of researchers rummaged through every inch of a wheat field, holding a selfie stick-like device upside down to look for pests.

The early identification and control of pests and plant diseases is critical to guaranteeing crop growth. Agricultural scientists developed the pest recognition tool to help farmers handle pests more precisely.

A camera is installed on one end of the device to capture images of pests and plants' growing conditions. There are also sensors that record the real-time temperature and moisture of the field. All the data is uploaded to and processed in the background server, so as to evaluate the potential damage from pests and thus offer related solutions to farmers.

"We developed pest-recognition software to analyze pictures the device takes in the fields and then tell farmers what kinds of pests they have to deal with," said Du Jianming, a researcher of the Institute of Intelligent Machines, Chinese Academy of Sciences.

After nine years of data collection, over 1 million pictures of various pests and crop diseases have been captured. The tool can be applied in different crop fields including wheat, rice, corn and soybean, with an accuracy rate of up to 85 percent. So far, it has been adopted in more than 10 provinces, according to the institute.

ENSURING FOOD SECURITY

In a bid to identify the ideal rice varieties for Heilongjiang, a team headed by Nie Shoujun, from the Heilongjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, conducted a series of experiments. After years of efforts, a number of high-quality varieties featuring high yields and better resistance to disease and lodging have been cultivated.

"Cultivating high-quality varieties with independent intellectual property can help enhance China's agricultural competitiveness, so as to ensure the country's food security," said Nie.

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to ravage the world, many countries have restricted grain exports, putting the global food supply chain at great risk. The number of people suffering from hunger is on the rise.

China reaped a bumper harvest last year despite the impacts of the COVID-19 epidemic, typhoons, floods and droughts, with an annual grain yield of 669.5 million tonnes. The country has shown the capability to feed its population and withstand threats to grain production.

A staff member of an eco-agriculture cooperative checks the automotive driving apparatus on a tractor in Jiaoyi Village, Taishan City of south China's Guangdong Province, March 12, 2021. (Xinhua/Deng Hua)

This year marks the beginning of China's 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025). China's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs has urged all provincial-level regions to either maintain or increase their crop planting area to make sure the country's total grain output stays above 650 million tonnes a year.

Heilongjiang Province plans to add 100,000 hectares of crop acreage this year, according to the provincial department of agriculture and rural affairs.

China has secured a bumper harvest for 17 years in a row, with its annual grain output exceeding 650 million tonnes for six consecutive years, boosting the country's confidence in fighting the COVID-19 epidemic and developing the economy, said Li Guoxiang with the Rural Development Institute of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

By meeting its domestic grain demand and reducing grain imports while moderately increasing the exports of wheat and rice, China is making a contribution to the world in terms of reducing global food security risks, Li said.

(Xinhua reporters Li Jianping, Wang Junbao, Wang Jian and Chen Nuo contributed to the story; Video reporters: Wang Junbao, Wang Jian, Sun Xiaoyu, He Shan, Liu Fangqiang; Video editors: Zhang Qiru, Zhang Yuhong)
If you'd like to leave a comment (or a tip or a question) about this story with the editors, please email us

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Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-18 02:18:14|Editor: huaxia

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JERUSALEM, March 17 (Xinhua) -- Israel's Ministry of Health reported 1,219 new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, raising the tally of confirmed cases in the country to 823,726.

The COVID-19 death toll in Israel reached 6,053 with six new fatalities, while the number of patients in serious condition decreased from 586 to 574, out of 908 hospitalized patients.

The total recoveries in Israel rose to 793,244, with 3,108 newly recovered cases, while the number of active cases decreased to 24,429.

The number of people vaccinated against COVID-19 in Israel reached 5.14 million, or 55.2 percent of its total population, since the vaccination campaign began on Dec. 20, 2020.

Earlier on Wednesday, Israel's High Court of Justice overturned a government regulation that limits the number of Israelis who could return to Israel to 3,000 a day due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The court ruled that the government's decision was neither proportionate nor constitutional, and it would not be possible to extend the limitation's validity after its expiration on Saturday. Enditem
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

The Abel Prize, which honours achievements in mathematics, was awarded Wednesday to Hungarian Laszlo Lovasz and Israeli Avi Wigderson for their contributions to computer security, the Norwegian Academy of Science said.

The pair were honoured "for their foundational contributions to theoretical computer science and discrete mathematics, and their leading role in shaping them into central fields of modern mathematics," the jury said.

Lovasz, 73, who is affiliated with the Alfred-Renyi Institute of Mathematics and Eotvos Lorand University in Budapest, is credited with establishing a connection between discrete mathematics, such as the theory of networks, and computer science.

Together with Dutch brothers Arjen and Hendrik Lenstra, Lovasz developed the LLL algorithm, which has applications in areas such as number theory, cryptography and mobile computing.

The algorithm serves as the basis for the only encryption systems "that can withstand an attack by a quantum computer," the academy noted.

Avi Wigderson, 64, a researcher at the Institute for Advanced Study, has widened and deepened the understanding of "complexity theory" meanwhile.

His research has led to advances in internet cryptography and serves as the basis for the technology powering crypto-currencies such as bitcoin.

"Thanks to the leadership of these two, discrete mathematics and the relatively young field of theoretical computer science are now established as central areas of modern mathematics," Hans Munthe-Kaas, chair of the Abel Committee, said in a statement.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic it is not yet known when the prizenamed after Norwegian mathematician Niels Henrik Abelof 7.5 million Norwegian kroner ($882,000, 741,000 euros) will be formally awarded.

Explore further Russia's Yakov Sinai wins Abel mathematics prize

 2021 AFP
When San-San Yu drove to Noodle Tree to show her support for the restaurant that had been tagged by anti-Asian hate speech, she found a collection of heart-shaped cutouts with messages of encouragement.

Our unity is our strength & diversity is our power, read one of cutouts taped on the glass doors. Others were on the windows.

Our window was filled with hate, but today its full of love and support, owner Mike Nguyen said.

Since news that the Northwest Side restaurant had been vandalized early Sunday, Nguyen has been inundated with outpourings of support such as the heart-shaped cutouts and hundreds of calls and emails locally and from out of state. Supporters also have purchased more than $3,000 worth of gift cards.

Nguyen said hes trying to respond to all the calls and emails, but theres so many he wanted people to know that he and his staff may not be able to answer in a timely manner.

On ExpressNews.com: San Antonio restaurant vandalized with anti-Asian hate speech

People also are indicating they plan to show their support by coming into the restaurant, which has Nguyen sounding a note of caution.

Everybody wants to support us, but we want to make it safe, Nguyen said.

He encourages everyone who wants to dine in to make reservations online at www.noodletreetx.com to help with crowd control.

Nguyen said they will serve people until supplies run out, which happened quickly Sunday.

Others who cant come in are buying gift cards to show their support.

I want them (the cards) to go back into the community and help as well. I want to share all love and support I have and put it back into this community.

He said anyone who has purchased a gift card but is not planning on using it can send the gift card code to noodletreetx@gmail.com to be used by those able to dine in.

On ExpressNews.com: Judge stops planned 1,500-acre quarry near Bracken Bat Cave

Yu, who is half Chinese, said the show of support almost atones for the hate-fueled messages left over the weekend.

For him to want people to wear a mask in his establishment, its just so little to ask for him to get that response, she said.

Sgt. Matthew Brown said Tuesday that investigators are pursuing the case as a hate crime.

Currently, its considered a class A misdemeanor because of the amount attached to the damages  $750. But if it becomes a hate crime, it would become a felony, he said.

San Antonio Police Chief William McManus said detectives are trying to find out as much information as they can about the perpetrators.

Thats nothing but a bigoted, cowardly move to do something like that. Its just not San Antonio by any means, McManus said. I dont understand why someone would write something like that, or any kind of racially charged thing anywhere.

The chief said Nguyen should continue doing business and call 911 if any problems occur.

The graffiti, some of which read No Masks, appeared to be a response to his speaking out on CNN last week against Gov. Greg Abbotts lifting of the mask mandate.

The days after his first appearance on cable news were filled with social media comments and messages firing back at Nguyen for his decision to continue requiring masks at his restaurant.

On ExpressNews.com: The victim of San Antonio's fatal IHOP shooting has been identified as 44-year-old Kevin Clifton

Nguyen is at higher risk for contracting COVID-19 as a result of his battle with lymphoma.

He said he has kept the operating capacity of his restaurant at 60 and 75 percent out of safety concerns for his co-workers, customers and himself since his restaurant opened last year. Hes also limited the hours.

The restaurant is open from noon to 3 p.m. and then 4:30 to 9 p.m. Thursday through Saturday. On Sunday, the restaurant is open from noon to 8 p.m.

None of us have gotten sick, Nguyen said during an interview Sunday.

On Monday, Nguyen, who is half Vietnamese and half French, appeared on CNN to speak out once more.

He said he was concerned for his safety and that he was still receiving threats online.

But Im not going to back down, Im not going to be intimidated, youre not going to scare me.

The hate crime against Asian Americans has spiked the past year, he told CNN. I want  that we speak out before and put awareness to it so that it stops before it gets to a deadly point.
For those who closely follow dairy product pricing, monitoring CME movement, and particularly the block and barrel cheese prices, is a critical component of their sales planning. Specifically, CME markets set the benchmark for dairy product pricing and provide a floor for the market. During the March 3 Hoards Dairyman DairyLivestream, commentators discussed how they view the CME and its influence on prices.

I will say that we have to be careful with this because when were pricing this milk, its not the price for milk that comes down from the federal orders. Its the minimum price for milk, the University of Wisconsin-Madisons Mark Stephenson said of CME prices.

When we talk about the CME market, that is generally a bit of an oops, elaborated Kurt Epprecht, vice president of Great Lakes Cheese. Either you have too much product, you want to sell it, and no one wanted to buy it so its the market of last resort. Or if you need it, youve called around, youve asked for cheese, there isnt any readily available, and you put in a buy order.

Dont confuse its purpose

While the CME does provide a sales avenue for those marketing dairy products, that is not its primary purpose. As Stephenson described it during the webcast, the CME is meant to set a floor and provide buyers with a benchmark.

If you think that price isnt right, either too high or too low, you can challenge it, he detailed. If you think its too high, lets bring some cheese to the marketplace and try to sell it. If you think its too low, lets try to buy some cheese and move the price around. That provides a method for everyone to use that price as a major benchmark.

In my opinion, the single most important benchmark to our dairy industry in regard to whats going on, on our end is the price on the CME for cheese, he continued.

When the CME is properly viewed through this lens, it allows markets room to maneuver and keep product moving.

You cant have a minimum price thats higher than a market clearing level, Stephenson said. If its a little bit below that, premiums can step in to fill in the gap. You have to give the markets a little bit of room to maneuver because no one is smart enough to set the price for milk.

An ongoing series of events

The next broadcast of DairyLivestream will be on Wednesday, March 24 at 11 a.m. CST. Each episode is designed for panelists to answer over 30 minutes of audience questions. If you havent joined a DairyLivestream broadcast yet, register here. Registering once registers you for all future events.

To comment, email your remarks to intel@hoards.com.

(c) Hoard's Dairyman Intel 2021

March 11, 2021
Funeral services firm Dignity fell to a loss in 2020 even though the coronavirus pandemic caused the number of UK deaths to climb to their highest levels since World War One.

The group said deaths rose by 79,000 to 663,000 in the country last year, but due to funeral attendance restrictions and the costs of personal protective equipment and temporary staff expenditure, it plunged to a 19.1million loss.

It also made over 400 less revenue from each funeral as the government limited the number of mourners allowed at English funerals to a maximum of 30 people, and some local authorities temporarily banned all funeral ceremonies.

Dignity made a loss despite deaths rising by 79,000 to 663,000 in the UK last year

Dignity's total revenues grew by only 5 per cent to 357.5million as a result, whilst it declared it will not provide a dividend 'until the business has returned to a sustainable and stable financial footing.'

The Sutton Coldfield-based company added that its operations suffered significant stress despite typically keeping over a fifth of mortuary capacity spare at any one time.

It said the death toll went from a 1 per cent year-on-year increase in the first quarter before jumping by a massive 47 per cent between April and June when the first wave of the coronavirus was at its peak.

Death rates then dropped by 2 per cent over the summer as pubs and bars were reopened, and the country experienced a boom in staycations, but they then leapt by 8 per cent in the final quarter.

Further troubles arose from a Competition & Markets Authority (CMA) investigation into the funeral industry, which concluded that funerals were costing consumers too much and made a series of recommendations.

It said funeral directors and crematorium operators should make prices more transparent, inform customers about 'any relevant' business interests, and be banned from paying hospitals and care homes to refer people to certain directors, among other measures.

A Competition & Markets Authority (CMA) investigation into the funeral industry, which concluded in December, said that funerals were costing consumers too much

Dignity said it looked forward to 'working with the regulator and the Government to ensure the package of remedies work for consumers and are implemented effectively across the market.'

The group has been leading a 'root and branch' review of the firm as part of a turnaround, which it said already identified 8million in cost savings in 2020 alone, and is set to conclude in the second quarter.

Announcing Dignity's results, Mr Whiley, who is also the chairman of Mothercare, said: 'During 2020, we have continued to be focused and resilient in the light of many changes, however the business has remained robust.'

Dignity has been leading a 'root and branch' review of the firm as part of a turnaround

He added: 'Whilst Covid-19 featured heavily in our day-to-day activities into the first quarter of 2021, we did not lose sight of the numerous project work-streams initiated in the last year, aimed at affording the Board the time and collateral necessary to allow the business to self-heal, without recourse to dilutive funding initiatives.

'In a unique and challenging year, it is the dedication of our staff that has enabled continued delivery of our services, supported by a refreshed strategy and management team.'

Mr Whiley survived an attempted ousting last week by the company's biggest shareholder Phoenix Asset Management Partners, which has asked for a vote to be tabled on the future of the chairmanship and proposed its own founder and chief investment officer Gary Channon to replace him.

Shares in Dignity ended trading 6.4 per cent higher today at 6.46.
Dozens gathered for a protest staged on Dublins OConnell Street today in wake of the death of Sarah Everard.

Ms Everard was abducted and murdered as she walked home in London earlier this month.

The protest, organised by socialist feminist group ROSA and former TD Ruth Coppinger, was held as part of the Reclaim the Streets rally on the capitals main throughfare and passed off peacefully.

Protesters demanded that more is done to prevent violence against women, with some chanting: Reclaim the streets, not one more, we are 97pc, what do we want to end gender violence, when do we want it now.

Ms Coppinger said: "The political establishment doesn't care and the police know themselves that this violence has increased."

She also revealed that she had her name taken by gardai for breaking travel restrictions.

Gardai confirmed that they issued 14 fines for breaches of the Health Act.

Expand Close A woman in tears holds up a sign during speeches at a protest in Dublin to highlight violence against women in the wake of the murder of Sarah Everard. / Facebook

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Whatsapp A woman in tears holds up a sign during speeches at a protest in Dublin to highlight violence against women in the wake of the murder of Sarah Everard.

A Garda spokesperson said; Following continued non-compliance with Public Health Regulations and failing to comply with directions from An Garda Siochana, Gardai had exhausted the first 3Es and had to intervene.

Officers have identified the organisers of this event and all breaches of the public health regulations.

A file will be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.

The spokesperson added: The Covid-19 Pandemic remains a public health crisis and An Garda Siochana continues to appeal to all citizens to demonstrate personal and social responsibility to comply with Public Health Guidelines and Regulations in order to continue to save lives.

It comes after some protests that had taken place to remember Ms Everard, a 33-year-old marketing executive, across the UK over the weekend were broken up by police.

Ms Everard was murdered earlier this month after being reported missing when she didn't return home on March 3.

Expand Close Ayrainna Lamcellari, four, holds a placard during a protest over violence against women (Niall Carson/PA) / Facebook

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She had been walking home from her friend's house in Clapham, London, at the time of her disappearance. Her remains were discovered last week.

Ms Everard's death has prompted an outpouring of grief from the public in the UK, Ireland and across the world, with many women and girls sharing stories online of experiencing violence by men.

Today, Wayne Couzens, a 48-year-old police officer, made his first appearance at the Central Criminal Court by video link from Belmarsh top security prison after being charged with her murder.

The defendant appeared to have a wound on his forehead and spoke only to confirm his name and date of birth.

Members of Ms Everard's family joined the hearing in court 10 of the Old Bailey by video link, according to court officials.

Prosecutor Tom Little said the circumstances of the case had led to a "very significant and wide-ranging investigation".

Expand Close Demonstrators during a protest in Dublin organised in remembrance of murdered Sarah Everard and in protest of continued violence against women (Niall Carson/PA) / Facebook

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He told the court that it had attracted an "almost unprecedented media and public attention".

Judge Mark Lucraft set a provisional Old Bailey trial for 25 October with a plea hearing on 9 July.

Couzens, who sat with his head bowed throughout the hearing, was remanded into custody.
NORMAN TOWNSHIP, MI  Police are investigating a homicide that happened in Northern Michigan, Michigan State Police said in a news release.

Michigan State Police Cadillac Post is investigating the murder of a 56-year-old Wellston man who was found deceased in his home in Manistee County, police said.

A suspect is in custody, police said. There is no danger to the public.

The name of the victim has not been released pending notification of his family. Police plan to release more information as it becomes available.

READ MORE:

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Two arrested after standoff with Michigan State Police in U.P.

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Gas station clerk, 19, to stand trial for murder of man allegedly breaking into coin game

Pedestrian struck by Grand Rapids police patrol car
Kolkata, March 17 : Myanmar's government-appointed body representing Buddhist monks has opposed the bloody crackdown by the military junta in the country that has left more than 200 dead.

The draft statement by the State Sangha Mahanayaka Committee called upon the military junta to 'immediately halt' firing on demonstrators.

"Killing peaceful protesters must stop," the statement said.

The final draft will be released by the Sangha Maha Nayaka committee on Thursday after it is discussed with the religious affairs minister, a monk close to the government-appointed organisation told IANS.

When that happens, it might be the most forthright condemnation of the military's bloody crackdown on pro-democracy protests since the February 1 military takeover.

Buddhist monks, often the most revered in Myanmar and whose numbers run in thousands, have often led pro-democracy movements in the country.

They were at the forefront of a 2007 "Saffron Revolution" against military rule, that paved the way for the 2008 military drafted Constitution and subsequent elections in the country.

The military tried to swing the Buddhist clergy their way by secretly funding radical groups such as Ashin Wirathu's Ma Ba Tha and playing on the Bamar Buddhist identity during the 2017 turmoil in Rakhine state when Rohingya Muslim rebels attacked more than twenty police stations.

Myanmar has been plunged into chaos since the military ousted Aung San Suu Kyi's elected government on Feb. 1, detaining her and members of her party.

That has provoked substantial global outrage.

Ousted members of parliament, mostly from Suu Kyi's NLD party, are working for a united stand against the military takeover in the ethnically diverse country.

The NLD has promised a comprehensive national peace process, saying the designation of terrorist would be lifted from all autonomy-seeking insurgents fighting for democracy.

More than 200 protesters have been killed as security forces try to crush a wave of demonstrations, the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners activist group says.

Protesters in Yangon confronted security forces over a sand-bag barricade on one street in Yangon.

Police opened intermittent fire on Wednesday and one man appeared to get shot in the head, according to footage on social media.
COVID-19 shut down poetry presentations at the East Bank Regional Library, but writers kept on writing. Below are five poets who had their books of poetry published during quarantine, in time for National Poetry Month in April.

"Color All Maps New," by Jack Bedell

A grandmother's beignet recipe passed on to a granddaughter, a lost lake restored by heavy rain, a dead father's wisdom returned in dreams, The poems in "Color All Maps New" offer revision and restoration, light and hope. In turns personal, ecological, cultural and fantastic, these poems promise new maps to navigate damaged territories. Bedell is professor of English and coordinator of creative writing at Southeastern Louisiana University, where he edits Louisiana Literature and directs the Louisiana Literature Press. Bedell served as Louisiana Poet Laureate from 2017-2019.

"Mothers of Ireland," by Julie Kane

Kane returns to her Boston Irish-Catholic roots in this collection about mothers and daughters shaped by the forces of Irish history and Irish-American culture. "Mothers of Ireland" confronts how the legacy of personal trauma gets passed down to subsequent generations, with a focus on women from her family history and their paths of pain and endurance. The great-grandchild of eight Irish immigrants, Kane is a native of Boston but a longtime resident of Louisiana. Her previous poetry collections include "Jazz Funeral" and "Rhythm & Booze." A past National Poetry Series winner, Fulbright scholar and Louisiana poet laureate, she teaches in the MFA program at Western Colorado University.

"Freedom Knows My Name," by Kelly Harris-DeBerry

Harris believes that the poets task is to "turn words into song, utter incantations that heal, inspire, be more than ordinary talk. Whether she is on the page or in readers ears, Harris-DeBerrys poetry is a bounty of culture, womanhood, home and possibility. Her poetry honors the legacies of Southern migration, the Midwest and Blackness. Harris-DeBerry received her MFA in creative writing from Lesley University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. She is a community literary advocate and serves as the New Orleans Poets and Writers literary coordinator.

"Weathering: Poems and Recollections," by David Havird

In this collection, an aging poet greets a phalanx of memories and finds himself amid "an epic transmigration of echoes." At the heart of this collection of poetry and prose are three retrospective essays that narrate the adolescent poet's coming of age through encounters with such eminent elders as James Dickey, who was Havird's early mentor, Robert Lowell and Archibald MacLeish. Havird, a native South Carolinian, graduated from the University of Virginia and taught for 30 years at Centenary College of Louisiana. He lives in Shreveport.

"All the Good Hiding Places," by Ralph Adamo

A native New Orleanian, Adamo creates a reflection on time passed, getting older, and happiness and disappointments. He has published seven collections of poetry. He received a National Endowment for the Arts fellowship in Creative Writing in 2003. In addition to work in general anthologies, his poems have been featured in two recent specialized anthologies, one about rivers and the other about the moon. Recent reviews of his work can be found in "The Hollins Critic," "Rain Taxi" and "Today's Book of Poetry."

Many of these poets have made presentations at our libraries and will do so again in the future. We have all of these books in our collection. Come in and check them out.

COMPUTER CLASSES: A series of computer classes is being offered at the East Bank Regional Library, 4747 W. Napoleon Ave., Metairie. Seating is limited, and online registration is required. Visit the Computer Classes page at www.jplibrary.net/training/ComputerClasses.htm and click East Bank Regional Schedule. Masks must be worn and social distancing is required. Upcoming classes include:

Transitioning to a Career in Tech  2 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. March 24.

 2 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. March 24. Introduction to Microsoft Word 2  2 p.m. to 4 p.m. March 26.

 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. March 26. One on One Slots in Basic Computer Skills  2 p.m. to 3 p.m. March 30.

TAX DOCUMENTS: Have you done your taxes yet? The deadline is near. The library has forms that patrons can download free. The link is available on the librarys website. Forms also are available in the lobby areas of all JPL libraries.

BOOKS BY MAIL: Residents of Jefferson Parish who are unable to leave home because of a temporary or permanent disability can be sent books and other library materials free of charge. An application must be filled out and signed by a physician, nurse or social worker who can verify the disability and that you are unable to leave home. Patrons must mail two forms to the library or have someone drop them off: the Books By Mail application; and the Books By Mail reader profile. Once the library has received the registration materials, patrons will receive a delivery in a mailing pouch. They can use the same prepaid pouch to return the books by giving them to their mail carrier.

LOCAL AUTHOR: "The Nightcrawler King: Memoirs of an Art Museum Curator" is a narrative of Bill Fagalys life told in two parts: first, his childhood experiences and, second, his transformation into an art museum curator and administrator in Louisiana. While growing up in rural Indiana during World War II, Fagaly began his first venture  collecting and selling earthworms to locals  from which he was christened with the title's moniker. He served as curator of African art, contemporary art and self-taught art at the New Orleans Museum of Art, with a stint at assistant director for 20 years.
The Imperial Hotel Tokyo, a historic luxury hotel renowned for hosting international dignitaries as well as the world's rich and famous, will experience a nearly $2 billion reconstruction with a reopening slated for fiscal 2036, Nikkei has learned.

The rebuild will take place toward the end of an urban renewal project for the surrounding Uchisaiwaicho district in the capital led by real estate developer Mitsui Fudosan, in what has been called the biggest post-Olympic redevelopment project in the capital.

Imperial Hotel, the operator of the landmark institution, will make an official announcement later this month. A high-rise annex will be completed as early as fiscal 2030 before the main building is rebuilt. The company has yet to decide whether to continue business at a different site during the reconstruction. The new hotel is expected to maintain the same majestic ambience.

Construction of the main building and the annex tower are expected to cost in excess of 200 billion yen ($1.83 billion).

Founded in 1890, the Imperial Hotel Tokyo is known internationally for its second-generation main building designed by American architect Frank Lloyd Wright, which opened in 1923. It later hosted such notable guests as Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio on their honeymoon as well as Helen Keller.

The current main building is aging, having opened its doors in 1970. The 17-story building with about 570 rooms has a 31-story tower annex, which was finished in 1983 as Japan's first hotel doubling as a commercial building.

The operator wants to enhance the hotel's competitiveness against global luxury giants and seeks to raise room rates after the makeover.
YEREVAN, MARCH 17, ARMENPRESS. Turkeys opposition lawmaker Garo Paylan (HDP) filed a parliamentary inquiry regarding the ongoing construction of shops carried out by the Housing Development Administration of Turkey (TOKI) on an Armenian cemetery in Ulus, Ankara.

Paylan, ethnically Armenian, visited the area to inspect it but was banned from entering the construction site.

The Ankara Branch of the Chamber of Architects previously announced that the excavation was illegally ongoing in an area allocated for the reconstruction of the Provincial Bank, which had been demolished. It also noted that there was an Armenian and Catholic cemetery in the construction site, adding that human bones were found during excavation, Bianet reported. The chamber of architects had called the ongoing construction barbarism.

In his Parliamentary question addressed to Minister of Environment and Urbanization Murat Kurum, Paylan has said that even though the officials from the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations examined the area, concrete is still being poured there.

"In spite of this, the construction is still ongoing and concrete is being poured on the area where the graves are located, Paylan said, according to Bianet. Paylan asked the government to explain why the construction hasnt been stopped yet and whether or not they are aware that TOKI is destroying the cultural assets and urban memory of Ankara.

Editing by Stepan Kocharyan
Texas Ensures Forgiveness of $29 Million in Unpaid Electric Bills After Griddy Files for Bankruptcy

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said on Tuesday that about 24,000 former customers of Griddy Energy LLC will be released from paying $29.1 million in unpaid electric bills incurred during last months winter storm after the power retailer filed for bankruptcy.

Paxton said his office has been negotiating with Griddy after the state filed a lawsuit against the energy company for deceptive advertising. Griddy has since filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy after the state grid operator cut off the companys access to customers for unpaid bills.

The attorney general said that his office ensured that Griddys proposed bankruptcy plan would release all outstanding payment obligations for Texas residents who were unable to pay their energy bills due to the unexpected spike in prices during the storm. He said that his office and Griddy are also engaged good faith talks to also provide relief for Texans who have already paid their bills.

I ensured that Griddys proposed bankruptcy plan takes an important step forward by offering releases to approximately 24,000 former customers who owe $29.1 million in unpaid electric bills. Griddy and my office are engaged in ongoing good faith negotiations to attempt to address additional relief for those Griddy customers who have already paid their storm-related energy bills, Paxton said in a statement.

Paxtons statement is the latest update in the dispute against the power company after hundreds of Texas residents complained about exorbitant bills following the deep freeze in February.

Texass brutal cold snap and frozen infrastructure brought days of power and water shortages for residents across the state. It triggered rolling blackouts across the state leaving more than 4 million Texans without power.

Paxtons office said their lawsuit sought to prevent Griddy from further misrepresenting its energy prices and to recuperate costs for its customers who were billed hundreds of dollars, and in some cases thousands, for a few days of electricity during Texass winter storm.

Griddy misled Texans and signed them up for services which, in a time of crisis, resulted in individual Texans each losing thousands of dollars. As Texans struggled to survive this winter storm, Griddy made the suffering even worse as it debited outrageous amounts each day, Paxton said in a statement at the time.

People wait in line to fill propane tanks in Houston, Texas, on Feb. 17, 2021. (David J. Phillip/AP Photo)

A man walks to his friends home in a neighborhood without electricity as snow covers the BlackHawk neighborhood in Pflugerville, Texas, on Feb. 15, 2021. (Bronte Wittpenn/Austin American-Statesman/USA Today Network via Reuters)

Griddy is a California-based based retail electric service provider that promotes itself as a more affordable alternative to traditional energy providers as it offers wholesale prices. It charges its customers a flat monthly rate of $9.99 and passes the price it purchased electricity onto the resident.

During times of low demand for power, the company is able to pass on savings to the customer. But during times of instability, customers face massive risks from the fluctuations in the market, the lawsuit said.

Paxtons office alleged that Griddy has been persistently downplaying the nature and the extent of these risks.

During the February 2021 winter storm, Griddys customers were charged at egregiously high price levels and the companys auto-billing system left many customer bank accounts overdrawn, many of whom were senior residents.

Griddy had previously told The Epoch Times in a statement that it did not agree with the claims in the lawsuit and planned to defend itself in court.

On Tuesday, Paxtons office said it will now abate the state court lawsuit and Civil Investigative Demand, while it works with Griddy to resolve any ongoing issues.

The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) last month shut Griddys access to the states power network and shifted its 10,000 customers to other utilities.

Griddy said on Monday it is seeking court authority to release its former customers from outstanding bills.

Prior to Winter Storm Uri, Griddy was a thriving business  The actions of ERCOT destroyed our business and caused financial harm to our customers, Griddy Chief Executive Officer Michael Fallquist said in a statement.

High gas and power bills from the Texas freeze have already forced two other firms to seek bankruptcy protectionJust Energy Group Inc. and Brazos Electric Power Cooperative Inc.

Reuters contributed to this report.
[March 17, 2021] Hyundai Brings Complimentary, Fast Charging to Kona and Ioniq with Electrify America Network

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- 2021 Kona Electric and Ioniq Electric owners can access 250 kWh of complimentary charging (approximately 1,000 miles of EPA estimated driving range 1 )

) The Electrify America fast-charging network is rated Number One by umlaut Inc. in Charged Electric Vehicles Magazine

Electrify America has more than 2,400 ultra-fast chargers across the country

Across the country, 96 percent of the population live within 120 miles of an Electrify America charger

Overview video Continuing its commitment to accelerate mainstream adoption of electric vehicles, Hyundai Motor America will provide 250 kilowatt-hours of complimentary charging on Electrify America's ultra-fast charging network for owners of 2021 Kona Electric and Ioniq Electric models. 2021 Kona Electric and Ioniq Electric owners can access 250 kWh of complimentary charging Customers can access their complimentary charging by the easy-to-use Electrify America mobile app that will also help drivers find and navigate to Electrify America stations and to start a charging session. 250 kilowatt-hours equals about 1,000 miles of EPA estimated driving range in a 2021 Hyundai Kona Electric or Ioniq Electric1. "We know EV interest and sales are expanding, nationwide and more people are adding chargers to their homes every day," said Olabisi Boyle, vice president, Product Planning and Mobility Strategy, Hyundai Motor North America. "Our Kona and Ioniq EV owners are getting additional peace of mind when heading out on longer trips with prepaid access to Electrify America's national fast-charging network. Electrify America's DC fast chargers more than meet the Kona and Ioniq's higher power charging capabilities." Electrify America has more than 2,400 ultra-fast chargers across the country. Stations are conveniently located along major routes and in metro areas, strategically placed near shopping, banking and dining amenities. Each station has between three and ten individual DC fast chargers to accommodate multiple vehicles charging at one time. The chargers utilize the fastest technology available today  providing speeds of up to 150kW and 350kW for capable vehicles  to help reduce the amount of time spent charging. "Hyundai Kona and Ioniq Electric model owners can count on our ultra-fast charging network to provide convenient and reliable charging where and when they need it," said Wayne Killen, director of automotive and fleet business development at Electrify America. "With more than 500 charging stations in the U.S., Electrify America's network gives EV owners range confidence traveling across town or across the country. Kona and Ioniq owners gain access to our fast-charging network which was rated Number One by umlaut Inc. in Charged Electric Vehicles Magazine in its 2020 "Best-in-Test" award." Since Electrify America installed its first charging station in May 2018, the company has on average added four charging stations per week. Across the country, 96 percent of the population live within 120 miles of an Electrify America charger. Hyundai customers will be able to manage their fast charging plan through a convenient app provided by Electrify America.



2021 Kona Electric

Generous 258-mile EPA-estimated range i meets more varied lifestyle needs

meets more varied lifestyle needs 7.2 kW On-board charger increases charging speed on L2 AC chargers

Using a 100 kW DC fast charger, the battery can reach 80% charge in as little as 54 minutes 2

Standard 64 kWh battery pack

10.25-inch Navigation System available Kona Electric is Hyundai's first compact electric crossover for the U.S. market, appealing to consumers with active, eco-focused lifestyles of all kinds. Kona Electric's exterior styling features voluminous, aggressive body styling complemented by a low and wide stance for great looks and confident handling in a variety of urban and adventure-oriented driving environments. 2021 Ioniq Electric EPA estimated driving range of 170 miles ii

38.3 kWh battery pack

7.2 kW On-board charger increases charging speed on L2 AC chargers

Using a 100 kW DC fast charger, the battery can reach 80% charge in as little as 54 minutes 1

EPA estimated 133 combined MPGe makes Ioniq Electric one of the most efficient vehicles sold in the U.S.iii The Ioniq Electric's 38.3 kWh offers a total of 170 miles of EPA estimated rangei. Its e-motor delivers 134 horsepower and 218 lb.-ft. of torque and is fitted standard with a 7.2-kW on-board charger for Type 2 AC charging. Using a DC fast charger matched to the Ioniq's peak intake of 100 kW, the battery can reach 80% charge in as little as 54 minutes3. Hyundai Motor America

At Hyundai Motor America, we believe everyone deserves better. From the way we design and build our cars to the way we treat the people who drive them, making things better is at the heart of everything we do. Hyundai's technology-rich product lineup of cars, SUVs and alternative-powered electric and fuel cell vehicles is backed by Hyundai Assuranceour promise to create a better experience for customers. Hyundai vehicles are sold and serviced through more than 820 dealerships nationwide and nearly half of those sold in the U.S. are built at Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama. Hyundai Motor America is headquartered in Fountain Valley, California, and is a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Company of Korea. Please visit our media website at www.HyundaiNews.com Hyundai Motor America on Twitter | YouTube | Facebook | Instagram About Electrify America

Electrify America LLC, the largest open DC fast charging network in the U.S., is investing $2 billion over 10 years in Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) infrastructure, education and access. The investment will enable millions of Americans to discover the benefits of electric driving and support the build-out of a nationwide network of workplace, community and highway chargers that are convenient and reliable. Electrify America expects to install or have under development approximately 800 total charging stations with about 3,500 DC fast chargers by December 2021. During this period, the company will be expanding to 29 metros and 45 states, including two cross-country routes, delivering on its commitment to support increased ZEV adoption with a network that is comprehensive, technologically advanced and customer friendly. Electrify America earned the "2020 EV Charging Infrastructure Best-in-Test" award from umlaut, an independent testing & validation company, as published in Charged Electric Vehicles Magazine noting the brand's accessibility and seamless customer experience. Electrify America's Electrify Home offers home charging solutions for consumers with flexible installation options. Electrify Commercial provides expert solutions for businesses looking to develop electric vehicle charging programs. For more information, visit www.electrifyamerica.com and media.electrifyamerica.com. 1 Range claim based on full usage of 250 kWh hours of ultra-fast charging and the 2021 Kona Electric's EPA-estimated total range of 258 miles or the 2021 Ioniq Electric's EPA-estimated total range of 170 miles. EPA estimates for comparison purposes only. Actual range and mileage will vary with options, driving conditions and habits, vehicle and battery's condition and other factors. 2 Approximately 54 minutes on a 100-kW DC Fast Charger and approximately 75 minutes on 50-kW DC Fast Charger. Charging rate and time estimate varies based on a number of factors, including current battery charge level, output of the charging unit, vehicle and battery conditions and outside temperature. 3 Approximately 54 minutes on a 100-kW DC Fast Charger and approximately 75 minutes on 50-kW DC Fast Charger. Charging rate and time estimate varies based on a number of factors, including current battery charge level, output of the charging unit, vehicle and battery conditions and outside temperature. i 2021 Kona Electric 258 mile EPA-estimated total range based on a fully charged battery. For comparison purposes only. Actual range and mileage will vary with options, driving conditions and habits, vehicle and battery's condition and other factors. ii 2021 Ioniq Electric 170 mile EPA-estimated total range based on a fully charged battery. For comparison purposes only. Actual range and mileage will vary with options, driving conditions and habits, vehicle and battery's condition and other factors. iii 2021 Ioniq Electric: 133 Combined, 145 City and 121 Highway MPGe. MPGe is the EPA equivalent measure of gasoline fuel efficiency for electric mode operation. All figures are EPA estimates and for comparison purposes only. Actual mileage will vary with options, driving conditions and habits, vehicle and battery's condition and other factors. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hyundai-brings-complimentary-fast-charging-to-kona-and-ioniq-with-electrify-america-network-301249447.html SOURCE Hyundai Motor America

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When a person is charged with a crime in New York, he or she typically has an opportunity to go before a judge within 24 hours of being arrested to hear the charges, confer with a lawyer and answer to those charges. Arraignments can be quick hearings, often over in minutes, at which the judge either will or wont set bail, and the accused person learns whether or not they can be released immediately. Most significantly, its the first opportunity a defendant has to come face to face with the system and the people that will be deciding their fate.

An arraignment may not seem like a difficult thing to do over Zoom or Skype, as video conferencing can accommodate quick meetings among several parties. But arraignments are just one step in the criminal justice system that some public defenders in New York say has been upended by the pandemic. Some said that defendants stand to lose when you strip court proceedings of face-to-face interaction. When judges have to make important decisions about bail, release, things like that, I think what happens is that people get dehumanized when theyre on video, said Yung-Mi Lee, the legal director in the criminal defense practice of Brooklyn Defender Services. Theres that distance that doesnt occur when someone is actually standing in front of you.

All kinds of court proceedings in New York have gone largely virtual during the pandemic out of a need to limit the spread of COVID-19. That includes arraignments and bench trials, or trials with a judge and not a jury. That transition has been a sea change for people moving through the criminal justice system, their attorneys, judges and more.

New York state has a complicated web of city and county courts, superior courts and specialized courts, such as family court, and each operates a little differently, including differences between civil and criminal cases. But for the most part, court operations have been happening virtually for the last year.

Lucian Chalfen, a spokesperson for the New York State Unified Court System, said that all arraignments and most preliminary hearings in New York City Criminal Court are still virtual, and Family Court in the city conducts mostly virtual proceedings. Housing Court in the city has had virtual bench trials. Statewide, grand juries continue to be empaneled in person, Chalfen said. New jury trials, which were suspended a year ago, were briefly brought back in the fall before being suspended again in November amid rising rates of COVID-19 across the state.

Except for emergency cases pertaining to the absence of heat or hot water, housing courts are remote too. They changed overnight  at least the high-volume courts did  from being a place where we were negotiating in hallways packed with people and the calendars were hundreds long, to now (having) very few cases on a calendar, said Sara Wagner, an attorney who works for the Teamsters Local 237 Legal Services Plan and who serves as chair of the housing court committee of the New York City Bar Association.

While some say courts have adjusted to these remote proceedings as best as they could, several lawyers City & State spoke too agreed that virtual court has made the process more difficult, particularly for those who lack easy access to technology and for Black and Latino New Yorkers, who are disproportionately represented among defendants and the incarcerated. Virtual proceedings offer efficiencies that some lawyers hope will stick around after the pandemic, but other parts of the process, such as arraignments or sentencings, suffer for lacking an essential human element. Doing really significant, life-changing things by phone or video is just not the same as doing it in person, said David Patton, executive director and attorney-in-chief of the Federal Defenders of New York.

Though theres not sufficient data available now to prove that virtual hearings in particular have made defendants in New York less likely to be released pretrial, for example, some public defenders pointed to New York Citys jail population, which is now higher than it was prior to the pandemic. That could be due in part to the state rolling back bail reforms last year. The New York Times reported earlier this month that a forthcoming report from the Center for Court Innovation, a criminal justice nonprofit, found that judges in violent felony cases have set bail and sent defendants to pretrial detention at higher rates than before the pandemic.

In criminal cases, concerns about the effect of virtual proceedings arent new. In some instances, studies suggest that they have led to harsher consequences for defendants. In 1999, Cook County, Illinois, began using closed circuit TV for bail hearings with defendants appearing before judges over video. A 2010 study from Northwestern University later found that the average bail amount in televised hearings increased 51% from before the televised system was implemented.

Several lawyers told City & State that its too soon to tell whether remote proceedings during the pandemic have led to harsher outcomes. But anecdotally, some lawyers raised concerns that virtual proceedings wouldnt be as fair as they would be in person. While virtual appearances may be technically feasible, they are no replacement for in-person proceedings, some lawyers said. Virtual proceedings can make it difficult for defendants to fully take advantage of their right to counsel.

Privacy can be a concern, and defendants have a right to constantly confer with their attorney in confidence. You could also tell whether you were really having a private conversation or not, Lee said of prepandemic hearings. In the video setting, where everyones on a video camera, you dont know who is in the room with you ... You dont know (if for) the person who you're supposed to be representing and fighting to get out, whether theres a police officer in that room or nearby.

Defendants also have the right to public proceedings, and while Lee said that courts have set up separate video feeds for family members to watch virtual arraignments, for example, it doesnt have the same effect. Its not like the judge can see necessarily or knows that there are family members or friends in the courtroom who are there to support the person whos been arraigned and might possibly have bail set, she said.

But if theres an upside to the transition courts have had to make during the pandemic, its that the need to set up remote operations has made some parts of the process more efficient. Previously, Wagner said, attorneys werent able to do any filing online, despite pushing for such a system. Now we do everything online. Theres an e-filing system with some courts, she said. Each court has its own particulars, but they did a vast technological leap in a very short period of time. So the courts, in my mind, are to be commended for that.

In other instances, the option to appear virtually in court might be attractive for people who would otherwise need to take a day off work or schedule child care in order to appear at the courthouse in person.

Utilizing that advantage is more accessible to some than others. A major stumbling block for the success of virtual court is the inequitable access to reliable internet and technology that currently exists in New York City and across large parts of rural New York. In the city in particular, Black and Latino people disproportionately lack access to reliable internet. Nearly one-fifth of New York City residents lack a mobile or home broadband connection. According to a report by New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer, roughly 30% of Black and Hispanic people lack a broadband internet connection, compared to roughly 20% of white people and 22% of Asian American people in the city. There are many people who don't have access to either a smartphone that can download the Microsoft Teams app, and then have sufficient data or Wi-Fi in order to be able to actually get in on the phone. People dont have computers at home, said Alice Fontier, managing director at the Neighborhood Defender Service of Harlem.

Lacking the ability to appear remotely for arraignments or other hearings may not be as much of a problem for people who are incarcerated, but for people who are not incarcerated and have to appear virtually, the onus can be on them to secure the technological means. Lee said that Brooklyn Defender Services has distributed cellphones to people who lack phones with video cameras, so that people can make their appearances. When appearances are virtual, you need the technology. And unfortunately technology requires money, she said.

Patton, of the Federal Defenders of New York, said that clients access to technology has not been a major hurdle in his experience over the past year. Its posed challenges here and there, but weve been able to work through those either by helping them get set up from where they are, he said. We can even have people coming to our office to do that.

A lack of reliable internet access  or just malfunctioning technology in general  has meant stumbling through proceedings at times, Wagner said. Sometimes we stop and adjourn the matter for another day, she said. Sometimes we stop for a few minutes and try to reconnect. There are a lot of breaks  the judge cant hear, you cant hear the interpreter patch in.

Its unclear when the majority of court appearances will be in-person again. Judges and justices in the state became eligible to receive the coronavirus vaccine last week, under state guidance authorizing public-facing essential government employees to receive the vaccine. But other categories of people that work in courthouses, such as attorneys or witnesses, are still not eligible. Incarcerated people as a category are also still not eligible for the vaccine, despite the high risk of living in a congregate setting. Chief Judge Janet DiFiore said earlier this month that a limited number of civil and criminal jury trials will be allowed to resume starting March 22. While few denied that trials cant continue to be suspended indefinitely, some lawyers said theyre apprehensive about going back before vaccinations have been more widely administered. When the courts reopened too early months ago, people were getting infected, Lee said, of when trials resumed in the fall. So well see what happens this time around.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 16)  Senator Risa Hontiveros bared on Tuesday another scheme allegedly involving personnel from the Bureau of Immigration, this time by helping human traffickers smuggle Filipino women into Syria for a price.

Under the alleged human trafficking scheme, recruiters pay 50,000 to BI workers to illegally send a Filipina worker to Damascus. Hontiveros said the modus has victimized at least three Filipino women, who were initially told they were hired to work in Dubai.

Over time, we have actually collected three personal accounts of how Filipina women became victims of human trafficking, abuse, and exploitation  aided by corrupt immigration counters within our borders, Hontiveros said in a briefing.

All three are Filipino women trafficked to Syria  they never consented to being brought to that war-torn country, she added.

In the same briefing, Hontiveros shared a recorded interview of one of her staff with one of the alleged victims about her plight in Damascus, where she has been staying for about two years now.

"Alice," not her real name, said that upon arriving in Damascus, she was brought to an agency where she was locked up for 12 days before she was sold to her employer.

Tumagal ako doon ng 12 days bago ako nabili ng amo ko, she told Hontiveros' staff.

[Translation: I stayed there for 12 days before I was bought by my employer.]

Bruised and beaten

Alice also said the bodyguard of her employer has physically abused her twice. She was told her boss was a relative of the Syrian president.

Five months ko dito, nakaranas ako ng pananakit dahil nagpaalam ako na uuwi ako kaya nagalit sila, sinaktan ako. Saka 'yung pangalawa, 2020, sinaktan ulit ako dahil nabasa nila mga email ko. Kinuha nila kasi tumatawag ang embassy sa kanila na humihingi ako ng tulong, she recounted.

[Translation: During my fifth month here, I was beaten because I asked them if I could return home. They hurt me again in 2020 after reading my emails to the embassy. They confiscated my emails because the embassy called them and told them I was asking for help.]

Hinahawakan ako ng bodyguard, tinatadyakan 'yung tagiliran ko, sampal, sabunot, kaladkad naranasan ko iyan. May bodyguard amo ko kasi kamag-anak ng presidente ng Syria kaya may mga bodyguard, she added.

[Translation: My employers bodyguard has kicked my sides, slapped me, pulled my hair, dragged me across the floor. My employer has a bodyguard because he/she is a relative of the Syrian president.]

Aside from physically harming her, she said she was made to work long hours and paid only 10,000 a month, which was half of what was promised to her.

Hontiveros said all three alleged victims told them they are working 17 hours daily, or from 10 a.m. to 3 a.m.

Modern-day slavery'

Hontiveros called the plight of Alice and the two others allegedly trafficked to Syria a case of modern-day slavery. She vowed to coordinate with the Department of Foreign Affairs to rescue the women.

She also said they will conduct a legislative inquiry into the issue of trafficking of Filipino women to Damascus before the current Senate session adjourns on March 26, adding they will invite DFA officials to join the hearing.

DFA Secretary Teddy Boy Locsin, Jr. welcomed the Senate probe and assured Hontiveros that officials from the DFA, including Philippine Embassy in Damascus Charge d Affaires Vida Soraya Verzosa, will attend the inquiry.

We cannot afford to relax or let any abuse pass because it is too much trouble to fix, Locsin added.

For his part, BI Commissioner Jaime Morente said Tuesday the agency fully supports the investigation.

We will be fully cooperating with the investigation of Senator Hontiveros as we share a common goal of eliminating corruption in the Bureau, Morente said in a statement.

He also claimed they "will not hesitate" to punish any BI worker involved in anomalous activities, as proven in the past. He was referring to the sanctions imposed on 86 BI personnel, who are facing a six-month preventive suspension without pay since December last year over the so-called "pastillas" bribery scam.

The scheme purportedly allowed Chinese nationals to enter the country seamlessly in exchange for payment of grease money ranging from P10,000 to millions of pesos per transaction.
A former Labor minister has alleged that an unnamed MP asked her 'how many blokes she had to f***' to secure her seat in Parliament in a new book taking aim at the seedy underbelly of Australian politics.

Former Rudd-Gillard government minister Kate Ellis, 43, will soon release a memoir discussing her parliamentary career and the treatment of female MPs amid an escalating debate about the treatment of women in politics.

In Sex, Lies and Question Time, Ms Ellis recounts how she had just won the marginal seat of Adelaide at age 27 - a bright spot in Mark Latham's failed 2004 bid to become PM - when a then-Liberal operative interrupted her at a Canberra bar.

'I had only been a politician for a few weeks when I was approached in a Canberra bar and told, "The only thing anyone really wants to know about you, Kate, is how many blokes you had to f*** to get into Parliament,"' an excerpt said.

The campaigner who was allegedly behind the sexual remark then went on to get elected himself, Ms Ellis said - and became someone she studiously avoided during her political career.

'It was the kind of run-of-the-mill sleaze and innuendo which is so common it is almost unremarkable in the culture of federal politics.'

Former Labor minister Kate Ellis has revealed how a staffer who had never spoken to her before approached her after her election to ask 'how many blokes she had to f***' to get into office. 'But, sure, if thats how he thinks elections work,' she writes sarcastically in the book. (Above, during her maiden speech - she was elected at 27)

Ms Ellis was elected to Parliament as the MP for Adelaide during the 2004 Federal election campaign - a rare bright spot for Labor during Mark Latham's campaign for power

The book - which will be released by publisher Hardie Grant on March 29 - comes as the Morrison Government is shaken by a series of scandals about the alleged behaviour of parliamentarians.

Former media adviser Brittany Higgins has come forward to claim she was raped in the capital building itself and Attorney-General Christian Porter is on mental health leave after being forced to deny a historical rape allegation that resurfaced from his youth.

Ellis in the bear pit - the House of Representatives

It follows revelations last year that Population Minister Alan Tudge had a consensual affair with a senior female staffer and, previously, the ousting of Labor MP Emma Husar following defamatory allegations about over supposed inappropriate conduct.

Just this week, Liberal MP and fellow South Australian Nicolle Flint broke down describing her own experience in politics - claiming in Parliament that she suffered sick harassment at the hands of left-wing activists, including a 'creepy old man'.

In the book, Ms Ellis, 43, documents the varying experiences of female MPs including Labor frontbencher Penny Wong, former PM Julia Gillard, former Foreign Minister Julie Bishop and One Nation firebrand Pauline Hanson.

Ms Ellis gives an anecdote of a journalist's question to Penny Wong as an example of how 'unrepresentative' of the community Parliament is. Senator Wong said she was asked upon her appointment to the frontbench: 'How can an Asian lesbian talk with any authority about the northern suburbs of Adelaide?'

Senator Wong said she thought, 'wow, you would never say that John Howard (the longtime former Liberal prime minister) as a white, wealthy man couldn't represent certain people'.

Ms Bishop, one of the most prominent female figures in Parliament of the past decade, is quoted describing Parliament House as a 'male domain' and that there was something 'innately sexist' about the place.

Meanwhile, in a revealing passage, Ms Ellis herself described how she herself was subjected to a minister hitting on her.

In speaking about her experience as a woman in Parliament, Penny Wong tells Ms Ellis how an interviewer asked her: 'How can an Asian lesbian talk with any authority about the northern suburbs of Adelaide?'

Former Foreign Minister Julie Bishop (above) describes Parliament as 'male domain'

Linda Reynolds' former media adviser Brittany Higgins came forward earlier this year to allege she had been raped at Parliament House itself by a Liberal staffer

'It was clear he did not value me as an equal ... Though I awkwardly laughed it off and pretended it wasn't a big deal, I wondered if there would be professional repercussion.

'Had I just made a powerful enemy?' she wrote - before reflecting upon how female staffers who lack the power of political office would handle such an approach.

In a bizarre quirk of workplace laws, MPs have the power to hire and fire their own staff on the spot, and rules aren't uniform across the board.

Former Labor frontbencher Kate Ellis quit federal politics in 2019

As The Australian columnist Janet Albrechtsen put it recently, 'every MP's office (is) a law onto itself', meaning there are 'effectively 227 small businesses operating in Parliament House ... There should be one set of workplace rules laid out clearly for the whole of Parliament House, enforced by a central body.'

Ms Ellis's chapter titles include: 'slut shaming', 'weaponising sexual gossip', 'she's wearing what?', 'the "sisterhood"' and 'why it's worth it' - 'it' being running for office.

Ms Ellis spent 15 years in Parliament - both in Opposition and in Government.

She had a front row seat to Julia Gillard's misogyny speech ('I will not be lectured about sexism and misogyny by this man'). In 2008, she was handed the 'honour' of being voted the 'sexiest MP' in Parliament by Queensland newspaper, The Courier Mail.

She quit politics at the last election, saying she wanted to spend more time with her young family - including being nearby in Adelaide when her son started school - rather than in Canberra.

She has two children with her husband, former Daily Telegraph editor and Adelaide 5AAA radio host David Penberthy.
Noel Pearson says a decades-long push for constitutional recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders is not a project of woke identity politics but is Australias longest standing and unresolved project for justice and inclusion.

The trailblazing activist has pleaded with the Morrison government not to abandon long-held ambitions for a national referendum on the issue, warning as long as Indigenous peoples remain unrecognised then Australia would be an absurdity.

Its time for true constitutional recognition: Noel Pearson at the National Museum of Australia on Wednesday. Credit:Dominic Lorrimer

He urged fellow First Nations elders and corporate leaders in Canberra on Wednesday night to not give up the fight on the issue, which the federal government has all but abandoned for this term of Parliament.

Mr Pearson, a lawyer, academic, land rights activist and founder of the Cape York Institute for Policy and Leadership was one of 19 advisers appointed to help co-design the Indigenous Voice.
Connecticut restaurants, battered by the year-long pandemic that forced hundreds to close, are now up against a new challenge: A shortage of workers.

Despite high levels of joblessness across the state, restaurants preparing for a planned return to full capacity Friday are scrambling to hire workers that are in short supply, prompting one Hartford-area restaurant chain to go so far as to offer signing bonuses of up to $1,000.

We have holes in the restaurants that we have never had before and are having a difficult time filling them, said Scott Smith, vice president and chief operating officer of Max Restaurant Group, which has three to four open positions at each of chains nine restaurants in and around Hartford, most of them line cooks.

All the recruiting weve done, putting ads on Indeed and Craigs List, we are literally not getting any responses, Smith said, with the chain sweetening offers with the signing bonuses.

The shortage comes as the state of Connecticut is set to ease COVID-19 restrictions on restaurants on Friday, allowing them to operate at full capacity but still maintaining social distancing and mask wearing mandates. The rolling back of restrictions  part of far-reaching plans to loosen rules in the pandemic  comes after nearly a year of restricted business and as the virus remains a presence in the state.

While restaurants, in theory, can open fully, keeping social distancing in place means that, for most restaurateurs, they will still be operating at less than full capacity. But as more people are vaccinated and they become comfortable with dining out again, coupled with the onset of warmer weather and the return of outdoor dining, more workers will be needed.

Owners are now thinking ahead and gearing up for the bigger crowds. Some say the newly enhanced federal unemployment benefits are contributing to the reluctance by restaurant workers to return to their jobs.

Scott Dolch, executive director of the Connecticut Restaurant Association, said the primary reason restaurants are having difficulty filling positions isnt health concerns or enhanced unemployment, but just the volume of people needed all at the same time.

Story continues

Its not happening in a bubble, in one town, but across the state, Dolch said. Restaurants have been bleeding out for so long. They werent going to hire staff back unless they needed it. Now theyre starting to need it all at once. You look at every Instagram feed and theyre looking for people, Dolch said.

Dolch pointed out that the restaurant industry, one of the largest private-sector industries in the state, makes up about 10 percent of the Connecticut workforce.

In the blink of an eye, there is light at the end of the tunnel. Capacity is going up. Were seeing 70 degree days soon. People are trying to hire thousands of people, all at one time, he said.

Economists said the mismatch of job openings and workers to fill them could slow economic recovery, at least in the near future.

Employment in the food service sector of the economy, which combines restaurant and hotel, suffered stunning losses at the start of the pandemic. According to the Connecticut Department of Labor, the sector plunged from 130,000 to 55,000 by April of last year. As of January  the latest month for which data is available  the number has gradually climbed back to 100,000.

That last 30,000 is going to be tough until everybodys vaccinated, Patrick Flaherty, economist at the state labor department said. My observation is that there are going to be folks who are going to be reluctant to take those jobs until they, themselves, are vaccinated.

Flaherty said the restaurant business tends to skew to younger workers, who are in later waves to qualify for the vaccine. On Monday, Gov. Ned Lamont moved up the timetable to April 5 for residents 16 and older to get their shots, which could ease worry.

The long stretch without work also has likely sent former restaurant workers into new jobs outside the business. Some may also be wary of returning because of lingering worries about another spike infections, as scientists study variants of the COVID-19 virus, and another clamp down.

Employees are looking not only for income but job stability, Donald L. Klepper-Smith, economist at DataCore Partners in Durham, said. Labor is going to go where it thinks it can get the greatest level of income and the greatest level of job security.

Klepper-Smith said the restaurant landscape in Connecticut could be in for a major shake-out.

In the long run, if [restaurants] cant find adequate numbers of people and they cant get bodies in and out, then it says the nature of the restaurant business is likely to change, Klepper-Smith said. Its probably going to result in fewer restaurant alternatives down the road as they find they are capped with their ability to do business.

The pandemic also highlighted problems that have been simmering for years in the restaurant business, including hiring and retaining back-of-house staff, said Robert Marcarelli, of Pi LLC. Full Circle Restaurant Consulting of Madison.

Now, were at the breaking point, Marcarelli said.

At issue, Marcarelli said, are multiple issues: workers still feel unsafe in restaurants; the obligation to police customers COVID compliance and the federal unemployment boost, which often makes not working more lucrative than working.

Kevin Cousin, owner and chef at Tosca in Suffield, called the staffing issue an ongoing dilemma. Like Marcarelli, Cousin said the difficulty is partly generational.

A lot of the younger people expect to receive greater compensation, but they lack the skill to warrant it. I feel I pay higher than average, but  to deserve higher pay you have to have a certain skill set and knowledge about the industry and the only way to do that is by time and paying your dues, Cousin said.

Meanwhile, on the ground, restaurant operators, like Luz Ramos, owner of the Sloppy Waffle in Newington, said there is a brewing bidding war for restaurant workers, with some offering $2 or $3 an hour over minimum wage.

Then, these people who are out there looking for work kind of know that, Ramos said. Ive had people come in and say, well, they dont even want to be interviewed. How much are you paying per hour is the first question. They say, I have other folks that are willing to pay me X, are you willing to pay me that?

Ramos said smaller restaurants like hers  she employs 10  cant compete with larger chains that can absorb higher wages. And the pressure is not only coming from other restaurants but the big box retailers, Ramos said.

In East Hartford, Carmine Pellegrino, owner of Carmines Bar, Grill & Stage, said he was accustomed prior to the pandemic to getting 40 or 50 responses to job postings.

Now, you get four, Pellegrino said.

Not all restaurateurs are worried, however.

Scott Miller, chief operating officer of West Hartford-based DORO Restaurant Group, which as five locations, said after laying off 90 percent of its staff last spring, it has brought 50 to 60 percent of them back, and more are coming in.

Weve had some people who have been out the whole year and now they have reached out to us to say they feel comfortable coming back to work, he said. Miller said he is confident he will fill openings by the time the weather and business heat up, both with returning employees and new hires.

If you had asked me a couple of weeks ago, I might have been concerned, but were almost there, Miller said. Weve been successful but we wont be congratulating ourselves until the restaurants are busy again.
She's been living in Dubai amid the coronavirus pandemic.

And Georgia Harrison ensured to mark St Patrick's Day in style as she donned a fun pint hat and enjoyed a Guinness on Wednesday.

The Love Island star, 27, looked sensational as she put on a very busty display in a plunging orange dress for the annual occasion.

Getting into the spirit: Georgia Harrison put on a very busty display as she rocked an orange dress and donned a fun pint hat while celebrating St Patrick's Day on Wednesday

Georgia posed up a storm as she rocked her new-found Guinness pint hat accessory in a bar and showcased her sizzling figure.

The beauty highlighted her ample cleavage in her racy dress paired with a silk shirt which boasted an animal print all over it.

She wore her locks tied back and donned a full face of makeup including a slick of nude lipstick and touch of mascara for the celebrations.

Georgia also shared a short clip of herself sipping on a Guinness to Instagram Stories during the evening, with the star wishing her fans a happy St Patrick's Day.

Celebrations: The reality star, 27, enjoyed a pint of Guinness as she marked the occasion

Georgia's evening out comes after she sizzled in a tiny pink lingerie set as she admitted she was 'still single' but 'still trying'.

The reality star showcased her svelte figure in a plunging bralette adorned with lace detailing, she teamed the item with a matching thong and garter belt.

She styled her blonde locks into a glossy curly blow-dried hairdo, she added a slick of glamorous make-up.

In the video, Georgia lipsynced to someone saying: 'You're single? You're too cute to be single' to which someone else mimics: 'Too cute to be single, I f**king know, I'm trying!'

Embracing it: Georgia also played around with filters on Instagram as she wished her fans a happy St Patrick's Day

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.

Wow: Georgia looked sensational as she joked about her love life in a fun video shared to Instagram on Wednesday

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.
Watertown, NY (13601)

Today

Cloudy with rain developing after midnight. Low 61F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch..

Tonight

Cloudy with rain developing after midnight. Low 61F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch.
One potential use of the money, according to Pirozzolo, is to help Auburn schools reopen for in-person classes at least four days a week. He has a meeting on Thursday with a company that makes protective shields for desks. If the district is allowed to have students three feet apart instead of the required six-foot buffer, then he would be willing to invest in barriers for each desk.

"We're going to be prepared in case we do get that permission," he said. "I want to use this money to get our children back into school ASAP and hopefully by early April."

Outside of Auburn, the Jordan-Elbridge Central School District will receive the most in COVID relief aid ($2,126,000). Four other districts  Cato-Meridian ($1.06 million), Moravia ($1.8 million), Port Byron ($1.6 million) and Southern Cayuga (nearly $1.4 million)  will get over $1 million.

Union Springs will get slightly less than $1 million ($910,000). Skaneateles will receive $892,000, while Weedsport will get $752,000.
North Korea is preparing to carry out its first missile test since President Joe Biden came to office as a show of strength to the US.

The head of the US military's Northern Command said flight testing for an improved design of an intercontinental ballistic missile will begin 'in the near future'.

The North Korean regime frequently tests new US presidents within the first months of their administration with a display of military might.

Meanwhile regional experts said tests would not be a surprise as the US and South Korea conduct simulated military exercises near the border.

The US is bracing itself for a North Korean show of strength with its first weapons test since President Joe Biden came to office

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and South Korean Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong pose for photos before their meeting at the Foreign Ministry in Seoul on Wednesday

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and his South Korean counterpart Suh Wook take part in a welcoming ceremony in Seoul on Wednesday

A Pyongyang military parade in October showed off new intercontinental ballistic missiles which could be tested soon

Such a move would sharply increase tensions between Pyongyang and Washington after a lull since the fiery rhetoric between Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un.

The fears come as Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin visit South Korea to discuss security in the region.

The North Korean leader has called for continued production of nuclear weapons for his arsenal and launched a series of smaller missiles in recent months and unveiled what would be North Koreas largest ICBM yet at an October parade.

Air Force General Glen VanHerck told the Senate Armed Services Committee that Pyongyang's 'considerably larger and presumably more capable' ICBM further increased the threat to the United States.

The US general also noted that Kim released himself from a moratorium on testing over a year ago.

A South Korean army's K1A2 tank moves during a military exercise in Paju, South Korea, near the border with North Korea, on Wednesday

Secretary of State Antony Blinken and defense secretary Lloyd Austin are visiting South Korea to discuss security in the region

Regional experts said weapons tests would not be a surprise as the US and South Korea conduct simulated military exercises near the border

'The North Korean regime has also indicated that it is no longer bound by the unilateral nuclear and ICBM testing moratorium announced in 2018, suggesting that Kim Jong Un may begin flight testing an improved ICBM design in the near future,' VanHerck said in his written testimony.

The White House confirmed a Reuters report on Monday that it has sought to reach out to North Korea but had received no response, extending a chill in relations that began during Donald Trump's administration.

After the White House remarks, North Korean state news reported that the sister of the North Korean leader, Kim Yo Jong, criticized the Biden Administration for ongoing military drills in South Korea.

She said in a statement carried by state news agency KCNA: 'We take this opportunity to warn the new US administration trying hard to give off [gun] powder smell in our land.

'If it wants to sleep in peace for coming four years, it had better refrain from causing a stink at its first step.'

The sister of the North Korean leader, Kim Yo Jong, criticized the Biden Administration for ongoing military drills in South Korea

Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrives at Osan Air Base Wednesday for talks with South Korea

Asked about Kim Yo Jong's statement during a news conference in Tokyo, Blinken said that he was familiar with the comments and was more interested in hearing from allies and partners.

Blinken said that Washington reached out to North Korea through several channels starting in mid-February, but it hasn't received any response.

He said the Biden administration is looking forward to completing its policy review on North Korea in coming weeks and was looking both at possible 'additional pressure measures' and 'diplomatic paths.'

The joint US-South Korean springtime military drill begun last week was limited to computer simulations because of the coronavirus risk, as well as the ongoing efforts to engage with the North.

Defense Department spokesman Lt. Col. Martin Meiners told CNN: 'We don't comment on intelligence matters.

North Korean Hwasong-15 intercontinental ballistic missiles are shown off during a military parade

'North Korea's continued development of ballistic missiles and weapons of mass destruction represent a threat to U.S. interests and the security of our allies and partners.

'In the near term, DoD, in close coordination with allies and partners, will seek to deter negative behavior from North Korea.'

North Korea often provokes new administrations with a show of strength, and conducted tests in 2017 shortly after Trump came to office and in 2009 after Barack Obama's inauguration.

President Biden's top diplomat and defense secretary arrived in South Korea on Wednesday where they will aim to get North Korea back to the table after the deadlock in nuclear negotiations.

It has been more than two years since talks stalled between the US and North Korea, and some experts say Washington and its allies should settle for a deal that would freeze Kim's nuclear program in return for relaxing sanctions - and possibly leave Pyongyang's already manufactured nuclear weapons in place.

Austin and Blinken are meeting their South Korean counterparts for separate talks Wednesday and a joint 'two plus two' meeting Thursday, the first such contact between the two countries in five years.

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin walks with United States Forces Korea commander Gen. Robert B. Abrams on Wednesday

Shim Beomchul, an analyst with the Seoul-based Korea Research Institute for National Strategy, said he expects the Biden administration to pursue a deal with North Korea that resembles a 2015 accord that froze Iran's nuclear program in return for lifting sanctions.

While the United States won't likely give up its long-term commitment to denuclearizing North Korea, rolling back the country's nuclear capabilities to zero is not a realistic near-term diplomatic goal, he said.

Trump blew up that 2015 Obama administration deal in favor of what he called maximum pressure against Iran, and the Biden government is trying to resurrect it.

In an op-ed in the New York Times in 2018, Blinken, then a managing director of the Penn Biden Center for Diplomacy and Global Engagement, argued that the best deal the US could reach with North Korea 'more than likely will look like what Barack Obama achieved with Iran.'

He said that an interim agreement 'would buy time to negotiate a more comprehensive deal, including a minutely sequenced road map that will require sustained diplomacy. That's the approach Mr. Obama took with Iran.'

Other experts say an Iran-style deal wont work for North Korea. Iran hasn't built any bomb, but North Korea has already manufactured dozens.

They say North Korea, which has a history of derailing agreements with its vehement rejection of verification processes, won't find any reason to denuclearize when some of the most painful sanctions are lifted.

'Everyone can say easily that (settling for) a nuclear freeze would allow North Korea to preserve its existing nukes. But I ask them what other options do they have' to realize North Korea's denuclearization, said Kim Yeol Soo, an analyst with South Korea's Korea Institute for Military Affairs.
The alternate care site at Kanoa Resort is the CNMI government-designated facility for those who are under investigation for or have tested positive for Covid-19 and must be isolated.

Photo by K-Andrea Evarose S. Limol
An Alabama fire chief was arrested in Georgia after an altercation with an Atlanta Realtor and her photographer outside a Roswell home owned by the chief.

Tarrant Fire Chief Jason Rickels is charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, possession of a firearm during commission of a felony, and second-degree criminal damage to property. Police say Rickels pulled a gun on the pair and smashed the photographers camera.

The real estate agent, Regina Lee of PalmerHouse Properties, and the photographer, Dwayne Clifford Boddie, owner of Dope Videos unlimited, claimed to Atlanta media they were targeted because they are Black.

Atlanta attorney Brian Steel, who is representing Rickels, called the charges against the fire chief outrageous, unfounded, and meritless.

This is a baseless charge,' Steel told AL.com. The bottom line is we are going to fight this case ethically, lawfully and zealously until the end and Chief Rickels will be exonerated. He has done nothing wrong.

Roswell police officers responded at 3:33 p.m. Friday to a reported disturbance at 185 Spring Drive.

A neighbor summoned police stating there were eight to 10 people outside of the house, which is for sale, and they were about to fight, according to the police report. Dispatch advised the responding officer that property was damaged, people were attempting to break into the house and one person had brandished a gun.

When the first officer arrived on the scene, Rickels and his wife, Melody, were there, along with Lee and Boddie. They were standing about 100 feet apart from one another and arguing, according to the report.

The officer said he asked who had a gun and Rickels responded that he did, and then complied with the officers request to let him have the 9mmm Ruger.

Lee and Boddie told police that Lee had scheduled a viewing of the home through First Multiple Listing Service, which the officer verified had been scheduled to take place from 3:10 p.m. until 4:10 p.m.

Lee said she hired Boddie and six other people, including makeup artist Alexis Brown, to take photos of Lee for her marketing portfolio. The police report noted that Lee was wearing a black pantsuit with high-heel shoes and Boddie was dressed in black with a company logo on his shirt.

Lee said she received a call from the property owners realtor about 3:20 p.m. asking her and the others to leave. All of the other contractors had already left, and it was about 3:30 p.m. when Lee, Boddie and Brown prepared to leave.

They said Rickels arrived in an SUV and blocked in Boddies vehicle. Jason (Rickels) asked him, What are you doing? to which Dwayne (Boddie) stated he was doing video for a job and showed Jason his camera to prove what he was doing.'

Boddie said Rickels grabbed the camera, smashed it on the ground and said, not here, youre not.

Lee, Boddie and Brown said Rickels then pulled his gun. The officer said there were conflicting statements as to when Rickels brandished the weapon. The trio said Rickels threatened to shoot Boddie if he moved.

Rickels and his wife told police they were notified by their realtor that Lee wanted to view the home, so Melody Rickels left to go to the grocery store while the viewing took place.

Melody Rickels then saw on her Ring camera that eight to 10 people were going in the house and she interpreted the viewing as a scam and the groups intent was to burglarize the home because they were bringing bags into the home.

They said they also believed it was a scam because the group did not leave immediately when asked to do so. The officer noted a 10-to-15 minute lapse. Melody called her husband and said she was calling the police because she thought the house was being burglarized.

Rickels told police he approached a vehicle, in which Boddie was sitting, and confronted him about what he was doing at the house. The chief said Boddie grabbed a black object from the car and brought it towards him. Rickels said he feared it was a gun and grabbed it from Boddie. It turned out to be a camera, which was thrown to the ground and shattered.

The chief also told police Boddie and 3  6 other (B)lack males approached him aggressively while he was on the phone with 911. He described the aggression as yelling at him, cussing at him and one person having his hand at his pants waistband which he interpreted as him possibly having a weapon.

Rickels told police he then pulled his own gun and said if anyone approached him, he would shoot. He then went behind his vehicles passenger side door.

A neighbor told police she saw one of the contractors pull out a long automatic rifle from his vehicle. The officer noted that no one else reported seeing that, and the officer believed what the neighbor saw was actually a pole used for lighting in photography.

Both Rickels and Boddie told police they each had been in fear for their life. Nothing was reported missing from the home. Rickels said he believed the group was trespassing on his property.

Rickels was held overnight in the Fulton County Jail before he was released on bond.

Tarrant Mayor Wayman Newton released this statement regarding Rickels arrest: The City of Tarrant is aware of the current situation surrounding Fire Chief Jason Rickels. The City is taking this very seriously and is looking into any violations of City policy. As per City policy, we will refrain from commenting on any personal issues off personnel in a public forum.
PLEASANTON, Calif., March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Healthcare Triangle, Inc. (HTI), a leader in the public cloud for Hospitals and Health Systems, today announces its recent signing with Citizens Memorial Healthcare. HTI will provide Cloud Disaster Recovery services to help Citizens, enhance the security and reliability of their EHR data and accelerating their digital transformation.

Being a healthcare provider, Citizens relies on their EHRs and other systems to deliver high-quality and efficient care for their patients, requiring them to have an effective backup and disaster recovery strategy in times of catastrophe. With this engagement, HTI's Cloud Disaster Recovery services will focus on providing uninterrupted stability to Citizens' patient care operations.

"Our healthcare and cloud expertise provide our clients with the cost-effective reliability required to meet the challenges of today's healthcare environment. We're proud to announce this partnership with Citizens Memorial Healthcare, a long time Most Wired recipient, to innovate their technology and accelerate their operations."- Ashleigh Rogers, Vice President, Healthcare Triangle.

Visit www.healthcaretriangle.com or contact [email protected] for more information.

About Healthcare Triangle, Inc. (HTI)

Healthcare Triangle, Inc. (HTI), in Pleasanton, California, reinforces healthcare progress through breakthrough technology and extensive industry knowledge and expertise. We support healthcare providers including hospitals and health systems, payers and pharma/life sciences organizations in their effort to improve health outcomes. HTI enables the adoption of new technologies, data enlightenment, business agility and response to immediate business needs and competitive threats. The highly regulated healthcare and life sciences industries rely on HTI for expertise in digital transformation encompassing the cloud, security and compliance, data lifecycle management, healthcare interoperability and clinical and business performance optimization.

About Citizens Memorial Healthcare (CMH)

Citizens Memorial Healthcare (CMH) serves a rural, eight-county area in southwest Missouri with a population of 100,000+. CMH also was named a Most Wired Innovator and Most Wired organization and was named one of the Top 10 Rural Hospitals in America.

Healthcare Triangle, Inc. Contact:

Sales Enquiries:

Andrea Merrin

[email protected]



Media Contact:

Michael Campana

[email protected]

SOURCE Healthcare Triangle, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.healthcaretriangle.com


A rapid acceleration of the states vaccine rollout announced this week shows signs that by early May supply should outpace immediate demand in Connecticut for the first time.

By shifting the date for universal adult eligibility to April 5, Gov. Ned Lamont moved up access for roughly 1.3 million people, but the real number of those rushing to get appointments sits closer to half that amount, officials said.

On Tuesday, Connecticut reported a daily positivity rate of 4.96 percent, the highest its been since late January. Hospitalizations dropped slightly to 403 statewide and deaths increased by 11 to 7,799 fatalities.

Max Reiss, chief spokesman for Lamont, pointed out that Tuesdays positivity rate was a one-day number, and said it would not impact the states rollback of capacity limits scheduled for Friday.

The infection rates that were seeing now are different than the infection rate we had six months ago, he said.

Reiss said many of the new infections involve younger residents who are not yet eligible to be vaccinated.

State officials are hoping the accelerated vaccination schedule will help to quickly protect more residents.

As of Monday, about 30 percent of Connecticuts 2.9 million adult residents had received at least one dose of the vaccine. With about 2 million residents left, the question shifts to how long will it take to vaccinate all of those who want it.

In an interview Tuesday with Hearst Connecticut Media, Lamonts Chief Operating Officer Josh Geballe reiterated the state anticipates those who want to get vaccinated should receive a first dose by late April or early May.

State officials have long said they anticipate demand to be roughly 60 percent of all eligible people  the remaining 40 percent they say are hesitant for a host of reasons.

The state expects the demand for those age 45 to 54, who become eligible Friday, will be about 200,000 residents. When it opens April 5 to those 16 to 44, the number jumps to 625,000 people who the state expects to immediately seek the vaccine.

There are roughly 115,000 first doses of the vaccine arriving in the state this week, and officials expect that number will rise closer to 200,000 by early April. If estimates hold, the state can offer one inoculation to everyone who wants a vaccine within six to eight weeks.

The state runs daily modeling on vaccine distribution, and when officials shifted the schedule up nearly a month for eligibility, it became clear that April 5 would be when demand among people age 45 to 54 would start waning, Geballe said.

Wed expect by April 5 about 50 percent of that 45 to 54 group are actually vaccinated with another 10 percent with appointments scheduled, Geballe said, pointing to the 60 percent uptake.

By late April to early May, vaccine demand should wane again, according to Geballe, but with no more age groups to call upon, the strategy will shift.

Thats the point in time with roughly 200,000 first doses per week  we would expect we would essentially cross over on supply and demand, Geballe said.

The new plan moved those age 35 to 44 up a week and those 16 to 34 up four weeks from May 3. Though the groups are now combined, those age 35 to 44 appear to remain on track to receive their vaccines by May, as anticipated in the earlier plan.

Once people receive the first shot of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, they must wait several weeks to get the required second dose, which extends the period for when full vaccination is reached.

The state receives about 90,000 doses a week earmarked for the second shot. Johnson & Johnson vaccines require just one dose.

This new timeline beats officials early projections by months.

Were hopeful that by the early fall, we would be able to have everybody who wants to be vaccinated to have received the vaccine  both doses, Deidre Gifford, acting commissioner of the state Department of Public Health, said in December when vaccines were first approved.

By Monday, the state had administered about 918,000 first doses, which includes 35,520 of the single-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine, statistics show.

In the two weeks since those 55 to 64 became eligible, the state said Monday that 40 percent of this group have received at least one dose of the vaccine. By Friday, that amount is expected to reach 50 percent  a benchmark for the transition when demand appears to diminish.

Lamont said many of the 160,000 teachers, school workers and child care professionals, who became eligible on March 3, have received at least the first dose.

But transitions to new groups continue to represent a trouble spot with limited appointments getting filled within hours by hundreds of thousands of people.

Officials continue to stress patience in the first few days of a transition to a new age group, pointing out that more appointments would show up in time.

There will be a bit of a rush. So if you are relatively healthy, maybe you dont have to go to work every day, you can telecommute, if perhaps you think youve had some kind of a mild infection in the past, maybe dont sign up that very first few days ... we are going to have plenty of vaccines over the course of the next month, Lamont said.

While state officials showed confidence that the supply of the vaccine will grow in the coming weeks, the accelerated timeline hinges on providers.

With more than a dozen mass vaccination clinics operating across the state, providers remain confident they can handle the influx of new appointments.

Our vaccine providers are ready to do far more. For weeks, theyve been begging us for more vaccine. ... They are ready to go, Geballe said.

But by early May, when demand diminishes, the vaccine strategy shifts to get shots in the arms of those who are hesitant.

As the state pushes ahead with equitable vaccine administration, work is already underway to reach those who have not raised their hand when they have become eligible.

From outbound calls to mobile clinics and home visits, state officials believe these efforts will intensify when slots are no longer in high demand.

We are going to see appointment slots going unused and we are going to have to redouble our efforts for the people who are not vaccinated to get vaccinated, Geballe said.

Staff writer Peter Yankowski contributed to this story.
A Kentucky woman is suing a hospital that she says sent her a letter mistakenly saying she was free of breast cancer - then tried to cover up the error.

Kim Johnson, 59, spent ten months believing she was cancer free after receiving the letter in 2015, before she got a second opinion that confirmed the aggressive cancer was still active.

Her new doctors feared it might even be too late to save her before she started responding to treatment, NBC reported.

Johnson filed a lawsuit against Fleming County Hospital in Flemingsburg, Kentucky, in 2016 after she realized their mistake - and their alleged attempts to hide it. Despite evidence of the hospital's letter, she is still fighting five years later for justice.

The ordeal began in 2015 when Johnson found a lump in her right breast.

Kim Johnson was nervous as she sat down at her dining room table in January 2015 with a letter from Fleming County Hospital in Flemingsburg, Kentucky. Breast cancer killed Johnson's mother years earlier and the prospect of that happening to her was all Johnson was able to think about after discovering a lump in her right breast, prompting her doctor to order a mammogram

A letter from Fleming County Hospital told Johnson - incorrectly - there was 'no evidence of cancer'

Breast cancer killed Johnson's mother years earlier and the prospect of a similarly painful death happening to her was all Johnson was able to think about until her doctor ordered a mammogram.

She was cleared, but as medical experts who reviewed her records later told her, there had been a terrible mistake. Johnson had a cancerous tumor growing inside of her.

Johnson was 53 at the time she ripped open an envelope from the hospital and saw four words in the first sentence of the letter that read, 'no evidence of cancer.'

'Oh my gosh,' Johnson remembers thinking. 'I dodged a bullet.'

Johnson, who ran a family farm with her husband in northeastern Kentucky, discovered the discrepancy 10 months later thanks to her insistence on seeking a second opinion after the pain in her breast worsened.

Johnson, who described herself as 'not a suing person,' eventually filed a lawsuit because she wanted to know why her cancer wasn't caught earlier.

Three years of litigation were required before Johnson, her lawyers and a digital forensics expert who reviewed her electronic patient records were able to piece together what they believe happened.

Andrew Garrett, the forensics expert, has worked on hundreds of malpractice cases for both patients and hospitals. He described cases like Johnson's as having a 'smoking gun' hidden in the records.

Johnson, 59, spent 10 months believing she was cancer free after receiving the letter in 2015, before she got a second opinion confirming the aggressive cancer remained active

The hospital acknowledged one discrepancy in Johnson's medical records but said it was the result of 'a clerical error' by an employee who confused Johnson and another patient with the same last name

Johnson's lawyers say two hospital employees opened her electronic records and edited them, deleting evidence of the erroneous letter claiming she was free of cancer

Garrett's report, which was filed as part of Johnson's medical malpractice lawsuit, said that after Johnson's mammogram, a radiology technician named Barb Hafer left a comment in the medical record saying Johnson needed to return for a biopsy.

The code she entered in the dropdown menu, which dictates the notification letter automatically generated and mailed to the patient, was 'NEG,' for 'negative.' This explains why Johnson received the cancer-free letter, her attorneys said.

For nearly two years those notations remained in Johnson's medical record, Garrett's report said. But that changed after she filed her lawsuit in late 2016.

In a reaction to the lawsuit, two hospital employees opened her electronic records and edited them, deleting evidence of the erroneous letter claiming she was free of cancer, Johnson's lawyers said.

The hospital then created fake letters and produced them as part of the court case purporting to have directed Johnson to seek additional tests, Johnson alleges in court filings.

Johnson and Fleming County Hospital reached a $1.25 million settlement in April 2018, enough to defray the significant cost of her ongoing cancer treatments

When questioned under oath, the doctor who oversaw Johnson's medical care pointed to the newly generated letters as evidence Johnson was to blame for her own treatment delay, court records show.

A spokeswoman for LifePoint Health, the hospital chain that purchased Fleming County Hospital seven months after Johnson's mammogram in 2015, declined to comment to NBC, noting that Johnson's lawsuit is pending before the Kentucky Supreme Court.

LifePoint Health, the hospital chain that purchased Fleming County Hospital seven months after Johnson's mammogram in 2015, was not part of an original settlement in the case that is still pending

Johnson's lawyers and her family say they do not believe the hospital's explanations

Lawyers for the hospital chain dismissed Johnson's allegations in legal filings and during court hearings as 'a conspiracy theory' that cannot be substantiated because the electronic records system the hospital used for mammograms at the time is now defunct and was prone to glitches.

The hospital acknowledged one discrepancy in Johnson's medical records but said it was the result of 'a clerical error' by an employee who confused Johnson and another patient with the same last name.

Johnson and Fleming County Hospital reached a $1.25 million settlement in April 2018, enough to defray the significant cost of her ongoing cancer treatments.

The hospital's new owner, LifePoint Health, was not part of the settlement. Johnson's case continued against Fleming County Hospital, now owned by the for-profit hospital chain, and other medical providers.

Johnson's lawyers and her family, including husband Delbert Johnson, said they do not believe the hospital's explanations.

'I tend to put my trust in doctors and professionals, the system even,' Delbert Johnson said. 'But they failed Kim and tried to hide it.'
Companion bills filed in the Texas House and Senate, seeking to do away with hurdles facing charter schools that try to open or expand, have bipartisan support but will move the sharp debate over their rapid growth into the legislative arena.

Supporters of Senate Bill 28, called the Charter School Equity Act, say it would level the playing field for new and existing charter schools across the state by preventing local governments from treating them differently from traditional public schools and by relaxing state controls.

Advocates for traditional public school districts say the playing field is tilted in favor of charter schools and the way to level it would require more state oversight and local input, not less.

Among other changes, Senate Bill 28 and its accompanying House Bill 3279 would require open-enrollment charter schools to be considered public school districts for the purposes of zoning, permitting, (subdivision) plat approvals, fees or other assessments, construction or site development work, code compliance, development and any other type of local government approval..

This would reduce the red tape that charter schools face from local authorities after being approved to operate by state officials, the bills sponsors say.

It also would make it impossible for cities to act in ways that were advocated by the superintendents of the two largest school districts in Bexar County in 2018, when they suggested San Antonio could use its zoning authority to geographically restrict charter expansion to prevent financial damage to traditional public schools.

We think charter schools, and open-enrollment charter schools, are good for the state of Texas. Thats the bottom line here, said the Senate bills sponsor, Sen. Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston, in a recent online news conference. We are simply putting charter schools on the equity they should have. No city should treat charter schools differently than how they treat somebody else.

On ExpressNews.com: Northside, North East leaders say city can slow charter schools

Charter schools looking to open or expand in Texas must apply and receive approval from the Texas Education Agency and the State Board of Education. The Texas commissioner of education  who is appointed by the governor  and the elected SBOE review applications and conduct interviews, but the board can only veto new charter approvals the commissioner presents to it. The commissioner alone decides expansion requests.

If denied, a charter school has no way to appeal, and the bills would create an appeals process for those that land within 10 percentage points of the score needed to receive approval.

The current rigor of the application process, coupled with local regulations, permits and fees, have left many applicants out of the running, advocates say.

Local government officials are abusing their authority and blocking or delaying new charter schools from opening, even if there is overwhelming community demand for the school, said Starlee Coleman, CEO of the Texas Public Charter Schools Association, during the news conference.

Four out of five applications for new charters are denied by the TEA before they even get to make their case before the SBOE, Coleman added, even when the schools are seeking to open in areas where there are underperforming public schools.

There was some tentative verbal support, but no formal action, from San Antonio City Council members in response to the 2018 call for a public conversation on how the city might find ways to actively limit charter expansion. The pitch was made by Northside Independent School District Superintendent Brian Woods and North East ISDs then-superintendent, Brian Gottardy.

An association spokesman provided other examples of what he said were discriminatory regulatory hurdles in San Antonio, including Councilman John Courages attempt, also in 2018, to get the city to reject a tax-exempt status for bonds that would finance new charter school facilities. In a hearing on a different piece of legislation, the San Antonio Water System this year testified against exempting charters from paying impact fees when developing new buildings  a break that the state granted to traditional public schools in 2007, the spokesman said.

But public school advocates say Bettencourts proposals would remove what little oversight local elected officials have over charter proliferation.

Right now communities have almost no say on whether a charter school comes in or not, said Kevin Brown, executive director of the Texas Association of School Administrators.

Required Reading: Get San Antonio education news sent directly to your inbox

Brown, who led Alamo Heights ISD as superintendent for 10 years, said leveling the playing field should include requiring charter schools to seek voter approval for funding their expansion and to elect their boards.

Anytime a charter school is being considered in a local community, that local community should have a large amount of input, Brown said. And right now they just dont have that. So I think there should be much more transparency at the local level.

If anything, the SBOE should have more input, not less, on any expansion that would result in public school districts sharing taxpayer funds to educate students, Brown added.

Woods, the Northside ISD superintendent, said the bills, in their current form, ignore the public process that all public school districts must go through to fund and build a new campus. Planning takes years, and voters decide if they want to fund it, Woods said. School districts then have to work with cities and counties to assess the impact of construction in certain areas and get the project approved.

We elect school board members, city council members and county judges to make decisions locally because they know the community, Woods said. And this (legislation) is just another example, in a long line of examples, where local control seems not to be prioritized in the Texas Legislature.

The bills have attracted bipartisan support. The sponsor of the House version, Rep. Harold Dutton of Houston, is a Democrat. The Senate Committee on Educations chairman, Larry Taylor, R-Friendswood, and its vice-chairman, Eddie Lucio Jr., D- Brownsville, are two of the 12 co-authors of the Senate version.

Im proud to join as an author on this effort, Lucio said during last weeks news conference. Senate Bill 28 would ensure charters do not face additional red tape so that parents are not arbitrarily denied access if they chose to send their children to charter schools.

danya.perez@express-news.net
An upstart suburban Democratic politico pushes back against his colleagues with bill that has good intentions but probably isn't even worth printing given infinitesimal chances of acceptance in GOP-dominated Topeka.



Still, from our vantage, what's interesting is the "non-profit news" laser focus on this issue and a great deal of resources commuted to a culture war battle which impacts a relatively minuscule segment of the population.



Read more . . .


Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism.
ATLANTA, March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Georgia chapter (CAIR-Georgia) and national office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) today expressed strong solidarity with the Asian-American community after mass shootings at three different businesses in the Atlanta area took the lives of eight people. At least six of the victims are reported to be Asian and seven of the eight victims are women.

In a statement, CAIR also called for a full hate crime investigation into the shooting, which occurred amid a rise in bias crimes targeting Asian-Americans since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

SEE: 'Act of hate': Atlanta spa shootings spark national outrage

SEE ALSO: Georgia State Senator Warned of Asian Hate Crimes on Monday

CAIR-Georgia Executive Director Abdullah Jaber said in a statement today:

"The Georgia Muslim community mourns the senseless deaths of our Asian-American sisters and brothers. We extend our condolences to the families of the victims and the entire Asian-American community inside and outside of Georgia.

"Although we still need to learn more about how and why these attacks happened, hate and animosity against communities of color, particularly targeting women and the elderly is not new. CAIR-Georgia will extend any help and support needed in this moment and continue to stand against hate and bigotry in all its ugly forms."



In a statement, CAIR-Georgia Legal and Policy Director Murtaza Khwaja said:



"The hate against the Asian-American community has and continues to be stoked by the incendiary tenor of the racist rhetoric of some elected officials. From pejoratively dubbing the coronavirus the 'China virus' to the xenophobic immigration policies of yesterday and today, women, lower income families, and people of color continue to be the primary victims. Yesterday's tragedy must be investigated for what it appears to be, a hate crime."

Over the past year, CAIR has repeatedly spoken out against anti-Asian hate crime attacks that have taken place across the nation amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

In March 2020, CAIR condemned Trump's use of the racist dog whistle "Chinese virus" and CAIR Board Chair Roula Allouch wrote the op-ed , "Asian-Americans Deserve Our Solidarity, Not Bigotry."

In a statement, CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad said:

"We strongly condemn these horrific shootings and express our unwavering solidarity with our Asian-American neighbors who have been repeatedly targeted by hateful attacks in recent months and years. It is long past time for all public officials to confront the vile racism and irrational bigotry that is spreading like wildfire across our nation."

The American Muslim community and CAIR stand in solidarity with all those challenging anti-Black racism, xenophobia, Islamophobia, anti-Semitism, white supremacy, and all other forms of bigotry.

CAIR-Georgia is part of is America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.

La mision de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprension del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.

CONTACT: Executive Director Abdullah Jaber, 678-631-9697, [email protected]; Communications and Outreach Director Azka Mahmood, 678-653-5822, [email protected]. CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, [email protected]

SOURCE Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)

Related Links

http://www.cair.com


March 17, 2021

The New Yellow Peril - Causes And Effects

The New York Times reports of a mass murdering of Asian people near Atlanta. Its front page summary says: "The motive for the killings was unclear."

However, the suspect, one Robert Aaron Long, does not leave much doubt about his motive.

The guy thinks that China has covered up the source of the Covid virus and thus declared China to be "THE GREATEST EVIL OF OUR TIME".

One wonders how that "unclear motive" got planted into the dude's mind.

Could the 12.210 search results for "Wuhan lab" at the New York Times' website be related to it?

Or stuff like this?

U.S. Southern Command @Southcom - 14:11 UTC  Mar 16, 2021 #SOUTHCOM Commander Adm. Faller at #SASC: "The Chinese Communist Party, with its insidious & corrupt influence seeks regional & global economic dominance... #China is quickly growing its influence here in our hemisphere." @deptofdefense @theJointStaff

Posted by b on March 17, 2021 at 10:21 UTC | Permalink

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China removed a total of 23 illegal social organizations in the first two months of 2021, according to sources with the Ministry of Civil Affairs on Tuesday.

Under related laws and regulations, all social organizations in China should lawfully register under the ministry before starting their operations, said the ministry's social organization management bureau.

To warn the public against the risk of being tricked into scams, the ministry released the first list of 10 illegal social organizations in February. It encouraged the public to report any evidence, or leads, related to illegal social organizations.

The ministry will enhance the monitoring, investigation and crackdown on illegal social organizations, said an official with the ministry's social organization management bureau.
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Former President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that he wants his supporters to get the "great" COVID-19 vaccines developed during his presidency.

Trump urged supporters to take COVID-19 vaccines

In a Fox News interview with Maria Bartiromo, Trump expressed his displeasure with several Republicans who think they don't want to be in charge. "I would recommend it, and I would suggest it to a lot of people who are hesitant to receive it. And, to be honest, a lot of those people voted for me," Trump added.

According to a poll released last week by NPR, PBS, and Marist, 41% of Republicans do not want to get vaccinated, compared to 34% of independents and 11% of Democrats. President Joe Biden, who said last week that enough vaccines would be available for all Americans to sign up for vaccinations in May, mocked Trump's potential leverage on his followers on Monday.

According to Biden, local doctors and religious figures have more influence over "MAGA folks," who barely addresses Trump by name. "I shared it with my team, and they said what the local doctor, what the local preacher, what the local people in the neighborhood say had more impact than anything Trump might say to the MAGA folks," Biden said.

Biden's Border Policies Cause Smuggling of People

As president, Trump oversaw the federal Operation Warp Speed, which invested billions in coronavirus vaccine research and development, and he scoffed at Biden's statements of credit for speeding up delivery. When Trump was president, the first two vaccines, from Pfizer and Moderna, were approved.

Trump, unlike President Joe Biden, did not undergo the vaccine in person. Still, Fox News reported earlier this month that he and former First Lady Melania Trump both got their vaccines privately at the White House in January. Trump used the opportunity to condemn Biden for attempting to claim credit for his vaccination achievements, reminding Bartiromo that without his administration's attempts to secure FDA emergency approval, Americans would be without a vaccine for years.

"We've been going around the clock, and what I got the FDA to do, if I hadn't gotten involved, this would have happened... many, many years from now," he said. Trump praised his administration for taking a "big risk" on improving "the vaccine before we knew what works."

Democrats Pressure Biden on Taxes in Infrastructure Bill

Donald Trump: It's a great vaccine'

Few individuals refuse to take the COVID-19 vaccine because they are afraid of side effects or other medical complications, although the vaccines are effective in several trials. According to polls, Republican men and Trump supporters are among the most opposed to the vaccines, as per USA Today.

Trump was the first former president who declined to appear in a public service announcement urging Americans to take up vaccine shots. Biden said on Monday that he would not wait for Trump's assistance in getting people vaccinated.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, a top medical expert to both Trump and Biden, had encouraged the former president to ask supporters to get vaccinated, stating that it would make a big difference. During his address at the Conservative Political Action Conference on February 28, Trump, who developed coronavirus in early October during the presidential race, voiced enthusiasm for the COVID-19 vaccines.

Trump said it's too early to predict if he'll try again in 2024 though protesting the election and criticizing his opponents. Trump also chastised Meghan Markle for her latest criticism of the British royal family, denying claims that she is contemplating a presidential bid.

Trump Aids Biden's Stimulus Bill, Leaves a Massive Cash Pile

@ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Hong Kong: 1.1k wage subsidy complaints heard

The Government today said that as of March 9, the Employment Support Scheme (ESS) Secretariat had received 1,105 complaint cases, more than half of which involve unreasonable reduction in the number of employees or redundancy, or both.

Secretary for Labour & Welfare Dr Law Chi-kwong told legislators that the secretariat has completed investigations for 1,069 complaint cases and replied to the complainants.

Dr Law said the secretariat and the processing agent have been proactively and seriously following up reported cases.

Of the 1,069 cases which have been concluded with investigations, 608 employers are confirmed to have not complied with the terms and conditions of the ESS.

The secretariat will request those employers to return to the Government the unspent balance of wage subsidies or pay a penalty in respect of their failure to maintain the committed headcount of paid employees, or both.

Additionally, the secretariat has referred 274 cases concerning the Employment Ordinance or complaints on labour disputes relating to employment terms to the Labour Department for follow-up.

It also referred two cases to Customs, as well as one report or complaint case to the Immigration Department and the Inland Revenue Department.

The 23 complaint cases concerning Mandatory Provident Fund contributions made by employers have been referred to the MPF Authority.

This story has been published on: 2021-03-17. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
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Partial vaccination with the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is estimated to be 63 percent effective for preventing new severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections among residents from skilled nursing facilities (SNFs), according to research published in the March 15 early-release issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

Amadea Britton, M.D., from the CDC COVID-19 Emergency Response Team, and colleagues describe two SNFs experiencing COVID-19 outbreaks among residents and staff members after administration of the first Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine at each facility. Information was obtained on resident vaccination status and infection with SARS-CoV-2.

A total of 463 residents were enrolled: 142 and 321 from facilities A and B, respectively. During the investigation period, there were 97 cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection: 40 and 57 at facilities A and B, respectively. The researchers found that the estimated effectiveness was 63 percent against SARS-CoV-2 infection (regardless of symptoms) for partial vaccination, defined as the period from more than 14 days after the first dose through seven days after the second dose.

"These results, coupled with the findings from a previous study among comparable older adult populations in Israel that reported more robust protection after the second dose, suggest that complete two-dose vaccination is an important strategy for preventing COVID-19 in this disproportionately affected population," the authors write.

Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak

Copyright  2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Hes a nine-time Academy Award nominee, nabbing the Oscar once back in 1993.

And on Tuesday, Al Pacino was seen outside his hotel in Milan, Italy, where he was taking selfies with a crowd of enthusiastic and masked fans.

The Scarface actor, 80, is in Italy to shoot the new Ridley Scott film House of Gucci, costarring Lady Gaga, Jared Leto and Adam Driver.

On Tuesday: Al Pacino was seen outside his hotel in Milan, Italy, where he was taking selfies with a crowd of enthusiastic and masked fans

The screen legend wore a black overcoat and a black and white striped scarf.

Underneath, he sported a matching black shirt with a zipper going down the center.

Al made sure to stay protected in a black disposable face mask, as he stood next to several fans who snapped selfies with him.

He had a large black ring on one finger, displaying a cross.

Ready for his close-up: The Scarface actor, 80, is in Italy to shoot the new Ridley Scott film House of Gucci

Formal: The screen legend wore a black overcoat and a black and white striped scarf

The octogenarian film star wore his clear spectacles up in his hair, and sported amber wayfarer sunglasses as he smiled for pictures and signed autographs.

Pacino is portraying Aldo Gucci, in the true crime story recounting how the ex-wife of Maurizio Gucci, grandson and heir of fashion patriarch Guccio Gucci, plotted to kill him back in the 1980s.

Lady G and Star Wars veteran Driver are playing the main couple, and have been spotted by paparazzi and on social media rocking various fashionable retro looks.

Protected: Al made sure to stay protected in a black disposable face mask, as he stood next to several fans who snapped selfies with him

Enjoying the attention: The octogenarian film star wore his clear spectacles up in his hair, and sported amber wayfarer sunglasses as he smiled for pictures and signed autographs

Meanwhile, Oscar winner Leto was recently seen looking unrecognizable in his role as Paolo Gucci, Aldos son.

The film is currently slated for release in time for Thanksgiving this year, on November 24th.

House of Gucci is something of a departure for director Scott, 83, who is most known for acclaimed sci-fi fare like Alien and Blade Runner along with giant epics such as Gladiator.

Stars: Lady Gaga and Adam Driver are playing the leads in the film, a true crime story recounting how the ex-wife of Maurizio Gucci, grandson and heir of fashion patriarch Guccio Gucci, plotted to kill him back in the 1980s; seen here filming last week

Pacinos sighting in Italy comes as the entire country has been sent into a third lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic.

According to the New York Times, Prime Minister Mario Draghi said the country is facing a 'new wave of contagion' that looks to be following similar situations in Germany and France.

While new variants of the virus are to blame, botched and slowed down vaccine rollouts are also causing problems.
Patna, March 17 : Bihar's Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav on Wednesday gave fresh proofs against Land Reforms and Revenue Minister Ram Surat Rai, who is alleged to be involved in a liquor smuggling case.

Tejashwi, while referring to the case diary of November 8, 2020, said that the police has mentioned that the school where the incident came to light belonged to Ram Surat Rai's brother Hansraj Rai.

Moreover, one of the pickup vans having registration number (BR 06 C 1996), used for unloading liquor from trucks is registered in Hansraj Rai's name.

"I always talk with proofs whether in the House or at any public platform. Now, the Bihar police diary states that the school premises and the pickup van used in liquor smuggling belong to Hansraj Rai. What more evidence does Nitish Kumar want?" Tejashwi said.

"Thirteen persons have been booked in connection with liquor smuggling including Hansraj Rai, his nephew Sanjeet Rai and Amrendra Kumar Kushwaha. Kushwaha's brother Ansubhashkar Kushwaha claimed that when the process of unloading the liquor consignment from Haryana into four pickup vans was underway inside the school on November 8, 2020, Amrendra informed the local police about it," Tejashwi said.

"I want the Bihar Police to put the call details of Amrendra Kushwaha, Bochaha police station, Hansraj Rai and Minister Ram Surat Rai in public domain so that everything is clear. The minister claimed that he does not have ties with his brother for the last 10 years. The call details will clear the air," Tejashwi said.

"Interestingly, the Bihar Police arrested Amrendra Kushwaha who was the complainant and the real culprits are still roaming free. I want to ask Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who is also the Home Minister and the Bihar Police comes under him, whether he is courageous enough to arrest Hansraj Rai and Sanjeet Rai?" he said.

"Amrendra's brother Ansubhashkar Kushwaha informed me that two relatives of Minister Ram Surat Rai went to his house in Muzaffarpur and threatened his mother and father to take the blame for liquor smuggling," Tejashwi said.

"We have demanded that Nitish Kumar arrest Hansraj Rai and Sanjeet Rai by April 1, the liquor prohibition day. If he is unable to arrest them despite strong evidence, then he should open liquor vends inside the CM house and official residences of every minister so that they have easy access to it," Tejashwi said.

"Ram Surat Rai is threatening to file a defamation case against me. He should do it quickly so that I could answer him appropriately," the Leader of Opposition said.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
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NEW YORK, March 16, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- LiquidX, the global technology platform for working capital, trade finance, and insurance, is pleased to welcome Banco Bradesco to its network. Banco Bradesco, founded in 1943, is the second largest private sector bank in Brazil by total assets, serving clients through 79.9 thousand Service Points, 70 million customers, and 32.3 million account holders.



Over 50 liquidity providers are now on the LiquidX platform, providing flexible access for funding all working capital needs through a single access and interface.

Jim Toffey, CEO of LiquidX, commented, Were thrilled about Banco Bradesco joining the platform. Weve been very eager to expand our customer-base to Latin America, and were fortunate to be working with a bank of Bradescos size and reputation. Bradescos clients can transact in accounts receivable, supply chain finance, and trade credit insurance  all within a single intuitive interface. These clients dont have to work with multiple applications and vendors to manage their working capital, as they will have the full suite of transaction functionality in a single web-based screen to transact smarter, faster, and cheaper.

As the most valuable brand in Latin America and present in the United States since 1982, we are happy to join LiquidX to increase our supply chain financing capability, following our customers needs in line with our new determination to have our customers at the center of our decision making, said Eduardo Waddington, Senior Corporate Banker for North America. Some of our most important US multinational clients are already engaged in this next generation financial technology and we intend to expand our presence with other US companies that have some kind of Brazilian connection.

About LiquidX

LiquidX is a leading global technology company that enables corporate finance professionals to transact faster, smarter, and cheaper by digitizing their trade finance and working capital management. Headquartered in New York with offices in Boston, London, and Singapore, LiquidX delivers the industry-leading ecosystem for working capital assets to its diverse network of global participants including multinational corporations, banks, institutional investors, and insurance providers. LiquidX incorporates blockchain technology and machine learning analytics to greatly enhance transparency, reporting, and forecasting for financial professionals. To learn more about our next generation solutions please visit www.liquidx.com.

Media Contact: Sue Hinton

LiquidX

shinton@liquidx.com | +1 917-362-4518




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West Australian Liberal Party leader Zak Kirkup speaks to the media during a press conference outside the Parliament of Western Australia in Perth, Tuesday, November 24, 2020. (AAP Image/Richard Wainwright)

WA Labors Landslide Win Tells of More Than Just Lacklustre Liberal Leadership

Analysis

Labors stunning victory in Western Australiamore than any other in the states history was driven by a tandem of a weak, inexperienced Liberal Party and dangerously deified Labor leadership, independent candidates say.

At close to 60 percent of votes counted for the Western Australian Legislative Assembly, or lower house, the Labor party under Mark McGowan looks set to secure a crushing 50 out of 59 seatsin contrast with the Liberals, who under Zak Kirkup, secured a meagre two seats.

This is also the first time in the states history that the National partys seats have surpassed that of the Liberal party, garnering four seats in total.

The problem, independent candidate Jim Bivoltsis told The Epoch Times, was that Kirkup was inexperienced at 34 years of age and had no idea of leadership.

Bivoltsis pointed out that Kirkup, who had not completed his degree at Murdoch University, had never really experienced strong leadership positions in his working life.

Labor supporters watch the screen as Liberal leader Zak Kirkup gives a speech at the Gary Holland Community Centre in Rockingham, Australia, on Mar. 13, 2021. (Will Russell/Getty Images)

Kirkup also introduced several policies that did not appeal to many in the state, he said.

One such policy called for the closure of all coal-fired power stations in WA by 2025. While many shared the environmental sentiment, Bivoltsis argued, some suggested the policy seemed unrealistic and poorly planned, given the importance of coal-fired power plants to the Western Australian state.

His time frame and his structure for doing it just werent sound, Bivoltsis said.

Prior to election day, Kirkup also openly admitted defeat, suggesting that being honest was the best policy, a decision that made many in the electorate question his leadership.

However, experts believe that Labor, and McGowan, were set to win from the outset after external factors gave voters a positive view of the state government.

University of Western Australia professor and political scientist Ben Reilly told The Epoch Times that a significant contribution to the stunning landslide victory was the publics perception of the McGowan government.

Reilly noted that as a result of high iron ore prices, a substantial flow of royalties entered into the state budget, allowing the McGowan government to increase public funding in the state to more generous levels, with an emphasis on schools and hospitals.

Likewise, the state government benefited from the positive outcomes for Western Australia in the pandemic.

Under McGowan, WA was kept fairly free of the SARS-CoV-2 virus via a policy of hard borders and domestic travel approvals, which slowed down travel to and from the state, although this is disputed.

Andrea Tokaji, independent candidate and human rights lawyer, told The Epoch Times that it was really WAs geographic location that saved the state from the pandemic.

He did not save us from COVIDour geography did, Tokaji said.

Tokaji believes this does not warrant the degree of admiration illustrated by the public, given McGowans basic level of action. She also believes that the media has sensationalised McGowan, and the pandemic, to an unfettered extent.

I think the WA election results are reflective of a society deeply affected by propaganda in the media and a damaging demi-god like idolization of Mark McGowan, Takaji said.

After a landslide victory, re-elected Premier of WA Mark McGowan makes a speech with his family by his side at the Gary Holland Community Centre in Rockingham, Australia on Mar. 13, 2021. (Will Russell/Getty Images)

She is also troubled by the election results future influence on policy-making and approval.

As a legal academic teaching law, I am extremely concerned about the outcome of this election result, one that directly threatens our democracy and the balance of powers in our parliaments, Tokaji said.

No longer is there an opposition that can debate or vote against legislation that the Labor parliament wants to introduce, such as Victorias Conversion laws, which threatens freedom of religion, announced partway through the election.
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By now, most know what the cancel culture is: something you did in your past will be used to silence, stop, and cancel you. Whether its Mike Lindell, whose pillow company lost many retailers after he publicly questioned the election, or Goya Foods, who upset people when they thanked President Trump, the cancel culture doesnt tolerate opposing views. So much for being tolerant.

Do you see the irony? The cancel culture protects Cuties on Netflix and loves Cardi B lyrics, but they cant stand Bible verses, worship songs, or views that oppose them. Dr. Seuss is bad, Dumbo is a racist, and Speedy Gonzales offends. Granted, things from the past may need to be changed from time to time, but if you focus on childrens books and cartoon characters and say nothing against child porn, human trafficking, or the killing of innocent children in the womb, youve lost all credibility.

The Church  Friend or Foe?

I am not especially surprised by the actions of the world; it is simply being true to its fallen nature. Rather, its the actions of the so-called church that are disturbing. In 2020, the cancel culture in the church became a reality for me. I was scheduled to speak at a church in Palos Verdes, California, but when the assistant pastor found out that my political views differed from his, he complained to the elders, and just like that, I was canceled  never mind the fact that my message didnt even touch on politics. Listen to it here, and let me know if a church should cancel this type of message or if its exactly what we need to hear.

I received another surprise in May of 2020. I had been corresponding with Pastor Jack Hibbs about opening our church on May 31. Once we decided to open, I was shocked by how many pastors came against us. I even shared with one prominent pastor in my area how happy I was when Pastor John MacArthur and the elders at Grace Community Church also opened. To my utter dismay, he wasnt happy at all.

By this time, the shenanigans and the agendas of many political leaders were becoming apparent (more here). We not only had a legitimate virus to deal with but we had agendas and ulterior motives working against us as well. Would churches capitulate and use Romans 13 out of context, or would they meet to fast, pray, and contend for the truth? Would they be cowards or watchmen?

Around this time, our local newspaper also canceled my articles, which had been featured for over a decade. Many liberal Christians no doubt complained and swayed the editor. Facebook also shadow banned me, causing our audience to drop from a quarter-million people per month to around ten thousand. Apparently, my views didnt fit their narratives. They, along with YouTube, also banned my video on vaccines and immunity and removed some of my sermons.

My View is the Right View, So They Say

One local pastor, who still hadnt opened his church a year into COVID, told me that I was actually hurting the Gospel because of my views. Apparently, youre not allowed to share solid biblical teaching if you hold beliefs that oppose liberal Christians. Youre hurting the Gospel with your views unless your views align with my views, so they say.

Then in July 2020 I was hit again. We held church services at JetHawk Stadium in Lancaster, California, and it wasnt primarily unbelievers who were complaining. Other Christians and pastors were gossiping and backbiting. It is telling that none of them seemed to be excited that over 10,000 people attended the 4-month event and we had over 150 baptisms, the majority of which were spontaneous.

Sadly, within the church, the cancel culture is often fueled by jealousy and arrogance. They dont think like I think, so God cannot be using them, goes the reasoning. There have been other groups throughout the ages who behaved in similar ways  the Pharisees come to mind, as well as the pastors and denominations who have stood against many of the past revivals simply because God had the audacity to use someone else and in a way that differed from them.

So while the cancel culture is not a new thing, it is new in America, and its on the rise. Our nation is increasingly polarized, with people unable to have civil conversations with those who have dissimilar views, and who actually take pleasure in destroying the lives and livelihoods of those who dare to have a different opinion.

Pleasing Man Rather Than God

As I wrote last week in my article on why churches should open, all pastors relate to COVID differently depending on their perspective and circumstances. They are under tremendous pressure and need more grace, not less. Im sure that many do much good in their communities, and for that, I applaud them. However, I dont think cowardliness should go unchecked, for iron sharpens iron (Proverbs 27:17).

Let me state up front that without the Spirit of God, Im a coward. Without deep seasons of prayer and fasting, Im weak. Without extended times of heartfelt worship where I weep, repent, and realign my heart with Christ, I would drift from God. My heart breaks for the church, but the truth is that many Christians are being influenced by social media rather than by Gods Spirit and spend more time criticizing others rather than looking in the mirror and more time reading left-leaning liberals instead of reading and applying Gods Word. Like Samson, they do not know that the Spirit has departed (Judges 16:20).

Sadly, many pastors are joining the cancel culture, keeping their church doors locked and aligning with ungodly organizations because they have either lost the compass of truth or the boldness of the Spirit  or possibly both. They are distant from Christ, and therefore seek to be pleasers of men rather than lovers of God: For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ (Galatians 1:10).

They may cancel people, ideas, concepts, videos, articles, and sermons, but they can never cancel God!
If you seek to lessen the intensity of the culture wars, the question, Pinker contends, is how to climb back down.

Taking a lesson, interestingly, from nuclear arms control, Pinker cites a tactic called GRIT: Graduated Reciprocation in Tension-Reduction, in which

one side makes a small unilateral concession with a public invitation that it be reciprocated. Some concession on one side  admitting that the other side may have a point, or that they be mistaken but not evil, could set off a virtuous circle.

In effect, Pinker is proposing that liberals and Democrats take the initiative to neutralize what Lilliana Mason, a political scientist at the University of Maryland, describes as the damage resulting from the declining number of people holding crosscutting stands on key issues.

In her 2016 paper A Cross-Cutting Calm: How Social Sorting Drives Affective Polarization, Mason explains that

As long as the social divisions in society are crosscutting, partisans of opposing parties are still able to generally get along. However, once these cleavages begin to align along a single dimension, partisan conflict is expected to increase substantially. The crosscutting divisions work to moderate political rancor.

In other words, when significant numbers of voters and elected officials hold what in our contemporary alignment are ideologically contradictory views  pro-abortion rights and anti-affirmative action, for example, or pro-immigration and anti-gay marriage  the less they see the opposition party as an enemy. Conversely, as voters and politicians sort into ideologically consistent camps (anti-tax, anti-abortion, anti-welfare, anti-affirmative action, antisocial spending, pro-defense, anti-immigration, on one side) the more they will see the opposition as their enemy and will refuse to cooperate with or even tolerate them.

Mason cited a study that followed the same voters in the 1990s and

found that those individuals whose level of partisan-ideological sorting had increased during the course of the panel were far angrier after sorting than they had been before sorting.

Put another way, Mason writes,

When a single person went through a process of aligning their partisan and ideological identities, they came out the other end angrier than they entered, but no more policy extreme.

Shanto Iyengar, a political scientist at Stanford, writing with four colleagues, described the process by which partisan hostility escalates in a 2019 paper, The Origins and Consequences of Affective Polarization in the United States.

Several features of the contemporary environment have exacerbated partisans proclivity to divide the world into a liked in-group (ones own party) and a disliked out-group (the opposing party), Iyengar et al. write:

As partisan and ideological identities became increasingly aligned, other salient social identities, including race and religion, also converged with partisanship. White evangelicals, for instance, are Overwhelmingly Republican today, and African Americans overwhelmingly identify as Democrats. This decline of crosscutting identities is at the root of affective polarization.

The focus of the Biden administration on economic issues is, in part, a strategy to apply crosscutting pressures on white working class voters who have moved to the Republican Party.

While culturally conservative, many of these voters remain liberal on economic policy, suggesting that a Democrat who lowers the temperature on cultural issues while stressing an expansion of economic benefits could make inroads with this constituency. Even small inroads would provide huge political dividends.

In this context, one of the things Biden has going for him is the likelihood of strong economic growth in the near future. Neil Irwin reported in The Times on March 13, in 17 Reasons to Let the Economic Optimism Begin that

Things are also primed for a boom time in the executive suite. C.E.O. confidence is at a 17-year high, and near-record stock market valuations imply that companies have access to very cheap capital . Crises spur innovation.

Ben Casselman, writing on Feb. 21 in The Times, was decidedly optimistic:

Economists have begun to talk of something stronger: a supercharged rebound that brings down unemployment, drives up wages and may foster years of stronger growth.

The steady diminution of Donald Trumps presence is a godsend for Biden (and not just Biden). As Politico reported on March 14, Trump was supposed to be a political Godzilla in exile. Instead, hes adrift.
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George Osborne today hit back in the Tory civil war over China as he praised Boris Johnson for 'seeing off the hotheads' who he claimed want to start a 'new Cold War' with Beijing.

The ex-chancellor said he sees 'a lot of continuity' between the Prime Minister's new strategy for relations with China, published yesterday, and the 'golden era' approach he took when he was in power.

Mr Osborne said the PM 'should be congratulated' for facing down Conservative hawks who are demanding the Government take a tougher stance against China.

His comments are likely to pour fuel on the fire as Mr Johnson faces a growing Tory revolt over his Integrated Review.

The security document calls for 'deeper trade links' with China despite also admitting it is a 'systemic' threat to the West.

George Osborne today hit back in the Tory civil war over China as he praised Boris Johnson for 'seeing off the hotheads' who he claimed want to start a 'new Cold War' with Beijing

Some Tory MPs believe the PM's new Integrated Review is too soft on China and want the Government to take a tougher approach

Tory defence select committee chief Tobias Ellwood said he had hoped Mr Johnson would take the opportunity to 'call out' China for the 'geo-strategic threat it is'.

Intelligence committee chair Julian Lewis warned the 'grasping naivety of the Cameron-Osborne years' towards China 'still lingers' in some departments.

Mr Osborne had promised a 'golden era for the UK-China relationship' when he was in power and said the two nations should 'stick together'.

Today he told the House of Lords' International Relations and Defence Committee that he believes Mr Johnson is correct to recognise the 'threat' posed by China while also seeking to 'engage' with the country.

He said: China is changing, becoming more assertive, but the question of how you deal with it has not changed.

And that to me is why I think Boris Johnson should be congratulated for seeing off the hotheads who want to launch some new Cold War with China and instead promoting an approach that is realistic about the threat that China poses but also wants to engage in the opportunity.

'Talks about increasing trade, talks about increasing investment from China and essentially tries to co-opt China rather than confront China and to me that was the approach back then and it is the approach today.

Mr Osborne said he believed his approach of 'engaging with China in a more meaningful and deeper relationship that recognised the threat but also sought to try and co-opt China into the international order' was 'realistic'.

He added: It was a deeper relationship and frankly reading the Governments security document that they published yesterday, I see a lot of continuity in what is being proposed now and I very much welcome that.

Mr Osborne said there 'have been things that China has done that are not acceptable' as he mentioned interference in Hong Kong and 'suppression' of the Uighur people in Xinjiang province.

He said many issues of concern were frequently raised with Beijing during the years of the Coalition Government.

He added: What has not changed is the question of what do you do about this situation.

Mr Johnson's security review adopted a much softer tone on China than to Russia, saying that although it is an 'authoritarian state' it will be 'an increasingly important partner'.

Mr Johnson told MPs that the Government had been at the forefront of criticising Beijing over human rights abuses.

'There is no question that China will pose a great challenge for an open society such as ours,' he said. 'But we will also work with China where that is consistent with our values and interests.'
Louis Theroux has announced plans for a new Joe Exotic documentary for BBC Two, a decade after he first met the now-jailed Tiger King star.

The documentary maker, 50, first encountered the charismatic but troubled Exotic, 58, when filming America's Most Dangerous Pets in 2011 - nine years before he shot to worldwide fame in Netflix series Tiger King: Murder, Madness, and Mayhem.

He will now return to Oklahoma for a feature length film - under the working title 'Louis Theroux: The Cult of Joe Exotic' - to explore what happened over the next decade.

He's back: Louis Theroux has announced plans for a new Joe Exotic documentary for BBC Two, a decade after he first met the now-jailed Tiger King star (above in America's Most Dangerous Pets in 2011)

Now, Exotic, formerly the owner of the GW Exotic Animal Park, is serving a 22-year prison sentence after being convicted of plotting a murder-for-hire against rival Carole Baskin, owner of the Big Cat sanctuary.

Regarding his new documentary, Louis said in a statement: 'This is one of those quintessentially American stories, taking place in the heartland of Oklahoma, with a cast of characters almost too colourful and larger-than-life to be believed.

'I spent eight or nine days filming at the park back in 2011, over the course of three separate visits. I'd forgotten how much we shot until I went back into the footage during lockdown.

'It's extraordinary how much was there. Since then the story just got stranger and bigger, and in going back at the end of last year I uncovered a real-life drama that took me in directions I never could have expected.'

Sensation: The documentary maker, 50, first encountered the charismatic but troubled Exotic, 58, when filming World's Most Dangerous Pets in 2011 - nine years before he shot to worldwide fame in Netflix series Tiger King: Murder, Madness, and Mayhem (above)

The project is yet to receive a confirmed air date on BBC Two.

Clare Sillery - BBC's head of commissioning, documentaries, history and religion - added: 'In this follow-up to Louis' revelatory first-look at the life of Joe Exotic in 'America's Most Dangerous Pets', viewers will be taken even more deeply into the weird world of one of America's most notorious figures.

'This feature-length special will be full to the brim with never-before-seen footage and brand new interviews with those on all sides of the Joe Exotic story.'

Louis has previously spoken about his time filming with the former zoo owner, telling The Sunday Times he had 'no idea' the big cat breeder would be involved in a murder-for hire case, and simply thought he was 'pretty weird'.

Louis revealed: 'It was hard to dislike the man himself, maybe because he seemed neither to be hiding many of his misdeeds nor to take himself too seriously.'

Take two: Louis has previously spoken about his time filming with the former zoo owner, telling The Sunday Times he had 'no idea' the big cat breeder would be involved in a murder-for hire case, and simply thought he was 'pretty weird'

And the British filmmaker revealed that even back then, Joe was obsessed with Carole even when filming his own documentary.

He said: 'Joes grudge against Carole preoccupied him when we filmed. He would rant about her, mentioning his belief that shed had one of her husbands killed.'

But despite the on-going feud and Joe's quirky personality, Louis said he never could have predicted that he would end up being caught up in the murder-for-hire case.

Tiger King became a worldwide sensation on Netflix as it chronicled the lives of big cat owners Joe Exotic, Carole Baskin and Doc Antle.

Exotic has served roughly two years of a 22-year sentence after he was convicted on 17 federal charges in 2019 for animal abuse and an attempted murder-for-hire plot on Baskin.

Behind bars: He was arrested in September of 2018 and later convicted on 17 federal charges of animal abuse and two counts of attempted murder for hire in his plot to kill Carole Baskin

The Kansas native requested a pardon from one-term President Donald Trump back in September, sending him a handwritten letter, later suing the Justice Department in December as a last-ditch effort.

Exotic also recently lashed out at Trump for deciding not to pardon him, accusing the former president of homophobia and saying he only pardoned his 'corrupt friends'.

The reality TV star had desperately hoped for a reprieve from the outgoing president.

'I was too innocent and too GAY to deserve a Pardon from Trump,' he tweeted on Wednesday afternoon.

Presidential pardon: The Kansas native requested a pardon from one-term President Donald Trump back in September, sending him a handwritten letter, later suing the Justice Department in December as a last-ditch effort (pictured in August, 2013)

He bitterly referenced the former president's son, who said he felt Exotic had been treated harshly.

'I only mattered to Don Jr. when he needed to make a comment about me to boost his social media post.

'Boy were we all stupid to believe he actually stood for Equal Justice? His corrupt friends all come first.'

He most recently hired a new legal team, as they plan to use unaired Tiger King footage to push for a new trial.

Attorney John Phillips of Phillips & Hunt, who previously represented the family of Baskin's missing husband Don Lewis, made the announcement in a video on Joe's Twitter.

He said: 'We are honored to announce that Joe has retained our firm. We're going to seek a new trial, and justice in the criminal and civil courts.'

Joe has also promised some juicy secrets in Tiger King: The Official Tell-All Memoir, which is set to set to be published in November.

He told E! News of the book: 'It's going to be a truth-tell book... Everybody that's ever done anything good, it's going to be in there and anybody that's got bones in your closet, you better look out.'
Two persons, George Asare and Madam Portia Mensah, have been charged by the Suhum Magistrate Court for insanitary bathhouse drain with blue-algae formation on their premises.



The two accused persons have been fined a sum of 1,800 Ghana cedis each or in default face six months imprisonment with hard labour by Mrs Cynthia Blagoggee, the Presiding Magistrate of the Suhum Court.



The accused persons after failing to comply with notices served on them by Environmental Health Officers pleaded guilty with an explanation, but their explanation was not accepted by the court which therefore fined the duo.



According to the prosecutor, Mr George Theophilus Agyalo, Senior Environmental Health Officer, the first accused person George Asare is a resident at Supresu a farming Community in the Suhum Municipality and an occupant of a house with the mess.



That on 27th October last year, Environmental Health Officers led by Mr Joe Gyato and Mr Isaac Yeboah on their normal routine, visited the premises of the accused person and they found an insanitary bathhouse drain with blue-algae formation.



Mr Agyalo said after the officers introduced themselves to the accused person, they then brought him to the scene of the mess and gave him abatement notice and came back for re-inspection on another day. But George Asare failed to comply with the orders given him.



He stated that on 20th January this year around 1500 hours when the summons was served on the accused person, the mess still existed and he refused to collect the summons but rather insulted the environmental officers to go and find better work to do. He was subsequently issued with a summons to appear before the court.



Mr Agyalo said the second accused person Portia Mensah is also a resident of Supresu a farming community in the Suhum municipality and an occupant of another house and that on the 27th October last year, two of their officers led by Mr Joe Gyato and Mr Isaac Yeboah on their normal routine found an insanitary bathhouse drain with blue-algae formation on the premises of the accused.



He said the accused person refused the collection of the abatement notice given to her by the Environmental Health Officers and also failed to comply with the directive of the officers to get rid of the mess created.



The prosecutor noted that on 20th January this year around 1500 hours when the summons was served on the accused person, the mess created still existed and she refused to collect the summons served on her saying, I will never come to court today or tomorrow unless you take me by force.



A bench warrant was subsequently issued for her arrest to face the law court.

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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The Society of Jesus, an influential Catholic Church order commonly known as the Jesuits, are planning to raise $100 million to give to descendants of slaves once owned by their members.

The money will go to a foundation created by descendants of slaves sold in 1838 by the Jesuits to help fund Georgetown University when it was in financial trouble, The New York Times reported.

This is an opportunity for Jesuits to begin a very serious process of truth and reconciliation, said the Rev. Timothy Kesicki, president of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States, as quoted by the NY Times.

Our shameful history of Jesuit slaveholding in the United States has been taken off the dusty shelf, and it can never be put back.

Source:The Christian Post
Managing Editor of the Insight newspaper, Kwesi Pratt has taken the explanations given by the publisher of the controversial History textbooks with a pinch of salt.



A Ghanaian local publishing house, Badu Nkansah Limited, publisher of the controversial textbooks says the books were leaked and that they intended not for them to be on the market yet since it has not fully met the assessment criteria of the National Council for Curriculum Assessment (NaCCA).



The books comprise History of Ghana for Basic 6 by Golden Publications which carries distasteful information about Ghana's first President, Dr Kwame Nkrumah and the CPP, History of Ghana Textbook 3 by Badu Nkansah Publications which features A song that shows the Ewes identity and Golden English Basic 4 by Golden Publications which displays Efo agress to prepare juju for the players on page 17.



The books have been described as offensive and derogatory after it described Ewes as ''juju loving'' people and also undermined their identity among others.



Spokesperson for the publisher, Mark Osei, speaking in an interview with Neat FM has apologized for the ''offensive description'' of Ewes in the publication.



We sincerely regret this which wont happen again'', he told host Akwasi Aboagye on NEAT FMs morning show ''Ghana Montie''.



He explained that although the book had satisfied most of the technical content requirements, the National Council for Curriculum Assessment (NaCCA) had informed them to work on certain aspects of the book to meet the expectations of the new curriculum but somehow the books found its way into the market.



Mark Osei revealed copies of the book were leaked but assured the public they're recalling the books and burn them.



Its unfortunate, all we will say is sorry but I can assure you that we will retrieve all and burn them in the public, he said.



But Kwesi Pratt finds the reasons ridiculous, asking how come the books have gone unto the market if indeed the publisher knows nothing about the leak.



To him, the explanation given doesn't add up saying ''this book has been printed and spotted in many book shops. This is not accidental. It's not like the publisher has printed about 50 or 100 for approval and so on. The book has been printed in large quantities. So, what they are saying is irrational; I can't accept it!''.



Mr. Pratt made his comments during a panel discussion with host Kwami Sefa Kayi on Peace FM's ''Kokrokoo''.





Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Addition of Expert Witness in London Expands Ankura's International Disputes Expertise

LONDON, March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Ankura, a global business advisory and expert services company, today announced the appointment of David Dearman as Senior Managing Director based in London. The addition of Mr. Dearman reaffirms Ankura's commitment to supporting clients across all regions by investing in talent in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) and Asia-Pacific (APAC).

"I am excited to welcome David to Ankura as we continue to focus on leveraging our talented professionals to serve our clients on a global scale," said Mary Beth Edwards, Senior Managing Director and Disputes & Economics Group Leader. "David's diverse skillset adds depth to our talent base and builds upon our expertise in the UK. Our clients will benefit immensely from his significant global experience and expertise."

Mr. Dearman has more than 25 years' experience in international dispute advisory and expert witness services with a focus on cross border disputes and international arbitration, for which he is well-versed in preparing expert reports and giving oral evidence for fraud, money laundering and other financial investigations. He is one of the leading testifying experts in the United Kingdom, having provided oral evidence across a wide array of proceedings and on more than 35 occasions at hearings in the UK, United States, France, Dubai, Singapore, the Hague and Ireland. Prior to joining Ankura, Mr. Dearman was a partner for 18 years in two substantial audit, accountancy and business advisory practices. Most recently, he was global Co-Chair of the Forensic and Investigation Services team at a large international firm.

"As one of the leading testifying experts in the UK, David is a strong addition to our growing EMEA business," said Simon Michaels, Ankura's Chairman of EMEA and APAC. "David brings the global knowledge and financial expertise to augment our service offerings in this critically important region. He embraces our culture, and I am confident he will be an invaluable resource for our clients and our people."

"I look forward to working with Ankura's team in London and across the globe to supplement its formidable expertise in financial disputes with my experience in international dispute advisory and as an expert witness," said Mr. Dearman. "The firm's strong bench of expert testifiers and wealth of knowledge in accounting and valuation positions Ankura as an incredibly valuable partner to clients navigating complex financial disputes."

Mr. Dearman is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) and holds a Bachelor of Arts in History and Law from the University of Kent.

About Ankura

Ankura is a global business advisory and expert services firm defined by HOW we solve challenges. Whether a client is facing an immediate business challenge, trying to increase the value of their company or protect against future risks, Ankura designs, develops, and executes tailored solutions by assembling the right combination of expertise, strategy and execution. We help clients navigate a wide range of corporate performance and risk management challenges, including those pertaining to compliance, investigations, forensics, technology, turnaround and restructuring, and corporate strategy. We build on this experience with every case, client, and situation, collaborating to create innovative, customized solutions, and strategies designed for today's ever-changing business environment. This gives our clients unparalleled insight and experience across a wide range of economic, governance, and regulatory challenges. At Ankura, we know that collaboration drives results. For more information, please visit: www.ankura.com.

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Already tense relations between Russia and the United States are fraying further as U.S. President Joe Biden suggested Russian President Vladimir Putin will soon pay a price for alleged meddling in U.S. elections and Russia summoned its ambassador to the United States back to Moscow for consultations.

In an interview on ABC News aired on March 17, Biden said he believes Putin is a killer who has no soul and will soon "pay a price" for trying to interfere in last November's presidential election. When asked by interviewer George Stephanopoulos what the consequences for the interference in the vote will be, Biden replied: "You'll see shortly."

The wide-ranging interview aired just hours after a report published by the U.S. Office of the Director of National Intelligence assessed that Putin had authorized, and a range of Russian government organizations conducted, influence operations aimed at denigrating President Bidens candidacy and the Democratic Party, supporting former President [Donald] Trump, undermining public confidence in the electoral process and exacerbating sociopolitical divisions in the United States.

Biden, who has spent more than four decades in politics, said he had come to know Putin "relatively well" over the years and he doesn't believe he has a soul.

Asked if he thought Putin was a killer, Biden told ABC: "Mmm hmm, I do."

The Kremlin on March 17 denied the findings of the report, saying they were absolutely unfounded.

Russia did not interfere in the election and was not involved in campaigns against any of the candidates," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

Hours later, Russia announced it had summoned its ambassador to Washington, Anatoly Antonov, to Moscow for consultations.

"The main thing for us is to determine the ways in which the difficult Russian-American relations that Washington has led into a dead end in recent years could be rectified," Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in a statement. "We are interested in preventing their irreversible degradation if the Americans recognize the risks involved."

Washington's relations with Moscow are at post-Cold War lows, strained by issues including Russia's alleged meddling in elections in the United States and other democracies, the conflicts in Syria and Ukraine, and the poisoning and jailing of Kremlin critic Aleksei Navalny.

The U.S. Commerce Department said on March 17 it was expanding restrictions imposed on Russian experts that were imposed earlier this month as punishment for the Navalny affair.

Despite strained relations, Biden noted that it was possible to "walk and chew gum at the same time for places where it's in our mutual interest to work together."

One area where Russia and the United States could cooperate would be the renewal of the New START nuclear agreement, Biden said.

Afghan Withdrawal

The interview also touched on several foreign policy topics besides Russia.

Biden warned that a deadline set out in a deal the Trump administration made with the Taliban to withdraw all U.S. troops from Afghanistan by May 1 "could happen, but it is tough."

"I'm in the process of making that decision now as to when they'll leave," Biden said.

"The fact is...that was not a very solidly negotiated deal that the president -- the former president -- worked out. And so we're in consultation with our allies as well as the government, and that decision's going to be -- it's in process now," Biden said.

Peace talks between the Taliban and the Afghan government resumed last month in Qatar after a delay of more than a month amid escalating violence in the war-torn country.

Russia will host a conference on March 18 to advance the peace process. Washington's special envoy to Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad will participate in the event, as will the Taliban and the government of Afghan President Ashraf Ghani.

On relations with the Middle East, Biden said he had "made it clear" to Saudi Arabia's king "that things were going to change" after U.S. intelligence concluded that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had approved an operation to capture or kill Saudi dissident Jamal Khashoggi.

Khashoggi, who had grown increasingly critical of the crown prince, Saudi Arabia's de facto ruler, was killed in the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul in October 2018.

Saudi officials had said his death was the result of a "rogue operation" and was not state sanctioned.

"We held accountable all the people in that organization -- but not the crown prince, because we have never that I'm aware of, when we have an alliance with a country, gone to the acting head of state and punished that person and ostracized him," Biden said.

With reporting by ABC News
Laker Superintendent Brian Keim announced via a release on the Laker Facebook page Wednesday night that one of the district's teachers had passed away.

"Earlier today, I was contacted by the wife of secondary teacher Mr. Alex McAlister, who was recently hired to a position in our special education department," Keim says in the release. "She shared the sad news that Mr. McAlister had passed away in his sleep early in the morning., and the cause of death remains unknown."

Keim said the news was shared with staff members after school Wednesday.

"We are all grieved by the sudden and tragic loss of a colleague and friend," Keim said. "Mr. McAlister was with us only a short time, but had a very positive impact on those around him."

Keim asked that parents keep the family in their thoughts and prayers. Funeral and visitation information will be passed along when it is available.

In unrelated news, Keim announced in the same release that due to two positive COVID tests among secondary staff members, students in grades six through 12 will be returning to virtual learning from March 18 through the following week. They will return to in-person learning after spring break.

Keim said the move is because with contact tracing and the resulting quarantine, several additional teachers and students would need to quarantine and the district would not have the staff to cover its classrooms.

High school tech students will also transition to remote learning, and dual enrolled students can use their waivers and drive themselves to the tech center for classes, the release reads.

"Our elementary students will continue with in-person learning until further notice," Keim says in the release.

The coming home game and festivities scheduled for Friday night will continue as planned.

"We believe it's important, perhaps now more than ever, that students have something to celebrate and enjoy with each other," Keim said. "As one of our board of education members said, 'this is all a continuation of a rough year,' and that sums it up pretty well. There are some positives and silver linings that we've experienced along the way, but we recognize the extra strain that has been placed on families, especially when students are forced to learn from home. Please let us know how we can support you in the days ahead. We look forward to seeing all students back in-person following spring break."

More information will be reported as it becomes available.
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

The EU on Wednesday threatened to invoke emergency powers to block European exports of Covid-19 vaccines to ensure "reciprocity" with other suppliers, urging Britain to send Europe more jabs.

EU chief Ursula von der Leyen gave her warning as Brussels unveiled its plan for a vaccine travel certificate, part of its effort to free up travel despite an emerging third wave of the pandemic.

"All options are on the table," the former German defence minister said, warning that the vaccine situation would be addressed among EU leaders at talks next week.

"We are in the crisis of the century, and I'm not ruling out any anything for now, because we have to make sure that Europeans are vaccinated as soon as possible," she said and briefly alluded to emergency powers last used during the OPEC oil shock of the 1970s.

Europe's vaccination campaign has struggled to get off the ground due to delayed deliveries, as well as a bitter row with pharma giant AstraZeneca and fears over the safety of its vaccine.

The EU has already set up special oversight of vaccine exports in which manufacturers contracted to supply Europe must declare if they intend to export doses outside the bloc.

Most of the EU's worry is over Britain, home of the AstraZeneca vaccine, where the inoculation campaign has progressed at a much faster pace than in the EU.

Brussels has accused London of operating a de facto export ban to achieve its vaccine success, a claim furiously denied by Prime Minister Boris Johnson's government.

But von der Leyen on Wednesday said the EU was "still waiting" for its AstraZeneca orders to come out of "two sites in the UK", despite the fact that 10 million doses from other manufacturers had entered Britain from the EU.

"This is an invitation to show us that there are also doses from the UK coming to the European Union, so that we have reciprocity," she said.

In its response, Britain said Brussels had previously pledged to allow drugmakers to deliver on their contracts.

"We expect the EU to continue to stand by its commitment," a UK spokesperson added.

Digital vaccine certificates

The EU's announced travel certificate, meanwhile, is intended to help restore freedom of movement within the bloc for citizens inoculated against the coronavirus.

The certificate will show "whether the person has either been vaccinated, or has a recent negative test, or has recovered from Covid, and thus has antibodies," von der Leyen said.

The idea is to allow inoculated tourists to get around restrictions on non-essential travel that have spread across Europe, as a second and third wave of Covid-19 infections brought much intra-EU travel to a standstill.

"With this digital certificate we aim to help member states reinstate the freedom of movement in a safe, responsible and trusted manner."

The plan, however, will face stiff resistance from many member states, a key concern being that those still awaiting vaccinations would be discriminated against.

In addition, some member states are worried that the legal path to create the pass, which would include approval by European Parliament, will take too long, with the summer holidays just three months away.

The commission is adamant that the process can be fast-tracked and is working to have it ready by June.

The International Air Transport Association, the airline industry group, urged member states to approve the certificate "very soon".

"We should see something similar all around the world if it can help reopening air travel everywhere," said IATA head Alexandre de Juniac

Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak

 2021 AFP
Dhaka, Mar 17 (UNI) India will donate a total of 109 ambulances to Bangladesh on the occasion of the birth centenary of Bangladesh's first President late Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

Indian High Commissioner Vikram Doraiswami informed Foreign Minister Ak Abdul Momen about the goodwill gesture in a meeting on Tuesday, the foreign ministry said in a statement.

The vehicles will be handed over during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's trip to Dhaka to join the celebrations of Rahman's birth centenary and the golden jubilee of Bangladesh's Independence. Of the 109 ambulances, four will be used in Sylhet, the ministry said.
National Communications/Outreach Specialist, Belgrade, Serbia

Organization: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)

Country: Serbia

City: Belgrade, Serbia

Office: FAO in Belgrade, Serbia

Closing date: Monday, 29 March 2021

2100858

National Communications/Outreach Specialist

Job Posting: 15/Mar/2021

Closure Date: 29/Mar/2021, 9:59:00 PM

Organizational Unit : REU

Job Type: Non-staff opportunities

Type of Requisition : PSA (Personal Services Agreement)

Grade Level : N/A

Primary Location: Serbia-Belgrade

Duration : 130 days (60 days under GCP/SRB/006/EC, 20 days under GCP/SRB/004/GCR and 50 days under GCP/SRB/002/GFF) during a period of 11 months

Post Number : N/A

FAO seeks gender, geographical and linguistic diversity in its staff and international consultants in order to best serve FAO Members in all regions.

Qualified female applicants and qualified nationals of non-and under-represented member countries are encouraged to apply.

Persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply.

All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.

Organizational Setting:

The selected applicant will work on projects GCP/SRB/002/GFF, GCP/SRB/006/EC, and GCP/SRB/004/GCR in the scope of the FAO Office in Serbia that assists the Government in developing policies, and relating activities in accordance with FAOs response to regional priorities for food security, agriculture and rural development through the identification, planning and implementation of FAOs priority activities in the region.

Reporting Lines

Under technical supervision of the LTOs for projects GCP/SRB/006/EC, GCP/SRB/004/GCR and GCP/SRB/002/GFF, and the administrative supervision of the National Project Coordinator for Serbia, and in close cooperation with National Project Coordinators , the REU Programme Specialist and REU Communications Officer, the National Communications/Outreach Specialist will carry out the following activities:

Tasks and responsibilities:

Develop the communication strategy for the project and a detailed communication plan for the first year;

Develop and coordinate implementation of annual Communication and Visibility Plan in line with the FAO and EU rules under GCP/SRB/006/EC;

Develop and coordinate implementation of annual Communication and Visibility Plan in line with the FAO and GEF rules under GCP/SRB/002/GFF;

Develop at least one communication item per month (project brief, brochure, success story, slideshow, printed banner or backdrop, etc.) to promote the project activities;

Serve as the project focal point, addressing queries from editors and journalists, and facilitating media field visits to FAO project locations in the country;

Participate in planning and organizing public events (conferences, presentations, training events, visits of officials, field visits, etc.) ensuring consistency of messages, quality of events, and visibility;

Assist and advise local staff on how to interact effectively with the media, and work closely with them to develop ideas for activities and initiatives to be publicized;

Maintain close contacts and collaborate effectively with the UN country teams communication unit, and contribute to the joint UN initiatives and campaigns;

Perform other related duties as required.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

University degree (MA) in Communication, Public Relations or Journalism, or equivalent professional experience, 5 years of relevant experience at the national or international level;

Hands-on experience in developing and implementing communication and visibility strategies and plans in the field of development;

Press release writing, project visibility, outreach and presentation delivery skills;

Excellent knowledge of English and Serbian;

National of Serbia or resident in the country with a regular work permit.

FAO Core Competencies

Results Focus

Teamwork

Communication

Building Effective Relationships

Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills

Experience with producing video and photo materials;

Good understanding of agriculture-related issues;

Experience of working with international donors, as well as the government;

Experience of working with local and international media;

Availability to travel within the country, as required; Knowledge and experience working for the UN is an asset.

Additional Selection Criteria

Ability to work on international teams and with remote supervision.

Please note that all candidates should adhere to FAO Values of Commitment to FAO, Respect for All and Integrity and Transparency.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

FAO does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing).

Incomplete applications will not be considered. If you need help, or have queries, please contact: Careers@fao.org

Applications received after the closing date will not be accepted.

Only language proficiency certificates from UN accredited external providers and/or FAO language official examinations (LPE, ILE, LRT) will be accepted as proof of the level of knowledge of languages indicated in the online applications.

For other issues, visit the FAO employment website: http://www.fao.org/employment/home/en/

HOW TO APPLY To apply, visit the recruitment website at Jobs at FAO and complete your online profile. Only applications received through the recruitment portal will be considered. Candidates are requested to attach a letter of motivation to the online profile. If you need help, or have queries, please contact: Careers@fao.org

Link to the organizations job offer: https://unjobs.org/vacancies/1615843212884
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Delhi reports first case of South African variant of COVID-19; 33-year-old man tests positive

A 33-year-old man, admitted at the LNJP hospital, became the first confirmed case of South African COVID-19 variant in Delhi. He was admitted to the hospital about a week ago and has been kept in isolation at a separate unit. The Centre said India had reported four cases of the South African variant of SARS-CoV-2 and one case of the Brazil variant a month ago.

Banking services hit across country due to 2-day bank strike

The two-day strike called by bank employees' union, ending Tuesday, severely hit banking services across the country. The United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU), an umbrella organisation of nine bank unions, had called the two-day strike to protest against the Centre's decision to privatise public sector banks.

RBI imposes Rs 2 crore penalty on SBI for regulatory violations

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has slapped a monetary penalty of Rs 2 crore on State Bank of India (SBI) for deficiencies in regulatory compliance. The penalty is not intended to pronounce upon the validity of any transaction or agreement entered into by the bank with its customers, the central bank said in a release.

Retail sales at 93% of pre-COVID levels in Feb; industry expects revival by June

After braving a rough year, Indian retail sector has managed to post sales at 93 per cent of pre-COVID levels, an industry survey indicated. With different segments of the retail industry maintaining a steady pace of recovery, there is improvement across various regions of the country too.

Govt places order for 10 crore Covishield doses with Serum Institute

The Centre has placed a new purchase order with the Serum Institute of India (SII) for the supply of 10 crore doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, Covishield, each costing Rs 157.50, including GST, according to official sources. The HLL Lifecare Limited, a public sector undertaking, has issued the supply order on behalf of the Union health ministry on March 12

'India should not go back to licence raj': Nobel laureate Paul Krugman

Nobel laureate Paul Krugman said that India should not go back to the "licence raj" regime, adding that the country should have a deliberate policy to foster industries. The economist was addressing a virtual event organised by Ashoka University when he said that the income inequality issue is a severe one in India.The licence raj was dismantled when the liberalisation policy was introduced in 1991.
Veteran Wyoming journalist Kerry Drake pens the Drakes Take column for WyoFile, an independent news service reporting on the people, places and policy of Wyoming. The views expressed here are solely his own.
WESTPORT  Long Lots Elementary School Principal Jeffrey Golubchick  currently on administrative leave  is set to resign from his position effective June 30.

Interim Principal Michael Cicchetti will finish out the school year and the school district will set up a search committee for a replacement. The news was announced through a school community wide email from Superintendent Colleen Palmer sent Wednesday, April 26.

Mr. Golubchick recently notified us that he will be leaving Westport to find an administrative position closer to his home in New York or in California, where his wife grew up, Palmer wrote in her email. In the interest of continuity and to give Mr. Golubchick time to make this transition, we have agreed that Dr. (Michael) Cicchetti, who has been at the school since February, will finish out the year as Long Lots Interim Principal.

On Feb. 10 Golubchick was removed from his position as principal and placed on administrative leave. Officials said Golubchick was removed from the position so that the school district could review letters his attorney allegedly sent to subordinates asserting legal claims against them.

Candace Banks, a Long Lots parent, said she was saddened to see Golubchick leave.

Jeffrey brought many wonderful things to Long Lots during his time here. I thought he was super responsive to parents and handled our concerns with great care, Banks said. He is passionate about education and that kind of energy was great to see. I am sad to see him move on from Westport, but grateful for the improvements and initiatives that he brought us while here.

Golubchick has worked for Westport Public Schools for three years and has served as Principal of Long Lots since July 2015.

Golubchick did not return an email request for comment.

@chrismmarquette; cmarquette@bcnnew.com
Shootings at three massage parlours in the Atlanta area have left eight people dead, many of them women of Asian descent, authorities said.

A 21-year-old man was taken into custody in south-west Georgia hours later after a manhunt, police said.

Police confirmed on Wednesday that the suspect is white.

The attacks began at around 5pm on Tuesday when five people were shot at Youngs Asian Massage Parlour near Woodstock, 50 miles north of Atlanta, Cherokee County Sheriffs Office spokesman Captain Jay Baker said.

Two people died at the scene and three were taken to hospital where two more died, Mr Baker said.

Police in the Buckhead neighbourhood of Atlanta, responding to a call of a robbery in progress, later found three women dead from apparent gunshot wounds at Gold Spa.

While they were at that scene, they learned of a call reporting shots fired at another site across the street, Aromatherapy Spa, and found a woman who appeared to have been shot dead inside the business.

It appears that they may be Asian, Atlanta Police Chief Rodney Bryant said.

South Koreas Foreign Ministry said in statement that its diplomats in Atlanta have confirmed with police that four of the people who died were women of Korean descent.

The ministry said the office of its Consulate General in Atlanta is trying to confirm the nationality of the women.

Police said the motive was not immediately known, but the ethnicity of many of the victims prompted fears that the killings could be another hate crime against Asian Americans.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said President Joe Biden has been briefed on the horrific shootings and administration officials have been in contact with the mayors office and the FBI.

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The killings came amid a recent wave of attacks against Asian Americans that coincided with the spread of coronavirus across the US.

Our entire family is praying for the victims of these horrific acts of violence, governor Brian Kemp said.

A man suspected in the Acworth shooting was captured by surveillance video pulling up to the business minutes before the attack, authorities said.

Mr Baker said the suspect, Robert Aaron Long, of Woodstock, was taken into custody in Crisp County, about 150 miles south of Atlanta.

He added that officers believe Long is also the suspect in the Atlanta shootings.

Police said video footage showed the suspects vehicle in the area of the Atlanta spas about the time of those attacks. That, as well as other video evidence, suggests it is extremely likely our suspect is the same as Cherokee Countys, who is in custody, Atlanta police said in a statement.

FBI spokesman Kevin Rowson said the agency was assisting Atlanta and Cherokee County authorities in the investigation.

Expand Close The scene of another shooting (Brynn Anderson/AP) / Facebook

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Crisp County Sheriff Billy Hancock said in a video posted on Facebook that his deputies and state troopers had been notified that a murder suspect out of north Georgia was heading towards their county.

Officers set up along the interstate and made contact with the suspect, who was driving a 2007 black Hyundai Tucson, he said.

A state trooper performed a pursuit intervention manoeuvre which caused the vehicle to spin out of control, Mr Hancock said.

Long was then taken into custody without incident and was being held in Crisp County jail for Cherokee County authorities who were expected to arrive later to continue their investigation.

Atlanta police said they had dispatched officers to check similar businesses and increased patrols in the area.
St Patrick's Day today is a pale shadow of previous celebrations to honour our patron saint. Due to the pandemic, there will be no colourful street parades, no traditional church services, including the usual annual inter-church pilgrimage from Saul to Down Cathedral, though many services will be streamed. There will be no sporting events, like the Schools' Cup rugby, or the MacRory Cup GAA finals, and very little to resemble a normal St Patrick's Day.

There may, of course, be "Paddywhackery" house parties, some of which bring their own big problems and all of which which have nothing to do with the austere, yet loveable, man who brought Christianity to Ireland in the fifth century.

Patrick, who died some 1,561 years ago, is often depicted in stained-glass windows, greetings cards and banners as a shadowy, robed figure, largely lost in the mists of time. In reality, however, he has a remarkable resonance to our modern world.

As a slave, Patrick was trafficked to Ireland from Roman Britain.

"Trafficked" is a term sadly familiar in our time, but, after a period of imprisonment working as a swineherd here, he escaped.

Remarkably, however, in a later vision, he was called back to Ireland to spread the gospel and he returned voluntarily as a "migrant" missionary, another term which is all too familiar to us today.

During his tumultuous ministry in Ireland, he initially settled in Armagh, but later he shrewdly moved his ministry to the Downpatrick area, where new political rulers were in charge.

In pre-pandemic days, thousands of pilgrims made their way to his grave outside Down Cathedral, though some historians are not convinced that he was buried there - even though a cardinal had to make the tortuous journey from Rome to the burial ceremony, just to give it the official blessing from the Pope.

Patrick was an active and courageous missionary in fifth-century Ireland, which had its share of hard men and dodgy operators, as well as good people who embraced this new and challenging Christianity.

Our patron saint was also politically astute and was able to curry favour with the leading rulers of his day in order to gain converts and to further the Christian cause.

He was also capable of immense, righteous anger.

When a thuggish brigand from Wales, called Coroticus, sent a raiding party to Ireland and carried off a large number of recent Christian converts, including young females, who would undoubtedly become sex slaves, Patrick was incandescent with rage.

Patrick's Confessio, his autobiography, written in rudimentary Latin - not unlike like the English idiom of some of today's popular newspapers - underlines his deep humanity.

He begins by stating: "I, Patrick, a sinner, most unlearned, the least of all the faithful, and utterly despised by many."

Patrick is reputed to have brought the message to Ireland far and wide, but in reality his Irish travels are more limited than people suppose.

There are questions as to whether he really did go to Croagh Patrick, or Lough Derg, both of which are normally sites of annual Patrician pilgrimages. It was none other than the late Cardinal Tomas O'Fiaich, a former Catholic Primate and a Professor of History at Maynooth, who claimed that "most of his missionary work took place north of a line running from Galway to Wexford... The saint who proclaimed himself as 'the most unlearned of men' must surely be enjoying the battles of scholars in pursuit of him."

Despite such historic conjecture, there is solid evidence that Patrick did come to Ireland, that he was based largely in the north-east of the island and that he did bring Christianity here.

Patrick did not banish the snakes, because there were no snakes in the Ireland of his day either, but he tried to abolish practices which were distinctly un-Christian.

Some scholars conjecture that the story of Patrick banishing the snakes was a colourful reference to this man of God banishing serpents, which were phallic symbols in his age of sexual promiscuity.

His great achievement was to establish a network of people and structures to enable the Irish church to grow and to become a civilising light of Christian culture.

However, what would he think of us today?

Undoubtedly, he would suffer an immense shock, because in his lifetime he truly believed that there was nothing beyond the shores of Ireland which, he thought, lay literally at the edge of the known world.

So, he would be utterly bewildered by our world of 2021 AD.

Casting that aside and supposing that Patrick was with us today, I think that he would be deeply distressed by the state of Ireland.

Instead of the one Holy Catholic Church, of which he was an ardent member, he would see two major Christian churches symbolised by the two great Armagh cathedrals named after him, but staring across the valley at each other in the Primatial City.

He would also be told that, after decades of virtual isolation from each other, the relationships are now much more tolerant and respectful than they have ever been, though with much still to be done.

Patrick would also discover that church-going, which used to be so obligatory in both main traditions, has now fallen off significantly.

Our patron saint would also note, sadly, the violence in Ireland, past and present, as well as the rampant materialism and secularism of modern Ireland, with its sexual mores, addictions and consumption far removed from the standards he tried to set.

On the other hand, he would note that large numbers of migrants have been integrated into modern Ireland, just as he was long ago.

Patrick would no doubt wish to continue preaching the basic message of Christianity, to which he had devoted his life, and to urge people today to trust and obey God and to treat and love their neighbours as themselves.

In 2021, St Patrick remains a worthy patron saint for us all. But the big question we should ask ourselves is this: are we still worthy of him?

Alf McCreary is the Belfast Telegraph's religion correspondent. He is the author of Saint Patrick's City: The Story of Armagh (Blackstaff Press)
SpaceX is one of the most iconic and used space agencies in bringing massive payloads to the cosmic skies including astronauts, Starlink satellites, and other cargo contracted with them, but it was a long journey. A new book called "Liftoff" by Eric Berger narrated how SpaceX reached where they are now, including an engineer fixing an imploding rocket.

The popular space agency is known for its numerous flights and missions that involved the extraterrestrial, particularly during the 2020s where it was mostly contracted by NASA and other government agencies. Moreover, SpaceX faced a lot of ups and downs, and it includes all the negative moments in the company's growth, all contributing to where they are now.

Biographies are literature that was written by someone else regarding a specific person, time, place, or event that provides a historical fantasy and a somewhat opinionated take on what happened. However, it includes an approximate or the closest there is to the source, especially as it narrates the different perspective, from another point-of-view.

Read Also: Tesla Software Update '2021.4.12' Now Live: Model Y Winter Upgrade to Combat Harsh Cold Weather Conditions

'Liftoff': SpaceX's Fall and Rise to Where it Is Now

Eric Berger is a senior editor to Ars Technica, who also penned the "Liftoff" book, which narrates the 2008 controversies of the fairly new company, eventually leading to a success that puts them on the map. Since their success in 2008, SpaceX had been developing space equipment that led to the creation of the Falcon, Dragon, and its prototypes for Starships.

The remarkable story of how @elonmusk and his small team reached orbit in 2008 has gone largely untolduntil now. Im thrilled to say my book on the origins of SpaceX, Liftoff, will be published by William Morrow on March 2, 2021. Preorder now: https://t.co/tF26ug8p3y pic.twitter.com/9Zdvrw8RSt  Eric Berger (@SciGuySpace) September 28, 2020

The book highlighted a lot about SpaceX's trials, particularly when it was starting, as former employees of the company were the source for the material and verified the authenticity of these stories. Moreover, it shows the dedication of the company to produce its initial prototypes, down to its success as it reached orbit.

SpaceX: The Engineer that Saved the Company

Zach Dunn was transporting a rocket to Hawaii, aboard an Air Force jet to prepare it for its initial launch and its testing from the company. Business Insider reports that the book discussed its imploding state, which would have not harmed them but would have botched the operation as it cannot be used to fly.

Dunn is an engineer for SpaceX then, and what he did was to climb inside the imploding rocket for its quick fix, while it is in transport, to avoid any damages and be used in time for its test launch. The same rocket was used for the company's orbit launch which resulted in success.

SpaceX Almost Going Bankrupt

On the other hand, another iconic story that narrated SpaceX's times and trials were about the time that it almost went bankrupt, particularly as its CEO Elon Musk manages both Tesla and the space agency. The world was facing another recession at the time, and the company's funding depletes with its failed experiments, not until they launched the imploding rocket to orbit.

Related Article: Elon Musk Sells 'NFT Song' for 420 Million Dogecoin to Beeple: Multiple DJs Claim It's Their Song!

This article is owned by Tech Times





Written by Isaiah Alonzo

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Former model Tziporah Atararh Malkah, also known as Kate Fischer, was topless while filming a police officer as he questioned her, he told a Sydney court

Former model Tziporah Atararh Malkah, also known as Kate Fischer, was topless while filming a police officer as he questioned her, he told a Sydney court.

'I found her demeanour confrontational,' Constable Harley Johnson told Downing Centre Local Court on Wednesday.

Malkah, 47, has pleaded not guilty to breaching an apprehended violence order taken out on behalf of her former partner Guy Vasey.

Constable Johnson received information from South Australian police about Malkah allegedly breaching an AVO on January 3, 2020.

That evening he attended the accused's Sydney Elizabeth Bay apartment and was buzzed up to her flat where she greeted him topless.

He made numerous requests to make herself decent before speaking to him, he said.

'She said multiple times "if I was a man I could do this".'

Telling her 'that was her choice' he continued into her living room where she remained topless and proceeded to film their interaction with her mobile phone, which she allegedly uploaded online.

Her defence lawyer Geoffrey Foster submits police never did a forensic investigation to establish Malkah was responsible for posting the video of the officer.

'You weren't present when she made those posts?'

'No,' Const Johnson replied.

The former fiancee of James Packer has been separately accused of posting on Instagram and Facebook her statement, taken at Ulladulla police station, which included the name of Mr Vasey.

Malkah, 47, has pleaded not guilty to breaching an apprehended violence order taken out on behalf of her former partner Guy Vasey

This would breach a lifetime order that prevented her from publishing his name by any electronic means.

As Mr Vasey was questioned in South Australia via an audio-visual ink Malkah turned away from the screen, hiding her face and crying throughout much of his evidence.

He said they were in a relationship for just under 12 months following her television appearance on I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of ... Here!

When asked if their relationship was 'not that good' towards the end, he responded: 'No horrible'.

The romance ended on January 26, 2018, when he says Malkah was evicted from their shared property following an assault.

Malkah's defence questioned why Mr Vasey contacted Channel 7 following their relationship ending, with nude material of his client for money

Mr Vasey became aware of the posts on Facebook and Instagram in December 2019.

He monitored the accounts sporadically over the next 12 hours taking multiple screenshots, noticing the original pictures were taken down two hours later and replaced with new headings.

The police statement titled Malkah Vs Vasey or vice versa, had been replaced with a piece of paper reading 'an arsehat' in her distinct artistic handwriting, he said.

Other captions on the social media posts were 'Re-post without d*ck for brains name,' and 'Re-post without f***heads names on it'.

Malkah's defence questioned why Mr Vasey contacted Channel 7 following their relationship ending, with nude material of his client for money.

The matter is due to return to court on August 6.
When government fails, its the rare public official who says, Oops. My fault.

Thats human nature, particularly for officials in the public eye who may have to run for office again. No one wants to be held directly responsible for letting the public down.

Case in point is the recent catastrophe in Texas, when winter storms left 4 million homes without power, ruptured pipes and tainted the water supply for many.

Texas energy grid essentially collapsed. While Texas Gov. Greg Abbott was quick to blame frozen wind turbines, the cause was much more complex than that. To truly understand how things went so terribly wrong will require time, study and research.

So, too, with the coronavirus vaccine distribution. In this state and others, residents are frustrated with the slow rollout of vaccines. Is it poor distribution? Politics? A flawed strategy? These are literally matters of life and death.

But how do you get to the truth when public officials so rarely step up to take direct responsibility for failures?

The answer is public records. And public meetings. And access to the information that taxpayers deserve.

States throughout the country have laws that guarantee access to government records and meetings. But the details vary widely and there are many statutory exceptions. New challenges to access emerge every year in virtually every state.

The need to fight for government transparency is reaffirmed each year during Sunshine Week, a national awareness event overseen by the News Leaders Association and keyed to the March 16 birthday of James Madison. The fourth president of the United States drafted the Bill of Rights  including the guarantee of a free press  in 1791.

That journalism connection reflects the role news media play in the free flow of information, but it unfortunately can also leave the public with a sense that Sunshine Week reflects the concerns of a single industry.

To the contrary, access to government information is critical to every American who cares about the quality of his or her community, state and nation.

Its important to see government employees  including elected officials  as the people we hire through our tax dollars to do a good job for all of us. If you run a business or hire a contractor, you wouldnt hesitate to demand a full understanding of how something went wrong. That should be exactly our relationship with government.

Getting that information, though, requires public meetings where residents can ask questions. It also means access to the documents that led to a poor decision. Words on paper can be much more forthright than the dissembling of politicians.

Its critical that we hold government accountable, for better or worse. (Its also important to acknowledge when government leaders are doing a good job.)

How can you help? I have two suggestions.

First, keep doing exactly what youre doing at this moment. Read and support your local newspaper. Local journalists, more than anyone else, will stand up for your right to information. Facebook will not be going toe-to-toe with your mayor.

Second, when you believe government isnt doing its job, demand an explanation. Ask to see the documents. Attend public meetings. And above all, support legislative efforts to make government more transparent.

Its too easy for officials who have failed us to point fingers, blame the media and wait for their side of the partisan fence to rally to their defense. We deserve better. We all pay taxes to support the work of government. We should get our moneys worth.

(Ken Paulson is the director of the Free Speech Center at Middle Tennessee State University, a lawyer and a former editor in chief of USA Today)
Two young men are due to face court in Melbourne on Thursday with counter-terrorism police to allege the pair attempted a terrorist attack.

Investigators arrested a 19-year-old and a 20-year-old, both from Epping, and a 16-year-old boy from Pascoe Vale on Wednesday after police became concerned about a fire and an assault they believe could have been motivated by religious extremism.

Investigators escort a suspect to be interviewed by police. Credit:Nine

On Thursday overnight the 19-year-old was charged with attempting a terrorist act, intentionally causing injury, acting in preparation of terrorist act and membership of a prescribed terrorist organisation (ISIS).

Meanwhile, the 20-year-old was taken to hospital under police guard after a medical episode and has also been charged with one count of attempting a terrorist act.
[March 17, 2021] Simplilearn Launches an Online Professional Certificate Program in Blockchain with IIT Kanpur

BENGALURU, India, March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Blockchain technology has evolved greatly over the past few years, and today, innovators in various fields are looking at integrating the technology into their infrastructure. From finance to medicine, Blockchain technology has benefited businesses by providing greater transparency, enhanced trust, and easier traceability-making it one of the most marketable career paths today. In light of this, Simplilearn-a global digital skills training provider, today announced the launch of a Professional Certificate Program in Blockchain Technology in an exclusive partnership with IIT Kanpur. With 70+ hours of applied learning and 50+ hours of self-paced learning modules, this four-month intensive program will offer learners a comprehensive curriculum co-created with IIT Kanpur, covering the most in-demand skills in the field of Blockchain. Learners will also get the opportunity to interact with expert faculty at IIT Kanpur through Master Classes. Best suited for individuals working as Software Developers, IT Professionals, Engineers, Analysts, and Technical Leads, the program will cover key topics including applications of blockchain technology, Bitcoin, platforms that use Blockchain, application building on Ethereum, Hyperledger, and other prospects of Blockchain. At the end of the program, learners will get to work on a Capstone project on industry use cases, an opportunity to solve real-world ledger challenges, and labs that provide hands-on experience. Upon completion of the program, all learners will receive a Certification of Completion from IIT Kanpur. Program graduates from India will also be enrolled in Simplilearn's Job Assistance service and have access to the IIMJobs Pro-Membership fr six months.



Speaking about the program, Anand Narayanan, Chief Product Officer, Simplilearn, said, "Given the enormous scope of blockchain, organizations across industries are now capitalizing on this technology. The increasing need for simplifying business processes and the need for applications integrated with blockchain technology will drive the overall blockchain market in the coming years. In fact, according to a leading industry report, the global blockchain market size is expected to grow from USD 3.0 billion in 2020 to USD 39.7 billion by 2025, at an impressive CAGR of 67.3% during the period. In light of this, we are happy to collaborate with IIT Kanpur to offer a comprehensive program on Blockchain technology. This in-depth program will provide extensive knowledge of Blockchain concepts and will enable learners to kick-start their career in this industry." "With the application of blockchain growing beyond cryptocurrency, there is an upsurge in blockchain-related jobs. As the demand for talent rises, there is a need to further blockchain education in India and train the upcoming generation of blockchain developers. We are delighted to partner with Simplilearn to deliver the most updated industry-relevant curriculum to learners, featuring hands-on projects in developing smart ledgers and records," said Dr. Sandeep Kumar Shukla, Professor, Department of Computer Science and Engineering from IIT Kanpur.

Simplilearn conducts more than 1,500 live classes, with an average of 70,000 learners who together spend more than 500,000 hours each month on the platform. Programs offered by Simplilearn gives learners the opportunity to upskill and get certified in popular domains. About Simplilearn Simplilearn is one of the world's #1 online Bootcamp for digital skills training, focused on helping people acquire the skills they need to thrive in the digital economy. Simplilearn provides outcome-based online training across technologies and applications in Data Science, AI and Machine Learning, Cloud Computing, Cyber Security, Digital Marketing, DevOps, Project Management, and other critical digital disciplines. Through individual courses, comprehensive certification programs, and partnerships with world-renowned universities, Simplilearn provides millions of professionals and thousands of corporate training organizations with the work-ready skills they need to excel in their careers. Based in San Francisco, CA, and Bangalore, India, Simplilearn has helped more than 2,000,000 professionals and 2,000 companies across 150 countries to get trained, acquire certifications, and reach their business and career goals. With over 1,500 live classes each month, real-world projects, and more, professionals learn by doing at Simplilearn. Ongoing industry recognition for the company includes the 2020 Aegis Graham Bell Award for Innovation in EdTech, 2020 Stevie Gold Award for Customer Service Success, a recognition by the prestigious Training Industry Inc. as one of the Top IT Training Companies for 2020 and 2021 Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service. For more information, please visit www.simplilearn.com About IIT Kanpur IIT Kanpur, one of the first Indian Institutes of Technology and a globally acclaimed Institute of National Importance was established in 1960 in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India. Since its inception, it has remained at the forefront of teaching and research and has firmly established itself as an academic institute of high repute both nationally and internationally. The Institute has pioneered a paradigm of science-based engineering education that has been successfully adopted and implemented over time and emulated by many institutions across the country. Its alumni have received accolades for their outstanding contributions in academia, industry, research labs, and also in diverse arenas of public administration and civil society. IIT Kanpur is a vibrant creative hub, comprising the very best in terms of academic research and outreach practices with a potential to create a global impact, yet firmly connected to the national agenda of development. Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1100016/Simplilearn_Logo.jpg

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Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-17 15:11:24|Editor: huaxia

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ULAN BATOR, March 17 (Xinhua) -- Mongolia registered 130 new COVID-19 infections in the last 24 hours, raising the total number of cases in the country to 4,340, the National Center for Communicable Diseases (NCCD) said Wednesday.

A total of 129 were locally transmitted or detected in the country's capital Ulan Bator in a day, and another one was imported from abroad, the NCCD said in a statement.

Ulan Bator, home to more than half of Mongolia's population, hit hard by the pandemic with about 3,500 confirmed cases and more than 100 new case daily recently.

Mongolia has imposed partial lockdowns in the capital city. For example, a 24-hour lockdown came into force in the 26th khoroo (subdistrict) of Ulan Bator's Bayanzurkh district early Wednesday, and it was expected to last for five days.

So far, Mongolia has recorded eight COVID-19-related deaths and 3,131 recoveries.

The Asian country launched a COVID-19 vaccination campaign across the country late last month, with the aim of vaccinating at least 60 percent of the total population.

A total of 139,636 people have been vaccinated against the virus, according to the country's health ministry. Enditem
Biden slammed for firing EEOC lawyer who worked to combat religious discrimination in workplace

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A group of Republican senators is criticizing President Joe Bidens firing of Equal Employment Opportunity Commission General Counsel Sharon Fast Gustafson, who worked to combat religious discrimination in the workplace, an action they described as "dangerous."

Sens. James Lankford of Oklahoma and Rand Paul of Kentucky led a group of six senators who sent a letter to Biden Tuesday expressing concern about Gustafson's firing. She was nominated by former President Donald Trump in 2018 and refused to step down when asked.

The letter's other signatories are Sens. Mike Braun, R-Ind., Roger Marshall, R-Kan., Rick Scott, R-Fla. and Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala.

Gustafson's firing took place on March 5, more than two years before her four-year term was set to expire.

Gustafson was "the first Senate-confirmed female General Counsel at the EEOC since that agency was created in 1965."

"In her letter refusing your demand for her resignation, Ms. Gustafson mentioned that you gave no reason for making such a demand," they wrote. "She conveyed concerns, however, that it may have been because of her work bringing together believers of all faiths to explore how the EEOC could better respond to religious discrimination in the workplace."

The senators quoted from a portion of Gustafson's letter to Biden, where she asserted that "I do not know which of your advisors recommended that you made the request. But please be aware that there are those who oppose any advocacy on behalf of employees who experience religious discrimination and on behalf of constitutional and statutory protections for religious entities."

"We truly hope that Ms. Gustafson's termination was not motivated by opposition to her work fighting religious discrimination, but in the absence of any explanation, all we can do is hope, the signatories maintained. Whatever the reason, this termination does more than set a dangerous precedent; it exceeds presidential authority.

They cited the fact that "the EEOC is a quasi-judicial agency designed by Congress to be bipartisan and free from coercive political interference" whose "General Counsel is nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate for a fixed four-year term.

"Well-established Supreme Court precedent leaves no doubt that for-cause removal applies to term-limited political appointees at quasi-judicial agencies, even if they perform substantively executive functions within those agencies," the senators continued.

"Sharon Gustafson's termination, in defiance of Supreme Court precedent and well-established practice, undermines the ability of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to function as the meaningfully independent entity Congress designed it to be," they concluded. "We therefore call on you to reinstate Ms. Gustafson immediately to her position as General Counsel."

Several pro-LGBT civil rights groups voiced concerns with Gustafson's nomination in 2018, citing her "evasive answers regarding the rights of LGBT workers" during a Senate confirmation hearing.

Gustafson's firing is not the only development causing conservatives alarm about Biden's stance on the issue of religious liberty.

Almost immediately after taking office, the president signed an executive order prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

In response to that executive order, Tony Perkins, president of the socially conservative Family Research Council, warned that "President Biden's executive order effectively targets people of faith and faith-based organizations that provide social services that are even more vital in the midst of a pandemic."

Additionally, Biden has expressed support for the wide-reaching Equality Act dating back to his time on the campaign trail.

While the legislation's proponents portray it as a necessary measure to prevent discrimination against LGBT Americans, its critics argue that it would force people of faith to violate their convictions about marriage and sexuality and fund abortion on demand.

In 2019, Perkins, along with 20 other Christian conservatives, penned a letter to leaders of the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate as the House considered the Equality Act for the first time.

In the letter, they contended that the bill was "anti-life and creates a right to abortion on demand." Perkins elaborated on his concerns in a separate op-ed for The Daily Signal.

After explaining that the Equality Act would expand the protections of the 1964 Civil Rights Act to include bans on discrimination based on "pregnancy, childbirth, or a related medical condition," Perkins shared the implications about the proposed amendment to federal law.

"Under this big new umbrella of 'discrimination,' any American who doesn't want to fund, offer, perform, or participate in abortion on demand will have no real choice," he wrote. "They can conform  or they can be punished."
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One year ago today, Britain's coronavirus crisis engulfed the nation in fear - but experts predicted the total death toll would stand at just 20,000.

The potential figure was dubbed a 'good outcome' but still 'horrible' by the Government's chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance when he addressed the Health Select Committee on March 17, 2020.

The UK's current death toll of 125,690 exceeded the prediction by some margin but, at that time, only 71 people had lost their lives to Covid-19, with a further 14 people dead in 24 hours.

That day also marked the UK's then-highest daily rise in cases with 407 patients diagnosed, bringing the total positive tests to 1,950.

Sir Patrick said social distancing measures announced that week - which included avoiding social contact and working from home when possible - would help to bring the figures down.

Guidelines also saw all vulnerable groups told to self-isolate for 12 weeks even if they don't have symptoms - including the over 70s.

It was then that the Queen - then-93 years old - revealed she would self-isolate at Windsor Castle with a scaled-back team of staff.

And BBC presenter George Alagiah said he decided to 'stay away from the newsroom' due to the risk his cancer treatment posed, saying he was 'absolutely gutted'.

March 17 also saw Chancellor Rishi Sunak unveil his astonishing 350billion rescue package to try to stave off economic disaster.

Struggling firms were able to tap low-interest loans from a new fund worth 330billion. Another 20billion was to pay for a business rates holiday and cash handouts to smaller companies.

The Chancellor said more measures were to come - with the furlough scheme not announced until March 20.

In the ten days leading up to one-year of lockdown, MailOnline has been looking back on those last days of precious freedom.

March 17, 2020: Experts predict coronavirus death toll could be just 20,000

On this day last year, experts said 20,000 people could die from Covid-19 during the crisis - which had claimed the lives of just 71 at that early stage

On this day last year, experts said 20,000 people could die from Covid-19 during the crisis - which had claimed the lives of just 71 at that early stage.

The UK's current death toll of 125,690 exceeded the prediction by some margin.

READ THE ORIGINAL STORY HERE

On March 17, 2020, a further 14 people died including a 45-year-old, Britain's then-youngest patient.

Officials also recorded the biggest daily spike in cases yet, with 407 patients diagnosed in 24 hours  meaning 1,950 Britons had caught the life-threatening virus that left the UK engulfed in fear.

The Government's chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance told the Health Select Committee that the social distancing measures announced one day earlier would help to bring the figures down.

Advice - which came less than ten days before a complete country-wide shutdown - included avoiding social contact and said working from home should be done if possible. The measures came in after Boris Johnson was warned that 260,000 people could die if nothing was done.

Sir Patrick also said keeping the number of coronavirus deaths in the UK at '20,000 and below' would be a 'good outcome' but still 'horrible'.

'That is the hope that we can get it down to that,' he said. 'To put that into perspective every year in seasonal flu the number of deaths is thought to be about 8,000.

'So if we can get this down to numbers 20,000 and below that is a good outcome in terms of where we would hope to get to in this outbreak.

The Government's chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance (pictured) told the Health Select Committee that the social distancing measures announced one day earlier would help to bring the figures down

Advice - which came less than ten days before a complete country-wide shutdown - included avoiding social contact and said working from home should be done if possible. The measures came in after Boris Johnson (pictured) was warned that 260,000 people could die if nothing was done

March 17, 2020: Chancellor Rishi Sunak unveils 350billion coronavirus bailout

On this day last year, Rishi Sunak unveiled an astonishing 350billion rescue package to try to stave off economic disaster brought by the Covid-19 crisis.

Struggling firms were able to tap low-interest loans from a new fund worth 330billion.

Another 20billion was to pay for a business rates holiday and cash handouts to smaller companies.

READ THE ORIGINAL STORY HERE

Business interruption loans were increased to 5million  up from the 1.2million announced earlier in the month  with no interest due for six months.

Banks agreed to offer three-month mortgage holidays for those whose finances were hit by the pandemic. And a law change allowed pubs and restaurants to convert into takeaways without planning consent.

The Chancellor said more measures were to come - with the furlough scheme not announced until March 20.

On this day last year, Rishi Sunak (pictured) unveiled an astonishing 350billion rescue package to try to stave off economic disaster brought by the Covid-19 crisis

March 17, 2020: The Queen will self-isolate at Windsor Castle, statement reveals

On March 17, 2020, a Buckingham Palace statement revealed the Queen (pictured that month) was to self-isolate at Windsor Castle

READ THE ORIGINAL STORY HERE

On March 17, 2020, a Buckingham Palace statement revealed the Queen was to self-isolate at Windsor Castle.

The then-93-year-old head of state would decamp to the Berkshire royal residence a week earlier than she usually does for Easter Court.

The statement said the Queen was to have a reduced household and would follow all Government advice.

March 17, 2020: Brits hit pubs and clubs as they defy social distancing warnings

READ THE ORIGINAL STORY HERE

Britons defied the Government's social distancing warnings and hit pubs and clubs into the early hours of the morning.

Revellers were out partying across London, Newcastle and Manchester, pictures which emerged the following day, March 17, revealed.

Popworld in Essex told customers it would remain open on Fridays and Saturdays as normal.

Walkabout in Chelmsford assured partygoers it would be business as usual, albeit with different opening hours.

People enjoying an evening at a JD Wetherspoon in The Mile Castle, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, on March 17, 2020

March 17, 2020: Hospitality industry demands official lockdown to claim insurance

Boris Johnson was accused of 'sacrificing' pubs, restaurants and cinemas in the coronavirus crisis, with owners claiming his refusal to order a shutdown meant they cannot claim insurance.

READ THE ORIGINAL STORY HERE

An official country-wide lockdown did not begin until March 23, but Mr Johnson was urging Britons to avoid all 'non-essential' social contact, including going out for meals, drinks or a film at the time.

High-profile figures including chefs Simon Rimmer, Aldo Zilli and Raymond Blanc joined calls for the position on lockdown to be made clear.

Food critic Jay Rayner tweeted that Mr Johnson's actions were 'staggeringly reckless'. Restaurant takings were said to have plunged by up to 66 per cent overnight.

Boris Johnson was accused of 'sacrificing' pubs, restaurants and cinemas in the coronavirus crisis, with owners claiming his refusal to order a shutdown meant they cannot claim insurance. Pictured: The Rocket pub at Rainhill in Merseyside on March 17, 2020

An official country-wide lockdown did not begin until March 23, but Mr Johnson was urging Britons to avoid all 'non-essential' social contact, including going out for meals, drinks or a film at the time. Pictured: A Pret cafe at London Waterloo station on March 17, 2020

High-profile figures including chefs Simon Rimmer, Aldo Zilli and Raymond Blanc joined calls for the position on lockdown to be made clear. Pictured: McDonalds at London Waterloo station one year ago today

March 17, 2020: Archbishop of Canterbury suspends Church of England services

In a joint letter, the Archbishops of Canterbury and York, Justin Welby (left) and John Sentamu (right) respectively, said it was 'necessary to put public services on hold'

READ THE ORIGINAL STORY HERE

Today marks one year since the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby announced that public worship would be 'suspended until further notice' amid fears over coronavirus.

In a joint letter, the Archbishops of Canterbury and York, Justin Welby and John Sentamu respectively, said it was 'necessary to put public services on hold'.

They added church buildings may remain open for prayer 'where practical' and as long as worshippers observe social distancing recommendations.

March 17, 2020: BBC's George Alagiah says he is stepping back from the newsroom

BBC presenter George Alagiah revealed he decided to 'stay away from the newsroom' amid the coronavirus panic, adding that he is 'absolutely gutted'.

READ THE ORIGINAL STORY HERE

The newsreader, 64, was diagnosed with stage-four bowel cancer in April 2014 and said his treatment puts him at risk from the virus.

In a tweet, he said: 'Absolutely gutted. After talking to colleagues and doctors I've decided to stay away from the newsroom.

'I'm on a few weeks cancer treatment break at the moment but, on a balance of risks, we all decided I must heed the advice for those with underlying health issues.'

Mr Alagiah underwent 17 rounds of chemotherapy to treat advanced bowel cancer in 2014 before returning to presenting duties in 2015. In January 2018, he revealed that the cancer had returned.

BBC presenter George Alagiah revealed he decided to 'stay away from the newsroom' amid the coronavirus panic, adding that he is 'absolutely gutted'

March 17, 2020: Amazon bans sellers shipping non-essential items to warehouses

READ THE ORIGINAL STORY HERE

Amazon banned sellers from shipping all non-essential items to its US and UK warehouses in order to prioritize space for medical goods and essential products needed during the coronavirus pandemic.

The e-commerce giant said it would stop stocking and shipping all non-medical and non-essential supplies from its warehouses until April 5.

The new measures came one day after Amazon revealed plans to hire an additional 100,000 employees in the US to meet the surge in demand from panicked shoppers.

March 17, 2020: McDonald's announces it will close restaurant seating areas

McDonald's announced it would switch to take-aways and drive-thrus only - with Tesco expected to announce all its 24-hour stores will close at 10pm as the Covid-19 crisis worsened (file image)

McDonald's announced it would switch to take-aways and drive-thrus only - with Tesco expected to announce all its 24-hour stores would close at 10pm as the Covid-19 crisis worsened.

READ THE ORIGINAL STORY HERE

All restaurants were to scrap dine-in operations, shut seating and close children's play areas, but the chain said toilets would remain open.

In a statement, chief executive Paul Pomroy wrote: 'Our restaurants will remain open for as long as it is safe to do so.

'In the last 24 hours it has become clear that we need to temporarily change our operations to ensure the wellbeing of our employees and customers consistent with the Government's guidance on social distancing.

'Therefore from 5am tomorrow (Wednesday) morning all restaurants will close seating areas and temporarily move to being takeaway, drive-thru and McDelivery only.'

March 17, 2020: And meanwhile, elsewhere in the world...

China bans three US journalists after Trump called coronavirus 'the Chinese virus' in escalating diplomatic feud

China revoked the credentials of three US journalists who work at The New York Times, Wall Street Journal and Washington Post in an act of retaliation after Trump called coronavirus the 'Chinese virus'.

READ THE ORIGINAL STORY HERE

The journalists were not named publicly and were reportedly banned from working in China, Hong Kong and Macao.

President Trump tweeted on March 16, 2020: 'The United States will be powerfully supporting those industries, like Airlines and others, that are particularly affected by the Chinese Virus. We will be stronger than ever before!'

One day later, Beijing demanded 'the US side correct the mistake immediately and halt its groundless accusations'.

But Trump then doubled down on March 17, tweeting about New York's governor Andrew Cuomo - who had demanded the military are activated to build hospitals - that: 'Cuomo wants "all states to be treated the same".

'But all states aren't the same. Some are being hit hard by the Chinese Virus, some are being hit practically not at all.'

President Trump tweeted on March 16, 2020: 'The United States will be powerfully supporting those industries, like Airlines and others, that are particularly affected by the Chinese Virus. We will be stronger than ever before!'

Trump then doubled down on March 17, tweeting about New York's governor Andrew Cuomo - who had demanded the military are activated to build hospitals - that: 'Cuomo wants "all states to be treated the same". But all states aren't the same. Some are being hit hard by the Chinese Virus, some are being hit practically not at all'

Israel bans people from leaving homes for 'non-essential' reasons and will track coronavirus sufferers' phones

READ THE ORIGINAL STORY HERE

Israel banned residents from leaving their homes for 'non-essential' reasons and announced it plans to track coronavirus sufferers' phones during the outbreak.

Massively restricting movement, the health ministry ordered people to stay home unless they needed to buy food or medicine, seek medical attention, or travel to a workplace where there are no more than ten people.

They also suspended all public transport at night.

The Middle Eastern country had then reported 324 cases of Covid-19 but no deaths.

Russian media blames Britain for Covid with propaganda accusing UK of 'smearing something in Wuhan'

READ THE ORIGINAL STORY HERE

Russian state media blamed Britain for the global coronavirus pandemic on this day last year.

Kremlin-backed media broadcasted propaganda which stated Covid-19 was created as a tool for the benefit of the UK.

The slurs included claims that the British 'smeared something in Wuhan' in the same way that they 'smear[ed] nerve agent on Skripal's door handle'.

It also said the pandemic was intentionally timed with Britain's exit from the EU to enhance its global status.

British mother Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe is released from Iranian jail for two weeks

READ THE ORIGINAL STORY HERE

On this day last year, British mother Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was temporarily released from an Iranian prison along with 85,000 other inmates in an effort to stop the spread of the coronavirus.

Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe was serving a five-year prison term for sedition after being arrested in April 2016 at Tehran airport as she was returning home to London with her then-22-month-old daughter Gabriella following a family visit. She denied the charges.

On this day last year, British mother Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe (pictured with her daughter Gabriella) was released from an Iranian prison along with 85,000 other inmates in an effort to stop the spread of the coronavirus

... and The Weekend is still at No1 with Blinding Lights

Blinding Lights by The Weekend was on its second consecutive week at No1.

It first reached No1 in early February, but was briefly knocked off by Billie Eilish's No Time To Die, the theme song to the next James Bond movie - which still has not been released because of the pandemic.
The findings of a recent analysis conducted by the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), an affiliate of City of Hope, suggest that ecosystems suitable for harboring ticks that carry debilitating Lyme disease could be more widespread than previously thought in California, Oregon and Washington.

Bolstering the research were the efforts of an army of "citizen scientists" who collected and submitted 18,881 ticks over nearly three years through the Free Tick Testing Program created by the Bay Area Lyme Foundation, which funded the research, producing a wealth of data for scientists to analyze.

This new study builds on initial research led by the late Nate Nieto, Ph.D., at Northern Arizona University, and Daniel Salkeld, Ph.D., of Colorado State University.

This immense sample collection represented a multi-fold increase in the number of ticks that could be gathered by professional biologists conducting field surveys in far less time and at a fraction of the cost.

This kind of citizen participation -- which in the future could include smart-phone apps and photography -- could become "a powerful tool" for tracking other animal- and insect-borne infectious diseases important for monitoring human and environmental health, according to study results published in the scientific journal PLOS ONE.

This study expands on previous work in California and is the first study to produce high resolution distributions of both actual and potential tick habitat in Oregon and Washington.

"This study is a great example of how citizen scientists can help -- whether tracking climate change, fires, habitat changes or species distribution shifts -- at a much finer scale than ever before," said Tanner Porter, Ph.D., a TGen Research Associate and lead author of the study.

Specifically, Dr. Porter said the findings of this study could help raise awareness among physicians across the West, and throughout the nation, that tick-borne diseases are possible throughout a wider expanse than ever thought before.

Lyme disease is caused by a bacteria, Borrelia burgdorferi (sensu lato), which is carried by ticks, and in this study specifically, the western black-legged tick known as Ixodes pacificus.

These ticks also carry pathogens associated with relapsing fever and anaplasmosis, which like Lyme disease can cause fever, headache, chills and muscle aches. Some patients with Lyme disease may experience a rash that may look like a red oval or bull's-eye.

If not treated promptly, Lyme disease can progress to a debilitating stage, becoming difficult and sometimes impossible to cure. This may include inflammation of the heart and brain.

Lyme disease is the most common tickborne illness in the U.S., annually causing an estimated 500,000 infections, according to the CDC. However, even the most commonly-used diagnostic test for Lyme disease misses up to 70% of early stage cases. There is no treatment that works for all patients.

We hope this study data encourages residents of California, Oregon and Washington to take precautions against ticks in the outdoors, and helps to ensure that local healthcare professionals will consider diagnoses of Lyme when patients present with symptoms." Linda Giampa, Executive Director, Bay Area Lyme Foundation

Citizen scientists were encouraged to mail in ticks collected off individuals' bodies, pets and clothing. They noted the time and place where the ticks were discovered, and described activities involved, the surrounding environment, and in many cases specific GPS coordinates.

Field studies could take decades to produce the same amount of data, said Dr. Porter, adding, "this citizen science technique could allow for real-time distribution monitoring of ticks and other relevant species, an important consideration with emerging pathogens, changing land-use patterns, and climate change."
[March 17, 2021] eToro Review: eToro Fees, Crypto and Forex Trading Platform Review and Analysis By ForexTradingReviews.org

LONDON, March. 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- eToro Reviewed For 2021 , eToro is found to be a trusted & safe online trading website & app according to ForexTradingReviews.com latest reports 2021 for the best online trading websites in the world.



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Trade Crypto with confidence on one of the world's leading social trading platforms. 2. eToro CopyTrader Service

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Zero-commission from eToro means that no broker fee will be charged when opening or closing the position and does not apply to short or leveraged positions. Other fees apply including FX fees on non-USD deposits and withdrawals. Capital is at risk. 5. eToro Trading Academy

Whether traders are just starting out or already an experienced trader, eToro users can find a wide range of educational resources and helpful guidance about trading on the eToro platform and about the financial markets in general. 6. eToro Podcast

After more than a decade as a fintech leader, eToro has launched a brand new podcast. This podcast covers a wide array of topics, ranging from the ABCs of trading to in-depth market analysis and insights. 7. eToro Fees

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eToro Club members receive an exceptional level of service as well as a host of other services. Enjoy additional privileges with each eToro Club tier upgrade. 11. eToro Popular Investor Program

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Who Can Use eToro? Everybody can use eToro as long as they are in an eToro-supported country. eToro has a list of countries where it is banned because of the regulation changes conflicted with trading laws. So, people cannot use eToro legally if they are in Iran, Japan, Cuba, the United States, Canada, Syria, Albania, Serbia, and Sudan.





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A pastor in California is urging Gov. Gavin Newsom to reopen his church on Easter Sunday.

In a video through the church's Youtube channel, Dr. Jack Trieber of North Valley Baptist Church (NVBC) in Santa Clara, California, pleaded for the governor to allow his church to reopen, Christian Headlines wrote.

"Governor Newsom, I implore you to open up our churches by Easter Sunday, April 4," he began.

"This is Sunday, early in the morning, and we're freezing out here. We're cold. We've been obeying for 366 days, one year and one day. We've shut our church down. We're meeting in the parking lot. We're meeting in open-air meetings and we have tents everywhere," he continued.

He said that the church members had to deal with the cold, rain and summer's very hot temperature, while they have an empty auditorium.

Further, he said that since the church was ordered to close last year, they were not able to celebrate holidays in it.

Dr. Trieber also explained that out of thousands of people in his church, no one died from coronavirus. They only have less than 20 positive cases. The few that got hospitalized were sent home and instructed to just "take two Tylenol."

He contended that America is not a communist country and that the churches have got to be reopened.

The pastor also pointed out that before the coronavirus pandemic, the country has never shut down churches, even during the Spanish flu. But that the church has been closed for 52 Sundays already since last year.

He said that the church has to get back given the various problems that he has been dealing with in the area, such as drug addiction, suicide and domestic violence.

He also asked the governor to get in touch with him to discuss the issue.

In conclusion, Dr. Trieber repeated his plea to reopen the church on Easter Sunday.

"We've been doing this for a year sir, it's time. April the 4th, 2021, Easter Sunday for Christians, please," he said.

The pastor started holding services in the church parking lot last year, after the NVBC was fined with $112,000 for having indoor worship services, in violation of the local public health order.

Dr. Trieber has been leading the church since 1976. From 75 people, the church now averages to 3,000 attendees every Sunday.

NVBC provides Bible-based education for elementary, middle and high school children. It has a bus ministry that reaches out to people in the county, bringing in more than a million individuals to church since it was launched more than 40 years ago. The church is supporting about two hundred local and foreign missionaries monthly. It also ministers to a number of foreign-speaking groups, deaf, mentally handicapped, a retirement home and a hospital.

The church founded Golden State Baptist College in 1996, a training school for preachers, evangelists, missionaries and Christian workers.

In 2006, Dr. Trieber started his daily radio broadcast, "Revival Time", aired on more than 60 stations around the world. He is also hosting a live radio broadcast weekly on KNVBC.
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The Easter Bunny is still hopping over to the Lehigh Valley.

Children, however, likely wont be sitting on his lap this year.

Similar to when Santa Claus came to town in December, retailers are searching for ways for families to still enjoy the time-honored spring tradition. At the same time, they are adhering to all precautionary measures set forth by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to help thwart the spread of COVID-19. This includes wearing facial masks, social distancing and continuously sanitizing.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health on Tuesday reported 3,119 new cases of COVID-19 and 65 reported deaths  the most of each in at least two weeks. The state now totals 970,717 cases and 25,652 deaths since the pandemic reached Pennsylvania a year ago. The health department also reported more than 3.7 million doses of vaccine have been distributed since December. More than 1.3 million Pennsylvanians are fully vaccinated and 77,000 people are getting shots daily.

Many area malls took a significant financial hit when Gov. Tom Wolf ordered a shutdown of non-essential businesses in March 2020. Among them was Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust (PREIT), the co-owner of Lehigh Valley Mall in Whitehall Township. It filed in early November for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

The majority still continue to look for ways to financially recover and having the Easter Bunny visit is one way to bring in much-needed revenue. It also comes at a time when online competition is fierce with potential patrons continuing to stay home amid the coronavirus pandemic, said Missy Hartney, downtown manager of Bethlehems Southside Arts District.

We need to make it count for them, she said. If a customer is making the choice to invest in us and leave their home during this time, its our duty to make it a great experience.

Wolf on Monday, however, did announce the easing up of some statewide restrictions. Starting April 4, restaurants can increase their indoor dining capacity to 75%, serve drinks without food, re-open bar seating as long as it is socially distanced and push last call back from 11 p.m. Personal service facilities, gyms and casinos, theaters and malls are all also moving to 75% occupancy limits on April 4.

The new rules apply only to restaurants that have gone through Pennsylvanias self-certification process.

Nationally, malls are reporting children might be seeing the Easter Bunny behind plexiglass guards or virtually. Others will have the popular rabbit stationed behind children in photographs -- with all wearing facial masks. Guests should anticipate enhanced cleaning breaks will take place in between visits.

Heres what else parents and guardians can expect at these Lehigh Valley area shopping destinations when visiting the Easter Bunny:

South Bethlehem

The Easter Bunny will be available from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, March 27, at Color Me Mine, 25 E. 3rd St., Bethlehem, following an Easter Egg Hunt at various Southside shops.

Hartney, the downtown manager of the Southside Arts District, said children can stand or sit in front of the Bunny for the photo. Everyone near the Easter Bunny visit will be required to wear facial masks before, during and after photos.

Starting at 1 p.m. Saturday, March 27, children will be divided up into small groups to start an egg hunt on a rotation among 15 Southside businesses. Parents of those participating will be provided with an emailed map on Thursday, March 25 to the hunt with parking details and starting points. Children will have a chance to find up to three eggs and each business will have a staff member at hand to help children socially distance while searching.

Registration for the event is required here.

The Promenade Shops at Saucon Valley

The shopping destination, 2845 Center Valley Parkway, in Upper Saucon Township is hosting the Easter Bunny, starting Saturday, March 20. The bunny will be stationed in the outdoor Stone Gazebo, located in Town Square presented by Lehigh Valley Health Network (near Starbucks).

Guests ages 2 and older are required to wear face coverings during the photo and all are required to sanitize hands prior to the visit at a sanitation station at the Gazebo entrance. Advance reservations are required here; walk-ups will not be allowed.

South Mall

The mall, 3300 Lehigh St., Allentown, is hosting the Easter Bunny, starting Saturday, March 20, on weekends through Easter Sunday. All visits are via appointment only here. Guests will partake in a socially-distanced photo and may remove facial masks for the photo. Before and after the photo, however, masks must be worn.

Lehigh Valley Mall

The mall, 250 Lehigh Valley Mall, Whitehall Township, is offering Easter Bunny visits from Thursday, March 18, to Saturday, April 3. Hours are from noon to 7 p.m. Saturday, and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday.

Visits include socially-distanced photos with all parties -- including the Easter Bunny -- wearing facial masks. Reservations are strongly encouraged here; however walk up visits will be accepted as time allows between reservations.

Palmer Park Mall

The mall, 2455 Park Ave., Palmer Township, will be hosting the Easter Bunny from Friday, March 19, to Saturday, April 3. Hours are from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday to Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday. Reservations are strongly suggested here; but walk-in visits will be allowed.

Its unclear if face coverings are required during the actual photo shoot; general manager Leanne Deats could not immediately be reached for information Monday. The website for photo company, Cherry Hill Programs, states facial mask requirements during photos vary per location.

The Outlets at Wind Creek Bethlehem

The shopping destination, 77 Wind Creek Blvd., Bethlehem, is hosting the Easter Bunny on the lower level of the outlets from Saturday, March 20 to Saturday, April 3. Hours are from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays with a bunny break from 2 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.; and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays with a bunny break from 2 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

The bunny will be stationed behind plexiglass and guests are required to wear masks before, during and after the photo is taken. Appointments are recommended, however, walk-ins will be accepted, based on availability. Available photo packages can be found here. Appointments can be made here.

Delaware River Railroad Excursions

The Easter Bunny will partake on a train ride with guests departing from 100 Elizabeth St., Phillipsburg, on Saturday, March 27; Sunday, March 28; Saturday, April 3; and Sunday, April 4. Hours include 11 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 2 p.m., and 3:30 p.m. Photos will be available with the bunny at the Egg Patch.

The trip also includes an Easter Egg Hunt, in which each child can forage for four toy-filled and candy-filled eggs. The price is $18 per adult and $12 per child. Tickets can be purchased here.

Face masks are required for all guests ages two or older. Train capacity is reduced by limiting railcar capacity to no more than 50% of the available seats.

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Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached at pholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com.

By Luc Cohen

(Reuters) - Six executives of U.S. refiner Citgo have been jailed in Caracas on graft charges since 2017, but court documents seen by Reuters show that top Venezuelan officials were made aware of the deal that the country's top prosecutor accused the six executives of signing in secret.

The documents, which have not previously been reported, show that during at least two board meetings of state oil company Petroleos de Venezuela, which owns the U.S. refiner, top Venezuelan officials - including three ministers - were informed of the proposed deal for Citgo to borrow up to $4 billion.

The financing was never executed, and a Caracas court in late 2020 sentenced the six executives to between eight and 13 years in prison. Washington has accused Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro of using the jailed executives as bargaining chips to seek policy concessions from the United States.

Maduro, who lost control of Citgo in 2019 to the Venezuelan opposition in the wake of U.S. sanctions on PDVSA intended to oust him, accuses the United States of seeking to foment a coup to gain control of Venezuela's oil.

All six executives - Jose Pereira, Jose Luis Zambrano, Alirio Jose Zambrano, Jorge Toledo, Tomeu Vadell and Gustavo Cardenas - denied the charges. The group includes five naturalized U.S. citizens and one permanent resident.

Prosecutors characterized the proposal for Frontier Management Group Ltd and Apollo Global Management LLC to refinance Citgo's debt as "unfavorable to the company." On Nov. 21, 2017, a day after the men were arrested at a meeting at PDVSA's Caracas headquarters, Venezuela's chief prosecutor Tarek Saab told a news conference that they signed the deal "without even communicating or coordinating with the competent authorities."

However, meeting minutes entered into evidence and seen by Reuters show that on June 14, 2017, PDVSA's board agreed to negotiate with Apollo and Frontier, specifying that the board must approve final terms. Records also show that at a May 18, 2017 meeting, the board also discussed Citgo's refinancing plans.

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PDVSA's board included then-Foreign Minister Delcy Rodriguez, who was also PDVSA's vice president of international affairs. Rodriguez is now Maduro's executive vice president.

Her name and those of Planning Minister Ricardo Menendez and former Food Minister Rodolfo Marco Torres, who were also on PDVSA's board, were included in the "c.c." line of both minutes. Reuters was unable to determine if Rodriguez, Menendez and Torres attended either one of those meetings.

"How could this all have been done behind the national executive's back - without its approval, to use the prosecution's words - if it is signed by or issued to the citizen Delcy Rodriguez?" a defense attorney for Pereira, Zambrano and Zambrano said in a Nov. 26, 2020 closing statement.

Another attorney for Pereira, Zambrano and Zambrano declined further comment, as did a lawyer for Toledo and Cardenas.

An attorney for Vadell referred Reuters to comments he sent to the judge at the close of the trial pointing to the absence of Vadell's name from the PDVSA minutes as further proof his client did not participate in the deal.

Neither Rodriguez, Torres, nor the planning ministry responded to requests for comment.

Venezuela's chief prosecutor's office, the information ministry, and PDVSA did not respond to Reuters' questions.

Citgo declined to comment.

Pereira, then Citgo's interim chief executive, acknowledged involvement in the refinancing talks, but said he was acting at the PDVSA board's instruction. The other five men said they were not involved in the deal, and that corporate finance was not among their job responsibilities.

The United States labels Maduro a dictator who rigged his 2018 re-election and uses the justice system to stifle dissent. Maduro says Washington wants to control Venezuela's oil reserves and aims to oust him in a coup.

The U.S. State Department has called the trial a "kangaroo court." A State Department spokesperson, asked about the documents showing Venezuelan officials knew of the negotiations, called the detentions "unjust and unlawful".

"We will continue to work with our allies to seek the release of the CITGO-6 and other unlawfully detained Americans abroad," the spokesperson said.

A person close to Apollo said the company studied the deal after being approached by Frontier, but decided not to participate. Dubai-based Frontier shut in October 2019, according to Dubai's public registry.

(Reporting by Luc Cohen in New York; Additional reporting by Matt Spetalnick in Washington; Editing by David Gregorio)
RANCHO CUCAMONGA, Calif., March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Inland Empire Health Plan (IEHP) and Loma Linda University Health (LLUH) will host a COVID-19 webinar for Spanish-speaking populations in the Inland Empire on Sunday, March 21, from 5-6 p.m.

(PRNewsfoto/Inland Empire Health Plan (IEHP))

The free interactive webinar will feature a panel of physicians addressing common COVID-19 vaccine myths and will include a Q&A session where viewers can submit questions for clinical review and response. The program will air on IEHP's YouTube channel on and will be presented in Spanish only. This webinar is open to the general public and no registration is needed.

Panelists include: Dr. Liset Stoletniy, LLUH pulmonologist, Dr. Dafne Moretta, LLUH cardiologist, and Dr. Ernesto Campos, IEHP senior director of health services. The conversation will be moderated by Cesar Armendariz, IEHP's senior director of community health.

"Factual information can help curb anxiety and uncertainty  and understanding the COVID-19 virus and vaccines to make an informed decision is no different," said Dr. Stoletniy. "I am hopeful that we can help our community make informed decisions for themselves and their families to ensure their health and safety."

IEHP and LLUH generally serve Medi-Cal and Medi-Care populations who largely identify as Hispanic or Latino. IEHP alone serves a population of 1.3 million residents in Riverside and San Bernardino County, with 56% of its Medi-Cal population identifying as Hispanic.

The pandemic has disproportionately affected California's Hispanic and Latino communities with a COVID-19 death rate 21% higher than the statewide populations (as indicated from state data).

"Providing our Members and Communities with accurate COVID-19 information is critical," said Dr. Campos. "Each population we serve is incredibly unique and we need to do all we can to meet our neighbors where they are. No COVID-19 question or concern is too big or small for this event and we hope that this webinar provides our Spanish-speaking communities with the information they need to live their healthiest life, in the present and beyond."

About IEHP

IEHP, Inland Empire Health Plan, is one of the top 10 largest Medicaid health plans and the largest not-for-profit Medicare-Medicaid plan in the country. With a network of more than 6,400 Providers and more than 2,000 employees, IEHP serves more than 1.3 million residents in Riverside and San Bernardino counties who are enrolled in Medicaid or Cal MediConnect Plan (Medicare-Medicaid Plan). Through a dynamic partnership with Providers and Community, award-winning service and innovative products, IEHP is fully committed to advocating for our Members and providing them with quality, accessible and wellness-based health care services. For more information, visit iehp.org.

SOURCE Inland Empire Health Plan (IEHP)

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http://www.iehp.org


When the theatre business came to a standstill owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, many filmmakers turned their attention towards OTT platforms to release their movies. Many big ticket films like Akshay Kumar's Laxmmi, Sanjay Dutt-Alia Bhatt's Sadak 2, Varun Dhawan-Sara Ali Khan's Coolie No.1 premiered directly on OTT platforms last year.

John Abraham-Emraan Hashmi's upcoming gangster drama Mumbai Saga, was also supposed to have a direct-to-web release. However, when John heard about there being a conversation regarding releasing Mumbai Saga on Amazon Prime, he had a chat with Bhushan Kumar and director Sanjay Gupta, as he believed that releasing this film in cinema halls was the right move.

In a tete-a-tete with Mid-day, the Batla House actor explained the reason behind the same and said, "(The film) won't make as much money as movies did in 2019. All theatres across the country haven't opened, but with this film, a few more will. After we announced this film, five more movies were announced (or theatrical run)."

Further, John went on to say that he believes that filmmakers who aren't confident about their films are usually the ones who 'dump' the films on OTT platforms. The actor said that he wasn't ready to release Mumbai Saga on web despite the COVID-19 scare.

"Let's be honest, it's a common industry notion that if an actor is not confident of a film, he dumps it on OTT. Almost 90 per cent of movies that opted for OTT release were bad. I am not saying this film is spectacular, but we are not worried about its failure. I won't use the pandemic as a crutch," Mid-day quoted John as saying.

In the same interview, John also opened up about why he gave his nod to Mumbai Saga and said, "I ran the risk of repeating my Shootout at Wadala act. I am wearing a tika again. But the conflict with Emraan's character was interesting. Preparing for this role required following Gupta's vision and reading up on the backstory of the man."

Set in the 1980s-90s, Mumbai Saga helmed by Sanjay Gupta, tells the story of Bombay's transformation into Mumbai. It stars Emraan Hashmi as a cop who is on a mission to end the crime in the city while John Abraham plays a gangster. Also starring Kajal Aggarwal, the film is slated to hit the big screens on March 19, 2021.

ALSO READ: Satyameva Jayate 2: John Abraham's Double Role Revealed In New Poster; Film To Clash With Radhe On Eid 2021

ALSO READ: Mumbai Saga Teaser: Emraan And John Take Us Back To The Times When Violence Ruled The Streets Of Bombay
ADELAIDE, AU, Mar 17, 2021 - (ACN Newswire) - Agilex Biolabs, Australia's largest and most technologically advanced specialist bioanalytical laboratory for clinical trials, today announced it will showcase its world-class immunoassay and immunobiology services for regulated bioanalysis at Bio-Europe 2021.Dr Kurt J. Sales Agilex Biolabs' Director Immunoassay said:"Our experienced team can develop or transfer a method for any biologic to support pre-clinical GLP or clinical studies. Our world-class laboratories feature state-of-the-art equipment including Gyrolab Xplore, MSD Quickplex 120, Luminex Magpix, BD FACSymphony A3 flow cytometer and soon to be released, digital droplet quantitative real-time RT-PCR. Our scientists have expertise and experience to solve the most complex immunogenicity and drug tolerance issues, often encountered in immuno-oncology studies in both an early phase and later phase setting."Agilex Biolabs also features a rebate of up to 43.5% on clinical trial bioanalytical services spend as part of the Australian Government clinical trial attraction program.Learn more: Take a briefing with our Scientists at Bio-Europe via PartneringOne. Login Here https://informaconnect.com/bio-europe-virtual/Or Book a Briefing with us before you start your next clinical trial. https://calendly.com/agilexbiolabs/15minAgilex Biolabs also has the leading certifications including OECD GLP Recognition with NATA (Australian Government OECD GLP Compliance monitoring authority) and ISO 17025 Accreditation for global recognition.Australian clinical trials have remained open for business and Agilex Biolabs is a designated essential service so clients can be assured of study continuity.Australia has led the world in keeping COVID-19 numbers down to almost zero across the country by acting swiftly to minor outbreaks.The company has recently expanded its labs by more than 30% to accommodate biotech demand from APAC, EU and the USA. Watch the New Labs Walkthrough Video Here https://www.agilexbiolabs.com/new-labs-videoAgilex Biolabs has more than 100 staff which includes 75 dedicated laboratory staff.About Agilex Biolabs https://www.agilexbiolabs.com/Agilex Biolabs, Australia's leading bioanalytical laboratory, has more than 24 years' experience in performing regulated bioanalysis, including quality method development, method validation and sample analysis services. We have successfully supported hundreds of preclinical and clinical trials around the world where customers choose Australia for the streamlined regulatory process and access to the world's most attractive R&D rebate of more than 40% on clinical trial work conducted in Australia.We offer services for both small molecules and biologics for PK, immunogenicity (PD) and biomarker bioanalysis utilising the two platforms of LC-MS/MS and Immunoassay.Agilex Biolabs Media Contact:Kate NewtonMedia@AgilexBiolabs.comSource: Agilex BiolabsCopyright 2021 ACN Newswire . All rights reserved.

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
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Inyang Ekwo, a judge of the Federal High Court in Abuja, has warned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), against distortion of facts in respect of the ongoing trial of a former Kaduna Central senator, Shehu Sani, for fraud.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the judge issued the warning after Mr Sanis lawyer, Abdul Ibrahim, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, complained of an EFCCs tweet via its Twitter handle, about the previous days proceedings.

Mr Ekwo said, The court of public opinion is not a court of coordinate jurisdiction. It is this court that has the last say at the end of this matter. Not the court of public opinion.

From the beginning of this case, I have said the records of this case are public records and it can be obtained by anybody including the media.

I dont want to hear about distorted publications again, Mr Ekwo added.

EFCC had on January 27, 2020 arraigned the former senator on fraud charges involving alleged extortion of $25,000 from Sani Dauda, the chairperson of A.S.D Motors.

The commission alleged that Mr Sani fraudulently claimed to Mr Dauda that the money was to be given to the Chief Justice of Nigeria and then Acting Chair of EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, as bribe for an alleged case involving Mr Dauda.

The prosecutions 10th witness, Bako Aliyu, who is an EFCC investigator, had testified on Tuesday that Mr Sani hurriedly returned the $25,000 he allegedly extorted from Mr Dauda, after the complainant reported the case to the commission.

At the resumed hearing on Wednesday, the defence counsel continued with the cross-examination of the prosecution witness.

Mr Aliyu said the commission retrieved from MTN service providers the call log showing conversations between Mr Sani and Mr Dauda.

He said the call log was , however, not tendered before the court as evidence.

When asked if the EFCC solicited the support of the police to investigate the case, considering the fact that Ibrahim Magu, former acting chair of the EFCC was also accused, the witness said no.

After the 10th witness was discharged from the witness box, the prosecuting counsel attempted to call another witness but the judge refused.

The judge insisted that Ekele Iheanacho, the EFCC counsel who had been handling the matter, should continue with the case.

Where is Mr Iheanacho? He should come back and do this case. Im not going to allow you. I dont want my proceedings to have controversies at the end of the day, the judge said.

The judge adjourned the matter till May 24.

(NAN)
WILLIAMSPORT -- A former postal worker in State College has admitted over an eight-month period in 2018 to opening mail intended for Penn State students, taking cash and discarding the rest.

It is unknown how much money Jessica Stover, 27, of Mill Hall, took between January and August 2018 because it was in cash, Assistant U.S. Attorney Geoffrey W. MacArthur said.

Stover pleaded guilty Wednesday in U.S. Middle District Court to a charge of theft of mail by a postal employee. She was released on personal recognizance pending sentencing.

Stover, while sorting mail at the post office, took letters and greeting cards addressed to students, MacArthur said in describing the governments evidence.

The investigation that led to the charge began in January 2018, after an employee at the Clinton County landfill near McElhattan found 95 pieces of discarded mail, he said.

Stover was seen in surveillance video moving a cart of mail to a fairly secluded location in the post office.

When she could be observed again she was carrying bag containing 45 greeting cards and letters, he said. That mail had not been opened, he said.
Out of an abundance of caution, Germany, France and Italy issued temporary bans on the use of AstraZenecas two-dose COVID-19 vaccine on Monday following reports of some people developing blood clots shortly after vaccination.

A handful of people have died after receiving the shot, which is not yet authorized for emergency use in the U.S.; its unclear if the reported blood conditions caused their deaths.

These countries join at least a dozen others in recent weeks that either partially or temporarily suspended use of the shot, despite a lack of evidence that the vaccine was responsible for the rare events.

So far, Norway, Iceland, Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Denmark, Austria, Ireland, the Netherlands, Lithuania, Luxembourg, as well as Congo in Central Africa and Thailand in Asia have stalled their rollouts of the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine, several media outlets reported.

However, top health officials still support the use of the vaccine, including the World Health Organization and the European Medicines Agency (EMA), both of which say theres no available evidence that suggest the vaccine caused the conditions that may have took the lives of at least two people in Italy and one person in Denmark.

The 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 EMA said in a statement Thursday.

The agency said there have been 30 cases of thromboembolic events (formation of blood clots) among the nearly 5 million people vaccinated with the AstraZeneca vaccine as of March 10. That number is no higher than the number seen in the general population, the agency said, meaning the medical conditions reported in vaccinated people are expected to occur randomly in a group so large.

AstraZeneca shared the same reasoning in a statement posted Sunday.

Around 17 million people in the EU and UK have now received our vaccine, and the number of cases of blood clots reported in this group is lower than the hundreds of cases that would be expected among the general population, said Ann Taylor, AstraZenecas chief medical officer. The nature of the pandemic has led to increased attention in individual cases and we are going beyond the standard practices for safety monitoring of licensed medicines in reporting vaccine events, to ensure public safety.

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The company said a review of the millions of vaccinated individuals in the region reveals no evidence of increased risks for blood clots in the lungs or veins, or for thrombocytopenia  a condition that lowers blood platelets  in any age group, gender or batch of vaccines.

There was also no evidence of increased bleeding in the more than 60,000 participants in AstraZenecas clinical trial.

Additional testing has, and is, being conducted by ourselves and independently by European health authorities and none of these re-tests have shown cause for concern, the company said. The safety of the public will always come first. The Company is keeping this issue under close review but available evidence does not confirm that the vaccine is the cause. To overcome the pandemic, it is important that people get vaccinated when invited to do so.

What to know about the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine

The World Health Organization granted AstraZenecas coronavirus vaccine emergency use for adults in more than 50 countries on February 15. The shot requires two doses separated by about four to 12 weeks.

Late-stage clinical trials in the U.K, Brazil and South Africa, where more contagious coronavirus variants have emerged, showed the vaccine had an efficacy rate of 82% against symptomatic coronavirus infection after two doses were given about 12 weeks apart.

It also prevented severe cases of COVID-19, the disease the virus causes, and hospitalizations after 22 days following the first dose.

Unlike the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines authorized in the U.S., the AstraZeneca shot works by delivering a harmless version of a chimpanzee virus called an adenovirus that has been genetically modified so it cannot make copies of itself in humans or cause disease.

The manipulated virus contains instructions on how to make the spike protein the novel coronavirus uses to enter human cells. So, when a vaccinated person comes into contact with another infected individual, their immune system is already primed to recognize the coronavirus and attack it.

The pharmaceutical company developed the vaccine with the University of Oxford.

Results from the companys 30,000-person clinical trial in the U.S. are currently being reviewed by independent monitors to determine whether the shot is safe and effective, Reuters reported Monday.

Director of the National Institutes of Health Dr. Francis Collins told the outlet that if the data prove positive, the vaccine could be granted emergency use in the U.S. in about a month, becoming the fourth COVID-19 shot in the nation.
Ahead of the assembly election in West Bengal, a total of 30 companies of Railway Protection Special Force (RPSF) have been deployed in Jhargram and Purulia.

Meanwhile, the Central Election Committee (CEC) of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is slated to meet Wednesday evening to finalise candidates for the remaining four phases of assembly

The BJP has finalised candidates for four phases of polls. It has also finalised almost all candidates for polls in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Assam.

The meeting of CEC will be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Nadda, Union Ministers Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh, and Nitin Gadkari, and other members. Some leaders from and BJP general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya, who is in charge of West Bengal, are also expected to be present.

BJP is likely to field more MPs and senior leaders such as party vice president Mukul Roy in the

to the 294-member state assembly will be held in eight phases starting from March 27. The counting of votes will take place on May 2.
WASHINGTON  Lawmakers called for action in the aftermath of a shooting in Atlanta that left at least eight people dead, the majority of whom were Asian American, raising fears among top Asian American lawmakers about the shooter's motivations amid a nationwide rise in hate incidents.

Rep. Judy Chu, D-Calif., the chairwoman of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, said the "crimes are beyond terrifying, but it just brings home to so many Asian Americans that they are fearful of their lives and circumstances" as they faced both the COVID-19 pandemic and the rise in hate incidents.

She said her group of lawmakers met with the Department of Justice to discuss a nationwide rise in hate incidents and "we are right now determining actions against AAPI hate." She called for the passage of legislation to improve hate crime reporting and also for the establishment of a national day to speak out against anti-Asian American hate on March 26.

And Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., said the killings could spur legislation against hate crimes and for gun control. He is seeking Republican co-sponsors for legislation to create Justice Department grants aimed at improving reporting of hate crimes.

This latest series of murders in Atlanta reflects a rising surge of hate crimes, particularly now directly against Asian Americans, Blumenthal said. Americans should be absolutely revolted and outraged, but more importantly, do something.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said in a statement, "answers are urgently needed to determine whether this deadly attack was a hate crime, and what can be done to prevent such an act from ever again happening."

Our entire nation must come together to speak out to Stop Asian Hate," Pelosi said. Chu's caucus would help lead efforts to "continue our work to end violence and bigotry in America," Pelosi continued.

Vice President Kamala Harris, the first Asian American in the role, told reporters Wednesday that the killing "speaks to a larger issue, which is the issue of violence in our country and what we must do to never tolerate it and to always speak out against it.

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Stop AAPI Hate, an advocacy group tracking hate incidents, said it had received nearly 3,800 reports of hate incidents across the country since March 2020, compared with roughly 100 incidents annually in previous years. Advocates have sounded the alarm on recent violent attacks against Asian Americans, including the killing of 84-year-old Thai American Vicha Ratanapakdee, and a recent increase in violence against senior citizens across the country.

More: Atlanta shootings suspect may have targeted massage parlors he frequented; too soon to tell if killings were racially motivated, police say

More: Georgia killings increasing fear in Asian communities across nation

Congress was set to debate the issue this week. A House panel will hold a hearing Thursday addressing the rise in anti-Asian American hate and discrimination, its first on the issue since 1987, with testimony from lawmakers and advocates including Chu. An anti-hate crime bill proposed by Chu and other lawmakers is likely to come up during the hearing as lawmakers consider their response to the rise in hate.

The shootings could breathe new life into efforts to pass legislation addressing the hate incidents. Asian American lawmakers introduced legislation addressing the issue in the last Congress, but other than the House's passage of a nonbinding resolution condemning anti-Asian bigotry and discrimination during the COVID-19 pandemic, no legislation was signed into law.

"We stand in full and complete solidarity with our Asian American brothers and sisters throughout the country, and we will not rest until we stop Asian hate in America," said Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., a member of House Democratic leadership.

Democrats have blamed much of the increase in hate incidents on former President Donald Trump, citing his use of derisive terms for the coronavirus. Trump "clearly stoked the flames of xenophobia against AAPIs with his rhetoric," Chu said, and ignored warnings from advocates and lawmakers and "doubled down" on the rhetoric.

The result was the shooting, the latest in a string of racially motivated incidents against Asians nationwide, Chu said.

"It's clear the individuals were targeted because they are amongst the vulnerable in our country, immigrant Asian women," Chu told reporters.

Local police said Wednesday that it was too soon to tell whether the killings at the massage parlors were racially motivated, saying they could have been linked to sex addiction.

Yale University Sociology Department chair Grace Kao, an expert on Asian American studies, said it was hard to disentangle race from the killings.

The shooter had targeted Asian American women, and given how "Asian American women have been viewed as exotic and feminine objects in U.S. mass media and suspected of prostitution from the earliest U.S. immigration restrictions," the suspect could easily have viewed Asian American women in the same manner, she said.

"If you talk to the average Asian American woman, most of us have been subject to varying degrees of sexual harassment that targets our gender and racial identities," Kao said. "They do not exist separately in the lives of individuals."

More: Lawmakers to introduce anti-hate crime legislation amid rise in anti-Asian hate and violence

Contributing: Bart Jansen

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Atlanta-area spa shootings draw calls for laws on anti-Asian hate
New Delhi, March 17 : Amidst surge in coronavirus cases, a senior Central Government official on Wednesday said that the pandemic seems shifting to Tier II, Tier III cities and closer to rural areas.

"A significant situation is emerging as plummeting pandemic is going up. The Prime Minister said that pandemic seems to be more so in Tier II, Tier III cities and closer to rural areas. The earlier phase was in big metro cities," said Dr VK Paul, member (health) of NITI Aayog.

Earlier on Wednesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that India needs to take quick and decisive steps to stop the emerging second peak of Covid-19 immediately.

He handed out a five-point plan to fight what is being called the second wave of the Covid-19 infection during a virtual meet with Chief Ministers.

Dr V K Paul made the remarks while addressing the press. Health Ministry Secretary Rajesh Bhushan, who was also part of weekly press conference, said that 70 districts in 16 states have witnessed an increase of cases by more than 150 per cent from March 1 to March 15.

These states include Maharashtra, Punjab, Chandigarh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Haryana. "There has been nearly 43 per cent increase in new cases week-on-week and 37 per cent increase in new deaths," Bhushan added.

The situation is grim in Maharashtra, where over 60 per cent of active cases and 45 per cent new deaths are concentrated. Bhushan said that enough tests are not being done and the positivity rate, percentage of people who test positive of those tested, is concerning.

On Wednesday, India logged 28,903 cases of Covid-19 and 188 fatalities in the last 24 hours, with five states Maharashtra, Punjab, Karnataka, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu driving up the daily new cases.
BRUSSELS - EU foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, will travel to Rome on Thursday to meet with Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio and Defense Minister Lorenzo Guerini. He will also visit the headquarters of the operation EunavForMed Irini, on the anniversary of its launch on March 31, 2020 for the implementation of the UN arms embargo on Libya.



On Friday Borrell will travel to the base of Sigonella and board German frigate Berlin, which has recently joined the EU mission. The operation next week will be renewed for an additional two years, EU sources said.



Meanwhile a UN report published on Wednesday said an embargo meant to prevent the sale of arms to Libya, imposed in 2011, is "totally ineffective".



The report highlighted the "ample and clear" violations of the ban. The commission that drafted the document, including six experts, indicated as responsible the countries backing the various sides involved in the conflict, as well as mercenaries and non-institutional actors like the Russian Wagner group or the former chief of military security company Blackwater, Erik Prince.



The 550-page report covers a period from October 2019 to January 2021 during which the "arms embargo remains totally ineffective", it said. "In the case of those states supporting the sides in conflict, the violations are ample, obvious and in complete contempt of sanctions. Their control of the provision chain complicates the identification, contrast or blockade" of arms imports, the report stated.
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Oregon voters favor new, less-punitive approaches to crime and mental health crises, with enthusiasm sky-high for diminishing police response to minor behavior incidents. Voters are less supportive of ending mandatory minimum sentences.

Those are among the results of a new poll, conducted by left-leaning polling firm Data for Progress for The Appeal, a program that puts out criminal justice analysis and news with a progressive spin.

The online poll, conducted from March 5 to March 9, found that 62% of likely voters favor repealing Measure 11 mandatory minimum sentences and allowing prosecutors, judge and juries more discretion. One third of voters, including 50% of Republicans, told pollsters they oppose such a rollback.

The poll had a margin of error of plus or minus 4.4%.

A competing poll, conducted by Fallon Research & Communications for the Oregon District Attorneys Association late last year, found voters narrowly support Oregons mandatory minimum sentences for the most serious crimes. But it also found most voters were open to reducing the mandatory minimum sentences for some lower-level assaults and robberies.

In 2019, lawmakers voted for a landmark juvenile justice reform that focused on rehabilitation, sending more cases to juvenile courts and limiting sentences so most youthful serious offenders will be released before or at age 25. But proposals to give judges more leeway on sentencing adults face an uphill battle this session, because any such change would require a two-thirds vote in each chamber.

In the poll, likely voters also expressed overwhelming support for funding non-police response to mental health or homelessness-related calls for help. Eighty-one percent of poll respondents said they would support using taxpayer dollars to help cities or counties create programs similar to the three-decade-old Eugene-area program known as Cahoots.

That program functions as another leg of the local first response system, sending behavioral health workers instead of police to mental health crisis calls. In addition to saving lives, the $2 million program saved the city of Eugene around $14 million in 2019, said Chris Hecht, the executive coordinate of the White Bird Clinic, which operates Cahoots. Those savings came from not having to provide ambulance rides and emergency room treatment and from the decrease in policing.

Street Roots, a nonprofit news and advocacy organization in Portland that helps individuals experiencing homelessness sell newspapers to earn income, published a similar survey of city of Portland residents only that was conducted by McKelvey Consulting.

Of the 416 Portlanders surveyed, 87% said they believe a non-police first responder is better trained to help a person experiencing a crisis on the streets connected to their mental health, substance abuse or homelessness.

Eighty percent of respondents said they do not believe that Portland Police are equipped to deal with individuals experiencing a mental health crisis and 61% said they did not believe that Portland Police have a positive impact on homelessness in their neighborhood.

The statewide poll conducted by Data for Progress also found Oregon voters favor allowing courts to impose lesser sentences on defendants whove experienced domestic violence in cases in which such abuse was found to be a contributing factor to the offense.

A bill currently before the House Judiciary Committee would require the court to consider evidence of domestic violence when sentencing someone found guilty of a crime.

Seventy percent of those polled, including majorities of Republicans and unaffiliated voters, said they favor the bill.

Finally, the poll found a slim degree of support for decriminalizing the actions of adults who sell and pay for consensual sex. Oregon voters indicated they favor such a step 54% to 37%.

The most likely of the four options to become reality in Oregon in the near-term is the switch to non-police responses to some emergency calls.

Both federal and state efforts are underway to provide funding to spur that change.

House Bill 2417 would require the Oregon Department of Human Services to provide matching grants to cities or counties to operate these mobile crisis teams. The House Committee on Behavioral Health held a public hearing for the bill at the end of February but has yet to schedule a vote on it.

Legislative staff are still taking input on the bill to ensure it will include funding for a variety of mobile crisis team formats, said Jon Pugsley, legislative director for Rep. Tawna Sanchez, D-Portland, who co-sponsored the bill.

Complementary to the state bill, U.S. Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Oregon, introduced the Cahoots Act in the U.S. House on Tuesday. Its the House companion to a Senate version introduced by U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Oregon. The Cahoots Act would allow communities to be reimbursed by Medicaid for up to 95% of service costs.

That would build on the $1 billion in Medicaid funding for alternatives to policing authorized under the federal coronavirus relief package Congress approved last week. That allows communities to cash in on a Medicaid reimbursement of up to 85% until the billion-dollar cap is reached.

As our country continues to explore ways to reduce police brutality and adequately address mental health and substance use disorder crises, we must invest more in proven models that prioritize effective, trauma-informed care, said DeFazio in a statement.

Politics reporter Hillary Borrud contributed to this report.

-- Betsy Hammond; betsyhammond@oregonian.com; @OregonianPol

-- Nicole Hayden; nhayden@oregonian.com; @Nicole_A_Hayden
Police are investigating after sinister graffiti listing the full home addresses of Tanaiste Leo Varadkar and Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney appeared in east Belfast yesterday.

The addresses were painted on a wall in Belvoir Street area and at a commercials premises in the Newtownards Road area.

Mr Varadkar's name and address were daubed beside a loyalist mural depicting two gunmen and the words: "The prevention of the erosion of our identity is now our priority. East Belfast Battalion."

It also features various loyalist logos, including that of the UVF.

Police confirmed they were aware of the graffiti and said enquiries were ongoing.

It is not the first time graffiti targeting Mr Varadkar has appeared in the area.

In January, a threat titled "an ode to Leo Varadkar" was painted in the neighbourhood, warning the ex-Taoiseach he would be hanged if he "set foot in Ulster".

Earlier this month, Cabinet minister Michael Gove's name and address was painted on a wall in the loyalist Sandy Row area of south Belfast, alongside the message "We don't forget, we don't forgive".

The recent spate of graffiti comes amid ongoing tension around the Northern Ireland Protocol, which unionists feel has left them cut off from the rest of the UK.

During a visit to Northern Ireland last week, Prime Minister Boris Johnson promised to address the concerns.

East Belfast MP Gavin Robinson said the latest graffiti was "pathetic". He added that he had contacted Belfast City Council, which confirmed that the sinister message would be removed this morning.

"This achieves nothing. It is ultimately counter-productive at a time when we're looking at pragmatic and constitutional solutions to the Northern Ireland Protocol," the DUP MP said.

UUP leader Steve Aiken described the graffiti as "absolutely despicable".

"Nobody should be doing this sort of thing. It's very clear that all politicians and everybody in society should call out these sort of activities," the South Antrim MLA said.

"Whether it's Michael Gove, Simon Coveney, Leo Varadkar or whoever it happens to be, it's completely unacceptable."

South Belfast MP Claire Hanna said "this kind of politics by threat and intimidation is the past - people didn't want it then and they don't want it now".

"It should stop. It's a backward approach and it's not going to achieve anything," the SDLP MP added.
Christopher Jerome Hill, of Houston, took a trucking assignment in Harrisburg two months ago to earn enough money to buy his own semi-truck

CJ, as he was known to his family, had been driving one of his fathers trucks, but saw the half-year assignment in Harrisburg as a way to afford his own. Eventually, he wanted to own his own trucking company, like his dad.

He flew to Harrisburg earlier this year, believing the new job would help set him up for the future. Instead, his body was being flown to his familys home Wednesday night in a casket.

Someone shot him in the back of the head March 6 while he was driving a friends car near Italian Lake in the city. He had been out that night with a fellow truck driver. Hill crashed the vehicle in the 200 block of Division Street after the shooting.

Police said they believe the shots came from another vehicle. They declined to provide any other details about the killing because of the ongoing investigation.

Hill remained alive in the hospital for six days with the bullet still in his brain. Relatives from Texas and Florida rushed to Harrisburg to be by his bedside.

When it was clear there was no brain activity, his family honored his wishes that his organs be donated. He died March 12.

His family members cleaned out the hotel suite where he had been staying, and shipped his belongings home. His funeral is set for this weekend in Florida, where most of his relatives live.

Daquiri Hill (at left) taught his son CJ how to drive a truck and get his CDL.

He didnt deserve this at all, Daiquiri Hill, CJs father, told PennLive Tuesday night. Thats my son and my best friend at the same time. Thats what I lost.

CJ Hill was a go-getter at a young age, relatives said. He was born in Lakeland, Florida, then moved to Georgia in 8th grade with his mother. He excelled academically in high school, and showed an interest in aviation. He was selected for a prestigious two-year cadet program in Georgias Civil Air Patrol while in high school.

After high school graduation, he wanted to pursue his passion for airplanes so he attended the Aviation Institute of Maintenance in Houston, where his dad lived. He also took flying lessons with a pilot, his father said.

At that time, his father transitioned from a job in the restaurant industry to truck driving. CJ saw how well his father was doing and the strong demand for drivers and wanted to get his Commercial Drivers License too, Daiquiri Hill said.

Daiquiri Hill taught him to drive, CJ obtained his CDL and soon was driving his own routes sometimes as long as 14 hours per day. He earned a good income and bought his own townhouse in downtown Houston, where he enjoyed cooking meals for his friends.

CJ had great business instincts, relatives said. He paid attention to the stock market, carefully curated his credit score and was intently focused on starting his own businesses.

In addition to wanting to start his own trucking company, CJ also had bottled his grandfathers secret recipe for Cajun spices and started selling to eager customers. He loved to cook, watched cooking shows on television and dreamed of owning his own restaurant. He even sold candles for a time.

I was like, one thing at a time son, Daiquiri said, laughing at the memory. He always came to me for advice. I just told him, if you start something, you finish it.

CJ also loved to record music. He wrote and produced rap songs on YouTube under the name CJ Legacy.

Family members said CJ was a young man ahead of his time, an old soul who loved to chat with older relatives, eager for their wisdom, and always was the one checking in on relatives. He made his large, loving family a priority.

CJ Hill kept a close relationship with his mother, LaAsia Easterling.

Hours before he died, in fact, he had reached out to three different cousins just to see how they were doing, his great aunt Pattina Griffin, of Houston, told PennLive. He told one cousin he would call back later, a call that never came.

Griffin said CJ regularly called her for business advice as she had started several ventures.

He wanted to create a similar legacy for himself, where he could create jobs for others and help people, she said.

CJ always had a job with benefits and insurance, Griffin said, but he hadnt worked long enough at this recent contract assignment to have benefits, so relatives are scrambling to pay the medical bills and other unexpected expenses to fly his body to Florida and for the funeral.

He had only been there for two months and I think his benefits might have started after three months, or 90 days, she said. Thats why were in such a predicament.

The family has started an online fundraiser for anyone who wishes to help the family.

He got his work ethic from his dad and grandpa. They worked hard and so did he, Griffin said. For this young man to be plucked from us like this is such a tragedy.

READ MORE:

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North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's sister Yo-jong on Tuesday suffered one of her celebrated hissy fits, this time about U.S.-South Korean military exercises. "South Korean government yet again chose the 'March of War,' the 'March of Crisis,'" she said in a statement translated by the state-run Rodong Sinmun daily. "Whatever the South will do by following its master, it will be not easy that the warm spring days of three years that it strongly wants will return." It is not always easy to make sense of these gnomic utterances, but "March" there refers to the current month rather than marching, and "the warm spring days of three years" seems to mean the brief rapprochement between the two Koreas in early 2018. While tacitly acknowledging that the current military drills are nothing to write home about since they take the form of a computer simulation, she added that the size of the joint military drills does not change anything. For good measure she added that South Korean officials "were all born with stupidity and have become the dumb and deaf bereft of judgment."

Anyone in their right mind would ignore these inarticulate outbursts, but the Unification Ministry dutifully responded by saying that the joint military drills "must not create military tension under any circumstances." How on earth could a computer-generated simulation heighten military tensions? It is North Korea, after all, that continues to bolster its nuclear missile capability after announcing its will to "forcibly unify" the two Koreas.

The government has bent over backwards for the intemperate young woman. When Kim Yo-jong demanded South Korea ban sending propaganda leaflets across the border, South Korea banned it. When she complained about Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha, a bosom buddy of President Moon Jae-in's who had survived all sorts of crises of competence, Kang was sacked. And Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo was replaced after the North accused him of being "insincere and ignorant." All this happened after Kim Yo-jong blew up the inter-Korean liaison office in Kaesong with such force that the explosion damaged several nearby building. It seems that she knows exactly what buttons to push to get the South to do what she wants, and has now become the most powerful Korean politician.

Kim Yo-jong also directed her ire at the Biden administration. "If [the U.S.] wants to sleep in peace for coming four years, it had better refrain from causing a stink at its first step," she said in her inimitable style. The remarks came a day ahead of a visit by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to Japan and Korea. But the two secretaries in a meeting with their Japanese counterparts on Tuesday called for "compete denuclearization" in North Korea, warning that it "poses a threat to international peace and stability." Presumably U.S. President Joe Biden will not be so easily cowed, and may well wonder who this hysterical person is.


Chhatarpur/Bhopal, March 17 : Ghuwara Block Congress President Indra Pratap Singh was shot dead in Chhatarpur district, the police said.

The Congress leader was killed on Tuesday evening, following which his family members created a ruckus in the district hospital. The reason behind the murder is said to be an old rivalry. According to official information, he was sitting at a small eatery when he was shot dead.

Singh was brought to the district hospital in a critical condition where the doctors declared him dead. After the incident, his family members and supporters created a ruckus and vandalized the hospital.

According to City Superintendent of Police Lokendra Singh, the Congress leader was shot dead at Bada Malhera.

Commenting on Indra Pratap Singh's murder, former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath said, "I received the sad news about the shooting of Ghuwara Block Congress President Indra Pratap Singh in Chhatarpur district. My deepest condolences to his family. I demand from the Shivraj Singh Chouhan government to immediately find the accused and arrest them at the earliest as well as take the strictest possible action." Questioning the law and order situation in the state, Kamal Nath said, "The law and order situation is quite worrisome, no one is safe in the state today. Incidents like murders, kidnappings, rape, looting are happening every day? Those responsible for this act are busy campaigning for elections in West Bengal and Assam, and boasting of good governance in the state. " It has been alleged that Indra Pratap Singh was involved in a dispute since a long time with the people of his own region.

-IANS snp-skp/khz/bg
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State Sen. Kel Seliger sent a letter to Texas Attorney General, Ken Paxton, requesting that Paxton file an injunction halting the placement of unaccompanied juveniles in Midland County by the US Department of Health and Human Services.

The decision for this placement was made on Friday (March 12); local officials, however, were never consulted and were not informed until Sunday (March 14), Seliger stated in a press release. That evening, the first buses of juveniles started to arrive. I believe the haste and apparent secrecy of this action was designed to avoid soliciting input from local law enforcement, local elected officials, health care services, and educational entities."
Right-wing commentator Candace Owens and Cardi B are threatening to sue each other in a bitter Twitter clash after the conservative pundit hit out at the singer's 'degenerate' WAP performance at the Grammys - and the Bodak Yellow hitmaker hit back by suggesting Owens' husband was cheating on her with her own brother.

Owen announced Tuesday that she was '100 per cent suing' Cardi B over her 'wild lies' about her husband George Farmer. Cardi responded by saying she will sue Owens over her claims the singer photoshopped a tweet.

The feud began on Monday when Owens appeared on Fox News' Tucker Carlson show where she claimed Cardi's sexy Grammy's performances was heralding the 'destruction of American values and American principles'.

Talk heating up: Cardi B and Candace Owens are in a war of words on Twitter after the conservative political commentator harshly criticized her raunchy Grammy performance

Provocative: The rapper accused Owens' husband George Farmer (pictured together with Donald Trump) of cheating on her with her own brother

Hitting hard: Cardi seemed to outrage Owens when she posted a seemingly tweeted-and-deleted meme about her husband cheating on her with her brother from last November

Hitting hard: Cardi seemed to outrage Owens when she posted a seemingly tweeted-and-deleted meme about her husband cheating on her with her brother from last November

Legal action threat: As the two waged on with their war on Twitter, they both suggested their fight could end up in the courts over a defamation lawsuit

Her own legal threat: After Owens threatened to take legal action, Cardi followed up saying she would sue the commentator for claiming she photoshopped a seemingly deleted meme about her husband cheating on her with her brother last November.

The Fox News host claimed the WAP performance - which saw Cardi (born Belcalis Marlenis Almanzar) and Megan Thee Stallion straddling each other and writhing on the stage floor while belting out the ultra-raunchy lyrics - was part of a leftist movement to 'intentionally trying to degrade our culture and hurt our children.'

Owens, 31, agreed branding Cardi's provocative performance 'a lesbian sex scene being simulated on television' and branded it 'an attack on American values'.

'We are celebrating perversity in America,' she claimed.

Speaking on the show, Candace said: 'Parents should be terrified that this is the direction that our society is heading towards.

'Again, we are weakening America. We are setting the stage, and it feels like we are looking at corrosion, like we are about to see the end of an empire.'

WAP (Wet A*s P***y) features the two rappers discussing female sexual pleasure using explicit sexual descriptions. Following its release in 2020, the tune was critically-acclaimed and went on to top the Billboard charts for four weeks.

Initially, Cardi, 28, didn't seem to mind that the performance was a scathing talking point on Fox News. She celebrated it for the added media exposure.

Sharing a screenshot of Candace's performance, she penned: 'Yaaaayyyyyyy WE MADE FOX NEWS GUYS !!! Wap wap wap'.

But then, after the Grammy broadcast, Cardi poked fun at Owens, referring to her as 'Candy', and thanked her for helping boost the number of views of the YouTube video of the Grammys performance.

'STREAM UP AND WAP .REMEMBER GROWN PARENTS ONLY YOU CAN MONITOR WHAT YOUR KIDS WATCH NO1 ELSE,' the rapper tweeted in part.

Critical conversation: During Owens's rant about Cardi (born Belcalis Marlenis Almanzar), she referenced where she straddled Megan Thee Stallion while belting out the ultra-raunchy lyrics

Laughing it off: Initially, Cardi didn't seem to mind that the performance was a scathing talking point on Fox News with Tucker Carlson. In fact, she celebrated it for the added media exposure

Personal jabs: Owens returned the favor and called Cardi by her real name after the rapper dubbed her 'Candy' in a tweet

Candace then replied: 'I don't work for Fox News, Belcalis, nor do I take issue with you having success. I take issue with you being used to encourage young women to strip themselves of dignity. Men typically treat women how they treat themselves. You know that.'

From there, Owens proceeded to elaborate on why she feels the Bodak Yellow star needs to take responsibility for the message she's sending with her sexual innuendos on live television.

'We hear so many women complaining about how men treat women. Cardi B begs the question how do women treat themselves? We can fix black culture, we can't do it if we keep pretending it's not broken. That performance was disgusting. Let's start by calling a spade a spade,' the Connecticut native wrote.

'If you think making your husband a sandwich is a sin, but popping your vagina into another woman's vagina in front of the world is power you are a lost soul.'

Owens then referenced how Cardi loves to point out her husband's skin tone; she's married to George Farmer, a white man who's a UK native.

'... So let me ask what color are the people that are encouraging you to strip in front of the world? Who owns your record labels? Who owns CBS and the GRAMMY's? Who made the most money off of your WAP? You sold it to who?'

I dont know why candy is so bothered by WAP.I was just inspired by our former First Lady . Anyways congrats on your new show I hope you speak more about WAP I need it to reach a new Audience to go 6x platinum.Any exposure will help .Love you candy STREAM UP. pic.twitter.com/xX03q6YosN  iamcardib (@iamcardib) March 16, 2021

More personal jabs: Owens referenced how Cardi loves to point out her husband's skin tone; she's married to George Farmer, a white man who's a UK native

Taking sides: Owens defending Melania Trump's modeling shots by saying she has since evolved over the last three decades

The conversation then turned to Melania Trump, as Cardi posted a series of the former First Lady's racy modelling shots, while staunch Trump supporter Candace hit back about her 'obsession' with the family.

Cardi shot back: 'I don't know why candy is so bothered by WAP.I was just inspired by our former First Lady [Melania Trump]. Anyways congrats on your new show I hope you speak more about WAP I need it to reach a new Audience to go 6x platinum.Any exposure will help .Love you candy STREAM UP.'

Owens replied: 'What is your obsession with the Trump family? You are digging up modeling shots from our former First Lady from 3 decades ago. She has evolved, you have not. What you did at the Grammy's was disgusting. Own it.'

Again Cardi tried to have the last word writing: 'I'm obsessed she's my idol! She showed me I can be naked perform wap and still be a First Lady one day.

'Wait so only White women can be naked and show their sexuality and evolve in their 30s but I can't ? Wow America is soo unfair .To think this was the land of the free.'

The lyrics for WAP features the two female rappers discussing how they want men to please them by using explicit sexual descriptions

Any press is good press: After the Grammy broadcast, Cardi poked fun at Owens, referring to her as 'Candy', and thanked her for helping boost the number of views of her Grammys performance on YouTube: 'STREAM UP AND WAP .REMEMBER GROWN PARENTS ONLY YOU CAN MONITOR WHAT YOUR KIDS WATCH NO1 ELSE,' the rapper tweeted

As the two waged on with their war on Twitter, they both suggested their fight could end up in the courts over a defamation lawsuit.

The legal action threats began when Cardi referenced Owens' seemingly tweeted-and-deleted meme about her husband cheating on her with her brother last November.

'Yes. Just spoke with my family. I am 100% suing Cardi for that nonsense. You can't just start throwing out wild lies against private members of my family because you're upset someone called your out on your degenerate performance. I'll keep you all posted,' The Daily Wire writer tweeted.

Cardi hit back: 'Of course your family going to tell you to sue since you tweeted your brother and husband beat box on d***s .It's everywhere you can even Google it .Even random people dates they saw you tweet and delete .I DIDNT MADE IT UP.'

Their beef continued on with Owens sharing about how her new show, which drops on Friday, is already 'a #1 trending topic in the country.'

She also asked fans and followers to be sure 'to send a thank you note to Cardi' for her work as her hype man.

The insults continued when the rapper shot back: 'I'm not your hype man I'm your MOTHER. You look for me when you need help on your career not the other way around. YOU NEED ME I DON'T NEED YOU. Now say thank you mommy Belcalis.'

Owens would again threaten legal action when she added, 'I'm thinking me and you in a courtroom debating defamation law is what's around the corner.'

Who needs who: Cardi maintained Owens has singled her out to 'help on her career... Now say thank you mommy Belcalis'

Building up attention: The pair also battled over Owens' assertion that her upcoming new show is already 'the #1 trending topic in the country'

More defamation talk: Owens again threatened legal action when she said she envisions them 'debating defamation law' soon enough

Specified: She then specified it was not Candace who mentioned Kulture

Things heated up further when Cardi discussed critics slamming her daughter Kulture, two, who she shares with rapper Offset before she deleted the messages.

She then specified it was not Candace who mentioned Kulture.

In November, Candace hit headlines again for blasting the Harry and the 'steady feminization of our men', calling for society to 'bring back manly men'.

The conservative commentator took umbrage to the star's shoot, writing on Twitter: 'There is no society that can survive without strong men.

'The East knows this. In the west, the steady feminization of our men at the same time that Marxism is being taught to our children is not a coincidence.'

Concluding her fiery tweet, the right wing media personality, a vocal supporter of US President Donald Trump, asserted: 'It is an outright attack. Bring back manly men.'

Responding to the tweet, Olivia Wilde  who announced her engagement with Jason Sudeikis had ended this weekend  simply wrote: 'You're pathetic.'

Candace then directly referenced Olivia's recent split when she shockingly hit back: 'You're single for a reason.' The tweet was subsequently deleted.
[March 17, 2021] Government of Canada welcomes interim report from the COVID Alert Advisory Council

OTTAWA, ON, March 17, 2021 /CNW/ - The COVID-19 Exposure Notification App Advisory Council was established to ensure the COVID Alert app meets the highest standards in public health outcomes, privacy and technology. The Council members reflect Canada's regional and cultural diversity, and possess a wide range of expertise, including health, privacy, data governance, science and innovation. Today, the Minister of Health, the Honourable Patty Hajdu, the Minister of Digital Government, the Honourable Joyce Murray, and the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, the Honourable Francois-Philippe Champagne, welcomed the Council's Interim report on the Social and Economic Determinants of App Adoption, Retention and Use. The report highlights that the Government of Canada has worked quickly on many of the recommendations of the Council such as the features to narrow the exposure window, allowing users, specifically health care workers, to turn the app on and off, and allowing users to clear the exposed state following a negative test result. As noted in the report, the number of one-time keys currently being entered into the app is low compared to the number of positive COVID-19 cases across Canada. For the app to be an effective tool, it must be easy for users to receive and upload a one-time key following a positive diagnosis. The Government is committed to urgently resolving this issue. Currently, provinces and territories are responsible for issuing one-time keys, as they are the ones that can confirm positive diagnosis and the process can be different in each jurisdiction. The Government in partnership with provinces and territories is now exploring mechanisms to issue the one-time keys automatically to all persons who test positive for COVID-19, in a privacy-preserving manner. As well, Canadians can help by asking for a one-time key from their local public health authority if they do not immediately receive one from their public health unit following a positive diagnosis. Individuals can also consult the ap or contact their local health authorities to find out how to get a one-time key.



Quotes "We welcome the recommendations the COVID Alert Advisory Council has given to guide the COVID Alert app and thank them for their work. We will continue to work urgently with provinces and territories to ensure that all COVID Alert users who are diagnosed with COVID-19 receive a one-time key."

The Honourable Patty Hajdu

Minister of Health "Like all digital projects, this is an iterative process. We're continually reviewing and improving COVID Alert to improve its effectiveness, and as such we welcome the work of the COVID-19 Exposure Notification App Advisory Council." The Honourable Joyce Murray

Minister of Digital Government "We thank the Advisory Council for their guidance on the COVID Alert exposure notification app. We look forward to their ongoing advice and recommendations for improving this important public health tool and call on Canadians to download COVID Alert on your mobile phones, and do your part to keep our communities safe." The Honourable Francois-Philippe Champagne

Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry Quick Facts COVID Alert is available for Canadians as a free download from the App Store or the Google Play Store. As of March 7, 2021 , there have been more than 6.3 million downloads of the app.

, there have been more than 6.3 million downloads of the app. Since the app first launched in July 2020 , more than 20,000 people have voluntarily input their one-time key to notify others around them after testing positive for COVID-19. More than 80% of COVID Alert users who receive a one-time key entered it into the app. However, as the council's report highlights fewer than 5% of positive cases have obtained a one-time key from their public health authority.

, more than 20,000 people have voluntarily input their one-time key to notify others around them after testing positive for COVID-19. More than 80% of COVID Alert users who receive a one-time key entered it into the app. However, as the council's report highlights fewer than 5% of positive cases have obtained a one-time key from their public health authority. In Ontario , users can receive a one-time key through the Ontario Public Health Test Results Website. Those who cannot access the eHealth Ontario portal, would get a one-time key via their local public health unit.

, users can receive a one-time key through the Ontario Public Health Test Results Website. Those who cannot access the eHealth portal, would get a one-time key via their local public health unit. In Quebec , users can request a one-time key by calling 1-855-228-4253 after receiving a positive COVID-19 diagnosis from the public health unit.

, users can request a one-time key by calling 1-855-228-4253 after receiving a positive COVID-19 diagnosis from the public health unit. Users in Manitoba , New Brunswick , Newfoundland and Labrador , Nova Scotia , Prince Edward Island , and Saskatchewan can receive a one-time key from their local public health authority when they receive their positive test results and/or during the contact tracing process.

, , and , , , and can receive a one-time key from their local public health authority when they receive their positive test results and/or during the contact tracing process. Visit Canada.ca/covid-alert for more information on how to obtain a one-time key in each province and territory. The COVID Alert app has also been updated to ensure individuals complete the entire process when entering their one-time key before exiting the screen.

The Government of Canada continually reviews and improves COVID Alert. Updates are based on public health guidance, provincial and territorial needs, user research, feedback and updates to the underlying framework by Apple and Google. Associated Links

Download COVID Alert today

Privacy assessment of the COVID Alert exposure notification application

Privacy review of the COVID Alert exposure notification application

COVID-19 Exposure Notification App Advisory Council SOURCE Health Canada

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WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Ancora Holdings Inc., which owns about 3.4% of the outstanding common stock of Blucora Inc. (BCOR), urged Blucora's stockholders to vote on the WHITE Proxy Card to elect Ancora's four director candidates to the company's Board of Directors at the company's 2021 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. Ancora said it recognize that the current Board's decision-making and inattentiveness has led to Blucora failing to sufficiently invest in organic growth and the resources that Avantax advisors need in today's highly-competitive, technology-oriented environment. Ancora noted it did not want to run a public campaign and election contest, but it could not sit on the sidelines as the company continues to neglect Avantax and advisors. Therefore it nominated four director candidates with significant financial services experience for election to the Board. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
NEW YORK, March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Base Oil market will register an incremental spend of about USD 8.48 Billion, growing at a CAGR of 5.47% during the five-year forecast period. A targeted strategic approach to Base Oil 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

Key Highlights Offered in the Report:

Base Oil Market Procurement Research 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 KPI's 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 Base Oil market. The report also aids buyers with relevant Base Oil 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%-8.00%.

Identify favorable opportunities in Base Oil 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 Base Oil suppliers listed in this report:

This Base Oil procurement intelligence report has enlisted the top suppliers and their cost structures, SLA terms, best selection criteria, and negotiation strategies.

ExxonMobil Corp.

Royal Dutch Shell Plc

Chevron Corp.

Total SA

Saudi Arabian Oil Co.

Neste Oyj

Ergon Inc.

Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. for Distribution PJSC

PetroChina Co. Ltd.

Phillips 66

To get instant access to over 1000 market-ready procurement intelligence reports without any additional costs or commitment, Subscribe Now for Free.

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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TOKYO (dpa-AFX) - Japanese automakers Toyota Motor Corp. and Honda Motor Co. are temporarily halting production at their North American plants due to supply shortages of essential components amid the pandemic crisis, reports said. Crowded ports that import parts for their U.S. factories are also a concern. Toyota will suspend production at some North American plants due to shortage of petrochemicals, and will intermittently cut shifts or production lines. Meanwhile, Honda will halt production at some of its U.S. and Canadian auto plants for the next one week due to supply-chain issues. At Toyota, vehicle factories in Kentucky and Mexico, as well as an engine plant in Alabama will be affected by the supply chain issues. To deal with the shortage, the company is expected to intermittently cut shifts or production lines of certain vehicles including Camry and Avalon sedans, Tacoma pickup truck and RAV4 sport-utility vehicle. The company is not expecting to furlough any workers at present. For Honda, shutdown is set to start at most of its five auto plants in the U.S. and Canada on March 22. The port issues, a shortage of semiconductors, pandemic-related problems and fallout from severe winter weather across the central U.S. jointly resulted in the decision to half the production. In some factories, the cold caused pipes to burst. Meanwhile, Honda workers reportedly will continue to work at the impacted plants, despite production issues. The global shortage of semiconductors and weak demand for cars during lockdown restrictions amid coronavirus pandemic have already hurt many automakers. Earlier itself, Toyota, Honda and several other automakers including General Motors, Ford Motor, olkswagen, Daimler, Fiat Chrysler, and Nissan had warned about cuts or temporary plant shutdowns to deal with the issues. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
Irelands premier will hold talks with President Joe Biden later as the traditional St Patricks Day engagement goes online.

The Taoiseach traditionally travels to Washington DC for St Patricks week to hold a series of high level meetings with the most powerful political figures in the US.

The pandemic has prevented Micheal Martin making the trip this year, with events taking place virtually instead.

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Northern Irelands First Minister Arlene Foster and deputy First Minister Michelle ONeill are also expected to hold a virtual call with Vice President Kamala Harris on Wednesday  a meeting that may also involve an appearance from President Biden.

Mr Martin and President Biden are both marking their first St Patricks Day since they assumed office.

Keeping with tradition, their engagement will involve the presentation of a bowl of shamrock to Mr Biden.

The president often speaks with great pride about his Irish roots, having heritage tracing back to Ballina in Co Mayo and the Cooley Peninsula in Co Louth.

Ahead of the meeting, the Taoiseach predicted the discussions would feature Brexit and the coronavirus crisis.

Irelands problems securing Covid-19 vaccine supplies are also set to feature.

This week, President Biden said the US was in discussion with several countries over any surplus vaccines that may become available.

Commenting on the engagement with the president, Mr Martin said on Tuesday: I think the fundamental aspect of tomorrows meeting is to strengthen and deepen even further the bilateral relationship between Ireland and the United States.

Mr Martins programme of events begins in the early afternoon with a meeting with Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi.

He will also meet Vice-President Harris.

The Taoiseachs virtual itinerary also includes a lunch hosted by Ms Pelosi and a memorial event for the late SDLP leader John Hume.
The epicenter in Beirut, before and after the explosion. Credit: Bhaskar Kundu, et al. Scientific Reports. February 2, 2021

Just after 6 p.m. local time (15.00 UTC) on August 4, 2020, more than 2,750 tons worth of unsafely stored ammonium nitrate exploded in Lebanon's port city of Beirut, killing around 200 people, making more than 300,000 temporarily homeless, and leaving a 140-meter-diameter crater in its wake. The blast is considered one of the most powerful non-nuclear, man-made explosions in human history.

Now, calculations by Hokkaido University scientists in Japan have found that the atmospheric wave from the blast led to electron disturbances high in Earth's upper atmosphere. They published their findings in the journal Scientific Reports.

The team of scientists, which included colleagues from the National Institute of Technology Rourkela in India, calculated changes in total electron content in Earth's ionosphere: the part of the atmosphere from around 50 to 965 kilometers in altitude. Natural events like extreme ultraviolet radiation and geomagnetic storms, and man-made activities like nuclear tests, can cause disturbances to the ionosphere's electron content.

"We found that the blast generated a wave that traveled in the ionosphere in a southwards direction at a velocity of around 0.8 kilometers per second," says Hokkaido University Earth and Planetary scientist Kosuke Heki. This is similar to the speed of sound waves traveling through the ionosphere.

The team calculated changes in ionospheric electron content by looking at differences in delays experienced by microwave signals transmitted by GPS satellites to their ground stations. Changes in electron content affect these signals as they pass through the ionosphere and must be regularly taken into consideration to accurately measure GPS positions.

The ionospheric disturbance caused by an explosion can be detected by differential ionospheric delays of microwave signals of two carrier frequencies from global navigation satellite system (GNSS) satellites. Credit: Bhaskar Kundu, et al. Scientific Reports. February 2, 2021

The scientists also compared the magnitude of the ionospheric wave generated by the Beirut blast to similar waves following natural and anthropogenic events. They found that the wave generated by the Beirut blast was slightly larger than a wave generated by the 2004 eruption of Asama Volcano in central Japan, and comparable to ones that followed other recent eruptions on Japanese islands.

The energy of the ionospheric wave generated by the Beirut blast was significantly larger than a more energetic explosion in a Wyoming coal mine in the U.S. in 1996. The Beirut blast was equivalent to an explosion of 1.1 kilotons of TNT, while the Wyoming explosion was equivalent to 1.5 kilotons of TNT. The total electron content disturbance of the Wyoming explosion was only 1/10 of that caused by the Beirut blast. The scientists believe this was partially due to the Wyoming mine being located in a somewhat protected pit.

More information: Bhaskar Kundu et al. Atmospheric wave energy of the 2020 August 4 explosion in Beirut, Lebanon, from ionospheric disturbances, Scientific Reports (2021). Journal information: Scientific Reports Bhaskar Kundu et al. Atmospheric wave energy of the 2020 August 4 explosion in Beirut, Lebanon, from ionospheric disturbances,(2021). DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-82355-5
Mia Hall Miller wasnt expecting a painting to change her life when she wandered through the Art in the Pearl fine arts and crafts festival over Labor Day weekend years ago.

Although the Portland music educator and conductor had never purchased original art before, she liked looking at the sculptures, glass pieces and other works. Once she entered the Lawrence Gallery, however, she says she fell in love. On the wall was a large, mostly blue abstract painting.

It spoke to me, says Miller. I showed an interest in it and I was invited to take it home to try it out. That was a big step for me.

She hung the piece, titled Clallum II, by Fred Holcomb on a wall she sees when shes playing piano and giving singing lessons.

That was 14 years ago. Miller, who has since married an art appreciator, says she still feels the same rush when she sees her first artistic love. Staying at home during the coronavirus pandemic has reinforced that it was the right match.

We have all learned that you have to find ways to feed your soul, says Miller, who is the founder and artistic director of Portlands Pacific Youth Choir. Having something beautiful in your home gives you beauty, which you can then share with the world.

Mia Hall Miller bought this painting titled Clallum II by Fred Holcomb at the Lawrence Gallery.Matt Miller

Art is Essential

The art in your home should be worthy of being seen alongside your most precious family treasure, but it cannot intimidate you. This visual expression of your emotions should feel as comfortable to you as a favorite chair, say experts.

Its value is how it engages your mind and senses, and forces you to think, act, be different.

The best encouragement to new art buyers: Art is available in all prices, from a few dollars to multi-millions, and there is no hurry to find pieces you will cherish.

Before you measure your walls and open your wallet, open your eyes to art.

Art makes a space come alive, says Portland interior designer Robert Trotman, who since 1986 has worked with serious collectors as well as people who are well traveled but have never walked into a gallery.

Art gives a room depth and personality, he says. Its hard to get personality out of a gray sofa. But put a painting above it, and the room is transformed.

The goal: To have your home be artful, functional, comfortable and inviting. And reflect who you are.

But how? Searching through the vast array of art themes, colors and styles can be overwhelming.

People think that unless theyre ready to buy right now theres no reason to visit a gallery, Trotman says. But visiting galleries is a great way to educate yourself and find out what you like.

Another misconception: The only art for sale in a gallery is the particular artists show on the walls. There are probably 1,500 works not on display by dozens of artists the gallery represents, says Trotman, and if you ask to look at those, you might find something you like.

Social distancing to reduce the spread of COVID-19 temporarily closed museums and limits the number of people who can be inside a gallery at one time. But art is still being created, collected and viewed, often online.

Photo of Cay Horiuchi, a DJ and member of UwU, a QTPOC artist collective, by Celeste Noche.Celeste Noche

Expanding the audience interested in artists from all points of view is a mission of the Portland In Color directory.

Celeste Noche, the online hubs co-founder, says artists leaned more on Patreon, TikTok and Instagram live to connect with their communities when exhibit doors temporarily closed and events were canceled due to the coronavirus.

Noche, a Filipino American documentary and editorial photographer who moved to Portland from San Francisco, says the lockdown year impacted working artists economically and emotionally, and highlighted the limited aid available to them. Many do not qualify for unemployment despite losing income.

If anything, I would say the pandemic has demonstrated how much we need and rely on art, yet how few systems are in place to support artists, she says.

Through Portland in Color, people can contact artists directly for commissions or to support or follow their work.

Art at Your Convenience

The 40-year-old Elizabeth Leach Gallery in Portland has shifted with the times. Instead of printing postcards to invite people to attend a show in person, live-streaming openings and artist talks are posted on Facebook and YouTube to encourage hesitant people to step into the art world at their own pace.

Gallery Director Daniel Peabody says galleries such as his have a mission to promote art and artists, and the audience is growing. A livestream talk by painter Mark R. Smith received comments from an art appreciator in Seoul, South Korea.

Some people who see works of interest online ask to see them in person, and thats just another step in learning about art. Its not a commitment. Eighty percent of the people who come here arent buyers but people who want to look at art, says Peabody.

Elizabeth Leach Gallery offers appointments for socially distant, in-person visits between 10:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m., Tuesday through Saturdays (503-224-0521 or art@elizabethleach.com). But dont let the lack of an appointment stop you. The staff may also be able to accommodate visitors who knock on the door.

Galleries are a relationship-based business, says Peabody, whose customers include longtime clients, their grown children and grandchildren. The gallery also has longstanding relationships with artists who create in a range of mediums and prices.

Peabody believes everyone deserves to live with great art.

The gallerys Print Wall program showcases affordable photographs, prints and other artworks on paper. Customers can have up to six months to purchase an artwork. Art Money, an online lender, can spread payments out longer.

There have been changes on a number of fronts, but its pleasing to see that people are going back to the core of what gives them pleasure: Time with their family and art, says Peabody. These are feeding us when other avenues of engagement have shifted.

There are about 35 galleries in Portland and a multitude of online sellers await potential buyers at all price points. Search for Oregon artists, for instance, on sites like Artsy, Artfinder and 1stdibs.

Five Steps to Buying Art

Trotman, a professional member of the American Society of Interior Designers as well as a trustee of the Portland Art Museum, offers this advice to enter the world of art with confidence:

Familiarize yourself with art. Visit museums and galleries, and attend artists fairs and benefit auctions in person if possible or online. Look at auction catalogs and art websites, and sign up for art newsletters.

As do most galleries, PDX Contemporary Art has online information about artists like James Lavadour and images of works for sale.

When you find artwork you like online, go to the gallery and ask to see more, says Trotman. Gallery owners are pleased to give you an artists biography and talk to you about the artwork you like.

Discover what appeals to you. After looking at a lot of art, you could find, for example, that everything you like is black and white. Thats a whole genre in itself, says Trotman.

A way to know more: Many art museums have a rental sales gallery such as the one across Southwest 10th Avenue from the Portland Art Museum. Here, you can look at works by 250 established and emerging artists and rent an original piece for three months for the price of your water bill. Afterward, if you love it, you can buy it.

This is a great way to find out if its worth it to spend $3,500 on a piece of art, says Trotman. If you continue to love it, its an investment in your happiness.

Establish a budget. If original art is beyond your budget, ask about limited-edition prints and reproductions, which are widely available, especially works by famous artists.

The Portland Fine Art Print Fair, sponsored by the Portland Art Museum, was an online event this year. Forty-seven exhibitors offered more than 2,000 works of art on paper. Works that sold included Wharves, a drypoint of Monterey Bay from 1937 by American artist Jeannette Maxfield Lewis as well as woodblock prints, mezzotints, photographs and lithographs.

Galleries that specialize in prints price them from around $90 to thousands of dollars for blue-chip prints by Warhol and others, says Trotman.

Dont be afraid to talk about your budget. Just say, I have $750 to spend and a gallery will show you prints, says Trotman. Then, if you see something you like, you can ask to take it home on approval.

Trotman saw an oil painting by Portland artist Tom Cramer in the window of the Russo Lee Gallery on Northwest 21st Avenue and called to ask how much it cost.

Hire an art advisor who understands your aesthetic taste and has knowledge and connections to galleries and artists.

Trotman shows his clients photos of potential purchases and when something catches their eye, he has the art delivered to their home to see how it looks. There is no obligation. If it doesnt work, we try something else, he says. Most clients are busy and this helps them make a decision.

Design based on art. Rather than matching a painting to the sofa, let the interior decor be inspired by the hues, style and mood of chosen artwork.

Trotman prefers furnishings in neutral colors with subtle patterns that are interesting and feel comfortable and inviting but dont distract from a beautiful piece of art, which should be the focal point.

He says a cream-colored room brings attention to a red abstract painting as it would a bouquet of flowers.

 Janet Eastman | 503-294-4072

jeastman@oregonian.com | @janeteastman
Millions of customers will see their annual water bills drop by 34 after the competition watchdog rowed back on how much it will allow investors in suppliers to make in returns.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) announced its final decision on price controls for Anglian, Bristol, Northumbrian and Yorkshire water firms after a tense dispute between the companies and the regulator.

The CMA had been under fire from consumer groups last autumn for over-ruling the water regulator Ofwat, saying it had been too strict on how much water companies could invest in resilience and reducing water leaks, and instead deciding to put more money in the pockets of shareholders.

But in an apparent compromise, an independent group at the CMA has now set a headline rate of return for investors at a less generous 3.2%.

It said this was 32% lower than the last price control period, 9% lower than the CMAs provisional findings and around 12% lower than the rate proposed by the water companies.

Ofwats original plans would have seen customers save around 50 on their annual bills.

While the CMAs decision will see a smaller reduction, it will still mean customers spend 34 on average less on their water bills than in 2019/20.

Consumer group Citizens Advice said the deal was a step forward, but should have gone further.

Kip Meek, chair of the CMAs independent group, said: In coming to our decision, we have sought to balance keeping bills low with the need to maintain a good quality of service and to invest in critical infrastructure for the future.

The CMA said the move should also allow the companies to finance their activities and invest in long-term infrastructure, also providing increased allowances to pay for improvements in priority areas such as security of supply and leakage.

Alistair Cromwell, acting chief executive of Citizens Advice, said: Todays announcement is progress and a better deal for consumers than the CMA originally proposed.

However, the CMA should have gone further in cutting back the excess profits made by water companies.

Ofwat said it was clear the CMA had listened to its concerns on the provisional plans put forward last September.

Rachel Fletcher, chief executive of Ofwat, said: Overall, the CMA has supported the ambition we have for the industry.

Crucially, the CMA has backed the principle we have been advocating, that investors must work hard for their returns, bringing customers better, more resilient services and a healthier environment for generations to come.

Thirteen of the UKs 17 water networks had accepted Ofwats original findings.

The four that appealed to the CMA said Ofwat had not given them enough funding to improve resilience, did not allow investors a reasonable level of return, and increased the risk to the companies.

Bristol and Northumbrian said they would be reviewing the CMAs final conclusions.

A Yorkshire Water spokesman said: We can now draw a line under the last price review and start to work collaboratively with government and regulators to ensure that we restore the balance to the sector and deliver long-term resilience whilst protecting customer interests.
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has entered final negotiations to sell its French business to private equity firm Cerberus, a source familiar with the matter said on Wednesday.



The planned disposal is part of Chief Executive Noel Quinn's strategy to slash costs across the banking group and Reuters previously reported that Cerberus was among two remaining bidders.



The talks are conditional on price and terms and may not necessarily result in a sale, the source told Reuters.



A spokeswoman for declined to comment, while Cerberus could not immediately be reached for comment.



HSBC is working with Lazard to sell its 270 retail branches in France, but has been struggling to attract interest as bidders fret over restructuring costs and complex talks with local regulators, Reuters reported last September.



Any sale could involve a token price, with HSBC having to plough in some 500 million euros ($595 million) to finance the necessary restructuring, Reuters previously reported.


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WARSAW, Poland (JTA)  Jews who were murdered by the Nazis have two days of commemoration devoted to them. Now two Jewish leaders have proposed a third day of Holocaust remembrance  devoted to the Jews who survived.

Jonathan Ornstein, director of the JCC Krakow in Poland, and Michael Berenbaum, director of the Sigi Ziering Institute at the American Jewish University, have jointly proposed a new holiday. Holocaust Survivor Day would be celebrated on June 26, the birthday of a prominent Polish survivor and advocate.

The proposal, which Ornstein and Berenbaum hope will catch on among Jews around the world, comes as the number of living survivors is dwindling and after a year in which COVID-19 exacted a steep toll on them.

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We, the next generations, have been privileged to meet these remarkable individuals and have tried to make sure they are taken care of in our family, our synagogues, our community centers, the two men wrote in an op-ed in The Jerusalem Post this month. But as a society we must ask ourselves one question: Have we done enough?

The victims of the Holocaust are commemorated annually on Jan. 27, the anniversary of the 1945 liberation of the Auschwitz camp, and during Yom Hashoah each spring. These days are focused on commemorating victims, and talking about the dangers of anti-Semitism, prejudice and hatred toward other people.

The new day, Ornstein and Berenbaum said, would focus on how to help survivors, whether by providing companionship and listening to their stories or by gathering needed material support, such as food.

The pair proposed June 26 because it is the birthday of Marian Turski. Born Mosze Turbowicz in 1926, Turski survived Auschwitz and the 1945 death march of prisoners from that camp to Buchenwald. Following liberation Turski moved to Warsaw, where he is involved in the work of the Association of the Jewish Historical Institute in Poland, the Association of Jewish Combatants and Victims of the Second World War and the Polin Museum of the History of Polish Jews.
After SBC ousts Tennessee church, pastor convicted of statutory rape resigns

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John Randy Leming Jr., a pastor at Antioch Baptist Church in Sevierville, Tennessee, whose past as a convicted rapist caused the Southern Baptist Conventions Executive Committee to disfellowship his congregation last month, has resigned.

Leming, according to the Baptist and Reflector, announced his resignation on Feb. 28, five days after the SBC Executive Committee announced the church was being expelled for employing the pastor who confessed to two counts of statutory rape.

Towne View Baptist Church in Kennesaw, Georgia, was also disfellowshiped for affirming homosexuality, while St. Matthews Baptist Church in Louisville, Kentucky, and West Side Baptist Church in Sharpsville, Pennsylvania, were disfellowshiped for employing registered sex offenders.

Court records show that Leming was pastor at Shiloh Baptist Church in Sevier County in 1991 when his female victim, noted as B.J., began attending the church. Leming developed a friendship with B.J. who looked to him for spiritual guidance. He reportedly counseled her often when she had problems with school or family.

In 1993 they began kissing and engaged in sexual touching, and by May 1994, B.J. performed a sex act on Leming while they were at a friends trailer. She again performed a sex act with him in June 1994 when she was 16, and he was a married 31 year old. He pleaded guilty to statutory rape in 1998.

When contacted by The Christian Post for comment on the resignation Tuesday, no one at Antioch Baptist Church was immediately available for comment.

J.D. Greear, the SBCs outgoing president whose term ends in June, made a commitment in 2019 to crack down on sexual abuse and make churches safer after a damning investigation highlighted more than 700 victims of alleged sexual abuse at the hands of hundreds of SBC leaders and volunteers.

If we dont get this right, our churches will not be a safe place for the lost," Greear, who also leads The Summit Church in North Carolina, told leaders at the SBC's Executive Committee meeting at the time. "That is not something that I am OK with ... I know that it is not something that youre OK with either."

In 2019, the Houston Chronicle found more than 700 victims of alleged sexual abuse by 380 Southern Baptist leaders and volunteers since 1998. Some 220 had been convicted and 100 were still in prison.

Many of the victims, who were children when the abuse occurred, accused other SBC leaders, including past presidents, of concealing their ordeal. Some of those who were accused of sexual abuse also reportedly left their congregations and were able to find jobs in other Southern Baptist churches.

During the investigation, a number of Southern Baptist churches were accused of having "displayed a wanton disregard for the seriousness of abuse."

In June 2019, the SBC went on to adopt a constitutional amendment on sexual abuse that allows the nations largest Protestant denomination to disfellowship, or distance itself from, churches that cover up abuse.

The Southern Baptist Convention stands against all forms and actions of sexual abuse, viewing it as a horrific evil, Ronnie Floyd, president of the SBCs executive committee, said at the time. Southern Baptists, we must address this comprehensively and correctly.
LONDON, March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- AxiomSL, the industry's leading provider of risk and regulatory reporting solutions, today announced that it has been selected by Nordea Bank, the leading Nordic universal bank, to support the bank's risk and regulatory reporting requirements in Finland, Sweden, Denmark and Norway. Nordea Bank will implement AxiomSL's RegCloud, a fully managed, cloud-based risk and regulatory reporting platform used by financial institutions to source, enrich, calculate, and reconcile large volumes of disparate data to comply with complex and evolving regulatory requirements.

Nordea will be able to map their data once and comply with FINREP, COREP, AnaCredit, and Securities Holdings Statistics Group (SHSG) reporting requirements by leveraging the platform's adaptable data-dictionary and end-to-end automated processes. In addition, RegCloud will aggregate multiple data sources and rapidly process massive data volumes while delivering trusted information to meet regulatory mandates across the European Banking Authority (EBA) and National Central Bank (NCB).

Part of Nordea's RegTech project initiative was to transform its legacy regulatory reporting processes; AxiomSL will help the bank re-architect and future-proof its risk and regulatory systems to drive down efficiency ratios and achieve performance, reliability, and compliance outcomes.

Nick Livingstone, Head of Financial Reporting and Control, Nordea Bank, stated: "Earning our customers' trust and fulfilling our commitment to them is always a priority. Therefore, investing in a reliable, secure, and transparent regulatory platform that is constantly updated is paramount. With RegCloud, we can extend collaboration on rapidly changing regulatory initiatives across the enterprise and achieve operational efficiencies  a critical element for bolstering business continuity during turbulent times. Working as a team with AxiomSL has been a very positive experience and our goal is to ensure we continue developing this relationship".

"It is an immense pleasure to have Nordea on board with us," stated Claudia Thurner, AxiomSL's Chief Revenue Officer. "We are excited to partner with this progressive bank as it innovates to achieve its operational objectives" Thurner added. "I am confident that this strategic RegCloud implementation will accelerate Nordea's time to market, reduce implementation costs, and insulate the bank against both technology and regulatory change. We look forward to contributing to Nordea's successful regulatory reporting outcomes and continued growth".

RegCloud  ControllerView in the cloud  is a highly secure platform that enables financial firms to harness the power of the cloud and future-proof their risk and regulatory compliance. Fully managed, it quickly addresses all regulatory-driven changes, including technology and software updates, enabling on-time regulatory compliance across jurisdictions. Armed with confidence in the platform's powerful monitoring and analytic dashboards, drill-down transparency, and operational support, financial firms can focus on business goals and achieve total cost of ownership (TCO) benefits for the enterprise.

About AxiomSL

AxiomSL, a leading global provider of solutions and managed services, delivers efficient risk and regulatory data-management and reporting outcomes for financial institutions. Clients leverage AxiomSL's solutions across financial, liquidity, capital and credit, shareholding disclosure, trade and transaction, and tax mandates. Its single, fully managed, audit-empowered offering, RegCloud  AxiomSL's ControllerView platform in the cloud, futureproofs clients against technology and regulatory change. AxiomSL's client base spans national, regional, and global financial institutions. These comprise banks with $45 trillion in total assets including 80% of G-SIBs; investment managers with $13 trillion in assets under management; and 30% of the top 60 US broker-dealers representing $44 billion in shareholder equity. It covers 110 regulators across 50 jurisdictions. AxiomSL ranks in the top 20 of the Chartis RiskTech100.

Website: https://www.axiomsl.com

About Nordea Bank

Nordea is the largest financial services group in the Nordic region and one of the biggest banks in Europe. We want to make a real difference - for our customers and for the communities in which we operate - by sharing our broad expertise based on 200 years in the banking business. We are a full-service universal bank and the third largest corporation in the Nordic region and one of the top 10 financial services companies in Europe based on market capitalisation. We are present in 17 countries, including our four Nordic home markets which together constitute the 10th largest economy in the world. As demand for digital services increases, we're continuously working to become your future digital bank by improving the products and services we offer, such as new online banking platforms, mobile payments and analytics tools, to name a few. The shares of Nordea Bank AB (publ) are traded on the Stockholm, Helsinki and Copenhagen stock exchanges.

Website: https://www.nordea.com/en/

Press contacts:

Shamira Alidina

Media Relations Director, Dina Communications

Tel +44 (0) 7801 590718

Email: [email protected]

Francine Gittins

Global Head of Marketing and Communications, AxiomSL

Tel: +1 212 248 4188

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE AxiomSL

Related Links

https://www.axiomsl.com


It is bad enough that Democrats are in the majority, owning the White House, the House, and the Senate with Kamala Harris being the majority vote on all legislation before this third governmental body. Adding insult to conservative injury is the resolute behavior of those Republicans in Name Only (RINOs) to rid any remembrance of what our nation benefitted from during the past four years.

After various departments of the federal government turned their backs on President Trumps calls for investigations into the 2020 Election, it is ironic that Nancy Pelosi would call for a 9/11-type investigation of the fake conservative January 6th Capitol riot. The editors of the American Mind have argued,

When the old guard goes out of its way to crush a new endeavor, you have to wonder whats at stake. Nick Solheim and Saurabh Sharma of American Moment are young, devoted, and driven to forge a cadre of aligned and dedicated young people to serve in government and public policy organizations to support strong families, a sovereign nation, and prosperity for all. Why should an editor of National Review -- a publication whose very reason for being is ostensibly to energize and guide the conservative movement -- want to undermine and discredit this exciting new endeavor in the eyes of his conservative audience?

Why indeed?

I would guess their disquiet is rooted in thing themselves above all the political machinations allegedly caused by the sometimes unseemly 45th President. Conservative William F. Buckley created the National Review Institute to build a network of talented conservatives who would assist each other professionally and personally and supported by institutions such as the Claremont Institute and Hillsdale College in order to rein in an illiberal media and educational establishment. Sadly, in the street brawl that was the 2020 election, the NR group has remained well above the fray and thereby betrayed the only hope for keeping our government out of the hands of woke progressives and their totalitarian policies.

It is imperative that we immediately endeavor to right our sinking conservative ship by fully embracing the new conservative generation and its efforts to stop the Harris/Pelosi/Schumer triumvirate from remaking America into the progressive cesspit it is becoming. We must now regard our open borders as a funnel for new COVID infestation, legislative threats to our Second Amendment rights, an educational system that from kindergarten through graduate and professional schools is fully committed to indoctrinating students with woke socialism instead of teaching job-earning skills. They have institutionalized racism with the white fragility doctrine and promoted wholesale abortion not only in the United States, but around the world with U.S. taxpayer dollars. In the face of this all-out progressive blitzkrieg on traditional American values and ethics, we seem to be shellshocked into a state of abashment while sitting on our hands and cogitating about being nice and gentile while progressive Democrats are fully committed to transforming America into an oligarchical state.

During Bidens first months in office, faithful Republicans and most Red state voters, have had their fill of spineless RINOs. Some are household names like Cheney and Romney. Evan Sayets response to RINOs is quite pertinent: So, to my friends on the Left  and the #NeverTrumpers as well -- do I wish we lived in a time when our president could be collegial and dignified and proper? Of course I do. These arent those times. This is war. And its a war that the Left has been fighting without opposition for the past 50 years.

Sadly, the RINOs have allied themselves with Democrats, if only by their resolute silence, abetting a socialist state and facilitating the Harris-Biden presidential efforts to exert power and wreak havoc on the many political, social, and economic blessings the Trump years bestowed on America. Biden cant even acknowledge that President Trump gave him the vaccines and the framework for defeating the virus. What a small man indeed! Some of the usual Conservative Inc. stalwarts, like Peggy Noonan of the Wall Street Journal, ignore conservative principles while virtue-signaling their #NeverTrumper status. Long ago she was a special assistant and speechwriter for President Ronald Reagan. In the following decades she was given the Award for Media Excellence and chosen as Columnist of the Year by The Week, the stepchild of National Review. She now mirrors the left-leaning journalism produced by the Journal.

Through a flurry of executive orders in his first week in office, President Biden discredited his promise of a bipartisan administration. He has now forced America to live with the Green New Bad Deal, open borders welcoming Mexico and Central Americas finest citizens, taxpayer abortion, destruction of the fossil fuel industry, a new and largely opaque relationship with China and an emboldened Iran already producing more heavy uranium metal for their nuclear program.

The House recently passed HR1 and the 2021 Equality Act with Representative Jerry Nadler(D-NY) claiming what any religious tradition describes as Gods will, is no concern of this House. Greg Steube (R-Fla) pointed out that the inscription, In God We Trust is imprinted in the House Chamber! This piece of legislation is very dangerous to many traditional values in America and would make holding traditional beliefs punishable by law. The RINOs will again be in the spotlight as they have now moves on to the Senate.

To regain Americas prominence at home and in the world, conservatives must create a largely new political slate by putting RINOs out to pasture in 2022 for the House and 2024 for the Senate. They also need to begin grooming presidential candidates who can stand up to a left-leaning American infrastructure. RINOs like Utahs Mitt Romney exhibit only fair-weather qualities and have betrayed the Republican voters who elected him. He expressed his support for the original and new impeachment of Trump and has, along with other RINOs attempted to rebrand themselves. He just proposed a $15,000 family income stipend moving toward the Lefts dream of a universal income. Not surprisingly, Romney has an overwhelming 84% approval rating among Utah Democrats, while slightly more than a quarter of Utah Republicans approve his senatorial performance. Mitt proclaims sanctimoniously that he cant betray his conscience when he votes and sponsors bills (and Trumps impeachment), but he can easily betray his electorate with a straight face. Romney has even proposed preserving some of the damage from the Capitol riot for future generations to observe.

After the Senates rush to impeachment judgment, seven other RINOs also voted to convict the former President. Richard Burr showed no cognitive dissonance about his earlier vote that the trial was unconstitutional, then voting for conviction. He was immediately condemned by the North Carolina Republican Party. They must find an alternative. Senators Collins (Me), Murkowski (Al), Sasse (Neb), Toomey (Pa), and Cassidy (La) also populate the No-No-RINO list and must go.

Add to these the ten RINO House members who voted to impeach President Trump after he left office, led by Liz Cheney (WY), Tom Rice (SC), Dan Newhouse (WA), Adam Kinzinger (IL), Anthony Gonzalez (OH), Fred Upton (MI), Tim Ryan (OH), Jaime Herrera Beutler (WA), Peter Meijer (MI), John Katko (NY), and David Valadao (CA). Kinzinger, Katko, and Upton more recently voted to remove Marjorie Taylor Greene from her House committee post, for sharing conspiracy theories on social media.

Republicans in every state deserve elected officials who represent our conservativism and patriotic values. RINOs betray this trust. Conservatives must demand candidates who will faithfully represent them in Congress -- not the bonfire of vanity from self-serving politicians who turn their backs on their electorate.

Keeping RINOs in office only promotes the liberal agenda. We must help them find another line of work!

Image: odder
Bloomberg

(Bloomberg) -- Sign up for the New Economy Daily newsletter, follow us @economics and subscribe to our podcast.Australias central bank maintained its policy settings as it prepares to decide on extending its yield target and quantitative easing programs, with a Covid-19 lockdown complicating the outlook.The Reserve Bank of Australia kept the cash rate and three-year yield target at 0.10% in Sydney on Tuesday, as expected. It will make a decision in July on whether to extend the yield target and undertake further quantitative easing. A weeklong shutdown in the nations second-largest city adds a layer of uncertainty to the outlook.Despite the strong recovery in the economy and jobs, inflation and wage pressures are subdued, Governor Philip Lowe said. The board is committed to maintaining highly supportive monetary conditions to support a return to full employment in Australia and inflation consistent with the target.The Australian dollar edged lower, trading at 77.41 U.S. cents at 2:53 p.m. in Sydney from 77.62 cents just before the release.The case for Lowe to maintain the April 2024 bond as the target maturity had been strengthening amid strong hiring, sentiment and investment plans. This was reinforced by the government keeping open the fiscal spigot in the May budget as it joins the RBA in seeking to drive down unemployment to revive wages growth and inflation.Progress in reducing unemployment has been faster than expected, Lowe said in his statement. There are reports of labor shortages in some parts of the economy.Risks AheadYet the RBA may be encouraged to err on the side of caution if Melbournes outbreak worsens and extend both of its bond programs to keep maximum support for the economy.An important ongoing source of uncertainty is the possibility of significant outbreaks of the virus, although this should diminish as more of the population is vaccinated, Lowe said. The board continues to place a high priority on a return to full employment.Globally, central banks are beginning to edge away from emergency monetary settings. The Reserve Bank of New Zealand surprised markets last week in presenting projections of its official cash rate rising in the second half of next year.Back in Australia, economists predicted ahead of data Wednesday that gross domestic product rose 1.5% in the first three months of the year from the prior quarter, and advanced 0.6% from a year earlier.Treasury Secretary Steven Kennedy, in testimony to a parliamentary panel earlier today, said partial data showed around 56,000 workers had lost their jobs in the four weeks following the end of the governments JobKeeper wage subsidy that expired March 28.He said strong employment data and forward indicators continue to give us confidence that the labor market has the underlying strength to absorb workers transitioning off the JobKeeper payment.End of Australias $68 Billion Job-Saving Stimulus Tests EconomyLowe estimates Australias jobless rate will need to fall to close to 4% before driving economy-wide pay increases. It stood at 5.5% in April.The governor expects wages growth will need to increase at a pace faster than 3% -- more than double the current rate -- for inflation to return sustainably to the central banks 2-3% target.Lowe reiterated that this is unlikely to be until 2024 at the earliest.(Updates with further comments from governor throughout text.)More stories like this are available on bloomberg.comSubscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source.2021 Bloomberg L.P.
COLUMBIA  South Carolina's capitol complex is getting $313,000 in air ionizing devices soon meant to stem the spread of viruses such as COVID-19.

A legislative committee approved March 17 installing the air purifying systems in the six buildings on Statehouse grounds, as well as the Supreme Court across the street and their parking garages.

The devices will likely be installed in more state buildings in the future, though how many and at what cost are not yet known.

"Is this where were headed? Were going to have to ionize every state-owned building, every school? Where will it end?" asked Senate President Harvey Peeler, a member of the Joint Bond Review Committee that had to sign off on the spending.

"Whats good for the goose is good for the gander," the Gaffney Republican added.

The $313,000 project for the capitol complex should be completed next month, according to the state Department of Administration, which oversees the properties' maintenance.

The devices, installed within heating-and-air-conditioning systems, meet federal recommendations for air cleaning and filtering, eliminating not only the airborne transmission of viruses but also mold in the decades-old buildings. The oldest, the Statehouse itself, dates to 1851, while the newest, the House office building, was built in 1978, according to the agency.

An estimated 2,450 state employees work in the complex's buildings, while the Statehouse alone normally sees more than 100,000 visitors yearly.

The Department of Administration is in the process of evaluating what it will cost to install the systems in 46 other properties it manages. Agencies that maintain their own properties will have to do their own analysis, said agency spokeswoman Kelly Coakley.

Since it's "obviously COVID-related," the installations could be paid for with federal coronavirus relief, either with money remaining from previous packages or with the latest round, said House Ways and Means Chairman Murrell Smith, R-Sumter.

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The buildings on the capitol complex aren't the first state buildings to get the air cleaners.

The Department of Corrections installed the devices in its prisons in December and January to slow the spread of COVID-19 among inmates and officers after getting approval from the Joint Bond Review Committee to spend $1.7 million.

Corrections Director Bryan Stirling said he definitely recommends their installation.

"It absolutely works. Weve proven it works," he said, noting the numbers of COVID-19 cases in the prisons dropped after the installation at 21 prisons and administrative buildings.

"For the money weve saved in people not getting sick, it's more than paid for itself," he said.

The savings will continue after the pandemic's over too, as the ionizers eliminate other viruses that otherwise spread through ventilation systems, Stirling said.

Meanwhile, South Carolina's K-12 schools can pay for air filtration as well as new heating and air conditioning systems with $3 billion allocated to state schools from federal COVID-19 aid.

It's up to each local school board on how to spend their share.

"Theres plenty of money for them" to use the money on air purifying systems if they want, Smith said.

"You reckon they will?" Peeler asked rhetorically.
Bhubaneswar, March 17 : The Odisha government on Wednesday requested the Union Health Ministry for inclusion of additional categories, including journalists, as frontline workers for Covid-19 vaccination.

In a letter, Additional Chief Secretary, Health, P.K. Mohapatra told Union Health and Family Welfare Secretary Rajesh Bhushan that many categories of persons who are at risk of exposure to infection due to the nature of their work have not been included as frontline workers.

He requested for inclusion of journalists, servitors of Jagannath and Lingaraj temples, employees working at airports, railways and seaports for Covid-19 vaccination.

He also requested to include others engaged in maintenance of essential services like electricity and water supply as front line workers for Covid-19 vaccination.

Officials from different departments who were engaged for Covid-19 surveillance and containment measures at state and district level are being vaccinated as front line workers in the state since February this year.
Even though a sun-soaked escape to Mexico is tempting, the U.S. Embassy is warning Americans to rethink Spring Break and non-essential travel. COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations are still on the rise in Mexico, according to the U.S. Embassy.

"U.S. citizens should reconsider Spring Break and other non-essential travel to Mexico due to COVID-19. Cases and hospitalizations remain high in most of Mexico," The U.S. Embassy advisory stated.

As of Tuesday, there are now 2,167,729 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Mexico, with a death toll reaching 194,944, according to Johns Hopkins University.

GET OFF THE GRID: These are the spring break deals for every kind of Texas traveler

Travel hotspots like Cancun, Puerto Vallarta and Playa del Carmen are currently in the yellow phase of the pandemic, which means that hotels can operate at 60 percent. "Yellow" indicates a moderate level of community transmission in an area or region.

Another factor to consider is that land border crossings are restricted to essential travel until at least March 21, 2021, the U.S. Embassy advised.

For all Texas Spring Break travelers, you must present a negative COVID-19 test performed more than 3 days before your flight departs before boarding the flight. Tourists must also submit an affidavit that they don't carry coronavirus. The U.S. Embassy also warned that consulate services for U.S. citizens would be limited because of the pandemic.

In light of the U.S. Embassy travel warning, Houstonians are asking about other beaches to explore in the U.S., according to Northcutt Travel's Shayla Northcutt.

"People do ask me 'We want to go to Hilton Head, or Myrtle Beach,' because they think that's all that's open until the CDC changes the stipulations," Northcutt told Chron.

Nevertheless, Mexico has remained to a top draw for Houston travelers, Northcutt said.

"Cancun, Cabo and Puerto Vallarta are the main spots for Mexico," Northcutt added.
Authorities investigate a fatal shooting at a massage parlor in Acworth, Georgia. Officials say 21-year-old Robert Aaron Long, of Woodstock, Georgia, has been captured hours after multiple people were killed in shootings at three Atlanta-area massage parlors. (AP)

ATLANTA: Shootings at two massage parlors in Atlanta and one in the suburbs Tuesday evening left eight people dead, many of them women of Asian descent, authorities said. A 21-year-old man suspected in the shootings was taken into custody in southwest Georgia hours later after a manhunt, police said.

The attacks began around 5 p.m., when five people were shot at Youngs Asian Massage Parlor in a strip mall near a rural area in Acworth, about 30 miles (50 kilometers) north of Atlanta, Cherokee County Sheriffs Office spokesman Capt. Jay Baker said. Two people died at the scene and three were transported to a hospital where two of them also died, Baker said.

No one was arrested at the scene.

Around 5:50 p.m., police in the Buckhead neighborhood of Atlanta, responding to a call of a robbery in progress, found three women dead from apparent gunshot wounds at Gold Spa. While they were at that scene, they learned of a call reporting shots fired at another spa across the street, Aromatherapy Spa, and found a woman who appeared to have been shot dead inside the business.

It appears that they may be Asian, Atlanta Police Chief Rodney Bryant said.

South Koreas Foreign Ministry said in statement Wednesday that its diplomats in Atlanta have confirmed from police that four of the victims who died were women of Korean descent. The ministry said the office of its Consulate General in Atlanta is trying to confirm the nationality of the women.

The killings came amid a recent wave of attacks against Asian Americans that coincided with the spread of the coronavirus across the United States.

Our entire family is praying for the victims of these horrific acts of violence, Gov. Brian Kemp said Tuesday evening on Twitter.

A man suspected in the Acworth shooting was captured by surveillance video pulling up to the business around 4:50 p.m. Tuesday, minutes before the attack, authorities said. Baker said the suspect, Robert Aaron Long, of Woodstock, was taken into custody in Crisp County, about 150 miles (240 kilometers) south of Atlanta.

Baker said they believe Long is also the suspect in the Atlanta shootings.

Police said video footage showed the suspects vehicle in the area of the Atlanta spas about the time of those attacks as well. That, as well as other video evidence, suggests it is extremely likely our suspect is the same as Cherokee Countys, who is in custody, Atlanta police said in a statement. Atlanta and Cherokee County authorities were working to confirm the cases are related.

FBI spokesman Kevin Rowson said the agency was assisting Atlanta and Cherokee County authorities in the investigation.

Crisp County Sheriff Billy Hancock said in a video posted on Facebook that his deputies and state troopers were notified around 8 p.m. that a murder suspect out of north Georgia was headed toward their county. Deputies and troopers set up along the interstate and made contact with the suspect, who was driving a 2007 black Hyundai Tucson, around 8:30 p.m., he said.

A state trooper performed a PIT, or pursuit intervention technique, maneuver, which caused the vehicle to spin out of control, Hancock said. Long was then taken into custody without incident and was being held in the Crisp County jail for Cherokee County authorities who were expected to arrive soon to continue their investigation.

Due to the shootings, Atlanta police said they dispatched officers to check nearby similar businesses and increased patrols in the area.
LOS ANGELESMichael Avenatti, the former lawyer for AVN Hall of Famer Stormy Daniels in her multiple lawsuits against Donald Trump, was convicted last year of attempted extortion against the Nike Corporation, and of other financial crimes against Daniels and other clients. As of Tuesday, he is now an accused plagiarist as well.

In another development in Avenattis case this week, prosecutors accused Avenatti of deliberately delaying his receipt of the COVID-19 vaccine, in order to keep himself from returning to jail in New York City. Avenatti has been under home confinement at the residence of a friend, Jay Manheimer, in Venice, California, since April of last year. At that time, he was released from a federal jail in Manhattan due to COVID risks.

But prosecutors say that the health risks claimed by Avenatti to justify his release from jail last year would be effectively eliminated by any one of the three available vaccines. Due to his claimed underlying health condition, Avenatti became eligible to receive the vaccine on March 15, but has taken no steps to obtain the shot, prosecutors say.

Tuesday, U.S. District Judge James Selna granted Avenattis request to remain in home confinement until May 31  but stipulated that he is allowed to leave the residence to obtain the COVID vaccine. When prosecutors informed Avenattis lawyer, Dean Steward, that the disgraced attorney was now eligible for the vaccine and should get one as soon as possible, Steward responded with a vague email.

Thank you for the email. We will let you know when and if we need any modifications of my clients bail conditions relating to the vaccine, Steward wrote.

In addition, prosecutors also accused Avenatti of plagiarizing a court filing. Last week, Avenatti submitted a motion to Selna in which he accused federal prosecutors of withholding crucial evidence that must be turned over as part of the discovery process in his embezzlement cases. Avenatti asked Selna to declare the prosecutors in contempt of court.

Prosecutors responded by saying that Avenattis claims in the motion were unmoored from the facts, and that their proof was that Avenatti lifted portions of his motion "nearly word for word" from a motion filed by attorneys in a completely unrelated case  the prosecution of former Trump National Security Adviser Michael Flynn.

There is no clearer indication that [Avenatti]'s motion is unmoored from the facts in this case than his plagiarizing of a motion based on entirely different facts and circumstances," prosecutors write in their own filing, replying to Avenattis motion.

The government has produced well over a million pages of discovery and numerous forensic copies of digital devices and has repeatedly confirmed to [Avenatti] that the government is continuing to comply with its discovery obligations," prosecutors for the federal government wrote, going on to accuse Avenatti of demanding exculpatory evidence that simply does not exist.

While Avenattis trial on charges that he swindled Daniels out of nearly $300,000 has been moved to 2022, the formerly media-friendly lawyer still faces an October 12 trial on a wide range of charges involving alleged financial crimes against five other clients, in which prosecutors say that he lied to the clients about settlement money they had won while siphoning off the cash for his personal use.

He is also charged with stiffing Uncle Sam on $3.2 million in payroll taxes from Tullys Coffee, a chain of coffee shops he previously owned, as well as other tax-related offenses.

Photo By Real Time With Bill Maher YouTube Screen Capture


Let's not forget that THOUSANDS of supporters of Prez Trump crowded Kansas City streets and engaged in a historic truck parade that also included an impressive flyover . . . So let's not even debate that the former head of state has quite a bit of influence around KC given that Team Biden couldn't even fill a hotel lobby in this cowtown.



Now, the former Commander-In-Chief has offered his support for a historic public health effort that many of his fans decry.

Check-it . . .



WDAF: Former President Trump doubles down on calling for Americans to get vaccinated

Politico: The ex-president was notably absent from a recent ad campaign. But he told Fox News that getting shots in arms was important.

CNN: Trump urges Americans to get Covid-19 vaccine: 'I would recommend it'

Fox: Trump urges all Americans to get COVID vaccine: 'It's a safe vaccine' and it 'works'

Accordingly, because we know a lot of conservatives read this blog late night . . .



WILL YOU TAKE THE COVID VAXX NOW THAT IT HAS EARNED FORMER PREZ TRUMP'S ENDORSEMENT?!?!



Honestly interested in any alternative opinions on this prickly pandemic dispute.



You decide . . .


SAN DIEGO (AP)  House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy said Monday during a visit to El Paso, Texas, that, It's more than a crisis. This is human heartbreak. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas on Tuesday called the wave of migrants a difficult challenge but nothing new.

Spin and semantics aside, migration flows to the U.S. from Mexico are surging in a major way for the third time in seven years under Republican and Democratic presidents  and for similar reasons.

HOW HAVE FLOWS CHANGED SINCE JOE BIDEN BECAME PRESIDENT?

Border encounters  a widely-used but imperfect gauge that tells how many times U.S. authorities came across migrants  rose sharply during Donald Trump's final months as president, from an unusually low 17,106 last April to 74,108 in December. Last month, encounters topped 100,000 for the first time since a four-month streak in 2019.

That's only part of the picture, though. Who's crossing is just as important a gauge as how many are making the attempt, if not even more.

Mexican adults fueled last year's rise, a throwback to one of the largest immigration waves in U.S. history, from 1965 through the Great Recession of 2008. Last March, the Trump administration introduced pandemic-related powers to immediately expel people from the United States without an opportunity to seek asylum. Facing no consequences, Mexican men kept trying until they made it.

The percentage of encounters that were repeat crossers hit 38% in January, compared to a 7% rate in the 12-month period that ended in September 2019. The recidivism rate was 48% among Mexican adults during one two-week stretch last year in San Diego.

Families and children traveling alone, who enjoy more legal protections and require greater care, became a bigger part of the mix after Biden took office. They accounted for 29% of all encounters in February, up from 13% two months earlier.

The Border Patrol encountered 561 unaccompanied children on Monday, up from an average daily peak of 370 during Trump's presidency in May 2019 and 354 during a peak in Barack Obama's presidency in June 2014. A U.S. official provided Monday's total to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because it was not intended for public release. The daily average was 332 in February, up 60% from a month earlier.

Story continues

WHY ARE FAMILIES AND CHILDREN SUDDENLY COMING NOW?

Trump, responding to a massive increase in Central American families and children that peaked in May 2019, expanded his Migrant Protection Protocols policy to force asylum-seekers to wait in Mexico for hearings in U.S. immigration court. It was unquestionably effective at deterring asylum  less than 1% have won their cases, according to Syracuse University's Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse  but asylum-seekers were exposed to violence in Mexico, as documented by advocacy group Human Rights First and others. Attorneys were extremely difficult to find in Mexico.

Other Trump-era policies included fast-track asylum proceedings inside U.S. Customs and Border Protection holding facilities, where access to attorneys was next to impossible. Agreements were struck with Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador for the U.S. to send asylum-seekers to the Central American countries with an opportunity to seek protection there instead.

Biden quickly jettisoned those Trump policies as cruel and inhumane, making good on campaign promises. He has kept in place Trump's pandemic-related expulsion powers but exempted children traveling alone.

Biden wants Congress to give $4 billion to address root causes of migration in Central America such as poverty and violence, which have driven people to the U.S. for decades, including a surge of children in 2014.

WHAT IS THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION DOING?

In addition to ending Trump policies and seeking foreign aid, the Biden administration wants to speed the release of children to parents, relatives and others in the United States, avoiding detention conditions that drew widespread criticism during surges in 2014 and 2019.

The administration was scheduled to begin processing unaccompanied children as early as Wednesday at the Dallas Convention Center, days after establishing a makeshift facility in Midland, Texas. The U.S. official who spoke to the AP said the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services was looking at additional holding facilities at Moffett Federal Airfield, near San Francisco, and in Pecos, Texas, as well as expanding into Donna, Texas, in a joint effort with Customs and Border Protection.

Nearly 1,900 of about 2,500 unaccompanied children in custody in the Rio Grande Valley on Monday were there longer than the 72-hour limit established in agency policy, the official said.

About seven of every 10 encounters in February resulted in expulsion under pandemic powers, limiting need for detention space. Mexican and Central American adults and families were sent back to Mexico. Mexican authorities have resisted taking back Central American families from Texas' Rio Grande Valley, the busiest corridor for illegal crossings, prompting U.S. authorities to fly them to El Paso, Texas, and San Diego to be expelled.

Others picked up at the border may be released in the United States with notices to appear in immigration court.

The Biden administration is also stepping up efforts to have children apply for asylum from their homes in Central America instead of making the dangerous journey to the U.S. border.
Giovanna Fletcher has claimed she hasn't washed her I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Outta Here! vest once since she returned home in November last year.

During an appearance on Wednesday's Lorraine, the author, 36, claimed she didn't want to put the outerwear in the wash as she was keen to 'keep the essence' of it, just like her wedding dress.

Joking with Lorraine Kelly when asked about it, Giovanna, who won the 2020 series of the reality competition show, admitted the attire didn't 'smell good'.

Shock: Giovanna Fletcher revealed on Wednesday's Lorraine that she hasn't washed her I'm A Celebrity vest ONCE since returning home because she wanted to 'keep the essence' of it

Giovanna said: 'I might have pinched it, I havent washed it. I have done the thing I did with my wedding dress, I wanted to keep its essence. I sniffed it earlier and it doesn't smell good!'

The cast of the latest I'm A Celebrity series stayed in Gwrych Castle in North Wales for a total of 20 days.

She went on to say that she and her co-stars keep in touch via a WhatsApp group called 'Happy Place', and told Lorraine: 'It's just lovely and we're hoping we can get back together at some point.'

Been a whiel: Giovanna returned from the show in November last year after winning following 20 days in the castle (pictured), and she admitted the attire didn't 'smell good'

Reasoning: Giovanna said: 'I might have pinched it, I havent washed it, I have done the thing I did with my wedding dress, I wanted to keep its essence'

Giovanna beat Vernon Kay and Jordan North to be crowned Queen Of The Castle for the series, and Lorraine joked that it would be 'hard' for her to travel to Australia at the end of the year to give up her crown.

Continuing the joke, Giovanna said: 'I know I dont know how, Ive not been asked if I would go over, Im not sure how Id manage to go over to Australia and give over my crown.'

She went on: 'I think it'd be hard if other people would go to the castle, those are the walls we looked at and it's amazing.'

Sweet: Giovanna went on to say that she and her co-stars keep in touch via a WhatsApp group, and told Lorraine: 'It's just lovely and we're hoping we can get back together at some point'

Reigning champion: Giovanna beat Vernon Kay and Jordan North to be crowned Queen Of The Castle, and Lorraine joked it would be 'hard' for her to travel to Australia to give up her crown

Last week, 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? Last week 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.
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[March 17, 2021] Hands Across America 2021

NASHVILLE, Tenn., March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Dreamstime Co-Founder/COO and philanthropist, Jeff Prescott, has announced the reformation of the Hands Across America charity organization and the orchestration of a corresponding spring celebration. Poised to become the largest virtual handholding event in history, the Hands Across America 2021 ceremony (presented in-part by Dreamstime.com) will occur on Tuesday, May 25, 2021 in tandem with the 35th anniversary of the 1986 event. Mirroring the number of individuals who joined hands to participate in the inaugural assembly, the May 2021 commemoration is set with the goal to gather 6.5 Million Americans. Hands Across America challenges Americans to come together for a common cause: to lend aid to individuals who are vulnerable and to those who suffer from hunger and homelessness. Every person who donates $1 will receive a virtual hand. Upon receipt, the nonprofit is encouraging donors to share their hand, as a virtual symbol and connection, via their respective social media pages (Facebook/Instagram/ Twitter), leading up to the May 25, 2021 event (in association with the 35th Hands Across America Anniversary) and POSTING AGAIN on Tuesday, May 25 , at 3PM Eastern as a simultaneous virtual "show of hands" in support of those less fortunate. "The virtual Hands Across America 2021 ceremony comes at a time when our country is divided by differing opinions, devastated by the COVID-19 pandemic, and troubled with individuals suffering from hunger and homelessness," said Jeff Prescott. "With the number of homeless in the U.S. estimated at 552,830 and 115 million new households estimated to fall into food insecurity as a result of COVID in 2021, Hands Across America is a movement that cannot wait." The ultimate goal is to join an entire America in the virtual handholding eventwelcoming 365 Million Americans to take part. The Hands Across America 2021 celebration will continue throughout the balance of the year and conclude on December 31, 2021 as a final handholding celebration. The reintroduction of Hands Across America (a 501c3 charity), driven by Prescott's personal passion to raise awareness surrounding hunger and homelessness in the U.S., arrives with the objective to become a bigger, more powerful philanthropic movement by transforming the charitable giving climate all together, while simultaneously unifying Americans of all races, color, creed, educational backgrounds and financial status. Held on May 25, 1986, the initial Hands Across America was one of the largest community gatherings in our nation's history, bringing together more than 6 million Americans to form a human chain as a sign of solidarity across 16 states (New York, New Jerse, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Washington D.C., Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Tennessee, Arkansas, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California).



Backed by celebrities, entertainers and dignitaries (including Michael Jackson, Oprah Winfrey, Bruce Springsteen, Lionel Richie, Dionne Warwick, President Ronald Reagan and First Lady Nancy Reagan among hundreds of others), the human chain stood far and wide across the United States. Entertainers in music, film and television, Whoopi Goldberg, Raquel Welch, Ben Vereen, Donny Osmond, Donna Mills and Dudley Moore were among the 10,000 participants in Long Beach; Liza Minnelli, Michael Douglas, Susan Anton, Gregory Hines and Edward Olmos joined hands in New York; while Gerald Ford and Frank Sinatra connected with folks in Rancho Mirage. Corporations such as Coca-Cola and Citibank lent support to create a national phenomenon. "Without unification, we are nothing. Our goal is influenced by peopleAmerican people and their needsto help the less fortunate through unfortunate circumstances large or small," Prescott further introduced. "If we help 'enough' in this country, then we can make a world of difference. We need to bring it back home so that other nations can look up to us for the right reasons. The People."

ABOUT HANDS ACROSS AMERICA The re-imagination of Hands Across America [a 501(c) 3 non-profit located in Franklin, TN] is a passionate undertaking near and dear to Jeff Prescott, who is the brainchild behind reorganization of the non-profit and orchestration of the Hands Across America 2021 virtual ceremony. Having grown-up motherless and in foster care throughout his youth, Prescott experienced homelessness and suffered from malnutrition; he is sensitive to the experience and what it is like to live and survive under such tragic conditions. Courageous, grateful and blessed, Prescott turned his unfortunate life circumstance into promise, to become a successful entrepreneur and businessman. Today, Prescott is the Co-Founder of Dreamstime.com. As a personal dedication, and in the spirit of helping those less fortunate, he re-established Hands Across America. Working alongside like-hearted individuals, communities and organizations, Hands Across America is committed to lending aid to combat hunger, homelessness and malnutrition, and offer assistance to those in need, those who are vulnerable and those who have suffered natural tragedies, or loss of income. The goal is to garner $1 from every American to raise $328 Million. The Hands Across America 2021 ceremony is a symbolic virtual handholding event orchestrated with the goal to change the present narrative of our country in a mutual initiative to join hands and reunite Americans. As a sistering grassroots initiative, Hands Across America will work directly with manufacturers to provide consumer packaged goods (CPGs) to the less fortunate, donating 100% of all profits to the cause to help feed the hungry and homeless. Follow HANDS ACROSS AMERICA on all social media by clicking here. CLICK HERE TO DONATE ABOUT DREAMSTIME

Launched in 2000, Dreamstime has transformed the stock photo business to become one of the world's largest stock photo communities. Offering high-quality stock content, generated by a dynamic and diverse community of more than 650,000 photographers, artists and videographers worldwide, the platform features over 145+ million files and employs proprietary AI, PhotoEye to filter 3 million monthly approvals as a complement to Dreamstime editor experts. With the goal and objective to become more actively involved in social and community philanthropic endeavors, and public education and environmental awareness campaigns, Dreamstime has championed community initiatives in support of various charitable organizations (including WHO and Doctors Without Borders); has lent a helping hand to supply free subscriptions to NGOs during the COVID-19 pandemic and teachers and students to facilitate access and visual support to complete assignments. Demonstrating its innovative and steadfast corporate responsibility, Dreamstime established the "COVID-19 Momentum Challenge" in June 2020 as a community-centered strategy to enhance its members' livelihood; at present, its 650,000 contributors receive an additional 10% in all royalties in addition to donations. For more information, visit Dreamstime.com. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hands-across-america-2021-301248932.html SOURCE Hands Across America

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The Pennsylvania Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committee is hosting an online meeting this Thursday, March 18 at 7:30pm EDT. We urge all Ohio educators to register to attend and invite your coworkers and friends, and we will assist you in the formation of an Ohio Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committee.

Between March 1 and March 7, reported COVID-19 cases among students and faculty in Ohios K-12 schools reached 3,058, nearly double the figure reported the previous week of 1,773 cases. The spike in cases came just two days before Republican Governor Mike DeWines March 9 false pronouncement that victory is in sight in the fight against the virus. Since January, DeWine has pushed for all Ohio schools to open no later than March 1.

During the governors address held on the one-year anniversary of Ohios first COVID-19-related death, the governor officially named the date a Day of Remembrance to honor the 17,662 Ohioans who have lost their lives and the nearly one million who have tested positive in the last year. DeWine failed to mention whether March 9 is only meant to honor those who have already died or tested positive for COVID-19, or if it will also include those who will die or test positive now that schools have been forced open and all public safety measures are being lifted.

Elementary school students in Godley, Texas, Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2020. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

His speech was similar to the speech last week by Biden, who has pushed for a return to face-to-face learning across the country within his first 100 days in office. The reopening of schools has taken place amid the emergence of more contagious and deadly variants of COVID-19 and continued warnings by leading virologists that the US could be headed for a massive surge in cases.

The governor has aggressively pressured districts to reopen schools, including through the manipulation of access to the vaccine. Without a district superintendents commitment to reopen full-time, in-person school by March 1, or at least have a plan in place to do so shortly thereafter, no Ohio public school employee would qualify for the vaccine in that district, except those already meeting the age or health requirements.

A joint January letter to the governors office by the presidents of several state teachers unions, including Columbus Education Association, Cleveland Teachers Union, Cincinnati Federation of Teachers, Toledo Federation of Teachers, Akron Education Association, Dayton Education Association, Canton Professional Educators Association and Youngstown Educational Associationrepresenting eight of Ohios top nine most populous cities and all but one with a Democratic mayordecried DeWines methods, saying the governor coerced school reopenings.

The letter stated, We are disappointed that Governor DeWine has decided to use the distribution of a life-saving vaccine as a bargaining chip, holding this precious commodity hostage while pitting parents, administrators, teachers, and other school workers, and students against each other.

While issuing denunciations, the teachers unions refuse to mount any collective action by their members. Further, their letter goes on to downplay the significance of DeWines action, stating, Luckily, schools dont open up just because a Superintendent signs a letter; schools open when teachers, staff, and parents collectively decide it is safe to do so.

The rush to open schools has been hampered but not slowed by the rush to vaccinate the employees of cooperating districts. Despite DeWines March 1 deadline, district employees were not given access to the vaccine until February 1, leaving just one month to inoculate all of the states school employees.

The order only mandates vaccinations for staff and other school employees of cooperating districts but omits studentsby far the largest part of the school populationas well as their parents. Students will be even more vulnerable than before, as DeWines school reopening guidelines stipulate that those who are exposed to COVID-19 while wearing a mask are no longer required to quarantine or sit out extracurricular activities.

The safety of educators, students, parents and their communities is further compromised by the common practice of school districts contracting food and custodial staff from private vendors. Because they are not employed by the district, these staff members are not automatically eligible for the vaccine. Food and custodial workers may attempt to independently register for the vaccine, claiming the essential nature of their work, but this type of registration is by no means guaranteed and could be delayed given the condensed timetable for school openings. As a result of these policies, in most schools those who will have gotten vaccinated will be an overwhelming minority.

DeWines declaration that the end is in sight is highly dubious given current trends in both Ohio and nationwide. As of March 11, before the recent spike was recorded, 75 percent of Ohio counties, 66 of 88, were listed as Red, meaning very high exposure and spread. These numbers are likely to increase, given the recent school outbreaks and the fact that those counties that have dipped below Red levels are far removed from urban centers with the densest general and school populations. Cincinnati tops the list of new reported cases, with Columbus just behind, and it is likely that other districts in Ohios major metropolitan centers will soon witness a spike in cases.

Further compounding the danger of rolling back safety restrictions is the emergence of new COVID-19 variants in the state. As of March 8, 31 cases of the B.1.1.7 variant, originating in the UK, have been reported in Ohio, and the first case of the P.1 variant, originating in Brazil, was also recently reported.

In addition to his efforts to undermine school safety, the governor also put a timetable on the lifting of public and workplace restrictions. Within two months, he expects to fully lift all curfew and other restrictions that have not already been done away with, while removing all public mask mandates.

Last year DeWine was a relatively early adopter of COVID-19 restrictions among US governors, but his about-face in regard to workplace and school closures shows his allegiance to the ruling classs demand for profits over lives. Ohio is joining many other states in downplaying the ongoing danger of COVID-19, both in schools and other public and private places.

The homicidal policy of reopening schools and nonessential workplaces amid a deadly pandemic has exposed that both the Democratic and Republican politicians are completely indifferent to the lives of educators, students and all workers in the communities they claim to represent.

Educators, parents and students determined to fight against this policy are coming into confrontation with the teachers unions that have either passively accepted or collaborated in the reopening of schools. The World Socialist Web Site encourages all Ohio educators who oppose the reopening of schools to link up with educators in the expanding network of Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committees across the country and internationally. Send us your contact information today to begin building such a committee in Ohio !
BlueRock Diamonds PLC ( ) said the expansion project at Kareevlei remains on track to be commissioned in July, with around 80% of the work completed.

The expansion project at the mine, in the Kimberley region of South Africa, is expected to more than double the diamond producers annual revenue to around US$16mln while the companys total unit cost is set to reduce significantly to around US$220 per carat compared with BlueRocks average sale price for the first three months of 2021 of US$446 per carat.

BlueRock revealed its new project management team has undertaken a full review of the project and its costings as a result of which the upfront capital and development costs have increased.

Meanwhile, the company has agreed in principle to issue a 1.61mln loan note to the Teichmann Group; the intention is to replace this loan note with a convertible loan note that will, if fully converted, increase the Teichmann Groups stake in BlueRock to 49%.
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An intense knack for technology throughout middle school and high school where he repaired classmates' phones and gaming devices set the stage for entrepreneurial success for Adam Zinker, founder and CEO of The Perfect Part. That passion -- and a family loan of $4,000 seed money -- drove his technology logistics company over the last nine years to become the sixth-largest eBay company in North America.

The 28-year-old entrepreneur gained his e-commerce experience alongside his identical twin brother, Cory. Together they grew their mobile parts shop for the first five years to a business that needed more workers.

They started out selling four products stored inside pencil boxes. It took six-to-seven years to reap massive benefits. Today, the duo has 30 employees who maintain the company's gross revenue of over US$1.5M per month solely on eBay.

The business ranked 203 on the 2019 Inc. 5000 list of the fastest growing private companies in America. It was listed as 675 last year.

"We do an average over $1.2M per month in gross revenue with our highest grossing month of over $2.2M. Becoming the sixth-largest eBay company in North America was not the plan; it was the side effect," Zinker told the E-Commerce Times.

Perhaps starting the mobile parts business with his identical twin was one of the driving components to the success of The Perfect Part on eBay, quipped Adam. It let him be in two places at once.

He and Cory figured out during that first year that they each needed to be doing completely different things for the business. Cory controlled everything post-order, and Adam did everything pre-order such as maintaining the eBay platform.

eBay Business Basics

Deciding to go into business on eBay.com instead of Amazon.com was another fortuitous decision that panned out well beyond expectations. Back in 2012, Adam Zinker researched which platforms had the largest audiences. At that point, it was eBay over Amazon.

"Amazon did not have a large audience for internal telecom components and accessories. Back then, eBay was the largest e-commerce platform online that had a market for internal telecom components and accessories," he explained.

Perhaps the most important task for the Zinker brothers was to learn about selling on eBay from scratch. Most of eBay today is small sellers who sell used goods. Selling competitively on eBay takes a tremendous amount of knowledge regarding their policies, noted The Perfect Part CEO.

"I like to think of the eBay platform as a programming language. There are policies that as a seller you need to know like the back of your hand in order to succeed, and that takes time to learn," he remarked.

After selling on eBay competitively for almost 10 years, the CEO feels he knows every policy thoroughly that eBay has to offer. That process led to the company's expansion from bedroom offices at home to two warehouse relocations.

The Zinkers moved The Perfect Part into a 4,000-square-foot warehouse and hired their sister to run fulfillment. She then hired a team of cherry pickers, a team of fulfillers, and other team members that allowed the company to grow efficiently.

The twin brothers brought their non-twin sister, Sydni, onboard to handle fulfillment when the technology logistics company expanded. More recently, the company again expanded, allowing the brothers to hire (not pictured) Adam's girlfriend, Jessica, and Cory's girlfriend, Tori, to oversee customer relations.

Cut-Throat Competition

"Since then, having enough space allowed us to grow even faster. A year later, we moved into a 10,000 square-foot warehouse, and today we have over 5,000 unique products that sell at least once a day fulfilled by a team of over 30 people," noted Adam.

When the Zinkers started selling on eBay, the market was more competitive. Anyone can source parts and sell them, but not anyone can sell efficiently over a long period of time, Adam noted.

There were a lot of sellers competing, but not many who would stay competing for the long run, he added. That occurs for many reasons. One major reason is that eBay's platform does not cater to small retail stores on eBay, but rather small closet sellers, those who sell used items found in their garage.

"So as a small seller you have to really know what you are doing in order to get past the hump to become a large sustainable seller. For example, when I first started, one of my largest competitors back then tried to run me out of business by undercutting my items on an hourly basis," he recalled.

The Zinker twins combated this by undercutting the competitor and even sometimes losing money. The goal of the competitor was not to make money, but to make The Perfect Part lose money by selling the same items for barely anything, basically efforting to run the brothers out of business.

"Today, that competitor is one-quarter of our size and cannot possibly compete with us," Adam said.

Changing Times on eBay

Ebay has changed 100 percent since 2012. It constantly changes policies in order to adapt to market needs, he added. As a large seller, you need to make sure you anticipate these changes as well as prepare to pivot in order to succeed.

"Also, the market became saturated with Chinese sellers trying to undercut American eBay accounts. They do succeed, but only in the short term -- because American buyers want quality items, and they want [delivery] within a couple days," Zinker explained.

The market has changed on a global aspect as well. Buyers can find a huge market for telecom accessories on Amazon now but still not internal components.

"I like to put it this way: when your TV breaks, you can find a new TV on Amazon, but you can find the part that will fix the TV on eBay," he offered.

Keys to Success

The Perfect Part grew on eBay to a large degree because the Zinker brothers combined their passion for technology with a focus on organization. They have not limited themselves to selling on eBay. Though eBay remains their primary focus.

The twins are very entrepreneurial. Just in the last year, they considered 10 new brand ideas. Some they executed. Others are ridiculous, noted Adam. For instance, they currently have a vitamin-infused shower head company called ShaiLi on Amazon.

"After we understood eBay, we hired and trained employees, created shipping logistics, fulfillment, etc. We created a machine that the more we introduced new products to, the more employees we hired. We just introduced more and more products that were interesting and that we knew we could sell better than others," said Adam Zinker.

The Perfect Part co-founders Adam Zinker (left) and Cory Zinker rest on inventory newly moved into a larger warehouse.

Another key event was making sure your books are organized, he continued. This means P&Ls, Balance Sheets, etc. You do not know how well or poorly you are doing without data to back it up.

"You cannot expand and run an efficient business without knowing what you are doing number wise. One of the largest turning points for us was moving into a large warehouse giving us the space we need. Never in a million years did I think I could fill up 10,000 square feet of warehouse space with 5,000 unique products," he shared.

That makes inventory management a huge success key. Having thousands of small products, things can get messy.

Credit Creates Growth Too

Equally important in any business is having someone who understands credit and how valuable that is, according to the CEO.

"Cory is a credit account genius. To this day, The Perfect Part Inc. has never had any outside lending, or any amount of interest paid. This is all thanks to Cory and his credit account expertise," noted Adam about his identical twin.

Cory allowed their business to flourish by expanding it on commercial credit cards for fast and efficient growth. It also forced vendors to take credit card payments because they wanted more business from The Perfect Part. "Cory always said, 'Why use our money when we can use someone else's for free'," noted Adam.

Adam also learned to give moral credit to his workers and trust their performance. He readily admitted that one of his largest key events in growing his business was learning to put important work in the hands of others and trusting that they will do a great job.

In the first years, he would never allow anyone to be on the eBay e-commerce platform. Now he has at least 10 people connected to the platform at any given time -- be it customer service, inventory management, or shipping.

Alternatives to eBay

People always ask Adam how to sell on eBay and if it can be a career or even an end goal to retirement. The truth is that it is, he replied. However, there are other options that are easier.

Although he does have great success on eBay, there are only a few sellers on eBay that are like The Perfect Part, he added. He has branched out to other selling options, including Amazon.

"If you are looking to sell online full time and make a career out of it, my best advice is Amazon. However, I'm not saying no to eBay. eBay is also a must but should be introduced after gaining success on Amazon. eBay is worth $35 billion while Amazon is worth $1 trillion dollars. This tells you that there are countless more customers on Amazon versus eBay," he advised.

Jack M. Germain has been an ECT News Network reporter since 2003. His main areas of focus are enterprise IT, Linux and open-source technologies. He is an esteemed reviewer of Linux distros and other open-source software. In addition, Jack extensively covers business technology and privacy issues, as well as developments in e-commerce and consumer electronics. Email Jack.


Martin Mulqueen (53) originally from Ballynote, Kilrush, Co Clare, but with an address in Bawn Street, Strokestown, Co Roscommon, is the third person to be jailed for coercive control in Ireland.

A woman who was choked, beaten, and slashed with a knife by her partner grew so fearful of his escalating abuse she slept with a hammer under her pillow.

Martin Mulqueen (53), originally from Ballynote, Kilrush, Co Clare, but with an address in Bawn Street, Strokestown, Co Roscommon, is the third person to be jailed for coercive control in Ireland.

Mulqueen pleaded guilty to three sample charges, including coercive control, assault, and assault causing harm on dates between March and October 2019.

Mulqueen initially faced nine charges relating to the abuse of his partner, including a threat to kill. Following negotiations between his defence team, led by solicitor Colum Doherty, and the DPP, Mulqueen pleaded guilty on the third day of his trial in December 2020, sparing his victim the ordeal of giving evidence.

The remainder of the charges were accepted on a full facts basis.

Prosecution counsel Cathal O Braonain detailed to the court a pattern of abusive and controlling behaviour that culminated in an incident where Mulqueen cut the womans wrist with a bread knife and tried to strangle her with the sleeve of a raincoat.

The woman maintained contact with Mulqueen after his arrest on these charges and did not wish to make an impact statement but requested through counsel her identity be anonymised.

The court heard that in April 2019, Mulqueen smashed his phone during an argument, and then the two began sharing a phone. He subsequently deleted her friends phone numbers.

Later, having replaced his phone, he then broke her phone, making her uncontactable to family and friends except through him.

The court heard Mulqueen also attempted to drive a wedge between his former partner and her children, mother, and extended family.

On December 31, 2018, he told the victim that both of them would resign from their place of work, as he was not happy there.

Over the coming months, the court heard Mulqueens alcohol abuse escalated, and the victim noticed a marked change in his behaviour.

The first serious incident of violence occurred in April 2019, when the accused slapped the victim across the head.

On another occasion, while the victim was in bed, she told gardai Mulqueen beat her black and blue and purple with his shoe.

On July 8, 2019, at home in Clarecastle, Mulqueen launched another vicious attack on the woman. She told gardai that Mulqueen grabbed her by the shoulder and threw her on the bed.

She said: He beat me and beat and beat me.

Gardai were called to the house by the landlord of the property, but the victim declined medical assistance or to make a statement.

Following this attack, the woman moved back to her mothers house in Galway for four weeks. Mulqueen sought treatment for alcoholism but continued to contact the woman, saying he could not live without her.

At a later point in the relationship, the couple moved to Strokestown, Co Roscommon, where initially life was good.

However, she began to notice another change in his behaviour, and on October 15, he again brutally attacked her and cut her with a bread knife.

The court heard Mulqueen beat her with his fists on her face, ribs, stomach, and back.

The following day Mulqueen was observed acting aggressively to the victim in a takeaway in Roscommon.

A member of staff observed the victim had visible injuries and was shaking with fear.

Following this, the victim made a statement to gardai, and Mulqueen was arrested on October 20, 2019.

During questioning, he repeatedly denied attacking his partner and claimed 90pc of her statement was false. He also claimed she cut herself with the breadknife.

In the days leading up to his arrest, the court also heard, Mulqueen sent the victim a large volume of messages ranging from abusive to declarations of love, and repeated requests she withdraw her statement.

Sentencing, Judge Comerford said Mulqueen isolated his victim from her family support and ensured she was under his dominion.

He said that although Mulqueens guilty plea came very late, it did spare the victim having to give evidence.

He handed down a combined sentence of 54 months, suspending the final 20 months for four years.

The sentence was backdated to the time he went into custody.

The accused had to place himself under the supervision of the Probation Service for one-year post-release.

He was also forbidden to contact the victim in the case.
An ex-soldier from Perth is accused of murdering former Rebels bikie boss Nick Martin in a public assassination at Perth Motorplex on December 12.

The suspected targeted sniper attack  which took place in front of horrified onlookers including Mr Martins family  sparked a massive police investigation with more than 100 officers assigned to the case.

The man is also linked to a humanitarian movement called Shadows of Hope. Credit:Facebook

Three months later, a 34-year-old man fronted a Perth court on Wednesday amid heavy police guard after being taken into custody on Monday evening.

The building was patrolled by police officers and members of the media were screened by security prior to entering the court.
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As Americans, Danburians, immigrants and community members, we have embraced Danbury as our new home, and as taxpayers, we know what is best for our children and our city. We are homeowners, business owners and group leaders. Like everyone else, we believe the children of our city are its greatest resource. So when we choose to elect our city and state leaders, we are choosing those leaders who support our children, the future of Danbury.

We have experienced firsthand the problems of an underfunded school system. It is very difficult for our children who need extra help with learning in overcrowded classrooms, for our children who struggle to finish high school, and for our children who are being left behind in academics. We need more teachers who reflect our community, and a public school properly funded to handle the challenges we face today.

We want solutions, we want action  but we do not want a charter school. We elected state and city leaders because they are committed to helping our public schools, which lift all students.

It does sound nice to have a charter school, when you first look. The charter organization promises small classes, world-class education and teachers who look like us. But it does not tell you that only a small amount of our students will have access. And it does not tell you that it has very little experience with students who are learning English.

There are others in our community who are as committed as we are to the education of our children, and they are very loud about their support of a charter school. But the promises of a charter school are made at a cost to all the students who are not picked to be part of the charter school. And we do not want any of our children left behind.

The charter school would receive more money from the state than our public schools for each student that attends. Each time a student leaves the Danbury Public Schools to go to the charter, the public schools lose money. And the public schools would have to pay out of its budget for the buses and special education at the charter school. This pushes even more money to the charter school when our public schools are already starving.

That is why we have asked our city and state leaders to protect the community from a charter school. It is why we have asked them to fight at all levels to increase funding for the public schools, so that all our children can have the quality education that will make them successful and keep Danbury successful.

Other state leaders have spoken about bringing a charter school to Danbury. To them, we ask that you please understand here in our community, we do not want this. Our leaders know this, and they represent our voices to you. We believe in choice, but once you leave the public schools, you pay for that choice. The members of our community who have pleaded with you about a charter school do not represent all thoughts and opinions about this. Please stand with our elected leaders who stand with us.

And to the neighbors in our community who are disappointed to see these truths, please join us to fight for education for all our students. We want to see a Danbury that is thriving and strong, and we need your help to gain funding from the city and the state. We need your passionate voices at the Board of Education meetings when we ask for more teachers who reflect our community. We need you to speak up at City Council meetings in budget season, and to send letters to our governor to explain that Danbury schools need more support from the state.

Together we can make Danbury Public Schools the best choice for all our students.

Elke Calero Sweeney; Oswaldo Chin; Jessica Coronel; Juan Fonseca Tapia; Wilson Hernandez; Anjali Illescas; Will Love, Danbury Area Justice Network; Clementina Lunar; Isaiah McCorkle, Community for Change; Nelson Merchan; Elvis Novas; Lorena Santana, Community for Change; Jessica dos Santos, Community for Change; Amina Suhail, Community for Change; Amber Then, Community for Change; Juan Vasquez

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Wednesday, March 17, 2021

Dan Trevas covers an important day in Ohio Bar character and fitness admission.

The Ohio Supreme Court today considered four requests for permission to practice law in Ohio.

In unanimous per curiam opinions, the Supreme Court:

Allowed a Strongsville man to seek admission pending his graduation from law school and passage of the bar exam.

Permanently barred a Mayfield Heights man from practicing law in Ohio because he lied about his criminal past and other dishonest conduct on multiple law-school applications and applications to take the bar exam in Ohio and Florida.

Rejected admission of a Wayne, Pennsylvania, man because of misrepresentations about his past, including termination from a law firm after admittedly sending pretty graphic text messages to a secretary at the firm.

Rejected admission of a former Warren, Ohio, resident who is licensed to practice law in Texas, because of several inconsistencies about her prior employment, financial matters, and others matters.

Commissioners Review Applicants Criminal Past

In 2018, Robert Morris of Strongsville applied to be a candidate for admission to practice law after he completed law school. Morris is expected to graduate from Cleveland-Marshall College of Law in May 2021. Two members of the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association interviewed Morris and recommended that his character and fitness to practice law be approved. But because Morris as a child had been adjudicated as delinquent for conduct that would be a felony if he were an adult, the Board of Commissioners on Character and Fitness was required to review his application. Morris testified before a board panel about the felony incident, which occurred when he was 15 years old. He also explained a citation he received when he was 18 for underage alcohol possession. Morris works as a law clerk for the Cleveland Municipal Court. The courts chief magistrate testified on Morris behalf, as did an attorney who ran a legal clinic at a homeless shelter where Morris volunteers. The board found that Morris was forthright about his run-ins with the law and fully cooperated with the character-and-fitness investigation. The Court adopted the board recommendation that Morris proved he has the requisite character, fitness, and moral qualifications for admission to the practice of law. 2020-1177. In re Application of Morris, Slip Opinion No. 2021-Ohio-779.

Misrepresentations Lead to Permanent Denial

A board investigation into the character and fitness of Alexander Hale of Mayfield Heights discovered an unsettling history and raised concerns about the multiple accounts he gave about his discharge from the U.S. Navy and his failure to report he actually served jail time for a domestic-violence conviction . Hale testified at board hearing in December 2018. After determining further investigation was required, the board recommended he not be approved to take the February 2019 bar exam. A second hearing on his admission request was scheduled for May 2020 via videoconference, but Hale did not participate. The board noted Hale disclosed he served in the Navy in 2002 and 2003 and received an other-than-honorable discharge for failing a random toxicology screening. He told the board he failed the screening because smoked marijuana. The official Navy report charged Hale with use and possession of cocaine and amphetamines while on duty. The board noted that in his application to Cleveland-Marshall College of Law he falsely answered no to a question of whether he received a discharge that was other than honorable. Hale also explained that in a January 2008 domestic dispute he overreacted in a confrontation with his mother and police responded to a noise complaint. He did not disclose that the incident led to a 14-day jail sentence, or that he served four days in jail, for the offense. Regarding these incidents and others, the Court stated that Hales conduct as a young adult might have been characterized as youthful indiscretions had they been properly disclosed. But instead of owning up to his mistakes and showing he has learned from them, he has engaged in a pattern of dishonest conduct for more than five years in an attempt to conceal them, the opinion stated. The Court stated his ongoing pattern of deception and evasiveness demonstrated he did not possess the qualifications to practice law in Ohio and forever barred him from reapplying. 2020-1076. In re Application of Hale, Slip Opinion No. 2021-Ohio-772.

Lawyers Shading of Truth Leads to Admission Rejection

William Componovo is licensed to practice in Delaware, Maryland, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia. He applied in 2019 to practice in Ohio. The board found significant discrepancies in Componovos 2008 departure from a Delaware law firm. He stated he left the firm following a disagreement over staffing issues. Investigators received a written response from a firms partner that Componovo was fired for sexual harassment. And after leaving the firm, he convinced a staff member to help him transfer proprietary case management software to his new firm, which resulted in a lawsuit. The case was settled , and Componovo agreed to pay restitution. The partner said a secretary in the firm complained that Componovo was sending her sexually suggestive text messages, and when confronted, Componovo admitted to sending the messages. However, he argued that he and the secretary were engaging in a series of flirtatious messages. He then admitted the messages were pretty graphic and vile. The board charged that Componovo exhibited a clear attempt to avoid or shade the truth regarding what happened. Componovo also failed to disclose he was sued in a civil case in 2001 by a plaintiff that had provided expert witness testimony in cases Componovo had tried. Componovo testified that he did not recall the litigation, which the board did not find credible. The Court adopted the boards recommendation to reject Componovos admission application, but will allow him to reapply in one year. 2020-1176. In re Application of Componovo, Slip Opinion No. 2021-Ohio-773.

Texas Lawyer Provides Inconsistent Answers to Investigators

Bridgett Brumbaugh began practicing law in Texas in 2008. In May 2018, she applied for admission to practice law in Ohio without having to take the bar exam, and noted that in 2016 she spent two years living temporarily with her parents in Warren. After a January 2020 character-and-fitness hearing, the board found eight areas of concern with her application, including her indication that she failed to accurately explain that she provided legal services to a Texas resident while living in Ohio. The board also found she failed to cooperate with the investigation by not producing financial records nor identifying legal cases in which she was involved. She admitted that she defaulted on a debt, which she described as junk debt and old debt. But the board discovered that a creditor

obtained a 2013 judgment against her for $7,800 plus $1,500 in attorney fees. The debt was assigned to a new creditor in 2017. The board concluded that a judgment in which she appears to be making no effort to attend to the debt cannot be countenanced. The Court adopted the boards recommendation to reject Brumbaughs application, but will allow her to reapply in one year. In a concurring opinion, Justice R. Patrick DeWine disagreed with the concerns raised by the board that Brumbaugh may have engaged in the unauthorized practice of law by performing legal work for a Texas client while physically present in Ohio. Pointing to his 2018 opinion in In re Application of Jones, he stated he does not believe that a lawyer who practices law in another jurisdiction in which the lawyer is licensed is engaging in the unauthorized practice of law by simply working remotely from Ohio. It is past time for this court to change its rules to make clear that an out-of-state lawyer who happens to be working remotely in Ohio is not engaged in the unauthorized practice of law, he wrote. Justice Sharon L. Kennedy joined Justice DeWines opinion. 2020-1079. In re Application of Brumbaugh, Slip Opinion No. 2021-Ohio-780. Apologies to Neil Young. (Mike Frisch)

https://lawprofessors.typepad.com/legal_profession/2021/03/four-decided-in-ohio-.html
When Thu Nguyen heard about the deadly shootings at three Atlanta-area spas, she thought first of her mother, a Vietnamese refugee and long-time owner of a Montrose nail salon.

That couldve been my mom, said Nguyen, the 25-year-old director of OCA Asian Pacific American Advocates. Our community, my family, theyre incredibly shaken up. Theyve been living in fear the past year or so  heightened fear because of everything thats going on  but this is truly something so deadly that its really shaken our community.

Nguyens mother went to work Wednesday, as always, but she and other employees are practicing vigilance: locking doors, turning on lights, opening and closing the salon in groups, coming and going from work together.

Eight people were killed Tuesday night in the shootings, the Associated Press reported. Authorities identified the suspect as 21-year-old Robert Aaron Long, who is white. Six of the victims were Asian. Officials are investigating whether the slayings were hate crimes.

The mass shooting has reverberated throughout Asian American communities in the Houston area, community members and leaders said. The tragedy has created more anxiety among a population that throughout the pandemic has been targeted by politicians and people espousing racist language, spewing verbal harassment and launching physical assaults.

What happened in Atlanta yesterday has created a high fear among the local AAPI community, said Chi-mei Lin, chief executive officer of the Chinese Community Center in Houston. Asian women should never be targeted hate crime victims. No woman should.

Now Playing: Video: Laura Duclos

The organization is working with the Houston Police Department to arrange a town hall meeting, she said.

Houston police are increasing patrols in the concerned areas, the agency said Wednesday. They also encouraged residents to be vigilant and report suspicious behavior to law enforcement.

Meanwhile, authorities are stepping up patrols in Asian American communities across the region, according to the Harris County Sheriffs Office. We've asked our patrol deputies to pay close attention to our Asian community in light of yesterday's shootings in Atlanta, said Jason Spencer, spokesman for the agency. He declined to provide further details that could compromise the agency's work.

Houston and Harris County officials have recorded no increase in hate crimes against Asian Americans, or any group, in the last year, the agencies said.

Still, discrimination and verbal harassment against the population is rampant and national incidents of violence spark worry across the country.

There have been nearly 3,800 hate incidents nationwide reported between March 19, 2020 and Feb. 28, 2021 to Stop AAPI Hate, an organization founded last year in response to xenophobia surrounding the coronavirus outbreak. Verbal harassment and shunning made up the majority of incidents, while more than 11% were physical assaults. People from all 50 states reported incidents. Women reported hate incidents 2.3 times more often than men, the organization said.

"We condemn the hateful discrimination and violence disproportionately aimed at Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic," the Chinese Community Center said in a Monday statement. "To compound these injustices, the reality of painful discrimination that AAPI communities have experienced throughout United States history to the present moment is often invisible and underreported."

On Wednesday, many Houston-area elected officials, community groups and leaders have called for an end to the violence against the Asian American population.

"We're not going to tolerate any additional acts of hate against our community. Enough is enough," Rep. Gene Wu tweeted.

Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis wrote in a Tweet that the news from Atlanta is heartbreaking.

"My condolences are with those who lost loved ones to racism and hatred yesterday," he wrote. "I am in solidarity with the vibrant AAPI community here in Harris County and across the country. We see you and we will work with you to #StopAsianHate."

In response to the rise in anti-Asian racism during the pandemic, the Houston Coalition Against Hate and OCA-Greater Houston are hosting free virtual bystander intervention trainings via Zoom to educate people and teach them practical skills to stand up to racism. Trainings will take place the third Thursday of each month between March and September.
Watertown, NY (13601)

Today

Cloudy with rain developing after midnight. Low 61F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch..

Tonight

Cloudy with rain developing after midnight. Low 61F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch.
YEREVAN, 17 MARCH, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs Armenpress that today, 17 March, USD exchange rate stood at 527.69 drams. EUR exchange rate down by 1.16 drams to 628.37 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate down by 0.02 drams to 7.22 drams. GBP exchange rate up by 3.90 drams to 733.54 drams.

The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals.

Gold price up by 192.56 drams to 29435.36 drams. Silver price down by 0.34 drams to 442.46 drams. Platinum price down by 67.86 drams to 20511.44 drams.
The 5,000-metre diamond drill program across 48 holes is part of a wider optimisation program designed to increase the projects overall resource, annual production rate and mine life.

The company has completed around 50% of the current drilling program.

( ) ( ) (FRA:9EM) has returned high-grade tin intersections that confirm mineralisation continuity in its campaign to convert existing inferred resources into indicated resources at its flagship Oropesa Tin Project in Spain.

According to the company, the drilling program is delivering some of the highest tin grades in the current program and amongst the highest ever reported at the project.

These results come as the tin price continues to maintain significant gains and is currently more than US$26,000 per tonne.

Zones of mineralisation have been intersected in two new drill holes with best results in drill hole ADD_01A of 10.5 metres at 0.27% tin from 94.9 metres, 2.3 metres at 0.63% from 122 metres and 9.9 metres at 0.69% from 200.5 metres including 0.6 metres at 4.36% from 209.8 metres.

Hole Expn_018 returned 5.9 metres at 0.26% tin from 73.9 metres.

Support for bridging gap

Results from ADD_01A are particularly significant as they confirm continuity of the mineralisation between separate zones of inferred resources towards the northwest extremity of the current geological resource.

Elementos chairman Andy Greig said: The results from drill hole ADD_01A will provide very strong support for bridging a gap in the mineralised envelope located at the northwest extremity of the geological resource.

Diamond drilling program

The company started a 5,000-metre program of diamond drilling across 48 holes at Oropesa in October 2020 as part of a wider optimisation program designed to increase the projects overall resource, annual production rate and mine life.

There have been 25 drill holes completed with assays received for 17 of them.

This program follows the release of an economic study in May 2020, which positioned Oropesa as a low-cost, globally significant new tin development with prospective annual production of 2,440 tonnes of tin-in-concentrate over a 14-year mine life.

This study was completed with a tin price of US$19,750 per tonne with the LME spot tin price currently over US$26,000.

Key objectives

The drilling programs key objectives are:
RALEIGH, N.C., March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Great Business Schools ( https://www.greatbusinessschools.org/ ), a free online guide that takes students from the decision to attend business school all the way to an application and acceptance, has released four 2021 rankings of the best Executive MBA degree programs in the US:

25 Best Executive MBA Programs for 2021

( https://www.greatbusinessschools.org/best-emba-programs/ )

15 Best Online Executive MBA Degrees for 2021

( https://www.greatbusinessschools.org/best-online-emba-programs/ )

10 Fastest Online Executive MBA Degrees for 2021

( https://www.greatbusinessschools.org/accelerated-executive-mba-programs/ )

10 Most Affordable Executive MBA Degrees for 2021

( https://www.greatbusinessschools.org/most-affordable-emba/ )

The Top 10 Best Executive MBA Programs for 2021 are:

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill - Chapel Hill, NC University of Pennsylvania - Philadelphia, PA Georgetown University - Washington, DC University of Virginia - Charlottesville, VA Virginia Tech - Blacksburg, VA Texas A&M University - College Station , TX University of Florida - Gainesville, FL Vanderbilt University - Nashville, TN Rutgers University - New Brunswick, NJ Washington University in St Louis - St Louis, MO

A complete list of all institutions ranked is included at the end of this release.

"Professionals in business at a crucial juncture in their career or those seeking to advance will often view an MBA as a worthwhile goal," the editors of Great Business Schools explain; "But, is an executive MBA worth it for a busy professional already deep into their positions?" As the editors explain, an executive MBA can have an immense career impact even for a seasoned administrator. The editors point out that "the EMBA specifically benefits mid-career professionals who simply can't take the time away from their duties to pursue a full MBA program." "The EMBA isn't as immersive as a full MBA program, but it doesn't need to be because those who choose the EMBA already have an immersive business experience," they explain. According to Great Business Schools, "An accredited EMBA program has a faster pace, but less full-time commitment. This will leave busy business professionals to continue their job duties while they earn their degree."

GBS editors know that prospective students want a degree they can use. Readers of GBS include traditional-aged high school graduates, working adults, and career-changing professionals. That is why Great Business Schools ranks both online and traditional programs. By featuring accredited, reputable institutions, GBS ensures that prospective students can trust their choices. "Choosing an accredited executive MBA degree online is easy if you know what your goals are and are ready to go to work to achieve them," the editor asserts.

Going to the right school is important for every student. Great Business Schools doesn't get caught up about which schools are the "best." They focus on what makes business schools great places for students to learn and grow. Rankings and resources that reflect a wide range of needs and priorities are what set GBS apart.

All Institutions in the Great Business Schools Executive MBA Rankings (in alphabetical order):

Baylor University

Bradley University

Brandeis University

Cleveland State University

Cornell University

Duke University

Fairleigh Dickinson University

Georgetown University

Georgia State University

Howard University

Indiana University of Pennsylvania

Jacksonville University

James Madison University

Kent State University

Loyola Marymount University

Loyola University Chicago

Marquette University

Michigan State University

Northwestern University

Oakland University

Ohio University

Purdue University

Purdue University Northwest

Rochester Institute of Technology

Rutgers University

Saint Joseph's University

Saint Mary's College of California

San Francisco State University

Southeastern Louisiana University

Southern Methodist University

Spring Arbor University

Tennessee State University

Texas A&M University

UCLA

University of Arizona

University of Arkansas

University of Chicago

University of Colorado Boulder

University of Colorado Denver

University of Florida

University of Hawaii at Manoa

University of Memphis

University of Missouri

University of Nevada Reno

University of New Mexico

University of New Orleans

University of North Alabama

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

University of North Carolina at Wilmington

University of Oklahoma

University of Pennsylvania

University of St Thomas

University of Tennessee Knoxville

University of Virginia

Vanderbilt University

Virginia Tech

Washington State University

Washington University in St Louis

Xavier University

Marie Benson

Lead Editor, Great Business Schools

[email protected]

https://www.greatbusinessschools.org/about/

(336) 629-7903

SOURCE Great Business Schools
Two mathematicians whose complex work in pure mathematics has led to real world changes in how we use computers were awarded the equivalent of the Nobel Prize in mathematics Wednesday, capping off their extraordinary careers.

Avi Wigderson, of the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, and Laszlo Lovasz, of Eotvos Lorand University in Hungary, were named the 2021 winners of the Abel Prize. The award from the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters is considered the top yearly prize in the field because the Nobel Prize does not have a mathematics category.

The pair will split $7.5 million Norwegian kroner, worth about $880,000.

I am thrilled that the mathematics community has recognized with this prize the entire field of the theory of computation, which has been my academic and social home for the past four decades, said Wigderson, 64.

The prize committee said the pair won for their foundational contributions to theoretical computer science and discrete mathematics, and their leading role in shaping them into central fields of modern mathematics.

Wigderson, born in Israel, is best known for his work with complexity theory, which involves the speed and efficiency of algorithms. He has co-authored papers with more than 100 people in the field, which he is credited with helping shape and expand.

His wide-ranging work has included randomized computation, algorithms and optimization, circuit complexity, proof complexity, quantum computation, cryptography and understanding of fundamental graph properties, officials at the Institute for Advanced Study said.

Though his work is in theoretical mathematics, it has led to real world applications in computers. His work on the zero-knowledge proof, is used in the technology that created cryptocurrency, the digital form of money used to buy goods and services over the internet.

His work shows how some of the deepest ideas in mathematics are intimately connected to a technology that is totally transforming our society, said Robbert Dijkgraaf, the director of the Institute for Advanced Study.

Wigderson also leads the institutes Computer Science and Discrete Mathematics program, where he has overseen the work of more than 100 post-doctoral and Ph.D. students.

Lovasz, 73, is a former visiting professor at the institute in Princeton who grew up as a math prodigy in Hungary. He has done similar work in mathematics that is considered fundamental in how computers work. His credited with devising powerful algorithms, including the LLL algorithm, used in number theory, cryptography and mobile computing.

Though the pair may not be household names, they have been at the center of many breakthroughs in computer science and mathematics, said Peter Sarnak, a mathematics professor at the Institute for Advanced Study.

The doors that they have opened, coupled with their leadership and generosity, have allowed many others to achieve lofty goals in these areas. It is wonderful to see them recognized with the Abel Prize, Sarnak said.

Wigderson joins numerous other mathematicians with New Jersey ties who have won the Abel. In 2019, Karen Uhlenbeck, who lives in Princeton, became the first woman to win the prize.

A visiting scholar at both Princeton University and the Institute for Advanced Study, Uhlenbeck won for her work in geometric analysis and gauge theory. Her breakthroughs helped improve the understanding of models in particle physics, string theory and general relativity.

The Abel Prize was also awarded to Princeton University mathematician John Forbes Nash Jr., the brilliant-but-troubled subject of the film A Beautiful Mind. Nash and his wife were killed in 2015 in a taxi crash on the New Jersey Turnpike while returning to Princeton Junction from Norway, where the mathematician was presented with the Abel Prize by King Harald V for his work in game theory.

The Institute for Advanced Study, located near Princeton University but not part of the school, has had 21 Abel Prize winners among present and past faculty members, officials said. The institute, which includes Albert Einstein among its founders, is dedicated to theoretical research and independent study.

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Kelly Heyboer may be reached at kheyboer@njadvancemedia.com.
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Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-17 14:58:15|Editor: huaxia

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by Yosley Carrero

HAVANA, March 17 (Xinhua) -- Cuba's top tourist destination Havana, where music once reverberated on streets, taxi drivers were busy picking up passengers at airport, and foreigners bustled in souvenir shops, has seen sharp fall in tourist arrivals due to COVID-19 pandemic.

Dayron Paz, a 38-year-old taxi driver, used to drive tourists for Havana's scenery down a coastal boulevard with his pink vintage car.

But things have gone south for Paz as the capital city, which accounts for nearly half of Cuba's new cases since February, struggled to contain the spread of the virus.

"It has been more than a year since my last tour with foreign visitors. It has been a very hard period, indeed," he told Xinhua.

Paz, who was effectively laid off from his job at the Nostalgic Car, a private company, relocated to the central town of Camajuani, some 300 km east of Havana. He now works in the agriculture sector.

"This is not what I would have expected to be doing by this time, but the pandemic has disrupted the normal course of life," Paz said.

Official figures showed that more than 60 percent of pre-pandemic international tourists destined for Cuba visited Havana, home to 2 million inhabitants.

Silvia Canals runs La Casona del Son, a private salsa school in the city-center of Havana, gathering some 20 tutors. She wonders if tourism will ever go back to normal.

"We used to teach salsa, kizomba, and Caribbean rhythms to tourists, but with no foreigners coming in, there is no business," she said. "Cuban nationals do not pay for salsa classes."

Only about 1.1 million tourists visited Cuba last year, and most of them were before mid-March, when the country detected its first three cases in the city of Trinidad and closed borders.

This followed by reopening of borders in early July for tourists destined for the northern and southern regions.

It was not until early September that a plane carrying 104 international passengers from Canada arrived at Cuba's Jardines del Rey archipelago.

Rafael Lopez, director of Muthu Hotels, said that Cuba has adopted precautionary measures at hotel facilities to reduce the risk of contagion with the virus.

"Our clients feel safe here in Jardines del Rey. Cuba has beautiful beaches for tourists to rest," said Lopez, who has been working on the islets for five years.

Varadero, one of the top-rated beaches worldwide, looked desolate, as there were few visitors.

Cuban Minister of Economy and Planning Alejandro Gil said that receiving more tourists "entails a favorable impact on the country's economy."

The tourism industry accounts for more than 10 percent of Cuba's hard currency earnings. The island nation has received more than 4 million tourists annually since 2016.

Yet for almost a year, he told Xinhua, "there is practically no tourism."

Jose Luis Perello, a university professor and tourism expert, told Xinhua that Cuba received some 35,600 foreign visitors in the first two months of this year, down by 95.5 percent compared to the same period in 2020.

"Between January and February last year, 792,507 international travelers visited the island," he said, noting that a quicker comeback of the travel industry depends on global epidemic situation, travelers' budget and recovery of the aviation sector.

Cuba prioritizes sun and beach tourism because urban destinations need more time to put trickier quarantine measures in place for dense gatherings, according to Perello.

So far, Cuba has registered 62,998 COVID-19 cases with 376 deaths. Enditem
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Chennai, March 17 : AIADMK coordinator and Deputy Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, O.Panneerselvam will begin his election campaign for the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections from March 18.

The campaign of the Deputy Chief Minister will be flagged off from Tiruvotriyur constituency. The AIADMK has released his campaign schedule till March 21.

The AIADMK leader, who is contesting from his family turf of Bodinayikanar constituency, will be campaigning extensively through the state and will also be micro managing elections in the strongholds of his Thevar community, the party has said.

Bodi, Theni, Dindugal, Madurai, Tirunelveli areas have a strong presence of the Thevar community who are traditional supporters of the AIADMK.

V.K. Sasikala also belongs to the same community and it was the proximity of Panneerselvam with Sasikala that led to his emergence as a powerful political leader in Tamil Nadu.

C. Rajeev, Political analyst and Director of Centre for Policy and Development Studies, a Chennai based Think Tank told IANS, "OPS is the man to watch in this election. If there is a close result, OPS will easily get the support of Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam(AMMK) of TTV Dhinakaran to form a government. Edappadi Palaniswami also fears Thevar undercurrent. If the results are by huge margin, either for the DMK-led front or for the AIADMK front then the same equations will continue."

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
A ban on same-sex marriages in Japan has been deemed unconstitutional by a court (Yohei Fukai/Kyodo News/AP)

A Japanese court has for the first time ruled that same-sex marriage should be allowed under the countrys constitution, a moral victory that does not have any immediate legal consequence but could bolster efforts for legalisation.

Sapporo District Court said sexuality, like race and gender, is not a matter of individual preference, so prohibiting same-sex couples from receiving benefits given to heterosexual couples cannot be justified.

Legal benefits stemming from marriages should equally benefit both homosexuals and heterosexuals, the court said, according to a summary of the ruling.

Judge Tomoko Takebe said in the ruling that not allowing same-sex marriages violates Article 14 of the Japanese constitution, which prohibits discrimination because of race, creed, sex, social status or family origin.

Expand Close Discrimination persists despite awareness and support for LGBTQ people rising in Japan (Koji Sasahara/AP) / Facebook

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The court was hearing a case brought by three same-sex couples who were seeking government compensation for the difficulties they had to suffer from not being able to legally marry. The court declined to financially compensate the plaintiffs.

The courts ruling has no immediate legal effect and same-sex couples are still not allowed to marry, but activists say the ruling is a major victory that could influence similar court cases and help their efforts to push for parliamentary debate and changes to the law.

Chief cabinet secretary Katsunobu Kato told reporters the government disagreed with Wednesdays ruling. He said the government wants to achieve a society more tolerant to diversity, but did not say how it would respond to the ruling, except that it will watch pending court cases.

Outside the court, the plaintiffs lawyers and their supporters held up rainbow flags and a banner saying a big first step toward equality.

I hope this ruling serves as a first step for Japan to change, said one woman who only identified herself as Plaintiff No 5.

Expand Close The US is one of the countries which has urged Japan to legalise same-sex marriage (Anthony Devlin/PA) / Facebook

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Lawyers representing the plaintiffs said they planned to appeal against the ruling because it did not hold the government responsible for the damages sought.

We need to make clear that the parliament has left alone the unconstitutional situation by abandoning its legislative duties, and have them take action promptly, they said in a statement.

Japan is the only country in the G7 industrialised nations where same-sex marriages are not legal, but it is not an outlier in Asia, where Taiwan is the only place where same-sex marriage is legal following legislation passed in 2019.

While support for LGBTQ people is rising in Japan, discrimination persists. In a society where pressure for conformity is strong, many LGBTQ people hide their sexuality, fearing prejudice at home, school or work.
The two men who died when the small plane they were in slammed into an SUV driving in Florida in Monday, killing a four-year-old boy and injuring his mother, have been identified as licensed pilots.

The Broward County Medical Examiner on Wednesday named the deceased occupants of the single-engine plane that crashed in Pembroke Pines as 63-year-old Yaacov Nahom, of Davie, and 71-year-old Grant Hustad, of Fort Lauderdale.

The incident also took the life of four-year-old Taylor Bishop, who was riding as a passenger in his mother Meghan Bishop's vehicle when it was struck by the plane and burst into flames.

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Yaacov Nahom, 63 (left), and Grant Hustad, 71 (right), have been identified as the two occupants of the single-engine plane that crashed in Pembroke Pines, Florida, Monday

Taylor Bishop, 4, was killed and his mother, Megan Bishop, was injured when a small plane crashed directly into their SUV in Southern Florida on Monday

Bishop, a 35-year-old teacher's aide, was injured but survived and was released from the hospital just hours later.

Investigators said the Beechcraft Bonanza plane was forced to turn back towards the airport moments after takeoff because of engine trouble, reported WSVN.

Records indicate that both Hustad and Nahom were Federal Aviation Administration certified pilots.

Nahom was the registered owner of the Beechcraft Bonanza plane, but it is unclear who was behind the controls at the time of the accident.

Hustad was president of an aircraft brokerage company and had flown 10,000 miles since getting his pilot certificate in 2012

FAA records show that Nahom received his private pilot's certificate in 2017 and Hustad received his commercial pilot certificate in 2012, reported Miami Herald.

Hustad is listed as president of International Aviation Services, an aircraft brokerage firm headquartered in Pompano Beach, Florida.

According to a blurb posted on the company's Hustad 'has flown 10,000 hours in more than 45 makes and models of aircraft.'

A friend of Nahom's told WPLG the man is survived by his wife, three children and two grandchildren.

Social media posts suggest Hustad leaves behind a grown daughter and grandchildren.

Taylor Bishop was the first victim of the crash to be identified on Tuesday.

The four-year-old boy was traveling with his mother, school paraprofessional Megan Bishop, when the plane struggling to return to the airport crashed into them on a residential street and burst into flames.

Bishop's SUV that was struck by the airplane Monday is seen behind police lines on a residential street near North Perry Airport in Pembroke Pines

A single-engine Beechcraft Bonanza plane crashed in Pembroke Pines, Florida, shortly after it took off from North Perry Airport at around 3pm Monday

A neighbor's Ring camera captured the plane falling out of the sky and crashing directly into a passing SUV

The plane and SUV burst into flames, with the fire spreading across the roadway

The plane had just left from North Perry Airport and was returning just before 3pm, the fire chief said. He said the single-engine plane may have experienced mechanical issues after taking off.

'The car literally looks like its just in half,' neighbor Salah Elshaer, who called 911, told WSVN.

Annabel Fernandez's Ring doorbell camera captured the horrific crash, showing the victims' dark-blue SUV driving in the neighborhood moments before the plane drops out of the sky and strikes the vehicle head-on, scattering debris across the roadway and sparking a raging fire.

Bishop works as a teacher's assistant at Hollywood Hills Elementary. Taylor was the woman's only son

A union representative described the four-year-old boy as bright, smart and chatty

'We heard like a bomb, like a tremendous noise, and we went outside, and everything was on fire,' Fernandez told the television station.

Bishop, a teacher's assistant at Hollywood Hills Elementary, was able to get out of the mangled vehicle and was trying to free her son.

Firefighters eventually extricated the trapped child and they were taken to Memorial Regional Hospital in serious condition.

WSVN's aerial footage showed Bishop was sitting up and conscious while she was being loaded into the back of an ambulance.

Firefighters arrived on the scene and pronounced the plane's two occupants dead

Firefighters had to extricate a young boy from the crushed and scorched vehicle, who later died at the hospital

The four-year-old Taylor later succumbed to his injuries at the hospital.

His mother was released from the hospital later Monday, Pembroke Pines Fire Chief Marcel Rodriguez told news outlets.

Anna Marie Pierpont, a Broward School District union field representative, told Sun-Sentinel that Taylor was a smart and bright little boy who enjoyed taking part in video chats on Facebook and showing his toys.

'He just really enjoyed being with mom and being part of our gatherings. He was just a very happy little man,' Pierpont said.

The Broward County Aviation Department released a statement extending its condolences to the families of the crash victims.

'We are saddened by this tragic loss of life and offer our sincere condolences during this difficult time,' the agency stated.

The plane was just a few hundred feet short of the runway at the nearby airport when it took out a power line and came down near Southwest 72nd Avenue and 13th Street when it crashed, officials said.

The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the crash.

A woman appeared conscious and alert as she was being loaded into an ambulance

The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the cause of the accident

This is the fifth small plane crash that has occurred at or near the airport in Pembroke Pines since last May.

Four of the five crashes were fatal, resulting in a total of five deaths.

In December 2020, a plane carrying two adults and two children crashed. All four on board survived.

Earlier that month a plane landed upside down when the pilot attempted to make an emergency landing.

In November of last year, the pilot of an experimental plane was killed when he crashed at the airport.

Back in May 2020, a student pilot from one of the flight schools at the airport was killed when their plane crashed during a training flight over Miramar.
10 things to know about the latest filing

This week marked the massive information dump the New York City Campaign Finance Board calls the filing deadline. There are enough tidbits and storylines to last us politicos two months until the next one on May 21, but here are 10 things that immediately stood out.

Adams has the money

With $7.6 million on hand, Eric Adams is the undisputed money king of the mayoral race. Scott Stringer is in a not-so-distant second with $6.85 million. Andrew Yang raised an impressive $2.14 million in just two months, but he wont be eligible to receive his $4.73 million in expected public matching funds until April 15 at the earliest.

Yang has momentum

Yangs haul was impressive for its sheer speed, and for the number of individual donors  his 14,758 was well ahead of second-place Maya Wileys 9,536 contributors. But out of the leading contenders, those two also had the highest percentage of their money come from outside New York City. Just 51% of Yangs total and 63% of Wiley total came from donors with city addresses.

Morales has the voters

Donors with New York City addresses made 9,092 contributions to Dianne Morales  the most of any mayoral candidate.

Who else has a lot of New York City donations? Whos spending like a drunken sailor? And which incumbents are getting outraised? Read more here.

By the Numbers

$118,289

The amount of outside spending reported so far in support of John Sanchez in the March 23 City Council District 15 special election in the Bronx, where early voting is ongoing. About $75,000 of that is for mailers, ads and robocalls from New Yorkers for a Balanced Albany, a pro-charter school PAC primarily funded by Walmart heiress Alice Walton. The other $43,000 is on mailers and ads from the generically pro-big business Voters of NYC Inc. Thats the same PAC that bought sweatshirts for Council Member Kevin Rileys special election, but now its top donor is slightly less shadowy, following a large contribution from an LLC affiliated with the Zeckendorfs, who are one of the citys biggest families in real estate. Sanchez, district manager for Bronx Community Board 6, has been running a decidedly pro-development campaign, decrying knee-jerk NIMBYism. But the progressive Our City PAC, which supports taxing the wealthy, is pushing back. Its spending hasnt been reported yet, but organizer Gabe Tobias told City & State that grassroots donations allowed Our City to drop about $15,000 on mailers and digital ads supporting Elisa Crespo in District 15  and calling Sanchez the worst candidate, with F grades on progressive issues. Other outside spending? 32BJ SEIU and LiUNA are both helping Ischia Bravo in District 15. And in District 11, labor and capital are united. Voters of NYC Inc., 32BJ SEIU and LiUNA are all spending money to support Eric Dinowitz.

Get the doctors signature

Cant say they didnt warn us. At least four candidates have publicly said they contracted the coronavirus in the home stretch of March 25 petitioning deadline. Jimmy Van Bramer, whos running for Queens borough president, Lincoln Restler, a candidate for City Council District 33 in Brooklyn, Amoy Barnes, a candidate for District 49 on Staten Island and Manhattan District Attorney candidate Liz Crotty all tested positive this month after petitioning. Restler and Crotty both said they already have more than enough signatures, and Van Bramer said he has three times the threshold, but was hoping to still get more. While Barnes campaign spokesperson Brittany Jones told City & State that, although she has a good number of signatures, the campaigns lawyer will still need to make a final determination on whether Barnes has exceeded the 270-signature threshold. Jones said the campaign wont be able to completely halt petitioning until they get an all clear from their lawyer. News of the candidates positive cases comes as council member  and likely speaker candidate  Keith Powers has been gathering his own signatures to demand the state Department of Health to make campaign workers eligible for the vaccines right away.

Nothing that shes saying or doing is out of character

Before she ran for mayor, Dianne Morales worked in the nonprofit sector for decades  and even helped launch a charter high school with preferred admission for homeless youth or kids in foster care. And before she was campaigning for votes, she was campaigning for more city funding for other nonprofits as a board member of the Human Services Council. Read more about Morales professional life before politics in this great piece by City & States Kay Dervishi  the first in a series on the leading mayoral candidates.

Vance: out. Statements: in.

Cy Vances official announcement that he wont be seeking reelection as Manhattan district attorney was even less surprising than the news that Loree Sutton was dropping out of the mayoral race. Remember, Vance has a measly $4,194 in the bank, but the news gave his eight would-be successors a chance to either toast his tenure or roast his legacy. Liz Crotty was subtly kind, saying the next DA must continue the fight for #publicsafety and equal justice, and Tali Farhadian Weinstein said Vance built on the great tradition of the office, crediting him with standing up to Trump. Others avoided praise. Alvin Bragg said this office needs fundamental change, but thanked Vance for his service, and Dan Quart sent his best wishes to Vance and his family before saying its time for a new era in an office committed to criminal justice reform. Lucy Lang, who worked under Vance, kept it vague, and said Vances retirement presents an opportunity for transformational change, and Diana Florence, who also worked under Vance, was the only DA candidate not to release a statement. Others were more derisive. Tahanie Aboushi called Vance the face of an unfair system, and Eliza Orlins said he had an unjust approach to justice.

Growing the City Council Bike Caucus

City & State clearly started it, with our 2018 bike ride magazine profile of Eric Adams, but the mayoral race has gone bike crazy, with courageous candidates doing Streetsblog NYC ride alongs and sharing their pedaling policies with Bike New Yorks cycle-centric forum. Nobodys organized a group ride for mayoral candidates  yet  but on Sunday morning, 10 candidates for (the crowded) City Council District 26 seat showed up for a two-hour ride around Long Island City to Sunnyside to Woodside and back again with the car haters at Transportation Alternatives. It was fun, but biking is a politically charged issue, with a battle over protected bike lanes in the district getting so ugly that somebody mightve put thumbtacks on the green paint to cause flat tires. But most of these candidates werent just pandering to a wheely powerful interest group  they actually ride, and at least three shared that they had previously been seriously injured on a bike. Jesse Laymon broke his leg. Jonathan Bailey got a concussion. And Julie Won was hit by a car late last year.

Endorsement Watch

Brooklyn Democratic Party boss Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn endorsed Eric Adams for mayor, but the party itself hasnt officially endorsed yet. Though some district leaders are mad that she used the party email and social media accounts to announce her personal endorsement. Now the Notorious RBH is expected to lobby the four other Democratic county leaders  and her own executive committee members  to follow suit and back Adams, since none of them have endorsed for mayor yet  32BJ SEIU, one of the citys biggest unions also endorsed Adams for mayor  and so did the District Council 37 executive board, while also backing Corey Johnson for comptroller, Tahanie Aboushi for Manhattan district attorney and more  but its not an official union endorsement until its members vote next week  the Freelancers Union co-endorsed Maya Wiley and Andrew Yang for mayor  New York Progressive Action Network co-endorsed Dianne Morales and Wiley for mayor  New York Communities for Change backed Scott Stringer for mayor  Assembly Member Daniel Rosenthal endorsed Yang for mayor (no word yet from Daniebby)  state Sen. Jabari Brisport endorsed Morales first for mayor and Stringer second  Assembly Member Harvey Epstein endorsed Morales for mayor too  while Lambda Independent Democrats of Brooklyn and Sheet Metal Workers Local 28 backed Stringer for mayor  Reform the Sex Crimes Unit gave the green light to Tali Farhadian Weinstein, Alvin Bragg and Diana Florence for Manhattan DA  U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren endorsed Brad Lander for comptroller  comptroller candidate Brian Benjamin and Bronx borough president candidate Nathalia Fernandez endorsed each other  and comptroller candidate Corey Johnson endorsed Bronx borough president candidate Vanessa Gibson, returning the favor from earlier in the week  Johnson also endorsed Eric Dinowitz in the District 11 special election in the Bronx  StreetsPAC endorsed Jessica Haller in District 11 and John Sanchez in District 15 for the two special elections in the Bronx  the Latino Victory Fund is endorsing Mino Lora in District 11 and Elisa Crespo in District 15  the Hotel Trades Council is backing Ischia Bravo in District 15  the New York City District Council of Carpenters endorsed a council slate, including Dinowitz in District 11 and Bravo in District 15.

Poll Sight

It wont surprise anyone to learn that the citys executive class likes former Citigroup Vice Chair Ray McGuire best out of the Democratic mayoral contenders. Thats according to an unscientific poll of 509 Crains New York Business readers released Monday. The bigger question is whether the outlets affluent readership will devote enough money to McGuire to help him rise in polls of the broader public, or whether theyll invest in other candidates like Andrew Yang  a notable second-place finisher in the poll who has already made inroads with business leaders and said he wouldnt raise taxes.

031621-Polls-01.png Alt Text: Crain's poll Image Credit: Alex Law/City & State

Staffing Up

David Weprins comptroller campaign hired Zach Bernstein as campaign manager, Cindy Lin  a Brooklyn native fresh off Jon Ossoffs U.S. Senate successful campaign in Georgia  as field director and Yasmeen Telsem as communications director  and Chris Sosa, running for City Council District 5 in Manhattan, has hired Emily Howard as campaign manager and Kat Quinde as field director.

Got tips? Email JColtin@CityandStateNY.com or DM me @JCColtin

District Data

022321-districtmap-18.png Alt Text: City council district 18 Title Text: City council district 18 Caption: City council district 18 Description: City council district 18 Image Credit: Alex Law/City & State

City Council District 18 in the east Bronx, covering neighborhoods including Soundview, Castle Hill and Parkchester

Current council member: Ruben Diaz Sr., since 2018, who announced he will not be running for reelection

2010 census demographics: 58.3% Hispanic, 29.5% Black, 6.2% Asian, 3% white

Housing: 79% renter-occupied, 21% owner-occupied

2013 primary election results: Annabel Palma: 70.7%, William Russell Moore: 29.3%

2017 primary election results: Diaz: 42.1%, Amanda Farias: 20.9%, Elvin Garcia: 14.6%, Michael Beltzer: 13.4%, William Russell Moore: 8.8%

Whos running: Michael Beltzer, Amanda Farias, Darlene Jackson, Eliu Lara, Mohammed Mujumder, Mirza Rashid and William Rivera. Amanda Farias is the candidate to beat, with endorsements from all of the citys largest labor unions, and near-unanimous support from progressive organizations who were all too happy to see Diaz decline to run. William Rivera is connected in the area, as the district manager of Bronx Community Board 9, and has outraised Farias by a few thousand dollars, and Mohammed Mujumder, a lawyer, has also done well with fundraising and has some support within the Bangladeshi community. Michael Beltzer, who ran in 2017, is back, and has made a name for himself as a critic of the Bronx Democratic Party. And William Russell Moore, who ran in the previous two cycles, is out petitioning and expected to run again.

Twitter Posting

seven campaigns walk into a farmers market to petition,,, thats it. thats the joke.

 Chloe Armstrong @ChloePArmstrong
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Southern Baptist church where mass shooting suspect Robert Aaron Long was baptized grieves for dead

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The Southern Baptist church where 21-year-old mass shooting suspect Robert Aaron Long got baptized twice is now grieving for his victims and the families impacted by his deadly shooting rampage at three massage parlors in the Atlanta area that left eight people dead Tuesday, including six Asian women.

Jerry Dockery, the lead teaching elder at the Crabapple First Baptist Church in Milton, Georgia, where Long worshiped with his family, prayed on Sunday that God would use his church to have leaders in various areas of the public and private sector drawn toward you.

We pray that Lord, our leaders, our first responders, our teachers, our business leaders to have their eyes and hearts drawn toward you. Youd make Yourself known in this community in a very powerful, personal way. We ask that you use Crabapple Church to bring this to pass, he said.

Asked by The Christian Post on Wednesday to share his thoughts on Longs faith and any possible explanation for what could have driven Long to carry out a mass shooting, Dockery said: We are grieved to hear the tragic news about the multiple deaths in the Atlanta area. We are heartbroken for all involved. We grieve for the victims and their families and will continue to pray for them. Moreover, we are distraught for the Long family and pray for them as well.

Capt. Jay Baker of the Cherokee County Sheriffs Office told The New York Times that four people died in the first shooting at Youngs Asian Massage near Acworth, a northwest suburb of Atlanta, which was reported around 5 p.m. A Hispanic man was also injured.

Atlanta police said officers responded to a robbery at Gold Spa in the northeast part of the city at 5:47 p.m., where they found the bodies of three women with gunshot wounds. While officers were at that scene, they received a call about shots fired at the Aromatherapy Spa across the street where they found another woman's body, The New York Times said.

The Crisp County Sherriffs Office later released images of Long at the scene of the crime and he was quickly arrested.

As news of his arrest spread overnight and his connection to Crabapple First Baptist Church was established, all of the churchs social media pages were suspended or made private.

A student who graduated from Sequoyah High with Long in 2017 told The Daily Beast that Long didnt appear to be a violent person.

He was very innocent seeming and wouldnt even cuss. He was sorta nerdy and didnt seem violent from what I remember. He was a hunter and his father was a youth minister or pastor. He was big into religion, the former schoolmate who spoke on condition of anonymity said.

Posts reviewed by Heavy.com on the churchs Facebook page before it was shuttered indicate that Long attended services there with his mother, father and younger sister. His mother reportedly organized events at the church like movie nights. Other posts showed testimony from Long at his baptism in 2018 and he indicated that it was his second time in the water.

As many of you may remember, when I was 8 years old I thought I was becoming a Christian, and got baptized during that time. And I remember a lot of the reason for that is a lot of my friends in my Sunday school class were doing that. And after that time, there wasnt any fruit from the root that is our salvation, he said.

He likened his spiritual journey to that of the prodigal son story in the Bible and said it helped him to become saved.

The son goes off and squanders all that he has and lives completely for himself and then, when he finds hes wanting to eat pig food, he realized theres something wrong and he goes back to his father and his father runs back to him and embraces him. And by the grace of God I was able to draw the connection there and realize this is a story between what happened with me and God. I ran away living completely for myself, and he still wants me, and so thats when I was saved, he said.

Minutes from a meeting of the elders at the church showed that as recently as 2018, Long was one of 11 people who served as members of the Student Ministry Team, which exists to see students receive Jesus Christ as Lord, and walk in Him, being rooted in the faith.

A motive for the killings has not yet been established, but some have connected the shootings to what they see as an uptick in anti-Asian attacks in the wake of the novel coronavirus pandemic.

Chris Chan, an advisory chair for the Asian American Action Fund Georgia Chapter, told The Washington Post that violence toward Asian American businesses "is frightening and alarming.

Were horrified by the news coming out of GA at a time when were already seeing a spike in anti-Asian violence. Although details are still unfolding, at least half of the victims appear to be Asian American women. Our hearts go out to the victims & their families. #StopAsianHate the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus noted in a tweet Tuesday.

Popular Bible teacher Beth Moore also weighed in.

This violence against our Asian American neighbors is from the mouth of hell. Hate acts. It does not stay confined to the heart & mind. It incites the tongue. Untreated, it travels to hands & feet. Hate is murderous. (1Jn 3:15) Stand against it. Speak against it. Pray against it, she wrote on Twitter.

Georgia Sen. Raphael Warnock, who still leads the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, said he is heartbroken over the killings.

My heart is broken tonight after the tragic violence in Atlanta that took eight lives. Once again we see that hate is deadly. Praying for the families of the victims and for peace for the community, he tweeted.

Georgias Gov. Brian Kemp also offered prayers for the victims.

Our entire family is praying for the victims of these horrific acts of violence. We deeply appreciate the quick apprehension of a suspect by @ga_dps in coordination with local and federal law enforcement, he tweeted Tuesday night.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has said that India doesn't need a "stamp" from international institutions which recently downgraded India as a democracy.

Speaking during an online interaction with Professor Ashutosh Varshney of Brown University in the US, Gandhi stated that although directionally, what they said is "correct", and that they may have their view, but "frankly, we don't need a stamp from them."

Sweden's V-Dem Institute's democracy report had recently downgraded India from "world's largest democracy" to an "electoral autocracy". The US government-funded NGO, Freedom House, also downgraded the country's status from "free" to "partly free".

Also Read: 'Saddam Hussein, Gaddafi too won elections': Rahul Gandhi takes a dig at Centre

Gandhi, however, added that the situation is "much worse" in India and that the institutions are under assault with control of communication and financial dominance in favour of the ruling party.

"I would say they are much behind the curve. I think the situation is actually much worse than they imagined," Gandhi noted. Meanwhile, the government has strongly rebutted the Freedom House report and called it "misleading, incorrect and misplaced," while asserting that the country has well-established democratic practices.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar also slammed global bodies for their "hypocrisy" and called them "self-appointed custodians of the world, who find it very difficult to stomach that somebody in India is not looking for their approval."

Gandhi further stated that he was protecting a certain ideology in the Congress party and would not step aside just because someone else does not like it and continue to fight the RSS. He also said he favoured internal democracy in Congress and has promoted many leaders within the party.

He said that electoral democracy can be "destroyed" in the 21st century if one can control the social media and institutions and has financial dominance while citing the examples of Saddam Hussain and Muammar Gaddafi.

During his interaction with Varshney and the students and faculty members of Brown University, Gandhi said one cannot separate electoral democracy from institutional frameworks.

"An election is not simply about people going and pressing a button on a voting machine. An election is about narrative, about institutions that make sure that the framework in the country is operating properly, an election is about a judiciary that is being fair, an election is about a debate that is taking place in Parliament. So you need those things for the vote to count," he said, noting that even Saddam Hussain and Gaddafi used to have elections and win those, but there was no institutional framework to protect that vote.

Also Read: India 'no longer' democratic country: Rahul Gandhi

Asked whether he would step aside and allow others to become leaders in the party, the former Congress chief said he is fighting an ideological war and would continue to do so.

"I believe in certain ideas and I defend those ideas. I do not really care what my name is or who my grandfather was. There are certain ideas that I defend, and I am going to defend them, whether anybody likes it or not," he said.

Gandhi said nobody from his family has been prime minister since 1989, "but there is an obsession that somehow we are in power."

On a question on should others become leaders in the Congress, Gandhi said, "Absolutely, 100 per cent. I am more than happy to push as many leaders as possible and make as many of them successful and that is my record...that is all I do all day long. I push people and push them forward."

He said he has been pushing for elections in the party since day one and has been mauled in the press because he wants elections.

To another question from Varshney, Gandhi said with modern technology coming in, if one controls WhatsApp and Facebook, one does not need to attack the vote as one can control the narrative.

"You can destroy an electoral democracy in the 21st century if you have got Facebook, WhatsApp, if you have financial dominance and if you control the institutions, why wouldn't you let people just go and vote...just keep that pretence," he said.

Also Read: Centre 'penalising' educated youth for having 'real degrees': Rahul Gandhi

Gandhi alleged that the RSS has captured India's institutions and it has been doing so openly since 2014 when the BJP came to power at the Centre.

"It is very obvious to me that the institutions allowed a negotiation between our identities, cultures, languages. What I see is a determined attack on those institutions and a capture of those institutions," he noted.

Asked if the situation is comparable to the US, Gandhi said there are elements of that taking place in the US.

"I am nobody to comment on the US.... But my sense is that the American institutions are showing much more resilience than the Indian ones. I get the sense that the American system is countering this onslaught better than our system," he said.
After rumours that Samsung might discontinue its premium Galaxy Note phone, the company back in December last year denied it and confirmed the Note20 series successor for 2021. However, this might change as DJ Koh, co-CEO of Samsungs IT and mobile communications division at the companys annual shareholders meeting said that the company might not launch a new Galaxy Note smartphone this year.

He said that the company intends to continue providing the S Pen user experience and added

Galaxy Note is an important product category to us that has been continuously loved by consumers for the past 10 years in the global market. The S Pen user experience is an area that Samsungs mobile business has worked harder on than anybody else.

During the earnings call back in January the company confirmed the expansion of the foldable category with the new Galaxy Z Fold and Galaxy Z Flip devices, and earlier rumours revealed that the company will unveil Galaxy Z Fold Lite in mid 2021 and Galaxy Z Flip 2 and the Galaxy Z Fold 3 in late 2021.

The company offered S Pen support in Galaxy S21 Ultra but the accessory as sold separately and the phone didnt have a slot to hold the S Pen compared to the Note series. Earlier rumours revealed that the Galaxy Z Fold 3 might come with S Pen support.

Samsung also confirmed that there is severe shortage of semiconductor supply due to huge demand. Even though there are no issues right now, this might affect the upcoming products released in the second half of 2021.

Source 1, 2
Shreyas Shipping & Logistics rose 1.26% to Rs 84.40 after the company signed a memorandum of agreement (MoA) for sale of one of its container vessel, SSL Balaji.

The scrip extended gains for third consecutive day. The stock has added 7.38% in three sessions, from its recent closing low of Rs 78.60 recorded on 12 March 2021.

On a year-to-date (YTD) basis, the stock has gained 32.81% while the benchmark Sensex has advanced 5.27% during the same period.

Shreyas Shipping and Logistics is a pioneer and market leader in domestic coastal container shipping covering all main ports and container terminals on the Indian coast. SSL, which has a fleet of 13 vessels with a capacity of over 23,000 TEUs, also offers services to the Middle East and Bangladesh.

The company's consolidated jumped 47.45% to Rs 12.74 crore on a 6.03% rise in net sales to Rs 143.86 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.)
parties on Wednesday warned that of various railway infrastructure and services would only benefit corporates and result in depletion of the PSU behemoth's financial resources which would eventually make it sick like Air India and Indian Airlines.

They were also of the view that roping in private players would not help in improving quality of services for the common man and rather would result in fare hike.

Participating in the discussion on working of Indian Railways in Rajya Sabha, Congress leader Naranbhai J Rathwa claimed, "It (privatisation) was all out to benefit corporate houses at the expense of selling the Railway's property."



He said there is no emphasis on developing railway infrastructure and the focus is on "privatisation".

After Tejas Express, Niti Aayog has suggested running private trains and developing railway stations which was not fair, he said.

Rathwa, a former Minister of State for Railways, said it pained him that instead of augmenting this excellent mode of transportation, the government was hell bent to privatising it with so many jobs at stake.

"...As many as 3,000 posts are at stake at the South Eastern Zone while 11,000 posts are set to be abolished in 16 zones while talks are to give Jabalpur station on contract," he said.

DMK leader P Wilson said, "Although, the railway minister claims that railways will not be privatised, when activities of railways are privatised, the income of railways will deplete, resulting in financial crisis for Indian Railways which eventually will become like Air India and Indian Airlines."



Citing an example he said, "Catering services were privatised nearly two to three decades back yet there are complaints from passengers. So does not mean improvement in services or efficiency."He further said, "You are promoting few crony capitalists in India and entire material resources are left at the disposal including the railways. The centralisation of wealth in this nation and natural resources only with them (capitalists) is very dangerous and working against the citizens of this country."He also said of trains on some routes would result in undue burden on the common man in the form of increased ticket fares.

Vishambhar Prasad Nishad (SP) also opposed privatisation of railways saying one the one hand, youths are jobless and on the other, few capitalists would own railways.

Ram Nath Thakur (JDU) was of the view that the mandated facilities are not being provided to passengers having reserved tickets.

Manoj Jha said the government should resist the temptation to offer assets (public or railways) to capitalists through the monetization of these assets.

He said history will "judge you (the government) by the benefits provided by you to commoners and by benefits provided to corporates".

Jha also asked as to when would railways operations return to pre-COVID stage and all other services are restored.

Anil Desai (Shiv Sena) said by allowing private players to participate in the functioning of the Railways under the PPP mode, the government is moving towards privatisation of the public transporter.

He said that private players would use the infrastructure for their own benefit.

Desai also noted that there was no need for the bullet train from Mumbai-Ahmedabad and instead the government should focus on improving the existing railways infrastructure.

Rajmani Patel (Congress) said the government is purposely not making any effort to improve the financial health of the Railways and a case is being built for its privatisation.

Sanjay Singh (AAP) said the government is moving towards privatising railways and that it would lead to issues for the general public.

He appealed to the government not to leave the Railway employees at the mercy of the private sector.

Jharna Das Baidya (CPI-M) said the Northeast has not been given any new project in the Budget.

Countering the opposition's charges, Dushyant Gautam (BJP) said Railways has worked for the benefit of the common people.

He noted that even during the coronavirus pandemic, Railways constantly worked for transporting people as well as essential commodities.

He said Railways has introduced various schemes even for the benefit of the women, blind and differently-abled people.

Sujeet Kumar (BJD) demanded that that freight traffic should be rationalised and optimised and connectivity to the Northeast and Jammu & Kashmir regions be improved.

Kumar also demanded rail connectivity to Odisha districts and praised the humanitarian work done by Railways during Covid-19 pandemic while bringing back migrant workers.

Ram Vichar Netam (BJP) said the Railways played an unprecedented and praiseworthy role in bringing migrant labours and suffered a huge loss of Rs 37,000 crore during COVID-19 pandemic.

As many as 4,100 Sharmik Special trains were run on mission mode, he said.

K R Kumar (TDP), Neeraj Shekhar (BJP), Banda Prakash (TRS) and Subhash Chandra Bose Pilli also participated in the discussion.

(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: At least 133 Pakistani nationals, who were stranded in parts of India due to the COVID-19 induced lockdown, returned home via Wagah International Border on Wednesday. Besides, nine Indians too left for Pakistan this morning.

In all, 142 people, who were stranded in India due to the coronavirus-induced lockdown, today left for Pakistan, reports said.

Few others, whose names were not included in the list approved by the Centre government for traveling back to Pakistan, expressed their displeasure and urged the government to facilitate their early return to their country.

Several Pakistani women and children, who were among those who were allowed to go back home, were quite elated and thanked the Government of India for reuniting them with their family back home.

With tears in their eyes, many of them expressed their gratitude to the Narendra Modi government for facilitating their return after a gap of nearly one year.

In September last year, several Pakistani nationals, who were stranded in India due to the COVID-19 lockdown, were sent to their home through the Attari-Wagah border by the Centre.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had on March 24 announced a 21-day lockdown for the entire country, stating that it was the only way to break the chain of infection. The lockdown will be in effect till April 14.

In a nationwide television broadcast, PM Modi said the COVID-19 pandemic was a huge challenge to every country and even countries like the US and Italy, considered to have good health infrastructure, were struggling to control the situation.

Live TV
WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI  The Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority, TheRide, will begin transporting residents to the COVID vaccination site at Eastern Michigan Universitys Convocation Center.

The service is set to begin in partnership with the Washtenaw County Health Department on Wednesday, March 17, officials announced.

Anyone with a scheduled appointment at the Washtenaw County Health Departments vaccine site may use the services, TheRide said.

Transportation is being provided at no cost to the rider, as the service and fares will be paid for using the federal Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) funding, according to officials.

Shuttles and demand response services are available for individuals who have made an appointment to get a COVID vaccine at the EMU Convocation Center.

Services will operate Wednesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m, according to the transportation authority.

In Ann Arbor, shuttles will start at the Blake Transit Center on 4th Avenue and use the Route 32 boarding location, while in Ypsilanti, shuttles will begin at the Ypsilanti Transit Center on Pearl Street and use the Route 5 boarding location, officials said.

The shuttles operate every 30 minutes and are limited to 20 individuals per vehicle, officials said. TheRide says it will drop off and pick up individuals using the Convocation Center entry and exit doors.

A-Ride trips to the EMU Convocation center are provided at no cost for customers with an A-Ride identification card, TheRide said. When making a reservation, people should mention they are traveling to the EMU Convocation Center for a vaccine, officials said, adding that Will-Call return trips arranged when making a reservation will be honored.

This is an important step in making our mass vaccination site at EMU more accessible, Washtenaw County Health Officer Jimena Loveluck said. Were thankful to the TheRide for working with us to provide transportation at no cost to riders. As supplies and options for getting vaccinated locally increase, we encourage everyone to get vaccinated as soon as they have the opportunity to do so.

Washtenaw County Health Department currently operates a mass vaccination site at EMU with staffing support from St. Joseph Mercy Ann Arbor, the National Guard, hundreds of volunteers and the partnership of Eastern Michigan University.

TheRide is grateful to be able to support our community by providing this service, said Bryan D. Smith, deputy CEO of operations at TheRide.

Thanks to CARES Act Funding, were able to provide access in our community and help eligible residents in our area, who otherwise would not have the ability to get to the Washtenaw County Health Departments vaccine clinic.

All passengers are required to wear a mask when waiting for and riding public transportation.

READ MORE FROM THE ANN ARBOR NEWS:

Service restorations coming to Ann Arbors TheRide in August

Ann Arbor to spend $65K to rate street pavement conditions

Mayor declares March 15 Ruth Bader Ginsburg Day in Ann Arbor

Ford partners with University of Michigan in $75M robotics facility
School managements are forcing parents to pay full-years fees and are not abiding by the GO 46.  Representational image/DC

Hyderabad: The rise in Covid cases in some districts of Telangana is of serious concern to parents over safety of students attending classes in schools.

The Telangana Parents Association for Child's Rights & Safety (TPACRS) would approach the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) over violation of Covid norms by several school managements. The association complains of lack of social distancing, lack of temperature checks among teaching and non-teaching staff.

The association suspects that these are reasons why several students are testing positive to Covid-19 in recent weeks.

"With just one month left for summer vacations, what is the need to reopen the schools for primary level? School managements are forcing parents to pay full-years fees and are not abiding by the GO 46. They are playing with the lives of children," Mohd Asif Hussain Sohail, president of TPACRS, said.

This comes after over a dozen students and teachers at schools in Adilabad and Mancherial districts tested positive in the last two weeks. The government insists that precautionary measures and strict implementation of Covid guidelines are in place at schools.

In Mancherial's government girls high school, 15 more students and 14 staff tested positive on Monday. However, no response came from the education department.
New Delhi: UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Wednesday said that the shared vision with India for a sustainable future will be among the agenda for talks with 'friend' Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the former's scheduled visit to India at the end of April.

Johnson, speaking at the virtual International Conference on Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (ICDRI) hailed the PM Modi's "fantastic leadership" in areas such as renewable energy in the global fight against climate change.

"I applaud my friend Prime Minister Modi for his commitment to this excellent initiative... The UK is proud to be its co-chair and I am delighted that since its launch, the coalition has made such a great start with 28 countries and organisations now signed up," he said.

PM Modi inaugurated the event which is being hosted by India from Wednesday to Friday. It brings together stakeholders from partner countries and organisations to promote the resilience of new and existing infrastructure systems against climate and disaster risks in support of sustainable development.

Further, Johnson said that the goal of such coalitions was to learn more from each other and support those particularly at risk from the dramatic effects of climate change,

"We have a shared vision for a sustainable future for our nations and global community and I very much look forward to discussing this and many other issues with Prime Minister Modi on my upcoming visit to India," he said, in his video message from Downing Street in London.

Johnson highlighted how the UK undertook the journey to make its infrastructure more disaster-resilient over 10 years ago and is investing 5.2 billion pounds in bolstering flood defences.

The event is being led by India and co-chaired by the UK.
Shenandoah, IA (51601)

Today

Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 54F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 54F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph.
Hurricane season 2021 is here: How do storms get their names?
One evening in early March of last year, Alexis C. Madrigal and Robinson Meyer, colleagues at The Atlantic, set out to answer a simple question: how many people had been tested for the coronavirus in the US so far? The answer, it turned out, was actually quite complicated: in the absence of data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it was hard to tell whether low reported case rates to that point reflected low incidence or low testing. Madrigal and Meyer sent a form email to health officials in every state; they soon found out that the answer was the latter, and that the federal government did not have a handle on the numbers. As Emily Sohn reported for CJR, Jeff Hammerbachera data scientist who had been working to track the same information, and who knew Madrigal from collegesaw their work and reached out. They teamed up, and soon, the COVID Tracking Project was born. It was meant, initially, as a short-term gap-filler. Every day, Erin Kissane, its managing editor, told Sohn in late March, we hope the CDC will put us out of business.

But the days went by, and the CDC did not, leaving the Tracking Projects collective of journalists and tech folk to serve, in their own words, as a de facto source of pandemic data for the United States. The Atlantic agreed to host the project; its team grew to include hundreds of volunteers, and the projects founders solicited philanthropic donations to pay some of them. It just got really complex, Madrigal told CNNs Brian Stelter recently. At first, we just thought you could pull numbers off dashboards and that was gonna be the main process. As it turned out, we actually needed to do deep research. We made hundreds and hundreds of contacts with state officials We added race and ethnicity data, we added outcomes like hospitalizations and deaths, we added tracking of long-term care facilities. So all of those things came together to just require tons of labor; I mean, tens of thousands of hours of peoples time. State and federal officials cribbed the projects data. Other journalists became reliant on it.

ICYMI: Adbusters and the roots of the contemporary left

Now, finally, the project is winding down. It stopped collecting data ten days ago; it plans to spend the next couple of months on analysis work and archiving before shuttering completely. The analysis will mainly focus on data streamsaround race and ethnicity, for instancethat are still insufficient, but the projects founders are confident that federal officials are finally adequately replicating much of its core data, and, crucially, that the new Biden administration can be trusted not to turn off the lights at a moments notice. Writing last week, however, Madrigal and Kissane warned that the landscape of coronavirus data is persistently messy. The pandemic response has been nominally or actually based on the idea that we know what is happening across the country to a precise degree, they wrote. And although this ideathat we have solid data about the movements of the pandemic and the effects of the responseis much closer to truth now than it was a year ago, its very far from universally accurate.

This week, Madrigal and Meyer expanded on that theme in an essay for The Atlantic, pinpointing key truths about pandemic data and officials handling of it. The initial pandemic response plan assumed the presence of good data, and failed to account for kinks at every part of the data-production pipeline, from the local, to the state, to the federal. We now have much better national-level data on cases, tests, hospitalizations, and deathsbut this still offers a rather messy compilation of snapshots and time lags, not a real-time window into the current state of the pandemic, as officials sometimes imply. (Deaths often substantially lag cases, and commonly go unreported for weeks.) At least five states still have disturbingly incomplete testing data; nationally, tens of millions of rapid antigen tests appear to be unaccounted for. Data might seem like an overly technical obsession, Madrigal and Meyer write. But data are how our leaders apprehend reality.

The press, too. Over the course of the pandemic, responsible news organizations have pledged to follow the science and extolled the virtues of data-driven analysis, but as Madrigal and Meyer note, looking at data is less like peering into a crystal ball than watching city sewers empty into a wastewater-treatment plantits more useful than not looking, but you shouldnt delude yourself about whats in the water. And yet, as I wrote in the early days of the pandemic, reporters moved quickly to paint unduly certain pictures with extremely incomplete information; reported cases and deaths, for example, were routinely relayed as totals, not as clear undercounts, which, of course, they were.

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Over time, data flows improved; testing, in particular, expanded, even prior to the election of a president who doesnt view it as a conspiracy to make him look bad. But testing remains highly imperfect. Per the Tracking Project, reported daily tests hit a high-water mark close to 2.3 million in Decembera figure, some experts then calculated, that was adequate to identify most symptomatic COVID cases and close contacts, but still fell well short of the daily rate that would be needed to properly control viral spread by identifying asymptomatic people. From a public-health standpoint, these metrics are subject to healthy scientific debate; from a journalistic standpoint, every additional test is an extra confirmed truth about the world, and yet media-industry leaders have never pushed with any real consistency or urgency to frame expanded testing, as I suggested last year, as a freedom of information issue. (Were better at demanding to see information the government is hiding than information the government is failing to collect.) In the absence of a further massive ramp-up, the percentage of tests coming back positive often offers more useful insights than flat numbers, yet many outlets havent pivoted to this metric with any consistency either. And in recent weeks, testing rates have generally declined. This could be a function of fewer people needing one (though, again, it depends how you define need), but it could also reflect public exhaustion with mitigation measures, bad weather, states shift to vaccine infrastructure, and other contingencies.

As I wrote recently, journalists covering the pandemic still have to grapple, over a year in, with massive uncertainty. We still havent figured out how best to communicate thisnot only around new challenges like vaccines and variants, that currently attract the bulk of our attention, but around the very basic building blocks that we use to define and measure surges and lulls, sickness and death. The visibility of these underpinning realities is still murky. Some outstanding journalistsnot least at the Tracking Projecthave focused on finding outlines of clarity, and for that we owe an enormous debt of gratitude. Many of us have instead acclimated to the murk, preferring to see whats in front of us, even though it isnt the full picture.

Below, more on the pandemic:

Two guiding lights: CNNs Kerry Flynn profiled The Atlantic and Stat, two publications, she writes, that have excelled at guiding readers through an unprecedented and scary pandemic while other newsrooms have struggled. Rather than race to break news or go for quantity of stories, they each focused on explanatory pieces about the realities of the pandemic, Flynn writes. The leaders of both newsrooms used the same word, multiple times, to describe the source of their success: ambition.

CNNs Kerry Flynn profiled The Atlantic and Stat, two publications, she writes, that have excelled at guiding readers through an unprecedented and scary pandemic while other newsrooms have struggled. Rather than race to break news or go for quantity of stories, they each focused on explanatory pieces about the realities of the pandemic, Flynn writes. The leaders of both newsrooms used the same word, multiple times, to describe the source of their success: ambition. A messaging disaster: In recent days, European countries including France, Germany, and Italy have suspended use of AstraZenecas coronavirus vaccine following reports of blood clots in recipientseven though the number of patients affected is small, there is no evidence of any causal link, and the EU and the World Health Organization have strongly said that rollouts should continue. As the New York Times reports, it appears increasingly clear that the suspensions have as much to do with political considerations as scientific ones, posing a messaging challenge for health officials and for the press. (This is not the first time the AstraZeneca vaccine has become embroiled in a media and political storm, as I reported recently. The US has yet to approve the vaccine.)

In recent days, European countries including France, Germany, and Italy have suspended use of AstraZenecas coronavirus vaccine following reports of blood clots in recipientseven though the number of patients affected is small, there is no evidence of any causal link, and the EU and the World Health Organization have strongly said that rollouts should continue. As the New York Times reports, it appears increasingly clear that the suspensions have as much to do with political considerations as scientific ones, posing a messaging challenge for health officials and for the press. (This is not the first time the AstraZeneca vaccine has become embroiled in a media and political storm, as I reported recently. The US has yet to approve the vaccine.) Withdrawn: After a German publisher released A Corona Rainbow for Anna and Moritz, a childrens book that seeks to explain the pandemic, Chinese diplomats in Germany filed a formal legal complaint, pointing to a line in the book in which a character describes the coronavirus as having come from China. In response, the publisher halted deliveries of the book and committed to printing a new version with the China line taken out. A spokesperson said that the meaning of the original wording has proven to be far more open to interpretation than we had intended. Deutsche Welle has more.



Other notable stories:

ICYMI: NPRs tale of two crises at the Capital Gazette

Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today

Jon Allsop is a freelance journalist. He writes CJRs newsletter The Media Today. Find him on Twitter @Jon_Allsop.
The TeaScape Massage and Teahouse in Southeast Portland had been open just two months last year when Oregon ordered it and other massage therapists to close in the early days of the coronavirus outbreak.

Those restrictions eased a couple months later, but only about a third of TeaScape Massages clientele has returned. That left the business with far more in expenses than revenue. Owner Miho Hatanaka told Oregon lawmakers Tuesday that her business is now $25,000 behind on rent.

Oregon lawmakers allowed the states moratorium on commercial evictions to expire last September but gave business owners until the end of March to repay their outstanding rent, potentially preventing an onslaught of commercial evictions over the last six months.

With that March 31 deadline now looming, business owners say they need more time.

Business owners and Portland city leaders urged Oregon lawmakers Tuesday to support a proposal that would give commercial tenants until the end of September to repay rent bills they accumulated during the worst days of the coronavirus recession last year.

Rep. Rob Nosse, D-Portland, is floating the proposal as an amendment to a bill that would prohibit evictions of commercial tenants whose outstanding rent does not exceed their security deposits.

This will be a big help for us and many business owners who are trying to get back on their feet, Hatanaka told lawmakers during Tuesdays public hearing.

The looming deadline for business owners to repay outstanding rent comes just as the state is getting its $100 million commercial rent relief program off the ground. Advocates say the state shouldnt put business owners in a position to be evicted just as they are about to get money to repay their late rent.

Business Oregon, which is administering the commercial rent relief program, received 1,889 applications requesting nearly $49 million in funding from landlords on behalf of commercial tenants in the first week since applications opened. Applications for the first round of funding close March 22.

The agency plans to distribute $50 million during the first round of funding, with landlords receiving grants of up to $100,000 per business tenant for a maximum of $3 million going to each landlord. The application process for a second round of funding will open in late April.

But even landlords approved for the first round of funding wont start receiving grants until April  after tenants are supposed to have repaid their outstanding payments under the states current guidelines.

Its unclear how many business owners across the state are behind on rent and could face eviction if the repayment period isnt extended.

Rep. John Lively, D-Springfield, chairs the House Committee On Economic Recovery and Prosperity. During Tuesdays hearing, he said lawmakers will look at the number of applications submitted to the commercial rent relief program to determine whether more support is needed.

But some business owners say their landlords arent applying for the grants.

While both landlords and tenants must participate in the application process, landlords are required to submit the initial application and the grants will be paid directly to them. The grants must bring tenants current on their rent and the state is requiring landlords who accept the funding to sign an agreement forgiving any outstanding penalties or interest and ensuring that their tenants wont be evicted.

Melanie Marconi, the owner of Vida, a coworking space in Northeast Portland, told lawmakers Tuesday that her landlord had not applied for the funds. She urged lawmakers to extend the repayment period to give her more time to get together the money she needs to repay her debt.

Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler and the Portland City Council also sent a letter to lawmakers Monday urging them to extend the repayment period. Along with accessing funding through the commercial rent relief program, they said additional resources could be coming to business owners through the federal governments latest relief package and that those businesses should be given time to access that help.

Businesses across Oregon are still struggling to survive and adapt during this protracted public health emergency, and businesses owned by BIPOC Oregonians are particularly vulnerable to this severe disruption in the economy, they wrote. We cannot allow their last line of protection to expire before they can take advantage of these critical funding lifelines.

-- Jamie Goldberg | jgoldberg@oregonian.com | @jamiebgoldberg
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-17 12:39:22|Editor: huaxia

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DAMASCUS, March 17 (Xinhua) -- The Syrian Foreign Ministry has stressed its rejection of foreign interference in China's affairs, saying no country or party has the right to interfere in the internal affairs of independent and sovereign states, according to the state news agency SANA.

In a statement on Tuesday, the ministry said that all kinds of interference in China's affairs are considered as a flagrant violation of international law and the principle that a country has sovereignty over its territory.

It also voiced support for the one-China principle, which Damascus called on all states to respect.

Meanwhile, the ministry said the Syrian government supports the decision made by China's top legislature on improving the electoral system of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

The decision, following the enactment of the national security law last June, is another major step to improve the city's legal and political systems, it added. Enditem
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The global electric vehicles market is anticipated to reach USD 912 billion by 2026 according to a new study published by Polaris Market Research. Electric vehicles are one of the fastest growing mode of transport which have adopted smart technologies. It constitutes of electric buses, cars, trucks, and electric bikes. The market is maturing at a fast rate due to increasing demand, initiatives to expand electric vehicle charging stations, and diverse vehicle models. Large number of consumers have become more familiar with these technologies and the trend is spreading fast across the world economies.

Browse for full research summary: https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/electric-vehicles-ev-market

Government initiatives to accelerate the shift of their nations vehicle fleet from combustion to electric drive has led to rapid growth in the sale of the electric vehicles. Some of the actions undertaken in 2018 by the federal and state regulators in this regard include Evolve NY (an electric vehicle expansion initiative in New York), funding opportunities for advanced electric vehicle projects by the U.S. Department of Energy, and rebate programs for EV charging stations in Ohio, U.S. Oil dependence benefits, climate change, and clean air are the most crucial factors for different governments across the world to promote the electric vehicles among consumers. Apart from these factors, one another significant parameter includes economic benefits from manufacturing of the future electric car industry. The automobile manufacturing hubs such as the United States, Germany, and Japan will have much to lose if they do not support the transition to electric vehicles.

Electric vehicle sales & production has witnessed a tremendously rapid growth due to numerous advanced technological developments. The manufacturing companies have undertaken R&D concerning the design, range, and maintenance of these vehicles. In 2017 ten big companies (Tesla, BAIC, BMW, Volkswagen, Toyota, and five others) had more than 50,000 in annual sales as compared to five such companies in 2016.

Get sample copy of this report @ https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/electric-vehicles-ev-market/request-for-sample

Asia is the most popular region for the growth of electronic vehicles with China as the most significant global player. Other Asian countries such as South Korea and Japan along with China have been major battery providers. Increase demand from India for the electric vehicles has also contributed towards the growth of this regional market. However, the global industry is also subjected to some restraints such as high product price. Electric vehicles are highly priced and are not affordable by each consumer, especially in the countries with lower economic growth. Moreover, the maintenance of the electric bikes is costly and requires frequent charging and changing of batteries. Some battery related issues also include lead emissions from few batteries and the energy storage systems, are some of the factors restraining the market growth.

The global electric vehicle industry constitutes of many international and domestics players. Some of the key players include Volkswagen Group, Tesla, BMW, Mercedes, Toyota, BAIC Corporation, General Motors, Ford, and Nissan-Renault-Mitsubishi.

Avail discount on this report @ https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/electric-vehicles-ev-market/request-for-discount-pricing

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Polaris Market Research is a global market research and consulting company. We provide unmatched quality of offerings to our clients present globally. The company specializes in providing exceptional market intelligence and in-depth business research services for our clientele spread across different enterprises. We at Polaris are obliged to serve our diverse customer base present across the industries of healthcare, technology, semi-conductors and chemicals among various other industries present around the world.

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Update: Flint Community Schools provided a comment Thursday, March 18.

FLINT, MI -- When looking at how federal COVID-19 relief funds will pan out per student in Michigan school districts, Flint Community Schools hit the jackpot.

The city district will get an estimated $114.18 million as part of H.R. 1319, or The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, according to a breakdown by Congressman Dan Kildees office of expected awards to school districts and governmental entities.

With a student population of around 3,200, the amount would equate to approximately $36,000 per student.

However, due to the formula used to distribute these funds, larger, wealthier districts will get far less.

For example, Grand Blanc Community Schools, the largest district in Genesee County with 7,987 students, will receive approximately $6.8 million, or $850 per student with the recent bill, per the breakdown.

Statewide, the Flint school district is receiving the largest amount of funding per student through the recent bill, according to estimates by the Citizen Research Council of Michigan, which are based on the federal law.

The state of Michigan is receiving around $3.7 billion strictly for education in the American Rescue Plan Act, 90 percent of which must go straight to individual school districts and public charters based on Title I formulas, per the bill. The money can be spent through 2024.

Title I provides financial assistance to local educational agencies and schools with high numbers or percentages of children from low-income families, to help ensure that all children meet state academic standards, according to the U.S. Department of Education website.

Beecher Community Schools will see the second-highest amount per student in the state, according to the estimates. With 700 students, the district will be given $14.46 million, which equates to $20,657 per student.

Benton Harbor and Detroit are estimated to receive the next highest per student allocation.

The overall amount Flint schools is set to receive will surpass its typically yearly budget of approximately $75-$80 million, outside of the 2020-21 budget since the district passed a second of its kind fiscal stability bond.

Title I formulas are usually used as a compensatory mechanism to determine funding allocation, Craig Thiel of the Citizens Research Council told MLive-The Flint Journal. But, in this case, Congress is using Title I to align resources with pandemic-fueled student needs.

Thiel called the Title I formula not the right tool for the job, stating that it was not designed to address learning needs of students through a global pandemic.

The formula fails to align resources with the needs of children impacted by the pandemic -- a worldwide pandemic that has impacted all children across the state, Thiel said. Some districts will be able to address their students needs with these dollars, while the simple fact is many others may not.

Districts have considerable discretion over how to use this federal money to address the impact of the pandemic on students, Thiel said.

U.S. Rep. Dan Kildee, D-Flint Township, said it is important to remember the bill is intended not only to aid with the health impact of COVID-19, but also the economic impact, which he said was felt most by cities like Flint.

Beyond that, the fact that Flint is just coming through another health crisis, the water crisis, exacerbated the data, made it worse, Kildee said. We have a real concentration of at-risk kids in Flint unlike any school district that Ive seen anywhere. So, when you have a formula targeted at the most at-risk kids, its not surprising that that formula delivers really significant resources to that particular school district.

Any formula used to distribute funding will be subject to criticism and anomalies, Kildee said. Title I is an established formula meant to reach disadvantaged kids.

While everyone is affected by COVID, not everyone has access to the same resources to get through the pandemic, Kildee added.

But there just is no comparison between the experience that Flint has faced over the last decade or so than any other school district in Michigan, Kildee said. Theres just no comparison so I believe it is sensible and logical that disproportionate help would go to the most disadvantaged school district and the most disadvantaged kids in the state.

The newest round of funding will require districts to use at least 20 percent of the allocation to address learning recovery, which includes summer school and other programs.

Stimulus funding will be helpful as we begin the long-term process of helping scholars make up for lost learning time, Flint schools Superintendent Anita Steward said in a statement.

Heres a breakdown of what the other Genesee County districts are set to receive via The American Rescue Plan Act:

Grand Blanc Community Schools

Money awarded: $6.8 million

Student population: 7,987

Percent of economically disadvantaged: 36%

Dollars awarded per student: $852

Davison Community Schools

Money awarded: $5.62 million

Student population: 5,645

Percent of economically disadvantaged: 46%

Dollars awarded per student: $992

Flushing Community Schools:

Money awarded: $4.77 million

Student population: 4,098

Percent of economically disadvantaged: 50%

Dollars awarded per student: $1,164

Carman-Ainsworth Community Schools

Money awarded: $16.54 million

Student population: 4,024

Percent of economically disadvantaged: 79.3%

Dollars awarded per student: $4,110

Swartz Creek Community Schools:

Money awarded: $5.26 million

Student population: 3,526

Percent of economically disadvantaged: 47%

Dollars awarded per student: $1,492

Fenton Area Schools

Money awarded: $2.6 million

Student population: 3,279

Percent of economically disadvantaged: 36%

Dollars awarded per student: $793

Flint Community Schools:

Money awarded: $114.18 million

Student population: 3,164

Percent of economically disadvantaged: 92%

Dollars per student: $36,087

Clio Area Schools

Money awarded: $4.6 million

Student population: 2,731

Percent of economically disadvantaged: 53.8%

Dollars per student: $1,684

Kearsley Community Schools

Money awarded: $6.66 million

Student population: 2,894

Percent of economically disadvantaged: 89.6%

Dollars per student: $2,301

Linden Community Schools

Money awarded: $2.86 million

Student population: 2,516

Percent of economically disadvantaged: 25.8%

Dollars per student: $1,137

Lake Fenton Community Schools

Money awarded: $2.56 million

Student population: 2,013

Percent of economically disadvantaged: 26.1%

Dollars per student: $1,272

Goodrich Area Schools

Money awarded: $1.07 million

Student population: 1,918

Percent of economically disadvantaged: 24.6%

Dollars per student: $558

Mt. Morris Community Schools

Money awarded: $8.7 million

Student population: 1,607

Percent of economically disadvantaged: 85.8%

Dollars per student: $5,414

Westwood Heights Schools

Money awarded: $5.9 million

Student population: 1,597

Percent of economically disadvantaged: 91.9%

Dollars per student: $3,694

Montrose Community Schools

Money awarded: $2.66 million

Student population: 1,449

Percent of economically disadvantaged: 63.9%

Dollars per student: $1,835

Bendle Community Schools

Money awarded: $4.8 million

Student population: 1,077

Percent of economically disadvantaged: 98.0%

Dollars per student: $4,457

LakeVille Community Schools

Money awarded: $2.56 million

Student population: 1,120

Percent of economically disadvantaged: 54.1%

Dollars per student: $2,286

Bentley Community Schools

Money awarded: $2.14 million

Student population: 765

Percent of economically disadvantaged: 88.4%

Dollars per student: $2,797

Atherton Community Schools

Money awarded: $2.39 million

Student population: 731

Percent of economically disadvantaged: 94.9%

Dollars per student: $3,269

Beecher Community Schools

Money awarded: $14.46 million

Student population: 700

Percent of economically disadvantaged: 94.3%

Dollars per student: $20,657

Genesee School District

Money awarded: $1.35 million

Student population: 663

Percent of economically disadvantaged: 87.2%

Dollars per student: $2,036

Funds received by schools districts through The American Rescue Plan Act can be used to address many impacts of COVID-19 on pre-kindergarten through 12th grade education, per a Wednesday, March 17 U.S. Department of Education news release, including the following issues:

Improving ventilation, purchasing PPE and obtaining additional space to ensure social distancing in classrooms, per CDC recommendation.

Avoiding layoffs and hiring additional educators to address learning loss, providing support to students and existing staff and providing sufficient staffing to facilitate social distancing.

Implementing strategies to meet the social, emotional and mental health and academic needs of students hit hardest by the pandemic, including through evidence-based interventions and critical services like community schools.

Funding summer school, afterschool and other extended learning and enrichment programs.

Hiring additional school personnel, such as nurses and custodial staff, to keep schools safe and healthy.

Providing for social distancing and safety protocols on buses.

Funding for Wi-Fi hotspots and devices for students without connectivity for remote learning and supporting educators in the effective use of technology; and

Additional uses as allowed in the statute.

Read more on MLive:

Sneeze guards in place, Flint schools ready for Monday student return to in-person learning

Residents in Genesee County vow to fight voter suppression efforts across the country

Flint pediatrician who blew the whistle on water crisis wont recommend bone scans for kids

Flints share of COVID-19 relief bill tops $99M, Genesee County to get $78M

Flint water prosecutors say former state health bosses arent entitled to new judge
Shares of rallied 8 per cent to Rs 4,550 on the BSE in intra-day trade on Wednesday after the company said it has acquired assets of HDO Technologies in liquidation for a total consideration of Rs 58.46 crore.

The acquisition will significantly enhance the companys capacity and augment capabilities in heavy engineering and free up capacity at the companys Karamsad facility to expand glass-lined business; a very timely opportunity that fits perfectly with our long term strategy of growing all business lines, the management said.

in a press release said the company has participated in the e-auction process for the sale of assets (factory land, building, plant and machinery, office equipment, computers, furniture and fixtures, vehicles and capital work in progress) owned by HDO Technologies (in liquidation) in accordance with the process memorandum dated February 23, 2021 issued by HDO Technologies Liquidator under the provisions of Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC), 2016, vide order of Honble National Company Law Tribunal, Mumbai bench, dated June 28, 2018, and was declared as the successful bidder by the Liquidator.

This facility, spread over 11.9 acres with 7 manufacturing bays (built-up area of 23,617 square meters), is located in Vatva, Ahmedabad and is equipped to manufacture a wide range of heavy engineering equipment with a crane lifting capacity of 200 metric tonnes, deep-hole drilling (up to 1 meter) capabilities, plate rolling capabilities up to 110 milimeters, strip cladding capabilities, orbital welding capabilities, a 308.6 square meters clean room for fabrication of high alloy materials, vertical turret lathes and other machine tools.

A consideration of Rs 58.46 crore is being paid for the proposed assets and the tentative date for the completion of the transaction is April 30, 2021, the company said.
Armenian News - NEWS.am presents the daily digest of Armenia-related top news as of 17.03.21:

Karabakh emergency situations service said three bodies of servicemen found and removed from the southeastern sector of the Martuni region of Artsakh [Nagorno-Karabakh] that are now under the control of Azerbaijan.

Since November 13, 2020, a total of 1,502 bodies have been found in the territories that arent under the control of Artsakh.

Meanwhile, Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoygu told Tengrinews that Nagorno-Karabakh is a uniquely very complicated operation. Speaking about the relations between Russia and Turkey, he noted that, "We have a very difficult, very complicated, but very constructive work."

"The last work, without a doubt, is Nagorno-Karabakh; it's a uniquely very complicated operation. I would like to call it that, not in other way because it contained a huge number of arguments, elements, motives."

Turkologist Varuzhan Geghamyan posted on his Facebook page photos noting that after occupying Shushi, Azerbaijan has started destroying everything that is Armenian.

"If the incumbent and ignorant authorities of Armenia stay in power, this will also happen in Syunik and Tavush Provinces," he noted.

The ambassador of France to Armenia, Jonathan Lacote, held a press conference on Wednesday and answered the question about the Armenian POWs and detainees held in Azerbaijan.

"My approach is simple: all captives must be released," he said.

He also noted that the OSCE Minsk Group is the only internationally recognized format within the framework of which the search for ways to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is carried out through diplomacy.

He also noted that France regrets that UNESCO has not conducted study in Karabakh yet.

UNESCO has repeatedly petitioned to the Azerbaijani authorities for the right to enter the Artsakh territories now under its control; but so far, in vain.

Also, Jonathan Lacote stressed that cultural heritage will be at the focus of Armenian-French cooperation

The European Parliament has strongly condemned the use of Syrian mercenaries in conflicts in Libya and Nagorno-Karabakh, in violation of international law.

In a resolution on the Syrian conflict, the European Parliament also calls on Turkey to withdraw its troops from Northern Syria which it is illegally occupying outside of any UN mandate.

It urges that all Syrian detainees who have been transferred to Turkey be immediately repatriated to the occupied territories in Syria.

More than 30 U.S. Representatives have introduced legislation demanding Azerbaijans immediate release of Armenian POWs.

They called on Azerbaijan to immediately release over 200 Armenian prisoners of war and captured civilians, illegally kept hostages over 100 days after the November 9th ceasefire statement between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

Gazprom will temporarily supply natural gas to Armenia via Azerbaijan due to the repair of the North Caucasus-Transcaucasia natural gas pipeline.

Gazprom on Tuesday signed a short-term contract with the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan for the transportation of natural gas through the territory of Azerbaijan.

The repair works will take about three weeks.

As of Wednesday morning, 854 new cases of the coronavirus were confirmed in Armenia, and the total number of these cases has reached 180,141 in the country.

Also, five more deaths from COVID-19 were registered, making the respective total 3,282 cases.

Two more cases of coronavirus patients dying from some other illnesses were recorded in Armenia in the past one day, and the corresponding overall death toll in the country is 841 now.

The number of people who have recovered over the past one day is 211, the total respective number so far is 166,913.
Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei likely approved Tehrans effort to sway the 2020 presidential election in the United States, according to "high-confidence" US intelligence report released today.

Tehrans multi-pronged disinformation campaign sought to undercut the reelection of President Donald Trump largely via social media, according to the report compiled by the office of the national intelligence director, Avril Haines.

Iranian cyberactors also launched a fake email campaign posing as right-wing Proud Boy activists who threatened Democratic Party voters in several US states, an effort revealed last year by John Ratcliffe when he was director of national intelligence.

Iranian personnel ramped up the generation of thousands of fake social media accounts, sent phishing emails to US officials and political campaign members and sought to exploit vulnerabilities on the election websites of US states. Most notably, Iranian hackers obtained voter data but did not appear to use the information in its disinformation campaign.

While the report said Tehran did not seek to specifically promote the candidacy of President Joe Biden, it did seek to undermine public confidence in the electoral process and US institutions, and sow division and exacerbate societal tensions in the US.

Russia also featured prominently in the report, having undertaken an even larger effort. The US intelligence community assessed that President Vladimir Putin himself authorized and oversaw disinformation efforts, including those by the Kremlins intelligence services to sow disinformation about Biden.

Moscows intelligence services distributed false and misleading information about Biden in an attempt to influence US media, officials and prominent personalities  including unnamed figures close to Trump and his administration, the reports said.

The report also found that the governments of Cuba and Venezuela also sought to interfere in the elections on a smaller scale. Contrary to previous news reports, China considered interfering but did not, likely to avoid repercussions in its relations with Washington.

Hassan Nasrallah, Hezbollah's secretary-general, also supported unspecified lesser efforts to prevent Trump's reelection, likely "as a low-cost means to mitigate the risk of regional conflict," the report concluded.

The report did not assess the effectiveness of the foreign influence campaigns.

The Trump administration walked out of the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran and placed Tehran under significant economic duress while expanding military and intelligence pressure on the Islamic Republic's interests in the Middle East.
In many respects it seems as if the year of COVID has lasted a lot longer than 12 months. A year ago we couldnt find much on the shelves of the local grocery store, especially paper products. Swiss Skydiver had yet to defeat stakes company. Bob Baffert had just five Kentucky Derby (G1) wins.

While we herald the fact racing was able to continue in some jurisdictions during the early lock-down phase of the pandemic battle and that the ability to wager remotely via advance deposit wagering is part of our success story, Thoroughbred racing remains a tough business. The number of races, race days, and overall purses lost has forced most horsemen to adapt to new business practices. However, the sport has always been a survive-and-advance kind of game.

Now that multiple vaccines are being administered nationwide, things are hopefully on the verge of reopening. Spring race meets here in KentuckyKeeneland and Churchill Downswill have more than just owners only in attendance. The Belmont spring meet that begins in late April seemingly has some new life. A limited number of fans returned to Hot Springs, Ark., over the weekend to see Concert Tour win the Rebel Stakes (G2) and last years Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner Shedaresthedevil score in the Azeri Stakes.

Purses, the most important measuring stick of racings health, fell a year ago amid COVID-19 uncertainty. In addition, quarantine issues kept a large number of 2-year-olds at training centers with no tracks to transition to. The supply chain of 2-year-olds and races for them were disrupted over the summer and fall of 2020.

Well, for a sizable portion of the racing product at the higher-end venues in North America, its no better time than now to be a maiden. A handful of racing secretaries are dangling some sizable carrots.

At Oaklawn on the Rebel undercard, the racing office ran three maiden special weight races, all worth $93,000, including one for Arkansas-breds.

Keenelands tradition-richand purse-richspring stand begins April 2. On tap for the opening few programs are maiden special weight races for 3-year-olds and up for $79,000 (includes Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund money).

Churchill Downs takes the baton at the close of the Keeneland meet April 23, and the very first race in Churchills 2021 spring condition book is a maiden special weight for fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up worth $106,000 (including KTDF money). We understand that is a special Derby Week portion of the meet, but later in the month maidens will run for $91,000.

Several days ago BloodHorse reported that during the Belmont meet the top end will feature $90,000 maiden special weight races and allowance races that begin at $92,000. Last summerwith an uncertain future and cash flow squeezed by the closure of casinos in the statemaiden special weight races were worth $63,000 and allowance races going with a $65,000 purse.

Of course, these examples are at the upper tier of tracks that are presently in a very competitive marketplace for horses during the spring/early summer. In Southern California, the highly touted Triple Tap broke his maiden March 13 in a maiden race worth $61,000, and on the same day Gulfstream Park ran a maiden special weight for $55,000. Mahoning Valley Race Courses maiden special weight race on the same day was worth $27,500, and our friends at Fonner Park in Nebraska, the darling during the early stages of the shutdown, ran a maiden special weight for $7,200.

There has always been a chasm between the haves and the have-nots among racing jurisdictions. The same is true in the real world. COVID-19 has probably made that chasm wider and helped to accelerate some business sectors while others face reinventing the wheel. We have little control over that, but realize racing types know how to follow the money.

As spring arrives in 2021, there appears to be new hope, a reawakening. Things will never be normal again in the 2019 sense, but with sizable purses returning, well be able to carve out a new path.
Joe Biden has said New York Governor Andrew Cuomo should resign if the allegations against him are true.

Biden was speaking with George Stephanopoulos of ABC News on Tuesday night when he was asked about the sexual assault allegations made against Cuomo.

Multiple women have made allegations against Cuomo, all of which he has denied so far.

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Joe Biden and Andrew Cuomo, pictured together in 2015, may now be at odds due to the sexual harassment allegations the New York governor has been facing

Joe Biden told ABC News that Cuomo should resign from his post if the allegations are true

'I know you said you want the investigation to continue,' Stephanopoulos said. 'If the investigation confirms the claims of the women, should he resign?'

'Yes,' Biden responded. 'I think he'll probably end up being prosecuted, too.'

'Takes a lot of courage to come forward,' Biden added in recognition of the women who have made allegations. 'So, the presumption is they should be taken seriously. And it should be investigated. And that's what's underway now.'

The president also said 'a woman should be presumed telling the truth and should not be scapegoated and become victimized by her coming forward.'

As for whether or not Cuomo can still lead New York, Biden said 'that's a judgment for them to make,' in reference to some of the senators who have asked for Cuomo to resign, including Kirsten Gillibrand and Chuck Schumer.

Cuomo has constantly denied the numerous allegations he has faced in recent months

Over the weekend, Cuomo was seen walking around his mansion wearing a blanket

He added: 'There should be an investigation to determine whether what she says is true. That's what's going on now.'

The rest of the interview will air on Wednesday morning.

Biden's comments on Tuesday mark a change from a previous statement on Sunday, when he didn't go as far.

'I think the investigation is underway and we should see what it brings us,' Biden said at the time.

CNN reports Lindsey Boylan, Cuomo's first public accuser, met with investigators for the New York Attorney General's Office over the weekend.

Boylan alleges that Cuomo tried to kiss her after a meeting in New York City in 2018.

Former policy advisor Charlotte Bennett, 25, also spoke with investigators on Monday following her accusation of sexual harassment.

Cuomo has faced many calls to resign, including one from Chuck Schumer (right)

She claims Cuomo made her uncomfortable on several occasions, including once asking about her sex life.

Cuomo has said he 'never made advances toward Ms. Bennett, nor did I ever intend to act in any way that was inappropriate.'

'The feeling there is it's just a matter of time before the clock runs out,' a source told CNN about Cuomo's future.

Earlier this week, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio tied Gov. Cuomo's alleged cover-up of nursing home deaths, another scandal dogging Cuomo, to campaign contributions.

De Blasio told CBS' Face the Nation that Cuomo should resign.

Pictured: Karen Hinton, a Cuomo accuser

'He should resign right now because he's holding up our effort to fight COVID. He's literally in the way of us saving lives right now.'

According to the New York Times, aides of Cuomo rewrote a health department report to hide the true number of nursing home deaths.

Meanwhile, at least seven different women have made accusations against Cuomo of sexual harassment or other sexual impropriety.

'He approached me, embraced too tightly, too long and was aroused,' accuser Karen Hinton said of a 2000 incident during a WNYC interview, according to the New York Post.

'I felt extremely uncomfortable and actually shocked. Nothing had ever happened that way between the two of us.'

Cuomo has denied Hinton's accusations.

Employees have alleged that the governor's office is an toxic and unprofessional work environment. Cuomo has also been accused of groping a female staff member at his mansion.

The Associated Press reports Joon Kim, a former federal prosecutor, and employment discrimination attorney Anne Clark are in charge of the AG's investigation, complete with subpoena power.

Biden faced a sexual assault allegation by former staffer Tara Reade, who claims Biden groped and kissed her in 1993. He has denied those allegations.

Cuomo faces an impeachment investigation from the State Assembly, though he maintains that he will not resign.
New Delhi: Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) supremo Sharad Pawar has called for creating a Third Front without the Congress party to provide a viable alternative progressive forum to the voters of the country.

Addressing a press conference after the induction of Congress rebel PC Chacko into the NCP, the veteran Maharashtra politician on Tuesday said that talks are on with different parties regarding the formation of the Third Front.

"The country needs a Third Front and talks are on with different political parties over its formation. Even CPI-M leader Sitaram Yechury has stated that there is a need for a third front, which is yet to take shape," the NCP founder said.

The Third Front is likely to include regional parties and Sharad Pawar could lead its formation at the national level, a NCP source was quoted as saying.

Interestingly, Sharad Pawars NCP is part of the ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition in Maharashtra along with the Shiv Sena and the Congress.

The NCP is part of the Left alliance in Kerala, while Pawar also shares a good equation with Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee, besides sharing good rapport with the Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party.

If NCP sources are to be believed, the NCP veteran can also persuade the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), JD-S and YRSCP to join the third front, provided their regional interests do not clash with the NCP.

The Congress, which has been leading the opposition campaign against the Narendra Modi-led NDA government at the Centre over issues like farmers protest, fuel price hike, GST, demonetisation etc, is facing a leadership crisis with many leaders expressing dissatisfaction over the functioning of the team led by Rahul Gandhi.



The main opposition party has failed to cross the three-figure mark in two successive Lok Sabha elections in 2014 and 2019.

Shifting his focus to the poll-bound West Bengal, the NCP chief said that in today's political situation, any democratic party should support Mamata Banerjee, who is being targeted by the ruling BJP and its top leadership for political gains.

The NCP supremo also expressed solidarity with the West Bengal Chief Minister and said that his party stands firmly with the Trinamool Congress.

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Phillip Schofield

Phillip Schofield has sparked controversy during a segment on This Morning today for saying Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's Oprah interview "stabbed a knife through the heart of the monarchy".

Schofield and co-host Holly Willoughby by guests Beverley Turner and Gyles Brandreth, were discussing comments made by Meghan's friend Gayle King on CBS This Morning that members of the Royal Family have yet to speak to the Duchess of Sussex following the interview.

Playing devil's advocate, Schofield posed the question: "Isn't there this feeling, Gyles, that 'you've made your point, essentially shut up now and get on with your quiet American life, you've stabbed a knife through the heart of the monarchy...'  and obviously there were some things that they felt needed to be said, fair enough  but, 'stop now.'"

In the interview, Meghan said an unnamed senior member of the Royal Family had raised "concerns" with Prince Harry about the potential skin colour of the couple's children.

Harry and Meghan during their interview with Oprah Winfrey.

CBS host King also revealed that she had spoken to the couple over the weekend as the ramifications of the interview continue.

Read more: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's popularity hits all-time low following Oprah interview

King said: I think what is still upsetting to them is the Palace keeps saying they want to work it out privately, but yet, the false stories are coming out that are disparaging against Meghan still.

No one in the Royal Family has talked to Meghan yet at this particular time.

"They both want to move forward with this and they both want healing in this family. At the end of the day, that's Harry's family."

Turner strongly expressed to Schofield and Willoughby that she wasnt pleased about Meghan "leaking" this information to King, saying: "She can't resist getting this information out."

CBS This Morning host Gayle King. (Michele Crowe/CBS via Getty Images)

Schofield said: "There's been an enormous amount of sympathy over the race issue and the mental health issue... but looking at the polls, that sympathy seems to be ebbing away quite quickly."

Story continues

Brandreth agreed and accused of Meghan of not keeping family matters private.

This Morning viewers were divided over Schofield's comments, with one saying: "Stabbed a knife at the heart of the monarchy?! A bit dramatic Phil".

King also revealed Prince Harry had spoken to Prince William and Prince Charles following the interview.

Read more: Prince William says royals 'not a racist family'

But she said the chat was "unproductive" as "the Firm" continue to reel from the sensational allegations the couple made.
The Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR), under the Ministry of Education, has called for applications in prescribed format from fresh Graduates for filling Five (05) vacancies to the post of Apprentices in ICSSR under the Library and Information Science for NASSDOC through direct recruitment to be posted in New Delhi, India on a fulltime basis. The offline application process towards the same started on March 05, 2021 and closes on March 25, 2021.

CRITERIA DETAILS Name Of The Posts Apprentices posts in ICSSR Organisation Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR) Educational Qualification Degree/Diploma in Library and Information Science Experience Freshers can apply Job Responsibilities null Skills Required null Job Location New Delhi Salary Scale Monthly stipend of Rs. 15,000 Industry Ministry of Education Application Start Date March 5, 2021 Application End Date March 25, 2021

ICSSR Recruitment 2021: Age Criteria And Fee

Candidates interested in applying for ICSSR Jobs 2021 through ICSSR Recruitment 2021 must not be born before January 1, 1990 with relaxation (upper age limit) for reserved categories as applicable as specified in the ICSSR Notification 2021.

For details regarding the application fee for ICSSR Apprentice Jobs 2021 through ICSSR Recruitment 2021, refer to the official ICSSR Notification 2021 given at the end of the article.

Also Read: RIMS Ranchi Recruitment 2021 For 370 Staff Nurse Grade A Posts, Apply Online Before April 30 On RIMSRanchi.Org

ICSSR Recruitment 2021: Eligibility Criteria

Desirous candidates applying for ICSSR Apprentices 2021 through ICSSR Recruitment 2021 must possess a Degree/Diploma in Library and Information Science and have knowledge on computers, library automation, library software and data entry skills as detailed in the ICSSR Notification 2021.

ICSSR Recruitment 2021: Selection And Pay Scale

The selection of candidates to ICSSR Apprentices 2021 through ICSSR Recruitment 2021 will be done through Shortlisting and Written Test/Interview as notified in the ICSSR Notification 2021.

Candidates selected to ICSSR Apprentice Jobs 2021 through ICSSR Recruitment 2021 will be paid a monthly stipend of Rs. 15,000 as stated in the ICSSR Notification 2021.

Also Read: UPSESSB Teacher Recruitment 2021 For 15,198 TGT, PGT Vacancies, Apply Online Before April 11

ICSSR Recruitment 2021: How To Apply

Candidates applying for ICSSR Jobs 2021 through ICSSR Recruitment 2021 must fill the application form in a prescribed format attached with ICSSR Notification 2021 and send the same along with relevant documents to the "Administrative Officer, ICSSR, JNU Institutional Area, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi-110067" in a sealed cover superscribing it as "Application for the post of_______" on or before March 25, 2021 through a proper channel.

Download ICSSR Notification PDF for ICSSR Apprentices posts
Misogyny will now be recorded as a hate crime by police after a government concession to campaigners in the light of the death of Sarah Everard.

Police forces will be asked to record and identify any crimes of violence, including stalking and sexual offences, where the victim believed it to have been motivated by 'hostility based on their sex', a Home Office minister said.

Baroness Williams of Trafford added this would be done on an 'experimental basis' from the autumn and it could inform longer-term decisions once the Law Commission's review of hate crime was complete.

Hours before the announcement, prime minister Boris Johnson called for a change in cultural attitudes towards women's safety.

The move came after a call by Labour's Baroness Kennedy of Cradley, who warned of an 'epidemic of violence' against women and girls.

Gathering evidence about the prevalence of hostility towards women and girls was crucial to recognising connections, according to Lady Kennedy.

Move comes after Labour's Baroness Kennedy of Cradley, who warned of an 'epidemic of violence' against women and girls following the death of Sarah Everard (right)

Speaking as the Lords considered amendments to the Domestic Abuse Bill, Lady Kennedy added: 'If we are not recording crime targeted at women, how can we effectively address violence against women and girls and the police's response to it?'

Reacting to the decision, Fawcett Society chief executive Felicia Willow said: 'We are delighted that this Government has accepted that misogyny should be treated as a hate crime.

'Fawcett's campaign showed there was overwhelming public support for this.

'It's essential that women have the confidence to report crimes and that they are taken seriously when they do.

'This is a major step forward in changing how we understand, address and prevent violence against women - and one that we hope will help change attitudes towards women.'

It came as the first female chief constable to record misogyny as a hate crime said she would struggle to report an offence committed against herself for fear of being judged by police.

Sue Fish, who was chief constable of Nottinghamshire Police until her retirement in 2018, claimed there was a toxic culture of sexism in significant parts of policing.

Mrs Fish told Emma Barnett on BBC Radio 4s Womans Hour she would think twice about reporting a crime as a woman because it was thankless. In an astonishing indictment of victim blaming in the criminal justice system and society as a whole, she said many female victims faced endless repeated humiliation.

There are still significant parts of policing where there is a very toxic culture of sexism, of misogyny that objectifies women.

Id like to say that policing has moved on, and it has moved on, compared to when I joined the police service back in the 80s. However, it hasnt moved as far and as fast as society. Mrs Fish spoke out as Boris Johnson said cultural and social change in attitudes was required to ensure women were heard and protected.

Wayne Couzens, 48, (right) was arrested following the death of 33-year-old marketing executive Sarah Everard

Labour MP Stella Creasy, who has been campaigning for change, said recording where crimes are motivated by hatred of women will 'help us better understand the scale of the problem' and improve efforts to prevent crimes against them.

Liberal Democrat MP Christine Jardine said: 'I am relieved that the Government has recognised the need to act on misogyny and follow the lead already taken on this by some police forces.

'If we are to better protect women and girls in this country, then crimes motivated by hatred towards women and girls must be treated as seriously as racially or religiously motivated hate crimes.

'This is a moment when we are sadly too aware of the dangers. We are all grateful to everyone who has worked to make this possible.'

A women's safety app that its developers say 'shouldn't have to exist' has surged to the top of the download charts in the wake of Sarah Everard's death.

WalkSafe has attracted more than 300,000 downloads within a week, becoming the number one free app on Apple's iOS and entering the top 10 on Android.

Serving Metropolitan Police officer Wayne Couzens, 48, is accused of kidnapping and murdering 33-year-old Everard, as she walked home from a friend's flat in Clapham, south London, in the evening on March 3.

The app includes a map of previously reported incidents nearby that makes users aware of any potential 'danger zones' and helping them plan a safer route home.
Traffic police in Ho Chi Minh City have continued the campaign to deal with dilapidated motorbikes that lack license plates, headlights, rear-view mirrors, and horns, as well as cases of driving under the influence (DUI).

The campaign to tackle old and unsafe motorbikes, which are responsible for a large portion of vehicle emissions in Vietnams big cities, was initiated on Monday in Hiep Binh Phuoc Ward in Thu Duc City.

Traffic police officers spent Tuesday handling motorbikes in bad conditions in Cho Lon, District 5.

At their checkpoint set up near the intersection of Vo Van Kiet Avenue and Hai Thuong Lan Ong Street, within one hour, officers confiscated many motorcycles, the majority of which were Honda 50-cubic-centimeter (cc) Cups, Honda Dreams, and Waves with their manufacture dating back to the early 2000s.

A traffic police officer seizes dilapidated motorbikes in Ho Chi Minh City, March 15, 2021. Photo: Minh Hoa / Tuoi Tre

Upon the confiscation of the dilapidated motorcycles, their owners made different excuses, blaming the use of these vehicles on the requirements of their jobs and their financial conditions.

I just ride whatever vehicles my employer gives me, said T.T., a 33-year-old male day laborer, who was caught riding a rickety motorbike without any rear-view mirror, headlight or horn.

My boss will fire me if you seize the motorbike."

A dilapidated motorbike is booked by traffic police officers in Ho Chi Minh City, March 15, 2021. Photo: Minh Hoa / Tuoi Tre

Like T., A.M., a 26-year-old day laborer, said his employer did not want to spend money fixing the vehicles used for his business.

On Monday evening, the Ho Chi Minh City traffic police patrolling the streets also caught many DUI drivers in a nationwide crackdown that will last until December 31.

According to current regulations, car drivers and motorcyclists must have a blood alcohol level of zero.

A traffic police officer books a dilapidated motorbike in Ho Chi Minh City, March 16, 2021. Photo: Tu Trung / Tuoi Tre

A traffic police officer seizes dilapidated motorbikes in Ho Chi Minh City, March 16, 2021. Photo: Tu Trung / Tuoi Tre

Traffic police officers book a DUI case in Ho Chi Minh City, March 15, 2021. Photo: Quang Dinh / Tuoi Tre

Traffic police officers book a DUI case in Ho Chi Minh City, March 15, 2021. Photo: Quang Dinh / Tuoi Tre

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Police are on high alert after threats 37-year-old Mark Lutgenau (pictured) could attempt to shoot officers at Gold Coast police stations

Gold Coast police stations are on high alert after threats from a wanted man who warned of engaging in a shootout with police in a chilling Facebook post.

Mark Lutgenau has been on the run after fleeing a property at Upper Coomera when police were called on Monday night. There are unconfirmed reports he allegedly threatened to harm his partner.

Queensland Police confirmed to Daily Mail Australia on Wednesday afternoon that they are on 'higher alert than normal' over threats from Mr Lutgenau.

There were unconfirmed reports that Mr Lutgenau was planning to go to a police station at 10am on Wednesday morning and shoot police officers.

Queensland Police took to Facebook on Tuesday night to alert the public not to approach the 37-year-old but contact triple-zero immediately if they cross his path, fearing he is armed with a gun.

Mr Lutgenau himself replied to the post, telling one person who commented: 'This is a stress time for all involved'.

He told another person: 'I understand what I have done is unacceptable and I am 100 per cent accountable. I have got nothing left in my life and will be a shootout with police'.

His comments come despite Queensland Police publicly pleading with him to 'contact them', with Acting Inspector Kevin Gant declaring 'we want a peaceful resolution for his own personal safety and the safety of the public'.

The post prompted Mr Lutgenau's mother Glenys to issue a desperate plea for her son to let her know his current location so she can collect him and end the frantic police hunt.

'Mark, it's mum here. I'm here for you. Tell me where you are. I will pick you up. Love mum xxx,' she replied to the Queensland Police post.

Queensland Police confirmed to Daily Mail Australia on Wednesday afternoon that they are on 'higher alert than normal' over threats from Mr Lutgenau

Mr Lutgenau commented on Queensland Police Service's alert post about himself, telling one person 'I have got nothing left in my life and will be a shootout with police'

Mr Lutgenau also replied to another comment, revealing 'this is a stress time for all involved'

Police have moved to allay fears Mr Lutgenau is a danger to residents, issuing a statement that said 'there is no known specific threat against members of the community'.

However, police have urged residents and business owners to be vigilant of any suspicious activity or unknown people in the area.

Mr Lutgenau is described as Caucasian, about 190cm tall and of a proportionate build, with short brown hair and hazel eyes.

An emergency declaration was declared for Ormeau State School and part of the surrounding suburb at 11.50am on Tuesday as part of investigations into Mr Lutgenau's whereabouts but it was lifted by police at 3.50pm after he could not be found.

Terrified parents had rushed to collect their children from the school but had to wait a tense four hours between being notified of the lockdown and being allowed into the area.

Parents had earlier that morning received a text message that read 'The school is currently in lockdown.'

Mr Lutgenau (pictured) has not been seen since fleeing a home at Upper Coomera on Monday night when police were called to an alleged domestic violence incident

Mr Lutgenau's mother Glenys replied to a Queensland Police Service post about her son to issue a desperate plea for him to let him know his whereabouts

Police are seen stopping cars on Mirambeena Drive at Ormeau on the Gold Coast on Tuesday after a school placed into lockdown

'Children and teachers will continue learning inside classrooms but will not be leaving their rooms. Police have cordoned off the area as a precaution and police will not allow you access to the school.'

Following that, at midday, principal Kimberley Button wrote on the school's Facebook page: 'Please be advised children are safe, have had their lunch and are working in their rooms'.

'We are focused on your children's safety. We will keep you updated to the best of our knowledge  no updates at this time.'

Officers had to escort the children out to waiting relieved parents late on Tuesday afternoon.

The emergency declaration under the Public Safety Preservation Act was made as police searched bushland around Ormeau and Pimpama.

Ormeau State School in Pimpama (pictured) was placed in lockdown and armed police were patrolling the area. The declaration was lifted at 3.50pm allowing parents to collect their children

Pictured: Police blocking off Mirambeena Drive at Ormeau on the Gold Coast on Tuesday amid a search for a potentially armed man who remains on the run

Pictures from the scene showed multiple police cars and heavily armed officers swarming the area.

Specialised groups from the Public Safety Response Team and the Special Emergency Response Team also joined the manhunt along with the dog squad and Polair teams.

Helicopter footage showed officers in fatigues gathering at Calgray Realty, on the corner of Mirambeena Drive and Guara Grove in Ormeau.
On his first day in office, President Joe Biden took action to rejoin the Paris Agreement, and the United States officially became a party again on February 19.

The Paris Agreement is an unprecedented framework for global action. We know because we helped design it and make it a reality. Its purpose is both simple and expansive: to help us all avoid catastrophic planetary warming and to build resilience around the world to the impacts from climate change we already see, announced Secretary of State Antony Blinken in a written statement.

The Paris Agreement entered into force in 2016. It was signed by over 190 countries and established a goal of holding the global average temperature increase to well below 2 degrees Celsius and pursuing efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius. At the time, using the year 2005 as a baseline, President Barack Obama submitted a target to reduce U.S. carbon emissions by 26 to 28 percent in 2025.

However, on June 1, 2017, citing a need to protect the U.S. economy and workers, then-President Donald Trump announced that the United States would withdraw from the Paris Agreement.

The Biden Administration sees things differently. Green economies are going to generate a remarkable number of new jobs, said John Kerry, Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, at the January 27th virtual meeting of the Davos World Economic Forum:

The EU anticipates 2 million new jobs. Here in the U.S. until COVID we had 5 years of steady growth in clean energy employment with over 3.3 million workers put into jobs across our country. India has seen a fivefold increase in clean energy jobs over the same period. And thats just a taste of the marketplace without limits that awaits us if we get serious.

You have seen and will continue to see us weaving climate change into our most important bilateral and multilateral conversations at all levels. In these conversations, were asking other leaders: how can we do more together? said Secretary of State Blinken.

Climate change and science diplomacy can never again be add-ons in our foreign policy discussions. Addressing the real threats from climate change and listening to our scientists is at the center of our domestic and foreign policy priorities. It is vital in our discussions of national security, migration, international health efforts, and in our economic diplomacy and trade talks, he said.

We are reengaging the world on all fronts.
MOSCOW -- MBK Media says Russias state media-monitoring agency, Roskomnadzor, has demanded Twitter delete the news outlet's account for alleged violations of Russian law.

MBK Media, a news website critical of the Kremlin, on March 17 quoted a message it says came from Roskomnadzor as saying the social-network operator had received an official request regarding content on the @MBKhMedia account.

Twitter has not commented on the report.

MBK Media said Roskomnadzor claimed its Twitter account contained materials from an organization deemed "undesirable" by Russian authorities, an allegation the news website denied.

Roskomnadzor referred to content from the London-based Open Russia foundation funded by long-imprisoned former oil tycoon-turned-Putin critic Mikhail Khodorkovsky, it said.

MBK Media Editor in Chief Veronika Kutsyllo said the agency had not previously received any warnings from Russias media-monitoring agency.

She also said that MBK Media has nothing to do with any organization, desirable or undesirable and does not publish anyone's materials, except our own.

Russian authorities blocked the website of MBK Media in 2018.

Russian authorities consider Open Russia an undesirable organization and have repeatedly targeted the organization and its leadership. The organizations website is also blocked in Russia.

Roskomnadzor last week announced a slowing down, or throttling, of Twitter's speed across Russia for its "failure" to remove what it said was banned content that encouraged suicide among children and information about drugs and child pornography.

On March 16, the agencys deputy head, Vadim Subbotin, said the U.S. company still wasn't complying with the demands of the Russian authorities.

If things go on like this, then in a month it will be blocked, on an out-of-court basis, Subbotin said, according to Interfax.

Roskomnadzors actions come amid Russian efforts to tighten control on social media and a clampdown on platforms that have been used to organize protests in support of jailed opposition leader Aleksei Navalny.

With reporting by Reuters
Days after Kenyas energy regulator EPRA hiked fuel prices to a nine-year high, government spokesperson Cyrus Oguna rubbed salt into the wounds of Kenyans who continue to decry the high cost of living.

While responding to the outrage over the rising fuel costs and increased taxation, Oguna in a press briefing on Tuesday, March 16 told oppressed Kenyans to stop crying and support the govt instead.

Let us not cry all the time. We should ask ourselves what were doing to help the government, he said.

Oguna went as far as comparing Kenya to European countries, arguing that Kenyans pay peanuts in taxes compared to the more developed Western countries.

I can tell you this, the amount of taxes people pay in Europe is nothing compared to what youre paying here, you shouldnt be crying, he said.

So, were crying when we shouldnt be crying. We should be standing firm and say that this is our government, we will support it. Thats all Im asking each one of us. Lets stand firm and support our govt lets not cry all the time, sawa sawa? Oguna posed condescendingly.

Fittingly, Kenyans were left fuming and took to social media platforms to berate Oguna for his exasperating remarks.

Below is a video of Oguna and some reactions.

The amount of TAXES people pay in EUROPE is nothing compared to what youre paying here, you shouldnt be CRYING Govt spokesman in response to your outrage over rising fuel prices. pic.twitter.com/x8ohPipx1p  James Smart (@jamessmat) March 16, 2021

The kind of service delivery and infrastructure people enjoy in EUROPE is nothing compared to what we enjoy here, we cannot even afford to cry.  gertrude auma (@gertrudeauma) March 16, 2021

If they can compare how we are taxed with those European countries, why should they not compare how they are providing vital services, dealing with corruption, and improving the lives of common wananchi?  Gikanga Joseph (@gikanga_joseph) March 16, 2021

Sawa sawa   JackGa (@iJackGa) March 16, 2021

Someone tell Cyrus Oguna that those countries he is talking about have a stable economy , they value their citizens enough to provide great public services , better healthcare plan and better money circulation , and they are not being auctioned for debts that were stolen !!  Shikoh Kihika (@Shikohkihika) March 16, 2021

So Cyrus oguna showed us the middle finger is okay..  bm_G (@Gaitta_) March 16, 2021

Cyrus Oguna is just a messenger but even so, he should be moderate in his speech and refrain from ridicule. Its painful enough that theres no cash flow in kenya but when government spokesman calls upon Kenyans to be happy and smile about that. Know we headed to deep shit.  Mainakaumbuthu (@mainakaumbuthu) March 16, 2021

Who bewitched Cyrus Oguna#FuelPriceHike  Sir Charles  (@BeingCharlie) March 16, 2021

Cyrus oguna is the most stupid person to have listened to this yr.. Lazy brat who got no inkling on what wringer they putting us through  Isaac mwangi (@Isaacizoh) March 16, 2021

Remember when Cyrus Oguna tried to be friends with common sense? pic.twitter.com/7jM7MMtVUD  Class Act (@fen_mac) March 16, 2021

Cyrus Oguna likening us to Europe? Just have a look at the Official Squad against our mens wallets. Then dude wants us to pay more? Better kill us!  pic.twitter.com/gHHpIHBWCn  Linet Kathure (@LinetKathure_) March 16, 2021

It seems that were not in the same Kenya with our learned friend Dr Cyrus Oguna. The government of the day is laughing at its people when they are suffering but only God will intervene and come to our plight pic.twitter.com/jAlQWirevf  John Maina (@JohnWamuigwa) March 16, 2021

Sometimes silence is golden. Cyrus Oguna comments are tragic No citizens like tax  but are willing to accept, IF they see the effect. But when taxed through the nose to service non performing loans that have been looted & sustain elite lifestyles, sorry, but no smiles there  Joe (@chothep) March 16, 2021

Cyrus Oguna compared tax collection in Kenya and Europe? Ni kama tumeshaomoka.  pic.twitter.com/WLOQHzpJE9  Mac Otani  (@MacOtani) March 16, 2021

Apparently most Europe countries volunteer to pay taxes but in Kenya, Cyrus Oguna is putting it on our necks when services doesnt equal the taxes we pay.  Ddyehill Dennis (@ddyehill) March 16, 2021

The Govt has failed ,this how Cyrus Oguna Expects Kenyans to Rejoice For High Taxes.. pic.twitter.com/bPuN5lVGwy  Dan Barigei (@seedorf_17) March 16, 2021

Cyrus Oguna:

Support us tuendelee kuwatesa, it is for your own good!  Nakuru Goat (@nakurugoat) March 16, 2021

Its high time we understand that nobody cares about us because every time they come on board , they try to defend the pin in the ass of Mwananchi. Cyrus Oguna is here uttering some shit gyrated with man butter .Where does he get this temerity from? pic.twitter.com/7FfsxtvonI  Vin Nav, PHO (@NyagaraVincent) March 16, 2021

Cyrus Oguna should not compare us with developed countries. He should know bad leadership, corruption and bad debts are the reasons why we are in this mess in the first place. Europe is Europe, bure kabisa!!!  Kelvin Watoka  (@KelvinWatoka) March 16, 2021

What kind of madness and stupidity is this? The government cannot account for our taxes and this idiot turns up to tell us shit. #TheEarthIsHard https://t.co/1ZXmve4TgV  CO Aggrey (@pinaeh) March 16, 2021

If some of these people resign rather than support this pathetic government, would they die? Cyrus Oguna has made one of the most silliest and insensitive statement any government official in the history of Kenya has ever made. Unbelievable! https://t.co/a3WYPqJ5Ma  Bobby (@Bob_Odhiambo) March 16, 2021

Compare taxation to services delivered.

Those nations have quality free education,good health system, roads,etc just STFU!!!! https://t.co/irO3ORyiZX  maurinetheuri (@maurinetheuri) March 16, 2021

The comparison 

You want us to help with taxes but you dont need help in looting a third of the budget  https://t.co/MQHqJ9wPp3  N3mesis (@Erique_pn) March 16, 2021

Youre an idiot @SpokespersonGoK and you should be embarrassed. Also, these European countries you just compared us to, is GoK at the same level of service delivery? Ama ni wizi tu? I dont get it, why would you be so comfortable being so publicly obtuse?  https://t.co/NuHi9rfU5E  Cleo Maina (@CleoMaina) March 16, 2021

In case you think you need more proof that our government really doesnt care about us, here it is. https://t.co/2xYIBaoUIl  Miss.Kwe (@rubykwe) March 16, 2021

Is it just me or these people who are quoted to be intelligent often look dumb almost all the time? How can one confidently compare Europe where systems work, wages are really good, Healthcare works, etc to our country where taxes are lining peoples pockets. Absolutely insane. https://t.co/WekPk8lBbN  JT (@jayteemuro) March 16, 2021

Thank God my dad was never a government spokesman this level of cocksucking would make me lose all my respect for him https://t.co/U4o1q7fmaz  ? (@YouGuyMyGuy) March 16, 2021

I hate it here mahn. Smh https://t.co/afRmdT867B  Chris (@X_ChrisM) March 16, 2021

I would like to know which economy in Europe were being compared to. This is utter rubbish! https://t.co/TcqZdyelGQ  DJ Joe Mfalme (@DjJoeMfalme) March 16, 2021

The Government is OFFICIALLY saying We will fuck you however we want, whenever we want and there isnt a thing you can do. And they are right. https://t.co/6yws8MCMXG  Full Circle (@stendewa) March 16, 2021

This is how you know these people are truly out of their minds. What people are angry about is the wanton thievery of the taxes we pay. Compare outcomes, not amounts, and focus on the fact that we basically get robbed a quarter of our incomes to support thieves. This is trash. https://t.co/boY8Wp5tQ8  Eric Mugendi (@mougendi) March 16, 2021

How did no one throw a shoe at this clown? https://t.co/1E6A9i7JrZ  Micycle (@micke9) March 16, 2021

Nothing on the internet will annoy you more than this today https://t.co/yOtecT77LR  billiejandro  (@billienyakk) March 16, 2021

The Audacity when you have a Well paying Salary. NKT  I am fool, We are fools for taking all this shit from GOK. https://t.co/jxXNcDL8fn  Ragui (@KevinRagui) March 16, 2021

When you live lavishly on public funds, this is the arrogance you portray. European countries dont lose Kshs 2B daily to corruption. Their taxes work for them. Comparing Kenya to Europe is so stupid. https://t.co/ai32uEb3eB  Fredrick Nyambare  (@fredwhitecap) March 16, 2021

Do these people know what people are going through huku nje? he is speaking at a privileged point of view ban. https://t.co/B3GLE3Da2H  TRAVEL GURU,MOUNTAINEER,BUDGET SAFARIS,HOTELS (@john_curry18) March 16, 2021

Highest Income Tax Rate in Some European Countries

Bosnia & Herzegovina: 10%

Belarus: 15%

Ukraine: 17%

Georgia: 20%

Albania: 23% Highest Income Tax Rate in Kenya: 30% VAT in Switzerland & Liechtenstein: 7.7%

VAT in Kenya: 18% https://t.co/irO3ORyiZX  maurinetheuri (@maurinetheuri) March 16, 2021

,You are paying less in taxes than Europeans pay. Therefore shut the fcuk up about rising fuel costs.  https://t.co/SctUyc4Hta  Mugo.I.AM (@EnterpriseGx) March 16, 2021
WILMINGTON, Del. (AP)  There is Major breaking news: President Joe Bidens wayward pup is no longer in the doghouse.

Biden, in an interview that aired Wednesday, said that his dog Major, who had been involved in a biting incident at the White House, was a sweet dog. He explained the biting by saying that the dog had turned a corner, theres two people he doesnt know at all, you know, and they move and moves to protect.
Thomas Paul Ruh, dedicated son and servant of God, passed away at 46, on Monday, March 8, 2021.





Thomas was born to parents Elizabeth Conaway Ruh and Albert Ruh on April 25, 1974, in Blairstown, New Jersey. He received his Masters in Business Administration from University of West Georgia. Thomas taught middle school in Jackson, Tn. Afterward, he returned to Chattanooga, to take care of his mother. Since returning to Chattanooga, Thomas discovered Our Lady of Perpetual Help and had served as an active member since 2011.

Thomas loved trains, history, travel, and his cats. He could recount the history of any period in the most interesting and entertaining way. He had a vast knowledge of trains and their history. Periodically he took adventures. He traveled far and wide. One of his favorite places was Quebec. While there he was able to practice his French, of which he was fluent. Thomas was also a most dedicated pet owner, even offering a safe place to many a stray.

Thomas is survived by his mother Elizabeth C. Ruh, and cousins, Kent Sandidge IV, Beth R. Sandidge, Mark C. Sandidge, and Scott O. Sandidge. He was preceded in death by his father Albert Ruh.

The family has entrusted Chattanooga Funeral Home with the arrangements. A Funeral Mass is scheduled for Wednesday, March 24, at 11 a.m. at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church on South Moore Road. Father Zack Griffiths will officiate the ceremony.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Humane Education Society of Chattanooga. To share condolences online, visit Thomas's obituary at www.ChattanoogaEastChapel.com.
BLiNQ Networks? embedded EPC by AttoCore is the WISP?s solution of choice

Posted by Publisher Telecommunication

Cambridge, UK, March 17th 2021  BLiNQ Networks has repurposed the Evolved Packet Core (EPC) to support the deployment of Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) networks into rural not-spots in the US and around the world. BLiNQ has achieved this by embedding AttoCore?s AttoEPC software directly into the BLiNQ FW-300i base station.

By embedding the EPC in this manner, BLiNQ creates an FWA solution which is much easier to deploy. There is no need to invest money in a separate server to host the EPC, or to invest time and expertise in software installation and configuration. Being hosted on the same piece of hardware, transmission costs between the base station and the EPC are avoided and security is enhanced. The throughput of the solution is more deterministic, a closer match to predicted performance in the lab and replication of performance issues between the base station and the EPC is easier and issues are easier to resolve. Building upon two years of cooperation between BLiNQ and AttoCore, including hundreds of hours invested in performance testing in the lab, the solution can also be fine-tuned more easily to meet specific customer requirements.

Internet service provider Astrea has deployed several BLiNQ FW-300i units in North Wisconsin and Michigan, to solve rural connectivity gaps. They were able to engage in rapid deployment with the help of wireless broadband integrator PCS, who recommended BLiNQ?s embedded EPC solution for their needs. ?We really like the BLiNQ price point for low density coverage,? said Steve Mason, Director of Fixed Wireless, Astrea. ?The compact unit on the towers is ideal for a lot of the wind problems in some of the areas. We\-\-re also really impressed with BLiNQ?s non-line-of-sight performance.?

Skynet 360 is also using BLiNQ?s FW-300i to provide connectivity on sites which require a secure LTE network such as power plants and airports across the United States. Jose Camarillo, CEO of Skynet 360 explained how BLiNQ addressed their needs. ?The BLiNQ units with embedded EPC are the perfect solution for a contained and secure network. Everything is internal and loss of connection is less of an issue.? He added, ?It?s a very cost- effective solution for the end user, and because the units are mounted on towers it saves on space. It?s ideal for any government application.?
When Tashnuva Anan Shishir was growing up in a conservative Muslim family in Bangladesh, she was ridiculed for behavior called too effeminate. She was often told she was mentally ill. The experience left her with one crucial question: Who am I?

I was born with a male body, but I was matching a womans mind with soul, Ms. Shishir said in a recent video interview from Dhaka, the capital. I had to prove that I exist in society.

The journey took her to the internet, where she searched, Is there anyone like me?

Even after answering the question and coming out as a transgender woman, Ms. Shishir, 29, waged a decades-long quest for acceptance. The path has been paved with immeasurable pain, she said. She has endured harassment and verbal abuse, has been shunned by members of her family and has lived in a slum while penniless.

Then, in March, three minutes of fame changed her life.

She had been hired by the private television channel Boishakhi TV and read a news segment for the first time on International Womens Day. The appearance simultaneously vaulted her into the living rooms of millions of her fellow Bangladeshis and onto the global stage as the countrys first transgender news anchor.
(LR) Disability Inclusion Minister Carla Qualtrough, Justice Minister David Lametti, and Health Minister Patty Hajdu announce new legislation that would expand access to medically assisted dying, in Ottawa on Feb. 24, 2020. (The Canadian Press/Sean Kilpatrick)

Conscience Bill Seeks to Protect Health Professionals as Assisted Dying Bill Passes

A recently tabled private members bill would give health-care providers the right to refuse participation in medically assisted death, while government legislation approved by the Senate on March 17 expands access to the procedure.

Introduced by Conservative MP Kelly Block on Feb. 18, Bill C-268 would make it a criminal offence to pressure health-care professionals including pharmacists to take part directly or indirectly in medical assistance in dying (MAiD).

Those who threaten, coerce, refuse to hire, or fire a medical professional for declining to participate in MAiD would face a sentence of up to five years.

Freedom of conscience is one of the first fundamental rights laid out in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and it is at the core of our Canadian identity, Block said in a press release. This private members bill is a response to calls from physicians and patients to ensure conscience rights for medical professionals.

The legislation, cited as the Protection of Freedom of Conscience Act, was endorsed by Dr. Ellen Warner, a University of Toronto professor of medicine and a staff medical oncologist at the Odette Cancer Centre at Sunnybrook since 1993.

In the absence of conscience protection, the group with the most to lose are the patientsthe people we are all trying to help, she said in the release. If all physicians who treat incurable diseases must promote medical assistance in dying, then there will no longer be such a thing as a second opinion.

Back in 2018, former Conservative MP David Anderson had introduced an identical private members bill. In May 2019, Alex Schadenberg, executive director of the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition, initiated a petition in support of the bill that garnered 3,784 signatures, but it did not become law.

The Liberals Bill C-7, which amends the Criminal Code to allow Canadians to access MAiD even if their natural death is not reasonably foreseeable, passed in the House on March 11 after passing in the Senate with amendments on Feb. 17. The Senate subsequently passed the House-approved bill on March 17.

The bills expansion of MAiD access to people even if they are not near death has raised concerns that it will put the lives of people with disabilities at risk, especially those from marginalized communities. And while the bill originally ruled out MAiD for people whose sole underlying medical condition is a mental illness, this has now changed. The provisions excluding this group are now set to expire in two years, during which time the bill will allow a new parliamentary committee to review outstanding issues surrounding the legislation including the issue of safeguards for the mentally ill.

Existing euthanasia laws say medical professionals dont have to participate in MAiD, but Schadenberg says problems remain.

Nonetheless, physicians are being pressured. Some of them have their positions threatened, he said in an interview.

Nurses also need protection, he said.

Lets say theyre working on a floor and theres going to be a MAiD death. And a doctors saying, Well, were gonna have a MAiD death at two oclock, and I need you to participate with me. Well, it isnt so cut-and-dried if the nurse is free just to say no.

Schadenberg says euthanasia is contrary to the Hippocratic Oath doctors traditionally took and that the diversity of health-care providers makes conscience rights more important.

In Canada, where you have a plurality, youve got a culture filled with all different kinds of people from all over the world. Yet, youre telling them they must participate in this, they must do this. Obviously, many of them hold different beliefs than others, so  you need to have conscience rights. Its absolutely essential.

Last month, retired senator and former Northwest Territories premier Nick Sibbeston and 14 other indigenous leaders wrote a letter to senators, elected federal and provincial officials, and regulators expressing grave concerns over Bill C-7.

[W]e believe that people should not be compelled to provide or facilitate in the provision of MAiD, the letter said. [T]he right to self-determination and to act on ones conscience is recognized as a fundamental freedom in all peoples.

In 2017, the Christian Medical and Dental Society of Canada along with two other physicians groups and five individual physicians took the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario to court over its requirement that doctors provide an effective referral for MAiD. Following a 2018 court decision rejecting their Charter challenge, the Ontario Court of Appeal in 2019 upheld that decision, ruling that physicians are legally bound to provide such referrals, regardless of their religious beliefs.

Trudo Lemmens, a University of Toronto professor of health law and policy, is surprised that medical associations would support Bill C-7 because physician standards of care require that the most radical and risky treatments are used as a last resort.

Its unprecedented, he said.



Lemmens, who was a member of the Council of Canadian Academies Expert Panel on MAiD, is disturbed by the Senate amendment that will bring MAiD to the mentally ill within two years.

The minister of justice was saying it was a complex issue that needs further study, so they commit to providing it in two years without the House discussing in detail the reports that were prepared by the Council of Canadian Academies for that specific purpose, he said.

I think its reckless, its unprecedented from a governance perspective. Its hugely problematic. I cant understand why House of Commons members [would do that.]
The POCO X3 Pro will make its debut on March 22, POCO Global has confirmed. According to leaked marketing renders, the POCO X3 Pro will resemble last year's POCO X3 NFC. However, POCO is making its Indian fans wait until March 30 before announcing the POCO X3 Pro.

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Last week, we reported that POCO India had teased the POCO X3 Pro's launch date for March 30. POCO India has since confirmed that it will be launching another smartphone on March 30, but POCO Global will making an announcement eight days earlier. In one tweet, POCO Global has described its March 22 launch event as the 'biggest POCO launch of the year', make of that what you will.

Incidentally, TechDroider and Ishan Agarwal have revealed POCO X3 Pro marketing renders in several colours. According to the latter, Xiaomi has called the device's three colours Phantom Black, Metal Bronze and Frost Blue. Based on the renders, Xiaomi has equipped the POCO X3 Pro with four rear-facing cameras, of which a 48 MP sensor is the largest. The device also has a single front-facing camera contained behind a notch and a side-mounted fingerprint scanner.
Former San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro believes the Atlanta-area shootings were "driven by hate."

On Tuesday night, a string of shootings at three massage parlors in the Atlanta area left eight people dead  six of them reported to be Asian women. The attacks raised concerns from some public officials that it could have been racially motivated, according to the Associated Press.

Police arrested a 21-year-old Georgia man but the motive wasn't immediately known, AP reports.

RELATED: Atlanta-area shootings leave 8 dead, many of Asian descent

Castro took to Twitter late Tuesday night, writing his thoughts are with the victims of the shootings in Atlanta and with their families. Authorities haven't publicly identified the victims as they work to notify next of kin, according to CNN.

"This massacre appears to be driven by hate, particularly against Asian Americans," Castro tweeted. "We must stand united against this violent bigotry."

Earlier this month, Castro touched on the issue of hate crimes against Asian Americans on his podcast, "Our America with Julian Castro." He brought on the founder of Stop AAPI (Asian American and Pacific Islanders) Hate Cynthia Choi to discuss the matter. Choi said there have been more than 3,000 attacks on Asian American and Pacific Islanders since the start of the pandemic, according to the reports being made through Stop AAPI Hate.

READ ALSO: 'You're not going to scare me': Noodle Tree owner returns to CNN to talk about racist vandalism

"The thing that I am struck by the most is that when we started Stop AAPI Hate with our partners in March of last year hundreds of individuals came onto our site and told us horrific stories of what they've encountered," Choi said in the podcast. "Largely, verbal harassment and attacks while they are at the grocery stores, while they're in public places, and the discrimination that folks encountered in the workplace."

She also touched on the case of the Burmese family in Midland, Texas that was stabbed by a person who said they had the coronavirus.

"This is very, very serious," Choi said. "One of the things I think is important to recognize is that the former president was an accelerator of hate. We saw from these incidents reports of people saying that Trump's name was evoked ... and so we do see a direct correlation of that type of rhetoric and including this overall anti-immigrant climate under this past administration. It wasn't just dehumanizing. It endangered the lives of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders."

Priscilla Aguirre is a general assignment reporter for MySA.com | priscilla.aguirre@express-news.net | @CillaAguirre
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A man crosses the street while fire is seen in front of a road barricade that prevents security forces from advancing in Mandalay, Myanmar (AP)

Protesters in Myanmar have fired slingshots and thrown petrol bombs towards lines of security forces after apparently coming under fire, a rare incidence of anti-coup demonstrators fighting back against a violent crackdown.

The growing resistance came after one organisation said more than 200 people have been killed since the February 1 takeover. At least two people were shot dead during protests on Wednesday in north-western Myanmar, according to press and social media posts that included photos of the victims.

Protests against the coup that ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi have shown remarkable staying power and largely remained peaceful, despite curbs on internet access, the imposition of martial law in some places, and a violent response by police.

Demonstrators have come up with innovative ways to carry on in the face of the violence, including lining up placards as stand-ins for themselves or coconuts painted with the words Spring Revolution.

Expand Close Policemen fire a charge as anti-coup protesters abandon their makeshift barricades in Yangon (AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook

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Whatsapp Policemen fire a charge as anti-coup protesters abandon their makeshift barricades in Yangon (AP)

But on Wednesday, after security forces apparently shot at them in the countrys largest city of Yangon, demonstrators initially fled  but then crept back to shelter behind sandbag barricades. Some threw petrol bombs while others took aim with slingshots  though the forces were too far away to be hit.

Pope Francis appealed for an end to the bloodshed on Wednesday.

In an apparent reference to widely broadcast images of a nun in Myanmar, kneeling in the street in front of armed security forces, Francis said: I, too, kneel on the streets of Myanmar and say: may violence cease.

The coup reversed years of slow progress towards democracy in Myanmar, which for five decades had languished under strict military rule that led to international isolation and sanctions.

The independent Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, which keeps a tally of deaths related to the crackdown, said that by Tuesday 202 people had been killed, and 2,181 arrested or charged.

Junta forces target protesters but also ordinary people using sniper rifles regardless of the time or place, according to association.

Expand Close Protesters in Mandalay (AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook

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Some injured people were arrested and died without access to medical treatment, some individuals have died due to being tortured during interrogation, some others who were shot dead in a crackdown were dragged away without mercy and their dead bodies are not being returned to their families by junta forces, it said.

The junta has denied any abusive actions, but concedes protesters have been shot while taking part in what it has described as rioting. Its death toll is much lower than others.

In addition to the violence, the junta also initially detained hundreds of senior politicians and has kept Ms Suu Kyi, who was the countrys de facto leader before the takeover, in custody and charged her with several crimes that her supporters say are politically motivated.

State television MRTV announced on Tuesday evening that another leading figure, Dr Sasa, has been charged with high treason, which carries a death sentence.

He is in hiding but has been in contact with journalists, diplomats and others.

In addition to protests in Yangon, regional media outlets and social media posts reported new peaceful protest marches on Wednesday in Taungoo, Thayet, Myingyan and Madaya, all in central Myanmar; Tamu, in the north west near the border with India; and Pyay, on the Irrawaddy River north west of Yangon.
(People's Daily Online) In February, Jeremy Andre Flores from the French magazine Le Point published an article vilifying Christian Mestre, a professor from the University of Strasbourg who had praised China's counter-terrorism and de-radicalization measures in Xinjiang, calling him a henchman of China.

The report, published amid rising anti-China sentiment instigated by Western media, together with pressure from a group of anti-China teachers and sinologists at the University of Strasbourg, resulted in the professor being forced to step down from his post as the ethics officer of the Strasbourg Eurometropolis in March.

A supporter of Christian Mestre said on Twitter that he had resigned so as to stay away from despicable people, and expressed shock that the professor, who had taught in various universities in Europe, had been described as a chess piece of China by Le Point.

Jeremy Andre Flores said on Twitter that his investigations into Christian Mestre were impeccable. In fact, the investigations mentioned by the French journalist, who currently lives in Hong Kong and has never been to Xinjiang, were nothing but the digging out of remarks the professor had made two years ago and fabrication of a story of a dubious relationship between him and China.

Le Point represents the opinion of mainstream media in France. Its report not only resulted in Christian Mestre being forced to resign from his post, but also served as a threat to those who are friendly towards China in France.

Some anti-China sinologists in European countries such as Belgium, have also voiced extreme opinions against China, making it hard not to relate them with Western intelligence agencies.

Why did this incident happen in France, a country that worships equality and freedom? Looking deeper, one realizes that the incident was not just about French media distorting facts about China, but is also a reflection of a pro-U.S. attitude adopted by French media. In other words, their opinions on issues related to Chinas Xinjiang are always like those held by the U.S.

French media widely accept ideas such as "concentration camp" and "genocide", both of which are fraudulent claims made by the U.S.-based German far-right ideologue Adrian Zenz.

However, researchers, institutions, media figures, and internet users from many countries across the world have refuted Zenzs lies about Xinjiang on social media platforms through facts and evidence.

A number of enterprises and individuals in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region have directed lawyers to sue Zenz for spreading "forced labor" and other rumors related to Xinjiang, which have damaged their reputation and caused them to suffer economic losses.

They have also filed a civil lawsuit with a local court in Xinjiang, demanding that Zenz apologize, restore their reputation and compensate them for their losses.

In the book The End of Uyghur Fake News, French author Maxime Vivas gave an example of how Western media had smeared Xinjiang by using false facts.

In a documentary about a Uygur doctor named Enver Tohti broadcast by Arte TV, a German-French TV channel, the doctor told a story in the U.S. of how he had been involved in organ harvesting, and admitted that he was a criminal. However, he was not issued an international arrest warrant, because everyone knew he made it up. The documentary has been taken off air.

It seems that some French media, while producing false reports on Xinjiang, have forgotten the Charter of Munich, or the Munich Declaration of the Duties and Rights of Journalists, as well as the professional dignity the Charter calls on journalists to observe.








Myanmar protesters carry a man who was shot by security forces during a crackdown on demonstrations against the military coup in Yangon, March 17, 2021.

Six prominent Southeast Asian politicians on Wednesday urged the regions nations to impose sanctions on Myanmar if the military government there doesnt free political prisoners, restore the elected government it toppled in a coup last month and prosecute those responsible for killing civilian protesters.

In a strongly worded statement, the politicians criticized the impotence of the Association of Southeast Nations (ASEAN) and demanded the bloc discard its non-interference principle, because, they believed, it was an obstacle to ensuring democracy and protecting peoples rights in the region.

All ASEAN governments must unite and send an unequivocal message to the Myanmar military junta to immediately free all political prisoners, to restore the political situation in Myanmar to that prior to the 1st February 2021 coup and to respect the peoples votes in the November 2020 general election, the politicians statement said.

They also demanded that all those responsible for the killing of innocent people in Myanmar  an ASEAN member  be brought to justice.

Failing which, all other ASEAN governments must unite and suspend Myanmars membership of ASEAN and thereafter impose targeted trade and economic sanctions against the military junta and their associates, the statement said.

The signatories to the statement were Sam Rainsy, an exiled Cambodian opposition leader, Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, Indonesian lawmaker Fadli Zon, Philippine Sen. Kiko Pangilinan, former Singapore Deputy Speaker Charles Chong, and former Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya.

Their comments came a little over two weeks after an ASEAN special meeting of foreign ministers failed to reach a consensus on demanding the immediate release of Myanmars civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi and others detained by the military.

Instead, ASEAN merely called for a halt to the violence in Myanmar and urged dialogue to end the crisis.

The regions prominent politicians indicated that ASEANs response had been weak.

The events in Myanmar display, yet again, the impotence of ASEAN governments in dealing with a regional crisis, said Rainsy, who read out the statement at a virtual news conference.

We, the undersigned demand our respective ASEAN governments abandon the old doctrine of non-interference and pursue a new approach of constructive and critical engagement, with the option of imposing trade and economic sanctions on the Myanmar military junta, the politicians statement said.

The non-interference doctrine has become a major hindrance and stumbling block to the development of participatory democracies and the protection of the basic rights of the peoples of ASEAN.

The politicians criticized what they see as ASEAN's inaction while the Myanmar military and police turned their guns on citizens protesting the coup.

While the brave pro-democracy protestors of Myanmar are being killed by the military junta, all other ASEAN governments are demonstrating a lack of political will and unity to pressure the military junta to end the killings, the statement said.

On Wednesday, the United Nations Office for the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) said at least 149 people had been killed during anti-coup protests as a result of unlawful use of lethal force.

Radio Free Asia, a sister entity of BenarNews, reported that the death toll was higher, at 181.

Meanwhile, protests continued in Myanmar on Wednesday, with pro-democracy activists fighting back by firing slingshots and tossing Molotov cocktails at security forces, the Associated Press reported.

At least two more people were shot dead Wednesday, the agency reported.

Since the Feb. 1 coup, as many as 2,191 people had been arrested, charged or sentenced, while 1,872 were detained and faced trial, the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners said on its website on Wednesday.

Dont trust the junta

Indonesian Foreign Ministry spokesman Teuku Faizasyah declined to comment on the observations of Southeast Asia's politicians, but said Jakarta would be issuing a new statement on Myanmar.

The largest country in ASEAN and one of the blocs founding members, Indonesia has been on a diplomatic push to get members involved in addressing the coup in Myanmar.

In her last statement on the day of the ASEAN foreign ministers meeting, Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi had said that while ASEAN members must adhere to the blocs founding principle of non-interference, they have a duty to respect its values for democracy and human rights.

At the time, Malaysian Foreign Minister Hishammuddin Hussein proposed that ASEAN form a group of eminent persons or experts in electoral matters to help bridge the discrepancies found in the last general elections in Myanmar.

The Myanmar military had said the Nov. 8, 2020, general election was tainted by fraud, and used that reason to justify the coup, saying it would hold new elections.

But Rainsy, the Cambodian opposition leader, on Wednesday voiced doubts about the juntas promises.

The democratic transition must be based on the results of the elections in November 2020. We cant trust the junta with their promise to organize another election next year, he said.

By that time, they will have dissolved the National League for Democracy [Suu Kyis party] and the election will be meaningless.

Kasit, the former foreign minister of Thailand, warned that ASEAN risked undermining its international standing if it failed to find a solution to the Myanmar crisis.

And Fadli, the Indonesian legislator, said ASEAN must have a common stance on the issues of human rights and democracy in Myanmar.

The most important thing is a political will to urge the military to comply with these principles, he said.
The Rs 582-crore initial public offering (IPO) of Suryoday Small Finance Bank (SSFB) has started today, March 17. The offer comprises a fresh issue of 81.50 lakh equity shares and an offer for sale of 1.09 crore equity shares by existing selling shareholders. The lender has fixed a price a band of Rs 303-305 a share for the issue, which will close on March 19. Ahead of IPO, the company has raised around Rs 170 crore from anchor investors.

Here's all you need to know about Suryoday Small Finance Bank IPO:

The bidding for Suryoday Small Finance Bank IPO starts off on March 17 and will close on March 19.

The offer comprises fresh issuance of 81,50,000 equity shares and an offer for sale of up to 1,09,43,070 equity shares by existing shareholders including International Financial Corporation (IFC), Gaja Capital, HDFC Holdings, IDFC First Bank, Kotak Mahindra Life Insurance Company, DWM (International) Mauritius Ltd and Americorp Ventures.

The small finance bank has set a price a band of Rs 303-305 a share for its IPO.

At the upper end of the price band, the IPO would fetch Rs 582 crore to the company.

The bank intends to utilise the net proceeds towards augmenting its Tier-I capital base to meet future capital requirements.

The company has raised over Rs 170 crore from anchor investors ahead of an initial share-sale. The anchor investors include Axis Mutual Fund, IDFC Mutual Fund, SBI Life Insurance Company Ltd, Integrated Core Strategies Asia Pte Ltd, Aditya Birla Sunlife Insurance Company, ICICI Lombard General Insurance Company, ICICI Prudential Life Insurance Company, Goldman Sachs (Singapore) Pte and India Max Investment Fund Ltd.

Axis Capital, ICICI Securities, SBI Capital Markets and IIFL Securities are the merchant bankers of the issue.

Shares of Suryoday Small Finance Bank will be listed on BSE and NSE.

The small finance bank has over 20 institutional investors with a mix of institutional investors, development funds, and private equity investors. As of March 2020, its net worth stood at around Rs 1,000 crore with a capital adequacy ratio of 30 per cent. It has a deposit base of more than Rs 2,800 crore and a gross loan portfolio of around Rs 3,700 crore.

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A group of investors led by Baton Rouge-based Bernhard Capital is making a "significant investment" in a Metairie insurance business that specializes in selling surety bonds to contractors.

The amount of the investment in The Gray Casualty & Surety Co. was not disclosed. The company was founded in 2003.

The announcement was made by Bernhard Capital Partners Management and The Gray Insurance Co., a family-owned business founded in 1977 that offers workers compensation, commercial auto, general liability and excess liability coverage in 50 states.

Bernhard Capital was founded in 2013 by former Shaw Group chief executive Jim Bernhard, Jeff Jenkins and a group of private-equity professionals to acquire, operate and grow services and infrastructure businesses. The firm raised $750 million for its first private equity fund three years later. A second $1.2 billion fund controlled by Bernhard Capital closed in 2019.

Bernhard Capital Partners closes debut private equity fund at more than $750 million Bernhard Capital Partners Management LP, an investment firm founded by former Shaw Group chief executive James Jim Bernhard, has reached a $

"This insurance platform will serve as a natural extension of our construction and infrastructure expertise," Jim Bernhard said in a statement.

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Gray Surety underwrites contract bonds for small and mid-sized contractors nationwide with annual revenue under $30 million. These bonds are used during construction projects to ensure payment of subcontractors. The company also underwrites commercial bonds for licenses, permits and other regulatory requirements. The company has offices in Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi, Alabama and Arizona.

Members of the Gray family will continue to run the business.

The deal would enable Gray Insurance to capture more of the market with the influx of capital, said Michael T. Gray, chief executive officer and president of Gray Insurance.

Bernhard Capital already owns a stake in Lafayette-based general contractor The Lemoine Co. after a deal closed in 2019. Bernhard Capital portfolio companies also include Bernhard LLC in Metairie; Brown and Root in Baton Rouge; Allied Power in Baton Rouge; National Water Infrastructure in Ascension; Atlas Technical Consultants in Austin, Texas; Bernhard Energy Solutions in Baton Rouge; Charah Solutions in Louisville, Kentucky; Epic Piping in Livingston; and United Utility in Charlotte, North Carolina.

The worldwide portfolio companies under Bernhard Capital employ more than 18,000 people.
Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) in the Senate subway area of the Capitol before President Donald Trumps State of the Union address in Washington on Feb. 4, 2020. (Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times)

Sen. Ernst to Introduce Bill Mandating Tracking White House, Executive Branch Carbon Emissions

Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) says she is introducing legislation that would require the federal government to track and make public the carbon emissions produced by President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, and executive branch departments and agencies.

What Ive done is put forward some new legislation which will track the carbon emissions of White House and executive branch officials, Ernst told reporters on March 17 during a digital news conference to mark Sunshine Week.

Sunshine Week celebrates important transparency-in-government laws such as the federal Freedom of Information Act and the March 16 birthday of President James Madison, one of the main authors of the Constitution and Bill of Rights. Thirty-five years after drafting the Constitution, Madison wrote that democracy without information is but a prologue to a farce or a tragedy, Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) said.

Ernst said her proposal really does expose the hypocrisy that we have seen with these government officials who are going after bio-fuels and fossil fuels while they themselves are using fossil-fueled transportation means. Just blatant hypocrisy, holding themselves to a totally different standard.

The Iowa Republican pointed to White House presidential envoy for climate John Kerry, who, she said, is out there trying to promote a clean environment and a healthy climate while he himself is usingbefore [joining] the administration, private planesnow hes using White House or official planes on the taxpayers dime to travel around the globe.

The Ernst proposalthe Executive Branch Emissions Transparency Actis co-sponsored by Sens. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), and Rick Scott (R-Fla.).

If the Biden Administration is going to limit Iowans access to affordable and reliable fuels, kill thousands of American jobs, and implement heavy-handed energy regulations paid for by hardworking Iowans, taxpayers have a right to know about their blatant hypocrisy, Ernst said during a March 16 press call.

My bill simply requires the executive branch to track and publicly release the amount of carbon emissions associated with all fossil-fuel powered travel, she said.

Disclosing Costs

Also this week, Ernst gave her monthly Squeal Award for March 2021 to federal agencies that ignore laws requiring them to disclose the true costs of programs they administer.

Ernst said she is reintroducing her Cost Openness and Transparency Act, which requires federal departments and agencies to publicize the cost of all of their programs, and she pointed to the failure of government officials to comply with the Stevens Amendment.

The Stevens Amendment, which has been a law since 1989, requires the Department of Education and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to disclose for a grant program the percent of the costs financed with federal funds, the federal dollar amount, and the percentage and dollar amount financed by nongovernmental funds, according to the Government Accountability Office.

Federal officials at the two departments have ignored the Stevens provision for decades, Ernst said. She cited as an example that more than $15 million in federal grant money went to EcoAlliance Health, a group that has been collaborating with and sending U.S. taxpayer dollars to Chinas state-run Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV). A review of EcoHealth Alliances press releases and published studies over the past several years demonstrates a total disregard for the Stevens Amendment requirements.

Ernst has asked the HHS inspector general to investigate the lax observance of the Stevens Amendment, and how that allows federal officials to funnel tax dollars through private groups that end up funding foreign labs such as the Wuhan facility.

Asked by The Epoch Times if the return of earmarks in the federal budgeting process would make the problem worse, Ernst said: Absolutely it will make this worse. I am opposed, I just think that makes it that much more difficult when you have pet projects, dollars being allocated to certain senators for whatever they want to use those funds for.

Joining Ernst during the March 17 news conference was Justin Goodman, vice president of White Coat Waste, a nonprofit that opposes federal funding of animal-based research.

Goodman told reporters his groups national survey of 1,023 voters in January and March found that 77 percent of the public supports an independent U.S. investigation of the origins of the CCP virusalso known as the novel coronavirus.

His groups polling also found that 72 percent of respondents believe federal grant recipients should be required to disclose how much money they are getting, he said.

Goodman added that 64 percent of the Republicans surveyed and 67 percent of the Democrats agreed that federal fund recipients that dont disclose should have their grants reduced.

This is widespread, diverse, bipartisan support for these common-sense transparency measures just to have a sense of what the government is doing with our money, Goodman said.

Its an uphill battle, but it is something that of all the issues we have in Washington right now that are so divisive, there is agreement on the COST Act, there is agreement on government transparency, there is agreement on sunshine. I think we need to focus on areas where there is that agreement and we can get things done, rather than having partisan fights about everything.
Denton, TX (76205)

Today

Partly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 62F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

Partly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 62F. Winds light and variable.
U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala) opened his weekly call with state reporters today criticizing President Bidens border and election policies but closed saying he hopes to find some common ground with the White House to help the people of Alabama and the people of America live better lives.

Congressional Republicans have teamed up this week to criticize Biden for a surge in people attempting to cross the southern border since his inauguration. We need President Biden to take this seriously, Tuberville said. Instead of blaming President Trump, he should continue with the policies that worked  and continue to build the wall.

Tuberville also called Bidens proposed election changes the Democrats latest partisan power grab aimed at a top-down, one-size-fits-all approach to our federal election system.

Closer to Alabama, Tuberville criticized a federal proposal to change how cities qualify as metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs). The threshold to become an MSA is a population of 50,000, and he said the proposal would raise that to 100,000.

This would have a terrible impact on Alabama communities, Tuberville said. Under the change  population centers across Alabama would have their designations go from metro down to micro. This includes the cities of Florence, Muscle Shoals, Decatur, Gadsden, Anniston, Oxford, Auburn and Opelika.

Metro status plays a large role in the grants a community is eligible to apply for, Tuberville said. Being downgraded could limit access to important programs.

Asked about Alabamas COVID-19 vaccination program, Tuberville said he has been told that about 1.5 million doses have been shipped to the state and just over 1 million people vaccinated. The number having both doses of Pfizer and Moderna vaccines is a little over 400,000 people, he said.

The problems as you look into this is the more Pfizer you get, which is a very good vaccine, it has to have real cold refrigeration, Tuberville said. And of the 100-something locations we have, we only have 40 locations that have the type of refrigeration it needs. I think thats one problem.

Tuberville said Dr. Anthony Fauci and others in charge of vaccine distribution will appear before the Senate Health, Education, Labor & Pensions Committee Thursday. As a member of that committee, Tuberville said he will get to ask questions and get more information.
The average of COVID-19 vaccine wastage in India is 6.5 per cent, with Telangana and Andhra Pradesh recording 17.6 and 11.6 per cent wastage respectively, the Centre said on Wednesday as it called for optimal utilisation of the jabs.

Addressing a press conference, Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said that 3.51 crore vaccine doses have been administered till now in the country, which include 1.38 crore beneficiaries aged 45-60 years with specific co-morbidities and those above 60 years who have been given the first dose.

On March 15, 8.34 million COVID-19 vaccine doses were administered worldwide, of which India alone administered 36 per cent of doses, he said.

Bhushan said COVID-19 vaccine wastage in five states -- Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka and Jammu and Kashmir is higher than 6.5 per cent, which is the national average.

"The message we have shared with states is that vaccines are invaluable commodities. They are public health goods and therefore vaccines have to be optimally utilised. Vaccine wastage has to be drastically reduced. Any reduction in wastage means that you end up inoculating more people and therefore the chances of disrupting the chain of infection grow that much more," he said.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
For four years, Democrats worked hard to criminalize support for Donald Trump. They investigated Lt. General Michael Flynn, advisor Carter Page, personal attorney Michael Cohen, foreign policy advisor George Papadopoulus, and campaign strategist Roger Stone, among others. Most were arrested for brief periods. None were guilty of anything related to Trump, most werent guilty of any crime at all. They were prosecuted because of their affiliation with President Trump.

Now, our duly re-elected President Trump has been ousted from the office of president by a criminal conspiracy to install Joseph Biden, an usurper, in his place. To do this, a combination of voter fraud, election fraud, dereliction of duty in the courts, and suppression of conservative speech was employed.

One of the more perfidious examples of the new intolerance for all things connected to an honest assessment of the 2020 election are the mass arrests of people who attended the January 6th rally in Washington D.C. Two events took place on that day, each initiated by different groups of people on opposite sides of the election integrity issue.

On one side, Trump supporters gathered on the Ellipse to hear the president speak on the subject of election fraud and to show their support. On the other side, Antifa-led groups met at the Capitol for the purpose of gaining unlawful entry to the building, vandalizing it, and blaming Trump supporters for their actions. As proof of their goals, they broadcast messages on social media that exposed their plans in enough detail to leave no doubt regarding their intentions. The Antifa members, all of whom attended the Capitol riot for the purpose of defaming President Trump, wore pro-Trump merchandise to disguise themselves as Trump supporters. This is well-documented.

Thanks to a late arrival at the Ellipse, the president concluded his speech about half an hour later than expected. A half hour walks distance from Trumps rally, Antifa-led groups stormed the Capitol before Trump had finished speaking, while most of the people in attendance remained at the Ellipse. By the time genuine Trump supporters arrived at the Capitol, Antifa had already entered the building and begun their riotous behavior. Some Trump supporters wandered in, some invited by the Capitol police, with no inkling that there would be any question whether it was legal to do so.

Democrat politicians, Republican quislings, and the media dishonestly described the Trump rally as a riot that culminated in storming the Capitol. Describing the rally in that way conflated two separate events held by two separate groups of people who held opposing views. The truth is that Trump supporters, when they saw Antifa was present, made efforts to stop them from unlawful conduct.

In some cases, they were successful. Regardless, the new and illegitimate regime in power has released some Antifa members that were arrested but is retaining custody of Trump supporters arrested for attending the Trump rally.

Case in point: Retired Army sergeant and veteran Sgt. Kenneth Harrelson traveled to Washington D.C. on January 6th to provide security for President Trumps rally as a member of the Oath Keepers group. As a direct result of his arrest, his wife lost her job, their bank account was frozen, and his family is now subject to criminal threats and harassment while he waits in prison. They do not have the money to hire a defense attorney.

According to a statement released by Harrelsons wife, he had no advance knowledge of Antifas planned action at the Capitol. He saw it for the first time when he escorted members of the Trump rally to the Capitol, which had already been overrun by Antifa. He stayed to assist members of the Capitol Hill police force and people in the crowd who had been pepper-sprayed. For this, he was arrested and his family is now at risk of losing their home, car, and have already lost their livelihood.

Harrelsons story is unfortunately not unique. Hundreds of people have been unjustly arrested for similar reasons and with similar effects. Their crime wasnt riot or insurrection, though that is what the arrest warrants claim. Their crime was no crime at all. They supported Donald Trump, that is all. However, it isnt as simple as that. Arresting this group of people on this false pretext provides a reason to engage in more widespread suppression of Trump voters, to intimidate them through this example, and to protect themselves by installing tens of thousands of National Guard troops in Washington.

The reasons given for arresting rally attendees are ludicrous in light of how Democrats treated protestors who stormed the Capitol and occupied it during the Brett Kavanaugh confirmation hearings in 2018. They were celebrated by Democrats as courageous, not as insurrectionists. Some were arrested but the charges were far less serious than what Trump supporters face for attending Trumps rally. This ignores another discrepancy between the two groups: most Trump supporters, including among those arrested, never entered the Capitol. Of those who did, many were invited to enter by Capitol Hill police who removed barricades and waved them in.

A second group of protesters that unequivocally demonstrates Democrat treachery, are the people who organized and participated in the hundreds of riots that started last year after the death of George Floyd in March. Democrats lauded the protests, excused the rioters, and then cooperated by telling police to stand down, or by not prosecuting the few protester/rioters who were arrested. The small number who were arrested and prosecuted received light sentences considering the crimes committed: looting, arson, assault, vandalism, and murder.

The people of our country are now faced with a choice: will we allow our criminal justice system to be inverted so that the innocent are punished and the guilty go free? Or will we object, make our voices heard, and reverse this evil trend? Unfortunately, it isnt so simple. As we saw in 2020, the people of this country no longer have a voice at the ballot box.

When a fraudulent election is allowed to stand, no vote matters until that problem is solved. Secondly, with free speech under attack from all sides, starting with social media suppression, consistent but false narratives in the press, and the ever-lurking danger of cancel culture, the risk of free speech has never been greater.

Our government has been co-opted by forces antagonistic to the people of America and our Constitutional form of government. To do it, many who hold elected office have betrayed their oath of office by not defending the Constitution or by actively working to violate it. Sadly, the number of corrupted politicians who have betrayed our people is now so great that a simple list of their names would exceed the word count alotted for most articles. They couldnt do what they do without support from other politicians. All of them must be impeached.

If anyone has committed crimes against our government, if any insurrection has taken place, it was done by the people who enabled Joseph Biden to take up residence at the White House, and who now persecute Trump supporters. Impeach them all, at every level. There is no time to waste.

Graphic credit: YouTube screengrab (cropped)
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SEOUL, South Korea  Americas top diplomat on Wednesday criticized North Koreas human rights record and reiterated a vow to strip the country of its nuclear program, a day after Pyongyang warned Washington to refrain from causing a stink amid deadlocked nuclear negotiations.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in South Korea with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin earlier Wednesday as part of their regional tour aimed at boosting Americas Asian alliances to better deal with growing challenges from China and North Korea.

The authoritarian regime in North Korea continues to commit systematic and widespread abuses against its own people, Blinken said at the start of his meeting with South Korean Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong. We must stand with people demanding their fundamental rights and freedoms and against those who repress them.

Blinken called North Koreas nuclear and missile programs a threat to the region and to the world. He said the United States will work with South Korea, Japan and other allies to achieve the denuclearization of North Korea.

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How to get North Korea to return to talks was sure to be a major focus of meetings between Blinken and Austin and South Korean officials.

When Austin separately met his South Korean counterpart Suh Wook on Wednesday, he said their countries alliance has never been more important given the unprecedented challenges posed by North Korea and China.

The two top U.S. officials are to hold a joint two plus two meeting with Chung and Suh on Thursday in the first such contact between the two countries in five years.

U.S.-led diplomacy on North Koreas nuclear program has been in limbo since a February 2019 summit between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un collapsed over disputes on U.S.-led sanctions. Kim has since threatened to enlarge his nuclear arsenal in protest of what he called U.S. hostility.

On Tuesday, Kims sister and a senior official in her own right, Kim Yo Jong, slammed the United States over its ongoing regular military drills with South Korea, which North Korea sees as an invasion rehearsal.

We take this opportunity to warn the new U.S. administration, Kim Yo Jong said in a statement. If it wants to sleep in peace for (the) coming four years, it had better refrain from causing a stink at its first step.

Some experts say Kim Yo Jongs statement was a pressure tactic and that Pyongyang may try to further raise animosities with weapons tests to boost its leverage in future negotiations with Washington.

North Korea didnt immediately react to Blinkens comments Wednesday.

While in Tokyo on Tuesday, Blinken said that Washington reached out to North Korea through several channels starting in mid-February, but it hasnt received any response. He said the Biden administration was looking forward to completing its policy review on North Korea in coming weeks and was looking both at possible additional pressure measures and diplomatic paths.

Blinken and Austin also joined forces with Japanese officials to criticize Chinas coercion and aggression and reaffirm their commitment to ridding North Korea of all its nuclear weapons.

China on Wednesday said the U.S.-Japan statement maliciously attacked its foreign policy and seriously interfered in Chinas internal affairs. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said China was strongly dissatisfied and resolutely opposed to the statement.

With North Koreas arsenal believed to be growing amid the deadlocked diplomacy, experts are debating over whether the United States and its allies should settle for a deal that would freeze North Koreas nuclear program in return for relaxing sanctions  and possibly leave Pyongyangs already manufactured nuclear weapons in place.

Shin Beomchul, an analyst with the Seoul-based Korea Research Institute for National Strategy, said he expects the Biden administration to pursue a deal with North Korea that resembles a 2015 accord that froze Irans nuclear program in return for lifting sanctions.

While the United States wont likely give up its long-term commitment to denuclearizing North Korea, rolling back the countrys nuclear capabilities to zero is not a realistic near-term diplomatic goal, he said.

Trump blew up that 2015 Obama administration deal in favor of what he called maximum pressure against Iran, and the Biden government is trying to resurrect it.

In an op-ed in the New York Times in 2018, Blinken, then a managing director of the Penn Biden Center for Diplomacy and Global Engagement, argued that the best deal the U.S. could reach with North Korea more than likely will look like what Barack Obama achieved with Iran. He said that an interim agreement would buy time to negotiate a more comprehensive deal, including a minutely sequenced road map that will require sustained diplomacy. Thats the approach Mr. Obama took with Iran.

Other experts say an Iran-style deal wont work for North Korea. Iran hasnt built any bomb, but North Korea has already manufactured dozens. They say North Korea, which has a history of derailing agreements with its vehement rejection of verification processes, wont find any reason to denuclearize when some of the most painful sanctions are lifted.

Everyone can say easily that (settling for) a nuclear freeze would allow North Korea to preserve its existing nukes. But I ask them what other options do they have to realize North Koreas denuclearization, said Kim Yeol Soo, an analyst with South Koreas Korea Institute for Military Affairs.

Another possible topic during this weeks U.S.-South Korean talks is whether South Korea should actively participate in U.S.-led efforts to curb Chinas rising strength in the region.

South Korea is a longtime U.S. ally and hosts about 28,500 American troops. But its economy is heavily dependent on trade with China, making it difficult to take any step deemed provocative to its biggest trading partner.

Suh, the South Korean defense minister, said Tuesday that the United States hadnt formally proposed for South Korea to join an expanded format of the so-called Quad group that includes the United States, Japan, Australia and India, and that the Americans wont likely make such a proposal during this weeks talks.
Emily Mieure covers criminal justice and emergency news. She also leads the News&Guides investigative efforts. She has reported for WDRB TV in Louisville, Ky., WFIE TV in Evansville, Ind., and WEIU TV in Charleston, Ill.
COLUMBUS, Ohio, March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Although health care sharing ministries are not insurance and are not subject to insurance regulations, individual ministries can be reviewed and analyzed to assist consumers, providers, regulators and other stakeholders in better understanding the functional operations of a specific health care sharing ministry. Demotech is pleased to introduce its FbSR, Faith Based Sharing Review.

Health care sharing ministries and their members are not obligated to share in the payment of medical expenses incurred by members and payments are not guaranteed. However, members of health care sharing ministries may be exempt from the individual mandate in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act under 26 USC 5000A(d)(2)(B).

Joseph Petrelli, President and Co-founder, Demotech, summarized entry into this space as follows: "We are pleased to be the first to independently assess individual health care sharing ministries and assist them with educating their stakeholders. In direct contrast to insurers who issue insurance policies that enumerate the benefits of the insured and constitute a promise to pay or indemnify, a health care sharing ministry is voluntary. Participants are not compelled by law to contribute toward medical bills. Some states have expressly exempted these ministries from regulation and other states require a notice using prescribed language. Demotech will bring our experience and expertise to this sector to facilitate the distribution of educational insights to the many stakeholders of health care sharing ministries."

About Demotech, Inc.

Demotech, Inc. was the first firm to review independent, regional and specialty insurers. Since 1985, Demotech has served the industry by assigning accurate, reliable, and proven Financial Stability Ratings to Property & Casualty insurers and Title underwriters. FSRs provide an objective baseline of the solvency of an insurer. Demotech's philosophy is to review and evaluate insurers based on their area of focus and execution of their business model rather than solely on financial size. Demotech was the first to review and rate independent regional and specialty insurers. Demotech's increasing accreditations and acceptances has resulted in its review of more than 400 insurers operating in the US. Visit www.demotech.com for additional information.

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MEDFORD, Ore.  A Florida-based contractor faces more than $74,000 in fines for violating Oregon's asbestos disposal regulations during clean-up after the Almeda Fire, according to the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality.

While much of the Almeda clean-up is being performed in two phases by state and federal-sanctioned contractors DEQ said that the owners of the Medford Estates mobile home park independently brought in BACH Development to clear the sites destroyed by the Almeda Fire. BACH was not of the contractors employed by the state.

State contracted crews begin the second stage of clean-up operations following the Almeda Fire. State contracted crews begin the second stage of clean-up operations following the Almeda Fire.

Over the course of late November and early December of 2020, DEQ said that BACH "improperly cleared, removed, loaded and packaged asbestos-containing wildfire debris" from Medford Estates without getting the required license from the state. BACH allegedly didn't notify the disposal site of the type and amount of waste, and didn't get the site's approval before bringing the debris.

The Oregon Environmental Quality Commission did provide some temporary flexibility to several asbestos rules for the fire clean-up, but DEQ said that many rules remained in place to protect workers and the public.

"These rules provide important health protection for workers and the public," the agency said. "Exposure to asbestos may cause cancer and other illnesses. Theres no known safe level of exposure."

BACH Development can appeal the proposed penalty and request a hearing within 20 days of receiving notice from DEQ. In total, the civil penalty amounts to $74,469.

The state's clean-up operation has been ongoing since October. Phase one of the project focused on the removal of hazardous waste, overseen by the federal Environmental Protection Agency. The second phase, still ongoing, is focused on the removing the bulk of ash and other debris left behind.

Property owners needed to opt in for the government-led clean-up process, signing Right of Entry forms to grant permission. Officials repeatedly underlined that the clean-up, done this way, would be practically cost free for property owners.

But with the process still ongoing more than months after the Almeda Fire, time has increasingly become a complicating factor as many property owners continue waiting for the chance to rebuild with looming insurance deadlines.

This is a developing story and will be updated with more details as they emerge.
New Delhi, March 17 : A year after the Covid-19 outbreak and two months, which recorded a sharp decline in cases across the country, the pandemic is rearing its head again.

Initially, it appeared that the infection was only picking up in Maharashtra and Punjab, which accounted for a large majority of Covid-19 cases. However, according to data, eight states account for a majority of daily Covid-19 cases, close to 85 per cent, indicating at strong resurgence of second wave of infections in India.

According to the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the country is witnessing a resurgence in infections in March, after two months when the infections plummeted across the country.

The data shows that the country has seen more than 1,00,000 infections in the second week of March, which suggests that second wave of infections is threatening to wash over the country, almost a year after India announced its first lockdown in the backdrop of rising cases in March 2020.

On Tuesday, India detected 28,903 Covid-19 cases, of which 17,864 cases were from Maharashtra.

This is the biggest spike in daily Covid-19 cases this year.

The surge in new infections has pushed India's tally behind the US and Brazil. At least 188 deaths were reported on Tuesday, with Maharashtra reporting 87 casualties and Punjab reporting 38 causalities.

In excess of 60 per cent, daily infections have been recorded in Maharashtra.

More than 1.14 crore people have been found infected so far in the country. According to the health ministry data, Maharashtra, Punjab, Karnataka, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu, where daily Covid-19 cases continue to rise, account for more than 78 per cent of the new infections.

The rising trajectory of daily new cases is visible in eight states: Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi, Gujarat, Karnataka and Haryana.

Maharashtra is followed by Kerala with 1,970 cases; Karnataka with 1,135; Punjab 1,463; Gujarat 954; Chhattisgarh 856; and Tamil Nadu with 867 cases.

Since March 11, India has been recording over 20,000 daily increase in cases.

On December 20, last year, India had recorded 26,624 daily new cases, which continued to decline till January 31, with 13,052 new cases.

On February 2, the new infections further plummeted to 8,635.

On February 23, the daily new infections were 10,584. Since then, the new infections are increasing consistently. On March 17, the recovery declined to 96.6 per cent from 97.3 per cent, which was four weeks ago.

The number of active cases in the country has increased to more than 2.34 lakh.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Continuing its commitment to accelerate mainstream adoption of electric vehicles, Hyundai Motor America will provide 250 kilowatt-hours of complimentary charging on Electrify America's ultra-fast charging network for owners of 2021 Kona Electric and Ioniq Electric models.

Customers can access their complimentary charging by the easy-to-use Electrify America mobile app that will also help drivers find and navigate to Electrify America stations and to start a charging session. 250 kilowatt-hours equals about 1,000 miles of EPA estimated driving range in a 2021 Hyundai Kona Electric or Ioniq Electric1.

"We know EV interest and sales are expanding, nationwide and more people are adding chargers to their homes every day," said Olabisi Boyle, vice president, Product Planning and Mobility Strategy, Hyundai Motor North America. "Our Kona and Ioniq EV owners are getting additional peace of mind when heading out on longer trips with prepaid access to Electrify America's national fast-charging network. Electrify America's DC fast chargers more than meet the Kona and Ioniq's higher power charging capabilities."

Electrify America has more than 2,400 ultra-fast chargers across the country. Stations are conveniently located along major routes and in metro areas, strategically placed near shopping, banking and dining amenities. Each station has between three and ten individual DC fast chargers to accommodate multiple vehicles charging at one time. The chargers utilize the fastest technology available today  providing speeds of up to 150kW and 350kW for capable vehicles  to help reduce the amount of time spent charging.

"Hyundai Kona and Ioniq Electric model owners can count on our ultra-fast charging network to provide convenient and reliable charging where and when they need it," said Wayne Killen, director of automotive and fleet business development at Electrify America. "With more than 500 charging stations in the U.S., Electrify America's network gives EV owners range confidence traveling across town or across the country. Kona and Ioniq owners gain access to our fast-charging network which was rated Number One by umlaut Inc. in Charged Electric Vehicles Magazine in its 2020 "Best-in-Test" award."

Since Electrify America installed its first charging station in May 2018, the company has on average added four charging stations per week. Across the country, 96 percent of the population live within 120 miles of an Electrify America charger. Hyundai customers will be able to manage their fast charging plan through a convenient app provided by Electrify America.

2021 Kona Electric

Generous 258-mile EPA-estimated range i meets more varied lifestyle needs

meets more varied lifestyle needs 7.2 kW On-board charger increases charging speed on L2 AC chargers

Using a 100 kW DC fast charger, the battery can reach 80% charge in as little as 54 minutes 2

Standard 64 kWh battery pack

10.25-inch Navigation System available

Kona Electric is Hyundai's first compact electric crossover for the U.S. market, appealing to consumers with active, eco-focused lifestyles of all kinds. Kona Electric's exterior styling features voluminous, aggressive body styling complemented by a low and wide stance for great looks and confident handling in a variety of urban and adventure-oriented driving environments.

2021 Ioniq Electric

EPA estimated driving range of 170 miles ii

38.3 kWh battery pack

7.2 kW On-board charger increases charging speed on L2 AC chargers

Using a 100 kW DC fast charger, the battery can reach 80% charge in as little as 54 minutes 1

EPA estimated 133 combined MPGe makes Ioniq Electric one of the most efficient vehicles sold in the U.S.iii

The Ioniq Electric's 38.3 kWh offers a total of 170 miles of EPA estimated rangei. Its e-motor delivers 134 horsepower and 218 lb.-ft. of torque and is fitted standard with a 7.2-kW on-board charger for Type 2 AC charging. Using a DC fast charger matched to the Ioniq's peak intake of 100 kW, the battery can reach 80% charge in as little as 54 minutes3.

Hyundai Motor America

At Hyundai Motor America, we believe everyone deserves better. From the way we design and build our cars to the way we treat the people who drive them, making things better is at the heart of everything we do. Hyundai's technology-rich product lineup of cars, SUVs and alternative-powered electric and fuel cell vehicles is backed by Hyundai Assuranceour promise to create a better experience for customers. Hyundai vehicles are sold and serviced through more than 820 dealerships nationwide and nearly half of those sold in the U.S. are built at Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama. Hyundai Motor America is headquartered in Fountain Valley, California, and is a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Company of Korea.

Please visit our media website at www.HyundaiNews.com

Hyundai Motor America on Twitter | YouTube | Facebook | Instagram

About Electrify America

Electrify America LLC, the largest open DC fast charging network in the U.S., is investing $2 billion over 10 years in Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) infrastructure, education and access. The investment will enable millions of Americans to discover the benefits of electric driving and support the build-out of a nationwide network of workplace, community and highway chargers that are convenient and reliable. Electrify America expects to install or have under development approximately 800 total charging stations with about 3,500 DC fast chargers by December 2021. During this period, the company will be expanding to 29 metros and 45 states, including two cross-country routes, delivering on its commitment to support increased ZEV adoption with a network that is comprehensive, technologically advanced and customer friendly. Electrify America earned the "2020 EV Charging Infrastructure Best-in-Test" award from umlaut, an independent testing & validation company, as published in Charged Electric Vehicles Magazine noting the brand's accessibility and seamless customer experience. Electrify America's Electrify Home offers home charging solutions for consumers with flexible installation options. Electrify Commercial provides expert solutions for businesses looking to develop electric vehicle charging programs. For more information, visit www.electrifyamerica.com and media.electrifyamerica.com.

1 Range claim based on full usage of 250 kWh hours of ultra-fast charging and the 2021 Kona Electric's EPA-estimated total range of 258 miles or the 2021 Ioniq Electric's EPA-estimated total range of 170 miles. EPA estimates for comparison purposes only. Actual range and mileage will vary with options, driving conditions and habits, vehicle and battery's condition and other factors.

2 Approximately 54 minutes on a 100-kW DC Fast Charger and approximately 75 minutes on 50-kW DC Fast Charger. Charging rate and time estimate varies based on a number of factors, including current battery charge level, output of the charging unit, vehicle and battery conditions and outside temperature.

3 Approximately 54 minutes on a 100-kW DC Fast Charger and approximately 75 minutes on 50-kW DC Fast Charger. Charging rate and time estimate varies based on a number of factors, including current battery charge level, output of the charging unit, vehicle and battery conditions and outside temperature.

i 2021 Kona Electric 258 mile EPA-estimated total range based on a fully charged battery. For comparison purposes only. Actual range and mileage will vary with options, driving conditions and habits, vehicle and battery's condition and other factors.

ii 2021 Ioniq Electric 170 mile EPA-estimated total range based on a fully charged battery. For comparison purposes only. Actual range and mileage will vary with options, driving conditions and habits, vehicle and battery's condition and other factors.

iii 2021 Ioniq Electric: 133 Combined, 145 City and 121 Highway MPGe. MPGe is the EPA equivalent measure of gasoline fuel efficiency for electric mode operation. All figures are EPA estimates and for comparison purposes only. Actual mileage will vary with options, driving conditions and habits, vehicle and battery's condition and other factors.

SOURCE Hyundai Motor America

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Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
A view of the summit of Snowdon (right) in Wales (Joe Giddens/PA)

The UK Government has faced calls to allow Wales to hold a post-pandemic independence referendum, amid criticism of First Minister Mark Drakeford for doubting the union.

Welsh Secretary Simon Hart told MPs that he expected voters to give a resounding endorsement of the union at Mays Welsh Parliament elections.

But SNP MP Anne McLaughlin (Glasgow North East) replied: The Labour First Minister of Wales, Mark Drakeford, told the Welsh Affairs Committee a few weeks ago that devolution is under aggressive attack by a Tory Government that has, what he called, outright hostility at the heart of its governance.

With independence currently polling as high as 40% in Wales without an official campaign, will the minister respect the democratic rights of people in Wales and in Scotland to have a post-pandemic independence referendum in the event of pro-independence majorities in May?

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Mr Hart replied: I think the First Minister has been pretty reckless in trying to inject an air of uncertainty into these discussions.

And I think most of us realise hes only doing that because his only chance of remaining as First Minister post-May is to do some kind of a deal with Plaid Cymru and we know what the price of that will be.

Mr Hart earlier accused the Welsh Government of dragging its feet over new freeport opportunities and urged them to come to the party.

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He said: Local authorities are keen on this initiative, port authorities are keen on them, they can produce up to 15,000 jobs so it is disappointing that the Welsh Government seems to be still dragging its feet around this and allowing this initiative to flourish everywhere else other than Wales  and thats costing jobs and livelihoods.

Labours Geraint Davies (Swansea West) warned a freeport at Liverpool will sap and displace trade, investment and jobs from Holyhead and North Wales, as he asked for the country to receive its fair share of funding.

He said: Liverpool will get 26 million of investment whereas in Wales were only being offered 8 million for one UK freeport either in North or South Wales.

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Mr Hart replied: The best way of avoiding that outcome is for the Welsh Government to get behind the scheme, support a project which is endorsed by local authorities and port authorities in Wales, and encourage jobs and livelihoods that way.

But every day they leave it on the basis of this not invented here syndrome, it is going to cost jobs and livelihoods.

My message to (Mr Davies) is get hold of the Welsh Government and encourage them to come to the party.
Asian American communities in the Triangle and across the country saw their fears realized Tuesday when eight people, including six Asian American women, were killed at three Atlanta-area massage parlors. A white man has been charged in the shootings.

Chavi Koneru, the executive director of North Carolina Asian Americans Together, said the group first noticed a rise in anti-Asian discrimination in January of last year  as Asian American community events, like Chinese New Year festivals, were being canceled before the coronavirus had been detected in the U.S.

But she said it was in March, when the virus arrived in North Carolina and then President Donald Trump began using terms that linked China to the virus, that the discrimination became more widespread and targeted. Koneru said recent months have seen that discrimination become more aggressive.

My first response was grief, devastation, she said about the attacks in Atlanta. We think of Georgia as part of the South, as close to home  and so this feels a lot more real and a lot scarier in some ways than what was happening across the country.

Stop AAPI Hate, a San Francisco-based organization that tracks incidents of harassment and violence against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders across the country, received reports of about 3,800 incidents between March 19, 2020, and Feb. 28, 2021. North Carolina was not among the states with the most reported incidents, but a Stop AAPI presentation notes, The number of hate incidents reported to our center represent only a fraction of the number of hate incidents that actually occur.

Of the incidents that were reported, 68% involved verbal harassment while more than 20% involved intentionally avoiding Asian Americans. Businesses and public parks were the most likely locations of discrimination; Chinese people were the ethnic group that reported the most incidents of discrimination.

Jing Lin owns Chuan Cafe, a Chinese restaurant that has been open for almost two years in East Raleigh. She also runs a restaurant in Atlanta.

Story continues

While she hasnt had too many problems, Lin said she is still a little bit scared that what happened at the massage parlors in Atlanta can happen at her restaurants.

Were scared because as the owner we have a responsibility, Lin said. We hope our employees protect themselves.

Lin said her restaurants and the malls where they are located have security cameras. She hopes people will communicate and talk through their problems instead of resorting to violence.

We should make everything more peaceful, she said.

Sophia Khotil was born in the Philippines, but has lived in Raleigh since 2007. Khotil has worked for 10 years as a licensed massage therapist, including at Sukho Thai Massage, a Raleigh massage studio, for the past four years.

When Khotil heard about the killings in Atlanta, she said she was scared to see people so close to her profession be killed. She was similarly fearful when Asian restaurants in the area reported several robberies.

Safety has always been a concern in our business, Khotil said.

In late February, Hy Huynh, a Duke University global mental health disparities researcher, spoke at a virtual gathering of N.C. Asian Americans Together about Asian American mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic and the spike in discrimination.

Trumps various racist tropes linking COVID-19 with Asian people, Huynh said, were a blatant misrepresentation and did nothing to stop or slow down this pandemic. Rather, the language only contributed to the anti-Asian American discrimination and stigma and gave people an excuse to harass, assault and murder Asian people.

Among the steps Huynh recommended were reporting any acts of discrimination and building a sense of community by seeking out other Asian Americans.

In the Triangle in 2018, an Asian American man named Hong Zheng was shot and killed in the driveway of his Durham home while returning home from the restaurant he owned.

The incident was the fifth time someone had broken into or tried to break into the house since 2015, family members told The News & Observer at the time, and raised concerns about criminals targeting first-generation immigrants.

In 2015, a white man shot and killed Deah Barakat, 23, his wife, Yusor Abu-Salha, 21, and her sister Razan Abu-Salha, 19, in their Chapel Hill home. According to The News & Observer, prosecutors portrayed the shooter, who was not charged with a hate crime, as being motivated by his hatred of their religion.

The case was initially framed as a parking dispute, but the victims families pushed back on that strongly, for years insisting the victims religion sparked the crime.

After the shooter pleaded guilty, the Chapel Hill Police Department released a statement that said, The man who committed these murders undoubtedly did so with a hateful heart, and the murders represented the taking of three promising lives by someone who clearly chose not to see the humanity and the goodness in them.

Asian American discrimination not new

Words escape me, said Professor Nayoung Aimee Kwon, the director of Asian American and Diaspora studies at Duke University. Kwon said the violence in Atlanta wasnt unexpected, but added that you never really are prepared.

Kwon emphasized that discrimination against Asian Americans is not new, pointing to the exploitation of Chinese labor in the building of the railroads in the 1800s, and more recent examples like the discrimination and harassment of Muslim and other South Asian communities in the aftermath of 9/11. During World War II, the U.S. government held more than 115,000 people of Japanese descent in internment camps. Neither German nor Italian Americans were confined.

The problem is that these (Asian) communities are always perceived as perpetually foreign  although there have been generations who have always been in this country, Kwon said.

Kwon said theres been a building anti-Asian and anti-Chinese sentiment in contemporary times, stemming from trade wars and political rhetoric.

If you dont have a basic understanding of the history, she said. Its very easy to hunker down and let your fears and anxieties against people who look different from you take over.

In addressing the rise in discrimination and violence, Kwon stressed the need for educators to incorporate Asian American history into the classroom. She added its important to contextualize the issue within a larger American history  one which includes the historical and contemporary struggles of Black Americans and other people of color, and promotes solidarity across different groups.

To Koneru, the path forward also involves legislative and community change, but said that her immediate focus is on giving the community space to grieve.

And though theres a history of discrimination against Asian Americans that predates the pandemic, we dont want to normalize this, Koneru said.

She said after the initial grief hit her, her concern became: Are we now going to be desensitized to these types of hate crimes against Asian Americans in the same way that we are about school shootings and police brutality? Is this just one more event?

Or, she said, are we going to address this, and do something about it?
-  25 million investment in Molsheim, France, will create 350 new jobs

- Response to unprecedented global demand of key technology

- Production capabilities anticipated to be operational by end of 2021

DARMSTADT, Germany, March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Merck, a leading science and technology company, will add a single-use assembly production unit at its Life Science Center in Molsheim, France. With the  25 million investment, the company is accelerating its European expansion plans for this key technology, which is used for the production of Covid-19 vaccines and other lifesaving therapies. Molsheim will be the first site in Europe where Merck manufactures the product. Further production sites are located in Danvers, Massachusetts, USA, and Wuxi, China.

The project was announced today in Molsheim in the presence of EU Commissioner Thierry Breton and the French Minister of Industry, Agnes Pannier-Runacher.

"The pandemic has confronted the world with inconceivable challenges. Merck's science and technology efforts have resulted in significant contributions since the outset of Covid-19. Our new European production unit will increase capacity of the urgently needed supply of single-use assemblies to vaccine and therapeutic manufacturers worldwide. Today's announcement of our expansion in Europe speaks of Merck's global commitment during and beyond this pandemic," said Belen Garijo, vice chair of the Executive Board and deputy CEO of Merck.

The investment in Molsheim will add more than 350 new jobs in total along with 1,700 square meters of ISO7 or ISO5 cleanrooms, using modular building design and existing infrastructure to allow future expansions without any disruptions. The new unit will produce Mobius single-use assemblies, a key offering that is part of Merck's Mobius MyWay program. It is planned to be operational by the end of 2021.

With more than 1,700 employees of 32 different nationalities, and producing more than 10,000 products, the Molsheim hub is Merck's third largest site globally. It supplies the world market, exporting more than 85 percent of its production. It hosts three production units dedicated to the manufacture and assembly of products and solutions for pharmaceutical manufacturing processes and applied solutions products for analysis in clinical and industrial environments and water purification systems.

"In recent years, many biopharmaceutical manufacturers have turned to single-use technologies for their flexibility, cost savings, speed and reduced risk, leading to double-digit market growth for this segment. The coronavirus pandemic has accelerated this trend, with most programs using single-use production templates," said Chris Ross, interim sector head, Life Science, at Merck. "Our Molsheim site has been a global center of excellence for BioMonitoring and water purification activities for many years. With this new single-use production unit, we will add critical capabilities to meet our customers' needs, while creating new jobs for our community."



Recently, Merck announced expansion projects in its Life Science business sector in Darmstadt, Germany; Cork, Ireland; Buchs, Switzerland; Carlsbad, California, USA; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Jaffrey, New Hampshire, USA; and Danvers, Massachusetts, USA. At the latter site, Merck is currently working to double the local single-use production capacity by the end of 2021. These expansions are part of an ambitious, multi-year program to increase the industrial capacity and capabilities of Merck's Life Science business sector to support growing global demand for lifesaving medications and to make significant contributions to public health.

All Merck news release are distributed by email at the same time they become available on the Merck Website. Please go to www.merckgroup.com/subscribe to register online, change your selection or discontinue this service.

About Merck

Merck, a leading science and technology company, operates across healthcare, life science and electronics. Around 58,000 employees work to make a positive difference to millions of people's lives every day by creating more joyful and sustainable ways to live. From advancing gene-editing technologies and discovering unique ways to treat the most challenging diseases to enabling the intelligence of devices - the company is everywhere. In 2020, Merck generated sales of  17.5 billion in 66 countries.

Scientific exploration and responsible entrepreneurship have been key to Merck's technological and scientific advances. This is how Merck has thrived since its founding in 1668. The founding family remains the majority owner of the publicly listed company. Merck holds the global rights to the Merck name and brand. The only exceptions are the United States and Canada, where the business sectors of Merck operate as EMD Serono in healthcare, MilliporeSigma in life science and EMD Electronics.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1457722/Merk_European_Expansion.jpg
Mumbai: Equity indices wilted under selling pressure for the fourth straight session on Wednesday, weighed by selling in RIL and banking stocks, amid lacklustre trade in global markets ahead of the US Federal Reserve's policy decision.

A flat rupee and rising COVID-19 cases in multiple states also sapped risk appetite, traders said.

After a volatile session, the 30-share BSE Sensex ended 562.34 points or 1.12 per cent lower at 49,801.62.

Similarly, the broader NSE Nifty slumped 189.15 points or 1.27 per cent to finish at 14,721.30.

ONGC was the top loser in the Sensex pack, declining 4.95 per cent, followed by NTPC, Sun Pharma, SBI, IndusInd Bank, Reliance Industries, Bajaj Auto and Dr Reddy's.

Only four index components finished with gains -- ITC, Infosys, TCS and HDFC, climbing up to 1.20 per cent.

"Indian market remained in negative territory as investors traded cautiously ahead of the US Fed meeting coupled with a resurgence in COVID cases. Adding to that, the rise in international crude prices is also dragging the Indian market.

"Global markets also displayed a weak opening as it awaits the final decision of the FOMC meeting today, which will decide the trend of the market in the short-term. On a consensus basis, an accommodative policy is expected by Fed, which will help the global market to stabilise," said Vinod Nair, Head of Research at Geojit Financial Services.

All BSE sectoral indices closed in the red, with oil and gas, power, realty, energy, utilities, industrials and capital goods indices shedding up to 3.22 per cent.

In the broader markets, the BSE midcap and smallcap indices fell as much as 2.28 per cent.

Global investors awaited the Fed's policy decision in the backdrop of surging US Treasury yields.

Elsewhere in Asia, bourses in Shanghai, Tokyo and Seoul ended on a negative note, while Hong Kong was in the positive terrain.

Stock exchanges in Europe were largely trading in the red in mid-session deals.

Meanwhile, the global oil benchmark Brent crude was trading 0.89 per cent lower at USD 67.78 per barrel.

The rupee closed flat 72.55 against the US dollar.

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Foreign institutional investors were net buyers in the capital market as they purchased shares worth Rs 1,692.31 crore on Tuesday, according to exchange data.
[March 17, 2021] A Drop of Blood for Life: JULO's Blood Donation Action

JAKARTA, Indonesia, March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- JULO, a fully licensed peer to peer (P2P) lending company from Indonesia, organized a blood donation activity involving their employees at JULO's head office, 88 @ Kasablanka Tower A, on Monday (15/3). Blood donation activity which is facilitated by Indonesian Red Cross Society (Palang Merah Indonesia) is JULO's commitment to bring impact to society; because a drop of blood means a lot to the lives of others. JULO Charity Committee, Tyasha Putri, revealed that this activity was held with the hope of increasing empathy and volunteerism of JULO employees in helping others in need. "All participants are happy to be involved in this blood donation activity. Even during the pandemic, the program ran smoothly according to COVID-19 health protocol and there were no obstacles whatsoever, " she continued. The initial65 JULO employee registrants were pre-examined before the donation, and eventually resulted in 32 successful donors. JULO CSR Activities like blood donation are the company's commitment to giving back to the surroundings. "Hopefully in the future, JULO will continue to organize blood donations with us because the donated blood is very beneficial for those in need, especially during pandemic time where blood donation events happen less frequently than normal times," said Haris Setiawan, representative of PMI Tangerang.



This blood donation is one of the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programs that have been held by JULO regularly since at the end of 2016. Several other CSR programs from JULO are making visits and donations to orphanages, nursing homes, and several other places that need assistance. JULO hopes that every small step that they made can be beneficial to those in need. "As a local fintech company born and established in Indonesia, JULO is committed to continuously create a positive impact for Indonesian society. This is not only about our business operations in providing credit facilities that are widely accessible to the Indonesian people, but also on CSR activities such as blood donation. Hopefully a little contribution from the JULO team can be useful for those in need," said Hans Sebastian, co-founder of JULO.

About JULO JULO is a digital lending company that is revolutionizing access to ?nancial products for millions of emerging consumers in Indonesia. The Company has developed the ?rst digital data-driven credit underwriting and risk assessment platform to process consumer loan applications and determine their creditworthiness using its mobile app. Founded at the end of 2016, JULO has expanded nationwide. JULO is based in Jakarta and is backed by leading venture capital ?rms. JULO has officially licensed as a lending service provider under OJK circulation No KEP-16/D.05/2020 on 19 May 2020. JULO has been downloaded by more than 1 million users and distributed loans to hundred thousands of customers. JULO has won several awards namely; Winner Indonesia Fintech Festival (2016), Winner UN Fintech Challenge (2018), and Winner of Inclusive Fintech 50 (2019). For more information, please visit https://www.julo.co.id Download JULO in Google Playstore SOURCE JULO

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Adelina Ramos, a certified nursing assistant at the Genesis HealthCare center in Greenville, Rhode Island, who also testified, said that COVID-19 killed 20 residents and one nursing assistant at her facility over a roughly one-month span last year. She described how staffing and PPE shortages continue to plague nursing homes across the country. According to AARP's Nursing Home Dashboard, an average of 11 percent of U.S. nursing homes reported a PPE shortage during the four weeks ending Feb. 14. More than 25 percent reported a staff shortage over the same period.



Ramos called on Congress to enforce greater oversight over nursing homes and to raise the minimum wage to make jobs like hers more attractive. Before the pandemic, we had this problem, she said of staffing shortages. And with the pandemic, it made things worse."

Several lawmakers and experts also highlighted disparities in how COVID-19 has disproportionately impacted certain demographic and socioeconomic groups. Tamara Konetzka, a public-health professor at the University of Chicago, cited her own research finding that nursing homes with the highest proportions of nonwhite residents saw more than three times as many COVID-19 cases and deaths as those with primarily white residents.

"These disparities in COVID-19 deaths are the result of generations of inequity in society and in health care, said Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden (D-Oregon). Undoing it is going to take a lot of hard work by this committee and others.

But Konetzka and Bottcher said it's impossible to fully assess how COVID-19 has impacted specific communities and nursing homes because there's so little publicly available data. Greater transparency would give experts and academics greater insight while making it easier for authorities and watchdog groups to hold bad actors accountable, they argued.

"To disrupt health disparities across the country, including those occurring within nursing homes and other long-term care facilities, we need better data, Bottcher said. It is important that the federal government gather data and publicly report on COVID-19 cases, deaths, comorbidities and testing rates, broken down into multiple demographic categories."

Andrew Soergel joined AARP as a writer in 2020. He was previously a senior economics writer at U.S. News & World Report. Awarded the 201819 Economics of Aging and Work fellowship through the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, Soergel was also selected as a 2017 aging-issues fellow by the National Press Foundation.


After a traumatic injury, returning to work (RTW) can be a strong indication of healing and rehabilitation and may play a pivotal role in promoting physical and functional recovery.

But how does RTW after a traumatic injury affect mental health recovery, particularly in individuals who experience social and economic marginalization?

In a new study from the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing (Penn Nursing), researchers investigated the ways that RTW after an injury predict mental health outcomes in Black men living and recovering in Philadelphia.

The study found that men who did not RTW after a serious traumatic injury had almost three times the odds of poor mental health when compared to men who did RTW. The study also found that younger age, lack of insurance or public insurance, and experiences of racism within and beyond the workplace were concurrently strong predictors of poor mental health outcomes.

This is the first study to identify the unique contributions of RTW after injury on mental health outcomes in Black men who recover in the context of urban environments where there are stark and persistent racial disparities in labor force opportunity and unemployment. Results of the research appear in the journal Injury. The article "The Relationship Between Work and Mental Health Outcomes in Black Men After Serious Injury," is available online.

This study identifies the importance of considering RTW, not just as a marker of trauma recovery, but also as an important influence on mental health and recovery after hospitalization. Interventions that support RTW for those who seek job opportunities in ways that attend to post-injury realities, can be situated within or in addition to strategies that enhance engagement with mental health services, especially for patients who meet screening criteria for depression and PTSD." Sara F. Jacoby, MPH, MSN, PhD, Study Senior Author and Assistant Professor, Nursing, University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing
TORONTO, March 17, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Brookfield Select Opportunities Income Fund (the Fund) (TSX: BSO.UN) announces a distribution of C$0.15 per unit for the quarter ending March 31, 2021. The distribution will be paid on or before April 15, 2021 to holders of record on March 31, 2021.



Eligible holders of the Units (Unitholders) may participate in the Funds Dividend Reinvestment Plan (DRIP), where they may elect to automatically reinvest their dividends in additional Units. Details of the DRIP are available on the Funds website at https://publicsecurities.brookfield.com/. Unitholders who wish to participate in the DRIP should contact their investment advisor for further information and to enroll.

Brookfield Public Securities Group LLC (PSG) is registered as investment fund manager in Ontario, Quebec and Newfoundland and Labrador and as portfolio manager in each of the provinces and territories of Canada, is an SEC-registered investment adviser and represents the Public Securities platform of Brookfield Asset Management Inc., providing global listed real assets strategies including real estate equities, infrastructure equities, multi-strategy real asset solutions and real asset debt. With over US$17 billion of assets under management as of February 28, 2021, PSG manages separate accounts, registered funds and opportunistic strategies for institutional and individual clients, including financial institutions, public and private pension plans, insurance companies, endowments and foundations, sovereign wealth funds and high net worth investors. PSG is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Brookfield Asset Management Inc., a leading global alternative asset manager with US$600 billion of assets under management as of December 31, 2020. For more information, go to https://publicsecurities.brookfield.com/.

The Fund uses its website as a channel of distribution of company information. Financial and other material information regarding the Fund is routinely posted on and accessible at https://publicsecurities.brookfield.com/.

For more information, please visit https://publicsecurities.brookfield.com/ or contact:

Investor Relations

Tel: (855) 777-8001

Email: publicsecurities.enquiries@brookfield.com
The best friend of a British woman who was last seen on her American boyfriend's yacht in the US Virgin Islands a week ago has slammed authorities for taking so long to search the vessel and expressed doubts over claims she fell overboard.

Sarm Heslop, 41, was last seen aboard her 44-year-old boyfriend Ryan Bane's yacht on March 7 when it was moored off Saint John, which is the third-largest of the US Virgin Islands.

When he reported her missing, Bane told local police that she may have fallen overboard from the 47-foot yacht called Siren Song.

He told them he woke up at around 2am and realized the former flight attendant was no longer on board.

In an interview with Fox News, Heslop's best Andrew Baldwin questioned why law enforcement have taken so long to search the yacht where she was last seen.

Sarm Heslop, 41, was last seen aboard her 44-year-old boyfriend Ryan Bane's yacht on March 7 when it was moored off Saint John, which is the third-largest of the US Virgin Islands

'We understand that currently the boat has not even been searched by the police,' he said.

'It's been eight days since Sarm disappeared... They could've found anything on the boat.

In an interview with Fox News , Heslop's best Andrew Baldwin (above) questioned why law enforcement have taken so long to search the yacht where she was last seen

'We're really looking for a full and thorough investigation and for the search for Sarm to continue.'

He also questioned her boyfriend's claim she might have fallen overboard.

'I find it incredibly difficult to say that she fell from a catamaran that was moored about 100 feet away from shore in shallow water while the boat was anchored,' he said.

Baldwin said his friend had been dating Bane for the past six months after they met when she sailed to the Virgin Islands with two friends at the end of 2019.

Bane has not commented publicly about his girlfriend's disappearance but his lawyer released a statement, saying: 'Mr Bane's only hope is that Sarm is found alive and well. His thoughts and prayers are with Sarm and her family during this difficult time.

'Mr Bane has spent countless hours searching for Sarm and will continue to do so. Ryan is devastated that Sarm is missing.'

Virgin Islands Police Commissioner Trevor A. Velinor has defended the police investigation so far.

When Bane reported his girlfriend missing, he told local police that she may have fallen overboard from the 47-foot yacht called Siren Song. He told them he woke up at around 2am and realized the former flight attendant was no longer on board

Police divers have been scouring the water along the coastline ever since she was reported missing. They have found no trace of her in their search

He did say, however, that officials did have some concerns regarding the details so far in relation to her disappearance.

Bane had told investigators that the couple had dinner together on March 7 and returned to the yacht at about 10pm to watch a movie.

He told authorities he woke up at about 2am to the sound of the boat's anchor alarm going off, which sounds when a vessel has moved too far from its mooring.

Bane said he then discovered that his girlfriend was missing. He said her cellphone and other belongings were still onboard.

The US Coast Guard told local media they were alerted to Heslop's disappearance at the following day at 11.46am.

Police divers have been scouring the water along the coastline ever since she was reported missing.

They have found no trace of her in their search.

Police are investigating the possibility that she may have abandoned St John's for the neighboring island of St Thomas.

Toby Derima, of the USVI police department, said there had been possible sightings of her since she was reported missing but nothing they have been able to confirm.

Heslop is described as a slim 41-year-old woman with a southern English accent and a tattoo on her left shoulder.
San Francisco supervisors approved on Tuesday an 806-foot tower that will be the citys fourth-tallest building, the culmination of a four-year process that included a fight over shadows and an office lease that was canceled by Salesforce after the pandemic popularized remote work.

Supervisors voted 10-1 to confirm the Parcel F project at 542-550 Howard St. next to the Transbay transit center. A routine second vote affirming the decision is scheduled next week.

The board rejected a proposal from Supervisor Aaron Peskin to delay the vote for a week and require developer Hines to obtain building permits within three years. Under Peskins rejected proposal, which he said would lock in community benefits, the approval would expire if the developer didnt meet the deadline.

Cameron Falconer, a Hines executive, said during the Tuesday hearing that the developer wouldnt agree to such terms, but it will seek to raise $1 billion this year from lenders United Overseas Bank and JPMorgan Chase, with a goal of starting construction this year. Its one of the biggest real estate bets on San Franciscos economic recovery from the pandemic.

We are focused. We are committed, Falconer said. It will be a wonderful addition to the city.

The project is moving forward despite Salesforces decision to scrap its lease for all the office space as it shifts to more remote work. An anchor tenant is typically a crucial requirement for starting construction and getting investors, but nearby Transbay towers moved forward without such commitments and later found tenants such as Facebook. But those deals occurred during a real estate boom, and Hines will seek to build after the office vacancy rate has roughly tripled to over 18% during the pandemic, according to real estate brokers.

The project includes 325,000 square feet of office space, 165 condos and 189 hotel rooms, and Hines said it has a commitment from an unnamed hotel operator. It has strong support from the politically powerful hotel and construction unions, who said it would be an economic windfall in a time of mass unemployment.

Rudy Gonzalez, secretary treasurer of Building Trades Council, a construction union group, said over 1,000 of its members are unemployed and the project would provide much-needed activity.

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

Unite Here Local 2, the local hotel union, said on Tuesday that Hines had agreed to allow hotel workers at the project to consider unionizing and supported the project.

The project will also pay $47 million in affordable housing fees to help build 192 affordable homes at a separate site on Howard Street that was part of the temporary Transbay Terminal.

Hines was a developer of what is now Salesforce Tower, winning the competition to design the citys tallest building in 2007. Now 14 years later, it will have the opportunity to build on the Transbay districts last major tower site.

Roland Li is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: roland.li@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @rolandlisf
CAS, a division of the American Chemical Society (ACS) that specializes in scientific information solutions, has expanded the CAS Common Chemistry resource. To strengthen the accuracy of publicly available scientific information, CAS Common Chemistry now provides authoritative information on nearly 500,000 substances from CAS REGISTRY. The collection represents substances commonly found in consumer products, on regulatory lists and as part of introductory chemistry curricula.

As part of ACS, CAS is committed to providing the global community with accurate chemical information. Aligned with the ACS Open Science initiative, CAS Common Chemistry broadens access for everyone who seeks reliable scientific information on routinely encountered chemicals. Enhanced search functionality and an application programming interface (API) enable interested individuals to quickly find chemical names, CAS Registry Numbers, structures or basic compound properties.

"We saw a unique opportunity to further boost the reach of open, accurate chemical information to foster learning and promote safety. By expanding access to information curated by our scientists, we can encourage safe practices with chemicals of interest," says Tim Wahlberg, chief product officer at CAS.

For over a century, CAS has collected, curated and analyzed the world's published science to fuel innovation. CAS REGISTRY is the world's most trusted collection of chemical substance information. The universally recognized CAS Registry Number provides a unique, unmistakable identifier for chemical substances and is commonly found on packaging of household chemical products, in addition to research publications, chemical catalogs, substance indices and management systems.

First launched in 2009, CAS Common Chemistry initially provided public access to several thousand substances and associated data. Popularity of the site has since grown to more than a million visits annually. In collaboration with thought leaders in the chemistry and open science community, CAS scientists dramatically expanded the community resource with a focused subset of substances from CAS REGISTRY. Optimized for mobile devices, CAS Common Chemistry now makes accurate chemical information accessible from anywhere.

Martin Walker, Ph.D., chemistry department chair at State University of New York at Potsdam, was one of the collaborators involved in the project.

It's important for the public to be able to access information on chemicals they may come into contact with, either at home or in the environment. The CAS Registry Number plays a key role in accessing that information, for which CAS remains the gold standard. I'm excited to see the collection expand to almost half a million compounds, providing a major, trustworthy source for chemical information." Martin Walker, Ph.D., Chemistry Department Chair, State University of New York at Potsdam

In addition to expansion of included substances, enhanced capabilities will meet evolving demands for information. Newly added API capabilities support the growing needs of digital workflows and cheminformatics initiatives with direct lookup functionality. Reusable licensing of content is ensured through a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license.
As California moves forward with reopening after a months-long lockdown, several recent media reports have pointed out that despite its strict pandemic response, Californias public health outcome has been very similar to that of Florida, which has been open for months.

CDC data shows that the coronavirus case rate for the course of the pandemic is only slightly higher in Florida than California. And Californias death rate, dramatically lower during much of the pandemic, rose to near Floridas after the winter surge.

Gov. Gavin Newsom, who is facing a recall effort, defended Californias pandemic measures Tuesday on CNN by claiming, We have lower death rates than the vast majority of states in this country, certainly much lower than places like Florida and Texas. But Florida actually ranks in the middle, with the 27th highest death rate, followed by California at No. 28, according to the New York Times coronavirus tracker.

However, statewide statistics paint over in broad strokes what has been a patchwork of varying regional responses and outcomes. And comparing coronavirus case and death rates in Bay Area counties versus two of Floridas largest counties  Miami-Dade and Orange  shows a different picture.

In California, restaurants and businesses are slowly expanding operations, with indoor dining still limited in most counties. Public school students in Los Angeles, San Francisco and Oakland may soon start going back to the classroom, but have been in distance learning for more than a year.

Meanwhile, the entire state of Florida reopened months ago. The state only briefly locked down during the worst of the winter surge. Most school districts were ordered to reopen their classrooms in August, with Miami-Dade County schools reopening in October.

Florida is currently seeing notably higher levels of coronavirus transmission than California  and now with spring break in full force, people are flocking to Floridas beaches, many flouting COVID-19 protocols. Over the weekend, 100 revelers were arrested as unruly crowds gathered at Miami Beach.

The approach has to a large degree been an open-it-all approach, said Dr. Glenn Morris, director of the Emerging Pathogen Institute at the University of Florida.

Given the vastly different public health strategies, it had been expected that outcomes in the two states would be drastically different. Earlier in the pandemic, the numbers bore that out  Florida experienced a particularly bad summer surge, in part because people tend to go indoors during the hot and humid summer months. Conversely, the summer case increase in California was less severe, particularly in the Bay Area.

Then came Californias winter surge, by far the states worst during the pandemic. Intensive care unit availability went to zero in parts of the state, and Newsom issued a statewide lockdown.

California and Florida both have an overall coronavirus case rate of around 9,000 per 100,000 residents since the pandemic began, according to the CDC.

However, many of the hardest-hit areas of California were in the southern part of the state, with its unique vulnerabilities including overcrowding, a large population of essential workers, and lower compliance with health restrictions. Los Angeles County ranks high on the social vulnerability index  a scale that the CDC uses to gauge how severely a disease outbreak might affect a region.

The Bay Areas winter surge, while deadly, saw far fewer cases and deaths than Los Angeles. San Francisco in particular continued to have one of the lowest mortality rates in the country even during the winter surge.

A cross-country regional comparison of monthly case rates shows that Floridas most populous county, Miami-Dade, has far exceeded the Bay Areas levels through most of the pandemic. And Orange County, which includes the Orlando region, began outpacing San Francisco a few months after the pandemic began and has stayed far above for most of the period since.

The Bay Area, with a population of 7.8 million, currently reports a seven-day average for new cases of 6 per 100,000 residents. That rate is 4 per 100,000 for San Francisco, and 8 per 100,000 for California.

Compare that to Miami-Dade: The county of about 2.7 million people currently has a 7-day average of 38 daily new cases per 100,000, according to the New York Times coronavirus tracker. Orange County, which includes the Orlando region, has fared significantly better, with 18 daily new cases per 100,000 among its population of 1.4 million. Floridas rate is currently 21 per 100,000.

Looking at monthly death rates, the Bay Area and San Francisco were higher in the first month of the pandemic, but Miami-Dade quickly surged ahead and has recorded the highest rates of deaths throughout the pandemic compared to the other regions, with a peak of 33 per 100,000 in September.

In Orange County, the death rate remained low until the summer, when deaths spiked and hit a monthly peak of 12 per 100,000 in July. The Bay Area and San Francisco recorded lower death rates until the winter surge. In January, the Bay Area had a death rate of 22 and San Franciscos was 16 per 100,000, both higher than Orange County.

But according to the Los Angeles Times, the cumulative death rate in Florida has been higher than Californias throughout the pandemic. In the fall it went as high as 84% more, and during the winter surge dropped to an 11% difference.

Miami-Dade continues to be the coronavirus epicenter of Florida. The countys social vulnerability score is 0.83, in the high range. Dr. Elena Cyrus, an infectious disease epidemiologist at the University of Central Florida, said other factors driving new infections in areas like Miami-Dade include the tourism-based economy and high immigration rates.

Orange County, an international tourist destination with several major theme parks, has fared better than Miami-Dade, with pandemic numbers more on par with the Bay Area.

Many of the theme parks in Orlando, Orange Countys largest city, have been back in operation since last summer. Universal Studios reopened in June with a 35% capacity limit, and Walt Disney World reopened in July with 25% capacity, increasing to 35% in November. Both parks employ stringent measures including a mask requirement, social distancing protocols and temperature checks.

Cyrus said such strict measures generally have made the attractions safer to visit compared to packed restaurants, bars and beaches in Miami.

Orange Countys mask order requires anyone in public areas  whether indoors or outdoors  to wear a face covering. County Mayor Jerry Demings recently said he would not lift the mask mandate until at least 50% of the county population is vaccinated. Since July, Orange County has sent out strike teams during the pandemic to ensure compliance with CDC coronavirus guidelines, and has issued warnings or fines to dozens of businesses.

Demings signed an executive order in December to impose fines from $500-$1,500 on businesses that defy health measures. But last week, Gov. Ron DeSantis canceled any fines imposed on businesses since March 1, 2020, which would put Orange Countys order in danger.

Whether these more lax restrictions will lead to another surge in Florida remains to be seen. Cyrus said spring break is concerning for her and all public health practitioners across the state.

Were starting to see increases ... so my optimism is dampened slightly.

Florida is slightly ahead of California in the percentage of people fully vaccinated so far against the coronavirus  11.6% in Florida, 10.5% in California, according to the New York Times vaccine tracker.

Cyrus said that while the state has to a degree plateaued in many areas, Florida has reported more coronavirus variants than any other states. According to the CDC, 738 cases of the B.1.1.7 variant, which originated in the United Kingdom, have been identified in Florida, and 343 in California. Thirteen cases from the P.1 variant, which first emerged from Brazil, have been reported in Florida, and none yet in California. Two cases of the variant from South Africa have been reported in Florida, and three in California.

Without enforceable mandates like mask wearing, occupancy restrictions and the like, theres a greater opportunity for a newer strain to move through the population, she said. Thats a concern.

Todd Trumbull designed the graphics in this article.

Kellie Hwang and Mike Massa are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: kellie.hwang@sfchronicle.com, mmassa@sfchronicle.com
The problem of medical waste disposal is not exclusive to Hanoi or Vietnam; many countries on the globe are experiencing it.

Chinas Ministry of Ecology and Environment said last year that when Wuhan was still a Covid-19 epicenter, hospitals in the city discarded more than 240 tons of medical waste daily, six times higher than during pre-pandemic times.

Also last year, the Asian Development Bank said Manila, the capital of Philippines, is expected to produce 280 tons of medical waste per day, compared with an estimated 47 tons before the pandemic.

The World Health Organization said last March that to prevent the spread of Covid-19, the world needs 89 million surgical masks, 76 million gloves, and 30 million protective suits.

Since many countries are mandating the use of masks in all public areas, the number of masks used and discharged daily would rise to 129 billion per month across the world, not to mention a series of other medical treatment equipment, protective gears and tool for vaccination, American Environmental Science & Technology ACS Publications said last October.

In Vietnam, around 120,000 cubic meters of medical wastewater and 350-400 tons of solid medical waste was being discharged before the pandemic. This figure is estimated to have doubled or tripled since.

The pandemic has also brought to the forefront the urgency of plastic waste as a drastic environmental problem. Excessive amounts of disposable items have been used as part of pandemic prevention measures, including disposable masks, food and drink containers for the take-away services and plastic packaging for online shopping.

Last October, ACS had estimated that the amount of plastic waste had increased by 30 percent against the previous year.

Several studies have pointed out four major harmful effects of medical waste: the risk of spreading infectious disease because viruses, bacteria and fungi continue to multiply in the fibrous layers of masks or other medical waste; environmental pollution threat as medical masks are made of non-woven fabrics that make them quite durable and difficult to decompose in the natural environment - some nations have already listed those masks as hazardous medical waste that needs special disposable treatment; loss of urban aesthetics and reduction in the quality of life; and the surge in the amount of hazardous medical waste that creates greater challenges in ensuring safety for both humans and the environment.

In Vietnam, the treatment of waste that comes from medical facilities has been a rigorous process, but after one year of the pandemic, the country is yet to come up with specific guidelines on classifying, collecting and treating it.

Although the government has issued rules on waste management and sanitation in preventing and combating Covid-19 that require medical waste, including masks, to be collected and treated properly, we are yet to develop a separate process for collecting masks and handling violators. Masks are still mixed with various types of trash every day and in some horrifying cases, the collection of used masks has been recorded.

The World Health Organization advises that masks and gloves used in fighting the pandemic should be treated as strictly as any other medical waste and should not be recycled in any circumstance. China has recommended that people disinfect used masks with alcohol above 70 degrees or soap before throwing them away or reusing them.

At a personal level, my family has decided that we will throw our face masks in separate trash bags. I hope many others will do the same.

As a community, we should seriously recognize that masks littered along the side of the streets can be a source of Covid-19 infections. We have developed anti-pandemic strategies, so it is high time we work out an effective anti-medical-waste strategy, starting with disposable masks.
I want to mention the attacks that happened just a few hours ago in Atlanta, in which several women were killed, including, we believe, four women of Korean descent, Mr. Blinken said. We are horrified by this violence, which has no place in America or anywhere.

The Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus said the group was horrified by the news coming out of GA at a time when were already seeing a spike in anti-Asian violence. Although details are still unfolding, at least half of the victims appear to be Asian-American women. Our hearts go out to the victims & their families.

Sung Yeon Choimorrow, the director of the National Asian Pacific American Womens Forum, said in a statement on social media that the group was concerned for the safety of our community members across the country as violence toward Asian-Americans has escalated.

Even before the pandemic and the racist scapegoating that came in its wake, AAPI women routinely experienced racialized misogyny, she said. Now, our community, particularly women, elders, and workers with low-wage jobs, are bearing the brunt of continued vilification.

The statement, which noted that anti-Asian hate and violence disproportionately impacts women, included testimony from the mother of a member of groups Atlanta chapter who works in a hair salon.

You go to work and youre trying to earn money, and you have your family to feed and youre just trying to survive and be like everyone else, it said. And then stuff like this happens and its so scary. I am a part of the Vietnamese immigrant community, and I fear for our safety.
Nazareth Area Middle School on Tuesday announced it will close for a week because of COVID-19 cases.

Robert Bauder, the schools principal, explained the closure in a letter to the school community that was posted on the Nazareth Area School District website.

It went into effect Tuesday and will continue through next Monday, March 22. The plan is to reopen to students and staff the following day.

During the targeted closure, the building will be closed to all students and staff for cleaning and contact tracing, and all instruction will be provided remotely, the principal said in the letter.

The letter did not provide the number of COVID-19 cases currently affecting the school but noted that guidance from the states departments of education and health recommend that medium schools with four to six COVID-19 cases within a rolling 14-day period consider closing for up to seven days.

Bauder said district and/or state officials will be reaching out to those who have been identified as close contacts to provide directions on quarantining and symptom monitoring.

To read the complete letter, click here.

School districts throughout the Lehigh Valley have either transitioned back to more in-school classes or are contemplating a transition as the regions case counts tick down amid an aggressive vaccination campaign.

As of Tuesday, Pennsylvania reported 970,717 total cases of COVID-19 and 25,652 deaths since the pandemic reached Pennsylvania a year ago. The state also reported more than 3.7 million doses of vaccine have been distributed since December. More than 1.3 million Pennsylvanians are fully vaccinated and 77,000 people are getting shots daily.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com.

Nick Falsone can be reached at nfalsone@lehighvalleylive.com.
A sign reading 'Go straight home and Isolate' is seen at the exit of a drive through COVID-19 testing site at Highpoint shopping centre on July 4, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. (Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images)

Experts Call for Mandatory Use of Victorias QR App to Streamline Contact Tracing

The Victorian state government is being urged to make its centralised QR tracing app mandatory as pressure mounts for the state to improve its contact tracing system.

The call follows criticism from the Victorian Health Department, who blamed businesses for providing incorrect or incomplete QR code information used for contact tracing during the Holiday Inn Cluster outbreak that resulted in the states snap 5-day lockdown.

Currently, Victorian businesses can use either private record-keeping systems or the Service Victoria QR app. In contrast, other states such as NSW and the ACT have made it compulsory for businesses to use its centralised government app.

It is much more convenient for people to use one app, and its likely this would make data management for the [Victorian] government much easier, Australian Medical Association Victorian president Julian Rait told The Sydney Morning Herald.

If we had an outbreak, it would make things easier with the contact tracing.

Information stored by some businesses that used private record-keeping systems was not made immediately available after business hourscausing a delay in contact tracingaccording to Peter Strong, chief executive for the Council of Small Business Australia.

Strong added that after having experienced the NSW and ACTs centralised contact tracing system, he was shocked that the Victorian government did not do the same.

The governments system is a lot better, a lot safer. I was quite stunned, to be honest, Strong said.

Anthony Macali, a data analyst and founder of the Covidlive website, told The Sydney Morning Herald that the difficulty in Victoria was that everyone was using a different app.

Theres definitely an issue with compliance in Victoria, Macali said.

Considering what we have gone through, we should be the most compliant and the strictest when it comes to this.

Deakin University epidemiologist Catherine Bennett told Geelong Advertiser that Victoria had not made the app mandatory because the state was slow in rolling it out.

She added that there were issues with the states current tracing system.

Every hour helps contact tracers.

There is no doubt, if we have to resort to additional methods, like credit card access or even working through paper-based records, it will slow things down, Bennett said.

We know they are getting interviews underway within a couple of hours of notification, so its important they hear about potentially exposed people as soon as possible.

Bennett added that there are many working options in development, such as apps to swipe cards that will make the process easier.

Peter Strong, chief executive for the Council of Small Business Australia, said businesses who are forced to migrate to a new tracing system should be compensated.

A Department of Health spokeswoman said private record-keeping systems used by businesses did not connect easily to the states system.

To ensure they are not losing money on this investment, the government has developed the Victorian Government Visitation APIa piece of software that enables private QR codes to communicate directly with contact tracers, she said.

From 27 March, all businesses using electronic record-keepingsuch as a QR code systemmust use a system that seamlessly integrates with the Victorian Government contact tracing system to help contact tracers respond to outbreaks even faster.

The Victorian Governments free QR code system is currently used by approximately 34,000 businesses.
It was the what heard around the world.

When Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, together with her husband Prince Harry, revealed in last weeks headline-making television interview that a member of Britains royal family had expressed concern about how dark the skin tone of their first child would be, Oprah Winfrey helped give an event interview the signature moment history will deem it deserved.

What? asked Oprah. Who is having that conversation with you? That initial what is near perfect, a wide-eyed piece of punctuation that created a moment for the shocked audience to comprehend what theyd just heard. Oprah  a member of the so-famous-a-surname-is-surplus club  understood that speeding up the Wild World of Windsor narrative, to claw for revelations, was the wrong approach. Instead she slowed it down. The what made viewers reflect, before the follow-up who set them off again.

It was the what heard around the world after Meghan Markle told Oprah Winfrey a member of the British royal family expressed concern for the skin colour of her first-born child. Credit:Internet

Despite all the complex analysis and point-scoring that came from an estranged prince and his American wife throwing down on their estrangement from one of the worlds defining institutions, the real winners were readily apparent: Oprah and the too-rare spectacle of the tell-all exclusive television interview. In an era of micromanaged statements released through personal Instagram accounts, this was the triumph of the world is watching broadcast.
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Albertsons is hamming it up.

The grocery chain and its parent company, Market Street, are partnering with Hormel Foods to donate more than 800 hams to New Mexico food pantries as part of a regional giving campaign, according to a news release.

In all, the companies are giving away about 3,891 hams to food banks in New Mexico and Texas. That includes about 423 hams for Storehouse New Mexico as well as about 400 for Roadrunner Food Bank, according to a spokesman.

The hams for Storehouse New Mexico will be presented at an event Wednesday, while those for Roadrunner Food Bank will be presented Friday.

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Nepal's ruling CPN-UML appeared to be headed towards a split with its faction led by Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli threatening to take disciplinary action against those taking part in the party's rival group's national gathering beginning here on Wednesday, according to media reports.

The Communist Party of Nepal-UML's rival faction led by Madhav Madhav Kumar Nepal and Jhala Nath Khanal has organised a two-day national cadres meet where around 2,000 leaders and cadres representing all wings of the party are expected to take part, The Himalayan Times reported.

The Oli-led faction has threatened to take disciplinary action against those who will attend the event organised by the Nepal-Khanal faction on Wednesday and Thursday.

However, the rival faction said they would go ahead with the programme as planned, the report said.

Accusing Nepal and Khanal of anti-party activities, Prime Minister Oli said, "I hear that they are going to organise a national cadres meeting tomorrow where they will also pass a report. I can no longer tolerate anti-party activities."

According to a report in myRepublica, CPN-UML General Secretary Ishwar Pokharel in a statement directed the party leaders and cadres not to attend the factional gathering, arguing that the UML had not organised any such event.

He warned of disciplinary action against those attending the "unauthorised" gathering.

Pokharel asked party members not to organise the factional meeting against the party's discipline.

"The CPN-UML issues special directives to all party leaders and cadres not to attend such indisciplined factional gathering," the statement said.

The rift between the CPN-UML faction intensified after the rival Nepal-Khanal faction demanded Oli to take back his March 12 decisions that divested leaders close to the duo of key responsibilities in the party.

On March 12, the central committee meeting dominated by the Oli-led faction nominated 23 new members to the partys Central Committee (CC). It also nominated 23 former Maoist leaders who joined the UML as CC members.

Yogesh Bhattarai, a senior leader of the Nepal-led faction, said that Chairperson Oli is promoting factional feud in the name of holding party meetings, rejecting to abide by the verdict of Supreme Court and making attempts to split the party.

"The factional gathering organised by the Oli-led faction on March 12 has further deepened discomfort, distrust and suspicion in the party, taking the party toward a split," Bhattarai said.

He objected to the "unilateral decisions" taken by the party's central committee meeting on March 12 and demanded that they must be scrapped.

Prime Minister Oli's dissolution of the House of Representatives in December triggered a political crisis in the country. It led to Pushpa Kamal Dahal "Prachanda"-led CPN-Maoist Centre (MC) to split from the ruling NCP. Nepal and Khanal had also sided with Prachanda in seeking Oli's resignation as Prime Minister.

However, in a landmark ruling, the apex court last month reinstated the lower house of Parliament.

The political scenario in the country worsened after the Supreme Court recently nullified CPN-MC's merger with CPN-UML. The two parties had merged in May 2018 to form a unified Nepal Communist Party following the victory of their alliance in the 2017 general elections.

President Bidya Devi Bhandari on Tuesday called an all-party meeting to discuss contemporary issues amid the political crisis.

The all-party meeting by the President came at a time when the CPN (UML) appears to be headed for a split with Nepal on Tuesday accusing party Chairman and Prime Minister Oli of trying to divide the party.

However, some leaders at the meeting questioned the haste the President demonstrated on December 20 to endorse the Oli governments House dissolution move, The Kathmandu Post reported.

Three former prime ministers, Baburam Bhattarai, Madhav Kumar Nepal and Jhala Nath Khanal, boycotted the meeting, questioning her role in the row of the erstwhile Nepal Communist Party (NCP).
The Daily Beast

REUTERSIt appears that Benjamin Netanyahu is finally on his way out as Israels prime minister. With just minutes to spare ahead of a midnight deadline on Wednesday, opposition leader Yair Lapid notified Israels president that he had formed a new government.But if Benjamin Netayahus 12-year run is indeed at an end, expect key segments of the GOP will treat Bibi as though he had not lost power, much as they continue to venerate Donald Trump and look at Joe Bidens victory as illegitimate.Israel
VANCOUVER, BC, March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Surge Copper Corp. (TSXV: SURG) ("Surge" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the results of an updated independent resource estimate prepared by Tetra Tech for the Berg copper-molybdenum-silver deposit ("Berg"), located in the Huckleberry district in central British Columbia.

Highlights

Total Measured and Indicated resources of 610.0 million tonnes grading 0.38% copper equivalent (see Table 1, Note 1)

resources of grading (see Table 1, Note 1) Measured resource containing 207.2 million tonnes grading 0.45% copper equivalent

resource containing grading Pit constrained resource with total strip ratio of 1.85:1

High-quality resource estimate with 96% contained within the Measured and Indicated categories

contained within the categories Deposit remains open with good expansion potential laterally and at depth

Leif Nilsson, Chief Executive Officer of Surge, commented: "This updated resource represents a moment in time snapshot of the Berg deposit based on the significant investment and high-quality work performed by prior operators, updated for today's commodity pricing and cost benchmarking environments. For Surge, it serves as a baseline prior to our maiden work program under our operatorship, and will guide our investment programs to deliver value in key focus areas. More generally, this resource estimate underscores the strategic significance of our acquisition and the district scale potential we see in our assets. Recent corporate transactions have demonstrated the strategic value and significance of porphyry deposits in British Columbia with a similar overall size and grade tenor to Berg. Combined with our Ootsa Property, Surge controls four advanced porphyry deposits with Measured and Indicated resources totaling 834 million tonnes in an attractive jurisdiction with excellent infrastructure."

The Berg deposit is located within the 34,798 hectare Berg Property, in which the Company is earning a 70% interest from Centerra Gold Inc. through spending commitments totalling C$8 million over a five-year period (see December 16, 2020 news release). The Berg Property is contiguous with the Company's 100% owned Ootsa Property, which hosts 224.2 million tonnes of NI 43-101 compliant mineral resources in the Measured and Indicated categories, containing resources of copper, gold, molybdenum, and silver.

Shane Ebert, President and VP Exploration, commented: "As evidenced by this resource update, our acquisition of Berg was a step change for Surge in terms of our total resource base. The deposit's size, grade profile, and near-surface geometry make it a highly attractive open pit target in the district, and there is significant potential to both increase the size of the deposit and define the near-surface higher-grade zones."

Table 1. Mineral Resource Estimate for the Berg Deposit at 0.2% CuEq Cut-off with Effective Date of March 9, 2021.





Grade

Contained Metal Material Type Resource Category Tonnes Cu Mo Ag CuEq

Cu Mo Ag CuEq



(Mt) (%) (%) (g/t) (%)

(Mlbs) (Mlbs) (Moz) (Mlbs)























Supergene Measured 86.9 0.41 0.03 2.46 0.50

789 52 6.9 960

Indicated 88.5 0.29 0.02 2.67 0.37

572 43 7.6 724

Measured & Indicated 175.4 0.35 0.02 2.57 0.44

1,362 95 14.5 1,685

Inferred 7.2 0.23 0.01 4.26 0.29

37 2 1.0 47























Hypogene Measured 120.3 0.28 0.04 3.42 0.41

752 97 13.2 1,098

Indicated 314.1 0.22 0.03 3.10 0.34

1,537 226 31.3 2,343

Measured & Indicated 434.3 0.24 0.03 3.19 0.36

2,289 323 44.6 3,441

Inferred 20.8 0.22 0.02 3.57 0.30

101 8 2.4 138























Leachate Measured 0.0 0.04 0.09 5.62 0.21

0 0 0.0 0

Indicated 0.2 0.14 0.12 2.37 0.25

1 1 0.0 1

Measured & Indicated 0.2 0.13 0.12 2.41 0.25

1 1 0.0 1

Inferred 0.1 0.11 0.09 6.13 0.21

0 0 0.0 0























Total Measured 207.2 0.34 0.03 3.0 0.45

1,541 149 20.1 2,058

Indicated 402.8 0.24 0.03 3.0 0.35

2,110 270 39.0 3,069

Measured & Indicated 610.0 0.27 0.03 3.0 0.38

3,651 419 59.1 5,126

Inferred 28.1 0.22 0.02 3.8 0.30

138 11 3.4 185

Notes: 1) Copper Equivalent (CuEq) calculated using metal prices of $3.10/lbs Cu, $10.00/lb Mo, and $20/oz Ag. Recoveries were applied to correspond with estimated individual metal recoveries based on limited metallurgical testwork for production of a copper and molybdenum concentrate: supergene zone (Cu = 73%, Mo = 61%, and Ag = 52%), hypogene zone (Cu = 81%, Mo = 71%, and Ag = 67%), leachate zone (Cu = 0%, Mo = 61%, and Ag = 52%). Smelter loss was not applied. 2) A cut-off value of 0.2% CuEq was used as the base case for reporting mineral resources that are subject to open pit potential. The resource block model has been constrained by a conceptual open pit shell, however, economic viability can only be assessed through the completion of engineering studies defining reserves including PFS and FS. The CIM Definition Standards (May 10, 2014) were followed for classification of Mineral Resources. It cannot be assumed that all or any part of Inferred Mineral Resources will be upgraded to Indicated or Measured as a result of continued exploration. 3) Dry bulk density has been estimated based on 2,996 in situ specific gravity measurements collected between 2007 and 2011. Values were applied by geology model domain (n = 18) representing the weathering profiles and major lithological units; values ranged from 2.38 t/m3 to 2.74 t/m3. 4) There are no known legal, political, unnatural environmental, or other risks that could materially affect the potential development of the mineral resources. 5) All numbers are rounded. Overall numbers may not be exact due to rounding.

Background and Description of Resource

The Berg deposit forms a ring-like shape around a quartz-monzonite intrusive body called the Berg Stock. A total of 53,754 metres of drilling in 215 drill holes has been completed between 1964 and 2011 by previous operators including Kennecott, Placer Dome, Terrane Metals and Thompson Creek. This drilling has defined two highly-fractured mineralized zones in the northeast and southern portions of the ring. A well-developed supergene enrichment zone is superimposed on hypogene mineralization, and is predominantly controlled by topography, fracture intensity, and hypogene sulphide abundance. Drilling in many areas of the deposit remains widely spaced and mineralization is open to depth and outwards from the Berg Stock. Additionally, metallurgical test programs have been conducted on the resource, most recently between 2007 and 2012. This body of work indicates that conventional flotation processes can be used to produce marketable copper and molybdenum concentrates from the mineralization, with copper recoveries locally exceeding 80%.

The resource model was developed utilizing a database containing 20,281 assays from 49,461 metres of drilling in 201 drill holes. Drill hole assay data was composited into 3 metre intervals and a block model with 10m x 10m x 10m block size was constructed using Datamine modeling software. To better honour geological contacts, sub-celling was allowed to a minimum dimension of 5m x 5m x 5m. Mineralized domains with reasonable prospects for economic extraction were constrained incorporating geological, structural, and lithological parameters and using a 0.2% CuEq cut-off value. Within these domains, grades for copper, molybdenum, and silver were estimated using ordinary kriging (OK) grade interpolation guided by geostatistical analysis. The resulting resource model was subject to pit optimization to define a pit constrained mineral resource.

Table 2. Berg Deposit Resource Estimate Sensitivity to Cut-off Grade CuEq % Cut-off Category Tonnes CuEq % Cu % Mo % Ag g/t 0.1 Measured 224,609,062 0.43 0.32 0.03 2.91 0.1 Indicated 573,094,464 0.29 0.20 0.02 2.57 0.1 M&I 797,703,526 0.33 0.23 0.03 2.67 0.2 Measured 207,228,768 0.45 0.34 0.03 3.02 0.2 Indicated 402,757,347 0.35 0.24 0.03 3.01 0.2 M&I 609,986,115 0.38 0.27 0.03 3.01 0.3 Measured 171,106,355 0.49 0.37 0.04 3.19 0.3 Indicated 237,451,842 0.41 0.28 0.04 3.43 0.3 M&I 408,558,197 0.45 0.32 0.04 3.33 0.4 Measured 124,735,864 0.54 0.41 0.04 3.38 0.4 Indicated 111,967,437 0.49 0.34 0.04 3.82 0.4 M&I 236,703,301 0.52 0.37 0.04 3.59 0.5 Measured 71,641,098 0.61 0.47 0.04 3.54 0.5 Indicated 38,519,523 0.57 0.41 0.05 4.31 0.5 M&I 110,160,621 0.60 0.45 0.04 3.81

2021 Work Program

Surge's maiden work program at Berg will focus on defining and expanding known near-surface high-grade zones, identifying the outer limits of mineralization which remain open in several areas, and improving understanding of structures which may influence mineralizing controls, particularly for high-grade silver occurrences. Drill planning is currently underway, anticipating an initial program to commence in mid-summer 2021 following completion of access upgrade work. Prior drilling at Berg was inconsistently assayed for precious metals, and given the significant economic contribution, especially from silver, this represents a low-cost opportunity to re-assay existing core and pulps and potentially increase the precious metal content in the resource. Recommended metallurgical test work to optimize process conditions and improve target metal recovery will be further planned and progressed. Additionally, an airborne ZTEM geophysical survey is being planned for early summer to cover the entire Ootsa-Berg project area. Field teams will be active throughout the summer conducting surface work on existing regional exploration targets (see Figure 4) including any new ZTEM anomalies. Surge plans to conduct sufficient field work on regional targets to allow them to be prioritized for advanced exploration work and drill testing.

Qualified Person

The Berg mineral resource estimate has been completed by Tetra Tech in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. The mineral resource estimate has been prepared by Cameron Norton, P.Geo., Independent Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, and has an effective date of March 9, 2021. The mineral resource estimate technical report will be filed on SEDAR within 45 days of this news release.

Cameron Norton, P.Geo. has reviewed and approved the technical disclosure in this news release for Tetra Tech. Shane Ebert, Ph.D., P.Geo. is the Qualified Person for Surge and has reviewed and approved the contents of this release.

About Surge Copper Corp.

The Company owns a 100% interest in the Ootsa Property, an advanced stage exploration project containing the East Seel, West Seel and Ox porphyry deposits located adjacent to the open pit Huckleberry Copper Mine, owned by Imperial Metals. The Ootsa Property contains pit constrained NI 43-101 compliant resources of 224 million tonnes in the Measured and Indicated categories with contained metals of 1.1 billion pounds of copper, 1 million ounces of gold, and 20 million ounces of silver as summarized in the table below.

Ootsa Project Pit Constrained Mineral Resource Estimate at $8.50/t NSR Cut-off Value Category Tonnes

('000's) CuEq % Cu % Au g/t Mo % Ag g/t CuEq M lbs Cu M lbs Au K oz Mo M lbs Ag K oz Measured 187,148 0.38 0.23 0.15 0.021 2.8 1,568 934 916 85 17,089 Indicated 37,041 0.35 0.21 0.12 0.023 2.8 286 175 146 19 3,368 M&I 224,189 0.37 0.22 0.15 0.021 2.8 1,854 1,109 1,062 104 20,457

Notes: The current technical report supporting the resource statement and PEA is available on SEDAR or the Company's website at www.surgecopper.com and has an effective date of January 2016. The resource estimate uses $8.50 per tonne NSR cut-off value. Mineral resources are not mineral reserves and by definition do not demonstrate economic viability. There is no certainty that all or any part of the mineral resource will be converted into mineral reserves. A 'Measured Mineral Resource' is that part of a mineral resource for which quantity, grade or quality, densities, shape and physical characteristics are so well established that they can be estimated with confidence sufficient to allow the appropriate application of technical and economic parameters, to support production planning and evaluation of the economic viability of the deposit. An 'Indicated Mineral Resource' is that part of a Mineral Resource for which quantity, grade or quality, densities, shape and physical characteristics can be estimated with a level of confidence sufficient to allow the appropriate application of technical and economic parameters, to support mine planning and evaluation of the economic viability of the deposit. Copper Equivalent (CuEq) calculations are based on base case metal price (US$3/lb Cu, US$1260/oz Au, US$10.30/lb Mo, and US$17/oz Ag) and process recovery assumptions and take into account smelter payable rates and refining costs. M&I = measured and indicated. The resource update and Preliminary Economic Assessment was completed by P&E Mining Consultants Inc. in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

The Company is also earning into a 70% interest in the Berg Property from Centerra Gold. Berg is a large, advanced stage exploration project located 28 km northwest of the Ootsa deposits. Berg contains pit constrained 43-101 compliant resources of copper, molybdenum, and silver in the Measured and Indicated categories. Combined, the adjacent Ootsa and Berg properties give Surge a dominant land position in the Ootsa-Huckleberry-Berg district and control over four advanced porphyry deposits.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors

"Leif Nilsson"

Chief Executive Officer

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This News Release contains forward-looking statements, which relate to future events. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as "will", "may", "should", "expects", "plans", or "anticipates" or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. All statements included herein, other than statements of historical fact, are forward looking statements, including but not limited to the Company's plans regarding the Berg Property and the Ootsa Property. These statements are only predictions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the Company's actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking-statements. Such uncertainties and risks may include, among others, actual results of the Company's exploration activities being different than those expected by management, delays in obtaining or failure to obtain required government or other regulatory approvals or financing, inability to procure equipment and supplies in sufficient quantities and on a timely basis, equipment breakdown and bad weather. While these forward-looking statements, and any assumptions upon which they are based, are made in good faith and reflect the Company's current judgment regarding the direction of its business, actual results will almost always vary, sometimes materially, from any estimates, predictions, projections, assumptions or other future performance suggestions herein. Except as required by applicable law, the Company does not intend to update any forward-looking statements to conform these statements to actual results.

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Contact: Telephone: +1 604 416 2978 or +1 604 558 5847, Email: info@surgecopper.com, Web: www.surgecopper.com
U.S. President Joe Biden's administration has been stocking up millions of doses of COVID vaccines with authorizations for the U.S. Meanwhile, allies of the country said that the doses should be used now to save lives.

There is a growing debate whether who should have access to the said COVID vaccines. Meanwhile, Biden earlier said that he would ensure that every American has access to a dose before giving away some to any other nations.

On Tuesday, Biden said that the U.S. is currently in talks with other countries about who will get any extra doses of COVID vaccines, according to a Reuters report.

"We're talking with several countries already," Biden was quoted in a report.

He added that he will let the public know about it very shortly.

Mexico Vaccine Request

A senior Mexican official said on Tuesday that the United States should respond by Friday to Mexico's request to share doses of AstraZeneca's vaccine doses it has in stock.

Canadian authorities also confirmed that they asked Mexico for extra doses, according to another Reuters report.

"I'd say we've made good progress, but the details, figures, provisions, won't be known until Friday," Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard was quoted in a report.

Ebrard added that they have requested as many vaccine doses as possible.

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador asked Biden for a vaccine loan during their meeting earlier this month. This was after Mexico's vaccine distribution program was disrupted due to logistical challenges from Pfizer-BioNTech.

Lopez said that they are hoping for the help, support, and solidarity of the U.S. government.

Meanwhile, the White House National Security Council spokesperson said that the U.S. priority as of the moment is to vaccinate as many Americans as they could, adding that the U.S. has surplus vaccines from the initiative they will share them.

READ MORE: People with Weak Immune Systems Likely Cultivated COVID Variants Inside Them

Vaccine Supply Conflict

Biden's insistence of creating extra supply for the U.S. is creating new openings for its geopolitical rivals Russia and China, according to an Associated Press report.

AstraZeneca has already received emergency clearance from the European Union and World Health Organization but not from the U.S.

U.S. allies are now prompting Biden to release his supply, citing that the U.S. already has three authorized vaccines to cover American adults by the end of May and the entire population by the end of July.

However, AstraZeneca claims that the U.S.-produced vaccines are owned by the federal government, which would require the White House's approval before sending them overseas.

Before the year ends, Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines became available for administration after it had received an emergency authorization in the U.S.

Johnson & Johnson was given the green light last month with its one-dose vaccine. Biden administration said that supplies would be limited for this vaccine for the first month, according to The New York Times report.

J & J initially has 3.9 million shots available, with 16 million more coming by the end of the month. The vaccine developer committed to delivering 37 million doses by the end of March and a total of 100 million by the end of June.

Meanwhile, Novavax could apply for emergency authorization for its two-shot vaccine in April, despite it not being as effective against the South Africa variants.

READ NEXT: 'Vaccine-Gate' Scandal: Over 400 Peruvian VIPs Secretly Got COVID-19 Shots Before Official Rollout

WATCH: Biden Directs States To Make All Adults Eligible For Covid Vaccines On May 1 - from NBC News






The research team is planning to develop a real-time version of this technique where cancer cells can be automatically recognised

Healthy and cancer cells can look similar under a microscope. One way of differentiating them is by examining the level of acidity, or pH level, inside the cells. Tapping on this distinguishing characteristic, a research team from the National University of Singapore (NUS) has developed a technique that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to determine whether a single cell is healthy or cancerous by analysing its pH. Each cancer test can be completed in under 35 minutes, and single cells can be classified with an accuracy rate of more than 95 per cent.

The NUS team's method relies on applying bromothymol blue - a pH-sensitive dye that changes colour according to the level of acidity of a solution - onto living cells. Due to its intracellular activity, each type of cell displays its own fingerprint which consists of its own unique combination of red, green, and blue (RGB) components when illuminated. Cancer cells have an altered pH compared to healthy cells, so they react differently to the dye, and this changes their RGB fingerprint.

Using a standard microscope equipped with a digital colour camera, the RGB components emitted from the dye inside the cells are captured. By using an AI-based algorithm they developed, the NUS researchers were able to quantitatively map the unique acidic fingerprints so that the cell types examined can be easily and accurately identified. Thousands of cells originating from various cancerous tissues can be imaged simultaneously, and single-cell features can be extracted and analysed. Compared to current standard methods of cancer cell imaging which require several hours, the process developed by the NUS team can be completed in less than 35 minutes.

As their technique is simple, low cost, fast and high-throughput, the research team is planning to develop a real-time version of this technique where cancer cells can be automatically recognised, and promptly separated for further downstream molecular analysis, such as genetic sequencing, to determine any possible drug treatable mutation.

Image caption- The novel technique of using AI to quickly analyse cells for cancer diagnosis was developed by an NUS research team led by Professor Lim Chwee Teck (left). With him are two team members - Dr Jokhun Doorgesh Sharma (centre) and Dr Yuri Belotti (right).
(Natural News) Hong Kong reported a third fatality during its Wuhan coronavirus immunization drive using the Sinovac jab. The third casualty, a 71-year-old man, died on March 8  four days after getting vaccinated. Prior to him, two deaths following inoculation with the CoronaVac jab were reported. These deaths only served to fuel doubts and anxiety regarding the vaccines use in the special administrative region.

The man was reportedly in good health prior to getting the shot.

The two earlier patients who died after vaccination had underlying health conditions. The first victim was a 63-year-old man who died Feb. 28, two days after getting the vaccine. Later, a 55-year-old woman died on March 6  four days after she got the jab.

It is unclear whether the vaccine, manufactured by mainland Chinese pharmaceutical firm Sinovac Biotech, directly contributed to the deaths. Authorities were looking into the possible causes of death of the three Hong Kong residents.

On March 8, Dr. Pak-Leung Ho of the University of Hong Kong pointed out that CoronaVac had insufficient clinical data for people over 60 years old. The microbiology professor advised against giving the jab to those aged 60 years and older. But Hos advice did not dissuade the territorys government from using the vaccine.

Hong Kong Secretary for Food and Health Sophia Chan Siu-chee also said on March 8 that the territorys Advisory Panel on COVID-19 Vaccines still favored the Sinovac jab. She remarked that the panel still believes the benefits of CoronaVac outweigh the risks of its use, and that the city will continue using it for the COVID-19 immunization program.

Chans remarks came alongside the Hong Kong governments expansion of its priority vaccination efforts to a total of 1.3 million residents. It expanded the program to include seven categories of people such as school staff and registered construction workers.

The special administrative region approved two other vaccine candidates. The BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine produced by German firm BioNTech and Pfizers Chinese partner Fosun Pharma and the AstraZeneca vaccine produced in partnership with the British University of Oxford got the green light in Hong Kong. (Related: Chinese pharmaceutical firm Sinovac gets $500 million, boosting its coronavirus vaccine production.)

Locals afraid of vaccination following reports of deaths and adverse reactions

According to Hong Kong Centre for Health Protection Controller Ronald Lam Man-kin, a total of 45 cases of serious adverse reactions were reported by the afternoon of March 7. He added that another 16 non-serious cases were reported  involving headaches and fatigue.

Alongside the reported fatalities, these adverse reactions have discouraged Hong Kong residents from signing up for their COVID-19 shot. The special administrative region commenced its vaccination drive on Feb. 26. Days later, the local government announced on March 1 that appointments for CoronaVac inoculation almost reached 160,000.

However, the number of appointments took a plunge after news of the first fatality spread. March 2 saw 18,000 appointments, and the next day saw a lower 12,300 appointment count. It fell to four-digit numbers on March 4 and 5, until the government stopped updating the number of scheduled vaccinations on March 6. (Related: Shanghai district residents refuse to take Chinese-made coronavirus vaccine.)

Secretary for the Civil Service Patrick Nip Tak-kuen said during a March 9 radio interview that the initial vaccination rate exceeded 90 percent. But this had fallen to 72 percent by March 8, which the secretary attributed to some citizens not being vaccinated according to schedule.

The Sinovac jab draws criticism from world leaders

A number of world leaders criticized the Sinovac jab due to its low efficacy rate and scant safety data.

French President Emmanuel Macron warned against Chinese vaccines during a Feb. 5 event, saying that there was a lack of transparent information about them. I have absolutely no information on the Chinese [vaccine]. I am not commenting, but it is a fact, the French leader said.

Macron also expressed concern that the Chinese COVID-19 jabs would be ineffective in dealing with new mutations of the Wuhan coronavirus. The French leader remarked: This means that in the medium and long term, it is almost certain that if this vaccine is not suitable, it will facilitate the emergence of new variants. [The vaccine] will absolutely not fix the situation of the countries having adopted it.

Meanwhile, Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro questioned if the CoronaVac shot was indeed effective. The populist leader said in January that he was justified in criticizing it, after clinical trials in the Brazilian state of Sao Paulo showed its low efficacy rate of 50.4 percent.

Bolsonaro told his supporters that time: This 50 percent is good, is it? All the [criticism] I got for my comments, and now they are seeing the truth. Four months of being lambasted because of the vaccine!

Visit VaccineDeaths.com to find out more about the risks of getting Sinovacs Wuhan coronavirus vaccine.

Sources include:

TheEpochTimes.com 1

TheEpochTimes.com 2

Today24.news

Reuters.com
Amid a surge of migrants at the southern border, President Joe Biden urged future migrants not to come to the United States.

Biden is already being criticized, especially by the Republicans, over the surge of unaccompanied migrant children at the U.S.-Mexico border.

Due to Biden's "more lax" immigration stance, many migrants said they were motivated to go to the U.S. But in an interview with ABC News on Tuesday, Biden told migrants not to make the journey to the country.

"We're sending back people... I can say quite clearly, don't come over... don't leave your city, or town, or community," the President noted.

Biden earlier stressed the importance of immigration reform, easing several Trump-era policies meant to curb immigration, USA Today reported.

RELATED ARTICLE: Illegal Migrants Deported Back to Mexico Say Biden Fails to Keep His Promise

Biden and Migrants

Amid allegations of the border crisis, Biden emphasized in his interview with ABC News that there have also been surges at the border in 2019 and 2020. And when asked if the current border crisis is the worst, Biden said, "it could be."

He also tackled the issue that migrants were coming to the U.S. because they believe he would be lenient to those who cross the border.

"The idea that Joe Biden said, 'Come,' because I heard the other day that they're coming because they know I'm a nice guy. Here's the deal: They're not," Biden stressed.

The President added that migrants should not attempt to come to the U.S. while the administration is "in the process of getting set up." Fox News reported that Biden dismissed his critics, who accused him of encouraging migrants to enter the country.

According to Reuters, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said the U.S. faces the most significant surge of migrants at its southern border in 20 years.

Mayorkas noted the number of Central Americans and Mexicans who have attempted to cross the border steadily increased since April 2020.

But Mayorkas defended Biden, arguing that poverty, violence, and corruption are the main reason why Mexicans and Central Americans are going to the U.S. He noted that migrants want to start a better life in the country.

Mayorkas admitted that they are "on pace to encounter more individuals on the southwest border" than they have in the last 20 years. But he noted that most single adults' arrivals are now being expelled under a Trump-era provision called Title 42, which cited the pandemic as the basis for the swift expulsion of asylum seekers.

Biden and Migrant Expulsion

An Al Jazeera report said the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) encountered more than 100,441 migrants who tried to cross the border last month. It was the highest since 2019.

On the other hand, around 9,297 unaccompanied children were encountered at the U.S.-Mexico border in the same month, official figures showed.

The majority of people being sent back or expelled by the U.S. are made up of single adults. Authorities are not sending back children under six years old.

The number of migrant children trying to seek asylum is an issue that the Biden administration faces because facilities that can house them are limited. However, the White House still insists that the surge is not a crisis.

READ MORE: Biden Administration Wants Billions More to Fund Migrants in Their Home Countries

WATCH: Texas Governor Blames Biden for Migrant 'Surge' at Border - From Al Jazeera English
A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind.
'In the near future,' the flight testing of an improved North Korean intercontinental missile might start based on the statement of the head of the United States Northern Command on Tuesday.

North Korea to Test Intercontinental Missile

The Senate Armed Services Committee received a report from Air Force General Glen VanHerck that the North Korean regime has also indicated that it is no longer bound by the unilateral nuclear and ICBM testing moratorium announced in 2018, which suggested that in the near future, Kim Jong Un may begin flight testing an improved ICBM design. North Korea three years ago had promised a unilateral freeze on nuclear weapon tests, especially ICBM tests.

According to NBC News, a Defense official shared to the news outlet that the United States is aware of increased vehicular activity at a location where there is a history of missile launches. The official emphasized that currently there is no indication of an imminent launch as the US is continuing its monitoring of the situation.

In the March 12 post of 38 North, a website that offers analysis regarding North Korea, there is commercial satellite imagery showing new activity at the EUP or Uranium Enrichment Plant Complex of the Hermit State. Based on the images, smoke or vapor is coming from one of the buildings in the area and spread of a yellowish substance in front of the plant and on the website, drying of grain around the complex is common during harvest season, but at this time of the year, such nature of the activity is not clear, Politico reported.

US Official Labels North Korea a 'Syndicate With a Flag'

During a Pentagon briefing, later on, Air Force General VanHerck shared to reporters that North Korea has displayed a new missile in a parade in October, as they demonstrated that the regime possibly had three North Korean intercontinental missiles that could threaten the US. The general also added that during the public parade, they saw on the 10th of October, the additional capabilities, which is the North Korea Intercontinental Missile, and they were up to three missiles that could strike their homeland based on their initial assessment.

In addition, VanHerck also shared that he was confident that the US military could defend against any attack and could deter the regime from launching an attack. The general also added that they always maintain their ability in defending their homeland as the testing is still ongoing in the missile defense system and in their new radar system.

Moreover, the general also shared that he thinks the US has a good posture for deterrence as he cited a combination of ground-based interceptors, nuclear weapons, and ballistic missiles. Last month, the Biden administration sought to initiate talks with the Hermit state but had received no response in their movements based on the statement of White House on Monday, The Guardian reported.

North Korea Sends Warning to Biden Administration

On the other hand, the state media of North Korea reported earlier that Kim Jong Un's sister, Kim Yo Jong warned the United States over joint military drills with the South. Kim Yo Jong emphasized in her statement that if the US wants to sleep in peace for the coming four years, it had better refrain from causing a stink at its first step.

Capitol Police Officer Suspended for Anti-Semitic Materials

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Upgrading Basic Arctic Infrastructure and Protecting Canadas Sovereignty

Canada needs collaboration, strategic investment, learning from past mistakes, says former Iqaluit mayor

Canada is facing greater security threats as interest in the Arctic grows and shipping routes open up. The situation is prompting Canadas Arctic stakeholders to renew calls for significant infrastructure investments that they say would also go a long way toward protecting the countrys sovereignty in the region.

We can much better improve the quality of civilian infrastructure and provide options for our military to look at additional strategic asset development in communities throughout the region, said Ryan Brain, president & CEO of WSP Canada. [Its] a great thing to do for our economy, our environment, and our national security.

Speaking on March 12 at the Conference of Defence Associations Institutes three-day Ottawa Conference on Security and Defence, Brain discussed the lack of basic infrastructure in Nunavut, which makes up more than 20 percent of Canadas land mass but has no highways or rail lines.

Canada needs to develop its own Arctic strategy, as other nations have already done, said Madeleine Redfern, former mayor of Iqaluit and co-CEO of Toronto-based CanArctic Inuit Networks.

We need to actually step up and develop our own R&D strategy and ensure that we actually guide these investments so that they are where they need to be made for our northerners benefits, for the countrys benefit, and for our allies, Redfern said at the conference, which covered the Arctic among other topics including space, the Indo-Pacific, artificial intelligence, Norad, and NATO.

Brain noted that Nunavut only has one airport, with a runway half the length of a runway in major Canadian cities, and entirely depends on diesel fuel being brought in to power its communities.

This dire situation does not include infrastructure deficits in the Yukon or the Northwest Territories.

A new look at the Arctic, and the investment required to secure this vast region of Canada, will be critical going forward, deputy minister of defence Jody Thomas said at the conference on March 10.

She alluded to the February bilateral meeting between U.S. President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau where they agreed to cooperate on defending the Arctic and modernizing Norad.

The feds long-term infrastructure plan has $2 billion earmarked over 10 years for rural and northern communities. This is one of five investment streams under the Investing in Canada plan announced by the Trudeau government in 2016, a 12-year plan that provides over $180 billion of funding in total.

Internet service in Nunavut currently runs entirely via satellite, which is slower and less reliable than fibre-optic technology. Thus Redfern is particularly eager about her companys $107 million project to build a 2,000 km fibre-optic network that will bring faster, more reliable internet to Iqaluit and surrounding communities by 2022.

Getting Investment Right

Canada may miss out on strategic investments without its own Arctic strategy, and it also needs to be aware of foreign investments compromising regional and national security, Redfern said.

She said an Arctic investment strategy demands collaboration from the military, civilian businesses, and all three levels of government.

We need to actually sit down together  to deal with bad infrastructure, and who can we attract from within our own private sector to invest, or from our allies that share the same  outcomes in the end, benefits, she added.

For example, the danger with Chinese state-owned investments in the Arctic is that they would effectively control the economy of a big part of a sub-region, said Arctic expert Adam Lajeunesse in an article on the CDA Institute website.

This provides a degree of political power.  They then gain the political power to withdraw that investment or to lay people off, wrote Lajeunesse, Irving Shipbuilding Chair in Canadian Arctic Marine Security Policy and an assistant professor at St. Francis Xavier University.

Lajeunesse said its about not allowing Beijing to gain leverage in the North, which is different from the oilsands where many large private companies are already operating.

Romanticized View

Redfern also said Canada has to learn from its history, as it has a legacy of poor planning and inadequate consultation with northerners.

What weve been doing hasnt worked to datewe must do better, she said, adding that Canadas Arctic neighbours are having their militaries work with businesses and northerners and making strategic investments.

We have a romanticized view of the North  and its unchangingness, said a senior analyst from the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) who withheld his name at the conference.

Thomas said the changing sea ice is allowing for more shipping in the Northwest Passage, and given how it is not well charted, there is greater concern for accidents and damage to the environment.

She also reminded conference attendees that the Arctic is the quickest way for China and Russia to get to North America for aggressive action.

She warned of Russias military buildup and said the Arctic is being eyed increasingly for its resources like fisheries, petroleum, and critical minerals.

Furthermore, China has a voracious appetite and will stop at nothing to feed itself, and the Arctic is one of the last domains, Thomas said.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- All Ohioans 40 and older will be eligible for the coronavirus vaccine as of Friday, and every resident 16 and older will become eligible starting March 29.

The announcement sent thousands of Ohioans scurrying for appointments, which were talking about on This Week in the CLE.

Listen online here.

Editor Chris Quinn hosts our daily half-hour news podcast, with Leila Atassi, Jane Kahoun and me.

Youve been sending Chris lots of thoughts and suggestions on our from-the-newsroom account, in which he shares what were thinking about at cleveland.com. You can sign up for free by sending a text to 216-868-4802.

Here are the questions were answering today:

When do people 40 and older become eligible for the coronavirus vaccines? When does everyone else become eligible?

How did Ohios registration site for the coronavirus vaccine turn a whole bunch of people into liars on Tuesday?

Weve been reporting for years that the bail system penalizes the poor, putting them at risk of losing their jobs, custody of their children and the ability to thrive. Now the ACLU says it hurts them in another big way. What is it?

Who is the key figure in the Statehouse scandal surrounding House Bill 6 who died in Florida, and what do we know about him?

The University of Akron has had its share of money troubles in recent years, but it had good news Tuesday for students looking to save money. What was it?

Why was Samaria Rice, the mother of Tamir Rice, vexed by the Grammy Awards telecast Sunday night?

How does a good government group want to change the laws about what lobbyists have to disclose, and why?

Tuesday was the soft opening of the mass vaccination clinic at the Wolstein Center in downtown Cleveland, so how did it go?

What are the chances the Ohio Legislature will rename a state park for Donald Trump, even though the former president exhorted people to fatal violence in an insurrection at the U.S. Capitol?

Want more? You can find all our past episodes here.

We have an Apple podcasts channel exclusively for this podcast. Subscribe here.

Do you get your podcasts on Spotify. Find us here.

If you use Stitcher, we are here.

RadioPublic is another popular podcast vehicle, and we are here.

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And on PlayerFM, we are here.
(Newser)  The headlines about the state of things in Brazil this month have been gloomy. Things are now much worse. The BBC reports the country on Tuesday night reported 2,841 COVID-19 deaths over the last 24 hours, which it paints as a "large jump" from the previous high of 2,286 on March 10. And health institute Fiocruz said this: "The analysis by our researchers suggests it's the biggest collapse of the hospital and health service in Brazil's history." More:

The country will Wednesday see the appointment of the fourth health minister of the pandemic, Brazilian cardiologist Marcelo Queiroga. Reuters reports no handover date has been established.

He's being urged to weigh the possibility of a national lockdown, but he didn't go anywhere near that far in Tuesday comments, in which he promoted masks and hand-washing but didn't push social distancing.

President Jair Bolsonaro has been vocal about his distaste for lockdowns, and the AP reports Queiroga said Tuesday that the COVID-19 policy he will implement "is of the Bolsonaro administration, not of the health minister."

story continues below

Reuters reports Queiroga will take the slot held by Eduardo Pazuello, an active army general who has no medical degree and has been in the job since May, reports the AP. The two health ministers before him lasted just a short time, partly because they wouldn't endorse the use of hydroxychloroquine as a COVID treatment.

At the Washington Post, Ishaan Tharoor gives some global context: Brazil is No. 2 in total case count and deaths, behind the US. But things are getting better here and worse there, in part due to the spread of a more contagious P1 variant over the last two months. Tharoor adds that the use of coronavirus tests, "key to tracking and stopping a surge in cases," has seen a steep decline since December.

The BBC reports the ICUs in Rio Grande do Sul are 100% full, and a local politician there on Monday shared an idea that shows the desperation setting in. The Guardian reports Councilor Alberi Dias offered this: "We've got lots of businesspeople here who own helicopters and planes ... I don't know if there's a liquid version of alcohol gel, but I think spraying it would be a good idea because the virus is in the air. ... They use planes to spray crops. Perhaps it's a good idea because alcohol gel does no harm."

As for Brazil's vaccination rate, it's low. Our World in Data lists its current number of single doses per 100 people at 5.6, compared to 32.62 in the US.

(Read more COVID-19 stories.)
Kenmare Resources plc (Kenmare or the Company)

17 March 2021

Board Update

Kenmare Resources plc (LSE:KMR, ISE:KMR), one of the leading global producers of titanium minerals and zircon, which operates the Moma Titanium Minerals Mine in northern Mozambique, announces the following update regarding the Group's Board.

Gabriel Smith has decided not to stand for re-election as a Non-Executive Director at this year's AGM, following eight years of service on the Board. Gabriel joined the Board in March 2013 and has served as Chairman of the Audit & Risk Committee and as a member of the Remuneration and Nomination Committees.

Deirdre Somers will replace Gabriel Smith as the Chair of the Audit & Risk Committee and become a member of the Remuneration Committee with effect from the conclusion of the AGM. The other members of the Audit & Risk Committee remain Peter Bacchus and Clever Fonseca. There are no other changes to the Boards Committees.

Separately, Tim Keating, a Non-Executive Director of Kenmare Resources plc, has informed the Company that he will step down from the Companys Board of Directors effective immediately. Tim was appointed as a Non-Executive Director of the Company on 14 October 2016, having been nominated by African Acquisition Sarl, Kenmare's largest shareholder and a company controlled by Oman Investment Authority (OIA). Tim has stepped down from his role at the OIA and therefore is stepping down from the Board.

Sameer Oundhakar has been nominated by African Acquisition Sarl and joins the Board immediately as a Non-Executive Director. Mr. Oundhakar joined OIA in 2018 and is a Senior Manager in the Diversified Private Equity Investments department of OIA. He has extensive Private Equity experience across industry sectors and geographies. Mr. Oundhakar has a Bachelors degree with distinction in Mechanical Engineering from VJTI Mumbai, a Post Graduate Diploma in Management from the Indian Institute of Management Lucknow and an MBA from INSEAD.

There are no other matters in respect of Mr. Oundhakar requiring disclosure under UK Listing Rules 9.6.13(1) to 9.6.13(6) inclusive.

Statement from Steven McTiernan, Chairman of Kenmare:

I would like to sincerely thank Tim and Gabriel for their invaluable contributions to the Board during their respective tenures.

Gabriels significant industrial and financial experience, and effective stewardship as Chair of the Audit & Risk Committee, has been of huge importance to the progress and success of the Company.

Tim has had a critical impact on the success of Kenmare over the last four and a half years, beginning with his visionary support for the Company following the investment by the OIA in 2016. Subsequently, as a Non-Executive Director, Tims mining and corporate finance wisdom has been of immense importance in guiding the Company forward to its current level of success.

We wish them both well in their future endeavours.

We are delighted to welcome Sameer Oundhakar to the Board and we look forward to working with him and benefitting from his expertise and diverse experience.

For further information, please contact:



Kenmare Resources plc

Jeremy Dibb

Investor Relations

ir@kenmareresources.com

Tel: +353 1 671 0411

Mob: + 353 87 943 0367

Murray (PR advisor)

Joe Heron

Tel: +353 1 498 0300

Mob: +353 87 690 9735

About Kenmare Resources

Kenmare Resources plc is one of the worlds largest producers of mineral sands products. Listed on the London Stock Exchange and the Euronext Dublin, Kenmare operates the Moma Titanium Minerals Mine in Mozambique. Momas production accounts for approximately 7% of global titanium feedstocks and the Company supplies to customers operating in more than 15 countries. Kenmare produces raw materials that are ultimately consumed in everyday quality-of life items such as paints, plastics and ceramic tiles.
After a woman in south Florida had received one dose of coronavirus vaccine while pregnant, the maternal vaccination resulted in the world's first baby with COVID-19 antibodies based on the claims of two pediatricians.

Florida Baby, First to Be Born with COVID-19 Antibodies

The first baby with COVID-19 antibodies was recently born in the United States. The baby girl's findings were presented in an article by the doctors, which means that the claim has yet to be peer-reviewed.

According to The Guardian, the doctors shared that the mother of a baby girl with COVID-19 antibodies is a frontline healthcare worker. She received her first dose of the Moderna vaccine in January and at the time, she was 36 weeks pregnant.

Moreover, Doctors Paul Gilbert and Chad Rudnick also mentioned that the frontline healthcare worker gave birth to a vigorous and healthy baby girl three weeks later. They also stated that in their paper they mentioned that the researchers analyzed blood from the umbilical cord of the baby girl and antibodies were detected in it at the time of the delivery.

Spring Breakers Arrested in Miami Beach

The two doctors also stated that aside from the potential total protection, there is also a chance of reducing the risk of infection from Sars-CoV-2 with maternal vaccination. Gilbert shared to a news outlet that to their knowledge, it was the first case in the world that was reported about a baby being born with antibodies after maternal vaccination.

In addition, Gilbert and Rudnick also stated that they tested the cord in order to see if the antibodies possessed by the mother were passed to the recently born baby. Based on the doctors they tried the testing of the umbilical cord as it is something that they see happen with other vaccines when given during pregnancy.

On the other hand, despite the fact that the paper makes clear information, it needs further research based on the doctors. In their paper, they mentioned that there is a need for determining whether the infants will be protected by these antibodies.

Biden Promise: Vaccines and Checks in 10 Days

Also, they urged other researchers and investigators in creating pregnancy and breastfeeding registries as well as to conduct efficacy and safety studies of the COVID-19 vaccines in women who are pregnant and breastfeeding. The doctors also mentioned that the information about their offspring needs to be studied as well, Business Insider reported.

One among the doctors who reported the first baby with COVID-19 antibodies, Rudnick, shared to a news outlet that it is one small case in what will be thousands and thousands of babies born to mothers who have been vaccinated of the next several months. He also added that further studies will have to secure the duration of the protection and how can it last.

Rudnick also added that researchers have to determine at what level of protection or how many antibodies does a baby need in order to have to circulate in order to give them protection. Doctors Gilbert and Rudnick also shared that their article had been accepted for publication and that they were waiting for it to be posted on the site of the journal officially, WION reported.





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Researchers have channeled the universe's earliest light - a relic of the universe's formation known as the cosmic microwave background (CMB) - to solve a missing-matter mystery and learn new things about galaxy formation. Their work could also help us to better understand dark energy and test Einstein's theory of general relativity by providing new details about the rate at which galaxies are moving toward us or away from us.

Invisible dark matter and dark energy account for about 95% of the universe's total mass and energy, and the majority of the 5% that is considered ordinary matter is also largely unseen, such as the gases at the outskirts of galaxies that comprise their so-called halos.

Most of this ordinary matter is made up of neutrons and protons - particles called baryons that exist in the nuclei of atoms like hydrogen and helium. Only about 10% of baryonic matter is in the form of stars, and most of the rest inhabits the space between galaxies in strands of hot, spread-out matter known as the warm-hot intergalactic medium, or WHIM.

Because baryons are so spread out in space, it has been difficult for scientists to get a clear picture of their location and density around galaxies. Because of this incomplete picture of where ordinary matter resides, most of the universe's baryons can be considered as "missing."

Now, an international team of researchers, with key contributions from physicists at the U.S. Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) and Cornell University, has mapped the location of these missing baryons by providing the best measurements, to date, of their location and density around groups of galaxies.

It turns out the baryons are in galaxy halos after all, and that these halos extend much farther than popular models had predicted. While most of an individual galaxy's stars are typically contained within a region that is about 100,000 light-years from the galaxy's center, these measurements show that for a given group of galaxies, the most distant baryons can extend about 6 million light-years from their center.

Paradoxically, this missing matter is even more challenging to map out than dark matter, which we can observe indirectly through its gravitational effects on normal matter. Dark matter is the unknown stuff that makes up about 27% of the universe; and dark energy, which is driving matter in the universe apart at an accelerating rate, makes up about 68% of the universe.

"Only a few percent of ordinary matter is in the form of stars. Most of it is in the form of gas that is generally too faint, too diffuse to be able to detect," said Emmanuel Schaan, Chamberlain Postdoctoral Fellow in Berkeley Lab's Physics Division and lead author for one of two papers (https:/ / journals. aps. org/ prd/ abstract/ 10. 1103/ PhysRevD. 103. 063513 ) about the missing baryons, published March 15 in the journal Physical Review D (view the other paper at this link: https:/ / journals. aps. org/ prd/ abstract/ 10. 1103/ PhysRevD. 103. 063514 ).

The researchers made use of a process known as the Sunyaev-Zel'dovich effect that explains how CMB electrons get a boost in energy via a scattering process as they interact with hot gases surrounding galaxy clusters.

"This is a great opportunity to look beyond galaxy positions and at galaxy velocities," said Simone Ferraro, a Divisional Fellow in Berkeley Lab's Physics Division who participated in both studies. "Our measurements contain a lot of cosmological information about how fast these galaxies move. It will complement measurements that other observatories make, and make them even more powerful," he said.

A team of researchers at Cornell University, comprised of research associate Stefania Amodeo, assistant professor. Professor Nicholas Battaglia, and graduate student Emily Moser, led the modeling and the interpretation of the measurements, and explored their consequences for weak gravitational lensing and galaxy formation.

The computer algorithms that the researchers developed should prove useful in analyzing "weak lensing" data from future experiments with high precision. Lensing phenomena occur when massive objects such as galaxies and galaxy clusters are roughly aligned in a particular line of site so that gravitational distortions actually bend and distort the light from the more distant object.

Weak lensing is one of the main techniques that scientists use to understand the origin and evolution of the universe, including the study of dark matter and dark energy. Learning the location and distribution of baryonic matter brings this data within reach.

"These measurements have profound implications for weak lensing, and we expect this technique to be very effective at calibrating future weak-lensing surveys," Ferraro said.

Schaan noted, "We also get information that's relevant for galaxy formation."

In the latest studies, researchers relied on a galaxies dataset from the ground-based Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey (BOSS) in New Mexico, and CMB data from the Atacama Cosmology Telescope (ACT) in Chile and the European Space Agency's space-based Planck telescope. Berkeley Lab played a leading role in the BOSS mapping effort, and developed the computational architectures necessary for Planck data-processing at NERSC.

The algorithms they created benefit from analysis using the Cori supercomputer at Berkeley Lab's DOE-funded National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center (NERSC). The algorithms counted electrons, allowing them to ignore the chemical composition of the gases.

"It's like a watermark on a bank note," Schaan explained. "If you put it in front of a backlight then the watermark appears as a shadow. For us the backlight is the cosmic microwave background. It serves to illuminate the gas from behind, so we can see the shadow as the CMB light travels through that gas."

Ferraro said, "It's the first really high-significance measurement that really pins down where the gas was."

The new picture of galaxy halos provided by the "ThumbStack" software that researchers created: massive, fuzzy spherical areas extending far beyond the starlit regions. This software is effective at mapping those halos even for groups of galaxies that have low-mass halos and for those that are moving away from us very quickly (known as "high-redshift" galaxies).

New experiments that should benefit from the halo-mapping tool include the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument, the Vera Rubin Observatory, the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, and the Euclid space telescope.

NERSC is a DOE Office of Science user facility.

###

In addition to the lead authors from Berkeley Lab, UCB and Cornell, researchers from 41 institutions in seven countries participated in the new studies. The work was supported in part by the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science, the National Science Foundation, Princeton University, the University of Pennsylvania, and the Canada Foundation for Innovation. Funding for the Sloan Digital Sky Survey IV has been provided by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science, and the Participating Institutions.

More

"Ancient light illuminates matter that fuels galaxy formation," Cornell Chronicle, Cornell University, March 15, 2021

Founded in 1931 on the belief that the biggest scientific challenges are best addressed by teams, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and its scientists have been recognized with 14 Nobel Prizes. Today, Berkeley Lab researchers develop sustainable energy and environmental solutions, create useful new materials, advance the frontiers of computing, and probe the mysteries of life, matter, and the universe. Scientists from around the world rely on the Lab's facilities for their own discovery science. Berkeley Lab is a multiprogram national laboratory, managed by the University of California for the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Science.

DOE's Office of Science is the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States, and is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information, please visit energy.gov/science.
A Trenton man charged by federal authorities with twice trying to light a police car on fire during last springs riot in the city has been indicted by state authorities on accusations he threw an explosive device at state troopers during the mayhem.

Kadeem Dockery, 29, was indicted Monday on three counts of aggravated assault and a count of possessing a weapon for an unlawful purpose, the state Attorney Generals Office announced.

The May 31 evening riot in downtown Trenton damaged about 60 stores and left two city police cars in shambles. It followed a peaceful protest over the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, during which Trenton officers kneeled in solidarity with protestors.

Four young men have been charged with committing violent acts that evening.

Dockery was charged in August with two federal crimes accusing him of tossing a device into a Trenton police car, and then taking off his shirt and handing to others rioters, who stuffed it into a police cars gas tank, authorities have said.

A team of New Jersey State Police troopers then rushed toward the police car to stop that act, authorities say and video from the riot shows.

Authorities have said Dockery then crouched behind the cop car and lit and threw another explosive device at the troopers as they arrested a man at the gas tank - Justin Spry.

The new state charges against Dockery accuse him of tossing that device, which exploded at the feet of the troopers, causing one to suffer temporary loss of hearing, the AGs office said.

A call to Dockerys lawyer was not immediately returned Wednesday.

Four young men, including Dockery, have been charged with committing violent acts in Trenton on May 31.

Dockery was charged federally with Killian F. Melecio, of Mansfield, Burlington County. Investigators linked them to the riot through their distinctive tattoos. Dockerys federal case is pending.

Melecio, 20, pleaded guilty in January to a count of attempting to obstruct, impede, or interfere with law enforcement officers during a civil disorder. He is scheduled to be sentenced in May. Authorities say he took Dockerys t-shirt and also tried to light the police car on fire.

The case against Spry, of South Plainfield, is pending in federal court.

Federal charges are pending against Earlja J. Dudley, of Trenton, who also allegedly tried to light one of the police cars on fire. He was arrested about two weeks after the riot after investigators linked clothing they say he wore on May 31 to social media posts.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Kevin Shea may be reached at kshea@njadvancemedia.com
PITTSBURGH, March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- "I wanted to create a natural, therapeutic kit to help with skin inflammation," said an inventor, from Carson, Calif., "so I invented the SPUD COLD PACK. My design eliminates the need to hold a bulky ice pack on the inflamed or bruised area."

The invention provides relief from inflammation and skin problems such as rashes, sunburn, etc. In doing so, it offers a viable alternative to traditional ice packs. As a result, it could help to improve overall health and wellness. The invention features a compact and versatile design that is easy to apply and use so it is ideal for the general population and individuals who utilize all-natural remedies. Additionally, it is producible in design variations and a prototype is available.

The original design was submitted to the Riverside sales office of InventHelp. It is currently available for licensing or sale to manufacturers or marketers. For more information, write Dept. 19-RVS-124, InventHelp, 217 Ninth Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, or call (412) 288-1300 ext. 1368. Learn more about InventHelp's Invention Submission Services at http://www.InventHelp.com.

SOURCE InventHelp

Related Links

http://www.inventhelp.com


Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 30 giorni fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili.

Market Research Future has published a Half-Cooked Research Report on the Global Sodium Chlorate Market.

Market Synopsis

Sodium chlorate is an industrial salt produced from table salt and water in reaction with electricity. Sodium chlorate is largely used in the pulp and paper industry to produce chlorine dioxide, which is an environmentally friendly bleaching agent used to manufacture white paper products. It is also used for the synthesis of potassium chlorates, which are extensively used in explosives. In addition, it acts as a chemical intermediate in processing perchlorates and chlorite, an oxidizing mineral compound, and in the metal finishing sector.

Get a Free Sample of This Report @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/8606

The top five importers of the sodium chlorate, as of 2018, were the US, Japan, Sweden, Russia, and Portugal, whereas the major exporters were China, the US, Canada, Italy, and Spain. The market witnessed a supply-demand gap in the past and trade flow can be seen disrupted as it is a hazardous material.

Trade and Regulatory Analysis

According to the MRFR analysis, the Sodium Chlorate Market Outlook was valued at more than USD 2.1 Billion in 2018 and is expected to reach over USD 2.8 Billion by the end of 2025 at a CAGR of 4.6%.

Some of the international associations, e.g., the US Environmental Protection Agency and Registration, Evaluation, Authorization, and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH), have banned products (herbicides) containing chlorate in the agricultural industry. This has fetched some significant regulations for its use in agricultural and commercial sites, for instance, in 2010, the REACH had set the permissible residue limit of 0.01 mg/kg sodium chlorate in food products. In addition, around 2.8 million pounds of sodium chlorate is used in the residential and commercial sectors annually in the US.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the drinking water standard for chlorate is set for 0.03 mg/kg/day.

SEGMENTATION

By Grade

Crystalline: The crystalline grade segment held the largest share of over 70% in 2018. This is primarily attributed to the extensive demand for crystalline sodium chlorate in the production of chlorine dioxide. Additionally, its use in uranium mining due to increasing focus on the development of nuclear weapons and submarines is projected to boost the demand for crystalline form of sodium chlorate. Moreover, the increasing expenditure in the defense industry in emerging economies such as India, China, South Korea, and Brazil is expected to increase uranium mining activities and consequently favor the growth of the segment.

Solution: This segment is expected to witness healthy growth during the forecast period. Sodium chlorate solution is a clear odorless liquid available in 2050% solution. The healthy growth of the segment is mainly attributed to the growing demand for concentrated solution also known as dry salt in explosives and oxidizable materials, which are extensively used in the nuclear and defense industries.

By Application

Pulp & Paper: The segment accounted for more than 80% share in 2018. The primary factor responsible for the dominance of the pulp and paper segment is the high use of sodium chlorate in the synthesis of chlorine dioxide, an excellent key bleaching agent. The growth of paper board packaging due to the increase in e-commerce and trading activities across the globe is likely to drive the demand for pulp and paper in the coming years. The increase in the demand for tissues, wipes and toilet papers in restaurants, hotels, and office spaces is anticipated to drive the market growth.

Chemical Intermediate: Sodium chlorate is preferred intermediate in potassium chlorate and sodium perchlorates due to its high oxidizing property, which allows the ignition at a faster rate. The segment accounted for the second-largest market share in 2018 owing to the high demand for potassium chlorate in the manufacturing of explosives, flares, and pyrotechnics. It is expected to witness significant growth during the review period.

Uranium Mining: Sodium chlorate finds substantial application in ore processing particularly uranium mining, an essential material used in nuclear weapons. Nuclear power generation is major contributor to sustainable development as it has low environmental impact and does not generate greenhouse gases. The rapidly increasing demand for fuel in nuclear power plants and increasing environmental concerns related to mining on the backdrop of surging urbanization across globe is likely favor the growth the segment. Also, uranium is widely used as a ballast in aircraft and boats and as gamma sterilization in the medical industry.

Water Treatment: Sodium chlorate has high oxidizing potential and functions as a powerful oxidizing agent through its application chlorine dioxide. Widespread use of chlorine dioxide in water treatment as it can oxidize mineral compounds of sulfur, iodide, and bisulfite, which are highly toxic are likely to drive the product demand. Thus, the growing demand for treatment of industrial wastewater is expected to result in an increased demand for sodium chlorate in the coming years.

Leather Tanning: The growing demand for sodium chlorate in tanning and finishing leather are likely to drive market growth. Moreover, the rise in standard of living and increase in consumer spending is expected to bolster the growth of the market.

Others: Additional uses of sodium chlorate such as surface treatment of metal, manufacturing dyes, pharmaceuticals, herbicide, and vanadium mining are anticipated to drive the market growth during the forecast period.

Browse Full Report Details @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/sodium-chlorate-market-8606

By Region

North America: The market growth is driven by the well-established paper and paperboard industry and stringent regulations pertaining to greenhouse emission through plastic usage. Canada has one of the largest deposits of uranium, which is expected to create high demand for sodium chlorate.

Europe: Germany is the largest contributor to the regional market growth owing to the established leather tanning and finishing sectors.

Asia-Pacific: The largest and fastest-growing regional market for sodium chlorate. This is primarily attributed to the high demand for the product in applications such as chlorine dioxide for bleaching pulp, explosives, ore processing, dyes, and leather tanning.

Latin America: A small but growing mining and water treatment industry is likely to fuel the demand for sodium chlorate in the coming years.

Middle East & Africa: High growth potential of the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries is projected to drive the regional market growth during the forecast period.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday announced sanctions against two dozen Chinese and Hong Kong officials for undermining the territorys semi-autonomy from Beijing, just days before a crucial summit between the United States and China.

The sanctions represent an update to the Hong Kong Autonomy Act, passed last June under the Trump administration, which serves to penalize individuals, banks and other entities that enable Chinas strict new national security law for Hong Kong.

The State Department announcement also comes one week after Chinas ceremonial legislature approved a plan to reduce the number of Hong Kong lawmakers elected by the territorys voters. In a statement, Blinken said the new spate of U.S. sanctions underscores our deep concern with the action in the National Peoples Congress.

The United States stands united with our allies and partners in speaking out for the rights and freedoms of people in Hong Kong, and we will respond when the [Peoples Republic of China] fails to meet its obligations, he said.

Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin finished a series of meetings in Japan on Tuesday and arrived in South Korea on Wednesday for the next leg of their international trip, meant to help shore up U.S. alliances in Asia at the outset of the Biden administration.

On Thursday, Blinken will join National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and other administration officials in Alaska for a round of talks with Chinas ruling Communist Party  the first known high-level diplomatic encounter between Washington and Beijing since Biden assumed office in January.
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas parried question after question from Republican and even some Democratic lawmakers on Wednesday as the crisis of unaccompanied migrant children coming to the US-Mexico border seeking asylum continues to overwhelm his department.

The secretary described the situation at the border as undoubtedly difficult, but blamed the Trump administration for four years of mismanagement and misuse of the department that has led to inadequate preparation for such a surge in migration.

Mr Mayorkas acknowledged in his opening statement on Wednesday before the House Homeland Security Committee that DHS is dealing with historic and unprecedented challenges at the southern border, with families and individuals showing up in record numbers and being turned back towards Mexico.

We are also encountering many unaccompanied children, children who arrive without a parent or legal guardian with them, Mr Mayorkas said in his opening statement.

The Biden administration has adopted a policy of taking in those unaccompanied minors, saying it is the only human response to the influx of children in a dangerous foreign land without the company of a trusted adult.

Their families made the heart-wrenching decision to send them on a journey across Mexico to provide them with a better, safer future, Mr Mayorkas said.

The situation is undoubtedly difficult.

An overwhelmed system

Its so difficult, in fact, that an overwhelmed US immigration system has not been able to follow its own laws.

By law, unaccompanied children who make it to the border are supposed to spend no more than 72 hours with Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) before being transferred into the custody of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), which runs a housing network for such minors. The goal is for the children to have safe places to stay as authorities track down legal sponsors and relatives in the US who can take them in.

But at one point earlier this week, more than 300 unaccompanied children had been in CBP custody for more than 10 days. More than 4,200 such children are in CBP custody right now, up nearly 1,000 from earlier this month. Most have been there far longer than the 72-hour legal window as HHS struggles to find shelter for the thousands of children already under its jurisdiction.

New York Congressman John Katko, the top Republican on the Homeland Security Committee, criticised Mr Mayorkas for not giving proper acknowledgement to the severity of the border crisis, a term the Biden administration has steadfastly refused to apply to its challenges.

I can tell you without hesitation that it is indeed a crisis that continues to deepen each and every day, Mr Katko said.

Mr Mayorkas dismissed the GOPs attacks on the characterisation of the border situation as cheap politics, saying he would not be spending any time on the language that we use to characterise the border situation.

I will share with you how I define a crisis. A crisis is when a nation is willing to rip a 9-year-old child out of the hands of his or her parent and separate that family to deter future migration. That to me is a humanitarian crisis, Mr Mayorkas said, referring to a Trump-era policy that many have decried as a human rights abuse.

Adults and families

But what about individual adults and families who attempt to cross the border?

DHS has said previously that while the Biden administration has turned away and expelled individual adults over public health guidelines related to the ongoing Covid crisis, it has been forced to allow many asylum-seeking families into the country for processing since Mexico is also at capacity for families that have been turned back.

We are expelling under the ... public health authority in light of the pandemic single individuals who arrive at the border. We are expelling families under that same public health authority, limited only by the capacity of Mexico to receive them, he said.

Mr Mayorkas claimed on Wednesday that the border is secure and the border is not open, but recent numbers from the administration suggest that most families are not being returned to Mexico and instead being processed here in the US.

In a lengthy statement on Tuesday ahead of his hearing before Congress on Wednesday, Mr Mayorkas laid out what the Biden administration is doing with regard to families that Mexico cannot take back:

Mexicos limited capacity has strained our resources, including in the Rio Grande Valley area of Texas. When Mexicos capacity is reached, we process the families and place them in immigration proceedings here in the United States, Mr Mayorkas statement from Tuesday said.

We have partnered with community-based organisations to test the family members and quarantine them as needed under Covid-19 protocols. In some locations, the processing of individuals who are part of a family unit has strained our border resources.

Chairman Bennie Thompson of the House Homeland Security panel on Wednesday blamed mismanagement by the Trump administration for leaving its successor without the tools to address the current crisis.

Let me be clear, the Trump administrations cruel, shortsighted policies directly contributed to the situation at the border now, Mr Thompson said, citing the lack of testing capacity at CBP facilities and a general scarcity of resources for people seeking asylum from war-torn and poverty-stricken countries in Central America.

But congressional Republicans, many of whom took a fact-finding trip to the border last weekend, have pinned the blame for the border crisis directly onto Mr Bidens policy shifts and promises to inject dignity into the US immigration system.

What Mr Biden and his aides have called humane policy, Republicans have termed naive, reckless, and soft.

Its more than a crisis. This is a human heartbreak, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy said at the border over the weekend. This crisis is created by the presidential policies of this new administration. Theres no other way to claim it than a Biden border crisis.
Armenia acting health minister on citizens' demand for her resignation

Karabakh's new State Minister Artak Beglaryan on his appointment and future activities

Armenian, Russian and Azerbaijani representatives hold consultations in Moscow

2 Armenian soldiers receive slight injuries after incident with Azerbaijani servicemen in Armenia's Gegharkunik

Armenian boy weighing 5 kg born at Goris Medical Center

"Armenia" bloc representative presents purpose of participation in elections and plans

Isaac Herzog elected President of Israel

Rouhani: Main issues between Tehran, Washington resolved in Vienna

Charles Michel calls on Armenia and Azerbaijan to resume constructive negotiations

US Department of State responds to Pashinyan's proposal to deploy international observers on Armenia-Azerbaijan border

Head of Armenia 2nd President's Office: Robert Kocharyan's public meetings are held in warm atmosphere

Opposition "Armenia" bloc's representative on photos and videos showing bags of deceased servicemen's bodies

Armenia Ombudsman, AGBU President discuss war crimes committed by Azerbaijan during Karabakh war

Opposition "Armenia" bloc's representatives to hold briefings three times a week

Opposition "Armenia" bloc member: Blood-freezing photos and videos from morgue in Abovyan are authorities' reflection

Yerevan mayor receives Netherlands Ambassador

Armenia Health Ministry, Investigative Committee keep info about sending remains of dead soldiers abroad confidential

Armenia Prosecutor General's Office launches case regarding leaving sacs of servicemen's bodies/remains in basement

Peskov: Putin and Biden to discuss cybersecurity issues

Armenia's Pashinyan meets with Belgian PM Alexander De Croo

Armenia acting MOD receives Netherlands Ambassador

Armenia Police: 3 citizens apprehended during protest demanding acting health minister's resignation

NATO warns Minsk about further consequences of Ryanair incident

Armenia economic competition protection commission: Experts forecast inflation of butter prices

Armenia citizens' protest against acting health minister is over

Pashinyan visits France, judicial farce against Armenian POWs kicks off in Baku, Jun. 2 digest

Armenian Ambassador, FMO representatives consider opportunities for expansion of cooperation in Armenia

Armenia Prosecutor General is on working visit to Russia

Armenia acting PM meets with European Council President in Brussels

Armenia citizens throw polyethylene bags at Health Ministry building, police apprehend protesters

Acting deputy minister: Armenia authorities plan to build 46km section of North-South highway in 2021

Dollar is stable in Armenia

Armenia official: Large number of projects being prepared in construction sector

Identity of man killed Wednesday morning in downtown Yerevan is found out

Armenian lawyer: Azerbaijan poses a threat to security in Europe

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

Missing Armenian soldiers' relatives hand letter to Russia Embassy with request to solve captives' issue

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
(People's Daily Onine) A video clip in which a schoolgirl from a previously impoverished village in northwest Chinas Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region revealed her lovely and innocent smile has garnered widespread attention among Chinese internet users.





Tie Jiaxin, 7, a first grade student at Daping Primary School, had just finished class and was waiting for the bus to go home when her teacher, Ma Rui, shot the video on March 4. Ma thought the girl was cute and her smile healing.

Ma, who became a volunteer teacher at Daping Primary School more than one year ago, said it has been a habit of hers to record what she sees by camera on her phone as well as sharing the recordings with a wider audience. As I have observed, my students are becoming more confident than before, said Ma.
Nick Jonas has a hungry heart when it comes to The Boss.

The 28-year-old, speaking with Apple Music on Tuesday, said that he hopes to portray Bruce Springsteen in a film someday.

'It is a dream of mine - and I'll just go ahead and say it, hoping that it gets to the right ears - but it's a dream of mine to play him in a movie one day and tell his story in some way that would be honoring to him and that he could be involved with,' Jonas told the outlet.

The latest: Nick Jonas, 28, speaking with Apple Music on Tuesday, said that he hopes to portray Bruce Springsteen in a film someday. He was snapped earlier this month on The Tonight Show

The Spaceman artist pointed to his New Jersey roots in explaining his fondness for the Dancing in the Dark artist, 71, noting that Springsteen holds a 'special place in [his] heart and [his] creative life.

'Im so frustrated because I had the chance to go see him live when I was a lot younger,' he told Zane Lowe. 'He was playing at Giants Stadium. My brothers and my dad went, but I couldnt go for some reason.'

He said he finally saw the rock icon take the stage in Los Angeles two years ago.

'It just was such an amazing experience and so inspiring to me as an artist and having been a lifelong fan and then getting to see him live was great,' he said.

Hometown: The Spaceman artist pointed to his New Jersey roots in explaining his fondness for the Dancing in the Dark artist

Role model: Springsteen's career has served as a blueprint on how to truly connect with fans, Jonas said

Jonas said Springsteen's career has served as a blueprint on how to truly connect with fans, saying that he 'could only hope to have a career as lengthy as his and as important as his has been to people.'

'That was the thing that really stood out to me after going to a show is just, he's been a champion for his fans his entire career, and you see it at the shows,' Jonas said of the Glory Days artist. 'It's about them.

'Every moment's about them, them having the best experience, best night of their week, their life, their year, whatever.'

Nick said that he and his brothers, Kevin, 33, and Joe, 31, have sought to give the fans a voice with interactive promotions related to material and merchandising.

'Me and the brothers kind of said that about our shows,' he said. 'It's like, we always want to make sure that our artistic vision comes through and that we're saying what we want to say, but we also want this to be the best night of our fan's week or month or year. So we try to bring that same energy and that's all thanks to Bruce's model.'
Lucknow: Despite a surge in the number of Covid-19 cases across the country, the Yogi Adityanath government has ruled out any night curfew and lockdown in any part of Uttar Pradesh.

UP Health Minister Jai Pratap Singh said that the government machinery is concentrating more on the preventive steps like focus and contact/target testing to arrest the cases before it takes an alarming proposition.

Singh further stated that the Integrated Control and Command Centre of the Health department has been put on high alert to monitor the situation.

"In view of the Holi festival, air travellers and other passengers coming from outside will be tested at the airport, railway platforms and bus stations. Directions have been issued to make micro containment zones within an area of 250 metres even if one case was reported from any part," the state Health Minister said.

The situation in Uttar Pradesh is not as alarming as in other states so there is no need to impose any night curfew or lockdown, Singh said. People in the state, however, are being advised to follow the Covid-19 protocol and guidelines, he added.

The police and district authorities have been directed to ensure that people wear masks when in the public and maintain social distancing. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has asked health officials to adopt a two-pronged strategy to deal with the surge in Covid-19 cases.

He has directed the health department not only to launch a 15-day focus testing drive and step up contact testing but also set a target of 10 million vaccinations by March 31 to check the spread of the deadly virus.

In the last 24 hours, 42 cases have been reported from Prayagraj and 28 cases from Lucknow.

Indias total active caseload stands at 2.34 lakh (2,34,406), comprising 2.05 % of the total cases. Maharashtra, Kerala & Punjab account for 76.4% of total active cases, with Maharashtra alone contributing nearly 60%, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare aid on Wednesday.

India reported 28,903 new COVID-19 cases, 17,741 recoveries and 188 deaths in the last 24 hours, according to the Union Health Ministry data.

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Recently, Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC announced the promotions of several of its women to top executive roles across the Stanbic IBTC Group. These included the promotions of Wunmi Ehis-Uzenabor as Executive Director, Operations, Stanbic IBTC Asset Management; Busola Jejelowo as Executive Director, Investments, Stanbic IBTC Asset Management; Emi Agaba-Oloja, Executive Director, Stanbic IBTC Trustees; and Sakeenat Bakare, Executive Director, Business Development, Stanbic IBTC Insurance.

These promotions which were in line with Stanbic IBTCs corporate governance structure and succession policy further showcased the financial institutions posture as an equal opportunity organisation. Both male and female employees are privileged to rise as far as their skills, talents, and dedication permit them.

Stanbic IBTC has always been forward-looking in terms of its recruitment and succession policies. Having held the belief that females are as talented as their male counterparts and can contribute immensely to businesses and the societys growth if given equal opportunity. The belief was underscored at the commencement of operations by Stanbic IBTC many decades ago.

Over 30 years ago, when Atedo Peterside conceived the idea to establish an investment bank, one that would be matched as the best in the industry, and transform the investment and corporate banking landscape in years to come, he realised the importance of engaging the best hands and minds. He set to work to achieve that and opted for a gender-balanced workforce as he employed as many females as males in senior management roles.

Sola David-Borha was appointed Head, Credit and Marketing Department; Oluwande Muoyo was appointed head of the Treasury and Financial Services Department; and Angela Omo-Dare became the Company Secretary and Head, Legal Services of legacy IBTC.

These appointments were against the grain. At that time, the financial services industry, particularly the investment and corporate banking sector was male-dominated, with C-suite and D-level executives being mostly men. Atedo was however determined to redefine the industry, and he knew that only the best would help him achieve his objectives, irrespective of gender. Thus, he built a reliable team consisting of both male and female players. The tradition was established at the commencement of the business to give both genders equal opportunity in recruitment, on-the-job training, human capital development, promotions, and remuneration.

His foresight was handsomely rewarded. In five short years, legacy IBTC had become the leading investment and corporate banking company in the country and successfully displaced industry giants in merchant banking of that era.

More than 30 years later, and having gone through a series of transformations, including mergers and becoming a holding company, Stanbic IBTC still maintained that equal opportunity legacy.

Employees of the organisation are exposed to quality and regular training to update their knowledge and skills, starting from its graduate training academy. New intakes are exposed to the institutions work ethics, core values and executive training programmes here in Nigeria and overseas.

Sola David-Borha rose through the ranks to become the Chief Executive of the Bank and later of the Holding Company before moving on to a higher role with the mother brand, Standard Bank Group. Yewande Sadiku rose to become Chief Executive of Stanbic IBTC Capital, the Groups investment banking arm and later Executive Director, overseeing Corporate and Investment Banking at Stanbic IBTC Bank PLC before she took up a government appointment.

ALSO READ: Stanbic IBTC announces key executive appointments

Bunmi Dayo-Olagunju was also Chief Executive of Stanbic IBTC Asset Management before becoming the Executive Director, Operations of the Bank. Other top females in the Group included the Chief Executive of Stanbic IBTC Stockbrokers, Titi Ogungbesan; an Executive Director with the pension subsidiary, Nike Bajomo; Oyinda Akinyemi and Olusola Carrena as Executive Directors in Stanbic IBTC Capital, among others. Today, the Stanbic IBTC workforce is highly symbolic, with 57% men and 43% women.

This legacy has continued to help the business attract and retain the very best. The benefits have been immense in terms of growth as staff show a rare dedication to duty and a hunger to help transform the Stanbic IBTC brand into the leading end-to-end financial services institution in the country. The commitment has consistently been reflected in the Groups market share across the gamut of the financial services industry and the institutions bottom line.

Over 30 years later, Stanbic IBTC had remained at the forefront of gender equality and inclusion, as shown by its employment and succession legacy. But more importantly, it continued to demonstrate its belief in a gender-balanced representation in all areas of society through women-focused initiatives. In 2020, for instance, it temporarily changed its logo colour from blue to magenta to celebrate the UN Women HeForShe brand.

Stanbic IBTC has created an environment where women feel appreciated and are rewarded accordingly. For us, achieving gender inclusiveness is not only a fundamental human right but also a business imperative, said Sogunle.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-17 14:24:03|Editor: huaxia

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HARARE, March 16 (Xinhua) -- Workers in the hospitality and tobacco industries will be prioritized for vaccination alongside teachers as Zimbabwe steps up COVID-19 vaccination, Information Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said Tuesday.

"The Cabinet resolved that Stage Two of Phase One of the vaccination roll-out will include tobacco merchants and their workers, teachers and hospitality industry workers, and this should commence immediately," she said.

The first phase of Zimbabwe's vaccination program started in February with high-risk groups, including healthcare workers and journalists, being the first in line to receive the jab.

A total of 36,786 people have been vaccinated since the vaccination program began on Feb. 18, the minister said.

To gather momentum, the number of vaccinators will be increased, including health workers in the uniformed forces and local authorities, as well as retired health workers, she added.

Zimbabwe's tobacco marketing season for 2021 is scheduled to open early next month, while schools reopened this week after a two-month shutdown caused by a lockdown.

The government also gave a green light for all sporting activities to resume, while restaurants are now allowed to reopen at 50 percent sitting capacity, Mutsvangwa said.

Zimbabwe eased its two-month lockdown measures on March 1 following a significant decline in cases and deaths.

On Tuesday, Zimbabwe received its second batch of Sinopharm vaccines donated by China, as well as another batch of Sinovac doses it purchased from the Asian country. Enditem
She was seen Saturday enjoying a solo day at the beach in Miami.

And one day later, Farrah Abraham was spotted at the beach once again - this time with her daughter Sophia, 12 - in Palm Beach, Florida.

The former Teen Mom star, 29, showcased her derriere in a barely there thong bikini that left little to the imagination.

Look: She was seen Saturday enjoying a solo day at the beach in Miami. And one day later, Farrah Abraham was spotted at the beach once again - this time with her daughter Sophia, 12.

Farrah chose a brightly patterned two piece, consisting of a halter bikini top with very low cut thong bottoms.

Farrah showcased her ample cleavage and backside in the tiny bikini.

Farrah and Sophia brought their puppy to the beach, who they named Billionaire.

The former MTV star's beach trip occurred a day after she attended a fundraising event at Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort that featured little to no social distancing from its attendees.

Tiny look: The former Teen Mom star, 29, showcased her derriere in a barely there thong bikini that left little to the imagination

Day out: Farrah chose a brightly patterned two piece, consisting of a halter bikini top with very low cut thong bottoms

Interesting look: Farrah showcased her ample cleavage and backside in the tiny bikini

The reality television star posted a video to her Instagram account on Sunday morning to share her memories from Friday's fundraiser; she also took her daughter Sophia, aged 12, along with her to the event.

Abraham was first seen walking into the resort with her daughter and one of their dogs, and she remarked that they were 'excited' for the fundraiser to begin.

She was then seen in the middle of a large crowd that had gathered to take a video of the former president, who notably wore a hat bearing the Make America Great Again slogan.

During the event, the businessman notably hinted that his daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, would soon run for political office.

Not taking precautions: On Friday, Abraham attended a fundraiser at Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort; none of the attendees were seen following social distancing protocols during the event

Although many of the guests were seen wearing facial coverings, social distancing protocols were not being followed.

The television personality was then escorted to her table, where she caught a quick video of her pooch eating off her plate.

Abraham also wrote a long message in the post's caption to express her views about the event.

She began her message by thanking 'the leaders, talents, military, security, sponsors & more who truly showed care for many eye opening sectors that are breaking cycles of systemic injustices and saving lives.'

Here she is: The reality television personality took a video where she caught a glimpse of the former president, who hinted that his daughter-in-law Lara would be running for political office in the near future

The former Ex On The Beach cast member noted that the event, which took place just after International Women's Day, was an inspiration to her child.

'Showing this to my daughter meant the world; Woman remember men who lift them up, treat them equal, inspire their day, show support, and impact other men to treat women with equality,' she said.

Abraham then wrote that she was 'very proud of #donaldtrump president, author,global business man, granddad, and every other title he holds.'

The television personality concluded her message by writing that the fundraiser had 'brightened our year as we all get back to enhancing our lives and others moving past Covid restrictions.'
President Joe Biden said in an exclusive interview with ABC News' George Stephanopoulos on Tuesday that New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo should resign if an investigation confirms claims he committed sexual harassment.

"I know you said you want the investigation to continue," Stephanopoulos told Biden, referring to a probe by New York's attorney general into allegations Cuomo had harassed several women. "If the investigation confirms the claims of the women, should he resign?"

MORE: Timeline: Accusations against New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and calls for his resignation

"Yes," the president replied. "I think he'll probably end up being prosecuted, too."

Seven accusers have in recent weeks raised allegations against the Democratic governor, and one claim he groped a woman was referred to police in Albany, N.Y. A number of top Democrats from New York, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, have called on Cuomo to step down.

Cuomo has denied the allegations.

MORE: 3rd woman comes forward with harassment allegations against Cuomo

PHOTO: President Joe Biden talks to ABC News' Chief Anchor George Stephanopoulos on March 16, 2021. (ABC News)

Biden has so far stopped short of backing an immediate end to Cuomo's governorship.

"There should be an investigation to determine whether what she says is true," Biden told Stephanopoulos during a wide-ranging interview in Darby, Pennsylvania. "That's what's going on now."

He added: "There could be a criminal prosecution that is attached to it. I just don't know."

"Senator Schumer, Senator Gillibrand, the majority of the congressional delegation don't think he can be an effective governor right now," Stephanopoulos asked. "Can he serve effectively?"

"Well, that's a judgment for them to make," the president said.

MORE: Biden tells migrants 'don't come over' in ABC News exclusive interview

PHOTO: ABC News' Chief Anchor George Stephanopoulos interviews President Joe Biden on March 16, 2021. (ABC News)

Biden said "a woman should be presumed telling the truth and should not be scapegoated and become victimized by her coming forward."

Story continues

"Takes a lot of courage to come forward," the president said. "So, the presumption is they should be taken seriously. And it should be investigated. And that's what's underway now."

Biden's comments Tuesday went a step further than his only other public remarks on the allegations against the governor.

On Sunday, asked by ABC News during a brief exchange about whether Cuomo should resign, Biden had said, "I think the investigation is underway and we should see what it brings us.

The president visited the Philadelphia suburbs Tuesday to promote the $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill he signed into law last week.

Watch more of the interview with President Joe Biden on ABC's "Good Morning America" on Wednesday, March 17, at 7 a.m. EDT.

Cuomo should resign if allegations confirmed: Biden in exclusive ABC News interview originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Communist Party Journal Qiushi Runs Xi Jinping Article on Chinas Science Policy

March 16 , 2021 (EIRNS)The Chinese Communist Partys theoretical journal Qiushi (Seek Truth) published an article on national science policy by President Xi Jinping. The article, Strive To Become the Worlds Major Science Center and Innovation Highland, was largely taken from speeches Xi had given in the last few years on Chinas development of science and technology, in particular his speech on May 28, 2018, to the 19th Academician Conference of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

If China wants to prosper and rejuvenate, it must vigorously develop science and technology, and strive to become the worlds major scientific center and innovation highland, Xi wrote. We are closer to the goal of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation than at any time in history. More than at any time in history, we need to become a world-class power in science and technology! In his article, Xi stressed five main areas in which scientists should concentrate their attention.

First, fully understand that innovation is the first driving force, provide high-quality scientific and technological supplies, and focus on supporting the construction of a modern economic system.

Second, be determined to innovate independently, strengthen confidence in innovation, and focus on enhancing the ability of independent innovation.

Third, comprehensively deepen the reform of the scientific and technological system, enhance the efficiency of the innovation system, and focus on stimulating innovation vitality.

Fourth, deeply participate in global science and technology governance, contribute Chinese wisdom, and strive to build a community with a shared future for mankind.

Fifth, firmly establish the strategic position of talents leading development, gather talents in an all-round way, and strive to consolidate the foundation of innovative development of talents.

Xi was quite insistent that, in spite of the progress that China has made in its development as a major force in scientific innovation, there are still many areas that have yet to be resolved if China is to achieve its goal of becoming a world-class technological power. He encouraged scientists to be daring, to make new breakthroughs in information technology, space, and the life sciences, and to pursue leads in new areas that have yet to be studied, but seek to be of importance to the development of the economy and of peoples lives.

The President underlined that China had to think about developing these areas of science on its own, given the increasing strictures placed on China from the outside. While there should be self-reliance, it did not mean that science should be carried on behind doors, but that scientists and science should be open to the world, share their accomplishments, and invite foreign scientists to participate in the research.

Scientists should be given the freedom to concentrate on science, and not be engulfed in red tape and bureaucratic snaggles. He stressed that the government would take measures to create new national laboratories in order to focus much of the scientific work. There would also be an emphasis on promoting the development of innovative enterprises, and there would be a concerted effort to link the institutes and research centers with the enterprises and the laboratories, in order to quickly transform breakthroughs into productive forces, naming, as did the Government Work Report, science and technology as the primary productive force of the economy.

The publication of Xis speech only emphasizes the significance that he places on the Five-Year program, where many of these issues were dealt with in detail and around which the country will be mobilized.
We want to see reciprocity and proportionality in exports, and we are ready to use whatever tool we need to deliver on that, said Ursula von der Leyen, the head of the European Commission. This is about making sure that Europe gets its fair share.

Her remarks were the latest salvo in a long-running feud between Brussels and London over vaccines.

The commissions target of vaccinating 70 percent of adult population by the end of the summer seems to be fading away, especially as the largest European countries suspended the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine over reports of a few cases of serious blood clots among people who received it. The suspension could be lifted soon, but severe production problems have made millions fewer AstraZeneca doses available.

The problems have been an embarrassment for the European Union and its executive arm, the Commission, which took control of the procurement process, although member states are responsible for issuing vaccinations.

But Europeans, held under one of the longest and strictest lockdowns in the world, are experiencing a deep pandemic fatigue, further complicating the way out of the crisis.

The commission also laid out a long-term strategy to gradually lift the lockdown measures, conditional upon each countrys epidemiological situation. A judgment would be made based on simulations by the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control, the commission said.

The situation with the virus in Europe is still very challenging, said Stella Kyriakides, the blocs top health official. It is only through a joint approach that we can return safely to full free movement in the E.U.
The move to phase 1c means much of the citys population will be allowed a vaccine at the end of the month. But the process of vaccinating the upcoming group is expected to take at least two months and will likely see some of the same scramble for limited appointments that Chicagoans in the previous stages have weathered, Chicago public health Commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady said. Still, she said, the city expects its vaccine supply to increase over time and believes it will have enough to broaden vaccine eligibility.
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.
The mass shooting in Georgia Tuesday felt like a punch in the gut for an Asian American community reeling from a surge in racism and violent attacks over the past year.

That was how Melissa May Borja, a Filipino American researcher at Stop AAPI Hate, a San Francisco-based reporting center, described hearing the news. But she said she wasnt surprised.

There is a deep and long and ugly history of violence against women and racism against Asian Americans, Borja told The Chronicle.

That sentiment swept across the county in crushing waves on Wednesday.

Eight people, six of them Asian women, were killed by a gunman at three spas in the Atlanta area Tuesday in the latest outbreak of violence against Asian Americans.

The Bay Area has seen a series of crimes targeting Asian Americans, ranging from deadly attacks to spitting, pushing and verbal assaults. The outbreak of violence coincided with the coronavirus pandemic that former President Donald Trump frequently used racist anti-Asian language to describe.

Across the multifaceted Asian American community, people reacted with anger, grief and a sobering lack of surprise at the latest inflection point in whats often felt like a year-long surge of hostility.

Weve always known about this type of hate, said San Francisco Supervisor Connie Chan, who called the Georgia attacks heartbreaking.

Stop AAPI Hate, a reporting project from Chinese for Affirmative Action, the Asian Pacific Policy & Planning Council and the Asian American Studies Department at San Francisco State University, recorded more than 3,800 reports of coronavirus-related discrimination in the U.S. from March 2020 through February. Women were twice as likely as men to be victims of racist hostility, according to a report from the project that was released on the same day as the Georgia attack.

The group started tracking incidences of discrimination last March, but to many its findings took on new significance in light of the shootings in the Atlanta area.

People are targeting who they think are vulnerable, said Russell Jeung, one of the founders of Stop AAPI Hate and a professor of Asian American Studies at San Francisco State. Jeung said older people, youth and women in particular have been targets of assault.

The group found that Trump contributed to this trend by pointedly referring to the coronavirus as the China virus while seeking to avoid blame for his administrations mishandling of the pandemic.

Jeung said blaming Asian people for the virus created a correlation between hate speech and violence and that it would take more than a change in government rhetoric to stop the attacks.

Such language provides impetus for those seeking to discriminate against AAPIs and even potentially places Asian Americans in harms way, Stop AAPI Hate said in a December report.

The Pew Research Center found that roughly 3 out of every 10 Asian Americans have reported experiencing racist slurs or jokes since the onset of the pandemic.

Tuesdays report found that, from March 19, 2020, to Feb. 21, 48 documented cases of hate and discrimination occurred in Georgia, where Tuesdays shootings took place. Georgia ranked 12th on the reports list of states with the most known incidents.

California, the nations most populous state, had more attacks than any other state with 1,691, the report said.

ELIJAH NOUVELAGE / TNS

In San Francisco, a pair of attacks on Asian Americans occurred on Market Street on Tuesday and Wednesday. First, a 59-year-old Vallejo man was knocked to the sidewalk near Montgomery Street, possibly causing him to lose his sight. Then on Wednesday morning, according to television station KPIX, an older woman said she was attacked by a man who tried to rob her near McAllister Street, prompting her to beat him with a stick until he stopped. Police did not confirm that incident.

Police announced the arrest of three Antioch men in the beating and robbery of a 67-year-old Asian American man in a Chinatown laundromat in February. Police arrested Calvin Berschell, Jason Orozco and Nolowde Beshears, all 19 and from Antioch. The victim, who suffered non-life-threatening injuries, told police the men threw him to the ground and took his property.

After the Georgia massacre, San Francisco police stepped up patrols in neighborhoods with high numbers of Asian American residents, visitors and businesses.

Mayor London Breed announced the stepped-up patrols at a press conference on the anniversary of shelter-in-place.

We have seen a rise of hate crimes against our elderly Asian community, and I want to make it clear that we wont tolerate it, she said. San Francisco will continue to support and uplift our Asian community ... the xenophobia and discrimination against our Asian community has been really horrible.

Speaking at the mayors news conference, San Francisco Police Chief Bill Scott decried the Atlanta violence and called for public support to stop local attacks against the Asian American-Pacific Islander community.

Any type of violent crime is horrific, Scott said. But when people appear to be targeted because of their race or ethnicity, that is unacceptable.

Everybody is really upset about it, said Leanna Louie, founder of United Peace Collaborative, a nonprofit group that patrols the streets of San Franciscos Chinatown assisting elder community members and watching over the neighborhood.

Louie said her group launched its patrols last March and has helped de-escalate situations, including the attempted robbery of an older resident. Volunteers had responded before the police were contacted.

Amid reports of increasing acts of violence against Asian Americans, Louie said its been easier to recruit these volunteers.

Three thousand miles away, in Acworth, Ga., John Beck recalled the phone call hed received the night before.

His friend, 33-year-old Delaina Ashley Yaun, had died in the shooting at Youngs Asian Massage. Yaun had two young children, Beck said, describing her as a kind-hearted, steadfast worker at a Waffle House he had managed.

Every morning shed walk in that building playing her Gospel music, Beck said of the mother of two. She always wanted to walk in with positivity, Beck said, remembering how Yaun worked stints as a cook and server, filled extra shifts and fed homeless people.

In Hayward, an Asian American nail salon owner said she was shaken by the news in Atlanta and couldnt help but peek outside her shops windows on Wednesday morning.

Its not normal to do this but Im not going to lie. Im scared, said the owner, whos run her salon for more than 30 years and requested anonymity because she feared being possibly targeted.

Were just trying to do our work like everyone else, she added.

Throughout the day Wednesday, Supervisor Chan said she received several texts and phone calls from friends, family members and community members, asking what they could do to support local Asian American communities. She hoped to channel that energy into a push to fully fund services and programs for the AAPI community.

We mourned last night, but today were going to continue to stand up and continue to advocate and to push for change, Chan said.

Chronicle staff writers Malavika Kannan, Ryan Kost, Shwanika Narayan, Rachel Swan and Trisha Thadani contributed to this report.

Michael Cabanatuan and Chase DiFeliciantonio are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: mcabanatuan@sfchronicle.com, Chase.DiFeliciantonio@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ctuan, @ChaseDiFelice
Acquisition of Downtown Women's Health Facility comes amid women's history month

Velocity moves into renal and hepatic research with Riverside Clinical Research acquisition

DURHAM, North Carolina, March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Leading US integrated site company, Velocity Clinical Research, today announces the acquisition of Downtown Women's Health Care (DWHC), CO and Riverside Clinical Research, FL to its North American site portfolio, bringing the total to 16. The acquisitions come amid Women's History Month as Velocity seeks to increase volunteer recruitment from minority communities and expand into renal and hepatic research.

DWHC is a successfully established business, specializing in Women's Health studies primarily endometriosis, birth control and hot flash research. Based in Denver, this is also a critical market for recruiting volunteers from the Hispanic community. The acquisition of Riverside Clinical Research enables Velocity to work with the clinic's database of 35,000 patients for renal and hepatic studies.

Dr G. Paul Evans, Chief Executive and President of Velocity Clinical Research, said: "These new sites not only allow us to expand into renal and hepatic studies, which is a crucial part of the clinical research ecosystem, but also new geographic regions. One thing the race to find a COVID vaccine has taught us is that the diversity genie cannot be put back in the bottle.

"We're committed to recruiting a diverse set of volunteers to the trials we conduct. Putting sites near minority populations is one way to encourage more people from these communities to take part in clinical research."

DWHC started performing clinical trials in 1988 and has a strong pipeline of women's health studies. The FDA's Office of Women's Health reports that Women's Health issues and physiological differences for conditions that affect both men and women have been routinely underrepresented or ignored in clinical studies. Velocity Clinical is committed to being a leader in expanding outreach in this area of research.

Arthur Waldbaum, MD, at DWHC, said, "I have dedicated my career to Women's Health and with the addition of Velocity's resources we can continue to serve the Denver community and increase our contribution to Women's Health research."

Riverside Clinical Research is a multi-therapeutic site. Riverside conducts phase I-IV trials in a site that includes a 24-bed inpatient unit. The clinic has access to over 35,000 potential volunteers via relationships with local health care providers. Velocity plans to expand the current therapeutic base for the site in line with previous acquisitions.

Trish Hardee, CEO, Riverside Clinical Research said: "We are excited to join Velocity Clinical. The company shares our goal to provide first-class care and a positive, comfortable experience to our volunteers as we conduct research for the next generation of health care solutions."

The acquisitions come after Velocity Clinical Research recently announced it had recruited over 10,000 patients to COVID vaccine trials since July 2020. It is the only site company to be included in all Operation Warp Speed trials, plus Pfizer.

Dr G. Paul Evans added, "Velocity's integrated site model allows us to scale the company whilst remaining agile, consequently driving more business. We now have 16 sites in our portfolio, having only launched the company three years ago. Most site businesses struggle to scale beyond 10 to 12 sites, meaning Velocity already has a competitive edge over many in the field."

Notes to editors

Velocity Clinical Research owns 16 sites across 11 US states. A full list is on its website .

. People wanting to volunteer for a COVID vaccine trial can do so here .

About Velocity Clinical Research

Velocity Clinical Research, headquartered in Durham, N.C, is a leading integrated site organization for clinical trials, offering dedicated site capabilities to help biopharmaceutical and contract research organization customers find the right patients for their studies. The company has 16 sites across the United States.

We place the care of the patient at the heart of everything they do. With over 35 years of experience running sites and more than 4500 studies completed, Velocity has refined its patient recruitment strategies while maintaining a focus on delivering timely and reliable data quality. For more information visit our website at https://velocityclinical.com.

Downtown Women's Health Center

DWHC has over 30 years of experience in clinical research under the guidance of Arthur Waldbaum, MD. Dr. Waldbaum is Board Certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology and has conducted nearly 200 clinical trials in Women's Health, with extensive experience in endometriosis, birth control and hot flash studies.

Riverside Clinical Research

Riverside Clinical Research, located on Florida's northeast coast, focuses on renal and hepatic research in addition to a wide variety of general medicine indications. Founded in 2010 by Trish and Bruce Hardee, who have a combined experience of nearly 50 years in clinical research, Riverside strengthens Velocity's Florida presence in conjunction with its Hallandale Beach site on the southeast coast.

SOURCE Velocity Clinical Research

Related Links

https://velocityclinical.com


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Photo: C-SPAN via AP Father Timothy Kesicki, president of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States.

The U.S.-based branch of the Jesuits has unveiled ambitious plans for a truth and reconciliation initiative in partnership with descendants of people once enslaved by the Roman Catholic order. The Jesuits pledge to raise $100 million within five years with a broader goal of reaching $1 billion from an array of donors in pursuit of racial justice and racial healing.

Even the smaller amount represents the largest financial pledge thus far from a U.S. religious institution, as a variety of them nationwide seek to make amends for their past involvement in slavery and racial oppression.

Partnering with the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States in the initiative is the GU272 Descendants Association, which represents the descendants of 272 enslaved men, women and children sold by the Jesuit owners of Georgetown University to plantation owners in Louisiana in 1838.

Together, the two parties have formed the Descendants Truth & Reconciliation Foundation to oversee fundraising and allocate grants. Already, the Jesuits have placed $15 million in a trust that will finance the effort.

The foundations acting president is Joe Stewart, one of more than 1,000 descendants of Isaac Hawkins, an enslaved man who was among those sold in 1838.

Stewart said many Americans understand the wrongs of slavery and segregation yet are divided over approaches to reconciliation and reparations.

We hope what weve created here is an offer to join us in a peaceful and loving approach to removing your shame, Stewart said Tuesday. There are a lot of people who want to be a part of change  we hope were providing the answer to, What do I do?

The foundations plan calls for the Jesuits to raise $100 million through their own fundraising network, and the $1 billion figure would be attained with support from corporations, foundations and the general public, Stewart said.

Atoning for its slaveholding past has been a recurring issue at Georgetown. The Washington, D.C., university's administration and student body both took steps in 2019 to extend financial support to descendants of the people sent to Louisiana.

Three years earlier, the president of the Jesuits conference, the Rev. Tim Kesicki, had an initial meeting with Stewart to discuss a possible reconciliation project.

Hearing what it felt like, that the church that baptized him had held his ancestors as slaves  its a life-changing feeling, Kesicki said. You can walk away, which is what weve done as a country, or you can embrace it.

That reckoning requires organizations and institutions examine their histories pertaining to slavery and acknowledge how their current status is built on that history.

Details on how the funds will be spent remain to be worked out. But Stewart said roughly half of the grant money would go to organizations and initiatives seeking to promote racial justice and reconciliation. Some other funds would provide scholarships and other educational support for descendants of the 272.

We will have programs in three to five years, Stewart said. But that will never be as important as what we do over the long run, the next 50 to 100 years.

Were talking about dismantling the continuing legacy of slavery, he said. The way to get there is bring the whole nation along and face the truth about that history.

Stewart said he and other leaders of the initiative do not consider it to be a form of reparations  a topic that has created conflict.

Were taking a positive approach not based on individual stipends, he said. Its transformative rather than payback.
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Alhaji Ali Suraj, a former organizer for the NPP USA branch is appealing to the Akufo-Addo government to consider old party faithful when making the Metropolitan Municipal District Chief Executive appointments.



According to him, the time has come for the NPP to strive beyond normal to reduce apathy within the ranks by empowering party faithful at the grassroots level, which for him have become laughingstock, hence making a passionate appeal to President Akufo-Addo to listen to the grassroots.



Nasara Coordinators who have requisite qualifications and experience should be considered, he stressed.



Explaining the reason behind his call, he said it is rather unfortunate that party faithful who devoted their entire time doing grounds work for the party, being it mounting banners, ghetto-to- ghetto campaign, pasting of posters, defending the party on media platforms among others are oftentimes being sidelined when appointments are being made.



He ended that, the era where party grassroots were used as election machines and abandoned afterwards must be over.

Source: Daniel Adu Darko/Peacefmonline.com









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Volcano Berhad's factory in Rayong, Thailand

KUALA LUMPUR, Mar 17, 2021 - (ACN Newswire) - Volcano Berhad ("Volcano" or the "Group"), a leading international manufacturer of nameplates and plastic injection moulded parts, has successfully launched its prospectus for the Group's listing on the ACE Market of Bursa Malaysia Securities Berhad ("Bursa Securities").Volcano's initial public offering ("IPO") involves a public issue of 25.0 million IPO shares and an offer for sale of 35.0 million shares at the issue price of RM0.35 sen per share, made available for application in the following manner:Public issue:- 8.25 million new shares will be available for application to the Malaysian public;- 8.25 million new shares will be allocated for application by eligible directors, key senior management, employees and business associates; and- 8.50 million new shares will be offered by way of private placement to identified investors.Offer for sale:- 14.375 million shares by way of private placement to identified investors; and- 20.625 million shares by way of private placement to identified bumiputera investors approved by the Ministry of International Trade and Industry.The IPO is expected to raise gross proceeds of RM8.75 million. From the proceeds, the Group will use RM5.55 million for the purchase of machinery and equipment while RM3.20 million will be used for listing expenses.Managing Director of Volcano, Datuk Ch'ng Huat Seng, said: "We are one step closer to an important milestone for Volcano since our establishment in 1999. For the co-founders, it is also a significant event in our professional careers to have come this far and we see our prospects supported by a strong and long-term customer portfolio comprising multinational companies from around the world. Our products are also used in end-user markets especially in the electrical and electronics ("E&E") as well as automotive industries.""The proceeds from the IPO will go towards acquiring laser-cutting and pick-and-paste machines to improve the efficiency and capability of our nameplate manufacturing process. We are going to purchase additional plastic injection moulding machines to expand the plastic injection moulded parts manufacturing business. Besides the purchase of machinery and equipment, we are also going to expand our factory in Rayong, Thailand as we intend to expand our presence in the E&E and automotive industries in the country."Volcano's principal markets are Singapore and Thailand. Overall, the foreign market accounts for more than 95% of overall revenue in the financial year ended 31 December 2020. Multinational companies (MNCs) comprise 90% of the sales including some leading brand names such as Bernina, Hewlett Packard, Fisher & Paykel Thailand, Donaldson Thailand, Sharp Indonesia and Panasonic Thailand.Volcano's Principal Adviser, Sole Placement Agent, Sole Underwriter and Sponsor in relation to the IPO is TA Securities Holdings Berhad ("TA Securities"). Pursuant to the underwriting agreement, TA Securities will be underwriting for shares available for application by the Malaysian public.Datuk Ch'ng said: "Where we are today is also due to the hard work and dedication of the Volcano team. They are experienced and committed with operational expertise and in-depth knowledge of manufacturing of nameplates and plastic injection moulded parts. Our sincere gratitude goes to our customers and suppliers throughout the years that have continued to support our growth and success. We would also like to extend our gratitude to the team at the Securities Commission and Bursa Securities in assisting Volcano throughout the IPO process."Please contact the below for more information:Stefani WanTel: +6012 286-1481Email: s.wan@swanconsultancy.bizSource: Volcano BerhadCopyright 2021 ACN Newswire . All rights reserved.
Russian Justice Minister to visit detention centers, colonies without special permission

 TASS, Maxim Shemetov

15:04 17/03/2021

MOSCOW, March 17 (RAPSI)  The State Duma adopted in the third and final reading on Wednesday a law granting the Minister of Justice the right to visit pre-trial detention centers and correctional colonies without special permission, according to the official website of the lower house of Russias parliament.

State Duma lawmakers adopted in the third reading the amendments expanding the list of persons entitled to unimpeded visits to pre-trial and penal institutions, among them is the Minister of Justice, the State Duma said in the statement.

Chair of the Committee on Security and Corruption Control of the lower house of Russias parliament Vasily Piskarev explained that thus the amendments are to close a gap existing in the current legislation.

The possibility to promptly visits pre-trial detention centers and penal facilities will provide the Minister with additional opportunities to find out personally about the conditions of detention of convicts, suspects and accused, and inspect how their rights, freedoms and legitimate interests are observed, the parliamentarian said.
At least five coal miners and two rescuers died due to suffocation after a methane gas fire broke out in the southwestern Pakistani province of This is the second mine disaster in the region within a week.

The fire took place at a mine in the Tor Ghar area of Harnai district, about 170 km west of the provincial capital Quetta, late on Monday, reported Al Jazeera citing government official Sohail Anwer Hashmi.

"The coal miners entered inside the mine to fill the cracks caused by [the] fire, but they died of asphyxia caused by the deadly methane gas," Hashmi said.

"The coal miners were working 1,400 ft deep inside the mine when the incident [was] reported," he added.

The bodies were recovered after rescue operations through the night, he further informed.

Meanwhile, Shafqat Fayaz, chief inspector of the provincial mines department, also blamed the accident on a lack of training.

"The five coal miners entered in the mine but have forgotten to open the ventilation which filled the mine with methane gas," he said.

This accident was the second coal mine disaster in within days, after six miners were trapped and killed in a methane gas explosion in the Marwar coalfield last week, Al Jazeera reported.

Earlier this year, unidentified gunmen stormed a coal mine in Machh town near Quetta, pulling out ethnic Hazaras, members of Pakistan's Shia minority community, from their homes and opening fire on them.

The Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack. Following the deadly attack, protests erupted in the region with the kin of the victims refusing to bury the dead until the government meets their demands.

In 2020, at least 99 coal miners and labourers were killed in 72 incidents in Balochistan, Al Jazeera reported citing government data.

Despite being rich in minerals and natural resources, it is Pakistan's poorest province and regularly ranks at the bottom of the country's socioeconomic indicators on healthcare, education, and population welfare.

(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 grandfather serving a jail sentence for demanding money with menaces has been banned from driving after a court heard how he was involved in a car chase with gardai reaching speeds of 160km/h.

The court heard how the defendant drive on the wrong side of the road into oncoming traffic, and which only ended when he crashed his car into a family home causing almost 40,000 worth of damage.

Anthony, 'Skitters' Finglas,(50), originally from Drogheda, County Louth, but now with an address in Warrenpoint, Co Down, pleaded guilty, at Trim Circuit Court last week, to charges of criminal damage, dangerous driving and driving without insurance, at Platin Road, Drogheda on December 13th 2018.

When Judge Patrick Quinn was told that Finglas could pay 3k in compensation he described the offer as 'derisory'.

Last December Finglas was jailed for five years and three months, at the Special Criminal Court, with the final six months suspended for his involvement in a violent attack on a county Mayo businessman.

He was described as acting as the "brawn" in a gang who claimed to be dissident republicans and who beat the businessman so severely that he asked to be shot to end his ordeal.

The non jury Court heard that Mayo businessman Edward McAndrew was beaten with iron bars and threatened by a group of men demanding money in Omeath, Co Louth, in 2017.

Finglas pleaded guilty to demanding money with menaces from Mr McAndrew at One Ferry Hill, Cornamucklagh, Omeath, Co Louth, on December 2, 2017.

At the Trim hearing last week Garda James Durkan told the court how the dramatic chase began when he spotted Finglas driving on Marley Road in Drogheda earlier on the evening of the crash.

He said: "The driver indicated to turn right but actually turned left on to the Donore Road, I activated the blue lights on the car and signaled the driver to stop, instead he sped off and was driving at speed of up to 160km/h.

"He was swerving in and out and oncoming traffic had to move out of the way, I lost sight of him after he went the wrong way round a roundabout and I was then stood down from the pursuit."

Garda Durkan then revealed that the car was later found to have crashed through a hedge and into a house near the Irish Cement factory at Platin between Drogheda and the village of Duleek, County Meath.

Finglas was spotted running out the gateway of the house and was arrested after a brief struggle.

The total cost of the damage to the property was 38.397.74.

The court was told that Finglas 'took flight', as he was banned from driving at the time.

In a victim impact statement the occupants of the house said their Christmas had been ruined and they had been left shocked by what had happened.

After Judge Quinn told Finglas, who the court heard had 87 previous convictions, including ones for drugs, assault, firearm offences, and dangerous driving, that his compensation offer was derisory, the defendant agreed to forego the 1k bail money he had posted and added that to the compensation.

He was sentenced to four years, all of which was suspended on the criminal damage charge and handed a five year ban from driving.
Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge on March 15 sued Walgreens, accusing the pharmacy chain of fueling the opioid crisis in the state by filling a large number of suspicious orders for painkillers.

Rutledge filed the lawsuit in Pulaski County Court, accusing Walgreens of violating the states Deceptive Trade Practices Act. The lawsuit accuses Walgreens of not doing enough to safeguard against suspicious prescriptions being filled, leading to a large amount of opioids being distributed around Arkansas.

Walgreens distributed more than 142 million dosage units of oxycodone and hydrocodone in the state from 2006 to 2014, according to the lawsuit.

This high volume of opioids alone should have alerted Walgreens to the fact that suspicious orders were being placed, as the amount of opioids that were sent into Arkansas far exceeded what could be consumed for medically legitimate purposes, the lawsuit said. Yet, Walgreens failed to report and halt those orders and instead increased the number of pills distributed.

Walgreens said it would vigorously defend itself against the suit, and the drug store chain said its pharmacists primary focus has always been patient health and safety. The company said its pharmacists are equipped with robust policies and procedures as they make their best clinical judgment.

Prescriptions are written by doctors based on their medical training, experience and clinical judgment, and when a patient presents a prescription that gives no reason to question its legitimacy, the pharmacist is obligated to fill the prescription exactly as written, the company said in a statement.

State and local governments have filed thousands of complaints against companies in the drug industry over their roles in the opioid epidemic. Pharmacies, including Walgreens, are targeted in many of the lawsuits.

Major settlements are in the works for suits involving drugmakers and distributors, but so far, no major ones have surfaced involving pharmacies. Rutledge in recent years has filed other opioid lawsuits against drug manufacturers and distributors.

Rutledges lawsuit claims Walgreens actions cost the state and consumers millions of dollars for opioid orders that were illegal, misrepresented, unfair or harmful to consumers.

Opioids, a class of drugs that includes prescription painkillers such as OxyContin and Vicodin as well as illicit ones such as heroin and illegally produced fentanyl, have been linked to more than 470,000 deaths in the U.S. since 2000. Overdoses have been on the rise during the coronavirus pandemic.

Arkansas in 2019 had the second highest opioid dispensing of any state, at 80.9 prescriptions for every 100 persons, higher than the national average of 46.7, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Lawsuits Arkansas

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Tanzania's President John Magufuli, one of Africa's most prominent coronavirus sceptics, has died aged 61.

Vice President Samia Suluhu Hassan announced the president's death in a televised national address on Wednesday.

Magufuli had not been seen in public since February 27, sparking rumours that he had contracted COVID-19. Officials denied on March 12 that he had fallen ill.

But today the vice president said on state broadcaster TBC: 'Dear Tanzanians, it is sad to announce that today 17 March, 2021, around 6 pm, we lost our brave leader, President John Magufuli who died from heart illness at Mzena hospital in Dar es Salaam where he was getting treatment.

Tanzania's President John Magufuli, one of Africa's most prominent coronavirus sceptics, has died aged 61

Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa said on Friday that he had spoken to Magufuli, and blamed the narrative of the president's ailment on some 'hateful' Tanzanians living abroad.

Tundu Lissu, Magufuli's main rival in the October election when the president won a second five-year term, had suggested Tanzania's leader had been flown to Kenya for treatment for COVID-19 and then moved to India in a coma.

After the death was announced, opposition leader Zitto Kabwe said he had spoken to Vice President Hassan to offer condolences for Magufuli's death. '

The nation will remember him for his contribution to the development of our country,' Kabwe said in a statement published on Twitter.

Magufuli, from northwest Tanzania, first won the presidency in 2015 and had faced accusations from Western countries and opposition parties of eroding democracy.

President John Magufuli (centre) and Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta (behind) dance with traditional dancers during the official commissioning ceremony of the Nairobi Southern Bypass road in Nairobi, Kenya, in 2016

He was nicknamed 'The Bulldozer' because of his reputation for pushing through policies despite opposition.

According to Tanzania's Constitution, Vice President Hassan, 61, should assume the presidency for the remainder of the five-year term that Magufuli began serving last year after winning a second term.

She would be the East African nation's first female president.

Born in the semi-autonomous archipelago of Zanzibar, Hassan studied economics in Britain, worked for the U.N.'s World Food Programme and then held various government posts prior to becoming Tanzania's first female vice president in 2015.
PITTSBURGH, March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- "A lot of people hate having to smell cigarette smoke and odors inside a car," said an inventor, from San Diego, Calif. "I thought there should be a way to make the air clean and fresh, so I invented the CLEAN-CARE."

The invention provides an effective way to clean the air within a vehicle interior. In doing so, it offers an improved alternative to opening a window. As a result, it helps to prevent foul odors from cigarette smoke and it could enhance comfort and safety. The invention features a lightweight design that is convenient and easy to use so it is ideal for vehicle owners, professional drivers and individuals who smoke. Additionally, it is producible in design variations.

The inventor described the invention design. "My design could make traveling in the car more enjoyable."

The original design was submitted to the San Diego sales office of InventHelp. It is currently available for licensing or sale to manufacturers or marketers. For more information, write Dept. 19-SDB-1229, InventHelp, 217 Ninth Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, or call (412) 288-1300 ext. 1368. Learn more about InventHelp's Invention Submission Services at http://www.InventHelp.com.

SOURCE InventHelp

Related Links

http://www.inventhelp.com


Fairbanks, AK (99707)

Today

A mix of clouds and sun. High around 65F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Some clouds. Low 47F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph.
Google is rolling back its planned Play Store commission expansion in South Korea, according to a Yonhap report. The move comes after a backlash from the local software makers over the steep Play Store cut.

According to the report, Google would now take a 15% cut on in-app purchases to developers with annual sales up to $1 million. The company would charge a 30% commission from developers with more than $1 million annual sales. Googles revised Play Store policy will come into effect in July this year.

Googles decision is likely to benefit the maximum app developers in South Korea. The report noted that 99% of developers have less than $1 million annual sales from the Play Store.

Earlier, Google had announced that it would levy a 30% commission on all in-app purchases through the Play Store. It also made it mandatory for developers to use their own payment system for app purchases. As expected, local developers were not pleased with the decision.

Following Googles announcement, the local app market ONE Store had reported growth in traction. ONE Store is also a subsidiary of the local carrier SK Telecom Co. The local app store is already wooing local developers with discounted commissions.

Google and Apple have drawn wide criticism over the commissions charged on the apps on their app store. The two firms together have the largest bouquet of mobile apps in the world.

Just recently, Fortnite-maker Epic Games filed a lawsuit against Google alleging the search engine giants anti-competitive conduct breaches the local consumer law. Epic Games noted that Googles Android has roughly 20 million smartphones in Australia, and 90% of the apps on those phones were downloaded via the Google Play Store. Epic Games had last year sued Apple in Australia. It is worth noting that Epic Games is locked in similar legal battles in the UK, the US, and the European Union.

Google also faced a similar backlash in India recently. The company was forced to defer its Play Store billing policy in India to March 2022.
Jailed Canadian pastor moved to general population after spending nearly 2 weeks alone, wife says

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Canadian Pastor James Coates was recently moved to a general population cell after spending most of two weeks alone following his mid-February incarceration for refusing to comply with COVID-19 church restrictions.

Coates was quarantined for two weeks upon being arrested with only two 15-minute blocks per day outside of his jail cell, his wife told Christian news outlet FaithWire in a recent statement.

He initially shared a cell with another inmate but was removed due to the high-profile nature of his case, Erin Coates stated in an email.

Erin Coates said she is unable to visit him due to COVID-19 restrictions but has been able to speak with him during video calls.

Coates, the pastor of GraceLife Church in Edmonton, Alberta, was arrested for holding church services for three consecutive weeks after his church was ordered to close at the end of January for violating gathering and physical distancing restrictions.

Coates turned himself into the police on Feb. 16 and faces two counts of violating the Public Health Act. He was also charged for failing to comply with his bail conditions requiring him to not conduct or participate in services that are not compliant with government guidelines after being released from custody the first time.

He was detained at the Edmonton Remand Centre.

In a court document, Erin Coates said her husband could not agree to the provisions of the Public Health Act in good conscience.

According to a statement by Parkland County Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the escalated levels of law enforcement with Coates were consistent and in response to the effects his actions could have on the health and safety of citizens.

Coates and GraceLife Churchs attorneys argued that the bail conditions and health orders violate his Charter freedoms of conscience, religion, expression, association and peaceful assembly.

The Edmonton Court of Queens Bench Justice Peter Michalyshyn ruled on March 5 that Coates must remain behind bars until his trial scheduled for May 3 to May 5.

GraceLife Church, which has been holding services in Coates absence, was faced with more charges on March 4 for violating restrictions and exceeding 15% of the churchs operational capacity, or about 90 people, for the last two Sundays of February.

The churchs legal counsel was summoned to attend Stony Plain Provincial Court on May 5, according to a police report.

The Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms, which represents Coates, filed an appeal to release Coates before his trial. His wife also issued a sworn affidavit detailing the implications of her husbands imprisonment on herself, their two sons, the church and the community.

A trial set eight weeks down the road is too long for an innocent Pastor to be in jail, John Carpay, president of the Justice Centre, said in a statement.

Pastor Coates is a peaceful Christian minister. The Justice of the Peace should not have required him to violate his conscience and effectively stop pastoring his church as a condition to be released. This is a miscarriage of justice.

Coates attorney James Kitchen, who works with the Justice Centre, said that his clients first obedience is to his Lord, is to his God.

And normally, obeying Jesus and obeying the government go right in hand, Kitchen stated. The governments forcing him into a position where he has to choose between disobeying God and obeying government, or obeying God and disobeying government.

The church released a statement in February addressing the ramifications of COVID-19 and the destructiveness of shutting down churches indefinitely. The church said it originally shifted to online services when COVID-19 first appeared and returned to in-person gatherings on June 21, 2020.

We believe [people] should responsibly return to their lives, the churchs statement reads. Churches should open, businesses should open, families and friends should come together around meals, and people should begin to exercise their civil liberties again. Otherwise we may not get them back. In fact, some say we are on the cusp of reaching the point of no return. Protect the vulnerable, exercise reasonable precautions, but begin to live your lives again.
(Newser)  An early snag in the trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin: The judge in the case dismissed two of the nine jurors selected thus far over their knowledge of and reaction to the $27 million settlement with George Floyd's family the city announced Friday. ABC News reports the two told Hennepin County District Court Judge Peter Cahill that they had knowledge of the settlement and that it indicated to them that Chauvin was responsible for Floyd's May 2020 death. The Star Tribune quotes one of the two as telling Cahill, "It sent a message that the city of Minneapolis felt something was wrong. That sticker price shocked me. It kind of swayed me, yes."

story continues below

An additional two jurors who were also aware of the settlement maintained they could remain neutral on the point and make their decision based only on the evidence. Another seven jurors must now be picked before the trial can get going. But defense attorney Eric Nelson doesn't want it to get going anytime soon. He has asked Cahill to delay the trial in light of the settlement, so that attorneys can adjust their approach, and also wants the trial moved elsewhere in Minnesota. Cahill said he will issue rulings on those points on Friday. (Read more Derek Chauvin stories.)
A five-year-old girl has tragically died after being hit by a car while walking with her mother in Sydney's west.

Emergency services were called to Rooty Hill Road North, Plumpton, about 7.20pm on Wednesday to reports two pedestrians, a 37-year-old woman and her daughter, had been hit by a Toyota Tarago.

Paramedics rushed the pair to Westmead Hospital with the woman being in a serious but stable condition and the child in a critical condition.

The child later died at Westmead Hospital.

Emergency services were called to Rooty Hill Road North, Plumpton, about 7.20pm on Wednesday (pictured) to reports two pedestrian had been hit by a car

The 64-year-old male driver of the Toyota Tarago sustained no injuries and was taken to hospital for mandatory testing

The 64-year-old male driver sustained no injuries and was taken to Westmead Hospital for mandatory testing. He is currently assisting police with inquiries.

Two ambulances, two intensive care units, and multiple primary care crews along with police were dispatched to the scene.

Photos of the horrific crash show a team of paramedics desperately working to stabilise the mother and daughter.

The impact shattered the front windscreen on the Tarago and carved a massive dent in the front bonnet.

NSW Ambulance paramedic Lawrence Vincent said it was 'absolute chaos' when emergency teams arrived.

The woman suffered leg injuries and has potential pelvis injuries, Mr Vincent said.

Local resident James Camilleri said there were many road accidents in the area and the traffic lights near the scene were not currently working.

'We heard a thud then all of these sirens going off,' he told TNV.

'This stretch of road is notorious for people getting hit and killed.'

A 37-year-old woman and her five-year-old daughter were rushed to hospital, where the child later died

The impact shattered the glass on the front windscreen and created a dent on the front bonnet

'Just a year ago my brother was here, got t-boned by a truck. He had a heart attack and they brought him back to life.'

'Something definitely has to be done about this road.'

A crime scene has been set up and as inquiries into the circumstances surrounding the crash continue.

Anyone who may have witnessed this incident or has dash cam footage is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800-333-000.

Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au.
Attorney General Ken Paxton is acting as the tie-breaker in the battle between Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick over how to address $16 billion in power overcharges racked up during the Texas freeze.

In a nonbinding legal opinion Wednesday, Paxton said that retroactively lowering the price of wholesale electricity, as a bill that Patrick pushed through the Senate on Monday would do, is in line with the Texas Constitution, contrary to Abbotts contention earlier this week.

Paxton also said the Public Utility Commission has complete authority to do so.

While Abbott and the utility commission chair he appointed, Arthur DAndrea, have warned that repricing would leave the state vulnerable to lawsuits, Paxton said a court would likely agree with him that the action was lawful.

The act would not raise constitutional concerns because such a regulatory action furthers a compelling public interest, the opinion says.

Patrick said in a statement Wednesday that Paxton had confirmed that the utilities commission has the legal right to do what the Senate bill proposes.

Correcting ERCOTs pricing errors is essential to save Texas ratepayers at least $4.2 billion and it is the right thing to do, Patrick said. The Texas House should move as quickly as possible to pass legislation and send it to Gov. Greg Abbotts desk. The clock is ticking.

Despite Paxtons opinion, the bill is unlikely to go anywhere after House Speaker Dade Phelan, R-Beaumont, criticized repricing as an extraordinary government intervention into the free market and warned it could have major consequences for both residential and commercial consumers going forward.

BACKGROUND: Texas House rejects bill to reprice electricity sold during winter storm

In another layer to the Republican infighting, DAndrea found himself in hot water Tuesday night after he was caught on recording telling Bank of America analysts in a call earlier this month he would protect their investors earnings from the crisis, during which at least 57 Texans died without power. A recording of the call was published by Texas Monthly late Tuesday night, and DAndrea resigned shortly afterward.

The commission clarified Wednesday that his resignation is effective upon appointment of a replacement. Abbotts appointees must be confirmed by the Senate, another potential flashpoint in the tensions between him and Patrick.

taylor.goldenstein@chron.com
On Womens Day 2021, Indias leading conglomerate Godrej Group through its various businesses came together to lead the way in promoting women leadership. This year, the global theme for Womens Day is #ChooseToChallenge, where everyone is being asked to take the responsibility of their own thoughts and actions to create a beautiful, equal world. The campaign profoundly urges every person irrespective of their gender, culture, ability, and orientation, to first challenge the deeply wired biases and stereotypes within themselves, before asking others to do so externally. Ultimately, changing and creating a beautiful equal world.

The group digital film aims to highlight the fact that, this womens day instead of just wishing her and expecting things to change, one should rather instigate the change and challenge the stereotype within himself or herself. Changing from within is what will guarantee the fulfilment of a dream of an inclusive world.

Commenting on the group film, Tanya Dubash, Executive Director and Chief Brand Officer, Godrej Group, said, Women have always been facing the challenge of having more to prove than their male peers to be taken just as seriously. This is all due to our conditioning and stereotypes. That is why on this women's day, we would like to urge everyone to challenge their stereotypes. Each one of us irrespective of gender, culture, ability and orientation has certain internalized stereotypes. It is our responsibility on an individual level to challenge these beliefs and create a beautiful, equal and inclusive society. At Godrej, we strongly believe that each one of us is unique and we can only truly grow when we can be our 'whole self' at work. We, as an organization will continue to understand and support the challenges that women face so that they choose to challenge at the workplace. We constantly strive to create an environment where women are provided the freedom to enjoy the best of professional and personal choices.

So many of us carry unconscious biases within ourselves about gender. But gender is itself a construct! We hope that this video will encourage viewers to challenge their own frameworks and reimagine a more equal world, and then translate this reimagination into daily actions that bring about change, added ParmeshShahani, Head - D&I and Godrej India Culture Lab.

Goodknight, India's leading household insecticide brand from the house of Godrej Consumer Products Ltd, unveiled a new digital film. Themed around #PyaarWaliProtection, the film is based on true stories of real characters and each sequence is treated like a slice of life, humane story portraying different roles of women, acting as a guardian, a friend and a protector and how Goodknight leverages these little moments and celebrates womanhood on this special occasion of Womens Day making the film powerful, heart-warming and enduring. The film is also helmed by four women leaders like Shreya Shroff as the Director of the film, Shraddha Singhvi as the Producer, PriyaPardiwalla as the Creative Director and Somasree Bose as the Head of Marketing for brand Goodknight.

Godrej Expert released #BeautyThatEmpowers digital film featuring the Godrej's Salon-i programme which is on a mission to provide financial support and trained over 2.5 lac women (till date) to become beauty professionals. This year, due to the pandemic, the business of these women was down by 50% and Godrej Expert decided to provide financial assistance upto INR 20,000 per beautypreneur.

In addition to the digital films, Godrejs premium hair care and styling products brand, BBLUNTtook a cultural stand against a universal haircut and challenged the stereotypical name with #BoycottBoyCut. The brand invited men and women to come together to rename the haircut to a title that is modern, trendy, chic but more importantly inclusive and gender neutral in nature. Celebrities and leading content creators, also joined forces with the brand to change the preconceived notions around short haircuts by sharing thought-provoking personal anecdotes on their Instagram handles. Further, consumers have got onto the bandwagon by uploading their own pictures sporting short crops.

Through #OnlyForYou campaign, Godrej Security Solutions announced a special women's day sale on their shop site on products ranging from home cameras to UV Sanitizer cases. A special purchase code (GSSWOMEN08 code) is also available to avail of the discount on these products. Visit https://shop.godrejsecure.com/ to avail the special discounts.

Script, a Godrej venture, has revealed a study titled A New Sense of Place highlighting how women manage home and professional tasks without flinching by leveraging technology. It is based on responses from over 2000 Indians across age groups and cities on cultural and lifestyle changes embraced by people. Godrej Locks, Ecocert-France certified organic baby skincare brand Goodness Me, Godrej Jersey, ran digital contests as well where patrons got a chance to win exciting prizes.

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Beginning April 1, when users in Russia buy a new iPhone, iPad or Mac, they will be prompted during setup with the option to go to a new page in the App Store to load the Russian software, Apple said on Tuesday. The applications that appear are being suggested by the Russian government, but Apple will only show apps that meet the companys App Store review guidelines.

This will be the first time Apple offers users the ability to install outside software on its devices at setup. In previous updates to its mobile operating system, Apple has added country-specific features like additional map views in China, but it has eschewed other common app pre-installations like those from wireless carriers on Android devices.

ALSO READ: Russia threatens to block Twitter as content dispute escalates

The installation of Russian software on local devices is optional, but the government in recent years has cracked down on the ability for citizens to communicate privately on their devices. Russian authorities banned the private messaging app Telegram in recent years and the government has been accused of spying on citizens. Apple said it uses strong encryption and doesnt store user passcodes.

ALSO READ: Russian watchdog says Apple abused mobile app market dominance

In 2019, Apple was criticized for an update of its Maps app in Russia that displayed Crimea as part of Russia rather than Ukraine. That came after months of Russian government pressure on operators of mapping services to shift Crimeas designation.

By Mark Gurman
Navy Pier has designated 25 zones that each have their own capacity limit. The pilot program will focus on parts of the Fifth Third Bank Family Pavilion, including the food court seating area near McDonalds and nearby walkways, and one of the main entrance areas on the east end of the pier.
A team of seven historians that has been assembled to scrutinize New Orleans public school names for ties to the Confederacy or slave owners was introduced during an Orleans Parish School Board meeting Tuesday.

Already, the team has earmarked 19 schools that should carry new names.

Justin McCorkle, the director of community relations for NOLA Public Schools, introduced the historians Tuesday at an Orleans Parish School Board committee meeting where officials gave updates about a facility renaming initiative first approved last summer.

The historians are:

Eva Semien Baham , an assistant professor of history at Dillard University who studies social and cultural histories with a focus on Louisianas African American communities and authored the book "African Americans in Covington."

, an assistant professor of history at Dillard University who studies social and cultural histories with a focus on Louisianas African American communities and authored the book "African Americans in Covington." Sharlene Sinegal-DeCuir, the Keller Family Endowed Associate Professor of History at Xavier University of Louisiana, who has focused research on African American activism in Louisiana and the Civil Rights Movement.

the Keller Family Endowed Associate Professor of History at Xavier University of Louisiana, who has focused research on African American activism in Louisiana and the Civil Rights Movement. Ken Ducote , a longtime expert on New Orleans public schools and adjunct professor at the University of Holy Cross who is considered an expert on the history of Orleans Parish School Board buildings.

, a longtime expert on New Orleans public schools and adjunct professor at the University of Holy Cross who is considered an expert on the history of Orleans Parish School Board buildings. Mary Niall Mitchell , who is the Raphael Cassimere Professor History at the University of New Orleans, where she directs the Ethel & Herman L. Midlo Center for New Orleans Studies. Mitchell also advised New Orleans' city streets renaming commission.

, who is the Raphael Cassimere Professor History at the University of New Orleans, where she directs the Ethel & Herman L. Midlo Center for New Orleans Studies. Mitchell also advised New Orleans' city streets renaming commission. William "Bill" Rouselle , a lifelong New Orleanian who was raised by a public school teacher and is described by McCorkle as a "culture-bearer."

, a lifelong New Orleanian who was raised by a public school teacher and is described by McCorkle as a "culture-bearer." Jana M. Smith , the program coordinator of the Health and Physical Education Department at Dillard University and an associate professor in the university's Urban Studies Department.

, the program coordinator of the Health and Physical Education Department at Dillard University and an associate professor in the university's Urban Studies Department. Walter C. Stern, an assistant professor of educational policy studies and history at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and author of "Race and Education in New Orleans: Creating the Segregated City, 1764-1960."

The school district's renaming initiative follows local and national protests in the aftermath of the killing of a Black man, George Floyd, by a White police officer in Minnesota. The Orleans Parish School Board promised to address school names that honored slave owners, Confederate officials or segregation supporters.

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While the historians have assembled a list of 19 schools that should be renamed, the school district is also taking suggestions from the public. The feedback period closes on April 19. Comments can be sent to community@nolapublicschools.com, and the district will also hold student feedback sessions on March 30 and April 27.

The list of 19 schools includes the building named after Robert Mills Lusher, Benjamin Franklin elementary and high schools and the eight school buildings named after John McDonogh.

The community can also suggest new names for those schools. The team of historians will vet those names and send suggestions to the district's Renaming Committee. From there, final contenders will go to the superintendent and, ultimately, the School Board for a vote.

In an interview, McCorkle had underscored that while the historian review team wasn't required by any kind of district or School Board policy, district officials felt it was necessary to have experts involved.

"Due to the nature of this undertaking we felt it was very critical to this process," McCorkle said.

Editor's note: This story was updated to clarify that Mary Mitchell advised the city's street renaming committee, rather than serve on it.
has asked its state firms in to evacuate non-essential staff following attacks on Chinese factories and businesses by anti-coup protesters who accused Beijing of backing the military junta that ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi last month.

has told its state firms to evacuate non-essential staff from after dozens of Chinese-run factories were attacked on Sunday, amid rising anti- sentiment, Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post reported on Wednesday.

China's State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council (SASAC) in a notice ordered state-owned enterprises in to evacuate staff involved in projects that had come to a halt.

Other staff to be pulled out of the neighbouring country include those who have reached the end of their rotations, workers who have not yet been inoculated against the coronavirus, employees living on remote sites and those facing serious local situations, according to the notice.

Asked about reports of evacuation, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian during a media briefing here on Wednesday said that China is following the situation in Myanmar closely and attach importance to the safety of our institutes and personnel in Myanmar.

We hope the Myanmar side will take concrete measures and take more vigorous actions to ensure their safety," he said.

A state construction firm employee working on an infrastructure project in Myanmar confirmed to the daily that he had received the instructions from SASAC, which oversees 90 national-level SOEs in China.

We received it over the weekend when some Chinese-invested factories were attacked," a source was quoted as saying.

In fact, almost all projects have already stopped here. We are discussing who shall stay back to watch developments. I think most of us will head home as nothing much can be done," he said.

According to state-run Global Times, 32 Chinese factories have been vandalised in the attacks in Yangon. The property loss was estimated to be about 240 million yuan (USD 36.89 million), the Chinese Embassy in Myanmar told the Global Times on Monday.

Two Chinese employees were injured in the attacks with no fatalities, the embassy said.

Earlier pro-democracy protesters held demonstrations in front of the Chinese Embassy in Myanmar, accusing Beijing of backing the coup.

China, considered a close ally of Myanmar junta, has called on both the military and the National League for Democracy (NLD) headed by Suu Kyi to resolve their differences through dialogue and consultations. Over the years, China has invested heavily in Myanmar under its multibillion-dollar Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in which thousands of Chinese workers were employed.

Some of the key BRI projects in Myanmar include a 2,800-kilometre China-Myanmar oil and gas pipeline running from Kyaukpyu to Kunming, Southwest China's Yunnan, and a deep water port at Kyaukpyu, which provide access to China to the Bay of Bengal.

About the attacks on the Chinese factories and businesses, Zhao told the media here on March 15 that the "vandalising, looting and arson attacks" on Chinese companies in Myanmar was "egregious.

China hopes that the relevant parties in Myanmar will keep calm and exercise restraint, act in the fundamental interests of the people, address their differences through dialogue and consultation within the constitutional and legal framework, and continue to advance the democratic transition," he said.

He said China Enterprises Chamber of Commerce in Myanmar (CECCM) has asked local police to take strong measures to protect the safety of Chinese businesses and employees.

The Myanmar side has sent additional police, fire and rescue forces to the region to maintain order and deal with the situation on the ground. China will continue to urge Myanmar to take practical measures to stop all violent behaviours and hold the culprits accountable and ensure the safety of life and property of Chinese businesses and personnel in Myanmar," he said.

On March 7, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told media here that China will not change the course of its close ties with Myanmar post-coup, no matter how the situation evolves, ruling out joining the US in imposing sanctions against the military junta.

China will not change the course of promoting friendship and cooperation, no matter how the situation evolves," Wang said in his annual press conference.

Instead, he said Beijing will try to bring about reconciliation by engaging with all relevant parties.

The coup reversed years of slow progress toward democracy in Myanmar, which for five decades had languished under strict military rule that led to isolation and sanctions.

The verified death toll among protesters since the February 1 coup has now exceeded 200, according to a tally compiled by the independent Assistance Association for Political Prisoners.

(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.)
Leader of the Nghe An provincial Peoples Committee and VNR chairman studying the plans

The Nghe An provincial Peoples Committee last week worked with the working group of Vietnam Railways (VNR) led by chairman Vu Anh Minh to discover possibilities of increasing connectivity of railways with key production areas, import-export areas, and other means of transport.

The North-South railway network runs through 52 wards in Hoang Mai, Quynh Luu, Dien Chau, Nghi Loc, Hung Nguyen, and Vinh city of Nghe An with a total length of 95.5km long.

At present, the rail has 1m gauge which means its capacity is limited, while the stations and the tracks were built decades ago. Worse still, railway stations do not have a goods yard or big warehouses to meet the growing demand for transportation, unloading and loading, and storage.

Specifically, in Vinh city, there are no railway stations featuring large enough goods yards for container loading and unloading. Meanwhile, based on statistics from Nghe An province, in 2020, 99,654 tonnes of cargo and 116,994 passengers were transported via railway in the province, with revenue of VND48.171 billion($2.1 million), equal to 51.1 per cent of the figure from 2019.

The fact-finding trip at My Ly station

In order to improve the situation, VNR and Nghe An authorities studied the areas where goods yards, warehouses, and logistics areas could be constructed so as to increase connectivity with local industrial parks and economic hubs, as well as with other transport infrastructure like roads and ports.

The two sides made fact-finding trips to Sy, My Ly, and Vinh railway stations, as well as Nam Cam Industrial Park. They also visited the areas that were put forth to build Do Dao and Nghi Long railway stations under the project on upgrading the Hanoi-Vinh railway line.

After the meeting, VNR will work with Nghe An Peoples Committee on completing the procedures related to the scheme on the management and operation of state-funded railway infrastructure before submitting it to the prime minister for approval.
Dolly Partons Stampede used to be called Dolly Partons Dixie Stampede. The overall concept was the same  it was a dinner theater that involved a four-course meal and trick riders riding horses around a 35,000 square foot arena.

But when the experience was called Dolly Partons Dixie Stampede, the show that played out by the horse riders told the story of the Civil War. There were two teams: the North and the South. Today, the Civil War battle and all nods to anything Dixie have been removed. Heres how it happened, all thanks to a woman named Aisha Harris.

Dolly Parton | Ron Davis/Getty Images

How Aisha Harris changed Dolly Partons Dixie Stampede

Back in 2017, there was a movement in Charlottesville, Virginia to remove two Confederate statues. When a group of people, including the KKK and Neo Nazi, gathered to defend the statues, things quickly turned violent. One person died and 19 people were injured after someone drove their vehicle into a group of protesters marching peacefully in downtown Charlotte.

In the days following, a writer named Aisha Harris (who was working at Slate at the time) pinged one of her colleagues on Slack. She asked them if theyd heard about Dolly Partons Dixie Stampede in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.

Harris decided to fly to Pigeon Forge (from New York, where she was based) to do a write-up on Partons dinner theater. The resulting article is funny, sharp, specific, and highly critical. She received a lot of backlash for the piece.

RELATED: Dolly Parton Said Johnny Cash Made Her Feel Like a Woman

[Dolly Parton] was born not that long after Gone with the Wind came out, so I can understand why that sort of love of this fake Southern identityI can see how that could creep its way into her work, Harris told journalist Jad Abumrad on the Dolly Partons America podcast in 2019. But its 2017 now and it baffles me that 30 years later this show still exists.

Aisha Harris article resonated with Dolly Parton and her team

Pete Owens, vice president of marketing and public relations for Dollywood, said on the podcast that after Harris article came out, the Parton team got together for a discussion. They came to the conclusion that they should make some changes to the show, including removing all plantation imagery and references to the Civil War. They also removed Dixie from the name.

You know, I like to imagine that maybe she had a change of heart and if thats the case then I appreciate her even more, Harris said of the changes made to the show.

Not all Parton fans were pleased with the changes, though (hence the backlash Harris received). Protests even broke out in front of the dinner theater. But, today, the changes are still in effect. Dolly Partons Dixie Stampede is no more.

Why Dolly Parton changed Dolly Partons Dixie Stampede

In an interview with Abumrad, Parton spoke about why she ultimately made the changes.

RELATED: The Harsh Winters Dolly Parton Survived as a Child

A lot of my things that I do wrong, just out of pure ignorance really, because you grow up a certain way and you dont know, she said. The Dixie, we always thought way down in the land of Dixie, its like a Dixieland or Dixieland music, Dixie. You know, I just thought of Dixie as a part of the, part of America. And it was offensive cause, like I say out of ignorance, you dont know that youre hurting people. Never thought about it being about slavery or any of that. But when it was brought to our attention, and some woman wrote about it and I thought, well Lord have mercy, I would never want to hurt anybody for any reason.

Parton continued: I just wanted to fix it cause I dont want to ever hurt or offend anyone. And so I did it as a good faith effort to show that it was never meant to cause anyone any pain.
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New Delhi:

A local district court will pronounce its verdict on Thursday in connection with Gaya road rage case in which former JD (U) leader Manorma Devis son Rocky Yadav was involved.

The Additional District and Sessions Judge (ADJ), Sachchidanand Singh, is scheduled to deliver the judgement.

The parents of Aditya Scahdeva, who was allegedly killed by Bihar former JD (U) leader's son Rocky Yadav during a road rage in Gaya, have hoped that they will get justice in the case.

While talking to ANI before judgment on accused Rocky Yadav, K C Sachdeva, father of Aditya Sachdeva, said that they have hope with the honourable court. Adityas mother also hopeful that she will get justice in the case.

On March 6, the Supreme Court had denied to vacate its order of cancelling the bail of Rocky Yadav in the case.

Have our hopes with the honourable court: KC Sachdeva (father of Aditya Sachdeva) before judgment on accused Rocky Yadav #BiharRoadRage case pic.twitter.com/OomwNanXtl  ANI (@ANI) August 31, 2017

In last year October, the Supreme Court had stayed the bail granted to Rocky Yadav by Patna high court who allegedly shot dead Aditya for overtaking his SUV.

Rocky, son of former Janata Dal (United) leader Manorama Devi and alleged history sheeter Bindi Yadav, is accused of shooting and killing Aditya Sachdeva, a Class XII student who was driving his Maruti car, for overtaking his SUV on May 7 near Gaya.

We hope we will get justice: Mother of Aditya Sachdeva before judgment on Rocky Yadav (accused in Aditya Sachdeva road rage case) #Gaya pic.twitter.com/CmXseauZfX  ANI (@ANI) August 31, 2017

A day after Rocky came out of jail, Principal Additional Advocate General Lalit Kishore had said the state government would file an appeal in the Supreme Court challenging the bail granted to the accused by the High Court.

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Haiti - FLASH : Jovenel Moise is now seeking the support of the UN





After his appeal to the Secretary General of the Organization of American States, Mr. Luis Almagro https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-33251-haiti-security-jovenel-moise-seeks-help-from-the-oas.html for a technical support to the PNH in order to fight effectively against banditry and terrorism, President Moise yesterday Tuesday did the same with the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres.



"This Tuesday, March 16, I had an interview with UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres. I asked the UN for technical and logistical support for the PNH, in order to combat banditry in Haiti and strengthen the poverty reduction program.



During the said meeting, the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres and I discussed the issue of the inter-Haitian national dialogue. I remain convinced that through this dialogue we will manage to resolve the current crisis and together build a more just, united and prosperous Haiti," said Jovenel Moise.



HL/ HaitiLibre


















It was the movie Portlands gangsters didnt want you to see.

In July 1957, some of the men facing charges in the citys ongoing vice probe called the soon-to-be-released Portland Expose a farce and utterly fantastic. They promised to get an injunction to keep it from being shown in Multnomah County.

Wallace Turner and William Lambert, the two reporters from The Oregonian who had exposed those gangsters illicit schemes, didnt want you to see the B-movie either.

Portland Expose, wrote the reporters, was 80 minutes of hilariously confused celluloid frappe purporting to tell the story of Portlands vice and corruption investigation.

Well, whatever. At least Portlanders would get to see their own town on the big screen. The movie was filmed in the Rose City, a rare thing in the 1950s.

More than six decades later, that opportunity to gawk at a movie version of Portland is still appealing, which is why an outfit called Then and Now recently created a split-screen video that shows filmed-in-town scenes from Portland Expose next to the nearly identical shots from the same places in 2019. You get time-warp glimpses of the Portland Towers Apartments, Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, Union Station, the Pearl Auto Park and other spots. (The entire movie is available on Amazon Prime Video.)

But thats the here and now. There was no YouTube or Amazon in 1957. And so Portlanders back then had trouble seeing their city onscreen, thanks to the legal threats of those under indictment.

Portland Expose was supposed to open at three suburban drive-in theaters in August of 57, but it was pulled at the eleventh hour. The owner of the drive-ins, Al Foreman, told news outlets he had decided, on the advice of his lawyer, not to show the film because of its controversial nature and because of the great number of cases in the Portland investigation still unsolved.

The movie also failed to open as planned at two theaters in Portland itself.

One unnamed movie man told The Oregonian that theater owners and the films producers relished a showdown over the right to exhibit Portland Expose.

Jeanne Carmen and Edward Binns in a scene from "Portland Expose."

Thats fine, he said. They get an injunction, we make em post bond, then we sue em. That makes us more money than showing the picture.

This also was a good strategy because the movie was pretty awful. Two months after the aborted Oregon premiere, Portland Expose opened in Washington, D.C., with ads blaring: The Picture They Tried to Stop. Critics in the nations capital panned it.

The Washington Daily News said the movie appeared to have been ground out in a record eight hours on a $40 budget.

Oregonian reporters Wallace Turner and William Lambert.

For Turner and Lambert, however, the films production values werent what grated. They had landed the story despite  the risk of reprisal from lawless elements, noted the Pulitzer Prizes board when it awarded the men its local-reporting laurels. And so the reporters took offense at director Harold Schuster Hollywooding it up.

The film bears only the most casual relationship to what happened in Portland, they wrote.

The true story, as told by Turner and Lambert in a series of articles in 1956, involved local vice lord Big Jim Elkins squaring off against a group of Seattle gangsters and Oregon Teamsters, who jointly were trying to muscle in on Elkins business. Multnomah County District Attorney William Langley backed the attempt to push Elkins aside -- so long as the D.A. got his cut.

We should get rid of the character, Langley said at one point in a secretly taped conversation, suggesting that his Seattle partners do more than intimidate Elkins. Hes cheated me and hes horsing you guys around. You got too much -- you got too damned much patience with him.

These revelations were explosive enough that the story went national, prompting an investigation by a U.S. Senate select committee on labor racketeering, led by its chief counsel, Robert F. Kennedy.

William Langley, on the right at the table, testifies before the U.S. Senate select committee.

It was all too complicated for a quickie B-movie. Portland Expose focused on a tavern owner played by Edward Binns (you might know him from supporting roles in 12 Angry Men and Patton) who found himself reeled into underworld machinations after he put a pinball machine in his establishment.

A pinball machine? Thats right -- they were illegal in Portland at the time, viewed as corruption starter kits. This attitude wasnt an aberration reserved for the supposedly buttoned-up Eisenhower era. Twenty years later, when Portland officials were looking at finally legalizing pinball wizardry, the police still resisted.

Once you pay off a policeman to overlook some nickel-and-dime pinball gambling, it doesnt take a lot more to pay him off to overlook prostitution and narcotics, Portland police Capt. Norman Reiter argued in 1976.

"Big Jim" Elkins, left, with his lawyer.

Back in the 1950s, the gangster in Portland Expose who runs the pinball racket is unnamed, and his face is never shown.

In some quarters, there is consternation that this is meant to be Jim Elkins, who talked to start Portlands real-life expose, Turner and Lambert wrote. The consternation is because the film makes Mr. X seem to be a pretty good guy, although he is a racketeer.

Whatever consternation this may have caused, the problem the filmmakers faced was that the actual events offered no good guys. Labor leaders, politicians, prosecutors, businessmen -- they all canoodled with the Portland underworld, with some of them cartoonishly desperate to get in on the action.

Portlanders knew this better than anyone.

Early in 1957, when a scene for the film was being shot at a diner overlooking the Steel Bridge, a man asked the crew, Whos in it, Abbott and Costello?

-- Douglas Perry

dperry@oregonian.com

@douglasmperry
You are the owner of this article.

Two civilians were killed and seven others were wounded in the eastern Yemeni city of Marib on Tuesday by shells of a ballistic missile thought to be fired by Houthi militia. A medical source said the casualties were recorded after a rocket exploded at a busy market. The source added that the rebel militia continued to fire ballistic rockets at neighbourhoods and markets in the city. The conflict in Yemen erupted nearly six years ago, after Houthi rebels swept the nation and seized much of the country's north.

A Saudi-led military coalition launched a bombing campaign to dislodge the Houthis and restore the internationally recognised government. The war has killed around 130,000 people, including more than 12,000 civilians, pushed millions to the brink of famine and spawned one of the world's worst humanitarian crisis.

(Image Credit: AP)

(Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com)
By Ami Takahashi, KYODO NEWS - Mar 17, 2021 - 23:11 | All, World, Japan

Myanmar protesters gathered Wednesday near the U.S. Embassy during U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken's visit to Tokyo, calling on the international community for stronger action against last month's military coup in the Southeast Asian country.

"Reject military coup," nearly 100 demonstrators, mostly Myanmar residents of Japan, chanted a day after Blinken and his Japanese counterpart, Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi, shared strong concerns about Myanmar's bloody crackdown on peaceful protesters following the Feb. 1 coup.

"I want the Japanese government and the United States to stand against the military," one of the organizers, who only wished to be identified as Thiri, told Kyodo News.

More than 200 people have been killed in the violence since the coup, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners activist group.

Signs reading "Please save Myanmar" were held up, while people chanted, "Free Aung San Suu Kyi," referring to the country's civilian leader detained by the junta.

The protesters also urged the so-called Quad countries -- Japan, the United States, Australia and India -- to take more assertive action against the military, with some raising their fists and shouting, "No more statements, take actions."

The leaders of the four countries issued a joint statement last week vowing to restore democracy in Myanmar.

One of the protesters, Yan Paing Oo, who works in Japan, said the Japanese government should side with civilians, not the military, as more and more people are dying in his home country. He said he felt helpless at being unable to do more for his compatriots.

As part of a string of protests in Tokyo and elsewhere since the coup, around 1,500 protesters gathered in the central Japan city of Nagoya last month to urge the Japanese government to take tougher action. Aichi Prefecture, of which Nagoya is the capital, has the second-largest population of Myanmar people in Japan following Tokyo.

With no end to the military's crackdown in sight, countries such as the United States and Britain have imposed sanctions on members of the junta.

"We will continue fighting to bring back democracy as soon as possible," Thiri said.
Three former Prime Ministers skip all-party-meet called by Nepal President

Kathmandu [Nepal], March 16 (ANI): Three former Prime Ministers of Nepal on Tuesday skipped an all-party meeting called by President Bidhya Devi Bhandari as the political rift in the Himalayan Nation continues to sore high.

The three former prime ministers namely Baburam Bhattarai, Madhav Kumar Nepal, and Jhala Nath Khanal were called to Nepal President's residence, Sheetal Niwas to discuss the prevailing political situation in the country.

However, leaders of other political parties representing in the Parliament took part in the meeting held at Rashtrapati Bhawan which started at around 4 PM (local time).

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, Opposition Leader, and former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, along with other leaders from the Opposition as well as the ruling party, attended the meeting which is seen as a reconciliation effort by the President to save the incumbent government.

As per an official statement, President Bhandari urged political leaders to give continuity to mutual discussions and dialogue on issues related to day-to-day problems of ordinary citizens such as education, health, economy, drinking water, and climate change.

She recalled calling an all-party meeting after all political parties showed unprecedented national unity to endorse a new political map that includes Kalapani, LipuLekh, and Limpiyadhura.

Highlighting the effects of COVID-19 on the country's economy, education, health, and tourism, she thanked all the frontline workers and political leaders for their contribution to make the government's campaign to tackle COVID-19 a success," the statement said.

Meanwhile, other political leaders present in the meeting including leaders from Maoist Center -- who support the incumbent government -- criticised President Bhandari for failing to act as custodian of the Constitution.

President Bhandari, had on 20 December last year, approved the recommendation of Oli to dissolute Lower House which later was overturned by the Supreme Court. With the apex court's verdict in late February, criticism has risen high against Oli and Bhandari.

According to Chairman of Rastriya Janamorcha, Chitra Bahadur KC, present in the meeting, PM Oli reiterated that there were no other options than to dissolute the Parliament and go for a fresh election.

The meeting called by President Bhandari was attended by Prime Minister and Chairman of CPN-UML KP Sharma Oli, Nepali Congress (NC) President Sher Bahadur Deuba, CPN (Maoist Center) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Chairman of Janata Samajbadi Party Mahanta Thakur, and former Chairman of Council of Minister KhilRaj Regm, among others leaders. (ANI)
Ms Flints speech was in response to Mr Albaneses comments this week taking aim at the Liberal Party over its handling of sexual harassment allegations, and she took particular aim at foreign affairs spokeswoman Penny Wong and shadow minister for women Tanya Plibersek. I will not be lectured by [Anthony Albaneses] side of politics about the treatment of women in this place, she said. I ask the Leader of the Opposition, where was he and where was his predecessor and where were the senior Labor women when GetUp, Labor and union supporters chased, harassed and screamed at me everywhere I went in the lead-up to the 2019 election? Ms Flint claimed she had been abused time after time on her Twitter and Facebook pages by Labor supporters and had her electorate office defaced with horrendous, sexist and misogynist abuse. In the wake of weeks of sexual harassment allegations and public discussion about the treatment of women in politics, Ms Flint said the need for cultural change in Canberra should be above politics.

It is an issue for us all to address through the bipartisan independent review by the Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins, she said. Mr Albanese said Ms Flints treatment shouldnt have happened, full stop, but claimed women in Labor had also been subjected to protests from activist groups including climate change group Extinction Rebellion and GetUp. Loading They were at the same time ... protesting against Labor MPs, he said. Some seats, including mine, was being occupied every week at the same time, and certainly the women staff who worked for me and my electorate officers [who are] all female staff felt intimidated by occupations of the office. So I stand with Nicolle Flint. Her ... story is one that is appalling, that that sort of behaviour was directed at her. It shouldnt happen. It shouldnt happen to anyone.

Nicolle Flint deserved to be safe as a member of Parliament, and we must listen to this story and all the stories about womens involvement and indeed peoples involvement in politics, we must learn to have disagreements in a civil way. GetUp said on Tuesday its campaign in the seat of Boothby did not include harassment or misogyny and that its volunteers did not harass Ms Flint, and that such claims were a smear campaign. The harassment experienced by Nicolle Flint as the member for Boothby during the 2019 election campaign is abhorrent to GetUp as an organisation. We condemned the behaviour at the time and went to great lengths to confirm our members were not involved, a spokeswoman said. The spokeswoman said the lobby group stood by its statements after the incidents in May 2019 that condemned the behaviour. It is deplorable and not how election campaigns should be conducted. Sexist bullying like this needs to be condemned by everyone. It is never OK. It degrades women and gender non-conforming people, and makes it harder for them to stand in Parliament, she said.
LOBAMBA  The Minister of Natural Resources and Energy, Peter Bhembe, needs to speak the Biblical truth and not the political truth regarding the quarry mine or farm project in Sicunusa where the army has been deployed.

This was raised by members of the ministrys portfolio committee who said Bhembe should clear the air about the now controversial farm owned by Mandla Mkhaliphi, where the army has now been deployed to guard the farm. The portfolio committee threatened to freeze the ministrys budget allocation if the minister did not give a truthful statement on the matter.

Matsanjeni North MP Phila Buthelezi said he had read the press statement issued by the minister on the issue, which sounded a bit emotional. MP Buthelezi asked if it was the first time that the army had been deployed to such sites.

I am asking this because this is a mine or site which has been operating until recently and there was sale or mining of the quarry, said Buthelezi. He wondered if the ministrys action to ask the army to be deployed had been caused by the fact that one of the shareholders of the company had since withdrawn from the contract. MP Buthelezi submitted that for a while, he knew that the Maloma Colliery Mine did not have a mining licence and owed government then about E13 million in dividends, but it was allowed to continue operating. I do not remember the army being deployed there, so why this one? asked MP Buthelezi.

He said the ministrys budget should also be frozen if minister Bhembe did not give a proper response to what the portfolio committee was asking. MP Buthelezi said judging from the ministers press statement, it was clear that the ministry had taken sides on the matter. This is not a good thing at all, said MP Buthelezi. He further submitted that the minister had stated that the businessman had broken the law and faced a fine of E100 000 or 10 years imprisonment. Have you charged this individual or have you taken him to court before publishing such statements? wondered MP Buthelezi.

He said the minister should not get personal in such matters. If one would visit Lufafa Mine for example, would we find the army deployed? asked the MP. MP Buthelezi said he was not happy that Bhembe had found himself in this mess. Lobamba Lomdzala MP Marwick Khumalo said it was a pity that politics taught a person lies. He said before Bhembe was a politician, he was a lamb of God (umuntfu wa Nkulunkulu). He said he could not believe that the minister willingly wrote a letter to the army asking them to send personnel to Sicunusa. He asked if he knew if there was any gold for example in Lufafa Mine. Motshane MP Robert Magongo said the minister should stop abusing powers which he did not have.


SAN FRANCISCO, March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The global flow meter market size is estimated to reach USD 12.99 billion by 2028, according to the new report conducted by Grand View Research, Inc. It is projected to register a CAGR of 5.70% during the forecast period. The penetration of IoT has helped the evolution of smart flow rate measurement solutions, leading to an increased demand for intelligent flow meters. The adoption of flow meters is expected to increase as rapid urbanization triggers the need for better water and wastewater management.

Key suggestions from the report:

The market for flow meter is anticipated to witness substantial growth during the forecast period due to the integration of IoT in flow meters, which has led to the introduction of smart flow rate measurement solutions

Custody transfer application in the oil and gas sector is one of the key applications creating lucrative opportunities for ultrasonic and Coriolis flow meters

The water and wastewater segment is anticipated to witness substantial growth during the forecast period owing to the increasing initiatives taken by several governments for water and wastewater management

The Asia Pacific is expected to grow at the fastest rate over the forecast period owing to substantial demand and adoption of flow meters in various application sectors, particularly in China , India , and Southeast Asian countries

Businesses in Middle Eastern countries such as Iran , Iraq , and Syria are highly vulnerable to political instability. Businesses in other Middle Eastern countries such as UAE, Saudi Arabia , Oman , and Qatar focus on expanding their presence by establishing friendly relations with eminent manufacturers in Western countries

Flow meter market key participants are ABB Ltd., Emerson Electric Corporation, General Electric, Krohne Messtechnik Gmbh, HONTZSCH GMBH & CO. KG, Hitachi High-Tech Corporation, Yokogawa Electric Corporation, and Siemens

Read 100 page research report with ToC on "Flow Meter Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Product, By Application (Water & Wastewater, Oil & Gas, Chemicals, Power Generation, Pulp & Paper, Food & Beverage), By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2021 - 2028" at: https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/flow-meters-market

The advancements in technology have made ultrasonic and Coriolis flow meters more reliable and accurate than their counterparts. The integration of IoT in flow rate measurement solutions has helped transform Coriolis meters into intelligent flow meters. Hence, the adoption of these meters is expected to grow significantly over the forecast period. Besides, extensive adoption of Coriolis flow meters by the oil and gas, chemical, and refinery sectors is projected to drive the growth of the overall product segment over the forecast period.

The water and wastewater segment is expected to witness robust growth over the forecast period owing to rapid urbanization in various parts of the world, particularly in Asia Pacific, South America, and Africa. These regions have aggressively started to adopt efficient solutions for the treatment, control, monitoring, and regulation of water supplies and management of wastewater, thereby driving the demand for flow rate measurement solutions and instruments.

Europe dominated the global market in 2020 as the region is home to several manufacturers and product innovators of flow rate measurement solutions and services, including flow meters. However, Asia Pacific (APAC) is expected to witness the highest growth rate over the forecast period owing to the rapid urbanization underway in APAC countries, which would subsequently trigger the need for adequate power generation and efficient water and wastewater management. The market in India is likely to witness a significant boost over the forecast period on account of the growing need for expanding fuel refining capacity in the country.

With emerging economies in the Asia Pacific such as China, India, and other Southeast Asian nations witnessing rapid industrialization, regional manufacturers and providers of flow rate measurement solutions are forming collaborations and partnerships with global players to cash in on opportunities prevailing in the regional as well as global markets. Regional players are also improving their customer engagement activities and enhancing their portfolio of products and services.

Moreover, General Electric (U.S.), ABB Ltd. (Switzerland), Emerson Electric Corporation (U.S.), Yokogawa Electric Corporation (Japan), and Hitachi High-Tech Corporation (Japan) are some of the major providers and vendors of flow rate measurement solutions. Market players are constantly emphasizing product innovation and enhancing their products and solutions. With the lucrative opportunities, the oil and gas, petroleum, chemicals, and water and wastewater management sectors offer, manufacturers focus on meeting the various requirements of these sectors in particular.

Grand View Research has segmented the global flow meter market based on product, application, and region:

Flow Meters Product Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2028)

Differential Pressure (DP)



Positive Displacement (PD)



Magnetic



Wired





Wireless



Ultrasonic



Coriolis



Turbine



Vortex



Others

Flow Meters Application Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2028)

Water & Wastewater



Oil & Gas



Chemicals



Power Generation



Pulp & Paper



Food & Beverage



Others

Flow Meters Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2028)

North America



U.S.





Canada





Mexico



Europe



Germany





U.K.





France



Asia Pacific



China





Japan





India



South America



Brazil



Middle East & Africa

List of Key Players of Flow Meter Market

ABB Ltd.

Emerson Electric Corporation

em-tec GmbH

Endress+Hausar AG

General Electric

Hitachi High-Tech Corporation

Honeywell International Inc.

HONTZSCH GMBH & CO. KG

Krohne Messtechnik Gmbh

Siemens

Yokogawa Electric Corporation

Find more research reports on Sensors & Controls Industry, by Grand View Research:

Electric Vehicle Charging Cables Market  The global electric vehicle charging cables market size was valued at USD 208.0 million in 2019 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 25.4% from 2020 to 2027.

The global electric vehicle charging cables market size was valued at in 2019 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 25.4% from 2020 to 2027. Collision Avoidance Sensors Market  The global collision avoidance sensors market size was valued at USD 4.39 billion in 2017 and is anticipated to exhibit a CAGR of 21.2% from 2018 to 2025.

The global collision avoidance sensors market size was valued at in 2017 and is anticipated to exhibit a CAGR of 21.2% from 2018 to 2025. Consumer Electronic Sensors Market  The global consumer electronic sensors market size is expected to exceed USD 34 billion by 2022. New product developments and investment in research & development are anticipated to contribute to market growth over the forecast period.

Gain access to Grand View Compass, our BI enabled intuitive market research database of 10,000+ reports

About Grand View Research

Grand View Research, U.S.-based market research and consulting company, provides syndicated as well as customized research reports and consulting services. Registered in California and headquartered in San Francisco, the company comprises over 425 analysts and consultants, adding more than 1200 market research reports to its vast database each year. These reports offer in-depth analysis on 46 industries across 25 major countries worldwide. With the help of an interactive market intelligence platform, Grand View Research helps Fortune 500 companies and renowned academic institutes understand the global and regional business environment and gauge the opportunities that lie ahead.

Contact:

Sherry James

Corporate Sales Specialist, USA

Grand View Research, Inc.

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SOURCE Grand View Research, Inc.
For the second time in its history, Maison Mumm has partnered up with this historic and legendary race, one of the most prestigious sporting events in the world. It was an obvious choice for the Maison since the America's Cup shares the same values that it was founded on: a strong sense of heritage and the pursuit of excellence, challenges and innovation.

Held every four years, the America's Cup is considered yachting's most coveted prize. Teams compete for the oldest trophy in international sport and the titleholder sets the rules, including the choice of boat and racing format. Each yacht represents innovative design and technology and this cup will feature an AC75 design, a radical 75ft long monohull with no keel that flies on foils at speeds up to 50 knots.

Long affiliated with sailing, Maison Mumm is drawn to ventures, including technological innovations, and has found in the America's Cup the same pioneering spirit that has defined it since its founding in 1827. The Maison cultivates its ability to innovate by continually improving the quality of its wines. This philosophy of excellence is best encapsulated by the motto of founder Georges Hermann Mumm: "Only the best".

For the 36th America's Cup, Maison Mumm has created a limited edition of its iconic Mumm Grand Cordon cuvee. This champagne is the epitome of the Maison's signature style since it expresses all the nuances of the Pinot Noir grape variety from the Champagne region of France. The grapes are sourced from over 100 crus to create a bold, rich wine that subtly balances the power and structure of Pinot Noir with the elegance and minerality of Chardonnay and the fruitiness of Meunier. Whether toasting milestones or new beginning, the aromatic richness and intense freshness of Mumm Grand Cordon evokes life's most unforgettable moments.

This emblematic cuvee, outmatched only by the racing intensity of the America's Cup, can be enjoyed at the Mumm Yacht Club. Situated in the heart of the America's Cup Race Village, the custom-built bar offers a premium way to watch the sailing and soak up the sun, all while enjoying a glass of Mumm champagne.

ABOUT MAISON MUMM

Mumm is part of Martell Mumm Perrier-Jouet, the prestigious cognac and champagne business of Pernod Ricard, the world's n2 in wines and spirits. With its distinguished heritage dating back to 1827, Mumm is the leading international champagne House in France and third worldwide*. Mumm Grand Cordon pays tribute to the iconic red sash  indented in the glass as part of a whole series of innovations. The revolutionary bottle is the perfect embodiment of the spirit of the House associated with audacious challenges and groundbreaking endeavours.

* IWSR 2016

Contact:

Laurie Pierrin

[email protected]

+33 1 70 93 25 53

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1458271/Emirates_Team_New_Zealand.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1457154/Maison_Mumm_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Maison Mumm
The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office is reportedly planning to 'severely downsize' or completely dissolve its Hardcore Gang unit in a divisive move critics say spells disaster for the city.

FOX 11 reporter Bill Melugin broke the news on Tuesday night, citing 'multiple sources' within DA George Gascon's office.

For over four decades the Hardcore Gang Investigation Unit has been tasked with prosecuting the city's most serious and violent gang-related crimes.

Prosecutors who spoke to FOX 11 and many critics sounding off on social media asserted that downsizing or dissolving the unit would have major negative consequences on the city as it weathers a troubling surge in crime in recent months.

But Black Lives Matter activists praised the idea of disbanding a unit they branded 'abusive' toward people of color and low-income communities.

Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon (pictured) is reportedly planning to 'severely downsize' or completely dissolve his office's Hardcore Gang unit in a divisive move critics say spells disaster for the city

Melugin spoke to two deputy district attorneys in LA County's Hardcore Gang unit on condition of anonymity about Gascon's plans.

'What we're hearing is that the Hardcore Gang Unit will be dissolved,' one of the prosecutors said.

'My understanding is there's going to be a dissolution of the unit either April 1 or April 2,' the other said.

Gascon's office did not confirm or deny the reports when approached by Melugin, merely saying that there are 'always ongoing discussions about staffing'. The journalist said he is still awaiting further comment.

Gascon, who was elected to DA in November, has already made major changes in the way Los Angeles prosecutes crimes in his first three months in office, including by eliminating cash bail and the 'three strikes' rule.

He also banned sentencing enhancements for guns and gang involvement, which previously allowed prosecutors to seek longer sentences for criminals deemed especially dangerous.

The prosecutors who spoke to FOX 11 said Gascon's prior changes have already made their jobs more difficult, and things will only get worse if he goes through with an overhaul to the Hardcore Gangs unit.

'We can already hear in jail calls and interviews with officers on the street telling us that the gang members are laughing at them,' one of the prosecutors said.

'It's undermined the credibility of law enforcement in its entirety.'

For over four decades the Hardcore Gang Investigation Unit has been tasked with prosecuting the city's most serious and violent gang-related crimes (file photo)

But Gregory Akili, a prominent civil rights activist and member of Black Lives Matter Los Angeles' Action Committee, lauded Gascon for listening to the people who elected him.

'He is simply doing what the people have been asking for. That's why he was elected,' Akili told FOX 11.

'We have called for the disbandment of that unit because we saw how it was abusive, how it was used to criminalize people in neighborhoods, and we saw that it was ineffective.

'Now he's simply saying, let's just swing it back to where it should be.'

However the prosecutors said marginalized communities will suffer the most without a strong Hardcore Gang unit.

'The misnomer with my cases, because I do all gang violence cases, gang murder particularly, is that all of my victims are rival gang members, and that's not true,' one prosecutor said.

'They miss their targets and they get their enemies wrong fully because of the way they look, whether that's a Hispanic male with a shaved head or a Black male standing on the corner at the wrong place at the wrong time.'

Gregory Akili, a member of Black Lives Matter Los Angeles' Action Committee, lauded Gascon for listening to the people who elected him in an interview with FOX 11 (pictured)

Akili said BLM activists had called for Gascon to disband the Hardcore Gang unit. Pictured: Protesters at a BLM demonstration in Los Angeles last year

Critics sounding off on social media slammed the proposed changes to the Hardcore Gang unit.

'[Gascon is] just taking away tools from law enforcement they need,' one person tweeted.

'This will end well... considering all the gang-related shootings we've had in LA to date,' another person wrote.

A third critic called Gascon a 'pro-crime DA'.

Gascon, a former San Francisco district attorney and assistant Los Angeles police chief, ran for office with a promise to enact sweeping criminal justice reforms.

In remarks after he was sworn in last December, he called Los Angeles 'a poster child for the failed tough-on-crime approach' and said: 'The status quo hasn't made us safer.'

His first major meeting upon winning his race was with Black Lives Matter organizers, who were critical of outgoing District Attorney Jackie Lacey.

Gascon beat Lacey, the first woman and black person to run the office, in a fraught election as part of a wave of progressive prosecutors elected nationwide.

Early in his term Gascon drew the ire of the Los Angeles Police Department and prosecutors in his own office who said he was taking to his position, among the most powerful in California and the US, as a politician rather than as a prosecutor.

The reports about his plans for the Hardcore Gang unit emerged just as the Beverly Hills City Council announced that it is considering filing a 'no confidence' resolution against Gascon.
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Britain may have to stop giving new patients Pfizer's coronavirus vaccine so it can stockpile second doses, it was claimed today.

No10 has only bought 40million doses of the jab  but is not expecting all of its supply until the end of 2021, with deliveries set to trickle in over the course of the year.

And MailOnline understands ministers are expecting fewer doses of Pfizer's vaccine from April. Leaked documents of Scotland's vaccine delivery schedule also suggest there will be a reduced supply from next month.

With questions over how much vaccine is expected in the coming weeks, NHS bosses will have to reserve spring supplies to ensure older Britons get their top-up jab within 12 weeks as promised.

Data suggests 13million Britons have already been given Pfizer's jab, which uses up more than half of what ministers originally planned to receive by the start of June, which will mark six months after the UK began dishing it out.

Officials factor second doses into their delivery patterns, with supplies reserved for Britons due a top-up jab. But one-for-one stockpiles are not kept on British soil  they are managed on a 'rolling basis'.

Dr Simon Clarke, a microbiologist at Reading University, told MailOnline: 'We may be getting to the point where they basically stop giving it out as a first dose.'

And James Lawson, of the Adam Smith Institute think-tank, said there appears to be a 'very worrying gap' between the number of people vaccinated already and the speed that second dose supplies are coming.

It came as the EU today declared vaccine war on the UK, threatening to block exports of Pfizer's jab  which is mainly manufactured in Belgium. And it also came as Government sources told the BBC that fewer AstraZeneca vaccines than expected will be available in April.

On another day of coronavirus vaccine chaos:

Doctors claimed British patients were cancelling appointments for their coronavirus vaccine because the EU's mass revolt against AstraZeneca's jab over unproven blood clot fears has scared them off;

Boris Johnson revealed he will be getting the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine 'very shortly';

Britain has now vaccinated more than 25million people, meaning almost half of the adult population have had their first dose  while England today began inviting over-50s for their jabs

Dominic Cummings launched a devastating attack on Matt Hancock, insisting the UK's vaccine drive was only a success because he and science chief Patrick Vallance insisted the minister was stripped of control;

Britons planning foreign holidays abroad are pushing them back again until after the May half-term amid mounting concerns over the coronavirus vaccine rollout and rising cases in the European Union.

Britain will soon have to stop giving the Pfizer Covid vaccine to new patients so it can stockpile enough to get through huge demand for second doses in April and May

Experts have told MailOnline the UK's entire supply of Pfizer's vaccine may be required to meet the need for 12.8million second doses over the next three months, with projected supply from the company dropping at the start of April.

This could dent the Government's aim of dishing out at least one dose to all adults in the UK by the end of July and make the country more reliant on Oxford and AstraZeneca's vaccine to get through the younger age groups.

Moderna's vaccine will also start being delivered to the UK next month, with 17million doses ordered by the Government, but numbers are expected to be low by comparison.

HOW BADLY WOULD UK'S VACCINE DRIVE SUFFER IF THE EU BLOCKED VACCINE EXPORTS? If the European Union blocked all exports of coronavirus vaccines made on its turf, Britain could remain self-sufficient and still get jabs to the entire population. However, it could come under pressure on second dose supply. EU president Ursula von der Leyen suggested today that the bloc could start an export ban on vaccines  the second time that threat has been made  because the continent's rollout is going so badly. WHICH VACCINES ARE MADE IN THE EU? The Pfizer/BioNTech jab is currently the only vaccine used in the UK but manufactured in the EU, at the company's plant in Puurs, Belgium. AstraZeneca's jab is made at home in England and Wales. Moderna's  which will become available in about two weeks' time at the start of April  is produced in Switzerland, which is not an EU member and so not under von der Leyen's jurisdiction. The Janssen vaccine, which has not yet been approved by Britain but is likely to be next, will be made in various factories around the world, including in France, Belgium, the US and Japan. Britain's supply is likely to come from the EU but is not expected until the second half of this year in any case. CAN WE RELY ON ASTRAZENECA? The good news is that the UK has ordered so many doses of the Oxford/AstraZeneca jab  100million  that in a worst-case scenario it could immunise the entire adult population (around 50million people) using that one alone. And supply of the Oxford/AstraZeneca jab in April and May will be around three to four times larger than of Pfizer and over 20 times as large as those from Moderna  at around three to four million available per week, according to a delivery schedule leaked by the Scottish Government in January  meaning the country will be able to rely on those for the vast majority of its vaccinations. WHAT ABOUT PFIZER SECOND DOSES? The bad news is that around 13million people have already had at least one dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, and the majority of them are still waiting for a second jab, which are likely only to come from within the EU. This means that Britain has to have another 13million doses at least, in order to make sure those people are fully protected. And it also hopes for another 14million so it can immunise the total 20million for whom doses were ordered. Pfizer and the UK Government have both refused to comment on the supply chain but deliveries are expected to be smaller in April. The Department of Health may have to stop using Pfizer supplies for first-time vaccinations within weeks if the spectre of export issues remains, MailOnline understands, because it must begin to stockpile supplies to cope with the huge demand for second doses that will come in April, three months after the rollout exploded in January. The delivery projections accidentally published by the Scottish Government suggest its supplies of Pfizer will tumble from 130,000 per week throughout March to just 78,000 per week in April and May. This could equate to approximately 1.5million per week for the whole UK dropping to 950,000 per week, according to the distribution formula used by the Government. The UK vaccinated more than 2.5million people per week throughout most of January and February and around half of all doses used were Pfizer, meaning the demand for second doses could exceed one million per week in April and May. If this is the case the Government will have to use all of the projected 950,000 per week suggested in the Scottish delivery schedule while also hoping it has enough left over to meet this rolling demand  leaving little to no capacity for people to receive the Pfizer jab for the first time. Pfizer declined to comment on its supply chain but said: 'In the UK, we are continuing to liaise closely with the Government to deliver the 40million doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine that we have committed to supply before the end of the year and can confirm that overall projected supply remains the same for quarter one (January to March).' Advertisement

The Government refuses to comment on its vaccine supply chain, saying only that it is 'lumpy'.

And Pfizer will not reveal how many jabs it has already supplied but told MailOnline it is 'on track' to reach its target by the end of the year and to hit its commitments for the beginning of the year.

It said its 'overall projected supply remains the same for quarter one', from January to March, but did not confirm what this supply was or when the full-year target of 40million was likely to be delivered on.

BioNTech, the German firm that produces the vaccine alongside US-based Pfizer, has had to scramble a group of 13 rival manufacturers in order to ramp up capacity to two billion doses by the end of the year.

Countries in the European Union have been struggling with lulls in supply as a result of not ordering and approving vaccines as quickly as the UK and US.

The MHRA said an estimated 10.7million first doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine had been dished out by February 28, compared to 9.7million of the Oxford-AstraZeneca jab.

If the same 54/46 per cent split is still being used, it would suggest the Pfizer figure now stands at 12.8million.

The Government will have to set aside the same number again to ensure it has enough second doses and it has also given out around more than 800,000 second doses of the vaccine.

That would therefore mean at least 13.6million jabs must have already been shipped to the UK from Pfizer's only factory in Belgium, with 26.4million required over the rest of year.

But projected supply of the company's vaccine is expected to fall from the week beginning April 4.

Leaked Scottish documents show the weekly projected supply of Pfizer vaccines would fall from 130,982 to 78,755 in the week, before falling again to 77,926 in the week beginning May 2.

Scaled up for the whole UK  using the formula applied by the Department of Health, in which Scotland accounts for 8 per cent of the total  the supply would drop from around 1.4million per week to 848,000 on April 4, and down to 839,000 on May 2.

Experts have warned that Britain will have to effectively stop giving the Pfizer vaccine first doses as supply is choked.

Dr Simon Clarke, an associate professor at the University of Reading, said the numbers suggested that ministers would have to start hoarding the Pfizer vaccine and not offering it as a first dose.

'They could effectively stop giving out the Pfizer vaccine now,' he told MailOnline.

'We may be getting to the point where they basically stop giving it out as a first dose.'

He added ministers have failed to address the question of whether we can safely give out second doses of a different vaccine.

'That might be absolutely fine,' he said, 'but we don't know yet and it could be a dangerous assumption if it proves not to work or be less effective than suspected.

'I initially thought when this whole vaccine programme started that they would make sure they had enough doses.'

James Lawson, a fellow at think-tank the Adam Smith Institute and lead author of a report named 'Worth a shot: Accelerating Covid-19 vaccinations', said the Scottish figures suggested there is a 'very worrying gap' between the number of people that have received their first dose of the Pfizer vaccine and the Pfizer supplies expected to be delivered.

'This strongly implies there were more Pfizer doses coming in beforehand,' he said after viewing the leaked roll-out figures for Scotland.

He urged Boris Johnson to 'explore all diplomatic means necessary' to ensure no disruption was triggered in the flow of vaccines.

'I think they should explore all options available including speaking to our allies in the US and getting faster vaccine supplies.

'We should be willing to pay above the odds if necessary to get the vaccines to the UK as fast as possible.

'The cost of lockdowns and the cost of lockdown pressure on the NHS and wider economy is so high that we can justify paying almost any price for vaccines.'

He added that the UK should also look to add new jabs to its roll-out. 'We were promised Moderna's vaccine by the spring,' he said, 'but that starts in three days' time so where are those supplies? We should get those as fast as possible.

'We should also look to accelerate the processes for Novavax and Johnson and Johnson vaccines that have been getting really good results in trials. That would mean we have five different suppliers in different supply chains in different factories.'

It comes as people who received a first dose of the Pfizer vaccine in the UK have said they have been unable to secure a second dose so far.

Sheila Teasdale, from Manchester, wrote on Twitter: 'Bit worrying that where l live people have reached the 12 week mark for their second jab and not being called for it.

'Seems to be people who had the Pfizer. Is there a shortage of supplies we aren't being told about?'

Today, she added: 'Update from medical centre last night, saying [it is] pressing ahead with AstraZeneca jabs but [is having] problems getting supplies of Pfizer for second jabs.

'Maybe if people were called before they reached 12 weeks instead of walk-ins getting spare doses, we wouldn't be in this position. It's worrying.'

Others say they have been unable to book a second appointment for a Pfizer jab, while those who received a first dose of AstraZeneca have already had their second dose.

A Londoner said: 'Apparently no-one in [my parents'] borough has got their second appointments.

'They've been calling their GP everyday who say they don't know anything but their friends have all received their second AstraZeneca dose.

'Seems there's a shortage of Pfizer second dose.'

And another Londoner from Lambeth said they have been unable to find a surgery offering the Pfizer vaccine as a first dose.

They said: 'I rescheduled five times, each time I was told [it would be] AstraZeneca. In London there's definitely a shortage of Pfizer.'

NHS England said that for every first dose of the Pfizer vaccine that has been given, second doses have been reserved.

Pfizer said: 'We have an agreement with the Government to supply 40 million doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine to the UK by the end of the year.

'While the details of this agreement are confidential, we can confirm that Q1 deliveries remain on track and continue to progress in line with the monthly schedule, agreed in advance with the Vaccines Taskforce.

'We will work closely with the Government to ensure this remains the case; our overall projected supply for Q2 remains unchanged and we are on course to continue to deliver a steady supply of vaccines to the UK, April through to June, in line with our contractual commitments.

'Based on current projections, we believe that we can deliver more than 2 billion doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine worldwide by the end of 2021  an increase from the 1.3 billion doses initially projected.

'As of 11th March, we have shipped 160 million doses of our vaccine worldwide and we are tripling the number of doses we deliver to the EU in Q2 compared to Q1.'
The first-ever African animated superhero series of Kenyan-Mexican actor Lupita Nyongo, titled Super Sema, premiered on YouTube as a YT Originals on March 8, 2021. On the occasion of International Women's Day, all the episodes of this animated series, which focuses on a 10-year-old girl Sema with superpowers, were released. Ever since its premiere, the eight-episode long series has garnered a lot of love from the masses with over 100k views on each episode within a week.

All you need to need to know about Lupita Nyongos Super Sema

Ahead of Super Sema's release on YouTube, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker actor Lupita Nyongo had told to Variety that she was moved to tears when she got a look at the animated series for the first time. Thus, the Academy Award-winning actor not only decided to join the Super Sema cast as a voice actor, but she also joined hands with the Nairobi-based production house Kukua as the series' equity partner.

During her conversation with the portal, she also expressed being grateful to have gotten the opportunity in helping the female-led production house eradicate the scarcity of Black female representation on television. She also added being honoured to get to work alongside them. Super Sema's adventures are designed to give out lessons to the viewers around science, maths, engineering, art and technology. The African animated series has been produced in English for appealing to a global audience. Apart from YouTube, Kukua has also been lining up local TV partners for airing Super Sema in multiple African nations.

Check out the list of all Super Sema episodes below:

Episode 1- GPS: Goat Positioning System

Episode 2- Crystals

Episode 3- The King and the Forever Forest

Episode 4- More Power

Episode 5- Upcycle Mania

Episode 6- Virtual Race

Episode 7- 3D Pizza

Episode 8- Spotti Maspotti

For the unversed, each episode of Super Sema has been clocked between five to six minutes. While the first and second episodes raked over 500k and 200k views respectively, other episodes of the superhero series have successfully managed to garner over 100k views each within a week from its release on the occasion of International Women's Day. All the episodes of Super Sema are available to watch here.

Get the latest entertainment news from India & around the world. Now follow your favourite television celebs and telly updates. Republic World is your one-stop destination for trending Bollywood news. Tune in today to stay updated with all the latest news and headlines from the world of entertainment.
Gov. Charlie Baker on Tuesday said officials will be releasing the remaining vaccination schedule for all residents not yet eligible for the COVID shot.

The rest of the timeline will be made available Wednesday morning, Baker said in a tweet later in the day.

Tomorrow morning, our administration will release the schedule for all remaining groups in MAs vaccine plan. Every resident will know when they are eligible for a vaccine, Baker tweeted Tuesday evening.

Tomorrow morning, our administration will release the schedule for all remaining groups in MAs vaccine plan. Every resident will know when they are eligible for a vaccine.



Thank you for making MA a national leader in the vaccination effort!  Charlie Baker (@MassGovernor) March 16, 2021

State health officials confirmed another 1,018 new COVID cases and 16 virus-related fatalities on Tuesday.

An analysis of new positive COVID cases last week shows a small increase over the previous week. That number could continue to rise as tests from last week are reported. Case levels continue to hover at levels similar to the end of October, just prior to the fall surge.

The seven-day average of positive tests also rose slightly Tuesday to 1.86%.

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Piers Morgan has called on Britons to 'stand up for our Queen' while accusing Harry and Meghan of leading a campaign to paint the Royal Family as a 'bunch of heartless racists'.

The former GMB host took to Twitter to slam the Duke and Duchess of Sussex a week after resigning from his presenter role for refusing to apologise for comments he made about the couple's controversial interview with Oprah.

He took aim at the couple again last night, writing: 'There's a very deliberate & malicious campaign being perpetrated by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex to smear, defame and trash Britain, our Monarchy & the Royal Family as a bunch of heartless racists. It's disgusting.

'Time to stand up for our Queen.'

It is the latest chapter in the fallout from Harry and Meghan's explosive interview with Oprah where the couple suggested that the Royal family was racist, claiming that one unnamed member was concerned over how dark their son Archie's skin would be.

Piers Morgan slammed Harry and Meghan last night, adding that it was 'time to stand up for our Queen'

Piers had declared the Duchess of Sussex's incendiary claims to Oprah (pictured) about the Royal Family 'contemptible' and said: 'I don't believe almost anything that comes out of her mouth'

Meghan, who is pregnant with the couple's second child having suffered a miscarriage previously, also opened up about her struggles with mental health during her time with the royals both before and after Megxit.

Speaking after the bombshell interview aired, Piers said he did not believe the duchess's remarks in her interview with Winfrey, during which she spoke about her mental health and having suicidal thoughts.

He then stormed off set after GMB weatherman Alex Beresford took exception to his comments about Meghan.

Shortly afterwards, he left his role as presenter after refusing to apologise for his remarks.

Prince William was the first royal to publicly address the claims, telling reporters while on a royal visit last week: 'We're very much not a racist family'.

The Queen and Prince Charles later backed the Duke of Cambridge's comments, according to palace sources.

Last week, he warned free speech was the 'most important' issue in modern Britain following his exit from the show.

GMB's ratings took an embarrassing dive on the first Monday morning without Piers, it was revealed today.

Ben Shephard - who traditionally co-hosts the show on Thursdays and Fridays - stepped into Pier's empty chair alongside Susanna Reid.

But the show's ratings took a hit, with its average viewers down by 255,700 compared to last Monday.

Yesterday's show had just 1.3 million people tuning in at its peak - with an average of 895,700 viewers.

Mr Morgan resigned from the daytime show after an on-air row with colleague Alex Beresford who criticised him for 'continuing to trash' the Duchess of Sussex

For comparison, one Monday prior - on March 8 - 1.9 million viewers tuned in to watch the panel react to the Megan and Harry Oprah interview which aired overnight. Its viewership averaged out at 1,151,400 million.

And yesterday's views were also down on the Monday before that. On March 1, GMB's peak viewers hit 1.7 millon, with an average of 978,000.

Piers wrote yesterday : 'To all my supporters, I just wanted to drop you a note of thanks. (To all my haters, whatever.)

'It has been an extraordinary week for me, for Britain, for our monarchy and for our future.

'Those of you that know me well enough know that, despite my many faults, Im always willing to stand my ground for the things that I think matter most.

'My fervent opposition to the Iraq War led to my demise from the Daily Mirror. My outspoken views on the insanity of American gun laws led to the end of my time at CNN.

'And now Ive lost my job at Good Morning Britain because I chose not to apologise for disbelieving Meghan Markles claims in her interview with Oprah Winfrey.'

Morgan went on to claim that he was the victim of 'cancel culture'.

Meanwhile, royal warfare erupted again last night after Harry and Meghan revealed deeply private family conversations to a journalist friend

He added: 'I thus became the latest 'victim' of the cancel culture that is permeating our country, every minute, of every hour, of everyday. Though of course, I consider myself to be neither a victim, nor actually cancelled.

'However, I do believe the defence of free speech and the right to express honestly held opinions, is the most important issue of my career, and the most important issue in British society.'

It comes after it was revealed Good Morning Britain lost 80,000 viewers the day after Piers quit - while its rival BBC Breakfast's audience grew by 200,000.

Meanwhile, royal warfare erupted again last night after Harry and Meghan revealed deeply private family conversations to a journalist friend.

They told Gayle King that the prince had finally spoken to his father and brother following the explosive interview with Oprah Winfrey.

Hours later, Miss King disclosed on American TV that the talks 'were not productive'. The breakfast show host also suggested that Meghan was unhappy no one in the Royal Family had thought to telephone her.

And, in a thinly-veiled threat, the presenter said the duchess had 'documents to back up everything she said on Oprah's interview'.

The fact the Sussexes chose to reveal sensitive discussions between senior members of the Royal Family met with an icy response from Buckingham Palace.

'None of the households  the Queen, the Prince of Wales and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge  will be giving a running commentary on private conversations,' said a senior royal source.
The Arizona attorney general asks two Arizona senators a no vote to the Democrat H.R. 1. The new bill rammed by House Democrats which hedges election in their ill-favor.

Arizona Attorney General to Senators: Vote Against H.R. 1

The H.R.1 bill makes all the changes in the 2020 election legal-the bill aimed against conservatives pushing election integrity.

Democrats are intent on changing the face of elections. Four years of the last administration frustrated them after Trump won. Now they are working overtime to compromise voters with bills like H.R. 1.

The Arizona AG Mark Brnovich, a Republican, sent letters to Senators Kyrsten Sinema and Mark Kelly. They are both Democrats who might vote on the bill codifying the irregularities in 2020. He wrote that protecting votes is the duty of a public servant to have election integrity. He added a no vote to H.R. 1 is the right thing to do.

H.R. 1 is an anti-voter integrity bill authored by the Democrats to undermine voters. It will erase the integrity of the Arizona election and allow another 2020 to happen again. Republicans in all states are moving to secure elections against Democrats' designs.

Brnovich added that federal officials should not be allowed to change elections. That is to subvert processes that assure clean and fair elections, remove state control, and allow the DEMs to alter rules unconstitutionally. Since the DEMS took power, changes like H.R. 1 are for them.

What H.R.1 does is to make all the election fraud done via these means. It allows no-excuse in mail-in voting and early voting, said the Arizona attorney general.

2004 Venezuelan Election Sees the Same Voting Machines in the US

He charged that the H.R. 1 would counter laws against ballot harvesting or mail-in ballots. House Democrats have undermined state laws that prevent them from rigging elections.

The Arizona AG said several facts which summarized his sentiments against H.R. 1. This bill is not about election integrity but instead the opposite.

It will hedge the election in the Democrat's favor, not voters. DEMs are intent on changing election laws and rules via the H.R. 1. Laws that are against clean election process lessen trust in government.

Anything that legitimized irregularities and fraud will lead to voters' distrust in elections. Arizona laws are for legal voter's rights and fair elections against H.R. 1. He said all these matters to prevent another 202 elections. No answers came from the DEMS senators yet.

The House Democrats passed the H.R. 1 on march three, ironically calling it For the People Act. It was passed as a partisan bill that the GOP and one Democrat rejected. House Democrats want the bill passed in the senate for 2022.

H.R. 1 is a major move for wholesale election and voting changes from campaign funds. Another is for early voting, mail-in ballots, online voting, and allowing no-excuse absentee balloting. These activities were invitations to fraud, but Democrats say it's not.

Nancy Pelosi defended the bill as the right to vote and make it easier to vote. Democrats call laws that need IDs voter suppression. Despite what she says, the bill is not for election integrity. According to the Arizona attorney general, this bill erases state safeguards.

Greg Abbott Supports Election Integrity Bill

Georgia Bill Aims to Cancel No-Excuse Absentee Voting

Iowa Governor Signs Bill for Less Absentee, Early Voting

@ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Another 'official' sighting of the Loch Ness Monster has been logged in Scotland - bringing this year's total up to four.

Eoin O'Faodhagain, from Donegal, Ireland, claims he spotted two 'black hump shapes' around 10ft apart in the famed Highlands freshwater loch on Friday.

The Nessie hunter, 56, said he noticed the objects 'rising up and down' near Urquhart Castle, where sightings of the mythical beast are at their highest.

Mr O'Faodhagain has had 12 apparent sightings of the Loch Ness Monster recorded by the Official Loch Ness Monsters Sightings Register since 2017.

His latest was captured by a Loch Ness webcam on March 12.

Eoin O'Faodhagain, from Donegal, Ireland, claims he spotted two 'black hump shapes' around 10ft apart in the famed Highlands freshwater loch on Friday. Pictured: The footage

Footage of the apparent encounter appears to show ripples moving through the water, despite there being no boats out on the loch.

Two large breaks in the water then appear with a rough distance of 10ft between them.

The 'humps' slowly move over the surface of the water for an extended period of time before disappearing again.

Mr O'Faodhagain immediately sent his sighting across to the Official Loch Ness Monster Sighting Register, who last night registered it as an official spot.

Speaking today, he said: 'While watching the webcam in the late afternoon, my attention was attracted to a disturbance in the water in the middle of the lake.

The Nessie hunter, 56, said he noticed the objects (above) 'rising up and down' near Urquhart Castle, where sightings of the mythical beast are at their highest

Mr O'Faodhagain has had 12 apparent sightings of the Loch Ness Monster recorded by the Official Loch Ness Monsters Sightings Register since 2017. Pictured: His latest find

'A black shape broke the surface with a wake. It was moving slowly but was causing a lot of water agitation around it.

'Two black hump-like shapes seemed to be popping up and down as it cut through the surface of the Loch.

'The object is viewed for 1 minute 41 seconds, after this it just disappeared.

'There was no boat activity on the lake at the time of the sighting.'

Mr O'Faodhagain claims he also saw 'two black shapes' about 10ft apart splashing in the water on January 19 and January 22 this year

He added: 'On my very first visit I had a sighting of a large mottled brown hump near Invermoriston in July 1987.

'That sighting only intrigued me further into the Loch Ness Monster. I have now captured 12 sightings to date in the last four years.'

Pictured: Nessie hunter Eoin O'Faodhagain

Mr O'Faodhagain claims he also saw 'two black shapes' about 10ft apart splashing in the water on January 19 and January 22 this year.

Another Nessie hunter, Kalynn Wangle, from Oregon in the US, logged the first sighting for 2021 on January 11 when she noticed a V shape in the loch that only appeared for a few seconds.

The 27-year-old's sighting shows a black blur near the front of the bay for the webcam beside a tree.

There were 13 alleged sightings of the monster last year, including one involving a heavily contested photograph that some have claimed was faked.

Last September, researchers from New Zealand claimed that the Loch Ness Monster could be a large eel, extracting DNA from water samples to test for this.

Research carried out in 2018 revealed that the mythical creature is worth 41million a year to the Scottish economy.
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The House of Representatives has set up a special committee to come up with solutions to the security challenges in the country.

The Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, who announced the committee and its members, on Wednesday, at plenary, said the committee would comprise all the Principal Officers of the House and 30 other members.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the membership of the committee was distributed across political parties and states of the federation.

Members of the committee include James Faleke (APC-Lagos), Sada Soli (APC-Katsina), Kingsley Chinda (PDP-Rivers), Ahmed Jaha (APC-Borno), Julius Ihonvbare (APC-Edo) and Joseph Bello (APC-Kogi).

Mr Gbajabiamila said the committee was expected to come up with recommendations, within three weeks, that will be transmitted to the Executive for implementation.

The House had at different times expressed worry over the rising insecurity in the country.

On December 1, shortly after the killing of dozens of farmers in Borno State, it summoned President Muhammadu Buhari to address it on the security challenges in the country. The event was later cancelled allegedly on the prompting of the APC governors.

The House had also at different times met the service chiefs on matters of insecurity.

NAN
5 common and dangerous summer bugs to look out for
NASA has captured a stunning slice of Ireland on St Patrick's Day.

The space station compared the gorgeous snap of the southern end of the Emerald Isle to finding a four-leaf clover.

Posting the incredibly clear photo to Twitter, the NASA account wrote: "Happy #StPatricksDay Similar to finding a four-leaf clover, capturing this shot of the southern end of the Emerald Isle on a clear day from the @Space_Station took a bit of luck  just ask @AstroDrewMorgan!"

Twitter users couldn't believe how clear the image was, with one commenter saying: "Awesome picture"

Happy #StPatricksDay!  Similar to finding a four-leaf clover, capturing this shot of the southern end of the Emerald Isle on a clear day from the @Space_Station took a bit of luck  just ask @AstroDrewMorgan! pic.twitter.com/fPb4gGnot0  NASA (@NASA) March 17, 2021

While another wrote: "Happy St Patrick's day to you all in Nasa, greetings from the emerald Isle, thanks so much for sharing this beautiful picture."

And a third said: "Thats so cool thank you !!"

Another commenter said they could even point out the Skellig Islands in the clear shot.
New Delhi, March 17 : Two members of the 'Thak Thak' gang involved in more than 100 cases of theft in Delhi have been arrested by the Delhi Police's Crime Branch, police said on Wednesday.

Operating in pairs, Thak Thak gang members target motorists who keep their mobile phones or cash on their car seat or dashboard. One member distracts the victim by accusing them of driving his car over his foot, while the other knocks on the car window and starts crying. As and when the driver unlocks his car, they snatch his mobile phone or any other expensive belongings and flee.

The two arrested have been identified as Mohd Ayaz of UP's Meerut and Mohd Imran of New Delhi.

Police got the clue about the duo after the arrest of one of their accomplice Jabbar who was arrested from Delhi.

The Crime Branch team collected all information of cases having same modus operandi, visited all the victims to collect clues, worked out all available technical information related to the cases and visited all possible hideouts of the accused in Delhi and Meerut. Thereafter, on the basis of available clues and specific information, the police team laid a trap in the area near Golcha Cinema, Darya Ganj and apprehended the accused.

"According to the accused, they are involved in more than 100 cases with the same modus operandi. Other criminal involvements of the accused are being verified," DCP, Crime Branch, Bhisham Singh, said.
GENEVE, CH, Mar 17, 2021 - (ACN Newswire) - via NewMediaWire - The International Network of Nicotine Consumer Organisations (INNCO), a global association advocating for sensible tobacco harm reduction policies, today introduced a new position paper, "10 Reasons Why Blanket Bans of E-Cigarettes and HTPs in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs) Are Not Fit for Purpose."Available for download on the organisation's website (https://innco.org/why-bans-in-low-middle-income-countries-dont-work/), the policy report rebukes the "overly simplistic and impractical" bans on electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) and other tobacco harm reduction (THR) products in LMICs, warning organizations and governments that limiting options to reduce harm will only increase the number of people smoking tobacco, inevitably leading to illicit markets and increases in crime."The hundreds of millions of people who smoke in these countries should have the ability to make decisions about safer nicotine products, particularly when their own health is on the line," said Samrat Chowdhery, president of INNCO's governing board. "Overly simplistic policy solutions, such as proposed bans on all ENDS and THR products by the Bloomberg Philanthropies-funded The Union, are being offered as a blunt and impractical tool for a situation that requires pragmatism and nuance, making meaningful and sustainable change more difficult.""A blanket ban in LMICs is a form of philanthropic colonialism, suggesting that these countries and their citizens cannot be trusted with any level of self-determination," said Nancy Loucas of the Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates, a grassroots alliance of tobacco harm reduction advocacy organisations. "Inhabitants are treated as second-class citizens, which is offensive. There is no benefit in limiting choice of safer nicotine products, but only the potential for increasing harm."According to the paper, simplistic solutions to complex public health challenges may appear attractive, but ultimately do not work. In fact, countries like Turkey that have banned reduced harm products actually showed increases in the prevalence of smoking among its citizens."Very few low- and middle-income countries have adopted even the most basic WHO-suggested MPOWER prevention measures," said Francisco Ordonez of the Asociacion por la Reduccion de danos del Tabaquismo Iberoamerica, a network of consumer organisations in Latin America. "Policymakers should embrace harm reduction as a valid goal, particularly in LMICs where access to cessation programs is extremely limited. Replacing combustible tobacco with alternative nicotine products can significantly reduce the risk of harm by at least 95 percent. It works in industrialized nations and can do the same in LMICs."INNCO's top 10 reasons against banning safer nicotine products in LMICs are as follows:- Bans are an overly simplistic solution to a complex issue and will not work.- Prioritising the banning of reduced harm alternatives over cigarettes is illogical.- Reduction and substitution are valid goals for smokers in LMICs.- People who smoke have the right to choose to reduce their own risk of harm.- Reduced harm alternatives can significantly contribute to the aims of global tobacco control.- Lack of research in LMICs is not a valid reason to ban reduced harm alternatives.- The prohibitionist approach in LMICs is outdated, unrealistic and condescending.- Bans will lead to illicit markets with increases in crime and no tax revenue.- Banning reduced harm alternatives leads people back to smoking and greater harm.- Blanket bans in LMICs are a form of "philanthropic colonialism."INNCO estimates that there are scores of LMICs in jeopardy of increasing the number of people who smoke unless pragmatic approaches to tobacco harm control are adopted, including the availability of a wide selection of safer nicotine products. Leveraging the paper's findings, INNCO will work with its global membership to inform policy makers in these developing nations to help achieve risk-relative regulations and access to safer THR products."Africa is home to some of the highest-ranked smoker countries on the planet," said Joseph Magero, chairman of Campaign for Safer Alternatives, a pan-African non-governmental member organization dedicated to achieving 100 percent smoke-free environments in Africa. "While improving overall public health has made great strides in these regions, efforts to directly address smoking cessation and harm reduction strategies have lagged due to limited or no access to safer, non-combustion nicotine products. By denying smokers access to much safer alternatives while leaving cigarettes on the market, policymakers would leave only two options on the table - quit or die."INNCO believes that a prohibitionist approach is "patronising and discriminatory," and does not allow for finding innovative solutions to answer the challenge of decreasing smoking rates. Bans on THR products overlook a significant public health opportunity to encourage people who smoke and are not ready to quit to switch to reduced-harm alternatives, a pragmatic approach that could save millions of lives.About INNCOInternational Network of Nicotine Consumer Organisations (INNCO) was formed in 2016 to represent consumers of low-risk, alternative nicotine products. The organization brings together the voices of nearly 40 grassroots consumer organisations to promote Tobacco Harm Reduction (THR) on the global stage. THR is a public health policy that respects individual autonomy, empowers consumers to make safer choices, and offers pragmatic solutions to combating use of high-risk forms of tobacco. More information can be found by visiting: www.innco.org.Source: INNCOCopyright 2021 ACN Newswire . All rights reserved.
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Copyright  2021 Albuquerque Journal

Albuquerque police have identified the man shot by an officer during a traffic stop a little over a week ago as 56-year-old William Bill Grant.

Grant was injured in the shooting, but left the scene. He later took himself to a hospital where he was treated for non-life-threatening injuries, according to an Albuquerque Police Department spokesman.

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He has been booked into the Sandoval County Detention Center on unrelated warrants. His family could not be reached and his public defenders didnt have any comment except to wish him a speedy recovery.

Gilbert Gallegos, the APD spokesman, said that, shortly before 10 p.m. March 7, officers conducted a traffic stop on a van near Montano and Culture NE, near Interstate 25.

During contact with the driver, an officer discharged his firearm, Gallegos wrote in an email.

Another spokesman had said an altercation with the driver resulted in an officer discharging his firearm, but Gallegos said he could not yet provide any further details on the altercation, what happened or whether Grant was armed.

Gallegos said detectives spoke with a person who was with the driver at the time of the shooting, but they have not yet found the vehicle involved  a 1995 blue Dodge van with New Mexico license plate 622WSN. He said it is not registered to Grant, but the owner said Grant had permission to drive it.

Grant was booked into the Metropolitan Detention Center on March 8 and then transferred to the Sandoval County jail. He is being held on warrants for two separate cases: forgery out of Santa Fe County and possession of a controlled substance out of Sandoval County.

Gallegos said the investigation into last weeks shooting is ongoing and detectives with the Multi-Agency Task Force will talk with the 2nd Judicial District Attorneys Office to determine if Grant should be charged.
A 65-year-old former Alabama juvenile probation officer has been indicted on another sexual abuse charge.

Terry Van Lewis, of Montgomery, formerly worked as a probation officer in Butler County, a job he began in 1993. In 2019, he was indicted on one count of first-degree rape and two counts of first-degree sexual abuse.

Authorities contend the victims  at least two of them  were juveniles under Lewiss supervision and that the crimes happened between 1994 and 1999.

Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall on Tuesday announced that an additional sex crime indictment has been returned against Lewis. The evidence was presented to a Butler County grand jury on March 9, resulting in the first-degree sexual abuse charge. The indictment charges that Lewis subjected another person sexual contact by forcible compulsion.

Marshall said the 2019 charges are still pending

Lewis surrendered to the Butler County Jail Monday on the newest charge, with bond set at $100,000.

Anyone with information about additional alleged crimes by Lewis is asked to call the Attorney Generals Office at 334-242-7300 and ask for the Investigations Division.

If convicted, Lewis faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $15,000 fine for the charge of first-degree sexual abuse, which is a Class C felony.
Willemstad/Philipsburg:--- On December 10, 2019, a moratorium was set at Girobank N.V. (Girobank), freezing all credit balances in excess of NAf 10,000 on Girobanks current and/or savings accounts. A large part of these frozen assets will be paid out by GI-RO Settlement Holding N.V. (GSH) in short term, meaning that the majority of Girobanks depositors will have free and full access to their funds. This, however, is not the case for depositors with a credit balance of more than NAf 1,200,000. These will be paid out to a maximum of NAf 1,200,000.

Withdrawal of the payouts by GSH can be done by transferring the funds to an account at any other commercial bank. Depositors who do not yet have an account at another bank, are urged to open such an account as soon as possible. Transferring of funds can be done through online banking. Given the current Covid-19 situation, it is not advisable to visit the Girobank branches, being Scharloo or Janwe. The funds can also be withdrawn at any ATM machine, keeping in mind the daily withdrawal limits. However, due to safety reasons, it is not recommended to withdraw large sums of cash.

Girobanks depositors will soon receive further details regarding the above.

Furthermore, with respect to depositors with a payable debt at Girobank, such as a loan or other type of credit with arrear, this debt will be deducted from the payout by GSH. These depositors will have free access to the amount that remains after deduction.

Depositors with outstanding debt or other loans can opt to reduce or settle their loans with the upcoming payout. Depositors who wish to do so may contact Girobank.

The Netherlands extended a zero-interest loan of NAf 170,000,000 to Curacao, which enables GSH to make payouts to Girobanks accountholders for amounts up to the above-mentioned maximum of NAf 1,200,000. GSH was established on December 28, 2020, to manage and collect Girobanks outstanding loans. GSH will first redeem the Dutch loan using the proceeds of the management and collection of Girobanks loans. Curacao and GSH have negotiated an agreement in this respect.

After having redeemed the loan, other proceeds following from management and collection of Girobanks loans will be used by GSH, in accordance with its statutory duty, in favor of depositors with balances of more than NAf 1,200,000. These depositors will be informed in due time.

For all your questions you may contact Girobank via email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or telephone number +5999 4339130.



Willemstad, March 17, 2021 CENTRALE BANK VAN CURACAO EN SINT MAARTEN & THE MINISTER OF FINANCE
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SANTA FE  A revised $7.4 billion spending plan that would tap federal stimulus money to replenish New Mexicos unemployment fund and provide modest pay raises to teachers and state employees is headed to the full Senate with just days left in this years 60-day legislative session.

The Senate Finance Committee voted 6-4 Tuesday to approve the budget bill, which would increase state spending by 4.8%  or roughly $373 million  over current levels for the fiscal year that starts July 1.

Under the revised spending plan, more than $1.6 billion of the federal stimulus dollars New Mexico stands to get from a federal stimulus plan signed into law by President Joe Biden would be routed to a state savings account.

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Of that amount, $600 million would then be appropriated to the states unemployment fund, which was depleted last year due to a pandemic-related surge in New Mexicos jobless rate.

Without a cash infusion to shore up the fund, some legislators said, New Mexico businesses would face an increase in payroll tax obligations.

That is really important for small businesses, Sen. George Munoz, D-Gallup, the committees chairman, said during a recent budget hearing.

In addition, $50 million would be appropriated for spending on Medicaid, the joint federal-state health care program that covers more than 910,000 New Mexicans.

New Mexico is awash in short-term money, as increases in oil production and market prices, along with the federal stimulus funds, have improved the states revenue outlook.

But Munoz has cautioned that the state could face difficult decisions in future years, when the federal funds are no longer available.

The retooled spending plan approved Tuesday addresses most spending priorities outlined by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, who can veto the entire bill or any portion of it.

Specifically, it calls for $16 million in state spending for an Opportunity Scholarship program that Lujan Grisham has championed, up from $5 million under a previous version of the bill.

Other changes would boost funding for the state Environment Department, whose funding was slashed in past years when lawmakers were grappling with a revenue deficit.

And the amended bill would provide a 1.5% pay increase for state agency and K-12 school employees, who got 1% raises for the current budget year.

The Tuesday vote in the Senate Finance Committee was along party lines, with Democrats voting in favor and Republicans in opposition.

Sen. Crystal Diamond, R-Elephant Butte, expressed concern about increased state spending amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Eventually, the influx of federal COVID relief dollars will cease, Diamond told the Journal. Without responsible spending and saving, we could be facing record deficits in the very near future.

If both chambers agree on the same version of the spending plan before the legislative session ends Saturday, Lujan Grisham will have until April 9 to act on the bill.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
NatWest has been dragged into a massive money laundering scandal involving hundreds of millions of pounds deposited in banknotes.

In a move that stunned the City, regulators launched criminal proceedings against the High Street bank and accused it of failing to scrutinise a string of suspicious payments by a business customer.

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) said the customer, which it did not name but is understood to be Bradford-based jewellery wholesaler Fowler Oldfield, paid 365m into its Natwest account over a five-year period. Around 264million of that was deposited in cash in increasingly large sums.

In a move that stunned the City, regulators launched criminal proceedings against Natwest and accused it of failing to scrutinise a string of suspicious payments by a business customer

The FCA said the bank 'failed to adequately monitor and scrutinise this activity'. The claims are a fresh blow to the reputation of Natwest, which was until recently known as Royal Bank of Scotland and is still owned by taxpayers following its bailout during the financial crisis.

Fowler Oldfield was shut down following a police investigation in 2016. Last year a 52-year-old man from Liverpool was handed a suspended jail sentence for couriering holdalls mostly full of 20 banknotes to Fowler Oldfield.

He was one of several defendants from the Merseyside area sentenced in connection with a police probe.

As much as 2million of criminal cash was processed every day at Fowler Oldfield's headquarters in an industrial area, Bradford Crown Court heard previously.

Judge Colin Burn said the case involved money laundering 'on a massive scale', according to a local newspaper report.

The FCA launched an investigation into Natwest in 2017. It said the case was the first to be brought under the 2007 money laundering rules.

No individuals have been charged but the bank is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on April 14.

Setback for Rose in bid to repair the banks battered reputation Disappointed: Natwest boss Alison Rose is attempting to give the bank a friendlier face The scandal at Natwest threatens to derail Alison Roses attempts to repair its reputation. Rose, the first female chief executive in the lenders history, has sought to draw a line under crises that followed its taxpayer bailout more than a decade ago. She recently rebranded it Natwest Group, ditching the 300-year-old Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) name. But the Natwest name will now be dragged through the courts, with the first hearing scheduled for Westminster Magistrates next month. Responding to the allegations, Rose, 52, said she was disappointed. The offences are alleged to have taken place between 2011 and 2016. That is before Rose took over as chief executive but partly covers the tenures of former chief executives Stephen Hester and Ross McEwan, as well as those of Sir Philip Hampton and current chairman Sir Howard Davies. Natwest said it took its anti-money-laundering responsibilities extremely seriously. Rose added: We have over 4,000 people whose job is dedicated to detecting and preventing financial crime and we invested very significantly. Then known as RBS, Natwest received a 45.5bn bailout from taxpayers in 2008. Since her appointment in 2018, Rose has attempted to give the bank a friendlier face. One insider told the BBC: After all the good work weve been doing, it felt like the bad old days when this came through.

It is a setback amid the bank's recent efforts to draw a line under past scandals.

When it was still known as RBS, Natwest received a 45.5billion taxpayer-funded bailout in 2008 after its finances  heavily exposed to the US sub-prime mortgage crisis  were driven to the brink under former boss Fred Goodwin.

Natwest said it had cooperated with the probe and took its responsibilities to prevent money laundering 'extremely seriously'.

Alison Rose, the chief executive, said she was 'disappointed', adding: 'We have invested very significantly in systems and controls to prevent money laundering.'

The bank faces an unlimited fine if found guilty, with white collar lawyers warning the case would send 'shivers of concern down the spines' of other institutions.

It has been trying to rehabilitate its image in recent months by ditching the RBS brand, badly tarnished by scandals.

Tony Wyatt, a criminal barrister at Ewing Law, said City regulators appeared to be 'baring their teeth'.

He added: 'London does not have the best kind of reputation for this kind of activity, so I expect there will be many people at other banks watching this nervously. And of course, we know at this stage that there are no individuals being charged but that won't necessarily remain the case.'

Jonathan Fisher QC, a specialist in money laundering cases, told the Financial Times: 'It will send shivers of concern down the spines of those operating in the regulated sector whose anti-money-laundering procedures are not 100 per cent.'

Natwest is still 62 per cent-owned by taxpayers, following its 45.5billion bailout in 2008.

'Natwest Group takes extremely seriously its responsibility to seek to prevent money laundering by third parties and accordingly, has made significant, multi-year investments in its financial crime systems and controls,' the bank said.

In its statement, the FCA said: 'The FCA alleges that increasingly large cash deposits were made into the customer's accounts. It is alleged that around 365million was paid into the customer's accounts, of which around 264million was in cash.

'It is alleged that Natwest's systems and controls failed to adequately monitor and scrutinise this activity.'
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
Danny Zaragoza/Laredo Morning Times

Two people drowned in the Rio Grande as they were trying to flee from the U.S. Border Patrol, authorities said.

The case unfolded on Tuesday afternoon, when Laredo Sector Agents stopped a human smuggling attempt where Calton Road ends in west Laredo.
ABB Power Products and Systems India on Wednesday announced that it has been awarded a project worth over Rs 124 crore from Bharat Aluminum Company (BALCO).

The scope of work involves improving reliability of the power distribution system at BALCO's Korba plant in Chhattisgarh. ABB Power said it is delivering fully engineered 400-kilovolt gas-insulated switchgear (GIS) substations that will replace an existing apparatus to better assimilate power from BALCO's captive generation plants, delivering it with efficiency to the Korba aluminum smelter.

Hitachi ABB Power Grids (listed as ABB Power Products and Systems India) is equipping the substations with its advanced MicroSCADA automation solution to monitor and control the aluminum producer's grid in real time and ensure maximum power availability. It is also deploying its industry-leading 500- megavolt ampere power transformers to further enhance grid efficiency and safety.

Domestic consumption of aluminum is forecast to reach 10 million tons over the next 10 years and key players such as BALCO are preparing to be able to cater to this demand," said N Venu, CEO and Managing Director, Hitachi ABB Power Grids in India. "In this regard, reliable power supply is critical and we are very proud to have been chosen by the company as a trusted partner," he added.

This project is part of Hitachi ABB Power Grids' strategy to be a partner of choice for the Indian industrial ecosystem and highlights its long-standing commitment to deliver digital integration and grid connections without compromising on power quality.

Shares of ABB Power Products were up 0.53% at Rs 1315 on BSE. ABB Power Products and Systems is a global leader and pioneer in power technologies. It serves utility, industry and infrastructure customers across the value chain, and emerging areas such as sustainable mobility, smart cities, energy storage and data centers.

The company reported a 54.9% jump in net profit to Rs 54.96 crore on 6.90% decline in total revenue from operations to Rs 1,043.7 crore in Q4 December 2020 over Q4 December 2019.

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Professor Rustem Valiullin with a nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometer. Credit: Swen Reichhold, Leipzig University

We've all come across them before: those little bags of small balls that come packed together with new shoes or electrical goods. The balls are there to absorb moisture so as to protect the items from damage. "These materials act like a sponge," explains physicist Professor Rustem Valiullin from Leipzig University. He and his research group have found a way to more precisely determine the properties of these materials, because they can better account for the underlying disorder. Their article has been designated "ACS Editors' Choice" by the editors of the American Chemical Society journals, who recognize the "importance to the global scientific community" of the Leipzig researchers' work and see it as a breakthrough in the accurate description of phase transition phenomena in disordered porous materials.

In mesoporous materials, the pore openings are far smaller than in a normal sponge: their diameters range from 2 to 50 nanometres and are invisible to the naked eye. Nevertheless, they have a number of interesting properties, including with regard to separating substances. This occurs as a function of molecule and pore size, for example.

Until now, scientific experiments have only been able to approximate the desired properties of these materials. "So it is more down to experience whether you can determine which of the structures can be used for which applications," says the physicist. The problem is that these materials are mostly disordered, which means that pores of different sizes in the material form a complex network structure.

Researchers at Leipzig University developed a model that determines the features that can be observed in such complex pore networks. Professor Valiullin describes the approach as follows: "We can statistically describe how the individual pores in these networks are coupled to each other. We marry disorder with order." This makes it possible to determine the physical phenomena that need to be understood in gas-liquid and solid-liquid phase transitions, for example. And not only in theory: using special mesoporous modeling, it was possible to prove with the aid of modern nuclear magnetic resonance methods that the theoretical results can also be directly applied in practice.

This should make it easier to use such materials in the future, for example to help release drugs into the human body over an extended periodprecisely when necessary and desired. Other potential applications for such materials include sensor technology or energy storage and conversion.

Explore further Injectable porous scaffolds promote better, quicker healing after spinal cord injuries

More information: Henry R. N. B. Enninful et al, Impact of Geometrical Disorder on Phase Equilibria of Fluids and Solids Confined in Mesoporous Materials, Langmuir (2021). Journal information: Langmuir Henry R. N. B. Enninful et al, Impact of Geometrical Disorder on Phase Equilibria of Fluids and Solids Confined in Mesoporous Materials,(2021). DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.0c03047

Provided by Universitat Leipzig
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-17 23:55:36|Editor: huaxia

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GABORONE, March 17 (Xinhua) -- At least 48 Zimbabwean refugees left Botswana's Dukwi Refugee Camp on Wednesday heading to their native country at the start of a voluntary repatriation exercise.

The voluntary repatriation, which is a joint initiative by the governments of Botswana and Zimbabwe alongside the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), seeks to evacuate the remaining 300 Zimbabweans who fled their country in 2008.

These Zimbabweans left their country of origin as a result of political violence, Thobo Letlhage, director of Refugee Management and Welfare in Botswana's Ministry of Defense, Justice and Security, told Xinhua in a telephone interview.

"However, they have since decided to go back to their country of origin on their own volition because the refugee status is not permanent," said Letlhage as the first batch of the returning refugees took off by bus heading for Zimbabwe.

According to Letlhage, the refugees will be taken in small batches since COVID-19 containment measures have to be implemented in order not to spread and transmit the global pandemic from one country to the other.

Letlhage said Botswana government is committed to assist all the refugees from Zimbabwe since it believes that their best interest is served when they return to their homes.

UNHCR is giving all the adults 520 U.S.dollars (USD) and minors 100 USD, as a once-off payment, Batiraishe Mukonoweshuro, Zimbabwe's ambassador to Botswana, said.

In addition to the financial package, Mukonoweshuro said the returning Zimbabweans were given three-month food package to assist them, as they will be still finding their footing upon arrival in Zimbabwe.

"Returning to their home country is a durable solution for refugees," said Mukonoweshuro.

The repatriation programme which started Wednesday is expected to end on March 25. Enditem

Jack Ciattarelli, the frontrunner for the Republican nomination for governor, on Wednesday launched his first set of TV ads, introducing himself to voters while also criticizing Gov. Phil Murphys handling of the coronavirus pandemic within New Jersey nursing and veteran homes.

Ciattarelli said 8,000 seniors and veterans died scared and alone in one of the ads because Murphy ordered nursing homes to take in COVID-19 patients. The other 30-second ad talks about where Ciattarelli grew up in Raritan Borough.

Our campaign is taking an important step in our quest to make sure Phil Murphy is One and Done in 21, Ciattarelli said in a statement. New Jersey is broken and as Governor, I vow to restore affordability, accountability and prosperity to our state.

The campaign is spending more than $1 million on the ads that are expected to run for five weeks, a campaign official said.

According to state data, 7,842 residents of long-term care facilities have died in the past year because of COVID-19. Another 712 deaths are listed as probable COVID-19 related since there was no testing or autopsy and 143 workers at the facilities have also died.

Murphys administration did tell the states nearly 700 nursing homes they were expected to allow nursing home patients recovering from COVID-19 to return from the hospital. However, the homes were required to assign separate staff and separate them from other residents. If they werent able to, they were told to let the state know right away so that DOH could intervene and lend support.

Ciattarelli, a former member of the state Assembly, launched his campaign to unseat Murphy, a Democrat, more than a year ago.

He failed to get the Republican nomination for governor against former Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno in 2017. Guadagno lost to Murphy by about 14 percentage points.

The Republican primary isnt until June, and Ciattarelli faces at least four challengers: former Franklin Mayor Brian Levine, pastor Phillip Rizzo, businessman Joseph Rudy Rullo, and businessman Hirsh Singh. But Ciattarelli has been picking up support from Republican county organizations across the state.

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Matt Arco may be reached at marco@njadvancemedia.com.
A plaque will be added to a statue of controversial 19th Century politician Henry Dundas - detailing his role in delaying the abolition of slavery.

The monument to Conservative politician Dundas at the Melville Monument in St Andrews Square, Edinburgh, became a focal point for discussion during Black Lives Matter demonstrations in June.

Activists left signs at the monument saying 'Bring down Dundas', 'Their lives mattered', and 'Hope' - and some called for a plaque to be added explaining Dundas' role in delaying the abolition of slavery while Home Secretary in the 1800s.

Academics say his actions in deferring the abolition resulted in an additional 630,000 people being transported from Africa to Britain's colonies in the West Indies.

But Dundas's seven-time great-grandson hit back - claiming his forefather should actually be praised for his role in ending slavery.

Bobby Dundas, the 10th Viscount Melville, said that far from being a racist supporter of the slave trade, his ancestor played a key role in ending it.

The current Viscount, a professional polo player, entrepreneur and friend of Prince Harry who once rowed 3,000 miles across the Atlantic in a tiny boat, said those who claim the 1st Viscount supported slavery do him a 'profound injustice'.

The monument to Conservative politician Dundas at the Melville Monument in St Andrews Square, Edinburgh, was graffitied during a Black Lives Matter demonstration in June

The statue of Henry Dundas 1st Viscount Melville on top of a 150ft column, known as the Melville Monument, stands in St Andrews Square, Edinburgh

Scotland's first black professor, Sir Geoff Palmer, called for a plaque detailing Dundas' role in the slave trade more than two years ago, but talks with the City of Edinburgh Council ground to a halt due to a dispute around the wording.

HENRY DUNDAS: LAWYER, POLITICIAN, AND FRUSTRATOR OF ABOLITION Henry Dundas (1742  1811) was a Conservative politician, Scottish Advocate and the first Secretary of State for War - some historians claim that he delayed the abolition of slavery in 1792. During his time as Home Secretary Dundas is said to have proposed that slavery be abolished in 'three stages' over a decade. The Scottish advocate gained the nickname of 'The Uncrowned King of Scotland' and 'The Great Tyrant' which he lived up to when he was caught misusing public money in 1806 and impeached. Atop the Melville Monument in St Andrew Square stands the imposing figure of Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville, also known as 'King Harry the Ninth', the 'Great Tyrant' and the 'Uncrowned King of Scotland'. Dundas, a trained lawyer, was a highly successful politician, rising from MP for Midlothian in 1774 to Home Secretary - a position he used to frustrate efforts to end slavery until The Abolition of the Slave Trade Act finally became law in March 1807. In an article for History Workshop, historian Melanie J Newton, Associate Professor of History at the University of Toronto, writes: 'As Minister for War and Colonies (1794-1801), Dundas prioritised seizing France's Caribbean slaveholding empire, especially the profitable colony of Saint Domingue, ''with the view of enlarging our national wealth and security''. 'Between 1793 and 1798, across the Caribbean, 40,000 British troops, most of them sent there by Dundas, died or were incapacitated in a bloody struggle to expand British slavery.' Historians have also attributed much of the lack of organisation and muddled planning for war with France to Dundas, who was the effective Minister for War at the outbreak of the Wars of the French Revolution. He was later impeached for the misuse of public funds in 1806 and never held office again - despite being found not guilty. But Dundas was a skilled politician during the era of Georgian politics and an important confidante of the king. He also sought to use his influence to further the recognition of Catholics in Ireland. The plaque at his monument notes how it was paid for not through government funds, but 'by the voluntary contributions of the officers, petty officers, seamen and marines'. Source: Edinburgh History World Heritage Advertisement

Now council chiefs have approved the installation of a plaque on the Category A-listed monument, which will pay tribute to the African slaves.

The planning application for the plaque attracted more than 2,200 comments from members of the public.

The plaque reads: 'At the top of this neoclassical column stands a statue of Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville (1742-1811).

'He was the Scottish Lord Advocate, an MP for Edinburgh and Midlothian, and the First Lord of the Admiralty.

'Dundas was a contentious figure, provoking controversies that resonate to this day.

'While Home Secretary in 1792, and first Secretary of State for War in 1796 he was instrumental in deferring the abolition of the Atlantic slave trade.

'Slave trading by British ships was not abolished until 1807.

'As a result of this delay, more than half a million enslaved Africans crossed the Atlantic.

'Dundas also curbed democratic dissent in Scotland, and both defended and expanded the British empire, imposing colonial rule on indigenous peoples.

'He was impeached in the United Kingdom for misappropriation of public money, and, although acquitted, he never held public office again.

'Despite this, the monument before you was funded by voluntary contributions from British naval officers, petty officers, seamen, and marines and was erected in 1821, with the statue placed on top in 1827.

'In 2020 this plaque was dedicated to the memory of the more than half-a-million Africans whose enslavement was a consequence of Henry Dundas's actions.'

Last year, Bobby Dundas spoke out about his seven-time great-grandfather.

The present Viscount argued that as the bill had already been rejected by the House of Commons, slavery would not have been ended at all without Dundas' intervention.

He said was a pragmatist who realised the only way to pass the bill and ban slavery was to add the word 'gradually'.

The Viscount said: 'Henry Dundas was an abolitionist. He was for the abolition of the slave trade. That has been written about by countless people. But you have to understand in the current climate, what was UK politics and the British Empire.

'There was one failed attempt to get it through Parliament and the realistic and pragmatic approach that Dundas took was the only way - which many historians have written about - to make sure that the vision and final goal was achieved.'

Council Leader Adam McVey said: 'It's important that a more appropriate and factual description is in place so that people who visit the area can read about the monument and get an appreciation of Edinburgh's history, and particularly the City's role in the slave trade and the delay to its abolition.

'I'm grateful to the Councillors on the committee for approving permission for the final plaque.

'It is an important first step, to finalise a long-running process to tell a part of our City's history honestly.

'I look forward to the findings of the Edinburgh Slavery and Colonialism Legacy Review Group who will provide recommendations on next steps in addressing other features in the public realm across the City later this year.'
Derry SDLP Councillor Mary Durkan has called for no further delay in the implementation of Irish language legislation agreed as part of New Decade New Approach, insisting that delivery of the commitments within the current Assembly mandate is crucial.

She said: For over 20 years now, Stormont has repeatedly failed our Irish speaking community. The language commitments in Good Friday Agreement were never delivered. The commitments in St Andrews Agreement were never pursued, and no action followed a court ruling 10 years later. 

The commitments in New Decade, New Approach fall short of those in previous agreements. Nonetheless, that promised package of legislation must be brought forward as an essential step in the right direction, especially in the wider context of UN guidance on minority languages.

New Decade New Approach included provision for tabling an Irish language strategy and relevant legislation within three months. We are now 15 months down the line, and we have less than 15 months of this Assembly mandate left. Even allowing for some slippage because of the pandemic, there is still no reason for stalling on language legislation now.

As Seachtain na Gaeilge comes to a close, we reflect on the growing opportunities associated with Irish on a variety of levels. The Irish language community in Derry and Strabane and across the North is continuing to grow, in spite of lack of progress with the legislation.

This year we have seen over 7,000 enrolments for Irish-medium education. It is frustrating that Irish seems to be talked about a lot around elections, yet we see no action under successive Executives.

Cllr Durkan concluded: There is no justification for the fact that Irish speakers in the North do not have the same protection and respect for rights as those afforded in respect of other languages in other jurisdictions. Protection of Irish, or any language, should not be seen as a threat to anyone.
Shipquay Street in Derry becomes a colourful fantasy of spring flowers as creative street art installations decorate the city centre to mark St.Patrick's Day. For the second year Derry City and Strabane District Council have switched to a virtual celebration instead of the annual Spring Carnival. Picture Martin McKeown. 16.03.21

Shipquay Street in Derry becomes a colourful fantasy of spring flowers as creative street art installations decorate the city centre to mark St.Patrick's Day. For the second year Derry City and Strabane District Council have switched to a virtual celebration instead of the annual Spring Carnival. Picture Martin McKeown. 16.03.21

Crocheted forget-me-nots and daisies now festoon one of the main thoroughfares in Londonderry city centre in tribute to those who have lost their lives to Covid-19 over the past year.

The colourful display entitled Imagine That also aims to inspire hope for the year ahead and pays tribute to front line workers.

Jim Collins, project manager of the North West Carnival Initiative, which is also organiser of Derry's St Patrick's Day and Halloween Festivals, said the idea was to brighten up the now too familiar sight of the grey shutters belonging to furloughed businesses.

He explained: "During the lockdown we were challenged to create an alternative programme that would engage local communities in activities with an overarching theme of spring that obviously included St Patrick's Day.

"We came up with this project, Imagine That, where we asked people to imagine the city in the absence of the carnival and parade, and among the ideas that came back was one to lift people's spirits by brightening the city centre and organising different installations across the neighbourhoods. Rainbows are now not only associated with the LGBT community, but they symbolise people's support for front line workers, so we thought we would turn the city centre into one big rainbow.

"One of the organisations we engaged was Keep It Knit group with the idea of crocheted flowers that are associated with spring, new life and hope for the time ahead.

"Forget-me-nots have a significant meaning as a symbol of remembrance.

"We have used these to remember the people who have suffered and died through Covid, so we have crocheted forget-me-nots right along Shipquay Street.

"We also used daisies, which symbolise the sun and emergence out of the darkness of winter and into the brightness.

"The various shops, like the Fashion Hub, Shipquay Fabrics, were also involved, as well as our own artists, who came up with the foam daffodils that are on the tops of the lampposts."

Mr Collins said the response to the displays, which can also be seen in villages on the outskirts of Derry, had been exactly as they had hoped.

He added: "We have to thank the women from Keep It Knit from throughout the city who, after we made the call, came to us and collected the materials which we were able to supply thanks to the support we get from Derry City and Strabane Council and the Arts Council.

"The women really jumped on board and just went bananas creating all this wonderful crochet work, but it was great for us to be able to engage with them too for the first time.

"The city has looked a bit depressing over the past weeks - most of the shops are shut, the shutters are down - but since the artwork went up the response and feedback we have had has been fantastic.

"People say it has lifted their mood to see how colourful the place is.

"It has made them look forward to brighter days ahead - which is exactly what we had hoped the project would do."
The Japanese government will lift the state of emergency in the capital region on March 21, as the pressure on hospitals in Tokyo and three surrounding prefectures ease and more beds become available.

"I will propose to the advisory council tomorrow to lift the state of emergency," Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga told reporters on Wednesday. Suga added that hospital bed availability has improved after the state of emergency was declared in January.

The government's coronavirus advisory council will meet on Thursday to discuss plans to lift the emergency. If approved, the government's task force will officially end the emergency declaration and follow with a news conference by Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga to explain the reasoning behind the decision.

The state of emergency was declared in January and extended twice for Tokyo, Kanagawa, Saitama and Chiba prefectures, while emergencies in seven other prefectures were lifted in February in stages.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato told reporters on Tuesday that the government was closely monitoring hospital bed availability. As of Monday, 40% of hospital beds were occupied in Chiba prefecture and 38% in Saitama prefecture, both of which are in a declining trend. The number was 25% in Tokyo and 26% in Kanagawa.

The government will continue to ask restaurants and bars to close earlier than usual at 9 p.m. even after the lifting of the state of emergency to ensure that the virus is kept in check. Large events will be also be restricted.
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US President Joe Biden after stepping off Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House on Sunday after travelling from Wilmington, Delaware, where he and his wife Jill spent the weekend with family and friends. Photo: Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images

I give you a perfect quote on this particular day from President Joe Biden, who proclaimed March 2021 as Irish-American Heritage Month: The story of the Irish the world over is one of people who have weathered their fair share of hard times, but have always come out strong on the other side. A very happy St Patricks Day to all.

Brian Mc Devitt

Glenties, Co Donegal

Honest prayer is not reliant on what building you are in

In light of recent discussions about the reopening of churches for Easter ceremonies, I would like to share a thought.

While I fully understand that Easter is a major event in the Church calendar and is pivotal to Christian belief, and as a believer I recognise the significance of Easter, I hasten to add that the reality of Easter is not dependent on whether churches are open for public worship or not.

Luckily for us, we do not have to go into a church building to find Christ, he is always accessible, anytime or place  I am with you always (Matthew 28:20). Public health must come first in all decisions and no church should put its needs above this or seek exceptions.

Ceremony and ritual are important components for many churchgoers but please remember that prayer that is honest and from the heart, a conversation between us and God, is never reliant on buildings or ceremonies.

P O Connor

Address with editor

Pandemic is calling us back to a more spiritual time

Pagans may at times have mocked the first Christians for not having temples or cultic priesthoods. Communion and prayer happened in small groups at private homes.

Calls to have churches opened up for Easter, when a dangerous virus is spreading around, make little sense to me and are hard to reconcile with pro-life biblical values.

As a Church of Ireland member I am embarrassed at the huge cost of maintaining and staffing cathedrals in Belfast and Dublin. The pandemic is calling us back to a simpler and more authentic biblical spirituality based on the teachings of Christ: Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labour in vain.

James Hardy

Martinez Avenue, Belfast

It makes no sense to lift Covid restrictions on worship now

No individual right, such as the right to worship, is absolute. There is always a corresponding duty of the State to protect the lives of the community.

No one has any absolute right to threaten the lives of their neighbours in the exercise of that right. The assertion by people of faith who believe their exercise of public worship should never be restricted is especially hard to understand coming from people who profess the sanctity of all human life.

Hospitals have been forced, due to continued surges of Covid-19, to restrict vital services. People in nursing and care homes and their families have been unable to even meet up together, let alone hug each other.

Womens organisations have rightfully drawn attention to the disproportionate impact of the pandemic on womens lives, physical and mental health, and livelihoods.

There is no reason for our Irish community to give disproportionate attention to those advocating the lifting of Covid-related restrictions relating to public worship when so many other sections of our society are suffering immensely greater sacrifices for the common good.

Brendan Butler

Malahide, Dublin

ODoherty got it wrong about Martin travelling to the US

We need Micheal Martin to go to Washington for St Patricks Day  anyone suggesting otherwise is an idiot, screamed the headline on February 2 on Ian ODohertys comment article in the Irish Independent.

Whatever about not taking into account the view of the 78-year-old president of the United States, it is clear that the wise and sensible decision was not to travel, given our static if not increasing case numbers of Covid-19.

US conservative commentator Glenn Becks quote comes to mind: I say on the air all the time, if you take what I say as gospel, youre an idiot.

Tom McElligott

Listowel, Co Kerry

If only Patrick could return and rid us of the current pest

I am wondering, given St Patricks celebrated role as a pioneering advocate of pest control, and having done such a good job on reptiles, might he be up for a return visit to rid us of a certain virus?

M O Brien

Dalkey, Co Dublin
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-18 04:20:39|Editor: huaxia

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UNITED NATIONS, March 17 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations and its partners have launched the 2021 humanitarian response plan for Yemen that seeks 3.85 billion U.S. dollars for urgent, life-saving aid for more than half of Yemen's war-torn population, a UN spokesman said on Wednesday.

While about 16 million people need urgent help, 20.7 million Yemenis need some humanitarian assistance, including 12.1 million people in acute need, said Stephane Dujarric, the chief spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

The United Nations estimates Yemen's population at more than 30 million people.

"Yemen continues to be the world's worst humanitarian crisis and the largest aid operation," Dujarric said. "Famine is stalking the nation, with more than half the population facing acute food insecurity and record levels of acute malnutrition among children under 5."

The spokesman noted that last year's plan was only 56 percent funded and some critical programs had to be closed as a result.

"We are doing everything we can to help, but we need adequate funding as needs continue to rise," he told a regular briefing. "At the high-level pledging event that took place in early March, donors pledged only 1.7 billion U.S. dollars for the response -- that's less than half what is required (for 2021)."

"The secretary-general said the pledges represent at best a down payment," Dujarric recalled. "We urge donors to quickly disburse their pledges and scale up funding for the humanitarian response to save lives. And if people have not yet pledged, it is never too late to do so." Enditem
Lucknow, March 17 : Maulana Khalid Rashid Farangi Mahali, well-known Sunni cleric and Imam of Aishbagh Idgah, has strongly condemned the Allahabad University vice chancellor Prof. Sangita Srivastava for claiming that her sleep was being disturbed by the 'azaan'.

In a video message, the cleric said that Srivastava should know the 'Ganga-Jamuni' culture of the region that allows peaceful co-existence of various religions.

"People, since ages, have respected each other's religions. The sounds of 'azaan' often mingle with the sounds of bhajans from temples and no one has ever said that their sleep is disturbed because of this. There is already a high court order in this regard which is being complied with by all mosques," he said.

He further appealed to the people to ignore such issues and not to mislead others on such matters.

The Allahabad University vice chancellor had written a letter to the district magistrate, claiming that her sleep was being disturbed because of 'azaan' in a nearby mosque. She claimed that due to disruptions in her sleep, she suffered headaches which affected her work hours.

-- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed
For simply working in the media in their country, three Afghan journalists lost their lives on March 2. The women were in their early 20s, worked in eastern Afghanistan, and, according to The Washington Post, were gunned down while walking home after work.

The Islamic State claimed credit for the attacks. They reportedly went after the women because they worked for media outlets the Islamic State considered loyal to the apostate Afghan government.

Tragically, the deaths of these journalists are not uncommon in Afghanistan. The Associated Press reports that 15 members of the media have been killed in Afghanistan over the last six months. Another woman who worked at the same television station as the three latest victims similarly was murdered in December.

The sickening deaths highlight this reality: A crackdown on freedom of the press and freedom of expression threatens a reliable flow of information. When nations lack that reliable flow, it becomes difficult, if not impossible, for citizens to work from a common set of facts. That predicament not only strengthens the hands of terrorists or autocrats, but it also undermines the stability of a nation when fewer and fewer people know what is happening in their countries.

True, even free societies like our own are wrestling with disinformation and trust in the media. Still, the Biden administration should counter the threats to press freedoms and free speech around the world. What happens in other nations can impact our own country in unpredictable ways, as the spread of the coronavirus and the attacks of September 11 showed.

Freedom of the press is being restricted in a disturbing number of countries. In Burma, for example, authorities on March 8 canceled the licenses of five media organizations that were covering protests in their country.

And, alarmingly, Freedom House details the threat to independent reporting and free expression in its new Freedom in the World 2021 analysis. This fact from the report particularly should alarm any of us who value free speech: Freedom of personal expression has experienced the sharpest decline of any democracy indicator since 2012.

The result is bad for both individuals and the flow of information. A prime example is Chinas sentencing last year of citizen journalist Zhang Zhan to four years in prison for her reporting on the outbreak of the coronavirus in Wuhan.

Similarly, a thorough crackdown in Hong Kong on democracy activists freedom of expression has occurred over the last year. In January alone, dozens of individuals were arrested. One of those was young pro-democracy leader Joshua Wong, who strongly hinted at his likely imprisonment in an interview last summer that my Bush Institute colleagues Lindsay Lloyd and Chris Walsh and I did with him for our Democracy Talks series.

In Egypt, President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi warned Egyptians last month about speaking too freely about matters in their country. I dont say dont talk, but before you speak, look and listen. That threat, along with harassment of Egyptian bloggers and activists and their family members, hardly bolsters free speech.

Of course, the most egregious example in recent years is Saudi agents brutal murder of Washington Post contributing columnist Jamal Khashoggi. The CIA reports that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman approved of his gruesome slaying.

Examples need not be that severe to silence journalists and individuals alike. Attacks on a free press get their point across even without murder: Beware of what you write, report or say. You may pay a price.

With that as the undertone, it is only natural that people start censoring themselves. Whenever that happens, a country pays a price. Governments are not held accountable. Transparency about institutions vanishes. And people retreat into their bunkers, thereby weakening the bonds of social trust that allow healthy societies to develop resilience and enjoy prosperity.

True, even free societies like our own are wrestling with disinformation and trust in the media. Still, the Biden administration should counter the threats to press freedoms and free speech around the world. What happens in other nations can impact our own country in unpredictable ways, as the spread of the coronavirus and the attacks of September 11 showed.

To its credit, the U.S. government quickly denounced the slayings of those three young Afghan journalists. The Biden administration next should emphasize the stabilizing role of a free press when meeting with other leaders, including in face-to-face meetings between President Biden and counterparts in nations that are cracking down on free expression.

Congress should also adequately fund organizations like Radio Free Europe, Radio Liberty and Radio Free Asia  and ensure they remain free to do independent reporting without interference. They are a lifeline to dissidents searching for reliable information.

That reliable flow is what a free press and free speech provide. Democracies like our own cannot bring back the lives of those Afghan journalists, but we can redeem them by promoting and protecting the right of individuals to report upon and speak freely about their countries.

McKenzie is senior editorial advisor at the George W. Bush Institute.
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GIRARDVILLE  In the 1930s, the folklorist George Korson was interviewing the inhabitants of Pennsylvania coal fields.

He asked an old miners widow if she remembered June 21, 1877.

Indade I do, sir, she said in an Irish brogue. Will I ever forget it! A sad day it was in the hard coalfields, sir.

What happened was burned into the communitys collective memory forever.

When the hour of the hangings arrived for them poor Irish lads, the miners widow remembered, the world suddenly became dark and we had to burn our lamps. Its Black Thursday it was, sir.

On June 21, 1877, forever to be known as The Day of the Rope, six Irishmen were hanged at the Schuylkill County Jail in Pottsville, and four were hanged at the Carbon County Jail in Mauch Chunk (now Jim Thorpe). Those 10 men were accused of being Molly Maguires, members of a secret society of Irish-American coal miners who believed violent rebellion was the only way to obtain justice from their cruel and greedy bosses.

John Black Jack Kehoe, who newspapers called King of the Mollies, was spared the Day of the Rope. But he was hanged for the 1862 murder of mine foreman Frank W. Langdon one week before Christmas 1878, leaving behind his wife, five daughters and his bar, the Hibernian House in Girardville.

Joe Wayne, Kehoes great-grandson and fourth-generation owner of the Hibernian House, recently discussed another black day in history: March 13, 2020. That day, he bought plenty of food and liquor to restock his bar in time for the annual Girardville St. Patricks Day Parade, of which Wayne is founder and chairman. The event draws thousands every year, and was attended by former President Bill Clinton in 2008. However, last year, all his preparation was for naught when COVID-19 forced the Hibernian House to close and the parade to be canceled.

We were always taught that everyone had to entertain, he said about growing up around the bar.

As a child, his weekends were filled with singing, music and jokes at the Hibernian House. Despite its Irish roots, all were welcome, and Wayne continues that welcoming tradition with the bands and crowds that choke the streets of Girardville for every St. Patricks Day parade.

Its so crowded in here every parade day that if you died then you couldnt fall over, Wayne said.

The bar has a collection of neon beer signs broken by lovers who pushed each other up against them.

A Mollies theme

Even though the parade has been postponed again this year, shamrocks still adorn doors and windows throughout Girardville.

Behind the Hibernian Houses Killarney-green doors is a wood-paneled diamond in the rough. Wayne has the Irish gift of gab and a flair for mile-a-minute folk wisdom. He is prone to using his own colorful expressions (he calls using the Hibernian Houses bathroom shedding a tear for the Queen.) He tends bar just like his great-grandfather did, and stores his beer on the same 150-year-old wooden bar. Wayne says the exquisitely carved bar has been in the family since Adam and Eve were runnin around.

Above the bar are the names of the 20 men who were executed for crimes connected to the Molly Maguires.

Lets face it, Wayne said. Twenty men went to the gallows. Not one of them apprehended in the commission of a crime. Twenty men danced on the end of a rope.

Wayne denies that there was a group calling themselves the Molly Maguires. He says its existence was put on by the coal companies to discredit the labor movement. He wasnt King of the Mollies no more than myself, Wayne said.

The account found in most history books states the Molly Maguires were an offshoot of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, a longstanding Irish-American organization. Wayne is the president of AOH John Kehoe Division No. 1.

Although Wayne claims that there was no such organization, the Hibernian House honors the men who were called Molly Maguires. Portraits of Kehoe are flanked by the ornate candles used at his funeral Mass. What was once the door to his cell now leads to the womens room. Portraits of Waynes ancestors, and the major players in the Molly Maguire drama, hang on the walls.

A large mural depicts the 20 hanged men standing at the bar with Wayne and his friends. Theres Gene Salay, of Doylestown, who was a prisoner of war in Korea (they tortured him something fierce.) Theres also Waynes lifelong friend, John M. Elliott, the attorney who helped clear Kehoes name by securing a posthumous pardon from Gov. Milton J. Shapp in 1979.

Wayne points out that his own likeness in the mural is thinner than he is, and missing his bald spot. That, he says, is what you pay painters for.

There were a lot of discriminatory remarks being made about my great-grandfather, Wayne said.

His uncle, Jack Kehoes grandson, was taunted for being the grandson of a murderer.

That didnt sit well with me, and that didnt sit well with the family, Wayne said.

Even when his mother was a little girl, she was tainted with the stigma of being descended from a Molly. The popular image of the Molly Maguires was one of violent outlaws  there were wild rumors of them throwing people on hot stoves, and cutting off the ears of those who crossed them. People joked that the survivors of the Molly Maguires looked like bighorn sheep, because they had to use ear trumpets to hear out of their surviving ears.

Starting when he was in college, Wayne researched his great-grandfather, but as he tried to clear his family name, some of his relatives said, Let sleeping dogs lie.

Dont stir up the stuff, he remembered them saying. I wasnt the most popular guy in the family because of it. But I was gonna see it through.

After years of lobbying, Shapp pardoned Kehoe 101 years after he was hanged. The framed pardon hangs in the Hibernian House.

I was elated, Wayne said. I had an open house here and it lasted for three days. We had every TV station in the area. We had one heck of a party here.

First Irish here werent saints

John Kehoe was born in 1837 in County Wicklow, Ireland. He was among the thousands of Irish who fled the potato famine for America, and found work in the coal towns of Schuylkill County. He tried his hand as a miner, but found the most success when he opened the Hibernian House. The place became a popular hangout for Irish miners. These men who crossed the Atlantic brought with them a spirit of resistance against discrimination. In the 1840s, Irish peasants rose up in the face of economic hardship and mistreatment from the English elite. They would sometimes dress in womens clothing, imitating a woman named Molly Maguire who may or may not have existed. The followers of this Mistress Molly Maguire delivered a form of vigilante violence that they called midnight legislation, targeting local authorities and rent collectors.

When the Irish first came here, Wayne said, they werent saints.

When these sons and daughters of Molly Maguire came to the coal region, the widows of mining accidents became the new Mistress Mollies. People like Kehoe wanted to fight for them. In time, Irish immigrants had built a Democratic political machine in Schuylkill County.

Contrary to the papers that made them sound like ignorant Irish and so forth, Wayne said, they were school directors, they were tax collectors, they served on councils. They were very active in the community.

At the heart of it was Kehoe. An educated man, he explained to the miners how they were being exploited. In those days, Schuylkill County was a Wild West of dangerous mines, unscrupulous owners and discontented workers. It was the kind of place where revolution was bound to break out sooner or later, it just needed a spark. That spark was the Civil War, which the Irish Democrats saw as a rich mans war, but a poor mans fight.

In June 1862, Frank Langdon, a mine foreman accused of ripping off miners when it came time to pay them, gave a speech in preparation for the Fourth of July. Kehoe was in the audience that day, and allegedly stepped on the American flag, spit on it and said, Ill do worse than that before this nights over. Shortly after Langdon finished his speech, an angry mob beat him to death. Witnesses claimed to have heard Kehoe say, You son of a bitch, Ill kill you! Kehoe was hanged on this evidence.

Every ethnic group had its own interpretation of what happened, shared in each of their saloons.

Meanwhile, miners were becoming angrier about their poor wages and even poorer working conditions. They wanted to band together and fight for their rights  and the Ancient Order of Hibernians was the way to do it.

(Read part two in Thursdays edition.)
A Vietnamese man has been arrested after hiring people to kidnap his 'dream girl' and acting as the savior to impress her.

Police in Dong Da District, Hanoi confirmed on Tuesday evening they had apprehended and initiated legal proceedings against Nguyen Van Duc, 24, who hails from north-central Thanh Hoa Province, for holding another person in custody against the law.

Trieu Ong Nhat, 25, Hoang Ong Nhat, 23, and Luong Thanh Mieu, 23, were also captured for the same offense.

Police investigation showed that Duc became acquainted with 19-year-old Nguyen Thi T. in October 2020 and developed feelings for her.

Duc expressed his feelings to T. multiple times but ended up being rejected.

In order to win her heart, the man planned on staging her kidnapping and emerging as her savior.

He then discussed his scheme with Mieu.

Trieu Ong Nhat, Hoang Ong Nhat, and Luong Thanh Mieu are held at the police station in Dong Da District, Hanoi in this supplied photo.

Duc asked T. to meet him in front of Phuc Khanh Pagoda in Dong Da District at 7:00 pm on March 4.

After arriving at the location, T. was kidnaped by Mieu, Trieu Ong Nhat, and Hoang Ong Nhat.

The three took her to a house in Dong Anh District, where Mieu contacted Duc and demanded a ransom worth VND500 million (US$21,500).

Duc later came to the house and acted as if he were paying the ransom to rescue the victim.

However, T. reported the abduction to police officers after being freed.

Following a probe, officers were able to identify Mieu, Trieu Ong Nhat, and Hoang Ong Nhat as her kidnappers and arrested them.

The three admitted they had been hired by Duc, and the latter was also nabbed.

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The strength, courage and dedication of our current political leaders as they work to address the complex issues of the day is admirable. As a registered Democrat whose livelihood is immersed in oil and gas, I am unique. And yet I appreciate the commitment of Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and the Biden administration to combat climate change.

In our family-run business, we dedicate ourselves not for personal riches, but for our employees and their families. We are certainly not Big Oil, nor are we hoarding permits, but we do take pride in our community and our contribution to it.

Already, we have seen the immediate impacts of President Joe Bidens executive order to pause oil and gas leasing and permitting on federal lands. We had brought one of our drilling rigs  which directly employs 25 people and accounts for 100 more indirectly  into action but recently laid it down due to the pause.

These well-paying and inclusionary jobs, the kind of which are critical in northwest New Mexico, are now on hold indefinitely.

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................................................................

Due to the presidents action, there is no effective or predictable way to obtain permits or approvals in the foreseeable future. This uncertainty could kill the drilling project forever, and the jobs right along with it.

Our story is not unique; it appears to be on constant repeat across the country. I fear for our business survival, our employees, and for the hardships facing those we are not able to employ.

During her confirmation, Interior Secretary Deb Haaland said she will work (her) heart out for everyone: (including) the families of fossil fuel workers who help build our country. Seemingly, Haaland recognizes that every oil and gas worker is essential and they sacrifice so all others can keep their lights on, heat running and drive their cars.

I can only hope Haaland, and our leaders in state and federal government, dont overlook the plight of our communities. It is not about the thousands; instead, it is about the individuals. There are people waiting to be called to action, waiting for the pause to be over and wondering why their jobs are being sacrificed.

While the debate in Washington advances, our family-owned business remains ready to put people to work. As our family-owned business goes, so goes the ability of friends, family and neighbors to pay their bills and make ends meet.

As New Mexicans, we support the idea of a cleaner future and have a tradition of implementing strong environmental safeguards. Yet, federal leasing and permitting delays have dire implications within our community. We cant even begin to think about the long term when putting food on the table tomorrow is in jeopardy.

As Haaland said, There is no question that fossil energy does and will continue to play a major role in America for years to come. Certainly, this is true; and most likely natural gas will elevate in significance as we transition to net zero by 2050. As we collaborate and find the balance, I pray our leaders will stay committed to a developing a comprehensive energy portfolio that respects people  especially those in critical industries like oil and gas.

I trust that Haaland remembers, and understands, that the weight of her decisions is carried upon the shoulders of each and every oil and gas worker, their families and their children; as she proudly represents New Mexico as our next secretary of the Interior. Our future depends upon it.

Jason Sandel, a Farmington native, has served on the Farmington City Council, chairman of the New Mexico Oil and Gas Association and the Methane Advisory Panel. He is currently a member of the New Mexico Economic Recovery Council, a co-convener of the New Mexico Energy Transition Committee, Chairman of the Western States and Tribal Nations Natural Gas Initiative, and a member of the Roosevelt Project.
VATICAN CITY, MAR 17 - Pope Francis said Wednesday that he too knelt in Myanmar's streets calling for an end to bloodshed against anti-junta protesters. "Yet again, and with so much sadness, I feel the urgency of evoking the dramatic situation in Myanmar," he said after his weekly general audience. "So many people, above all young people, are losing their lives to offer hope there. "I, too, kneel in Myanmar's streets," he said, evoking the pose many Catholic religious have adopted. "'Let the violence cease'" I say. "I, too, reach out my arms and say 'let dialogue prevail'. "Bloodshed does not solve anything: let dialogue prevail". (ANSA).
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What is happening in the shadowy world of dissident republicanism? Last week, the veteran republican Des Dalton, a former president and leading member of Republican Sinn Fein, publicly called for an end to paramilitary violence by the dissident armed groups.

Up until now, the introspective and twilight world of dissident republicanism has been usually opaque and politically incoherent.

Given the significance of Dalton's call for a ceasefire and the secretive quarter from which it comes, it is necessary for mainstream politicians and commentators to take heed.

The former leader emphasised that the current armed campaigns cannot be justified strategically, or morally. He bluntly stated, in a research interview for Liverpool University's Institute of Irish Studies, "The suspension of armed struggle would create better conditions for dialogue about reunification."

Dalton added that there were, in his opinion, major opportunities opening up and that the constitutional question was centre stage in a way it has not been for over 40 years.

Without the distraction of sporadic armed actions, the Irish republican message can resonate even more widely.

He made it plain that, "Those who advocate for perpetual armed action, without short-term, or long-term, objectives, do a disservice to Irish republicanism, as by their actions they serve only to copper-fasten the institutions of partition."

After his comments were publicised, Dalton resigned from Republican Sinn Fein after its ard comhairle voted to suspend him from membership - a decision he could not accept. He said that it was time for him to find his "own voice".

Clearly, Des Dalton's publicly expressed opinions are his own personal views and are not supported by his erstwhile comrades.

Nonetheless, coming from someone who has been with Republican Sinn Fein for 30 years, his views cannot be disregarded and may well be an opening up of an enclosed area of political thought to the wider reality of a changed political landscape across these islands. What is of particular interest, leaving aside his important call for a dissident ceasefire, is the impact of Scotland in the future development of relations within the United Kingdom.

He is clear in his assessment that the Scottish move to independence has accelerated to a point where the future of the whole "so-called United Kingdom" is seriously in question for the first time in 300 years. In such a scenario, to what Union will the unionists be loyal, he asks.

Raising the Scottish question in the context of Irish dissident republicanism gives rise to the hope that dissident republicanism is not completely impervious to the realities of contemporary politics.

Without doubt, Dalton is attempting to prise open Republican Sinn Fein from the stifling straitjacket of orthodox traditional republican thinking.

Living, as they do, in an historic time-warp, the various dissident groups are a reminder of where the Provisional IRA were in the 1980s.

They hold little genuine political support in local communities and are regarded by most nationalists and republicans as an obstacle to political progress towards a united Ireland.

Their continued espousal of violence, or "armed struggle", as they would deem it, is seen as not just wrong, but anachronistic, ineffective and counterproductive.

They are seen to be stubbornly wedded to outmoded ideas of extreme republicanism abandoned almost 30 years ago by the Provos.

Dissident republicans have put themselves very much on the fringe of politics, shunned by the media and seen as gloomy, doctrinaire political extremists and mindless fanatics by most of the nationalist community.

To the unionist community, they are a total anathema.

Their savage atrocities - be it the Omagh bomb, or the despicable murder of journalist Lyra McKee - uniformly revolted public opinion right across the community.

Precisely because of all that, Dalton's comments are, therefore, to be welcomed and encouraged.

Hopefully, Des Dalton is not a lonely voice crying out in a dissident wilderness.

Indeed, Dalton, in his analysis of the potential impact of Scottish independence on the Union for unionists, raises a question that still continues to be denied, or ignored, by unionists themselves and, in particular, the DUP.

The DUP have yet to express any considered view on the consequences for the Union and Northern Ireland if Scotland opts for independence. This myopia is dangerous for unionism and bad for our politics.

Maybe unionists are foolishly hoping that the issue of Scottish independence will simply evaporate.

Or, perhaps, they believe that the SNP will tear itself and the independence movement to pieces with their vicious and highly damaging internecine disputes.

There is nothing worse than a family feud.

While these highly personalised disputes could sabotage Nicola Sturgeon's own political standing as SNP leader and First Minister, such is the integrity and strength of the Scottish independence movement that it could still survive unscathed and emerge victorious in a future independence referendum.
Govinda began his journey back in 1986 with his debut film Ilzaam and during the 90s, the audience was served with some powerhouse performances as he delivered only hits and massy movies that people appreciated.

Being a part of an industry with cut-throat competition, Govinda made sure that he gave it his all, however, things did change for the actor and he started losing his credibility and fans when he signed up for projects like Happy Ending and Kill Dill.

In 2017, he had revealed there are massive camps in Bollywood and that he chose not to be a part of any which, eventually, led to his downfall.

In his recent interview with ETimes, Govinda revealed how the industry 'conspired' against him which resulted in him becoming bitter:

1. Not A Pious Man Anymore

 Instagram/Govinda

Govindas charm was inevitable but things got worse when he felt he was sidelined by the popular stars of Bollywoods camp.



He thinks he is now more corrupt and bitter because he has seen things going downhill.

I have become more corrupt and bitter. These days, I party, smoke, and also drink. The old Govinda was very pious. Earlier, my emotional nature came in the way of my work but today, I don't get emotional. I deal with situations more practically and business-like, said the actor.

2. Filmmakers Offered Films With Sex And Violence

He revealed how some people started the rumours that he has been turning down films.

This is a new rumour that has started doing the rounds. They, in fact, conspire by offering me films that I would not like  ones with sex and violence. If you want to make a film that has a lot of sex, why not make porn films? said Govinda.

3. Bollywood Camp Wanted To Make Him A Junior Artist

He also revealed how certain people were trying their level best to destroy him completely and turn him into more of a junior artist.

 Twitter

I also know there was a discussion in one of the offices to give Govinda 15 scenes and two songs and then later make him Bhagwan Dada by giving him just songs, and thereafter make him a junior artiste. But I did not let them succeed. Maine band Baja di (I gave it right back). I came back playing the hero and also produced the film. However, it is a different story altogether that my film did not get a platform, said Govinda.



Well, those are some pretty powerful statements that are bound to raise some eyebrows.
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Dow announced that it has been recognized with five Manufacturing Leadership Awards by the Manufacturing Leadership Council, a division of the National Association of Manufacturers.

The awards are given to individuals and projects that have excelled in the advancement of manufacturing capabilities. Recipients are chosen by a panel of expert judges for results that have delivered outstanding examples of technology-driven leadership combined with a commitment to innovation and improvement.

"We are so proud of the many talented people at Dow who continue to make significant contributions towards innovation and continuous improvement every day, said John Sampson, senior vice president of operations. "This recognition is a true testament to those efforts as well as Dows constant pursuit of delivering greater value to all of our stakeholders.

The Manufacturing Leadership Council has recognized Dow for three significant project awards.

Dows Manufacturing 4.0 has received the Enterprise Integration and Technology Award. Dow Manufacturing 4.0 is a breakthrough initiative in Dows Operations strategy that is designed to improve productivity and competitiveness while driving continued growth and raising enterprise-wide performance.

Digital is playing a critical role in helping Dow achieve its ambition to become the worlds most innovative, customer-centric, inclusive and sustainable materials science company. Dow is bringing together the best of Dows people, processes, technology and data to create a seamless, and well-harmonized and that delivers greater value to our customers, employees, shareholders, communities and the planet.

The E2E Business Planning Program was awarded the Supply Chain Award. The E2E program was designed to drive simplification and optimization at the enterprise level. This included improvement efforts that span from how Dow engages with its suppliers through to its customers, improving and simplifying Dows business processes, systems, and organizations to enhance efficiency, deliver value, drive consistency and make it easy to do business with and within Dow.

Accelerating Innovation in Instrumentation & Sensors at Dow Texas Operations received the Industrial Internet of Things Award. This project has accelerated the deployment of smart sensor technology across Dows largest site at Texas Operations in Freeport, Texas and has utilized smart sensors to monitor key equipment and process parameters as well as deployed mobile tools for Dows instrument and electrical personnel to use in the field.

The smart sensor network better utilizes and digitalizes process information leading to improvements in reliability, productivity, asset utilization, and safety as well as has become a key component in connecting the digital thread of data flow.

In addition, two members of Dows team were recognized with individual awards.

Billy B. Bardin, global digitalization director, was selected for the Visionary Digital Leader award. Recipients of this award are among manufacturings most forward-thinking leaders. They are essential to ushering in manufacturings digital era and they serve as a role model for their peers.

Bardin began his career with Dow in 2000 and has been instrumental in implementing Dows digital journey. He has served in several research and manufacturing leadership roles, including most recently as global operations technology director and hydrocarbons, energy, and chemicals R&D director.

Bardin has received past awards from the National Association of Manufacturers Manufacturing Leadership Council for work in talent development and advanced manufacturing. He was recently named as one of Smart Industry Magazines Top 50 Industrial Digital Transformation Leaders and serves as Vice-Chair of the Board of Directors for MxD, a U.S. advanced manufacturing institute.

Katherine Duggan, senior process automation engineer, was selected as a Rising Digital Star due to her work in the advancement and deployment of Dows mobile worker technology. Recipients of this award are among manufacturings brightest future stars and are leading the way for the possibilities of tomorrow.

Duggan joined Dow in 2013 as a Production Engineer at Dows Croydon, PA Coatings facility where she led efforts to maintain stable, reliable, and safe operations. Since then she has served in several leadership roles within M&E and has been widely recognized for her leadership and technical contributions across Dow. Duggan has received two Dow Technology Center Awards, the highest award for technical contribution and commercialization of technology at Dow.

The Manufacturing Leadership Awards honor manufacturing companies and individual manufacturing leaders that are shaping the future of global manufacturing. Winning projects and individual manufacturing leaders have demonstrated achievement in one of a wide range of categories and are chosen by a panel of expert judges for results that have delivered clear and compelling value, return on investment, and other tangible outcomes. There will be several winners in each category, including one High Achievers Award in each project category, as well as a 2021 Manufacturer of the Year for both small and large enterprises. Also unveiled at the gala will be the ML Awards Manufacturing Leader of the Year and Lifetime Achievement Award winners.

For more information on the Manufacturing Leadership Awards, visit https://mlawards.manufacturingleadershipcouncil.com/
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The federal government has requested the Nasarawa State government to provide 100, 000 hectares of land for rice cultivation as part of efforts to increase rice production in the country.

Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State disclosed this on Tuesday while receiving a delegation of the Lower Benue River Basin Development Authority, led by its managing director, Muhammad Addra.

The governor said the federal government has promised to fund the entire project and provide rice seedlings.

Just yesterday night, they called me from Abuja; they are looking for a hundred thousand hectares of land in Nasarawa State, he said. The federal government will fund it 100 per cent for rice production. If there is more land in Tide, they will provide the funding, for the clearing, land development and provide the seed.

Rice is one of the most popular food in Nigeria. In 2020, data from United State Department of Agriculture shows that Nigeria produced 5040,000 metric tonnes, against a domestic consumption of 6700,000 metric tonnes.

Governor Sule said the Lower Benue River Basin Development Authority has over 200,000 fallow plots of land in Tide, and said the government would utilise a portion of that for the purpose of rice cultivation funded by the federal government.

He said that his administration will continue to support the agency.

I will continue to support the agency in its bid to convert the sprinkler system to flood irrigation, especially that the state government has acquired 500 hectares of land for its youth empowerment scheme in agriculture at the Doma Dam, the governor said.
Laois has one of the lowest ratess of Covid-19 in Ireland following another day of new cases in the county, according to the latest figures from the National Public Health Emergency Team.

There were six new cases in Laois on March 16 in the figures reported by NPHET on St Patrick's Day. The average number of daily new cases is now four a day. The two-week incidence is now 77.9 per 100,000 population in Laois on the back of just 66 new cases in two weeks.

Laois now has the sixth-lowest incidences of Covid-19 in the county breakdown published by NPHET.

The Laois experience contrasts sharply with neighbouring Offaly which has the highest rate of disease in the country. There were 15 new cases on March 16 and the daily average is 18. The 14 day incidence is 339.9 per 100k on the back of 265 new cases in two weeks.

Nationally, NPHET reported that the Health Protection Surveillance Centre has today been notified of 17 additional deaths related to COVID-19. Of these, nine deaths occurred in March, four in February and four occurred in January or earlier.

The median age of those who died was 81 years and the age range was 51  94 years.

There has been a total of 4,566* COVID-19 related deaths in Ireland. (*3 deaths denotified).

As of midnight, Tuesday, March 16, the HPSC has been notified of 557 confirmed cases of COVID-19. There is now a total of 228,215** confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ireland. (** five cases denotified).

Of the cases notified today:

262 are men / 291 are women

74% are under 45 years of age

74% are under 45 years of age The median age is 29 years old



NPHET highlighted 229 cases in Dublin, 58 in Kildare, 34 in Donegal, 31 in Meath, 24 in Tipperary and the remaining 181 cases are spread across all other counties.

The average number of new cases a day over five days is now 481 a day nationally. The incidence is 148 per 100,000 population due to 7,048 in the past two weeks.

The 7-day incidence is 76.5 per 100,000.

As of 8am St Patrick's Day, 350 COVID-19 patients are hospitalised, of which 83 are in ICU. 19 additional hospitalisations in the past 24 hours.

As of March 14th, 617,050 doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in Ireland:

452,554 people have received their first dose

164,496 people have received their second dose

The COVID-19 Dashboard provides up-to-date information on the key indicators of COVID-19 in the community including daily data on Irelands COVID-19 Vaccination Programme.
Orthopaedic Spine Development ("OSD") is a manufacturer of implants for spine surgery

Acquisition of a majority interest will lead to the creation of a new benchmark player in orthopedic surgery in France and allow the Group to rapidly achieve significant revenue growth.

Regulatory News:

IMPLANET (Euronext Growth: ALIMP, FR0013470168, eligible for PEA-PME equity savings plans), a medical technology company specializing in vertebral and knee-surgery implants, today announces that it has obtained founding shareholders' agreement to acquire a majority stake in Orthopaedic Spine Development ("OSD"), which specializes in developing, manufacturing and marketing implants for spine surgery.

IMPLANET's offer is aimed at acquiring majority control (potentially of the entire share capital) of OSD, valued at 4.2 million (for 100% of the shares). OSD's founding shareholders, representing 71,5% of the capital, have already committed to respond favorably to the offer, thus confirming the principle of this merger. The final acquisition percentage will be communicated shortly after finalization of the legal documentation.

As a token of their support for the merger project, OSD's founding shareholders will also become shareholders of IMPLANET.

Before March 31, 2021, Implanet will convene a Shareholders' Meeting to submit the takeover agreement to its shareholders.

Ludovic Lastennet, CEO of Implanet, comments: "The acquisition of OSD represents a milestone in our strategy, deployed since late 2019, to strengthen Implanet's position in the orthopedic and spine market. The clinical value of our JAZZ technology has, over the years, enabled us to become a pivotal player in pediatric spinal deformity, but thus far our range has limited our ability to grow at a similar pace in the degenerative adult segment. This merger with OSD will strengthen our spinal implant range, notably for the adult market, while positioning Implanet as an integrated supplier capable of competing with the market's largest players. The merger will enable us to rapidly achieve a critical mass in terms of revenue. Reaching this critical mass will ensure that, in the coming years, we will be able to meet regulatory, clinical and economic demands in a fast-growing market

Nicolas Papillon, CEO and President of OSD, adds: "We are very excited about this opportunity to combine our implant ranges with the clinical value of the JAZZ platform, while benefiting from Implanet's financial and marketing expertise. We had been looking to join forces with a partner in order to deploy the execution of our strategy and provide our products with greater commercial scope, notably in the United States. This merger with Implanet was an obvious choice, as we and its founders share a common desire to turn our two companies into an agile entity, working closely with its customers and determined to increase market share

OSD: a specialist in developing implants for spine surgery

Founded in 2006 and based in Avignon (southern France), OSD specializes in developing, manufacturing and marketing implants for spine surgery. The company generated revenue of 3.6 million in 2019. OSD develops and markets a comprehensive range of spine implants and distributes complementary products and bone substitutes. OSD markets its products directly in France, indirectly in the rest of the world, and was recently granted FDA 510k clearance.

Acquisition driven by value-creating synergies:

complementary spine surgery implants,

510 (k) clearances enabling US market distribution and CE marking for the entire product range through to 2024,

solid regulatory platform and a common notified body (LNE GMED),

experienced management,

common desire to achieve critical revenue mass, continued growth and margin improvement.

Planned terms of the acquisition

This acquisition project is based on an OSD valuation of 4.2 million for 100% of its shares. Subject to conditions precedent, it will be carried out via a cash payment of 2.6 million, in the form of a 24-month sales credit, the balance of up to 1.6 million being paid for in Implanet shares.

This acquisition and the financing of the new entity will be funded by the bond financing line agreed with Nice Green for a maximum of 5.0 million (see press release of January 13, 2021).

The issuance of shares (in the form of bonds redeemable in shares) for the payment of the acquisition will be subject to the approval of the next Shareholders' Meeting scheduled for the second quarter of 2021, to be convened before March 31, 2021.

An upcoming press release will describe the final terms of the transaction.

About Implanet

Founded in 2007, Implanet is a medical technology company that manufactures high-quality implants for orthopedic surgery. Its activity revolves around two product ranges, the latest generation JAZZ implant, designed to improve the treatment of spinal pathologies requiring vertebral fusion surgery, and the MADISON implant designed for first-line prosthetic knee surgery. Implanet's tried-and-tested orthopedic platform is based on product traceability. Protected by four families of international patents, JAZZ and MADISON have obtained 510(k) regulatory clearance from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the United States, the CE mark as well as the ANVISA authorization in Brazil. Implanet employs 29 staff and recorded 2020 sales of 6.0 million. For further information, please visit www.implanet.com. Based near Bordeaux in France, Implanet established a US subsidiary in Boston in 2013. Implanet is listed on Euronext Growth market in Paris.

The Company would like to remind that the table for monitoring the equity line (OCA, OCAPI, BSA) and the number of shares outstanding, is available on its website: http://www.implanet-invest.com/suivi-des-actions-80

Disclaimer

This press release contains forward-looking statements concerning Implanet and its activities. Such forward looking statements are based on assumptions that Implanet considers to be reasonable. However, there can be no assurance that the anticipated events contained in such forwardlooking statements will occur. Forward- looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties including the risks set forth in the registration document of Implanet registered by the French Financial Markets Authority (Autorite des marches financiers (AMF) on April 16, 2018 under number D.18-0337, as well as in the annual financial report of December 31, 2020 available on the Company's website (www.implanet-invest.com), and to the development of economic situation, financial markets, and the markets in which Implanet operates. The forward-looking statements contained in this release are also subject to risks unknown to Implanet or that Implanet does not consider material at this time. The realization of all or part of these risks could lead to actual results, financial conditions, performances or achievements by Implanet that differ significantly from the results, financial conditions, performances or achievements expressed in such forward-looking statements. This press release and the information it contains do not constitute an offer to sell or to subscribe for, or a solicitation of an order to purchase or subscribe for Implanet shares in any country.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210317005614/en/

Contacts:

IMPLANET

Ludovic Lastennet, CEO

David Dieumegard, CFO

Tel.: +33 (0)5 57 99 55 55

investors@Implanet.com

NewCap

Investor Relations

Mathilde Bohin

Nicolas Fossiez

Tel.: +33 (0)1 44 71 94 94

Implanet@newcap.eu

NewCap

Media Relations

Nicolas Merigeau

Tel.: +33 (0)1 44 71 94 94

Implanet@newcap.eu
San Francisco and Los Angeles on Wednesday sued Handy.com, which provides in-home services, for misclassifying its house cleaners and handypeople as independent contractors rather than employees.

We cannot permit companies like Handy to unlawfully classify employees as independent contractors in order to cut costs or deprive workers of legal protections, said San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin, who jointly filed the case with Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon. All Californians are harmed when corporations violate the law, exploit their employees and engage in systematic misclassification.

Handy said the suit lacks merit. It is based on a fundamental misunderstanding of the law and the rights of Handy and the Pros who use its service, the company said in a statement. Handy complies with all laws and regulations in California and elsewhere, and we will vigorously defend ourselves in court.

Founded in 2012, the New York company has $110.7 million in venture capital backing, according to Crunchbase. In 2018, Handy was acquired by ANGI Homeservices, the parent company of Angies List and HomeAdvisor, for an undisclosed price.

The lawsuit, filed in San Francisco Superior Court, says Handy violated AB5, Californias landmark gig-work law that makes it harder for companies to claim workers are contractors, as well as Dynamex, a state Supreme Court decision on the same issue.

Misclassifying workers as independent contractors instead of employees leaves them without crucial workplace protections such as the right to minimum wage; access to paid sick leave; disability insurance; and unemployment insurance, the lawsuit said.

Boudin said Handy controls its workers, including setting rates and billing customers. It has all the hallmarks of an employer-employee arrangement, he said. Its not a referral service for true independent contractors who set their own rates and collect fees from people they work for.

The case seeks civil penalties, restitution for Handy workers in California, and to reclassify its workers here as employees.

Handy has about 9,000 cleaners and handypeople in the Bay Area, Boudin said, as well as about 13,400 in Los Angeles and 4,900 in San Diego. All in, were talking about tens of thousands of people who in our allegation are misclassified, he said.

Boudin is also suing food delivery company DoorDash over worker misclassification under AB5, while the California attorney generals office and the city attorneys of San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego are suing Uber and Lyft over the same issue.

Those cases seek penalties and restitution for the past, but they can no longer pursue reclassifying workers as employees because of Proposition 22, a ballot measure passed in November that keeps app-based couriers and drivers as independent contractors. Gig companies are so concerned about having to treat workers as employees that they spent more than $220 million to pass Prop. 22.

Prop. 22 only applies to ride services and delivery companies. It does not apply to Handy, so there are no legal impediments to trying to compel turning its workers into employees.

Handy has been the focus of several legal actions over worker misclassification as well as on-the-job harassment, even under laws that pre-dated AB5. Like many companies, it has its gig workers agree to arbitration, which helps it keep cases out of court.

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

Handys arbitration agreements will not prevent the government case against it from going to court, Boudin said.

Shannon Liss-Riordan, a Boston attorney who has sued numerous gig companies over worker status, has a nationwide case against Handy that was compelled to arbitration. She is appealing that in hopes of getting a court date.

Byron Goldstein, an Oakland attorney, filed a class-action case against Handy in 2014. It was settled in 2017 through arbitration. Handy paid $1.2 million to compensate California workers, while denying any wrongdoing.

We thought it was a strong case for misclassification, he said Tuesday. But arbitration agreements have in many instances insulated companies against the law.

Vilma Zenelaj, a plaintiff in Goldsteins case who worked as a cleaner for Handy in Los Angeles, told The Chronicle at the time that she felt she was treated like an employee without any of the benefits of employment.

You had to wear their T-shirt, she said. You have to greet the customers with Hi, I am Vilma from Handybook (the companys former name); should I take my shoes off? You had to ask a client how or whether to use the restroom. It was a very controlling situation.

Carolyn Said is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: csaid@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @csaid
Vrindavan:

The attacks on RSS workers in Kerala and West Bengal came up for discussion on Friday at a crucial Sangh Parivar meeting during which steps taken by the Centre to curb stone-pelting in Kashmir were lauded, RSS sources said.

Senior Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) functionaries made presentations on the violence allegedly targeting Sangh workers in the two states, the sources said, adding that the situation in Kerala was deemed particularly dangerous and participants dubbed it a case of state-sponsored violence.

The inaugural session of the three-day coordination exercise was addressed by RSS general secretary Suresh (Bhaiyyaji) Joshi and senior functionary Suresh Soni and the participants included BJP chief Amit Shah.

This is the first RSS conclave in Uttar Pradesh after the BJP came to power in the state earlier this year.

The security situation in J-K was discussed on the first day of the meeting attended by top leaders of the saffron family, including RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, and Shah, according to the Sanghs Sahkar Bharti Mahamantri, Uday Joshi.

Forty allied organisations of the Sangh are also taking part in the event being chaired by Bhagwat.

At the end of todays session, Shah had a meeting with Bhagwat where frontline RSS functionaries including Dattatreya Hosabale, the Sanghs joint general secretary, Soni, Krishna Gopal and Ram Lal were present.

What transpired at the meeting was not yet known, but unconfirmed reports said the rejig of the Union Council of Ministers on Sunday came up for discussion.

A senior functionary of the RSS, Arun Kumar, spoke on the situation in Kashmir, Joshi said.

Kumar spoke about the internal security situation in Kashmir and stressed on bringing stone-pelters to the mainstream.

He also said that cases relating to stone-pelting and terror have come down in recent time, for which the central government must be appreciated, Joshi said.

Kumar is the former prant pracharak of the Jammu and Kashmir chapter of the RSS.

The meeting, being held at Keshav Dham here, will take stock of the work done by the Sanghs various organisations, an RSS leader, who did not want to be named, said.

Senior Sangh functionaries Dattatreya Hosabale and Krishna Gopal, and VHPs Pravin Togadia were present at the meeting.

UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is expected to join the conclave tomorrow, the RSS leader said.

Shah, along with BJP organisation secretary Ram Lal, reached earlier on Friday after a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the national capital.

Issues such as the recent violence in Haryana after the conviction of Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim in rape cases will also be discussed, he said.

Some state BJP leaders are also likely to attend the meeting.

RSS prachar pramukh Manmohan Vaidya had called the meet a routine affair and said it was a platform for all sections of the Sangh to share details of the work done by them in their respective fields.

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
Former President Donald Trump has slammed President Joe Biden for the current situation at the southern border. The U.S. Border Patrol has arrested more than 100,000 migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border last month, the tenth consecutive month of increased apprehensions.

It had declined in April 2020 when the pandemic forced the closure of the border. However, migrant crossings are increasing once again, causing a border crisis during Biden's first month in office.

According to a Fox News report, Donald Trump said that he and Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador had a "great relationship" with the same interest in controlling illegal immigration.

"We had a very good relationship. They had 28,000 soldiers on our border while we were building the wall... and they were also stopping them at their northern border by Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala," Trump told "Fox News Primetime."

Donald Trump added that illegal immigrants are coming in from everywhere and pouring into the country and "they are going to destroy our country if we don't do something about it."

He also mentioned the Border Patrol leadership, saying it was a disastrous one. He also cited Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials willing to remove these "convicted criminals" but that Biden will not let them.

READ NEXT: Cotton, Greene Slam Biden for Causing 'Superspreader' After Migrants Released Into U.S. Test Positive

Migrants Influx

Last month, the apprehension of migrants crossing the border was higher than the typical monthly number in recent years, except for the dramatic rise in 2019 during the Trump administration.

In response, the Trump administration implemented a series of new restrictions to block migrants from traveling to the U.S. to seek asylum.

One of these policies is the "Remain in Mexico" program, which Biden suspended as part of his efforts to reverse some of Trump's immigration policies.

According to a Pew Research report, Mexican migrants comprise the greater share of apprehensions in the recent past, while Central Americans account for a smaller portion.

Forty-two percent of those detained at the southwestern border of Mexican origin increased from 13 percent in May 2019.

On the other hand, migrants from El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras account for 46 percent of apprehensions in February. This was a decline from 78 percent in May 2019.

Seventy-one percent of the apprehended are single adults, while people traveling families and unaccompanied minors are 20 percent and 10 percent, respectively.

Unaccompanied migrant children can only be detained no longer than the three-day limit due to lack of space at holding facilities. After the limit, children should be transferred to relatives or sponsors.

Meanwhile, Mexican authorities reported on Tuesday that 20 migrants were held at a highway checkpoint for using fake paperwork with letterhead from the United Nations refugee agency, UNCHR.

The migrants showed letters allegedly from the UNCHR stating that they were refugees and had requested refugee status, ABC News Go reported.

Mexico's National Immigration Institute said the documents were confirmed to be falsified by UN officials. Mexico's immigration department said the detained migrants were from Honduras and El Salvador.

READ MORE: Texas Gov. Abbott Places Troops in Borders Amid Immigration Crisis

WATCH: Psaki: The Biden Administration Doesn't Take Immigration Advice From Trump - From Bloomberg Quicktake: Now




UTSA alumni can take pride in knowing a member of the Roadrunner family is part of the reason effective coronavirus vaccines are now forging a path forward.

When the coronavirus pandemic was set into motion this time last year, shuttering the UTSA campus, an assistant professor of chemistry at UTSA, Francis Yoshimoto, lent his skills and newfound free-time to the global community, by diving into SARS-CoV-2 research.

As shared on Tuesday, March 16, in UTSA Today, Yoshimotos research was twice cited by the World Health Organization (WHO), a centralizing leader in assessing and combating the global pandemic. Its a big deal for research scientists.

I wasnt expecting to be cited by the WHO, and I am glad that my research was able to make a positive impact, Yoshimoto told UTSA Today.

The San Antonio-based chemistry professors published work featured in The Protein Journal, which publishes groundbreaking original research in scientific fields, brought his work to a global stage. His research offered a valuable understanding of how COVID-19 works, eventually spurring the development of vaccines and therapeutic treatments for patients.

Little was known about SARS-CoV-2 at the time, and I felt compelled to making a useful tool to aid in global research efforts, Yoshimoto said. I used biochemical research databases and software to compile and analyze what was currently known about similar viruses.

One way he did this was through analyzing and comparing protein sequences in SARS-CoV-1, the virus strain which caused a SARS outbreak in 2003, to the novel coronavirus.

Yoshimotos Protein Journal paper The Proteins of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus2 (SARS-CoV2 or nCOV19), the Cause of COVID19 has been cited 144 times, the WHO amongst them.

When youre able to sign up for the vaccine this spring or summer, remember to think of Professor Yoshimotos contributions to your health.

Camille Sauers is a freelance writer based in San Antonio. Find her on Twitter @camillesaccount. Send her emails to camillefrancissauers@gmail.com.
DARIEN  While town officials  including Republican First Selectman Jayme Stevenson  have continued to voice their opposition of proposed state housing bills, some local Democrats have expressed their support.

It was nearly midnight when Stevenson testified late Monday night, saying Darien opposes as of right (without public hearing) multi-family housing development within a half-mile of transit stations and a quarter-mile of Main Street corridors.

Stevenson served as vice president of the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities. Its president, Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin, said the CCM endorsed the bills. Sen. Tony Hwang, who represents Easton, Fairfield, Newtown, Weston and Westport, asked Stevenson if she felt the CCM had been fully in support of the proposed bills.

My goal was to join the committee to work with my peers to collaborate, she said.

Stevenson also pointed out that no other agenda or ideas were brought to the table for discussion other than the Desegregate CT agenda, and said Sara Bronin, founder of Desegregate CT and the Hartford mayors wife, was part of the discussions.

She said she had maintained her objection to the above factors of the bill. She pointed out that the train station proximity that would enable as of right development left almost the entire town in that zone.

Stevenson also said she volunteered to work with her peers on the CCM because she feels Darien has been wrongly criticized for not having enough affordable housing.

I hope I have dispelled that notion tonight and shown that we are not only doing our fair share, we are exceeding our fair share, Stevenson said.

She also added that all Connecticut municipalities must create an affordable housing plan, which is due next year under state statute.

Why not let us have the chance to do that work, come back to this at that time, she said.

Rep. Michael Winkler, D-Vernon, said the 8-30j doesnt include any enforcement aspect and towns can create a plan and put it on a shelf like a Plan of Conservation and Development.

Stevenson pointed out that Darien refers to and works with its POCD. She also pointed out in terms of state equity, the discussion should also be directed to the state education board to create more equal education experiences for all towns and cities.

However, Darien resident Christopher Janson, co-founder of Darien Talks Housing, said he disagreed with Stevensons position on transit-oriented development. He also said that despite the towns progress with affordable housing, Darien should still partner with others to create more.

Stevenson also pointed out the Western Connecticut Council of Governments, which includes Danbury, Stamford, Brookfield, Darien, Sherman, Westport, Wilton, Bridgewater, Bethel, New Canaan, New Milford, Norwalk, Ridgefield and more, also issued opposition to Senate Bill 804.

Executive Director Frances Pickering pointed out in a letter to members of the housing committee that it was for good reason that the changes SB 804 had not been adopted by any other state.

SB 804 represents an extremist deregulatory agenda that does not serve the people of Connecticut, and WestCOG urges you to reject it as such, Pickering wrote.

In response to an inquiry, Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff, D-Norwalk, who also represents part of Darien, said the discussion of Connecticuts zoning laws at the Planning & Development Committee is important about how our state can increase our housing stock, attract more residents to Connecticut, and unleash more of our economic potential.

Duff said he was encouraged by the interest in this topic and the number of residents testifying. He also said he hopes it is an opportunity for people to not only speak but to also listen and hear the opinions of all our communities.

Lets tune out the over-the-top rhetoric and look to how we can work together. No, Hartford is not taking over local zoning. No, home rule as outlined in our state Constitution is not changing, Duff said.

He added that Senate Bill 1024, in particular, was developed with the technical expertise of planners and zoning enforcement officials serving towns all over the state.

Local town organizations and political committees have held various discussions about the bills. Darien Talks Housing recently invited Sara Bronin and others to discuss the Desegregate CT agenda.

The Darien Republican Town Committee also recently held a forum to discuss the bills.

Local control over zoning has been a hot-button issue in the last year, especially during elections. During the November election and even the recent special election, volunteers reported seeing campaign signs in Darien indicating one or the other party does not support local zoning.

Darien Republican Town Committee Chairman Alexander Davidson said there is strong opposition in town to the bills, including registered Democrats, unaffiliated voters as well as Republicans.

Most residents, new and longtime, seem to explicitly understand that decisions about development in our small town are best made by us, not some unaccountable bureaucracy in Hartford. So, once they understand what is actually in these bills, they are becoming rather alarmed, Davidson said.

Randy Klein, a founding member of the Action Network of Darien Democrats, said the proposed legislation will not only address the long-standing segregation issues in our communities and state, but also address the economic and environmental challenges we face which were highlighted in last springs Black Lives Matter marches.

I attended a number of presentations representing both viewpoints and it was clear that Darien has already done much of what is being proposed, he said.

It is unclear why elected officials in Darien would choose to take an oppositional position to this legislation. The fact is Darien is uniquely positioned to lead on zoning and has failed to seize the opportunity, he said.

State Rep. Terrie Wood, R-Rowayton, who also represents Darien, recently pointed out that part of the proposed bills includes the right to build multi-family units anywhere within a half-mile of a transit station and reduced parking requirements for developments.

As proposed, none of these would need to go through local Planning & Zoning Commissions. The goal of this from Hartford bureaucrats is to encourage development of more affordable housing in high-opportunity zones, Wood said.

A more practical alternative to create more affordable housing in towns is by allowing accessory dwelling units (sometimes known as granny apartments) in certain zones; changing affordable housing thresholds based on specific income levels of municipalities, Wood said.

She added that one size does not fit all and 10 percent is not a magic number.

David Bayne, chairman of Dariens Democratic Town Committee, told Hearst Connecticut Media the state legislatures Planning & Development Committee is hearing important bills relating to zoning and how best to ensure economic growth, equity and affordable housing.

Unfortunately, some are using scare tactics, fear mongering and false information to manufacture a political wedge issue and drum up blanket opposition to these proposals, Bayne said.

In considering the proposals under discussion, Bayne said Dariens residents should keep in mind that no change to local home rule is being proposed, nor is a state takeover of local zoning under consideration.

My hope is that Dariens leaders will join CCM and the leaders of other towns in supporting these efforts so that meaningful progress can be made with respect to economic growth, equity and affordable housing in Connecticut, Bayne said.

Darien Planning & Zoning Commission Chairman Steve Olvany recently submitted testimony to the state on various bills proposed and how they could negatively impact the town.

Olvany said while the proposals purport to have admirable/desirable goals, the towns P&Z Commission strongly believes these areas are best handled by Darien officials.

State Rep. Matt Blumenthal, D-Stamford, who also represents part of Darien, said in general, I believe we must do more to make housing in Connecticut  especially Fairfield County  more affordable.

But its also important to strike a balance that ensures municipalities have sufficient discretion to suit the needs of their specific communities. Ive been speaking with numerous constituents about their concerns about these issues, and will be reviewing the testimony at the public hearings, Blumenthal said.

Stevenson has issued an invitation to Dariens state legislators to come to the town for a discussion on the bills. Wood has been the only one to respond, she said.

Duffs assistant told Stevenson the senator would consider a more detailed conversation on these issues once a bill or bills passes the relevant committees and is ready for action in ether the House or Senate.

Stevenson told Hearst Connecticut Media said she felt the most important time to hear the voices of those you represent is before and during the committee hearing process.
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CHICAGO, March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the new market research report "Cell Lysis/Cell Fractionation Market by Product (Consumables (Enzymes, Detergent), Instruments (Sonicators)), Cell Type (Mammalian), Application (Protein Purification), End User (Biopharmaceutical & Biotechnology Companies) - Global Forecast to 2026", published by MarketsandMarkets, the global Cell Lysis Market Size is projected to reach USD 4.1 billion by 2026 from USD 2.9 billion in 2021, at a CAGR of 7.2%.

Browse in-depth TOC on "Cell Lysis/Cell Fractionation Market"

150  Tables

40  Figures

172  Pages

Download PDF Brochure: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=260138321

The growth in this market is attributed to the increasing government funding for research, high prevalence of diseases, and growing focus on personalized medicine.

Consumables accounted for the larger share of the cell lysis market in 2020

Based on the product, the market is segmented into consumables and instruments. In 2020, the consumables segment accounted for the larger share of the cell fractionation market. The large share of this segment can be attributed to repeated purchase and high consumption, the high prevalence of diseases, and increasing funding for cell-based research.

By cell type, the mammalian cells segment accounted for the largest market share in 2020

Based on the cell type, the market is segmented into mammalian cell, microbial cell and other cell. The mammalian cell segment accounted for the largest market share in 2020. The increasing investments in research activities to develop new disease treatments and industrial applications are major driving factors for this market.

Research laboratories and institutes are the largest end-users of the cell lysis market

Based on end-users, the cell fractionation market is segmented into research laboratories & institutes, biopharmaceutical & biotechnology companies, and other end users. The research laboratories & institutes segment accounted for the largest market share in 2020 due to the increasing number of rising government funding for cell-based research.

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North America dominates the global cell lysis market

The cell fractionation market is segmented into four major regional segments, namely, North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Rest of the World. In 2018, North America accounted for the largest share of the market. The large share of North America can be attributed to factors such as the Growing stem cell and cancer research activities and the expanding biotechnology & pharmaceutical industries

The major players in the cell lysis market are Thermo Fisher Scientific (US), Merck KGaA (Germany), Becton, Dickinson and Company (US), Danaher Corporation (US), Bio-Rad Laboratories (US), Cell Signaling Technology Inc. (US), Miltenyi Biotec (Germany), Roche Diagnostics (Switzerland), and QIAGEN N.V. (Netherlands).

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Browse Adjacent Markets: Biotechnology Market Research Reports & Consulting

Browse Related Reports:

Nucleic Acid Isolation and Purification Market by Product (Kit, Reagent, Instrument), Method (Column, Magnetic Beads), Type (Genomic DNA, Plasmid DNA, miRNA), Application (Drug Discovery, Precision Medicine), End User (Academic) - Global Forecast to 2025

https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/nucleic-acid-isolation-purification-market-229978287.html

Cell Isolation/Cell Separation Market by Product (Reagents, Beads, Centrifuge), Cell Type (Human, Animal), Cell Source (Bone Marrow, Adipose), Technique (Filtration), Application (Cancer, IVD), End-User (Hospitals, Biotechnology) - Global Forecast to 2025

https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/cell-isolation-market-103931479.html

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The Daily Beast

Criminal ComplaintA Pennsylvania man accused of assaulting several Capitol Police officers during the Jan. 6 insurrectionand leaving one with a concussionhas an extensive history of violent and assaultive behavior against women, prosecutors said Wednesday.Ryan Samsel, 38, was charged in February with several crimes, including assaulting a federal officer, obstructing law enforcement, and obstructing a legal proceeding, after he was captured in videos and photos knocking over several officers
Varanasi : , March 17 (IANS) The post-graduate specialised course in 'Kashi Studies', has been finalised by the social sciences faculty of the Banaras Hindu University (BHU).

Official sources said the course has been decided and the same now has to go to the board of studies, which will review and approve it.

Later, it will go to the academic council, which will complete the formalities. The next academic council is expected in April-end when the course is likely to be passed.

Dean of the Social Sciences Faculty, Professor Kaushal Kishore Mishra said the subject will be a part of the MA history course from the next academic session.

Students pursuing the course will get an MA degree in history along with specialisation in 'Kashi Studies'.

"We are preparing a full course on Kashi Studies under the History Department of the Social Sciences Faculty. Our expert committee has approved the course. Under the course, students will study everything about Kashi (Varanasi) in detail, including its history, festivals, fairs, culture, religious significance, way of living, Ghats, temples, political and social journey and importance in freedom struggle," he said.

Given the increasing importance of Kashi at the global level, with the city being transformed and developed as a hub of religious tourism, a lot of people will be interested in learning about the city.

He said, "For example, when tourists come to Kashi, they search for learned guides but do not find any, because the existing guides do not know enough about the city. Being a tourist guide is one of many possibilities this course can provide. The students opting for the course will have history as their subject and 'Kashi Studies' as a specialization course. The student can also clear the National Eligibility Test (NET) exams." The course will also help students decipher the mystique of the heritage city through academia.

Students from India and abroad who have an interest in understanding the mystery of Kashi can take admission in the course. This will teach them about the city which is one of the oldest in the world and is a symbol of life, and used to be known for its streets. The religious culture, musical tradition and sculpture art of Kashi always attracts and mesmerizes the world.

Students will also get a chance to understand the works of Tulsidas, Kabir, Premchand, Gautam Buddha, Ravidas and other saints in the course that will span across four semesters.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Wagner College was one of 35 colleges and universities across New York state to receive grant funding for capital projects.

Wager College will receive $839,175 out of the total $57.2 million in available grant money from the Higher Education Capital Matching Grant Program. The funding will be used to renovate the Harborview Residence Hall.

The Higher Education Capital Matching Grant Program awards support projects that provide increased training in health sciences through the construction of new laboratory and research spaces, new instructional technologies, medical equipment, and a variety of other improvements.

As New York builds back, these investments are targeted to help attract and train people for the health sciences jobs that New York needs as we continue to reopen and reimagine our economy, and to strengthen and enhance our world-leading institutions of higher education, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said.

This grant program provides our students with the tools they need to thrive and become New Yorks future leaders, scientists and frontline workers, he continued.

In addition to providing important upgrades and new technology, the grant program helps to create construction jobs.

Campuses that receive grants are required to invest at least $3 of their own money for every $1 of state funds they receive. Wagner College would be required to invest over $2 million of its own funds.

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Twin sisters and Tralee natives Mary Costelloe and Anita Buschtoens are nurses in the UK who are both fully vaccinated and who have offered to travel to Kerry to help local GPs with their vaccinations

Two Tralee nurses who are working in the UK are offering their services to any GPs here in Tralee who may need extra staff to help with the vaccination roll-out programme.

Mary Costelloe, a qualified nurse for the past 26 years along with her twin sister Anita Buschtoens are both fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and have annual leave holidays coming up.

They told The Kerryman this week that they are willing, if allowed, to travel back to Kerry on April 9 where they said they will be willing to work all the 10 days of their holidays to help local GP's with their vaccination rollout.
Dimensions and criteria used to evaluate capacity to establish an equitable, sustainable, and viable Blue Economy ('Blue Economy Capacity) Credit: Andres Cisneros-Montemayor

The future of an equitable and sustainable global ocean, or "Blue Economy," depends on more than the resources available for technological advancement and industry expansion. A recent UBC-led study found that socioeconomic and governance conditions such as national stability, corruption and human rights greatly affect the ability to achieve a Blue Economy.

The study, published today in Nature, scored criteria across five global regions: Africa, Americas, Asia, Europe and Oceania, to identify the areas of investment and research necessary to develop ocean resources in a manner that is consistent with a Blue Economy ethos (socially equitable, environmentally sustainable and economically viable). These included: infrastructure, investment, economic and group equity, gender equality, human rights, biodiversity, habitat, water quality, corruption, and national stability.

"We found that there are considerable differences between regions, where some are focused primarily on resources, whereas others are really trying to make sure that development is meeting local social and cultural objectives," said lead author Andres Cisneros-Montemayor, research associate for the Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries at the University of British Columbia and deputy director of the Nippon Foundation Ocean Nexus Center. "For all countries, including Canada, the most important question we need to be asking is, how are we going to make sure that we develop those resources in ways that actually benefit local communities? Otherwise we're back to business-as-usual, where only a few benefit from ocean resources. This is what the Blue Economy is trying to change."

Distribution of dimension scores across oceans, regions, and development groups. Credit: Gabriel Reygondeau

As natural resources are widely but unevenly distributed across the oceans, many areas will be unable to competitively develop multiple sectors. It is, therefore, important to choose and manage sectors carefully, as development for sectors like ecotourism, fishing, mariculture, or others, can be important at local scales but may not be ecologically sustainable or socially desirable at larger scales. Ocean-based development plans for Asia and Europe, for example, do prioritize mariculture and tourism, but also sectors such as shipping, port construction, and large-scale ocean energy projects which have potential for economic growth, but unclear benefits for local communities. Oceania, on the other hand, has prioritized community objectives, traditional resource uses, and emerging sectors that can be developed in accordance with local goals. In other words, more focus on developing and transforming their ocean economies to advance equity and sustainability.

"Canada is in a great position to be a leader on this, with coastlines on three oceans and a lot of local knowledge and capacity to develop sectors carefully," said Cisneros-Montemayor. "It is currently in the process of developing it Blue Economy plan, yet, we are now seeing that the draft, which at the time our study was just being prepared, is very much focused on new technologies. Yet, as a nation, Canada has very publicly focused on equity, inclusion and deeper issues such as Indigenous reconciliation. We have to make sure that those national priorities are fully part of Canada's Blue Economy strategy and create an example that others can learn from. And yet these priorities are not currently reflected in its Blue Economy draft. What is happening in the oceans is not fundamentally different than the issues happening at a national level."

"History has taught us that having rich natural resources does not necessarily support sustainable development, and this applies to ocean economies as well" said William Cheung, co-author on the paper, professor in the Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries and Canada Research Chair in Ocean Sustainability and Global Change). "Global and local investment in the blue economy needs to prioritize in enhancing knowledge and their accessibility, developing appropriate and effective governance, improving social equity and reducing risks to the ocean such as from biodiversity loss and climate change."

Explore further Achieving a safe and just future for the ocean economy

More information: Enabling conditions for an equitable and sustainable blue economy, Nature (2021). dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41586-021-03327-3 Journal information: Nature Enabling conditions for an equitable and sustainable blue economy,(2021). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-021-03327-3
On Friday, March 19, at 12.00, the press center of the Interfax-Ukraine news agency will host a roundtable talk entitled "Aggravation in All Areas of Ukrainian Politics - Who and Why Needs it Today?" Participants include expert of Hardarika Strategic Consulting Corporation Kostiantyn Matviyenko; Director of the Institute of Global Strategies Vadym Karasiov; rector of the Ukrainian Barometer sociological service Viktor Nebozhenko; PhD in Political Sciences Ihor Petrenko (8/5a Reitarska Street). The press conference will be available on the YouTube channel of Interfax-Ukraine. Admission of journalists requires registration on the spot.
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A woman who was charged with resisting arrest and trespassing after refusing to wear a face mask inside of a Galveston bank is now in custody after officers were called to make her leave another business on Wednesday, according to police.

Terry Wright, 65, was arrested Wednesday by the Texas City Police Department after officers were called to an Office Depot in Texas City because Wright would not wear a mask inside of the business or leave, according to law enforcement officials.
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Mary Schenk is a reporter covering police, courts and breaking news at The News-Gazette. Her email is mschenk@news-gazette.com, and you can follow her on Twitter (@schenk).
The devastated children of a woman whose home was destroyed by fire believe her ex-partner deliberately lit the blaze because he had a desire to cause her harm.

Kerrie McRae's home of 17 years in Lucindale, southeast South Australia, was burnt to the ground just before 11pm on February 28, leaving her with nothing but the clothes she was wearing.

Police were quick to announce the blaze was being treated as suspicious and said they were investigating possible links between the fire and a fatal single-vehicle crash an hour later about 20km away at Avenue.

Ms McRae's ex-partner of 10 years, Craig Daniel, 58, was killed in the crash.

She was earlier in the night forced to flee her home after Mr Daniel allegedly arrived with a nail gun in hand, her daughter Tilly told NCA Newswire.

Kerrie McRae's home in Lucindale, southeast South Australia, was completely destroyed in a blaze believed to have been deliberately lit by her ex-partner. Ms McRae is pictured with her children Jack, Tilly and Michael and her mother

'Mum somehow got that off him and could tell he was there to do damage or cause harm,' Tilly, 23, said.

Ms McRae frantically ran to a nearby home to give a statement to police, before asking officers to walk her home, where she discovered her property engulfed in flames.

The couple had split two years ago but Tilly said Mr Daniel 'wasn't doing well' mentally and was struggling to cope with the separation.

She said she believed Mr Daniel had gone to her mother's home with the intention of hurting her because he could not accept the pair were no longer together.

'He still wanted to stay with mum but they had quite a few issues in the past and mum was at the point that she didn't want to be with him anymore,' Tilly said.

'He didn't like to take no for an answer and I think he was in the mindset that if he can't have her, then no one can. He was at that breaking point.'

Ms McRae's home of 17 years was destroyed by fire just before 11pm on February 28. Pictured, the aftermath of the blaze

Tilly said Mr Daniel would often arrive at her mother's home intoxicated and had verbally abused her in the past.

A GoFundMe page has been set-up to by Tilly and her two siblings Michael and Jack to help get their mother back on her feet. So far almost $15,000 has been raised.

'We are using this page as a platform for those who want to help and show support but are unsure how,' a statement on the fundraising page said.

'There are a lot of things that have been lost that cannot be replaced but any bit of help no matter how small will go a long way to help Kerrie get back on her feet.'

Ms McRae is currently staying with a friend nearby.
~ Transaction Anticipated to Close by End of March ~

VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / March 17, 2021 / VanGold Mining Corp (the "Company" or "VanGold") (TSXV:VGLD) is pleased to announce it has signed a definitive asset purchase agreement with Endeavour Silver Corp. ("Endeavour") (NYSE:EXK) (TSX:EDR) to acquire the El Cubo mine and mill complex (the "El Cubo Complex") located 8km by road northeast of the Company's El Pinguico silver-gold project near the city of Guanajuato, Mexico.

Closing the El Cubo Acquisition:

On March 16, 2021 the Company signed a definitive asset purchase agreement with Endeavour (the "Endeavour Agreement") to acquire the El Cubo Complex, finalizing the binding letter agreement entered into by VanGold and Endeavour on December 17, 2020. VanGold anticipates completing the purchase of the El Cubo Complex from Endeavour by the end of March, 2021, with the signing of customary closing documents in Mexico and Canada.

Chairman and CEO James Anderson said: "Everyone at VanGold is excited to be completing the Endeavour Agreement and looks forward to welcoming Endeavour as our largest shareholder. Immediately after closing, we will focus all our attention on refurbishing the El Cubo mill in order to begin processing mineralized material later this year."

VanGold's newest advisory board member Ramon Davila said: "With this acquisition VanGold can readily combine the El Cubo and El Pinguico assets to create Mexico's newest silver and gold producing company. The availability of mineralized material from El Pinguico's historic stockpiles and El Cubo's current resources, as well as a new approach from management, gives us great flexibility in deciding where to source material for the mill, and how to sequence that throughput. As a graduate of the University of Guanajuato School of Mines, it is very satisfying to see both of these past producing mines returning to operating status, and taking their rightful place within the Guanajuato mining district that has been the source of so many successful mining operations."

Story continues

El Cubo Complex:

As part of the El Cubo Complex, VanGold will acquire the El Cubo mine including silver and gold resources outlined below, the El Cubo floatation mill, and approximately 7,000 hectares of prospective mining concessions located adjacent to El Cubo and within the greater Guanajuato mine region.

In the coming months, the Company intends to refurbish the El Cubo mill and begin processing resources from both its El Pinguico and El Cubo properties (the "Combined Project") beginning in Q4, 2021, ramping up to a throughput of ~750 tonnes per day. As a result of the Company's recently completed non-brokered private placement announced March 10, 2021, the Company will have cash on hand of approximately C$6.55 million. This is after giving effect to the US$7.0 million cash payment - plus 16% Mexican VAT where applicable - to Endeavour on closing of the Endeavour Agreement - see "The Endeavour Agreement" below. Current funds will be used to refurbish the El Cubo mill, begin processing resources and carry out additional exploration and definition drilling at the Combined Project.

According to the Company's recently announced PEA from Behre Dolbear and Company (USA) Inc., ("Behre") the Combined Project contains total indicated resources of 718,655 tonnes grading 160 gpt Ag and 1.90 gpt Au, or 306 gpt AgEq, which equates to 7.2 M oz AgEq; and total inferred resources of 1,453,000 tonnes grading 214 gpt Ag and 2.78 gpt Au, or 435 gpt AgEq, which equates to 20.4 M oz AgEq. These estimates use a 1:80 ratio for Au and Ag prices.

Behre prepared a discounted cash flow model for the Combined Project to determine the Net Present Value (NPV), Internal Rate of Return (IRR), Initial Capital and Sustaining Capital, and payback period. Cash flow estimates were prepared on an after-tax basis and in accordance with NI 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for PEA studies, using Base Case metal prices of $19.49/oz for silver and $1527/oz for gold. The PEA considers a plan to ramp up to a 750 tonne-per-day operation, with an initial mine life of 7.0 years. On an after-tax basis, the Combined Project generates a Base Case NPV (5%) of $32.9 M and an IRR of 105%, excluding El Cubo acquisition costs. Using commodity prices of $22.41/oz Ag and $1756/oz Au, which are +15% above the Base Case the after-tax NPV (5%) is $79.0 M and the IRR is 344%. Behre calculates a Base Case payback period of 1.87 years.

Behre's PEA provides us with a high-level view of VanGold's plan to process resources from both El Pinguico and El Cubo at a centrally located mill. This study is an important step in unlocking value for all stakeholders at the Combined Project in Guanajuato.

The PEA summarized above is preliminary in nature, is based on numerous assumptions and includes the use mineral resources including inferred mineral resources considered too speculative geologically to have the economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as mineral reserves. There is no certainty the PEA will be realized. Mineral Resources that are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability and may be materially affected by environmental, permitting, legal, title, socio-political, marketing, and other relevant issues. See the Company's news release dated February 16, 2021 for a more complete description of the key parameters, assumptions and risks associated with the PEA.

Current Mineral Resources at the Combined Project:

The Mineral Resource estimates for the Combined Project detailed in the Behre's NI 43-101 PEA (effective date Jan. 31, 2021) are shown below in tables for El Cubo and for El Pinguico respectively.

The remaining Mineral Resources in 2021 at El Cubo, are shown in Table 1.1 and total approximately 1.96 million tonnes. Mineral Reserves have not been identified for El Cubo.

Table 1.1

Estimate of the Remaining El Cubo Mineral Resources as of 31 December 2020 Classification Tonnes Silver Gold Silver Eq g/t g/t Oz g/t oz Measured None Indicated 508,055 194 3,169,000 2.44 39,860 389 Inferred 1,453,000 214 10,004,000 2.78 129,900 435 Notes: 1. Silver Equivalent calculated using 1 ounce of gold is equal to 80 ounces of silver, on the basis of the average 5-year historic silver and gold prices. 2. Numbers have been rounded.

The Mineral Resources in 2021 at El Pinguico are shown in Table 1.2 and total approximately 210,000 tonnes. Mineral Reserves have not been identified for El Pinguico.

Table 1.2.......

El Pinguico Mineral Resources as of 31 December 2020 Classification Tonnes Silver Gold Silver Eq g/t g/t oz g/t oz Measured None Indicated Surface Stockpile 185,000 67 398,500 0.45 2,680 103 Underground Stockpile 25,600 166 136,600 1.67 1,375 300 Total 210,600 79 535,100 0.60 4,055 127 Notes: 1. Silver Equivalent calculated using 1 ounce of gold is equal to 80 ounces of silver, on the basis of the average 5-year historic silver and gold prices. 2. Numbers have been rounded.

Mineral Resources that are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. There has been insufficient exploration to allow for the classification of the inferred resources at El Cubo as an indicated or measured mineral resource, however, it is reasonably expected that the majority of the inferred mineral resources could be upgraded to indicated or measured mineral resources with continued exploration. There is no guarantee that any part of the mineral resources discussed herein will be converted into a mineral reserve in the future.

The Endeavour Agreement:

As announced by the Company on Dec. 18, 2020, VanGold will pay US$15,000,000 for the El Cubo Complex as follows:

An upfront non-refundable down-payment of US$500,000 cash (paid).

US$7.0m cash on closing.

US$5.0m in VanGold common shares on closing - priced at C$0.30 per share for a total of 21,331,058 VanGold shares.

US$2.5m promissory note due 12 months from closing.

Endeavour has agreed to (a) abstain from voting its shares of VanGold, other than as recommended by VanGold's management, for a period of 2 years and (b) a 12-month restriction on the resale of any VanGold shares acquired in this transaction.

VanGold has also agreed to pay Endeavour up to an additional US$3.0m in contingent payments based on the following:

US$1.0m - upon VanGold producing 3,000,000 AgEq ounces at the El Cubo mill, derived from either the El Cubo or El Pinguico properties.

US$1.0m - if the price of gold closes at or above US$2,000 per ounce for 20 consecutive days within two years after closing.

US$1.0 m - if the price of gold closes at or above US$2,200 per ounce for 20 consecutive days within three years after closing.

About Endeavour:

Endeavour Silver Corp. is a mid-tier precious metals mining company listed on the NYSE:EXK and TSX:EDR. Endeavour owns and operates three underground silver-gold mines in Mexico and is currently advancing the Terronera Mine Project towards a development decision. Endeavour is also exploring its portfolio of exploration and development projects in Mexico and Chile to facilitate its goal to become a premier senior silver producer.

About VanGold Mining Corp.:

VanGold Mining is an exploration and development company engaged in reactivating past producing silver and gold mines near the city of Guanajuato, Mexico. The Company's El Pinguico project is a significant past producer of both silver and gold located just 7 kilometers south of the city. Upon closing of the El Cubo acquisition, the Company will focus on the refurbishment of the El Cubo mill, and swift commencement of production from the El Cubo and El Pinguico Combined Operation, as well as delineating additional silver and gold resources through underground and surface drilling on its projects located in this 480 year old mining camp.

Hernan Dorado Smith, a director of VanGold and a "qualified person" as defined by National Instrument 43-101, Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, has approved the scientific and technical information contained in this news release.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

"James Anderson"

Chairman and CEO

For further information regarding VanGold Mining Corp, please contact:

James Anderson, Director, +1 (778) 989-5346

Email: james@vangoldmining.com

Continue to watch our progress at: www.vangoldmining.com

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains certain forward-looking statements and information, which relate to future events or future performance including, but not limited to, the successful acquisition of El Cubo on the terms and conditions contemplated, the proposed use of proceeds from VanGold's recently completed private placement financing, the ability of VanGold to successfully re-start the El Cubo mill and supply sufficient mineralized material from El Cubo and El Pinguico for processing through the El Cubo mill at projected rates, the ability to generate positive cash flow from the El Cubo mill as contemplated or at all, the exploration and development potential of El Cubo and El Pinguico and the potential existence of additional mineral resources thereon. Such forward-looking statements reflect management's current beliefs and are based on assumptions made by and information currently available to the Company. Readers are cautioned that these forward-looking statements are neither promises nor guarantees, and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause future results to differ materially from those expected including, but not limited to, market conditions, availability of financing, currency rate fluctuations, actual results of exploration and development activities, unanticipated geological formations and characteristics, environmental risks, future prices of gold, silver and other metals, operating risks, accidents, labor issues, delays in obtaining governmental or regulatory approvals and permits, and other risks in the mining industry. There are no assurances that VanGold will successfully complete the acquisition of El Cubo on the terms contemplated or at all or, if acquired, that the Company will be able to re-start the El Cubo mill to process mineralized materials in the amounts and at the costs anticipated. In addition, there is uncertainty about the spread of COVID-19 and the impact it will have on the Company's operations, supply chains, ability to access El Pinguico or El Cubo or procure equipment, contractors and other personnel on a timely basis or at all and economic activity in general. All the forward-looking statements made in this news release are qualified by these cautionary statements and those in our continuous disclosure filings available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances save as required by law.

Cautionary Note for U.S. Investors regarding Reserve and Resource Estimates

Canadian public disclosure standards, including NI 43-101, differ significantly from the requirements of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") set forth in Industry Guide 7 ("Industry Guide 7"), and information concerning mineralization, deposits, mineral reserve and resource information contained or referred to herein may not be comparable to similar information disclosed by U.S. companies in accordance with Industry Guide 7. In particular, but without limiting the generality of the foregoing, this news release uses the terms "measured mineral resources", indicated mineral resources'' and inferred mineral resources''. U.S. investors are advised that, while such terms are recognized and required by Canadian securities laws, Industry Guide 7 does not recognize them. U.S. investors should also understand that "inferred mineral resources" have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence and great uncertainty as to their economic and legal feasibility. It cannot be assumed that all or any part of "inferred mineral resources" exist, are economically or legally mineable or will ever be upgraded to a higher category. Under Canadian securities laws, estimated "inferred mineral resources" may not form the basis of feasibility or pre-feasibility studies except in rare cases. Disclosure of "contained ounces" in a mineral resource is permitted disclosure under Canadian securities laws. However, Industry Guide 7 normally only permits issuers to report mineralization that does not constitute "reserves" by Industry Guide 7 standards as in place tonnage and grade, without reference to unit measures. Accordingly, information concerning mineral deposits set forth herein may not be comparable with information made public by companies that report in accordance with Industry Guide 7.

VANGOLD MINING CORP.

PH: +1(778) 989-5346 E: info@vangoldmining.com W: vangoldmining.com

CA: Suite 2820 - 200 Granville Street, Vancouver B.C. V6C 1S4

MX: Carretera - Guanajuato - Silao km 5.5, Int 4, Col. Marfil CP36250, Guanajuato, Gto., Mexico

SOURCE: Vangold Mining Corp.





View source version on accesswire.com:

https://www.accesswire.com/635980/VanGold-Signs-Definitive-Purchase-Agreement-with-Endeavour-Silver-Corp




A highly anticipated and desperately needed $353 million rental relief fund will open up to New Jersey renters who havent been able to make payments over the last year after the coronavirus pandemic upended their lives.

The fund will open for applications on March 22 at 9 a.m. on the Department of Community Affairs website. The program is not first come, first serve, and will remain open until an adequate number of people have submitted their applications, said Lt. Gov. Shiela Oliver at the press conference in Union City Tuesday afternoon.

Applicants can seek 12 months of rental assistance, paying for rent arrears incurred since March 13, 2020, and potentially for future rent payments, the department said in a statement. Eligible residents must be 18 or older, qualify for unemployment or seen a loss in income relating to the coronavirus pandemic, show a risk of housing instability, and have a household income below 80% of the median area income.

The fund could help 30,000 households, but thats a conservative estimate and it could be much more than that, said spokeswoman Lisa Ryan.

This pandemic has created a crisis for so many of our fellow New Jerseyans who are struggling to pay their rent because theyve lost jobs or arent bringing home as much money as they once did, said Oliver, who also serves as Commissioner of the Department of Community Affairs.

This is the toughest times of our life that we all face right now, and the money thats being given is being well spent to keep people in their home, and I think sometimes whats taken for granted is housing is not a luxury, its a necessity, said Sen. Brian Stack, D-Hudson, and also Union City Mayor.

The first payments could come as soon as May, and are made directly to the landlord. The department is also encouraging landlords to agree to a payment plan for rent arrears not covered by the assistance and to commit to not filing for eviction for non-payment of rent.

While renters are protected by the current eviction moratorium, which prevents landlords from locking tenants out or shutting off utilities through at least mid-May, landlords can still file for eviction over nonpayment of rent. The courts have not yet reopened for landlord-tenant court, but more than 60,000 evictions have been filed.

The $353 million is the second round of the COVID-19 Emergency Rental Assistance Program and is more than triple the first pot of money available that was available to renters in August. It is federally funded through the second stimulus package signed in late December 2020.

More than 15,000 households received help from the first round, a small percentage of the more than 60,000 applicants vying for the $100 million rental relief fund. But the department said it was able to help 7,000 more homes than origially expected with another $91.75 million allocated.

David Brogan, executive director of the New Jersey Apartment Association, said he was encouraged to see the state opening another rental assistance program, which will help landlords who have gone a year without revenue, but called on Gov. Phil Murphy to create a middle-class rental assistance program.

Decision makers need to recognize that failing to provide necessary rental assistance to those in need will have a domino effect on tenants, landlords, homeowners, municipalities and the state, Brogan said. The multifamily industry pays over a billion dollars a year in property taxes. Without rent revenue from either tenants or the government, there will be a massive property tax shift onto homeowners, which no one wants.

Housing and Community Development Network of New Jersey President Staci Berger also said while New Jersey is taking an enormous step in the right direction ... we need long-term solutions, like the Peoples Bill, to keep homeowners and renters safely housed when the public health emergency is lifted.

Roughly 30% of the first round of funds were allocated to homeless families, but theres no distinction made for that in this round, Ryan said.

Oliver urged anyone, including those who think they may not be eligible, to apply for the rental relief.

Every three months, the household will be reviewed to determine if the assistance is still needed, and if not, will be directed to other families. Renters who have previously received assistance in the first round can apply again.

The New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency, which provides funding for affordable housing, has also expanded its programs to include renter and pre-foreclosure housing. Counseling is also available for renters who need to approach their landlord for help.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Sophie Nieto-Munoz may be reached at snietomunoz@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her at @snietomunoz.

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Boston gangster James 'Whitey' Bulger's 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 week's Crime World podcast that the mobster murdered at will, often using information leaked to him by his handlers.

He believes the corrupted system that allowed such a high-level criminal inform on others while operating with virtual impunity is one of the greatest scandals in the history of law enforcement.

Kelly pushed hard during Bulger's high-profile trial to make sure evidence of his informer status was heard, and the prosecutor says that at times the mobster was more defensive about this than he was regarding the multiple murders he was accused of.

He says that he believes Bulger fought harder to save his reputation as an underworld heavy than he did for his freedom, knowing he would be under serious threat in prison as a known tout.

Kelly, who is one of the most respected lawyers in the US, tells the extraordinary story of Bulger during the podcast interview from his native Boston, where he now works for one of the city's top legal firms.

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He says while he prosecuted plenty of gangsters and criminals in his time, none were more menacing than Bulger, who was 81-years-old by the time he reached the dock.

"He was an old man at that time in 2013. But his demeanour was every bit as menacing as it had ever been. He was scary and there was an aura of viciousness about him. He gave off this thing that he was not to be trifled with and I was glad to have the marshalls nearby. He may have intimidated some of the jurors but I knew that he was no real threat.

"There were no guns in the courtroom, it wasn't as if he was going to be able to shoot anyone, but he would watch up to the judge and it felt like a lion stalking his prey," Kelly says.

Whitey grew up in an area of Boston known as 'Southie', predominately populated by Irish Catholics.

Growing up, he joined the local 'Winter Hill Gang' and worked first as an enforcer before eventaully taking over the crew, who were known as the Irish mafia and who had a fearsome reputation for extortion and gambling rackets as well as drug dealing.

Bulger was caught a number of times committing crime and spent time in prisons including Alcatraz, but he gained notoriety for being the most vicious of all the crime bosses in the area and beyond.

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"Bulger and his closest associates carried out crimes hands-on. A lot of the local mafia guys would have buffers or underlings to do their dirty work but not Bulger. He liked to get his hands dirty," he tells Crime World.

"Bulger and a few of his select crew members, they were a ruthless bunch and even the Italian mafia was afraid of them."

Bulger's mother was a first generation Irish immigrant and his father was a Canadian. Whitey had two brothers, both of whom excelled at school, and one, Billy, went on to become a powerful politician.

But while his siblings forged careers for themselves in the legitimate world, Bulger felt more at home on the streets and by the 1980s he was totally in charge of his turf and was making a fortune from all sorts of criminal ventures.

"The people he shook down for money were easy prey. They were running illegal gambling businesses or dealing drugs and they couldn't come looking for help. Bulger and his crew would confront them and everyone knew it was better to pay than to die," he said.

Bulger's rules were set in stone - nobody crossed him and nobody grassed. But as it would later emerge, the hypocritical gangster was operating as an informant himself and being handled by an old childhood friend - crooked FBI agent John Connolly, later convicted for racketeering.

Bulger was tipped off by Connolly and others in the FBI when information came in about his role in crimes and he would often then torture and kill the 'informant'.

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He went on the run in 1995 when he was tipped off that he was set to be charged in relation to organised crime, and remained in hiding for 16 years until he was caught in Santa Monica, California, where he had been living under an assumed name.

When he eventually went on trial in 2013 it was his status as an informant that took centre stage, aside from the 19 murders he was accused of.

"Part of the grotesque irony of his success was that he had informants killed when he was one for many years," says Kelly.

"He used the FBI as they used him. Nobody suspected he was informing along the way as it was too ridiculous to consider. He was a homicidal maniac, running organised crime in Boston and it would have been preposterous to believe he was also working with the FBI but he was."

While Kelly says he totally understands how law enforcement has to work with criminals and that intelligence gathering is key to solving crimes, he said that in the case of Bulger, the FBI had got into bed with the kingpin.

"The problem was that instead of getting information from low-level figures to bring down the big bosses they were getting information from the big bosses. Because of the information they gave him back, people were killed, he says.

"These things have a serious cost when not handled properly and that is why all these protocols are in place. But people can get lax and bureaucracies and the institutions get lax and sometimes the institutions are more concerned about their own reputation than they are about individuals and justice.

"In the case of Bulger, the FBI became more concerned about bad press than the fact that their informants had run amok," he said.

Kelly and his team secured two life sentences plus five years for Bulger after putting up a legendary case against the mobster in 2013. When he went to jail he found himself unpopular and he failed to make friends or gain any protection.

At 89 years old in 2018 Bulger was beaten to death in his wheelchair, his eyes and tongue gouged out in a brutal and slow murder carried out by suspected mafia underlings.

"He found it very hard in court to deny being an informant. But we fought hard to introduce the proof that was there. We weren't going to allow that to be ignored or denied and it helped tell the story to the jury. In a way he was resigned to the fact that he had lost but he did spent the trial trying to focus on things he felt made him look better, like denying he had killed women and denying he had worked with the FBI.

"In the end, he was savagely beaten to death. It wasn't a good way to go. It was a savage way to die but the fact is that not a lot of people felt bad about it. One of the main takeaways for me is that it is not a problem to use informants for certain things but you always have to be careful around them.

"They can not be left alone or law enforcement cannot look the other way and let them do what they want. He should have been shut down long before he was and thrown in jail where he belonged and that would have saved a lot of lives and a lot of mayhem for the city of Boston."

Crime World is available on Soundcloud, Acast, Apple and all podcast platforms.
Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) speaks during a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, on Jan. 27, 2021. (Greg Nash/Pool via Reuters)

US Lawmakers Seek 20 Percent Boost in Foreign Affairs Budget, With Eye on China

WASHINGTONDemocratic U.S. lawmakers on Tuesday proposed an increase of $12 billion in the countrys foreign affairs budget, hoping to prod President Joe Biden to boost funding for diplomacy after years of flat spending.

Sens. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Reps. David Cicilline (D-R.I.) and Ami Bera (D-Calif.) said the 20 percent spending increase would enhance the countrys ability to compete with China, prevent another pandemic and fight climate change.

Competing with China has been the focus of foreign affairs in the first weeks of the Biden administration. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is using his first trip abroad to shore up Asian alliances in the face of growing assertiveness by Beijing.

These are all threats to the United States and our allies that cannot be met with military investment alone, Murphy said on a call with reporters. The lawmakers contrasted U.S. spending with far greater amounts he said, for example, that Beijing expends to promote Huawei 5G technology.

China has doubled their diplomacy budget in the last 10 years, Cicilline said.

The lawmakers proposed funding of $68.7 billion for the State Department and U.S. Agency for International Development, versus the current $56.6 billion.

Republican former President Donald Trump tried repeatedly to slash foreign affairs spending, instead prioritizing increases in military spending and tax cuts.

Lawmakers from both parties opposed those plans, saying it was essential to preserve U.S. soft power on the world stage, but one result was that spending on diplomacy remained flat.

One Senate aide said the lawmakers had run their proposal by Bidens State Department, in the hope that it would kick off a conversation with them about progressive priorities.

Separately, 50 House of Representative Democrats wrote to Biden on Tuesday urging him to cut the Pentagons budget.

Biden is not expected to send his first budget request to Congress for several weeks.

The country spends $740 billion a year on the military.

By Patricia Zengerle
Columbia University is planning to hold six additional graduation ceremonies for students according to their race and other aspects of how they identify.

The New York City school's website details graduation ceremonies for Native, Asian, "Latinx" and Black students taking place for Columbia College, Columbia Engineering, General Studies and Barnard College at the end of April. Another dubbed "FLI Graduation" is for "first generation and/or low income community." The school also hosts a "Lavender" graduation for the "LGBTIAQ+ community."

Due to coronavirus restrictions, the ceremonies will take place online. It's unclear when the separate ceremonies were announced, but Sunday was the deadline for nominating individuals in Columbia College, Columbia Engineering and General Studies for the "Multicultural Affairs Graduation Cords."

Columbia University did not immediately respond to Fox News' request for comment.

The university on Tuesday issued a statement on Twitter regarding the graduation ceremonies, saying the events "exist in addition to, not instead of, University-wide commencement and individual school Class Days," and are "voluntary" and "open to every student."
Cyber

IC: Influence campaigns, not hacking, used to meddle in US elections

The U.S. intelligence community on Tuesday issued a declassified report concluding it has "no indications" that foreign actors attempted to alter technical aspects of the voting process during the 2020 elections.

"We assess that it would be difficult for a foreign actor to manipulate election processes at scale without detection by intelligence collection on the actors themselves, through physical and cyber security monitoring around voting systems across the country," according to the new report compiled by multiple intelligence agencies and published by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.

The report draws on the conclusions of a classified document delivered to the White House in January and says Russia, at the direction of President Vladimir Putin, undertook a series of actions to both denigrate President Joe Biden and support former President Donald Trump during the 2020 elections. It also states that China largely avoided any targeted meddling in the 2020 elections because it likely did not view either Trump or Biden winning as advantageous to Beijing.

The report notes that there were some number of successful "compromises" of state and local government networks prior to election day as well as a "higher volume" of unsuccessful attempts.

"We judge that Russian cyber operations that targeted and compromised U.S. state and local government networks in 2020 -- including exfiltrating some voter data -- were probably not election-focused and instead part of a broader campaign targeting dozens of U.S. and global entities," according to the report.

However unlike in 2016, the IC did not observe "persistent Russian cyber efforts" to compromise election infrastructure.

Other disruptions targeting the elections were mostly done by criminals motivated by profit, rather than nation states. A ransomware attack in late October targeted a New York county by demanding payment after encrypting 300 computers and 22 servers using the Ragnarok malware. Hackers in November promoting "Turkish nationalist themes" breached and defaced a candidate's website.

The IC report said that actors such as Hezbollah, Cuba and Venezuela also took efforts at a smaller scale to disrupt the election cycle.

This article first appeared on FCW, a Defense Systems partner site.
Uttar Pradesh BJP chief Swatantra Dev Singh on Tuesday targeted the Opposition, saying they form governments to loot and promote families in

Addressing a gram chaupal organised at Ramlila Maidan of Kudwar, Singh claimed, "Remaining away from family-based politics, the BJP has given important posts to hardworking people in the organisation and the government.

Even a common worker in our party can dream of sitting at the top position. Whereas, in the SP, BSP and Congress, ordinary workers are kept away from top posts because of the importance given to families," he said.

Singh also claimed that his party forms governments to serve the poor whereas parties like the SP,BSP and Congress form governments to loot and promote particular families.

(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 mother of Hana Kimura, a cast member from popular reality TV show Terrace House who apparently took her own life after being subjected to hateful messages online, has sued a man for posting distressing comments about her after her daughters death, the mothers lawyers said Wednesday.

Kyoko Kimura filed a lawsuit with the Tokyo District Court on Jan. 22 seeking damages of around Y2.94 million against the man for causing emotional distress to her family. It is the first damages claim made for hateful comments about Kimura, a professional wrestler who was 22 when she died, according to the lawyers.

The man posted hateful messages about Kimuras death, such as Everyone is happier that you died, thank you, and Who do you think you are, causing trouble until the end? Go to hell, in May last year, according to the lawsuit.

Kimuras case raised the alarm about cyberbullying and prompted calls for more action to stop and track down anonymous posters of hateful messages.

The man, from Nagano Prefecture, was identified after legislation approved last month made it easier to track down anonymous posters and simplified court procedures to help victims of cyberbullying seek information on their harassers.

The mother is currently working to reveal the identities of cyberbullies in connection with her daughters death to press for their accountability.
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Classes in the Wilkes County Schools will start on Aug. 23 and end on May 25 in 2021-22 as a result of a calendar approved by the Wilkes Board of Education on Feb. 1.
Americans deserve the freedom to choose a life without surveillance and the government regulation that would make that possible. While we continue to believe the sentiment, we fear it may soon be obsolete or irrelevant. We deserve that freedom, but the window to achieve it narrows a little more each day. If we dont act now, with great urgency, it may very well close for good.Charlie Warzel and Stuart A. Thompson, New York Times

Databit by databit, we are building our own electronic concentration camps. With every new smart piece of smart technology we acquire, every new app we download, every new photo or post we share online, we are making it that much easier for the government and its corporate partners to identify, track and eventually round us up.

Saint or sinner, it doesnt matter because were all being swept up into a massive digital data dragnet that does not distinguish between those who are innocent of wrongdoing, suspects, or criminals.

To live in a suspect society

The governments efforts to round up those who took part in the Capitol riots shows exactly how vulnerable we all are to the menace of a surveillance state that aspires to a God-like awareness of our lives.

Relying on selfies, social media posts, location data, geotagged photos, facial recognition, surveillance cameras and crowdsourcing, government agents are compiling a massive data trove on anyone and everyone who may have been anywhere in the vicinity of the Capitol on January 6, 2021.

The amount of digital information is staggering: 15,000 hours of surveillance and body-worn camera footage; 1,600 electronic devices; 270,000 digital media tips; at least 140,000 photos and videos; and about 100,000 location pings for thousands of smartphones.

And thats just what we know.

More than 300 individuals from 40 states have already been charged and another 280 arrested in connection with the events of January 6. As many as 500 others are still being hunted by government agents.

Also included in this data roundup are individuals who may have had nothing to do with the riots but whose cell phone location data identified them as being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Forget innocent until proven guilty

In a suspect society such as ours, the burden of proof has been flipped: now, you start off guilty and have to prove your innocence.

For instance, you didnt even have to be involved in the Capitol riots to qualify for a visit from the FBI: investigators have reportedly been trackingand questioninganyone whose cell phones connected to wi-fi or pinged cell phone towers near the Capitol. One man, who had gone out for a walk with his daughters only to end up stranded near the Capitol crowds, actually had FBI agents show up at his door days later. Using Google Maps, agents were able to pinpoint exactly where they were standing and for how long.

All of the many creepy, calculating, invasive investigative and surveillance tools the government has acquired over the years are on full display right now in the FBIs ongoing efforts to bring the rioters to justice.

FBI agents are matching photos with drivers license pictures; tracking movements by way of license plate toll readers; and zooming in on physical identifying marks such as moles, scars and tattoos, as well as brands, logos and symbols on clothing and backpacks. Theyre poring over hours of security and body camera footage; scouring social media posts; triangulating data from cellphone towers and WiFi signals; layering facial recognition software on top of that; and then cross-referencing footage with public social media posts.

Deep State Dogs

Its not just the FBI on the hunt, however.

Theyve enlisted the help of volunteer posses of private citizens, such as Deep State Dogs, to collaborate on the grunt work. As Dinah Voyles Pulver reports, once Deep State Dogs locates a person and confirms their identity, they put a package together with the persons name, address, phone number and several images and send it to the FBI.

According to USA Today, the FBI is relying on the American public and volunteer cybersleuths to help bolster its cases.

This takes See Something, Say Something snitching programs to a whole new level.

The lesson to be learned: Big Brother, Big Sister, and all of their friends are watching you.

They see your every move: what you read, how much you spend, where you go, with whom you interact, when you wake up in the morning, what youre watching on television and reading on the internet.

Every move you make is being monitored, mined for data, crunched, and tabulated in order to form a picture of who you are, what makes you tick, and how best to control you when and if it becomes necessary to bring you in line.

Simply liking or sharing this article on Facebook, retweeting it on Twitter, or merely reading it or any other articles related to government wrongdoing, surveillance, police misconduct or civil liberties might be enough to get you categorized as a particular kind of person with particular kinds of interests that reflect a particular kind of mindset that might just lead you to engage in particular kinds of activities and, therefore, puts you in the crosshairs of a government investigation as a potential troublemaker a.k.a. domestic extremist.

Chances are, as the Washington Post reports, you have already been assigned a color-coded threat scoregreen, yellow or redso police are forewarned about your potential inclination to be a troublemaker depending on whether youve had a career in the military, posted a comment perceived as threatening on Facebook, suffer from a particular medical condition, or know someone who knows someone who might have committed a crime.

In other words, you might already be flagged as potentially anti-government in a government database somewhereMain Core, for examplethat identifies and tracks individuals who arent inclined to march in lockstep to the police states dictates.

The government has the know-how.

It took days, if not hours or minutes, for the FBI to begin the process of identifying, tracking, and rounding up those suspected of being part of the Capitol riots.

Imagine how quickly government agents could target and round up any segment of society they wanted to based on the digital trails and digital footprints we leave behind.

Of course, the government has been hard at work for years acquiring these totalitarian powers.

All they need is data

Long before the January 6 riots, the FBI was busily amassing the surveillance tools necessary to monitor social media posts, track and identify individuals using cell phone signals and facial recognition technology, and round up suspects who may be of interest to the government for one reason or another.

As The Intercept reported, the FBI, CIA, NSA and other government agencies have increasingly invested in corporate surveillance technologies that can mine constitutionally protected speech on social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram in order to identify potential extremists and predict who might engage in future acts of anti-government behavior.

All it needs is the data, which more than 90% of young adults and 65% of American adults are happy to provide.

When the government sees all and knows all and has an abundance of laws to render even the most seemingly upstanding citizen a criminal and lawbreaker, then the old adage that youve got nothing to worry about if youve got nothing to hide no longer applies.

As for the Fourth Amendment and its prohibitions on warrantless searches and invasions of privacy without probable cause, those safeguards have been rendered all but useless by legislative end-runs, judicial justifications, and corporate collusions.

We now find ourselves in the unenviable position of being monitored, managed and controlled by our technology, which answers not to us but to our government and corporate rulers.

Consider that on any given day, the average American going about his daily business will be monitored, surveilled, spied on and tracked in more than 20 different ways, by both government and corporate eyes and ears. A byproduct of this new age in which we live, whether youre walking through a store, driving your car, checking email, or talking to friends and family on the phone, you can be sure that some government agency, whether the NSA or some other entity, is listening in and tracking your behavior.

This doesnt even begin to touch on the corporate trackers that monitor your purchases, web browsing, social media posts and other activities taking place in the cyber sphere.

For example, police have been using Stingray devices mounted on their cruisers to intercept cell phone calls and text messages without court-issued search warrants. Doppler radar devices, which can detect human breathing and movement within a home, are already being employed by the police to deliver arrest warrants.

License plate readers, yet another law enforcement spying device made possible through funding by the Department of Homeland Security, can record up to 1800 license plates per minute. Moreover, these surveillance cameras can also photograph those inside a moving car. Reports indicate that the Drug Enforcement Administration has been using the cameras in conjunction with facial recognition software to build a vehicle surveillance database of the nations cars, drivers and passengers.

Sidewalk and public space cameras, sold to gullible communities as a sure-fire means of fighting crime, is yet another DHS program that is blanketing small and large towns alike with government-funded and monitored surveillance cameras. Its all part of a public-private partnership that gives government officials access to all manner of surveillance cameras, on sidewalks, on buildings, on buses, even those installed on private property.

Couple these surveillance cameras with facial recognition and behavior-sensing technology and you have the makings of pre-crime cameras, which scan your mannerisms, compare you to pre-set parameters for normal behavior, and alert the police if you trigger any computerized alarms as being suspicious.

State and federal law enforcement agencies are pushing to expand their biometric and DNA databases by requiring that anyone accused of a misdemeanor have their DNA collected and catalogued. However, technology is already available that allows the government to collect biometrics such as fingerprints from a distance, without a persons cooperation or knowledge. One system can actually scan and identify a fingerprint from nearly 20 feet away.

Developers are hard at work on a radar gun that can actually show if you or someone in your car is texting. Another technology being developed, dubbed a textalyzer device, would allow police to determine whether someone was driving while distracted. Refusing to submit ones phone to testing could result in a suspended or revoked drivers license.

Its a sure bet that anything the government welcomes (and funds) too enthusiastically is bound to be a Trojan horse full of nasty, invasive surprises.

Case in point: police body cameras. Hailed as the easy fix solution to police abuses, these body camerasmade possible by funding from the Department of Justiceturn police officers into roving surveillance cameras. Of course, if you try to request access to that footage, youll find yourself being led a merry and costly chase through miles of red tape, bureaucratic footmen and unhelpful courts.

The internet of things refers to the growing number of smart appliances and electronic devices now connected to the internet and capable of interacting with each other and being controlled remotely. These range from thermostats and coffee makers to cars and TVs. Of course, theres a price to pay for such easy control and access. That price amounts to relinquishing ultimate control of and access to your home to the government and its corporate partners. For example, while Samsungs Smart TVs are capable of listening to what you say, thereby allowing users to control the TV using voice commands, it also records everything you say and relays it to a third party, e.g., the government.

Then again, the government doesnt really need to spy on you using your smart TV when the FBI can remotely activate the microphone on your cellphone and record your conversations . The FBI can also do the same thing to laptop computers without the owner knowing any better.

Drones, which are taking to the skies en masse, are the converging point for all of the weapons and technology already available to law enforcement agencies. In fact, drones can listen in on your phone calls, see through the walls of your home, scan your biometrics, photograph you and track your movements, and even corral you with sophisticated weaponry.

All of these technologies add up to a society in which theres little room for indiscretions, imperfections, or acts of independence, especially not when the government can listen in on your phone calls, monitor your driving habits, track your movements, scrutinize your purchases and peer through the walls of your home.

Digital trails are everywhere

As investigative journalists Charlie Warzel and Stuart A. Thompson explain, This datacollected by smartphone apps and then fed into a dizzyingly complex digital advertising ecosystem  provided an intimate record of people whether they were visiting drug treatment centers, strip clubs, casinos, abortion clinics or places of worship.

In such a surveillance ecosystem, were all suspects and databits to be tracked, catalogued and targeted.

As Warzel and Thompson warn:

To think that the information will be used against individuals only if theyve broken the law is naive; such data is collected and remains vulnerable to use and abuse whether people gather in support of an insurrection or they justly protest police violence This collection will only grow more sophisticated It gets easier by the day it does not discriminate. It harvests from the phones of MAGA rioters, police officers, lawmakers and passers-by. There is no evidence, from the past or current day, that the power this data collection offers will be used only to good ends. There is no evidence that if we allow it to continue to happen, the country will be safer or fairer.

As I point out in my book Battlefield America: The War on the American People, this is the creepy, calculating yet diabolical genius of the American police state: the very technology we hailed as revolutionary and liberating has become our prison, jailer, probation officer, Big Brother and Father Knows Best all rolled into one.

There is no gray area any longer.

Feature photo | An image taken from US Capitol Police security camera footage shows a capitol protester later arrested by the FBI. Photo | District of Columbia via AP

Constitutional attorney and author John W. Whitehead is founder and president of The Rutherford Institute. His new book Battlefield America: The War on the American People (SelectBooks, 2015) is available online at www.amazon.com. Whitehead can be contacted at johnw@rutherford.org.
In times gone by, she luxuriated on a yacht named in her honor by her publishing mogul father. She befriended British royalty. She dazzled in three languages at galas. She dated a billionaire.

Ghislaine Maxwell moved in the rarest of rare air. There she is boarding a private jet with former president Bill Clinton, his forearm resting casually on her right shoulder; and another time attending his daughter Chelsea's wedding. There she is, slender, fashionably coifed, eminently poised - again and again and again - in photos with a future president, Donald Trump.

It all seems so long ago.

Far from gliding into a gilded future that has been her destiny, Maxwell is now firmly fixed in a tabloid rogues' gallery, as she stands accused of procuring and grooming underage girls to satisfy the boundless sexual appetite of her onetime lover, the billionaire financier Jeffrey Epstein.

For the past eight months, Maxwell, 59, has been imprisoned at a federal detention center in Brooklyn, twice denied bail as a flight risk while she awaits a trial scheduled to begin in July on charges of perjury and conspiracy to entice three minors in the 1990s to have sex with Epstein, who died by suicide in jail in 2019. Maxwell's third attempt to persuade a judge to release her before her trial has set in motion in the past few days an effort by her family to reshape her image, aided by publicists and a family attorney.

Her brother, Ian Maxwell, has appeared on television in the United States and Britain, portraying his sister as a woman of substance and as a victim being used as a substitute for Epstein, who received an extraordinary light sentence after pleading guilty in an underage sex case in Florida in 2005 and died before facing trial in a massive sex trafficking case in New York. If Maxwell succeeds in altering public opinion of his sister - even a little - he'll have accomplished a monumental public relations feat.

In a video interview with The Washington Post over the weekend from London, Ian Maxwell compared his sister's situation to that of New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who has been accused by numerous women of sexual harassment and bullying.

"I see that AOC has come out and said, 'I believe these women,' " Ian Maxwell said, using the shorthand for Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York. "Well, how does she know that? Cuomo is entitled to have an investigation of his actions, just as Ghislaine is entitled to have one of hers."

Maxwell maintained that his sister is innocent, calling the case against her "flimsy," and chafed about the difficulty of preparing a defense on charges involving three accusers whose names have not been publicly revealed. He is hoping to reframe the case as something bigger than the fate of one well-known daughter of privilege. Instead he's arguing that it's a data point in the roiling controversy over pretrial detention, which has drawn the attention of criminal justice reform advocates who argue that detainees' constitutional rights are often violated by long jail stints before their cases go to court.

"She has an opportunity to try to use her name and her case to try and improve conditions," Ian Maxwell said. "That's what she definitely wants to do."

In an effort to win release before her trial, Ghislaine Maxwell, who is a U.S. citizen, is now offering to renounce her citizenship in the country of her birth, France, and in the country where she grew up, Britain.

"This is a real wrench for Ghislaine to have to do that. Emotionally. Personally," he said. "It's a valuable thing to have - citizenship." In legal filings, his sister asserts that she would lose any possibility of protection from extradition in those countries if she renounces her citizenship.

She's also offered to put all of her assets and those of her businessman husband, Scott Borgerson, except for living expenses and money set aside for attorneys, into an account controlled by a retired U.S. district judge in northern Georgia.

Friends and family would put up a $28.5 million bond to assure her trial appearance, Maxwell said, and he is hopeful for a decision soon on his sister's bail request. At the same time, her attorneys have flooded the court with motions seeking to have her case dismissed.

Ghislaine Maxwell's attempts to be released pending her trial have been greeted with outrage by some of Epstein's accusers. Gloria Allred, a California-based attorney who says she represents 20 Epstein accusers, allowed in an interview that she feels "sympathy" for Ian Maxwell "as a brother."

"I can't say I feel sympathy for his sister," Allred said. "It would be so upsetting to so many victims if she was to be released and fled."

Despite Ghislaine Maxwell's wealth, her brother said it's a "far-fetched idea" that she skips bail, fools authorities tracking her ankle-monitoring device, leaves family and friends responsible for her bond, "somehow spirits herself out of New York City, then somehow gets a plane, then somehow gets to France, somehow throws herself on the mercy of the French, and somehow they wouldn't return her."

Over the years, Ghislaine Maxwell has been labeled by accusers and the media as a "monster," the "mastermind" of Epstein's illicit sexual liaisons and "a traitor to her gender." In her request for pretrial relief, Maxwell's attorneys say "she has been depicted as a cartoon-character-villain."

"It's what I've called the 'Epstein Effect,' " Maxwell family attorney David Markus said. "If you're connected to Epstein, the mob has found you guilty."

The seamy Epstein saga has even spilled into Britain's royal family. A photo has appeared countless times in news reports of Ghislaine Maxwell smiling in the background as her friend, Prince Andrew, stands with his arm around one of Epstein's most vocal accusers, Virginia Roberts Giuffre. (Maxwell settled a defamation suit filed against her by Giuffre for an undisclosed amount.)

Giuffre has said the prince was one of the men with whom she was forced to have sex, a charge the prince has vigorously denied. Giuffre has said that Maxwell began grooming her as a sex partner for Epstein while she was a teenager working as a towel attendant at Mar-a-Lago, Trump's club in Palm Beach.

In the ongoing criminal case, Maxwell is accused of recruiting and grooming victims as young as 14 to have sex with Epstein at his New York mansion and his New Mexico ranch. In her indictment, prosecutors paint her as a skilled manipulator, alleging that she developed rapport by taking young girls shopping and to the movies, then steered them into giving massages to Epstein that sometimes ended with sexual abuse. Prosecutors also say she would encourage Epstein's victims to accept his offers to pay for travel and education to make them feel obligated to engage in sexual activity with him.

In some instances, according to prosecutors, she attempted to "normalize" sexual activity with Epstein by undressing in front of the girls. She's also accused of participating in sexual assaults of minors with Epstein.

But Maxwell's family has been making much of a deposition given in a civil suit by a police detective in Epstein's mid-1990s Florida case, in which the officer said she was not listed as a subject of the investigation or mentioned in his reports.

The allegations that became public after her July 2020 arrest at her secluded New Hampshire estate were chilling. But Maxwell wasn't without high-powered supporters.

Trump, then president, weighed in, telling "Axios on HBO" that "I do wish her well. I'm not looking for anything bad for her."

Trump administration attorney general William Barr described Epstein's death as a "perfect storm of screw-ups," involving guards who failed to conduct routine checks. But Epstein's family maintained he could have been murdered to silence him. And Trump wondered aloud whether Epstein had actually killed himself, a doubt that Ghislaine Maxwell's brother has also sown.

"How he died we'll never know," Ian Maxwell said.

Ian Maxwell believes federal authorities turned their attention to his sister because they were left without a defendant after Epstein's death. Though she'd been labeled by accusers in news accounts and court testimony as an Epstein sex procurer, her family is emphasizing that she was never charged in his Florida case. And, in the interview, her brother placed great significance on the fact that she was not charged along with Epstein in 2019, and was not arrested until after he was dead.

"Only then do they swing into action," Ian Maxwell said of federal authorities. "Because they need a target."

Ghislaine Maxwell's pretrial imprisonment differs from those of many recent high-profile defendants. Bernie Madoff was allowed to post bond before his conviction in a massive Ponzi scheme. More recently, two wealthy defendants - legendary comedian Bill Cosby and famed Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein - also were allowed to remain free before their trials and subsequent sexual-assault convictions.

Ian Maxwell and prosecutors have given very different accounts of her confinement. Prosecutors have said she has her own shower and television, as well as access to a phone and computers. Her brother counters that jailers are committing "torture," saying flashlights are shined in her face every 15 minutes while she tries to sleep. He added that she's lost weight, is fed meals microwaved in plastic dishes that are "contaminating the food," and that she's been placed on suicide watch despite not having exhibited intentions of harming herself.

According to her brother, Ghislaine Maxwell received a certification while imprisoned to help inmates who are suicide risks but has not been allowed to do so. The certification could not be independently confirmed by The Post, and a detention center spokesperson did not respond to an interview request.

Epstein and Maxwell dated for some ill-defined period of time in the 1990s, but remained close for many years. Former employees have described her as overseeing his many residences.

She cut a compelling figure. She had the pedigree of wealth and the mystique of scandal. Her bon vivant father had been the founder of a large British publishing firm, Pergamon Press. He died in 1991 after falling into the water off his yacht, the "Lady Ghislaine," and not long afterward, it was discovered that he'd fraudulently raided one of his company's pension accounts.

Ian Maxwell was briefly jailed the year after his father's death on charges related to pension funds that had disappeared. He was eventually acquitted, but said the case was so all-consuming that he spent only one evening in the company of his sister and her-then boyfriend, Epstein.

As time has passed he's been bothered by her portrayal in the media, an image fueled by countless society page photos. He'd rather talk about her education at Oxford University's prestigious Balliol College.

"My sister's been painted as some flibbertigibbet socialite floating from party to party, and leading a gilded life," he said. "You couldn't be a child of Robert Maxwell and be a flibbity-jibbit socialite. That was not the way she was brought up."

His sister was the youngest of nine children. She was born two days after her 15-year-old brother Michael was severely injured in a car accident that left him in a coma until his death six years later.

"Mother, to all intents and purposes, ignored her newborn baby - not because she didn't love her, but because she was enmeshed with grief," Ian Maxwell recalled. "From the start of her life, she's had to assert herself."

There's a family story, Ian Maxwell said, that dates to when his sister was 3.

As the story goes, Ghislaine Maxwell plants herself in front of her mother, hoping for attention. Then she says: "Mommy, I exist."
US Air Force Band of Pacific collaborates with world-renowned Indian percussionist Giridhar Udupa

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

Chennai, Mar 17: On March 12, the Hawaii-based United States Air Force Band of the Pacific released a music video featuring its virtual musical collaboration with Giridhar Udupa, an acclaimed Indian percussion artist who plays the ghatam, one of India's most ancient percussion instruments. The collaboration was inspired by the band's commitment to support Aero India 2021, and reinforces the U.S.-India Major Defense Partnership and people-to-people ties between our countries.

The original song "Open Clusters" was composed by Staff Sergeant Luis Rosa, a saxophone instrumentalist with the U.S. Air Force Band of the Pacific, and is a musical fusion of two masters of Indian and Puerto Rican culture and rhythm. Other artists in the musical composition are Senior Airman Guy James on guitar, Staff Sergeant Andrew Detra on bass, and Technical Sergeant Wilfredo Cruz on percussion.

The United States Air Force Band of the Pacific's Publicity Section Chief Technical Sergeant Wilfredo Cruz said: "We are honored and extremely grateful to be able to produce this musical collaboration for all of our viewers worldwide. The pandemic did not allow us to be in India to perform live during Aero India, yet music connects all regardless of distance or borders. We leverage the power of music to strengthen bonds with our friends and partners through the Indo-Pacific region. We hope you enjoy this virtual performance as much as we enjoyed preparing it for you!"

Talking about the long-distance collaboration, the Indian percussion artist Giridhar Udupa said, "I am very excited about the newly composed track with incredible musicians from the U.S. Air Force Band. The composition perfectly fits into the world music scene."

USAF Band of the Pacific: The United States Air Force Band of the Pacific is a squadron of professional U.S. Air Force musicians that performs in diverse musical configurations and fulfills community relations and military functions throughout the Western Pacific region. These ensembles present more than 200 performances annually, cultivating patriotism while enhancing cultural ties on behalf of the Pacific Air Forces and the U.S. Air Force throughout the Indo-Pacific region.

Ghatam Giridhar Udupa: Giridhar Udupa is an acclaimed Bengaluru-based Indian ghatam

(percussion) artist. With three decades of musical journey enriched by collaborations with eminent artists across the world, concert visits to more than 50 countries, and numerous accolades and awards, Udupa stands as a true global icon and an ambassador of world music. He has performed at the most prestigious venues in the world including Carnegie Hall in New York City, The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington D.C., and The Wortham Center in Houston, Texas.

View and share the music video:

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Twitter: https://twitter.com/USAndChennai

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Story first published: Wednesday, March 17, 2021, 12:49 [IST]
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The Police in Enugu State on Wednesday arraigned a man, his son, and one other person before a magistrate for allegedly stealing a security gate valued at N100,000.

The man, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), has been identified as Gabriel Arum, while his son is Kenechukwu. The third person is Ifeanyi Obasi.

The trio are facing a five-count charge of unlawful damage, breach of peace, and stealing.

The gate is said to be property of Douglas Ogbodo at Umuchigbo, Iji-Nike in Enugu East Local Government Area.

Except for the man, Mr Arum, who reportedly could not take his plea appropriately due to loss of state of mind, the other two pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The prosecutor, C.O Ugwu, said the matter had been delayed since 2017 until it was recently reassigned to a new magistrate and fresh plea taken.

According to him, the accused had on November 16, 2017, in Umuchigbo Iji-Nike, broken into the property of the complainant, stole the security gate and damaged other items.

Mr Ugwu said the offence contravened Section 496 of the Criminal Code of Enugu State, 2004.

Meanwhile, the counsel for the accused persons, Iyobosa Izevbigie, pleaded with the court to grant his clients bail on liberal terms.

The lawyer tendered a medical report for the second accused person and applied for him to be excused from being present at the trial on health grounds.

The magistrate, A.N. Chioke, granted the accused persons bail to the sum of N200,000 each with three sureties for each in like sum.

The magistrate said the sureties must be a level 12 officer who resides within the jurisdiction of the court.

The case was adjourned to April 14 for hearing.

(NAN)
The Daily Beast

REUTERSIt appears that Benjamin Netanyahu is finally on his way out as Israels prime minister. With just minutes to spare ahead of a midnight deadline on Wednesday, opposition leader Yair Lapid notified Israels president that he had formed a new government.But if Benjamin Netayahus 12-year run is indeed at an end, expect key segments of the GOP will treat Bibi as though he had not lost power, much as they continue to venerate Donald Trump and look at Joe Bidens victory as illegitimate.Israel
As previously announced the Annual General Meeting of Iceland Seafood International hf will be held on March 18th 2021 at 4pm. The meeting will be held on Hilton Reykjavik Nordica, Suurlandsbraut 2, 108 Reykjavik and will also be webcasted live. A link to the webcast will be published on the Company's website www.icelandseafood.com/investors before the meeting starts. Recording will also be available after the meeting on the Company's website.

Deadline for notification of candidacy for Board of Directors was on March 13th. Below is a list of candicates for the Board of Directors:

Liv Bergorsdottir, the CEO of ORF Genetics from April 2020. She joined ORF Genetics after 20 years in the telecommunication industry.

Jakob Valgeir Flosason, CEO of Jakob Valgeir ehf. Jakob has been a board member of Iceland Seafood since February 2019 and has a long experience from the seafood industry.

Ingunn Agnes Kro, From 2017-2019 Ingunn was a Director of Administration and Communication at Skeljungur hf. Ingunn sits on several boards of listed and unlisted companies in Iceland.

Bergor Baldvinsson, CEO of Nesfiskur. Has been the CEO of Nesfiskur since 1979.

Halldor Leifsson, Marketing and Sales director of FISK Seafood ehf. Has been in various management positions within the seafood industry for 30 years

Alternate:

Gunnlaugur Karl Hreinsson, Chairman and owner of GPG seafood. Gunnlaugur has decades of experience within the seafood sector.

According to the Articles of Association of the Company, the Board of Directors shall be comprised of 5 members and up to two alternate members. Consequently, the above candidates will be elected to the Board without ballot at the meeting.

Further information on all candidates to the Board of Directors will be made available on the Company's website www.icelandseafood.com/investors .

Further information:

bjarni.armannsson@icelandseafood.com
U.S. DHS predicts number of migrant border crossings to reach 20-year high

Xinhua) 10:24, March 17, 2021

A U.S. Border Patrol agent stands in front of the border fence that divides the U.S. and Mexico in San Diego, California, the United States, Nov. 17, 2018. (Xinhua/Zhao Hanrong)

The Biden administration is under growing pressure from both within the Democratic Party and across the political aisle regarding its handling of the current migrant influx and its overall immigration strategy.

WASHINGTON, March 16 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said in a statement Tuesday that the number of immigrants attempting to enter the United States through its southern border is expected to reach the highest level in two decades.

The statement came amid a recent surge in migrant children making the trip with the aim of reuniting with their parents in the United States, a situation that put the Joe Biden administration in the hot seat as it struggled to convey a message of hope to the immigrants while discouraging them to enter the country through irregular channels.

"We are on pace to encounter more individuals on the southwest border than we have in the last 20 years. We are expelling most single adults and families. We are not expelling unaccompanied children," Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said in the statement.

Mayorkas acknowledged the difficult nature of the current situation along the southern border, saying that the DHS has "no illusions about how hard it is," and that "it will take time" to remedy the problems.

The ultimate goal, he said, is "a safe, legal, and orderly immigration system that is based on our bedrock priorities: to keep our borders secure, address the plight of children as the law requires, and enable families to be together."

Appearing on CNN Tuesday, Roberta Jacobson, White House coordinator for the southern border, defended Biden's immigration policy in the face of Republican criticism, saying it is a "more humane system but it is not open borders."

She also acknowledged that the administration has encountered difficulty in telling those opportunistic immigrants who attempt to cross the border in an "irregular fashion."

A U.S. Border Patrol agent stands in front of the border fence that divides the U.S. and Mexico in San Diego, California, the United States, Nov. 17, 2018. (Xinhua/Zhao Hanrong)

"But the smugglers' message is very pervasive, they prey on people and they prey on their hope and they tell them things that simply aren't true," Jacobson said.

The number of unaccompanied children detained in jail-like U.S. Border Patrol facilities on the southern border has risen to over 4,000, according to a CNN report on Monday, adding further stress to the system in which kids should be held up for no more than 72 hours before being transferred to shelters run by refugee agencies that have better accommodation.

A sizable number of the detained, however, have stayed in those facilities for an extended period of time. The government is expected to use a convention center in Dallas, Texas, to house up to 3,000 migrant teenage boys, The Associated Press reported on Tuesday.

The Biden administration is under growing pressure from both within the Democratic Party and across the political aisle regarding its handling of the current migrant influx and its overall immigration strategy.

Joe Manchin, the Democratic senator from West Virginia, in an interview this week with CNN characterized the border situation as a "crisis," a word the administration officials have refused to use when pressed by reporters multiple times.

Congressional Democrats meanwhile are trying to push for a broad overhaul of the broken immigration system, which they blamed on the former Donald Trump administration's restrictive policies on immigration, by passing small bills in a piecemeal manner.

The overall goal of the comprehensive legislation, the U.S. Citizenship Act, is to eventually give the 11 million immigrants now illegally residing in the country a pathway to U.S. citizenship.

Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee Dick Durbin, the chamber's second-ranking Democrat, said on Monday that he doesn't believe there's enough support in Congress to pass the U.S. Citizenship Act, of which the passage will need 60 votes to overcome a potential Republican filibuster.
The Junta de Andalucia's Ministry of Health has confirmed that it has detected the first case of the South African strain of coronavirus in Malaga.

The regional government department said it was found in a person from Senegal who arrived in the province on a flight from Morocco.

It is not the only confirmed case in the region.

Health officials are also investigating an infection of the same variant in the Osuna health district, in Seville, which was detected in a person who travelled from Tanzania to Madrid with a stopover in Amsterdam.

The South African strain was first discovered in Andalucia last week in Granada in someone from Equatorial Guinea, who also arrived in Spain via a flight into Madrid.

It has not yet been revealed how these two people who landed in Madrid then travelled to Seville and Granada provinces, which have perimeter lockdowns like the rest of the Andalusian provinces.

South Africa announced the emergence of the new variant of the coronavirus in December. The World Health Organization (WHO) recognises that this strain has a greater transmission capability, although it insists that no evidence has been found that it is more deadly or more difficult to diagnose.

The main problem is that manufacturers such as Johnson & Johnson, AstraZeneca and Novavax have already admitted that their vaccines are less effective against this variant.

In Spain, at least fifty cases have been detected so far, although its real incidence is higher because the last official report was updated on 4 March and not all infections have been diagnosed.

Spain's Ministry of Health has warned that this variant "could significantly reduce the effectiveness of some vaccines".
A mother vowed to never buy washing pods again after her toddler 'mistook one for a squeezy toy' and was left with 'bright red burns' after a Persil capsule burst on him.

Danielle Savage, 29, from Sheffield, South Yorkshire, was doing housework two weeks ago when her 23-month-old son Ronnee grabbed a Persil 3-in-1 Colour Protect capsule after she got the packet out.

The receptionist claimed she turned her back for a split-second when the curious toddler picked up an 'inviting' multicoloured pod, which she believes he mistook for a 'squeezy toy'.

But the pod burst all over his face and chest and Ronnee let out a piercing 'wail' as the blue liquid covered his body, before Danielle quickly rushed to wash it off him.

Danielle said she has always bought the pod boxes, which come with child-safe locks to prevent accidents occurring and with prominent warnings, but on this occasion she had forgotten to decant her refill pack.

The mother said she was doing housework when 23-month-old Ronnee picked up a Persil 3-in-1 Colour Protect capsule and it burst all over his face and chest leaving him with 'burns' (above)

Danielle Savage, 29, from Sheffield, South Yorkshire, vowed to never buy washing pods again after her son Ronnee (above) 'mistook one for a squeezy toy' and was left with 'red burns'

Despite Danielle quickly washing her son, Ronnee suffered painful 'burns' which forced his mother and father Wade, 30, to rush him to A&E at Sheffield Children's Hospital.

Danielle, who feared the outcome for Ronnee could have been much worse, explained: 'It really was my worst nightmare. As soon as [the liquid] came into contact with him he'd felt it burn.

'[He let out] a piercing scream. It wasn't a cry - it was a scream I've never heard before. I instantly turned round and saw him.

'He does talk, and he was saying it hurt, but with how he screamed, he must have been in pain. It was like a wail.

'It literally happened in a split-second. One minute he was at the side of me, the next he was screaming. It happened so fast.'

Danielle believes that Ronnee mistook the multicoloured Percil capsule (left) for a 'squeezy toy', and said Ronnee let out a piercing 'wail' as the blue liquid covered his body (right)

The mother-of-three (pictured with Ronne, Tommee, seven, and Izzabelle, nine) washed the liquid off but Ronnee had to be rushed to A&E at Sheffield Children's Hospital

Ronnee is making a good recovery but the mother-of-three has stopped buying the washing capsule refill packs after the accident and is urging other parents to do the same.

She continued: 'As soon as I washed the blue off it was bright red instantly. As soon as it had come into contact it'd burnt his skin.

'I've stopped buying them. I would tell other parents not to buy them.'

On Persil's website, the brand warns that 'washing capsules may look a lot like interesting, colourful toys or sweets in [children's] eyes'.

The mother believes that her youngest child might have mistaken the colourful pods for some of his nine-year-old sister Izzabelle's toy slime, as the gel had the 'same consistency'.

She explained: 'I know there are adverts that tell you to watch out for [the pods], but I don't think you realise how bad they actually are. I never did.

'This was a refill pack. I normally buy the boxes and [on this occasion], I hadn't decanted them into the box. We need to keep them away from our kids.

'The ones I had were purple, white and blue. They're three different colours, three different textures.

Ronnee is making a good recovery but the mother-of-three has stopped buying the washing capsule refill packs after the accident and is urging other parents to do the same

Danielle said she has always bought the pod boxes, which come with child-safe locks, but on this occasion she had forgotten to decant her refill pack (pictured, Ronnee Savage)

She believes that he might have mistaken the colourful pods for some of his nine-year-old sister's toy slime (Danielle and husband Wade, 30, with kids Ronnee, Tommee and Izzabelle)

'My daughter has slime and things. They've got the same consistency. To him, they're the same. They look inviting.'

Danielle claimed that the pods were 'not safe' and said that she couldn't 'believe' what it did to her son's skin as she uses it to wash clothes 'every day'.

She continued: 'They're just not safe - especially for something you use to wash your clothes every day. You wouldn't believe it could do that to your skin.

'I was just doing the washing like I normally do. I'd left the bag on the floor and was just putting the clothes in the washing machine.

'Ronnee was just stood next to me. He was helping me put the clothes in the washing machine.

'I was stood at the side of him and then I heard him scream. When I turned round, he was covered in the blue liquid from the tablet.

'He hadn't got a t-shirt on, but he had a nappy and his trousers on.

'I picked him up and put him straight under the tap to wash it all off, then we were heading straight to A&E.'

While Ronnee was monitored in hospital, Danielle claims that a medic said Ronnee was one of the less severe cases she had witnessed.

Ronnee was discharged from A&E after one afternoon and given steroid cream to help with the 'burns' on his skin, and he 'luckily' did not swallow or digest the liquid.

Danielle said: 'When I went to the hospital, [the nurse] said he was one of the better cases she'd seen. She said kids have had skin grafts from [washing tablets] burning them so badly.

'She said Ronnee was quite lucky because it'd only gone to the first layer of skin. She washed him with steroid solution to make sure all the liquids were off him.

'He was observed for five hours. They were monitoring his heart rate and temperature, then he had blood taken.

Ronnee (above) was discharged after one afternoon in A&E and given some steroid cream to help with the 'burns' on his skin and he 'luckily' did not swallow or digested any of the liquid

Danielle (pictured with Wade and children) claimed the pods were 'not safe' and said that she couldn't 'believe' what it did to her son's skin as she uses it to wash clothes 'every day'

'They did a general check of inside his mouth and down his throat to see if he'd swallowed or ingested anything. Luckily that was all clear.

'Then he was given some steroid cream to put on his burns. He's a lot better now. It's healed really well and gone scabby now like when I graze heals.

'I've got serious mum guilt. I hadn't even gone out of the room.'

A spokesperson for Unilever, who own and manufacture Persil in the UK, said: 'We're very sorry to hear of Danielle's recent experience.

'We're glad to hear that Ronnee is making a good recovery and hope he is now feeling much better.

'All our Persil capsules and packaging are designed to minimise the risk of accidents by including measures such as child-impeding closure systems and safety features, as well as prominent on-pack safety warnings.

'It is essential that laundry products are always kept out of the reach of children before, during and after use with the pack kept closed.

'To support this, in addition to on-pack messaging, we also include safety information in our marketing for these products as well as supporting the UK Cleaning Products Industry's safety awareness and education campaign, Keep Caps From Kids.'
Hitesha Chandranee, who accused Zomato delivery boy Kamaraj of attacking her has reportedly left Bengaluru. This came to light after cops contacted Chandranee for questioning following Kamaraj's counter-complaint.

According to the New Indian Express report, the police said that they called Hitesha to appear before the investigating officer for questioning, but she said she had left the city and is at her aunt's house in Maharashtra.

The police said that they have given her time to make her statement once she returns, and added, "If she fails to come before police, we will arrest her".

Meanwhile, the city police have assured that the investigation will continue.

Hitesha has been charged with wrongful restraint, assault, intentional insult, and criminal intimidation based on a complaint by the Zomato delivery man Kamaraj. According to the officer, Kamaraj had stated that Hitesha had hit him with slippers, accused him of defaming her and hurling abuses at him on March 9.

Last week, Hitesha, a model and beauty influencer took to Twitter and stated, "So guys, my Zomato order was late and I was talking to the customer care executive and meanwhile the delivery person just did this," said Chandranee, crying and showing her bleeding nose in a selfie video, which was also aired by some TV channels. The police personnel arrested the delivery man after Hitesha's complaint.

However, Hitesha subsequently deleted her video from Twitter. The model had said in her video that she lodged a complaint with Zomato customer care asking them to either deliver food free of cost or cancel the order after it was delayed before the reported scuffle took place.

Zomato had initially assured Chandranee that it would help her with the police investigation along with medical assistance required. It later said that it was also extending all possible support to Kamaraj.

"As per protocol, we have temporarily suspended Kamaraj from active deliveries, but are covering his earnings in the interim while there's an active police investigation," Zomato founder Deepinder Goyal said in a statement posted on Twitter.

He has also said his company was bearing the legal expenses of the case.

Meanwhile, the incident drew a lot of support for Kamaraj from netizens, who questioned the plight of food delivery boys. Besides, celebrities like Parineeti Chopra, Rohit Roy, and Kamya Panjabi have also extended their support to the delivery boy.

"Zomato India - PLEASE find and publicly report the truth. If the gentleman is innocent (and I believe he is), PLEASE help us penalise the woman in question. This is inhuman, shameful and heart-breaking. Please let me know how I can help," Chopra tweeted.

Also read: BHU students protest against university's proposal to make Nita Ambani visiting professor

Also read: Surge in Coronavirus cases: PM Modi to hold meet with CMs today on COVID-19 situation
In a well-attended March 10 Zoom meeting, New York State Democratic chair Jay Jacobs (above) assured the Indian American community that the S2727 bill misrepresenting the Swastika as a symbol of hate is not moving forward. A Hindu community leader, Uma Mysorekar, said that the Swastika has been a sacred symbol in the Vedic tradition for many millennia, and that its negative connotation in the western world, especially in the U.S., is because of Hitler. (photo provided)


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Today is the feast day of St. Patrick; March 17 is celebrated throughout the world as St. Patricks Day, in honor of the missionary who helped spread Christianity through Ireland.

Here are some common questions and quick facts about the patron saint of Ireland.

When did he live?

Details surrounding St. Patricks life are hard to pin down, but he was likely born around 387 A.D. and died about 460 A.D.

Was he born in Ireland?

No, he was born in Britain, then part of the Roman Empire, and was captured by Irish pirates when he was 16. He was held in captivity in Ireland for six years, then escaped back to Britain.

Was he a priest?

Yes. He went to seminary in what is now France and became a priest, then returned to Ireland. He eventually became the first bishop of Armagh, primate of Ireland. In his autobiography, Confessio, also known as The Confession of St. Patrick, he said he baptized thousands. He also started many monasteries and helped spread Christianity across Ireland.

Why do we celebrate him in America?

Irish immigrants to Boston celebrated March 17, the day of St. Patricks death, as a way of keeping alive their Irish heritage in America. That started as early as 1737, with parades starting in 1766. U.S. celebrations of St. Patricks Day spread to big cities across the country, often being more festive than observances in Ireland, where its a holy day. St. Patricks Day wasnt even a public holiday in Ireland until 1904, although it had been observed with parades and churchgoing since the 1700s. The festivities in America influenced Ireland, where in the 1960s pubs began to open on the holiday. It has always been associated with beer-drinking in America, promoted by taverns and pubs, while in Ireland pubs and other businesses were closed on the holiday. Generations of Irish immigrants were eager to celebrate their origins, writes Mike Cronin, author of The Wearing of the Green: A History of St. Patricks Day. The shared sense of being Irish, of wearing green and in some way marking March 17, has resulted in St. Patricks Day being observed in a similar fashion to July Fourth or Halloween. Its the closest thing in America to National Immigrant Day.

Are the legends about St. Patrick true?

Did St. Patrick drive all the snakes out of Ireland? Thats unlikely, since theres no evidence snakes ever lived in post-glacial Ireland. Did he teach the concept of the Holy Trinity by using the three-leafed clover, or shamrock, to demonstrate the oneness of God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit? Theres no way to prove or disprove that legend, but its one of the most beloved stories about the saint.
A young humpback whale has been frolicking in San Francisco Bay for the past week, arriving about a month earlier than usual, feasting on a smorgasbord of small fish and splashing around Sausalito, Tiburon, Alcatraz Island and off Crissy Field.

The 50-foot sub-adult whale was first spotted inside the Golden Gate on March 9 and has since been seen chasing shoals of anchovies and other small fish, said Bill Keener, a cetacean field researcher for the Marine Mammal Center, of Sausalito.

Humpbacks have long traveled between their breeding grounds in Mexico and Central America and feeding areas between the Bay Area and Oregon, usually staying off the coast and eating krill, tiny ocean shrimp. But starting in 2016, they started making their way through the Golden Gate, Keener said, and eating smaller fish in the central bay.

Since then, Marine Mammal Center researchers have taken photos and identified 79 different humpbacks in the central part of the bay, he said, by recording the unique black and white marking on the underside of their flukes.

Some come back every year to feed, he said. Some dont.

The humpbacks have been arriving between April and October, Keener said, usually staying for two or three days before heading back to the Pacific. Gray whales, which are slightly smaller at about 40 feet, have also been hanging out in the bay, perhaps taking a rest en route to their feeding areas near Alaska. One gray whale has been spotted recently in the bay, Keener said.

Big whales in the bay pose a danger to boats and boaters  and vice versa. Whales in shipping channels can be struck and killed as one was in 2019, and smaller recreational boats could be tipped or damaged and their occupants tossed into the water.

When any big whales come into the Gate, its a pretty small area compared to the ocean, he said. Theres a danger of ship strikes, and small boaters like kayakers need to be careful. Whales are large and heavy and we dont want to see any boaters hurt by getting too close.

Federal law requires boats to stay 100 yards from whales, Keener said.

The most famous whale visit to the bay came in 1985 when a wayward humpback nicknamed Humphrey got lost and made his way up the Delta to near Rio Vista. Two more lost humpbacks, dubbed Delta and Dawn, a mother and her calf, made their way into the deep-water shipping channel in the Delta in 2007.

Keener asked for the publics assistance in spotting whales so the Marine Mammal Center can track them and alert boaters to their presence. Reports can be made to the centers website, www.marinemammalcenter.org.

Michael Cabanatuan is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: mcabanatuan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ctuan
Violent extremists and foreign spies have taken to the internet during the coronavirus pandemic, posing a new range of challenges for Australia's top intelligence agency.

Australian Security Intelligence Organisation director-general Mike Burgess on Wednesday delivered his second annual threat assessment in Canberra.

Mr Burgess said for those intent on violence, more time at home online meant 'more time in the echo chamber of the internet on the pathway to radicalisation'.

Mr Burgess said ASIO had also become aware of an Islamic State video last year which referenced the Australian bushfire crisis to encourage arson attacks in the West

'They were able to access hate-filled manifestos and attack instructions, without some of the usual circuit breakers that contact with community provides,' he said.

'Extreme right-wing propaganda used COVID to portray governments as oppressors, and globalisation, multiculturalism and democracy as flawed and failing.

'Islamic extremist narratives portrayed the pandemic as divine retribution against the West for the perceived persecution of Muslims.'

He said in the case of foreign spies 'the lack of opportunity for international travel and reduced social mobility meant their tradecraft evolved, and they increased their online activity and approaches'.

Some of Australia's adversaries were seeking to undermine and exploit Australia's pandemic recovery.

'We have already seen extremists trying to stoke social divisions, and foreign intelligence services wanting intelligence about Australia's key export, technology and research industries.'

Mr Burgess said ASIO had also become aware of an Islamic State video last year which referenced the Australian bushfire crisis to encourage arson attacks in the West.

'It also featured a firearmsimilar to the weapon used by the Christchurch attackerwith inscriptions such as "today we invade you in your own homes" and "the Islamic State is remaining".'

The intelligence chief last year called out right-wing extremism as being a growing threat.

'Since then, ideological extremism investigations have grown from around one-third of our priority counter-terrorism caseload, to around 40 per cent,' he said.

'The average age of these investigative subjects is 25, and I'm particularly concerned by the number of 15 and 16 year olds who are being radicalised. They are overwhelmingly male.'

The COVID-19 pandemic had reinforced extremist beliefs about societal collapse and a 'race war', he said.

'An ideologically motivated terrorist attack in Australia remains plausible, most likely by a lone actor or small cell rather than a recognised group, and using a knife or a vehicle rather than sophisticated weapons.'

The ASIO boss revealed his agency is changing its language, sorting people who pose violent threats into two categories: religiously motivated violent extremism and ideologically motivated violent extremism.

'Labels like "left" and "right" often distract from the real nature of the threat,' he said, adding that some Muslim groups found the term "Islamic extremist" as misrepresentative.

Espionage and foreign interference continued to be levelled at not only the federal government but all Australian states and territories.

Last year ASIO investigated a 'nest' of foreign spies targeting relationships with current and former politicians, a foreign embassy and a state police service.

'They successfully cultivated and recruited an Australian government security clearance holder who had access to sensitive details of defence technology.'

ASIO investigated, identified and verified the activity, cancelling the government employee's security clearance, confronted the foreign spies, and 'quietly and professionally removed them from Australia', Mr Burgess said.
Night club owners have appealed to the Lagos State Government to lift the ban on their business.

The appeal is contained in a statement from the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture in Lagos on Wednesday.

A representative of club owners, Toyin Sonoiki, made the call at a meeting with the officials of the ministry.

Mr Sonoiki, while urging the state government to consider their plight, promised that his colleagues would adhere strictly to all COVID-19 safety protocols.

He added that most of the club owners still pay their staff in spite of the fact that clubs had been shut.

We promise to work with the government to identify clubs not complying with COVID-19 protocols, he said.

Responding, the Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Uzamat Akinbile-Yussuf, who empathised with the night club operators, said the state government understood the pains and financial losses.

Mrs Akinbile-Yussuf said that practitioners in the night club business need to come together as a unified group for ease of interaction and exchange of correspondence.

The commissioner said this made it difficult for the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, to relate with them, while also accommodating their position on some salient issues as it affects their operations.

Because of the fear of another surge in the reported cases of COVID-19 the government is now more circumspect than before.

The state government will not want its efforts and successes recorded in the stemming of the spread of COVID-19 to be thwarted, Mrs Akinbile-Yussuf said.

Also speaking, the Special Adviser to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Tourism, Arts and Culture, Solomon Bonu, said the present emphasis was on regulating the activities of the operators of nightclubs in the State.

Mr Bonu affirmed that some clubhouses were still in operation contrary to the directive from the government, describing the development as very daring and illegal.

Also contributing, the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Adenike Adedoyin-Ajayi said the state government was willing to keep club owners in business, but was sceptical because of the outbreak of COVID-19.

Club owners are major contributor to the States GDP, most importantly the night economy of Lagos.

It is our desire to allow you to operate so that you can continue to perform your civic responsibilities, but the situation on ground is dicey,  Mrs Adedoyin-Ajayi.

The Senior Special Assistant to the Governor, Tunji Seymour, said that the Ministry was prepared to go hard on recalcitrant operators, peradventure the governor approves their reopening.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that in a bid to curb the spread of COVID-19, Mr Sanwo-Olu on March 20, 2020, decided to shut night clubs and bars.

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The governor said the new order was in place to comply with the large gathering restriction order which the state gave on March 18, 2020.

NAN also reports that on March 7, the state government sealed 11 facilities including event centres, lounges and night clubs among others for contravening COVID-19 directives.

(NAN)
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The global insulation market size is expected to reach USD 76.93 billion by 2025, as per a new report by Grand View Research Inc. It is anticipated to expand at a CAGR of 5.7% during the forecast period. Rapid urbanization, population growth and industrialization in developing countries is estimated to boost the growth.

Moreover, government initiatives to promote energy efficiency and sustainable development through insulation technologies are estimated to fuel growth of the global insulation market. Initiatives through the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) by the U.S. government through federal funding to encourage the use of thermal insulation in low-income households are likely to drive the market growth in North America.

Strict insulation codes and laws effectuated by the European regulatory authorities have contributed to the rising awareness regarding rising energy costs and the need for energy efficiency. The market for industrial insulation is estimated to exhibit high growth owing to the growing thermal energy production which calls for the extensive need of insulation to maximize efficiency.

Browse Details of Report @ https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/insulation-market

Additionally, the U.S. industrial insulation market is expected to benefit from recovering nonresidential building construction expenditures, particularly in the office and commercial segments. Rising awareness regarding environmentally friendly construction practices is expected to propel insulation use with an aim to reduce energy consumption.
Burma Six More Shot Dead in Myanmar by Juntas Security Forces

People carry wounded fellow protester in Yangon's Hlaing Township on Wednesday. (The Irrawaddy)

At least six more people were shot dead by the military regimes soldiers and police on Tuesday night and Wednesday. Meanwhile several arrests made in different cities across Myanmar.

A 28-year-old father of three, a 25-year-old man and a 20-year-old man were shot dead in Kale Township of Sagaing region at noon on Wednesday when soldiers and police fired shots at anti-coup protesters and local residents. The 28-year-old was shot in the head and the 25-year-old died after being shot in the abdomen. The number of causalities from the confrontation could go higher because about 10 others were hit by gunfire.

In Yangons Hlaing Township, a protester was shot in the head and died during a crackdown on an anti-coup protest. Soldiers and police also detained some male residents, forcing them to remove roadblocks.

Eleven workers from Shwe Kaung Kywel tea shop, most of them in their 20s, were also arrested at the shop in the evening. The whereabouts of the workers is still unknown.

The juntas armed forces also threatened residents in Yangon and Mandalay, saying they will shoot into every house if residents do not remove roadblocks which have been put in place to prevent access by security forces.

Tuesday night, a 28-year-old man was shot in the chest near his residence in Yangons Mingalar Taung Nyunt Township during a crackdown by soldiers and police on a nighttime protest. He died about 4 a.m. Wednesday.

In Chaung-U of Monywa in Sagaing region, a 42-year-old was also shot and killed on Tuesday night.

As of Wednesday, at least 216 people have been killed by Myanmars military regime since the Feb. 1 coup.

A doctor in Hlaing Tharyar Township confirmed that the hospital had received a total of 56 bodies of those killed on Sunday and Monday. Two gunshot patients were admitted to hospital on Tuesday, and one person shot by rubber bullet was admitted on Wednesday in Hlaing Tharyar Township.
Britains boosting of its nuclear arsenal, and the threat to use it in response to cyberattacks, has been seized on for criticism by adversaries abroad, and questioned by senior security figures at home.

The Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy stated that the UK will raise its nuclear weapons stockpile by 40 per cent while being prepared to use Trident missiles against threats from emerging technologies or chemical and biological weapons.

Russia and Iran, states which had both faced criticism on nuclear issues, accused the UK of hypocrisy and double standards, charging that its new nuclear stance dealt a serious blow to arms control, and gravely risked international security and stability.
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Clad in leopard skins and multi-coloured beads, hundreds of mourners gathered today to pay their respects to South Africa's Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini who died last week.

The King, 72, passed away in the early hours of Friday in the eastern city of Durban after taking a 'turn for the worse' following weeks of treatment for diabetes in hospital.

During his 49-year-long reign, the controversial figure revived festivals where bare-breasted young virgins danced in front of him. In 2003, he picked his sixth wife, then-18-year-old Zola Mafu of Swaziland, out of the crowd of young dancers.

And even after his death, topless women in elaborate necklaces and headbands danced and sang as they paraded to the mortuary where Zwelithini's body is being kept.

His remains have been taken back to his birthplace, the small south-eastern town of Nongoma in Kwa-Zulu Natal province.

Men known as 'amaButho', or Zulu regiments, followed the women in traditional leopard skins and ostrich feathers - wielding spears, shields and clubs known as knobkerries.

Clad in leopard skins and multi-coloured beads, hundreds of mourners gathered today to pay their respects to South Africa's Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini who died last week

Bare-breasted women in elaborate necklaces and headbands danced and sang as they paraded to the mortuary where Zwelithini's body is being kept.

Men known as 'amaButho', or Zulu regiments, followed the women in traditional leopard skins and ostrich feathers - wielding spears, shields and clubs known as knobkerries

Goodwill Zwelithini, 72, (left, with senior Prince of the Zulus Mangosuthu Buthelezi, right, in 2019) passed away in the early hours of Friday in the eastern city of Durban after taking a 'turn for the worse' following weeks of treatment for diabetes in hospital

Zulu regiments wore traditional leopard skins and ostrich feathers and wielded spears, shields and clubs

The procession marched and sang as they made their way to the mortuary to receive the body of King Goodwill Zwelithini

The procession marched behind a banner reading 'thank you for being the shining light of hope'.

They stopped for a brief vigil outside the town hall where they were joined by locals, some still in their work uniforms.

Zwelithini will be laid to rest after midnight in an intimate ceremony which will be conducted behind closed doors at the KwaKhethomthandayo royal residence.

The ceremony is referred to as a 'planting' rather than a burial.

The King was the longest-serving monarch in Zulu history, reigning for half a century through years of apartheid and democratic transition.

'We feel extremely naked, we feel like somebody has undressed us, deprived us of the blanket that covered us,' said town mayor Albert Mncwango.

They stopped for a brief vigil outside the town hall where they were joined by locals, some still in their work uniforms

Zwelithini will be laid to rest after midnight in an intimate ceremony which will be conducted behind closed doors at the KwaKhethomthandayo royal residence. Pictured: Zulu regiments make their way to the mortuary

The King was the longest-serving monarch in Zulu history, reigning for half a century through years of apartheid and democratic transition. Pictured: Zulu regiments form a guard of honour as they escort a hearse carrying the body of Goodwill Zwelithini

Hundreds of mourners gathered today and formed a guard of honour as they escorted the King's body before he is placed to rest at midnight

'He was a symbol of respect, unity and he loved his people,' said Mazwi Zulu, 31, a distant cousin to the king.

'He didn't want to see anyone begging and encouraged us to be farmers.'

Zwelithini was well-known for his flamboyant lifestyle, famously buying a luxurious palace for each of his six wives and spending 155,000 on military uniforms for his 28 children - while most of his subjects lived in abject poverty.

Although his position was purely ceremonial - and had no official power in modern South Africa - Zwelithini still courted the wrath of women's rights and HIV/Aids campaigners for his hardline stance on controversial traditional virginity testing.

He resurrected the outdated custom - in the face of widespread opposition - by claiming it helped the country's fight against HIV/Aids by encouraging women to wait until marriage to have sex.

He also branded gay people 'rotten', claiming 'same sex is not acceptable'.

Zwelithini was well-known for his flamboyant lifestyle, famously buying a luxurious palace for each of his six wives and spending 155,000 on military uniforms for his 28 children

Zwelithini, his six wives and over 28 children enjoyed a lavish lifestyle in a country where millions live in poverty. Pictured: Zwelithini marrying his sixth wife Zola Mafu of Swaziland in 2014

Queen Zola Mafu of Swaziland (centre, during her wedding to the King) was selected to be the King's bride at the age of 18 while participating in the 2003 Reed Dance - where bare-breasted virgins dance

His attitudes towards immigration also lent itself to criticism, with the King blamed for fuelling deadly xenophobic violence when he suggested immigrants were responsible for rising lawlessness in South Africa and that they needed to be kicked out.

A statement confirming the King's death was signed by Mangosuthu Buthelezi, a powerful veteran politician who is also a Zulu prince.

The statement read: 'It is with the utmost grief that I inform the nation of the passing of His Majesty King Goodwill Zwelithini [...] King of the Zulu nation.

'Tragically, while still in hospital, His Majesty's health took a turn for the worse and he subsequently passed away in the early hours of this morning.'

President Cyril Ramaphosa said the King 'will be remembered as a much-loved, visionary monarch who made an important contribution to cultural identity, national unity and economic development'.

The Queen receives a gift from Zulu King Zwelithini in 1995. He presented her with a replica of a cup given to King Cetshwayo by Queen Victoria in 1882 at a lunch in Durban, South Africa, in 1995

Swaziland King Mswati III (right) is joined by his brother-in-law Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini (left) for the celebration of his 30th birthday and the 30th anniversary of Swazi independence from British colonialism in 1998

But Zwelithini was also accused of playing into the hands of the apartheid system's fight against the then banned African National Congress party, which opposed white minority rule.

Following his death, a local newspaper described him as the 'custodian of Zulu culture' but also as a 'useful idiot in the hands of the apartheid government'.

Zwelithini's successor has yet to be disclosed. But his oldest son, who would traditionally have inherited the throne, was killed in Johannesburg last November.

Zwelithini famously declared bankruptcy in 2014, despite the 54million rand (3million) handed to him from the South African government to keep him, his six wives and 28 children in the style to which they are accustomed.

His opulent marriage to his sixth wife Zola Mafu - a 28-year-old princess from the neighbouring kingdom of Swaziland - in July 2014 included a marquee, catering and flowers for 5,000 invited guests.

According to South Africa's Sunday Times, the monarch paid out more than 55,000 on catering, around 10,000 on a sound system and 15,000 on decorations and flowers.

A descendent of the all-powerful Shaka - who ruled the Zulu nation until his assassination in 1828 - Zwelithini (pictured in 2019) revived the annual Reed Dance in 1984, where thousands of bare-breasted young women celebrate their virginity by dancing in front of the king

In total, the extravaganza, attended by 5,000 people, cost an estimated 250,000.

Maintaining all six wives, their children and grandchildren in separate palaces - with generous allowances, private school fees and a retinue of personal staff - requires substantial funding, according to reports.

And he decided they all needed new, imported military regalia to wear to the opening of KwaZulu Natal's state legislature in 2015 - at the not insignificant price of 155,000, reports claimed.

He met Queen Zola while she was performing at a Reed Dance - or Umkhosi woMhlanga - in 2003. The dances were reintroduced by Zwelithini in 1991.

He wanted to encourage women to wait until marriage before having sex as a way to limit the spread of HIV.

All girls taking part need to have a virginity test beforehand - a highly-controversial practice.

The ceremony itself involves the bare-chested women picking a reed and carrying it towards the king. The reed breaking before it gets to the king implies the girl is not a virgin.

Swaziland's King Mswati III also attends Umkhosi woMhlanga ceremonies, and traditionally picks a new wife every year from the line up of dancers.

Former South African President of the apartheid regime PW Botha (left) laughs with King Zwelithini during the Day of Reconciliation commemorations in 2003

King Zwelithini (left) watches members of a re-enactment group perform as Zulu warriors and British Soldiers during the 140th anniversary re-enactment of the Battle of Isandluana in Dundee in 2019

Born in Nongoma, Zwelithini ascended the throne on December 3, 1971 during the apartheid era.

He became King following the death of his father King Cyprian Bhekuzulu kaSolomon in 1968 - but was forced to flee to St. Helena for three years over assassination fears.

Prince Israel Mcwayizeni acted as regent until 1971, when Zwelithini was officially installed as the eighth monarch of the Zulus in a ceremony on December 3, 1971, aged just 23.

The Zulus are South Africa's largest ethnic group with over 11 million people.

Traditional rulers play a largely symbolic and spiritual role in modern South Africa, where they are constitutionally recognised.

They advise legislators and have a say in cultural, land management and justice administration in their territories.

Under the white-minority regime which ended in 1994, kings ruled homelands where most blacks were confined to defuse broader national struggles.

In 2015, Zwelithini gained international notoriety for anti-foreigner remarks suggesting immigrants were responsible for rising lawlessness in South Africa and that they needed to be kicked out.

The remarks were blamed for inflaming a spate of xenophobic attacks on mostly African migrants, which left seven dead, thousands displaced and revived memories of xenophobic bloodshed in 2008, when 62 people were killed.

Zwelithini later denied whipping up xenophobic sentiments, saying his remarks were taken out of context.

'If it was true I said people must kill each other, the whole country would (have been) reduced to ashes,' he said.

A descendant of the all-powerful Shaka - who ruled the Zulu nation until his assassination in 1828 - Zwelithini revived the annual Reed Dance in 1984, where thousands of bare-breasted young women celebrate their virginity by dancing in front of the king.

African National Congress president Jacob Zuma (left) greets Inkatha Freedom Party leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi (right) in front of King Zwelithini in 2008

Swaziland's King Mswati III (centre) and Zulu King Zwelithini (left) attend the annual Reed dance in Ludzidzini, Swaziland, in 2005

He was the most prominent among a handful of traditional rulers who hold sway over emotive issues such as land ownership in South Africa.

In 2018, he sought an exemption for nearly three million hectares of royal land which the Government had wanted to expropriate for redistribution to landless marginalised black people sidelined by apartheid.

As the sole trustee of 2.8 million hectares (6.9 million acres) of land through the Ingonyama Trust, he wanted his land to be left untouched, warning 'all hell will break loose' if its ownership was challenged.

Three years ago, the outspoken king courted controversy when he spoke in support of corporal punishment, saying it helped pupils perform better in school.

He also sparked a storm in 2012 when he slammed same-sex relationships as 'rotten', drawing rebuke from rights groups.

'If you do it, you must know that it is wrong and you are rotten. Same sex is not acceptable,' he said at a ceremony marking an anniversary when the Zulu army defeated imperial British forces.

In 1994, he sparked fears of a secessionist conflict when he rallied between 20,000 and 50,000 stick-wielding men - most of them supporters of the Zulu nationalist Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) - to march through Johannesburg to support his call for sovereignty ahead of the country's first democratic election.

The marchers engaged in a firefight outside the headquarters of the IFP's main rival, the now-ruling African National Congress, leaving 42 people dead.

Zwelithini enjoyed the trappings of his royal status, receiving more than 60 million rand ($4 million) in yearly allowances from the state to help fund a lifestyle that includes several royal palaces, six wives and over 28 children.

The Zulus are popularly known for their vibrant culture, especially an ancient war dance performed by the rhythmic stomping of feet.

They do not refer to a deceased kind as 'dead', but say the monarch has 'bowed'.
(@FahadShabbir)

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin expressed the belief on Wednesday, talking to his South Korean counterpart, that the US-South Korean alliance has "never been more important" amid "unprecedented challenges" posed by North Korea and China, the Yonhap news agency reported

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 17th March, 2021) US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin expressed the belief on Wednesday, talking to his South Korean counterpart, that the US-South Korean alliance has "never been more important" amid "unprecedented challenges" posed by North Korea and China, the Yonhap news agency reported.

Austin made the remarks during his first personal meeting with South Korean Defense Minister Suh Wook in Seoul. He also qualified the bilateral partnership as a "linchpin" for Northeast Asia's peace and security.

"Our commitment to the U.S.-ROK alliance, which has been steadfast for 70 years, remains ironclad," Austin said, as quoted by Yonhap.

This is the first visit of a cabinet-level US official of President Joe Biden's administration to South Korea.


Varun Dhawan has been shooting for Bhediya for a while now. The actor left to shoot for the film earlier this month with Kriti Sanon. Directed by Amar Kaushik, the film is being produced by Maddock Films and the audience is super excited to watch Varun in a never seen before avatar. Varun left for Arunachal Pradesh a few weeks back where he began shooting for the film and since the day he has landed their videos of fans following him to every location have been doing the rounds on social media.





View this post on Instagram A post shared by Filmfare (@filmfare)

Today too, another video of the actor surfaced online where one can see that he is trying to make his way to his ride amidst a lot of fans coming in his way to catch a glimpse of him and give him all the love they have for him.Check out the video below
Reliably blue these days, Illinois isnt on the itinerary. But starting today the Democratic-aligned nonprofit House Majority Forward hit the airwaves with an ad saluting northwest suburban and exurban U.S. Rep. Lauren Underwood for backing the COVID-19 relief package. In all, the organization is bankrolling ads in nine swing congressional districts, cheerleading Democratic lawmakers for voting yes on the spending plan and explaining how those dollars will help constituents, The Washington Post and Axios have reported in recent days.
Waterways can gain water from the surrounding aquifer or leak water into the ground depending on the conditions. Credit: Jasechko et al

Water is an ephemeral thing. It can emerge from an isolated spring, as if by magic, to birth a babbling brook. It can also course through a mighty river, seeping into the soil until all that remains downstream is a shady arroyo, the nearby trees offering the only hint of where the water has gone.

The interplay between surface water and groundwater is often overlooked by those who use this vital resource due to the difficulty of studying it. Assistant professors Scott Jasechko and Debra Perrone, of UC Santa Barbara, and their colleagues leveraged their enormous database of groundwater measurements to investigate the interaction between these related resources. Their results, published in Nature, indicate that many more rivers across the United States may be leaking water into the ground than previously realized.

In many places surface waters and groundwaters connect, while in others they're separated by impermeable rock layers. It depends on the underlying geology. But where they do intermingle, water can transition between flowing above and below ground.

"Gaining rivers" receive water from the surrounding groundwater, while "losing rivers" seep into the underlying aquifer. Scientists didn't have a good understanding of the prevalence of each of these conditions on a continental scale. Simply put, no one had previously stitched together so many measurements of groundwater, explained Jasechko, the study's co-lead author.

Gaining and losing rivers

Typical groundwater studies include water level measurements from a few hundred to 1,000 wells. This study encompasses 4.2 million.

A map of well water levels with respect to the surface of the nearest river. Credit: Jasechko et al

Perrone and Jasechko devoted years to compiling data from 64 agencies across the U.S. and analyzing the results. "Compiling these data was a massive undertaking. We collected millions of datapoints and reviewed hundreds of papers over the course of six years," Perrone said.

The resulting database has precipitated a number of the team's subsequent studies. "We can use this extensive dataset in innovative ways to answer questions that we have not been able to address previously," she added.

For this paper, Jasechko, Perrone and their coauthors compared water levels in wells to the surface of the nearest stream. "We apply a simple method to a large dataset," Jasechko said. "We identify wells with water levels that lie below the nearest stream, implying that these nearby streams could leak into the subsurface if it is sufficiently permeable."

The team found that nearly two-thirds of the wells had water levels below the nearest stream. This creates a gradient that can drive water from the river channel into the aquifer beneath.

"Our analysis shows that two out of three rivers in the U.S. are already losing water. It's very likely that this effect will worsen in the coming decades and some rivers may even disappear" said co-lead author Hansjorg Seybold at ETH Zurich.

"The phenomenon, set in motion decades ago, is now widespread across the U.S. There are far more streams draining into underlying aquifers than we had first assumed," Seybold continued. "Since rivers and streams are a vital water supply for agriculture and cities, the gravity of the situation came as a surprise."

This section of the Santa Ynez river leaks water into the surrounding aquifer. Credit: Debra Perrone

Rivers were particularly prone to losing water in arid regions, along flat topography and in areas with extensive groundwater pumping, they observed. A prime example of this would be flat agricultural land in semi-arid regions like California's Central Valley. "We are literally sucking the rivers dry," Seybold said.

Losing rivers can impact other water users, downstream communities and ecosystems that rely on surface flows. "Historically, we've often treated these two resources as separate resources," Perrone said. "Our work highlights the importance of considering groundwater and surface water as a single resource where they are connected."

The researchers also found that losing rivers have been widespread in the U.S. for quite some time, present in many places at least as far back as the 1940s and '50s. And while many waterways naturally lose water, the issue can be exacerbated by human activity.

Humans have extracted water from the ground for thousands of years; in America they've been doing so for hundreds of years. The practice accelerated after World War II and has been rampant since the 1970s, accompanied by the undesirable and unintended consequences it entails.

"This isn't a new phenomenon," Jasechko said. "It's been with us for decades."

Water levels do fluctuate over years and decades, and unfortunately the researchers have only one data point for many of the wells in their sample. Other work by the team suggests that groundwater typically fluctuates by no more than a few meters over the course of a year. However, the water level for the many wells near losing rivers was more than two meters below the surface of the nearest stream, increasing the researchers' confidence that leaky rivers are likely widespread.

Leaky rivers are more widespread than scientists had thought. Credit: University of California - Santa Barbara

"We can only observe well water levels where wells exist," Jasechko acknowledged. "It's an obvious but important point. Our analysis is inherently biased to places where wells have been drilled, and therefore also to places where groundwater is pumped."

While the researchers don't see any straightforward way around this in the short-term, they hope their results can inform resource management and monitoring, perhaps informing policies that fund more monitoring wells in under-surveyed areas.

"Big studies like this get people thinking about broader water policy," Perrone said. "And for me, that is why continental scale analyses are important."

"My hope is that this study gets more people thinking about the interconnection of groundwater and surface water where these two resources are connected, and it also gets groundwater policy on the map," she continued. For so long this resource has been literally and metaphorically out of sight.

Perrone and Jasechko plan to expand this type of large-scale analysis to other parts of the globe and see how pumping and losing rivers impact groundwater-dependent ecosystems. Perrone also intends to connect their results back to her groundwater dashboard.

"Losing rivers aren't some hypothetical scenario," Jasechko stated. "They're here and now." They are in part the result of the past century of water use and misuse.

"If we have a better understanding of how widespread this phenomenon is, then we can influence future policy in positive ways," added Perrone. Because society is past the point where it can talk about prevention; we're now talking about response.

Explore further Competition for shrinking groundwater

More information: Scott Jasechko et al, Widespread potential loss of streamflow into underlying aquifers across the USA, Nature (2021). Journal information: Nature Scott Jasechko et al, Widespread potential loss of streamflow into underlying aquifers across the USA,(2021). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-021-03311-x
EQS Group-News: Nordea Bank Abp / Key word(s): Miscellaneous

Nordea Bank Abp: Flagging notification



17.03.2021 / 09:35





Nordea Bank Abp: Flagging notification in accordance with Chapter 9, Section 10 of the Securities Markets Act



Nordea Bank Abp

Stock exchange release - Major shareholder announcements

17 March 2021 at 9.30 EET



Nordea Bank Abp has on 16 March 2021 received a notification under Chapter 9, Section 5 of the Securities Markets Act, according to which BlackRock, Inc.'s indirect shareholding of Nordea Bank Abp's shares and voting rights has crossed the threshold of 5 per cent on 15 March 2021. According to the notification, the total number of Nordea Bank Abp's shares and voting rights held directly or through financial instruments by BlackRock, Inc. and its funds was 5.04 per cent on 15 March 2021.



The total number of shares and voting rights in Nordea Bank Abp is 4,049,951,919.



Total positions of BlackRock, Inc. and its funds:

% of shares and voting rights

(total of A) % of shares and voting rights through financial instruments

(total of B) Total of both in % (A + B) Resulting situation on the date on which threshold was crossed or reached 4.91% 0.13% 5.04% Position of previous notification (if applicable) Below 5% Below 5% Below 5%



Notified details of the resulting situation on the date on which the threshold was crossed or reached:



A: Shares and voting rights

Class/type of

shares

ISIN code (if possible) Number of shares and voting rights % of shares and voting rights Direct

(SMA 9:5) Indirect

(SMA 9:6 and 9:7) Direct

(SMA 9:5) Indirect

(SMA 9:6 and 9:7) FI4000297767 198,972,884 4.91% SUBTOTAL A 198,972,884 4.91%



B: Financial instruments according to SMA 9:6a

Type of financial instrument Expiration

date Exercise/

Conversion period Physical or cash settlement Number of shares and voting rights % of shares and voting rights American

Depository

Receipt (US65558R1095) N/A N/A Physical 1,297,401 0.03% Securities Lent N/A N/A Physical 2,805,081 0.06% CFD N/A N/A Cash 1,179,238 0.02% SUBTOTAL B 5,281,720 0.13%



The controlled undertakings through which the shares, voting rights and financial instruments are effectively held:

Name % of shares and voting rights % of shares and voting rights through financial instruments Total of both BlackRock Japan Co., Ltd. Below 5% BlackRock Investment Management, LLC Below 5% BlackRock Investment Management (UK) Limited Below 5% BlackRock Investment Management (Australia) Limited Below 5% BlackRock International Limited Below 5% BlackRock Institutional Trust Company, National Association Below 5% BlackRock Fund Advisors Below 5% BlackRock Financial Management, Inc. Below 5% BlackRock Asset Management North Asia Limited Below 5% BlackRock Asset Management Deutschland AG Below 5% BlackRock Asset Management Canada Limited Below 5% BlackRock Advisors, LLC Below 5% BlackRock Advisors (UK) Limited Below 5% BlackRock (Singapore) Limited Below 5% BlackRock (Netherlands) B.V. Below 5% Aperio Group, LLC Below 5%



For further information:

Matti Ahokas, Head of Investor Relations, +358 9 53008011

Group Communication, +358104168023 or press@nordea.com





The information provided in this stock exchange release was submitted for publication, through the agency of the contact persons set out above, at 9.30 EET on 17 March 2021.

This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact rns@lseg.com or visit www.rns.com.
The Nagol is Back! VTOs guide to this years Nagol, plus where to stay and play in south, central and north Pentecost.
(Newser)  President Biden says that it will be "tough" for the US to meet a May 1 deadline to withdraw troops from Afghanistan. The deadline to end America's longest war six weeks from now was set under an agreement reached by former President Trump and the Taliban, without the buy-in of the Afghan government. The Trump deal caught some American allies off guard, reports the AP, as the roughly 7,000 NATO troops in Afghanistan rely on the US for logistics and security support. Biden, in an interview with ABC News' George Stephanopoulos that aired Wednesday, said "that was not a very solidly negotiated deal that the president, the former president worked out. Were in consultation with our allies as well as the government, and that decision is in process now." Of meeting the May 1 deadline, he said it "could happen, but it is tough." If the deadline is extended, he added, it wont be by "a lot longer." More from the interview:

story continues below

On Russian election meddling: When asked about a report released Tuesday that determined Russia tried to sway the 2020 election in Trump's favor, Biden said of Putin, "He will pay a price." He referenced a late January call with the Russian president in which "we had a long talk, he and I ... I know him relatively well. And the conversation started off, I said, 'I know you and you know me. If I establish this occurred, then be prepared."

When asked about a report released Tuesday that determined Russia tried to sway the 2020 election in Trump's favor, Biden said of Putin, "He will pay a price." He referenced a late January call with the Russian president in which "we had a long talk, he and I ... I know him relatively well. And the conversation started off, I said, 'I know you and you know me. If I establish this occurred, then be prepared." On Putin: Stephanopoulos then posed the question: "So you know Vladimir Putin. You think he's a killer?" Biden's reply: "Mmm hmm, I do."

Stephanopoulos then posed the question: "So you know Vladimir Putin. You think he's a killer?" Biden's reply: "Mmm hmm, I do." On Andrew Cuomo: Biden was asked about the mounting sexual harassment allegations against the New York governor. "If the investigation confirms the claims of the women, should he resign?" said Stephanopoulos. "Yes," said Biden. "I think he'll probably end up being prosecuted, too."

Biden was asked about the mounting sexual harassment allegations against the New York governor. "If the investigation confirms the claims of the women, should he resign?" said Stephanopoulos. "Yes," said Biden. "I think he'll probably end up being prosecuted, too." On migrants: "Yes, I can say quite clearly: Don't come over," Biden said in reference to swelling number of migrants at the US southern border. "Don't leave your town or city or community," he added.

"Yes, I can say quite clearly: Don't come over," Biden said in reference to swelling number of migrants at the US southern border. "Don't leave your town or city or community," he added. On the vaccine: Biden made clear he doesn't get the lingering resistance to it. "I just don't understand this sort of macho thing about, 'I'm not gonna get the vaccine. I have a right as an American, my freedom to not do it.' Well, why don't you be a patriot? Protect other people."

(Read more Afghanistan war stories.)
Shell hits milestone in fleet decarbonisation with half crude tankers to run on LNG in 2023

Shell signed agreements to charter ten new crude tankers powered by dual-fuel liquefied natural gas (LNG) engines.

Four of the very large crude carriers (VLCCs) have been chartered from Advantage Tankers, three from AET and three from International Seaways. All 10 ships will be built in South Korea by DSME, the first operational from 2022 and be on charter to Shell for seven years. The main engines and vessel design chosen for the ships will mean these tankers have the lowest possible methane slip and highest fuel efficiency including on average 20% less fuel consumption compared to eco VLCC vessels on the water. Shell continues to significantly invest in LNG for its long-term charter fleet with 14 in service by the end of 2021. This order is expected to bring the total global dual fuel LNG fleet to 475, marking yet another important step on the predicted doubling of LNG-fuelled vessels on the water by 2023, as ship owners respond to customer calls to choose the cleanest technologies available today. It is imperative that the shipping sector immediately employs the cleanest fuels available. Today and for the foreseeable future, LNG is the choice for new builds to ensure we are not adding heavier emitters into the global fleet while we work hard at developing zero-emissions fuels, said Grahaeme Henderson, Global Head of Shell Shipping & Maritime. This significant commitment will see Shell hit a new milestone for our fleet decarbonisation with an average of 50% of our crude tankers on time charter powered by dual-fuel LNG engines once in service. There is real urgency to tackle emissions from this sector and adopting LNG while developing zero-emissions fuels options, will make a significant difference to cumulative emissions. Shell is rapidly making LNG available on global trading routes at major ports in Europe, Asia and North America to meet customer demand with tankers and the bulk and liner segments continuing to grow uptake. By 2023, marine LNG demand is expected to reach around 3.6 million tonnes with 45 bunker vessels expected to be in service. Sung Geun Lee, President and CEO of DSME, said: The vessels have been designed with state-of-the-art technologies and not only achieve a huge reduction in greenhouse gas emissions but are also economically viable. They have a low fuel consumption with their dual-fuel LNG engines and will bring significant benefits to both the charterer and the ship owners over the long-term.




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Rua Bioscience has successfully exported a sample of medicinal cannabis flower grown in Ruatorea to Germany. The sample of dried flower is similar to the product Rua aims to export in commercial quantities by the end of this year, as part of its sales agreement with German distributor, Nimbus Health. Though weighing just 70 grams, it has enabled the company to test its packaging and export processes.

Dr. Jessika Nowak, Ruas Chief Research Officer, says this is the first time cannabis flower has been exported in any quantity from New Zealand to Germany and it has provided valuable early learning opportunities for all involved.

Once received by Nimbus Health, data from the temperature logger in the package was assessed to determine that the packaging performed as expected to keep the plant material at the required temperatures throughout shipping. The plant material was then sent on to a commercial laboratory in Germany for analytical testing.

Rua Bioscience CEO, Rob Mitchell, says this is a small, but important step for Rua in learning and understanding the export process, end to end. Rua has a clear export strategy, and our first focus is on the German market. This sample export of dried medicinal cannabis flower to Germany gives us growing confidence that we are on the right track to export our commercial flower to Germany by the end of this year," says Mr Mitchell.

Please see the links below for details:

Announcement - Rua Bioscience exports first sample medicinal cannabis flower to Germany

Source: Rua Bioscience Limited

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Sebastian Vettel has denied having an eye on Lewis Hamilton's works Mercedes seat for 2022.

The quadruple world champion has moved from Ferrari to Aston Martin for the new season, with Red Bull's Dr Helmut Marko calling the latter's 2021 car "the second Mercedes".

"The second Mercedes, the Aston Martin, had similar problems on the transmission side to those of the team from Brackley," Marko, referring to the Bahrain test, is quoted by motorsport-magazin.com.

Vettel, though, denies that he sees Aston Martin as a potential stepping stone to the 'first Mercedes' car for 2022, when Hamilton's current one-year contract will have run out.

"I don't know what Hamilton's plans are except that he signed for only one year, but I also know that my home is Aston Martin where there is a lot of work to do," the 33-year-old told France's Auto Hebdo.

"I don't know if Mercedes looks at my passport or not, but the way I think of it is that if a customer team proves capable of winning, the parent team will continue to supply top-notch material," Vettel added.

"If we are at the level to beat the Mercedes with the same engines, we will be allowed to do so."

However, Vettel notably struggled both for pace and reliability in Bahrain, with his countryman Ralf Schumacher admitting he feels "a little sorry" for the German.

"He came to Aston Martin full of optimism and we know from last year how incredibly sensitive he is, not just with his team but with his car as well," former F1 driver Schumacher told Sky Deutschland.

"Then what happens? He couldn't really test properly," he added. "Poor Sebastian is in a completely new car and he is already saying that the steering feels different and he is not happy."

(GMM)
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP)  Transgender youth in Alabama would not be able to be treated with puberty-blockers, hormone treatment or surgery under a bill advanced Tuesday by a legislative committee that is nearing final approval in the Alabama Legislature.

A divided House Health Committee advanced the bill, which would make it a felony to use puberty-blocking drugs, hormonal therapy and surgery to treat transgender minors. The legislation already cleared the Alabama Senate and now moves to the full House.

The bottom line is we have a responsibility to protect Alabamas children. Minors are not mentally capable to make a decision of this caliber, bill sponsor Sen. Shay Shelnutt, R- Trussville, told committee members.

The measure drew pushback from some lawmakers in both parties who expressed concern about lawmakers inserting themselves into medical and parental decisions.

What this bill in my opinion does is take all of here in this room and puts us in the middle of that doctors office and tells those parents, they dont know their children. They dont love their children, they dont know what is best for their children, said Rep. Neil Rafferty, D-Birmingham.

Republican Joe Lovvorn said he was concerned about taking away tools from parents and noted the suicide rates among kids with gender dysphoria. Lovvorn, a longtime firefighter, described the heartbreak of responding to suicides and suicide attempts as a first responder, including one where he learned the teen had struggled to get help for gender identity issues.

Were taking too many tools from the tool chest of a parent, a responsible parent who is trying to figure all of this out  I feel that we could add to that teenage suicide rate unfortunately if we take away too many of those tool kits for parents to use to keep their kids moving forward, Lovvorn said.
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YEREVAN, MARCH 17, ARMENPRESS. Newly-appointed Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Armenia Bolat Imanbayev presented today his credentials to President Armen Sarkissian, the Presidential Office told Armenpress.

The Armenian President congratulated the Ambassador, wishing further success and expressing confidence that he will invest his experience and efforts for the further deepening of the relations between the two friendly countries.

The meeting also touched upon the development of cooperation between Armenia and Kazakhstan. The officials noted that the relations between the two countries are dynamically developing, however, they added that there is a great potential in a number of fields which is not utilized yet.

President Sarkissian said there are great opportunities for implementing bilateral mutual beneficial programs in science, education, high-tech, food industry, financial-banking and humanitarian spheres. Both highlighted the role of the Armenian community of Kazakhstan, as well as the intensification of business and cultural contacts.

In his turn the Kazakh Ambassador stated that he is ready to do the utmost to strengthen the historical friendly ties between the two countries. He said activeness is being noticed in the bilateral commercial ties even during the pandemic and the international economic crisis and expressed confidence that these trends will continue.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
Somerset County prisons toured in wake of COVID

A media tour was held Wednesday at both Somerset County prisons to show how officials have adapted to COVID-19.
CHATHAM - The village's former clerk-treasurer was arrested as part of an investigation by state Comptroller Tom DiNapoli, State Police and the Columbia County District Attorney, authorities said.

Barbara Henry, 59, of Chatham, is accused of unlawfully waiving her health insurance premiums, costing the town more than $4,000, DiNapolis office said Wednesday.

Henry was responsible for paying 50 percent of her health insurance costs while the village was responsible for the other 50 percent, DiNapoli's office explained in a press release. An investigation found that from April 2017 to August 2018, Henry used her position to unlawfully waive her own premiums, causing the village to pay more than $4,182 to fund Henrys insurance, his office said.

Henry was entrusted to protect the villages funds, instead she allegedly used that position for her personal benefit, DiNapoli said in a statement. This behavior is unacceptable and now Henry is being held accountable for her actions.

Henry also allegedly stole over $8,000 from Cadmus Lifesharing Association, a Massachusetts non-profit that cares for people with disabilities, and where Henry held a second job as the director of the organization, between October 2014 and last December, DiNapolis office and the district attorney's office said. She allegedly committed both crimes in Chatham, prosecutors said.

Henry is charged with tampering with public records and two grand larceny counts, felonies, and misdemeanor official misconduct. Henry worked for the village from late 2012 until she resigned in August 2018. She was released and is due back in court April 28.

District Attorney Paul Czajka said it is the same investigation that resulted in the conviction of former Chatham village police chief Peter Volkmann.

Volkmann pleaded guilty to fourth-degree grand larceny for stealing $74,222 from the retirement system. Volkmann also pleaded guilty to official misconduct for filing false claims for $18,607 in mileage and expense reimbursement from Chatham.
A refusal by the Michigan Supreme Court to re-hear a case that previously resulted in a 3-3 deadlock means public funding can be spent on health measures at private schools.

A coalition of education and parent groups filed a lawsuit in 2017 to prevent the state from reimbursing private and parochial schools for expenses related to health and safety mandates, arguing such payments are unconstitutional.

The American Federation of Teachers of Michigan is gravely disappointed in the Michigan Supreme Courts decision not to reconsider this lawsuit, said David Hecker, president of the teachers union. Their inaction lets stand a Court of Appeals decision that a law allowing the state to use public funds to reimburse non-public schools is not unconstitutional on its face.

Instead, the Court of Appeals, and now the Supreme Court, has stated the case goes back to the Court of Claims to determine what state mandates, if any, may be reimbursed by public funds. We firmly believe that the allocation of public funds to non-public schools is a violation of the Michigan Constitution and we will continue our fight.

The Court of Appeals found the spending to be in line with the state Constitution and the lawsuit was appealed to the state Supreme Court last year. Justices split 3-3 in their ruling, meaning the Court of Appeals ruling remained in place.

A new request to reconsider the issue was unanimously rejected by the state Supreme Court, 5-0, on Thursday.

Critics of the ruling believe it is an affront to the public schools, opening the possibility of further taxpayer spending on private schools.

The state Constitution states: No public monies or property shall be appropriated or paid ... by the Legislature or any other political subdivision or agency of the state directly or indirectly to aid or maintain any private, denominational or other nonpublic, pre-elementary, elementary, or secondary school.

David Maluchnik, spokesperson for the Michigan Catholic Conference said after the Supreme Courts December 3-3 deadlock: Since the case has been remanded to the Court of Claims, our hope would be for the Court to quickly dispense with its review in order to allow for nonpublic schools to access the long-awaiting funding. We believe that every student in Michigan should be treated equally in terms of health and safety, regardless if they attend a public or nonpublic school.

More on MLive:

Public money to private schools is unconstitutional, lawsuit claims

Michigan responds to Catholic schools lawsuit
As the Trilateral Statement on Karabakh was signed on November 9th, 2020, appeals to hold early parliamentary elections in Armenia began to be constantly voiced. The clergy, the systemic opposition, conservative generalship, military criminals of the First Karabakh War, and the non-systemic opposition ("The Movement to Save the Motherland") stand for resignation of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.

Chaotic protests in front of the National Assembly and noisy demonstrations of street patriots are accomplished by only one demand  to oust Pashinyan from Armenian politics. However, the determined non-systemic opposition has no serious electoral base to win elections.

While heavy-weights of Armenian politics such as Prosperous Armenia of Gagik Tsarukyan and Free Armenia of Edmon Marukyan humbly criticize Premier following fresh political trends, anonymous patriots from streets demand special conditions to eliminate political competitiveness between the opposition and Pashinyan.

The loud title of the political rally and equally loud protests are unable to hide political impotence of The Movement to Save the Motherland which cannot accuse Pashinyan of anything but the defeat in the Second Karabakh War. For sure, results of the last-year bloodshed were hard to take for the Armenian society and Premier was responsible for failing to prevent the war by timely deoccupation of the Azerbaijani territory. However, the heavy defeat of Armenia in Karabakh doesnt rest only with Pashinyans mistakes because 25 years of occupation has formed a system of corruption and clannishness and its enormous apparatus which supported existence of the separatist regime.

Today pseudo-patriots from The Movement to Save the Motherland delicately keep silent when it refers to the Karabakh clan and take it out on vulnerable Premier who is in political isolation now. At the same time, The Movement to Save the Motherland plans to run for elections without a political program which is able to attract voters. Ousting Pashinyan from Armenian politics meets only interests of a backstage Armenian oligarch who sponsors the patriotic movement.

Ignoring importance of a thorough study of Armenias problems reveals elements of a typical political technological project with an Armenian accent in the non-systemic opposition. Pseudo-patriots can rely only on competition with the former president of Armenia Robert Kocharyan. Three years ago, during the Velvet Revolution, Armenia already made a choice against the Karabakh clan. Today go-getting non-systemic oppositionists want to privatize results of Pashinyans previous victory. Even though Armenian common people get largely disappointed with the revolutionary authorities, Armenian citizens wont vote for the Karabakh clan.

Nevertheless, without Pashinyans participation, elections may reduce to a struggle between voters of Savers and voters of the Karabakh clan; and the agenda of The Movement to Save the Motherland can partially attract supporters of Premier. The logic is simple: an Armenian citizen chooses the lesser of two evils. Thats how street activists hope to repeat success of Pashinyan without him but using his methods.

Sacramento, California--(Newsfile Corp. - March 16, 2021) - Vibe Growth Corporation (CSE: VIBE) (OTC Pink: VBSCF) (FSE: A061) (the "Company" or "Vibe"), a vertically integrated cannabis enterprise, is pleased to announce that it has completed its previously announced non-brokered private placement (the "Offering") of 2,626,500 units of the Company (the "Units") at a price of $0.82 per Unit (the "Offering Price") for aggregate gross proceeds of $2,153,730.

Together with the completion of the Company's "bought deal" private placement announced earlier today, the Company raised gross proceeds of $15,954,535 through the issuance of an aggregate of 19,456,750 Units.

Each Unit consists of one (1) common share in the capital of the Company (a "Common Share") and one-half (0.5) of one Common Share purchase warrant (each whole Common Share purchase warrant, a "Warrant"). Each Warrant entitles the holder to acquire an additional Common Share at a price of $1.06 until March 16, 2024; provided, however, that if the volume-weighted average closing price of the Common Shares on the Canadian Securities Exchange (or any such other stock exchange in Canada as the Common Shares may trade at the applicable time) is greater than or equal to $2.12 per Common Share for a period of ten (10) consecutive trading days at any time following the date hereof, the Company may, in its sole discretion, and upon giving notice to holders of warrants, accelerate the expiry of the Warrants to the date that is 30 days following the date of such notice (the "Acceleration Right").

In connection with the Offering, the Company paid cash finders fees in the aggregate amount of $100,048 to certain eligible finders (collectively, the "Finders") and issued an aggregate of 122,010 compensation options (the "Compensation Options") to the Finders. Each Compensation Option entitles the holder to acquire one Common Share at the Offering Price until March 16, 2024, subject to the Acceleration Right.

The net proceeds from the Offering are expected to be used for working capital and general corporate purposes.

All securities to be issued pursuant to the Offering are subject to a four-month hold period under applicable Canadian securities laws.

An insider of the Company subscribed for a total of 30,500 Units under the Offering, which is a "related party transaction" within the meaning of Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). The issuances to the insiders are exempt from the valuation requirement of MI 61-101 by virtue of the exemption contained in section 5.5(b) as the Company's shares are not listed on a specified market and from the minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 by virtue of the exemption contained in section 5.7(a) of MI 61-101 in that the fair market value of the consideration of the securities issued to the related parties did not exceed 25% of the Company's market capitalization. The Company did not file a material change report more than 21 days before the expected closing of the Offering as the details of the Offering and the participation therein by related parties of the Company were not settled until shortly prior to closing and the Company wished to close on an expedited basis for sound business reasons.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to sell any of securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available.

About Vibe Growth Corporation

Vibe Growth Corporation and its cannabis retail brand, Vibe By California, is a trusted, vertically integrated California cannabis enterprise with retail dispensaries; cannabis greenhouse cultivation; premium indoor cultivation; commercial cannabis distribution; brand sales and marketing; e-commerce platform; home delivery; and Hype Cannabis Co. marijuana and Vibe CBD products. In California, Vibe is focused on maximizing shareholder value through opportunistic acquisitions, distressed workouts, and new license applications. The Company operates retail and e-commerce under its iconic Vibe By California brand. To learn more about Vibe, please visit www.vibebycalifornia.com.

Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Information

This press release contains certain statements that constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws ("forward-looking statements"). Such forward looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements, or developments in the industry to differ materially from the anticipated results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "intends," "estimates," "projects," "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will," "would," "may," "could" or "should" occur.

The purpose of forward-looking statements is to provide the reader with a description of management's expectations, and such forward-looking statements may not be appropriate for any other purpose. Disclosure in this press release concerning the Company's expectations respecting the use of the proceeds of the Offering make reference to or involve forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to have been correct. A number of factors could cause actual events, performance or results to differ materially from what is projected in the forward-looking statements. No undue reliance should be placed on forward-looking statements contained in this press release. Such forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release. Vibe undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law. The Company's forward-looking statements are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement.

Company Contact

Michal Holub, CFO

Phone: +1 833-420-VIBE x102

Email: ir@vibebycalifornia.com

Website: www.vibebycalifornia.com

The Canadian Securities Exchange has not approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release.

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWS WIRE SERVICES OR FOR

DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/77520
(Natural News) A woman from Utah died four days after getting the second dose of the Moderna Wuhan coronavirus vaccine. Surgical technologist Kassidi Kurill from Ogden got vaccinated on Feb. 1 as part of her job. She experienced discomfort on the morning of Feb. 4 and asked her father to drive her to the hospital. Kurill was subsequently confined, where she died of multiple organ failure Feb. 5.

The 39-year-old did not experience a serious reaction after her first dose of the vaccine, only getting a sore arm on the injection site. Her family said she did not hesitate to volunteer for the vaccine. Kurills father Alfred Hawley remarked: She was absolutely fine with getting it. In fact, she told all of us its fine, you guys should all get it.'

Kurills older sister Kristin, who lives in Arizona, meanwhile said her sister described getting the second COVID-19 vaccine dose as normal. She added that they were not worried about Kassidi as everyone from her work had flu-like symptoms, so we thought that was normal. Kristin continued: They had gone shopping. She was fine, then [she] started feeling not so great that evening.

Kurill was in bed two days after she received the Moderna jab, but she started complaining of pain on the morning of Feb. 4. She asked her father to drive her to a local emergency room. Kurill started vomiting as soon as they arrived. Doctors then peppered Hawley with questions about what happened, where he replied that she got her second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

[Doctors] did a blood test, and immediately came back. [They] said she was very, very sick, and her liver was not functioning, Hawley said. The retired fighter pilot waited in the ER with Kurills nine-year-old daughter, aware that they were not going home any time soon. He commented: It was a total shock, and I was even afraid to tell my wife.

Kristin was also aware that her sister had gone to the hospital. She assumed that Kassidi would be back home in an hour after getting intravenous therapy with fluids, but this was not the case.

Kurill was flown to Intermountain Medical Center in Murray, located south of Ogden. Doctors believed a liver transplant was the best option for her survival, with her parents even stepping forward as organ donors. Medical professionals did their best efforts to stabilize Kurill, but in vain. According to Hawley, her daughters liver, kidney and heart shut down.

COVID-19 vaccines and their adverse effects have made families incomplete

Kurills father said her death did not make any sense. She was healthy, happy and active  and then she was so sick that, in less than 12 hours, [she was] intubated and on life support. Her family supported this by saying she had no medical conditions.

Kurills family agreed to an autopsy as recommended by doctors. Her body was sent to the Utah State Medical Examiner in Taylorsville, where a full autopsy was performed. Kurills family is aware that they may never know what actually caused Kassidis death, but they expressed hope that the autopsy will give them the answers they need.

Fox News later reported the findings of the autopsy. According to Utah Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Erik Christensen, the surgical technologists second vaccine dose and her death were only temporally related. He explained: We dont have any evidence that there are connections between the vaccines and deaths at this point.

Hawley commented that Kurill was healthy and good before taking the shot. Thus, he believes that there was something in the shot that claimed his daughters life until he gets other data  following the principle of Occams razor where the simplest answer is mostly likely correct. (Related: Woman suffers whole body convulsions after taking experimental Moderna COVID-19 vaccine.)

Meanwhile in Portugal, the COVID-19 vaccine from Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech also claimed the life of a mother and health worker. Abilio Acevedo lamented the death of his daughter Sonia Acevedo, who passed away on Jan. 1. The medical worker assigned to a government hospital in the northern coastal city of Porto got vaccinated against COVID-19 in late December 2020.

Abilio said he received a call informing him that his daughter was found dead on the morning of New Years Day. He added that they even ate together the night before, remarking that his daughter left home and I never saw her alive again. The elder Acevedo told Portuguese newspaper Correio da Manha: She had the COVID-19 vaccine, but she didnt have any symptoms. I dont know what happened. I just want answers: I want to know what led to my daughters death. (Related: Health professional dies two days after COVID-19 vaccination.)

Head over to VaccineDeaths.com to find more news about fatalities linked to the COVID-19 vaccines.

Sources include:

KUTV.com

FoxNews.com

DailyMail.co.uk
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Colorado Springs, CO (80903)

Today

A few clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 49F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

A few clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 49F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph.
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - March 17, 2021) - Ocim Precious Metals SA ("OCIM") is pleased to announce the closing of a US$ 2.5 million funding facility with Inca One Gold Corp. (TSXV: IO) (OTC Pink: INCAF) (FSE: SU92) ("Inca One").





Image 1



To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

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Listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange, Inca One operates two duly authorized gold ore processing units located in Peru: Chala One and Kori One. An exemplary player in terms of social responsibility and environmental best practices, Inca One sources gold ore from artisanal and small local producers and sells its production of gold dore bars to European refining companies.

Under the current agreement, OCIM is providing Inca One with a first tranche of a Secured Gold Loan of US$ 2.5 million, to be repaid by the delivery of gold ounces. A subsequent facility of US$ 6 million will be discussed with Inca One after full repayment of the first tranche.

This financing from OCIM will allow Inca One to increase its supply of ore from artisanal and small local producers with the aim of running its processing units at 100% of capacity, as compared to approximately 30% previously. This bespoke financing package also affords Inca One access to financing terms that are both non-dilutive and better suited to its business model than traditional bank financing.

"We are pleased to make it possible for Inca One to expand its processing capacity and thus participate in the integration of more artisanal and small local producers into the formal economy. This integration appears now more necessary than ever for accelerating the transformation of the Peruvian gold sector into an even more inclusive and responsible industry," explains Laurent Mathiot, CEO of OCIM.

ABOUT INCA ONE

Inca One Gold Corp is a TSXV listed, gold producer operating two, fully permitted, gold mineral processing facilities in Peru. The Company produced nearly 25,000 ounces of gold from its operations in 2019 and has generated over US$100 million in revenue over the last five years. Inca One, now in its sixth year of commercial production, is led by an experienced and capable management team that has established the Company as a trusted leader in servicing government permitted, small scale miners in Peru. Peru is the world's sixth-largest producer of gold and its small-scale mining sector is estimated by government officials to be valued in the billions of dollars annually. Inca One possesses a combined 450 tonnes per day permitted operating capacity at its two fully integrated plants, Chala One and Kori One, and is targeting a fourth consecutive year of increased production and sales growth.

To learn more, visit: www.incaone.com

ABOUT OCIM

The OCIM group of privately held companies has a long and successful history as a Trader and Financier of Strategic Assets. Established in Paris in 1961, OCIM is headed by a third-generation member of the founding family. Besides its core historical business in Real Estate, OCIM has diversified into other strategic tangible assets such as coinage Precious Metals via its Geneva-based subsidiary. As a Merchant, OCIM trades physical metals across the full value chain, from producers to end users. As a Financier, OCIM invests in a wide variety of instruments and provides financing to the value chain with equity, debt, and alternative investments.

To learn more, visit: www.ocim.eu

CONTACT

Miranda J.Werstiuk

+ 1 647 299 1778

miranda.werstiuk@ocim.eu

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/77573
They're sharing their journey to becoming parents.

And Jason Kennedy had a small scare when wife Lauren Scruggs was admitted to the emergency room after complaining of pain post egg retrieval procedure earlier in the week.

The 39-year-old television host took to Instagram with an update on his wife's health as he admitted to being a little scared, but all was well in their home once again with their invitro fertilization process.

Scary: Jason Kennedy had a small scare when wife Lauren Scruggs was admitted to the emergency room after complaining of pain post egg retrieval procedure earlier in the week

Despite wearing a face mask, Lauren appeared to be smiling as she wore a sweatshirt and sat near a ultrasound machine in a doctor's office.

'Well this one right here gave me a scare last night,' he posted on Instagram. 'A trip to the ER for severe pain post egg retrieval but our doctor assured us this morning that everything will be ok.

'Shes STRONG and will be back on her feet in no time. This is where nurse Jason steps in with that 24/7 love and care. Oh and slide 2 is bunny, she requested he stay close at all times.'

Staying strong: Just days before, Kennedy posted a photo of his wife after the retrieval process and noted that the procedure 'went really well'

Just days before, Kennedy posted a photo of his wife after the retrieval process and noted that the procedure 'went really well.'

Lauren and Jason have publicly shared the very difficult process in medically conceiving a child with their millions of followers.

'I have truly been feeling so grateful for every part of this process,' she recently wrote online. 'It was an internal struggle initially to make the decision to start ivf because holistic routes are always my go-to, but after so much prayer, this path was the clear next step and so much peace is behind it.'

The pair wed in Texas in 2015 and started trying for a family four years later.

The pair wed in Texas in 2015 and started trying for a family four years later.

'Whenever i get a shot or take medicine, instead of subconsciously feeling guilty, i thank God for how it is helping my body during this time + am so grateful for this opportunity, the amazing doctors, and the community of friends doing ivf at the same time as me,' she wrote online. This mentality has shifted everything for me.

'Every time a shot hurts or if i am tired, i am so reminded of the most beautiful attribute behind having kiddos that i have learned from the sweet parents around me - there is nothing better to sacrifice for and this minimal discomfort is so temporary.'
www.spinezone.com Walgreens is one of Americas most innovative, forward-thinking pharmacy retailers, and were proud to partner with them to make our treatment program available to more patients on Walgreens Find Care, said Kian Raiszadeh, M.D., co-founder and CEO of SpineZone.

SpineZone, a leading provider of non-operative, personalized treatment for musculoskeletal conditions, announced today that its online platform for back, neck and other joint treatment is now available through Walgreens Find Care.

SpineZone guides patients through a series of personalized at-home exercises designed to help manage pain and improve movement and functionality based on their specific condition and goals. The virtual program includes real-time messaging, video chat, and support from the SpineZone team of physical therapists, physician assistants, and orthopedic physicians. For the Walgreens Find Care platform, SpineZone is offering its six-week back and neck online physical therapy program, with customized exercises, physician oversight, and orthopedic surgeon consultation for MRI review and second opinion.

Walgreens is one of Americas most innovative, forward-thinking pharmacy retailers, and were proud to partner with them to make our treatment program available to more patients on Walgreens Find Care, said Kian Raiszadeh, M.D., co-founder and CEO of SpineZone. SpineZone is creating a better, more flexible model for how to provide healthcare with options for digital technology and onsite care.

SpineZone currently has 1 million lives under management, and has strategic partnerships with major health systems and national health plans. SpineZones treatment programs have achieved an 85 percent successful completion rate and a 70-80 percent reduction in patients pain.

Walgreens is one of the most-trusted, most respected names in healthcare, and many patients look to their neighborhood pharmacy as a front door to the healthcare system, said Kamshad Raiszadeh, M.D., co-founder and Chief Medical Officer of SpineZone. Walgreens Find Care is a perfect fit for SpineZone, because we share the goal of providing flexible services to patients in a way that helps improve outcomes and puts the patient first. Certain back and neck surgeries can be avoided with the support and guidance of personalized at-home treatment and exercises. We welcome Walgreens customers to learn more about SpineZone.

Walgreens Find Care serves as a digital front door for Walgreens customers to connect with trusted independent providers for in-person and online healthcare services. Customers can use Walgreens Find Care to search by location and book appointments for telehealth and in-person services for treatment of illnesses, preventative care, and more. Walgreens Find Care is available on the Walgreens app or online at http://www.walgreens.com/findcare.

About SpineZone

SpineZone uses online technology and in-person clinics to offer the best aspects of non-operative treatment for back and neck pain. The SpineZone program empowers patients to maximize their bodys healing capacity, and improves patient outcomes while minimizing the need for prescription drugs, injections, or surgeries.

The company was founded and developed by two orthopedic surgeon brothers, Dr. Kian Raiszadeh and Dr. Kamshad Raiszadeh, who wanted to create a better way to help patients recover from back and neck pain. Kamshad Raiszadeh founded the treatment model for SpineZone in 2005. In 2014, founder of RxMatch, Inc., Kian left his surgical practice to further develop a software solution to blend technology with science to create a truly exceptional medical delivery platform. The two joined forces in 2015 to scale the company. SpineZone has more than 10 years of data based on successful patient outcomes and is now ready to expand beyond spine and neck treatment into other musculoskeletal conditions as a comprehensive platform for orthopedic care.

SpineZone has built upon years of data and proven improvements in patient outcomes to develop a better software solution that combines technology and orthopedic science to create a truly exceptional medical delivery system. SpineZone offers an online platform and several local clinics in greater San Diego and Orange County, California. To learn more visit http://www.SpineZone.com.

1 SpineZone internal data
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State management reform to promote the development of the private sector is one of the important contents stated in the resolution of the 13th National Party Congress.

Dr. Nguyen Duc Kien, Head of the Economic Advisory Group of the Prime Minister, shared with SGGP Newspaper about this matter.

Production at Thai Tuan Company in Vinh Loc Industrial Park. -- Photo: SGGP

In recent years, Grab has become a hot keyword. After many drafts, the Government issued Decree No.10/2020/ND-CP on January 17, 2020, regulating business and business conditions for ride-hailing service. However, public opinion still believes that this document has not completely solved the problems arising from the sharing economy.



Many contents in Decree No.10 can be considered being unclear about nature and purpose. Here, the nature of the problem of healthy competition is not between economic sectors, but the behavior of state management agencies towards groups of enterprises operating on different technology platforms and business models. Besides, there are also many business models similar to Grab that need to have a clearer legal framework, such as online lending. Similarly, for investment in the form of public-private partnerships (PPP), the Government needs to consolidate and complete the access framework and legal corridors for this sector, solving many current unreasonable problems.



More than the past 30 years of renovation shows that the role of the State in the market economy has been increasingly perfected in the direction of modernization, contributing significantly to achieving the development goals of the private sector. However, in many cases, the role of the State, the market, and the relationship between the State and the market still face many shortcomings because the functions of the State and the market have not been defined clearly. Specifically, the State still holds many functions that the market performs more effectively, such as capital allocation and corporate governance, while it does not pay adequate attention to the functions of construction and realization of the framework of state management, the supply of goods, and public services, and development assistance. Meanwhile, those are exactly the functions of the State.



According to Worldwide Governance Indicators, in 2019, the government effectiveness index was at a fairly low level of 53.85 points, only slightly up from the level of 53.37 points in 2017. In general, Vietnam's ranking over the past years is much lower than that of Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Brunei. The quality of Vietnam's business environment has improved, but the ranking continuously decreased in 2018 and 2019, each year dropping by one notch. In the ASEAN, Vietnam remains in fifth place, after Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, and Brunei.

Vietnam make advances, but slower than other economies, it means that the country goes backward, he said.

Indeed, the fact that enterprises can do what the law does not prohibit is a big step forward in the legal regulations of Vietnam. However, the implementation results are not as good as expected. For instance, unnecessary and unreasonable business conditions are still a major obstacle. There are only 243 conditional business lines, but there are still nearly 6,200 business conditions. Meanwhile, this field clearly shows the difference between a state governed by administrative orders and a developmental state that the country is aiming for. Obviously, there are many problems from thinking to capability and techniques of state management that need to continue to change.



Removing barriers to business is an aspect of building a developmental state. As for the second aspect - promoting innovation, he said that first and foremost, the State must overcome the specified limitations, which is to convert from management to administration, from control to companionship. Up to now, state management agencies are still extremely cumbersome and often promulgate regulations without having not clarified their nature and purpose. For example, why is it necessary to have a branch of the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) in all localities, while the tax and customs sectors have already been merged for regional management and have still managed to fulfill their duties well? When usury takes place in rural areas, where workers are concentrated, causing frustration, where is the SBV branch? The minimum space for the office is eight square meters per person, and the office must be rented stably for two years, is it really necessary or not?



Broadly speaking, besides the private sector, the management of State-owned enterprises also has many shortcomings that are straitjacketing managers and executives, making them not dare to make bold and creative decisions. When doing business, sometimes you win, and sometimes you lose. However, we seem to assume that State-owned enterprises must always win. That is unreasonable and is part of the important reason why it is difficult to promote innovation in State-owned enterprises.

SGGP

Private economy - pillar of the countrys development Government should take measures to protect private enterprises in key economic sectors to enhance their international competitiveness.
CHICAGO, March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the new market research report "Logistics Automation Market by Component, Function (Warehouse and Storage Management, Transportation Management), Organization Size (SMES, Large Enterprises), Vertical (3PL, Retail and Ecommerce, FMCG, Manufacturing), and Region - Global Forecast to 2026", published by MarketsandMarkets, the market size is projected to grow from USD 48.4 billion in 2020 to USD 88.9 billion by 2026, at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 10.6% during the forecast period. The Logistics Automation Market is gaining traction due digital transformation in the logistics industry, emergence of IoT, exponential growth in the eCommerce industry, advancements in robotics, and growing need to ensure workforce safety.

Browse in-depth TOC on "Logistics Automation Market"

266 - Tables

50 - Figures

257 - Pages

Download PDF Brochure: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=83657139

Hardware-integrated systems segment to account for largest market share during the forecast period

Hardware-integrated systems account for largest market share during the forecast period and these systems include Automated Storage and Retrieval System (ASRS), conveyors and sortation systems, robotic handling systems, Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs), and Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs). The rising trend of smart warehosues and transportation will boost the adoption of these systems. Robots are increasingly being deployed across all segments of the supply chain, and their usage is expected to witness a significant surge in the near future as the growth of eCommerce fulfillment continues to rise.

Retail and eCommerce segment is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period

Retail and eCommerce is expected to exhibit a higher CAGR during the forecast period. The adoption of logistics automation solutions has helped online and multichannel retailers track and monitor the movement of light goods vehicles, thereby ensuring the timely delivery of products. The growth of the eCommerce industry can be attributed to the increasing trend of electronic fund transfer, internet marketing, online transaction processing, and electronic data interchange. Rapidly changing customer demands, rise in online shopping, increasing demand for shorter delivery times, and fierce competition among online retailing companies have boosted the demand for automated fulfillment centers, which, in turn, has increased the demand for adaptable and dedicated logistics automation solutions in the eCommerce industry.

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North America region holds the largest market share in the Logistics Automation Market in 2020

North America is expected to hold the largest market share during the forecast period. North America is a global hub of innovation with regards to breakthrough technologies in the logistics automation industry. Companies in North America focus on reducing operational costs and modernizing factories, warehouses, and distribution centers, and hence, adopting logistics automation solutions to improve supply chain operations, including the manufacturing, assembly, and transportation of goods. The transportation and logistics industry in the US involves a highly integrated supply chain network that links producers and consumers through multiple transportation modes, including air, rail, maritime, and road. Multinational companies are increasing investments in the transportation and logistics industry in the US to facilitate the flow of goods throughout the world. Equipment, vehicles, and infrastructure facilities are synchronized with the help of network connectivity to improve performance using IoT solutions.

Market Players:

Key and innovative vendors in the Logistics Automation Market include 6 River Systems (US), ABB (Switzerland), BEUMER Group (Germany), Blue Yonder (US), Daifuku (Japan), Dematic (US), E&K Automation (Germany), Eyesee (Hardis Group) (France), Falcon Autotech (India), GreyOrange (US), HighJump (Korber) (US), Honeywell Intelligrated (US), Jungheinrich (Germany), Knapp (Austria), Locus Robotics (US), Manhattan Associates (US), Murata Machinery (Japan), Oracle (US), SAP (Germany), SBS Toshiba Logistics (Japan), Seegrid (US), SSI Schaefer (Germany), Swisslog (Switzerland), System Logistics (Italy), TGW Logistics Group (Austria), and Zebra Technologies (US).

Browse Adjacent Markets: Digitalization and Internet of Things (IoT) Market Research Reports & Consulting

Related Reports:

Supply Chain Management Market by Component (Hardware (Barcode and Barcode Scanners and RFID Tags and Readers), Software, and Services), Deployment Mode (Cloud and On-premises), Organization Size, Vertical, and Region - Global Forecast to 2026

https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/supply-chain-management-market-190997554.html

Digital Logistics Market by Solution (Asset Management, Warehouse Management, Data Management and Analytics, Security, Network Management), Service, Function (Warehouse Management, Transportation Management), Vertical, and Region - Global Forecast to 2025

https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/digital-logistics-market-114784205.html

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The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAE) informed on Wednesday that the Swiss federal authorities have revised the conditions for entering the territory of this country, in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, the new measures being enforced as well in the territory of the Principality of Liechtenstein, according to AGERPRES.

According to the information communicated by the Swiss authorities, starting on Monday, at midnight, Romania will be included on the list of states / regions with a high degree of epidemiological risk. Thus, all persons (except children under 12 years of age) who in the last 10 days prior to entering the territory of the Swiss Confederation have been, for more than 24 hours, in the territory of states / regions with a high degree of epidemiological risk, among which Romania, must present the negative result of a PCR molecular test for SARS-CoV-2 virus infection, made maximum 72 hours before.

Also, in addition to the presentation of a molecular test with a negative result for SARS-CoV-2 virus infection, persons arriving to the Swiss Confederation from another state / region with a high degree of epidemiological risk, including Romania, will stay in quarantine for period of 10 days.

Further information on new measures and updates to the list of states / regions with a high degree of epidemiological risk is available on the following website: https://www.bag.admin.ch/bag/en/home/krankheiten/ausbrueche- epidemics-pandemics / current-ausbrueche-epidemics / novel-cov / empfehlungen-fuer-reisende / quarantaene-einreisende.html

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs brings to mind that Romanians can request consular assistance at the telephone numbers of the Romanian Embassy in Bern: +41313513639 or +41313510546, the calls being redirected to the Contact and Support Center for Romanian Citizens Abroad (CCSCRS) and taken over by the non-stop Call Center. Also, the Romanian citizens who face a difficult, special situation, of an emergency nature, have at their disposal the emergency telephone number of the Romanian Embassy in Bern: +41763875005.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs recommends consulting the websites: http://www.mae.ro/node/51909, https://www.mae.ro/node/51979 and http://berna.mae.ro.
VANCOUVER, BC, March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Augusta Gold Corp. (OTCQB: AUGG) (CSE: G) (FSE: 11B) ("Augusta Gold" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has received conditional approval to list its common shares on the Toronto Stock Exchange (the "TSX"). Concurrent with the TSX listing, the common shares of Augusta Gold will be de-listed from the Canadian Securities Exchange. Augusta Gold's trading symbol will remain "G" on the TSX.

Augusta Gold Corp. Logo (CNW Group/Augusta Gold Corp.)

Maryse Belanger, President and CEO commented: "We are very pleased to have reached this milestone. As we continue to advance the Bullfrog Gold Project, graduating to the TSX is expected to provide increased global visibility of the Company, access to capital and enhance liquidity for our shareholders."

Final approval of the listing is subject to the Company meeting certain customary conditions required by the TSX. The Company will issue a press release once the TSX confirms the date when trading of Augusta Gold common shares is expected to commence on the TSX.

Shareholders are not required to exchange their share certificates or take any other action in connection with the TSX listing, as there will be no change in the trading symbol or CUSIP for the Company's common shares.

About Augusta Gold

Augusta Gold is a rapidly growing exploration and development company focused on building a long-term business that delivers stakeholder value through developing the Bullfrog Gold Project and pursing accretive M&A opportunities. The Bullfrog Gold Project is located in the prolific Bullfrog district approximately 120 miles north-west of Las Vegas, Nevada and 4 miles west of Beatty, Nevada. The Company controls approximately 7,800 acres of mineral rights including the Bullfrog and Montgomery-Shoshone deposits and has further identified significant additional mineralization around the existing pits and defined several exploration targets that could further enhance the Project. The Company is led by a management team and board of directors with a proven track record of success in financing and developing mining assets and delivering shareholder value. For more information please visit www.augustagold.com.

Story continues

Forward Looking Statements

Certain statements and information contained in this new release constitute "forward-looking statements", and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws (collectively, "forward-looking statements"). These statements appear in a number of places in this new release and include statements regarding our intent, including the Company's common shares being listed on the TSX and delisted from the Canadian Securities Exchange; and that graduating to the TSX is expected to provide increased global visibility of the Company, access to capital and enhance liquidity for our shareholders. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. When used in this news release words such "will", "expected" similar expressions are intended to identify these forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements and/or information are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements since the Company can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements, including the risks, uncertainties and other factors identified in the Company's periodic filings with Canadian securities regulators, and assumptions made with regard to the Company satisfying the requirements of the TSX's conditional approval letter; the ability to advance exploration efforts at the Bullfrog Gold Project; the results of such exploration efforts; the ability to secure adequate financing; the Company maintaining its current strategy and objectives; and the Company's ability to achieve its growth objectives. These forward-looking statements are based largely on current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends affecting the financial condition of our business. These forward-looking statements were derived using numerous assumptions regarding expected project parameters, results of operations, performance and business prospects and opportunities that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. While the company considers these assumptions to be reasonable, based on information currently available, they may prove to be incorrect.

Forward-looking statements are based on information available at the time those statements are made and/or management's and/or its qualified persons' good faith belief as of that time with respect to future events, and are subject to information currently available, they may prove to be incorrect. Forward-looking statements are based on information available at the time those statements are made and/or management's and/or its qualified persons' good faith belief as of that time with respect to future events, and are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties outlined in the Company's corporate disclosure and other documents filed on www.sedar.com, that could cause actual performance or results to differ materially from those expressed in or suggested by the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date those statements are made. Except as required by applicable law, we assume no obligation to update or to publicly announce the results of any change to any forward-looking statement contained herein to reflect actual results, future events or developments, changes in assumptions or changes in other factors affecting the forward- looking statements. If we update any one or more forward-looking statements, no inference should be drawn that we will make additional updates with respect to those or other forward-looking statements. You should not place undue importance on forward-looking statements and should not rely upon these statements as of any other date. All forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement.

Cision

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SOURCE Augusta Gold Corp.
As part of continued efforts to advance diversity and inclusion, Visa, the worlds leader in digital payments, partnered with the Dubai Business Women Council (DBWC) to co-host their Women in Tech Forum.

Held virtually for the first time, the forum featured inspiring industry experts who came together to discuss what female entrepreneurs need for their businesses to survive and thrive in todays evolving tech ecosystem.

The panel shared both their professional advice on their experience with mentoring and working with startups and larger organisations, and shared personal experiences and insights that have helped them shape their successful careers in the tech industry.

Visa's Vice President, Fintech & Ventures, CEMEA, Otto Williams delved into the future of payments and innovation, the increased opportunities to take part in digital transformation agendas, various funding and investment avenues available to entrepreneurs and shed light on Visas Fast Track programme and the latest Visa Everywhere Initiative that is targeted at supporting start-ups. One of the Mena regions most influential women in technology, Raja Al Mazrouei, EVP, DIFC Fintech Hive, detailed the Hives different partnership and accelerator programmes and the opportunities it provides for female entrepreneurs to accelerate their careers and lead new tech businesses. Building on the support available for founders, Malak Alsaffar, Country Manager  Bahrain, Visa, shared her perspective of the local and regional fintech ecosystem and her own experience in taking up the challenge of a mid-career move.

Dr Raja Al Gurg, President of the Dubai Business Women Council delivered her welcome address. She highlighted how partnerships and mentorship opportunities with digital payments leaders like Visa can drive, scale and foster a more diverse and inclusive tech ecosystem for women to launch and grow their careers and businesses.

Shahebaz Khan, Visas General Manager for UAE, said: It's no secret that women still face more challenges than male entrepreneurs, including getting equal access to capital and connecting with a network of other entrepreneurs and mentors for support. At Visa, we take this imbalance very seriously and are always looking for ways to empower women-owned businesses and women in the workplace to advance diversity and inclusion around the world. We are delighted to expand our efforts here in the UAE and the wider Mena region by working with like-minded partners such as DBWC as we help female tech founders develop and grow their entrepreneurial visions 

Visa signed a strategic partnership with Dubai Business Women Council earlier this year to champion the advancement and support the growth of female entrepreneurs in the UAE. Visa will also support DBWCs flagship mentorship programme where 12 experienced mentors from Visa will offer insight, advice, and ideas over a five-month period.

In todays world, technology has become a crucial factor in enhancing business competitiveness and the main catalyst to get the most out of the available investment opportunities, said Dr Al Gurg, stressing that businesswomen and female entrepreneurs in the Dubai can harness technology in the service of their career objectives and produce tangible results. Our partnership with Visa comes as part of our painstaking efforts to provide businesswomen and female-owned start-ups with the best expertise and experiences available in the international arena and the new tech that can help them advance their businesses, added Al Gurg.

Stressing the importance of the forum as a perfect platform for supporting women with meaningful solutions, tools, and initiatives helping them take their businesses to new heights, Al Gurg pointed to the DBWCs keenness to conclude strategic partnerships with major companies to help support Dubais development process and empower women in all workplaces.

These programmes support Visas continual efforts to support small businesses  with a strong focus on women entrepreneurship, through its various platforms including Shes Next empowered by Visa, Where You Shop Matters and the Visa Everywhere Initiative.-- Tradearabia News Service
"Start-Up" actor Kim Seon Ho is currently in the limelight for his alleged rude behavior towards '2 Days & 1 Night' PD!

Kim Seon Ho's Alleged Rude Behavior towards '2 Days & 1 Night' Producing Director

The issue started on the broadcast of KBS's '2 Days & 1 Night' recent episode. During this episode, the cast members were asked to try living "wildlife" on a deserted island. They were required to create their very own campfire so that they'd be able to survive the cold weather. Of course, the cast members were obedient enough to follow the task given to them.

The next day, the show's main producing director asked the cast members to create their own canoe so that they can use it for their sake of their survival to be able to escape the island.

Upon hearing the producing director's instruction, Kim Seon Ho can't contain his emotions and suddenly came forward and used his high tone voice, stating, "Hey! What are you doing now?" He even took off his hat to show that he's somewhat angry at the almost-impossible mission given to them.

The viewers are well aware that the actor is personally close with the show's PD, and he just behaved that way just for fun. To make things clear, Kim Seon Ho wasn't really angry at the show's main PD. His reaction of being angry was just a joke, and sad to say, the actor was heavily criticized for this. Some viewers have shared their disappointment towards the actor and even posted some negative comments on different online platforms.

Some of the comment states: 'Hey?' Did you say 'Hey' to a PD?", "How can you behave like that in front of a PD?????", "I wonder whether he'd do the same if the PD was a guy," "Why did he behave like that? Maybe because he's popular now?" and more.

As of the moment, Kim Seon Ho has not issued any response regarding this issue.

Details about the show '2 Days & 1 Night'

South Korean reality-variety show "2 Days & 1 Night" is broadcasted on the KBS network starting August 5, 2007. The show's current cast consists of the following members: Yeon Jung Hoon, Moon Se Yoon, Kim Seon Ho, DinDin, and Ravi (VIXX). The show's motto is "Real Wild Road Variety," and its concept is to show people the beautiful places of South Korea so that viewers can visit these places.

Before broadcasting every episode, the filming is done 2 weeks before. And the show was garnered high viewership ratings due to its unique concept. Viewers can also see the show's episodes online when they are uploaded with English subtitles weekly on YouTube through KBS World's official channel.

In "2 Days & 1 Night", the cast members will take different trips throughout the beautiful city of South Korea, which includes many offshore islands. During their trips, members are given some tasks or perform missions at a certain mealtime or point of the day to earn rewards. Special guests can be invited not only by the production team but also by the cast members to participate in the show if they are qualified for the episode's concept.

Kdramastars owns this article.

Written By Liza Parker
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-17 21:06:25|Editor: huaxia

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A staff member checks the packaging quality of COVID-19 inactivated vaccine products at a packaging plant of the Beijing Biological Products Institute Co., Ltd. in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 25, 2020. (Xinhua/Zhang Yuwei)

China has provided and is providing COVID-19 vaccine aid free of charge to 69 developing countries in urgent need, while exporting vaccines to 43 countries, according to official figures.

BEIJING, March 17 (Xinhua) -- China has been unwaveringly supporting other countries, especially developing ones, in their fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

Upholding the vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind, Chinese President Xi Jinping has pledged continued support to developing countries in curbing the deadly virus.

In a telephone conversation with Prime Minister Keith Rowley of Trinidad and Tobago on Tuesday, Xi said since the COVID-19 epidemic broke out, the two sides have helped each other in times of adversity.

Trinidad and Tobago is the first among Latin American and Caribbean countries to donate aid materials to China, and China has also provided anti-epidemic supplies and technical assistance for Trinidad and Tobago through various channels, Xi said.

File photo shows a panorama of the Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. (Xinhua/Zha Chunming)

China is willing to strengthen vaccine cooperation with Trinidad and Tobago, and to continue to support the country in fighting the epidemic, Xi said.

On the same day, in a telephone conversation with Guyanese President Irfaan Ali, Xi said China and Guyana, though far apart, enjoy a deep and close friendship.

China stands ready to strengthen cooperation with Guyana in COVID-19 vaccines and continue to provide assistance and support within its capacity for Guyana's economic and social development, Xi added.

China has provided and is providing COVID-19 vaccine aid free of charge to 69 developing countries in urgent need, while exporting vaccines to 43 countries, according to official figures.

At the 46th Session of the UN Human Rights Council, China has called for a people-centered global response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The country has urged strengthening cooperation on vaccine research and development, production and distribution, so as to make vaccine truly an accessible and affordable public good for the people of all countries, especially developing countries.

An empty square is seen in the Old Town in Warsaw, Poland, Dec. 29, 2020. (Photo by Jaap Arriens/Xinhua)

Earlier this month, in a phone conversation with Polish President Andrzej Duda, Xi said that China is willing to provide COVID-19 vaccines within its capabilities to Poland in accordance with the European country's demand.

Since the outbreak of COVID-19, China and Poland have been looking out for and helping each other, with the two sides engaging in cooperation in pandemic prevention and control as well as resumption of work and production, which opened a new chapter of their friendship, he said.

During his telephone conversation with his Tajik counterpart, Emomali Rahmon, the Chinese president pointed out that since last year, the Chinese and Tajik people, in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic and the transformations rarely seen in a century, have sticked together through thick and thin, joined hands in unity and coordination, and achieved fruitful cooperation in various fields, especially in battling the pandemic.

Xi added that China is willing to provide assistance of COVID-19 vaccines to Tajikistan in a bid to promote the building of a community of common health for mankind.

In a phone conversation with Colombian President Ivan Duque in February, Xi said that China stands ready to continue to provide as much support as it can for Colombia's combat against the COVID-19 pandemic and to carry out vaccine cooperation with the country. 
ERS electronic, the innovation leader in thermal management solutions for the semiconductor manufacturing industry, is appointing Joshua Zhou as Vice President. Zhou joined the company as Sales and Marketing Director in 2018 when ERS opened its China sales office in Shanghai. Joshua has more than twenty years of experience in the semiconductor industry, with global players like Texas Instruments, but also local Chinese actors like Hangzhou Nanosic technology.

Over the past three years, the corporate body, first consisting of Zhou only, has increased to a small team with people in different functions, including technical support and product design.

"We are thrilled to see how ERS China has developed under Joshua's leadership. Our business has grown significantly since he joined us in 2018, and having a local team in Shanghai has been instrumental to achieve this growth," says Laurent Giai-Miniet, CEO of ERS electronic. "The semiconductor equipment market in China is growing at a rapid pace, so it is crucial to have someone as experienced as Joshua at the helm."

"I am very grateful for the trust given to me by the ERS management team to continue to build our business in China," says Joshua Zhou. "We are seeing a lot of demand for both our Thermal Chucks Systems and Advanced Packaging tools, so we are constantly working to make our company and products more accessible to the Chinese market. We recently added a service engineer to our team, which enables us to provide local support, and we continue to develop ERS business with local distributors and value added resellers like Spirox, Chain Logic International Corporation (CLIC) and Shanghai Jinni."

Zhou and his team will be representing ERS in Booth N3711 at Semicon China, which takes place from March 17th to 19th at the Shanghai New International Exhibition Centre.

About ERS:

ERS electronic GmbH, based around Munich, has been providing innovative thermal solutions for the industry for more than 50 years. The company has gained an outstanding reputation, notably with its fast and accurate air cooling-based thermal chuck systems for test temperatures ranging from -65C to +550C for analytical, parameter-related and manufacturing probing. Today, thermal chuck systems developed by ERS such as AC3 and AirCool PRIME are integral components in all larger-sized wafer probers across the semiconductor industry. On a broader scale, ERS supports eWLB and other Fan-Out Wafer-Level-Packaging (FOWLP) and Panel-Level-Packaging (FOPLP) technologies with its fully automatic and manual debonding machines and warpage adjustment tools used in the production of both 200mm and 300mm eWLB device packages.

Visit www.ers-gmbh.com to learn more.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210316005833/en/

Contacts:

Sophia Oldeide

PR MarCom manager

oldeide@ers-gmbh.de

+49 8989 4132-143
Prayagraj: The Vice-Chancellor of Allahabad University has written a letter to the District Magistrate seeking a ban on loudspeakers used for 'azaan' in a mosque near her residence.

In a letter to DM Bhanu Chandra Goswami, Professor Sangita Srivastava said that the morning 'azaan' disturbs her sleep.

Goswami has said that he would take appropriate action as per the rules.

The vice-chancellor has said that she is unable to resume sleep even after the 'azaan' is over. She added that it causes headaches and leads to the loss of work hours.

She said that though she was not against any religion but during Ramzan, the announcements over the microphone begin at 4 am which disturbs people.

Citing a court verdict, she said that "Your freedom ends where my nose begins".

The vice-chancellor has sent copies of her letter to the divisional commissioner Prayagraj and SSP Prayagraj.

Following the development, reactions began pouring in from various quarters. While some saints and politicians supported Srivastava's letter, some others criticised the move.

The saints in Ayodhya have supported the demand of Srivastava. Raju Das, the priest of Hanumangarhi, questioned the need of putting up loudspeakers in Muslim-dominated areas.

"God is not deaf. We demand the government to remove the loud microphones installed in mosques. There should be only one mic which plays 'azaan' at a medium volume level at specified timings," Das said.

"Action should be taken against mosques that (use loudspeakers)," he added.

Another priest, Mahant Paramhans Das, said, "Size and form are not relevant in Islam, so what is the need of loudspeakers? People are suffering from insomnia due to this."

BJP spokesperson Manish Shukla also supported the VC's letter.

"The constitution and law of the country gives every person of the country the right to object when their rights are violated," said Shukla.

On the other hand, some opposed the VC's letter.

"Ever since the BJP government came in, every issue is being linked to caste and religion. There is no question of development," said Anurag Bhadoria, Samajwadi Party spokesperson.

Advocate Darul Uloom Farangi Mahli said, "The VC's letter is beyond reasoning. It is just a matter of a minute or two and objections against should not be raised."

Last year, the Allahabad High Court gave an important ruling while hearing a petition filed in connection with the prohibition of Azan from mosques in three districts of Ghazipur, Hathras, and Farrukhabad in Uttar Pradesh. The court revoked the order of the District Magistrates of these districts and allowed oral Azans from mosques without using loudspeakers.

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An Italian court has declared Shell, Eni and their managers acquitted in the Malabu scandal.

They were all acquitted by the court on Wednesday.

Wednesdays verdict ends a trial that has seen officials of the oil giants battle to prove their innocence.

Several former executives of the companies were also cleared of wrongdoing, including Malcolm Brinded and Paolo Scaroni.

Prosecutors had charged that executives involved in the Malabu deal knew that much of the $1.1 billion they deposited into an escrow account controlled by the Nigerian government would be disbursed as bribes.

The oil companies and its officials have consistently denied any wrongdoing.

However, in 2018, two middlemen named in the Malabu deals were found guilty of corruption in a separate trial.

Back Story

The Malabu scandal involved the transfer of about $1.1 billion by Shell and ENI through the Nigerian government to accounts controlled by a former Nigerian petroleum minister, Dan Etete.

From accounts controlled by Mr Etete, about half the money ($520 million) went to accounts of companies controlled by Aliyu Abubakar, popularly known in Nigeria as the owner of AA oil.

Anti-corruption investigators and activists suspect he fronted for top officials of the Goodluck Jonathan administration as well of officials of Shell and ENI.

The transaction was authorised in 2011 by Mr Jonathan through some of his cabinet ministers and the money was payment for OPL 245, one of Nigerias richest oil blocks.

The oil resources of the OPL 245 license have remained undeveloped since the controversies began. Eni initiated international arbitration proceedings against Nigeria in September, alleging the government has breached its obligations by refusing to let the firm develop the license, which will expire in May.

Nigeria

The verdict would impact on Nigerias hope of securing court-ordered compensation from Eni and Shell.

A representative of the Nigerian government told Bloomberg Wednesday that the nation will wait to review the Italian courts written judgment before considering its position.

Shell CEO, Van Beurden, reacting to the verdict, said that the oil giant has always maintained that the 2011 settlement was legal, designed to resolve a decade-long legal dispute and unlock development of the OPL 245 block. At the same time, this has been a difficult learning experience for us.

Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt says the number of vaccines being given to states and territories is being ramped up as NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian warned the state would not complete the rollout in time without more doses.

About 150,000 doses will be given to the states next week, while another 150,000 will be distributed through GP clinics and Commonwealth clinics as the country prepares to start vaccinating the six million people included in phase 1b of the rollout.

Mr Hunt released the list of Commonwealth-run respiratory clinics on Thursday. Credit:Dominic Lorrimer

The state allocation is up from the almost 50,000 doses states and territories received in week two of the rollout, and the roughly 140,000 those jurisdictions got this week.

Bookings for the 100 Commonwealth respiratory clinics open on Friday, and doses have already been delivered to 870 general practices and respiratory clinics.
Ambanis to host special musical fountain shows for Armed forces and police

Nita Ambani's 'Bagwati' will cost you a 2-BHK flat in Mumbai

BHU students oppose proposal to make Nita Ambani as visiting professor

India

oi-Deepika S

Varanasi, Mar 16: Opposing a proposal to make Reliance Industries executive director Nita Ambani as a visiting professor, students staged a demonstration at Banaras Hindu University on Tuesday.

Shubham Tiwari, one of the protesting students, said instead of Ambani, those who have set an example of women empowerment should be invited.

Nita Ambani to be a visiting professor at the Banaras Hindu University?| Oneindia News

Meanwhile, Prof Nidhi Sharma, coordinator of the Centre for Women's Studies and Development, said the proposal to make Nita Ambani a visiting professor has been sent to the authorities.

She said, "Ambani is a woman entrepreneur. If she joins our centre, the women of Purvanchal will get the benefit of her experience."

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Wednesday, March 17, 2021, 10:00 [IST]
Atlanta, March 17 : At least eight people, many of them women of Asian descent, were killed and one injured in shootings at three spas in Atlanta area, police said.

One suspect has been taken into custody in connection with the series of shootings on Tuesday. Cherokee County Sheriff's said that Robert Aaron Long (21) was arrested at about 8:30 p.m. (local time) following a chase that led officers into Crisp County - about three hours away from where the first shootings at a massage parlour, WSB TV reported.

Two of the shootings were at spas across the street from each other in northeast Atlanta and the other happened about 30 miles away in Cherokee County to the northwest of the city.

"Video footage from our Video Integration Centre places the Cherokee County suspect's vehicle in the area, around the time of our Piedmont Road shootings," the Atlanta police said in a statement.

"That, along with video evidence viewed by investigators, suggests it is extremely likely our suspect is the same as Cherokee County's, who is in custody. Because of this, an investigator from Atlanta police is in Cherokee County and we are working closely with them to confirm with certainty our cases are related." Officials in each jurisdiction said there were no immediate indications of motive and said it is unclear whether the shootings were related.

FBI spokesman Kevin Rowson added that the agency has been assisting Atlanta and Cherokee County authorities in the probe.
Protesters stormed a government building in southern Yemen on Tuesday to demand payment of their salaries.

Dozens of demonstrators went into a presidential palace in the southern coastal city of Aden. Prime Minister Maeen Abdulmalik Saeed remained in the building during the incident. The protesters wanted payments for government employees, Reuters reported on Tuesday.

The Southern Transitional Council (STC) controls the greater Aden region in southern Yemen. The separatist group, which is supported by the United Arab Emirates, broke away from the Saudi-backed government in 2017. In December, the STC reconciled with the government and entered into a unity Cabinet. For years, Yemens Southern Movement has demanded independence for south Yemen. The STC is an offshoot of the movement.

The protest came as the ongoing war in Yemen between the government and Houthi rebels is escalating. Most recently, on Monday, the Iran-backed Houthi forces fired missiles into Saudi Arabia. The Houthis, also known as Ansarallah, control the northwest of the country where much of the current fighting is focused.
Edison, NJ -- (SBWIRE) -- 03/17/2021 -- A new business intelligence report released by HTF MI with title "Global Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC) Market Research Report with Opportunities and Strategies to Boost Growth- COVID-19 Impact and Recovery" is designed covering micro level of analysis by manufacturers and key business segments. The Global Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC) Market survey analysis offers energetic visions to conclude and study market size, market hopes, and competitive surroundings. The research is derived through primary and secondary statistics sources and it comprises both qualitative and quantitative detailing. Some of the key players profiled in the study are Peer 2 Peer University, Udemy, StraighterLine, EdX, Iversity, Veduca Edtech, PIER - International Education Services, Coursera, Codecademy, FutureLearn, Apple, Khan Academy, Crypt4you, Academic, NovoEd & Udacity.



What's keeping Peer 2 Peer University, Udemy, StraighterLine, EdX, Iversity, Veduca Edtech, PIER - International Education Services, Coursera, Codecademy, FutureLearn, Apple, Khan Academy, Crypt4you, Academic, NovoEd & Udacity Ahead in the Market? Benchmark yourself with the strategic moves and findings recently released by HTF MI



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Market Overview of Global Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC)

If you are involved in the Global Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC) industry or aim to be, then this study will provide you inclusive point of view. It's vital you keep your market knowledge up to date segmented by Applications [In-Service Staff & Non-In-Service Personnel], Product Types [, CMOOC & XMOOC] and major players. If you have a different set of players/manufacturers according to geography or needs regional or country segmented reports we can provide customization according to your requirement.



This study mainly helps understand which market segments or Region or Country they should focus in coming years to channelize their efforts and investments to maximize growth and profitability. The report presents the market competitive landscape and a consistent in depth analysis of the major vendor/key players in the market along with impact of economic slowdown due to COVID.



Furthermore, the years considered for the study are as follows:

Historical year  2015-2020

Base year  2020

Forecast period**  2021 to 2026 [** unless otherwise stated]



**Moreover, it will also include the opportunities available in micro markets for stakeholders to invest, detailed analysis of competitive landscape and product services of key players.



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The titled segments and sub-section of the market are illuminated below:

The Study Explore the Product Types of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC) Market: , CMOOC & XMOOC



Key Applications/end-users of Global Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC)Market: In-Service Staff & Non-In-Service Personnel



Top Players in the Market are: Peer 2 Peer University, Udemy, StraighterLine, EdX, Iversity, Veduca Edtech, PIER - International Education Services, Coursera, Codecademy, FutureLearn, Apple, Khan Academy, Crypt4you, Academic, NovoEd & Udacity



Region Included are: North America (Covered in Chapter 9), United States, Canada, Mexico, Europe (Covered in Chapter 10), Germany, UK, France, Italy, Spain, Russia, Others, Asia-Pacific (Covered in Chapter 11), China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, India, South America (Covered in Chapter 12), Brazil, Argentina, Columbia, Middle East and Africa (Covered in Chapter 13), UAE, Egypt & South Africa



Important Features that are under offering & key highlights of the report:

 Detailed overview of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC) market

 Changing market dynamics of the industry

 In-depth market segmentation by Type, Application etc

 Historical, current and projected market size in terms of volume and value

 Recent industry trends and developments

 Competitive landscape of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC) market

 Strategies of key players and product offerings

 Potential and niche segments/regions exhibiting promising growth

 A neutral perspective towards Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC) market performance

 Market players information to sustain and enhance their footprint



Read Detailed Index of full Research Study at @ https://www.htfmarketreport.com/reports/3148958-global-massive-open-online-courses-8



Major Highlights of TOC:

Chapter One: Global Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC) Market Industry Overview

1.1 Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC) Industry

1.1.1 Overview

1.1.2 Products of Major Companies

1.2 Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC) Market Segment

1.2.1 Industry Chain

1.2.2 Consumer Distribution

1.3 Price & Cost Overview



Chapter Two: Global Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC) Market Demand

2.1 Segment Overview

2.1.1 APPLICATION 1

2.1.2 APPLICATION 2

2.1.3 Other

2.2 Global Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC) Market Size by Demand

2.3 Global Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC) Market Forecast by Demand



Chapter Three: Global Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC) Market by Type

3.1 By Type

3.1.1 TYPE 1

3.1.2 TYPE 2

3.2 Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC) Market Size by Type

3.3 Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC) Market Forecast by Type



Chapter Four: Major Region of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC) Market

4.1 Global Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC) Sales

4.2 Global Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC) Revenue & market share



Chapter Five: Major Companies List



Chapter Six: Conclusion



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- What impact does COVID-19 have made on Global Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC) Market Growth & Sizing?

- Who are the Leading key players and what are their Key Business plans in the Global Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC) market?

- What are the key concerns of the five forces analysis of the Global Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC) market?

- What are different prospects and threats faced by the dealers in the Global Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC) market?

- What are the strengths and weaknesses of the key vendors?



Thanks for reading this article; you can also get individual chapter wise section or region wise report version like North America, Europe or Asia.



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To research the hottest new tech stock, Roblox, I went straight to my highly plugged-in, in-house analyst  my 11-year-old daughter.

She sat me down on the couch with her iPad and patiently explained the user-generated games, the in-app purchases and the revenues available to both gamers and creators on this gaming platform.

After that, we arranged for a $50 investment of her money in shares on the first day they became available, which was March 10. (If youre wondering how to invest $50 in shares that cost $65 each on the first day of trading, the technical answer is the investing app known as M1 Finance, which allows for fractional ownership of shares. I wrote a thing about it here in December 2018.)

Roblox listed 199 million shares on the New York Stock Exchange last week but did it in an unusual way: a direct listing instead of an initial public offering.

There are at least two innovative things to know about this. One is about the company, and the other is about this direct issuance, which I suspect well see a lot more of in the future.

Most companies that list shares on stock exchanges first do an initial public offering, or IPO. An IPO involves investment bankers preparing a roadshow and negotiating the issuance price that all new investors will pay. A company doing an IPO typically seeks to both raise new money for the business and allow previous investors to sell some of their shares in the business.

A direct listing, by contrast, raises no new money for the company. It merely allows privately held stakes to be floated on an exchange  to allow insiders a chance to cash out and outsiders a chance to buy in.

Roblox didnt need new money, in part because it secured $850 million in private financing in January, solving the fundraising part of an IPO ahead of time. Roblox ended 2020 with close to $1 billion on hand, further explaining why it skipped the fundraising part of an IPO. It also saw fourth-quarter revenue jump 111 percent from the same period in 2019. Thats the kind of growth tech investors crave.

Roblox had cash, name recognition and buzzy growth, so the roadshow and fundraising parts of going public were unnecessary.

Until now, direct listings have been extremely rare. Spotify, the audio-streaming company founded in Sweden, is the highest-profile direct listing ever. It listed its shares on the stock market in 2018.

By direct listing rather than hiring a Wall Street underwriter, a company in theory can save huge bucks, typically 3 to 7 percent of the money raised. A direct listing not only forgos the support of a new issuance, it skips the marketing hype that accompanies a traditional roadshow. In the case of Spotify and Roblox, they didnt need the marketing hype. Among their customers and within their own industry, they are dominant providers.

And by all appearances, the shares didnt do worse as a result of a direct listing instead of an IPO. Roblox soared 54 percent from its initial listing price on the first day.

This direct listing method is pretty new stuff.

The New York Stock Exchange moved in the direction of allowing more direct listings through a request to the Securities and Exchange Commission in 2019. In December, the SEC approved direct listings under certain conditions. The Roblox listing last week is the first high-profile test of this way companies can reduce their Wall Street fees. And given its success, we should expect more companies going public to choose this route in the future.

Meanwhile, Roblox is innovating in other ways. For better and worse, it has mastered the art of capturing kids attention with its immersive-world game platform.

For the past year as my daughter has schooled from home and lacked ordinary interactions because of COVID-19, Roblox has occupied more of my daughters time than any other activity, except maybe sleeping. Even the sleeping part is arguable.

You may be curious  what does she do on Roblox? Its virtual-reality games. Her favorite game, Adopt Me, involves adopting a pet and then upgrading that pet into the most stylish and unique pet possible. Her latest acquisition, a golden unicorn via a hard-earned golden egg, was incredibly exciting apparently. (You had to be there.) Other games within the virtual reality involve heists, escaping burning buildings and avoiding a killer. Normal stuff kids are into, I guess.

Roblox, as a games platform, facilitates user-generated content, meaning gamers can invent their own games. For that, designers receive either virtual dollars or real dollars. In real dollar terms, more than 1,000 game designers have earned more than $10,000 in the past year on the Roblox platform. That may not support a family, but to an 11-year-old, that amount of money seems incredibly enticing.

Through the course of this column, I have described breaking at least three of Mikes Cardinal Rules of Investing, so I briefly want to acknowledge these and then explain my transgressions.

First, I dont recommend you buy individual stocks. For kids, however, I do think purchasing individual stocks is useful for teaching and learning purposes. Buying individual stocks for companies they know can get them excited about the magic of investing, capitalism, markets and compound interest. Its just too darn boring and abstract to explain low-cost diversified index funds to an 11-year-old, even though that is how all of us should always invest.

Second, I never write about individual stocks I own (or my family owns) because I dont generally own any and also I dont want even the appearance of a conflict of interest. So I broke that rule, too. To which I can only plead with you to believe that I have not sold my journalistic soul to shill and pump up my 11-year-olds $50 stock investment.

To be clear, in no way do I recommend Roblox shares for any of you. This thing is probably going to zero. Which would be a great educational outcome for her! She might cry, but I would be happy, because $50 is a very cheap lifelong lesson from Daddy on the risks of owning individual stocks.

Finally, I always recommend against buying new listings  traditionally, IPOs  for a variety of prudent reasons having to do with information disadvantages, media hype and the greedy exuberance of insiders selling to a credulous group of outsiders.

Please excuse my rule transgressions today. They were each done with an educational purpose.

Michael Taylor is a columnist for the San Antonio Express-News and author of The Financial Rules for New College Graduates.

michael@michaelthesmart

money.com |twitter.com/michael_taylor
The March 17 stimulus checks availability did not sit well for JPMorgan Chase and Wells Fargo customers. The IRS started its distribution of the third round of federal $1,400 stimulus checks for every eligible adult and child. However, JPMorgan Chase and Wells Fargo stated that the COVID-19 relief payments would not be available until March 17.

Stimulus checks availability upsets bank customers

Based on the latest update, stimulus checks availability may depend partly on the bank's policies. Still, customers of JPMorgan Chase and Wells Fargo were not happy about those policies.

According to CBS News, JPMorgan Chase and Wells Fargo stated that the payments' timing is initially outside of their control. The banks added that even though the IRS started issuing the payments over the weekend, the official payment date is not until March 17.

Wells Fargo clarified that their company was not holding the funds and mentioned that they would deposit the money into every recipient's accounts as soon as possible. But other banks are crediting the funds to their customers' accounts right away.

Stimulus Check Dispute Leads to Four Deaths in Indiana

A New York-based banking startup, Current, uses its own balance sheet to credit the funds instead of waiting for its settlement. Several customers of Current did not have any problem with the stimulus checks availability as they received access to their stimulus checks on March 12, which is a day after the $1.9 trillion bill was signed into law by President Joe Biden.

Also, Nacha, the organization that governs the ACH Network and manages electronic transfers, shared that the IRS set the settlement date of March 17. It also added that there is no mystery as to where the money is. It is still with the government.

Nacha also mentioned that the settlement date is also when the IRS will be providing the funds to the banks and credit unions to be made available to recipients. The backbone for the electronic movement of money and data in the United States also stated that based on their rules, they require banks and credit unions to make the funds available to the account holders by 9 a.m. local time on the settlement date, which in the case of the third stimulus checks is on March 17, Bloomberg reported.

Also, Nacha added that the IRS chose March 17 as it intends for settlement to happen on that date. It added that the payments should clear into accounts at 8:30 a.m. ET on March 17.

Florida Baby, First to Be Born with COVID-19 Antibodies

The group also added that it is literally when the money will be transferred from the government to the settlement accounts of banks and credit unions at the Federal Reserve. However, customers were still not satisfied with any explanation regarding banking policy and the stimulus checks availability as some have threatened to quit their banks on social media, Entrepreneur reported.

In their accounts on numerous online platforms, customers threatened to quit their banks and cited the current delays in accessing the funds. Wells Fargo added that they are making the stimulus funds available immediately as soon as the funds are available to them.

Also from HNGN:

US Official Labels North Korea a 'Syndicate With a Flag'

North Korea to Test Intercontinental Missile

@ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
For Kilkennys Irish Public House, St. Patricks Day is typically a packed party with live music, but this year will be different.

Since COVID, its not going to be even a shade of what it traditionally is, General Manager Mike Lloyd said. Its actually pretty depressing.

This is the second year Kilkennys, located in Traverse City, will lose out on what Lloyd said is the pubs best time for business. Last year, Michigan restaurants and bars experienced their first shut down the day before St. Patricks Day as coronavirus hit the state.

In retrospect, Lloyd said he and his business partners are happier than they were last year. Kilkennys wont have live music and its capacity is less than half due to tables being six feet apart, but Lloyd said the pub will celebrate safely and have a little fun along the way.

Were trying to be the role model for all businesses by doing it exactly the way its supposed to be done so we dont end up like we were this time last year, Lloyd said.

Like all other celebrations in the past year, St. Patricks Day is another time to remind people to keep up preventative habits, said Gillian Conrad, the spokeswoman for Berrien County Health Department.

Conrad said people should keep wearing masks and avoid large gatherings.

The last thing we want to see right now in this race against time and how quickly were able to get vaccines out is (to) also be in another race against beating down increased viral spread, Conrad said.

RELATED: Michigans positive test rate and daily coronavirus cases continue to climb

In Detroit, health department investigators will patrol the city during the holiday to make sure businesses are operating safely, Denise Fair, Detroit Health Department chief health officer, wrote in an email statement.

The Detroit Health Department will continue to inspect businesses based upon any complaints that we receive to keep the city safe, Fair wrote.

Kellys Downtown Irish Pub & Restaurant owner Lynne Layher is excited to see her customers come back for St. Patricks Day. As a pub in downtown Lansing, Layher and her husband Lenny Burns have lost business because most of the community is working from home.

Customers at Kellys have been respectful of each others space and have asked before sitting next to someone, which Layher said she appreciates.

I havent really had to scold anybody about wearing masks, but you never know on St. Pattys Day, Layher said. But they are not allowed to enter without a mask.

A door person will ensure the pub stays under 50% capacity, Layher said.

The interior of Kellys features high booths, which helps space out seating, Layher said. She said she wants customers to feel comfortable and enjoy St. Patricks Day fare.

Empty booths with high backs and plastic barriers at Kelly's Downtown Irish Pub & Restaurant Tuesday March, 16, 2020 in Lansing. "Our booths are nice and high where people feel protected,"Layher said, "The tables have to be set aside where no more than 8 people can sit together." Nicole Hester/Mlive.com

I dont want to close down again, Layher said. ... We want to make sure grandma and grandpa are comfortable if other people are coming in, but the biggest thing will be making sure that we are at the limited capacity.

Restaurant and bar owners have had a tough year, said Lisa Peacock, the health officer for both the Benzie-Leelanau Health Department and Health Department of Northwest Michigan.

But she cautioned all health rules still apply, whether its St. Patricks Day or not, Peacock said.

I would say lets make it as easy as we can on these operators that are so happy to have their businesses open and stick to the table limit of six, make sure that were wearing our masks, make sure that were keeping our circle small (to) two households at the most, Peacock said. You know, making sure that we are not giving them a hard time when we go in.

After last years shutdown, Sophia Leongas is happy her Irish pub, The Curragh, is open despite not knowing what the celebration will look like. Planning the St. Patricks Day celebration depended on state mandates, which recently changed to allow 50% restaurant capacity.

RELATED: Michigan to relax COVID-19 restrictions for restaurants

Now, the celebration also depends on the weather, Leongas said. The Curragh in Holland features a large patio with live music as an option for those who feel more comfortable outdoors.

We are requiring everybody to stay seated theres no bar atmosphere, Leongas said. So, its all restaurant, basically. Everything is six-feet apart.

Leongas is grateful to her staff and community members for keeping her business going. She said after the past year, she has realized shes just happy to keep going.

Read more on MLive:

9 things to know about Michigans expansion of vaccine eligibility to all ages

Registrations open for COVID-19 vaccines at Ford Field in Detroit

Open records expansion poised to advance in Senate committee as group tees up ballot initiative

Canadian officials testify Line 5 shutdown would have big impact on the region during Michigan Senate committee
OTSEGO COUNTY, MI  The Michigan State Police are looking for a 22-year-old man convicted of third degree criminal sexual conduct.

James Dominic Gross of Lincoln pleaded guilty to the charge, specifically forcible penetration with a minor child victim, in February. He was sentenced to 5.5 years (66 months) in prison via a teleconference hearing earlier this month.

The court ordered Gross to turn himself in by the end of the day, however he failed to do so and is now a fugitive. Gross is now wanted on new felony charges, police said.

Anyone who harbors or assists Gross in any way may be charged for aiding/harboring a known fugitive, police warned in a news release.

Anonymous information may be provided to the Michigan State Police, Seventh District Fugitive Team by calling 989-732-5141. Anonymous tip information may also be provided to the Northeastern Michigan Crime Stoppers at 800-422-5245.
Minimum Government Maximum Governance

The NDA government came to power in 2014 with the promise of making 'Minimum Government, Maximum Governance' a reality. Did they deliver on this promise? Arguably not, or at least until 2019. But the pandemic and the lockdown in 2020 changed some of that.

Covid-19 brought the underlying issues to the forefront, and showed glimpses of the magic that's possible when the role of the government becomes 'minimum' and it instead focuses on being a strong facilitator through 'maximum governance'. As co-leads of a twenty-member task force that helped a young talented startup, Noccarc Robotics, build and launch a world-class ICU ventilator in 90 days during India's lockdown, we had a ringside view of these issues playing out on the ground.

On many occasions, the government helped us wonderfully well because some of the institutions had been put in place in the previous six years. In early April 2020, the task force was desperately trying to ship in a consignment of components from Singapore that was required for making the initial prototype of the ventilator. With both Singapore and India under lockdown, it was impossible to find any airline, courier, or freight service that could do this.

In stepped 'Invest India', India's national investment promotion and facilitation agency. They took over the entire coordination with the Ministry of External Affairs and the authorities in Singapore to ensure that this consignment could be flown into India the same week. It is to the government's credit that a defunct Invest India was revived in 2014.

Likewise, the launch of 'Make in India' (2014) and 'Startup India' (2016) sensitized at least some sections of the bureaucracy to be more supportive and pro-active. The industries ministry in Maharashtra, and local authorities in Pune went out of their way to help Noccarc Robotics move men and materials during the lockdown, and also to get the factory opened.

Story continues

Two agencies of the central government  Department of Science & Technology (DST) and BIRAC (Biotech Industry Research Assistance Council)  played a stellar role in enabling rapid identification and scaling up of products and services that could help the country fight Covid-19.

Their support to MyLabs and other startups ensured that affordable indigenous RT-PCR diagnostic kits could be brought to the market quickly, and bring prices down from Rs 1,200 to Rs 120. Quick financial support from these agencies to over 125 companies ensured that within three to four months, several ideas translated themselves to products on the shelves, and India became self-reliant. PPEs and masks are two prime examples.

While these successful outcomes are heartwarming, and full credit to the government for being a great facilitator, there were some weaknesses also that stood out for us. The biggest weakness of them all being the hazy regulatory framework for medical devices.

We saw how, during the early stages of the pandemic, even the top echelons of the government were groping for clarity about regulations surrounding the production of ventilators in India. Strange as it sounds, as of late-March, there were no regulations that prevented anyone from manufacturing a ventilator and selling it to a hospital in India. This was an astounding revelation for us, considering that a ventilator is a critical life-saving device. It isn't just ventilators; X-ray machines have faced such regulatory haze for nearly four decades.

The absence of regulatory clarity, and especially a formal certification, impedes the growth of Indian innovation. Without formal certification that meets global standards, products tend to be suspect in the eyes of Indian doctors and hospitals who then opt for expensive imported products. As a result, even though the Prime Minister, in April 2020, urged the government committees that oversaw pandemic management to remove all roadblocks in the production of domestic ventilators, the lack of regulatory clarity became a hindrance.

The question that arises now is if the pandemic has become a tipping point for a stronger shift towards 'Minimum Government, Maximum Governance'.

Given the institution-building that's already happened in the previous decade (Startup India, Make in India, Invest India), and the global consensus with respect to China, it will be a tragedy if we don't utilise this opportunity to unleash the entrepreneurial spirits of Indians. The pandemic has shown that Indian technology and innovativeness can translate into global scale very quickly. If the government can play the dual role of being a strong facilitator (through single window agencies like Invest India or Birac) and a strict but transparent regulator, it will provide the right balance.

All in all, these recent actions of the government are reasons to be optimistic. If the 'new normal' we saw during the pandemic triumphs over the 'traditional Indian normal', 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' can be an unstoppable force that meets the rising expectations of a new generation of youth across the country.

The article is the sixth in a series on Minimum Govt, Maximum Governance. You can read all the articles under this series here

The writers are co-authors of the recently released book, 'The Ventilator Project: How the IIT Kanpur Consortium Built a World-class Product during India's Covid-19 Lockdown'. Views expressed are personal.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-17 23:32:41|Editor: huaxia

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ADDIS ABABA, March 17 (Xinhua) -- Ethiopia's national flag carrier Ethiopian Airlines on Wednesday announced partnership with the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) for the implementation of the African Union (AU) Trusted Travel Pass to make continental travel easier and safer amidst the COVID -19 pandemic.

The Trusted Travel Pass program will ensure country regulations regarding COVID-19 travel requirements are met with minimal room for error and hassle to the travelling public, the Ethiopian Airlines said in a press statement.

The Africa CDC, the specialized healthcare agency of the AU, has mobilized a broad multi-stakeholder public private partnership with the help of its strategic partners, with the objective of addressing current challenges in accessing accurate health information, high costs and inconvenience in cross border travel, and poor data for health policy and biosecurity planning.

Getinet Tadesse, the chief information officer at Ethiopian Airlines, said the Ethiopian flag carrier is offering new digital opportunities to its passengers so as to fully and safely restore air travel.

The newly introduced initiative is said to be capable of addressing passengers' travel needs during COVID-19 pandemic as it helps them validate their test and vaccination documents before departure, it was noted.

"As a safety first airline, we are striving to make travel safe and seamless especially with regard to the implementation of COVID 19 prevention strategies," Tadesse said.

The Trusted Travel Pass solution is expected to validate test and vaccination certificates and verify that they are sufficient for their route and share testing or vaccination certificates with airlines and authorities to facilitate travel.

The initiative also envisaged avoiding fraudulent documentation and making air travel more convenient, it was noted.

John Nkengasong, the director of the Africa CDC, stressed the crucial importance of such partnerships in the present context.

"The scale of the challenge presented by COVID-19 demands an unprecedented level of both innovation and cooperation, which is why Ethiopian's laudable decision to come on board Trusted Travel marks a watershed in the continent's ongoing fightback against this pandemic's quest to suppress the Africa's development ambitions," an Ethiopian Airlines statement quoted Nkengasong as saying.

Ethiopian Airlines is also a major cargo partner of the World Health Organization (WHO), World Food Program (WFP), donor governments and philanthropists in facilitating the flow of essential medical supplies across Africa and the wider world. Enditem
The Centre on Wednesday said it has not taken any decision on the nationwide roll-out of the Register of Citizens (NRC).

Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai was replying to a question in the Rajya Sabha on whether the central government had any plans to implement the throughout the country.

"Till now, the government has not taken any decision to prepare the Register of Indian Citizens at the level," Rai said in a written reply.

The was updated in Assam under the supervision of the Supreme Court. When the final was published on August 31, 2019, a total of 19.06 lakh people were excluded out of the total 3,30,27,661 applicants, which created a ripple across India.

The NRC is an Assam-specific data of bonafide Indian citizens living in the state.

Replying to another question, Rai said there is no provision of detention centres under the Citizenship Act, 1955 and the National Register of Indian Citizens.

He said the Supreme Court on February 28, 2012 had directed that foreign nationals who completed their sentence shall be released from jail immediately and be kept in an appropriate place with restricted movement pending their deportation or repatriation.

Following that directive, Rai said, the Ministry of Home Affairs issued instructions on March 7, 2012 to state governments and UT administrations to comply with the directions of the Supreme Court.

The minister said detention centres are set up by the state governments and UT administrations as per their local requirements to detain illegal immigrants and foreigners, some of whom may have completed their sentence and their deportation to their native country may be pending for want of proper travel documents.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 17)  The vaccine has been ruled out as the cause of death of a health care worker who received a COVID-19 shot in the local inoculation drive, the Department of Health said Wednesday.

In a joint statement with the Food and Drug Administration, a regulatory agency under the department, the DOH disclosed that the vaccinated Filipino health worker died on Monday. The DOH said the frontliner tested positive for COVID-19 after getting inoculated but did not specify the dates, or which brand was used.

In response, the regional and national AEFI (Adverse Events Following Immunization) committees were activated to conduct a thorough investigation of the case, the DOH said.

Investigation showed that the death was caused by COVID-19 itself, not by the COVID-19 vaccine, it added. The agency stressed that COVID-19 vaccines, whatever the brand, do not cause deaths or infections.

Its not clear if the vaccinee who died was among the 21 recipients who experienced serious adverse side effects, such as chest pain or difficulty in breathing, as reported by the DOH on Friday.

Dr. Rontgene Solante, an infectious diseases expert, earlier explained that it is still possible to test positive for COVID-19 even after vaccination if the person was already infected prior to receiving the shot or was exposed to the virus before the antibodies kicked in.

Meanwhile, DOH and the FDA urged all medical frontliners to get vaccinated especially amid the surge in infections. This week, the country recorded around 4,000 to 5,000 new COVID-19 cases daily, and if the upward trend continues, the independent research group OCTA projects up to 11,000 new infections per day by the end of the month.

Millions of people around the world have received this vaccine, and evidence continues to show that the benefit of vaccination outweighs the risk of severe disease and death caused by COVID-19, the DOH and FDA said.

The Philippines has so far received 1.125 million doses of the Sinovac and AstraZeneca vaccines, which are donations from China and COVAX, respectively. Some 215,997 health care workers have received their first dose. The government expects more Sinovac and AstraZeneca doses to arrive this March or April, enough to kickstart general public vaccinations by early May.
The New York Times acknowledges that, whereas the U.S., the UK, and Israel are getting their populations vaccinated and seeing sharp declines in Wuhan coronavirus cases, the EU is a mess in this regard. David Leonhardt writes:

Across most of the European Union, vaccine rollout has been slow, and new cases are surging. Europe  the first place where the coronavirus caused widespread death  is facing the prospect of being one of the last places to emerge from its grip. My colleague Jason Horowitz writes from Rome: Governments are putting exhausted populations under lockdown. Street protests are turning violent. A year after the virus began spreading in Europe, things feel unnervingly the same. As Eyck Freymann and Elettra Ardissino write in Foreign Policy: Spring in the European Union is going to be dismal. Bild, a German newspaper, recently ran the headline Liebe Briten, We Beneiden You!  a mixture of German and English that means Dear Brits, We Envy You! Wolfgang Munchau of Eurointelligence has said that Europes vaccination program rivals the continents budget austerity of recent years as the E.U.s worst policy error during my lifetime.

Whats behind this debacle? Leonhardt cites three factors.

First, there was too much bureaucracy:

While the U.S. and other countries rushed to sign agreements with vaccine makers, the E.U. first tried to make sure all 27 of its member countries agreed on how to approach the negotiations. Europe chose to prioritize process over speed and to put solidarity between E.U. countries ahead of giving individual governments more room to maneuver, Jillian Deutsch and Sarah Wheaton write for Politico Europe. The result was slower regulatory approval of the vaccines and delayed agreements to buy doses, forcing Europe to wait in line behind countries that moved faster.

Second, the EU was cheap. It emphasized negotiating a low price for vaccine doses. Israel, by contrast, was willing to pay a premium to receive doses quickly. It paid $25 per Pfizer dose and the U.S. about $20 per dose. The E.U. pays from $15 to $19.

Was the discount worth it? I dont think so. According to Leonhardt, a single additional lockdown, like the one Italy announced this week, could wipe out any savings. Not to mention all the extra lives lost.

Third, vaccine skepticism apparently is more widespread in Europe than in the rest of the world. This claim surprises me, but polls support it:

In a survey published in the journal Nature Medicine, residents of 19 countries were asked if they would take a Covid vaccine that had been proven safe and effective. In China, 89 percent of people said yes. In the U.S., 75 percent did. The shares were lower across most of Europe: 68 percent in Germany, 65 percent in Sweden, 59 percent in France and 56 percent in Poland.

To be fair, some of Europes skepticism arguably has been vindicated. About a dozen countries, including France and Germany, have suspended the use of one of the continents primary vaccines, from AstraZeneca, citing concerns about blood clots.

However, the suspension may be the product of skepticism, rather than a validation of it. Evidence that the vaccine causes clots seems thin. In any case, for what its worth, I suspect that the benefits of this vaccine outweigh its risks, if any.

Reasonable people can disagree about this. Whats beyond doubt is that the EU now is in much worse shape than the U.S. when it comes to the coronavirus.
The Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu (RCJY) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Saudi Aramco Entrepreneurship Center (Wa'ed) to support the establishment of petrochemicals start-ups in the cities affiliated with RCJY.

The MoU was signed by Dr Ahmed Al-Hussain, General Manager of Investment Development Sector at the RCJY, and Wa'ed CEO Wassim Basrawi, said a Saudi Press Agency report.

The memorandum is part of Wa'ed's ongoing campaign to support start-up projects and business, including in energy and petrochemicals sectors, with the aim of bridging important gaps in the Saudi economy and accelerating the modernization endeavor to the Saudi industrial sector.

Under the memorandum, Wa'ed will be filtering the start-up companies established in the industrial zones affiliated with the RCJY with the aim of granting them low cost loans and helping them improve their businesses through the center's "Project Establishment Program".
Thunder Bay, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - March 17, 2021) - Metals Creek Resources Corp. (TSXV: MEK) ("Metals Creek" or the "Company") is pleased to announce today that subject to final TSX-V approval, the company has closed a non-brokered private placement of flow-through and non flow-through units (the "Private Placement").

The company has raised aggregate proceeds of $3,955,197.26 by issuing 6,107,326 non flow-through units at $0.11 per unit, with each non flow-through unit consisting of one common share and one common share purchase warrant, and 21,889,276 flow-through units at $0.15 per unit, with each flow-through unit consisting of one flow-through common share and one common share purchase warrant. The warrants,in each case, are exercisable for one common share of the Company at an exercise price of $0.165 for a period 24 months from the date of issuance. Cash finders' fees of $81,126.35 were paid in connection with this financing as well as the issuance of finders' warrants in the amount of 177,818 which are each exercisable for one common share of the Company at $0.165 for a period of 24 months from the date of issuance.

Crescat Capital LLC ("Crescat") participated in the Private Placement by purchasing 9,090,910 flow-through units, which represents 7.15 % of the total issued and outstanding common shares of the Company on a non-diluted bases and 14.3% on a partially-diluted basis. The Company did also enter into an agreement with Crescat granting Crescat an option to participate in future financings to maintain its pro rata interest in the Company, until such time as Crescat holds less than 3% of the issued and outstanding common shares of Metals Creek.

All securities issued pursuant to the Financing are subject to a four-month and one day hold period.

About Metals Creek Resources Corp.

Metals Creek Resources Corp. is a junior exploration company incorporated under the laws of the Province of Ontario, is a reporting issuer in Alberta, British Columbia and Ontario, and has its common shares listed for trading on the Exchange under the symbol "MEK". Metals Creek has earned a 50% interest in the Ogden Gold Property from Newmont Corporation, including the former Naybob Gold mine, located 6 km south of Timmins, Ontario and has an 8 km strike length of the prolific Porcupine-Destor Fault (P-DF). In addition, Metals Creek has signed an agreement with Newmont Corporation, where Metals Creek can earn a 100% interest in the past producing Dona Lake Gold Project in the Pickle Lake Mining District of Ontario.

Metals Creek also has multiple quality projects available for option in Ontario and Newfoundland which can be viewed on the Company's website. Parties interested in seeking more information about properties available for option can contact the Company at the number below.

Additional information concerning the Company is contained in documents filed by the Company with securities regulators, available under its profile at www.sedar.com.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Alexander (Sandy) Stares, President and CEO

Metals Creek Resources Corp

telephone: (709)-256-6060

fax: (709)-256-6061

email: astares@metalscreek.com

MetalsCreek.com

Twitter.com/MetalsCreekRes

Facebook.com/MetalsCreek

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/77653
YEREVAN, MARCH 17, ARMENPRESS. The bipartisan co-chairs of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues, U.S. Representatives Adam Schiff (D-CA), Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), Frank Pallone (D-NJ), David G. Valadao (R-CA), and Jackie Speier (D-CA) introduced a resolution calling on Azerbaijan to immediately release all prisoners of war (POWs) and civilians currently detained in the aftermath of the 2020 war in Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh). The resolution was cosponsored by a bipartisan group of 31 Members, Armenpress reports citing Congressman Adam Schiffs website.

The resolution states that under the Geneva Conventions and the November 9, 2020 tripartite statement signed by Armenia, Russia, and Azerbaijan, all parties have an obligation to release prisoners. Armenia has fulfilled this obligation, while the Government of Azerbaijan continues to misrepresent the status of these POWs in an attempt to justify their continued captivity.

The final part of the Resolution reads as follows:

The House of Representatives

-calls upon Azerbaijan to immediately return 3 all Armenian prisoners of war and captured civilians;

-urges the Secretary of State to engage at all levels with Azerbaijani authorities, including through the OSCE Minsk Group process, to make clear the importance of adhering to their obligations, under the November 9 statement and international law, to immediately release all prisoners of war and captured civilians.

It is unacceptable that more than 100 days after the end of the war in Nagorno-Karabakh, hundreds of Armenian service members and civilians remain in Azerbaijani custody, where little is known of their condition, treatment, or well-being, said Rep. Schiff. Azerbaijan has an obligation to release these prisoners immediately  the longer the delay, the more it demonstrates their disregard for human rights and international law. Azerbaijan is already guilty of grave atrocities committed during the recent war, and this compounds the problem. The United States must use all diplomatic means to secure the immediate release of these detained POWs and civilians, and to impose consequences on Azerbaijan for their continued violations of human rights.

The continued imprisonment of Armenian prisoners of war months after the termination of hostilities is categorically unacceptable. This is a direct violation of the Geneva Convention and international law. Azerbaijan should cease its human rights violations and immediately release the captive soldiers, said Rep. Bilirakis.
On March 12, 2021, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs held a briefing to European envoys on the joint scientific research on the origins of the novel coronavirus conducted by China and the WHO. The briefing was chaired by Director-General of the Department of International Organizations and Conferences of the Foreign Ministry Yang Tao. Team leader from the Chinese side of the China-WHO joint expert team Professor Liang Wannian provided relevant information about the study and answered questions. Over 40 European envoys and diplomats from 29 European countries and the European Union attended the briefing.

(Photo/Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

Liang Wannian provided detailed information about the background, process, findings and suggestions about future research of the China-WHO joint study. He said that after relevant resolutions were approved at the 73rd World Health Assembly, China overcame the pressure of epidemic prevention and control within its borders and took the lead to carry out a joint study on the origins of the novel coronavirus with the WHO. In July 2020, China invited WHO experts to come to China and both sides agreed on the WHO-convened Global Study of the Origins of SARS-CoV-2: Terms of References for the China Part. According to the agreed terms of references (ToR), China set up a joint expert team with international experts from the WHO, and conducted a 28-day joint study from January 14 to February 10 this year in Wuhan. During the visit in Wuhan, experts from both sides visited 9 places, including Jinyintan Hospital, Huanan Seafood Market, and the Wuhan Institute of Virology under the Chinese Academy of Sciences. The team also visited and talked with local medical workers, lab researchers, scientists, market managers, business owners, community workers, recovered patients, and families of medical workers losing their lives in the epidemic. A number of meetings, consultations and discussions were held to accumulate scientific consensus on the origins of the novel coronavirus. And sound working relations were built between experts of both sides through in-depth and candid exchanges.

(Photo/Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

Liang Wannian said that the joint study has achieved positive outcomes and reached some findings and conclusions, thanks to efforts from the two sides: First, coronaviruses with high similarity to SARS-CoV-2 in gene sequences in bats and pangolins were found by the joint expert team. But the similarity is still not enough to make it a direct ancestor of SARS-CoV-2. Other species all could be potential natural hosts. Second, the first case in Wuhan got sick on December 8, 2019. The Huanan Seafood Market could be an outbreak site and amplifier of the COVID-19 pandemic. Third, environmental sampling in the Huanan Seafood Market from right at the point of its closing revealed widespread contamination of surfaces with the virus, especially in its aquatic product stalls. The coronavirus at the market might have been introduced through infected people or contaminated cold-chain products, animals, and animal products. After scientific assessment, the joint expert team believes the SARS-CoV-2 virus is most likely to be introduced through an intermediary host species, likely to be introduced through direct transmission or cold-chain food, and extremely unlikely to be introduced through a laboratory incident.

Liang Wannian pointed out that the joint expert team puts forward four suggestions in terms of future study. First, expand globally unified database, including molecule, gene sequence, clinic, epidemiology, animal monitoring and environmental monitoring data. Second, continue to look for more possible early cases in a wider range around the globe. Third, scientists around the world should search animal species that may become virus hosts in many countries and places, not limited to bats. Fourth, further understand the role of cold chain and frozen food in virus transmission.

Source: Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs
A tractor trailer driver with a suspended license was arrested Tuesday after she allegedly struck and killed a man at the loading dock of an East Brunswick warehouse, authorities said.

Kimberly Holmes, 39, of Port Norris, was charged with causing death or injury while driving with a suspended license, according to a joint statement from the East Brunswick Police and the Middlesex County Prosecutors Office.

Police were called to the building, located at 19A Cottage Lane, after they received a report of an unconscious man lying on a warehouse loading dock, the office said. Uttam Sharma, 43, of Jackson Heights, New York, was pronounced dead at the scene.

The investigation, which was still active Tuesday night, determined that Holmes struck Sharma as she was driving up to the loading dock, police said.

Anyone with information was asked to call Detective Chieffo of the East Brunswick Police Department at 732-390-6900, or Detective Morris of the Middlesex County Prosecutors Office at 732-745-4194.

Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription.

Chris Sheldon may be reached at csheldon@njadvancemedia.com.
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Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong, right, and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken bump elbows ahead of their talks at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Seoul, Wednesday. Yonhap



By Kang Seung-woo



U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken reiterated his bashing of China for its use of "coercion and aggression" on the international stage during his meeting with South Korean Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong in Seoul, Wednesday.



Blinken, along with U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, arrived here earlier in the day for a so-called two-plus-two ministerial meeting with Chung and Defense Minister Suh Wook as well as their respective face-to-face meetings following their three-day visit to Japan.



Their Asian tour is the first Cabinet-level overseas trip of the Joe Biden administration that was inaugurated in January, a sign of the new U.S. government's commitment to reinvigorating alliances in Asia after four years of neglect under former President Donald Trump.



"It's critical that we stand up to the values especially now because we are witnessing a dangerous erosion of democracy around the world including in this region," Blinken said at the start of the dialogue at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.



"China is using coercion and aggression to systematically erode the economy in Hong Kong, undercut democracy in Taiwan, abuse human rights in Xinjiang and Tibet and asserting campaigns in the South China Sea that violate human rights law."



On Tuesday in Tokyo, Blinken also criticized Beijing's bullying of neighboring countries, adding that the United States "will push back if necessary when China uses coercion or aggression to get its way."



The repeated warnings from Blinken came as the Asia tour was seen as Washington's bid to win support from the two key allies for its campaign to counter Chinese influence in Asia. However, South Korea has been reluctant to join any U.S.-led anti-China coalition, including the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad), given that China is its largest-trading partner.





Blinken stresses China's 'clear self-interest,' 'critical' role in North Korean denuclearization North Korea says will ignore contact from US unless Washington withdraws hostile policies US defense chief calls on Seoul-Washington-Tokyo cooperation The Quad, a strategic forum established in 2007 to contain a rising China, is comprised of Australia, India, Japan and the U.S., but the U.S. wants to expand it by inviting South Korea, New Zealand and Vietnam into a so-called Quad Plus. Last week, the first Quad summit took place remotely, featuring Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga and President Biden.



North Korea was also the focus of the talks as Blinken said Pyongyang's nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs pose a threat to the region and the world.



"We will continue to work together with the ROK and other allies and partners including Japan for the denuclearization of the DPRK," he said. The ROK refers to the Republic of Korea, South Korea's official name, while the DPRK stands for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, North Korea's official name.



According to the South Korean foreign ministry, the top diplomats concurred on the urgency of North Korea's nuclear problem and deeply discussed ways to cooperate on the complete denuclearization of the North.



Currently, the U.S. government is conducting a thorough interagency review of its policy toward North Korea and the allies agreed to maintain close consultations and cooperation throughout the overall process of the policy review.



Blinken also accused the Kim Jong-un regime of "systemic and widespread abuses" against its own people.



"The authoritarian regime in North Korea continues to commit systemic and widespread abuses against its own people," Blinken said. "We must stand for fundamental rights and freedoms and against those who oppress it."



Meanwhile, the secretary expressed his condolences over the deaths of four women of Korean descent in a series of deadly shootings in Atlanta earlier in the day, saying, "I want to offer our deepest condolences for our families and friends for those who died, and everyone in the Korean community who was deeply shaken. We will stand up for our fellow Americans and Korean Americans to be safe."



Starting his first meeting with Blinken, Chung expected the momentum between the allies gained by the top Biden officials' trip to South Korea to lead to a summit between President Moon Jae-in and Biden in the near future.



"Today's talks will contribute to the Korean Peninsula peace process taking firm root and eventually making substantive progress," Chung said.



On Thursday, the allies will hold a two-plus-two meeting for the first time since October 2016  a symbolic gathering to highlight the strength of the alliance. After the dialogue, they will attend the signing of the new Special Measures Agreement (SMA), which determines Korea's share of costs to maintain U.S. troops stationed in South Korea. Later in the day, Blinken and Austin are set to pay a courtesy call on President Moon.




Joe Rogan is in the money.

After relocating to Texas, the former Fear Factor host and UFC commentator has just offloaded one of his two Southern California homes for $250,000 over the asking price.

The podcaster has sold a massive 7,573-square-foot residence outside LA in the guard-gated community of Bell Canyon for $3.45 million, the NY Post reported Tuesday.

Joe Rogan has offloaded one of two Southern California homes he owns for $3.45 million, which is $250,000 more than his asking price for the guard-gated estate

The former Fear Factor host and UFC commentator relocated to Texas in 2020

The French Country-style property, which Rogan purchased in 2003 for $2.3 million, is situated on just over one acre.

The house boasts five bedrooms and five bathrooms and offers mountain and valley views.

The front door opens onto an airy foyer with impressive floating staircase.

The open-plan layout flows between living and dining areas and out onto the expansive grounds.

The French Country-style home, which Rogan purchased in 2003 for $2.3 million, is situated on just over one acre and offers mountain and valley views

The front door opens onto an airy foyer with impressive floating staircase which in turn opens onto a living area with floor-to-ceiling glass doors

The residence includes an impressive great room with wood accents and travertine floors

There's also a formal living room with a wood-burning fireplace

The chef's kitchen includes a custom pewter center island countertop from Paris and custom white cabinetry

The kitchen in the French Country-style home has hardwood floors along with two Miele dishwashers, three sinks, two refrigerators and marble counters

The chef's kitchen includes a custom pewter center island countertop from Paris, along with two Miele dishwashers, three sinks, two refrigerators and marble counters.

The formal dining room opens to the living area which features a wood-burning fireplace.

There's a living room and a great room and amenities include a media room with wet bar, a home office/library and a gym/fitness room.

The main bedroom is on the upper floor and includes a separate sitting area with chandelier, a balcony and en suite bathroom

The main bath boasts an oversized shower and inset soaking tub along with a double vanity and makeup station

There are four additional guest bedrooms and four additional bathrooms

Amenities include a home office/library

The main bedroom includes a separate sitting area and en suite bathroom.

Outside there are grassy lawns and a pool and in-ground spa.

Rogan and his Texas-born wife, Jessica Ditzel, now live in a lakefront mansion in Austin after moving to the lone Star state last year.

The property features walkways and loggias and plenty of windows bring lots of natural light into the home

There's a beautiful outdoor courtyard in the center of the residence

A media room includes a wet bar and room for a pool table, and there's a gym/fitness room
CHENNAI: Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) Chief Vaiko on Wednesday released his partys manifesto for the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly Election 2021.

The MDMK manifesto was released in the presence of party leaders at the party office in Chennai. Vaikos party is contesting six seats on the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam's (DMK's) Rising Sun symbol in the upcoming Tamil Nadu elections.

The MDMK leader will contest the assembly election as part of the DMK-led front for the first time. Vaiko had floated MDMK in 1994 after he parted ways with the DMK.

Tamil Nadu: Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) Chief Vaiko releases party's poll manifesto at party headquarters in Chennai#TamilNaduElections2021 pic.twitter.com/vUrcwSj8el  ANI (@ANI) March 17, 2021

As part of the alliance, MDMK has been allotted the Sattur, Palladam, Madurai South, Vasudevanallur (reserved), Madurantakam (reserved) and Ariyalur assembly constituencies for contesting the assembly election.

Congress, which is contesting 25 seats as part of an alliance with the DMK, had released its manifesto on Tuesday. In its election manifesto, Congress promised to close liquor shops, train 500 youths for government jobs and steps to abolish NEET among other things.

MK Salin-led DMK also promised to reduce fuel prices, bring in legislation to abolish medical exam National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) and provide 75 per cent reservation in jobs for natives among other sops in its manifesto released on Saturday.

The 234-members Tamil Nadu Assembly elections will be held in a single phase on April 6 and the counting of votes will be done on May 2.

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The National Investigation Agency (NIA), which is probing the case of an explosives-laden Scorpio SUV founder near billionaire Mukesh Ambani's residence in Mumbai last month, seized a black Mercedes Benz car driven by arrested police officer Sachin Vaze on Tuesday, March 16.

After seizing the Mercedes, the anti-terror agency said it has recovered Rs 5 lakh cash, a note counting machine, and licence plate of the SUV from the car, along with some clothes.

"NIA today seized a black Mercedes-Benz car. We have recovered the number plate that was on the Scorpio car, over Rs 5 Lakh in cash, a note-counting machine, and some clothes...Sachin Waze used to drive this car... the ownership of the car is under investigation," senior NIA officer Anil Shukla told reporters.

A Scorpio SUV with explosives was found near Mukesh Ambani's residential building - Antilia on February 25. The SUV also carried a threat note to him and his wife Nita Ambani.

Later, after the police probe, the SUV was traced to a Thane-based auto part dealer Mansukh Hiran, who had filed a stolen report with the police on February 17.

But on March 5, Hiran was found dead in a creek near Mumbai. Hiren's wife alleged that Sachin Vaze, the first investigating officer in the bomb scare case, had used the car for four months and returned it on February 5. She also accused Vaze of having a role in her husband's death.

Vaze, who was the crime branch's Assistant Police Inspector, has been transferred to the Citizen Facilitation Centre (CFC) unit of the Mumbai police.

Later, when the NIA took over the case from the Mumbai Anti-Terrorism Squad, the agency arrested Vaze for placing the SUV near Ambani's residence.

The agency alleged that Vaze seized CCTV footage from his own apartment complex and erased it. It searched his office and seized his computer-tablet, laptop, and some mobile phones.

Amid the probe in the Ambani's bomb scare case, a political tussle has erupted between the ruling party of Maharashtra and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

BJP leader and former Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis hit out at incumbent CM Uddhav Thackeray, accusing him of shielding Vaze.

Fadnavis alleged that Vaze seemed to have some sensitive information "that would shake or break this government, unlike former forest minister Sanjay Rathod" and that was why Vaze was being shielded.

Forest minister Sanjay Rathod resigned last month after his name was linked to the alleged suicide of a woman in Pune.

On the other hand, CM Thackeray said the guilty in the Mansukh Hiran death case will be punished, but police officer Vaze should not be targeted until his alleged involvement is established.

"Sachin Vaze is not Osama Bin Laden. It is not right to target a person and hang him and then investigate," Thackeray said.

Also read: Delhi reports first case of South African variant of COVID-19; 33-year-old man tests positive

Also read: Nutrition brand OZiva raises $12 million in Series B funding
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Mamata Banerjee slams Centre, says vaccinating all citizens before December 2021 is just a hoax

Surge in COVID-19 cases: Mamata likely to skip PM Modi review meeting with CMs of all states & UTs

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

New Delhi, Mar 17: West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee likely to skip Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Covid-review meet at 12.30 pm with chief ministers of all states and UTs on Wednesday because of her prescheduled public meetings in Jhargram.

She is set to attend two rallies in Jhargram - the first in Lalgarh at 12 noon and another in Gopiballavpur at 2pm.

Prime Minister will on Wednesday chair a meeting with Chief Ministers of all states on the Covid-19 situation in the country and the ongoing vaccination drive as the central government seeks to ramp up the inoculation programme amid a sudden resurge in infections across India.

The announcement comes in the backdrop of states such as Maharashtra, Punjab, Karnataka, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu continuing to report a surge in Covid-19 daily cases, accounting for 78.41 per cent of the new cases, the Union Health Ministry said.

Karnataka CD Scandal: Family claims woman kidnapped, files complaint| Oneindia News
Exchange District Pharmacy staff doled out their first 20 or so doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine Tuesday morning, as Manitoba's immunization rollout continued.

Exchange District Pharmacy staff doled out their first 20 or so doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine Tuesday morning, as Manitoba's immunization rollout continued.

Ryan Chan, the McDermot Avenue pharmacy owner, said its appointments were fully booked Tuesday, and expects Wednesday slots to be full, too.

"Its good to start vaccinating people. Its the first step to getting back to the new normal, its the first step of getting back to reopening society," said Chan.

As of mid-day Tuesday, Manitoba had administered 109,875 total COVID-19 vaccines, including the Pfizer and Moderna shots.

Meanwhile, the province doesnt foresee issues with pharmacies and clinics issuing the AstraZeneca vaccine, after the Anglo-Swedish firms shot was temporarily suspended for use in more than a dozen European countries over perceived safety fears.

Countries including Germany, France and Italy suspended the shot amid reports of blood clots in recipients  about 30 people of the approximately five million European Union residents who've received an AstraZeneca dose.

The World Health Organization, European Medicines Agency and Health Canada have tried to quell fears over the shots safety.

Canadas chief public health officer, Dr. Theresa Tam, said Tuesday theres no indication the vaccine is causing adverse effects and its benefits outweigh potential risks.

The WHO said its advisory panel was reviewing reports and would release its findings as soon as possible, saying it was unlikely to change its recommendations issued last month.

Ryan Chan, executive director of Exchange District Pharmacy, books appointments and organizes supplies for upcoming COVID-19 vaccinations at his pharmacy in Winnipeg. Chan's pharmacy willreceive 100 vaccine doses to innoculate people in the early roll-out of the pharmacy and doctor clinic vaccination program. (John Woods / Winnipeg Free Press files)

The EMA said its conducting a case-by-case evaluation of reported incidents and plans to release a review this week, but has not yet found evidence connecting the clots to the shot.

A Manitoba vaccine task force spokesman said all pharmacies and clinics were involved in discussions about the rollout of the AstraZeneca doses, and willingly agreed to participate.

"A total of 18,000 doses of AstraZeneca/Covishield vaccine have been distributed to 190 clinics/pharmacies throughout all regions of Manitoba," the spokesman said in an email.

The province first received those 18,000 doses March 11.

The spokesman did not respond when the Free Press asked when those discussions with clinics and pharmacies occurred, and whether the vaccination task force plans to revisit them after the shots use had been temporarily suspended in some countries.

"However, if a pharmacy/clinic has questions they are encouraged to reach out to their contact within the vaccination implementation task force," the spokesman said.

The spokesman noted all doses administered in pharmacies and medical clinics are to be reported to the Public Health information management system.

Doctors Manitoba said its physicians continue to have confidence in the safety and effectiveness of the AstraZeneca vaccine, in line with the WHO and Public Health Agency of Canadas guidelines.

Pharmacists Manitoba said none of its members have contacted the organization about concerns over the vaccine or potential side-effects.

 with files from Reuters, The Canadian Press

erik.pindera@freepress.mb.ca
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Two Staten Island communities became the latest in New York City to oppose planned homeless shelters this week.

A new shelter planned for Stapleton will house 100 men, and another in Grasmere will shelter 50 women 50 years of age and over, the Advance/SILive.com learned Tuesday. Both are scheduled to open by the end of the year.

As has been the case throughout parts of the city when a shelter is announced for a neighborhood, some community leaders and politicians on Staten Island were quick to voice their frustration with the sites that are part of Mayor Bill de Blasios Turning the Tide initiative.

Interested parties opposed to the shelters all took issue with the lack of community engagement, and what they perceive to be short notice on the announcement of the sites after learning of them Tuesday.

Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-Staten Island/South Brooklyn) expressed opposition to the shelters, and said it wasnt even mentioned during a conversation she had with the administration Tuesday morning.

The de Blasio Administration has blindsided the residents of Staten Island, elected officials and community leaders with their plans to bring two new homeless shelters on the Island this fall. The community should not have to learn about this decision in the press, she said.

In fact, early yesterday I was in communication with the mayor regarding lifting certain COVID restrictions and he did not mention this. I will coordinate with local elected officials to see what tools may be at our disposal to fight the mayors plan.

Borough President James Oddo first brought the news of the two new shelters to the publics attention Tuesday, and told the Advance that he understood people would be opposed to the shelters.

The citys borough-based approach to sheltering the homeless is meant to keep people in their home borough, rather than being sent to another part of the city. The city says there are nearly 1,000 homeless Staten Islanders who need to be sheltered.\

On Wednesday, City Council Minority Leader Steven Matteo, Deputy Borough President Ed Burke, along with members of Matteos staff and the community gathered outside the planned Grasmere site at 1055 Hylan Boulevard.

This mayors term cant end soon enough for all of us here in the city and for Staten Island, Matteo (R-Mid-Island), whose district covers the area, said. Thats just the truth.

While opposition to homeless shelters is often quickly associated with NIMBY-ism  short for not in my back yard  Matteo said a better site for a possible shelter could be the buildings of the old South Beach Psychiatric Center, which is also in his district.

He admitted state ownership of that site would likely complicate things with the city, but that he wouldve liked to at least have the conversation about possible alternatives.

City Council Minority Leader Steven Matteo opposes a plan announced by Mayor DiBlasio to convert a medical office at 1055 Hylan Boulevard in Grasmere into a 50-bed homeless shelter without any community notification or public discussion. Wednesday, March 17, 2021 (Staten Island Advance/ Jan Somma-Hammel)

Assemblyman Mike Tannousis (R-East Shore) said that he understands the need for resource availability for vulnerable people, but that it needs to be done responsibly.

He said the area around the Grasmere site lacks the appropriate infrastructure to accommodate such a shelter and is already the site of significant vehicle traffic.

I am deeply concerned about New York Citys announcement that it is planning to establish a 50-person homeless shelter at 1055 Hylan Blvd. More specifically, I am concerned with the planning and logistical forethought that went into the decision of the Grasmere location the city has proposed, he said.

City planners clearly have not thought this decision through and need to address the current problems the Grasmere location faces before it introduces even more strain on the community.

City Councilwoman Debi Rose (D-North Shore), who has a much larger shelter already under construction in her district, said the North Shore is already home to countless social services, and the city should take things like that into consideration.

COMMUNITY BOARD: WORST POSSIBLE SITES

Joseph Carroll, the district manager for Staten Island Community Board 1, said Wednesday that he was disgusted by the announcement, and with the location at 119 Tompkins Ave. noted its proximity to multiple schools in the area  I.S. 49, P.S. 78, and the Hungerford School site right next door.

Carroll said during a conversation he had with city representatives on Tuesday that he tried to make the case for a different approach to finding shelter for homeless people, but to no avail.

I tried to make the point that they should be looking to doing affordable housing, he said. But theyre just ramming this through.

CB 1 Chairman Nick Siclari said given concerns around the neighborhood, he didnt understand the Stapleton sites selection even though its home to a building constructed in 2008 thats five stories, and over 20,000 square feet.

I just think theyre having a contest to see what possible sites could be the worst possible sites in the history of homeless sites, he said. I dont know what the rationale is of picking the Stapleton site.

The lack of interaction with the community has been a common complaint about the citys approach to homeless shelters under de Blasio, who is set to leave office at the end of the year.

City Hall doesnt need to explain its rationale on the sites it selects, because they consider homeless shelters to be emergency resources, thus exempting them from the usual land review processes.

Yesterdays announcement to place a 100-bed mens shelter in Stapleton blindsided North Shore residents and community leaders, myself included, Rose said. The process of siting community-based homeless shelters should be transparent and inclusive of feedback from local elected officials, local community boards and local residents.

A spokeswoman for the citys Department of Social Services-Department of Homeless Services (DSS-DHS) said Tuesday that the announcement for the two new shelters is in line with the average notice of 200 days that communities have received since Turning the Tide launched in 2017.

The city also expressed willingness to hold a community meeting about the planned shelters if it is requested.

The Stapleton site for a homeless shelter for men. (Steve White/For the Staten Island Advance)Steve White for the Staten Islan

Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed a law late last year that requires the city to notify the community before it sites homeless shelters.

However, that legislation, which State Sen. Diane Savino (D-North Shore/Brooklyn) and Assemblyman Charles Fall (D-North Shore) brought to their respective chambers, doesnt take effect until a year after the governor signed it.

Had the law Assemblyman Fall and I authored been in effect already we would have had advance notification of the project, not finding out the same time as the press, Savino said Tuesday.

OPPOSITION STRATEGIES, UPHILL BATTLES

Matteo said Wednesday that he and his staff had been researching possible opposition strategies to the shelter site in Grasmere, but admitted they had an uphill battle.

Sites across the city have received significant opposition from community members and elected officials, but have still gone through.

On Staten Island, the community vociferously spoke out against the 44 Victory Blvd. shelter in Roses district for 500 people, mostly women and children, when it was first announced in 2019. That site began construction earlier this year.

Announced in 2017, Turning the Tide laid out a plan for 90 homeless shelters, of which the city says 44 have been constructed and identified 87 sites for future shelters.

Since the 1990s, homelessness has been on a consistent incline in New York City with the most significant increase starting under the former administration of Mayor Michael Bloomberg, and continuing under Mayor Bill de Blasio.

One site is already in operation on Staten Island housing 100 homeless people, and the one at 44 Victory Blvd. is currently under construction. That planned site in Tompkinsville also received significant opposition.

The Grasmere site will be at Hylans intersection with Steuben Street, and will be operated by the Institute for Community Living. Single women receiving shelter there will need to be over the age of 50, including those with mental health challenges.

The Grasmere site selected for a homeless shelter for women. (Steve White/For the Staten Island Advance)Steve White for the Staten Islan

The Stapleton site will be operated by Samaritan Daytop Village and for use by adult men, including those facing mental health challenges.

According to information from DSS-DHS, both new Staten Island sites will be staffed with comprehensive social services and 24/7 security, including a minimum of two guards at the sites front doors.

The city will convert existing structures at both sites  a doctors office in Grasmere and the former New York Foundling building in Stapleton  for use as homeless shelters.

Matteo said zoning issues related to the conversion of the 2-story, approximately 4,250-square-foot former doctors office to residential use may be one of the more feasible paths of opposition.

Im going to give it everything I have like I always do, Matteo said. Im not going to sit here and promise that we can stop it, but were to do everything, everything we can, to do that.
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SEATTLE  A medical office building at 4030 N.E. 55th St. sold for almost $9.2 million, according to King County records.

The seller was Hawthorne Hills Professional Center LLC, which acquired the property in 2015 for nearly $5.2 million.





. . .
A husband and wife are set to pocket $45million after their rural farm is rezoned for housing.

Mirko and Heidi-Marie Blazevic will now definitely enjoy their eventual retirement, with the farmers purchasing almost 30 hectares of land decades ago at Nar Nar Goon, east of Melbourne.

The pending expansion of Melbourne's urban growth boundary and the land zoned for the Pakenham East Precinct Structure Plan will see the couple laughing all the way to the bank.

Core Projects' Kane Malcomson expects the property owned by the Blazevic's will attract bids of at least $45million.

The expansive property on 30 hectares at Nar Nar Goon, east of Melbourne, set to yield $45 million for its owners

'There's a definite mix of both local and international interest in this one,' he told the Herald Sun.

'We hit the market last week and a significant number of groups have inquired already.'

Remarkably, the couple are tipped to resume farm life once their property is sold.

Once developed, the expansive property could house more than 450 housing lots, a park and children's playground.

The proposed urban growth plans proposed for the site at Nar Nar Goon, in rural Victoria

Last month, two other farmers from Nar Nar Goon also became instant multi-millionaires, after selling up their 83-hectare property to developers.

According to 7News, the property - owned by two cattle herding brothers - sold for a $80million.

In 2004, the siblings almost sold their land for just $265,000.
Yemen's Huthis expressed "deep regret" Wednesday over the deaths of dozens of migrants in a fire which Human Rights Watch said started when the rebels fired projectiles into a detention centre.

A senior official in the rebel movement, which is locked in a six-year campaign against the internationally recognised government, said that an investigation into the March 7 incident was under way.

"We express our deep regret over the accidental incident at the migrant detention centre in Sanaa," said Huthi official Hussein Al-Azi, according to the rebels' Al-Masirah television.

"The victims are 44 migrants and the wounded are 193, most of whom have gone to hospital, and there is an investigation into the reasons for the incident."

The United Nations called Tuesday for an independent investigation into the blaze, shortly after Human Rights Watch blamed it on "unidentified projectiles" fired by the Huthis.

"There must be an independent investigation into the cause of the fire," the UN envoy for Yemen, Martin Griffiths, told the Security Council.

He added that the "extraordinary, horrific fire" had reminded the world "of the plight of the migrant community".

The Iran-backed rebels control much of northern Yemen, including the capital Sanaa which was captured from the Saudi-backed government in 2014, sparking the devastating conflict.

- 'Force feed you' -

HRW said detainees -- most of them Ethiopian -- had been protesting against overcrowding when camp guards rounded up hundreds of them into a hangar and fired two projectiles into the building.

"The migrants said the first projectile produced a lot of smoke and made their eyes water and sting. The second, which the migrants called a 'bomb', exploded loudly and started a fire," it said in a report.

Footage of the aftermath, which AFP obtained from a survivor, showed dozens of charred bodies piled on top of one another and strewn across the ground. One person was heard crying out in prayer.

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The rights group said hundreds of injured migrants were being treated in hospitals in Sanaa where a "heavy security presence" had posed problems for humanitarian agencies seeking access.

A video published by HRW showed security forces walking among survivors outside the facility as the fire raged inside, sending black smoke billowing into the sky.

It cited interviewees as saying they saw the Huthis rearrest migrants who were not severely injured.

Despite warnings, migrants from the nearby Horn of Africa continue to transit through war-torn and impoverished Yemen, seeking a better life in wealthy neighbouring Gulf Arab states.

The International Organization for Migration -- which has urged the Huthi rebels to provide unimpeded access to those injured in the fire -- said 140 Ethiopians had arrived in Addis Ababa from Yemen's government-controlled second city of Aden on Tuesday.

It was the first flight it has facilitated since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic.

Meanwhile, about 30 Ethiopian migrants protested in Aden in front of the offices of international organisations to express their anger over the deadly fire.

One of them, Osmane, who witnessed the tragedy in Sanaa, said migrants in the centre had launched a hunger strike to "demand our release or repatriation".

He said the Huthis told them: "'We will force feed you and you will fight with us on the front'".

bur-dm/kir
South Africa: SA pledges support to Yemen

International Relations and Cooperation Minister, Dr Naledi Pandor, has conveyed South Africas sympathies amid Yemens deepening humanitarian crisis, sparked by the ongoing conflict in that country.

The Minister relayed this message during a virtual meeting with Yemens Foreign Minister, Dr Ahmed bin Mubarak, on Tuesday morning.

According to the department, the meeting was a positive engagement that sought to advance bilateral relations between South Africa and Yemen.

The two Ministers engaged in frank discussions on the political situation in Yemen and ways in which South Africa may offer its support.

The Minister offered South Africas support to the Yemeni government and proposed to share the countrys expertise in conflict resolution and negotiation. Such assistance could be made available or facilitated by government or non-governmental organisations in support of either the United Nations mediation efforts or the Yemeni government itself.

Similarly, Minister Ahmed bin Mubarak briefed Minister Pandor on the developments in Yemen, and informed South Africa of the Yemeni governments continued commitment to the peace process and the United Nations mediation efforts, said the Department of International Relations and Cooperation.

Mubarak thanked Pandor for offering a helping hand and committed to engage further on the matter with the UN.

He also recalled the assistance provided by South African experts during the National Dialogue Conference in Yemen in 2013.

Both Ministers reiterated the perspective that the Yemeni conflict can only be resolved through a peaceful negotiation process that focuses on the well-being of Yemen and its people, the department said.

Shifting to bilateral relations, both nations focused on the conclusion of the Partnership Dialogue Agreement.

Both Ministers noted the agreement could be concluded during 2021 and expressed their joint commitment to ensure that this is achieved, the department said.

The meeting ended with both Ministers expressing their mutual appreciation for the meeting and said they wished to meet in person when the opportunity presents itself.

According to the UN, Yemen is in the midst of a protracted political, humanitarian and developmental crisis.

With 24.1 million people  80% of the population - in need of humanitarian aid and protection, it is now the largest humanitarian crisis in the world, the UN said.

According to the intergovernmental organisation, more than 14 million people are in acute need, while more than three million have been displaced from their homes since 2015.  SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2021-03-17. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Fish school with seagrass Mediterranean sea

Credit - Getty Images

Its been well established by now that the agricultural systems producing our food contribute at least one fifth of global anthropogenic carbon emissionsand up to a third if waste and transportation are factored in. A troubling new report points to a previously overlooked source: an industrial fishing process practiced by dozens of countries around the world, including the United States, China, and the E.U.

The study, published today in the scientific journal Nature, is the first to calculate the carbon cost of bottom trawling, in which fishing fleets drag immense weighted nets along the ocean floor, scraping up fish, shellfish and crustaceans along with significant portions of their habitats.

According to calculations conducted by the reports 26 authors, bottom trawling is responsible for one gigaton of carbon emissions a yeara higher annual total than (pre-pandemic) aviation emissions. Not only does the practice contribute to climate change, it is extremely damaging to ocean biodiversitythe equivalent of ploughing an old-growth forest into the ground, over and over and over again until there is nothing left according to lead author Enric Sala, a marine biologist who is also National Geographics Explorer in Residence.

Bottom trawling is also one of the least cost effective methods of fishing. Most locations have been trawled so many times, there is little left worth catching, says Sala. Without government subsidies, no one would be making a penny. But Sala didnt set out to condemn bottom trawlers when he designed the research project back in 2018. He was looking for the incentives that just might make the fishing industry, and governments, give up on the practice on their own. The carbon findings may just do the trick.

Read more: Why This Year Is Our Last, Best Chance for Saving the Oceans

The study, which breaks the entire ocean down into 50-km-square units, measures how much each so-called pixel contributes to global marine biodiversity, fish stocks and climate protection, based on a complex analysis of location, water temperature, salinity and species distribution, among other factors. It also tracks how much CO2 each pixel is capable of absorbing as a carbon sink. (Overall, the ocean absorbs about a quarter of global CO2 emissions a year, though the amount fluctuates between regions).

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By mapping those pixel-level baselines the study can then calculate the impact of increasing or decreasing fishing and other human activities. The overall goal was to develop a map of ocean locations that, if protected, would produce the maximum benefits for humans in terms of increased fish stocks, biodiversity and carbon absorption while minimizing a loss of income for the fishing industry. The reason why we only have seven percent of the ocean under protection is because of the conflict with the fishing industry, says Sala.

Refuting a long-held view that ocean protection harms fisheries, the study found that well placed marine protected areas (MPAs) that ban fishing would actually boost the production of marine life by functioning as fish nurseries and biodiversity generators capable of seeding stocks elsewhere. According to the study results, protecting the right places could increase the global seafood catch by over 8 million metric tons a year, despite the challenges of overfishing and climate change.

Bottom trawling, however, would have to stop, says Sala. While mangroves, kelp forests and sea grass meadows are good at capturing carbon, the bottom of the ocean, piled deep with marine animal debris, is a far greater carbon sink. But when the trawlers weighted nets scrape the sea floor that carbon is released back into the water. Excess carbon in water turns it acidic, which is damaging to sea life.

Worse still, the practice also impacts the oceans ability to absorb atmospheric carbon: if the water is already saturated from sources down below, it will be unable to absorb human-caused emissions from above, hamstringing one of our best assets in the fight against climate change. By combining publicly-available data on global bottom trawler activity with pixel-level assessments of carbon stored in the top layers of ocean sediments, Sala and his team were able to calculate the amount of emissions produced by the technique, down to the level of national fleets. The European Union, for example, releases 274,718,086 metric tons of marine sediment carbon into the ocean a year, while Chinese fleets release 769,294,185 metric tons, and the United States releases 19,373,438.

If, as a 2018 study on the economics of fishing the high seas points out, bottom trawling is the least profitable method of harvesting the oceans bounty while producing the most carbon, it makes little sense for industry to continue, says Sala. Now, armed with the science along with the math, countries could conceivably put a halt to bottom trawling while selling the offsets to pay for marine protection.

Technological innovations such as green power generation and battery storage are vital for reducing global greenhouse gas emissions. But we still need to reduce atmospheric carbon, and so far technology has not been able to do that affordably and at scale. The oceans have been absorbing carbon for millennia, says Sala. The best way to reduce global emissions is to allow them to keep doing their jobs. Most people still see the ocean as a victim of climate change. What people dont realize is that nature is half of the solution to the climate crisis.
Spanish health officials said Wednesday they were investigating three cases of people who suffered from thrombosis after receiving the AstraZeneca vaccine, one of whom died

Madrid, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 17th Mar, 2021 ) :Spanish health officials said Wednesday they were investigating three cases of people who suffered from thrombosis after receiving the AstraZeneca vaccine, one of whom died.

The announcement by Spain's AEMPS medicines agency came two days after the government suspended use of the vaccine for at least a fortnight as a precautionary measure.

The three cases occurred between late Monday and early Tuesday.

Local press reports said the person who died was a 43-year-old teacher with no pre-existing health conditions who died of a cerebral haemorrhage.

Neither health authorities nor the clinic where she was admitted would confirm details, citing data protection laws.

Monday's decision to suspend all AstraZeneca shots came just hours after Germany, France and Italy announced similar moves linked to fears the vaccine could generate serious side effects such as blood clots which can cause swellings, heart attacks and haemorrhages.

In a statement, the AEMPS said the three cases might be linked to the "formation of blood clots in areas of the body where they are less common" without drawing firm conclusions.

Its investigators were "gathering more information and carrying out an exhaustive investigation to find out whether there was not only a causal link to the administration of the vaccine, but also a possible temporal link".

Until the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine was suspended, 975,661 people in Spain had received a shot, official figures show.

Spain, which is also administering the Pfizer/BioNtech and Moderna vaccines, has so far recorded more than 72,500 coronavirus deaths from more than 3.2 million cases.

For now, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has said it is "firmly convinced" that benefits of AstraZeneca's vaccine outweigh potential risks, insisting there was no evidence linking it to blood clots.

Its experts are nonetheless looking into "adverse events" associated with all vaccines, and the regulator is due to publish its conclusions on Thursday.
President Joe Biden said he's making 'no connection' between the Atlanta massage parlor shooter and the race of his victims before the investigation is complete, but continued to call the uptick in hate crimes against Asians 'very troubling.'

Biden made the comments in the Oval Office Wednesday before a virtual meeting with Ireland's Taoiseach Micheal Martin, telling reporters he had spoken with Attorney General Merrick Garland and FBI Director Christopher Wray.

'I know that Asian-Americans are very, very concerned because, as you know, I was speaking about the brutality against Asian-American for the last couple months,' Biden said. 'And I think it is very, very troubling.'

President Joe Biden said he wasn't ready to speak yet on the motivations of the Atlanta spa shooter, but said he was generally 'very concerned' with the uptick in violence against Asian-Americans

Crime scene tape is seen outside Aromatherapy Spa after shootings at a massage parlor and two day spas in the Atlanta area

'But I'm making no connection at this moment. The motivation of the killer. I'm waiting for an answer, as the investigation proceeds, from the FBI and from the Justice Department,' the president continued. 'I'll have more to say when the investigation has completed.'

A white man, 21-year-old Robert Aaron Long, is accused of killing eight people in three locations Tuesday night in Atlanta.

Six of the people were Asian and seven were women.

Long allegedly shot give people at Youngs Asian Massage Parlor, which is north of the city. Two people died at the scene, while three were taken to the hospital where two later succumbed to their injuries.

An hour later, three women were found dead at Gold Spa.

Another woman was found dead at Aromatherapy Spa.

The shooter told police that it was a 'sex addiction' and not racist motivations that compelled him to kill.

Police have stressed they haven't come to a conclusion about the motivations of the killer.

'The suspect did take responsibility for the shootings,' Captain Jay Baker of the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office said, according to the Associated Press. 'This is still early, but he does claim it was not racially motivated.'

'He apparently has an issue, what he considers a sex addiction, and sees these locations as ... a temptation for him that he wanted to eliminate,' Baker said.

Earlier Wednesday, Vice President Kamala Harris also shared her condolences, prior to her virtual meeting with Martin to mark St. Patrick's Day.

Vice President Kamala Harris, before her meeting with Ireland's prime minister, also sent condolences to family members of the victims in the Atlanta spa shootings

'It is tragic. Our country, the president and I and all of us, we grieve for those lost. Our prayers are with the families of those who have been killed,' Harris said. 'This speaks to a larger issue which is the issue of violence in our country and what we must do to never tolerate it and to always speak out against it.'

'The investigation is ongoing, we don't yet know, we're not yet clear about the motive. But I do want to say to our Asian American community that we stand with you and understand how this has frightened and shocked and outraged all people,' Harris added.

First lady Jill Biden also spoke about the shooting during her trip Wednesday to New Hampshire.

'I want to start by saying something directly to the families of the shooting victims in Atlanta last night. My heart is with you. And I hope that all Americans will join me in praying for everyone touched by this senseless tragedy,' the first lady said.

The president made a point during last Thursday's primetime speech to address the uptick in hate crimes against Asian-Americans since the advent of the coronavirus pandemic.

Biden called out the '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, are 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,' Biden continued. 'It's wrong, it's un-American and it must stop.'

Press Secretary Jen Psaki pointed a finger at former President Donald Trump's administration when asked later Wednesday at the press briefing why Biden believed attacks on Asian-Americans are increasing.

'I think there's no question that some of the damaging rhetoric that we saw during the prior administration blaming - calling COVID the Wuhan virus or other things, led to perceptions of the Asian-American community that are inaccurate, unfair, have raised threatening, has elevated threats against Asian-Americans and we're seeing that around the country,' Psaki said.

A week ago, Trump, again, used the racist phrase 'China virus' in a statement taking credit for the swift development of COVID-19 vaccines.

'I hope everyone remembers when they're getting the COVID-19 (often referred to as the China virus) vaccine, that if I wasn't president, you wouldn't be getting that beautiful "shot" for five years, at best, and probably wouldn't be getting it at all.' the ex-president wrote.

Biden previously made moves to stop usage of the term by signing an executive order titled 'Memorandum Condemning and Combating Racism, Xenophobia, and Intolerance Against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the United States' on day No. 6 of his presidency.

'The Federal Government must recognize that it has played a role in furthering these xenophobic sentiments through the actions of political leaders, including references to the COVID-19 pandemic by the geographic location of its origin,' the order said.

'Such statements have stoked unfounded fears and perpetuated stigma about Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and have contributed to increasing rates of bullying, harassment, and hate crimes against AAPI persons,' it continued.

Psaki said Wednesday that White House officials Cedric Richmond and Susan Rice will be doing 'listening sessions' with members of the Asian-American community.

The group Stop AAPI Hate said in February that it received 2,808 firsthand accounts of anti-Asian hate from 47 states and Washington, D.C. from March 19, 2020 to the end of last year.

In January, an 84-year-old Asian-American man was killed in an attack in San Francisco, which the family believed to be racially motivated.

Video went viral of who police identified as 19-year-old Antoine Watson, slamming Vicha Ratanapakdee to the ground.

'If you see video, there's nothing non-intentional about it,' Ratanapakdee's step-son, Eric Lawson told KTVU, Fox's Bay Area affiliate. 'For him to come from all the way across the street, what else could have motivated him?' he said of Watson's actions.

In February, video came out of a 91-year-old man in Oakland, California's Chinatown neighborhood being pushed to the ground, also during daytime hours.

National Public Radio reported Thursday that an updated count from Stop AAPI Hate stood at more than 3,000 incidents.

'What we've discovered isn't that we've just had a spike, but we've had a surge over the entire year last year with COVID-19 and with the president's political rhetoric in the last administration,' Russell Jeung, a co-founder of the coalition and a professor of Asian American Studies at San Francisco State University, told NPR.

Trump defended using 'China virus' a day before Stop AAPI Hate started tracking anti-Asian hate crimes.

'It's not racist at all,' Trump said at a coronavirus taskforce press briefing on March 18. 'No, not at all.'

He said he used the term 'because it comes from China.'

'That's why,' he continued. 'I want to be accurate.'

Even then, there were already dozens of reports of bias against Chinese-Americans in the early weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The story is told in a tattered dusty paperback, circa. 1998, about the Phantom Warriors who were Americans superstars in a war our politicians would not allow us to win. Further, the book is difficult to read, its bland military-style wording so devoid of any saccharine that sleep is all but guaranteed.

But if a wonderful and determined band of brothers can pull the imminent mission off, a true Chattanooga hero will take his rightful place in our Charles H. Coolidge National Medal of Honor Heritage Center. Army Capt. Larry Taylor, also known to respond to an urgent call sign, Darkhorse Three Two, earned the right to be afforded The Medal on the night of June 14, 1968.

Oh, any of us who cherish freedom and those who provide it, have heard snippets of The Legend of Larry Taylor, easily one of the greatest of the greats in East Tennessee, but I just found out theres a concerted effort to render Larry his due, and it would be a prideful thing, indeed, if I could figure a way to take part in that.

A covert four-man unit, especially selected out of Team Wildcat of Company E, 52nd Infantry, 1st Infantry Division, was tasked with a delicate reconnaissance patrol near the village of Ap Go Cong, about 18 kilometers northeast of Saigon.

The village was a long-suspected sanctuary for the Viet Cong and, as Phase Two of the Tet Offensive  called the Mini Tet -- was about to close, it was time for our hosts to pay the tab.

What is fascinating is the elite four-man team that slipped through the darkness was led by a Pfc., Robert Elsner of New York City. On a Long-Range Patrol (LRP) team, rank took a backseat to a warriors cunning and skill, not to mention the raw fight that gave the VC nightmares. Army Rangers, the LRPs, and the LRRPs (the second R for a Lurp stood for Recon but there was little difference in the three designations.)

Again, these warriors really were phantoms but somehow on this night, the VC found out an American recon team was in the neighborhood. The enemy boxed the area they believed the four Americans were and with re-enforcements coming quickly the VC completely surrounded the LRPs.

Elsner called for a COBRA gunship but it had to come from Phu Loi. They could get artillery support faster. Elsner had pre-plotted a number of artillery concentrations prior to the beginning of the patrol, he then gave the azimuth from the teams position, but the original artillery was off target. As he corrected the firing coordinates, a voice barked out of the radio: Wildcat Two, this is Darkhorse Three Two 

Larry Taylor, who grew up in St. Elmo and helped his folks run Lookout Sheet Metal, was coming with a roar and he had another Cobra gunship right behind him. The gunships were loaded for bear. Larry told Elsner to give him an azimuth the second he spotted the gunships running lights that would enable the Cobras to vector in.

You talk about lighting up the night  For the next hour, the two Cobra gunships pounded the battlefield with a fury. The four Army soldiers on the ground were also firing constantly as well but then the worst thing that can happen occurred  both the Cobras and the LRRPs on the ground were out of bullets.

All the while pilot Taylor and Lurp Elsner called for reinforcement. Neither could grasp why they hadnt arrived. Taylor radioed Artillery, asking they lower the magnesium trajectory, which would draw attention to the village the flares would cause the huts to burn. That worked briefly but the VC soon was aware the Cobras were dry.

After 72 rockets and 16,000 rounds of minigun ammo, the birds were out of the fight. They were also out of fuel but, at that point, Larry Taylor gave a direct order to Pfc. Elsner:

When I reach the tree line, your team needs to didi (run) as far and as fast as you can into an open rice paddy. You move fast on an azimuth of 135 degrees.

Unknown to Elsner and his three team members, Taylor had radioed into central command that he was going to extract the four imperiled soldiers. He was told absolutely not! Under no circumstances should he risk a multi-million-dollar gunship and he was absolutely forbidden to do so.

Immediately he responded, I am exercising my prerogative as the senior commander on the scene! and right below four shocked warriors stood in awe as a totally blacked-out Cobra hovered overhead. As the gunship descended, Taylor motioned the soldiers to grasp two per side. A Cobra is a slender helicopter with no cargo space.

But the LRRPs grabbed the empty rocket bays, locked elbows, and hanging for dear life, it was Taylor who slowly brought the bird to 2,000 feetout of small arms firing rangeand then coaxed the Cobra on a 15-minute ride to the fence-enclosed Saigon Water Works. Not minutes later, just as Taylor lifted the gunship to return to base, the phantom warriors were immediately picked up by a Huey, taken to Dian where hot showers clean clothes and a lot of laughs ensued.

Taylor, who would be awarded a Silver Star and promoted to Captain, flew over 2,000 combat missions in Viet Nam with The Big Red One and, not surprisingly, garnered 62 combat recognitions, 44 air medals, the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry, two Bronze Stars, and a lot of other accolades.

But his biggest accomplishment is when he declared himself to be a senior commander on the scene. I am convinced it saved four American lives. And maybe millions 

royexum@aol.com
Thai pro-democracy activists Parit Penguin Chiwarak (left), and Arnon Nampa raise three-finger salutes to symbolize resistance as they arrive at the Bangkok Criminal Court, Feb. 9, 2021.

A Thai criminal court said Wednesday it would review CCTV footage as it investigates a claim by activist Arnon Nampa that jail officials improperly tried to remove him and other political detainees from their jail cell late at night, causing them to fear for their lives, his lawyer said.

Corrections officials told an initial court hearing on the matter that they were trying to isolate individuals who had been in court on Monday for COVID-19 tests.

The court called for hearings involving Arnon and others who were present at the incident and ordered footage from prisons CCTV to be reviewed on March 22, said Krisadang Nutcharas, who represents Arnon and is a member of the legal aid group Thai Lawyers for Human Rights.

Arnon said all suspects feared for their lives, so they stood in view of the cameras where they can be seen for sure.

In a complaint filed when he was in court on Tuesday, Arnon expressed fear that he and six fellow pro-democracy activists being held in a cell at the Bangkok Remand Prison on Lese-Majeste charges could be subjected to harm.

About 9:30 p.m. Monday, prison staff tried to take Pai (Jatupat Boonpattararaksa) and Mike (Panupong Jadnok) out of the prison cell. We did not let them do it because it was night time, Arnon wrote in his complaint, which was later uploaded to his Facebook page.

They came back again with more people, this time with batons, at 11:45 p.m., 12:15 a.m. and 2:30 a.m. The last two times they came with another set of staff wearing dark blue uniforms without names, Arnon said.

They informed us that they were taking us to have COVID tests. We did not let them because it was unusual for anyone to take jailed persons out of their cells even after midnight.

Arnon told the court he had been warned that someone would handle him and his co-defendants in prison, Krisadang said.

The 36-year-old human rights lawyer also cited examples of many of those accused in political cases who had died. Arnon asked for court protection, Krisadang said.

Impossible to attack jailed suspects

Corrections Department director-general Ayut Sinthoppan downplayed Arnons concerns, saying the seven were not in danger.

It was for COVID tests, not a physical assault, he told BenarNews. Its impossible for officials to attack jailed suspects.

[I] affirm no one hurt them. [I] told prison officials to take a good care of them and keep them away from abuse.

Jatupat and Panupong are to appear for a second hearing on the matter in Bangkok Criminal Court on March 22 when officials are expected to review CCTV footage of the incidents, according to Krisadang.

Others in the cell were Parit Penguin Chiwarak, Patiwat Saraiyam, Somyot Pruksakasemsuk and Piyarat Toto Chongthep.

In a pre-trial hearing Monday, a court ruled that 22 pro-democracy activists would stand trial together on Lese-Majeste and sedition charges on a date to be determined. Lese-Majeste is the nations strict royal defamation law that carries a sentence of up to 15 years in prison for each conviction.

Only the Lese-Majeste suspects are being jailed pending trial.

We have no hope in bail request, we tried many times already, Krisadang said. But the court said there is no reason to temporarily release them because they could repeat the same acts  such as participating in gatherings of more than five people or using defamatory speech.

Mothers concern

Separately, Jatupats mother, Prim Boonpattararaksa, appealed to the Ministry of Justice on Wednesday for a proper probe into the late night events.

There must be an investigation committee whose members exclude prison officials. Officials late hour approaches until 2 a.m. is psychological abuse, she told reporters. My son is presumed innocent. Even if he is guilty, I want to see him to fight until the final court decision and only then would we accept justice.

A Ministry of Justice official said Prims concern had been addressed.

The Justice permanent secretary appointed me to represent the ministry. There are no representatives from the prison on the committee because that would hamper the truth-finding process, said Wanlop Nakbua, deputy permanent secretary at the ministry.
PHILIPSBURG:--- Prime Minister Silveria E. Jacobs received her second dose of the Pfizer vaccine on Tuesday, March 16th, 2021, at the White and Yellow Cross Care Foundation (WYCCF). This is a follow-up after having received her first dose of the vaccine three weeks ago at the same facility due to her close relation to two of their clients.

Prime Minister Jacobs stated, Today, I got my second dose together with my elderly uncle; My father also received his second dose on Monday among many others. I'm happy to have had this opportunity to endorse the vaccine, not solely by mouth but in my actions - leading by example. I encourage all others, especially the elderly and other vulnerable persons, to register as soon as possible so that the most vulnerable remain safe when we are around them. The Vaccine Management Team (VMT) has confirmed that the second batch of Pfizer vaccines is scheduled to arrive on the island within one week so there should be no fear that we will run out. There are many who have already registered. You are asked to be patient and wait for that call or email informing you of your appointment."

Registration is open to all persons 18 and older. The Government of St. Maarten encourages all residents to register online for the COVID-19 vaccine by visiting the Government of St. Maartens website: www.sintmaartengov.org/coronavirus. Hard copies of the registration form are available at Collective Prevention Services, various doctors offices, Government Administration Building (Labor Affairs), the Public Service Center in Simpson Bay, and select pharmacies.

For assistance with the registration process, your appointment, or more information about the vaccination campaign, you can also call CPS at 914 or email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

"Together we can - Let's all do our part and get vaccinated so that we can protect ourselves and our loved ones," concluded Prime Minister Jacobs.
Thank you for reading!

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Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

When complex systems double in size, many of their parts do not. Characteristically, some aspects will grow by only about 80 percent, others by about 120 percent. The astonishing uniformity of these two growth rates is known as "scaling laws." Scaling laws are observed everywhere in the world, from biology to physical systems. They also apply to cities. Yet, while a multitude of examples show their presence, reasons for their emergence are still a matter of debate.

A new publication in the Journal of The Royal Society Interface now provides a simple explanation for urban scaling laws: Carlos Molinero and Stefan Thurner of the Complexity Science Hub Vienna (CSH) derive them from the geometry of a city.

Scaling laws in cities

An example of an urban scaling law is the number of gas stations: If a city with 20 gas stations doubles its population, the number of gas stations does not increase to 40, but only to 36. This growth rate of about 0.80 per doubling applies to much of the infrastructure of a city. For example, the energy consumption per person or the land coverage of a town rises by only 80 percent with each doubling. Since this growth is slower than what is expected from doubling, it is called sub-linear growth.

On the other hand, cities show more-than-doubling rates in more socially driven contexts. People in larger cities earn consistently more money for the same work, make more phone calls, and even walk faster than people in smaller towns. This super-linear growth rate is around 120 percent for every doubling.

Remarkably, these two growth rates, 0.8 and 1.2., are showing up over and over again in literally dozens of city-related contexts and applications. However, so far it is not really understood where these numbers come from.

It's all in the geometry

Stefan Thurner and former CSH researcher Carlos Molinero, who worked on this publication during his time in Vienna, now show that these scaling laws can be explained by the spatial geometry of cities. "Cities are always built in a way that infrastructure and people meet," says Molinero, an urban science expert. "We therefore think that scaling laws must somehow emerge from the interplay between the places people live in, and the spaces they use to move through a citybasically its streets."

"The innovative finding of this paper is how the spatial dimensions of a city relate to each other," adds complexity researcher and physicist Stefan Thurner.

Fractal geometry

To come to this conclusion, the researchers first mapped three-dimensionally where people live. They used open data for the height of buildings in more than 4,700 cities in Europe. "We know most of the buildings in 3D, so we can estimate how many floors a building has and how many people live in it," says Thurner. The scientists assigned a dot to every person living in a building. Together, these dots form sort of a "human cloud" wthin a city.

Clouds are fractals. Fractals are self-similar, meaning that if you zoom in, their parts look very similar to the whole. Using the human cloud, the researchers were able to determine the fractal dimension of a city's population: They retrieved a number that describes the human cloud in every city. Similarly, they calculated the fractal dimension of cities' road networks.

"Although these two numbers vary widely from city to city, we discovered that the ratio between the two is a constant," Thurner says. The researchers identified this constant as the "sublinear scaling exponent."

Aside from the elegance of the explanation, the finding has potential practical value, as the scientists point out. "At first sight this looks like magic, but it makes perfect sense if one takes a closer look," Thurner says. "It's this scaling exponent that determines how the properties of a city change with its size, and that is relevant because many cities around the world are growing rapidly."

A formula for sustainable urban planning

The number of people living in cities worldwide is expected to roughly double in the next 50 to 80 years. "Scaling laws show us what this doubling means in terms of wages, crime, inventiveness or resources needed per personall this is important information for urban planners," Thurner points out.

To know the scaling exponent of a particular city could help urban planners to keep the gigantic resource demands of urban growth at bay. "We can now think specifically about how to get this number as small as possible, for example through clever architectural solutions and radically different approaches to mobility and infrastructure construction," Stefan Thurner is convinced. "The smaller the scaling exponent, the higher the resource efficiency of a city," he concludes.

Gary Chambers Jr. and Karen Carter Peterson are knocking Troy Carter for pulling out of the only televised debate scheduled during the congressional campaign to replace Cedric Richmond.

Carter withdrew from a 30-minute debate, among three to be hosted by Travers Mackel tonight on WDSU-TV. It is Mackels 25th Hot Seat candidate debate since 2017.

The debate is airing three days before Saturdays primary election for a district that includes most of New Orleans and stretches through the west bank of Jefferson Parish and the River Parishes to north Baton Rouge.

Carter, a state senator from New Orleans, wont participate because of WDSUs decision to exclude others due to certain criteria not being met, he said in a statement Tuesday. The criteria, which has not been publicly disclosed, involves money raised. How much money a candidate has in the campaign account should not be a determining factor.

Chambers, however, believes Carter backed out for a different reason.

He cant handle me in a debate, said Chambers, a Baton Rouge activist who has never held office but has a huge social media following and is quick on his feet.

Chambers noted that he and Carter went head-to-head during one campaign forum last month where Carter compared himself to a physician and Chambers to an orderly to say that voters would want the more experienced person for the job.

For 30 years you have an opportunity to lead, and were still ranked No. 50, retorted Chambers. Carter was first elected to the state House in 1991, then served eight years on the New Orleans City Council, and in 2015, he was elected to the state Senate.

After Carter pulled out of the WDSU debate, Chambers released a humorous but pointed video on Instagram showing him on a sidewalk outside of Carters legislative office and also outside the entrance to the gated English Turn neighborhood in Algiers, where Carter lives. It had 42,000 views as of Wednesday.

Im looking for Troy, Chambers said clad in a campaign t-shirt and jeans. I dont know where the senator has been.

Chambers then directed his comments at Carter.

Im trying to find you for a debate. Anywhere, anytime before election day. But the man wont debate me. Where yat Troy? Now if youre winning in the polls you ought not be scared to come out and debate me. Come on out from behind these gates!

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Carter's campaign noted that he has attended numerous candidate forums throughout the campaign.

Peterson offered a more traditional response to Carters decision.

People deserve to hear from their leaders, and especially from those asking for their vote, she said in a statement. I welcome every opportunity to share my message directly with voters and talk about the issues that matter most."

Two other candidates, Claston Bernard and Desiree Ontiveros, complained on Twitter Tuesday about being left out of the debate.

My invitation to WDSU Hot Seat seems to be lost, tweeted Ontiveros, a Democrat who owns Bad Ass Balloons in New Orleans.

Tweeted Bernard, a Republican: Today proves what I knew all along; THERE IS NO ROOM AT THE TABLE FOR CONSERVATIVE BLACKS. My exclusion from tonight's debate as one of the leading candidates is exposing the leftist lies that they care for diversity.

WDSU officials declined to answer a reporters questions about why they invited only the three candidates but released a statement saying it was based on established criteria including recent polling data. The station did not explain the established criteria, but Carter, Peterson and Chambers are the only candidates airing ads on broadcast television, and they are the only candidates who had raised at least $200,000 through Feb. 28, according to the latest FEC campaign reports.

WDSU also cited a poll conducted by Edgewater Research, which showed Carter leading with 35%, followed by Peterson with 24% and Chambers with 11%. The other 12 candidates combined for 16% while 15% of those polled were undecided.

Ed Chervenak, a UNO professor who conducted the poll privately with Anthony Licciardi, said it had a margin of error of 3.8%.

WDSU also noted it posted video of 14 of the 15 candidates answering questions from viewers.

Bernard, who participated in two Olympics as a decathlon candidate from Jamaica but now lives in Gonzales, went to WDSU Tuesday night with a group of supporters seeking answers. He said he didnt get any.
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OTTAWA - Canada's expert vaccine panel said Tuesday there is now enough "real-world evidence" to show the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 shot is both safe and effective for seniors.

Several vials of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines at the Strathcona Paper Centre in Napanee, Ont., on Monday March 15, 2021. The centre will be used as an immunization clinic for the Napanee area. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Lars Hagberg

OTTAWA - Canada's expert vaccine panel said Tuesday there is now enough "real-world evidence" to show the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 shot is both safe and effective for seniors.

The decision from the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) reverses its advice from March 1, when a lack of data for seniors in AstraZeneca's clinical trials prompted the panel to not recommend it be used for people over 65. It said seniors should instead be prioritized for shots from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna.

The new advice comes as authorities debate whether Canada is moving into a third wave of the pandemic, and investigate concerns about blood clots and AstraZeneca's vaccine.

Dr. Marc Berthiaume, director of the medical sciences branch at Health Canada, said the department is following the issue but currently sees no evidence of a safety concern.

"If we do hear that there's a specific risk, links to the AstraZeneca vaccine, then we will immediately take action," he said in French.

The European Medicines Agency is investigating a number of reports of patients developing blood clots, some of them fatal, within about two weeks of getting the AstraZeneca vaccine.

The agency said late Tuesday it is still reviewing reports from EU members, but "currently remains of the view that the benefits of the AstraZeneca vaccine in preventing COVID-19, with its associated risk of hospitalization and death, outweigh the risks of side effects."

Thrombosis Canada said last week evidence did not show a link between the vaccine and blood clots. AstraZeneca said Sunday a review of 17 million patient safety records following vaccination also did not show a link.

Many European countries have suspended the vaccine temporarily pending the review. That includes Germany and France, which initially stood by the vaccine after the first reports of blood clots.

Several of those countries are the same ones that earlier this month decided their initial advice not to give AstraZeneca to seniors was no longer sound, as new evidence on the widespread use of the vaccine on seniors showed it was quite effective.

That same evidence is what led NACI to change its advice as well. Its chair, Dr. Caroline Quach, said those studies weren't available when NACI developed its first guidance.

Most provinces heeded the warning two weeks ago not to give AstraZeneca to seniors, prioritized for doses across Canada because of their higher risk from COVID-19.

Provincial health authorities must now decide whether they will adjust their plans. Ontario Premier Doug Ford expressed frustration with the frequent changes.

"I can't begin to tell you the logistics behind it," he said. "It just messes everything up."

Provinces might have some leeway. Most of the first 500,000 doses of AstraZeneca delivered are already spoken for and more doses are not set to arrive in Canada until April.

Chief public health officer Dr. Theresa Tam said Tuesday the warning bells are sounding that a third wave of COVID-19 infections is hitting Canada.

"We're watching, of course, that epidemic curve really carefully, because there is this upswing we're seeing now," she said.

Over the last week the average number of new cases per day was about 3,200, she said. That's up from 3,052 daily cases between March 5 and 11, and up from about 2,900 a day between mid-February and early March.

The death counts, however, have continued to drop, with an average of about 31 deaths a day in the last week, down from 41 a day a week ago, 52 at the beginning of March, and more than 80 in mid-February.

Tam said it's too soon to know if the death rate is falling because of vaccines, though she said provincial governments have reported the rates of COVID-19 among people over 80, who were in the first groups to get inoculated, are now below rates for other age groups.

"That suggests that the vaccines might have a good effect," said Tam.

Canada vaccinated almost 125,000 people Monday, the highest one-day total so far. More than 3.2 million doses have been given to date, with 2.6 million Canadians receiving at least one dose.

Tam said the existence of more contagious variants of the novel coronavirus brings added pressure and urged Canadians to remain careful even as vaccinations ramp up.

"This is not the time to increase your contacts," she said.

There are more than 3,400 confirmed cases of variants in Canada, more than 90 per cent the B.1.1.7 variant that first emerged in the United Kingdom, but Tam said they are just "the tip of the iceberg." There are potentially at least hundreds more cases screened for one of the mutations common to all variants, that have not yet been fully screened to identify which one.

Ontario's "science table" said Tuesday it believed almost half the new cases in that province are now variants.

Canada had some positive vaccine news Tuesday as Quebec-based Medicago announced it was beginning the Phase 3 trial of its vaccine here. It is the only Canadian company on the list of seven vaccines procured by the federal government, and the first Canadian-made vaccine to get to this stage.

Nathalie Landry, the executive vice president of scientific and medical affairs, said it is also enrolling people in the United States and up to nine other countries.

Landry said the hope is to report results by the summer, and approval by the fall. If that happens, she said, Medicago can deliver 20 million doses to Canada by the end of 2021.

Moderna also reported Tuesday it had begun dosing kids under 12 in a study of its vaccine. Currently only Pfizer is approved for use on kids as young as 16. Moderna, AstraZeneca and Johnson and Johnson are only approved for 18 years of age and older.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 16, 2021.

 With files from Shawn Jeffords in Toronto

Note to readers: This is a corrected story. A previous version said Moderna's new study on children was for kids over the age of 12.
Sen. John Cornyn of Texas said Tuesday that the immigration system under President Joe Biden is easily evaded and imposes no consequences.

Sen. Ted Cruz had similar sentiments.

It is reckless. It is dangerous and it is driven by a partisan ideology rather than a willingness to enforce the law and keep Americans safe, Cruz, a Texas Republican, said.

The two senators plan to lead a Senate delegation to the U.S.-Mexico border later this month.

Cornyn and Cruz are speaking out amid what many deem border crisis.

The U.S. Border Patrol encountered nearly 100,000 migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border in February, far higher than this time last year. Last month was the 10th consecutive month of increased apprehensions, according to Pew Research Center.

Both senators mentioned the Biden administrations February resumption of the Obama-era Catch and Release policy, which is used along the Texas border with Mexico and ended in 2018 under the Trump administration.

Under Catch and Release, undocumented immigrants are released into the United States while they await immigration proceedings.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection said Biden reinstated Catch and Release for three reasons, according to Fox News. The agency cited an increase in migrant traffic, Mexicos refusal to accept additional families with children under 12 and COVID-19, which has reduced Border Patrol detention and transport capacity.

However, based on a video conference call last week with U.S. Border Patrol Sector chiefs and directors in Texas, Cornyn said he believes Catch and Release isnt enough of a consequence for illegally entering the country.

The smugglers and the migrants have figured out how to navigate our system in a way to game it and successfully make your way into the United States, he said.

Cruz called Catch and Release an invitation for unaccompanied children to come to this country.

Apprehensions of unaccompanied minors rose from 5,694 in January to 9,297 in February while apprehensions of migrants traveling in families more than doubled from 7,064 to 18,945, or 168%, according to Pew Research Center.

When asked about accusations that Republicans dont have enough compassion when it comes to immigration, Cornyn said that Illegal immigration is not compassionate.

These people were subjected to unspeakable cruelties. Many of them die in the process. Parents turn their children over to criminal organizations that treat them as a commodity, Cornyn said Tuesday. You know, theyll buy them and rent them just if it helps them make money. So I would disagree vehemently that illegal immigration is compassionate.
Space for People with Disabilities

VIRTUAL EVENT

Pushing Frontiers: Human Spaceflight and Disability

Aligning with the Sustainable Development Agenda 2030 and the United Nations Disability Inclusion Strategy, the Office aims to contribute to inclusive, equitable and sustainable development in space through the Space for People with Disabilities project. One of the aims of this project is to engage people with disabilities with space science, thus enhancing prospects for people to progress into careers in STEM and engage decision-makers to facilitate and assist initiatives targeting inclusivity in space science. In doing so, the project strives to contribute to Sustainable Development Goal SDG 11: Reduced Inequalities, in addition to SDG 4: Quality Education, SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth, and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals.

Physical disabilities have up until now been avoided in space. However, space exploration is a massive endeavour that requires collective effort from a pool of the best qualified individuals. One effective way of doing this is to include more people of different genders, ages and backgrounds, including people with physical disabilities. For the first time in the history of human spaceflight, the European Space Agency (ESA) is recruiting individual(s) who are psychologically, cognitively, technically and professionally qualified to be an astronaut, but have a physical disability that would normally prevent them from being selected due to the requirements imposed by the use of current space hardware. With this pilot project, ESA has taken the first step to mainstreaming disability and inspiring people with disabilities to pursue an education and/or career in the wider space sector.

Join us in this multi-disciplinary webinar to learn more about the ESA Parastronaut Feasibility Project, and explore the challenges and opportunities in this emerging field.

Objectives:

The objectives are this webinar are:

Contributing to the implementation of the UN Disability Inclusion strategy.

Raise awareness of the Space for People with Disabilities project and disability inclusion in space, in particular human spaceflight.

Enhance understanding of the ESA Parastronaut Feasibility Project, and the challenges and opportunities in spaceflight for people with disabilities.

Contribute to SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities by

- Facilitating public discussion on mainstreaming disability in space exploration;

- Stimulating discussion about disability inclusion and disability mainstreaming among the different stakeholder groups of the space community, including the diplomatic community, the private sector and academia;

- Inspiring people with disabilities to pursue an education and/or career in the space industry.

Event Details:

Date: 31 March 2021 (Wednesday)

Time: 15:00hr to 16:30hr (CEST)

Agenda and Speakers:

For the recording of the webinar, click here.

For the programme details and speakers' biographies please click here

Registration:

The webinar is open to all. However, participation will be limited to 250 people during the "live" session.

Registration is closed.

Reference Links:

European Space Agency (ESA) Parastronaut feasibility project

ESA Astronaut Selection

ESA Astronaut Selection 2021 Media Kit
This week, California is taking its biggest strides yet toward a full reopening, a year after the state became the first in the nation to impose a shelter-in-place order.

For the first time in months, restaurants across the vast majority of California, including in Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Diego and Orange Counties, are allowed to open indoor dining rooms. Gyms, movie theaters and other businesses have also gotten the green light to operate inside at reduced capacity, as most of the states 58 counties are allowed to move to less restrictive tiers in the states color-coded reopening framework.

And were going to see even more movement next week, Gov. Gavin Newsom said on Tuesday, speaking from an Alameda County elementary school. Were going to see more and more business activity, more people back in schools, more energy, more optimism about our state and its future.

He said that public health officials were still figuring out what a green tier might entail, but that one was in the works. (When he first unveiled the states color-coded tier system, the governor said that yellow would be the least restrictive for the foreseeable future  green suggested a level of permissiveness not yet safe to even contemplate.)
Watertown, NY (13601)

Today

Cloudy with rain developing after midnight. Low 61F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch..

Tonight

Cloudy with rain developing after midnight. Low 61F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch.
Ms Flints speech was in response to Mr Albaneses comments this week taking aim at the Liberal Party over its handling of sexual harassment allegations, and she took particular aim at foreign affairs spokeswoman Penny Wong and shadow minister for women Tanya Plibersek. I will not be lectured by [Anthony Albaneses] side of politics about the treatment of women in this place, she said. I ask the Leader of the Opposition, where was he and where was his predecessor and where were the senior Labor women when GetUp, Labor and union supporters chased, harassed and screamed at me everywhere I went in the lead-up to the 2019 election? Ms Flint claimed she had been abused time after time on her Twitter and Facebook pages by Labor supporters and had her electorate office defaced with horrendous, sexist and misogynist abuse. In the wake of weeks of sexual harassment allegations and public discussion about the treatment of women in politics, Ms Flint said the need for cultural change in Canberra should be above politics.

It is an issue for us all to address through the bipartisan independent review by the Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins, she said. Mr Albanese said Ms Flints treatment shouldnt have happened, full stop, but claimed women in Labor had also been subjected to protests from activist groups including climate change group Extinction Rebellion and GetUp. Loading They were at the same time ... protesting against Labor MPs, he said. Some seats, including mine, was being occupied every week at the same time, and certainly the women staff who worked for me and my electorate officers [who are] all female staff felt intimidated by occupations of the office. So I stand with Nicolle Flint. Her ... story is one that is appalling, that that sort of behaviour was directed at her. It shouldnt happen. It shouldnt happen to anyone.

Nicolle Flint deserved to be safe as a member of Parliament, and we must listen to this story and all the stories about womens involvement and indeed peoples involvement in politics, we must learn to have disagreements in a civil way. GetUp said on Tuesday its campaign in the seat of Boothby did not include harassment or misogyny and that its volunteers did not harass Ms Flint, and that such claims were a smear campaign. The harassment experienced by Nicolle Flint as the member for Boothby during the 2019 election campaign is abhorrent to GetUp as an organisation. We condemned the behaviour at the time and went to great lengths to confirm our members were not involved, a spokeswoman said. The spokeswoman said the lobby group stood by its statements after the incidents in May 2019 that condemned the behaviour. It is deplorable and not how election campaigns should be conducted. Sexist bullying like this needs to be condemned by everyone. It is never OK. It degrades women and gender non-conforming people, and makes it harder for them to stand in Parliament, she said.
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Murray Police: Shooting Leaves 2 Dead, 1 Injured

By West Kentucky Star Staff

MURRAY - Tuesday's shooting in Murray left two people dead and another person hospitalized.The shooting took place at approximately 7:35 am at a home on Chestnut Street. When police arrived at the home, they found a juvenile and two adults, all three with gunshot wounds.Thirty-one-year-old Anthony Amoroso of Murray was pronounced dead at the scene by Calloway County Coroner Ricky Garland.The juvenile and 46-year-old Katherine Bryan of Murray were transported by ambulance to Murray-Calloway County Hospital where they were then transported to another hospital by Air Evac. Bryan was later pronounced dead as a result of her injuries.According to the Murray Police Department, Amoroso shot Bryan and the juvenile before shooting himself. Police said Bryan was Amoroso's girlfriend.The investigation is ongoing.
(ANSA) - ROME, MAR 17 - President Sergio Mattarella paid tribute to the unity Italy has shown during the COVID-19 pandemic in his message for the 160th anniversary of Italian unification on Wednesday.

"Italy, hit hard by the health emergency, has once again shown a spirit of democracy, of unity and of cohesion," the head of State said.

"In the distancing imposed by the pandemic-containment measures, we found ourselves closer and more aware of the fact that we belong to a community capable of facing adversity and renewing itself". (ANSA).


Miami Beach Commissioner Michael Gongora has spoken privately with other commissioners and Mayor Dan Gelber about his interest in being appointed the next city attorney, a possible violation of Floridas open government laws because the city commission will ultimately vote to fill the position.

Gongora, who is leaving office in November due to term limits, had private chats about the job opening in recent weeks with Gelber and commissioners Ricky Arriola and David Richardson, the officials told the Miami Herald. Arriola, who said Gongora called him about the job last week, said his colleague is actively lobbying for the job.

He asked for my support, Richardson said.

In an interview Tuesday, Gongora said the types of general procedural conversations he had with his colleagues were legally permissible based on guidance he received from Acting City Attorney Rafael Paz about a week ago. Paz could not be reached for comment Tuesday night.

These were general conversations, Gongora said. Im not even sure when the job is going to become available.

Commission meets Wednesday

Commissioners are expected to discuss beginning the search for a new city attorney during their Wednesday meeting. The former city attorney, Raul Aguila, left the position in December to become interim city manager, a position left vacant when previous City Manager Jimmy Morales resigned. Aguila, whose salary as city attorney was $314,908, is expected to return to the job before his contract expires in 2022.

Its unclear when the commission might vote to find Aguilas replacement. But regardless of whether the job is filled before Gongora leaves office, he would need near-unanimous support if he applied for the job.

Miami Beachs charter bans commissioners from taking employment with the city for two years after they leave unless five of the citys seven commissioners vote to waive that requirement. Were the commission to vote to fill the position before Gongoras term ends in November, they could grant the waiver if Gongora agrees to resign as soon as the waiver is approved.

Story continues

Richardson, who met with Gongora Friday, said Gongora mentioned there would be a way for us to waive the two-year waiting period and select him at the same time, so he would have certainty that if he resigns his seat he would get the job.

Gongora, a community association attorney, said he plans to disclose his interest in the position during Wednesdays commission meeting and recuse himself from any future vote to appoint the next city attorney.

He also said he was content with his current job but exploring how to continue his public career.

This is one path that is being explored to continue my public service, but I have a great job now and wonderful clients, and Im not needing work, he said. Its an idea that was presented that I found interesting.

Government in the Sunshine

Still, Gongoras private talks with other commissioners seem to violate Floridas Sunshine Law, said Virginia Hamrick, staff attorney for the First Amendment Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to protecting the publics right to open government. Floridas Government-in-the-Sunshine laws prohibit any private conversation between two or more commissioners about a topic that will likely be voted upon by the entire commission.

I think its pretty obvious, Hamrick said.

She said recusing ones self from a future vote does not wave the requirements of the law, though Hamrick said any violation caused by side conversations would have been minimal.

Its definitely a violation, but its less of conducting business behind closed doors, Hamrick said. Here it was just two commissioners meeting. There is still an opportunity for the public to weigh in.

Gelber said he spoke with Gongora a couple of weeks ago about the job opening and the vote needed to approve his appointment. Arriola said Gongora did not explicitly ask for support during their phone conversation but expressed his interest in the job.





It was one colleague to another saying that hes interested in a job and the reasons why he would be, said Arriola. It doesnt take a big leap of logic [to realize] that youre sort of being pushed to give an answer whether you would support an idea like that.

Gongora, who told the Miami Herald he is still weighing a possible mayoral run against Gelber this November, said he did not think the conversations were improper.

I certainly dont want to cloud anything with any accusations, even though I feel all the accusations are improper and likely politically motivated, Gongora said. He later added: I am a big proponent of transparency and putting everything out there in the public anyways.
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State Bank of India (SBI) fell 0.63% to Rs 376.05 after the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) imposed a monetary penalty of Rs 2 crore on the bank.

The central bank has imposed the penalty for contravention of certain provisions of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 and specific directions of RBI issued to the bank on payment of remuneration to employees in the form of commission.

State Bank of India (SBI) is an Indian multinational, public sector banking and financial services statutory body. As of 31 December 2020, the Government of India held 56.92% stake while Life Insurance Corporation of India held 9.61% stake in the bank.

SBI's net profit fell 6.9% to Rs 5,196.22 crore on 1.1% decrease in total income to Rs 75,980.65 crore in Q3 December 2020 over Q3 December 2019.

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
EL CAJON, Calif., March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Cajon Valley Union School District, serving over 17,000 students in the East County of San Diego, will return to a pre-pandemic schedule of full-time school, five days a week, after Spring Break. This comes on the one-year mark of the global pandemic.

Cajon Valley Update on School Reopening Cajon Valley students participating in in-person learning.

Immediately after the state-mandated shut down of schools in April 2020, Cajon Valley reopened a limited number of schools to provide free childcare for essential workers. Initially serving several hundred students, the staff was able to set up schools for social distancing, managing stable student cohorts, and effective use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

During the summer break, over 1,000 Cajon Valley Employees, led by principals, opened all 27 schools for free summer learning and enrichment, serving over 6,500 students. This was a direct scale-up of the childcare pilot. This allowed the district to expand proper safety markings, equipment, and protocol to all schools, as well as a comprehensive training program based on the CDPH Safety Guidelines developed by the nurses and healthcare staff.

The immediate result of the summer success allowed Cajon Valley to invite all students to return to in-person learning in September, including four schools inviting students back 5 days a week.

In over 10 months of serving approximately 11,000 students in person, Cajon Valley experienced only one case of school COVID transmission and zero cases of student-to-student transmission. This demonstrates the ability to prevent the spread and community outbreak of COVID19 in schools with established safety measures.

As students return from Spring Break, all Cajon Valley students will have access to school as they had it before the pandemic began; 5 days a week, 8 am to 3 pm daily, in-person with a teacher. For families who wish to keep their children in distance learning, Cajon Valley will continue to provide that option as well.

To accommodate reduced class sizes, provide additional care and supervision, as well as properly adhere to safety guidelines from the California Department of Public Health, over 80 additional teachers and several hundred Classified Employees were hired since December 2020.

Additionally, this coming summer, Cajon Valley will host Camp Cajon, a camp-like summer program focused on enrichment, fun, and learning, free for all Cajon Valley Students. Family and staff interest surveys will be available shortly.

Cajon Valley is the best place to live, work, play and raise a family!

About Cajon Valley Union School District

Named a 2019 Top Workplace in San Diego, Cajon Valley Union School District focuses on the positivity of each student's unique strengths, interests, and values. Serving over 60 square miles of San Diego's East County, Cajon Valley Union School District offers personalized education, with programs that develop students into happy kids, healthy relationships, on a path to gainful employment; making El Cajon the best place to live, work, play and raise a family. Visit our website at www.cajonvalley.net .

Media contact:

Howard Shen

[email protected]

619-590-5823

SOURCE Cajon Valley Union School District

Related Links

http://www.cajonvalley.net


States are rapidly expanding eligibility for coronavirus vaccines as they race to meet President Joe Biden's deadline to have shots for all American adults by May 1.

At the beginning of the vaccine rollout, COVID-19 vaccines were available only to the most vulnerable Americans and some essential workers. Now, three statesMaine, Virginia and Wisconsinalong with Washington, D.C., have said they will open eligibility to their general population by May 1, The New York Times reported. At least six other statesincluding Colorado, Connecticut, Ohio, Michigan, Montana and Utahhope to do so this month or next.

Meanwhile, anyone aged 16 or older can now get a vaccine In Mississippi and Alaska, while Arizona and Michigan have made the vaccines available to all adults in some counties, the Times reported.

With three coronavirus vaccines now in use, Biden has set a lofty goal that many states intend to reach.

Several have already been expanding eligibility for vaccinations. In Ohio, vaccines will open to anyone 40 and up as of Friday, and to more residents with certain medical conditions, the Times reported. Indiana extended access to people 45 and older, effective immediately.

Coloradans age 50 and up will be eligible for a shot on Friday, along with anyone 16 years and older with certain medical conditions, the Times reported. And Wisconsin said on Tuesday that residents aged 16 and up with certain medical conditions would be eligible a week earlier than initially planned. On Monday, Texans age 50 and older and Georgians over 55 became eligible for vaccines.

In New York, residents aged 60 and older are eligible to receive a vaccine, and more frontline workers will become eligible on Wednesday, including government employees, building services workers and employees of nonprofit groups. Gov. Andrew Cuomo has yet to announce how or when the state will open eligibility to all adults.

Since vaccinations began in December, the federal government has delivered nearly 143 million vaccine doses to states and territories, and more than 77 percent have been administered, according to the latest figures from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The country is averaging about 2.4 million shots a day, compared with well under 1 million a day in January, the Times said.

As of Wednesday, 65 percent of the country's seniors had received at least one vaccine dose, with 37 percent fully vaccinated.

At the same time, coronavirus cases, deaths and hospitalizations are significantly down from the peak levels reported in January, the Times reported. But progress has slowed noticeably since the beginning of March, with continued drops in some states offset by persistent outbreaks in other parts of the country, especially the Northeast.

Biden weighs national face mask standard for workplaces

The Biden Administration is deliberating on a nationwide face mask standard for workplaces, although it has already missed its own deadline for a decision.

On Jan. 21, Biden told the Labor Department's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to determine by March 15, if such a standard is needed, CBS News reported.

An emergency temporary standard on face masks in the workplace is expected to be issued soon, but the analysis has not yet been completed, three people familiar with the process told CBS News.The nationwide temporary standard for face masks in the workplace would impact millions of workers and would likely last six months.

Public health and workplace safety experts told CBS News the emergency temporary standard could provide valuable social distancing advice for workers and safety guidance for face masks, since they vary in their protective abilities.

OSHA workplace standards typically take years to implement, so an emergency temporary standard has sometimes been used to counter "grave dangers" facing workers, CBS News reported.

The last time an emergency standard was used was in 1983 to limit asbestos exposure in the workplace, according to the Congressional Research Service. The rule was eventually struck down in court.

Without a nationwide standard so far during the pandemic, several states have enacted their own standards, CBS News reported.

Dr. David Michaels, a former assistant secretary of labor for OSHA who served on Biden's presidential transition team, explained to CBS News the technical aspects of any emergency temporary standard must be balanced with the urgent need to protect workers from the spread of COVID-19.

"The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has been working diligently, as appropriate, to consider what standards may be necessary, and is taking the time to get this right," a Labor Department spokesperson told CBS News on Monday. This official did not offer any timeline for their decision.

"[The president's] objective is actually to protect workers and members of the workforce," White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said Monday when asked about the OSHA deliberations, "We are waiting for them to make a conclusion."

New guidance gives vaccinated Americans more freedom

New social distancing guidance released by the federal government last week gives fully vaccinated Americans more freedom to socialize and move through their communities.

The CDC said people who are two weeks past their final shot can safely visit indoors with unvaccinated members of a single household at low risk of severe disease without wearing masks or social distancing. That recommendation would free many vaccinated grandparents who live near their unvaccinated children and grandchildren to gather for the first time since the pandemic began a year ago.

The CDC also said fully vaccinated people can gather indoors with those who are also fully vaccinated, and they do not need to be quarantined or tested after exposure to COVID-19.

"We know that people want to get vaccinated so they can get back to doing the things they enjoy with the people they love," CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said in an agency news release. "There are some activities that fully vaccinated people can begin to resume now in their own homes. Everyoneeven those who are vaccinatedshould continue with all mitigation strategies when in public settings."

Some restrictions were still advised, even for the vaccinated. For example, if a vaccinated person lives in a group setting and is around someone with COVID-19, he or she should still stay away from others for 14 days and get tested, even without symptoms.

Peter Hotez, co-director of the Texas Children's Center for Vaccine Development, welcomed the new guidelines, but added they have been too long in coming.

"The sooner we move to telling people if you're fully vaccinated, you don't have to wear masksthat will be an incentive for people to get vaccinated," Hotez told the Washington Post.

The level of caution people need to exercise should be determined by the characteristics of those who are unvaccinated in a social setting, the CDC said.

For instance, if a fully vaccinated person visits an unvaccinated friend who is 70, and therefore at risk of severe disease, the visit should take place outdoors, with masks and physical distancing, the guidance says.

A global scourge

By Wednesday, the U.S. coronavirus case count passed 29.5 million while the death toll passed 536,000, according to a Times tally. On Wednesday, the top five states for coronavirus infections were: California with over 3.6 million cases; Texas with more than 2.7 million cases; Florida with nearly 2 million cases; New York with more than 1.7 million cases; and Illinois with over 1.2 million cases.

Curbing the spread of the coronavirus in the rest of the world remains challenging.

In Brazil, the coronavirus case count was over 11.6 million by Wednesday, with over 282,000 deaths, a Johns Hopkins University tally showed. India had over 11.4 million cases and nearly 159,000 deaths as of Wednesday, the Hopkins tally showed.

Worldwide, the number of reported infections neared 120.8 million on Wednesday, with more than 2.6 million deaths recorded, according to the Hopkins tally.

Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak

More information: The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more on the The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more on the new coronavirus.

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Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-18 00:45:24|Editor: huaxia

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Zhang Yong (C), deputy head of the Commission for Legislative Affairs of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, collects advice and suggestions on improving the electoral system of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region from the representatives of different sectors in Hong Kong, in Hong Kong, south China, March 15, 2021. (Xinhua/Lui Siu Wai)

Representatives from various sectors of Hong Kong have expressed their opinions about improving the electoral system of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

Officials of central authorities' departments have heard the voice of Hong Kong people carefully and sincerely.

HONG KONG, March 17 (Xinhua) -- Over the past three days, more than 1,000 representatives from various sectors of Hong Kong have expressed their opinions about improving the electoral system of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) through symposiums, visits and interviews arranged by the central authorities.

Officials of central authorities' departments have heard the voice of Hong Kong people carefully and sincerely.

The opinion collection came after the National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature, adopted a decision on improving the electoral system of the HKSAR last week.

From Monday to Wednesday, 66 symposiums were held in Hong Kong, which gathered representatives from all walks of life, including political figures, business leaders and professionals.

"All opinions are welcome at the symposiums," Zhang Yong, deputy head of the Commission for Legislative Affairs of the NPC Standing Committee, said when speaking at a meeting on Monday.

As the NPC's decision has the importance of landmark to the implementation of "one country, two systems," the central authorities attach great importance to improving the electoral system of the HKSAR and takes a prudent attitude, Zhang said, stressing a "good law" will eventually be enacted after different views are heeded in Hong Kong.

Zhang Xiaoming (C), deputy director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, collects advice and suggestions on improving the electoral system of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region from the representatives of different sectors in Hong Kong, in Hong Kong, south China, March 15, 2021. (Xinhua/Wang Shen)

In fact, before the NPC's decision was adopted, the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council had invited legal experts and experts on politics, among others, from both the mainland and Hong Kong to study the matter. From Feb. 28 to March 1, Hong Kong representatives from all walks of life attended symposiums in Shenzhen to share their views. During the annual "two sessions," related departments of the central authorities also listened to the opinions of NPC deputies and political advisers from the HKSAR.

"The central authorities are sincere and have taken action to listen to the opinions of various sectors of Hong Kong society," Zhang Xiaoming, deputy director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, said.

It is the common responsibility of the relevant departments of the central authorities, the HKSAR government and legislature, and various sectors in Hong Kong to implement the NPC's decision, Luo Huining, director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR, said, encouraging Hong Kong representatives to express their views freely.

Luo Huining (C), director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, collects advice and suggestions on improving the electoral system of the HKSAR from the representatives of different sectors in Hong Kong, in Hong Kong, south China, March 15, 2021. (Xinhua/Li Gang)

During the meetings, Hong Kong attendees have vigorously put forward their suggestions.

Starry Lee Wai-king, chairperson of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong, highlighted the greater empowerment of the Election Committee of the HKSAR.

Given the deteriorating working environment in the Legislative Council (LegCo) in recent years, entrusting the Election Committee with the function of electing a relatively large share of LegCo members will improve Hong Kong's democracy and enable Hong Kong to focus on developing the economy and improving people's livelihood, which is conducive to Hong Kong's long-term development, she said.

Ng Chau-pei, president of Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions, proposed that the District Council's seats in the Election Committee should be removed and the District Council should no longer participate in the election of the chief executive or the LegCo.

The District Council's seats in the LegCo should be removed, too, he said.

Ng also believes efforts should be made to increase the size of the Election Committee and optimize its subsectors so that the principle of balanced participation and Hong Kong's overall interests can be ensured.

The share of the labor sector should be expanded as there are around 3.8 million workers in Hong Kong, he added.

Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Carrie Lam (2nd R) shows her signature during a campaign in support of the decision on improving the electoral system of the HKSAR by the National People's Congress in Hong Kong, south China, March 15, 2021. (Xinhua)

Ip Lau Suk-yee, chairwoman of Hong Kong's New People's Party, said the current LegCo still lacks full representation of Hong Kong's high-end financial industry and some key science and technological industries, and she hoped that the future Election Committee will make up the shortfall.

Wong Kam-leung, chairman of the Hong Kong Federation of Education Workers, suggested measures to create favorable conditions for patriotic education through improving the electoral system so that Hong Kong's education sector can be pushed back on the right track.

Participants of the meetings have reached consensus on many areas and unanimously support the NPC's decision, Zhang Xiaoming said Wednesday at a press briefing.

After the implementation of the national security law in the HKSAR and the improvement of the electoral system, Hong Kong will return to the normal path, get out of the political mire and embrace peace and stability, he said.

Ordinary residents in Hong Kong have also expressed their opinions about improving the electoral system of the HKSAR. As of Wednesday morning, more than 700,000 people have signed a petition online in support of the NPC's decision.

HKSAR Chief Executive Carrie Lam said the HKSAR government has set up a special team to speed up related work.

LegCo President Andrew Leung also said the LegCo will expedite the deliberation to ensure the timely passage of related bills so that the upcoming three elections in the next 12 months will be held smoothly.
MANAMA, Bahrain, March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Infor today announced that ASRY, the Arabian Gulf's leading maritime repair and fabrication facility based in Bahrain, has signed a contract with Infor to implement a new state-of-the-art facility-wide enterprise resource planning (ERP) system, Infor CloudSuite Industrial Enterprise, to spearhead its digital transformation.

Learn more about Infor CloudSuite Industrial Enterprise: https://www.infor.com/products/cloudsuite-industrial-enterprise

ASRY (Arab Shipbuilding & Repair Yard), which was established in 1977, handles the repair and conversion of ships, rigs and naval vessels, in addition to fabrication and engineering services covering onshore and offshore industrial components. The company has more than 2,000 employees and operates large-scale facilities including a 500,000-deadweight drydock, two floating docks, 15 repair berths, and a 250,000+-square-meter fabrication area. ASRY completes around 250 projects annually.

As a pillar of the region's maritime sector, ASRY's directors were keen to streamline and automate processes across every department in the company and upgrade ASRY's digital integration to industry best practices. The company selected Infor CloudSuite Industrial Enterprise, which will run on Amazon Web Services (AWS), delivering high performance, scalability and security to replace the existing ERP system.

Given the large scale of its operation and the high volume of complex projects it is working on at any one time, ASRY also opted to deploy Infor Birst, allowing it to gather, analyse and extract value from data generated across all areas of its business and operations. This will provide powerful insights from the boardroom to the shop floor, supporting sound decision making, particularly in terms of understanding which areas of the business may require improvement and where to best allocate resources.

Infor's solutions will help ASRY improve the quality of service for its global customer base, and help it tap into a global marine port and service market that is expected to reach $97 billion by 2025, according to research from Lucintel.

"As part of ASRY's modernisation, this project is a digital overhaul of the entire company's processes and procedures," commented ASRY Managing Director Mazen Matar. "It is the most wide-reaching administrative transformation in the facility's 44-year history, and after an extensive feasibility investigation, we have chosen Infor CloudSuite Industrial Enterprise. ASRY completes over 250 projects per year across four industrial sectors, and once this cloud-based system is deployed, these operations will be simplified and digitised, bringing agility to the business, and ultimately streamlining our ability to serve customers, maximise ASRY's contribution to the Bahrain's Economic Vision 2030 and boost the region's maritime sector."

"ASRY's use of AWS for the new ERP also creates further integration with the kingdom's burgeoning ICT sector," continues Matar. "We are the latest in a wave of businesses and government entities tapping into the advanced and secure technology infrastructure being developed and expanded throughout Bahrain, and we join an elite list of global firms that have also chosen Infor's services."

Amel Gardner, Infor vice president MEA, said: "Infor helps organisations improve productivity, efficiency, and visibility across their operations, enabling management to make better-informed choices. We're thrilled to be working with ASRY on its digital transformation, and we look forward to helping it achieve its business goals in a dynamic industry."

ASRY and Infor aim to complete the deployment of the first phase of Infor CloudSuite Industrial Enterprise within 11 months. The platform will incorporate all divisions of the yard, including commercial, supply chain, production, finance and general services. As well as a simplified IT architecture, streamlined and automated processes, and end-to-end visibility of key aspects of the business, there will also be modules for a new cloud-based human capital management (HCM) capability to help ASRY deliver streamlined workforce processes, and a new customer relationship management (CRM) module.

About Infor

Infor is a global leader in business cloud software specialized by industry. Providing mission-critical enterprise applications to 67,000 customers in more than 175 countries, Infor software is designed to deliver more value and less risk, with more sustainable operational advantages. We empower our 17,000 employees to leverage their deep industry expertise and use data-driven insights to create, learn and adapt quickly to solve emerging business and industry challenges. Infor is committed to providing our customers with modern tools to transform their business and accelerate their own path to innovation. To learn more, please visit www.infor.com.

For more information:

Roger Field

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Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-17 22:42:54|Editor: huaxia

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GENEVA, March 17 (Xinhua) -- The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Wednesday that it still recommends using the AstraZeneca vaccine against COVID-19 as the benefits outweigh its risks.

"Vaccination against COVID-19 will not reduce illness or deaths from other causes. Thromboembolic events are known to occur frequently. Venous thromboembolism is the third most common cardiovascular disease globally," WHO said in a statement.

The statement came after a growing number of countries in the European Union suspended the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine as a precautionary measure, based on reports of blood clots in persons who had received the vaccine.

"It is routine for countries to signal potential adverse events following immunization. This does not necessarily mean that the events are linked to vaccination itself, but it is good practice to investigate them. It also shows that the surveillance system works and that effective controls are in place," the statement added.

Currently, the WHO Global Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety is still assessing the latest available safety data for the AstraZeneca vaccine, while keeping in touch with the European Medicines Agency and other regulators around the world for latest safety information.

The WHO said it will immediately communicate the findings to the public once that review is completed. Enditem
In probably the worst after-effect of the coronavirus-induced rules, Hong Kong is facing a tough time with infants being separated from parents and families living in cramped tiny spaces in order to adhere to the strict guidelines.

Hong Kong authorities have ordered that anyone testing positive for the virus must go to hospital, including babies, while all their close contacts, even those who test negative, are sent to makeshift quarantine camps. Additionally, those with newborns are herded into tiny quarantine quarters for up to 14 days.

Reuters

Its crazy, said one mother, who said she had to abruptly stop breastfeeding following separation from her seven-month-old son last week after she was diagnosed with COVID-19.

I got fever last night because I have gone from breastfeeding to 100% pumping, said the woman, who asked not to be identified. So instead of dealing with COVID, Im dealing with blocked sore breasts.

4,700 out of 5,000 signed up for home quarantine petition

The separation of families over the virus is not common in other developed cities, say legal experts.

Shahana Hoque-Ali, a scientist who moderates the Hong Kong Quarantine support group on Facebook, said it had assisted in more than 100 cases of children who had faced separation from their parents over the past year, with dozens in the past week.

AFP

A separate city-wide petition circulating online on Monday asked the government to allow young children the option of home quarantine. Around 4,700 of a targeted 5,000 residents signed up in a few hours according to the website.



Incidents of outbreak

Hundreds of residents with young children were sent to quarantine last week after an outbreak at a popular upmarket gym in Hong Kong's Sai Ying Pun district. That case has ensnared bankers, lawyers and the citys international school network, with some teachers and students infected.

AFP

Separately, a group of eight babies and parents who attended a playgroup last week were sent to quarantine after one parent was confirmed positive because of the gym outbreak. The rest of the group tested negative but they were still required to quarantine.

"I am really worried, it's such a small space. Three of us in this room for 10 days won't work," said Nicholas Worley, whose wife Kylie and 15-month-old son, Hunter, attended the playgroup.

194 sq. ft room for entire families

The quarantine rooms in Penny's Bay that accommodate Worley and many others are 18 sq. m. (194 sq. ft) in size and lack refrigerators, cooking facilities or baby amenities. While staff there did their best to assist, the facility is not designed for families, the residents said. Worley, who heads consultancy Bain's public relations in Asia, said hazards in the room, such as sharp nails and edges, fuelled additional concern over his son's safety.

Reuters

Residents seeking more humane arrangements

On Sunday a class of 35 nine-year-olds from the city's Harbour School were told they needed to enter quarantine, its managing director, Dan Blurton, told Reuters. "Parents and the school have strongly requested for alternative arrangements that are more humane, with regards to the treatment of young children," he added.

AFP

Legal experts said there were no set guidelines regarding family separations, with each case being handled individually. Hong Kong barrister Kirsteen Lau said that legally health officers had wide discretion to grant or deny permission for a child or parent to enter a place of isolation. However, this meant that regulations "give very little guidance as to what circumstances would allow a parent and child to stay together," she added.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-17 09:36:06|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, March 17 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese mainland reported no new locally transmitted COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, the National Health Commission said Wednesday.

Four new imported COVID-19 cases were reported on Tuesday, said the commission in its daily report.

Four new suspected cases arriving from outside the mainland were reported in Shanghai, and no new deaths related to the disease were reported, it added.

On Tuesday, 10 COVID-19 patients were discharged from hospitals following their recovery.

By the end of Tuesday, a total of 5,163 imported cases had been reported on the mainland. Among them, 4,990 had been discharged from hospitals following recovery, and 173 remained hospitalized. No deaths had been reported among the imported cases.

The total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases on the mainland reached 90,066 by Tuesday, including 176 patients still receiving treatment.

A total of 85,254 patients had been discharged following recovery on the mainland, and 4,636 had died of the disease.

There were four suspected COVID-19 cases on the mainland on Tuesday, and 4,178 close contacts remained under medical observation. Enditem
The Tanaiste said he will look into a case highlighted by Sinn Fein TD Reada Cronin that a Kildare frontline worker is not being given time off to check out a possible cancerous lump.

Ms Cronin raised the issue the Leo Varadkar in the Dail on March 11 and he said he will investigate the matter.

Cronin said: "I want to raise with the Tanaiste the case of a constituent in Kildare North, who is a young healthcare worker in the HSE and one of the heroes on the front line.

"She recently discovered a lump and visited her doctor, who told her to have it investigated immediately.

"When she asked her employer, the HSE, for time off to do so, she was refused.

How can it be that somebody who is working on the front line, giving her all in this battle against Covid, cannot be treated in a time of acute need?

"NPHET is advising people not to delay seeking health services, yet the HSE is treating its employees in this way. What is the plan to address this shameful, shocking treatment?"

In reply, Tanaiste Mr Varadkar said: "One of the real improvements in healthcare in Ireland in recent years has been rapid access diagnostics for cancer, particularly when it comes to breast cancer.

"I do not know the details of the case the Deputy raised but I would expect any employer, particularly a public sector employer, to give someone the necessary time off to attend a cancer investigation appointment. If the Deputy wants to send me the details or to send them to the Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, we will look into the case and see what we can do."
Southern Baptist church where mass shooting suspect Robert Aaron Long was baptized grieves for dead

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The Southern Baptist church where 21-year-old mass shooting suspect Robert Aaron Long got baptized twice is now grieving for his victims and the families impacted by his deadly shooting rampage at three massage parlors in the Atlanta area that left eight people dead Tuesday, including six Asian women.

Jerry Dockery, the lead teaching elder at the Crabapple First Baptist Church in Milton, Georgia, where Long worshiped with his family, prayed on Sunday that God would use his church to have leaders in various areas of the public and private sector drawn toward you.

We pray that Lord, our leaders, our first responders, our teachers, our business leaders to have their eyes and hearts drawn toward you. Youd make Yourself known in this community in a very powerful, personal way. We ask that you use Crabapple Church to bring this to pass, he said.

Asked by The Christian Post on Wednesday to share his thoughts on Longs faith and any possible explanation for what could have driven Long to carry out a mass shooting, Dockery said: We are grieved to hear the tragic news about the multiple deaths in the Atlanta area. We are heartbroken for all involved. We grieve for the victims and their families and will continue to pray for them. Moreover, we are distraught for the Long family and pray for them as well.

Capt. Jay Baker of the Cherokee County Sheriffs Office told The New York Times that four people died in the first shooting at Youngs Asian Massage near Acworth, a northwest suburb of Atlanta, which was reported around 5 p.m. A Hispanic man was also injured.

Atlanta police said officers responded to a robbery at Gold Spa in the northeast part of the city at 5:47 p.m., where they found the bodies of three women with gunshot wounds. While officers were at that scene, they received a call about shots fired at the Aromatherapy Spa across the street where they found another woman's body, The New York Times said.

The Crisp County Sherriffs Office later released images of Long at the scene of the crime and he was quickly arrested.

As news of his arrest spread overnight and his connection to Crabapple First Baptist Church was established, all of the churchs social media pages were suspended or made private.

A student who graduated from Sequoyah High with Long in 2017 told The Daily Beast that Long didnt appear to be a violent person.

He was very innocent seeming and wouldnt even cuss. He was sorta nerdy and didnt seem violent from what I remember. He was a hunter and his father was a youth minister or pastor. He was big into religion, the former schoolmate who spoke on condition of anonymity said.

Posts reviewed by Heavy.com on the churchs Facebook page before it was shuttered indicate that Long attended services there with his mother, father and younger sister. His mother reportedly organized events at the church like movie nights. Other posts showed testimony from Long at his baptism in 2018 and he indicated that it was his second time in the water.

As many of you may remember, when I was 8 years old I thought I was becoming a Christian, and got baptized during that time. And I remember a lot of the reason for that is a lot of my friends in my Sunday school class were doing that. And after that time, there wasnt any fruit from the root that is our salvation, he said.

He likened his spiritual journey to that of the prodigal son story in the Bible and said it helped him to become saved.

The son goes off and squanders all that he has and lives completely for himself and then, when he finds hes wanting to eat pig food, he realized theres something wrong and he goes back to his father and his father runs back to him and embraces him. And by the grace of God I was able to draw the connection there and realize this is a story between what happened with me and God. I ran away living completely for myself, and he still wants me, and so thats when I was saved, he said.

Minutes from a meeting of the elders at the church showed that as recently as 2018, Long was one of 11 people who served as members of the Student Ministry Team, which exists to see students receive Jesus Christ as Lord, and walk in Him, being rooted in the faith.

A motive for the killings has not yet been established, but some have connected the shootings to what they see as an uptick in anti-Asian attacks in the wake of the novel coronavirus pandemic.

Chris Chan, an advisory chair for the Asian American Action Fund Georgia Chapter, told The Washington Post that violence toward Asian American businesses "is frightening and alarming.

Were horrified by the news coming out of GA at a time when were already seeing a spike in anti-Asian violence. Although details are still unfolding, at least half of the victims appear to be Asian American women. Our hearts go out to the victims & their families. #StopAsianHate the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus noted in a tweet Tuesday.

Popular Bible teacher Beth Moore also weighed in.

This violence against our Asian American neighbors is from the mouth of hell. Hate acts. It does not stay confined to the heart & mind. It incites the tongue. Untreated, it travels to hands & feet. Hate is murderous. (1Jn 3:15) Stand against it. Speak against it. Pray against it, she wrote on Twitter.

Georgia Sen. Raphael Warnock, who still leads the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, said he is heartbroken over the killings.

My heart is broken tonight after the tragic violence in Atlanta that took eight lives. Once again we see that hate is deadly. Praying for the families of the victims and for peace for the community, he tweeted.

Georgias Gov. Brian Kemp also offered prayers for the victims.

Our entire family is praying for the victims of these horrific acts of violence. We deeply appreciate the quick apprehension of a suspect by @ga_dps in coordination with local and federal law enforcement, he tweeted Tuesday night.

Banaras Hindu University (BHU) students have reportedly opposed the institution's proposal to appoint Reliance Industries executive director Nita Ambani as visiting professor.

Citing it as a "wrong example" being set by BHU, students even protested at the university on Tuesday, March 16. A group of over 40 students staged a demonstration outside the residence of Vice-Chancellor Rakesh Bhatnagar on campus and submitted a memorandum as well, the Indian Express reported.

The students are of the view that instead of Nita Ambani, those who have set an example for women empowerment, should be invited. BHU's Social Sciences Faculty had recently forwarded a proposal to Reliance Foundation, requesting Nita Ambani to join the university as a visiting faculty at their Women Study Centre, the report added.

Also Read: Women's Day: Nita Ambani launches 'Her Circle', a digital networking platform for women

Although the proposal has been sent only to Nita Ambani, authorities affirmed that the other two names reviewed for the remaining two visiting faculty posts were that of Usha Mittal, wife of UK-based steel tycoon Lakshmi Mittal, and Priti Adani, wife of Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani. The Women Study Centre of the Social Sciences Faculty has three vacant posts for visiting professors. The centre was set up around two years ago.

"We do academic and research work related to women empowerment, along with graduation and post-graduation courses. Following the BHU tradition of involving philanthropic industrialists, we sent a letter to the Reliance Foundation asking Nita Ambani to join the Women Study Centre as a visiting professor so that we can benefit from her experience. We did this because the Reliance Foundation has done a lot of work in the field of women empowerment," Kaushal Kishore Mishra, Dean of the Social Sciences Faculty, told the publication.

Also Read: Nita Ambani gives her first speech in Reliance AGM; here's what she said

Meanwhile, Shubham Tiwari, one of the protesting students, claimed that the move "smacked of a conspiracy".

"We are setting up a wrong example. Being the wife of a rich person is not an achievement and these people cannot be our icons. If you talk about women empowerment, then invite icons like Arunima Sinha, Bachendri Pal, Mary Kom or Kiran Bedi," Tiwari noted.

He also alleged that Vice-Chancellor Bhatnagar told the students that he had no information about the proposal being sent to Nita Ambani.
A smuggling ring has been caught trying to export live native lizards from Australia to Hong Kong by concealing them in potato chip tubes.

Malaysian national Chek Wei Javill Chin was jailed for three-and-a-half years this month after protected species including knob-tailed geckos, blue-tongue lizards and water dragons were intercepted by environmental investigators.

Chin - who was on an expired visa - was linked to 21 parcels containing native reptiles through CCTV footage and fingerprints he left behind on the packages.

He was arrested after being traced to his home in Chatswood on Sydney's lower north shore by a joint operation between New South Wales Police and Victorian environmental agencies.

Pictured is a bandaged reptile intercepted by customs authorities who busted a smuggling ring exporting Australian native species to Hong Kong

Pictured is one of the potato chip tubes used to conceal the protected Australian animals

Blue-tongue lizards and water dragons were among those discovered by authorities. Malaysian national Chek Wei Javill Chin has been jailed for three-and-a-half years for his role in the illegal operation

Chin was charged with exporting or trying to export 117 animals to Hong Kong after authorities discovered he had also used clothing, shoes and socks to conceal the species.

A 35-year-old Malaysian women was deported in September after being jailed for her role in the smuggling ring.

She was convicted on four counts of attempting to export live native animals.

The trade of native Australian species in overseas pet shops is a lucrative business in an illegal wildlife trade worth billions of dollars globally.

Wildlife offences under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 carry a maximum sentence of 10 years in jail.

'This man was linked to numerous packages containing lizards and other native reptiles bound and hidden inhumane and harmful ways,' Federal MP and Customs Assistant Minister Jason Wood said.

Authorities discovered Chin had also used socks wrapped in tape to conceal the animals

Pictured: One of the smuggled lizards emerges from a sock intercepted by authorities. A 35-year-old Malaysian women was deported in September after being jailed for her role in the ring

'Illegal wildlife trade is a growing multi-billion-dollar global trade that poses serious conservation and biosecurity risks for Australia.

'We will continue working together to bring it to an end.'

Environment Minister Sussan Ley said the department would continue to work with federal enforcement, the DELWP and NSW Police in a bid to crack down on the illegal wildlife trade.

'We are focused on bringing down smuggling syndicates and prosecuting individuals,' she said.
By Ma Yichong

KHARTOUM, Mar. 17 -- The 3rd Chinese peacekeeping helicopter unit to Darfur, Sudan passed the equipment verification organized by the United Nations-African Union Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID) with high standard on March 15.

This verification mainly focused on all general-purpose equipment (excluding helicopters) belonging to the unit in more than 20 categories, including weapons and ammunition, engineering machinery, vehicles, as well as the facilities used for security and fire protection, communications and navigation, medical and health, recreation and sports, etc.

During the verification, the inspectors highly appreciated the general equipment performance, maintenance level, pandemic prevention and control capabilities, barrack dismantling progress and environmental clean-up standards. They unanimously agreed to give excellent results, praising the Chinese peacekeeping unit as the benchmark among peacekeeping forces from various countries in UNAMID.

In accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 2559, UNAMID operation ended on December 31, 2020. All the peacekeeping forces will gradually withdraw from Darfur within six months.

Senior Colonel Wu Qian, a spokesperson for Chinas Ministry of National Defense, said at a press conference on January 28, 2021, that China's 3rd peacekeeping helicopter unit to Darfur has completed its mission and been currently withdrawing in batches.
Spokesman for the Russian Presidency Dmitry Peskov said a U.S. report on Russia concerning the potential interference with the U.S. presidential election was "wrong" and "has absolutely no foundation and evidence."

Peskov said the Kremlin does not agree with the report and that Russia did not meddle in the 2016 or 2020 elections.

"Russia has nothing to do with any campaigns against any candidates," he said.

According to a declassified U.S. intelligence assessment, Putin authorized influence operations to help Donald Trump in last November's presidential election.

The report released Tuesday from the Office of the U.S. Director of National Intelligence says Putin authorized influence operations aimed at denigrating Biden, boosting Trump, undermining confidence in the election and exacerbating social divisions in the country.

The report also says that Russia sought to undermine Bidens candidacy because it viewed his presidency as opposed to the Kremlin's interests, though it took some steps to prepare for a Democratic administration as the election neared.

(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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New Delhi, March 17 : Google Go has crossed the 500 million download mark on the Play Store, indicating the brisk sale of Android Go devices over the past four years.

Google Go is a trimmed-down version of the Google app that you get pre-installed on any Android phone.

Google Go is pre-installed on Android Go devices, all of which are made for the low-end market segment.

Google mandates original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to release 2GB RAM smartphones with Android Go Edition, one can expect the downloads of Google Go to reach even higher in the coming days.

Any Android user is free to install Google Go on his/her phone. It is a smaller app and does not use up a lot of data or resources.

Google earlier announced a new mode for its Google Go app that enables people to search without their history being saved to their account or device.

The mode helps people keep their search experience separate from the others who use the same device.

Additionally, Incognito Mode in Google Go is starting to roll out in more than dozen languages in India, including English, Hindi, Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Nepali, Oriya, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu and Urdu.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
She has been busy filming the upcoming series of the Sky One comedy, Brassics,

And Michelle Keegan took a moment away from her hectic work schedule on Wednesday to upload a sweet throwback photo with her granddad to mark St Patrick's Day.

The actress, 33, clinked her pint of Guinness against her granddad's as she smiled fondly at him.

Sweet! Michelle Keegan took a moment away from her hectic work schedule on Wednesday to upload a sweet throwback photo with her granddad to mark St Patrick's Day

Michelle cut a casual figure in a v-neck jumper and cream jeans while sporting trainers.

She swept her cascading locks up in a half-up, half-down hairdo and rocked natural make-up.

Her granddad looked smart in grey trousers and a black blazer which he teamed with a shirt and striped tie.

Michelle captioned the delightful upload: 'Happy St Patrick's Day'.

Looking back: The actress, 33, clinked her pint of Guinness against her granddad's as she smiled fondly at him and penned: 'Happy St Patrick's Day'

On Saturday, Michelle looked effortlessly chic once again as she battled the elements in a snap posted to her Instagram Story.

The actress lit up her Brassic night shoot posing under an umbrella in an ankle length white puffer parka featuring a fur-look hood.

Michelle, who plays single mum Erin Croft in the comedy, sported a second zipped puffer underneath, which she paired with a leopard-print mini.

The former Coronation Street star completed the look with a pair of thigh-high black boots and gold hoops.

She wore her long chestnut locks down with a loose wave, and smiled as she posed for the snap with cast and crew.

The TV star captioned the pic: Nightshoots with these beauts.

Michelle put on a very animated display as she shared a giggle with her co-stars during Brassic filming in Bacup, Lancashire, on Tuesday.

Like many other shows, Brassic's filming schedule was slightly derailed by the coronavirus pandemic.

Michelle was forced to stop filming the third series of the show last year, in order to isolate, after she was exposed to COVID-19.

But, luckily, the actress didn't actually contract the potentially deadly virus.

Strike a pose: On Saturday, Michelle looked effortlessly chic once again as she battled the elements in a Brassic night shoot and posted a quick snap to her Instagram Story

A source told MailOnline at the time: 'Michelle had to take time away from the Brassic set. She has once again been laying low in Essex with her husband Mark Wright.

'She only missed one day of filming. But she needed to isolate after she came into contact with someone in Manchester who had it.

'Luckily it all happened very quickly and Michelle did not return to the Brassic set before isolating. So it didn't affect filming too much.

'She has spent last two weeks in total isolation. She will go back to filming at the end of this week.'

Brassic follows the story of Lancashire native Vinnie (Joe Gilgun), who suffers from bipolar disorder and his best friend Dylan, played by Damien Molony, from whom he has been inseparable since childhood.

A tainted past, the boys have dealt, scammed, bribed and conned their way through adolescence.

Now, on the brink of adulthood, their dealing and stealing is catching up with them, with the repercussions of their crimes heading their way.

Michelle plays alongside them as a single mum seeking a better life for herself and son Tyler (Jude Riordan).

While navigating complicated relationships with the show's leads Dylan and Vinnie, she still strives for a good childhood for her son.

The new series of Brassic is expected to air on Sky One later this year following two extremely popular previous seasons.
Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury Alleges TMC Govt Of 'smuggling Coal, Cows & Women' Into Bengal

On March 16, Congress West Bengal chief Adhir Ranjan Chowdhary laid a shocking accusation against West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee-led TMC government over its alleged involvement in the trafficking incidents in the state. While speaking to ANI in Murshidabad, Chowdhury claimed that along with coal and cow smuggling the ruling party of Bengal is also trafficking women into the state.

Besides coal smuggling, Bengal is also known to be a notorious place for cow smuggling. Our mother, daughter & sisters are also smuggled into Bengal. The ruling party (of Bengal) & bureaucracy do this together hence no one gets caught: Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, Congress (16.03) pic.twitter.com/29Kja10Uwy  ANI (@ANI) March 16, 2021

Read full story here

Assam Election: UPPL, BFP & Raijor Dal Announce Candidates List For Third Phase

The United People's Party Liberal (UPPL), an ally of the ruling BJP, the Bodo Peoples Front (BPF), a part of the Grand Alliance of eight parties, and the newly floated Raijor Dal have announced the list of candidates for the third phase of Assam assembly polls on April six.

Read full story here

Rajya Sabha Passes Bill To Raise Abortion Upper Limit To 24 Weeks; Oppn Seeks Scrutiny

Rajya Sabha on Tuesday passed the bill that provides for raising the upper limit for legal termination of pregnancy from 20 to 24 weeks and expands the access of women to safe and legal abortion on "therapeutic, eugenic, humanitarian and social grounds" for special categories of women, including rape survivors, victims of incest, those with disabilities and minors, even as the Opposition demanded that it be sent to a select committee for further scrutiny.

Read full story here

Sweden Halts Rollout Of AstraZeneca Vaccine As Precautionary Measure; UK Backs Vaccine

After reports of serious blood clotting, Sweden on March 16 joined other European countries in halting the rollouts of AstraZeneca jabs. Swedens health agency announced that the country is pausing AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccines as a precautionary measure. Nations including Germany, Italy, France Spain, Portugal, Slovenia and Latvia have already suspended the use of vaccine amid safety concerns.

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Austria Calls On EU To 'correct' Inequalities In The Vaccine Distribution

Several central and European countries are pressing the European Union to set up a corrective mechanism to address inequalities in the vaccine distribution within the bloc. According to AP, Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz called for greater transparency in coronavirus vaccines. Kurz hosted his Czech, Bulgarian and Slovenian counterparts in Vienna Tuesday, with the Latvian and Croatian leaders joining by videoconference.

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Chris is a highly regarded and award-winning Marketing and Customer Experience leader. He joins Movember from three years at the Heart Foundation in Australia, where he was the organization's first Chief Marketing Officer. Chris has held senior marketing roles across a range of industries and global brands including Woolworths and Visa International and has a strong focus on data and insights, innovation, user experience, loyalty, channel and product development. Movember CEO Michelle Terry said: 'Strengthening our connection with audiences is key to Movember delivering on our 5-year strategy to significantly increase our impact, grow and diversify our income and drive positive behavior change that improves men's health outcomes in our priority markets." She added: "Chris' experience in building high performance marketing and customer experience teams, plus his proven ability to drive organizational change means he is the ideal candidate to lead our growth and transformation agenda. Chris has been widely recognized as a behavior change expert for his work at the Heart Foundation, which showcased health intervention impact and resulted in increased audience engagement and revenue."

Chris said: "I am excited to join the Movember team at such a critical time to help deliver the new strategic direction. Movember is more than a great brand. It is one that has helped put men's health on the map globally. Movember is consistently ranked among the most innovative not-for-profits in each of its key markets. Its fresh and engaging approach to encouraging people to give and participate, continues to help raise important issues and ultimately, save lives through evidence-based impact programs."

Chris joined Movember in March and will be based out of the Australian office in Melbourne. He will report directly to Michelle Terry and is a member of the Executive Leadership Team.

Michelle said: "We look forward to welcoming Chris to the Mo team. The next 5 years will be a game changer for Movember and we are excited to be able to attract some of the best talent in the industry to guide us on that journey."

Notes to editors:

For more information:

Sheryl Tirol, US PR Manager: [email protected]

About Movember

Movember is the leading charity changing the face of men's health on a global scale, focusing on mental health and suicide prevention, prostate cancer and testicular cancer.

The charity raises funds to deliver innovative, breakthrough research and support programs that enable men to live happier, healthier and longer lives. Committed to disrupting the status quo, millions have joined the movement, helping fund over 1,250 projects around the world.

In addition to tackling key health issues faced by men, Movember is working to encourage men to stay healthy in all areas of their life, with a focus on men staying socially connected and becoming more open to discussing their health and significant moments in their lives.

The charity's vision is to have an everlasting impact on the face of men's health. To donate or learn more, please visit Movember.com.

Chris's career began in sales and marketing at Coca-Cola Amatil working across food and convenience store business units. From 1996  2001, Chris worked in a number of marketing roles at the marketing agency, Pinpoint Marketing, managing rewards, incentives, and loyalty programs for key clients including Visa International and many of the major banks and financial institutions.

From 2001 - 2007, Chris worked in a number of senior marketing roles around the world at Visa International: a member of the global management team that positioned Visa for IPO in San Francisco; Director of advertising, sponsorship and alliance portfolio across the Asia Pacific region; and Director of Marketing for Australia and New Zealand.

After completing his MBA from Macquarie Graduate School of Management in 2009, Chris established his own marketing consulting agency, consulting to a range of clients including Visa, Johnson & Johnson Medical, Vitex Pharmaceuticals and Hawker Pacific.

In 2013, Chris consulted to Woolworths on the sale and migration of the credit card portfolio to Macquarie Bank and relaunched the credit card portfolio. In 2015 he was appointed as Head of the Services marketing team that managed Financial Products, Insurance and Telco portfolios. Chris then took on responsibility for marketing of WooliesX digital business channels and integration of digital solutions into the supermarket marketing plan, in-store and owned channels.

Chris was appointed to lead the Heart Foundation through a complete review of its marketing resources and activities in early 2018. As Chief Marketing Officer, Chris led the marketing, digital and media/communications and direct and community fundraising functions to help achieve the organizations vision of an Australia free of heart disease.

In 2019, Chris' team at the Heart Foundation launched a multi-award-winning campaign in partnership with News Corp Australia which after the first 7-days led to the Government pledging support for more action on heart disease, including securing funding for Medicare-funded health checks which will directly save more than 9,000 lives and $1.5B in health costs.

Chris's teams work also led to the Heart Foundation being globally recognised as one of the world's Most Effective Marketers for Marketing Effectiveness. The Heart Foundation was named among the world's most effective brands in the 2020 Global Effie Index. This focus on impactful and commercial outcomes led to the Heart Foundation marketing team being named as Adnews Marketing Team of the Year in 2020.

Personally, Chris was recognized as one of CMO Magazines 50 most innovative and effective Chief Marketing Officers in 2019 and 2020.

SOURCE Movember
[March 17, 2021] Alen Air Becoming the Preferred Air Purifier of the California Back-to-School Movement

Alen Air Purifiers, a 15-year leader in High-efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) solutions, today announced emergency prioritized shipping for all schools now transitioning to in-person classroom learning. More than 30,000 classrooms across the country, 15,000 of which are in California, already rely on Alen Air Purifiers to protect students and teachers from COVID-19 contamination amid decisions on how and when to relax guidelines across the country. "We saw this coming and assured institutions in 2020 that the increased need will be met without delay," said Andy Graham, CEO of Alen. "Our mission is providing safe air to students, teachers, workers and families now reentering the closed spaces where our products work best. If your child and teachers are there, we'll be there to protect them." Alen products defeat viral spread by capturing and removing 99.99 percent of harmful particles to the level of 0.1 microns, a clean margin that protects against allergens, dust, mold, bacteria and other aerosolized viruses. A room full of students needs a purifier designed for larger spaces and more people "inside the box" breathing recycled air. Unfortunately, many schools and businesses are buying smaller purifiers designed for home use that won't provide enough airflow to clean the classroom. The average person inhales and exhales 2 gallons of air per minute at rest, flling up a room very quickly.



Independent third-party lab tests show that Alen Air Purifiers are 99.4 percent effective at removing dangerous air particles within 20 minutes from a 1,050 cubic feet test chamber running at one fan speed below maximum. "Always on" air purification creates a passive layer of protection that keeps virus particle count extremely low so that an infected student walking into a classroom is not adding enough viral concentration to infect another student or teacher. Teachers welcome the advent of purified air in classrooms. "We knew as school started up and we had to close doors and windows for fire season that we needed to find a safe air quality solution because the critical COVID-19 safety protocols required maximum airflow in the classrooms," said Mike Grant, director Marin County Office of Education. "We had such great feedback about our Alen HEPA air filters the prior year at one of our campuses that we decided it was time to have an Alen HEPA filter in all of our classrooms. We were able to expedite an order of about 50 units, and fortunately had them in place on the first day that air quality took a turn for the worse."

Alen reports that after safety, educators' prime concern is noise level. According to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association's guidelines excessive noise can be disruptive to communication and student attention span. Teachers speak at 50-70 decibels (dB). The Alen BreatheSmart 75i is the quietest HEPA filter among leading brands with similar airflow, operating at 49 dB at its highest speed-where it counts. To learn more about Alen's commitment to pure air and how it provides relief from allergies, asthma, pollution and odors, visit www.alen.com. About Alen Alen is an Austin-based innovator of top-rated True HEPA air purifiers and filters with over 20,000 five-star reviews by customers. Driven by the belief that wellness begins with pure air, Alen's mission is to improve quality of life and safety within homes and workplaces by making the best air purification products on the planet. Alen inspires a healthier life and peace of mind for everyone through clean and safe air. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210317005308/en/

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The EU is planning punitive measures for anti-Uyghur repression in Xinjiang. In April, it will also approve sanctions against China for violating the one country, two systems principle in Hong Kong. The Chinese admit that US restrictions are hurting. The EU and China are also split over the South China Sea and Taiwan.

Brussels (AsiaNews)  China has warned the European Union against proposed sanctions for its human rights violations in Xinjiang.

Despite the recent signing of a major bilateral investment agreement, the gap between China and Europe appear to be widening, as Europeans express concerns over the situation in Hong Kong and Chinese pressures on Taiwan and the South China Sea.

Chinas ambassador to the EU Zhang Ming spoke threateningly about Xinjiang yesterday during an online debate organised by the European Policy Centre.

On 22 March, EU foreign ministers are expected to approve sanctions against four senior Chinese officials and one entity because of Chinas repression against Uyghurs and other Turkic groups in Xinjiang, which the indigenous population calls East Turkestan.

According to expert data, backed by the United Nations, more than a million Muslims in the region have been arbitrarily held in concentration camps.

Recent press revelations have documented the existence of labour camps in the Chinese-held autonomous region, where hundreds of thousands of Uyghurs, Kazakhs and Kyrgyz have been forced to work, especially picking cotton.

According to some scholars, the Chinese government is also conducting a campaign of forced sterilisations to control the growth of the Uyghur population.

China has denied all accusations, claiming that the camps in Xinjiang are vocational centres set up as part of a plan to reduce poverty and fight against terrorism and separatism.

Ambassador Zhang said the deradicalisation centres for Muslims are no different from those that exist in the United States, France and Britain.

China is afraid of sanctions, an instrument often criticised. Last week, its foreign ministry admitted that US restrictions, especially the ban on cotton imports, are hurting Xinjiang's economy. The problem with European sanctions is that they are probably too weak.

Meanwhile, many European countries are reconsidering their approach towards China. Lithuania wants, for example, to promote cooperation with Beijing on the basis of respect for human rights, democracy and the rule of law.

Lithuanian authorities are also concerned about the future of Hong Kong. In April, the EU is set to take steps to punish Beijing's decision to change the electoral law of the former British colony.

The move by Chinas government is considered by the Union to be contrary to the principle of one country, two systems, which should guarantee Hong Kong some political and economic autonomy from the mainland.

NATO too has called on the EU and the US to act together to stop China's aggressive policy around the world.

France recently sent some ships to East Asia, which will twice cross the South China Sea, 90 per cent of which is claimed by China

Germany and the United Kingdom plan to do the same this year, with the UK sending one of its two new air carriers.

In the European Parliament, several Members are also calling for support for Taiwan, seen as a virtuous example of democracy. For communist China, the island is a rebel province, to be retaken by force if necessary.

According to French media, Chinese Ambassador to France Lu Shaye last month warned Senator Alain Richard against visiting Taiwan this summer.

In a scathing letter, Lu dismisses the trip as a violation of the one China principle and a wrong signal of support for Taiwanese independence. Some members of the French Senate have promised a clear response to the Chinese envoy's attacks.

Chinese diplomats have acted the same way in other cases; for example, Prague Mayor Zdenek Hribin was attacked for twinning his city with Taipei.
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For Mr. Evaninas first meeting with lawmakers on election security last March, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, then run by Mr. Grenell, prepared a document that tried to temper Ms. Piersons February warning by cautioning that officials had not concluded that Russia was backing Mr. Trump.

The I.C. has not concluded that the Kremlin is directly aiding any candidates re-election or any other candidates election, an unclassified summary given to lawmakers said, using shorthand for the intelligence community. Nor have we concluded that the Russians will definitely choose to try to do so in 2020.

Mr. Grenell privately pushed intelligence officials to provide evidence to back up their conclusion that Russian disinformation activity was about influencing the elections, rather than simply an effort to stoke divisive debates in the United States. He has in the past defended the March briefing as an accurate summary of the intelligence.

But the intelligence community ombudsman said in January that there were substantive differences between talking points for briefing Congress and what the intelligence community really thought.

The newly declassified report showed that the March briefing was at best misleading to Congress and backed Ms. Piersons February testimony.

The report laid out how the Russian strategy of attacking Mr. Biden goes back to 2014, before Mr. Trump was a serious candidate for office. While some senior intelligence officials have suggested that intelligence on Russia was in flux at various points in 2020, the new report made clear that the intelligence communitys view on President Vladimir V. Putins support for Mr. Trump was little changed from 2016 to 2020.
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Britain's daily coronavirus cases have continued to fall by three per cent week-on-week despite officials testing hundreds of thousands more people.

Department of Health data showed there were 5,758 Covid cases in the past 24 hours, down slightly on 5,926 last Wednesday.

Infections began to creep upwards last week following a massive spike in Covid tests being carried out because of schools finally being allowed to reopen in England.

But the test positivity rate  one of the best ways of tracking the size of the outbreak when swabbing increases  has continued to fall.

Daily Covid deaths fell by a quarter week-on-week, today's figures show. A total of 141 fatalities were announced by the Department of Health, which was 49 fewer than the 190 at the same time last week.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock told tonight's Downing Street press conference that deaths were 'falling so fast' because of the highly-successful vaccines.

Pointing to new Public Health England's analysis of the real-world impact of the jabs, he added: 'After a single dose of either vaccine, protection against Covid-19 is around 60 per cent, that's protection against getting it, protection against hospitalisation is around 80 per cent and protection against death is around 85 per cent.'

DOH data also showed another 433,320 first doses of the vaccine were administered today, bringing the total number of Britons with at least one dose of the vaccine to 25.2million.

Mr Hancock said he was 'delighted' that the UK had crossed the milestone in exactly 100 days after the launch of the mammoth operation. The NHS is now officially inviting all over-50s for their jab.

Data suggests Covid deaths recorded during the second wave are falling faster than in the first as the vaccines take effect

More than a dozen countries in Europe have stopped using AstraZeneca's vaccine amid unproven concerns it is linked to blood clots

EARLY SIGN OF VACCINE EFFECT AS BRITAIN'S DAILY COVID DEATHS FALL FASTER THAN IN THE FIRST WAVE Daily coronavirus deaths in Britain are falling at a faster rate than they did during the first wave, according to data which provides even more evidence that vaccines are saving lives. Figures from No10's Covid dashboard show that fatalities in the second wave peaked higher and fell further in the following seven weeks than during the same time period in the first wave. For example, daily Covid fatalities hit 1,362 on deadliest day of the pandemic on January 19. This had fallen to 138 seven weeks later on March 8, the most recent snapshot available  a drop of 90 per cent. By contrast, the first wave peaked at a lower 1,073 on April 8 and fell by 80 per cent to just 213 in the same amount of time. The early signs of the vaccine effect come as the Government announced more than 25million Britons have had at least one dose of either the Pfizer/BioNTech or Oxford University/AstraZeneca jabs. The milestone, which means almost half of all adults in the country have been jabbed, was hit yesterday exactly 100 days after the mammoth rollout launched. Latest figures show 25,273,226 Brits have received the first injection, while 1,759,445 of them have had their second dose. Advertisement

On another day of Covid vaccine chaos:

Dominic Cummings said Britain's vaccine drive only succeeded because Boris and Vallance took over from the 'smoking ruin' Department of Health;

Outsed No10 adviser added the civil service was a 'disaster zone' and said he insisted the Prime Minister promise it will be reformed;

England's roll-out was today expanded to all over-50s as the drive continued to pick up the pace;

Reports mounted of UK patients cancelling Covid jabs because of the EU's mass revolt against AstraZeneca's shots over unproven fears;

Abortions rose by up to 30 per cent during the first wave in England and Wales after ministers changed the rules to allow terminations at home;

And data showed deaths fell faster during the second wave in early sign of vaccine effectiveness.

It came as it emerged Britain faces a 'significant' shortage of the Pfizer vaccine, with doses being held back to ensure millions do not lose out on getting their second jab within the crucial 12-week gap.

MailOnline understands ministers are expecting fewer doses of the jab from April, leaving NHS bosses inevitably having to reserve spring supplies to ensure older Britons get their top-up jab within the deadline.

Matt Hancock today said at a Downing Street press conference that the supply is always 'lumpy', and they are still on track to meet the target of vaccinating all nine priority groups - including over-50s, NHS staff and care home residents - by the end of April.

Meanwhile, the success of the Covid jabs were highlighted again tonight as officials unveiled fresh data confirming they reduce deaths in the elderly by 85 per cent.

Public Health England's vaccine chief Dr Mary Ramsay told tonight's Downing Street conference that 'every day we vaccinate more people, we prevent more deaths'.

She unveiled a raft of new data showing the real-world impact of a single dose of Pfizer or AstraZeneca's jabs on the UK's crisis after it emerged 25million Brits have had at least one dose.

Among the promising findings were an 85 per cent reduction in deaths in the over-80s and an 80 per cent fall in hospitalisations in the same age group. The analysis also found a 60 per cent reduction in catching Covid after one dose for over-70s.

Dr Ramsay added the risk of getting infected is cut by a third if you live with someone who has been vaccinated.

She said the jabs' impact improves across the board when a patient has been fully vaccinated with both doses. The latest data confirms PHE's initial findings last month.

But Dr Ramsay urged Britons not to get complacent, adding: 'Please don't alter your behaviour when you have the vaccine. Don't take unnecessary risks.'
[March 17, 2021] T. Sha Duncan Smith Named First V.P. of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at Santa Clara University

Santa Clara University has selected T. Sha Duncan Smith, a highly experienced diversity educator and leader, to guide and shape the University's diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts, including its campus culture, programming initiatives, and recruitment and retention of diverse students, faculty, and staff. Duncan Smith, currently Swarthmore College's assistant vice president and dean of inclusive excellence and community development, will become Santa Clara University's first vice president for diversity, equity, and inclusion and chief diversity officer on July 1. "We look forward to welcoming Sha Duncan Smith to Santa Clara University, to lead and help us shape the future of diversity, equity and inclusion across our campuses," said SCU President Kevin O'Brien, S.J. "She is a proven strategist for change, having built strong relationships, programs and initiatives promoting intercultural, inclusive, and supportive environments for diverse constituents in her previous positions. She brings the ideal combination of tested experience and charismatic leadership to Santa Clara at this important moment in our history. Under her leadership, we will come closer to fulfilling our potential as a community of welcome and belonging for all." The position of vice president for DEI at SCU was created following the recommendations of the University's Blue Ribbon Commission on Diversity and Inclusion (2016), the Task Force on Diversity and Inclusion (2017) and the Campus Climate Survey Report (2018). Duncan Smith will provide vision, leadership, and direction for Santa Clara's current and future equity initiatives, to advance and deepen the University's commitment to become an anti-racist institution. She will fous and develop recruitment and retention programs to increase diversity of faculty, staff, and students at the graduate and undergraduate level; be the University's ambassador for DEI on campus and beyond; and create a culture of continuous improvement and accountability through planning and assessment of such initiatives.



"I am excited to join Santa Clara University at this important time in its growth as an institution," said Duncan Smith. "I look forward to working with leaders across the university to serve as a thought, strategy, and action partner in these important areas. My experience has taught me that when there is a will for change, it is possible to become a community where people have a stronger sense of belonging and can thrive." Duncan Smith has over 18 years of experience developing and implementing strategic plans and initiatives to promote diverse, equitable and inclusive cultures for students, faculty and staff. At Swarthmore, she partnered with human resources to create affinity employee resource groups to increase retention; integrated intergroup dialogue curriculum into residential peer leadership training; and worked with the Office of Sustainability to create and promote inclusive sustainability and environmental justice initiatives. She has been the campus co-lead in the Tri-College and Bi-College Summer Social Justice Institute (with Haverford and Bryn Mawr College) and designed intercultural trainings, dialogues, and workshops for students faculty and staff.

She has taught courses on leading during racial crisis and accountability and incentivization for advancing equity goals at the University of Southern California Race & Equity Center Equity Institutes, where she is also senior strategist for their Liberal Arts Colleges Racial Equity Leadership Alliance. She taught global intercultural experience for undergraduates at the University of Michigan's College of Literature, Science and the Arts. She was previously director of diversity and inclusion at the University of Michigan Ross School of Business, and before that was intercultural programs manager for the University of Michigan's Center for Global and Intercultural Study and coordinator of diversity initiatives and academic support for the University of Michigan's School of Public Health. She has presented at numerous association conferences on the topics of racial equity, diversity, equity and inclusion in education, and inclusive sustainability. Duncan Smith founded, developed and restructured diversity, equity and inclusion offices at the University of Michigan and Swarthmore. She collaborated with the Black Cultural Center, Inclusive Excellence Fellows Program, First Generation and Low Income Office, International Students Center, Interfaith Center, Intercultural Center and Women's Resource Center to develop the new Inclusive Excellence team structure at Swarthmore College. Duncan Smith is completing her doctorate in higher education management at University of Pennsylvania. She holds both a master's of social work and a bachelor of arts in sociology from University of Michigan. She spent her formative years in Michigan and currently lives outside of Philadelphia. She will move to the Bay Area for the position with her husband Tony and four children. About Santa Clara University Founded in 1851, Santa Clara University sits in the heart of Silicon Valley-the world's most innovative and entrepreneurial region. The University's stunningly landscaped 106-acre campus is home to the historic Mission Santa Clara de Asis. Ranked among the top 15 percent of national universities by U.S. News & World Report, SCU has among the best four-year graduation rates in the nation and is rated by PayScale in the top 1 percent of universities with the highest-paid graduates. SCU has produced elite levels of Fulbright Scholars as well as four Rhodes Scholars. With undergraduate programs in arts and sciences, business, and engineering, and graduate programs in six disciplines, the curriculum blends high-tech innovation with social consciousness grounded in the tradition of Jesuit, Catholic education. For more information see www.scu.edu. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210317005754/en/

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Mr. Biden, according to White House aides, is open to appointing Mr. Blum to an ambassadorship, which is among the most coveted positions in any administration. After prioritizing the appointments of their West Wing staff and the cabinet, the president and his top advisers have only recently started considering whom to dispatch overseas.

One potential ambassador, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss a sensitive topic, said Mr. Biden himself wants to pore over the list of potential appointees and does not feel rushed.

There is, however, rising impatience among the would-be envoys. Former senators, including some who served in the Senate with Mr. Biden, are particularly eager to gain some clarity and have taken note of how few in their ranks have joined the administration to date, according to one prominent Democrat who has spoken to them.

The president, himself a former chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, is attempting a delicate balancing act: rewarding loyal donors and former colleagues without flooding the diplomatic corps with political appointees, as some of his associates thought former President Donald J. Trump had done.

Former senators who could be named as ambassadors include Jeff Flake, the Arizona Republican who backed Mr. Biden; Joe Donnelly of Indiana; Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota; Ken Salazar of Colorado; and Christopher J. Dodd of Connecticut.

Its not just former members of Congress looking for positions. A handful of current lawmakers are still hoping to join the administration but are waiting because of Mr. Bidens own deliberations and the Democrats narrow majorities. For example, Representative Dina Titus of Nevada, an early Biden supporter, is hoping for an ambassadorship, but there are currently three Democratic vacancies in the House, where the party holds a slim majority.

Mr. Blums desire for an ambassadorship could prove consequential, though. Gov. Gavin Newsom of California, facing an increasingly likely recall threat and eager to energize his partys base, pledged in an interview with MSNBCs Joy Reid on Monday night that he would appoint a Black woman to replace Ms. Feinstein. He acknowledged he had multiple names in mind for a vacancy that does not exist.
Burma 32 Anti-Regime Protesters Charged with Incitement in Upper Myanmar

An anti-regime protest in Monywa.

Yangon  A court in Monywa Township, Sagaing Region, on Monday heard the case of 32 anti-regime protesters who were detained on Feb. 27 and charged them under Article 505(a) of the Penal Code for incitement, according to the Monywa District Lawyers Network.

The court hearing was held via video conferencing. A Monywa police major filed a lawsuit against 32 protesters, including two females, with the township court.

The next court hearing will take place on March 25. One of the 32 protesters is a minor and was charged separately, said the network. All the detainees are reportedly in good health.

Police have so far detained 76 people in connection with the protests in Monywa, according to the network.

We will make sure all detainees get their full legal rights, said a member of the network.

Article 505(a) was amended by the military regime to toughen sentencing to three years for causing fear, spreading false news or agitating against government employees.

Monywa residents took to the streets in early February with daily protests continuing, despite casualties and detentions. Ten civilians have so far been killed in Monywa by the security forces.

[The security forces] are making it difficult for protesters to march. But the marches that started on Feb. 7 continue every day. If they block a ward, we march elsewhere, said Ko Wai Moe Naing, a leading member of the Monywa general strike committee, who took part in a march on Tuesday.

The militarys violent crackdown means they are desperate, he said. Though there are discouraging posts on Facebook, on the ground they are struggling to stop us. Government employees who have joined the civil disobedience government have not returned to their offices. We still believe we will win this fight, said Ko Wai Moe Naing.

Thousands of Monywa residents took to the streets on Wednesday.

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ATLANTA, Ga., March 17, 2021  Breckenridge Insurance Services continues to grow its wholesale brokerage presence in the Southwest with the addition of broker Jodi Hughes, AINS, AU. Hughes has nearly seventeen years of insurance experience and specializes in construction business, both residential and commercial. She also has expertise in tough product liability accounts.

Hughes recently was a commercial broker at Quirk & Company and an account executive/broker at Valiant Insurance Services. For nearly a decade prior, she was a workers compensation underwriter at Arrowhead General Insurance Agency where she began her career as a homeowners insurance underwriter.

Jodi brings a disciplined approach to providing agents with sound, responsive solutions for their insureds, stated Trevor Pierce, president of Breckenridge Insurance Services. As we see the casualty marketplace continue to harden and begin to rebound in a post-COVID environment, Jodis expertise will be invaluable to support our increased agent demand for both construction and manufacturing risks.

Hughes added, I was drawn to the opportunity to be a part of a collaborative team focused on solving problems agents may face in this changing marketplace. As we have access to a range of top-rated markets, Im confident Ill be able to drive growth and support our collective plans for an increased presence in the Southwest and beyond.

Hughes is located in San Antonio, Texas and can be reached at jhughes@breckis.com or 469.694.1568.

About Breckenridge Insurance Services:

BRECKENRIDGE INSURANCE SERVICES is a national wholesale insurance brokerage/MGA delivering top-rated, competitive commercial coverage solutions. With more than three decades of providing responsive counsel and risk management insights, Breckenridge has become a recognized leader and trusted partner to valued agents and coveted carrier partners internationally. With significant in-house contract binding authority and expert, award-winning brokers spanning nearly all property and casualty, workers compensation and professional liability risks, we offer collaborative, comprehensive solutions. As part of Breckenridge Group, the team has access to additional resources and expertise to help clients go further. For more information, please visit WWW.BRECKIS.COM or call 855.728.8822. CA Insurance License #0G13592

About Breckenridge Group:

Headquartered in Atlanta, Breckenridge Group is the parent company of several best-in-class brands that provide insurance and risk management solutions and services to diverse audiences across three practice areas: insurance, financial and member services. For more than a decade, the company has built a reputation for strategic growth by empowering expert talent who achieve inspiring results. More than 350 employees work across its seven divisions including Breckenridge Insurance Services, Blue River Underwriters, Breckenridge General Agency, OSC Insurance Services, Southeastern Underwriters, Target Markets Program Administrators Association and Insurance Networks Alliance. For more information, please visit WWW.BRECKGRP.COM.

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Right-wing Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte is reopening schools as COVID-19 surges in Europe, after a decade of leading governments of austerity and war. Ruttes Freedom and Democracy Party (VVD) has nevertheless dominated Dutch elections, which end today, thanks to the reactionary policies of the middle-class parties that the bourgeoisie has passed off as the left. This includes prominently the ex-Maoist Socialist Party (SP) of the Netherlands.

Rutte rejected even the limited lockdowns adopted in other European countries and only this year imposed a curfew, forcing non-essential workers to stay on the job throughout the pandemic. As a result, over 1.1 million people have contracted the virus and over 16,000 have died in a country of only 17.3 million. The SP made clear its support for this general policy in a recent election interview with SP parliamentary leader Lilian Marijnissen, where she emphasized that she was looking to enter into any coalition that would agree to include her party.

Our engagement is for a coalition government, Marijnissen said. Asked if she would consider a coalition the VVD, which is set to decisively win the elections, she said: Let the voters decide. She added that the VVD is at the bottom of my list. Marijnissen declared, however, that she is open to cooperation with any party that wants to make the Netherlands fairer.

Lilian Marijnissen (2018), Credit: Wikimedia

In an interview with students, posted on YouTube on February 15, Marijnissen reaffirmed her partys commitment to herd-immunity policies for reopening schools. Think about quick-tests, think about class-groups split in half, she said. A motion put forward by the SP demands the government investigate how to reopen education safely.

The SP has run a campaign based on accepting the herd immunity policy imposed by the bourgeoisie across Europe, and instead dividing the working class by relentlessly targeting Muslims and immigrants with police-state measures. Its election programme, titled Make an Act, combines hollow phrases and invocations of activism with the partys trademark criticisms of Muslims and calls for building up the police forces.

The programme denounces unidentified groups of extreme Salafists who raise children in hatred for our freedom and democracy, calling to ban hate preachers and to legally regulate the right of residence of children rooted in our country. To make clear their support for deporting children or other immigrants who do not meet the SPs criteria, they add immediately afterwards: People who are not entitled to a residence permit must return to their country of origin.

Under the title A safer country, the SP writes: Due to the shortages in the police, more extraordinary investigating officers are being appointed in municipalities. We want more agents. If local enforcers nevertheless have to perform police tasks, they must also become police officers, with police training and adapted armament. These enforcers should be part of the police organisation, so that good cooperation is assured. In this way the police also get extra ears and eyes in the neighbourhoods.

Since the last elections, the SP has dropped its ritualistic calls for the Netherlands to leave the EU or NATO, instead calling for a more aggressive Dutch military policy, including with more peace-keeping military missions abroad. In a cynical nod to mass anti-war sentiment, the PS criticizes the nonsensical strategy of permanent war. The SP tries to excuse itself by claiming that it only agreed to give non-lethal support to the NATO military interventions in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The SPs amorphous calls for unity, its criticisms of divisions based on colour, gender or class, and its occasional invocations of socialism are so much dust thrown into voters eyes to obscure its reactionary politics. The SP official website even seeks to reassure big business that they are no threat, declaring, we are not against wealth, but we are against poverty.

The SP arose in 1972 out of a multitude of Marxist-Leninist Maoist groups, most prominently the Kommunistische Eenheidsbeweging Nederland (KEN, or Communist Unity Movement of the Netherlands), which maintained connections with Chinas Maoist regime. It maintained the extreme nationalist orientation common among European Maoist parties. In 1983 it published a xenophobic pamphlet, titled Foreign Labour and Capital, that demanded that immigrant workers adopt the Dutch language and values or else leave.

The SP gave up its flirtation with Maoism in 1986, under the leadership of Jan Marijnissen, the father of Ms. Marijnissen, stripping references to Lenin and Marx from the party programme, and calling instead for a breakthrough in parliament. The SP leadership now blushes about its empty references to Marxism in earlier eras, instead focusing exclusively on practical realpolitik within and outside the trade union confederations and the Dutch state machine.

The privileged middle-class operatives of this party have profited, as trade unions, corporations and successive governments negotiated massive wage cuts, slashed labour rights and social benefits, and systematically strangled strikes. This allowed for a massive transfer of wealth to the top of Dutch society.

This constant redistribution of wealth from the bottom to the top increasingly discredited the Labour Party (PvdA) and the trade union apparatuses. Instead, far-right populist organizations like the Party for Freedom (PVV) of Geert Wilders sought to capitalize on deep social anger at this corrupt framework with appeals to anti-Muslim and xenophobic hatreds. The SP, for its part, drove mass anger in the working class to the political establishment into a dead end, allowing the far right to grow.

During the pandemic, it has sought to stifle any action, however limited, that it feared might trigger broader opposition in the working class.

Last November, the SP came into open conflict with its youth movement, ROOD (meaning red). The SP leadership expelled several leading ROOD members for alleged dual-membership in the Communist Platform, a Stalinist outfit on the periphery of the SP and the union apparatus. The SP branded them as study room-communists that say very scary things, adding: They want to arm the population to start a civil war.

The SP thus effectively cut ties with and disbanded its own youth movement at the end of last year, amid a mass upsurge of COVID-19 deaths in the Netherlands and across Europe. Its claims about the Communist Platforms alleged radicalism are absurd, moreover, as this Stalinist outfit works to paint the SPs reactionary parliamentary activities in false revolutionary colours, and demoralize and disorient youth who seek an alternative to the SP on its left.

While admitting that the SP is complicit in oppression by the state and by capital, the Communist Platform writes: We nevertheless appeal for a vote for the SP. The SP has the greatest potential to develop into a working class, communist party. Despite these aforementioned problems, the SP has proven itself to be the most coherent party against neo-liberalism and imperialism compared to other left parties in the parliament.

The elections were called shortly after the expulsion of ROOD members, as a mounting political crisis engulfed the Rutte government and virtually the entire political establishment. Investigations confirmed that Dutch officials falsely and vindictively accused immigrant families of child benefit fraud, forcing them to repay the benefits they had received and ruining thousands of families. While the SP posed as concerned by the families complaints, they had previously played a central role in creating a political climate favourable to vicious targeting of Muslims and immigrants.

Nonetheless, the SP has the unflinching support of a broader layer of middle-class, pseudo-left groups that justify its every twist and turn with claims that nothing else can be done. Socialistisch Alternatief (SA), the Dutch section of the Committee for a Workers International (CWI), downplays and covers up the SPs political objectives, writing: since there is no mass workers party, which represents the independent political interests of the working class in the election, the Socialist Party can be seen as the best voting option for many workers.

The politics of the SP and its political satellites are completely rotten. Like the German Left Party, the Spanish Podemos and the Greek Syriza, the Dutch SP mouths a few empty phrases while backing the Dutch state apparatus as the ruling class manoeuvres to bring Rutte back to power for an agenda of more austerity and more deaths from COVID-19.

The SP must be exposed for what it is: a sinister political trap, aiming to prevent the working class from fighting independently against herd immunity, austerity and war based on an independent, internationalist and socialist programme, and instead tying it to the established parties.
By Eli Walsh

Bay City News Foundation

Gov. Gavin Newsom visited an Alameda elementary school on Tuesday, criticizing the effort to recall him while touting the state's progress in reducing coronavirus cases and expanding vaccine access.

Newsom visited Ruby Bridges Elementary School as part of a series of school visits in recent weeks as students return to in-person classes for the first time in roughly a year.

Those reopenings were spurred earlier this month by Newsom's signing of a $6.6 billion legislative package to support increased safety for students and educators as well as personal protection equipment, improvements to classroom ventilation and regular coronavirus testing.

The state is also expected to receive an additional $15.9 billion in federal education funding from the recently passed American Rescue Plan.

Newsom said the funding and plummeting COVID-19 case rates statewide have enabled roughly 9,000 of the state's 11,000 primary and secondary schools to reopen or formally set a reopening date.

Some 80 percent of the students at Ruby Bridges Elementary have already voluntarily returned to class, according to Newsom.

"I imagine they'll see that number even grow once people have some confidence," he said. "Parents need to have confidence; not just the teachers, not just the custodial staff, not just the bus drivers and not just the folks that make schools like this work within the cafeterias."

More than 400,000 educators and child care workers have already received at least one coronavirus vaccine dose, driven in part by the state's allocation of 10 percent of its weekly vaccine shipments toward educators.

Newsom's visit came on the eve of the deadline to collect signatures for the effort to recall him. Organizers say they have collected some 2 million signatures, more than is required to trigger a recall election.

Newsom noted that he expects the recall effort to force an election, but argued that the recall campaign's nationalization -- the Republican National Committee has donated $250,000 to the campaign -- and a judge's extension of the signature collection deadline as reasons the effort to trigger an election would be successful.

"This is the sixth effort to recall. I've been here 45 months," Newsom said, characterizing the effort as a "circus" and a "sideshow."

Newsom and state Democratic officials have also made it a point to portray the recall organizers as radicals with ties to conspiracy theories from QAnon and far-right militia groups like the Three Percenters.

That messaging has been boosted by the California Democratic Party and other liberal allies, including New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker, Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders.

"The reality is, (it) looks like it's going on the ballot," Newsom said. "So we're ready to go. We will fight it, we will defeat it. At the same time, it's not going to keep me from focusing on my job 24/7."

Copyright  2021 Bay City News, Inc. All rights reserved. Republication, rebroadcast or redistribution without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. Bay City News is a 24/7 news service covering the greater Bay Area.

Copyright  2021 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited.
Brattleboro, VT (05301)

Today

Rain showers this evening with overcast skies overnight. Low 54F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 70%..

Tonight

Rain showers this evening with overcast skies overnight. Low 54F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 70%.
Mar. 17HAVERHILL  Mayor James Fiorentini has asked Gov. Charlie Baker to make food service and restaurant workers immediately eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

For Haverhill, that would amount to more than 2,000 workers who are currently in the state's Phase 2, Group 3 category and as of Tuesday were not yet eligible to receive the vaccine, Fiorentini said.

Baker said late Tuesday afternoon on Twitter that he planned to announce Wednesday morning the schedule for all remaining groups in the state's vaccination plan. He said every resident will know when they are eligible for a vaccine.

Fiorentini posted on his Haverhill News Facebook page on Tuesday that it is also time to vaccinate the city's public works employees, retail workers, and others who have shown up to work during the pandemic  he but decided to focus his request to the governor on food service and restaurant workers.

In a letter to the governor, Fiorentini said essential grocery store, restaurant and food manufacturing employees have continued working every day from the beginning of the pandemic despite their legitimate health and safety concerns.

"It is now time to recognize their importance and sacrifice by qualifying them to receive the vaccine in Massachusetts as many other states have already done," Fiorentini told the governor.

The mayor noted in his letter that Haverhill has three major Market Basket supermarkets which employ hundreds of people, dozens of small neighborhood stores and bodegas, and nearly 100 restaurants of various kinds and sizes that employ upwards of 1,000 people in total.

Fiorentini said these businesses and their employees have been ravaged financially and otherwise by the pandemic.

"We also have a thriving food manufacturing cluster in Haverhill with approximately 1,800 workers employed at our five largest companies alone," the mayor said in his letter.

"My administration has been in constant communication with representatives of these food service companies during the pandemic," Fiorentini told Baker. "They are a critical part of our economy here in the city.

Story continues

"I cannot stress enough their need and desire to get their workforce vaccinated as soon as possible," the mayor said.

Fiorentini told Baker that a large percentage of food service workers are minority and/or low-income people who have been disproportionately impacted by the virus because they cannot perform their jobs from home.

"Moreover, many of these workers encounter hundreds of individuals every week in the course of doing their jobs, which increases risk of community spread of the virus," the mayor's letter said. "Allowing these essential workers to be vaccinated ASAP will demonstrate appreciation for their sacrifice but also significantly reduce the ability of the coronavirus to spread in our community."


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Coroanvirus cases: PM Modi observes Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Telangana about increase in COVID-19 cases

India

oi-Ajay Joseph Raj P

New Delhi, Mar 17: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday held a meeting with the chief ministers of states and Union territories and reviewed the ongoing COVID-19 situation of the country. It can be seen that this is the first meeting between the PM and the state authorities after India began its vaccination drive.

During his interaction with the Chief Ministers that came in the backdrop of a sudden spike in the number of COVID-19 cases, PM Modi mentioned certain states in various regards.

Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Punjab

PM Modi mentioned Maharashtra, Punjab as a few states where cases have been increasing. "In many states, cases are increasing after coming down briefly. Some names were mentioned like Maharashtra, Punjab," he said. Then he said the case positivity rate is very high in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh. The number of cases is also increasing, he said.

Coronavirus cases: PM Modi asks Karnataka to focus on controlling COVID-19 outbreak

Kerala, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh

The contacts of every infected person have to be tracked as soon as possible. Taking the name of Kerala, Odisha, Chhattisgarh and Uttar Pradesh, PM Modi said that these states are mostly depending on an antigen test, instead of RT-PCR tests. "This needs to be changed. RT-PCR tests must be 70 per cent of all tests," PM Modi said.

Telangana, Andhra Pradesh

Karnataka CD Scandal: Family claims woman kidnapped, files complaint| Oneindia News

Urging states to concentrate on local planning, PM Modi said, "Over 10 per cent vaccines of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh have been wasted. Uttar Pradesh too has similar figures. Vaccine wastage should be reviewed. It should be monitored every evening."

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Wednesday, March 17, 2021, 16:52 [IST]
OTTAWA - The head of the response centre set up to help victims of sexual misconduct in the military says recent complaints against senior leaders of the Canadian Armed Forces are a sign of progress, not failure.

Governor General David Johnston presents then Major Eleanor Taylor, from Antigonish, N.S., with the Meritorious Service Medal during a ceremony in Ottawa, Ont. Friday June 22, 2012. A female officer of the Canadian Armed Forces is quitting the military, saying she is "sickened" by ongoing investigations of sexual misconduct against senior military leaders. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

OTTAWA - The head of the response centre set up to help victims of sexual misconduct in the military says recent complaints against senior leaders of the Canadian Armed Forces are a sign of progress, not failure.

Still, Denise Preston, executive director of the civilian-run Sexual Misconduct Response Centre, said the fact those allegations are being raised in the media, rather than directly to the military, shows there is a lack of trust in the reporting process among the ranks.

It also shows more must be done to eliminate inappropriate sexual behaviour from the military, Preston said, starting with the Defence Department and the Canadian Armed Forces finally acting on her past calls for better data.

The military has previously promised to provide better information, which Preston said is critical for understanding the scope and scale of the problem as well as who is being victimized, who the perpetrators are and what happens to them.

But Preston told The Canadian Press in an interview this week that the military has made only minimal progress over the past few years as past promises have been derailed by shifting priorities that have taken attention away from responding to sexual misconduct.

The couple of times in the past that these efforts have started, theyve ended up getting overtaken by other events," said Preston, who has served as the inaugural executive director of the centre since 2017.

"It just hasnt happened, but its absolutely a priority that needs to be addressed."

Prestons comments come amid emerging allegations of misconduct involving senior members of the Armed Forces, including the two most recent chiefs of the defence staff, Gen. Jonathan Vance and Admiral Art McDonald.

It also coincides with mounting questions about the militarys ongoing inability to tackle an issue that has come to the surface several times over more than two decades, including in 2014, which is when the sexual misconduct response centre was created.

Recently, a senior female officer, Lt.-Col. Eleanor Taylor, said she is quitting the Armed Forces, saying in her resignation letter that she was "sickened" by investigations into top military commanders  and disgusted they took so long.

Taylor added that she was encouraged when Operation Honour  the all-out effort to eliminate sexual misconduct in the military  was launched in July 2015, but: Sadly, the failure of senior leadership to set the example on the operation has poisoned it.

Her departure comes after 25 years in uniform, including leading an infantry company in Afghanistan. It prompted a promise from Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan and his department Wednesday to to redouble efforts to root sexual misconduct from the ranks.

Vance is alleged to have had an ongoing relationship with a subordinate that began more than a decade ago and continued after he became chief of the defence staff. He is also accused of having sent a lewd email to a junior soldier in 2012.

The allegations were reported in early February by Global News, which says Vance has denied any wrongdoing. The Canadian Press has not independently verified the allegations, and Vance has declined to respond to requests for comment.

McDonald, who became defence chief in January, has temporarily stepped aside while military police investigate an allegation of misconduct that has not been detailed publicly.

While Taylor isnt the only one to have criticized the militarys progress on the issue, Preston suggested the recent reports should be seen as a step in the right direction.

On the strength of a couple of people coming forward, its provided opportunity for more people to come forward, Preston said in an interview done before news of Taylors resignation emerged late Tuesday.

Would that have happened five years ago? Ten years ago? Im not sure. So it makes me think that perhaps this is a result of more dialogue in the organization and a result of Operation Honour being in place.

Preston has previously underscored the need for data, as the military currently has a hodgepodge of reports from military police, individual commanders and others.

She said the best information the military has right now is from two Statistics Canada surveys of serving military personnel released in 2016 and 2018.

The 2018 report had 1.6 per cent of members of the regular Forces  about 900 people  report they had been victims of sexual assault, either in the military workplace or otherwise involving military members in the year before the survey. For the primary reserves, that number was 2.2 per cent, or about 600 people.

Thats the sum total of what we know," said Preston, adding it is unknown how many perpetrators were involved.

That lack of information hampers her centres ability to monitor the militarys fight against sexual misconduct, Preston said, and also undermines that fight.

Preston also joined other experts and survivors of military sexual misconduct in calling for the Armed Forces to introduce ways for service members to report sexual assaults and other incidents without triggering a formal investigation, as in other countries.

The Liberal government has faced calls to establish more independent oversight and accountability over the military, particularly when it comes to inappropriate sexual behaviour.

That is also what retired Supreme Court justice Marie Deschamps recommended when she issued a scathing report on sexual misconduct in the military in 2015.

The response centre was established in response to Deschampss report, but Preston acknowledged it is not independent. It relies on the Defence Department for funding and while it can identify issues and make recommendations, it is not responsible for holding the military to account.

"We need to re-look at our own mandate and our own independence and look at whether or not we've got it right," she said. I don't think we have it right yet."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 17, 2021.
Until congressional Democrats and President Joe Biden delivered the American Rescue Plan, the state government and every school district in Pennsylvania had to scramble in search of funds to cover tax revenue lost to the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

With the federal cash on hand, the bigger long-term problem facing the state government and schools has returned to the radar.

Every year, taxpayers fork over $5 billion of the state budget and an amount equal to 34% of every school districts payroll to the Pennsylvania Public School Employees Retirement System. Those crippling amounts are something for taxpayers to ponder when the state says that it cant fix bridges without new tolls or schools say they cant afford busing for all students.

Such astronomical burdens are the result of the Legislature tying pension benefit rates to lawmakers own unconscionable benefits nearly 20 years ago, and refusing to effect sweeping reforms when it was obvious that their decisions had blown up the system.

One reform that lawmakers did come up with was called risk-sharing, as in teachers and other school employees sharing the systems risks with taxpayers. In a given year, if the $62 billion systems earnings did not meet certain targets, the employees would have to make increased contributions to cover the difference.

In December, the PSERS concluded that the plan had earned 6.38% for the year, two-hundreths of a percent higher than the target earnings of 6.36%. Therefore, the system did not impose higher contributions on more than 100,000 school employees.

But Friday, the board acknowledged that it was incorrect, and that the plan had earned less than 6.36%. But because of the timing, an additional $25 million in costs will be passed on to taxpayers.

Beyond the question of why the plan cant generate 6.36% in a booming market is that calculating the earnings is a matter of math.

The board authorized an inquiry by an outside body to be selected by one of its committee. But this matter should be taken wholly outside PSERS. State Attorney General Josh Shapiro should launch his own investigation and ensure that the responsible parties are held accountable, criminally, civilly or both.
Warmer temperatures and COVID-19 vaccines mean Lehigh Valley nursing homes and long-term care facilities are readying to welcome visitors, slowly.

Last week, the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) said facilities should allow indoor visits at long-term care facilities regardless of vaccination status of the resident, or the visitor.

This is after COVID-19s deadly effects on long-term care facilities during the pandemic.

AARP estimates the virus killed more than 170,000 long-term care residents and staff. In Pennsylvania, more than half of the states nearly 25,000 COVID-19 deaths involved long-term care residents, PennLive reported.

CMS recognizes the psychological, emotional and physical toll that prolonged isolation and separation from family have taken on nursing home residents, and their families, Dr. Lee Fleisher, the CMS chief medical officer and director of CMS Center for Clinical Standards and Quality.

Cedarbrook in Lehigh County announced this week that, barring any unforeseen setbacks or changes, it will start scheduled in-person visits on Thursday for green zone residents only. The green zone residents are those with no known possible exposures or COVID-19 cases.

The visits will be held in the family room at the Allentown campus and in the main dining room at Fountain Hill, or outside when the weather permits.

We wont be able to get to everyone all at once, as we cannot have crowds in the building, the facility wrote in a Facebook post. Over time as we get our footing with this new program and cases continue to decrease in the Valley, we will look to increase the volume of visits we can safely handle.

If a case occurs on a specific unit, visitation on that specific unit is paused for the exposure period on that unit.

Northampton County officials are taking some time before opening up Gracedale to in-person visits.

Gracedale Administrator Jennifer Stewart-King said the Upper Nazareth facility will begin allowing volunteers on April 5 and were going to see how that goes.

This is the first step to us reopening, she said.

The home has allowed video visitation, window visits and compassionate visits for residents in end-of-life care and those whose health has sharply declined. The tentative plan is to start scheduled in-person visits on May 1.

You know theres going to be a lot of hugging, Stewart-King said. We are trying to be very cautious, especially with the spread of variants in Europe and South America.

Gracedale previously opened to in-person visits in September, but had to close again in October after positive cases began to appear.

Like before, a tent will be set up outside and an unused floor inside will be used for scheduled visits.

Its a good model to start with, she said. The guidance is to take it slow... the staff needs to be protected, the residents paramount, but also the visitors.

Pre-pandemic, families could visit whenever they wanted.

Now we have to look at so many variables, Stewart-King said. I dont think the government is ready to say, (allow) doors open, 24-hour visitation.

At Gracedale, 87% of its 500-plus residents and 48% of staff have been vaccinated, not for the lack of trying by the county.

I would to have liked to have seen more, Stewart-King said.

People are coming forward asking to get vaccinated, as time has passed from when residents and staff were initially vaccinated, she added.

For new residents, if they are in the hospital, the county can ask the hospital if they can vaccinate the person before they move to Gracedale. Then, the nursing home would coordinate the second shot.

Were working on protocols with St. Lukes and Lehigh Valley, Steart-King said.

Eventually, a federal program will certify pharmacies like the in-house pharmacy at Gracedale so they will be able to give out the vaccine.

Thats what were waiting for, she said.

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Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com.
Press Release

March 17, 2021 Drilon hits 'grossly inadequate' P10-B rescue package for distressed companies, bats for more effective gov't intervention The minority leader says the amount is a 'drop in the bucket' compared to P19.5-B anti-red funds The P10-billion rescue package to assist distressed small and medium enterprises and strategically important companies (SICs) is grossly inadequate, Senate Minority Leader Franklin M. Drilon said today. "It is a drop in the bucket. I question the priorities of this government insofar as allocating funds is concerned. We see the need to assist these very critical SICs. These are companies that can save the employment of our people," Drilon said during a Senate hearing on the proposed Government Financial Institutions Unified Initiatives to Distressed Enterprises for Economic Recovery Act (Guide bill). "Yet, we allocate only P10 billion, which is one-half of the P19.5 billion that the government allocated to the anti-insurgency fund," he added. "That is what concerns me - the priorities that we have insofar as our efforts to revive the economy," he lamented. The principal objective of the GUIDE is to give necessary access to credit and financial assistance to micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and strategically important companies (SICs), affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, he noted. However, Drilon questioned the sufficiency of the amount considering that the country suffered a 9.5 percent economic contraction in 2020, equivalent to P1.5 trillion, and an unemployment rate of 4.5 percent, equivalent to 4.5 million jobless Filipinos, due to the pandemic. "Given all of these, I raise questions on the sincerity of the administration in helping these strategically important companies. Will it make a dent? The P10 billion rescue package is a joke, especially if you look at it in the context of the P19.5 billion this government allocated to the anti-insurgency fund," said Drilon, calling the anti-red fund a source of "pork barrel". Drilon said the measly amount speaks volume of the seriousness of the government in helping distressed enterprises and corporations and putting back the economy on its feet. He cited the newly signed US$1.9 trillion stimulus package as an example. "If we are going to assist, let us provide more direct assistance," he said. "We should extend more assistance provided that there are more safeguards. We should assist our companies more because they are the generators of the economy and they provide employment." Drilon said there is clearly a need for the government to provide more meaningful interventions to help these companies, save jobs and revive the economy. Drilon also said that the government should put more funds from the national budget instead of utilizing the funds of the Land Bank of the Philippines and the Development Bank of the Philippines. Under the measure, DBP and Landbank will be authorized to invest in, or enter into a joint venture agreement to incorporate a special holding company (SHC). The SHC is intended to assist in the rehabilitation of strategically important companies affected by COVID-19 pandemic which are experiencing temporary solvency issues. The bill provides for a capital infusion of P7.5 billion to LBP and P2.5 billion to DBP. Drilon said using the existing funds of the state banks poses risks to their financial positions. "I hope that the subcommittee can review the proposed structure of the special holding company, review the total financial exposure of the government in incorporating this, and check the finances of the LBP and DBP. We should also place more safeguards in the bill to ensure that the people's money is protected," he concluded.
The Chattanooga Fire Departments Green Shift was still at it at daybreak on Wednesday, working two apartment fires that broke out overnight.

Around midnight, crews responded to 801 Tunnel Boulevard. Smoke was reported from one of the apartments and, when Engine 15 arrived, light smoke was visible. Engine 5 and 15 found fire in the wall. It appeared to be electrical.

The Red Cross was called for five displaced residents.

Then just before 5 a.m., companies responded to 3641 Chateau Lane to deal with a room and contents fire in an apartment building. A quick knockdown by Engine 5s crew contained the fire to that one apartment. An investigator was called because the apartment was vacant. There were no injuries.

Engine 5, Ladder 5, Engine 15, Squad 13, Engine 4, Engine 9, Ladder 13, Squad 1, Battalion 1 and Battalion 2 responded.

Fire officials said, "A wild 24 hours for these firefighters- great work to responding to multiple fires and many other calls."
As we all wake up to a scarcely believable second St Patrick's Day under lockdown, what is usually one of the busiest days all around the county will sadly be a muted affair once again this year.

This does not mean however that there will be nothing taking place today, far from it, it just means that once again, we will have to do things differently.

One business in particular who will be doing their part to celebrate our national holiday will be the team at Siamsa Tire who have a few things up their sleeve for today.

To celebrate and honour our national holiday, the theatre will join with Tralee businesses by illuminating its iconic building in a green glow.

Additionally, it will also present a celebratory concert online for St Patrick's Day from 8pm.

Featuring old and new musical material, the concert will be broadcast on the Siamsa Tire social channels (Facebook and YouTube) to not only celebrate St Patrick's Day but to mark 12 months of lockdown too. While this past year has been extremely challenging for the arts sector and the people at its heart, Siamsa Tire have said that instead of holding back, they have moved forward into the new normal, providing arts support to keep our collective creativity alive.

These initiatives have included its first virtual visual exhibition, online dance and music workshops, the Sounds Like Folk podcast, Trad Connections concerts, and the Associate Artist Scheme.

Art, dance, and music have the power to bring people together, and this message has never been more important than for this St Patrick's Day. As the Irish saying goes: 'Ni neart go cur le cheile.' To find out more about Siamsa Tire's current artistic projects, visit www.siamsatire.com
The Ensley High School campus in Birmingham has been abandoned since 2006, when the last students moved to Jackson-Olin High School.

The old Ensley High campus will soon be home to hundreds of families under a planned $54.6 million new apartment and housing development in partnership with the Housing Authority of Birmingham.

Unfortunately, the high school itself cannot be salvaged, said Tab Bullard, vice president of development for the Southeast region for Zimmerman Properties, which is overseeing development. In 2018, the main school building that dates to 1901 was gutted by fire, which caused an outpouring of nostalgia from former students.

Plans call for the old school gymnasium to be converted to a fresh food grocer space, Bullard said. Hopefully we can identify someone (to run the grocery) with city support.

Bullard said Zimmerman Properties has developed more than 100 projects with 8,000 housing units.

The first phase on the Ensley campus will be the construction of a three-story apartment building adjacent to Tuxedo Park, with its own community center and a three-story parking deck.

The second phase of the project calls for building another 78 housing units, of stacked flats in carriage houses between Avenue J and Avenue K, between 22nd and 25th streets. Youll have a unit on the bottom and a unit on the top, Bullard said.

This is a great project, said City Council member John Hilliard, whose district it is in. It will be very well received.

The apartment units are available to people in the $16,000 to $45,000 annual income range.

For a $16,000 earner, these homes will be really nice, said City Council member Valerie Abbott.

On Tuesday, the Birmingham City Council authorized committing $1.25 million of the citys HUD HOME Investment Partnership to Zimmerman Properties for the development of up to 244 apartment units in Ensley.

Zimmerman Properties will apply to the Alabama Housing Finance Authority for Low Income Housing Tax Credits and if approved, will get the $1.25 million from HUD HOME.

Although the resolution was adopted without opposition, City Council member Steven Hoyt expressed reservations, saying he would have preferred detached single-family homes.

That concept, I dont know if its a good fit for that community, Hoyt said. I just want to see us do better. When it comes to housing, thats really not the best concept that we couldve had for that amount of property.

Hoyt said the city needs affordable housing, but perhaps more importantly, it needs more detached homes built for families.

Theres a need for affordable housing, but if were going to maintain these professional folk, weve got to be building market-rate housing, maybe at the same rate as affordable housing, Hoyt said.

When weve got large properties like the Ensley site, that we are not committed to building single-family detached homes, that provides yard space, Hoyt said. When you got that many people on top of each other, theres bound to be some issues, social issues.
Activist Okiya Omtatah has filed a petition in court challenging the academic credentials of Taita Taveta Governor Granton Samboja.

According to Omtatath, in mid-2017, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) informed IEBC that Samboja holds fake academic certificates. He wants the court to quash the said documents and declare the governor unfit to hold office.

He argues that the petition is about implementing and defending the 2010 constitution.

Unless this case is urgently heard and determined, the applicant and the people of Kenya will suffer a great loss and damage if the respondent continued using the fake certificates in violation of the constitution and national legislation, court papers read.

Among the issues the petitioner learned are that, in a report forwarded on 30th May, 2017 to the Chairman of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission, on integrity of candidates seeking elective positions in the 2017 general elections, the EACC stated that Granton Graham Samboja had falsified a certificate, diploma certificate, degree certificate, and KCSE result slip and presented forged certificates for enrolment for a masters program at Kenyatta University, Omtatah adds.

The activist also argues that individuals employed based on fake academic credentials contribute to the slowing down of a countrys or a companys development because they are ill-equipped for the work they are hired to do.

They are also a danger to the general public in many ways, including that they allow quacks to perform tasks/duties they are not qualified to do, and they affect the morale of learners, especially the youth, as they are a disincentive as there is no point for one to struggle and work hard to acquire certifications which can simply be scammed, Omtatah claims.

He adds that a fake educational certificate is a serious matter that warrants the intervention of the court to protect the public.

Omtatahs petition comes barely a week after the High Court dismissed a similar application by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC).

Justice James Makau threw out the petition saying the court has no authority to rule on the matter.

EACCs lawyer Jacky Kibogy said she is seeking instructions to file an appeal.
Cafe Gratitude, the vegan restaurant best remembered for asking customers what theyre most grateful for, is coming back to the Bay Area nearly 10 years after its Northern California outposts closed.

The return is a homecoming for Cafe Gratitude, which first opened in San Franciscos Mission District in 2004. The vegan restaurant, which returned to S.F. this month, will operate as a pop-up for takeout and delivery only within its sister restaurant, Gracias Madre.

Cary Mosier, Cafe Gratitudes chief operating officer, said hes excited about the new pop-up. He said he spent the duration of his 20s expanding the family-owned business to locations in S.F., Oakland, Berkeley, Cupertino, San Rafael, Healdsburg and Santa Cruz.

Weve been flirting with the idea of opening up a Cafe Gratitude in San Francisco and we wanted to see how people responded, Mosier said. Its definitely a trip down memory lane, and Im hoping people are happy to see it and willing to accept it like they did in the early 2000s.

At the pop-up, guests will find a condensed menu that features top-selling items found at Cafe Gratitudes Southern California stores. Some dishes include the Indian curry bowl, a black bean burger and the I Am Whole dish thats been around since the restaurants inception, Mosier says.

People will still recognize a lot of the dishes, Mosier added. The aspects that made Cafe Gratitude unique, like the question of the day and affirmations, are a little harder to deliver through a pop-up, but Im looking at including a question of the day in to-go bags so that we can lean in on what makes our brand different.

In 2011, Cafe Gratitude announced that it would shutter its Northern California locations following a lawsuit raised by former employees, SFist wrote. The remaining Berkeley outpost stayed open until the end of 2015.

Mosier said he hopes that with the reintroduction of Cafe Gratitude, sales at Gracias Madre will also improve. Mosier said that since the pandemic, sales at Gracias Madre have declined significantly despite the pivot to takeout and delivery. The pop-up series, which is expected to run through the summer of 2021, is one way to find a creative channel that could help both businesses amid the difficulties of operating throughout 2020.

The big question now is will Cafe Gratitude remain in San Francisco beyond the summer? That all depends on its success and real estate prices, Mosier said.

I want to see what shakes out after these pandemic issues, Mosier said. If this is a success, this would transition into a permanent location.

Cafe Gratitude will operate as a pop-up inside Gracias Madre, at 2211 Mission St., for takeout and delivery only daily from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
A Seattle woman has been arrested over the cold case death of her newborn baby in 1997 after genealogy sleuths who helped capture Golden State Killer Joseph DeAngelo matched her DNA through an ancestry website.

The body of an unidentified newborn, dubbed Baby Boy Doe by officials, was found in a gas station trash can in 1997, but the case went unsolved for 23 years.

But a DNA breakthrough by genealogy experts who helped catch DeAngelo in 2018 has now identified Christine Marie Warren as the child's mother, and she was arrested in Seattle last week.

Warren, 50, appeared in King County District Court in Washington state on Friday charged with second degree murder of her infant child.

Authorities say Warren confessed to giving birth in the gas station bathroom, before abandoning the baby's body in a trash can, according to court documents obtained by Q13 FOX.

Experts were able to match a sample taken from a bloodclot in the baby's placenta to a genealogy website, leading them to Warren.

Warren, who was 27 in 1997, was seen on security camera footage leaving the Chevron gas station after giving birth to the child

Surveillance footage captures Christine Warren in 1997 emerging from the gas station restroom having just given birth to Baby Boy Doe

The Shell gas station in Lake City, Seattle, where Christine Warren left her infant son in 1997

Warren, who was 27 in 1997, was seen on security camera footage leaving the Chevron gas station after giving birth to the child.

When she was arrested, police say Warren told them she had baby in the bathroom after keeping her pregnancy a secret from friends and family.

She said she dropped the newborn in the toilet where he remained for several minutes, Q13 FOX reported.

Police say she then panicked and put the baby in the trashcan. His body was found 20 hours later.

Detectives later confirmed the boy was alive when it was born. They surmised his body was likely only found due to the trash liner being made of a clear, see-through plastic.

The 1997 cold case was reopened by Seattle detectives in 2018, hopeful that advances in forensics would lead to a breakthrough in the case.

They sent the preserved DNA sample to a private laboratory in Oklahoma City.

Scientists there completed genotyping, a process that involves determining the individual's DNA sequence and comparing it to other samples.

The child's full DNA profile was then entered into GEDmatch, a genealogy website which was also used by law enforcement to catch Golden State Killer Joseph DeAngelo in 2018.

Police were able to generate a list of people with possible ties to the sample.

Genealogist Barbara Rae-Venter of Monterey, California, whose tireless work helped to crack the GSK case, led a group of experts to develop a DNA profile for the mother, the Associated Press reported.

Joseph DeAngelo the Golden State Killer was captured in 2018 through a DNA match on the Gedmatch ancestry database after terrorizing California for more than two decades

Warren leaves the gas station in Lake City, Seattle after giving birth to a baby boy

A possible match to the infant was detected in March 2019. Further analysis showed the sample was likely from a close relative of the baby's mother.

Then a year later in March 2020, investigators received a direct hit: their suspect had voluntarily entered her DNA on Gedmatch, and crucially chose not to make her data private.

Detectives from the Seattle Police Department identified Warren as their prime suspect, and noticed she appeared similar to the woman in gas station surveillance video.

In November last year, detectives sent Warren a gift card with an invitation to participate in a flavored-water beverage survey for a fictional product called Sparkling Icy.

Warren returned the survey, and police used saliva taken from the envelopes seal to extract DNA.

This was found to be an exact match to the DNA found on the child's placenta from 23 years ealier.

Court documents show Warren allegedly confessed to leaving her baby at the gas station, Q13 FOX reported.

She has been charged with second degree murder and has been released on bail of $10,000.

Baby Boy Doe was laid to rest in North Seattles Calvary Cemetery, in a funeral attended by about 50 local residents

'This case was investigated by several generations of detectives covering multiple decades,' Detective Rolf Norton, a cold case detective with the Seattle Police Department, told KIRO7.

Norton told the station the charges being brought were largely due to the 'foundation of evidence' that the original investigating officers had laid.

There were no celebration for police, he said, adding that it was an incredibly sad case for all involved.

Baby Boy Doe was laid to rest in North Seattles Calvary Cemetery, in a funeral attended by about 50 local residents.

An inscription in the infant's headstone read We Care, along with the image of a teddy bear.

Speaking at his funeral in 1998, now-retired Seattle detective Kevin O'Keefe told Q13 FOX: 'This little guy didn't have a chance in the world. We weren't going to dispose of him like he was disposed of in that gas station.'

Genealogist Barbara Rae-Venter was named as one of Time magazine's 100 Most Influential People of the Year in 2019 for her work which led to the capture of the Golden State Killer

Therese Jensen, who bought a stuffed toy for the baby at the ceremony in 1998, broke down in tears as she told Q13 FOX she wanted to understand why Warren had left the baby to die.

'I don't want to judge you, I just want to understand why,' she told the local broadcaster.

Court records obtained by DailyMail.com show Warren's only previous arrest was for a DUI in 2007.

Michelle Oberman, a law professor at Santa Clara University in California, told the Associated Press that neonaticide, the term to describe the killing of a baby within the first day of life, is generally not a deliberate, premeditated crime.

Oberman added that mothers who abandon their babies tend to be 'socially isolated, marginalized and vulnerable women who find themselves paralyzed in the face of pregnancy.'

'My sense is these cases look a lot like manslaughter,' Oberman told the Associated Press.

'I believe the taking of a human life necessitates a criminal-justice response, but I think the over-prosecution of these cases with the highest possible charges is irresponsible.'

Rae-Venter, a retired patent attorney from California turned star genealogist, became an unlikely heroine of the Golden State Killer case after trying to help a cousin locate his biological father in 2012.

Using her background as a trained biologist, she began working on cold cases through ancestry websites, and by 2018 she was working with law enforcement on 50 active cases.

Advances in DNA profiling have led to the arrest of hundreds of cold case suspects in the United States over the past two decades.

Golden State Killer DeAngelo was sentenced to life in prison in August 2020 for a string of murders and rapes in the 1970s and 80s that were solved through the use of public genealogy websites.

DeAngelo in June pleaded guilty to 13 counts of murder and 13 counts of kidnapping that occurred between 1975 and 1986.

He also confessed to 161 other crimes - many of which were rapes - that he couldn't be charged for because they took place outside the statute of limitations.

DeAngelo is wheeled into the Sacramento County Courthouse in Sacramento in August 2020 to hear victim impact statements from his survivors of his reign of terror

Prosecutors called his more than decade-long spate of crimes 'simply staggering,' encompassing 87 victims at 53 separate crime scenes spanning 11 California counties.

To finally identify and arrest him in 2018, investigators pioneered a new method of DNA tracing that involves building a family tree from publicly accessible genealogy websites to narrow the list of suspects.

They linked nearly 40-year-old DNA from crime scenes to a distant relative, and eventually to a discarded tissue they surreptitiously sneaked from DeAngelo's garbage can in suburban Sacramento.
The ICL, along with the Ireland-Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce and the local branch of Comhaltas Ceolteoiri Eireann, organised a unique Covid-friendly St Patrick's Day event.

At 7pm on Thursday professional tour guide David O'Neill showed participants around Kilmainham Gaol. Following the 40-minute tour, there was a Q&A session.

Kilmainham Gaol opened in 1796 as the new County Gaol for Dublin; it closed its doors in 1924. Today the building symbolises the tradition of militant and constitutional nationalism from the rebellion of 1798 to the Irish Civil War of 1922-23.

Many Irish revolutionaries, including the leaders of the rebellions of 1798, 1803, 1848, 1867 and the 1916 Easter Rising, as well as members of the Irish republican movement during the War of Independence and Civil War, were imprisoned and in some cases executed in the prison by the orders of the UK Government.

Some of the most famous political and military leaders in Irish history were imprisoned there, including Robert Emmet, Charles Stewart Parnell and Eamon de Valera.

The Gaol also played a role during the harsh Famine times. It held thousands of ordinary men, women and children whose crimes ranged from petty offences such as stealing food to more serious crimes such as murder or rape.

Convicts from many parts of Ireland were held here for long periods before being transported to Australia. It is now a museum run by the Office of Public Works, an agency of the Government of Ireland.

The presentation covered various aspects of its history, including conditions at the gaol, political and social aspects, as well as children imprisoned there.
The U.S. accounted for 37% of all global arms exports over the last five years, with Saudi Arabia  easily the worlds top arms buyer  accounting for one-quarter of those sales, according to new data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.

By the numbers: U.S. arms exports rose by 15% from 2011-2015 to 2016-2020, with 96 countries buying arms from America. Russia remained the second-largest exporter with 20% of the market, but supplied a smaller pool of 44 countries and saw sales fall by 22% from the previous five years due primarily to a decrease in sales to India.

The next largest arms exporters were France (8% of the total), Germany (5%) and China (5%). Chinas sales also slid by 8% in the past five years, while exports from Europe increased significantly.

Israel and South Korea both accounted for about 3% of the total after significantly increasing their exports over the past five years.

Zoom in: Russia had four major clients that accounted for two-thirds of all exports  India, China, Algeria and Egypt  while Pakistan was by far Chinas biggest client.

The U.S. had a diversified pool of major buyers: Saudi Arabia, Australia, South Korea, Japan, the UAE, Qatar, Israel and the U.K.

The big picture: Arms imports overall were flat between 20112015 and 20162020, but rose in the Middle East (+25%) while falling in the Americas (-43%), Africa (-13%), and Asia and Oceania (-8.3%).
Israel: statue to protest against Netanyahu in Tel Aviv Premier represented naked, crouched

(ANSAmed) - TEL AVIV, MARCH 17 - A statue to protest against Benjamin Netanyahu appeared on Wednesday morning in Tel Aviv's central Habima square, representing the premier naked and crouched. The initiative is sparking a wave of positive and negative reactions online, just a few days before political elections scheduled on March 23. According to media reports, the statue has now been removed by city personnel while police has questioned passersby for information.



A table with snacks was reportedly placed next to the statue.



This is not the first time - over the past two years during which four elections were held - that statues of protest have appeared in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. Last December, for example, artist Itay Zalait placed one in front of Netanyahu's residence in Jerusalem during weekly protests against the premier's policies.(ANSAmed).







A European Union health official said Tuesday there was no indication that the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine caused blood clots in some people.

Emer Cooke, the head of the European Medicines Agency (EMA), spoke to reporters Tuesday. She said there was no indication that vaccination has caused these conditions. The EMA director added, While the investigation is ongoing, we are currently still firmly convinced that the benefits of the AstraZeneca vaccine in preventing Covid-19, with its associated risk of hospitalization, outweigh the risk of the side effects.

The statement came after Sweden and Latvia became the latest European countries to suspend use of the AstraZeneca vaccine. Anders Tegnell of the Swedish Public Health Agency said earlier on Tuesday, The decision is a precautionary measure. He added Sweden would wait for the results of the European Medicines Agencys study.

Denmark, Iceland, and Norway were the first countries to temporarily stop using the vaccine. Ireland announced a similar decision over the weekend. On Monday, France, Germany, Spain and Italy were among the countries that suspended use of the vaccine.

Their decision came after reports of bleeding and blood clots among those who received the vaccine made by AstraZeneca with the University of Oxford.



AstraZeneca had said earlier that there is no evidence its vaccine carries an increased risk of blood clots. By March 8, there have been 37 reports of blood clots among the more than 17 million people who have received the vaccine across the EU and Britain, the company said.

Ann Taylor is AstraZenecas Chief Medical Officer. She added: the number of cases of blood clots reported in this group is lower than the hundreds of cases that would be expected among the general population.

Both the World Health Organization (WHO) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) said they are studying the cases.

The AstraZeneca vaccine is one of three vaccines approved for emergency use in Europe. The other two are made by the companies Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna.

In the United States, health officials have approved vaccines from Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson for emergency use. AstraZeneca is planning to seek U.S. government approval in the coming months.

Vaccine for the world

When the AstraZeneca vaccine was approved for emergency use in Britain last December, the shot was described as the vaccine for the world. The vaccine costs much less than those from Pfizer and Moderna. It also does not require extreme cold storage making it easier to use in countries with limited resources.

COVAX is an international program to deploy coronavirus vaccines to poor people around the world. Last month, the program sent its first supply of 600,000 shots made by AstraZeneca to the African country of Ghana. Others have gone to Nigeria, Kenya and the Asian countries of the Philippines and Indonesia. The program hopes to provide at least 2 billion shots, mainly from AstraZeneca, especially to poor countries around the world.



The largest user of AstraZenecas vaccine, however, is India. The country is home to the Serum Institute of India where most of the AstraZeneca vaccine is manufactured.

Health officials reported that over 23.4 million people have received the AstraZeneca shot in India. That is out of 25.6 million people who have been vaccinated in that country. Health officials told the Press Trust of India news agency on Saturday that 234 cases of adverse events had been reported after receiving any vaccine. That number includes 71 deaths. However, they said there is no link to the vaccine. The government is now studying the cases for a final study.

In Thailand, Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha received his first of the two-shot AstraZeneca vaccine. He said, There are people who have concerns. But we must believe doctors, believe in our medical professionals.

Im Jonathan Evans.

Hai Do wrote this report for VOA Learning English. Mario Ritter Jr. was the editor.

_______________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

indication n. something that points out or shows

clot n. a piece of dried blood that stops blood flow in part of the body

convinced adj. to believe strongly in something

benefit n. a good or helpful result or effect

precautionary adj. describing something done to prevent harm, danger or trouble

adverse adj. bad or favorable; not good

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Zimbabwes former Deputy Justice Minister and vice president of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change, Obert Gutu, has joined the ruling Zanu PF.

In a series of tweets, presidential spokesperson, George Charamba, said Gutu joined Zanu PF today after making his move public at President Emmerson Mnangagwas official residence in Harare.

Charamba said, As I tweet, His Excellency Excellency the President, Cde E.D. Mnangagwa accompanied by Vice President CDGN Chiwenga, is receiving two former members of the MDC, Cdes Obert Gutu and James Makore, who have decided to rejoin Zanu-PF.

Welcoming new members to the broad church that Zanu-PF is!! A key attraction point for former opposition members who re-join Zanu-PF subsists in the policies enunciated and espoused by the Second Republic, and the phenomenal pace of reconstruction and rehabilitation of National Infrastructure. The foil to this impressive development is the habitual state of paralysis and directionless plaguing the opposition.

Makore was the MDC-Ts senator for Chitungwiza.

But some people criticized Gutus move saying he has lost direction. Privillege Makuvire, one of his critics, who responded to Charambas tweets, said, He (Gutu) has always been ZanuPF. I don't know what you are excited about.

Rex Mugo also took a swipe at Gutu, saying that's where he belongs, we're not even surprised, what else do you expect from him after he's been rejected by the people.

Another person, identified on Twitter as Dr. Chiroto, said,  The desperation has reached another level.

In a tweet, Gutu wrote soon after meeting with Mnangagwa, I'm a slave of my convictions. I'm a slave of my conscience. I'm a slave of my principles. I'm a slave of my beliefs. What you see is what you get! No pretences! No fakeness! No double standards! No blowing hot & cold! No aprobating & reprobating! The die is cast.
has decided to buy 50,000 doses of Russian Sputnik V Covid-19 vaccine once it is cleared by the European Medicines Agency (EMA), government spokesman Kyriakos Koushos said on Tuesday.

He noted that the decision was made 15 days ago under a bilateral agreement with Russia, adding there is a possibility to buy more Sputnik V vaccine depending on the availability of other vaccines, the Xinhua news agency reported.

Two other European Union (EU) countries, Hungary and Slovakia, have already acquired the Russian vaccine.

has placed orders for vaccines collectively with all other EU countries with pharmaceutical companies with which the European Commission has struck commercial agreements on behalf of the member states.

So far, four vaccines -- Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna, AstraZeneca, and Johnson & Johnson -- have been approved by the EMA.

Cyprus, along with a cluster of European countries including Germany, France, Spain and Italy, has suspended the use of AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine over blood clot concerns.

They described the move as a precautionary measure pending a decision by the EMA, which had greenlighted the use of the vaccine in the bloc on January 29.

A total of 263 candidate vaccines are still being developed worldwide -- 81 of them in clinical trials -- in countries including Germany, China, Russia, Britain, and the United States, according to latest information released by the World Health Organization.

The EMA said on March 4 that it had started a rolling review of the Sputnik V vaccine so as to be in a position to speed up any approval once the Russian side submits the marketing authorisation application for the vaccine.

Russian scientists have said that Sputnik V was almost 92 per cent effective against the coronavirus, based on peer-reviewed late-stage trial results published in the Lancet medical journal last month.

--IANS

int/rs

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Oregon lawmakers are working on hundreds of millions of dollars in additions to the states $24 billion budget, three months before the end of the budget cycle.

Among the biggest adds is approximately $250 million in state general funds to pay for summer school, summer enrichment programs and childcare. Lawmakers also want to spend $20 million to help open seven navigation centers around the state to help people experiencing homelessness find long-term housing and services such as behavioral health treatment. Thats part of a larger package of changes that House Speaker Tina Kotek, D-Portland, is advocating to address homelessness.

House Bill 5042, known as an omnibus budget rebalance, would reduce authorized general fund spending by a net of $21.5 million, Interim Legislative Fiscal Officer Laurie Byerly told lawmakers on the Ways and Means Joint Subcommittee On Capital Construction Wednesday morning.

Increases in spending on items such as summer programming for kids would be offset by lawmakers canceling more than $300 million in unused general fund spending authority for the emergency board, a committee of lawmakers that meets between legislative sessions to approve spending from a limited pot of money. The board has approved large outlays of taxpayer funds during the pandemic, such as a $25 million grant to Jackson County that lawmakers signed off on in January for the county to build or acquire affordable and mixed income housing to replace homes lost in 2020 wildfires.

As part of the approximately $250 million in state money for K-12 summer schooling, enrichment and childcare, lawmakers want to dole out $41 million to the Oregon Community Foundation to fund K-12 summer enrichment programs and parent-child summer programming for infants through age 5.

With the Capital Construction subcommittees approval of the omnibus budget rebalance and related bills on Wednesday morning, the full Ways and Means committee is scheduled to hold a work session and possible vote on those bills on Friday morning.

Correction: This article has been updated to reflect that the $41 million for the Oregon Community Foundation to pay for K-12 and early childhood summer programming is part of the $250 million in total state funding for summer programs, not in addition to it.

-- Hillary Borrud

hborrud@oregonian.com

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Chandigarh: As active Covid cases in the state surged to 11,942 lakhs, with daily positivity rate climbing to over 5%, Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Wednesday urged the Centre to review its immunization strategy to vaccinate all age groups in selected areas, while announcing a stricter policy to deal with the problem.

The Chief Minister also called for occupation-based immunization for school and college students and teachers, judges, bus drivers and conductors, Panches/sarpanches, Mayors/Municipal Committee Presidents/Counsellors, MLAS, MPs etc. to pave the way for normalization of crucial activities and check super-spreaders. He advocated early opening of the courts to end the wait for justice for citizens, and also of schools and colleges to bridge the gap between poor and affluent families in terms of education.

Photo

The Chief Minister blamed the surge in cases on fatigue/laxity in following COVID Appropriate Behaviors, large social and religious gatherings, and efforts at normalization such as opening of schools and colleges. Large positivity was seen in the states young population, he said. He said the trend was worrying as the state had reported a total of 1475 cases and 38 deaths on Monday, preceded by 1843 cases and 43 deaths the day before. He pointed out that the state finance minister Manpreet Badal and SAD president Sukhbir Badal had also tested positive for Coronavirus. We are making a policy, we will get stricter from tomorrow, he added.

During Prime Minister Narendra Modis virtual Covid review meeting with chief ministers of all states, Captain Amarinder suggested that any area where weekly testing shows a doubling of positivity rates should immediately be considered for vaccination of all age groups. This, he said, would lead to better outcomes than the periodic cycles of vaccination targeting a small section of the population at each cycle. The daily positivity rate has climbed to more than 5% in March from a low of less than 1% in January. So far, a total of 1.99 lakh positive cases had been reported from 54 lakh tests and 6099 people have died of the infection, he added.

Apart from covering the entire population in selected areas, certain co-morbidity situations among those below 45 years, such as kidney and liver diseases, should also be covered across the state, the Chief Minister recommended, as Punjab continued to grapple with its second peak, which started from mid-February 2021.

Coronavirus

With the role of virus mutation still unclear, the Chief Minster underlined the need to strengthen viral sequencing particularly in Punjab, as over 50% positive cases now are below 30 years of age, and we need to urgently assess whether this is due to any variant. The state, he disclosed, had sent a large number of samples for genome sequencing but very few results had been received, of which 2 indicated presence of variant.

Captain Amarinder again reiterated the demand for permission by the Centre to use the State Disaster Relief Fund, already available with the state, for COVID management. The Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India may issue the approval urgently, he stressed.

Talking about the progress on the vaccination front, he informed the meeting that more than 50% Health Care Workers and Front Line Workers have got the first dose. More than 1.10 lakh general public aged 60+ and 45+ with co-morbidities have taken first dose of vaccination. All public healthcare facilities up to PHC levels have started working as COVID Vaccination Centers, thereby making the facility available to the public in their vicinity, he disclosed, adding that all public health facilities have started vaccination on all 7 days of the week.

More private healthcare facilities are being motivated to work as COVID Vaccination Centres, said Captain Amarinder. Furher, anybody getting vaccinated is being given 10 tablets of Paracetamol 650 mg for use in case of fever, mild body aches and malaise. Extensive social media campaign is being undertaken through Mission Fateh to address the mis-information regarding COVID and vaccination hesitancy, he further said.

Captain Amarinder Singh

Home Minister Amit Shah suggested that the state should increase the pace of vaccination and also formulate a separate strategy for districts with higher case load.

Listing out the measures taken by his government to battle the ongoing second wave, the Chief Minister revealed that the state has imposed restrictions on social gatherings - maximum of 100 for indoor events and 200 for outdoor events. Nine districts have imposed night curfew from 11 pm to 5 am, while other districts have been asked to assess the situation and take action accordingly. The Excise & Taxation Department has been asked to appoint COVID Monitors at all Hotels, Restaurants and Marriage Palaces to ensure COVID Appropriate Behaviour, he said.

Further, the Punjab Police has intensified its campaign for taking action against people not following COVID appropriate behaviour, and a large number of challans have been issued and defaulters have been booked. All schools and Anganwadi Centres have been closed, while Health Care Workers, who have not got vaccinated, have been advised to get COVID tested weekly to ensure their safety and also the safety of the public as well.

On the Testing, the Chief Minister revealed that more than 30,000 COVID tests per day were being conducted by the State, of which more than 90% were through RT-PCR and less than 10% Rapid Antigen Test (RAT). Punjabs testing per million has been maintained at higher than national average, he added.

Captain Amarinder SinghFurther, said the Chief Minister, all arrangements were in place for taking care of the affected. The state has 8,000 oxygen supported beds, more than 1,500 ICU beds, as well as around 800 ventilators for Level-2 and Level-3 COVID patients. Bed occupancy at present is between 10-15% at Level-2 and Level-3, he added.

The state government has engaged around 4,000 additional medical & paramedical manpower including 500 Medical Officers, 300 Specialists Doctors, 500 Nurses and other paramedical staff in the last one year, Captain Amarinder apprised the Prime Minister. All kinds of drugs & consumables required for management of COVID patients are available, including Remdesivir injection and other anti-viral drugs, he added. Also, 25 Advanced Life Support and 300 Basic Life support ambulances are available for shifting of patients.

The Experts Group headed by Dr K.K. Talwar is holding review meetings at 7.30 p.m. daily through VC with all Level-2 and Level-3 public and private healthcare facilities for effective management of COVID patients. Private hospitals managing Level-2 and Level-3 patients have been advised to postpone elective surgeries by two weeks with a view to create more beds for COVID patients, said the Chief Minister.
As purveyors of smart hygiene, our mission is not only to help us return to our normal lives, but to help prevent the future spread of any illness, disease or bacteria which may present a risk to anyone.

Poverty Dignified, Inc. dba VirExit Technologies, Inc. (OTCMKTS PINK: PVDG) has selected Bay Capital as its investment advisors. New York Bay Capital was awarded the VirExit Technologies, Inc. account due to its significant expertise in the healthcare, lifestyle, technology, and other related verticals.

Headquartered in Richland, Washington, VirExit Technologies, Inc. is a fast-growing public company focused on providing solutions for safer living in uncertain times. With a mission to make the world a safer place with innovative and effective technologies, VirExit Technologies, Inc. looks to screen, vet, and sell stellar technologies that provide both the business-to-business and the business-to-consumer markets with products that enhance our health and physical safety.

We are thrilled to be working with New York Bay Capital, said James C. Katzaroff, President and CEO, Poverty Dignified, Inc. As purveyors of smart hygiene, our goal is to equip the world with the tools it needs to prevent the spread of transmissible disease. Our mission is not only to help us return to our normal lives, but to help prevent the future spread of any illness, disease or bacteria which may present a risk to anyone. Every product in our market is fully vetted, tested, and selected based on our stringent criteria. We selected New York Bay Capital because their values, history, and mission are consistent with ours.

New York Bay Capital (http://www.nybaycapital.com) is a New York-based boutique cross-border firm experienced in providing financial advisory services in connection with mergers, acquisitions and capital raising initiatives primarily for foreign clients. The firm serves the growing demand for independent, partner-level advice by clients.

We are very pleased that Poverty Dignified, Inc. will be working with New York Capital, said Joseph J. Ceccarelli, General Counsel and Executive Vice President for New York Bay Capital.

NOTICE REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

This news release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, including statements that include the words believes, expects, anticipate or similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the company to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. In addition, description of anyones past success is no guarantee of future success. This news release speaks as of the date first set forth above and the company assumes no responsibility to update the information included herein for events occurring after the date hereof.

About Poverty Dignified, Inc.

Poverty Dignified, Inc. (PVDG) is a diversified company with ownership of Sun Ovens, Inc., a company that decades ago, pioneered solar oven technology and produces, markets, and sells solar ovens and accessories. In 2020, PVDG acquired the registered brand, VirExit Technologies, Inc., along with other related intellectual property owned and developed by Patrick Netter. The VirExit brand pioneers innovative, effective, ethical, and safe products within the antiviral space. Also, during 2020, PVDG purchased Safer Place Technologies, LLC, whose purpose is to create a primary sales and marketing platform as a vertical online marketplace. This new acquisition seeks to provide a single source for buyers and sellers of protective products and services which resonate with the VirExit mission statement: Making the world a safer place with innovative, ethical and effective technologies. PVDG is anticipating a name change to VirExit Technologies, Inc. in the near future. For investor relations information, please contact investorrelations@virexit.com. For media inquiries please contact media@virexit.com.

About New York Bay Capital

Founded in 2013, New York Bay Capital is a New York City, New York-based investment bank. The firm provides financial advisory services in connection with mergers, acquisitions, capital raising, and corporate restructuring to its clients. New York Bay Capital caters to hotels, resorts, fintech, film production, e-commerce, food, optical fiber, power plants, fintech, virtual reality, and cannabis sectors. For more information about New York Bay Capital please us online at http://www.nybaycapital.com.
Thiruvananthapuram, March 17 : It's a homecoming that former NDA Union Minister P.C. Thomas was wanting for a while and on Wednesday he is set to return to the Congress-led UDF.

The Kerala Congress (M) faction led by P.J. Joseph and P.C. Thomas's party are going to merge and will now be known as the Kerala Congress, and Thomas said this will happen later on Wednesday at Kaduthurthi in Kottayam at an election rally of Mons Joseph, sitting legislator, seeking re-election from the same seat.

"We have decided to become one, and we will be known as the Kerala Congress, a party with no bracket. I decided to leave the NDA as our party, which was given four seats in the 2016 Assembly polls was not given even a single seat, despite being an ally. They had asked me to contest from Pala, but since I had personal issues and decided not to contest. Do not know if that's why we were not given a single seat," said Thomas.

In the political scenario of Kerala, at the moment, there are half a dozen Kerala Congress parties which are named after various leaders and written in brackets.

Thomas's party -- Kerala Congress -- last month had returned to be part of the BJP-led NDA and was seen among the leaders ahead of the statewide yatra of state BJP president K.Surendran.

But things did not go as Thomas had wished, and he has now decided to opt out of the NDA.

The reason why Joseph decided to take Thomas along is because, despite repeated legal efforts to get the 'two leaves' symbol, which has been allotted to the faction of the Kerala Congress (M) led by Jose K. Mani, whose party is now an ally of the CPI-M led Left Democratic Front, Joseph was left stranded, after various courts ruled in favour of Jose K.Mani, who was given the 'two leaves' symbol.

"Thomas is a senior leader and a member of the Kerala Congress family, as he is the son of our founder P.T. Chacko. We have had a few rounds of discussions and things have fallen in place and that's how the decision to merge was taken. Thomas will be given a key post in the new party set up," said Mons Joseph.

Thomas has been representing the Muvattupuzha Lok Sabha constituency from 1989 to 2009.

In 2003, he became an Union Minister of State for Law in the Vajpayee cabinet and in the 2004 Lok Sabha polls he won as an NDA candidate from his home turf.

But after 2009, he has been moving from one political front to the other, and finally on Wednesday, he is all set to return to his original fold and thereby he will now be a UDF leader.
Recently, business magnate Bill Gates, said there is no way to produce enough meat in the traditional way to feed the world population of the future. Raising meat takes a great deal of land and water and has a substantial environmental impact. Put simply, theres no way to produce enough meat for 9 billion people. Yet we cant ask everyone to become vegetarians. Thats why we need more options for producing meat without depleting our resources, Gates wrote on his personal blog. The billionaire has been advocating cultured meat.



Scientists estimate that the world population will reach 9.6 billion by the year 2050. This population will increasingly live in urban areas and will include a rising number of middle-class people, both of which point to more meat consumption.

What is cultured meat, and how would it help?

Lab-grown meat, also known as clean meat, does not come from slaughtered animals but is from cells harvested from live animals, which are then grown into a meat product in a lab.

Synthetic meat is cultured using myocyte stem cells (stem cells of muscle tissue), explains Dr Hari Kishan Boorugu, Senior General Physician, Yashoda Hospitals. There has been some interest in synthetic meat (also known as cultured meat) of late. But there has been no clarity about its advantages and disadvantages, he points out.

Is lab-grown meat the same as mock meat?

There are two different ways of producing meat substitutes. One is plant-based substitutes, like mock meats. They are made of soya or pea proteins and injected with beetroot to give a real meat feel. The other way is to take cells from animals and develop real meat cells from that in labs, according to chef-turned-entrepreneur Shankar Krishnamurthy. He feels the latter will be a huge saving for the planet in terms of less consumption of feed and water, lower greenhouse gas emissions, etc

Like plant-based meat, lab meat aims at addressing the environmental and ethical problems of producing animal meat.

The sustainable alternative

According to the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, world food production will need to increase 70 percent to meet demand. To feed the projected population with meat produced the traditional way, deforestation will have to be doubled, sending up greenhouse gas emissions by 77 percent.

Cultured meat is by far the most sustainable alternative for consumers, says Dr Nida Fatima Hazari, Founder, Heal-Thy Nutrition by Nida. This type of meat is definitely less prone to biological risk and zoonotic diseases, since it incorporates standardised and tailored production methodologies, contributing to improved nutrition and health, she says.

Are consumers ready for meat grown in a lab?

According to research done by the Maastricht University (UM), most people who are properly informed about cultured meat are willing to pay nearly 40 percent more for it than for regular meat.



I have had impossible burgers flown in from USA. They did taste different, though they look and feel very real. Guess acceptance will take time, and GenZ will lead from the front to make it popular, says Shankar.

Soya milk lattes and veggie burgers made of plant-based protein have gone mainstream. But lab meat? Consumers are not quite so convinced. I would recommend a natural way, personally, says Alok Kaul, Hotelier and Food & Beverage specialist. Pointing out that India has a vast variety of vegetarian and non-vegetarian cuisine, Alok says the taste of meat differs from Kashmir to Hyderabad because of the water the animals drink, and the food they eat. Cultured meat may not fit every taste, he cautions.

A question of attitude

Nida, who holds a Ph.D in food and nutrition, says, where the lab meat market goes next will depend on consumers attitudes. Cultured meat will no doubt reduce the demand for meat from animals in the future in the context of rising global meat consumption; but it caters only to a specific segment of society which is open to the concept,, she says, adding, Ultimately, the taste, texture, price and transparency around safety of the food will be the main determinants, and vital for the success of cultured meat, especially in a country like India.

To grow meat from animal cells, you need three basic things. First, you need cells of course. Second, those cells need to be fed, so youll need a nutrient-dense liquid medium. And finally, you need a bioreactor, which is one of the biggest challenges this nascent industry has to overcome. Its a very expensive process at this stage, but in due course, things may improve, feels Shankar.

DID YOU KNOW?

70% is the estimated increase in global demand for meat and milk by 2050

96%is the potential cut in agricultural greenhouse gas emissions by switching to cultured meat

77%is the projected increase in greenhouse-gas emissions by 2050

For & Against

l Advantages include catering to increasing demand for meat, absence of fat, supply of muscle protein, and possible environmental benefits (by reducing greenhouse emissions associated with animal husbandry). Animal farming involves using heavy amounts of antibiotics, which is one reason for growing antibiotic resistance, and synthetic meat may be one way of combating this!

l Disadvantages include poor acceptability from consumers, lack of bone content, which is a good source of calcium, lack of flavour, difficulty in producing different types of meats and high cost.
Although Indian Idol 12 has not garnered the required TRPs, the singing reality show has been in the news for one or the other reason. It has been in the news about the special guests. Recently, the show was in news for its new timings. And now, the contestants are hitting the headlines. The viewers love adorable chemistry of contestants- Pawandeep Rajan and Arunita Kanjilal. The pahadi boy and Bengali girl have been receiving praises from audiences and judges.

When asked about his relationship with Arunita, which has been a talking point, Pawandeep told Bollywoodlife, "The relationship we both have is a very good friendship. This is only friendship, so don't make it like we are wandering."

Regarding claims of Arunita not being able to focus on her performance, he said, "If the performance is getting affected in any way, then it will be the lack of our songs. We are trying to bring better performance to the public. This cannot be the reason for the deviation. The reason for the disorientation is that we should do less 'riyaz'. It's not like that."

About his performance, he feels that he is doing good and added that if there is a shortcoming, he will do more good. He further added that in the following episodes, he will try to present more good songs for the public.

Indian Idol 12 will air at a new timing from March 27 on Sony TV. The show hosted by Aditya Narayan, is judged by Himesh Reshammiya, Neha Kakkar and Vishal Dadlani. Currently, 10 contestants are competing for the coveted trophy.

Also Read: Indian Idol 12: Karan Johar Praises Contestants' Talent; Netizens Troll Him & Ask Him To Make Quality Films

Also Read: Indian Idol 12 Makes Way For Super Dancer Chapter 4; The Singing Reality Show Gets New Time-Slot
Kim Yo Jong lobs crude threats at Washington and Seoul, but U.S. largely ignores them.

An undated photo of Kim Yo Jong, deputy director of North Korea's United Front Department and sister of the country's leader Kim Jong Un

North Koreas first statement to the Biden Administration, a string of crude-yet-colorful threats from leader Kim Jong Uns powerful sister, were shrugged off by the top U.S. diplomat as he arrived in Asia, but analysts said they could point to new missile tests or other attention-getting moves by Pyongyang.

As U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Asia for strategic meetings with allies Japan and South Korea on North Korea on Tuesday, Kim Yo Jong let the rhetoric fly in remarks carried by the Norths state news agency KCNA.

"I would also like to take this opportunity to issue a word of advice to the new U.S. administration, which is so eager to give off a smell of gunpowder in our land from across the ocean," she said.

"If it wants to sleep in peace for the coming four years, it had better refrain from causing a stink at its first step," she added, according to KCNA.

Kim, speaking in her role as deputy director of the United Front Department, a North Korean agency that handles relations with South Korea, also slammed Seoul over annual military drills with U.S. forces that began on March 8.

Though the drills are smaller in scale than in most years -- command post exercises using computerized simulation without field training -- Kim said that Pyongyang opposes the joint exercises regardless of their size.

Perhaps, they are expecting flexible judgment and understanding from us, but it is, indeed, ridiculous, impudent and stupid They are not ashamed of remaining ignorant of the fact that we are not taken in by their nonsense coating mad dog with sheepskin, Kim Yo Jong said.

Following meetings in Tokyo Tuesday, Blinken did not address directly Kim Yo Jongs remarks.

Im familiar with the comments you referenced, but the comments Im actually most interested in today are those of our allies and partners, Blinken said.

The top U.S. diplomat said the U.S. would engage North Korea from a posture of close cooperation with Japan and South Korea  a task that I actually started on my first day in office, with calls to the Japanese and South Korean Foreign Ministers Toshimitsu Motegi and Chung Eui-yong.

And I prioritized those calls precisely because we so value their input and know the importance of these alliances across every challenge and opportunity we face, including dealing with the DPRK, he said.

Kim Yo Jong directed threats at Seoul, including killing off a 2018 bilateral agreement with Seoul on reducing military tensions, shutting down the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Country, an agency that handles dialogue with the South, and closing other avenues of cooperation with the South.

Yang Moo Jin of the University of North Korean Studies told RFA that Kims threats were entirely empty because the organizations she mentioned have long ceased operations.

The Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Country, the organization tasked with inter-Korean dialogue, which was suggested as a possibility for elimination in the statement, has already stopped its activities. It is difficult to say that North Korea has made any kind of aggressive move here, he said.

Kim Yo Jong played a major role last June in North Koreas cutoff of all communication with the South and its destruction by dynamite of a Seoul-funded joint Korean liaison office inside the North in response to South Korean civic groups launching propaganda leaflets by balloons into North Korean territory.

While her rhetoric merely caught up to reality with South Korea, other experts said

the U.S. delegations trip to the region could be a prime opportunity for North Korea to resort to classic brinkmanship tactics to get regional powers attention.

Although we cannot predict the direction of North Koreas response after the statement, the possibility of provocation using short-range projectiles cannot be ruled out, Cho Han Bum, a senior researcher at the Seoul-based Korea Institute of National Unification, told RFAs Korean Service.

Ken Gause of the Virginia-based CNA think tank said Kim Yo Jongs aggressive tone in the statement was unsurprising.

It's perfect timing for North Korea to cause a bit of mischief by doing this. They're raising pressure, obviously, on the alliance, especially potentially a wedge being driven between Seoul and Washington, he said.

But it also sends a signal to South Korea that there is not going to be any inter-Korean dialogue until the United States gets its act in order, Gause said.

Blinken confirmed that Washington had tried to reach out to Pyongyang through several channels since mid-February, including at the United Nations in New York, but had not received a response.

This follows over a year without active dialogue with North Korea, despite multiple attempts by the United States to engage. We look forward to completing the policy review in the coming weeks, and well continue to be in very close touch with Japan with Korea, our partners, as we do so, Blinken said.

If the US and South Korea had been waiting earnestly to hear from the North Koreans about their position towards the new U.S. administration, Kims comments yesterday should provide a pretty clear picture, Soo Kim of the California-based RAND Corporation told RFA.

Blinken is due in Seoul on Wednesday and will also meet his counterpart from China in Alaska beginning Thursday. Beijing is Pyongyangs only ally and is critical to North Koreas economic survival  a situation driven home by the dire state of the Norths economy after a year-long Sino-Korean border closure to combat the coronavirus pandemic.

David Maxwell of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD) called Kim Yo Jongs rhetoric an obvious attempt to cause friction between Seoul and Washington because Pyongyang knows it must break the alliance to successfully dominate the Korean peninsula.

The timing of this is perfect, with the 2+2 ministerial talks about to take place in Seoul, he said.

Maxwell, however, said he saw in the shrill message the possibility of the continued good cop/bad cop relationship of Kim Yo Jong and her brother.

Her statements, again attributed directly to her and published in her voice which is rare, can give Kim Jong Un the ability to walk this back in the future if he chooses to, he told RFA.

Reported by Soyoung Kim, Jeongeun ji, Albert Hong for RFAs Korean Service. Translated by Leejin Jun. Written in English by Eugene Whong.


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Taoiseach Micheal Martin has said US does not have a stockpile of Covid-19 vaccines to distribute to other countries.

Mr Martin said President Joe Biden hopes to know by the summer where they will be when it comes to a potential excess supply of coronavirus vaccines, and it would be at that point the US could look at helping other countries.

The Irish premier made the comments at Government Buildings in Dublin following an online meetings with the US president and other US leaders on St Patricks Day.

Warm and constructive meeting with @POTUS @JoeBiden - a true friend of Ireland.A

Discussed Brexit, a Shared Island, COVID-19 and cooperation on vaccine supplies.

Also EU and US plans for economic recovery.A

Important work to be done so the world emerges united and stronger. pic.twitter.com/oi2uI8DJO9  MicheAl Martin (@MichealMartinTD) March 17, 2021

The Taoiseach said the US and Ireland are facing similar logistical challenges when it comes to vaccines.

Like every other country, he [Mr Biden] is very anxious to get his people vaccinated as quickly as he possibly can and to have a sufficiency of vaccines to do that, Mr Martin said.

Both the president and the vice president understand that we need a global vaccination programme to defeat this virus, he added.

I raised the issue of supply chains in terms of the necessity to keep supply chains open in terms of the different component parts that make up the vaccine.

It was a good discussion on that and I think there will be ongoing engagement between the US and Europe, and other countries as well, in relation to that.

Mr Martin added: [The President] said they would know where they are towards the summer about where they will be in terms of sufficiency of vaccines.

He was interested in the AstraZeneca story.

I shared the narrative with him in terms of explaining what has happened, both on the production side and in respect of recent decisions by the regulatory authorities across Europe and the EMA coming to a conclusion on all that tomorrow, he said.

His main focus right now is on getting his own people vaccinated, just like every country is.

Asked whether he asked Mr Biden outright if the US would give vaccines to Ireland, Mr Martin replied: He doesnt necessarily have a stockpile.

He wants to find out whether he will in time have a sufficiency of vaccines for his own people.

Asked about supply lines of vaccines, Mr Martin also said he was not in favour of blocking supply lines to the UK and that instead there should be proper engagement between the UK and EU to work out a resolution.

In terms of supply of AstraZeneca, its Europe that has lost out, he said.

I think [AstraZeneca] know that they have a bit of ground to make up in terms of meeting their obligations to Europe, he added.

Overall theres a danger to getting into banning exports overall.

I dont personally like blocking  but I will articulate my views at EU [leaders] Council.
The campus of Columbia University with the Low Memorial Library in the foreground in Manhattan, N.Y., on June 21. (Benjamin Chasteen/The Epoch Times)

Columbia University to Host 6 Graduation Ceremonies Based on Race, Income Level, and Self-Identification

New York Citys Columbia University plans to host six separate graduation ceremonies for students with different cultural backgrounds, races, or self-identities.

The university will host online graduation ceremonies called Multicultural Graduation Celebrations in honor of their students diversity, the school website states.

The special celebrations, Columbia says, will provide a more intimate setting for students who self-identify in a variety of ways.

The celebrations will be recorded and published after their completion.

The ceremonies will include the categories: Latinx Graduation Celebration, Black Graduation Celebration, as well as Asian, Native, and FLI, which refers to first generation and/or low income community.

In addition, a Lavender Graduation Celebration will cater to the LGBTIAQ+ community.

The university wrote on Twitter that some reports were misrepresenting their Multicultural Graduation Celebrations, clarifying that they exist in addition to, not instead of, University-wide commencement and individual school Class Days.

These events are important, intimate and welcoming spaces for students aligned with these groups to come together to celebrate their achievements if they wish. They are organized in tandem with students and student groups.

Sen. Tom Cotton, (R-Ark.) criticized the concept and placed blame on critical race theory.

Critical race theory is the belief that people have value based on the color of their skin, and that our race defines everything about us. Its not just falseits dangerous, Cotton stated.

The problem is not just one woke university embracing discrimination. Critical race theory is being pushed on our kids at school, its peddled by HR departments at corporations, and the Biden administration has embraced it under the guise of racial equity.  Tom Cotton (@TomCottonAR) March 16, 2021

The problem is not just one woke university embracing discrimination, the senator went on, Critical race theory is being pushed on our kids at school, its peddled by HR departments at corporations, and the Biden administration has embraced it under the guise of racial equity.

Cotton also added, The endpoint of critical race theory: segregation.

The Chinese American Citizens Alliance, the oldest Chinese civil rights organization in the United States, recently issued a statement denouncing CRT.

Critical Race Theory is a hateful, divisive, manipulative fraud, the statement reads. Hate groups, with allies in politics, the press, and education, pass CRT off as anti-racism and diversity, equity and inclusion, but CRT is exactly the opposite. From its very roots, CRT is racist, repressive, discriminatory, and divisive.
One of Editor & Publishers 10 That Do It Right 2021
A sustainable, powerful micro-supercapacitor may be on the horizon, thanks to an international collaboration of researchers from Penn State and the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China. Until now, the high-capacity, fast-charging energy storage devices have been limited by the composition of their electrodes -- the connections responsible for managing the flow of electrons during charging and dispensing energy. Now, researchers have developed a better material to improve connectivity while maintaining recyclability and low cost.

They published their results on Feb. 8 in the Journal of Materials Chemistry A.

"The supercapacitor is a very powerful, energy-dense device with a fast-charging rate, in contrast to the typical battery -- but can we make it more powerful, faster and with a really high retention cycle?" asked Jia Zhu, corresponding author and doctoral student conducting research in the laboratory of Huanyu "Larry" Cheng, Dorothy Quiggle Career Development Professor in Penn State's Department of Engineering Science and Mechanics.

Zhu worked under Cheng's mentorship to explore the connections in a micro-supercapacitor, which they use in their research on small, wearable sensors to monitor vital signs and more. Cobalt oxide, an abundant, inexpensive material that has a theoretically high capacity to quickly transfer energy charges, typically makes up the electrodes. However, the materials that mix with cobalt oxide to make an electrode can react poorly, resulting in a much lower energy capacity than theoretically possible.

The researchers ran simulations of materials from an atomic library to see if adding another material -- also called doping -- could amplify the desired characteristics of cobalt oxide as an electrode by providing extra electrons while minimizing, or entirely removing, the negative effects. They modeled various material species and levels to see how they would interact with cobalt oxide.

"We screened possible materials but found many that might work were too expensive or toxic, so we selected tin," Zhu said. "Tin is widely available at a low cost, and it's not harmful to the environment."

In the simulations, the researchers found that by partially substituting some of the cobalt for tin and binding the material to a commercially available graphene film -- a single-atom thick material that supports electronic materials without changing their properties -- they could fabricate what they called a low-cost, easy-to-develop electrode.

Once the simulations were completed, the team in China conducted experiments to see if the simulation could be actualized.

"The experimental results verified a significantly increased conductivity of the cobalt oxide structure after partial substitution by tin," Zhu said. "The developed device is expected to have promising practical applications as the next-generation energy storage device."

Next, Zhu and Cheng plan to use their own version of graphene film -- a porous foam created by partially cutting and then breaking the material with lasers -- to fabricate a flexible capacitor to allow for easy and fast conductivity.

"The supercapacitor is one key component, but we're also interested in combining with other mechanisms to serve as both an energy harvester and a sensor," Cheng said. "Our goal is to put a lot of functions into a simple, self-powered device."

###

Co-authors on this paper include Yunjian Chen, Ni Wang, Xianzhong Tang and Wencheng Hu, all affiliated with the School of Materials and Energy, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China; and Sridhar Komarneni, Materials Research Institute (MRI) and Department of Ecosystem Science and Management, Penn State. Wang is also affiliated with MRI.

The National Natural Science Foundation of China supported this work.
The big picture: Micron Technology is washing its hands of 3D XPoint, the memory technology it announced alongside Intel back in 2015. The company has halted R&D and is putting its fab up for sale. Unless a new owner scoops up the ashes and does something revolutionary with it, we've perhaps seen the last of 3D XPoint. Maybe Intel will want it after all?

Micron said that effective immediately, they will cease development of 3D XPoint as they have determined that there is insufficient market validation to justify the ongoing high levels of investments required to successfully commercialize 3D XPoint at scale.

Furthermore, the company is looking to sell its Lehi, Utah, fab that is currently dedicated to making 3D XPoint products. With any luck, the memory maker hopes to wrap up a sales agreement by the end of the year.

With 3D XPoint out of the way, Micron is now free to focus on memory and storage innovations for the data center. Specifically, Micron is shifting gears to Compute Express Link (CXL), a recently introduced interface that enables flexible connection between compute, memory and storage.

As AnandTech recounts, Intel has primarily used 3D XPoint in its Optane brand SSDs and for caching purposes. Micron exercised its option to buy out Intels stake in the joint venture in 2018 and did put out one drive based on the tech, the X100, but it seemingly had a very limited release.

Image courtesy tomeqs
Hospitality firm OYO's India business is now positive and the company is earning the same gross profits globally in dollars since January 2021 as it did in the pre-Covid period, the firm's founder and Group CEO Ritesh Agarwal told employees in an e-mail on Wednesday.

" is on a steady path of resurgence in 2021 and we are seeing signs of recovery across India, Europe, and Southeast Asia. OYO's survival through the Covid crisis and our resurgence show that we are a company with strong fundamentals and high value potential," the e-mail accessed by PTI says.

earned the same money since January 2021 as it did in the pre-Covid period. This is a very big achievement and demonstrates demand recovery and results of a revenue-share-only-network, he added.

"We expect gross profits to get stronger in 2021 as restrictions and lockdowns ease as well as vaccination coverage increases," Agarwal said.

India business is positive. It has achieved break-even from December 2020 and is growing month-on-month.

India is the second market, after EuropeHomes, that has achieved profitability and with these two largest markets financially sustainable, they are clear examples of the success of our business model at scale, he added.

OYO is empowering over 100,000 small hotel and home entrepreneurs who own and operate hotels with an industry-first technology platform that yields higher revenue growth, Agarwal said.

In his mail, he also said that in 2021, OYO has now recategorised the organisation under three large geographies --OYO INSEA (India, Indonesia, Malaysia and Philippines),OYO Europe and OYO International (USA, UK, China, and others).

Rohit Kapoor will now be CEO of OYO INSEA,Mandar Vaidya will be CEO of OYO Europe and Gautam Swaroop will be the CEO, OYO International, he added.
Foreign workers line up to take coronavirus tests in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province, Tuesday, as local authorities ordered all foreign workers there to undergo testing by March 22. Yonhap





By Bahk Eun-ji







Local governments' administrative orders for all foreign workers in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province to undergo COVID-19 testing have elicited protests among foreign residents, who criticize the program as discriminatory and unnecessary.







On Tuesday, the Seoul Metropolitan Government said it would issue an order for all foreign workers and their employers to undergo coronavirus testing by March 31, following a similar measure taken by the surrounding Gyeonggi Province last week.







Many foreign residents said the labeling of all of them as a "high-risk group" for contracting and spreading the virus was racist and discriminatory, and also complained about unclear guidelines of who needs testing as well as the insufficient preparation for carrying out tests on everyone. There are 242,623 registered foreign workers in the city as of last December, but city officials estimate the total number may be as high as 390,000.







"I would like to know what the government's actual plan is, because right now, we don't even have a clear idea of who they are actually counting as workers, how this information is being applied, or any other details," said Jennifer Flinn, a professor at Kyung Hee University in Seoul.







"The city government is proceeding on no evidence whatsoever that working foreigners are in any way at greater risk of contracting or spreading the virus."







Flinn said she received an ambiguous text message from her district office on Monday advising her to be tested, so she called the 120 Dasan Call Center to clarify if it was an exposure notification, but they said it was just a general notice and nonbinding suggestion.







But the suggestion was superseded by an administrative order only a day later.







Flinn stated, "Nothing about the order makes any sense at all, because there's no established risk factor that makes all foreigners at higher risk than their Korean co-workers. It's a poorly thought-out plan that just victimizes and stigmatizes vulnerable populations."







Flinn also pointed out that there are many other well-known high-risk workplaces and venues such as singing rooms and churches, which are not currently under any special restrictions, nor are their workers under any kind of testing orders.







"There are no general orders for employees of singing rooms or workers and volunteers at churches. There is even less logic behind testing all working foreigners in Seoul or in any province," she said.







Paul Matthews, a freelancer living in Seoul, said he got a test at his local health center because he was confused about what was going on and didn't want to break the law.







"I just want to do my duty as an immigrant, but it does seem ridiculous to suddenly demand every foreigner in Seoul get tested," Matthews said.







"They tested all members of one church, but they didn't test all Christians. I just wish they would explain their decision clearly so that foreign residents can understand, otherwise it's easy for us to assume it is racist and irrational. I hope that is not the intention."







A sample alien registration card is displayed at a temporary screening center in Guro District, Seoul, Tuesday. Yonhap





Another foreign resident of Seoul, a teacher at an international school who wished to be identified only as Lisa, also agreed that there was no clear scientific rational behind the city government's decision.







"We know where most clusters are  churches and factories  but the government wants to focus on foreigners despite most cases being among Koreans. This only fosters xenophobia and makes Korea look bad globally," she said.







She said the greatest failing has been the slow rollout of vaccines.







"The government has said foreigners will receive vaccines on the same schedule as Koreans. However if the government is going to stigmatize foreigners as being more likely to spread the virus  though that's a false idea  perhaps we should receive vaccines early rather than be sent for testing."







A 38-year-old office worker surnamed Kim, living in Namyangju, Gyeonggi Province, whose husband is from Italy, said she contacted the provincial government's call center to confirm if her husband also had to get tested, but later she was told he didn't have to because he possessed two passports  Korean and Italian.







"Does this mean that people with passports from other countries are more likely to be infected with the coronavirus, and those with Korean passports are less likely to be infected? It doesn't make sense at all," Kim said.







"It is a discriminatory and xenophobic plan that causes hatred against foreigners, I think."







Kim said if the problem was foreign workers staying at factory dormitories, their Korean co-workers at the factories should also get tested, but the Korean employees were not subject to the order.







Meanwhile, a small business owner who is a French national said she doesn't want to make a lot of complaints over what the government is doing as it is a special situation.







"I am willing to get testing, obey the law as an immigrant. But the problem is there are no detailed instructions for this plan yet, so I think I'm going to get the test in two or three days once I get clearer information," she said.


Key Companies Covered in Artificial Intelligence Market are SAP SE (Walldorf, Germany), Qlik Technologies Inc. (Pennsylvania, USA), MicroStrategy, Inc. (Virginia, USA), IPsoft Inc. (New York, USA), Baidu Inc. (Beijing, China), Alphabet (Google Inc.) (California, USA), Verint Systems Inc. (Next IT Corp) (New York, USA), NVIDIA Corporation (California, USA), Microsoft Corporation (Washington, USA), IBM Corporation (New York, USA), Apple Inc. (California, USA) and others

Pune, India, March 17, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global AI Market size is projected to reach USD 266.92 billion by 2027, exhibiting a CAGR of 33.2% during the forecast period. Emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic is generating several growth opportunities for the market, observes Fortune Business Insights in its report, titled Artificial Intelligence Market Size, Share & COVID-19 Impact Analysis, By Component (Hardware, Software, and Services), By Technology (Computer Vision, Machine Learning, Natural Language Processing, and Others), By Deployment (Cloud, On-premises), By Industry (Healthcare, Retail, IT & Telecom, BFSI, Automotive, Advertising & Media, Manufacturing, and Others) and Regional Forecast, 2020-2027.

Smart technologies are being extensively utilized around the globe to battle the unprecedented health crisis created by the coronavirus pandemic. In France, the start-up Clevy.io has introduced a chatbot to make it easy for people to discover official French government and World Health Organization (WHO) communications about COVID. In the UK, an agri-tech start-up called Mantle Labs is offering its AI-powered crop monitoring solution to retailers for free to ensure stable supply chains across the UK. Another example is the Canadian start-up BlueDot which has deployed its AI capabilities to detect disease outbreaks and was one of the first to raise the alarm when the virus broke out in Wuhan. Thus, the COVID-19 pandemic is widening and deepening the applications of AI-based technologies around the world.

Story continues

Click here to get the short-term and long-term impact of COVID-19 on this market.





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The report states that the value of the global market stood at USD 27.23 billion in 2019 and offers the following:

Exhaustive analysis of the factors driving and restraining the market;

Microscopic examination of the different market segments;

Detailed evaluation of the key market players, their performance, and main strategies; and

Projections about the upcoming regional opportunities and investment pockets for the market

Market Driver

Proliferation of Artificial Intelligence Start-Ups to Augment Market Potential

Promising business opportunities spawned by the advent of AI in the world of technology has led to a proliferation of start-ups worldwide specializing in AI tools and solutions for diverse application areas. For example, the US-based company LivePerson has become a pioneer in understanding customer needs through AI-powered messaging, ensuring a wholesome experience to users. Wint, to take another example, is a company that provides artificial intelligence-based solutions for water treatment applications. In India, AI-based start-ups are speedily gaining traction. For instance, Niramai Health Analytix is a novel start-up based in Bangalore, which has developed innovative software to detect breast cancer. Broadening horizons of these and many more upcoming companies is feeding the artificial intelligence market growth.





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Regional Insights

Growing Adoption of Smart Technologies to Expand Market Size in Asia Pacific

Economies in Asia Pacific are displaying steady growth on account of a considerable rise in the adoption of smart technologies such as AI and Internet of Things (IoT), especially in the industrial sector. China and India have been making massive investments in advanced technologies in a bid to digitize their economies, thus aiding the AI market growth in the region.

North America, with a market size of USD 11.40 billion in 2019, is expected to dominate the artificial intelligence market share during the forecast period. Companies the United States and Canada have been developing AI-powered solutions and devices to optimize business processes and increase productivity. In Europe, governments are steadily deploying 5G infrastructure across the continent, which is set to raise the global market value.

Competitive Landscape

Top Players to Focus on Expanding AI to Deliver Enhanced Services

The field of artificial intelligence is a highly specialized one and technological behemoths such as Google and IBM are investing heavily in R&D to come up with novel solutions to improve worldwide connectivity. These companies are constantly initiating projects to deliver enhanced services to backward areas, thus enabling freer access to information globally.





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Industry Developments:

July 2020: Googles Project Loon announced that it will be providing stable internet connectivity to subscribers on Telkom Kenyas network through 35 tennis court-sized balloons. Using its Machine Learning capabilities, Loon will operate and deliver internet services to over 35,000 Kenyans through this project.

June 2020: Microsofts AI for Health Program sanctioned a grant to the Mount Sinai Health System to develop AI-powered digital tools to enhance care for COVID-19 patients. The system involves leading researchers across Mount Sinai and the grant will allow them to support data science centers working in COVID-19 research.

List of Key Players Covered in the Artificial Intelligence Market Report:

SAP SE (Walldorf, Germany)

Qlik Technologies Inc. (Pennsylvania, USA)

MicroStrategy, Inc. (Virginia, USA)

IPsoft Inc. (New York, USA)

Baidu Inc. (Beijing, China)

Alphabet (Google Inc.) (California, USA)

Verint Systems Inc. (Next IT Corp) (New York, USA)

NVIDIA Corporation (California, USA)

Microsoft Corporation (Washington, USA)

IBM Corporation (New York, USA)

Apple Inc. (California, USA)

Major Table of Contents:

Introduction Definition, By Segment Research Methodology/Approach Data Sources

Executive Summary

Market Dynamics Macro and Micro Economic Indicators Drivers, Restraints, Opportunities and Trends Impact of COVID-19 Short-term Impact Long-term Impact

Competition Landscape Business Strategies Adopted by Key Players Consolidated SWOT Analysis of Key Players Porters Five Force Analysis Global Market Share Analysis and Matrix, 2019

Key Market Insights and Analysis, By Segments

Global Artificial Intelligence Market Size Estimates and Forecasts (Quantitative Data), By Segments, 2016-2027 By Component (Value) Hardware Software Services By Technology (Value) Computer Vision Machine Learning Natural Language Processing Others By Deployment (Value) On-premises Cloud By Industry (Value) Healthcare Retail IT & Telecom BFSI Automotive Advertising & Media Manufacturing Others (Education, Government, etc.) By Region (Value) North America Europe Asia Pacific Middle East & Africa Latin America

North America Artificial Intelligence Market Size Estimates and Forecasts (Quantitative Data), By Segments, 2016-2027 By Component (Value) Hardware Software Services By Technology (Value) Computer Vision Machine Learning Natural Language Processing Others By Deployment (Value) On-premises Cloud By Industry (Value)



TOC Continued!

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Big Data Technology Market Size , Share & COVID-19 Impact Analysis, By Offering (Solution and Services), By Deployment (On-premise, Cloud-based, and Hybrid), By Application (Customer Analytics, Operational Analytics, Fraud Detection and Compliance, Enterprise Data Warehouse Optimization, and Others), By End-Use Industry (BFSI, Retail, Manufacturing, IT and Telecom, Government, Healthcare, Utility, and Others), and Regional Forecast, 2020-2027

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The Great White Kaolin Project remains on track for the commencement of open pit mining in February 2022.

( ) has signed its first legally binding offtake agreement for the Great White Kaolin Joint Venture Project in South Australia, with highly respected Japanese porcelain manufacturer Plantan Yamada, which has factories in Japan and China.

The agreement is for 5,000 tonnes per annum (tpa) of the Great White CRM high-quality halloysite-kaolin product designed for the porcelain manufacturing industry.

The customer has also agreed to pay A$700 per tonne, equivalent to the price used in the Great White Project pre-feasibility study (PFS).

The Great White Kaolin Project, which is a joint venture between Andromeda and ( ) (OTCMKTS:MURXF), remains on track for the commencement of open pit mining in February 2022.

Potential offtake deals

The projects marketing and logistics consultant, Conrad Partners, is actively engaging with high-end ceramic end-users and potential toll refining companies in China.

A senior Conrad executive is meeting with all ceramic customers in China who had signed previous letters of intent (LOIs) in addition to other potential customers and distributors, who have shown interest in acquiring Great White product for their ceramic manufacturing factories.

Conrad hopes to convert these into binding offtake agreements.

Previous visits to China by Andromeda representatives confirmed substantial product offtake volumes through the signing of LOIs for direct shipping ore (DSO), dry-processed and wet-processed material sourced from the Great White Project.

Eight Chinese ceramic companies signed LOIs for 211,000 tonnes per annum of the premium wet-refined grade of Great White halloysite-kaolin and LOIs have also been provided for 405,000 tonnes per annum of DSO and 307,000 tonnes of dry-processed product.

ADN is considering the construction of an onsite wet processing facility instead of a dry processing facility.

Testing product

Freight restrictions due to COVID-19 slowed the delivery of processed Great White CRM product to other Asian and European ceramic end-users, who had expressed interest in testing the material.

This is now resolved, with quality control testing on a 6-tonne batch of Great White CRM produced in China now complete and product is being sampled for additional customer targets throughout Asia and in the Middle East, where there is significant sales potential.

Testing of product material sent to Germany has also delivered the same high-quality results.

First Test Minerals in the UK has been engaged to update the kaolin market report prepared in June 2020 exclusively for the PFS to again include all known existing production and sales information.

The report will focus on the high-end ceramic market and also the high-value paint and coatings market, which are both target markets for the project.

This report will be referenced by the independent marketing consultant as part of their verification of the high-end ceramic market in addition to formalised binding offtake agreements, a number of which are envisaged to be in-place for consideration by project funding parties.

DFS

In a bid to further de-risk the project, a definitive feasibility study (DFS) will evaluate alternative scenarios of a start-up 500,000 tonnes per annum plant or a two-staged 250,000 tonnes modular phased wet-processing plant to be constructed at site, in preference to an initial DSO phase moving to 500,000 tonnes from year 2 as contemplated under the PFS.

In addition, product specifications under the DFS have been altered from those considered in the PFS to meet the requirements of high-end ceramic manufacturers.

The expected benefit of the new DFS approach is that high-value product will be manufactured at site from the commencement of operations, from either an immediate 500,000 tonnes or two-staged wet-processing plant, tasking project management with direct control to meet product quality specifications.

The option to undertake DSO in the first two years of operations as proposed by the PFS will be further analysed under the DFS to consider the technical capabilities of identified refineries and perform more cost-benefit analysis to ensure this to be the best option for the project.

Capital expenditure

Either of the early start-up scenarios will require bringing forward capital expenditure for construction of the plant.

Under the PFS, processing plant capital expenditure was initially deferred such that plant construction would be funded by DSO sale revenues generated in the first two years of operation.

Funding options are being considered under the DFS and for the following bankable feasibility study (BFS) with assistance being provided by corporate advisors Origin Capital.

Project debt funding will be sourced to the benefit of both parties to the joint venture, with similar terms to apply to each.

Importantly, for Minotaur Exploration as minority participant with a 25% interest in the project, this arrangement obviates the need to seek separate financing avenues and streamlines the joint venture managers negotiations with bankers.

Primero Engineering Group, the EPC contractor is completing detailed design and costings for the wet-processing plant to be used in the DFS, which is scheduled for completion in the second quarter of 2021.

Work on these two new market applications is not as advanced as for ceramics in both testing and product marketing, and so have been separated from the DFS due to the required level of detailed analysis needed to support the studies.

Alternative market opportunities

Alongside the DFS, which is purely focused on the ceramics market, separate pre-feasibility studies are being prepared for recently identified alternative market opportunities for Great White material, being the addition as a rheology modifier product for the concrete industry, and also separately as a product suited for the high-end paint and coatings industry.

Both of these applications will be sourced from different parts of the Great White mineral resource and would complement the Great White CRM market application.
An Athens man was wounded in an officer-involved shooting late Tuesday afternoon following a chase in Tennessee.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation today said the incident, which happened in Fayetteville, Tenn., is under investigation. According to the TBI, deputies with the Marshall County (Tenn.) Sheriffs Office attempted to stop a man driving a side-by-side utility task vehicle, but the driver refused to stop.

Marshall County deputies, Giles County deputies and Tennessee Highway Patrol pursued the vehicle, which continued into Lincoln County. Lincoln County deputies then engaged in the pursuit.

The driver wrecked the UTV in the 300 block of Boonshill Road in Fayetteville and ran behind a neighboring home, officials said. According to officers at the scene, the driver drew a gun and a Lincoln County deputy fired, striking him.

The driver was identified as Jaylen Edward Jordan, 21, of Athens. He was taken to a Nashville hospital with a non-life threatening injury, officials said. No officers were injured.
Samsung has always been committed to its large, pen-centric Galaxy Note lineup, even when things went very wrong. Late last year, however, rumors surfaced that Samsung might not release a Galaxy Note device this year, and now the company has confirmed that. During Samsung's annual shareholder's meeting, co-CEO Koh Dong-jin said that the company is grappling with a shortage of chips and that it "might be difficult" to release a Note model in the second half of 2021 as it had planned, Bloomberg has reported.

"Theres a serious imbalance in supply and demand of chips in the IT sector globally," Koh said. "Despite the difficult environment, our business leaders are meeting partners overseas to solve these problems."

Samsung Securities analyst MS Hwang told Bloomberg that a big part of the problem for Samsung is a shortage of Qualcomm chips produced by Taiwanese chip manufacturer TSMC. "The tightened supply of Qualcomm AP chips produced by TSMC is affecting everybody except Apple, he said.

Samsung Electronics, which is the world's second-largest chip manufacturer next to TSMC, is having its own problems. The company was forced to shut down some of its US Texas plants due to rolling blackouts, squeezing an already tight supply of chips, and is still not up to full production. That might not directly affect its flagship lineups, but it's likely to have a ripple effect on supply during a period when smartphone and PC demand is sky-high due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Koh didn't tie the possibility of skipping a year for the Note directly to the chip shortage. However, he noted that "it could be a burden to unveil two flagship models in a year, so it might be difficult to release [a] Note model in 2H [2021]." He did seem to confirm that Samsung isn't giving up on the model, though. "The timing of Note model launch can be changed but we seek to release a Note model next year," he said.
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Almost half a year after Chinese President Xi Jinping's pledge to make the country carbon-neutral before 2060, the roadmap to achieve the goal is getting clearer under Xi's push as authorities and industries scale up their green efforts. China aims to have CO2 emissions peak before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060, Xi announced at the general debate of the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly via video in September last year. Since then, vigorous policies have been rolled out on top of the already hefty input in green development. At a meeting of the Central Committee for Financial and Economic Affairs on Monday, Xi called for incorporating the peaking of carbon emissions and carbon neutrality into the overall layout of building an ecological civilization. "Peaking carbon emissions and achieving carbon neutrality is a tough battle, it is also a major test of the party's capabilities in governing the country," the meeting stressed. While China's economic rise over the past decades was largely powered by coal, the country, now among the world's biggest investors in green energy, is increasing pace to shift to other renewables including wind and solar. Starting in February, China implemented a set of interim rules for the management of carbon-emissions trading designed to drive down the emissions of big power users. Under the scheme, firms that exceed the emission caps can buy emission quotas from others with a lower carbon footprint. A total of 2,225 power firms are included in the project. More fields, such as the steel and aluminum production sectors, will be included in future carbon trading. The campaign for green energy also enabled the public to embrace a more eco-friendly lifestyle, as was shown by the country's booming sales of new energy vehicles. On the back of the united efforts, the share of clean energy consumption in the country has risen from 19.1 percent in 2016 to 24.3 percent in 2020, data by the National Bureau of Statistics showed. While addressing the Climate Ambition Summit via video link in December last year, Xi announced that by 2030, China aims to lower its carbon dioxide emissions per unit of GDP by over 65 percent from the 2005 level and increase the share of non-fossil fuels in primary energy consumption to around 25 percent. To move toward the goal, energy consumption per unit of GDP and carbon dioxide emissions per unit of GDP in 2021 will be reduced by 13.5 percent and 18 percent, respectively, according to this year's government work report, which also promised to draw up an action plan for peaking carbon emissions before 2030. While expanding the use of green energy, bringing down carbon emissions to net zero, which means achieving a balance between emitting carbon and absorbing carbon, will require the development of new technologies to capture and store emissions. Monday's meeting also called for efforts to push forward major breakthroughs in green and low-carbon technologies and accelerate the promotion and application of such technologies for reducing pollution and carbon emissions. It has underscored improvements in policies on fiscal taxation, prices, finance, land and government procurement that are conducive to green and low-carbon development. "To peak carbon emissions and achieve carbon neutrality is an extensive and profound systemic reform for the economy and society," Xi noted at Monday's meeting.


Mar. 16Clark County District Court Judge Darvin Zimmerman issued a statement Tuesday saying he's decided to take time off to reflect on comments he made last week critical of a Black man killed in a police shooting in Hazel Dell.

Zimmerman's earlier comments, inadvertently captured on video and broadcast online, have prompted condemnations from his fellow District Court judges, a decision by prosecutors to seek his removal from all of their criminal cases and a call from a prominent law firm for him to resign.

"I have always prided myself in being open minded, fair and just in my duties as a judicial officer. I do understand that even my personal comments, when made public  bring about an outcry of concern because I am a judicial officer," Zimmerman said in a statement issued on his behalf by attorney Josephine C. Townsend.

The statement said Zimmerman deeply regrets his comments that have caused divisiveness and concern in the community.

"I am very sorry for that. I have decided to take some time off to reflect on my behavior and to determine what I can do to help heal the community I have served," the statement said.

Townsend said that over the weekend, Zimmerman self-reported his statements to the Commission on Judicial Conduct, which has the power to investigate his comments and recommend that the Washington Supreme Court take action against him.

"We decided it would be best to be as proactive as possible in responding," she told The Columbian in a phone interview.

Both said Zimmerman will fully cooperate with the investigation.

"I want my colleagues and the public to know that I have accepted responsibility for my actions," Zimmerman's statement said.

Townsend said Zimmerman's case is on the commission's schedule, which meets every two months. The next meeting is April 23, she said. However, she was unsure if he self-reported in time for that meeting or if it will be addressed in June. Townsend said the commission will review any complaints filed against Zimmerman, as well as the video, and interview him.

Story continues

In the meantime, his leave from the bench will be coordinated through District Court's presiding judge, Townsend said.

Zimmerman, whose comments with another court official were captured on video and viewable on YouTube for several hours, described Kevin Peterson Jr. as "the Black guy they were trying to make an angel out of," and said he believed Peterson had a death wish and "was so dumb."

The long-serving judge, whose son was on scene in the Oct. 29 shooting as a member of the Clark County Sheriff's Office but did not fire his weapon, also claimed that Peterson's father conceded to a police chaplain that the shooting was justified but, "the next day, he wakes up with dollar signs in his eyes and George Floyd's attorneys had already contacted him."

Zimmerman said his private remarks in the courtroom were him speaking as a father about his concerns over the five-month delay for the Peterson investigation to be completed, of a need for closure about the 21-year-old Black man's death, and the necessity for investigative information to be released publicly, "so that everyone, including the police get a fair evaluation of what happened."

He said his concerns as a father do not excuse the fact that the comments caused an already volatile community to again become divisive.

He noted his 35-year career on the bench, stating that he's long been a supporter of therapeutic programs that help the impoverished. He said he's promoted the Veteran's Court and Mental Health Court programs. Townsend said he was on a committee to bring in a pre-arrest diversion program.

"I am a staunch supporter of programs that provide alternatives to incarceration, which affect people of color and the impoverished," he said.

Zimmerman said the programs mentioned in his statement are meant to bring fair and equal justice to all races and genders.

Townsend said that Zimmerman has spoken at many conferences and brought millions of dollars into the county to fund therapeutic programs, and has helped refer litigants wanting to learn English to a Clark College program.

"He doesn't want the public to think that's the only version of him, because it isn't," Townsend said, referring to Zimmerman's recorded comments. "It's the other side of the version of him. To speak as an exasperated father, to want closure to an investigation that has taken a long time, it wasn't appropriate, he understands that; but at the same time, it's not the only version of him. He just wants that level of fairness as well."
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A sign for the Department of Justice hangs in the press briefing room at the Justice Department in Washington, D.C., on April 18, 2019. (Patrick Semansky/AP Photo)

Biden DOJ Reverses Position on Crack Cocaine Appeal Before Supreme Court

Low-level crack cocaine defendants should benefit from a 2018 federal law that reduced prison sentences for certain offenses, the Biden administration advised the Supreme Court, distancing itself from a more hardline position taken by the Trump administration.

Although then-President Donald Trump signed the criminal justice reform measure known as the First Step Act into law, his administration held the view that possession of a small amount of crack cocaine wasnt covered under the statute.

Acting Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar let the high court know in a March 15 letter about a pending case that the new administration has reversed course and now takes the position that defendant Tarahrick Terry qualifies for a sentence reduction.

The purpose of this letter is to notify the Court that the United States has reconsidered that [Trump administration] position and will no longer defend the judgment of the court of appeals, Prelogar wrote.

Following the change in Administration, the Department of Justice began a process of reviewing the governments interpretation of Section 404 of the First Step Act. As a result of that review, the Department of Justice has concluded that petitioners conviction is a covered offense under Section 404, that petitioner is entitled to request a reduced sentence, and that the court of appeals erred in concluding otherwise.

The case is Terry v. U.S., court file 20-5904. Oral arguments are scheduled for April 20.

Terry was sentenced to 15 1/2 years in prison after entering a guilty plea in Florida in 2008 for one count of possession with intent to distribute 3.9 grams of crack cocaine. In his current appeal, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit ruled against him on Sept. 22, 2020. Six days later he filed a petition with the Supreme Court seeking review, which the Trump administration opposed. The court agreed on Jan. 8 to hear his case.

Conservative groups Americans for Prosperity Foundation, The R Street Institute, and the American Conservative Union, which runs the annual Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), filed friend-of-the-court briefs supporting Terrys position.

The District of Columbia, along with Colorado, Delaware, Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, and Washington also signed onto a brief supporting Terry.

A bipartisan quartet of U.S. senators also filed a brief in favor of Terry. Sens. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Cory Booker (D-N.J.), along with Sens. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) and Mike Lee (R-Utah), argued that the First Step Acts reforms to reduce the sentencing disparities for individuals convicted of crack-cocaine offenses were central to the law.

Section 404 of the statute provides retroactive relief  for individuals sentenced based on the old 100-to-1 crack-to-powder ratio that Congress repudiated.

At the time he signed the First Step Act, Trump said it constituted an incredible moment for criminal justice reform. He singled out the sentencing reforms included in it, saying Americans from across the political spectrum can unite around prison reform legislation that will reduce crime while giving our fellow citizens a chance at redemption, so if something happens and they make a mistake, they get a second chance at life.

Friend-of-the-court brief signer Grassley hailed the legislation at the time as historic and the most significant criminal justice reform bill in a generation.
A real estate agent accused of attacking a woman with a samurai sword at his home in Sydneys inner west in February has listed the property for sale.

Karl Howard was arrested and charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm, wounding with intent to murder and trespassing after two women were attacked in the early hours of February 8.

Karl Howard has been accused of attacking a woman with a samurai sword at his home.

The house he owns, at 73 Ferris Street in Annandale, was the scene of the alleged crime.

Mr Howard, 44, was the principal of Ray White in Balmain. He has been stood down.
Trump Says 2024 Run Will Depend on How Republicans Perform in 22

Former President Donald Trump said in an interview aired on March 16 that his decision whether to run for reelection in 2024 hinges on how Republicans perform in 2022.

Well, based on every poll, they want me to run again, but were going to take a look and well see. First steps first, we have to see what we can do with the House. I think we have a very, very good chance of taking back the House, he told Maria Bartiromo on Fox News.

I think we have a chance to do better in the Senate. We need leadership in the Senate, which frankly, we dont have. We need better leadership in the Senate. We have a good chance to take back the Senate, and, frankly, well make our decision after that, Trump said.

Trump had previously hinted that he may run again during his comeback speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Orlando, Florida, on Feb. 28.

In the interview, Trump highlighted and took credit for the Republican victories in the House in 2020. The GOP gained 14 seats in the House, resulting in the slimmest Democratic majority in the chamber, 222213, since 2000.

You know, we were going to lose from 15 to 25 seats last time. I got involved. I worked very hard, Trump said. What happened is we ended up winning 15 seats instead of losing potentially 25 seats. Thats a big swing and it almost cost [House Speaker] Nancy Pelosi her job. I think we have a chance of taking back the House.

The former president has endorsed two Republican House candidates so far, Max Miller in Ohio and Julia Letlow in Louisiana. Miller, a former White House official, is running against one of the ten Republicans who voted to impeach Trump. The former president has suggested that he will endorse primary challengers against the other nine, which include Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.), the third-ranking Republican in the House.

Republicans need to gain just five seats to retake control of the House. The Senate is currently split 5050, with Vice President Kamala Harris on deck to break ties. Fourteen Democratic seats and 20 Republican seats will be up for grabs in 2022. A number of establishment Republicans in the Senate arent seeking reelection, opening the door for Trump to reshape the partys leadership in the chamber.

Trump noted that if the Democrats H.R. 1 election bill becomes law, Republicans will have a very hard time getting elected.

What will happen is the Democrats will be able to do what they did in the last, in the 2020 election, Trump said. And when you look at the dishonesty and all of the things that took place in that election, this should have never happened.
Libyas arms embargo has been totally ineffective, a panel of United Nations experts said in a report Tuesday describing UN member states' violations as "extensive, blatant and with complete disregard for the sanctions measures."

The 550-page report, which covered October 2019 through late January 2020, blasted several UN member states for violating the UN arms embargo that has been in place since the uprising that toppled longtime dictator Moammar Gadhafi in 2011.

"Their control of the entire supply chain complicates detection, disruption or interdiction ... [making] any implementation of the arms embargo more difficult, the report said.

Libya is embroiled in a proxy war between two rival administrations, each backed by foreign governments that have flooded the country with arms and mercenaries. The report lists violations from the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Jordan and Russia, which support Gen. Khalifa Hifters self-styled Libyan National Army, and violations from Turkey and Qatar, which back the internationally recognized Government of National Accord.

The report also documented violations from the Kremlin-backed private security firm Wagner Group and former Blackwater head Erik Prince, accusing them both of supporting Hifter's Libyan National Army.

The six UN experts concluded that asset freezes and travel bans against designated individuals are an ineffective way to deter violations of the arms embargo. They recommended the UN Security Council consider a mandate to designate aircraft, and impose measures such as flag deregistration, a landing ban and an overflight ban across Libya.

A cease-fire reached by the Libyan National Army and the Government of National Accord in October called for the withdrawal of foreign fighters, but as of December, the UN estimated at least 20,000 foreign fighters and mercenaries were still present in the North African country. Last week, the UN Security Council again called on outside actors in Libya to withdraw their forces without delay.

The UN panel said Turkeys introduction of advanced military technology in the conflict ultimately turned the tide in Tripoli and helped the Government of National Accord drive Hifters forces from the city in June 2020. The report also said Hifters side had enlisted fighters from Sudan and Chad, and in 2019 was supplied aircraft by Prince, a former Navy SEAL and associate of former President Donald Trump.

Prince, whose sister, Betsy Devos, was Trumps education secretary, has previously denied violating the arms embargo in Libya. The Wall Street Journal reported that the latest UN report could result in UN sanctions on Prince, including an asset freeze or travel ban.

The UN report also named the Wagner Group, which the experts said acted as an effective force multiplier for Hifter, deploying between 800 and 1,200 operatives to Libya in 2019 and 2020. The shadowy Russian paramilitary group is linked to wealthy businessman Yevgeny Prigozhin, a US-sanctioned member of Russian President Vladimir Putins inner circle.

The UN report said a significant number of Syrian fighters is further exacerbating insecurity within Libya. As many as 13,000 Syrians, including 250 minors, were enlisted to fight by the Government of National Accord and the Wagner Group, the report said.
Under the terms of this agreement, Epredia has been appointed as a global distribution partner of the entire Paige portfolio of imaging diagnostic solutions. In addition, Epredia will have exclusive distribution rights in Japan. In the second quarter of 2021, Epredia will begin to commercialize the Paige solutions alongside existing Epredia products in the United States and major European Countries, further strengthening its comprehensive digital pathology portfolio that already includes the best-in-class CE-marked 3DHistech P1000 scanner*.

The Paige portfolio includes the Paige Platform, a comprehensive imaging solution comprised of a fast, zero-footprint viewer, storage capabilities and AI-based diagnostic software to help pathologists review cases and support their overall workflow.

The FDA-cleared and CE-marked Paige Platform features FullFocus, an intuitive and responsive viewer for pathology scans that supports primary diagnosis and their Data Management solution for storage of pathology scans. The Paige Platform is designed to be compatible with existing pathology solutions, including most scanners, monitors, and laboratory information systems.

Paige's AI-based diagnostic software solutions are designed to increase the number of cases that can be reviewed and with greater confidence and accuracy. Currently Paige Prostate and Paige Breast are CE-marked and available for clinical use outside of the United States. Paige Prostate RUO and Paige Breast RUO are research-use only solutions that are available in the United States.

"We are extremely excited to be entering into this partnership with Paige to commercialize their highly innovative portfolio of AI-based digital pathology solutions," explained John Marotta, President, Epredia and Chief Executive Officer, PHC Holdings Corporation. "We believe that digital pathology is a key part of cancer diagnostics of the future that can greatly improve patient care. We see enormous potential in the Paige portfolio and believe it perfectly complements our existing portfolio. This deal gives us access to a highly innovative portfolio of products that can enable us to deliver on our mission of improving lives by enhancing cancer diagnostics for patients."

"This commercial partnership with Epredia is an exciting step for Paige and we are thrilled to be working with one of the leading companies in anatomical pathology. Epredia's extensive global commercial reach will support our efforts to expand our geographical footprint," said Leo Grady, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of Paige. "Our aim is to transform the diagnostics space by offering a portfolio of software applications that help optimize patient outcomes by enabling pathologists to unlock insights from each sample and return results to the clinician and patient more quickly. This commercial agreement will help deliver our solution into the hands of more pathologists across the world to help patients get the most timely and effective care."

* Regulatory requirements for the 3DHistech P1000 scanner vary by country, please consult with your commercial partner to confirm the approved use of the scanner in your country.

Notes for Editors

About Epredia

Epredia is a global leader in the anatomical pathology field, providing comprehensive solutions for precision cancer diagnostics and tissue diagnostics. Powered by key brands, including Erie Scientific, Menzel-Glaser, Microm, Shandon, and Richard-Allan Scientific, Epredia's portfolio includes microscope slides, instruments and consumables. Epredia was established following the acquisition of Thermo Fisher Scientific's Anatomical Pathology business by PHC Holdings in 2019. Epredia has major sites in the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Switzerland and China with a total of around 1,200 employees. Epredia is committed to achieving its mission to improve lives by enhancing cancer diagnostics for patients around the world. For further information on Epredia and its products, please visit www.epredia.com.

About Paige

Paige was founded in 2017 by Thomas Fuchs, Dr.Sc. and colleagues from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK). The company builds computational pathology products designed so patients and their care teams can make effective, more informed treatment decisions. With this new class of AI-based technologies positioned to drive the future of diagnostics, Paige created a platform to deliver this novel technology to pathologists to transform their workflow and increase diagnostic confidence and productivity. Paige's products deliver insights to pathologists and oncologists so they can arrive efficiently at more precise diagnoses for patients. Paige is the first company to receive FDA breakthrough designation for computational pathology products.

For additional information, please visit: https://www.paige.ai, https://www.paigeplatform.com, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

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Outsourcing group Capita has announced that 35,000 out of its 55,000-strong workforce will be able to work from home permanently if they wish.

Jon Lewis, Capita's boss, said that the group's call centre staff no longer need to be based in a single location and revealed the business is shifting to a 'hybrid' work model.

Internal company surveys revealed that 72 per cent of staff would prefer to work up to three days a week from home.

Hybrid work plan: Capita boss Jon Lewis has told 35,000 workers they can work from home

Operations: Outsourcing group Capita is responsible for running the London congestion charging zone

Lewis told the Press Association: 'Call centres are to some extent, a historic capability today. Theres no reason why you need to put 2,000 people in a warehouse in the UK. Those people can work from home.

'It isnt dead, but theres certainly going to be a lot less of them.

'There may be some financial services activities where, for reasons of security, people have to be in a secure environment but for many of the things we do they dont have to be in such facility.'

Lewis also said that businesses forcing staff back to offices could 'have a significantly less attractive employee value proposition if they do that.'

He added: 'Young people are inclined to want to work in an office environment because the work environment is a big part of their social life, but if you look at the whole demographic of the workforce in the UK, offering people that flexibility is going to be a very positive element of an overall employee value proposition.'

Last year, Capita closed 49 offices and reduced its office footprint, leading to savings of 11million.

Collection: Capita is responsible for collecting the television license fee

In its annual results published today, Capita unveiled plans for a fresh restructuring aimed at simplifying its business and cutting costs.

The company, which is responsible for running the London congestion charging zone, recruiting British Army personnel and collecting the television license fee, is trimming the number of core divisions it has from six to three.

It also plans to raise 700million by selling a number of 'non-core' assets in a bid to boost its balance sheet.

Shares in the company have lost 94 per cent of their value compared to 2015, but jumped 5 per cent or 2.31p to 48.49p this morning.

In the year to 31 December, Capita's adjusted pre-tax profit fell to 65.2million, against 197.7million back in 2019. Adjusted revenue slipped 9 per cent to 3.18billion last year.

The newly streamlined Capita will comprise three divisions. Capita Public Service will focus on strategic supply for the government, Capita Experience will build on the firms UK and EU customer experience markets, while a third division will comprise a portfolio of non-core businesses.

Capita said the 'new simpler structure supports inflection to sustainable cash generation in 2022.'

The group will seek to raise 700m from selling non-core assets as it looks to shore up its finances.

On its quest to raise 700million, Capita said: 'To support the balance sheet, our focus remains on efficient cash management, realising non-core disposals of 700m and planning to put in place a longer-term financing solution.'

Around 500million of the sale proceeds look set to be generated this year and the group also plans to cut its office space by a further 15 per cent in 2021.

Boss Jon Lewis said that he expects the business to return to organic revenue growth this year and sustainable cash generation in 2022.

He added: 'Despite the challenges, we have continued to make good progress, improving client relationships and winning significant new contracts.

'Capita is a much better business than it was three years ago when we began our transformation.'

Britain's outsourcing sector has struggled in recent years, with Carillion and Interserve collapsing.
Greg Sukiennik has worked at all three Vermont News & Media newspapers and was their managing editor from 2017-19. He previously worked for ESPN.com, for the AP in Boston, and at The Berkshire Eagle in Pittsfield, Mass.



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Travellers are being warned not to pay for the new Global Health Insurance Card as a number of unofficial websites have popped up charging those who want it.

The GHIC, which replaces the European Health Insurance Card, is free and can be applied for via the NHS.

Unofficial websites have been found to be charging consumers around 29 per application which can easily be found on search engine results, according to data from Direct Line travel insurance.

Around a third of Britons have an EHIC that is still in date, while one are unsure when their EHIC expires. Many could now be at risk of being misled due to a lack of understanding that the GHIC is free.

Millions of people believe they have to pay for their GHIC, despite it being free on the NHS

It currently takes less than 10 seconds to find an unofficial website when searching for 'GHIC application' on a search engine with five links on the first results page directing you to websites that charge to manage the application process.

One website had even paid the search engine's advertising rates to come at the top of the search.

The most common 'benefit' these unofficial websites are using to encourage unwitting people to use their 'service' is that they will either fast-track or manage the application process for ease.

However, the time it takes for the application is sometimes longer than the stated time for the real NHS website.

These misleading websites have been around since the inception of the EHIC card, which was also free of charge.

In fact, millions are believed to have paid for their EHIC when they last applied  in monetary terms, this represents an estimated unnecessary 245million, indicating why attentions have now been turned to the GHIC.

While 43 per cent of people know that the EHIC and GHIC covers you for emergency healthcare from state services, 27 per cent wrongly believe they will get the exact same care they receive from the NHS in the UK.

This is a misconception and travellers need to be aware that the care they are provided will be the same as that of a resident in the destination country, if the resident has to pay for health care, they will also have to pay.

ITEMS PEOPLE THINK WOULD BE COVERED WITH A GHIC Type of cover Proportion of Brits who believe this is covered Approximate number of Brits Emergency healthcare from state services 43 per cent 22.9 million The same healthcare I would receive from the NHS in the UK 27 per cent 14 million Routine medical care for pre-existing conditions that require monitoring 12 per cent 6.2 million Travel costs to return to the UK 10 per cent 5.1 million Routine maternity care (except if giving birth) 7 per cent 3.5 million Pre-arranged treatments such as dialysis or chemotherapy 6 per cent 3.2 million Private healthcare 6 per cent 3 million Costs to cover mountain rescue 5 per cent 2.7 million Elective procedures (e.g. tonsillectomy, eye surgery, hernia repair) 4 per cent 2.1 million Cosmetic procedures (e.g. dental surgery, liposuction, facelift) 3 per cent 1.8 million Source: Direct Line Insurance

People aged between 18 and 34 are the most likely to think they need to pay for a GHIC, with 50 per cent of people in this age group believing this.

This decreases to 27 per cent for 35 to 54-year-olds and eight per cent for over 55 year-olds.

Some six per cent of those asked even thought the EHIC and GHIC would cover them for private health care whilst four per cent thought they would be covered for elective procedures like tonsillectomy, eye surgery and hernia repair.

However, it is vital to still purchase travel insurance even with an EHIC or GHIC.

The research found that many have not done so, with Direct Line data suggesting millions of people have travelled to Europe without insurance cover in the past, while 2.7million state they never buy insurance when they travel.

With the average medical insurance claim standing at almost 1,500, it is imperative travellers protect their health and finances in case the worst does happen.

Tom Bishop, head of Direct Line travel insurance, said: 'The GHIC covers you for the same level of state healthcare offered to residents of the country, not the same level of healthcare you would receive in the UK.

'It's therefore vital to take out travel insurance in case you need more than the GHIC or EHIC provides, plus it provides plenty of non-healthcare related cover too.

'Reciprocal healthcare is a brilliant thing to have, but make sure it is accompanied by comprehensive travel insurance when we can all go away again.'

The research was based on a survey between January and February 2021 among 2,005 UK adults.
[March 17, 2021] US Economy Creates 379,000 Jobs in February

US firms are embarking on a recruitment drive as Covid numbers fall and confidence returns to the economy. Questionmark, the online assessment provider, is urging hirers to ensure that they are bringing in people with skills to boost productivity. The US economy created 379,000 jobs in February. Some 355,000 of these jobs were within the leisure and hospitality sector. Economists predict that the newly approved stimulus package of $1.9tn will fuel further economic growth and add to the job creation total.1 Before making the final decision on who to hire, Questionmark is encouraging hirers to ask the following three questions: Do candidates have the skills they claim - 78% of applicants admit to lying during the recruitment process.2 When scaling up for a busy period, recruits must be able to do what they say they can. Do applicants have skills fit for the future - across all industries, the skills workers require are changing. For example, hospitality workers may need to manage digital purchases. Employers should ensure that new starters have crucial skills that may be missing from the existing workforce. Do potential recruits have the right attitude -recruits must be able to quickly become part of the team. Certain characteristics will indicate whether they are likely to contribute positively to the culture. By measuring the skills of candidates before making the final hiring decision, employers can make a more informed decision about who to bring nto the team. Assessments indicate whether potential recruits can do what they say they can and if they are likely to have the right attitude for the job.



Lars Pedersen, CEO of Questionmark, said: "As the economy begins to recover, employers will need to scale up quickly. The quality of the recruits they bring into the team will help determine whether they can ride the wave of recovery and take advantage of the new opportunities it presents. "Now more than ever, employers must be confident in the recruitment decisions they are making."

The Questionmark enterprise-grade platform makes assessment content easy to create and adapt. The platform automatically marks papers and instantly compiles results. It is easy to spot trends and patterns. www.questionmark.com/transform-recruitment-with-pre-hire-assessments Ends Notes to editors About Questionmark Questionmark unlocks performance through reliable and secure online assessments. Questionmark provides a secure enterprise-grade assessment platform and professional services to leading organizations around the world, delivered with care and unequalled expertise. Its full-service online assessment tool and professional services help customers to improve their performance and meet their compliance requirements. Questionmark enables organizations to unlock their potential by delivering assessments which are valid, reliable, fair and defensible. Questionmark offers secure powerful integration with other LMS, LRS and proctoring services making it easy to bring everything together in one place. Questionmark's cloud-based assessment management platform offers rapid deployment, scalability for high-volume test delivery, 24/7 support, and the peace-of-mind of secure, audited U.S., Australian and European-based data centers. 1 https://www.ft.com/content/58fdb770-9b67-4745-b6e1-5b7758aeb9cf

2 https://www.cnbc.com/2020/02/19/how-many-job-seekers-lie-on-their-job-application.html View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210317005111/en/

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WILMINGTON, Del. (AP)  There is Major breaking news: President Joe Bidens wayward pup is no longer in the doghouse.

Biden, in an interview that aired Wednesday, said that his dog Major, who had been involved in a biting incident at the White House, was a sweet dog. He explained the biting by saying that the dog had turned a corner, theres two people he doesnt know at all, you know, and they move and moves to protect.

Biden added that 85% of the people there love him. Major, a 3-year-old rescue dog, and Champ, who is 12, were moved to the Bidens' Delaware home after the incident, but the president said they would return to the White House.

The president said the dogs being trained now in Delaware but disputed the idea that the pup was sent away after the incident. He said the dogs went to Wilmington because the first couple was going to be out of town.

He was going home, Biden said. I didnt banish him to home. Jill was going to be away for four days. I was going to be away for two, so we took him home.

The dogs are the first pets to call the White House home since President Barack Obama departed in early 2017 with his pups Bo and Sunny. President Donald Trump did not have any pets.
China approved a recombinant protein subunit vaccine against COVID-19 for emergency use on Wednesday, according to the vaccine's developer, the Institute of Microbiology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

So far, the vaccine is the fourth approved by the country for emergency use against COVID-19.

The vaccine was developed by the institute and Anhui Zhifei Longcom Biopharmaceutical. It is currently in phase-three clinical trials in foreign countries including Uzbekistan, Pakistan, Ecuador and Indonesia, with plans to inoculate a total of 29,000 volunteers, the institute said in a statement on Monday.

On March 1, Uzbekistan's Ministry of Innovative Development said it has approved the vaccine for market use in the Central Asian nation under the name ZF-UZ-VAC2001. The vaccine was approved for emergency use in the country on Feb 22, making it the world's first recombinant subunit vaccine to be authorized for clinical use.

Rather than injecting a whole inactivated pathogen to trigger an immune response like previously approved vaccines, subunit protein vaccines contain purified pieces of the virus's protein to train the immune system. These fragments are incapable of causing disease, thus making this type of vaccines very safe.

Notable subunit vaccines include the vaccine for hepatitis B. This type of vaccine does not require high biosecurity labs to make, has high output and low storage requirements, the institute said.

The vaccine completed phase one and two clinical trials in October, and there were no severe adverse effects recorded, the institute said, adding the protection rate for this vaccine is on par with other COVID-19 recombinant subunit and mRNA vaccines in the world, though it did not disclose efficacy details.

US biotech company Novavax is the maker of another recombinant nanoparticle subunit vaccine for COVID called NVX-CoV2373, whose phase-three trials results released last week showed it was 96.4 percent effective against mild, moderate and severe disease caused by the original COVID-19 strain. The mRNA vaccines, developed by Pfizer and Moderna, both have a protection rate of around 95 percent.
Samsung Galaxy smartphones have an SOS feature that will surely come in handy during emergencies.

This capability of your Samsung smartphone or smartwatch can assist you in raising an alert in an unprecedented event. Another great thing about this is that you can easily activate it.

According to Samsung Newsroom UK's latest report, the SOS messages feature has been available on Samsung Galaxy devices since 2016. However, some users don't even know that it exists.

Basically, it allows you to send alert messages to authorities whenever you feel that danger is coming or other unsafe scenarios.

This is essential since it can send auto-calls and messages to four designated contacts on your device without the need of dialing them. Once you activate this feature, all you need to do is press the lock button three times so that your contacts will be alerted.

After that, your Samsung device will automatically send an SOS message and a Google map link of your location to your contacts. Aside from this, it also sends pictures using the rear and front cameras, as well as a five-second recorded audio.

How to activate the SOS feature

Activating your Samsung Galaxy smartphone and smart watch's SOS feature is very easy. All you need to do is follow these exact steps:

Also Read: Samsung Galaxy S21 vs. iPhone 12 5G Download Speed: Which is Faster?

How to activate the SOS feature on your Samsung Galaxy smartwatch

Open the Galaxy Wearable app. Go to Send SOSes, and then tap the switch to enable SOS messages. You'll be asked to add an emergency contact. You can either create a contact or select from contacts, and then add or create your designated contact.

How to activate SOS feature on Samsung Galaxy smartphones

Go to Settings. Go to the Advanced Features, and select Send SOS messages. You can select the recipient from your contact book or create a new contact, adding the mobile number for the recipient so they can receive your message.

Samsung Galaxy is not the only one with SOS feature

Aside from Samsung Galaxy devices, iPhone smartphones also have the SOS feature. Just like in Samsung Galaxy gadgets, iPhone's security feature also allows its users to call emergency services and share their locations with saved contacts, as reported by Gear Brain. If you want to know how it is used and other details, all you need to do is click here.

For more news updates about Samsung Galaxy and other smartphone brands, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes.

Related Article: iPhone Emergency Hack: How to Share your Location With Contacts and Sound an Alarm

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Written by: Giuliano de Leon

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
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From Lifes Edge: The Search For What It Means To Be Alive by Carl Zimmer, published by Dutton, an imprint of Penguin Publishing Group, a division of Penguin Random House, LLC. Copyright  2021 by Carl Zimmer.

Cleber Trujillo led me to a windowless room banked with refrigerators, incubators, and microscopes. He extended his blue-gloved hands to either side and nearly touched the walls. This is where we spend half our day, he said.

In that room Trujillo and a team of graduate students raised a special kind of life. He opened an incubator and picked out a clear plastic box. Raising it above his head, he had me look up at it through its base. Inside the box were six circular wells, each the width of a cookie and lled with what looked like watered-down grape juice. In each well 100 pale globes oated, each the size of a housey head.

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Every globe was made up of hundreds of thousands of human neurons. Each had developed from a single progenitor cell. Now these globes did many of the things that our own brains do. They took up nutrients in the grape juicecolored medium to generate fuel. They kept their molecules in good repair. They red electrical signals in wavelike unison, keeping in sync by exchanging neurotransmitters. Each of the globeswhich scientists call organoidswas a distinct living thing, its cells woven together into a collective.

They like to stay close to each other, Trujillo said as he looked at the undersides of the wells. He sounded fond of his creations.

The lab where Trujillo worked was led by another scientist from Brazil named Alysson Muotri. After Muotri immigrated to the United States and became a professor at the University of California, San Diego, he learned how to grow neurons. He took bits of skin from people and gave them chemicals that transformed them into embryo-like cells. Dousing them with another set of chemicals, he steered them to develop into full-blown neurons. They could form at sheets covering the bottom of petri dishes, where they could crackle with voltage spikes and trade neurotransmitters.

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Muotri realized that he could use these neurons to study brain disorders that arose from mutations. Instead of carving out a piece of gray matter from peoples heads, he could take skin samples and reprogram them into neurons. For his rst study, he grew neurons from people with a hereditary form of autism called Rett syndrome. Its symptoms include intellectual disability and the loss of motor control. Muotris neurons spread their kelp-like branches across petri dishes and made contact with one another. He compared them with the neurons he grew from skin samples taken from people without Rett syndrome. Some differences leaped out. Most noticeably, the Rett neurons grew fewer connections. Its possible that the key to Rett syndrome is a sparse neural network, which changes the way signals travel around the brain.

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But Muotri knew very well that a at sheet of neurons is a far cry from a brain. The three pounds of thinking matter in our heads are a kind of living cathedral, if a cathedral were built by its own stones. Brains arise from a few progenitor cells that crawl into what will become an embryos head. They gather together to form a pocket-shaped mass and then multiply. As the mass grows, it extends long, cable-like growths out in all directions, toward the forming walls of the skull. Other cells emerge from the progenitor mass and climb up these cables. Different cells stop at different points along the way and begin growing outward. They become organized into a stack of layers, known as the cerebral cortex.

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This outer rind of the human brain is where we carry out much of the thinking that makes us uniquely humanwhere we make sense of words, read inner lives on peoples faces, draw on the past, and plan for the distant future. All the cells that we use for these thoughts arise in a particular three-dimensional space in our heads, awash in a complex sea of signals.

Fortunately for Muotri, scientists came up with new recipes to coax reprogrammed cells to multiply into miniature organs. They made lung organoids, liver organoids, heart organoids, andin 2013brain organoids. Researchers coaxed reprogrammed cells to become the progenitor cells for brains. Provided with the right signals, those cells then multiplied into thousands of neurons. Muotri recognized that brain organoids would profoundly change his research. A disease like Rett syndrome starts reworking the cerebral cortex from the earliest stages in the brains development. For scientists like Muotri, those changes happened inside a black box. Now he could grow brain organoids in plain view.

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Together, Muotri and Trujillo followed the recipes that other scientists laid down for making organoids. Then they began creating recipes of their own to make a cerebral cortex. It was a struggle to nd the blend of chemicals that could coax the brain cells onto the right developmental path. The cells often died along the way, tearing open and spilling out their molecular guts. Eventually the scientists found the correct balance. They discovered to their surprise that once the cells set off in the right direction, they took over their own development.

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No longer did the researchers have to patiently coax the organoids to grow. The clumps of cells spontaneously pulled away from one another to form a hollow tube. They sprouted cables that branched out from the tube, and other cells traveled along the cables to form layers. The organoids even grew folds on their outer surface, an echo of our own wrinkled brains. Muotri and Trujillo could now make cortex organoids that would grow to hundreds of thousands of cells. Their creations stayed alive for weeks, then months, then years.

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The most incredible thing is that they build themselves, Muotri told me.

Meanwhile, Cleber Trujillos wife, Priscilla Negraes, began listening to the chatter going on between the organoid cells.

When a brain organoid reaches a few weeks in age, its neurons become mature enough to generate spikes of voltage. Those spikes can travel down an axon and trigger neighboring neurons to re as well. Negraes and her colleagues created an eavesdropping device that could pick up the crackle. At the bottom of miniature wells, they placed eight-by-eight grids of electrodes. They lled the wells with broth and rested an organoid atop each array.

On her computer, the readout from the electrodes formed a grid of 64 circles. Whenever one of the electrodes detected a ring neuron, its circle swelled, turning from yellow to red. Week after week the circles reddened and swelled more often, but there was no pattern Negraes could see to the bursts. The cells in the organoids spontaneously red on their own from time to time, creating neurological static.

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But as the organoids got more mature, Negraes thought she saw some order emerge. Sometimes a few of the circles would all suddenly swell red together. Eventually all 64 electrodes registered signals at once. And then Negraes began to see them turn on and off in what looked like waves.

Was Negraes seeing actual brain waves developing in the organoids? She wished that she could compare the patterns she was seeing in her wells with the developing brains of human fetuses. But scientists had yet to gure out how to detect their electrical activity in the womb. The closest that anyone had managed was to study babies born premature, putting miniature EEG caps on their orange-sized heads.

Negraes and her colleagues enlisted a University of California, San Diego, neuroscientist named Bradley Voytek and his graduate student Richard Gao to compare organoids to premature babies. The earliest-born babies, with the least developed brains, produced sparse bursts of brain waves separated by long spells of disorganized ring. The babies that were born closer to term had shorter lulls, their bursts of brain waves growing longer and more organized. Organoids displayed some of the same trends as they got older. When a young organoid rst began making waves, they came in sparse bursts. But as the organoid developed over months, they grew longer and better organized, their lulls growing smaller.

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This unsettling discovery did not mean that Negraes and her colleagues had created baby brains. For one thing, a human infants brain is 100,000 times bigger than the biggest organoids. For another, the scientists only mimicked one part of the brainthe cerebral cortex. A working human brain has many other parts: a cerebellum, a thalamus, a substantia nigra, and on and on. Some of its parts take in smells. Others handle sight. Still others make sense of different kinds of input. Some parts of the brain encode memories; some jolt it with fear or joy.

Still, the scientists were unsettled. And they had every reason to suspect that, with more research, brain organoids might become more brain-like. A blood supply might let them grow bigger. Researchers might connect a cerebral cortex organoid to a retinal organoid that could sense light. They might link it to motor neurons that could send signals to muscle cells. Muotri even dabbled with the idea of linking an organoid to a robot.

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What might happen then? When Muotri started growing organoids, he assumed they could never become conscious. Now Im more unsure, he confessed.

So were bioethicists and philosophers. They began gathering to talk about brain organoids and how to think about them. I called onea Harvard researcher named Jeantine Lunshofto get her opinion.

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Lunshof wasnt too worried about Muotri accidentally creating conscious creatures in a dish. Brain organoids were so small and simple that they still fell far below that threshold. What concerned her was a simple question: What on earth are these things?

In order to say what you should do with it, you rst have to say, What is it? Lunshof explained to me. Were making things that were not known ten years ago. They were not in the catalog of philosophers.

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In La Jolla, Lunshofs question came to my mind as Trujillo showed me his latest batch of organoids.

This is just a mass of cells, he said, pointing to one of his wells. It does not get close to a human brain. But we have the tools to make a more complex mini-brain.

So you feel OK with this, I said, groping for the right words, because obviously its not a human brain

Human cells! Trujillo claried.

So theyre alive, I half said, half asked.

Yes, Trujillo replied. And theyre human.

But theyre not a human being?

Yes, he said.

But where would you start to approach that line? I asked.

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Trujillo had me imagine an organoid rigged up to an electrode.

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You can do a pattern of electrical shocks, he said.

Trujillo was sitting in front of a microscope as we talked. He extended two of his ngers and rapped them on the counter, producing galloping beats.

Ba-bap, ba-bap, ba-bap.

He suspended his hand over the counter. And then we stop.

After a few seconds Trujillo brought down his ngers again.

Ba-bap, ba-bap, ba-bap.

And then the thing res, he said. In response to the incoming signal, the organoid uses its neurons to create a matching signal of its own. Thats a bit more concerning. Its learning something.

Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society.
From the worlds biggest butterfly to a 200 million-year-old dinosaur and the fleas accused of spreading a plague  theres no shortage of stories to tell about the natural world.

And some of the milestone moments in natural history will be explored when the exhibition Treasures of the Natural World opens at the Melbourne Museum in June after being on hold for nearly a year due to the pandemic.

Londons Natural History Museum has loaned more than 200 objects, including some of the worlds oldest, rarest and biggest, for the exhibition that has defied the complexities of COVID-19.

Melbourne Museum senior curator Rebecca Carland. Credit:Chris Hopkins

Senior curator Rebecca Carland said the objects captured the moments in history that helped change and shape our understanding of the natural world.
The (CBI) has charged Mondelez India, erstwhile Cadbury India and its former brass along with ex-officials of customs and excise department for criminal conspiracy and corruption, for allegedly bribing government officials to obtain licence and approvals for chocolate factory at Baddi in Himachal Pradesh in 2010.

An enquiry was conducted by the state capital Shimla branch on the allegations that the Mondelez Foods have paid bribes, misrepresented the facts and manipulated the records to fraudulently avail excise duty and even income-tax benefits, said CBI in its first information report.

For availing the same, executives, members of board collectively decided to manipulate records and engage intermediaries to route bribes and also cover-up all those evidences the had surfaced during the internal investigation, it noted.

The company had been doing commercial production since 2005 of its malt-based food ( Bournvita) from the same area which is otherwise prohibited for the commercial use. After two years, in 2007, it also had expanded its production by creating a units for 5-star and Gems ( confectionaries) on the land acquired to avail tax holiday for additional 10 years.

Enquiry also found that instead of setting up a separate unit, it expanded its production in the existing units to avail the duty benefits. Typically tax holidays and duty benefits allowed for a new manufacturing units in such locations. The findings in the matter indicate that Cadbury did not fulfil the conditions for tax holiday and hence was not entitled for the exemption, CBI noted.

Further, it said that Cadbury criminally conspired with the Sumit Sharma ( tax consultant) was engaged for liasoning with central excise officers.

CBI also cited the enquiry by the Directorate General of Central Excise (DGCEI) initiated in 2011 in the matter, where it rejected the food company tax claim and imposed a penalty of about Rs 240 crore for wrongfully claiming the excise benefit.

Confectionary makers has been in trouble for last one decade. Apart from anti- agency, the company has been also under radar of state governments local agency and Indias central vigilance commission.

In 2017, US markets regulator Securities and Exchange Commission had also charged the company with poor internal controls and violation of anti laws. CBI learnt to have also assisted the regulator in the said matter.


PHILIPSBURG: --- Minister of VSA Richard Panneflek told members of the media on Wednesday during the Council of Minister's press bring that today March 17th marks one year since Sint Maarten reported its first case of COVID-19 on the southern side of the island.

Panneflek said this time last year there were a lot of unknowns with panic and fear seeping into public sentiment.

No one could have ever predicted how crippling COVID-19 would have been. People lost their jobs, families were separated from loved ones, parents had to learn to balance working remotely while adapting to distance learning for their children, social distancing, hand hygiene, and mask-wearing became the norm, the Minister said.



The Minister further states that the people of St. Maarten have learned a lot from this pandemic and how fragile the economy is, the importance of a strong public health system, and ensuring that the healthcare infrastructure meets the demands that are required in a health crisis.

And like every natural disaster that has come to our shores, we have proven time and time again that we are a resilient people, The Minister said.

The Minister also acknowledged the frontline health care workers and those behind the scenes such as laboratory professionals. He said those workers navigated the crisis, risked their lives, sacrificed their family and personal time to help and save others.

He also expressed gratitude to his colleagues within the government, the health professionals from the Netherlands, the AMI team, local businesses, and countless volunteers who generously devoted their time to supporting CPS in their toughest hours.



Currently, there are 10 active cases of COVID-19, and while this trend is moving in the right direction, he reminded the public that St. Maarten is not yet out of the woods as yet.

We have been here before. Just this past summer after much sacrifice, dedication, and effort, we saw zero cases for almost 2 months followed by a drastic resurgence. This is a reminder that COVID-19 is real, a resurgence in cases may be inevitable, and collectively we need to do our part to protect ourselves, our families, and our greater community.

Currently, the Ministry is actively mobilizing vaccination clinics to vaccinate the population. St. Maarten is privileged to have received the Pfizer vaccine which at this point, has proven to be one of the more effective vaccines against COVID-19.

Similarly, their partners in the North, have begun to vaccinate those most at risk; the elderly, health care workers, and more recently, persons aged 18-59 with underlying medical conditions. As such he was informed by the VMT manager that they have administrated over 4000 vaccinations, whereby some already received their second dosses of vaccines and St. Maarten will receive the next batch soon from the Netherlands.

The Minister called on the community to take advantage as the vaccines, especially Pfizer are scarce, at this moment, free and the government cannot guarantee supply in the long-term.

In the meantime, the Minister said that for now, St. Maarten will not receive the AstraZeneca vaccines from the Netherlands. He said that only the vaccines that are distributed in the Netherlands will be sent to St. Maarten since parts of Europe including the Netherlands have suspended the use of AstraZeneca to further probe the information on the blood clot formation from the vaccine.

However, the Minister said that AstraZeneca some countries in Europe as well as Britain have continued the use of the vaccines, including neighboring Tortola.
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When Michael Alfa was setting up to photograph wildlife at Woolgoolgas sewage works near the northern NSW town of Coffs Harbour last year, the avid birdwatcher could hardly believe his senses.

There, among the warbling wattlebirds hanging off a coastal banksia tree, was a lone, critically endangered regent honeyeater, distinctive in its yellow and black plumage. But not its birdsong.

The regent honeyeater is among 17 bird species deemed by the federal government to be critically endangered in Australia. Credit:Paul Fahy

It was making the exact same song [as the wattlebirds]. If you hadnt seen it, you wouldnt know it was a regent honeyeater, Mr Alfa said. It was just incredible.

The species, not known for its mimicry, turns out to be picking up songs of other birds too, including the noisy friarbird, eastern rosella and the spiny-cheeked honeyeater, according to world-first research published on Wednesday in the journal Proceedings of The Royal Society B.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Tirath Singh Rawat has said that wearing of ripped jeans is leading to societal breakdown. Speaking at a workshop on substance abuse on Tuesday, the BJP leader described this as a case of "bad example" being set for the children by their parents. He went on to claim that such behaviour was also leading to substance abuse or consumption of drugs.

Kainchi se sanskaar (culture by scissors)  showing bare knees, wearing ripped denim and looking like rich kids  these are the values being given now. Where is this coming from, if not at home? What is the fault of teachers or schools? Where am I taking my son, showing his knees and in tattered jeans? Girls are no less, showing their knees. Is this good? All of this, in a mad race of westernisation. While the western world follows us, doing yoga  covering their body properly. And we run towards nudity, Rawat was quoted as saying at the workshop organised by the Uttarakhand State Commission for Protection of Child Rights in Dehradun.

Pointing out an instance, Tirath SIngh Rawat said he had once met a woman, who used to run an NGO, wearing ripped denim. He wondered what message such a woman must be giving to society while trying to help them as the head of an NGO.

A child who is taught the right culture at home, no matter how modern he becomes, will never fail in life, the Uttarakhand CM said.
Noel Pearson says a decades-long push for constitutional recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders is not a project of woke identity politics but is Australias longest standing and unresolved project for justice and inclusion.

The trailblazing activist has pleaded with the Morrison government not to abandon long-held ambitions for a national referendum on the issue, warning as long as Indigenous peoples remain unrecognised then Australia would be an absurdity.

Its time for true constitutional recognition: Noel Pearson at the National Museum of Australia on Wednesday. Credit:Dominic Lorrimer

He urged fellow First Nations elders and corporate leaders in Canberra on Wednesday night to not give up the fight on the issue, which the federal government has all but abandoned for this term of Parliament.

Mr Pearson, a lawyer, academic, land rights activist and founder of the Cape York Institute for Policy and Leadership was one of 19 advisers appointed to help co-design the Indigenous Voice.
Ferrari has not made a "big step" with its 2021 engine, according to customer team Haas' boss Gunther Steiner.

Some analysts are saying Ferrari's new engine is 40 horsepower better than the underperforming power unit of 2020.

Haas boss Steiner told the German broadcaster RTL: "I cannot say that it is a big step forward.

"Then I would show Ferrari that I am satisfied with what we have been given, and I cannot do that," he laughed. "It's never enough in motorsport - if you say it is, then something is wrong.

"It is a medium step, I think. The engine is better than it was last year," Steiner added.

He also said Ferrari's step forward will depend on the progress of the other manufacturers.

"We don't know what the other engine manufacturers have done, we simply don't have those numbers," said the Austrian. "I don't even have Ferrari's numbers.

"But I trust Ferrari when they tell me the engine has been improved."

Steiner was regularly critical of Ferrari's engine performance in 2020, hinting that a change of supplier cannot be ruled out for the future.

"I did not hide that, no," he admitted. "I also told Mattia (Binotto) in private conversations. It is good to see that they have indeed made some progress."

(GMM)
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

World Health Organization experts on Wednesday recommended countries continue to use the AstraZeneca vaccine, but said they were looking into the jab's safety after a slew of countries suspended its use over health fears.

The WHO, Europe's medicines regulator and AstraZeneca itself have repeatedly said the vaccine was safe after several countries reported feared links with blood clots or brain haemorrhages.

The suspensions have marred the global vaccine drive aimed at ending a year-long pandemic that has already killed more than 2.6 million people around the world since it first emerged in China in late 2019.

But the WHO's vaccine experts said Wednesday it was still better to take the AstraZeneca vaccine than notadding that it was looking into available data on the jab.

"The WHO Global Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety is carefully assessing the latest available safety data," the UN health agency said in a statement.

"At this time, WHO considers that the benefits of the AstraZeneca vaccine outweigh its risks and recommends that vaccinations continue."

The recommendation echoed a similar statement from the European Medicines Agency on Tuesday advising countries to continue using the vaccine, saying there was no link with clots.

The Amsterdam-based agency said in a statement is holding an extraordinary meeting Thursday to finalise its conclusions on the blood clot issue and "make any necessary recommendations for further action".

Several countries from France to Venezuela to Indonesia said they would not use the vaccine after several reports emerged of blood clots and brain haemorrhages in people who had received the vaccine.

The British-Swedish jab has been dogged by controversy from early on in its rollout, after some countries initially recommended it for people over the age of 65 and then backpedalled, saying there was insufficient data for people in the age group that had received the shot.

The firm later sparred with the EU, which accused it of failing to fulfil vaccine contracts after the bloc's immunisation campaign came under fire for a sputtering start.

'Crisis of the century'

The head of the EU Commission on Wednesday threatened to introduce export curbs to stop suppliers within the EU from sending jabs outside the bloc to ensure "reciprocity" from other vendors.

Ursula von der Leyen singled out Britain, which she accuses of operating a de facto export ban to achieve its own vaccine success at home, which London furiously denies.

She said the EU was "still waiting" for its AstraZeneca orders to come out of production sites in Britain, despite the fact that 10 million doses from other manufacturers had entered the United Kingdom from the EU.

"This is an invitation to show us that there are also doses from the UK coming to the European Union, so that we have reciprocity," she said.

The warning came as the EU chief also unveiled plans for a digital certificate that could allow people who have been vaccinated to travel freely withing the bloc.

The pass could also apply to people with a recent negative test, or who have been previously infected and therefore are presumed to have antibodies, she said, calling the pandemic "the crisis of the century".

Governments are hoping that vaccines will clear the path to a return to normal, more than a year into the pandemic that has plunged the world into a devastating recession and subject much of humanity to some sort of anti-virus restrictions.

In Ireland, St Patrick's day celebrations were dampened for a second year running with the country still facing restrictionsafter the first wave of anti-virus measures shut the party down last year.

"It's a year on now and... we seem to be back where we started," said publican Tom Cleary, perched on a barstool in Dublin next to a Guinness tap fashioned in the shape of the Celtic harp.

"It's sad there's no end in sight," he told AFP. "I mean, will we be here next St Patrick's Day with the same problems?"

New lockdowns

More than 382 million doses of vaccine have been administered globally, the vast majority in wealthier countries while many poorer nations have yet to receive a single jab.

AstraZeneca's shot, among the cheapest available, was billed as the vaccine of choice for poorer nations and the clot reports have had an impact beyond Europe.

The suspensions come as some countries see worrying new caseloads, including in Iraq and India, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for "quick and decisive steps" to halt a new wave of infection.

In France, President Emmanuel Macron was to decide Wednesday whether to impose a weekend lockdown on the Paris region as it faced its own third wave of infections that have bloated hospital ICUs.

And Poland announced a three-week partial lockdown of its own, while in the South Pacific the health minister of Papua New Guinea issued an urgent appeal for vaccines to stave off a wave of new infections.

"The community transmission is out there, and I'm pretty sure that we haven't detected a lot of it," Jelta Wong told AFP, saying his country was "running at full throttle" to prevent further spread.

Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak

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Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks to reporters at a news conference outside the Supreme Court on Capitol Hill in Washington on June 9, 2016. (Gabriella Demczuk/Getty Images)

4 More States, Puerto Rico Join Texas-Led Antitrust Lawsuit Against Google

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton says that five additional states and territories have joined its lawsuit against Google, which alleges antitrust violations and deceptive acts by the technology behemoth.

Attorneys general from Alaska, Florida, Montana, Nevada, and Puerto Rico joined the multistate lawsuit, led by Texas, that originally was filed by a coalition of 10 states. Paxtons office filed an amended complaint (pdf) on March 16, reflecting the changes.

Todays filing underscores the broad consensus that Googles practices require review and swift action under antitrust and consumer protection laws, Paxton said in a statement.

The lawsuit accuses Alphabet Inc.s Google of collecting thousands of data points about people and using that information for its own benefit and for lying to advertisers, publishers, and consumers about their conduct and motives.

It alleges that Google had monopolized or attempted to monopolize products and services used by advertisers and publishers in online-display advertising. These practices, the lawsuit argues, then reduces the publishers ability to monetize content, increases advertisers costs to advertise, and directly harmed consumers.

We will not allow this unprecedented, unlawful conduct to continue. Our coalition looks forward to holding Google accountable for its illegal conduct and reforming Googles practices in the future. And we are confident Google will be forced to pay for its misconduct through significant financial penalties, he added.

Among the allegations include an anticompetitive agreement Google had allegedly entered with Facebook. According to a redacted version of the lawsuit (pdf) filed in December 2020, Facebook announced in 2017 that it would try a new method of selling online advertising called header bidding, which would act as a threat of competition for Google.

The lawsuit suggested Facebook eventually curtailed its involvement with the project after Google gave Facebook information, speed, and other advantages in the [redacted] auctions that Google runs for publishers mobile app advertising inventory each month in the United States.

The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times, which both say theyve reviewed an unredacted version of the complaint, reported the alleged secret deal referred to in the lawsuit was code-named Jedi Blue by Google.

Googles offices in New York City, on Oct. 20, 2020. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

In a recent interview, Paxton expressed confidence in the trajectory of his lawsuit, saying that he believes that there is a high likelihood of success.

Weve sued Google for antitrust violations, and we think weve absolutely got a case that will win, and very likely, there [will] be other companies [doing] this process [that we will] learn have done the same thing [and] that are in the very same position, he told Breitbart.

He argued that Googles digital advertising business model presents a conflict of interest because it represents both buyers and sellers of online advertising.

[Google represents] the buyers of advertising, the sellers of advertising, and they control the exchange, Paxton told the news outlet.

It would be like Goldman Sachs owning the only exchange and representing all the buyers and sellers at the same time, knowing all the information, and therefore, they can massively profit at the expense of these business owners who then have to pass on those costs to consumers. So consumers are paying an exorbitantly high price for use of the Internet without even knowing it.

Other states that have joined in Texass suit include Arkansas, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Utah.

The Lone Star State has been cracking down on the monopolistic ways in which Silicon Valley companies have been operating, including how they moderate user content.

These companies have been scrutinized repeatedly for their perceived political bias and alleged unbalanced moderation of users content. Critics say much of the companies moderation in the past year has focused on conservative speech and speech from individuals deemed to be supporters of former President Donald Trump.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott previously said hes working with state legislators on a bill to prevent big tech companies from taking action to moderate user content based on political viewpoints.

Similarly, Florida has also proposed measures that would penalize social media companies that de-platform candidates during an election. The legislation would fine companies $100,000 a day until the candidates access to the platform is restored.

The Sunshine State would also require companies who promote a candidate to record such endorsements as a political campaign contribution at the states election commission.
Eskom has announced it will move to Stage 1 load-shedding from Wednesday until Saturday morning.

Load-shedding will be reduced to Stage 1 from 05:00 on Wednesday and will continue until 05:00 on Saturday as the generation system is still severely constrained, the utility said.

Eskom stated it currently had 5,850MW of generation capacity out due to planned maintenance, while another 13,443MW of capacity was unavailable because of unplanned breakdowns and delays.

This has lead to the utility being unable to supply the countrys full electricity demand.

Eskom said its teams successfully returned four generation units at the Kusile, Grootvlei, Kriel, and Matla power stations on Monday, in addition to restoring generation from the Cahora Bassa line from Mozambique.

However, this was not sufficient to completely suspend load-shedding.

The company added it had experienced losses in generation capacity at Medupi, Arnot, and Komati power stations, with additional delays in the return to service of four other units.

This has prolonged the need to continue implementing load-shedding.

Eskom requested that the public would continue to use electricity sparingly as the system remained vulnerable and unpredictable.

Eskom is working hard to return the units back to service as soon as possible, the utility said.

Bleak outlook

Eskom CEO Andre De Ruyter yesterday outlined the state of Eskoms electricity generation system, painting a bleak picture of load-shedding for the next few years.

De Ruyter stressed that Eskom would suffer a power shortfall for the next five years and the risk of load-shedding would remain as it continued to try and overhaul its ageing power plants to improve their reliability.

Ladies and gentlemen, Eskom has to reiterate that there will continue to be an electricity supply shortfall of approximately 4,000MW over the next five years, he said.

Significant changes to the power system which could alleviate this pressure include the expected completion of more power units at Kusile and Medupi this year, as well as the governments speed in bringing independent emergency power onto the national grid.

Now read: This graph shows how Eskom is in serious trouble
A second band of heavy rain is set to lash Australia's eastern seaboard as coastal regions brace for three months worth of rain in a matter of days.

Parts of central Queensland have already received unprecedented levels of rain in recent days - with Rockhampton copping a record 550mm downpour over 24 hours on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Further west near Emerald, Retreat Creek rose nine metres in the space of only four hours as a high pressure system hovered over the east coast.

A severe weather warning for heavy rainfall was in place for the New South Wales mid-north coast, where the Bureau of Meteorology expected as much as 300mm to fall in the next three days.

BoM meteorologist Helen Kirkup told Daily Mail Australia parts of Sydney could receive 100mm of rain on Saturday alone.

The eastern seabord of Australia is expected to cop a deluge in the coming days. A severe weather warning for heavy rainfall is now in place for the mid-north coast

'Isolated parts of the mid-north coast could get up to 200mm in a day - it's not out of the question,' she said.

'Wallis Lakes past Newcastle has already received 100mm overnight.'

A flood watch is already in place for the Orara, Bellinger and Nambucca Rivers in northern NSW.

'Those river catchments require widespread rainfall to flood but we could see that flood watch upgraded to a warning in the coming days,' Ms Kirkup said.

The second band of rain will move eastwards from western parts of Australia into NSW, bringing with it downpours of up to 60mm for inland regions of the state.

The forecast is a different picture in other parts of the country, with neither Brisbane and Canberra expected to receive more than 20mm of rain a day into the weekend.

Sydney could see one of the heaviest days of rainfall periods in recent years, with some suburbs predicted to experience north of 100mm

Melbourne will remain mostly dry as the thermostat reaches as high as 25C.

Adelaide residents will also escape the rain, with the next few days bringing sunshine and temperatures around 30C.

Hobart will be dry and sunny with days reaching around 25C.

Pictured: The severe weather warning in place in the mid-north coast and Hunter regions of New South Wales

Over on the other side of the country, Perth residents will sweat through the week with Friday soaring to tops of 38C and Saturday to 37C.

Darwin will be hot with high chances of thunderstorms and rainfall over the coming days.

Queensland Fire and Emergency Services earlier issued a warning for residents in Sapphire, in the Central Highlands Region just before 5am on Wednesday, after the area received more than 130mm of rain in three hours.

Large parts of Australia's eastern seaboard are set to cop three months worth of rain in just a few days as a huge rain band hovers over the coastline. Pictured are storm clouds over Sydney in January

Meanwhile Sydney will be drenched by up to 35mm of rain forecast for Friday and 50mm for Saturday

'Due to heavy rainfall, the Retreat Creek is rising rapidly and major flooding is expected. Properties in low-lying areas are likely to be impacted,' the warning said.

'Council advises residents to warn neighbours, secure belongings and move to higher ground now.'

More than 215mm of rain fell in the Gemfields, near Sapphire, with the river reaching up to 10m high - hitting the major flood level.

Other central Queensland areas like Florence Vale was hit with 124mm of rain in just three hours and Keilambete had 138mm of rain before midnight.

Thousands of Queenslanders have been urged to move to higher ground after the state was battered by heavy rainfall that's expected to last for another week (pictured residents in Sunshine Coast)

New South Wales and Queensland are set to be battered by thunderstorms with no sunshine in sight (pictured people sheltering from rain in Brisbane)

'La Nina has started to ease but it is still expected to influence Australia's climate in early autumn and is typically associated with above average rainfall for eastern and northern Australia,' the Bureau of Meteorology's Sarah Scully said.

'Showers and storms are continuing into Thursday again with potentially heavy rainfall totals.'

Huge swathes of rain are expected to batter New South Wales and Queensland over the coming days with no sunshine in sight
Close

Slow walkers are almost four times more likely to die from coronavirus and are more than twice as likely to develop extreme COVID-19.

Slow walkers with normal weight are about 2.5 times more likely to experience extreme Covid-19 and 3.75 times more likely to die from the infection than fast walkers with a normal weight.

The researchers observed the association between BMI and self-reported walking speed and the risk of contracting severe Covid-19 and mortality among 312,596 middle-aged UK Biobank participants.

Experts, whose study is titled "Obesity, walking pace and severe risk of COVID-19 and mortality: analysis of UK Biobank," published their results in the International Journal of Obesity.

Researchers from the National Institute for Health Science (NIHR) Leicester Biomedical Research Centre performed the study.

COVID-19: How Coronavirus Infection Affects Walking Pace, Speed in Public

News Hub said around 1,000 people in its control population of over 400,000 case studies had developed an extreme case of COVID-19, which is linked to their walking pace. Furthermore, obesity is a significant factor that influences infection rates because obese people have weakened immune systems.

Slow walkers were those who traveled at less than three miles per hour, while a steady/average pace was three to four miles per hour, and a brisk pace was more than four miles per hour.

"We know already that obesity and frailty are key risk factors for Covid-19 outcomes," said Tom Yates, lead researcher for the study. Yates is a professor of physical activity, sedentary behavior and health at the University of Leicester.

ALSO READ: Walking for Weight Loss: 5 Guaranteed Effective Tips





This is the first research to demonstrate that sluggish walkers, regardless of weight, have a far greater chance of extreme COVID-19 case.

With the pandemic putting immense pressure on healthcare systems and societies, it's important to recognize people who are most at risk and take preventative action to protect them.

Slow walkers with average weight have a higher chance of extreme illness and death than fast walkers with obesity, according to the report.

Furthermore, the risk was uniformly high in both medium-weight and obese slow walkers.

Fast walkers have been shown to have strong cardiovascular and cardiac fitness, making them more resilient to environmental stressors including viral infection, according to Professor Yates, although this finding is yet to be shown for infectious disease.

COVID-19: Results Need More Evidence Over Claim

Although major routine database studies have shown a connection between obesity and fragility and COVID-19 results, Professor Yates said there is currently no evidence on physical health or exercise in routine clinical datasets.

"It is my view that ongoing public health and research surveillance studies should consider incorporating simple measures of physical fitness such as self-reported walking pace in addition to BMI, as potential risk predictors of Covid-19 outcomes that could ultimately enable better prevention methods that save lives," he added.

Although self-reported walking speed has been shown to be correlated with cardiorespiratory activity within UK Biobank, the researchers acknowledged a range of limitations to their analysis. They noted, per Evening Standard, that their study could serve as a subject to potential reporting bias.

They claim that because of this and the observational nature, their findings cannot be used to draw conclusive causal conclusions.

RELATED ARTICLE: Coronavirus Survivors Twice as Likely to Develop Mental Disorders - Study





Check out more news and information on COVID-19 on Science Times.
The son of AFP correspondent Deyda Hydara, who was gunned down in The Gambia in 2004, on Wednesday welcomed news that one of the journalists alleged killers was arrested in Germany.

Prosecutors there said police had remanded in custody an individual identified as Bai L., who is accused of being a member of the hit squad.

He is suspected of being part of a Gambian army unit known as the Junglers, who killed Hydara on the orders of the West African countrys then president, Yahya Jammeh.

Bai L. is specifically accused of having helped the unit to stop the journalists car on a road in the town of Kanifing, where two members shot him several times.

On Wednesday, Baba Hydara, the AFP correspondents son, said he was relieved to hear of the arrest.

I hope that all those who committed crimes against humanity in The Gambia will one day be brought before a court of law for their actions, he told AFP.

I believe justice will be served in this case, Baba Hydara added.

Deyda Hydaras murder was widely condemned locally and abroad as another sign of Jammehs despotic rule and his stifling of all opposition in the former British colony.

There have been numerous calls for the former dictator to return to The Gambia to face trial.

However, he retains a significant following in the country and some want his return to active politics.
Ending the UKs lockdown is lifting the lid on industrial disputes long suppressed by the trade union bureaucracy.

Employers have used the pandemic crisis as a pretext for ramped-up exploitation. This agenda will escalate as Prime Minister Boris Johnson oversees a return to normality centred on a reopening of the economy.

Fearful of the social consequences, Chancellor Rishi Sunak used the Spring Budget to extend the furlough scheme to the end of September, but the contribution made by the government to paying wages will fall from 80 to 70 percent in July and 60 percent in August and September. This manoeuvre staggers the unemployment fallout of the pandemic, with the aim of forestalling an eruption of working-class struggles giving the corporations time to carry out attacks on individual workforces and the state to prepare new repressive measures.

The Go North West picket line at the Queens Road depot on the first day of the strike (credit: WSWS Media)

The trade unions are central to this strategy, bound even more closely to the government and the employers over the course of the pandemic. They have suppressed industrial action throughout the last year in the name of national unity, allowing big business and the Conservative government to launch an assault on workers jobs, wages and conditions.

Workers are seeking to resist these attacks and have battled through months of trade union delaying and demobilisation tactics to force a growing wave of strikes.

Last week, members of the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) offices in Swansea voted to strike over COVID-19 safety fears by 71.6 percent on a 50.3 percent turnout. Over 500 workers at the DVLA have been infected since September and one has died.

This would be the first major industrial action taken over coronavirus safety in the UK. After a series of wildcat walkouts early last year at workplaces across the country to protest the threat of COVID-19 and the lack of workplace safety measures, the unions intervened to prevent further action over the virus.

The DVLA headquarters in Swansea (credit: Wikimedia Commons)

The PCS allowed the DVLA to begin bringing large numbers of staff back into the workplace last autumn. After the offices were forced to close in December due to the huge number of infections, the union allowed them to reopen on January 4. Another surge of infections in January and rising anger among workers forced the PCS to organise a ballot for strike action, delayed until February 19-March 11. Now that the PCS has a strike mandate, it has announced it will meet with management before deciding next steps.

Other sections of workers are in dispute over jobs, pay and conditions. The Communication Workers Union (CWU) announced at the weekend it would ballot its 45,000 members at British Telecom (BT). A consultative ballot in December recorded 97.9 percent for industrial action on a 74 percent turnout. The dispute is over restructuring plans including job losses and up to 50 percent cuts in redundancy payments. It would be the first national strike faced by the company since 1987.

Andy Kerr, the CWUs deputy general secretary, said, This is a decision we did not want to take My message to BT Group is that our door is still open. The CWU used the pandemic as a pretext to call off a strike of 110,000 Royal Mail workers in early 2020 and do a deal with Royal Mail Group.

At ScotRail, several hundred Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) conductors have voted for strike action over getting paid less for overtime work than drivers. They will strike on March 28 and April 4, 11, 18 and 25 and work to contract from March 26.

Around 2,000 bus workers represented by Unite have been striking at three subsidiaries of RATP Dev in LondonQuality Line, London Sovereign and London Unitedagainst a derisory pay offer and attempts to slash conditions.

Action was due to go ahead today and on March 24 and 31 but has been suspended at Quality Line and London Sovereign while members are balloted on an insulting new offer of a 1 percent pay rise plus a 425 lump sum. The strike at London United is going ahead.

The union has consistently divided the disputes across the different subsidiary companies, not even advancing a demand for pay parity. An original programme of multiple-day strikes has been scaled back to one-day actions. RATP is meanwhile introducing a Remote Sign-On practice (another attack on pay and condition) and zero-hours contracts by the back door.

More than 4,000 bus drivers at London bus company Metroline are currently being balloted over Remote Sign-Onthe vote runs between March 3 and April 9. Unite vetoed a 97 percent vote for strike action over RSO in October after the company threatened legal action. It did the same with a 90 percent vote for action over driver fatigue in February 2020.

Many struggles involve opposition to the use of fire and rehire schemes to force workers onto inferior contracts.

Around 200 Unite members at aircraft parts manufacturer SPS Technologies, based in Leicester, are due to strike on March 12, 19, 22 and 26 against fire and rehire plans that will mean a loss of between 2,500 and 3,000 a year if transferred to the new contracts.

SPS technologies were able to make 200 workers redundant last summer. Unite organised a strike ballot over fire and rehire threats between December 1 and 14 but has only now called a strike, three months later, with the promise to SPS that Unites door is always open.

JDE coffee in Banbury is using a fire and rehire scheme to impose 12-hour shift patterns and downgrade the pension scheme for new hires. Plans were first announced in March 2020, but negotiations were halted for a year after the first lockdown was implemented. Unite has only now organised a consultative strike ballot of its near 300 members at the site, providing a 96 percent vote in favour. No date has been announced for a real ballot. It once again stressed, Unites door is open 24/7 for constructive talks with the management on the plants future.

Close to 500 bus workers at Go North West are in the third week of an indefinite strike against attacks on conditions and a pay cut of 10 percent, or 2,500 a year, pushed through by fire and rehire. The company has waged a massive strikebreaking operation, using other companies to run overcrowded services at reduced prices during a pandemic.

Unite have kept strikers isolated from other bus companies where it has representation. Earlier in the dispute, the union offered the company a deal worth more than 1 million in savings, including a one-year pay freeze.

The treacherous role played by the unions is summed up by the recent actions of the GMB union in the British Gas strikes, now in their third month. Around 7,000 engineers are fighting fire and rehire changes that would lead to an effective pay cut of 20 percent. The next strikes are scheduled to be held from March 19 to 22 and March 26 to 29.

British Gas, owned by Centrica, intend to sack workers and rehire them on March 31. Workers are being approached by management to sign the new contract on an individual basis.

In response, the GMB has sent an email to its members which reads, If you plan to stay with British Gas after March 31 and intend to ultimately sign a new contract, our lawyers [sic] advice is to do so by noon on March 25 if you want to avoid the loss of protected terms and changes you have fought for.

As with the 2008-9 financial crash, the corporations, backed by the government, are paying for the capitalist crisis out of the lives and livelihoods of the working class. The trade unions impose these attacks on their members, without strikes if possible or, where workers resistance is too strong, by sabotaging and selling-out action that takes place.

To fight back, workers need their own organisations of struggle, independent of the trade union bureaucracy, and their own political programme which places their needs above the profits of the corporations. This requires the formation of a network of rank-and-file committees unifying workers across different industries and internationally and the building of a socialist leadership in the working class, the Socialist Equality Party.
New Delhi/Chandigarh, March 17 : Joint teams of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Income Tax Department on Wednesday carried out searches at the premises linked to Haryana Congress MLA Dharam Singh Chhokar's properties in several cities of the state.

An IT department official related to the probe told IANS, "The joint multiple teams of ED and IT department are carrying out searches at residential premises, his petrol pump and other business establishments in Hisar, Chandigarh, Panipat and Gurugram in connection with disproportionate assets case and tax evasion matters." Chhokar, a two-time MLA from Haryana's Samalkha Assembly constituency, is considered close to former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda.
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Plumes of smoke rose over Myanmar's largest city today as security forces fired on unarmed protesters to bring the death toll to more than 200.

Terrified residents have fled the industrial neighbourhood in Yangon that has been turned into a battle zone, with burning barricades billowing in the streets and bullets whizzing over them.

Hardline anti-coup protesters blocked a bridge leading into the Hlaing Tharyar township, with some hurling petrol bombs at the security forces while hiding behind makeshift barricades.

The military junta, which seized power from Aung San Suu Kyi on February 1, has deployed increasingly heavier force to crush the rebellion, including with live rounds.

Monday saw four more Yangon townships put under martial law, adding to two subjected to the measures on Sunday - the deadliest day of the anti-coup demonstrations, when more than 70 people were killed.

Although many residents have fled the carnage, the rest have been left under the complete control of military commanders in neighbourhoods that look like war zones.

Protesters take cover behind homemade shields as they face the security forces during a protest in Yangon on Tuesday

Plumes of smoke rose over Myanmar's capital today as security forces fired on unarmed protesters to bring the death toll to more than 200

Terrified residents have fled the industrial neighbourhood in Yangon that has been turned into a battle zone, with burning barricades billowing in the streets and bullets whizzing over them. Pictured: Tyres have been set on fire to create smoke cover

A satellite image shows smoke and fire billowing into the air from damaged buildings at the Global Fashion Garment Factory in Yangon

Hardline anti-coup protesters blocked a bridge leading into the Hlaing Tharyar township, with some hurling petrol bombs at the security forces while hiding behind makeshift barricades

Pope Francis today appealed for an end to the country's bloodshed and said: 'Even I kneel on the streets of Myanmar and say "stop the violence".'

Speaking at the end of his general audience, Francis said those who have died there have done so 'to offer hope to their country'.

The junta on Sunday imposed martial law on Hlaing Tharyar and later on other protest hotspot townships - effectively placing nearly two million people under complete control of military commanders.

Residents - many of them migrant workers - have since fled back to their home states, piling their belongs and families onto flat-bed trucks and the backs of motorbikes.

Those who stayed reported scenes akin to war.

'There was constant gunshots the entire night and we didn't get to sleep,' one resident told AFP, adding people were worried about even walking on the streets for fear of getting targeted by security forces.

'Currently there are very few people out on the streets.'

Hardline anti-coup protesters had camped on a bridge leading into the township's main roads on Tuesday evening, wearing hard hats, gas masks and carrying shields.

Smoke rises from tires burning at a barricade erected by protesters to stop government forces crossing a bridge leading into the Hlaing Tharyar township

A protester throws a petrol bomb at security forces as others, wearing only plastic helmets, take cover behind makeshift shields in Yangon on Tuesday

A protester uses a fire extinguisher to put out a fire started by security forces during a demonstration in Yangon

Protesters walk amidst a plume of black smoke near a makeshift barricade during a crackdown by security forces on demonstrations against the military coup in Yangon

Protesters, some only having makeshift shields to protect themselves from tear gas, bullets and fire, take cover from the security forces

They has also erected barricades made out of tyres, wood, sandbags and bamboo poles.

Some of those barricades were burnt, leading to heavy black smoke rising above the mostly deserted streets.

Some protesters threw petrol bombs at the security forces, but otherwise appeared defenceless as they hid behind makeshift shields.

In a residential area of a neighbouring township, video footage verified by AFP showed volleys of gunfire going non-stop for roughly 15 seconds.

Information on arrests and violence have been trickling out of the conflict areas on social media - the flow slowed due to the junta's throttling of mobile data.

Much of Myanmar has not been able to use their mobile internet since the early hours of Monday. The country is also placed under a nightly internet shutdown for eight hours.

Protesters take cover behind a makeshift barricade erected to deter security forces in Yangon

The demonstators stand behind a barricade made of tyres as they try and stop the security forces from crossing the Bayint Nuang Bridge in Yangon

Information on arrests and violence have been trickling out of the conflict areas on social media - the flow slowed due to the junta's throttling of mobile data. Pictured: Protesters take cover behind barrier made of tyres

People are grieving: Family members mourn at the funeral of Khant Nyar Hein in Yangon on Tuesday after the first year medical student was shot dead during a crackdown by security forces

More than 200 people have died in anti-coup unrest, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, a local monitoring group.

The United Nations on Tuesday again condemned the deaths in Myanmar, adding that it was worried of reports of torture and deaths of those in custody.

'The death toll has soared over the past week in Myanmar, where security forces have been using lethal force increasingly aggressively against peaceful protesters,' UN rights office spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani told reporters.

'Deeply distressing reports of torture in custody have also emerged.'

The office had determined that 'at least five deaths in custody have occurred in recent weeks,' she said, adding that 'at least two victims' bodies have shown signs of severe physical abuse indicating that they were tortured.'
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Food

Kitchen quarantine: Northeast Mississippi cooks share experiences during COVID-19

djr-2021-03-17-news-covid-cooking-harris-p1 Amy Harris djr-2021-03-17-news-covid-cooking-floyd-p1 Juanita Floyd djr-2021-03-17-news-covid-cooking-plasencia-p1 Mary Ann Plasencia djr-2021-03-17-news-covid-cooking-martin-p1 Martin Scarlett djr-2021-03-17-news-covid-cooking-doughty-p1 Reta Doughty djr-2021-03-17-news-covid-cooking-dey-p1 Deepika Dey djr-2021-03-17-news-covid-cooking-hill-p1 Beau Hill djr-2021-03-17-news-covid-cooking-bland-p1 Janet Bland djr-2021-03-17-news-covid-cooking-howorth-p2 Lisa Howorth

Tupelo  If you took a random poll of home cooks in Northeast Mississippi, youd likely find most of them cooked more in the 12 months since the COVID-19 pandemic began last March.

But ask those same folks what they cooked and why they cooked and how they cooked, and youll get very different responses.

We asked a small sampling of people who have been featured as a Cook of the Week in the Journal, as well as other foodies, to tell us some of their culinary experiences in the past year.

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Reta Doughty

Reta Doughty, a real estate agent with Pinnacle Realty, cooked three meals a day during the pandemic.

Id come up with something nice and fancy for breakfast, lunch and dinner, Doughty said. I gained 22 pounds, and I just cant seem to get it off. I didnt cook more healthfully  quite the opposite.

Doughty said shes known for her fried apple pies. She made them by the dozens, and froze them.

One day, I got in the kitchen and made 400 pies, she said. Another day, I made 200. Id take them to people, leave them on their doorstep. I reminded myself of my mama so much, I can tell you that.

She also made a lot of soups, chili and gumbo while shut up in her Tupelo home. And she made sure she had a continuous supply of Mexican cornbread to serve with them.

I learned a lot during COVID, Doughty said. Life slowed down. I enjoyed planning and cooking and serving  the presentation of food. Slowing down made me appreciate what Ive got.

Deepika Dey

Deepika Dey, a yoga instructor and dietitian in Tupelo, not only cooked more healthfully during the pandemic, she also prepared several vegetarian meals.

My husband likes to put a kitchen garden out every year, Dey said. Last March, because of his medical experience, he knew what was brewing. He put in a little larger garden, more salad greens, things that could be harvested later in the summer. That kept us supplied with fresh produce.

Dey said shes always built family meals around vegetables, but when the pandemic set in, she had a serious chat with her husband and two teenagers.

I said, Let us not have to go out and shop for meat. We have plenty of lentils and beans and vegetables, she said. They were not happy, of course, and we have relaxed that now.

To keep things fun in the kitchen, Dey encouraged her children to browse her cookbook collection and find some things theyd like to help prepare.

My daughter got interested in baking, mostly quick breakfast breads, Dey said. That was a joyful experience. My kids have gotten more confident in the kitchen. That was our silver lining.

Martin Scarlett

Martin Scarlett, a self-employed Tupelo businessman, said he was shocked when he looked back through his cell phone and found that he and his daughter, Katie, had swapped 25 to 30 new recipes in the past year.

I definitely cooked more, probably five nights a week at least, Scarlett said. My daughter was cooking on the same level I was. We started exchanging recipes. Texting was a big part of our communicating, and we always sent each other pictures. Wed critique each recipe, and wed catch up on what was going on in life.

Of all the new recipes Scarlett cooked in the past year, an Italian Shrimp Pasta was his favorite.

When I start playing cards with my group again, thats the first thing Im going to make, he said. Almost all of us have both of our vaccines by now, so it wont be long.

Scarlett said when news of the pandemic first started to spread a year ago, he went out and bought about three months worth of food.

I had food lined up across the kitchen counter, he said. Ive gotten better about that now.

Janet Bland

Janet Bland, a retired gifted teacher who lives in the Longview community near Pontotoc, said she cooked about the same amount as she did before COVID-19  which is every day.

I try mostly to eat healthfully, but I saw the pandemic as a green light to buy bacon again, Bland said. I even saved the grease to make cornbread.

Bland said she spent way too much time online, reading about food and cooking. That led to her buying five new cookbooks: On Food and Cooking: The Science and Lore of the Kitchen by Harold McGee; Crescent City Cooking by Susan Spicer; The Lost Superfoods by Claude Davis; Homegrown Louisiana Cookin by Justin Wilson; and Trim Healthy Future by Rashida Simpson.

I didnt try many new things, but I did learn a couple of things, she said. I learned how to shuck an oyster by watching YouTube videos, using a flathead screwdriver, she said. Oysters are a good source of zinc, which we need during a pandemic.

On Labor Day, Bland lost her husband, Gordon, whom she married in 2006.

That changed my cooking somewhat and my mindset, she said. I was just trying really hard to live through this.

Amy Harris

Amy Harris, a Tupelo attorney, said her family turned to comfort food during the pandemic.

I feel like we had mashed potatoes four nights a week, she said. We made familiar things  baked chicken, meatloaf, mac and cheese, pork chops, green peas.

Harris said there was a stretch of a couple of months where she prepared every meal her family ate.

I cooked every single thing we put in our mouths, she said. I was worn out, but I love to cook, so it was a stress-reliever for me. Eventually we got to where wed pick something up local to eat.

Harris said the biggest change she made was menu planning.

I made a menu on Saturday or Sunday and placed a grocery order and we stuck with that through the week, she said. That sort of gave me a feeling of control when I didnt have any. There was no running back and forth to the grocery store.

Harris said when she used to buy her own groceries at the store, she would tend to make unnecessary impulse buys.

Im a marketing persons dream, she said. Weve probably saved a lot of money by my ordering online.

Mary Ann Plasencia

Mary Ann Plasencia, the new executive director of Northeast Mississippi Habitat for Humanity, said the pandemic made her more creative and resourceful.

I did a lot more scrounging, she said. Id say, I dont want to go to the store. I dont need to be in the store. What I have in my pantry or fridge is what Ill make do with. That was sort of a blessing of the pandemic. Being resourceful is something I will carry forward, no doubt.

Plasencia said she added two new things to her cooking repertoire in the last year: build-your-own bowls and homemade cookies.

The big thing were the bowls, she said. Wed start with jasmine rice and add edamame, shrimp, carrots, peas, ginger, lemongrass, cashews and coconut milk. That was my first time to really use coconut milk in cooking.

And while Plasencia has always been a regular weeknight cook, shes never been much of a baker.

I cant even do slice-and-bake cookies, she said. I can cook anything, but I cant bake a thing.

She found Nestles original Tollhouse Cookie recipe and made some tweaks, like using two kinds of chips and nuts, and sprinkling sea salt on the cookies.

I consider myself to have a well-stocked kitchen, but I didnt even have a wire rack for cooling cookies until this year, she said.

Lisa Howorth

Lisa Howorth, an Oxford author, said even though she felt like she was cooking more, it was really that she was just enjoying it less.

For 47 years, Ive cooked most days, but the pandemic made me anxious about buying supplies, etc., and I was preoccupied with worries about my family and our business, Howorth said. Her husband, Richard, owns Square Books in downtown Oxford.

Howorth said two things things happened in the past year to change her cooking. First, she sent her vintage Chambers stove (the prototype for Fred Karls Viking stove from Greenwood) to Macys Stove Works in Houston, Texas, to have it cleaned and refurbished.

For two months or so, I was pretty much cooking with a hot plate and toaster oven, she said. I tried to find an old 10-inch hibachi like the ones we had in the 70s, and when I couldnt, I got an old kettle from under the house and a couple of cast iron pieces from Sneeds Hardware and made my own.

Just when Howorth got her stove back, her daughter, Bebe, along with her boyfriend, Sam, drove down from New York to escape their small apartment and the cold weather, and to work remotely from Oxford.

Bebe and Sam often cooked, Howorth said. Sam made good latkes at Hannukah, and they made us fabulous Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners. Thanks to them, I became even more worthless in the kitchen.

When Howorth did cook, she mostly relied on her familys homestyle Italian meals: braciole, pasta with meatballs or sausage, and minestrone.

I did improve my grandmothers eggplant lasagna  a great meat substitute  by consulting Marcella Hazans recipe, which probably has Nonna spinning in her grave as we speak, she said.

Beau Hill

Beau Hill, a financial advisor in Tupelo, said he hasnt really cooked more, or less, than he did before the pandemic, but he has become more adventurous in the kitchen.

We laugh about the substitutions we get from the grocery pickups, Hill said. Ive had to be innovative.

Hill said when everything started to shut down last March, he tried to go to the grocery store to get some staples, but the shelves were largely bare.

I came home with some wild stuff  stuff wed never had before, he said. My wife was like, Why did you buy this? I came home with rib tips, which Id never cooked before in my life. But I cooked them and they were good. They were available.

Hill has been experimenting with new recipes, sometimes as often as twice a week.

Ive been trying different cuts of meat I hadnt tried before, he said. Ill buy a cut of meat and then go online and find a lot of different recipes and see which one I like more.

Hes also learned to be resourceful, and to make do with whats at hand.

My wife went out of town for four or five days and left me with the children, Hill said. I didnt go to the grocery store, because we had plenty of things to eat. We like making Asian food, and one night I made fried rice. We didnt have any beef or chicken, but we had smoked sausage, so we had smoked sausage fried rice.

Juanita Floyd

Juanita Floyd, vice president of finance and administration at the CREATE Foundation, said she was able to work from home some during the pandemic. For her, that meant more time to cook.

Cooking is my getaway time, she said. Its my stress-reliever, whether I was making a casserole or a cake. I tried recipes Id never tried before.

Floyd said every Sunday they could, her family would gather at the homeplace, and shed make a pound cake for dessert.

I bet I made a different pound cake eight weeks in a row, she said.

Floyd said her grocery shopping habits changed drastically during the pandemic.

I had a list, and I didnt linger, she said. Id go in, get what I needed, go through the checkout line and get out. Id see people I know and wave, but Id just keep rolling. I didnt want to stop and talk. The social gathering aspect of the grocery store has changed.

One eye-opener for Floyd was when she took the time to organize her kitchen cabinets, so she could see what she had and what she needed from the grocery store.

I threw out what was expired, and I felt ashamed that I threw all that stuff out, she said. Over the years, Id buy stuff and just put it in the cabinet. Here I had all this food, I didnt use it, and now Im throwing it out. It was really a time for reflection. I dont want to be wasteful anymore.
One of Editor & Publishers 10 That Do It Right 2021
Chris Yiannakou promoted to head of Loomis Sayles Investments Limited (LSIL), Loomis Sayles' London-based entity

Role was previously held by Christine Kenny, who is repatriating to the United States in a newly created role as strategic project leader

Joseph Mukungu promoted to head of client relationship management, EMEA

Valerie Miles, fixed income trader, replaces Christine Kenny on the board of Loomis Sayles Investments Limited

Loomis, Sayles Company, an affiliate of Natixis Investment Managers, announced today that Chris Yiannakou has been named head of Loomis Sayles Investments Limited (LSIL), Loomis Sayles' London-based entity. Chris reports jointly to Kevin Charleston, chairman and chief executive officer, and to Maurice Leger, director of global institutional services.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210317005602/en/

Chris Yiannakou is the head of Loomis Sayles Investments Limited, Loomis Sayles' London-based entity. (Photo: Business Wire)

Loomis Sayles opened the London office in 2012 to expand the firm's global footprint and strategically support the unique needs of EMEA investors. Less than 10 years later, the European/MENA book of business accounts for about 28.3 billion ($38.4 billion) in assets under management. LSIL also has a significant trading and research presence, with deep relationships in the UK and Europe.

In his new role, Chris is responsible for the overall operations of the firm's London office in addition to his duties as head of EMEA institutional services, overseeing a team primarily responsible for client and consultant relationships as well as business development across the EMEA region. In 2015, Chris was named director of Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) institutional services, managing director and board member of LSIL. Chris joined Loomis Sayles in 2012 from UBS Global Asset Management, where he was head of consultant relationships for Europe. Prior to UBS, he was responsible for institutional consultant and client relationships with Pioneer Investments and Gartmore Investment Management, respectively. Chris earned a BA in Finance from Bournemouth University and also holds the Investment Management Certificate and Certificate in ESG Investing from the CFA Society of the UK.

"This promotion reflects Chris' leadership, hard work and commitment, which are apparent in both the growth of our assets under management and the talented team of sales and relationship management professionals he has helped develop," said Kevin Charleston. "Chris is a vital part of our strategy to grow our global asset base; most recently he also played a critical role in bringing the Loomis Sayles Euro Credit team on board and we look forward to his continued success in the future."

Chris assumes the head of office role from Christine Kenny, who is returning to the United States in a newly created position as a strategic project leader. Her initial focus will be working with Kathleen Bochman, director of ESG, on several critical ESG projects. Christine will report jointly to Kevin Charleston and John Russell, head of human resources.

"As one of the first two members of the London-based team, Christine was a key leader in establishing our business in Europe, and her commitment has set us up for success over the long term," said Kevin Charleston. "As co-head, managing director and compliance officer, she had the daunting tasks of forging strong relationships with the vast European sell-side market, as well as keeping up with the ever-changing regulatory landscape in the UK. She hired and developed many of the talented investment personnel in London and helped build a very diverse, team-oriented culture that anyone who has spent time in the London office can attest is truly special."

In conjunction with this transition, Christine will step off the LSIL board; this role will be assumed by Valerie Miles, fixed income trader in London. Valerie joined Loomis Sayles in 2014 and has 11 years of investment industry experience. Prior to Loomis Sayles, Valerie was a credit trader at ECM Asset Management Limited, covering corporates in investment grade, high yield and emerging markets. Previously, she was an investment grade CDS market maker at Societe Generale. Valerie earned a master's degree from Ecole Centrale Paris and a master's degree from Pantheon-Sorbonne University in Paris.

Joseph Mukungu has been promoted to head of client relationship management, EMEA. Joseph joined Loomis Sayles as a relationship manager in 2013 and has been responsible for retaining and growing the Loomis Sayles client base across the UK, Europe and the Middle East. In his new role, Joseph will focus on longer-term planning related to EMEA client engagement. He will continue to report to Chris Yiannakou and Jim Sia, head of relationship management. Joseph has 22 years of investment industry experience. Prior to Loomis Sayles, he was head of international client services at Neuberger Berman and head of client services relationship management at JO Hambro Capital Management. Joseph earned an undergraduate degree in mathematics with engineering from the University of Nottingham.

"Joseph's proven relationship management and client servicing skills will be key components of our business development plans across the EMEA region going forward," said Chris Yiannakou. "He has been an instrumental member of the team since he joined Loomis Sayles, and his partnership will be critical as we work closely with Natixis Investment Managers and the rest of the European-based institutional services team to collectively shape the future strategic direction and growth of our EMEA business."

ABOUT LOOMIS SAYLES

Since 1926, Loomis, Sayles Company has helped fulfill the investment needs of institutional and mutual fund clients worldwide. The firm's performance-driven investors integrate deep proprietary research and integrated risk analysis to make informed, judicious decisions. Teams of portfolio managers, strategists, research analysts and traders collaborate to assess market sectors and identify investment opportunities wherever they may lie, within traditional asset classes or among a range of alternative investments. Loomis Sayles has the resources, foresight and the flexibility to look far and wide for value in broad and narrow markets in its commitment to deliver attractive sustainable returns for clients. This rich tradition has earned Loomis Sayles the trust and respect of clients worldwide, for whom it manages $347.8 billion in assets (as of December 31, 2020).

Loomis Sayles Investments Limited ("LSIL") is a subsidiary of Loomis, Sayles Company L.P., and it is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

*Includes the assets of Loomis, Sayles Co., LP, and Loomis Sayles Trust Company, LLC. Loomis Sayles Trust Company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Loomis, Sayles Company, LP.

ABOUT NATIXIS INVESTMENT MANAGERS

Natixis Investment Managers serves financial professionals with more insightful ways to construct portfolios. Powered by the expertise of more than 20 specialized investment managers globally, we apply Active Thinking to deliver proactive solutions that help clients pursue better outcomes in all markets. Natixis Investment Managers ranks among the world's largest asset management firms1 with nearly $1.4 trillion assets under management2 (1,135.5 billion).

Headquartered in Paris and Boston, Natixis Investment Managers is a subsidiary of Natixis. Listed on the Paris Stock Exchange, Natixis is a subsidiary of BPCE, the second-largest banking group in France. Natixis Investment Managers' affiliated investment management firms include AEW; Alliance Entreprendre; AlphaSimplex Group; DNCA Investments;3 Dorval Asset Management; Flexstone Partners; Gateway Investment Advisers; H2O Asset Management; Harris Associates; Investors Mutual Limited; Loomis, Sayles Company; Mirova; MV Credit; Naxicap Partners; Ossiam; Ostrum Asset Management; Seeyond; Seventure Partners; Thematics Asset Management; Vauban Infrastructure Partners;Vaughan Nelson Investment Management; Vega Investment Managers;4 and WCM Investment Management. Additionally, investment solutions are offered through Natixis Investment Managers Solutions, and Natixis Advisors offers other investment services through its AIA and MPA division. Not all offerings available in all jurisdictions. For additional information, please visit Natixis Investment Managers' website at im.natixis.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/natixis-investment-managers.

Natixis Investment Managers' distribution and service groups include Natixis Distribution, L.P., a limited purpose broker-dealer and the distributor of various U.S. registered investment companies for which advisory services are provided by affiliated firms of Natixis Investment Managers, Natixis Investment Managers S.A. (Luxembourg), Natixis Investment Managers International (France), and their affiliated distribution and service entities in Europe and Asia.

1 Cerulli Quantitative Update: Global Markets 2020 ranked Natixis Investment Managers as the 17th largest asset manager in the world based on assets under management as of December 31, 2019.

2 Assets under management ("AUM") as of December 31, 2020 is $1,389.7 billion. AUM, as reported, may include notional assets, assets serviced, gross assets, assets of minority-owned affiliated entities and other types of non-regulatory AUM managed or serviced by firms affiliated with Natixis Investment Managers.

3 A brand of DNCA Finance.

4 A wholly-owned subsidiary of Natixis Wealth Management.

MALR026936

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210317005602/en/

Contacts:

Orla O'Brien

+1(617)478-7480

oobrien@loomissayles.com
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Tamil Nadu has once again set a wrong record. With less than 20 days to go for elections, cash, gift articles, and liquor flow freely in the state that has been categorised by the Election Commission of India (ECI) as expenditure sensitive.

Authorities from various departments who keep round-the-clock vigil have seized unaccounted cash and materials, including gift items, worth Rs 127 crore in just 20 days after the Model Code of Conduct came into force on February 26.

Cash to the tune of Rs 50.86 crore, liquor worth Rs 1.32 crore, freebies with the value of Rs 14.06 crore, and precious metals worth Rs 61.04 crore have been seized in Tamil Nadu alone. The total worth of the seized or recovered items is Rs 127.64 crore.

Also read  Liquor ban promise surfaces again in poll-bound Tamil Nadu

The recovery comes as no surprise as political observers and poll watchers say the 2021 Assembly elections will be the most expensive election in Tamil Nadu's history. The state has had a chequered history on illegal spending by political parties and candidates  it also has the ignominy of witnessing elections being rescinded for rampant use of money power to buy votes.

Elections to Thanjavur, and Aravakurichi in 2016 and bypolls to R K Nagar constituency in 2017 were rescinded at the last minute as the ECI received several complaints of money being distributed in return for votes. Polls to Vellore Lok Sabha constituency were also cancelled after huge amounts of cash were seized from godowns belonging to relatives of a candidate.

Also read  Experts flag financial implications over AIADMK, DMK's shower of freebies; doable say parties

The parties have gone beyond money to bribe the voters  candidates distribute home appliances, gold coins, and silver ornaments to the electorate. Naresh Gupta, former Chief Electoral Officer of Tamil Nadu, said it is the voters who have to take a view on not receiving cash for votes and exercising their franchise based on the merits of the candidates. Money flow is not a new phenomenon, and it has been there for long. But the quantum depends, and political parties treat elections as a life and death issue. Voters should not succumb to temptation. Having said that, only a detailed investigation will reveal whether all the money seized was for distribution to people, Gupta added.

Also read  Freebies to jobs: How the AIADMK and DMK are trying to one up each other

Senior journalist R Mani feels cash for votes have increased to unimaginable proportions in the past 10 years in Tamil Nadu, where political parties come out with out-of-the-box ideas to bribe the voters. The might of the Indian state has ensured that elections are conducted even in militancy-infested areas and in interior parts of the country. But the tragedy is the rampant use of the money during elections is threatening the Indian democracy. Both the parties in Tamil Nadu have made a mockery of the election process. They have destroyed the process by bribing the voters heavily, he added.
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Or is it work at all? For Fujii, sonic inspiration comes from all angles  so the real challenge would be not to constantly spin it into something new. As a kind of diary of her inspirations, Fujiis music troubles the divide between abstraction and realism. Plucking or scraping the strings of the piano; covering them up as she strikes the keys; letting the low, rustling textures of a horn section coalesce into harmony: All of this amounts to abstract expressionism, in musical form. But its equaled by her rich sense of simplicity, sprung from the feeling that she is simply converting the riches of the world around her into music.

After Berklee, Fujii returned to Japan for a time, working as a teacher and session musician while developing a reputation in Tokyo as a farseeing bandleader. Then, in 1993, she returned to Boston to attend graduate school at the New England Conservatory. There she studied with the influential pianist Paul Bley, renowned for his wandering, dreamlike approach to improvising. He heard something within Fujiis playing that she hadnt completely unleashed, she said, and he encouraged her to cut away as much jazz orthodoxy as she could.

He said, You cannot play like some other person, she said. If you play like yourself, there is a reason to get your CD.

The pair kept in touch after her graduation, and in 1995 they recorded Something About Water, a remarkable piano duet that was also one of Fujiis first self-released albums on Libra. Soon she was getting calls to perform around the avant-garde scene in Brooklyn, where she and Tamura eventually moved for a year and a half.

She ultimately returned to Japan, but not before laying the foundation for what would become Orchestra New York, a big band featuring many of the finest improvisers in the city. She has released a handful of albums with the group, which will celebrate its 25th anniversary next year. She has also maintained Orchestra Tokyo, composed of musicians there, and Orchestra Berlin, which she founded during a five-year stint living in Germany in the 2010s. Each orchestra has a different relationship to Fujiis music, and perhaps she writes a little differently for each one.
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The Holocaust Memorial & Tolerance Center of Nassau County (HMTC) joins the virtual launch of Still Life in Lodz, a new documentary film about what happened to the Jewish residents of this Polish city in the period before, during and after WWII. Watch the film, which opens on March 12, by streaming it on the Cinema Arts Center in Huntington's website (use the code LODZ2021 to recieve a discount), then join HMTC for our discussion on March 17 with the film's director, Slawomire Grunberg, one of the film's writers, Lilka Elbaum, and one of the family members who traces his history in the story, Paul Cellar.
There is something so basic, so profoundly expected about the conservative outrage directed at WAP, Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallions gloriously daring song. At the very least, recent manufactured controversies about Dr Seuss and Mr Potatohead tried to maintain the illusion of innovation: this time, the woke police was coming from those cultural icons, and they needed to be protected at all cost. An inaccurate narrative, but gripping! You tell me this story, and I see tension. I see some semblance of a plot. If this were a movie, it very well might fall into the I know this is terrible and yet I cant look away category. (Looking at you, Joker.)

The WAP controversy, though? Honey, its been done to death. It was done in 1984, when Vanessa Williams was made to resign as Miss America because nude photos of her taken before the pageant were published in Penthouse. It was done in 2003, when Britney Spears told America that yes, she had dared have sex before marriage, and the country stared back in faux-outrage. It has been done every time a woman has been shamed and blamed for acting in a sexual manner, i.e. a way that implies she might have sex and perhaps enjoy it.

Nonetheless, conservatives are determined to remain on this specific outrage train, even though its been going in circles for at least four decades. The most recent wave came after the Grammys on Sunday night, when Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion (who took home the Best New Artist, Best Rap Song, and Best Rap Performance awards) performed WAP together.

WAP, you might recall, stands for wet-ass p***y and has nothing to do with felines. Its gleefully explicit, with lyrics such as: I wanna gag, I wanna choke/I want you to touch that lil dangly thing/That swing in the back of my throat. Its incredibly catchy, and its Ben Shapiros favourite song  just kidding. Obviously our man Ben has devoted a good part of his career to performing his own disgust at this anthem for free, liberated female sexuality.

WAP is just a song. But listen to conservative commentators, and you might be under the impression that its much more than this. Its a movement. Its the end of human decency. Its  according to Candace Owens  the end of an empire. Heres a little digest of some of the comments lobed at the song by conservatives  you know, the same people who are so, so very worried about cancel culture any time someone dares criticise a cultural item they relate to on a personal level.

Tucker Carlson  No more Dumbo. Its too filthy. We get that instead. ...Its hard not to conclude theyre intentionally trying to degrade our culture and hurt our children.

This is what Tucker said on Monday on his Fox News show, Tucker Carlson Tonight. If you hated Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallions performance so much, why did you air it at all, Tucker? Oh, and who is they in this sentence? And whats our culture?

(In case youre wondering what the deal is with Dumbo: its one of a few films that Disney has removed from profiles created specifically for children on Disney+, due to racist depictions. The film remains available to watch from generic profiles, meaning you can absolutely play it for your kids if you so desire. But of course, that makes for a less compelling narrative if your name is Tucker Carlson.)

More seriously, wont someone think of the children? is not a new refrain in Carlsons battle against Cardi B. He used it back in August 2020, when he claimed the rappers content was aimed at young American girls and added: People are getting rich pushing that crap on the country and they should be ashamed of themselves.

Obviously, the idea that Cardi B is creating music for children is well, garbage. WAP is not for children. Its a song for adults, about adults, to be enjoyed by adults. Seriously, guys, we went over this in the Eighties, when Tipper Gore founded the Parents Music Resource Center, the committee that eventually gave us Parental Advisory stickers. Lets not do this again.

Candace Owens  The end of an empire

On Tucker Carlsons show (where else?), Owens claimed that American children are being taught that they should aspire to be like Cardi, to the detriment of hard academics. (Ah, yes! How To Be Like Cardi B 101 is my favourite class currently on the curriculum in schools across the country. And we all know how dearly most Republicans hold academic science.)

We are weakening America, Owens added. Thats really what we should be talking about. This is a weakening of American society. It feels like we are looking at corrosion, like we are about to see the end of an empire. America cannot survive. It cannot be sustained under these sorts of values and principles.

Oh, please. We all know America fell when Brad and Jennifer broke up, and its never been the same since.

Ben Shapiro  So much feminisming

After being one of the most vocal passengers on the WAP bandwagon last summer, Ben Shapiro has remained relatively quiet in the wake of Cardi Bs Grammys performance  maybe because his last foray into the issue resulted in the kind of article titled The Mass Humiliation Of Ben Shapiro .

But he couldnt resist contributing to the latest discourse, if just a little bit. On Monday, he shared a video of said performance, along with the words: So much feminisming  followed by a short rant about how Dr Seuss is unfairly maligned.

To which I say: thank you Ben Shapiro, one of the great feminist thinkers of our time, for reminding us of what our rights are and how we should defend them. If men wont lead feminism from the front, who will?

Meanwhile, Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallions performance has been watched almost five million times on YouTube. And thus, I will leave you with the words of Cardi B, who upon hearing the news of the segments success shared with us the most accurate analysis of the actual state of the country: Americans are so horny.
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LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - Floyd Wayne Smith is getting his day in court. His jury trial began on Tuesday with jury selection and the first five state witnesses. Smith is facing three charges: murder, conspiracy to commit murder and assisting a criminal.

As we previously reported, Lafayette Police were called to a home near the corner of 7th and Cincinnati Streets on March 7th, 2020. Inside, they found Donald "Donnie" Alkire bleeding profusely from a neck wound, fighting for his life. A battle he ended up losing. He died on the way to the hospital.

Floyd Smith, 32 (left) and Joseph Wilkerson, 25 (right) Floyd Smith, 32 (left) and Joseph Wilkerson, 25 (right)

Smith's co-defendant in this case, Joseph Wilkerson, took a guilty plea agreement and was sentenced to 57 years for his involvement in the crime in July 2020.

Smith appeared in court wearing a black suit and tie. During opening statements, the state painted a picture of what they believe the evidence will prove. That on March 7th, Smith planned and helped to execute the murder of his best friend.

The state is saying that Smith, Wilkerson and a third friend met up at Champs bar in Lafayette. This third friend heard Smith and Wilkerson talking about killing someone. The state said Smith drove Wilkerson and this third friend to the home on 7th Street where all three went inside.

Wilkerson has already pled guilty and been sentenced for actually killing Donnie. But the state said that as Donnie lay behind screaming for help, all three men quickly left and didn't call for help. And their major fault in the crime was accidentally leaving the murder weapon behind.

Three people who were in the house that night testified first: John Tankersley, Sherri Tankersley and Robert Lacosse. The house is a set of seven rooms divided into individual apartments. The Tankersley's managed the property and Lacosse also lived in the house.

John and Sherri said they were in their downstairs apartment when they heard a commotion upstairs. John said he went upstairs to the third floor to investigate when he saw three men coming down the stairwell. The first he described as a younger man with long curly hair. The second man he said looked so similar to Donnie that he thought it was actually Donnie, so he asked him what was going on.

He replied that Donnie's father, Sean Alkire, who also rented a room on the third floor, was upstairs drunk. Security camera footage played showed this interaction between the three men and John. As the three men quickly walk out, John continued up to the third floor. That's when he saw Donnie in his room on his hands and knees, holding his neck and "pleading to God."

Robert, who rents the third room on the third floor, also testified to seeing three men walk out. And to seeing Donnie "bleeding profusely" from his neck which he was holding. He called 911. The court played the 911 call for the jury. He also was able to describe the first man in the group who walked out in the same way as John.

When Sherri got up to the third floor and saw what happened, she and Robert's wife both stayed with Donnie trying to stop the bleeding. She remembered holding his hand and him saying, "they hurt me." She remembered turning in the indoor security camera footage to the police.

Lafayette Police Officer Aaron Dobrin testified next. He was the first person to arrive at the scene after 911 was called. The court played his body camera footage. It showed him arriving at the house, climbing the steps to the third floor and coming across the gruesome scene.

Sherri and Robert's wife were with Donnie while he was on his hands and knees holding his neck. He made moaning sounds above a large blood stain forming on the carpet. Robert's wife said she couldn't move away from him because she was applying pressure to his wound. You can hear the women talking to Donnie, telling him not to go to sleep and and to stay with them.

Medics finally arrived and took over for the women. The last thing that was played for the jury in the clip was Officer Dobrin telling everyone not to touch the knife on the bed.

Officer Dobrin also testified that he had seen blood spatter on objects in the room that was consistent with arterial blood spatter. He explained that this is when a main artery to the heart is damaged, and the heart will continue to pump high density volumes of blood at low velocity.

LPD Officer Adam Ransom took the stand next. He was the main crime scene technician case. He said when he first arrived on scene, they were still waiting for a search warrant, so he decided to head to the hospital to meet the victim. He found out later that Donnie died on the way to the hospital.

He was taken to the body where he began to take pictures of how he found the body. When the coroner arrived, they started examining the body more closely, and he continued to take photos. Officer Ransom remembered the large laceration to the right side of Danny's neck, which was consistent with a stabbing. His body was then taken to the Tippecanoe County Morgue for an autopsy.

Officer Ransom said he then went back to the house and got permission to process the scene, taking photos outside and inside the home. He took close up photos of the knife left on the bead. It was small and arrow-head like with a black handle, flames and a silver tip, and had blood on it.

He also came to the same conclusion as Officer Dobrin about the arterial blood spatter. He photographed blood on the closet, a space heater and a dresser, indicating that the victims was moving as blood was leaving his body. He photographed the large blood stain the carpet where he was doubled over with the women in the apartment.

He also took photos of Donnie's SIA temporary employee badge and his Indiana ID. The man in the photo did look very similar to how Smith appeared in court.

These were all the witnesses the state got through on Tuesday. They told Superior Court Judge Randy Williams that they planned on calling co-defendant Joseph Wilkerson to testify first thing Wednesday morning.
Rae Sremmurd's younger brother is facing a first-degree murder charge in the killing of the rap duo's step-dad - his own father.

The hip-hop pair's step brother, 19-year-old Michael Sullivan, was charged in Lee Mounty, Mississippi, according to District Attorney John Weddle.

The indictment was handed down to Sullivan after a grand jury heard evidence about the killing of 62-year-old Floyd Sullivan in January, TMZ reports.

The hip-hop pair's step brother, 19-year-old Michael Sullivan (left), was charged with first-degree murder in the killing of Floyd Sullivan (right)

Hip hop duo Rae Sremmurd; brothers Swae Lee (L) and Slim Jxmmi have not commented

Michael faces life in prison if convicted and is still in custody, with no pending court date yet announced.

Bernadette Walker, Michael's mother, said that she believed her son may have been off his medication prior to the alleged shooting. She said that Michael had had number of episodes with her before going to live with his father.

She also shared that Michael had Schizoaffective disorder - a mental health condition where people suffer from mood swings, delusions and other psychotic symptoms associated with schizophrenia.

It is unknown whether any of that information was factored by the grand jury but Michael did undergo psychiatric evaluation before he was arrested.

Officers from the Tupelo Police Department were sent to an address in the 500 block of Lumpkin Avenue at around 9.30pm on January 6 and found 62-year-old Floyd Sullivan dead from multiple gunshot wounds.

Police spokesperson Capt Chuck McDougald said the preliminary investigation into the domestic shooting pointed to Sullivan's son as a person of interest.

TMZ reported that 19-year-old Michael Sullivan, the younger brother of Rae Sremmurd rappers Swae Lee and Slim Jxmmi, was detained and held for psychiatric evaluation.

The hip hop duo has not publicly commented on their stepfather's death as of Tuesday afternoon, but Sullivan's son from a previous relationship, Floyd Sullivan Jr, shared a photo of his dad on Instagram and wrote in the caption: 'RIP pops. Love you always. The greatest man Ive ever known.'

Bernadette Walker, Michael's mother, (right) said that she believed her son (circled, next to his more famous brothers, left)) may have been off his medication prior to the alleged shooting. She said that Michael had had number of episodes with her before going to live with his father.

Police arrived at Sullivan's home in Tupelo, Mississippi, on Jan. 6 and found the man dead from multiple gunshot wounds

The elder Sullivan helped raise Slim Jxmmi and Swae Lee, born Aaquil Iben Shamon Brown and Khalif Malik Ibn Shamon Brown, as well as their half-brother, from the time they were in middle school.

A year ago, Slim Jxmmi made headlines when he was involved in a bloody street brawl in Auckland, New Zealand, that left one man stabbed and rushed to hospital.

In September 2018, a home in San Fernando Valley, California, belonging to Rae Sremmurd, which is 'drummers ear' spelled backward, was broken into by armed robbers.

After pistol whipping the on-site security, the criminals entered and took a safe before fleeing the scene.

Sullivan (left), who has an older son from a previous relationship, helped raise Swae and Slim from the time they were children (pictured right)

On the day of their stepdad's death, Rae Sremmurd celebrated the fifth anniversary of the release of their debut album, Srummlife (pictured performing during Billboard Hot 100 Festival 2018)

One month earlier, Swae suffered an injured lip after a fan threw a phone at him on stage during a concert in Dallas.

The shocking news of their stepfather's killing came on the same day Rae Sremmurd celebrated the fifth anniversary of the release of their well-received debut album, Srummlife, which featured collaborations with Nicki Minaj, Young Thug and Big Sean.

The album, which featured the songs 'No Flex Zone' and 'Throw Some Mo,' entered Billboard's Top 200 chart at number 5 and was a number 1 debut on Billboard Hip-Hop.

They followed up in May 2018 with the album SR3MM, which includes tracks featuring such A-listers as The Weeknd, Travis Scott and Pharrell.
Iceland has announced it will welcome back visitors who have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19.

In a bid to boost tourism, the government confirmed that from this week, those whove had both doses of a vaccine approved by the European Medicines Agency can enter the country without needing to get tested for coronavirus or undergo quarantine.

The Icelandic government has announced that all those who have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19 will be allowed to travel to Iceland without being subject to border measures, such as testing and quarantine, the government said in a statement on 16 March, reports Reuters.

Previously, this exemption only applied to vaccinated travellers from EU countries.

But now, all visitors whove been jabbed will be welcome, including those from the UK.

From 18 March this exemption will apply to citizens outside the Schengen area, including the UK and USA, said the statement.

Its the latest country to open its borders to inoculated travellers, as destinations worldwide attempt to pave the way for the travel industry to restart.

Read more:

Georgia, Estonia, Poland, Romania, Madeira and the Seychelles are all currently letting in vaccinated visitors.

Meanwhile, other countries have pledged to reopen borders minus quarantine restrictions this spring and summer.

Cyprus has given the green light to those whove had both jabs from 1 May; Spain could start using vaccine passports from May; from 14 May, tourists may enter Greece without any quarantine requirement as long as they provide proof of full vaccination, Covid-19 antibodies, or a negative test; and Portugal has also given a date of May for unrestricted travel.

And Turkey is the latest country to give tourists a reason to be hopeful: the tourism minister has said he expects to welcome visitors this summer without requiring evidence of vaccination.

In addition, British travellers are unlikely to need to take PCR tests before arrival due to the success of the UKs vaccine programme.
YEREVAN.  Despite their statements, 80 percent of those in the opposition arena of Armenia do not want snap parliamentary elections. National Assembly (NA) vice speaker Alen Simonyan, a member of the majority My Step faction, on Wednesday told about this to reporters in the NA.

To the remark that the opposition members say that it is the government that does not want snap elections elections, the NA deputy chairman said: "Both all the surveys and the attitude of the people speak of something else. If Mr. [Edmon] Marukyan [chairman of the opposition Bright Armenia Party and head of its parliamentary faction] says such a thing, he can refer to the survey of the embassy, of the organization he wants, or he can order a survey and see in which case they pass the 1-percent threshold.

To the question why the government does not want to reach an agreement with the opposition and hold the elections by June 1, Simonyan responded: "The meaning of the election is to bring stability in the political field, and one of its components is that the political forces represented in the NA today also participate in that process. The ruling power is going for snap elections to defuse the internal political situation; [but] to do it alone is not that right, politically. There is no clarification regarding the timeframes, there is a discussion with the forces I mentioned, we want the time frames to be in line with them as well.

We also have issues with the Electoral Code that need to be resolved. We have said many times that the 'rating' [election] system needs to change [in Armenia]. Now we need to determine what is more important today. That is, should we postpone the elections for a while in order to change the [Electoral] Code? Or should we hold elections soon, but under the old [Electoral] Code? 
Photo: The Canadian Press

The actions of RCMP and Canadian border officers in the arrest of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou are expected to be at the centre of her extradition case today as it resumes in B.C. Supreme Court.

Meng was arrested in December 2018 at Vancouver's airport at the request of U.S. officials to face fraud charges related to American sanctions against Iran.

Her lawyers are expected to argue today that Meng's rights were violated when she was held for three hours by Canada Border Services Agency officers before being informed of her arrest and her right to a lawyer.

They have alleged there was a co-ordinated effort between Canadian and U.S. officials to conduct a "covert criminal investigation" under the guise of a routine border exam, claims Canadian officials have challenged.

Meng and Huawei deny the allegations made by the United States.

She is the telecom giant's chief financial officer and the daughter of its founder, Ren Zhengfei.
Hurricane season 2021 is here: How do storms get their names?
More than half of Australians support the minimum age of criminal responsibility being raised from 10, amid a growing international campaign for the change backed by legal experts, doctors and justice groups.

In fact, polling commissioned by Amnesty International Australia reveals two-thirds of Australians already believe the minimum age of criminal responsibility is 14.

A total of 56 per cent of Australians would support raising the minimum age to 14, with 33 per cent opposed and 11 per cent unsure, the polling suggests.

The survey came as the Queensland government begins public hearings into contentious youth justice reforms and after 31 United Nations member states called on Australia to raise the age in line with other jurisdictions.

Australias Council of Attorneys-General deferred any decision on the change for another year at a meeting in July 2020, with a working group led by the West Australian Justice Department tasked with investigating alternatives to imprisonment.
Health official: 'We are very pleased with the decline in case numbers'
Two unique Peking Opera comic shows were performed in Beijing on March 13 and 14 following the completion of a significant opera training program.

The March 13 show was a combination of scenes from famous operas such as "Borrow the Plantain Fan," "Kill Ba Jie," "Steal Armor," and "Lyu Bu Quizzes Spy," while March 14 was "Triple Attempts to Steal the Nine-dragon Goblet" performed in its entirety. Following the enthusiastic cheers that rumbled through the Beijing Chang'an Grand Theater, it can be concluded that the program was a success.

This recent training program was approved in 2019 and began in Beijing in December 2020 to cultivate young actors for comic roles in Peking Opera, a category that has often evaded the interest of new talents. A total of 20 trainees were recruited from universities, colleges, and local troupes in Beijing.

The program was sponsored by the Beijing Culture and Arts Fund, hosted by the Art Research School of Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU), and organized by the Jingju Theater. The young talents will be trained to perform kung fu comedy roles derived from Peking Opera and popularized by master Ye Shengzhang.

Ye Shengzhang (1912-1966) was the third son of Peking Opera educator and performing master Ye Chunshan and honored by the opera industry as the "greatest performer" of the "chou" role. The chou role is notable for being one of the four main roles in Peking Opera that combines comedic acting with martial arts. However, given that most resources and attention are often given towards leading male and female roles, interest in comic roles is often lacking.

Marking the second edition of the program since it was launched in 2016, this years performance was backed by Jingju Theater, the National Peking Opera Company, Northern Kunqu Opera Theatre, Beijing's Hebei Bangzi Opera Troupe, the National Academy of Chinese Theatre Arts, and the Beijing Opera Art's College, exploring how best to create dialogue and support between art funds, universities and troupes.

There were three stages to the program, which included theory education (taught online due to the COVID-19 prevention and control), one-on-one in-person lectures on famous opera titles, and group in-person lectures on opera titles and rehearsals for the final shows.

The art of kung fu comedy acting from the Ye Shengzhang school has been inherited and passed down systematically through generations in large part thanks to literature resources drawn from the Research Institute of the Fu Lian Cheng Troupe and teaching resources drawn from descendants and disciples of the Fu Lian Cheng Troupe. These traditions have far-reaching significance and influence in the continuation and dissemination of China's excellent traditional culture and art, the organizers said.

A performer in training, Cao Yangyang, said that despite the pandemic, enthusiasm from both the teachers and students continued unabated. "The concentrated learning, the two shows in the Beijing Chang'an Grand Theater, and the face-to-face learning opportunities with masters were all very rare learning experiences," Cao said, adding that he truly felt he had improved as a performer and will be more confident and natural on stage in the future.

Attendees at the show included renowned director Guo Baochang; professor, Peking Opera master, and dean and doctoral tutor of the Art Research School of Beijing Foreign Studies University Sun Ping; trainer teachers Liu Xizhong, Lang Shichang, Ye Jinsen, and Wu Jianping; and program art consultants Ye Peng, Yang Shaochun, Huang Dehua, and Ye Jinyuan.
Hyderabad: The state Crime Investigation Department (CID) has issued a notice to former Chief Minister and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief N Chandrababu Naidu. The notice was issued at his residence in Hyderabad in a land scam in Amravati.

The state Crime Investigation Department (CID) has also asked ex-state minister Ponguru Narayana to appear in the investigation with the alleged land scam. Ponguru Narayana served as a Minister for Municipal Administration and Urban Development during the TDP regime.

The notice issued by the CID asks N Chandrababu Naidu and Ponguru Narayana to appear in person before the Investigating Officer on Tuesday (March 23) at the CID regional office at Satyanarayanapuram in Vijaywada.

"Failure to attend or comply with the terms of notices, you will be liable for arrest under section 41(3) and (4) of CrPC." the notice mentioned.

The alleged land scam directs at the pooling of land for development of new capital city Amravati in 2015.

YSRC (Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress) Party MLA Alla Ramakrishna Reddy filed a complaint on February 24, based on this CID registered an FIR on March 12 under various sections pf IPC and the SCs and STs (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

Referring to the MLAs complaint, the FIR mentions, "some of the former (farmers) of his constituency represented him that some influenced persons of then government have cheated them by taking away their lands illegally, fraudulent by keeping innocent peasents under confusion and fear of insecurity about their lands. This set of middle man who were part of the conspiracy by making false representation that the government was going to take away their lands without giving any compensation (sic)."

this came almost a month after High Court struck down a case pertaining to "insider trading" in the Amravati land scam, naming N Chandrababu Naidu and Ponguru Narayana as "known/suspected/unknown accused."

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This year our dine and drink business locations throughout the Gorge have suffered with closures. You can help support your favorites by purchasing take out and gift cards. Many of these business will offer curb-side delivery and some will deliver to your home. Lets keep the Gorge going strong!
By Nina Baker

bakernin@grinnell.edu

Grinnells new police chief, Michael McClelland, has strong words when it comes to confronting racism in his police department, but as of now he has no specific plans to increase racial bias training or institute new department policies.

Speaking at a Grinnell League of Women Voters (LWV) forum held over Zoom on March 11, McClelland stated that, If theres any evidence that my cops are being racist  Im going to fire them. Plain and simple.

Audience-members were instructed to send in their questions to the new police chief  most of which were related to racial-bias and police-misconduct  to the LWV at least two days in advance. They were not allowed to ask follow-up questions unless permitted by the moderators.

A Des Moines native, McClelland moved back to Iowa after 24 years of service with the Aurora Police Department in Colorado to serve as Grinnells new chief of police, where his tenure began on Jan. 4, 2021.

Two years ago, in August of 2019, Aurora Police Department officers were involved in the death of Elijah McClain, a Black man who died in hospital a few days after police put him in a chokehold.

Prior to McClains death, the Aurora Police Department had a long record of allegations over racist violence and racial profiling. In 2018, the Colorado ACLU filed a lawsuit against the Aurora Police Department after the death of Jamie Torres, a Latino man who was injured by officers while responding to a noise complaint.

The lawsuit also detailed 13 incidents from 2003 to 2018 of what the ACLU described as racial discrimination, and alleged that the Aurora Police Department had failed to properly train and supervise its officers to avoid the use of racially-biased policing.

In December of 2020, the Aurora Police Department settled the lawsuit for $285,000 on behalf of Torres.

While McClellands service was not related to the McClain investigation, he worked as crowd control during Black Lives Matter (BLM) protests in Aurora as part of his duties as the supervisor of an emergency response team. One protest he worked at was a Violin Vigil held for McClain, which resulted in a class action lawsuit against the Aurora Police Department after citizens alleged that some police officers were using excessive force, although McClelland himself wasnt accused of any misconduct.

Regarding his service in Aurora, McClelland said that McClains death was emblematic of a larger problem with racism in police departments across the country.

What does [McClains death] mean to us here in Grinnell? . It forces us as police officers to look first at our individual implicit biases, and how systemic racism can affect how we are policing, he said. In a nutshell: Black Lives Matter.

The Grinnell Police Department began instituting implicit bias training in the summer of 2020 after being mandated by Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, but McClelland said he believes that police officers need more than just the few hours of training that the law mandates each year. However, McClelland did not answer whether he has plans to institute more implicit bias training for officers in the Grinnell Police Department.

When asked, McClelland also did not name any policies he was planning to put in place to reduce racial profiling in Grinnell. However, later in the forum he suggested the possibility of citizen-review panels, which could help the Grinnell Police Department to identify and address racism within its policing.

McClelland said that he appreciates BLMs mission statement to end police brutality, stop systemic racism and for cops to have better training, but he does not agree with calls for reduced police funding.

While I understand that they say we should take money and put it into the mental health areas, I dont want money taken from the police department  we dont have enough of it as it is for us to do our jobs, said McClelland.

However, McClelland did add that addressing mental health crises is one of the top priorities for the Grinnell Police Department.

Officers receive training in dealing with people with mental illnesses, but that doesnt make them experts in it, he said.

Grinnells new police chief said he would support a system like Aurora Police Departments Crisis Response Team, which he saw in action during his time there. The program pairs a police officer and a mental health professional together when they are on duty so that both can respond to a call  but McClelland said he doesnt know if this type of system is feasible for a smaller city like Grinnell.

In the future, McClelland plans to meet with the Grinnell Regional Medical Center and discuss how to handle mental health related calls in a way that is feasible for Grinnell. He also said that he hopes to have all his officers receive Crisis Intervention Training (CIT).

CIT is a type of scenario-based training which aims to teach law enforcement officers how to respond to mental health and medical emergencies. In the past, CIT training has been shown to reduce arrests of people with mental illnesses, and to decrease officer-injuries by up to 80 percent.

McClelland said his other top priority is responding to drug and alcohol addiction in Grinnell, and he said that he hopes to continue enforcement operations like drug confiscations via traffic stops, but also to expand drug-awareness education  such as the D.A.R.E. program (Drug Abuse Resistance Education)  within the Grinnell-Newburg Public School District.

Some studies have shown that D.A.R.E. programs are ineffective at reducing the usage of alcohol and drugs for teenagers, but McClelland was also open to the possibility of using other programs besides D.A.R.E. to reduce teenage drug usage.

Instead of sending [addicts] to jail, we just need to get them the help they need, he said, adding that the Grinnell Police Department will continue prior work with hospitals and rehabilitation facilities around Grinnell to provide effective care.

McClelland ended the forum by emphasizing his hope to build trust between law enforcement and members of the Grinnell community. McClelland encouraged any resident of Grinnell to reach out to him personally if they had additional questions or concerns about the police department in general.

He also urged anyone with any information regarding officers who may harbor bias against residents of color or other marginalized groups to issue a formal complaint  either with their name attached or anonymously  or to contact him personally so he can look in further.

This article was edited to reflect the fact that McClain died in hospital multiple days after his confrontation with the Aurora Police Department.
UAE-based operator du has signed a four-year 5G expansion deal with Nokia.

The deployment will allow du  a unit of Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company (EITC) - to deliver a superior network experience to its customers and set it on the path to upgrade the network for future technologies. du's subscribers will benefit from improved coverage, capacity and overall network performance.

As part of the agreement, Nokia will deploy the new 5G sites with its Single Radio Access Network (SRAN) technology. This will deliver 5G services in new locations and address the demand for enhanced broadband services.

As per the contract, dus 5G network will use products from Nokias AirScale Radio Network Access portfolio and massive Multiple Input Multiple Output (mMIMO) to deliver an ultra-fast and low-latency network experience.

Nokias SRAN solution will also reduce network complexity by allowing du to manage multi-technology operations on a single platform. This will also help du to future-proof its investment by enhancing network and cost efficiencies.

In addition, Nokia will deploy its NetAct network management solution and Nokia Performance Manager, which present a consolidated network view leading to improved network monitoring and management. du will also utilize Nokias digital deployment services including installation, planning and automated site deployment, for timely and efficient execution of the project.

Saleem Al Blooshi, Chief Technology Officer at du, said: Nokia is one of our trusted partners, and we are pleased to be using its SRAN solution to further improve our network's coverage and capacity. Ubiquitous access to ultra-high-speed networks will help the country further accelerate digital transformation.
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Argyle parents against mask policy yell over school board members

Screenshot Parent Cece McCasland addresses the Argyle ISD school board during Monday evenings meeting.

Angry parents routinely interrupted Argyle ISD Superintendent Telena Wright, school board members and district employees throughout Monday evenings board meeting.

They contradicted district officials, started brief chants and yelled over speakers while advocating for board members to vote for removing the existing policy that requires most students to wear masks during much of their on-campus time.

Seventeen people signed up to speak during the boards public forum segment Monday. Opportunities for public comment are required by state law. Public bodies are allowed to institute time limits on speakers, and board members are not allowed to respond directly to speakers comments.

Each speaker was given three minutes to state their case to board members, those in attendance and those watching the livestream.

Most of the speakers were parents of Argyle ISD students, and three were current students. Two of those students were seniors at Argyle High School, and they were also the only speakers to argue in favor of keeping the existing mask mandate.

Twelve speakers directly argued to make mask-wearing optional, seven spoke of various levels of trauma associated with the districts mask policy, four directly argued for the removal or alteration of the districts quarantine policy, and three argued masks dont work or are otherwise harmful.

The wearing of face masks has been repeatedly shown to reduce the transmission of the coronavirus responsible for COVID-19, which is primarily transmitted via respiratory droplets that are much larger than the virus itself.

Many speakers referred to Gov. Greg Abbotts removal of the statewide mask mandate effective March 10 as a cause to remove Argyle ISDs mask policy. The Texas Education Agency previously confirmed school boards could vote to do away with their districts mask mandates.

Speakers were impassioned but largely respected the boards rules during the public forum segment, with many greeted with cheers by those in the hall after they spoke.

Board members moved onto the rest of their meeting after roughly an hour of public comments, but it wasnt long before parents began yelling from the halls.

I dont believe that any of us  not any of us  want teachers to have to teach wearing masks or want students to have to learn wearing masks, Wright said in transition. Thats not what any of us want or would have wanted, but thats whats gotten us through this year to this point  one of the many things.

Hand washing and social distancing are also among the prominent steps that have helped the district, she said.

Less than three minutes into her presentation, just as Wright began to discuss TEAs guidance on March 3, parents began to yell from the hall.

This is what TEA continued to say on the third of March about health and hygiene practices regarding masks, Wright said. And when I say masks again, were just talking about facial coverings, whether thats a shield, whether its a gaiter or whether its a mask.

It was then that parents first could be heard clearly yelling.

Thats a lie! one man bellowed.

The outbursts continued despite the presence of Argyle ISD police officers. Those in the hall eventually began chanting, Let the board vote! Board President Sam Slaton asked AISD Police Chief Paul Cairney to tell them the board couldnt discuss anything if they couldnt hear the conversation.

Argyle Middle School Principal Scott Gibson said, based on a survey of teachers, roughly 70% of his teachers were in favor of keeping the existing mask policy through the end of the school year.

He also noted four middle school teachers quit back in August due to fear of the pandemic, so further resignations would be possible if the mask mandate went away.

Sherrie Thompson, head nurse at Argyle High, took her time during the discussion to address some of the misconceptions and inaccuracies she has heard regarding the districts contact tracing, mask-wearing and quarantine procedures.

While many parents do the right thing and call school nurses, many others lie to her on a weekly or even daily basis, she said.

I do not lie, Thompson said. I do not make up names. I dont know the names of all 1,300 kids. I dont hardly get out of my office because Im answering emails; being yelled at, hollered at, being accused of this, that and the other on the phones.

A woman from the hall then yelled out to accuse Thompson of accounting for false positive tests.

After an extended bout of yelling, Thompson said, Im a little scared to walk to my car tonight.

Parents eventually seemed to simmer down after police spoke to them several times, and regular board business moved onto construction reports, fund allocations and other normal tasks by 9:30 p.m., which was a full 2 1/2 hours after the meeting opened to the public.
Rose took a break from editing an album of John Adamss two chamber symphonies to discuss the ballets  their importance within Carters output and what they share with his later masterworks. Here are edited excerpts from the conversation.

What are the hallmarks of Carters early sound?

His music had not become as stark. The Minotaur isnt so much padded with a sonic cushion, but Pocahontas is. He could really write a lush orchestration, and with a big string section. In that way its inspiration is more a Romantic ballet than a 20th-century ballet. So its more like Prokofiev than anything else  nothing like the Neo-Classical stuff that does take him by storm down the road. The Minotaur is more like that. Theres a big pas de deux in it that could have come out of any middle-period Stravinsky ballet.

What does looking at these ballets together reveal about Carters progression as a composer?

His sound gets more angular. Thats probably also because a lot of Stravinskys middle-period works start to get known in the United States. Rhythmically, it gets less flexible  more repeated patterns and spiky rhythms. And harmonically, its more dissonant. The orchestration has this brashness, and a lot of clashes and disjunct that shows itself already in Pocahontas. It is interesting though: If you play Pocahontas for someone and say, Name that composer, it would take a lot of people who know a lot about music to get through a lot of composers to get to Carter.

I would say the time is easy to place, but definitely not the composer.

If you hear the Piano Sonata (1945) and the Holiday Overture (1944), theyre of the same ilk. He sort of didnt advocate for his early music very much. But I think its important to know where he came from. If you pair this with his late music, its a hell of a journey. And this is how it started.

Can you point to anything that survives the turn Carter takes after the First String Quartet?

Its a little hard to compare Pocahontas with a piece like the String Quartet. But I would look at the Pavane at the end, the way he starts to lay harmonies on top of each other. Its clear at this moment hes not writing Billy the Kid, or any other kind of Copland Americana, even though it has an Americana subject. He doesnt stick a folk tune in, or nod to Native American music. He writes in a sense like Prokofiev: He writes the music that he wants to write.
Dr Olaf Berlien

LeddarTech announces the appointment of Dr Olaf Berlien to its Board of Directors

LeddarTech announces the appointment of Dr Olaf Berlien to its Board of Directors

QUEBEC CITY, March 17, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- LeddarTech, a global leader in Level 1-5 ADAS and AD sensing technology, is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr Olaf Berlien to its Board of Directors, further enhancing the diversity and industry expertise of the Board.



Dr Berlien possesses over 30 years of experience in senior executive positions specializing in engineering, automotive, and lighting. Notably, until recently, Dr Berlien served as CEO of OSRAM since January 2015.

Before joining OSRAM, Dr Berlien served as CEO of M+W Group, a German company for systems engineering and plant construction and before that, as CEO of the technologies division of ThyssenKrupp, overseeing the elevator and automotive segments as well as the engineering activities. From 1996 until 2002, Dr Berlien was a member of the managing board at Carl Zeiss, a German manufacturer of optical systems and optoelectronics.

Dr Berlien started his career at IBM.

The LeddarTech Board of Directors is very pleased to welcome Dr Olaf Berlien as its newest member, stated Mr. Michel Brule, Chairman of the Board of LeddarTech. Olafs extensive leadership experience in the technology industry, combined with his strategic skills in efficient cross-industry networking, business optimization, and handling pertinent market dynamics, will contribute greatly to the strategy oversight role of the LeddarTech Board, Mr. Brule concluded.

LeddarTech has, over the past few months, made strategic additions to its Board of Directors, stated Charles Boulanger, CEO of LeddarTech. LeddarTechs global reach has increased dramatically both in personnel and R&D facilities, the latest being in Israel. LeddarTech has evolved to become a true end-to-end environmental sensing company that addresses sensing and perception challenges across the automotive and mobility value chain, Mr. Boulanger continued. The appointment of Olaf represents our strategy of bringing the best minds in the industry to share their expertise and guidance as we get closer to becoming the most widely deployed sensing platform in the industry for automotive and mobility, Mr. Boulanger concluded.

Story continues

Dr Berlien holds a doctorate from the Technical University of Berlin.

About LeddarTech

LeddarTech is a leader in environmental sensing platforms for autonomous vehicles and advanced driver assistance systems. Founded in 2007, LeddarTech has evolved to become a comprehensive end-to-end environmental sensing company by enabling customers to solve critical sensing and perception challenges across the entire value chain of the automotive and mobility market segments. With its LeddarVision sensor-fusion and perception platform and its cost-effective, scalable, and versatile LiDAR development solution for automotive-grade solid-state LiDARs based on the LeddarEngine, LeddarTech enables Tier 1-2 automotive system integrators to develop full-stack sensing solutions for autonomy level 1 to 5. These solutions are actively deployed in autonomous shuttles, trucks, buses, delivery vehicles, smart cities/factories, and robotaxi applications. The company is responsible for several innovations in cutting-edge automotive and mobility remote-sensing applications, with over 95 patented technologies (granted or pending) enhancing ADAS and autonomous driving capabilities.

Additional information about LeddarTech is accessible at www.leddartech.com and on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube.

Contact:

Daniel Aitken, Vice-President, Global Marketing, Communications, and Product Management, LeddarTech Inc.

Tel.: + 1-418-653-9000 ext. 232

daniel.aitken@leddartech.com

Leddar, LeddarTech, LeddarEngine, LeddarVision, LeddarSP, LeddarCore, VAYADrive, VayaVision, and related logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of LeddarTech Inc. and its subsidiaries. All other brands, product names, and marks are or may be trademarks or registered trademarks used to identify products or services of their respective owners.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9cd83aa2-f283-474a-9b59-9f89023084a9




Chunk Archives Recordings has dropped a two-CD/digital release of Hotel Massachusetts, an amplified reissue of the 1994 compilation.

The original Chunk Records release, based on the scene around the Bay State Hotel in Northampton, has been newly remastered. It now comes with another volume on a second disc.

Disc 2 expands the breadth of the compilation, and features local favorites such as SPOUSE, The Aloha Steamtrain, King Radio, Drunk Stuntmen, Tag Sale, and Ware River Club.

Hotel Massachusetts was a slapdash affair, quickly thrown together to promote Chunk as a label and the Bay State as a mecca for touring bands, Chunk founder Mal Thursday said. The album was very much a product of its time: the post-Nirvana alt-rock boom, which was about to come to a sticky end.
A Bupa health insurance customer's frustration with the company's customer service team has sparked an intense debate on social media about who was in the wrong.

Dylan, shared to Reddit a series of Whatsapp messages he had with a Bupa customer service worker when he requested to have his membership cancelled.

Back and forth messages revealed he wasn't able to cancel it over Whatsapp and had to call up instead - despite already calling and not getting through to anyone.

'Just have someone call me. I called you, you guys were busy and now I'm texting someone who can't help me,' Dylan wrote in one of the texts.

Dylan, shared a series of Whatsapp messages he had with a Bupa customer service member to Reddit, when he requested to have his membership cancelled

'Have them call me, get your boss onto it - this is 2021.'

The customer service worker on the other end apologised and repeatedly told Dylan she was unable to submit his request and that he needed to call up.

Eventually the Bupa worker was able to pass on Dylan's number to another team so he could be called up at a later date.

The interaction sparked debate on Reddit with some criticising Dylan for being 'rude' while others agreed that the customer service was unhelpful and he was likely receiving automated replies.

''Get your boss on this. This is 2021.'' That is a demanding a rude statement. You could kindly say ''could you please escalate this to your boss? I'm frustrated by this situation'',' one commented.

'You're being rude to someone who really has no power in the business.'

Others said they too had frustrating experiences with large companies' customer service teams.

'I do sympathise with you and the company deserves zero sympathy, but if it was an actual person you are dealing with - it is entirely possible that they cannot arrange call backs or whatnot,' another said.

'I don't think (Dylan) was being rude at all, just direct with what he wanted. The wait times on a lot of calls to Australian businesses and services are horrendous. You mess people around like that and you can't expect them to be cheery,' one said.

A Bupa spokesperson said the WhatsApp service had recently been introduced.

'We recently introduced WhatsApp messaging to help meet the growing demand for digital services, save customers time during busy periods and allow them to chat with our teams in a way that suits them,' they said.

'Given it is still a relatively new channel for Bupa, there are some instances such as cancelling services, where customers will still need to either visit our stores or call us.

'We plan to expand the services available on WhatsApp in the coming months.'
LATAM becomes the first airline to implement the latest version of iFlight , which has been optimized to help airlines balance operational disruption with cost efficiency and customer satisfaction across their entire network. iFlight is a fully integrated technology platform developed as three specific modules to optimize Ops, Crew and Hub management, making IBS Software the first company to provide the aviation industry with this level of operational insight and management functionality.

Through the implementation of iFlight, LATAM's System Operations Team has a single integrated platform to proactively monitor Ops and Crew management and make informed, data-led decisions. The single view of Ops and Crew means that LATAM can respond in real-time to flight disruptions caused by external factors, improve customer service, reduce delays, and the impact of disruption and cancellation costs. iFlight's comprehensive cost and KPI monitoring capability will allow LATAM to evaluate the full financial impact of operational decisions and reduce operational cost overruns.

LATAM Brazil and LATAM Paraguay will deploy iFlight later in 2021, as part of the multi-phase transition.

The global pandemic has placed enormous pressure on airlines to remove inefficiencies and reduce costs. Airlines need a proactive, data-led operations strategy as they emerge from the pandemic, so that they can minimize the impact of delays, diversions, cancellations, and irregular operations (IROPs) as they resume and maintain operations. Integrated solutions help airlines successfully implement contingency plans and reduce the impact of disruption, as they adapt to an evolving post-COVID-19 world. iFlight will equip the LATAM operations teams with the insight needed to make informed, strategic decisions about their business models and operational objectives.

"With this transformation, we are now able to harness the latest industry technology to optimize efficiency and ensure our passengers benefit from improved on-time performance. The deployment reinforces our commitment to providing industry leading services and experiences to our passengers," said Hernan Pasman, Chief Operations Officer, LATAM Airlines Group.

"This iFlight implementation is an important milestone in the digital transformation journey at LATAM," said Mathew M Baby, Head of Airline Operations, IBS Software. "The digitization of airline operations has never been more important as airlines look to improve Ops and Crew utilization to capitalize on all possible efficiencies and enhance the passenger experience. IBS Software is committed to innovation, and providing airlines the technology they need to respond to the ever-changing market."

For more information on iFlight.

About IBS Software

IBS Software is a leading SaaS solutions provider to the travel industry globally, managing mission-critical operations for customers in the aviation, tour & cruise and hospitality industries. IBS Software's solutions for the aviation industry cover fleet & crew operations, aircraft maintenance, passenger services, loyalty programs, staff travel and air-cargo management. IBS Software also runs a real time B2B and B2C distribution platform providing hotel room inventory, rates and availability to a global network of hospitality companies and channels. For the tour and cruise industry, IBS provides a comprehensive, customer-centric, digital platform that covers onshore, online and on-board solutions. IBS Software is a Blackstone portfolio company and operates from 15 offices across the world. Further information can be found at https://www.ibsplc.com/

SOURCE IBS Software


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Four months have passed since the signing of the ceasefire agreement that ended the Second Karabakh War, on November 9, 2020. Armenia is now embroiled in a political crisis because of the fallout from its decisive defeat in that conflict, while the status of Karabakh remains a topic of political dispute between the hitherto warring parties. Even so, Azerbaijan has already started making plans for the future of its partially regained western region. On March 9, the Azerbaijani government reportedly decided on locations for constructing solar and wind power plants in six districts of Karabakh, The Jamestown Foundation writes.

This is not the first time Baku has taken practical steps regarding its renewable energy plans for the area. Indeed, on February 15, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev inaugurated the first mini-hydropower plant in the Lachin district village of Gulebird. The realization of renewable energy projects across Karabakh fits into the Azerbaijani leaderships vision to decrease the countrys dependence on fossil fuel-generated electricity. These plans are also compatible with Bakus plans to radically transform Karabakhs war-torn territories by building smart cities and villages theresomething President Aliyev has repeatedly been vocal about since the signing of the ceasefire agreement last November. Although the Azerbaijani government has not been explicit about the details of these plans, it is now clear that an integral part involves establishing renewable sources of electricity generation in the liberated territories.

Hydroelectric dams are expected to account for most of the renewable power production in the region. Aliyev, in his speech dedicated to the return of Lachin, emphasized the significance of the Kalbajar and Lachin districts (still partially beyond Bakus full administrative control) as source areas for ten important Azerbaijani rivers. Four of those riversTerterchay, Bazarchay, Khachincay and Hakariare longer than 100 kilometers. For Azerbaijan, regaining full control over these rivers is extremely important as the headwaters of the countrys three largest rivers are all located abroad, either in Turkey (the Kur and Araz rivers) or Russia (Samur).

During the period between the first and second Karabakh wars, hydropower plants played a key role in the separatist regions electricity supply. Karabakh is renowned for its mountainous geography, especially Kalbajar district. And until major hostilities broke out again last autumn, Karabakhs annual hydropower capacity reached 187.5 megawatts (MW), while total electricity generation equaled 920,000 megawatt hours (MWh), of which 330,000 MWh was exported to Armenia. Thirty of Karabakhs hydroelectric power plants, with a total capacity of 112.5 MW, have been transferred to Azerbaijan in accordance with the November 2020 ceasefire agreement.

Smart city concepts, however, involve far more than developing renewable energy sources for urban areas. They importantly also entail the deployment of tools to collect data in real-time about all kinds of phenomena, including inter alia traffic, air and water quality, hospital network occupancy, and levels of solar radiation. Armed with this information, the government can presumably act more quickly and efficiently to address traditional problems plaguing all cities as well as, potentially, come up with more innovative, data-driven solutions.

Azerbaijan has not had any tangible experience yet with building smart cities. Thus, the recently announced projects in Karabakh will serve as a learning curve for the country. Azerbaijans experience with integrating renewable sources into its energy portfolio is limited too. According to the World Banks Regulatory Indicators for Sustainable Energy (RISE), Azerbaijan is ranked the lowest among the South Caucasus countries when it comes to green energy usage. Although better electrified than its regional neighbors, Azerbaijan lacks the necessary legal-technical prerequisites to integrate renewable energy sources into its grid, while its vast renewable energy potential is greatly underused.

Baku is nonetheless interested in increasing the share of renewables in its electricity production portfolio for several connected reasons. Azerbaijans electricity production is dependent on fossil fuels, namely natural gas. Eighty-two percent of Azerbaijani electricity comes from plants running on natural gas or fuel oil, while hydropower accounts for 18 percent of the total electricity output.

Besides decreasing its dependence on carbon-intensive electricity production, Azerbaijan is interested in vacating significant natural gas volumes for export purposes. Since the start of operation of the Southern Gas Corridor in late December of last year, Azerbaijan now has ready and scalable infrastructure to reach European markets. And recent investment agreements signed with Saudi ACWA and the United Arab Emirates Masdar represent initial steps taken by Baku to increase its domestic solar and wind power capacity for the above-mentioned reasons. Contracts signed with the Gulf companies aim to increase Azerbaijans renewable capacity by 440 MW, which would make around 500 million cubic meters of extra natural gas available for export each year.

It is, of course, too early to expect any tangible steps toward joint Azerbaijani-Armenian energy projects in Karabakh anytime soon. That said, regional infrastructure projects with the participation of both parties could serve as a valuable next step toward mutual reconciliation. Armenia and Azerbaijan have already started working on reopening shared transit corridors, as envisioned in the November 2020 ceasefire agreement. Such cooperation may one day bring about additional collaboration in the energy sphere as well.
TORONTO, March 17, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Tanzanian Gold Corporation (TSX:TNX) (NYSE American:TRX) (TanGold or the Company) is pleased to announce and welcome Shubo Rakhit, CPA, CA to the Board of Directors of Tanzanian Gold Corporation.



Mr. Rakhit, has had a prominent career as a leading corporate finance professional, highly respected strategist, and sought after trusted advisor. His 30+ year career has included positions at several large investment banks and advisory firms including Canadas major bank owned investment banks, BofA Securities, KPMG Corporate Finance and Echelon Wealth Partners where he most recently served as Managing Director, Head of Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A). Mr. Rakhits distinguished career includes leading over $80B of M&A transactions, and over $100B of global capital markets issuance including many complex strategic and capital solutions, that has also encompassed mining companies. The strength of his relationships is characterized by authenticity and instilling trust that will assist the Company in broadening its access to capital markets at a time of rapid growth for the organization.

We are delighted to welcome Shubo Rakhit to our Board of Directors and look forward to working with him. Shubo is well known for his track record of success. His extensive background and experience in advising boards will complement our Board as we continue to restructure TanGold for the benefit of all of our stakeholders. We are excited that our team of professional experts is growing on our Board of Directors as we advance our bold business agenda and confidently move our mining plans forward, Stephen Mullowney, Chief Executive Officer said.

I am enthusiastic about joining the Board of Directors and these are exciting times for the gold sector. I welcome the opportunity to use my years of experience in finance and business to assist the Company in building global relationships and advancing its plans. I look forward to working with the Board of Directors, Executive Management Team and our Joint Venture partner, STAMICO, Director Rakhit said.

Thank you for welcoming Shubo Rakhit as a member of the Board of Directors of Tanzanian Gold Corporation.

About Tanzanian Gold Corporation

Tanzanian Gold Corporation along with its joint venture partner, STAMICO is building a significant gold project at Buckreef in Tanzania that is based on an expanded Mineral Resource base and the treatment of its mineable Mineral Reserves in two standalone plants. Measured Mineral Resource now stands at 19.98MT at 1.99g/t gold containing 1,281,161 ounces of gold and Indicated Mineral Resource now stand at 15.89MT at 1.48g/t gold containing 755,119 ounces of gold for a combined tonnage of 35.88MT at 1.77g/t gold containing 2,036,280 ounces of gold. The Buckreef Project also contains an Inferred Mineral Resource of 17.8MT at 1.11g/t gold for contained gold of 635,540 ounces of gold. The Company is actively investigating and assessing multiple exploration targets on its property. Please refer to the Companys Updated Mineral Resources Estimate for Buckreef Gold Project, dated May 15, 2020, for more information.

Tanzanian Gold Corporation is advancing on three value-creation tracks:

Strengthening its balance sheet by expanding near-term production to 15,000 - 20,000 oz. of gold per year from the processing of oxide material from an expanded oxide plant. Advancing the Final Feasibility Study for a stand-alone sulphide treating plant that is substantially larger than previously modelled and targeting significant annual gold production. Continuing with a drilling program to further test the potential of its property, Exploration Targets and Mineral Resource base by: (i) identifying new prospects; (ii) drilling new oxide/sulphide targets; (iii) infill drilling to upgrade Mineral Resources currently in the Inferred category; and (iv) a step-out drilling program in the Northeast Extension.



Andrew M. Cheatle, P.Geo. is the Companys Qualified Person as defined by the NI 43-101 who has verified the data disclosed in this news release and has otherwise reviewed and assumes responsibility for the technical content of this press release.

For further information, please contact Michael Martin, Investor Relations, m.martin@tangoldcorp.com, 860-248-0999, or visit the Company website at www.tangoldcorp.com

The Toronto Stock Exchange and NYSE American have not reviewed and do not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

U.S. Investors are urged to consider closely the disclosure in our SEC filings. You can review and obtain copies of these filings from the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov/edgar.shtml

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements as defined in the applicable securities laws. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are frequently, but not always, identified by words such as expects, anticipates, believes, hopes, intends, estimated, potential, possible and similar expressions, or statements that events, conditions or results will, may, could or should occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements relate to future events or future performance and reflect Tanzanian Gold managements expectations or beliefs regarding future events and include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the estimation of mineral reserves and resources, recoveries, subsequent project testing, success and viability of mining operations, the timing and amount of estimated future production, and capital expenditure.

Although TanGold believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance. The actual achievements of TanGold or other future events or conditions may differ materially from those reflected in the forward-looking statements due to a variety of risks, uncertainties and other factors. These risks, uncertainties and factors include general business, legal, economic, competitive, political, regulatory and social uncertainties; actual results of exploration activities and economic evaluations; fluctuations in currency exchange rates; changes in costs; future prices of gold and other minerals; mining method, production profile and mine plan; delays in exploration, development and construction activities; changes in government legislation and regulation; the ability to obtain financing on acceptable terms and in a timely manner or at all; contests over title to properties; employee relations and shortages of skilled personnel and contractors; the speculative nature of, and the risks involved in, the exploration, development and mining business. These risks are set forth under Item 3.D in Tanzanian Golds Form 20-F for the year ended August 31, 2020, as amended, as filed with the SEC.

The information contained in this press release is as of the date of the press release and TanGold assumes not duty to update such information.

Note to U.S. Investors

US investors are advised that the mineral resource and mineral reserve estimated disclosed in this press release have been calculated pursuant to Canadian standards which use terminology consistent with the requirements CRIRSCO reporting standards. For its fiscal year ending August 31, 2021, and thereafter, the Company will follow new SEC regulations which uses a CRIRSCO based templet for mineral resources and mineral reserves, that includes definitions for inferred, indicated, and measured mineral resources.
A security alert in Enniskillen has ended after the discovery of a suspicious object in the Lough Shore Path area.

Police had earlier cordoned off the area near Riverside and began investigating the object, before Army Technical Officers (ATO) attended the scene and made the area safe.

In a statement, the PSNI said they believed dissident republicans were behind the incident and they condemned those responsible for potentially putting the public at risk.

In a statement, PSNI Chief Superintendent Andy Freeburn, South Area Commander, said: "A security alert in Enniskillen has ended following the discovery of a suspicious device in the Lough Shore Path area, in the vicinity of Riverside, this morning.

"I can confirm that this device was small and crude, but potentially viable, and it has been taken away for further examination. We believe that this reckless act is the work of violent dissident republicans and should be condemned by all.

"This device was left on a pathway, which is frequently used and enjoyed by members of the public, including people fishing, local boat owners, parents and children. Those responsible have shown blatant disregard for the life of others and our community.

"Their actions are reprehensible and are not supported by the local community.

"I want to appeal to anyone who has information about this incident to call us and tell us what you know. The number to call is 101, quoting reference number 1242 of 16/03/21."

"A report can also be made via http://www.psni.police.uk/makeareport/ or anonymously via the Crimestoppers Charity on 0800 555 111, or online at http://crimestoppers-uk.org/."

This is how terrorists mark St Patrick's day and why we need them off our streets. A suspicious device found at popular recreation spot. Information should be forwarded to Police.



Security alert in Enniskillen after suspicious object found - https://t.co/i9inJXIQI2  John Blair MLA (@JohnBlairMLA) March 17, 2021

It comes as increased police patrols are in place across Northern Ireland with lockdown restrictions still in place during St Patrick's Day.

On the beat today with @PSNINMDown Neighbourhood team as part of a timely visit to Downpatrick. Pleased that the vast majority of the public are adhering to the @niexecutive health regulations.



Thank you. #StPatricksDay #StayHome pic.twitter.com/E2YP7dwCwr  Simon Byrne (@ChiefConPSNI) March 17, 2021

TODAY WE CELEBRATE THE WORST ST. PADDY'S DAY IN KANSAS CITY HISTORY!!!



Today might be even more dire given that smart people know this town's problems are just beginning. Still, we share this midday shot of community news, pop culture and top headlines as a fitting distraction.



ST. PADDY CANCELLED!!!

Saint Patrick's Day events scaled back due to COVID-19 Saint Patrick's Day will of course look different from normal thanks to the pandemic, however, some events are still scheduled for the 2021 celebration. Last year, most bars and restaurants were closed for St. Patrick's, which is typically a high-traffic day in Kansas City.

Local Housing Hand Up

United Way and KC Regional Housing Alliance launch #GetTheRentPaid program in upcoming virtual event Landlords are joining United Way to stop evictions with millions of dollars in emergency rental and utility assistance. Representatives will be available virtually on March 19 at 10 a.m. to discuss available funding, qualification criteria, and the application process. This online event is co-sponsored by the KC Regional Housing Alliance and United Way.

Digital Disappointment

Here's what Kansas City's new Buck O'Neil Bridge will look like KANSAS CITY, MO (KCTV) - Soon, the Buck O'Neil Bridge coming into downtown won't look anything like what you see now. Plans to change it have been underway for a while, and we're finally seeing what the new bridge will look like. The Missouri Department of Transportation revealed new artist renderings of the bridge.

Chesty Celeb Shares Bawdy Dinner Joke

Lisa Rinna All Balls With Breasts On Dinner Plate Scroll for the dinner plate video. Lisa, who last year made headlines for joking she's an "-sshole with iconic hair and big lips" was here focusing on her assets . A candle-lit and swish dinner table was shared, with the circular white plate showing ten white chocolate truffle balls, plus Lisa at the top.

TAX SEASON STALLS AS FREE MONEY ARRIVES!!!

IRS pushes April 15 U.S. tax deadline to May 15 The IRS is planning to push back the deadline for the tax filing season about one month, to May 15 from April 15.

Prez Tweaks Procedure

Biden says he supports reforming Senate filibuster in ABC News exclusive interview He told George Stephanopoulos he wants to return to the "talking filibuster." President Joe Biden on Tuesday said he supports changing the Senate's filibuster rule back to requiring senators talk on the floor to hold up a bill, the first time he has endorsed reforming the procedure the White House has for weeks insisted the president is opposed to eliminating.

PROGRESSIVE BLAME GAME AFTER BLOODBATH!?!

Liberals blame Trump, Republicans and racism for Atlanta shootings, before police determine motive Liberals were quick to blame former- President Trump, Republicans and anti-Asian racism for the string of Tuesday night shootings at Atlanta-area massage parlors, despite not knowing what motivated the killer. The horrific shooting left eight people dead and another person injured, and a suspect in custody has taken "full responsibility," according to law enforcement.

China Cold War Arrives

China and U.S. appear set for a frosty Alaska summit Competing statements from both sides last week emphasized the rift: "This is not a strategic dialogue," Blinken said of the meeting in testimony to the House Foreign Affairs Committee. A spokesperson for China's Foreign Ministry, Zhao Lijian, quickly contradicted him: "China, invited by the United States, will have a high-level strategic dialogue with the U.S.

Timid Late Night Joking With Former Prez Obama

Michelle Obama Shuts Down Question About Her Sex Life With Barack "For some very sick reason, you are very obsessed with this portion of that major historical event."

Kansas City History Turnaround

KC Museum to transition to foundation management Abby Hoover Managing Editor The Kansas City Museum at 3218 Gladstone Blvd. will transition to oversight by the Kansas City Museum Foundation (KCMF) by May 1. The Museum, which is wrapping up a multi-year $20 million renovation, is operated by the City's Parks and Recreation Department.

Cute Pupper Interlude

Local dog-sitting business collecting items for shelters in front-porch drive KANSAS CITY, Mo. - A local dog walking and pet sitting business, Katie's Kennel, is holding a pet shelter drive this Saturday. The business is collecting items such as dog and cat food, leashes, raised dog beds, fleece blankets and more for shelters including KC Pet Project, KC Bulldog Rescue and more.

Murderous Spring Sneak Peek

Buckle up. Murder hornet season is around the corner Winter is on its way out. The days are getting longer, vaccinations are ramping up and an end to the pandemic could be in sight.But murder hornets don't care about any of that.Warmer weather is when they thrive, and scientists in the U.S.

Paul McCartney & Wings - Give Ireland back to the Irish is the song of the day and this is the OPEN THREAD for right now.
We want to see reciprocity and proportionality in exports, and we are ready to use whatever tool we need to deliver on that, said Ursula von der Leyen, the head of the European Commission. This is about making sure that Europe gets its fair share.

Her remarks were the latest salvo in a long-running feud between Brussels and London over vaccines.

The commissions target of vaccinating 70 percent of adult population by the end of the summer seems to be fading away, especially as the largest European countries suspended the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine over reports of a few cases of serious blood clots among people who received it. The suspension could be lifted soon, but severe production problems have made millions fewer AstraZeneca doses available.

The problems have been an embarrassment for the European Union and its executive arm, the Commission, which took control of the procurement process, although member states are responsible for issuing vaccinations.

But Europeans, held under one of the longest and strictest lockdowns in the world, are experiencing a deep pandemic fatigue, further complicating the way out of the crisis.

The commission also laid out a long-term strategy to gradually lift the lockdown measures, conditional upon each countrys epidemiological situation. A judgment would be made based on simulations by the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control, the commission said.

The situation with the virus in Europe is still very challenging, said Stella Kyriakides, the blocs top health official. It is only through a joint approach that we can return safely to full free movement in the E.U.
She's one of the most iconic characters in Australian comedy, and on Wednesday, Mary Coustas revealed how her iconic character, 'Effie', came to be.

In an interview with The Daily Telegraph, the 56-year-old comedian said Effie was inspired by her experience of being bullied as a child.

But she really came to life after a chance encounter with a group of girls in the toilets at a Melbourne cafe.

Taking inspiration: She's one of the most iconic characters in Australian comedy, and on Wednesday, Mary Coustas revealed how her iconic character, 'Effie', came to be. Pictured as Effie at the premiere of My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 in Sydney in March 2016

Mary said she felt like she 'belonged wholeheartedly for the first decade of my life' while growing up in 'multicultural' Collingwood in Melbourne.

'Then we were ripped out of the working class and thrust into the white middle class, and it was a horror show for me because there was a lot of racism and I got bullied for the first time in my life and I got judged,' she recounted.

Mary said she was only 'one of three kids' at her school who hailed from a Greek background, which made her a target for bullies.

Making the most of a bad situation: In an interview with The Daily Telegraph, the 56-year-old comedian said Effie was inspired by her experience of being bullied as a child. Pictured at Tropfest in Sydney in February 2017

But it was several years later when Mary got the idea for Effie while at a cafe on Lygon Street in Melbourne.

Mary said she went to the bathroom where she 'overheard a conversation with these girls and their accents stood out'.

'I came out and they had the big hair and the hairspray and were putting on makeup and just chatting about nonsense really, and I thought, "This would've been me if I had not moved out of Collingwood..."' she said.

Lightbulb moment: Mary said Effie really came to life after a chance encounter with a group of girls in the toilets at a Melbourne cafe. Pictured at the MTV Australian Video Music Awards in Sydney in 2005

She added: 'Effie was born out of that discovery and it went back to the essence of me as a child.'

Rather than poking fun at the girls, Mary said Effie became a celebration of who they were.

She described the character of Effie as having a 'survivor attitude' and being boldly unapologetic.
The Morgan County Emergency Management Agency director says community shelters throughout the county will open during a tornado watch. However, some are already open.

People in the area say community shelters are a crucial part to their weather plans.

"You have to be ready. You can't just assume that you are going to be safe wherever you are," Cathy Caswell said.

Caswell is from Oklahoma, so she knows a thing or two about tornadoes.

"It can drop out of the sky at any time, anywhere, and you can't always ever see them," Caswell said.

She's currently helping take care of her father in Somerville. They've both been discussing their weather plan ahead of Wednesday's storms.

"My dad is always talking about how bad it's gotten here before, so yeah, he's always worried about the weather. He's been talking about this for a couple of days," Caswell said.

Morgan County EMA Director Brandy Davis says she knows it's easy for people to dismiss how dangerous storms can be.

"When you have storms that don't develop like they are predicted to develop, it's almost like crying wolf. So, people get a little like 'Well, they said that last time.' That type of mentality," Davis explained.

She urges everyone to take Wednesday's storms seriously and be prepared.

"Make sure you can get your information. Make sure you know where your safe places are, where you are going to be tomorrow, and have your supplies ready," Davis said.

It's something Caswell and her father say they're already prepared to do.

"Just keep an eye on the radar and decide based on how bad it is what we should or shouldn't do."

Some supplies you want to have on hand include a charger, batteries and a flashlight. Davis also encourages you to have several ways to get weather alerts.

As for COVID, it is up to every community shelter to decide what action to take. The city of Somerville says its maintenance crew stopped by their community shelters on Tuesday. They used a disinfectant fogger to clean the shelters.

Caswell says they plan on going to storm shelters despite the pandemic.

"It's like weighing one bad against the other. You want to not get swept away in a tornado, so masks is the only answer," she explained.

Davis says she hopes everyone takes the necessary precaution even if you've gotten the vaccine. Even though people are encouraged to wear face masks in the shelter, people won't be turned away if they don't have one.
MCLA Faculty Authors Present Panel on Book Writing and Publishing

NORTH ADAMS, MASS.  MCLA faculty members from different academic departments will present an April 6 virtual roundtable discussion about their most recent and forthcoming book publications from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. on April 6.

Featured speakers will share information about their books, writing practices, and publishing processes.

This event is free and open to the public, and community members are welcome to attend. Register in advance at https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ycBwE6xmQbSJ9TbaNEE6_w

Moderated by Assistant Professor of English Victoria Papa, who also directs The Mind's Eye, a research and praxis initiative at MCLA, featured speakers include professors from the College's English & Communications, Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work, and Philosophy departments.

Featured speakers:

Caren Beilin, Assistant Professor of Creative Writing and author of Blackfishing the IUD (Wolfman Books, 2019)

Ingrid E. Castro, Professor of Sociology and editor/author of Childhood, Agency, and Fantasy: Walking in Other Worlds (Lexington Books/Rowman & Littlefield, 2021)

Kelli Newby, Adjunct Instructor of English and author of The Good Girl's Guide to Fantasy and Adventure (self-published, 2021)

Paul Nnodim, Professor of Philosophy and author of Beyond Justice as Fairness: Rethinking Rawls from a Cross-Cultural Perspective (Lexington - Rowman, 2020)

Gerol Petruzella, Director of Academic Technology and author of The Cruellest Month: 30 days of microfic from the pandemic era (Shires Press, 2020)

Jenna Sciuto, Associate Professor of English and author of Policing Intimacy: Law, Sexuality, and the Color Line in Twentieth-Century Hemispheric American Literature (University Press of Mississippi, forthcoming 2021)
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RENTON  An industrial building at 740 S.W. 34th St. in Renton sold for $5.7 million, according to King County records.

The seller was SGM LLC, which acquired the property in 2005 for about $3 million.





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Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

A team of researchers at the University of Oslo has found evidence that shows Earth's heat loss is more pronounced on one side of the planet than the other. In their paper published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters, the group describes creating models that represent Earth's heat loss over the past 400 million years and what they showed.

Prior research has shown that heat inside of the Earth makes its way to the surface, where it dissipates. Heat inside the Earth comes about from the degradation of radioactive elements and is also left over from the collisions that occurred between asteroids that led to the creation of the planet. In this new effort, the researchers have found that the heat inside the planet does not escape uniformly across the surface.

Prior research efforts looking into Earth's heat loss were only able to go back in time approximately 240 million years. In this new effort, the researchers were able to create models showing the geography of the Earth going back 400 million years ago. Over that time, the continents have shifted quite dramatically, from supercontinents to the arrangement that exists today. To make their model, the researchers started by calculating how much heat has been lost over their period of study. They found it to be approximately 149 Kelvin per billion years of cooling. They also added data that described how much heat is able to move through different types of surface areas and data describing the movement of the continents. Heat is able to move much more efficiently through the crust beneath the oceans, they note, than through the crust below continents.

The model showed that more heat was escaping from the parts of the planet that were covered with large oceans, specifically the Pacific Ocean. They found that if they cut the planet in half at the 60 degree longitude line, the half of the planet that consists mainly of the Pacific Ocean allowed much more heat to escape than the hemisphere that includes Africa, Europe and Asia. Calculations showed that the Pacific Hemisphere has cooled approximately 50 degrees more than the African hemisphere over the past 400 million years.

More information: Krister S. Karlsen et al. Spatiotemporal Variations in Surface Heat Loss Imply a Heterogeneous Mantle Cooling History, Geophysical Research Letters (2021). Journal information: Geophysical Research Letters Krister S. Karlsen et al. Spatiotemporal Variations in Surface Heat Loss Imply a Heterogeneous Mantle Cooling History,(2021). DOI: 10.1029/2020GL092119

 2021 Science X Network
Public sector lender on Wednesday said it has incorporated a wholly-owned subsidiary, PNB Cards & Services Limited, which will deal with the banks' non-financial support services related to its credit card business.

The exchange is hereby informed that a wholly-owned subsidiary of the bank namely PNB Cards & Services Limited has been incorporated on 16.03.2021 by the registrar of companies, Delhi to undertake the non-financial support services related to the credit card the business of the bank, the bank said.

In an exchange notification, the lender said, the authorised capital of the company is Rs 25 crore, which is divided into 25 million shares of Rs 10 each, and the paid-up capital is Rs 15 crore.

It is important to note that among public sector banks, State Bank of India, the countrys largest lender, has a separate arm for its card business -- SBI Cards and Payment Services.
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Ten persons abducted at the Kaduna Airport Staff Quarters have been rescued, the Kaduna State government has confirmed.

The states Commissioner for internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, said the victims were rescued by soldiers on Wednesday.

Armed bandits had breached the fence of the Kaduna Airport Staff Quarters in the early hours of March 6 and kidnapped 10 persons from two houses located near the fence.

Read full statement

KADUNA STATE SECURITY UPDATE/PRESS BRIEFING BY SAMUEL ARUWAN, COMMISSIONER, MINISTRY OF INTERNAL SECURITY AND HOME AFFAIRS, KADUNA STATE, WEDNESDAY 17TH MARCH 2021.

PROTOCOL

Gentlemen of the Press:

This briefing has been called to provide an update on emerging developments following the kidnapping of 10 citizens from the Kaduna Airport Staff Quarters, Ifira, Igabi local government area.

The Kaduna State Government can confirm that troops of the Nigerian Army have today, Wednesday 17th March, 2021, rescued the 10 victims who were kidnapped from the Kaduna Airport Staff Quarters, Ifira, Igabi local government area.

The victims rescued are listed as:

Mr. Ilori Sunday

Mrs. Celestina Sunday

Miss Beauty Oshaibie Sunday

Miss Miracle Sunday

Miss Marvelous Sunday

Miss Destiny Sunday

Mr. Samuel Sunday

Miss Deborah Sunday

Hajiya Badiyatu Abdullahi Gambo

Bilkisu Gambo

It would be recalled that armed bandits breached the fence of the Kaduna Airport Staff Quarters in the early hours of Saturday 6th March 2021, and kidnapped these 10 persons from two houses located near the fence.

Precise details of the rescue location cannot be provided at this time due to operational expediency.

Governor Nasir El-Rufai has received the report of the rescue with elation, and has extended hearty congratulations to the troops for the successful rescue. He has also met with the rescued citizens to encourage them, and assure them of the unwavering commitment of the Kaduna State Government. He wished them well as they re-united with their families and loved ones.

Further updates will be provided on this and other developments as they emerge.

Thank you.
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An Italian court has declared Shell, Eni and their managers acquitted in the Malabu scandal.

They were all acquitted by the court on Wednesday.

Wednesdays verdict ends a trial that has seen officials of the oil giants battle to prove their innocence.

Several former executives of the companies were also cleared of wrongdoing, including Malcolm Brinded and Paolo Scaroni.

Prosecutors had charged that executives involved in the Malabu deal knew that much of the $1.1 billion they deposited into an escrow account controlled by the Nigerian government would be disbursed as bribes.

The oil companies and its officials have consistently denied any wrongdoing.

However, in 2018, two middlemen named in the Malabu deals were found guilty of corruption in a separate trial.

Back Story

The Malabu scandal involved the transfer of about $1.1 billion by Shell and ENI through the Nigerian government to accounts controlled by a former Nigerian petroleum minister, Dan Etete.

From accounts controlled by Mr Etete, about half the money ($520 million) went to accounts of companies controlled by Aliyu Abubakar, popularly known in Nigeria as the owner of AA oil.

Anti-corruption investigators and activists suspect he fronted for top officials of the Goodluck Jonathan administration as well of officials of Shell and ENI.

The transaction was authorised in 2011 by Mr Jonathan through some of his cabinet ministers and the money was payment for OPL 245, one of Nigerias richest oil blocks.

The oil resources of the OPL 245 license have remained undeveloped since the controversies began. Eni initiated international arbitration proceedings against Nigeria in September, alleging the government has breached its obligations by refusing to let the firm develop the license, which will expire in May.

Nigeria

The verdict would impact on Nigerias hope of securing court-ordered compensation from Eni and Shell.

A representative of the Nigerian government told Bloomberg Wednesday that the nation will wait to review the Italian courts written judgment before considering its position.

Shell CEO, Van Beurden, reacting to the verdict, said that the oil giant has always maintained that the 2011 settlement was legal, designed to resolve a decade-long legal dispute and unlock development of the OPL 245 block. At the same time, this has been a difficult learning experience for us.
Union Health Minister on Wednesday underlined that India is not giving COVID-19 vaccine to the world at the expense of the need of local population.

Speaking in the Lok Sabha on demands for grants for the health ministry, he noted that the government has not reduced the expenditure on health as has been alleged by certain members.

On the criticism that India is providing vaccine to other countries when it is needed more at home, the minister asserted, "We are not giving (the vaccine) at the expense of our own people".

He said the government has discussed the matter with experts and has tried to strike a balance.

"The whole world is a family... the whole mankind should benefit from the vaccine," he added.

Vardhan added that the government is treating the health sector in a holistic manner.

The government, he said, has taken many efforts to deal with the pandemic and is future ready to deal with any such eventuality.

Citing data about the work in the sector, the health minister said 157 medical colleges are under various stages of implementation across the country.

He said the expenditure on health as a percentage of GDP has increased from 1.3 per cent in 2014 to 1.8 per cent in 2020-21.

He also said that so far, 22 All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) have been sanctioned under the Modi government.

Talking further about COVID-19 vaccination, Vardhan said as many as 3.5 crore people have been given the jab, adding that India has so far accounted for 36 per cent of the total vaccinations conducted across the globe.

Earlier participating in the discussion, Congress MP Manish Tewari claimed that the COVID-19 vaccination drive is not going on properly, and alleged that the government is giving more stress on the export of vaccines rather than inoculation of the country's citizens.

He said that so far just 3.5 crore people in the country have been vaccinated, while 5.74 crore doses were given to 72 countries.

(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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Standing at one end of the University of Kansas Health Systems Strawberry Hill Behavioral Health Hospitals dynamic atrium, its possible to forget youre even standing in a health care environment at all. There are living green walls, beautiful plants and shrubbery, boundless natural light, stunning views of the nearby skyline and patients are just footsteps away from spaces for music, art therapy, fitness and more.

The Strawberry Hill Behavioral Health Hospital is one of several cutting-edge mental and behavioral health care facilities boldly reshaping its typology. While historical approaches to mental health hospitals often isolated these facilities away from town centers and behind fences, todays facilities are focused on community integration, access to nature, shared-use resources, natural light, music, public art, positive patient and staff experiences and more.

Strawberry Hill Behavioral Health Hospital. Photo by Laura Peters of CannonDesign

While facilities have been trending in this direction over the past decade, their relevance is especially critical at this moment. Foremost, there is a general reduction in stigma around mental health occurring in society, leading to more people seeking help and treatment.

Additionally, the need for mental health care may never have been greater than right now. The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) reports that 1 in 5 adults and 17 percent of youth aged 6-17 experience mental illness in a given year. Those numbers have increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, and there are not enough care facilities to help those who need inpatient treatment. That means some patients never receive treatment. Others, who should be in well-designed treatment facilities like the Strawberry Hill Hospital, can fall through the cracks and end up incarcerated as opposed to safely admitted.

Related Building Health: The Link Between Architecture and Well-Being

I believe a silver lining to this pandemic is the shift in how we talk about mental health, and there appears to be a greater willingness to discuss the importance of mental health care, said Harsh Trivedi, MD, MBA, president and CEO of Sheppard Pratt, Americas largest private, nonprofit mental health service. The pandemic is also changing how we can provide care. We are seeing a loosening of restrictions on telehealth, we are seeing renewed focus on ensuring patients are treated with dignity and respect; there are exciting possibilities ahead.

Story continues

So, just how exactly are these new mental health care facilities moving in positive directions? There are numerous ways:

Community Integration and Impact

Theres great focus on ensuring todays leading mental health care facilities are part of the community. This begins with locating the facilities in the heart of communities to reduce stigma, ensure easier access due to proximity and/or public transit and increase opportunities for engagement and integration.

A great example of embedding a health care facility in the heart of a community is the Los Angeles County + University of Southern California (LAC+USC) Restorative Care Village. The new care center is positioned on a busy intersection in L.A. and offers numerous courtyard spaces for patient and public access. Set to open later this spring, the Restorative Care Village incorporates a large public art mural, further making the care facility a beacon for the community.

Restorative Care Village. Photo courtesy of CannonDesign

The Strawberry Hill Hospital is also a strong example. The mental health hospital is part of an ongoing strategy to revive a previously downtrodden area of Kansas City, Kan. The project has created jobs, catalyzed commercial retail development and boosted the economy, all while elevating public awareness and care around mental health.

Embracing the Natural Environment

Living green walls, public courtyards, extensive daylightingthese are now the norm for effective mental and behavioral health care facilities. Sheppard Pratt is set to open a new mental health hospital this year that echoes nature around every corner.

Sheppard Pratt. Photo courtesy of CannonDesign

Located on a site originally planned for a business park, the new mental health hospital ensures the vast majority of patient rooms and therapy/activity spaces all face the outdoors with opportunities for extensive natural light. This helps patients and staff capitalize on the healing effects of nature. Outside, there are walking paths, and areas for both respite and socialization, to help further connect people to the outdoors.



Related Social Connection Builds Worth Beyond Wealth

Community Resources

More and more, todays mental and behavioral health spaces are designed for some level of community resource. At baseline, there may be conference spaces and multi-use rooms available for the public to book at certain times. Bolder integrations can include swimming pools that local families can use for swimming lessons or weekend farmers markets during which patients can sell food theyve grown themselves. All of these efforts help community members realize mental health spaces as community assets for engagement, further reducing stigma for the future

Art Therapy

Art therapy has long been a tool in helping mental and behavioral health care patients. Both ensuring there is artwork in these spaces to enliven them, but also engaging patients in art creation are key aspects for healing. As mental health facilities are designed for increased community integration, this art therapy can extend into the community. Maybe its a public art mural like the one at LAC+USC Restorative Care Village. Or maybe an art walk extends beyond the hospital into the surrounding neighborhood.

Restorative Care Village. Photo courtesy of CannonDesign

Art is especially impactful in mental health care spaces for children. The Childrens Hospital of Orange County exudes this approach in their recently opened Thompson Autism Center, one of very few dedicated facilities in the U.S. for autistic children and their families.

Thompson Autism Center. Photo by Laura Peters of CannonDesign

Staff Wellness

Another critical shift in the design of mental health treatment facilities is increased focus on staff wellness. Burnout for health care staff in all fields is a growing issue and design can help. Inherently, the same public integration, access to nature and art helps create better environments for staff. Health systems are amplifying these efforts by also creating staff-only areas for respite and relaxation.

More Impact Ahead?

These dynamic new health facilities truly represent a tipping point for mental health in America. As stigma continues to wane and more people are comfortable seeking help, there are boundless opportunities ahead.

Related Ken Laubs Versailles Townhouse Is the Wonder of the Upper East Side

Today, the discussion focuses mostly on how these care spaces can be remarkable, But we also need to think about how mental health care design can infuse our workplaces, schools and more. Already, visionary school districts like Cherry Creek in Denver, Colo. have announced plans to build a mental health care facility for students to access each day. Local governments are approving millions in funding for schools, and employers are recognizing they need to further focus on mental healththere is positive action in every corner of society. This is an exciting shift that should lead to healthier environments where we work, play, learn and live each day.



Its all the launch of an exciting new era. Theres no disputing the serious need for better mental and behavioral health care in our country, and its exciting to see so many health systems across the country rising to the challenge. Theyre improving patient lives, strengthening their communities and raising the bar for a brighter future.

Stephanie Vito is a leader in CannonDesigns Mental and Behavioral Health design practice, dedicated to improving patients and staff lives through design. Her tireless pursuit of excellence while designing for the often-underserved population leads to tremendous impact. Her work has garnered numerous design awards and she has been named a Healthcare Design Rising Star.

The post Designing a Brighter Future for Mental Health Care appeared first on Worth.
WASHINGTON - The Internal Revenue Service announced on Wednesday it is postponing the country's tax-filing deadline until May 17, as the agency grapples with a mounting backlog of 24 million returns awaiting processing since the 2019 tax year.

The workload has put the agency underwater - and under political siege - as lawmakers fret that long-unresolved troubles at the IRS could undercut the Biden administration's economic recovery efforts. Millions of Americans have not received some stimulus checks under prior coronavirus aid packages, even as the tax agency continued distributing payments Wednesday under the $1.9 trillion stimulus signed into law this month.

The IRS shared the full scope of its backlog with the House Ways and Means Committee and the agency's own watchdogs in recent days. The numbers, obtained by The Washington Post, dwarf the data the IRS has shared with the public. Explaining the postponement, IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig said in a statement the government is doing "everything possible to help taxpayers navigate the unusual circumstances related to the pandemic, while also working on important tax administration responsibilities."

The effects of the IRS backlog already have been substantial: The delays have kept some Americans from receiving their tax refunds for months while preventing some cash-strapped workers and companies nationwide from taking advantage of some of the stimulus benefits that Congress authorized to blunt the economic impact of the pandemic.

For Patrick O' Conor, the IRS backlog has been costly: He estimates that the government owes him about $16,000 in tax refunds and stimulus payments as a result of significant lags in processing his 2019 and 2020 taxes. The Frederick, Md.-area resident said it has been particularly rough because he and his wife recently had a baby and bought a home in the past year, and they need the money to cover their new expenses.

"We haven't missed any payments yet on anything," he said, "but it's come really, really close."

The delays threaten the IRS's ability to deliver an array of new relief under the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan, and could result in uncomfortable questions for Rettig, who is set to testify before the House Ways and Means Committee on Thursday. In recent weeks, some congressional Democrats and Republicans had urged the IRS to push the tax-filing deadline from April to later this year, similar to the filing deadline for 2019 returns. Some lawmakers celebrated the decision Wednesday.

"This extension is absolutely necessary to give Americans some needed flexibility in a time of unprecedented crisis," said Rep. Richard Neal, D-Mass., the panel's chairman, and Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr., D-N.J. "Under titanic stress and strain, American taxpayers and tax preparers must have more time to file tax returns. And the IRS itself started the filing season late, continues to be behind schedule, and now must implement changes from the American Rescue Plan."

For some lawmakers, the IRS's troubles come as no surprise. Under GOP leadership, Congress slashed the agency's budget by billions of dollars, contributing to the loss of tens of thousands of critical IRS jobs, while leaving long-known deficiencies in its computer systems unaddressed for decades.

The pandemic has brought additional challenges, forcing much of the IRS workforce to complete its tasks from home and saddling the agency with new responsibilities, including three rounds of stimulus payments. Most of these payments have reached hundreds of millions of Americans without too much difficulty, making them one of the government's most popular relief programs.

But the agency has struggled in other respects, including in its work over the past few years to process tax returns from individuals and businesses alike. The details are laid bare in information the IRS provided to the House Ways and Means Committee as well as the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration. A spokesman for the inspector general this week confirmed the figures but said they had not independently audited information it obtained from the IRS for accuracy.

The total backlog appears to stand at more than 24 million filings, the data show. That includes more than 12.3 million paper-based tax returns the IRS has received, but hasn't started processing over the past two tax years.

Most of these filings are from businesses, but the tranche also includes 2.4 million returns from individuals reflecting their 2019 earnings. As a result, these Americans may not have received stimulus payments under the relief bill Congress adopted in December, since the stimulus law tied their eligibility for checks to their 2019 taxes.

The IRS cautioned that not every individual in this group may have been eligible to receive the aid, adding that it did not have data on the numbers of Americans still waiting for the earlier stimulus payments. But Ken Corbin, the commissioner of the wage and investment division at the IRS, defended the agency's work getting stimulus payments out and said the number of checks sent matches "what was projected to be the eligible population."

"The IRS will always have returns in processing," he said, citing the impact of the coronavirus and other more recent obstacles, including inclement weather that slowed agency operations.

These 2.4 million Americans still can collect previous stimulus payments as part of their 2020 returns, if they are eligible. But they may face another long wait. The IRS has racked up an additional backlog of 12.4 million returns filed mostly by individuals, both electronically and in paper filings, from the 2020 tax year that it has started processing but suspended pending further, deeper review, according to the government figures.

The tally includes about 7 million returns that the IRS has designated for "error resolution," meaning they will require manual review that takes months to wrap up. The Post first reported on these figures last week. But the IRS has millions of additional tax returns to analyze, including those involved in investigations related to issues such as identity theft, contributing to its immense workload.

The backlog has only compounded other troubles at the IRS, including technical glitches that took down its online portal for tracking refunds earlier this year - and lingering staff shortages that appear to affect its ability to answer taxpayers' questions in a difficult year. Only about a quarter of those who call the IRS end up speaking to someone, according to agency data shared with lawmakers, who expressed concerns about the response rate in what is shaping up to be a complicated tax year.

The ranks of the frustrated include Neava Ford, a Kansas City-area resident who filed her 2019 tax returns late in the year, yet hasn't heard much from the agency five months later. She hasn't received a stimulus check, either, but Ford says she hasn't bothered to call the IRS because she knows she's unlikely to reach anyone.

"I knew it would be pointless with everything that would be going on," she said.

Acknowledging the issues, the Treasury Department said in a statement Wednesday that the backlog reflects "serious challenges stemming from inherited problems and diminished capacity." An agency spokeswoman said the IRS so far has sent out 90 million stimulus payments under the American Rescue Plan. "It will take time to work through these challenges we inherited, but this investment will help us in tackling them head on," the department added.

The agency's struggles have generated bipartisan concern on Capitol Hill over the past few months. In February, for example, Republicans on the House Ways and Means Committee - including Rep. Mike Kelly, a member of its oversight panel - wrote the IRS on behalf of constituents who have contacted lawmakers' offices, trying to track down their refunds.

"We cannot have millions of hard-working Americans and small business owners waiting up to a year to receive money that they are owed, and the federal government paying billions of dollars in interest on top of that," said Kelly, adding that his office never received a response to the earlier letter. "This needs to be fixed."

Rep. Kevin Brady of Texas, the top Republican on the House Ways and Means Committee, blasted the IRS over its announcement to change the filing deadline amid its mounting backlog. He said it serves as a sign that the $1.9 trillion stimulus has caused "chaos, to the point that delaying tax filings in order to accommodate the law's provisions may be a wise decision."

Democrats, meanwhile, have said the situation points to the need for additional changes at the IRS. The recently adopted American Rescue Plan includes billions of dollars to help modernize the agency, but party lawmakers say a more permanent fix is necessary to prevent similar backlogs in the future.

"It's much harder for the IRS to build the plane while flying it," Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), the chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, said in a statement. "We need sustained funding so the IRS can build and maintain these systems over the long-term."
Dylan Rowe Ships the WPT500 at partypoker for $181,545

March 17, 2021 Jason Glatzer

New Zealand's Dylan Rowe finished on top of a field of 2,420 entrants to win the WPT #01 WPT500 at partypoker for $181,545.

The event was one of two $530 buy-in events boasting a $1 million guarantee on the WPT500 schedule with the other being the WPT #13: WPT500 Knockout on March 15-23. The guarantee was smashed with entries generating a huge $1,211,000 prize pool.

It was a huge win for Rowe, who doesn't have many live results to speak of. In fact, according to The Hendon Mob, there has just been one that fit their requirements to be recorded.

Coincidentally, Rowe's only recorded result was in a WPT side event when the tour visited SkyCity Casino in New Zealand in 2019 when he went on to win the NZ$550 No Limit Hold'em - WPT New Zealand Six Max Shot Clock for NZ$16,640 ($10,857).

Read on to learn more about the final table action in the WPT #01 WPT500 at partypoker.

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WPT500 Final Table Payouts

Place Player Country Prize 1 Dylan Glen Rowe New Zealand $181,545 2 Andrii Novak Ukraine $123,255 3 Lukas Wimmer Austria $84,064 4 Deividas Kvaselis Lithuania $55,719 5 Pedro Padilha Chaves Brazil $37,895 6 Aaron Been Mexico $28,887 7 Brandon Adams Canada $22,358 8 Stoyan Kitanov Bulgaria $17,716 9 David Singontiko Russia $13,802

WPT500 Final Table Recap

The WPT500 attracted a banner field of 2,420 entrants during the nine opening flights on March 7-15 with 361 players advancing to Day 2 on March 15 with the knowledge they have banked at least a min-cash of of $1,086. The field trimmed down to just nine final table hopefuls to start yesterday's action with Andrii Novak holding the chip lead and Lukas Wimmer, Stoyan Kitanov, and Dylan Rowe closest on his tail.

James Dempsey and partypoker Ambassador Patrick Leonard announced the action on the partypokerTV YouTube and Twitch channels with a small delay with hole cards exposed.

David Singontiko was the first player eliminated at the final table in ninth place for $13,802 after he called off for four big blinds with king-eight and couldn't get there against the ace-four suited held by Rowe.

The next elimination was a huge hand for a trio of players with Kitanov holding cowboys, Deividas Kvaselis holding ladies, and Rowe finding himself with a suited big slick all getting it in preflop. Kvaselis locked down the main pot early in the hand after he flopped quads to triple up but there was still a side pot to be won. Kitanov had to fade a flush draw to stay alive but Rowe completed the draw to win the side pot and send Kitanov packing in eighth place for $17,716 on a huge cooler.

Brandon Adams finishes in seventh place.

Rowe took the lead before Novak grabbed it back. Novak then extended it in a huge way when he cracked the rockets held by Brandon Adams with tens to send his opponent to the rail in seventh place for $22,358.

Aaron Been was the next casualty in sixth place for $28,887 when he unsuccessfully jammed his short stack with king-nine suited into the ace-queen suited held by Wimmer.

Not too much later, it was Pedro Padilha Chaves on the rail in fifth place for $37,895 when his king-six couldn't hold against Rowe's eight-seven. Time was then up for Deividas Kvaselis (fourth - $55,719) who ran into Novak's pocket rockets and didn't get there with king-six.

Rowe was then winning hand after hand during three-handed action to eventually take the lead and eventually had more than half of the chips in play.

Shortly after, Rowe eliminated Wimmer in third place for $84,064. Wimmer had two pair on the turn holding seven-five and didn't improve to a full house after Rowe turned over ace-four for a wheel.

Rowe entered heads-up action with a nearly 3:1 chip advantage against Novak. Rowe extended the lead and had his opponent on the ropes when Novak jammed for less than eight big blinds with jack-nine and was called by Rowe with king-four suited. The board was all blanks and Novak was eliminated in second place for $123,255.

Meanwhile, a huge congrats to Dylan Rowe on winning the WPT #01 WPT500 at partypoker.

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31 Years Down, an Uncontested Will Is Probated in Bombay High Court

In an interesting case that was going on for almost 31 years, the Bombay High Court (HC) has allowed probate of a Will. What stands out from this judgement is the short but well explained research by justice GS Patel on the applicability of the Indian Succession Act to the Hanafi sect of Sunni Muslims residing in Mumbai. Further, the HC also issued time-bound directions to the concerned authorities for clearing pending dues of the property.

In his judgement on 10 March 2021, justice Patel says, "The first oddity about the matter, and it is truly inexplicable, apart from being a tragic and terrible commentary on our justice delivery system, is that, though uncontested, the matter has been pending in this court for the last 31 years.

"There is indeed a question of law involved. But the answer to it is neither complex nor new. Indeed, that answer is even older than the petition, the solution is from 1905. It is an answer that the petition could have received very much earlier. I have deliberately chosen to preface this order with these comments, for, during three decades since the petition was filed, two of the four petitioners have passed on, and the remaining two are well into their eighties. Their wait ends today."

The Will in question was of Rasubai Suleman Chinoy. She died in Mumbai on 10 October 1989. She was said to have made a Will in Urdu, which was executed in Mumbai on 20 December 1980. The estate includes a large immovable property at Dontad Street, near Masjid Bunder in Mumbai.

Rasubai appointed no executors under the Will. The petitioners in the case before Justice Patel were four of her five children. Her fifth son Shahjehan Chinoy, lives in Karachi in Pakistan and so there was no question of service of a citation on him.

The Will stated that the inheritance that Rasubai said she received from her paternal aunt, Khetubai, along with the income was to be returned to Khetubais charity trust after drawing up the accounts until the date of the return. "The entire bequest, as it were, is thus to a charity. None of the four petitioners have claimed any part of it," the HC order says.

The registrys objection was that the Will lacks attestation and, therefore, does not conform to the requirements of Section 63 of the Indian Succession Act. The registry had also expressed doubt about the validity of such a Will.

"The objection of the registry is answered. The will, being of a Cutchi Memon, governed by Mahomedan law, does not require attestation," the HC ruled.

Elaborating the decision, justice Patel says, "First, that the rigour of Section 63 does not apply to wills made by Mahomedan. Section 63 is the provision of the Indian Succession Act that requires attestation of a will by at least two witnesses. This requirement is thus inapplicable to a will made by a Mahomedan. Section 213 then tells us that such a will does not compulsorily require probate."

The Cutchi Memons Act of 1938, effective from 1 November 1938, in terms, states that in matters of succession all Cutchi Memons shall be governed by Mahomedan law.

Justice Patel says, "Dinshah Fardunji Mullas commentary on the principles of Mahomedan law, (20th edition), tells us that the Hanafis are one of the four sub-sects of Sunnis; and that the Sunni Mahomedans of India belong particularly to the Hanafi school. This treatise also tells us that Mahomedans are divided into two principal sects, the Sunnis, and Shias. The Cutchi Memons of Bombay and the Halafi Memons belong to the Sunni sect.

"Therefore, that Rasubai, a Cutchi Memon, was covered by the law applicable to the Sunni Hanafi Mahomedan sub-sect, is not one that admits of the slightest dispute."

A Will is a document that is drawn up by a person with clear instructions about how his or her assets are to be distributed on their death. In certain situations  and only in certain jurisdictions, such as Mumbai, Kolkota and Chennai  the executor of the Will may need to apply for a probate in order to legalise it.

Probate is issued to the executor of the Will, to authorise him with a seal of approval from the court. In case there are no executors of the Will, only a simple letter of administration is issued by the court, and not a probate.

In the order, justice Patel quoted a judgement of justice Badruddin Tyabji in Aba Satar Haji Aboobuker case delivered on 22 June 1905.

Answering a question on whether under Mahomedan law (and Cutchi Memons were accepted to be so) attestation was necessary of a Will, Justice Tyabji had said, To my mind there is nothing in the Mahomedan law, which requires attestation of Wills. However, I have looked into the law books to satisfy myself, and I am confirmed in my original idea that the Mahomedan law does not require any attestation in regard to written wills. A document, which is the Will of a Mahomedan gentleman, requires to be proved by our Anglo-Indian law of evidence in the same way as any other document; but it does not require to be attested, so far as Mahomedan law is concerned."

"The next question is whether there are any legislative enactments to make it compulsory for Mahomedans to have their wills attested. The succession act does not apply to Mahomedans.

"The Hindu wills act also does not apply to them. And as regards the probate and administration act, there is nothing in it which requires attestation of Mahomedan wills. These are the only enactments, which would throw any light in the matter. Therefore, there is nothing which makes it compulsory for Mahomedans to attest their wills. That being so, probate should go of this will. As I said before, I took time not because I felt any doubt but out of respect to the registrar, who felt doubt as to whether a probate could be granted," Justice Tyabji had stated in his judgement.

It was argued before justice Tyabji that Mahomedan law did not require attestation of a will. Out of courtesy to the registry, similar to the case before justice Patel, the Court felt that it should look into it personally to see how the matter stood. That testator was also a Cutchi Memon as is the testator in the case before justice Patel. At that time, however, Cutchi Memons were governed by Hindu law. The change that has happened in the time since is the Cutchi Memons Act of 1938 that says they are now governed by Mahomedan law.

Justice Patel noted that Chandan Bhatt, who holds charge of the testamentary department, had confirmed that she will issue probate in the matter by 19 March 2021.

After settling the issue of probate, the HC then delved into the issue of pending dues worth Rs2.37 lakh in property tax to the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) and issues faced by the petitioners due to freeze on their account by the Zoroastrian Bank.

Justice Patel then asked Rukshana Panthaky, who is handling the estates account in the Zoroastrian Bank, to allow the petitioners to draw on that account to obtain an instrument in favour of the MCGM for payment of the property tax. She was also asked to allow full operation of accounts after receiving a notarised or authenticated copy of the probate.

Since the dues were to be paid before 12 March 2021, the HC directed MCGM not to proceed forcibly against the Dontad Street property. "This is on the basis that between 12th March and 24 March 2021, all property tax arrears of the MCGM will be paid up in full in regard to this property. This protects the interests of all concerned  the MCGM, the Zoroastrian Bank and the petitioners. None should then have any cause for complaint," justice Patel says.
Timothy Devey fatally stabbed a drinking buddy over a dispute about $100 and after being called a pedophile.

He must spend at least five-and-a-half years in prison for the manslaughter of 45-year-old Craig Andrew Blachford at Warrnambool on December 7, 2018.

Devey was drinking heavily with Mr Blachford and others at another man's unit in southwest Victoria, when he said he'd once slept with a 15-year-old girl.

Mr Blachford became angry and said 'this c*** drinking port' was a pedophile, referring to Devey.

Timothy Devey fatally stabbed Craig Andrew Blachford at Warrnambool on December 7, 2018 (stock)

He told Devey to 'f*** off home', punched the bicycle helmet he put on, grabbed his bag and demanded $100.

'You have to pay now,' Mr Blachford said.

Devey had owed Mr Blachford's girlfriend $150 but repaid the money earlier that day.

During a scuffle, Devey delivered a 17cm deep stab wound to Mr Blachford's diaphragm.

It's unclear who had the knife first.

'I've been stabbed,' Mr Blachford said before collapsing. He underwent surgery but died the next morning in hospital.

Devey, now aged 53, was originally charged with murder but pleaded guilty to manslaughter.

He was sentenced in Victoria's Supreme Court on Wednesday to a maximum of seven years and six months' jail.

He must serve at least five-and-a-half years before becoming eligible for release on parole.

One of Mr Blachford's daughters, Temily, said her heart was ripped apart when she found out what happened to her dad.

Davey was sentenced in Victoria's Supreme Court on Wednesday to seven years and six months' jail with the possibility of parole after five-and-a-half years

His sister, Judith, said he had been a second mum to her, and his death left her feeling numb hurt and empty.

The court was told Devey had discovered Buddhism and meditation while in custody.

He has a personality disorder, peripheral neuropathy, uses a wheelchair and requires a carer in prison.

His childhood was marred by violence. He started drinking at the age of 10 and left home when he was 13 years old.

He went on to used cannabis heavily, and was previously convicted for drugs and violence offences and making threats to kill.

Justice James Elliott was circumspect about Devey's prospects for rehabilitation given his ongoing mental health issues, and history of drug and alcohol abuse.
Economic recovery and stimulation measures during the ongoing pandemic, along with corruption in the Party ranks and efforts to streamline the State apparatus are among the main concerns of voters, according to the Vietnam Fatherland Front.

Workers in masks at a garment for export factory at South Korean-invested Kydo in an industrial park of the northern province of Hung Yen. The Vietnamese Government is seeking to achieve the double goal of containing the COVID-19 pandemic and promoting economic growth.  VNA/VNS Photo Pham Kien

During the 54th session on Monday, the National Assembly (NA) Standing Committee heard proposals and requests from voters and the public to the Presidium of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) submitted to the upcoming gathering of the NA.

Since the last NA meeting, the presidium has received some 2,278 petitions and proposals via the NA deputy delegation and the fronts member associations, Hau A Lenh, Secretary General of the VFFs Central Committee revealed.

Lenh said the public was pleased over the successful organisation of the 13th National Party Congress earlier this year, which marked an important milestone in the development of the Party, the Vietnamese people and the nation, outlining vision and orientations into the future.

Regarding production-business and peoples lives, voters and the public welcomed the Governments directions on promoting domestic production, business and consumption; boosting export and disbursement of public investment capital, expedition of many national key projects that contribute to early recovery and socio-economic development of the country.

Lenh said voters and people were pleased with local governments resolve to ensure that every family and every person could ring in the new year in happiness, especially in their efforts to take care of social policy beneficiary households, people with meritorious services to the revolution, and people in difficult circumstances.

The official noted the peoples appreciation for the reforms and capacity enhancements in the 14th-tenure NA, especially the question-and-answer sessions with Cabinet members.

On behalf of the presidium, Lenh presented to the NA Standing Committee five major groups of suggestions and proposals based on what it received from voters.

First, the presidium wants the NA, the Government, ministries, and local administrations to soon issue their detailed plans to realise the Resolution of the 13th National Party Congress, continue perfecting the socialist-oriented market mechanism and State governed by law, continue enhancing national competitiveness and engendering an environment conducive for people and businesses to access and utilise effectively the countrys resources.

Second, it asks for more instructions, inspections and monitoring to ensure the successful election of deputies to the 15th-tenure parliament and to the people's councils at all levels in the 2021-26 tenure and that the election was conducted in a democratic, fair, legal, safe, and economical manner.

Third, the presidium asks the NA and the Government to have measures to innovate and enhance the quality of State apparatus operations, ensure that the State bodies are organised in an efficient manner to effectively respond to the demands of international integration and oi moi (reforms).

Fourth, the presidium asks the NA, Government, ministries and local administrations to continue promoting measures to recover and stimulate the economy and ensure social welfare in the context of complicated developments caused by the pandemic; address standing issues in education, health, culture and social life; improve land management and environmental protection; maintain social order and political security; and to polish institutions on management and supervision of cadres and party members and implementing more effectively the efforts to prevent corruption and wastefulness.

Finally, the presidium requests the NA, the Government, ministries, and local authorities review and evaluate the implementation of the proposals of the voters, the people and the Presidium of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front at sessions of the 14th-tenure National Assembly and report to voters and people nationwide.

VNS

New economic priorities for a new year Despite no signals of an end to the global health crisis, the Vietnamese government is continuing to demonstrate its patience and efforts to drive the economy forward,
Team New Zealand sailed out from Auckland harbour Wednesday to the sounds of a Maori haka and returned to an almighty roar as they once again clinched the America's Cup.

Even the sound of foghorns blaring from hundreds of boats could not drown out the cheers from tens of thousands of Kiwi fans celebrating their team's victory in yachting's most prestigious trophy.

Crowds thronged Auckland's waterfront Viaduct precinct, with few signs New Zealand's largest city emerged from Covid-19 lockdown just 11 days ago.

Notices urged spectators to scan into contact tracing apps, but that reminder of the virus did little to quell the party atmosphere among the maskless crowds.

With no social distancing needed in a country that has largely contained the virus, open-air bars and fan zones were packed shoulder-to-shoulder as crowds intently watched the race on big screens.

A lucky few queued up early to secure spots on charter boats heading out as part of a huge spectator fleet to view racing between team New Zealand and Italy's Luna Rossa live on the water.

"The atmosphere is brilliant, electric," Irishman Mark Moynahan said, celebrating an America's Cup-St Patrick's Day double.

"Being out of lockdown is fantastic. It feels like people are breathing again, enjoying themselves, which is what it's all about."

- 'We pulled it off' -

The pandemic did have an impact on the regatta, forcing the cancellation of some warm-up events and preventing overseas sailing enthusiasts from attending.

There were only a few super-yachts dotted around Auckland's docks, rather than the 150-plus organisers had hoped to attract with their big-spending, mega-wealthy owners.

"It's a little disappointing. If borders were open there would have been so many more people here." long-time sailing fan Garry Allport said.

"We've got a great atmosphere here today but overall, because of the situation, the event hasn't got the international visitors it deserves."

Story continues

A knot of Italian fans gathered at Luna Rossa's base to give the day's events a much-needed international flavour.

The Italian crew were up against it, with Team New Zealand needing just one more race victory to reach the seven wins needed to claim the best-of-13 trophy.

They remained defiantly upbeat heading out to the racecourse, blowing kisses and playing the national anthem as their supporters yelled "Forza!"

Anna Smyk-Grosso originally hailed from Poland but said she was flying the flag for Europe and her Italian husband.

"Luna Rossa haven't had much support and the Kiwis have had a lot," she said, with Italy's tricolore flag draped around her shoulders.

"For me, they've also been very unlucky at times."

But the day was essentially a victory lap for Team New Zealand, who cruised around the shore to give fans a better view of their hi-tech yacht instead of making their way straight to the racecourse.

"It's amazing, just amazing," Lois Madgwick said. "I came along today because I'm 75 and probably won't be here for the next America's Cup.

"I'm so glad I did and so proud to be a Kiwi today."

Madgwick said New Zealanders had overcome numerous challenges just to stage the regatta, let alone win it.

"We're this little country at the bottom of the world and it's been really, really hard for everyone," she said.

"But we did it, we kept everything together and we pulled it off."

ns/arb/th
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

Two Polish government websites were hacked Wednesday and used briefly to spread false information about a non-existent radioactive threat, in what a Polish government official said had the hallmarks of a Russian cyberattack.

The National Atomic Energy Agency and Health Ministry websites briefly carried claims of a supposed nuclear waste leak coming from neighboring Lithuania and threatening Poland.

In addition, the Twitter account of a journalist who often writes about Russian and eastern European affairs was also hacked and used to further spread the information.

Stanislaw Zaryn, spokesman for the head of the country's security services, told The Associated Press that "the whole story looked like a typical Russian attempt" to sow suspicion and division among Western allies.

Zaryn said it recalled a similar hacking attempt in 2020 which spread false information about a non-existent radioactive cloud heading to Poland from Chernobyl in Ukrainethe site of a nuclear disaster in the 1980s.

Wednesday's false statement warned that the health and lives of Polish people living in an area close to the Lithuanian border were in danger. But the messages apparently did not receive much notice.

Explore further Ukrainian hackers claim attack on Polish websites

 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
The result was a massive, six-vehicle car crash that Chen caused . You can see a video of the April 7, 2020 crash and the bonkers aftermath at the bottom of the page. The second video is a walkaround of the car after the crash, showing the full extent of the damage. Chen was arrested for reckless driving and driving under the influence of drugs and would spend the next hours in custody, sobering up.On Monday, the case against him was dropped because there was not enough evidence to pursue it, Road And Track reports.It all started at an intersection in Hells Kitchen, NYC. Chen was at the wheel of his heavily modified Porsche Carrera GT , the Gemballa Mirage GT, which hed bought in 2014 and then further modified. Only 25 such examples exist24 now, since Chen totaled his. He came speeding through the intersection and smashed into the back of a parked Toyota Sienna That was only the beginning. Chen sped away from the scene of the first crash, running several red lights and with parts flying off his wrecked car, and eventually lost control farther down the street. He hit four other parked vehicles before police got to him. Then he tried to flee the scene once more and was only prevented by the cops asking him to hand over the keys.Police initially operated on the assumption that the Gemballa had been stolen. They would later confirm that the owner was driving it and that he had crashed into a total of five cars. Chen had broken curfew to race through the empty streets of NYC, under the influence of drugs, and had caused mayhem.Despite all of the above and video evidence of the accident, Chen wont be facing criminal charges. This is the explanation on record with the New York Criminal Court, as obtained by the media outlet: The People are moving to dismiss this matter because the case cannot be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.Neither Chen nor his attorney was immediately available for comment.
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Britains Prince Charles has said that he is thrilled to learn that his father, Prince Philip, has left the hospital after weeks of treatments due to an infection. On March 16, the Duke of Wales revealed that he has spoken to Prince Philip several times in recent weeks. His comments came after his father left London hospital four weeks after being admitted to undergoing further test and observations.

At the time of Prince Philips hospitalisation, Buckingham Palace had not revealed from which condition Prince Philip was suffering and why he was being admitted to a hospital. Days later, the Palace said Prince Philip is being treated for an infection but did not disclose details of it.

The Duke of Edinburgh was today transferred from King Edward VIIs Hospital to St Bartholomews Hospital where doctors will continue to treat him for an infection, as well as undertake testing and observation for a pre-existing heart condition. The Duke remains comfortable and is responding to treatment but is expected to remain in hospital until at least the end of the week, Buckingham Palace had said.

Pre-existing heart conditions

Prince Philip was admitted on February 16 and remained there until March 16, the longest time he has spent in the hospital to date. The 99-year-old Duke of Edinburgh has some pre-existing heart conditions, which could be one of the reasons behind all the tests that he reportedly underwent after being admitted. According to The Independent, he was flown to hospital by helicopter from Sandringham as the royal family was preparing for Christmas in 2011. He was treated for a blocked coronary artery at Papworth Hospital, Cambridgeshire, and had a coronary stenting procedure.

(Image: AP)
RTHK: Beijing denounces US racism, police brutality

China hit back on Wednesday at the US human rights record, denouncing racism and police brutality a day before their foreign ministers meet for talks including on the treatment of Muslim Uighurs in Xinjiang.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and President Joe Biden's national security adviser Jake Sullivan are scheduled to hold talks with China's top diplomat Yang Jiechi and State Councillor Wang Yi in Alaska on Thursday.

Chen Xu, China's ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva, made the critical remarks at the Human Rights Council after Lisa Peterson, acting assistant secretary of state for democracy, human rights and labour, said that addressing systemic racism at home was a priority for the Biden administration.

"Racial discrimination and police brutality remain devastating in the US, with perpetrators still at large. Muslims, refugees and immigrants are faced with discrimination and xenophobia," Chen said.

The Geneva forum was discussing a report on its November review of the US human rights record.

Peterson said that Washington would accept some 280 of the 347 recommendations submitted by delegations during the examination, held during the Trump administration.

"Among other challenges, we know it is long past time to confront deep racial inequities and the systemic racism that continue to plague our nation. We must, and we will, do more," she said.

The United States last week condemned China's abuse of ethnic and religious minorities, including what it called "crimes against humanity and genocide" in Xinjiang where activists and U.N. experts say 1 million Muslims are interned in camps.

"The US neither apologises for its evil past of genocide nor provides reparation to the victims. Instead, it, distorting facts, maliciously slanders other countries out of political motivation," Chen said.

Jamil Dakwar, of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) advocacy group, told the council that more action was needed to counter police racism including the adoption of federal human rights norms on use of force.

"To affirm that Black Lives Matter, we need nothing less than transformative change," he said. (Reuters)

This story has been published on: 2021-03-17. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.


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A major source of concern for some of the Rastafarian community in Jamaica is the introduction of the Covid-19 vaccine to battle the deadly virus. Many have voiced concerns about how quickly the vaccine was created while others have questioned why the manufacturers will not be held responsible for any adverse reactions.

Several influential Rastafarian entertainers like Buju Banton, Sizzla, Spragga Benz and Tony Rebel have been vocal in their stances against the vaccine. The reaction is not surprising as some of the Rastafarian community are well known for their distrust of modern medicine.

However, at least one sect of the community, the Rastafari Millennium Council has called on Rastafarian entertainers to not only think about their careers but the elders in their communities who are disproportionately affected by the pandemic.

Represented by Sister Maxine Stowe, the council urged entertainers to take caution and consider all the facts before spreading distrust of the vaccine.

Stowe described how they were approaching the pandemic cautiously.

While the Rastafari community disavows vaccines in support of a healthy, ital lifestyle with the use of food and herbal medicines, we are also aware of the unique nature of this pandemic with its replication in variants and the outstanding opinion of whether it had been caused by man-made or natural sources, she told the Jamaica Star.

According to the council, the fear-mongering currently surrounding the vaccine is unfair to the older members who may have co-morbidities.

[The] over 80 per cent death rate on the elderly is of high concern, as the massive suppression against the community over the years has left our elders even more vulnerable. We do not know how many are included in the growing list of statistics, so we are asking for restraint, and deeper analysis, the council added.

As a matter of fact, they (entertainers) should also be concerned about how their travel and earnings may be affected as the opening up of economies occur, and the requirements in the early phases may require evidence of [COVID-19 vaccine] protection, she added.

She continued on to say that the council is keeping its eyes on countries like Cuba and Tanzania who are developing their own vaccines.

The value of the Rastafari healthy lifestyle is emphasised, as any choice of vaccination still requires an elevation of the immune system for the multiple variants and boosters that are expected. The Government of Jamaica needs to uniquely grant us our intellectual cultural rights so that we can more properly benefit ourselves, the nation and the world, Stowe added.

As of today, March 17 Jamaica has recorded 31,907 cases of the virus, with 15,371 of those cases recovering and 494 deaths.
Ukrainian Defense Minister Andriy Taran, during his working visit to Japan, held talks with Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of this country Takashi Uto, during which Japan reaffirmed its unwavering support for the territorial integrity of Ukraine and its readiness to continue promoting economic development and reforms.

"The talks between Minister of Defense of Ukraine Andriy Taran and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of Japan Takashi Uto have just ended. The frank conversation lasted an hour. Japan confirmed its unwavering support for the territorial integrity of Ukraine and its readiness to continue promoting economic development and reforms," Ukrainian Ambassador to Japan Serhiy Korsunsky wrote on Facebook on Wednesday.

According to him, Taran and Uto discussed security issues in East Asia and Donbas, Japan's participation in the Crimean Platform summit, and the threats that states face.

Also, Taran will have a meeting with Minister of Defense of Japan Mr. Nobuo Kishi.

As reported, Taran's working visit to Japan began on March 16.
To invest over Rs 100 crores in the division to double its current group revenues of Rs 500 Cr In the next two years

Vardhman Health Specialities (VHS Group), based in Bengaluru & Mumbai, has announced its foray into Adult Immunisation and its plans to grow this as a distinct category and market in India.

At an exclusive virtual press meet held on 17 March, VHS announced the launch of Immugard, a first of its kind platform and end-to-end vaccine management solution, right from manufacturing to warehouse to mid-level to last mile & end consumer.

VHS LogiTech will also implement a unique delivery model reaching out to university & educational campuses, corporate organisations and at-home administration for direct, end consumers.

Vardhmans group company VHS LogiTech through which business will be conducted for the adult immunisation business, has already invested over Rs 15 crore in the new division and platform and plans to invest another Rs 100 crore over the next year, primarily in technology, warehouse infrastructure and R&D.

The group as a whole clocked revenues of Rs 500 crore in FY 20-21 and plans to double it to over Rs 1000 Cr. In the next two to three years and the adult immunisation division will contribute a significant 30% of this.

VHS Group also announced the appointment of a distinguished Advisory Board headed by esteemed, Dr. Giridhar J Gyani, Director of AHPL, as Chairperson, along with Dr. Sanjeev Singh, Dr Thuppil Venkatesh, PhD, FACBI, FIABMS LEAD MAN OF INDIA, Dr Subhrojyoti Bhowmick, Dr. Debashish Gupta and Brigadier Dr Paramjit Singh Dhot.

VHS Logitech has joint hands with Association of Healthcare Providers (AHPL) and with vaccine providers to increase awareness and access to vaccines for Influenza, diphtheria, Pertussis, Tentanuc, Typhoid, Hepatitis A & B, Measles, Mumps, Rubella, among others, manufactured by reputed pharma majors such as Pfizer, Abott, GSK, Sanofi and other key players. As a first step, VHS is in talks for efficient distribution and increase of easy access of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Go has crossed the 500 million download mark on the Play Store, indicating the brisk sale of Android Go devices over the past four years.

Go is a trimmed-down version of the app that you get pre-installed on any Android phone.

is pre-installed on Android Go devices, all of which are made for the low-end market segment.

Google mandates original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to release 2GB RAM smartphones with Android Go Edition, one can expect the downloads of to reach even higher in the coming days.

Any Android user is free to install on his/her phone. It is a smaller app and does not use up a lot of data or resources.

Google earlier announced a new mode for its Google Go app that enables people to search without their history being saved to their account or device.

The mode helps people keep their search experience separate from the others who use the same device.

Additionally, Incognito Mode in Google Go is starting to roll out in more than dozen languages in India, including English, Hindi, Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Nepali, Oriya, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu and Urdu.

--IANS

wh/na

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

What would a volcanoand its lava flowslook like on a planetary body made primarily of metal? A pilot study from North Carolina State University offers insights into ferrovolcanism that could help scientists interpret landscape features on other worlds.

Volcanoes form when magma, which consists of the partially molten solids beneath a planet's surface, erupts. On Earth, that magma is mostly molten rock, composed largely of silica. But not every planetary body is made of rocksome can be primarily icy or even metallic.

"Cryovolcanism is volcanic activity on icy worlds, and we've seen it happen on Saturn's moon Enceladus," says Arianna Soldati, assistant professor of marine, earth and atmospheric sciences at NC State and lead author of a paper describing the work. "But ferrovolcanism, volcanic activity on metallic worlds, hasn't been observed yet."

Enter 16 Psyche, a 140-mile diameter asteroid situated in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. Its surface, according to infrared and radar observations, is mainly iron and nickel. 16 Psyche is the subject of an upcoming NASA mission, and the asteroid inspired Soldati to think about what volcanic activity might look like on a metallic world.

"When we look at images of worlds unlike ours, we still use what happens on Earthlike evidence of volcanic eruptionsto interpret them," Soldati says. "However, we don't have widespread metallic volcanism on Earth, so we must imagine what those volcanic processes might look like on other worlds so that we can interpret images correctly."

Soldati defines two possible types of ferrovolcanism: Type 1, or pure ferrovolcanism, occurring on entirely metallic bodies; and Type 2, spurious ferrovolcanism, occurring on hybrid rocky-metallic bodies.

In a pilot study, Soldati and colleagues from the Syracuse Lava Project produced Type 2 ferrovolcanism, in which metal separates from rock as the magma forms.

"The Lava Project's furnace is configured for melting rock, so we were working with the metals (mainly iron) that naturally occur within them," Soldati says. "When you melt rock under the extreme conditions of the furnace, some of the iron will separate out and sink to the bottom since it's heavier. By completely emptying the furnace, we were able to see how that metal magma behaved compared to the rock one."

The metallic lava flows travelled 10 times faster and spread more thinly than the rock flows, breaking into a myriad of braided channels. The metal also traveled largely beneath the rock flow, emerging from the leading edge of the rocky lava.

The smooth, thin, braided, widely spread layers of metallic lava would leave a very different impression on a planet's surface than the often thick, rough, rocky flows we find on Earth, according to Soldati.

"Although this is a pilot project, there are still some things we can say," Soldati says. "If there were volcanoes on 16 Psycheor on another metallic bodythey definitely wouldn't look like the steep-sided Mt. Fuji, an iconic terrestrial volcano. Instead, they would probably have gentle slopes and broad cones. That's how an iron volcano would be builtthin flows that expand over longer distances."

The work appears in Nature Communications.

Explore further Rare metallic asteroids might have erupted molten iron

More information: "Imagining and constraining ferrovolcanic eruptions and landscapes through large-scale experiments" Nature Communications (2021). Journal information: Nature Communications "Imagining and constraining ferrovolcanic eruptions and landscapes through large-scale experiments"(2021). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-21582-w
As European regulators said there is no indication the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine is linked to the blood clots reported among some recipients, one country  Mexico  asked for some of the United States supply.

Mexicans have been wondering why the United States was unwilling to share tens of millions of AstraZeneca vaccines that are currently sitting in storage.

As reported by Reuters on Monday, an official from the US department of heath suggested that approval of AstraZenecas vaccine  and what would be the fourth approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)  was still weeks away.

The producer of the vaccine, AstraZeneca, said they would file for the FDAs emergency use authorization shortly after receiving data from their US Phase III trial, which is currently being reviewed by independent monitors.

It was followed by the announcement that there was no indication that the AstraZeneca vaccine was responsible for a small number of blood clots reported in the days after doses were administered to Europeans.

So said the European Medicines Agency (EMA) on Tuesday, who were firmly convinced of the safety of the AstraZeneca shot  even while France, Germany and Italy temporarily paused their use of their vaccine.

Read more:

Why are countries suspending AstraZeneca vaccine rollouts?

Sweden and Latvia latest European countries to suspend AstraZeneca vaccine

No indication AstraZeneca vaccine linked to reported blood clots

Mexico, along with Argentina, was due to bottle the Anglo-Swedish vaccine for the South American market, while Argentina manufactures the vaccine as part of a deal with AstraZeneca.

But recent vaccine shortages and faults in the production process have seen Mexico turn towards both China and Russia for supplies in recent weeks. And as Reuters reported, Mexican officials say those sources are more reliable than asking western countries.

On Monday, Mexicos president made an official request to the White House for a loan of some of Americas AstraZeneca supply, which the New York Times estimated to total somewhere in the region of 30 million shots.

That vaccine is already authorised in Mexico, but doesnt have authorisation at the moment in the United States, said Mexicos minister for multilateral affairs, Martha Delgado. They could release it.

Officials from AstraZeneca told the Times that the White House was in talks with a number of other countries in regards to sharing the AstraZeneca supply  but for now at least, such discussions have proven fruitless.

It comes despite more than 70 countries having already approved the vaccine, and started to roll out immunisation programmes with supplies that are far smaller than the millions sitting at the AstraZeneca bottling facility in West Chester, Ohio.

Brazil, where the Covid-19 pandemic has broken new records for cases and fatalities in recent weeks, and the EU, whose vaccine programme has had a slow start, are said to be those discussed.

But with president Biden offering at least one vaccine dose to all American adults by 1 May, many within the White House will be unwilling to share the tens of millions of AstraZeneca doses standing-by.

This is not about Europe, said White House press secretary Jen Psaki last Friday. This is about our focus and our priority.

Additional reporting by Reuters.
Prosecutor General Iryna Venediktova notes the complexity of the process of returning to Ukraine the funds stolen by former Prime Minister (1996-1997) Pavlo Lazarenko, and says that all this is within the competence of the relevant U.S. authorities.

"As for the Lazarenko case, everything is not that easy there [with the return of money to Ukraine] and there is nothing there at the end. There are a lot of questions in some cases with the expiration of the statute of limitations, that is, there are many processes going on now, and even not in our country," Venediktova told reporters in Kyiv on Wednesday.

That is, as she said, there is "no simplicity" regarding the possibility of returning the funds stolen by Lazarenko to Ukraine.

Answering a clarifying question whether she can specify anything about Lazarenko's money, Venediktova said that "not at the moment."
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In a nutshell: Apple fans have long been known for their brand loyalty, something which, according to a new survey, has now reached an all-time high of 92%. Its the opposite story for owners of Android handsets, with many preparing to switch to different brands or even jump to iOS when they upgrade.

Sellcells survey involved more than 5,000 smartphone users in the United States aged 18 years or older. Out of the 2,000 iPhone users who participated, 92% said they would stick with Apple when upgrading. Thats an increase from 90.5% in 2019. The top reasons for staying with Apple were:

Like iPhone best or never had an issue with it: 65%

Locked into the ecosystem: 21%

Switching from iOS to Android is too much hassle: 10%

Prefer to stick to what they know: 8%

Looking at rival Samsung, the Korean firm saw its brand loyalty rating fall 11.7% from 85.7% in 2019 to 74% in 2021. Over half of those jumping ship will land on Apples platform, with 31.5% citing privacy concerns as the main reason for moving to an iPhone, while 25% say Apple offers better value for money.

The top reasons for staying with Samsung were:

Like Samsung best or never had an issue with it: 64%

Locked into the ecosystem: 5%

Too much hassle changing operating systems from Android to iOS: 18%

Prefer to stick to what they know: 13%

Other Android brands are also struggling to hold on to users: Just 65% of Pixel users intend to upgrade to another one of Googles phones; 34% of LG owners are sticking with the brand; a mere 29% of users are staying with Motorola.

When asked about the leading smartphone companies flagship lines, 46.6% of respondents said they believe the new iPhone 12 range is the best while 30.4% prefer Samsungs Galaxy S21 series. They were also asked to pick their favorite individual models released in or after August 2020. The iPhone 12 topped the list, followed by the iPhone 12 Pro Max and Samsung Galaxy S21.

Most popular smartphones.

1. Apple iPhone 12  17%

2. Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max  12.7%

3. Samsung Galaxy S21  11.4%

4. Apple iPhone 12 Pro  10.6%

5. Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra  10%

6. Samsung Galaxy S21+  9%

7. Google Pixel 5  8.1%

8. Apple iPhone 12 Mini  6.3%

9. Other  5%

10. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G  3.1%

11. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5G  2.5%

12. LG Wing 5G  2.3%

13. Motorola Razr 5G  1.2%

14. Motorola Edge S  0.8%

The pandemic meant the smartphone market struggled during the first three quarters of 2020, but an Apple-led revival in Q4 brought renewed optimism. Overall, global shipments were down 5.9% across the year. While demand for phones is increasing, supply could become an issue as the industry becomes the latest to feel the effects of worldwide chip shortages.
The coral reef in Moorea before bleaching killed the larger corals in 2019. Credit: FSU Coastal and Marine Laboratory/Scott Burgess

Certain brightly colored coral species dotting the seafloor may appear indistinguishable to many divers and snorkelers, but Florida State University researchers have found that these genetically diverse marine invertebrates vary in their response to ocean warming, a finding that has implications for the long-term health of coral reefs.

The researchers used molecular genetics to differentiate among corals that look nearly identical and to understand which species best coped with thermal stress. Their research was published in the journal Ecology.

"Being able to recognize the differences among these coral species that cannot be identified in the fieldwhich are known as 'cryptic species'will help us understand new ways for how coral reefs maintain resilience in the face of disturbance," said Associate Professor of Biological Science Scott Burgess, the paper's lead author.

The researchers were studying the coral ecosystem at the island of Moorea in French Polynesia when a coral bleaching event struck in 2019.

Corals get their color from algae that live in their tissues and with which they have a symbiotic relationship. But when corals are stressedby high water temperature, for examplealgae leave the coral, which turns white, hence the term "bleaching." Bleached corals are not dead, but they are more vulnerable and more likely to die.

The coral reef at Moorea during the bleaching event in 2019. Most of the corals had turned white because they expelled the algae living in their tissues, a process known as bleaching. Credit: California State University, Northridge/Peter Edmunds

Most of the coral at Moorea belong to the genus Pocillopora. During the event, the researchers saw that about 72 percent of the coral colonies from this genus bleached, and up to 42 percent died afterward.

At first, it seemed that the largest colonies were more likely to bleach, but when the scientists examined tissue samples from the coral, they found that colonies belonging to a certain genetic lineage, not coral size, was most important in determining the fate of the corals.

"Because Pocillopora species look so similar, they cannot be reliably identified in the field, which, in the past, has forced researchers to study them as a single group," said Erika Johnston, a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Biological Science and a co-author of the paper. "Molecular genetics allows us to reconstruct their evolutionary ancestry and are an essential step to species identification in this case."

About 86 percent of the Pocillopora corals that died belonged to a group that shares a set of DNA variations, which is known as a haplotype and reflects their common evolutionary ancestry.

"The good news is that not all of the corals died from bleaching, and many species survived," Burgess said. "The bad news is that the species that died is, as far as we are aware at the moment, endemic to that specific region. So on the one hand, we're worried about losing an endemic species, but on the other hand, our results show how co-occurring cryptic species can contribute to coral resilience."

It's an ecological analogy to having a diverse financial portfolio, where a variety of investments decreases the likelihood of a complete loss.

"Having multiple species that perform a similar function for the reef ecosystem but differ in how they respond to disturbances should increase the chance that Pocillopora corals continue to perform their role in the system, even though the exact species may be shuffled around," Burgess said.

Maintaining healthy ecological portfolios may be a better management option than attempting to restore a specific species.

"If we maintain the right type of diversity, nature in a way can pick the winners and losers," Burgess said. "However, the worry for us scientists is that unless the leaders of governments and corporations take action to reduce CO2 emissions, ecological portfolios that can maintain coral reef resilience will be increasingly eroded under current and ongoing climate change. This is concerning because coral reef ecosystems provide economic, health, cultural and ecological goods and services that humans rely on."

Future research will look into the composition of the algae that live inside the coral, the depth distributions of each cryptic coral species and the evolutionary relationships among the cryptic species.

More information: Scott C. Burgess et al, Response diversity in corals: hidden differences in bleaching mortality among cryptic Pocillopora species, Ecology (2021). Journal information: Ecology Scott C. Burgess et al, Response diversity in corals: hidden differences in bleaching mortality among cryptic Pocillopora species,(2021). DOI: 10.1002/ecy.3324
The items you should never keep in your bra have been revealed by a designer - and one of them is something many women have stuffed down their tops for years.

Esther Labi, a self-titled 'bra whisperer' from Sydney, warns against holding phones, car keys, tissue, lipstick and anything with a battery close to your chest.

While bras have been used as a convenient storage pocket for decades, Ms Labi - the founder of Australian lingerie brand 'Storm in a D Cup' - says doing so could damage not only your underwear, but your breasts as well.

'You would think the handbag industry was crumbling with the amount of women I see every day with the entire contents of their wallet - or the wallet itself - stuffed in their bra,' she told Daily Mail Australia.

Esther Labi, a self-titled 'bra whisperer' from Sydney, warns against holding phones, car keys (pictured), tissue, lipstick and anything with a battery close to your chest

1. Car keys

According to Ms Labi, car keys or anything sharp can damage the bra that is holding them in place.

She said the shape and pointed edges can leave lumps and grooves in the padding which affects how the cups support your breasts.

'Even worse, car keys can actually pierce through the cup and leave you with an incredibly unflattering Regina George-esque hole in the front of your bra,' Ms Labi added.

2. Tissues

At a time of acute awareness about personal hygiene, Ms Labi said it's unbelievable that women are continuing to store tissues - particularly used ones - in their bra.

'While we are taking extra precautions to wash our hands regularly, elbow bump instead of shaking hands, and wear a mask if we're feeling unwell, why on earth would we store a used tissue in our bra?' she asked.

Doing so is like converting the garment into a petri dish where bacteria and viruses can breed, promoting the spread of transmissible disease.

'The warm, dark world inside your bra offers the conditions to promote the growth of nasties  so just throw your tissue in the bin.'

At a time of acute awareness about personal hygiene, Ms Labi said it's unbelievable that women are continuing to store tissues - particularly used ones - in their bra (stock image)

3. Phones

While the scientific jury remains out on whether phones and other electrical devices emit radiation that can be harmful to humans, Ms Labi insists storing them inside your bra can be 'extraordinarily dangerous'.

'While scientific studies are still underway, I urge women, or anyone who wears a bra, to act with caution  as I would much rather be safe than sorry down the road,' she said.

'Do not put anything electronic or that contains a battery in your bra.'

Legal guidelines on the websites of most leading phone manufacturers advise carrying your device at least 10mm away from your body to avoid potential radiation from wireless services such as Bluetooth and WiFi.

While the scientific jury remains out on whether phones and other electrical devices emit radiation that can be harmful to humans, Ms Labi insists storing them inside your bra can be 'extraordinarily dangerous' (stock image)

Is it dangerous to carry a phone in your bra? A US article published in 2013 produced a case study of four women under the age of 40 who had contracted breast cancer. Although not uncommon, these cases encouraged investigation because the women did not have a family history of the disease, nor a genetic predisposition to it. This prompted medical professionals to look at environmental factors, leading them to discover that all four women regularly carried smartphones directly against their breasts in their bras for up to 10 hours a day, for several years, and developed tumours in areas of their breasts immediately underlying the phones. While this is a tiny sample study, experts say it is worth educating ourselves about the risks of excessive exposure to devices as the use of wireless technology increases. Source: Wirelesseducation.org Advertisement

4. Lipstick

Holding lipstick or other liquid cosmetics in your bra won't affect your health, but Ms Labi said it's almost certain to cause them to melt.

'We've all left our favourite lipstick in the car on a 30 degree day, or right under the window as the midday rays flow in, and found it in a melted mess hours later,' she said.

'However, what most women have only done once, and learned the hard way, is that keeping your lipstick in your bra can do the exact same thing.'

Ms Labi said it's best to keep makeup in your handbag to avoid a frustrating discovery when you go to touch up your face.

Holding lipstick or other liquid cosmetics in your bra won't affect your health, but Ms Labi said it's almost certain to cause them to melt

5. Anything heavy

Heavy items such as coins, wallets, phones and sunglasses act as anchors that pull weigh bras down, ruining the support function they are designed for in the first place.

'The right bra actively prevents chronic physical symptoms as it supports your breasts and shoulders,' Ms Labi said, adding this is especially relevant for women with bigger busts.

Perfectly fitting bras will not provide enough space to fit even the smallest of items inside the cup, she said, so it's best to have your breasts professionally fitted for the right size to prevent straining your neck and back.
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San Antonio is the only major Texas city without some form of a vaccine registry. Other major cities including Austin, Houston and Dallas have systems that allow residents to sign up and be notified later when an appointment becomes available.



The idea is to give people certainty they will be vaccinated at some point, rather than force them to battle jammed phone lines or try in vain to find open appointments online.



But two medical executives told the committee theyre not sure a registry would alleviate anxiety or help people secure appointments more easily  especially given the limited supply of vaccine. Take a closer look at the issue here.

It was March 16, 1960, and the violence that had roiled attempts to integrate dime-store lunch counters across the South had bypassed the Alamo City. Mary Lillian Andrews walked into the Woolworths downtown and had lunch. No tear gas, no assaults.



Tuesday, the alliance of San Antonians of varied cultures and socioeconomic backgrounds working to protect the century-old Woolworth Building in Alamo Plaza gathered to celebrate that peaceful integration, a milestone of freedom and equality.



The future of the Woolworth Building has been in question in recent years. Read more about the building and its history here.

For those born into U.S. citizenship, there are no tests, boundaries or barriers to your claim of American identity.



But those seeking citizenship through naturalization must navigate a complex system that includes the U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services civics test  more commonly referred to as the citizenship test.



The official test is an oral exam and is not multiple choice, but the government offers official multiple choice practice tests on its website. Take our 20-question practice test to see if you can pass the citizenship test.

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Restaurants: Meet the Gotti Guisada hot dog at San Antonios The Dogfather. It just might be the most puro San Antonio hot dog in town.



Entertainment: San Antonio has made MovieMaker magazines list of the best places for filmmakers to live and work for the past three years. Heres a look at five San Antonio filmmakers who are making a splash with their work.



Pro basketball: The Spurs' Devin Vassell and the Bulls' Patrick Williams are Florida State alums, 2020 lottery picks and friends attempting to navigate the strangest rookie season in NBA history. They'll face off tonight in Chicago.



Pro football: Dak Prescott, cornerstone of a franchise might not be verified yet for the Dallas Cowboys and owner Jerry Jones. But it at least has a chance to be. Mike Finger explains in his latest column.

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PHILIPSBURG (DCOMM):--- The Vaccine Management Team (VMT) confirms that the second batch of Pfizer vaccines will arrive on our island within one week. This batch consists of 7.020 doses of the Pfizer / BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. Together with the first batch, which consisted of 8.190 doses, Sint Maarten will then have received 15.210 doses.

In the last three weeks, over 4.000 persons have been vaccinated with their first dose of the Pfizer vaccine and will receive their second dose in the coming weeks. Almost 9.000 persons have currently registered themselves for the vaccine.

The VMT is currently inviting the first 3 priority risk groups consisting of 1, healthcare workers with direct client contact, 2, all persons of 60 years and older, and 3, all persons 18-59, with the following underlying conditions: diabetes, lung diseases such as asthma, COPD, lung cancer, heart conditions such as angina, rhythm problems or a history of a heart attack, hypertension, kidney problems, disorders that affect your immune system, being morbidly overweight (a Body Mass Index of over 40) or having a neurological disorder (such as Parkinsons or ALS) with breathing difficulties, to register for a vaccine.

Currently, the two vaccination locations that receive people for their first dose are the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development (Ministry VSA) Collective Prevention Service (CPS) (at the Vineyard Office Park) and the Belair Community Center (across from the St. Maarten Medical Center (SMMC). Walk-ins are only permitted for those who are 60 years or older and can show a Sint Maarten ID card or drivers license.

Even though the number of people that register for the vaccine is steadily increasing, the VMT still urges everyone, to register, even though it is not yet their turn. The next batch of vaccines from the Netherlands will be based on the number of registrations. Registration can be done via the online registration form which is available in English, Spanish, and Creole, and can be found via this link: https://forms.sintmaartengov.org/form.aspx?v=OGtn05kNmb

Both Cole Bay and Dutch Quarter Community Helpdesks are currently equipped to provide information and can assist with registration on the spot. Do not forget to check the opening hours and bring a form of identification. Lastly, the paper-based COVID Vaccine Registration Form can be picked up at several locations, including CPS at the Vineyard Office Park Building, the Division of Labor Affairs at the Simpson Bay Public Service Center in Simpson Bay, doctors offices, the Government Administration Building, and select pharmacies.

If you have a friend, parent, neighbor, or relative that may need assistance with registration, transportation, or emotional support, please do your part. If you need help with the registration process, your appointment, or wish for more information about the vaccination campaign, you can also call CPS at 914 or email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Sint Maarten, protected together.
The poster presentation entitled "Therapeutic Removal of NETs from Blood in a Pig Model of Sepsis" given by Dr. Andrew Aswani, Consultant in Intensive Care Medicine & Anesthesia at a leading London Hospital and Chief Medical Officer of Santersus AG, includes data showing that Nu.Q  is an effective method for monitoring Santersus' highly selective plasmapheresis treatment targeting Neutrophil Extracellular Traps ("NETs") in sepsis.

Commenting on the data Dr. Aswani said, "Our data indicated that the Nu.Q assay may have wide applicability to monitor the treatment of diseases with a NET component and potentially may also be used for patient selection. This is especially important given the wide range of diseases where NETosis plays a role such as COVID-19, sepsis, autoimmune diseases and cancer. Santersus has already begun the next phase of studies that are also using Volition's Nu.Q assays, including our first human trial, and we look forward to sharing the results in the coming months."

Dr. Jake Micallef, Volition's Chief Scientific Officer added, "Santersus' highly selective plasmapheresis treatment is demonstrably effective in the removal of up to 99% of circulating NETs from animals in septic shock as measured by our Nu.Q NETs assay. The results also show that the treatment leads to a stabilization of NETs in circulation and a great improvement in the well-being of the treated animal. This is the first study reported to use Volition's simple, low-cost Nu.Q immunoassays to monitor response to a treatment."

To watch a short video of Dr. Jake Micallef commenting on this study click https://youtu.be/5sm3Z6dmr6w.

To view the presentation given by Dr. Aswani click here or download the poster here.

About the Study

NETs are made of nucleosomes and are associated with sepsis. Santersus investigated the removal of NETs from the circulation of a pig model of sepsis using the Santersus NucleoCapture therapeutic plasmapheresis method and monitored the therapy using Volition's 45-minute, automated Nu.Q immunoassay as a surrogate measure for circulating NET levels.

Plasmapheresis treated and untreated animals were monitored by a variety of physiological and biochemical parameters including lactate levels (an indicator of sepsis severity), vasopressor requirements (septic shock leads to low blood pressure which is ameliorated by treatment with vasopressors) and urine output (urine output falls during septic shock).

Nu.Q immunoassays successfully monitored the rise in NETs caused by sepsis. They also demonstrated that the plasmapheresis treatment removed almost all (up to 99%) of nucleosomes from treated blood and that untreated sepsis led to a high and continuously rising level of circulating NETs. Finally, Santersus also demonstrated that the plasmapheresis treatment successfully prevented this rise in NETs leading to a lower and stable level of circulating NETs.

For further details please contact [email protected].

About Santersus

Santersus AG is a Zurich-based Innovative Therapeutic Apheresis company focused on cleansing patient blood of NETs using the company's patented first-in-class "NucleoCapture" technology. Santersus aims to revolutionize how we can control the human immune and inflammatory response to disease by transformative, lifesaving, highly selective blood purification using the NucleoCapture method in the treatment of many diseases including COVID-19, sepsis, autoimmune diseases and cancer.

For more information about Santersus, visit Santersus' website at www.santersus.com or email [email protected]

About Volition

Volition is a multi-national epigenetics company developing simple, easy to use, cost effective blood tests to help diagnose a range of cancers and other diseases. Early diagnosis has the potential to not only prolong the life of patients, but also to improve their quality of life. The tests are based on the science of NucleosomicsTM, which is the practice of identifying and measuring nucleosomes in the bloodstream or other bodily fluid - an indication that disease is present. Volition is primarily focused on human diagnostics but also has a subsidiary focused on animal diagnostics.

Volition's research and development activities are centered in Belgium, with a small laboratory in California and additional offices in Texas, London and Singapore, as the company focuses on bringing its diagnostic products to market.

For more information about Volition, visit Volition's website volition.com or connect with us via:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/volitionrx

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/volitionrx

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VolitionRx/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/VolitionRx

The contents found at Volition's website address, Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, and YouTube are not incorporated by reference into this document and should not be considered part of this document. The addresses for Volition's website, Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, and YouTube are included in this document as inactive textual references only.

Media / Investor Contacts

Safe Harbor Statement

Statements in this press release may be "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that concern matters that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated or projected in the forward-looking statements. Words such as "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "plans," "aims," "targets," "believes," "seeks," "estimates," "optimizing," "potential," "goal," "suggests," "could," "would," "should," "may," "will" and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements relate to the effectiveness of Volition's blood-based diagnostic and prognostic tests, and Volition's ability to develop and successfully commercialize such test platforms for early detection of cancer and other diseases. Volition's actual results may differ materially from those indicated in these forward-looking statements due to numerous risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, results of studies testing the efficacy of its tests. For instance, if Volition fails to develop and commercialize diagnostic or prognostic products, it may be unable to execute its plan of operations. Other risks and uncertainties include Volition's failure to obtain necessary regulatory clearances or approvals to distribute and market future products; a failure by the marketplace to accept the products in Volition's development pipeline or any other diagnostic or prognostic products Volition might develop; Volition's failure to secure adequate intellectual property protection; Volition will face fierce competition and Volition's intended products may become obsolete due to the highly competitive nature of the diagnostics market and its rapid technological change; downturns in domestic and foreign economies; and other risks identified in Volition's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, as well as other documents that Volition files with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about Volition's business based, in part, on assumptions made by management. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this release, and, except as required by law, Volition does not undertake an obligation to update its forward-looking statements to reflect future events or circumstances.

Nucleosomics and Nu.Q and their respective logos are trademarks and/or service marks of VolitionRx Limited and its subsidiaries. All other trademarks, service marks and trade names referred to in this press release are the property of their respective owners.

SOURCE VolitionRx Ltd

Related Links

http://www.volitionrx.com


Three new dining venues are open or on the way in the Charleston area, a distillery is relocating, an alcoholic beverage shop is expanding into the region and a new fresh market soon could open.

In North Charleston, The Basement Park Circle plans to renovate the space formerly occupied by the The Barbeque Joint at 1921 Reynolds Ave.

The business recently applied for a state permit to sell beer, wine and liquor for on-premise consumption. Look for an opening by late summer or early fall, according to a Basement statement.

The Basement now operates at 1055 S.C. Highway 41 in Mount Pleasant.

In downtown Charleston, Coterie, serving Indian and Charleston fare along with craft cocktails, is now open at 17 Warren St., where Italian restaurant Pane e Vino operated before shutting down last year because of the pandemic. It's open 5-11 p.m. Monday-Saturday. Jeremy Buck is the owner.

Farther south on the peninsula, a restaurant group is moving along with its plans to open a new venue.

The Indigo Road Hospitality Group recently applied for an alcohol license for its latest venue, Brasserie la Banque, at Broad and East Bay streets.

A spring opening is planned for the French-inspired operation where One Broad operated for three years before the pandemic delivered its undoing last year.

It's set to be open for lunch and dinner, offering a coffee bar and pastries in the morning.

A brasserie is a type of French restaurant with a relaxed setting, which serves single dishes and other meals.

A restaurant representative did not respond to a request for a tentative opening date.

Indigo Road operates several other restaurants throughout Charleston, including Oak Steakhouse at 17 Broad.

Distillery

A stretch of North Charleston with two alcohol-making operations is about to gain a third one.

Nippitaty Distillery plans to open at the site of a 2,900-square-foot vacant building at 4405 Spruill Ave., offering liquor for on- and off-site consumption.

The liquor-maker currently operates in a 1,900-square-foot space on Pace Street off Azalea Avenue.

Owner Traxler Littlejohn hopes to be in the new location by the end of April or early May. Tastings will be offered in the front of the structure while production will take place in the back, he said.

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"This will give us the launchpad to solidify our presence in the Park Circle area," Littlejohn said.

He said more details will be available over the coming weeks.

Nippitaty will be just a couple of blocks away from Firefly Distillery and Holy City Brewing, both off of Spruill Avenue.

Between the alcohol-making businesses on the redeveloping stretch of Spruill Avenue near Park Circle is the new Locomotion Fitness site as well as the Reddy Ice distribution center that will be transformed into a mixed-use office and retail development.

Branching out

An Orangeburg-based wine and liquor store is expanding into the Charleston area.

Gibby's Bottle Shop plans to open a shop in the Harris Teeter-anchored St. Andrews Center at 975 Savannah Highway. The 4,800-square-foot space was formerly occupied by toy store Wonder Works, next to Petco.

The shop is hoping to open by May, but it depends on permitting, a manager said.

The space is the last one available in the shopping center. Burlington, which has a store in Northwoods Mall in North Charleston, plans to open a second Charleston-area location in a 37,000-square-foot space abandoned in 2019 by Stein Mart.

Gibby's, owned by Caleb Gibson, has other locations in Bamberg and St. George.

Fresh market

A new healthy-choice venue is opening in southern Charleston County.

Hollywood Healthy Fresh Market is launching at 6231 Highway 162 next to Hollywood Pizza and near a Piggly Wiggly supermarket. Owned by Terrence Renk, it's billed as a "healthy grocery/farm-fresh food store."

The business recently applied for a permit for the sale and on-premise consumption of beer and wine.

"We are hoping (to be open) by the end of the month," Renk said. "Finding employees with healthy food background seems to be main challenge."

Renk's goal is work with local farmers, bee keepers, flower growers, pie makers and support South Carolina produce and products. Some of those fresh ingredients are used in the pizza restaurant next door.

He also operates the pizza restaurant, which opened in November. Both venues are in a redeveloped building that once housed a hair salon.
Health official: 'We are very pleased with the decline in case numbers'
What NZX is doing to attract tech listings

Vend and Seequent are just two of the latest tech companies to be sold offshore, fetching $1.5 billion and $486 million respectively. Congratulations to the founders, and we look forward to their next move. As NZTech CEO Graeme Muller points out, cashed-up founders often invest in growing tech startups: As more New Zealand tech success stories emerge, it is exciting to think about how those founders and the staff of their firms will invest in the next wave of ideas and talent.

But what about the rest of us? What opportunities do New Zealanders have to invest in the local tech scene? The NZX would be a logical place.

NZX track record called patchy

Serge van Dam, a founder who cashed out a decade ago and now supports local SaaS companies via investment and mentoring activities, describes the NZX as having a patchy track record of the kind of companies it listed in the tech sector.

He also doesnt see the NZX as being actively involved in trying to understand the local ecosystem. If you are a serious stock exchange, what you want to do is create a pipeline of companies and support them to get them to the point where they are listable. Not wait until they are listable and say, Hey, do you want to list over here?, he says.

Van Dam also noted that listing across the Tasman on the ASX can often be more appealing because companies reach a higher valuation.

NZX disagrees, touts its strengths

Is that a fair assessment? We put those assertions to the NZX Head of Issuer Relationships Sarah Minhinnick.

She cites Xero, Pushpay, Serko, Vista Group, and Plexure as tech companies with global ambitions that the bourse has supported. The S&P/NZX All Technology reflects the great support for technology stocks within our local market (a 23.4% 10-year return), and we would like to see more on show.

She singled out the following examples:

Xero grew more than 8,000% in market cap while listed on NZX. (It has since been delisted from NZX and now is listed solely on ASX, but Minhinnick points out it is an inherently positive story about a company with very low revenues, scaling up and raising capital continuously to successfully pursue global growth.)

Serkos share price grew more than 600% in 2017.

Pushpay listed with US$0.3 million in revenue and that has grown to more than US$129.8 million.

Patchy may refer to tech companies that have not done so well, which is a feature of almost every sector, she notes. Another reality is that New Zealand is looked at by overseas investors, and listed companies are sometimes subsequently targeted for takeovers, such as Trademe, Finzsoft, and SLI Systems.

Minhinnick describes the NZX as being actively involved in the tech community via organisations such as the TIN Network, Fintech NZ, New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, Callaghan Innovation, and Angel Investment Network, as well as participating in events such as Techweek, the Fintech Hui, Southern SaaS, and the Hi Tech Awards.

As to whether the ASX is a more lucrative place to list, as you might expect, Minhinnick says companies that list on their home market tend to have a good outcome. Over 90% of companies globally have a listing in their home jurisdiction (regardless of whether they have a listing in other markets). Listing in their home market allows them to build profile and credibility and it is easier for shareholders and employees in terms of investing and managing tax obligations.

She also notes that as a result of recent favourable valuations, we are seeing the most interest in listing that we have for some time.

How New Zealanders can invest in local tech

It might be a case of watch this space in terms of new tech NZX listings, but until/if that time arrives, how can New Zealanders get a slice of investing in local tech?

Van Dam points out that two Kiwisaver funds are now investing in the startup community. One is Simplicity, which invests in Icehouse Ventures, the business incubator that specialises in growing small to medium businesses. The other is Kiwibanks fund Kiwiwealth, which has invested in the Movac fund. Thats a real development and just shows an appetite, and also that there are alternative models, van Dam says.

He notes that Movac is New Zealands largest venture capital fund, but it is by no means the only VC funding in this market. Van Dam says there is a lot more early-stage funding now available, and global investors are also sniffing around.

Throughout the spectrum, international investors are very comfortable investing in New Zealand companies. Partly due to our reputation as citizens and as a country, partly due to the fact that every month one or two software companies successfully exit, and that gets noticed, van Dam says.

And you can count private equity among the interested parties. Van Dam says that the appeal for a founder is selling to this category of investor is obvious  they generally pay upfront. Private equity is prepared to pay cash and make it really easy. One day, someone sends you an email saying, Im interested in buying your business and eight weeks later youre rich. Thats quite a lot easier than the process of listing publicly.

Public Networks latest recruits

There are a couple of new recruits to the management team of what is shaping up to be a most interesting government IT project: Tu Kupenga Marutau, the Public Safety Network programme. It will become the communications network for New Zealands emergency services, and a request for proposal was issued earlier this year.

At the time of the RFP, critical roles had yet to be filled. The lead entity director Chris Goldsmith had left the programme, and he has now been replaced by Steve Ferguson, whose most recent role was general manager at Davanti Consulting.

And its just been announced that Andrew Hooker, the current CTO of Vital New Zealand (previously at TeamTalk and Citylink), will take up the role of chief technical director.

An addendum to the RFP issued this week outlines how any conflicts of interest will be dealt with. For example, Hooker wont be involved in evaluating any proposals from Vital or competing proposals based on the same technology.

Its a reminder once again that we are a small country and specialist professionals often flip between enterprise and vendor roles. As long as everyone is upfront and transparent, as they appear to be in this case, there shouldnt be an issue.
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A man died in a New Brunswick house fire over the weekend, authorities said.

Firefighters arrived at 263 Delevan St. around 6 p.m. Saturday and found that the home was engulfed in intense flames, according to a release from the New Brunswick Police Department.

As they battled the blaze, they discovered a resident of the home, 61-year-old Thomas Sims, dead in the basement, police said. An investigation revealed Sims died from the fire, authorities said, but no other details were released.

Local fire companies aided in extinguishing the fire, which resulted in the evacuation of a next door home, officials said.

The cause of the fire appeared to be accidental and no foul play was suspected, according to the release.

Anyone with information about the blaze was asked to contact the New Brunswick Fire Department at (732) 745-5254 or the New Brunswick Police Department at (732) 745-5217.

Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription.

Chris Sheldon may be reached at csheldon@njadvancemedia.com.
Hartman, who has gained national media attention as the serial stowaway, had been fitted with an electronic ankle bracelet as part of her pretrial release in a pending airport trespassing case  a case that seemed on the brink of resolution when prosecutors and defense lawyers earlier this month announced they had reached a plea agreement. The new arrest may endanger that arrangement.
[March 17, 2021] Mediar Therapeutics Adds New Investors As It Advances Anti-Fibrotic Treatments

Mediar Therapeutics today announced the completion of a seed extension funding round and welcomed Pfizer Ventures and Ono Venture Investment (OVI) as new syndicate members. Mediar, a discovery-stage company developing new treatments for fibrosis, was co-founded by Mass General Brigham Ventures, formerly Partners Innovation Fund. The company is uniquely focused on the myofibroblast, a cell that is a key driver in fibrosis pathology. "We are impressed by Mediar's innovative approach to fibrosis and the promise it shows in treating diseases with high unmet medical need," said Nikola Trbovic, Ph.D., a partner at Pfizer Ventures. Mass General Brigham Ventures led an initial seed round in 2019 alongside other early venture investors. With Pfizer and OVI's participation in the syndicate, the company has now raised $20 million in total. The funding will support development of the firm's unique myofibroblast discovery platform and wil advance the company's development of antibody treatments against a suite of novel targets. Mediar leverages its proprietary insights from these pathological cells to exploit a novel class of targets, fibrotic mediators, that play a central role in fibrotic disease.



"Mediar's groundbreaking research into fibrotic mediators shows promise in halting and even reversing fibrosis," said Hiroshi Yamamoto, President and CEO of OVI. "They have discovered an emerging class of novel targets with enormous potential to help patients with chronically damaged organs." Meredith Fisher, Ph.D., founding CEO of Mediar and a partner at Mass General Brigham Ventures, said, "We are thrilled to welcome Pfizer Ventures and OVI as new members of our syndicate. Both companies have strong expertise in fibrosis and we look forward to working with their respective investment teams as we advance our exciting therapeutic programs."

About Mediar Therapeutics Mediar is a discovery stage biotechnology company developing treatments to halt, or even reverse, fibrosis. Our platform and pipeline are based on an emerging class of novel targets - fibrotic mediators - that play key roles in modulating myofibroblasts. These cells are drivers of pathophysiology in diseases such as liver cirrhosis, which leave organs chronically damaged. Mediar was co-founded by leading fibrosis researchers from Mass General Brigham and Mass General Brigham Ventures in 2019. For more information, contact info@mediartx.com. About Ono Venture Investment (OVI) Ono Venture Investment (OVI) is the corporate venture capital arm of Ono Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (ONO), a research-oriented pharmaceutical company that focuses on delivering first-in-class medicines to patients. Based in the San Francisco Bay life science cluster, OVI makes investments in novel startups developing products and platforms with high potential synergy with ONO's R&D. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210317005237/en/

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Organisers of the grand prix at Sochi are pressing ahead with preparations for the race in September, despite Russia's anti-doping ban from international sport.

There is already controversy over Haas' new 'Russian flag'-style 2021 livery, while Nikita Mazepin is unable to display the Russian flag on his overalls or car.

Sochi GP promoter Alexey Titov told Tass news agency that he is still in talks with the FIA about how the anti-doping bans will affect the September race.

"We are still figuring out what will happen. The FIA are yet to release the details for all of the events," he said.

"We have answers about the drivers, which is understandable, but the work on the organisational side is still underway."

However, Titov said it is clear that the anti-doping ban will affect the Russian GP in certain ways.

"Obviously our anthem will not be played at the beginning of the grand prix," he said. "And there will be no Katyusha either, but I think it's actually good that we won't have a song instead of the anthem.

"Our athletes are still able to win, so let everyone understand that we cannot be defeated by the absence of the anthem."

Titov also told the Ria Novosti news agency that the anti-doping ban cannot compel race organisers or the FIA to drop the official name of the Russian GP.

"From the point of view of the name, there will be no restrictions," he insisted.

"They have no legal ability to do this because the commercial rights belong to Formula 1. Everything is clearly stated that we are called the grand prix of Russia," Titov said.

(GMM)
WASHINGTON, March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA will hold a virtual media briefing at 1:30 p.m. EDT (10:30 a.m. PDT) Tuesday, March 23, to discuss upcoming activities for the agency's Ingenuity Mars helicopter. The teams operating Ingenuity and NASA's Mars 2020 Perseverance rover have chosen the flight zone where the helicopter will attempt the first powered, controlled flights on another planet.

The briefing will air live on NASA Television, the NASA app, and the agency's website and will livestream on multiple agency social media platforms, including the YouTube and Facebook channels for NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California.

Briefing participants include:

Lori Glaze , director of NASA's Planetary Science Division, NASA Headquarters

, director of NASA's Planetary Science Division, NASA Headquarters Bobby Braun , director for planetary science, JPL

, director for planetary science, JPL J. ( Bob) Balaram , Ingenuity chief engineer, JPL

, Ingenuity chief engineer, JPL Havard Grip, Ingenuity chief pilot, JPL

Farah Alibay , Perseverance integration lead for Ingenuity, JPL

To participate in the briefing by telephone, reporters must provide their name and affiliation by 11:30 a.m. EDT (8:30 a.m. PDT) Tuesday, March 23, to Rexana Vizza at [email protected].

Media and the public also may ask questions on social media during the briefing using #MarsHelicopter.

Ingenuity's test flights are expected to begin no earlier than the first week of April. The exact timing of the first flight will remain fluid as engineers work out details on the timeline for deployments and vehicle positioning of Perseverance and Ingenuity. Photos showing some of the progress are available on Perseverance's raw images website.

Perseverance  with Ingenuity attached to its belly  landed in Jezero Crater Feb. 18. Ingenuity is a technology demonstration with a limited test flight duration of up to 31 days (30 Mars days, or sols). The rover will deploy the helicopter and provide environmental monitoring and imaging support. It also hosts Ingenuity's base station, enabling communication with mission controllers on Earth.

An Ingenuity press kit, with more information about the helicopter, is available at:

https://go.nasa.gov/ingenuity-press-kit

More information is also available on the Ingenuity website:

https://mars.nasa.gov/technology/helicopter

To learn more about Perseverance, visit:

https://nasa.gov/perseverance

and

https://mars.nasa.gov/mars2020/

SOURCE NASA

Related Links

http://www.nasa.gov


(Newser)  Just one day after CBS Chicago published an in-depth interview with "Serial Stowaway" Marilyn Hartman on how she's been able to sneak onto so many flights over the years, there was another "Marilyn sighting" this week at O'Hare International Airport. WGN reports that Hartman, 69, was arrested Tuesday afternoon at the airport after she escaped custody at a halfway house where she was being electronically monitored. CBS notes Hartman's ankle bracelet didn't seem to be initially pinging, which afforded her the opportunity to flee the facility and head over to her old haunt O'Hare, where she's been busted multiple times before. Once it was discovered Hartman was missing, the Cook County Sheriff's Office tried to reach her on the monitoring device's built-in phone, but she didn't pick up.

story continues below

Authorities were able to track her movements through the device's GPS, however, and once it was determined she seemed to be headed to O'Hare, Chicago police rushed to intercept her. Hartman was found in Terminal 2, before she'd passed any TSA security checkpoints, and detained. In her earlier correspondence with CBS' Brad Edwards, whom she's been in contact with since 2019, Hartman revealed her rather unsophisticated method for illicitly boarding flights to travel around the country and the world, which she estimates she's gotten away with at least 30 times. "I got by them ... by following someone ... carrying like a blue bag," she said. "I get into the TSA line and TSA lets me through, and they think I'm with the guy with the blue bag." Hartman, who told Edwards she's bipolar, said she was usually in a "depressed state of mind" when she'd sneak onto flights. Police say they'll seek felony escape charges for this week's antics. More from Hartman here. (Read more Marilyn Hartman stories.)
Four Western New York men have been arrested after $400,000 worth of marijuana was seized at Buffalo Niagara International Airport.

The Sacramento Bee reports authorities found about 120 pounds of weed stuffed inside five bags on an American Airlines flight from Sacramento, California, to Buffalo, N.Y., on Saturday after law enforcement officials received a tip. According to the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority Police Department, a K9 team responded with a free air sniff of the luggage and police dog Zev alerted officers to the presence of a narcotics odor on the suspicious bags.

The pot had an estimated street value of approximately $400,000.

We want to acknowledge a job well done by our Detective Bureau and K9 Zev! the NFTA Facebook page said.

The Buffalo News reports four Buffalo residents, including a father and son, were arrested on charges of first-degree criminal possession of marijuana, a class C felony. Deon Burnett, 52, Deon Burnett Jr., 18, Jacari Brooks, 18, and Kevin Tucker, 49, are scheduled to be arraigned in Cheektowaga Town Court on April 6, according to the Erie County District Attorneys Office.
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SHASTA COUNTY. Calif. - President Joe Biden signed a plan aimed at providing relief to smalls businesses, schools, and state and local governments across the nation.

The hope is that American Rescue Plan will bring some much-needed relief. But how does it break down in Shasta County? What do people in Redding hope will come out of it?

Americans are hurting throughout the country, said Paul Jones of Redding. I would like to see it in Shasta County take care of local businesses. They've been really hurting throughout this pandemic.

Jones hopes that the $1.9 trillion dollar plan will not only local small businesses but also schools.

As a former educator I would like to see some schools get some assistance, said Jones.

In a statement, Governor Gavin Newsom said "The American Rescue Plan will help California roar back from this pandemic.

The statement goes on to say with this infusion of federal stimulus, California can make faster progress on responding to COVID, supporting small businesses, putting money in peoples pockets, and bolstering K-12 and higher education.

Part of the American Rescue Plan includes $350 billion in aid to state and local governments, $50 billion dollars will go towards small businesses, and $130 billion would go towards K-12 schools.

Shasta County itself is anticipated to receive almost $35 million dollars from the American Rescue Plan, while Butte County anticipates it will receive $43 million dollars.

Meanwhile, the City of Redding also expects to receive an allocation from the American Rescue Plan.

The City of Redding is what's called an entitlement city, said Barry Tippin, the Redding City Manager. We might actually receive it from the federal government and the amount is estimated to be about $19 million dollars.

Tippin said they are still waiting on direction from the federal government when it comes to how they can use the money.

There are some broad categories that have been identified in the bill. Such as water, sewer, extension, help for small business, help for individuals that are impacted by COVID-19, backfill of revenues, and those types of things, explained Tippin. But the regulations on how we determine that have not been published.

Both Shasta and Butte Counties are also awaiting more information from the federal government on how it can use the money.

People here hope that the pricey plan will help move the country forward.

I think it's up to the American people, our local leaders, our state leaders, and our national leaders to help us get back on our feet again, said Jones.

I just hope it becomes available in the North State, said Tiffany Carlin, the owner of Zoes Travel Shoppe, and that we can take advantage of it and keep our doors open.
MANZINI  The police have set up two task teams to deal with gun violence in the service.

According to a press release by the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) National Commissioner, William Dlamini, one of the task teams was set up to deal with a recurrence of such incidents wherein police were found to have killed people. He said as the police leadership, they were committed to doing everything possible to prevent the occurrence of similar incidents in future. Dlamini said ensuring that this desire was a reality, a multi-dimensional management and control mechanism comprising two special task teams had been set up to review Standing Operation Orders. The national commissioner said: Some of our Standing Operation Orders are no longer in line with the times that we live in and need to be reviewed in order to ensure safety to the nation and our officers.

A recent incident quoted by Dlamini was that of the shooting which took place within the precincts of the Simunye Magistrates Court, wherein a police officer, Assistant Inspector Bernard Dlamini, gunned down two people using a service firearm. This happened last Wednesday, March 10, 2021. The national commissioner said police were alerted to a shocking and extreme incident of violence wherein Bernard gunned down Sindi Mavuso and her uncle Elliot Luhlanga. The pair, he said, was fatally shot after a court case that was said to be related to issues of maintenance. Dlamini said later on, Bernard also committed suicide.

To say we were alarmed and saddened by the incident would be an understatement, more so, as it was not the first-of-its-kind where a police officer ends the life of another person and or people in gruesome fashion, the national commissioner said. In setting up the task teams, the national commissioner said they would not only look into the Standing Operation Orders but the second one would deal with mental health within the police service. He said: The other team will revise the current programmes relating to police health and welfare matters, especially psychotherapy and emotional wellness of officers.

Dlamini said the recurring incidents where police officers were at the centre of perpetrating violence were deeply concerning to the REPS and they condemned such acts in the strongest terms possible. He said police officers should be first to be aware that despite social problems and challenges that may confront them at any point in time, taking another persons life was a gross violation of the law and unthinkable for anyone professing to be a police officer.



STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The MTAs historic $51.5 billion capital program, which has been on hold since June as a result of the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, is finally getting back on track -- thanks to new federal funding.

On Wednesday, MTA Chairman and CEO Patrick Foye announced that the recent allocation of approximately $6.5 billion in federal aid through the American Rescue Plan will allow the agency to move forward with crucial capital projects that had been in limbo for the past nine months.

The latest infusion of federal aid allows us to unfreeze our historic 2020-2024 Capital Program, Foye said. We remain committed to bringing our 117-year-old subway system into the 21st century and this new federal funding package will help us do that.

MTA Chief Financial Officer Bob Foran explained that the influx of federal funding means that the agency will no longer need to use money that was intended to be bonded against the capital program to fund operating expenses, as it had been doing over the past year as a result of the pandemic.

The use of the lockbox funds to balance this years budget is no longer required, which allows us to issue MTA bonds this year to advance the 2020-2024 Capital Plan, Foran said. Were happy to be able to move the 2020-2024 Capital Plan forward on an expedited basis.

The $51.5 billion plan includes over $40 billion be invested solely in the New York City Transit Authority to improve bus and subway service throughout the city.

The $37.3 billion investment in the citys subway system will continue to build upon the agencys Subway Action Plan, with the money being used primarily to fund signal modernization, improved station accessibility, new subway cars, new escalators, new tracks and Phase 2 of the Second Avenue Subway project.

The $3.5 billion investment in the citys bus system is being used toward the replacement of over 2,200 of the agencys oldest buses, the purchase of 500 all-electric buses, the renovation of existing bus depots and the installation of onboard digital information screens and bus lane cameras.

During Wednesdays MTA Board Meeting, officials also noted that the infusion of cash will allow the agency to stave off any potential service reductions, layoffs and wage freezes that had been previously proposed in the absence of additional federal funding.

This avoids the severe service cuts and layoffs previously under consideration and provides a bridge to normalcy, Foran said.

This historic level of funding will further offset COVIDs impact and help protect against devastating service cuts and layoffs in the years ahead where we still project substantial deficits, said Foye. This ensures that we can continue providing the service needed to lead New Yorks and the nations economic recovery.
CALGARY - A company investigating the use of radio frequency energy as a cleaner and cheaper way to produce bitumen from the oilsands says it has the financial means to proceed with a commercial pilot project.

A processing unit is shown at Suncor Fort Hills facility in Fort McMurray, Alta., on Monday September 10, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson

CALGARY - A company investigating the use of radio frequency energy as a cleaner and cheaper way to produce bitumen from the oilsands says it has the financial means to proceed with a commercial pilot project.

A recent commitment of $5 million from Alberta Innovates, a provincial research agency, brings its direct funding to $19 million and fully funds its proposed pilot, Calgary-based Acceleware Ltd. said Wednesday.

Its other funders include Suncor Energy Inc. and an unnamed second major oilsands producer with up to $2 million each, $5.25 million from Sustainable Development Technology Canada and $5 million from Emissions Reduction Alberta.

"The COVID year was pretty good for us because we were able to secure a site for that commercial pilot, we were able to get it approved by the Alberta Energy Regulator and now with this last little bit of funding, we've got all the financial resources we need to pull it off," said CEO Geoff Clark in an interview.

"Now it's just executing, drilling some wells, putting some equipment on site and seeing if it works."

The company says a test site at Marwayne in east central Alberta has been cleared, equipment and materials have been ordered and service company partners selected.

When its backing was announced in December, Suncor senior vice-president Sandy Martin said the company is innovating to meet evolving energy needs and environmental challenges.

There isnt an easy or quick solution to transform to a low-carbon energy future. It will take original thinking, collaboration and commitment,"' he said at the time.

Acceleware's RF XL process uses electromagnetic energy to heat an underground oil-bearing reservoir to mobilize the heavy oil and allow it to flow into a parallel well to be pumped to surface, thus eliminating the need for injecting steam as is currently extensively done in the oilsands.

The company says it expects construction at the site to be completed by June, followed by about six months of reservoir heating.

"We'd like to produce some oil  but really what we want to do is be monitoring that temperature downhole and see if it matches our simulations," Clark said.

The company says the technology eliminates the need for fresh water, reduces greenhouse gas emissions, uses no added solvents and requires less land use.

Clark said the technology's potential customers include existing oilsands producers planning bolt-on expansions and smaller newcomers looking for a cheaper, scalable way to begin production. It's hoped the process will also attract attention from other domestic and international heavy oil producers.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 17, 2021.

Companies in this story: (TSXV:AXE)
A polyamorous gay throuple who made history as the first family to list three dads on the same birth certificate have told how their unique journey into parenthood is 'like winning the lottery.'

Doctor Ian Jenkins, 45, and his partners Alan Mayfield and Jeremy Allen Hodges, from San Diego, made legal history in 2017 when a judge agreed to put them all on the birth certificate of daughter Piper, now three, paving the way for other polyamorous families to gain greater legal recognition in the US.

But despite the unconventional set-up, Jenkins - who previously told how the family spent a staggering $120,000 on legal fees and medical procedures to conceive their first child using donated embryos and a surrogate - insists they're just like any other modern family.

'I've got all these wonderful families accepting and loving us, and rejoicing in our children,' Ian said, speaking to People Magazine. 'We have two beautiful kids. I have two more partners than I thought I might. For me, it's kind of like winning the lottery.'

Doctor Ian Jenkins (pictured, right), 45, and his partners Alan Mayfield (middle) and Jeremy Allen Hodges (left), from San Diego, who made history as the first family to list three dads on the same birth certificate, have told how their unique journey into parenthood is 'like winning the lottery'

The family spent a staggering $120,000 on legal fees and medical procedures to conceive their first child via a surrogate. Pictured, Ian with son Parker

Ian and Alan have been together for seventeen years, since meeting during their medical residencies in Boston. They've been with their partner, Jeremy, who works at a zoo hospital, for eight years.

Since welcoming daughter Piper, who was conceived with Jeremy's sperm and a friend's donated egg, the throuple has gone on to have a 16-month-old son, Parker, using the same friend's eggs and Alan's sperm.

Both children, who are genetic half-siblings, were carried by surrogates.

Jeremy is known to the children as 'daddy', while Alan is 'dada' and Ian is 'papa'.

Describing the dynamics of the throuple's relationship, Jenkins equated it to a person liking different types of food at the same time, explaining that he is capable of loving both 'pizza' and 'ice cream' the same amount, but for different reasons.

'I really love pizza and I also love ice cream and there's not anything wrong with one or the other,' he explained.

'It's possible to love more than one food, and want both of them in your life. Most people understand that because very few of us know someone who's only had one partner their entire life.'

But the throuple were also aware that being a polyamorous family would introduce unique struggles, and Ian says the three men gave a lot of thought to bringing a child into the world.

Ian and Alan have been together for seventeen years, since meeting during their medical residencies in Boston. They've been with their partner, Jeremy, who works at a zoo hospital, for eight years. Pictured, together

The polyamorous gay throuple insist they're just like any other modern family. Pictured, in hospital with their newborn

'We worried the most about whether our children could suffer any ill consequences of our decision to parent,' he previously wrote in an essay for SheKnows.

Once deciding it was the right move, the men got started on the technical aspects of creating a human being.

First, two female friends, Julie and Stephanie, offered to donate their leftover embryos. The men found a another friend, Delilah, to carry them as their surrogate  but the embryos ended up working out.

That's when a childhood friend of Alan's, Meghan, agreed to donate her eggs.

All three men donated their sperm, with the throuple agreeing that 'the fastest swimmers' would be used, according to The San Diego Union-Tribune. Jeremy's sperm was used to conceive their daughter Piper, who was born in 2017, with all three men allowed in the delivery room.

Their final hurdle was getting all three of their names on the birth certificate once Piper was born, weighing 10 lb., 8 oz.

'I didn't want a court battle,' Jenkins told People. 'I just wanted to be a dad.'

While at first the judge argued there was no legal precedent for such a unique circumstance, she eventually accepted their request.

In total, the price of bringing Piper into the world - including IVF treatments and lawyers - set them back $120,000 medical and legal fees and more than 20 legal contracts, Jenkins says.

Since the throuple won that court battle in 2017, they've gone on to welcome baby number two Parker into the world, using a different surrogate but the same egg donor, a woman the children consider an aunt.

Family: Ian Jenkins (left), Alan Mayfield (center) and Jeremy Allen Hodges (right) now have two kids, three-year-old Piper and 16-month-old Parker

They went on to explain that this time, all three men were listed on the birth certificate with no court date needed.

The throuple are now detailing the ins and outs of their legal battles, and their parenting journey, in a new book, 'Three Dads and a Baby: Adventures in Modern Parenting', which also documents the hurdles they had to jump over to grow their family.

And Jenkins says how he and his partners are going to make sure their children are aware of the unique journey into the world.

'[Piper] knows exactly where she came from,' he explained to People. 'We've told her, "They took a little bit of Daddy Jeremy and they took a little bit of Mama Meghan and they put you in our surrogate, Delilah, and she helped you grow for nine months, and when you came out she gave you to us and we're your three dads."'

He added that it 'doesn't confuse' her - and days she's met both her surrogate and her biological mother.

In the book, Ian opens up further about the family's home life, insisting that it is 'remarkably ordinary and domestic' - contrary to what some might believe.

'The fact that Piper has three parents is just not a big deal,' he wrote.

'I have three parents myself  my mother, father and stepmother  and no one thinks anything of it.

'Some people seem to think its about a ton of sex or something, or were unstable and must do crazy things. [But] its really remarkably ordinary and domestic in our house and definitely not "Tiger King".'

But while the throuple is very open about their parenting journey, they agreed that the more intimate aspects of their romance would not be included in the book - although Ian does admit that the trio rarely sleep in the same bed because it would be too crowded, particularly with their two dogs also staking a claim to the space.
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Updated: Michael Deasy has been located safe and well.

Earlier

GARDAI are appealing for help in finding a missing Macroom man.

49-year-old Michael Deasy was last seen yesterday in the Douglas area of Cork city and has not returned home since.

Michael is 5 9 in height, slim build and with blonde, fair hair.

Michael Deasy was last seen yesterday in the Douglas area of Cork city and has not returned home since. Pic: An Garda Siochana

Gardai and Michaels family are concerned for his welfare.

Anyone with information on Michaels whereabouts is asked to contact Macroom Garda Station on 026 20590 or the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111.
EL CAJON, Calif., March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Cajon Valley Union School District, serving over 17,000 students in the East County of San Diego, will return to a pre-pandemic schedule of full-time school, five days a week, after Spring Break. This comes on the one-year mark of the global pandemic.

Cajon Valley Update on School Reopening Cajon Valley students participating in in-person learning.

Immediately after the state-mandated shut down of schools in April 2020, Cajon Valley reopened a limited number of schools to provide free childcare for essential workers. Initially serving several hundred students, the staff was able to set up schools for social distancing, managing stable student cohorts, and effective use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

During the summer break, over 1,000 Cajon Valley Employees, led by principals, opened all 27 schools for free summer learning and enrichment, serving over 6,500 students. This was a direct scale-up of the childcare pilot. This allowed the district to expand proper safety markings, equipment, and protocol to all schools, as well as a comprehensive training program based on the CDPH Safety Guidelines developed by the nurses and healthcare staff.

The immediate result of the summer success allowed Cajon Valley to invite all students to return to in-person learning in September, including four schools inviting students back 5 days a week.

In over 10 months of serving approximately 11,000 students in person, Cajon Valley experienced only one case of school COVID transmission and zero cases of student-to-student transmission. This demonstrates the ability to prevent the spread and community outbreak of COVID19 in schools with established safety measures.

As students return from Spring Break, all Cajon Valley students will have access to school as they had it before the pandemic began; 5 days a week, 8 am to 3 pm daily, in-person with a teacher. For families who wish to keep their children in distance learning, Cajon Valley will continue to provide that option as well.

To accommodate reduced class sizes, provide additional care and supervision, as well as properly adhere to safety guidelines from the California Department of Public Health, over 80 additional teachers and several hundred Classified Employees were hired since December 2020.

Additionally, this coming summer, Cajon Valley will host Camp Cajon, a camp-like summer program focused on enrichment, fun, and learning, free for all Cajon Valley Students. Family and staff interest surveys will be available shortly.

Cajon Valley is the best place to live, work, play and raise a family!

About Cajon Valley Union School District

Named a 2019 Top Workplace in San Diego, Cajon Valley Union School District focuses on the positivity of each student's unique strengths, interests, and values. Serving over 60 square miles of San Diego's East County, Cajon Valley Union School District offers personalized education, with programs that develop students into happy kids, healthy relationships, on a path to gainful employment; making El Cajon the best place to live, work, play and raise a family. Visit our website at www.cajonvalley.net .

Media contact:

Howard Shen

[email protected]

619-590-5823

SOURCE Cajon Valley Union School District

Related Links

http://www.cajonvalley.net


New Delhi: Amid a spike in coronavirus cases across the country, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday (March 17) stressed on the need to stop COVID-19 vaccine wastage.

As per the Ministry of Health, average COVID-19 vaccine wastage stands at 6.5 per cent in India with Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh topping the charts.

What entails vaccine wastage?

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), vaccine wastage includes any dose discarded, lost, damaged or destroyed.

One of the reasons for COVID-19 vaccination wastage is low turn up and poor planning. After a vial is opened, the healthcare workers have only a few hours to administer them. In case of low turn up of people, the dose gets wasted and has to be thrown away.

The health officials told Moneycontrol that chances of Bharat Biotech's Covaxin being wasted was more than SII's Covishield, as the former is available in 20 doses per vial, which means 20 people are needed for one vial. Bharat Biotech has assured that it will aim to make 10 doses per vial available soon.

Vaccine wastage also happens when vials are exposed to heat or get frozen.

In a virtual meeting with the Chief Ministers of states and Union Territories on Wednesday, the PM had said, Over 10% vaccine wastage in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. Vaccine wastage in UP is almost the same. It should be reviewed in states why vaccine wastage is happening. Monitoring must be done every evening and pro-active people should be contacted so that there's no wastage in every state.

PM Modi asserted that wasting a vaccine is taking away a persons right and directed states to work on targeting zero wastage.
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.
Spain is investigating three cases of blood clots in women who had recently had AstraZeneca's Covid vaccine.

The women all fell ill with thrombosis - the medical term for blood clots - between late Monday and early Tuesday, Spain's AEMPS medical agency said.

One of the women, a 43-year-old teacher with no pre-existing health conditions, subsequently died of a cerebral haemorrhage.

The agency said it is investigating a possible link between the vaccine and 'blood clots in areas of the body where they are less common', but said there is no evidence to link the vaccine and the clots at present.

European leaders are under fire for halting AstraZeneca jabs over blood clot fears, saying concerns are 'overblown' and the move will cost more lives than it saves.

Spain is probing three cases of blood clots in women - one of whom died - after getting AstraZeneca's Covid vaccine (file image)

Until it halted its use of the jabs on Tuesday, Spain had administered 975,661 doses.

The average person has around a 1 in 1,000 chance of developing a blood clot in any given year, meaning three cases of blood clots after almost 1million doses of vaccine is not out of the norm.

Meanwhile Spain has seen some 72,500 people die from coronavirus and recorded 3.2million cases.

Jeremy Brown, professor of respiratory diseases at UCL and an adviser to the UK government's vaccine programme, told BBC Radio 4 today that he cannot see the logic behind the Europe's ban on the jab.

'I don't understand why this is happening,' he said, 'we know the vaccine works, it prevents about 85 per cent of admissions to hospital after one dose. Even in the very old and the frail.

'By rolling out the vaccine you prevent deaths, by stopping the vaccine they will cause more illness and more deaths by this week or two hiatus using the vaccine than they will ever prevent.

'If people sit back and look at the overall picture which is this vaccine is incredibly safe, its very effective, and we are in the middle of a pandemic that we will not get out of until everyone has been vaccinated.

'To interrupt the vaccine for what will turn out - most likely - to be a spurious reason seems unnecessary.'

In total, 19 EU countries - including Spain, Germany, France and Italy - have suspended their use of AstraZeneca jabs over clotting fears, despite the fact that no evidence of a link has been uncovered.

Nineteen European countries have either suspended or restricted use of AstraZeneca jabs over fears about clots, despite experts saying they have been 'overblown'

Italy announced earlier this week that it was investigating the death of teacher Sandro Tognatti who died suddenly on Sunday after getting a shot, but an initial autopsy found he died from a sudden cardiac event.

Doctors said there was no evidence of clots in his body, that his internal organs appeared healthy, and that there was no evidence the vaccine led to his death.

The EU is presiding over one of the world's slowest vaccine roll-outs, which had been hampered by red tape and supply bottlenecks even before use of AstraZeneca's jab was suspended - slowing the process down further.

But that was not apparent in a remarks that Ursula von der Leyen made in Brussels today when she pinned sole blame for the shambles on the drug-maker itself.

The EU president also made the extraordinary threat of blocking vaccine exports from Europe to the UK unless it starts handing over AstraZeneca jabs.

'All options are on the table. We are in the crisis of the century. And I'm not ruling out any anything for now,' Ms von der Leyen told reporters in Brussels.

The sabre-rattling drew a furious response from London, where Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said her comments flew in the face of 'direct assurances' that contracts will be honoured.

'I think it takes some explaining because the world's watching,' Mr Raab said.

'All of us, including our European friends, had been saying throughout the pandemic, that you'd be wrong to curtail or interfere with lawfully-contracted supply.

'We all said it last year on PPE. We've been saying it this year, on vaccines and other things.

Mr Raab said the stance 'cuts across the direct assurances that we had from the Commission'. 'We expect those assurances and legal contracted supply to be respected,' he added.

'Frankly, I'm surprised we're having this conversation. It is normally what the UK and EU team up with to reject when other countries with less democratic regimes than our own engage in that kind of brinkmanship.'
A County Tyrone haulier has appeared in court charged in connection with the deaths of migrants found in the back of a lorry in Essex in 2019.

Caolan Gormley (23), from the Kedew Road in Caledon, has been charged with conspiracy to assist illegal immigration.

39 Vietnamese nationals were found in the lorry on October 23, 2019, in the Grays area of Essex.

Northern Irish man Mo Robinson, who was driving the lorry at the time, was later found guilty of 39 counts of manslaughter and was sentenced to 13 years and four months in prison.

Robinson discovered the bodies on the back of the lorry's container after the unit arrived into Purfleet having travelled from from Zeebrugge in Belgium.

Read More

He appeared by video-link at Southend Magistrates Court.

During the hearing it was alleged that Gormley allowed vehicles in his haulage fleet to be used for transporting migrants into the United Kingdom.

He spoke only to confirm his identity and that he understood the proceedings.

Gormley is due to enter a plea at the Old Bailey on April 14 and was granted unconditional bail until that date.
Armenia acting health minister on citizens' demand for her resignation

Karabakh's new State Minister Artak Beglaryan on his appointment and future activities

Armenian, Russian and Azerbaijani representatives hold consultations in Moscow

2 Armenian soldiers receive slight injuries after incident with Azerbaijani servicemen in Armenia's Gegharkunik

Armenian boy weighing 5 kg born at Goris Medical Center

"Armenia" bloc representative presents purpose of participation in elections and plans

Isaac Herzog elected President of Israel

Rouhani: Main issues between Tehran, Washington resolved in Vienna

Charles Michel calls on Armenia and Azerbaijan to resume constructive negotiations

US Department of State responds to Pashinyan's proposal to deploy international observers on Armenia-Azerbaijan border

Head of Armenia 2nd President's Office: Robert Kocharyan's public meetings are held in warm atmosphere

Opposition "Armenia" bloc's representative on photos and videos showing bags of deceased servicemen's bodies

Armenia Ombudsman, AGBU President discuss war crimes committed by Azerbaijan during Karabakh war

Opposition "Armenia" bloc's representatives to hold briefings three times a week

Opposition "Armenia" bloc member: Blood-freezing photos and videos from morgue in Abovyan are authorities' reflection

Yerevan mayor receives Netherlands Ambassador

Armenia Health Ministry, Investigative Committee keep info about sending remains of dead soldiers abroad confidential

Armenia Prosecutor General's Office launches case regarding leaving sacs of servicemen's bodies/remains in basement

Peskov: Putin and Biden to discuss cybersecurity issues

Armenia's Pashinyan meets with Belgian PM Alexander De Croo

Armenia acting MOD receives Netherlands Ambassador

Armenia Police: 3 citizens apprehended during protest demanding acting health minister's resignation

NATO warns Minsk about further consequences of Ryanair incident

Armenia economic competition protection commission: Experts forecast inflation of butter prices

Armenia citizens' protest against acting health minister is over

Pashinyan visits France, judicial farce against Armenian POWs kicks off in Baku, Jun. 2 digest

Armenian Ambassador, FMO representatives consider opportunities for expansion of cooperation in Armenia

Armenia Prosecutor General is on working visit to Russia

Armenia acting PM meets with European Council President in Brussels

Armenia citizens throw polyethylene bags at Health Ministry building, police apprehend protesters

Acting deputy minister: Armenia authorities plan to build 46km section of North-South highway in 2021

Dollar is stable in Armenia

Armenia official: Large number of projects being prepared in construction sector

Identity of man killed Wednesday morning in downtown Yerevan is found out

Armenian lawyer: Azerbaijan poses a threat to security in Europe

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

Missing Armenian soldiers' relatives hand letter to Russia Embassy with request to solve captives' issue

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
Microsoft Tuesday issued instructions and a one-click tool to small businesses with on-premises Exchange servers to patch the vulnerability first disclosed by the company March 2, and which criminals have been using to spy on victims' communications as well as gain access to other parts of their networks.

"We realized that there was a need for a simple, easy to use, automated solution that would meet the needs of customers using both current and out-of-support versions of on-premises Exchange Server," Microsoft said in a post to a company blog attributed to the MSRC (Microsoft Security Research Center) Team.

The tool, dubbed (with the usual Microsoft knack of catchy monikers), "Microsoft Exchange On-Premises Mitigation Tool," is aimed at customers that don't have dedicated IT personnel or are even "unfamiliar," Microsoft said, with the patching and update process. The tool works on Exchange 2013, 2016, and 2019, the currently supported editions of the server software. (Exchange 2013 will be supported until April 2023, while the other two editions will be supported until October 2025.)

Microsoft Microsoft's free tool for small businesses mitigates against attacks on Exchange Server using one of the several vulnerabilities the Redmond, Wash. developer patched March 2. (Click image to enlarge it.)

According to Microsoft, the tool is "not a replacement for the Exchange security update," but a stopgap measure to defend vulnerable Exchange servers until the customer can deploy the actual fix.

The tool does several things, notably configuring Exchange Server to institute a mitigation for the CVE-2021-26855 vulnerability (one of four now being exploited by cyber criminals). The tool also runs a malware scan using "Microsoft Safety Scan," a free utility that both sniffs out exploits and attempts to reverse any changes made by attackers. (The scanner, which can also be manually downloaded from here, is live for the following 10 days. Users can trigger it for additional scans at any time after the mitigation through that stretch.)

This was not the first automated script Microsoft has offered customers to mitigate against attacks based on the Exchange Server bugs patched on March 2. Three days after that, Microsoft posted links to multiple mitigation tools, including "ExchangeMitigations.ps1," a PowerShell script that tackled several of the patched vulnerabilities, including CVE-2021-26855, which was also addressed by the newer On-Premises Mitigation Tool.

"We recommend this script over the previous ExchangeMitigations.ps1 script as it [is] tuned based on the latest threat intelligence," Microsoft said Tuesday. "If you have already started with the other script, it is fine to switch to this one."

The Exchange Server vulnerabilities were patched March 2 in one of Microsoft's rare out-of-band updates, meaning the update was released outside the usual second-Tuesday-of-each-month schedule.

Microsoft's best source of information on the vulnerabilities and the exploits of them can be found in a security blog post on the Exchange Server attacks.

The attacks quickly jumped from those against the largest organizations to a larger pool of victims as the number of bad actors behind them expanded, that unusual in itself.

Additional guidance for those responsible for maintaining the security of Exchange Server software can be found in a March 16 post to the MSRC blog.
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Premier Brian Pallister argued the removal of elected trustees will make the Manitoba public school system more accountable, as he defended his government's proposed reforms.

Premier Brian Pallister argued the removal of elected trustees will make the Manitoba public school system more accountable, as he defended his government's proposed reforms.

The Education Modernization Act (Bill 64) was introduced in November, but not unveiled until Monday, as the province also released its long-awaited kindergarten to Grade 12 education review.

The proposed bill excludes one significant recommendation of the Progressive Conservative government-commissioned review, by getting rid of elected school trustees altogether and replacing them with government appointees.

"The recommendation wasn't to keep all elected trustees  it was to have some appointed and some elected," Pallister said at a Tuesday news conference. "Upon review, we made the decision, given that we were taking 80 per cent of the responsibilities of trustees away."

The provincial government had announced earlier it is phasing out the property education tax and changing how public schools are funded.

"The negotiation, the tax-setting responsibilities are the lion's share of what trustees do," Pallister said. "They won't be doing that going forward, so there wasn't the need to keep trustees.

"The model is to put power down to the parent councils. Community education councils will have much more power, much more responsibility. Principals will be educational leaders now," the premier said.

"When a parent has a problem with their child in school, they don't go to a trustee. They don't go to a superintendent  not with great frequency. They go to a teacher," said Pallister, who reminded reporters he and his mother were both teachers.

"We want to empower teachers and parents to have that relationship."

The province expects $40 million in savings will be redirected to classrooms when 37 public school boards are replaced by a single education authority.

Pallister couldn't say how many jobs will be lost. Staff at all the school division offices forced to close will "get first option at getting government jobs in their region that become available, in their skill set."

"We understand there will be impacts, because there's a lot of top-heaviness in our education system," said Pallister.

In 2019, Statistics Canada reported school board administrative costs in Manitoba, on average, accounted for 3.13 per cent of board spending. In Ontario, it accounted for 2.1 per cent; Saskatchewan spent 2.2 per cent on administrative costs; the Canadian average was 2.5 per cent.

"Those savings are going to the front line to help our children, our teachers, our students and our schools," said Pallister.

On Tuesday, Opposition NDP Leader Wab Kinew said creating an education authority  a "huge new bureaucracy"  won't lead to any savings redirected to the so-called front lines.

"It's sort of like a Shared Health of education, when the real demands are for us to make sure every kid in Manitoba has an equal chance at succeeding in education by ensuring we're doing everything we can to mitigate child poverty," Kinew told reporters.

Meanwhile, Pallister said parents need to get involved, and outlined the role school community councils will play in decision making.

"They will be responsible for assessing the effectiveness of programming at the school. They will analyze the student achievement learning outcomes. They'll determine the areas of focused improvement. The principal must be accountable to them," the premier said.

"The need to evaluate the performance of any person employed at that school will be within the advisory powers of the community councils. Capital construction projects  when they're proposed at the school site  they'll get to overview those. They'll get to see the proposed annual budget. They'll get to see the monthly expenditures."

On Monday, NDP MLA Lisa Naylor (Wolseley), a former Winnipeg School Division trustee, said she fears the most marginalized students will be left further behind by an education authority made up of government appointees.

"From watching the pandemic, this government can't be trusted to stand up for the most marginalized, to make decisions for people who are really suffering."

carol.sanders@freepress.mb.ca
Mar. 16Correction appended

The love fest between state leaders and the film industry continued Monday during what usually is an in-person presentation to showcase the value of the state's 25 to 35 percent tax credit.

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham spoke via Zoom to address the resilience of the film industry, which she lauded for embracing COVID-safe practices.

"The film industry was the first industry to engage independently for their own COVID testing," Lujan Grisham said. "They have done more than 60,000 tests with a .18 [percent] positivity rate."

The state's film sector was shut down from mid-March until reopening in September with COVID-19 protocols in place.

But the industry filmed 76 productions with $274.9 million in direct spending in fiscal 2020, a relatively modest decrease from the 2019 record year of $525 million in spending and 91 projects, New Mexico Economic Development Secretary Alicia J. Keyes said.

Keyes added 40 percent of the spending is for goods and services from New Mexico companies.

Business Facilities magazine ranks New Mexico at No. 2 as film production leaders with Georgia in the top spot and Louisiana, California and New York just behind.

"We are positioning New Mexico as a leading state for film production," the governor said.

Actress Jeanine Mason stars in the CW-TV show Roswell, New Mexico that has been filmed in the state (though not in Roswell) since 2018.

"I don't think I'm biased in saying [the New Mexico crews] are the best of the best," Mason said at the film day's virtual news conference.

She said she buys sweets from Kakawa Chocolate House in Santa Fe as Christmas gifts for cast and crew members.

"I love living here," Mason said. "I love working here. Several cast members have bought homes here. When Roswell comes to an end, I will absolutely be looking for another job in New Mexico."

Correction: This story has been amended to reflect the following correction. A previous version of this story incorrectly reported the amount of direct spending of the film industry in New Mexico in fiscal year 2020. There was $274.9 million in direct spending in fiscal 2020.
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - March 17, 2021) - Universal PropTech Inc. (TSXV: UPI) (FSE: 8LH) ("UPI" or the "Company") announces the appointment of prominent investor and capital markets professional David Berry to its Advisory Board while supporting the Company's efforts in investments and acquisitions of proptech and related services.

David Berry (BSc, MBA, CFA) began his career as a chartered accountant with Ernst & Young from 1993-1995 prior to joining Scotia Capital where he became one of the most successful traders in Canadian history. Starting off in Scotia's Research Department, David transitioned to the Sales and Trading team where, until 2005, he carried Scotia's entire proprietary preferred share book. During this period, Mr. Berry cemented his reputation while setting unprecedented records for the growth of Scotia's proprietary trading market share (going from virtual obscurity upon his arrival to over 65% of the market by 2005) while accounting for over 40 percent of the P&L of the entire institutional equity department which resulted in excess of $75 million in annual profits and his becoming the highest paid employee at Scotia (and the highest paid trader in Canada).

"I am very excited by the opportunity assist UPI with its continued growth. In particular, I am looking forward to lending my expertise and leaning on my considerable business connections while helping UPI with its investment in ISBRG Corp and SpotLight-19," commented Mr. Berry. "I see tremendous value in bringing leading edge tech to market and de-risking them for investors."

"David brings a significant amount of experience and relationships that are critical to scaling Universal PropTech over the coming years," noted Chris Hazelton, Chief Executive Officer of Universal PropTech Inc.

The Company has granted an aggregate of 400,000 options pursuant to the Company's stock option plan. The stock options vest immediately at an exercise price of $0.45 for a period of three years from the date of grant. The grant of options is subject to the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange.

About Universal PropTech Inc.

Universal PropTech Inc. (TSXV: UPI) (FSE: 8LH) is a leading building innovation company, selecting, integrating, deploying, and maintaining PropTech in healthy buildings. As trusted advisors, we provide holistic evidence-driven solutions and services for building developers, owners, and operators in Canada. UPI operates through its wholly owned subsidiary, VCI Controls Inc. ("VCI"), a leading supplier and integrator of PropTech healthy building solutions and services. VCI is an industry leader in the acquisition and deployment of intelligent building technology, including the integration of all building systems utilizing the latest in communications technologies and standards. VCI's business focuses on digital controls and mechanical services, performance monitoring, and energy efficiency solutions.

With headquarters in Toronto, Universal PropTech Inc. has offices across Canada including, Halifax, Montreal, and Ottawa. For more information, visit www.universalproptech.com.

Contact Information

Universal PropTech Inc.

Chris Hazelton

President and Chief Executive Officer

chazelton@universalproptech.com

(647) 300-2957

Forward Looking Statements

Certain information provided in this press release constitutes forward-looking statements and information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking information typically contains statements with words such as "anticipate", "believe", "forecast", expect", "plan", "intend", "estimate", "propose", "project", or similar words suggesting future outcomes. The Company cautions readers and prospective investors in the Company's securities not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information as, by its nature, it is based on current expectations regarding future events that involve a number of assumptions, inherent risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated by the Company.

The forward-looking information included herein is expressly qualified in its entirety by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking information included herein is made as of the date hereof and the Company assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information to reflect new events or circumstances, except as required by law.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange ("Exchange"), nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/77565
(Newser)  Chinese embassies in about 20 nations have announced that visas are starting to be processed for foreigners who want to visit again. The guidelines for each country vary, but the usual rules about having to quarantine and test negative for COVID-19 first will be in place, the Guardian reports. But China is adding a wrinkle that could make the issue moot for many people: No one will be allowed in unless they've been given a Chinese-made coronavirus vaccine. Not even foreign vaccines approved by the World Health Organization will suffice. So while China has told Australians they can visit, for example, they're effectively left out because no Chinese vaccine is approved for use in Australia. Those who don't meet that requirement might still be allowed into China, per CNBC, but the threshold for approving their reason for the trip will be higher, and they might need certain documents others won't.

story continues below

People from several countries invited by China are in the same predicament. Chinese vaccines are approved for use in Philippines, Thailand, and Iraq. The country has produced five vaccines, and 34 nations have approved at least one of them, per CNBC. By comparison, 72 countries have endorsed Pfizer's coronavirus vaccine. One reason for the difference could be the fact that less data have been available for Chinese products. The government's decision gives the appearance of pressuring other countries to approve China's vaccines. "Vaccine nationalism is a possibility that cannot be ruled out given the absence of further explanation," an academic in Singapore said. A Chinese government spokesman said that's not the case. "Our proposal  is made after thoroughly considering the safety and efficacy of Chinese vaccines," he said. "This is an arrangement made by the Chinese side unilaterally. It is a different thing from vaccine recognition." (Read more China stories.)
It wouldnt have been a Carl Hiaasen column if it didnt go on the attack. In his Miami Herald farewell on Friday, Mr. Hiaasen took aim at the sorry state of local news coverage.

Retail corruption is now a breeze, he wrote, since newspapers and other media can no longer afford enough reporters to cover all the key government meetings.

Mr. Hiaasen, 68, joined The Miami Herald as a reporter in 1976 and started his column in 1985. Along the way he became a best-selling author, writing about Floridas underbelly and environmental devastation in comic novels like Tourist Season, Sick Puppy and Strip Tease. Now he will no longer have a weekly venue for skewering government officials, business leaders and the various absurdities of life in the Sunshine State.

Nobody becomes a journalist because they yearn for mass adoration, he wrote in his final column. Donald Trump didnt turn the public against the mainstream media; the news business has never been popular.
The deep drilling program is designed to test an interpreted giant gold-copper rich porphyry system identified in geological, geophysical and geochemical data immediately below the high-grade epithermal Juruena Gold Deposit.

The remainder of the assays from the 2020 drill program have been received and will be used in a JORC resource update due for release shortly.

s ( ) (FRA:RNF) deep drilling program below the high-grade Juruena Gold Deposit in Brazil appears to be close to intersecting the first major drill target  a large geophysical IP chargeability anomaly interpreted to be associated with a giant gold-copper rich porphyry system.

The first of three deep 1,200 metres long drill holes at Juruena has reached 500 metres and the company has recorded an increase in sulphide content (pyrite) from 440 metres downhole with the presence of vein-hosted molybdenite and magnetite.

Drilling is expected to intersect a second major target of gold-copper rich Crentes-style breccia hosted mineralisation within the Juruena fault system at around 1,000 metres depth.

Exciting exploration opportunity

Encouragingly in one of the drill holes, the company has already intersected shallow (118 metres) epithermal style gold-copper breccia mineralisation at Crentes Prospect including 51 metres at 1.40 g/t gold and 0.25% copper from 118 metres.

Meteoric managing director Andrew Tunks said: This is an exciting time for Meteoric with the first deep drill hole just now reaching the top of the interpreted Deep IP anomaly, targeting a potential source for the shallow copper and gold we see at Dona Maria and Crentes.

At this stage of the drilling we have intersected regional alteration and some pyrite-rich zones along with minor molybdenite which is common in the porphyry environment.

The hole will continue to test the centre of the IP anomaly and then go on to test the Juruena Fault zone at a depth of around 1,000 metres.

The intercept of 50 metres at 1.4 g/t gold and 0.25% copper is an encouraging indication of the potential of the Juruena fault to be both a host to mineralisation and as a fluid pathway from deeper systems.

Whilst we know there is extensive copper gold mineralisation near surface, imagine if we also strike similar at depth, it would immediately open a further exciting exploration opportunity.

A stylised cross-section showing the interpreted magmatic system for a porphyry- epithermal gold-copper-molybdenum-silver style of mineralisation.

Resource update pending

The remainder of the assay results from the 2020 drill program have now been received and the company has commissioned Trepanier Pty Ltd to complete a mineral resource estimate update for all prospects in the Juruena Project.

The updated resource estimate is expected to be available for release to the market shortly.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-17 10:33:28|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, March 17 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese mainland on Wednesday rolled out measures to support the development of Taiwan-funded enterprises in agriculture and forestry on the mainland.

Effective from the day of their promulgation, the measures cover a variety of aspects concerning the development of Taiwan-funded enterprises in agriculture and forestry, including the use of agricultural and forest land, financing and funding support, investment and business operation, research and development, innovation, and local market exploration.

They are launched to further provide equal treatment for compatriots and enterprises from Taiwan, support their participation in the high-quality development of agriculture and forestry on the mainland, and promote rural vitalization.

Known as "22 measures on agriculture and forestry," the document was jointly unveiled by the State Council's Taiwan Affairs Office, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, the State Forestry and Grassland Administration, the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Natural Resources, the Ministry of Water Resources, the Ministry of Commerce, the People's Bank of China, the State Administration for Market Regulation, and the All China Federation of Supply and Marketing Cooperatives.

It came among efforts to promote the implementation of the mainland's 14th Five-Year Plan for development and improve systems and policies to better protect the wellbeing of Taiwan compatriots and ensure that they receive the same treatment on the mainland.

It is believed that the measures will further promote exchanges, cooperation, and integrated development across the Taiwan Strait, and facilitate compatriots on both sides of the Strait to enjoy a better life. Enditem
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Houston defense attorney Anthony "Tony" Buzbee is drawing headlines (again) after suing the trade-seeking Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson.

Buzbee of The Buzbee Law Firm in Houston is representing a total of seven licensed massage therapists who have accused Watson of sexual assault or harassment. Watson responded to the first lawsuit Tuesday night, in which he called Buzbee a "publicity-seeking plaintiff's lawyer" and argued he has "never treated any woman with anything other than the utmost respect." He has not commented since.

This is not the first time Buzbee has been at the center of media attention.

The former Houston mayoral candidate has made headlines for sleeping on the streets after the historic winter freeze (and then returning to a luxury hotel), announcing a food and travel show right after he lost the mayoral election in 2019 and hosting political fundraisers, including raising millions of dollars at his River Oaks home for former President Donald Trump.

So who is Buzbee? Here are five things to know about the pugnacious Houston millionaire lawyer:

1. Buzbee's lawyer chops



Buzbee has made a name for himself as a prominent defense attorney with high-profile clients that include former Gov. Rick Perry, which he helped serve as lead counsel during his abuse of power case in 2014. He helped Perry on his campaign for governor and served on the Texas A&M University System board of regents after Perry appointed him in 2013.

Some of his high-profile wins include a $41 million settlement for a spider-bite victim in 2015 and a $100 million verdict for Texas City residents injured by toxic emissions from a BP plant in 2009. A Houston federal judge later shot down that verdict, which was previously noted as the largest verdict ever against BP.

He told Texas Inc in 2019 his largest settlement win was $500 million and his largest court win was a $159 million verdict.

2. His DWI arrest

Buzbee was arrested on driving while intoxicated charges in 2016. His case was dismissed after then-outgoing Harris County District Attorney Devon Anderson said it was "the right thing to do" based on the circumstances, although the decision raised eyebrows in the courtroom.

3. His mayoral run

Buzbee announced he was running for Houston mayor in 2018 by calling all the candidates "mediocre" and promising to donate the mayor's annual salary of $236,000 to a random person of his choice each year. He self-funded his race and poured in more than $10 million to his campaign, which he focused on corruption, crime, and wasteful spending. The race got nasty after Buzbee made repeated attacks on incumbent Sylvester Turner and allegedly created deep fake videos that put his opponents in a bad light. Turner fought back with ads that attacked Buzbee's DWI arrest, accused him of buying his way into power and compared him to Trump.

The race went into a runoff, but Buzbee ultimately lost. Shortly after losing the race, Buzbee announced plans for a food-themed show, Uninvited, which he said would spotlight Houston restaurants.

I thought I was Trump. Now I'm Anthony Bourdain, Buzbee previously told the Chronicle. That's one comparison I would damn well take.

No episodes of his show have been released yet.

Melissa Phillip/Staff photographer

4. His home life

Buzbee grew up on a farm in Queen City, Texas, went to Texas A&M, served in the Marines and then later attended law school at the University of Houston before becoming a lawyer and starting his own firm. In 2020 he got engaged to then-28-year-old Francis Moody on a yacht in the Bahamas. The Galveston socialite said yes to a 10-plus-carat cushion diamond ring.

5. His love for art  and attention

Buzbee is no stranger to the art world and has also been a victim of it. In 2018 he sued a Dallas woman he was on a first date with after she allegedly destroyed $300,000 worth of artworks and sculptures at his home. One year later $21 million worth of artwork and jewelry were stolen from his River Oaks mansion. He attempted to shoot the burglar but his gun misfired. Two men were later charged in connection with the burglary.

In 2017, he drew crowds to his neighborhood after he parked a World War II-era Sherman tank in front of his River Oaks home. Most recently, he made headlines for staying at the Four Seasons Hotel Houston after a publicity stunt in which he documented himself sleeping on downtown streets following the freeze. Buzbee said the stunt was meant to "prove a point and raise awareness," about the local government's response to the power outages.

rebecca.hennes@chron.com
Gardai have raided a suspected Covid-19 lockdown shebeen in Dublin.

As part of Operation Navigation, a private premises was searched by Gardai in Dun Laoghaire, investigating alleged breaches of liquor licencing legislation in support of current public health measures.

On Saturday, March 13 Gardai say theh received report of a number of persons gathered at a private premises in Monkstown.

Gardai say they attended the scene and a number of persons were found present at the premises.

"These persons will all be issued with Fixed Penalty Notices for an alleged breach of Regulation 4 of the Health Act, 1947 Regulations - Restriction on the Movement of Persons. One male, aged in his 20s, was arrested for public order offences. He has since been released without charge pending consideration for the Adult Caution scheme

"A subsequent search of the premises was conducted under warrant and Gardai seized a number of beer taps, kegs, gas cylinders and other bar equipment. A small quantity of suspected cocaine was also seized by Gardai," said Gardai.

Enquiries are ongoing and a file will now be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Gardai say the COVID-19 pandemic remains a public health crisis and they continue to appeal to all citizens to comply with Public Health Guidelines and Regulations in order to save lives.
A member of the Mexican Guard stands guard at the border between the United States and Mexico in Sunland Park, N.M., on March 15, 2021. (Justin Hamel/AFP via Getty Images)

Former DHS Chief Says Migrants Wont Listen to Bidens Calls Not to Come

Former Homeland Security (DHS) acting secretary Chad Wolf warned the White House that the immigration crisis wont subside because President Joe Bidens messaging doesnt work.

At the end of the day, these illegal migrants dont listen to government officials, Wolf told Fox News, responding to calls from Biden to migrants urging them to stay home.

Wolf said illegal immigrants instead listen to other illegals who have gotten into the U.S. that call them and tell them that they are here, they are staying in the U.S., they are not being deported or removed to their home countries, Wolf remarked.

Biden told ABC News on Tuesday that migrants thinking of traveling to the U.S.-Mexico border should not leave [their] city, or town, or community.

More than 100,400 people tried to cross the U.S.-Mexico border in February, representing a 28 percent increase since January, said Troy Miller, the acting commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Wolf told Fox that the Trump administration had different messaging than the current one.

Back in 2019 under President Trump we had messaging as dont come because you will not be let into the country, he added. We know that the vast majority of these folks do not qualify for asylum, but unfortunately today we have a different set of messaging and a different set of policies in place which are encouraging, they are the pull factors that we see today, which is encouraging this crisis.

Lawmakers along the border have said that the surge of illegal immigrants is overwhelming their communities.

You have all these small communities that are doing everything they can to stay afloat during this environment, Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-Texas) told Fox61. These communities along the border, in particular, are compassionate communities. Immigration is not a new topic to them, but the numbers that are coming across are record numbers, added the lawmaker. Our Border Patrol agents are stretched thin, they need resources today.
It is conventional that after a presidential election, the losing political party engages in a discussion both public and private about how it lost and why it should approach the next election differently. In an effort to spark that conversation in the South Florida community, the University of Miamis Department of Political Science hosted a virtual dialogue about the future of the Republican Party.

Gregory Koger, department chair and professor of political science, explained, American politics depends on having two political parties that share a commitment to the basic rules and norms of the political process, so the future of the political party is not just of interest to Republicans, it is important to all of us. And for that reason the Department of Political Science decided to host this webinar.

The event featured panelists associated with the GOP from the South Florida area, including Al Cardenas, former chair of the Florida Republican Party; Mercedes Schlapp, former White House director of strategic communications for former President Donald J. Trump; Carlos Curbelo, former member of Congress; and Nelson Diaz, immediate past chair of the Republican Party of Miami-Dade County.

One of the first topics discussed was how the party needs to do a better job at appealing to the greater majority, without focusing on specific groups of voters.

It is obvious to me that the Republican Party is trying to win with just enough votes by appealing only to a very specific base, and thats not typically a winning strategy in a country where there are two political parties, Curbelo said. Both parties should be capable of winning the favor and the majority of Americans.

Diaz believes there is room for growth. Looking forward, I think we need to focus more on suburban women. This is an area where our success in 2016 was diminished in 2020. Weve also had small gains with Jewish Americans and African Americans, but in the long run we need bigger gains in these areas, he said.

Another challenge the party faces is the fact that there are more people, than ever before, who are not registered as a member of either party.

Theres about 30 percent of people who have decided not to join either party and we now have a circumstance that even more people under 25 have no party affiliation, explained Cardenas. This leaves the moderate side of either party pretty much nonexistent.

During the discussion, there were many varying opinions as to who would be the 2024 Republican presidential nominee. Nelson thinks Donald Trump should be the front-runner.

He is clearly the leader of the party at the moment. I dont think the Republican Party can move forward without Donald Trump in the party, said Nelson. I dont agree with everything he has said or done in the past, but I agree with almost everything that was done in the last four years when it comes to taxes and foreign policy.

Schlapp shared her thoughts on who may become a possible nominee.

I think we have to let this play out a bit and see what happens in the next four years. Were seeing rising stars in the party including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, she said. I also envision Ted Cruz running again. Only time will tell.

Curbelo suggested that the party should try to move on from Trump.

What happens to political parties in democracies when they become obsessed with one figure, is it becomes much harder for them to have a coherent policy agenda and set of proposals for the country, explained Curbelo. Something our founding fathers really wanted was for us not to be obsessed with any politician. Once the party gets over its obsession with Trump, it will be much easier for the party to put the spotlight on policy, agenda, and opportunities.

I think it will be a huge mistake for the Republicans to abandon support for Donald Trump, said Nelson, showing disagreement with Curbelos statement. I believe the millions who voted for Trump in 2020 will be very upset and decide not to vote or vote Democrat if we choose another leader, he added. It would be a huge mistake to walk away from him because I think he will help us win back the House of Representatives in 2022 and hopefully pick up Senate seats as well.
AstraZeneca vaccine bottles at a Pharmacy in Edgeware, London, Tuesday, March 16, 2021, as Britain continues use of the vaccine. In recent days, countries including Denmark, Ireland and Thailand have temporarily suspended the use of AstraZeneca's coronavirus vaccine after reports that some people who got a dose developed blood clots, even though there's no evidence that the shot was responsible. The European Medicines Agency and the World Health Organization say the data available do not suggest the vaccine caused the clots. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)

The European Union's chief executive criticized Anglo-Swedish vaccine-maker AstraZeneca on Wednesday, accusing the embattled pharmaceutical company of delaying Europe's coronavirus vaccination campaign and warning that the EU is weighing export bans to ensure supplies.

"AstraZeneca has unfortunately under-produced and under-delivered, and this painfully, of course, reduced the speed of the vaccination campaign," European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told reporters.

Von der Leyen said the company originally pledged to deliver 90 million doses of its shot in the first three months of 2021, but later said it could only provide 40 million, then more recently only 30 million.

Beyond criticism for its slow deliveries, notably in Europe, AstraZeneca also has had to deal with reports of dangerous blood clots in some recipients of its shot, although the company and international regulators say there is no evidence the vaccine is to blame. Several countries, including Germany, France, Italy and Spain, have suspended its use.

The EU's drug regulator insisted Tuesday that there is "no indication" it does so, and von der Leyen said Wednesday that "I trust AstraZeneca, I trust the vaccines."

AstraZeneca's formula is one of three vaccines in use on the continent. But the escalating concern is another setback for the EU's vaccination drive, which has been plagued by shortages and other hurdles and is lagging well behind the campaigns in Britain and the U.S.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen speaks during a media conference on the Commissions response to COVID-19 after a meeting of the College of Commissioners at EU headquarters in Brussels, Wednesday, March 17, 2021. The European Commission is proposing Wednesday to create a Digital Green Certificate to facilitate safe free movement inside the EU during the COVID-19 pandemic. (John Thys, Pool via AP)

Pharmacist Rajan Shah prepares a syringe of the AstraZeneca vaccine at St John's Church, in Ealing, London, Tuesday, March 16, 2021. In recent days, countries including Denmark, Ireland and Thailand have temporarily suspended their use of AstraZeneca's coronavirus vaccine after reports that some people who got a dose developed blood clots, even though there's no evidence that the shot was responsible. The European Medicines Agency and the World Health Organization say the data available do not suggest the vaccine caused the clots. Britain and several other countries have stuck with the vaccine. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen speaks during a media conference on the Commissions response to COVID-19 after a meeting of the College of Commissioners at EU headquarters in Brussels, Wednesday, March 17, 2021. The European Commission is proposing Wednesday to create a Digital Green Certificate to facilitate safe free movement inside the EU during the COVID-19 pandemic. (John Thys, Pool via AP)

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen gestures after participating in a media conference on the Commissions response to COVID-19 after a meeting of the College of Commissioners at EU headquarters in Brussels, Wednesday, March 17, 2021. The European Commission is proposing Wednesday to create a Digital Green Certificate to facilitate safe free movement inside the EU during the COVID-19 pandemic. (John Thys, Pool via AP)

For the second quarter of 2021, van der Leyen said, AstraZeneca will only deliver 70 million doses, less than half of the 180 million it was "contractually obliged to deliver."

Two production sites in the U.K. figure in the EU's advance purchasing agreement drawn up with AstraZeneca, she said, adding: "We're still waiting for doses to come from the U.K.," she said.

Von der Leyen also noted the EU has exported around 41 million vaccine doses to other countries. "But open roads run in both directions, and this is why we need to ensure that there is reciprocity and proportionality," she said.

"If the situation does not change, we will have to reflect on how to make exports to vaccine producing countries dependent on their level of openness," she added, without naming any country.

She said the EU still aims to vaccinate 70% of all adults by September.

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.
As long as the platforms persuade enough desperate news publishers to sign take-it-or-leave-it deals, there will now be no fair, independent arbitration. Google and Facebook made $4.3 billion and $700 million in advertising revenues in Australia respectively, according to official filings. At one stage News Corp argued it was owed up to $1 billion by the tech giants for its news stories. Australias major publishers are said to have secured deals worth $150 million with Google last month. News Corps new deal with Facebook covers newspapers such as The Australian, the Herald Sun and Australias Daily Telegraph, with a parallel agreement for Sky News Australia. It followed a bitter stand-off between Facebook and the Australian government. Facebook enforced a seven-day blackout that prevented Australian users from seeing news stories in their feeds, or Australian publishers being available anywhere on the social network. That ended when the Australian government agreed to amend legislation forcing Facebook to pay news organisations. It included a looser deadline for negotiating with publishers and assurances they could pull out of news in the future.

News Corps recent deals are scant on detail, but one key piece of information stands out: the time frame. The contracts with Google and Facebook are for a three-year period, suggesting the tech companies could roll back terms, or mount fierce re-negotiations, within a short period. Can these deals really claim to be the starting point for long-lasting agreements with publishers, or are they merely short-term tests for the tech firms? Douglas McCabe, chief executive of Enders Analysis, says News Corps deals were tactical victories and it had done an impressive job of keeping this issue front of peoples minds. But the strategic question remains in place, he added. How to improve the incentives for independent, quality news origination in the digital age, assuming we all agree that plays a critical role in a healthy democracy. We hope the UKs Digital Markets Unit will deal with such strategic questions. Concerns from the UKs regulators and politicians have only intensified following Australias dust up with Facebook and Google. Two years after the Cairncross review into the future of journalism, the UK is now on the verge of launching a unit to tackle techs dominance.

Damian Collins, the Conservative MP, says: Letting publishers and tech firms come to an agreement is the best way to go, but that will be much harder if there is no compulsion and the tech giants can just walk away. Whether the UK will go the whole hog and lump Facebook and Google with a blanket threat of paying for news is less certain. Facebook and Google have both already agreed to launch news products in the UK, which see them investing in deals with select publishers. News Corp chief Robert Thomson has changed his tune. Credit:AP But media companies hope things will go further than behind-closed-doors agreements that see small subsidies for newsrooms. A News Media Association spokesman says: The deals that news publishers are reaching with the tech platforms are a welcome acknowledgement of the principle that journalism has to be paid for. This does not however diminish the requirement for a robust regulatory framework underpinned by legislation to level the playing field.

In the US, the narrative around Big Tech and journalism has undergone a rapid shift. Brad Smith, president of Microsoft, appeared before politicians on Friday saying his company would agree to pay for news even if it hit their bottom line. Anna-Sophie Harling, of NewsGuard Technologies and an adviser to Ofcom, says: We have seen a 180-degree turn from the US being proud of its tech platforms to deciding something needs to change. It is a bipartisan issue. Loading The Journalism Competition Preservation Act would give Facebook and Google a four-year window to come to a deal with publishers. David Cicilline, a Democrat representative, said the Bill will give hardworking local reporters and publishers the helping hand they need right now. NewsGuards Harling believes one challenge the UK faces is making sure smaller publishers are not left behind. The UK is less likely to present a nuclear option to US tech platforms - for one thing there is a trade deal to negotiate, she adds. Smaller publishers are worried that the focus will be on massive news organisations. Will they be left out?
Phoebe Dynevor has landed her first major film role since starring in Netflix's Bridgerton, in Sky Original film The Colour Room, it was announced on Wednesday.

The actress, 25, is set to star opposite Matthew Goode in the drama, which tells the true story of Clarice Cliff, a pioneering ceramic artist who became a rising star in the pottery industry in Stoke-On-Trent in the 1920s.

Gushing about the production, Phoebe said: 'I am so excited to be joining the cast of The Colour Room, especially in the role as one of the nations most celebrated artists, Clarice Cliff. It's truly such an honour to take on such a remarkable character.

Exciting: Bridgerton's Phoebe Dynevor has landed her first major film role since the Netflix hit and will star opposite Matthew Goode in The Colour Room, it was announced on Wednesday

'The script is a beautifully written contemporary take on the 20th century, and I feel proud to be working with such a strong female team, both in front and behind the camera.'

Phoebe, who was catapulted to stardom after playing Daphne Bridgerton in the Netflix hit, added: 'I look forward to telling Clarice's story and of course working with Matthew too.'

Matthew will take on the role of Colley Shorter, the factory owner who became impressed by Clarice's work and helped stoke her talent.

The actress, who played Daphne Bridgerton in the Netflix show (pictured) will play Clarice Cliff, a pioneering ceramic artist who became a rising star in the pottery industry in the 1920s

In real life, Clarice broke the glass ceiling to revolutionise the workplace during the 20th Century, and the film will see her take 'more and more dangerous risks' to bring her creations to life.

The artist went on to create the Art Deco 'Bizarre' range while apprenticing for renowned Art Designer Fred Ridgeway, played by David Morrissey.

Other actors set to join Phoebe, Matthew and David include Darci Shaw, Kerry Fox and Luke Norris, and production is set to begin in Birmingham and Stoke-On-Trent later this month.

Alongside the announcement, Phoebe and Matthew posed at Wedgewood Pottery Works to promote the film.

Delighted: Gushing about the production, Phoebe said: 'It's truly such an honour to take on such a remarkable character... and I feel proud to be working with such a strong female team'

Claire McCarthy is set to direct the film, which is based on the BAFTA Rocliffe-winning script by Claire Peate and is produced by Caspian Films, Sky, and Creative England.

Discussing the film, Peate said: 'The story was inspired by a single image; a young factory worker leaving her grim, industrial reality behind her and stepping into the rainbow of the Colour Room  a world of joy and possibility.

'It was thanks to the script winning at BAFTA Rocliffe and being performed on stage that it was picked up, and I'm thrilled to now be working with Phoebe and Matthew in bringing The Colour Room to life.'

The first season of Bridgerton follows the story of Daphne and Simon Bassett, the Duke of Hastings (Rege-Jean Page), who embark on a fake relationship to help each other out in Regency London before inadvertently falling in love with each other.

Season two is based on Julia Quinn's second Bridgerton novel The Viscount Who Loved Me, and stars Simone Ashley as Kate Sharma.

The book sees Daphne's brother Anthony (Jonathan Bailey) go on the hunt for a suitable bride, and while he tries to pursue Kate's sister Edwina he finds himself becoming attracted to her instead, despite often being at odds with each other.
More than 2,400 troops from eight states, 18 warships and 10 aircraft participate, between March 19 and 29, in "Sea Shield 21" - the largest and most complex NATO multinational exercise organized by the Romanian Naval Forces, in 2021, in the Black Sea area, according to AGERPRES.

The General Staff of the Naval Forces (SMFN) informed, on Wednesday, through a press release, that the training activities are led by the Fleet Command, the participating forces being from Bulgaria, Greece, Holland, Poland, Romania, Spain, United States of America And Turkey.

NATO's Allied Maritime Command participates with the permanent naval group SNMG-2 (Standing NATO Maritime Group), which also includes the "Queen Mary" frigate.

The main objective of the multinational exercise "Sea Shield 21" is to verify and strengthen the level of interoperability and cooperation between the Romanian Naval Forces and other categories of forces in the Romanian Army, various structures subordinated to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and other NATO naval forces.

Foreign military ships will dock in the port of Constanta, according to a plan, between March 17-19, for a stopover to restore combat capability and to prepare the last organizational details.
Update 3/18: President Magufuli has died at age 61. Reports indicate a heart condition as cause of death.

Sometimes we share news from far away. This is an interesting story from Africa. ABC News and other outlets have reported on Tanzanian President John Magufuli having been out of the spotlight since late February. Tanzania cops arrest man for reporting that president is ill Tanzanian police have arrested a man for circulating posts suggesting that President John Magufuli is in ill health

Magufuli is one of Africas most prominent COVID-19 skeptics. Last year he said the disease had been eradicated from Tanzania by three days of national prayer. He cast doubt on tests to determine COVID-19 discouraged Tanzanians from wearing masks, keeping a distance from others, and the use of vaccines to combat the disease. Magufulis absence is unusual as he is known for frequent public speeches and appearances on state television several times a week.

Below is another POV on the missing leader:

KIT KNIGHTLY, Tap News blog

John Magufuli, President of Tanzania, has disappeared. Hes not been seen in public for several weeks, and speculation is building as to where he might be.

The opposition has, at various times, accused the President of being hospitalised with Covid19, either in Kenya or India, although there remains no evidence this is the case.

To add some context, John Magufuli is one of the Covid denier heads of state from Africa.

He famously had his office submit five unlabelled samples for testing  goat, motor oil, papaya, quail and jackfruit  and when four came back positive and one inconclusive, he banned the testing kits and called for an investigation into their origin and manufacture.
Solution from Software AG works with SAP S/4HANA Cloud

HOUSTON, TX and DARMSTADT, GERMANY / ACCESSWIRE / March 17, 2021 / Software AG (SOW) today announced its TrendMiner software, which provides self-service industrial analytics for smart factories and Industry 4.0 operations, combines with the power of SAP S/4HANA Cloud and SAP Digital Manufacturing Cloud. As an open technology, the software also integrates into various IoT stacks including Software AG's Cumulocity IoT, to help predict and improve product quality (predictive quality management) in digital supply chain management.

"With TrendMiner, Software AG helps companies to leverage their industrial data, from sensors to control systems to historians in order to unlock its value," said Stefan Sigg, Chief Product Officer and executive board member at Software AG. "TrendMiner puts advanced analytics into the hands of production experts to address day-to-day questions. With Software AG's SAP partnership, we can help companies to turn their supply chain and production data into competitive advantages and accelerate their roadmaps to become intelligent enterprises."

TrendMiner is available on SAP Store, the digital marketplace for SAP and partner offerings. The software helps enable operational experts in process and other industries to analyze, predict and optimize performance using sensor-generated time-series data. This helps companies turn digital supply chain data into a competitive advantage by predicting production quality. TrendMiner extends the reach and benefits of the valuable data in SAP S/4HANA to new stakeholders on the manufacturing shop floor by giving them a ready-to-run solution created directly out of industry expertise.

"This is what an intelligent enterprise can look like -- we want our customers to benefit from the potential of Industry 4.0, where process and asset experts are empowered with advanced diagnostics to intuitively answer their day-to-day questions with the help of pattern recognition and machine learning technologies," said Jan Gilg, president SAP S/4HANA at SAP. "By partnering with Software AG, we help enable production line operators to become process analytics engineers of the future."

About Software AG

Software AG reimagines integration, sparks business transformation and enables fast innovation on the Internet of Things so you can pioneer differentiating business models. We give you the freedom to connect and integrate any technology from app to edge. We help you free data from silos so it's shareable, usable and powerful - enabling you to make the best decisions and unlock entirely new possibilities for growth.

Learn more about Software AG at www.softwareag.com. Follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter.

About TrendMiner

TrendMiner, a Software AG company and part of the IoT & Analytics division, delivers self-service data analytics to optimize process performance in industries such as chemical, petrochemical, oil & gas, water & wastewater, pharmaceutical, metals & mining, and other process industries. TrendMiner software is based on a high-performance analytics engine for time-series data that allows users to question data directly, without the support of data scientists. The plug-and-play software adds immediate value upon deployment, eliminating the need for infrastructure investment and long implementation projects. Search, diagnostic, and predictive capabilities enable users to speed up root cause analysis, define optimal processes, and configure early warnings to monitor production. TrendMiner software also helps team members to capture feedback and leverage knowledge across teams and sites. In addition, TrendMiner offers standard integrations with a wide range of historians such as OSIsoft PI, Yokogawa Exaquantum, AspenTech IP.21, Honeywell PHD, GE Proficy Historian, and Wonderware InSQL.

Founded in 2008 and now part of Software AG, TrendMiner's global headquarters is located in Belgium and has offices in the U.S., Germany, Spain, and the Netherlands.

SAP Forward-looking Statement

Any statements contained in this document that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements as defined in the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "forecast," "intend," "may," "plan," "project," "predict," "should" and "will" and similar expressions as they relate to SAP are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. SAP undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements.

All forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations. The factors that could affect SAP's future financial results are discussed more fully in SAP's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), including SAP's most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the SEC. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of their dates.

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SAP and other SAP products and services mentioned herein as well as their respective logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of SAP SE in Germany and other countries. Please see https://www.sap.com/copyright for additional trademark information and notices. All other product and service names mentioned are the trademarks of their respective companies.

TrendMiner Media Contact:

Dawn Fontaine

Ripple Effect Communications

Dawn@rippleeffectpr.com

617-536-8887

SOURCE: TrendMiner

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/636014/TrendMiner-Delivers-Prediction-and-Product-Quality-to-Digital-Supply-Chain-Management
#PresidenciaInforma | El presidente de la Republica, @FSagasti, brindara hoy una entrevista a las 7:30 a. m. en @radiouno_pe de Tacna. pic.twitter.com/sJT10jnwqP
A remote Scottish island that spans 11 acres has gone on the market for 80,000 - the same price as a London garage.

Deer Island - or Eilean an Fheidh - on Loch Moidary, in the west Highlands, boasts no houses or amenities and is covered in a patch of native woodland.

Auctioneers have said that there there is 'zero chance of intrusion' on the uninhabited island that is around 45 miles from Fort William.

And the price tag has stunned many potential buyers as it is the same as a garage on the Shaftesbury Estate in Battersea, South London.

Deer Island - or Eilean an Fheidh - on Loch Moidary, in the west Highlands, boasts no houses or amenities and is covered in a patch of native woodland

Auctioneers have said that there there is 'zero chance of intrusion' on the uninhabited island that is around 45 miles from Fort William

The island was owned by the Clanranald of Moidart dynasty for generations but it is not clear who is selling it when it goes under the hammer on March 26.

It neighbours Eilean Shona, owned by Vanessa Branson, the sister of billionaire Richard Branson, which is described as 'a car-free wilderness heaven' with a number of holiday cottages.

Future Auctions, which is handling the sale, said it was a 'rare opportunity' to own your own private Scottish island 'nestled in the stunning and tranquil Loch Moidart on the dramatic West Coast of Scotland'.

The price tag has stunned many potential buyers as it is the same as a garage on the Shaftesbury Estate (pictured) in Battersea, South London

The listing said: 'The uninhabited island is located within an extremely popular sea loch certain to appeal to investors from all over the world.'

The island costs less than a garage on the Shaftesbury Estate in Battersea, South London.

It is also more affordable than a three-bedroom terraced house in Ardrossan, Ayrshire, on sale for 72,000; a two-bedroom traditional tenement flat in Paisley, Renfrewshire for 75,000; and a one-bedroom modern apartment in Parkhead, Glasgow for 80,000.
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - March 17, 2021) - Psyched Wellness Ltd. (CSE: PSYC) (OTCQB: PSYCF) (FSE: 5U9) (the "Company" or "Psyched") a life sciences company focused on the production and distribution of artisanal functional and psychedelic mushrooms, is pleased to announce the company has submitted a provisional patent application with the United States Patent and Trademark office, to cover the Company's unique extraction processes for its proprietary Amanita muscaria extract AME-1.

The application was submitted on March 12, 2021 as App. No. 63/160,721, and discloses and claims muscimol extraction from Amanita mushrooms, and more particularly, enhanced muscimol extraction processes from Amanita muscaria, including by distillation and refluxing and/or pressing, resulting in a liquid or powder extract useful for preparations for human health.

"We have invested a lot of resources to develop AME-1 using a unique extraction protocol that we have developed," said David Shisel COO of Psyched Wellness. "We believe that AME-1 has great potential and will be the foundation for many future products."

Jeff Stevens, CEO of Psyched Wellness said, "Filing this provisional patent is key milestone for PSYC and our shareholders. We recognize the patent frenzy that is taking place in the sector and although we are the only company (we are aware of) studying Amanita Muscaria and, specifically, Muscimol, it is critical to protect our work and our shareholders from others infringing on our intellectual property. I see this as the first of many provisional patents to come."

For further information, please contact:

Jeffrey Stevens

Chief Executive Officer

Psyched Wellness Ltd.

Tel: 647-400-8494

Email: jstevens@psyched-wellness.com

Website: http://www.psyched-wellness.com

For media relations, please contact:

Anne Graf

KCSA Strategic Communications

agraf@kcsa.com

786-390-2644

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider have reviewed or accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

About Psyched Wellness Ltd.:

Psyched Wellness Ltd. is a Canadian-based health supplements company dedicated to the distribution of mushroom-derived products and associated consumer packaged goods. The Company's objective is to create premium mushroom-derived products that have the potential to become a leading North American brand in the emerging functional food category. The Company is in the process of developing a line of Amanita muscaria-derived water-based extracts, teas and capsules designed to help with three health objectives: promote stress relief, relaxation and assist with restful sleeping.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information and Statements

This press release contains 'forward-looking information' within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. These statements relate to future events or future performance. The use of any of the words "could", "intend", "expect", "believe", "will", "projected", "estimated" and similar expressions and statements relating to matters that are not historical facts are intended to identify forward-looking information and are based on Psyched Wellness Ltd. current belief or assumptions as to the outcome and timing of such future events. Forward-looking information is based on reasonable assumptions that have been made by Psyched at the date of the information and is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking information, including, without limitation, (i) the accuracy of the Toxicology Assessment, (ii) the safety of Amanita Muscaria consumption and the safety and purity of any extracts thereof, and (iii) the uses and potential benefits of Amanita Muscaria. Given these risks, uncertainties, and assumptions, you should not unduly rely on these forward-looking statements. The forward-looking information contained in this press release is made as of the date hereof, and Psyched is not obligated to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. The foregoing statements expressly qualify any forward-looking information contained herein. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements are described under the caption "Risk Factors" in Psyched Wellness Ltd. management's discussion and analysis for the six months ended May 31, 2020 and covering the subsequent period up to July 27, 2020 ("MD&A"), dated July 27, 2020, which is available on Psyched Wellness Ltd. profile at www.sedar.com.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, and shall not constitute an offer, solicitation or sale in any state, province, territory or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state, province, territory or jurisdiction.

This news release includes data that has been obtained from third party sources, including the findings from the Toxicology Assessment. The Company believes that the data is accurate and that its estimates and assumptions are reasonable, but there is no assurance as to the accuracy or completeness of this data. Third party sources generally state that the information contained therein has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but there is no assurance as to the accuracy or completeness of included information. Although the data is believed to be reliable, the Company has not independently verified any of the data from third party sources referred to in this news release or ascertained the underlying assumptions relied upon by such sources.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/77481
Mar. 17ATLANTA  On the Senate floor Monday, State Sen. Michelle Au told colleagues she must speak on an issue that "has not received enough attention over the last year."

Au, one of the Georgia General Assembly's Asian American legislators, urged lawmakers to wake up to violence and racism against the Asian American community that has reportedly increased since the start of the pandemic.

"All I am asking right now  as the first east Asian senator in Georgia  is simply to fully consider us as part of your communities," she said. "Recognize that we need help, we need protection and we need people in power to stand up with us against hate."

Two days later, Atlanta is reeling from a horrific shooting at three massage parlors that killed eight people  six of them Asian Americans and seven women.

Au said she was "shaken" and while it's too early to pinpoint motive, she asked again for Georgians to stand in solidarity with Asian American residents.

"Our AAPI (Asian American Pacific Islander) community has been living in fear this past year in the shadow of escalating racial discrimination attacks. This latest series of murder only heightens that terror," she said.

"We are scared for our families," she added. "We are scared for our friends."

Robert Aaron Long, the 21-year-old suspect in the metro Atlanta shootings, told investigators he killed eight people because of a "sexual addiction," according to Cherokee County Sheriff's Office Capt. Jay Baker.

Although motives for the shooting are still under investigation by law enforcement, the killings have devastated the Asian American community which has been under increased attack. Advocates say there has been a surge of harassment against Asian Americans after the former president began using xenophobic language and blaming China for the COVID-19 pandemic.

A recent report released by advocacy group Stop AAPI Hate detailed 3,795 anti-Asian hate incidents nationwide between March 19, 2020 and February 28, 2021. Women over two times more likely to be the victims than men.

Story continues

Georgia lawmakers passed a hate crimes bill last session  the first on the books in decades  after the shooting of unarmed Black man, Ahmaud Arbery in Brunswick.

The spa shootings Tuesday sparked national outcry and grief. Vice President Kamala Harris, the first Black, Asian American and woman to hold the second highest office in the country, condemned the shootings.

"Our prayers are extended to the families of those who have been killed, and it speaks to a larger issue, which is the issue of violence in our country and what we must do to never tolerate it and to always speak out against it," she said Wednesday.

Georgia's Asian American lawmakers said the community has historically faced discrimination and exclusion.

"We have been taught as Asian Americans to keep our heads down, because our parents believe it was safer for us," Rep. Bee Nygen, an Atlanta Democrat, said. "But what's happened is that we are now invisible, and when things happen to us, people don't speak up until a tragedy like this one occurs. It is invisibility that hasn't shielded us from hate crimes, xenophobia or gender-based violence."

Lawrenceville Democrat Sen. Sheikh Rahman called the shootings "a horrifying and disturbing example of targeted racial violence."

"These malicious crimes are taking place in our own backyards. We must come together and stand up against xenophobia and any hate crimes committed against Asian Americans or anyone in our communities," he said.

Norcross Democrat Marvin Lim emphasized the impact that rhetoric has from America's leaders.

"It just goes to show, once again  if the Jan. 6 insurrection did not already  that words matter and can cost lives," he said.

Both chambers held a moment of silence for the victims Wednesday.

"As a society, we cannot tolerate this lawlessness," House Speaker David Ralston, R-Blue Ridge, said. "Only evil can walk into a small business and wantonly gun down innocent people. There will be plenty of opportunities to determine motive and all the circumstances surrounding these hideous crimes. Our justice system will work, but today is a day for remembering."
PM Modi has introduced the mechanism of recruiting fresh talent in the bureaucracy from the private sector during his first tenure

Last year, Arvind Panagariya, former vice-chief of the government Niti Aayog, wrote in his book, India Unlimited  Reclaiming the Lost Glory, that Indian babus suffered from the socialist hangover, which has slowed down the pace of reforms the Modi sarkar wishes to introduce. To support his view, he cited Narendra Modis initiative for lateral entry at the top levels of the bureaucracy. According to Mr Panagariya, babus slowed down the process to the extent that at the very end of his term only nine officers could be inducted from outside.

But the government has not given up, yet. It is making another push to induct 30 more private sector specialists into different government departments at the crucial decision-making level of joint secretaries and directors on a contract basis. The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) will shortlist the candidates for interviews.

Prime Minister Modi has introduced the mechanism of recruiting fresh talent in the bureaucracy from the private sector during his first tenure. But the first round hasnt been the success that the government was expecting. It could recruit only nine of the 10 domain experts it had selected, and one of them, Arun Goyal, who had joined the commerce ministry as joint secretary, put in his papers barely a year later. It appears that far from changing the system, the lateral entrants are more likely to be subsumed by it. Further, a year after their appointment, the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) had issued a notice to the UPSC after a petition from whistleblower Indian Forest Service (IFoS) officer Sanjiv Chaturvedi alleged irregularities in the recruitment of three of the nine lateral entrants by the government.

The government is catching flak already. Some Opposition leaders are calling for the policy to be withdrawn. Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad has threatened to gherao parliament, calling the governments move a violation of constitutional rights. Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejaswi Yadav has said that UPSCs lateral recruitment an injustice to the youth.

Will the Modi sarkar overcome the political resistance from outside and from the babus within who may try to defend their turf?

ED and Kerala polls

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has reportedly registered a case against senior officials of the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB) for alleged FERA violations. But things get blurred around election time when the stakes are high. Questions are being raised about the timing of the probe, with the ruling LDF claiming the ED action as a political conspiracy by the BJP, which is trying hard to make a dent in the state.

Sources say that ED has served notices to KIIFB CEO Dr K.M. Abraham, former chief secretary of Kerala, and deputy managing director Vikramjit Singh, a serving IPS officer of the Kerala cadre. As it so happens, chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan is chairman of the board. Not surprisingly, therefore, the ruling party has linked the ED action to the forthcoming elections. The LDF leaders have said that the ED moved only after Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharamans statements against the Board.

The Centre has denied the allegations. It is being said that EDs investigations discovered that the board earned Rs 2,100 crores by issuing bonds for infra projects, but the money was used by cultural, fisheries and tourism departments. Besides, the state government issued the bonds without the Centres permission, which violated rules.

Politics, or not, the dust will only settle once the state elections are done with.

Share a babu experience! Follow dilipthecherian@Twitter.com. Lets multiply the effect.
Two former Dessert Gallery employees say they were subjected to verbal harassment because they are gay and when they defended another transgender employee in lawsuits filed last month against the popular Houston bakery.

In a statement, Dessert Gallery says the claims "are simply not true."

"Dessert Gallery has always been committed to promoting diversity and inclusion in the workforce and our community," reads the bakery's statement. "We have a long history of celebrating Pride and partnering with, as well as supporting, Houston's LGBTQIA+ community. We take seriously any allegations like those outlined in these complaints but stand firm that these allegations are simply not true. We believe the proper place to disclose the facts of this case is in the courtroom and look forward to that opportunity."

Gilbert Johnson, a former general manager, and Katherine Phillips, a shift lead, were fired within days of each other in August by chief operating officer Nicole Morris.

Johnson was general manager from January to August of last year. During that time, the suit alleges, he was frequently addressed as "sweetie" by Morris' husband, who also "made a sexualized comment" to Johnson.

Johnson's suit also says he "was subjected to offensive commentary" after hiring a transgender woman and "bombarded with questions about her bathroom access." He was prohibited from hiring anyone else and "felt an underlying bias toward LGBTQ staff."

Phillips worked as a delivery person and shift lead from October 2019 to August 2020. She says she was passed over for a promotion and "subjected to comments about her and other out LGBTQ colleagues by co-workers and management staff."

Court documents say Phillips endured "Comment such as, "Well, I know you like big girls.' Or 'I see you staring' when Ms. Phillips was simply doing her job by providing service to customers who enter the store." Phillips says she also spoke up about treatment of the trans employee, "who was terminated one month prior to Ms. Phillips' termination by the COO, Nicole Morris."

Johnson, Phillips and the trans employee are all separately represented by Houston attorney and LGBTQ+ activist Fran Watson. The trans employee has not been named because there has not yet been an official filing.

Dessert Gallery has been the past recipient of readers' choice awards from Outsmart, a magazine that serves Houston's LGBTQ+ community. The bakery also regularly creates custom cookies for Pride Month.
Madhya Pradesh: Rs.195 cr Budget passed for Fisheries Welfare Dept

March 17,2021 | Source: Daily Pioneer

Fisheries Welfare, Fisheries Development Minister Tulsiram Silawat said that fisheries welfare is only dedicated towards welfare of fishermen and plans are being made to make working capital available at zero percent interest. After the reply of the Minister, a total budget of Rs 195,6237,000 was passed with a voice vote on Tuesday in the State Assembly. This year, a target has been set to provide Fisherman Credit Card to 15,000 fishermen. Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana of the Central Government has also been implemented in the state, in which Rs 120 crores is proposed to be sanctioned. Under Aatsam-Nirbhaar Madhya Pradesh, the target is to produce 3 lakh MT in the next 3 years. In the year 2021-22, it is proposed to produce 180 crores of fresh fish seeds. In the next 3 years under Aatsam-Nibhaar Madhya Pradesh target is to increase fish seed production from 145 crore to 200 million.



On May 25, 2020, under the aegis of the Aatsam-Bhabara Bharat Campaign, by the Government of India, in the field of fisheries and proper management only Pradhan Mantri Matsya Samida Scheme has been launched, whose main objective is to increase fisheries production. Under this scheme, the target is to provide 40 per cent grant-in-aid to 60 per cent and general groups to the scheduled caste, scheduled tribe and female beneficiaries. The scheme of providing personal care assistance is organized by the department of welfare programs for fishermen. Of this scheme the fishermen, their families are provided with the necessary support in case of death and disability. In the year 2020-2021, around 174681 fishermen have been linked to this scheme.

 2021 The Pioneer.
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Armenia acting health minister on citizens' demand for her resignation

Karabakh's new State Minister Artak Beglaryan on his appointment and future activities

Armenian, Russian and Azerbaijani representatives hold consultations in Moscow

2 Armenian soldiers receive slight injuries after incident with Azerbaijani servicemen in Armenia's Gegharkunik

Armenian boy weighing 5 kg born at Goris Medical Center

"Armenia" bloc representative presents purpose of participation in elections and plans

Isaac Herzog elected President of Israel

Rouhani: Main issues between Tehran, Washington resolved in Vienna

Charles Michel calls on Armenia and Azerbaijan to resume constructive negotiations

US Department of State responds to Pashinyan's proposal to deploy international observers on Armenia-Azerbaijan border

Head of Armenia 2nd President's Office: Robert Kocharyan's public meetings are held in warm atmosphere

Opposition "Armenia" bloc's representative on photos and videos showing bags of deceased servicemen's bodies

Armenia Ombudsman, AGBU President discuss war crimes committed by Azerbaijan during Karabakh war

Opposition "Armenia" bloc's representatives to hold briefings three times a week

Opposition "Armenia" bloc member: Blood-freezing photos and videos from morgue in Abovyan are authorities' reflection

Yerevan mayor receives Netherlands Ambassador

Armenia Health Ministry, Investigative Committee keep info about sending remains of dead soldiers abroad confidential

Armenia Prosecutor General's Office launches case regarding leaving sacs of servicemen's bodies/remains in basement

Peskov: Putin and Biden to discuss cybersecurity issues

Armenia's Pashinyan meets with Belgian PM Alexander De Croo

Armenia acting MOD receives Netherlands Ambassador

Armenia Police: 3 citizens apprehended during protest demanding acting health minister's resignation

NATO warns Minsk about further consequences of Ryanair incident

Armenia economic competition protection commission: Experts forecast inflation of butter prices

Armenia citizens' protest against acting health minister is over

Pashinyan visits France, judicial farce against Armenian POWs kicks off in Baku, Jun. 2 digest

Armenian Ambassador, FMO representatives consider opportunities for expansion of cooperation in Armenia

Armenia Prosecutor General is on working visit to Russia

Armenia acting PM meets with European Council President in Brussels

Armenia citizens throw polyethylene bags at Health Ministry building, police apprehend protesters

Acting deputy minister: Armenia authorities plan to build 46km section of North-South highway in 2021

Dollar is stable in Armenia

Armenia official: Large number of projects being prepared in construction sector

Identity of man killed Wednesday morning in downtown Yerevan is found out

Armenian lawyer: Azerbaijan poses a threat to security in Europe

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

Missing Armenian soldiers' relatives hand letter to Russia Embassy with request to solve captives' issue

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
A College Hill resident neighbor says the Easton community should have received more notice and the city should have been stricter before allowing Lafayette College to open a dorm for COVID-19 positive students.

Paul Felder posted on Facebook last week that he was surprised to hear Lafayette set aside its property at 426 Clinton Terrace to house students infected with the coronavirus.

We cant find any evidence this was approved at any City of Easton public meeting, or that neighbors were notified or that the use conforms to the zoning ordinance in any way, Felder wrote on Facebook. Hes an architect who teaches in the colleges art department, according to the Lafayette website.

College spokesman Mark Eyerly confirmed last week that seven COVID-positive students live in the building. It has the capacity for 14. Tuesday, March 17, he said there were not COVID positive students there. He said notice of the dorm was given during virtual community town hall meetings in July 2020 and February 2021.

City codes director Stephen Nowroski said the building is zoning for medical services. Felder said the provision of the code may allow students to receive medical care there but it doesnt allow them to stay overnight.

Felder says the college could have done a better job spreading the word about the dorm.

Sharing information at a virtual town hall does not really inform the community, he said.

Mayor Sal Panto Jr. said the city gave Lafayette temporary permission for the dorm because desperate times call for desperate measures.

We were and still are experiencing a pandemic and the use is a temporary use until we are out of the pandemic. The city approved this use as a temporary use to control the spread of the coronavirus, the mayor said in an email Wednesday. Since the house was previously used by youth from the Childrens Home of Easton it seemed a logical place to quarantine students that tested positive for COVID.

Pennsylvania Department of Education guidelines allow infected students to remain on campus, according to department spokeswoman Kendall Alexander.

Most schools give the student the option to isolate at home or go into facilities that are earmarked for (quarantine), she said in an email. Depending on school size, some have just a few rooms for quarantine and isolation while others are able to set aside a dorm floor or building. Services are provided to students including meals, laundry, and medical attention when necessary.

Felder said hes heard complaints from neighbors that infected students are frequently outside.

The college has been notified of this and done nothing about it, Felder said.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to Lehighvalleylive.com.

Rudy Miller may be reached at rmiller@lehighvalleylive.com.
Ratings agency Demotech has affirmed the A ratings of the Florida homeowners carriers it rates, which account for approximately 66% of the states market, after review of 2020 year-end and projected Q1 2021 results.

However, Demotech warned of tough times ahead if nearly a dozen carriers cannot improve their operating results before the end of the first quarter and the Florida Legislature fails to enact reforms as companies faced underwriting losses of more than $1.5 billion in 2020.

Demotech said March 12 the following nine companies must improve operating results if they are to keep their financial stability rating (FSR):

Access Home Insurance Co. (an affiliate of Cypress Property & Casualty Insurance Co.)

Avatar Property & Casualty Insurance Co.

Cypress Property & Casualty Insurance Co.

Lighthouse Property & Casualty Insurance Co.

Lighthouse Excalibur Insurance Company (an affiliate of Lighthouse Property & Casualty Co.)

Johns Insurance Co.

Olympus Insurance Co.

Gulfstream Property and Casualty Insurance Co.

Gulfstream Select Insurance Co.

In the ratings announcement, Demotech stressed these companies must record and report markedly improved results while also meet or exceed financial metrics that it deems consistent with carriers rated A.

Demotech President Joseph Petrelli said in a e-mail to Insurance Journal the nine companies that must enhance results will be harder pressed to do so if the Florida Legislature does not pass meaningful and significant tort reform.

Florida carriers net underwriting losses for 2020 are expected to reach a combined $1.6 billion, industry data shows. Net income losses totaled nearly $840 million. Florida carriers have now endured five consecutive years of net income and net underwriting losses thanks to what they say is a combination of excessive litigation, contractor schemes, several years in a row of major catastrophes and the increasing cost of reinsurance.

Without reforms to benefit property insurers, it is likely that additional capital contributions will be necessary for many carriers to have staying power for tort reform in 2022, Petrelli said, adding that in 2020, Demotech rated carriers infused almost as much capital as they lost. In other words, they funded their operating losses through capital infusions so as to continue to try to execute their business plan, despite the trying circumstances.

Given the level of operating losses reported in the past few years, more than a few carriers seem likely to operate at a loss as 2021 unfolds and will need to pre-fund those anticipated losses through capital contributions in Q2 and Q3 to keep a surplus level that is acceptable and sustain FSRs at the A level, Petrelli said.

Petrelli also recently warned that absent meaningful reform, insurers focused on the Florida property insurance marketplace will not be an investment of choice, making it harder for them to secure needed capital.

Demotech is watching to see how the Florida Legislature, which is in session until April 30, responds to the states mounting insurance crisis, and, from now until then it will conduct initial reviews of reinsurance programs, catastrophe response programs and disaster response programs. It will wait for formal Q1 statements expected on May 15 before revaluating company ratings.

Demotech announced a number of other ratings affirmations at the beginning of March, and noted various ways carriers are addressing the financial impact of the issues in the Florida market in order to sustain their FSRs. In addtion to infusing additional capital to replenish surplus and report acceptable financial metrics, companies are securing rate revisions that reflect the incremental cost of reinsurance and the frequency and severity of claims, and re-evaluating their business models and/or plan. Carriers are also completely re-underwriting their current books of business and, when allowable, canceling or non-renewing policies that are outliers.

Demotech: Investor Interest in Florida Will Diminish Without Legislative Action

Demotech affirmed 12 other companies that have taken specific actions to enhance results as well as secure and infuse a substantial amount of additional capital to mitigate the cumulative impact of the operating results on their balance sheets.

The insurers are positioned to record and report markedly improved operating results in 2021 while also meeting or exceeding the financial metrics for an FSR of A.

Those companies include:

The American Coastal Insurance Co.

Family Security Insurance Co. (an affiliate of UPC)

FedNat Insurance Co.

Heritage Property & Casualty Insurance Co.

KIN Interinsurance Network

Maison Insurance Co. (an affiliate of FedNat Ins Co)

Monarch National Insurance Co. (an affiliate of FedNat Ins Co)

Tower Hill Preferred Insurance Co.

Tower Hill Prime Insurance Co.

Tower Hill Signature Insurance Co.

United Property & Casualty Insurance Co.

Universal Property and Casualty Insurance Co.

Five other carriers made moves through acquisition by other entities that replenished their balance sheets in order to remain viable:

Centauri National Insurance Co.

Centauri Specialty Insurance Co.

Weston Insurance Co.

Weston Specialty Insurance Co.

Southern Fidelity Insurance Co.

Its not all bad news for Florida companies, Demotech noted in the ratings announcement. American Integrity Insurance Co., Florida Peninsula Insurance Co., Homeowners Choice Property & Casualty Insurance Co., Southern Oak Insurance Co., and TypTap Insurance Co. are trending toward an upgrade, thanks to above average enterprise risk management functions and favorable operating results over time in conjunction with their current capital position.

Related:

Topics Carriers Profit Loss Florida
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Exposure to chemicals and metals in pregnancy may raise the risk of a baby boy being born with undescended testicles. (Stock, Getty Images)

Environmental pollution may be behind the rising number of baby boys born with undescended testicles, research suggests.

Scientists from Public Health France analysed more than 89,000 males who had surgery for cryptorchidism  when one or both testicles remain in the abdomen at birth  between 2002 and 2014.

The genital defect had increased by 36% over those 12 years alone, the results show.

After mapping the patients according to their postcode, the scientists identified 24 clusters of cases across much of France.

The main hotspot was around the city Lens in the Pas de Calais, a former coal mining area in the north of the country, where boys were five times more likely to be born with both testicles undescended than the national average incidence.

Read more: Man with coronavirus develops testicular swelling

Although unclear why this is occurring, the scientists have suggested chemical exposure during pregnancy may be to blame.

Experts have hailed the study a "landmark", "trail-blazer" and "clarion call to other countries to replicate their work".

A former coal mining area in France has been identified as a hotspot for baby boys born with undescended testicles. (Stock, Getty Images)

Cryptorchidism is defined as the absence of one or both testicles from the scrotum at birth.

The relatively common defect affects around one in 25 baby boys in the UK alone.

Cryptorchidism usually corrects itself within three to six months, however, one in 100 boys' testicles remain undescended.

Read more: Coronavirus expressed in testicles, study suggests

Surgery is then required to move the testicles into the correct position, ideally before the boy turns one.

Untreated cryptorchidism has been linked to infertility and a higher risk of testicular cancer in later life.

Past studies have linked certain pesticides to cryptorchidism. The French scientists set out to uncover if local environments also pose a risk.

The team combed through public records to uncover tens of thousands of cryptorchidism cases treated via surgery when the patients were under seven years old.

Story continues

Twenty-four hotspots were identified throughout France, aside from in the south-west.

In Lens, baby boys were found to be over 50% more likely to have one undescended testicle and over five times more at risk of so-called bilateral cryptorchidism, in which both testicles are undescended, than the national average level.

This area "includes the two production sites of a former smelter", once an employment hub for "most of the local population".

"After more than a century of non-ferrous metal production, it closed in 2003 and induced widespread environmental pollution with metals, especially lead and cadmium," the scientists wrote in the journal Human Reproduction.

Lead exposure in particular has been linked to stillbirths, and babies being born premature or with a low birth weight.

"The hypothesis linking an increased risk of cryptorchidism to prenatal metal exposure is biologically plausible because metals can cross and even accumulate in the placenta," wrote the scientists.

Read more: How men should check their testicles

Lens' surrounding area also includes a "metallurgic [the extraction of metals in their pure form] plant and two industrial areas still in activity".

The results further show eight of the 24 hotspots had "mining activities", while 17 were metallurgic and 16 "mechanic".

Bilateral cryptorchidism was also detected in some agricultural regions made up of orchards and vineyards, suggesting pesticides play a role in the condition's onset.

Low socioeconomic status is known to be linked to cryptorchidism, possibly due to "reduced medical monitoring during pregnancy". Several of the study's hotspots centred around areas where industries are closing.

"Our main findings are the increase in the frequency of operated cryptorchidism in France during the study period and the strong tendency for cases to cluster together in particular locations," said study author Dr Joelle Le Moal.

"This is the first time such a finding has been documented at a country level for this birth defect.

"The industrial activities identified in the clusters are potentially the source of persistent environmental pollution by metals, dioxins and polychlorinated biphenyls, known as PCBs.

"PCBs, pesticides and dioxins are suspected to play a role in cryptorchidism and other testicular problems by disrupting hormones."

The scientists called testicular descent a "hormone-dependent process", with "genetic factors" involved in just "a small proportion of cases".

Watch: Is working from home bad for the environment?

The scientists stressed their study was observational, and therefore does not prove cause and effect.

The results should instead be considered "hypothesis-generating", prompting further research, they added.

Read more: Men touch their testicles seven times a day

"Our study is interesting and new because we used a very large, nationwide sample that enabled us to discuss plausible geographical hypotheses, however, these results must not be over-interpreted," said Dr Le Moal.

"The persistent pollutants we identified could be traces associated with other chemicals. Moreover, we do not know exactly how the population could be contaminated."

The scientists added, however, by only analysing surgically-corrected cryptorchidism, many cases were likely missed.

Boys with undescended testicles may require surgery to move them from the abdomen to the scrotum. (Stock, Getty Images)

Professor Richard Sharpe, from the University of Edinburgh, has called the research a "landmark study".

"It suggests our recent research focus on environmental chemicals as a potential source of cryptorchidism (and other male reproductive disorders that are increasing) may have been correct in principle but incorrect in practice," he wrote in Human Reproduction.

"Correct, because the hotspot clusters of cryptorchidism cases are clearly associated with industrialised areas that are proven to increase human exposure to numerous pollutants.

"Incorrect, because the main focus of research in this area over the past 20+ years has been on chemicals to which most of the population is lowly exposed via food rather than those more associated with proximity to heavy industry."

Professor Sharpe added the study serves as a "stark reminder many cases of cryptorchidism are inherently preventable, if only we can identify the industrial chemical culprits".

"In an age of increasing couple fertility problems, this is yet another wake-up call for us all," he wrote.

Professor Ieuan Hughes from the University of Cambridge agreed, calling the study a "a trail-blazer in research on male reproductive tract disorders".

"The French study is a clarion call to other countries to replicate their work," he said.

"Where better for that to occur than in the UK with its vast metropolitan regions, an industrial heritage, contrasting agricultural regions, rank child poverty and 'levelling up' on the political agenda?

"This would keep epidemiologists busy long after the pandemic has subsided."
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In the modern-day era, the internet has worked wonders for all, especially Google, which helps spread information and general knowledge to people who use the service. However, it fails to give privacy to people, as tracking its users is part of their business.

Typing keywords on Google can potentially follow commercial ads that would haunt users as soon as they open their search engine. All of their personal information is linked to Google, from e-mail information, medical, financial, and personal issues that come along to daily searches that make a person an individual.

With that said, the myth that Google is tracking its users to make a profit is not really a myth.

"Google Is Spying on You!" Says DuckDuckGo

A report by Independent revealed that Google is spying on its users after the company published personal data details it has acquired from the public. The accusation comes after Google added App Privacy labels to its iOS Chrome and Google Apps, making it clear the data it picks up from its users by Apple's App Store rules.

DuckDuckGo published an in-comparison screenshot of the data it collects compared to the data gathered by Chrome and the Google App. Data Collected by Chrome shows the location, financial info, browsing history, and audio data. DuckDuckGo, on the other hand, does not collect any personal information through its mobile browser.

After months of stalling, Google finally revealed how much personal data they collect in Chrome and the Google app. No wonder they wanted to hide it.



Spying on users has nothing to do with building a great web browser or search engine. We would know (our app is both in one). pic.twitter.com/lJBbLTjMuu  DuckDuckGo (@DuckDuckGo) March 15, 2021

Besides that, Google received a $5 billion fine from the European Commission in 2018 after the company was found to have attempted to assert its dominance on the market through uncompetitive Android practices. DuckDuckGo's latest criticism of Google comes after a U.S. judge ruled that the technology giant must face another $5 billion lawsuit alleging that the search engine tracks users in Incognito Mode.

Google continues to abuse its market power, says @adrjeffries & @LeonYin.



If Google can train you, dont go to Genius, dont go to TripAdvisor, dont go to the restaurants website, just come to Googlealways come to Googlethen they win.https://t.co/UP3gAPkKBq  DuckDuckGo (@DuckDuckGo) August 1, 2020

If users wants a search engine that keeps its privacy to a maximum, DuckDuckGo claims it is the better option. It is a search engine dedicated to protect searcher's privacy and avoid the filter bubble or personalized search results. DuckDuckGo distinguishes itself from Google by not profiling its users and showing all users the same search results for a given search term, without the banner ads, tracking and personalized profiling.

Also Read: Google Play Store Rolls Out A New Feature That Lets You Know Which Apps Rising Up the Chart

DuckDuckGo vs. Google: Which Is Better?

According to the DuckDuckGo website, the search engine does not collect or share personal information from users. Instead, it simply shows what a user might be searching for on the web with the same results as Google does. When users do a search and then click on a link on other search engines, the search items are then sent to that site the user has clicked on, calling it a "search leakage."

An example of this is searching for something private. Users are sharing that private search with the search engine and all the sites that the user might have clicked. Besides that, visiting any site will automatically send information from the user's computer to that specific site, including User-Agent and IP Address.

This type of feature can often identify the user directly, and Google will now send the user's banner ads and the user's personal information in the process.

This means that doing a private search can send Google and other sites information about the user and attack them with banner ads to continue visiting. In that process, the search engine makes money from it and showing the user an endless barrage of web ads and has the user's private information.

According to Spread Privacy, Google's Incognito mode is really not saying users are safe with banner ads, personal privacy, and keyword searches. Incognito mode is only deleting the user's local browsing history after the user's session on their device. Still, it does nothing to stop any website they visit, including Google, from tracking the user via IP Address and other tracking features such as browsing fingerprinting.

Google tracks users more than just in their search engine. To Google, every site is connected to their search engines such as Youtube, Gmail, Chrome, Android Devices, Gmaps, and other services the word "Google" has on it.

Related Article: Google Incognito Lawsuit Pushing Through--Company Could Pay Up to $5 Billion in Damages
Shares is the leading weekly publication for retail investors. It is packed with investment ideas, news and educational material to help build and run portfolios and get more from your money.

Shares puts on free Investor Events throughout the year across the country. They provide an opportunity for investors to learn more about companies on the stock market and hear from a range of investment experts including fund managers and Shares journalists.
Due to growing insecurity, Nigeria is gradually becoming one of the most dangerous places to live. The 2020 Global Terrorism Index identified the country as the third most affected by terrorism.

There was a sharp increase in Boko Harams targeting of civilians by 25 per cent, and killings by herdsmen increased by 26 per cent, compared with the previous year. The two countries higher on the index are Iraq and Afghanistan.

According to the Nigeria Security Tracker, 2,769 violent deaths were recorded between February 2020 and February 2021 in Borno State alone. Similarly, ransom-kidnapping by armed groups has increased substantially in the past five years. Over $18 million was paid as ransom for kidnapped victims between 2011 and 2020.

While insecurity is common in Nigeria, the northern region has been most affected. This is due to Boko Haram attacks, banditry, farmers-herdsmen conflicts, kidnappings and ethno-religious conflicts. Sadly, children have not been spared.

In the North-east, children have been murdered, abducted and used as sex slaves, forcefully recruited as child soldiers, and suffer from diseases and malnutrition at the Internally Displaced Persons camps. The United Nations says almost 4,000 children were killed in just a year, 2015 to 2016.

UNICEF reported that an estimated 1.9 million people are displaced  and about 60 per cent of them are children; many under the age of five. The rising phenomenon has further manifested in the recent wave of attacks on schools and kidnapping of students.

My research published last year highlights why children have become targets for the armed groups in northern Nigeria. This paper focuses on children in the Boko Haram conflict, which has for over 10 years ravaged the northeastern part of Nigeria and around Lake Chad.

Despite the reality that children have increasingly become the face of insecurity in northern Nigeria, the literature has been silent on issues related to child security. My study, therefore, aimed to address the perspective of children in the conflict.

I found that children were of strategic interest to both the terrorists and the state security forces. I concluded that child security had not been given sufficient attention in Nigeria, and that child security should be included in peace-building efforts in northeastern Nigeria.

Children and conflict in northern Nigeria

The dimension of children in violent conflicts in northern Nigeria gained momentum in 2013 when Boko Haram adopted the strategy of direct attacks on schools, hospitals and centres for internally displaced people.

It started with the midnight raid of a dormitory in Gujba, Yobe State, leading to the murder of 44 schoolboys by the terrorist group in September 2013. Five months later, another boarding school was attacked, and 59 boys were murdered in the same state. In April 2014, 276 schoolgirls were abducted in Chibok in Borno State.

UNICEF in its 2018 report said that the group had kidnapped over 1,000 children since 2013. Between 2015 and 2016, the UN estimated that 3,909 children were killed.

In the past five years, the rise of banditry added a new and dangerous dimension to attacks on children. On December 11 2020, 333 students were kidnapped in Kankara, Katsina State.

On December 20 2020, 80 students at an Islamic school were kidnapped in Mahuta, Katsina State. Twenty seven students were abducted in Kagara, Niger State, on February 17 2021.

The latest occurred on February 25 with the abduction of 317 schoolgirls in Jangebe, Talata-Mafara local government, Zamfara State.

Why children are prime targets

Our study used a qualitative approach, relying on data from institutional reports of intergovernmental agencies like the United Nations, United Nations Childrens Fund, and International Organisation for Migration; non-governmental agencies like Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, Global Coalition to Protect Education from Attack, Mercy Corps, Open Doors and media reports.

The research showed that children were of strategic interest to the armed groups for many reasons. First, targeting children proved effective as a tool to negotiate for the release of members of the group in prison and receive huge ransoms to purchase weapons and fund their operations.

Second, the armed groups were interested in children to gain local and international attention to show their strength, seek international collaborations with similar groups, and amplify their demands on the state authorities.

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Third, children were useful for their military operations, especially for terrorist groups. They could plant explosives, act as human shields or suicide bombers, and spy on the other parties because they didnt arouse suspicion.

Fourth, the attack on schools corresponded with the central ideology driving terrorism in the region, which was based on opposition to Western education. The increased attacks showed the plan was to make the region insecure for teaching and learning.

Fifth, girls were of interest to the armed groups for sexual exploitation. Abducted girls were sometimes raped or forced into marriages in the camps.

Nigeria must safeguard children more

Child security has not been given sufficient attention in Nigeria.

This explains the successful attacks on children in recent times. Child security underscores the essence of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Child, which Nigeria is a party to.

The government must show serious commitment to childrens security by tackling the rising problem of insecurity ravaging the country. The paper underscores the need for specialised programmes that can address the peculiar challenges of children involved in the conflict zones and not merely incorporate them into adult-focused or general programmes.

The international community, including important nongovernmental organisations promoting childrens rights and welfare, must also compel the authorities to secure the children and internationalise the problem of child insecurity in Nigeria.

The Conversation is Premium Times syndication partner. We have permission to republish.
High-level discussions were scheduled for this week between Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, and their China counterparts. Blinken and Sullivan are capable, serious people who will try to undo whatever damage may have been caused by the president, but they might need help. They might need advisers with real firsthand China experience to guide them.
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Tucker Hill employees are the face of our company. Their happiness and success is our happiness and success.

Tucker Hill Air, Plumbing and Electrical, a leading provider of home services in the Phoenix, Arizona market, shared details of the benefits and training it provides for employees.

Tucker Hill offers employees a company contributed 401k plan, industry-leading training, sixteen days of paid time off, and personalized mentoring to help improve their skills and explore career opportunities.

Speaking about the company's latest updates to employee compensation and benefits plans, CEO Jeremy Prevost said, "Tucker Hill employees are the face of our company. Their happiness and success is our happiness and success. This is why we take pride in serving their needs, just as they faithfully serve our loyal customers."

As home systems continue to advance, Tucker Hill management recognizes the importance of training employees to use the latest tools and techniques to professionally and efficiently inspect and repair home plumbing, HVAC and electrical systems.

Prevost continues, "From the very beginning, Tucker Hill management has sought to hire and train employees passionate about delivering outstanding service in a kind and professional manner."

Prevost explains, "We understand that employee job satisfaction has a direct impact on the quality of service they provide to our customers and we believe it is our responsibility to create an environment that supports their career goals and respects their personal needs. With this in mind, we built out a competitive employee compensation and benefits package designed to reward their hard work."

Tucker Hill is always looking for qualified candidates to join their team. Experienced plumbers, HVAC technicians and electricians are encouraged to contact the company by visiting http://www.TuckerHillAZ.com.

About Tucker Hill: Tucker Hill is the industry leader in the Phoenix market for light commercial and residential HVAC, plumbing, and electrical services. Tucker Hill employs licensed, bonded and insured technicians are available 24/7 and are highly trained, background checked and experienced. Tucker Hill specializes in residential and commercial maintenance, repairs, and installation for all of your air conditioning, heating, plumbing and electrical systems. Tucker Hill is committed to industry leading customer service with daily training for both technicians and office staff. Tucker Hill Air, Plumbing & Electric protects and serves the seniors in all the areas it services.
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From the emblematic LTD Crown Victoria, which is instantly recognizable worldwide, to the current Explorer-based Interceptor , Ford has a long history of manufacturing law enforcement vehicles.The companys latest addition is the 2021 F-150 Police Responder, which builds on the previous model' s success following its introduction in 2017.Trucks make sense for law enforcement agencies because they offer more room for passages and gear, are highly capable on a wide range of terrains, and can tow heavy loads like mobile command centers.While officers highly appreciated the previous generation for these characteristics, most of them grumbled about its less-than-ideal handling and mediocre speed.Ford states that the all-new model based on the fourteenth-generation F-150 SuperCrew platform not only offers improved hauling and towing capabilities but is also faster and more agile than its predecessor.The pickup can now reach a top speed of 120 mph (193 kph), thanks to the 400-hp 3.5-liter EcoBoost twin-turbo V6 that delivers 400 hp and 500 lb-ft (678 Nm) of torque.Ford representatives tell us that both the engine and the ten-speed SelectShift automatic gearbox are calibrated specifically for law enforcement , and by that, they mean that the electronically set speed limit of the stock version has been adjusted.Another upgrade over the standard F-150, aimed at improving the pickups maneuverability, is the set of 18-inch Goodyear Wrangler Enforcer all-terrain tires.According to the manufacturer, they can withstand fast acceleration, high speeds, and aggressive cornering on paved roads while also being extremely capable on rough terrain, something you would expect from purposely-designed police vehicle tires.The smooth transition between on- and off-road conditions is ensured by a new torque-on-demand transfer case which includes 4-Auto mode (4A). Thanks to an electrically actuated clutch that automatically adjusts torque distribution, officers can select this mode and concentrate on the job at hand without the need to switch drive modes when encountering different terrain and weather conditions.On paved roads, all the power is sent to the rear wheels, making the Responder far more agile around corners. On the other hand, if the pursuit takes the truck off-road, the system seamlessly redirects power to all four wheels All F-150 Responders are equipped with the FX4 Off-Road Package, which includes underbody skid plates, off-road-tuned shocks, an electronic-locking rear axle, and the Hill Descent Control assist so officers can depend on the best off-road equipment that Ford has to offer.Departments that need to tow heavy equipment like boats, horse trailers, or mobile command centers can rely on the trucks 7,000-lb (3,175 kg) standard towing capacity in addition to its 2,030-lb (921 kg) maximum payload rating.Like all standard F-150s, the Police Responder can be equipped with the optional Trailer Tow Package, which increases the towing capacity to 11,200 lbs (5,080 kg) and adds a 360-degree camera, Trailer Reverse Guidance assist, and an integrated Trailer Brake Controller.Another feature unique to this truck is the new Police Engine Idle which allows officers to remove the key from the ignition and securely exit with the engine, power lights, and sirens running. Agencies can choose between four traditional fleet keys per truck or up to four optional fobs with keyless entry.Inside, officers are welcomed by police-grade, heavy-duty cloth front seats with built-in steel intrusion plates for added safety, as well as red-and-white task lighting.While Ford supplies a factory-installed center console as part of the optional Interior Upgrade Package, the standard 40-blank-40 front seat configuration allows law enforcement agencies to install their own department-specific console.In addition, all trucks come standard with the cloud-connected Sync 4 system including an 8-inch touchscreen and an embedded modem for wireless updates.The all-new F-150 Police Responder is assembled at Fords Kansas City Assembly Plant in Claycomo, Missouri, and will join the current fleets later this fall.
The newly-discovered figurine was meant to protect children or increase fertility, according to archaeologists from the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA).

The amulet was found by Zvi Ben-David, 11, from Beer Sheva during a family trip to the HaBsor National Park in the Western Negev, Israel.

The figurine that Zvi discovered is rare, said IAA archaeologists Dr. Oren Shmueli and Dr. Debbie Ben Ami.

Only one such example exists in the National Treasures collection.

It was probably used in the sixth-fifth centuries BCE, at the end of the Iron Age, or in the Persian period.

The figurine is about 7 cm (2.8 inches) tall and 6 cm (2.4 inches) wide.

The artifact shows a woman with a scarf covering her head and neck, schematic facial features, and a prominent nose. The woman is bare-breasted, and her hands are folded under her chest.

Pottery figurines of bare-breasted women are known from various periods in Israel, including the First Temple era, the researchers said.

They were common in the home and everyday life, like the hamsa today, and apparently served as amulets to ensure protection, good luck, and prosperity.

We must bear in mind that in Antiquity, the medical understanding was rudimentary. Infant mortality was very high, and about a third of those born did not survive. There was little understanding of hygiene, and fertility treatment was naturally non-existent.

In the absence of advanced medicine, amulets provided hope and an important way of appealing for aid.
The European Medicines Agency, which regulates what vaccines can be used in the bloc, started reviewing the Sputnik vaccine for use less than two weeks ago  more than three months after Serbia placed an initial order with Moscow for 1 million doses, and two months after rolling them out for general use. The agency has not yet even started reviewing Chinese vaccines.
[March 17, 2021] TactileAI Raises $1M in Seed Funding from SpringCamp

TactileAI, a B2B consumer data analytics platform for the global beauty care industry, today announced the closing of $1 million in seed round funding by SpringCamp. SpringCamp is an early-stage venture capital fund backed by NAVER, the Seoul-based tech company that operates South Korea's largest search engine and is often referred to as the " Google (News - Alert) of Korea." Founded in November 2020 and based in the San Francisco Bay Area, TactileAI aims to modernize consumer testing in skin care, which remains one of the major bottlenecks in the beauty care industry as brands struggle to keep up with the speed of new trends. COVID-19 also accelerated the urgency for beauty companies to find new digital solutions as consumer experience centers were forced to shut-down and they can no longer rely on conventional testing methods. "TactileAI is building the future of consumer testing in beauty care by decentralizing the consumer panel and providing brands with unique consumer analytcs using data science and machine learning," said Victor Oh, founder and CEO of TactileAI. "I'm very proud to get our first investment from South Korea, a global leader in skincare and beauty care trends like K-beauty. I'm confident that by combining our expertise from Silicon Valley and Korea we can quickly globalize our platform for beauty care companies."



Kyungpyo Ko at SpringCamp says, "In the booming global beauty market, TactileAI will be a game-changer that is innovating the way beauty brands develop products and do marketing. We expect to see K-beauty brands connect more with a global audience by developing exceptional products using precise information on consumer experiences." With the new seed funding, TactileAI is actively hiring software engineers and data scientists to build out its enterprise software-as-a-service ( SaaS (News - Alert) ) platform. In 2021, TactileAI plans to continue working with leading companies in the beauty care industry.

"We're very excited about the opportunity to work with TactileAI," said Jacek Brozda, Head of Ventures and New Business at Beiersdorf Korea, "We believe their platform can disrupt consumer testing in the beauty care industry and help us realize new consumer insights in a data-driven way." About TactileAI - TactileAI develops an enterprise Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) platform to provide beauty brands direct access to in-home consumers for testing and unique data-driven consumer insights using data science and machine learning. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210317005657/en/

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The two female students of Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago Iwoye, Ayetoro campus, kidnapped on Sunday have regained their freedom.

This was confirmed in a post on Twitter by the governor of the state, Dapo Abiodun, on Tuesday evening.

PREMIUM TIMES reported that the students were kidnapped at about 9:00 p.m. on Sunday following a suspected bandits raid at the Igbole Aibo quarters in Ayetoro.

The kidnap was confirmed then by the Deputy Registrar, Corporate Affairs Unit of the institution, Niyi Oduwole.

The incident is most unfortunate. The university is beefing up security around all our campuses and hostels.

We sympathise with the parents of the victims and we want to assure them that their wards will be rescued unhurt. We are on top of the situation, he said then.

The students were released on Tuesday, according to Governor Abiodun.

This is to announce that we have secured the release of Precious Adeyemo and Abiola Oyefule  both OOU students recently kidnapped in Ayetoro.

I appreciate the efforts of the Ogun State Command of the Nigeria Police and other security agencies involved in the exercise that will now see the ladies reunited with their respective families, Governor Abiodun wrote on Twitter.

Although the kidnappers initially demanded N50 million, it is not clear as of the time of this report whether ransom was paid.

The Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the state police command, Abimbola Oyeyemi, did not respond to calls and text messages seeking clarification on this.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-18 05:14:00|Editor: huaxia

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UNITED NATIONS, March 17 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations is ready to facilitate an agreement between Ethiopia, Egypt and Sudan on a Nile dam, said a spokesman on Wednesday.

Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, said the world body has received a letter from Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok on the issue.

"We reiterate our readiness to support all efforts toward reaching an agreement on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam," he told a daily press briefing. "Mr. Guterres welcomes initiatives to move the negotiations forward and awaits agreement from all the parties as to how the UN can best support the process."

Before any UN engagement, all the parties involved in the dispute need to agree on mediation, he said.

Ethiopia, an upstream Nile basin country, started building the dam in 2011, while Egypt is concerned that the dam might affect its annual share of the Nile waters. Sudan has recently been raising similar concerns. Over the past few years, tripartite talks on the rules of filling and operating the dam with a total capacity of 74 billion cubic meters, have been fruitless. Enditem
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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.

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The United Kingdom has announced it will build more nuclear weapons and expand its space and cybercrime capabilities while also labeling Russia it's top security challenge, in a sweeping review of British military and foreign policy.



In an report endorsed by Prime Minister Boris Johnson, the UK said the British government wants to increase defense spending by 24 billion ($33.3 billion) over the next four years, a while also pledging 15 billion for research and development for science and technology, more than 17 billion to fight climate change and promote biodiversity, and 13 billion in the fight against the coronavirus.



The report also says the US is is the UK's strongest defense and economic partner in the world, while also making a strong commitment to the NATO alliance.



The 116-page report titled "Global Britain in a Competitive Age," reserves its most significant criticisms for Russia.



"Russia will remain the most acute direct threat to the UK," it says at one point.



"Russia is the most acute threat in the region and we will work with NATO Allies to ensure a united Western response, combining military, intelligence and diplomatic efforts," it says in another, pledging to work within the alliance to "deter nuclear, conventional and hybrid threats to our security, particularly from Russia."



"China's increasing power and international assertiveness is likely to be the most significant geopolitical factor of the 2020s," the statement says, describing Beijing as "the biggest state-based threat to the UK's economic security."



"There is no question that China will pose a great challenge to an open society such as ours, but we also work with China where that is consistent with our values and interests including building a strong and positive economic relationship and in addressing climate change," Johnson said.



As part of its deterrence strategy, the UK will increase its number of nuclear warheads to 260 while

the Royal Navy will keep four nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines from which to launch warheads, ensuring that at least one submarine is on duty at all times, the report said.



The document also reaffirms Britain's nuclear commitment to NATO, saying the force could be committed to defending its European allies as well as the UK itself.





"Global Britain is not a reflection of old obligations, much less of as a glorious gesture, but a necessity for the safety and prosperity of the British people in the decades ahead. And I am determined that the UK will join our friends in ensuring that free societies flourish after the pandemic, sharing the risks and burdens of addressing the world's toughest problems," Johnson said.



"Britain will remain unswervingly committed to NATO and preserving peace and security in Europe, and from this secure basis we will seek out friends and partners wherever they are found, building a coalition of openness and innovation and engaging more deeply in the Indo-Pacific.



In going along with the "Global Britain" theme, more UK troops will be deployed overseas more often, the report says, highlighting the deployment later this year of the aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth strike group to the Mediterranean, Indian Ocean and the waters of the Asia-Pacific.



The UK will also upgrade its overseas military installations in places like Singapore, Oman, Kenya and Gibraltar.



The report also promises an expanded commitment to UK operations in outer space. The British military will form a Space Command, "ensuring that the armed forces have cutting-edge capabilities to advance UK interests on Earth and in space" by this summer.



"By strengthening our armed forces we will extend British influence while simultaneously creating jobs around the United Kingdom, reinforcing the union and maximizing our advantage in science and technology," Johnson said.



"With the extra investment and new capabilities of the integrated review I believe the UK can thrive in an ever more competitive world and fulfill our historic mission as a force for the good" the Prime Minister concluded.













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French English

PRESS RELEASE



REGULATED INFORMATION

Paris, 17th March 2021

Availability of the 2021 Universal Registration Document, the annual financial report and the report on corporate governance

Societe Generale informs the public that the French version of the 2021 Universal Registration Document was filed with the French Financial Markets Authority (AMF) on 17th March 2021.

The 2021 Universal Registration Document includes:

 the 2020 annual financial report and

 the report on corporate governance prepared by the Board of Directors as well as the related Statutory auditors findings.

The annual financial report cross-reference table appears on page 632 of the Universal Registration Document.

The report on corporate governance prepared by the Board of Directors, as well as the related Statutory auditors findings, appear respectively on pages 64 to 146 and on page 597 of the 2021 Universal Registration Document.

The 2021 Universal Registration Document is made available to the public, free of charge, in accordance with the conditions provided for by the regulations in force and may be consulted in the Regulated information section of the Companys website (http://www.societegenerale.com/en/measuring-our-performance/information-and-publications/regulated_information) and on the AMFs website.

Press contacts:

Jean-Baptiste FROVILLE _ +33(0)1 58 98 68 00 _ jean-baptiste.froville@socgen.com

Corentin HENRY _ +33(0)1 58 98 01 75_ corentin.henry@socgen.com

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By Borja Suarez

ARGUINEGUIN, Spain (Reuters) - Spanish health workers resuscitated a toddler who was among 52 sub-Saharan African migrants rescued off the island of Gran Canaria in the Atlantic Ocean on Wednesday, a Reuters witness and Spanish authorities said.

Shortly after a Coast Guard boat carrying the migrants, many of them suffering from hypothermia, docked at the Gran Canaria port of Arguineguin, two Red Cross medics rushed over and started performing CPR chest compressions on a young girl lying on the concrete pier.

"Call an ambulance, call 112," says one of the health workers, before both can be heard saying with relief, "She's alive". More health workers then carried the child, wrapped in a red blanket, off to an ambulance, Reuters footage showed.

The toddler was one of 10 people, including six children and a pregnant woman, who had to be rushed to the hospital due to hypothermia, according to the Canary Islands emergency service.

Other migrants waited patiently on the deck while those in need of medical attention were taken ashore.

The number of undocumented migrants arriving in Spain's Canary Islands rose eight-fold last year from 2019, with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on tourism and other industries in north and sub-Saharan Africa pushing many more to embark on the dangerous journey.

Hundreds died or went missing last year after attempting the crossing to the Spanish islands in the Atlantic Ocean, often in rickety, overcrowded boats with unreliable engines, the U.N. refugee agency UNHCR has said.

(Writing by Emma Pinedo, editing by Andrei Khalip and Alexandra Hudson)
A new poll indicates a division among Massachusetts parents on whether the states schools should focus on bringing more students back into classrooms or improving remote learning.

MassINC Polling Groups survey of 1,528 parents of K-12 students, conducted from Feb. 8 through March 2, found that 41% favored a focus on improving remote schooling while 54% believed the focus should be on bringing more kids back for in-person learning.

Schools across the state are working on both objectives to carry on with learning during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Parents views depended on what method of instruction their child is receiving -- support for a focus on improving remote learning was strongest among parents of solely remote learners, at 55%. Sixty-seven percent of parents whose kids were participating in a hybrid of remote and in-person learning said the focus should be on repopulating classrooms, as did 65% of parents of students learning entirely in-person.

A year after school officials first closed their physical buildings because of intensifying COVID-19 spread in Massachusetts, most of the states schools have resumed in-person learning at least part-time, while particularly larger, urban districts have remained remote. Many districts are starting to or have plans to transition to full-time in-person instruction.

The Baker administration has recently amplified its push to get more students into classrooms. Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner Jeff Riley set an April 5 deadline for districts to phase out remote learning for elementary schoolers, with middle schoolers back in classrooms by April 28.

Districts will be able to apply for waivers in certain circumstances, Riley has said -- for instance, if they have been fully remote and need to pursue a more incremental approach, or if a district has its fifth grade classrooms in middle school buildings and needs to start with just grades K-4 in-person. Parents will also be able to opt-in to remote learning for their children for the rest of the school year.

Weve always been in touch with the medical community, and they have been urging us now is the time to bring the students back more robustly, Riley said at a hearing Tuesday on the education spending measures in Gov. Charlie Bakers $45.6 billion budget proposal.

The Massachusetts Teachers Association, which has clashed with Baker over issues around school reopening and educator vaccinations, is calling for the April 5 date to be pushed back to the week after April vacation, April 26, by which time the union says more school employees will have had a chance to get at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.

By then, it will give the school committees and the local education associations time to renegotiate any plans that need to be renegotiated, and even just to set up the physical space in the buildings, redo the bus schedule, redo the learning models, redo the lesson plans. In non-pandemic times, those things take many weeks, MTA President Merrie Najimy told lawmakers Tuesday.

Sen. Anne Gobi asked Riley how education officials settled on the April 5 date, describing it as a line in the sand drawn after months and months and months of telling our locals, Do it yourself, youre on your own, good luck to you. "

In response, Riley pointed to the 10-day planning period that state education officials and unions agreed to before the start of the year, a deal that cut the required number of school days to this year to 170 to give districts and teachers time to plan their operations.

We certainly think that districts have had the blueprint to go back all along, he said. We also know that many districts have already gone back, particularly on the South Shore, a lot of the elementary schools have gone back or are going back in March, long before our deadline.

Guidance Riley issued to school districts last week says that districts that do not comply with in-person learning requirements or receive a waiver will be required to make up any missed structured learning time ... during this school year, over the summer, or into next school year if necessary. The guidance also notes the section of state law that links Chapter 70 funds to structured learning time.

Gobi, a Spencer Democrat, appeared to reference the language around the Chapter 70 aid to local schools later in the hearing, when she told a panel that included Najimy and representatives of superintendents and school committee groups that lawmakers would be taking a very hard look at this idea of penalizing districts if they dont dont seek out a waiver.

The poll also asked parents how they feel the changes to school this year have affected their children. Half said theres been a minor or major negative impact to their kids academic learning, and a majority also cited negative impacts to mental or emotional health (55%), and opportunities to form or maintain friendships (62%). Forty-three percent said there were negative impacts to their childs day-to-day behavior.

Twenty-six percent of parents said they believed their childs academics were behind grade level, up from 15% who said so before the COVID-19 crisis.
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A beautiful smiling face posted via social media welcomes EVERYONE to Missouri and claps back against political rhetoric.



Read more . . .



JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) - A Black woman has become the face of Missouri's tourism campaign, nearly four years after the NAACP warned travelers that their civil rights may not be respected if they visit the state.
has refused to stay the implementation of unsolicited commercial communication messages.

Noida-based tele marketing firm Shivtel Communications had filed a writ petition seeking a stay on scrubbing of commercial text messages by telecom companies.

The court took cognizance of Telecom Regulatory Authority of Indias latest instructions to telecom companies and declined to stay the implementation. The matter will now be heard on May 11.

The regulations require companies to register templates of their commercial text messages and the process was put on hold for a week till Tuesday following customer complaints. Scrubbing refers to the verification process followed by telecom companies for sending commercial text messages to the customers.

On Tuesday, the telecom regulator has allowed telecom companies to resume scrubbing of messages and record details in case of anomalies such as mismatch of content id, template etc. However, messages will not be blocked and telecom companies are allowed to deliver them to recipients. Details of all such anomalies will be shared twice weekly with the TRAI, which will review the scrubbing process on March 23.

The court took the view that TRAI is seized of the issue and is taking steps to iron out glitches. The TRAI has also been asked to submit a status report on the issue, said a person aware of the issue.

In its plea Shivtel Communications said scrubbing of text messages by telecom companies should be suspended till such a time that it is independently tested and its feasibility certified.

It has also demanded the setting up of an independent monitoring committee comprising all stakeholders to ensure that the next phase of the regulation is implemented only after it is tested so as not to cause service and economic disruption.

Commercial communication services need an uptime of more than 99.9 per cent to ensure optimum service delivery levels and implementation of regulations last week led to failed delivery of around 40-50 per cent of messages, the company said in its petition.

Advocate Manik Dogra appeared for the petitioner Shivtel Communications and Arjun Natarajan and Gopal Jain appeared for respondents TRAI and Tanla Communications respectively.
Highlights:

Final three holes include more high-grade intercepts consistent with previous reports

Hole CP-20-49 yields 5.39% CuEq (1) over 2.5m within broad lower grade halo of 3.34% CuEq (1) over 11.5m true width,

Higher grade cobalt values of 0.115% Co over 0.7m, 0.186% Co over 2.3m, and 0.130% Co over 3.5m (all true widths) in holes CP-20-48, CP-20-49 and CP-20-51, respectively

Highest value of 7.25% CuEq (1) over 0.7m includes 5.48% Cu, 0.115% Co, 1.140 g/t Au and 29.8 g/t Ag

Drilling complete; study underway to investigate small-scale, high-grade, direct-shipping mining project to generate near-term cash-flow

Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - March 17, 2021) - Stratabound Minerals Corp. (TSXV: SB) (OTC Pink: SBMIF) ("Stratabound" or the "Company") is pleased to report assay results on the final three drill holes completed on its Captain Copper/Cobalt/Gold/Silver Deposit, in the Bathurst District, New Brunswick. A total of 15 tightly spaced and shallow diamond drill holes were completed in late 2020 for the purpose of defining the near-surface potential for a small-scale direct-shipping mining project.

Twelve of the fifteen holes completed, including the three reported today, intercepted significant copper-cobalt-gold-silver mineralization within 6-9m of surface at the bedrock interface, across an average 9.6m true width and along approximately 120m of strike length.

Results reported in this release along with historical results are detailed in Figures 1 and 2, and in Table 1 below.

Mr. R. Kim Tyler, President and CEO of the Company commented, "We are pleased these latest drill results projecting high-grade mineralization to surface are consistent with deeper-drilled high-grade results. We are moving ahead with the evaluation of a small-scale, direct-shipping mining project whereby a plant, concentrator, tailings, ancillary facilities, and associated capital cost and permitting delays would not be required. It bears repeating that the Captain Deposit's high grades, road access, proximity to a rail head, and the deep-water port at Belledune near Bathurst, New Brunswick make for a very attractive direct-ship cash-generating opportunity."

The Captain Deposit is open at depth below the deepest intersection to date at 360m vertical depth of 5.46% Cu, 0.093% Co, 0.30 g/t Au and 30.5 g/t Ag for a 12.20% CuEq (1) over 2m down-hole in hole CP-09-23 .

Table 1



To view an enhanced version of Table 1, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/4064/77571_3caf6786c4a038cc_002full.jpg

(1) CuEq% based on CuEq%= ((Cu lb/t*US$3.75.lb) +(Co lbs/t*US$20/lb) +(Au g/t*0.03215*US$1,750/oz) +(g/t Ag*0.03215*US$25/oz))/US$3.75/lb Cu insitu value and does not account for metallurgical, refining or other losses.

Figure 1. Section 100N: All widths posted are true widths.



To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/4064/77571_3caf6786c4a038cc_003full.jpg

Figure 2. Recent and historic drill results within 20m of surface. All widths posted are true widths.

To view an enhanced version of Figure 2, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/4064/77571_3caf6786c4a038cc_004full.jpg

About the Captain Deposit

The Captain Deposit hosts an NI 43-101 Measured and Indicated Resource totaling 448,000 tonnes averaging 1.75% Cu, 0.046% Co, and 0.30 g/t Au for a 2.2% CuEq%(1), plus an inferred resource of 162,000 tonnes averaging 1.47% Cu, 0.04% Co and 0.24 g/t Au for a 1.87% CuEq%. The Deposit is located along the "Brunswick Horizon", within a 20km radius and the same stratigraphic contact that hosts the world-class Glencore Brunswick No.12 and No.6 mines with past production totaling an aggregate 149.4 million tons of 8.72% zinc, 3.3% lead, 0.35% copper and 99 g/t silver,(2) (Figure 3). The Captain is a volcanic massive sulphide, or VMS-type deposit, similar to the above described deposits.

Drilling on the Captain Deposit now totals 10,452m over 53 holes across 120m of strike and is open beyond the deepest intersection to date at 359m yielding 1.12% Cu over a down-hole length of 19.5m including a 2m interval of 5.46% Cu, 0.093% Co, 0.30 g/t Au and 30.5 g/t Ag in hole CP-09-23.

(1) ("Technical Report on an Updated Mineral Resource Estimate, Stratabound Minerals Corp. Captain Cu-Co Deposit"; Mercator Geological Services Limited, Dec. 8, 2010)

(2) (source: Government of New Brunswick DNR Mineral Occurrence Database)

Quality Assurance/Quality Control

The core samples referenced in this press release were marked and cut by diamond saw whereby half the sample was bagged and hand-delivered by Stratabound personnel to a secure carrier and transported to the Activation Laboratories (Actlabs) preparation lab in Fredericton, New Brunswick. The remaining half-core is stored at the Madran core facility in Madran, NB.

Actlabs prepared the samples by crushing to 80% less than 10 mesh. A riffle split of 250 grams was then taken and pulverized to a 95% passing 200 mesh pulp sub-sample. The pulps were then shipped by Actlabs to its Ancaster, Ontario laboratory for copper, cobalt, gold and multi-element analyses. A 4-acid near-total digestion ICP-MS 42-element analysis was performed on all samples and a duplicate 4-acid digestion ICP-OES procedure performed where values exceeded 350ppm for cobalt and 5,000ppm for copper in the original digestion. Gold was determined separately by the 1A2 standard fire assay procedure with an atomic absorption (AA) finish on a 30-gram sub-sample taken from the 250-gram split. If the gold result exceeded 5 g/t a duplicate sample was processed by method 1A3-30

Actlabs uses a procedure of standards, blanks and duplicates inserted into the sample stream results. Actlabs is an independent internationally recognized and ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accredited chemical analysis company.

In addition to the quality assurance and quality control program performed by Actlabs, Stratabound personnel insert lab-certified standards and field blanks into the sample stream, as well as sample duplicates, at the rate of one QA/QC sample for every 7 core samples.

About Stratabound Minerals Corp.

Stratabound Minerals Corp. is a fully-funded Canadian exploration and development company focused on gold exploration at its flagship Golden Culvert Project, Yukon Territory and its McIntyre Brook Project, New Brunswick, Canada. The Company also holds a significant land position that hosts three base metals deposits in the Bathurst base metals camp of New Brunswick featuring the Captain Copper-Cobalt-Gold Deposit that hosts an NI 43-101 Measured and Indicated Resource.

Mr. R. Kim Tyler, P.Geo., President and CEO of Stratabound, and a "Qualified Person" for the purpose of NI 43-101, has reviewed and approved the contents of this news release.

For more information please visit the company's website at www.stratabound.ca or contact: R. Kim Tyler, President and CEO 416-915-4157 info@stratabound.com.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

WARNING: The Company relies upon litigation protection for "forward looking" statements. The information in this release may contain forward-looking information under applicable securities laws. This forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those implied by the forward-looking information. Factors that may cause actual results to vary materially include, but are not limited to, inaccurate assumptions concerning the exploration for and development of mineral deposits, currency fluctuations, unanticipated operational or technical difficulties, changes in laws or regulations, failure to obtain regulatory, exchange or shareholder approval, the risks of obtaining necessary licenses and permits, changes in general economic conditions or conditions in the financial markets and the inability to raise additional financing. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on this forward-looking information. The Company does not assume the obligation to revise or update this forward-looking information after the date of this release or to revise such information to reflect the occurrence of future unanticipated events, except as may be required under applicable securities laws.

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Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State has urged the Federal Character Commission to adopt stringent measures to ensure fair representation of the state at the federal level.

Mr Diri spoke on Wednesday in Yenagoa when he hosted Muheeba Dankaka, the chairperson of the commission.

A statement by the governors spokesperson, Daniel Alabrah, quoted Mr Diri as saying that he noticed imbalances in federal placements when he was a member of the House of Representatives.

The governor called on the commission to correct the existing imbalance and ensure that Bayelsa got its due.

He alleged that available vacancies at the federal level were hardly brought to the knowledge of the government and people of the state, and urged the commission to start doing that.

It is only when we know of the vacancies that we can take advantage of the opportunities.

If the imbalances affecting Bayelsa and a few other states are addressed, the agitations in some states will reduce significantly, said Mr Diri, who described the commission as crucial to the unity and stability of Nigeria given the numerous ethnic groups clamouring for justice.

The Federal Character Commission is inevitable in a heterogeneous society like ours. The commission can sort out a lot of the inequality and challenges we face because of our heterogeneous nature.

It is a very good weapon in solving the issues of ethnicity and mutual suspicion among ethnic nationalities that make up Nigeria.

I like to place on record that Bayelsa State is under-represented. Bayelsa is one of the states that have been cheated over the years and the inequality in relation to other states is so high that we request that your commission addresses this imbalance, he said.

The governor expressed the willingness of the state government to work with the commission to achieve set goals, and urged the members to shun partisanship in the performance of their duties.

Mrs Dankaka, in her remark, said the commission was established to promote national unity and foster a sense of belonging among Nigerians.

She assured the governor that Bayelsa would get its fair share of federal jobs and amenities.

The commission, she said, was consulting widely to ensure that the federal character principle was also practiced at the state level.

(NAN)
LONDON (Reuters) - More than half of Britain's adult population will have received the first shot of a COVID-19 vaccine by the end of the week as the inoculation programme continues at pace, business minister Kwasi Kwarteng said on Wednesday

"I think by the end of the week 50% of the British adult population will have been vaccinated, and if people get the call I think they should take the jab," he told BBC TV.

(Reporting by Sarah Young and Paul Sandle, editing by Estelle Shirbon)
If European countries are going to suspend the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine every time there is a random stochastic death, it would be better if they handed their stocks immediately to Africa and poorer regions of Asia.

The vaccine saga has degenerated into the most abject spectacle of European misgovernment. It is what happens when you push the precautionary principle to the point of absurdity. Once zero-risk thinking becomes reflexive - and institutionalised in law - it leads you into a cul-de-sac of systemic self-harm.

We have extensive epidemiological data in the UKs weekly yellow card summary of vaccines. As of February 28, there had been 227 deaths shortly after the Pfizer-BioNTech jab and 275 after the Oxford-AstraZeneca jab. It is a statistical miracle that there had not been more. AstraZeneca reported 15 cases of deep vein thrombosis and 22 cases of pulmonary embolism following the jab out of 17 million doses in the UK and Europe.

This is much lower than would be expected to occur naturally in a general population of this size and is similar across other licensed COVID-19 vaccines, it said.
WE WENT to Newport for three days last week, two Minnesotans long married, to rediscover the fact that ocean air is delicious and invigorating and can even make you happy. That surely is why the Vanderbilts built their monstrous mansion on the shore: sinking into decadence in a fake palace w
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In Wednesdays meeting with the Prime Minister, government sought permission for technology transfer and other assistance to manufacture the Covid-19 vaccines in Mumbai-based Haffkine Bio-Pharmaceutical Corporation, a premier biopharmaceutical research institute.

It can make up to 126 mn doses of the vaccine.

Chief Minister Udhhav Thackeray proposed this in the meeting with PM and the state government noted that the PM has taken the suggestion on board and has appreciated the initiative.

State health minister Rajesh Tope said if the ICMR transfers technology, the government can initiate manufacturing of Covaxin at Haffekine in Mumbai.




Russia on Wednesday described U.S. intelligence allegations that President had likely directed efforts to try to swing the 2020 U.S. presidential election to Donald Trump as baseless.

A 15-page American intelligence report, released on Tuesday, added heft to longstanding allegations that some of Trump's top lieutenants were playing into Moscow's hands by amplifying claims made against then-candidate by Russian-linked Ukrainian figures in the run-up to the Nov. 3 election.

"The document prepared by the U.S. intelligence community is another set of baseless accusations against our country for interfering in American domestic political processes," Russia's embassy in the United States said in a statement on Facebook.

"The conclusions of the report on Russia conducting influence operations in America are confirmed solely by the confidence of the intelligence services of their self-righteousness. No facts or specific evidence of such claims were provided."

Washington is expected to impose sanctions on Moscow as soon as next week because of the allegations, three sources said on Tuesday on condition of anonymity. Those sanctions could also address the cyber hack blamed on Russia that used U.S. company SolarWinds Corp to penetrate U.S. government networks.

Russia has denied any involvement in that hack. The United States imposed sanctions on four senior Russian officials earlier this month over Moscow's treatment of opposition politician Alexei Navalny, something Moscow cast as unacceptable meddling in its domestic affairs.

Russia's U.S. embassy in Washington on Wednesday accused the United States of seeking to besmirch Russia's image and of blaming others for its own problems.

"We state that Washington continues to practice 'megaphone diplomacy, with the main goal to maintain a negative image of Russia. To blame external players for destabilising the situation inside the country," the embassy said in the same statement.

"This attitude of the administration hardly corresponds to our proposed equal and mutually respectful expert dialogue in search of solutions to the most pressing issues. Washington's actions do not lead to the normalisation of bilateral relations."
8 Dead in Atlanta Spa Shootings, With Fears of Anti-Asian Bias The man who police say went on a rampage at three spas in the Atlanta area has been charged with eight counts of murder in connection with the attacks. Follow our latest coverage of the Atlanta spa shootings.

The suspect in the spa attacks has been charged with eight counts of murder. Video transcript Back bars 0:00 / 2:17 - 0:00 transcript Police Search for Motive in Atlanta Spa Shootings The Atlanta police said a 21-year-old man was arrested and charged in the fatal shootings that took place at three massage parlors Tuesday night. This was a tragic day with many victims, but thankfully the suspect was quickly apprehended. The suspect did take responsibility for the shootings. He said that early on, once we began the interviews with him. He claims that these, and as the chief said, we know this is still early, but he does claim that it was not racially motivated. He apparently has an issue, what he considers a sex addiction, and sees these locations as something that allows him to go to these places. And it is a temptation for him that he wanted to eliminate. So obviously, whatever the motivation was for this guy, we know that many of the victims, the majority of the victims, were Asian. We also know that this is an issue thats happening across the country. It is unacceptable. It is hateful, and it has to stop. We put out an image of a possible suspect very early on in this incident, and we were notified by his family, who were fully cooperative, and we are greatly appreciative of their assistance in this matter. The Atlanta police said a 21-year-old man was arrested and charged in the fatal shootings that took place at three massage parlors Tuesday night. Credit Credit... Shannon Stapleton/Reuters ACWORTH, Ga.  The man who police say went on a rampage at three spas in the Atlanta area, killing eight people, was charged on Wednesday with eight counts of murder in connection with the attacks. The brazen shootings, which took the lives of six women of Asian descent, stirred considerable outrage and fear in the Asian-American community. Investigators said they had not ruled out bias as a motivating factor even as the suspect denied such racial animus once in custody. The suspect told the police that he had a sexual addiction and had carried out the shootings at the massage parlors to eliminate his temptation, the authorities said on Wednesday. He also said that he had frequented massage parlors in the past and launched the attacks as a form of vengeance. All but one of the victims were women, the police said. Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms of Atlanta said that regardless of the determination about motive, the tragedy was clear. Whatever the motivation was for this guy, we know that the majority of the victims were Asian, Ms. Bottoms said. We also know that this is an issue that is happening across the country. It is unacceptable, it is hateful and it has to stop. The authorities charged Robert Aaron Long, 21, on Wednesday with eight counts of murder and one count of aggravated assault in connection with the shootings. Four of the murder counts and the assault charge stem from the first shooting, in Cherokee County, and the other four murder counts relate to the shootings at two spas in the city of Atlanta less than an hour later, the authorities said. Capt. Jay Baker of the Cherokee County Sheriffs Office said that Mr. Long had told the police he was driving to Florida when he was caught after the shootings on Tuesday evening, and that he said he may have been trying to commit similar violence at a business connected to the porn industry there. He was stopped after his parents alerted the police that they believed their son might be the suspect, and the police were able to track his phone. Sheriff Frank Reynolds of Cherokee County said the suspect may have frequented these places in the past and may have been lashing out. The police arrested Mr. Long, who is white, about 150 miles south of Atlanta after a manhunt, the authorities said. They had earlier released a surveillance image of a suspect near a Hyundai Tucson outside one of the massage parlors. Mr. Baker said that Mr. Long, of Cherokee County, had admitted to the shootings and that he appeared to be acting alone. Rodney Bryant, the acting chief of the Atlanta Police Department, said it was not yet clear whether the shooting spree would be classified as a hate crime. We are still early in this investigation, so we cannot make that determination at this moment, Chief Bryant said. We are just not there as of yet. Four people died in the first shooting, at Youngs Asian Massage near Acworth, a northwest suburb of Atlanta, Mr. Baker said. That shooting, in which a Hispanic man was injured, was reported around 5 p.m. At 5:47 p.m., the Atlanta police said, officers responded to a robbery at Gold Spa in the northeast part of the city, where they found the bodies of three women with gunshot wounds. While the officers were at the scene, the police said, they received a report of shots fired at the Aromatherapy Spa across the street, where they found the body of another woman. A 911 caller who said she was hiding in the back of Gold Spa told the emergency operator that a white guy had a gun, according to audio recordings released by the Atlanta Police Department. She was not sure where the gunman was, she told the operator, because she was hiding, and was unsure what he was wearing. I dont know, she pleaded in response to questions. Please just come. Richard Fausset, Nicholas Bogel-Burroughs and

Six of the eight victims were women of Asian descent. A body being removed from Gold Spa massage parlor after a shooting late Tuesday in Atlanta. Credit... Brynn Anderson/Associated Press Six of the eight people killed in the shootings at Atlanta-area spas on Tuesday were women of Asian descent, raising fears that they could have been targeted because of their race, even as the police said it was too early to know. On Wednesday, the police named the victims of the shooting at Youngs Asian Massage in Acworth, Ga., as Delaina Ashley Yaun, 33, of Acworth; Paul Andre Michels, 54, of Atlanta; Xiaojie Tan, 49, of Kennesaw; and Daoyou Feng, 44. One person, Elcias R. Hernandez-Ortiz, 30, of Acworth, was injured. An official from the South Korean Consulate in Atlanta, citing the Foreign Ministry in Seoul, confirmed on Wednesday that four of the eight killed in the shooting spree were ethnic Koreans. But the nationalities of the four women were not immediately known, the official said. Ms. Yaun was a customer at Youngs Asian Massage and had been planning a date night with her husband, her half sister, Dana Toole, said. She was killed, and her husband survived after locking himself in a nearby room as gunshots rang out, Ms. Toole said. Hes not OK, Ms. Toole said about her sisters husband. Hes taking it hard. Ms. Yaun was one of four siblings who grew up in Acworth, and had worked as a server at a Waffle House restaurant. She raised a 13-year-old son as a single mother and had an 8-month-old daughter, Ms. Toole said. It was just all about family, Ms. Toole said. Whatever wed do, wed do it together. Now the shooting has left the family in shock. It doesnt seem real. I expect to see her walking through the door any minute. It just hasnt quite sunk in yet, Ms. Toole said. My eyes hurt so bad because Ive been crying so much, she said. Its just hard right now for us to even think about moving forward, because shes not here. Image Youngs Asian Massage in Acworth, Ga., the morning after a gunman shot and killed eight people at three separate locations. Credit... Nicole Craine for The New York Times Youngs Asian Massage is tucked in a modest strip mall, with a beauty salon on one side and a boutique on the other. Like much of suburban Georgia, the mall is a diverse place, with panaderias and Latin businesses and American-style chain restaurants. On Tuesday night, the blue lights of police vehicles cast an eerie glow as detectives worked inside the spa. Rita Barron, 47, the owner of Gabbys Boutique next door, was with a group of onlookers standing near a used car lot. She said she had been with a customer when she heard noises through the wall that sounded like claps  and then women screaming. She called 911, and soon saw victims being taken out by police officers. Nearby, a wail of anguish went up from another cluster of people waiting for any news. Three dropped to the pavement, two of them embracing and shaking as they cried. Richard Fausset, Neil Vigdor and

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President Biden: I know Asian-Americans are very concerned. Video transcript Back bars 0:00 / 1:14 - 0:00 transcript Psaki: Trump Administration Rhetoric Contributed to Anti-Asian Threats The White House press secretary, Jen Psaki, on Wednesday told reporters that rhetoric about the coronavirus used by former President Donald J. Trumps administration contributed to hostility against Asian-Americans. Why does the president think attacks on Asian-Americans are increasing in this country? He wanted to be very clear because theres an ongoing F.B.I. investigation, right? And he didnt want to attribute motive. There are law enforcement authorities who do that. And its important to know when the investigation is concluded or not. So that was a bar he was working to respect there. You know, I think theres no question that some of the damaging rhetoric that we saw during the prior administration blaming, you know, calling Covid, you know, the Wuhan virus or other things, led to, you know, perceptions of the Asian-American community that are inaccurate, unfair, have raised, you know, threatening  has elevated threats against Asian-Americans. And were seeing that around the country. Thats why even before the horrific events of last night, he felt it was important to raise this issue, elevate it, during his first prime-time address, why he signed the executive order earlier in his presidency. And he will continue to look for ways to elevate and talk about this issue moving forward. The White House press secretary, Jen Psaki, on Wednesday told reporters that rhetoric about the coronavirus used by former President Donald J. Trumps administration contributed to hostility against Asian-Americans. Credit Credit... Erin Scott for The New York Times President Biden said on Wednesday that the question of motivation is still to be determined in the Georgia shootings, while renewing his concerns over a recent surge in violence against Asian-Americans. Mr. Biden told reporters ahead of a virtual meeting with the Irish prime minister that he had been briefed by the attorney general and the F.B.I. director about the shootings, and that an investigation was ongoing. Whatever the motivation here, he said, I know Asian-Americans are very concerned. Because as you know I have been speaking about the brutality against Asian-Americans for the last couple months, and I think its very, very troubling. But I am making no connection at this moment to the motivation of the killer. Im waiting for an answer from  as the investigation proceeds  from the F.B.I. and from the Justice Department. And Ill have more to say when the investigation is completed. In his first prime-time speech as president last week, marking a year of the coronavirus pandemic, Mr. Biden denounced 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  theyre on the front lines 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. Its wrong, its un-American, and it must stop. Vice President Kamala Harris, the first woman and the first Asian-American to hold the office, expressed condolences for the families of the victims during a meeting with Irish officials on Wednesday. This speaks to a larger issue, which is the issue of violence in our country and what we must do to never tolerate it and to always speak out against it, Ms. Harris said, adding that the motive in the shooting was still unclear. I do want to say to our Asian-American community that we stand with you and understand how this has frightened and shocked and outraged all people, she added. On Friday, Mr. Biden and Ms. Harris will meet in Atlanta with community leaders and state lawmakers from the Asian-American and Pacific Islander community, a White House official confirmed on Thursday. The president and vice president had already been scheduled to visit the city as part of a promotional tour for the $1.9 trillion economic relief package that Mr. Biden signed into law last week. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution previously reported details of the meeting with community leaders. Jim Tankersley and

A survivor of the shooting spree called his wife: Ive been shot! Please come. Elcias Hernandez-Ortiz was wounded in the Atlanta spa shootings on Tuesday. Credit... via Flor Gonzalez For years, Elcias Hernandez-Ortiz had walked past the Youngs Asian Massage parlor outside Atlanta on his way to a money exchange business next door. On Tuesday afternoon, he was steps away when he encountered a gunman. Moments later, he desperately reached for his cellphone. Ive been shot! Mr. Hernandez-Ortiz told his wife, she later recalled. Please come. He choked on the other end and the call dropped, his wife, Flor Gonzalez, said. Mr. Hernandez-Ortiz survived a horrific shooting spree after a gunman targeted three spas in the Atlanta area on Tuesday night. Eight people died, the authorities said, including six of Asian descent, stoking fears of a rising tide of hate crimes. Ms. Gonzalez, 27, recalled the phone conversation with her husband on Wednesday after visiting her husband at a hospital. She said she did not believe he was an intended target of the gunman. Ms. Gonzalez said she rushed to the hospital on Tuesday and was unable to see her husband until after midnight. Doctors told her that he had been wounded in his forehead, throat, lungs and stomach. He underwent surgery Tuesday night. Doctors told me he had been very lucky, but that he was still very grave, she said. He was lucky that the bullet didnt penetrate his brain. Ms. Gonzalez said she whispered words of encouragement and reminded her husband that next week the couple had been planning to celebrate their daughters 10th birthday. I pleaded with him to keep fighting and that he has a family, she said. He loves his daughter a lot. Hes always been a dedicated father, very loving. She said she felt his body jump, as if trying to respond to her. He heard me, she added. I told him that we love him and to keep fighting. Mr. Hernandez-Ortiz, who goes by Alex, moved to Georgia from Guatemala more than 10 years ago, his wife said, and worked as a mechanic. They had been married just as long. On Wednesday afternoon, a doctor called to tell Ms. Gonzalez that when her husband was asked to press the doctors hand, he did so, giving a sign that he is alert and will eventually recover. Hes still alive, hes fighting for his life, she said. But the doctors told me that he will have a long recovery after he leaves the hospital. Many others died, she said holding back tears, and my heart breaks for them. Whoever did this is not human.

Vigil in New York honors victims of Atlanta shooting and anti-Asian violence. A vigil for the victims of a shooting in Georgia was held in Jackson Heights, Queens, on Wednesday night. Credit... Andrew Seng for The New York Times About 200 people on Wednesday night gathered in Diversity Plaza in Jackson Heights, Queens, which is home to a large Asian-American population, to hold a vigil and raise awareness of reports of anti-Asian violence in New York City and across the country. The vigil was for eight people, six of them women of Asian descent, who were killed in shootings at Atlanta-area spas on Tuesday night. A diverse crowd holding candles huddled together near the 7 train as Donovan Richards, the Queens borough president, led them in chanting, Stop the hate. Members of the community spoke through tears as they appealed to end racial violence. Im scared for every sex worker and street vendor, you can turn around and see them now, Chuck Park, a Jackson Heights resident, told the crowd as he gestured toward Roosevelt Avenue, a bustling street full of restaurants, bars, salons and spas. The number of hate crimes with Asian-American victims reported to the New York Police Department jumped to 28 in 2020 from just three in 2019, including attacks that took place in Flushing, a majority Asian neighborhood in eastern Queens. The events in Georgia served as another blow to a community that has felt targeted over the last year. We are so devastated and pained after what happened, knowing its a continuation of a long line of hate and violence against the Asian-American community, said Shekar Krishnan, a Democrat running for City Council who organized the vigil as a community event. We are here today to send a message that we will not be silenced. An attack on one of us is an attack on all of us.

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The suspects parents identified him in surveillance footage during the manhunt. The police said they arrested the suspect, Robert Aaron Long, 21, as he was on his way to Florida to carry out similar violence. Credit... Nicole Craine for The New York Times The man accused of killing eight people at three massage parlors around Atlanta was caught after his parents called the police and said they recognized their son in a surveillance image that had been released by the authorities, the police said on Wednesday. The police said they had caught the suspect, Robert Aaron Long, 21, as he was on his way to Florida to carry out similar violence on a business tied to the porn industry. They were able to track his phone after his parents called in the tip. Mr. Long had been found with a 9-millimeter gun when he was stopped, the police said. Matt Kilgo, a lawyer for Big Woods Goods, a gun shop and shooting range in Canton, Ga., said Mr. Long had bought a gun legally from the shop on Tuesday before the shooting. He added that the store had not broken any laws and that it was cooperating with the authorities. Mr. Longs parents reported him missing in January 2019, according to police records from the Cherokee County Sheriffs Office. The couple told the police that their son, then 19, had gone to visit a girlfriend in Chattanooga, Tenn., but had not returned home and had sent them a text message saying that he was not coming back and wanted a fresh start. The officer told the Longs that their son did not meet the criteria as a missing person. Mr. Long was a member of the Crabapple First Baptist Church in Milton, Ga., where records say he was a member of the churchs Student Ministry Team in 2018. A post on the churchs now-deleted Facebook page appears to indicate that he was baptized as an adult in 2018. Image Big Woods Goods is a gun shop and shooting range in Canton, Ga. Credit... Nicole Craine for The New York Times Brett Cottrell, the youth and missions pastor at Crabapple First Baptist between 2008 and 2017, described Mr. Long as one of the most committed members of the churchs youth group at the time. The group met multiple times a week and took summer trips to do volunteer work in Pittsburgh and New Orleans, among other locations. He was one of those core young men involved in everything we did, said Mr. Cottrell, who said he was stunned to hear of what Mr. Long was accused of doing on Tuesday. The other kids looked up to him, especially the young ones. Mr. Long wrote about his interests at the top of an Instagram account that appeared to be his. Pizza, guns, drums, music, family, and God, he wrote. This pretty much sums up my life. Two longtime neighbors of Mr. Long and his family said on Wednesday that he had a younger sister and that he went by Aaron. They said his parents had moved into the house next door in the woodsy neighborhood of Creek Hollow when Mr. Long was a young boy. He had graduated from Sequoyah High School in Canton, they said. Cindy Hunnicutt, 64, a pastor at a nearby church, and her husband, Darrell Hunnicutt, said that Mr. Long had done yardwork and other tasks for them in the past and that he and his father liked to hunt deer. They recalled the younger Mr. Long practicing with his crossbow in the backyard. Richard Fausset, Nicholas Bogel-Burroughs, Frances Robles, Davey Alba, Ben Decker and

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An officer criticized for his remarks is no longer a spokesman on the case. Capt. Jay Baker of the Cherokee County Sheriffs office, right, speaking to the news media on Wednesday. Credit... Nicole Craine for The New York Times A sheriffs deputy will no longer serve as his agencys spokesman for the investigation into the Atlanta-area spa shootings after he drew criticism for saying that the suspect in the attacks had a really bad day before the shootings, and for anti-Asian Facebook posts that he made last year. The deputy, Capt. Jay Baker, was no longer speaking on behalf of the Cherokee County Sheriffs Office on the shooting, according to a spokeswoman for the county. The spokeswoman, Erika Neldner, said in a text message on Thursday that she would be taking over the communications duties in the case. At a news conference on Wednesday, Captain Baker discussed the frame of mind of the man charged with eight counts of murder in Tuesdays shootings. He said that the suspect, Robert Aaron Long, 21, of Woodstock, Ga., had understood the gravity of his actions when he was interviewed by investigators. He was pretty much fed up and had been kind of at the end of his rope, Captain Baker said. Yesterday was a really bad day for him, and this is what he did. The comments were widely panned on social media, with critics characterizing them as callous and pointing to Facebook posts from March 30 and April 2 of last year by Captain Baker, in which he promoted sales of an anti-Asian T-shirt. The shirts, echoing the rhetoric of President Donald J. Trump, referred to the coronavirus as an imported virus from Chy-na. Place your order while they last, Captain Baker wrote at the time in one of the posts. He did not respond to requests for comment on Wednesday and Thursday. State Senator Michelle Au of Georgia said that Captain Bakers remarks about the suspect illustrated how law enforcement treated crimes against certain groups differently, and that his Facebook posts were an example of casual, open racism toward Asian-Americans. Its not treated the way that other forms of racism are, she said in an email. Its more accepted, its more palatable, its more tolerable for large swaths of the population. On Thursday, the Georgia Alliance for Social Justice, a nonprofit group, demanded that Captain Baker be removed from his job. These racist social media posts that have now been shared have been on his page for almost a year, the group wrote on Facebook, and it took a mass shooting to bring them to light. In a statement on Thursday, the Cherokee County sheriff, Frank Reynolds, defended Captain Baker, saying that he did not intend to disrespect any of the victims or express empathy or sympathy for the suspect. Captain Baker had a difficult task before him, and this was one of the hardest in his 28 years in law enforcement, Sheriff Reynolds said. He added, On behalf of the dedicated women and men of the Cherokee County Sheriffs Office, we regret any heartache Captain Bakers words may have caused. Neil Vigdor, Nicholas Bogel-Burroughs and

Lawmakers react: We must stop making excuses for racial violence. Video transcript Back bars 0:00 / 0:59 - 0:00 transcript Call Out Racial Violence for Exactly What it Is, Congresswoman Says Representative Marilyn Strickland of Washington said on Wednesday that people must stop making excuses for racial violence, a day after a white man killed eight people, including six women of Asian descent, in Atlanta. The tragic shootings in Atlanta yesterday killed eight people, six of whom were Asian women. To the families of the victims, you have my deepest condolences. This crime has elements that we are trying to address here in Congress: gun violence, violence against women and the meteoric rise of violence, we are witnessing against the A.A.P.I. community. Racially motivated violence must be called out for exactly what it is, and we must stop making excuses or rebranding it as economic anxiety or sexual addiction. As a woman who is Black and Korean, Im acutely aware of how it feels to be erased or ignored. And how the default position when violence is committed against people of color or women is to defer from confronting the hate that is often the motivation. Words matter. Leadership matters. We must all loudly condemn actions and language rooted in fear and bigotry that harms all of us. Representative Marilyn Strickland of Washington said on Wednesday that people must stop making excuses for racial violence, a day after a white man killed eight people, including six women of Asian descent, in Atlanta. Credit Credit... Lindsey Wasson/Reuters The shootings in Atlanta sent a shock wave through Washington on Wednesday, resonating with the increasingly powerful contingent of Asian-American members in Congress. Racially motivated violence should be called out for exactly what it is  and we must stop making excuses or rebranding it as economic anxiety or sexual addiction, said Marilyn Strickland, a Korean-American Democrat from Washington, in a speech on the House floor. As a woman who is Black and Korean, she said, Im acutely aware of how it feels to be erased or ignored, and how the default position when violence is committed against people of color or women is to defer from confronting the hate that is often the motivation. The man arrested in the killings, Robert Aaron Long, 21, of Woodstock, Ga., told authorities he had struggled with sexual addiction and targeted the businesses where the victims worked to rid himself of temptation. Mr. Long is white. Six of the eight victims killed on Tuesday were of Asian descent, the authorities said; an official from the South Korean Consulate in Atlanta confirmed on Wednesday that four were ethnic Koreans. Ms. Strickland, who was born in Seoul and attended graduate school in Atlanta, was one of three women of Korean ancestry to be elected to Congress last year, along with Representative Young Oak Kim, a Republican from California, and Representative Michelle Park Steel, a Republican from California. They were the first three Korean-American women ever elected to Congress. Image We should never be outraged by violence only targeting those who look like us said Representative Andy Kim Credit... Bryan Anselm for The New York Times The Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus said the group was horrified by the news coming out of GA at a time when were already seeing a spike in anti-Asian violence. Although details are still unfolding, at least half of the victims appear to be Asian-American women. Our hearts go out to the victims & their families. Representative Andy Kim, a New Jersey Democrat who is also of Korean-American ancestry, posted an anguished thread on Twitter expressing his determination to address the issues of violence against Asian people and women. We should never be outraged by violence only targeting those who look like us. Hate comes in many forms, he wrote, urging members of the House to revive the expired Violence Against Women Act which, by coincidence, was up for a vote on Wednesday. The killings are likely to reignite debates over gun violence that have flared and then receded following other mass killings around the country. This kind of violence happens too often in America. And we weep with those who weep, Senator Raphael Warnock, a Democrat from Georgia who is from Atlanta, told reporters at the Capitol. But weve got to do everything we can in terms of addressing bigotry and hate in our country. Senator Jon Ossoff, a Democrat who was elected to represent the state with Mr. Warnock earlier this year, commended the swift action of the police in the case. While the motive for last nights terrible violence remains under investigation, I express my love and support for and stand in solidarity with the Asian-American community, which has endured a shocking increase in violence and harassment over the last year, he said in a statement. Glenn Thrush and

Who could imagine what was happening, said a woman who works next door to one of the targeted spas. Four people died in the first shooting, at Youngs Asian Massage near Acworth, a northwest suburb of Atlanta. Credit... Nicole Craine for The New York Times Martha Enciso and her co-workers at Perfecto Beauty Salon returned to work with a sense of dread on Wednesday morning at the modest shopping center about 30 miles northwest of downtown Atlanta where the police said a man killed four people on Tuesday night at a neighboring massage parlor. Despite the horrible events that took place, we had to return to work, Ms. Enciso, 46, a grandmother and immigrant from Colombia, said softly. We have no choice. We have to support our families and pay rent. Life cant slow down. We came in fear, imagine, we are Hispanic, and some people hate us too. Tuesday afternoon had been business as usual at the beauty salon where Ms. Enciso works, which is frequented by immigrant women. Spanish-language music was playing in the background when, at around 4:30 p.m., Ms. Enciso and her colleagues heard what sounded like someone pounding on the walls next door. She didnt realize they were gunshots at the time, she said. We didnt make much of it, she said and paused. Who could imagine what was happening there. About half an hour away on Wednesday at Gold Spa in northeast Atlanta, where three women were killed on Tuesday, Gloria Bozeman stood outside the doctors office next door to the establishment. Its shocking, said Ms. Bozeman, who lives in a nearby suburb. I hope its not a case of racial bias, but it may very well be. Edgar Sandoval and

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Asian-Americans in California call for more protection. Flowers and written tributes mark the spot where Vicha Ratanapakdee was shoved to the ground in San Francisco in January. He later died from the injuries he suffered in the attack Credit... Jim Wilson/The New York Times In the San Francisco Bay Area, a string of attacks against Asians has prompted residents to call for more police patrols and has led to a debate about how the community can protect itself. Older Asian residents in particular have been the targets of robberies, verbal attacks related to the coronavirus pandemic, and in some cases unexplained assaults. In San Francisco, Max Leung, a shop owner, was so disturbed by attacks on Asian residents that he founded of the SF Peace Collective, a group that patrols Asian neighborhoods and hands out whistles and Chinese-language pamphlets to older residents explaining what hate crimes are and how to report them. The Asian community is anything but monolithic but whats been happening has galvanized the community, Mr. Leung said. Its unfortunate that it took all this. Among the Asian residents who have been attacked in the Bay Area in recent months are an 84-year-old Thai man, Vicha Ratanapakdee, who was killed when an assailant shoved him to the ground. Mr. Vichas killing was captured on a neighbors security camera and the footage of the incident spread across social media, prompting Asian-American actors and politicians to call for action to stop attacks against Asians. In February, a liquor store owner in Oakland, Aaron Yee, was arrested after firing his handgun at a group of people attempting to rob a woman of a camera she was wearing around her neck. After deliberating for two weeks the district attorney of Alameda County, Nancy OMalley, said she would not file charges against Mr. Yee, who has a permit for a concealed weapon. The District Attorneys Office does not condone vigilantism, Ms. OMalley said at the time. However, after a thorough review of the facts of the incident, it is clear that Mr. Yee fired his weapon in lawful defense of the victim of the robbery or what appeared to be a possible kidnapping. On March 9, a 75-year-old Asian man, Pak Ho, was violently shoved to the ground during a robbery in Oakland. Mr. Ho died of his injuries several days later. Carl Chan, the president of the Oakland Chinatown Chamber of Commerce, says some attacks are related to the pandemic, hateful acts that came after political statements by former President Trump and others about the Chinese virus or the kung flu. It wasnt this serious in the past, Mr. Chan said. Our seniors are afraid to walk their own streets. The fatal assault in San Francisco on a defenseless older man was the latest terrifying episode for Asian-Americans, many of whom have endured racist taunts, rants and worse during the pandemic. On Wednesday, a group of state lawmakers and local officials representing Asian and Pacific Islander communities in California called on Gov. Gavin Newsom to choose an Asian American or Pacific Islander to be the states next attorney general  a call that they said had taken on particular urgency in light of the killings in Georgia. We need leadership across our state and the nation to take action, David Chiu, a member of Californias State Assembly, said in a virtual news conference. We need to stand up against these hate crimes. Thomas Fuller and
Amish Challenge Forced Water Treatment System in Supreme Court on Religious Grounds

An isolated Amish community in Minnesota is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to review a ruling by the states high court that allows a regulator to force its members to install a septic system that conflicts with their religious beliefs.

The case is Mast v. Fillmore County, court file 20-7028. The Minnesota Supreme Court ruled against the Amish on Aug. 25, 2020.

The Minnesota Attorney Generals Office, which is representing the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA), has been asked by the U.S. Supreme Court to respond to the petition brought by members of the Fillmore County Amish community. The attorney generals office didnt respond to a request by The Epoch Times for comment by press time.

The dispute dates to 2013, when the MPCA approved sewage treatment rules mandating that all counties create local ordinances rather than simply adopting the state septic code by reference. Later that year, Fillmore County adopted and implemented a stand-alone ordinance that required the Swartzentruber Amish community to install a septic system for so-called gray water. Minnesota considers gray water to be the household wastewater produced from laundry, bathing, and cooking activities and which doesnt contain toilet waste.

A septic system is viewed by the Amish as a forbidden technological innovation from the outside world.

To the Amish, a rejection of modern technology is critical to their way of life; if they are forced to choose between their beliefs and the farms that provide their livelihood, they will choose their beliefs, the petition filed with the Supreme Court states. That is the choice the government is forcing upon them.

A Swartzentruber Amish settlement was established in Fillmore County, Minn., in the 1980s. The Swartzentruber Amish are the most conservative of the approximately 40 different Amish affiliations and its members have remained the most separate from the modern world, according to their petition.

A key tenet of Amish religious beliefs is that its adherents remain separate and apart from the modern world. This concept of separation emanates from Christian Biblical directions to be not conformed to this world, quoting Romans 12:2; and Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers, quoting 2 Corinthians 6:14.

In June 2014, 48 Swartzentruber Amish representatives from all of the Fillmore County church districts sent a letter to the MPCA stating their religious objections to the septic system requirement. In August 2015, 55 representatives from all of the church districts followed up with a second letter to the MPCA.

The MPCA responded in 2016 by suing the Amish to compel them to into installing Fillmore Countys approved septic tank-based system. The regulator threatened criminal penalties, weekly community service requirements, and fines.

Many Amish yielded to the governments demands or left the state. During 2016, a total of 62.2 percent of all the MPCA cases filed statewide for any type of environmental concern were filed against Fillmore County Swartzentruber Amish families who refused to install septic tanks on religious grounds, according to court documents.

The Swartzentruber Amish say they are willing to use what they consider to be religiously compliant alternatives to the septic system. Specifically, they would like to adopt a mulch basin, a system based upon the gray water reuse methods and principles permitted in 20 other states. Such a system would comply with their Ordnung, or rules governing the community, they say, and also provide a level of wastewater management superior to that already permitted by the county in other circumstances.

The Swartzentruber Amish also dont object to the government requiring minimum sizes for their mulch basins, establishing setbacks, or requiring soil testing to be done to determine where these gray water systems should be placedbut none of these alternatives has been acceptable to Fillmore County, the petition states.
Chimp attack victim Charla Nash said in a radio interview Wednesday morning that she cant recall anything about the 2009 incident, but they told me it had ripped off my face, and my hands looked like theyd been through a shredder.

After the attack left Nash without a nose, eyes or lips, she received the nations first double hand and face transplant at Brigham and Womens Hospital is Boston, where she now lives. Her body rejected the hands, but the face transplant was a success. The mauling left Nash permanently blind from an infection spread by the chimp.

Nash told radio hosts Chaz and AJ in the brief interview on WPLR that she never discussed the attack with Sandra Herold, her friend and employer at the time.

I wanted to talk to Sandra before she died, but I was not strong enough, Nash said.

She was brutally attacked by Travis, a chimpanzee Herold kept as a pet at her Rock Rimmon Road home in North Stamford, on Feb. 9, 2009. The animal was killed by a police officer after it charged him.

They asked my brother to pull the plug because I had no brain response, Nash told the radio hosts on Wednesday morning. The first thing I remember was asking my brother to turn the lights on in my hospital room, but he told me they were already on.

Nash suffered a setback in May, when her body began to reject the face transplant, after the medications she was taking to stave off rejection were reduced as part of a medical study. Nash told Chaz and AJ that she is getting by, but still has an active GoFundMe page.

I thought Id get more help from the state of Connecticut, or at least to have my day in court, but it costs money to do things like that, she said.

Nash had sought the claims commissioners and then the Legislatures approval to sue the state for $150 million, claiming among other things that state officials knew chimpanzees were too dangerous to keep as pets. Her bid was denied under the sovereign immunity law.

Herolds estate paid Nash $4 million in damages.
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SINGAPORE, March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- China Yuchai International Limited (NYSE: CYD) ("China Yuchai" or the "Company") announced today that Mr. Li Hanyang has been appointed as Chairman of the Board of its main operating subsidiary, Guangxi Yuchai Machinery Company Limited ("GYMCL"), effective March 11, 2021. Mr. Li replaces Mr. Yan Ping who retired as Chairman of GYMCL.

Mr. Li started his career in GYMCL as a production preparation section chief in 1993 and he quickly rose in 1995 to deputy manager of the Cold Plant General Project of GYMCL. He was subsequently a factory manager of several plants before becoming a deputy general manager of GYMCL in 2000. Since 2002, Mr. Li has served as chief engineer, director, chairman and party secretary of Guangxi Yuchai Machinery Group Co., Ltd. and its subsidiaries.

Mr. Li holds a Bachelor's degree in mechanical design and manufacturing from Tsinghua University and an MBA from the School of Management, Huazhong University of Science and Technology.

China Yuchai's Board of Directors welcomes Mr. Li as GYMCL's Chairman of the Board and believes that his extensive engineering and manufacturing management experience with Yuchai products will be beneficial to achieve the Company's strategic goals. China Yuchai's Board also wishes to thank Mr. Yan Ping for his long service and prominent contributions over the past 16 years.



About China Yuchai International

China Yuchai International Limited, through its subsidiary, GYMCL, engages in the manufacture, assembly, and sale of a wide variety of light-, medium- and heavy-duty engines for trucks, buses, passenger vehicles, construction equipment, marine and agriculture applications in China. GYMCL also produces diesel power generators. The engines produced by GYMCL range from diesel to natural gas and hybrid engines. Through its regional sales offices and authorized customer service centers, GYMCL distributes its engines directly to auto OEMs and retailers and provides maintenance and retrofitting services throughout China. Founded in 1951, GYMCL has established a reputable brand name, strong research and development team and significant market share in China with high-quality products and reliable after-sales support. In 2020, GYMCL sold 430,320 engines and is recognized as a leading manufacturer and distributor of engines in China. For more information, please visit http://www.cyilimited.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

This news release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The words "believe", "expect", "anticipate", "project", "targets", "optimistic", "confident that", "continue to", "predict", "intend", "aim", "will" or similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical fact are statements that may be deemed forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements including, but not limited to, statements concerning China Yuchai's and the joint venture's operations, financial performance and condition are based on current expectations, beliefs and assumptions which are subject to change at any time. China Yuchai cautions that these statements by their nature involve risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially depending on a variety of important factors such as government and stock exchange regulations, competition, political, economic and social conditions around the world and in China including those discussed in China Yuchai's Form 20-Fs under the headings "Risk Factors", "Results of Operations" and "Business Overview" and other reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time. Among others, if the COVID-19 pandemic is not effectively and timely controlled, our business operations and financial condition may be materially and adversely affected due to a deteriorating market for automotive sales, an economic slowdown in China and abroad, a potential weakening of the financial condition of our customers, or other factors that we cannot foresee. All forward-looking statements are applicable only as of the date it is made and China Yuchai specifically disclaims any obligation to maintain or update the forward-looking information, whether of the nature contained in this release or otherwise, in the future.

For more information:

Investor Relations

Kevin Theiss

Tel: +1-212-521-4050

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE China Yuchai International Limited

Related Links

http://www.cyilimited.com


Fox News was quick to jump on the bandwagon of a recent New York Post article calling for Generation X to stand up to so-called "cancel culture."

The recent column by the Post's Mathew Hennessey had Fox taking a cue from Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), who had retweeted the story and has been vocal on social media about supposed digital lynch mobs and thought-policing.

APPLE SUED: Houston woman sues Apple after claiming they ripped off 'racially diverse' emoji

"The generation that fought for its right to party should be leading the charge against these millennial Maoists terrorizing the culture via social media. Why arent we?" Hennessey wrote.

User @katkrayzay may have had the best response to Hennessy's tweet: "Of all the generations to ask for help, Fox thinks Gen X will help them? Have they met us?"

Did America and Fox forget how Tipper Gore launched an all-out campaign in the 80s to censor popular music through her Parents Music Resource Center? Songs like "We're Not Gonna Take It" by Twisted Sister and "She Bop" by Cyndi Lauper were on the list of "filthy" songs, Hennessey said.

Gen Xers were quick to count the ways why they don't care to come to the rescue.

Screenshot Twitter

Hennessey does make a good point about why Gen X is the natural choice for this war.

"Dont let it happen. We are a generation with a certain set of skills. We can read a map. We can tell time on an analog clock. We can get along just fine without social media. And we know deep down that sticks and stones can break your bones but words can never hurt you."

Where are my Gen Xers? What do you think about this latest challenge?
80-year-old Naim Louis stands on the porch of his shattered house in Homs city in central Syria, March 11, 2021. (Photo by Ammar Safarjalani/Xinhua)

Israel launched a fresh missile strike on positions near the Syrian capital Damascus on Tuesday, state news agency SANA reported.

The attack was launched from the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, said the report, adding that the Syrian air defenses responded to the attack, intercepting most of the missiles.

It's the latest Israeli attack on the military positions near Damascus, where Israel suspects that the pro-Iran fighters are located.
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U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrives at Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek, South Korea March 17, 2021. (Lee Jin-man/Pool via Reuters)

Blinken Blasts Aggressive China, North Koreas Systemic, Widespread Rights Abuses

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on March 17 the Chinese regime was acting aggressively and repressively, and accused North Korea of committing systemic and widespread abuses against its own people.

Blinkens remarks disclosed a fissure in Washington and Seouls approach to China and North Korea, openly pressing South Korea to join hands in keeping Beijing in check and improving Pyongyangs human rights violations.

Blinken is visiting Japan and South Korea alongside Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, in a first overseas trip by top-level members of President Joe Bidens administration aimed at rebuilding U.S. alliances in Asia.

At talks with South Korean Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong in Seoul, Blinken said China was using coercion and aggression, citing its posturing over Taiwan and Hong Kong and in the East and South China Seas where it has territorial disputes with Japan and other Asian nations.

Chinas extensive territorial claims in the East and South China Seas have become a priority issue in increasingly testy relations between Washington and Beijing.

Beijings territorial ambitions have prompted Japan to seek even closer ties with the United States, but the Sino-U.S. rivalry posed a challenge for Seoul, which is not eager to provoke China, its largest economic partner and a key North Korea ally.

China is using coercion and aggression to systematically erode the autonomy in Hong Kong, undercut democracy in Taiwan, abuse human rights and its regime in Tibet and assert maritime claims in the South China Sea that violate international law, Blinken said.

Chinas foreign ministry protested the joint statement, calling it a malicious attack and gross interference in Chinas internal affairs.

Blinken urged Seoul to stand up to shared values together to prevent a dangerous erosion of democracy in the region.

He told an online roundtable of Japanese journalists in Tokyo earlier on Wednesday that China was raising tensions by acting both more repressively at home and more aggressively abroad.

The comments echoed a joint statement issued by Blinken, Austin and their Japanese counterparts after 2+2 talks in Tokyo, and come ahead of Blinkens first in-person meetings with Chinese counterparts planned for later this week in Alaska.

We look forward to the opportunity to lay out in very clear terms to our Chinese counterparts some of the concerns that we have about the actions theyre taking, said Blinken.

Authoritarian Regime

South Korea has faced international scrutiny after supporting a new law banning the launching of anti-Kim leaflets into the North and canceling licenses of some defector groups that had led the campaign.

President Moon Jae-ins administration, keen to revive cross-border exchanges, has said those leaflets had caused safety concerns and North Korean human rights could be improved by resuming humanitarian aid.

The authoritarian regime in North Korea continues to commit systemic and widespread abuses against its own people, Blinken told Chung. We must stand with the people that demand fundamental rights and freedom against those who repress them.

The State Department issued a statement saying both officials agreed to work together to resolve North Koreas nuclear and missile issues, calling them a priority.

South Koreas foreign ministry said they also agreed to continue discussions to arrange a summit between Moon and Biden as early as possible, and to coordinate on North Korea as Washingtons policy is underway.

Austin held separate talks with South Korean Defense Minister Suh Wook and pledged to continue providing extended deterrence, including the U.S. nuclear umbrella, Seouls defense ministry said in a statement.

Both sides also reaffirmed their shared goal of achieving complete denuclearization and lasting peace on the Korean peninsula, the ministry said.

The alliance has never been more important, Austin said at the meeting, citing unprecedented challenges posed by North Korea and China.

Austin called the alliance a key provider of peace, security and prosperity in Northeast Asia, and for a free and open Indo-Pacific region and beyond.

Suh said it was important for the allies to maintain a strong deterrence and joint defense posture against North Korea, and vowed to strengthen relations.

Blinken and Austin were set to hold talks with their South Korean counterparts and meet President Moon and other senior officials until Thursday.
Reuters, by ,

There will be a monorail passing through a business district where a 385-metre central tower is close to completion. Beyond, the contours of a 10km park stretching to a giant mosque are taking shape.

The city, known simply as the New Administrative Capital, is designed to operate with smart technology on virgin land away from the clutter and chaos of Cairo. It will boast universities, leisure facilities and a diplomatic quarter.

But it has made halting progress, and after Emirati funding fell through shortly after it was announced in 2015, the military and government took on the estimated $25 billion cost of the first

The coronavirus pandemic also slowed progress, and the first of three planned phases, covering 168 square kilometres, will not be completed when the government begins to move in.

The rate of completion of the first phase has passed 60% across all projects, said Khaled el-Husseiny, spokesman for the new capital.

He added that the delayed transfer of civil servants would begin in July, ahead of an official opening planned for the end of 2021.

HI-TECH

The city is being designed as a high-tech model for Egypts future.

Control centres will monitor infrastructure and security electronically, roofs will be covered in solar panels, payments will be cashless and 15 square metres of green space are allocated per inhabitant, officials said.

We are trying to solve all the problems we had in the past in the new capital, said Husseiny.

The finished city is expected to house at least 6 million residents, its second and third phases largely residential.

That will take decades to complete, although the government will be able to function normally while construction goes on, said Amr Khattab, spokesman for the Housing Ministry which is responsible for executing parts of the city.

How far and how fast Egypts centre of gravity shifts away from Cairo to the new capital 45 km from the Nile is unclear. For now, thousands of residential blocks stand empty either side of a highway leading into the new city.

The completion of the business district, yet to be marketed, is set for 2023.

Electric train and monorail links are under construction. The first 50,000 civil servants expected to relocate to the new capital from this summer will be offered shuttle buses to get there.

Around 5,000 out of 20,000 housing units have been sold in the first residential district expected to open in May, said Khattab.

On Monday, Sisis office announced 1.5 billion Egyptian pounds ($96 million) in incentives for civil servants selected to move to the city.

LAND SALES

Officials say the city will eventually include social housing and is meant to finance itself through land sales, though it is unclear how much revenue these have generated.

Of the $25 billion cost for the first phase, about $3 billion is being spent on the government district, said Husseiny.

Some international financing has been secured for rail links, and a $3 billion Chinese loan has helped fund the business district, built by China State Construction Engineering Corp (CSCEC).

Sisi, who has embarked on multiple infrastructure mega-projects and national development schemes, says other regions will not be neglected.

We are not leaving Cairo, or Alexandria or Port Said or other provinces. We are moving forward with the old and the new together, the president said last week. The capitals opening would mark the birth of a new state, he added.

Though there is support for the governments argument that the new capital can reduce congestion in Cairo, there is also concern that it will be unaffordable and inaccessible to many.

Some classes will be able to live there, others wont, said Alaa Ibrahim, a 39-year-old electrician in Cairos impoverished Imbaba district.
The head of the European Medicines Agency says there is "no indication" that AstraZeneca vaccines are the cause of blood clots reported in some shot recipients. Those reports led several European countries to suspend use of the vaccine.

Emer Cooke said Tuesday that the agency is "firmly convinced" that the benefits of the AstraZeneca shot outweigh the risks, but an evaluation is ongoing.

Cooke said experts are meeting this week to discuss the available information and will make a recommendation Thursday.

Also read: WHO experts review AstraZeneca safety data as Europe witnesses wave of vaccine suspensions
Three people have been rushed to hospital in a critical condition after a two-vehicle crash on the Bruce Highway north of Brisbane.

Emergency services were called to the accident in Morayfield just after 2pm on Wednesday, where four people were trapped at the scene near exit 150 on the highway.

Two people were taken to the Royal Brisbane and Womens Hospital with critical head and chest injuries.

A female patient was taken to the Sunshine Coast University Hospital with critical chest and abdominal injuries, while two others were taken to the same hospital in a stable condition.
Technical due diligence insights for BayWa's acquisition of 50 MW Scottish wind farm provides the execution certainty to conclude purchase

BayWa's acquisition of High Constellation Wind Farm, from Blue Energy, signals another technical due diligence success for Black Veatch's wind energy team in Europe.

Global renewable energy developer BayWa r.e. has added the consented, ten turbines, up to 50MW wind farm project to its growing portfolio of UK assets; which already includes installed capacity of 685 MW, and management of more than 2,400 MW of wind and solar capacity.

Drawing upon its expertise in every stage in the project lifecycle, Black Veatch rigorously reviewed High Constellation's design, buildability, permitting, environmental impact assessment, Capex and Opex assumptions, energy yield and grid connection. Confidence in the quality and accuracy of Black Veatch's analysis helped give the developer the execution certainty to proceed with the acquisition.

"Renewable energy developers and investors need confidence in the quality of the advice they receive. The fullest analysis will come from partners with expertise in both wind energy economics and technology," said Gregory Dudziak, Black Veatch's Head of Wind Energy in Europe. "As a result, we are supporting an ever-growing number of companies seeking to expand Europe's wind energy infrastructure."

Globally, BayWa r.e. has brought over 3.5 GW of energy online, while managing over 9 GW of assets.

"We are delighted to add this project to our portfolio in the UK and to continue our successful role in project development in Scotland," said Christine McGregor, Head of Commercial at BayWa r.e. UK Limited. "As Black Veatch is a recognised renewable energy engineering consultancy and contractor that operates globally, we have confidence in the quality of the company's technical due diligence on High Constellation."

In a further sign of industry confidence in Black Veatch, leading source of power and renewables data and analysis Inframation and SparkSpread named the company number one technical advisor, by deal count, in its 2020 project finance league tables. Black Veatch's support for off and onshore wind projects extends over 40 years and covers every point in the infrastructure lifecycle from development support through to delivering major engineer, procure and construct contracts.

"In addition to onshore infrastructure, offshore wind is an important focus for our Europe renewables team. Our team helps optimize new and existing asset performance based on many years' experience delivering the marine engineering needed for both fixed and floating wind," added Dave Hallowell, Black Veatch's Senior Vice President, Global Renewable Energy. "Indeed we look to the Europe team to support our offshore wind growth in the US and globally."

Click here to download an accompanying image. Image caption: When constructed, High Constellation will join wind farms already operating on the Kintyre peninsula, Scotland

Editor's Notes:

Recent successes for Black Veatch's Europe power team include Delivering financial close for ING Bank on three windfarms in the Irish Republic Securing UK energy regulator Ofgem's Renewable Obligation Statistical Audit Programme Authoring a first of a kind report on MeyGen Phase 1, which will help the commercial viability of tidal stream energy Deploying digital twin technology to support the optimisation and cost reduction of Orbital's floating tidal turbines



About Black Veatch

Black Veatch is an employee-owned engineering, procurement, consulting and construction company with a more than 100-year track record of innovation in sustainable infrastructure. Since 1915, we have helped our clients improve the lives of people in over 100 countries by addressing the resilience and reliability of our world's most important infrastructure assets. Our revenues in 2019 were US$3.7 billion. Follow us on www.bv.com and on social media.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210317005458/en/

Contacts:

MALCOLM HALLSWORTH +44 1737 856594 p +44 7920 701764 m HallsworthM@BV.com

24-HOUR MEDIA HOTLINE +1 866 496 9149
The Cranbourne Turf Club on Melbourne's fringe has been charged with workplace health and safety breaches over the 2019 death of apprentice jockey Mikaela Claridge.

The club must answer six charges of failing to ensure employees were not exposed to risk and that the workplace was safe.

Trainer Ken Keys' business Saloon Park has also been charged with two offences relating to workplace safety over the 22-year-old's death.

Claridge was riding on sand trails behind the main track in pre-dawn darkness at Cranbourne Racecourse when she was thrown from a horse on August 30, 2019.

The Cranbourne Turf Club (pictured) faces six charges of failing to ensure employees were not exposed to risk and that the workplace was safe

The businesses were represented by lawyers for a filing hearing in Melbourne Magistrates Court on Wednesday.

The turf club and Saloon Park are due back in court for a committal mention on May 10.
After conducting an internal investigation, Riot Games said it found "no evidence" of harassment by CEO Nicolo Laurent against a former employee, Sharon O'Donnell, the Washington Post has reported. We concluded that there was no evidence that Laurent harassed, discriminated, or retaliated against the plaintiff, the company said in a statement. We have therefore reached the conclusion that, at the current time  no action should be taken against Laurent.

Riot, which publishes games including League of Legends and Valorant, opened the investigation after O'Donnell, a former executive assistant, filed a lawsuit against the company. It alleged that Laurent made inappropriate sexual comments, telling her to be more feminine and watch her tone. Laurent also said that because ODonnell refused his advances, she had duties taken away and was eventually fired. She also alleges that she wasnt paid for her work, including overtime, nor given meal breaks.

After a probe by an outside legal team, a special board of directors committee concluded that the claims were meritless. "This is not a recommendation we take lightly, the committee said in a statement. Most cases of this nature are not black and white; they fall into the grey. However, this was not one of those cases. In this case, we were simply unable to find any evidence that would justify a sanction of any kind against Laurent." The company has also asked the court to speed up legal proceedings in O'Donnell's lawsuit by moving the case to arbitration.

The company is also facing a class-action lawsuit about pervasive discrimination and harassment, following a 2018 Kotaku investigation and company-wide walkout. Riot Games is trying to push for arbitration in that suit, as well, arguing that the women involved had signed arbitration clauses when they were hired.

The Riot board, however, said the decision favoring Laurent was separate from larger company culture issues. While our conclusion in this particular case is that no discrimination, harassment, or retaliation occurred, let us be clear that as a committee, we remain fully invested in overseeing the companys initiatives to transform Riots culture, it said. We encourage any employee of Riot who has experienced misconduct to feel safe reporting it.

Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-17 22:05:37|Editor: huaxia

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Namibian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah (R) and Chinese Ambassador to Namibia Zhang Yiming pose for photos with COVID-19 vaccines from China at the Hosea Kutako International Airport in Namibia's capital Windhoek on March 16, 2021. (Photo by Musa C Kaseke/Xinhua)

WINDHOEK, March 17 (Xinhua) -- The first batch of COVID-19 vaccines from Chinese pharmaceutical firm Sinovac arrived in Namibia on Tuesday afternoon, which will help the African country's immunization campaign against the pandemic.

Receiving the vaccines at the Hosea Kutako International Airport, Namibian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah said the vaccines' arrival gives hope to the country's fight against the coronavirus.

Highlighting the long-time friendship between Namibia and China, Nandi-Ndaitwah said she hopes China's vaccines will help the country better manage the pandemic and revive the economy.

She also thanked Zimbabwe for its assistance in transfering the vaccines to Namibia.

Speaking at the handover ceremony, Chinese ambassador to Namibia Zhang Yiming said the batch of vaccines is not only a gift to the Namibian people, but also a vivid reflection of the two countries' political trust and friendship.

The country will roll out vaccines in line with the Expanded Program on Immunization, and phase I vaccination will begin from March 19 to April 16 in two regions, according to Health Minister Kalumbi Shangula. Enditem
Commission Vice-President Frans Timmermans responded last week to a request from the Transport Ministries of Luxembourg and Belgium, offering support in principle for the project.

In a joint letter in January, Francois Bausch, Minister for Mobility and Public Works, and his Belgian counterpart Georges Gilkinet, made an appeal to the EU Commission to mobilise funding for the Brussels-Luxembourg railway line as part of an investment plan for a sustainable Europe.

The hope is to reduce journey times on lines 161 and 162. Trips between the two cities take upwards of three hours and are often subject to delays.

Responding to Bausch and Gilkinet's letter, Timmermans and transport commissioner Adina Valean state that "this project can be an example of our infrastructure development policy at European level". The Commission recognises the importance of the project and of modernizing rail lines as part of broader plans for a European Green Deal.

"It is a major boost in the pursuit of European infrastructure, which is why it is so important to us!" - Bausch and Gilkinet

To kick-start the project, the Commission plans to set up a working group to look at the project in the context of current infrastructure needs and service limitations.

Responding to Timmermans and Valean's letter, Bausch and Gilkinet are optimistic that progress can now be made with the project:

"We welcome this positive response from the Commission and we hope that it will lead to the granting of additional resources for the finalization of this work. [The project] is indeed important not only for the travellers concerned but also for our two countries, since it will make it possible, beyond Luxembourg, to improve international links to the east of France, even Germany, Switzerland and Italy. It is a major boost in the pursuit of European infrastructure, which is why it is so important to us!"
Church leaders have issued a St Patrick's Day Statement admitting the need to face "difficult truths about the failings in their own leadership" when it comes to peace and reconciliation.

In a joint address, the Church of Ireland, Catholic Church, Presbyterian Church in Ireland, Methodist Church in Ireland and Irish Council of Churches, also spoke of a "moral responsibility to acknowledge the corrosive impact of violence".

Catholic Archbishop Eamon Martin, Church of Ireland Archbishop John McDowell, Presbyterian Moderator David Bruce, President of the Methodist Church in Ireland Tom McKnight and Ivan Patterson, President of the Irish Council of Churches, described how the Christian faith can help the healing of relationships and offer a hopeful vision for the future.

"Some may struggle with the concept of a shared history when it comes to the centenary of the partition of Ireland, the establishment of Northern Ireland and the resulting reconfiguration of British-Irish relationships," they said. "What is undeniable...is the reality that we have to live in a shared space on these islands, and to make them a place of belonging and welcome for all.

"In our approach to the past we have a moral responsibility to acknowledge the corrosive impact of violence and words that can lead to violence, and a duty of care to those still living with the trauma of its aftermath."

The leaders recognise a need to "face difficult truths about failings in their churches' own leadership in the work of peace and reconciliation".

"We have often been captive churches; not captive to the Word of God, but to the idols of state and nation," they said.

They have planned a series of engagements this year which will include opportunities for conversation and reflection - as churches, as well as with political and civic leaders - and other events to mark the centenaries.

Entitled 'In Christ We Journey Together', that was the theme chosen by the Church Leaders Group (Ireland) for their shared reflection on the centenaries. They also filmed a video message at Saint Patrick's Church of Ireland Cathedral in Armagh.

"We have an opportunity, in marking these events from our past, to be intentional in creating the spaces for encounter with those who are different from us, and those who may feel marginalised in the narratives that have shaped our community identity," they said.

"As Christian churches we acknowledge and lament the times that we failed to bring to a fearful and divided society that message of the deeper connection that binds us, despite our different identities, as children of God, made in His image and likeness.

"We find inspiration and encouragement in the progress that has been made through our peace process in building relationships of mutual respect and trust across these islands."

They said that while "these relationships are often tested, and will at times be found wanting", our communities "have also demonstrated great resilience, solidarity and compassion, evident most recently in the response to Covid-19".

"The power of institutions has diminished, leading to greater accountability for those in leadership.

"This helps create an environment where we can value our different identities in a pluralist public square, conscious of both our rights and responsibilities. Yet there is much work still to do," the leaders added.

"With so much of our lives now being lived in the digital space there can be a temptation to retreat into spaces where our definition of community is limited to those who agree with us."

They added: "This leads to an increasingly fragmented society in which too many people fall through the cracks."

The joint statement deals with the centenary of the establishment of Northern Ireland, the partition of Ireland, and the resulting reconfiguration of British-Irish relationships.

It has also been filmed as a video message, with each Church Leader voicing a portion of it.

The heads of church explore how the Christian faith can contribute to the healing of relationships and offer a hopeful vision for the future.

And they also welcome the progress that has been made through the peace process in building relationships of mutual respect and trust across these islands.


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Activist Zafrullah Chowdhury speaks at a rally in Dhaka demanding justice for Mushtaq Ahmed, who died in jail, and for Bangladesh to abolish the Digital Security Act, March 3, 2021.

A special court formed eight years ago to handle cybercrime in Bangladesh has completed work on a fraction of thousands of cases in its docket, and obtained only 30 convictions, court records show.

Due to this backlog, and the difficulty of getting bail under vaguely worded laws aimed at regulating online speech, hundreds of accused people languish in jail for months, lawyers and investigators say.

This is true that the conviction rate at the Cyber Tribunal is low. Many lawyers try to point to flaws of the investigation and prosecution, but this is not the case, Nazrul Islam Shamim, the tribunals public prosecutor, told BenarNews.

In most of the cases, we see that witnesses do not appear at the court for deposition, he said.

Launched in 2013, with the entire country under its jurisdiction, Bangladeshs Cyber Tribunal has completed work on just 128 of the 3,324 cases that landed in its docket between 2013 and March 4, 2021, court records show.

Of the 128 cases adjudicated by the tribunal, only 30 resulted in convictions, meaning the prosecution could not prove the allegations in more than 75 percent of those cases.

A leading officer in the Cyber Police Unit of the Criminal Investigation Department suggested a lack of training in evidence-gathering was to blame.

Cybercrimes are different from other offenses and require special skills and methods, Mohammad Mahmudul Islam Talukder, an additional superintendent of police, told BenarNews.

For instance, there are special techniques to retrieve a defamatory Facebook post, he said. Unless investigators follow the proper techniques and methods, they cannot prove the allegations, and the accused person would get acquitted.

Flawed

The Cyber Tribunal is responsible for meting out justice under two laws  the Information and Communication Technology Act (ICT Act) and the Digital Security Act  that critics say are overly broad and used to silence government critics.

The ICT Act and the Digital Security Act have widely been misused, said Prokash Biswas, a senior practicing lawyer who has handled cases before the Cyber Tribunal.

The police and other law enforcers immediately arrest the accused persons even if a lowest-level worker of the ruling party or its front organization files a case at any police station, he told BenarNews. As the laws do not grant bail, the accused persons are sent to jail.

Investigation reports are largely flawed, he added, suggesting that investigation officers either do not apply their mind, or they lack the capability to do cyber investigations.

Biswas cited the cases of publishing house owner and editor Shamsuzzoha Manik and two of his associates who were charged in 2016 under the ICT Act with hurting religious sentiments for publishing a book that allegedly contained anti-Islam content.

They remained for several months before eventually being granted bail on health grounds. In January 2019, the Cyber Tribunal acquitted all of them, Biswas said.

This case proved that the investigators did not understand the law regarding offenses that should go to the Cyber Tribunal, Biswas said.

Prosecutor Shamim agreed.

The case in no way could be filed under the ICT Act, as the alleged offense did not link with a digital platform or device, Shamim said.

Death behind bars

Prison directorate officials told BenarNews on Tuesday that 400 people were currently in jail facing charges under the Digital Security Act, while 26 were behind bars pending trial under the ICT Act.

Until recently, those numbers included writer Mushtaq Ahmed and cartoonist Ahmed Kabir Kishore, who were arrested and charged under the Digital Security Act in May 2020 for Facebook posts allegedly criticizing the governments handling of the coronavirus.

Ahmeds requests for bail were denied six times, including two days before he died of natural causes at the age of 53 after suddenly falling ill in a high security prison in central Bangladesh, officials said.

Days later, cartoonist Kishore was granted bail on health grounds. Kishore told BenarNews that he was tortured after his arrest, an allegation authorities denied.

Following Ahmeds death, U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet called for Bangladesh to suspend application of the Digital Security Act.

Various U.N. Human Rights bodies have long raised concerns about the ill-defined, overly broad provisions of the Digital Security Act that have been used to punish criticism of the government, Bachelet said.

All those detained under this Act for exercising their rights to freedom of expression and opinion must be released.

Cyber laws

Enacted by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) government in 2006, the ICT Act contained provisions that penalized content on any electronic platform determined to be fake, obscene, or defamatory, or capable of disrupting law and order or hurting religious sentiments.

In 2009, the Awami League government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina strengthened the law, lengthening punishment under its dreaded Section 57 to 14 years in prison.

Renowned photographer Shahidul Alam was arrested under the ICT Act in August 2018 for giving false information and provocative comments on a government crackdown on students who had protested for weeks demanding reforms after a speeding bus killed two classmates.

After multiple tries, he was eventually granted bail in late November 2018.

In September 2018, with a general election looming, the government enacted the Digital Security Act. It replaced Section 57 of the ICT Act, but free speech advocates said it was even harsher and introduced new curbs on the press.

The law empowers police to make arrests on suspicion and without a warrant, and 14 of its 20 provisions do not allow for bail.

Amid international outcry over Ahmeds death, Law Minister Anisul Huq told BenarNews that the government had no plans to scrap the Digital Security Act.

But we are examining the alleged cases of abuse, he said. The Digital Security Act is for security of the people  the intention is not to harass anyone.
New Delhi, March 17 : Experts have pointed out that the provision providing for concessional income tax rate of 5 per cent on debt return for foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) has been inadvertently omitted.

Sunil Badala, Partner and Head (financial services, tax) at KPMG in India, said the government had in September 2020 amended Section 115AD of Income Tax Act to accord a concessional income tax rate of 10 per cent on specified income to funds set up in the International Financial Services Centre (IFSC).

"While amending Section 115AD, it seems that the provision providing for concessional income tax rate of 5 per cent on specified interest to foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) has been inadvertently omitted," Badala said.

"Given that the withholding tax section (Section 194LD) which is in effect until June 30, 2023 has not been amended, coupled with the fact that the government has not specifically indicated about curtailing the sunset date for lower income tax rate of 5 per cent on specified interest earned by FPIs, we believe that the inadvertent error should be rectified to provide taxability and withholding tax at 5 per cent," he added.

The error will impact at least 4,000 international funds.
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Southwest Airlines is offering travelers cheap flights out of San Antonio just in time for Spring Break. For under $100 flyers can take trips to New Orleans, Oklahoma City and Nashville.

Have some extra cash from your stimmy? You can fly to Florida, Las Vegas and Arkansas for under $125.

Despite the ongoing pandemic, the New York Times reported, "more travelers passed through U.S. airports on Friday than any day since March 2020."

At the San Antonio International Airport is requiring travelers to wear facial coverings in addition to implementing other safety measures at the airport, according to MySA report.



Scroll below to see cheap flights out of San Antonio.
A 32-year-old man was arrested Tuesday in connection with two brutal attacks, one on an Asian man, San Francisco police say.

Jorge Devis-Milton was arrested late Tuesday by San Francisco police and faces charges of battery, aggravated assault, assault with a deadly weapon and aggravated mayhem.

On Monday afternoon, police responded to a report of a 64-year-old man who sustained a severe cut on the cheek on 16th and Mission. He was later hospitalized to be treated for what police said were life-threatening injuries. It is unclear what condition that man is in as of Wednesday morning.

A San Francisco police spokesman told SFGATE that this victim was white.

The suspect then escaped via BART.

A half-hour later, another man identified by KGO as 59-year-old Danilo Yu Chang, was shoved from behind and struck repeatedly in the face and head in the Financial District. He was unconscious after the assault.

It was his first day back at work as a travel agent in San Francisco since the pandemic hit.

"I've got two black eyes but my vision has come back on the right side, but the left is still... I cannot see from the left," Chang told KGO.

Police determined that Devis-Milton was allegedly responsible for both attacks based on surveillance footage and witness reports. Despite the uptick in violence toward Asian Americans in the Bay Area and in the United States, police do not believe that the attacks constituted a hate crime. Chang is Chinese-Filipino.

But for Chang, the attack was enough to warrant a move outside of San Francisco, potentially to Indiana or Nevada where his family lives.

"San Francisco is deteriorating right now, the old San Francisco is gone, it's all gone and it's a dangerous place to walk, he told KGO. Its not safe anymore.
Romania remains deeply attached to the rule of law as a fundamental value of the European project and acts in full compliance with the principles of the rule of law, Senate President Anca Dragu said on Wednesday.

Dragu conveyed, at the video conference with the Vice President of the European Commission, Vera Jourova, that the Romanian Parliament will act to fulfill the commitments of our country assumed in the context of the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism.

"I welcome the publication by the European Commission of the first report on the rule of law. Compliance with these principles governing the rule of law is an essential issue for the Member States of the European Union, being a sine qua non for the proper and efficient functioning of democracy in the Member States. This is a difficult time for Europe and some Member States face challenges in respect to the rule of law, and the Commission's report is a valuable prevention instrument. We believe that the implementation of the new mechanism at a general European level has a preventive role, aimed at the early identification of developments on the rule of law, allowing the reflection of both the general situation at Union level and the way in which each Member State is included in the general European picture," Dragu said.She appreciated that it is essential to promote the exchange of national experience and good practices in the process of identifying solutions to the problems faced by the Member States.Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies Ludovic Orban and other representatives of Parliament are also participating in the video-conference with the Vice-President of the European Commission Vera Jourova.

AGERPRES
GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- Canceled sports, music and dance competitions.

Navigating online school.

No hugs from grandma and grandpa.

Drive-by birthday parties and masks for pre-schoolers.

Parents throughout Michigan faced mounting levels of stress and worry while raising children during the coronavirus pandemic. COVID-19 and the ensuing state restrictions to limit the virus spread caused a whole new world of issues for parents.

For many parents, the stress reached its peak when specific health orders closed school buildings, businesses and, for a time, daycares. Parents were forced to juggle work and children at home.

As parents to five children between ages 11 and 3, Kate and Shawn Sandner had their fair share of challenges and stress as they navigated the last year during the coronavirus pandemic.

Schooling at home, keeping their kids safe, disappointments over canceled activities and simply dealing with a full house all were issues for the Grand Rapids couple.

I think it was nerve-wracking for us because you want to make sure your kids are getting what they need and youre wondering if youre doing a well enough job to meet all those educational needs and you dont want them to miss out on anything, Kate Sandner said.

It was stressful, she said.

Like other students across the nation, the couples school-age children learned via Zoom for months last year. And the pandemic brought a halt to the dance competitions that were a significant part of three of their daughters lives.

Related: COVID-19 pandemic still teaching Michigan schools lessons a year later

The Sandners also worried about the impact of COVID-19 on their kids mental well-being.

It scared me as an adult. Its hard to let your kids see that because theyre little and you dont want too much pressure on them. But they pick up on that. Our kids are old enough to know, hey were not going to school, we cant go to the grocery store, were not at the dance studio anymore, everything is virtual, everything is canceled, Kate Sandner said.

Shawna Lee, an associate professor of social work at the University of Michigan who conducted surveys on the effect of COVID-19 on families, said its clear the pandemic caused many parents to struggle, particularly if they found themselves working from home.

She advises parents to give themselves some slack.

I just try to reframe as much as I can. Were all doing the best we can in this era and this might not be the time in our lives where we look back and it was our most productive time at work, she said. I try to be easy on myself and tell others to be easy on themselves as well just to try to get through this time as best we can.

Miesha Joassin and her husband, Jean-Pierre Joassin, live in Southeast Michigan with their 7-year-old son, Sebastien. She works for a public relations firm and has been working from home since the start of the pandemic.

Keeping her family and work life separate has been a challenge at times.

(Sebastien) would pop up when Im on a video conferencing call sometimes, she said.

Sebastien, the 7-year-old son of Miesha and Jean-Pierre Joassin in metro Detroit, is shown on the first day of virtual school in August 2020. (Courtesy: Miesha Joassin)

At the same time, Joassins family has been able to spend more time together than they did in the past, so she considers that a plus. Her husband traveled more for work before the pandemic started.

In this year of unknowns, he thinks about our togetherness which is more important to us than anything else, Joassin said.

Courtney Aldrich, a program instructor for the Michigan State University Cooperative Extension Service in Livingston County, said the pandemic gave parents a lot to worry about.

Is my child going to be left behind? Are they going to get behind in school? What if Im not doing enough? Layering that level of responsibility on themselves I think has been hard, she said.

Related: COVID brides and industry pros consider how the pandemic could change future weddings

Parents also worried about giving their children too much screen time. Others wondered whether they were yelling and nagging too much while everyone was home.

As the pandemic drags on, Aldrich said she senses a weariness among many parents because of the daily stressors.

I think parents are exhausted, Aldich said. Its been a long time and its been hard.

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Tripadvisor has revealed the trending destinations for Britons for post-lockdown trips - and domestically Portree on the Isle of Skye is No1 followed by Newquay in Cornwall, while top internationally is Soufriere, St Lucia, with Tulum in Mexico second.

Meanwhile, traditional big-ticket destinations Barcelona, New York, Rome, Venice and Amsterdam are the top five slowest-growing destinations.

Tripadvisor drew up two top 10 tables - one for domestic destinations and another for international spots - based on year-on-year increases in search volumes.

Tripadvisor has revealed the trending destinations for Britons for post-lockdown trips - and domestically Portree, pictured, on the Isle of Skye is No1

The fastest-growing international destination search-wise for Britons on Tripadvisor is Soufriere, pictured, on the Caribbean island of St Lucia

WHERE BRITONS MOST WANT TO VISIT BASED ON TRIPADVISOR SEARCHES - THE TOP 10 TABLES The top 10 fastest-growing domestic destinations 1. Portree, Isle of Skye 2. Newquay, Cornwall 3. Windermere, Cumbria 4. Bowness-on-Windermere, Cumbria 5. Torquay, Devon 6. Penrith, Cumbria 7. Inverness, Scottish Highlands 8. Weymouth, Dorset 9. Scarborough, North Yorkshire 10. Eastbourne, East Sussex The top 10 fastest-growing international destinations 1. Soufriere, St Lucia 2. Tulum, Mexico 3. Dubai, UAE 4. Cancun, Mexico 5. Punta Cana, Dominican Republic 6. Playa del Carmen, Mexico 7. Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt 8. Belek, Turkey 9. Hurghada, Egypt 10. Abu Dhabi, UAE Source: Tripadvisor Advertisement

The rest of the domestic table comprises Windermere (third); Bowness-on-Windermere (fourth); Torquay (fifth); Penrith, Cumbria (sixth); Inverness (seventh); Weymouth (eighth); Scarborough (ninth) and Eastbourne (10th).

Rounding off the top 10 in the international table are Dubai (third); Cancun, Mexico (fourth); Punta Cana, Dominican Republic (fifth); Playa del Carmen, Mexico (sixth); Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt (seventh); Belek, Turkey (eighth); Hurghada, Egypt (ninth) and Abu Dhabi (10th).

Separately, Tripadvisor carried out a worldwide survey of 2,000 people, which found that one in five (21 per cent) Britons are planning a trip between now and May 31.

UK Millennials (those born between 1981 and 1996) and those in Gen Z (born between 1997 and 2012) are more confident and eager to return to travel than any other generation - 54 per cent of UK Millennials and Gen Zs surveyed by Tripadvisor are planning a trip this spring, compared to 21 per cent of Britons in total.

Newquay in Cornwall, pictured, is the second-fastest-growing domestic destination in terms of Britons' Tripadvisor searches

Windermere in Cumbria, pictured, is third on the list of the fastest-growing destinations in the UK by search volume

Of those in this age bracket, 40 per cent believe day-to-day life will return to normal within three months compared to 18 per cent in total, with 55 per cent of them also believing they will be better off financially in the next 12 months than today. This compares to 21 per cent of those in the UK across all age groups.

In addition, 39 per cent of UK Millennials and Gen Zs are optimistic the economy will rebound within three months and grow just as strong or stronger than before, compared to 17 per cent of Britons in total.

Meanwhile, almost a third (31 per cent) of Britons surveyed say that they are less likely to take a city break than before the pandemic.

The second-fastest-growing international destination for Britons by Tripadvisor search volume is Tulum in Mexico, pictured

Dubai is the third-fastest-growing international destination for Britons, based on search volumes

But UK Gen-Z travellers are not quite so put-off by the idea of a city break. In fact, over a quarter (28 per cent) say they are now more likely to take this type of trip.

Tripadvisor also revealed that following Boris Johnson's lockdown exit plan announcement on February 22, travellers in the UK searching holidays on its website increased by 97 per cent month-on-month, and 107 per cent month-on-month for UK staycations. This was based on hotel clicks on Tripadvisor on February 28 compared with January 31, 2021.

And while 2020 was the year of the staycation, Tripadvisor says it looks like holidaying close to home is a trend that is set to continue.

Its site data shows that of those who are actively planning a trip, 60 per cent of Britons on Tripadvisor are searching for domestic destinations for travel between now and the end of May compared to 40 per cent searching for international locations.
Florida's Republican Governor Ron DeSantis has hit out at those who have previously criticized his no-restriction approach to the COVID-19 pandemic, defiantly telling them: 'Florida got it right'.

The state hasn't had any statewide restrictions for at least six months after DeSantis allowed businesses, including bars and restaurants, to open at full capacity.

He also prohibited municipalities from fining people who refuse to wear masks.

His approach was criticized at the time by some health experts and the governors of Democratic states, such as California and New York, who had enforced stricter lockdown measures on their residents.

'Everyone told me I was wrong,' DeSantis said in a fundraising appeal on Tuesday, according to CNN.

'I faced continued pressure from radical Democrats and the liberal media but I refused to back down.

'It's clear: Florida got it right.'

Florida's Republican Governor Ron DeSantis has hit out at those who have previously criticized his no-restriction approach to the COVID-19 pandemic, defiantly telling them: 'Florida got it right'

The state hasn't had any statewide restrictions for at least six months after DeSantis allowed businesses, including bars and restaurants, to open at full capacity. Pictured above are spring breakers in Miami this week

Despite starkly differing approaches, Florida and California have both experienced almost identical outcomes in COVID-19 case rates.

California has had a COVID-19 case rate of about 8,900 per 100,000 residents since the pandemic began, according to the latest CDC data. Meanwhile, Florida's case count is at 9,000 per 100,000 residents.

Both rank in the middle among states for COVID-19 death rates: Florida has had 150 deaths per 100,000, while California is at 140 fatalities per 100,000 since the pandemic began.

Cases, deaths and hospitalizations in Florida and California have been declining after peaking to record highs in the wake of Thanksgiving.

Florida has had roughly 3 percent more COVID-19 cases per capita than the US total but 8 percent less deaths.

While research has found that mask mandates and limits on group activities can help slow the spread of COVID-19, states with greater government-imposed restrictions, such as California, have not always fared better than those without them.

Florida's response to the pandemic has meant its economy has been booming.

Spring breakers are currently crowding Florida cities and Miami has seen an influx of of famed New York City restaurants opening up shop.

FLORIDA: Florida's cases, deaths and hospitalizations have been declining after peaking to record highs in the wake of Thanksgiving. The state's seven-day rolling average for cases per day is now 4,500, while deaths are at an average of 83

CALIFORNIA: Cases, deaths and hospitalizations in California have also been declining after peaking to record highs in the wake of Thanksgiving. The rolling average for cases in California is currently 2,900 and average deaths are at 211

Despite starkly differing approaches, Florida and California have both experienced almost identical outcomes in COVID-19 case rates. Both states reported steep drop offs in cases following the peak that occurred after Thanksgiving

The state's unemployment rate is currently 4.8 percent, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Other states with stricter lockdowns have higher rates, including New York (8.8 percent) and California (9 percent)

The state's unemployment rate is currently 4.8 percent, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Other states with stricter lockdowns have higher rates, including New York (8.8 percent) and California (9 percent).

Experts are now questioning how the two states - Florida and California - have managed to arrive at similar points despite taking such different tactics.

'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?' Amesh Adalja, a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, told the Associated Press.

In a press conference on Tuesday, DeSantis doubled down on his response by saying that lockdowns imposed by other states had damaged the country.

'Those lockdowns have not worked. They've done great damage to our country,' he said.

Two Spring Breakers enjoy the view of ... their iPhones on Miami Beach on Wednesday

Florida's response to the pandemic has meant its economy has been booming. Spring breakers are currently crowding Florida cities and Miami has seen an influx of of famed New York City restaurants opening up shop

No masks on the beach in Miami, but sunbathers were putting on sunblock Wednesday

'We can never let something like this happen again. Florida took a different path. We've had more success as a result.

'We still have millions of kids across this country who are denied access to in-person education. We still have businesses closed in many parts of this country. We have millions and millions of lives destroyed.'

President Biden's CDC director Dr Rochelle Walensky has warned, however, that the number of infections in Florida could spike off the back of Spring Breakers flocking to the state amid the spread of a COVID-19 variant.

It comes as the mayor of Miami Beach said Spring Breakers had 'forgotten there is a pandemic', adding that too many people were coming to the city 'with a desire to go wild'.

Spring Breakers gathered in Miami Beach enjoy the sun - as the mayor says people have arrived with an 'anything goes' mentality when it comes to the coronavirus

It wasn't just the beach that was crowded: Bars in Miami Beach also were teeming on St. Pat's

But the mayor has worried that the city doesn't have the capacity to handle so many people

Dan Gelber, the mayor of Miami Beach, said people were arriving with an 'anything goes' mentality.

Gelber said the city was not equipped to handle so many people.

'I think it might be a little bit related to just people looking to let loose after being pent up, but some people are coming here with sort of an anything-goes mentality and even if it's just a small percentage - it's a small percentage of an enormous amount of people,' Gelber said.

The streets of Miami Beach were packed with an 'enormous amount' of people, the mayor said

The governor of Florida is saying his handling of the virus was the way to go; Spring Breakers flooding Miami Beach could be a test of that, the mayor has said

'I've been on Ocean Drive almost every day in the last week, and the number of people not wearing masks or just not bothering with any of the healthy practices is very disturbing,' he said.

'An enormous number of people are coming our way, and many of them, if not most, seem to have forgotten that there's a pandemic.'
President Joe Biden thinks middle-class families need relief while the wealthy and corporations need to start paying a bit more in taxes, a White House economic adviser said Tuesday.

Biden would propose increase in taxes

According to a White House economic advisor, President Joe Biden argues that middle-class households deserve relief, while the rich and businesses need to start paying a little higher in taxes. Biden's tax policies would concentrate on raising taxes on companies and the rich, Bharat Ramamurti told Bloomberg.

Ramamurti served as a top economic policy advisor to Sen. Elizabeth Warren during her 2020 presidential campaign. He now serves as deputy director of the National Economic Council in the Biden administration.

Many middle-class families are suffering in the current financial environment and need assistance similar to that given in Biden's $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill, as per Ramamurti. "You know, a teacher and a nurse who make $110,000 a year deserve relief," he added.

Biden's Border Policies Cause Smuggling of People

One big concern is whether the White House would press for any relief legislation's provisions for middle-class families to be made permanent, such as the increased child tax credit. Biden is "interested in looking into that," Ramamurti said, but no decisions have been taken, Yahoo Finance reported.

Meanwhile, Republicans are making it known that, while Biden and some centrist Democrats want the next fiscal plan to be bipartisan, they are not interested in raising taxes to help pay for new infrastructure spending. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) said Tuesday, "I don't think there's going to be much support on our side for a tax increase."

Democrats Pressure Biden on Taxes in Infrastructure Bill

Biden moves ahead to his promise of increasing taxes

In the United States, the payroll tax is used to fund the Social Security and Medicare systems. With a rate of 6.2 percent for Social Security and 1.45 percent for Medicare, the tax is charged half on workers and a half on businesses. There are no allowances, discounts, or credits for the Social Security payroll tax paid on annual wages and salaries of up to $142,800. President Biden has proposed a 6.2 percent tax on both employers and employees for wages and salaries exceeding $400,000.

The personal income tax, which is distinct from payroll taxes, is used to raise money for the government. It includes a variety of credits and deductions. The President proposed raising the top marginal tax rate from 37% to 39.6%, taxing dividends and capital gains as ordinary income, increasing capital gains taxes at death, and limiting deductions for high-income taxpayers.

Business income is taxed in addition to personal income. After various deductions, the corporate rate in 2018 is 21% of income. Biden proposed raising the tax rate to 28% and limiting deductions. According to The Hill, if Biden keeps his campaign promises, he will raise rates on noncorporate businesses, which employ nearly half of the country's workforce, owing to the already mentioned payroll and personal income tax hikes.

Is President Biden To Blame for Gasoline Price Hikes?

@ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Iraqs state oil marketing firm SOMO denied a claim by Fujairah International Oil & Gas Corp of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) that an oil cargo, which the United States seized alleging that it carried Iranian crude in violation of sanctions, was bought from Iraq.

Fujairah International Oil & Gas Corp has told a federal court in the District of Columbia that the 2 million barrels of crude oil that the U.S. seized earlier this year originally came from Iraq. However, it did not disclose the supplier. The Emirati company, which is owned by the Fujairah emir, Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, then sold the crude to an undisclosed buyer from China, according to Bloomberg.

Greek company Capital Ship Management Corp had notified the U.S. that it might have unknowingly loaded Iranian oil on board, believing the crude had come from Iraq. According to Fujairah International Oil & Gas Corp., however, the cargo was Iraqi, and it still owns a financial interest in it.

Now Iraqs SOMO, the sole entity that has exclusive authority to export crude oil and all the petroleum products from Iraq, denied in a statement on its website the existence of any concluded contract with Fujairah International Oil & Gas Corp.

SOMO categorically denies that the shipments of crude oil transported on board of the two above-mentioned vessels by Fujairah International Oil & Gas Corp (FIOGC) to be of Iraqi origin. In case of circulation of those shipping documents bearing the logo of SOMO for these shipments. They are to be considered as forged and incorrect documents, and the above mentioned company bears all legal consequences, the Iraqi oil marketing firm said.

In early February, the U.S. Department of Justice said the United States was seeking to detain the oil aboard the tanker traveling to the U.S., alleging that Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has created a scheme to covertly ship Iranian oil to a customer outside Iran.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
After 12 long months in some phase of quarantine and lockdown amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Courteney Cox stepped out for a girls night.

And the Friends star cut a casual but stylish figure for her dinner at Giorgio Baldi Italian restaurant in Santa Monica on Tuesday.

The actress got to catch up with old gal pals -- actress Sara Foster and jewelry designer Jennifer Meyer.

Catching up: Courteney Cox had a girls night out over dinner with gal pals Jennifer Meyer and Sara Foster in Santa Monica on Tuesday

Cox, 56, was spotted arriving at the upscale restaurant in flared blue jeans that were paired with a brown plaid blazer over a white shirt.

She also donned black boots while toting a large black leather handbag over her left shoulder.

The Alabama native had her dark brown tresses styled long and flowing with plenty of volume.

And with the coronavirus still very much a danger, she made sure to wear a black protective mask over her nose and mouth at all times, with the exception of when she sat down with her ladies.

Fashionable: Cox, 56, was spotted arriving at the upscale restaurant in flared blue jeans that were paired with a brown plaid blazer over a white shirt

Stylin': The Friends alum also donned black boots while toting a large black leather handbag over her left shoulder as she arrived at Giorgio Baldi Italian restaurant in Santa Monica

Casual but stylish: Meyer, 43, also went with a mix of blue jeans and a stylish coat; only she opted for a long brown overcoat with matching boots

Meyer, 43, also went with a mix of blue jeans and a stylish coat; only she opted for a long brown overcoat with matching boots.

The jewelry designer, who was married to actor Tobey Maguire from 2007 to 2017, wore her caramel tresses down and slightly wavy for the dinner.

Both she and Foster also had a safety first approach and wore face masks for their arrivals and departures from the establishment.

Fashionista: Foster, 40, bundled up in a black overcoat over denim jeans and shirt, along with black heels

On the go: After dinner and drinks, the three ladies said their goodbyes moments after leaving the restaurant

Leftovers: The actress left the establishment with a doggie bag of food

Foster, 44, bundled up in a black overcoat over denim jeans and shirt, along with black heels.

The actress and founder of Favorite Daughter clothing line had her blonde tresses styled long in the back and pushed off her face in the front.

No doubt the trio are good friends as Courtney and Jennifer attended Foster's birthday dinner in Hollywood back in February.

After a number of delays due in part to COVID-19, Cox is finally set to shoot the Friends reunion show with her former co-stars in early April.

Spreading some love: The three ladies shared some goodbye hugs with each other

Helping hand: Cox got an escort out to her car by an employee with the restaurant
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Autoimmune Disease Diagnostics Market: Information by Disease Type (Systemic Autoimmune Disease and Others), Localized Autoimmune Disease (Dot Blot, and Line Blot), End-User (Hospitals, Diagnostics Centers), Global Forecast till 2023

Autoimmune Disease Diagnostics Market Overview

Market Research Future (MRFR) confirms that the Autoimmune Disease Diagnostics Market Trends can expand at a decent rate of 7.6% over the appraisal period (2018 to 2023). We will provide COVID-19 impact analysis with the report, along with all the extensive key developments in the autoimmune disease diagnostics market post the coronavirus disease outbreak.

One of the top concerns for the government since the COVID-19 outbreak is the excruciating requirement for screening and testing a vast pool of individuals for the SARS-CoV-2 infection. Therefore, there has been a significant shortage of diagnostic kits for testing of the novel coronavirus virus. Diagnostics virology firms are faced with a lot of pressure to supply effective testing kits, with the demand for point-of-care or in-vitro testing by labs growing at a rapid pace. The autoimmune disease diagnostics market will also face challenges in the form of rising focus of the healthcare industry on the pandemic instead of other diseases, the worldwide lockdown that restricts peoples mobility and the shutdown of manufacturing units and disruptions in supply chains.

Request Free Sample Copy of the report Autoimmune Disease Diagnostics Market Research Report  Global Forecast till 2023 at: https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/6715

However, the rising number of supportive government initiatives that strive to spread awareness about various autoimmune diseases can be favorable for the global market in the upcoming period. Well-known organizations such as Cooperative Study Group for Autoimmune Disease Prevention, North American Rheumatoid Arthritis Consortium and the Autoimmunity Centers of Excellence are deeply involved in boosting the knowledge level of medical professionals as well as patients with regard to efficient diagnosis and treatment. In a nutshell, the growing efforts by these organizations and the government and the resultant surge in the awareness level amongst people concerning such diseases will contribute majorly to the market expansion. Escalation in technological innovations along with lab automation rates could also trigger substantial market growth.

Clinicians are increasingly opting for superior technologies to simultaneously carry out multiple tests with more precise and faster results. Research and diagnostics firms across the world are taking up steps along with government agencies, in light of the alarming rise in the prevalence of autoimmune disorders and the subsequent surge in healthcare spending. Development and introduction of novel and highly innovative products that facilitate quick and efficient diagnosis is one of the top strategies being adopted by top firms to stay ahead in the competitive landscape. To cite an instance, in September 2020, Exagen, a leading developer of tests for diagnosis, monitoring and prognosis of autoimmune diseases, launched a novel diagnostic test AAV or ANCA-associated vasculitis. The test is called AVISE Vasculitis AAV and helps measure a series of biomarkers that detect the presence of ANCA antibodies.

Autoimmune Disease Diagnostics Market Segmentation

The autoimmune disease diagnostics market has been dissected in terms of disease type, test type, and end-user.

The various disease types considered in the autoimmune disease diagnostics market report study are localized autoimmune disease as well as systemic autoimmune disease.

Test types studied in the autoimmune disease diagnostics market report are line blot, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), agglutination, dot blot, multiplex immunoassay, immunofluorescence assays (IFA), counter immune-electrophoresis, western blotting, double immune diffusion, and more.

Some of the top autoimmune disease diagnostics market end-users are research laboratories, diagnostics centers, hospitals, and others.

Autoimmune Disease Diagnostics Market Regional Insights

Autoimmune Disease Diagnostics market size has been estimated in the MRFR report, taking into account certain primary regions, namely Europe, the Americas, MEA or Middle East & Africa as well as Asia Pacific or APAC.

The Americas can most likely be the global leader in the autoimmune disease diagnostics market, on account of the surging cases of as rheumatoid arthritis, fast uptake of modern technologies by the healthcare industry and the rising support from the government as well as private firms. The high prominence of the autoimmune disease diagnostic criteria in the region combined with the large-scale healthcare expenditure prompt the introduction of several initiatives that aim to spread awareness with regard to autoimmune diseases. These initiatives also help bring down the healthcare spending by detecting diseases and disorders at an early stage.

Europe will be the second most lucrative autoimmune disease diagnostics market in the following years, given the rising adoption of automation across laboratories and other healthcare facilities and the overall significant growth of the healthcare sector. The growth strategies taken up by renowned vendors in the region generally prove to be effective and help these players in bolstering their global presence.

APAC has the potential to garner the fastest growth rate over the coming years, primarily due to the exploding population that observes accelerated cases of autoimmune disorders, and the surge in private-public collaborations for the development of the healthcare industry. Mounting patient awareness level along with the regions increasing unmet patient requirements also work in the APAC autoimmune disease diagnostics market favor.

Browse Detailed TOC with COVID-19 Impact Analysis at: https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/autoimmune-disease-diagnostics-market-6715

About Market Research Future:

At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), & Consulting Services. MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients.
LOS ANGELESAbout a year ago, as large portions of the global population went into some form of quarantine due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the videoconferencing app Zoom saw a massive surge in users. From traffic of about 10 million users per day in December of 2019, Zoom surged to about 200 million per day in March of 2020, as pandemic-related shutdowns took hold. But with the increase in traffic also came a new phenomenon known as Zoombombing.

Last week, a federal judge dismissed most of a lawsuit against Zoom over Zoombombing, citing Section 230 of the 1996 Communications Decency Act as protection for Zoom against the lawsuits claims.

In the early stages of the pandemic, and the surge in Zooms popularity, significant security flaws in the app allowed hackers to intrude on otherwise private Zoom meetings and conferences  including government meetings, religious services, and childrens online schooling  blasting unwanted porn and other unsolicited images into those meetings. This type of hacking was quickly given the label Zoombombing.

Zoom was quickly hit with a parade of lawsuits by angry users who wanted Zoom help liable for the intrusions into their videoconferences. Many were consolidated into a class action lawsuit  and most provisions of that lawsuit were dismissed by Judge Lucy Koh of the UNited States Northern District of California, due to Section 230 protections.

Section 230 is the 25-year-old law widely considered the First Amendment of the Internet, that gives online platforms immunity from lawsuits or prosecution over content posted by users. The law is especially critical for the adult industry, which would likely face widespread online censorship without Section 230 protections.

To qualify for Section 230 protections, a platform must have no involvement in creating the user content, and it must be able to be defined as an interactive computer service. Judge Koh ruled that Zoom met both of those requirements. The users who committed the acts of Zoombombing were clearly third-parties, so Zooms Section 230 defense met the first criteria easily.

As to whether Zoom qualifies as an interactive computer service, Koh stated that the definition of an ICS is expansive, and includes platforms such as Zoom which transmits and displays video, audio, and written content.

Zooms failure to edit or block user-generated content is the very activity Congress sought to immunize when it passed Section 230, Koh states in her ruling. The bulk of plaintiffs Zoombombing claims lie against the Zoombombers who shared heinous content, not Zoom itself.

But Section 230 does not apply to the lawsuits claims that Zoom failed to honor its contract with users to protect their privacy, because contractual claims are independent of Zooms role as publisher or speaker, Kohn ruled.

Koh did not rule on the merits of the case, however, only on whether or not the lawsuit can continue. As a result of her ruling, the plaintiffs can rewrite their suit to focus only on the narrow claim of breach of contract, an area to which Section 230 does not apply.

Photo By Coolcaesar / Wikimedia Commons
on Tuesday received a second batch of Sinopharm doses donated by plus an additional Sinovac doses commercially procured by the government.

A chartered Air plane landed at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport on Tuesday morning with the consignment of the vaccines, which was received by Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa, his deputy Constantino Chiwenga, who is also the health minister, the Chinese ambassador to Guo Shaochun and other senior government officials, the Xinhua news agency reported.

The same plane also ferried another batch of vaccines for the government of Namibia, where they will be used to kick off the country's vaccination program.

In his acceptance speech, Mnangagwa said that the donation marks another milestone in the consolidation of bilateral relations and cooperation between Zimbabwe and

"The continued assistance and solidarity has indeed lightened our burden in an otherwise difficult period, whilst also positively impacting the health, well being, protection and recovery of our people," he said.

Mnangagwa once again expressed gratitude to for donating vaccines and also in aiding Zimbabwe's fight against the pandemic.

"We remain thankful to China for the support of this program. This includes the timely provision of epidemiological expertise and personal protective equipment among other aspects," he said. "China's unparalleled readiness to avail access to the vaccines for commercial procurement testifies to our enhancing cooperation particularly in these times of distress and competition of resources."

Speaking at the reception ceremony, Ambassador Guo reaffirmed China's friendship to Zimbabwe, adding that China was a committed front-runner in promoting international vaccine cooperation.

"China is a steadfast advocate for equitable vaccine distribution. We have joined COVAX, under which China has undertaken to provide an initial 10 million doses for emergency use in developing countries," he said.

Ambassador Guo also said that China opposes vaccine nationalism or any attempt to politicise vaccine cooperation and distribution.

"All capable countries should do what they can to provide vaccines to countries in need, especially developing countries, so that people all over the world will be able to benefit from affordable vaccines," said Guo.

Chiwenga, who also spoke at the event, expressed his gratitude to China for standing with Zimbabwe during trying times including during the armed liberation struggle against colonial rule.

He said that Zimbabwe expects to commercially procure 2 million doses from China.

The latest delivery of vaccines will allow Zimbabwe to kickstart its second phase of the inoculation program which will target teachers, religious leaders, the judiciary, law and order, and those with underlying conditions.

The first phase of Zimbabwe's vaccination program started on February 18 after the country received first batch of the Sinopharm vaccines donated by China.

Healthcare workers and other frontline workers including members of the media and immigration officials were the first in line to receive the jab as part of phase one of the vaccination program.

Zimbabwe plans to inoculate at least 10 million people to achieve herd immunity.

The country has so far approved use of Sinopharm and Sinovac from China, Sputnik V from Russia and India's Covaxin.

As of Monday, 37,660 people had been vaccinated in Zimbabwe.

--IANS

int/rs

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A security alert in Enniskillen has ended after the discovery of a suspicious object in the Lough Shore Path area.

Police had earlier cordoned off the area near Riverside and began investigating the object, before Army Technical Officers (ATO) attended the scene and made the area safe.

In a statement, the PSNI said they believed dissident republicans were behind the incident and they condemned those responsible for potentially putting the public at risk.

In a statement, PSNI Chief Superintendent Andy Freeburn, South Area Commander, said: "A security alert in Enniskillen has ended following the discovery of a suspicious device in the Lough Shore Path area, in the vicinity of Riverside, this morning.

"I can confirm that this device was small and crude, but potentially viable, and it has been taken away for further examination. We believe that this reckless act is the work of violent dissident republicans and should be condemned by all.

"This device was left on a pathway, which is frequently used and enjoyed by members of the public, including people fishing, local boat owners, parents and children. Those responsible have shown blatant disregard for the life of others and our community.

"Their actions are reprehensible and are not supported by the local community.

"I want to appeal to anyone who has information about this incident to call us and tell us what you know. The number to call is 101, quoting reference number 1242 of 16/03/21."

"A report can also be made via http://www.psni.police.uk/makeareport/ or anonymously via the Crimestoppers Charity on 0800 555 111, or online at http://crimestoppers-uk.org/."

This is how terrorists mark St Patrick's day and why we need them off our streets. A suspicious device found at popular recreation spot. Information should be forwarded to Police.



Security alert in Enniskillen after suspicious object found - https://t.co/i9inJXIQI2  John Blair MLA (@JohnBlairMLA) March 17, 2021

It comes as increased police patrols are in place across Northern Ireland with lockdown restrictions still in place during St Patrick's Day.

On the beat today with @PSNINMDown Neighbourhood team as part of a timely visit to Downpatrick. Pleased that the vast majority of the public are adhering to the @niexecutive health regulations.



Thank you. #StPatricksDay #StayHome pic.twitter.com/E2YP7dwCwr  Simon Byrne (@ChiefConPSNI) March 17, 2021
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 17, 2021) - Bell Copper Corporation (TSXV: BCU) ("Bell Copper" or the "Company") reports that on March 11, 2021, the Company mobilized personnel and equipment and drilling has now recommenced on the 100% owned Big Sandy porphyry copper project, a large, truncated porphyry copper-molybdenum prospect located in northwestern Arizona, approximately 30 kilometers from the Company's Perseverance Project.

The first core drillhole at Big Sandy (BS-1) drilled deep into a new porphyry copper system (see January 12, 2021 news). The Company believes this newly discovered porphyry system is the target they have been pursuing, the truncated top of the Diamond Joe Peak, located approximately 13 km to the west-southwest of the Big Sandy claim block. Zircon crystals from BS-1 core and the Diamond Joe porphyry yielded overlapping (i.e. statistically indistinguishable) ages of 74.21.0 and 74.91.2 million years, supporting the Company's concept that the two porphyries are faulted parts of the same Laramide-age system.

After the completion of drill hole BS-1, the Company conducted 2 borehole studies in BS-1 along with an extensive field work program. The location of drillhole BS-2 was determined based on the totality of the information derived from these studies.

Tim Marsh, Bell's President and CEO, and a Qualified Person as defined by NI43-101, said, "After the success of drillhole BS-1, Bell is excited to be back on the ground, drilling the next hole into Arizona's newest copper porphyry. We look forward to delivering new value to our shareholders through the drill bit."

Big Sandy Porphyry Copper Project

Bell Copper began exploring the Big Sandy area in 2009, after geologic success in discovering what was believed to be the faulted top of the Wheeler Wash porphyry copper-molybdenum system, 30 kilometers to the north at the Company's Perseverance project. Extrapolation southward along the controlling Hualapai Fault suggested that the known Laramide-age Diamond Joe porphyry copper system would also have a faulted-off top, lying east of Diamond Joe out in the Big Sandy Valley.

About Bell Copper

Bell Copper is a mineral exploration company focused on the identification, exploration and discovery of large copper deposits located in Arizona. Bell Copper is exploring its 100% owned Big Sandy Porphyry Copper Project and the Perseverance Porphyry Copper Project which is under a Joint Venture - Earn In.

Qualified Person

The technical content of this release has been reviewed and approved by Timothy Marsh, PhD, PEng., the Company's CEO and President. No mineral resource has yet been identified on the Big Sandy Project. There is no certainty that the present exploration effort will result in the identification of a mineral resource or that any mineral resource that might be discovered will prove to be economically recoverable.

On behalf of the Board of Directors of

Bell Copper Corporation

"Timothy Marsh"

Timothy Marsh, President, CEO & Director

For further information please contact the Company

Tel: 1 800 418 8250

Email: info@bellcopper.net

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward Looking Statements

This news release includes "forward-looking statements" and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. All statements included in this news release, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include predictions, projections and forecasts and are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "estimate", "expect", "potential", "target", "budget" and "intend" and statements that an event or result "may", "will", "should", "could" or "might" occur or be achieved and other similar expressions and includes the negatives thereof.

Forward-looking statements are based on a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by management based on the business and markets in which Bell Copper operates, are inherently subject to significant operational, economic, and competitive uncertainties, risks and contingencies. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results, and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations include actual exploration results, interpretation of metallurgical characteristics of the mineralization, changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined, future metal prices, availability of capital and financing on acceptable terms, general economic, market or business conditions, uninsured risks, regulatory changes, delays or inability to receive required approvals, and other exploration or other risks detailed herein and from time to time in the filings made by the Company with securities regulators, including those described in the Company's most recently filed MD&A. The Company does not undertake to update or revise any forward-looking statements, except in accordance with applicable law.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/77555
"It's an honor to accept the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards' Alumni Achievement Award," said Self. "The Scholastic Art & Writing Award I received in 2008 motivated me to pursue my passion, and set me on the path to becoming the artist I am today. Congratulations to all of the incredibly talented students who received recognition this year, and I hope to be able to serve as an example to these student artists as they explore their unique creative gifts and begin their lifelong journey of expressing themselves artistically."

A graduate of Bard College and the Yale School of Art, Tschabalala Self received a Scholastic Art Award in 2008. She now lives and works as a painter in New York and New Haven, CT. Through her painting, she explores the emotional, physical, and psychological impact of the Black female body as icon, and is primarily devoted to examining the intersectionality of race, gender and sexuality. Self's work belongs to prominent collections including The Art Institute of Chicago; Birmingham Museum of Art; Brooklyn Museum of Art; The Bunker Artspace; California African American Museum; Emdash Foundation; Hammer Museum; ICA Boston; Los Angeles County Museum of Art; Perez Art Museum Miami; Pinakothek der Moderne; Rubell Family Collection; Studio Museum in Harlem; and Yuz Museum. Her work has been exhibited internationally, and can be seen in the exhibition By My Self at the Baltimore Museum of Art beginning March 28, 2021.

Among the more than 1,700 students who today received news of their recognition at the national level of the Awards program, sixteen recipients earned the program's highest honor, the Gold Medal Portfolio Award, which includes $10,000 scholarships. These students were selected from among the nearly 2,000 works that received National Medals, and among the 15,000 works that were awarded regionally with Gold Keys. The 2021 Gold Medal Portfolio Recipients are:

Gold Portfolios, Art:

Brianna Blue , Brooklyn, NY

, Maximo Guerra , Miami, FL

, Amellia Hausmann , Memphis, TN

, Helena Hockertz , Surrey, British Columbia, Canada

, Surrey, Myah Jackson-Solomon , Towson, MD

, Alyvia Luong , Fort Wayne, IN

, Hailey Petersen , Golden Valley, MN

, Nathan Yang , Los Angeles, CA

Gold Portfolios, Writing:

Caroline Dinh , Rockville, MD

, Grace Gomez-Palacio , Columbia, MO

, Yasmeen Jaaber , Chesterfield, VA

, Tyler Kellogg , Greenville, SC

, Keerthi Lakshmanan , Cupertino, CA

, Justin Li , Basking Ridge, NJ

, Sylvia Nicholas-Patterson , Lakeland, FL

, Esther Sun , Los Gatos, CA

Now in its 98th year, the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards are the nation's longest-running and most prestigious scholarship and recognition program for young artists and writers in grades 712. The Awards serve as a launch pad for furthering students' future success by providing them with access to scholarship programs and workshops, as well as the ability to have their work published and displayed in regional and national exhibitions. To learn more, and to find a complete list of the 2021 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards National Medalists, visit: artandwriting.org.

Chris Wisniewski, Executive Director of the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers, said: "The past twelve months have presented all of usincluding our country's teenswith unprecedented challenges. The extraordinary young people recognized in this year's Scholastic Awards have crafted fresh, original work that grapples with the pandemic, racial and social justice, climate change, and more while also mining personal stories of triumph, loss, heartbreak, and growth. The National Medalists have blown us away with their ability to express themselves through inspired and inspiring art and writing; now more than ever, we need to hear the voices of these future leaders."

This year, nearly 230,000 works were entered into the Awards by students from every state in the nation for adjudication. Students had the opportunity to enter any of the Awards' 28 categoriesincluding short story, fashion design, photography, memoir, printmaking, poetry, and novel writingas well as a variety of sponsored award scholarships. The 2021 Direct Scholarships include:

The Best-in-Grade Award: Underwritten by Bloomberg Philanthropies, this Award provides $500 scholarships to 24 Gold Medal recipients (two artists and two writers per grades 7-12).

Underwritten by Bloomberg Philanthropies, this Award provides scholarships to 24 Gold Medal recipients (two artists and two writers per grades 7-12). Civic Expression Award: Underwritten by The Maurice R. Robinson Fund, this award provides $1,000 scholarships for original works of art or writing that promote responsible civic life. The six recipients are: Lina Eid , New York, NY ; Drew France , Livingston, NJ ; Dorianne Hines , Jackson, MS ; Jennifer Huang , Lincolnshire, IL ; Miguel Rincon , West Roxbury, MA ; and Jiahe Wang , New York, NY .

Underwritten by The Maurice R. Robinson Fund, this award provides scholarships for original works of art or writing that promote responsible civic life. The six recipients are: , ; , ; , ; , ; , ; and , . The Herblock Award for Editorial Cartoon: Underwritten by The Herb Block Foundation, the Editorial Cartoon category celebrates the legacy of four-time Pulitzer Prize-winning political cartoonist Herb Block and his remarkable contribution to American history and free expression. The three teen artists who receive $1,000 scholarships for their outstanding drawings, illustrations, or animations offering commentary on current events or political topics are: Ava Fong , Princeton, NJ ; Abby Haywood , Kentwood, MI ; and Emily Tan , San Jose, CA.

Underwritten by The Herb Block Foundation, the Editorial Cartoon category celebrates the legacy of four-time Pulitzer Prize-winning political cartoonist and his remarkable contribution to American history and free expression. The three teen artists who receive scholarships for their outstanding drawings, illustrations, or animations offering commentary on current events or political topics are: , ; , ; and , The New York Life Award: Underwritten by New York Life Foundation, this award provides six scholarships of $1,000 each to students whose work explores personal grief, loss, and bereavement, and exemplifies how the arts can act as a positive outlet to cope with these issues. This year's recipients are: La'Zavia Joseph, Houston, TX ; Madhalasa Iyer, Frisco, TX ; Ilhana Kisija, Skokie, IL ; Kale Kurtz, Harrisburg, PA ; Alena Suleiman , San Jose, CA ; and Yuejun Wang , Powell, OH .

Underwritten by New York Life Foundation, this award provides six scholarships of each to students whose work explores personal grief, loss, and bereavement, and exemplifies how the arts can act as a positive outlet to cope with these issues. This year's recipients are: La'Zavia Joseph, ; Madhalasa Iyer, ; Ilhana Kisija, ; Kale Kurtz, ; , ; and , . One Earth Award: Underwritten by the Salamander Fund of the Triangle Community Foundation and the One Earth Fund, this award provides four students with $1,000 scholarships for creative works that encourage the awareness of, and meaningful responses to, pressing issues of human-caused climate change. This year's recipients are: Lauren Hilow , Asheville, NC ; Aniela Holtrop , Freeport, ME ; Joonsung Kim , Concord, NH ; and Ellen Pan , McLean, VA .

Underwritten by the Salamander Fund of the Triangle Community Foundation and the One Earth Fund, this award provides four students with scholarships for creative works that encourage the awareness of, and meaningful responses to, pressing issues of human-caused climate change. This year's recipients are: , ; , ; , ; and , . Ray Bradbury Award for Science Fiction & Fantasy: Underwritten by the Ray Bradbury Foundation, this award offers $1,000 scholarships to six students whose writing uses supernatural, magical, futuristic, scientific, and technological themes as key elements of the narrative. This year's recipients are: Samuel Franklin , New York, NY; James Lee , Northbrook, IL ; Elena Luo , Flemington, NJ ; Mia Naccarato , Wexford , NJ; Chinonye Omeirondi, Cypress, CA ; and Sofia Schaffer , New Haven, CT .

Underwritten by the Ray Bradbury Foundation, this award offers scholarships to six students whose writing uses supernatural, magical, futuristic, scientific, and technological themes as key elements of the narrative. This year's recipients are: , New York, NY; , ; , ; , , NJ; Chinonye Omeirondi, ; and , . Additional awards and scholarships for students are made possible through the support of Blick Art Materials & Utrecht Art Supplies, Command Companies, Jay Pritzker Foundation, Jill and Peter Kraus , The Maurice R. Robinson Fund, The New York Times, Quad/the Quadracci family, The Roome Fund, and Salesforce.

Judging Criteria

All art and writing submissions are blindly judged based on the same three criteria that have been in place since the program's founding: originality, technical skill, and emergence of personal vision or voice. Student works are first adjudicated regionally through more than 100 local Affiliates of the Alliance. Students receiving Gold Keys, Silver Keys, Honorable Mentions, or American Visions & Voices Nominations are celebrated within their communities through exhibitions and ceremonies. Gold Key works are then judged nationally by an impressive panel of creative-industry experts to receive Gold, Silver, American Visions & Voices, and Gold or Silver with Distinction Portfolio Medals.

About the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards

Founded in 1923, the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards are presented by the 501(c)3 nonprofit organization the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers, and are made possible through the generosity of Scholastic Inc., The Maurice R. Robinson Fund, New York Life Foundation, Command Companies, The New York Times, The Herb Block Foundation, Blick Art Materials & Utrecht Art Supplies, Quad, Bloomberg Philanthropies, Ray Bradbury Foundation, Salesforce, Garcia Family Foundation, Lindenmeyr, the Salamander Fund of the Triangle Community Foundation, Golden Artist Colors, National Endowment for the Arts, New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, and numerous other individual, foundation, and corporate funders; and, for the National Student Poets Program, the Institute of Museum and Library Services, The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, The Hearthland Foundation, the Poetry Foundation, and Academy of American Poets.

For more information about the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers, visit artandwriting.org. Additional details about the Awards can be found in the Scholastic media room: http://mediaroom.scholastic.com/artandwriting.

SOURCE Alliance for Young Artists & Writers
One in six men being treated for advanced prostate cancer experiences a reduced sense of smell and taste, a symptom that could cause increased anxiety among patients because it is also a side effect of COVID-19, according to Tulane researchers.

A study published in the journal Supportive Care in Cancer says a reduced sense of smell and taste among some prostate cancer patients is largely associated with poor appetite and weight loss.

Although the data collection for the study predated the COVID-19 pandemic, the results pose important implications for cancer patients undergoing hormone therapy, chemotherapy and/or bone antiresorptive during the coronavirus crisis.

"We wanted to make sure the article mentioned the significance of advanced prostate cancer patients experiencing losses in taste/smell as a side effect of their cancer treatment during the pandemic," said Laura Perry, a Tulane doctoral student in psychology and one of the study's authors. "Since it is a commonly known symptom of COVID-19, the experience may be appraised by patients as especially stressful at this time."

Perry said most symptom assessments in cancer patients do not ask patients about their senses of taste or smell. "Our findings suggest these could be a valuable addition to routine assessments in prostate cancer," she said.

The study surveyed 75 men with advanced prostate cancer, asking them about their appetite, nausea while eating, and taste and smell of food over a 15-month period. Of the patients questioned, 17% experienced poor taste of food and 8% poor sense of smell. Participants were more likely to experience reduced sense of taste if they were being treated with the drugs denosumab or docetaxel, and they were more likely to experience weight loss if experiencing poor taste of food or poor appetite. Nausea was associated with an increased likelihood of experiencing poor taste and smell.

The study incorporated demographics, treatments and weight data from electronic health records.

Participants of the study were from the greater New Orleans area, where food and eating are central to the city's culture. If cancer patients can no longer enjoy the pleasure associated with food, that, too, can affect them emotionally, researchers said.

"For advanced cancer patients, losing their sense of taste and smell can have profound impacts on their emotional wellbeing and ability to engage with others socially," Perry said.

Lead author Sarah Alonzi, a lab manager in the Tulane Department of Psychology, agreed. "I hope that communicating these findings improve patients' awareness that treatment-related reduction in taste and smell can occur, providing some reassurance for those experiencing these symptoms," she said.

Based on the findings of this study, the authors suggest that clinicians should regularly query patients for changes in sense of taste and smell, especially patients who are experiencing weight loss. During the pandemic, they said, it is especially important that clinicians make patients aware of the potential for treatment-related reduction in taste and smell to reduce COVID-19 anxiety.

The research team included authors from Tulane's uptown and downtown campuses, a collaboration cultivated by the Louisiana Clinical and Translational Science Center and Louisiana Cancer Research Center.

In addition to Alonzi and Perry, the Tulane team included Michael Hoerger, assistant professor of psychology at Tulane School of Science and Engineering and an assistant professor of psychology and psychiatry at the Tulane Cancer Center. Also part of the Tulane team was a group from the Tulane Cancer Center, including Dr. Oliver Sartor, Charlotte Manogue, Patrick Cotogno and Elisa Ledet.

Lydia Chow of the Department of Internal Medicine at Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California and Emma Ernst of Tufts University School of Medicine also contributed to the study.
The Harlingen Irrigation District Cameron County No. 1 received Water and Energy Efficiency Grant funding in 2019 to pipe 6,641 linear feet of the Wyrick Canal. "Improving water and energy efficiencies is one way Reclamation is using its resources to provide communities in the West the ability to be resilient to climate change, because conserving water is also saving energy."

The Bureau of Reclamation is awarding $42.4 million in grants to 55 projects throughout 13 states. These projects will improve the water reliability for these communities by using water more efficiently and power efficiency improvements that water supply reliability and generate more hydropower. The projects are anticipated to conserve more than 98,000 acre-feet of water per year.

"Improving water and energy efficiencies is one-way Reclamation is using its resources to provide communities in the West the ability to be resilient to climate change, because conserving water is also saving energy," said Bureau of Reclamation Deputy Commissioner Camille Calimlim Touton.

These grants support President Biden's new Executive Order on Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad. These grants will help increase resilience to the impacts of climate change and conserve water.

The selected projects are in Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Washington and Wyoming. Projects include canal lining and piping to reduce seepage losses; installation of advanced metering, automated gates, and Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition systems to improve water management; and programs in urban areas to install residential water meters.

The Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation located in central Washington will receive $570,965 to convert more than 15,000 feet of earthen canals to PVC pipe. The project will improve water use efficiency and reliability through optimal flow rates, reduced leakages and operational losses. The project is expected to result in an annual water savings of 1,504 acre-feet remaining in the system supporting the other needs within the irrigation project.

The Greenfields Irrigation District in Teton County, Montana, will receive $1.9 million to replace a concrete drop structure with an 11-foot diameter penstock and turbine with a planned capacity of 2,400 kilowatts. The project is also expected to save 1,190 acre-feet of water currently lost to seepage. The water saved will remain in the Sun River, improving flows for fish and recreation.

In California, near the Arizona border, the Bard Water District will receive $1.1 million to complete a canal lining and piping project. The project is expected to result in annual water savings of 701 acre-feet, which will remain in the Colorado River system for other uses. Once completed, the project will also better position farmers to work with Natural Resources Conservation Service's Environmental Quality Incentives Program to improve on-farm irrigation systems.

Some projects complement on-farm irrigation improvements that can be carried out with the assistance of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service to accomplish coordinated water conservation improvements.

"Infrastructure modernization is critical to enable agricultural producers to make additional improvements on their land," said Astor Boozer, Regional Conservationist for NRCS's western operations. "Using EQIP-WaterSMART Initiative assistance to reduce water losses and use irrigation water efficiently allows farmers to complement WEEG funded projects and to conserve additional water for prolonged droughts."

Learn more about all the selected projects at http://www.usbr.gov/watersmart/weeg/.

Reclamation is currently working on revisions to the 2022 Water and Energy Efficiency Grant funding opportunity and is planning to provide an opportunity for public comment later this year.

Through WaterSMART, Reclamation works cooperatively with states, tribes, and local entities to plan for and implement actions to increase water supply reliability through investments to modernize existing infrastructure and attention to local water conflicts. Visit http://www.usbr.gov/watersmart to learn more.

About Reclamation

The Bureau of Reclamation is a federal agency under the U.S. Department of the Interior and is the nation's largest wholesale water supplier and second largest producer of hydroelectric power. Its facilities also provide substantial flood control, recreation opportunities, and environmental benefits.
Last month, Amazon, the global shipping behemoth with a near $1.6 trillion market capitalization, announced to its workforce in a graphic-laden email that it has brought back weekly in-person stand-up meetings for its warehouse staff even as COVID-19 still remains a threat for all working people.

The email, forwarded by an Amazon worker to the International Amazon Workers Voice and dated February 9, declared: During the Covid-19 pandemic we had temporarily paused stand up meetings. We are excited to announce that with new safety protocol and guidelines, stand-up meetings will be returning on 2/9/2021.

Stand-up, a routine pre-shift staff meeting where managers offer generic pep talks, lead crews of workers in warm-up exercises and brief them on their daily goals, was eliminated last spring as COVID-19 swept across the planet. The generic email insists that such gatherings will be modified, with limited size, designated Stand-up locations, Stand-up schedules based on Shift code, and department. Featured on the standard daily agenda are helpful items, such as Safety Tip, Standard Work Tip and the essential Big Thank You.

These meetings are like a cult, said one worker who spoke to the IAWV. They stand us all around, and were forced to clap and shout these weird little slogans. Another worker called them positive reinforcement rah-rah sessions. The worker added that bringing everyone together in person was an unnecessary risk the company was taking. It only takes one person [with COVID-19].

Amazon stand up meeting formation

The new routine will pack workers together in various warehouse locations in groups supposedly no larger than 25 (24 associates plus 1 leader). Tellingly, the designated formation for workers at the meetings (a graphical example is included in the email) resembles a boot camp.

While the diagrams suggest workers will be kept at least six feet apart from one another, a worker said that such protocols were a fiction at Amazon. I see people, even managers, side by side huddled up with each other. The Social Distancing teams that Amazon put in place at the start of the pandemic break the rules that theyre supposed to enforce.

Throughout the course of the pandemic, Amazon has placed its workers in harms way as the corporate giant raked in untold sums of revenue. The company finally admitted last October that at least 20,000 workers had been diagnosed with COVID-19 since March 2020. Amazon admitted this after months of refusing to release details about the number of infections at its warehouses throughout the United States.

Undoubtedly, the actual number of COVID-19 infections at Amazon is much higher. Due to the deplorable state of COVID-19 tracking and tracing efforts, many of the infected go undetected, especially when workers are asymptomatic. Last summer, my co-worker caught COVID-19, and I didnt get a notification until two weeks later, one worker said. Another worker stated bluntly, We are working in a pandemic-infested location, and it has been that way since day one.

In addition to this, Amazon has provided only very meager protections for its workforce, such as self-administered testing kits, handed out without directions for use and heat sensors to check for temperatures.

The Food and Drug Administration recently put out a bulletin declaring that mishandling and improper use of thermal cameras, such as those used by temperature screeners at Amazon sites, may lead to inaccurate temperature readings and pose a potential danger to public health.

While temperature checks are inadequate for detecting COVID-19, even the ability to detect a fever is undermined by what the Washington Post calls a compensating algorithm in some of the most popular sensors that severely undermines the devices medical usefulness. The publication explains: A feverish person with a core temperature of 100.4 degrees, their research found, could be assessed by the test devices as having a temperature of 98 degrees, well within the healthy range.

Reuters, in reporting the first use of the Amazon heat sensors, said last year it proves how Americas second-biggest corporate employer is exploring methods to contain the virus spread without shuttering warehouses essential to its operation. In other words, the company was exploring methods of how to present the illusion of safety without actually providing it.

Such flimsy measures, provided by the multibillion-dollar conglomerate and presided over by Jeff Bezos, until recently the worlds richest man, go a long way toward explaining how the COVID-19 pandemic has managed to infect over 100 million people across the globe in the course of the past year despite continuous warnings and advice from medical experts and scientists.

It is telling that Amazons announcement of the return of more in-person stand-up meetings has coincided with a general effort by the US political establishment to drop even minor social distancing measures and browbeat workers back to workplaces throughout the country as the pandemic threatens to surge again.

In practice, Amazon has spent billions operating a high-tech dystopia in which workers are confronted at every moment with multiple forms of intrusive and invasive surveillance. Rather than provide for safety and health, the lions share of Amazons precautions go toward the suppression of its own workforce.

The formation of the Baltimore-based BWI2 Fulfillment Center Rank -and-File Safety Committee represents the most class-conscious opposition against the corporate giant and its investors while also upholding as a top priority the defense of workers health and safety. It is also for this reason that the American capitalist class, led by the intervention of United States President Joseph Biden last week, has taken to promoting a corporatist unionization drive at the Alabama Amazon facility.

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to surge, it is essential that Amazon and other logistics workers fight to form and join their own independent rank-and-file organizations with no ties to the capitalist two-party political system, answerable only to themselves and other workers.

Such rank-and-file safety committees must demand complete transparency from Amazon, with real-time reporting on COVID-19 infections at their facilities and a serious contact tracing program. Facilities found to be overrun with the virus must close down for industrial-grade cleaning overseen by medical and science experts. Workers affected must be cared for and not have their income disrupted in the process.

If you agree with this program, sign up for the International Amazon Workers Voice and contact us for help in building rank-and-file safety committees in your own area.
Married at First Sight's Coco Stedman has claimed she was sexually harassed by a decorated senior cop while she was working as a police officer.

In a leaked Snapchat video shared shortly after she left the New South Wales Police in 2018 she accused an unnamed police sergeant of preying on and harassing young female officers.

Stedman claimed her life was made a 'living hell' during her six years on the force, and said junior officers who rejected the sergeant's advances were reprimanded.

The footage came to light after Stedman's ex-husband George Kyriacou was named as one of five officers who posted unprofessional or inappropriate messages to a vulgar, racist and sexist WhatsApp group called the 'Dog Pound'.

Coco's ex husband George Kyriacou (left), also a former NSW police officer, found himself at the centre of a WhatsApp scandal which cost two other cops their jobs

Former Leading Constable Calvin Dunne asked the men in the group chat to help him rate his female colleagues' appearance

Coco used to work for NSW Police but now is a contestant on reality television show Married At First Sight

Coco, whose real name is Constance-Rose Victoria Stedman, claimed she was 'triggered' by things she had heard and seen while working for the police.

'My life has been made a living hell numerous times because I wouldn't sleep with someone it's not just Hollywood, trust me,' she said in the video.

'If you rejected him you would get put on station every day,' Stedman claimed in the video.

Daily Mail Australia understands the officer, who was awarded a Commissioner's Unit Citation for 'outstanding service which may involve bravery or other acts of merit', left the force following an internal investigation but no charges were ever laid.

Sources familiar with the incidents said if the younger female officers rejected his advances they would be placed on station duty or made to re-write reports.

Coco, whose real name is Constance-Rose Victoria Stedman, claims she was 'triggered' by things she had heard and seen whilst working for the police

He also asked two female colleagues to 'go down on each other [and] film it' before making several other sexist remarks

Stedman's ex-husband George Kyriacou was named as one five officers in a judgement handed down on Tuesday in which another officer was reprimanded for failing to report misconduct

Stedman also claimed the man was known across NSW for his alleged behaviour and that he abused his position of power.

'People knew, it was so openly talked about that he was a creep, and it's like state-wide,' she said in the video.

NSW Police told Daily Mail Australia Stedman has not made an official sexual harassment complaint.

Daily Mail Australia can also reveal Stedman's ex-husband George Kyriacou, also a former NSW police officer, found himself at the centre of a WhatsApp scandal which cost two other cops their jobs.

Kyriacou was named as one of five officers who engaged in 'misconduct' within the group chat in a report to the Industrial Relations Commission on Tuesday.

Former Leading Constable Calvin Dunne appealed to have his job reinstated after he was fired in 2019 for creating and participating in the WhatsApp chat, in which he referred to colleagues as 'c**ns', ranked females based on their looks and mocked others' sexuality.

In a leaked Snapchat video shared shortly after she left the force in 2018, she claims that an unnamed police sergeant would harass and prey on young female officers

Coco is paired with the season's 'villain' Sam Carraro, but is set to go behind his back to pursue a fling with Cameron Dunne

Constable Jordan Crotty (pictured) was reportedly internally disciplined and placed on restricted duties for her involvement in the group chat

Dunne argued that he did not sexually harass or bully any of his colleagues in the group chat, insisting it was instead banter among friends.

The father-of-one created the WhatsApp group chat for himself and 19 of his colleagues where cops would make insensitive remarks toward one another.

The group chat, which was initially named 'Patrol Fairies 2.0' but later named the 'Dog Pound' led to the dismissal of Mr Dunne and one other officer, Ben Vizzone.

Mr Vizzone challenged his dismissal, and the matter was settled outside of court.

Constable Jordan Crotty was internally disciplined and placed on restricted duties for her involvement in the group chat, which included her discussing 'loading up' an offender with a long list of charges and making sexist remarks.

Within the chat, Mr Dunne asked colleagues to tell him 'what her p**sy tasted like' when discussing other women and referred to several subordinates as 'f***ots'.

Within the chat, Mr Dunne asked colleagues to tell him 'what her p**sy tasted like' when discussing other women and referred to several subordinates as 'f***ots'

In one message exchange, Mr Dunne said 'c**ns don't date... they steal' while speaking to a colleague who identifies as Aboriginal

'You have about as much c**n in you as ***** has hair,' one of the texts read. 'She's c**n... c**ns don't date... they steal.'

In a separate exchange on the same day in 2017, Mr Dunne asked the men in the group chat to help him rate his female colleagues' appearance.

'Guys can we go back to ****** getting bolt ons... Surely that puts her in first place now? ******* defo number 1 for under 3... ****** just went to number 1 over 30,' he said.

Another category in the competition was the most attractive 'milf' - which is an lewd acronym for a mother you would like to have sex with.

He also asked two female colleagues to 'go down on each other [and] film it'.

Mr Dunne's request to be reinstated was ultimately denied after the court determined that his dismissal was fair.

Dunne and Constable Ben Vizzone (pictured), who was also part of the chat group, were fired, while Crotty faced internal disciplinary action and was placed on restricted duties

The group chat, which was initially named 'Patrol Fairies 2.0' but later named the 'Dog Pound' led to the dismissal of Mr Dunne and one other officer

Mr Dunne also made remarks like the above, but denied he bullied or harassed any of his colleagues
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-18 05:48:14|Editor: huaxia

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CAIRO, March 17 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis discussed on Wednesday several areas of bilateral cooperation, especially in the economic, security and energy fields.

During a phone conversation, Sisi and Mitsotakis also exchanged views on regional issues, particularly the recent developments in Libya and the situation in the Eastern Mediterranean, Egyptian presidential spokesman Bassam Rady said in a statement.

Sisi praised the progress achieved through the tripartite framework, including Cyprus, affirming Egypt's keenness to promote cooperation with Greece, Rady said.

For his part, the Greek prime minister expressed his country's keenness to enhance joint cooperation with Egypt at the bilateral level, as well as within the framework of the trilateral cooperation mechanism between Egypt, Greece and Cyprus.

Furthermore, he affirmed the need to continue consultation and coordination on all issues of mutual interest.

Egypt and Greece signed in August 2020 an agreement on the demarcation of the maritime borders between the two countries and setting up an exclusive economic zone between them in the Mediterranean Sea.

The deal allows both Egypt and Greece to maximize the use of available resources in their exclusive economic zones, particularly the potential oil and gas reserves. Enditem
SACRAMENTO, Calif., March 17, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- insured.io, a provider of cloud-based, customer engagement solutions for the insurance industry, is pleased to announce that Kingstone Insurance Company (KICO), a subsidiary of Kingstone Companies, Inc., has successfully implemented the insured.io platform for digital transformation and customer engagement.



Based in New York, KICO provides primarily personal lines property and casualty (P&C) coverages in five states across the Northeast. With personalization and service standards reaching new heights in insurance as pushed along by other industries, KICO prioritized technology spending. To continue to compete effectively, KICO launched an enterprise-wide modernization initiative to provide the online capabilities their Select Producers and policyholders were demanding and digitally transform engagement.

"We absolutely turned to technology, and insured.io, to set the stage for a more customer-centric and competitive future for the company," said Shannon Provvisiero, vice president of business transformation and experience for Kingstone. "However, with multiple core administration systems still live, with in-force policies on them, this implementation was no easy task. Before beginning with the Customer Engagement Platform, insured.io helped us consolidate data from across our entire enterprise. This implementation has provided us with a much more in-depth view of our customers and allowed us to evolve our platforms using our vision to meet their needs without concern for core systems constraints.

As part of this implementation, insured.io simplified and streamlined the KICO experience across various legacy core systems and vendors. Today, the insured.io Platform delivers a single solution for customer engagement, including portals for quick pay, new business quoting, first notice of loss (FNOL) and policy inquiry as well as inbound and outbound integrated voice response (IVR) for recurring payments, electronic documents, reporting and analytics modules, and more.

"KICOs customers took immediate advantage of the new payment capabilities," said Steve Johnson, co-founder and head of product for insured.io. "Almost 50 percent of KICOs payments are now processed via our SaaS, cloud-based solution.

Additionally, the New Business Portal, built by insured.io, enables quoting, rating, binding, and generation of new policy documents for all of KICOs New York product offerings. The New Business Portal allows for a single, seamless, and consistent experience for all New York products, and it provides the ability to be nimble and make enhancements without system limitations.

Capable of integration with any existing core administration system, insured.io provides insurers with a platform which connects and unifies consumers, producers, and employees via any channel. Insured.io modernized KICOs interactions with producers and policyholders while effectively extending the capabilities of the companys multiple core systems, especially as it relates to the ability to schedule and process digital payments.

About insured.io

Insured.io accelerates digital transformation for insurance organizations with a 360-degree suite of SaaS solutions built on a modern, cloud-based platform. The insured.io Customer Engagement Platform integrates seamlessly with multiple core administration systems and includes interactive voice response (IVR), policyholder and producer portals, direct-to-consumer sales, recurring payments, first notice of loss (FNOL), and analytics. For more information and to schedule a demo of insured.io, please visit us at https://insured.io, call us at (888) 470-0637, or email us at get@insured.io

About Kingstone Companies, Inc.

Kingstone is a Northeast regional property and casualty insurance holding company whose principal operating subsidiary is Kingstone Insurance Company (KICO). KICO is a multi-line carrier writing business through retail and wholesale agents and brokers. KICO offers primarily personal lines insurance products, as well as Physical Damage Only coverage to taxi, limousine, and transportation network vehicle owners in New York State. Actively writing in New York, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Connecticut, Kingstone is also licensed in Pennsylvania, New Hampshire and Maine. For more information, please visit https://www.kingstoneinsurance.com.
New Delhi, March 17 : Here are two gorgeously illustrated picture books on the culture and lives of lesser-known communities in India, starting with the first two books in the Have You Met series (Penguin Random House India), for younger kids to know the culture and customs, the heritage and food habits, and the festivals of these communities.

"Have You Met the Parsis?" and "Have You Met The Anglo Indians?" by Anastasia Damani, complementing the text and lush, full-colour illustrations with activity sections, such as arts and crafts and recipes, makes for good parent-child activity.

"What a beautiful window into the world of lesser-known communities in India," says author Ruskin Bond, himself a prolific writer for children.

"Have You Met the Parsis?" Did you know that several Parsi families, originally from Iran, sailed to India on large wooden boats? They landed in a town called Sanjan in Gujarat and blended in peacefully with the people.

The Theatrewalas are one such family. Say "su karech" to Uncle Cyrus and Aunty Jeroo; their three kids, big brother Darius and twin sisters Farah and Freya; and the sixth member of the family, Twiggy Theatrewala, the dachshund.

Come, discover Parsi food, festivals and attires with the Theatrewala family! Learn to cook lip-smacking Parsi bhonu, fill your pocket of good deeds and make beautiful decorations next Navroz. Also find out about iconic Parsis such as Freddie Mercury and Jamsetji Tata.

So let's get started, dikras and dikris!

"Have You Met the Anglo Indians?" "Arre what men!" Meet Aunty Joyce and Uncle Charlie Lovedale, and their two wonderful children named Rosie and Leslie and a third rather fluffy child whose name is Penny the Pomeranian The Lovedale family is an Anglo Indian family.

Did you know that after the British left India in 1947 many English and Irish families decided to stay back and make India their new home? The Lovedales are one such family They're known as Anglo-Indians because their families are of both English and Indian descent.

Come, learn about the food, festivals, attires and about iconic Anglo Indians, such as Ruskin Bond and Derek O'Brien, with the Lovedale family! Anastasia Damani is an illustrator-turned-author, musician and theatre lover. When she's not donning one of these hats, she likes curling up with a warm cup of tea. After completing her graduation from Symbiosis Institute of Design, Pune with a degree in communication design, she began her journey in her hometown, Kolkata, and now lives in Copenhagen.

Anastasia enjoys writing and illustrating across mediums with children's books as her first love. Through her work, she strives to promote love, confidence, respect and responsibility in children.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Former beauty queen and actor Sushmita Sen's daughter Renee recently debuted as an actor with a short film Suttabaazi. While the actress has already garnered a fan following, she also occasionally receives flak from trolls. On Tuesday (March 16) Renee took to Instagram and shared a quote on how to deal with online haters.

The quote shared by Renee on her Instagram Stories was by Scott Scabile. It read, "Let them judge you. Let them misunderstand you. Let them gossip about you. Their opinions aren't your problem. You stay kind, committed to love and free in your authenticity. No matter what they do or say, don't you dare doubt your worth or the beauty of truth. Just keep on shining like you do."

Soon after, she also shared a selfie amid her self-care routine. The actress shared another anecdote. She captioned the post as, "Self care doesn't need a day" with a laughing emoji. Take a look at the picture,

Renee recently had revealed that she wanted to be an actor ever since she went on the sets of her mother's films like Maine Pyaar Kyun Kiya and Main Hoon Na. Years later, she debuted with Suttabaazi, directed by Kabeer Khurana.

Talking about the film with a media portal, Renee had said, "Suttabaazi is a relatable story for every household. The simplicity with which an important message is being conveyed of not seeking validation from the outside world is what truly attracted me. I hope everyone relates to this because it is so close to my heart."

Renee often shares pictures with her family and from sets on social media. In her recent posts, she was spotted working with Darsheel Safary and Zubin Shah on a new project. Renee is yet to confirm her upcoming projects or her Bollywood debut as a lead.

ALSO READ: Sushmita Sen's Daughter Renee Sen Pens An Endearing Post For Co-Star And 'Amazing Friend' Darsheel Safary

ALSO READ: Sushmita Sen's Daughter Renee Confessed She Wanted To Enter Beauty Pageants Like Her Mother
Bhopal, March 17 : With the number of coronavirus infections increasing rapidly in many parts of Madhya Pradesh, the state government has imposed a night curfew in Bhopal and Indore from Wednesday night. The government has also directed that those people who commute by buses must wear face masks to protect against the pandemic.

As many as 264 Covid-19 patients have emerged in Indore and 199 in Bhopal. The number of Covid patients has surpassed 800 in a single day in the state. Bhopal and Indore have reported the maximum number of Covid cases. At the same time, there are eight more districts where Covid cases are increasing and where special precautions would be taken.

The markets in Jabalpur, Gwalior, Ujjain, Ratlam, Chhindwara, Burhanpur, Betul and Khargone districts would close at 10 p.m.

The Madhya Pradesh government has decided that the thermal screening of persons coming from Maharashtra would continue. Such passengers would have to stay in home quarantine for a week.

During a review meeting of the Transport Department, Govind Singh Rajput, the Madhya Pradesh Transport and Revenue Minister, said in view of the increase in Covid-19 cases, wearing masks should be made compulsory for bus passengers. If any passenger is found without a mask in the buses, then legal action would be taken against the bus owner, driver and the bus conductor.

Talking about road accidents, Rajput said one of the major reasons behind this is buses not plying with enough of a time gap. An interval of one to two minutes after being issued permits increases competition among buses, forcing the drivers to drive at high speed under pressure to arrive on time. Due to this, there is a constant possibility of accidents taking place.

To rectify this, it is necessary that before issuing the permits, the transport department officials should ensure that there is sufficient time gap between the buses.

Rajput said that a commercial driving license is an important step taken by the Madhya Pradesh government in the direction of making women 'Aatmanirbhar' or 'Self-reliant'. In this connection, a driving training centre for women has been opened in Indore. Apart from this, women would also be imparted training for commercial driving.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-17 19:09:39|Editor: huaxia

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TASHKENT, March 17 (Xinhua) -- Uzbekistan has received 660,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine, the first batch of two million doses within the COVAX facility, the health ministry said in a press release Wednesday.

Under COVAX, an international vaccine campaign co-led by the World Health Organization and its partners, Uzbekistan will receive enough vaccines, syringes and safe disposal boxes to vaccinate 20 percent of the population by the end of the year, the ministry said.

The first stage of the mass vaccination campaign will cover 4.1 million people, it added.

The elderly and disabled persons, and those in healthcare, education as well as law enforcement will be vaccinated first.

Uzbekistan this month also authorized the use of a vaccine produced by China's Anhui Zhifei Longcom Biopharmaceutical Co., Ltd.

Uzbekistan has registered a total of 80,858 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 622 related deaths. Enditem
Le Point magazine: media outlet or tool to smear China?

People's Daily Online) 11:28, March 17, 2021

In February, Jeremy Andre Flores from the French magazine Le Point published an article vilifying Christian Mestre, a professor from the University of Strasbourg who had praised China's counter-terrorism and de-radicalization measures in Xinjiang, calling him a henchman of China.

The report, published amid rising anti-China sentiment instigated by Western media, together with pressure from a group of anti-China teachers and sinologists at the University of Strasbourg, resulted in the professor being forced to step down from his post as the ethics officer of the Strasbourg Eurometropolis in March.

Children have fun on Dove Lane in Hotan City, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, May 27, 2020. (Xinhua/Sadat)

A supporter of Christian Mestre said on Twitter that he had resigned so as to stay away from despicable people, and expressed shock that the professor, who had taught in various universities in Europe, had been described as a chess piece of China by Le Point.

Jeremy Andre Flores said on Twitter that his investigations into Christian Mestre were impeccable. In fact, the investigations mentioned by the French journalist, who currently lives in Hong Kong and has never been to Xinjiang, were nothing but the digging out of remarks the professor had made two years ago and fabrication of a story of a dubious relationship between him and China.

Le Point represents the opinion of mainstream media in France. Its report not only resulted in Christian Mestre being forced to resign from his post, but also served as a threat to those who are friendly towards China in France.

Some anti-China sinologists in European countries such as Belgium, have also voiced extreme opinions against China, making it hard not to relate them with Western intelligence agencies.

Why did this incident happen in France, a country that worships equality and freedom? Looking deeper, one realizes that the incident was not just about French media distorting facts about China, but is also a reflection of a pro-U.S. attitude adopted by French media. In other words, their opinions on issues related to Chinas Xinjiang are always like those held by the U.S.

French media widely accept ideas such as "concentration camp" and "genocide", both of which are fraudulent claims made by the U.S.-based German far-right ideologue Adrian Zenz.

However, researchers, institutions, media figures, and internet users from many countries across the world have refuted Zenzs lies about Xinjiang on social media platforms through facts and evidence.

A number of enterprises and individuals in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region have directed lawyers to sue Zenz for spreading "forced labor" and other rumors related to Xinjiang, which have damaged their reputation and caused them to suffer economic losses.

They have also filed a civil lawsuit with a local court in Xinjiang, demanding that Zenz apologize, restore their reputation and compensate them for their losses.

In the book The End of Uyghur Fake News, French author Maxime Vivas gave an example of how Western media had smeared Xinjiang by using false facts.

In a documentary about a Uygur doctor named Enver Tohti broadcast by Arte TV, a German-French TV channel, the doctor told a story in the U.S. of how he had been involved in organ harvesting, and admitted that he was a criminal. However, he was not issued an international arrest warrant, because everyone knew he made it up. The documentary has been taken off air.

It seems that some French media, while producing false reports on Xinjiang, have forgotten the Charter of Munich, or the Munich Declaration of the Duties and Rights of Journalists, as well as the professional dignity the Charter calls on journalists to observe.
Regional Communication Officers caucus of the NDC has asked Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, the Parliamentary Affairs Minister to stay off NDC matters insisting he has no business to pontificate on the current tension between the NDC leadership in parliament and the National Communications Officer.



A Press Statement issued by the sixteen Regional Communication Officers said: It is not out of place for one to wonder why Hon Kyei Mensah Bonsu is so much interested in resurrecting a matter that is being carefully managed by the NDCs most respected Council of Elders and all concerned parties.



Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, the Parliamentary Affairs Minister says accusations leveled against the leadership of the minority caucus and the Speaker of Parliament by Sammy Gyamfi, the National Communications Officer of the NDC should be considered as an attack on the entire house.



According to him, Sammy Gyamfi crossed the line with his abuse of the NDC MPs and the Speaker, Alban Bagbin.



If you do something that brings disgrace to any of the senior figures in parliament, it does not bode well for the house. Someone will say its an internal party issue, but though the speaker is an NDC member, he no longer represents the party.



He is the third gentleman of the land so must be accorded the needed respect. If someone is attacking the speaker, we must all rise and defend him and the institution of parliament. That is what it must be, he said.



But the Regional communication Officers caucus in a reaction said the majority group leaders disposition of crying more than the bereaved in this matter is a calculated ploy aimed at exacerbating discontent within the rank and file of the NDC.



Below is the full statement





REGIONAL COMMUNICATION OFFICERS CAUCUS OF THE NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS.



PRESS RELEASE



RE: SAMMY GYAMFI CROSSED THE LINE, LEADERSHIP WILL MEET AND DECIDE WHAT TO DO  OSEI KYEI MENSAH



We the sixteen Regional Communication Officers of the National Democratic Congress have taken note of the impotent threat issued by Hon. Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu to our erudite and peerless leader  Lawyer Sammy Gyamfi (National Communications Officer of the NDC.)



The said threat, in which he gives indication that, the leadership of parliament will meet to decide on what to do with Lawyer Sammy Gyamfi , is published on Ghana Web (Thursday, 11/03/2021) and is purported to have been issued on Kumasi based Hello FM.



While we deem the Suame Legislators outburst to be malicious, vicious and to some extend ludicrous, it sounds quiet ridiculous that Hon Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu lurks around hoping to prey on the disagreement within the NDC to settle personal scores with the young brilliant lawyer.



As lead voices of the legion of communicators in all the sixteen Regions, we wish to humbly notify our Revered Parliamentary Caucus, particularly the leadership of the NDC front to be wary of Ahithophels  like the Hon. MP for Suame who in their treachery, will wish to fun into flames sparkles of fire in the NDC for their own whims and caprices. We are of the firm conviction that, the majority group leaders disposition of crying more than the bereaved in this matter is a calculated ploy aimed at exacerbating discontent within the rank and file of the NDC. It is not out of place for one to wonder why Hon Kyei Mensah Bonsu is so much interested in resurrecting a matter that is being carefully managed by the NDCs most respected Council of Elders and all concerned parties.



The climax of our bewilderment at the Majority group leaders outburst is in his hypocritical turn of pretending to show respect and camaraderie for the much Respected Rt. Hon. Speaker of Parliament. It is trite knowledge that, the night of 6th January, 2021 and early hours of 7th January, 2021 saw Hon. Kyei Mensah betray his long standing friendship with the Rt. Hon. Speaker of Parliament, by fighting feverishly to ensure that, Rt. Hon. ASK Bagbin never ascended the throne as Speaker. Though he wielded much experience in parliamentary affairs and exuded more competence than his sole contender, Hon Kyei Mensah preferred imposing President Akufo Addos poodle over parliament in lieu of the Venerable Rt. Hon. ASK Bagbin.



We deem his position in this matter as a face saving charade aimed at repairing his fractured ego in the face of his party, which he couldnt lead to win the speakership slot and also, before his age long friend whom he shamelessly back stabbed in the name of party loyalty. We wonder where he had left his voice of moral consciousness when Hon Kennedy Ohene Agyapong described him and all NPP faithful including President Akufo Addo as FOOLISH PEOPLE. It is thus our collective caution to him to mind his own business and learn to, remove the plank from his own eye to enable him see clearly, so that he could remove the saw dust from another mans eye.



We appreciate the difficult moment that the Party has been confronted with in the past few days. We however believe the horns are never heavier than the cow that is to carry them. We have outmost confidence in our leaders at the Functional Executive Committee, The Rt. Hon. Speaker of Parliament and our Caucus Leaders in Parliament to work under the supreme counsel of our Highly Respected Council of Elders, to find an amicable resolution to the difficulties that have come our way.



If Kyei Mensah Bonsu is concerned about what appears to be the deteriorating dignity of Parliament, he should start by causing a probe into the military invasion of the chamber of Parliament on the night of 6th January and the circumstances of ballot snatching by Carlos Ahenkora during the speakership election instead of wasting time on matters that dont undermine the image and dignity of Parliament in any way.



On this note, we humbly appeal to our rank and file and particularly, the masses of our support base to rally our unflinching support for our parliamentary Caucus as they lead the charge to hold the feet of the Akufo Addos regime to the fire of accountability. Thank you.



Long live the NDC, Long live Ghana!

Signed



wnfoba Kwesi Dawood

RCO- Central Reg

0246388002



Darlas Ampomah Williams

RCO- Eastern Reg

0545295731



Alhaji Saeed Ahmed Tijani

RCO- Upper East Reg

0244176429



Sam Jerome Kweku

RCO- Western North Reg

0244043482



Puo-Ire Prosper

RCO- Upper West Reg

0204852735



Alhaji Abdul- Moomin Alhassan

RCO- Northern Reg

0504068549



Hon. Jerry Johnson

RCO- Greater Accra Reg

0244670391



Nana Abass Nurudeen

RCO- Ashanti Reg

0243919746



Richard Kirk Mensah

RCO- Western Reg

0244848891



Charles Akowuah Tuffuor

RCO- Bono Reg

0244472659



Imoro Abdul- Razak

RCO- North East

0245371809



Malik Basintale

RCO- Savannah Reg

0540444414



Mobarak Abdul-Karim

RCO- Oti Region

0248690371



Hon. Apraku Lartey

RCO- Ahafo Reg

0244122511



Hon. Kwadwo Agyei-Dwomor

RCO- Bono East Reg

0200200104



Sorkpa K. Agbleze

RCO- Volta Reg

0241221762















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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Loud beer stalls on the sidewalks of Pham Van Dong Boulevard in Ho Chi Minh City were required to sign commitment forms on noise restrictions after local authorities toured the area to inspect noise complaints on Tuesday.

On Tuesday, the Binh Thanh District Bureau of Resources and Environment formed a cohort with authorities of Binh Thanhs Ward 11 to roam Pham Van Dong Boulevard and address persisting noise issues that come from local beer stalls.

The cohort identified several problematic beer stalls, pubs, and nightclubs that blast deafening music at night, including Cali Beer, a beverage establishment owned by Tran Thi My Huyen.

Confronted by the task force, Huyen agreed to sign the commitment form, which requires her facility to curb music volume and relieve noise pollution for the neighborhood.

Music is a major factor that draws customers to beer businesses, we cant operate without it, Huyen explained.

However, as authorities required, we would tone down the music.

Meanwhile, Nguyen Van Thiet, an executive of Havana Coffee & Beer on Pham Van Dong, said beverage stalls in the area should all be required to turn down their music volume.

My facility goes for a laid-back atmosphere, yet the surrounding establishments always play ear-piercing music that ruined the ambience in my place, Thiet complained.

I hope that other places lower their volume so I can do the same to mine.

According to Trieu Thi Bich Huyen, deputy chairman of Ward 11 in Binh Thanh District, penalties for noise violations used to be applicable only to disturbances between 10:00 pm and 6:00 am, with fines set in a nominal range of VND100,000-300,000 ($4.3-$13).

As per the new proposal of Binh Thanh District, the telling-off approach for noise violations will only be kept until the end of May, as administrative penalties will be introduced to punish disobedient businesses starting from early June.

The campaign will also target households and individuals who play loud music and karaoke to the point of overstepping noise regulations.

According to the national technical standards, noise in residential areas must not surpass 50 decibels from 9:00 pm to 6:00 pm, while noise output that exceeds 70 decibels during the rest of the day is also not acceptable.

Earlier this month, leaders of Ho Chi Minh City reached a consensus on the launch of a sweeping campaign against noise pollution in residential areas in 2021.

During the first phase of the drive, which runs till May, the city will focus on promoting messages and regulations against noise pollution among the community.

Meanwhile, administrative penalties for noise pollution will be strictly imposed in the second phase, which will start in June and last until the end of the year.

We are striving to achieve economic development and raise living standards for the people, which is why noise pollution, among other issues that impact the urban environs, should be thoroughly addressed, said Vo Van Hoan, deputy chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Peoples Committee, during a city-level meeting last week to identify solutions for dealing with urban noise pollution.

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(Bloomberg) -- Apple Inc. plans to announce new iPads as early as April, adding to a product line that has performed particularly well as people work and study from home, according to people with knowledge of the matter.

The company is planning a refresh to its iPad Pro line, adding a better processor and improved cameras, the people said. The new models will look similar to the current iPad Pros and come in the same 11-inch and 12.9-inch screen sizes.

The devices will have an updated processor that is on par with the faster M1 chip in the latest MacBook Air, MacBook Pro and Mac mini. Apple designs these processors itself and typically has them made by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Apple is also looking to include a Mini-LED screen with at least the larger model, which would be brighter and have improved contrast ratios.

In testing, the new iPad Pros have used a Thunderbolt connector, the same port on the latest Macs with custom Apple processors. The port doesnt require new chargers, but it would enable connectivity with additional external monitors, hard drives and other peripherals. Its also faster at syncing data than the USB-C technology used in the current models.

An Apple spokeswoman declined to comment. The company has yet to announce its first product launch event of the year, so its plans could change.

The iPad generated $8.4 billion in revenue for Apple during the key holiday quarter of 2020, the most since 2014. Sales jumped on demand from people working and studying from home during the pandemic. As employees and students begin returning to offices and schools in coming months, Apple will be betting on the new iPad models to maintain interest in the tablet line.

The iPad Pro was last updated in March 2020 at the beginning of the pandemic, adding a tweaked processor, support for the Magic Keyboard with Trackpad case, and a lidar scanner alongside the camera.

Apple plans to refresh its cheapest iPad aimed at students with a thinner and lighter design later this year, Bloomberg News has reported. Its also preparing to launch a new iPad mini with a larger screen as early as this year, an increase from the 7.9-inch display used since the first model. The iPad mini was last upgraded in 2019 with support for the Apple Pencil stylus and a faster processor.

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Apple has several other product updates planned for this year. The company is working on new iPhones and Apple Watches, an accessory for tracking the location of physical objects, and major updates to the MacBook Pro laptop and iMac desktop.

For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com

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A state appeals court says a Rio Vista police officer who lost his job after illegally arresting and choking a suspected drunken driver cant sue the city for releasing information about him to the news media, under a new state law making records of police misconduct public.

John Collondrez, a veteran officer in the Solano County community, responded to a report of a hit-and-run accident in August 2017 by following the suspected driver into his home, which he entered without a warrant. According to a Police Department investigation, Collondrez arrested the man without legal justification, put him in a choke hold for 20 seconds, failed to summon medical assistance and submitted a false report to justify his actions. The man survived.

Police Chief Dan Dailey then sought to fire Collondrez. City Manager Robert Hickey upheld the dismissal after a hearing, but the officers appeal sent the dispute to arbitration, which resulted in a settlement in September 2018. Collondrez agreed to resign and not to seek future employment by the city and was paid $35,000.

Then in January 2019, a state law took effect allowing the public to obtain records of police dishonesty and uses of deadly force. In response to media requests, Rio Vista released records about Collondrez, whose new employer, Uber, promptly fired him. The former officer then sued the city for invasion of privacy and breach of contract, saying the disclosures about him were not authorized by the new law.

Superior Court Judge Michael Mattice refused to dismiss the suit, saying the law allowed release of police records only after a sustained finding of dishonesty, and not after a settlement like the one Collondrez reached with the city. But the First District Court of Appeal in San Francisco disagreed Tuesday and said City Manager Hickeys approval of the police chiefs findings of dishonesty, and his proposed firing of Collondrez, made the records public.

The new law was intended to serve the strong public interest in making serious officer misconduct records accessible, Justice Ioana Petrou said in the 3-0 ruling. She said the law did not allow officers to thwart its purpose by settling their cases after findings of dishonesty.

The court also said the public was entitled to learn about Collondrezs use of excessive force because it was part of the incident, even if it did not directly relate to dishonesty.

Mona Ebrahimi, a lawyer for the city, praised the court for upholding Californias commitment to transparency in law enforcement.

Harry Stern, a lawyer for Collondrez, said the former officer may ask the state Supreme Court to review the case.

The city induced Officer Collondrez to give up his appeal rights by paying him a substantial sum and then broke their agreement with him by releasing the information, Stern said.

Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @BobEgelko

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CNN has been accused of producing 'clickbait conspiracy theories' over an article that questioned Abraham Lincoln's stance on race.

The analysis, titled 'Did black lives matter to Abraham Lincoln? It's complicated', was released on Sunday to coincide with a six-part documentary the network is airing about the former president.

It references several depictions of Lincoln in popular culture - a gay man, a vampire slayer, a guest star in a Star Trek episode - before tackling the question of whether or not the sixteenth president was racist.

Eric Foner, a prominent US historian, said he has never called Lincoln racist but acknowledged that the former president 'shared some of the prejudices of his time.'

'Was Lincoln an anti-racist? No, not really. Was he an egalitarian in the modern sense? No,' Foner told CNN.

'Race was not a major concern of Lincoln. He didn't think about race very much. To ask if he's a racist is the wrong question. And if you ask the wrong question, you're going to get the wrong answer.'

CNN has been accused of producing 'clickbait conspiracy theories' over an article that questioned Abraham Lincoln's stance on race. The analysis, titled Did Black lives matter to Abraham Lincoln? It's complicated, was released on Sunday to coincide with a six-part documentary the network is airing about the former president

But questions around Lincoln's views on race have 'intensified over the years,' the article said, noting a growing interest among historians, activists and politicians in how Lincoln regarded black people and Native Americans.

The article pointed to protesters in Portland vandalizing a statue of Lincoln and a San Francisco school named after him changing its name.

It also said Lincoln told racist jokes, enjoyed minstrel shows and even once 'floated an offer to the Confederates that would allow them to keep slaves until 1900 if they surrendered' to the Union.

The article also considered arguments against Lincoln being racist such as his accepting black clients in his law practice - unusual at the time - and his friendship with the abolitionist Frederick Douglas.

While the article said Lincoln 'would have been cancelled on social media and likely run out of office' if he was alive and tweeting today, it ultimately concluded that the former president's greatness lay in his 'contradictions and ambiguities' along with his ability to listen to people he disagreed with and change his mind.

Despite the analysis' detailed attempt to interrogate Lincoln's attitude on race, some have slammed CNN for even considering doing so in the first place.

The article said questions around Lincoln's views on race have 'intensified over the years,' the article said, noting a growing interest among historians, activists and politicians in how Lincoln regarded Black people and Native Americans. Pictured: Protesters rally in response to the planned start of the trial of former Minnesota police officer Derek Chauvin over the killing of George Floyd [File photo]

Conservative satirist Tim Young accused CNN of perpetrating 'clickbait conspiracy theories' in the article in comments made to competitor Fox News.

'CNN, whose ratings have been tanking since President Trump has left office, apparently believes that it needs a new boogeyman in order for people to tune in, so why not take a stab at calling Lincoln a racist if it makes the operation money,' Young told Fox.

'CNN is officially jumping the shark with this new take that Lincoln was a racist - which is the final nail in the coffin for them being able to call themselves a news organization - now they're just clickbait conspiracy theories.

'Anything for a buck, including calling the President who ended slavery racist. Way to prove why no one should ever believe a thing that's ever on your network.'

Others took exception to the article's headline - 'Did Black lives matter to Abraham Lincoln? It's Complicated'.

Dan McLaughlin, a writer for the National Review - tweeted that: 'Describing the answer to this question as 'complicated' is a clear sign that the question itself is loaded with ideological assumptions.

'Many Americans who sympathize with the phrase 'Black Lives Matter' do not share those assumptions.'

While the article said Lincoln 'would have been cancelled on social media and likely run out of office' if he was alive and tweeting today, it ultimately concluded that the former president's greatness lay in his 'contradictions and ambiguities' along with his ability to listen to people he disagreed with and change his mind. Pictured: A statue of Lincoln at The Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC

Dan Gainor, vice president of the Media Research Center, accused CNN of attempting to rewrite history.

'This isn't just historical revisionism. This is a complete rewrite of history by radicals who want to embrace the anti-American lunacy of The New York Times 1619 Project,' Gainor told Fox News, referring to a long-form journalism project that describes itself as aiming to 'reframe the country's history by placing the consequences of and the contributions of Black Americans at the very center of the United States' national narrative.'

Some right-wing figures, including former President Donald Trump, have criticised the Pulitzer-Prize-winning project.

Gainor described revisionist history on Lincoln as 'despicable,' saying it comes from liberals who he said were 'furious that he wasn't as woke as some Marxist Harvard professor in 2021.'

'He was a great man and those who try to tear him down will never do anything near as great.'
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 17)  The Israeli government said it has vaccinated more than 30,000 Filipinos as part of its massive COVID-19 inoculation drive.

In a statement on Wednesday, the Embassy of Israel in the Philippines said free shots of the Pfizer vaccine have been given to around 30,000 Filipino caregivers, 400 agriculture students, and the staff of the Philippine Embassy in Tel Aviv. These include even those with expired working permits, the Israeli embassy said.

Israel is thankful for the Filipino caregivers for helping the elderly and the disabled Israeli citizens during the COVID-19 outbreak, Israeli Ambassador to the Philippines Rafael Harpaz said, noting that Filipino caregivers have full access to the countrys medical services.

The free access to COVID-19 vaccine is another way of thanking them and ensuring their health and safety, Harpaz added.

More than 5.2 million people, comprising over half of Israels population, have received their first dose of the Pfizer vaccine, according to government data. Some 4.2 million have completed the two shots, making Israel a world leader in COVID-19 vaccination.

Meanwhile, the Philippines has so far received 1.125 million doses of the Sinovac and AstraZeneca vaccines, which are donations from China and COVAX, respectively. Some 215,997 health care workers have received their first dose. The government expects more Sinovac and AstraZeneca doses to arrive this March or April, enough to kickstart general public vaccinations by early May.
Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma (RGV), known for his cult films on gangsters, has made yet another gangster film. Titled D Company, the new film chronicles the story of underworld don Dawood Ibrahim Kaskar and other gangsters that were around at the time of his prime in India. RGV has said in the past that making films on the dreaded don has provided him his livelihood in the sense that he was enamoured by his legend. But the question is: Has Ram Gopal Varma ever met Dawood Ibrahim in real life? Or spoken to him on the phone?

When FilmiBeat spoke to RGV and posed the question to him, he replied, "No, I have never met him. But only once (he remembers), I was made to speak to someone, and he claimed that it was him (Dawood). But I can't be sure, because it was a voice on the phone and anyone can claim it."

'But what did they say? Did they like your films? Did Dawood like your films?' We posed.

"Yeah. He (Dawood) was talking about Company," revealed RGV. Company is an RGV gangster film of 2002 starring Ajay Devgn, Vivek Oberoi (debut), Manisha Koirala and Antara Mali, among others.

While there was some speculation in the past that RGV had met Dawood's sister Haseena Parkar in Mumbai, the rumours were refuted.

It can definitely be a scary situation where you never know whether the person you're making a film on will like it or not.

About D Company the film, RGV said, "It is the story of how Dawood Ibrahim rose as a gangster in the Dongri area of Mumbai while in his early twenties. That is the prime difference (between his earlier films Satya (1998), Company and the new D Company)".

"All these characters of Dawood's D-Company became legends over the course of time. It's like Mahabharat (the epic) with so many characters. And D Company the film is not only about Dawood Ibrahim but also about various people who lived and died under its shadows, under its umbrella."

D Company stars Ashwat Kanth as Dawood Ibrahim Kaskar and his brother Rudr Kanth as Dawood's elder brother Shabir Ibrahim Kaskar. The film releases in theatres on March 26, 2021.

Watch the exclusive full interview video of Ram Gopal Varma here:

ALSO READ: Ram Gopal Varma Launches His Dream Project D Company's Teaser

ALSO READ: Amitabh Bachchan Won't Be Seen As 'Sarkar Again'; Ram Gopal Varma Reveals The Reason
The Daily Beast

REUTERSIt appears that Benjamin Netanyahu is finally on his way out as Israels prime minister. With just minutes to spare ahead of a midnight deadline on Wednesday, opposition leader Yair Lapid notified Israels president that he had formed a new government.But if Benjamin Netayahus 12-year run is indeed at an end, expect key segments of the GOP will treat Bibi as though he had not lost power, much as they continue to venerate Donald Trump and look at Joe Bidens victory as illegitimate.Israel
New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday (March 17) accused the Centre of curtailing the powers of the elected Delhi government through the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD) (Amendment) Bill, 2021.

Speaking at a protest organised by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLAs, MPs, Councillors at the Jantar Mantar against the GNCTD Bill, Kejriwal said, The Centre has brought in a law that says 'Delhi government means Lieutenant Governor'. If this happens, where will the CM go? Do elections, votes do not mean anything? It is a fraud with the people. AAP has alleged that the Bill will provide overarching power to the Lieutenant Governor (LG).

Slamming the BJP-led central government, Kejriwal alleged that as they failed in buying AAP MLAs, they have amended a law to decrease the power of the elected government in Delhi.

Earlier all files would go to LG, but in 2018, the Supreme Court ordered that no file would go to the LG as there is an elected government in Delhi that has the powers. Now, the Centre has specified in the amended law to send all files to the LG. They (BJP) do not believe in the Supreme Court or the Constitution, ANI quoted the Delhi CM as saying.

"The Centre was not able to do horse-trading in Delhi and is not able to buy the AAP MLAs. They have amended the law to decrease the power of the elected government in Delhi," the AAP chief said.

He also urged the Centre to repeal the Bill and claimed the BJP brought this Bill as they are scared of the AAP's reach in other states.

The bill introduced by Union Minister of State for Home G Kishan Reddy in Lok Sabha on Monday makes it mandatory for the Delhi government to take the opinion of the LG before any executive action in the national capital.

(With inputs from agencies)

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NDA, UDF joined hands in a bid to stop developmental activities in Kerala: CM Vijayan

India

oi-Ajay Joseph Raj P

Kalpetta, Mar 17: Setting out on the campaign trail in Wayanad district, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Wednesday attacked the Congress-led UDF and the BJP-NDA fronts alleging that they have joined hands in an attempt to stop the developmental activities in the state.

Vijayan claimed central agencies were trying to destroy the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB) which has changed the development prospects of the state. After nine days of campaigning in his home constituency Dharmadam in Kannur district, Vijayan addressed three rallies in Wayanad in the three constituencies-- Mananthawady, Sulthan Bathery and Kalpetta.

"The Left party assures the people of the state that the future of the country will be secured by defeating the Kerala-level alliance between the Congress and BJP which has been hindering the progress of Kerala," he said at a campaign meet at Kalpetta from where Loktantrik Janata Dal candidate MV Shreyamskumar is contesting.

Targeting the Congress, Vijayan claimed the party has become a "commodity for sale" and its policy was to contest in the name of Congress party and then join the BJP. "Puducherry and Congress are the examples," he said.

Kerala elections 2021: PC Thomas-led Kerala Congress quits NDA, merges with Joseph faction

Some Congress MLAs had switched over to the BJP in the Union Territory reducing the government to a minority last month and V Narayanasamy submitted his resignation as chief minister ahead of the trust vote leading to the collapse of the only Congress-led state in southern India.

The chief minister said BJP's claim that they will form the government in Kerala if they get 35 seats was because they are sure that they can add MLAs from the Congress list. "The UDF and the BJP have joined together and attempting to stop the developmental activities in the state.

The central agencies are trying to destroy KIIFB which has changed the development prospects of the state." "Such attempts will be dealt legally.No one can do anything to KIIFB but they are just threatening," Vijayan said.

He claimed people of the state was preparing to bring the left government back to power with great enthusiasm. Vijayan said no one will say that it's the Congress that is fighting BJP in Kerala. "The Congress votes vanished in the last Nemom election when BJP won a seat for the first time ever to the state Assembly."

Kerala elections 2021: Congress alleges rampant fraud in voters' list in State

"The Congress party is compromising with communal forces and most of the current BJP leaders are former Congress men.They were the single largest party in Goa.But all of them joined BJP," he said.

Vijayan said he will campaign in all 14 districts of the state during the next two weeks. "Kerala Yathra began at Mananthavady.Will visit all 14 districts over the next 2 weeks, sharing our roadmap for Kerala's comprehensive development and overall welfare."

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Story first published: Wednesday, March 17, 2021, 20:26 [IST]
Andrew Chin/Getty ImagesA film starring Joey Bada$$ has scored an Oscar nomination.

The 28-minute film, Two Distant Strangers, was executive-produced by Sean "Diddy" Combs. Inspired by last summer's protests in the wake of police violence against the Black community, it's now been nominated for Best Live Action Short Film.

In the movie, Joey plays Carter Jones, a young man who is forced to re-live the deadly day "where he is shot, time after time, by a white cop, no matter what he does."

On Tuesday, Joey took to Instagram to celebrate the nomination, after taking a slight pause from working on the follow up to 2017's All-Amerikkkan Bada$$.

"Took a break from recording my album last September to star in this incredible film idea written by Travon [Free.] From the moment I read the script I was in. I knew this project was something that aligned with that I felt I needed to say/show to the world," Joey wrote in the caption.

"Six months later here we are, Oscar-nominated," he continued. "Grammys are cool or whatever [just kidding]. But nah for real I'm so grateful to be apart of this project and I want to send a big shout out to everyone involved."

"Imma be a [freakin] EGOT," he continued on Twitter, referring to the term for those who've won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony Award.

Sharing the same sentiments, Diddy posted a Instagram video of himself and Joey poolside, toasting to their Oscar-nominated film with wine. Diddy said he was "proud" to have worked on the film, which was also backed by Van Lathan and Jessie Williams.

"Us coming together for this project is so powerful. Cant wait for the world to see it!" Diddy concluded.

By Rachel George

Copyright  2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.
During the last administration it was hard to go a week or even a day without someone decrying a supposedly appalling attack on members of the press by President Donald Trump. These assaults largely consisted of Trump objecting to loaded questions and other gasbaggery from members of the fourth estate.
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(Natural News) American infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci has admitted there is no science justifying a continued lockdown. He said during a March 10 television appearance that keeping lockdown mandates in place was a judgment call made in the absence of data and actual evidence. But despite the lack of proof, Fauci insisted that Americans ought to trust guidance coming from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

News anchor John Berman asked Fauci if there was existing science behind preventing fully vaccinated people from travelling. The director of the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) answered: When you dont have the data and  the actual evidence, youve got to make a judgment call. Fauci continued that Americans will just have to trust the public health bodys guidance for COVID-19.

Faucis comments followed a report that the CDC is graciously allowing Americans who already received COVID-19 vaccines some limited freedoms. Many did not take the report too kindly, pointing out on social media that the public health body is in no position to grant God-given freedoms.

The NIAID directors admission that there was no science behind continued lockdowns did not dissuade him from warning states that loosened coronavirus restrictions. Fauci exhorted Americans to stick to existing public health measures amid new infection spikes in Europe, CNBC reported on March 14. The infectious disease expert also warned that the U.S.s battle with the Wuhan coronavirus is not in the end zone yet.

When I hear [states] pulling back completely on public health measures, saying no more masks, no nothing like that, that is risky business, he said during a Meet the Press interview. Pulling away from public health measures could prolong the pandemic, he continued. During a subsequent Fox News appearance, Fauci explained that relaxation of safety measures played a part in the recent spike in COVID-19 cases throughout Europe. (Related: Fauci claims mandatory Wuhan coronavirus quarantines are justified  but not those for Ebola.)

Meanwhile, other experts have advised against lockdowns to address COVID-19

The World Health Organization (WHO), which initially advocated lockdowns, eventually did a complete 180-degree turn after seeing the economic impact of these mandates. WHO Special Envoy on COVID-19 Dr. David Nabarro said the global health body does not advocate lockdowns as the primary means of control of this virus. (Related: WHO reverses course, again: Lockdowns as primary response to COVID-19 now said to be damaging.)

Some officials of the global health body had earlier said that lockdowns were necessary to contain the pandemic. In April 2020, WHO Western Pacific Regional Director Dr. Takeshi Kasai said lockdowns were going to be the new normal, and that people must adapt their lives and health systems alongside the current situation. WHO Health Emergencies Program Executive Director Dr. Michael Ryan warned in July 2020 that countries that fail to address early signs of resurging COVID-19 outbreaks could have full lockdowns as the only option available.

According to Nabarro, the only time a lockdown should be justified is when countries need to reorganize their efforts, rebalance their resources and protect their exhausted health workers. Otherwise, he suggested that countries develop better systems for controlling the pandemic, work together and learn from each other.

Another expert espoused Nabarros sentiments against stringent lockdowns. Stanford University professor Dr. Jay Bhattacharya called COVID-19 lockdowns the single worst public health mistake in the last 100 years. He commented: We will be counting the catastrophic health and psychological harms imposed on nearly every poor person on the face of the earth for a generation.

According to Bhattacharya, areas that imposed the most draconian lockdown laws were ironically unsuccessful in containing the spread of COVID-19. Citing the U.S. as an example, the professor said lockdowns protected the non-essential class from COVID while exposing the essential working class to the disease. A better option would have been to implement policies designed to protect vulnerable people such as the elderly instead of putting entire populations under arrest, Bhattacharya added.

Lockdowns themselves impose great harm on people: [They] are not a natural, normal way to live, the Stanford University professor ultimately remarked.

Visit MedicalTyranny.com to read more about the negative impact of coronavirus lockdowns.

Sources include:

Summit.news 1

CNBC.com

WesternJournal.com

Reuters.com

BusinessInsider.com

Summit.news 2
But now that a federal program to vaccinate nursing home residents has wound down, managers worry that there will be a lack of timely shots for new patients and workers. They fear its a replay of last year, when nursing homes were left to fend for themselves and had severe shortages of protective equipment and testing.
Non-Indigenous educators should actively engage with the Indigenous community in order to build cultural competencies and confidence in teaching Indigenous students, a new Curtin University report has found.

The research, led by Dr. Jonathan Bullen from the Curtin Medical School and funded by the National Centre for Student Equity in Higher Education (NCSEHE), explored non-Indigenous (Wadjella) educators' practical engagement with Indigenous students, including the 'discomfort' often experienced when teaching or developing curriculum in this space.

Dr. Bullen said there had been a national push for the development and integration of Indigenous knowledge and perspectives into tertiary curriculum, but there remained limited training and staff development around ways of engaging with Indigenous Australians.

"Indigenous students are likely to find themselves being taught by academics who lack confidence in teaching Indigenous content to them, and in some cases lack confidence in teaching them at all. This is likely to negatively impact on Indigenous student retention," Dr. Bullen said.

Interviews with educators and students, in both Indigenous-focused and 'mainstream' learning environments, identified specific factors affecting Wadjella educators' engagement with Indigenous students.

"Our research showed the quality of engagement was affected by Wadjella educators' mind sets (growth or fixed); tolerance for uncertainty and ambiguity; understanding of the student context; and capacity for forming relationships," Dr. Bullen said.

"Each of these factors is influenced by educators' lived experiences with Indigenous peoples. Thus, institutions must invest in, and support, meaningful engagement with the Indigenous community and provide staff development opportunities extending beyond simple cultural awareness."

NCSEHE Director Professor Sarah O'Shea commended the research, conducted under the NCSEHE Research Grants Program.

"There are wide-reaching benefits from deepening our understanding of student-educator engagement, particularly where there may be cultural and social differences," Professor O'Shea said.

"I believe this research will not only benefit our Indigenous student cohort, but will also offer welcome guidance to universities and educators in engaging authentically and effectively with student populations more broadly."

The report is titled "Comfort with Discomfort: Exploring Wadjella educators' engagement with Indigenous students."

Explore further Racism contributes to poor attendance of Indigenous students in Alberta schools

More information: Comfort with Discomfort: Exploring Wadjella educators' engagement with Indigenous students. Comfort with Discomfort: Exploring Wadjella educators' engagement with Indigenous students. www.ncsehe.edu.au/publications  indigenous-students/
New Delhi, Mar. March 17 : The year 2021 has brought good news for hospitality major Oyo Hotels & Homes with its operations turning around and registering pre-Covid levels of profits after a tough pandemic-affected 2020 that had one of the worst impacts on the industry.

Starting January 2021, the chain has achieved 100 per cent recovery of gross profit dollars to pre-COVID levels of January 2020. Also, OYO is seeing signs of recovery across its key leading markets, including India, Europe, and Southeast Asia.

Oyo founder and group CEO Ritesh Agarwal shared the details of sharp recovery in the operations of the chain in an email addressed to all employees of the organization referred as OYOpreneur. In the email, which has been assessed by IANS, Agarwal has said that chain's India business is EBITDA positive, and OYO suite of tech products have started showing strong results 'as they fundamentally solve the most critical issues for our partners and create new opportunities for them.' "...we earned the same money in Jan 2021 as we did in Jan 2020. This is a very big achievement and demonstrates demand recovery and results of a revenue-share-only-network. We expect gross profits to get stronger in 2021 as restrictions and lockdowns ease as well as vaccination coverage increases. This is while, there is a lot more work to be done, especially with the Summers coming up - the opportunity is large," Agarwal wrote to OYOpreneurs.

He said that OYO was adding over 11,000 new rooms per month just in India which shows the resilience of our proposition and the value we generate for our partners. "In India, we have already onboarded 65 master franchisees who are further establishing strong relationships in key cities and expanding OYO's presence," he said.

He said that in 2020, OYO made a cultural shift of problem solving with product and technology first and over the last 6 months this approach has demonstrated promising results. In this regard products and services such as OYO Wizard, OYO Yo!, OYO Audit and OYO Secure have all emerged winning platforms building reputation and ensuring efficiency in operations.

"OYO's steady resurgence through the prolonged pandemic is a testament to the company's strong fundamentals and high-value potential," Agarwal said.

Giving a peek into what lies ahead, Agarwal informed employees that in 2021 the strategic focus of the group would be on three geographies, OYO INSEA (India, Indonesia, Malaysia and Philippines), OYO International (USA, UK, China, and others) and OYO Europe.

"As we move into Q2, we have set ourselves some important milestones. OYO Europe to continue to deliver EBITDA positive business. We are already seeing significant uptick in bookings for summer. Q1'2021 revenues have outperformed targets with more than 50+% bookings for the summer season. India has delivered positive EBITDA since Dec 2020 and we should continue to improve EBITDA. SouthEast Asia is on path to recovery and we look to achieve our targets in Q2'2021," he said in the email.

Agarwal also shared organisational changes at the top with employees and said that 2021 is the year of resurgence and OYO will out-achieve its business plans by creating value for hotel partners and homeowners and by delivering great experiences for our customers.
This week will see the first meeting of senior Biden Administration officials with their Chinese counterparts. This follows hot on the heels of President Bidens historic Quadrilateral Security Dialogue involving his counterparts from Australia, Japan and India. Both serve as important reminders that for the Biden administration, a successful China strategy will require a sophisticated integration of accountability and cooperation that will be difficult, but by no means impossible for two teams with unprecedented bilateral experience.

The Trump administrations self-declared and sporadic trade war against China provides the perfect example for how not to do this. While bellicose and xenophobic rhetoric combined with huge cash payments to Iowa farmers may have played well to Trumps base, his chaotic and zero-sum approach backfired. The U.S. trade deficit was increased, economic growth was slowed, American families paid an average cost of $1,277 per year, and the U.S.-China Business Council estimates it came at the expense of up to 245,000 American jobs. His approach also shattered the united front the U.S. had presented with the European Union on key areas of dispute with China, including human rights and data privacy.

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This does not mean that the Trump administrations overall impulse to renegotiate the relationship with Beijing was wrong. The reality is that strategic competition between China and and the U.S. in the years to come will include national security, currency, trade, technology, data privacy, and human rights. This does not, however, preclude cooperation in defined areas necessitated by either countrys national interests.

Perhaps there is no challenge that provides a greater need or greater opportunity for strategic cooperation than tackling climate change. The good news is that according to a new poll by the Asia Society Policy Institute and Data for Progress, the American people clearly understand their country can balance both competition and cooperation when it comes to climate. Americans recognize such an approach is of benefit to their own country and ultimately the planet. In fact, they see engagement between the two countries on climate change as second only to nuclear disarmament on priorities for the two nations to work on together.

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With much talk of unity in Washington, it is worth noting that Republican voters are more likely to support increased cooperation with China when they are confronted with the possibility of the U.S. losing the benefits of innovation and trade that stem from bilateral engagement on climate. As green jobs emerge as a major source of employment in some of the hardest hit parts of the U.S., support for agreements with China and others to protect and grow these industries is vital.

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The Biden administration has so far demonstrated that it can walk and chew gum at the same time on China. This is why Presidential Climate Envoy John Kerrys call in January to manage climate change as a standalone issue in the U.S.-China relationship was smart. While Beijings initial response through their foreign ministry spokesperson was to dismiss the idea, it is significant that within a week they had changed their language.

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The appointment in February of Xie Zhenhua, Chinas leading authority on climate change action, as Kerrys counterpart, also bodes well for the prospects of substantive cooperation. China has worked out that it is in its own national interests to reach carbon neutrality  otherwise Chinas own environmental and economic future will be imperiled. For China, however, the question is how quickly they can do this. Right now, their short-term actions do not match their long-term vision.

Rising sea levels are a threat to several Chinese cities, including Shanghai and Hong Kong. The shrinking of Himalayan glaciers would also cause glacial lakes to overflow, causing widespread flooding. This run off could also decrease the downstream volumes of the Yangtze and Yellow Rivers, leading to desertification.

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According to the polling data, support for Bidens ambitious climate agenda is at its highest when China is seen to be doing more. For example, more than two-thirds of American voters support bolder climate reforms at home if China is making similar domestic commitments. Second, a majority of Americans understand that working together with China on the development of clean energy technologies can actually help the U.S. In fact, the data demonstrates the American people support a partnership in this sector of the economy more than any other.

The challenge and the opportunity for the Biden administration is therefore to forge a race to the top with China on climate action that is both collaborative and competitive. Managing this contemporaneously with areas of deeper disagreement will not be easy. But the reality is that the race to solve climate change is one that brings the two nations, and the rest of the world, into a common planetary cause. The fact the climate envoys from both great powers know each other well and have deep experience in the field makes it just possible for these various needles to be thread.

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Biden has a great opportunity to elevate his Build Back Better narrative into a global framework with a commitment to a New Green Marshall Plan. More than three-quarters of American voters polled want China to do more, which must include reductions of coal fired power at home and within the Belt and Road Initiative. By offering alternative, green energy finance for developing countries (either through the World Bank or bilaterally), Biden can accelerate global trends towards renewable energy. It will also accelerate a reappraisal already underway in Beijing on the environmental future of the BRI. This is the kind of sophisticated approach that will be required for China to do more.

The American people have spoken in the presidential election. And this poll shows once again, Biden has a strong mandate to aim for a moonshot with China on climate change that produces not only a safer planet and cleaner air and water for all, but also millions of high-wage American jobs and lower household costs for American working families. Thats an American version of a win-win outcome for us all.
Wenn Sie in einem Loch sind, horen Sie auf zu graben. So runs the German translation of what the late Labour politician Denis Healey called his First Law of Holes. To put it in simple English: When youre in a hole, stop digging.

Ive translated it into German on the off chance that the president of the European Commission, the hapless Ursula von der Leyen, happens to glance at todays Daily Mail.

For after yesterdays disgraceful intervention in the EU vaccine debacle, Mrs von der Leyen badly needs somebody to take her aside and give her some frank advice.

Lets start with a bit of context. The EUs rollout of Covid vaccines has, for weeks now, stumbled from disaster to disaster.

Since the blocs vaccine crisis began, Mrs von der Leyen (pictured) has pointed the finger at the British-based pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca  which has manufacturing plants throughout Europe as well as in the UK  for supposedly sending supplies to Britain rather than EU member states

While Britains Government moved with lightning speed and an open wallet to line up vaccine supplies from the spring of last year, the sclerotic, shambolic EU was too slow to sign contracts, too slow to license the vaccines and too slow to start vaccinating.

By yesterday morning, the UK had administered 39 doses for every 100 people. Yet Germany, Italy and Spain had administered a pitiful 12 each, with France on 11.

Since the blocs vaccine crisis began, Mrs von der Leyen has pointed the finger at the British-based pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca  which has manufacturing plants throughout Europe as well as in the UK  for supposedly sending supplies to Britain rather than EU member states.

And then she went even further. In an extraordinary outburst, she threatened to invoke Article 122, the emergency clause that allows the EU to waive intellectual property rights and patents and to seize factories and take control of the means of production. Its a quasi-communist tactic that would make a tyrant proud and that would allow her to block the export of vaccines, commandeering jabs ordered for Britons and redirecting them to European citizens.

We are in the crisis of the century, she said darkly, and Im not ruling out anything, because we have to make sure that Europeans are vaccinated as soon as possible.

AstraZeneca, she claimed, was directly to blame, having under-produced and under-delivered and reduced the speed of the vaccination campaign.

While Britains Government moved with lightning speed and an open wallet to line up vaccine supplies from the spring of last year, the sclerotic, shambolic EU was too slow to sign contracts, too slow to license the vaccines and too slow to start vaccinating

Even as she was speaking, seasoned Euro-watchers were blinking in disbelief. Was she serious?

Is the EU really proposing to seize control of AstraZenecas factories, launching an all-out vaccine war with Britain  over a vaccine that, by the way, most of Europe has suspended on dubious grounds  irrespective of the lives that could be lost?

Well, heres the good news. I would be astounded if she follows through with such a preposterous threat. She knows the legal, economic and human consequences could be cataclysmic.

The fact is that Mrs von der Leyen is completely out of her depth. A discredited German defence minister, parachuted into Brussels as Chancellor Angela Merkels creature, she has utterly failed to rise to the Covid challenge.

It pains me to say this, because female politicians are often held to more exacting standards than their male counterparts, but her outburst yesterday was irrational in the extreme.

In reality, the blame for the EUs vaccine shambles lies not with AstraZeneca, let alone with Britain, but with its own ineptitude. It has been ludicrously disorganised, lagging well behind Middle Eastern countries such as Israel and Bahrain as well as the hated Anglo-Saxons in Britain and the US.

Their own health officials have told them the AstraZeneca jabs are safe. Both the World Health Organisation and the European Medicines Agency have begged them to carry on using the jabs, rather than leaving so many lives at risk (file image)

And contrary to their disingenuous claims, EU members are currently sitting on at least 7million unused doses. Why unused? Because 19 EU countries, including Germany, France, Italy and Spain, have suspended or impounded the Oxford/AstraZeneca jabs over entirely unfounded rumours that they cause blood clots.

Their own health officials have told them the AstraZeneca jabs are safe. Both the World Health Organisation and the European Medicines Agency have begged them to carry on using the jabs, rather than leaving so many lives at risk. But for the likes of French President Emmanuel Macron, all that matters is to find a scapegoat. It was Mr Macron who claimed  entirely wrongly  that the Oxford/AstraZeneca jab didnt work on people over 65.

Now he claims it gives you blood clots. Yet at the same time, he has the cosmic effrontery to demand that AstraZeneca hand over its supplies of these supposedly ineffective and dangerous vaccines!

Ive always been wary of Mr Macron, who strikes me as a remarkably hollow and narcissistic individual. But he is not a fool. So what on earth is going on?

The answer, I think, is that he knows the EU has been found out. For years the Brussels elite has prided itself on its competence and rationality, claiming that by working together and pooling sovereignty, to use their dreadful jargon, Europeans would walk taller on the world stage, striking better deals while their rivals fell behind.

The fact is that Mrs von der Leyen is completely out of her depth. A discredited German defence minister, parachuted into Brussels as Chancellor Angela Merkels creature, she has utterly failed to rise to the Covid challenge

When Britain voted to leave the club, they sneered at our supposedly self-harming idiocy. And when we declined to join their vaccine scheme, they looked forward to rubbing our unvaccinated noses in the dirt.

Well, we know what happened next. Brexit Britain has vaccinated almost half of all adults. Yet in many European countries, vulnerable, elderly people have yet to be given an appointment for their first jab.

Britains success story has been too much for many Eurocrats to stomach, and they have been lying about it ever since.

In an especially egregious moment, the president of the European Council, Charles Michel, even claimed that Britain was hoarding vaccines and refusing to export them  an assertion that turned out to be utterly false.

And all this brings me back to Mrs von der Leyen. For despite her own incompetence, she is merely the face of an entire political class, fatally spoiled by its own insulation from democratic accountability.

If she had any sense, she would indeed stop digging. She would apologise, tell the truth and promise to learn from the EUs mistakes. Even Boris Johnson managed to apologise yesterday for the impact of Covid in Britain, telling the Commons that he is deeply, deeply sorry for the death toll.

But contrition doesnt seem to be part of the EUs vocabulary. Instead, lashing out with adolescent petulance, Mrs von der Leyen threatens to seize control of private businesses, as if she can simply steal vaccines that Britains Government bought openly, fairly  and smartly.

It is the EU elite who have let down their own people (I say that as somebody who voted Remain).

How long can Mrs von der Leyen be allowed to keep behaving like this? How long before her patron Mrs Merkel decides to intervene and stop her from doing any more damage?

The German Chancellor is a serious politician, as well as a former research chemist. She may not admit it but she knows that the EU has made a terrible mistake. She surely knows an all-out vaccine war would be extraordinarily stupid, and a body blow to ending lockdown restrictions and rebuilding Europes economy.

Now, at the end of her political career, isnt it time for Mrs Merkel to step in and put Ursula von der Leyen  and Europe  out of their misery?

Brussels declares vaccine war on Britain: Stalinist threat to seize factories and block exports unless UK hands over more jabs

By Daniel Martin and James Franey for the Daily Mail

Brussels yesterday issued an extraordinary threat to seize factories and block exports unless Britain gives the EU more Covid-19 jabs.

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab suggested the bloc was acting like a dictatorship after it effectively declared vaccine war on the UK.

European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen warned exports of jabs could be halted to countries with successful rollouts.

Brussels yesterday issued an extraordinary threat to seize factories and block exports unless Britain gives the EU more Covid-19 jabs

She said the EU  which is struggling to inoculate its population  would be prepared to trigger emergency powers to make sure Europeans are vaccinated as soon as possible  warning all options are on the table.

Mrs von der Leyens threats came despite the fact that more than a dozen European countries have halted their rollout of the Oxford/AstraZeneca jab over blood clot fears. Last night Mr Raab warned the world was watching, while ex-Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith called the EUs position Stalinist.

The row came just before it emerged Britain itself ifaces a significant reduction of its vaccine supplies, with an issue involving the import of AstraZeneca jabs thought to be blame.

At a press conference yesterday, Mrs von der Leyen told reporters in Brussels the EU could make use of powers under the seldom-invoked Article 122 of its treaty. They could potentially be used to seize factories, suspend intellectual property rights for vaccine makers such as AstraZeneca, or block more exports of Pfizer jabs heading for Britain. It is hard to explain to our citizens why vaccines produced in the EU are going to other countries that are also producing vaccines, but hardly anything is coming back, she said.

Mrs von der Leyens threats came despite the fact that more than a dozen European countries have halted their rollout of the Oxford/AstraZeneca jab over blood clot fears

Boris: Im getting AZ jab Boris Johnson backed the AstraZeneca jab as he revealed that he would be vaccinated with it this week. He told MPs he would be having the Covid-19 vaccine shortly. During Prime Ministers Question Time, Mr Johnson said: I think perhaps the best thing I can say about the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine programme is that I finally got news that Im going to have my own jab very shortly, Im pleased to discover. It will certainly be Oxford/AstraZeneca that I will be having. Number 10 said Mr Johnson is expected to be vaccinated later this week. Last night it was unclear whether Downing Street had specifically requested the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine. Boris Johnson backed the AstraZeneca jab as he revealed that he would be vaccinated with it this week Advertisement

And the second point that is of importance for us is on whether exports to countries who have higher vaccination rates than us are still in proportion. We want to see reciprocity and proportionality in exports, and we are ready to use whatever tools you need to deliver on that. Im not ruling out anything for now because we have to make sure Europeans are vaccinated as soon as possible.

But in an astonishing admission, an EU source said no assessment of the legal case for using such powers had actually been made by lawyers at the European Council. Charles Michel, the president of the Council, first raised the idea of using the emergency powers  known as Article 122  in January.

Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine doses for the UK are being produced in BioNTechs German manufacturing sites, as well as in Pfizers manufacturing site in Belgium. However, Britain also gets some of its supply of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine from manufacturing sites on the continent. Any export ban or requisitioning of factories could hit Britains supply of both jabs.

Asked about Mrs von der Leyens threats yesterday, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said Britain had legally signed a contract for doses manufactured on the continent, and added: We fully expect those contracts to be delivered upon.

And Mr Raab said: I think it takes some explaining, because the worlds watching. Frankly, Im surprised were having this conversation. It is normally what the UK and EU team up with to reject when other countries with less democratic views than our own engage in that kind of brinkmanship.

Sir Iain said the EU was demonstrating a a Stalinist level of direction but tinged with incompetence, chaos and contradictions.

Irish foreign minister Simon Coveney said: I think it would be a dangerous precedent for the EU to simply prevent the export of products that have been manufactured in the EU for a global market. The threats came despite many EU states suspending the use of the Oxford jab over what experts and the European Medecines Agency insist are misplaced fears about blood clots.

Englands deputy chief medical officer Jonathan Van-Tam last night warned the bloc: Vaccines dont save lives if theyre in fridges. They only save lives if theyre in arms.
The latest developments in the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada on March 16, 2021 (all times eastern):

Staff prepares syringes for the Pziefer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine at the Strathcona Paper Centre in Napanee, Ontario, on Monday March 15, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Lars Hagberg

The latest developments in the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada on March 16, 2021 (all times eastern):

6:30 p.m.

British Columbia is reporting 556 new cases of COVID-19 and no new deaths.

A statement from health officials says there have been 116 new confirmed cases of variants of concern found, for a total of 996, most of them involving the strain originally found in the United Kingdom.

So far, 424,517 doses of three vaccines have been given as those in their 80s and up are eligible to book a shot this week.

Health officials are reminding people who plan to celebrate St. Patrick's Day to do so in line with provincial health guidelines.

6 p.m.

Alberta is reporting 355 new COVID-19 cases and three more deaths.

There are 260 COVID-19 patients in hospital, including 44 in intensive care.

The percentage of tests coming back positive was 5.9 per cent.

Chief medical officer Dr. Deena Hinshaw says 11 per cent of the province's active cases involve virus variants believed to be more transmissible.

She says that percentage is rising and surge capacity has been to test up to 1,000 samples per day for variants, if needed.

5:20 p.m.

Quebec is pushing back the nighttime curfew in Montreal and its surrounding regions from 8 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. starting tomorrow.

Premier Francois Legault told reporters that on March 26, three less-populated regions, including the Gaspe peninsula, will move to the "yellow" pandemic-alert level and no longer have a curfew.

Legault is also announcing that his government plans to offer every Quebecer at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine by June 24.

Legault says all residents as young as 65 years old who want a COVID-19 vaccine should be vaccinated with one dose by mid-April.

4:45 p.m.

Prince Edward Island is reporting one new case of COVID-19.

Officials say the case involves a man in his 20s and his infection is related to travel outside Atlantic Canada.

Public health says young people aged 18 to 29 who work in convenience stores, gas stations and grocery stores can now book appointments for a COVID-19 vaccine.

Islanders 75 and older can also now book a vaccination, as can police, firefighters and those who work for power and utility companies.

4 p.m.

Saskatchewan says it won't allow worship services in Regina to expand their capacity over concerns about the spread of more contagious COVID-19 variants.

Worship services are currently capped at 30 people, but last week Premier Scott Moe announced capacity could increase to 150 people or 30 per cent, whichever is less.

The Ministry of Health says worship services in Regina and surrounding communities will stay capped at 30 people until at least April 5.

Another 66 confirmed cases of more infectious COVID-19 strains were reported in the province, mostly in and around the capital city.

Moe's government is also asking Regina residents, especially older ones, not to take advantage of a loosened restriction that allows up to 10 people inside a home at once.

2:05 p.m.

Manitoba is reporting 110 additional COVID-19 cases today and no new deaths.

Health officials are also reporting 14 confirmed cases of variants of concern, all in the Winnipeg health region.

2:05 p.m.

Manitoba's Opposition New Democrats are coming under scrutiny for holding an outdoor press conference during the COVID-19 pandemic that attracted a large crowd.

The provincial Justice Department says investigations are underway into the event on Sunday, which attracted several dozen people.

The NDP gave advance notice to the union that represents striking Manitoba Hydro workers.

Current public health orders limit outdoor public gatherings to a maximum of 10 people.

1:05 p.m.

Canadas top doctor says now is not the time for Canadians to increase their contact with others in light of a recent rise in average COVID-19 case counts across the country.

Dr. Theresa Tam says this upswing combined with an acceleration of new variants of the virus in Canada is cause for concern.

She says the most up-to-date stats indicate the percentage of Canadians with immunity to COVID-19 remains low, even as governments have been ramping up their vaccination efforts.

And since todays case numbers reflect the situation in Canada two weeks ago, Tam urged Canadians to continue to keep their bubbles small, or the vaccines wont have time to take effect.

Tam also reassured Canadians that Health Canada remains confident the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine is safe, despite concerns raised in Europe about alleged adverse side-effects, such as blood clots, that may have affected a small number of people who have received the vaccine.

Deputy chief health officer Dr. Howard Njoo says the benefits of all vaccines approved for use in Canada greatly outweigh any potential risks.

12:40 p.m.

After three days without any new cases, Newfoundland and Labrador is reporting one new case of COVID-19.

Officials say the case involves a man between 20 and 39 years old and his infection is related to international travel.

According to public health, there are now 45 active reported COVID-19 infections in the province.

Officials say two people are in hospitalized in intensive care due to the virus.

12:10 p.m.

The federal government is investing millions of new dollars to boost Canadas domestic vaccine and drug development capacity.

Innovation Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne says Canada must build and expand homegrown biomanufacturing facilities and develop more equipment to secure more vaccines and therapeutics to combat COVID-19.

Ottawa will contribute up to $54.2 million to KABS Laboratories and up to $13.44 million to Immune Biosolutions to expand their respective operations in Quebec.

It will also provide up to $32.7 million to Novocol Pharmeceutical of Canada for growth of its biomanufacturing facilities in Ontario.

Ottawa is also investing $150 million to help companies advance through the early stages of research and development of several Canadian-made vaccine candidates.

12:05 p.m.

The Manitoba government is offering $8 million in COVID-19 relief to the tourism sector.

Premier Brian Pallister says hotel and resource-tourism operators will get grants to offset a portion of their costs, such as mortgage interest and property taxes.

Pallister says the sector has been hard hit by the drop in domestic and international travel.

12 p.m.

New Brunswick is reporting five new cases of COVID-19 today and a presumptive case of a novel coronavirus variant.

Health officials say the new cases were identified in the Moncton, Fredericton and Edmundston regions and are all linked to previously reported infections.

Officials say the presumptive variant case was identified in the Edmundston area and has been sent to the National Microbiology Laboratory in Winnipeg for confirmation.

They say a case reported at Ecole Notre-Dame in Edmundston has led to the temporary closure of the school.

11:30 a.m.

Nova Scotia is reporting two new cases of COVID-19 today and confirming four more variant cases.

The new cases are in the Halifax area, with one a close contact of a previously reported case and the other under investigation.

Health officials say the National Microbiology Lab has also confirmed four new variant cases from previously identified cases  two more of the variant first detected in the United Kingdom and two more of the variant first identified in South Africa.

This brings the total number of confirmed variant cases in the province to 23.

Nova Scotia currently has 17 active cases of COVID-19.

11:15 a.m.

Ontarios science advisers say the province is experiencing a third wave of COVID-19.

The Ontario COVID-19 Science Advisory Table says that more transmissible virus variants of concern account for almost half of new cases and are driving growth.

The group, which gives independent advice and analysis to the province, says almost two thirds of Ontarios public health units are now experiencing exponential growth of the virus.

The province's top doctor said Monday that Ontario could be going into a third wave but the extent of it remains to be seen.

11:10 a.m.

Quebec is reporting 561 new COVID-19 infections and eight more deaths attributed to the novel coronavirus, including three in the past 24 hours.

Health officials say hospitalizations dropped by 20, to 533, and 91 were in intensive care, a drop of five.

The province says it administered 28,861 vaccine doses Monday, for a total of 774,600, representing slightly more than 9 per cent of the population.

Premier Francois Legault is holding a media briefing this evening, when he is expected to announce changes to public health orders, including the nighttime curfew in Montreal.

10:40 a.m.

Ontario says there are 1,074 new cases of COVID-19 in the province today and 11 more deaths linked to the virus.

Health Minister Christine Elliott says that 313 of those new cases are in Toronto, 199 are in Peel Region and 101 are in York Region.

More than 51,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in Ontario since Monday's update.

10 a.m.

The National Advisory Committee on Immunization says there is now enough "real-world evidence" to show the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine is both safe and effective for seniors.

The decision reverses a recommendation made by the body on March 1, when the panel of vaccine experts said AstraZeneca hadn't included enough people over the age of 65 in its clinical trials.

NACI chair Dr. Caroline Quach said Tuesday that two studies of patients who received the vaccine in the United Kingdom have been released since then and show the AstraZeneca vaccine is both safe and effective for seniors, particularly against severe disease and hospitalization.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 16, 2021.
Ben Lambert / Hearst Connecticut Media file

WEST HAVEN  The public is being invited to comment as the city Police Department undergoes an assessment as part of its state accreditation, according to a release.

Assessors from the Police Officers Standards and Training Council will be in the city April 5 to review the departments policies and procedures as they relate to State Accreditation Standards.
Nearly 100 years ago, suffragists gathered together in the Nashville Hermitage Hotel to fight for the right to vote. These women weren't just activists. They were mothers, wives, and sisters bonded by one common goalequality. Their efforts pushed Tennessee to be the 36th and final state needed to ratify the 19th Amendment.

While the conversation of equality continued after earning the right to vote, that debate bears little resemblance to the rhetoric we hear today. The current debate favors mandatory, sweeping societal change far from the equal rights these Nashville suffragists established. H.R.5, the Equality Act, proposed by House Democrats is a prime example.

The Equality Act resembles a distorted version of forced equity. Rather than establishing equal rights, it instead insists female athletes compete against biological males, mandates religious schools and hospitals go against their moral principles to conform to an individual's "gender identity, and lets men into domestic violence shelters, putting battered women everywhere at risk.

The societal changes mandated by the Equality Act aren't simply buzzwords; insistence on accepting "gender identity" rather than biological sex jeopardizes the safety of women and girls.

Without biological sex as a metric, men can self-identify as female, thereby entering into female dressing rooms, restrooms, domestic abuse shelters, all-girls locker rooms, and women's dorms without any fear of retribution. New policies would turn the safe-havens created exclusively for women and girls into a hub for abusers and traffickers.

The restrictions found in the Equality Act destroy basic rights to safety for women seeking refuge. In California, such changes have already subjected survivors experiencing trauma to continued sexual harassment and assault by men identifying as women. In other states, a rejection of biological men from women-only shelters has subjected the shelters to detailed investigation.

It would be easy to gloss over the sweeping changes of the Equality Act because of the bills inconspicuous name or glowing reviews from Democrats, but we know that this bill is a larger effort to destroy women's equality in favor of forced equity. H.R.5's demands aren't "woke"they are disturbing for anyone who cares about the safety of women.

The United States Constitution guarantees we are treated equally, which means all men and women are entitled to equal protection under the law. Still, the Equality Act goes beyond the Constitutions provisions by promoting forced equity that destroys women's rights in favor of selective, preferential treatment.

Particularly for Women's History Month, Tennesseans must remember the suffragists who gathered in the Hermitage Hotel and their common purpose. As the Equality Act moves to the Senate Judiciary Committee this week, I will continue to call out the dangerous changes and maintain the legacy of Tennessee suffragists who paved the way for women's equality.

Senator Marsha Blackburn
A heightened Garda presence was very much in evidence in the early afternoon of St Patricks Day in Dublin, with Government Buildings sealed off in all directions.

Despite the expectation of up to eight protests taking place across the capital, the city centre remained calm and relaxed, with many people out and about enjoying the bank holiday and its unseasonal sunshine.

With 2,500 gardai deployed in Dublin as a form of deterrence by numbers against a repeat of the far-right anti-lockdown protests seen two weeks ago, at times there seemed to be more gardai and photojournalists around than regular citizens.

Vehicles are stopped at a Garda checkpoint on the N4 in Dublin during St Patrick's Day. Picture Colin Keegan, Collins Dublin

Even more in evidence than the clusters of beat gardai which could be seen everywhere were the heightened levels of Garda vehicles, with two, three, and even four Garda vans roaming the streets in columns, while overhead the steady drone of the Garda helicopter as it kept a watchful eye.

The two major protests are slated for Herbert Park, beside the RDS, and RTE headquarters in Montrose at 2pm, although how large those gatherings will prove to be is as yet unknown.

There was little in the way of public order offences to be seen, although one male demonstrator, who appeared to be alone, was bundled into the back of a Garda van at the GPO on OConnell Street after confronting gardai just after noon.

Nearby, two women remonstrated with a group of eight gardai after being asked to move along. A young female Garda explained to the more vociferous of the two why they had been engaged with, following the forces Four Es policy (engage, explain, encourage, enforce) to the letter, while the other woman wept quietly.

Gardai at a Luas stop on O'Connell Street today. Photograph: Leon Farrell / RollingNews.ie

Across the Liffey, Grafton Street was deserted in stark contrast to the mayhem seen two weeks ago, while two minutes walk away Leinster House and Government Buildings were sealed to the public in all directions.

Meanwhile, St Stephen's Green was awash with people sitting in the sun at a distance from each other. No green hats and blazing sunshine - a strange Patricks Day indeed.
Houston Police Department

Suspects who broke into a museum Tuesday night fled in a boat on Buffalo Bayou, according to authorities.

Houston police officers are searching for the suspects near Memorial Park. The museum has not been identified, and it's unclear whether anything was taken.
Abu Dhabi Festival has launched its annual UAE Theatre Circle, hosting a series of Arabic interactive panels and discussions led by international theatre leaders and staging three plays in Arabic and English.



The event, launched in collaboration with playwright and director Karim Rashid, is part of Abu Dhabi Festivals strategy and vision to nurture the next generation of emerging theatre makers and equip them with the necessary skills and knowledge to develop the national theatre sector.



The in-depth talks and workshops will be held online until April 8.



The UAE Theatre Circle will also stage three plays from April to November in partnership with The Junction. The first will take place on 7 to 10 April at The Junction in Dubais Alserkal Avenue of Jeffrey Hatchers English-language suspense thriller, Holmes and Watson, directed by Gautam Goenka. Additional plays featured at The Junction later this year include10%, in Arabic and 12 Angry Jurors, in English.



Huda I. Alkhamis-Kanoo, Founder of the Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation and Artistic Director of Abu Dhabi Festival, said: In a progressive society where many cultures coexist, theatre gives us new perspectives and creates dialogue. Investing in young Arabic language theatre makers, ADMAF supports as a fundamental part of the UAEs flourishing arts ecosystem. Through training and mentorship with leading industry professionals, the UAE Theatre Circle cultivates emerging talent to realize their potential.



The event commenced on 11 March with a panel led by Iraqi-Swedish playwright and director Dr. Karim Rashid and included individual interviews with five theatre artists, as well as presentations, videos and discussions, in addition to a Q&A session with attendees. Rashid will moderate the remaining conversations in the series.



The second talk titled Young People and the Future of Theatre, will take place on 18 March, with speaker Yasser Al-Qerqawi, Director of Programs and Partnerships at the UAEs Ministry of Tolerance. The talk will explore the artistic and cultural aspirations of younger generations in the UAE and how theatre can enhance or achieve them.



It will look at interactive theatre as a medium for cultural exchange in Arab societies, creating a new relationship between performers and audience. Al Gergawi will also discuss what cultural administrations do to invest in youth theatre as a means of supporting and promoting culture and high art.



Abu Dhabis strategy to combat Covid-19 does not focus solely on medical actions and social distancing, but also includes the intellectual aspects and cultural rapprochement efforts. This in particular encouraged me to take part in this unprecedented battle to safeguard our memory, and to overcome these challenges with our hope, enlightenment and intellectual capabilities, said Dr Ghuloom.



The third session, The Contemporary City and Forms of Theatre, will be held 22 March, with professor and theatre director Lina Abyad. She will speak about theatre in todays Arab city, the division and tension between art and the public and how interactive theatre creates a new type of cultural exchange in Arab societies. Abyad will also examine the relationship between Arab theatre and international theatre in the future.



The fourth session, The Theatre in Multicultural Societies, experiences From Arabic Theatre In the Diaspora, will take place on 25 March with Dr. Johanna Sellman, assistant professor of Arabic literature in The Ohio State University, and researcher on migration, literature and theatre. Sellman will explore the issue of contemporary Arab theatre makers in diaspora feeling the need to navigate expectations of western audiences, and she will look at collaborations between professional theatre makers and local diasporic communities.



On 1 April, the fifth session, Emirati Theatre and Future Generations, will provide an overview of the diverse theatre styles in local festivals. Actor, writer and theatre and television director Habib Ghuloom will look at upcoming developments in theatre festivals, outcomes of the establishment of performing arts academies in the Emirates and the connections and divisions between art the public in the UAE.



A panel discussion on 8 April will bring all the speakers together for a conversation titled At the Threshold of the Future of Theatre, with Karim Rashid, Yasser Al-Qerqawi, Lina Abyad, Dr. Johanna Sellman and Habib Ghuloom.  TradeArabia News Service
When Texas lawmakers met last month to begin sifting through the wreckage of the states energy grid, many expected to hear tales of poorly insulated power plants rendered inoperable by the latest winter storm.

Instead, energy executives raised an even more confounding problem: dozens of natural gas facilities had not filled out a two-page application for outage exemptions before the storm, meaning their facilities lost power at a moment when their fuel was needed most to feed struggling power plants.

We had basically people calling saying hey, turn a power plant back on, or turn a gas processor back on, and its like, its too late, said Curtis Morgan, CEO of Vistra Corp., whose subsidiary, Luminant, is the states largest power generator. You cant do it when youre in the middle of it.

Oncor scrambled to flip power on to more than 150 gas facilities in the Permian Basin after receiving urgent calls from the Public Utility Commission that gas providers needed their power restored, said Allen Nye, chief executive of Texass largest electricity delivery company.

The problem, Morgan and Nye said, was that unlike hospitals, 911 call centers and fire stations, many gas production plants had never been identified as critical facilities, a designation that could have shielded them from outages during emergencies.

Yet the process of getting a facility designated as critical infrastructure couldnt be easier. The owner simply needs to fill out the two-page form each year and turn it in to the local utility company.

A full assessment of how big a role electric power cut to gas facilities played in the grid outages is likely months away. Yet how some of Texass largest and most sophisticated energy companies, depended upon by nearly every resident and business, failed to complete a two-minute paperwork chore remains one of the most baffling mysteries of last months deadly outages.

MUZZLED AND EVISCERATED: Critics say Abbott appointees gutted enforcement of Texas grid rules

Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer

Deepening the puzzle is that the same problem was identified during the states last major freeze, in 2011. A federal after-incident report concluded that just under a third of production losses in the Permian and Fort Worth areas were caused by outages, mostly power cut to electric pumps on gathering lines at the wellheads. It advised gas and electric companies to close the communication gap so the same thing didnt happen during the next emergency.

Gas producers, processors, pipelines, storage providers, and LDCs should identify portions of their systems that are essential to the ongoing delivery of significant volumes of gas, and which are dependent upon purchased power to function reliably under emergency conditions, it recommended.

As the deep freeze settled over the state a decade later, however, it became clear that the problem remained unfixed.

A fix that costs nothing

The failure of gas and electric companies to communicate with each other  again  demonstrates how, just as Texass power grid is a complex web of producers, transporters, deliverers and regulators, its near-collapse last month, too, was an integrated failure spread throughout the system.

Generators and pipeline owners balked at weatherizing their equipment. Lawmakers and regulators neglected to exercise meaningful oversight of the states deregulated power industry, leaving it vulnerable to emergencies. Even power to the grids single biggest fuel source, natural gas, wasnt secured.

The discovery a decade ago that gas suppliers poor communication with power companies had threatened the integrity of the grid prompted a flurry of urgent discussions and meetings about how to assure the electricity would stay on. A follow-up report, the Texas Energy Assurance Plan  a federally funded initiative meant to protect the grid against natural and man-made emergencies  warned that The reduction or termination of natural gas supply to power plants during critical periods can have dire consequences.

FAILURES OF POWER: Regulators knew of freeze risk to Texas natural gas system. It still crippled power generation.

Discussions of how to improve emergency communications between the states gas and electric providers continued into 2013, but then appear to have petered out.

The inability to solve the problem is especially incomprehensible because, unlike many of the other solutions to the states grid failure, whose costs are projected to run into the billions of dollars, ensuring that key components of the gas supply chain are protected from outages is virtually cost-free, said Arvind Ravikumar, an assistant professor at Harrisburg University in Pennsylvania.

Its not difficult to implement, and it probably wouldnt have even cost any money, he said.

Warnings of cascading grid failure

At the height of the snowpocalypse, social media teemed with pictures of the power haves and have nots  prompting outrage that vacant downtown office buildings had electricity they didnt need while average citizens endured teeth-chattering cold or worse.

Former utility regulator Jennifer Hubbs saw those pictures and wondered why her bosses at the Public Utility Commission and her counterparts at the Texas Railroad Commission had not followed through on simple recommendations to keep power flowing to gas suppliers and adopt the emergency procedures she and others proposed years earlier.

Im on Twitter and I see a photo of downtown Houston lit up like a freakin Christmas tree and all the houses around it dark. It hit me like a physical blow, she said. You know, we might have avoided rotating outages entirely if we had just approached it with some sense.

While working as a policy analyst in the utility commissions Infrastructure and Reliability Division, Hubbs was tasked to work with the oil-and-gas regulating Texas Railroad Commission and make recommendations about energy supply emergencies  not only from bad weather but terrorism and criminal acts.

Melissa Phillip, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer

Hubbs and her counterparts at the Railroad Commission had the benefit of recent hindsight. The February 2011 winter storm prompted rolling blackouts and identified power outages among gas suppliers as a problem requiring intervention from regulators.

The final 2012 report Hubbs oversaw  the Texas Energy Assurance Plan  concluded that if the companies that provide fuel for power generation lost power themselves, it could create cascading grid failures.

But with no single elected official or bureaucrat in charge of ensuring the two industries work out an emergency plan to keep the power supply chain powered up, the push for voluntary compliance never fully materialized.

According to agency emails, the Railroad Commission in April 2013 sent a letter to the operators of natural gas infrastructure  which Hubbs helped draft  urging them to seek exemptions from power outages during grid emergencies. Why more didnt sign up Hubbs cant say. She had already moved on from her job as a utility regulator.

A Railroad Commission spokesman said the agency is trying to find a copy of the letter.

Courtesy/Jennifer Hubbs

A mid-disaster paperwork scramble

In testimony to legislators, Vistras Morgan said 60 percent of Luminants electricity was generated by gas-fired plants, and that Luminants capability was significantly curtailed by gas system problems.

Our fuel supply issues were exacerbated as power outages hit gas processing facilities, natural gas pumping stations and electric compressors on pipelines and at power plants, he said.

Jim Cisarik, a former gas company executive and chairman of the Texas Electric Reliability Council, cited lost electricity as one of a half-dozen factors responsible for plummeting natural gas production. Downstream, Texas Pipeline Association president Thure Cannon said loss of the gas supply and cut electric service caused plants and compressors to shut off.

As Texas froze, gas suppliers whose power was cut off began contacting Public Utility Commission Chairman DeAnn Walker. (Walker has since resigned under pressure from lawmakers.) She in turn called transmission and distribution utilities  the wire companies that control the flow of electricity  to ask why the gas companies power had been shut off.

The answer: Because theyd never filled out the two-page form.

When Oncor checked its records during the storm, it found only 35 Permian Basin gas facilities had registered as critical infrastructure to be protected from power shut-offs, Nye said; none had had their power turned off. He said the company added another 168 facilities to the list during the freeze.

As calls from gas facilities whose power had been cut off poured in to CenterPoint Energy, another large distributor, chief executive Kenneth Mercado said the company deployed a special tiger team whose sole job was to review the emergency applications. Before the storm, CenterPoint had only 10 gas pipeline facilities that had requested critical infrastructure designation, he said.

Acknowledging the outages were a little bit of a repeat from 2011, Calpine CEO Thad Hill hypothesized that the gas industrys rapid growth over the past decade had produced new companies that may have been unaware of the simple shut-off exemption process. Weve got a lot more new critical gas infrastructure than we had in 2011, he said.

Im not sure they ever asked us.

As Texas warmed and energy companies faced growing public and political wrath last month, the gas and electricity industries tried to deflect any blame.

Larry Jones, a spokesman for AEP Texas, an electric distribution company that serves the southern and central portion of the state, said the utility had only one gas supplier exempted before the storm. During the crisis, the company received frantic requests to add 20 additional sites, he said.

AEP would consider exempting anything that contributes to the production of electricity in a crisis like this, Jones said. At the same time, the responsibility to let us know falls with them.

Gas companies said the exemption form was ambiguous as to which companies qualified. But Christi Craddick, the states top oil and gas regulator at the Railroad Commission, asserted during legislative testimony last month that it was electricity regulators who had failed to communicate properly about keeping the gas supply chain electrified and didnt understand how fully integrated the two industries are in Texas.

Mark Mulligan, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer

When you ask if we have enough gas in the state, the answer is yes if we can keep the electricity on, Craddick told a Senate Committee on February 25. Im not sure they ever asked us until this past week, do you need a gas field to stay on? Do you need a gas processing plant? Do you need a pipeline or a compressor to stay on, so we can move gas?

Yet it was also Craddick who, on behalf of the Railroad Commission, jointly signed an electric reliability letter in 2019  alongside the Public Utility Commission chairman  urging the two industries to collaborate to help keep pipelines powered up ahead of the hot summer and to ensure necessary coordination of natural gas availability and delivery to electric generation facilities to prevent disruptions.

In an email Craddick said her agency was working with the Legislature to better identify critical gas infrastructure to ensure electric power keeps flowing to it.

It looks like they didnt cooperate

What is clear is that the gas and electric industries had ample time and opportunity to address the problem.

Both the Railroad Commissions Texas Energy Reliability Council and ERCOTs Gas and Electric Working Group are intended as forums for industry members to work together to ensure the grid operates as intended. But Cisarik told lawmakers the reliability council hadnt included major players such as gas producers in West Texas, power generators, electric utilities or even state emergency officials in its meetings.

James Mann, a legal adviser to members of the Texas Pipeline Association, said he first heard about an electricity outage exemption form at a meeting convened last month, in the middle of the storm. He said he wasnt even aware if ERCOTs group met in the past year.

How this communication didnt work I dont know, Mann said.

Hubbs, the former utility regulator, said there is no excuse for allowing a problem that she and others started trying to address a decade ago  and could still cripple the grid today  to remain unfixed until dozens were dead and millions more suffered for days without electric power and water.

We worked on solving those problems but our hands were tied, Hubbs said. It was industry who didnt want us to force them to do these things. But it looks like they didnt cooperate when we asked them to do it voluntarily. They need to take responsibility for that.

jay.root@chron.com

eric.dexheimer@chron.com

jeremy.blackman@chron.com
Watertown, NY (13601)

Today

Cloudy with rain developing after midnight. Low 61F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch..

Tonight

Cloudy with rain developing after midnight. Low 61F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch.
The Golden Retriever Lifetime Study is one of the largest, most comprehensive prospective canine health studies in the United States. Though primarily intended to identify the nutritional, environmental, lifestyle and genetic risk factors for cancer and other diseases in dogs, extensive data collection is informing other areas of canine health as well.

"We collect valuable information about the dogs in this study and can use this data to learn much more about canine health beyond cancer, including dog aging and associated cognitive decline," said Tiffany Grunert, President/CEO of Morris Animal Foundation. "Right now, much is unknown about canine cognitive dysfunction, but with the observations from our dedicated owners and veterinarians, and the Purina Institute's help, we know we can help dogs everywhere enjoy a better quality of life as they age."

Canine cognitive dysfunction syndrome is a behavioral syndrome that affects about 14% of dogs 8 years and older. Dogs with CDS may become disoriented, show a loss of housetraining and exhibit decreased interaction with their owners, among other signs.

"We are excited to partner with Morris Animal Foundation on this project and want to provide the Study's participants the tools they need to identify dogs at risk for CDS or with mild to severe cases," said Dr. Natalia Wagemans, Group Director at the Purina Institute. "We look forward to being able to publish impactful research results to make real, positive change in canine health."

With a gift of $225,000, the Purina Institute is sponsoring the addition of CDS-focused questions to the current data collection process. The new questions address behaviors around learning and memory, disorientation, social interactions, sleep/wake cycles, house soiling, activity and anxiety.

Each year, with the help of veterinarians and dog owners, the Foundation collects questionnaire data and biological samples from all enrolled golden retrievers. At the start of the Study, 3,044 dogs were enrolled. Now, approximately 2,700 dogs remain due to deaths and owner attrition.

About Morris Animal Foundation

Morris Animal Foundation's mission is to bridge science and resources to advance the health of animals. Headquartered in Denver, and founded in 1948, it is one of the largest nonprofit animal health research organizations in the world, funding more than $136 million in critical studies across a broad range of species. Learn more at morrisanimalfoundation.org.

About the Purina Institute

The Purina Institute is a global professional organization with a mission to advance nutrition science to help pets live better, longer lives. As the voice of Purina's science, the Purina Institute represents a diverse team of more than 500 scientists and pet care experts around the world. The Purina Institute shares Purina's groundbreaking research and latest scientific findings in pet nutrition so veterinarians and other pet professionals can make nutrition a foundational element of their conversations with pet owners. For more information about the Purina Institute, please visit: www.purinainstitute.com.

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Photo: The Canadian Press This booking photo provided by the Crisp County Sheriff's Office shows Robert Aaron Long on Tuesday, March 16, 2021. Long was arrested in the killings of multiple people at three Atlanta-area massage parlors, most of them women of Asian descent, authorities said. (Crisp County Sheriff's Office via AP)

A white gunman accused of killing eight people, most of them of women of Asian descent, at three Atlanta-area massage parlours was charged with murder Wednesday in an attack that sent terror through the Asian American community that's increasingly been targeted during the coronavirus pandemic.

Robert Aaron Long, 21, told police the attack was not racially motivated, claiming to have a sex addiction and apparently he lashed out at what he saw as sources of temptation. Six of the victims were identified as Asian and seven were women.

The shootings appear to be at the intersection of gender-based violence, misogyny and xenophobia, Georgia state Rep. Bee Nguyen said, the first Vietnamese American to serve in the Georgia House and a frequent advocate for women and communities of colour.

Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms said that regardless of the shooters motivation, it is unacceptable, it is hateful and it has to stop.

The attack was the sixth mass killing this year in the U.S., and the deadliest since the August 2019 Dayton killing that took the lives of nine people, according to a database compiled by The Associated Press, USA Today and Northeastern University.

It was not clear if Long ever went to the parlours where the shootings occurred. One official said he had, while another indicated he may have only visited businesses like them. Authorities also said he was planning to go to Florida in a plot to attack some type of porn industry."

"He apparently has an issue, what he considers a sex addiction, and sees these locations as something that allows him to go to these places, and its a temptation for him that he wanted to eliminate, Cherokee County Sheriffs spokesman Capt. Jay Baker told reporters.

When asked by a reporter whether the businesses were a place where somebody could have sexual encounters, Bottoms did not answer, saying she did not want to get into victim blaming, victim shaming here."

Sheriff Frank Reynolds said it was too early to tell if the attack was racially motivated  but the indicators right now are it may not be." Authorities in Cherokee County say Long was charged Wednesday with four counts of murder and one count of assault.

The attack follows a lull in mass killings during the pandemic in 2020, which had the smallest number of such assaults in more than a decade, according to the database, which tracks mass killings defined as four or more dead, not including the shooter.

Many suspects who commit mass shootings have a history of violence against women. Still, the attack haunted members of the Asian American community who saw the shootings as an attack on them, given a recent wave of assaults that coincided with the spread of the coronavirus across the United States. The virus was first identified in China, and then-President Donald Trump and others have used racially charged terms like Chinese virus to describe it.

The attacks began Tuesday evening, when five people were shot at Youngs Asian Massage Parlor near Woodstock, about 30 miles (50 kilometres) north of Atlanta, Baker, the sheriff's spokesman, said. Two people died at the scene, and three were taken to a hospital where two died, he said.

About an hour later, police responding to a call about a robbery found three women dead from apparent gunshot wounds at Gold Spa, which is located in a strip of tattoo parlours and strip clubs in one of the last ungentrified holdouts in an upscale area of Atlanta. Officers then learned of a call reporting shots fired across the street, at Aromatherapy Spa, and found another woman apparently shot dead.

President Joe Biden said the FBI briefed him on the shootings and noted that Asian Americans have grown concerned about a recent rise in violence against them, a surge he has previously condemned.

I think it is very, very troublesome, but I am making no connection at this moment to the motivation of the killer," Biden said in the Oval Office. I am waiting for an answer, as the investigation proceeds, from the FBI and from the Justice Department.

The FBI is assisting Atlanta and Cherokee County authorities in the investigation.

Vice-President Kamala Harris expressed support to the Asian American community, as she sent condolences to the victims families.

Were not yet clear about the motive. But I do want to say to our Asian American community that we stand with you and understand how this has frightened and shocked and outraged all people, said Harris, who is the first Black and South Asian woman to hold the office of vice-president.

Over the past year, thousands of cases of abuse have been reported to an anti-hate group that tracks incidents against Asian Americans, and hate crimes in general are at the highest level in more than a decade.

We are heartbroken by these acts of violence, Asian Americans Advancing Justice  Atlanta said in a statement. While the details of the shootings are still emerging, the broader context cannot be ignored. The shootings happened under the trauma of increasing violence against Asian Americans nationwide, fueled by white supremacy and systemic racism.

Police in Atlanta and other major cities deplored the killings. Seattles mayor said the violence in Atlanta was an act of hate, and San Francisco police tweeted #StopAsianHate. The New York City Police counterterrorism unit said it was on alert for similar attacks.

Crisp County Sheriff Billy Hancock said in a video posted on Facebook that his deputies and state troopers were notified Tuesday night that a murder suspect out of north Georgia was headed their way. Deputies and troopers set up along the interstate and made contact with the suspect, he said.

A state trooper performed a PIT, or pursuit intervention technique, manoeuvr, which caused the vehicle to spin out of control, Hancock said. Long, of Woodstock, was then taken into custody without incident.

Crisp County sheriffs spokeswoman Haley Wade said Wednesday morning that Long is no longer in their custody and that her office has turned over its information to the other Georgia agencies and the FBI.

Rita Barron, the store manager of a business neighbouring the massage parlour that was targeted in Cherokee County, said that security footage of the parking lot outside the stores showed the gunman had been sitting outside in his car for about an hour just watching.

Nico Straughan, 21, who went to school with Long, described him as super nice, super Christian, very quiet and said that in high school Long brought a Bible to school every day and would walk around with it in his hands.

He went from one of the nicest kids I ever knew in high school to being on the news yesterday, Straughan said.

South Koreas Foreign Ministry earlier said that its diplomats in Atlanta have confirmed with police that four of the victims who died were women of Korean descent. The ministry said its Consulate General in Atlanta is trying to confirm the nationality of the women.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who is in South Korea meeting with Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong, mentioned the killings during an opening statement.

We are horrified by this violence which has no place in America or anywhere, he said.
The Indiana Standardbred Association is excited to announce their recent decision to partner with the Harness Horse Youth Foundation in a comprehensive educational outreach to all counties in the Hoosier State.

ISA has agreed to provide the funding necessary to produce and distribute HHYF's 2021 set of Activity Boxes to each youth development coordinator in each county extension office, who will, in turn, give them to interested 4H clubs.

"Horse racing is important to the states economy, especially in terms of horse production and agriculture," explained ISA president Joe Putnam. "The HHYF boxes are a unique way to send our message, increase awareness about harness racing with young horse lovers, and help the HHYF all at the same time. This is a win-win-win opportunity.

The set of four Activity Boxes are designed to provide a variety of games, puzzles and projects, each of which relates to horses and or harness racing. Each box is dedicated to one aspect of the industry: Standardbred Essentials - general racing information, Standardbred Farm Life - broodmares and raising of foals, Standardbred Racing - training and racing information, and Standardbred Careers - the broad scope of job opportunities within racing. For further information about box content and ordering, visit this link.

HHYF president Adam Bowden expressed, HHYF is very appreciative of ISAs support. Our organization works best with partnerships like this because we all know that by working together, great things can happen.

(HHYF/ISA)
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The Biden administration has made fighting domestic terrorism a priority. Along with the threat assessment, the administration is also reviewing what law enforcement and intelligence agencies can do to combat domestic terrorism. The report came out the day after a deadly rampage at three spas in the Atlanta area, killing eight people, including six women of Asian descent. The shooters motivations were not immediately clear, but crimes against Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders have been on the rise.

Whatever the motivation here, Mr. Biden told reporters on Wednesday, I know that Asian-Americans are very concerned. Because as you know I have been speaking about the brutality against Asian-Americans for the last couple months, and I think its very, very troublesome.

The Trump administration had added combating domestic terrorism to its National Strategy for Counterterrorism, but Mr. Trump was repeatedly reluctant to denounce the violent extremism carried out by far-right nationalists and white supremacists, sometimes embracing them and focusing his criticism instead on anarchists and other left-wing agitators.

Critics of Mr. Trump accused him of exploiting racial and socioeconomic divisions for political gain and fueling dangerous conspiracy theories that helped incite the events of Jan. 6, where hundreds of his supporters stormed the Capitol. The F.B.I. has charged more than 300 people in connection with the riots, including members of the Oath Keepers and the Proud Boys, far-right groups that backed Mr. Trump. Others charged include white supremacists.

The rise of domestic terrorism has gradually increased in recent years as the F.B.I. made fighting white supremacists a top priority in 2019 after a slew of deadly shootings in Texas, California and Pennsylvania. Last year, the F.B.I. raised the threat poised by antigovernment extremists such as militias and anarchists.

The F.B.I. director, Christopher A. Wray, has been blunt about the dangers of domestic terrorism, telling Congress this month that the events of Jan. 6 were appalling.

That siege was criminal behavior, plain and simple, and its behavior that we, the F.B.I., view as domestic terrorism, Mr. Wray said during a hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee, adding, The problem of domestic terrorism has been metastasizing across the country for a long time now and its not going away anytime soon.
A man has been left in a critical condition after he was stabbed in the neck with a broken glass bottle.

The alleged assault took place on Scarborough Street in Southport, a suburb on Queensland's Gold Coast on Tuesday evening.

The 43-year-old man was walking along the street when a 24-year-old woman attacked him, striking the man in his neck.

Alleged assault took place on Scarborough Street (pictured) in Southport, on the Gold Coast

Police on the scene located the woman in a nearby shop on Scarborough Street and previously said the pair were not known to each other.

However a spokesperson from Queensland Police told Daily Mail Australia officers now understand the pair are loosely connected, but said the attack was not a domestic incident.

The 43-year-old man was transported to the Gold Coast University Hospital in a critical condition.

The Southport woman has been charged with acts intended to cause grievous bodily harm.

She is due to face Southport Magistrates Court on Wednesday.
PHILIPSBURG:--- Independent Member of Parliament Christophe Emmanuel on Wednesday said that Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs must explain her position on the petition submitted to the United Nations and added that the Chairperson of Parliament Rolando Brison as well as the initiator of the petition Grisha Marten-Heyliger, is busy undermining their own initiative.

MP Emmanuel reminded all Parliamentary factions that he had forewarned that they were playing a dangerous game with the Dutch government. He said the Prime Minister of St. Maarten will now have to explain how or if government will proceed with the Caribbean Reform Entity (COHO) after the same entity is being used as a central piece in the petition against the Netherlands. She has to say if she supports the petition yes or no, simple, the MP said.

MP Emmanuel said that since some MPs are of the opinion that the Prime Minister represents the people internationally and not the duly elected Parliament, then the PM must speak to the people. He said in 2015 former Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs questioned the Netherlands regarding decolonization for St. Maarten. He spoke at the time for the people, so the PM has precedent. Speak to the people on the issue, Emmanuel said.

He noted that on Wednesday during the Council of Ministers Press Briefing the PM said that government has reached a far-along stage on the implementation timeline for the country packages. This is the same country package that is part and parcel of the COHO. The same COHO that the petition says is discriminatory and should not be imposed on St. Maarten, the MP said. So what is the position of the Prime Minister, MP Emmanuel repeated.

He also pointed out that Chairperson of Parliament Rolando Brison as well as the co-initiator of the petition Grisha Marten-Heyliger stated on Wednesday afternoon that the PM should continue her negotiations and work with on the establishing of the COHO because the petition is Parliaments responsibility not hers.

If the PM emerges and says well the petition is Parliaments business and not the Executive branch, then she might as well dissolve Parliament and call new elections. What is going to happen down the road when and if the petition comes out in favor of St. Maarten? Is Parliament going to say ok PM, roll back everything? How can government proceed without knowing if the legislative support for many of the aspects of COHO is there? What happens when the COHO law gets to Parliament? Are we going to say thats not our responsibility?

Pick sense out of this nonsense for me, please. So through one side of your mouth, you are telling State Secretary Knops in writing that COHO has majority support in Parliament. Through the other side of your mouth, you are telling the United Nations that the same Parliament does not support the implementation of the COHO, but the PM can continue implementing something that further erodes St. Maarten's autonomy. This is a dangerous, disingenuous and infantile game that is being played. They have to stand somewhere. It cant be both places, the MP said.

Though the MP is signatory to the motion of November 2020 authorizing the initiative to pursue St. Maartens decolonization status, he said some of the languages in the petition did surprise him and the suddenness that it was sprung on Parliament.

My stance has never changed. I remain against the implementation of the COHO. I am not sitting on the fence waiting to see which side the ball will fall on. I am against the COHO, plain and simple. he said.

In case anyone forgot, allow me to remind you. I was the lone MP that warned my colleague MPs and the sitting government, not to sign the agreement with the Dutch that, among other things, demanded salary and benefit cuts, an unrealistic country package, and the establishment of a Caribbean Reform Entity (COHO) that strips St. Maarten of its autonomy and basically all administrative control.

State Secretary Raymond Knops as well as Dutch MPs also warned about decolonization efforts vis-a-vis liquidity support and other aspects in the agreement. I asked the government and my colleague MP how can you give the Prime Minister the green light to sign the agreement with the Dutch with decolonization still on the table. I said it was a dangerous game to sign now, accept the money and then put the same money at risk later by continuing with the UN process after the Dutch clearly said it could be a problem.

The MP said he will not let the government or the MPs who support the government off the hook when it comes to COHO. He said the Prime Minister still has to return to Parliament to answer and face more questions and it would be interesting to see how the COHO is handled now that the petition has been submitted.

With regards to COHO the petition reads: "The discrimination by the Dutch government against its own island citizens becomes undeniable when the COHOs scheme of recessionary, balanced-budget policies that will ensure the islands ongoing indebtedness to the Netherlands, coupled with the Dutch governments imposition of neo-colonial authority over the islands, are contrasted with the Dutch governments actions towards its European citizens and those of other EU nations."

The COHO is a central part of the petition. How are you going to reconcile supporting the PM and this nonsense of an entity, and still push for an investigation into the same COHO concept via the UN? And how will the PM continue to advocate for this Dutch control mechanism knowing that it has been used as motivation for the UN petition? Does the PM support the petition yes or no?
(TNS)  A bipartisan committee of state senators on Monday unanimously supported a bill, SB 1949, that would make Floridas unemployment claims portal faster and less prone to crashing.The legislation, sponsored by state Sen. Aaron Bean, R- Jacksonville, calls for replacing the on-site servers for the jobless benefits system with cloud storage that can easily be increased or decreased depending upon the volume of claims being submitted. And, unlike with the present system, malfunctions can be repaired without shutting down the website and further frustrating people seeking assistance.Today we take the first step forward to make sure this never happens again, Bean told the committee, referring to the system's meltdown in the early days of the pandemic.The measure also calls for an oversight committee to make annual recommendations to keep the unemployment claims network technologically modernized and reduces the number of days employers have to review claims from 20 to 14. Shortening the employer review timeline should enable the Department of Economic Opportunity, which oversees the paying of benefits to those who have lost their jobs, to process claims within 21 days.Employers must confirm a worker's former employment and previous pay in order for a claim to be eligible. It's a deadline the state has not been meeting, rendering Florida non-compliant with federal Department of Labor recommendations, Bean said.But while all seven Republicans and four Democrats on the Committee on Commerce and Tourism supported the bill, several Democratic members lamented the bill was hardly a panacea for all of the ills that have plagued Florida's unemployment system and the desperate people that have depended on it for much of the past year.The wages that are currently implemented and the (number of payout) weeks  are they going to change with this amendment? asked state Sen. Victor Torres, a Democrat from Kissimmee.Torres was referring to Florida's maximum weekly benefit of $275 a week that, combined with a cap of 12 weeks, has rated the state among the most draconian in the nation in terms of unemployment assistance.But state Sen. Ed Hooper, the Republican committee chair from Clearwater, said the committee should kick those issues down the road.Thats a stretch, Hooper responded. I think we'll deal with that before the session is over."State Sen. Annette Taddeo, D- Miami, disagreed, saying the state's "terrible record" on helping the unemployed requires attention now.Between 2015 and 2019, 11 percent of jobless people in Florida actually got the benefit, she said. And this was before COVID. So, we have a terrible record of paying out jobless benefits. And part of it is the law, but part of it was the system that was created as very punitive. Does this in any way resolve that issue?But Bean insisted the priority in addressing the unemployment system's shortcomings was to resolve technological inadequacies.I believe the communication, the process will all be expedited, Bean said. But today is about speeding up the process so we cant blame technology on our problems anymore.Bean, who serves as Florida Senate president pro tempore, did not respond to several requests to speak for this article.While Taddeo said she supports Beans bill, she pointed out that the Senate has yet to hear her bill, which was filed Jan. 14. That legislation addresses the underlying issues of how claims are verified and paid.A host of similar bills were also filed by Senate and House Democrats. All have stalled in committees.With Monday's committee approval, Beans bill was passed two weeks after it was filed on March 1.They're not going to hear any of our bills, Taddeo said of the Republican-controlled state legislature. Thats the reality. They dont hear our bills.One lone Republican, state Sen. Jason Brodeur of Tallahassee, proposed a bill for a nominal increase in unemployment benefits from $275 to $375 per week. And it is his measure, if any, Taddeo said, that Republicans might consider.Either way, Taddeo said, it shouldn't matter if a Republicans or Democrats name is on the legislation, as long as it helps the people of Florida. And while neither Bean nor Brodeurs bills go nearly far enough, she said, they are both steps in the right direction.My job is not to not fight over that, but to find a solution, she said. Any progress is progress, and I'll take it.In addition, other lawmakers and advocates scrutinized other aspects of Bean's legislation.State Sen. Bobby Powell, D- West Palm Beach, questioned at the hearing the part of Beans bill that seemed to take away the ability to file paper unemployment claims by mail.Such a limitation would adversely affect claimants lacking a computer or high-speed Internet link, those who are technologically challenged, and those with limited English proficiency  all things that add insult to injury for claimants already facing low and limited benefits.Whether its faxed, scanned or emailed, we should be able to receive paper applications and Ill get you a clear answer in that, replied Dane Eagle, executive director of DEO.But even faxes, scans and emails are difficult for those lost in the digital divide, pointed out Ida Eskamani, legislative affairs specialist at Florida Rising, a grassroots economy and racial justice group.Speaking during time set aside for public comments, Eskamani said the digital divide, coupled with fraud protection software that renders many claimants ineligible for benefits and forces others to reapply multiple times or give up in frustration, is as important to address as speeding up the computers.Right now this system is built to be cumbersome, hard, and really assumes the worst of Floridians, right? she said. And we really want to assume the best of folks and know this is a critical step to finding a job.While Eskamani cheered the bill, she also reminded committee members that a robust unemployment system in all regards, not just speed, benefits everyone.Unemployment insurance is not a handout, she said. Its a critical tool to combat unemployment and maintain a healthy economy in bad times and leads to quicker and better good times.Karen Woodall, Executive Director at Florida Center for Fiscal and Economic Policy, also supported the bill, but agreed with Eskamani that speed is only one issue that must be tackled with Floridas beleaguered unemployment system.This is dealing with simply the computer, she told. Its like garbage in, garbage out. You have to address the underlying policy.SB 1948, which cleared the Committee on Commerce and Tourism, still requires funding. Next stop, appropriations.
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CHANGSHA, China, March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- On March 5, Zoomlion Heavy Industry Science & Technology Co., Ltd. ("Zoomlion") (1157.HK) successfully signed an order with Turkey's largest local crane equipment leasing company to import the ZCC32000W, a 2000-ton crawler crane, setting a new record for the largest tonnage crane to be manufactured in China. The sign-off of the order marks Zoomlion's entrance into the international high-end market for super large-tonnage cranes.

Valued at over 100 million yuan ($US 15.3 million), the products for export include the 2000-ton superstar hoisting product, the ZCC32000W crawler crane, as well as the ZCC9800W which is dubbed "the King of Wind Power".

"ZCC9800W has been servicing the client's wind power station project for over 7 months and due to its high construction efficiency as well as its features of easy operability and transferability, the product has earned high praise from clients," said Mr. Kayim, European Regional Manager of Zoomlion's Construction Hoisting Machinery.

"In general, Zoomlion's ZCC9800W can hoist one extra set of wind turbines per month compared to other cranes. Meanwhile, we continue to offer high standard, customized services such as transferring and commissioning despite difficulties brought about by the pandemic," added Mr. Kayim. Based on previous cooperation experience, the client made this additional purchase of Zoomlion's products.

In the first quarter of 2021, Zoomlion's businesses are booming due to the recovery and growth of the international construction machinery industry, and the shipment volume of each business unit hit a record high. On February 18, Zoomlion shipped more than 1.1-billion-yuan ($US 168.45 million) worth of products to domestic and international markets.

The newly signed order demonstrates the increasing brand influence and competitiveness of Zoomlion's high-end manufacturing in the world. Zoomlion will further develop in the global construction machinery market through close cooperation with key international clients. In 2021, the company is dedicated to accelerating the technological innovation and upgrading of intelligent, digital, and green manufacturing to achieve continued growth.

About Zoomlion

Founded in 1992, Zoomlion Heavy Industry Science & Technology Co., Ltd. (01157.HK) is a high-end equipment manufacturing enterprise that integrates engineering machinery, agricultural machinery, and financial services. The company now sells more than 600 cutting-edge products from 56 product lines covering ten significant categories.

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Dr. Peter Chin-Hong wants people to stop worrying so much about the myriad reports of side effects after getting the COVID-19 vaccine.

Chin-Hong, a professor of medicine at UCSF and the director of the schools immunocompromised host infectious diseases program, is concerned that people are paying too much attention to the side effects of the shot.

Everybody's getting vaccinated now on such an unprecedented level, he told SFGATE, so with a large population, you're going to see different things in different people. And then people are very keyed in to any side effect that occurs, so they're going to report it. And I think people are tuned in to that.

The numbers of people affected by adverse side effects are miniscule. An early Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report of the Pfizer vaccine rollout noted that of more than 1.8 million Americans who got the vaccine, only 4,300 total reported adverse effects. (Thats one-fifth of a percent of the people who got doses.)

For claritys sake, hes split the various side effects from the immunization into four categories: severe allergic reactions; less-severe, more common vaccine reactions, such as fever, fatigue, soreness, aches; weird stuff; and the ones that havent been linked to the vaccine, like heart attacks and death. Common vaccine symptoms arent anything to worry about, nor are the ones linked to misinformation about the vaccine. (Individuals with a history of allergic reactions to vaccines should speak to a physician before getting the shot.)

But Chin-Hong understands the weird stuff may be worrisome to most people. By weird stuff, hes referring to the unexpected side effects that have emerged in recent weeks as the efforts to inoculate more people have ramped up.

That includes the so-called "Moderna arm," in which the New England Journal of Medicine found that some folks have reported a large, itchy rash at the injection site after getting the Moderna shot, and lymph node swelling, which has inadvertently resulted in concerns over swelling and lumps in the breast area. Chin-Hong has also seen a phenomenon in which people with facial and lip fillers may get swelling at the site of the fillers after getting a vaccine.



These weird side effects may certainly sound worrisome. But none of them, he says, are a cause of concern.

In fact, Chin-Hong likens getting the shot to a world-class boot camp for your immune cells.

It is your immune system being trained like elite Navy SEALs, he said. Its just thinking about your immune system being primed, is really the healthy way to think about it. The same cells that cause you to feel like that are the ones that are going to be called to the battle when the real COVID comes along.

And, he jokes, of course your bodys going to be pretty peeved that it has to put in work to make sure you dont get ill  and acts up in a small way.

No wonder they're angry, because they've sort of been sluggish this whole time. They've never seen this thing before, and all of a sudden they have to do 10 push-ups and theyre complaining.

In most, if not all, the cases of odd side effects, Chin-Hong says, they dont linger for too long.

They go away, he said. Many people don't have to take any medications for them. And they're self-limited and, most importantly, no one has died from any of these things, or as I know, have had severe disability from it.

That said, for anyone who is concerned with these side effects, it's worth speaking to a physician who can further address particular concerns. That goes double for people who get regular mammograms. Chin-Hong advises waiting at least six weeks after getting the vaccine to conduct the important test so that lymph nodes do not get flagged for a more serious breast cancer diagnosis.

Why do younger people and women experience side effects more often?

Chin-Hong is also aware that some groups of people are more likely to be burdened with side effects than others.

He points to three groups as more likely to get side effects: younger people, women and people who previously had COVID-19. These groups, he said, have stronger reactions to the vaccine because their immune system is more active in handling the coronavirus.

The younger you are, the more side effects you would get, statistically speaking, because the immune system is just more agile. Same goes for people who have already gotten COVID-19. Your immune system, Chin-Hong explained, has seen it before, so they think the thing that your body is making, which is the spike protein for most of the vaccines  not the real whole virus  they think its the real COVID. So theyre coming out of slumber to go and fight it, as well as training some more.

As for women, he says, data from the vaccine trials earlier this year indicated that women, on the whole, are more likely to face side effects from the vaccine.

Women just generally have a more active immune system compared to men, Chin-Hong said. There are plenty of reasons for this, including estrogen acting as a stimulant for the immune system.

That early CDC report also indicated that women reported the vast majority of the nonanaphylactic allergic reactions after getting the Pfizer shot.

The heightened side effects, Chin-Hong says, also applies to most vaccines, too, not just the COVID-19 immunization.

Its not a COVID thing alone, he said. Weve seen that before in many other vaccines.

And if none of what Chin-Hong has said eases concerns over getting the vaccine, he wants to make clear that coronavirus is just so much worse than any of the strange side effects could ever be.

The side effects that we talked about, he said, all of them are so much better than getting the real-deal COVID. Theres no comparison. It's like night and day.  So we need to get vaccinated, all of us, if given the opportunity.
Italy celebrates 700th anniversary of Dante in 2021.

Italy marks the second edition of Dantedi, the national day dedicated to Dante Alighieri, on 25 March.

The annual event in honour of the Father of the Italian language will be particularly significant this year as Italy marks the 700th anniversary of Dante's death.

There will be a bumper programme of commemorative events throughout 2021, across Italy, in tribute to the mediaeval poet and philosopher.

25 March was chosen as it is the date given by scholars for the start of the journey to the afterlife in Dante's epic, The Divine Comedy.

The long narrative poem represents a 14th-century vision of the afterlife, describing Dante's journey through the three realms of the dead: Inferno (hell), Purgatorio (purgatory), and Paradiso (heaven).

Dante, who began composing the groundbreaking trilogy in or around 1308, wrote the poem's 14,233 lines in the vernacular, opting for the Tuscan dialect which was accessible to the masses rather than the traditional Latin reserved for the most educated readers.

Many of the Dantedi events will take place online, due to the covid-19 emergency, with a full, updated programme published on the Italian culture ministry website.

For insights (in English) into what to expect see Wanted in Rome feature article.
The hard-hit hospitality industry got a boost on Tuesday with the announcement of a new $8-million fund that will provide an offset to costs incurred during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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The hard-hit hospitality industry got a boost on Tuesday with the announcement of a new $8-million fund that will provide an offset to costs incurred during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Administered by the Manitoba Hotel Association and the Manitoba Lodges and Outfitters Association, the fund will send money to hotels and licensed resource tourism operators for fixed costs that havent been covered by previous relief programs.

The Blue Crescent Hotel in Rivers, which opened in January 2020, has been at 90 to 100 per cent capacity for several months now, according to general manager Tracy Mansell. (File)

The costs covered by this program include property insurance, mortgage interest, property taxes, land leases, service fees, maintenance of camps and resource retention costs.

"Our tourism industries, our hospitality industries rely not just on us, but people coming from outside Manitoba," said Premier Brian Pallister during a Tuesday morning media conference. "Our neighbours to the west, east, south and north were not as mobile as they have been in the past and not as able as they have been in the past to come to friendly Manitoba."

Given the uncertainty surrounding COVID-19 variants of concern and out of a desire to better position Manitoba to recover from the pandemic, the premier said it is a good time to provide this assistance.

A full list of eligible businesses was not released on Tuesday, with the premier saying that the administrators of the fund would make that information public in the near future.

One Westman hotel reached by the Sun for comment on the new program wasnt sure if it would be taking advantage of the new program yet. In fact, it has actually been quite successful during the pandemic.

The Blue Crescent Hotel in Rivers, which opened in January 2020, has apparently been at 90 to 100 per cent capacity for several months now, according to general manager Tracy Mansell.

Thats because the hotel has a deal with CN Rail to have conductors and engineers stay with them when there isnt enough room in the local bunkhouse due to social and physical distancing guidelines. The offer came in March 2020, just as the hotel was wondering if it would have to shut down during the pandemic.

"I havent gone for any grants or any other things that the Manitoba Hotel Association have offered to us," said Mansell. "Were going above and beyond what (business) most hotels are doing right now."

Brandon Chamber of Commerce president Spencer Day said that he was glad the province responded to a repeated call to action from organizations like his asking for assistance for hard-hit industries like hospitality.

"There seems to be a lot of support from their associations, which is great," said Day. "In the few conversations that I had with some of our members in the industry this afternoon, the $8 million does feel a little light, but that doesnt mean thats the end of it."

Asked if he thought this announcement showed the province is taking enough action to help businesses, he said no, but conceded that there will never be a right answer to if the province has sufficiently supported vulnerable sectors hit hard by the pandemic.

"Theres just so many different situations in every industry," he said. "Its going to be years before the true damage of the pandemic fully comes to light ... but the announcement today is welcomed because it has been asked for many, many times."

Tuesdays announcement follows the three rounds of Manitoba Bridge Grant funding and a $5-million Dine-In Restaurant Relief Program that assisted restaurants last December in supports for businesses, charities and non-profit organizations offered by the Manitoba government.

A release sent out by the province on Tuesday stated that the bridge grant has paid out approximately $205 million to various organizations so far.

The premier also took time to express his pride that Statistics Canadas most recent labour force survey released last week shows that more Manitoba adults are currently employed full-time than before the pandemic started.

That survey also showed that Manitobas unemployment rate is second-lowest in Canada and 16,000 jobs were added in February.

Pallister attributed these accomplishments to the efforts of Manitoba small businesses during the pandemic as well as individual Manitobans following public health orders.

"Our cautious and gradual reopening plans are working thanks to you," said Pallister.

On Monday, Finance Minister Scott Fielding announced that Manitoba was setting a target to return to a balanced budget within eight years as the province recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The premier addressed the provinces finances briefly during his media conference on Tuesday, perhaps hinting towards the contents of Manitobas 2021 budget, which is due to be presented on April 7.

"Its important to know, yes we are going to be running a record deficit this year," he said. "The federal government will, all provinces will. But were able, because of the work we did to say to you that we believe we can get through this together and financially, well be able to keep supporting as we have been those major programs that we want to support."

 cslark@brandonsun.com

 Twitter: @ColinSlark
Birmingham startup Immediate announced today it has raised $15.5 million to speed up its growth plans.

The money is split between growth equity and working capital, the company announced.

Immediate, based in Innovation Depot, is in its third year of business. It partners with companies to provide employees with wages that have been earned but not paid, whenever needed. It is geared toward breaking people out of a cycle of high debt, living paycheck to paycheck, relying on predatory lenders.

Matt Pierce, founder and CEO, said the funding will create a great impact.

We have proven the value of our solution to both partners and the market at large, and Immediate is now poised to continue accelerating towards our mission to positively affect the financial well-being of one million Americans over the next three years, Pierce said.

Immediates user base and partnerships with companies include Visa, The Bancorp, WellRx, and others.

Its becoming clearer than ever that financial support and wellness tools like Immediate are in demand, and poised to become more common across employers, Matt Lyons of Rockledge Capital said. Im excited that our group of investors were able to lead this round of funding and we look forward to Immediate being the next great company to come out of Birmingham.
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Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-17 20:47:02|Editor: huaxia

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Li Zhanshu, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, holds talks with the lower house speaker of Kazakhstan's parliament, Nurlan Nigmatulin, via video link in Beijing, capital of China, March 17, 2021. (Xinhua/Zhang Ling)

BEIJING, March 17 (Xinhua) -- China's top legislator Li Zhanshu held talks with the lower house speaker of Kazakhstan's parliament, Nurlan Nigmatulin, via video link on Wednesday.

Li said the two countries should implement the consensus by the two heads of state and promote the continued development of the China-Kazakhstan permanent comprehensive strategic partnership.

Li, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, said China-Kazakhstan relations developed steadily in recent years with support from the top leaders.

"This year marks the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China (CPC), and Kazakhstan will celebrate its 30th anniversary of independence. China is willing to work with Kazakhstan to implement the consensus by the two heads of state, develop the permanent comprehensive strategic partnership, jointly uphold multilateralism, safeguard regional peace and tranquility, and promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind," he said.

Since the outbreak of COVID-19, China and Kazakhstan have supported and helped each other and cooperated in the fight against COVID-19. It vividly demonstrates the essence of the China-Kazakhstan permanent comprehensive strategic partnership, setting a model for international anti-epidemic cooperation, Li said.

The pragmatic cooperation between the two parties, such as the joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative, bursts with a strong vitality and demonstrates full resilience, Li said. He added that China is willing to work with Kazakhstan to deepen the cooperation between the construction of the Silk Road Economic Belt and Kazakhstan's new "Bright Path" economic policy to bring more tangible benefits to the people of the two countries.

"It is necessary to continue to strengthen international cooperation, support each other on major issues involving each other's core interests, and jointly speak out for justice," Li added.

Stressing that exchanges between legislative bodies are a significant part of bilateral relations, Li said the NPC is ready to work with the parliament of Kazakhstan to strengthen friendly exchanges through various means. The NPC will also intensify exchanges at all levels, promote cooperation in various fields, and enhance coordination and cooperation under the framework of multilateral parliamentary organizations.

He said both parties should meet the needs of the in-depth advancement of China-Kazakhstan cooperation and promptly revise and improve existing bilateral cooperation documents. They should also supervise the implementation of various agreements per law, promote the smooth implementation of major cooperation projects, and provide legal guarantees and policy support for implementing consensus of the two heads of state and the agreements signed by both parties.

The two sides should also promote friendly exchanges between the people of the two countries, including young people, and promote the positioning of their permanent comprehensive strategic partnership to become a universal and lasting consensus of all sectors of society in both countries. They should also consolidate social and public opinion for an ever-lasting friendship between China and Kazakhstan, Li added.

He gave a brief introduction to the fourth session of the 13th NPC.

Nigmatulin said that deepening the permanent comprehensive strategic partnership between Kazakhstan and China is in the mutual interests of people of the two countries. The two sides united and cooperated against the epidemic, further enhancing the friendship between the two peoples.

The parliament of Kazakhstan is committed to strengthening exchanges and cooperation with the Chinese NPC and playing the active role of the legislature in promoting development of bilateral relations and promoting practical cooperation in various fields, Nigmatulin added.

Nigmatulin congratulated China on the 100th anniversary of the CPC's founding, wishing China continued development and prosperity. Enditem
Hayley Hadassins phone rang at 8.45pm. It was the principal at her nine-year-old sons international school in Hong Kong asking if she was ok. She had just been informed her sons entire class would be sent to government quarantine camps after a teacher tested positive for COVID-19.

Hong Kongs Centre for Health Protection called as soon as she put the phone down: pick up would be in the next 24 hours.

We didnt sleep that night, said the Australian mother of three, who is based in Hong Kong with her family.

Australian expat Hayley Hadassin with her family in Hong Kong.

Hadassin frantically packed enough suitcases, clothes, school books and toiletries to last the 14-day isolation period.
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WASHINGTON  The battle against bigness is building. Whether its beer, banks or book publishing, lawmakers are targeting major industries they say have become so concentrated that theyre hurting competition, consumers and the economy.

The economic dislocation of the pandemic has laid bare the struggles of small businesses unable to compete with corporate giants that have been able to capitalize on the new order. Experts and lawmakers are throwing out stunning stats:

The four biggest airlines control about 65% of U.S. passenger traffic, five giant healthcare insurers control an estimated 45% of the market, pharmaceuticals are dominated by three major companies, the top four banks control about 44% of the market, the so-called Big Five book publishers control some 80% of the U.S. book market, and Google alone accounts for about 90% of web searches worldwide.

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Beer and a burger? Four companies are estimated to control 80% of U.S. meat-packing; the top four brewers and importers control about 76% of the U.S. beer market.

Congress, federal regulators and states had already been putting Big Tech companies under intense scrutiny for nearly two years and even suing some for antitrust. Now with Democrats in the majority in Congress and President Joe Biden seemingly prepared to act on an anti-monopoly agenda, the focus is widening to the rest of corporate America.

Critics say the corporate concentration is quickening, limiting consumers choices, raising prices and eroding service.

Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., has put forward expansive legislation to overhaul antitrust law. It would make it harder for dominant companies to win regulators approval of mergers and stretch the governments authority over competition in other ways. Klobuchar, who heads the Senate Judiciary subcommittee on competition policy, has launched a broad examination by the panel of monopoly concerns.

At stake is nothing less than the future of our economy and the way of life that it supports, Klobuchar said at the panels first hearing last week. This is about saving capitalism and building an economy that works for all Americans.

At the extreme, experts dont expect the antitrust push to force breakups of big corporations, as is being called for by many critics of Big Tech. But legislative success could make it harder for the companies to make new acquisitions and shift the burden to them to prove that a given merger would be good for consumers. Right now the onus is on the government to prove a merger would be bad.

On Tuesday, the Federal Trade Commission singled out one industry, Big Pharma, to be subjected to a tougher stance on weighing proposed mergers. Citing proliferating mergers and skyrocketing drug prices, new acting FTC chair Rebecca Kelly Slaughter said, It is imperative that we rethink our approach toward pharmaceutical merger review. We intend to take an aggressive approach to tackling anticompetitive pharmaceutical mergers.

The current drift toward bigness began with a merger boom in the 1980s in corporate America that fattened profits for the dominant companies. Decisions by both Democratic and Republican administrations over the past 15 years have allowed most big mergers to sail through.

With anti-monopoly sentiment having a moment, some observers see possible bipartisan agreement on new legislation, with Klobuchars blueprint a likely starting point to be pushed and pulled. Democrats are mindful that the Senate is split 50-50 with Republicans, and their one-vote margin depends on a tiebreaker by Vice President Kamala Harris. That dictates reaching for compromise, as it would likely take the support of at least 10 Republicans to make new antitrust law.

We have a monopoly problem in the U.S., said Allen Grunes, who led merger investigations at the Justice Department as an antitrust attorney. Its not going to be perfect; its not going to be easy. But I think theres a reasonable chance of bipartisan agreement.

Is it a tweak or is it a big reform? Somethings going to happen, said Grunes, now an attorney with Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck in Washington.

George Hay, a law professor and antitrust expert at Cornell University, wonders, God knows what somebodys going to tack onto it. It opens up the floodgates.

Republicans express concern over runaway concentration of corporate power and stress their belief in competition to keep the economy vibrant. But hold on, some are saying, lets not punish bigness for its own sake; better to look at each case individually. They say big companies can bring efficiencies of scale, reduce prices and create jobs.

Industry executives can be expected to make similar arguments when they weigh in on Klobuchars legislation at upcoming hearings and mount a lobbying blitz. So far Corporate America hasnt spoken out publicly on the new antitrust initiative.

Republican lawmakers are denouncing a new school of antitrust thought, gaining currency among Democrats, that looks beyond the impact of big-company market dominance on consumer prices to its broader effects on industries, employees and communities.

Biden has named a legal scholar whos an adherent of this school, called hipster antitrust by its detractors, as a top presidential adviser on competition. And hes expected to name another to a seat on the Federal Trade Commission; the moves signal a possibly tough stance for Biden on antitrust. He said as a candidate that breaking up Big Tech companies was something that should be considered.

With this approach, Democrats are seeking to use antitrust law not to promote competition but to advance social or environmental goals, the Republicans contend.

What we need now is not a sweeping transformation of the antitrust laws, Sen. Mike Lee of Utah, the Judiciary panels senior Republican, said at the hearing. Rather, this moment calls for  (federal) agency leaders with the resources and the will to vigorously enforce the laws we have.

As a moderate Democrat, Klobuchar may be looking to try on Republican President Teddy Roosevelts Trustbuster mantle. Her book coming out next month is titled Antitrust: Taking on Monopoly Power from the Gilded Age to the Digital Age.

Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., predicts: A runaway bestseller.

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Follow Marcy Gordon at https://twitter.com/mgordonap

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This story was updated on March 19, 2021, to correct the title of Amy Klobuchars book, Antitrust: Taking on Monopoly Power from the Gilded Age to the Digital Age.
Bills subjecting the governors office and state lawmakers to open records laws appear poised to move forward in the Michigan Legislature, but an advocacy group says its readying plans to launch a ballot initiative on the matter on grounds the package doesnt go far enough.

The Michigan Senate Oversight Committee held a hearing on a 10-bill package Tuesday that would subject the governor, lieutenant governor and their staff to the states Freedom of Information Act and establish a separate Legislative Open Records Act  albeit with an array of broad exemptions on what types of documentation could be requested by the public.

Currently, Michigans FOIA law requires publicly-funded bodies like cities, police departments, state agencies and schools to provide information upon request. But lawmakers, the governor and lieutenant governor arent required to disclose any of their communications or documents pertaining to how big decisions affecting Michigan residents are made.

That makes Michigan an outlier compared to the rest of the country when it comes to who is covered under FOIA. Its one of the only states in the nation to not subject their state-level officials to some form of open records laws, and Michigan ranked last in a nationwide 2015 government transparency report from the Center for Public Integrity.

Chair Ed McBroom, R-Vulcan, one of the lead sponsors on the package, said he anticipates reporting the package out of committee next week. A similar package in the House cleared committee last week and is scheduled for its second reading on the floor Wednesday.

Related: Michigan House committee revives bills to open governor, lawmakers to public records laws

McBroom and fellow sponsor Sen. Jeremy Moss, D-Southfield, have been working on the legislation for years, and said Tuesday the idea is to improve Michigans government transparency laws  long considered among the worst in the country  while withstanding possible court challenges.

They defended the legislation as the right thing to do, even if lawmakers might be hesitant to open some of their records up to public scrutiny.

Your Jimmy Johns order is not going to make the front page of the paper, and nobody has time to request that from your office, Moss said. But we do need a tool here to disclose communications that are wrong, unethical and possibly even illegal.

As currently written, the legislation pending in the House and Senate includes an exemption for all communication between legislative and governors offices and their constituents so long as the constituent is not a registered lobbyist or state employee.

Any documents created or used by legislative caucuses and records pertaining to ongoing internal or legislative investigation would also be exempt.

Non-exempt documents would not be considered a public record for 15 days, and the bills arent retroactive, meaning no records created prior to Jan. 1, 2022 would be considered public if the package is signed.

A major distinction between FOIA and the LORA proposal is the lack of judicial review for appeals if a records request is denied. The legislation as written would send any appeals for denial of a records request to the administrator of the Legislative Council instead of the judicial review process allowed under FOIA.

The package has bipartisan support in the Legislature, as well as buy-in from the Michigan Press Association and other groups.

But Progress Michigan, a progressive organization thats long advocated for transparency reform, pulled its support this session over additional exemptions they say applies a lower standard of disclosure to the Legislature than any other public body subject to public records laws, including a lack of judicial review, a 14-day window before the records are considered public and exemptions on caucus records.

I would encourage any members (of the Legislature) that value true transparency to take a look at those bills long and hard, and what they actually provide for, because it isnt transparency, and it isnt accountability, Lonnie Scott, the groups executive director, said in a Tuesday press conference. It is a lot of additional loopholes.

Progress Michigan on Tuesday released the language of a ballot proposal the group hopes to get on the November 2022 ballot, although Scott said the group is holding off on collecting signatures pending results of their lawsuit on signature gathering rules. Theyd need just over 340,000 valid signatures to make the ballot.

Related: What to know as Michigan lawmakers debate subjecting themselves, governors office to public records laws

We have no plan, no formal date to announce to you today as to when we will start collecting signatures, but we do plan to use the most of this year as a time to educate and get support from the public and to bring partners on board for both of these efforts, Scott said.

Previous efforts to amend the states transparency and ethics laws legislatively have garnered support in the House, but have never made it through the Senate.

The Michigan House voted through similar legislation unanimously last session, and Moss and McBroom have been working on the issue together since they served in the House.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has previously expressed support for expanding public records laws, but stopped short of voluntarily subjecting her own office to FOIA when rolling out an executive directive to update the process for state agencies. She said in 2019 shed prefer the legislative package get passed so this isnt just a policy for the Whitmer administration and has a wider reach.

When it comes to the current bills, the administration has concerns with the lack of an independent mechanism to compel the production of a legislative record under LORA and the broad exemption that would allow lawmakers in either party to deny a record simply by distributing it to their caucus.

House bills:

- House Bill 4383

- House Bill 4384

- House Bill 4385

- House Bill 4386

- House Bill 4387

- House Bill 4388

- House Bill 4389

- House Bill 4390

- House Bill 4391

- House Bill 4392

Senate bills:

- Senate Bill 232

- Senate Bill 233

- Senate Bill 234

- Senate Bill 235

- Senate Bill 236

- Senate Bill 237

- Senate Bill 238

- Senate Bill 239

- Senate Bill 240

- Senate Bill 241

Progress Michigan proposed ballot language:

Read more on MLive:

Whitmer curbs use of controversial separation agreements in executive directive

Whitmer said separation agreements like Robert Gordons are used often. In state government, theyre not.

New ad from pro-GOP nonprofit hits Whitmer on transparency, hush money

Michigan Legislature had its own series of confidential staff separation agreements

Michigan House Speaker requiring ethics training for lawmakers as part of government transparency push

Is 2019 the year Michigan officials can agree to open their records to the public?

Progressive group to launch ballot initiative for FOIA reform in Michigan
A leading aid agency says that children as young as 11 are being beheaded in Mozambique's Cabo Delgado province, BBC reported.

One mother told Save the Children she had to watch her 12-year-old son killed in this way close to where she was hiding with her other children.

More than 2,500 people have been killed and 700,000 have fled their homes since the insurgency began in 2017.

Militants linked to the Islamic State (IS) group are behind a conflict in the province.

In its report, Save the Children did not specify who was behind the attacks, but it said that displaced people had reported gruesome scenes in the gas-rich northern province which borders Tanzania.

Chance Briggs, Save the Children's country director in Mozambique, said the reports of attacks on children "sicken us to our core."

"Our staff have been brought to tears when hearing the stories of suffering told by mothers in displacement camps," he said.

The United Nations special rapporteur on extra-judicial executions described the militants' actions as "cruel beyond words."
US President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris have been invited to Northern Ireland when public health conditions allow.

The invitation was extended during a virtual meeting with Stormont First Minister Arlene Foster and deputy First Minister Michelle ONeill on St Patricks Day.

During the meeting, the president and vice president expressed their strong support for the Good Friday Agreement, noting that the balance of Northern Irelands relationships  north-south, east-west, and internally  can benefit all of Northern Irelands communities.

They also conveyed support for the Northern Ireland Protocol and encouraged the leaders to continue working together toward a forward-looking Northern Ireland with a prosperous economy that reflects the identities and aspirations of all traditions.

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Mrs Foster, the leader of the DUP, and Ms ONeill, vice president of Sinn Fein have differing views of the post Brexit arrangements which sees additional checks on some goods at Northern Irelands ports to avoid the need for a hard border on the island of Ireland.

The DUP is urging the UK Government to ditch the protocol, claiming it creates a border in the Irish Sea.

In a statement after the meeting Mrs Foster described the engagement as extremely valuable.

It provided an opportunity to further strengthen our links with the US and look forward to our economic recovery, which will be a key focus for us as we emerge from the pandemic, Mrs Foster said.

Investment will be a crucial part of rejuvenating our economy and, as our largest international investor, there is huge potential in our relationship with the United States.

Ms ONeill said both President Biden and Vice President Harris reaffirmed their unequivocal support for the Irish peace process and support for the Good Friday Agreement.

I invited both President Biden and Vice-President Harris to visit the North when both sides of the Atlantic overcome the Covid-19 global health pandemic, and together recover and rebuild our societies and economies, she said.

Mrs Foster and Ms ONeill earlier virtually addressed the NI Bureaus annual showcase event to a large virtual audience including political, business and tourism leaders in the United States and beyond.

The event  delivered in partnership with InvestNI, Tourism Ireland and Tourism NI  was designed to showcase Northern Irelands tourism offering as well as opportunities for business investors.

Mrs Foster added: As First Minister, I am so proud of Northern Ireland and always welcome the opportunity to showcase our wonderful people and amazing places to the rest of the world.

While we had to do things differently this year, the virtual NI Bureau event was a wonderful reflection of what makes Northern Ireland so special.
Police on the Costa del Sol arrested three people this Wednesday, 17 March, after a soup kitchen was broken into in Fuengirola. Tins of meat, olive oil, cheese, alcohol, wipes and even babby nappies were stolen in the early-morning raid.

It all happened at around 1.45am when a call from a neighbour to the police on 091 alerted officers that there were "three hooded people loading items into a car at the door of the soup kitchen".

Armed with a description of the car, police quickly mounted a search operation and officers had to chase them at high speed through the streets of the town until they managed to stop them.

The three occupants of the vehicle, two women aged 27 and 54 and a man aged 44, all of Spanish nationality, were arrested for an alleged crime of theft with force.

The police recovered the stolen items, which consisted mainly of food and baby hygiene items, although some electronic devices had also been taken.

Officers also recovered tools including pliers, screwdrivers and a cutter, with which they had allegedly forced access to the soup kitchen.
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editor's pick centerpiece featured

Juneteenth mural strives for 'more honest, more united' country

JENNIFER REYNOLDS/The Daily News A team of artists works on the Absolute Equality mural on the side of the Old Galveston Square building near the corner of 22nd and The Strand in downtown Galveston on Monday, March 15, 2021. The 5,000-square-foot mural also will feature an augmented reality platform where people will be able to download an app and move their smartphones over the mural to connect with links to additional historic information. JENNIFER REYNOLDS/The Daily News Artist Samson Bimbo Adenugba pauses from working on the Absolute Equality mural in Galveston on Monday, March 15, 2021. Adams and a team of artists are working on the 5,000-square-foot mural near the corner of 22nd and The Strand. JENNIFER REYNOLDS /The Daily News A printed segment of the Absolute Equality mural is taped to a lift used by artists to work on the 5,000-square-foot mural in Galveston on Friday, March 12, 2021. JENNIFER REYNOLDS/The Daily News Public artist KaDavien Baylor works on a section of the Absolute Equality mural depicting African American Union soldiers on Monday, March 15, 2021, in Galveston.

GALVESTON

Artists have been hard at work since March 9 in downtown Galveston on the much-anticipated Absolute Equality mural, which will illustrate the journey of Black Americans out of slavery into freedom.

The 5,000-square-foot mural is on the side of the Old Galveston Square building, 22nd and The Strand. It sprang from the Juneteenth Legacy Project, officially launched Feb. 1 during Black History Month, to help raise awareness about Juneteenth and contribute to a growing push to make Juneteenth a national holiday, organizers said.

Juneteenth, or June 19, marks the day in 1865 that Union Army Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger issued General Order No. 3, which announced that, in accordance with the Emancipation Proclamation, all slaves are free.

Senators John Cornyn, a Texas Republican, and Ed Markey, a Massachusetts Democrat, and U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, a Houston Democrat, filed bipartisan bills Feb. 25 to make Juneteenth a federal holiday.

Cornyn has been the lead author of a resolution honoring Juneteenth annually since 2011.

The freedom of all Americans, which Texas celebrates every Juneteenth, should be celebrated all across the nation, Cornyn said. A federal Juneteenth holiday would represent a big step in our nations journey toward equality.

Opal Lee, 94, also has been collecting signatures and holding walks across the country advocating to make Juneteenth an official holiday.

She traveled to Galveston in September 2019 to walk, and shes also an honorary national co-chair of the Juneteenth Legacy Project.

Im one happy old lady, Lee said. People didnt know this history and lots and lots still dont know the history. I see Juneteenth as a unifier for our country.

The six-member team of artists, led by Houston-based artist, Reginald C. Adams, is working on a colorful mural depicting different eras of history including the Underground Railroad, Black Union soldiers, explorers and the signing of General Order No. 3.

Since the artists have begun painting, crowds have gathered daily to watch the group paint, Adams said.

Its been amazing to see people stop and stare and pull out their phones to watch history unfold, Adams said. I love what I do and its just beautiful to inspire people. Its been a joy putting on a show for the public around such a historic event. Galveston deserves this.

Along with the mural, the committee also will have an augmented reality platform called the uncover Everything app and 4D videos, created by Damien Johnson and Danny Asberry El, along with input from Adams around the mural in which visitors will be able to download an app and move their smartphones over the mural to connect with links to videos and additional historic information, organizers said.

Asberry El, a Moorish American artist and performer from Houston, has worked on several augmented reality projects. His involvement in the Juneteenth mural is two-fold, he said.

One is celebration of Estevanico, a Morroccan man enslaved by a Spanish nobleman who took part in the exploration of North America and was shipwrecked for a time on Galveston Island.

In regard to Estevanico the Moor, properly known as Mustafa Azemmouri, there were currently no known depictions of his image during the time he shipwrecked into Galveston, Asberry El said.

Since Adams knew my ethnic background and nationality, he saw it fitting to use my likeness to capture this important ancestor, he said. Were so excited to be a part of this wonderful experience and the opportunity to be a part of history.

The mural is set to be complete by Juneteenth 2021, Adams said. To keep up with progress, visit juneteenthlegacyproject.com.

This mural represents much more than paint on a wall, said local historian Sam Collins, co-chair of the Juneteenth Legacy Project. To finally see it becoming a reality gives me hope of a nation thats more honest and more united. This mural will help us expand the narrative of the Juneteenth story.
Zupee, Indias leading online skill-based gamification and knowledge platform, today announced the appointment of Dr. Subi Chaturvedi as the Chief Corporate & Public Affairs Officer.

Zupee, founded by IIT Kanpur graduates Dilsher Singh Malhi and Siddhant Saurabh in 2018, is Indias fastest growing skill-based mobile gaming and knowledge platform, running live quiz tournaments on its app, where users compete with friends and other players for monetary rewards. It successfully raised $19 million in two rounds of funding. The online gaming sector has witnessed a boom during the pandemic, with increased internet and mobile penetration creating a dire need for a facilitative ecosystem in order to provide fertile ground for technology led innovation. As per an industry report, the online gaming industry is growing at 40% CAGR with over 300 million users in the country.

Speaking on her appointment, Dr. Subi Chaturvedi, Chief of Corporate & Public Affairs, Zupee said, I am delighted on joining Zupee as I am joining a team of go-getters and innovators, who are being led by one of the brightest minds in the country. Dilsher, the founder, has a makers instinct, and epitomises constructive depolarizing, which I believe is critical to success of any workforce of the future. I see great potential in what Zupee is doing, what it can do & what Dilsher has envisioned. I believe that we can revolutionize the field of learning, skilling and education through gamification and by incentivising learning. Our products and solutions are going to be aligned with the Governments vision of a self-reliant India and of creating Make in India solutions for the world.

Congratulating Dr. Subi Chaturvedi on her new role, Mr. Dilsher Singh Malhi, Founder & CEO, Zupee said, At Zupee, we are committed towards making the internet a place for productive engagement. We are bringing the best of the best onboard to help us in realise our vision and transforming the company into a centre of innovation. We are constantly looking for moonshotters, transformational leaders and people with experience in building facilitative policy frameworks to join us. By bringing in Dr. Subi, we now have someone who embodies all three qualities. She is an exceptional talent and look forward to her leadership & expertise to help us scale and grow as a company and as a community.

Dr. Chaturvedi further added, I am looking forward to collaborate with the Government, industry bodies, academia and other stakeholders to build a framework that facilitates innovation, invites investments and create opportunities for the youth of this country. We really have a chance to go global with Zupee and represent India at an international level as an innovator and technology leader, and I am going to be heavily invested in achieving this.

An alumna of IIT Delhi, Dr. Chaturvedi has served as the Global Co-Chair of the Netmundial Initiative, was a Member of the UN Internet Governance Forum (MAG), appointed by the UNSG, and has also served on the Boards of the UK India Business Council (UKIBC), & IGFSA.

Prior to joining Zupee, Dr. Chaturvedi was leading TikTok4Good India, and has over two decades of senior leadership experience across verticals such as digital economy, entrepreneurship, startups, sustainability & diversity, working with governments, international organizations and multilateral institutions.

Dr. Chaturvedi has also served as a Senior President at YES BANK, Head of Public Policy and Public Affairs at COAI (Cellular Operators Association of India), Director Strategy - Public Policy and New Media at Hill + Knowlton and Assistant Professor of Journalism and Communication at the Lady Shri Ram College for Women, Delhi University. Shes recognised as a foremost expert on internet governance multistakholderism, and engendering the cyberspace with a focus on new and emerging technology and engendering the cyberspace and is passionate about bringing more women in technology & leadership and making gaming work for good.

In her new role, Dr. Chaturvedi will work closely with the Government bodies and policy makers, as India defines the policy framework for the online gaming, education & skilling sector. Her contribution will be a key focus area in the backdrop of Indias emergence as one of the top five nations in mobile gaming arena. Her work in Digital economy and global internet governance is well recognised globally by the industry, academia and governments. She is well published and on cross border data flows, new and emerging technologies and is often a key note speaker at significant industry and governments forums.
Distressing vision has emerged of a distraught young deaf woman being led away from her mother's home by police as her parent cries out for officers to stop.

The angry mum claims the incident highlighted failures in Australia's public guardianship system.

Police had arrived at her home home with guardianship papers authorising them to take the young woman back to her group home after the mother had picked her up for an outing but did not return her.

But the young woman, 22, didn't want to go and is heard crying as she was led out of the house by two officers with the help of paramedics.

She filmed the incident after police turned up to her home early one morning armed with guardianship papers to remove her daughter from her care

'Bye bye my darling,' the upset mum is heard calling out as she fights back tears.

'Wait, she wants me! Stop, she wants her mum.'

The footage continues with the deaf woman struggling with the officers outside.

'Let her go, do not lay hands on my daughter like that,' the mother yells out.

'My baby, I love you sweetheart.'

The woman insists her daughter wants to live with her rather than in a group home and described the harrowing ordeal was scary

The woman insists her daughter wants to live with her rather than in a group home.

'She was happy, she was content, she was looked after, she didn't want to go,' the mother told A Current Affair.

'All she wanted was me. She told me she was happy here.

'She was all smiles, she was always saying "I love you", she wanted to be with mum.'

The mother claims the public guardianship tribunal didn't ask her daughter where she wanted to live.

Police attended the home after the mother picked her daughter up from the group home where she was living for an outing and didn't return her.

Police attended the home after the mother picked her daughter up from the group home where she was living for an outing and didn't return her

The applicant on the deaf woman's public guardianship order is a service provider which receives NDIS funding to care for her.

'She tried to say something, they shut her down, just like me,' the mother claimed.

The distressing incident was cited by critics as evidence the public guardianship system needed an overhaul.

'If I did this and you did this, we would be in jail,' Christine Dalas from the Australian Association to STOP Guardianship & Administration Abuse told the program.

Aged and Disability Advocacy boss Geoff Rowe added: 'People with a disability often find themselves being subject to guardianship orders and those orders that often have been made without consultation with the person with the disability,' he said.
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[March 17, 2021] Future Planet Invests in Vaccitech's Series B Financing

Future Planet Capital has invested in a $168m Series B financing announced today by Vaccitech Ltd. Future Planet joins other leading investors including M&G Investment Management, Tencent, Gilead Sciences, Monaco Constitutional Reserve Fund and fellow existing investor, Oxford Sciences Innovation. As part of the Series B financing, $43 million in convertible loan notes previously issued by Vaccitech will convert into Series B shares, resulting in total gross proceeds to Vaccitech of $168 million before expenses. Douglas Hansen-Luke, Executive Chairman of Future Planet Capital, explained: "Our decision to support Vaccitech last year, before the results of the COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca trials were known, has been vindicated by the vaccine's approval for emergency use by national and international regulators. The success of the COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca has increased our confidence in Vaccitech's immunotherapy platform and our continuing support is signalled by our investment today." Bill Enright, CEO of Vaccitech, said: "We expect this financing to enable us to reach key value inflection points for our lead programs. We now look forward to advancing key programs towards generating proof-of-concept data in indications with significant need of effective new treatments." Ed Phillips, Head of Origination at Future Planet, concluded: "This is a concrete example of our vision in action - financing th best minds to address global challenges. We look forward to working with other entrepreneurs and businesses dedicated to solving global challenges in the future."



Vaccitech is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company engaged in the discovery and development of novel immunotherapeutics and vaccines for the treatment and prevention of infectious diseases and cancer; in 2020 it co-invented a COVID-19 vaccine candidate with the University of Oxford, AZD1222, which is known as the COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca. -ends-

About Future Planet Capital Future Planet Capital is a global impact-led venture capital firm built to invest in growth companies from the world's top universities. The firm invests in leading entrepreneurs and businesses profitably addressing the world's greatest challenges across Climate Change, Education, Health, Sustainable Growth & Security. About Vaccitech Ltd. Vaccitech is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company engaged in the discovery and development of novel immunotherapeutics and vaccines for the treatment and prevention of infectious diseases and cancer. The company's proprietary platform comprises proprietary modified simian adenoviral vectors, known as ChAdOx1 and ChAdOx2, as well as the well-validated Modified Vaccinia Ankara, or MVA, boost vector, all of which lack the ability to replicate in humans. The combination of a ChAdOx prime treatment with subsequent MVA boost has consistently generated significantly higher magnitudes of CD8+ T cells compared with other technologies and approaches. The company has a broad pipeline of both clinical and preclinical stage therapeutic programs in viral infections, solid tumors and prophylactic viral vaccine programs. The company is also co-developing prophylactic products for MERS coronavirus and Herpes Zoster with international collaborators. Vaccitech co-invented a COVID-19 vaccine with the University of Oxford (now known as AZD1222), which is now approved for use in many territories and exclusively licensed worldwide to AstraZeneca through Oxford University Innovation, or OUI. Vaccitech is entitled to receive a share of the milestones and royalty income received by OUI from AstraZeneca. Vaccitech is backed by leading institutions, including M&G, GV, Sequoia Capital (News - Alert) China, Gilead Sciences, Tencent, Korea Investment Partners and Oxford Sciences Innovation. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210317005087/en/

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Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-17 22:52:12|Editor: huaxia

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Chinese President Xi Jinping sends a video message to an event held by Bangladesh in commemoration of the centenary of its founding father Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's birth, also in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the country's independence on March 17, 2021. On behalf of the Chinese government and Chinese people, Xi extended sincere greetings and best wishes to Bangladeshi President Abdul Hamid, Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, and the Bangladeshi government and people. (Xinhua/Li Xueren)

BEIJING, March 17 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday sent a video message to an event held by Bangladesh in commemoration of the centenary of its founding father Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's birth, also in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the country's independence.

On behalf of the Chinese government and Chinese people, Xi extended sincere greetings and best wishes to Bangladeshi President Abdul Hamid, Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, and the Bangladeshi government and people.

Stressing that Sheikh Mujibur Rahman founded the People's Republic of Bangladesh 50 years ago, Xi said Rahman, an old friend and a good friend of the Chinese people, visited China twice and developed friendship with Chinese leaders of the older generations.

Xi said the two sides should keep in mind contributions made to the bilateral relations by leaders of the older generations and carry forward bilateral friendship.

Since its independence, Bangladesh has made remarkable achievements in national construction, Xi said, adding China is glad about that as a friendly neighbour.

China and Bangladesh have been friendly neighbouring countries since ancient times, and the friendship spanning over a thousand years was witnessed by the Silk Road, Xi said. Over the last 46 years since the establishment of diplomatic ties, the two sides have always treated each other with mutual respect and on an equal footing, offered mutual support and worked hand in hand, Xi added.

As China and Bangladesh are both at a crucial stage of national development, Xi said the Chinese Dream of national rejuvenation and the dream of Sonar (golden) Bangla are interconnected, and the pragmatic cooperation between the two countries has delivered tangible benefits to the two peoples.

Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the two countries have been making joint efforts to overcome the difficulties and rendering mutual help, Xi said. Major projects in Bangladesh Chinese enterprises participated in have made groundbreaking progress, and the treatment of zero tariff for 97 percent of the taxable items imported from Bangladesh into China has officially taken effect, Xi added.

Stressing that he attaches great importance to the development of China-Bangladesh ties, Xi expressed the hope to work with Bangladesh to better align the two countries' development strategies and jointly promote the construction of the Belt and Road, so as to take the China-Bangladesh strategic partnership of cooperation to new heights. Enditem
Petroleum and Mining Cabinet Secretary John Munyes has defended the latest increase in pump prices.

In a statement on Tuesday, the CS said the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) uses a formula outlined in the Energy (Petroleum Pricing) Regulations of 2010 to calculate the applicable petroleum pump prices.

He explained that the computation takes into account the landed costs, supplier margins, government taxes as well as storage and distribution costs.

Petroleum is imported into Kenya through the Port of Mombasa and transported to the hinterland via the pipeline system operated by the Kenya Pipeline Company Limited (KPC). The last-mile delivery of petroleum products from the KPC depots to the retail stations or other points of consumption is undertaken through road tankers, Munyes said.

According to Munyes, stakeholders in the business incur costs that are eventually reimbursed through the petroleum pricing process while ensuring a reasonable return to investors.

He said the importation of Super Petrol, Diesel, and Kerosene is a highly controlled process, and licensed Oil Marketing Companies are obliged to only import the aforementioned petroleum products through the Open Tender System (OTS).

Munyes further noted that taxes and levies form a key component of the petroleum pump price not only in Kenya but across many countries.

At the same time, Munyes said based on the current outlook of petroleum prices, the ministry is at an advanced stage of developing a framework for stabilization of petroleum prices which will cushion customers from price spikes.

Part of the framework entails the development of Regulations to administer the Petroleum Development Fund; the draft Regulations are at the final stages of development.
Congresswoman Grace Meng (D-N.Y.), Stop AAPI Hate Co-founder Russell Jeung, and Oakland Chinatown community ambassador Sakhone Lasaphangthong join Andrea Mitchell to talk about the shooting in Atlanta, which left 8 people dead, including 6 Asian women. "We are so hurt about what happened last night in Atlanta, but also hurt about this year's long worth of hateful incidents and hate crimes that have skyrocketed across the country," Congresswoman Meng says.
MANILA : The Philippines' coronavirus task force said it will suspend the arrival of foreigners and some returning citizens as the Southeast Asian country battles a renewed surge in COVID-19 cases and increasing infections of new variants.

Foreign citizens and returning nationals who had not been working overseas will not be able to enter the country from March 20 until April 19, the coronavirus task force said in a statement issued late on Tuesday.

The exemptions to the rule include accredited officials of foreign governments, Filipino workers returning from overseas and cases that are considered to be an emergency.

The Philippines' Civil Aeronautics Board on Tuesday capped passenger arrivals at Manila's international airport to a maximum of 1,500 per day from March 18 to April 19 to help contain the spread of COVID-19, which has infected 631,320 people and killed 12,848 in the country.

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Rohingya refugees board a Bangladesh Navy ship in Chittagong to be transported to the island of Bhashan Char in Bangladesh, Dec. 4, 2020.

A United Nations delegation on Wednesday arrived on an initial three-day visit to a Bay of Bengal island where Bangladesh has moved thousands of Rohingya refugees since December, a police official on the island told BenarNews.

The U.N. had been requesting a visit to evaluate the livability of the flood-prone island for more than two years, and humanitarian groups had criticized Bangladesh for moving refugees there without a thorough assessment of the site by international experts.

Kashiwa Fumiko, an assistant representative at the U.N. refugee agency UNHCRs office in Dhaka, was leading the delegation, said Mahe Alam, a senior police official on the island known as Bhashan Char.

The team will stay here until March 20. They had a meeting with the Rohingya people on Wednesday afternoon. They listened to the refugees who spoke about the facilities offered to them in Bhashan Char, Alam told BenarNews.

He added that members of the Bangladesh Navy accompanied the U.N. officials, who travelled by ship from Chittagong in southeastern Bangladesh.

During the trip, U.N. officials will look at facilities built to support the refugee community, talk with Rohingya living there, and with government officials, said Mostafa Mohammad Sajjad Hossain, a UNHCR spokesman in Dhaka.

This initial three-day visit will bring together experts from U.N. agencies engaged in the Rohingya refugee response in Bangladesh, Sajjad told BenarNews.

Neither Sajjad nor Bangladesh officials commented on possible future trips by U.N. officials. They didnt comment on the likelihood of a U.N. technical assessment team visiting the island either.

The government moved the first batch of refugees to the controversial low-lying island on Dec. 4. Since then, more than 14,000 Rohingya have been moved from crowded refugee camps in southeastern Coxs Bazar district near the Myanmar-Bangladesh border to Bhashan Char.

Bangladesh houses some 1 million Rohingya, including more than 740,000 who escaped a brutal military crackdown in Myanmars Rakhine state, beginning in August 2017.

The government had said it spent about U.S. $280 million to construct housing, a large embankment, and other infrastructure on Bhashan Char in a bid to relieve pressure on the crowded mainland camps.

Authorities had said the facilities on the island were better than in the refugee camps.

Bangladesh Navy officials speak with members of a U.N. delegation as they arrive on Bhashan Char island in Noakhali District, Bangladesh, March 17, 2021. [Special to BenarNews]

Better conditions here

Some refugees on Bhashan Char who spoke to U.N. officials on Wednesday told them the conditions were satisfactory but that they would rather go back home to Myanmar.

I have told them that we are in better condition here than in Coxs Bazar, Mohammad Selim, one of the relocated Rohingya, told BenarNews by telephone.

I also told them that the Rohingya would immediately return to their homes in Arakan if their rights are guaranteed and their properties returned, Selim said, referring to a coastal region of Myanmar that he knew as home before fleeing violence against his community by the military there.

Rafiqul Islam, a professor of peace and conflict studies at Dhaka University, said he would have expected the international community to have doubts about the liveability of Bhashan Char. Those doubts would go away after this trip, he said.

It is natural for U.N. officials and the international community to be sceptical about the suitability of Bhashan Char because they see the island in the Bay of Bengal through satellite images. The images would naturally convince anyone that Bhashan Char was a prison-like isle, Islam told BenarNews.

But anyone seeing the facilities would be convinced it is not a jail; this is habitable land. I think the U.N. delegation and the international community would be convinced about the habitability of Bhashan Char when they witness the facilities in the island.
Pamela Addison is, in her own words, one of the shyest people in this world. Certainly not the sort of person who would submit an op-ed to a newspaper, or start a support group for strangers, or ask a United States senator to vote for $1.9 trillion legislation.

No one is more surprised than her that, in the past five months, she has done all of those things.

Her husband, Martin Addison, a 44-year-old health care worker in New Jersey, died from the coronavirus on April 29 after a month of illness. The last time she saw him was when he was loaded into an ambulance. At 37, Ms. Addison was left to care for a 2-year-old daughter and an infant son, and to make ends meet on her own.

Seeing the impact my story has had on people  it has been very therapeutic and healing for me, she said. And knowing that Im doing it to honor my husband gives me the greatest joy, because Im doing it for him.

With the United States staggering coronavirus death toll  more than 535,000 people  come thousands of stories like hers. Many people who have lost loved ones, or whose lives have been upended by long-haul symptoms, have turned to political action, seeking answers and new policies from a government whose failures under the Trump administration allowed the country to become one of the hardest hit by the pandemic.
One of the eight people murdered by a sex-addict gunman in a killing spree at three Georgia massage parlors on Tuesday was shot dead while waiting for a couple's treatment with her husband.

Delaina Ashley Yaun, 33, is one of the eight people who was shot dead on Tuesday by Robert Aaron Long, 21. Long told police he has a sex addiction and viewed the massage parlors he targeted as 'outlets' for his problem.

Three other victims have been named; Paul Andre Michels, 54; Xiaojie Yan, 49; and Daoyou Feng, 44.

The killings were at first feared to have been driven by racism because six of the eight victims were Asian women, however police on Wednesday clarified that Long told them that's not what motivated him.

Delaina Ashley Yaun, 33, is one of the eight people who was shot dead on Tuesday by Robert Aaron Long, 21. Long told police he has a sex addiction and viewed the massage parlors he targeted as 'outlets' for his problem.

Robert Aaron Long, 21, told police that he has a sex addiction and viewed the parlors as an 'outlet' and 'temptation' that he wanted to remove. He confessed to the killings after police rammed his car off the road at 8pm on Tuesday night. He was on his way to Florida to carry out more attacks. He has been charged with four counts of murder and aggravated assault in Cherokee County, where the first salon is that was targeted. He hasn't yet been in charged in Atlanta

'Long told investigators the crimes were not racially motivated. Long told investigators that he blames the massage parlors for providing an outlet for his addiction to sex,' Cherokee Sheriff's Office Captain Jay Baker said in an emailed statement on Wednesday morning.

Yaun was in Young's Asian Massage parlor with her husband for a couple's massage when he opened fire, according to friends who have set up a GoFundMe account asking for donations.

The mother-of-two was shot dead at the scene but her husband was able to escape unharmed. One friend claimed on Facebook that she'd gone to the parlor to seek treatment for pains in her back.

It's unclear if any of the other victims were customers or staff. In addition to Yaun, a white man died along with six Asian women.

Long has been charged with four counts of murder and aggravated assault in Cherokee County, where the first salon is that was targeted. He hasn't yet been in charged in Atlanta.

The gunman bought his 9mm handgun hours before the rampage. He was on his way to Florida to carry out more attacks when he was caught.

The Florida locations were somehow connected to pornography, police said on Wednesday without revealing more details.

'He claims that it was not racially motivated... he has an issue that he considers a sex addiction and sees these locations as something that allows him to go to these places... it's a temptation for him that he wanted to eliminate,' Captain Jay Baker of the Cherokee Sheriff's Office said at a Wednesday press conference.

Baker added that it had been a 'very bad day' for the suspect, and said: 'He was at the end of his rope'. He didn't elaborate on what had happened earlier in the day.

Three shootings at spas and massage parlors around Atlanta left eight people dead and police on the hunt for those responsible

People with the medical examiner's office wheel out a body on a stretcher from the Gold Spa massage parlor where three people were shot and killed on Tuesday in Atlanta, Georgia

Bodies are wheeled out of Gold Spa in Atlanta where a man opened fire. Two other massage parlors were targeted

The shootings occurred on Tuesday afternoon around the Atlanta area. A body is seen being wheeled out of Gold Spa

Long's family - including his youth minister father - are 'devastated' by his actions and are cooperating with the investigation.

A classmate who attended high school with Long earlier told The Daily Beast anonymously: 'He was very innocent seeming and wouldnt even cuss.

'He was sorta nerdy and didnt seem violent from what I remember. He was a hunter and his father was a youth minister or pastor.

'He was big into religion.'

Long is believed to have first opened fire at Youngs Asian Massage near Acworth, a city about 32 miles northwest of Atlanta, at 5pm. Four people were killed in that shooting.

Then, Long is accused of driving to Atlanta and opening fire in Gold Massage Spa, killing three women.

When police were there, they received reports of more shots across the street at Aromatherapy Spa, where the eighth victim was found.

Long went on the run after the shootings and was eventually arrested after police rammed his Hyundai off the road.

He was arrested some 150 miles southwest of Atlanta in Crisp County.
Due to the recent rise in the number of COVID-19 cases, the Armed Forces of Armenia are implementing sanitary-hygiene and anti-epidemic measures.

The Ministry of Defense of Armenia told Armenian News-NEWS.am that, under the requirements of a government decision, the Armed Forces have prohibited the visits to, as well as releases and leaves of compulsory fixed-term servicemen, except for cases envisaged on the ground of sub-point 2 of part 2 of Article 28 of the Law on Military Service and Status of Serviceman (death of family member (wife, child, father, mother, sister, brother, grandmother, grandfather)).

The Armed Forces of Armenia ask servicemen for their understanding.
News Around the Republic of Mexico



Database Started to Vaccinate Mexico's Tourism Workers



Once local governments can buy the vaccines, the tourism industry will come together to make a joint purchase and accelerate vaccination, instead of depending on the current federal government protocols.



According to the



In order to make sure the vaccination process is fair, Joaquin Gonzalez and other officials are working with the Ministry of Foreign Relations to develop a registration group between the states interested in vaccinating employees in the travel industry.



The registration group includes local business chambers and hotel associations that have each committed to purchasing a certain number of vaccines for their workers, including employees in bars and restaurants.



"We are doing synergy with the Hotel Association, waiting for the date," Joaquin Gonzalez told the Riviera Maya News. "The sooner the better, but it must be remembered that this does not depend on the state sector or the private sector, but rather a protocol of phases of the same vaccines, which are carried out worldwide."



Caribbean Business Coordinating Council (CCEC) President Ivan Ferrat Mancera said the



Joaquin Gonzalez revealed that once local governments can buy the vaccines, the tourism industry will come together to make a joint purchase and accelerate vaccination, instead of depending on the current federal government protocols.



Original article Mexican government official announced states are working to ensure all employees associated with the tourism industry receive a coronavirus vaccination as soon as possible.According to the Riviera Maya News, Quintana Roo Governor Carlos Joaquin Gonzalez said 1.5 million COVID-19 vaccine doses have been ordered for tourist workers and they are expected to be delivered between April and May.In order to make sure the vaccination process is fair, Joaquin Gonzalez and other officials are working with the Ministry of Foreign Relations to develop a registration group between the states interested in vaccinating employees in the travel industry.The registration group includes local business chambers and hotel associations that have each committed to purchasing a certain number of vaccines for their workers, including employees in bars and restaurants."We are doing synergy with the Hotel Association, waiting for the date," Joaquin Gonzalez told the Riviera Maya News. "The sooner the better, but it must be remembered that this does not depend on the state sector or the private sector, but rather a protocol of phases of the same vaccines, which are carried out worldwide."Caribbean Business Coordinating Council (CCEC) President Ivan Ferrat Mancera said the Cancun Hotel Association is already part of the registered group preparing a database for hospitality industry employees.Joaquin Gonzalez revealed that once local governments can buy the vaccines, the tourism industry will come together to make a joint purchase and accelerate vaccination, instead of depending on the current federal government protocols.



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The EU executive will investigate whether power company PPC abused its dominant position in the member state's wholesale electricity market to squeeze out competitors.The European Commission is investigating whether Greek national utility the Public Power Corporation (PPC) abused its dominant position in the wholesale electricity sector by using "predatory bidding strategies." The commission yesterday announced it had opened an antitrust investigation into the state-owned power company, and said the alleged conduct, if proven, may have slowed green energy investment. Margrethe Vestager, the commission ...

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
As Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces a re-election battle next week, hes missing an ally he could rely on during three previous votes over the past two years: Donald Trump.

The American former presidents conservative base was avidly pro-Israel and Trump fulfilled a wishlist for the hawkish Netanyahu.

Trump recognised Jerusalem as Israels capital, blessed settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories and doled out US incentives for Arab nations to normalise ties with the Jewish state.

Netanyahu cited his closeness with Trump to bolster his candidacy, printing the former presidents face on his posters during past campaigns.

The prime minister actually said to his followers: See, whenever I want, I knock on the door of the White House and the White House opens the door, Tamar Hermann, a political scientist at the Open University of Israel, told AFP.

President Joe Biden represents a dramatically different political reality for Netanyahu, who is seeking to extend his record 12 consecutive years in power on March 23.

In this vote, the presence of the American administration is minimal, Hermann said.

 No alternatives? 

Netanyahu and Biden have both affirmed a decades-long friendship, but they have sharp policy differences, especially concerning Iran.

Biden has sought a return to the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, an agreement loathed by Netanyahu which Trump had scrapped.

The Democratic president is also expected to renew US criticism of Jewish settlement expansion in the West Bank.

Theres no love for Netanyahu in this administration and among Democratic elites, said Shibley Telhami, an expert on US policy in the Middle East at the University of Maryland.

The problem for them right now is that the practical alternatives to him are almost equally bad.

Several of Netanyahus former allies have joined rival right-wing parties.

Polls show none of those new factions is likely to beat Netanyahus Likud, but they have shifted Israeli politics further to the right.

Bidens ideology may align most closely with Israels centrist Yesh Atid party led by Yair Lapid, which is predicted to finish second behind Likud.

Veteran US Democratic political consultant Mark Mellman, who is advising the challenger, said Lapid shares Bidens values and counts the president as a friend.

Biden is for a two-state solution. There are parties running in Israel that are opposed to a two-state solution, Mellman said.

Still, theres nothing that [Biden] has done that suggests that he wants to play a favourite here at all.

David Makovsky, a senior fellow at the pro-Israel Washington Institute for Near East Policy, said even if Biden wanted to back a Netanyahu rival, any alternative coalition could face collapse under ideological divisions.

They agree they want to get rid of Netanyahu. That gets them through the first month, but what do they agree on after that? said Makovsky.

Moreover, he told AFP, the Biden administrations attention is elsewhere.

The administration has got a lot on its plate with Covid, Covid, Covid, 500,000 Americans killed, all the economic implications of Covid, and its just crowding out a lot of issues, he said.

 Not Mideast focused 

Biden has signalled he will not reverse some of Trumps moves that were popular in Israel.

He does not intend to return the US embassy to Tel Aviv and his administration supports the Trump-brokered agreements that saw Israel normalise ties with the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco and Sudan.

Washingtons criticism of an International Criminal Court probe into possible Israeli war crimes in the West Bank and Gaza was also welcomed across the Israeli political spectrum.

The US is going to work with whoever emerges, Dan Shapiro, who served as Barack Obamas ambassador to Israel, told AFP.

But the broader picture is that President Bidens overriding priorities right now are generally not Middle East focused.

Rather than aim for a comprehensive peace deal, Biden will focus on improving daily life for Palestinians by restoring aid and renewing diplomatic missions, which Trump cut off, Shapiro predicted.

Domestically, Biden faces only limited calls from progressives to advocate harder for the Palestinian cause.

Last week Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, an independent, and four Democratic senators asked Secretary of State Tony Blinken to pressure Israel to do more to help Palestinians get coronavirus vaccines.

Israel is the world leader in Covid vaccinations per capita, but has only offered a limited quantity of doses to the Palestinians, who have yet to launch large-scale inoculations in the occupied West Bank or Israeli-blockaded Gaza.
Blockbases New Approach is Subduing Blockchain Challenges Blockbase Consultants intends to shift mindsets, transform businesses, and curate ecosystems through exponentiation and automation of trust, thereby building solutions that transform the world of blockchain.

Leading IT organization Blockbase Consultants look forward to providing a strategic approach for overcoming the challenges in the adoption of blockchain technology. Blockbase aims to make to most of its abilities to remove intermediaries, automate trust and enforce business rules, thereby looking forward to enabling the internet of value.

Taking particular innovation objectives into consideration, Blockbase aims to improve productivity, efficiency and strive towards a transformation, thereby hoping for a quantum leap in the outcome. The organization endeavors to be disruptive to enable new business models, thereby looking forward to bringing a change in the blockchain industry.

Speaking about the strategic approach with the media, Raj Chowdhury, CEO of Blockbase Consultants, commented, Blockbase Consultants intends to shift mindsets, transform businesses, and curate ecosystems through exponentiation and automation of trust, thereby building solutions that transform the world of blockchain. Our strategic approach aligns with market dynamics, evolving technologies, and organizational priorities, thereby reshaping our business value model.

Intending to reshape the world of digital transformation, Blockbases solutions help fuel growth, thereby driving transformation and hyper-productivity, hence facilitating new business models. Owing to the digital arena, some of Blockbases services include product development, system integration, blockchain IoT development, blockchain traceability, security token offering, smart contracts blockchain, and blockchain consulting services.

Owing to mitigating the challenges standing in the path of digital transformation, Blockbase aims to curate and govern ecosystems that happen to essential for harnessing its potential. With a strategic approach, they aim to sustain leadership commitment, thereby bringing change in the world of blockchain technology.

-About Blockbase Consultants:

Blockbase Consultants is a global technology consulting and services company, helping enterprises marry scale with agility to achieve competitive advantage. Operating in more than 15 countries across the world, they are consistently regarded as one of the best places to work, embodied every day by their winning culture made up of over 22,000 entrepreneurial, collaborative, and dedicated consultants. They offer Blockchain, AI and Big data products, platforms, and services that blend with traditional software to create a competitive advantage for clients around the world.
Average Starting Salary & BGSU Placement Rate



The average salary of a new graduate nurse is $65,024, according to a salary.com user-reported survey from February 2021. As a working qualified nurse, you will have opportunities to travel with your job, work in different settings and continue your learning journey.

Registered nursing (RN) is listed among the top occupations in terms of job growth through 2026, with a projected need of an additional 203,700 new RNs each year to fill newly created positions and replace retiring nurses. This is according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2016-2026. They also report that the median nurse salary in 2019 was $73,300 per year.

Students who graduate with a Bachelor of Science in nursing degree have many gainful employment opportunities throughout the country. Typical nursing jobs are in hospitals, clinics or physicians offices, but opportunities also include schools and camps, correctional facilities, cruise ships and the military, just to name a few.

In 2019, the Ohio Board of Nursing provided a summary of employment rates for Ohio that showed 95% of nurses with an active license are employed.
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

A new study published in the prestigious peer-reviewed scientific journal Nature today offers a combined solution to several of humanity's most pressing challenges. It is the most comprehensive assessment to date of where strict ocean protection can contribute to a more abundant supply of healthy seafood and provide a cheap, natural solution to address climate changein addition to protecting embattled species and habitats.

An international team of 26 authors identified specific areas that, if protected, would safeguard over 80% of the habitats for endangered marine species, and increase fishing catches by more than eight million metric tons. The study is also the first to quantify the potential release of carbon dioxide into the ocean from trawling, a widespread fishing practiceand finds that trawling is pumping hundreds of millions of tons of carbon dioxide into the ocean every year, a volume of emissions similar to those of aviation.

"Ocean life has been declining worldwide because of overfishing, habitat destruction and climate change. Yet only 7% of the ocean is currently under some kind of protection," said Dr. Enric Sala, explorer in residence at the National Geographic Society and lead author of the study, Protecting the global ocean for biodiversity, food and climate.

"In this study, we've pioneered a new way to identify the places thatif strongly protectedwill boost food production and safeguard marine life, all while reducing carbon emissions," Dr. Sala said. "It's clear that humanity and the economy will benefit from a healthier ocean. And we can realize those benefits quickly if countries work together to protect at least 30% of the ocean by 2030."

To identify the priority areas, the authorsleading marine biologists, climate experts, and economistsanalyzed the world's unprotected ocean waters based on the degree to which they are threatened by human activities that can be reduced by marine protected areas (for example, overfishing and habitat destruction). They then developed an algorithm to identify those areas where protections would deliver the greatest benefits across the three complementary goals of biodiversity protection, seafood production and climate mitigation. They mapped these locations to create a practical "blueprint" that governments can use as they implement their commitments to protect nature.

The study does not provide a single map for ocean conservation, but it offers a first-in-kind framework for countries to decide which areas to protect depending on their national priorities. However, the analysis shows that 30% is the minimum amount of ocean that the world must protect in order to provide multiple benefits to humanity.

"There is no single best solution to save marine life and obtain these other benefits. The solution depends on what societyor a given countrycares about, and our study provides a new way to integrate these preferences and find effective conservation strategies," said Dr. Juan S. Mayorga, a report co-author and a marine data scientist with the Environmental Market Solutions Lab at UC Santa Barbara and Pristine Seas at National Geographic Society.

The study comes ahead of the 15th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity, which is expected to take place in Kunming, China in 2021. The meeting will bring together representatives of 190 countries to finalize an agreement to end the world's biodiversity crisis. The goal of protecting 30% of the planet's land and ocean by 2030 (the "30x30" target) is expected to be a pillar of the treaty. The study follows commitments by the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, the European Commission and others to achieve this target on national and global scales.

Safeguarding Biodiversity

The report identifies highly diverse marine areas in which species and ecosystems face the greatest threats from human activities. Establishing marine protected areas (MPAs) with strict protection in those places would safeguard more than 80% of the ranges of endangered species, up from a current coverage of less than 2%.

The authors found that the priority locations are distributed throughout the ocean, with the vast majority of them contained within the 200-mile Exclusive Economic Zones of coastal nations.

The additional protection targets are located in the high seasthose waters governed by international law. These include the Mid-Atlantic Ridge (a massive underwater mountain range), the Mascarene Plateau in the Indian Ocean, the Nazca Ridge off the west coast of South America and the Southwest Indian Ridge, between Africa and Antarctica.

"Perhaps the most impressive and encouraging result is the enormous gain we can obtain for biodiversity conservationif we carefully chose the location of strictly protected marine areas," said Dr. David Mouillot, a report co-author and a professor at the Universite de Montpellier in France. "One notable priority for conservation is Antarctica, which currently has little protection, but is projected to host many vulnerable species in a near future due to climate change."

Shoring up the Fishing Industry

The study finds that smartly placed marine protected areas (MPAs) that ban fishing would actually boost the production of fishat a time when supplies of wild-caught fish are dwindling and demand is rising. In doing so, the study refutes a long-held view that ocean protection harms fisheries and opens up new opportunities to revive the industry just as it is suffering from a recession due to overfishing and the impacts of global warming.

"Some argue that closing areas to fishing hurts fishing interests. But the worst enemy of successful fisheries is overfishingnot protected areas," Dr. Sala said.

The study finds that protecting the right places could increase the catch of seafood by over 8 million metric tons relative to business as usual.

"It's simple: When overfishing and other damaging activities cease, marine life bounces back," said Dr. Reniel Cabral, a report co-author and assistant researcher with the Bren School of Environmental Science & Management and Marine Science Institute at UC Santa Barbara. "After protections are put in place, the diversity and abundance of marine life increase over time, with measurable recovery occurring in as little as three years. Target species and large predators come back, and entire ecosystems are restored within MPAs. With time, the ocean can heal itself and again provide services to humankind."

Soaking up Carbon

The study is the first to calculate the climate impacts of bottom trawling, a damaging fishing method used worldwide that drags heavy nets across the ocean floor. It finds that the amount of carbon dioxide released into the ocean from this practice is larger than most countries' annual carbon emissions, and similar to annual carbon dioxide emissions from global aviation.

"The ocean floor is the world's largest carbon storehouse. If we're to succeed in stopping global warming, we must leave the carbon-rich seabed undisturbed. Yet every day, we are trawling the seafloor, depleting its biodiversity and mobilizing millennia-old carbon and thus exacerbating climate change. Our findings about the climate impacts of bottom trawling will make the activities on the ocean's seabed hard to ignore in climate plans going forward," said Dr. Trisha Atwood of Utah State University, a co-author of the paper.

The study finds that countries with the highest potential to contribute to climate change mitigation via protection of carbon stocks are those with large national waters and large industrial bottom trawl fisheries. It calculates that eliminating 90% of the present risk of carbon disturbance due to bottom trawling would require protecting only about 4% of the ocean, mostly within national waters.

Closing a Gap

The study's range of findings helps to close a gap in our knowledge about the impacts of ocean conservation, which to date had been understudied relative to land-based conservation.

"The ocean covers 70% of the earthyet, until now, its importance for solving the challenges of our time has been overlooked," said Dr. Boris Worm, a study co-author and Killam Research Professor at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia. "Smart ocean protection will help to provide cheap natural climate solutions, make seafood more abundant and safeguard imperiled marine speciesall at the same time. The benefits are clear. If we want to solve the three most pressing challenges of our centurybiodiversity loss, climate change and food shortages we must protect our ocean."

Explore further Effective planning ahead protects fish and fisheries

More information: Protecting the global ocean for biodiversity, food and climate, Nature (2021). Journal information: Nature Protecting the global ocean for biodiversity, food and climate,(2021). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-021-03371-z

Provided by Pristine Seas
Ontario Superior Court Strikes Down Election Law Restricting Free Speech

An Ontario judge has declared as unconstitutional a section of Canadas election law designed to prohibit certain kinds of false statements during the period of a federal election.

Ontario Superior Court Justice Breese Davies released a decision on Feb. 19 declaring Section 91(1) of the Canada Elections Act (CEA) as an unjustifiable infringement on the free-speech rights of Canadians.

The Canadian Constitution Foundation (CCF), which had launched the court challenge in September 2019, called Davies ruling a major free-speech victory.

This legislation had the potential to fine and even imprison people for honest mistakes. This would create a chilling effect on the free exchange of political ideas and opinions, and the law acts as a form of unjustified censorship, CCF executive director Joanna Baron said in a statement on Feb. 19.

This result will improve the electoral process and also protects the fundamental right to freedom of expression, she said, adding that the decision is a major victory for Canadian voters and freedom of expression.

Section 91(1) makes it against the law for any person or entity to try to influence election results by making or publishing certain false statements about a candidate, a prospective candidate, the leader of a political party, or any public figure associated with a political party, such as that the person has committed an offence or has been charged with or is under investigation for an offence.

The section also prohibits false statements about those individuals citizenship, place of birth, education, professional qualifications, or membership in a group or association.

The CCF had launched the court challenge on Sept. 18, 2019, a week after amendments to Section 91(1) came into affect as part of the passage of Bill C-76 in 2018.

The bill made a number of significant amendments that prompted the constitutional challenge. One was to prohibit false statements about a broader category of people. Another was to remove the requirement that someone must knowingly make or publish false statements about the personal character of conduct of a candidate before or during an election.

The CCF argued that the amended Section 91(1) allowed the government to censor whatever it considers to be fake news.

The prohibition leaves important words like false, public figure, and associated with undefined, said the CCF in a September 2019 statement.

Further, the state need not prove knowledge of falsity: A person or entity who made or published an allegedly false statement, such as by posting or re-posting a comment on social media, can be prosecuted even if they honestly believed the statement to be true, and even if there was a reasonable basis for this belief.

The CCF added, The result is that the law casts an exceedingly broad net and could be used to shut down all manner of political speech that is protected by the Charter.

Davies stressed the importance of free speech in her judgment.

The free exchange of political ideas is essential to a properly functioning democracy. Political speech is the most valuable and protected type of expression, she wrote.

She also ruled that with the removal of knowingly from Section 91(1), the prohibition as stated cannot meet the minimal impairment requirement of a Charter right.

The Attorney General of Canada (AGC), a respondent of the constitutional challenge, had asked Davies to suspend her ruling for 12 months. But Davies argued since the AGC did not make a substantive argument that her ruling could pose a danger to the public or imperil the rule of law, it would take effect immediately.

I recognize that if I decline to suspend the declaration of invalidity, there is a risk that a federal election might be called before Parliament can enact a replacement to s. 91 of the CEA, should it wish to do so, Davies wrote.
Phuket moves to help vulnerable families, children

PHUKET: A total of 320 families with young children in Phuket and nearby provinces considered to be vulnerable during the current economic crisis have received direct assistance from the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security under a project that has also assigned funds to support 30 shelters for homeless people in provinces along the Andaman coast.

COVID-19Coronaviruseconomics

By The Phuket News

Wednesday 17 March 2021, 05:45PM

Minister of Social Development and Human Security Juti Krairiksh stands with leading representatives of the project in Phuket at the Early Childhood Promotion event at Phuket Merlin Hotel in Phuket Town last Saturday (Mar 13). Photo: PR Phuket

The project involves 12 ministries and one government agency with the goal to provide vulnerable people assistance through the six provinces Phuket, Krabi, Trang, Phang Nga, Ranong, and Satun, Social Development and Human Security Minister Juti Krairiksh explained during a visit to Phuket last Saturday (Mar 13).

The 12 ministries and one government agency involved are the Prime Ministers Office; Ministry of Interior; Ministry of Social Development and Human Security; Ministry of Education; Ministry of Defence; Ministry of Tourism and Sports; Ministry of Higher Education; Science, Research and Innovation; Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives; Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Labour; Ministry of Culture; Ministry of Public Health; and the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, Mr Juti explained.

All local government administrations (municipalities and OrBorTor) had been asked to report the number of vulnerable people in their areas so that the information obtained is correct, and that effective action could be taken to help families, and especially young children, deemed to be at risk of extraordinary hardship, Mr Juti said.

Phuket Vice Governor Piyapong said plainly that the COVID-19 crisis has had a huge impact on the economy nationwide.

He defined the people recognised as vulnerable as:

People who are suffering financial problems, having insufficient income to make a living;

People in need of special support as they are caring for children, disabled or elderly family members;

Disabled people who have no caretakers, no jobs, and no income

People who could not access to state welfare rights (as they have not been issued a government welfare card);

Elderly from poor families who live alone with no work and no income;

People who are physically unable to access free services provided by the government, such as homeless, people with HIV, people with chronic illnesses, people with mental illness, and people who have no health insurance; and

Indigenous people who are in dire need of help.

The Phuket Provincial Government has collected information on vulnerable people, in a project that local government organisations across the island have coordinated with, so that relevant government agencies or other private organisations can provide them help with transparency, Vice Governor Piyapong said.

The Thai People Map and Analytics Platform (TPMAP) database has been used as an information resource for analysis and planning to help those vulnerable people to receive appropriate welfare support from the government, he added.

According to the TPMAP report, Phuket has 4,551 people who are recognised as vulnerable according to the definitions provided, Vice Governor Piyapong noted.

BAAN MAN KONG

A total of 191 households in the Tha Jeen community in Rassada, on the east side of Phuket Town, and a further 433 households of the King Kaew community nearby have received financial support under the Phuket Provincial Governments Ban Man Kong Project, Vice Governor Piyapong said.

The project, through the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, is responsible for taking action to help the poor and homeless with unstable housing and facing financial difficulty, he explained.

The projects main purpose was to help provide them with some money to solve their housing problems, and to help develop the community as a whole, he said.

Another project to help poor families to cope with financial hardship during the ongoing economic crisis was Day Care Night Care project, a coordinated effort by the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, Ministry of Public Health, Ministry of Interior and Ministry of Education, V/Gov Piyapong explained.

Currently, there are 44,567 preschool children (0-6 years old), comprising 18,688 children who are in schools, and 25,879 children who have not yet entered any schools, he said.

There are still 11,936 children who have been taken into care under the government project Child Support Grant, he added.

All sectors, including government, parents, family, the local community and society at large, all play a big role in educating their children so that the children can be given opportunities and a safe environment for their development in all aspects, he said.
Members of China's 5th peacekeeping infantry battalion to South Sudan take a military exercise in South Sudan, on Jan. 4, 2019. (Photo by Zhu Xiaonan/Xinhua)

BEIJING, March 16 (Xinhua) -- China supports early COVID-19 vaccination for UN peacekeepers and will work with the UN Secretariat to make vaccines donated by China available to the UN peacekeepers at an early date, a foreign ministry spokesperson said here Tuesday.

Spokesperson Zhao Lijian's remarks came after China's permanent representative to the United Nations Zhang Jun on Monday notified UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres of China's intention to donate 300,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines to UN peacekeepers, with priority given to the African mission area.

This is a concrete measure to fulfill China's pledge to make vaccines global public goods, Zhao said, adding that it has fully demonstrated China's support to the UN and multilateralism as well as its concern for the health and safety of peacekeepers.

As one of the champions of the safety and security issue under the "Action for Peacekeeping" initiative of the UN secretary-general, China attaches great importance to the safety and security of peacekeepers, and supports early COVID-19 vaccination for UN peacekeepers to protect their health and help them better perform their duties, he said.

"China will work closely with the UN Secretariat to make vaccines donated by China available to the UN peacekeepers at an early date," said Zhao.
(Photo : Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images) A logo sits illuminated outside the Samsung pavilion on the opening day of the World Mobile Congress at the Fira Gran Via Complex on February 22, 2016 in Barcelona, Spain.

Samsung gears up for its second big product launch of the year, as they sent out invites to a second "Unpacked" event that the company will broadcast at 7 a.m. PT on March 17.

Called the "Galaxy Awesome Unpacked," the South Korean electronics giant is expected to announce the latest of its affordable Galaxy A series of smartphones.

The upcoming event, as Samsung described, will explain how the company is "bringing Awesome to everyone."

While the invite image and teaser video did not include generic silhouettes of the products, a wide range of leaks beamed up the chances of unearthing the Samsung A52 5G and A72 models.

Also Read: Samsung 870 Evo SSD Vs 860 SSD: Price and Speed Comparison

Latest Galaxy A Series

Many speculate that the event will finally introduce the Galaxy A52 (5G) and A72 devices - the first of the mid-range phones to have high refresh rate Super AMOLED Infinity-O displays with Full HD+ resolution and Gorilla Glass 5.

According to an exclusive report from Sam Mobile, both the Galaxy A52 and the Galaxy A72 will have a 90Hz display, making the user experience a lot smoother.

Meanwhile, the Galaxy A52 (5G) will have a 120Hz display that was almost exclusive to Samsung's flagship phones in the past.

Both the A52 and A72 will have the Snapdragon 720G processor, while the 5G variants will have the Snapdragon 750G processor.

All models will come with Android 11 and probably with version 3.1 of One UI, as well as 6GB/8GB RAM, 128GB/256GB storage, and a microSD card slot.

The leaked marketing material first revealed on Voice confirms that the A52 will have a 6.5-inch screen, and the A72 will have a 6.7-inch screen, but the details are yet to be officially confirmed by Samsung.

The A52 (5G) is also rumored to have a 64MP main rear camera, a 5MP depth camera, a 12MP ultra-wide camera, a 5MP macro camera, a 32MP front-facing camera, an optical image stabilization, a 4,500 mAh battery with 25W super-fast charging support, and an on-screen fingerprint sensor.

There is also a good chance that the 5G model will receive monthly security updates just like Samsung's higher-end phones, as the A52 (5G) appears in the monthly update cycle of the security update page.

Highlighting Budget Phones

Samsung seems to be following the trend found across the mobile industry when it decided to give the spotlight to its less expensive phones.

According to a report from AP, Samsung Electronics America Vice President of Product Management Drew Blackard said in an interview that the company is trying to make its devices more affordable to consumers struggling to make ends meet.

In September 2020, Samsung launched the Galaxy S20 FE for $700, which is $300 less than its S20 counterpart.

Samsung then announced in January 2021 that the new Galaxy S21 models would cost $200 less than the S20 models from a year earlier.

The move is believed to be because of the decrease in component costs and the recognition that the coronavirus pandemic made it harder to convince people to spend $1,000 for a phone.

To watch the event, below is the YouTube channel where it will be livestreamed, but enthusiasts can also check out Samsung's official website.

Related Article: Samsung Galaxy Note 21 FE Fan Edition: Specs, Price, Release Date, and MORE! Is it an S21 Ultra Copy Cat?

This article is owned by Tech Times

Written by Lee Mercado

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Wiseman's particular genius has been to map the contours of American life through its institutions, big and small, something he achieves to mesmerizing effect in movies as different as "High School" (1968), "Hospital" (1970), "Public Housing" (1997), "La Danse: The Paris Opera Ballet" (2009) and "At Berkeley" (2013). Fittingly enough, given the venue, his latest magnum opus, and one of his finest, is "Ex Libris: The New York Public Library" (2017). It's the one Wiseman doc that isn't available on Kanopy yet, but it will be in the fall, following its broadcast on PBS.
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Hurricane season 2021 is here: How do storms get their names?
Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism.
THOUSAND OAKS, Calif., March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, SynED, a national non-profit organization that identifies emerging best practices for effective articulation between employers, job seekers, and education providers, announced that David Cumbow was selected as its national Cyber Hero for March 2021.

David Cumbow David Cumbow Selected as SynEDs Cyber Hero for Bringing a Holistic Approach to Cybersecurity Education

Cumbow is a systems engineering manager at Palo Alto Networks, a leading global cybersecurity firm. He is also an adviser to SynED's Cyber-Guild, a community for cybersecurity and CTE professionals and board member of the Aaron Barnett Foundation, an organization founded after the passing of his former mentor.

He began his career working in IT at the Moreno Valley Unified School District, where he developed his own love of computers as a student just a few years before. Cumbow's position at the school district and close proximity in age to the students made him an ideal choice to talk with the school's CyberPatriot teams and work experience students.

Once he got in front of the students, however, Cumbow quickly realized that he would be much more successful connecting cybersecurity to other career fields that students were more likely to know, like law enforcement or the medical field.

"Aaron [Barnett] thought it was important to put someone young in front of them and show them the personal side of what drives a passion for cybersecurity," Cumbow said. "Early on, there was a lot of realization that not everyone is excited about the same things I am, and I started to tweak my presentation to be more relevant to IT in fields students were interested in."

Cumbow and Barnett also worked together to create a Student Technology Advisory Committee within the district, which allowed them to make technology decisions based on input from the people who would actually be using those devices and services. The committee's recommendations helped inform Chromebook purchases and changes to Internet firewalls based on grade level rather than a blanket policy for the entire district.

David Thurston, chief technology officer at the San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools, was the Network Manager at Moreno Valley and started working with Cumbow nearly 20 years ago. Though Cumbow was just out of high school himself, Thurston could already see the potential for his career in technology.

"It was great watching him grow his skillset as he progressed from a student worker into a field tech, then ultimately ended up in my former position as network manager," Thurston said. "David is a life-long learner in the field of cybersecurity and is always willing to share his considerable knowledge and skill with others, and specifically young engineers and techs working in the K-12 and public sector so that they can grow to be cybersecurity leaders."

Eventually, Cumbow found himself at a professional fork in the road. He could either advance within the K-12 IT field to become a CTO or move into the private sector. He'd worked closely with Palo Alto Networks and joined the company to help solve the problems he'd been working on at the school district on a larger scale.

Elton Fontaine, senior director of systems engineering at Palo Alto Networks, said Cumbow quickly established himself as one of the company's top engineers. His leadership has helped expand the company's work in the public sector.

"David has done more than anyone in Palo Alto Networks to execute on a vision of making every day more secure than the day before as students increasingly rely on technology to facilitate their learning," Fontaine said. "He truly has a passion for customers in this space and proactively owns and drives initiatives internally that allow us to better focus on and secure these customers."

Maggie Bunten, director of technology for the Chino Valley Unified School District, is one of those customers and praised Cumbow's passion for cybersecurity education and how K-12 education can help establish successful career pathways for students. Bunten said Cumbow has also been instrumental in helping the district navigate the transition to remote learning over the past year.

"He is able to empathize with the needs of K-12, as well as the budget and staffing restraints that most organizations face," Bunten said. "He is also a big advocate for engaging students and providing opportunities for districts to work with organizations that can provide low-cost or no-cost cybersecurity curriculum to our schools. He is an all-around kind, caring, brilliant mind who cares about the K-12 space."

Seeing the bigger picture in his role at Palo Alto Networks helped Cumbow realize the extent of the cybersecurity deficiency in the United States.

"There are aspects of the industry that we're not even talking about [in classrooms] like AI, machine learning and identity and access management," Cumbow said. "We talk about this big shortfall in talent, but no one talks about what within cybersecurity are we missing and what's coming down the pike."

However, Cumbow is confident that those conversations will accelerate as cybersecurity becomes more front and center in the national conversation. Much like the presentations he gave to Moreno Valley's students, he sees the best opportunity for progress by connecting cybersecurity with other things people are interested in, like medical informatics or risk assessment.

"People need to get comfortable with cybersecurity in general and understand the implications of not securing data versus securing our data," Cumbow said. "Once that starts happening, the skills gap will close as people understand that cybersecurity is not just about staring at logs all day."

In fact, Cumbow sees a world in the not-too-distant future where machine learning and other technologies can take over those more mundane tasks and free up cybersecurity workers to tackle bigger, more intellectually-engaging problems and questions.

Cumbow is currently pursuing his master's degree in Cybersecurity Operations and Leadership at the University of San Diego and hopes to start teaching at the college level upon completing the program.

"If you're passionate about what you do, and turn around and share the skills with those around you, it will help all of us be successful in building a better curriculum," he said. "It's not a competition; the more we all share, the better off we'll become."

About Palo Alto Networks

Palo Alto Networks, the global cybersecurity leader, is shaping the cloud-centric future with technology that is transforming the way people and organizations operate. The company's mission is to be the cybersecurity partner of choice, protecting our digital way of life. We help address the world's greatest security challenges with continuous innovation that seizes the latest breakthroughs in artificial intelligence, analytics, automation, and orchestration.

About the Aaron Barnett Foundation

Established in 2019, the Aaron Barnett Foundation serves to empower young students in public schools in their pursuit of higher education and careers in cybersecurity. The foundation's mission and objectives are to develop, promote, and enhance cybersecurity programs and capabilities within the K-12 education sector in California.

About SynED

SynED's CyberHero series, which highlights cyber heroes who quietly go above and beyond in helping to secure our nation and communities, is a monthly column published nationally. SynED is a non-profit organization that acts as a catalyst to help colleges and other higher education partners equip students with the skills they need to enrich their lives through education, knowledge, and skill acquisition, giving them rich career opportunities. SynED also maintains a community for CTE professionals at Cyber-Guild.org.

Contact:

866-420-4573

Liz Fraumann

[email protected]

SOURCE SynED
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Gene synthesis is one of the powerful and flexible molecule engineering tool in synthetic biology for chemical DNA synthesis. From the first artificial gene synthesis in 1970 by Gobind Khoranas group, there occurs subsequent improvements in DNA synthesis, sequencing, amplification and automation. Various regional as well as global market players are present for providing the commercial gene synthesis services. Gene synthesis technology has revolutionized the biology research these days. These synthetic genes are used by researchers for various life science research domains such as cancer biology, neuroscience, virology, antibody engineering, biochemistry, genetics and others.

The gene synthesis market has seen a robust growth in the industrial end user segment these days for commercial applications. Continuous research is going on for novel gene synthesis assisting the production of sustainable biofuels and the enzymes for therapeutics. Gene synthesis has also been considered more economical than the classical cloning and mutagenesis procedures.

The achievements by the life science researchers and scientists in the recent years have expanded the understanding of biological systems at the molecular level which generated more opportunities and growths in life science research and applications.

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Thus, there is a continuous growth opportunities for manufacturing companies for focusing towards this end user segment which can be used to create well-designed products and services. Advancements in the technology such as microchip based gene synthesis would also going to be helpful in the market growth and significantly increasing the throughput.

Gene Synthesis Market: Drivers & Restraints

Research & developments associated with the gene synthesis as well as continuous improvement in the technological processes such as protein purification and molecular separation technology helps in driving the market by developing fast, reliable and cost effective solutions. Cuts in the federal fundings for various academic research projects, intensifying competition leading to price reduction, technical limitations in the production process etc. limits the market growth for gene synthesis services.

Gene Synthesis Market: Segmentation

Segmentation by Product Type:

Custom Gene Synthesis

Gene Library Synthesis

Segmentation by Application:

Research and Development Academic Industrial

Diagnosis

Therapeutics

Segmentation by End User

Biopharmaceutical Companies

Academic and Research Institutes

Contract Research Organizations

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Gene Synthesis Market: Overview

Companies involved in the Gene Synthesis services market strategize to strengthening their sales force and expanding their production facilities in different geographies such as IDT recently completed a multi-year expansion of its production facility in Leuven by the vision of expanding their customer base in Europe and MEA. Furthermore, the market has number of established global players which possess a high entry barrier for the new players as more than 60% of the gene synthesis market is driven by top 5 players across the globe.

Geographical expansion and expansion of manufacturing capacities are another key opportunity which would be helping companies in brand improvement and market penetration. With a great competition in the synthetic biology market and the presence of various regional players, companies are focused on their services improvisations by delivering fast and cost effective oligonucleotide with high purity.

Gene Synthesis Market: Region-wise Outlook

Geographically, North America is the leading market for gene synthesis services owing to the high demand by academic institutes as well as biopharmaceutical companies. The presence of large number of players in the market with their strong distribution channel also supports the market growth in the region.

This is followed by the Western Europe market supported by the increasing R&D expenditure by pharmaceutical and biotech companies for up gradation of technology and production output. Asia Pacific market represents the highest growth rate over the globe with China leading the market. The growth is due to the increasing investment by government as well as private organizations to support the growth of synthetic biology and its applications. Latin America followed by MEA represents the lowest market share in the Gene synthesis market owing to limited resources available in the region as well as low consumption trends.

Gene Synthesis Market Treatment Market: Key Players

Some of the players in the Gene Synthesis market includes Genewiz, OriGene Technologies, Inc., ATDBio Ltd., Bioneer Corporation, Eurofins Scientific, Integrated DNA Technologies, Inc., Atum, Eurogentec, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc., GenScript Biotech Corporation and others.

The research report presents a comprehensive assessment of the market and contains thoughtful insights, facts, historical data, and statistically supported and industry-validated market data. It also contains projections using a suitable set of assumptions and methodologies. The research report provides analysis and information according to market segments such as geographies, application, and industry.

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Regional analysis includes:

North America (U.S., Canada)

Latin America (Mexico. Brazil)

Western Europe (Germany, Italy, France, U.K, Spain)

Eastern Europe (Poland, Russia)

Asia Pacific (China, India, ASEAN, Australia & New Zealand)

Japan

Middle East and Africa (GCC Countries, S. Africa, Northern Africa)

The report is a compilation of first-hand information, qualitative and quantitative assessment by industry analysts, inputs from industry experts and industry participants across the value chain. The report provides in-depth analysis of parent market trends, macro-economic indicators and governing factors along with market attractiveness as per segments. The report also maps the qualitative impact of various market factors on market segments and geographies.
The severity of COVID-19 among the residents of long-term care facilities (LTCFs) has been reported to be disproportionately high. Specifically, individuals residing in skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) are found to be the most severely affected, both in terms of morbidity and mortality, and are, thereby, listed for early COVID-19 vaccination. In comparison to the general population, SNF residents are more vulnerable, with a weak immune system.

LTCFs and SNFs were not included in the clinical trials of COVID-19 vaccines. This resulted in a limitation, i.e., minimal data to determine the vaccine effectiveness (VE) for this vulnerable group. Additionally, in the case of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, the immunogenicity was found to be lower in the age group between 6585 years. However, for the younger population, the vaccine was found to be more efficient.

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) - Pharmacy Partnership for Long-Term Care Program has facilitated the on-site vaccination for the residents and staff of SNFs. This program involves end-to-end COVID-19 vaccination management. Several organizations are LTCFs, federal partners, including the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), and the American Health Care Association (AHCA) are working closely on this program.

On December 18, 2020, SNF residents and staff members in Connecticut had started receiving the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. The Connecticut Department of Public Health (CT DPH) had identified two SNFs (facility A and facility B) undergoing COVID-19 outbreaks in late January 2021. While investigating the situation, CT DPH, in partnership with CDC, conducted a retrospective cohort investigation and obtained electronic chart data of these facilities. In this study, a total of 463 residents were enrolled, containing 142 (31%) from facility A and 321 (69%) from facility B. The electronic data included details such as demographics, vaccination dates, presence of pre-existing medical conditions associated with potential increased risk for severe COVID-19 illness, hospitalization for COVID-19, and death.

The study, reported in the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), was conducted from the date of each SNFs first vaccination clinic, i.e., December 29, 2020, for facility A and December 21, 2020, for facility B, and ended on February 9, 2021, and February 12, 2021, respectively. All SNF residents, regardless of symptoms, were tested for COVID-19 using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test. In facility A, residents were tested once a week, and residents in facility B were tested twice a week. The staff members of both the SNF facilities were also tested regularly. Additionally, in both facilities, additional antigen testing was immediately conducted for any resident or staff member who showed COVID-19 symptoms or those who had been exposed to a COVID-19 patient.

New SARS-CoV-2 cases among residents of two skilled nursing facilities, by case date  Connecticut, December 21, 2020February 12, 2021

The current study revealed that the estimated effectiveness of partial vaccination in preventing COVID-19 disease was 63% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 33%79%) among residents and staff of these SNFs. Serological studies have shown that a single dose of the COVID-19 vaccine would develop a stronger response for individuals with pre-existing immunity. Additionally, towards the end of the study period, after the SNF residents were fully vaccinated. i.e., seven days following the second dose, researchers observed an insufficient number of new cases. The remaining unvaccinated group served as a comparative reference for estimation of full 2-dose VE.

This study revealed the efficacy of a single dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine in older adults and other age groups in non-congregate settings. Scientists have suggested that to optimize vaccine impact among this population, high coverage with the complete 2-dose series should be recommended for SNF residents and staff members.

This study has several limitations, some of which are as follows. Racial minority groups were underrepresented and ethnic data were not available. Estimating two-dose VE was not possible as the number of unvaccinated cases and person-time observations after the second dose of the vaccine were insufficient. Small sample sizes posed limitations for analyses of secondary endpoints (e.g., the vaccine's effectiveness against symptomatic illness and hospitalization).

The current investigation from this retrospective cohort analysis showed that partial vaccination with the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine could significantly reduce the risk for SARS-CoV-2 infection among SNF residents. Similar studies that included the older age group in Israel have reported more efficient protection against COVID-19 infection after completing the second vaccine dose. However, this study's most significant importance lies in the data validation and accurate accumulation of vaccination data using electronic medical records and active ascertainment of SARS-CoV-2 infection through frequent testing of the SNFs residents and staff. In the future, researchers recommend using a more extensive study sample for analysis.
[March 17, 2021] Mantle Appoints Paul DiLaura as Chief Commercial Officer

Mantle, a company whose metal 3D printing solution makes high-precision parts for the tooling industry, announced that Paul DiLaura joined the company as its Chief Commercial Officer. DiLaura brings over 20 years of experience building and leading teams that serve the manufacturing industry, most recently at Carbon and Dassault Systemes (News - Alert) . "We are changing the way manufacturers bring their products to market with a major innovation for the tooling industry. Paul's leadership will help ensure our customers and partners realize the full extent of this value," said Ted Sorom, Mantle CEO and co-founder. "Paul brings extensive experience in the domains of product strategy, marketing, sales, and customer success, which will help as we extend our reach beyond our already successful customer relationships." DiLaura joins Mantle after four years at Carbon, a leader in the plastics 3D printing market. While at Carbon, DiLaura helped bring three generations f printers and many new materials to markets such as automotive, industrial, consumer products, and medical devices. He also helped develop a network of Production Partners that produces parts with Carbon's technology worldwide. DiLaura started and grew the sales and applications engineering teams and was instrumental in bringing many industry-first 3D printed applications to volume production.



Before joining Carbon, DiLaura spent over ten years at Dassault Systemes. He served most recently as its Manager Director of North America, where he was responsible for all customer and partner relationships, marketing, and customer service in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. DiLaura is a graduate of the University of Michigan. "I am excited to help manufacturers reinvent how they create their critical tooling with Mantle's TrueShape technology," said DiLaura. "I joined Mantle because of our unique ability to make precision parts with trusted tool steels at a fraction of the time and cost of traditional manufacturing or other 3D printing processes. I look forward to working with manufacturers and partners to realize this value and to help evolve our technology."

About Mantle Mantle helps manufacturers bring new products to life faster, cheaper, and more easily than ever before with its patented TrueShapeTM metal 3D printing technology. TrueShapeTM delivers precision parts that dramatically cut the time and cost of making production-grade tools, molds, and dies. Mantle tools have produced hundreds of thousands of parts for customers - a number that grows each day. Mantle is headquartered in San Francisco, California. To learn more, visit mantle3d.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210317005634/en/

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New Delhi, March 17 : Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Wednesday that he will not let the Centre affect the development being done by the elected government of the national capital.

"We emerge protesting here at the same Jantar Mantar of Delhi so we don't worry about hurdles coming before us. I promise you, I would do everything that I can do for you, but I won't let you down," Kejriwal said to his party leaders and workers gathered to protest against the Centre's move to amend the National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2021.

"No matter how hard the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led Centre tries to derail us, we will not let the Centre take away the power of people of Delhi who have an elected government," Kejriwal added.

He urged the Centre to take back the bill that seeks to define certain roles and powers of the Lieutenant Governor of the national capital. "I want to appeal to the Centre to take back the GNCTD Bill, don't cheat the people with this legislation. Because, if it means that an elected government has no power, then it would cheat the people of this country in the name of electing their government," Kejriwal said.

The Centre has presented NCTD (amendment) 2021 in the Lok Sabha stating that the proposed amendment will 'promote harmonious relationship between the legislature and the executive and further to define the responsibilities of elected government and the appointed Lieutenant Governor of the national capital.

One major reason behind this agitation is that (as has been attributed by the AAP and the Congress) the amendment notes that the opinion of the LG will have to be sought on every decision taken by the ministers. Kejriwal recalled the incident in 2015 when he along with other cabinet colleagues had sat in protest at LG house for over three days.

"Our government proposed to install CCTV cameras across the national capital I had promised to the people of Delhi during our first election. LG office did not approve the project and put that file on hold for several months. Me and my other cabinet ministers sat in protest and came out only after the file was approved. So we do not worry about any hurdle that comes across while serving the people," Kejriwal said.

The AAP leadership has also argued that the amendments are intended to nullify the impact of the Supreme Court judgement in 2018, in which the top court clearly laid out that the LG would be bound by the aid and advice of the elected government except in matters pertaining to Police, Land and Law and Order of the city.

The AAP has been opposing the amendments, arguing that if the proposed Bill (NCTD - Act 2021) is passed by the Parliament, it would impact the power of the Delhi Assembly and the Government's schemes would be at the mercy of the LG.

Earlier in the day, the Congress also held a protest on the same issue and accused the BJP-led Centre of dictatorship and an attempt to murder democracy.

The Congress leaders also accused the Kejriwal-led AAP of acting at the behest of the BJP. "It's been more than two months, the Centre put a proposal to amend the NCTD Act 2021, and Kejriwal maintained a complete silence," said Anil Chaudhari, president of Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee.
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Before Dianne Morales secured her lane as an underdog, left-leaning candidate in New York Citys mayoral race, she was a longtime nonprofit executive leading organizations helping youth and families in the city. For former staff and nonprofit executives familiar with her, Morales was a well-respected leader with a passion for taking innovative approaches to helping underserved communities.

Her path into the nonprofit sector started while she spent a summer after her freshman year of college working at a residential camp, now known as Ramapo for Children, primarily serving inner-city kids. I recognized  that a lot of the kids that we were working with came from my zip code, Morales, who now sits on the board of the nonprofit, told City & State. And I sort of had a moment where I thought, well, why them and not me.

She went on to work as a caseworker for a foster organization and special education teacher before going to graduate school. From there, she became a founding member of Jumpstart, a national early education nonprofit. She then spent five years as executive director of The Door, a youth-serving organization she had incidentally received services at as a high schooler. But she most recently led Phipps Neighborhoods, a social services organization helping low-income families in the South Bronx with job training and educational programs.

Morales made her mark at Phipps Neighborhoods through new initiatives to help residents of the South Bronx, often through collaboration with other organizations.

One was a healthcare career training program done in partnership with Montefiore Health System and Hostos Community College, which guaranteed students who completed the program an interview with Montefiore. Of the 350 program graduates, around 74% were placed in careers in healthcare, according to a 2019 annual report from Phipps Neighborhoods.

Morales also worked with Childrens Aid, a child welfare nonprofit, to co-create South Bronx Rising Together in 2014. The initiative brought together government, nonprofits, businesses and others to collaborate on best strategies for helping youth across all ages in Bronx Community District 3 located in the South Bronx.

What was kind of unique about (these programs) in the social services sector is that, in (the) start, none of these programs had very logical funding streams, said Nancy Riedl, who used to serve as director of development and communications at Phipps Neighborhoods. Human services nonprofits rely heavily on city contracts which heavily influence the programs they take on, where Moraless new initiatives often started thanks to private funding. Dianne really felt like she wanted to take the opportunity to do something that was different and create potentially a different pathway, Riedl said.

Morales said the limitations of city funding remained one of the biggest obstacles for her as a leader. Public funding is not supportive or encouraging or nurturing of creative thinking or change, she said.

For another former Phipps Neighborhoods employee who worked closely with Morales, the initiatives Morales worked on showed her understanding of the importance of collaboration. She was a people leader who could inspire and motivate organizations to come together behind a big vision and execute towards that vision together, she said.

Michael Zisser also remembered her as a leader who thought strategically. Zisser used to lead both The Door and University Settlement, which had a legal partnership until this year, and worked closely with Morales when she was executive director of The Door. During that time, they were both heavily involved in executing a strategic plan for the nonprofit.

I think every item on that strategic plan ended up coming to fruition, he said. ... It's very rare when a not-for-profit develops a strategic plan that ever works out or is accomplished.

It was from that plan that the organization created a charter school called Broome Street Academy, which aims to educate students who are homeless, in the foster care system or from low-performing schools. In addition, Morales also helped The Door expand its support of LGBTQ teenagers. We started doing outreach at the Christopher Street Pier to engage some of the homeless youth, Morales said. And a lot of those homeless youth were LGBTQ youth who (were) pushed out or ran away from their home.

Beyond her work leading at Phipps Neighborhoods, Morales was often an outspoken voice in the nonprofit sector at-large. She was a board member of the Human Services Council, a membership organization advocating on behalf of social services nonprofits, and a member of the Nonprofit Resiliency Committee, a group convened by city government to hear the concerns of local nonprofits.

In those spaces, she spoke often of the importance for the city to fully fund organizations helping New Yorkers in need and of inequitable systems, said Michelle Jackson, the executive director of the Human Services Council.

When it comes to the nonprofit sector, there are many people who are willing to collaborate, Jackson said. But speaking up to government partners when youre funded by them is not an easy task, and she certainly embraced that role.

Margaret Crotty, executive director of Partnership with Children, knew Morales well from their time together at the Human Services Council as well as serving on various advisory bodies related to New York Citys community schools initiatives. Morales often spoke up about the importance of anti-racism in community schools, Crotty said. Phipps and Partnership with Children, we put resources behind frameworks for shared decision making, community voice, always making sure those metrics were first and foremost in the community school model.

The nonprofit leaders City & State interviewed did not make any endorsements of Moraless campaign, as charities are barred from making political endorsements for any candidate. But several said having a mayor who understood the challenges faced by nonprofits and the communities they serve would be a boon for the city. The city's recovery is going to be built on the backs of nonprofits, said Phoebe Boyer, head of Childrens Aid. Surviving COVID has been done on the backs of nonprofits.

And some noted that while Moraless expertise is in the nonprofit sector, she has communicated frequently with city agencies and businesses. Marjorie Parker, president and CEO of JobsFirstNYC, where Morales used to serve as a board member, said Phipps Neighborhoods was heavily involved in workforce development programs that connected the organization to local employers. She understands both the supply side, what challenges people have, but she has a good understanding of what happens also with, especially, small employers.

There are still major challenges associated with going from running a now $10 million nonprofit to running the countrys largest city. And shes been open about her own blindspots running as an outsider to government.

One of the things I said for years as people asked me about running for office was, I'm not diplomatic, she said. And so I think a different way of putting that today is that I'm not good at spin. She added that she would plan to surround herself with people with more institutional knowledge of New York City government if elected to ensure she was prepared.

For Crotty, Morales has also been quite consistent in her approach as both a nonprofit leader as well as a political candidate.

Nothing that she's saying or doing is out of character with what I think most of us who've worked with her in the nonprofit world have seen her say and do.

This article is part of our For The Record series, examining the leading mayoral contenders' professional records. You can read the rest of the series here.
Photo: Contributed

The cost of doing business can be revealing.

Take West Kelowna. It has three basic tiers for business licence renewals:

One at $60 a year

A second at $135 a year that takes into account a fire inspection

A third at $360 a year that considers a need for both fire and policing.

Cannabis stores fall into the third category  along with body rub parlours, escort services, and nightclubs.

To its credit, West Kelowna is by far one of the most affordable places in the Okanagan to renew a business licence as a cannabis retailer.

Other communities in the Valley single them out with sky-high fees.

Across the bridge in Kelowna, the yearly business licence renewal fee for a cannabis store is $9,465.

Pressure is mounting for municipalities to consider treating them equitably.

Earlier this month, Vancouver councillors voted to lower that citys whopping $34,000 yearly fee.

(In contrast, Vancouver liquor stores pay $429.)

Sarah Ballantyne, who owns Spiritleaf Vernon, wrote a letter earlier this month to Mayor Victor Cumming requesting the city consider lowering its fees.

As you know, the Cannabis Retail Application fee for the City of Vernon is $5,000 and the Cannabis Business Licensing fee is set at $2,000/annually, wrote Ballantyne. This fee is much higher than any other business licensing fee in Vernon.

She argues a liquor store similar in size to her cannabis store would pay a much lower rate of $185 per year.

Ballantyne says keeping the fee so high is unreasonable.

Vernons $2,000 renewal fee is more than double any other renewal fee  except that of a casino, which is also $2,000.

The City of Vernon says its administration will be reviewing the fees and reporting back to council. That report is anticipated later this year.

City fees are supposed to be commensurate with the cost to provide the service, says city spokeswoman Christy Poirier.

When the renewal fee of $2,000 was recommended and adopted, the city had the experience of over a dozen retailers in the community pre-legalization.

The service process required a great deal of staff time through various departments, including Planning, Building and Licensing, Bylaws, and sometimes Fire, which led to the fee that was recommended.

Its clear that theres still a ways to go before cannabis retail is treated just like any other business.

Municipalities in the Okanagan should look to Penticton, where the yearly business license fee for a cannabis store is $180 the same as other retail stores.

David Wylie is publisher of the oz. Find print copies of the oz. magazine at Spiritleaf locations around the Okanagan, Green Gaia in Penticton and Summerland, as well as Lake Country Cannabis. Email the author at [email protected].
BEIJING, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 17th Mar, 2021 ) ::China will continue to work with Pakistan to strengthen anti-epidemic cooperation including vaccine cooperation and to contribute building a global community of health for all.

"We will work with Pakistan to strengthen our anti epidemic cooperation, including vaccine cooperation to contribute to building a global community of health for all," Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian said during his regular briefing in response to administration of China-made Sinopharm vaccine to President Dr Arif Alvi and his wife in Islamabad.

Noting the relevant reports, the spokesperson said China and Pakistan are all weather strategic partners.

"Pakistan is the first country to receive the Chinese aided vaccines in the world, which reflects our special friendship, and which also represents new highlights in our practical cooperation," he added.

President Arif Alvi and his wife Samina Alvi received their COVID-19 jabs with the Sinopharm vaccine at a vaccination center after they registered themselves for the vaccination last month through a service hotline.

Pakistan received China-developed COVID-19 vaccines from the Chinese government and military last month and launched massive vaccination thereafter firstly for the country's frontline healthcare workers. Vaccination for people over 60 years of age was kicked off early this month.
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Meghan and Harry's friend today launched a fresh attack on Buckingham Palace in the growing row over the couple's decision to reveal their 'unproductive' peace talks with the Royal family to US TV host Gayle King.

Omid Scobie accused the media and Royal aides of double standards after it was reported that the Palace is believed to be unhappy with the couple's decision to reveal the details of the private talks with William and Charles.

He claimed he was 'confused' by criticism of the couple and claimed a 'new royal protocol' had been concocted after the Palace said it would not provide 'running commentary on private conversations'.

Buckingham Palace has issued one statement on the Sussexes about the Oprah interview, on Tuesday last week, which said that 'some recollections may vary' but the claims raised would be 'addressed by the family privately'.

Royal sources have since said the palace will not 'giving a running commentary on private conversations', but there has been no briefing from palace sources since the initial statement was made on the Queen's behalf.

Prince William's wife Kate put on a brave face while driving in west London this morning amid more turmoil caused by her brother-in-law and sister-in-law's interview watched by tens of millions around the globe.

The Sussexes had insisted that their explosive interview with Oprah Winfrey would be their 'final word' on royal affairs - but warfare erupted again after the couple told CBS This Morning host Gayle that Harry had finally spoken to his father and brother.

Hours later, Miss King disclosed on American TV that the talks 'were not productive'. The breakfast show host also suggested that Meghan was unhappy no one in the Royal Family had thought to telephone her.

And, in a thinly-veiled threat, the presenter said the duchess had 'documents to back up everything she said on Oprah's interview', just as the Queen was seeing her husband Prince Philip for the first time in a month after he was released from hospital.

Omid Scobie, co-author of the Sussexes biography Finding Freedom and a close ally of the couple, said today he was 'confused' by the criticism they have received as their friends again came out to back them as royal insiders accused Harry and Meghan of a betrayal of trust.

Mr Scobie tweeted: 'Bit confused here, so just want to get this new royal protocol correct. Its okay when info is leaked to the papers via a palace source but not when Gayle King shares it on TV? Righty-ho then'.

But critics have accused the Sussexes of double standards, with one replying to Mr Scobie's tweet: 'The point is that private phone calls are openly discussed with personal media friends. This is the very reason Meghan cut off her family'. Another wrote: 'Omid - I dont think it was a very clever savvy move to disclose something like this via Gayle King. Its a poor move which benefits no one'.

The ongoing turmoil in relations between the Sussexes and the Windsors came as:

Prince Philip is spending his first full day at home with his wife the Queen at Windsor Castle after four weeks in hospital;

Piers Morgan calls on Britons to 'stand up for our Queen' as he lays into Harry and Meghan for trying to paint the royals as 'a bunch of heartless racists'. His current GMB replacement Ben Shepherd was branded 'woke' after he backed to 'share their truth' and 'hopefully start healing' after their talks were leaked;

Royal experts claim that now Sussexes pressed the 'nuclear button' and went to Oprah they could choose to do a documentary for Netflix or release diaries;

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge driving in West London today as it emerged that Prince Harry has spoken to his brother William and father Charles

Harry and Meghan have prompted fresh outrage after sharing private conversations with Prince Charles and Prince William with US journalist Gayle King. Speaking on CBS This Morning, Miss King said: 'Meghan has documents to back up everything that she said on Oprah's interview. Everything'

Omid Scobie, a journalist friend of the couple, defended their decision to brief another ally in the media about talks with Harry's family

HOW GAYLE STIRRED UP A STORM 'Harry has talked to his brother and he has talked to his father too. The word I was given was that those conversations were not productive but they are glad that they have at least started a conversation. What is still upsetting to them is that the Palace keeps saying they want to work it out privately, but yet they believe these false stories are coming out that are very disparaging against Meghan still. No one in the Royal Family has talked to Meghan yet at this particular time. It's frustrating for them to see that it's a racial conversation about the Royal Family when all they wanted all along was for the royals to intervene and tell the Press to stop with the unfair, inaccurate, false stories that definitely have a racial slant. They both want to move forward with this and they both want healing in this family. At the end of the day, that is Harry's family. Meghan has documents to back up everything that she said on Oprah's interview. Everything. Anyone who's worked with her [Meghan] will tell you exactly who she is, she's really a sweet caring person. No one has acknowledged 'Houston, we have a problem here'. That's really all they [Harry and Meghan] want. They want a conversation.' Advertisement

Gayle King, who attended Meghan's baby shower in New York in 2019 and is Miss Winfrey's closest friend, decided to speak out on her prime-time morning show on CBS, the same channel that broadcast the Oprah interview.

The fact the Sussexes chose to reveal sensitive discussions between senior members of the Royal Family met with an icy response from Buckingham Palace.

'None of the households  the Queen, the Prince of Wales and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge  will be giving a running commentary on private conversations,' said a senior royal source.

It was clear, however, that both the Windsors and senior officials see it as a severe betrayal of trust and unhelpful to attempts to rebuild bridges.

Prince William, when he was questioned by a TV reporter on a public engagement last Thursday, said he had not yet spoken to his younger brother, but vowed he would.

He also insisted the Royal Family were not racists after Meghan claimed one member had raised 'concerns' about 'how dark' her baby's skin would be, and suggested there was an attempt to deprive Archie of a title and security because he was of mixed race.

The duchess also said she had been given so little support by the Palace that she suffered suicidal thoughts.

Harry said he felt 'really let down' by his father, accused him of cutting him off financially and refusing to take his calls, while also revealing the gulf with William.

The Queen responded to the Oprah interview with a deeply personal message saying that while 'some recollections vary', the issues raised, particularly that of race, were 'concerning' and would be taken seriously.

Significantly, however, she emphasised that from now on the difficulties would be addressed by the family privately.

There have been a handful of stories published in the UK media reporting that Charles and William felt hurt by what Harry had said, but with very little detail on what was taking place behind the scenes.

Mirror royal editor Russell Mysrs today predicted that Meghan will release her diaries charting her time at Kensington Palace - or agree to a tell-all doc on Netflix - 'if they don't get their own way'.

He said: 'They've already pressed the nuclear button by going on Oprah, haven't they? this has been long rumoured Meghan had this lifestyle blog the Tig before she was a royal which was very popular

'And she is known to have kept a diary during her time within in the royal family this would be bombshell stuff if she was to go and release it, I've already said that if they don't get their way if they're not satisfied with the conversations taking place in house

'Then it could be a situation where they will be releasing diaries, releasing a tell-all documentary on Netflix nothing is off-limits at the moment and we're talking about every twist and turn at the moment'.

Prince William is pictured driving outside Kensington Palace in London on Tuesday, after it was revealed he had spoken with Harry over the weekend

Gayle King revealed Prince Harry had spoken to his father, Prince Charles, and his brother, Prince William, over the weekend, but talks did not help repair a rift within the royal family

How Harry and Meghan's Oprah interview has caused a royal crisis February 15  It is confirmed Harry and Meghan will be interviewed by Oprah Winfrey on CBS in March, in which they will discuss Megxit and other issues.

 It is confirmed Harry and Meghan will be interviewed by Oprah Winfrey on CBS in March, in which they will discuss Megxit and other issues. February 16  Harry's grandfather the Duke of Edinburgh is admitted to hospital in London

 Harry's grandfather the Duke of Edinburgh is admitted to hospital in London February 19  Harry and Meghan are stripped of their prestigious patronages as the couple confirmed Megxit has become permanent.

 Harry and Meghan are stripped of their prestigious patronages as the couple confirmed Megxit has become permanent. February 26  Harry says the 'toxic' atmosphere created by the British press forced him and his family to leave the UK, in an interview with James Corden

 Harry says the 'toxic' atmosphere created by the British press forced him and his family to leave the UK, in an interview with James Corden March 1  A preview clip of the Oprah interview shows Harry saying his biggest fear is that 'history would repeat itself' in a reference to his mother's death, while the host is also seen asking Meghan if she was 'silent or silenced', but her answer is not revealed.

 A preview clip of the Oprah interview shows Harry saying his biggest fear is that 'history would repeat itself' in a reference to his mother's death, while the host is also seen asking Meghan if she was 'silent or silenced', but her answer is not revealed. March 3  A spokesman for Meghan says she is 'saddened' by a report in The Times that she faced a bullying complaint while at Kensington Palace.

 A spokesman for Meghan says she is 'saddened' by a report in The Times that she faced a bullying complaint while at Kensington Palace. March 7  Meghan and Harry's explosive interview with Oprah Winfrey airs in the US. The Sussexes laid bare their brief lives as a working royal couple, alleging a member of the family made a racist comment about their son, and how the duchess had suicidal thoughts but her approaches to the monarchy for help were turned down.

 Meghan and Harry's explosive interview with Oprah Winfrey airs in the US. The Sussexes laid bare their brief lives as a working royal couple, alleging a member of the family made a racist comment about their son, and how the duchess had suicidal thoughts but her approaches to the monarchy for help were turned down. March 8  The fallout from the interview continues and the couple's chat with Oprah airs in the UK on ITV.

 The fallout from the interview continues and the couple's chat with Oprah airs in the UK on ITV. March 9  Buckingham Palace issues a statement, saying the Queen is 'saddened' to hear the full extent of the challenges faced by the Sussexes and the issues raised around race are 'concerning'.

 Buckingham Palace issues a statement, saying the Queen is 'saddened' to hear the full extent of the challenges faced by the Sussexes and the issues raised around race are 'concerning'. March 11 - Prince William insists the royal family are 'not a racist family' while visiting a school in London.

- Prince William insists the royal family are 'not a racist family' while visiting a school in London. March 16 - Gayle King reveals Harry has spoken to his brother Prince William and their father Prince Charles. Advertisement

Harry was accused of 'embarrassing' hypocrisy this week for speaking to CBS, which caused outrage in 2004 by showing a photograph of his mother dying in a 1997 car crash in Paris.

Miss King told viewers she had called Harry and Meghan at their 10million California home 'over the weekend' to discuss the fall-out from the interview and revealed they had told her details of their intimate conversations.

She said: 'Well I'm not trying to break news, but I did actually call them to see how they were feeling, and it's true, Harry has talked to his brother and he has talked to his father too.

'The word I was given was that those conversations were not productive. But they are glad that they have at least started a conversation.'

Miss King also claimed the couple were unhappy that 'the Palace' had allegedly been leaking what they believed were untrue stories to the media.

She added: 'And I think what is still upsetting to them is the Palace keep saying they want to work it out privately, but yet, they believe these false stories are coming out that are very disparaging against Meghan, still.'

She made clear that the duchess was unhappy that no one in the family had called her. 'No one in the Royal Family has talked to Meghan yet, at this particular time,' she said.

The Sussexes effectively accused the Royal Family and Buckingham Palace of institutional racism in their interview with Miss Winfrey.

But Miss King claimed they felt 'frustrated' that much of the coverage had focused on this  when they had apparently wanted only to provoke the monarchy into taking action against the media, which they believe has a racist agenda against Meghan.

'It's frustrating for them to see that it's a racial conversation about the Royal Family when all they wanted all along was for the royals to intervene and tell the Press to stop with the unfair, inaccurate, false stories that definitely have a racial slant,' Miss King said.

'And until you can acknowledge that, I think it's going to be hard to move forward.'

She also raised the issue of the investigation launched earlier this month by Buckingham Palace into how claims of bullying against Meghan lodged by a senior member of staff were handled.

She said: 'Anyone who has worked with her will tell you exactly who she is. You know, she's really a very sweet, caring person.'

There was no immediate indication from the couple's team of PR representatives  either in London or California  as to whether Miss King was speaking at their request.

Piers Morgan's replacement Ben Shephard calls for the Royals to 'share their truth' with Harry and Meghan - sparking mockery from GMB co-star Susanna Reid for 'sounding like a Californian therapist'

ITV presenter Ben Shephard was mocked by his Good Morning Britain co-hosts today for urging the Royal Family and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex to 'share their truth' and 'hopefully start healing' after their talks were leaked.

Shephard, who added that it was important for everyone 'to be honest with each other', was accused by Susanna Reid of 'sounding like a Californian therapist' while Ranvir Singh joked that he needed to get his 'teeth whitened'.

Shephard, 46, who is standing in for Piers Morgan who resigned last week, told the programme: 'It feels like this is the sort of thing that's not going to be sorted out in one phone call. We don't know how much is going on either.

'But if there's been such a hugely seismic moment within a family that has been suddenly thrown, very personal things have been thrown into the spotlight, it's not going to be sorted out quickly.

'It's going to take a while for everybody to be able to share their truth and be able to be honest with each other and hopefully start healing, because that's what we all want.'

Reid then told him: 'You sound like a Californian therapist, Ben.' Shephard replied: 'Maybe I should be.' Reid added: 'Speaking a bit of truth and healing.' And Singh joked: 'You need a bit of tan, Ben... get your teeth whitened.'

The language used by Shephard has strong similarities to the words from Meghan and Harry during their bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey which first aired on CBS on March 7 and then on ITV the following night.

Meghan used the word 'truth' seven times during the interview, while Oprah told her she was speaking 'your truth' - and the Duchess also talked about giving an 'honest' answer relating to the row over Archie's potential skin tone.

The word 'healing' was used by Gayle King yesterday when she spoke of Harry's talks with Prince Charles and William - and, during the Oprah chat, Harry said of his relationship with William: 'Time heals all things, hopefully.'

Shephard's choice of words was also in stark contrast to the language of Morgan who quit Good Morning Britain last week after he refused to apologise for casting doubts on comments made by Meghan in the interview.

His remarks on the programme sparked more than 41,000 complaints to the media regulator Ofcom, which also had a complaint on behalf of the Duchess of Sussex herself, who had earlier also sent a formal complaint to ITV.

ITV presenter Ben Shephard (left) mocked by his Good Morning Britain co-host Susanna Reid (right) on today's show on ITV

Also today, British chat show host Trisha Goddard told Good Morning Britain: 'Beyond them being a Royal Family they're a family, and this is the part I'm concentrating on.

'And I've said all along when they did that interview what I heard was absolute pain and anguish - and they might not have got all the details right and what have you but the message was we are in pain.

Piers Morgan calls on Britons to 'stand up for our Queen' as he lays into Harry and Meghan for trying to paint the royals as 'a bunch of heartless racists' Former GMB host Piers Morgan is pictured in London last week Piers Morgan has called on Britons to 'stand up for our Queen' while accusing Harry and Meghan of leading a campaign to paint the Royal Family as a 'bunch of heartless racists'. The former GMB host took to Twitter to slam the Duke and Duchess of Sussex a week after resigning from his presenter role for refusing to apologise for comments he made about the couple's controversial interview with Oprah. He took aim at the couple again last night, writing: 'There's a very deliberate & malicious campaign being perpetrated by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex to smear, defame and trash Britain, our Monarchy & the Royal Family as a bunch of heartless racists. It's disgusting. Time to stand up for our Queen.' It is the latest chapter in the fallout from Harry and Meghan's explosive interview with Oprah where the couple suggested that the Royal family was racist, claiming that one unnamed member was concerned over how dark their son Archie's skin would be. Speaking after the bombshell interview aired, Morgan said he did not believe the duchess's remarks in her interview with Oprah, during which she spoke about her mental health and having suicidal thoughts. He then stormed off set after GMB weatherman Alex Beresford took exception to his comments about Meghan. Shortly afterwards, he left his role as presenter after refusing to apologise for his remarks. Advertisement

'Now the Royal Family - a family - needs time to react to that. I'm reminded of something that the Duke of Edinburgh and Prince Charles apparently were having a conversation back in the days of Princess Diana.

'And apparently the Duke of Edinburgh said to Prince Charles I wish you and Diana would just speak, just talk.

'And Prince Charles said, well here's the problem, every time I do it ends up on the front page of a certain tabloid.

'So if a family feels that everything they're going to say is going to end up as a headline, they're naturally going to be more reticent and perhaps less honest, and maybe more sparing with the communication.'

It comes as Harry and Meghan revealed deeply private family conversations to their journalist friend Gayle King, saying that the prince had finally spoken to his father and brother following the interview.

Hours later, Miss King disclosed on CBS yesterday that the talks 'were not productive'. The breakfast show host also suggested that Meghan was unhappy no one in the Royal Family had thought to telephone her.

And, in a thinly veiled threat, the presenter said the duchess had 'documents to back up everything she said on Oprah's interview'.

The fact the Sussexes chose to reveal sensitive discussions between senior members of the Royal Family met with an icy response from Buckingham Palace.

'None of the households [the Queen, the Prince of Wales and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge] will be giving a running commentary on private conversations,' said a senior royal source.

It was clear, however, that both the Windsors and senior officials see it as a severe betrayal of trust and unhelpful to attempts to rebuild bridges.

Prince William, when he was questioned by a TV reporter on a public engagement last Thursday, said he had not yet spoken to his younger brother, but vowed he would.

He also insisted the Royal Family were not racists after Meghan claimed one member had raised 'concerns' about 'how dark' her baby's skin would be, and suggested there was an attempt to deprive Archie of a title and security because he was of mixed race.

The duchess also said she had been given so little support by the Palace that she suffered suicidal thoughts.

Harry said he felt 'really let down' by his father, accused him of cutting him off financially and refusing to take his calls, while also revealing the gulf with William.

The Queen responded to the Oprah interview with a deeply personal message saying that while 'some recollections vary', the issues raised, particularly that of race, were 'concerning' and would be taken seriously.

Significantly, however, she emphasised that from now on the difficulties would be addressed by the family privately.

How on earth will lobbing yet more grenades help heal the rift?

COMMENT BY STEPHEN GLOVER

Gayle King 'was speaking as Meghan's spokeswoman  and Harry's too, I fear,' writes STEPHEN GLOVER

Only nine days ago, Meghan and Harry launched several bazookas in the direction of the Royal Family with the assiduous assistance of Oprah Winfrey, firstly on CBS in America and then on ITV.

Tens of millions of people watched as Meghan alleged that an unidentified member of the Royal Family was racist, while Harry accused his father both of financial meanness and refusing to take his calls. Poor Prince William was said by Harry to be 'trapped'.

As family spats go, this was a humdinger. Many people on the receiving end of such public insults from close relatives might prefer not to talk to them for a fair while.

But, to their credit, Prince Charles and Prince William did not sit roasting. They appear to have picked up the telephone over the weekend to speak with hot-headed Harry. It seems they both love and care for him.

And what was their reward? CBS presenter Gayle King  a close friend of Meghan, as well as of Oprah Winfrey  informed the world yesterday that Harry had spoken on the phone with the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Cambridge, jeopardising the peace process as she spilled the beans.

Ms King boasted she had talked to the Sussexes, and got from them the 'word that these conversations were not productive'.

According to her, it was 'frustrating' for Meghan and Harry that everyone was talking about the charge of royal racism.

All they had ever wanted was for the 'royals to intervene and tell the Press to stop with the unfair, inaccurate, false stories that definitely have a racial slant'. It appears that neither Charles nor William was keen to take up the cudgels on their behalf.

I suppose we should consider the possibility that Gayle King is an out-and-out fantasist who imagines the thoughts whirling through Meghan's mind.

But it seems most unlikely. Apart from anything else, the Sussexes have not contradicted her account.

No, she was speaking as Meghan's spokeswoman  and Harry's too, I fear  in what almost amounts to an infringement of privacy by a couple who are forever complaining about media intrusion.

Yet once again they have spoon-fed an American broadcaster.

Appearances can be deceptive, but if Prince William's glum face yesterday was any guide, he was seriously cheesed off by the Sussexes' breach of confidentiality. One can understand his feelings.

Why has Meghan, with Harry presumably at her side, chosen to lob another grenade at the Royal Family just as Charles and William were recovering from the last assault?

For her calculated intervention will surely make the resumption of peace talks between the two sides more difficult. It could widen the gulf, and increase a justifiable sense of betrayal in royal circles.

Meghan is evidently an intelligent woman, who is well aware of the likely consequences of Ms King acting as her mouthpiece.

If she is prepared to risk the further souring of relations with the Royal Family, one can only assume it is because she has another motive.

Basking in the approval of millions of Americans after her Oprah Winfrey interview, and now an international celebrity in her own right, she is evidently prepared to go on undermining the Royal Family until or unless it comes to heel.

Her request for its help in her self-serving war against the Press is manifestly absurd.

She  I should say Gayle King  accuses the Press of still running 'unfair, inaccurate, false stories that definitely have a racial slant' without (as usual) citing a single instance.

The truth is that in Meghan's view any criticism of her must be racist.

This is a wild and ridiculous assertion  which does not prevent it from being shared by her uncritical admirers.

How will this end? It seems increasingly unlikely that the wounds Meghan has caused, and continues to cause, will easily be healed.

She gives no indication that she wants to heal them.

From her spokeswoman Gayle King she received this implausible encomium.

'You know, she's really a very sweet, caring person. And, as I say, Meghan has documents to back up everything that she said on Oprah's interview. Everything.'

That is certainly good to know.

We await proof of her contention that she was married in secret three days before their wedding in Windsor.

Documents confirming 'several conversations' when she was pregnant about 'how dark [her baby's] skin will be when he's born' will also be fascinating.

There is, of course, one person who can help restore Meghan's sense of proportion, tighten her grip on reality, and rebuild bridges with the Royal Family. And that is her husband.

Harry can't want this increasingly messy and unpleasant estrangement from those he still loves.

I don't believe he can look forward to living as a celebrity, albeit one junior to his wife, in a foreign country, forsaken by his family.

There were wise words yesterday from former First Lady, Michelle Obama.

She spoke of the importance of public service, and insisted that 'there's nothing more important than family'.

Yes, wise words. But will Meghan  and Harry in particular  listen? I fear this story may have the unstoppable momentum of tragedy. Prince Charles and Prince William were right to pick up the phone. If they get the same treatment again, next time could be the last time.
A two-year-old boy with Downs syndrome has made his mother the proudest mum in the world by raising more than 1,000 for charity.

Tom Albrighton, from Birchmoor in Warwickshire, is approaching the end of a daily half-mile walking challenge ahead of World Down Syndrome Day on March 21.

The money raised during his 21-day effort will go to Positive About Down Syndrome (PADS), an initiative which supported his mother Kelly, 31, after he was born.

Mrs Albrighton, a childrens mental health nurse, told the PA news agency: The amount of hard work and extra effort it takes from him just to even walk half-a-mile is incredible and Im hoping people can see that.

Hes proved those paediatricians wrong right from day one, and for me thats way more than I ever thought would happen.

Mrs Albrighton said Tom has had 90-minute weekly sessions to help his physical development since he was nine months old.

It takes him about an hour to complete each half-mile walk.

She said: Its strengthening his muscles, his core, its tightening his ligaments, all of that takes time.

It doesnt happen overnight. A lot of it comes with age, physically getting bigger and stronger.

He loves to be out and about. Hes a very determined little boy.

Mrs Albrighton said she had a really negative experience in how Tom was diagnosed when he was born, citing really negative language and lots of scary predictions.

She added: When we left hospital we didnt even have a leaflet about Down syndrome.

She came across PADS, by charity Down syndrome UK, while searching for support online shortly afterwards.

PADS offers parents an insight into the lived experience of having a child with Downs syndrome.

Its website reads: Life is so much more than a diagnosis, there is a good deal to celebrate.

PADS founder Nicola Enoch, 56, from Leamington Spa, said: In maternity care, the information provided is very medical, because its provided by medical practitioners.

My experience is, what people really crave is the reality, the understanding of what everyday life is going to be like.

Mrs Albrighton said: If it hadnt been for (Nicola) and the support weve found from her charities, I dont know where wed be right now.

People with Downs syndrome have an extra copy of chromosome 21.

Tom is one of many who are participating in PADS 21-day challenge to raise awareness ahead of World Down Syndrome Day on Sunday.

To find out more about Toms challenge, visit https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/KellyAlbrighton.
Under flak for 'mishandling' of the bomb scare outside Mukesh Ambani's residence, Maharashtra Government on Wednesday transferred Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh from the post.

Senior IPS officer Hemant Nagrale, holding additional charge of Maharashtra Director General of Police (DGP), will be the new Police Commissioner and replace Singh, who has been posted to the state Home Guard as DG, state Home Minister Anil Deshmukh said.

Deshmukh, who met Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray earlier in the day, made the announcement on Twitter amid speculation in media over Singhs handling of the Sachin Waze episode.

Waze is at the focus of a probe by the Investigating Agency in a case related to the recovery of an SUV with explosives near Ambani's house in

Waze, arrested in the case on March 13 for his alleged role in the crime, was attached to the Crime Intelligence Unit (CIU) of city police's crime branch till recently.

(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.)
[March 17, 2021] Ching Tang, Innovator in OLED Technology, to be Featured in Virtual Kyoto Prize Symposium by UC San Diego, March 25

University of California San Diego will virtually host Dr. Ching Tang, a chemist and revolutionary innovator in the field of organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), on March 25, 2-3:30 p.m.-PDT, as part of the annual Kyoto Prize Symposium. Originally planned as a series of live lectures in 2020, the Symposium has been updated into livestreamed video events for the 2021 celebration of the Kyoto Prize and its latest laureates. Introducing Tang will be Dr. Darren Lipomi, Professor, Department of Nano Engineering, UC San Diego. The program will include Tang's Kyoto Prize lecture, followed by live conversation with Dr. Tang and Dr. Lipomi about recent and potential developments in OLED technology. The virtual symposium is free and open to the public. Please register before March 24 at https://extension.ucsd.edu/kyotoprize to get log-in instructions well before the event. Tang is renowned for his pioneering work in developing OLEDs and contributing to their widespread application in displays, televisions and lighting. Tang studied light emission processes in electrically-driven organic materials and invented a new device structure in which two carefully-selected materials were stacked, allowing for high efficiency light emission at low drive voltages. A chemist an professor at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and Professor Emeritus at the University of Rochester, Tang is a member of the National Academy of Engineering and has received a multitude of awards and honors - including the Wolf Prize in Chemistry, IEEE (News - Alert) Noble Award for Emerging Technologies, the National Inventors Hall of Fame, and the Kyoto Prize, Japan's highest private award for global achievement.



In addition to Tang, the 2021 Kyoto Prize Symposium includes lectures by stage director Ariane Mnouchkine, Kyoto Prize Laureate in Arts and Philosophy, March 24 from 3:30 to 5 p.m.-PDT; and pioneering astrophysicist James E. Gunn, Kyoto Prize Laureate in Basic Sciences, March 25 from 4 to 5:30 p.m.-PDT. Please register before March 24 at https://extension.ucsd.edu/kyotoprize to get log-in instructions well before the event.

Presented since 2001, the Kyoto Prize Symposium has been co-hosted by UC San Diego and Point Loma Nazarene University for 17 years. The Kyoto Prize is an international award created in 1984 by Japan's non-profit Inamori Foundation to honor those who have contributed significantly to humankind's scientific, cultural and spiritual development. About UC San Diego UCSD is one of the top 20 research universities in the world, driving innovation and change to advance society, propel economic growth and make our world a better place. Learn more at www.ucsd.edu. About the Kyoto Prize Founded by Dr. Kazuo Inamori in 1984 as part of the Inamori Foundation, the Kyoto Prize has achieved international stature with the granting of three Kyoto Prizes each year - in Advanced Technology, Basic Sciences and Arts & Humanities. Each laureate also receives 100,000,000 yen (over $900,000) - and normally spends several days at UCSD (in March) and Oxford (in May) after initial week ceremonies and programs in Kyoto beginning every November 10. Since 1984 the Kyoto Prize has been awarded to 111 extraordinary individuals from 17 nations. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, 2021 programs will be virtual. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210317005646/en/

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Over 64 lakh migrant labourers reached home safely by Shramik trains during the COVID-19 pandemic, Railway Minister told the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday in his reply over a discussion on the railways.

He said free meals and packaged drinking water were provided on the Shramik trains.

"More than 64 lakh migrant labourers reached home safely," Goyal said.

He said 4,600 Shramik trains were run on 43 routes during the pandemic to ferry migrant labourers.

"Every state was given the number of trains they demanded. Even then, there were attempts to politicise it. We immediately resolved it. We asked them how many trains you want and we gave them those trains in 12-14 hours. It is a different issue that they were unable to use those because that much was not needed," the minister said.

He said trains were converted into isolation wards on a suggestion from the prime minister to provide an option for isolating the COVID-infected patients.

Goyal said none of the railway employees refused to come to work during the crisis, even when there was no awareness about the COVID-19 virus.

Communist Party of India (CPI) member Binoy Viswam sought a reply from the railway minister on the government's plans to sell the shares of the Indian Railways and on the future of the organisation.

He said migrant labourers were filled in the Shramik trains like refugees and 97 people died on those trains.

Viswam also alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government has surrendered the railways to foreign funds in the name of foreign direct investment.

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) member Fauzia Khan said Marathwada has been left deprived and ignored with a budget allocation of Rs 175 crore for electrification. She sought a meeting of the MPs hailing from Marathwada with the railway minister to share the views of the region.

BJP member BL Verma demanded a direct train from Badaun in Uttar Pradesh to Delhi via Lucknow and Rakesh Sinha sought a direct train from the Lakhminia station in Bihar to Delhi in the name of former Union minister George Fernandes.

BJP member Hardwar Dubey sought a special goods train to carry shoes and Petha sweet from Agra. BJP's Samir Oraon sought the completion of the rail route between Ranchi and Chhattisgarh via Lohardaga, Jashpur and Korba.

(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.)
Pune, India, March 17, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global bottled water processing market size is projected to reach USD 285.43 billion by the end of 2027. The presence of several large scale companies will emerge in favor of market growth. The increasing demand for bottled water will bode well for market growth. According to a report published by Fortune Business Insights, titled Bottled Water Processing Market Size, Share & COVID-19 Impact Analysis, By Equipment Type (Filter, Bottle Washer, Filler & Capper, Blow Molder, and Others), By Technology (Reverse Osmosis (RO), Ultrafiltration (UF), Microfiltration (MF), Chlorination, and Others), By Application (Still Water, Sparkling Water, and Flavoured Water) and Regional Forecast, 2020-2027 the Bottled Water Processing Market was worth USD 153.61 billion in 2019 and will exhibit a CAGR of 8.1% during the forecast period, 2020-2027.





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Bottled water processing is the overall phase of packed water manufacturing right from filtration to packaging of the product. The increasing use of bottled water across the world is consequential to factors such as increased travel, outdoor activities, and similar such factors. The increasing awareness regarding the consumption of safe and reliable packaged water owing to the side effects of drinking contaminated water will emerge in favor of market growth. The increasing number of water-borne diseases across the world has led to an increase in awareness as well as investments in bottled water processing. The increasing investments will not just prove beneficial for the companies, but will also have a direct impact on the growth of the overall market in the coming years.

Increasing Awareness Regarding Safe Water Consumption during the Covid-19 Pandemic to Create Several Growth Opportunities

The Bottled Water Processing Market's recent coronavirus outbreak has had a negative impact on the growth of several business sectors across the world. With the rapid spread of the disease, governments across several countries are looking to implement strict measures with the hope of minimizing the impact of the virus. The increasing awareness regarding preventive measures for the spread of the coronavirus has led to an increase in awareness for daily habits. The growing awareness regarding bottled water consumption the potentially rapid spread of the virus through water sources will lead to wider adoption for bottled water processing in the coming years.





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Increasing Number of Company Collaborations will Emerge in Favor of Market Growth

The Bottled Water Processing Market report encompasses several factors that have contributed to the growth of the overall market in recent years. The increasing demand for bottled water across the world has encouraged companies to increase their investments in the manufacturing phase. Due to healthy market competition, large-scale companies are looking to extend their regional coverage through acquisitions of small-scale or regionally operating companies. In November 2019, Coca-Cola announced that it plans to acquire Minute Maid India. The company will look to build on its existing brand image and subsequently acquire a wider consumer base. An increasing number of such company collaborations will have a huge impact on the growth of the overall market in the forthcoming years.

Asia Pacific to Emerge Dominant; Presence of Several Large Scale Companies to Aid Growth

The Bottled Water Processing Market report analyzes the ongoing market trends across North America, Asia Pacific, Europe, the Middle East & Africa, and South America. Among all regions, the market in Asia Pacific is projected to emerge dominant in the coming years. The presence of several large-scale manufacturers in this region will emerge in favor of market growth. The increasing population in several countries across this region, coupled with the increasing incidence of water-borne diseases in countries such as India and China will emerge in favor of market growth. As of 2019, the market in Asia Pacific was worth USD 50.98 billion and this value is projected to rise at a considerable pace in the coming years. The rising investments in water processing plants will also contribute to the growth of the regional market.





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List of Key Companies Profiled in the Bottled Water Processing Market Report Are:

Nestle (Vevey, Switzerland)

PepsiCo (New York, United States)

Coca-Cola (Georgia, United States)

Pall Corporation (Danaher Corporation) (New York, United States)

Donaldson Company, Inc. (Minnesota, United States)

The Dow Chemical Company (Michigan, United States)

Velocity Equipment Solutions (New Castle, Pennsylvania)

Liquid Packaging Solutions, Inc. (La Porte, Indiana)

SUEZ (Paris, France)

Danone (Paris, France)

Norland International Inc. (Nebraska, United States)

Axeon Water Technologies. (Temecula, United States)

Koch Membrane Systems Inc. (Massachusetts, United States)

Inline Filling Systems Inc. (Venice, Florida)

Lenntech B.V. (Zuid-Holland, The Netherlands)





Industry Developments:

 July 2020: Nestle Canada Inc. sold its Pure Life bottled water business to Ice River Springs, Ontario to prepare new water bottling permits





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Table Of Content:

Introduction Definition, By Segment Research Approach Sources

Executive Summary

Bottled Water Processing Market Dynamics Macro and Micro Economic Indicators Drivers, Restraints, Opportunities and Trends Impact of COVID-19 Short-term Impact Long-term Impact

Competition Landscape Business Strategies Adopted by Key Players Consolidated SWOT Analysis of Key Players PESTLE Analysis Porters Five Force Analysis Global Bottled Water Processing Market Share Analysis and Matrix, 2019

Key Market Insights and Strategic Recommendations

Profiles of Key Players (Would be provided for 10 players only) Overview Key Management Headquarters etc. Offerings/Business Segments Key Details (Key details are subjected to data availability in public domain and/or on paid databases) Employee Size Key Financials Past and Current Revenue Gross Margin Geographical Share Business Segment Share Recent Developments

Primary Interview Responses

Annexure / Appendix Global Bottled Water Processing Market Size Estimates and Forecasts (Quantitative Data), By Segments, 2016-2027 By Equipment Type (Value) Filter Bottle Washer Filler & Capper Blow Molder Others (Shrink wrapper, etc.) By Technology (Value) Reverse Osmosis (RO) Ultrafiltration (UF) Microfiltration (MF) Chlorination Others (Bottle Washing & Filling, etc.) By Application (Value) Still Water Sparkling Water Flavoured Water By Region (Value) North America South America Europe Middle East & Africa Asia Pacific



TOC Continued!





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AI has, for some time, been applied to diagnose medical conditions in specific fields. It can build on knowledge of particular disciplines to hone in on details such as the shape of a tumor that suggests breast cancer or abnormal cells that indicate cervical cancer.

While AI is very good when trained on years of human data in specific domains, it has not been able to deal with the huge number of diagnostic tests (about 5000) and disorders (about 14,000) of modern clinical practice. Now, a new algorithm developed by engineers at the USC Viterbi School of Engineering can think and learn just like a doctor but with essentially infinite experience.

The work comes out of the lab of Gerald Loeb, a professor of biomedical engineering, pharmacy and neurology at USC Viterbi School of Engineering and a trained physician. Loeb spent years applying AI algorithms to haptics and building robots to sense and identify materials and objects.

His previous research on this surpassed the state of the art. While the state of AI for haptics was to identify about 10 objects with about 80 percent accuracy, Loeb and Jeremy Fishel, his graduate student at the time, were able to identify 117 objects with 95 percent accuracy.

When they extended it to 500 objects and 15 different possible tests, their algorithm got even faster and more accurate. That, Loeb says, is when he started thinking about adapting it for medical diagnosis.

Loeb's new form of AI suggests the best diagnostic strategies by mining electronic healthcare records in databases. This could lead to faster, better and more efficient diagnoses and treatments. The work was published in the Journal of Biomedical Informatics.

The algorithm works just like a doctor- "thinking about what to do next at each stage of the medical work-up," said Loeb, a pioneer in the field of neural prosthetics and one of the original developers of the cochlear implant, now widely used to treat hearing loss. "The difference is that it has the benefit of all the experiences in the collective healthcare records."

How it works

Conventional AI has long used a specific algorithm to suggest to physicians the most likely diagnoses given a set of observations. Called Bayesian Inference, it uses whatever information is currently available to suggest which diagnoses are the most likely.

Loeb's algorithm reverses this process and instead seeks those tests that would most likely identify the correct illness or condition, no matter how obscure. He calls this Bayesian Exploration. The algorithm can also take into account the costs and delays associated with various diagnostic tests.

"This hasn't been done before," he said. "This is new."

Loeb said his new algorithm has several benefits.First, this algorithm could help doctors make better diagnostic and testing decisions by suggesting several good options, including some a practitioner might not have otherwise considered. Next, the diagnostic software would automatically update and improve, as myriad physicians input additional data into electronic medical records.

In addition, Loeb believes doctors would more easily generate complete and accurate medical records. Instead of having to hunt for codes or work their way through many drop-down menus, they could simply select a particular illness or diagnostic procedure suggested by the AI, which would automatically input the correct information into the electronic records.

Loeb emphasizes that physicians could, of course, override the AI and go with their own judgment.

The algorithm isn't meant to make decisions for doctors or replace them. It's meant to complement and support them." Gerald Loeb, Trained Physician and Professor, Biomedical Engineering, Pharmacy and Neurology, Viterbi School of Engineering, University of Southern California

Looking to the future

Loeb believes this algorithm could revolutionize medical and testing diagnostics. But the USC Viterbi and Keck School of Medicine professor acknowledges the huge financial and technological challenges of applying AI to electronic health records.

The United States' balkanized medical system and spotty usage of electronic medical records he believes make it an inhospitable environment for his technology to take root.

Loeb says his system would be much easier to introduce in other countries, for example in Scandinavia or in South Korea, places with nationalized healthcare and the widespread usage of electronic medical records.

However, its implementation would face major challenges even there, including the large expense and brainpower needed to develop and deploy the massive database and user interfaces for the widespread adoption and integration of his algorithm.

Instead, Loeb puts his faith in tech. He believes that Amazon, Microsoft and Google have the resources and know-how to disrupt American healthcare the way Uber and Lyft upended the taxicab industry.

"If the promise of success is great enough, then people are going to be motivated to do it," Loeb said. "And that's what we think this algorithm provides: the possibility, the promise of offering a solution to a huge problem that wastes a lot of resources, trillions of dollars' worth."
India is closely engaged with the US administration and other relevant stakeholders on issues related to movement of Indian professionals, External Affairs Ministry told the Lok Sabha in response to a question on H-1B visa restriction affecting Indians.

Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan, in his answer the Lower House mentioned that the issue was raised twice during two separate India-US bilateral meetings last year.

Erstwhile Trump administration, via a presidential proclamation, had suspended work visas, including H-1B visas, restricting entry of non-immigrant workers and their families. Put into effect on June 22, 2020, the order affected skilled workers like computer programmers, seasonal workers in hospitality industry and students on work-study programmes, among others.

ALSO READ: US to reconsider objections to H-1B visas due to policy memos by Trump administration

The order was originally scheduled to be in effect till December 31, 2020, but was later extended till March 31, 2021. Suspension of H-1B visas had greatly affected Indian IT professionals who were its biggest beneficiaries.

Data presented by Muraleedharan indicated that Indians still got the lion's share of H-1B visas in 2017, 2018 and 2019. In 2017, of the 179,049 visas issued, Indians bagged 129,097, or 72.1 per cent. In 2018, out of 179,660 H-1B visas, 125,528 (69.9 per cent) went to Indians. In 2019, from 188,123 visas, 131,549 (69.9 per cent) were awarded to Indians.

Muraleedharan, however, clarified before the Lok Sabha that the presidential proclamation is not specific to India or any other country.

On measures to persuade the US administration to revoke this move, Muraleedharan said that India has raised the issue on multiple occasions.

ALSO READ: US senators urge Biden administration to implement H1B visa reforms; Indians likely to benefit

"Government is closely engaged with the US administration and other relevant stakeholders on issues related to the movement of Indian professionals, highlighting the importance of people-to-people linkages and the contribution of Indian skilled professionals to the growth and development of the US economy, especially in the technology and innovation sector," the minister stated.

"These issues were also raised during the India-US Foreign Office Consultations held on July 7, 2020, and the 2+2 India-US Ministerial Dialogue held in New Delhi on October 27, 2020," he further added.

Last week, the newly-elected Biden administration 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 Trump administration that now have been rescinded.

US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) had announced that "it may reopen and/or reconsider adverse decisions" on Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker, made based on the three rescinded policy memos.

ALSO READ: Nasscom hopeful of positive engagement with pro-immigration Biden administration
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Mar. 16The pandemic has put many things on hold, but there will always be a need for blood, platelet and plasma donations.

The American Red Cross is thanking donors for their donations throughout March, which is "Red Cross Month."

Locals are encouraged to give blood during one of the many drives being held in the area this month.

The following drives are scheduled locally:

Columbia: Today from 1 to 5: 30 p. m. at the town hall, 323 Route 87.

Mansfield/Storrs: March 24 from 8: 30 a. m. to 5 p. m. at the Mansfield Fire Station, 879 Stafford Road; March 25, 26, 29, 30 and 31 from 10 a.m. to 3 p. m. at the University of Connecticut, 2075 Hillside Road; and March 30 from 10 a. m. to 2: 30 p. m. at the East Brook Mall, 95 Storrs Road.

Those who do not feel well or believe they may have COVID-19 are asked to postpone their donation.

Each donation site follows strict safety and infection control standards, including temperature checks, social distancing and face coverings for donors and staff.

As part of "Red Cross Month," the Red Cross is giving T-shirts to those who donate blood, platelets and plasma donors between now and March 26, while supplies last.

The Red Cross is currently testing donations for COVID-19 antibodies.

The tests will be used to identify individuals whose immune systems developed COVID-19 antibodies, regardless of whether the individual developed COVID-19 symptoms.

Those who have developed the antibodies can help current COVID- 19 patients in need of convalescent plasma transfusions.

A positive test does not confirm infection or immunity.

Antibody test results will be available within one to two weeks via the blood donor app or donor portal at RedCrossBlood.org.

A blood donor card or driver's license or two other forms of identification are required at check- in.

In Connecticut, people ages 17 and older who are generally in good health and weigh at least 110 pounds can donate blood.

Before giving blood, donors should make sure they eat a good breakfast, but avoid fatty foods.

Story continues

They should also drink plenty of fluids and get a good amount of sleep the night before.

Donors are asked to schedule an appointment by downloading the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or enabling the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device.

To save time, blood and platelet donors can use RapidPass to complete their pre- donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, before arriving at the blood drive.

To use Rapid Pass, visit RedCrossBlood. org/ RapidPass or use the Blood Donor App.

Follow Michelle Warren on Twitter-@ mwarrentc.
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Conroe history was made Tuesday night at the Conroe Symphony Centre.

The Conroe Symphony Orchestra Board of Directors officially welcomed the orchestras first female conductor at a small reception Tuesday.

Anna-Maria Gkouni, from Athens, Greece takes the reigns as the Symphonys new Conductor and Music Director. Gkouni is set to lead the all-volunteer symphony in its 24th season, which hopes to begin performing again this summer following a pause because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Gkouni is a Greek orchestral conductor, pianist and piano instructor. A native of Athens, she holds a piano performance and a music theory degree from Philippos Nakas Conservatory. After graduating with her bachelor of arts from Ionian University in Corfu, a Greek island, Gkouni moved to Nebraska to pursue her master of arts in orchestral conducting from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and currently she is pursuing her doctorate of musical arts in orchestral conducting at the University of Houston.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Active COVID-19 cases continue downward trend in Montgomery County

She also holds something that you would only hope for in a music conductor/director, and that is the very spirit and passion of music. Anna-Maria is intent on this 24th season of the Conroe Symphony Orchestra standing out from all past sessions as she brings a love for various art forms  including theater  to the concert performances. She cant wait to innovatively guide the amazing music of the Conroe Symphony Orchestra to tell beautiful, poetic things to all of our hearts, said Judge Kathleen Hamilton, board of directors chair.

Gkouni began playing piano when she was six. At age 11, she found out about a special high school that concentrated on music education and begged her parents to send her there.

Music was moving something inside me that I could not consciously understand, she told those gathered.

She next set her sights on the National Youth Choir of Greek radio. She auditioned three times and didnt give up until the conductor finally accepted her to the choir.

She was able to collaborate often with the National Symphony Orchestra of Greece and its various symphony conductors.

Eventually saw herself standing on the podium, instead of singing in the choir.

These dreams lead her to America, first Nebraska, then Houston and now in Conroe.

To lead the Conroe Symphony Orchestra is a dream come true, said Gkouni. I am so grateful for the opportunity to conduct this exceptionally talented group of musicians. My greatest aspiration for the future is to create innovative shows that will combine multiple forms of art such as theater, which is my second passion. We are all very much looking forward to bringing music back to the city of Conroe.

More from Sondra Hernandez: Conroe's First Thursday Free Concert series, Market Days return

Don Hutson, who led the search for the new conductor, and served as the music director for 13 years said of Gkouni, shes precisely the fresh new talent that is needed to take the Conroe Symphony Orchestra in a bold new direction. As Board members our desire is to create experiential new works of art that help expand the reach of the orchestra. I believe that Anna-Maria will take us there.

At the conclusion of the reception, Hutson handed Gkouni a bouquet of yellow roses officially welcoming her to Texas and to Conroe.

The Conroe Symphony Orchestra has not yet announced its first performance date but is hopeful that it will be sometime this summer and potentially with a patriotic theme around July 4.

For information and concert dates visit conroesymphony.org or follow the CSO on Facebook @ConroeSymphonyOrchestra.

shernandez@hcnonline.com
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Thousands of parking fines could be refunded after the Victorian Ombudsman found another seven councils and agencies might have acted illegally by outsourcing their review process.

In a report tabled in State Parliament on Wednesday, Ombudsman Deborah Glass said she had identified another 17,400 dubious fines handed out by Geelong, Frankston and Mildura councils, as well as Parks Victoria and Monash University.

A Melbourne City Council ranger issues a parking ticket in 2016. Credit:Eddie Jim

The bodies all used a private contractor to determine whether fines were valid when motorists challenged them, including at:
After the crossing: Missie the donkey, Michael Long (with stick in hand) and passing admirers.
NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWS WIRE SERVICES OR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES

REGINA, SK / ACCESSWIRE / March 17, 2021 / ROK Resources Inc. ("ROK" or the "Company") (TSXV:ROK) is pleased to announce that it has entered into a Purchase and Sale Agreement, dated March 15, 2021 (the "Purchase Agreement") to acquire certain producing oil and gas assets (the "Assets") in Southeastern Saskatchewan. Closing of the acquisition is expected to occur on or about April 30, 2021 with an effective date of April 1, 2021, subject to the completion of a diligence review on the Assets, the completion of a financing transaction to provide funding to purchase the Assets, as well as the receipt of any necessary regulatory approvals, including, without limitation, any required approvals of the TSX Venture Exchange. In addition, ROK has completed an acquisition (the "Non-op Assets") for a non-operated working interest in producing and non-producing oil and gas assets, along with an interest in a multi-well facility in another area of Southeastern Saskatchewan. The acquisition properties include production, as well as liabilities pertaining to future abandonment and reclamation obligations. Total consideration for the two acquisitions is $2,500,000 in cash and 2,250,000 Class B Common Shares of ROK and an overriding royalty specific to the Non-op Assets.

The acquisition properties are located within the Company's core operating area in Southeast Saskatchewan, targeting the Midale and Frobisher formations. Current production is approximately 67 boe/d1 (90% oil and non-gas liquids). The acquired Assets also include two central oil batteries and 2,500 gross acres of prospective land in proximity to the Company's existing land base. The properties provide additional growth potential for the Company and complements an established operating area allowing for cost effective capital development.

Further, the Company has entered into a Farmout Agreement dated March 15, 2021 (the "Farmin") to acquire the rights to earn certain oil and gas assets (the "Undeveloped Assets") in Southeastern Saskatchewan. ROK will participate in the drilling, completion and equipping of two (2) earning wells, paying 70% of the costs to earn a 35% working interest in the earning wells, plus a 35% working interest in 2,900 gross acres of prospective land in the Undeveloped Assets. The first commitment well is expected to be spud on or before August 31, 2021. Prior to December 31, 2021, ROK has the option to purchase up to a 50% interest in the Undeveloped Assets, which includes two producing oil and gas wells. The Farmin is subject to financing and the receipt of any necessary regulatory approvals.

Commenting on the acquisitions and Farmin, Chairman and CEO Cam Taylor stated:

"The foundation has been established with the addition of a complementary set of acquisitions and a Farmin, providing ROK additional cashflow and a runway to grow reserves and future cashflow as oil prices continue to trend upwards. Ownership in two multi-well facilities underlines ROK's future cost-effective development, utilizing existing processing capacity, water disposal and pipeline infrastructure. ROK will continue to focus on strategic acquisitions, securing long-term financial partners, and continuing to create shareholder value."

Notes to the Press Release:

Average production in the month of January 2021 from the combined acquisitions was approximately 67 boe/d, consisting of 55 bbl/d of oil (82%), 6 bbl/d of non-gas liquids (8%) and 37 Mcf/d of natural gas (8%).

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This news release includes certain "forward-looking statements" under applicable Canadian securities legislation that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties, and other factors that could cause actual results, performance, prospects, and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the Company's objectives, goals or future plans. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based on a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to: general business, economic and social uncertainties; litigation, legislative, environmental and other judicial, regulatory, political and competitive developments; delay or failure to receive board, shareholder or regulatory approvals; those additional risks set out in ROK's public documents filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com; and other matters discussed in this news release. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on these statements, which only apply as of the date of this news release, and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed time frames or at all. Except where required by law, the Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

Statements relating to "reserves" are also deemed to be forward looking statements, as they involve the implied assessment, based on certain estimates and assumptions, that the reserves described exist in the quantities predicted or estimated and that the reserves can be profitably produced in the future.

Oil and Gas Disclosures

Management uses oil and gas metrics for its own performance measurements and to provide shareholders with measures to compare the Company's operations over time. Readers are cautioned that the information provided by these metrics, or that can be derived from the metrics presented in this press release, should not be relied upon for investment or other purposes.

The term "boe" or barrels of oil equivalent may be misleading, particularly if used in isolation. A boe conversion ratio of six thousand cubic feet of natural gas to one barrel of oil equivalent (6 Mcf:1 bbl) is based on an energy equivalency conversion method primarily applicable at the burner tip and does not represent a value equivalency at the wellhead. Additionally, given that the value ratio based on the current price of crude oil, as compared to natural gas, is significantly different from the energy equivalency of 6:1; utilizing a conversion ratio of 6:1 may be misleading as an indication of value.

Neither the Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Exchange) accepts responsibility of the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:

ROK Resources Inc.

Cam Taylor, Chairman CEO

Email: cam@rokresources.ca

Lynn Chapman, CFO

Email: lynn@rokresources.ca

SOURCE: ROK Resources Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/635876/ROK-Announces-Two-Asset-Acquisitions-Farmin
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (AP)  The highest ranking female firefighter in Asheville, North Carolina, says she was repeatedly discriminated against because of her sex and fought to keep her job while battling breast cancer. The first female chief of a municipal fire department in the state says she briefly pondered suicide after years of sexual harassment.

Joy Ponder and Susanna Schmitt Williams are among numerous female fighters in the United States who have filed lawsuits against their employers alleging they were subjected to demeaning behavior that helped end their careers.

Advocates say going to court is sometimes the only effective recourse in a field where women make up such a tiny part of the workforce. According to the National Fire Protection Association, 93,700, or 8%, of U.S. firefighters were female in 2018, the latest year for which data was available.

Williams, who was fired in July 2019, told The Associated Press that she was the subject of sexualized rumors (and) hostility in the form of insubordination by those who reported to me.

Williams said Carrboro Town Manager David Andrews overturned both her disciplinary and operational decisions, and for the latter, relied instead on the recommendations of men in the department who were lower ranked and had less experience and education. Andrews didnt respond to an email seeking comment.

Ponder, who resigned from her post as Asheville Fire Department division chief in September, said she faced years of harassment and gender discrimination from Chief Scott Burnette after she led outside research on the prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder among city firefighters.

Burnette did not return a phone call seeking comment. Peggy Rowe, an assistant to City Manager Debra Campbell, said the city doesnt comment on ongoing lawsuits.

Ponder filed her lawsuit in November and then an amended complaint last month. Williams filed her lawsuit in January. Both are still pending.

Other Lawsuits

Similar lawsuits have been filed  and won  by female firefighters in Illinois, Texas and Virginia.

Court documents show a female firefighter in Country Club Hills, Illinois, won an $11 million verdict in 2018 after filing a lawsuit alleging that her colleagues openly watched pornography at the station house and broke down a shower door while she was bathing.

The U.S. Department of Justice announced a $275,000 settlement with the City of Houston in October, after two female firefighters alleged their male co-workers urinated on the walls, floors and sinks, soiled their bathroom, and wrote race-based slurs on the walls of their work and living space at the fire station.

The City of Norfolk, Virginia, last year agreed to an $87,000 settlement with a female firefighter who alleged a hostile work environment.

Williams lawsuit contends that a Charlotte, North Carolina-based law firm hired by the town of Carrboro to conduct a questionnaire of employees found up to 12 instances of harassment and discrimination against her that led to a hostile work environment. The law firm also found fault with Andrews, the town manager, for allowing fire department employees to go around Williams and take their complaints about the department to him, according to the suit.

Williams said she filed two complaints of sexual discrimination against members of the fire department during her tenure as chief but neither was taken seriously. She says she became so distressed by the situation that one day after work she walked into her garage and considered taking her own life.

I thought `Oh, my God, I could crank up the car and just silently go and just be done with it all because I was that stressed and that depressed over everything that had happened, Williams said.

Instead, she thought of her sons and decided to see her fight through to the end. She received clearance from the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to proceed with a lawsuit against Carrboro.

Williams said she is the third female department head in Carrboro to file such a suit against Andrews, who recently announced that he would retire in July.

Demotion Campaign

Ponder, who became division chief in 2014, took a leave of absence in early 2019 to battle breast cancer. She said that when she returned at the end of the year, Burnette and the deputy chief designed and executed an effective demotion and campaign to display me as a poor performer and divisive employee.

She was placed under her bosses close supervision  effectively surveillance, she said  told to stay away from the firefighters under her command and moved to an isolated corner office from which she said she was afraid to even walk to the restroom or copier.

The continued harassment and abrupt disruption of my schedule and life that I had maintained successfully for many years led to a deterioration in my physical and mental health and I was forced to leave, Ponder told the AP.

Tina Guiler, a lieutenant for Miami-Dade Fire-Rescue and CEO of the national support group Fierce Female Firefighters, or Triple F, said she had two bad experiences as she advanced through the ranks, starting when a superior tried to get her to quit when she was still a rookie.

A lot of these women just dont do the profession anymore because of the harassment, Guiler said. And their department isnt professional enough to handle it and take care of it, so they end up leaving and having to file these lawsuits.  The jobs hard enough without having to be harassed on top of it.

Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
People take part in a protest called 'Justice for Joyce' in Montreal, Saturday, Oct. 3, 2020, where they demanded Justice for Joyce Echaquan and an end to systemic racism. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes
He was a popular addition to Channel Seven's The Front Bar last year.

But Andy Lee won't be returning to the AFL comedy talk show 'in the short term' according to TV Blackbox on Wednesday.

The 39-year-old comedian's 'conflicting work commitments' on his new Network 10 game show The Cube are preventing his return to the panel.

Busy: Andy Lee (pictured) won't be returning to Seven's AFL comedy talk show The Front Bar 'in the short term' according to TV Blackbox on Wednesday

Andy serves as both host and executive producer on The Cube.

On Tuesday, Seven revealed that The Front Bar hosts Mick Molloy, Sam Pang and Andy Maher would be returning on Wednesday night.

Lee's name was conspicuously absent from the press release, but there is said to be 'an expectation' he will return at some point.

In demand: The 39-year-old comedian's 'conflicting work commitments' on his new Network 10 game show The Cube are preventing his return to the panel

Earlier this year, the radio host told MediaWeek he'd return to the show eventually, saying 'I love talking footy and I love having a beer'.

'Working with Mick [Molloy] and becoming pals with him has been awesome,' he said.

Meanwhile, Andy's new game show has been a modest ratings hit for Channel 10, with the premiere garnering 567,000 metro viewers.

Based on the UK series, The Cube sees contestants put in a small perspex cube where they must take on a series of tasks in order to win $250,000.
The man charged in the November killing of Houston Police Sgt. Sean Rios -- who was off-duty and in plainclothes -- has posted his $500,000 bond in the murder case, according to Harris County court records.

Robert Soliz, 24, was accused of fatally shooting Rios on Nov. 9 in a gun battle near the Interstate 45 service road at Stuebner Airline. At the time, the 47-year-old Rios had been driving his personal vehicle to an afternoon shift at George Bush Intercontinental Airport.

It's unclear when Soliz posted his bond on the murder charge. He was no longer in custody as of Tuesday, court records say. Records also show he posted a $50,000 bond on an unrelated marijuana possession charge, as well as a combined $200,000 bond on two unrelated aggravated assault charges.

Douglas Griffith, president of the Houston Police Officers' Union, voiced his frustration on Twitter.

"(I) am sick and disgusted that this piece of trash was released on any bond after claiming indigent when he was arrested for killing Sergeant Rios, to get a public defender," he said. "$750,000 in bonds equals 75 Thousand to get out."

Houston police have not detailed what led to the exchange of gunfire. After the shooting, Rios abandoned his car and staggered with a gunshot wound into the front office of the nearby Taj Inn & Suites, where he was pronounced dead. Soliz was arrested the following day.

During a news conference announcing the arrest, Chief Art Acevedo identified Soliz as a documented gang member. At the time of the shooting, Soliz had been out on a $100 bond for a charge of unlawful carrying of a weapon in a motor vehicle, records show.

Rios was a father of four and a U.S. Marine veteran who had worked at the Houston Police Department for 25 years.

Soliz's next hearing is slated for 2 p.m. March 23 in the 179th District Court.
With the aim to provide young people with knowledge about sex and gender properly, a 28-year-old Vietnamese woman launched a website named SexEdu by Trang despite some negative comments.

The woman who is behind the sex education website and a similar channel on YouTube is Minh Trang, 28, whose nickname is Trang Chuoi, a resident of Ho Chi Minh City.

Trang chooses to talk about sex in an open, comfortable way with the young instead of taking advantage of it as a means of clickbait as some other websites have done.

Although the approach is easy-going, Trang always keeps the way of presenting the knowledge within a proper limitation, placing the sensitive content under her control.

From Chan Chuoi Show to SexEdu By Trang

I made mistakes like many others ever did," said Trang,explaining the reasons that pushed her to make the website SexEdu by Trang.

"The mistakes could have resulted in horrible consequences.

"It was pretty lucky for me not to be infected with HIV.

But not everyone is lucky, or it will not always be like that.

"So, it would be better to have something under your belt if you do not want to entirely depend on luck."

Trang was also curious about sex when she was a teenager.

But like many of her friends, she never talked about it with her parents, who never raised the issue with her either.

In my family, it seems that it is a taboo, of which every family member will feel somewhat ashamed to discuss, Trang told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper.

I was born to such a traditional family.

"My parents did not allow me to go out to play with friends at night for fear that I would become a pervert.

"But they never told me that I should not have sex during my teenage years.

I had to get to know alone about how to use sanitary napkins and condoms because my parents never told me about them.

Like others at the time, Trang could not find any source of information that provides her with formal and enough knowledge about sex education as well as anywhere she could share her private concerns.

Trang tried to understand what she wanted to know then shared them with her female friends.

At first I made the website with a view to sharing what I know with others," Trang said of the first days of SexEdu by Trang.

"To my surprise, the web was welcomed by the young.

"So, I decided to improve it professionally in the hope that the website will help the audiences have a proper view of sex without being overwhelmed by a lot of confusing information online.

The website was named initially Chan Chuoi Show [Banana Herding Show] to reflect the founders intention to make a funny channel.

I got some feedback that said the name was trivial and dirty," Trang explained why she had to change the name of the website.

"I had missed many chances because of the name when I work with media and governmental organizations, thus I decided to change the name to SexEdu by Trang.

"I would like to define myself not only as a video blogger of sex education but also as an activist of sex education.

Overcoming numerous obstacles

There are diverse topics that have been shared on the website SexEdu by Trang such as the knowledge of maidenhead, the vaccine against HPV, masturbation, taking care of genital health, the ways to help sexual partners come to a safe clinic when in need, and more.

Trang has been more well known after the website became more familiar to the young.

She has been invited to be a speaker or guest in many talk shows on sex education.

Her supporters find Trang has a frank and polite way of presenting issues relating to sex education.

But she has also received many vicious comments from a few critics such as she must be a sex worker or you are sure to make this channel because you don't have anything to do.

Trang set a rule to leave conflicting comments but delete dirty and defamatory feedback.

In Vietnam, sex is still considered to be a particularly sensitive issue," Trang explained.

"Women dont dare to express their real views and needs for sex for fear of being judged or criticized by others.

"But it is a normal need, which exists naturally in both genders.

"While abroad a woman considers being called a sexy girl a kind of praise, many Vietnamese think of it as a bad and dishonorable reference."

My challenge is to make audiences consider sex as a natural need, like eating or drinking.

"In my opinion, we should only oppose sex without respecting and without protection."

According to the YouTuber, when it comes to sex safety in Vietnam, most people only focus on the ways to prevent themselves from being pregnant.

Many people rush to clinics to get rid of the result instead of preventing unwanted pregnancy.

Many people dont know that HIV/AIDS is a chronic illness, which can be prevented by pre-exposure prophylaxis (PREP), or you can actively prevent the disease after having unsafe sex by taking post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), Trang said.

In another case, there are people who already know all of this, but they dont know where they can ask for help.

"Similarly, when looking up sexually transmitted diseases such as gonorrhea and syphilis on the Internet, the results return mostly Chinese clinics.

Despite Vietnam having more reliable clinics, the communication projects relating to them are not good enough.

"For example, Glink with decent quality is one among those.

"I hope my audiences will support such community-friendly organizations via our YouTube channel."

Becoming a companion of your children In Vietnam, by the time a boy reaches puberty, his father cannot tell him that he should have a condom if he may have a sexual desire, Trang said. "There are no such healthy conversations, no such simple steps, so when they fall into uncontrollable situations, young people never dare to confide their real needs to their parents," she added. "I want the younger generation to learn to look at themselves so that their children will not be afraid to tell them about it. "When their son is mature enough and takes his girlfriend home for the first time, instead of scrutinizing, you had better give him a condom and tell him about contraception."

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Bengaluru, March 17 : Two Nigerian nationals were arrested in separate operations and drugs, including Ecstasy pills, LSD strips and cocaine valued around Rs 65 lakh, seized from them, the Bengaluru Central Crime Branch (CCB) said on Wednesday.

The arrested were identified as Joseph Ndukwe Okafor, 38, and Uzochukwu Markmaurice Mbatuegwu, 38.

The CCB claimed that Okafor was carrying around 65 grammes of cocaine, 50 Ecstasy tablets and 56 LSD strips valued around Rs 15 lakh, while Uzochukwu was carrying 650 grammes of cocaine, 91 Ecstasy tablets and 56 LSD strips valued around Rs 50 lakh.

Police said that Okafor used to procure drugs from Ushman aka Moosa aka Ichie and sold them to youngsters and techies.

Both drug peddlers were arrested after police received a tip off from another drug peddler who was arrested some time ago.

Okafor was arrested near Jakkur in Yelahanka suburb, while Uzochukwu was arrested from Amrutahalli near Byatarayanapura suburb.

"Both of them have grossly violated visa norms by running an illegal drugs racket in a host country. Therefore we have booked them under various provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985 and the Foreigners Act," the police said.
NEW YORK, March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Every year, 17.9 million and 9.6 million people die of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and cancer, respectively, as per the World Health Organization (WHO). Additionally, more than 422 million people around the world have diabetes. The rising incidence of these and other lifestyle-associated and chronic diseases will propel the global telemedicine market to $144.2 billion by 2030 from $27.8 billion in 2019, at a 15.8% CAGR during 20202030, according to P&S Intelligence.

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This is because for people suffering from such diseases, regularly monitoring the blood pressure and glucose levels, heart rate, body temperature, oxygen saturation (SpO 2 ), and other basic health parameters is essential. As connected devices and other remote patient monitoring solutions can help achieve this, without the patients having to frequently visit a doctor, the telemedicine market is growing primality because it offers convenience and brings down the healthcare spending.

Key Findings of Global Telemedicine Market

Demand for telemedicine solutions burgeoning in COVID times

Telemedicine receiving heavy funding from governments

Telemedicine services used majorly at hospitals and clinics

Telemedicine to be used most for consulting purposes

APAC to be fastest-growing market for telemedicine solutions

Presence of many companies makes market fragmented

Get the Sample Copy of this Report at @ https://www.psmarketresearch.com/market-analysis/telemedicine-market/report-sample

The telemedicine market has been positively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic because people have been advised not to step out of the house, except when absolutely important. Moreover, to contain the spread of the disease, most of the outpatient departments (OPDs) and clinics have been shut down. As a result, the volume of online consultation and need for sharing patient data over the internet have increased.

In the near future, the fastest telemedicine market growth will be witnessed by the tele home bifurcation, on the basis of type. Tele home services offer numerous advantages, such as a shorter stay at the hospital, easy communication with doctors, and faster and more-frequent checkups. Tele homecare is dispensed with the help of telephone reminder systems, wireless personal emergency response systems, web-based systems, video conferences, and medication reminders.

Story continues

Browse detailed report with COVID-19 impact analysis on Telemedicine Market Research Report: By Type (Tele Hospitals and Clinics, Tele Home), Service (Tele Consulting, Tele Monitoring, Tele Education, Tele Training), Specialty (Dermatology, Gynecology, Neurology, Cardiology, Orthopedics) - Global Industry Analysis and Growth Forecast to 2030 @ https://www.psmarketresearch.com/market-analysis/telemedicine-market

The telemonitoring category is expected to witness the highest CAGR in the telemedicine market, based on service, of 17.0%, in the years to come. Due to the rising incidence of chronic diseases and number of elderly people, the demand for remote patient monitoring services is increasing around the world. Telemonitoring involves the usage of a number of connected devices that track various health parameters of patients, such as their heart rate, blood glucose level, blood pressure, and body temperature, and send the data to the doctor over the internet.

Historically, the telemedicine market was dominated by the dermatology category, under segmentation by specialty. With the increasing appearance consciousness, people are taking to the online route to seek consultation for rashes, skin cancer, moles, acne, and psoriasis.

North America is projected to keep holding the largest share in the telemedicine market in the near future. The government support for telemedicine, in the form of grants, has been continuously increasing in the continent. For instance, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) provided 159 firms with a combined funding of $15 million in May 2020, for them to improve their telemedicine services in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Make enquiry about this report at @ https://www.psmarketresearch.com/send-enquiry?enquiry-url=telemedicine-market

The most-significant companies in the global telemedicine market are Honeywell International Inc., Cerner Corporation, Koninklijke Philips N.V., Medtronic plc, Cisco Systems Inc., McKesson Corporation, Aerotel Medical Systems Ltd., BioTelemetry Inc., Care Innovations LLC, Teladoc Health Inc., OBS Medical Ltd., Allscripts Healthcare Solutions Inc., AMD Global Telemedicine Inc., Polycom Inc., and GlobalMedia Group LLC.

Browse Other Related Reports

IoT in Healthcare Market - https://www.psmarketresearch.com/market-analysis/internet-of-things-in-healthcare-market

Smart Home Healthcare Market - https://www.psmarketresearch.com/market-analysis/smart-home-healthcare-market

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P&S Intelligence is a provider of market research and consulting services catering to the market information needs of burgeoning industries across the world. Providing the plinth of market intelligence, P&S as an enterprising research and consulting company, believes in providing thorough landscape analyses on the ever-changing market scenario, to empower companies to make informed decisions and base their business strategies with astuteness.

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But to meet the definition of sexual harassment in the Act, the person that has been harassed must also prove that objecting to the conduct disadvantaged them in connection with their employment, or they had a reasonable belief it would. Charmaine Tsang, a partner at HFW who specialises in employment and industrial relations matters, said the disadvantage test was not used in any other state or territory, other than the Northern Territory. This element must be satisfied for the unwelcome sexual conduct to constitute sexual harassment under the legal definition provided in the WA Act, Ms Tsang said. This suggests that sexual harassment only exists where there is a power imbalance between the harasser and the harassed, or where the harasser has the ability to cause disadvantage to the harassed in their employment or prospective employment. The 2008 and 2010 Amendment Bills declared this was challenging for people working at Parliament House to demonstrate, given there was often no direct employment relationship between MPs and staff, unlike conventional workplaces.

WAs legislation and the federal legislation came in around the same time... so why havent our parliamentarians here in WA moved with the times and realised it is completely out of step with the other states? It is not something that is radical, it is overdue. Samantha Maddern, partner at Mills Oakley At the time, attorney general Jim McGinty said staff at Parliament House should be protected from sexual harassment by MPs, who are clearly in a position of power. Under the current Equal Opportunity Acts sexual harassment laws, it is necessary to show that a staff member is concerned that refusing or objecting to the other persons behaviour would have a negative impact on their career, Mr McGinty said. In other words, the sexual harassment must occur in an employment context. Because there is often no direct employment relationship between MPs and staff, this is difficult to establish. Under the new law, staff wont be required to feel that their employment is threatened by complaining of workplace sexual harassment. In responses to questions from WAtoday, WA Equal Opportunity Commissioner Dr John Byrne said it is no harder for a parliamentary staffer to establish a breach of the Act than it is for a conventional employee but was unable to explain how the laws had changed since 2010 to make that the case.

A parliamentary staffer who is sexually harassed by an MP in the course of their employment can lodge a complaint against the MP personally, Dr Byrne said. Kingston Reid partner Duncan Fletcher said while he believed there was a way to hold politicians to account under the current legislation, it would be a good thing to clarify in the legislation that they are held to account. Loading Discrimination liability sits directly with an employer but harassment liability sits with an individual, Mr Fletcher explained. An employer acts unlawfully only if they allow harassment to occur in a workplace. Therefore, politicians arguably do not escape liability as individuals but they do as employers.

The simplest way to extend employer liability to politicians and others would be to use a definition similar to the national safety laws of a person conducting a business or undertaking. I imagine that would translate quite well from a discrimination point of view and catch all working environments. A high-profile example of the Acts failure to protect a parliamentary worker was reportedly the case of Karry Smith, the former Liberal staffer whose chair was controversially sniffed by former Liberal MP Troy Buswell. The 2010 Equal Opportunity Act Amendment Bill was drafted and championed by Ms Smith, who worked with Labor MP Martin Whitely on the bill and told media at the time: Its not good enough that members of the West Australian Parliament arent subject to the same sexual harassment laws as every other workplace in Western Australia. I see our Equal Opportunity Act as discriminatory now because I know what it means to be sexually harassed and not have any provisions of legislation to offer any kind of protection. As a legislator how do you stand in Parliament and debate legislation that will require a certain standard of behaviour from the citizens of the state but you dont have to abide by it, she said.

The situation has been remedied everywhere else in Australia but at the moment there is no protection for staff members or people who actually go and brief a member at Parliament House. Because an MP is not an employer there is no employee-employer relationship. Lawyers who specialise in the area said the WA laws had fallen behind those in other parts of the country, with the most fundamental flaw being the retention of the disadvantage definition. Loading Jocelyne Boujos, president of the Law Society of WA, the legal professions peak body in the state, said the McGowan governments landslide re-election presented an opportunity for changes to be pursued. This is an important issue and the Law Society supports the enactment of legislation that reflects best practice in this area of the law, she said.

WA is now in a unique position to have issues such as this very important one updated and progressed through the parliament in a timely manner. Indeed the Law Society considers that the introduction and passage of overdue law reform initiatives will be the ultimate test of this governments success during its second term of office. Ms Maddern said there had been a push for some time to change the definitions in the WA legislation to bring it into line with other jurisdictions where they dont have the same requirement for the alleged victim to establish disadvantage. If you look at definitions of sexual harassment in federal or other state legislation, they are much easier to satisfy and that is quite right because the behaviour alone (being unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature), especially in a workplace context, is not acceptable, Ms Maddern said. You shouldnt have to establish that you have been disadvantaged on top of that. Mr Fletcher said the state government was likely weighing up the risk of complicating the legislation through any reform with the risk of it being seen as behind the times.

The state legislation doesnt reflect the current society we live in and I think the main thing that has stopped it from being updated is a fear of imposing regulation where there is enough regulation, he said. But it is an interesting question whether the current debate acts as a lightning rod to bring it into line, and as long as they do it in a way that is sensible and aims for harmony between Commonwealth and state then I think the downside is pretty low. In a 2007 review of the Act, Former WA Labor MP Yvonne Henderson, who introduced the Equal Opportunity Bill into WA Parliament in 1984 and later became the states equal opportunity commissioner, found the test for sexual harassment reflected a mentality from more than 25 years ago. Today, there would be few who would insist that a person must demonstrate disadvantage as a consequence of taking objection to being sexually harassed, when the real disadvantage was in the harassment itself, Ms Henderson wrote at the time. The Sex Discrimination Act did away with this notion years ago and now so must the Act.
San Francisco police stepped up patrols in neighborhoods with high numbers of Asian residents, visitors and businesses Wednesday in the wake of the killing of six Asian women in Atlanta and a recent surge of violence in the Bay Area against Asian Americans.

Mayor London Breed directed the San Francisco Police Department Wednesday morning to immediately increase patrols in Asian communities even as attacks on Asian elders continued in the city. Police said they have added patrols in Chinatown, San Bruno Avenue, Visitacion Valley and the Sunset and Richmond districts.

Breed announced the stepped-up patrols on Twitter Wednesday morning during a press conference commemorating the one-year anniversary of the citys pandemic lockdown.

We have seen a rise of hate crimes against our elderly Asian community, and I want to make it clear that we wont tolerate it, she said. San Francisco will continue to support and uplift our Asian community ... the xenophobia and discrimination against our Asian community has been really horrible.

San Francisco police said they are working with federal law enforcement and Asian American-Pacific Islander community organizations to coordinate stepped-up enforcement efforts.

As you may know, the San Francisco Bay Area has been seeing an alarming spike in brazen anti-Asian violence in recent weeks, the police department said on Twitter.

Eight people, six of them Asian women, were killed by a gunman at three spas in the Atlanta area Tuesday in the latest and largest outbreak of violence against Asian Americans across the country.

San Francisco Police Chief Bill Scott decried the Atlanta violence Wednesday, calling the incidents horrific. He said that in addition to increasing patrols in Asian American neighborhoods, police have bolstered community outreach efforts, including safety walks with volunteers trained to assist police officers.

That presence, we hope, will deter some of these opportunistic type of crimes that are being committed in our city. he said. The Asian American-Pacific Islander community needs to know that we stand with them. We support them. This is horrific. Any type of violent crime is horrific. But when people appear to be targeted because of their race or ethnicity, that is unacceptable.

Scott called for public help in stopping the attacks.

We just need the public support, because this is not just a police issue, he said. We have to pull together as a community, as we did with COVID, and really stand against this type of nonsense. It's unacceptable. We have to do our jobs but we need the community's support as well.

In the Bay Area, a surge of anti-Asian hate crimes, ranging from deadly attacks to spitting, pushing and verbal assaults, has occurred in San Francisco, Oakland and elsewhere.

Stop AAPI Hate, a reporting project from Chinese for Affirmative Action and the Asian Pacific Policy & Planning Council, recorded more than 3,800 reports of coronavirus-related discrimination in the U.S. from March, 2020 through February. Women were twice as likely as men to be victims of the attacks, a report from the organization said.

California had more attacks than any other state with 1,691, according to the report. Since the start of 2021, at least 34 Asians have been assaulted or robbed in the Bay Area, according to news reports.

Two attacks on Asian Americans took place on Market Street on Tuesday and Wednesday. A 59-year-old Vallejo man was knocked to the sidewalk near Montgomery Street Tuesday, possibly causing him to lose his eyesight. A man was arrested for the attack and an earlier assault in the Mission district.

Wednesday morning, police said, a 39-year-old man who had been involved in a fight in United Nations Plaza earlier attacked an 83-year-old Asian man. When a security guard intervened, he fled, pausing to assault a 75-year-old Asian woman and she beat him until he stopped. Both victims were taken to the hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. The suspect, who was not identified, was also taken to the hospital for an unrelated medical condition.

Police announced the arrest of three Antioch men in the beating and robbery of a 67-year-old Asian man in a Chinatown laundromat in February. Police arrested Calvin Berschell, Jason Orozco and Nolowde Beshears, all 19 and from Antioch. The victim, who suffered non-life-threatening injuries, told police the men threw him to the ground and took his property.

Chronicle staff writer Trisha Thadani contributed to this report.

Michael Cabanatuan is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: mcabanatuan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ctuan
LANE COUNTY, Ore. -- Tuesday marks the one year anniversary of the first COVID-19 case in Lane County.

Residents told KEZI what their past year has been like.



"I've jokingly said I've had to relearn how to do everything, including breathing," Springfield resident Elizabeth Dasho said.

Eugene resident Blake Belgarde also weighed in.

"It's been crazy. A lot of things have changed. Times are very different for the businesses," Belgarde said.

Public health officials said that the county has made tremendous progress in terms of vaccines and testing. But they said variant mutants and vaccine efficacy are things we still have to consider.

But residents said they are feeling hopeful.

"I am cautious by nature so I want to take all the precautions necessary but I am hopeful," Dasho said. "I feel encouraged that there is more rollout of the vaccine."

A Lane County Public Health spokesperson said that experts also expect another surge nationwide in early April due to increased travel.

Starting Saturday, Autzen Stadium will be a site of mass vaccination clinics in partnership with PeaceHealth. This is along with four other mass vaccination sites in Lane County.

Lane County Public Health also said they are trying harder to reach communities. Two vaccinations at Homes for Good are scheduled to happen to this week as well as the Willamalane Senior Center.
Afghan schoolgirls sing during a ceremony to mark the start of the new school year in Kabul, in a March 21, 2004 file photo. / Credit: SHAH MARAI/AFP/Getty

Afghanistan's Ministry of Education says it is investigating an order by the Kabul Directorate of Education banning schoolgirls over the age of 12 from singing in public. The order has sparked outrage, including an online protest campaign by Afghan activists who have posted videos of themselves signing their favorite songs on social media.

Kabul's education department issued the order last week to school boards across the capital instructing them not to allow girls over 12 to attend choir classes or sing at public events. It noted that "ceremonies with 100% female participants are an exception."

Taliban denies attack on prominent women's rights activist

"This is a violation of the United Nation's Convention on the Rights of Child signed by the Afghan government in 1994," wrote Freshta Karim, an education activist and director of Charmaqhz, a non-profit organization that runs a mobile library for students in the Afghan capital. The convention, she said, "obliges government to not discriminate between children based on their gender, age, color [or] race."

Campaigners, mostly female activists, flooded social media platforms with the hashtag #IAmMySong, and uploaded clips of themselves singing, and videos of their favorite songs in protest over the ban.

We do not stop and continue our protest #IAmMySong until we see an official decree issued by Ministry of Education to all educational departments of MoE revoking previous instruction banning girls singing over age of 12. https://t.co/wGgW3HAkuF

 Farahnaz Forotan (@FForotan) March 15, 2021

"We raise our voices in protest against the extremist and discriminatory order of the Ministry of Education," journalist Farahnaz Forotan posted in a tweet, along with a recorded song.

The national Ministry of Education released a statement on Saturday saying it was investigating the Kabul authority's order, which did not reflect the Ministry's official position.

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"The Ministry not only supports the participation of students in social activities such as choirs... but also encourages voluntary participation in all kinds of activities," the statement said.

For Dr. Ahmad Sarmat, the founder of Afghanistan's National Institute of Music and the initiator of the #IAmMySong campaign, the Ministry's statement wasn't enough. He wants the Kabul Directorate of Education to unambiguously reverse its order with a new decree, and he urged people to continue with the online protests until that happens.

Friends of #IAmMySong campaign, given the office procedures in Afghanistan, previous instructions of MoE banning girls singing remain valid until a new decree repealing them is issued. We should not rest until d needed decree is issued. Back to action in full force pic.twitter.com/wO4UKr3S2G

 Dr Ahmad Sarmast (@DSarmast) March 15, 2021

"We should not rest until the needed decree is issued" he said on Twitter. "Back to the action in full force."

Kids as political props?

Most Afghan school children take part in choirs, and they're often included in official ceremonies to welcome high-profile government officials and visiting dignitaries. That participation exposes the kids to security threats and harassment.

Often children are brought to take part in such ceremonies without their parents' consent, and there have been concerns raised over students being used for political reasons when they should be in classrooms learning.

Then-Afghan President Hamid Karzai (top, center) and former King Mohammed Zahir Shah watch as school children in traditional costumes sing during the opening ceremony of the Afghan grand assembly (Loya Jirga) in Kabul, in a December 2003 file photo. / Credit: SHAH MARAI/AFP/Getty

"My kids always attend signing ceremonies, but their school never asked for my permission," Kabul resident Jamil told CBS News.

Shaharzad Akbar, the chairperson of Afghanistan's Independent Human Rights Commission, who joined the online #IAmMySong campaign, said she was all for preventing "political abuse of children," but against any bans based on a "distinction of age or gender."

Karim, who runs the Charmaqhz organization, said she would support reforms to the current system and she urged the Ministry of Education to provide a safe environment for children to enjoy their basic rights and freedoms.

"The solution is to make those spaces safe for children, to have anti-harassment policies, and to build awareness for children to protect themselves, rather than banning children from singing," she said.

Context of the Taliban talks

The ban came to light as the Afghan government and the Taliban continue negotiating to craft a peace deal to end the war that has raged for two decades  the most prolonged military conflict ever to embroil the United States.

Two landmark conference are scheduled for the coming weeks, one in Moscow and one in Istanbul, at which the Biden administration is expected to push for a power-sharing arrangement between the Taliban and the Afghan government, with an interim president chosen to lead the new administration by May 1.

Under an agreement signed last year by the Trump administration and the Taliban in Qatar, all U.S. troops must leave Afghanistan by May 1, provided the insurgency meets a number of conditions, including reducing its violence. That timetable looks unlikely given the Taliban's continued attacks against civilians and Afghan forces, and the fact that about 2,500 U.S. troops remain in the country.

A U.S. military spokesman said Wednesday that coalition forces had carried out airstrikes this week targeting Taliban militants who were "actively attacking & maneuvering" against Afghan government forces.

USFOR-A conducted airstrikes w/in the last 48 hrs targeting TB fighters actively attacking & maneuvering on ANDSF positions in Zharay, Spin Boldak & Kandahar Districts, Kandahar. TB claims otherwise are false. The US continues to defend ANDSF in accordance w/ the US-TB agreement.

 USFOR-A Spokesman Col Sonny Leggett (@USFOR_A) March 17, 2021

Under the Taliban regime ousted by the U.S.-led military operation in 2001, girls were not allowed to go to school, and nobody was permitted to sing.

Those basic rights are now among the terms being negotiated as the government talks peace with the Taliban in Qatar, and many fear that Afghan women and girls in particular could lose some of the hard-won freedoms they've gained over the last 20 years.

Health experts link pandemic to surge in U.S. drug overdoses

Suspect in custody after several killed at Atlanta-area spas

Several killed in shootings at Atlanta-area spas
After a year of oppressive quarantines, the jury on COVID-19 lockdowns is in.

Stanford University Medical School professor Dr. Jay Battacharya recently called COVID-19 lockdowns the "biggest public health mistake we've ever made[.] ... The harm to people is catastrophic."

Bhattacharya is a co-author of the Great Barrington Declaration, a petition that calls for an end to draconian COVID-19 lockdowns. Worldwide, more than 41,000 medical practitioners and upwards of 750,000 concerned citizens have signed the declaration.

"Current lockdown policies are producing devastating effects on short and long-term public health," read the group's website. "The results (to name a few) include lower childhood vaccination rates, worsening cardiovascular disease outcomes, fewer cancer screenings and deteriorating mental health  leading to greater excess mortality in years to come, with the working class and younger members of society carrying the heaviest burden. Keeping students out of school is a grave injustice."

Others are echoing more of the same.

"To determine the best path forward necessarily means admitting that social lockdowns and significant restrictions on individuals are deadly and extraordinarily harmful, especially on the working class, minorities, and the poor," noted Scott W. Atlas, M.D., a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution, recently, in a column for The Stanford Review. From August through September, Atlas also served as special adviser to President Trump and a member of the White House Coronavirus Task Force.

And according to an opinion piece published in the Wall Street Journal last Thursday, "[t]he coronavirus lockdowns constitute the most extensive attacks on individual freedom in the West since World War II."

Predictably, in Washington State, lockdown criticism has fallen on deaf ears. Under Democratic governor Jay Inslee, restaurants, gyms, and other businesses are still operating only at 25 percent capacity.

While 16 states, including Texas and Florida, have rescinded mask mandates, Inslee, rated the worst governor in the country for fiscal policy by the Libertarian Cato Institute, will finally allow his state to reopen at 50% capacity on March 22  after an entire year of draconian lockdowns.

How benevolent.

Like Gov. Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan and Gov. Gavin Newsom of California, Inslee has been drunk on power ever since signing his initial emergency declaration in February 2020.

"This will allow us to get the resources we need," Inslee said in a press release at the outset of the outbreak.

"This is a time to take common-sense, proactive measures to ensure the health and safety of those who live in Washington state."

Truth be told, Inslee's obsessive "common-sense" approach to keeping Washingtonians safe and healthy amounted to little more than subjectively choosing winners and losers. While houses of worship were deemed unessential, Home Depot, abortion facilities, and pot shops were considered essential.

Even now, as the Evergreen state prepares to enter Phase 3 of the state's reopening plan with 50% capacity, there are punitive strings attached.

All counties will be subjected to an evaluation every three weeks, beginning April 12. If any county fails one or more of the required metrics, it will fall down a Phase in the Healthy Washington plan.

"If at any point the statewide ICU [intensive care unit] capacity reaches greater than 90%, all counties will move down one Phase. The Department of Health always maintains the ability to move a county forward or backward at their discretion," noted Inslee recently.

Strangely enough, Inslee's power-grab could finally be catching up to him.

According to reporting from The Post Millennial: "Washington Democrat Governor Jay Inslee's Department of Social and Health Services issued directives to "transition" COVID positive patients primarily to "alternative settings" with nursing homes being the "primary strategy" in order to "create capacity for hospitals."

As stated in a letter from Washington's Department of Social and Health Services, nursing homes that admitted COVID-19-positive patients were entitled to compensation by Medicaid.

Coming one month after a massive coronavirus outbreak at the Life Care Center in Kirkland, Washington, initially dubbed as the epicenter for COVID-19, the timing of letter is especially curious, considering that by March 19, there were 35 reported deaths linked to the beleaguered nursing home, per CBS News.

In all, 46 died inside the nursing facility, East of Seattle, including residents, staff, and visitors, according to KING5.com.

Eerily, the scenario bears striking resemblance to New York governor Andrew Cuomo's nursing home scandal  though, on a much smaller scale  where discharged COVID-positive patients were admitted into nursing homes, a move that resulted in more than 10,000 deaths.

"What's amazing is Inslee and his team at DOH saw the outbreak at Life Care and still asked nursing homes to take in COVID-positive patients," reports Beth Baumann in Townhall.

She adds: "Americans deserve to know how this outbreak impacted the rest of the nation, especially since Life Care was where this all started for the United States. And Inslee needs to be held personally accountable for every single one of these deaths."

At the very least, it is time to rescind Inslee's emergency powers. Washingtonians have suffered enough under his unreasonable lockdowns.

Elizabeth M. Economou writes from Seattle.

Image via Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain.
A 43-year-old woman who worked as a teacher in Marbella, on the Costa del Sol, died this Tuesday, 16 March, from a brain haemorrhage.

She had been vaccinated against Covid-19 with the AstraZeneca vaccine on 3 March but hours later, she began to feel unwell and went to the emergency department at the Quiron hospital with a headache and general malaise symptoms that doctors attributed to the usual side effects of the vaccine.

Days later, on 13 March, she returned to the hospital because she continued to feel ill. Medical staff performed a CT scan where they did not find anything significant, but another was performed the next day.

It was then that they detected a massive haemorrhage that they tried to drain in surgery during which they discovered edema  an accumulation of fluid in the brain.

The woman, the mother of two children, worked in a school on the Costa del Sol and, reportedly, had no history of medical problems.

An autopsy will be performed to determine the precise cause of death.

Sources consulted by SUR confirm that Quiron has already reported the case to the Spanish and European Medicines Agencies.

This Monday Spain announced the suspension of vaccinations with the AstraZeneca formula for 15 days after the detection of several rare cases of blood clots. a measure also adopted in other countries such as Italy, Germany and France.

The matter is in the hands of the European Medicines Agency, which has opened an investigation to find out if these cases are related to the vaccine.

The World Health Organization (WHO), however, recommends that countries continue to vaccinate with the AstraZeneca formula.

Donald Trump has revealed he wants Meghan Markle to run for president in 2024 because it will help make his decision on his own future.

In an interview with Fox News on Tuesday night, Trump was asked what his take was on Meghan meeting with Democrat operatives and a possible run.

He replied: 'Well I hope that happens because if that happened I think I'd have an even stronger feeling toward running.'

Trump added: 'I'm not a fan of hers. I think that what she talks about the Royal family and the Queen, and I happen to think, I know the Queen as you know, I met with the Queen and I think the Queen is a tremendous person and I am not a fan of Meghan.'

Former President Trump is asked by @MariaBartiromo about Meghan Markle meeting with Democratic operatives about running for president:



"If that happened, I think I'd have an even stronger feel toward running." pic.twitter.com/Ja69PmiRjg  Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) March 16, 2021

In an interview with Fox News on Tuesday night, Trump was asked what his take was on Meghan meeting with Democrat operatives and a possible run

He replied: 'Well I hope that happens because if that happened I think I'd have an even stronger feeling toward running'

Trump added: 'I'm not a fan of hers. I think that what she talks about the Royal family and the Queen, and I happen to think, I know the Queen as you know, I met with the Queen and I think the Queen is a tremendous person and I am not a fan of Meghan'

Trump remained non-committal about seeking to recapture the presidency following his one term in office.

'Based on every poll, they want me to run again,' he said. 'But we're going to take a look and we'll see.'

Trump's comments follow Meghan and Prince Harry's bombshell interview with Oprah.

Trump's former senior adviser Jason Miller said just last week that Trump hadn't spoken publicly about the pair's interview because he didn't want to be 'canceled' like Piers Morgan.

Miller lifted the lid on Trump's feelings about the Sussexes' interview during an appearance on Steve Bannon's podcast on Wednesday.

Miller said Trump told him he could 'make a little news' by sharing his reaction to the interview - but he ultimately decided it wasn't a good idea.

'When I was talking to the president this morning... he's like: "Yeah, [Meghan's] no good. I said that and now everybody's seeing it.

'"But you realize if you say anything negative about Meghan Markle you get canceled. Look at Piers [Morgan],"' Miller recalled.

Morgan left his anchor post at Good Morning Britain amid criticism over his controversial comments about the interview.

Trump reportedly said he didn't want to be 'canceled' like Piers Morgan (pictured), who left his anchor post at Good Morning Britain last week amid criticism over his forceful comments about the interview with Meghan and Harry

The polarizing host said he 'didn't believe a word' of what Meghan said about experiencing racism within the Royal Family and feeling suicidal when she was pregnant with son Archie.

Trump has spoken out against Meghan in the past, including when he famously called her 'nasty' in 2019.

Miller, who worked as Trump's chief spokesman during his 2016 campaign and as his senior adviser in the 2020 campaign, said Trump told him: 'I'm on Team Piers. Piers is the best, he's the greatest, and they went and tried to cancel him simply because he criticized Meghan Markle. This is just the latest chapter of woke culture.'

Trump and the Sussexes have a history of trading barbs.

The then-president weighed in on Harry and Meghan's decision to leave the Royal Family in January 2020 and expressed condolences for Queen Elizabeth II.

'I think it's sad. I do. I think it's sad. [The Queen's] a great woman,' Trump told Fox News.

'She's never made a mistake if you look. I mean, she's had like a flawless time.'

Asked by host Laura Ingraham at the time if Harry should 'come back to the family', Trump said: 'Well, I think, you know, I don't want to get into the whole thing. But I find it, I just have such respect for the Queen. I don't think this should be happening to her.'

Harry and Trump stand in the same room together at Buckingham Palace in March 2019

Trump hit out at Meghan again last fall after she and Harry made the unprecedented decision to comment on the upcoming US election, interpreted by many as an endorsement of now President Joe Biden.

'I'm not a fan of hers,' Trump said of Meghan.

'I would say this - and she has probably has heard that - I wish a lot of luck to Harry because he's going to need it.'

Meghan and Harry broke with Royal convention when they released a video message making thinly-veiled digs at Trump.

In the video, which came in a Time 100 video to go with the publication of the 2020 list of the most influential people, Harry urged Americans to 'reject hate speech' while Meghan called it the 'most important election of our lifetime'.

'As we approach this November, it's vital that we reject hate speech, misinformation and online negativity,' said Harry  in a line many observers regarded as a swipe at Trump.

'When the bad outweighs the good, for many, whether we realize it or not, it erodes our ability to have compassion and our ability to put ourself in someone else's shoes. Because when one person buys into negativity online, the effects are felt exponentially. It's time to not only reflect, but act,' he said.

Meghan, who was born in California, encouraged viewers to vote telling them it was the 'most important' election.

'We're six weeks out from the election, and today is Voter Registration Day,' she said.

'Every four years, we're told the same thing, 'This is the most important election of our lifetime.

'But this one is. When we vote, our values are put into action, and our voices are heard.'

Meghan and Harry were accused of 'crossing the line' back in September in a Time 100 video (above) where they told American voters to 'reject hate speech, misinformation and online negativity' in 'the most important election of our life'

Also in his wide-ranging interview on Tuesday, Trump encouraged his Republican supporters - one of the main groups resistant to Covid-19 vaccines - to get their shots.

'I would recommend it,' Trump said. 'I would recommend it to a lot of people that don't want to get it and a lot of those people voted for me, frankly.

'It's a great vaccine, it's a safe vaccine and it's something that works.'

This was Trump's most explicit endorsement for the national mass vaccination campaign since he left office in January.

All other living former presidents, including Democrat Barack Obama and Republican George W. Bush, have delivered high profile public service announcements.

But Trump has largely been silent while the man who defeated him, President Joe Biden, masterminds the vaccine rollout.

Polls show that Republican men, who are overwhelmingly supporters of Trump and his 'Make America Great Again' or MAGA platform, are the leading vaccine skeptics.
If Michigan shuts down the Line 5 crude oil pipeline, refiners in central Canada and the U.S. Midwest will face a shortage of feedstocks, and propane prices will shoot up, the operator of the pipeline, Enbridge, has warned.

A shutdown of Line 5 would cause an immediate shortage of energy in the region, Vern Yu, Enbridge president of liquid pipelines, said. It would drive up prices significantly, and the replacement would be years away.

Michigans Governor Gretchen Whitmer and the director of the states Department of Natural Resources last November revoked Enbridges easement for the operation of the twin Line 5 pipeline, citing repeated violations of the easement and the need to protect the Great Lakes.

The state is revoking the easement for violation of the public trust doctrine, given the unreasonable risk that continued operation of the dual pipelines poses to the Great Lakes, an official statement said. Moreover, the state is terminating the easement based on Enbridges persistent and incurable violations of the easements terms and conditions.

Related Video: Why The Oil & Gas Rig Count Matters

That happened a couple of months after Enbridge won the approval of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration. It also won a case at the Michigan Circuit Court that greenlit the restart of work on the pipeline.

The Canadian pipeline operator proposed the replacement of a section of the Line 5 pipes with new ones a few years ago, and the Michigan Legislature approved it in late 2018. Enbridges proposal was motivated by safety concerns: the pipes in that section were 65 years old. Yet, it is again safety concerns that Gov. Whitmer is citing in her attempts to kill the replacement project.

The case is currently being looked into at a federal court after Enbridge filed an injunction to stop Michigans move to suspend the pipeline. Meanwhile, according to Yu, if Line 5 is shut down, this will necessitate some 15,000 oil trucks daily to move the oil from Canada to the U.S., as well as 800 rail cars.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
Somerset County prisons toured in wake of COVID

A media tour was held Wednesday at both Somerset County prisons to show how officials have adapted to COVID-19.
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SEATTLE, March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- OctoML today announced it has raised a $28 million Series B funding round, bringing the company's total amount raised to $47 million. Addition led the round with participation from existing investors Madrona Venture Group and Amplify Partners.

Built on Apache TVM , the ML open-source stack that powers the "Alexa" wake word and Qualcomm's machine learning software, OctoML is an ML acceleration platform that automatically maximizes model performance while enabling continuous deployment. The company's flagship product, Octomizer, enables engineering teams to deploy models in hours  not months  on any hardware, cloud provider, or edge device.

"Machine learning has become mission-critical in virtually every industry, yet getting models to production remains labor intensive, slow, and cost-prohibitive," said Luis Ceze, CEO and co-founder of OctoML. "While ML spend is on the rise, 90 percent of models don't make it to production. This is because improving model performance without sacrificing accuracy requires endless manual optimizations and fine tuning, especially given the growing stack of ML software and hardware backends."

Founded by the team that created open-source Apache TVM, OctoML aims to make machine learning fast, useful, and accessible to any organization, large and small. Companies like AMD, Qualcomm, Bosch, and Microsoft are already using OctoML's technology to increase model throughput, reduce inference costs, and accelerate their time-to-market. Early results show performance improvements of up to 30x without compromising accuracy.

Ceze adds, "The goal is to enable our customers to extract full value and efficiency from their hardware investments (CPU, GPU, SOCs and accelerators). By using ML to optimize ML, we reduce the optimization and tuning time by orders of magnitude. A 30x boost in performance translates to 30x savings in compute cost."

Octomizer already supports a wide variety of ML frameworks like PyTorch, TensorFlow, and ONNX serialized models as well as hardware backends like NVIDIA/CUDA, x86, AMD, ARM, Intel, MIPS, and more. Recently, the company was able to beat Apple's Core ML 4 on Apple M1 by improving model performance by 1.5x .

"When we first met Luis and the OctoML team, we knew they were poised to transform the way ML teams deploy their machine learning models," said Lee Fixel, Founder of Addition. "They have the vision, the talent and the technology to drive ML transformation across every major enterprise. They launched Octomizer six months ago and it's already becoming the go-to solution developers and data scientists use to maximize ML model performance. We look forward to supporting the company's continued growth."

Octomizer is now available for machine learning teams looking to dramatically improve ML model performance, while reducing costs and accelerating time-to-market. You can sign up for early access here .

About OctoML

OctoML is a machine learning acceleration platform based in Seattle, Washington. OctoML aims to accelerate model performance while enabling seamless deployment of models across any hardware platform, cloud provider, or edge device. The company's investors include Addition, Madrona Venture Group, and Amplify Partners. OctoML was founded by creators of open-source Apache TVM, CEO Luis Ceze, CTO Tianqi Chen, CPO Jason Knight, Chief Architect Jared Roesch, and VP of Technology Partnerships Thierry Moreau. For more information, please visit https://octoml.ai/

About Apache TVM

Apache TVM is an open source deep learning compiler and runtime that optimizes the performance of machine learning models across a multitude of processor types, including CPUs, GPUs, accelerators and mobile/edge chips. It uses machine learning to optimize and compile models for deep learning applications, closing the gap between productivity-focused deep learning frameworks and performance-oriented hardware backends. It is used by some of the world's biggest companies like Amazon, AMD, ARM, Facebook, Intel, Microsoft and Qualcomm.

SOURCE OctoML

Related Links

https://octoml.ai


Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-17 20:48:14|Editor: huaxia

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Namibian Minister of Health Kalumbi Shangula (R) is pictured as the country launches vaccination plan for COVID-19 vaccines in Windhoek, Namibia, on March 18, 2021. Namibia launched its COVID-19 vaccination campaign on Friday. (Photo by Musa C Kaseke/Xinhua)

WINDHOEK, March 17 (Xinhua) -- Namibia will launch its COVID-19 vaccination campaign on Friday after receiving the first batch of Sinopharm vaccine from China, Minister of Health Kalumbi Shangula said on Tuesday.

Shangula who thanked China for the goodwill gesture said the vaccination campaign will kick start under Phase one from March 19 to April 16, 2021 in selected districts.

The Namibian minister also expressed confidence in the efficacy of the Sinopharm vaccine saying it has been used elsewhere in the continent.

"The vaccine has been rolled out in countries such as China, Seychelles, Morocco, United Arab Emirates, Zimbabwe and others," Shangula said.

He said clients will be observed for 30 minutes after vaccination and are encouraged to report telephonically or visit the nearest health facility if they experience any potential side effects or adverse event following immunization.

The initial vaccination will be done in Windhoek, Walvis Bay and Swakopmund which have been the most affected areas by the pandemic. Enditem
Tunisian leader meets with Libyas new government in Tripoli View Photo

CAIRO (AP)  Tunisias president met Wednesday with Libyas newly appointed government officials in Tripoli, becoming the first head of state to visit the war-torn country a day after an interim administration took power.

President Kais Saied landed in the capitals Mitiga International Airport and was received by Mohammad Younes Menfi, head of Libyas Presidential Council. They then headed for talks and the Tunisian leader also met with Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah.

We will work together to restore normal relations at all levels, Menfi said at a brief news conference with Saied.

Saieds office said the talks focused on the economy and trade between the two nations, along with Tunisias support for a democratic path in Libya. Its time to overcome all causes of alienation, Saied said, without elaborating.

Tunisia had been a major economic partner with Libya before uprisings engulfed the two countries 10 years ago. Trade between the two countries has declined to less than $363 million from more than $1.2 billion in 2010, according Tunisias state-run news agency.

Saied said the men also discussed the case of two Tunisian journalists  Sofiene Chourabi and Nadhir Ktari  who disappeared in eastern Libya in 2014. He did not provide details.

Th Islamic State group, which had been active in eastern Libya at the time, had said the two journalists were killed. But Tunisian officials refuted the claim.

The visit, the first for a Tunisian leader since 2012, came a day after Libyas interim government took power in Tripoli, officially beginning a tenure designed to end with democratic elections late this year in the oil-rich country.

In November, Tunisia hosted talks of the U.N.-picked Libyan political forum, which eventually produced a roadmap that appointed the interim government to lead Libya through presidential and parliamentary elections on Dec. 24.

That interim government includes a three-member presidential council headed by Menfi and a Cabinet headed by Dbeibah. The Menfi-Dbeibah government replaced rival east- and west-based administrations, each of which enjoyed the backing of armed groups and foreign governments.

Libya was plunged into chaos when a NATO-backed uprising in 2011 toppled longtime ruler Moammar Gadhafi, who was later killed.

The appointment of an interim government revived hopes of stability in oil-rich Libya, which has become a safe haven for militant groups threatening its neighbors, including Tunisia.

By SAMY MAGDY

Associated Press
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-17 18:56:27|Editor: huaxia

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SEOUL, March 17 (Xinhua) -- South Korean and U.S. defense chiefs reaffirmed the common goal of the Korean Peninsula's complete denuclearization during their talks on Wednesday, according to the South Korean defense ministry.

South Korean Defense Minister Suh Wook talked in Seoul with the visiting U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, who arrived here earlier in the day following his trip to Japan together with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

Suh and Austin reaffirmed the South Korea-U.S. common goal of the peninsula's complete denuclearization and the permanent peace settlement, the Seoul ministry said.

They also reaffirmed the conditions-based transfer of the wartime operational control of South Korean forces from the United States, to which Seoul and Washington agreed in 2006.

South Korea's wartime command was handed over to the U.S. forces after the 1950-53 Korean War broke out. South Korea won back its peacetime operational control in 1994.

Austin and Blinken came here after visiting Japan on the first cabinet-level overseas trip by U.S. President Joe Biden's administration members.

The U.S. officials are scheduled to hold a so-called "two plus two" meeting with their South Korean counterparts on Thursday. Enditem
Views expressed are those of our readers, not us. Need to get something off your chest? Leave a message with your rant or rave at 803-765-0707 x 126 or email RANTandRAVE@free-times.com. Submissions will be edited for length and spelling but not grammar. Please limit emailed submissions to 100 words.

Tipping. It is an American capitalist abnormality. But, it is a fact. So, if you tip your barista or bartender just for serving you a drink, then it is only right to tip workers at fast food restaurants and buffets. They deserve it. They need it.

Why does the sun go on shining? Why does the sea rush to shore? Don't They know it's the end of the world, 'cause Trump's not president anymore? Why does my heart go on beating? Why do these eyes of mine cry? Don't They know it's the end of the world, since Twitter said to Trump "bye bye"?

No Mask-No Vax = NO BRAINS

The past few issues have posts each party blaming the other for more violence than your own. However, the fact remains, those people who stormed the Capitol were not Democrats, or the left wing, or Black Lives Matter groups. They were extreme right groups. And five people died as a result. The Democrats did not seek to overturn an honest and fair election. It was the right.

Sorry to tell you but Republicans believe in the free market, when it comes to pay, you get what you deserve! Also healthcare, workers comp, unemployment insurance, pensions, childcare, parental leave, paid leave, and paid sick leave, etc. All of these things are your own responsibility, and you need to work it out with your employer! If you want the state or federal government involved with all these things, youre an idiot!

To exclude LGBT people from hate crime legislation is declaring open season on them. Shame on you. Jesus didnt act like that. Even the Pope shows compassion for gay people. Once again we are proving that SC stands for hate. Christian state indeed.

Sen. Harpootlian wants to fine tune laws relating to what is and is not a bar/restaurant. If businesses are restricted to how much adult beverage they can sell, how much revenue will the city lose? But even funnier is the response by Sen. Senn that Harpo's bill only apply in Columbia, ergo, special legislation. Oy! As for Cola's tackling solutions to its high taxes, I think raising them is a workable option since it will lose tons of beverage taxes.

Hey. I used to date a girl with a wooden leg. But. I had to break it off.

Catalina dressing is just ketchup for salad.

You know that movie "The Purge"? Can somebody please tell me how I can introduce that into the legislation to get that bill passed? Just sayin' I think it'd solve a lot of our problems.

Turtle would like to bring up a small factoid. Three to 4 percent of the national budget for the military is enough money to feed the whole world. Why are we buying guns and not butter?

Listening to Lindsey Graham try to explain himself is like listening to a snake shed its skin.

Richland County approves taking away credit cards from council members because Vice Chairman Myers spending all that damn money on herself and her family. They've taken away the credit cards. Whereas were the counties of Charleston, York, Greenville, Spartanburg and Lexington does not allow council members to carry cards. Richland County shoulda known that years ago. Get with it Richland County Council.

I think if all the vaccination clinics were walk in, without an appointment, no appointment needed, then more people would get their shots.

You know, 3,000 is a good number, which means poll takers should randomly call 3000 people and ask them, "Did you support Mr. Trump or Mr. Biden? And if you got a check for $1400, are you going to catch it?" You understand the premise here is that a whole bunch of people, and even this one channel on TV, they don't like the relief package. But then, you know, you say, well, are you going to cash your check? But then they're going to commercial.

You know, I love to read. And that beautiful article, which was terrible, in The State paper about teachers. Now, I'm gonna tell you how stupid this state is. South Carolina, the dumb state, the dumbest state in America, white trash. You can hang up, but that's fine. But listen to this. South Carolina doesn't have enough teachers. And no mom or dad teacher wants to take COVID home to their parents or kids. So they they wait out and they resign. This state doesn't love teachers.

I was told I couldn't claim car repairs on my vehicles in 2012 unless I had all of my gasoline receipts for the whole year. Is that true? Somebody helped me out here. H&R Block or somebody, somebody help me out.

All y'all that don't want to take the vaccine out there: You know, you can make up your own decision but as for me, whatever it takes for me to sit down and eat with my family and to hug my momma and to hug my sisters and nieces and nephews and relatives again, I'll do anything to be able to do that. As long as we all got that vaccine shot, we can come together with some peace that at least something can't sneak in there and destroy us now, because the vaccine has already worked it out.

Do you know what you'd call a cow that's on the ground? Ground beef.

I saw an older gentleman waiting in line to get a vaccine. A friend of his came by and said, "I thought you'd have to go to the veterinarian to get your vaccine." Aha!

I'm not saying life in Orangeburg, South Carolina, is boring. But I spent two weeks there one night.

Donald Trump has magic, according to Lindsey Graham. Yes, he's so magical that the Republicans lost the Senate, the House and the White House under his fake leadership.

My child works for the company so I can promise you that by 2024, taking Uber will include small electric airplanes for your speedy convenience. It is the future!

As a "Leftist," I'm enjoying the Biden/Harris administration's program of ultra-woke, anti-racist economic austerity and intersectional feminist regime change wars. I really hope they decide to paint BLM and rainbow flags on the bombs they drop on Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan. Civilians in the Middle East definitely appreciate it when you hire gender non-conforming drone pilots to murder their family members and neighbors indiscriminately.

Richland Library, where are you?

Is that Chris Trainor? (Laughs) Ooops.

It's taken me some time to respond to the person about Yankees being in the South. It's taken me so long because I know I need to use small words that he or she would be able to understand. Remember this: Electricity, telephone, cars and everything else had been invented by Yankees. And now to test how smart you might be, look up the word "macadam." And that is something that you use every day. Remember: All the stuff that we invented, or just bringing it down to the South, to teach you how to do it the right way.
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He became a household name in his 20s as Princess Diana's favourite designer, and later created the wedding dress for Princess Margaret's daughter, Lady Sarah Armstrong-Jones.

Now aficionados of Jasper Conran  son of late Habitat founder Sir Terence Conran and Superwoman author Shirley Conran  are about to have a unique chance to own some of his own personal treasures.

For I can disclose that Conran junior is auctioning the entire contents of his exquisite 23,000 sq ft, six-bedroom apartment at New Wardour Castle, Wiltshire.

The three-day auction, which will be conducted both in the sale room and online in September, promises to be one of the highlights in Christie's calendar.

Princess Diana's favourite designer, Jasper Conran, is auctioning the entire contents of his home

It's an extraordinary treasury, emblematic of Conran's unerring eye and encyclopaedic knowledge of 18th century artistry.

One of the most highly prized lots comes from the bedroom which Jasper shared with his husband, Irish artist Oisin Byrne, 24 years his junior, whom he married at Wardour in 2015.

It's the couple's George I chintz-cotton and velvet tester bed, dating from 1725, and is expected to fetch 80,000.

The 500-lot auction will see eye-catching items from Conran's exquisite 23,000 sq ft, six-bedroom apartment at New Wardour Castle, Wiltshire, go up for sale

Other eye-catching items in the 500-lot auction include three pairs of George III giltwood armchairs embellished with needlework representations of Aesop's fables, each pair bearing an 18,000 estimate, and a George II heraldic console table, with an estimate of 20,000-30,000.

Or, for those with an appetite for something a little older, there are four Chinese blue and white Kraak porcelain items believed to date from the 16th or 17th century, and expected to sell for 4,000.

Some have expressed astonishment that 61-year-old Conran could bear to bid farewell to Wardour.

Aside from the intense personal connection which he and Byrne had with their apartment, which they sold for 4 million, it boasts what Conran describes as 'possibly the best staircase in England, if not the world'.

One of the most highly prized lots comes from the bedroom which Jasper shared with his husband, Irish artist Oisin Byrne, 24 years his junior, whom he married at Wardour in 2015. It's the couple's George I chintz-cotton and velvet tester bed, dating from 1725, and is expected to fetch 80,000

But it seems Morocco beckons, so everything must go.

In 2019, Conran acquired Villa Mabrouka, Yves Saint Laurent's old house in Tangier on the country's Mediterranean coast, which he is intent on transforming into one of the world's most chic hotels.

Try a tasty hot mug of Zeta-Jones

Wake up and smell the money! Hollywood star Catherine Zeta-Jones has embarked on a lucrative new venture selling coffee.

The Swansea-born actress, 51, is launching a new coffee range for her lifestyle brand, Casa Zeta-Jones, later this month, just weeks after she started her own clothing collection.

Swansea-born Catherine Zeta-Jones, 51, has embarked on a new lucrative venture, selling artisan coffee

The beverage line includes six specialty blends of artisan crafted coffee  and it doesn't come cheap at 20 for a 340g bag.

'Everyone who knows me knows I simply cannot start my day without a cup of coffee, and now I'm bringing cups of love to your Casa,' says Catherine, wife of film star Michael Douglas.

Fellow actor George Clooney co-founded Casamigos tequila company in 2013, which was purchased in 2017 by Diageo for 790 million.

Tyler intends to treat herself to a Tesla

It's the total eclipse of the petrol car. Husky-voiced Bonnie Tyler is planning to treat herself to an all-electric Tesla when she turns 70 this summer.

'I just want to do my little bit for the environment,' says the Welsh songstress who recently released a new album, The Best Is Yet To Come.

She insists that becoming a septuagenarian is no big deal. 'It's just another year,' she says.

Modestas delivered a baby 4u, John

Billionaire Phones 4u founder John Caudwell has become a father for the sixth time aged 68.

The businessman confirmed yesterday that his fiancee, Olympic cyclist Modesta Vzesniauskaite, 37, has given birth to their first child, a son, William John.

'Mother and son are doing fine,' says Phones 4u billionaire John Caudwell, 68, after his wife Olympic cyclist Modesta Vzesniauskaite, 37, gave birth to their first child, a son, William John

'Two weeks ahead of schedule, Modesta and I welcomed our little boy to the world,' he says.

'He's 2.6kg, 48cm and now shares a birthday with his sister Libby. Mother and son are both doing well.'

John, who has five older children  Rebekah, 40, Libby, 32, Rufus, 24, Scarlett, 18, and Jacobi, 16  promises: 'I'll help with the nappies and the feeds, just as I did with my other children.

'I'm looking forward to the screaming and the terrible twos and all those magical moments.'

Olivia a prisoner of fame

The Crown star Olivia Colman, who has been nominated for her second Oscar this week, admits shes still struggling with fame.

Leaving my front door is something I dont like doing any more because of the fame.

It probably isnt very healthy, says the 47-year-old, who lives in South London with her husband, writer Ed Sinclair.

In the park I dont know everyones faces, but they know my face. Most people are respectful but, sometimes, you find someone taking a photograph of you.

Being in Greece last autumn to film The Lost Daughter was, she adds, a welcome relief.

I could say good morning to everybody because the lovely islanders  particularly the older generation  didnt have a clue who I was. It was something I missed.

Arthritis scare for Jude's ex

Jude Laws ex-wife, Sadie Frost, shocked loved ones when she claimed she had been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis while staying at a wellness retreat in the Himalayas.

Three years on, she now says it was all a big misunderstanding.

In the end, it was some kind of painful immune infection, admits Sadie, 55.

I got out of bed and my feet hurt, everything was hurting, just aching. I was like: Oh my God, this is old age.

It's the ghost of Poldark

He made his name as Ross in the BBCs original Poldark drama. And now 1970s heart-throb Robin Ellis is embracing new tech to continue working at the age of 79.

Robin Ellis, a heartthrob in the 1970s when he starred in the original Poldark, is taking on a new role in a stage performance of Hamlet

I hear hes to play the Ghost of Hamlets father in a remake of the Shakespeare play  shot only on iPhones.

It came out of the blue, Ellis tells me.

I said: OK, lets try it. I havent recorded the final version yet with Meredith, [his wife] whos helping me out with the process. Were getting there, and its fascinating, but quite different to doing a stage performance.

Ellis, who played cantankerous judge Reverend Halse in the Aidan Turner Poldark remake, adds: So far, its an extremely positive and enjoyable experience. Actors never retire, really.
For some, living in Port Aransas is like a little taste of heaven, with its spacious Gulf of Mexico beaches, water fun, and  if youre lucky  some dolphin sightings.

Marcus Starkey, broker and owner of RE/MAX Coastal Living in Port Aransas, has been selling real estate in Port Aransas for 20 years and has lived on the Texas Gulf Coast for 44 years. He knows what a special gem of a place it is to buy property.

Its a great place to live, vacation, and invest, Starkey said. Over the past three years, the real estate market has been very active in Port Aransas.

Port Aransas has, over time, become one of the most popular destinations on the Texas Gulf Coast  and Starkey is kept busy working with buyers and sellers in the areas bustling housing market.

The strongest appeal for buyers may be its beautiful beaches, spread across some six miles along Mustang Islands gorgeous and idyllic coastline.

Starkey said he sells many private homes, condominiums, and commercial properties in Port Aransas, and that there are many established subdivisions in Old Town.

The majority of properties sold in Port Aransas are second vacation homes and short-term rentals, he said.

But full-time homeowners in Port Aransas can also enjoy the amenities it has to offer to families, such as the opportunity to attend respected Port Aransas Independent School District, where students learn at H.G. Olsen Elementary School, Brundrett Middle School, and Port Aransas High School.

Starkey noted that Port Aransas appeals to a wide range of buyers, and he sells to families, empty nesters, and retirees alike. Theres something for everyone, and they all want to enjoy the incredible beauty the area has to offer.

Some of the allure of Port Aransas can be attributed to its climate, its beaches, and its fishing opportunities  and as an added bonus, he added, Port Aransas is one of the few beaches in the world you can drive on.

Other things to see and explore in the area include the University of Texas Marine Science Institute, Lydia Ann Lighthouse, and the Chapel in the Dunes, all located within Port Aransas.

The Marine Science Institute offers hands-on fun and delightful adventures for all ages, including an acclaimed Summer Marine Science Camp to teach students about good stewardship of the marine environment. Classes for all ages are also available, as are public events such as canoeing and EcoVoyage.

Lydia Ann Lighthouse is a beautiful historic and lighthouse located within the bounds of Port Aransas, just behind San Jose and Mustang Islands  and is the second oldest such fixture on the Texas Coast, the oldest surviving structure in the Aransas Pass Corpus Christi area.

The Chapel in the Dunes, too, is a one-of-a-kind secluded chapel nestled amid sand dunes, and the oldest functioning church still in existence on Mustang Island.

Meanwhile, Starkey said, on nearby North Padre Island, homeowners can enjoy the beauties of the National Seashore, and over in Corpus Christi, the Texas State Aquarium and the Lexington can both be found on North Beach.

But when you live in Port Aransas, everything one might need is located right on the island itself, Starkey said.

ALSO READ: Bandera: 'Cowboy Capital' among Hill Country's finest

[Theres a] grocery store, fine dining, and Corpus Christi is a short drive away, he added.

And, because Port Aransas is a steady and growing real estate market, with continued appreciation in house values, he projects that there will be even more restaurants, bars, and outside venues and festivals that spring up in the coming years.

If Starkey had three words to summarize Port Aransas, they would be unique, eclectic, and community, for all the activities and adventures it brings to the table  and the community of happy homeowners who appreciate the opportunity to live by the beach.

Those looking to explore the possibility of a life on the beach  or just wanting more information on buying property on Port Aransas  can contact Marcus Starkey by email at marcusstarkey@remax.net or by phone at 361-815-2300, or visit www.marcusstarkey.com.
Significant severe weather is expected across Alabama this afternoon and tonight, according to the National Weather Service.

The entire state of Alabama is at risk of seeing tornadoes, damaging winds, hail and heavy rain. Storms could form quickly starting this afternoon, and another round of storms is expected later tonight into early Thursday morning.

Both rounds of storms could bring intense, long-track tornadoes, according to the weather service.

Forecasters for days have been trying to get the message out and convey the seriousness of the situation, but theyre worried not everyone will hear it.

So the weather service is asking for your help. Please tell anyone you know that may not be aware about what could happen later today.

 Be the HERO in your family by sharing important weather info (from a reliable source) with those less-informed. You could be the only warning they get! #alwx pic.twitter.com/WOyeQJ9Pvc  NWS Birmingham (@NWSBirmingham) March 16, 2021

Not everyone is plugged in to todays situation and may not expect things to go downhill starting this afternoon.

If you know of someone thats not tuned in to todays weather give them a call, or email or text to make sure they are aware.

This is especially important because the second round of storms may not arrive until later tonight -- when some may be asleep.

With todays communications technology there is no reason that anyone should not be aware of the threat of severe weather today, John De Block of the National Weather Service in Birmingham said on Wednesday morning.

Dont assume someone already knows. Make SURE that they do.
A foldable prototype with Xiaomi user interface leaked in spy shots earlier this year, and now we have more photos, revealing the backside of the device. Apparently, it will be part of the Mi Mix lineup and will adopt the internal fold, just like the Galaxy Fold series and the Huawei Mate X2.



Xiaomi Mi Mix Foldable

The images reveal the mold of the phone - there is no screen on these photos. There is also a triple camera setup, but it is just a placeholder, so the final design might change. What wont change is the horizontal alignment of the shooters.

We are really surprised to see the Mix logo back in the wild because the last phone from that family that ever made it to the store shelves was the Mi Mix 3 over two years ago.

The series is usually reserved for phones that are one step ahead of the conventional design, but there's a good chance that these images are a product of someones hopes and dreams and do not set anything in stone, even though Xiaomi is indeed working on a foldable device.

Source (in Chinese) | Via
If 2021 is to again bring widespread drought to Massachusetts, Berkshire County is ahead of the curve.

The state declared Monday that Berkshire County is in a mild drought because of below-average precipitation in February.

Quite a bit below.

In the Connecticut River Valley and the eastern slopes of the Berkshires, precipitation was 75 percent below normal, according to the Drought Management Task Force of the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs.

As drought lingers in the Berkshires, water use warnings rise Streambeds in the Berkshires look a little, well, rocky these days. And that's about the mood in municipal water departments as continued heat and lack of rain squeeze 

Other areas that received scant precipitation were the four western counties, and areas of north Central and Northeast Massachusetts.

The designation brings a call from state officials to conserve water and tend to leaks in plumbing. People who own or manage large buildings are being asked to conduct water audits to find ways to cut use. The requests are reminiscent of last year, when most of Massachusetts endured drought.

Kathleen Theoharides, the state energy and environmental affairs secretary, urged people to minimize water use and be mindful of outdoor plantings and watering as the Commonwealth heads into the spring growing season.

Drought_March21.jpg This map released Tuesday by state officials shows that Berkshire County is the only region of the state in a drought.

We are watching drought conditions carefully, Martin Suuberg, commissioner of the state Department of Environmental Protection, said in a statement Tuesday. We will provide additional guidance moving forward as we assess conditions.

The declaration of a Level 1-Mild Drought for Berkshire County will remain in place until conditions change, according to the task force. Its members met March 10 to review data.

The task force reports that the Housatonic River watershed is experiencing relatively drier conditions than the surrounding area. And it notes that when the snowpack in high elevations melts, as temperatures warm, that will help ease drought conditions. The task force next meets at 9:30 a.m. April 6.

For more information, visit the states drought management website or its water conservation website.
Congress

King: Mandatory breach disclosure bill coming soon

Sen. King speaks at the Naval War College in Newport, R.I. (U.S. Navy photo)

Sen. Angus King (I-Maine), one of the chairs of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission, told reporters on Wednesday he and other lawmakers are drafting legislation that would mandate private sector companies supporting critical infrastructure to notify the government if their network is breached.

"The commission will be recommending a breach notification law applying to critical infrastructure shortly, probably within the month," he said. "There are some tricky issues that have to be worked out, proprietary details, confidentiality, liability issuesWe're pretty close. We have legislation drafted and we're continuing to refine it."

King added that the commission met two weeks ago to discuss the legislation.

Private sector reporting requirements for cybersecurity breaches have taken center stage in the wake of the breach involving SolarWinds Orion. Lawmakers have taken particular issue with the fact it was the cybersecurity firm FireEye -- not the intelligence community or law enforcement -- who ultimately detected the intrusion.

The momentum to enact such a law picked up again in February when Microsoft President Brad Smith publicly advocated for it during a Senate hearing.

"Yes, I do. I think the time has come to go in that direction. I think Senator [Susan] Collins was either ahead of her time or the rest of us were behind our time," Smith said in response to a question from Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) about whether he'd support a reporting requirement.

While speaking to reporters, King also expressed frustration with the fact the White House has not yet nominated anyone to fill the national cyber director position, a role created by the Fiscal Year 2021 National Defense Authorization Act and recommended by the commission.

King said he understood why it will take time to establish the new office but argued the White House could begin the nomination process and continue to set up the office simultaneously.

The senator praised Anne Neuberger, the deputy national security advisor who has taken point for the White House on responding to the breach, for her performance so far, but pointed out her position on the National Security Council could be eliminated at any moment.

King cited John Bolton's decision in 2018 to eliminate the cyber coordinator position, which was also the move that largely propelled lawmakers to create the national cyber director role.
Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal appeals to Centre to take back bill on Lieutenant Governor powers

India

oi-Ajay Joseph Raj P

New Delhi, Mar 17: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday urged the Centre to take back the bill that seeks to define certain roles and powers of the Lieutenant Governor of the national capital.

Speaking at a protest organised by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) against the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2021 at Jantar Mantar here, the chief minister also alleged that the Centre wants to weaken his government through this bill.

"I want to appeal to the Centre to take back the GNCTD Bill, don't cheat the people with this legislation," Kejriwal said. He said the BJP has brought the bill as it is scared of the AAP's reach in other states.

Delhi residents visiting Kumbh Mela to undergo COVID-19 test on return: DDMA

"That is why they are trying to stop our development work in Delhi," he claimed. Delhi ministers, AAP MLAs and councillors took part in the protest at Jantar Mantar against the bill which, according to the party, gives overarching power to the LG.

The GNCTD (Amendment) Bill, 2021 was introduced in Lok Sabha by Union Minister of State for Home G Kishan Reddy on Monday. According to the bill, the "government" in the city would mean the "Lieutenant Governor" in context of any law made by the legislative assembly.

The bill also makes it mandatory for the Delhi government to take the opinion of the LG before any executive action.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Wednesday, March 17, 2021, 17:54 [IST]
CHICAGO, March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- In-depth analysis and data-driven insights on the impact of COVID-19 included in this global frequency converter market report.

The global frequency converter market is expected to grow at a CAGR of approximately 5% during the period 20202021.

Key Highlights Offered in the Report:

Regions such as APAC and Europe are expected to be the major demand generators in the market, followed by North America . However, the Middle East and Latin America regions are anticipated to create opportunities with industrial developments in the F&B, oil and gas, and other industries. The market is highly fragmented with various vendors that operate and sell frequency converters across the globe. There is intense competition among vendors for market share and the market is characterized by the rapidly changing technological environment that is expected to adversely affect vendors. The present scenario is driving vendors to change and refine their unique value proposition to achieve a strong market presence and the demand for frequency converters is anticipated to grow due to increased industrial production and replacement of old motors with new energy-efficient motors in industries. Strict government regulations and pollution reduction initiatives are expected to limit the demand for oil and gas, thereby limiting market development during the forecast period. A direct sales channel is commonly used in industries where products are sold directly to large end-customers and is expected to generate revenue of around USD 22 billion . In contrast, an indirect sales channel involves selling products to a partner who, in turn, sells them to end-customers and is expected to grow at an estimated revenue of around USD 3 billion . Some vendors within the frequency converter market utilize direct and indirect channels parallelly while some have entirely switched to an indirect sales channel to improve their business. In terms of end users, vendor margins were affected in Q2 and Q3 2020 and vendors will continue to experience margin pressures as the payment terms are expected to be realigned in the short term. Metal and mining and F&B end user segments have the highest market share in 2020 at around 19% and 12% respectively. Since the industry is dependent on high working capital and characterized by payment delays, the COVID-19 impact in Q2 and Q3 2020 will be high.

Key Offerings:

Market Size & Forecast by Revenue | 20202026

Market Dynamics  Leading trends, growth drivers, restraints, and investment opportunities

Market Segmentation  A detailed analysis by product type, sales channel, end-user, and geography

Competitive Landscape  5 key vendors and 15 other vendors

Get your sample today! https://www.arizton.com/market-reports/frequency-converter-market-size-analysis

Frequency Converter Market  Segmentation

Static frequency converters are likely to grow at a CAGR of over 5% due to high-frequency stability and output voltage. These devices deliver the required power under fixed conditions in manufacturing units and commercial applications, which are increasing their demand. These machines have low installation costs, and they do not require any heavy machinery and careful alignment.

Direct sales of frequency converters are expected to reach over $22 billion by 2026. Strategic partnerships between vendors and OEMs and vendors and system integrators reduce operational costs. OEMs and system integrators are key contributors to the overall value chain of the frequency converter market. However, new entrants in the market are expected to rely on indirect sales channels, which, in turn, is expected to decrease the usage of direct sales channels.

by 2026. Strategic partnerships between vendors and OEMs and vendors and system integrators reduce operational costs. OEMs and system integrators are key contributors to the overall value chain of the frequency converter market. However, new entrants in the market are expected to rely on indirect sales channels, which, in turn, is expected to decrease the usage of direct sales channels. The metal & mining industry generated the highest demand for frequency converters owing to the expansion of mining activities in China , Australia , Brazil , India , the US, and the Middle East . Advances in technology strongly support the growth of the industry; however, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the demand for metals has become highly uncertain.

Frequency Converter Market by Product Type

Static

Rotary

Frequency Converter Market by Sales Channel

Direct

Indirect

Frequency Converter Market by Power Output

5-40 KW

41200 KW

201600 KW

>600 KW

Frequency Converter Market by End-user

Food & Beverage

Aerospace & Defense

HVAC

Pharmaceutical

Marine

Metal & Mining

Chemicals

Oil & Gas

Power Generation

Packaging

Cement

Textile

Water & Wastewater

Paper & Pulp

Rubber & Plastic

Forestry & Woodwork

Others

Frequency Converter Market  Dynamics

Frequency converters are located in the nacelle of wind turbines and turbines are connected in series on the output side of the AC/DC converter. Frequency converters consist of an induction machine, a 3-phase AC to single phase AC converter, a high frequency high power transformer, and other components. The manufacturing of frequency converters is dependent on various semi-finished products and the price of raw materials. The expenses also include the cost of cable installation and protection, the cost of converter stations, and losses in converter stations. Renewable power is a low-cost climate and decarbonization solution, aligning short-term economic needs with medium- and long-term sustainable development goals. Renewable power installations form a major element of economic spur packages offered after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, globally, offshore capacities have increased. As a result, the demand for frequency converters in offshore wind power generation is anticipated to increase.

Key Drivers and Trends fueling Market Growth:

Increased Demand from Automotive Industry

Development of High-speed Rails

Increasing Infrastructural Growth in Middle East

Increasing Demand for Water & Wastewater Treatment Plants

Frequency Converter Market  Geography

APAC holds a dominant position in the global frequency converter market due to the presence of leading manufacturing companies, rapidly growing industrial sector, and significant developments in emerging countries. With the continuous adoption of industrial automation in APAC, activities such as manufacturing, construction, power generation, and mining are driving the growth of the frequency converter market in the region. Urbanization and industrialization in emerging countries such as India have increased the demand for vehicles, thereby boosting the demand for frequency converters in the automotive industry. Moreover, investments and expansions by vendors in emerging nations in APAC are key strategies for growth. Hence, the sale of frequency converters is expected to spike during the forecast period.

Get your sample today! https://www.arizton.com/market-reports/frequency-converter-market-size-analysis

Frequency Converter Market by Geography

North America

US



Canada

Europe

UK



Germany



France



Italy



Spain

APAC

China



Japan



South Korea



India



Australia

Latin America

Brazil



Mexico



Chile



Rest of Latin America

Middle East & Africa

Saudi Arabia



Turkey



Rest of Middle East

Major Vendors

ABB

Aplab

Bosch

Danfoss

Siemens

Other Prominent Vendors

Avish Aviation Equipment

Aelco

Avionic Instruments

Georator

Jema

KGS Electronics

Magnus Power

MAK Controls

Nova Electric

NR Electric

Piller

Power System & Control

Sinepower

Sojitech

Westek Electronics

Explore our industrial machinery profile to know more about the industry.

Read some of the top-selling reports:

About Arizton:

Arizton Advisory and Intelligence is an innovation and quality-driven firm, which offers cutting-edge research solutions to clients across the world. We excel in providing comprehensive market intelligence reports and advisory and consulting services.

We offer comprehensive market research reports on industries such as consumer goods & retail technology, automotive and mobility, smart tech, healthcare, and life sciences, industrial machinery, chemicals and materials, IT and media, logistics and packaging. These reports contain detailed industry analysis, market size, share, growth drivers, and trend forecasts.

Arizton comprises a team of exuberant and well-experienced analysts who have mastered in generating incisive reports. Our specialist analysts possess exemplary skills in market research. We train our team in advanced research practices, techniques, and ethics to outperform in fabricating impregnable research reports.

Mail: [email protected]

Call: +1-312-235-2040

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SOURCE Arizton Advisory & Intelligence
Shootings at three massage parlours in the Atlanta area have left eight people dead, many of them women of Asian descent, authorities said.

A 21-year-old man was taken into custody in south-west Georgia hours later after a manhunt, police said.

Police confirmed on Wednesday that the suspect is white.

The attacks began at around 5pm on Tuesday when five people were shot at Youngs Asian Massage Parlour near Woodstock, 50 miles north of Atlanta, Cherokee County Sheriffs Office spokesman Captain Jay Baker said.

Two people died at the scene and three were taken to hospital where two more died, Mr Baker said.

Police in the Buckhead neighbourhood of Atlanta, responding to a call of a robbery in progress, later found three women dead from apparent gunshot wounds at Gold Spa.

While they were at that scene, they learned of a call reporting shots fired at another site across the street, Aromatherapy Spa, and found a woman who appeared to have been shot dead inside the business.

It appears that they may be Asian, Atlanta Police Chief Rodney Bryant said.

South Koreas Foreign Ministry said in statement that its diplomats in Atlanta have confirmed with police that four of the people who died were women of Korean descent.

The ministry said the office of its Consulate General in Atlanta is trying to confirm the nationality of the women.

Police said the motive was not immediately known, but the ethnicity of many of the victims prompted fears that the killings could be another hate crime against Asian Americans.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said President Joe Biden has been briefed on the horrific shootings and administration officials have been in contact with the mayors office and the FBI.

Expand Close Authorities investigate a shooting near Atlanta (Mike Stewart/AP) / Facebook

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Whatsapp Authorities investigate a shooting near Atlanta (Mike Stewart/AP)

The killings came amid a recent wave of attacks against Asian Americans that coincided with the spread of coronavirus across the US.

Our entire family is praying for the victims of these horrific acts of violence, governor Brian Kemp said.

A man suspected in the Acworth shooting was captured by surveillance video pulling up to the business minutes before the attack, authorities said.

Mr Baker said the suspect, Robert Aaron Long, of Woodstock, was taken into custody in Crisp County, about 150 miles south of Atlanta.

He added that officers believe Long is also the suspect in the Atlanta shootings.

Police said video footage showed the suspects vehicle in the area of the Atlanta spas about the time of those attacks. That, as well as other video evidence, suggests it is extremely likely our suspect is the same as Cherokee Countys, who is in custody, Atlanta police said in a statement.

FBI spokesman Kevin Rowson said the agency was assisting Atlanta and Cherokee County authorities in the investigation.

Expand Close The scene of another shooting (Brynn Anderson/AP) / Facebook

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Whatsapp The scene of another shooting (Brynn Anderson/AP)

Crisp County Sheriff Billy Hancock said in a video posted on Facebook that his deputies and state troopers had been notified that a murder suspect out of north Georgia was heading towards their county.

Officers set up along the interstate and made contact with the suspect, who was driving a 2007 black Hyundai Tucson, he said.

A state trooper performed a pursuit intervention manoeuvre which caused the vehicle to spin out of control, Mr Hancock said.

Long was then taken into custody without incident and was being held in Crisp County jail for Cherokee County authorities who were expected to arrive later to continue their investigation.

Atlanta police said they had dispatched officers to check similar businesses and increased patrols in the area.
Mirroring the number of individuals who joined hands to participate in the inaugural assembly, the May 2021 commemoration is set with the goal to gather 6.5 Million Americans. Hands Across America challenges Americans to come together for a common cause: to lend aid to individuals who are vulnerable and to those who suffer from hunger and homelessness.

Every person who donates $1 will receive a virtual hand. Upon receipt, the nonprofit is encouraging donors to share their hand, as a virtual symbol and connection, via their respective social media pages (Facebook/Instagram/ Twitter), leading up to the May 25, 2021 event (in association with the 35th Hands Across America Anniversary) and POSTING AGAIN on Tuesday, May 25 , at 3PM Eastern as a simultaneous virtual "show of hands" in support of those less fortunate.

"The virtual Hands Across America 2021 ceremony comes at a time when our country is divided by differing opinions, devastated by the COVID-19 pandemic, and troubled with individuals suffering from hunger and homelessness," said Jeff Prescott. "With the number of homeless in the U.S. estimated at 552,830 and 115 million new households estimated to fall into food insecurity as a result of COVID in 2021, Hands Across America is a movement that cannot wait."

The ultimate goal is to join an entire America in the virtual handholding eventwelcoming 365 Million Americans to take part. The Hands Across America 2021 celebration will continue throughout the balance of the year and conclude on December 31, 2021 as a final handholding celebration.

The reintroduction of Hands Across America (a 501c3 charity), driven by Prescott's personal passion to raise awareness surrounding hunger and homelessness in the U.S., arrives with the objective to become a bigger, more powerful philanthropic movement by transforming the charitable giving climate all together, while simultaneously unifying Americans of all races, color, creed, educational backgrounds and financial status.

Held on May 25, 1986, the initial Hands Across America was one of the largest community gatherings in our nation's history, bringing together more than 6 million Americans to form a human chain as a sign of solidarity across 16 states (New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Washington D.C., Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Tennessee, Arkansas, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California).

Backed by celebrities, entertainers and dignitaries (including Michael Jackson, Oprah Winfrey, Bruce Springsteen, Lionel Richie, Dionne Warwick, President Ronald Reagan and First Lady Nancy Reagan among hundreds of others), the human chain stood far and wide across the United States. Entertainers in music, film and television, Whoopi Goldberg, Raquel Welch, Ben Vereen, Donny Osmond, Donna Mills and Dudley Moore were among the 10,000 participants in Long Beach; Liza Minnelli, Michael Douglas, Susan Anton, Gregory Hines and Edward Olmos joined hands in New York; while Gerald Ford and Frank Sinatra connected with folks in Rancho Mirage. Corporations such as Coca-Cola and Citibank lent support to create a national phenomenon.

"Without unification, we are nothing. Our goal is influenced by peopleAmerican people and their needsto help the less fortunate through unfortunate circumstances large or small," Prescott further introduced. "If we help 'enough' in this country, then we can make a world of difference. We need to bring it back home so that other nations can look up to us for the right reasons. The People."

ABOUT HANDS ACROSS AMERICA

The re-imagination of Hands Across America [a 501(c) 3 non-profit located in Franklin, TN] is a passionate undertaking near and dear to Jeff Prescott, who is the brainchild behind reorganization of the non-profit and orchestration of the Hands Across America 2021 virtual ceremony.

Having grown-up motherless and in foster care throughout his youth, Prescott experienced homelessness and suffered from malnutrition; he is sensitive to the experience and what it is like to live and survive under such tragic conditions.

Courageous, grateful and blessed, Prescott turned his unfortunate life circumstance into promise, to become a successful entrepreneur and businessman. Today, Prescott is the Co-Founder of Dreamstime.com. As a personal dedication, and in the spirit of helping those less fortunate, he re-established Hands Across America.

Working alongside like-hearted individuals, communities and organizations, Hands Across America is committed to lending aid to combat hunger, homelessness and malnutrition, and offer assistance to those in need, those who are vulnerable and those who have suffered natural tragedies, or loss of income. The goal is to garner $1 from every American to raise $328 Million.

The Hands Across America 2021 ceremony is a symbolic virtual handholding event orchestrated with the goal to change the present narrative of our country in a mutual initiative to join hands and reunite Americans.

As a sistering grassroots initiative, Hands Across America will work directly with manufacturers to provide consumer packaged goods (CPGs) to the less fortunate, donating 100% of all profits to the cause to help feed the hungry and homeless.

Follow HANDS ACROSS AMERICA on all social media by clicking here.

CLICK HERE TO DONATE

ABOUT DREAMSTIME

Launched in 2000, Dreamstime has transformed the stock photo business to become one of the world's largest stock photo communities. Offering high-quality stock content, generated by a dynamic and diverse community of more than 650,000 photographers, artists and videographers worldwide, the platform features over 145+ million files and employs proprietary AI, PhotoEye to filter 3 million monthly approvals as a complement to Dreamstime editor experts.

With the goal and objective to become more actively involved in social and community philanthropic endeavors, and public education and environmental awareness campaigns, Dreamstime has championed community initiatives in support of various charitable organizations (including WHO and Doctors Without Borders); has lent a helping hand to supply free subscriptions to NGOs during the COVID-19 pandemic and teachers and students to facilitate access and visual support to complete assignments. Demonstrating its innovative and steadfast corporate responsibility, Dreamstime established the "COVID-19 Momentum Challenge" in June 2020 as a community-centered strategy to enhance its members' livelihood; at present, its 650,000 contributors receive an additional 10% in all royalties in addition to donations.

For more information, visit Dreamstime.com.

SOURCE Hands Across America
HUNT VALLEY, Md., March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Omega Healthcare Investors, Inc. (NYSE: OHI) ("Omega") announced today the consideration payable in connection with its previously announced tender offer (the "Tender Offer") to purchase for cash up to an aggregate principal amount of $350 million (the "Aggregate Maximum Tender Amount") of its 4.375% Senior Notes due 2023 (the "Notes") as described in the table below.

Title of

Note CUSIP

Number Principal

Amount

Outstanding Aggregate

Maximum

Tender

Amount U.S.

Treasury

Reference

Security U.S.

Treasury

Reference

Security

Yield Bloomberg

Reference

Page Fixed

Spread Early

Tender

Premium

(1)(2) Applicable

Par Call

Date Total

Consideration

(1)(2) 4.375%

Senior

Notes

due 2023 681936BJ8 $700

million $350

million 1.625%

UST due

5/31/2023 0.204% FIT5 +50

bps $30 June 1,

2023 $1,080.09



(1) Per $1,000 principal amount.



(2) The Total Consideration for Notes validly tendered prior to or at the Early Tender Time (as defined below) and accepted for purchase is calculated using the applicable Fixed Spread (as set forth in the table above) and is inclusive of the Early Tender Premium (as set forth in the table above).

The Tender Offer was made on the terms and conditions set forth in the Offer to Purchase, dated March 3, 2021, as amended by press release on March 3, 2021 (as the same may be further amended or supplemented, the "Offer to Purchase"). The Tender Offer will expire at 11:59 p.m., New York City Time, at the end of March 30, 2021, unless earlier terminated.

The "Total Consideration" for each $1,000 principal amount of the Notes validly tendered and accepted for purchase pursuant to the Tender Offer was determined in the manner described in the Offer to Purchase by reference to the fixed spread for the Notes specified in the table above plus the yield based on the bid-side price of the U.S. Treasury Reference Security specified in the table above at 10:00 a.m., New York City Time, today.

Only holders of Notes who validly tendered and did not validly withdraw their Notes at or prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City Time, on March 16, 2021 (such date and time, as it may be extended with respect to a Tender Offer, the "Early Tender Time") are eligible to receive the Total Consideration for such Notes accepted for purchase. Holders of the Notes will also receive accrued and unpaid interest on their Notes validly tendered and accepted for purchase from the last interest payment date up to, but not including, the settlement date. Withdrawal rights for the Notes expired at 5:00 p.m., New York City Time, on March 16, 2021. On March 18, 2021, Omega expects to pay for the Notes that were validly tendered prior to or at the Early Tender Time and that are accepted for purchase.

Because the aggregate principal amount of the Notes validly tendered and not validly withdrawn exceeds the Aggregate Maximum Tender Amount, Omega will not accept for purchase all of the Notes that have been validly tendered and not validly withdrawn and will only accept for purchase the Aggregate Maximum Tender Amount of those Notes. Accordingly, the Notes validly tendered and not validly withdrawn will be subject to proration. The Company will use a proration rate of approximately 79.41% for the Notes. The Notes tendered by a holder will be multiplied by the proration rate and then rounded down to the nearest $1,000 increment; provided that if less than all of a holder's tendered Notes are accepted for purchase, such holder must continue to hold Notes in the minimum authorized denomination of $2,000 principal amount.

Since the Tender Offer for the Notes was fully subscribed as of the Early Tender Time, Omega will not accept for purchase any Notes validly tendered after the Early Tender Time.

Information Relating to the Tender Offer

Credit Agricole Securities (USA) Inc. is serving as the Lead Dealer Manager for the Tender Offer. Investors with questions regarding the Tender Offer may contact the Lead Dealer Manager by phone at (866) 807-6030 (Toll Free) or (212) 261-7802 (Collect), by email at [email protected], or by mail addressed to Credit Agricole Securities (USA) Inc. at 1301 Avenue of the Americas, 17th Floor, New York, NY 10019, Attention: Debt Capital Markets/Liability Management.

None of Omega or its affiliates, their respective boards of directors, the dealer managers, the tender and information agent or the trustee with respect to the Notes is making any recommendation as to whether holders should tender any Notes in response to the Tender Offer, and neither Omega nor any such other person has authorized any person to make any such recommendation. Holders must make their own decision as to whether to tender any of their Notes, and, if so, the principal amount of Notes to tender.

This press release is for informational purposes only and is not an offer to buy, or the solicitation of an offer to sell, any of the Notes and the Tender Offer does not constitute an offer to buy or the solicitation of an offer to sell the Notes in any jurisdiction or in any circumstances in which such offer or solicitation are unlawful. The full details of the Tender Offer, including complete instructions on how to tender the Notes, are included in the Offer to Purchase. Holders are strongly encouraged to carefully read the Offer to Purchase, including materials incorporated by reference therein, because they contain important information. The Offer to Purchase may be downloaded from Global Bondholder Services Corporation's website at www.gbsc-usa.com/omega/ or obtained from Global Bondholder Services Corporation, free of charge, by calling toll free at (866) 470-4300 (bankers and brokers can call collect at (212) 430-3774).

About Omega

Omega is a real estate investment trust that invests in the long-term healthcare industry, primarily in skilled nursing and assisted living facilities. Its portfolio of assets is operated by a diverse group of healthcare companies, predominantly in a triple-net lease structure. The assets span all regions within the United States, as well as in the United Kingdom. More information on Omega is available at www.omegahealthcare.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements regarding Omega's or its tenants', operators', borrowers' or managers' expected future financial condition, results of operations, cash flows, funds from operations, dividends and dividend plans, financing opportunities and plans, capital markets transactions, business strategy, budgets, projected costs, operating metrics, capital expenditures, competitive positions, acquisitions, investment opportunities, dispositions, facility transitions, growth opportunities, continued qualification as a real estate investment trust, plans and objectives of management for future operations and statements that include words such as "anticipate," "if," "believe," "plan," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "could," "should," "will" and other similar expressions are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain, and actual results may differ from Omega's expectations.

Omega's actual results may differ materially from those reflected in such forward-looking statements as a result of a variety of factors, including, among other things: (i) uncertainties relating to the business operations of the operators of Omega's properties, including those relating to reimbursement by third-party payors, regulatory matters and occupancy levels; (ii) the impact of novel coronavirus ("COVID-19") on our business and the business of our operators, including without limitation, the extent and duration of the COVID-19 pandemic, increased costs experienced by operators of skilled nursing facilities and assisted living facilities in connection therewith, and the extent to which continued government support may be available to operators to offset such costs and the conditions related thereto; (iii) the ability of our operators to comply with the terms and conditions pursuant to which government support may be available; (iv) the risk Omega may not complete this offering in a timely fashion or at all, and (v) those risks and uncertainties associated with Omega's business described in its Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on February 28, 2020 and its subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Although Omega believes the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, Omega can give no assurance that the expectations will be attained or that any deviation will not be material. We caution you that the foregoing list of important factors may not contain all of the material factors that are important to you. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on those statements. All forward-looking statements are based upon information available to us on the date of this release. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as otherwise required by law.

SOURCE Omega Healthcare Investors, Inc.

Related Links

https://www.omegahealthcare.com


As Louisiana utility customers are writing checks to pay for some very high electricity bills this month  and complaining about it  the Public Service Commission on Wednesday issued orders to sidestep even higher bills in April.

As expected, and without discussion, the five elected regulators ordered utility companies selling electricity to 2.1 million customers across Louisiana to spread their fuel costs over several months, rather than load them all onto the April bills. The PSC needed to vote and officially issue the order to change the law that dictates how billing is handled.

Many were concerned upon hearing news from Texas that customers just to the west of Louisiana were receiving monthly bills covering the February winter storm that demanded thousands of dollars instead of a couple of hundred. PSC Commissioners heard testimony that spelled out how Texas, which operates free market style, differs from Louisiana, where the rates charged by private businesses are regulated.

Louisiana bills were higher in March because people were running their heaters full blast during the coldest parts of February, when normally they dont. The biggest driver from this storm, however, will be the increased cost of the fuel used to operate generating plants.

Utility companies operate as a monopoly in a given service area. The PSC has the right to determine if decisions made by the private businesses are prudent. Utilities are allowed to recoup the costs of making and delivering electricity plus a profit of about 9%.

The scoop on state politics in your inbox Get the Louisiana politics insider details once a week from us. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up

The cost of the fuel used to run the turbines that make the electricity is passed through directly to customers without a profit added. During the historically cold temperatures and ice storm in February, much of the equipment and pipelines that move natural gas to various plants were frozen. In addition, the plants needed more than the planned-on amount of fuel 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.

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

Under the rules, utility companies are allowed to pass along their fuel costs to customers. It takes two months for fuel costs, in full, to show up on bills .

Hoping to soften the impact on customers, the PSC needed to change the regulations to allow utility companies to spread out the payments.
NEW YORK, March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- ATSG, a leading, tech-enabled managed services and solutions company, announced today that Inc. magazine has ranked ATSG No. 124 on its second annual Inc. 5000 Regionals: New York City Metro list, the most prestigious ranking of the fastest-growing New York City area-based private companies. Born of the annual Inc. 5000 franchise, this regional list represents a unique look at the most successful companies within the NYC area economy's most dynamic segmentits independent small businesses.

The 2021 Inc. 5000 Regionals are ranked according to percentage revenue growth when comparing 2017 and 2019. ATSG has placed on this prestigious list due to a 100% growth during this two-year period. As ATSG looks ahead to 2021, it will continue to focus on the successful execution of its core growth strategies, both organically and through targeted future acquisitions. The company began over 25 years ago and has aggressively transformed over the past decade to a Tech-enabled Managed Services Provider, featuring highly secure, multicloud solutions.

"ATSG is honored to be named to this prestigious Inc. list for the first time," said Anthony J. D'Ambrosi, Chief Executive Officer, ATSG. "We have achieved tremendous growth and commercial success as an organization over the last five years through our maniacal focus on client value realization by delivering our secure, tech-enabled managed services as the core tenant of our strategy. We recognize our incredible ATSG team for their dedication and commitment to our clients' success. Whether it be organic and/or through acquisition, ATSG will aggressively continue on this exciting growth path, now and well into the future."

The companies on this list show stunning rates of growth across all industries in the New York City area. Between 2017 and 2019, these 250 private companies had an average growth rate of 214 percent, and in 2019 alone, they employed more than 48,000 people and added nearly $9 billion to the NYC Metro area economy. Companies based in Stamford, Connecticut, New York City, and central New Jersey brought in the highest revenue overall.

Complete results of the Inc. 5000 Regionals: NYC Metro area, including company profiles and an interactive database that can be sorted by industry, metro area, and other criteria, can be found at https://www.inc.com/inc5000/regionals/new-york starting March 16, 2021.

"This list proves the power of companies in the New York City area no matter the industry," says Inc. editor-in-chief Scott Omelianuk. "The impressive revenues and growth rates prove the insight and diligence of CEOs and that these businesses are here to stay."

About ATSG

ATSG is a global tech-enabled managed services and solutions company focused on innovative solutions to enhance today's digital enterprise and end-user experiences. ATSG provides Intelligent IT through Technology Solutions as a Service (TSaaS) to a variety of customers; leveraging an offerings portfolio of rediTech, rediManage, rediCloud, and rediSecure, which delivers reliable, elastic, dynamic infrastructure, collaboration, applications, as well as world-class IT operations.

Headquartered in Manhattan, New York, ATSG is a portfolio company of RunTide Capital, a private equity firm focused on building tech-enabled growth companies.

ATSG is a privately held company headquartered in Manhattan, New York. For more information on ATSG, please visit us on the web at http://www.atsg.net/, like us on LinkedIn, follow us on Twitter, or become a fan on our Facebook page. #AboutATSG

About Inc. Media

The world's most trusted business-media brand, Inc. offers entrepreneurs the knowledge, tools, connections, and community to build great companies. Its award-winning multiplatform content reaches more than 50 million people each month across a variety of channels including websites, newsletters, social media, podcasts, and print. Its prestigious Inc. 5000 list, produced every year since 1982, analyzes company data to recognize the fastest-growing privately held businesses in the United States. The global recognition that comes with inclusion in the 5000 gives the founders of the best businesses an opportunity to engage with an exclusive community of their peers, and the credibility that helps them drive sales and recruit talent. The associated Inc. 5000 Conference is part of a highly acclaimed portfolio of bespoke events produced by Inc. For more information, visit www.inc.com .

Press Contact

Elizabeth Kubycheck

[email protected]

SOURCE ATSG

Related Links

http://www.atsg.net


This is your chance to own a home in the award-winning Bethlehem Central School District. Bethlehem consistently places high in district rankings, both locally and state-wide. In 2020, U.S. News & World Report ranked Bethlehem first in the Capital Region, thanks to its high graduation rate and student performance on a variety of standardized tests.

CLICK HERE to find out which other districts made the U.S. News and World Report list.

The following Capital Region homes are all currently for sale, and all within the bounds of the Bethlehem Central School District,

Get the latest House of the Week, design trends and real estate news with our Places & Spaces newsletter.

For $179,900: An adorable Cape Cod home on a quiet tree-lined street, featuring recently refinished hardwood floors and a large side yard on a corner lot.

For $249,900: An updated and well-cared-for condo in the popular Woodgate Community, featuring a newer furnace, stainless steel appliances, granite counters and a full bath in the primary suite.

For $329,900: A five-bedroom home, well-maintained, featuring two completely remodeled full baths a large deck and plenty of privacy.

For $400,000: A spacious and well-maintained four-bedroom home, featuring an updated kitchen with new counters and appliances, an attached garage, gas fireplace and wet bar.

For $439,900: An exceptional one-level home in one of Bethlehem's most desirable neighborhoods, featuring a walk-in shower, built-in shelving, an open family room with a fireplace and a walk-up attic.

Visit the Times Union real estate section to explore more houses for sale in the Capital Region.
Agra: A body of a sadhu, who appeared to have been brutally murdered using an axe, was found in a temple in Uttar Pradesh's Agra on Wednesday (March 17) morning.

The incident, which occurred in the New Agra area, has created an atmosphere of panic among the locals. The villagers discovered the blood-stained body lying in the Hanuman temple premises, built in the jungle along the Yamuna river.

The police arrived at the scene after the locals reported the incident. Rohan Pramod Botre, Additional SP (City), Agra said that the sadhu was killed using an axe. The weapon was recovered from the crime scene.

The body was sent for postmortem. The state police have started an investigation in the matter to solve the mysterious murder.

According to the locals, the sadhu had been living there for almost 30 years.

There have been more than a few cases of murder of sadhus in the state and across the country as well.

Last year, two sadhus died under mysterious circumstances and another one was admitted to a hospital after they allegedly consumed poisonous tea at Giriraj Vatika Ashram, run by one of them, in Mathuras Govardhan area.

Gulab Singh, 60, and Shyam Sundar Das, 61, died while Ram Babu, 60, was admitted to the hospital. The deceased sadhus had come to the ashram just two days ago.

The postmortem report mentioned the cause of death as uncertain, said police, adding that the viscera of the deceased has been preserved while the samples from the third sadhu have also been collected and will be sent to a forensic laboratory.

In yet another incident, three people, including two sadhus were killed by a rampaging mob armed with an axe and stick in Palghar, Maharashtra last year. The state police, however, ruled out any communal angle in the incident.

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Engines from Ukraine will power Turkeys future-in-service TAI ATAK-2 attack helicopters.

Turkeys planned heavy attack helicopter ATAK-2 that is being developed by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) will supposedly be powered by 2x Ukrainian-built 2,500 hp turboshaft engines, President and CEO of TAI, Mr Temel Kotil said in an interview with Turkish outlet Defence Turk, Defense Express informs.

The Ukrainian engine has been selected as a bridge gap solution until Turkey can build its own indigenous alternative.

As noted, the ATAK-2 is designed to replace the lighter weight T129 ATAK -- a Turkish-designed and improved variant of the Agusta A-129 Mangusta  now in Turkish military service.

The ATAK-2 is scheduled to make its maiden flight in the spring of 2023. Turkey will, supposedly, order one of the most recent variants of the Motor-Sch TV3-117 turboshaft engine.

Ukraine and Turkey have recently stepped up bilateral cooperation in the defense technology sector.

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[March 17, 2021] GZ6G Technologies Appoints Rohan Patange as Interim Chief Technology Officer

Rohan To Initially Focus On Expansion of the Green Zebra Smart Labs Division LAS VEGAS, NV, March 17, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via NewMediaWire  GZ6G Technologies (OTCMarkets: GZIC), the complete enterprise smart solutions provider for large venues and cities, today announced the appointment of Rohan Patange as Interim Chief Technology Officer, effective immediately. In this role, Mr. Patange will be responsible for expanding and managing the teams responsible for the development of VenuTrax for GZ6G Technologies Green Zebra Smart Labs division. VenuTrax will be a state-of-the-art logic management solution cloud (SaaS) platform intended to provide venues the ability to directly communicate with customers using 5G & Wi-Fi 6, as well as offer business intelligence such as data analytics and artificial intelligence for monetization purposes. We needed to scale up, and as a trusted partner, we turned to Rohan because he was the most qualified choice to serve as our interim chief technology officer. As a software industry expert, he has a track record of formulating unique business solutions and both the tenacity and the connections to build and manage the teams to execute them, said Coleman Smith, President and CEO of GZ6G Technologies. Rohans strong communication and mentoring skills allow him to lead teams in a way that promotes internal, as well as external, business relationships, strengthening customer confidence. Mr. Patange is also the Chief Executive Officer of GZ6G Technologies partner, Internet Soft, a digital transformation consultancy, and software development company that provides cutting-edge engineering solutions. Internet Soft is currently helping Green Zebra Smart Labs scale up workforce and technologies to meet the demand for the emerging 5G & Wi-Fi 6 industry. Together, our two firms will work with cities, stadiums, airports, universities, and large venue partners to create long-term wireless security networks, user engagement communication solutions, and effective sponsor monetization plans. When the opportunity arose to help GZ6G Technologies grow their team with skilled candidates, I didnt hesitate, said Rohan Patange, Interim GZ6G Technologies Chief Technology Officer and CEO of Internet Soft. Im familiar with the Green Zebra Smart Labs division and its capabilities. This position will only strengthen Internet Softs partnership with GZ6G Technoloies as Green Zebra Smart Labs continues to grow, and Ill be able assist them in hiring the most qualified candidate to transition into the permanent chief technology officer role.



GZ6G Technologies Green Zebra Smart Labs division, with the help of Internet Soft and Mr. Patange, is set to launch VenuTrax technology in late 2021 to stadiums, universities, and cities. Further details will be announced in the coming months. About GZ6G Technologies:

GZ6G Technologies is the complete enterprise smart solutions provider for large venues and cities. Focused on acquiring smart city solutions, developing innovative products, and overseeing smart cities and smart venues, GZ6G Technologies also assists in modernizing clients with innovative wireless IoT technology for the emerging 5G and Wi-Fi 6 marketplaces. Target markets include stadiums, airports, universities, and smart city projects. Ever evolving and innovative, GZ6G Technologies smart solutions consist of three divisions, Green Zebra Networks: providing Wireless IT networking, wireless hardware, and software services. Green Zebra Smart Labs: IoT software application Development and API integrated application services for commercial, industrial, and user engagement technology, as well as monetization and data analytics. Green Zebra Media, a majority-owned subsidiary of Gz6G Technology Corp: a full-service marketing and advertising division for clients that includes public relations, copywriting, branding, and all creative needs. Since 2003, GZ6G Technologies is the trusted, smart solutions provider for clients such as Governors Island, NY, and the city of New York, to name a few. For more information, visit www.GZ6G.com. Twitter @gz6tech About Internet Soft: Internet Soft is a digital transformation consultancy and software development company that provides cutting edge engineering solutions. With over 15 years in Information Technology, we have built up expertise in CRM, ERP, Ecommerce, Data Analytics, Information Security, FinTech, and other areas and conquered such innovative fields as Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, Big Data, Internet of Things, Augmented and Virtual Reality. Internet Soft has successfully helped Fortune 500 companies and enterprise clients solve complex issues that always emerge during their digital evolution journey and has worked with brands such as the NFL, Red Bull, Disney, Schneider Electric and many other companies. For more information, visit www.internetsoft.com. MEDIA Contact: Arlene Bordinhao Arlene.b@brandltd.com INVESTOR Contact: Coleman Smith Cole@greenzebra.net Safe Harbor Statement: In addition to historical information, this press release may contain statements that constitute forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release include the intent, belief, or expectations of the company and members of its management team with respect to the company's future business operations and the assumptions upon which such statements are based. Prospective investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, and involve risks and uncertainties, and that actual results may differ materially from those contemplated by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause these differences include, but are not limited to, failure to complete anticipated sales under negotiations, lack of revenue growth, client discontinuances, failure to realize improvements in performance, efficiency and profitability, and adverse development with respect to litigation or increased litigation costs, the operation or performance of the Company's business units or the market price of its common stock. Additional factors that would cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated within this press release can also be found on the company's website. The company denies any responsibility to update any forward-looking statements.



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The man behind Cult City Tours, the walking tours around Church of Scientology landmarks in downtown Clearwater, says he's just trying to demystify the church's presence by laughing at it, the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Why it matters: Tension has been growing between Cult City's Ted Reinhard and some city leaders and downtown business owners who want to disassociate Clearwater from Scientology.

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Reinhard left bad online reviews for several businesses that refused to host a reception for a tour led by several popular Scientology defectors.

Business owners told the Times that the church had paid them a visit them prior refusing to host the reception.

The backdrop: Reinhard, whose tour uniform pokes fun at Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard's exaggerated military record, joins the front lines of a culture war that has been playing out for years in Clearwater.

Scientology first came to the city in 1975, but its pace of expansion has accelerated since 2017.

The church, its members and companies they control own 185 properties that cover 101 acres in the center of downtown, the Times' Tracy McManus has reported.

Non-church-affiliated proprietors downtown have long held the sentiment that Scientology's outsized presence discourages commerce.

The state of play: The idea for Cult City Tours came from a city councilman who suggested Clearwater should look for Scientology tourism opportunities instead of pretending it isnt there.

Reinhard told Axios that the reaction to the Times' story has been mostly positive.

"Anything that brings attention to the situation downtown is a good thing and weve got a dozen bookings since 9am," he said.

This story first appeared in the Axios Tampa Bay newsletter, designed to help readers get smarter, faster on the most consequential news unfolding in their own backyard.

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For help reaching an expert on deadline , please contact UB's media relations team at 716-645-6969 or ub-news@buffalo.edu .

Yige Dong

Assistant Professor of Sociology, and of Global Gender and Sexuality Studies University at Buffalo College of Arts and Sciences

AREAS OF EXPERTISE:

Labor, work, gender and political economy, especially in China; labor and feminist movements in China and in a global context

Yige Dongs primary research interests lie at the intersection of political economy, social inequality and social change.

Her work examines labor and feminist movements in a global context. She has also studied numerous issues relating to Chinas economy and society, with expertise on topics such as feminism, welfare policy, gender in the workforce, workers migration from rural to urban areas, and employment choices among urban laborers in China.

Dongs research includes a book project that examines the seven-decade transformation of care work among industrial workers as China has transitioned from state socialism to a capitalist economy.
Cheif Executive Officer (CEO) of the State Transport Corporation (STC), Nana Akomea has called for heads to roll in the offensive history textbooks brouhaha.



Publishers, Badu Nkansah and Golden Publications have recently come under intense criticisms over their publication of two textbooks titled History of Ghana and Golden English respectively.



The textbooks have offensive contents which seek to denigrate Ewes in the country.



Due to the offensive characterization of the Ewe ethnic group in the books, the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NaCCA) has directed that all unapproved textbooks being sold on the market be withdrawn with immediate effect.



Minister for Education, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum has also debunked claims of the sector approving the textbooks.



He says the reports circulating that the Ghana Education Service (GES) has permitted for the anti-Ewe book to be used in basic schools in the country are untrue and urged the public to disregard the publication.



The book is not approved, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum told Peacefmonline.com.



Although the publishers of the textbooks have apologized for their insensitivity and inappropriate descriptions, Nana Akomea is of a strong view that the apology is not enough.



He has called for sanctions to be meted out to the persons whose actions led to the publishing and sale of the textbooks.



"Demonizing an ethnic group, it goes some law. Even demonizing an individual without basis, it can be prosecuted; not to say a whole book. So, there must be proper investigation into the processes at Badu Nkansah, the processes at NACAA, Ghana Education Service and if there is any punishment, we mete out to those deserving," he said.



"We must take a remedial to resolve the issue. We must sanction those responsible for this act so that there won't be a repeat," he added.



Nana Akomea further sought reasons why there should be new history books in schools.



"History of Ghana, 64 years, are we now going to write a new book? If the Ghana Education Service wants to teach Ghana history to school children, are you now writing a new textbook that you have to invite people to write new textbook for Ghana history to teach school children. Today? When we were in class four/five, we did Ghana history. Were there not textbooks that have not brought about any issue?'' he asked.







Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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The arrest of a man in Sydneys south over the mysterious 2008 death of Bernd Lehmann has been hailed as a breakthrough enabled by advances in DNA technology and innovative investigative techniques used by detectives.

Naji Fakhreddine, 66, was arrested in Arncliffe about 7.30am on Wednesday and charged with murder. Police believe the two men met socially 13 years ago and had subsequent contact not long before Mr Lehmann, 66, a German national, was found dead in his unit on Valentines Day.

Bernd Lehmanns body was found inside his unit in Ashfield 13 years ago.

Police say Mr Lehmann was killed in a vicious and frenzied attack that left him with serious head injuries. Nothing was stolen from his home in the inner west suburb of Ashfield, raising questions about the reason for the emotive attack.

Because it was a violent crime, they left a lot of forensic evidence behind and that was exposed in our benefit, Detective Superintendent Danny Doherty, NSW Police homicide squad commander, said on Wednesday.
Bottom line: In an annual shareholder's meeting, Samsung's co-CEO and mobile chief, Koh Dong-jin, highlighted the ongoing semiconductor shortage, noting a "serious imbalance" in the supply and demand of chips. With the crisis expanding to the mobile industry, Samsung is finding it difficult to release the next Galaxy Note in the second half of this year, something it has been doing consistently with all guns blazing for almost a decade.

The Galaxy Note 20 was rumored to be the last phone in the Note lineup, based on reports of Samsung discontinuing the brand entirely. While some analysts believed the company might see off its flagship series with a fan edition model, Korea's Yonhap News cited an anonymous Samsung official claiming that the next Note was indeed in the works for 2021.

While the Note's fate seemed to hang in the balance based on Samsung's efforts to streamline its high-end offerings, it now appears that the ongoing chip shortage has come into play as well, inadvertently revealing Samsung's plans for the Note series and bringing with it good and bad news for fans.

The bad news is no new Galaxy Note for 2021, as Samsung executive Koh Dong-jin told shareholders that it could be a "burden" to release two flagships in a year, reports Bloomberg. The company's key supplier, Qualcomm, has also been struggling to supply chips to partners, and Samsung knows its Galaxy Note fans are a picky bunch when it comes to choosing between the phone's Snapdragon variant and Samsung's in-house Exynos version.

As for the good news, the Galaxy Note line is here to stay, for now. Koh Dong-jin went on to mention that Samsung seeks to release a new Note model in 2022, though the phone's usual launch window might be changed. Given that Qualcomm expects the chip crisis to improve by the end of this year, holding out for the next Note might be well worth the wait.
Minister of Defense of Ukraine Andrii Taran and State Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan UTO Takashi discussed security issues in East Asia and Donbas, as well as Japan's participation in the Crimean Platform summit.

Ukraines Ambassador to Japan Serhiy Korsunsky wrote about this on his Facebook page.

"The talks between Minister of Defense of Ukraine Andrii Taran and State Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan UTO Takashi have just ended. Japan reaffirmed its unwavering support for Ukraines territorial integrity and its readiness to continue to promote economic development and reforms. The frank conversation lasted for an hour. We discussed security issues in East Asia and Donbas, Japan's participation in the Crimean Platform summit, and the threats facing our state," Korsunsky wrote.

He said that after the conversation with the State Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, Taran will hold an online meeting with Minister of Defense of Japan Nobuo Kishi.

As reported, a visit of Ukrainian Defense Minister Andrii Taran to Japan  the first-ever in the history of bilateral relations  began on March 16.

ish
Vets have warned against a disturbing trend that's been circulating on TikTok, in which people feed hot sauce to their dogs 'to see their reaction'.

In one video, a dog is clearly in discomfort but continues to chew on the sauce-covered chicken leg due to its innate love for meat.

Another video shows a dog taking a cautious lick before running away in panic as its owner laughs in the background.

The Blue Cross, one of the UK's leading animal welfare charities, said it was 'horrified' to see this latest social media trend.

Chilli in hot sauce can cause pancreatitis  inflammation in the pancreas  in dogs, while other ingredients like onion and garlic are also toxic for canines.

This TikTok user posted two videos to the site to show how much their pet 'doesn't care about hot sauce!'. Her poor dog is clearly in discomfort but continues to chew on the sauce-covered chicken leg due to its innate love for meat

'While the intent is providing your pet with what they perceive as a tasty treat, this could cause them serious pain and discomfort,' Alison Thomas, head of veterinary Services at the Blue Cross, told MailOnline.

'Spicy foods should never be fed to our pets as they can cause severe indigestion, vomiting and diarrhoea.

'Some of the ingredients in sauces like this, onions and garlic for example, can also cause harm and should also never be fed to pets.'

An RSPCA spokesperson also said slammed the 'very irresponsible' trend, which could lead to gastrointestinal upsets, as well as pain and discomfort.

'Unfortunately, we are seeing more and more social media content that is celebrating animal suffering, even inadvertently, and we ask owners to always consider the impact on their pet,' the spokesperson told MailOnline.

'A selfie or video clip is never worth causing an animal to suffer. Dogs are sentient beings who can find experiences like this very frightening.'

A TikTok spokesperson told MailOnline that it does not tolerate animal cruelty and that the platform is a 'space for positive and creative expression'.

'We take action when issues are brought to our attention,' the spokesperson said.

'We have banned videos of this nature and content depicting cruelty to animals will be removed.

'We will continue to monitor this situation for further developments and take action wherever necessary.'

TikTok videos noticed by Business Insider, but since removed from the platform, were captioned: 'Give your dog something with hot sauce and get their reaction'.

Another user posted two videos to the site  both taken down by the user on Wednesday afternoon  to show how much their pet 'doesn't care about hot sauce!'

A vet in the US who posts to TikTok and Instagram under the username @vet_techs_pj as part of a duo, condemned the posts.

His video posted to TikTok shows a dog in hospital with pancreatitis, whose owner 'just kept giving him more and more' hot sauce.

'So you know that trend where you give your dog a piece of chicken with hot sauce on it just to see what their reaction is?' he says. 'Now he's in the hospital with pancreatitis.

A vet in the US who posts to TikTok as part of a duo called Peter & Jaycee urged users to trying out trends on their pets

'They just kept giving him more and more because I guess his reaction was just "so funny" but now he's in the hospital with pancreatitis  so stop doing trends with pets!' he says.

Dr Mary Altomare, a vet at Mount Pleasant Animal Shelter in New Jersey, told Business Insider that spicy food causes 'great discomfort' to a dog's body, including the oral cavity and esophagus  the tube connecting the throat and the stomach.

'As it travels to their stomach, it can cause further upset such as heartburn and even ulcerations,' Dr Altomare said.

'Once it passes through the stomach, pets are likely to experience intestinal cramping and diarrhea.

'Depending on how sensitive of a stomach your pet has, you may also see some vomiting and subsequent dehydration.'

This is not the first time stupid and potentially lethal trends have spread like wildfire on the popular app, which is owned by Chinese company Bytedance.

Last month, doctors warned people not to replicate the trend of covering one's face and neck with hot wax before peeling it off when it dries.

Dr Emma Wedgeworth, a consultant dermatologist and a British Skin Foundation spokesperson, told MailOnline: 'It is clearly not a good idea to cover the whole face with wax.

'The bottom line is that this is a senseless practice, which has more potential for harm than good and I would not advise it.'

In September last year, dentists had to urge people not to whiten their teeth with undiluted bleach purchased online, which could lead to damaged gums and tooth loss.
US president Joe Biden (AP)

A Michigan man has been arrested for an alleged plot to kill governor Gretchen Whitmer, as well as Nancy Pelosi, the Speaker of the House, and US president Joe Biden.

Authorities arrested Joshua Docter, of Holland, Michigan, on Tuesday, following the discovery of death threats made against the three Democratic politicians on social media platform iFunny.

According to the FBI, In those posts, Docter stated he would use a gun to shoot and kill the elected officials and would be the catalyst for a new American revolution.

The 21 year-old handed himself in after terrorism-related charges were filed in Holland District Court on Monday by the states attorney general.

According to court filings, he was charged with one count of threat of terrorism and one count of using a computer to commit a crime. Both felonies come with prison terms of 20 years if found guilty.

Announcing the charges, Michigan state attorney general Dana Nessel offered a reminder that threatening elected officials is against the law.

Read more:

My office will prosecute those who attempt to intimidate or terrorise our state and federal leaders, said Ms Nessel.

She added the charges were brought against Mr Docter following a tip-off to the FBI about Mr Docters death threats against Ms Whitmer, Ms Pelosi and Mr Biden in recent weeks.

I appreciate the thorough investigative work by the FBI and Michigan State Police on this case, Ms Nessel added, and I consider it another excellent example of showcasing the dedication that those working in law enforcement have to protecting the public.

The FBI added that Docter also had information on how to make a bomb and where to find the necessary materials on his smart phone.

It follows death threats allegedly made against Ms Pelosi during the Capitol riot on 6 January, during which supporters of former US president Donald Trump and conspiracy theorists carried firearms and other weapons into the Capitol complex

Ms Whitmer, meanwhile, was the target of a failed far-right plot to kidnap her in the run-up to Novembers presidential election. All eight men involved in the failed effort were afterwards arrested on terrorism charges.

Additional reporting by Reuters.
The TRS cannot afford to lose its second bypoll in a row and Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao had kickstarted the party's campaign on February 10 by addressing a public meeting in Halia in the constituency. (Representational image/DC file)

Hyderabad: The announcement of Nagarjunasagar Assembly bypoll schedule by the Election Commission on Tuesday has heated up politics in Telangana state yet again. Though its a bypoll, the stakes are high for the three major parties.

For the TRS, a win in this election is a must to reaffirm its political supremacy especially after it suffered electoral setbacks at the hands of BJP in Dubbak and in the GHMC towards the end of last year.

The TRS cannot afford to lose its second bypoll in a row and Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao had kickstarted the party's campaign on February 10 by addressing a public meeting in Halia in the constituency

For the Congress, this election is a do-or-die battle to prove that it's the principal opposition to the TRS and not the BJP.

For the BJP, a win in this election would mean that its stunning performance in Dubbak and the GHMC polls was not a fluke and its voter base is expanding faster across the state.

The Congress is at an advantage over other parties as it has decided the candidate  veteran former minister K. Jana Reddy  early in February. Jana Reddy holds the record of winning this seat seven times earlier, known to be the Congress bastion for long but lost to the TRS in 2018.

The TRS is yet to announce its candidate though party sources said that it's in favour of fielding a local BC leader from the Yadav community instead of relying on the sympathy wave by fielding deceased MLA Nomula Narasimhaiahs son Nomula Bharath.

Sources pointed out that the sympathy factor did not work for the TRS in Dubbak. Bharath hails from Palem village of Nakrekal mandal in Nalgonda district and is an outsider and surveys commissioned by the TRS suggested that voters are favouring a local Yadav.

Chandrashekar Rao is learnt to be in favour of Katteboyina Guravaiah Yadav of Nidamanuru mandal in the Nagarjunasagar constituency.

The BJP is waiting for the TRS to announce its candidate. The fact is that the BJP does not have a strong candidate, unlike in Dubbak. It is hoping that strong contenders who fail to get the TRS ticket would jump to the BJP so that it can field one of them.


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Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-18 04:48:23|Editor: huaxia

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SKOPJE, March 17 (Xinhua) -- North Macedonia reported 1,293 new COVID-19 cases and 24 deaths in the past 24 hours, the country's Health Ministry said Wednesday.

According to the ministry, the country has to date recorded a total of 115,222 cases, with 99,015 recoveries and 3,388 fatalities.

On Wednesday, the country's Commission for Infectious Diseases decided to keep in place the nationwide curfew as North Macedonia is experiencing the third wave of COVID-19.

Speaking at a press conference, Health Minister Venko Filipce said that the latest data on the percentages of positive cases over the past days showed that there is a significant increase in the number of positive cases in several cities, as well as an increase in the number of hospitalized patients.

Currently, according to the minister, there are 11,889 active cases in the country, the number of which has increased by over 5,000 from Feb. 15 to March 15.

The Commission for Infectious Diseases will decide on possible additional restrictions early next week, he added.

As of March 10, the government has imposed a nationwide curfew from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. due to the increase in the number of new coronavirus cases and hospitalized patients.

As the world is struggling to contain the pandemic, vaccination is underway in an increasing number of countries with already-authorized coronavirus vaccines.

Meanwhile, 264 candidate vaccines are still being developed worldwide -- 82 of them in clinical trials -- in countries including Germany, China, Russia, Britain, and the United States, according to information released by the World Health Organization on March 16. Enditem
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KENTA VS. SHINGO TAKAGI & MORE: 3/16 NEW JAPAN CUP IN TOKYO, JAPAN REPORT

By James Kurokawa on 2021-03-17 05:53:00

3/16/21 Results for New Japan Cup 2021 From Korakuen Hall, Tokyo Japan:



Yuya Uemura, Gabriel Kidd and Yota Tsuji vs. Yuji Nagata, Satoshi Kojima and Hiroyoshi Tenzan. Nagata forces Kidd to tap out to a cross face.



Chase Owens, Bad Luck Fale and Jay White, with Gedo vs. Toa Henare, Juice Robinson and David Finlay. Jay White walked to the ring, so his leg injury against Tanahashi could have been an angle. Fale pins Henare with a Hand Grenade. When Finlay and White paired off in the ring, they looked good. Their match in the next Round should be great.



Jeff Cobb and Will Ospreay, with Bea Priestley vs. BUSHI and SANADA. Ospreay came to the ring with his right shoulder still taped up. His nose looked to be fine. Cobb pins BUSHI with a Tour of the Islands. Ospreay yelled at SANADA for going after his nose after he injured it against Zack Sabre Jr. SANADA flipped him off. Funny stuff.



New Japan Cup 2021 Round 3 Match: EVIL, with Dick Togo vs. Toru Yano. Yano refused to wrestle until Togo left the ringside area. EVIL waited until Yano almost got counted out. Yano runs back in the ring and EVIL throws him to the floor. Togo attacks him and EVIL gets control of the match. Yano gets beaten all around ringside. Togo removes a turnbuckle, but throws EVIL into the metal bolt in the corner. Yano rips another turnbuckle off and throws it to Togo. Yano pushes EVIL into Togo who takes a bump to the floor. Yano launches EVIL headfirst into the metal bolt in the corner. He rolls up EVIL with a schoolboy pin. Two count. EVIL charges Yano and Yano pulls down the top rope and EVIL goes flying. Togo tries to attack but Yano throws him into the guardrails. Yano steals Togos piano wire and chokes out EVIL. The referee starts the count. Yano throws an almost unconscious EVIL under the ring and Yano jumps in the ring as the count continues. The referees count is at 18 and Yano starts to celebrate.



But the lights go out in Korakuen Hall. (I thought of Sabu appearing at this moment).



The lights popped back on and EVIL was in the ring. He hit Everything is Evil on Yano and gets the pin.



I expected such shenanigans in this match. I would prefer such comedy in undercard matches, but with Yano, it is what it is.



New Japan Cup 2021 Match: Shingo Takagi vs. KENTA.

KENTA avoided Takagi at the start of the match. Takagi was able to corner KENTA and hammer him with punches and chops. KENTA retreated and Takagi tried to chase him down. KENTA grabbed the ring bell smashed Takagi in the head. KENTA took the match to the floor and hit a DDT on the concrete. KENTA slowed the pace of the match with headlocks and attacks to Takagis head.



Takagi rallied back with strikes and shoulder blocks. KENTA tried for another DDT but Takagi powered him up into a suplex. KENTA recovered and hit a clothesline from the top rope and went for Game Over. Takagi was able the break it before KENTA locked it in.



Takagi hit a lariat. KENTA returned with a boot and a delayed dropkick to the face. Pace of the match picks up. KENTA with a draping DDT and a double stomp from the top rope. Two count. Takagi goes for Made in Japan, but KENTA rolls him into Game Over. Takagi gets a break in the ropes. KENTA with a release Tiger Suplex. Takagi hits a Pumping Bomber. They start throwing elbows. KENTA misses an elbow which Takagi turns into Made in Japan. Two count. They trade sick chops and punches. KENTA hits a vicious knee for a two count. KENTA hits a Psycho Knee. Two count. KENTA goes for Go To Sleep. Takagi blocks and hits a Death Valley Driver. Takagi picks up KENTA and hits a massive Pumping Bomber. Two Count. Takagi hits Last of the Dragon. Takagi pins KENTA.



Shingo Takagi moves on to face EVIL.



Wow! Great match. Both men beat the heck out of each other.



EVIL comes to ringside to confront Takagi. Togo comes from behind and hits a low blow. They beat down Takagi. They leave and the young lions come to check on Takagi.



The story of this New Japan Cup is the rise of Shingo Takagi. He has clean wins over Kazuchika Okada, Hirooki Goto and KENTA in this tournament with two more matches to go. Over the past few years, Takagi moved from the Junior Division to the NEVER Openweight Division and now, in the New Japan Cup, he is establishing himself as a potential contender for the IWGP World Heavyweight Title.



Stay tuned for the rest of Round 3.



Thanks for reading.





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ROCHESTER, Minn. - Senator Amy Klobuchar is pushing for a plan to raise the federal minimum wage.

Minnesota's senior senator took part in a virtual roundtable Tuesday afternoon discussing the Raise the Wage Act, which would incrementally increase the federal minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2025. The bill would also eliminate the federal subminimum wage for tipped workers, which sits at $2.13 hourly.

Senator Klobuchar says as focus begins to shift toward life after the pandemic, lawmakers have a responsibility to address wage issues and ensure workers can thrive after the pandemic.

"We can't just rest on getting through the pandemic, because if anything, the pandemic has put a magnifying glass on what's the problem, and that is that there are a lot of people that don't have a fair shake," Senator Klobuchar said. "That of course includes our service workers and restaurant workers."

The senator adds while congress was unable to include a minimum wage hike in their most recent stimulus package, she's ready to keep fighting for higher earnings for workers.

"I am excited to continue the fight for one fair wage for all, including our tipped workers, and to ensure that restaurant workers can thrive for generations to come."

One Fair Wage, which hosted Tuesday's discussion, says 1-in-4 Americans who lost their job because of COVID-19 were restaurant workers. The organization adds those in the industry who have stayed employed have taken on new health risks and responsibilities like enforcing mask mandates and social distancing rules.

All the while, One Fair Wage says 70% of tipped workers across the country report their tip earnings are down between 50% and 75%.

Minnesota is one of seven states that has already eliminated the subminimum wage for tipped workers. , the President of One Fair Wage, says data collected during the pandemic shows restaurant industries in most of those states experienced less of a decline in businesses compared to their counterparts across the nation.
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After its release in 2017, the fans, expecting a final chapter to Snyders earlier films Man of Steel (2013) and Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016), began campaigning for the studio to #ReleaseTheSnyderCut, the original planned edit of the film. Then two final pieces of the jigsaw fell into place: the COVID-19 pandemic, which gave new value to a film that could be recut from existing footage, and the launch of the studios content-hungry streamer, HBO Max. Aquaman (Jason Momoa), Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot) and Cyborg (Ray Fisher) in a scene from Zack Snyders Justice League. Credit:Warner Bros The movement also won the support of cast members, including Momoa and Fisher, cinematographer Wagner, and other high-profile Hollywood figures, such as director Kevin Smith and comic book writer and television producer Robert Kirkman. In an effort to prove to the studio how serious they were, the #ReleaseTheSnyderCut movement also bought two billboards over New Yorks Times Square. Is this a new world where the fans decide what movies [a studio gets to] make? ask Snyder. Im not saying its not that but I dont know that that is the end game here, except that I do think streaming services, and having a platform like HBO Max, really does give an option to an otherwise impossible release scenario.

The new cut did involve reshoots, which were challenged by the fact COVID-19 travel restrictions essentially stranded everyone where they were. Miller, for example, was in London shooting the third Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them chapter, so that films crew actually shot Millers new scenes with Snyder directing the action via Zoom. Smaller scenes that were cut from the original film, but will have immense appeal to DC Comics fans  such as those featuring Deathstroke (Joe Manganiello), Lex Luthor (Jesse Eisenberg), S.T.A.R. Labs scientist Ryan Choi (Ryan Zheng), Aquaman comics character Nuidis Vulko (Willem Dafoe) and The Flashs Iris West (Kiersey Clemons)  have been reinstated. Another new sequence features the iconic Batman villain the Joker (Jared Leto), who had previously appeared in David Ayer 2016 film Suicide Squad but never shared the DCEU screen with Batman. Arthur Curry (Jason Momoa) and Bruce Wayne (Ben Affleck) in Zack Snyders Justice League. Credit:Warner Bros Whatever you want to call it, the DECU, the DC Universe, Batman exists in that world and Joker exists in that world, and theyve never met and it seemed cathartic and important to have those guys who defined each other in such a giant way come into conflict and us to get a little scene with the two of them, Snyder says.

The film in its new four-hour format is a cut that I finished right away, right when we got back [and] was the first version of the movie that I completed, Snyder says. So its the freshest and most optimistic. I love these actors and I love this material. So I put my head down and soldiered on as best I can. Which of the two films  Whedons 2017 cinema release or the new Snyder Cut  prevails in canon is, to some extent, a decision the fans will have to make, says Snyder. But the prevailing wind is leaning to the latter. Momoa has said publicly he considers his Aquaman to be the Snyder version of the character, and Wonder Woman director Patty Jenkins has said her film is in sync, canonically, with the Snyder Cut. I hope that in the end, I will convince you that my idea was right to begin with,and then [the studio] should have just let me do it that way from the start, Snyder says. Thats gotten me in trouble, I admit. But I think in the end, look, were here. And thats the good news. Zack Snyders Justice League will stream on Binge and Foxtel on Demand from March 18 at 6pm.

The Weird and the Wonderful: A Canon Guide to the Justice League and the DC Pantheon Superfriends (1973-1985) An animated TV series featuring Superman, Wonder Woman and Batman and Robin, plus a whos who of DC Comics favourites: The Flash, Green Lantern, Hawkman and, later, original heroes such as Black Vulcan, Apache Chief, and Samurai. It also tapped DCs best villains, including Lex Luthor, Brainiac, Cheetah and Sinestro. The animated Superfriends: (back) Robin and Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Apache Chief, Green Lantern, Samurai and Hawkman, and (front) The Flash, Superman and Black Vulcan. Credit:Warner Bros Television The New Original Wonder Woman (1975) Wonder Woman goes live-action with actress Lynda Carter, who was so beloved by fans the character was not successfully recast until Gadot took the role decades later. The first season is the strongest, notable for sequences set in the Amazon home, Paradise Island, and the inclusion of Dianas sister, Drusilla, aka Wonder Girl. Superman (1978) and Superman II (1980) Christopher Reeves portrayal of Superman is hard to top, as is Margot Kidders Lois Lane. The two films were shot consecutively but director Richard Donner was replaced by Richard Lester midway through. Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut was released on DVD in 2006.

Helen Slater as Supergirl. Credit:Warner Bros Supergirl (1984) This films villain, the witch Selena (Faye Dunaway), who captures a Kryptonian relic known as the Omegahedron, is more campy than genuinely menacing. But it is memorable because Helen Slater was perfectly cast and, for the first time, we saw Kryptons extra-dimensional criminal dumping ground, the Phantom Zone. Batman (1989) Tim Burtons first Batman feature film was magnificently gothic, with a majestic score from composer Danny Elfman the equal of Edvard Grieg or Hector Berlioz. It rendered Batman (Michael Keaton) every bit as dark and haunting as he was in the comic books and featured Jack Nicholson in an unrivalled turn as the Joker. Batman Begins (2005) Christopher Nolan brilliantly rebooted the film series with Christian Bale as Batman and Michael Caine as his loyal manservant Alfred, returning to the events of Detective Comics #27, and the tragic death of Bruce Waynes parents. Christian Bale as Batman. Credit:Warner Bros

As the latest COVID-19 stimulus checks were sent out over the weekend, a stimulus check dispute that started from a confrontation ended up in the fatal shooting of four individuals based on the family of the victims.

Stimulus Check Dispute Leads to Four Deaths in Indiana

An Indianapolis man, Malik Halfacre, allegedly confronted the mother of his own infant, Jeanettrius Moore, and argued that she owed him half of the $1,400 stimulus check that Moore received to help her through the pandemic. But Moore did not back down from the demand of $700 of the stimulus check that she received based on the family of Moore.

According to The Washington Post, a cousin of Moore, Wendy Johnson shared that Moore spoke with her regarding the argument and mentioned that Halfacre stated that he will get the money. The stimulus check dispute allegedly ended in tragedy over the weekend as four of the family members, including a child were fatally shot by Halfacre.

Based on the report of the police, they had arrested the 25-year-old, Malik Halfacre, in relation to the deaths of 7-year-old, Eve Moore, Tomeeka Brown, 44; Anthony Johnson, 35; and Daquan Moore, 23. Halfacre has not been formally charged, however, preliminary charges were filed which include four counts of murder, one count of attempted murder, and one count of robbery based on the report on Monday, by the deputy chief of investigations with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, Craig McCartt.

Stimulus Checks Sent To Wrong Bank Accounts

In addition, the prosecutor's office of Marion County will review the case before bringing charges based on the police. But it is still not clear whether Halfacre has an attorney.

Moreover, when asked for comment early Tuesday, members of the family of the victims did not immediately respond to the requests. The police department has not declared whether the argument that led to the fatal shootings started from the stimulus check dispute. A police spokeswoman shared to a news outlet that it is still not confirmed on their latest investigation.

Meanwhile, in a news conference Monday, McCartt shared that the shootings came at the end of a domestic dispute. The deputy chief of investigations with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department also shared during the news conference that they just know that there was an argument which escalated to the point where the suspect pulled out his weapon and started shooting everyone in the home, USA Today reported.

But the incident is considered as the first instance of violence to reportedly stem from stimulus checks. Although violence over stimulus checks remains rare, a number of Americans have been arrested or accused throughout the pandemic in connection with allegedly stealing money.

Biden's Economic Plan Includes First Major Tax Hike Since 1993

Then a cousin of Moore, Wendy Johnson shared that on Saturday night, Moore told her that Halfacre returned to the house on North Randolph Street and repeatedly demanded to have her stimulus check. But the brother of Moore, Daquan, defended her sister and pushed Halfacre to leave based on the family's statement.

Daquan stood up and stated that Halfacre that he cannot have the money of his sister. But instead of leaving the property, the family of Moore shared that was when Halfacre allegedly started shooting, hitting the mother of his own child, and the mother of Moore, brother, cousin, and even her cousin's 7-year-old daughter, IndyStar reported.



Also from HNGN:

Biden Promise: Vaccines and Checks in 10 Days

North Korea Sends Warning to Biden Administration

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'The roll-out of the vaccine  a ray of sunshine in our dismal situation  has stalled and the hope that it would bring a swift end to the crisis grows dimmer with every passing day.' Photo: Sam Boal / Photocall Ireland / PA

This week marks a year since Covid-19 shut down our nation and changed the lives of every man woman and child in Ireland.

Normally a major anniversary  like the events held in Japan recently to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the devastating 2011 earthquake and tsunami  are an occasion for hope.

While remembering those lost, they serve to remind us that even in the face of seemingly insurmountable adversity we can, and usually do, rebuild and recover.

In Ireland this week that sense of hope seems sadly absent as the pandemic crisis continues with seemingly no end to the countrys suffering in sight.

The tragic daily death tolls remain stubbornly high; new cases still number in the hundreds every day; the population continues to be locked indoors and hundreds of thousands of people are out of work.

Meanwhile, the roll-out of the vaccine  a ray of sunshine in our dismal situation  has stalled and the hope that it would bring a swift end to the crisis grows dimmer with every passing day.

The sense of hope the many felt as 2021 dawned and 2020 passed into unpleasant memory now seems a little naive. The blitz spirit and the sense of community and camaraderie that categorised the first lock-down has largely vanished, replaced by a weary apathy and a tired people.

Ireland in March 2021, 12 months into lock-down, is a shadow of its former self and a nation in desperate need of hope and leadership.

We are constantly told  with little evidence ever offered to back up the assertion  that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Unfortunately, most people can only see that tunnel getting longer and the light growing fainter and fainter.

Over the course of the year  and particularly since the new coalition took over last June  the Government has come in for much criticism over its handling of the pandemic.

Some of this is justified  the decision to reopen the country before Christmas proved a disastrous mistake  but much of it is unfair.

There is little if anything, for example, that the Government can do to speed up the roll-out of the vaccine. They, like every Government in the world, are in thrall to the medical companies and until global vaccine supplies increase there is very little they can do.

What the Government can do is try to reassure its people and offer them a little real hope. In recent months the Governments communications strategy, such as it is, has been questionable and has contributed enormously to the general sense of malaise that has gripped the country.

The Goverments beatings will continue until morale improves strategy is as ludicrous and pointless as the old saying suggests. It was also doomed to fail from the very start.

The people are crying out for a sliver of hope. A year into this crisis its time the Government offered us some.
Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF), a nonprofit foundation devoted to finding cures for all children with cancer, announces grant award recipients of their Crazy 8 Initiative. The recipients will receive grants totaling more than $18.5 million, which is the single, largest funding commitment from ALSF to date.

The Initiative kicked off in the Fall of 2018 with a meeting that brought together more than 90 scientists from around the world to help define the research landscape in eight key areas of need in order to tackle major obstacles impeding progress toward cures for childhood cancer. Through a rigorous review process, ALSF received over 100 letters of intent from researchers that resulted in 83 full grant applications which were ultimately narrowed down to four projects that will work to accelerate the pace of new cure discovery.

Childhood cancer is the leading cause of death by disease in children, and the Crazy 8 Initiative is poised to change the trajectory of pediatric oncology. Grants from the Crazy 8 Initiative will fund research for innovative and rigorous approaches that directly address the most obstinate issues in pediatric cancer research. A key component of the Initiative is its approach in bringing cross-disciplinary scientists to work collaboratively in order to accelerate the pace of new cure discovery. For example, connecting neurologists and biologists with pediatric oncologists to work hand-in-hand in growing scientific discovery, while aiming to provide detailed roadmaps for hard-to-treat childhood cancers.

The Crazy 8 Initiative is vital because it orchestrates talent from around the world and creates collective solutions. Pediatric cancer research is at an incredibly pressing moment right now, and we're thrilled to be at the forefront of this progress--generating opportunities to turn competition into collaboration by bringing world-class researchers together. This initiative is monumental, and we know it will provide a tremendous impact globally in moving the needle for pediatric cancer research over the next five years." Liz Scott, Co-Executive Director, Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation

An overview of the awarded Crazy 8 Initiative projects including project investigators, key institutions, and cross-cutting technologies can be found below.

Yael P. Mosse, MD, of Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, and a group of investigators from various institutions are teaming up to create a drug that will target the transcription factor MYCN, which drives aggressive pediatric cancers such as neuroblastoma and medulloblastoma. They will employ cutting-edge technology called targeted degradation to design a drug that will trick the cancer cells to dissolve MYCN, leading to cancer cell death.

The team of investigators includes: John Maris, MD and Ophir Shalem, PhD, of Children's Hospital of Philadelphia; Seychelle Vos, PhD, MIT; Gwenn Hansen, PhD, Nurix Therapeutics; Martine F. Roussel, PhD, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital; Natalia Jura, PhD, Kliment A. Verba, PhD, and William A. Weiss, MD/PhD of University of California San Francisco; Martin Eilers, PhD and Elmar Wolf, PhD of University of Wurzburg

Charles G. Mullighan, MBBS(Hons) MSc MD FRACP FRCPA, of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is leading a team to tackle mutant transcription factors that drive acute leukemias and medulloblastoma, two leading causes of cancer-related death in children. Aberrant transcription factors are difficult to inhibit with traditional drugs, and that's where this team is focusing its efforts, utilizing a new technology called molecular glues to degrade previously undruggable transcription factors.

They will develop a library of molecular glues to screen for agents that are successful at killing acute leukemia or medulloblastoma cells. The team of investigators, all from St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, includes: M. Madan Babu, PhD, FRSC; Marcus Fischer, PhD; Jeffery M. Klco, MD/PhD; Paul A. Northcott, PhD; Zoran Rankovic, PhD; and Martine F. Roussel, PhD.

Led by Leonard Zon, MD, of Boston Children's Hospital, investigators are joining forces to use a new genetic fingerprinting technology to study how blood cancers, such as leukemia, arise in development. They aim to understand what types of blood stem cells lead to different forms of pediatric leukemia and which key gene and pathway disruptions can alter stem cell function and subsequently kill leukemia cells. Ultimately this will inform new drug development for therapies that will disrupt leukemic stem cells and not normal blood stem cells.

The team of investigators includes: Scott A. Armstrong, MD/PhD and Serine Avagyan, MD/PhD of Dana-Farber/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center; Fernando Camargo, PhD and Vijay G. Sankaran, MD/PhD of Boston Children's Hospital; Ross Levine, MD, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center; Juerg Schwaller, MD, University Children's Hospital and Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, Switzerland; Jay Shendure, MD/PhD, University of Washington School of Medicine; Peter Campbell, MD/PhD, Wellcome Sanger Institute

Heinrich Kovar, PhD, of St. Anna Children's Cancer Research Institute, Vienna, Austria is leading a team to examine the developmental origins of malignant bone tumors, such as Ewing sarcoma and osteosarcoma. Using new single-cell genomics technology that examines single cells, as opposed to clusters of cells, and trans-species epigenomics, this team aims to better understand the developmental programs underlying bone tumor initiation and progression.

Elucidating the biological mechanisms that lead to bone tumors will allow for the development of better pre-clinical models in which to study the disease and will lead to rational design efforts for developing new drugs for these tumors.

The team of investigators includes: Martin Distel, PhD and Florian Halbritter, PhD of St. Anna Children's Cancer Research Institute, Vienna, Austria; Igor Adameyko, PhD and Matthias Farlik, PhD of Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria; Cornelia Kasper, PhD, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria

Building on its history as a leading funder in pediatric cancer research, ALSF established the Crazy 8 Initiative to harness collaborative spirit across global institutions to go after the most pressing pediatric cancer research roadblocks. ALSF focused the program to address the eight most challenging aspects of pediatric oncology: embryonal brain cancers; high-grade gliomas; fusion-positive sarcomas; fusion-negative sarcomas; leukemias; neuroblastoma; big data; and catalyzing clinical trials.

While work on the first awarded Crazy 8 Initiative grants is underway, a second Crazy 8 Initiative request for applications was recently issued, bringing the total commitment to $25 million. To learn more visit: https:/ / www. alexslemonade. org/ crazy-8-initiative.
INTEGRA Biosciences AG  based in Zizers, Switzerland and Hudson, New Hampshire  has released its 2020 annual report, with sales rising 73% compared to the previous year for this manufacturer of laboratory equipment and pipettes. This is the tenth straight year of sales growth for this hidden champion from the Chur Rhine Valley.

Image Credit: INTEGRA Biosciences



Reporting sales of 130 million Swiss francs in 2020, it has been the best year ever for INTEGRA Biosciences AG. The 73% increase from 2019 was driven by huge demand worldwide for the laboratory instruments it develops and manufactures in Zizers. The company saw particular growth in the sales of pipettes and pipette tips that are being used in diagnostics and research to combat COVID-19. We are pleased with this excellent performance, and proud of our work contributing towards overcoming the pandemic, said Urs Hartmann, who has led INTEGRA Biosciences as its CEO since January 2020. Sales have risen consistently since 2010, at a mean annual rate of 23%, and the company won an average of five new customers each day throughout 2020.

Investment a success factor

In 2020, INTEGRA invested heavily in building up its pipette tip production capacity and successfully introduced new, environmentally friendly models to the market. In addition, it created 30 high quality jobs in Zizers alone, bringing the total number of staff in Switzerland to 139. At the start of 2021, INTEGRA employed more than 400 people worldwide. Its strength in innovation was further enhanced with the hiring of 10 new scientific experts, as well as by organizing numerous further training and education courses for current staff. INTEGRA also placed high value on diversity and developing young talent during 2020. Towards this end, a total of 14 apprentices are currently working at the company, including two apprentices and two trainees from the Graubunden Integration Program.

Good outlook for 2021

We have a large number of new products in the pipeline, and expect double-digit growth again in the current year, explained Urs Hartmann. We are currently looking for 30 additional specialists to join the company in Zizers, and a further 70 at other locations. An open house is scheduled in fall 2021, for people living in the area to gain an exclusive insight into how a high tech company operates. INTEGRA Biosciences is among the top three companies internationally in its segment.

About INTEGRA Biosciences

INTEGRA Biosciences (https://www.integra-biosciences.com) is a leading provider of high-quality laboratory tools and consumables for liquid handling and media preparation. The company is committed to creating innovative solutions which fulfil the needs of its customers in research, diagnostics and quality control within the life sciences markets and medical sector. Today, INTEGRA innovative laboratory products are widely used all around the world. More than 100 distribution partners form a worldwide sales network providing responsive and competent services to customers. These distribution partners are supported by a highly motivated and experienced team of specialists at the company headquarters in Zizers, Switzerland and Hudson, NH, USA. INTEGRA is an ISO 9001 certified company.
State Duma lawmakers approve prison terms for insults to veterans

 RAPSI, Vladimir Burnov

12:43 17/03/2021

MOSCOW, March 17 (RAPSI)  The lower house of Russian parliament adopted a draft law on criminal liability up to imprisonment for humiliation of honor and dignity of veterans of the Great Patriotic War in the third and final reading on Wednesday, according to the official State Duma database.

The liability introduced by the amendments has already been in force as to the rehabilitation of Nazism and involves imprisonment for up to five years and sets a fine of up to 5 million rubles ($68,000 at the current exchange rate). There is a general rule that the minimum threshold of liability makes two months in detention and, accordingly, 5,000 rubles ($68), according to an author of the amendments, Deputy Speaker of the State Duma Irina Yarovaya.

The changes in the legislation are to be introduced for the purpose to prevent illegal actions aimed at denying the fact that the value of the heroic deeds of the veterans for all citizens of Russia and the world is not diminished by the passage of time.

Moreover, the bill envisages criminal punishment of up to 5 years in prison for justification of Nazism with the use of the Internet. Companies distributing such information will also face administrative fines ranging from 3 to 5 million rubles.

Among the authors of the amendments are also Chair of the State Duma's Committee on Defense Vladimir Shamanov, Chair of the Committee on Informational Policy Alexander Khinshtein and his First Deputy Sergey Boyarsky; lawmakers from all other political parties represented in the lower house of Russias parliament joined those deputies from the United Russia party. Among them are the First Deputy Speaker of the State Duma Ivan Melnikov (Communist Party), member of the State Duma Committee on Security and Corruption Control Andrey Lugovoy (LDPR), and First Deputy Head of the State Duma Committee on State Building and Legislation Mikhail Yemelyanov (Just Russia).




ATLANTA - A white gunman was charged Wednesday with killing eight people at three Atlanta-area massage parlours in an attack that sent terror through the Asian American community, which has increasingly been targeted during the coronavirus pandemic.

Officials stand in front of a massage parlor after a shooting, Tuesday, March 16, 2021, in Atlanta. Shootings at two massage parlors in Atlanta and one in the suburbs left multiple people dead, many of them women of Asian descent, authorities said. A 21-year-old man suspected in the shootings was taken into custody in southwest Georgia hours later after a manhunt, police said. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

ATLANTA - A white gunman was charged Wednesday with killing eight people at three Atlanta-area massage parlours in an attack that sent terror through the Asian American community, which has increasingly been targeted during the coronavirus pandemic.

A day after the shootings, investigators were trying to unravel what might have compelled 21-year-old Robert Aaron Long to commit the worst mass killing in the U.S. in almost two years.

This booking photo provided by the Crisp County Sheriff's Office shows Robert Aaron Long on Tuesday, March 16, 2021. Long was arrested in the killings of multiple people at three Atlanta-area massage parlors, most of them women of Asian descent, authorities said. (Crisp County Sheriff's Office via AP)

Long told police that Tuesdays attack was not racially motivated. He claimed to have a sex addiction, and authorities said he apparently lashed out at what he saw as sources of temptation. But those statements spurred outrage and widespread skepticism given the locations and that six of the eight victims were women of Asian descent.

The shootings appear to be at the intersection of gender-based violence, misogyny and xenophobia, said state Rep. Bee Nguyen, the first Vietnamese American to serve in the Georgia House and a frequent advocate for women and communities of colour.

Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms said that regardless of the shooters motivation, it is unacceptable, it is hateful and it has to stop.

A body is taken out of Gold Spa massage parlor after a shooting, late Tuesday, March 16, 2021, in Atlanta. Shootings at two massage parlors in Atlanta and one in the suburbs left multiple people dead, many of them women of Asian descent, authorities said. A 21-year-old man suspected in the shootings was taken into custody in southwest Georgia hours later after a manhunt, police said. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

Authorities said they didnt know if Long ever went to the massage parlours where the shootings occurred but that he was heading to Florida to attack some type of porn industry.

He apparently has an issue, what he considers a sex addiction, and sees these locations as something that allows him to go to these places, and its a temptation for him that he wanted to eliminate, Cherokee County sheriffs Capt. Jay Baker told reporters.

Baker drew criticism for saying Long had a really bad day" and this is what he did." A Facebook page appearing to belong to Baker promoted a T-shirt with racist language about China and the coronavirus last year.

Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms speaks about the arrest of Robert Aaron Long during a press conference at the Atlanta Police Department headquarters in Atlanta, Wednesday, March 17, 2021. Long is accused of killing multiple people, most of whom were of Asian descent, at massage parlors in the Atlanta area. (Alyssa Pointer/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)

The Facebook account featured numerous photos of Baker going back months, including one of him in uniform outside the sheriffs office. The account was deleted Wednesday night, and Baker did not immediately respond to voicemails and an email seeking comment. The sheriffs office also did not respond to a message.

Meanwhile, Sheriff Frank Reynolds said it was too early to tell if the attack was racially motivated  but the indicators right now are it may not be.

The Atlanta mayor said police have not been to the massage parlours in her city beyond a minor potential theft.

Nico Straughan, 21, poses for a photo on Wednesday, March 17, 2021, outside his family's gun shop in Woodstock, Ga. Straughan said he went to high school with shooting suspect, Robert Aaron Long, and described Long as "super nice, super Christian" and "very quiet." He said Long walked around high school with a Bible. (AP Photo/Sudhin S. Thanawala)

We certainly will not begin to blame victims, Bottoms said.

The attack was the sixth mass killing this year in the U.S., and the deadliest since the August 2019 Dayton, Ohio, shooting that left nine people dead, according to a database compiled by The Associated Press, USA Today and Northeastern University.

It follows a lull in mass killings during the pandemic in 2020, which had the smallest number of such attacks in more than a decade, according to the database, which tracks mass killings defined as four or more dead, not including the shooter.

Mallory Rahman and her daughter Zara Rahman, 4, who live nearby, pause after bringing flowers to the Gold Spa massage parlor in Atlanta, Wednesday afternoon, March 17, 2021, the day after eight people were killed at three massage spas in the Atlanta area. Authorities have arrested 21-year-old Robert Aaron Long in the shootings at massage parlors in Atlanta and one in Cherokee County. (AP Photo/Ben Gray)

The killings horrified the Asian American community, which saw the shootings as an attack on them, given a recent wave of assaults that coincided with the spread of the coronavirus across the United States. The virus was first identified in China, and then-President Donald Trump and others have used racially charged terms to describe it.

The attacks began when five people were shot at Youngs Asian Massage Parlor near Woodstock, about 30 miles (50 kilometres) north of Atlanta, authorities said. Four died: 33-year-old Delaina Ashley Yaun, 54-year-old Paul Andre Michels, 44-year-old Daoyou Feng and 49-year-old Xiaojie Tan, who owned the business.

Yaun and her husband came to the spa on a date, her mother, Margaret Rushing, told WAGA-TV. Yaun leaves behind a 13-year-old son and 8-month-old daughter.

An image of Robert Aaron Long is displayed near a press release provided by the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office during a press conference at the Atlanta Police Department headquarters in Atlanta, Wednesday, March 17, 2021. Long is accused of killing multiple people, most of whom were of Asian descent, at massage parlors in the Atlanta area. (Alyssa Pointer/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)

Her half-sister, Dana Toole, said Yauns husband locked himself in a room and wasnt injured.

Hes taking it hard, Toole said. He was there. He heard the gunshots and everything. You cant escape that when youre in a room and gunshots are flying  what do you do?

The manager of a boutique next door said her husband watched surveillance video after the shooting and the suspect was sitting in his car for as long as an hour before going inside.

Jesus Estrella, of Kennesaw, prays in silence at Youngs Asian Massage parlor where four people were killed, Wednesday, March 17, 2021, in Acworth, Ga. Estrella, who said he was of Asian & Hispanic decent, said " I felt like I had to come and support the community." A white gunman was charged Wednesday with killing eight people at three Atlanta-area massage parlors on Tuesday in an attack that sent terror through the Asian American community thats increasingly been targeted during the coronavirus pandemic. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)

They heard screaming and women running from the business, said Rita Barron, manager of Gabbys Boutique.

The same car was then spotted about 30 miles (48 kilometres) away in Atlanta, where a call came in about a robbery at Gold Spa and three women were shot to death. Another woman was fatally shot at the Aromatherapy Spa across the street.

Long was arrested hours later by Crisp County deputies and state troopers. He refused to stop on a highway and officers bumped the back of his car, causing him to crash, Sheriff Billy Hancock said.

After dropping off flowers Jesus Estrella, left, and Shelby S., right, stand in support of the Asian and Hispanic community outside Youngs Asian Massage parlor where four people were killed, Wednesday, March 17, 2021, in Acworth, Ga. A white gunman was charged Wednesday with killing eight people at three Atlanta-area massage parlors in an attack on Tuesday that sent terror through the Asian American community thats increasingly been targeted during the coronavirus pandemic. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)

Officers found Long thanks to help from his parents, who recognized him from surveillance footage posted by authorities and gave investigators his cellphone information, which they used to track him, said Reynolds, the Cherokee County sheriff.

Theyre very distraught, and they were very helpful in this apprehension, he said.

President Joe Biden called the attack very, very troublesome."

We dont yet know the motive, but what we do know is that the Asian-American community is feeling enormous pain tonight. The recent attacks against the community are un-American. They must stop," Biden tweeted Wednesday.

Vice-President Kamala Harris, the first Black and South Asian woman in that office, expressed support to the Asian American community, saying, We stand with you and understand how this has frightened and shocked and outraged all people.

Over the past year, thousands of incidents of abuse have been reported to an anti-hate group that tracks incidents against Asian Americans, and hate crimes in general are at the highest level in more than a decade.

While the details of the shootings are still emerging, the broader context cannot be ignored, Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Atlanta said in a statement. The shootings happened under the trauma of increasing violence against Asian Americans nationwide, fueled by white supremacy and systemic racism.

Nico Straughan met Long when he moved to the area in seventh grade, saying Long brought a Bible to school every day and was super nice, super Christian, very quiet.

I dont know what turn of heart he might have had, but he went from one of the nicest kids I ever knew in high school to being on the news, Straughan said. I mean, all my friends, we were flabbergasted.

The American Psychiatric Association does not recognize sex addiction in its main reference guide for mental disorders. While some people struggle to control their sexual behaviours, its often linked to other recognized disorders or moral views about sexuality, said David Ley, clinical psychologist and author of The Myth of Sex Addiction.

These sexual behaviours getting this label are a symptom, not a cause, Ley said.

Associated Press writers Kim Tong-hyung in Seoul; Colleen Long and Zeke Miller in Washington; Sudhin Thanawala in Woodstock, Georgia; Michael Warren, Jeff Amy, Ben Nadler and R.J. Rico in Atlanta, Jeff Martin in Marietta, Georgia; Anila Yoganathan in Cherokee County, Georgia; and Lindsay Whitehurst in Salt Lake City contributed to this story.
Sarah Crump and her field partner maneuver their makeshift raft across a lake on Baffin Island. Credit: Zach Montes Orijin Media

Imagine not a white, but a green Arctic, with woody shrubs as far north as the Canadian coast of the Arctic Ocean. This is what the northernmost region of North America looked like about 125,000 years ago, during the last interglacial period, finds new research from the University of Colorado Boulder.

Researchers analyzed plant DNA more than 100,000 years old retrieved from lake sediment in the Arctic (the oldest DNA in lake sediment analyzed in a publication to date) and found evidence of a shrub native to northern Canadian ecosystems 250 miles (400 km) farther north than its current range.

As the Arctic warms much faster than everywhere else on the planet in response to climate change, the findings, published this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, may not only be a glimpse of the past but a snapshot of our potential future.

"We have this really rare view into a particular warm period in the past that was arguably the most recent time that it was warmer than present in the Arctic. That makes it a really useful analogue for what we might expect in the future," said Sarah Crump, who conducted the work as a Ph.D. student in geological sciences and then a postdoctoral researcher with the Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research (INSTAAR).

To gain this glimpse back in time, the researchers not only analyzed DNA samples, they first had to journey to a remote region of the Arctic by ATV and snowmobile to gather them and bring them back.

Dwarf birch is a key species of the low Arctic tundra, where slightly taller shrubs (reaching a person's knees) can grow in an otherwise cold and inhospitable environment. But dwarf birch doesn't currently survive past the southern part of Baffin Island in the Canadian Arctic. Yet researchers found DNA of this plant in the ancient lake sediment showing it used to grow much farther north.

"It's a pretty significant difference from the distribution of tundra plants today," said Crump, currently a postdoctoral fellow in the Paleogenomics Lab at the University of California Santa Cruz.

While there are many potential ecological effects of the dwarf birch creeping farther north, Crump and her colleagues examined the climate feedbacks related to these shrubs covering more of the Arctic. Many climate models don't include these kinds of changes in vegetation, yet these taller shrubs can stick out above snow in the spring and fall, making the Earth's surface dark green instead of whitecausing it to absorb more heat from the sun.

"It's a temperature feedback similar to sea ice loss," said Crump.

During the last interglacial period, between 116,000 and 125,000 years ago, these plants had thousands of years to adjust and move in response to warmer temperatures. With today's rapid rate of warming, the vegetation is likely not keeping pace, but that doesn't mean it won't play an important role in impacting everything from thawing permafrost to melting glaciers and sea level rise.

"As we think about how landscapes will equilibrate to current warming, it's really important that we account for how these plant ranges are going to change," said Crump.

As the Arctic could easily see an increase of 9 degrees Fahrenheit (5 degrees Celsius) above pre-industrial levels by 2100, the same temperature it was in the last interglacial period, these findings can help us better understand how our landscapes might change as the Arctic is on track to again reach these ancient temperatures by the end of the century.

The scientists take sediment cores from the lake bottom. Credit: Zach Montes Orijin Media

Mud as a microscope

To get the ancient DNA they wanted, the researchers couldn't look to the ocean or to the landthey had to look in a lake.

Baffin Island is located on the northeastern side of Arctic Canada, kitty-corner to Greenland, in the territory of Nunavut and the lands of the Qikiqtaani Inuit. It's the largest island in Canada and the fifth-largest island in the world, with a mountain range that runs along its northeastern edge. But these scientists were interested in a small lake, past the mountains and near the coast.

Above the Arctic Circle, the area around this lake is typical of a high Arctic tundra, with average annual temperatures below 15 F (?9.5 C). In this inhospitable climate, soil is thin and not much of anything grows.

But DNA stored in the lake beds below tells a much different story.

To reach this valuable resource, Crump and her fellow researchers carefully balanced on cheap inflatable boats in the summerthe only vessels light enough to carry with themand watched out for polar bears from the lake ice in winter. They pierced the thick mud up to 30 feet (10 meters) below its surface with long, cylindrical pipes, hammering them deep into the sediment.

The goal of this precarious feat? To carefully withdraw a vertical history of ancient plant material to then travel back out with and take back to the lab.

While some of the mud was analyzed at a state-of-the-art organic geochemistry lab in the Sustainability, Energy and Environment Community (SEEC) at CU Boulder, it also needed to reach a special lab dedicated to decoding ancient DNA, at Curtin University in Perth.

To share their secrets, these mud cores had to travel halfway across the world from the Arctic to Australia.

A local snapshot

Once in the lab, the scientists had to suit up like astronauts and examine the mud in an ultra-clean space to ensure that their own DNA didn't contaminate that of any of their hard-earned samples.

One of the sediment cores up close. Credit: Zach Montes Orijin Media

It was a race against the clock.

"Your best shot is getting fresh mud," said Crump. "Once it's out of the lake, the DNA is going to start to degrade."

This is why older lake bed samples in cold storage don't quite do the trick.

While other researchers have also collected and analyzed much older DNA samples from permafrost in the Arctic (which acts like a natural freezer underground), lake sediments are kept cool, but not frozen. With fresher mud and more intact DNA, scientists can get a clearer and more detailed picture of the vegetation which once grew in that immediate area.

Reconstructing historic vegetation has most commonly been done using fossil pollen records, which preserve well in sediment. But pollen is prone to only showing the big picture, as it is easily blown about by the wind and doesn't stay in one place.

The new technique used by Crump and her colleagues allowed them to extract plant DNA directly from the sediment, sequence the DNA and infer what plant species were living there at the time. Instead of a regional picture, sedimentary DNA analysis gives researchers a local snapshot of the plant species living there at the time.

Now that they have shown it's possible to extract DNA that's over 100,000 years old, future possibilities abound.

"This tool is going to be really useful on these longer timescales," said Crump.

This research has also planted the seed to study more than just plants. In the DNA samples from their lake sediment, there are signals from a whole range of organisms that lived in and around the lake.

"We're just starting to scratch the surface of what we're able to see in these past ecosystems," said Crump. "We can see the past presence of everything from microbes to mammals, and we can start to get much broader pictures of how past ecosystems looked and how they functioned."

Explore further Digging in the Arctic mud for answers to climate change

More information: Sarah E. Crump et al, Ancient plant DNA reveals High Arctic greening during the Last Interglacial, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2021). Journal information: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Sarah E. Crump et al, Ancient plant DNA reveals High Arctic greening during the Last Interglacial,(2021). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2019069118
Brattleboro, VT (05301)

Today

Rain showers this evening with overcast skies overnight. Low 54F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 70%..

Tonight

Rain showers this evening with overcast skies overnight. Low 54F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 70%.
Tinder will soon offer a way for users to run background checks on people theyve swiped right on.

The dating app announced Monday in a press release that it has made a significant contribution to Garbo, a nonprofit organization that runs these checks. Due to this contribution, Tinder users will soon be able to access the information provided by Garbo for themselves.

Todays justice system is too focused on crimes against society and property that violent perpetrators are often not convicted, says Garbos website. This enables them to continue their abuse with little to no repercussions or accountability for their actions.

Founded in 2018, Garbo provides people with low-cost background checks via a collection of public records and reports of arrests, convictions, restraining orders, and other crimes that may indicate violence or abuse.

For far too long, women and marginalized groups in all corners of the world have faced many barriers to resources and safety, said Head of Safety and Social Advocacy of Tinders parent company, Match Group, Tracey Breeden. We recognize corporations can play a key role in helping remove those barriers with technology and true collaboration rooted in action.

Match Group intends to test and build out Garbos capabilities on Tinder in the upcoming months. Once Garbos technology is fully integrated with Tinder later in the year, Match Group confirmed it intends to incorporate the background checks within its other brands.

Garbo is a tool to address the inequities and barriers to access that people have traditionally had with background checks, said Natalie Ludaway, a member of MCAC. Match Groups partnership with Garbo is a real, meaningful step towards giving people access to information that can help make a real difference in their safety decisions.
TROY, Mich., March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Meritor, Inc. (NYSE: MTOR) today announced it has begun supplying components to meet the recent order of M917A3 Heavy Dump Truck (HDT) units for the United States Army, announced on March 1, 2021.

As the exclusive provider of drivetrain components on the HDT, the vehicle will be equipped with the following Meritor Defense products:

MX-810 front axle with weight rating up to 24,000 pounds, offering maneuverability and excellent ground clearance

MTC-3220-FV high-torque transfer case that is compact and rugged for ease of maintenance and serviceability while remaining durable enough for the demands of military applications

ProTec 5000 Series beam axles, engineered to military specifications with gross axle weight rating (GAWR) up to 30,000 pounds per axle

Permalube RPL Series drivelines, designed for gear-fast/run-slow drivetrains and high-torque applications, and permanently lubricated and sealed for life to reduce maintenance compared to conventional drivelines

EX+ air-disc brakes in the front and 16.5 x 7-inch Q+ drum brakes in the rear

"This agreement gives us the opportunity to proudly support the U.S. Army," said David Damian, senior director of Defense for Meritor. "We are privileged to have supplied our nation's warfighters with proven drivetrain solutions for more than 100 years."

About Meritor

Meritor, Inc. is a leading global supplier of drivetrain, mobility, braking, aftermarket and electric powertrain solutions for commercial vehicle and industrial markets. With more than a 110-year legacy of providing innovative products that offer superior performance, efficiency and reliability, the company serves commercial truck, trailer, off-highway, defense, specialty and aftermarket customers around the world. Meritor is based in Troy, Michigan, United States, and is made up of more than 8,600 diverse employees who apply their knowledge and skills in manufacturing facilities, engineering centers, joint ventures, distribution centers and global offices in 19 countries. Meritor common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol MTOR. For important information, visit the company's website at www.meritor.com.

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London: Europe has threatened to seize AstraZeneca factories and strip the pharmaceutical giant of its intellectual property rights in a fresh escalation of the bitter row over coronavirus vaccine exports.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen refused to rule out the dramatic interventions on Wednesday, warning all options are on the table to boost the number of doses available to the continents 450 million citizens.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Credit:Bloomberg

We are in the crisis of the century, she said.

Im not ruling out anything for now because we have to make sure that Europeans are vaccinated as soon as possible.
New Delhi: With the summer upon us, if you are planning to buy Air Conditioner, refrigerator, cooler, TV, this is the right time to do so, because the companies are going to increase the prices of several appliances from April 1.

Due to the rise in the prices of raw materials, companies will have to increase the prices of the above mentioned electronic items. Almost all the companies have decided to increase the price of the electronic products from April. This is the second increase in the price of appliances in 2021. In January, many companies increased the price of appliances by 20%. Companies increased the prices of electronic items due to rise in Input cost, which meant hike in raw material prices. The impact of decreasing raw material imports from China has also weighed upon appliance prices in India.

Open-cell panels have become expensive by 35 percent in the global market in a month. This would lead to price hike in brands such as Panasonic, Haier and Thomson. In the coming month, the price of television may increase between Rs 2,000 to Rs 3,000. TV panel (open cell) prices are continuously increasing and have more than doubled due to lack of supplies and other reasons. Meanwhile, TV prices are continuously increasing due to increase in custom duty, higher input cost due to materials like expensive copper, aluminum, steel and increase in sea-air transport fares.

Companies making AC are planning to increase the price by 4-6 percent. Thus, the price of AC per unit can increase between Rs 1500 and Rs 2000. Copper prices have reached record highs, for which the manufacturing cost of consumer goods like AC, fridge, cooler, fan has increased. In such a situation, their prices will bounce further in days to come.

If don't you want spend more on these items, it is a good period to buy the products now. Several companies are aso clearing the previous stock before by offering a host of deals or offers in March to increase the consumer base. Several brands are offering 55 inch LED is in Rs 37000 range on online shopping platform. Kitchen brands Hafele and Kaff are also offering discounts of up to 40 percent. Panasonic is also giving big offers to customers with attractive finance schemes. LG is also offering discounts in different product range.

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Lawmakers are far more likely to recommend White students to attend the military's service academies than minorities, a report released Wednesday found.

According to the study from the Connecticut Veterans Legal Center's Veterans Inclusion Project, members of Congress have nominated White students disproportionately more than Black, Hispanic or Asian and Pacific Islander students.

"As a result, underrepresented students across the nation do not have equitable access to the service academies, and are denied the lifelong opportunities that an appointment can provide," the report states.

Read Next: A Lawmaker Didn't Know Where Guam Is, So Its National Guard Went to Visit Her Office

The disparity in nominations has long-reaching consequences -- affecting not just the academies' student bodies, but the makeup of the military's officer ranks and leadership. The military often chooses academy graduates for leadership positions, and many of the services' top-ranking officers, such as chiefs of staff, earned their commissions there.

The revelations come as the military is increasingly focusing on racial diversity in its ranks and trying to remove barriers that unfairly hinder minority troops' opportunities for advancement.

The center also found a wide gender disparity in a 2019 study, which showed members of Congress had nominated more than three times as many men to attend service academies as women.

Anyone who wants to attend the Army's U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York; the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland; or the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado, must first get an official nomination. Nominations can come from sources including the president, vice president, military service secretaries, or the academies' superintendents. But about 60% to 70% of students at the academies were nominated by their local senators or representatives, the report states.

The military academy system limits how many cadets or midshipmen can be nominated by an individual lawmaker. Each lawmaker can have up to five "admits" to each academy, for a total of 15 at any given time. When a slot opens up through an admit's graduation or withdrawal, that lawmaker can nominate up to 10 new candidates to fill the vacancy. Typically, the report said, a lawmaker sees about one vacancy open up each year at each academy, making these nominations particularly prized.

The application process usually starts during a high school student's junior year, when they begin submitting a series of applications for a nomination to attend an academy. But the nomination process and requirements vary widely from one lawmaker's office to another. Generally, staff members review applications and choose candidates to interview. Assessments often evaluate factors such as character, scholarship, leadership, physical aptitude, medical fitness and motivation, the report said.

Lawmakers usually play little direct role in the evaluation process, often delegating the task to staff or volunteers. Once the candidates have been selected, the lawmakers submit their slate of nominees to the academies to select from, the report said.

Some of the racial disparities could be attributed to the demographics of the lawmakers' districts, the report said -- but not all. The center's research found that, even taking demographics into account, White students are greatly overrepresented.

The problems don't end when minority students are admitted to the academy, the report found; they often face discriminatory treatment during their service.

Even though minority troops have proudly served since the Revolutionary War, racial representation has historically been lacking at the three academies, the report states. The Naval Academy didn't graduate a Black student until 1949; the Air Force Academy didn't do so until 1963. The first Black cadet enrolled at West Point in 1870, the report said, but entire decades passed during which no Black cadets graduated there.

Wesley Brown, the first Black midshipman to graduate from the Naval Academy, received the silent treatment from many fellow mids. He received so many discriminatory demerits he was nearly dismissed, but Rep. Adam Clayton Powell, who nominated him, stepped in.

The center obtained records of lawmakers' nominations for the three academies going back to 1994 in a series of Freedom of Information Act requests. Researchers then analyzed the nominations of currently serving members of the 117th Congress who had more than 10 nominations -- 81 senators, 285 representatives and five delegates.

The results were stark. Only 6% of total nominations went to Black students; 8% went to Hispanic students.

Of those 371 lawmakers, 219 granted less than 5% of their nominations to Black students. And 182 lawmakers gave less than 5% of their nominations to Hispanic students.

The center also found 49 lawmakers did not nominate a single Black student during the 25 years studied; 31 did not nominate any Hispanic students.

Even though White people make up 54% of the U.S. population aged 18 to 24, the center found that White students received 74% of academy nominations.

Democrats were more likely to nominate minority students, according to the center. Between 2009 and 2019, House Democrats gave 32% of their nominations to minority students, versus 15% for House Republicans. On the Senate side, Democrats gave 20% of their nominations to minority students vs. Republicans' 13%.

However, both Democrats and Republicans under-nominated young minority students compared to the demographics of their districts.

The center recommended that the Defense Department publish data annually, for each member of Congress, showing how many candidates members nominated to each service academy, broken out by race, ethnicity and gender.

The military also should consider race, ethnicity and gender when awarding its discretionary nominations and appointing qualified alternates, the center advised. It added that the military should investigate how congressional nominations are distributed and study how that affects academies' diversity and inclusion initiatives.

The center also advised Congress to make sure the military properly collects and reports nominees' demographic data and to order it to award supplementary nominations to lawmakers who equitably nominate students from underrepresented groups.

And it recommended that individual lawmakers should do more to track the racial, ethnic and gender diversity of applicants; build relationships with high school and middle school counselors to find promising minority students; and focus on improving diversity in their outreach efforts and interview processes.

-- Stephen Losey can be reached at stephen.losey@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @StephenLosey.

Related: The Military Is Resuming the Diversity Training That Trump Banned
Uttam said it was shocking the state government has ignored the matter for four years.  DC file photo

Hyderabad: Congress state president Uttam Kumar Reddy has accused the TRS government of failure in getting a Sainik School in Telangana even as the defence ministry has accorded "in-principle" approval and signed an MoU on March 2, 2017 for such a facility in Warangal district.

Uttam said it was shocking the state government has ignored the matter for four years. The delay in setting up a Sainik School in Telangana even after seven years of the state formation is a major failure on the part of the TRS government, he said.

"As an alumni of the National Defence Academy (NDA) and a former military officer, I urge the TRS government to take the matter seriously and help thousands of young men and women from the state join a career in the Indian military. This would put Warangal on the map of India and create direct and indirect employment to many youths," he said.

The Congress leader said Sainik Schools in India are the feeder lines for the National Defence Academy, Pune, the main military training academy for officers of Indian army, navy and air force. Sainik Schools are financed by the defence ministry and are excellent schools that charge only nominal fees from students, he said.

The TPCC chief said there are 33 Sainik Schools in various states in which 16,176 students are studying at very nominal cost. The only state with no Sainik School is Telangana, he said.

He added: "In response to my question in Lok Sabha, the defence minister gave a written reply stating that the ministry has accorded "in-principle" approval and signed the MoU in 2017 for opening a Sainik School at Warangal district. Thereafter, there has been no response from the state government till date."
As of midnight, Tuesday March 15, the HPSC has been notified of 557 confirmed cases of COVID-19. There is now a total of 228,215** confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ireland. Of the cases listed today, 12 were in Limerick. The 5-Day Moving Average of New Cases is now at 9 for Limerick, while the 14-day incidence rate per 100,000 population 128.3. The national average is at 148.

Of the cases notified today:

262 are men / 291 are women

74% are under 45 years of age

The median age is 29 years old

229 in Dublin, 58 in Kildare, 34 in Donegal, 31 in Meath, 24 in Tipperary and the remaining 181 cases are spread across all other counties. ***



As of 8am today, 350 COVID-19 patients are hospitalised, of which 83 are in ICU. 19 additional hospitalisations in the past 24 hours.

The Health Protection Surveillance Centre has today been notified of 17 additional deaths related to COVID-19.

9 deaths occurred in March, 4 in February, and 4 occurred in January or earlier.

The median age of those who died was 81 years and the age range was 51  94 years.

There has been a total of 4,566* COVID-19 related deaths in Ireland.

As of March 14th, 617,050 doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in Ireland:

452,554 people have received their first dose

164,496 people have received their second dose



The COVID-19 Dashboard provides up-to-date information on the key indicators of COVID-19 in the community including daily data on Irelands COVID-19 Vaccination Programme.
Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism.
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British patients are cancelling appointments for their coronavirus vaccine because the EU's mass revolt against AstraZeneca's jab over unproven blood clot fears has scared them off, it was claimed today.

Doctors involved in the UK's mammoth roll-out say Brits due their second dose have called with concerns about the vaccine, despite the EU's own drug regulator, as well as the UK's and the World Health Organization all insisting it is safe.

One GP claimed up to 10 per cent of people scheduled for appointments were either not showing up, asking to cancel or double-checking which vaccine they were getting before turning up.

NHS doctor and volunteer Dr Karan Raj claimed he was 'inundated' with people saying they were worried about it and Dr Mohan Sekeram, a GP in South London, said the international row has led to patients refusing the vaccine.

It comes as the former chief of Britain's vaccine regulator the MHRA, Sir Kent Woods, said European officials had 'dented public confidence' with their 'disorderly' reaction to the issue, and he described attempts to link the jab to clots as 'a big jump'.

And people will die of Covid because of the delays in Europe and the damage being done to public trust, warned Professor Jeremy Browne, a lung doctor and member of the JCVI, which drew up the UK's vaccine programme.

Doctors and officials warn it is far more dangerous for people to not get vaccinated and even the EMA has urged people to keep taking the vaccine because blood clots don't appear to be any more common than usual.

Officials and scientists fear the knee-jerk reactions from more than a dozen countries in Europe, which is staring down the barrel of a third wave because of its own haphazard vaccination drive, risk derailing Britain's attempts to vaccinate its way out of lockdown if people start to back out of getting their jabs.

Britons on the street yesterday claimed the row hadn't put them off, calling it 'scare-mongering' and saying 'the chances of getting hit by a bus are probably higher'  but others said it had made them nervous about getting the jab or added to concerns they already had about its safety.

Matt Hancock today urged people to keep getting AstraZeneca's vaccine and said Britain must 'keep calm and carry on jabbing' if it wants to get life back to normal.

The Health Secretary is expected to reassure the public at a Downing Street press conference scheduled for 5pm tonight. He is also expected to brag about the vaccine roll-out steaming ahead, with everyone over the age of 50 in England now being invited for their appointment.

It came as Dominic Cummings today launched a devastating attack on Mr Hancock, insisting the vaccine drive was only a success because he and science chief Patrick Valance insisted he was stripped of control. In an extraordinary assault, the maverick former No10 chief said the Department of Health was a 'smoking ruin' last spring after disasters over PPE procurement and therapeutics.

Dr Karan Raj, a surgeon and lecturer at Imperial College London (left), said he has been 'inundated' with comments on TikTok from people who are worried about the vaccine. But David Sharp, 71 (centre), a retired chef from Hackney, and Amanda Emin, 35 (right), a customer support worker from Leytonstone, said they were not worried about the news

More than a dozen countries in Europe have stopped using AstraZeneca's vaccine amid unproven concerns it is linked to blood clots

Dr Raj, who is an NHS surgeon and Imperial College London lecturer, said the hysteria in the EU was having a knock-on effect in the UK, particularly among younger people.

He is part of of a team of volunteers trying to educate people about vaccine lies and myths online and said he felt compelled to create a video after being contacted by hundreds of people worried about getting the jab.

Dr Raj said: 'I have been inundated in comments on my videos about people scared about the AstraZeneca vaccine and blood clots and worried about receiving first and second doses.

'They've seen the news from Europe about different countries suspending their vaccination and that has made them worried with some saying they won't get a jab or will wait for a Pfizer one.

'It's one thing to have some sort of conspiracy that goes online and that becomes a vaccine myth which is worrying, but this is at a governmental, official level. Naturally people listen to this and are led more easily by these concerns because it's at official level.

'But the UK has delivered more of these jabs than the rest of Europe put together and hasn't seen the concerns that have been highlighted in Europe so I thought it was the opportune moment to put out a video to emphasise that.'

FORMER REGULATOR CHIEF SLAMS 'DISORDER' IN EUROPE The former chief executive of the UK's MHRA drug regulator said what is happening in Europe is 'disorderly' and the connections being made were a 'big jump'. Sir Kent Woods told BBC Breakfast that the way Europe has dealt with the blood clot issue has put a 'dent in public confidence'. He said: 'I'm afraid there will have been a denting of public confidence because of this disorderly situation in Europe where individual countries have done different things for different reasons. 'The intention was that there should be a single safety review at the European Medicines Agency and that the member states would follow the advice. 'There was a press conference from the EMA yesterday afternoon in which the advice was repeated that the vaccine was considered to be safe and that countries should continue to use it.' Stopping vaccination with the AstraZeneca jab would put significantly more people at risk that continuing with immunisation while the alleged link is investigated, he said. Sir Kent added: 'The events that have been described are events that occur not infrequently in the general population, and to establish a link with vaccination is a big jump. 'The second point to remember is that the people who have been preferentially vaccinated are not simply the average population  they are older people and people with less good health histories, so you will expect these events to occur to some extent anyway. 'And the key challenge for the regulatory agencies is to establish whether the event rates which are being seen in vaccinated people is any higher than would occur in the population if they were not vaccinated.' Advertisement

GPs say they have been contacted by patients who are either worried about the vaccine, have questions about it, or don't want to have it any more.

Dr Mohammed Abbas Khaki, a doctor in London, told The Times his patients were 'worried' by the reports.

'They've already had one dose and they felt maybe that will be okay,' he said patients had told him in discussions. 'Or maybe they should switch to Pfizer-BioNTech and restart the whole process with Pfizer.'

Switching to the Pfizer vaccine is not expected to be allowed by the NHS because regulators have not yet tested whether the jabs can be mixed up in short succession.

And there aren't enough Pfizer doses to go around even if everybody wanted one, so the NHS doesn't let people choose which vaccine they have  speed is the number one priority and both are proven to be safe and effective.

Dr Sarah Jarvis told Times Radio that one in 10 of her patients were either 'just not showing up', phoning with concerns or asking before they left home whether they were going to be given the AstraZeneca jab.

Dr Mohan Sekeram, a GP in South London, said the international row has led to patients refusing the vaccine with concerns over blood clots.

He said surgery staff had been working hard to 'alleviate people's concerns and give them as much information as possible because there's a lot of misinformation out there.'

He added: 'We've had to explain to them that actually, there's no evidence around this and that the MHRA also holds the line there's no substantive evidence that the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine is causing blood clots in patients who have had the vaccine.'

Dr David Fox, a clinical director in Hastings, told doctors' news website Pulse that patients were turning up for their appointments but then refusing to have the AstraZeneca jab despite reassurance from doctors.

Dr Dave Triska, a GP in Surrey, said his local vaccination centre was empty this morning because people had failed to turn up for appointments amid mounting concern over the vaccines.

And Dr Rupa Joshi, in Wokingham, said patients had initially favoured the British-made jab but she was now worried how many people who had appointments would actually turn up. She added a neighbouring practice had quite a few no-shows already today.

The suspension follows reports of 37 incidents around Europe of people becoming ill with blood clots shortly after having the jab.

Officials from the World Health Organisation (WHO), the European Medicines Agency and UK regulators have advised countries to keep using the vaccine because there is no evidence that these incidents were linked to vaccine.

Health workers are afraid that Europe's row over the safety of the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine will have knock-on effects on people in Britain, and there are already reports of members of the public turning down the Oxford jab. Scientists and regulators in the UK, EU and World Health Organization insist it is safe to continue using (Pictured: A man receives a vaccine at a church in west London)

VACCINATION EXTENDS TO OVER-50s All over-50s in England are now eligible for the coronavirus vaccine, Matt Hancock confirmed today as the programme expands downwards from over-55s. The Health Secretary said he was 'delighted' the roll-out was being expanded to the final age group on the priority list. NHS boss Sir Simon Stevens added it was 'another milestone' reached in the race to beat the virus. NHS England's website for booking jab appointments now allows everyone 'aged 50 and over' to check-in. Once all 2.4million people in this age group  the last on No10's nine-point priority list  have been offered a dose, over-40s will be invited. Estimates suggest the roll-out could move onto that next stage before the end of March. The expansion comes exactly 100 days after Britain became the first country in the world to begin vaccinating the public against Covid. Maggie Keenan received her first dose on December 8 in Coventry. More than 24.8million Britons have already received their first dose of the Covid jab  and half of all adults are expected to be vaccinated by the end of the week. Advertisement

Experts say all the evidence suggests the cases have been coincidental, with the numbers of blood clots actually lower than in the general population. Germany raised concerns about a very specific clotting condition that can affect the brain, which it claims has happened unusually often, but it has still only had seven cases.

Professor Jeremy Brown, who sits on the Joint Committee on Vaccinations and Immunisations (JCVI), said the move by some EU members was 'not sensible' and 'not logical'.

'Many of these countries are going through a third wave, and by stopping using the vaccine they're actually literally causing more problems,' he told Good Morning Britain.

'By not using the vaccine, this is going to directly lead to an increased incidence of Covid infection and people will die as a consequence of these decisions.'

He added: 'There is the concern that what's happening in Europe might make people in the UK less confident in the AstraZeneca vaccine, unnecessarily so, because it's perfectly safe.'

The former chief executive of Britain's MHRA  the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency  Sir Kent Woods said that European countries have overreacted.

He said on BBC Breakfast: 'The intention was that there should be a single safety review at the European Medicines Agency and that the member states would follow the advice.

'There was a press conference from the EMA yesterday afternoon in which the advice was repeated that the vaccine was considered to be safe and that countries should continue to use it.'

He added: 'The vaccine has a very strong safety record, and [people] shouldn't hesitate to get the vaccine.

'The events that have been described are events that occur not infrequently in the general population, and to establish a link with vaccination is a big jump.

'The second point to remember is that the people who have been preferentially vaccinated are not simply the average population  they are older people and people with less good health histories, so you will expect these events to occur to some extent anyway.'

The UK has given 11 million doses of the AstraZeneca jab so far, with the number of blood clots reported after having the vaccine 'no greater than the number that would have occurred naturally in the vaccinated population'.

Matt Hancock, pictured leaving 10 Downing Street today, urged people to keep getting AstraZeneca's vaccine and said Britain must 'keep calm and carry on jabbing' if it wants to get life back to normal. The Health Secretary is expected to reassure the public at a Downing Street press conference scheduled for 5pm tonight

The Government is desperate to reassure people that the vaccine is safe and that it should continue to be used.

Business Secretary Kwasi Karteng said on BBC Breakfast this morning: 'The first thing I would like to say is that the jab is safe.

PEOPLE 'ARE DYING BECAUSE OF HOLD-UP' Professor Jeremy Brown, who sits on the Joint Committee on Vaccinations and Immunisations (JCVI), said the decisions of European countries suspending the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine were 'not sensible' and 'not logical'. 'Many of these countries are going through a third wave, and by stopping using the vaccine they're actually causing more problems,' he told Good Morning Britain. 'By not using the vaccine, this is going to directly lead to an increased incidence of Covid infection and people will die as a consequence of these decisions.' He added: 'There is the concern that what's happening in Europe might make people in the UK less confident in the AstraZeneca vaccine, unnecessarily so, because it's perfectly safe.' The use of the vaccine has been stopped in Bulgaria, Cyprus, Denmark, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden. Advertisement

'We've got an extremely effective rollout programme  I think by the end of the week 50 per cent of the British adult population will have been vaccinated  and if people do get the call, I think they should take the jab.

'And we are looking at the effects of the vaccine rollout day by day. Hospitalisation rates have fallen, the death rate thankfully from the disease has fallen considerably and incidence of people catching Covid has also fallen  the R rate is well below 1.0 and I think it has been a very effective programme.'

Despite doctors and officials worrying that people will turn down the vaccine because of the blood clot row, members of the public have been more optimistic.

David Sharp, 71, a retired chef from Hackney, who recently had the jab, said: 'It went brilliantly. I had no concerns going into it whatsoever.

'I couldn't care less where I got it from. You don't get a choice. If they've done all their research, then that's fine with me.'

James Danby, 58, a retired locksmith from Stratford, who had the jab yesterday, said: 'It went really well. I got here, I was early, and then it was done and dusted in 12 minutes.

'I haven't really paid much attention to the press around it. I think it's all a bit scare-mongering too much to be honest. I think Europe is being a bit overly cautious. I trust our National Health Service and I think our scientists are the best in the world.'

Amanda Emin, 35, a customer support worker from Leytonstone, east London received the Oxford-AstraZeneca jab yesterday.

James Danby, 58, a retired locksmith from Stratford, said the European decisions were 'scare-mongering'

Ms Emin, who has fibromyalgia, said she was nervous about getting the jab at first, but has since been convinced.

She said: 'A few months ago I was really apprehensive about the vaccine. It was rolled out so soon. I didn't know in five or 10 years time what the repercussions could be.

'Several of my friends and my friends' parents have been getting it, and I just thought what are the chances? The chances of getting hit by a bus in the street are probably higher.'

But some were more apprehensive about the risk, saying this had added to old concerns or brought up new ones.

Muriel Tattersall, 75, from Bristol, admitted she was a little more hesitant about having her Astra-Zeneca vaccine.

She said: 'I had my first dose on February 15 - but I initially wasn't going to take it up when I first got the letter. It took me quite a while to actually book it - I was hesitant at first.

'I have been a bit bothered by what I've seen on the news about it. I don't particularly want to go back and have my second dose.

'I think if there is any measure of hesitation over the safety of it, then maybe it's just as well to suspend it. These vaccines are quite new and have been done quite quickly.

'I didn't have any side effects from my first dose, apart from a bit of stiffness in my joints. I don't have a date for my second dose yet, and I don't know whether I will book it. But I suppose since I have had the first then I might as well and I'll be fine.'

Muriel Tattersall, 75, from Bristol, admitted she was a little more hesitant about having her Astra-Zeneca vaccine amid the row; Ashley Woodhouse, 35, from Leeds, said he did not want to get the vaccine and this had strengthened his resolve

Kat Blazeka, 22, from Leeds, admitted she is concerned about getting the Oxford vaccine but still intends to get it, while Linda Sweeney, 60 and also from Leeds, said she would be 'reluctant' now but would probably still get the jab

Ashley Woodhouse, an unemployed 35-year-old, from Leeds, was not going to get the vaccine prior to the news about the blood clots and has had his belief confirmed even more.

'There is NO indication AstraZeneca jab caused blood clots', EU drug regulator insists EU regulators yesterday shot down the blood clot fears which have prompted 14 European countries to call a halt to AstraZeneca jabs, saying there is no evidence the vaccine causes dangerous side-effects. The European Medicines Agency said it was 'firmly convinced' that injections with the AstraZeneca shot should continue, joining the WHO and the UK government in a full-throated defence of the vaccine amid fury at EU nations including France and Germany for suspending the jabs. EMA safety experts say a 'very small number of people' have come down with blood disorders but there is 'no indication' that these were caused by the jab, which 11million people have already had in the UK. 'We are still firmly convinced that the benefits of the AstraZeneca vaccine in preventing Covid-19 with its associated risk of hospitalisation and death outweigh the risk of these side effects,' said EMA chief Emer Cooke. Countries including France will now face pressure to resume AstraZeneca jabs after the EMA delivered its verdict and reiterated that the number of blood clots 'seems not to be higher than that seen in the general population'. Italy earlier admitted that its suspension of AstraZeneca jabs was a 'political' move while French doctors accused Emmanuel Macron of 'giving in to panic' and a German lawmaker said the ban could cause a 'catastrophe'. Germany sought to justify its move by saying that one particular kind of blood clot, a 'sinus vein thrombosis', had occurred seven times among the 1.6million people vaccinated when only around one case would be expected. By contrast, only four such cases have been identified in the UK out of 11million doses administered. Advertisement

He said: 'Hearing about people suffering from blood clots after getting their vaccines makes me not want to get one even more. I didn't want one anyway but this news just adds to that.

'I suffer from MS and I'm worried about putting anything into my body which I don't know the effects of. I don't think we know enough about the vaccinations to be offering them to anyone and everyone.

'Maybe this blood clot thing will help people see that. I don't trust the jab and I won't be getting it even if it's offered.'

And Linda Sweeney, a 60-year-old gran-of-nine from Leeds, admitted the news of the potential blood clots has made her worried about receiving the Oxford vaccine.

She said: 'I have my jab tomorrow and, after seeing the news about some people getting blood clots, I'm very worried about it. I don't know which jab I'm getting until I arrive at the surgery, so I'm quite concerned they'll try and give me the Oxford one.

'After hearing how some people have reacted I don't really want it but what can I do? I won't get a choice in the matter. If it does turn out to be the Oxford one I think I'll reluctantly take it.

'I don't feel very comfortable about it but what if I don't take the vaccine then get Covid? That would be terrible.'

Kat Blazeka, 22, from Leeds, admitted she is concerned about getting the Oxford vaccine but still intends to get it.

She said: 'I'm due to get the vaccine today [Tuesday] and I'm not sure which one it will be yet so I'm a bit anxious.

'The news today has left me feeling particularly apprehensive. I'm young but I do have a weak immune system because I have asthma, so there is a real concern about after-effects.

'Despite that, I still intend to get the jab today, even if it is the Oxford one.'

Professor Martin Marshall, Chair of the Royal College of GPs, moved to reassure patients that the vaccine was safe.

He said: 'Over 24 million people in the UK have now been vaccinated, many of whom have successfully received the Astra Zeneca vaccine with no side effects. Where patients have reported side effects such as flu-like symptoms and muscle aches, these have been minor and transient.

'The public should be reassured that whilst these new vaccines were developed and approved at speed, no corners were cut and patient safety has been, and remains, paramount.'

Government ministers are also desperate to encourage people to keep accepting the AstraZeneca vaccine.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said in an op-ed in The Sun: 'We know getting the jab is the best way to protect ourselves and the people around us. It is also our way out of this pandemic.'

He added: 'Blood clots can occur naturally and are not uncommon. More than 11million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine have now been administered across the UK and, in fact, the reported cases among the people vaccinated is lower than what would be expected to happen naturally in the general population...

'Vaccines are the way out of this pandemic and the most important thing we can do right now is keep calm and carry on jabbing.'

HOW BADLY WOULD UK'S VACCINE DRIVE SUFFER IF THE EU BLOCKED EXPORTS? If the European Union blocked all exports of coronavirus vaccines made on its turf, Britain could remain self-sufficient and still get jabs to the entire population. However, it could come under pressure on second dose supply. EU president Ursula von der Leyen suggested today that the bloc could start an export ban on vaccines  the second time that threat has been made  because the continent's rollout is going so badly. WHICH VACCINES ARE MADE IN THE EU? The Pfizer/BioNTech jab is currently the only vaccine used in the UK but manufactured in the EU, at the company's plant in Puurs, Belgium. AstraZeneca's jab is made at home in England and Wales. Moderna's  which will become available in about two weeks' time at the start of April  is produced in Switzerland, which is not an EU member and so not under von der Leyen's jurisdiction. The Janssen vaccine, which has not yet been approved by Britain but is likely to be next, will be made in various factories around the world, including in France, Belgium, the US and Japan. Britain's supply is likely to come from the EU but is not expected until the second half of this year in any case. CAN WE RELY ON ASTRAZENECA? The good news is that the UK has ordered so many doses of the Oxford/AstraZeneca jab  100million  that in a worst-case scenario it could immunise the entire adult population (around 50million people) using that one alone. And supply of the Oxford/AstraZeneca jab in April and May will be around three to four times larger than of Pfizer and over 20 times as large as those from Moderna  at around three to four million available per week, according to a delivery schedule leaked by the Scottish Government in January  meaning the country will be able to rely on those for the vast majority of its vaccinations. WHAT ABOUT PFIZER SECOND DOSES? The bad news is that around 13million people have already had at least one dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, and the majority of them are still waiting for a second jab, which are likely only to come from within the EU. This means that Britain has to have another 13million doses at least, in order to make sure those people are fully protected. And it also hopes for another 14million so it can immunise the total 20million for whom doses were ordered. Pfizer and the UK Government have both refused to comment on the supply chain but deliveries are expected to be smaller in April. The Department of Health may have to stop using Pfizer supplies for first-time vaccinations within weeks if the spectre of export issues remains, MailOnline understands, because it must begin to stockpile supplies to cope with the huge demand for second doses that will come in April, three months after the rollout exploded in January. The delivery projections accidentally published by the Scottish Government suggest its supplies of Pfizer will tumble from 130,000 per week throughout March to just 78,000 per week in April and May. This could equate to approximately 1.5million per week for the whole UK dropping to 950,000 per week, according to the distribution formula used by the Government. The UK vaccinated more than 2.5million people per week throughout most of January and February and around half of all doses used were Pfizer, meaning the demand for second doses could exceed one million per week in April and May. If this is the case the Government will have to use all of the projected 950,000 per week suggested in the Scottish delivery schedule while also hoping it has enough left over to meet this rolling demand  leaving little to no capacity for people to receive the Pfizer jab for the first time. Pfizer declined to comment on its supply chain but said: 'In the UK, we are continuing to liaise closely with the Government to deliver the 40million doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine that we have committed to supply before the end of the year and can confirm that overall projected supply remains the same for quarter one (January to March).' Advertisement

DANIEL HANNAN: Europe is playing politics with lives. They banned our Covid jab and fought to keep it. They can't agree with themselves - and the fallout could be fatal

This was the week that the EU utterly lost its head. To the incredulity of its health chiefs, and the horror of its friends overseas, it has dragged its vaccine policy to the level of the Kindergarten.

On the one hand, we've seen member states ban the export of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine and threaten legal action against the manufacturer for not getting it to them quickly enough.

On the other hand, they've been busy casting doubt over the jab's effectiveness, seizing consignments, and suspending its distribution in 15 countries because of health fears.

We are in the realm of playground politics. 'Give me your vaccine! Gimme, gimme! ... Yeah, well I never wanted your stupid vaccine anyway!'

The vaccination centre at the Erfurt, Germany, exhibition centre is deserted on Tuesday, March 16, 2021. After the stopping of AstraZeneca vaccinations thousands of appointments are cancelled in Thuringia.

It's not even as if EU leaders have shifted position. They make both complaints simultaneously.

France's Emmanuel Macron has said the Oxford/AstraZeneca jab is 'quasi-ineffective' for people over 65, yet his ministers have since been all over the airwaves threatening to sue the company for not allowing the EU to queue-jump and get more of it.

'Europe is not going to be some Care Bear that sends money and expects nothing in return,' said France's Europe Minister, Clement Beaune, in an odd reference to the cuddly toy popular in the 1980s.

The Portuguese prime minister, Antonio Costa, revealed that he 'can't wait for a second dose'; but then on Monday his government halted distribution of the first.

Seized

Italy banned a consignment of the vaccine from going to Australia on grounds that it was needed at home. It then seized a batch being distributed in Piedmont in Northern Italy after a man died following vaccination (officials have now confirmed his death was unrelated to the jab).

Meanwhile, the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, last week outrageously asserted it is the UK which is limiting supply by prohibiting the export of vaccines  a false claim Eurocrats had been making for weeks and which prompted a formal rebuke from the Foreign Office.

It is hard to imagine that any of this would be happening if, instead of being the Oxford vaccine, it had been the Bologna vaccine or the Toulouse vaccine or the Heidelberg vaccine.

Indeed, as Nicola Magrini, the head of Italy's medicines authority  which says the vaccine is safe  said yesterday: 'We got to the point of a suspension because several European countries, including Germany and France, preferred to interrupt vaccinations . . . The choice is a political one.'

Medical staff transport a patient to a waiting ambulance after arriving on a medical helicopter evacuated from another hospital, at CHU University Hospital in Angers, France, March 15

Last night there were signs from France and Italy of an imminent U-turn. But it is already too late. The damage has been done.

The suspensions were notionally justified by fears of a link to blood clots. Even if such a risk existed, it would not justify causing thousands of needless Covid deaths. Yet there is no evidence of any such link.

The question is whether the number of such incidents  fewer than 40 following more than 17 million vaccinations is higher among people who have had the jab than among people who haven't.

The answer is it is not. On the contrary, it appears to be lower than both the proportion among people who have had the Pfizer/BioNTech jab and people who have had no jab.

The European Medicines Agency made clear that 'the benefits of the vaccine outweigh the risk of side-effects'. Our own regulators agree, as does the World Health Organisation.

'The bottom line, sadly, is that this good and effective vaccine is not being accepted by the public in many countries because of the row and the suspension,' said Frank Ulrich Montgomery, the German head of the World Medical Association.

The International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis agreed: it said that 'the small number of reported thrombotic events relative to the millions of administered Covid-19 vaccinations does not suggest a direct link.'

In plain English, the jab is safe. So why have so many EU member states stoked needless fears, reduced vaccine take-up and so guarantee a higher rate of fatalities?

When the first vaccine was authorised, I worried that prioritising the most vulnerable might undermine confidence in the inoculation programme.

Since, by definition, these groups are the likeliest to die, there was, I felt, a danger that people would blame the vaccine for what were, in fact, normal fatalities.

I had read about an outbreak of swine flu in New Jersey in 1976, to which the Ford administration responded with a national vaccine rollout.

Because 45 million Americans got the jab, some (as was statistically inevitable) died soon afterwards  in one case, dropping dead in the surgery.

It was pure coincidence, but it caused a panic  even in a pre-internet age when there was very little in the way of an anti-vax movement.

I suggested to the Health Secretary, Matt Hancock, that he should begin with healthcare workers and care home staff. He disagreed, arguing the absolute priority was to save as many lives as possible.

He was right and I was wrong. The British people have been admirably calm and level-headed, ignoring the deranged conspiracies of anti-vaxxers.

Distract

Across the Channel, sadly, it has been a different story.

By calling the Oxford vaccine's safety into question, initially to distract from their own procurement failures, Eurocrats might have ended up stopping millions of people protecting themselves.

It seems EU countries will restart their programmes soon and even if the vaccine slightly increased clot risk, the balance of advantage will surely be found overwhelmingly to favour a continued rollout.

As epidemologist Dirk Brockmann from the German government's Robert Koch Institute for infectious diseases said, 'it is probably 100,000 times more likely [for someone] to die of Covid than because of an AstraZeneca vaccine.'

But crucial days have been lost in inoculating hundreds of thousands of people, with confidence so shaken in Covid vaccines that many will ignore the call to get a jab.

The Continent will remain closed for longer than it needed to have been  especially if rising cases (like those seen in Italy) turn into a third wave.

The EU, by peddling the sorts of scare stories we would expect from Russian or Chinese agent provocateurs, is endangering lives.

After the EU's behaviour in recent months, you might be tempted to shrug and say 'serves them right'.

Incompetence

But that would be a mistake. So far, almost 27 million doses have been administered here with no ill-effects beyond the mild symptoms that we expect after any vaccine  which show that it is working.

That number is more than in France, Germany, Italy and Portugal combined. The danger is irrational fears spread from the Continent to Britain  so our aim should be to lead by example, thereby reassuring nearby countries.

Ordinary Europeans are hardly to blame for Brussels incompetence. We wish our neighbours good health.

We also want their economies humming, buying our stuff and selling us theirs. And we want their hotels open to British travellers.

In fact, as we approach the point when most Britons are protected, I hope that we make some surplus doses available to Europe.

Eurocrats might resent it. They might even ramp up their anti-British micro-aggressions. But someone has to behave like a grown-up.

Lord Hannan is a former Conservative MEP and serves on the UK Board of Trade
A motion calling for gender neutral language to be banned had been passed by the Australian senate.

One Nation senator Malcolm Roberts put forward the motion in the Upper House on Tuesday and it was supported by the government.

The motion says that terms such as 'chest-feeding', 'lactating parent', and 'birthing parent' should not be allowed in government literature because such language 'distorts biological and relational descriptors'.

A motion has passed the senate requiring gender neutral language to be restricted in government publications and websites (stock image)

The motion calls on the government and funded agencies to stop using the words in their training materials, information material, and websites.

Senator Roberts also referred to a Queensland doctor who has claimed children are becoming hesitant to use the terms 'boy' and 'girl'.

His motion also said a person's right to use gender neutral pronouns should not 'undermine gender' or 'dehumanise the human race'.

One Nation was establish by Queensland politician Pauline Hanson (pictured)

The Liberal government read a statement outlining their position before the motion was passed by 33 senators for to 31 against.

'The government supports the rights of individuals to make use of any pronouns or descriptors they prefer, while encouraging respect for the preferences of others,' Senator Jonathan Duniam said.

'The government will use language in communications that is appropriate for the purpose of those communications and is respectful of its audiences.'

Greens Senator Janet Rice asked to speak on the issue in parliament but was denied permission from the speaker of the house.

She let fly on Twitter shortly after, however, saying the motion was an attempt to deny people claiming their own identity.

'The Morrison Government just voted to support One Nation's disgusting, bigoted Senate motion trying to deny the identity of trans & non binary people. So the motion passed. What happened to governing for all Australians?' she wrote.

Senator Malcolm Roberts (pictured) put forward the motion which was voted through 33 for and 31 against
Nigerias ambassador to Mexico, Adejare Bello, has threatened to take legal action against PREMIUM TIMES for reporting his assault on a journalist in Osun State.

This newspaper, last Friday, reported that Mr Adejare, a former speaker of the state assembly, attacked a journalist, Adeniyi Akinromade, who works with the Osun State Broadcasting Corporation (OSBC), while rendering a social service during traffic gridlock.

The incident occurred at the Oke-Fia axis of Osogbo, where the journalist decided to help pass vehicles causing the gridlock.

Mr Bello was angered by Mr Akinromades action, whom he felt was obstructing him from passing. He came down from his car and assaulted the journalist.

Despite telling him that I am a journalist and that I was only carrying out social service, he was slapping me alongside officers attached to him. I was brutalised and embarrassed publicly, Mr Akinromade told PREMIUM TIMES last Friday.

This newspaper on the same day contacted Mr Bello on the matter. He did not deny assaulting Mr Akinromade.

He simply told our correspondent that he slapped the journalist for driving against traffic.

Embarrassed by PREMIUM TIMES publication, the two-term speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly threatened our correspondent with legal action.

He demanded through his lawyer, F.O. Abisoye, that the report be retracted.

This newspaper Tuesday contacted Mr Bello again where he reiterated his threat against PREMIUM TIMES. He, however, did not deny speaking with our correspondent on Friday.

If you want to interview me, come to my house. I didnt slap [him], he said on Tuesday. I will show you what the law says. That I did not know your number and I pick it, you should take it as an honour. I want the story retracted, I want the boy to deny and I want him to say he drove against the traffic.

Bello and a series of meetings

PREMIUM TIMES findings revealed that since the story was published on Friday, Mr Bello has made several moves to coerce Mr Akinromade.

At least, two different meetings have held between Friday and Monday evening. The first meeting, which held on Friday evening, had the Osun State Commissioner for youth and sports, Lawal Olayemi; Mr Bello; and the assaulted journalist in attendance.

Mr Akinromade was reportedly asked to deny speaking with our correspondent and told to apologise.

Again, another meeting held on Monday evening where he was served a notice by the ambassadors lawyer.

He is being mandated to deny being assaulted within 24 hours, else he would be charged to court, this newspaper learnt.

Mr Bello neither denied meeting with Mr Akinromade nor the threat against the journalist when PREMIUM TIMES called him on Tuesday.

Police yet to call in Bello

The police did not address the assault allegations made against Mr Bello. Instead, they invited Mr Akinromade for interrogation.

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According to the invitation seen by PREMIUM TIMES, the journalist was asked to come to Dugbe Police Station by the state traffic officer in Osogbo on Tuesday.

He is expected to be interrogated at 1:30 p.m.

The states police spokesperson, Yemisi Opalola, could not be reached as of the time of this report as her telephone was not connecting.

Mr Bello was recently appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari as Nigerian Ambassador to Mexico.

The ambassadors action was condemned by several groups, including the Nigeria Union of Journalists which demanded an apology from him.
Its a busy time of year at a hectic time of recovery, and if youve been thinking about nominating your company for a Hearst Connecticut Media Top Workplaces award, weve extended the deadline.

The contest is now open until Friday, April 16, giving employers in Fairfield, New Haven and Lichfield counties time to seek recognition for great work at a time of change.

Twelve months ago, as we launched the 10th year of the Top Workplaces contest, the biggest worry for most people managing companies was finding good workers. Unemployment hovered well under 4 percent, the range where employers struggle on the market for talent.

Now, of course, your biggest headache is about coping with the pandemic and your colleagues safety  and returning to a normal work life that wont look like what came before.

One constant: People matter the most in any organization. And one of the most effective claims you can make is that youre a Top Workplace.

That means the Hearst Connecticut Media Top Workplaces awards for 2021. Its a great way for all businesses and nonprofits to showcase all the ways theyve valued employees throughout the coronavirus crisis.

Click here to see the 2020 winners.

Watch this animated video about how Top Workplaces works.

Click on www.topworkplaces.com/nominate/hearstct/ to nominate your company  whether youre the CEO or the newest employee.

Were looking to honor the best places to work  whether theyre privately owned companies, publicly traded corporations, subsidiaries, partnerships, nonprofits or government agencies. A company need not have its headquarters here to compete.

The contest is open to any employer with 35 or more people in the three counties. Recognition is given for small, midsize and large organizations, and the contest also rewards the best executives.

The cost to compete  and win  is zero.

Last year, Hearst Connecticut Media honored 49 employers from across the region. Awards are based on short, 24-question employee surveys by our partner, Energage, about how well employers value their ideas, communicate, puts their strategies to work, operate ethically and create a culture of teamwork and competence.

The currently reigning top winners from 2020 include Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices New England Properties (1st place among large employers for the third consecutive year), and Indeed at No. 2 for the large size category. Wheeler Clinic Inc. was No. 3 among large employers.

For midsize employers, Shelton-based Barnum Financial Group finished at No. 1. No. 2 was HAI Group, a specialty insurer to housing authorities, based in Cheshire, which anticipated the COVID-19 crisis ahead of most of us. And third was Splash Carwash, based in Milford with 14 locations in the region.

Criterion, a small but global software developer in Norwalk, won 1st place among small employers in its first year on the list and its CEO, Sunil Reddy, won the top leadership award in that category. Autism Behavioral Health, a Danbury company, was No. 2 among small employers. And Greenwich Emergency Medical Service was No. 3.

Only one company, ICON International Inc., the corporate barter firm, has made the winners list all ten years. All of these winners, and all 49 from the 2020 list, have amazing stories to tell about working through coronavirus. And they can tell you why their Top Workplaces designation matters.

Hearst Connecticut Media Top Workplaces winners will be featured in the Connecticut Post, The News-Times of Danbury, Greenwich Time, The Stamford Advocate, The Norwalk Hour, New Haven Register and The Register Citizen of Torrington in September  and will be highlighted on all of the associated websites.

For complete coverage of last years winners, go to any of those media outlets websites and type /topworkplaces  such as www.ctpost.com/topworkplaces.

Energage, formerly known as WorkplaceDynamics, carries out the Top Workplaces surveys for more than 40 metro newspapers including some of the biggest. The company has surveed more than 20 million employees at tens of thousands of organizations.

Employers can be nominated online at topworkplaces. com/hearstct or by calling 203-617-0727.

Dan Haar is associate editor and columnist at Hearst Connecticut Media Group.

dhaar@hearstmediact.com
A ceremony is planned at Tulocay Cemetery on March 25 to honor a Napa resident who earned the Medal of Honor for bravery while fighting as a U.S. Marine in China's Boxer Rebellion in 1900.

March 25 is National Medal of Honor Day, said Bob Sundin who belongs to the Marine Corps League. The ceremony will be at 2 p.m. in Tulocay's main mausoleum.

Private Henry William Heisch was awarded the Medal of Honor for fighting the enemy in Tientsin, China on June 20, 1900. He and a few other marines crossed a river in a small boat while under heavy fire and assisted in destroying buildings occupied by the enemy, according to his citation. He received the Medal of Honor from President Theodore Roosevelt on March 22, 1902.

Quality journalism doesn't happen without your help Support local news coverage and the people who report it by subscribing to the Napa Valley Register.

The Boxer Rebellion was a Chinese uprising against foreign influence during the Manchu period. The U.S. military helped to suppress the rebellion.

Heisch was born June 10, 1872 in Latendorf, Germany, and immigrated to New York in 1888. He died in 1941. He and his wife are both at Tulocay.

Sundin said Heisch's descendants in the area are invited to attend the March 25 ceremony. They should contact him at topsundin@hotmail.com so that arrangements for seating and special acknowledgment can be made.
President Joe Biden's handlers are still shielding him from full-blown news conferences with reporters, but they let him talk directly with Chinese President and Communist Party General Secretary Xi Jinping?

Ye gods! What were they thinking, letting Biden talk to Xi Jinping?

Xi Jinping wants to eat our lunch, the president said after talking to the communist leader in February.

"If we don't get moving, they are going to eat our lunch," Biden said.

Yet a couple of years ago, Biden insisted that China would never be able to eat our lunch. "China is going to eat our lunch? Come on, man," the former vice president said in 2019. "I mean, you know, they're not bad folks, folks. But guess what? They're not competition for us."

But now they want our lunch?

With China pushing around our allies Taiwan, South Korea, Japan and Australia on everything from China's territorial ambitions to a desire to control rare metals necessary for high technology, this lunch-eating business is dangerously confusing.

C'mon, man. Are they going to eat our lunch or not?

High-level discussions were scheduled for this week between Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, and their China counterparts. Blinken and Sullivan are capable, serious people who will try to undo whatever damage may have been caused by the president, but they might need help. They might need advisers with real firsthand China experience to guide them.

Why not enlist the president's son Hunter Biden, who has oodles of experience dealing with China? And he's the smartest man Biden knows.

Who says? The president says.

"And he's a grown man, he is the smartest man I know, I mean from a pure intellectual capacity," Biden said of Hunter during the presidential campaign.

And what of Hunter's China experience? Homeric. In 2013, Hunter flew to Beijing on Air Force Two with his father, who was vice president and President Barack Obama's point man on China. It was then that Hunter reportedly met influential investment banker Jonathan Li.

"Hunter told the New Yorker he just met Mr. Li for 'a cup of coffee,'" the BBC reported. "But 12 days after the trip a private equity fund, BHR Partners, was approved by the Chinese authorities. Mr. Li was chief executive and Hunter was a board member. He would hold a 10 percent stake."

Diplomacy is boring, but sometimes luck lands on the foreheads of the deserving and showers them with treasure.

And just how lucky is Hunter? He gets off the plane, follows his dad down the ramp and then gets cut in on big China deals? He is a smart man.

Now Hunter is under federal investigation over tax issues relating to those China business dealings, including a huge diamond given him as a gift. But he is the president's son. It should disappear, like the Durham report. There is a Chicago Way and there is a Washington Way.

But you'd think he might take some time out to help his pops. C'mon, Hunter. Dad needs you.

Another China expert who isn't at the table -- but should be -- is U.S. Rep. Eric Swalwell, a California Democrat and member of the House Intelligence Committee where America's top secrets are discussed. Swalwell made some news awhile back when it was revealed he'd been targeted by Chinese spy Fang Fang, who helped him get elected to Congress.

You would think a politician who had been compromised by Chinese intelligence might not be on the House Intelligence Committee, but if you think that, you don't know politics. The Democrats who run things, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, defend him.

I know that some of you are probably thinking that I'm a partisan. But unclench your tiny fists of rage, my liberal friends.

Elaine Chao, the former secretary of transportation in the Trump administration, who is married to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, also has expertise.

Chao's family has been an influential player in China shipping for decades. According to The New York Times, "Elaine Chao has boosted the profile of her family's shipping business, which benefits from industrial policies in China that are roiling the Trump administration."

Her husband, McConnell, might help the Biden administration, too, in the spirit of bipartisan cooperation.

And don't forget Richard Blum, husband of U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein. Feinstein had denied that her husband had investments in China. But according to The San Francisco Examiner, Blum's investment firm "pumped millions of dollars into firms doing business in China while Feinstein was boosting expanded trade between China and the United States."

And of course, Feinstein was allegedly targeted by a suspected China spy, who served as her driver and aide for two decades.

Maybe she could help too.

The president is publicly worried about China eating our lunch, but he isn't all that worried about George "Clinton Donor Zero" Stephanopoulos eating his lunch. Stephanopoulos only takes tiny, timid bites when it comes to Democrats.

Biden was scheduled for an interview with Stephanopoulos to air Wednesday. Do you think he'll answer tough questions on China?

Stephanopoulos is a former Clinton administration aide who dropped $75,000 on the Clinton Foundation without telling his network bosses. And he still has his job.

The president's interview with his buddy will suck up the media oxygen, upstaging his administration's China talks in Alaska.

And few will worry about what China having for lunch, until, of course, they eat it.

(C)2021 Chicago Tribune. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Whistler's Best Beauty & Aesthetics Spa Introduces First-to-Region Total Body Wellness Solutions

Whistler, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 17, 2021) - Whistler's premier beauty, relaxation and wellness destination, The Spa at Nita Lake Lodge, adds two trailblazing treatments by CUTERA, INC., a leading provider of laser and other energy-based aesthetic systems, to its aesthetic arsenal.

Discover a luxury full-body sculpting experience with trusculpt treatments at The Spa at Nita Lake



To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/7848/77563_figure1enhanced.jpg

"Our guests at The Spa at Nita Lake Lodge expect the highest quality service and most advanced treatment offerings," shares Carly Scholz, General Manager of Nita Lake Lodge. "We are excited to offer the latest from Cutera, an innovator in aesthetic solutions, that boast big results and little downtime."

Continues Ms. Scholz, "Our guests are often visiting for a few days or weeks, so it's important for them to be able to get results with zero downtime so they can continue to enjoy Whistler at its best. Cutera's treatments do just that."

The Spa at Nita Lake Lodge's offerings by Cutera include:

Laser Genesis -This no-downtime pre-rejuvenation treatment is favored by celebrities and influencers to reduce fine lines and wrinkles, even out skin tone and texture, diffuse redness (dilated capillaries) and superficial scars, and stimulate collagen production. It does it all in just 20-30 minutes. Results are immediate and there is generally no discomfort or downtime.





-This no-downtime pre-rejuvenation treatment is favored by celebrities and influencers to reduce fine lines and wrinkles, even out skin tone and texture, diffuse redness (dilated capillaries) and superficial scars, and stimulate collagen production. It does it all in just 20-30 minutes. Results are immediate and there is generally no discomfort or downtime. truBody - A painless, zero downtime combination of truSculpt iD and truSculpt flex for innovative body contouring and sculpting. truSculpt iD painlessly and permanently eliminates up to 24 percent of fat cells1 in stubborn areas around the abdomen and flanks in just one 15-minute treatment while truSculpt flex strengthens, rms and tones muscles on the abs, butt, thighs, calves and arms. The unique MDS technology delivers three workout modes replicating intensied crunch, squat and twisting actions.

"One of the biggest trends we are seeing is a growing interest in overall body contouring to help achieve both fat reduction and muscle toning goals," states Rebecca Mullan, Spa Manager, The Spa at Nita Lake Lodge. "Guests of The Spa at Nita Lake Lodge are looking for a more integrated results driven package."

"Cutera's truSculpt iD +truSculpt flex together can reduce fat, renew skin2, and tone muscles with no downtime," shares Jason Richey, Cutera President and COO. "This way, patients get a full body sculpting solution. We call this pairing truBody. These treatments produce impressive results on their own, but really wow when used in tandem."

The Spa at Nita Lake Lodge's truBody treatment series is ideal for those seeking a more sculpted appearance. A comparable investment to that of a personal training package, truBody by truSculpt delivers all the gains without hours log ged at the gym - all in a safe and controlled environment.

"Whistler is home to a lot of professional athletes, and they have been loving the versatility of truBody," continues Ms. Mullan. "We use the truBody treatment to build, strengthen and maintain muscle to support training and performance goals. We see more accelerated fat loss with substantial sculpting and contouring in the area."

truBody by truSculpt can also be used therapeutically3 to strengthen core or muscles supporting an injured muscle area so that patients can rebuild strength and muscular endurance. The Spa at Nita Lake Lodge is the first spa in Whistler to provide this game-changing technology.

Book your truBody consult by visiting The Spa at Nita Lake Lodge's website here.

About Cutera

Brisbane, California-based Cutera is a leading provider of laser and other energy-based aesthetic systems for practitioners worldwide. Since 1998, Cutera has been developing innovative, easy-to-use products that enable physicians and practitioners to offer safe and effective treatments to their patients. Visit cutera.com for more information.

About The Spa at Nita Lake Lodge

In a tranquil lakeside setting that is already a retreat from the everyday, the award-winning Spa at Nita Lake Lodge welcomes you to a transcendent wellness experience. From soothing and rejuvenating massages, scrubs and body treatments to the latest in results-driven beauty technology such as HydraFacial and body contouring lasers, The Spa is sure to restore, relax, and reinvigorate the senses. Thanks to our exciting new beauty & esthetics expansion, together with rooftop hot tubs, the revitalizing eucalyptus steam room, and the serenity of the relaxation lounge, the award-winning Spa at Nita Lake Lodge is unmatched in Whistler.

Nita Lake Lodge is a recipient of the Conde Nast Traveler Readers' Choice Awards 2020 - #4 Top Resort in Canada.

CONTACT

KELZ MEDIA

Sheila McCrink

cutera@kelzmedia.com

(646) 450-5359

(1) Amy Taub Study ASDS 2017 Poste

(2) Via deep tissue heating

(3) Effect of bio-electrical muscle stimulation on chronic low back pain and abdominal muscular endurance and strength by Mark C. Yezak, BS, DC; Reid Amedee, BS, DC; Brett Baer, PT, DPT; Robert Williams, BW, MED Houston Spine and Rehabilitation Centers

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Discover a luxury full-body sculpting experience with trusculpt treatments at The Spa at Nita Lake

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The Spa at Nita Lake

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To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/77563
Good morning.

Today is the second St. Patricks Day of the COVID-19 pandemic. You can still get a (possibly green) beer at a pub, but guidelines require that you order some food with it. Here are five drinks you might want to consider sampling today.

 Adam Treusch, assignment editor
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Actively investigating multiple gold, silver, and precious metals opportunities

Exploration team on the ground in Nevada, having drilled Loner, and preparing Smokey Lithium and Black Diablo

Has applied for permit to carry out IP survey at Mal-Wen project in British Columbia

What Victory Resources does:

Victory Resources Corporation ( ) ( ) (FRA:VR62) is a publicly-traded junior international mining corporation with interests in North America.

The company is currently developing its existing projects including its recently optioned Loner property in Nevada adjacent to Goldbanks, its Smokey Lithium project near American Lithiums flagship's lithium property and its Black Diablo copper property.

The Vancouver-based corporation's other Canadian project is a copper target called The Mal-Wen, which comprises seven claims spanning an area of 1,205.97 hectares. That lies 30 kilometers south-east of the city of Merritt in the Nicola Valley in south-central British Columbia.

The company is actively investigating multiple gold, silver and precious metals opportunities in regions that are conducive to mining. It is also looking for other copper opportunities as new resources decline, but demand ramps up.

How is it doing:

It has been a busy 2021 so far for Victory Resources. In April, the exploration team began a diamond drilling program at its Loner property in Nevada, and completed the 500 meter program in May

The program included 10 short diamond drill holes in the vicinity of the historical workings, which exploited the Loner vein system. The first pass program was aimed at confirming intersections of gold-bearing quartz vein that correlates with historical underground mining and mapped surficial gold occurrences. It will also demonstrate broader mineralization across the width and depth of the occurrence which remains open in all directions, the company said. The Loner Property in Nevada was optioned from Silver in late December 2020. Since optioning the property, Victory Resources has moved quickly to take full advantage of its exploration opportunities.

In March, Victory appointed Mark Ireton as the companys new president and CEO. As president of , Ireton oversaw the exploration and advancement of its primary asset, a clay lithium property with similar attributes to Victory's Big Smokey Lithium Project, and in the same vicinity.

In fact, Victory has recently completed initial sampling on its Smokey Lithium property in Nevada. The two-day reconnaissance sampling program, carried out on March 19 and 20, provided a preliminary assessment of the geology of the property. Victory said that mudstones were observed on the property similar to those on the adjacent Jindalee Property, where mudstones have returned assays of up to 930 parts per million (ppm) lithium. Victory said 20 grab and chip samples were collected from two areas underlain by mudstone and have been shipped to ALS Laboratories for analysis.

The Smokey property consists of 350 claims covering 7,000 acres and is surrounded by projects being developed by Noram, Cypress, and American Lithium, to name a few. Victory bought the Smokey property in March by paying $178,500 in cash, and issuing 1.5 million shares of the company. The property is subject to a net smelter royalty equal to a 2% royalty on revenue derived from the sale of lithium and other ores extracted from the project. Victory has the right to buy one-half (1%) of the royalty at any time for $1 million in cash.

Victory has said it recently staked the Black Diablo property in Nevada, which is in proximity to its Loner Property. Black Diablo is thought to host volcanogenic massive sulphide (VMS) copper deposits, as it is in the same belt of rocks as Nevada Sunrise Gold Corp's Coronada VMS Project immediately to the south, according to Victory.

Interestingly, Victory geologists identified the Black Diablo opportunity when they were on the ground in Nevada preparing to drill the Loner property. Moreover, the Black Diablo property is 10 miles south of the Big Mike Copper Mine, which produced about 25 million pounds of copper in 100,000 tons of ore grading 10.5% copper.

Meanwhile, Victory told investors in February that it has applied for a permit to carry out an induced polarization survey at its Mal-Wen project in British Columbia to be followed by a 1,000 metre plus drill program. Depending on when it receives the permit, the company aims to do the survey in late spring and drill the targets which are generated this summer.

The IP study will examine the area between the Mal and the Wen prospects, which the company now believes could be a larger mineralized system. The Mal-Wen project is within the eastern belt of the Nicola Group, in south-central British Columbia, which hosts numerous alkalic porphyry deposits, including the presently producing New Afton Mine and past producers Ajax and Copper Mountain.

In September 2020, Victory acquired the Lac Simard Property in Quebec from Archie Capital for five million shares at a deemed price of $0.115 and $25,000. Victory said the property consists of 46 contiguous mining titles with a total area of 2,560 hectares.

Inflection points:

First drilling program on Loner Property in Nevada to build on promising results

Full team on the ground in Nevada, preparing Smokey Lithium and Black Diablo for exploration on the heels of the Loner drill program completion in May

Receiving permit for IP survey and drilling at Mal Wen project in British Columbia

What the boss says:

In a recent statement, David Deering, Victory Resources director and VP of Exploration said: Loner is a promising property. Our efforts have been extensive since acquiring the option in December, and our team is in place and prepared to accelerate exploration activities with the launch of our 2021 work program.

Contact the author Uttara Choudhury at uttara@proactiveinvestors.com

Follow her on Twitter: @UttaraProactive
The Hong Kong government has started COVID-19 vaccination for priority groups including people over 60 years old on Feb. 26. The picture shows two local officials being vaccinated with Chinese-made Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine. (Song Bilong/The Epoch Times)

Hong Kong Public Concerned About Sinovac Vaccine Safety

The Hong Kong government began vaccinating the public with the Chinese domestically-manufactured Sinovac vaccine for free on Feb. 26, and less than three weeks later there have been seven deaths.

As of March 15, a cumulative total of 166,000 Hong Kong people had received the China-made Sinovac vaccine, also known as the CoronaVac vaccine.

China, which has been giving vaccines produced domestically since last year and at a much larger scale than Hong Kong, has so far released little data on adverse reactions, raising questions about a lack of transparency and the safety of the Chinese vaccines.

Li Bin, deputy director of the Chinese Communist Partys (CCP) National Health Commission, said that as of March 14, 64.98 million people had been vaccinated in China, according to a report by the CCPs overseas mouthpiece, China Daily. However, no specific answers were given regarding issues brought about by the vaccination, such as the immunization status of the vaccinated population, whether there were secondary infections, and what side effects and mortality rates were.

The communist regime has been pushing a vaccine diplomacy for several months.

China made a recent offer to provide vaccines to Olympic athletes. The vaccine offer to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) came amid international calls to boycott the Beijing Winter Olympics in light of the regimes genocidal campaign against Uyghurs and other minorities in Chinas Xinjiang region.

On March 11, IOC President Thomas Bach said the organization had agreed to purchase Chinas COVID-19 vaccine to administer to willing participants at the Tokyo Olympics this summer and the Beijing Winter Olympics in 2022.

Japans Olympic Minister Tamayo Marukawa responded quickly and said on March 12 that Japanese athletes would not take the China-made vaccines, which have not been approved by international standards.

According to a Sydney Morning Herald report on March 13, The Australian Olympic Committee Chief Executive Officer Matt Carroll said that the Chinese vaccine would not be on the table. He added, the federal government has expressed full confidence that our athletes will be vaccinated before arriving in Tokyo.

On the same day, when asked if he would consider using the mainland vaccine, Taiwanese Health Minister Chen Shih-chung told the media that his government included Taiwanese Olympic athletes in the priority list and that they would be inoculated in Taiwan with the AstraZeneca vaccine before they leave for Japan.

When asked if he would consider using the China-made vaccine, Chen replied that if there is more scientific evidence to prove the safety and efficacy of the Chinese vaccine, Taiwan would not rule it out.

Vaccines May Cause a Cardiovascular Inflammatory Response

The Dean of Public Health Medicine at the University of Hong Kong (HKU), Leung Gabriel Matthew, when asked on March 13 about the adverse reactions after vaccination, said that the vaccine itself may cause an inflammatory response in people with cardiovascular disease. Once the blood vessels become inflamed, it could induce acute thrombosis.

He said that if an acute embolism occurs immediately in the heart, it is a heart disease, but if it occurs in the brain, it is a brain stroke, which can be fatal in serious cases. He believes that at this stage, he does not dare to categorically judge whether the deaths are indirectly or directly related to the vaccine.

Hong Kong Chinese medicine doctor Cheung Wai Lit also said in an interview with the Hong Kong edition of The Epoch Times that some of his patients who had been injected with the Sinovac vaccine experienced irregular heartbeats, a rise in body temperature, and a rise in blood pressure as if they had been drinking alcohol or taking stimulants. He believes that this is definitely not a coincidence.

Cheung called on Hong Kong people to look at this issue with wisdom. So-called experts are often in a collaborative role with the government. Experts sometimes need to wait for [CCP] instructions, otherwise they can not speak.

Hong Kong Government Criticized for Conducting Experiment to Curry Favor With the CCP

Though there have been a series of deaths and abnormal cases after vaccination, the Hong Kong government did not stop the vaccination program. On the contrary, it announced on March 15 the expansion of the vaccination priority groups to include people over 30, domestic helpers, and students 16 or above studying outside Hong Kong as part of the Governments efforts to expand the scope of the priority groups to allow more people to get vaccinated as soon as possible, according to the Hong Kong governments website.

In an interview with the Hong Kong edition of The Epoch Times, 80-year-old Kwok Cheuk Kin, a Hong Kong citizen, said that the local government, to curry favor with the CCP, administers the vaccination via executive order. He said that he himself would never take the China-made vaccine.

According to a report released by the Hong Kong Food and Health Bureau on March 12 (pdf), from the start of the Vaccination Program to March 7, 69 of the 71 cases of adverse events following immunization were related to the Sinovac vaccine.

Xiaoxu Lin, an expert in microbiology and immunology, former microbiologist in the U.S. Army, and lab director at the viral disease branch of the Walter Reed Army Research Institute, told The Epoch Times in an interview that the number of people who died after receiving the vaccine or had serious adverse reactions must be strictly tracked and then the data released to the public, but the Chinese government basically still adopts a cover-up attitude.

Eva Fu and Alex Wu contributed to this report.
By Angela Huyue Zhang





HONG KONG  Ever since Alibaba founder Jack Ma criticized Chinese financial regulation in a speech last October, a regulatory storm has pummeled the country's entire online financial and consumer sector.



The Shanghai Stock Exchange suspended the planned initial public offering of fintech conglomerate Ant Group  an Alibaba affiliate  just two days before its launch, and regulators subsequently launched a massive crackdown on Chinese Big Tech. While Ma's speech appears to have been an unforeseeable random event, the logic of Chinese bureaucratic politics made Ant's IPO debacle inevitable.



As I elaborate in my new book, power within the Chinese bureaucracy is fragmented among central ministries and levels of government. A department's mission and objectives determine its stance and approach toward regulating businesses.



China previously regulated its financial system using a "one bank and three commissions" structure. The People's Bank of China (PBOC, the central bank) was responsible for monetary policy and macroprudential regulation, while separate banking and insurance regulators and the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) oversaw their respective sectors.



But these institutions' overlapping functions and lack of coordination allowed some non-financial firms to seek regulatory arbitrage, as the fallout from financial scandals involving the Anbang Insurance Group and Tomorrow Group made clear.



After these scandals came to light, the Chinese government implemented a series of organizational shakeups to address regulatory failures. In 2017, the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China made reducing financial risk a top economic priority, and emphasized "high-quality" rather than "high-speed" growth.



The State Council also established the Financial Stability and Development Committee, a super-regulator headed by Vice Premier Liu He, to exercise comprehensive oversight, particularly over financial activities that fall through the cracks of traditional regulation.



A massive government overhaul in 2018 further consolidated financial regulatory power by merging the banking and insurance regulators into the China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission (CBIRC). Meanwhile, the PBOC took over the CBIRC's legislative functions, further solidifying the central bank's leading role in maintaining financial stability.



In addition, CBIRC Chairman Guo Shuqing was also appointed party secretary of the PBOC, a move widely viewed as a step toward facilitating coordination between the two banking regulators. By 2018, therefore, the balance was already tilting toward tighter regulation of non-financial businesses.



Ant is one of those targets. From the start, the group has marketed itself as an internet technology firm that uses Alipay, its highly popular mobile-payment app, to provide a wide range of financial services. But Ant presents Chinese regulators with unprecedented challenges because many of its services fall outside the scope of existing financial rules.



Moreover, Ant's exponential growth and aggressive expansion into new business lines have put regulators on high alert. One of the PBOC's most important monetary policy tools is adjusting banks' capital reserve requirements, but Ant did not need to satisfy these requirements, because it is not a bank.



Regulators became even more alarmed when Ant's IPO filing revealed further details about the scale and risk model of its lending business. The highly oversubscribed offering, and the huge valuation premium Ant obtained by being a tech firm rather than a bank, stoked fears of a bubble.



Although the default rate on Ant's loans is relatively low, the group's short history (six years) and vast size pose potential unforeseen perils  which, from the PBOC's standpoint, could amount to systemic risk. As the lender of last resort, the central bank is naturally risk averse; if Ant fails, the bank would have to bail it out.



Other Chinese financial regulators may have a completely different risk profile. The CSRC reportedly approved Ant's IPO application within just two months, compared to the usual seven months or more for other listings, in order to boost confidence in China's stock market amid deteriorating relations with the United States. Ant's planned dual listing in Shanghai and Hong Kong was intended not only to entice more Chinese tech firms to list domestically, but also to counter US threats to delist Chinese companies from its stock exchanges.



But the PBOC has other priorities. Its mission to ensure financial stability makes it a persistent regulator, and Ma's speech gave the central bank exactly the opening it needed to rein in Ant. His scathing criticisms of Chinese financial regulation directly irked many senior officials who previously had voiced contrasting opinions on the same regulatory issues.



These policymakers soon revealed their displeasure with Ma and Ant. A few days after the speech, the PBOC-affiliated newspaper Financial News published three consecutive commentaries criticizing Ant's business model.



Once the powerful central bank publicly turned against Ant, bureaucrats who had endorsed the group fell silent and other departments began to jump on the bandwagon. For example, China's antitrust authority has always had a clear interest in regulating the country's large tech firms in order to expand its policy domain, but had been taking a lax approach because it was uncertain whether to put innovation or regulation first. The top leadership's adverse reaction to Ma's speech gave the authority the green light to act against tech giants like Alibaba.



Ant's rapid growth and emergence as an internet finance titan reflected not only regulatory lag but also the firm's agile adaptation to rule changes. "We always step ahead of the regulators  we have to," Ma said in 2017. "Otherwise, we go nowhere." This time, though, it seems the regulators have finally caught up.





Angela Huyue Zhang is director of the Center for Chinese Law and associate professor at the University of Hong Kong. She is the author of "Chinese Antitrust Exceptionalism: How the Rise of China Challenges Global Regulation." This article was distributed by Project Syndicate (www.project-syndicate.org).


Russia and Iran today rebuked Britain after it announced plans to increase its nuclear arsenal from 180 warheads to 260 by the end of the decade.

Moscow's spokesman accused Britain of 'harming international stability,' while Tehran's official slammed Boris Johnson's 'utter hypocrisy.'

Britain on Tuesday published a document outlining a 'recalibration' of its foreign policy that included the announcement to grow its nuclear arsenal, reversing a previous commitment to reduce its stockpile.

'We are very sorry that the UK has chosen this path of increasing nuclear warheads. This decision harms international stability and strategic security,' Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

The Kremlin today said it regretted the UK's decision to increase its nuclear arsenal, after Britain unveiled plans to bolster its stockpile from 180 warheads to 260 by the end of the decade. Pictured: Russian President Vladimir Putin

Missile firing from HMS Vigilant, which fired an unarmed Trident II (D5) ballistic missile. Boris Johnson raises the cap on Britain's stockpile of Trident nuclear warheads

'The presence of nuclear warheads is what threatens peace throughout the world,' he added.

Iran's foreign minister Javad Zarif tweeted: 'In utter hypocrisy, @BorisJohnson is 'concerned about Iran developing a viable nuclear weapon'. On the very same day he announces his country will increase its stockpile of nukes. Unlike the UK and allies, Iran believes nukes and all WMDs are barbaric & must be eradicated.

The UK's move is at odds with a recent agreement between Moscow and Washington.

In January, Russia agreed with the United States to extend a key nuclear pact between the two countries that was the last remaining arms reduction agreement between the former Cold War rivals.

Moscow has also pushed for Washington and Tehran to return to the Iran nuclear deal.

Signed in 2015, the accord offered sanctions relief in exchange for curbs on Tehran's nuclear ambitions and guarantees it would not seek an atomic bomb.

Britain on Tuesday published a document outlining a recalibration of its foreign policy that included the announcement to grow its nuclear arsenal, reversing a previous commitment to reduce its stockpile. Pictured: UK PM Boris Johnson reveals document to parliament on Tuesday

However its signatories are scrambling to keep it alive after former US president Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew from it in 2018 and reimposed sanctions on Iran.

Britain's foreign policy document also identified Russia as the 'most acute direct threat to the UK,' posing 'the full spectrum' of dangers.

Peskov on Wednesday said that the UK had cited 'an ephemeral threat' without 'an explanation'.

'This is not true,' he added. 'No threat comes from Russia.'

Moscow and London have seen their relations greatly deteriorate over the poisoning of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal in the English town of Salisbury in 2018 with the Novichok nerve agent.

Russia's relations with the West are at their lowest point since the Cold War, marred by allegations of election interference and sweeping cyberattacks.

MARK NICOL: I fear Boris Johnson's 'nuclear or bust' policy may leave us less safe

By Mark Nicol for The Daily Mail

This is as dystopian a vision of the future as any British Prime Minister has offered the public since the Cold War. In Boris Johnson's dark new world of international relations, the 2020s will see the breaking down of rules-based world order, the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and, more than likely, a successful chemical or nuclear attack by terrorists.

And that is before we get to the apocalyptic double whammy contained in the Government's landmark review of defence, security and foreign policy  the shock pledge to increase Britain's stockpile of nuclear weapons by 40 per cent followed by a broadening of the scenarios in which the UK would consider using these very expensive missiles.

The Government's view is that in the decade ahead conventional threats and weapons will pass into obsolescence. This may explain why the British Army is to lose thousands of soldiers  perhaps as many as 10,000  while the RAF and Navy will lose frontline aircraft and ships.

They will be replaced eventually by high-tech alternatives  drones, for example, instead of minehunters and submarine-hunting frigates  most of which come with a huge price tag for Armed Forces so indebted they could effectively be declared bankrupt.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson leaves to give his Integrated Review statement in the Houses of Parliament from 10 Downing Street, Tuesday

Who needs infantry battalions when we're prepared to increase the size of our nuclear armoury? That at least seems to the logic behind the PM's 'nuclear or bust' approach.

My fear is that his dramatic move could make people less safe. Because the reduction in the scale and capability of the UK's conventional military options may restrict our ability to intervene effectively in any international conflict. The review makes clear the past decade has seen an increase in conflict globally and the years 2016 and 2019 witnessed the highest number of active armed conflicts internationally since 1946.

The majority of these were civil wars  the sorts which call not for nuclear capability but back-to-basics soldiering in hot, dusty climates if the UK wants to bring any influence to bear on the ground. And while Boris says he wants to revolutionise warfare with investment in 'artificial intelligence' and 'directed energy weapons', the review concedes our enemies do not need to spend fortunes on shiny, computerised kit to be effective. It says: 'The advantages offered by high-tech capabilities may be eroded by affordable, easily-available, low-tech threats such as drones and improvised explosive devices.'

Any UK soldier who served in Afghanistan could have reminded the Prime Minister that the British Army lost more than 100 lives and countless more wounded to basic Taliban roadside bombs.

As for the escalation in nuclear capability, nobody predicted such a dramatic shift of emphasis. The UK was one of the first signatories to the nuclear non-proliferation treaty in the 1960s and in recent years had abided by a capability ceiling of 180 warheads. Raising the total to 260 undoubtedly sends a strong message to US President Joe Biden that Britain remains committed to global security and perhaps strengthens the UK's position as a permanent member of the UN Security Council.

But it also sends a clear signal to Russian leader Vladimir Putin that the era of disarmament in the West is over and could possibly trigger a new nuclear arms race.

Equally, Iran will now surely redouble its efforts to acquire nuclear weapons capability. One of the most dramatic proposals concerns the use of the new nuclear weapons. Previously the UK's position was that it would only use them against another nuclear power. Now Britain reserves the right to review this position and engage non-nuclear states 'if the future threat of weapons of mass destruction, such as chemical and biological capabilities or emerging technologies that could have a comparable impact, makes it necessary'.

These are not small bombs. While the UK's nuclear arsenal will remain tiny compared to Russia and the US  with an estimated 4,300 and 3,800 warheads respectively  each bomb will be around seven times as powerful as the atomic device dropped on Hiroshima in 1945.

And yet despite the bellicose content of the Government's plans, there was widespread confusion and despair yesterday among defence-minded MPs over ministers' hesitant approach to China and the failure to identify the country as a hostile state.

The description 'systemic competitor' smacked of not wishing to offend the Chinese and was in stark contrast to the rhetoric towards Russia, which is singled out as posing 'the most acute threat to our security'.

Remarkably, there was scant mention of China's vast and rapidly expanding naval and air forces, its unilateral territorial expansions or its occupation of island chains in international waters. The undeniable reality is that the strategic balance of global security and influence has shifted, if not entirely from Nato countries towards China, then much of the way there.

China's influence is undoubtedly malevolent. Yet Britain's defence review for 2020 to 2030 declines to declare China an enemy.

The PM's claim yesterday that Britain had 'led the international community' in expressing concern over China's human rights abuses had a deeply hollow ring.
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Researchers reveal the extent to which rivers across the country are losing flow to aquifers

Water is an ephemeral thing. It can emerge from an isolated spring, as if by magic, to birth a babbling brook. It can also course through a mighty river, seeping into the soil until all that remains downstream is a shady arroyo, the nearby trees offering the only hint of where the water has gone.

The interplay between surface water and groundwater is often overlooked by those who use this vital resource due to the difficulty of studying it. Assistant professors Scott Jasechko and Debra Perrone, of UC Santa Barbara, and their colleagues leveraged their enormous database of groundwater measurements to investigate the interaction between these related resources. Their results, published in Nature, indicate that many more rivers across the United States may be leaking water into the ground than previously realized.

In many places surface waters and groundwaters connect, while in others they're separated by impermeable rock layers. It depends on the underlying geology. But where they do intermingle, water can transition between flowing above and below ground.

"Gaining rivers" receive water from the surrounding groundwater, while "losing rivers" seep into the underlying aquifer. Scientists didn't have a good understanding of the prevalence of each of these conditions on a continental scale. Simply put, no one had previously stitched together so many measurements of groundwater, explained Jasechko, the study's co-lead author.

Gaining and losing rivers

Waterways can gain water from the surrounding aquifer or leak water into the ground depending on the conditions.

Typical groundwater studies include water level measurements from a few hundred to 1,000 wells. This study encompasses 4.2 million.

Perrone and Jasechko devoted years to compiling data from 64 agencies across the U.S. and analyzing the results. "Compiling these data was a massive undertaking. We collected millions of datapoints and reviewed hundreds of papers over the course of six years," Perrone said.

The resulting database has precipitated a number of the team's subsequent studies. "We can use this extensive dataset in innovative ways to answer questions that we have not been able to address previously," she added.

For this paper, Jasechko, Perrone and their coauthors compared water levels in wells to the surface of the nearest stream. "We apply a simple method to a large dataset," Jasechko said. "We identify wells with water levels that lie below the nearest stream, implying that these nearby streams could leak into the subsurface if it is sufficiently permeable."

The team found that nearly two-thirds of the wells had water levels below the nearest stream. This creates a gradient that can drive water from the river channel into the aquifer beneath.

"Our analysis shows that two out of three rivers in the U.S. are already losing water. It's very likely that this effect will worsen in the coming decades and some rivers may even disappear" said co-lead author Hansjorg Seybold at ETH Zurich.

"The phenomenon, set in motion decades ago, is now widespread across the U.S. There are far more streams draining into underlying aquifers than we had first assumed," Seybold continued. "Since rivers and streams are a vital water supply for agriculture and cities, the gravity of the situation came as a surprise."

A map of well water levels with respect to the surface of the nearest river. Photo Credit: JASECHKO ET AL.

Rivers were particularly prone to losing water in arid regions, along flat topography and in areas with extensive groundwater pumping, they observed. A prime example of this would be flat agricultural land in semi-arid regions like California's Central Valley. "We are literally sucking the rivers dry," Seybold said.

Losing rivers can impact other water users, downstream communities and ecosystems that rely on surface flows. "Historically, we've often treated these two resources as separate resources," Perrone said. "Our work highlights the importance of considering groundwater and surface water as a single resource where they are connected."

The researchers also found that losing rivers have been widespread in the U.S. for quite some time, present in many places at least as far back as the 1940s and '50s. And while many waterways naturally lose water, the issue can be exacerbated by human activity.

Humans have extracted water from the ground for thousands of years; in America they've been doing so for hundreds of years. The practice accelerated after World War II and has been rampant since the 1970s, accompanied by the undesirable and unintended consequences it entails.

"This isn't a new phenomenon," Jasechko said. "It's been with us for decades."

Water levels do fluctuate over years and decades, and unfortunately the researchers have only one data point for many of the wells in their sample. Other work by the team suggests that groundwater typically fluctuates by no more than a few meters over the course of a year. However, the water level for the many wells near losing rivers was more than two meters below the surface of the nearest stream, increasing the researchers' confidence that leaky rivers are likely widespread.

The sun shines down on a shallow marshy stretch of river bordered by grasses and riparian shrubs. Mountains are visible off to the left against a clear blue sky.

This section of the Santa Ynez river leaks water into the surrounding aquifer.

Photo Credit: DEBRA PERRONE

"We can only observe well water levels where wells exist," Jasechko acknowledged. "It's an obvious but important point. Our analysis is inherently biased to places where wells have been drilled, and therefore also to places where groundwater is pumped."

While the researchers don't see any straightforward way around this in the short-term, they hope their results can inform resource management and monitoring, perhaps informing policies that fund more monitoring wells in under-surveyed areas.

"Big studies like this get people thinking about broader water policy," Perrone said. "And for me, that is why continental scale analyses are important."

"My hope is that this study gets more people thinking about the interconnection of groundwater and surface water where these two resources are connected, and it also gets groundwater policy on the map," she continued. For so long this resource has been literally and metaphorically out of sight.

Perrone and Jasechko plan to expand this type of large-scale analysis to other parts of the globe and see how pumping and losing rivers impact groundwater-dependent ecosystems. Perrone also intends to connect their results back to her groundwater dashboard.

"Losing rivers aren't some hypothetical scenario," Jasechko stated. "They're here and now." They are in part the result of the past century of water use and misuse.

"If we have a better understanding of how widespread this phenomenon is, then we can influence future policy in positive ways," added Perrone. Because society is past the point where it can talk about prevention; we're now talking about response.

###
WASHINGTON  The Biden administration warned on Tuesday that the United States expected to make more apprehensions along the southwestern border this year than at any time in the past two decades, underscoring the urgency for the White House to develop solutions for the chronic problems with immigration from Central America.

The grim prediction by Alejandro N. Mayorkas, the secretary of homeland security, came as President Biden was being assailed for his handling of a surge at the border involving thousands of unaccompanied children and teenagers from the region  with attacks coming from the right for not being tough enough and from the left for not being humane enough.

The president has pleaded for time and patience, blaming his predecessor for dismantling the immigration system in his zeal to keep foreigners out. But even Mr. Bidens top advisers acknowledge that after unwinding President Donald J. Trumps harsh policies, there is no easy or quick fix for a problem that has been a recurring crisis.

We have no illusions about how hard it is, and we know it will take time, Mr. Mayorkas said in a statement on Tuesday as the House prepared to vote this week on several immigration measures and the administration rushed to provide more housing for the young migrants arriving at the border. But, he added, We will get it done.
By Laurence Frost and Tim Hepher

PARIS (Reuters) - The large-scale government intervention in airlines triggered by the coronavirus crisis will hold back sector consolidation for up to five years, the head of global industry body IATA predicted on Wednesday.

Alexandre de Juniac, the International Air Transport Association's outgoing director general, made the comments in an interview with Reuters as the organisation called for a new round of subsidies to weather the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Governments have taken big stakes in many of their national airlines, so it will be difficult for them to sell this asset to any foreign actor and explain that to the taxpayer," De Juniac said. "It will be a factor that will prevent consolidation in the coming three to five years."

Airline tie-ups already faced obstacles before the crisis, including ownership rules linked to bilateral aviation treaties. That has not prevented the emergence of multinationals such as IAG, Lufthansa and Air France-KLM that preserve national carriers within their group structures.

Aid has further raised the hurdles by piling up debts, shielding potential targets and tying would-be buyers' hands. EU rules bar recipients such as Lufthansa and Air France-KLM from making acquisitions until bailouts are repaid.

The IATA head, who hands over next month to IAG veteran Willie Walsh, also urged governments that have already provided $225 billion in sector aid to support a travel recovery through new air ticket and route subsidies.

Australia last week announced plans to subsidise 800,000 domestic flights as part of a A$1.2 billion ($925 million) travel revival package.

"We've already seen some plans by governments to subsidise tickets, routes and domestic journeys," de Juniac said during a media briefing later on Wednesday. "I urge governments to consider stimulus measures."

After a year of partial shutdown, many airlines say they now need a significant rebound within months to survive - let alone to fund investment in cleaner aircraft and fuel technologies.

Story continues

Global airlines are discussing more ambitious climate goals than their existing pledge to halve net carbon emissions by 2050, de Juniac said, confirming earlier comments to the Financial Times.

Nonetheless, any wider recourse to public subsidies for air travel is bound to bring some controversy.

"The new normal is going to mean less flying, especially corporate travel, and the industry must adjust," said Andrew Murphy of the campaign group Transport & Environment.

"Public funds should be channelled into developing cleaner fuels and new plane designs, not subsidising what's still the most carbon-intensive form of travel," Murphy said.

IATA began preparing to lobby for route subsidies soon after the pandemic erupted last year, according to internal "key messages" previously reported by Reuters.

The organisation now expects borders to have largely re-opened by October, when it plans to hold its annual gathering in Boston, four months later than first scheduled.

($1 = 1.2965 Australian dollars)

(Reporting by Laurence Frost and Tim Hepher; additional reporting by Sarah Young in London, Editing by Paul Sandle and Elaine Hardcastle)
UN chief hopes for positive outcome of China-US high-level meeting: spokesman

Xinhua) 13:10, March 17, 2021

Photo shows Chinese and U.S. national flags. (Xinhua)

UNITED NATIONS, March 16 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres hopes for a positive outcome of the high-level meeting between the United States and China in Alaska, said his spokesman on Tuesday.

Asked about the secretary-general's hopes for the meeting scheduled for Thursday and Friday in Anchorage, Alaska, Stephane Dujarric, the spokesman, said: "We hope for a positive outcome. We hope that China and the United States can find ways to collaborate on critical issues, notably on climate change, on rebuilding the post-COVID world."

"We fully understand that there are tensions and outstanding issues between the two, but they should also both find ways to cooperate on the biggest global challenges that are before us," he added.

Yang Jiechi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the CPC Central Committee, and Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi will meet with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan.
Canadian Pastor James Coates was recently moved to a general population cell after spending most of two weeks alone following his mid-February incarceration for refusing to comply with COVID-19 church restrictions.

Coates was quarantined for two weeks upon being arrested with only two 15-minute blocks per day outside of his jail cell, his wife told Christian news outlet FaithWire in a recent statement.

He initially shared a cell with another inmate but was removed due to the high-profile nature of his case, Erin Coates stated in an email.

Erin Coates said she is unable to visit him due to COVID-19 restrictions but has been able to speak with him during video calls.

Source:The Christian Post
Supporters rally outside court as Pastor James Coates, of GraceLife Church, is in court to appeal the bail conditions, after he was arrested for holding day services in violation of COVID-19 rules in Edmonton, Alta., on March 4, 2021. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press)

Alberta Pastor Jailed for Violating COVID-19 Health Orders to Be Released: Justice Centre

EDMONTONA group that supports an Alberta pastor jailed after being charged with violating COVID-19 public-health orders says it expects him to be released in the coming days.

Crown prosecutors have dropped all but one charge against James Coates and have agreed to his release without bail conditions, the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms said Wednesday.

Prosecutors did not immediately return messages seeking comment.

Coates, who preaches at GraceLife Church west of Edmonton, has been in jail for a month for allegedly holding services that violated public health rules on the size of gatherings.

Jay Cameron, a lawyer with the Justice Center, said two RCMP officers met with Coates after a service Feb. 7 and imposed a condition on the pastor that he only hold church services that followed publichealth orders.

Coates refused to follow the condition, said Cameron, who added the RCMP should have taken the pastor before a justice of the peace but instead left the church.

Instead he was released on not a valid undertaking because he never gave one. And now that charge has been withdrawn and we think thats correct, Cameron said.

After he was charged, Coates was jailed when he continued to hold services in defiance of a bail order not to do so. In early March, his lawyers appealed with the argument that it would go against the pastors conscience before God not to lead worshippers.

A public health prosecutor argued that the pastors release would be a danger to the public.

The judge ruled that Coates remain behind bars until his trial in May.

The condition that Pastor Coates effectively stop doing his job as a pastor by adhering to unscientific and unconstitutional public health restrictions should never have been imposed on him by the RCMP, or by the court, Justice Centre president John Carpay said in a news release Wednesday.

We look forward to appearing in court in May and demanding the government provide evidence that public health restrictions that violate the freedoms of religion, peaceful assembly, expression and association are scientific and are justifiable in a free and democratic country.

GraceLife has continued to hold weekend services while Coates has been in jail. Last week, the church itself was charged.

By Fakiha Baig
Residents of Skilled Nursing facilities are often our mothers, our fathers, and our grandparents who are facing challenging times in their lives. Rules designed to protect nursing facility residents must be followed to ensure the dignity, respect, and compassion that residents deserve, Zimmer said. When companies fail to comply with these rules, they create environments that subject the most vulnerable among us to unnecessary victimization, stress and even physical harm.

Brookdale did not immediately respond to a call for comment.

The lawsuit alleges that Brookdale failed to adequately notify its patients and their families of transfers and discharges. Under the law, the suit noted, skilled nursing facilities are required to give notice of transfer or discharge at least 30 days in advance, or as soon as practical.

At the Brookdale facilities, the lawsuit alleges, required notices to patients, with a copy to the local ombudsmen, were not delivered. Brookdale also is accused of failing to properly prepare its patients for transfer or discharge. The coalition of California prosecutors alleges Brookdales actions endangered the health of its patients and also left families scrambling to find other places for their relatives.
Canberra, March 17 : Australia will provide support to Papua New Guinea (PNG) to fight the Covid-19 pandemic.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced on Wednesday that the Australian government will send 8,000 AstraZeneca vaccines and provide essential personal protective equipment (PPE) supplies to PNG, Xinhua reported.

The Australian government will also contact the European Union seeking access to 1 million AstraZeneca vaccines that it has already ordered and send them to PNG.

"We've contracted them. We've paid for them and we want to see those vaccines come here so we can support our nearest neighbour, PNG, to deal with their urgent needs in our region," he told reporters in Canberra.

Travel restrictions between the two countries will be tightened to prevent the spread of Covid-19 with a suspension of passenger flights from PNG into Cairns for two weeks after cases were found in Queensland.

Australian Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly said all signs pointed towards a "major epidemic" in the community in PNG.

The Australian government on Tuesday reaffirmed its commitment to the rollout of AstraZeneca's vaccine despite safety concerns overseas.

Several countries have suspended the rollout of the AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine following reports of blood clots.

Australian Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said there was no evidence linking the vaccine to the clots.
Over 10.75 lakh houses have been constructed under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban) during the COVID-19 pandemic so far, and Uttar Pradesh tops the chart with more than 2.55 lakh such units, Parliament was informed on Wednesday.

In a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha, Union and Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said under PMAY-U, construction of 43,32,651 houses have been completed till date.

In Uttar Pradesh, 2,55,227 houses have been constructed under the ambitious scheme since March last year, followed by 1,25,108 in Gujarat, 1,10,633 in Maharashtra and 58,427 in West Bengal, Puri said.

However, Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Ladakh have constructed 21 units each during the same period, he added.

"Under the scheme of Pradhan Mantri Awas YojanaUrban (PMAY-U), construction of a total of 43,32,651 houses have been completed so far. This includes 10,75,474 houses constructed during the COVID-19 pandemic (from March 2020 to till date)," the minister said.

In Delhi, 5,263 houses have been constructed during the COVID-19 pandemic under the scheme.

According to the ministry, a total of 1,10,70,970 houses have been sanctioned under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (U), of which 74,83,896 are at various stages of construction and 43,32,651 are complete or delivered.

Replying to another question, the minister said sanctioned houses under PMAY-U involve central assistance of Rs 1,78,076 crore, of which Rs 90,538 crore have already been released to states, union territories and central nodal agencies.

(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  President Joe Biden said Tuesday that he supports overhauling the Senate filibuster to require the minority to talk on the floor to block legislation, endorsing a momentous change that some progressives say could help advance his agenda.

Biden said senators should have to "work for the filibuster" when ABC News' George Stephanopoulos asked him whether he will have to choose between preserving the 60-vote rule and advancing his agenda.

"I don't think that you have to eliminate the filibuster. You have to do what it used to be when I first got to the Senate back in the old days," Biden said in an interview published Tuesday evening. "And this is  a filibuster, you had to stand up and command the floor. You had to keep talking alone."

"Once you stop talking, you lost that, and someone could move in," he said.

The shift falls short of the full abolition of the filibuster that many progressives have called for. But it aligns with recent remarks by Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., that it should be more "painful" to obstruct bills, and it is likely to boost momentum for the idea among Democrats, who have 50 votes in the Senate.

Biden echoed some activists' concerns that the filibuster was grinding government to a halt.

"It's getting to the point where democracy is having a hard time functioning," he said.

Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin, D-Ill., gave a scorching floor speech against the filibuster Monday, saying it has "become the death grip of democracy."

"Today's filibuster has turned the world's greatest deliberative body into one of the world's most ineffectual bodies," said Durbin, who backed a talking filibuster.

Earlier Tuesday, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., warned in stark terms that killing the filibuster would lead to a "completely scorched-earth Senate" and compel the minority to tie the chamber in knots by denying consent required under standing rules for the most basic functioning of the Senate.

Story continues

Let me say this very clearly for all 99 of my colleagues: Nobody serving in this chamber can even begin to imagine what a completely scorched-earth Senate would look like," he said.

"This chaos would not open up an express lane to liberal change. It would not open up an express lane for the Biden presidency to speed into the history books. The Senate would be more like a hundred-car pile-up. Nothing moving," McConnell said.

He added that when Republicans return to power, they could pass "all kinds of conservative policies with zero input from the other side" without a filibuster, such as defunding Planned Parenthood, cutting off sanctuary cities, restricting abortion and passing a "nationwide right-to-work law."

Under the so-called nuclear option in the Senate, a simple majority can change the rules by overturning a ruling by the chair and setting a new precedent. Democrats used the tool to scrap the 60-vote rule for most nominations in 2013, and Republicans, led by McConnell, used it to end the 60-vote rule for Supreme Court nominations in 2017.

A "talking filibuster" would require all 50 caucusing Democratic senators to vote to change the rules. It would set up a test of wills between a majority and an obstructing minority.

Under current rules, the onus is on the majority to find 60 votes to advance legislation; if it falls short, it stalls. A talking filibuster would shift the onus to the minority to hold the floor and speak incessantly until it gives up or the majority pulls the bill.

On the left, activists say neutering the filibuster would make way for legislation to overhaul voting rights, gun laws and the immigration system, all of which are unlikely to achieve 60 Senate votes.

"President Biden once again made it clear that he prioritizes his agenda and a functioning democracy over an abused 'Jim Crow relic' that clearly isn't promoting bipartisanship or compromise," said Eli Zupnick, a former Democratic aide who is leading a progressive coalition to end the filibuster.

In an interview, Durbin said his decision came because he believes McConnell's plan is to "shut down the Senate" and prevent the majority from governing.

"Having lost the Dream Act to a filibuster five times  I'm tired of it. It is basically discrimination based on civil rights, and we're just not going to take it and accept it," he said. "There comes a point where you ask: What is the value of this body?"
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-17 10:36:43|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, March 17 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese mainland reported no new locally transmitted COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, the National Health Commission said Wednesday.

Four new imported COVID-19 cases were reported on Tuesday, said the commission in its daily report.

Four new suspected cases arriving from outside the mainland were reported in Shanghai, and no new deaths related to the disease were reported, it added.

On Tuesday, 10 COVID-19 patients were discharged from hospitals following their recovery.

By the end of Tuesday, a total of 5,163 imported cases had been reported on the mainland. Among them, 4,990 had been discharged from hospitals following recovery, and 173 remained hospitalized. No deaths had been reported among the imported cases.

The total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases on the mainland reached 90,066 by Tuesday, including 176 patients still receiving treatment.

A total of 85,254 patients had been discharged following recovery on the mainland, and 4,636 had died of the disease.

There were four suspected COVID-19 cases on the mainland on Tuesday, and 4,178 close contacts remained under medical observation.

Tuesday also saw 15 asymptomatic cases newly reported, all arriving from outside the mainland. On the same day, one asymptomatic case was re-categorized as a confirmed case.

A total of 270 asymptomatic cases, all arriving from outside the mainland, were under medical observation.

By the end of Tuesday, 11,329 confirmed COVID-19 cases, including 203 deaths, had been reported in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR), 48 cases had been reported in the Macao SAR, and 990 cases, including 10 deaths, had been reported in Taiwan.

A total of 10,786 COVID-19 patients in the Hong Kong SAR had been discharged from hospitals after recovery, 47 had been discharged in the Macao SAR, and 951 had been discharged in Taiwan. Enditem
OnePlus 9 Pro is confirmed to feature a 6.7-inch QHD+ (3216x1440 pixels) resolution OLED display that also supports upto 120Hz refresh rate. OnePlus is all set to launch the OnePlus 9, OnePlus 9 Pro and the much-awaited OnePlus Watch on March 23 in India. The company has been teasing some key features of the OnePlus 9 series and has also announced its partnership with Swedish camera-maker Hasselblad for improving the imaging capabilities on OnePlus phones going forward.

In a DisplayMate report shared exclusively with PCMag, we get to know a lot more about the display of the OnePlus 9 Pro. The OnePlus 9 Pro flaunts a curved screen that has been sourced from Samsung and has been tuned by OnePlus for better colour accuracy and visuals. Meanwhile, over at the OnePlus Forums, the company has officially revealed that the display on the 9 Pro has received an A+ rating from DisplayMate and that it supports 10-bit colour depth with 1 Billion colours, HDR10+ certification and Automatic Color Temperature Adjustment.

Hyper Touch: 120 Hz is more responsive than 120 Hz. pic.twitter.com/A2B7USm5nT  Pete Lau (@PeteLau) March 16, 2021

"The 9 Pro has a very impressive, excellent, top-tier, world-class smartphone display with close to textbook-perfect calibration accuracy and performance, that is visually indistinguishable from perfect," says DisplayMate President, Dr Raymond Soneira describing the display on the OnePlus 9 Pro.

We led the industry in introducing high refresh rate displays, and now were leading in  low refresh rates. The #OnePlus9Series LTPO display can switch anywhere from 1-120 Hz, just when you need it. Fast, smooth, and lighter on your battery. pic.twitter.com/erOGmeSYzP  Pete Lau (@PeteLau) March 16, 2021

OnePlus 9 Pros display has greater sunlight legibility and has a special high-brightness mode that activates when there is a lot of ambient light. Furthermore, the OLED display on the OnePlus 9 Pro also features the next generation of display technology called LTPO (low-temperature polycrystalline oxide) which succeeds the LTPS technology. With LTPO, the display on the 9 Pro gives more control over refresh rates and saves a lot of power.

While the screen supports upto a 120Hz refresh rate, it can go down to as low as 1Hz in order to consume less battery. When you're scrolling, the screen moves at 120Hz. Stop, let it sit, and it drops to 1Hz. Watch a video at 30fps, and it runs at 30Hz. This all operates in service of battery life, the report states. The display is also confirmed to feature a 360Hz touch sampling rate which is more than the Galaxy S21 and the ROG Phone 5. However, there are only some games that will take leverage of a high touch sampling rate and those will be revealed on the launch day.

OnePlus 9 series launches in India on March 23 and here is everything we know about it so far.
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Recently I learnt that a dear friend and sister of mine, human rights activist, Barrister Saida Saad Bugaje is currently being ruthlessly and brutally harassed and persecuted by the authorities over her critique of the gormless governor of the State she hails from. It has gotten so intense that friends and family are now scared for her safety and life. Some months back, she had initially been subjected to a special kind of extrajudicial harassment by, what is believed to be the governors henchmen, over utterances she made on the alleged mismanagement of COVID-19 funds in her State. At that time, she was almost whisked away by personnel claiming to be working for the authorities in her home, had it not been for the timely intervention of the police and government of a different State.

As part of that ordeal, Barrister Saida Saad, the wife of renowned politician of esteemed pedigree and national treasure, Dr Usman Bugaje, was bombarded in her home when members of the police arrived in two vehicles and demanded for her to follow them to her State of origin even though they made that demand without an arrest warrant. Being that Barrister Saida is very much aware of her rights, she asked them to produce an arrest warrant and refused to follow the authorities unless she was furnished with one. Apart from the fact that the, so called, authorities sent to take her were not equipped with a valid arrest warrant, Barrister Saida was also cognizant of the insecurity in Nigeria and concerned. Given the spate of kidnappings and abductions across the country, it is no wonder that she was adamant on not blindly following strangers who barged into her house far into what could have been the great abyss. Luckily, while she stood her ground in refusing to follow them, they were eventually persuaded to leave.

With the ink hardly dry on that particular incident in which Barrister Saida escaped arrest, another confrontation was to ensue when the same group of personnel returned and forced their way into her home. In that particular incident, it looked as if they meant business because, according to eye witnesses, they intimidated members of her household, charged into her rooms, took pictures of the house, property and car number plates, amongst other forms of aggression. Perhaps Barrister Saidas saving grace on that faithful day was her absence. Thankfully to the Almighty, my friend was not at home. One cannot imagine what would have happened to her if they hoard of people sent had met her and her children at her home. Having had no way of locating her, they subsequently made their exit.

Presently, the persecution has continued with that particular State governor relentlessly setting members of the authorities in his State against her for allegedly speaking her mind.

On the morning of March 15, 2021, unidentified men visited the apartment she stays in Abuja with her picture demanding that the occupants of the residence produce her. They arrived at 6.30 a.m. and got all occupants of the building out in the car park, where they searched through everyone harassing and intimidating them to produce Barrister Saida. Some of the occupants where even just half dressed, as it is expected that time of the morning.

It has been reported that the men sent by the State governor are currently going round every residence Barrister visits in Abuja relentlessly looking for her despite the fact that there is an ongoing court case on her matter and an order from a high court against her indiscriminate arrest.

Only in Nigeria can the kind of mutiny of the rule of law that seems to characterise this governor become commonplace. Reading the account that Barrister Saida had been subjected to in the first incident, one is compelled to question which authority the police personnel sent to apprehend her empowered them to the extent that they would leave their jurisdiction in their State and go to another State to arrest Barrister Saida without a Warrant?

For goodness sake, we are supposed to be operating a democratic system of government. Freedom of speech to speak, analyse, question and criticise within the annals of the law is supposed to be part of the bedrock of which our hard fought democracy is based on. No longer do we operate a military system where Nigerians are restricted from free speech. Alas, the action of this particular governor against Barrister Saida Saad Bugaje is reminiscent of the military era. We are no longer in that era neither are we under a dictatorship, hence such actions must not be condoned. The governor should note that the rights of individuals to express themselves even in a critical manner are enshrined in the Constitution. He should realise that the people have a right to see things differently and critique policies of his administration.

It is unfortunate to see this dangerous growing trend where some State governors, as well as powerful-individuals feel entitled and empowered to illegally use police personnel to intimidate and arrest their critics or Nigerians who speak freely about matters that inconvenience and irritate those in authority.

Why is this the case? Recall the curious case of Abubakar Idris a.k.a Dadiyata who has been missing for almost two years now after he was abducted from his home in his State. He is a well-known fierce critic of his government. This outspoken activist was whisked away by the authorities almost two years ago and till date, his whereabouts are unknown to the vast amount of the Nigerian public. And many fear the fate of Dadiyata, which are invariably linked to his criticism of government.

While speculations and confusion still dominates narratives of Dadiyatas whereabouts, it is no wonder that Barrister Saida Saad Bugaje used her intellectual resources to resist becoming a statistic in the manner that this young man may have become.

The siege and attempted abduction of Barrister Saida Saad Bugaje by security personnel speaks volumes on how impunity is being employed by certain individuals to circumvent due process. And despite the danger of being apprehended back to her State, under the daunting force of her governor, Barrister Saida Saad maintained that she is willing and ready to face any valid charges the State Government might have filled against her, as long as correct procedure were followed and the safety of her and her family was guaranteed.

As we live in Nigeria during a time when we are fighting a ferocious internal war against violent crime, armed robbery, banditry and kidnapping, it is indeed shameful that our scarce resources, particularly during this period of COVID-19 and dwindling revenues, are being expended to achieve selfish agendas against those who have the courage to exercise their Constitutional right to free speech, rather than for the greater good. Why scarce resources would be spent on large numbers of security personnel on a fools errand is really Stoooopid with a capital S!

With several crimes and criminality across the country, especially the North, sending equipped police personnel all the way to one State from another to pick up an ordinary citizen for airing her views against a sitting government is the new definition of crime fighting. As a country, have we really sunk that low? Is appeasing some individuals ego more important than the safety of peoples lives and properties? Where exactly is the priority of some of these governors?

With her pedigree as an activist and human rights advocate, understandably, about 50 civil society organisations (CSOs) had, in the past, demanded that security personnel desist from hounding Barrister Saida Saad Bugaje and follow due process in instituting criminal proceedings against her. These CSOs previously went ahead to sign a petition calling on the police to desist from laying siege to Barrister Saida Saad Bugajes house. However, despite this, Barrister Saida Saad Bugaje is being hounded and tracked as if she has no Constitutional or human rights.

While this particular governor is supposed to be an academic genius and first class student, it might be pertinent for someone to sit him down and educate him on the very basic tenants of our democracy and Constitution. Should he not be aware, in Nigeria, freedom of expression is protected by section 39 (1) of the Constitution. The Constitution protects the right to freedom of expression and provides that any restriction to this right must be justifiable in a democratic society. The declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression in Africa also provides that any restriction to freedom of expression must serve a legitimate purpose, necessary in a democratic society.

Freedom of expression is also a primary requirement for democracy to thrive. Any society, which indiscriminately regulates what can be said and what cannot be said will ultimately collapse. Free speech is inherent in man; thoughts are free and for man to blossom, such thoughts should be given expression. Societies such as ours should endeavor to appreciate the need to allow citizens to freely express themselves.

While Social media in particular has become a very important tool for shaping public discourse in Nigeria, the apparent desperation to intimidate, suppress and silence public opinion and free speech by some people in power as well as further entrench a siege mentality on the citizenry is beyond belief. The authorities should not exploit concerns about hate speech or fake news as a pretext for the repression of free speech. Actions like that of the Governor in this particular persecution of Barrister Saida appear to actualise a dangerous drive to muzzle free speech in Nigeria.

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While one is aware that some people hold very dangerous views; dangerous in the sense that their views are myopic, inciting, destructive or inflammatory and threatening to the ideals of mutual respect, the courts are there to interpret and persecute erring offenders. But in order for any matter to get up to that level, due process must be adhered to according to Nigerian law. It is not for an individual, no matter how powerful they are or how highly placed they are, to be the judge, jury and executioner!

Notorious dictator Idi Amin once said, there is freedom of expression; however he will not guarantee freedom after the expression. Perhaps this very expression is what this Governor is, himself, governed by!

Barrister Saida Saad Bugaje continues to live under extreme fear for her safety and that of her family since the September 16th, 2020 incident and the exercise of her free speech that set her and her family running helter skelter in preservation of mind body and soul.

It is important for her story to be put on public record should anything happen to her. It must again be noted that there are court orders and subsisting court cases for the enforcement of her fundamental human rights presently in the law courts. Despite this, the governors team has become more determined and relentless in picking her up for charges, which appear to be completely baseless. The governor needs to Simmer-down and allow the Courts to determine the next cause of action instead of this manner of extrajudicial persecution.

Barrister Saida Saad Bugaje has declared that she is and will continue to be a law abiding citizen who loves her country deeply and is known for her deep respect for the rule of law, Justice and fairness. She has said that she will, therefore continue to seek all legitimate means to protect herself and her family against the governors excesses!

Recently, in her own words, she posted that, What the governor and his men are doing is completely against my basic and fundamental rights! If he truly believes that he has a genuine case of defamation of character against me then he should go to a proper court to institute a CIVIL ACTION. This is the proper thing to do but not to set the machinery of justice that is meant to give protection against me

I have personally known Barrister Saida Saad Bugaje for decades and I can contest that she is one of the most honorable, decent minded people I know; a brilliant lawyer who continuously fights for the most downtrodden in society, a fantastic wife and mother, a good and loyal friend, a patriotic Nigerian and an all round decent human being. She does not deserve the treatment allegedly given to her by the governor of her States not-so-merry men!

With that I throw my gauntlet in to exercise my constitutionally guaranteed right to free speech by stating that I STAND WITH BARRISTER SAIDA SAAD BUGAJE in exercising her Constitutional right without fear of intimidation!

My thoughts and prayers are with you my dear friend and sister. May The Almighty keep you safe

No matter what happens, Barrister Saida Saad Bugaje MUST be kept ALIVE AND WELL One hopes that her State Governor gets this message LOUD AND CLEAR!!!

@hanneymusawa
The lawmaker, Taguhi Tovmasian, said on March 16 that Interpol refused to start an international search for Gevork Kostanian because it found the case against him to be an instance of political persecution. She made the statement based on a document that she said had become available to her.

To put it simply, the international criminal police, Interpol, believe that Armenias Prosecutors Office and Special Investigative Service have fabricated an essentially unfounded case and that in this case they cannot restrict anyones movement or put anyone on the wanted list, Tovmasian said during a news briefing at the National Assembly.

Tovmasian, who is one of several lawmakers who quit the ruling My Step faction last year after Armenians suffered a defeat in the war against Azerbaijan in Nagorno-Karabakh, said this was unprecedented in the history of independent Armenia.

Kostanian, who is charged with several crimes related to the 2008 postelection crackdown on the opposition, including official forgery, abetting someone in concealment of a particularly heavy crime and in falsification of evidence, has been wanted by Armenian authorities since late 2019.

The former prosecutor-general, who served as a lawmaker in 2017-2018, denies the charges and says they are politically motivated.

Speaking to RFE/RLs Armenian Service from Moscow where he has stayed since leaving Armenia, Kostanian said he learned about Interpols document only after its publication by the Armenian lawmaker.

When the Prosecutors Office of the Russian Federation refused to put me on the wanted list, I told about this and published a document stating that Russian law-enforcement agencies refused to prosecute me because they believe that my prosecution is illegal and has no grounds or evidence and is of a political nature. So, nothing prevented me from publishing this document, if I had it, Kostanian said.

Meanwhile, Armenias Prosecutor-Generals Office said that Kostanian is still on the wanted list. In a statement it accused Tovmasian of distorting facts to try to make a scandal out of it.

According to Armenian prosecutors, Interpol does not study circumstances of cases and factual data and has no authority to assess the validity or legitimacy of charges. So, Interpol is not a body that qualifies a charge as justified or unfounded, politically or otherwise motivated, the Prosecutor-Generals Office concluded.

It also said Interpol often takes a neutral position in relation to charges of malfeasance against former or current officials or prosecution of persons as a result of conflicts between states.

There are many cases when cooperation in the case of a high-ranking or politically active person or individual crimes committed on ethnic grounds has been limited on the basis of a document from a relevant department of Interpol, the Prosecutor-Generals Office said.
An Ethiopian official on March 16 said that his government opposes calls by Sudan for outside mediators including the US in the ongoing dispute over the countrys construction of a hydroelectric dam on the Nile River. While speaking to reporters, spokesman for Ethiopias Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dina Mufti, said that the country is generally opposed to mediation by outside parties even though the African Union is welcome to help. He said that the tripartite talks between Ethiopia, Sudan, and Egypt on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam should be concluded between the three countries, not through mediators.

Mufti added, The role of mediators is facilitating the talks, not spoon-feeding the process. He added that Ethiopia has big respect for the African Union and the nation believes in resolving African problems by Africans.

Nile River dam to be Africas largest

Muftis comments came after it was reported that Sudan had formally requested mediation by the EU, the US and the African Union to resolve the dispute after the visit of Sudans PM to Cairo last week. It is worth noting that despite negotiations, Sudan, Egypt and Ethiopia have failed to reach a deal over how to share the Niles water. Previous talks with a variety of mediators, including the Trump administration, have also failed to produce a resolution.

The $4.6 billion dam will be Africas largest. According to the government, it is expected to reach full power generating capacity in 2023. Ethiopia insists that the dam is a crucial development that will help pull millions of its citizens out of poverty and became a major power exporter. Egypt, on the other hand, has asserted that the dam poses an existential threat. Sudan has also voiced concern over its access to the Niles water.

(Image: AP)
More than 39,000 people have signed a petition demanding to know what happened to a 21-year-old woman found dead on a beach after police ruled her death was non-suspicious.

Business student Blessing Olusegun, 21, was discovered dead on the seafront in Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex, in the early hours of the morning on September 18 - with no obvious cause of death.

Police launched a major investigation, collecting CCTV and forensic evidence - but a post-mortem found she had drowned and her death was deemed non-suspicious.

But campaigners say police did not conduct a full investigation into what happened to her, with an online petition calling for 'justice' gaining 39,000 signatures.

And her local branch of the TUC said the response was different to that of the Sarah Everard case - claiming racism towards black people in police forces.

Business student Blessing Olusegun, 21, was found dead on the beach in Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex, in the early hours of the morning on September 18 - with no obvious cause of death

Police launched a major investigation, collecting CCTV and forensic evidence - but a post-mortem found Miss Olusegun had drowned and her death was deemed non-suspicious

Ms Everard, 33, vanished in Clapham, south London, while walking home from a friend's house on March 3, prompting a massive search.

Her body was later found in a builder's bag in Kent. Metropolitan Police firearms officer Wayne Couzens, 48, was arrested on suspicion of kidnap and murder.

Police are treating the death of Miss Olusegun in Bexhill as unexplained but not suspicious and the investigation remains 'open and active'.

A change.org petition demanding 'justice for Blessing and her family' says she was a 21-year-old business student from London.

Miss Olusegun was in Bexhill for a one-week placement as a carer for the elderly with dementia and other mental health issues.

The petition reads: 'Blessing Olusegun was a 21-year-old business student from London.

'She came to Bexhill on a one-week placement as a carer to help old people with dementia and other mental health issues.

But campaigners say police did not conduct a full investigation into what happened to her, with an online petition (pictured) calling for 'justice' gaining 39,000 signatures

And her local branch of the TUC say the response was different to that of the Sarah Everard (pictured) case - claiming discrimination towards black people in police forces

'She was recently found dead on Bexhill Beach near Galley Hill at 6.20am with her shoes and phone nearby her body and the police are treating it as non suspicious.

'Her mother Esther Abe is demanding to know why her beautiful daughter died on September 18.

'We need justice for blessing and her family. What actually happened?'

A fundraiser titled 'Justice4Blessing' - which has raised more than 10,000 - said she went for a walk at around 12.30am.

Police are treating the death of Miss Olusegun in Bexhill (near where Miss Olusegun was found, pictured) as unexplained but not suspicious and the investigation remains 'open and active'

She had sent text messages to a close family friend and her boyfriend asking them to 'stay on the phone' with her - but this did not happen.

She then sent a text saying 'never mind'.

Police said they found her body at 6.20am on September 18 - and found her phone and slippers nearby.

They have looked at phone records, searched her room and monitored local CCTV.

Cameras did not capture anyone with Ms Olusegun on the night she died and a pathologist deemed she drowned with 'no evidence of violence or any internal or external injuries'.

Lewisham TUC president Cheryl McLeod told BBC News: 'We mourn Sarah Everard...

'However, there is another death within our community, who like Sarah, was a woman who was walking alone.'

Sussex Police Detective Inspector Pippa Nicklin said: 'It has been reported that we have not properly investigated Blessing's death because of her ethnicity and we strongly refute these claims.'

'I have spoken with Blessing's mother and explained we remain absolutely committed to finding out the facts of what happened to Blessing.'
OTTAWA, ON / ACCESSWIRE / March 17, 2021 / Grafoid Inc. ("GRAFOID" or the "Company"), a global leader in the graphene products and applications market, and Stria Lithium Inc. (SRA) announced today that they have agreed to terminate the letter of intent dated September 24, 2020 which contemplated a reverse takeover transaction of Stria by Grafoid. Due to matters beyond the reasonable control of Stria and Grafoid, due diligence was unable to be completed and therefore the parties have agreed to terminate the letter of intent.

Overview of Grafoid Inc.

Founded in 2011, Grafoid Inc. is a graphene research, development and investment company that invests in, manages and develops markets for processes that produce economically scalable graphene for use in graphene development applications by leading corporations and institutions. Grafoid's leading investment produces application friendly, minimal-defect, high-energy density few layer graphene, utilizing a safe, non-destructive extraction process, leaving the lowest possible ecological footprint. The completely unique, proprietary process results in what Grafoid regards as a new global standard for economically scalable, high-purity graphene products-that can be tailored to both industrial and commercial applications.

For more information about Grafoid, please visit www.grafoid.com.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Investor Contacts:

Scott Anderson

Investor Relations

(858) 229-7063

sanderson@nextcap-ir.com

Grafoid Inc.

Judith Mazvihwa-MacLean

CFO

(613) 581-4040

jmazvihwa@grafoid.com

SOURCE: Grafoid Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/635998/Grafoid-Provides-Update-to-Proposed-Reverse-Takeover-Transaction-with-Stria-Lithium-Inc
Social media engagement is a key part of brand building and consumer-directed marketing in today's media environment. Surveys indicate that 65 percent of consumers are interested in engaging with brands on social media.

In many metrics, marketing efforts on social media now outpace those through more traditional channels, such as television. The effectiveness of social media engagement has hardly been lost on industry: There are more than 10 million active advertisers on Facebook alone.

But can those tweets and posts open a business up to litigation in unexpected venues? The United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit recently had the occasion to take up this question in Blessing v. Chandrasekhar.

The dispute arose out of the widely circulated January 2019 video of students from Covington Catholic High School in Kentucky in an altercation with a Native American activist in Washington, D.C. After viewing this video, California resident and My Life on the D-List star Kathy Griffin and New Jersey physician Sujana Chandrasekhar posted about it on Twitter and encouraged their followers to identify the students.

The students sued Griffin and Chandrasekhar in the Eastern District of Kentucky alleging several causes of action under Kentucky state law. Griffin and Chandrasekhar moved to dismiss the matter, arguing lack of personal jurisdiction. The district court dismissed the complaint for lack of personal jurisdiction without prejudice and the plaintiffs appealed.

The Sixth Circuit affirmed the district court dismissal, rejecting plaintiffs' argument that defendants' "allegedly tortious postings on social media" could subject them to personal jurisdiction in Kentucky under either the Kentucky long-arm statute or the Due Process Clause. The court's opinion emphasized how "[t]here [was] no evidence that the defendants posted the tweets hoping to reach Kentucky specifically as opposed to their Twitter followers generally." In other words, without proof that the defendants intended to "direct any communications to the plaintiffs or anyone else in Kentucky, and they did not otherwise avail themselves of the benefits and protections of Kentucky's laws," personal jurisdiction over them was improper.

Federal courts have wrestled with the question of how traditional contacts-based personal jurisdiction doctrine should account for internet activity for decades now. Blessing does not provide the final answer to that question, but it does provide some important guidelines for companies considering their social media marketing strategies. Put simply: Engaging with an audience likely does not rise to the level of minimum contacts necessary to create jurisdiction, but engaging with an individual--and thereby directing activity to the location where that individual lives--may well.
ALBANY, N.Y., March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Firms in the global tax software market are taking steps to assist their clients with stimulus check payment updates and regular information on deadlines of tax filing during these extraordinary times of the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. For example, TurboTax, a software package for the preparation of American income tax returns, is dedicated to providing EAs (Enrolled Agents) and on-demand CPAs (Certified Public Accountants) to answer clients' questions.

Businesses in the global tax software market are raising understanding of the new coronavirus tax relief database brought in by Internal Revenue Service (IRS) of the US. These resources have the most updated information about how the disease outbreak is likely to impact the situation of a taxpayer. As a result of the COVID-19 fallout, many states in the US have changed their deadlines pertaining to tax filing for the concerned year. Firms that offer tax software advise their consumers about how to obey federal rules in order to meet filing deadlines of the state.

Depending on a variety of factors, the global tax software market is expected to grow at 12% CAGR over the assessment timeframe, from 2020 to 2030, in terms of revenue. Convergence of digital technology and devices with conventional business procedures as well as a rapidly evolving manufacturing climate, are steadily rising demand for tax software and, as a result, likely to stimulate growth of the global tax software market in the years to come.

Download PDF Brochure - https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=39068

Key Findings of Market Report

Cloud Technology Enabled Platforms to Open up New Revenue Streams for the Market

Global corporations require real-time global data that informs them of tax payment related obligations, risks, and opportunities. Firms in the global tax software market are responding to these demands by providing platforms that aid in the collection of data from both unstructured and structured sources. Businesses are offering cloud-enabled platforms, such as Microsoft Azure, in order to focus on increased profitability. As a result, in the global tax software market, start-ups and new players are posing a serious threat to existing software companies.

Businesses benefit from the versatility and scalability of cloud-based computing systems. Firms are designing technologies that makes co-sourcing and adhering to industry guidelines simpler. They are designing applications that assist users in estimating taxes depending on the specific geography and operation. Cloud-based software aids in the recording of real-time changes in work papers.

Automation of End-to-End Indirect Tax Process to Gain Traction in the Tax Software Industry

End-to-end indirect tax process automation is becoming more common in the tax software industry. Proprietary content databases that comply with thousands of jurisdictions around the world are utilized to drive powerful software items. Pre-built integrations for core business applications are becoming more popular as companies expand their portfolio.

In the global tax software market, incorporating accounting services to developed software products has become a common practise. A case in point is Drake Enterprises Ltd., a leading supplier of professional tax preparation software, is stepping up its efforts to help clients grow their companies and draw new customers. The emerging trend of electronic tax filing is a major factor driving the growth of the global tax software market. Business owners in countries like the US favour unrestricted and free federal and state e-filing solutions. In order to make tax auditing simpler, software with data and document management capabilities is becoming increasingly popular.

Explore 279 pages of superlative research, current market scenario, and extensive geographical projections. Gain insights into the Tax Software Market (Component: Tax Software and Services; Software Deployment: Cloud and On-premise; Tax Type: Sales Tax, Income Tax, and Other Tax; End User: Individuals and Commercial Enterprise; and Industry: BFSI, Telecom & IT, Government, Healthcare, Retail & Consumer Goods, Transportation, Manufacturing, Energy & Utilities, and Others)  Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast, 2020-2030at https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/tax-software-market.html

Tax Software Market: Growth Drivers

The tax system is undergoing a digital transformation. Nowadays, taxpayers handle their tax dealings utilizing a variety of digital services, with more than 85 % of self-assessment tax returns being completed electronically.

The integration of digital platforms and technology with conventional business operations, as well as a rapidly evolving manufacturing climate, are slowly but steadily increasing demand for tax software.

Governments in North America are adopting digital platforms to make evaluation of data of taxpayers, which includes cross-referencing of data at the very origin, putting it through incredibly advanced analytics, and then sharing it amongst businesses.

Analyze global Tax Software Market growth in 30+ countries including US, Canada, Germany, United Kingdom, France, Italy, Russia, Poland, Benelux, Nordic, China, Japan, India, and South Korea. Request a sample of the study

Global Tax Software Market: Key Competitors

Thomson Reuters Corporation

Sage Tax & Financial Solutions

Automatic Data Processing, Inc.

Wolters Kluwer N.V . (Kluwer Publishers and Wolters Samsom )

. (Kluwer Publishers and ) TaxSlayer LLC

Avalara Blucora, Inc.

Request the Covid19 Impact Analysis at https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=covid19&rep_id=39068

Global Tax Software Market: Segmentation

Component

Tax Software

Services

Software Deployment

Cloud

On-premise

Tax Type

Sales Tax

Income Tax

End User

Individuals

Commercial Enterprise

Industry

BFSI

Telecom and IT

Government

Healthcare

Retail and Consumer Goods

Transportation

Manufacturing

Energy and Utilities

Explore Transparency Market Research's award-winning coverage of the Global IT & Telecom Industry:

Email Encryption Market - The global email encryption market is projected to cross US$ 25.3 Bn by 2030. The email encryption market is projected to expand at a CAGR of ~25% from 2020 to 2030.

Barcode Readers Market  The global barcode readers market is projected to reach value of US$ 10.1 Bn by 2030. The barcode readers market is projected to expand at a CAGR of ~4% from 2020 to 2030.

About Transparency Market Research

Transparency Market Research is a global market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. Our experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyse information.



Our data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts, so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With a broad research and analysis capability, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques in developing distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.

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SOURCE Transparency Market Research
COTTONWOOD HEIGHTS, Utah, March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Swell, the customer engagement platform for local businesses, announced a Series A funding round of $8 million. The round was led by SkyLab Ventures with support from Teamworthy and Swell's current investors, including Cultivation Capital.

Swell Raises $8M Series A

This funding round comes following Swell's triple-digit year-over-year growth, and the release of the latest version of their customer engagement platform. "Despite the challenges presented to everyone in 2020, we still managed to quadruple our team, release a new version of our platform, and continue to grow our customer base. It's clearer than ever that local businesses need tools like Swell to help them adapt to changes and engage with customers and prospects," says Drew Sparks, CEO and co-founder of Swell. "This round will position us for the next growth stage of Swell by letting us expand our leadership team, enter new verticals, and add some next-level features to the Swell platform."

Tech veteran Benson Metcalf, who held executive positions at Pluralsight and SaltStack and currently serves as CEO of SkyLab Ventures, will advise Swell and represent SkyLab on the Swell board of directors. "Swell understands that automating customer engagement is the future of business, and they've shown leadership in this space even as the world wrestled with a pandemic," says Metcalf. "Investing in Swell was an easy decision because their platform provides lots of value to local businesses, which are all eager for technology to help them grow. We're excited to work with the Swell team as they continue their growth trajectory."

"The last year really solidifies how much local businesses count on tools like Swell and our growth is proof," says CRO and co-founder Zeke Kuch. "Even when businesses were cutting costs due to COVID-19, they kept Swell because it helped them adapt. We're glad we could help so many businesses pivot to a digital approach and empower them to engage with and acquire new customers, even in the face of a rapidly changing world."

Cultivation Capital, Swell's largest seed investor, also contributed to Swell's Series A. "Swell has done a fantastic job since we invested in them a little over a year ago," says John True, General Partner at Cultivation Capital. "We see more potential growth for them, so we felt it was wise to strengthen our relationship with them."

The Swell platform makes it easy for local businesses to engage with customers, gather online reviews, and even schedule appointments online. On average, Swell users increase customer reviews over 300% in the first year.

About Swell

Swell is an engagement platform that helps location-based businesses better engage with and acquire new customers. It helps businesses get discovered in local searches, easily collect customer feedback, and it modernizes the way businesses communicate with customers. www.swellcx.com

Press Contact

Justin Strong

[email protected]

Related Images

swell-raises-8m-series-a.png

Swell Raises $8M Series A

Swell Raises $8M Series A

SOURCE SkyLab Ventures
Gardai continue to advise people to stay home to stay safe this St Patricks Day and avoid large gatherings and house parties after making some arrests.

Gardai say they have observed 'overwhelming compliance' by the public in support of the current Public Health Regulations and Guidelines.

However, they say a significant policing operation is in place right across the country.

The guards say events organised on social media have transpired, but with limited numbers in attendance.

Following continued non-compliance with Public Health Regulations and failing to comply with directions, Gardai say they have had to intervene on a number of occasions.

Up to 3pm today, the police arrested 16 persons (13 male, 3 female) associated with these events in the Dublin.

A statement said 10 persons have been charged and will appear before a sitting of Dublin District Court at the Criminal Courts of Justice.

Garda operations in Dublin continued.

Speaking this afternoon, Deputy Commissioner, Policing and Security, Anne Marie McMahon said:

"This has not been a normal St Patricks Day. I acknowledge the huge level of compliance and social responsibility demonstrated today.

I appeal to the public to continue this effort into this evening, please do not engage in house gatherings or parties or congregate in public spaces and amenities," she said.

This evening, An Garda Siochana say they will will continue high visibility patrolling at public amenities, conducting checkpoints focused on non-essential travel and people exercising outside 5km of their home, road safety activity and large gatherings that may occur across the country.

"It is important that people enjoy the good weather and avail of fresh air. Please do so in accordance with Public Health Regulations. If a public amenity appears to be crowded please change your plans and revisit at a later time.

"When visiting public amenities within 5km of your home please park legally. Illegal parking can hinder access by emergency services and could put lives at risk. As has been the case previously, people who illegally park are at risk of having their cars towed and impounded.

An Garda Siochana appeals to the public not to arrange or attend house parties or gatherings this evening.

"These events put not just those attending, but everyone they meet afterwards, at risk of catching COVID-19" said a statement.

Gardai continues to remind domestic violence victims that travel restrictions DO NOT APPLY in the case of domestic violence or to escape a risk of harm, whether to the person or to another person.

They appeal to anybody who may have been the victim of an incident of sexual or domestic crime irrespective of whether you may have been on breach of any public health regulations, for instance by attending a house party, that the force will assist and support. They urge people to please report all such incidents.

Gardai say they have continued to use its 4Es approach  engage, explain, and encourage with enforcement a last resort.
EDWARDSVILLE  On Tuesday, the city council unanimously approved a professional services agreement with Crawford, Murphy and Tilly, (CMT) Inc., for a risk and resilience assessment (R&RA) to cost $44,620.

Required by the American Water Infrastructure Act (AWIA), CMT will develop the citys emergency response plan (ERP) as well as the R&RA. The R&RA must be completed and submitted to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) by June 30.

CMT has helped the city on several treatment plant projects in the past and has the background information to be the most efficient at completing ERPs, which must be submitted by Dec. 31.

CMT officials will have a kick-off meeting; gather data and interview people; characterize assets; analyze and characterize threats; perform a consequence analysis; a vulnerability assessment; and generate a final report.

In other news, Mayor Hal Patton announced that the groundbreaking for the R.P. Lumber Center will be March 25 at 4 p.m. at Tiger Drive near Governors Parkway.

In other action, the city council unanimously approved the following items:

 A sole source resolution authorizing remounting a 2012 International ambulance body (1341) onto a 2021 Ford F-550 chassis with engine and driveline. The cost is not to exceed $187,000

 A sole source resolution authorizing the purchase of bulk Louisiana rock salt from Gunther Salt Co. for $383,599. This is the citys quarterly purchase of the compound for its water system

 Approval of a resolution for improvement for University Drive, phase 1

 Approval of an engineering services agreement with Sheppard, Morgan and Schwaab, Inc. for University Drive, phase 1 for $148,500

 Approval of a resolution for improvement for University Drive, phase 2

 Approval of an engineering services agreement with Sheppard, Morgan and Schwaab, Inc. for University Drive, phase 2 for $145,000

 Award the North Interceptor Creek Crossing repair contract to Stutz Excavating, Inc., for $37,000

 Approval of the 2021 motor fuel tax material contract letting by group number: Asphalt Sales and Products, Inc. for Cold Mix (EZ Street) Asphalt for $6,255; Christ Bros. Asphalt, Inc. for Hot Mix Asphalt for $75,000; Beelman Logistics, LLC for seal coat aggregate for $25,685; Piasa Road Oil for oil and chip applications in the amount of $95,955; Kienstra-Illinois, LLC for the concrete for $86,400; and Polo Trucking, Inc., for coarse aggregate costing $19,477

 Second reading of an ordinance certifying citys official zoning map

 An amendment to professional services agreement with Chiodini Artchitects costing $129,900

 Approval of a professional services agreement with SCI Engineering costing $49,876

 Amended ordinance to approve a jurisdictional transfer agreement and accept a 1.3-mile stretch of Governors Parkway between Route 159 and Route 157 (passage on first reading)

The next city council meeting will be April 6 at 7 p.m. in city hall, 118 Hillsboro Ave. or via Zoom.

Reach reporter Charles Bolinger at 618-659-5735
If you need to improve your credit score, theres a good chance you will want to hire the best credit repair companies to do it for you. Repairing your credit by yourself will require a lot of time and patience, and likely will result in no small amount of frustration. Its not surprising that many people make the wiser decision to pay for the help of a professional credit repair agency.

Choosing a credit repair service, however, can seem almost as daunting as doing it yourself. There are so many options, and it can be difficult to tell the legitimate companies from scammers. Even among reputable companies, how can you tell which ones are effective?

We have reviewed the top credit repair companies of 2021 to help you find the right company for your needs. Weve analyzed their credit repair processes, reputations, credit repair reviews, guarantees, and prices.

If youre ready to fix your credit without spending countless hours and the endless frustration of doing it yourself, here are the eight best credit repair companies of 2021.

The Best Credit Repair Companies of 2021

#1 Credit Saint: Best Company Overall

Our pick for the overall best credit repair company is Credit Saint. Since 2007, Credit Saint has maintained a continuous A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau, which is unusual among credit repair agencies. Credit Saint assigns each customer a personal advisory team of credit pros who monitor your case and call periodically to provide updates and answer questions.

Credit Saint has three service packages to choose from: Credit Polish, Credit Remodel, and Clean Slate. The plans range from $79.99 to $119.99 per month, with initial setup fees between $99 and $195. All the packages come with a 90-day money-back guarantee, and the initial consultation is free.

If you have only a few negative items on your credit report, you could choose the Credit Polish plan, the most basic package. Credit Saint will dispute up to 5 inaccuracies per month, including late payments, charge-offs, collections, and transactions related to identity theft. You get online access to Credit Saints resources, as well as phone support.

Moving up to the Credit Remodel package adds 5 more disputes per month, plus the ability to challenge bankruptcies and repossessions. You also get escalated information requests. This package has the same $99 set-up fee as the base plan, and costs $99.99 per month.

For the most extensive credit repair, the Clean Slate package is the most comprehensive among Credit Saints offerings. You get everything in the Credit Remodel package, plus unlimited disputes and the ability to dispute judgments.

A+ rating at the Better Business Bureau since 2007

Free credit repair consultation

90-day money back guarantee

Private online dashboard to monitor progress

Packages include credit monitoring with Experian

Click Here to Visit the Credit Saint Website for More Info

#2 Lexington Law: Most Reputable Credit Repair Agency

Founded in 2004, Lexington Law Firm has offices in Utah and Arizona and attorneys admitted in various states across the country. The firm employs attorneys and paralegals, which is not the case for all credit repair companies. Lexington Law will work with every clientto provide personalized credit counseling and customer service.

Lexington Law offers three service plans and a free initial credit report consultation to help you choose which package is best for your situation. At $89.85 per month, the Concord Standard plan includes bureau and creditor challenges, meaning Lexington Law will communicate with the bureaus on your behalf to enforce the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

The next level up is the Concord Premier plan, which costs $109.95 a month. This credit clean up service adds continuous credit monitoring, a monthly credit score analysis, questionable inquiry challenges, and more.

Lexington Laws most complete planand their most popular service levelis the Premier Plus package. It includes FICO Score tracking and analysis, identity monitoring, identity theft insurance, and a financial management tool.

The most advanced feature included in the Premier Plus plan is unusual among credit repair companies: legal assistance in dealing with third-party debt collectors and auctioneers. All this will cost you $129.95 per month.

Experienced credit repair law firm with over 500,000 active clients

56 million removals since 2004

Free credit report consultation

Flexible credit repair packages for any budget

PremierPlus plan comes with identity theft protection

Click Here to Visit the Lexington Law Website for More Info

#3 CreditRepair.com: Best Credit Repair App

Of the best credit repair companies we reviewed, CreditRepair.com offers a simple yet effective model. After paying the first work fee of $14.99, the basic rate for all their services is $99.95 per month.

Like most credit repair companies, the credit advisors at CreditRepair.com start by pulling your credit report from each of the three main credit reporting bureaus. They check your credit reports for questionable negative items that may be unfair, invalid, or inaccurate.

They will challenge these negative items with the credit bureaus or other credit companies on your behalf. Then they will follow up to ensure that your credit reports actually change after the disputes are resolved.

The types of items that CreditRepair.com can help you address include collections, judgments, late payments, charge-offs, bankruptcies, foreclosures, repossessions, and any items older than seven years.

Customers also get access to a variety of tools, including an online dashboard to track their credit repair progress. Members also receive text and email alerts, a credit score tracker and analysis tool, and mobile apps for both Android and iOS devices.

Free credit score analysis and summary

Personalized credit repair plan to improve your score

1.8 million removals since 2012

3 different credit repair service levels to choose from

Mobile credit repair app for iPhone and Android to monitor progress

Click Here to Visit the CreditRepair.com Website for More Info

#4 Sky Blue Credit: Cheap Credit Repair Specialist

Sky Blue Credit has a simple pricing model consisting of a $79 first work fee and $79 per month, or $119 a month for couples. Like Credit Saint, Sky Blue Credit offers a 90-day money-back guarantee and a free initial consultation. Sky Blue has been in business since 1989.

When you sign up, Sky Blue Credit will get your free credit reports from the major credit bureaus. After a thorough review, they will identify potential data errors and prioritize the items that have the most impact. Then Sky Blue will start sending dispute letters to the credit bureaus, up to 15 per 35-day cycle.

The credit repair services available from Sky Blue Credit also include goodwill letters, cease and desist letters, debt settlement, and debt validation. They also offer balanced advice on how to improve your credit score, tailored specifically to your needs.

Sky Blue Credit repair says the process usually takes about six months, and you can pause or cancel the service without penalty at any time. That bit of extra flexibility is important, especially for those whose financial situation constantly changes.

Simple pricing structure with flat-rate credit repair packages

Low monthly fee of just $79 per month

No charge for the first 6 days

15 credit disputes per 35-day billing cycle

Cease-and-desist letters to stop debt collector harassment

Click Here to Visit the Sky Blue Credit Website for More Info

#5 The Credit Pros: Fast Credit Repair Service

If youre on the market for a reliable, affordable credit repair company, The Credit Pros may be your best option. This company has been in business since 2009, and since it began, its credit professionals have helped thousands of customers improve their credit scores and remove questionable items from their reports.

Jason M. Kaplan, an attorney and expert in the credit repair field, started The Credit Pros to help consumers boost their credit scores and avoid credit mistakes in the future. The company has grown steadily since its 2009 beginnings, and the Better Business Bureau has awarded The Credit Pros an A+ BBB rating for its trustworthy, effective services.

The Credit Pros utilizes a tried-and-true credit repair process to boost its customers scores by several points. Like many credit repair companies, this firm focuses primarily on identifying inaccurate items on your credit report that may be lowering your score. Once it pinpoints inaccuracies, the company will guide you through the repair process to remove these items.

After you complete a free consultation with the company, The Credit Pros will provide the following services to boost your score:

A personal action plan from a certified FICO credit repair professional

Credit dispute letters

Goodwill letters

Debt validation letters

Cease and desist letters

Credit monitoring to help identify identity theft or other fraudulent activity

A user-friendly customer portal

Several of this companys features brought it to our attention.

First, The Credit Pros offers a convenient mobile app that allows you to check your credit repair progress on the go. We appreciate that the app is user friendly, free to download, and provides instant notifications about your credit activity.

We also like the companys 90-day money-back guarantee. This guarantee allows you to try The Credit Pros services with confidence, knowing that the company will refund your money if it cannot dispute your negative items.

Also, you will have access to The Credit Pros legal network, so that you can talk to credit attorneys and engage their services if legal action becomes necessary. This is a distinct advantage of The Credit Pros.

Altogether, The Credit Pros is a reputable credit repair company that offers a range of valuable services to repair your credit report.

Credit monitoring included with every package

ID theft restoration and insurance included

Unlimited dispute letters for one low monthly fee

One-on-one action plan with personal case advisor

Click Here to Visit the Credit Pros Website for More Info

#6 The Credit People: Best Guarantee

Some credit repair companies offer a money-back guarantee, often with restrictions. The Credit People have one of the best: a 60-day money-back guarantee if youre not satisfied for any reason.

Another thing that sets The Credit People apart is their pricing: you can pay monthly, or a six-month flat fee. With the monthly option you pay a $19 setup fee and, after a 7-day trial period, you then pay $79 per month. During the trial period, you can get an idea of the state of your credit history and decide if you really need the help of a credit repair service.

With the 6-month flat-rate option, there is no set-up fee or monthly chargeyou just make a one-time payment of $419. Since this works out to only $70 a month and the process usually takes 6 months, The Credit People offer one of the most affordable packages on the market.

Most of the top credit repair companies assign each customer a personal advisor. The Credit People do not, so you could end up talking to a different advisor each time you contact them. If this is a problem, you might want to choose a different credit repair company.

Legitimate credit repair company founded in 2001

Unbeatable satisfaction guarantee

Free credit reports and scores

Just $19 today and then $79 monthly fee, cancel anytime

Click Here to Visit The Credit People Website For More Info

#7 Pyramid Credit Repair: Best Customer Service

Since the best credit repair companies improve your credit score mostly through the same processes, Pyramid Credit Repair distinguishes itself from the competition with stellar customer service.

Founded in 2012, Pyramid assigns each customer a Personal Account Manager to help you through the entire credit repair process. They will walk you through requesting your credit scores and a free initial assessment to see if the program is right for you. And while your account manager is your primary point of contact, you also will have the support of an entire team of credit pros.

Pyramid Credit Repair protects their customers privacythey will not share your credit data without your explicit consent. Their website is one of the better ones, meeting accessibility guidelines that many sites do not.

Pricing is simple: $99 a month for singles or $198 per month for couples. You can cancel without penalty at any time.

While Pyramid Credit Repair is not accredited by the Better Business Bureau, they do have an excellent Trustpilot score and consistently positive customer reviews. They offer a conditional 90-day money-back guarantee.

#8 Ovation Credit Services: Experienced Credit Fixers

Founded by Lending Tree, Ovation Credit Services offers two credit repair packages. Both plans start with an $89 first work fee on signup and include a free consultation, a case advisor, and personalized credit dispute options.

The Essentials credit repair package costs $79 per month, and includes 24/7 access to your case, with live updates from the Ovation Credit Services pros, as well as access to the online dispute service.

Stepping up to the Essentials Plus plan adds unlimited challenge validation and unlimited creditor goodwill letters. You also get a personalized creditor recommendation letter and TransUnion Credit Monitoring. This plan will set you back $109 per month.

Both plans allow customers to add Fast Track and Identity Optimization packages to their services for an additional fee.

Ovation Credit Services has an A+ accreditation from the Better Business Bureau, a standout score among credit repair companies. They also boast what may be the best website in the industry, with a modern interface and a smooth user experience that puts all their services at your fingertips.

Compare The Top 10 Credit Repair Services

Here is a side-by-side comparison of the top 10 credit repair companies of 2021. We scored each credit repair agency based on their company repuation, pricing, features, and customer service.

Rank Credit Repair Company Score 1st Credit Saint 9.7 2nd Lexington Law 9.4 3rd CreditRepair.com 8.9 4th Sky Blue Credit 8.8 5th The Credit Pros 8.5 6th The Credit People 8.2 7th Pyramid Credit Repair 7.8 8th Ovation Credit Services 7.6 9th AMB Credit Consultants 7.3 10th Trinity Credit Services 7.0

Things to Consider When Choosing a Top Credit Repair Company

Free Consultation

All the best credit repair companies we reviewed offer a free initial consultation. This is essential to get a good sense of how they can help you before paying for their services. The consultant will help you choose which of their credit repair services will benefit you mostor you could find that you dont really need the assistance of a credit repair company at all, in which case you could save some money.

First Work Fee (Setup Fee)

Under the United States Credit Repair Organizations Act, a credit repair company cannot charge for services in advance. Most of them, however, do charge a setup or first work feea one-time fee to open your account. These work fees range from as little as $6.99 to almost $200.

BBB Rating

Fixing something as important as your credit score is serious, and you want to know you can trust the credit repair company you hire. Their reputation must be verifiable. A rating of A+ from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) is the gold standard. Legitimate credit repair companies dont need to have the top BBB rating to be reputable, however, as long as they have a good record of dealing with problems.

Money-Back Guarantee

Most of the credit repair companies we reviewed offer some sort of guarantee. Be sure to read the fine print, however, as not all guarantees are created equal.

Some credit help companies have no strings attached: you can cancel for any reason and get your money back. Others offer money back only if the credit repair company fails to remove negative items from your credit report. A 90-day money-back guarantee if your credit score hasnt improved is a good option.

Number of Negative Items Disputed Per Billing Cycle

Credit repair companies do most of their work by disputing inaccurate or unverifiable items found on your credit report. The most basic plans allow five disputed items per cycle. If you dont have a lot of items to challenge, that could be enough for your needs.

If you require more extensive credit repair, youll want to step up to a plan that offers more disputes per cycle, as this will help speed the process of improving your credit score. The most comprehensive packages offer unlimited disputes.

Price Per Month

All the best credit repair companies we reviewed offer monthly plans. Prices vary widely, based on the level of service, how many people are covered, and, of course, the credit repair company itself.

The lowest monthly rate we found was $79, available from several of our picks as their base price. The highest monthly price was $198 per month for the couples plan from Pyramid Credit Repair.

The absolute lowest monthly cost available from our list of credit repair companies is the 6-month flat-rate plan from The Credit People. At $419, it works out to just under $70 per month, though its payable in a lump sum.

Years of Experience

While theres no reason a recently formed company cant deliver great results, experience is reassuring. The longer a company has been repairing credit, the more they will know about the ins and outs of the process, and the more likely they are to be able to handle any complications that come up.

How Do Credit Repair Companies Work?

While each credit repair company has its own process, they all use the same basic methods to repair your credit. The general strategy is to identify and remove errors, inaccurate data, or other problems with your credit reports. By cleaning up your credit reports, the best credit repair companies can improve your credit score significantly.

First, the credit repair company will get (or help you get) your credit reports from the three main credit bureaus. Theyll review your credit reports for any data that could negatively impact your credit scores, such as discrepancies, inaccuracies, or other errors. Some credit repair companies include this analysis in the free consultation.

At this point, a reputable credit repair service will admit they arent able to help you. If you have a series of legitimate charge-offs, for instance, theres not much a credit repair company can do to improve your credit score. In this case, your credit repair options are limited to improving your credit habits and rebuilding your credit over time.

Once the credit repair company identifies the items to dispute, they will send dispute letters to the creditors and credit bureaus on your behalf, challenging the negative items so the data will be removed from your credit reports.

Depending on your situation, credit fixing companies may also send data validation requests, or cease and desist letters to debt collectors.

In the age of the internet, a good credit repair company will offer at least some tools for customers on their website, like a dashboard or communication options. Be sure to visit the site often to stay up to date on the progress of your case.

What Items Can Be Removed from Your Credit Reports?

Quite a few types of errors and negative items can be removed from your credit report to improve your credit score:

Duplicate accounts

Accounts that belong to someone else (e.g., someone with a similar name or an account that belongs to an ex-spouse)

Hard inquiries that shouldnt be there

Misspellings

Incorrect dates for accounts

Outdated items that should have dropped off

Inaccuracies that could signal identity theft

Open accounts that should be closed or closed accounts that should be open

Public records that shouldnt be listed (such as liens or judgments)

Missing items that could raise your score

Even if the negative entry in itself is accurate, any error within the entry can be grounds for removal. When you dispute an item, you are asking the credit bureau to verify the entry. If they cant verify it, they must remove it.

How Do Credit Repair Services Fix Your Credit?

Cleaning up your credit report is the most important thing credit repair services can do to fix your credit. Any inaccuracies, errors, or discrepancies between credit reports from different bureaus can negatively impact your credit score. According to credit repair reviews, there are several ways a credit repair service goes about this.

After they have identified items to dispute, the credit repair company will send dispute letters to the credit bureaus (and the creditor, if appropriate) to ask them to verify the data. According to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, they must investigate any disputed data within 30 days. If they cant verify it, the law requires them to remove the item from your report.

Any overdue debts on your credit report (especially if they have gone to a collection agency) can really drag down your credit score. Collection agencies are required to verify the debt is actually yours. A credit repair company can help validate debts by dealing with the collection agency on your behalf.

Even if the debt is valid, the creditor or collection agency may be willing to accept partial payment if the debt is old enough. Your credit repair company can handle this negotiation, and may be able to convince the creditor or collection agency to agree to remove any negative information from your credit report. They also can send cease and desist letters to get the debt collector to stop contacting you.

If youve generally stayed on top of your bills but got behind on one by accident, you may be able to persuade the creditor to remove the item by simply admitting your mistake and asking for forgiveness. An aggressive credit repair service can help by sending these goodwill letters on your behalf.

It is sometimes possible to improve your credit by applying for more credit, since the ratio of available credit to what youve used determines part of your score. If your credit repair company recommends this, be sure to exercise restraint; if you actually use the new credit, youll be right back where you started.

Its important to remember that even the best credit repair company cant fix a legitimately bad credit rating. If you have a bankruptcy or a history of late payments on your credit reports, they wont be able to remove those. They can only ensure your credit reports are accurate and fair.

Signs of a Credit Repair Scam

While there are plenty of reputable credit repair services, there are also plenty of people looking to scam those who are trying to fix their credit. Here are a few ways to distinguish between a legitimate agency and a scam.

Even the best credit repair company cant guarantee your score will increase by a certain amount. This is illegal, and any legitimate company will tell you that they cant guarantee specific resultsonly that they will perform the services they have promised.

If a credit fixing company says they can remove all negative information from your credit history, even data that is accurate and current, its a scam. Likewise, advising you to lie by disputing accurate information raises a red flat immediately.

Another serious warning sign is if they tell you to get a new social security number or tax ID number as a way of starting over with a clean slate. This is a form of fraud and a sure sign that the company is not legitimate.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau outlines some warning signs for credit repair scams here.

How Much Do Credit Repair Companies Cost?

When you factor in the monthly fee over time, the potential credit repair cost might seem high. But the next time you apply for a loan or credit card, a clean credit report and the improved credit score that goes with it can save you thousands of dollars in interest. It can also make the difference to being approved for a lease or job application.

Almost all credit restoration companies charge a setup or first work fee to create your account and get started. This fee can be as low as $6.99 or as high as $200 (or more), depending on the company and the plan you choose.

Likewise, there is a range of monthly fees from different companies. Several of the companies we reviewed offer a base plan at $79 per month, which should be adequate for many customers. Prices go up as you add features or the number of people using the plan. The highest monthly rate we found for a single person was $129.99, and for couples it was $198. Many plans come in around $99 per month.

How Long Does It Take to Repair Your Credit Score?

Because of the 30-day window that creditors and the credit bureaus have to address any disputes, you shouldnt expect to see any changes to your score until at least a month has passed. If you have only a few minor items to fix, you might make all the repairs within 90 days. At the least, you should see some improvement in that timeframe.

If your credit history is a mess or you were the victim of identity theft, it could take considerably longer. Much depends on the complexity of your case, but most experts agree that six months is a reasonable amount of time to expect the process to take.

A legitimately poor credit rating, whether due to late payments, charge-offs, or bankruptcy, will take much longer to repair. In this case the only way to fix your credit is to change your habits and rebuild your score by diligently making payments on time and avoiding using too much of your available credit.

Hiring a Credit Repair Agency vs. Doing It Yourself

By law, a credit repair company cant do anything you couldnt do yourself. But while you could send all the letters and make all the calls, there is much to be said for hiring someone to do the legwork for you.

Dealing with creditors and credit bureaus requires patience, diligence, and a lot of work. Your time is worth money, and in the long run you may well save money by hiring a company to do the heavy lifting.

Another factor to consider is the expertise offered by credit repair professionals. They do this all day, every dayits their job. They know the best way to handle all the different situations that may come up, and they have the time to follow up on every letter and phone call.

If you want to save some money but arent ready to undertake the process on your own, credit repair software might seem like a good middle ground. A software package will provide the tools you need to repair your credit yourself: templates for letters, contact information for credit bureaus, and any number of tips.

What software cant deliver, however, is the time and effort required to do all the work. Unless your credit situation is very simple or you have a lot of free time over the next six months, youre probably better off hiring a company to repair your credit for you.

Final Thoughts - Should You Hire A Credit Restoration Company?

By now, you should have a good idea of the pros and cons of affordable credit repair. If your credit score is high and your history is clean, you probably dont need credit repair. But if youre one of the estimated 5% of people with errors on their credit report, then you probably want to do what you can to fix those errors and raise your score.

Certainly, you can improve your credit on your ownif you have the time and tenacity to undertake the process. But even if you only have a couple of items to address, it can make sense to engage the services of a credit repair company. The experience and expertise they bring to the table can make the difference between a tiresome and frustrating process and one that is successful and stress-free.
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CORK, Ireland, March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Hovione announced at the Ophthalmology Innovation Summit (OIS) Dry Eye Showcase the successful completion of its Phase 2 clinical trial in 270 patients with Dry Eye caused by Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD). The well controlled and representative study was conducted across 26 clinical sites in the United States and tested 2 different strengths of minocycline against vehicle in a 1:1:1 randomization. This is the first dry eye therapy targeting MGD patients with ocular inflammation demonstrated by an MMP-9 based diagnostic and the first and only ophthalmic formulation of minocycline in clinical development, contingently named Meizuvo.

The study observed superior clinical outcome in the 70% of patients with positive inflammatory biomarker at baseline, who achieved statistically significant (p=0.02) improvement of 25 points in the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) discomfort after 2 weeks of treatment, dropping further to 35 points by the end of treatment (an improvement greater than 50%). The sign endpoint inferior Cornea Fluorescein Staining, which is a measure of corneal damage in dry eye, had a statistically significant improvement against vehicle in both active arms at day 57 (p=0.009). The product was safe and well tolerated with less than 3% of subjects reporting blurring vision or eye irritation.

Carla Vozone, Vice President of the innovative proprietary portfolio at Hovione commented: "The correlation between the patients with a positive MMP-9 assay at baseline and the clinical improvement observed in both signs and symptoms of dry-eye was groundbreaking". Ms. Vozone explained that investigational Meizuvo not only has the potential of adding a much needed treatment specific for assay recognized inflammation, but could also reduce the risk of failure in the pivotal studies by inclusion of the patient sub-set most responsive to the drug. OIS panelists, who shared their Clinical Perspectives, consensually identified chronic inflammation as the underlying cause of Dry Eye Disease highlighting the relevance of diagnostics to recognize such inflammation.

George Magrath, M.D., CEO of Lexitas Pharma Services stated "We were thrilled with the opportunity to work on this exciting project. Minocycline is a well-known molecule for ophthalmologists and there is significant excitement from the ophthalmology community regarding the potential for a topical alternative. The results in the overall population were encouraging in both signs and symptoms. The results in the inflamed group of subjects were impressive with consistent statistically significant results in key dry eye signs and symptoms."

About Minocycline Ophthalmic

Meizuvo (contingent brand name), is the first minocycline repurposed for ophthalmic administration, targeting a novel indication for inflamed MGD. It is a preservative-free formulation enabled by Hovione's proprietary minocycline base which is stabilized as a microparticle in a novel vehicle. The highly tolerable formulation maximizes bioavailability, efficacy and reduces systemic effects. Tetracyclines have been known to treat MGD through anti-inflammatory activity and inhibition of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). Minocycline is of particular interest due to its lipophilic nature and resultant affinity to the meibomian gland. Previous research also suggests lipase inhibition effect, which decreases meibomian gland lipid degradation and consequently avoids the release of fatty acids, a synergistic mechanism of downregulating the inflammatory process. As such, minocycline has the potential to address several of the mechanisms that lead to the chronic nature of MGD.

About Inflamed Meibomian Gland Dysfunction

MGD is a highly prevalent, chronic condition in the eyelid glands which alters the lipid composition of the tears and triggers evaporation-induced tear hyperosmolarity. Evaporative Dry Eye, which affects 27 million people in the USA, constitutes approximately 80% of all Dry Eye Disease and is largely caused by MGD. The pathophysiological changes of the meibomian gland and tear film instability trigger an inflammatory cascade which results in increased matrix metalloproteinase (MMP-9). Left untreated, the MMP-9 activity in the tear will disrupt the corneal epithelial barrier and induce damage of the ocular surface causing ocular irritation and visual morbidity in dry eye patients.

Hovione's presentation made by Courtney Smith, Director of Business Development & Licensing is accessible here https://ois.net/ois-dry-eye-innovation-showcase-hovione-video/

For more information please email csmith@hovione.com

About Hovione

Hovione is an international company with over 60 years of experience as a Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) and is currently a fully integrated supplier offering services for drug substance, drug product intermediate and drug product. With four FDA inspected sites in the USA, China, Ireland and Portugal and development laboratories in Lisbon, Portugal and New Jersey, USA, the company provides branded pharmaceutical customers services for the development and compliant manufacture of innovative drugs including highly potent compounds. For generic pharmaceutical customers, the company offers niche API products. Hovione also provides proprietary product development and licensing opportunities for drug products. In the inhalation area, Hovione is the only independent company offering a complete range of services. Please visit www.hovione.com

Contact

Isabel Pina | Director External Communications

ipina@hovione.com |Tel.: 0035121 982 9362
A post-mortem is due to be carried out on the remains of a little boy who passed away after sustaining fatal head injuries in an incident at his home on Saturday.

Four-year-old Mason OConnell tragically passed away yesterday after sustaining the injuries in his home in Rathbane, Co Limerick.

The youngster was rushed to hospital in Limerick and Cork before being brought to Temple Street Children's Hospital in Dublin, where he sadly passed away.

Gardai are investigating if the injuries are consistent with a fall from a bunk bed and say a post-mortem, due to be carried out either tomorrow or Friday, will determine the course of the investigation.

A fundraising appeal to help the family of Mason, described as a lovely, bright and happy little chap, has now surpassed its fundraising target of 5,000.

The GoFundMe page old has seen almost 9,000 raised to give Mason "the send off he deserves".

The community of Castleconnell, just outside Limerick city where his family is from, is still reeling from the tragedy, local councillor Sean Hartigan has said.

Read More

Cllr Hartigan, who knows the family well, said many people in the village of Castleconnell would have recognised the child as a very happy little chap.

You would have seen him out and about with his parents and grandparents and uncles around the village, Cllr Hartigan said.

I know the mothers family and theyre all lovely people and well respected in the Castleconnell community.

Obviously, everybody is heartbroken, the family is heartbroken and the wider Castleconnell and Limerick community is heartbroken for them.

People would have known Mason to see as he went past with his family. He was a lovely, bright, happy little chap who everybody was mad about.

Hardly a day would go by when I wouldnt stop and talk to one of the family. Id cycle around every day and meet lots of people connected with Mason. He had a very wide family and there would not be many people in Castleconnell that wouldnt know some relation of Masons.

It's absolutely, completely tragic, he added. There are tears being shed every place.

The fundraiser is by people that are connected with the family and anything that can be done to help them in this situation I'm sure would be appreciated.

The fundraiser states: As a lot of you may know, Mason has battled between Cork Hospital and Temple Street since Saturday when he received a life threatening injury due to a fall. Mason has since unfortunately lost his battle at the young age of four.

We are helping to raise money to give him the send off he deserves. Times are so tough for people but nothing compares to what his family are going through. Let's all come together and make things that little bit easier for them. Every little helps.
Tacloban City (CNN Philippines, March 18)  The National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) has installed a new marker at the site of Portugese explorer Ferdinand Magellan's landing in Homonhon Island at Guiuan, Eastern Samar.

The Homonhon marker, located in Sitio Caltilado at Barangay Pagbabangan, is the second marker in Guiuan unveiled by the NHCP to mark the quincentennial anniversary celebration of the arrival of Christianity in the Philippines.

The marker is installed in the site where Magellan and his crew stayed for eight days. A replica of their galleon ship was installed in the area in 2010.

NHCP chairperson Rene Escalante says that historical accounts reveal that Magellan and his crew were welcomed and treated well by early Suluan residents during their stay in Homonhon. This episode of history unknown to many foreigners and even Filipinos, Escalante added.

"This marker will be a perpetual reminder of our heritage of compassion we are known for 500 years later," Escalante said.

Spanish Ambassador to the Philippines Jorge Sanchez says the first contact between Suluan people and Magellan is a signifcant historical event. Only three of five ships that sailed from Spain as part of Magellan's fleet were able to reach the country.

"That encounter is based on the idea of friendship, humanity, solidarity, especially to the Filipino side," Ambassador Sanchez said.

In an account written by Antonio Pigeffeta, the fleet of Ferdinand Magellan sailed to Homonhon on March 17, 1521 where they tended their sick crew, and gathered some food. The island was then called Humunu.

Magellan named this new found land mass and its neighboring island as the archipelago of San Lazaro since they were discovered on the Feast day of San Lazaro.

The following day, Magellan and his crew met nine men who were early residents of Suluan. This marked the first encounter between Westerners and Eastern people in the island which later become part of the Philippine archipelago.

The fleet of Magellan left Homonhon on March 25 and sailed towards the direction of Limasawa Island, before proceeding to Cebu.

Guiuan Mayor Annaliza Gonzales-Kwan emphasized the compassion shown by early residents of Suluan to foreigners is something the present generation should emulate.

"I think it is time for us to go back and look back at our history, how we once we're, how we can be again. We are the heirs of our ancestors who left us with the heritage of kindness," she said.

At present, Homonhon is known for big mining operations in the region. The grounds of Homonhon are rich in nickel and chromite and some quantities of gold. These are exported for processing in China.

CNN Philippines' Tacloban City correspondent Wil Mark Amazona contributed to this report.
The Daily Beast

REUTERSIt appears that Benjamin Netanyahu is finally on his way out as Israels prime minister. With just minutes to spare ahead of a midnight deadline on Wednesday, opposition leader Yair Lapid notified Israels president that he had formed a new government.But if Benjamin Netayahus 12-year run is indeed at an end, expect key segments of the GOP will treat Bibi as though he had not lost power, much as they continue to venerate Donald Trump and look at Joe Bidens victory as illegitimate.Israel
The South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) recently amended the national standard for alcohol-based hand rubs and sanitisers for use in curbing the spread of COVID-19 in the country.

The amended South African National Standard (SANS) 490 was first published in October 2020 and is currently available on the SABS website. It has superseded a previous version of the standard from 2013.

These changes have been driven by global guidelines such as the requirements specified by the World Health Organisation and locally by the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic, SABS stated.

SABS Lead Administrator Jodi Scholtz said that the amended standard provided greater and more detailed requirements for hand sanitisers and hand rubs, which may come in the form of liquids, gels, foams, or aerosols.

In order to be effective in neutralising the COVID-19 virus, the sanitisers now have to meet the following requirements to be SABS-approved:

Minimum of 70% alcohol content if alcohols like ethanol, isopropanol or n-proponal are the main ingredients.

Minimum of 60% alcohol content if there are other active ingredients, like benzalkonium chloride.

No solvents such as acetone/propanone, methanol, methylated spirits, or other spirits are allowed.

According to SANS 490, hand sanitisers may not use cork closure lids, while their packaging should also include the following minimum information:

The registration number and full address of the manufacturer/producer.

Alcohol percentage

Flammable warning

Do not ingest warning

Store below certain temperature warning

Whether the sanitiser is a gel or liquid

Volume or mass of the liquid or gel

The ingredients, and specifically the type of alcohol

Expiry date and batch number

Instructions for use

SABS-approved mark, if the manufacturer is a SABS-approved manufacturer or brand

Scholtz said that manufacturers must now ensure they submit evidence that their products will retain their physiochemical properties and efficacy for the duration of the expected shelf life of the product until the indicated expiry date on the sanitisers label.

Law firm Webber Wentzel advised that these new standards dont only apply to only manufacturers, but also employers who distribute hand sanitisers in the workplace.

By distributing hand sanitisers that comply with the amended SANS 490, employers will ensure that the health and safety of their employees and anyone else who may enter the workplace is sufficiently safeguarded, the firm stated.

SABSs product labelling guidelines for alcohol-based hand sanitisers are outlined in the image below.

Price and content controversies

The use of hand sanitisers in combatting the spread of COVID-19 in South Africa has come with its fair share of controversies.

During the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa in March 2020, the government implemented an emergency price freeze on several products  including hand sanitisers  in order to stop price-gouging by retailers amid soaring demand.

In July 2020 an investigation by SciCorp Laboratories found that almost half of popular hand sanitisers used in South Africa did not comply with government regulations, which required that they should contain at least 70% alcohol.

11 hand sanitisers were tested for ethanol, propanol, and isopropanol, and five were found to contain less than 70% alcohol.

In the same month, it was revealed that the Eastern Cape Department of Education had acquired hand sanitisers far below the requirements for use by schools in the province.

One of the departments personal protective equipment (PPE) suppliers, Mkhiva Trading, had provided sanitisers with alcohol content as low as 4%.

Government spending on sanitisers also came under the spotlight earlier this year when Rapport newspaper reported that Johannesburgs City Power had paid R158,700 for 46 small bottles of sanitisers, which worked out to R3,450 each.

The exact same product was available at Clicks for R29.99, which meant that the utility had paid 11,400% more than the going price.

Approved by SABS

While the SABS standards are voluntary at this stage, they offer a clear indication to consumers that a sanitiser meets the minimum requirements to be effective against COVID-19.

SABS said that the duration of testing against SANS 490, if conducted by itself, was approximately 20 days.

For certification, however, which allows for the use of the SABS Approved Mark Scheme on the products bottle, the duration is approximately three months as audits of the product and the production processes need to be conducted, SABS said.

The Bureau previously warned that many hand sanitiser manufacturers falsely claim to be SABS compliant by putting the SABS logo on their products.
With vaccines being administered and many people started to look at the coronavirus in the rearview mirror, Charleston International plans to see airlines offering 90 percent of their pre-COVID passenger capacity by May.

The leader of the airport board said March 16 nearly 250,000 seats will be available to travelers as carriers ramp service back up. That compares to about 273,000 in May 2019, 10 months before the pandemic decimated the air travel industry.

All of the major carriers at Charleston International plan to add more daily nonstop flights, increasing monthly departures from 1,681 this month to 2,312 in May.

"May could be higher," said Helen Hill, chairwoman of Charleston County Aviation Authority and CEO of tourism agency Explore Charleston.

Delta Air Lines, the airport's largest carrier by volume, will go from eight Atlanta-bound flights a day to start the year to 10 flights in May. It also will boost service to Detroit to three times a day.

Similarly, American Airlines will serve its Charlotte hub more frequently from the Lowcountry, going to nine routes a day from six at the beginning of the year.

United, Southwest and Frontier will serve Denver three times a day. The market is now being served on a non-daily basis by United and Southwest.

Alaska Airlines will go from three times a week to daily service to Seattle, and JetBlue will increase its flights to Los Angeles from Saturday only to four times a week.

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Flights to Boston, Dallas, Chicago, Washington, D.C., and all three airports serving New York City  JFK, LaGuardia and Newark  also will see increased service.

Some carriers, such as Allegiant, will add new destinations in late May: Louisville, Ky., and the St. Louis area.

"We are at the forefront of bringing our flights back," Hill said. "People are ready to go somewhere. I'm ready to go somewhere."

She also noted that the increase in seat offerings doesn't mean every flight will be filled.

For instance, of the 273,000 seats available in May 2019, about 235,000 were sold, leaving about 14 percent of them empty, according to airport data.

Still, while the airport has been operating at 40 percent passenger capacity for several months, including February, the number of ticket holders is projected to be down 27 percent this month, 20 percent in April and 10 percent in May, based on data from 2019.

About 62,000 more seats are being offered in March over February for a total of just over 173,000. Another 24,000 seats will become available in April, with 50,000 more to follow in May.

Air service declined by 96 percent across the nation last April as people were told to stay home during the coronavirus lockdown. Traffic could return to pre-COVID levels by 2022, based on current projections.
The Upper Thumb continued its trend up Tuesday as it saw an additional 61 coronavirus reported by the state March 16.

Coronavirus cases in Huron County and around the Upper Thumb have been on the upswing in the past two weeks. Nearing the end of February, the Upper Thumb, much like the rest of the state, was seeing small daily increases in cases often reporting single-digit gains. However, starting in the beginning of March the case counts increased to double digits several days of the week for each county, resulting in gains comparable to December 2020 and January 2021, prior to the state reducing pandemic restrictions.
By Steve Scherer and Tony Munroe

OTTAWA/BEIJING (Reuters) - Two Canadians detained by Beijing more than two years ago on suspicion of espionage will go before Chinese courts this week and next, Canada said on Wednesday, again ramping up diplomatic tension between Ottawa and Beijing.

China arrested the men in December 2018 soon after Canadian police detained Meng Wanzhou, the chief financial officer of telecoms equipment giant Huawei Technologies Co Ltd, on a U.S. warrant. She is under house arrest in Vancouver as she fights extradition to the United States.

"Our embassy in Beijing has been notified that court hearings for Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig are scheduled to take place on March 19 and March 22, respectively," Foreign Minister Marc Garneau said in a statement.

"We believe these detentions are arbitrary, and remain deeply troubled by the lack of transparency surrounding these proceedings."

China has a conviction rate of well over 99%, and public and media access to trials in sensitive cases is typically limited.

Beijing insists the detentions are not linked to Mengs arrest.

News of the trial dates comes on the eve of talks between top U.S. and Chinese officials in Alaska, the first such high-level meeting since U.S. President Joe Biden took office.

On Thursday, China's foreign ministry declined during a regular daily briefing to confirm the trial dates but said the hearings are not linked to the Alaska talks.

"The trials have nothing to do with China-U.S. high level strategic dialogue," said ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian.

'THERE WILL BE A VERDICT'

Spavor's hearing will take place in the northeastern city of Dandong, which shares a river border with North Korea, while Kovrig's will be in Beijing, Global Affairs Canada spokesman Jason Kung said in a statement.

The two men face spying charges and it is unclear how long the process may take, but "there will be a verdict," a Canadian government source said.

Story continues

In a statement, Spavor's family said the charges against him are vague and have not been made public, and that he has had "very limited access and interaction with his retained Chinese defense counsel."

They called for the unconditional release of both Spavor and Kovrig.

"A failure to allow for effective legal representation is a violation of Chinas international obligations," said Jim Zimmerman, a Beijing-based lawyer with Perkins Coie who is representing the Spavor family.

"The continued unjust and arbitrary detention depriving them of their liberty is both unfair, disproportionate, and unreasonable," he said.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has sought support from U.S. President Joe Biden to counter Chinese influence.

"Human beings are not bartering chips," Biden said after speaking with Trudeau by video link in February. "We're going to work together until we get their safe return."

(Reporting by Steve Scherer in Ottawa and Tony Munroe and Yew Lun Tian in Beijing; Editing by Peter Cooney, Clarence Fernandez and Kim Coghill)
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ACWORTH, Ga. - Police on Wednesday charged a 21-year-old man with murder, a day after eight people were shot dead at three Asian spas in and around Atlanta in a killing spree that sharply amplified fears among Asian Americans over a nationwide surge in hate crimes and bigoted rhetoric.

Authorities said Robert Aaron Long had confessed to the killings and had told investigators he had "a sexual addiction." Long indicated he may have frequented the spas in the past, police said, and that they were "a temptation for him that he wanted to eliminate."

Long, a White man who was described by those who know him as a devout Christian, told investigators he did not have a racial motive. But police said it was too early to exclude that possibility. And officials noted that the attacks had come amid a wave of anti-Asian sentiment and behavior.

"Whatever the motivation was for this guy, we know that the majority of the victims were Asian," Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms said at a news conference. "We also know that this is an issue that is happening across the country. It is unacceptable, it is hateful and it has to stop."

Of the eight people fatally shot Tuesday evening, six were Asian women.

Long was charged Wednesday in all eight killings, law enforcement officials said. He was charged with four counts of murder and one count of aggravated assault for the attacks in north suburban Cherokee County, where the killings began and where Long lives.

Atlanta police said he also was charged with four counts of homicide in their city, where the other victims were killed. Long was being held without bond and was due to make his first court appearance over Zoom on Thursday.

Apprehended on a highway Tuesday night after a brief manhunt, Long told authorities he was headed to Florida, where he may have been planning to carry out similar attacks to the ones in Georgia, police said. A 9mm firearm was recovered from his vehicle. Long had legally purchased a gun earlier Tuesday, the store that sold it to him confirmed.

Investigators said cooperation from Long's parents had helped speed his arrest.

Long grew up in a one-story home in Woodstock, Ga., a leafy, majority-White town about 30 miles north of downtown Atlanta. Photos and video on social media, as well as accounts from Long's former pastor and neighbors, paint a picture of a young man who, like the rest of his family, was active and visible at the Crabapple First Baptist Church in Milton, another nearby Atlanta suburb.

Those who knew him then said they struggled to reconcile their memories of Long with the allegation he committed mass murder. A 2017 high school graduate, Long does not appear to have had a criminal record.

"I don't say this callously: I don't now what's happened in Aaron to get to this point," Brett Cottrell, his former youth pastor, told The Washington Post. "What happened last night doesn't seem in any way like the young man I knew."

Cottrell said Crabapple First Baptist Church was predominantly White but included several people of Asian and African descent.

"I don't recall any sermons dealing specifically with racism, but the general tenor was to welcome and to be as inclusive as possible," he said.

In a statement to The Washington Post, church elders said they were "heartbroken" about "the tragic news about the multiple deaths in the Atlanta area."

Hate crimes against Asian Americans have spiked across the United States. Since the start of the pandemic, Asian Americans reported nearly 3,800 hate-related incidents in all 50 states, according to a report released Tuesday by Stop AAPI Hate, which tracks such cases against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.

As details of the killings came to light Wednesday, two House Democrats called out former president Donald Trump for his repeated use of terms such as "China virus," "Wuhan virus" and "kung flu," terms they said had fed into the rising violence.

"President Trump clearly stoked the flames of xenophobia against AAPIs with his rhetoric," Rep. Judy Chu of California said at a Capitol Hill news conference. "What we saw yesterday is the result of that."

Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of New York said members of Congress had echoed the former president's language. "Cut it out, because you also have blood on your hands," he warned them.

In a telephone interview Tuesday night with Fox News's Maria Bartiromo, the former president again used the term "China virus" to describe the coronavirus.

Asian American leaders both locally and nationally said the Tuesday shootings were the kind of horror they have long warned would result from such language.

"This is what we feared," said Sung Yeon Choimorrow, executive director of the National Asian Pacific American Women's Forum.

She pointed to a history of "exotifying" Asian American women, especially those who are service workers.

"The people that are most fearful to go to work today in Atlanta are Asian American women," Choimorrow said. "They're fearful to go to their service jobs today because of what happened yesterday."

President Joe Biden said Wednesday he was "very concerned" about the shootings, saying he had been briefed on Tuesday's violence and that the investigation remains ongoing.

"I've been speaking about the brutality against Asian Americans for the last couple months, and I think it is very, very troubling," Biden said. "I am making no connection at this moment to the motivation of the killer. I'm waiting for an answer as the investigation proceeds."

An FBI spokesman said Wednesday that the bureau stands ready to investigate the shootings at the Atlanta-area spas as a federal case if evidence emerges pointing toward a criminal civil rights violation.

Some details offered by authorities fit patterns seen in other mass killings.

Researchers have found that mass killers and active shooters are usually male, typically target places known to them and are often fueled by grievances. Those grievances can involve attackers blaming others for their problems or otherwise perceiving some wrong, researchers have found.

An FBI study in 2018 looking at active shooters found that most of those examined had a grievance that "may not have been reasonable or even grounded in reality, but it appeared to serve as the rationale for the eventual attack, giving a sense of purpose to the shooter."

In some recent high-profile cases, attackers or people charged in mass killings have been explicit about their bigoted intentions and sentiments, including during and after mass killings in Pittsburgh, El Paso, Texas, and Charleston, S.C.

All of those massacres led to hate-crime charges.

Atlanta Police Chief Rodney Bryant said it remains unclear whether the shootings in Georgia could be classified as a hate crime.

"I think it's important we acknowledge the fact if this is hate crime," Bryant said at a news conference. "We are still early in this investigation, so we can't make a determination. We are very early."

Capt. Jay Baker of the Cherokee County sheriff's office said Long had been "fed up," though he did not specify why.

"Yesterday was a really bad day for him and this is what he did," Baker said in comments that drew a swift backlash online for appearing to minimize the severity of the crime.

Denying hate as a motive is unlikely to spare Long any punishment, since he already faces eight counts of murder, and the possibility in Georgia of the death penalty.

Those killed in Atlanta were four women of Korean ethnicity, South Korea's Foreign Ministry said Wednesday. South Korea's consulate in Atlanta dispatched a consul to the site, according to a ministry statement.

The Cherokee County sheriff's office on Wednesday identified the four people killed there as Delaina Ashley Yaun, 33, of Acworth, Ga.; Paul Andre Michels, 54, of Atlanta; Xiaojie Yan, 49, of Kennesaw, Ga.; and Daoyou Feng, 44, whose address was not immediately known. A fifth victim suffered wounds that are not life-threatening, police said.

Yaun was a well-liked Waffle House employee who relatives and friends say was killed while on a date night. She had been a server at the restaurant chain since 2013, the company said in a statement.

She and her husband, Mario, were getting a couple's massage at Young's Asian Massage when the gunfire began, according to a GoFundMe page set up to support her family. Her husband escaped.

Atlanta officials did not release the names of the victims there.

The killings began just before 5 p.m. Tuesday, authorities said, when surveillance video showed a man in a navy and red hoodie walking into Young's Asian Massage, a spa on a busy commercial strip about 40 miles north of downtown Atlanta.

Four victims were shot inside the parlor along Highway 92, Baker said; two died on the scene and two later died in a hospital.

Those fatally shot were two Asian women, a White woman and a White man. A Hispanic man was taken to a hospital with injuries, Baker said.

Video showed the suspect jumping into a black Hyundai Tucson and speeding away, police said. Less than an hour later, about 5:47 p.m., a gunman killed three women inside Gold Spa, about 27 miles south of the first shooting, said Sgt. John Chafee of the Atlanta Police Department.

Police responded to a call of a "robbery in progress" at Gold Spa and were still on the scene when shots were fired across the street inside Aromatherapy Spa, according to Chafee. Officers found one woman inside that business who also was fatally shot.

With the help of surveillance footage, police said they soon identified Long as the suspect. Police posted photos of the Hyundai Tucson and Long and launched a massive search. In Crisp County, about 150 miles south of Atlanta, the sheriff's office said it heard at about 8 p.m. that a homicide suspect was headed its way.

About a half-hour later, state troopers and Crisp County deputies spotted Long's vehicle, and a trooper performed a tactical "PIT" maneuver, or pursuit intervention technique, that caused the car to "spin out of control," Crisp County Sheriff Billy Hancock said.

While Long was waiting to be taken to his cell, he "asked if he was going to be here for the rest of his life," a Crisp County sheriff's deputy wrote in an incident report.

On Wednesday afternoon, five bouquets of flowers rested at the front of the door of Young's Asian Massage, located in a small commercial strip that also includes a vape store, a record shop, a beauty saloon and a tool shop. Someone also left a basket of shamrocks along with a handwritten note that said, "from people who care."

Adrian Lopez, the owner of Big Savings Tool & Liquidation, located five doors down, said that no matter what the suspect may say, he believes the attack was racially motivated.

"He does this here and then goes to Atlanta and does it again to similar places," said Lopec, who emigrated from Mexico 18 years ago. "If it was one, you could maybe say something went wrong. But to go to two more places and do it again?"

- - -

Witte and Firozi reported from Washington. Pulliam Bailey reported from New York. The Washington Post's Haisten Willis in Woodstock, Alex Kellogg in Atlanta and Julie Tate, Jennifer Jenkins, Alice Crites, Mark Berman, Miriam Berger, Matt Zapotosky, Marisa Iati, John Wagner, Donna Cassata, Antonio Olivo, Timothy Bella, Devlin Barrett, Andrea Salcedo, Teo Armus, Jaclyn Peiser, Tim Elfrink, Brittany Shammas and Meryl Kornfield contributed to this report.
A former Army soldier in Brazil has been sentence to 20 years in prison after a court found him guilty of working for the nation's most dangerous criminal organization.

Manoel Resende was convicted on several charges, including supplying military training to drug traffickers of the Primeiro Comando da Capital [PCC] or First Command of the Capital, Brazilian news outlet UOL reported Wednesday.

Investigators learned that the 26-year-old was in charge of providing maintenance for weapons and also put together the explosives that were used by the PCC members who operated in the Baixada Santista, a metropolitan area on the coast of the southern state of Sao Paulo.

Resende, who had been out of the military service for four years, also provided surveillance for the gang's drug turf in the Sao Paulo city of Santos.

Manoel Resende, who had been out of Brazil's Army for four years, will be serving the next 20 in prison after a court found him guilty of drug trafficking, illegal possession of a firearm, illegal possession of a firearm for restricted use, and promoting, constituting, financing or integrating a criminal organization. Investigators discovered he had been working for the Primeiro Comando da Capital [PCC] of First Command of the Capital, the largest criminal faction in the South American nation

During a June 15, 2020 raid at Manoel Resende's home, the Civil Police recovered 9mm Glock, ammunition for a rifle, 400 grams of cocaine, a notebook with drug transactions and Army uniforms. Resende said in court that the cops had planted the evidence, an allegation that was shot down by a judge

Investigators discovered that Resende routinely patrolled the streets in his army uniform while carrying a rifle.

The 26-year-old was arrested June 15, 2020 after the Civil Police obtained a search warrant and raided his home in Caminho Sao Sebastiao.

Authorities recovered a 9mm Glock, ammunition for a rifle, 400 grams of cocaine, a notebook with drug transactions and Army uniforms.

Prosecutors found him guilty of drug trafficking, illegal possession of a firearm and illegal possession of a firearm for restricted use. He was also found culpable of promoting, constituting, financing or integrating a criminal organization.

Manoel Resende's Army hat, which he had routinely used while patrolling the streets of Santos, Sao Paulo while providing surveillance for drug traffickers

Resende countered the allegations by telling the court that the cops entered his home while he was sleeping and physically assaulted while other agents planted the gun and the drugs.

Judge Leonardo de Mello, of the 2nd Criminal Court of Santos, said Resende 'received training from the Brazilian Army and did not make good use of it.'

'[He] was dedicated to teaching criminals how to handle weapons to protect the criminal organization and attack police officers,' de Mello said.

According to a 2012 government report, the PCC is the largest criminal group in Brazil with over 35,000 members. The gang also has a presence in the South America nations of Paraguay, Ecuador, Venezuela, Peru and Bolivia.
Two years, five words, six determined people. Its taken a court challenge, media campaign and their case raised in the British parliament  but a familys long wait to have Irish inscribed on their mothers headstone finally ended today.

And the Keanes of Coventry are delighted the headstone has been raised above Margaret Keanes grave on St Patricks Day because a lifetime in England never diluted her pride in her Irish identity.

The marker carries the words in ar gcroithe go deo (forever in our hearts)  a phrase which a judge in a Church of England ecclesiastical court banned them from using without a translation, suggesting it would be read as a political statement.

The Keanes  Colette, Michael, Vincent and triplet sister Bernadette, Caroline and Donna  gathered with their father Bernie today for the service at St Giles in Coventry, near their homes.

We have been part of a moment in history and to have played a part in that is humbling, Margarets daughter Bez Martin told the Irish Independent. Were second generation Irish, all of us were born in England, and respect and acknowledgment towards our heritage is important to us.

Our heritage was under threat, and when you stand up publicly for it you are making everyone else know it matters to you. We were saying the Irish language is important, its the gateway to our culture.

The case generated headlines because the Irish language was singled out for discrimination. Other headstones had Welsh, Latin and Hebrew inscriptions without translations.

The Keanes, who attracted support from all sorts of groups, won their appeal on February 24 but are still waiting for details of the judgment.

It engaged people on many levels: the way a grieving family was treated, Irishness in England, the diaspora, cultural identity, language, denial of a headstone and standing up to bureaucracy. It ticked so many boxes of the human condition, said Bez.

Former dinner lady Margaret Keane died in 2018, aged 73. Soon after, her husband Bernie, from Ballyhaunis in Co Mayo, was diagnosed with cancer and had major surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. He has also been diagnosed with Alzheimers. Consequently, it was 2019 before the family turned their attention to a headstone.

When the headstone became a problem we felt life was battering us, after losing mum unexpectedly  she went out one day and never came home  dads illness and then the headstone being turned down. We thought we just couldnt catch a break, says Bez.

The headstone should have been a simple thing. But it turned out to be very complex  we were surrounded by systems we just didnt understand, and were Googling it to make sense of the process.

Knowledge is power, and we didnt have it. We couldnt navigate this (ecclesiastical courts) system. It felt really disempowering  that our voice was being totally silenced. We felt it was quite a combative, adversarial process and that took us by surprise because the people in it are a grieving family  you expect more compassion and allowances made for people.

Once they recognised the headstone prohibition centred on the Irish language, they were aware as a family we were facing racism and felt it was important to take issue with that. She went on: Institutions are able to get away with things because people dont challenge them.

But there were also times when they thought they should just stop fighting it, and translate the phrase into English, as required by the judge in the lower court which controls their diocesan graveyard. That would have been the easiest option, especially as their father was upset because his wife had no headstone.

Asked why they persevered, Bez said: I dont want to sound too corny but the love for our mother just simply outweighed everything else. We did it to honour her. We had to get it right for her.

Grandmother of 14 Margaret was born in Athboy, Co Meath and emigrated to Coventry in her teens. She died of respiratory cardiac arrest as she was driving to the doctors to give him a box of chocolates as a thank-you for previous treatment.

Her three sisters, Anne, Catherine and Helen were present at todays service in Exhall, Coventry, conducted by the Vicar of St Giles, Rev Gail Phillip, and the familys parish priest Father Pat Brennan.

As the Keanes reflect on the campaign, they say highlights include Armagh-born British Labour Party MP Conor McGinn raising the case in Westminster, along with a cupla focal  and the appeal courts kindness in unexpectedly announcing its decision on the day of the hearing instead of reserving judgment for several weeks. The burden was lifted immediately, according to Bez, who called it an olive branch from the Court of Arches in London.

But there were low days, too, such as when they were warned the appeal could cost up to 12,000. At that stage they had already spent 2,000, even with their legal team working for free. However, the Church of England distanced itself from the original judgment by paying the ecclesiastical courts costs and reimbursing the familys previous expenditure.

Now they are waiting to hear the grounds on which Stephen Eyre QCs judgment was overturned. Wed like it to be recognised as poor policy, and to see a pathway towards future change, says Bez.

But thats another days work. Today is one the Keanes are treating as a celebration  just as their mother always did.
(Natural News) She should have gotten slimed, but on Saturday, actress Jennifer Garner praised pro-abortion Vice President Kamala Harris, declaring shes had a lifetime of being a champion of kids and family issues. Even worse, Garner was peddling this lie to children!

(Article by Alexa Moutevelis republished from NewsBusters.org)

At the Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards over the weekend, the two women presented the Generation Change Award to todays kids. In introducing her, Garner fawned over the leftist VP for the love in [her] heart and hailed her for always looking out for the underdog. Lets face it, there is no bigger underdog than the unborn baby in the waiting room of a Planned Parenthood and abortion is the absence of love. But who cares when Momala is such a trailblazer?

Jennifer Garner: Here with a special message for you, let me introduce another trailblazer, Vice President Kamala Harris, who made history this year by becoming the first woman, first person of color and first Momala to hold this office. Becoming vice president was not only a new beginning for her, it was also the culmination of a lifetime of being a champion of kids and family issues and always looking out for the underdog. Like you, Vice President Harris shows us that anything is possible with hard work, dedication, and love in your heart. So its my honor to welcome the Vice President of the United States of America, Kamala Harris. Kamala Harris: Hi, everyone, and thank you, Jennifer for that introduction. Thank you all to Nickelodeon and thank you to the young leaders for being so incredible and for all that you do and will do. From social distancing to remote learning, youve been through a lot this year, but through it all, you young leaders have really stepped up. Youve won your mask, helped out your neighbors, been a role model in your community. When I was young, my mother used to say dont just sit around and complain about things, do something about it. Well, you are doing something. You are creating a better future, and you inspire me and President Biden every day. We are so grateful to you, and we want you to know that we are doing everything we can to make sure all of our students and our young leaders can get back to school and back with your friends and be safe and thrive. Thank you for stepping up. You make us and your country so proud.

Harris has a long history of championing abortion, to the detriment of kids and families. When she was California Attorney General, she prosecuted the Center For Medical Progress for their undercover footage of Planned Parenthood admitting to selling baby parts, even raiding the home of CMP President David Daleiden. In the Senate, she voted in favor of legalized infanticide. As Time magazine noted, During the presidential primaries, Sen. Kamala Harris proposed a law, modeled on the Voting Rights Act, that that would protect the right to abortion nationwide. When Harris was picked for Biden VP slot last August, pro-lifers declared them the most pro-abortion presidential ticket in American history. Its clear theres one place she doesnt want kids to be safe and thrive and thats in the womb.

It should also be noted that despite Harris promise that theyre doing everything [they] can to get students back to school, the Biden-Harris administration keeps moving the goalposts and ignoring its own experts on reopening, all to benefit the teachers unions, a key Democrat constituency. They dont follow the science, they follow the money, and kids are suffering greatly.

Michelle Obama was involved with the Kids Choice Awards multiple times during her tenure as First Lady. Shocking that we went 4 years without someone from the White House being on the program, but now, the very first chance after Trump leaves office, VP Harris participates. Because, presumably, the former most liberal senator is not considered as controversial as anyone from the Trump White House. The liberal bias even extends to Nickelodeon.

Read more at: NewsBusters.org and KamalaHarris.news
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.
The Zambia Information and Communications Technology Authority (ZICTA) has published its Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector annual market report for the year 2020, and many of its findings  and predictions  are positive.

Among the highlights are increased access to, and utilisation of, ICT services in Zambia, including what is described as a marked increase in active mobile telephone subscriptions  from 17.2 million reported at the end of 2019 to 19.1 million subscriptions recorded at the end of 2020.

The total number of active internet subscriptions in the country also increased  from 9.2 million subscriptions reported at the end of 2019 to 10.3 million recorded at the end of 2020.

Combined throughput volume of data among the mobile network operators also went up, and there was a doubling of the value of mobile money transactions. These developments, ZICTA points out, followed numerous efforts by the Authority and other stakeholders aimed at promoting increased access and usage of ICTs, especially in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.

There was also improvement on the network infrastructure side of ICT. The total number of telecommunication sites in the country increased from 10,303 reported in 2019 to 10,574 sites in 2020. The largest proportion of the sites in 2020 continued to be 2G sites, accounting for 41.1 per cent, followed by 3G sites at 32.9 per cent. Only 26 per cent of the telecommunication sites were 4G/LTE sites.

Overall the mobile telephone subsector recorded a significant increase in revenue and throughput volume of data, though the average utilisation of available network transmission capacity of wholesale carriers remained weak.

And the prospects for 2021 are good, with forecasts suggesting a positive outlook in the general uptake and use of ICT services in 2021. Zambia can also look forward to the arrival of a fourth mobile operator, newly assigned spectrum for operator Airtel and the deployment of new technologies and additional infrastructure.

This year should also see the passing of new legislation to support data protection, electronic transactions and cyber security, overhauling previous, presumably outdated, legislation.
A retired Los Angeles police detective was caught on camera hurling racial slurs at a young black man after a minor car accident in California.

Video of the altercation in Santa Clarita went viral this week after it was posted on Twitter by @WhatUpSCV.

It shows a man, identified by authorities as former LAPD homicide detective John Motto, berating a young black man, at one point telling him: 'Go back into your little cage until the monkey controller gets here.'

Outrage over the video prompted the LAPD to open a review of 370 cases Motto worked on before his retirement last spring, department officials announced Tuesday.

Shocking video shows a man identified by authorities as John Motto, a retired LAPD homicide detective, berating a young black man on the side of a road in Santa Clarita, California, last weekend

The video opens with the young man, who has not been named, arguing with Motto and a woman on the sidewalk next to two cars that were apparently involved in an accident moments earlier.

'Oh but you can say n****r and I can't?' Motto says.

'Are you serious?' the young black man responds as he confronts the woman and someone behind the camera says: 'Walk away, just walk away.'

Motto then waves the other man away and tells him: 'Go back to your cage.'

The man walks toward a group of bystanders near the person filming and says: 'Y'all hear this s**t right? Y'all hear this?'

Motto then comes over and asks the man: 'Are you going to take your ID out, yes or no? Are you going to take your identification out?'

The man turns back to the bystanders and asks if they heard Motto call him the n-word.

Motto replies: 'No, he started the n****r thing because he is the dumb n****r. Yeah I said it second, right after you.'

The man walks to the driver's side of one of the cars as Motto demands his ID again and threatens to call the sheriff.

'Get the f**king sheriff here! It's your goddamn fault anyway,' the young man exclaims before the video cuts off.

The video opens with the young man, who has not been named, arguing with Motto and a woman on the sidewalk next to two cars that were apparently involved in an accident moments earlier

At one point Motto says: 'Go back into your little cage until the monkey controller gets here'

Motto repeatedly uses the n-word and claims that the young man said it first. At the end of the video he declares that he's calling the sheriff

LAPD Officer Drake Madison, a spokesman for the department's Media Relations Division, confirmed to LA Taco that Motto retired in May 2020 as a detective assigned to Operations Central Bureau Homicide.

'As a former employee, he is no longer subject to disciplinary action by the department,' Madison said. 'The LAPD has no disciplinary authority over his conduct.'

The LAPD released a statement on Tuesday afternoon and said that it had launched an internal investigation into the matter.

'To ensure there is no current Department nexus to this incident, there has been an internal investigation started,' the statement read.

'What is seen in the video is not reflective of the thousands of hard working and dedicated men and women of the Los Angeles Police Department.'

Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon (pictured) said his office is reviewing cases that Motto was involved with during his time as an LAPD detective

The department also said that Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon's office would be reviewing hundreds of cases that Motto worked on during his 33 years with the department.

Gascon condemned the 'disturbing' incident and said Motto exhibited 'racist tendencies'.

He said his office has identified several cases where Motto served as a witness.

'We are in the process of notifying defense attorneys in such cases,' Gascon said.

The video was recorded by Uriel Barraza, who shared his side of the story with LA Taco.

He said he was on his lunch break last Saturday when he saw both Motto and the man pull over to the side of Valencia Boulevard after an apparent traffic accident.

'[Motto] pulled up next to him, screamed at him then pulled up forward, parked in front of him, got out of the [truck] and just started going off on him,' Barraza said.

He said he wasn't sure if Motto's truck was involved in the accident or if he had just witnessed it, adding: 'I didn't see anything on the truck.'

After he stopped filming, Barraza said at least two Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputies arrived at the scene.

The Sheriffs department told LA Taco: 'Today, we became aware of the social media post and the racist language which was used following the collision.

'We have taken a report documenting the incident. This is an ongoing investigation and we cannot provide further details at this time.'
Hostelworld, the Dublin-based online travel agent focused on the global hostel market, had an 81pc drop in net revenue last year as Covid restrictions worldwide wreaked havoc on the travel industry.

The company booked just 15.4m in sales versus 80.7m in 2019, driven by a 79pc collapse in booking volumes.

Average booking values also fell 22pc during the year as cancellations and reduced bed prices cut into payments.

Adjusted earnings held up reasonably well, however, falling just 3.2m to 17.3m, due partly to substantially reduced marketing costs in line with depressed sales volumes, as well as a 43pc cut in administrative costs.

Given the difficult financial circumstances for the company, the board opted not to issue a dividend in respect of 2020.

Chief executive Gary Morrison said the company focused on maximising its available cash during a challenging year and pushing forward on developing its capabilities with an eye towards the end of the pandemic.

"2020 has been an extremely challenging year for both Hostelworld and the entire global travel industry," he said. "During the year we delivered significant improvements in marketing capabilities, user experience and inventory competitiveness. These improvements will have further strengthened the competitiveness of our platform relative to our capabilities in Q419, when we had returned bookings to growth."

Hostelworld bolstered its balance sheet in 2020, raising 15.2m in an equity placing last June as capital markets bounced back from the initial Covid shock in the second quarter.

The company had a relatively stable cash position at the end of last year of 18.2m versus 19.4m in 2019. The company negotiated a new 30m term loan facility last month, giving it significant financial flexibility for the year ahead.

"As vaccination programmes continue to be rolled out in our key geographies across the world, I am confident our loyal customer base has a strong desire to travel once restrictions allow, even more so after a prolonged period of confinement," said Mr Morrison.

"I remain confident that Hostelworld will emerge from the pandemic stronger than before and able to seize market opportunities when normal travel patterns resume."

The company was unable to provide earnings guidance for 2021. Hostelworlds share price was marginally down in early trade but far above its average for the year to date.

Davy analyst Ross Harvey praised the company's performance in what he called "a gruelling year".

"The business did not only retreat to safety by reducing cash outflow and protecting liquidity, it doubled down on efforts to improve its customer offering and will be better placed to benefit from the markets eventual recovery," he said.

"Against a difficult backdrop, Hostelworld has managed to keep staff, customers and hostels engaged  all of which should enable a smooth restart once conditions improve."




Tucker Carlson last night raged at Democrats for failing to value American citizenship as he took his Fox News show to El Salvador to condemn Joe Biden's immigration stance.

Delivering his monologue from the Central American nation, Carlson denounced a bill on the House floor which would give undocumented immigrants a route to legal status if they have worked in US agriculture for at least 180 days.

'One hundred and eighty days. That's all it takes. That's all American citizenship is worth at this point, apparently,' Carlson said.

Raising the alarm over growing numbers of migrants at the border, he said: 'The message that the Biden administration has sent to El Salvador and the countries around it couldn't be clearer: The border is gone. We've erased it. Come join us.'

Biden sought to hit back at such criticism last night by saying in an interview with ABC's George Stephanopoulos: 'I can say quite clearly - don't come over'.

Tucker Carlson last night raged at the Biden administration for failing to value American citizenship as he took his Fox News show to El Salvador to condemn the president

Republicans accuse Biden of presiding over a crisis at the southern border by calling a halt to Donald Trump's tough immigration policies when he took over in January.

Carlson used his appearance in El Salvador to accuse Democrats of ignoring the concerns of 'actual Americans' by softening US immigration policies.

'Is there anyone in our country, in the United States, who sincerely believes that what we are seeing tonight on our border will improve our country?,' he asked viewers.

'Of course no one believes that. But it doesn't matter, because the lives of actual Americas mean nothing to the people making these decisions.

'Your happiness is not a consideration. It's never even discussed in Washington.'

Carlson also attacked Democrats including congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez for seeking to 'enrich foreign nationals' by offering benefits to migrants.

'They've given up even trying to pretend that they are making life better for American citizens,' he said of Democrats.

'Ocasio-Cortez can feel like a hero when she offers free health care to the people of El Salvador. Someone who's never had a job, giving away other people's money.

'By enriching foreign nationals, Ocasio-Cortez doesn't have to worry about the Americans who live in Queens - the people that she's supposed to be, is hired to represent and help.'

President Biden sought to hit back at GOP criticism last night by telling migrants in an interview with ABC's George Stephanopoulos: 'I can say quite clearly - don't come over'

The 180-day bill condemned by Carlson is set to be put to a House vote on Thursday after it was introduced by Democrat Zoe Lofgren and Republican Dan Newhouse.

The so-called Farm Workforce Modernization Act previously passed the House in a 260-165 vote in 2019 but was not approved by the Senate.

It would offer a so-called Certified Agricultural Worker status to migrants who have worked at least 180 days in agriculture in the previous two years.

These migrants would also be able to pay a $1,000 charge to begin the path to getting a green card, some of them in as little as four years.

'Stabilizing the workforce will protect the future of our farms and our food supply,' said Lofgren when she introduced the bill.

'The men and women who work America's farms feed the nation. But many of them do so while living and working in a state of uncertainty and fear'.

The House will also consider a bill called the Dream and Promise Act which would create a path to permanent residency for some illegal migrants.

Migrants are pictured Tuesday flying back to Mexico from Texas on a deportation flight

But Carlson condemned the plan on his show, saying Democratic plans would grant legal status to as many as four million people undocumented migrants in the US.

'The only criterion: if they can prove they've worked in agriculture in the US for 180 days over the past two years,' he said.

'One hundred and eighty days. That's all it takes. That's all American citizenship is worth at this point, apparently.

'So it's starting to make sense why Joe Biden suspended all those deportations. 180 days, that's all it takes. And, the clock is running.'

Biden pushed back against the Republican attacks in his interview with Stephanopoulos, noting that previous surges had taken place under Trump.

He said his administration has been trying to discourage people from crossing while it works to restore an asylum system undermined by his predecessor.

'I heard the other day that they're coming because they know I'm a nice guy. Yeah, well, here's the deal. They're not,' Biden said.
Low humidity and high winds have prompted a Red Flag warning for San Antonio and its surrounding areas.

The National Weather Service said conditions are ideal for wildfires. The warning is in effect until 7 p.m., and residents are encouraged not to burn their trash Wednesday.

The early Wednesday morning cool front has created the dry weather. Along with the dry conditions, wind speeds are expected to reach between 20 and 30 mph by late Thursday afternoon.

Of concern is the dry vegetation that has not has not had time to recover after last month's winter storms.

The dry conditions are expected to continue through Thursday but the winds should die down, according to the NWS.

San Antonio is expected to reach a high of 79 on Wednesday.

taylor.pettaway@express-news.net
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- The increasing complexity of treatments for lung cancer and language differences can make it difficult for patients to communicate with their medical teams - Risks of jeopardising the treatment and care journey as well as recent progress in patient empowerment.

Lugano, Switzerland; Denver, CO, USA, 17 March 2021 - More than one in 10 patients with lung cancer do not know what type of tumour they have, according to data from a 17-country study carried out by the Global Lung Cancer Coalition (GLCC) to be presented at the European Lung Cancer Conference (ELCC) (1). Nearly one in five patients surveyed did not feel involved in decisions about their treatment and care, and a similar proportion felt that they had never or only sometimes been treated with dignity and respect by those treating them.

"I was shocked that some people didn't know what type of lung cancer they had because, if they didn't have that information, how could they understand their treatment options for making decisions about their care?" said Vanessa Beattie from the GLCC. "Receiving a diagnosis of lung cancer is devastating and it's crucial that patients receive good quality information from the start so they are empowered to make informed decisions about their treatment. At diagnosis, they should be offered information - written or in another form - about their type and stage of cancer and a potential treatment plan which they can discuss with their cancer team and their family."

Of 907 patients with lung cancer who responded to the survey carried out in January 2020, 574 (63%) were from Europe. Of European respondents, 11% did not know what type of lung cancer they had (13% globally), 19% did not feel involved in decisions about their treatment and care (18% globally), and 11% felt they had 'never' or only 'sometimes' been treated with dignity and respect by their treatment team (9% globally).

Beattie suggested that, while cancers services may vary across Europe and globally, clinicians need to keep challenging themselves to drive improvements in lung cancer care and engage with patients to address their individual needs.

"There is still a stigma attached to lung cancer because of its links with smoking, but every patient should be treated with dignity and respect at all times and have a positive experience of care wherever they are treated, including opportunities to talk about their concerns," said Beattie.

Language differences and the increasing complexity of treatments for lung cancer can make it difficult for patients to communicate with their medical team and this may jeopardise not only their care but also recent progress in patient empowerment.

A second study to be presented at ELCC highlights the significant need for interpreters at cancer clinics. Between November 2017 and December 2020, 242 referrals for interpreters speaking a total of 24 languages were arranged at a major hospital in Ireland (2). The majority were for patients from Central and Eastern Europe and the number of interpreter requests ranged from 0-18 per patient. The significant number of referrals reflect the fact that one in six people resident in Ireland were born abroad, and three quarters of these speak their primary language at home, with 20% of those aged 65 and over having little or no English (3).

"A lack of patient understanding of their disease is a major issue especially for those with lung cancer as there have been a lot of recent advances in targeted therapies which patients take at home rather than in hospital. If there is a language barrier, patients may miss appointments or take their medicines incorrectly which can affect their prognosis and quality of life," said lead investigator, Dr Tianna Martin, from Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.

She pointed out how easily misunderstandings can occur and stressed the importance of asking patients their preferred language especially when they come from countries where multiple languages are spoken.

"It's really heart-breaking to see a patient who appeared to understand their diagnosis and treatment become deeply distressed weeks or months later when they finally realise they have cancer," she said.

Martin suggested that records of patients with language needs should be flagged 'at risk' so that clinicians check carefully to ensure that appropriate translation services are in place. She also proposed that, given the growing complexity of lung cancer treatments, specialised training should be given to interpreters at cancer clinics.

"It is important that interpreters can accurately explain the diagnosis and treatment options at all stages of the disease so that patients can make really informed decisions and, with the rise in virtual consultations as a result of COVID-19, we need to work out the best approach for overcoming language barriers in that setting too," she concluded.

Commenting on the findings of the two studies, Professor Sanjay Popat, from the Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK, said that the results should be a wake-up call to all healthcare professionals involved in the care of patients with lung and other cancers to get processes in place to ensure effective communication.

"The statistics from the GLCC survey paint a bleak picture and at least 11% of patients not knowing their type of lung cancer is a very damning statistic. We want patients to be empowered to make decisions about how and where they want to be treated and that can only happen if we have good communication at all stages, with shared aims and goals," he said.

"If we can't get the basics right, it will be very difficult to ensure that patients understand the increasingly complex issues about their treatment options and possible side-effects, particularly the 'red flag' side-effects they need to tell us about immediately," he added.

Popat pointed out that the Dublin research underlines the need for experienced medical translators in an increasingly cosmopolitan society and the importance of 24/7 professional services, especially for patients being treated in hospital.

"The key thing is for everyone to know these translation services exist and to make use of them. Relying on family members to translate is not good practice. We need translators who know how to talk about difficult subjects such as prognosis and end of life care, and can help us understand cultural sensitivities so that we give information in an appropriate way," said Popat.

For patients with lung cancer facing communication or language barriers he highlighted the growing range of patient support groups specialising in providing information and support for specific types of the disease, such as ALK+ and EGFR mutation-positive non-small cell lung cancers.

"In many countries these specialist groups are becoming established to provide a lot of background information about these specific types of lung cancer and the kind of questions patients need to ask and what they should be expecting as part of their care. It all helps to ensure that communication about complex issues is as good as it can be in what is likely to be a very stressful situation for patients," Popat concluded.

###

Notes to Editors

Please make sure to use the official name of the meeting in your reports: ELCC 2021 Virtual Official Congress Hashtag: #ELCC21

Disclaimer

This press release contains information provided by the author of the highlighted abstract and reflects the content of this abstract. It does not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the ELCC organisers who cannot be held responsible for the accuracy of the data. Commentators quoted in the press release are required to comply with the ESMO Declaration of Interests policy and the ESMO Code of Conduct.

References

(1) Abstract 209P_PR 'Understanding patient experience in Europe: the first Global Lung Cancer Coalition Patient Experience Survey' will be available as e-poster from 24 March at 12:00 CET. Journal of Thoracic Oncology, Volume 16, Number 4S, Supplement, April 2021

(2) Abstract 212P_PR 'Language and Understanding: the complexity of insight in cancer care' will be available as e-poster from 24 March at 12:00 CET. Journal of Thoracic Oncology, Volume 16, Number 4S, Supplement, April 2021

(3) "Census 2016 Summary Results - Part 1 - CSO - Central Statistics Office".?http://www. cso. ie .

About ELCC

The ELCC Congress brings together some of the most important organisations in the field of thoracic oncology, with the scope of disseminating education through a multidisciplinary approach and improve the practice of lung cancer specialists worldwide. The ELCC Congress is organised by ESMO (European Society for Medical Oncology) and the IASLC (International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer), along with their partner societies ESTRO (European Society for Radiotherapy & Oncology), ESTS (European Society for Throacic Surgeons) and ETOP (European Thoracic Oncology Platform)

209P_PR - Understanding patient experience in Europe: the first Global Lung Cancer Coalition Patient Experience Survey

V. Beattie1, W. Boerckel2, M. Rigney3, K. O'Hagan4, M. Hennink5, J. Fox6

1Lung Cancer Nursing UK, Solihull, UK, 2Cancer Care, New York, USA, 3GO2Foundation, Washington, WA, USA, 4Irish Cancer Society, Dublin, Ireland, 5Patient, Netherlands, 6Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation, Liverpool, UK

Background: Little comparative European or global data exists on lung cancer patient experience. The Global Lung Cancer Coalition (GLCC), a partnership of 40 patient organisations across 29 nations, wanted to understand the experiences of lung cancer patients, identifying common themes and differences between countries. The GLCC therefore used its member networks to run a multi-national online survey of patients - the first time this had been attempted.

Methods: The GLCC convened a steering group with members from the UK, Ireland, and the Netherlands, including patients, clinicians and advocates. 10 questions were agreed and translated into multiple languages with appropriate terminology. As well as demographic questions, participants were asked what treatments they had received, whether they felt involved in decisions and were treated with dignity and respect, and how they describe themselves. The survey was distributed by GLCC members via emails, newsletters and social media. The results were collated and analysed by the steering group. The GLCC produced a global report with findings for all participating countries, as well as bespoke briefings comparing the perspectives of patients in each country to those of global respondents, for national campaigning.

Results: Nine of the 17 countries that took part are in Europe: Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ireland, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the UK. 574 of 907 patients who responded were from Europe (63%). Headline European findings include: 11% of respondents did not know what type of lung cancer they had (13% globally) 19% of respondents stated they did not feel involved in decisions about their treatment and care (18% globally) 11% felt they had 'never' or only 'sometimes' been treated with dignity and respect by their treatment team (9% globally)

Conclusions: The survey demonstrates that a pan-European patient experience survey can take place. It also suggests more could be done across nations to improve lung cancer patients' experience, particularly involvement in decisions around treatment and care. We are grateful to all the patients who responded and shared their experiences.

Editorial acknowledgement: The abstract was written by Incisive Health as policy and communications experts. All editorial control was retained by the authors.

Legal entity responsible for the study: The authors

Funding: The Global Lung Cancer Coalition (GLCC) receives funding for its work from Amgen, Astra Zeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Eli Lilly, Merck, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche and Takeda Oncology

Disclosure: All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

212P_PR - Language and Understanding: the complexity of insight in cancer care

T. Martin1, D. O'Doherty1, C. Mattisa1, T. Byrne1, R. Keogh1, C. Murphy1, P. Bredin1, S. Devanney1, P.G. Morris1, B. Hennessy1, L. Grogan1, O.S. Breathnach2, R. O'Dwyer1 1Medical Oncology, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland, 2Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland

Background: Globalisation has led to an increase in immigration as some pursue the potential for a more financially secure life away from their country of birth. This leads to an increase in a nation's linguistic diversity. In Ireland one of the official languages is English and the prevalence of fluency in other languages within the Irish-born population is modest. We sought to assess language challenges within our patients with limited English proficiency to gain insight into the distribution of languages and social circumstances of this population, as well as patterns of use of formal interpreter services.

Methods: Data was obtained from the formal interpreter service and from the coordinating social workers to identify patients with limited English proficiency. Inclusion was based on documented evidence of limited English proficiency in medical oncology patients. Included patients had data collected on diagnosis, treatment regimen, primary language, use of interpreter services, and social circumstances. Population data was from the 2016 Irish Census.

Results: 242 interpreter referrals were arranged from Nov. 2017 to Dec. 2020. Screening included 102 patients of which 26 were excluded as the level of English proficiency was not documented or they did not attend the Oncology Service. The number of interpreter requests ranged from 0 to 18 per patient. The top languages were: Russian (18%), Lithuanian (11%), Romanian (10%), Polish (9%). The population of Ireland measured 4,761,865 in 2016. "Foreign born" residents account for 17% of the Irish population; this group mainly come from Mid / Eastern Europe (Polish: 122,515; UK: 103,113; Lithuanian: 36,522; Romanian: 29,186; Latvian: 19,933) apart from the UK. 75% of "foreign born" residents speak their primary language at home. Of these aged 65 years or more (n=12,303) 20% reported having little or no English.

Conclusions: With the growing complexity of therapeutic approaches in lung cancer therapy there is a predictable communication discordance between healthcare staff and patients with limited English proficiency. Strategies incorporating formal interpreters, staff members with diverse linguistic skills and family members proficient in English may enhance the communication with patients thereby improving their treatment decisions.

Legal entity responsible for the study: The authors

Funding: Has not received any funding

Disclosure: All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.
Armenia acting health minister on citizens' demand for her resignation

Karabakh's new State Minister Artak Beglaryan on his appointment and future activities

Armenian, Russian and Azerbaijani representatives hold consultations in Moscow

2 Armenian soldiers receive slight injuries after incident with Azerbaijani servicemen in Armenia's Gegharkunik

Armenian boy weighing 5 kg born at Goris Medical Center

"Armenia" bloc representative presents purpose of participation in elections and plans

Isaac Herzog elected President of Israel

Rouhani: Main issues between Tehran, Washington resolved in Vienna

Charles Michel calls on Armenia and Azerbaijan to resume constructive negotiations

US Department of State responds to Pashinyan's proposal to deploy international observers on Armenia-Azerbaijan border

Head of Armenia 2nd President's Office: Robert Kocharyan's public meetings are held in warm atmosphere

Opposition "Armenia" bloc's representative on photos and videos showing bags of deceased servicemen's bodies

Armenia Ombudsman, AGBU President discuss war crimes committed by Azerbaijan during Karabakh war

Opposition "Armenia" bloc's representatives to hold briefings three times a week

Opposition "Armenia" bloc member: Blood-freezing photos and videos from morgue in Abovyan are authorities' reflection

Yerevan mayor receives Netherlands Ambassador

Armenia Health Ministry, Investigative Committee keep info about sending remains of dead soldiers abroad confidential

Armenia Prosecutor General's Office launches case regarding leaving sacs of servicemen's bodies/remains in basement

Peskov: Putin and Biden to discuss cybersecurity issues

Armenia's Pashinyan meets with Belgian PM Alexander De Croo

Armenia acting MOD receives Netherlands Ambassador

Armenia Police: 3 citizens apprehended during protest demanding acting health minister's resignation

NATO warns Minsk about further consequences of Ryanair incident

Armenia economic competition protection commission: Experts forecast inflation of butter prices

Armenia citizens' protest against acting health minister is over

Pashinyan visits France, judicial farce against Armenian POWs kicks off in Baku, Jun. 2 digest

Armenian Ambassador, FMO representatives consider opportunities for expansion of cooperation in Armenia

Armenia Prosecutor General is on working visit to Russia

Armenia acting PM meets with European Council President in Brussels

Armenia citizens throw polyethylene bags at Health Ministry building, police apprehend protesters

Acting deputy minister: Armenia authorities plan to build 46km section of North-South highway in 2021

Dollar is stable in Armenia

Armenia official: Large number of projects being prepared in construction sector

Identity of man killed Wednesday morning in downtown Yerevan is found out

Armenian lawyer: Azerbaijan poses a threat to security in Europe

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

Missing Armenian soldiers' relatives hand letter to Russia Embassy with request to solve captives' issue

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
Classic Prep Childrenswear Structures Data and Manages Growth with Centric PLM Well be able to create POs and templates for our different factories in a matter of days instead of weeks.

Classic Prep Childrenswear, the traditional childrens apparel company, has selected Centric Softwares Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) solution for emerging brands, Centric SMB. Centric Software provides the most innovative enterprise solutions to fashion, retail, footwear, outdoor, luxury and consumer goods companies to achieve strategic and operational digital transformation goals.

Classic Prep Childrenswear (CPC) was founded in 2016 by partners, Ginger Drysdale and Josh Jewett. Based in Rowayton, Connecticut, the company designs and manufactures comfortable, easy-care childrens apparel with classic, preppy styling that goes from frolicking to formal occasions.

The company has enjoyed rapid growth over the past year and a half, especially after placing new focus on their direct-to-consumer business. They recently ramped up their in-house staffing to more than double their pre-COVID-19 levels. This stressed the need to have a system that allowed collaborative and simultaneous work, to eliminate the issues around using Dropbox and spreadsheets.

Says Jewett, I've been very frustrated about how we manage and communicate with our data. Developing tech packs, purchase orders and trying to do things like calculate fabric utilization, that theoretically should just take a couple of days to do, takes weeks. We're having to constantly go back and forth into Dropbox because a spreadsheet didnt get updated properly, and we were running into issue after issue related to just this data problem, which in 2021 shouldn't even be a consideration.

The CPC team laid out all their requirements for a digital solution, which included having the design, merchandising, and planning teams benefit from it. Also, meeting the companys current needs but being able to grow with them. They did a search for solutions, sitting through numerous demos.

CPC ultimately chose Centric SMB, a SaaS, cloud-based PLM solution tailored for emerging businesses. The powerful out-of-the-box functionality met all of their needs, with Centrics responsiveness and expertise sealing the deal. Jewett says that referrals were an important part of their decision-making process. Steve (from Centric) put us in touch with a current Centric customer that had literally just switched from the other system that we were considering. We could actually talk through their decision and why they had made the move, which were all the same reasons that we had, so it was perfect.

Says Jewett, I foresee it being tremendously helpful to make us much more efficient. Well be able to create POs and templates for our different factories in a matter of days instead of weeks. Well create component lists for an entire line that's going into production and be able to quickly export and identify what our testing requirements are going to be, instead of having to pour through excel tech packs to make sure we captured everything.

Chris Groves, President and CEO of Centric Software says, It is a pleasure to be able to partner with this fast-growing, childrens apparel company. We are privileged to contribute to the continued success of Classic Prep now and moving forward.

Learn more about Centric SMB

Want to see Centric PLM in action? Attend our upcoming digital event, Supercharge Digital Collaboration with Social PLM by Centric.

http://www2.ce ntricsoftware.com/l/35842/2018-11-21/rw7kwd [Request a Demo __title__ Request a Demo]

Classic Prep Childrenswear (classicprep.com)

At Classic Prep Childrenswear, we believe theres something magical about timeless style. The clothes you wear help make memories youll treasure forever. When we launched CPC out of our family home in Rowayton, CT, six years ago, we were inspired by the iconic New England lifestyle of our own childhoods: summers on the boat, winters by the fire. We were also inspired by our little girl, Piper, who reminds us that even the prettiest outfits have to be able to move!

Quality is at the heart of what we do, and we obsess over every detail, from the extra-soft fabrics to our exclusively-designed prints. Each piece is durable, versatile and easy to clean, so nothing gets in the way of carefree kid adventures. These are the clothes your kids will run around in and dress up in, the ones youll reach for on special holidays as well as trips to the park. These are their play clothesand the ones youll want in the family portrait, too. After all, your little ones dont stay little for long.
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid homage to Bangladesh founder 'Bangabandhu' Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on his birth anniversary on Wednesday and said he is a hero for all Indians. Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founding father of Bangladesh, was born on March 17, 1920.

"My heartfelt homage to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, a champion of human rights and freedom, on his birth anniversary," PM Modi said in a tweet. "He is a hero for all Indians too. It will be my honour to visit Bangladesh later this month for the historic #MujibBorsho celebrations," he said.

My heartfelt homage to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, a champion of human rights and freedom, on his birth anniversary. He is a hero for all Indians too. It will be my honour to visit Bangladesh later this month for the historic #MujibBorsho celebrations.  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 17, 2021

It may be recalled that the Prime Minister will visit Bangladesh on March 26 and 27, his first visit to a foreign country since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar also paid homage to Mujibur Rahman and said his ideals continue to inspire millions across the world. "Pay homage to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on his birth centenary. His ideals continue to inspire millions across the world. India is proud to celebrate his legacy jointly with Bangladesh in this historic #MujibBorsho," Jaishankar tweeted.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) made an announcement on Tuesday on Modi's visit to the neighbouring country following an invitation from Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

"This visit is in connection with the commemoration of three epochal events -- Mujib Borsho, the birth centenary of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman; 50 years of the establishment of diplomatic ties between India and Bangladesh; and 50 years of Bangladesh's war of liberation," it said.

PM Modi had last visited Bangladesh in 2015.

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Ambassador of Belarus A.Molchan meets the Deputy Minister of Tourism of Venezuela

On March 16th, 2021, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Belarus to the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela Andrei Molchan met with Deputy Minister of Tourism of Venezuela Leticia Gomez.

The parties analyzed the prospects for cooperation between Belarus and Venezuela in the tourism sector, including the formation of respective legal framework.

During the negotiations, issues of establishing interaction between public and private travel companies of both countries were also considered, promising areas for the development of investment cooperation in modern realities were identified.

The interlocutors noted the need to organize direct flights between Caracas and Minsk and agreed to continue working on this issue.

Within the framework of the meeting, an exchange of views on the possibility of participation of the Venezuelan side in the XXIII International Exhibition-Fair of Tourism Services "Rest-2021" in Minsk on April 23-25, 2021 was also held.

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The U.S. authorities will impose sanctions on the basis of the intelligence community assessment on foreign threats to the 2020 U.S. federal elections, the document says.

The unclassified version of the document, dated March 10, says that in line with the U.S. legislation "the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State, the Attorney General, and the Secretary of Homeland Security, will impose appropriate sanctions for activities determined to constitute foreign interference in a U.S. election."

Among other things, the U.S. intelligence report claims that the Russian authorities allegedly attempted to denigrate incumbent president Joe Biden and his Democratic Party during last years election campaign.

However, the U.S. intelligence registered no attempts of foreign interference into the technical aspects of the 2020 federal elections in the United States, according to the report.

"We have no indications that any foreign actor attempted to alter any technical aspect of the voting process in the 2020 U.S. elections, including voter registration, casting ballots, vote tabulation, or reporting results," the report says.

"Some foreign actors, such as Iran and Russia, spread false or inflated claims about alleged compromises of voting systems to undermine public confidence in election processes and results," it says.

On many occasions, both Russia and Iran strongly rejected Washingtons claims of alleged interference into the U.S. electoral process.
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New HBO documentary Tina, which profiles the extraordinary life of Tina Turner will screen express from the US in late March.

This is directed by Dan Lindsay and T.J. Martin, and described as a revealing and intimate look at her life, from her rise to early fame, her personal and professional struggles throughout her life and resurgence as a global superstar in the 1980s.

Notably it also has interviews with Tina herself, conducted in Zurich and with those closest to her.

It also features a wealth of never-before-seen footage, audio tapes and personal photos.

In the autumn of 1981, struggling to gain meaningful momentum in her career, Tina Turner sat for an interview with Carl Arrington, the music editor of People Magazine. Five years earlier, she had filed for divorce from Ike Turner, her husband and musical partner for over 16 years. Together they had climbed the charts and made musical history with their hits A Fool in Love, River Deep  Mountain High and Proud Mary. Off stage, they appeared to have a healthy marriage and family life.

The story she would tell Carl was an honest and harrowing account of the abuse and torture she had suffered through during her marriage, and the brave escape she made after years of trauma. The article would be the first of many profiles that would cement Tinas image as a survivor, helping to fuel the story of her extraordinary yet improbable career comeback.

Having lost everything but her name in the divorce, Tina spent several years in Las Vegas, performing in cabaret clubs and appearing on television variety shows. In 1983, at the age of forty-four, she recorded the album Private Dancer in just two weeks and it quickly became a commercial and critical sensation. Her single Whats Love Got To Do With It became her first and only number one hit on the Billboard 100 charts.

Tina 2.0 had arrived. Private Dancer sold over 12 million copies worldwide and cemented Tina as a bona fide superstar. She performed with Mick Jagger at LiveAid, won a slew of Grammys and wrote a best-selling autobiography, I, Tina. In 1988, Tina performed to a record-breaking crowd of 180,000 people in Brazil. By 1993, a feature film was made about her life, starring Angela Bassett as Tina herself. As her fame grew, so did her identity as a cultural symbol, becoming a representation of strength and resilience to her fans. Privately, she wrestled with the survivor narrative that shaped her later life and career and struggled to be released from her past.

In addition to a stunning amount of archival footage spanning 60 years, the documentary includes interviews with Angela Bassett; Oprah Winfrey; journalist Kurt Loder who co-authored I, Tina, which inspired the feature film; playwright Katori Hall, who scribed Tina  The Tina Turner Musical; and husband and former record executive Erwin Bach, among many others.

Tina draws to an emotional conclusion with Tina Turner taking a bow at the opening night of the Broadway musical about her life, a fitting swan song for an immensely talented performer who courageously spoke her truth about domestic abuse, and refused to let age, gender or a difficult past stand in her way. Tina is a celebration of Tina Turners immense talent, improbable journey to global stardom and her own embrace of her status as a beloved and respected survivor.

Universal Pictures Content Group presents Tina, a Lightbox production, directed by Dan Lindsay and T.J. Martin; produced by Simon Chinn, Jonathan Chinn, Diane Becker; executive produced by Erwin Bach, Tali Pelman, Will Clarke, Andy Mayson, Mike Runagall, David Gilbery, Charles Dorfman.

11.00am AEDT Sunday, March 28 on Foxtel Movies Premiere channel (repeat at 8.30pm).

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Katherine Tai addresses the Senate Finance committee hearings to examine her nomination to be United States Trade Representative, with the rank of Ambassador, in Washington, on Feb. 25, 2021. (Bill O'Leary/Pool via Reuters)

Senate Confirms Katherine Tai as Bidens Top Trade Envoy

WASHINGTONThe Senate confirmed Katherine Tai as the top U.S. trade envoy in an overwhelming bipartisan vote on Wednesday. She will be the first Asian American and first woman of color to hold the position.

Tai is considered a problem-solving pragmatist, and her nomination by President Joe Biden to be U.S. trade representative drew support from Democrats and Republicans alike. She was confirmed on a 980 vote and is the 19th member of Bidens Cabinet to clear the Senate.

A former trade negotiator and congressional staffer, Tai has vowed to work for a U.S. trade policy that benefits ordinary workers, not just big corporations, and to work more closely with Americas allies to confront an increasingly assertive China.

In her confirmation hearing, she ducked questions about how shed handle several politically sensitive questions such as whether the Biden administration would drop former President Donald Trumps tariffs on imported steel and aluminum and whether it would revive an Asia-Pacific trade agreement that was negotiated by President Barack Obama but jettisoned by Trump.

Fluent in Mandarin, Tai served several years as head of China enforcement at the trade representatives office.

I know firsthand how critically important it is that we have a strategic and coherent plan for holding China accountable to its promises and effectively competing with its model of state-directed economics, Tai told senators last month.

In the biggest trade war since the 1930s, Trump slapped taxes on $360 billion in Chinese imports in a fight over Chinas aggressive push to promote its own technology companies and challenge U.S. technological dominance.

Biden and his team appear to be in no hurry to reverse Trumps China tariffs. U.S. legislators and policymakers across the political spectrum have taken an increasingly confrontational line on China, frustrated by its trade practices, crackdown on Hong Kong, and aggressive pursuit of territorial claims in the South China Sea.

Tai promised to work with U.S. allies to present a united front to Beijing.

At her confirmation hearing, Tai wouldnt commit to dropping the tax on foreign metals, calling tariffs a legitimate tool in the trade tool box.

Tai also dodged a question about whether the Biden administration would revive the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a pact with 11 Pacific Rim countries. The pact excluded and was meant to isolate China and cement U.S. ties with other Asian countries. Trump called the TPP a job killer and withdrew from it in his first week in office. The pact also faced opposition in Bidens Democratic Party.

Tai last served as the top trade staffer at the House Ways and Means Committee. She handled negotiations with the Trump administration over a revamped North American trade deal. Under pressure from congressional Democrats, Trumps trade team agreed to strengthen the pact to make it easier for Mexican workers to form independent unions and demand better pay and benefitsdecreasing the incentives for U.S. firms to move south of the border to take advantage of cheap labor.

By Paul Wiseman
Our governance tool saves users time, clarifies data in a way that is easy to communicate across the business, and allows stakeholders to benefit from flexible, dynamic, and efficient governance.

Rencore, the provider of award-winning software essential for governing Microsoft 365, has released Rencore Governance. The cloud governance tool tackles platform growth and compliance issues by monitoring platform activity, discovering potential violations, and automating remedial measures. Rencore Governance helps administrators simplify governance tasks such as lifecycle management, external user control, offboarding, and cost management.

Microsoft 365 Administrators and platform owners are responsible for platform hygiene and stability. They must locate, assess, and understand data behavior and movement. By doing so, they can enforce governance and manage risk, controlling the impact platform growth has on their organizations Microsoft 365 ecosystem.

However, the ability to control platform growth is hindered when there is not enough time to manage cloud sprawl. The processes to collect, aggregate, and crunch cloud-sprawl data from multiple services and act to resolve violations are still profoundly manual.

We identified the need for a scaled process to deal with time-consuming governance tasks," said Matthias Einig, co-founder and CEO at Rencore. "Admins and platform owners want access to reliable, easy-to-understand information to help do their job effectively and Rencore Governance provides this. Our governance tool saves users time, clarifies data in a way that is easy to communicate across the business, and allows stakeholders to benefit from flexible, dynamic, and efficient governance.

Rencore Governance connects to a Microsoft 365 tenant allowing users to choose which services they would like to monitor. Upon receiving an inventory of data, users can set up governance checks that meet their specific needs. By continuous monitoring, Rencore Governance assesses any violations against running checks. If a violation is discovered, the tool allows users to automate notifications, reports, and even actions to resolve the issue via integrations with Exchange, Power Automate, and similar services.

Rencore Governance infrastructure is hosted on Microsoft Azure and passes all built-in automated regulatory compliance checks and security controls. Once connected to the specified tenant and selected services, the tool will scan daily for metadata only, and any personal information collected is encrypted. Rencore Governance uses Azure Active Directory to collect information. Users can decide whether they would like their data hosted in the US or European data centers, depending on their location.

Please click here for more information regarding Rencore Governance. The tool can be tried out for free for a duration of 30 days.

For further comments or information please contact Rencore today.
Some of the world's most famous landmarks are being bathed in green light to mark St Patrick's Day.

While parades and celebrations have been cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic, the 'global greening' initiative is going ahead with more places taking part than ever before.

A record 690 iconic landmarks in 66 countries are going green to mark the celebration of Ireland's patron saint.

Among them will be the Sydney Opera House, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the Burj Al Arab in Dubai, the London Eye and the famous 'Welcome' sign in Las Vegas.

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Chicago went ahead with it's annual tradition of dyeing it's river green, despite city officials cancelling the event. The city's mayor Lori Lightfoot surprised residents with the river dyed green on Saturday.

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In Spain alone, more than 60 monuments "will be illuminated in emerald light" this year, from the Basque Parliament in Vitoria to the Science Museum and the Hemisferic in Valencia.

Closer to home and Galway's Ashford Castle will see the light, as will the GPO building in Dublin city centre.

The Global Greening initiative began in 2010, when just the Sydney Opera House and the Sky Tower in Auckland took part.

Other famous sites taking part this year include Niagara Falls, the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro and the Prince's Palace of Monaco.

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A host of locations will be joining in for the first time including the Oculus transit hub near the World Trade Center in New York to the village of Portmeirion in North Wales.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-17 01:54:15|Editor: huaxia

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People work at the assembly workshop of FAW-Volkswagen Automobile Co., Ltd. in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Feb. 19, 2020.(Xinhua/Liu Kun)

China "remained the largest single market for Volkswagen in 2020" with a market share of 19.3 percent. According to Volkswagen, newly introduced car models in particular achieved a good market performance in China.

China "recovered quickly" and "proved itself as an anchor of stability in the crisis," with all brands achieving positive results. The new energy vehicle (NEV) sector grew fastest in China. With seven new NEV models, Volkswagen now offers 22 electrified models in China.

BERLIN, March 16 (Xinhua) -- Sales revenues of Germany's largest carmaker Volkswagen declined by 11.8 percent year-on-year to 222.9 billion euros (265.4 billion U.S. dollars) in fiscal 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic as well as negative exchange rate effects, the company said on Tuesday.

Volkswagen's operating result even dropped by 43 percent compared to 2019 and fell to around 9.7 billion euros, according to the company.

"We have had to perform the greatest balancing act in the company's history in recent months, addressing the COVID-19 pandemic while pushing our transformation into a technology company," said Herbert Diess, chief executive officer (CEO) of Volkswagen.

In 2020, Volkswagen delivered a total of 9.1 million vehicles across all brands, a decline of 15.1 percent, according to the company.

China "remained the largest single market for Volkswagen in 2020" with a market share of 19.3 percent. According to Volkswagen, newly introduced car models in particular achieved a good market performance in China.

China "recovered quickly" and "proved itself as an anchor of stability in the crisis," with all brands achieving positive results. The new energy vehicle (NEV) sector grew fastest in China. With seven new NEV models, Volkswagen now offers 22 electrified models in China.

Photo taken on Nov. 23, 2020 shows vehicles to be tested at the assembly workshop of FAW-Volkswagen Automobile Co., Ltd. in Changchun, northeast China's Jilin Province. (Xinhua/Zhang Nan)

In order to be "prepared for rapidly growing demand for e-mobility," Volkswagen also ramped up its production of electric drive components in China last year, according to the company.

Declining by almost 20 percent, Volkswagen's sales in the company's domestic market Germany fell in line with the overall decline in western Europe, attributable to the "negative impact of the spread of the coronavirus."

For 2021, Volkswagen expected its business to "recover significantly," assuming a successful containment of the COVID-19 pandemic. The German carmaker aimed to "further improve its profitability," bringing the operating return on sales back to around seven to eight percent.

Following the announcement, Volkswagen, listed at Germany's DAX index of the country's 30 largest listed companies, was the biggest winner with shares increasing by more than eight percent at the end of trading on Tuesday. (1 euro = 1.19 U.S. dollars)

Photo taken on July 9, 2019 shows Audi vehicles awaiting transfer at the parking lot of FAW-Volkswagen in Changchun, northeast China's Jilin Province.(Xinhua/Xu Chang)
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The DWI charge against state Sen. Sandra Cunningham wont be heard in Hudson County, but officials familiar with the case dont yet know where it will be heard.

The Democrat who represents part of Jersey City and Bayonne was charged on March 4 after crashing her Infiniti G35X SUV into two parked cars on Culver Avenue in Jersey City, not far from her home.

DWI cases are normally heard in municipal court, but in a letter to the Hudson County Prosecutors Office, Jersey City Municipal Prosecutor Jacob V. Hudnut said My office has an ethical obligation to recuse itself from any prosecutorial functions related to the case, pointing out that Cunninghams duties as senator involves regular interaction with principals of the city of Jersey City. Whats more, this office sits in the defendants legislative district.

There is also an apparent conflict since Cunningham has endorsed Mayor Steve Fulop for re-election in November and Hudnut is running for the Ward E city council seat on the mayors ticket.

Hudson County Prosecutors Office spokeswoman Jennifer Morrill confirmed Wednesday that the case will be handled in municipal court outside of Hudson County. No court date has been announced.

We requested the change of venue as is standard procedure in cases involving an elected official or defendant with a prominent role in the community to foreclose on any questions of potential conflicts and promote public confidence in the outcome of the matter, Morrill said.

Cunningham, a state lawmaker since 2007 and the widow of former Jersey City Mayor Glenn Cunningham, is the deputy majority leader, chairwoman of the Senate Higher Education Committee and vice chairwoman of the Budget and Appropriations Committee.

On Tuesday, she held a reelection campaign fund-raiser at Healys Tavern in Jersey City, with tickets priced at $350, $500 and $1,000.

Before being elected, Cunningham was charged with DWI in 2005. She told The Jersey Journal at the time that she had failed a Breathalyzer test after being stopped in Liberty State Park by a police officer.
Two men were charged with felony murder and robbery in the January 2020 killing of a 24-year-old man who was shot at his Atlantic County home, authorities said Wednesday.

Leonard B. Ludwigsen Jr., 26, and Neco J. Pitts, 28, also face weapons and conspiracy charges stemming from the shooting of Arturo Arty Barrera III in Egg Harbor Township, according to Atlantic County Prosecutor Damon G. Tyner.

I want to commend the detectives of the Atlantic County Prosecutors Office, along with our local, state, and federal partners, for their diligent and tireless effort to investigate and identify those responsible for the murder of Art Barrera, Jr. more than fifteen months ago, Tyner said in a statement.

Barrera was fatally shot Jan. 2, 2020 at his home on Vermont Avenue in what Tyner said was not a random incident. Witnesses reported two masked gunmen entered the home before the shooting, authorities said.

The men pointed the guns at the eyewitness and victim, at which time dogs started barking and moving towards the masked men, Tyner said. Simultaneously, Barrera stood up and the two men began firing, ultimately killing Barrera.

The shooters fled the house and Barrera died at the scene, the prosecutor added. It was not clear what led investigators to the arrests more than a year later or if anyone would collect a $10,000 reward offered in the case. Family and friends launched a website, social media campaign and billboards to help find his killer.

Arty was a good kid, kind soul. He would do anything for everyone. All we have are memories of him, we dont get to see him grow old or have children or get married, Barreras mother, Marlene Barrera, said during a press conference after the murder.

JusticeForArt billboard is up Rt. 30 leaving AC. Please help spread the word and help us bring  for Arty pic.twitter.com/VqmMIgp6Rv  Justice for Art (@justice_art) February 12, 2020

A biker and skateboarder since an early age, the Egg Harbor Township High School graduate was known around South Jersey for doing tricks and helping to improve a local bike trail, according to his obituary. Barrera also loved to travel, meet new people and work on cars with his friends.

Once you knew Arty you were touched by his heart of gold. Arty is best described by his friends who have said, You were the definition of living life, his obituary stated.

According to the prosecutors office, Ludwigsen was arrested Tuesday at his Egg Harbor Township home and remained held at the Atlantic County jail. Authorities said Pitts, of Long Branch, was in custody at the Monmouth County jail. Attorney information for the men was not immediately available.

I have said it before, but it bears repeating; if someone has, or intends to, commit a murder in Atlantic County, our detectives and law enforcement partners will never stop searching for those responsible, the prosecutor said.

This dogged determination runs throughout the Atlantic County Prosecutors Office and while some cases may take longer than others to resolve, the public should know that we never stop working to make our community safe, Tyner added.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Noah Cohen may be reached at ncohen@njadvancemedia.com.

Teen Who Hacked Celebrity Twitter Accounts to Run Bitcoin Scam Gets Jail Time

An 18-year-old Florida teenager who ran a scam that used hacked celebrity Twitter accounts to dupe ordinary people out of their money has been sentenced to three years behind bars, the Office of the State Attorney 13th Judicial Circuit in Tampa announced.

Graham Clark, who was 17 when he committed the crimes, reached a deal with prosecutors, under which he pleaded guilty to 30 countsincluding organized fraud and fraudulent use of personal informationand will serve three years in a juvenile facility, followed by three years probation, the state attorneys office said Tuesday.

He took over the accounts of famous people, but the money he stole came from regular, hard-working people, State Attorney Andrew Warren said in a statement. Graham Clark needs to be held accountable for that crime, and other potential scammers out there need to see the consequences.

The scam involved Clark taking over a number of high-profile Twitter accountsincluding those of President Joe Biden, Bill Gates, Elon Musk, and Kim Kardashian West. Clark was able to access the accounts after persuading a Twitter employee that he worked in the companys IT department, according to the Tampa Bay Times.

Once Clark accessed the accounts, he tweeted a link to a bitcoin address and wrote, all bitcoin sent to our address below will be sent back to you doubled! prompting a number of people to send in cryptocurrency in hopes of a quick profit.

Instead Clark kept the money, the state attorneys office wrote, adding that the so-called Bit-Con grift netted him more than $117,440. The money was seized by law enforcement and is expected to be returned to the rightful owners.

The incident represented an embarrassing security breach for Twitter, which was forced to suspend all verified accounts from sending tweets for several hours while it scrambled to secure the platform.

Following an investigation, Clark was arrested several days after running the scam.

A great deal of impressive work has gone into stopping these fraud schemes and holding the people behind them accountable, Warren said.

This is one part of a nationwide effort, and we want to recognize all the federal partners involvedthe U.S. Attorneys Office for the Northern District of California, other elements of the U.S. Department of Justice, the FBI, the IRS, and the Secret Service, he added.

They quickly unraveled this mystery that stretched around the world, and then worked nonstop to catch the fraudsters who tried to take advantage of millions of unsuspecting people, he said.

Two more people were formally charged by the Department of Justice (DOJ) in connection with the scam22-year-old Nima Fazeli of Orlando and 19-year-old British man Mason Sheppard, who go by the hacker aliases Rolex and Chaewon, respectively, according to the DOJ. Their cases continue.
Border Patrol agents apprehend a group of illegal immigrants following the congressional border delegation visit near downtown El Paso, Texas, on March 15, 2021. (Justin Hamel/AFP via Getty Images)

Updates on CCP Virus: Up to 50 Percent of Illegal Immigrants Estimated to Have COVID-19: National Sheriffs Association

As concerns over the surge of illegal immigrants crossing the southern border grows, the National Sheriffs Association is calling on the Biden administration to secure the border and protect Americans.

Up to 50 percent of illegal immigrants are testing positive for COVID-19, the disease the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus causes, the sheriffs association wrote.

We are already seeing strains to the public health system of border communities. The suspension of deportations has led to the release of undocumented persons into border communities. We then have an affirmative responsibility to provide medical care for them if they are infected with COVID, the statement reads. This at a time when our communities are already grappling with this public health emergency and desperately trying to roll out the vaccines. We now face a serious potential public health crisis along the border.

WHO Report on COVID-19 Origins Likely Pushed Back a Week

A highly anticipated report from the World Health Organization (WHO) on the origins of COVID-19 based on its findings in Wuhan, China, is likely to be delayed until next week, a spokesman for the health agency said Tuesday.

WHO spokesman Christian Lindmeier told a United Nations briefing that the final report has been pushed back because it was simply not ready, and the team of experts that traveled to China to examine the origins of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, which causes the disease COVID-19, want to get it right.

What we hear from the technical expertsfrom the mission membersis that the report most likely now will come out next week, Lindmeier said.

Moderna to Proceed with COVID-19 Vaccine Testing on Canadian Children

Moderna says upcoming clinical trials for its COVID-19 vaccine will include Canadian children.

The company announced details of its Phase 2/3 study of COVID-19 earlier this week. Its expected to involve 6,750 healthy pediatric participants aged six months to 12 years.

Moderna says initial participants are based in the United States but that Canadian sites will be added as the trial progresses.

US to Ramp up Screening in Schools as Part of $12 Billion Testing Effort

The U.S. government is investing $12.25 billion on ramping up COVID-19 testing in the country to help schools reopen safely and promote testing equity among high-risk and underserved populations.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) said on Wednesday it will provide $10 billion to states to support COVID-19 screening and testing for teachers, staff, and students to assist schools to resume in-person instruction.

The remaining $2.25 billion HHS investment will be used to scale up testing among high-risk and underserved populations, including racial and ethnic minority groups and people living in rural areas, the U.S. health agency added.

Disneyland Theme Parks in California to Reopen April 30

Disneys two theme parks in California will reopen on April 30 to a limited number of guests, the company said on Wednesday, over a year after they closed because of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus pandemic, which causes the disease COVID-19.

Attendance will initially be capped at roughly 15 percent of capacity, Disney Chief Executive Bob Chapek said on CNBC television. Advance reservations and an admission ticket will be required for entry. Guests age 2 and up will need to wear masks, except when eating, drinking, or swimming, and follow other safety measures including temperature checks before entering and social distancing on rides and throughout the parks.

DeSantis Rejects Sen. Scotts Calls for Florida to Give Back Relief Money

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday rejected calls from a fellow Republican, Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.), to return money in excess of COVID-19-related costs that is being handed out to state and local governments under the $1.9 trillion relief package, funds that Scott has denounced as bonus cash to plug budget holes.

It doesnt make any sense, DeSantis told Politico in response to a question about Scotts suggestion to give back to the Feds money over and above what would reimburse actual expenses incurred by Florida in its COVID-19 response.

Reynolds to Open Vaccines to All Iowans Starting April 5

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds said Wednesday that all Iowa residents will be eligible for COVID-19 vaccinations on April 5 as long as supply projections are met.

Reynolds said the federal government is promising a surge in supply in late March that will enable enough vaccinations to meet much larger demand. Until then, vaccinations are only available to adults in certain occupations, people older than 65 or those who have qualifying health conditions.

WHO Scientist: No Documented Death Linked to Vaccine

A World Health Organization (WHO) researcher says there is no evidence linking deaths to any CCP virus vaccine, after numerous European Union countries and other nations suspended usage of AstraZenecas vaccine amid reports of blood clots.

There is no documented death thats been linked to a COVID vaccine, Soumya Swaminathan, a WHO clinical scientist, said in a March 17 news conference. While we need to continue to be very closely monitoring this, she said, we do not want people to panic.

St. Patricks Day to Be Largely Virtual in NYC for 2nd Year

A largely virtual St. Patricks Day was held in New York City on Wednesday morning, one year after the annual parade celebrating Irish heritage was canceled because of the pandemic.

People staying home can take in a 5 p.m. program on the Catholic Faith Network featuring parade leaders and Cardinal Timothy Dolan, the head of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York, and TV station WNBC will broadcast St. Patricks Day: A Celebration For All at 7 p.m.

3 Bangladeshi Patients Die in Hospital Fire

Three patients hospitalized after contracting the CCP virus died in a fire in Bangladeshs capital, Dhaka, on Wednesday, officials said.

The patients, who were using ventilators in the hospitals intensive-care unit, died after the fire triggered an evacuation, said Nazmul Haque, director of the hospital. It was not immediately clear what caused the blaze, a fire service official said.

Trump Recommends Americans Get a Vaccine

Former President Donald Trump on Tuesday advised Americans to get vaccinated against COVID-19, a disease that is caused by the CCP virus, commonly referred to as the novel coronavirus.

I would recommend it. And I would recommend it to a lot of people that dont want to get it, and a lot of those people voted for me, frankly, Trump said during an interview with Fox News. He also said Americans have freedoms and we have to live by that, and I agree with that also.

EU Chief Says AstraZeneca Shortfalls Slow Vaccine Campaign

The European Unions chief executive criticized Anglo-Swedish vaccine-maker AstraZeneca on Wednesday, accusing the embattled pharmaceutical company of delaying Europes CCP virus vaccination campaign and warning that the EU is weighing export bans to ensure supplies.

AstraZeneca has unfortunately under-produced and under-delivered, and this painfully, of course, reduced the speed of the vaccination campaign, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told reporters.

AstraZenecas formula is one of three vaccines in use on the continent. But the escalating concern is another setback for the EUs vaccination drive.

Rand Paul Suggests People Who Had Virus Dont Need Vaccine

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) on Tuesday suggested people like himself who have had the CCP virus and recovered do not need to get a COVID-19 vaccine.

About 30 million people have gotten the infection naturally like myself. The interesting thing is that [there is] no more than a handful of reports of people getting it again, so theres every indication that having been infected with it provides strong, natural immunity, Paul told reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington.

Brazils Death Toll Reaches Highest Daily Record to Date

Brazil reported 2,841 COVID-19-related fatalities on Tuesday, its highest daily death toll since the pandemic began, according to the health ministry.

The countrys total death toll now stands at 282,127. Additionally, 83,926 new COVID-19 cases were reported Tuesday, bringing the total caseload to 11,603,535.

Isabel van Brugen, Samuel Allegri, Tom Ozimek, Zachary Stieber, Jack Phillips, Reuters, and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
MICHIGAN CITY, Ind. (AP)  A northwestern Indiana city council has unanimously approved a resolution asking the city's mayor to resign and expressing no confidence in his ability to lead after he made profanity-laced remarks about a Black pastor.

All nine members of the City Council sponsored the resolution approved Tuesday night and asked LaPorte County Republicans and the Indiana Republican Party to publicly speak out against Mayor Duane Parrys actions, The (Northwest Indiana) Times reported.

The pastor, Rev. James Lane, last week publicly released a voicemail message Parry left for him in which the Republican mayor declined to meet with Lane and a Spiritual Task Force. Lane and the task force wanted a meeting to address their concerns regarding Parrys recent public admonishment of Police Chief Dion Campbell, who is Black, over a fundraising letter for police charities that Campbell included in city water bills.

Toward the end of the recording, it was apparent that Parry thought he had hung up the phone, and he could be heard saying: They want a ... audience, you know. These Black guys, they all want a .... audience, using an expletive twice.

In my mind as a public official, the mayor needs to resign, and that sentiment is growing. Democratic Councilman Don Przybylinski said Tuesday night.

Parry responded that he is not a quitter.

I have not quit on anything in my life, Parry said.

The mayor apologized to Campbell and plans to apologize to Lane and other ministers on Thursday, he said.

Parry began counseling on implicit bias and cultural diversity on March 11. He said last week that he would pursue the training for himself, all department heads and all city employees.

I will continue this counseling indefinitely, he said. None of this counseling will be done at the cost of Michigan City.
People apply for unemployment benefits at the Hanoi Center for Employment Services, June 2020. Photo by VnExpress/Ngoc Thanh.

The labor ministry plans to earmark VND6 trillion ($260.4 million) for training workers at risk of losing their jobs due to Covid-19.

Tran Tuan Tu, head of the unemployment insurance division at the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs employment department, said on Tuesday the ministry would seek approval for the program from the government this month.

It will draw VND6 trillion from the Unemployment Insurance Fund to train workers. Each worker would receive around VND1 million each month for six months for their job training. Around one million workers would benefit from the program.

Businesses wishing to benefit must meet certain conditions: they should have paid unemployment insurance premiums for their workers for the previous 12 months, restructured their business or production model to cope with the adverse effects of the pandemic and furnish financial reports of the nearest quarter to prove their revenues fell by at least 20 percent from the same period in 2019.

They could apply to the ministry, and the program is expected to begin within a year after the policies are announced.

The Unemployment Insurance Fund had around VND84 trillion left at the end of 2020. Though the law stipulates money from it could be used to train workers who lose their jobs due to technological changes, no business has been able to apply so far due to stringent requirements.

Last year over 1.1 million people filed for unemployment benefits, a 32 percent increase from 2019, mostly due to the pandemic. Around 43 percent of the applicants were from five industrialized cities and provinces: Hanoi, HCMC, Binh Duong, Dong Nai, and Long An.

Over 26,000 unemployed workers received training for jobs like driving, cooking and bartending to get back into the workforce.

The pandemic severely affected 90 percent of businesses, according to the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the World Bank. The worst affected industries included textiles, telecommunications and electrical appliance manufacturing.

Around 35 percent of domestic private businesses and 22 percent of foreign companies have had to lay off employees.
The company said it intends to continue to look to expand its client base, as well as continue to strengthen its balance sheet through debt reduction and improved financial performance in preparation for a proposed listing of the companys shares onto a national stock exchange

Todos Medical recently announced sales for January and February 2021 of $5.2million and $7.2 million, respectively, and disclosed that it has retired approximately $3.2 million in convertible notes

Todos Medical, Ltd. ( ) has provided a corporate update following the achievement of certain key sales and financial milestones.

The in-vitro diagnostics company, which focused on distributing comprehensive solutions for coronavirus (COVID-19) screening, diagnosis and immune support, as well as developing blood tests for early detection of cancer and Alzheimers disease, said it is "excited about the path in front of us as we continue to build Todos Medical into a world-class company and thank all of our shareholders for their ongoing support."

In the statement, Gerald E. Commissiong, president & CEO for Todos Medical commented: The second half of 2020 and the beginning of 2021 has been an incredibly exciting time for Todos. We took on the significant task of commercializing a new lab testing business with uncertain international supply chains and stiff competition, and we were able to carve out a niche of being able to timely provide labs with comprehensive lab-based COVID testing solutions that can scale to meet the requirements of local, state and federal contracting demands.

"Our focus on automation has created a commercial infrastructure able to deploy integrated solutions for labs looking to scale lab services for their core clients, and we believe the growing need for regional lab solutions in the United States will only make Todos turnkey solutions more attractive to existing and prospective clients.

The company recently announced sales for January and February 2021 of $5.2million and $7.2 million, respectively, and disclosed that it has retired approximately $3.2 million in convertible notes.

It said this increasing revenue base, coupled with significant debt reduction, is strengthening the companys financial position at a time where it is seeing increasing demand for its automated lab solutions that will allow labs to become key players in their region.

The company said it intends to continue to look to expand its client base, as well as continue to strengthen its balance sheet through debt reduction and improved financial performance in preparation for a proposed listing of the companys shares onto a national stock exchange.

Todos Medical's corporate update concluded: "We remain focused on driving revenue growth and complementing our existing product offering with natural extensions. We believe that our establishment of a strong commercial infrastructure is the key to unlocking the value of our intellectual property portfolio for our Company and its stockholders."

Full details of the corporate update can be found on the company's website at the following link: https://investor.todosmedical.com/news-events/press-releases/detail/106/todos-medical-provides-corporate-update

Headquartered in Rehovot, Israel, Todos Medical engineers life-saving diagnostic solutions for the early detection of a variety of cancers. The company's state-of-the-art and patented Todos Biochemical Infrared Analyses (TBIA) is a proprietary cancer-screening technology using peripheral blood analysis that deploys deep examination into cancer's influence on the immune system, looking for biochemical changes in blood mononuclear cells and plasma.

Todos' two internally-developed cancer-screening tests, TMB-1 and TMB-2, have received a CE mark in Europe. Todos recently entered into an exclusive option agreement to acquire US-based medical diagnostics company Provista Diagnostics, Inc. to gain rights to its Alpharetta, Georgia-based CLIA/CAP certified lab and Provista's proprietary commercial-stage Videssa breast cancer blood test. The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of 2020.

Todos is also developing blood tests for the early detection of neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease. The Lymphocyte Proliferation Test is a diagnostic blood test that determines the ability of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) and monocytes to withstand an exogenous mitogenic stimulation that induces them to enter the cell cycle.

And Todos has entered into distribution agreements with companies to distribute certain novel coronavirus (COVID-19) test kits. The agreements cover multiple international suppliers of PCR testing kits and related materials and supplies, as well as antibody testing kits from multiple manufacturers after completing validation of said testing kits and supplies in its partner CLIA/CAP certified laboratory in the United States.

Contact the author at jon.hopkins@proactiveinvestors.com
Behind the backs of the American and world population, the Biden administration and the US military are preparing an escalation of military tensions against China with incalculable consequences.

Earlier this month, the Japanese Nikkei news service published excerpts from the Pentagons Pacific Deterrence Initiative, which calls for stationing offensive missiles, previously banned by the Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, along a string of densely populated islands that includes Japan, Taiwan and the Philippines.

To fund this initiative, the Pentagon requested an annual Pacific budget, in the words of Nikkei, of $4.7 billion, which is more than double the $2.2 billion earmarked for the region in fiscal 2021.

Against the backdrop of these plans, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin visited Japan this week, threatening to push back against aggression by China. While Blinken and other US officials habitually speak of Chinese aggression, it has been the US under Obama, Trump and now Biden that has aggressively confronted China in the Indo-Pacific to prevent any challenge to American global hegemony.

In a brief and tightly choreographed press conference, the two US officials and their Japanese counterparts, together with the vetted press, ignored the burning question: 75 years after American bombers obliterated Hiroshima and Nagasaki, were their policies exposing the people of Japan and China to a similar fate?

While the question was not directly addressed, the answer was clear. We reconfirmed the strong commitment of the United States regarding defense of Japan, using all types of US forces, including nuclear, said Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi.

Even as more than 1,000 people die from COVID-19 every single day in the United States, and the disease surges around the world, the US is preparing for a conflict that risks incalculable human suffering. Joining this offensive is the United Kingdom, with the highest COVID-19 death rate of the major European countries, which announced Tuesday a massive expansion of its nuclear weapons program, calling China a major threat.

It is not COVID-19, but China that the US has planted firmly in its sights. As Blinken made clear, Several countries present us with serious challenges, including Russia, Iran, North Korea but the challenge posed by China is different. China is the only country with the economic, diplomatic, military and technological power to challenge the United States.

On March 10, Adm. Philip Davidson, commander of the US Indo-Pacific Command, told a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing he believes that China is likely to invade Taiwan within the next six years. I think the threat is manifest during this decade, in fact, in the next six years, Davidson said.

Given that the United States has, in the words of Defense Secretary Austin, commitments to support Taiwans ability to defend itself, to predict that China will invade Taiwan within the next six years is to predict a major Sino-American war within that same time period.

To this end, Davidson stressed, We absolutely must be prepared to fight and win should competition turn to conflict.

What would the world look like if competition turned to conflict? A preview of this reality is provided by Adm. James Stavridis, former supreme allied commander of NATO, who published a book titled 2034: A Novel of the Next World War just one day before Davidsons comments. The novel depicts a nuclear conflict between the United States and China, involving the total annihilation of major cities on both sides.

Stavridis writes that after an American nuclear attack on Shanghai, one of the largest cities in the world, These many months later the city remained a charred, radioactive wasteland. The death toll had exceeded thirty million. After each of the nuclear attacks international markets plummeted. Crops failed. Infectious diseases spread. Radiation poisoning promised to contaminate generations. The devastation exceeded capacity for comprehension.

The American survivors of a Chinese nuclear attack on San Diego are left to live in wretched camps, where cyclical outbreaks of typhus, measles, and even smallpox often sprouted from the unbilged latrines and rows of plastic tenting.

What is most striking is the contrast between these graphic depictions of mass death and the imminent danger of what Stavridis calls a world war, and the degree to which the public is unaware that these preparations are even underway.

How many people in the US know that the United States is preparing to deploy offensive missiles in highly populated areas off the Chinese coast? And how many people in Japan? The evening news and major newspapers are silent on these war preparations, even as they relentlessly and falsely demonize China.

Leading the charge has been the Washington Post, owned by Amazon oligarch Jeff Bezos. In an editorial on March 14, the Post accused China of genocide against its Muslim population, echoing the declarations of the Trump and Biden administrations. The Post demanded that the United States withdraw from the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, declaring that to attend when the Xi regime is actively seeking to destroy a group of more than 12 million people would be unconscionable.

At the same time, the Post has continued its campaign to falsely assert that COVID-19 could have been created in a Chinese laboratory. It condemns the findings of the World Health Organization, which declared that, in the words of the Post, the laboratory hypothesis was extremely unlikely and would not be further studied.

In response, the Post declares that the WHO needs to start over and consider both the zoonotic and laboratory hypotheses.

These efforts to demonize China are sheer propaganda. A major aim is to divert mounting social tensions outward toward an external enemy. The 20th centurys horrific wars were prepared with such propaganda, designed to obscure the real war aims of capitalist governments.

In the 21st century, the costs of a major war are greater than ever. In the 20 years of this century, despite perpetual wars and proxy conflicts, there has never been a full-scale clash between nuclear-armed states. But exactly such a war is threatened by the massive US military buildup against China.

The workers of the United States and China have nothing to gain from such a horrific conflict. It is they, not the generals and politicians, who would bear the cost.

If a relapse to the bloodshed of the 20th century is to be avoided, it is the working class that must prevent it. The fight against imperialism and the danger of a new world war must be developed as a revolutionary movement of workers throughout the world, in opposition to the homicidal policies of the ruling elites and the entire capitalist system.
The House of Representatives unanimously passed a bill Tuesday that would delay changes mandating when police can use deadly force.

We put our police officers in harms way every day, and they need clarity with respect to the use of force policy in the state, Rep. Steven Stafstrom, D-Bridgeport and co-chair of the Judiciary Committee, said shortly before the vote Tuesday. But at the same time, we also have to recognize and not forget that call for change we have all heard so loudly, and continue to hear, and reduce as much as we possibly can the use of instances in which deadly force is used to take a life, particularly in our Black and brown communities throughout the state of Connecticut.

Legislators narrowed the circumstances in which cops can use deadly force in a wide-ranging police accountability bill passed over the summer in the wake of George Floyds death. Stafstrom said that the minor language tweaks in the new bill do not undermine the law but rather strengthen the legal framework that governs use of deadly force.

Members of the law enforcement community asked the Judiciary Committee to delay the changes to the use of force law  which are slated to go into effect April 1  to Oct. 1, 2022, to ensure all police are trained on the new standards.

The bill the House voted on Tuesday will push the implementation date to Jan. 1, 2022. Stafstrom said the new use of force statute needs to go into effect as soon as possible, and the Jan. 1 date strikes the balance between allowing the police officers to be fully trained on the new law and kicking the can too far down the road.

The move of the effective date will improve outcomes, allow for additional training, and hopefully reduce instances of the use of deadly force by police officers in our state, with the benefit of the mandatory training that has been put in place by the [Police Officer Standards and Training] Council, Stafstrom said.

Republicans seeking to make broader changes to the police accountability bill have been rebuffed by the Judiciary Committee co-chairs, who are open to making minor changes to the summers landmark legislation but not overwriting broad swaths of the new law.

The narrow legislative fix received bipartisan support, passing out of the Judiciary Committee unanimously on March 8.

Rep. Craig Fishbein, R-Wallingford and ranking member of the Judiciary Committee, reminded legislators of the danger of being a police officer, a career that can keep families on edge because they dont know whether their loved ones will come home after their shift.

We allow those individuals to wear a badge, carry a firearm, and in some cases tread on peoples constitutional rights, Fishbein said. Our job here is to create guidelines, guardrails for those officers to work within, to protect our communities, to protect themselves, but also to recognize the rights of others.
Shocking footage shows the moment a pair of tactless estate agents are caught discussing how 'disgusting' a bungalow they are trying to sell is.

The unnamed agents were filmed making the 'unprofessional' comments whilst hosting an open house viewing for the 300,000 three-bed property in Ramsgate, Kent, on Saturday.

A home security camera, installed in the children's bedroom of the house, caught the pair criticising the family's living arrangements and questioning how many people slept in the same room.

The agents, who work for Wards estate agent in Ramsgate, then suggest that the property should be knocked down because it is in such a bad state.

In footage recorded in one of the bedrooms during an open house viewing, the estate agents can be seen trying to work out where everyone sleeps in the bungalow

In the clip the male agent points at family's cat food bowl in the bedroom and says: 'The cat food is there, how disgusting is that?'

The pair are then heard talking outside the room with the male agent commenting that the floors need a 'mop.'

The woman jokes in response that the flooring needs to be pulled up instead.

She adds: 'Everything in this house you need to clean up, everything. You might as well knock it down.'

The man replies: 'It's that bad you might as well.'

The owner of the house said she was left feeling 'low and worthless' after discovering what the agents had said whilst checking the CCTV in her autistic sons' room.

The owner of house, a 33-year-old mother-of-two said she was left feeling 'low and worthless' after hearing the comments made on video by the agents

The three bedroom bungalow in Ramsgate, Kent, was on the market for 300,000 when the agents made their catty remarks about it

The unnamed male and female agent were recorded saying that the whole property needed to be cleaned from top to bottom and the woman remarked that it should be knocked down

One of the agents was recorded saying that it was 'disgusting' that the owners left a bowl of cat food in one of the bedrooms. Pictured: The lounge of the property on the market

The mother-of-two, 33, who doesn't want to be named, said: 'I am just so angry I was so shocked when I saw it. They were all nice to my face.

'The camera is there to monitor the kids, they have autism. We keep a camera in the room for the children's safety due to them getting up in the night often.'

'I was disgusted. It's tactless. I just felt so low and worthless. I just didn't expect anything like that.'

She added: 'One of them said our house was disgusting.

'They felt the need to have a conversation about my family slagging us off in our home when they thought we weren't looking.

'We trusted them with our home and they disrespected us.'

In one of the three videos, the man and woman who work for Wards estate agent in the town can be seen trying to work out where everyone sleeps.

The woman, her partner, 30 and two sons, five and nine, live there but they wrongly assumed her sister and partner resided there too.

Wards, the estate agents responsible for selling the bungalow, has apologised 'unreservedly' for the pair's 'unprofessional' comments

David Lench, Group Managing Director of Arun Estates - which has Wards as one of its brands - said: 'Since learning about this most regrettable incident at the weekend, Wards have been in close contact with the client and her sister who instructed Wards to market the property.

'We have apologised unreservedly for the inappropriate and unprofessional discussion that took place between two staff members at the property on Saturday.

'Both staff members are extremely sorry for the upset they have caused and are highly embarrassed by their conduct.'

She added: 'Wards rigorously trains its staff to treat customers fairly and with respect at all times.

'We are disappointed that the behaviour of these staff members falls far below the standards for which Wards are known.

The homeowners have taken the property off the market with Wards. The mother of two said: 'I am just so angry I was so shocked when I saw it. They were all nice to my face.'

'This is most regrettable as we have never previously experienced an incident of this kind and both staff members have had an unblemished record prior to this happening.

'Nevertheless, we completely agree with the client that this conversation should never have happened and fully appreciate the distress it has caused.

'We are taking the matter very seriously and will continue to work closely with the family to do everything possible to make amends.

'We will also be following our internal procedures with the staff involved and taking appropriate action.'
In October 2014, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced a design competition to rebuild LaGuardia Airport. Joined by thenVice President Joe Biden, who had likened the airports conditions to a third-world country, Cuomo said that, in addition to the renovation, he would like to see more transportation options for getting to the airport, which is accessible only by car and by bus. A fast ferry, the governor suggested. He was also open to an extension of the commuter rail or the subway system.

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Six and a half years later, the airports new terminals sparkle, but Andrew Cuomos star is diminished. With dual investigations into his conduct with female staffers and his administrations tampering with COVID death statistics in nursing homes, the governors future in Albany is uncertain. If he keeps his job, it will be in a state of perpetual conflict with the many Democratic politicians at the state and federal level who have called for his resignation.

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On Monday, though, the governor got a little good news: The Federal Aviation Administration gave its final approval for a train to LaGuardia Airport, which will break ground as soon as June. It may not be Cuomos final megaproject, but it is likely the last one to date from his apex in power, a time when whatever he dreamed up one day would become New York policy the next. From conception to construction, the episode demonstrates the enormous influence he has held over New York state. Once Andrew Cuomo got an idea, there was no sense trying anything else.

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A train to LaGuardia Airport had been a longtime dream of New York City planners. In the late 90s, for example, Mayor Rudy Giuliani and the state-run Metropolitan Transportation Authority teamed up on a proposal to extend a Queens subway line (todays N train) to the airport, putting most of midtown Manhattan within a half-hour trip of the airport. The city and the MTA each committed almost a billion dollars to the Astoria-line extension, but after the 9/11 attacks the funding was redistributed to other projects.

Anyone yearning for a subway to the airport, however, got a rude awakening in January 2015 when Cuomo unveiled the airport train during a breakfast speech. It was not a subway line. It was a people mover, one of those airport shuttles that connects to the transit system, a train to the train (whose odd persistence over more integrated forms of airport transit is due to a federal rule-making oversight). It looked like this:

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.@NYGovCuomo's new plans for LaGuardia airport include an Air Train (New Yorkers weeping from happiness). pic.twitter.com/B4ku3VvOjw  WNYC  (@WNYC) July 27, 2015

Most beguiling, the governors train ran east from LaGuardia, not westaway from Manhattan, away from the subway, away from the airports own workforce. It connected to the citys transit network at distant Willets Point, home of the New York Mets and a future project by Cuomo donor Related Companies. It was a connection to LaGuardia, all rightbut in every way the opposite of the plan the city and state had settled on two decades earlier.

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There was no doubt who had called the shots. This was master builder behavior.

The announcement seemed to catch the governors subordinates at the MTA and the Port Authority, which runs the regions airports, off guard. The two agency chiefs, Pat Foye and Tom Prendergast, responded later in the day with a short statement to congratulate the Governor on his foresight. Other New York power players seemed similarly dazzled. Mitchell Moss, the director of the Rudin Center for Transportation at New York University, enthused to the New York Times: This is a breakthrough. They may need to rename LaGuardia after Cuomo.

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This wasnt really how regional planning was supposed to work, with Andrew Cuomo dragging a golden crayon across a map. No problem: The governors Airport Master Plan Advisory Panel returned six months later with a report that endorsed the governors vision, and thereafter, in a superficial nod to process, official planning documents from the Port Authority and the FAA would refer to the panels report (not the governors breakfast slideshow) as the catalyst for the new train route.

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But there was no doubt who had called the shots. This was master builder behavior, and as if to drive the point home, the summer LaGuardia press release wrangled a quote from Robert Moses biographer Robert Caro, who said of the new airport, Thats quite a heroic vision. Its not an improvement, its a transformation.

The next year, 2016, Cuomo and Biden returned to the airport to announce the new terminalsand Cuomo again talked up the train, though it had gotten neither study nor scrutiny. In 2017, the Port Authority set aside money for the train and awarded a design contract. In the summer of 2018, the New York State Legislature passed a law that allowed the Port Authority to seize land along the route.

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All this might have gone without notice, had the route not been so  weird. Because it ran away from Manhattan, the transit writer Ben Kabak nicknamed it the Backwards AirTrain. If the ubiquitous motto of Cuomo building projects was Excelsior, Latin for ever-higher, this was Retrorsior.

Another analysis, by the Urban Institutes Yonah Freemark, showed the train would offer few time savings for most riders trying to get to the airport. Planned around an out-of-the-way Long Island Railroad station and a subway station at the end of a very busy No. 7 line, the finished train would barely improve on the citys existing LaGuardia shuttles even if your connections lined up perfectly. The cost, meanwhile, had quadrupled from $450 million in the governors 2015 address (relatively inexpensive, said Elliot Sander, head of the Regional Plan Association) to more than $2 billion.

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So when the Port Authority finally released its analysis of alternatives, in October 2018, it felt like something of a rigged game: Obviously, the governors choice was the agencys choice, and requirements like build a big parking garage and reduce the use of on-road vehicles and avoid substantial community disruption seemed designed to sink once-favored ideas like a smoother, traffic-free bus connection or a Chicago-style subway extension.

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Under the governors plan, the report boasted, morning peak travel from LaGuardia to Penn Station via the Long Island Railroad would take 33 minutesbut it didnt mention that even with planned service increases, that LIRR train to Penn would only run once every 30 minutes. So 33 minutes  or 62, depending on your luck.

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The editorial boards of the New York Post and the New York Daily News objected. Elected officials complained. I urge the FAA to reject the proposal and instead explore alternatives such as expanding bus access and the possibility of an extension to the N and W subway lines, wrote Queens state Sen. Jessica Ramos, when the agency opened its public comment period. I am also concerned about the lack of transparency in the decision-making process that FAA engaged in to select the LGA AirTrain, amid other alternatives, wrote Queens Rep. Grace Meng, who had initially endorsed the idea. Queens Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez also asked why the alternatives had been rejected.

In the final environmental impact statement released this week by the FAA, those concerns are all brushed aside. This is not a public transportation project, the report chides. Dedicated bus lanes would increase traffic. A subway would require moving utilities and digging a tunnel to duck the flight path.

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As for the idea that the AirTrain might actually be slower than the existing shuttles that link LaGuardia to nearby subway hubs, travel time was not analyzed as part of the alternatives screening process. Instead, the improved time certainty would be one of the benefits of what the FAAs consultants called premium transit. It might not be better, but it was certain. And premium!

In defense of the project were thousands of form letters organized by building trades unions, as well as the usual cast of notables rallying to support another of the governors initiatives. One name caught my eye: Gridlock Sam Schwartz, the longtime city transportation guru who pioneered Manhattan bus lanes as city traffic commissioner and had once backed the LaGuardia subway extension.

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What changed? Schwartz said he had grown disillusioned with new tunnel projects by the delays and overruns on the states other marquee initiatives, such as the Second Avenue Subway. He had also been surprised by the high ridership of the AirTrain at nearby John F. Kennedy International Airport (which he had once opposed). What I like about it is: Its real. Its a plan that can be implemented.

And that, actually, appeared to be Andrew Cuomos conclusion as well. The backward AirTrain may not have been the right thing to build, but it was the easy thing to build. Easy like closing the subways every night. Easy like shutting down the Moreland Commission. Forget your transit experts, Cuomo told reporters in May. You know whats more unpopular for the people in the neighborhood that are affected? The subway plan.  I dont want a project thats going to be in court for 150 years. When I say Im going to do something, I actually do it.
At Caulfield Souths North Road Medical, the phones were ringing off the hook all day.

Practice manager Rebecca Laver said 800 patients had called trying to book their appointment for a COVID-19 vaccination. The clinic was among the 1104 the federal government named that will start delivering AstraZeneca jabs to 6 million of the most at-risk Australians from next Monday.

North Road Medical nurse Linda Gore, who will be giving the vaccine. Credit:Joe Armao

It was the same for other GP clinics on that list  all swamped with demand from patients keen to be vaccinated. Some clinics refused to take bookings until the doses arrived.

North Road Medical initially told callers it would delay taking bookings until next week while it waited for the vaccine to be delivered later this week, but the first 80 doses then arrived on Wednesday afternoon.
Thomas U. Sweeny may be the first person to have a Golden Gate Park landmark named after him, and he was certainly the first to make a show of it.

Sweeny, who made a fortune in gold-mining and buying property in San Franciscos Inner Sunset, cast himself as a modest man of the people at a dedication ceremony 130 years ago for his newly built panoramic viewpoint atop Strawberry Hill: the Sweeny Observatory.

With a band playing that day in September 1891, Sweeny told the crowd hed come to the California mines 40 years earlier dead broke, as he praised himself and the horseshoe-shaped observatorys architects and builders.

3 1 of 3 Douglas Zimmerman/SFGATE Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Courtesy of John Freeman Show More Show Less 3 of 3





Park commission chairman W.W. Stow was there to credit Sweeny for the grandeur of his gift to the people, and former Mayor Frank McCoppin delivered a fawning address about their benefactor.

This will stand unimpaired, I hope, long after those who now look upon it shall have passed away, McCoppin said. And henceforth, through the ages it will attract the attention of people entering the Golden Gate, and upon inquiry they will learn that there lived in this vicinity a man who loved to look upon the beautiful in nature, especially the mountains and the ocean, and finding he could best gratify this desire when standing upon this mound, he resolved to fit it up as you see it now, for the benefit of his fellow citizens.

Sweenys observatory, which was reportedly declared absolutely earthquake-proof, only lasted 15 years. It was destroyed by the 1906 earthquake, and its more enduring legacy became as a photo-op for park visitors to climb upon and smile while standing on the ruins for decades later.

According to San Francisco Chronicle legend Herb Caen, it was also a popular make-out spot for a while.

OpenSFHistory / wnp27.7746.jpg

John Freeman, a San Francisco native and local historian, told SFGATE that Sweeny Observatory was never built to last, calling it a horribly engineered monument to Thomas Sweeneys vanity.

Today, some visitors walk among the ruins on Strawberry Hill without recognizing it. Theyre tougher to spot, but one concrete chunk with exposed rebar serves as a bench, while a large tree grows out of some reddish stone remains. Other pieces are used nearby for a retaining wall.

The 75-by-100-foot observatory, encircled by glass and resembling a European coliseum, was distinctive for its time. A recently uploaded photo of it on OpenSFHistory, dating around 1900, struck this writer as something out of the Hall of Doom in old Justice League cartoons.

From another angle you can see two Disney-esque 35-foot towers with stairs people could climb for a higher view.

In case anyone didnt know who paid for all this, a large plaque atop the arched entrance reads, "Park Panorama Gift of Thos. U. Sweeny."

As fanciful as it may look now, the observatory had a functional purpose when it was built.

By 1890, Golden Gate Park had only been established for about 20 years, and Strawberry Hill was essentially a 409-foot-high sand dune with glorious panoramic views of the ocean but no trees or protection from the westerly winds. Of course, people brave unobstructed winds to enjoy all kinds of oceanside views today, but at the time the park wanted more visitors up there.

OpenSFHistory / wnp24.502a.jpg

Stow and park leaders began a radical transformation of the park, planting 40,000 trees and shrubs on its western side, according to an 1892 San Francisco Chronicle report.

Stow sought to make the western part of the park a forest, with water features and enhanced walkways and bikeways. The execution of this plan will cost a good deal of money, he wrote in the San Francisco Park Commissioners Report for 1892-1893.

Sweeny  also spelled Sweeney depending on where you look  had just stepped in with his own splashy but controversial contribution. His concrete palace would give people cover when they walked over a bridge or rode their horse-drawn buggies up a gravel road and into its enclosure to enjoy a wind-free sunset.

According to the San Francisco Call story at the dedication, Sweeny paid $10,000 for the observatorys initial construction  thats more than $280,000 in todays money. He paid another $5,000 in 1892 for a second level. The only catch, according to Raymond Clarys book on Golden Gate Parks early years, was that Sweeny wanted his name attached to it.

None of this went over well with William Hammond Hall, who was finishing his term as San Franciscos first park superintendent. According to Clarys book, Hall wanted to keep the park as natural as possible and devoid of monuments built in mens names.

The park commissioner said no way. We dont name anything after anybody, Freeman said. But [Sweeny] said take it or leave it, which is why he chose that spot.

Douglas Zimmerman/SFGATE

Naming rights came into fashion immediately afterward, including the reservoir surrounding Strawberry Hill becoming Stow Lake.

At the 1891 dedication, Sweeny told an inspiring and self-serving story of his leaving New York for the California gold mines with just $1.50 in my pocket. He added, I mention this to show that even the poorest young man here today is as well off as I was then, and I did not know any person, so you see that some of you have a chance to make the city or some other place as good a present as I have today."

Sweeny left out the part about his amassing much of his fortune by buying up property in the Inner Sunset and cashing in from a legal settlement when San Francisco annexed the land. He could see the observatory from his house until he died in 1900.

At the dedication, McCoppin praised Sweenys gifts to San Francisco as greater than the ones Julius Caesar gave Rome (yes, really), he credited this humble citizen, one of the masses for giving something back from his favorable ruling.

McCoppin called him the first and only one thus far to show a direct tangible appreciation of the benefits then conferred upon him by a generous community.

In his 1892-1893 report, Stow credited the observatory with increasing foot traffic: Three years ago Strawberry Hill attracted very few visitors  almost none at all on foot, he wrote. The observatory had a brief moment in the sun in 1894 while being part of the Midwinter Fair in Golden Gate Park.

There isnt much else to document the observatorys short heyday until large parts of it came crashing down on April 18, 1906, just a speck in the larger destruction caused by the 1906 earthquake and fire. According to Clarys book, former Superintendent Hall found solace in the end of his nemesis when he said of the observatory ruins, Apparently, a Higher Power has taken matters into His own hands.

Douglas Zimmerman/SFGATE

Freeman says it had less to do with God and more to do with shoddy engineering before the quake hit.

Theres that one sort of bench still standing that faces north with a piece of rebar, it is like a single strand of rebar, he said. It was very poorly done. It was a huge mass in front and all that delicate poured concrete around the rest of the building.

You dont have to have taken a course to understand, thats not the way you build something.

Thats not what everyone thought at the time of the observatorys construction. According to the book San Franciscos Golden Gate Park by Christopher Pollock, "One contemporary newspaper account boasted that the construction technique  of iron bar and cable reinforcements  made the observatory 'absolutely earthquake-proof.'"

Freeman, who is 80, says he recalls the ruins looking about the same now as they were all his life. But theres plenty of photographic evidence to show the ruined observatory remained in place for at least 30 years after the quake, including aerial photos in 1938.

Proving that ruin porn is nothing new, people also mounted the observatorys cracked towers and stood behind its shattered windows for photos in the years after the quake. In one photo that Freeman dates to around 1910, we can see a couple posing together, one standing on each floor of the ruins.

In 1913 and 1914, groups posed in their cars for spreads in the Chronicle automobile section. And theres a 1934 Chronicle story about a man being initiated by 24 others into the Native Sons of the Golden West fraternal order inside what was left of the observatory.

Douglas Zimmerman/SFGATE

A 1941 column by the Chronicles Caen showed the observatory may have been gone, but it still wasnt forgotten  particularly as a date spot.

As he ticked off a long list of remember when-type sentences about San Franciscos past, he wrote, When Coit Tower or Twin Peaks were not the favorite sightseeing and necking spots  nope, the observatory on Strawberry Hill in Golden Gate Park was the place to feast your eyes.
Abbott today announced the formation of the Abbott Pandemic Defence Coalition, a first-of-its-kind global scientific and public health partnership dedicated to the early detection of, and rapid response to, future pandemic threats. By connecting global centers of excellence in laboratory testing, genetic sequencing and public health research, the program will identify new pathogens, analyze potential risk level, rapidly develop and deploy new diagnostic testing and assess public health impact in real time.

Image Credit: Abbott

The coalition is designed to help the global scientific and health community identify new viral threats, take quick action when one is discovered, and help prevent future pandemics. The sequences of the viruses that are found will be published in a public database so that health officials and laboratories can work together to identify if its a novel strain, or a virus that has previously been detected. This program expands upon the viral surveillance and discovery work that Abbott has performed over the last three decades.

We cannot fight what we cannot see coming. This program establishes a global network of 'eyes on the ground' that are always looking for threats, which helps the global health community to stay one step ahead of the next viral threat, and allows us to utilize Abbott's expertise and technology to quickly develop tests to address them. The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated a clear need for advanced surveillance and viral sequencing  and the critically important role of testing. Understanding what pathogenic threats are emerging will help us test, diagnose and hopefully help prevent the next pandemic." Gavin Cloherty, Ph.D., Head of infectious disease research, Abbott

Abbott is helping look for COVID-19 variants and ensuring COVID-19 tests are effective

Abbott is playing an important role in helping to monitor for new variants or mutations to the virus that causes COVID-19. The company is collecting virus samples from around the world and looking for any changes (mutations) to the virus's genetic sequencing.

With decades of experience in viral surveillance, Abbott specifically designs its tests, including COVID-19 tests, with viral evolution in mind. As new strains are discovered, Abbott vigorously analyses them so it can ensure its diagnostic tests can detect them. The coalition provides the network to collaborate with other leading institutions on this effort.

A global force of scientific experts focused on outsmarting viruses

The new Abbott Pandemic Defence Coalition consists of global collaborators specializing in virus identification, surveillance, sample collection, testing and data analytics. The process to identify potential new viral threats begins with physicians across the network identifying patients with unknown conditions that they cannot treat or diagnose. Next, patient samples are tested by our partners on a global scale, followed by genetic sequencing and analyses to spot trends and identify peculiarities that may indicate an emerging threat or outbreak. If a potential threat is discovered, Abbott will quickly develop diagnostic testing to assist in containment efforts.

Abbott's growing network of partners includes organizations in strategic geographic locations:

Colombia/Wisconsin One-Health Consortium at the Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Medellin, Colombia

Faculty of Medicine, Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand

Institut de Recherche en Sante, de Surveillance Epidemiologique et de Formations (IRESSEF), Dakar, Senegal

KRISP, Genomic Centre of the University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa

Rush University System for Health, Chicago, U.S.

The University of the West Indies, Mona Campus, Jamaica

Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil

YRG Care, Chennai, India

Abbott is in talks with additional non-governmental organizations, governments and research centers of excellence regarding participation and collaboration.

In a sophisticated network like the Abbott Pandemic Defence Coalition, we have access to best-in-class science and technology that makes data collection, analysis and sharing efficient and effective. The key here is collaboration; no single lab or organization in any one country would be able to conduct testing and analysis of this breadth and scale but connecting global centers of excellence makes it possible for us all to assist in identifying the next potential threats to public health." Professor Souleymane Mboup, President of Institut de Recherche en Sante, de Surveillance Epidemiologique et de Formations (IRESSEF) of Dakar, Senegal

A history of hunting viruses around the globe  and a future dedicated to further advancing this vital work

As a leader in blood screening and infectious disease testing, Abbott created its Global Viral Surveillance Program more than 25 years ago to monitor HIV and hepatitis viruses and identify mutations, which helps ensure the company's diagnostic tests remain up to date and enable researchers to proactively evaluate and solve infectious disease challenges. This surveillance program will now be a part of the Abbott Pandemic Defence Coalition.

Through its surveillance efforts, the company recently announced the discovery of a high prevalence of HIV Controllers  a group of people living with controlled HIV without antiretroviral medications in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which could hold the key to a cure. Abbott also announced the finding of a new strain of HIV in 2019.

And looking ahead, Abbott will focus on testing and digital solutions accessible to more people in more places for many of the world's most pressing health challenges, including infectious diseases. This work also is an important part of Abbott's 2030 sustainability strategy which includes a focus on transforming the care of infectious diseases. Across its business and through collaboration, Abbott will create new technologies to detect and monitor infectious diseases such as COVID-19, HIV, malaria and hepatitis, as well as tomorrow's pandemic threats.
Steven Lindsey, a retired United States Air Force senior master sergeant who has worked the last twenty-three years for the United States Postal Service and has degrees from the Community College of the Air Force, the University of Maryland, and Wayland Baptist University, has completed his new book CJ Lincoln, FBI DUTY: a suspenseful novel about Agent CJ Lincolns efforts to thwart a deadly terrorists plans to wreak havoc in her country.

Steven writes, Through the most heart-wrenching of losses, now on her own, Federal Bureau of Investigations, Agent Carol Janet, (CJ) Lincoln must continue her pursuit of and battle against international terrorist Simon Jenkins. The stakes are raised since Jenkins deadly attack on CJs family and new threat against her and her children. Jenkins has fled the country and is operating with seeming immunity in Europe and West Asia. Pitted against not only Jenkins, but now his Russian cohorts, CJ must make the difficult decision whether to follow her sworn FBI oath or to go rogue to vanquish her sworn enemy and his powerful team of foreign killers. Are CJs steely toughness and uncommon crime-fighting skills enough to overcome her broken heart and fear for her family as she fights to bring the vicious Jenkins to justice?

Published by Page Publishing, Steven Lindseys opus shows an extraordinary agents courage and sacrifice for the safety and peace of her fellow citizens and her beloved family.

Witness Agent CJ Lincoln in a battle of life and death that proves the resilience of those sworn to protect and uphold the integrity and sanctity of life.

Readers who wish to experience this chilling work can purchase CJ Lincoln, FBI DUTY at bookstores everywhere, or online at the Apple iTunes Store, Amazon, Google Play, or Barnes and Noble.

For additional information or media inquiries, contact Page Publishing at 866-315-2708.

About Page Publishing:

Page Publishing is a traditional, full-service publishing house that handles all the intricacies involved in publishing its authors books, including distribution in the worlds largest retail outlets and royalty generation. Page Publishing knows that authors need to be free to create, not mired in logistics like eBook conversion, establishing wholesale accounts, insurance, shipping, taxes, and so on. Pages accomplished writers and publishing professionals allow authors to leave behind these complex and time-consuming issues and focus on their passion: writing and creating. Learn more at http://www.pagepublishing.com.
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Paul Scherrer Institut

Villigen, 05.03.2021 - Can Switzerland, as planned, cut its CO2 emissions to zero by 2050? In a study, researchers at the Paul Scherrer Institute PSI have investigated what measures would be necessary to achieve this reduction and how much it might cost per person.

In August 2019, the Swiss Federal Council decided on an ambitious target to limit climate change: From the year 2050 onward Switzerland should, on balance, discharge no further greenhouse gas emissions. With this commitment, Switzerland meets the internationally agreed goal of limiting global warming to a maximum of 1.5 C compared to the pre-industrial era.

Now a study by the Paul Scherrer Institute, conducted within the Joint Activity "Scenarios and Modelling" of the eight Swiss Competence Centres for Energy Research (SCCER), probes what options for achieving this goal exist in the energy sector.

"The goal of achieving net zero CO2 emissions by 2050 requires drastic transformations in the provision and consumption of energy in nearly all areas," concludes Tom Kober, head of the PSI Energy Economics Group and one of the study's main authors.

In their analyses, the researchers considered energy-related CO2 emissions as well as CO2 emissions from industrial processes. Today these emissions represent around 80% of the entire Swiss greenhouse gas inventory. Not included in the study's calculations are emissions from international aviation, agriculture  with the exception of emissions from fuel combustion  land use, changes in land use, and forestry, as well as waste  except for emissions from waste incineration. Also, emissions in other countries that are associated with consumption of goods in Switzerland were not a subject of the study.

Electricity from photovoltaics must at least double every decade

The central conclusions of the study are: Between now and 2050, the installed capacity of photovoltaic systems must at least double every decade. With 26 terawatt hours of production envisioned in 2050, photovoltaic systems will be the second largest generation technology group behind hydropower (approx. 38 terawatt hours in 2050). Furthermore, power plants with cogeneration of heat and power, as well as wind power plants, hydrogen fuel cells, and electricity imports, all contribute to meeting the demand for electricity. In the main scenario for achieving the net zero emissions target, overall electricity generation from power plants and storage facilities in Switzerland will increase by around one-fifth, to 83 terawatt hours in 2050. The study assumes that Swiss nuclear power plants will be decommissioned by 2045. The private car fleet would have to be largely based on electric motors by 2050, meaning that by 2030 every third new car registered would have to be fully electric. In addition, the use of heat pumps in service and living areas would have to be significantly accelerated, so that by 2050 they could cover almost three-quarters of the demand for heating and hot water. At the same time, it would be necessary to achieve significant energy savings through accelerated renovation of residential buildings.

If Switzerland wants to achieve the net zero emissions target, a significant increase in electricity consumption must be expected. Thus in 2050, electricity consumption might be around 20 terawatt hours above today's level. A fundamental driver of this growth is the use of electricity to power cars, buses, and trucks, either directly in battery-electric vehicles or indirectly through hydrogen or so-called e-fuels  that is, synthetic fuels, which are produced by means of electricity from hydrogen and CO2. In the stationary sectors, the proliferation of installed heat pumps will increase consumption of electricity. If the necessary efficiency gains in heating and hot water supply are achieved, however, these could compensate for the increased electricity consumption. The study results show that stationary sectors could achieve an almost constant level of electricity consumption.

Besides electrical energy, other forms of energy will play a role. For example, long-distance and freight transport as well as energy-intensive industry offer prospects for new hydrogen applications. To produce such low or zero emission hydrogen requires a substantial amount of sustainably generated electricity would be necessary - 9 terawatt hours in 2050.

It probably won't work without CO2 capture

"If Switzerland wants to achieve the zero emissions target by 2050, then in the future CO2 emissions will have to be reduced every year by an average of one to one and a half million tonnes compared to the previous year," says Evangelos Panos, lead author of the study. "We saw changes in CO2 emissions of this magnitude between 1950 and 1980  albeit in the opposite direction  back then they increased massively." Though it has limitations, CO2 capture was shown to be necessary to implement the emissions reduction cost-effectively. In some subsectors, it might even be possible to reach a negative balance in terms of CO2 emissions. This would be the case, for example, if biomass is used as an energy source and the CO2 produced during energy generation is not emitted, but rather is captured and stored underground. In the event that this should not be possible in Switzerland  for example due to rejection by the population or because of limited sites for CO2 storage  cross-national transport of captured CO2 and storage in other countries could offer aa alternative. In their study the researchers assume, for the year 2050, a total of almost 9 million tonnes of CO2 would be captured in Switzerland.

"More than two-thirds of the emission reductions required for the net zero emissions target can be achieved with technologies that are already commercially available or are in the demonstration phase," Panos explains. The decarbonised energy system of the future is achievable but would require carbon-free energy sources, for example appropriately generated electricity, biofuels and e-fuels, access to the corresponding transport and distribution infrastructures, and the possibility of importing clean fuels and electricity.

Costs are hard to estimate

With regard to costs, the energy system researchers are cautious. "The costs are very difficult to estimate, because an enormous number of components play a role," Kober says. In the net zero main scenario assumed in the study, the average discounted additional costs of the climate protection scenario compared to the reference scenario with moderate climate protection (40% CO2 reduction in 2050 compared to 1990) in Switzerland would amount to around 330 CHF per person per year (basis 2010) for the period up to 2050. Looking at all of the scenarios examined, one can see a range of average costs between 200 and 860 CHF2010 per person per year, which ultimately reflects different developments in energy technologies, resource availability, and market integration, in the acceptance of technologies, and in preferences regarding supply security. The trend in costs shows, above all, a long-term increase, so comparatively high costs can also be expected after 2050.

The study is based on calculations made with the Swiss TIMES Energy System Model (STEM) of PSI, which maps the entire energy system of Switzerland including the various interactions between technologies and sectors. STEM combines a long-term time horizon with high intra-year temporal resolution and calculates, for various future framework assumptions, the cost-minimal configurations of the energy system and the attainment of different energy and climate policy goals. The model was significantly further developed as part of this research project, especially with regard to the options for realising net zero CO2 emissions scenarios. The model is used to calculate scenarios, not to make predictions, but rather give insights into the diverse interactions in the energy system and thus to make a contribution to decision-making support in politics, industry, and society. Specifically, three main scenarios were examined in this study: A reference scenario, a net zero CO2 emissions reduction scenario, and a scenario that assumes the goals of the Swiss Energy Strategy 2050 without explicitly specifying a CO2 reduction target. In addition, seven different variants of the main scenarios were analysed, such as one variant with high technological innovation potential and another variant oriented towards reducing dependence on energy imports.

In addition to PSI, the following institutions are involved in the SCCER Joint Activity "Scenarios and Modelling" collaborative framework: Empa, EPFL, ETH Zurich, Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts, the University of Basel, the University of Geneva, and WSL. The study was financed by Innosuisse  the Swiss Innovation Agency.

Text: Paul Scherrer Institute

About PSI

The Paul Scherrer Institute PSI develops, builds and operates large, complex research facilities and makes them available to the national and international research community. The institute's own key research priorities are in the fields of matter and materials, energy and environment and human health. PSI is committed to the training of future generations. Therefore about one quarter of our staff are post-docs, post-graduates or apprentices. Altogether PSI employs 2100 people, thus being the largest research institute in Switzerland. The annual budget amounts to approximately CHF 400 million. PSI is part of the ETH Domain, with the other members being the two Swiss Federal Institutes of Technology, ETH Zurich and EPFL Lausanne, as well as Eawag (Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology), Empa (Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology) and WSL (Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research).

Original publication

Panos, E.; Kober, T.; Ramachandran, K.; Hirschberg, S. (2021): Long-Term Energy Transformation Pathways  Integrated Scenario Analysis with the Swiss TIMES Energy systems Model; Report of the Joint Activity Scenarios and Modelling of the Swiss Competence Centers for Energy Research. (Link to download PDF pleae see the website of the Paul Scherrer Institute below: Links/images and additional information)

Address for enquiries

Dr. Mirjam van Daalen

Head of Communications

Paul Scherrer Institute

CH-5232 Villigen PSI

Phone: +41 56 310 56 74

mirjam.vandaalen@psi.ch

Publisher

Paul Scherrer Institut






Watertown, NY (13601)

Today

Cloudy with rain developing after midnight. Low 61F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch..

Tonight

Cloudy with rain developing after midnight. Low 61F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch.
The proposed reforms are set in a context in which changes to the Labour Laws were undertaken; the three anti-farmer acts were brought into being, and the Draft Environment Impact Assessment Notification, 2020 was bulldozed through, all without consultation and prioritizing corporate gain at the expense of people from the working classes, especially from marginalized categories.

The reform process is also set in the context of the passing of the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Bill (2020), and the publishing of the Transgender Persons Rules, 2000, in spite of significant protests from the community itself, and of the framework policy that is the New Education Policy, 2020.

It is the women and marginalized genders from vulnerable social locations, and people engaged in informal and unrecognized labour who have the most to lose. Trying to anticipate the kind of changes that may be brought in through the reforms leads to considerations of personal laws, and the possibility of another attempt to use reforms to target minority (especially Muslim) communities.

In the process of streamlining trial processes, strengthening bail bargaining, as well as modifying offences included in the IPC, for instance, it would be essential that the composition of the committee itself brings together women, trans* persons, Dalit, Adivasi, Muslim, NT-DNT persons, and others who represent communities having to deal with the legal system more, and in more discriminatory ways than their relative proportion in the population.

The fight against criminal law reforms undertaken with lack of appropriate consultation and hurriedly, has also pointed out the way criminal law has been used to stifle dissent across the country and to arrest citizens expressing their democratic rights, while violence against women, transgender persons, religious minorities and oppressed communities is neither acknowledged formally nor addressed effectively by law enforcement.

Reforms to criminal laws need to even more take this reality into account. On the other hand, even 7 years later, many substantive aspects recommended by Justice JS Verma Committee, based on inputs by feminist groups, have not been taken into consideration by the government.

What all this draws attention to is also the clear state agenda to take advantage of the time of the pandemic and lockdown, including the possibilities offered by the Disaster Management Act, to prevent all forms of protest and dissent, and bring about legislation that is inimical to marginalized and vulnerable populations.

More and more movements and struggles undertaken by marginalized communities have been insisting on the demand Nothing about us, without us, from sex workers movements, to anti-caste, queer and trans movements to movements of persons with disabilities and indigenous people. This is not the case within the committees constituted to bring in legislative changes; nor is it the case when laws translate into the lived experiences of people from different marginalized communities.

It is important to note, as an instance not often discussed, that some time back, the government also proposed to dilute and nullify, through amendments, the penal provisions to the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act (2016), potentially leading to non-implementation of crucial provisions which are seen to impact both domestic and foreign investment.

In translation, the need to bring in capital puts at risk the lives of people who live with disabilities, and in particular women and children, who constitute vulnerable categories by virtue of gender and age. It was only due to a fierce and timely movement of the Persons living with disabilities across India that these retrograde changes were withdrawn by the Social Justice Ministry.



Accessing justice from the margins People who are part of different struggles have protested also because of the failure in implementation of already existing laws, even when these make provisions to ensure access to justice. A stark case in point are the numerous instances of violence, including sexual violence, against Dalit and Adivasi women, for which the police notoriously refuse to file FIRs under the Prevention of Atrocities Act (1989). Instead, the perpetrators of caste-based violence are often shielded by the police, as was the case with the Hathras rape, but also with many others which do not make it into mainstream media for similar reasons of caste-based discrimination. There is at times some initial outrage and support for survivors of sexual violence immediately after the incident. However, even when cases are registered, they take a long time, and require significant resources and a supportive medio-legal judicial process for some eventual justice, which are often not available.

Perpetrators of caste-based violence are often shielded by the police, as was the case with the Hathras rape Cases of sexual violence rarely come to light in the mainstream when the survivor or victim belongs to Dalit and other marginalized social locations and the perpetrator belongs to the dominant castes or locations. When they do, they end up triggering demands for punitive action including death. This is yet another ongoing feminist struggle, making arguments to explain not only that state-sanctioned killing cannot in any context be acceptable, but also that such a punishment is not in fact a deterrent. In fact, it is likely to lead to more violence, and less reported instances of sexual violence, as perpetrators are also often known people. This would then be an addition to the delay or denial of justice to people in positions of marginalization.

More often than not, though, people who belong to marginalized and oppressed groups find themselves on the other side of the justice system, criminalized for varied reasons. Data shows that a disproportionate number of people from Dalit, Adivasi, Muslim and other oppressed communities are lingering in prisons, spending unjustified periods of time deprived of liberty as undertrials without having in effect been found guilty of any crime. This is an effect of vulnerability of their social location, lack of financial resources, awareness of ones own rights, and lack of social capital, all of which work in favour of dominant communities. It is also part of the project of criminalization of Adivasi and forest-dwelling people whose daily living opposes the kind of development envisaged by the State. One must acknowledge also the context of transgender and Vimukta (NT-DNT) communities who are perpetually criminalized, notwithstanding legal charges.

The carceral system itself, through all its processes, subjects people in positions of marginality to caste- and gender-based abuse. Instances of violence, especially sexual violence against women at the hands of those in power abound, from the point of detention and arrest, through to imprisonment. To mention only the latest, the casteist abuse and violence to which the police subjected Nodeep Kaur, is the norm rather than the exception. While the number of women in prisons is smaller than that of men, more than 60% of them are undertrials. They face severe overpopulation, due to lack of infrastructure, and the lack of women personnel means that often men are made responsible for tasks otherwise assigned to women. While women are meant to have access to equal education, work opportunities and skill development training, this rarely takes place, while nutrition and hygiene standards are not maintained and women face violence, including sexual violence which goes unreported and unaddressed.

The situation is even more horrifying for people who identify as transgender, gender non-conforming, or queer. The National Legal Services Authority (NALSA), 2014 judgement mandated that the State must ensure right to self-determination of gender and placed the responsibility on the central and state authorities to ensure sensitization and equitable access and participation of transgender persons in all institutions, from educational, to medical care, legal systems etc.

As stated previously, the directives of the NALSA judgement have already been violated through the Transgender Persons Act (2019) and Rules, 2020. The Act denies the right to self-identification and does not acknowledge and address discrimination against transgender persons; it does not treat sexual harassment and rape at par with penal provisions under existing legislation. By doing so, it establishes transgender persons as second-class citizens who are not entitled to the basic constitutional safeguards that cisgender women are, in a context in which sexual violence against transgender persons is rampant.

In a socio-political context which criminalizes marginalized identities, what is also necessary is a reminder of the specific forms of violence that transgender persons face when needing to negotiate the carceral system, and one of the areas of struggle has been to articulate these through research by and for the community. This is an essential form of activism, setting a foundation for demands of the state. Guidelines do not exist in most states regarding the processes transgender person have to go through at various stages of arrests and imprisonment. Where they do, they contravene, as in Delhi, the very requirement for self-determination established by NALSA, by subjecting people to dehumanizing medical examinations, as a result of which they are assigned a specific ward, which often does not correspond to their self-identification. Lack of sensitization among police and prison personnel, occupying clear positions of power in relation to people from marginalized groups translates into humiliation, sexual harassment and rape. This is compounded by discrimination and violence, including sexual, faced within the wards themselves, which is neither prevented nor addressed.

In a context of disappointment with changes in legislation without a consultative framework and in spite of vocal protests; in a context of prejudice-ridden state mechanisms which are supposed to ensure social justice, people marginalized on grounds of caste, class, religion, ethnicity, and of gender and sexuality continue to fight. At times, the struggle is not to bring changes in legislation or implementation, but just to prevent changes that will have severe damaging consequences on already oppressed groups. Following this, the State also wanted to repeal the National Trust Act, offering health benefit schemes for specific disabilities; and later to amend the Rehabilitation Council of India Act (1992), setting up the RCI to regulate and monitor services offered to persons with disabilities, including rehabilitation and education; both in a non-consultative manner.People who are part of different struggles have protested also because of the failure in implementation of already existing laws, even when these make provisions to ensure access to justice. A stark case in point are the numerous instances of violence, including sexual violence, against Dalit and Adivasi women, for which the police notoriously refuse to file FIRs under the Prevention of Atrocities Act (1989).

This led to severe criticism from women activists, queer and trans* activists, civil liberties groups, peoples movements, trade unions, women and transwomen in sex work and organizations which have been struggling to evolve egalitarian laws, premised on the constitutional values of justice and dignity.The opposition to the proposed opaque reform exercise by an all cis-male committee was articulated specifically with regard to the impact these changes would have on people belonging to marginalized communities, and they drew attention to several cross-cutting issues.
The weekly column by Dr. W. Gifford-Jones has been published for 45 years. The same no-nonsense tradition now continues in a father-daughter collaboration. Sign up at www.docgiff.com to receive their weekly e-newsletter. For comments, email contact-us@docgiff.com.
How is Toyotas largest production facility in the celebrating #WomensHistoryMonth? With President Susan Elkington managing the assembly of its 13 H^aa^dci] vehicle! Learn more about this major milestone for the Kentucky team: https://t.co/V7vNWtyinI #RAV4 #Hybrid pic.twitter.com/KYrOc57jZb  Toyota USA (@Toyota) March 16, 2021

Introduced during a time when body-on-frame utilities were prevalent, the RAV4 has slowly but steadily influenced the automotive industry and U.S. motorists toward crossovers. In addition to its high driving position and expansive standard equipment list, the RAV4 cemented its position as the king of CUVs with tip-top reliability that competitors can only dream of.This formula carries over to the outgoing model, which finished 2020 right behind the full-size trio of pickup trucks from Ford, Chevrolet, and Ram. No fewer than 430,387 examples were sold in the United States last year, which is a lot by all accounts. For reference, the Honda CR-V totaled 333,502 units while Toyotas Camry finished in sixth place with 294,348 units.The Japanese company is celebrating 13 million vehicles produced at Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky since 1988, and the celebratory model is, of course, a RAV4. Looking forward, we are excited about the future of mobility and being able to take more people, more places, said Susan Elkington, the president of Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky.In addition to the RAV4, the Camry, Avalon, and Lexus ES are also made at the 1,300-acre (526-hectare) site. The Georgetown complex is also home to a powertrain facility thats on track to produce engine number 13 million later this year.Turning our attention back to the RAV4, the 2021 model can be yours from $26,150 excluding destination charge and optional extras. LE is how the entry-level trim is called, and it features 17-inch steelies with plastic wheel covers, LED headlights and daytime running lights, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, as well as Amazon Alexa. The hybrid powertrain will set you back at least $28k, while the plug-in hybrid RAV4 Prime can be had from $38k.
Border Patrol agents arrest seven illegal immigrants who tried to evade capture near Penitas, Texas, on March 15. 2021. (Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times)

Texas Dem Says Biden Admin Must Change Its Border Messaging, Show Migrants Being Returned

A Texas Democrat said Wednesday that President Joe Bidens administration has to change its messaging about the border and show migrants being returned.

Rep. Henry Cuellar said on Fox News Fox and Friends First that people have to be discouraged from coming incorrectly in a more concise, clear message.

Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said Tuesday that the number of apprehensions at the southern border is on pace to reach a 20-year high, according to a statement from the Department of Homeland Security.

Message number one from the administration has to be changed, Cuellar said.

Biden said Tuesday that migrants shouldnt come into the country during an interview with ABC News George Stephanopoulos. The president also told reporters that he has no plans to visit the southern border.

Mayorkas said unaccompanied children, arent being turned away, but the majority of single adults and families, according to the statement.

Cuellar said people will be influenced by what they hear and images they view of others making the journey over the river. He added that criminal organizations are another aspect of the situation.

The criminal organizations are aggressively marketing it because the more people they get the more money they make, Cuellar said.

Cuellar said while he was speaking to 16 and 17-year-old teenagers at a shelter, they told him when saw others going over the border on television, they wanted to go over as well.

Cuellar said if people arent shown images of others getting turned away, they will only see the images of people going through the border.

By Mary Rose Corkery

From The Daily Caller News Foundation

Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience. For licensing opportunities of our original content, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.
The sanctioned an additional 24 Chinese and officials over Beijing's ongoing crackdown on political freedoms in the semi-autonomous city, including a decision to overhaul Hong Kong's electoral system.

The sanctions announced Tuesday in Washington were introduced under the Autonomy Act and list people who are deemed to contribute to the failure of in meeting its obligations under Hong Kong's mini-constitution.

Last June, Beijing imposed a sweeping national security law on the city following months of anti-government protests, and authorities have arrested most of the prominent pro-democracy supporters and outspoken critics.

Among the 24 officials sanctioned by the U.S. are Wang Chen, a member of the Chinese Communist Party's elite 25-member Politburo, as well as Tam Yiu-chung, the Hong Kong delegate to the Chinese parliament's standing committee, which drafted the national security law.

Several officers from Hong Kong's National Security Division were also sanctioned, including Li Kwai-wah, a senior superintendent, as well as Edwina Lau, a deputy commissioner of the Hong Kong police force and the head of the NSD.

The release of today's update to the Hong Kong Autonomy Act report underscores our deep concern with the National People's Congress March 11 decision to unilaterally undermine Hong Kong's electoral system, U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said in a statement.

He said the changes erode the autonomy promised to Hong Kong at the 1997 handover from Britain, and deny Hong Kongers a voice in their own governance.

A stable, prosperous Hong Kong that respects human rights, freedoms, and political pluralism serves the interests of Hong Kong, mainland China, and the broader community, he said.

The electoral law changes, which were approved by China's ceremonial legislature last week, give a pro-Beijing committee power to appoint more of Hong Kong's lawmakers, reducing the proportion of those directly elected, and ensure that only those determined to be truly loyal to Beijing are allowed to run for office.

Last October, the had already sanctioned 10 officials including Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam and Deputy Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office Zhang Xiaoming.

(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.)
TMC Birbhum president Anubrata Mondal to be under strict EC surveillance from 5 pm till Fri 7 am: Official

West Bengal Election Results 2021: Full List of Winners (MLAs) From TMC, BJP and IND

Mamata Banerjee expands Bengal Cabinet, 43 TMC leaders sworn in as ministers: Full List here

High drama in Kolkata: TMC workers pelt stones at CBI office over arrest of Bengal ministers

After Sonali Guha, Sarala Murmu wants to rejoin Mamata Banerjee camp

West Bengal elections 2021: TMC likely to release poll manifesto today

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

Kolkata, Mar 17: The Chairperson of All India Trinamool Congress, Mamata Banerjee will be addressing the media from her Kalighat Office on Wednesday for the upcoming West Bengal Assembly elections 2021.

As per reports, TMC is likely to announce its poll manifesto today.

The TMC had announced it will release its manifesto on March 9 but later decided to postpone it to March 11 due to the Kolkata fire incident which claimed nine lives.

The ruling party had not released its manifesto on Thursday, following the alleged attack on Banerjee during a campaign in Purba Medinipur''s Nandigram on March 10.

The TMC supremo had released the party''s list of 291 candidates on March 5.

Karnataka CD Scandal: Family claims woman kidnapped, files complaint| Oneindia News

West Bengal will be voting in eight phases, beginning March 27. Votes will be counted on May 2.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Wednesday, March 17, 2021, 10:12 [IST]
Premier John Horgan announced an additional $30 million investment in the Launch Online Grant program for small and medium-sized businesses, after exhausting the initial $12 million investment announced just last month.

The program was put in place to help B.C. businesses move their sales online, during a time when COVID-19 has kept people out of brick and mortar stores.

Horgan said e-commerce sales in the province doubled last year as a result of the pandemic, and he expects online sales will increase in the future.

In a little more than a month, more than 3,500 B.C businesses applied for the $7,500 grant to help transition their sales online. In addition to the increased funding, the province is also expanding the program to include the sales of services, in addition to products. Horgan said this change will help the tourism industry in particular.

Additionally, the province is carving out 30 per cent of the grants to businesses run by Indigenous people and people of colour, along with rural businesses.

Minister of Jobs, Economic Recovery and Innovation Ravi Kahlon encouraged British Columbians to shop local to help B.C. businesses make it through the pandemic.

Premier Horgan said B.C. should see a return to "something resembling normal" by the summer.
By Chris Kahn and David Morgan

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Republican voters in the United States are increasingly hostile toward illegal immigrants, Reuters/Ipsos polling shows, an unease that the Republican Party is moving to capitalize on in its bid to retake Congress.

The poll findings, based on surveys conducted before and after Donald Trumps presidency, show that Republicans are becoming more unified around the former presidents hardline views on immigration, even as the rest of the country has become more welcoming.

Seventy-seven percent of Republicans said in a Feb. 18-24 poll that they want more fencing along the southern border with Mexico, up six points from 2015. And 56% do not want illegal immigrants to have a path to citizenship, which is up 18 percentage points from a 2018 survey.

Republicans are increasingly expressing deep concerns about immigration as waves of unaccompanied children and families continue to show up at the U.S.-Mexico border.

Twenty-two percent of Republicans said in a March 10-11 poll they consider immigration to be the nations most important problem, up from 7% who said so in early February.

Republicans are trying to reinvigorate supporters after losing both the White House and the Senate in last November's election. They, however, are fractured between Trump loyalists and those who want to move on and make the party more electable.

Sticking to a tough line on immigration carries risks for the party as U.S. demographics change and minorities gain political influence.

The importance of the border issue for Republicans was on display this week in El Paso, Texas, where visiting House of Representatives Republican leader Kevin McCarthy blamed President Joe Biden for a rise in border arrivals.

The security of our nation and our border is first and foremost the responsibility of our president, McCarthy said, describing the current migrant influx as "a Biden border crisis.

White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki on Monday said the Biden administration was trying to work through a dismantled and unprepared system left behind by Trump. It's going to take some time, but we are very clear-eyed about what the problems are and very focused on putting forward solutions, she said.

Story continues

On Tuesday, she told reporters the White House welcomed input from McCarthy or others who had solutions and wants to be a part of working to address what we all know is a challenging situation at the border."

In its efforts to pursue what it says is a more humane system, the Biden administration has relaxed certain policies - moves that have been accompanied by a growing number of illegal border crossers.

U.S. officials have been scrambling to find additional shelters to house unaccompanied children and speed up their releases to family members or other sponsors already in the United States.

Republican leaders have signaled that they intend to use immigration in congressional districts, especially along the border, to help turn out the votes of party loyalists and conservative independents in congressional elections next year.

Party officials hope the border issue will also counter Bidens promotion of the new COVID-19 relief bill and call into question his commitment to national security, and law and order.

His failure to secure the border and take responsibility is harming the security of the American people. With Biden, its open borders but closed schools  clearly a mismanagement of priorities. Republican National Committee Press Secretary Mandi Merritt said in a statement to Reuters.

A Republican strategist familiar with the leadership's thinking told Reuters the party will focus its resources on a handful of House districts along the Mexican border that are currently occupied by Democrats. These include seats held by Henry Cuellar, Vicente Gonzalez and Filemon Vela in Texas, and Tom OHalleran and Ann Kirkpatrick, who is retiring, in Arizona.

Biden appears to be on shakier ground with his approach to immigration among independents, a crucial voting group, than he has been with his handling of the coronavirus and the economy, according to the poll.

The February survey found 50% of independents opposed allowing more asylum seekers into the country, while 34% supported doing so.

Similarly, 50% of all Americans said they did not want to increase the number of refugees allowed in the country, while only 39% supported doing so.

A DOUBLE-EDGED STRATEGY

The Reuters/Ipsos polling showed that Republicans, who are calling for a return to Trump's hardline policies, will need to tread carefully in deciding how hard to push an anti-immigration message in the next elections.

While Republicans have become more opposed to programs that would benefit immigrants who entered the country illegally, polling shows the rest of the country appears to be moving in the opposite direction.

For example, 61% of American adults support a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants in a Reuters/Ipsos February survey, which is up from 43% in a 2015 survey.

The number of Americans who do not want more fencing along the Mexican border has more than doubled over the past six years, and surveys conducted during Trumps tenure in office shows a steady increase in support for policies that would ease restrictions on children who were brought over the border illegally.

An October 2020 poll showed that 63% now approve of policies to help so-called Dreamers remain in the country and obtain work permits, up from 46% in 2014.

Certainly, there seems to be a good deal of evidence that an anti-immigration mindset turns off college-educated women in the suburbs and younger voters, said Whit Ayres, a Republican consultant and pollster. So there is a cost to demonizing a segment of the population.

The strategy also has not always worked.

In the lead-up to 2018's midterm elections, Trump warned the about a caravan of Central American migrants who were headed north to escape violence and poverty in their countries. Vilifying the migrants as criminals and potential terrorists, Trump said his party was the only one that would defend the nation.

His warnings did not sway the elections, handing the Democrats control of the House for the first time in nearly a decade in what was seen as a repudiation of Trump.

Still, some Democrats do not appear interested in waiting to see if they can again survive being painted as a party that wants to open the border.

Texas Congressman Gonzalez, a Democrat who is being targeted by Republicans, has been advocating for remedies that Republican have supported, like giving migrants incentives to seek asylum in other countries

What we need is a plan in place that doesnt incentivize people to make this very dangerous trek, Gonzalez told CNN on Sunday.

(This story refiles to add apostrophe in headline)

(Reporting by Chris Kahn in New York and David Morgan in Washington, Additional reporting by Andrea Shalal; Editing by Alistair Bell)
BALTIMORE, March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Transamerica today announced findings from an independent client experience survey of retirement plan sponsors conducted by Chatham Partners. Despite the challenges facing American employers and workers in 2020, Transamerica saw a significant upward trend in plan sponsor satisfaction, especially in customer service and personnel. The independent Chatham Partners Client Experience Analysis indicated upward trends for satisfaction with Transamerica in nearly all categories measured.

"Results from Chatham Partners' 2020 annual client experience study validate that Transamerica's commitment to improving every aspect of customer service is resulting in higher levels of customer satisfaction. The most recent survey demonstrates that Transamerica continues to improve the customer experience and participant journey in nearly every area we measure," said Peter Starr, CEO at Chatham Partners. "Transamerica continues to invest in technology and people, and that has been recognized and valued by Transamerica's customers."

The results stem from a fall 2020 survey of Transamerica plan sponsor clients. The areas of service where retirement plan clients were most satisfied with Transamerica include:

 Overall satisfaction with personnel  Communication skills  Overall satisfaction with communication director  Project and time management skills  Knowledge of retirement industry  Accessibility  Satisfaction with communication method  Responsiveness  Responsiveness to plan sponsor needs  Knowledge of my plan

"Transamerica is pleased to see these upward trends in client satisfaction from retirement plan sponsors. The results point directly to the superior quality of our client management team that works hard every day to deliver the best customer experience possible," said Kent Callahan, CEO of Workplace Solutions at Transamerica. "We plan to continue that momentum with new features and technology enhancements, along with industry-leading solutions focused on pooled asset plans that can reduce participant fees, plan administrative duties, and fiduciary burdens. We continually listen to customer feedback, and we thank the plan sponsors who took part in this survey. We remain firmly committed to bringing a best-in-class experience to our clients."

Last year, Transamerica significantly grew its client engagement and retirement call center teams. In April, Transamerica announced a comprehensive CARES Act customer support initiative, designed to help both retirement plan sponsors and their employees access fee waivers associated with coronavirus-related distributions. In June, the company expanded its financial education program with an online financial wellness center. In September, it launched a small business initiative to support retirement plan sponsors and their participants.

Transamerica continued to innovate in 2020, bringing new solutions to help participants manage their investments, reduce college debt, and save for healthcare costs today and in the future, including:

Making its Managed Advice  service available to all defined contribution plans;

service available to all defined contribution plans; Adding new Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) with consolidated participant statements; and

Offering Student Loan Repayment Program, allowing plan sponsors to earmark employer contributions to help employees pay off their student loan debt.

About Chatham Partners' 2020 Client Experience Analysis

Chatham's independent third-party research tracks Transamerica's delivery of client services, and benchmarks Transamerica's standing relative to other large-market defined contribution providers. By identifying the most important drivers of client satisfaction, Transamerica uses these findings to help provide the best possible retirement planning solutions for its clients. Chatham Partners' 2020 Client Experience Analysis is based on 240 large-market client responses.

About Transamerica

With a history that dates back more than 100 years, Transamerica is recognized as a leading provider of life insurance, retirement, and investment solutions, serving millions of customers throughout the United States. Recognizing the necessity of health and wellness during peak working life, Transamerica's dedicated professionals work to help people take the steps necessary to live better today so they can worry less about tomorrow. Transamerica serves nearly every customer segment, providing a broad range of quality life insurance and investment products, individual and group pension plans, as well as asset management services. In 2020, Transamerica fulfilled its promises to customers, paying more than $49 billion in insurance, retirement, and annuity claims and benefits, including return of annuity premiums paid by the customer. Transamerica's corporate headquarters is located in Baltimore, Maryland, with other major operations in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Denver, Colorado. Transamerica is part of the Aegon group of companies. Based in the Netherlands, Aegon is one of the world's largest providers of life insurance, pension solutions, and asset management products, operating in more than 20 markets worldwide. For the full year of 2020, Aegon managed over $1.1 trillion in revenue-generating investments. For more information, please visit www.transamerica.com.

The Managed Advice service is offered through Transamerica Retirement Advisors, LLC (TRA), an SEC-registered investment advisor. Morningstar Investment Management Associates, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Morningstar, is an SEC-registered investment advisor that serves as an independent financial expert and provides the underlying investment advice and portfolio management methodology for the Managed Advice service. Morningstar is not affiliated with any Transamerica companies. Please see the Managed Advice agreement for more information on the terms and conditions that apply. Securities offered through Transamerica Investors Securities Corporation (TISC), member FINRA, 440 Mamaroneck Avenue, Harrison, NY 10528. All Transamerica companies identified are affiliated.

Media inquiries:

[email protected]

Erin Yang

(303) 383-5295

Julie Quinlan

(303) 383-5923

SOURCE Transamerica

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The Biden administration has announced that it is recalibrating its relationship with Saudi Arabia to include cutting off arms sales, rehabilitating the Houthis in neighboring Yemen, and intentionally snubbing Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, widely known by his initials, MBS.

Democrats in Congress and the media have long made a cause celebre of the Saudi Crown Prince. They despise his ruthless crackdown on corruption, because he has centralized the money-font in his own hands. They fear his hostility toward Iran, his friendliness toward Israel, and do not comprehend his seemingly progressive views toward women and Islam.

But what really irks them the most was his close relationship to President Trump. For that alone, in the eyes of the Biden administration, he deserves to be punished.

So it was that the new Director of National Intelligence, Avril Raines, took the unusual step recently of declassifying a three-page intelligence community assessment that the Crown Prince approved the gruesome murder of Jamal Khashoggi, a Saudi dissident who had become the darling of Washington Post journalists and lobbyists for Saudi rival, Qatar.

In the political world, it was a two-fer: the damning report was intended to damage President Trump, who despite reading it continued to lionize the Crown Prince and expanded U.S. arms sales to the Kingdom. And, of course, it showed MBS as a cold-blooded killer.

Or did it?

Here is the actual wording in the assessment used to conclude that MBS ordered the killing:

At the time of the Kashoggi murder, the Crown Prince probably fostered an environment in which aides were afraid that failure to complete assigned tasks might result in him firing or arresting them. This suggests that the aides were unlikely to question Muhammad bin Salmans orders or undertake sensitive actions without his consent. [emphasis mine]

Thats four caveats in two sentences. This assessment is barely an educated guess. Its a supposition based on opinion, not on any hard intelligence. No wonder President Trump did not take it seriously.

But Biden and his advisors did. Their natural hostility toward MBS has been compounded by the Saudis rejection of the Iran nuclear deal and his warnings about the threat posed by the Islamic regime in Tehran, which at one point he compared to Hitler and Nazi Germany.

Mohammed bin Salman

Photo credit: Mazen AlDarrab CC By-SA 3.0 license

Returning to the failed Iran nuclear deal has become the key foreign policy goal of the new administration. Nearly every major national security official named, confirmed, or up for confirmation played a role in negotiating the 2015 deal.

They include Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, his deputy Wendy Sherman, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, Iran czar Robert Malley, CIA Director William Burns, and Colin Kahl, his nominee to become undersecretary of defense for policy.

All are deeply and personally invested in seeing the Iran nuclear deal revived.

The question is, why? Why this seemingly irrational love affair of the American left with an Islamo-fascist regime that for the past forty-two years has made Death to America its trademark?

The love affair has persisted despite Irans involvement in the 9/11 plot, Iranian attacks in Iraq that killed over 600 U.S. soldiers in 2006-2007, and Iranian bounties to the Taliban for each American soldier they killed.

During the waning years of the Clinton administration, top U.S. officials expressed their love for Islamic Iran quite openly, and sought a global settlement with the Iranian regime that would right what they saw as Americas original sin in Iran, involvement in the 1953 coup that restored the Shah to his throne.

They wanted to open Iran to U.S. businesses, and pointedly refused to help the student uprising in 1999, which we later learned came close to actually toppling the Islamic regime.

Fast forward to the Obama years, when another Democrat administration turned a blind eye to massive nation-wide protests in Iran following their 2009 presidential election, and transformed Voice of Americas Persian language service in the Voice of the Mullahs.

But Embrace the Mullahs 3.0 is occurring in a very different and arguably more sinister global security environment now that Iran has become a virtual nuclear weapons state with advanced uranium enrichment capabilities.

The biggest obstacle to Irans regional ambitions is not the United States, or even Israel, but Saudi Arabias Crown Prince, MBS.

As the Kashoggi affair was playing out in public, advisors to then-candidate Joe Biden and other top Democrats were openly meeting with Iranian officials, plotting ways of undermining the Trump administrations anti-Iran, pro-Saudi policies.

Delaware Democrat Senator Chris Coons met with Iranian foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif during an international security conference in Munich last February, along with fellow mullah-lovers Jeff Merkley of Oregon and Chris Van Hollen of Maryland.

This followed very public meetings between former secretary of state John Kerry and Zarif in 2018 and 2019. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called those meetings unseemly and unprecedented, and beyond inappropriate, while President Trump called for Kerry to be prosecuted under the Logan Act.

While no Iran-related October Surprise seems to have resulted from these meetings, Iran stepped up the pressure in the final days of 2019, killing an American contractor in Iraq. When the U.S. responded with airstrikes, Iranian-backed militias surged toward the U.S. embassy in Baghdad, breaching the walls and setting fire to a reception area on December 31.

It could have been another Benghazi debacle, with American diplomats killed or taken hostage. But instead of doing nothing, as happened under President Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, President Trump immediately ordered 200 Marines from Kuwait to reinforce the Baghdad compound, forcing the militias to retreat.

And then, of course, the President ordered the January 2, 2020 drone strike that killed Quds Force commander Qassem Suleymani.

According to a clandestine source in Tehran with proven access to top Iranian regime officials, including Foreign Minister Zarif, the Iranians believe the Saudi Crown prince played a role in Suleymanis assassination in Baghdad on Jan. 2, 2020, possibly by providing intelligence on the timing of his Baghdad visit with an Iraqi militia leader.

While the Saudis have never acknowledged involvement in Suleymanis killing, MBS is known to have authorized Saudi intelligence officials to meet with their Israeli counterelGrat!parts  a far more controversial step than meeting with U.S. intelligence planners.

The Iranian source argues that just two weeks after Suleymanis killing, Irans Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, issued a fatwa or religious edict authorizing the assassination of MBS and placed a bounty of $50 million on his head.

The source claims that the Quds Force came up with four separate plots to kill MBS, eventually settling on a rocket attack during the November 2020 G20 summit in Riyadh that also would take out President Trump. The Saudi members of the hit team were selected because they came from reputable wealthy families and all had clean backgrounds, he said.

The Riyadh summit was ultimately cancelled as an in-person event because of Covid and was held virtually, so the plan to launch the rockets during the speech of President Trump came to naught.

Its no secret that the Iranian regime despised and feared President Trump. A top regime polemicist, Hossein Shariatmadari, vowed in a column published in the daily Kayhan in September 2020, just before the Riyadh summit, that Mr. Trump should know he will be a key target of the IRGC. It makes no difference if he remains President or not! (The full column can be viewed in the Persian original here.)

Given the public hostility the Biden White House has shown toward MBS, its hard to imagine a strenuous response from the United States should the Iranians succeed in killing him.

Indeed, physically removing MBS from power would accomplish far more for Bidens goals of cozying up to Iran than merely smearing his reputation with the Kashoggi plot.

The Saudis have made it clear they will vigorously oppose any revival of the Iran nuclear deal and have openly hinted they could launch their own nuclear weapons program to counter Irans.

The question remains whether President Bidens tilt toward Iran will come at the price of tossing the Saudi Crown Prince under the bus and jettisoning the long-standing close ties between the U.S. and the Saudis.
To make this inequality worse, new variants are further threatening these countries, with unwelcome news recently that the B.1.1.7 variant, first identified in Britain, may be more lethal in addition to being more transmissible, and is now spreading around the world. Lab and real-world evidence suggest that vaccines provide substantial protection against B.1.1.7, but that is cold comfort to those who lack them.

Worse, higher transmissibility, which makes it harder to hold the line with masking and distancing, renders distributing vaccines as soon as possible even more crucial. When facing an exponential threat like a more transmissible variant, a vaccine in arms today is much more valuable than one in a few months.

Besides providing AstraZeneca vaccine doses, we should immediately consider transferring even more doses of the other vaccines, too. The United States overbooked vaccines early because we didnt know which ones would work and how many would be delivered. Now we do, so its time to adjust. We already have 100 million doses ordered from the American company Novavax; its British trial has just concluded, and it is expected to apply for emergency authorization in the United States soon. We wont need most of those either, not this round.

Another advantage we have is that the United States makes its vaccines here, and the Biden administration has, wisely, looked to increase manufacturing capacity and thus supply. The White House brokered a deal recently between Merck and Johnson & Johnson to use Merck plants in the United States to produce more of the latters vaccine, and reportedly put in hundreds of millions of public dollars to upgrade Mercks facilities as needed.

Thats great, and puts our supply even further beyond our needs. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is easily stored and requires only a single dose, making it a valuable tool in hard-to-reach areas around the world. We should let some of those doses go as well.

One argument for holding on to all the vaccines here seems to be a version of better safe than sorry, that its preferable to have an excess rather than a shortage. This isnt right or moral when so many countries cant even vaccinate their health care workers, and besides, our excess is practically guaranteed at this point. Its true that we may need to manufacture and distribute boosters that are even more effective against the variants, perhaps as early as this year, but thats for the future, and our supply of old variant AstraZeneca wont help us there.

Another concern that comes up is that we may need some of those vaccines for children. But the earliest timeline for that is this fall for those 12 to 16 and next year for younger kids, as their trial has just begun. Hoarding vaccines for potential uses beyond our need in the next six months isnt defensible, especially since we should keep increasing capacity to make more.
Myths tend to grow up around things we dont know anything about. And organizations have their fair share of misinformation. The Masonic lodges are known for their rituals, their symbols and their initiations. All lending mystery to Freemasonry, even today. Going back to 1826, we find a book written by William Morgan, supposedly exposing Masonic secrets to a curious public, eager to believe anything, as long as it was sensational.

William Morgan was a stonemason who lived in Batavia, New York from 1824 to 1826. He signed a charter for the Wells Lodge No. 282, but his name was omitted when the charter was finally printed. Deeply disappointed, he bragged in taverns that he was writing a book exposing Freemasonry.

At this time in Americas history, men belonging to the Masons had reached high government positions. Including presidents, government officials, mayors, teachers and pastors. Morgan boasted that he knew what really went on in the Masons secret lodge meetings. A large portion of the populace was intrigued. And newspapers kept the flames going.

William Morgan soon met another man who had a falling out with a Masonic lodge. David Miller had been a member for 20 years. Miller and Morgan both had grudges against Freemasonry. But Morgan was abducted on the night of Sept. 11, 1826, and disappeared. Newspapers reported everything they could find about the Masons. In October 1827, the body of a man was found in the Niagara River and Morgans wife identified the body as her husband.

The clothes were not what Morgan had been wearing when he was abducted. Morgan was clean-shaven. This body had a beard. Morgan was bald. This body had a full head of hair. (Eventually the body was correctly identified.)

David Miller proceeded to publish Morgans book, Illustrations of Masonry. Freemasonry was endowed with even more mystery than it had been subject to before Morgans book was made public. The damage was irreparable.

An anti-Masonic movement spread like wildfire. Freemasonry was denounced from newspapers to pulpits. An anti-Masonic newspaper was started. Teachers and pastors who were Masons were let go. Even children were excluded from school if their father was a Mason. Lodges in many states became dormant. And Masonry endured the penalty of what was mistaken zeal.

Freemasons were literally spit on when they walked down the street. It took 20 years, but Freemasonry returned, and men once again were proud to be a Mason, of belonging to a lodge.

On March 11, 1933, a Short Talk Bulletin of the Masonic Service Association of the United States told the story of William Morgan and David Miller and the book that caused havoc in an organization devoted to brotherhood, the law of the land and charity.

From 1933 to 2021 is a span of 88 years, and it finds hundreds of thousands of men all over the world still strong in their belief in Freemasonry and how important it is to their lives. Fran Martin is one of those Masons.

Fran has been a Mason for 45 years in Centre Lodge 273 in Midland, Michigan. He comes from a long line of Masons. His grandfather Dr. Francis Lambie was a Mason. His dad Cletys Martin was a Mason. His mom Elizabeth Martin was a member of the Order of The Eastern Star.

When Fran was 14, he was a member of the DeMolay, the Masonic appendage for teenage boys. He remembers that a lodge member named Ron Birch was a sort of dad advisor who attended the meetings with the boys. He helped with the organizing of the boys and he helped them learning their degree work.

Picnics were held in the summertime with the boys in DeMolay inviting their parents. Fran remembers one time when they took a bus to Detroit to watch the Red Wings play. When he graduated from high school in 1952, he left to attend college at Case Institute of Technology (now Case Western Reserve) and no longer attended meetings of the DeMolay. But in the summer of 1955, between his junior and senior years in college, he became a Mason and has participated in Centre Lodge 273 every year since then. Fran and his wife have four children Timothy, Robert, Ruth and Thomas.

While Masonic membership is limited to males, there are three appendage groups. DeMolay is for boys.

You have to petition to join, and members visit you," Fran said. "You cant be a felon, and you must be a U.S. citizen. Jobs Daughters is for girls and the Order of the Eastern Star is for both men and women.

The Masons are not a service organization but a charitable organization. Their annual spaghetti dinner money goes to the diabetes program at MidMichigan Health. Each year, trophies are given to 4-H boys and girls who have winning animals at the Midland County Fair.

Fran mentioned that every state has a Masonic Home. Michigans Masonic Home is in Alma. You do not have to be a Mason to use the facilities. There are Masons in over 100 countries.

Our membership is slipping, but we keep going, Fran said.

Harold Riggie, born and raised in Homer Township, has been a Mason for three decades.

I am proud to be a member of Centre Lodge # 273 for the past 30 years," he said. "I have been involved with lodge activities during this 30-year time period."

It is a special time for the Lodge as 2020 was the 150th anniversary. Harolds wife, Sharon, belonged to the Order of the Eastern Star.

Harolds grandparents came to Midland County in the late 1800s, and the Riggies have made Homer Township their home ever since. Harold and Sharon raised their three children at 152 North Homer Road. They lost their oldest child, Wayne, from cancer when he was 40 years old. Their daughter, Kelly, lives in Ypsilanti and Donna lives in Midland.

Its historically interesting to remember that what happened in 1827 affected Freemasonry for the next 20 years. By 1847, a resurgence began and the establishment of Centre Lodge 273 in 1870 in the small town of Midland, Michigan, was on the cusp of that resurgence.

Today, Centre Lodge 273 of Midland, Michigan, is a beneficiary in a strange way of William Morgan and David Miller and what they did 195 years ago. Centre Lodge 273 continues to hold regular meetings complete with special handshakes, traditional rites and cherished symbols. Today Masonic members continue to honor the traditions of knowing what it means to be faithful to their duties to God, the law, their family and their responsibilities as a citizen. The Masons make better men.

Midland Remembers is penned by local writer Virginia Florey, and appears on the first and third Wednesday of each month in the Midland Daily News.
Intelligent.com, a trusted resource for online degree rankings and higher education planning, has announced the Top 30 Colleges In New Mexico for 2021. The comprehensive research guide is based on an assessment of 79 accredited colleges and universities in the nation. Each institution is evaluated based on curriculum quality, graduation rate, reputation, and post-graduate employment.

The 2021 rankings are calculated through a unique scoring system which includes student engagement, potential return on investment and leading third party evaluations. Intelligent.com analyzed 79 schools, on a scale of 0 to 100, with only 30 making it to the final list. The methodology also uses an algorithm which collects and analyzes multiple rankings into one score to easily compare each school.

To access the complete ranking, please visit: https://www.intelligent.com/best-colleges-in-new-mexico/

2021 Top Colleges In New Mexico featured on Intelligent.com (in alphabetical order):

Central New Mexico

Clovis Community College

Eastern New Mexico University

Eastern New Mexico University, Roswell

Eastern New Mexico University, Ruidoso

Institute Of American Indian Arts

Luna Community College

Mesalands Community College

National American University

Navajo Technical University

New Mexico Highlands University

New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology

New Mexico Junior College

New Mexico Military Institute

New Mexico State University

New Mexico State University, Carlsbad

New Mexico State University, Dona Ana

New Mexico State University, Grants

Northern New Mexico College

San Juan College

Santa Fe Community College

Southwestern College

Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute

St. Johns College

University of New Mexico, Gallup

University of New Mexico, Los Alamos

University of New Mexico, Taos

University of New Mexico, Valencia County

University of Southwest

Western New Mexico University

About Intelligent.com

Intelligent.com provides unbiased research to help students make informed decisions about higher education programs. The website offers curated guides which include the best degree programs as well as information about financial aid, internships and even study strategies. With comprehensive, user-friendly guides and hundreds of program rankings, Intelligent.com is a trusted source among students and prospective students. To learn more, please visit https://www.intelligent.com/.
Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism.

Select products from the Verse Originals and Verse Concentrates lines will be available in the coming weeks across Canada through the national medical cannabis retail platform

KELOWNA, BC, March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - The Valens Company Inc. (TSX: VLNS) (OTCQX: VLNCF) (the "Company" or "The Valens Company"), a leading manufacturer of cannabis products, today announced that it will be distributing select products from its partner Verse Cannabis ("Verse") to the Medical Cannabis by Shoppers platform. Products have been selected from each Verse Cannabis line, Verse Originals and Verse Concentrates, which are custom manufactured by Valens and aim to bring premium quality offerings to Canadian consumers at affordable prices.

From the Verse Concentrates line, Medical Cannabis by Shoppers will feature Verse Crumble, derived from an indica-dominant White Rhino strain, with pinene, myrcene, and caryophyllene terpenes that create a fruity and piney aroma. Extracted with Valens' proprietary hydrocarbon method, the 1g product features a broad spectrum of cannabinoids and has a honeycomb-like consistency. At approximately 75-80 percent THC, this crumble was created for an experienced consumer and comes in a non-reactive glass container to preserve freshness. It is the first crumble product and one of few concentrate products available in the Medical Cannabis by Shoppers platform.

Medical Cannabis by Shoppers will also offer vape cartridges in a variety of flavours and terpene-rich blends from the popular Verse Originals line, including:

Tropic Lemon, a top-selling, sativa-dominant blend inspired by Lemon Jack and Tropic Thunder cultivars.

Summer Berry , an indica-dominant blend inspired by Blue Zkittles and Watermelon OG cultivars.

, an indica-dominant blend inspired by Blue Zkittles and Watermelon OG cultivars. Mandarin Mint, a sativa-dominant blend inspired by Tangie and Thin Mint GSC cultivars.

Sunset Peach, a sativa-dominant blend inspired by Peach Ozz and Strawberry Ice cultivars.

"Since launching last year, Verse Cannabis' products have stood out in the Canadian recreational market for their quality and price point despite only being available at select provincial retailers. Offering these popular products through a national cannabis retail platform like Medical Cannabis by Shoppers gives patients across the country increased accessibility to our partner's differentiated product offerings," said Tyler Robson, Chief Executive Officer, Co-Founder and Chair of The Valens Company. "We are pleased that Medical Cannabis by Shoppers is encouraged by the continued consumer demand we've seen for these products with other retailers, and this rollout demonstrates the strategic value that Valens strives to bring its partners through its far-reaching distribution network and manufacturing excellence."

In partnership, Valens and Verse expect to launch additional formats on the platform, including soft chews and pre-rolls, in the coming quarters.

About The Valens Company

The Valens Company is a leading manufacturer of cannabis products with a mission to bring the benefits of cannabis to the world. The Company provides proprietary cannabis processing services across five core technologies, in addition to best-in-class product development, formulation and manufacturing of cannabis consumer packaged goods. The Valens Company's high-quality products are exclusively formulated for the medical, therapeutic, health and wellness, and recreational consumer segments, and are offered across numerous product formats, including oils, vapes, concentrates, edibles and topicals, as well as pre-rolls, with a focus on next-generation product development and innovation. Its breakthrough patented emulsification technology, SoRSE by Valens, converts cannabis oil into water-soluble emulsions for seamless integration into a variety of product formats, allowing for near-perfect dosing, stability, and taste. In partnership with brand houses, consumer packaged goods companies and licensed cannabis producers around the globe, the Company continues to grow its diverse product portfolio in alignment with evolving cannabis consumer preferences in key markets. Through its wholly owned subsidiary Valens Labs Ltd., the Company is setting the standard in cannabis testing and research and development with Canada's only ISO17025 accredited analytical services lab, named The Centre of Excellence in Plant-Based Science by partner and scientific world leader Thermo Fisher Scientific. Discover more on The Valens Company and its subsidiaries at http://www.thevalenscompany.com.

About Verse

Introducing Verse



There is a clear need in the marketplace for Verse. On the one hand, beautifully branded and marketed flower-based brands line the shelves of cannabis stores nationwide. On the other hand, quality-obsessed craft products, fill the needs of those demanding more, but at a high price.



This is where the idea for Verse was born. An assortment of the highest quality cannabinoid-based Gen2 products accessible to all. A brand whose North Star would always be innovation and quality but values like realness and honesty would trump frills and gimmicks.



Like the verse of a song or poem, where creativity follows the rules of rhythm to become attractive to its listener, so does Verse, combining creative innovation with the rules of science to engineer extraordinary experiences for consumers.

Notice regarding Forward Looking Statements

All information included in this press release, including any information as to the future financial or operating performance and other statements of The Valens Company that express management's expectations or estimates of future performance, other than statements of historical fact, constitute forward-looking information or forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as of the date hereof. Forward-looking statements are included for the purpose of providing information about management's current expectations and plans relating to the future. Wherever possible, words such as "plans", "expects", "scheduled", "trends", "indications", "potential", "estimates", "predicts", "anticipate", "to establish", "believe", "intend", "ability to", or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might", "will", or are "likely" to be taken, occur or be achieved, or the negative of these words or other variations thereof, have been used to identify such forward-looking information. Specific forward-looking statements include, without limitation, all disclosure regarding future results of operations, economic conditions and anticipated courses of action. Investors and other parties are advised that there is not necessarily any correlation between the number of SKUs manufactured and shipped and revenue and profit, and undue reliance should not be placed on such information.

The risks and uncertainties that may affect forward-looking statements include, among others, regulatory risk, United States border crossing and travel bans, reliance on licenses, expansion of facilities, competition, dependence on supply of cannabis and reliance on other key inputs, dependence on senior management and key personnel, general business risk and liability, regulation of the cannabis industry, change in laws, regulations and guidelines, compliance with laws, reliance on a single facility, limited operating history, vulnerability to rising energy costs, unfavourable publicity or consumer perception, product liability, risks related to intellectual property, product recalls, difficulties with forecasts, management of growth and litigation, many of which are beyond the control of The Valens Company. For a more comprehensive discussion of the risks faced by The Valens Company, and which may cause the actual financial results, performance or achievements of The Valens Company to be materially different from estimated future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by forward-looking information or forward-looking statements, please refer to The Valens Company's latest Annual Information Form filed with Canadian securities regulatory authorities at www.sedar.com or on The Valens Company's website at www.thevalenscompany.com. The risks described in such Annual Information Form are hereby incorporated by reference herein. Although the forward-looking statements contained herein reflect management's current beliefs and reasonable assumptions based upon information available to management as of the date hereof, The Valens Company cannot be certain that actual results will be consistent with such forward-looking information. The Valens Company cautions you not to place undue reliance upon any such forward-looking statements. The Valens Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law. Nothing herein should be construed as either an offer to sell or a solicitation to buy or sell securities of The Valens Company.

SOURCE The Valens Company Inc.

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Rome, March 17 : The United Nations and the government of Italy on Wednesday announced that the Pre-Summit gathering for the 2021 UN Food Systems Summit will be held in Rome from July 19 to 21.

Under the leadership of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and Prime Minister of Italy Mario Draghi, the Pre-Summit event will bring together the efforts and contributions of a global engagement process to shape ambition to transform food systems.

The three-day event will bring together youth, smallholder farmers, indigenous peoples, researchers, private sector, policy leaders and ministers of agriculture, environment, health, and finance among others to deliver the latest evidence-based and scientific approach from around the world, launch a set of new commitments through coalitions of action, and mobilize new financing and partnerships.

The Food Systems Summit will take place in September alongside the UN General Assembly in New York.

"The Pre-Summit in Italy will be a key moment for mobilizing the bold commitments we need to build sustainable food systems that work for people, planet, and prosperity. Through accelerated action, we can help the world recover better from COVID-19, combat rising hunger and address the climate crisis," said Guterres.

As hosts of the Pre-Summit, the Italian government will make a national food system commitment to set the tone and a high ambition ahead of the summit.

"Italy is ready to welcome this key appointment of the Food Systems Summit in Rome. We want to address the issue of food security within our broad agenda as President of the G20. Together with the UN and its agencies based in Rome, Italy will engage with its partners to promote better agriculture, sustainable value chains and healthy lifestyles. I expect everyone to join us in a global effort to protect the environment with meaningful actions," said Italy Prime Minister Mario Draghi.

The Pre-Summit event is expected to take place in a "hybrid" virtual format over three days, during which many people will participate in person at the UN Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) in Rome, while others from around the world will be engaged on a vast virtual platform.

Global leaders are expected to step up and launch bold new actions, solutions, partnerships, and strategies to "recover better" from Covid-19 and deliver progress on all 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), each of which relies to some degree on nutritious, sustainable and equitable food systems.

The Pre-Summit will take place in Rome while Italy is chairing the G20 process and co-hosting the UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in November.

The role of food systems in achieving global goals and climate targets is expected to serve as a central priority of these other events and continue to carry forward momentum from Food System Summit.
RBmedia has formed BookaVivo, a new Spanish-language audio unit. The operation will house RBmedias recently acquired Booka audiobook publishing business and all new Spanish-language titles produced by RBmedia. In February, RBmedia acquired Spain-based publisher Bookas audiobook publishing division, including its catalog of Spanish-language titles.

RBmedia has also appointed Roseann Lake its Spanish content publisher, and she will oversee BookaVivo. Prior to joining RBmedia, Lake was a journalist, first as a reporter in Beijing and then as Cuba correspondent for The Economist. She speaks Spanish and Mandarin, and is the author of Leftover in China: The Women Shaping the Worlds Next Superpower, published by Norton in 2018.

With the creation of BookaVivo, RBmedia said the new unit will begin to release Spanish audio editions by authors who are already part of its English-language catalog. With BookaVivo, RBmedia said it is positioned to aggressively pursue and acquire the rights to additional high-profile titles and authors that are popular with Spanish-speaking audiences.
Feature Article

Caroline Nesaraja: Providing nothing but the best nuclear data

DOE/Oak Ridge National Laboratory

Nesaraja evaluates mass chains assigned to nuclear data program centers like ORNL. She selects best values for archiving in a specialized nuclear structure database and publication. (Credit: Carlos Jones/ORNL, U.S. Dept. of Energy)

Nuclear physicist Caroline Nesaraja of the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory evaluates nuclear data vital to applied and basic sciences. Her work ensures that the scientific community has the best nuclear data for fundamental research and applications including medical isotopes, nuclear energy and national and international security.

"At the heart of nuclear data evaluation is recommending values for a range of nuclear properties for the community to adopt and use," said Nesaraja. Her exacting evaluation process starts with gathering extensive nuclear structure and decay data from experimental measurements published in peer-reviewed journals.

Through this evaluation process, Nesaraja discovered in 2018 a long-overlooked mistake from a 1975 reference measurement pertaining to the decay of cerium-137.

She presented her finding the following year at the International Atomic Energy Agency, or IAEA, which motivated three research institutions - ORNL, Forschungszentrum Julich and DOE's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, or LBNL - to analyze previously available measurements from LBNL, confirming an inaccuracy.

Their publication of the result corrected a reference that had consequences for calculating decay heat in nuclear reactors, element creation in stars and effectiveness of a promising cancer therapy.

Nesaraja split her effort between nuclear data evaluation and experimentation at ORNL's now-closed Holifield Radioactive Ion Beam Facility. (Credit: Carlos Jones/ORNL, U.S. Dept. of Energy)

Her work supports the mission of the United States Nuclear Data Program, or USNDP, to provide current, accurate, authoritative data for workers in pure and applied areas of nuclear science and engineering. Through the USNDP, which is sponsored by DOE's Office of Nuclear Physics, Nesaraja and other nuclear physicists at select national labs and universities recommend values for nuclear properties and interactions.

Nesaraja also serves on the International Network of Nuclear Structure and Decay Data Evaluators, which is under the auspices of the IAEA and fills a role similar to USNDP's for the global scientific community.

She evaluates vast amounts of nuclear data from copious studies done over decades. The diverse experimental measurements reveal nuclear structure, such as ground and excited states, and decay properties including decay modes, half-lives, branching ratios, emission probabilities and radiation energies.

Critical review of the data ensures all state-of-the-art measurements are included. When measurements assessing the same property are inconsistent, Nesaraja pores over details of the experimental methods and analyses.

To determine a best value, she relies on her broad physics knowledge, experimental experience, theory and systematic studies. Sometimes, it's even necessary to perform a validation experiment to compare measured against reported values.

Nesaraja , holding a nuclide chart, does stringent evaluations consequential for calculating decay heat in reactors, element creation in stars and effective doses of medical isotopes. (Credit: Carlos Jones/ORNL, U.S. Dept. of Energy)

After peer review, Nesaraja's evaluated work enters the Evaluated Nuclear Structure Data File, or ENSDF, the preeminent database of evaluated nuclear structure and decay information for 3,350 nuclides. A nuclide is a distinct species of atom characterized by the number of protons and neutrons in its nucleus.

Nesaraja, who is 100% devoted to evaluation, provides one-seventh of the U.S. output to the nuclides data file that is managed by the National Nuclear Data Center at DOE's Brookhaven National Laboratory.

The need for evaluated nuclear data is growing because of the creation of the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams, a DOE Office of Science user facility, scheduled to open at Michigan State University in 2022.

"It is the biggest challenge for us," Nesaraja said. "When the facility is fully functional, its many experiments will be followed by publications providing important nuclear data that needs to be compiled and evaluated."

ORNL's world-leading position in producing isotopes and developing next-generation nuclear energy technologies also relies on accurate data.

From MacGyver to mass chains

Born in Malaysia, Nesaraja became interested in physics at an early age, inspired by problem-solving adventures in the TV series MacGyver. She has a brother, who is a lecturer, and a sister, who has a doctorate in chemistry; both live in Malaysia but join Nesaraja for travel to Europe and the United States when they can. Nesaraja enjoys trying international cuisines and reading mysteries and thrillers.

She pursued doctoral research at the Forschungszentrum Julich, Germany's premier nuclear physics laboratory, and worked with Professor S.M. Qaim, a world-renowned expert in medical isotopes and nuclear reactions. She received her doctorate in nuclear physics in 1998 from the National University of Malaysia and became a lecturer and medical physicist in the university's hospital.

In 2000, Nesaraja joined the Triangle Universities Nuclear Laboratory at Duke University as a postdoctoral fellow in nuclear astrophysics, a field in which nuclear processes explain the formation of progressively heavier nuclei. While there, a colleague introduced her to nuclear data evaluation, giving her an appreciation for the detailed work and catalyzing her career path.

She accepted a joint postdoctoral appointment with ORNL and the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, in 2004 working with Michael Smith, ORNL's principal investigator for the USNDP. Nesaraja was trained in nuclear data evaluation by renowned evaluator Murray Martin, retired chief editor of Nuclear Data Sheets.

Nesaraja spent half her time on nuclear data evaluation and half conducting experiments at ORNL's Holifield Radioactive Ion Beam Facility. She became a staff member in ORNL's Physics Division in 2008 and continued the 50/50 split until Holifield closed in 2012.

Today, Nesaraja evaluates all nuclides having the same mass number, or sum of protons and neutrons, through a type of assessment called a mass chain evaluation. For example, mass chain 137 has 16 nuclides, such as cesium-137 and xenon-137 . Studying nuclides with the same mass number helps scientists follow the beta decay or electron capture and energy states during a nucleus's lifetime.

Recently, joint evaluations were recommended for four nuclides so three important nuclear databases would provide the same values: that of the Decay Data Evaluation Project at France's Laboratoire National Henri Becquerel, IAEA's library of decay data from radionuclides relevant to the Comprehensive Test-Ban-Treaty Organization and the ENSDF database.

Nesaraja and evaluators from France and Australia will evaluate the best value for the decay properties of cesium-137, which is used in part to calibrate radiation detectors.

Her responsibilities will continue with evaluations of mass chains that have not been evaluated for more than 10 years. In addition, she will review evaluations of mass chains assessed by her international colleagues.

###

The DOE Office of Science supports Nesaraja's research.

UT-Battelle manages ORNL for the Department of Energy's Office of Science, the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States. The Office of Science is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information, please visit energy.gov/science.
The Democratic Partyled drive to reopen West Coast schools has greatly intensified over the past week. Beginning Thursday, teachers in Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) will be voting on an agreement to return to in-person learning in the second largest school district in the US. On Sunday, the Oakland Education Association (OEA) announced that it too had reached a reopening deal with Oakland Unified School District (OUSD), which is pending a vote of both rank-and-file teachers and the school board later this week.

An agreement was also reached in late February between San Diego Unified School District (SDUSD) and the San Diego Education Association (SDEA) to open schools for in-person learning on April 12. The San Diego agreement reduces the allowable distance between students from six feet to five feet to accommodate more students. On the national level, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is also considering lowering its social distancing recommendation from six feet to three feet, as part of the Biden administrations campaign to send the maximum number of students possible back into classrooms.

A similar agreement for an April 12 reopening was also reached in the nearby Sweetwater Union High School District. These reopening announcements were followed by a ruling by San Diego Superior Court Judge Cynthia Freeland, who declared that schools could reopen even if the county where they are located is still in the states most restrictive purple tier, which denotes more than 10 daily new cases per 100,000 population and a greater than 8 percent test positivity rate.

Students at Newhall Elementary School on February 25, 2021, in Santa Clarita, California (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

In late February, the United Educators of San Francisco announced an agreement to reopen immediately after the county began entering the still dangerous red tier of infections.

In the Pacific Northwest, Washingtons Democratic Governor Jay Inslee announced an emergency order requiring K5 students to begin hybrid instruction by April 5. This followed an executive order by Oregons Democratic Governor Kate Brown to open all K5 classes by March 29 and to reopen grades 612 by April 19.

The latest reopening agreement in Oakland includes a return to in-person classes on March 30 for pre-Kindergarten through second-grade students. This would be followed by a second phase involving grades 35 on April 19. The agreement in Los Angeles includes reopening for elementary school students on April 19, while secondary school students would return later in the month.

In the case of the secondary school openings in Los Angeles, those students would sit in the same classroom on campus all day while continuing to conduct classes over Zoom. In other words, the real aim of the agreement between the United Teachers of Los Angeles (UTLA) and LAUSD is not to address the pedagogical shortcomings of remote instruction as both parties claimed, but instead to bring children back to schools in a manner that will offer no educational advantages whatsoever over remote learning, simply so that their parents can in turn go back to work.

One LAUSD parent remarked to the Los Angeles Times, Essentially we are asking our kids to go to school, sit in a classroom, wear headphones and be supervised by a teacher instructing via Zoom.

The deadly agreements reached by the UTLA and OEA recall what took place in 2019, when powerful teachers strikes in Los Angeles and Oakland were isolated and defeated by the same union leaderships that present themselves as radical while remaining totally subservient to the Democrats and the capitalist system. Now, under life-and-death conditions, these pseudo-left unions seek to enforce school reopenings that they know will lead to infections and deaths among educators, parents and throughout their communities.

At an OEA union meeting Tuesday involving representatives from each school, the entire OEA executive board called for a return to in-person learning, falsely claiming that Oakland teachers are isolated and that they had to agree with the district's proposal. The tentative agreement includes a hard return date of April 14 for all teachers in all grades regardless of the transmission rate, but nothing on work schedules or important safety measures. Chastity Garcia, an OEA vice president, tried to browbeat teachers by stating, if we vote no, we lose all of our leverage because wed no longer be bargaining in good faith over these issues.

The site representatives council voted 49 percent to 45 against recommending the TA. To carry their struggle forward, Oakland teachers must organize independently of the union leadership that unanimously recommended the sellout deal.

The UTLA and OEA are following the strategy outlined by the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) and have launched public pressure campaigns to browbeat teachers into voting yes on their respective agreements. OEA President Keith Brown claimed earlier this week, We reached a tentative agreement that is just, equitable, and most importantly, safe. UTLA President Cecily Myart-Cruz claimed that the agreement her union reached represented a gold standard of union negotiations, adding, We were able to hold the line until it was safe.

What both unions are actually doing, like their counterparts across the country, is in fact holding the line against escalating teacher anger and opposition. From the point of view of the districts, the city governments and the unions, the window to reopen schools is rapidly closing. The longer reopenings are postponed, the more teachers and workers will independently organize opposition, especially as COVID-19 cases begin to climb once again.

Responding to a number of angry and frustrated teachers on the UTLAs Facebook page hoping for a delay until safer conditions were met after the agreement announcement, union lead negotiator Arlene Inouye replied peremptorily, The option is not to remain closedwe must have a plan for returning to physical schools.

The UTLAs agreement also calls for an hour of additional instruction per day without any pay increase. Teachers have also been threatened by the UTLA that if they do not vote in favor of the agreement, they will still have to return to schools under conditions imposed entirely by the district. In other words, the choices being placed before Los Angeles teachers, students and parents are either a) return to school or b) return to school.

This is despite the fact that about half of LAUSD parents do not want their children returning to in-person learning, according to parent survey results published Monday by the Los Angeles Times. In most of the impoverished areas of the district covered by the survey, where infection rates have been much higher, a majority of parents opposed any in-person return and promised to keep their children learning remotely to the greatest extent possible.

On Monday, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health released its school reopening protocol, stating that schools cannot be reopened if the county returns to the purple tier of elevated coronavirus infection rates. It also makes clear, however, that any schools that already reopened prior to case rates trending upward can remain open regardless of the elevated transmission levels. The UTLA and LAUSD eagerly seized upon this proviso, timing the announcement of their deal on the exact day that LA County moved into the red tier.

California school districts are also rushing to reopen in hopes of obtaining allotments of $2.1 billion in funding approved by Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom. Under the funding provisions, districts that open on or before April 1 will receive 100 percent of their allotted funding amounts, while those opening after April 1 will lose 1 percent of their funding for each day they fail to open thereafter.

The OEA and OUSD also hope to bribe Oakland teachers into voting in favor of their miserable agreement, promising a $200-a-week stipend for those teachers who volunteer to come back to campus on March 25. The agreement also includes a one-time $2,000 stipend for all teachers who come back on April 14.

The latest agreements also follow announcements by the Biden administration promising to quickly end remote learning and thus reopen the economy more broadly. Upon assuming office, Biden announced that one of his key domestic policy goals would be reopen the majority of all schools across the US by the end of April. The unions, in complete agreement with the political imperatives of the Democrats, are now full partners in this reopening drive despite their initial professions of resistance.

Only two weeks ago, the UTLA held a sham vote of its members in which 91 percent of the membership agreed to organize resistance to school reopening if three conditions were not met: vaccines for all teachers, a fall in county infection rates into the red tier along with social distancing, and personal protective equipment and regular sanitizing on campuses.

However, the state and the county had already set aside enough vaccines for LAUSD teachers, claiming that they were essential workers before the deal was even announced. The state then loosened the criteria for red tier status, making the red tier primarily dependent on reaching a 2-million-person vaccination threshold rather than on infection rates. This was followed by the announcement that LA County had entered the red tier, using the hastily revised metrics the very same day the tentative agreement was announced between the UTLA and LAUSD.

Not only was the red tier classification made dependent on vaccinations, but the infection rate threshold was also changed to accommodate reopening schools and businesses. The previous threshold of fewer than 7 cases per 100,000 was changed to 10 cases per 100,000. The administration of Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti seized upon the new guidelines to open restaurants, movie theaters and gyms for in-person business on Monday morning.

The fact that teachers participated in the UTLAs earlier vote did not imply agreement with the conditions laid out by the union. In fact, many were expressing a desire to keep schools closed entirely, knowing full well that the latest relative decline in COVID-19 cases did not at all represent safe conditions as the union claimed.

One teacher wrote on the UTLAs Facebook page after the tentative agreement was announced, Say it: this is about money and testing. Not about protecting members.

Another wrote, We really need to kill this [agreement], UTLA and LAUSD only want Newsoms bribe $$.

The latest agreements in Los Angeles, Oakland and across the West Coast indicate that if teachers and workers are to stop the homicidal drive to reopen schools, they must organize themselves independently. The unions are pro-capitalist and are willing partners of the Democrats. They cannot be reformed to meet the interests of, or even to physically protect their own members and the students they serve. We encourage educators, parents, students and all workers to attend the next meeting hosted by the West Coast Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committees this Saturday at 2 p.m. PDT to take this struggle forward. Register today and invite your co -workers and friends to attend!
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Image Credit... The New York Times

Refusing vaccines

As the vaccination campaign gains steam in the United States, the country is beginning to see its first signs of vaccine hesitancy, explained in part by a stark political divide.

In a new CBS News poll, a third of Republicans said they would not get vaccinated  compared with 10 percent of Democrats  and another 20 percent of Republicans said they were unsure. Previous polls have found similar divides.

The resistance to vaccines is a huge challenge for President Biden, who is pressing to inoculate as many Americans as possible, especially with more contagious variants of the virus on the rise.

Partisan perceptions of the coronavirus have complicated Mr. Bidens task, especially related to former President Donald Trump. Although Mr. Trump was quietly vaccinated during his last days in office, many of his supporters appear reluctant to do so, and he has not played any prominent role in promoting vaccination.
Samer became paralysed, Bakri had a leg amputated and Rukaia fled to France: a decade of civil war in Syria has devastated millions of lives.

As the conflict enters its 11th year this month, 10 Syrians shared with AFP pictures of themselves before the start of the 2011 war, and recounted how their lives have been changed by the fighting.

Speaking from across fragmented Syria or even abroad, they give a personal account of a war that has killed more than 387,000 people and displaced millions from their homes.

In the capital Damascus, 33-year-old Samer Sawwan holds up a picture of himself standing on a beach in the coastal resort of Latakia.

That was before a bullet shot through his car while he was driving in 2011, sending the vehicle into a barrel roll that paralysed him forever.

Read: After 10 years of Syria war, UN sorry mediation has not worked yet

"I passed out with two legs, and woke up in a wheelchair," he says. "My ambitions and dreams have changed."

At least 1.5 million Syrians have suffered a disability as a result of the war, the United Nations says.

In the last major rebel bastion of Idlib, 29-year-old Bakri al-Debs rests on stone steps with one leg amputated above the knee, his artificial leg resting beside him.

The former medic holds a picture of himself in a similar position at university a decade ago in Latakia where he studied sociology, before he was maimed in what he says was a government barrel bomb strike.

Read: Everything you need to know about the Syrian civil war

In Idlib city, former rebel fighter 28-year-old Mohammed al-Hamid leans on crutches, holding a large picture showing him before the war in a military uniform and holding a weapon.

He says he was wounded in a 2016 battle against government forces in Latakia, where his brother also died in his arms.

That same year, he learnt that three other siblings had died in prison.

In 2017, warplanes bombarded his home in Idlib, killing his daughter.

Also in Idlib, Abu Anas, 26, holds an image of himself when he was 16 years old.

A native of the Damascus countryside, Abu Anas was displaced to Idlib in 2018 where artillery shelling two years later caused him to lose his eyesight.

In the northern city of Aleppo, retaken by government forces from rebels in late 2018, Ahmad Nashawi posed in front of his destroyed house.

The man in his fifties, once one of the city's most popular fishmongers, said his home and shop were obliterated in clashes between rebels and pro-government fighters in 2015.

Read: This Syrian farmer lost his wife and sons to war; now grandchildren are his solace

The war has also flung journalists into exile.

Rukaia Alabadi, 32, arrived in Paris as a refugee in 2018 after escaping threats over her reporting about the reality of life in the eastern province of Deir Ezzor under the Islamic State jihadist group.

Before that, the young woman had been jailed for months by the regime and accused of being a media activist.

The picture she shares with AFP shows her wearing a chador and a face veil in 2011 when she was studying economics at university.

Anas Ali, 27, has lived in France as a refugee since 2019.

Before that he was in the rebel enclave of Eastern Ghouta on the doorstep of Damascus until government forces seized it in early 2018 following years of bombardment and a devastating siege.

A citizen journalist, Anas covered fighting between both sides and in 2013 was wounded, sustaining face injuries, according to the picture he showed AFP.

Read: After 10 years of war, Syria still a 'living nightmare', says UN chief

In Iraqi Kurdistan, Dima al-Kaed, 29, clutched a memento of her graduation, one of the few belongings she kept after her family moved from Damascus and sold their home.

"I dreamt of changing the world, but instead the war changed mine," she said.

Life in exile has at times been tough.

Fahad al-Routayban, 30, works as a building concierge in the northern Lebanese city of Tripoli.

On his smartphone, he pulled up an image showing him in uniform during his military service in 2010.

In the ravaged Palestinian neighbourhood of Yarmouk south of Damascus, 70-year-old Palestinian painter Mohammed al-Rakouia stood on top of the ruins of his gutted studio.

"Nothing can make up for my losses," he said.

"My studio has been destroyed, my paintings have been stolen, and my colours have been scattered all over the place."
The government must ensure "frivolous entities" bidding on Ads dont corner keywords claimed by brands, said a group representing startups on Wednesday as it sought a India-specific policy on the tech giants Play store.

Aatmnirbhar Foundation (ADIF) said bidding of company-specific keywords such as "matrimony" or "Map My India" has resulted in competitors capitalising on the brand value of

 end up in spending crores of money to protect their own brands to prevent their customers going to competitors or frivolous entities. are losing their revenue and customers because of not protecting brands, said Murugavel Jankiraman, founder & CEO,

ADIF aims to assist in the creation of forward-looking regulatory processes and ease of doing business policies to propel India as the top destination for innovation and capital.

To protect the interests of Indian startups, we need to create an India specific policy framework and work in a collaborative manner going forward. We request the government that no organisation specific keywords should be permitted for bidding by third parties and ASCI guidelines should be expanded to cover search engine advertising to avoid such in future, said Ajay Data, ADIF Secretary General.

Every effort should be made to eliminate any bias and manipulation in the search and ranking algorithms attributing to advertisement keywords, to eliminate any loss to brands, said Rohan Verma, CEO & Executive Director, MapmyIndia.

Snehil Khanor, co-founder and CEO of TrulyMadly, Ritesh Malik, founder of Innov8 Coworking, and Sairee Chahal, founder & CEO of Sheroes, are some other members of ADIF.
About 50 km south of Vitoria, the state capital of Espirito Santo, in southeastern Brazil, lies the coastal town of Guarapari, a popular tourist destination. Know for its sandy white beaches, Guarapari is a popular holiday escape for holiday makers from the landlocked Minas Gerais state as well as people from Vitoria and Vila Velha. While Brazil has a long coastline and hundreds of miles of beaches, Guarapari is one of very few places where the sand is naturally radioactive.

Praia dos Padres, Guarapari. Photo: FABIAN KRONENBERGER/Flickr

Guaraparis sand contains monazite, a primarily reddish-brown phosphate mineral that contains several rare-earth elements, including radioactive uranium and thorium. The background radiation level on Guarapari beach is about 20Sv per hour. In some spots it can be as high as 131 Sv per hour. To place that in context, a single chest X-ray can deliver 100 Sv.

Monazite in the sand from Brazil was first noticed in sand carried in ship's ballast by the Austrian scientist Carl Auer von Welsbach in the 1880s. Von Welsbach was looking for thorium for his newly invented incandescent mantles. Monazite sand was quickly adopted as the thorium source and became the foundation of the rare-earth industry. Monazite mines in southern India and Brazil dominated the industry before World War II, after which major mining activity transferred to South Africa and Australia.

Harvesting sand from the beaches in 1910. Photo: bionerd23/Flickr

Workers packing monazite sand in sacks. Photo: bionerd23/Flickr

Workers processing monazite sand. Photo: bionerd23/Flickr

The association of Guaraparis radioactive sand with medicinal therapy was made by physician Silva Mello in 1972, who advocated laying on the sand to cure oneself of arthritis and cancer. In his book Guarapari: Miracle of Nature, Mello exposited the virtues of natural radiation, and as a result thousands of tourists began to visit the region around the city of Guarapari. Many people completely cover themselves with the monazitic sand supposing that this is healthy and may cure their diseases. The states tourism industry has definitely profited from this fact. Guaraparis sands supposed therapeutic properties are extolled in advertisements by the Brazilian media.

A vintage photograph showing a full beach in Guarapari. Photo: bionerd23/Flickr

The Brazilian Nuclear Agency does not recommend staying on the beach for long periods, because the gamma radiation field is quite intense on the beach. High energy gamma radiation can penetrate the body and cause skin cancer and damage the tissue. If inhaled, the alpha radiation from the sand can cause lung cancer.

The Agency proposed that the black sand, which contains high concentration of monazite, should be removed for the benefit of the tourists. The expense incurred in this operation could be easily recovered by extracting monazite from the sand and selling the minerals. As a matter of fact, the entire Brazilian coast from north of Rio de Janeiro up to the region south of Bahia, a distance of about 500 miles, is rich in monazite and there are quite a few heavy mineral production industries in the region for this purpose.
AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - Europe's medicines watchdog will release results of its investigation into incidents of bleeding, blood clots and low platelet counts in recipients of AstraZeneca's coronavirus vaccine on Thursday afternoon.

EMA Executive Director Emer Cooke on Tuesday said there was no indication that the incidents, which she called "very rare" had been caused by the vaccine, but that experts were assessing that possibility.

"The experts will meet again on Thursday to come to a conclusion and to advise whether there are any further actions that need to be taken", Cooke said at an online news conference.

"And we will inform the public of the outcome immediately after this meeting."

Trust in the safety of the vaccines was paramount and the agency was carrying out a case-by-case evaluation, she said.

"The benefits continue to outweigh the risks, but this is a serious concern and it does need serious and detailed scientific evaluation. This is what we are involved in at the moment," Cooke told a news conference.

Sweden and Latvia on Tuesday suspended use of the vaccine, bringing to more than a dozen the number of EU countries to act since reports first emerged of thromboembolisms affecting people after they got the AstraZeneca shot.

(Reporting by Toby Sterling and Bart Meijer; writing by Anthony Deutsch; editing by Catherine Evans and Philippa Fletcher)
BROOKFIELD  On the same week the state plans to expand eligibility for those ages 16 and older, Brookfield expects to increase its COVID-19 vaccination capability.

The vaccine clinic will move from the towns senior center to the larger St. Joseph Catholic Academy, beginning at 9 a.m. April 6, First Selectman Steve Dunn said.

This move has been planned for a while, but an official date was selected, in part, because of the expedited and expanded vaccination timeline announced Monday, which makes more than 1.3 million Connecticut residents eligible on April 5.

The amount of logistics is incredible, the things you have to do to get these things set up, said Dunn of a three-hour meeting Tuesday. But he expects the long hours of planning will pay off in the next few weeks, he said.

Dunn said hes looking forward to the opening of the new clinic location and that its going to be great.

The clinic will run on an alternating schedule. The first week, it will be open Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and then Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Dunn said. Appointments will be available from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 4 to 7 p.m., with Saturday clinics operating only 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Weekday hours are staggered in an effort to mitigate traffic concerns with Center Elementary School, across from St. Joseph Catholic Academy, which closed last year.

Dunn said the move could eventually allow the town to vaccinate around 1,500 residents a week, or 400 to 600 doses a day.

Were all set and ready to go as long as we get the doses, Dunn said.

Still, the first selectman has repeatedly encouraged Brookfield residents to get vaccinated any way they can, even if that means going to another town.

Volunteer staff at St. Joseph will not take names for a waiting list for any extra doses. Instead, the clinic administrator will contact directly those who qualify, but town officials called this move rare.

Employers are contacting teachers and child care workers to be vaccinated at their own clinics.

In recent months, the town has relied on its senior center to host local clinics, and last week, the center vaccinated 903 people. But with the ability to run four to six vaccination stations three days a week at St. Josephs, the town hopes it can vaccinate more residents in less time, Dunn said.

In its latest weekly update from March 11, the town reported 53 total COVID-19 cases last week, down from 59 the week before. The towns positivity rate was down to 3.6 percent from 4.4 percent the week before.

The town started clinics with about 200 doses from the state, and gradually asked for more. However, the town does not always receive the dosage it asks for, so even with the larger clinic, the ability to increase vaccinations will depend on how much the state delivers, Dunn said.

For this reason, the town is not able to move to St. Josephs any earlier, despite the governor speeding up the rollout.

We still have to get our doses, Dunn said. The state has told us we can only count on what they call the allotment, which is 100 doses per week.

Since vaccinations began, the town has received more than this initial allotment, but still can only count on what the state promises, Dunn said.

Brookfield has received Moderna and Pfizer vaccines, but has yet to receive any Johnson & Johnson, which was approved late last month.

Responses to the governors updated timeline and the new clinic location were positive.

Most people are very, very happy that this is happening, Dunn said. Residents were glad that Brookfield is hosting its own clinics, and he has seen their gratitude first-hand.

Its just amazing, he said. Ive gotten maybe 10 written notes about how nice and how thankful people are that were having clinics in town. I havent gotten a single complaint.
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ONE of the country's top intensive care consultants has been named the Limerick Person of the Month for not alone her Trojan work on the frontline during the Covid-19 pandemic but also for the manner in which she articulated powerful warnings to the general public on the dangers of not taking the virus seriously.

Dr Catherine Motherway, a consultant in anaesthesia and intensive care at University Hospital Limerick first came to the wider publics attention in the early weeks of the pandemic when she painted a sobering picture of what lay ahead if the virus wasnt kept under control.

This is a virus. We know its near us. We know its in every county in Ireland. We know that if we dont control the surge we will have a major problem coping, she told RTE Prime Time presenter David McCullagh on March 19 2020.

There is seriously no healthcare service that could cope with what Italy has just gone through or indeed Wuhan in China.

We have a limited amount of beds and we have been working very hard in the past number of weeks to try and increase the capacity.

Dr Motherway warned the nation that essentially, we must treat each other like pariahs.

That is what we have to do. All of us. It is a real change for us but we need to do that to prevent what has happened in Italy happening here.

Dr Motherway, who is the immediate Past President of the Intensive Care Society of Ireland accepted the Limerick Person of the Month award this week on behalf of all her colleagues who have worked tirelessly with her at UHL over the past 12 months. The Limerick Person of the Month award is jointly sponsored by the Limerick Leader, media agency Southern and the Clayton Hotel.

Im actually speechless. Im just doing my job, smiled the modest consultant who hails from Ladysbridge in County Cork and now resides in Ballinasloe, County Galway.

This is definitely a team effort involving everyone, from the nurses, doctors, porters, cleaners, paramedics, physiotherapists, speech and language therapists and all of the other specialities - everyone combined. We cant do this without the entire team. It takes a huge effort by everybody to save lives in intensive care.

By the time you get to us you are sicker than sick and we do our level best to get you better.

In UHL at the very beginning of the pandemic there were 10 ICU beds and eight HDU beds. There are now 12 ICU beds and 10 HDU beds.

There are two consultants on during the day with a team of about four to five other doctors and a team of nursing staff with physios, she explained. I have all of the patients on the Level One floor today - the ICU floor, and my colleagues saw the patients on the HDU floor and then we come together and we discuss difficult cases and organise transfers to hospitals depending on what the patients need.

We also organise organ support. Sometimes you would spend a lot of time with one particular patient if they were having a very big problem.

While the numbers presenting with Covid-19 have reduced, according to Dr Motherway we still have a lot of young, sick patients in the ICUs around the country.

Once you get this disease really badly, its quite a challenge in the intensive care setting for the patients and their families, she said.

Around a third of ICU beds are being occupied by Covid patients.

The mother-of-two is continuing her plea to the public to adhere to the HSE advice as, she warns, there is still a high level of the disease in the community.

We want to provide non-Covid related healthcare and to do that we need there to be very little Covid in the hospital setting. The people are doing their best with the vaccination schedule - the HSE is in fairness delivering vaccine as we get it and its important as well that the vaccine is delivered worldwide equitably to all countries, not just those of us who live in the rich part of the world, because if we dont vaccinate the whole world, new variants will develop in places where viral transmission is not controlled and it will come back to bite us in a prolonged pandemic.

Dr Motherway is married to Christopher Curley, a Galway man, and the couple have two children, Ciaran and Aoife Curley.

On a final note she paid tribute to the wider public for their support over the past year with some going the extra mile to lift the spirits of frontline staff.

The public have been so good, she acknowledged. They have been sending us food and gifts and lovely letters and notes. Its been an entire community effort - an entire world effort even.
The Kremlin has denied a U.S. report saying President Vladimir Putin authorized misinformation operations to try to influence last years presidential election but said Russia is readying for new sanctions over the issues.

Calling the allegations absolutely unfounded, Putins spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said on March 17 that Russia did not interfere in the election and was not involved in campaigns against any of the candidates."

Peskov's comments came in response to a report published by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence on March 16 that assessed Putin had authorized, and a range of Russian government organizations conducted, influence operations aimed at denigrating President [Joe] Bidens candidacy and the Democratic Party, supporting former President [Donald] Trump, undermining public confidence in the electoral process and exacerbating sociopolitical divisions in the United States.

Reuters quoted three sources as saying Washington is expected to impose sanctions on Russia as soon as next week over the report's conclusions.

The U.S. accusations will be used, most likely, as an excuse to put on the agenda the issue of new sanctions against our country," Peskov said. "Of course, we are forced to take all necessary measures in order to hedge any risks associated with possible sanctions and to protect the interests of our country as much as possible."

Biden defeated Trump in the vote and was inaugurated on January 20.

The report said Moscows strategy primarily revolved around using proxies linked to Russian intelligence to push influence narratives to U.S. media, officials, and prominent individuals in the run-up to the November 3 election.

The report cited Ukrainian-linked figures with ties to Russian intelligence as spreading misinformation about alleged corruption involving Biden, his son Hunter, and Ukraine. It said there was no evidence the government of Ukraine was involved in these influence operations.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba called the conclusions of the document another loud fiasco for Russia.

The Russian Embassy accused the United States of seeking to give a negative image of Russia and of blaming others for its own problems.

Moscow has repeatedly denied Western allegations of election interference.

The U.S. intelligence report also accused Iran of carrying out a multi-pronged covert influence campaign to damage Trumps reelection campaign, but did not actively promote Biden.

Iranian officials have not yet commented on the allegations.

Trump pursued a policy of "maximum pressure" on Tehran over its nuclear and missile programs, as well as its support for regional proxies, imposing crippling sanctions on Iran.

The U.S. intelligence community said in August 2020 that Russia, Iran, and China were actively trying to meddle in the forthcoming presidential election.

But in its latest report, it concluded with "high confidence" that China, which has long been accused of cyberespionage by Washington, chose not to "deploy interference efforts" ahead of the vote.

It also concluded that no foreign government had compromised the final results.

With reporting by Reuters and TASS
New Delhi, March 17 : Ram Swaroop Sharma, the BJP MP from Himachal's Mandi was found hanging from a ceiling fan at his Delhi residence under mysterious circumstances, police said on Wednesday.

The 62-year-old's body was found in his Gomti apartment near RML hospital in New Delhi area. According to the police "prima facie it appeared to be case of suicide".

The police also said that he was having some kind of health problems. However, the investigators added that more clarity was needed which will only come after the autopsy was conducted.

One of Sharma's staff had called the police after they discovered the body inside a room with the doors shut from inside.

"His personal assistant and cook stay at his residence. When this morning the MP who usually gets up around 6.30 a.m. did not wake up, the staff called him on his phone but they went unanswered. It was then the police was informed," said Chinmay Biswal, PRO Delhi police.

The police team reached the spot and broke open the door. The body of Ram Swaroop Sharma was found hanging from the ceiling fan. He was rushed to the hospital where he was declared brought dead.

The forensics team and the crime team also reached the spot and carried out a thorough investigation.

The two-time Bharatiya Janata Party MP kept a low profile, was soft spoken and defeated Congress candidate Ashray Sharma, 32, the grandson of former Telecommunications Minister Sukh Ram in his electoral debut during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

He was known for his proximity to Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur and was long associated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh.

He was quite active on Twitter sharing party and PM tweets. The last time he tweeted was on March 14.

This comes less than a month after seven-term MP Mohan Delkar, was found hanging at a Mumbai hotel on February 22.

-- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed
Our first stop, was a unique Thai temple designed like a European church, Wat Nivet Thampravat, with stained glass windows, candle stands, stucco work, even metal soldier-figures. (Photo by arrangement)

Thailand is getting its act together, in the shape of post-Covid tourism programmes.

A recent trip to the old city of Ayutthaya showed that the country is gearing up, both in terms of Covid precautions, and new attractions.

A day-trip to Ayutthaya,100 km from Bangkok, is a first on most tourists trip to Thailand, especially to Indians who are attracted by the citys name.

The Thai national epic Ramakien is based on the Indian Ramayana, and the town of Ayutthaya is inspired by the city of Ayodhya.

Situated on the banks of the Chaophaya river, Ayutthaya was called the Venice of the East, and was a great trading port, in the 16th and 17th centuries, visited by the British, French, Spanish, Dutch, Portuguese, not to forget Japanese and Chinese.

These foreign influences were pointed out to us, on a recent trip to this World Heritage City, which offered new insights into the ancient town.

While the regular touristic trips to Ayutthaya center around its amazing ancient temples (there are at least 300 of them), this trip brought some fresh surprises.

The theme of the trip was The Western Shadows in the Venice of the East.

Our first stop, was a unique Thai temple designed like a European church, Wat Nivet Thampravat, with stained glass windows, candle stands, stucco work, even metal soldier-figures. The wooden sermon-hall had Western touches too. One of the most striking images was a gorgeous stained glass image of Thai King Rama V in his coronation clothes, high up near the ceiling.

This was the King who commissioned the building of the Thai temple, in Gothic style, with an Italian architect, after being enamoured by Western art forms during his extensive travels in Europe. The temple was built directly opposite the Kings Grand Palace, across the river, and was the Royal Temple which he visited every day.

Today, it is a temple for the public, with a working monastery, where many young Buddhist novices are trained.

We took a quaint cable lift over the river, to our next stop, which was a Japanese Village.

An audio-visual presentation, and a permanent Exhibition, educated us about the strong Japanese presence in Ayutthaya, including the Volunteer Japanese Army, during the time of King Narai the Great in the 17th century. In fact, there were many foreign communities in Ayutthaya at that time, and the King carefully zoned them in different parts of the city.

A life-like image of the lady Maria Guyomar de Pinha, serving a wide range of sweets, was in homage to a lady of mixed Japanese, Portuguese, Bengali blood, who introduced many Portuguese desserts to Thailand, which was part of the Portuguese influence in the country.

One learnt about the Dutch influence, through a map of Ayutthaya painted by a Dutch artist in 1633, who had been commissioned by the Dutch East India Co, and still hangs in the Rijks Museum, Amsterdam. This was part of a series of paintings on the ten important ports of Asia, and Ayutthaya was one of them.

We visited the Ayutthaya Fort, which was designed in Portuguese style, like similar forts in Malaga, as well as in Goa, Dieu (India).

Our trip ended, with visits to Ayutthayas famed temples Wat Mahathat (well-known for its Buddha-head encased in a tree), and Wat Chaiwatthanaram, well-known for its tall, 15-meter stupa said to lead to Mt Sumeru (Mt Kailash). The numerous stupas of this temple were inspired by the Khmer architecture of Burma, a country that fought many battles with Thailand, in Ayutthaya.

The various defaced figures of Buddha in the temple, were once blamed on the Burmese, but our Guide, who was a professor of history at a top Varsity, was honest enough to admit that it was the Thai traders who sold the Buddha-heads to European buyers for huge amounts of money.

Regarding Indian influences, the academic admitted that they were everywhere in the temples of Ayutthaya- from the names of the gods, to their images, poses, stories.

It was an enjoyable, enlightening trip, and even the lunch at the river-facing Summer Place restaurant, was a surprise, as one didnt expect new-age fusion cuisine in an old 13th century town

Most impressive were the Covid precautions. Every time we climbed off and on our bus, we were asked to clean our hands with a hand-sanitising liquid. Fresh bottles of water and cold towels were provided after every stop in the bus.

The toilets at all the sightseeing spots were admirably clean, hygienic, and were equipped with ample soap-solution and hand sanitisers.

Amazing Thailand.
Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby didn't waste time throwing themselves into St. Patrick's Day celebrations, as the This Morning set was transformed into a pub on Wednesday.

The presenter gushed it was 'amazing' to be back in a bar while taverns across the nation remain closed during lockdown, and kicked off the show by having a go at pouring his own pint of Guinness.

Phillip and Holly were among a slew of stars who were marking St Patrick's Day in lockdown, with celebrities including Dara O Briain and Vogue Williams offering their own well-wishes to their Irish fans.

Down in one! Phillip Schofield threw himself into St Patrick's Day celebrations on Wednesday as he enjoyed a pint of Guinness on This Morning

As they started the show, Phillip and Holly offered fans a glimpse of the show's set, which had been turned into their very own tavern, the This Morning arms.

Holly gushed: 'Here on This Morning we're celebrating the emerald Isle, we've got our own pub! It's nice to sit in our own bar'

Phillip added: 'It's amazing being in a bar again,' while his co-host said: 'I wish I had moved my tea so that I could have a Guinness instead, I think I am letting the side down.'

With their own on-set pub Phillip also got the chance to pour his own pint from the tap to toast the feast of St Patrick, but didn't seem to impress Holly with his barman skills as she joked his drink 'looked dodgy.'

Delicious: The presenting duo revealed the show's set had been turned into a pub for the Irish occasion, with Holly quick to poke fun at her presenter's pint-pouring skills

Missing the bar? As they started the show, Phillip and Holly offered fans a glimpse of the show's set, which had been turned into their very own tavern, the This Morning arms

Giddy: Holly gushed: 'Here on This Morning we're celebrating the emerald isles, we've got our own pub! It's nice to sit in our own bar'

I like to drink with Phillip...: With their own on-set pub Phillip also got the chance to pour his own pint from the tap to toast the feast of St Patrick

Wow! Phillip offered fans a glimpse of the on-set pub on Instagram Stories, as he got the chance to pour his own pint of Guinness

Holly and Phil ensured that Wednesday's show was the full Irish experience, as they ended the programme with glasses of Irish coffees.

Also among the stars celebrating the occasion was comedian Dara O Briain, who playfully tweeted he'd be celebrating the occasion like a Londoner who sees the Irish event like 'any other day,'

Dara wrote: 'Happy St Patrick's Day everyone! Beannachtai Feile Phadraig daoibh go leir! This year's theme is ''A London St Patrick's Day''. where it feels like absolutely any other day, but yet, in you heart, YOU know. You know.'

Hollywood star Joseph Gordon-Levitt offered his own well-wishes, along with a snap of Harrison Ford from his 1993 film The Fugitive, where his character hid in Ireland's famous St Patrick's Day to avoid being caught by police.

Funny: Among the stars celebrating the occasion was comedian Dara O Briain, who playfully tweeted he'd be celebrating the occasion like a Londoner

Blast from the past: Piers Morgan shared a throwback clip of his 2011 meeting with Stephen Hawking as they enjoyed a pint of Guinness together

Piers Morgan shared a throwback clip of his 2011 meeting with Stephen Hawking as they enjoyed a pint of Guinness together.

He tweeted: 'Happy St Patrick's Day!4yrs ago today, I had the incredible honour of interviewing the late, great Professor Stephen Hawking.

'His aides said he loved Guinness so I got some in & he programmed a very special toast. From black holes to the black stuff... what a day, what a man.'

Irish spirit: Posting a montage of throwback clips from her pal's birthday party a year earlier, Laura Whitmore tweeted: 'Happy St. Patrick's Day!'

Posting a montage of throwback clips from her pal's birthday party a year earlier, Laura Whitmore tweeted: 'Happy St. Patrick's Day! It's a celebration being Irish everyday but an even bigger excuse today to enjoy it! Go Leor Gra.'

Vogue Williams got into the mood with a pair of oversized glasses as she headed to the Steph's Packed Lunch set to make an Irish stew, and even dressed up her son Theodore, two, in a leprechaun outfit.

She wrote: 'Got T an outfit for nursery, as you can see he loves the hat.'

Sweet: Michelle Keegan shared a throwback snap with her granddad as they enjoyed a pint of Guinness together

Getting ready: Vogue Williams got into the mood with a pair of themed glasses as she headed to the Steph's Packed Lunch set, and dressed up her son Theodore, two, in a leprechaun outfit

Throwback: Hollywood star Joseph Gordon-Levitt offered his own well-wishes, along with a snap of Harrison Ford from his 1993 film The Fugitive

Bottoms up! Meanwhile Paddy McGuinness got involved in the celebrations as part of a collaboration with Jameson by knocking back a glass of their famous whisky

Cheers! Patrick Kielty also enjoyed a glass of their famous tipple (left), alongside rapper Tinie Tempah

Posting an Instagram snap with his own pint, Aston Merrygold wrote: 'Happy St Patrick's Day  oh thinking of the old days of going to a pub and getting a fresh Guinness whilst I do an hr soon come.'

Meanwhile Paddy McGuinness, Patrick Kielty and Tinie Tempah all got involved in the celebrations as part of a collaboration with Jameson Irish Whiskey by knocking back a glass of their famous tipple.

Earlier in the day The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge also shared a video message for the holiday, with Prince William joking his wife 'got the easy bit' after sending his well-wishes in Irish.

Ahead of the occasion The Queen also extended her warm wishes to the Irish people, emphasising the importance of family and partnership in a touching message.

Her Majesty also made mention of her historic 2011 visit to Ireland - a trip she said she remembered 'fondly'.

Here's to the Irish! Lisa Snowdon also shared a boomerang of her own pint of Guinness

Celebrations: Aston Merrygold shared an Instagram snap with a pint, clearly pining for the long-awaited re-opening of pubs

Funny: The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge also shared a video message for the holiday, with Prince William joking his wife 'got the easy bit' after sending his well-wishes in Irish

Her message read: 'On the occasion of your National Day, I would like to convey to Your Excellency my congratulations, together with my best wishes to the people of Ireland.

'This year marks ten years since my visit to Ireland, which I remember fondly, and it marks a significant centenary across these islands.

'We share ties of family, friendship and affection - the foundation of our partnership that remains as important today as ten years ago.

She signed off in the Irish language: 'La Fheile Padraig sona daoibh go leir.'

Sadly many of the usual St Patrick's Day celebrations will be taking place at home, with pubs and restaurants remaining closed due to the Covid pandemic.

Also known as the Feast of Saint Patrick, the event is a cultural and religious celebration held each year on March 17 - the traditional death date of Saint Patrick, the foremost patron saint of Ireland.

Celebrations usually include public parades and festivals, while Christians may also attend church services.

People who want to not only study urban challenges, but do something to address them, can do so through a new program being offered by Winnipegs Booth University College.

People who want to not only study urban challenges, but do something to address them, can do so through a new program being offered by Winnipegs Booth University College.

The university college, which is part of the Salvation Army, has launched a new four-year Bachelor of Arts degree in community and urban transformation.

The new program is geared towards not only studying issues like homelessness, poverty and addiction but also to finding solutions, said Aaron Klassen, a professor of sociology at Booth who has designed and is leading the program.

"Not only will we be encouraging students to study and experience cities, to understand issues like poverty, we want them to be able to contribute some kind of positive change," he said.

Noting the roots of the Salvation Army go back 150 years to addressing urban issues and social problems, he said the program will be "academic, but also practical. We want to help students not only understand the issues related to social problems, but also help them address them."

This will be done in collaboration with local service agencies and organizations, which will also give students places to do internships and get hands-on experience.

"We want to learn from local organizations already working on various issues," Klassen said, noting that Booth is the only Christian liberal arts post-secondary institution in Canada located in a downtown urban core.

The program is open to anyone, not only members of the Salvation Army, adding "its for anyone who wants to see real change, not only spend all their time in a classroom," he said.

"This is a great program for anyone who wants to learn new ideas and put them into practice, people who want to see the future of the city differently."

The program will also examine "the policy and structural side of things," he said, such as "how city planning and government policies impact urban issues, whether they make things better or worse."

Jobs for graduates can be found with social service organizations and front-line agencies, he said.

"Studying a city like Winnipeg can give us a unique sense and understanding of our place in the world, and also how to make a change in the world," said Klassen.

faith@freepress.mb.ca




Haiti - Constitution : The Haitian diaspora in favor of a change of the constitution





According to the results of an opinion poll on the change of constitution, conducted by the Office of Research in Informatics and Economic and Social Development (BRIDES) among the Haitian Diaspora, more than 80% of respondents favorably opted for a change of the mother law. The latter are also calling for a change in the mode of governance in relation to the system of the two-headed executive, the bicameral legislative power and so many other essential points in the political and territorial organization of the country in general.



This BRIDES opinion poll is in fact conducted among a sample of 2,476 Haitian citizens residing in certain foreign countries around the world, in order to obtain their opinion on issues relating to the Haitian Constitution. Data is collected using two (2) methods. First of all, an online questionnaire is scheduled and hosted on the official website of BRIDES and an advertising spot was broadcast, through the national media and some international media, in order to inform the entire Haitian diaspora of the holding of this survey on the Constitution in four languages (English, French, Creole and Spanish). Measures have been put in place to prevent Haitians living on national soil from accessing the form. Second, former BRIDES investigators, living in the countries concerned, collected face-to-face data where each respondent is interviewed face-to-face.



These interviews are therefore conducted with people from the Haitian diaspora found in places of gathering such as: Churches, restaurants, public markets, hairdressing salons, etc... 2/3 of people who answered the survey questionnaire are men and women are only represented at 1/3 of the sample. This gives a precise proportion of 75.3% of male respondents and 24.7% of women, against 15.5% of young people.



The questions revolve around subjects such as; the choice of vice-president in place of the prime minister, the parliament, dual nationality, the inclusion of the referendum in the new text, the transfer of the issue of discharge under the responsibility of the Superior Court of Accounts and Administrative Litigation etc...

As mentioned above in this text, 87.1% of the Haitian diaspora agree to the idea of endowing Haiti with a new Constitution. Only 12.9% say they disagree.



By the way, there are discussions in public debates on the question of abolishing the post of prime minister and the introduction of the post of vice president in the constitution. In this perspective, 62.7% of people in the diaspora at least agree to the removal of the post of Prime Minister in the Haitian Constitution and 37.3% do not at least agree with the abolition of the post of Prime Minister. While, 81.6% of respondents at least agree to the idea of introducing a post of vice-president in the Haitian Constitution against only 11.4% who do not. 7.1% of people did not give their opinion on this question.



On the issue of the Haitian Parliament, the Haitian diaspora is in favor of its transformation into a single chamber, the Chamber of Deputies. While others say they are either in favor or against a possible abolition of the Senate. Thus, 66.8% of survey respondents are at least "in agreement" to transform the parliament and bring it to a single chamber, while 26.8% are opposed to this approach. Meanwhile, 66.1% of respondents at least "agree" to abolishing the Senate, 27.8% at least disagree and 6.2% of people did not answer the question. On the other hand, 80.1% of respondents are in favor of a decrease in the number of deputies and 13% are against this decrease and finally 6.9% of people have ignored this question.



Around the question of dual nationality which has animated debates for decades, 94.2% of people are at least "in agreement" and 4.5% do not at least "agree" to the Haitian diaspora having another nationality, other than Haitian nationality. It is therefore right to understand that the Haitian diaspora is very interested in its participation in the management of public affairs.



It is obvious that in the new constitution we will adopt the choice of two consecutive terms for the post of president. In this regard, we note that 75.9% of respondents are at least "in agreement" that in the Haitian Constitution a president can run for 2 terms consecutively. And 17.6% do not agree at least to such a step.



Regarding the integration of the referendum vote as a means for the people to give their opinion on major decisions concerning them, a proportion of 73.4% of people are in favor of holding a referendum to be incorporated into the Haitian Constitution against a low proportion of 7.9%. The Haitian diaspora very much wishes in the sense that the holding of referendum be incorporated into the Constitution so that the people can give their opinion on the major decisions that concern them. When asked about their participation or not in a referendum that we would have organized, they are 58.6% to have answered that they would participate without any doubt, 24.4% would participate depending on the content of the referendum, 11% confided that they would never have participated and 5.3% did not comment on the question.



This portion of the diaspora who took part in this opinion poll also gave their opinion on other important points to be included in the new constitution. Thus, concerning the question of the election of governor for each department, 83.7% of the targeted sample agree that there should be elections to elect a Governor per department while only 10.4% oppose to such a move.



For the replacement of the municipal council by a single magistrate and the decrease in the number of ASEC and CASEC members in the Constitution, a total of 69.6% of people agree and 20.2% do not agree that the municipal council be replaced by a single magistrate, then 67.4% agree against 22.3% who do not agree that the number of ASEC and CASEC members be reduced in the Constitution.



A fundamental element concerning the management of senior government officials is also on the agenda. This is the question of discharge, which is the responsibility of the Senate of the Republic, a highly political assembly. In the new text of the mother law, these files will be transferred under the responsibility of the Superior Court of Accounts and Administrative Litigation (CSCCA). According to the poll results, 88.8% of people agree to say the least compared to only 6.9% who disagree. 4.3% of those polled did not want to comment on the transfer of the discharge under the responsibility of the Superior Court of Accounts and Administrative Litigation (CSCCA).



Respondents were asked other questions relating to parliament and town halls. It is about electing a deputy mayor and renewing all senators at once instead of renewal by thirds. In this sense, 47.3% of those polled agree against 44.1% who do not agree with the deputy playing both his role and that of magistrate. And 83.1% of people at least agree to renewing all senators at once, while 12.8% of people who took part in the diaspora survey do not agree to renewing the Senate. all the senators at once.



On the issue of the death penalty in the new constitution, 63.9% of those who voted on this issue at least agree with the introduction of the death penalty in the Haitian constitution. While 26.1% disagree.



Regarding the possible possibility for the new constitution to contribute to the development and stability of the country, we note that 83.4% of diaspora respondents agree to the idea that a new constitution could help Haiti to become a developed and stable country, only 10.3% do not believe that another Constitution can be a game-changer for Haiti.



A very hot topic in the media is the holding of elections in the country. According to the responses collected, 71.9% of people in the diaspora intend to participate in the next presidential, legislative and municipal elections in Haiti, while only 14.2% do not intend to participate and 13.9% have not answered this question.



As a conclusion. It is fair to say that there is almost no difference of opinion between Haitians living on national soil and those living in the diaspora, as to the need for a new constitution. For the two polls (national poll 87.4%, and diaspora poll 87.1%), there is only a 0.3% difference.



Indeed, let us remember, this survey conducted among the Haitian Diaspora on the new Constitution was carried out on a sample of 2476 people living through countries with a high concentration of our compatriots. They are mostly in the Dominican Republic where a workforce of 848 people responded to the questionnaire, i.e. a percentage of 34.2%, in the United States for a workforce of 620 respondents corresponding to a proportion of 25%, in Canada, for a proportion of 10.8% of the sample corresponding to a number of 268 respondents, in metropolitan France, Chile, Brazil representing respectively and in descending order 8.4%, 5.2% and 3.2% of the people of the Haitian diaspora who took part in this poll. And finally, in Martinique, Guadeloupe and French Guiana which together represent 0.3% of the sample.



It should be emphasized, however, that these results presented in this report are indicative and cannot claim to express the opinions of the Haitian diaspora as a whole, since indeed they do not derive from a representative sample of the entire diaspora population. a population totally unrecognized both by its overall workforce and by its demo-socio-economic structure.



Brides poll on the new Haitian Constitution :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-32581-haiti-flash-brides-poll-on-the-new-haitian-constitution.html



HL/ HaitiLibre


















Commerce and industry minister on Wednesday urged to stick to spirit and ambit of the law, instead of finding loopholes in them.



Speaking at the Indian Private Equity and Venture Capital Association Annual Conclave 2021, Goyal said that some have been trying to circumvent and misuse the provisions of the law, which leads to the government trying to plug the loophole.



"I would urge all investors, all funds, all private equity and venture capital to go down the straight path. Please don't try to look at policy or the law, and find loopholes in which you can muddy the law. In some sense, to get within the ambit of the law. But often, losing the spirit of the law, and I've said this on more than one occasion, and that's where the problem starts," Goyal said.



"...and then when you're looking at ways and means to break through finding loopholes within the law, that's when policymakers try to keep amending the law...amend the law, or amend the policy or clarify," he said.



The minister's comment comes in the backdrop of domestic traders' bodies urging the government to take action against e-commerce behemoths such as Amazon, Flipkart, alleging that they have been flouting the law by offering deep discounting, promoting preferential sellers and also indirectly moving towards an inventory model of e-commerce.



The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) has time and again urged the union government to initiate strict action and immediate proceedings against some e-commerce for violating the FDI policy.



Department for promotion of industry and internal trade (DPIIT) is currently holding a series of stakeholder consultations on issues pertaining to FDI in e-commerce.



The minister also said that domestic can possibly penetrate much deeper into the hinterland and smaller towns and cities where there is a lot of innovation and potential waiting to be tapped.


St. Patricks Day is here and while there wont be any official parades in Massachusetts this year, there are plenty of deals celebrating the holiday.

From green coffee, doughnuts and margaritas  theres a drink or treat that can help you celebrate today. Looking to get in the spirit with some spirits? Get it delivered during your next Zoom call with Drizly.

Applebees is celebrating with a variety of St. Patricks day themed cocktails including a Tipsy Leprechaun, a take on the popular L.I.T.

Arbys is selling a mint chocolate shake, which will be available for a limited time, and a reuben.

Chilis is offering a Lucky Jameson Margarita for $5, which is available throughout March.

McDonalds is offering its seasonal Shamrock Shake, a creamy vanilla soft serve that is blended with Shamrock Shake syrup topped of with whipped cream. Customers can also get free delivery on meals on orders of at least $20 through UberEats.

Nosh in Springfield is selling a Peppermint St. Pattys latte.

Shelburne Falls Coffee Roasters is selling a Shamrock Cold Brew at all of its locations today.

The Boynton Restaurant in Worcester is offering St. Patricks Day meal specials through Thursday. Meals include Galway Bay salmon, corned beef and cabbage, Guinness steak tips and bangers and mash.

The Fix Burger Bar is offering Frosty Leprechaun shakes and special St. Patricks Day themed cocktails at both its Worcester, Marlboro and Leominster location while supplies last.

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[March 17, 2021] Republic Announces $36M Series A to Democratize Access to Investing for Everyone

Republic, a leading investment platform, announced today it has completed the initial closing of its $36M Series A fundraising. The round was led by Galaxy Interactive with participation by Tribe Capital, Motley Fool Ventures, and Broadhaven Ventures. In addition, Prosus Ventures (formerly Naspers (News - Alert) Ventures) made a strategic investment in Republic through a purchase of Republic Notes, a novel digital security. Founded in 2016, Republic and its subsidiaries have raised more than $70 million to fund their ventures. Republic was founded on the principle that sought-after investment opportunities should not be limited to small, closed networks of investors, and that people should be able to invest in the future they believe in. On the Republic platform, anyone can invest across startups, real estate, crypto, gaming, and small businesses. Republic has over 1 million members, who to date have invested more than $300 million in offerings under Regulation Crowdfunding (Reg CF), Reg A and Reg D. Republic provides curated deals for investors of all experience levels and interests, while empowering founders with access to a diverse and engaged investor base. Republic is a leader in facilitating crowdfunding campaigns for startups and SMBs raising under Reg CF, which allows non-accredited investors to participate in private funding rounds. Earlier this week, the SEC (News - Alert) raised the cap for how much can be raised through Reg CF from $1.07 million to $5 million per annual period, enabling founders to raise up to 5x more capital through crowdfunding, while unlocking unprecedented access to deal flow for Republic's investor commnity. Republic quickly became the first investment platform to facilitate a $5m Reg CF offering under the new rules. In addition to serving retail investors, Republic recently launched Republic Deal Room, offering investment opportunities for institutional and accredited investors.



One of the first mainstream fintech firms to embrace cryptocurrencies, Republic created the Republic Note, a profit-sharing digital security meant to align the incentives of the community with activity on the Republic platform. Prosus Ventures -the venture arm of Prosus, one of the world's largest technology investors- is backing the Republic Note, which represents Prosus Ventures' first-ever crypto digital asset investment. "Prosus Ventures has a strong history of being an early investor in businesses that target big societal challenges, and Republic has created a platform that has the potential to break down the systemic barriers that exist in the funding process," said Banafsheh Fathieh, Head of Americas Investments at Prosus Ventures. "Republic's continued growth will enable more entrepreneurs from underrepresented groups to raise funds beyond the usual gatekeepers, and investors will be able to help businesses they are passionate about when they need it most."

"We are at the early stages of a multi-decade super-cycle of retail empowerment. Republic is at the forefront of this trend, and there is no team that better understands the intricate web of consumer tech, finance, and regulation needed to bring real innovation to the private investment space. We are thrilled to partner with Ken and team, and look forward to the amazing opportunities they will enable in the years to come," added Richard Kim, partner at Galaxy Interactive, Republic's lead investor. Kristine Harjes, Investment Officer at Motley Fool Ventures, also offered her perspective on the investment, "The Motley Fool has long championed the individual investor, and we feel deeply aligned with Republic's mission to increase access to once-exclusive private investment opportunities. Motley Fool Ventures is thrilled to support Republic's efforts to revolutionize the alternative investment landscape through its best-in-class technology and community." Republic has recently expanded its reach into new markets through strategic acquisitions, including Fig, a leading video game publisher backed by Spark Capital and Greycroft, Compound, a real estate investment platform backed by NEA, and NextSeed, a crowdfunding platform for local businesses. Earlier this month, Republic announced that it is expanding its crypto offerings and will be hosting digital asset sales on the platform, allowing blockchain projects to sell native digital assets to both U.S. and non-U.S. participants. Republic CEO Kendrick Nguyen has played a key role in creating more equitable funding and investment opportunities for founders and retail investors alike. "We have entered a new era of investing, one in which all stakeholders of a business can become shareholders. The support of marquee institutional investors in Republic's funding round is indicative of the vast potential of our mission: to enable investors everywhere to align their passion with profit," states Nguyen, who penned a personal letter for the Republic blog about what the future holds for Republic. With this new round of investment, Republic will continue to work towards its mission of democratizing access to investing and giving people the power to invest in the future they believe in. About Republic Republic is a leading investment platform that provides access to startup, real estate, crypto, and gaming investments for both retail and accredited investors. Republic has facilitated over $300 million in investments by our global community of over one million members. For more information, visit www.republic.co. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210317005272/en/

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GALVESTON, Texas  An Oregon woman who was recorded on police body camera video refusing to wear a mask at a Texas bank last week was arrested Wednesday after declining to wear a mask inside another Texas business.

Terry Wright, 65, of Grants Pass, already had a warrant out for her arrest after she refused to wear a mask in a Bank of America branch in Galveston, Texas, last Thursday. On the video, she taunts the officer, asking if hes going to arrest her.

Police arrested Wright on Wednesday after she entered the Office Depot in Texas City and said she would not cover her nose and mouth to protect against the spread of the coronavirus, police spokesman Cpl. Allen Bjerke said. She was arrested on Galveston warrants for trespassing and resisting arrest, Bjerke said.

Wright was taken into custody without incident, Bjerke added, noting that she was not charged for trespassing at the office supply store and that no additional charges were expected.

Gov. Greg Abbott last week lifted statewide orders requiring people to wear face masks in public in Texas, declaring businesses should decide for themselves which COVID-19 precautions to take on their properties. Many businesses have kept their own mask rules in place.

In the widely seen video of Wrights confrontation with the officer at the Galveston bank, Wright stands in the banks lobby, surrounded by other customers, all of whom were wearing masks.

The officer asks her to go outside or put on a mask. She refuses.

What are you going to do, arrest me? she asks.

He replies: Yes, for intruding on premises.

Thats hilarious, she responds.

As the officer takes out handcuffs, she pulls away and begins to walk toward the door. The officer stops her and forces her to the ground to handcuff her.

Wrights bond was set at $3,000 on the misdemeanor charges, police said. She was held in the Galveston County Jail on Wednesday afternoon.

--The Associated Press
Israel may resume flights to and from Russia in a few weeks, the countrys Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi said in an exclusive interview with TASS First Deputy Director General Mikhail Gusman.

"I think we will open [the country] in a few weeks. There is a flight between Tel Aviv and Moscow that should be resumed, and we also hope to resume other flights as soon as possible," he pointed out.


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A manhunt is underway in Oaklands Rockridge neighborhood, where police are searching for three armed suspects wanted in connection with a shooting that killed one person in Castro Valley on Tuesday.

Police have isolated the suspects to several blocks near Miles Avenue and Highway 24 and have instituted a shelter-in-place for residents while they search the area, said Sgt. Ray Kelly of the Alameda County sheriffs office.

Kelly said Wednesday that authorities were following up on leads but had no additional updates to provide.

The manhunt comes after police tracked the suspects from a shooting in Castro Valley that left one person dead Tuesday.

At 5:15 p.m., officers responding to reports of shots fired on the 19800 block of San Miguel Street found one victim with gunshot wounds inside a vehicle, Kelly said.

The victim, whose identity has not been released, was taken to a hospital and pronounced dead. Officials said they might identify the person Wednesday.

Officers pursued the suspects as they fled the scene by car, Kelly said. Police chased the suspects to the Rockridge neighborhood, before briefly losing sight of them.

Soon after, officers found the suspects abandoned vehicle near Highway 24, Kelly said. The suspects are believed to have fled on foot to a nearby street. The sheriffs office established a perimeter and are working with police from Berkeley, Oakland and California Highway Patrol to secure the area.

Residents in the vicinity are being encouraged to report any suspicious activity to 911.

Nora Mishanec is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: nora.mishanec@sfchronicle.com Twitter:@NMishanec
Fairbanks, AK (99707)

Today

A mix of clouds and sun. High around 65F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Some clouds. Low 47F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph.

Ferns send up new shoots after the bushfires in January 2020. Credit: Casey Kirchhoff

More than 200 citizen scientists have contributed thousands of post-bushfire observations to UNSW's Environment Recovery Project.

The data helps scientists understand how some areas recover better than others, and which animals and plants come back firstinformation that can help inform recovery plans.

The paper published in the journal Science of the Total Environment presents first results from the Environment Recovery Project. Lead author of the paper Casey Kirchhoff, a Ph.D. candidate at the UNSW Centre for Ecosystem Science (CES), founded the project after the Morton bushfire destroyed her Wingello home in January 2020. The fire started from a single lightning strike, becoming what was named the Currowan fire, before growing to impact 144,000 ha and destroy many houses, including Casey's.

Mrs Kirchhoff's passion for the environment and natural curiosity inspired her to start tracking the post-fire recovery of the environment surrounding her property, despite her loss.

"I realized I was probably among a handful of scientists collecting this information. So, I thought, why not ask citizen scientists to share their photos? The bushfires have burnt such a large area; it's impossible to properly survey it with our current resources," she said.

"The more observations we can collect, the more we will know about the impact of the fires on our environmentparticularly in the major bushfire areas in southeastern Australia up to Queensland and right across to the southwest."

The researchers said the unprecedented scale of the fires in eastern Australia in 2020 provided a clear example of the challenges faced by scientists and conservation biologists as climate changes.

"The paper highlights how people, using their mobile phones to monitor and upload information, can provide accurate data on the recovery of bushfire-affected plants and animals over huge scales," Mrs Kirchhoff said.

240 participants submitted over 3200 observations in fire-affected areas of Australia, spanning a study area of nearly 51 million hectares. Observations included plants, animal and fungi, totalling 688 identified species.

Perhaps one of the clearest findings was identifying just how useful and important citizen scientists can be in responding to landscape-scale disturbances.

"Although the data require more analysis, there were initial examples of the utility of citizen science data for understanding recovery," says co-author and fire ecologist Dr. Mark Ooi.

"For example, resprouting plant speciesone of the clearest observations of recovery, as new shoots sprout from tree limbs and shrubswere slower to recover after extremely hot burns, compared to those burnt during cooler stages of the fires."

Citizen scientists also uploaded observations of the severity of the fires that had impacted the areas they visited, which provided an accurate comparison of remotely-sensed satellite data.

Observations to inform research into the future

Co-authors of the paper, Associate Professor Will Cornwell, Dr. Corey Callaghan and Dr. Mark Ooi, also from CES, said this initiative was essential for rapid, large-scale sampling to make informed decisions and prioritize management.

"Citizen science will play a key role in biodiversity monitoring for these and future fires of this magnitudecitizen scientists are already spread out across the impacted areas, and they have better knowledge of local fire effects compared to governments or university. By bringing all this local expertise together we can really make progress," A/Prof. Cornwell said.

"A key feature of the project worth highlighting is that the data are available on a public platform and can be downloaded and analyzed by other scientists and the public," Dr. Callaghan said.

Dr. Ooi said citizen science provided an opportunity to work at scales difficult to reach rapidly. "The sheer scale of the fires this season makes it very difficult for researchers just working on individual research programs. We need the help of citizen scientists to do this," he said.

A key lesson learnt through developing, implementing, and running the project was that community engagement was essential. Citizen scientists needed to know that the project existed and so opportunities to publicize the project on mainstream media and social media were important.

A large number of co-authors, including Professor Richard Kingsford, Director of the UNSW Centre for Ecosystem Science, and Centre researchers Professor David Keith, Dony Indiarto, Guy Taseski, Dr. Mark Ooi, Tom Le Breton and Thomas Mesaglio, ensured wide engagement via social media. However, there were even more significant spikes in engagement following stories on mainstream media.

The team at CES aims to continue to build a complete picture of how Australia's ecosystems bounce back from these unprecedented fires.

"We will continue to use people's observations for future research into understanding how some areas recover better than others, as well as understanding which animals and plants come back first," Prof Kingsford said.

Want to get involved? Here's how

The Environment Recovery Project continues to run as an ongoing initiative to assess long-term recovery.

To contribute data, participants need no scientific knowledge or camera skillsthey simply download the mobile app attached to the Environment Recovery Project, which is available via the global citizen science platform iNaturalist, take a photo and upload the image to the app.

Mrs Kirchhoff said people should only walk through a bushfire-affected area if it was safe to do so.

"Have a look through burnt bushland and take a photo of a plant, animal or fungus and upload it to the Environment Recovery Project," she said.

"If you can identify the species do so, but even if you can't, the photos are still valuable because other people will be able to help. The app will read the image location and allow researchers to identify the particular animal or plant.

"It would be amazing if thousands of citizen scientists uploaded their imagesand it feels great after all that's happened to be able to make a contribution by watching the bush recover."

Visit the Environment Recovery Project for more details, including how to become a citizen scientist.

Explore further Citizen scientists get snappy to monitor bushfire-ravaged environment

More information: Casey Kirchhoff et al. Rapidly mapping fire effects on biodiversity at a large-scale using citizen science, Science of The Total Environment (2020). Journal information: Science of the Total Environment Casey Kirchhoff et al. Rapidly mapping fire effects on biodiversity at a large-scale using citizen science,(2020). DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.142348
INTEGRA Biosciences EVOLVE manual pipettes and VOYAGER electronic adjustable tip spacing pipettes are both integral parts of the lab workflows at the University of California, Riverside (UCR), where researchers are investigating the evolution and ecology of a fascinating group of fish that includes a popular aquatic pet, the guppy.

Image Credit: INTEGRA Biosciences

Samantha Levell, a PhD candidate at UCR, explained: Some members of this fish family merely carry their offspring until they give birth to them, while others have a direct connection to their embryos, much like a mammalian placenta. Exploring the mechanisms underlying the maternal connection between mother and embryo, as well as conducting paternal studies, is important for various comparative research.

My work in the lab involves DNA extraction, PCR, gel electrophoresis and sequencing, where I frequently need to transfer multiple samples between different labware formats, such as from centrifuge tubes to 96 well plates. I was keen to find a way to make this as smooth and efficient as possible and spoke to one of the representatives at INTEGRA  they were great! The sales rep gave me a demo of the VOYAGER and introduced me to their other products, which led to my lab purchasing both the VOYAGER and a couple of EVOLVEs. The pipettes are fantastic, and really great value. We share the sets among six people and use them frequently, which we will continue to do for a very long time.

Visit the INTEGRA Biosciences website to learn more.

About INTEGRA Biosciences

INTEGRA Biosciences (https://www.integra-biosciences.com) is a leading provider of high-quality laboratory tools and consumables for liquid handling and media preparation. The company is committed to creating innovative solutions which fulfil the needs of its customers in research, diagnostics and quality control within the life sciences markets and medical sector. Today, INTEGRA innovative laboratory products are widely used all around the world. More than 100 distribution partners form a worldwide sales network providing responsive and competent services to customers. These distribution partners are supported by a highly motivated and experienced team of specialists at the company headquarters in Zizers, Switzerland and Hudson, NH, USA. INTEGRA is an ISO 9001 certified company.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 17)  Senators said the 10 billion bailout fund requested by the Department of Finance to save companies from going bankrupt during the COVID-19 pandemic is too small to make a dent in the economy.

A Senate body on Wednesday tackled the proposed Government Financial Institutions Unified Initiatives to Distressed Enterprises for Economic Recovery or GUIDE Act, another stimulus plan that will allow state-owned banks to invest in large firms in critical sectors like transportationincluding airlines, retail trade, manufacturing, hotels and food service that face long-term cash flow issues after a year of lockdowns.

The lawmakers described the capital boost as anemic when compared to the 1.5 trillion economic losses last year that sent the country into a deep recession.

"I raise questions on the sincerity of the administration in helping our strategically important companies... These are companies that can save the employment of our people," Senator Franklin Drilon said.

"I am tempted to say that 10 billion as a rescue package is a joke, especially if you look at it in the context of a 19.5 billion anti-insurgency fund which is actually a pork barrel."

Drilon was referring to the budget given to the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict, with 16.44 billion to be released as support to barangays once ravaged by armed attacks. Senators earlier questioned this allotment under the 2021 budget, saying it's money better spent on healthcare amid the coronavirus crisis.

RELATED: Senators question P19B budget vs. communist conflict: 'Is this a bigger threat than unemployment?'

Senators Imee Marcos and Sherwin Gatchalian added they want to increase the capital made available to crippled companies, but National Treasurer Rosalia De Leon said 10 billion is what's available for now.

Guian Angelo Dumalagan, Land Bank of the Philippines chief market economist, said splitting the equity infusion across 15 "strategically important" firms would save 119,403 direct jobs and preserve over 5.4 trillion assets and production which would be lost if the companies shut down permanently. He added that up to 1,250 large companies may be in need of funding assistance to stay afloat.

After five years, Dumalagan said the best-case scenario would be for all 15 firms to generate a 9.63% return on investments, allowing the government banks to recover the capital. If two of the riskiest firms in the basket fail, government will recover only half the money infused in these establishments but will still make money from the operations of the 13 others.

De Leon said companies must not have any pending cases and should not lay off employees upon receiving the aid, with publicly listed companies at the Philippine Stock Exchange targeted for the stimulus. Salaries of top executives should also not be raised while the firm is benefiting from the capital boost, she added.

READ: Tax reform packages and assistance to pandemic-affected MSMEs lead top priority bills for passage in 2021
Federal regulators with the U.S. Surface Transportation Board will determine the fate of passenger rail service along the Gulf Coast.

Amtrak, in a news release Tuesday, indicated it was initiating a process before the STB to require the freight operators along the rail line  CSX Corp. and Norfolk Southern  to permit the nations passenger rail operator two daily Amtrak trains between New Orleans and Mobile.

Amtrak wants to start the service on or about Jan. 1, 2022, and is asking the STB for expedited consideration. The route would connect Mobile to New Orleans with two daily trips. Each trip will include four stops in Mississippi  Pascagoula, Biloxi, Gulfport and Bay St. Louis.

The STBs involvement essentially ceases negotiations between Amtrak and the two freight operators. Amtrak, last month, announced it was planning to restart the Gulf Coast service for the first time since 2005. The announcement occurred at the conclusion of one year of negotiations involving Amtrak and CSX and Norfolk Southern. The parties were part of an ongoing study into how passenger train service would affect freight operators, but the talks concluded in December.

Amtrak officials felt the study should have lasted only seven months.

The discussions, according to officials, began in early 2020. Representatives with CSX and Norfolk Southern have since encouraged Amtrak to resume discussions.

Amtrak also argues that it has more than five years of data-driven, and federally-led studies that illustrate passenger rails worth in returning to the Gulf Coast. The Gulf Coast Working Group, created by Congress in 2015, released a deep dive analysis in 2017 that highlighted the steps and costs needed to begin Amtrak service to the route.

Amtrak has identified $66 million in targeted improvements along the rail line to support its restart, including $33 million in federal grants for capital improvements.

Amtrak has a right to use these railroads tracks but, unfortunately, we have been able to reach an agreement after years of effort just to operate two short and quick round trip Amtrak trains, said Dennis Newman, Amtrak executive vice president for planning and asset development.

He said that elsewhere in the U.S., CSX and Norfolk Southern serve Amtrak and freight customers and coexist, even thriving where there are more freight trains and less infrastructure than what is available on the Gulf Coast today.

Said Newman, It is time for the STB to step in to protect Amtraks rights to use freight railroad tracks to support service across America. The SRC and other state or regional groups look to partner with Amtrak to deliver safe, reliable and relevant service and while we often reach agreements and co-invest with freight railroads without the STBs involvement, we need the STB to bring this protracted process to a close.

Jeff DeGraff, a spokesman with Norfolk Southern, said with the STBs involvement, we are now in litigation and declined further comment.

He directed AL.com to a prior statement that said the following, There is an established process for introducing new passenger rail service on freight rail lines recognized by both the freight and passenger railroad industries. It involves identifying, through a data-driven study, what infrastructure is necessary to ensure that the new passenger service is transparent to freight operations and doesnt negatively impact the freight rail customers. The public entities sponsoring the service finance the infrastructure construction prior passenger service being introduced. It is a well-instituted process, one that history has shown to work. Norfolk Southern welcomes the prospect that this process will be revived and completed in the proposed Mobile-New Orleans service.

CSX, in a statement, said that Amtrak elected to abandon the long-standing practice of completing an impact study when the introduction of new passenger service is proposed. Now that this matter is before the Surface Transportation Board. CSX has no further comment.

There had been previous suggestions that the fate of the Gulf Coast service was headed to the STB. The Gulf Coast Working Groups report in 2017 suggested that it was CSXs position that if Amtrak wanted to add modified passenger rail service along the Gulf Coast, the appropriate next step is for it to initiate the planning process with a formal notice to CSX so that the two parties, and ultimately the Surface Transportation Board, can establish a path forward.

In Mobile, the concerns about passenger rails impact on freight trains has been echoed by the Alabama State Port Authority, which also was encouraging Amtrak to continue with the study. Officials with the states largest seaport have repeatedly expressed concerns about interruptions to their business with the presence of Amtrak trains.

Judith Adams, a spokeswoman with the port authority, said that Amtraks filling with the STB shows that Amtrak does not have the unfettered right to initiate new service on the CSX track in Mobile without proper study.

The Alabama State Port Authority welcomes an independent and thorough Surface Transportation Board investigation into the actual data and facts, she said.

Adams said that missing from the previous reports is the freight volumes across eight railroads that use or cross the CSX mainline at the Port of Mobile. She said the prior studies focused on consumer demand, ridership and revenue estimates, and similar passenger rail focused outcomes.

She said, The purpose of the January 2020 Amtrak Rail Traffic Control study was to address all data and service gaps and to properly measure the current and future freight volumes and movements in and out of one of the nations largest ports. Amtrak walked away from that study. CSX and NS did not walk away from that study.

The Mobile City Council, in February 2020, approved spending up to $3 million over three years for the operations of the Gulf Coast route. But that approval was based on several contingencies that included, among other things, the completion of the study to determine the impact of Amtrak service on the freight trains that travel through downtown Mobile.

Mobile also wants to explore the possibility of opening a train station at an alternative site near a future airport at the Brookley Aeroplex. Amtrak, though, is planning to bring their service to downtown Mobile next year to a location near Cooper Riverside Park where a train station was once located, but was destroyed during Hurricane Katrina.

According to Amtraks release, the passenger trains will park off the CSX main line at a dedicated storage track more than one mile west of the Alabama State Docks main and interchange tracks. The station site, according to the release, is within walking distance of businesses  restaurants, hotels and other attractions  and is between the Alabama Cruise Terminal and the Arthur R. Outlaw Mobile Convention Center, which makes it ideal for visitors.

Amtrak, also in its news release, said the trains will not pass each other in Alabama. Under the planned schedule, each morning and afternoon, an Amtrak train will depart from both Mobile and New Orleans and would pass each other in Mississippi, where almost $45 million in improvements are proposed and funded. The Amtrak operations in Mobile would be scheduled with approximately 12 hours between the two departures and 10 hours between the two arrivals.

Mississippi has dedicated $15 million toward the project, with Louisiana doling out another $10 million. The $3 million from Mobile represents the only investment from a public source in Alabama.

This story was updated at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 16, 2021, to include comments from the Alabama State Port Authority. It was also updated at 9:30 p.m. to include a statement from CSX.
Scream for green! Children from Senior Infants class at Crubany National School, Cavan enjoying themselves in the sunshine on La Glas. Photo: Lorraine Teevan

While it will be a St. Patricks Day like no other again this year due to Covid-19 restrictions, St Patricks Day festivities are still going ahead Down Under where the pandemic has remained largely under control.

Sydney, home to Australias largest population of Irish ex-pats and Irish-Australians, will host a St Patricks Day Festival overlooking the Sydney Opera House on Sunday  with live Irish music and dance performances, GAA demonstrations and other cultural events. However, the citys parade has been cancelled as a precaution against transmission of the virus.

In New Zealand, Auckland will host what has been billed as the largest Irish celebration in the southern hemisphere on Saturday with a parade, followed by the citys annual Irish Music and Dance Festival.

Read More

People in the capital, Wellington, already took to the streets to celebrate on Sunday with a parade along the citys waterfront, followed by live performances at the wharf.

Meanwhile, organisers of the worlds oldest St Patricks Day parade  in New York City  are still intent on hosting a symbolic parade today to avoid letting the virus rain on the parades 260th anniversary this year.

The small symbolic march along Fifth Avenue will be held early this morning, the exact timing of which will not be announced to prevent crowds from gathering.

While parades in most North American cities have been cancelled due to Covid-19, virtual events are taking place  including a parade in cars in St James, Long Island, while Hilton Head, South Carolina, will host a boat parade on Sunday.

Meanwhile, 66 countries around the world will take part in the Global Greening initiative, with 670 of the worlds most iconic sites, like Canadas Niagara Falls, turning green.
MASON CITY, Iowa - A Mason City man is facing a felony eluding charge after an early-morning pursuit.

Dean Miller, 51, was driving a GMC Sierra when a deputy attempted a traffic stop at 15th St. and S. Carolina Ave.

Miller did not stop for emergency lights and continued to elude the patrol vehicle and at least two Mason City PD vehicles.

Court documents said Miller was going more than 25 miles per hour over the speed limit, was driving on the wrong side of the ride and took several turns to evade law enforcement.

Miller had two arrest warrants and has two prior convictions for eluding.
ASTORIA  The Fishhawk Lake Reserve and Community in Northwest Oregon is contesting a $439,200 penalty from Oregon for allegedly killing over 30,000 fish after draining the reservoir in 2019.

The lake, considered state waters, is held back by an earthen dam built along Fishhawk Creek in the 1960s for a private community. A drainpipe through the dam feeds into the creek and eventually the Nehalem River. The homeowners association argues that the state mandated a repair of the drainpipe and was kept informed of the entire process, The Astorian reported.

A state investigation blamed the draining for sucking fish through the drainpipe and increased turbidity downstream, dumping sediment and depleting the dissolved oxygen in the water. State biologists estimated that of the 30,391 fish were killed, more than 20,539 were endangered coho salmon.

The state Department of Environmental Quality fined the homeowners association and required a water quality management plan and a schedule for becoming compliant with environmental standards.

The homeowners associations lawyers have called for a hearing to fight the Department of Environmental Qualitys penalty. The lawyers argue that instead of being reckless, the association drained the lake in response to pressure from state agencies to repair the drainpipe and avoid a total dam failure in a major flood.

The lawyers also say the association timed the draining of the lake with the low-flow period of Fishhawk Creek, adhered to the states in-water work period and installed curtains downstream of the dam to decrease turbidity. They blamed the state for a lack of follow-up regarding permitting and other guidance, and said the association reasonably believed the states silence to be tacit approval of its plans to proceed.

--The Associated Press
WEST HARTFORD  Two people have been charged in connection with a road rage incident that led to an altercation and a gunshot being fired on New Britain Avenue, according to police.

Brandon Bottom, 34, of Ozark, Ark., was charged with unlawful discharge of a firearm, first-degree reckless endangerment, discharge of a firearm from a public highway, felon in possession of a firearm, carrying a dangerous weapon with a high-capacity magazine, carrying a pistol without a permit and carrying a firearm under the influence. He was held on a $500,000 bond.

Drew Newman, 26, of Lakeland, Fla., was charged with reckless driving, weapon in a motor vehicle, felon in possession of a firearm, breach of peace and carrying a dangerous weapon with a high-capacity magazine. He was held on a $250,000 bond.

Their charges stemmed from an incident earlier this week when West Hartford officers were requested by state police troopers to respond to the area of Interstate 84 near Exit 48 around 9:30 p.m. Monday after an apparent road rage incident that happened in the area of the 1000 block of New Britain Avenue.

Lt. Aaron Vafiades said the incident was originally reported to state police by a 911 call.

The victim and suspects were involved in a road rage incident before coming to a stop on New Britain Avenue where an altercation ensued, Vafiades said.

During the altercation, a single gunshot was fired from the suspect vehicle, Vafiades said. The vehicles then entered I-84 east where the 911 call was placed.

There were no injuries reported from the shooting.

Troopers responded to the highway after the 911 call and stopped the driver on the highway.

Correction: This story has been updated to reflect West Hartford officers were requested by state police troopers to respond on Monday at about 9:30 p.m.
The stonemason sent word from the west of Ireland that he could do the job, but it would be tight. The face of the old Minogue family gravestone, topped by a Celtic cross and the color of a sullen sky, had only so much room.

Ill get back to you, I said.

The headstone rises to meet you at the gate of a countryside cemetery in Shanaglish, County Galway. In the now-distant summer before the pandemic, I came to pay my respects, as I always do when back, only this time I looked more closely at the weathered front.

Was there space enough? And what are the words?

The graveyard sits at the edge of a quiet parish anchored by little more than a Catholic church and Whelans pub. But linger among these tombstones, and the roar of life swells, the imagination rushing to fill the yawning space between chiseled years.
Indian courts have a problem of shortage of judges. Out of 1,080 sanctioned posts for judges in higher courts as well as the Supreme Court, as many as 419 are lying vacant. Only 661 posts are being occupied, shows data provided by Minister of Law & Justice, Communications and Electronics & Information and Technology Ravi Shankar Prasad in the Lok Sabha. When it comes to lower courts, as many as 24,247 posts have been sanctioned but 4,928 are lying vacant.

The Supreme Court has a sanctioned strength of 34, out of which four posts are lying vacant. The highest number of posts lying vacant among the higher courts is in Allahabad High Court with 64 vacancies, out of a sanctioned strength of 160 posts. Bombay High Court has 31 vacancies out of 94 sanctioned posts, while Delhi High Court has 29 vacancies out of 60 sanctioned posts.

Madras High Court has 13 vacancies out of a sanctioned strength of 75 posts, while Calcutta High Court has 40 vacancies out of 72 sanctioned posts.

Manipur High Court, Meghalaya High Court and Sikkim High Court have 0 vacancies, out of five, four and three sanctioned posts.

When it comes to subordinate judiciary, Uttar Pradesh has the most number of vacancies at 1,053 out of 3,634 sanctioned posts. Bihar courts have 503 vacancies, out of 1,936 sanctioned posts, while Madhya Pradesh has 411 vacancies out of 2,021 sanctioned posts. Delhi has 150 vacancies out of 799 sanctioned posts, while Maharashtra has 250 vacancies out of 2,190 sanctioned posts.

Union Territories of Daman and Diu, and Lakshadweep have 0 vacancies out of sanctioned strength of four and three posts respectively.

The questions on shortage of judges was asked by INC member Jyotsna Charandas Mahant in the Lok Sabha. "Under Article 235 of the Constitution of India, the administrative control over the members of district and subordinate judiciary in the States vest with the concerned High Court. Further, in exercise of powers conferred under proviso to Article 309 read with Articles 233 and 234 of the Constitution, the respective State Government, in consultation with the High Court, frames the Rules and Regulations regarding the issues of appointment, promotion, reservations, etc. of Judicial Officers in the State Judicial Service. Hence, in so far as recruitment of judicial officers in the States is concerned, respective High Courts do it in certain States, whereas the High Courts do it in consultation with the State Public Service Commissions in other States. Central Government has no role in the matter. Recruitment in the Subordinate judiciary is an ongoing and continuous process and each year vacancies are filled either fully or partially," stated Ravi Shankar Prasad in his reply.

Also read: SC denies defaulting promoters back-door entry in insolvency process

Also read: Don't call us 'Your Honour', not US Supreme Court: SC judges tell law student
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-17 22:10:36|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, March 17 (Xinhua) -- China is strongly dissatisfied with and firmly opposes the recent U.S.-Japan joint statement, which maliciously attacked China's foreign policy, seriously interfered in China's internal affairs and attempted to damage China's interests, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said Wednesday.

Spokesperson Zhao Lijian said China urges the United States and Japan to immediately stop interfering in China's internal affairs and stop forming "small cliques" targeting China.

Zhao made the remarks at a daily press briefing when asked to comment on a U.S.-Japan joint statement, which was issued after "2+2" talks on Tuesday between the foreign and defense ministers the United States and Japan. The joint statement expressed the two countries' concerns over multiple issues related to China.

"We have lodged solemn representations separately with the United States and Japan," Zhao said.

First, he emphasized that the international system with the United Nations (UN) as its core is the only system in the world, and that the only set of rules in the world is the basic norms governing international relations, based on the purposes of the UN Charter.

"The United States and Japan have no right to unilaterally define international relations, let alone impose their own standards on others," Zhao said.

Second, China has always been an important force in safeguarding world peace and promoting common development, he said. China has established partnerships with 112 countries and international organizations, joined more than 100 inter-governmental international organizations, signed over 500 multilateral treaties, and is the largest contributor of peacekeeping forces among the permanent members of the UN Security Council.

The United States has always followed double standards, applying international laws and rules when they suit its own interests and abandoning them when they don't, according to Zhao. The United States has not been at war for only 16 years of its nearly 250-year history, and it has hundreds of military bases worldwide.

"The international community will have a fair judgement on who is the biggest threat to world peace," Zhao said.

Third, China's position on issues related to Taiwan, Hong Kong, Xinjiang, the South China Sea and the Diaoyu Islands is consistent and clear, and China is firm in safeguarding its sovereignty, security and development interests.

China has indisputable sovereignty over the islands in the South China Sea and their adjacent waters, and over the Diaoyu Islands and adjacent waters, Zhao said.

Issues related to Taiwan, Hong Kong and Xinjiang are China's internal affairs, and brook no foreign interference, Zhao said, adding that the joint statement made by the United States and Japan ignored facts and truth, acting as further proof of collusion between the two countries, interfering in China's internal affairs, and an unpleasant example of slandering and discrediting China.

Fourth, the United States and Japan are sticking to the Cold War mentality, deliberately engaging in group confrontation and trying to create an anti-China encirclement.

"It is completely going against the trend of the times," Zhao said, pointing out that the move by the two countries is against the common expectations of the vast majority of countries, both in the region and globally, for peace, development and cooperation.

"Their move will only bring chaos or even conflict to the region, revealing the truth to the world that it is the U.S.-Japan alliance that undermines peace and stability in the region," he said.

Fifth, in order to satisfy its own interests in deterring China's rise and rejuvenation, Japan is willing to rely on others and act as a strategic vassal of the United States. "It is shameful and repugnant for Japan to betray its promises and undermine China-Japan relations; and betray the overall interests of the region by inviting wolves into its house," said Zhao.

Sixth, China strongly urges the United States and Japan to immediately stop interfering in China's internal affairs, stop forming "small cliques" targeting China and stop undermining peace and stability in the region.

"China will take all necessary measures to resolutely defend its sovereignty, security and development interests," Zhao said. Enditem
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RTHK: EU to sanction Chinese officials over 'crackdown'

EU member states have agreed to impose sanctions on four Chinese officials and one state-owned entity over Beijing's crackdown on the Uighur minority, European diplomats said Wednesday.

Ambassadors from the 27 countries gave the green light for the measures as part of a package of human rights sanctions that will also see individuals in Russia, North Korea, Eritrea, South Sudan and Libya targeted, diplomats said.

The sanctions  set to hit around a dozen people in total with asset freezes and visa bans  have to be formally confirmed by EU foreign ministers meeting on Monday.

China has already reacted angrily to the prospect of punishment over its actions in the western Xinjiang region.

"Sanctions based on lies could be interpreted as deliberately undermining China's security and development interests," Zhang Ming, Beijing's ambassador to the EU, said on Tuesday.

"We want dialogue not confrontation. We ask the EU side to think twice. If some insist on confrontation we will not back down as we have no options but fulfilling our responsibilities to people of our country."

Rights groups believe at least one million Uighurs and other mostly Muslim minorities have been incarcerated in camps in the northwestern region, where China is also accused of forcibly sterilising women and imposing forced labour.

China has strongly denied allegations of forced labour involving Uighurs in Xinjiang and says training programs, work schemes and better education have helped stamp out extremism in the region.

The EU faces a delicate balancing act over relations with China as it treats Beijing as a rival and also a potential economic partner.

Brussels late last year sealed a major investment pact with China after seven years of negotiations, but is under pressure from the administration of new US President Joe Biden to form a united front against Beijing.

Washington on Wednesday added 24 more senior Chinese officials to its blacklist over Beijing's clampdown on democracy in Hong Kong. (AFP)

This story has been published on: 2021-03-17. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
PARIS  The French National Assembly adopted legislation late Monday that characterizes sex between adults and minors under 15 as rape, a move made after years of debate and rounds of sexual abuse scandals gradually pushed lawmakers to bring the French criminal code closer to that of most other Western countries.

Children are off-limits, Frances justice minister, Eric Dupond-Moretti, told the National Assembly, the lower house of Parliament, ahead of the vote on Monday. Under the bill, a sexual relationship with a minor under 15 would be punishable by 20 years in prison, unless the age gap between the consensual partners were small.

The bill, which also includes a provision that would make incest a specific crime, will go to the Senate this month and is expected to get final approval in April. The incest ban would also apply to sexual relationships between children under 18 and their stepparents.

That lawmakers agreed on setting an age of consent only three years after having voted against a similar law largely reflects the impact of a series of recent sexual abuse scandals.
SAN FRANCISCO, March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The global biopharmaceutical excipients market size is expected to reach USD 3.4 billion by 2028, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. The market is expected to expand at a CAGR of 6.5% from 2021 to 2028. The factors driving the market growth include increasing development of biosimilars, instability.

Key suggestions from the report:

Carbohydrates accounted for the largest revenue share of 36.2% in 2020 owing to the increasing use of carbohydrates owing to their several advantages

The advantages include it helps the efficient binding of tablet ingredients, enables accurate dosing and protecting the tablet from harsh environmental conditions, among others

Sucrose amongst the carbohydrates dominated with a market share of 32.8% owing to its increasing application in stabilizing proteins

Starch is expected to witness the fastest CAGR of 6.6% from 2021 to 2028 owing to the increasing launch of new starch excipients

For instance, in May 2019 , Colorcon Inc. launched STARTAB, a new starch tableting excipient. It is developed by directly compressible starch for enhancing the stability of moisture sensitive API

North America has emerged as the highest revenue-generating region, representing a market share of 32.0% in 2020

Large pharmaceutical companies are entering in collaboration with the companies in the region which can be attributed to market growth

For instance, in February 2020 , MilliporeSigma entered in an agreement with ReForm Biologics LLC for commercializing ReForm's excipients that are used in biotherapeutic formulations

In Asia Pacific , the market is expected to witness a lucrative CAGR of 7.0% from 2021 to 2028 owing to the increasing production of biosimilar drugs in the region

The government in this region is promoting biosimilar development. For instance, the government of South Korea provided regulatory guidance to local biosimilars companies for aiming to develop around 22.0% of global biosimilars by 2020

Read 150 page research report with ToC on "Biopharmaceutical Excipients Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Product (Polyols, Solubilizers & Surfactants/Emulsifiers, Carbohydrates), By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2021 - 2028" at:https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/biopharmaceutical-excipients-market

The changing regulatory scenarios by both the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) have impacted drug development. Several legislative proposals are addressing new ways for lowering the cost of prescription drugs. Similarly, in recent years there is an increasing focus on drug-manufacturing quality has led to several recalls by FDA and the EMA. Hence, the stringent investigations related to an examination of drugs are likely to promote the use of specific excipients for developing efficient drugs.

In addition, companies are collaborating with government authorities for increasing the application of novel compounds. For instance, in December 2019, U.S. FDA started a pilot program to evaluate novel biopharmaceutical excipients. Later, the initiative was supported by several companies such as AstraZeneca, Regeneron, and Janssen for FDA's plan to review novel biopharmaceutical excipients. Regeneron highlighted different novel compounds that can potentially help in improving public health for example hydrophobic salts can reduce the viscosity of highly concentrated antibody formulations.

Moreover, the rising focus on the rapid development of COVID-19 vaccines and therapeutic drugs is further driving the market growth. Excipients have an essential role in the development of biologics as it helps in stabilizing the drug during storage and processing. The use of appropriate biopharmaceutical excipients enables the development of novel therapies and robust pharmaceutical products for fighting against the pandemic.

Large-scale pharmaceutical companies signed a long-term supply agreement with companies for supporting the development of COVID-19 vaccines. For instance, in November 2020, Pfizer Inc. signed a five-year contract with Croda International for lipid-based excipients that will be used for manufacturing Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine candidate. Similarly, in May 2020, Moderna signed a supply agreement with CordenPharma for the large-scale production of lipid excipient for the development of mRNA-1273, Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine candidate.

Grand View Research has segmented the global biopharmaceutical excipients market on the basis of productand region:

Biopharmaceutical Excipients Product Outlook (Volume, Tonnes; Revenue, USD Million, 2017 - 2028)

Solubilizers & Surfactants/Emulsifiers



Triglycerides





Esters





Others



Polyols



Mannitol





Sorbitol





Others



Carbohydrates



Sucrose





Dextrose





Starch





Others



Specialty Excipients

Biopharmaceutical Excipients Regional Outlook (Volume, Tonnes; Revenue, USD Million, 2017 - 2028)

North America



U.S.





Canada



Europe



Germany





U.K.



Asia Pacific



Japan





China





India





Malaysia





South Korea





Philippines





New Zealand





Australia





Singapore





Indonesia



Latin America



Brazil



Middle East & Africa

&

South Africa

List of Key Players of Biopharmaceutical Excipients Market

Merck KGaA

Signet Excipients Pvt. Ltd

Sigachi Industries Limited

Associated British Foods plc

Spectrum Chemical Manufacturing Corp.

Roquette Freres

IMCD

Clariant

DFE Pharma

Colorcon

BASF SE

Evonik Industries AG

J. RETTENMAIER & SOHNE GmbH + Co KG

Find more research reports on Pharmaceuticals industry, by Grand View Research:

Asia Pacific Drug Development Market - The Asia Pacific drug development market size was estimated at 37.62 billion in 2018 and is projected to register a CAGR of 6.54% during the forecast period.

drug development market size was estimated at 37.62 billion in 2018 and is projected to register a CAGR of 6.54% during the forecast period. Medium Chain Triglycerides Market- The global medium chain triglycerides market size was valued at USD 1.7 billion in 2019 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.8% from 2020 to 2027.

in 2019 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.8% from 2020 to 2027. U.S. Esters Market - The U.S. esters market size was estimated at USD 3.61 Billion in 2018 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 4.8% over the forecast period.

Gain access to Grand View Compass, our BI enabled intuitive market research database of 10,000+ reports

About Grand View Research

Grand View Research, U.S.-based market research and consulting company, provides syndicated as well as customized research reports and consulting services. Registered in California and headquartered in San Francisco, the company comprises over 425 analysts and consultants, adding more than 1200 market research reports to its vast database each year. These reports offer in-depth analysis on 46 industries across 25 major countries worldwide. With the help of an interactive market intelligence platform, Grand View Research helps Fortune 500 companies and renowned academic institutes understand the global and regional business environment and gauge the opportunities that lie ahead.

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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 17)  The country could see increasing COVID-19 cases daily by month-end and by the middle of April, if the upward trend in infections continues, a member of the OCTA Research group warned.

From an initial projection of 8,000, OCTA Research Fellow Guido David said the daily infections could reach 11,000 by end-March.

This, as the reproduction rate is now at 2.03, which means a person with COVID-19 can easily infect two more people.

"Dati mas mababa ang reproduction number, ang projection natin was 8,000. Pero ngayon nasa 11,000 per day sa buong Pilipinas at the end of March," David told CNN Philippines' News.PH.

[Translation: Before we had a low reproduction number, so our projection was only at 8,000. But now it is at 11,000 per day nationwide at the end of March.]

If left unchecked, David warned the upward trend could lead to 20,000 daily cases by mid-April. That's up from the 17,000 to 18,000 earlier projected by OCTA.

Last March 13, the country registered 5,000 new cases for the first time in nearly seven months. The last time the Department of Health recorded at least 5,000 infections was on August 26 last year with 5,277 cases.

On Tuesday, the nationwide tally rose to 631,320 after 4,437 new cases were confirmed.

Authorities blamed the spike to dwindling public compliance to health protocols. OCTA earlier said the rising figures can also be partly attributed to the new and more contagious variants.

With the latest projection, David told CNN Philippines in a separate message that deaths could go up to 100 per day if the number of cases rises to 5,000 a day, and 400 deaths if new cases reach 20,000 daily.

There were 72 new deaths recorded last March 15 when the country logged 5,000 cases. The country's death toll is currently at 12,848 after 11 new deaths were reported.

Metro Manila on Monday began its two-week implementation of uniform curfew hours, starting from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m., in a bid to control the rising COVID-19 cases in the National Capital Region. Localized lockdowns and liquor bans were also imposed in some areas.

David said the attack rate is high in the cities of Pasay, Makati, Navotas, San Juan, and Malabon. However, he noted there is a slight slowdown in the trends in Pasay, Navotas, and Malabon.

"To be fair, yung trend medyo nag-slowdown na sa Malabon, Navotas, and Pasay. So I think yung mga localized lockdowns have helped curbed the increase dito sa mga lugar na ito," he said.

[Translation: To be fair, there is a slight slowdown in trend in Malabon, Navotas, and Pasay. I think localized lockdowns have helped curbed the increase in these areas.]

CNN Philippines Multi-Platform News Writer Vince Ferreras contributed to this report
(Natural News) The inventor of the PCR test, which has been widely used in detecting COVID-19, previously slammed Dr. Anthony Fauci by calling him a liar. He also strongly criticized Faucis understanding of science, while revealing that the PCR test is not suitable as a diagnostic tool, in the way it is being used for COVID-19.

(Article by Michael Haynes republished from LifeSiteNews.com)

Dr. Kary Mullis was awarded the Nobel Prize in chemistry in 1993, along with Dr. Michael Smith, for inventing the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test, which has recently sprung to the forefront of conversation across the world, due to its prominent usage as a way to detect COVID-19.

PCR tests were hastily pushed into the global sphere when only days after first reports about COVID-19 emerged, the Corman-Drosten paper was submitted to medical journal Eurosurveillance, promoting their use. Just two days later, the paper was published on January 23, 2020. In fact, even prior to that, a copy of the paper was published on the World Health Organizations (WHO) website on January 13, one day after scientists in China shared the sequence of the virus.

Since then, it has become a standard testing method for the virus, proposed by governments and health agencies across the world, including Americas Dr. Anthony Fauci. Fauci is the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), and, before becoming Joe Bidens Chief Medical Adviser, was former President Donald Trumps top COVID advisor.

However, Mullis made no secret of his opinion of Fauci, and recently a video clip of Mullis has reappeared on social media, taken from an older interview he gave during the 1990s.

The Nobel Prize-winning inventor of the PCR Test Kary Mullis on Anthony Fauci pic.twitter.com/duFm2qwD7d  An0maly (@LegendaryEnergy) March 10, 2021

Guys like Fauci get up there and start talking, you know, he doesnt know anything really about anything, and Id say that to his face. Nothing. The man thinks you can take a blood sample and stick it in an electron microscope, and if its got a virus in there youll know it.

Mullis continued his attack on Faucis scientific understanding: He doesnt understand electron microscopy and he doesnt understand medicine and he should not be in a position like hes in. Most of those guys up there on the top are just total administrative people and they dont know anything about whats going on in the body.

You know, those guys have got an agenda, which is not what we would like them to have being that we pay for them to take care of our health in some way. Theyve got a personal kind of agenda. They make up their own rules as they go. They change them when they want to, and they smugly  like, Tony Fauci does not mind going on television in front of the people who pay his salary and lie directly into the camera.

He mentioned that the main problem with science in this century was that science is being judged by people, funding is being done by people, who dont understand it.

Who do we trust? Fauci, he answered with obvious contempt. Fauci doesnt know enough to, you know 

Mullis died in August 2019, interestingly just months before his invention would be used to test for COVID, and its results to determine the lockdown of entire nations. Yet, before his death he spoke against PCR tests being used in the manner in which they came to be used, just months after his death.

In another video clip, Mullis noted how PCR tests can be amplified so much as to make them unreliable for diagnostic testing: With PCR, if you do it well, you can find almost anything in anybody.

Because if you can amplify one single molecule up to something that you can really measure, which PCR can do, then theres just very few molecules that you dont have at least one single one of them in your body. So that could be thought of as a misuse of it, just to claim that its meaningful.

It allows you to take a very minuscule amount of anything and make it measurable and then talk about it like it is important  see thats just a misinterpretation, Mullis stated.

He described PCR testing as a process thats used to make a whole lot of something out of something. Thats what it is. It doesnt tell you that youre sick and it doesnt tell you that the thing you ended up with really was going to hurt you or anything like that.

With Mullis no longer alive to repeat his arguments, the PCR test has been promoted by individuals such as Fauci, with health agencies and politicians seemingly blind to the growing evidence of false positives resulting from PCR tests.

However, Mullis has been vindicated by a group of 22 international scientists, called the International Consortium of Scientists in Life Sciences (ICSLS), who have identified ten fatal problems with the Corman-Drosten (CD) paper which was used back in January 2020 to promote PCR tests as the diagnostic tool for COVID-19. Each of the flaws is enough to render the test useless as a specific diagnostic tool to identify the SARS-CoV-2 virus, and the group points to the worldwide misdiagnosis of infections, which have resulted from PCR tests for COVID-19.

As Mullis noted himself, the ICSLS observed that PCR tests are unable to distinguish between the whole virus and viral fragments, meaning that a so-called positive test, as mentioned in the CD paper, cannot determine if one is infected with the virus, but merely indicates the presence of viral RNA molecules.

Once again, as Mullis had mentioned, the group said that PCR tests can be amplified to a level which renders the results completely unreliable, and echoed Mulliss very words  amplified PCR products can be anything.

An article in The New York Times last year admitted that PCR tests can amplify a small amount of the virus to such an extend as to make it meaningless.

In three sets of testing data that include cycle thresholds, compiled by officials in Massachusetts, New York and Nevada, up to 90 percent of people testing positive carried barely any virus, The New York Times found by reviewing the data.

Instead of using 37 to 40 cycles, which is common practice right now, the article suggested anything under 30 to 35 cycles to indicate a positive.

Tests with thresholds so high may detect not just live virus but also genetic fragments, leftovers from infection that pose no particular risk  akin to finding a hair in a room long after a person has left, one doctor argued, according to the article.

Read more at: LifeSiteNews.com and Lies.news
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The Wests actions cannot change the fact that Crimea is now part of Russia and will be it for good, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said.

"Crimeas future is to be with Russia forever. Whether one likes it or not. No actions taken by the Western nations led by the United States can change this reality, either from the point of view of international law, or from the political or moral points of view," he said in an interview with the Krym-24 television channel on the 7th anniversary of Crimeas reunification with Russia.

He recalled that seven years ago Crimeas residents had voted for joining Russia "in full compliance with international law." "This format to implement the right of nations to self-determination, which is committed to paper in the United Nations Charter, was the only way to defend Crimean residents interests, dignity and lives amid threats from nationalists and neo-Nazis who took power in Kiev after an unconstitutional armed coup," TASS cited him as saying.

The minister pledged that Russian diplomacy will continue "efforts to make our foreign partners finally see the realities of Crimeas being back home."
(Alliance News) - Ferrexpo PLC on Wednesday said it has delivered a "strong" financial performance, alongside healthy shareholder returns through "consistent investment and capital management".

The Baar, Switzerland-based company mines for iron ore pellets in Ukraine.

For 2020, the miner reported revenue of USD1.7 billion, up 13% from USD1.5 billion in 2019, and pretax profit of USD747.9 million, up 63% from USD459.6 million. This reflects rising production volumes and a destocking process in the first half of 2020, it said.

Ferrexpo's 2020 underlying earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation was USD859 million, rose 46% from USD586 million in 2019. It said its "strong operational performance, delivery of investments and expertise in marketing" have enabled the company to reinvest in its operations to further develop the business.

The miner said 2020 iron ore pellet production was up 7% to 11.2 million tonnes from 10.5 million tonnes in 2019, maintaining its position as the "third largest exporter of iron ore pellets globally".

Ferrexpo said that, in light of its "strong operational and financial performance, coupled with its transition to a net cash position and continued healthy iron ore prices," it has declared a further special interim dividend of 39.6 US cents. This brings total dividends paid for 2020 to 72.6 US cents. It paid a 13.2 US cents special interim dividend back in January.

Ferrexpo said it will consider a final dividend for 2020 as well, which if proposed, will be put to vote at its annual general meeting in May.

Shares in Ferrexpo were down 0.2% at 354.60 pence in London on Wednesday.

"There is no doubt that the year 2020 was one that will be remembered as a difficult time for communities around the world. Through consistent investment and capital management, the group has once again been able to deliver strong financial performance, coupled with shareholder returns. Dividends paid during the 2020 calendar year grew by 26% to USD195 million, after re-investing USD206 million back into operations and USD148 million of debt repayments," said Non-Executive Chair Lucio Genovese.

Looking ahead, the company said the outlook for pellet premiums in 2021 is positive, although continued supply disruption of Brazilian pellet exports is expected.

"Brazilian producers face continued operational issues in the consistent supply of pellet feed, as well as the apparent prioritisation of the domestic steel sector in Brazil. The return of Brazilian pellet producer Samarco is not expected to materially impact the market in 2021, with this operation ramping up towards a reduced level of output compared to previous levels. Global demand for pellets continues to be robust," said Ferrexpo.

By Zoe Wickens; zoewickens@alliancenews.com

Copyright 2021 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian says she will not be forced to comment on a proposal for a mobile phone app to record sexual consent because it was not a conversation that could be solved in 24 hours.

Ms Berejiklian said she had not had time to digest the proposal from Police Commissioner Mick Fuller on Thursday to use an app to record consent between two partners, but commended him for taking a leadership position in having the conversation.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian. Credit:Kate Geraghty

Im sick of this issue coming up every time theres a headline. If youre serious about making change, you have to do it properly, she said.

Im not going to be forced to just say things one way or the other. What I will do is make sure, if youre serious about change, to do it properly and Im committed to the process.
Its excellent news that Daniel Andrews is home from hospital and recovering from the broken ribs and fractured vertebrae he sustained after slipping on wet stairs early last week. As he has said, hes lucky not to have incurred a life-changing spinal injury, and to be looking forward to being back at work in six weeks.

Hes also fortunate to be able to take six weeks away from work and still have a job to go back to. Something as simple as slipping on wet stairs could be catastrophic for an average worker  most employers offer five sick days a year for full-time workers, and an increasing proportion of Australians work in part-time, fixed-term and casual jobs, where there is no provision for extended leave at all. For far too many Australians, an injury that required two months off work would spell unemployment and financial devastation.

A photo shared by Daniel Andrews earlier this week when he was moved from ICU. Credit: Supplied

We shouldnt begrudge the Premier the time he needs to recover, but his accident should remind us how precarious is the financial security of many working families in Australia today. Yet the myth persists that unemployment is something that happens only to other people, and that most of them are dole bludgers who dont want to work.

Its the pervasiveness of this myth that allows the federal government to get away with keeping the rate of unemployment benefits so low. At the end of the month, the $150 a fortnight coronavirus supplement will end, returning JobSeeker to the base rate. This week the Parliament will pass a meagre increase of $50 a fortnight, taking the payment to to just $620.80, or $44 a day.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-18 06:14:31|Editor: huaxia

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THE HAGUE, March 17 (Xinhua) --The rightist liberal People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) of Prime Minister Mark Rutte led in the 2021 parliamentary elections in the Netherlands, according to the final exit poll released on Wednesday.

The VVD got 36 of the 150 seats in the House of Representatives, or the lower house of the parliament. It is on its way to becoming the biggest party in the parliament, just like four years ago in 2017 when the VVD finished with 33 seats.

The center-leftist party Democrats 66 (D66) came second with 27 seats, showed the exit poll released by polling agency Ipsos. This would mean eight seats more than four years ago and the best result in the history of the party.

The right-wing populist Party for Freedom (PVV) was projected to get 17 seats, a loss of three seats compared to 2017, and the center-rightist Christian Democrats CDA, 14 seats, down by five.

According to the exit poll, the three left-wing parties PvdA (Labor), SP (Socialist Party) and GroenLinks (GreenLeft) were forecast to get nine, eight and eight seats respectively. The far-right anti-lockdown party Forum voor Democratie (Forum for Democracy) would win eight seats -- six more than in 2017.

In 2017, Rutte's VVD won the elections by a landslide and formed a government coalition with CDA, D66 and the Christian Union (CU). This government stepped down on Jan. 15 this year as a result of the so-called child benefits scandal, in which parents were wrongly accused of fraud.

The final exit poll showed that the same coalition government would be possible again, even without the CU.

A total of 37 parties and over 1,500 candidates joined the race for the 150 seats in the House of Representatives. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the elections were spread over three days.

On Monday and Tuesday already around 1,600 of the total of 9,200 polling stations opened to make it possible for the elderly and the vulnerable to vote. On Wednesday, all other polling stations opened from 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. for people of 18 years or older eligible to vote.

With a population of a little over 17 million people, the country has an electorate of around 13.2 million. Turnout is expected to be 82.6 percent, according to Ipsos, compared to 81.9 percent in 2017. Enditem


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HOUSING Minister Darragh OBrien signed off on a plan to ensure councillors would not lose expenses for non-attendance at meetings during the pandemic.

The minister was told that councillors were obliged to attend 80pc of meetings during a year to receive full payment of their expenses allowance.

However, Covid-19 restrictions played havoc with actual physical attendance  where some members were cocooning, because of age or medical conditions, while other councillors were self-isolating at certain times.

In a briefing prepared for Mr OBrien, the minister was warned there were significant legal concerns last summer about council votes taking place using online platforms and the possibility of legal challenge.

Officials said that their legal advice  and the advice given to several local councils  was that council meetings must take place in a physical location.

As a result, some councils were running what were called minimum quorum meetings where a small number would show up in-person by agreement with other councillors.

However, the minister subsequently signed an order giving remote meetings the same status in law as that take place in a physical space.

The possibility of virtual attendance had an impact on payment of expenses though, with a so-called 80px rule in place for ful playment of their annual expenses allowance, worth an average of 6,100 per year.

The payment is intended to cover the costs of travel, subsistence, and miscellaneous expenses involved in attending local authority meetings.

Because the payment is designed only to offset costs incurred through attending meetings, the Revenue Commissioners had ruled it could be made without deduction of tax.

However, that meant strict rules around 80pc attendance were required and representations for that to be relaxed had not been agreed to.

The internal briefing said: No exceptions to the 80pc rule have ever been allowed. This is because it is designated as an expense allowance, not an income.

Payment of the annual expenses allowance in circumstances where members can be continuously absent for extended periods of time could prompt a re-examination of its terms by the Revenue Commissioners.

Changes had also been opposed by the representative group for council management  the County and City Management Association (CCMA)  who feared it would impact attendance.

The Department said however, the minister should issue revised directions during the pandemic  allowing non-attendance related to Covid-19 to be disregarded.

Officials said it was their view that councillors should not be financially penalised for circumstances beyond their control, and particularly when acting in line with the public health advice for the common good.

The briefing said: It is recommended that minimum quorum or reduced attendance meetings should only be regarded as relevant meetings [for expenses] for those members who it has been agreed should physically attend and there should be no financial penalty applied to other members.

It said cocooning members should not be penalised, and that members who were self-isolating should not be in a position where they felt compelled to attend in person.

A spokesman for Minister OBrien said the priority had been ensuring that local authorities could continue to exercise all their functions while minimising the public health risk.

He said it was a matter for councils to decide on whether to hold fully remote meetings or to continue with in-person meetings in large venues in a hybrid physical/remote format.

This has prompted some discussion with certain local authorities regarding the payment of expenses where councils are meeting remotely, he said.

This is however, separate to [this] discussion that had taken place earlier in the summer in relation to attendance at physical meetings.
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Is Rep. Jim Jordan among the least effective members of Congress? Researchers at the Center for Effective Lawmaking - a joint project between academics at the University of Virginia and Vanderbilt University - seem to think so.

The organization last week released a report evaluating how successful individual Congress members were at moving their legislative agenda items through Congress over the past two years. It examined the bills each member sponsored, whether they advanced through the legislative process and were signed into law, and the significance of that legislation. It ranked members within their own parties to avoid penalizing those in the legislative minority.

The study rated Jordan as the 202nd most effective Republican in the House of Representatives out of 205 it examined. Cincinnatis Steve Chabot scored best among Ohio Republicans in the House, ranking 8th. Rocky Rivers Anthony Gonzalez weighed in at number 13, Bainbridge Townships Dave Joyce was 18th and Holmes Countys Bob Gibbs was 144th.

Ohio Democrats in the House of Representatives were in the middle of their partys pack, while the chairs of the Appropriations, Transportation, Oversight, and Energy and Commerce committees got the top scores because of their ability to power legislation to the finish line.

Columbus Joyce Beatty got the highest rating of any Ohio Democrat: 105th out of 240. Tim Ryan of the Niles area was 155th, Marcy Kaptur of Toledo was 190th, and Marcia Fudge of Warrensville Heights was 195th. Fudge left the House last week to become President Joe Bidens Housing and Urban Development Secretary.

In the U.S. Senate, Rob Portman was 12th out of 54 Republicans and Sherrod Brown was 19th out of 45 Democrats. Totals exceeded 100 in the Senate (which has two Independents) and 435 in the House because of members who left office and were replaced over the two years the report examined.

A spokesman for Jordan questioned the studys use of sponsored and passed bills to measure effectiveness. Jordan sponsored two bills over the past two years while serving as top Republican on the Oversight, and later the Judiciary Committee. Neither became law.

Jordans office said that in addition to introducing the Protect Speech Act, which aims to alter the content moderation practices of social media companies like Twitter and Facebook, Jordan cosponsored 99 bills including the Holding Rioters Accountable Act, the Protect Americas Statues Act, and the Use your Endowment Act.

He also secured over $400 million in CARES Act funding for Ohio, defended President Donald Trump from Democratic impeachment efforts, worked to discredit Democratic probes that Jordan believed were politically motivated, and grilled witnesses during investigations conducted by both his committees, his office said.

Mr. Jordan is undoubtedly one of the most effective and influential members of Congress, said a statement from spokesman Russell Dye. As the top Republican on the House Judiciary Committee, which manages more high profile legislation than any committee in Congress, Mr. Jordan is able to impact and change more legislation than maybe any other Republican in the House of Representatives. But dont just take our word for it, even Politico named him one of the most influential members of Congress. Any study that says otherwise is misguided.

A statement from a Democratic candidate who has filed to run for office against Jordan, Jeff Sites, declared the study shows how little Jordan is doing for his constituents.

In warehousing, if you wont do the work, you get fired, said Sites. It should be the same for career politicians.

In an email, Center for Effective Lawmaking co-director Craig Volden said the study focused on lawmaking effectiveness, rather than on effectiveness at oversight, constituency service, or other elements of being a member of Congress.

He said his organization envisions a Congress comprised of effective lawmakers, strong institutional capacity, and the incentive structure needed to address Americas greatest public policy challenges, and compiles its scores to offer information about which members of Congress excel at lawmaking in which areas.

Ohio Members of Congress with better scores were more pleased with the study.

Since coming to Congress, I have been laser focused on producing tangible results for Northeast Ohio, said a statement from Gonzalez. That is what my constituents expect from me as their Congressman and that is what they deserve. I remain committed to working every day as hard as I possibly can for our community to tackle our most pressing issues.

Im humbled to receive this recognition and will continue to do everything I can to prioritize the needs of my fellow Buckeyes and effectively represent them in the peoples House, Joyce said.

A statement from Chabot said this year marked the third consecutive time hes been ranked among the ten most effective House Republicans. Chabot said he tries to focus on areas where both parties can work in a bipartisan manner. When he introduces legislation, he tries to identify Democrats to cosponsor it. As the top Republican on the House Small Business Committee over the past two years, Chabot said he worked closely with its Democratic chair, New Yorks Nydia Velazquez, to enact, implement and improve the Paycheck Protection Program, which helped small businesses retain employees during the coronavirus pandemic.

That critical program helped provide over $18 billion in forgivable loans to Ohio small businesses, saving nearly 2 million Ohio jobs during the pandemic, said Chabot. Without bipartisan cooperation, I dont think the program would have been such an overwhelming success.

Read more:

Earmarks that let Congress members direct money to local projects will resume over objections from some Ohio Republicans

House votes to expand gun background checks over objections from Ohios Jim Jordan

Senate confirms Rep. Marcia Fudge as President Bidens Housing and Urban Development Secretary

Rep. Jim Jordan climbs aboard Free Britney Spears bandwagon, questions conservatorships

Jim Jordans campaign faces questions over accounting discrepancies that exceed $100K

Sen. Rob Portman was a guinea pig for the new Johnson & Johnson coronavirus vaccine

Former Donald Trump aide Max Miller announces GOP primary bid against U.S. Rep. Anthony Gonzalez claiming endorsement from Trump

House to pass coronavirus rescue plan with minimum wage increase and $1,400 stimulus checks: See whats in it for Ohio

House passes ban on LGBTQ discrimination over objections from Republicans led by Rep. Jim Jordan

President Biden signs executive order to secure U.S. production of semiconductors and other essentials after meeting with Sen. Rob Portman

Congress members including Ohios Jim Jordan and Bob Gibbs grill postmaster general at hearing on mail delays

Capitol Hill police blame intelligence failures for Jan. 6 riot breaches, Sen. Rob Portman cites training failures
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Is anyone over Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussexs revealing interview with Oprah Winfrey? There were so many alarming accusations made during the two-hour window that royal fans are wondering how the royal family is going to deal with the aftermath of what was said. So far, no one in the family has admitted to Meghan and Harrys claims, including the allegations that a family member was concerned about how dark their son, Archie, would be before he was born. Now, Oprahs best friend Gayle King has claimed that Meghan can actually prove all of her claims.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry in Nottingham, England | Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images

What did Meghan Markle say in her interview with Oprah Winfrey?

Among a number of allegations, including ones stating that the royal family would not help her when she told them she was thinking of harming herself, Meghan also revealed that there was concern from the family regarding Archies skin color.

In those months when I was pregnant, all around this same time we have in tandem the conversation of, he wont be given security, hes not gonna be given a title and also concerns and conversations about how dark his skin might when hes born, Meghan told Oprah.

The racism didnt make sense to Meghan as the royals are supposed to represent the Commonwealth, which is predominately people of color.

The Commonwealth is a huge part of the monarchy and I lived in Canada, which is a Commonwealth country, for seven years, she said. But it wasnt until Harry and I were together that we started to travel through the Commonwealth 60, 70 percent of which is people of color.

Given that information, Meghan thought having people of color in the family would be welcomed by the royals, but she was mistaken.

I could never understand how it wouldnt be seen as an added benefit and a reflection of the world today, at all times, but especially right now, the former Suits actress continued. To go, how inclusive is that you can see someone who looks like you in this family, much less one whos born into it.

Gayle King says Meghan Markle can prove claims

Before Meghans interview with Oprah aired, reports began coming out that Meghan had bullied some of the royal staffers when she was a working royal. On Tuesdays CBS This Morning, King refuted those claims and revealed that Meghan could prove everything she said if she wanted to.

.@GayleKing checked in with Prince Harry & Meghan this weekend:



Harry has talked to his brother and he has talked to his father, too. The word I was given was those conversations were not productive. But they are glad that they have at least started a conversation. pic.twitter.com/fe0ATukkYw  CBS This Morning (@CBSThisMorning) March 16, 2021

RELATED: Prince Harry Reveals the 1 Thing He Was Never Allowed to Do as a Royal

Anyone who has worked with [Meghan] will tell you exactly who she is. Shes really a very sweet, caring person, King said. And as I say, Meghan has documents to back up everything she said on Oprahs interview.

Meghans friend, Janina Gavankar, has also claimed that Meghan has texts and emails to prove what she said in the Oprah interview.

What do the royals have to say about Prince Harry and Meghan Markles interview?

Despite the alleged proof, Buckingham Palace released a statement saying they were saddened to learn the extent of Meghan and Harrys suffering and that some recollections may vary when it comes to what happened while the Sussexes were working royals.

Prince William says he hasnt spoken to his brother yet but will do and they are very much not a racist family. pic.twitter.com/3j0AulDDOB  Richard Palmer (@RoyalReporter) March 11, 2021

RELATED: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Interview: How Much Did Oprah Winfrey Get Paid?

Prince William also denied the claims.

We are very much not a racist family, he told a Sky News reporter.
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The US Secret Service has stopped an armed man from Texas near the vice presidents official Washington DC residence, reports say.

Police say the man was detained near the Naval Observatory and that a long gun, ammunition and several handguns were found in his car that was parked in a DC garage.

The Naval Observatory will be where Kamala Harris resides when longstanding renovations undertaken after Mike Pence left it in January are completed.

Ms Harris and second gentleman Doug Emhoff are staying at Blair House until the historic building is ready for them to move in.

The arrest of Paul Murray, of San Antonio, Texas, came after police in his homes state tipped-off DC authorities, according to reports.

Murray, 31, was was charged with carrying a dangerous weapon, carrying a rifle or shotgun outside of a business, possession of unregistered ammunition, and possession of a large capacity ammunition feeding device.

The US Capitol Police confirmed an alert for a suspect went out to various agencies in the DC area Wednesday afternoon but they have not confirmed what the nature of the intelligence received was.
Mumbai, March 17 : Like many of the magnificent British-era buildings, the iconic General Post Office of Mumbai is a riot of turrets, big and small spires, minarets, big and small windows which allow light and air inside, topped off by a majestic dome looking at the early-summer clear blue skies.

Standing on a tri-junction behind its famed cousins of the same era -- the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) and the BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) -- the 108-year-old, GPO Building is unique and exclusive on various counts.

Now, the history of the imposing building has come alive in an e-book -- "Dawn Under The Dome" -- released this week by Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari.

The book was researched by Post-Master General (Mumbai Region) Swati Pandey and a staffer, Orchida Mukherjee, with photographs by Krishna Iyer, Yash Kocchar and Orchida Mukherjee.

A paradigm of Indo-Saracenic architecture, (blend of Persian-Hindu-Gothic), the GPO, with India's second largest dome of 65-feet diameter, was designed on the lines of the Gol Gumbaz of Bijapur (Karnataka) which has the country's biggest dome of 125-feet diameter.

The huge construction which houses the biggest postal hub in Asia, and among the biggest in the world handles over 50,000 addresses per day besides offering other services, abuzz with visitors and staffers daily, in lush greenery, swaying palms and shady trees dotting the GPO campus.

The building, designed by a Scotsman, John Begg and his protege George Wittet, remains a marvel for modern architects for its interior designs, the striking exteriors, and the well-ventilated inner spaces which never evoke claustrophobic or cramped feelings anywhere.

Three different types of Indian stones were used to build the GPO - the Grey Kurla Basalt with buff trachyte, the Yellow Malad Stone and the White Stone from Dharandhra in Gujarat, with its subtly glistening quality.

"The GPO is a very important building of Mumbai It helps connect people and it is for the general public," says Pandey, who helped bring out many unknown facets of the structure in the e-book.

She terms the postal headquarters' striking construction style as denoting the finest blend of Indian-Islamic-Gothic architecture in the neigbourbood tripartite comprising Victorian Gothic Revival (CSMT), Gothic (BMC) and Indo-Saracenic (GPO).

Work on the GPO -- rising to a height of 119-feet, length 522-feet, spread over 120,000-sq-feet -- started on September 1, 1904 and completed after nine years on March 31, 1913 at a cost of Rs 18,09,000, as stated on a commemorative plaque on the building.

"The GPO's gleaming white external dome at the top has a diameter of 65 ft, almost half that of the Gol Gumbaz, which is the tomb of Mohammed Adil Shah," said Pandey.

Though fully Indian in theme, design and material, Begg artistically stamped motifs of the Thistle (the National Flower of Scotland) and the Indian Lotus, in remarkable styles on all the walls.

The GPO has total 9 gates and at least 10 entrances, three basements considered a rarity even in modern buildings, 3 tunnels and a maze of staircases, besides 2 British era elevators.

The far-sighted Begg had interconnected the 3 basements and the 3 tunnels, which are modeled like dark caverns, with a wide hall, thick walls and muddy floors, with two known openings, one to the Mumbai Docks and the other to the Mint, both less than a kilometre away.

Historians believe that whenever there was danger from the Indian freedom-fighters aiming to plunder His/Her Majesty's gold stored in the treasury, the British troops would simply scoot with it and hide in the tunnels, safeguard it in the Mint, or in worst cases, directly ship it to Britian through the sea-route via the Mumbai docks.

The 2 eye-catching iron-wood elevators were imported from Great Britain, with exquisite mirror works, fashionable windows and artistically designed grills, though the mechanism is now modernized to electric, but GPO is among the few in the city that has preserved its ancient elevators.

The GPO is also a regular with Bollywood with many films like "Lage Raho Munnabhai", "Once Upon A Time In Mumbai", "Daddy", "Sarkaar", "Big Bull", and more shot inside/outside here, capturing aspects of its timeless beauty on celluloid.

Despite the Internet era, the GPO remains a busy-bee with staffers manning it 100 counters, including an Indian Railway reservation counter, an Aadhaar Card centre, a postal stationery shop, a postal ATM, and offering a host of other philately services since over a century.

(Quaid Najmi can be contacted at: q.najmi@ians.in)
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-17 23:33:34|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, March 17 (Xinhua) -- With per capita disposable income growing steadily over the years, China has pledged in its development plans to increase urban and rural residents' property income through multiple channels.

Property income was reiterated in China's Outline of the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025) for National Economic and Social Development and the Long-Range Objectives Through the Year 2035. It refers to earnings from bank deposits, securities, and other personal or family properties.

The 17th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in 2007, for the first time, stressed efforts to create conditions to enable more citizens to have property income. It has since played an ever-more important role in Chinese people's disposable income.

Data from the National Bureau of Statistics showed that China's net property income per capita reached 2,619 yuan (about 403.1 U.S. dollars) in 2019, up from 1,423 yuan in 2013. The proportion of net property income in disposable income also rose from 7.7 percent to 8.5 percent in the period.

Given the increasing income amid the economy's growing momentum, investment and wealth management are gaining popularity among Chinese as the proportion of people purchasing related products continues to grow.

A report from China International Capital Corporation Limited, an investment bank, projected that Chinese people, through decades of wealth accumulation, have entered a stage where they accelerate the allocation of financial assets. Under the circumstances, China is seeking more approaches for its people to increase their income through such money management.

MORE CHOICES

As a significant property income source, the financial market will likely play a bigger role in the country's plan to increase its people's earnings.

In the mentioned outline, China announced that it would create "more financial products that suit the demand for family wealth management."

"China has abundant wealth-management products, but some demands remain unsatisfied if we examine the structure of these products," said Zeng Gang, deputy director of the National Institution for Finance and Development. He stressed the diversity of wealth-management demands.

Considering China's aging population, demand for wealth-management products related to elderly care is becoming more robust, Zeng said, adding that such products will be a priority in future development.

The country has meanwhile made continued efforts to toughen financial market guidance and regulations. It benefits the developers of financial products with fairer market rules, more transparent information disclosure, and a stricter crackdown on illicit behavior.

A case in point is China's decision at last December's tone-setting Central Economic Work Conference that financial innovation must happen under prudent supervision to prevent disorderly capital expansion.

A prosperous and healthy financial market will create a fairer environment. Financial institutions, such as banks' money management subsidiaries and operators of public offering funds, can thus improve themselves to meet different wealth-management demands and provide better services for investors, Zeng said.

PROFIT-SHARING IMPROVEMENTS

By the end of February, the number of investors in China's securities market reached around 181.48 million.

Considering such a large group, listed firms' dividend systems have become a focus of China's policy-making process for increasing property income.

Before the newly-released outline, which urges improvements on the dividend system for listed companies, China has made milestone progress in recent years to increase the number of listed firms' dividends. It is the result of tightened regulations and listed firms' growing awareness of giving investors more yields.

Last year, China's listed firms issued cash dividends of 1.4 trillion yuan, up from 1.36 trillion yuan in 2019. Their aggregate cash dividends topped 10 trillion yuan.

Chen Shaoxia, general manager of a Jiangsu-based investment company, said the growing amount of dividends in China's A-share market reflects the progress of the country's capital market reform on the registration and delisting system.

To further optimize the profit-sharing system, persistent efforts should go into improving the quality of listed companies and advancing reforms to ensure investors in the securities market have a stronger sense of gain, Chen added. Enditem
Regional

Mizoram MP seeks Centres help in Myanmar crisis

K. Vanlalvena

Aizawl/New Delhi, March 16 (IANS) | Publish Date: 3/16/2021 1:00:36 PM IST

The Rajya Sabha MP from Mizoram, K. Vanlalvena, on Tuesday urged the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to consider the plight of the people protesting against the military rule in Myanmar and relax its policy towards Myanmar refugees crossing over to India.

An official release said that raising the issue at the Zero Hour in the Rajya Sabha, Vanlalvena informed the House that over 300 Myanmar nationals who have crossed the border are currently taking shelter in Mizoram, of which about 150 are police personnel.

The release said that the state government and NGOs in Mizoram have been providing immediate help and shelter to these refugees.

Meanwhile, the MHA had recently given directions to the chief secretaries of four northeastern states -- Mizoram, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur -- sharing borders with Myanmar to not entertain Myanmar refugees. It also instructed Assam Rifles to seal the border and prevent entry from the neighbouring vountry, the release said.

Vanlalvena told the House that it would not go down well with the people in Mizoram if the Central government insists on deporting these refugees, who belong to the Mizo ethnic tribe, and it is not possible to deport them until the situation in Myanmar improves.

Being the largest democracy in the world, it is the responsibility of India to encourage and support any struggle to protect and uphold democratic rights and principles. With the whole world watching, India should come forward to extend its helping hand to protect the Myanmar refugees, the official release said.

Vanlalvena, who is also a senior leader of the ruling Mizo National Front (MNF), told IANS over phone from Delhi that he also met Vice-President and Rajya Sabha Chairman M. Venkaiah Naidu and sought the Central governments intervention for restoration of peace in coup-hit Myanmar.

Last week, the Union Home Ministry had asked four northeastern states which share borders with Myanmar to take appropriate action to check the influx of refugees from the trouble-torn nation.

A Mizoram government official said that the Deputy Secretary (NE), MHA, Krishna Mohan Uppu, in his March 10 letter to the chief secretaries of these four states and the Director General of Assam Rifles had asked them to sensitise all the law enforcement and intelligence agencies for taking prompt steps in identifying illegal migrants and initiate their deportation process without delay.

Uppu said that the Ministrys Foreigners Division had also issued instructions to the chief secretaries on February 28 for asking law enforcement and intelligence agencies to take prompt steps for identifying illegal migrants, their restrictions to specific locations as per provisions of law, capturing their biographic and biometrics particulars, cancellation of fake Indian documents and legal proceedings, including initiation of deportation.

The letter, available with IANS, reiterated that the state governments and UT administrations have no power to grant refugee status to any foreigner and India is not a signatory to the UN Refugee Convention of 1951 and its 1967 Protocol.The four northeastern states share a 1,643 km unfenced borders with Myanmar.

Mizoram Home Minister Lalchamliana, in a statement in the Assembly last week week, had said that the state government has been providing relief and shelter to the people who have entered the Indian territory from Myanmar.

He said that the state government has sent a detailed report about these people to the Union Home Ministry and is waiting for the Centres advice on how to deal with them.

Myanmars Falam district authorities last week requested the Deputy Commissioner of Champai district in Mizoram to send back their eight police officers, who had crossed into Mizoram since March 3.

Meanwhile, the National Campaign Against Torture has asked the National Human Rights Commission to process the asylum/refugee claims of the Myanmar refugees who have fled following the coup.

NCAT coordinator Suhas Chakma urged the NHRC to direct the government not to forcibly repatriate any refugees until their claims have been assessed by the NHRC and further to extend humanitarian assistance to them.

A one-year state of emergency has been declared in Myanmar where power has been transferred to Senior General Min Aung Hlaing after President U Win Myint and State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi were detained by the military on February 1.
EBRD teams up with Bank of Palestine to support women entrepreneurs in the West Bank and Gaza

Increased lending for women-led businesses and promotion of gender inclusion

Funded by the Netherlands through the EBRD Multi-donor Trust Fund

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development is partnering with Bank of Palestine to empower Palestinian women entrepreneurs under the Women in Business programme, to help grow their businesses at a time when the Covid-19 pandemic is severely impacting the economy.

The programme will facilitate access to finance for women-led small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and increase their participation in the local market. It will also provide business advice to help them grow their companies. The programme in the West Bank and Gaza is partially funded by the Netherlands through the EBRD Multi donor Trust Fund.

As a first joint initiative under the programme, the EBRD is providing a US$ 15 million financing package to support local SMEs, including US$ 2 million dedicated to financing women entrepreneurs.

Small businesses account for more than 95 per cent of private-sector enterprises in the West Bank and Gaza, but only a quarter of those businesses are owned by women.

EBRD President Odile Renaud-Basso said at a virtual launch event today: Supporting the role of women in the economy is crucial for sustainable and inclusive development. The EBRD is very pleased to roll out its flagship the Women in Business Programme with Bank of Palestine to create conditions that allow women to fulfil their potential.

Hashim Shawa, Chairman of Bank of Palestine Group, said: Women constitute 50 per cent of the population in Palestine, yet they are underrepresented in the labour force and economic cycle. As a bank we are committed to turning around this reality through Women in Business programmes with the EBRD and the Netherlands, naturally building upon our flagship womens financial inclusion programmes at the bank.

The programme will also help address the low 21 per cent labour participation rate of women in the West Bank and Gaza. The EBRD aims to bridge this gender gap and help address the low representation of women entrepreneurs with tailored capacity-building for Bank of Palestine. In addition to financing, programme beneficiaries will also receive training, mentoring and advice to successfully manage and expand their businesses. The Women in Business programme is currently active in 24 economies, with total EBRD financing of 526.6 million.

The Women in Business project with Bank of Palestine will complement the banks already considerable efforts with regard to gender-responsive banking under its longstanding Felestineya program.

Since the start of its operations in the West Bank and Gaza in 2017, the EBRD has signed 13 projects for a total amount of US$ 51 million.
OTTAWA, ONTARIO, CANADA, March 17, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Serco Inc., a provider of professional, technology, and management services, is pleased to announce that it has been awarded a contract to provide critical site support services at the 5 Wing Canadian Forces Base (CFB) in Happy Valley - Goose Bay, Newfoundland & Labrador. This 10-year contract is valued at CA$694 million, and up to CA$1.5 billion over 20 years if two five-year extension options are exercised.

Under the contract, Serco will continue to perform the majority of the non-military operation and maintenance functions at this base, located in Central Labrador. The services include: Aviation Services, including Air Traffic Control and Navaids; Logistics Services, including, Warehouse Operations, Snow and Ice Removal, Environmental Protection, Hazardous Waste Management and Material Control; and Facilities Management Services, including Engineering, Telecomm/IT, Electrical and Airfield Distribution Systems, Water Treatment, Central Heating Plant Operations, Grounds Maintenance, Security, Food Services and Janitorial Services.

Serco is delighted to have been awarded the new contract for 5 Wing Goose Bay Site Support Services. Weve been serving Canada and the Canadian Armed Forces at 5 Wing for over 20 years and it is a great source of pride for the Company. We are proud of the role we have played and will continue to play as one of DNDs proven partners  supporting end-to-end service delivery and operational readiness. Equally so, we are proud of the role Serco has played in the community of Happy Valley-Goose Bay  where many of Sercos employees were born and raised. And we look forward with great enthusiasm to building upon that relationship, says Tom Wheeler, Serco Canadas Site Manager at 5 Wing.

Serco has been providing site services at 5 Wing Goose Bay since 1998 and is one of the largest private sector employers in the area. The base consists of 115 buildings across 200,000 square meters, extensive civil infrastructure, and two runways along with a large-scale training complex to support the bases mission objective. CFB 5 Wings primary military mission is to support North American Aerospace Defence Command (NORAD) operations. Its secondary mission is to provide military training to the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF), the Allies, and NORAD. Executing on this contract requires all functions and areas of the base to be operating 24/7 and able to respond at a moments notice on many different operational tasks.

Serco supports a wide range of community activities as part of the rich social fabric that is the community of Happy Valley-Goose Bay. With a particular interest in Indigenous skills development and training, this new contract will allow Serco to remain focused on developing the local Indigenous talent pool through apprenticeships and work experience programs. As one of Atlantic Canadas Top Employers for 5 years running, and an ACADA award winner for Gender and Diversity Excellence, Serco understands the importance of supporting the communities in which it operates.

About Serco Inc.

Serco Inc. is a leading provider of professional, technology, and management services, and has approximately 8,500 employees and annual revenue of $1.4 billion. Serco Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Serco Group plc, a $4 billion international business that helps transform government and public services around the world.

Established in 1929, Serco Canada employs 1,245 people nationwide, including many Indigenous Canadians, and has business activities valued at approximately $150 million. It operates in many locations throughout Ontario, Newfoundland & Labrador, Saskatchewan, and British Columbia. Serco Canada Services delivers military base services, logistics support, air traffic control, NAVAIDS O&M, and facilities management solutions to defence and national security customers. Serco Canada Marine provides complex ship and submarine design, naval architecture, marine engineering, and complex project management.
The tiger cub and bobcat seized from a home in southeast Bexar County on Tuesday were found malnourished and poorly cared for, the San Antonio Zoo reported Wednesday.

The zoo is temporarily housing the animals and are attempting to nurse them back to health. According to Tim Morrow, the zoo's president and CEO, the 13-week-old tiger was still being bottle fed when he should have been given meat and a balanced diet while the 5-year-old bobcat was being fed meat from stews.

"There was an obvious lack of understanding of how to properly care for these exotic animals," Morrow said, adding that the animals are underweight with dull and rough coats.

On Tuesday, the Bexar County Sheriff's Office and San Antonio Animal Care Services were tipped off that a residence in the 3100 block of Shane Road was housing the cats.

READ ALSO: Tiger and bobcat found at a home in the southeast area of Bexar County

Jeremy Martinez, 25, was arrested at the home and charged with violating a county ordinance on keeping exotic animals and possession of marijuana.

People need to use their brain and realize not only is it dangerous, not only is it extremely irresponsible, its illegal, Sheriff Javier Salazar said during a news conference Tuesday.

The wild cats will be transferred to a big cat sanctuary when they are healthy enough.

Salazar said the popularity of the Netflix series "Tiger King" may be contributing to the increase of tigers in the San Antonio area.

In February, BCSO deputies seized a tiger found at a Southwest Bexar County home. They believe that tiger's owners are connected to Martinez.

"Illegal animal trafficking is a global problem, and obviously San Antonio is not immune to this," Morrow said.

taylor.pettaway@express-news.net
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / March 17, 2021 / Sky Gold Corp. (TSX-V:SKYG)(OTC PINK:SRKZF) ("Sky Gold Corp." or the "Company") is pleased to report on two geophysical surveys completed on its Evening Star Property, located in Mineral County, Nevada. The Company awaits assays from the remaining 17 holes drilled at its Mustang Project located in Newfoundland.

The Evening Star property is located 12 kilometers southeast of the town of Hawthorne, and is contiguous to the Pamlico property, owned by Newrange Gold Corp.

The Evening Star property covers two historic, formerly producing mines; the Evening Star mine and the Gold Bug mine, and is prospective for gold, silver, and base metal mineralization in several deposit types. One objective of the recent surveys was to assist the targeting of silver-rich skarn and/or Carbonate Replacement Deposit ("CRD") mineralization encountered in a single diamond drill hole in 1970 (exact collar location unknown) which were reported to have returned the following historic intercepts:

Silver equivalent (Ag Eqv) values are calculated assuming 100-per-cent recovery using $24.00 (U.S) per oz Ag, $3.50 per pound Cu, $0.95 per pound Pb, and $1.25 per pound Zn. The company is disclosing results on a silver equivalent basis due to the overall silver-dominant value of the mineralization. It was confirmed by the geologist on the historic 1970 drill hole that it was not assayed for gold.

The reader is cautioned that these historic drill hole results from 1970 were completed prior to the implementation of National Instrument 43-101 and must be considered only as a historic reference. Neither the Company nor its Qualified Person have completed sufficient work to verify this historic drill hole, and they should not be relied upon.

Magee Geophysical Services based in Reno, Nevada completed a ground magnetic and gravity survey over the northern portion of the Evening Star property with detailed 33-meter line spacing in the target area of the 1970 drill hole. Interpretation and review were completed by Wright Geophysics based in Elko, Nevada. The detailed portion of the ground magnetics and gravity surveys were conducted over 0.4 square kilometers, and the larger survey at 66-meter spacing covered approximately 5.8 square kilometers.

The ground magnetic and gravity surveys were successful in supporting lithological interpretations and defining structures over much of the property. North-south and east-west structural features that traverse the property were indicated. Seven structures were identified as having the same orientation (WNW-ESE) as the La Panta vein, a historic producer of gold. One of these structures traverses the area of historic exploration in the vicinity of the Gold Bug mine, near the projected area of the 1970 drill hole. Figure 1 shows skarn targets as interpreted from the detailed gravity results along with a La Panta parallel structure target.

The Company views this La Panta parallel structure, that extends directly through the Gold Bug mine workings, coincident with a strong magnetic high anomaly, as a priority drill target for silver-rich skarn/CRD mineralization similar to the intercepts cut in the drill hole completed in 1970.

FIGURE 1 (J L Wright, Internal Report 2020) Skarn and La Panta Target Areas over Gravity Vertical Derivative data.

The Company is pleased to announce that EM Strategies has been retained to lead the permitting of a drill program directed at the above targets and additional zones on the federal Bureau of Land Management ("BLM") claims on the Evening Star property. EM Strategies, based in Reno and Elko, specializes in third party and proponent work with the BLM, U.S. Forest Service ("USFS"), and state and county governments to provide permit acquisition and regulatory compliance services. The Evening Star was most recently permitted in May 2017 by the Company.

Qualified Person

Catherine Fitzgerald, P.Geo., a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101, and Independent Director of Sky Gold, is the Qualified Person responsible for reviewing and approving the technical contents of this news release as they pertain to the Evening Star property.

About Sky Gold Corp.

Sky Gold Corp. is a junior mineral exploration company engaged in acquiring and advancing mineral properties in Canada and the USA. In addition to the Company's Newfoundland properties, the Company also owns the Evening Star property, located 12 km southeast of Hawthorne, NV, which is prospective for gold mineralization and CRD (Carbonate Replacement Deposit) base and precious (silver and gold) mineralization.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

"Mike England"

Mike England, CEO & Director

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

Tel. 1-604-683-3995

Toll Free. 1-888-845-4770

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS: This news release contains forward-looking statements, which relate to future events or future performance and reflect management's current expectations and assumptions. Such forward-looking statements reflect management's current beliefs and are based on assumptions made by and information currently available to the Company. Investors are cautioned that these forward-looking statements are neither promises nor guarantees and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause future results to differ materially from those expected. These forward -looking statements are made as of the date hereof and, except as required under applicable securities legislation, the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances. All of the forward-looking statements made in this press release are qualified by these cautionary statements and by those made in our filings with SEDAR in Canada (available at WWW.SEDAR.COM).

SOURCE: Sky Gold Corp.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/635990/Sky-Gold-Update-on-Geophysical-Surveys-for-Silver-Rich-Targets-on-The-Evening-Star-Property-Nevada
Armenia acting health minister on citizens' demand for her resignation

Karabakh's new State Minister Artak Beglaryan on his appointment and future activities

Armenian, Russian and Azerbaijani representatives hold consultations in Moscow

2 Armenian soldiers receive slight injuries after incident with Azerbaijani servicemen in Armenia's Gegharkunik

Armenian boy weighing 5 kg born at Goris Medical Center

"Armenia" bloc representative presents purpose of participation in elections and plans

Isaac Herzog elected President of Israel

Rouhani: Main issues between Tehran, Washington resolved in Vienna

Charles Michel calls on Armenia and Azerbaijan to resume constructive negotiations

US Department of State responds to Pashinyan's proposal to deploy international observers on Armenia-Azerbaijan border

Head of Armenia 2nd President's Office: Robert Kocharyan's public meetings are held in warm atmosphere

Opposition "Armenia" bloc's representative on photos and videos showing bags of deceased servicemen's bodies

Armenia Ombudsman, AGBU President discuss war crimes committed by Azerbaijan during Karabakh war

Opposition "Armenia" bloc's representatives to hold briefings three times a week

Opposition "Armenia" bloc member: Blood-freezing photos and videos from morgue in Abovyan are authorities' reflection

Yerevan mayor receives Netherlands Ambassador

Armenia Health Ministry, Investigative Committee keep info about sending remains of dead soldiers abroad confidential

Armenia Prosecutor General's Office launches case regarding leaving sacs of servicemen's bodies/remains in basement

Peskov: Putin and Biden to discuss cybersecurity issues

Armenia's Pashinyan meets with Belgian PM Alexander De Croo

Armenia acting MOD receives Netherlands Ambassador

Armenia Police: 3 citizens apprehended during protest demanding acting health minister's resignation

NATO warns Minsk about further consequences of Ryanair incident

Armenia economic competition protection commission: Experts forecast inflation of butter prices

Armenia citizens' protest against acting health minister is over

Pashinyan visits France, judicial farce against Armenian POWs kicks off in Baku, Jun. 2 digest

Armenian Ambassador, FMO representatives consider opportunities for expansion of cooperation in Armenia

Armenia Prosecutor General is on working visit to Russia

Armenia acting PM meets with European Council President in Brussels

Armenia citizens throw polyethylene bags at Health Ministry building, police apprehend protesters

Acting deputy minister: Armenia authorities plan to build 46km section of North-South highway in 2021

Dollar is stable in Armenia

Armenia official: Large number of projects being prepared in construction sector

Identity of man killed Wednesday morning in downtown Yerevan is found out

Armenian lawyer: Azerbaijan poses a threat to security in Europe

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

Missing Armenian soldiers' relatives hand letter to Russia Embassy with request to solve captives' issue

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
Lucknow, March 17 : A three day religious meet in Uttar Pradesh's Guru Dham Mandir near Pratapgarh has turned into a Covid hotspot with several devotees coming to attend the religious meet testing positive for the deadly virus risking an outbreak like 'Tablighi Jamat' in New Delhi last year.

Started on March 13 at Mangadh, the event was organized by Jagadguru Kripalu Parishat with more than 14,000 devotees attending the meet flouting all Covid norms despite the strict directives given by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to avoid public gathering with the danger of the state entering the second wave of coronavirus.

As per sources, Covid protocols like wearing of masks, social distancing, temperature checking and using of hand sanitizers were being blatantly ignored at the Ashram resulting in thousands of people getting vulnerable to coronavirus. Devotees who have been tested positive for the virus have not been given any health assistance and have been asked to leave the temple premises.

This is when novel coronavirus infection is spreading its wings across the state. So far, more than six lakh people in Uttar Pradesh have tested positive for Covid-19, while 8,750 people losing their lives to the deadly virus.

In Uttar Pradesh, the cases are also on the rise once again despite the vaccination drive being conducted on regular basis and more than 3 lakh individuals have already been inoculated with vaccine shots.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday held a meeting with Chief Ministers over growing cases of Covid-19 and the ongoing vaccination drive has come to an end. While interacting with the CMs, PM Modi said, "We must stop the rising second peak of Covid at the earliest. For this, we need to take quick and decisive steps." He further said, "If we do not stop this pandemic, it might create a national outbreak-like situation."

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Update and outcry from The Dotte . . .



KSHB: Undocumented suspect who struck, killed KCK good Samaritan now in ICE custody

Deets:

"In a statement, ICE said the 42-year-old man is a Mexican citizen who is in the United States illegally after being deported in 2009. It's unclear how and when he came back into the United States. The Wyandotte County District Attorney's office couldn't say much Tuesday, only that the investigation into the incident is ongoing. KCKPD said detectives are waiting to receive the toxicology report, which is dependent on how quick the crime lab can process samples taken on Sunday morning."

Related reading:

Fortune: Immigration reform is about to become a hot button political issue once again as COVID gets under control

Reuters: Democratic-controlled U.S. House to vote Thursday on citizenship path for 'Dreamers'

Pro Publica: Biden Opened Temporary Legal Status to Thousands of Immigrants. Heres How They Could End Up Trapped.

Developing . . .
FOREST CITY, Iowa  Its more jail time for a Lake Mills man for his involvement in a kidnapping.

Andrew John Aukes, 33, has been sentenced to 30 days in jail and must pay a $315 fine after entering an Alfrod plea to child endangerment, accessory after the fact, and possession of marijuana. An Alford plea means Aukes does not admit guilt but concedes he could be convicted at trial and will accept sentencing.

Authorities say after Kristofer Voigt abducted a woman on November 7, 2018, Aukes hid them from law enforcement in an upstairs closest. When officers returned to Aukes home the next day, they said they found drugs and six minor children there.

Voigt pleaded guilty to third-degree kidnapping and was given 10 years in prison.
More than 700 of the UKs leading legal academics have signed a stinging open letter urging Boris Johnson to ditch draconian restrictions on the freedom to demonstrate, in one of the largest protests of its kind in decades.

The signatories, who represent a significant proportion of the UKs legal scholars and include more than 120 professors of law from universities including Oxford, Cambridge, Durham and York, warned of an alarming extension of state control over legal assembly from measures in the prime ministers controversial Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill.

Scenes of women being forced to the ground and handcuffed while attending a vigil to murder victim Sarah Everard in south London on Saturday vividly highlighted the dangers of extending powers to control protests and public gatherings, they said.

The 300-page bill, which was rushed through its second reading in the Commons this week just days after being published, dramatically extends police powers to clamp down on protests and gives home secretary Priti Patel the power to define the kind of serious disruption which could lead to demonstrators being arrested and prosecuted.

Under its terms, individuals could be jailed for up to 10 years for causing serious annoyance or inconvenience. Police could impose legally binding restrictions on marches or rallies on the grounds that the noise generated may result in serious disruption to the activities of an organisation or may have a relevant impact on persons in the vicinity of the protest. And unprecedented new powers could impose controls on protests by a single person.

Anyone breaching conditions imposed by police can be arrested and prosecuted, even if they did not know they were in place, as the bill lowers the threshold which currently says it is an offence knowingly to fail to comply, making it possible to be charged with breaking a restriction which they knew or ought to have known about.

Read more:

Todays letter, published in The Independent, warned that such measures represent an existential attack on the right to protest.

Signatories pointed to warnings from the UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights to Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and of Association that the threshold for imposing conditions on public assemblies in England and Wales is already too low and does not reflect the strict test of necessity and proportionality in international conventions.

And they expressed alarm that the proposed use of so-called Henry VIII powers would allow the home secretary to alter the definition of prosecutable behaviours without parliamentary approval or scrutiny.

Attempts to push such draconian measures through to a second reading in Parliament in less than a week without proper consultation set a dangerous precedent for the future, they warned.

The disturbing scenes at Clapham Common on Saturday evening highlight the dangers of affording the executive broad powers without appropriate checks and balances in place. We urge the government to abandon the Bill, and engage with civil society and relevant stakeholders about how the right to protest can be protected.

York University law lecturer Dr Joanna Gilmore, who coordinated the letter, said she had never seen an issue spark such comprehensive concern across university legal departments.

Within 24 hours of circulating this letter, we had received more than 700 signatures and the final number could easily reach 1,000, she told The Independent. Its not just the usual suspects with a particular interest in the area, it is a real broad opposition among eminent legal scholars across the piece. It is the strongest response I have seen in my career.

It is a mark of concern not only about the bills fundamental attack on the right to protest peacefully  which is an absolute right in any democracy  but also about the speed at which this is being rushed through, in the context of a pandemic and without proper consultation.

We are not calling for these measures to be amended, we are calling for this part of the bill to be abandoned.

UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 6 May 2021 A group of five Sisters from Carmelite Monastery in Dysart cast their vote in the Scottish Parliamentary election at Dysart Community Hall, West Port, Dysart PA UK news in pictures 5 May 2021 Leader of the Labour Party Sir Keir Starmer (centre) with West Midlands Metro Mayor candidate Liam Byrne (far right) and Labour Deputy Leader, Angela Rayner (far left) during a visit to Birmingham, whilst on the election campaign trail PA UK news in pictures 4 May 2021 Artists Heather Ackroyd and Dan Harvey stand within 100 oak saplings which form part of a living art installation entitled Beuys' Acorns by the UK-based artist duo, outside the Tate Modern in London PA UK news in pictures 3 May 2021 Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie feeds the Gentoo penguins during a visit to Edinburgh Zoo on the campaign trail for the forthcoming Scottish Parliamentary Election on May 6 PA UK news in pictures 2 May 2021 Chelsea players celebrate their fourth goal during the Womens Champions League semi-final second leg against Bayern Munich, at Kingsmeadow Stadium in south west London. The Blues won the game 4-1, (and the tie 5-3 on aggregate) sending them through to their first Champions League final AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 1 May 2020 Demonstrators during a march through London during a 'Kill the Bill' protest Angela Christofilou UK news in pictures 30 April 2021 Shoppers queue outside Primark in Belfast as shops reopen and hospitality is able to open outdoors in Northern Ireland where lockdown restrictions have begun to gradually ease PA UK news in pictures 29 April 2021 Specialist operators at the Royal Air Force Museum Cosford, near Telford, Shropshire, clean the Hawker Hunter aircraft displayed within the museum's National Cold War Exhibition, during annual high-level aircraft cleaning and maintenance PA UK news in pictures 28 April 2021 Millions of tulips in flower near Kings Lynn in Norfolk, as Belmont Nurseries, the UK's largest commercial grower of outdoor tulips, offers socially-distanced visits to its tulip fields at Hillington to raise funds for local charity The Norfolk Hospice Tapping House PA UK news in pictures 27 April 2021 Paula Laughton checks one of the newly installed Lego models in the new Lego Mythica land at Legoland Windsor Resort PA UK news in pictures 26 April 2021 A red panda rests on a tree at Manor Wildlife park, which reopened its doors as lockdown restrictions continue to ease, in Tenby, Wales Reuters UK news in pictures 25 April 2021 Sheep climb the hillside as flames from a moor fire are seen on Marsden moor, near Huddersfield AFP via Getty UK news in pictures 24 April 2021 Supporters protest against Manchester United's owners, outside English Premier League club Manchester United's Old Trafford stadium in Manchester AFP via Getty UK news in pictures 23 April 2021 People enjoy the warm weather at City Hall near Tower Bridge in central London PA UK news in pictures 22 April 2021 Uyghurs during a demonstration in Parliament Square, London, which is being held ahead of a House of Commons debate, bought by backbench MP Nus Ghani, on whether Uyghurs in China's Xinjiang province are suffering crimes against humanity and genocide PA UK news in pictures 21 April 2021 People walk at the Taihaku Cherry Orchard in Alnwick REUTERS UK news in pictures 20 April 2021 People stand in front of anti Super League banners outside Anfield as twelve of Europe's top football clubs, including Liverpool, launch a breakaway league Reuters UK news in pictures 19 April 2021 Women enjoy sunny weather in Greenwich, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in London, Britain, Reuters UK news in pictures 18 April 2021 Stephen Maguire (right) of Scotland interacts with Jamie Jones of Wales during day 2 of the Betfred World Snooker Championships 2021 at The Crucible, Sheffield PA UK news in pictures 17 April 2021 Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburghs coffin, covered with His Royal Highnesss Personal Standard arrives by Landrover Defender at St Georges Chapel carried by a bearer party found by the Royal Marines during the funeral of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh at Windsor Castle Getty Images UK news in pictures 16 April 2021 Scotland's First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, checks the teeth of "Dentosaurus" during a visit to the Thornliebank Dental Care centre in Glasgow, as she campaigns ahead of the 2021 Scottish Parliamentary Election AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 15 April 2021 Myanmar's former ambassador to the UK, Kyaw Zwar Minn, outside his residence in north west London. The ambassador has been barred from entering the Myanmar embassy in Mayfair after he was removed from office PA UK news in pictures 14 April 2021 People take part in coronavirus surge testing on Clapham Common, south London. Thousands of residents have queued up to take coronavirus tests at additional facilities set up after new cases of the South African variant were found in two south London boroughs. 44 confirmed cases of the variant have been found in Lambeth and Wandsworth, with a further 30 probable cases identified PA UK news in pictures 13 April 2021 The core of the Milky Way becomes visible in the early hours of Tuesday morning as it moves over Bamburgh Lighthouse at stag Rock in Northumberland PA UK news in pictures 12 April 2021 Rebecca Richardson (left) and Genevieve Florence, members of the Aquabatix synchronised swimming team, during a practice session in the swimming pool at Clissold Leisure Centre in north London, which has reopened to the public. Many facilities have reopened in the latest easing of lockdown include pubs and restaurants who can serve outside, non-essential shops, indoor gyms and swimming pools, nail salons and hairdressers, outdoor amusements and zoos PA UK news in pictures 11 April 2021 A pub staff pins up a sign announcing the reopening of the Fox on the Hill pub on Denmark Hill in London EPA UK news in pictures 10 April 2021 The Death Gun Salute is fired by the Honourable Artillery Company to mark the passing of Britain's Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, at the The Tower of London AFP via Getty UK news in pictures 9 April 2021 A man arrives to lay a bunch of flowers outside Buckingham Palace in central London after the announcement of the death of Britain's Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. - Queen Elizabeth II's husband Prince Philip, who recently spent more than a month in hospital and underwent a heart procedure, died on April 9, Buckingham Palace announced. He was 99. AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 8 April 2021 Cousin Pascal ridden by James King clears the chair on their way to winning the 4:05 Pool via REUTERS UK news in pictures 7 April 2021 Deliveroo riders from the Independent Workers Union of Great Britain outside Deliveroo headquarters in London, as they go on strike in a dispute for fair pay, safety protections and basic workers rights PA UK news in pictures 6 April 2021 Waves crash over the walls next to Seaham Lighthouse in Durham PA UK news in pictures 5 April 2021 Lusamba Katalay (third from left), the husband of Belly Mujinga joins activists at a vigil at Victoria station in London to mark the first anniversary of the death of railway worker Belly Mujinga who died with Covid-19 following reports she had been coughed on by a customer at London's Victoria station PA UK news in pictures 4 April 2021 People spend Easter Sunday at Hengistbury Head, Bournemouth Jake McPherson/SWNS UK news in pictures 3 April 2021 A woman looks into the camera as she attends a 'Kill the Bill' protest in London EPA UK news in pictures 2 April 2021 Members of the Bamburgh Croquet club play a game following the easing of COVID-19 restrictions in Northumberland, Britain Reuters UK news in pictures 1 April 2021 A family walks in St Nicholas' Park in Warwick, the hot weather which baked much of the UK this week is set to give way to a chilly Easter weekend. PA UK news in pictures 31 March 2021 A woman adds a heart to the National Covid Memorial Wall in London EPA UK news in pictures 30 March 2021 Jamie Klingler from Reclaim These Streets speaks to the media in Clapham Common, south London, after a review by the Chief Inspector of Constabulary Sir Thomas Winsor concluded that Metropolitan Police officers did not act inappropriately or in a heavy-handed manner at the vigil PA UK news in pictures 29 March 2021 An aerial photo shows people playing tennis at the Mersey Bowman Lawn Tennis Club in Liverpool northwest England on March 29, 2021, as England's third Covid-19 lockdown restrictions ease, allowing groups of up to six people to meet outside. - People in England rushed outside Monday to enjoy sports, picnics and other previously prohibited activities, as the nation entered the second phase of its coronavirus lockdown easing thanks in large part to a successful vaccination drive AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 28 March 2021 A walrus sleeps on the slipway of Tenby Lifeboat station at Tenby, Wales Reuters UK news in pictures 27 March 2021 Demonstrators attend a protest against a new proposed policing bill in Manchester Reuters UK news in pictures 26 March 2021 Gallery technicians display Andy Warhol screenprints Queen Elizabeth II, from: Reigning Queens screenprint in colours, 1985, left, and Queen Elizabeth II, from: Reigning Queens (Royal Edition) screenprint in colours with diamond dust, 1985, right, at Christies auction rooms in London AP UK news in pictures 25 March 2021 A member of staff, in the pool, cleans the bottom of the pool during pre-opening preparation and cleaning of Charlton Lido, south London, following its closure due to lockdown PA UK news in pictures 24 March 2021 Scottish Green Party co-leaders Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater on the local election campaign trail in Edinburgh. PA UK news in pictures 23 March 2021 Care home staff at Westbourne House care home in Sheffield hold a minute's silence during the National Reflection day, The first anniversary of the first UK lockdown Tom Maddick / SWNS UK news in pictures 22 March 2021 The sun rises over "The Couple" by artist Sean Henry, which sits off the coast at Newbiggin-by-the-Sea in Northumberland PA UK news in pictures 21 March 2021 A man driving with his family in Jersey captured the moment a meteor streaked across the sky on his cars dash cam SWNS UK news in pictures 20 March 2021 Police officers detain a demonstrator during a protest against the lockdown in London Reuters UK news in pictures 19 March 2021 A parakeet eats a cherry blossom in St. James's Park, London, Britain Reuters UK news in pictures 18 March 2021 Highland cattle lock horns at the National Trusts Wicken Fen Nature Reserve in Cambridgeshire PA

If passed, the legislation would have a chilling effect on anyone considering taking part in a protest against the governments actions, by increasing the fear that even peaceful demonstrations could lead to arrest, she said.

It is a real slippery slope in terms of the power of the executive to clamp down on free speech and assembly, Dr Gilmore said.

Dr Gilmore said that the deeply disturbing images of women being restrained at Clapham Common had heightened existing concerns about government responses to protests by groups such as Extinction Rebellion and Black Lives Matter, which Ms Patel branded dreadful.

Contrary to ministers assertions, there was no academic evidence to show that demonstration tactics were becoming more disruptive or extreme, she said. Mass arrests at demos frequently led to very low rates of convictions.

A lot of people are uncomfortable with the attempt to describe campaigns as extremist or violent, said Dr Gilmore. This bill hasnt come out of nowhere, it is part of a pattern to delegitimise anyone who disagrees with the government.

The human rights group Liberty has called the police bill a staggering assault on our right to protest, as well as an attack on other fundamental rights.

Despite loud protests form opposition parties and a noisy demonstration outside Parliament, the legislation passed its first hurdle in the Commons by 359 votes to 263 on Tuesday without a single Conservative MP rebelling. It now faces further opposition as it passes through remaining stages in the Commons and Lords.

Liberty policy and campaigns officer Emmanuelle Andrews said: We should all be able to stand up for what we believe in, and protest is a key way we make our voices heard and fight for a fairer society.

However, these principles are under attack and the ability for us to hold the powerful to account is now under immediate threat.
The World Health Organisation said today that "at this time it considers that the benefits of the AstraZeneca vaccine outweigh its risks and it recommends that vaccinations continue.

The statement today comes as the European Medicines Agency is tomorrow due to reveal the findings of its investigations into reports of blood clotting events among people who received the vaccine in Europe.

Ireland is one of seventeen countries which has put its use on hold.

WHO's own safety committee is also investigating the reports.

Read More

In a statement today WHO said some countries has put on a hold on AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine as a precautionary measure based on reports of rare blood coagulation disorders in persons who had received the vaccine.

Other countries in the EU  having considered the same information - have decided to continue using the vaccine in their immunization programmes.

"Vaccination against Covid-19 will not reduce illness or deaths from other causes. Thromboembolic events are known to occur frequently. Venous thromboembolism is the third most common cardiovascular disease globally.

It pointed out that In extensive vaccination campaigns, it is routine for countries to signal potential adverse events following immunization. This does not necessarily mean that the events are linked to vaccination itself, but it is good practice to investigate them. It also shows that the surveillance system works and that effective controls are in place.

WHO said it it is in regular contact with the European Medicines Agency and regulators around the world for the latest information on COVID-19 vaccine safety.

The Global Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety is carefully assessing the latest available safety data for the AstraZeneca.

Once that review is completed, the WHO will immediately communicate the findings to the public.

It said that at this time it considers that the benefits of the AstraZeneca vaccine outweigh its risks and recommends that vaccinations continue.
When the woman tried calling her parents, she was unable to reach them. She then called a neighbor of her parents who lived 3 or 4 miles away, investigators said. When the neighbor got to the house and looked in a window, he saw the womans mother on the floor, bleeding, Templeton said. The neighbor then called the woman.
In his maiden Senate speech on Wednesday, Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) called the push for voting restrictions by Republicans in his home state of Georgia "Jim Crow in new clothes" and urged Congress to pass new voting protections at the federal level.

Why it matters: Georgia swung blue for President Biden in 2020 and both 2021 Senate races, giving Democrats control in the 50-50 Senate. But the GOP-led state legislature is now advancing measures to roll back and restrict voting access for constituents.

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Similar efforts are popping up in other legislatures, including Arizona and Florida.

Yes, but: The Senate is currently considering their version of the House's "For the People Act," which would allow universal same-day voting registration, ban the purging of voter rolls, allow all voters to vote by mail, and enact automatic voter registration for Americans age 18 and up.

But the bill requires Republican support, as it needs 60 votes to pass the Senate.

What he's saying: "Politicians in my home state and all across America in their craven lust for power launched a full-fledged assault on voting rights. They are focused on winning at any cost  even the cost of the democracy itself," Warnock said.

"I submit that it is the job of each citizen to stand up for the voting rights of every citizen, and it is the job of this body to do all that it can to defend the viability of our democracy," he added.

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1,3-Propanediol (PDO) Market: Growing polyester applications across various industries to drive growth.

Increasing use of polyester in various industries is fueling the market demand for PDO owing to its versatile physical properties. Polyester offers a completely unique set of benefits unmatched by any other natural or synthetic fiber. It is used in various applications such as in carpet and textile fibers, films, monofilaments, and nonwoven fabrics. Coatings based on polyesters, which are made from PDO, provide superior impact resistance and flexibility as compared with those coatings that do not contain PDO. Owing to the increasing polyester applications in various industries, several PDO manufacturers are expanding their production capacities to meet customer requirements. This allowed the company to expand its market reach in the personal care, cosmetics, flavors, and fibers markets, among other applications.

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As per Technavio, the growth of the personal care and cosmetics industry will have a positive impact on the market and contribute to its growth significantly over the forecast period. This research report also analyzes other significant trends and market drivers that will influence market growth over 2021-2025.

1,3-Propanediol (PDO) Market: Growth of personal care and cosmetics industry

The growth of the personal care industry is anticipated to boost the growth of the global PDO market. The personal care industry is growing due to an increase in disposable income and consumer expenditure, an increasing population, a rise in organized retail, and better product awareness. All the aforementioned factors are acting as drivers, providing the industry with a competitive advantage. The PDO is highly preferred in the manufacturing process of personal care products because it imparts beneficial properties such as solvency and moisturization. Certain raw materials that are used in the production of personal care products cause severe skin allergies. These factors drive the growth of the 1,3-propanediol (PDO) market over the forecast period.

"Increasing automotive production and the production of biodiesel will further boost market growth during the forecast period", says a senior analyst at Technavio.

1,3-Propanediol (PDO) Market: Major Vendors

ChemImpex International Inc.

Connect Chemicals GmbH

DuPont Tate & Lyle Bio Products Company LLC

Haihang Industry Co. Ltd.

Koninklijke DSM NV

1,3-Propanediol (PDO) Market: Segmentation Analysis

This market research report segments the 1,3-propanediol (PDO) market by application (PTT, Polyurethane, Personal care and detergents, and Others) and geography (North America, APAC, Europe, South America, and MEA).

The North America region led the 1,3-propanediol (PDO) market in 2021, followed by APAC, Europe, South America, and MEA respectively. During the forecast period, the North American region is expected to register the highest incremental growth due to factors such as growing environmental concerns.

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Related Reports on Materials Include:

Global Calcium Carbide Market- The calcium carbide market is segmented by application (acetylene production, reducing and dehydrating agent, steel making, calcium cyanamide production, and others), geography (APAC, Europe, North America, South America, and MEA), and key vendors.

To get extensive research insights: Download FREE Sample Report

Global Hydrogen Peroxide Market- The hydrogen peroxide market is segmented by end-user (pulp and paper, textiles, wastewater treatment, and others) and geography (APAC, North America, Europe, MEA, and South America).

To get extensive research insights: Download FREE Sample Report

Some of the key topics covered in the report include:

Market Challenges

Market Drivers

Market Trends

Vendor Landscape

Vendors covered

Vendor classification

Market positioning of vendors

Competitive scenario

About Technavio

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions.

With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

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Suspects who broke in to a fine art museum in Texas escaped police by using a motorboat and running into a sewer system, according to Houston police.

The break-in occurred at a Houston Museum of Fine Arts facility that includes one of the finest showcases of American furnishings, silver, ceramics and paintings in the world. Its unclear if the suspects escaped with anything from the collection.

Lt. Larry Crowson with the Houston Police Department said a security guard reported the break-in at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, according to video of a news conference posted to YouTube by KHOU 11. When officers arrived, the suspects jumped out of the building, ran to a nearby bayou and into a motorboat, Crowson said. They boated down the bayou as they were being chased by officers driving nearby, the lieutenant said.

Officers eventually lost sight of the suspects. A diving team and a helicopter were brought to the area to continue the search, and a spotlight found the boat with two people in it, according to Crowson.

The suspects were seen running into a drainage culvert that runs underneath the River Oaks District of Houston, police say. A K-9 officer and patrol officers followed the suspects through the sewer system, but the commanding officers eventually lost radio contact with the searchers, Crowson said.

The Houston Fire Department was called to help locate the officers, and they were eventually found unharmed, the lieutenant said. The suspects were not located.

Police are attempting to identify the suspects through the motorboats registration, according to Crowson.

The museum will do an inventory of its items to determine if anything was stolen, he added.

Its unclear what charges the suspects face if they are caught.

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COMPANIES

KBR moving ahead with Centauri now fully in the fold

KBRs self-described largest to date (and) arguably the most transformational acquisition is now fully integrated into the fold after Centauri became part of the buyers defense and intelligence business unit.

The official ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the occasion took place at Centauris former headquarters in Chantilly, Virginia during the first week of March, which represents five months since the deal completed.

As part of the transaction, Centauris former CEO Dave Dzaran joined the KBR leadership team as senior vice president of the defense units national security technologies group.

There was this tremendous desire to be able to contribute more in terms of products, services and capabilities, Dzaran told me in a roundtable discussion at the Chantilly site.

Finding a partner to help in that was one aspect of Centauri becoming a part of KBR, so too was how Dzaran and other management teams explained why that was the right step.

The number of opportunities and what it means from a career progression standpoint, as well as just being a part of something bigger that is in line with the aspirations and ideals of our employees, added Dzaran.

From KBRs point of view, they see the addition of Centauri as further pushing ahead from what was already a strong footing from last year. Byron Bright, president of KBRs government segment, cited the 1.2 book-to-bill ratio (backlog growth versus bookings for sales) over 2020 as part of that foundation for 2021 in addition to what Centauri gives them.

The fastest growing areas of our business were our science and space unit, and our defense and intelligence unit, Bright said. Our focus on military space, cyber and data analytics, digital engineering and applying a lot of these tools, we see all of those things as remaining strong with our customers.... Even with the administration change, those tenets are holding true.

One revenue synergy from bringing Centauri into the fold is already on the board. Earlier this year, KBR secured its role on a $539 million Air Force task order for engineering services to help further develop new space technologies and other capabilities.

KBR had performed related tasks since January 2018 for the program called TENCAP, short for Tactical Exploitation of National Capabilities.

But TENCAP is an example of a win that is very synergistic with the customer set from legacy Centauri, according to Pete Green, senior vice president of defense and intelligence solutions.

Revenue from U.S. government contracts totaled $3.08 billion last year to make up for nearly 53 percent of KBRs overall $5.77 billion in sales, according to its annual report for 2020. By comparison, U.S. federal revenue was $663 million and 13 percent of total sales in 2015 during KBRs last full year before the government-focused acquisitions began.

One linchpin of KBRs government market strategy regarding acquisitions and the organic growth to follow on from that is space, including both military and civilian along with commercial.

Space Force was a concept not yet in reality two years ago when I spoke with Bright. The militarys sixth branch became a reality in December 2019, while civil and commercial space remain hot areas of interest for investors and government agencies alike.

Were seeing this convergence of space needs across defense, civilian, commercial space. Theyre all leveraging capabilities whether thats commercial space launch supporting the defense and intell side, they are learning from one another on new architectures whether thats smaller satellites or low-earth orbit, Bright said.

Dzaran said he sees the Space Force construct giving further stability when it comes to their funding, along with the roles and responsibilities of agencies when it comes to space.

Our space itself is getting more crowded. More satellite launches took place last year than any other with just shy of 1,100 delivered last year, according to Space News.

Were going to see more and more real estate up there, people trying to get up on the hill, they want to get up the hill for communications for sure, added Green.

Like all things during the coronavirus pandemic, remote connectivity tools have been heavily relied upon during the integration process and a majority of KBRs employees are working at home if able for the pandemic's duration. But most of the defense and intelligence units employees do go on-site given the nature of their work.

KBR is also like other companies in examining what its future real estate footprint will look like after the pandemic, but is also thinking bigger picture beyond just square footage for when larger numbers can safely meet again.

Whats the purpose of the office: its no longer come in a cube from nine to five, Bright said. When you come to the office, youre coming to collaborate, youre coming to innovate, youre coming to share those ideas....Its more about redefining what you do and the purpose of the office.
New Delhi:

In a tragic incident, as many as two people were reported dead after a huge heap of garbage caved in at the Ghazipur landfill site in Delhi on Friday evening. 5 people have been rescued from the spot whereas some others are feared to be trapped in the debris. Further, a team of NDRF with 45 personnel is involved in rescue operations.

Updates:

# No doubt it's serious concern, talked to LG about shifting landfill. Also asked compensation for those who died, he agreed: East Delhi MP

# The identity of two people dead has been revealed. The deceased have been identified as Abhishek (20 yrs) and Rajkumari (30 yrs)

No doubt it's serious concern, talked to LG about shifting landfill. Also asked compensation for those who died, he agreed: East Delhi MP pic.twitter.com/KMzEvFe6pu  ANI (@ANI) September 1, 2017

# Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal is going to the spot. He said that he will speak on the issue only after getting proper information regarding it.

# Rescue operation is underway. Reason of the incident can be ascertained only after investigation: Ranbir Singh, EDMC Commissioner

# Two people have died in the tragic incident whereas 5 have been rescued.

# A team of NDRF with 45 personnel has been sent to the spot for rescue operations.

# One body recovered from Kondli canal, confirms Delhi Police

#Visuals: Rescue operation by NDRF team underway in #Delhi's Ghazipur area where a garbage dump caved in. pic.twitter.com/RU9MnZBi7v  ANI (@ANI) September 1, 2017

# Rescue operations are still underway.

#Visuals: Rescue operations underway in #Delhi's Ghazipur area where a garbage dump caved in. One team of NDRF moves to Ghazipur. pic.twitter.com/bFNmNgYJsN  ANI (@ANI) September 1, 2017

Rescue operation is underway. Reason of the incident can be ascertained only after investigation: Ranbir Singh, EDMC Commissioner #Delhi pic.twitter.com/1mXLumfb5t  ANI (@ANI) September 1, 2017

# Fire brigade engines are present on the spot.

Two bodies have been recovered, five persons rescued: Ajay Arora, SDM, Mayur Vihar. pic.twitter.com/8F20SChLJT  ANI (@ANI) September 1, 2017

# A part of the dumping yard in Ghazipur falls.

#UPDATE Delhi's Ghazipur: One body recovered from Kondli canal, confirms Delhi Police. Rescue operations underway. pic.twitter.com/2DKizkIJ8I  ANI (@ANI) September 1, 2017

# Many cars and bikes fell in Kondli canal.

# 4-5 vehicles fell into Kondli canal.

Rescue operations underway in #Delhi's Ghazipur area where a garbage dump caved in, 4-5 vehicles fell into Kondli canal. pic.twitter.com/l5L2KCfH3D  ANI (@ANI) September 1, 2017

# Several people are believed to be trapped under the debris.

# 1 woman on a scooty dies due to the incident.

#Visuals from Delhi: Garbage dump caves in at Ghazipur landfill site, 4-5 vehicles fell into Kondli canal, rescue operations underway. pic.twitter.com/BDfZ3sdL5W  ANI (@ANI) September 1, 2017

# Ghazipur garbage dump caves in

The garbage dump, in East Delhi's Ghazipur area, collapsed around 2:20 pm. The Delhi Traffic Police has said the road leading from the Delhi-Noida-Delhi Expressway towards Kondali and Ghazipur have been shut due to the landfill collapse.

The site has exceeded its occupancy but garbage is filled here in the absence of any other alternative. On an average, 22,000 metric tonne garbage is deposited here. In order to decrease the pressure on the landfill site, a pipe line has been laid out in a 10 acre area. Methane gas has been taken out in the area and grass has been grown there. There was a plan to use the garbage from the dump for filling the NH -9 but the same has not materialised till now.

Further, even electricity has been produced from the garbage present in the area. However, despite all this, the garbage keeps on increasing here.
Section 144 imposed in Noida: What is open, what is not

Looking for COVID hospital bed in Noida? This official website provides real-time update

Noida airport: UP cabinet OKs 1,365 hectare land for second phase of upcoming Jewar airport

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

Noida (UP), Mar 17: The Uttar Pradesh cabinet has approved a proposal for acquisition of another 1,365 hectare land in Jewar for the second phase of the upcoming Noida International Airport, according to an official statement.

The cabinet also approved an expenditure of Rs 2,890 crore for the land acquisition, besides resettlement and rehabilitation of the people who will be affected by the expansion of the greenfield project, it stated.

The decision was taken by the cabinet at a meeting in Lucknow on Tuesday evening.

S P Goyal, the additional chief secretary to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, tweeted on Tuesday, "The State Cabinet has today approved the proposal to acquire another 1,365 hectares of land for the future expansion of Noida International Airport at Jewar."

Good news for commuters: Driverless taxi pods to connect Greater Noida with Jewar airport

Currently work is underway for the first phase of development of the Noida International Airport in the Jewar area of Gautam Buddh Nagar district in western Uttar Pradesh, according to officials.

The greenfield airport is being developed in four phases and billed to be the biggest when completed with five or six runways spread in an area of 5,000 hectare, the officials said.

The first phase of the project is coming up on over 1,300 hectare land and commercial operations from the airport are expected to begin by December 2023 or January 2024, they said.

Karnataka CD Scandal: Family claims woman kidnapped, files complaint| Oneindia News

Swiss-developer Zurich International Airport AG is developing the airport at an estimated cost of Rs 29,560 crore, they added.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Wednesday, March 17, 2021, 10:24 [IST]
A murder probe has been launched after a man was stabbed to death in east London.

Emergency services rushed to Lea Bridge Road in Leyton shortly after 5pm this evening, where two men were found with knife wounds.

One was pronounced dead at the scene while the other had 'severe cuts to his hands'.

Emergency services rushed to Lea Bridge Road in Leyton shortly after 5pm this evening, where two men were found with knife wounds. Pictured: Adam Dack

Witnesses spoke of their shock on social media following the incident, which has seen road closures and bus diversions enforced.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: 'Police were called at approximately 17:20hrs on Wednesday, 17 March to reports of a stabbing on Lea Bridge Road, near the junction with Grove Road, E17.

'Officers attended along with the London Ambulance Service. A man, no further details, was pronounced dead at the scene.

'A second man was found with cuts to his hand and was taken to hospital for treatment.

'Road closures are in place. Enquiries are ongoing. At this early stage, there have been no arrests.'
EDWARDSVILLE  A Wood River man faces two felony charges after allegedly striking a Wood River High School teacher and Wood River Police Officer in November.

LaShelvy D. White, 18, of Wood River, was charged March 15 with two counts of aggravated battery, one a Class 2 felony and the other a Class 3 felony.

The case was presented by the Wood River Police Department.

According to court documents, on Nov. 17 White allegedly struck an East Alton High School teacher in the chest, and kneed a Wood River police officer in the groin.

Bail was set at $60,000.

In a separate case, a Maryville man faces felony charges in two separate filings March 15.

Evan J. Fedro, 33, of Maryville, was charged with aggravated battery, a Class 2 felony, and aggravated assault, a Class 4 felony.

The battery charge was presented by the Madison County Sheriffs Department, the assault charge by the Maryville Police Department.

According to court documents, on March 12 Fedro allegedly swung his fists at a Maryville police officer and struck a sheriffs deputy.

Bail was set at $50,000 on the assault charge, and $60,000 on the battery charge.

Other felony charges filed March 15 by the Madison County States Attorney include:

 Tamaija D. Gipson, 26, of Alton, was charged with unlawful possession of weapons by a felon, a Class 3 felony. The case was presented by the Wood River Police Department. On March 14 Gipson, who had a prior conviction for residential burglary in 2012 out of Madison County, allegedly was found to be in possession of a revolver. Bail was set at $15,000.

 Dorian C. Andrews, 33, of East St. Louis, was charged with domestic battery (second subsequent offense), and unlawful possession of a controlled substance, both Class 4 felonies. The case was presented by the Wood River Police Department. On March 14 Andrews struck a family or household member in the head, and was found to be in possession of less than 15 grams of cocaine. It was noted he had a prior conviction for domestic battery in 2019 out of St. Clair County. Bail was set at $25,000.
Aizawl, March 17 : The 70-day-long BSF's 'Maitri Cycle Rally' to commemorate the 50th year of the 1971 Bangladesh liberation war victory covering a distance of around 4,000-km along the frontiers of five Indian states culminated in western Mizoram on Wednesday.

The 'Maitri Cycle Rally' comprising 13 cyclists of the Border Security Force (BSF) began on January 10 from the Panitar Border Out Post (BOP) in South Bengal and ended at Silkore BOP in western Mizoram on Wednesday, a day coinciding with the celebrations of the 101st birth anniversary of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who is called the "Father of the Nation" in Bangladesh.

BSF Spokesman Ashok Kumar said that such a 'Maitri Cycle Rally' was organised for the first time to promote and strengthen the bonds of friendship and to enhance the mutual cooperation and trust between the BSF and Border Guards Bangladesh (BGB).

"This would also create a sense of security and confidence among the people living along the international borders and impart messages about the ill effects of drug abuse and border crimes among others," Kumar told IANS.

He said during the 70-day journey, the 13 cyclists of the BSF were welcomed by the BGB officials, border residents and school students in many places all along the borders of India and Bangladesh. Various colourful Mizo ethnic and traditional dances and functions were held at Silkore BOP in Mizoram to celebrate the culmination of the rally.

BSF Director General Rakesh Asthana, Mizoram police chief Shashi Bhushan Kumar Singh, BSF's Additional Director General (Eastern Command) D.K. Boora, BGB officials headed by Brigadier General Mohammad Zakir Hossain among others were present at the closing ceremony. The commemoration of the 50th anniversary year of the 1971 Bangladesh war was decided at the five-day 51st Director General level talks held in Guwahati on December 22-26.

During the year-long commemoration, ex-BSF officers and personnel, Bangladeshi Mukti Yoddha (freedom fighters) and important personalities would be felicitated and the celebrations would culminate on December 16 this year.

Tripura frontier Inspector General (IG) Susanta Kumar Nath said that the 70-day cycle rally covered around a 4,000-km distance along the frontiers of West Bengal, Assam, Tripura, Meghalaya and Mizoram. Nath said the BSF has always maintained good relations with its counterpart BGB.

He said that to enhance the cooperation and goodwill, six "BSF-BGB Maitri Fooball Matches" would be organised in Tripura, West Bengal, Assam and Meghalaya. The first such match would be held at Belonia in southern Tripura on Thursday. During the matches, dog shows, band display and various other functions and events would also be organised.

The Tripura government has also developed a big memorial and park at the border village of Chottakhola -- 132 km south of Agartala -- in memory of the Indian soldiers and Bangladeshi freedom fighters who sacrificed their lives during the liberation war.

Five Indian states -- West Bengal (2,216 km), Tripura (856 km), Meghalaya (443 km), Mizoram (318 km) and Assam (263 km) -- share 4,096 km long borders with Bangladesh.

(Sujit Chakraborty can be contacted at sujit.c@ians.in)
YEREVAN, MARCH 17, ARMENPRESS. A stable operational situation with no incidents has been maintained along the Armenian-Azerbaijani line of contact of the Armenian state border overnight March 16-17, the Defense Ministry of Armenia told ARMENPRESS.

According to the information provided by the Armenian National Security Service, no border incidents were registered in Vorotan-Davit Bek section of the Goris-Kapan inter-state road which is under the responsibility of the NSS border troops.

The Armed Forces of Armenia and the NSS border troops confidently control the border situation along the entire borderline.
Samsung to delay next Galaxy Note due to chip shortage, but promises one in 2022

Earlier today Samsung held its annual shareholders' meeting in Suwon, South Korea. The co-CEO DJ Koh revealed to investors the company is considering skipping the introduction of a Galaxy Note smartphone in 2021 due to a serious imbalance in semiconductors globally, meaning there is a higher demand for chips than there is a supply.

Koh said that Samsung wants to release new products, but due to the unusual chip situation, timing may vary and next year the lineup should be back on track.

Samsung is one of the biggest chipmakers in the world, but it is one of few, the other major player being TSMC. The demand surge is one thing, but the companys fab in Austin, Texas, was sidelined in February by statewide power outages and still hasnt resumed full production.

Analysts reveal that the lack of Galaxy Note phones will affect the company shipments by around 5%, but will account for a bigger decline in revenue since its one of the most expensive phone series in the Galaxy world.

Source 1  Source 2 (in Korean)
The St. Patricks Day flood of 1936 in Pennsylvania was devastating  more than 100 people died and damage was estimated at $300 million.

A reporter who took an aerial tour of the damage said he saw considerable wreckage.

Damage was tremendous in Easton, Pittsburgh, Johnstown, Williamsport, Bloomsburg and Sunbury.

The elements that caused the flood that hit Pa. March 17-20 that year started early in the year.

A bus moves down Vaughn Street in Harrisburg during the March 1936 flood. (Source unknown)

According to the book, Great Floods of Pennsylvania by William H. Shank, The winter of 1935-36 had been one of the most severe that Pennsylvania had seen for years. Huge quantities of snow fell in January and February throughout the state, and prevailing low temperatures preserved it well.

In late February, the cold spell ended, according to the book, with remarkably warm weather and light rains. This resulted in the rapid melting of two months accumulation of dormant moisture throughout the state, all of which was turned loose on the streams and rivers within a period of about 10 days.

An early effect of the warm spell was the thawing of the heavy layers of ice, fifteen to twenty (or more) inches thick, formed on the rivers during the intense cold period.

As this ice melted, and as the rivers raised, the ice gorged or jammed at various points, forming temporary dams, with resulting high back-up water. The heavy ice cakes, borne in-shore by the high water, resulted in great damage to properties or communities where the jams occurred.

The broken ice chunks were causing jams, forcing water over the riverbanks.

On March 7, 10 miles of river ice above Harrisburg broke loose and gorged at multiple locations, causing an abrupt rise in the water level, and carrying huge cakes of ice in shore, which did tremendous damage. The town of Dauphin, 8 miles north of Harrisburg, was particularly hard hit. The ice gorge there occurred so suddenly that the townspeople literally ran for their lives to escape the inshore rush of water and ice cakes. Virtually every cottage and home along the river bank was either completely destroyed or badly damaged by the ice.

In the next week, he wrote, the level of the Susquehanna River at Harrisburg rose and fell. The maximum level on March 13 was 21.7 feet, with flooding in south Harrisburg and some West Shore suburbs.

The big flood, however, started on March 17 when the water began a steady and inexorable rise which continued until about 28 percent of the city was under water - 4 to 15 feet deep in some places. The peak of 30.33 feet was finally reached at 6 p.m. March 19, the highest reading to that date ever recorded on the Walnut Street gage at Harrisburg. The official crest, recorded on the Nagle Street gage downstream, was 29.23 feet, he wrote.

Because the citys pumping station and island water filtering plant were submerged at 27 feet, he said the city was left with only about a weeks worth of uncontaminated water in its reservoirs.

The water began to recede on March 21. Damage was tremendous, he wrote. Gas mains, water supplies, power lines, highways and bridges in the area were left in pitiable conditions. For weeks whole caravans of tank trucks rushed in drinking water supplies to fill the dwindling reservoirs. Water was rationed and boiling was recommended for what little water still remained in the reservoirs. It became almost a criminal offense to take a bath. Most West Shore citizens got typhoid shots.

North Second Street near Kelker Street in Harrisburg during the March 1936 flood. This photo taken by R. N. Good was published in the March 23, 1936, Evening News.

The Patriot had reported on March 2 that dynamite was going to be used to try to divert water backed up behind an ice gorge on the Juniata River over to the Susquehanna River to relieve Duncannon and West Shore towns from flood conditions.

The ice at Harrisburg, in the meantime, remained intact last night while all traffic was detoured from the River road at Dauphin.

The river neared the level of the concrete wall along the road below Clarks Ferry, and fearing that the danger was growing, the State Highway Department officials closed the road.

The ice from here to Clarks Ferry Bridge was expected by officials to break at any time and precautionary measures were being taken at all points.

The State Highway Department had already blasted once with 350 pounds of dynamite. The second blast used twice as much dynamite.

The channel is being made  to prevent as much as is possible the damage likely to strike Duncannon and vicinity and the bridge over the Juniata River.  The ice gorge extended upstream about one and one-half miles, and some sections of the road near Amity Hall were yet under about four feet of water. The ice jam was said to be 30 to 40 feet at places.

The newspaper every day had featured information about the status of the ice and the rising water.

On March 3, the paper reported that that winter continued to hold firm the ice of the Susquehanna River, to alarm residents along its shores.

On March 4, the paper reported, Warm and dry weather is diminishing the flood menace of the Susquehanna River here.

Two days later, the Juniata River flooded Amity Hall with more than 3 feet of water. A seven-mile ice floe moved down river from Lewistown to Newport. The ice was expected to reach the gorge at the mouth of the Juniata River.

On March 19, the paper reported that the Harrisburg area river front was hit by a 26-foot flood and that Pittsburgh had been devastated by an avalanche of water.

The Susquehanna River at 12:30 oclock this morning reached a stage of 26.1 feet, highest point since June 1889. Weatherman Charles S. Ling at that hour predicted a stage of 27 feet by morning, possibly leveling off at 28 feet. It the river reaches this stage it will be at its highest in 70 years.

Front Street in Wormleysburg during the March 1936 flood. (Source unknown)

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Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-18 06:19:13|Editor: huaxia

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QUITO, March 17 (Xinhua) -- Authorities raided Ecuador's Health Ministry as part of a corruption investigation into the country's vaccination process against COVID-19, the Attorney General's Office said on Wednesday.

Police and prosecutors searched the offices and seized computers and other potential evidence for alleged wrongdoings by former Health Minister Juan Carlos Zevallos and others, the agency said via Twitter.

The operation collected "information on the vaccination plan that began on Jan. 21, as well as the list of beneficiaries of phases 0 and 1," said the agency, because an "incomplete" list was sent to authorities three times "without the names of the people who have been vaccinated and are public knowledge."

According to the agency, "there is a detailed record of vaccinated people, which suggests that there is information that has been hidden."

The investigation "will not interfere in any way" with the ongoing vaccination registration processes of the Health Ministry, the agency added.

The agency opened an investigation into the case on Jan. 29, after revelations that Zevallos was using his post to vaccinate friends and family members.

Zevallos resigned on Feb. 26 over alleged irregularities in a coronavirus vaccination program. Enditem
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The Azerbaijani flag is flying at the entrance to Shusha and will be waving forever, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev said, during his visit to the city of Shusha, Trend reports.

We are saying until next time to Shusha. The Azerbaijani flag is waving at the entrance to Shusha and will be waving forever. Down below is the Lachin corridor. The weather favors us again. The sun shines on our path. This is the building of the Shusha substation. This building was constructed in a short time and will provide Shusha with sustainable energy. Last time we came to Shusha in January, the air was clear and the sun greeted us as we approached Shusha, Azerbaijani president said.

The rocks of Shusha look beautiful from here as well. Because we are on the path of truth and ours is the cause of truth. Nature also greets us. Because this is the nature of Azerbaijan, the head of state said.
SUNNYVALE, Calif., March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Plug and Play, the largest global innovation platform for corporations and startups, is adding NJM Insurance Group (NJM), a leading property and casualty insurer in the Mid-Atlantic region, to its growing network of insurtech corporate partners.

"We are excited to expand our network with NJM, a company recognized nationally for its commitment to customer satisfaction," said Saeed Amidi, Founder and CEO of Plug and Play. "We look forward to connecting NJM with the technology improvements our startups are offering to the insurance industry."

Plug and Play's insurtech program aims to improve the insurance industry by bringing together startups and insurers. Through its open innovation platform, Plug and Play will match NJM with some of the brightest startups on the market. The partnership creates unique opportunities for NJM to enhance its processes, products, and services while sharing valuable expertise with insurtech startups.

"Maintaining the highest levels of service, integrity, and financial stewardship is an enduring hallmark of NJM's commitment to policyholders," said Carol Voorhees, NJM Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer. "We are excited to partner with Plug and Play to foster new relationships, expand our knowledge, and continue to improve the customer experience."

About Plug and Play

Plug and Play is a global innovation platform. Headquartered in Silicon Valley, we have built accelerator programs, corporate innovation services, and an in-house VC to make technological advancement progress faster than ever before. Since inception in 2006, our programs have expanded worldwide to include a presence in over 30 locations globally, giving startups the necessary resources to succeed in Silicon Valley and beyond. With over 30,000 startups and 500 official corporate partners, we have created the ultimate startup ecosystem in many industries. Companies in our community have raised over $9 billion in funding, with successful portfolio exits including Dropbox, Guardant Health, Honey, Lending Club, and PayPal. For more information, visit https://www.plugandplaytechcenter.com/

About NJM Insurance Group

Founded in 1913, NJM's mission is to provide value-based insurance solutions to its policyholders with the highest levels of service, integrity, and financial stewardship. Known for its commitment to customer satisfaction, the Company finished first in the nation in the J.D. Power 2020 Auto Claims Satisfaction Study. NJM operates in a mutual fashion for the exclusive benefit of its policyholders. For more, visit njm.com.

SOURCE Plug and Play

Related Links

https://www.plugandplaytechcenter.com/


UN experts: the Islamic Republic has an advanced generation advanced centrifuge (the IR-4) in the Natanz underground plant. Another plant produces uranium with a purity of up to 20%. Iranian Minister: Tehran and Washington must decide whether to reach a "compromise".

Vienna (AsiaNews / Agencies) - Iran has begun enrichment of uranium at the Natanz underground plant, with a second generation advanced centrifuge (the IR-4), according to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

In a note the UN agency reports the Islamic Republic has taken a further step in violation of the nuclear agreement (JCPOA) signed in 2015 with world powers.

Recently, Tehran progressively violated the terms of the pact by easing restrictions on nuclear activities. The first steps in this direction date back to 2019, in response to the May 2018 withdrawal by the then US President Donald Trump from the JCPOA and the reintroduction of the toughest sanctions in history, causing a collapse of the Iranian economy.

"On March 15, 2021 - reads a note published in recent days by the IAEA - On 15 March 2021, the Agency verified that Iran began feeding the cascade of 174 IR-4 centrifuges already installed at FEP with natural UF6, the International Atomic Energy Agency said in the report to member states dated Monday, referring to uranium hexafluoride, the form in which uranium is fed into centrifuges for enrichment."

Iran has indicated that it now plans to install a second cascade of IR-4 centrifuges at the FEP but installation of that cascade has yet to begin, the report said. Iran has already increased the number of IR-2m machines, which are far more efficient than the IR-1, installed at the underground plant. " In summary, as of 15 March 2021, Iran was using 5,060 IR-1 centrifuges installed in 30 cascades, 522 IR-2m centrifuges installed in three cascades and 174 IR-4 centrifuges installed in one cascade, to enrich natural UF6 up to 5% U-235 at FEP, the IAEA report said, referring to the fissile purity of uranium.

The policies of the new US administration headed by Democrat Joe Biden have yet to be defined. The Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif spoke in recent days, who stressed that now the time has come for Washington to decide whether they want to reach a "compromise" to restart the dialogues and the JCPOA.

Europeans are used to compromise. Iran and the United States are not. The Americans are used to imposing, and we are used to resisting," Mohammad Javad Zarif. "So now is the time to decide. Will we both compromise and go back to the JCPOA? Or will we go back to our own paths?"
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"Join us LIVE for St. Patrick's Day to learn some fun facts about Irish pirates. Learn how to make and decorate your own fearsome pirate hat out of newspaper. Visit @cshwhalingmuseum on Facebook!"



Cold Spring Harbor Whaling Museum
Months removed from the 2020 election, we are left with many takeaways. But above all else, Election Day showed that we need to do even more to protect electoral integrity and ensure a transparent voting process for all Americans.

Democrats and Republicans agree: we need to fix our elections. According to a recent poll, only 16 percent of Americans believe that democracy is working "well" or "extremely well." Nearly half of Americans (45 percent) claim democracy isn't functioning properly, while another 38 percent say it's working only "somewhat well."

What won't fix our elections is scapegoating Republicans. The left-leaning mainstream media continue to blame Republicans for our electoral woes, when voting issues are far more nuanced. Earlier this month, Vox explained the so-called "Republican revolt against democracy" in 13 charts. Even more recently, The Daily Beast ran a typically unifying headline: "If GOP Hates Democracy So Much, Make Them [sic] Stand against It." Then there's another incendiary Dana Milbank column for the Washington Post, claiming, "Republicans aren't fighting Democrats. They're fighting democracy."

Let's be better. Republicans are not against democracy. We never were. Ironically, while the liberal media coddle the left, House Democrats have rallied around H.R. 1, the misnamed "For the People Act" that would limit Americans' free speech rights and federalize elections unnecessarily.

Now is not the time for media bias to win the day. Now is not the time for partisan bills to get in the way of progress.

If American democracy has suffered in recent years, Democrats are anything but blameless. To the contrary, left-wing officials at the local level have repeatedly undermined the electoral process to push through their own partisan agendas. On behalf of my organization, the Committee to Defend the President (recently renamed to the "Committee to Defeat the President"), I have seen those transgressions firsthand.

After the November election, the Committee mobilized in Georgia to ensure accountability and transparency for the absentee vote-counting process in the January run-off elections. Within weeks, we exposed hidden ballot-counting and other violations of election law, with local bureaucrats (all of whom lean left) being the primary culprits. We witnessed partisan bureaucrats denying ballot monitors their right to observe the tallying of votes, solely to benefit Democratic candidates in the Georgia run-offs.

The Committee even funded litigation against election officials in Cobb and Fulton Counties, compelling them to permit appointed ballot monitors to do their due diligence. Because of our efforts, the two counties submitted to consent decrees, allowing monitors full access to observe electoral activities until all votes were processed. Coinciding with the two lawsuits, Cobb County Board of Elections director Janine Eveler announced her plan to resign after the January run-offs, while Fulton County's elections board voted to fire elections director Rick Barron.

We did our part to change Georgia's electoral process for the better. We fought to ensure accountability and transparency, and the Peach State is better off now than it was in November.

There is much, much more work to be done. In many counties across the country, Democrats and Republicans are not competing on a level playing field. Following the defeat of President Trump, the radical left is especially emboldened to punish Republicans for daring to support the president's "America First" agenda. This cannot stand. That's why the Committee is mobilizing nationwide, pledging to use the same legal tactics to ensure integrity in the elections to come.

With the 2022 election cycle already upon us, we can all do more to protect and preserve American democracy. Democrat or Republican, good-faith Americans can agree that we need to fix our elections. Let's get to work.

Ted Harvey serves as chairman of the anti-Biden Committee to Defeat the President.

Image: tom.arthur via Flickr, CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.
Many students, especially military service members, have prior experience and education that doesnt easily translate into a traditional degree program

As part of its commitment to make education more attainable and affordable for working professionals, National American University has introduced online associate and bachelors Interdisciplinary Studies degrees. These personalized programs provide an opportunity for military service members and others to maximize transfer credit from prior education, training, and experience into an undergraduate program, enabling them to graduate in less time and save on the overall cost of their education.

Many students, especially military service members, have prior experience and education that doesnt easily translate into a traditional degree program. Our Interdisciplinary Studies programs are specifically designed to offer a personalized degree path that provides college credit for each students unique interests and qualifications, while at the same time helping them develop in-demand employment skills, said Dr. Cindy Mathena, NAU Provost and Chief Academic Officer.

The new online undergraduate Interdisciplinary Studies programs are designed to offer an educational path for students with prior military service, trade school, or other education and training who wish to earn their degree. The programs are structured so that up to 75% of the degree can be earned through qualified transfer credits, allowing students to create a personalized program that can be completed in less time and helping them save on tuition. Courses focus on developing in-demand employment skills like communications, critical thinking, problem-solving, collaboration and teamwork, plus a career specialization.

The introduction of NAUs new Interdisciplinary Studies programs are one more way for the school to support the educational goals of military service members, veterans, and families. NAU also offers reduced tuition pricing for members of the military, veterans, and their families, along with opportunities for financing through the GI Bill, Yellow Ribbon Program, Military Tuition Assistance and My Career Advancement Account (MyCAA) scholarship program.

With more than 20 years of experience in developing and providing online education, NAU offers 100% online programs that provide non-traditional students the flexibility to earn a degree at their convenience and on their schedule.

About National American University

Now celebrating its 80th year, National American University prepares students for careers in technical and professional fields. Regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, NAU offers 100% online doctoral, masters, bachelors associate, diploma, and certificate programs. In addition to Interdisciplinary Studies, NAU offers programs in Healthcare Management, Business, Accounting, Technology, Criminal Justice, and Strategic Security. For more information visit https://www.national.edu/.
Seasoned Journalist, Kwesi Pratt Jnr. has condemned the publishing and sale of the controversial History textbooks for primary schools in the country.



The books are History of Ghana for Basic 6 by Golden Publications which carries distasteful information about Ghana's first President, Dr Kwame Nkrumah and the CPP, History of Ghana Textbook 3 by Badu Nkansah Publications which features A song that shows the Ewes identity and Golden English Basic 4 by Golden Publications which displays Efo agress to prepare juju for the players on page 17.



The general public is outraged with the contents of the textbooks which have been described as offensive to Ewes.



The textbooks are said to have undergone an approval rating by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NaCCA) and passed first approval but awaits final approval from the Council.



However, some copies of the books are said to be in circulation in the Ghanaian market with others even reaching some schools for learning purposes, although not with final approval of the Assessment body.



Touching on the issue, Kwesi Pratt expressed utter disgust over the contents of the textbooks and questioned the basis for publishing the books.



He wondered how the books could even pass for approval because the portions of its contents seek to denigrate Ghana's first President, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah and Ewes.



To him, the textbooks need not be accepted by the education authorities.



Kwesi Pratt vehemently condemned the books, stressing; "There is no sense in it. It's a very disturbing thing that shouldn't occur anywhere . . . Having a textbook for the children and youth to learn in school is not an individual's job. It is the job of the entire nation. It's the responsibility of the government. So, when you look at the 1992 constitution, it does not allow for discrimination of any section of our society. No State institution can campaign against a political party. No State institution is allowed to campaign against a political party . . . These two books are not books that we have to entertain. It won't help Ghana and all of us. It won't help the whole Africa.''



Watch video below





Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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The award ceremony of NTD's annual vocal competition concludes at Carnegie Hall. The 2021 competition will take place in October, and the deadline for applications is Sept. 23, 2021. (DAI BING/THE EPOCH TIMES)

NTD International Vocal Competition Announces 2021 Dates

The New Tang Dynasty International Chinese Vocal Competition presents vocal artists with a challenge they rarely can find elsewhere: to sing Chinese songs in the bel canto style. The unique competition is a true test of a vocalists skills.

Sponsored by NTD Television, which broadcasts the semifinal and final rounds to an audience that can reach millions, the competitions mission is to promote traditional vocal arts of pure authenticity, pure goodness, and pure beauty, and provide a world arena for all Chinese vocalists to showcase their talents.

The 2021 competition boasts an impressive panel of judges. Vocalists from the premier performing arts company Shen Yun Performing Arts have been invited to sit on the jury including world renowned tenor Guimin Guan, soprano Min Jiang, soprano Haolan Geng, tenor Tian Ge, and baritone Qu Yue.

The application period has begun and instructions can be found on the competitions website (www.Vocal.NTDTV.com), and the deadline for submissions is Sept. 23.

Preliminaries, semifinals, and finals take place on Oct. 8, Oct. 9, and Oct. 10 respectively, at a premier venue New York, and will be broadcast live. Contestants will perform, with a piano accompanist, an aria from a Western opera as well as Chinese songs from a shortlist of 15 pieces.

This year marks the eighth cycle of the NTD International Chinese Vocal Competition.

Haolan Geng, one of the judges, encouraged vocalists from mainland China to sign up for the international competition, because in China there is rarely a chance to perform on the worlds stage. She encouraged these artists to participate in this big event in New York, showcase their talent, and learn from artists around the world.

Get to know more outstanding people in all aspects, she said, adding that she hoped the artists would be inspired to learn and improve from this experience with each other.

Vocalists age 18 to 50 are encouraged to apply, whether they are professional vocalists, instructors, students, or talented enthusiasts. Though it is a Chinese competition, the competition notes that vocalists of at least one-fourth Chinese ancestry can also apply.

Tenor Alvin Tan, a 2009 contestant, said This competition is for Chinese people all over the world and I think thats what attracted me.

I think a true artist serves the music and not him or herself, Tan said.

Mezzo-soprano Lee Yu from the 2009 competition said, Arts are related to a persons personal experience.

For me, technical improvement has a limit, yet inspiration is unlimited. One might sing the same song differently at different ages, because he or she would have a different understanding of the song, she said.

Judge Qu Yue was a 2007 winner of the competition, and now a vocalist with Shen Yun. He spoke of the encouraging camaraderie artists shared over the course of the competition, rather than conflicted competition.

This is an opportunity to learn and improve, he told NTD. It is not easy to get such an opportunity overseas, so I signed up for this vocal competition. During the competition, I asked other artists, from all rounds, if you sing this song, how do you deal with it? Then, I took their suggestions and practiced. When I went on stage, I felt very calm and at peace. It was a very beneficial experience as an artist.
A crystallised moment, testifying to the very birth of a galaxy! De Bethune pays tribute to the pure and unrestrained force of nature. Created from a meteorite, the DB28XP Meteorite inspires and touches the explorers heart beating in every human being.

DB28XP Meteorite  De Bethune

Beauty from above and beyond

Ferrous meteorites have already been used at De Bethune, notably to create one of the cases of the famous Dream Watch 5 and then the dial of the DB28 Kind of Blue Meteorite. Denis Flageollet, founder and Master Watchmaker of De Bethune, is passionate about meteorites. A passion that he nurtures by regularly trialling iron ore reduction processes with a view to one day making his own metal. His deep-felt interest in the material and his numerous attempts with Russian and Egyptian meteorites have led the Maison to work with a new kind of meteorite: Muonionalusta Meteorite.

DB28XP Meteorite  De Bethune

The dial of the DB28XP Meteorite is adorned with an ancestral stone forged in space. A metal alloy that endows the dial with a distinctive texture, along with geometrical patterns aligned in a precise way that makes each timepiece special and unique.

Recreating the magic of the stars amid the vast expanse of the heavens

De Bethunes mastery of the thermal oxidation of metals has once again enabled it to raise the level of complexity by creating a starry sky accompanied by its Milky Way on a previously blued meteorite dial. This azure shade results from the heat released by the chemical reactions of the heated meteorite.



Dotted across this blue dial surface is a multitude of small white gold pins, delicately driven in between the different shapes and thicknesses of the octahedral geometrical structures. Like tiny suspended marbles, these glittering flashes of light endow the celestial vault with its aura of timeless depth. In addition to bringing a unique fragment of space to the wrist, each sky is different: the customer can choose a given constellation, according to a precise sky map, at a specific date, time and place.

The watchmaking art according to De Bethune

Alongside its classically inspired round, ultra-thin crown at 12 o'clock and its hunter-type back typical of pocket watches, the DB28 Meteorite's ultra-light, polished black zirconium case with patented floating lugs nevertheless asserts the watch's modern and futuristic character.



The DB28XP Meteorite features the distinctive graphic codes of the Manufacture, with a zirconium hour circle, minutes ring bearing Arabic numerals and the discreet De Bethune signature at 12 o'clock, complemented by pink gold hands identical to those on the DB28XP Starry Sky dial.



The design of the Microlight engraving and the slenderness of the case reflect De Bethune's contemporary expression of watchmaking art.

Black zirconium case middle

Stemming from De Bethunes research into materials and new processes, the use of zirconium for the case represents a natural and sustainable alternative for achieving a black colour. The hardness of the metal and its stable oxidation, which does not deteriorate at room temperatures, are key assets in guaranteeing the resistance and durability of a watch exterior.

Chronometry expertise

The hand-wound movement is equipped with the De Bethune balance, visible through the 6 oclock dial aperture. It represents the outcome of a consistent physical and mathematical approach to improving its operation undertaken by De Bethune. It is equipped with the latest technical advances, including an adjusted diameter, the use of titanium, as well as small white gold weights placed around the rim and endowing it with remarkable inertia, reliability and regulating properties.

DB28XP Meteorite  De Bethune

De Bethune has equipped this model with its very own balance spring, the extremely thin component regarded as the soul of the mechanical watch. Its centre of gravity is maintained in the very centre by means of a flat curve affixed to the outside of the balance spring. Differences in the thickness of the blade further enhance the almost perfect precision of its concentric development. The numerous advantages include reduced thickness, improved adjustment of the concentricity quality, finer adjustment of the index (regulator) and no more need for its pins, while the shape of the curve even acts as a shock absorber in case of impacts.



Imbued with ancestral knowledge along with the latest technical and scientific breakthroughs, all expressed in a resolutely avant-garde spirit, the DB28XP Meteorite subtly celebrates and reinterprets traditional fine watchmaking. "No other metal is as strongly charged with pure energy and emotion as the ferrous meteorites that have taken shape in the furnace of the star-studded heavens, Denis Flageollet concludes.
Due to the repair of the North Caucasus-Transcaucasia natural gas pipeline, Russian natural gas supplies to Armenia will be temporarily carried out via Azerbaijan, Gazprom Export reported.

The aforesaid Russian natural gas company on Tuesday signed a short-term contract with the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan for the transportation of natural gas through the territory of Azerbaijan, Kommersant reports.

"The contract stipulates that during the planned-precautionary repairs of the Russian section of the North Caucasus-Transcaucasia main [natural] gas pipeline, [natural] gas will be delivered to consumers through the territory of Azerbaijan to the Georgian border," Gazprom Export reported.

The repair works will take about three weeks, after which the natural gas will be transported along the previous route: via the Russian-Georgian border.
Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism.

The survey forecasts heavy disruptions for banks due to mobile transactions

Incumbents and new entrants alike will be jockeying for market share, and will look to compete on the basis of being digital-first. While the Asia-Pacific banking landscape saw the departure of some neo banks and fintechs due to COVID-19 challenges, incumbent banks in Vietnam benefited from the chance to build loyal customer bases and re-energise their businesses for the long-term.

However, we will still see 100 new challengers across the region by 2025, according to IDC. With new challengers presenting stronger post-pandemic propositions, there will be at least two digital banks in every Asia-Pacific market that will pose a significant challenge to incumbents. 30 per cent of the business of Vietnamese banks are predicted to be under threat from new digital challengers.

Some fintechs that had gained sufficient size by 2019 also found success, gaining more market share than expected. Fintech categories that have typically shown success include payments, wealth advisory, alternative data, lending platforms, and account origination.

Meanwhile, traditional banks are increasingly focused on responding to changing consumer behaviour. Digital banks across the Asia-Pacific saw three times the growth in their customer bases compared to traditional banks in 2020/2019.

Strategic investments and growth priorities for 2025

One result of the economic downturn is a more humanistic type of customer centricity, as banks needed to communicate with customers in empathetic, trustworthy, and reliable ways that are complemented by digital innovations. There has been an increased integration of human agents into customer engagement strategies, as contact centres saw surges in usage.

The latest edition of Fintech and Digital Banking 2025 (APAC) found that 60 per cent of banks in the Asia-Pacific will leverage AI or machine learning technologies for data-driven decisions, compared to 48 per cent from the previous year. In Vietnam, core banking and payments system modernisation are the top 2 priorities among the top 8 banks in Vietnam in anticipation of rising consumer demands by 2025.

A back-to-basics trend has also overtaken the need for new revenue sources. Banks across the Asia-Pacific region will be focusing on digitalising their core business of lending with some focus, subsequently, on deposits. This is particularly evident in Vietnam, with 80 per cent of banks having re-invested in credit risk and asset-liability management, as well as building up capabilities in lending. Vietnam will see double-digit growth for lending every year from 2021. New capabilities will be acquired from fintech partners: IDC predicts by the middle of 2021, 50 per cent of lending decisions in retail banking across the Asia-Pacific will be supported by fintech propositions, underscoring accelerating bank-fintech collaboration.

Riddhi Dutta, regional director for ASEAN and South Asia at Backbase, said that, "COVID-19 has brought about significant changes in Vietnam and the Asia-Pacific's banking landscape, and banking and fintech players will need to quickly act on their digital strategies to capture market share. The report highlights key areas for Vietnamese banks, including massive growth in mobile as well as opportunities in lending. Backbase is committed to helping Vietnams financial institutions stay ahead in the digital race and develop the innovative banking models and experiences that Vietnamese customers now expect.
Alessandra Balzer at HarperCollins/Balzer + Bray has acquired, in a four-house auction, The Lesbiana's Guide to Catholic School by debut author Sonora Reyes. A YA contemporary for fans of Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda and I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter, it follows 16-year-old Yamilet Flores, who has just started at a new Catholic school after being outed by her ex-best friend and crush at her old school. Her new goals: make her mom proud, keep her brother out of trouble, and most importantly, don't fall in love. But that's not easy when Bo, the only openly queer girl at school, is funny, cute, and seems like she might be interested in Yami. Publication is set for spring 2022; Alexandra Levick at Writers House did the two-book deal for North American rights.



Amanda Ramirez at Simon & Schuster has bought Retro, a contemporary YA thriller by Jarrod Shusterman and Sofia Lapuente. To save her struggling family, Luna enters a competition offering reward money to anyone who can successfully live without modern technology for a year. But when this social experiment turns sinister and her classmates start disappearing, her family's livelihood might not be the only thing she's in danger of losing. Publication is planned for fall 2022; Andrea Brown at Andrea Brown Literary negotiated the deal for world rights.



Stephanie Lurie at Disney-Hyperion has acquired, in an 11-house auction, Ellie Engle Saves Herself by Leah Johnson, first in a middle grade contemporary series with a hint of magic, described as a superhero origin story in the tone of the Baby-sitters Club. After a freak earthquake hits the titular 12-year-old heroine's small town, she finds that she has the ability to bring things back to life with her touch. Publication is scheduled for spring 2023; Patrice Caldwell at New Leaf Literary & Media brokered the seven-figure, two-book deal for North American rights.



Kate Harrison at Dial, in an offer made as a three-imprint house bid, has bought Mexikid, a middle grade graphic memoir by cartoonist Pedro Martin in a preempt. Recounting the winter that Pedro's family piled into a Winnebago and drove down to a small town near Guadalajara with a missionbring their Abuelito back to Americathe memoir is a family story going back generations to the Mexican Revolution in the early 1900s and an epic road trip story. Publication is slated for spring 2023; Daniel Lazar at Writers House sold North American rights.



Kiara Valdez at First Second has acquired, at auction, world rights to Fool's Gold and a sequel by author-illustrator Quinne Larsen. In this debut middle grade graphic novel, the unlikely duo of enthusiastic Pili and suspicious Clover travel across an endless desert full of small towns and strange people, getting into trouble and helping those who need itall in the hopes of solving their own mysteries, and slowly becoming friends along the way. Publication is set for summer 2024; Kurestin Armada at Root Literary represented the author-illustrator.



Anna Bloom at Scholastic has bought, in an exclusive submission, the first four books in a young middle grade fantasy series by two-time Newbery Honoree Christina Soontornvat. In Legends of Lotus Island, a girl with a mysterious past tries to survive her first year at an ancient island temple where kids learn to transform into magical creatures sworn to protect all living things. Publication is planned for 2023; Stephanie Fretwell-Hill at Red Fox Literary negotiated the deal for world English rights.



Sarah Ketchersid at Candlewick has acquired, at auction, world rights to Millie, written and illustrated by Caldecott Honor artist Lauren Castillo, as well as a second untitled picture book. The first book tells the story of a child overcoming shyness and anxiety, gaining comfort and confidence from the love and companionship of a new dog. Publication is scheduled for fall 2023; Paul Rodeen at Rodeen Literary represented the author.



Neal Porter at Holiday House/Porter has bought Tadpoles by Boston Globe-Horn Book and Governor General's Award-winning author-illustrator Matt James, about a father and son's walk to an ephemeral pond teeming with tadpoles, and the sense of wonder to be found in the natural world. Publication is slated for spring/summer 2023; Jackie Kaiser at Westwood Creative Arts brokered the deal for world rights.



Kelly Delaney at Knopf has acquired Nesting Dolls by author-illustrator Vanessa Brantley-Newton (Just Like Me; Grandma's Purse), about a girl struggling to find her place within her family, and the beautiful and unexpected ways her Gullah ancestry has made her who she is. Publication is planned for fall 2022; Lori Nowicki at Painted Words handled the two-book deal for world rights.



Taylor Norman at Chronicle has bought Little Wonder, written and illustrated by Claire Keane, about a boy's day under the sea on an uncharted path full of new places, adventures, and unexpected friends that help him find the courage to face uncertainty and his way back home. Publication is set for spring 2022; Steven Malk at Writers House negotiated the deal for world rights.



Christianne Jones at Capstone has acquired world rights to Brian the Dancing Lion, written and illustrated by Tom Tinn-Disbury. This musical picture book tears apart any lingering notions of gender (and lion) stereotypes, celebrating the importance of believing in yourself, trusting your friends, and dancing at every opportunity. Publication is scheduled for January 2022; Beth Sparks at Plum Pudding Illustration represented the author-illustrator.



Rosemary Brosnan and Cynthia Leitich Smith at Heartdrum have bought, in an exclusive submission, world rights to Rock Your Mocs written by Laurel Goodluck (l.) and illustrated by Madelyn Goodnight. This celebratory book highlights Rock Your Mocs Day, an annual Native American and Indigenous peoples' movement promoting Native pride, which takes place during Native American Heritage Month. Publication is slated for fall 2023; Nicole Geiger at Full Circle Literary represented the author, and Studio Goodwin Sturges represented the illustrator.



Farrin Jacobs at Little, Brown has acquired world rights to Brown Girl, Brown Girl by poet Lesle Honore (l.), illustrated by Coretta Scott King and Caldecott Honoree Cozbi A. Cabrera (Me & Mama). This debut picture book is inspired by Honore's poem that went viral in 2020, which celebrates the beauty and strength of girls of color. Publication is planned for fall 2022; Johanna Castillo at Writers House represented the author, and Victoria Sanders at Victoria Sanders & Associates represented the illustrator.



Mary Kate Castellani at Bloomsbury has bought world rights to The Gift of the Great Buffalo by author of the Caldecott-winning We Are Water Protectors Carole Lindstrom (l.), illustrated by Aly McKnight. A Metis-Ojibwe girl has traveled far with her family for the buffalo hunt, but when there are no buffalo to be found, she must help her family find the herd that will enable them to survive the long winter. Publication is set for winter 2023; Kathleen Rushall at Andrea Brown Literary represented the author, and the illustrator was unagented.



Clarissa Wong at HarperCollins has acquired world rights to a debut picture book Chloe's Lunar New Year by Lily LaMotte (l.), illustrated by Michelle Lee. Chloe joyously joins in her family's Lunar New Year traditions, all the while honoring and remembering her beloved A-ma. The story introduces the rich cultural celebration of the holiday but also taps into universal themes of finding joy amid loss. Publication is slated for winter 2023; Laura Rennert at Andrea Brown Literary represented the author, and Rosemary Stimola at Stimola Literary Studio represented the illustrator.



Krestyna Lypen at Algonquin has bought world rights to Sunny & Oswaldo by Nicole Melleby (l.), illustrated by Alexandra Colombo, which charts a girl's relationship with her moody father and his prickly cat, and her journey to understand them both when the cat goes missing. Publication is scheduled for fall 2022; Jim McCarthy at Dystel, Goderich & Bourret represented the author, and Anne Moore Armstrong at the Bright Agency represented the illustrator.



Brian Geffen at Henry Holt has acquired, in an exclusive submission, A Monster Is Eating This Book by Karen Kilpatrick, illustrated by German Blanco, as well as the third picture book in their When Pencil Met Eraser series. In the first book, the words and pages are slowly getting eaten by the monster inside of it. Why is he eating all the words out of the book? Why is his shadow so scary? Publication of both titles is set for 2022; Deborah Warren at East West Literary negotiated the deal for world rights.



Christy Ottaviano at Little, Brown/Ottaviano has bought world rights to If You Like Butterflies by Lola Schaefer (l.), illustrated by Gabi Swiatkowska. This picture book is an accessible, scientific overview of butterflies that explores species classification, anatomy, nutrition, metamorphosis, and ecosystems. Publication is planned for summer 2023; Rosemary Stimola at Stimola Literary Studio represented the author, and Emily van Beek at Folio Jr./Folio Literary Management represented the illustrator.



Lee Wade at Random House Studio has acquired world English rights to We Are Starlings by Robert Furrow (l.) and Donna Jo Napoli, illustrated by Marc Martin. The rhythmic picture book follows the twists and turns of a starling murmuration through the sky. Publication is scheduled for fall 2022; Brenda Bowen at the Book Group represented the authors, and Kirsten Hall at Catbird Productions represented the illustrator.



Amy Novesky at Cameron Kids has bought world rights to A Room of Your Own: Virginia Woolf and Where We Go to Think, Dream, Be by Beth Kephart (l.), illustrated by Julia Breckenreid, a picture book inspired by the writer and her famous essay, and the importance of having space to oneself. Publication is slated for fall 2022; Karen Grencik at Red Fox Literary represented the author, and the illustrator represented herself.



Wiley Blevins at Reycraft has acquired The Legend of the Spirit Serpent by Adaiah Sanford, winner of the First Annual Caribbean Writer's Contest, illustrated by Afro-Caribbean artist Ken Daley. This retelling of a traditional Kalinago tale has a twist that challenges gender inequality. Publication is set for winter 2022; the author was represented by Anette Thomas-Sanford, her mother, and the illustrator was represented by Christy Ewers at the CAT Agency.



Barb McNally at Sleeping Bear has bought world rights to Baa Baa Tap Sheep by debut author Kenda Henthorn (l.), illustrated by Lauren Gallagos. In this picture book, little lambs must learn all the best dance moves to help children count sheep to sleep. But when one sheep livens up the beat, the skeptical wooly ones must triple time their feetuntil one little lamb intervenes. Publication is planned for spring 2022; Allison Remcheck at Stimola Literary Studio represented the author, and Christy Ewers at the CAT Agency represented the illustrator.



Emma Parkin at Barefoot Books has acquired Joy to the World: Christmas Around the Globe by Kate DePalma (l.), illustrated by Italian artist Sophie Fatus. This rhyming nonfiction book invites young readers to experience Christmas traditions in 13 countries around the world. Publication is scheduled for fall 2021; the author and the illustrator represented themselves in the deal for world rights.



Naomi Krueger at Beaming Books has bought world rights to Hattie Hates Hugs, written by debut author Sarah Hovorka (l.), illustrated by Heather Brockman Lee. This picture book tells a story about a girl who just wants to play horseshoes at the family reunion but must make her way through overly affectionate relatives, and learns to establish her boundaries with confidence. Publication is slated for spring 2022; Kaitlyn Sanchez represented the author when she was at Olswanger Literary, and Deborah Warren at East-West Agency represented the illustrator.

Karen Lotz at Candlewick has acquired at auction, in a three-book deal, an untitled YA autobiography by Zion Clark (l.), known internationally for his athletic feats and as the subject of an award-winning Netflix short documentary. Clark's first autobiography chronicles his journey from his foster care childhood to his rise as an elite high school wrestler through his current training and competitions in pursuit of his goal of representing the U.S. in the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics in 2021; publication is set for 2022. The other two books in the deal are Zion Unmatched, a photo essay co-written with James S. Hirsch set for summer 2021, timed to Clark's quest for Olympic and Paralympic gold; and a picture book. Katie Cunningham at Candlewick will edit all three titles. Todd Shuster at Aevitas Creative Management did the deal for world rights.



Anne Schwartz at Random/Schwartz has bought world rights to the next YA nonfiction title from Candace Fleming (The Rise and Fall of Charles Lindbergh). This untitled project will explore American cults of past and presentsuch as Jim Jones and the People's Temple, and Mathias the Prophet and the Mount Zion Groupand the influence they've had in our culture and on our lives. Publication is slated for fall 2023; Ethan Ellenberg at the Ethan Ellenberg Agency brokered the deal.



Claudia Gabel at HarperCollins has acquired world rights to A Million to One by Adiba Jaigirdar (The Henna Wars), a high-stakes and romantic heist YA novel set on the Titanic, in which four girls team up to steal a priceless jewel-encrusted book on board the infamous ship. Publication is scheduled for spring 2022; Uwe Stender at Triada US represented the author.



Andrew Karre at Dutton has bought Diamond Park by Phillippe Diederich, a contemporary YA novel that tells the story of four Mexican American teenagers from Houston, a '59 Impala, and the murder that changes all their lives. Publication is planned for spring 2022; Isabelle Bleecker at Nordlyset Agency negotiated the deal for world English rights.



Maggie Rosenthal at Viking has acquired, at auction, Made of Stars by debut YA author Jenna Voris. Inspired by Bonnie and Clyde and set in space, this YA novel follows Shane and Ava, two renegades who live outside the law, and Cyrus, the recent military academy grad who is hot on their trail. When they collide in a battle over planetary resources, the three of them have to decide how much they're willing to sacrifice for their homes, their futures, and for love. Publication is set for spring 2023; Claire Friedman at InkWell Management handled the deal for North American rights.



Hannah Milton at Little, Brown has bought world rights to The Drowned Woods by Emily Lloyd-Jones (The Bone Houses). This YA fantasy novel is part dark fairy tale and part heist novel about the last living water diviner, 18-year-old Mererid, who has spent years running from the prince who bound her into his service when she was a child. When her old handler returns and asks Mer to destroy the magical well that keeps the prince's lands safe, she can't refuse. Publication is slated for summer 2022; Sarah Landis at Sterling Lord Literistic brokered the deal.



Kat Brzozowski at Feiwel and Friends has acquired world rights to We Are Mayhem by debut author Beck Rourke-Mooney. Pitched as Glow meets Moxie and set against the very male world of underground indie wrestling, the YA novel follows Birdie as she is befriended by Abigail Rose, who thinks Birdie could be the perfect performer to help her take her family's wrestling promotion in a new, more feminist direction, if only Birdie can get over her desire to blend in. Publication is scheduled for winter 2023; Lauren MacLeod at the Strothman Agency negotiated the deal.



Mari Kesselring at Flux has bought Every Variable of Us by Charles A. Bush. This YA contemporary debut, pitched as The Hate U Give meets Moonlight, is a timely story about race, love, and being true to yourself. After Philly teenager Alexis Duncan is injured in a gang shooting, her basketball career comes to a halt. At the urging of new Indian student (and crush?) Aamani, Alexis shifts her focus to the school's STEM team in hopes of earning a college scholarship, but gains more than she could have imagined. Publication is planned for spring 2022; Christopher Schelling at Selectric Artists Literary and Talent Management did the deal for world rights.



Olivia Valcarce at Scholastic Press has acquired Over and Out by Jenni L. Walsh (I Am Defiance). In this middle grade historical novel set in Cold War Germany, a science-loving girl dreams of a better future on the other side of the Berlin Wall. When she is forced to spy for the East German secret police, she risks everything to plot an escape. Publication is slated for spring 2022; Shannon Hassan at Marsal Lyon Literary negotiated the deal for world rights.



Brian Geffen at Henry Holt has bought, at auction, Dona Quixote: Knight of the Nagual and a sequel by Rex Ogle writing as Rey Terciero, illustrated by Monica M. Magana. This middle grade graphic novel is a gender-flipped reimagining of Don Quixote that follows Lucia Castillo's obsession with becoming a modern-day knight. After finding a family heirloom that lets her see the supernatural world of Mexican lore, Lucia's parents think she's imagining things just like her "Abuelo Loco" had years before, but she's determined to prove them wrong and thwart the villainous Mayor's dangerous plans for the town. Publication is set for spring 2023 and 2024; Simon Lipskar at Writers House represented the author on behalf of Temple Hill Publishing, and the illustrator represented herself.



Elise Howard and Krestyna Lypen at Algonquin have acquired world rights to Smaller: The Search for Subatomic Particles by Katie Slivensky, with Lypen editing. This middle grade nonfiction debut will trace the wild journeys scientists have embarked on to find evidence of the existence of ever-smaller matter, and show how what they find helps us understand the universe. Publication is scheduled for spring 2023; Ammi-Joan Paquette at Erin Murphy Literary brokered the deal.



Holly West at Feiwel and Friends has bought world rights to Happily Ever After Rescue Team: Agents of H.E.A.R.T. by Sam Hay (l.), illustrated by Genevieve Kote. In this new chapter book series, a nine-year-old girl's wish to help out in her family's seaside cafe gets out of hand when she accidentally summons a rescue squad of meddling fairy tale princesses. Publication for book one is planned for February 2022; Gemma Cooper at the Bent Agency represented the author, and James Burns at the Bright Agency represented the illustrator.



Donna Bray at HarperCollins/Balzer + Bray has acquired, in a preempt, Izzy Paints by author-illustrator Tim Miller. In this picture book, a young koala struggles with the pressure of a blank canvas, only to discover the joy and freedom of letting go to create something new. Publication is set for summer 2022; Steven Malk at Writers House handled the two-book deal for world rights.



Reka Simonsen at Atheneum has bought world rights to Something Beautiful, a picture book written and illustrated by Lita Judge. In this celebration of friendship, Mouse, Elephant, Giraffe, Porcupine, Warthog, and Lion explore the world together and discover the beauty that comes with making new friends. Publication is slated for summer 2022; the author-illustrator represented herself.



Meriam Metoui at Viking has acquired world rights for On a Rainy Day by debut author-illustrator Sarah LuAnn Perkins. This picture book celebrates the sounds of a rainy day, in which a girl and her father retreat indoors while waiting for a rainstorm to pass. Publication is scheduled for spring 2022; Adria Goetz at Martin Literary Management negotiated the deal.



Ilona Oppenheim at Tra Publishing has bought Sweet People Are Everywhere by Alice Walker, illustrated by Quim Torres. This picture book featuring Walker's 2013 poem of the same title is a celebration of humanity and globalism. The poem addresses an American boy getting his first passport and walks the boy through a series of countries, focusing on the "sweet people" to be found all over the world. Publication is planned for fall 2021; Joy Harris at Joy Harris Literary brokered the deal.



Andrea Welch at S&S/Beach Lane has acquired world rights to All By Himself, written by National Book Award finalist Elana K. Arnold and illustrated by Giselle Potter, the story behind one child's magnificent masterpiece and all the people he didn't realize were part of it. Publication is slated for fall 2022; Rubin Pfeffer at Rubin Pfeffer Content represented the author, and Jennifer Laughran at Andrea Brown Literary represented the illustrator.



Rotem Moscovich at Knopf has bought world rights to Hooray for DNA! by debut author Pauline Thompson, illustrated by Greg Pizzoli (The Watermelon Seed). A playful and rhythmic introduction to DNA, this picture book celebrates the similarities we share with all life forms and with each other. Publication is set for spring 2023; Stacey Kondla at the Rights Factory represented the author, and Steven Malk at Writers House represented the illustrator.



Reka Simonsen at Atheneum has acquired world rights to Let Us March On! by Yohuru Williams (l.) and Michael G. Long, illustrated by Xia Gordon, which tells the story of James Weldon Johnson and the Silent Protest Parade, the first mass all-Black march for civil rights in the U.S. and the first time that children played a primary role in a protest march of this kind. Publication is planned for summer 2023; Joan Brookbank at Joan Brookbank Projects represented Williams, John Rudolph at Dystel, Goderich and Bourret represented Long, and Andrea Morrison at Writers House represented the illustrator.



Samantha Swenson at Tundra has bought world rights to How to Teach Your Cat a Trick, written by Nicola Winstanley (l.) and illustrated by Zoe Si, a picture book about a kid trying and failing to teach their cat special skills. Publication is scheduled for fall 2022; the author represented herself, and Lindsay Auld at Writers House represented the illustrator.



Sarah Rockett at Sleeping Bear has acquired There Was a Hole by Adam Lehrhaupt, illustrated by Carrie O'Neill, a story about loss, change, and ultimately how love sustains us. Publication is slated for spring 2022; Alexandra Penfold at Upstart Crow Literary represented the author, and Nicole Tugeau at Tugeau 2 represented the illustrator.



Amy Novesky at Cameron Kids has bought world rights to The Perfect Tree, by Corinne Demas (l.), illustrated by Penelope Dullaghan, a picture book about a bunny who searches for the perfect tree, only to discover she didn't have to look very far at all. Publication is set for fall 2022; Ariana Philips at Jean V. Naggar Literary Agency represented the author, and Scott Hull at Scott Hull Associates represented the illustrator.



Lisa Rosinsky at Barefoot Books has acquired That's Mine! and Undies, Please! by debut author Sumana Seeboruth (l.), illustrated by Ashleigh Corrin (Family Reunion). These board books explore the ups and downs of friendship at daycare, and potty-training at home. Publication is planned for fall 2021; the author and the illustrator represented themselves in the deal for world rights.


Jenny Zervakis, who in the early 90s was another mainstay of Chicago comics, said: I used to worry about John. A lot of people in the early 90s were doing personal comics and they would find each other through (the zine directory) Factsheet Five and make their work and trade it, but eventually real life caught up. John really never stopped. I went off to North Carolina and had a normal life  she got a Ph.D. in psychology, now works at a hospital, and still makes the occasional comic  but John wanted to make it work, to stay as authentic to himself as he could. He was going to kick against the bricks. The whole punk rock thing. He explored Eastern philosophy  I got into it, too. You accept, yes, things are messed up and imperfect, and that is part of the world. But I often wondered if John was being a little too Thoreau, supporting himself by day with jobs, and burning the candle at both ends. He was trying to be too much of a purist.
COLUMBIA  Legislation aimed at ensuring poor students aren't shamed by getting a different lunch at school advanced unanimously in the South Carolina House.

The bill sent to the House floor March 16 would bar schools from treating students who haven't paid differently once the federal government stops covering all students' meals amid the pandemic.

Some schools have given an alternate meal, such as a peanut butter sandwich and an apple, after a student didn't pay for a week or two. Before the pandemic, at least one school district turned over school lunch debt to a collection agency, Rep. Raye Felder, R-Fort Mill, told the House Education Committee before the 18-0 vote.

But the reason for the debt is usually that the child's parents haven't filled out the paperwork that allows the student to eat for free  or nearly free, depending on their poverty level  and lets the school get reimbursed by the federal government.

Requiring the same meal regardless should incentivize schools to work with parents to get those applications filled out, said Felder, chairwoman of the House's K-12 subcommittee.

Rep. Gil Gatch, R-Summerville, said the shaming that results is what "struck a chord" with him.

"Everyone knows this lunch signifies something because Im poor," he said about the alternate meal. "Were leveling the field between who can afford it and those who couldnt so kids are not experiencing horrible shame."

The measure also prevents schools from punishing students with a lunch debt by not allowing them to participate in field trips, graduation ceremonies or other activities.

Rep. Mark Smith, R-Charleston, said he worries some parents who can and should be paying will choose not to, resulting in a burden on the district.

Smith, a past chairman of the Lowcountry Food Bank, stressed he's aware students can't pay attention and learn when their bellies are empty and said no child should go without a meal.

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"I just want to make sure were holding people financially responsible when they have the ability to pay," he said.

In response, Felder said it's possible some crafty students could pocket the money instead of paying for lunch.

But if they do, "districts will be creative in notifying momma that little Johnny didn't turn in his money this week. But in the meantime, little Johnny gets to eat," she said.

The bill was initially filed in December 2018 after its sponsor, Rep. John King, said he heard of students not only "food shamed" but bullied because of their obvious inability to pay.

"This makes sure all kids are treated fairly going through the lunch line," the Rock Hill Democrat said. "For kids to be treated differently with a bag lunch is not acceptable, not in this day and time."

The bill applies to the meals schools serve that are federally reimbursable, not the food or beverages some schools offer for sale separately. The measure specifies students can't accrue a debt for those items, which instead must be bought with cash or by drawing down a prepaid balance.

Whether the bill becomes law is likely up to the Senate. It's almost certain to pass the House, again, as it did last year on a unanimous vote before the pandemic cut the regular session short.

The pandemic also at least temporarily suspended the problem.

Since schools were forced to close last March, tens of millions of meals have been provided to students statewide through pickup arrangements at schools and delivered by bus to communities lacking transportation. The federal government's waiver allowing all students access to free school meals, regardless of their income, was recently extended through Sept. 30, to ensure students continue receiving a nutritious meal through the summer.
Sanjay Raut dares Devendra Fadnavis to name Waze's 'political bosses'

India

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New Delhi, Mar 17: Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut Wednesday dismissed any pressure behind the transfer of Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh and dared BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis to name arrested policeman Sachin Waze's "political bosses" if he had any evidence.

Raut said Fadnavis, who is a former chief minister of Maharashtra, should not resort to anything that demoralises Mumbai police.

"If the opposition thinks the transfers have been done under any pressure, then it is false. The Uddhav Thackeray government has not done the transfer under anyone's pressure. This is our moral responsibility that till the time the probe is on these transfers should take place," Raut told reporters.

Uddhav Thackeray had asked me to reinstate Waze when I was CM: Devendra Fadnavis

Earlier, Fadnavis said Singh and Waze are "small people", and the matter can't be solved by blaming them alone. "Who are behind this? That should be probed. Political bosses who operated Waze will have to be found out," he told a press conference, suspecting that Thane businessman Mansukh Hiran was murdered and alleging that Waze had close and deep links with many leaders of Shiv Sena, a party the suspended cop had joined once.

To this Raut said, "Name those people if you have the evidence."

Taking a dig at Fadnavis, Raut said the BJP leader could keep raising issues for the remaining next three-and-half years as the Mahavikas Aghadi government will complete its term.

Assembly elections 2021: PM Modi to address rallies in West Bengal, Assam

Under fire over the handling of the bomb scare outside industrialist Mukesh Ambani's house in Mumbai, the Maharashtra government on Wednesday transferred Singh to the low-key Home Guard. Singh's transfer came even as the case of recovery of gelatin sticks near Ambani's residence turned murkier with the National Investigation Agency (NIA) claiming there were "other players" who had been allegedly instructing Waze.

Fadnavis, the Leader of the Opposition in the state assembly, has been attacking the Thackeray government over the Waze issue. Earlier this month, the opposition cornered the government over Waze following which he was transferred from Crime Intelligence Unit.

Waze, 49, credited with eliminating 63 alleged criminals in 'encounters', is also facing heat in the murder case of Hiran, who was in possession of the Scorpio. Hiran was found dead in a creek in Thane district on March 5.

Waze, a 1990-batch officer, was earlier suspended in 2004 over his role in the custodial death of a 2002 Ghatkopar blast suspect Khwaja Yunus. Later, he joined the Shiv Sena. However, he was reinstated last year.

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Story first published: Wednesday, March 17, 2021, 22:51 [IST]
The chief of general staff of Irans armed forces, Maj. Gen. Mohammad Bagheri, issued a fresh warning March 16 against Israel.

Iran has acquired what it takes to blow up the Zionist regime, Bagheri said. He said the potential removal of the child-killing, malicious, fake regime from the political geography of the region is no illusion, but rather a genuine power that Iranian forces have gained with resolve and faith.

The statement was in apparent response a strong threat earlier this month by Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz, who told Fox News that his country was updating plans to strike Irans nuclear facilities. We must stand independently and we must defend ourselves by ourselves, Gantz warned, saying this would be the case if the world is unable to curb the Iranian nuclear program, which Israel has long considered as the top existential threat to its security.

In a 2013 speech, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned in response to Israeli threats of military strikes that the Israeli cities of Haifa and Tel Aviv would be razed. The same command has turned into a project and will be put into operation, Defense Minister Amir Hatami said March 7.

The departure of US President Donald Trump from the White House and the prospects of talks between Tehran and the Joe Biden administration have fueled worries among Israeli officials that Tel Avivs top ally could be soon engaging with its top adversary. The Biden White House, nevertheless, has publicly defended Israels security, staying in close contact with Tel Aviv over any rapprochement with Tehran.

However, Israeli concerns have not been allayed.

Earlier this month, an Israeli official said Iran might be guilty of environmental terrorism following an oil spill in Israels Mediterranean waters. While the spill is thought to have come from a Libyan tanker, some Israeli officials put the onus on Iran as they believed the tanker was carrying Iranian oil to Syria.

Following Trumps departure from office in January, Israel has intensified airstrikes in Syria, targeting military positions it says are run by pro-Iran forces. These airstrikes, despite having been conducted frequently during the past several years, have not yet triggered any direct response from the Islamic Republic.

In November, top Iranian nuclear scientist and missile expert Mohsen Fakhrizadeh was gunned down in an intricate ambush outside the capital, Tehran. Israel neither denied nor confirmed its role in the killing. The Islamic Republic was quick to point the finger at Israel and warned of a severe revenge  which has not yet been taken.
A man convicted of conspiring to rob a McDonalds in Scotch Plains had his conviction overturned Tuesday because the trial judge did not allow him to represent himself in court.

The New Jersey Supreme Court found Thomas H. Outland was steadfast in wanting to be his own lawyer in Superior Court of Union County, in 2017, but a judge denied him of that right by quizzing him on technical legal matters, instead of informing him about the case.

To correct the error, Outland is getting a new trial.

Outland, 53, was sentenced to nine years in prison and remained incarcerated Tuesday at East Jersey State Prison, where he is also serving a separate robbery sentence for an unrelated holdup.

The McDonalds robbery occurred in September 2015 at a restaurant where Outland had formerly worked. Hes accused, with an unidentified accomplice, of entering a rear door as employees closed for the night and announcing a robbery.

An employee challenged him, saying his gun was fake, and Outland reportedly lowered his mask, said it was a joke, and he and his partner handed back the property theyd stolen from employees, including cell phones, and left without any money, the decision and prior news stories say.

Outland then tried to hug the manager, authorities said. The gun was fake.

He was arrested in early 2016 and the case went to trial later that year. Outland never wavered in his desire to be his own lawyer, the decision says.

New Jersey law requires judges with defendants who wish to represent themselves - called pro se - to substantially inform them about their case, like the charges, possible defenses and what penalties they could face, to judge their intent.

The judge in his case, though, repeatedly quizzed Outland on legal procedure, like, asking him: Whats a challenge for cause? and What is a peremptory challenge? and Do you know what defenses apply to accomplice liability?

Outland was able to answer some, and while he said he did not know a lot about technical matters, he understood the system and had access to the prison library - he was already sentenced in the other robbery - and could study and learn about it.

The judge did not allow it, ordered the Public Defenders Office to represent him, and the jury convicted him of the conspiracy charge, and possessing a fake gun. It acquitted him of robbery.

The Supreme Court said the judge was clearly concerned Outland might be making a mistake, but should have stuck to informing, rather than testing, and allowed him to defend himself.

Quoting prior case law, the high court wrote, [A] defendants decision to proceed pro se may be fraught with risk but...the existence of such risk provides no basis to deny a defendant the right to make that choice.

The high court noted that, despite Outlands lack of legal experience, he drafted and filed both an appellate brief and the petition for certification to the Supreme Court in this case. The judge, no matter how well-intentioned, cannot override defendants exercise of his right to decide to represent himself, the court wrote, again citing prior laws.

The judges name was not used in the decision. Mycentraljersey.com reported it was Judge Robert Kirsch.

Mr. Outland is very gratified by the Supreme Courts decision which recognized the importance of his autonomy to make an informed waiver of his right to counsel and to represent himself in court, Assistant Deputy Public Defender Michael Denny said. He represented Outland before the Supreme Court.

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Kevin Shea may be reached at kshea@njadvancemedia.com
Deputy Parliament Speaker Alen Simonian, who represents the majority My Step alliance, told media on Wednesday that he did not consider that Bright Armenia, one of two opposition factions in the Armenian parliament, is genuinely in favor of holding early elections.

During a news briefing at the National Assembly, Simonian said that Bright Armenia would find many reasons to avoid snap elections.

Earlier, after talks with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian and President Armen Sarkissian last week, Bright Armenia leader Edmon Marukian said that his faction will not field its own candidate if the prime minister resigns and snap elections are held before June 1, which procedurally means that the premiers resignation should take place within the next two weeks or so.

Under Armenias constitution, the parliament can be dissolved and fresh elections can be appointed only if the prime minister resigns and lawmakers twice fail to elect a new head of government within two weeks.

While Pashinian enjoys a comfortable majority in parliament and practically does not need any assurances on the part of the opposition to resign and pave the way for early general elections, he and his political team believe that having a memorandum of understanding signed with Bright Armenia and the other opposition faction, Prosperous Armenia, that they will not field their candidates to replace Pashinian will exclude any risks of upheavals in the country.

Prosperous Armenia, whose leader Gagik Tsarukian is expected to hold a meeting with Pashinian soon to discuss possible snap elections, is also believed to want the fresh ballot to be held in May or June.

But the opposition Homeland Salvation Movement, a coalition of over a dozen political parties and groups, including Prosperous Armenia, that currently conducts street protests demanding Pashinians resignation, insists that Pashinian must step down and an interim government led by its leader Vazgen Manukian be formed before snap parliamentary elections can be held in at least a years time.

Manukian claims that it is unacceptable that Pashinian stay as acting prime minister to oversee the elections as he will seek to use the administrative resource to sway the outcome of the vote. This claim is vehemently rejected by the government.

Implying Bright Armenias insistence that snap elections be held before June, My Steps Simonian claimed that the opposition party is trying to scuttle the process, using it as a means to make itself look more prominent. I think so, because I know their manner of action well. I know that they first propose an option and then try to avoid agreements. This is their style, the pro-government lawmaker said.

According to Simonian, the reason for which Bright Armenia and other opposition politicians are not interested in having snap elections is that most of them know they will not succeed [in getting reelected].

Meanwhile, Marukian rejected Simonians assertions, in his turn accusing the government of trying to avoid holding snap elections.

The agenda of snap elections has become the top agenda in Armenia today due to us, due to our concessions. We and Prosperous Armenia have stated that if elections are to be held within a short time and if there is a process to dissolve the parliament, then we will not nominate our candidates [when the prime minister resigns]. But this government does not want it, since now they want us to vote in favor of a new electoral code, Marukian said.

Still, the opposition leader stressed that he felt the governments genuine will to have snap elections when he met with Pashinian last week. Thats why I dont want to call it into doubt based on the statement of one member of the ruling party, Marukian concluded.
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[March 17, 2021] Traction Rec Partners With Boys & Girls Clubs of America to Build MyClubHub

Today, Traction Rec, a Salesforce membership management software solution for nonprofits, announces their partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs of America to develop MyClubHub. This software solution will unify Club locations, streamline operations and transform the organization's Club management system, alleviating administrative pain points to allow more time spent with kids, families and communities. Powered by Traction Rec, MyClubHub will provide a dynamic hub, where Boys & Girls Clubs organizations can see real-time activities, programs, attendance and incident reports, improving reporting capabilities and child safety initiatives. Built on the Salesforce platform, MyClubHub provides a data-driven, intelligent and proactive Club management solution that can be easily configured to meet the needs of Boys & Girls Clubs' broad user base. "At Boys & Girls Clubs, technology is a core part of our academic programming, but the COVID-19 pandemic has elevated technology's importance in not just serving our kids, but local communities as well," said Jim Clark, president and CEO, Boys & Girls Clubs of America. "By standardizing our digital footprint in Clubs around the country, in partnership with Salesforce and Salesforce.org, our staff and volunteers can spend less time behind the screen and more time supporting kids, families and communities." Prior to MyClubHub, local Clubs used a variety of operational tools and platforms for program applications, payments and other systems while also often using paper applications. By partnering with Traction Rec, Boys & Girls Clubs of America sought to reduce workloads and give time back to staff and volunteers, to better serve kids and families in local communities. "Boys & Girls Clubs of America has helped shape the trajectories of millions of children through its incredible tenure. This initiative is about bringing this organization together in a more concerted wa than ever before. It's about removing the administrative burden so people can invest their time in assisting each other, and apply scale to it," said Greg Malpass, Founder & CEO, Traction on Demand. "We're honored to be part of helping Boys & Girls Clubs ensure our youth find, and eventually form, a future they can thrive in."



"Traction Rec enables our community to seamlessly deliver services such as memberships and programs on a single platform, so nonprofits can focus on what matters most-their mission," said Lara Gilchrist, VP Enablement, Traction Rec. "Our platform eliminates time-consuming manual tasks for staff, and provides parents and caregivers with an online platform to easily access Boys & Girls Clubs of America's essential programs and services." When fully rolled out, MyClubHub will support approximately 800 Organizations, 4,700 Clubs, and around 4.6 million registered members. This will include membership management, donor, relationship and fundraising management, financial support, including program payment and payment plans, and real-time reporting and analytics, with improved access and security.

Traction Rec is a scalable, flexible product that will enable rapid time-to-value for Boys & Girls Clubs of America, enabling them to efficiently rollout the MyClubHub solution across hundreds of Clubs in a matter of months. By combining the proven success of Traction Rec with MyClubHub and Salesforce.org's Nonprofit Success Pack, Boys & Girls Clubs of America will create an effortless user experience for both staff, parents and kids. Traction Rec is an independent product launched by Traction on Demand (ToD), North America's largest dedicated Salesforce consulting partner. ToD has completed thousands of projects for nonprofits with its cloud-based solutions and industry services. For more information, visit tractionrec.com. About Traction Rec Traction Rec Technologies creates Salesforce applications that will empower organizations building community. Their flagship product, Traction Rec, provides a robust membership management system for nonprofit community centers to serve their constituents. YMCAs, JCCs, and community organizations use Traction Rec and the Salesforce CRM platform to understand a full view of an individual including relationships, interactions and transactions. Winner of the 2020 Salesforce.org ISV Partner for the Year, Traction Rec is Salesforce for Community Centers. Learn more at www.tractionrec.com. About Boys & Girls Club of America For 160 years, Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA.org) has provided a safe place for kids and teens to learn and grow. Clubs offer caring adult mentors, fun and friendship, and high-impact youth development programs on a daily basis during critical non-school hours. Boys & Girls Clubs programming promotes academic success, good character and citizenship, and healthy lifestyles. More than 4,700 Clubs serve 4.6 million young people through Club membership and community outreach. Clubs are located in cities, towns, public housing and on Native lands throughout the country, and serve military families in Boys & Girls Club of America-affiliated Youth Centers on U.S. military installations worldwide. National headquarters are located in Atlanta. Learn more about Boys & Girls Clubs of America on Facebook (News - Alert) and Twitter. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210317005286/en/

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L-R: President Joe Biden at the White House, in Washington, on March 11, 2021. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik); House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) at the Capitol, in Washington, on Jan. 7, 2021. (Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times); Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in Lansing, Mich. on Oct. 8, 2020. (Michigan Office of the Governor via AP, File)

Michigan Man Charged Over Alleged Death Threats Against Biden, Pelosi, Whitmer

A 21-year-old Michigan man faces criminal charges for allegedly making death threats against Democratic officialsPresident Joe Biden, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), and Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmeraccording to the state attorney generals office.

Joshua Docter, from the Netherlands, faces one count of threat of terrorism and one count of using a computer to commit a crime, felonies that carry a maximum sentence of 20 years behind bars, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said in a statement.

Threatening elected officials is against the law and my office will prosecute those who attempt to intimidate or terrorize our state and federal leaders, Nessel said.

Docter is accused of threatening to shoot and kill the three elected officials, making the threats in January on social media platform iFunny. Officials added that Docter said in the posts that he wanted to be the catalyst for a new American revolution. The FBI began investigating after authorities received tips about the threats.

I appreciate the thorough investigative work by the FBI and Michigan State Police on this case, and I consider it another excellent example of showcasing the dedication that those working in law enforcement have to protecting the public, Nessel said.

Docter turned himself in on March 16 and was arraigned the same day on the charges, which were filed a day earlier in Ottawa County 58th District Court.

It follows reports that one of six men facing federal charges in connection with an alleged plot to kidnap Whitmer has agreed to plead guilty to a kidnapping conspiracy.

In the plea agreement, Ty Garbin made a number of admissions, including that he and others trained with weapons in Munith, Michigan, and Cambria, Wisconsin, last summer and discussed the plan to storm the Capitol and kidnap the governor.

In October, the FBI said it broke up a plot to kidnap the Democratic governor by anti-government extremists upset over her coronavirus restrictions. Six people were charged in federal court while eight others were charged in state court with aiding the alleged scheme.

The plot, he said, switched to a summer home on Mackinac Island reserved for Michigan governors or Whitmers second home in Antrim County.

Garbin said he advocated waiting until after the national election, when the conspirators expected widespread civil unrest to make it easier for them to operate.

In September, the six men trained at Garbins property near Luther, Michigan, constructing a shoot house to resemble Whitmers vacation home and assaulting it with firearms.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
DALLAS, March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- In response to frustrations surrounding the COVID-19 vaccination appointment registration and inoculation efficiency, Shiftsmart is aiding major U.S. cities with their vaccine roll out. Shiftsmart , a labor management platform serving the modern workforce, is able to activate their global labor network to support all aspects of distribution. In just one U.S. market, within two weeks, Shiftsmart has staffed approximately 20 vaccine sites, answered over 1,000 calls per hour, provided income for hundreds of workers and assisted thousands of people in scheduling vaccination appointments.

According to published daily statistics (CDC.gov March 15 report) , 21.4% of people in the U.S. have received one COVID-19 shot. About 11.5% have received both doses. Almost 20% of the vaccines distributed have not been used. At this time, the challenge is to get the distributed vaccines into the arms of those who are most vulnerable. Millions of older Americans are eligible for the vaccine, but are encountering frustration when attempting to secure a shot because of their lack of available technology and/or the skills required to navigate registration websites. Elderly people are competing for a limited vaccine supply on a severely uneven technological playing field.

As several states open wider qualifications to receive the vaccine, those eligible and wanting to register for the vaccine is increasing. Access and ability to operate technology presents an obstacle to millions of Americans of all ages so that they may accurately register to schedule a vaccine appointment.

Shiftsmart responded to the problem and devised a plan of action using their workforce platform, trained and mobilized their workers, and implemented the strategy in 48-hours. As the vaccine rollout began, there was no federal coordination, which resulted in a confusing knot of different rules and systems that vary by state and county. The demand is certainly encouraging, but the challenges facing citizens have been daunting for them. Shiftsmart's workers are now assisting the public with registration on the phone as well as in person at identified vaccine sites.

Shiftsmart's technology and workforce has executed:

Inbound Call Center for Scheduling  Shiftsmart agents take calls from citizens, many of whom are seniors, to schedule first and second dose appointments

 Shiftsmart agents take calls from citizens, many of whom are seniors, to schedule first and second dose appointments Inbound Call Center for Tech Support  Shiftsmart agents take calls from citizens and providers to assist with tech issues requiring city-specific knowledge and systems access

 Shiftsmart agents take calls from citizens and providers to assist with tech issues requiring city-specific knowledge and systems access Onsite Staffing  provide on-site tech support for the public, in person crowd control, and second dose scheduling

Known for their ability to quickly scale-up or down to meet critical workforce demand on a global scale, Shiftsmart is uniquely prepared to rapidly optimize vaccination distribution centers for cities across the U.S. By drawing on their network of over 400,000 workers, Shiftsmart can double throughput of COVID-19 vaccination registrations. Their proprietary technology allows them to seamlessly integrate with existing systems, flex the shifts required up and down as needed and ensure a quality customer experience.

About Shiftsmart:

Shiftsmart is an online marketplace built on pioneering technology that connects today's dynamic workforce with companies facing increasingly complex staffing requirements. By empowering workers with more hours, better pay, and greater opportunity, Shiftsmart creates a mutually beneficial labor ecosystem for individuals and organizations alike. Visit www.shiftsmart.com for more information.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Jeanne Culver

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214.352.5980

SOURCE Shiftsmart
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Credit: Art BurrowsAfter being unable to tour together all year, this weekend, Daryl Hall & John Oates will be reuniting to make music for fans -- kind of. They'll be appearing on the same bill, but each will perform one of their solo songs.

The occasion is Oates Song Fest 7908, an online benefit concert this Saturday, March 20. Conceived as a virtual music festival, it's available to stream for free, but viewers are being encouraged to donate to Feeding America, the charity that supports food banks across the U.S.

The star-studded lineup includes Michael McDonald, The Grateful Dead's Bob Weir, Sammy Hagar, Sheila E., Dave Grohl of Foo Fighters, Jewel, and Shawn Colvin, among others.

John tells USA Today that he got Daryl to participate with a unique pitch.

"I asked Daryl if he would do it, and...I said, ''You know, this is a great opportunity for both of us to do a solo song that we never get to play when were together because our big hits so overpower everything else that weve done,' John explains.

So Daryl will play "I'm In a Philly Mood," from his 1993 solo album Soul Alone, John tells USA Today, while he'll close the show with a new song called "Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee." Those are the names of two legendary folk/blues musicians who often worked together.

Daryl and John are scheduled to resume touring this August, and John says, "We want to play, we really want to play...[but] now, after being off the road for a year, its going to take a little while to get back on the horse, so to speak."

"We have to rehearse a little bit, woodshed a little bit," he admits. "But thats fun. It keeps your brain working."

Oates Song Fest airs 8 p.m. on Saturday via Nugs.net.

By Andrea Dresdale

Copyright  2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.
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Actually, modern Scotland is a liberal, secular and civilised nation which has not known any blasphemy prosecution for more than 175 years

'Through the passing of this landmark bill, Scotlands Parliament has sent a strong and clear message to victims, perpetrators, communities and to the wider society that offences motivated by prejudice will be treated seriously and will not be tolerated', declared Scotlands justice minister Humza Yousaf. (Image credit : Twitter/@ScotParl)

India, with its increasingly assertive majoritarian culture, would benefit from an equivalent of the Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Bill that the Scottish Parliament in Edinburghs Holyrood House passed last week by 82 votes to 32, following the previous days five-hour debate when legislators considered a raft of amendments. In a nutshell, the controversial new measure will extend protection to vulnerable groups and take a far stricter view of the offence of stirring up hatred.

As Victoria Atkins, a junior minister in the British government, said in another context recently, the minorities and marginalised communities need such protection. Such Indian groups need it far more than quotas and reservations which, as wise observers have pointed out repeatedly, create a vested interest in backwardness. Indians who would qualify under Ms Atkinss definition are Muslims, the Scheduled Castes and Tribes, Sikhs and people from the Northeast who do not fit into the common mans notion of the national stereotype. Myanmars Rohingyas are a tragic illustration of the outsider in this sense, as were Jews and the gypsies in pre-World War II Europe.

Through the passing of this landmark bill, Scotlands Parliament has sent a strong and clear message to victims, perpetrators, communities and to the wider society that offences motivated by prejudice will be treated seriously and will not be tolerated, declared Scotlands justice minister Humza Yousaf. Around 18 hate crimes are committed every day in the kingdom; 6,448 were recorded in 2019-20. I am delighted Holyrood has backed this powerful legislation that is fitting for the Scotland we live in Mr Yousaf added.

Although born in Glasgow, Mr Yousaf is of Pakistani origin and can be expected to bring a measure of personal commitment to the cause of equal treatment for people of all creeds and colours. The bills passage has shown Holyrood at its very best -- a collaborative, diverse and determined Parliament which we should all be proud of, he says. Robust scrutiny has ensured we have met the right balance between protecting groups targeted by hate crime and respecting peoples rights to free speech.

He has been at pains to reassure everyone that the new law will not try to instigate any kind of witch hunt. Nor will it curb free speech. Asked about racist jokes and drunken anecdotes, he was quick to stress that the behaviour has to be threatening or abusive and intended to stir up trouble, so a racist joke is clearly not going to reach that threshold. There will be no prosecutions under the new law.

If your unreconstructed uncle comes in, has too many sherries at Christmas dinner and says something they shouldnt do, which creates great offence to his bisexual niece, for example, that is not going to be prosecuted. He fleshed out the point by recounting an abusive tweet he had received but would ignore. The beauty of the Hate Crime Bill is that you can say that all day long (not that Id encourage it!) and it would not be a criminal offence.

That may seem like a tolerant and sensibly lenient attitude to take. Yet, leniency can be mistaken for tacit official sanction or condonation. Nazi anti-Semitism did not spring up overnight. German and Austrian culture had a long history of anti-Semitic witticisms which may have concealed a real societal bias. Nirad C. Chaudhuri recalls a Bengali rhyme in which the people of Odisha and Bihar are presented in negative terms to illustrate insularity. Similarly, the English have jokes at the expense of the Scots and the Welsh.

Believing laughter to be the best antidote to hatred, the British once offered prizes to comedians who could tell jokes about their own communities. The 1968 Race Relations Act made it illegal to refuse housing, employment, or public services to anyone on the grounds of colour, race, ethnic or national origins. The deeper expectation was that the law would change peoples outlook because the law-abiding British would avoid anything illegal. And, indeed, race relations and social attitudes have been completely transformed. The three Race Relations Acts (two others followed in 1976 and 2000) accomplished what the old laws could not.

Stirring up racial hatred has been an offence in Scottish -- and British -- law for decades. But the old laws were not regarded as providing adequate protection to minority groups. Hence Scotlands Hate Crime Bill was introduced in April 2020 following an independent review by Lord Bracadale, a distinguished Scottish judge, who recommended that all the old laws on the subject be consolidated into one new bill. The measure updates the list of entities protected by the law while also expanding the list. It also identifies new stirring up of hatred offences that apply to all the categories -- age, disability, race, religion, sexual orientation, transgender identity and variations in sex characteristics that the bill mentions.

It is also noteworthy that the bill anticipates religious bigotry and defangs bigots in advance by abolishing the offence of blasphemy. Actually, modern Scotland is a liberal, secular and civilised nation which has not known any blasphemy prosecution for more than 175 years. But the authorities are taking no chances.

I look forward to overseeing the implementation of this legislation which will ensure Scotlands justice system can bring perpetrators to account and provide sufficient protection for individuals and communities harmed by hate crimes Mr Yousaf promises.

There is no reason why he should be disappointed provided freedom of speech is not curbed and justice is speedy and effective. India has not forgotten the 1968 Kilvenmani massacre when 44 Dalit men, women and children were burned alive, and an appeal court acquitted the convicted murderers on the ground that landlords of their status did not commit such crimes. A new law must also punish rumour mongering about beef, killing cattle and romance across religious borders.

India demonstrates that the law by itself is simply not enough. It must also be administered by politicians of goodwill and integrity.
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.
In a long-shot bid to enact voting reform on a federal level, Senate Democrats will introduce their version of the For the People Act, a comprehensive voting reform and anti-corruption bill.

Why it matters: In the aftermath of the 2020 election, states across the U.S. are considering voting restrictions, according to the Brennan Center for Justice.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Sens. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) will hold a press conference Thursday to announce the S1 legislation.

The state of play: The House passed the companion bill For the People Act (H.R. 1) on March 4. The Senate proposal looks virtually similar and would include:

The bill would allow universal same-day voting registration and automatic registration for Americans age 18 and up.

It would also prohibit the purging of voter rolls and allow every voter to cast votes by mail.

It would also provide at least 15 days of early voting to Americans nationwide.

The bill will also offer campaign finance reform, and would require super PACs and issue advocacy groups to disclose donors contributing more than $10,000.

The bill's ethics components would require the president and vice president to publicly disclose their tax returns.

It will also prohibit members of Congress from serving on the boards of for-profit entities.

Whats next: The Senate Rules Committee will hold a hearing on March 24. If the vote comes to the floor, the Senate will need to pass the bill with 60 votes which seems increasingly unlikely with the growing partisan divide in Congress.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-17 03:55:56|Editor: huaxia

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CAIRO, March 16 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi and his Sri Lankan counterpart Gotabaya Rajapaksa discussed on Tuesday ways to promote cooperation between the two countries.

During a phone conversation, Rajapaksa highlighted the importance of strengthening bilateral relations between Egypt and Sri Lanka in all fields and in various international forums, Egyptian Presidential spokesman Bassam Rady said in a statement.

He also appreciated the pioneering role Egypt plays at the regional and international levels and its valuable role in combating terrorism and achieving security, stability and peace in the Middle East.

For his part, Sisi affirmed Egypt's keenness to strengthen cooperation between the two countries, especially at the economic level and in joint investments in the ongoing mega national projects.

The two leaders also discussed joint efforts to combat COVID-19 and address terrorism, one of the most important challenges facing both countries. Enditem
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She was born Jenifer Mary Scully into a large, proudly Irish-Catholic family (nine girls and two boys) that eventually settled in Essendon. Her parents and grandparents were deeply involved in the Australian Labor Party and their lives were irrevocably defined by the ALP-DLP split of 1955. This commitment to the political process was accompanied at home by the constant background of ABC radio and lively conversation which fostered a passion for education and a lifetime interest in advocacy and social justice, which she instilled in her children and grandchildren.

She was a trailblazer in many ways, returning to study and beginning a successful professional career while raising her five children, much of it as a single mother. She would fight for justice for women, for humane rehabilitation for alcoholics and addicts, for the homeless and for the rights of the elderly. She started a second career in the law in her 50s and was awarded a life-time achievement award from the Law Institute of Victoria.

Jenifer Lee packed a lot into her 83 years including meeting, and in some cases advising, prime ministers, premiers and princesses (she met Diana). She was a tireless community advocate and proudly received a life membership of the ALP from Premier Daniel Andrews in recognition of more than 50 years of dedicated service.

On leaving St Columbus in year 10, Jenifer briefly worked as a nurse before marrying Edward Francis Lee (deceased) in her early 20s ceasing work, as was the expectation of all young women, to start a family. Initially living in a bungalow behind her in-laws in South Melbourne, the family moved to Essendon, with a brief stint in Darwin, before eventually settling in Bulleen with their five children.

In the early 1970s, Jenifer completed her matriculation before studying for a bachelor of social work at La Trobe University, courtesy of the brief period of free tertiary education, while being involved in the Womens Electoral Lobby and the early Neighbourhood House movement.

She believed strongly that community services were not geared to meet the needs of women and spent the 1970s developing new models that involved the clients, including women, in the development and evaluation of the service. As her career flourished, she grew apart from her husband, Edward, and they eventually separated as she continued to support and guide her children, and many of their friends, in a chaotically busy but welcoming home in Bulleen.

In 1982, Jenifer was appointed as the Victorian state director of Alcohol and Drug Services and established the first rehabilitation programs aimed at women. She attended the 1985 national drug summit as policy adviser to the Victorian premier and from 1984 implemented the Victorian component of the policy to contain the spread of AIDS through intravenous drug use.

Many of these policies, such as needle exchange, were controversial but have undoubtedly saved the lives of many Australians. She was also appointed by successive health ministers to serve on the Mental Health Review Board from 1987 until 2006.
A women's safety app that its developers say 'shouldn't have to exist' has surged to the top of the download charts in the wake of Sarah Everard's murder.

WalkSafe has attracted more than 300,000 downloads within a week, becoming the number one free app on Apple's iOS and entering the top 10 on Android.

Serving Metropolitan Police officer Wayne Couzens, 48, is accused of kidnapping and murdering 33-year-old Everard, as she walked home from a friend's flat in Clapham, south London, in the evening on March 3.

The app includes a map of previously reported incidents nearby that makes users aware of any potential 'danger zones' and helping them plan a safer route home.

The app has climbed to the top of Apple's free chart amid serious debate about the issue of women's safety

Sarah Everard, 33, went missing on March 3 after leaving a friend's house in Clapham, sparking a week-long search

WALKSAFE: KEY FEATURES OF THE APP WalkSafe feature displays crime locations and gives safety alerts when walking or exercising HomeSafe feature alerts users emergency contacts if they fail to make it home within allocated time TapSafe feature notifies contacts when users stop tapping their screen in nervous situations Advertisement

The tool only had 2,000 downloads before Ms Everard's disappearance and the ensuing debate about gender violence, co-founder Emma Kay explained.

Ms Kay's own experiences of harassment inspired her to support the app, but she says she feels very strongly that a service like this 'shouldn't have to exist'

'There have been instances in the past of myself, dating back from a young age  I'm talking schoolgirl age  where you felt nervous, you've been scared.

'I've been followed, I've had someone, a stranger in the street put his hand up my skirt, I've been in those sorts of situations and it does start young.'

As well as a map of recent incidents, the app allows people to tap the screen every so often while walking home - no taps for a while alerts loved ones to a danger.

If this feature, known as 'TapSafe', is enabled emergency contacts are immediately notified.

They will be sent the users location if they stop tapping their phone for more than a certain period of time, the team said.

The colours on TapSafe will change depending on the time of day, allowing for discreet use at night time - reducing the risk of alerting a potential attacker.

Users can also check in with others and let the app send an automatic notification to friends when they have reached their destination.

Known as the 'HomeSafe feature', this allows users to set their estimated time of arrival at home, and will send their location to emergency contacts if users do not complete their journey in time.

'Its easy to forget to message people when youve made it home safely,' app developers explained, when discussing this feature.

As well as a map of recent incidents, the app allows people to tap the screen every so often while walking home - no taps for a while alerts loved ones to a danger

'But if you fail to get home on time, HomeSafe sends out an automatic alert and location, which will immediately let contacts know that the user might be in trouble.'

Ms Kay  a mother of one who is expecting her second child  said the feedback from users of the app has been positive and 'rewarding'.

They have also had requests from people in the Netherlands and the US to expand support internationally.

'Our ultimate goal was, even if it saves one person from a difficult situation then it will all be worth it and that's really what drives us,' she said.

Couzens is due to go on trial in the autumn.
Chennai, March 17 : South Indian actor-turned-politician and president of the Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM), Kamal Haasan has said that his first priority once his party comes to power will be fighting against the drug mafia.

Haasan, who is the richest candidate in the fray in the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections with declared moveable assets worth Rs 45 crore, was speaking at a public programme in Coimbatore on Wednesday.

Haasan said: "I think that the major fight one should take up is against the drug mafia which is spoiling the lives of thousands, may be lakhs of youth. The authorities must take stringent action against this menace which is destroying a generation. My priority once we get power will be total eradication of this menace from Tamil Nadu and India." The MNM leader, who is contesting in a tough, four-cornered fight from Coimbatore South, further said that government authorities must conduct regular inspections to eliminate the drug mafia from the state.

Haasan said that he is confident of a win from Coimbatore South and he has been travelling and meeting new people in the past few days. He said that after entering politics, he can understand the pulse of the people and added that he would strive for their welfare using the political platform.

The superstar travelled through the streets of his constituency in an auto-rickshaw and interacted with students, youth, women and children.

He also paid a surprise visit to the Ukkadam fish market and listened to to fishermen as they described the the problems faced by their community.
A leading doctor has reassured Australians that the AstraZeneca vaccine is safe and has urged the government no to suspend its rollout.

Doctor Norman Swan, a Scottish-Australian physician who hosts a show on ABC Radio National, told ABC News that the number of blood clot cases are lower than the normal rate within the population and that they're a 'very rare phenomena'.

'The likelihood is this will be nothing in the end and if I were due for an AstraZeneca vaccine today or tomorrow I'd have it because I think its a very rare phenomena,' Dr Swan said.

'I wouldn't err on the side of caution if I were the government.'

Doctor Norman Swan (pictured) says alarm around the AstraZeneca vaccine is misguided and that the government should progress with its roll-out

There have been a small number of cases of blood clots in people who have had the jab (pictured, the AstraZeneca jab being used in Florida)

AstraZeneca: What you need to know AstraZeneca vaccine was approved for use in Australia on February 16, 2021

Two doses are required and to be administered between four and 12 weeks apart

Australia has secured 53.8 million doses of the vaccine

Vaccine efficacy over 70% after first dose and over 90% after second Advertisement

Dr Swan says the rate of cases of blood clots with the AstraZeneca vaccine is about 30 people per five million doses, 'a very low rate' which is below normal rates within the global population.

He admits that the issue itself is 'very complicated' and the more worrying trend for the blood clotting cases are that they are happening to younger people.

'People are turning up with the clotting problem with low platelets, you can have a situation where you have low platelets and get the clotting problem which is a bit unusual,' Dr Swan says.

'The other issue here is you can get an antibody situation which creates low blood platelets.

'A doctor with the Pfizer vaccine who died with low blood platelets.

'It's just possible the vaccine have a problem creating antibodies in some people to platelets and causing blood clots.'

A number of European countries have suspended the distribution of the jab including Germany, France, Italy and Spain.

A number of European countries have suspended the distribution of the jab including Germany, France, Italy and Spain

Dr Swan says in the 'very unlikely' case that the AstraZeneca vaccine is linked to the blood clotting there may be a group of people who should avoid it, but says it is too premature to act.

He says that he has heard from Europe that it is more likely a batch problem with the AstraZeneca vaccine rather than a larger issue.

Norway has come out and denied any link between the vaccine and the blood clotting cases, and Dr Swan says this is positive news because of the excellent electric health records within Scandinavian countries and their ability to track abnormalities in prevalence of conditions.
There are no new Covid-19 cases being reported in the community today.

The Ministry of Health is reporting three new cases in managed isolation.

"One previously reported case has been reclassified as 'under investigation.' Our total number of confirmed cases is 2078," says the Ministry in a statement released this afternoon.

"The seven-day rolling average of new cases detected at the border is three."

Since January 1, there have been 39 historical cases, out of a total of 267 acute and historical cases.

The cases in MIQ are as follows:

Arrival date From Via Positive test day/reason Managed isolation/quarantine location 6 March Iran UAE Day 10 / contact of case Auckland 12 March Singapore Direct flight Day 3 / routine testing Auckland 15 March USA Direct flight Day 0 / routine testing Auckland

Testing update

On Tuesday, 6047 tests were processed.

Almost 35,000 tests have been processed in the last week, with a seven-day rolling average up to yesterday of 4996 tests processed.

The total number of tests processed by laboratories to date is 1,830,299.

For up-to-date information on testing locations in Auckland, visit https://www.arphs.health.nz/

Information on all testing locations nationwide is available on the Healthpoint website https://www.healthpoint.co.nz/covid-19/

NZ Covid Tracer

NZ Covid Tracer now has 2,754,178 registered users.

"Poster scans have reached 223,277,183 and users have created 8,559,956 manual diary entries.

Ministry of Health updates," says an MOH spokesperson.

"At this stage of New Zealands response to Covid-19, we are seeing cases routinely appear at the border in recent returnees in managed isolation facilities.

"We expect this to continue to be the case while we remain in Alert Level 1 with managed isolation requirements in place.

"To reflect this, the Ministry is reducing the frequency of media updates to be every two days  Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.

"On those days, the Ministry will report cases that have tested positive in managed isolation in the preceding days since the last update.

"The public can be assured that the Ministry will report any significant development, including any case emerging in the community, sooner if required."




Todays the day when the money from those latest stimulus payments will actually flow into many savings and checking accounts.

Eligible consumers should have access to their money by 9 a.m. today, according to the trade group that handles the processing of direct deposits.

The IRS chose the date of March 17, which is the date on which the IRS intends for settlement to occur, according to Nacha, the organization that governs the ACH Network.

All the money isnt going out via direct deposit. Some people will still get money via paper checks and plastic prepaid debit cards issued by MetaBank, both of which will be sent in the mail in the coming weeks.

The vast majority of these payments will be by direct deposit, the IRS said Friday, without being specific on the exact percentage of payments.

Theres been some confusion lately as to when people will have access to their cash via direct deposit after seeing some pending action relating to the third stimulus payments on their bank accounts this weekend. Some social media buzz heated up as some consumers complained about why the money wasnt readily available.

Bankers and others in the industry set out Monday to clarify the payment time schedule and take on their critics.

There is no mystery where the money is from the time the first payment file was transmitted on Friday, March 12 to when all recipients will have access to the money on Wednesday  it is still with the government, according to a statement provided Monday morning from Nacha. The statement noted that the Internal Revenue Service announced that the settlement date for the initial wave of tens of millions of economic impact payments by Direct Deposit will be Wednesday, March 17.

More than 100 million payments are expected to be payable on March 17 via direct deposit, according to banking industry experts.

The first coronavirus relief checks were for $1,200. The second ones $600. And now, payments of $1,400 per person are officially due to be sent March 17 (direct deposit), the week of March 22 (paper checks) and the week of March 29 (EIP cards). What will you do with the money?

Last Thursday, President Joe Biden signed into law the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan which, in addition to boosting the amount of the relief payment, expanded eligibility to include dependents over age 16. To qualify for the full payments, adjusted gross income must be less than $75,000 for individuals and $150,000 for married couples filing jointly.

The government-issued checks have been popularly called stimulus payments, though the funds primarily have been intended to replace money lost in the collapse of the economy, rather than to stimulate demand.

People have been careful with the funds with every round, and it looks like theyll play it pretty safe this time too:

Limited spending: Much of $1,200 checks issued in the first round, as part of the CARES Act, did not generate spending sprees. The National Bureau of Economic Research found that almost 60% of the money went to pay down debt or into savings.

Researchers at the University of Chicago found that households on average spent 40% of the first check, mostly for food, beauty items and other products that people hoarded in the early days of the pandemic. Little went to purchases like cars or appliances.

Economists reasoned that with lockdowns in place last spring, there were far fewer options for spending the money.

One other factor to watch this time, given the size of the checks: Economists say that the greater the check, the less likely people are to spend it.

Bill paying: A survey in early January by Bankrate.com found that 71% of people said the second-round $600 checks they expected to receive for every adult and dependent child in a household would only sustain their financial well-being for less than a month. Four in 10 people surveyed said they would put the funds toward monthly bills such as rent or mortgage payments and utility bills.

Erasing debt: Almost 5 million people in Illinois age 18 and older said someone in their house received a relief payment in the previous seven days, according to data collected by the Census Bureau between Feb. 17 and March 1. Of those who detailed their plans, almost 2.4 million said it would be mostly be used to pay off debt.

Saving: With the third round of relief payments, Bank of America anticipates more of the funds will be saved in one way or another, not spent. In its survey of 3,000 people in late February, only 36% of respondents said they planned to spend the money. The rest had other plans: 9% planned to invest it, 25% would save it and 30% would use it to pay off debts.

Its not good news for sellers of food, clothing and other necessities. Planned use of the money in those categories is anticipated to be down almost 5% from what people planned to do with the payments last year. One bright spot is vacation and travel, which saw big gains compared with earlier surveys but it was still a small part of overall picture.

Bank of America found that every household income group planned to save much more than normal. Among high earners, people with household incomes of more than $120,000, 79% said they either planned to save it, pay off debts or invest it. That same sentiment was echoed by 53% of people surveyed who had household incomes of less than $30,000. The lower-income group also reported the highest intentions of spending it on food, clothing and other needed purchasers.

Buying stocks: Some recipients have their eye on the stock market. A survey of 430 retail investors by Deutsche Bank last month found that half of those surveyed between the ages of 25 and 34 plan to buy stocks with half of their checks.
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New York, NY, March 16, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- UNITED NATIONS, New York, 17 March 2021  The United Nations Global Compact and Lloyds Register Foundation, in partnership with the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CRNS), today launched a global coalition to support a safe, sustainable and scalable seaweed industry to address some of the worlds most pressing global challenges. The Safe Seaweed Coalition is the first initiative to convene stakeholders from across the globe to unlock the full potential of seaweed to contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Seaweed has a significant role in food security, climate change mitigation, supporting biodiversity in marine ecosystems and contributing to job creation and poverty alleviation. It also provides a nutritious source of food to humans and animals and some compounds can be used as a substitute for plastics as well as for natural fertilizers or new medical treatments. Seaweed is also a key source of jobs and revenues to coastal communities, particularly for women. Seaweed can also act as a form of carbon sequestration and is increasingly being used as a nature-based solution to mitigate climate change and restore abundance in the ocean ecosystem.

The Safe Seaweed Coalition builds on the recommendations outlined in the Seaweed Manifesto, a collaborative report developed by the Lloyds Register Foundation and the UN Global Compact in 2020 and will bring together diverse stakeholders from across the seaweed industry to establish the critical infrastructure, regulations and technologies required to drive this new type of cultivation to scale. The Coalition has three core objectives:

Consumer safety  Ensuring seaweed products meet commonly agreed upon safety standards for use by consumers

Environmental safety  Ensuring seaweed production and processing takes place in harmony with local ecosystems and improves ocean biodiversity

Operational safety  Ensuring the welfare of workers is protected at every stage of the seaweed value chain

Vincent Doumeizel, Director of the Food Programme at Lloyds Register Foundation and Senior Advisor to the UN Global Compact, commenting on the Coalitions launch, said: Seaweed may well be the greatest untapped resource on the planet. This nascent industry is currently highly disconnected and lacking in global safety standards to scale up. Safety is a pre-competitive topic and a great point of convening. By coming together in solidarity, we can leverage seaweed to address some of the most pressing global challenges.

Sanda Ojiambo, CEO & Executive Director of UN Global Compact, said:

With the COP26 and UN Food System Summit conferences taking place later this year and a renewed focus on the Decade of Action, there is increasing recognition of the urgent need to find solutions to mitigate climate change and translate the Sustainable Development Goals into reality. The Safe Seaweed Coalition will facilitate multilateral collaboration to accelerate the seaweed industrys potential to address some of the worlds most pressing problems.

The Financial Times will host a public digital event to launch the Safe Seaweed Coalition on 17 March. More information on how to register for the launch can be found here.

Those interested in joining the Safe Seaweed Coalition can email secretariat@safeseaweedcoalition.org.

Media Contacts:

Alex Gee

media@unglobalcompact.org







NOTES TO EDITORS





About the United Nations Global Compact

As a special initiative of the UN Secretary-General, the United Nations Global Compact is a call to companies everywhere to align their operations and strategies with Ten Principles in the areas of human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption. Our ambition is to accelerate

and scale the global collective impact of business by upholding the Ten Principles and delivering the Sustainable Development Goals through accountable companies and ecosystems that enable change. With more than 12,000 companies and 3,000 non-business signatories based in over 160 countries, and 69 Local Networks, the UN Global Compact is the worlds largest corporate sustainability initiative  one Global Compact uniting business for a better world.

For more information, follow @globalcompact on social media and visit our website at unglobalcompact.org.





About Lloyds Register Foundation

Lloyds Register Foundation is an independent global charity with a unique structure and an important mission: engineering a safer world. We focus on the most pressing global safety challenges such as Food Safety and enhance the safety of life and property at sea, on land, and in the air. We do this by supporting high quality research, accelerating technology to application, and through education and public outreach. Our unique structure comes from the fact that we own a significant trading company, Lloyds Register Group. We share the same mission and work together to make the world a safer place.

For more information, please visit www.lrfoundation.org.uk





About the Safe Seaweed Coalition

From smallholder farmers to multinational businesses, specialized research institutes, and

international organizations, the Safe Seaweed Coalition will draw on diverse expertise and experiences from both the public and private sector to drive progress for the seaweed industry to reach its full potential. The coalition will strengthen connections within the seaweed industry to unlock the economic, social and environmental benefits of this unique resource.

To register support for the Seaweed Manifesto please click here and for more information please visit: https://seaweedrevolution.live.ft.com/home





ABOUT CNRS

The CNRS is the largest European public research organization, with about 1,100 services and/or research units throughout the country. As a multidisciplinary institution, it covers all fields of scientific research, driving various programs and actions designed to address society and industry expectations. Three CNRS research departments, located at the Station Biologique de Roscoff (SBR), a renowned research and training center in marine biology and oceanography, jointly operated by the CNRS and Sorbonne University (SU) contribute to seaweed research.
Baton Rouge prosecutors have quietly started dropping charges against some defendants whose pending cases hinge on testimony from two detectives placed under arrest in recent months amid an ongoing corruption probe focused on the BRPD narcotics division.

At least a small handful of relatively minor charges were dropped at the request of prosecutors Tuesday morning in 19th Judicial District Court, records show. The dismissals happened quickly and without much fanfare, raising questions about how many more cases will follow and how far the ripple effects will extend.

East Baton Rouge District Attorney Hillar Moore III said his office is prioritizing pending cases with defendants are in jail awaiting trial. He said prosecutors have been instructed to seriously consider sacrificing some cases in hopes of maintaining public trust in the criminal justice system.

More dismissals are expected in the coming days and weeks.

"We need the community to trust that the system is going to work. That is of the utmost and ultimate importance at this point," Moore said. "That could mean releasing people with potentially significant backgrounds, large amounts of drugs and guns  cutting them loose because we believe this is the right thing to do."

Chief Deputy Public Defender Lindsay Blouin said in a statement Tuesday morning that her office is "profoundly alarmed by allegations of rampant misconduct" among BRPD narcotics detectives. She said public defenders are "reviewing all pending cases involving the narcotics division and are pursuing litigation on behalf of those clients."

Black legislators, Baton Rouge NAACP want panel to review BRPD drug cases amid corruption probe In response to an ongoing corruption probe focused on the BRPD narcotics division, a group of Black state lawmakers and leaders of the Baton R

That means obtaining and investigating the disciplinary history of involved officers, including the two facing criminal charges and four other narcotics supervisors who were recently transferred out of the division, Blouin said.

Prosecutors maintain a so-called Brady list of cops considered untruthful or otherwise untrustworthy  information that must be disclosed to defense attorneys in cases involving those officers. The recent misconduct allegations have pushed public defenders to gather some of that information themselves, hoping to provide an added layer of oversight, Blouin said.

She also echoed recent demands for a comprehensive and transparent review process to determine which cases are compromised. Black state legislators and the Baton Rouge NAACP sent a letter to prosecutors Monday demanding the creation of a panel to oversee the review, instead of allowing the issues to play out solely within the Baton Rouge criminal justice system.

The panel would include members of the public in addition to prosecutors, public defenders and civil rights advocates.

Problems at the BRPD narcotics division remained in the dark until one detective, Jeremiah Ardoin, was issued a misdemeanor summons in December for buying stolen electronics. While facing charges of his own, Ardoin alleged more widespread corruption, claiming narcotics officers routinely stopped and searched Black people without probable cause, planted drugs on suspects and coerced prostitutes into setting up drug dealers, according to a memo Ardoin wrote that was provided to department leadership.

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Half of BRPD's narcotics division was arrested or transferred. What happens to their cases? When Baton Rouge police staked out a suspected drug deal and came away with large amounts of marijuana and three guns, Kelvin Patterson told d

Ardoin also accused detective Jason Acree of stealing marijuana seized as evidence, among other misdeeds. BRPD internal investigators arrested Acree several weeks later. He was booked into jail on possession with intent to distribute and malfeasance in office.

Since then, four narcotics supervisors were transferred into uniform patrol, effectively cutting the division in half.

Baton Rouge police are conducting an internal investigation, though officials have declined to comment on whether additional arrests or discipline are expected. While Acree and Ardoin have been placed on administrative leave pending the outcomes of their cases, the four transferred supervisors continue to patrol the streets.

Of the charges dropped Tuesday, one man had been accused of drug possession in two separate but strikingly similar incidents, the first in January 2020 and second in March. Ardoin was the arresting officer, and in both cases he approached the defendant outside the same "known drug house" on Pocasset Street and found small amounts of drugs on him  heroin in one instance and Xanax in the other, court records show.

In another case from May 2020, Acree had been subpoenaed to testify about an investigation that started when detectives received word about a planned drug deal at a Plank Road gas station, according to police reports. Detectives later arrested a man who was accused of possessing 29 grams of crack cocaine and a gun. That defendant was incarcerated awaiting trial but would be released after the charges were dropped Tuesday, according to court minutes.

Yet another case from 2019 accused the defendant of selling drugs outside a convenience store on Weller Avenue after detectives found small amounts of heroin and cocaine inside a vehicle, records show. Acree was included on the subpoena list in that case.

All three pending cases were dismissed Tuesday morning.

Despite already taking action in some cases, officials provided little indication of what to expect moving forward or the total number of prosecutions that could be affected. Narcotics detectives often conduct a high volume of arrests simply because of the nature of their job.

Alleged corruption in BRPD narcotics unit includes stolen drugs, illegal searches, planted evidence After a Baton Rouge police officer was accused of purchasing stolen electronics several weeks ago, he sat down and drafted a memo alleging wid

Prosecutors have said they need more information from Baton Rouge police, who are still conducting their own internal investigation, before making substantive decisions in some cases. Officials also have not addressed how they will handle closed cases involving the arrested officers, particularly for people with past drug convictions that lengthen their criminal histories and could be preventing them from finding jobs, housing or educational opportunities.
Somerset County prisons toured in wake of COVID

A media tour was held Wednesday at both Somerset County prisons to show how officials have adapted to COVID-19.
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The United States mission in Nigeria on Wednesday opened a centre called Window on America in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

A statement issued by the mission in Lagos said the centre was opened in partnership with the University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

The Window on America is a facility that hosts a variety of events designed to bring Americans and Nigerians together.

The opening of the facility in Uyo comes a few weeks after the first Window hosted at the Slum2School Innovation Hub in Lekki, Lagos was commissioned.

The U.S. Consulate said the new window was hosted at the main library of the University of Uyo.

It added that the facility would provide information about the U.S. government, history, culture and educational system.

Stephen Ibelli, U.S. Consulate Public Affairs Officer, said the primary objective of establishing the Window on America was to promote mutual understanding between peoples of the U.S and Nigeria.

He explained that the Uyo Window would function as a hub for activities and open its doors to young Nigerians looking to develop ideas, as well as leadership and entrepreneurship skills through programmes and workshops designed especially for them.

Young people are the strength of this nation and they will find a wealth of opportunities that can only be found in this space.

We invite them to take advantage of the free service at this Window on America in Uyo as their place for engagement, education and empowerment, Mr Ibelli said.

According to the consulate, the U.S. Mission would add 11 new Windows on America to the family of American Spaces in Nigeria in order to engage more Nigerian audiences in their local communities.

They will be sited in major cities in Abeokuta, Awka, Benin City, Enugu, Osogbo, Zaria, Minna, Dutse, Makurdi, Gombe and Lafia, the Consulate said.

The regular talks by U.S. speakers, Embassy staff, Fulbright scholars, and other Americans would allow citizens of both countries to interact and exchange ideas.

The Vice-Chancellor, University of Uyo, Nyaudoh Ndaeyo, was quoted as lauding the U.S. government for the partnership that culminated in the opening of the centre in the university.

Mr Ndaeyo expressed optimism that youth in the Uyo metropolis would benefit immensely from the free resources available at the facility.

(NAN)
Bengaluru, March 17 : Acclaimed Indian percussion artist Giridhar Udupa, who plays the ghatam and the Hawaii-based United States Air Force Band of the Pacific, have jointly released a music video.

The collaboration was inspired by the band's commitment to support Aero India 2021, and reinforces the U.S.-India Major Defence Partnership and people-to-people ties between the two countries.

The Band's original plan included a live performance with Indian master-percussionist Ghatam Giridhar Udupa. But these plans were scuttled due to the outbreak of the Covid pandemic.

In this video, Udupa performs traditional Indian rhythms on the "Ghatam", one of India's most ancient percussion instruments, while US Band's Technical Sergeant Wilfredo Cruz complements on the native Puerto Rican "Barril de Bomba" - another ancient percussion instrument.

While each soloist performs in their traditional musical language, the energy and passion of their music is and always will be universal. "We can't wait to have an in-person cultural exchange with our new friend Udupa and the people of India," the band said in its statement on Facebook.

The original song "Open Clusters" was composed by Staff Sergeant Luis Rosa, a saxophone instrumentalist with the U.S. Air Force Band of the Pacific, and is a musical fusion of two masters of Indian and Puerto Rican culture and rhythm, the statement explained, Other artists in the musical composition are Senior Airman Guy James on guitar, Staff Sergeant Andrew Detra on bass, and Technical Sergeant Wilfredo Cruz on percussion.

The United States Air Force Band of the Pacific's Publicity Section Chief Technical Sergeant Wilfredo Cruz said, "We are honoured and extremely grateful to be able to produce this musical collaboration for all of our viewers worldwide." He added that the pandemic did not allow the band to be in India to perform live during Aero India, yet music connects all regardless of distance or borders.

"We leverage the power of music to strengthen bonds with our friends and partners through the Indo-Pacific region. We hope you enjoy this virtual performance as much as we enjoyed preparing it for you!," he said.

While talking about the long-distance collaboration, the Indian percussion artist Udupa said, "The newly composed track with incredible musicians from the U.S. Air Force Band. The composition perfectly fits into the world music scene." The United States Air Force Band of the Pacific is a squadron of professional U.S. Air Force musicians that performs in diverse musical configurations and fulfills community relations and military functions throughout the Western Pacific region.

These ensembles present more than 200 performances annually, cultivating patriotism while enhancing cultural ties on behalf of the Pacific Air Forces and the U.S. Air Force throughout the Indo-Pacific region.

Udupa is an acclaimed Bengaluru-based Indian ghatam (percussion) artist with three decades of experience of collaborations with eminent artists across the world, concert visits to more than 50 countries.

Udupa has performed at the many prestigious venues in the world including Carnegie Hall in New York City, The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington D.C., and The Wortham Center in Houston, Texas.
She may have her hands full raising three young sons.

But Lara Worthington (nee Bingle) took time out of her busy schedule on Monday to enjoy a child-free pampering session at a nail salon in Rose Bay, Sydney.

The model, 33, looked effortlessly chic in an oversized grey blazer, which she layered over a black-and-white T-shirt and dark jeans.

Nailed it! Lara Worthington (nee Bingle) looked chic in an oversized blazer as she enjoyed a child-free pampering session at a nail salon in Sydney's Rose Bay on Monday

Lara completed her off-duty look with a pair of leather booties, a black handbag and quirky sunglasses.

She opted for minimal makeup and styled her cropped blonde hair loosely.

Elsewhere during the outing, Lara stopped by a cafe to pick up a take-away coffee.

Pampering: Lara kicked back in a massage chair as a masked beautician painted her nails

Lara and her husband, actor Sam Worthington, relocated from LA to Sydney earlier this year.

The couple share three sons, Rocket, five, Racer, four, and an 11-month-old whose name is yet to be revealed.

Lara is keeping busy with modelling jobs, while Sam is performing in the Sydney Theatre Company production of the black comedy Appropriate.

Chic: Lara completed her off-duty look with a black handbag and a pair of quirky sunglasses

According to Who magazine, the couple decided to return to their native Australia for an 'extended stay' during Sam's theatre run, which began on Monday.

The pair may not return to America once the show's over either, as production on the upcoming Avatar sequels - which Sam is starring in - has moved to New Zealand.

In another sign they're here to stay, the couple have listed their five-bedroom home in the Hollywood foothills for a whopping $12.6million.
Many of you might be familiar with the Wellbots Annual Smart Products Ranking, and they have released their latest ranking to recap the best smart consumer electronics products of the year! For those who is new to the ranking, Wellbots.com is the leading retailer of Internet-of-Things (IoT) devices in the US and they have been releasing their rankings of best smart products since 2014. Over the years, Wellbots.com continues to be the authority for discovering and recognizing the best products in the industry. This year's ranking features smart tech devices such as robot vacuums, drones, smart speakers, electric bikes, smartwatches and air purifiers. Nothing more to say, let's dive into it right now!

The latest ranking of Wellbots.com includes Cleaning Robots, Electric Scooters, Drones, Smart Home Products, Smart Toys, Air Purifiers, Pet Devices and Wireless Speakers. And here are the Top 10 products selected.

No.1 iRobot Roomba s9+

iRobot remains the world's leading manufacturer of home cleaning robots, and it has developed into one of the top manufacturers of consumer electronics over the past 30 years.

iRobot Roomba S9+ is an amaing robot vacuum cleaner and top of its class this year. Equipped with a self-emptying bin, S9+ offers the deepest clean to date with a suction power up to 40 times better than previous models. It is particularly good with carpets, dirty floors, and pet hair. Its advanced vSLAM navigation system also allows for an optimized coverage of your home.

No.2 Ecoflow Delta 1300

Providing clean and solar-powered energy, EcoFlow DELTA 1300 is the best battery-powered generator. It can be charged from 0-80% in 1 hour by AC outlet which is one of the best in the industry. The power station can also be charged by solar panels and by car. Therefore, this is the perfect device to make you feel safe in case of power outages or if you are travelling to remote areas with power shortages.

No.3 Sonos Five

Sonos Five is the new generation of Play 5, it was launched in 2020 whit six custom-designs drivers inside that makes it very powerful whit a better sound performance and audio quality for a portable speaker. Sonos Five can adapt to the acoustic of the environment thanks to the several and unique technology Trueplay, it will provide you the best quality possible. The hassle-free speaker! Sonos Five comes with Apple AirPlay2 and is available in a beauty to look black or white design. Don't forget to take control of it easily via the App.

No.4 Garmin Tactix Delta Solar

The tactical smartwatch built to military standards (MIL-STD-810). That's what The Garmin Tactix Delta Solar edition is. With a GPS incorporated and a solar changing lens, it will be allowed to stay in the field for months. The Garmin Tactix Delta Solar edition has a very complete range of amazing features such as jumpmaster mode, waypoint projection, dual-position format, and preloaded tactical activity, stealth mode, and kill switch. But that is not all the stealth mode disables location sharing and wireless connectivity while the kill switch allows you to wipe all user memory. The smartwatch features such as Garmin PayTM contactless payments (not all countries and payment networks are eligible), music storage with premium streaming service options from third party provider (including Spotify, Deezer, and Amazon Music), smart notifications (when paired with a compatible smartphone), all this and more make it one of the best smartwatches of the last year!

No.5 Fitbit Charge 4

The best ally if you need some help to know your workouts, your body, and more. The Fitbit Charge 4 is a sleek tracker with a minimalist design but with very develop features like built-in GPS, Active Zone Minutes, new exercise modes, and sleep tracking. His battery will allow it to stay with you for up to 7-days, it can be your to-go partner for everything. In the Fitbit Charge 4, you can use the new built-in GPS to see your pace and distance on screen during outdoor runs. One of the best new features is the active Zone Minutes that help you track your target heart rate zones during exercise, and celebrate when you earn extra minutes, keeping you sportive and healthy. Use the Fitbit Charge 4 to control your music in Spotify, and your shopping with Fitbit Pay. The tracker also monitors how well you slept by tracking sleep stages & creates your in-app Sleep Score to see how well you slept.

No.6 Google Nest Mini

Wi-fi connectivity, voice recognition and home automation support, and control of all your smart devices in your home, that's what Google Nest Mini can do for you. The Google Nest Mini is a smart speaker and actually the first smart speaker to the one how is looking for a Google Assistant to help at their homes without appending a lot. Play some music, hear the news or check the weather make anything possible for $49. The Google Nest Mini comes with tweaks in design and user experiences such as the new Ambient IQ where the Nest Mini can adjust for ambient noise in the background.

No.7 Arlo Pro 3

Arlo Pro 3 is the next-generation home monitor camera on the market. Powerful and very easy to install and connect, use your phone to monitoring in a seamless manner. The Arlo Pro 3 offers you a wireless experience and Its battery lasts up to 6 months. You can activate the including spotlight manually at any time or automatically with motion, at night its unique tech enables its camera to see colors even in a very dark environment

No.8 Coway 400 S

A modern design and a high efficiency that's what characterizes the Coway 400 S. In COVID times and wildfires, Conway 400 S is the top air-purifier in the market. Its efficient design makes it clean the air in larges rooms up to 1,560 square feet. Coway 400 S deploys a True HEPA filter and activated carbon and is able to captures and reduces up to 99.97% of 0.3-micron particles in the air like pollen, pollutants, and other allergens.

No.9 Segway Max G30LP

The most successful and best-selling electric scooter from Ninebot-Segway in 2020, the Max G30LP has a max speed of 18.6 mph and a max range of 24.9 miles on a single charge. Its materials make it a very light scooter that can climb slopes up to 20 which makes it an extremely powerful and versatile device. Max G30LP is one of the latest models of Segway, it comes with a built-in LED display, Bluetooth capabilities, cruise control, ability to monitor riding data, firmware updates, and mobile app connectivity for additional security. Please do not forget to wear a helmet.

No.10 Autel Robotics II 8K Drone

One of the first 8K Pro drones on the market. The Autel Robotics EVO II has a 48 Megapixels camera that allows you to take incredible photos and videos, use the 4x zoom to increase the rank of vision. The 40 minutes flight time is the best you can find for a consumer drone, and the extra battery will help you to pilot EVO II for almost 1.5 hours. 12 vision sensors equip EVO II and make it detect and avoid potential obstacles at 30 meters away which is particularly useful when you use it at high speed. Thanks to its strong signal, you can pilot your Evo II up to 5.5 miles away. These features make the Autel Robotics Evo II our best-in-class drone at Wellbots.

Interested in the rest of 15 products on the ranking? The complete 2020 Wellbots Ranking is available here. What's the methodology behind this ranking? The Wellbots.com annual ranking compiles feedback from over 400 manufacturers of smart products around the world along with surveys from over 2,000 users of smart devices. Industry insiders and smart product users vote on a range of criteria that include product quality and design, brand awareness, innovation, financial strength, marketing, research & development.

About Wellbots.com

Wellbots is the leading online retailer of Smart Products including home robots, drones, electric scooters, smartwatches, and more. The company sells thousands of products manufactured by its partner-brands including iRobot, Garmin, Sonos, Google Nest, Segway, and 100 more brands. Wellbots boasts strategic partnerships with The Verge and Engadget, is a Google Trusted Store, and annually releases the Wellbots Ranking of the Top 25 Smart Products. Since its launch, Wellbots has grown into one of the IoT industry's leading authorities.

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
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4 in 5 Canadians View China Negatively: Poll

Nearly four in five Canadians say they do not have a positive view of China, according to a poll released Tuesday.

Forty-seven percent of Canadians have a very unfavourable view of China, while 30 percent hold a mostly unfavourable view, a new survey (pdf) released by Angus Reid Institute (ARI) found.

Only 14 percent say they view the nation favourably, a 34-point drop compared to 2017, the lowest figure the ARI has recorded since 2005.

Similarly, very few Canadians believe that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) offers a fair and accurate account of what happened during the COVID-19, the disease the CCP virus causes, outbreak.

Only 9 percent buy into Beijings narrative. A vast majority of Canadians55 percent strongly disagree and 26 percent disagreethat the Chinese regime has been transparent and honest about the pandemic.

A majority of Canadians also say Canada should develop closer trade ties with the United States (49 percent) and the European Union (49 percent) instead of China (11 percent). They were also skeptical of allowing Chinese investment in the countrys sensitive industries such as telecommunications and finance, with three-quarters expressing disapproval.

CSIS director David Vigneault holds a press conference on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Canada, on July 16, 2020. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press)

In a speech to the Centre for International Governance Innovation on Feb. 9, David Vigneault, director of Canadian Security Intelligence Service, said the CCP has been stealing critical technology, including from Canada, particularly in the sectors of biopharma, health, artificial intelligence, aerospace, ocean technology, and quantum computing.

Communist China is using all elements of state power to carry out activities that are a direct threat to our national security and sovereignty, he said.

Moreover, most Canadians believe that China cannot be trusted in regards to human rights or the rule of law, with 56 percent saying they strongly agree and 29 percent agree. Alongside that view is three-quarters of Canadians agree that Beijings treatment of Uyghur Muslims in China should be called a genocide.

On March 8, independent think tank Newlines Institute for Strategy and Policy published a report detailing how the CCP systematically conducted the genocide by collecting the Uyghurs biometric data, assigning party cadre teams to monitor them, and subsequently destroying their cultural and religious site, language, and poetryall central to their identity and life.

The CCP then criminalized their religious practices, built, and expanded the internment camps and detention facilities where about 1 to 2 million Uyghurs were detained. What follows is forced labour, forced abortions, mass sterilization of Uyghur women, widespread rape, sexual abuse, and forced separation of the Uyghur children from their parents, the report states.

ARI also noted the vast majority of Canadians (79 percent) want the country to prioritize human rights and rule of law over Chinas trade and investment opportunities for Canada.

This translates to over half of Canadians (55 percent) supporting the idea that Canada should boycott the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, while 27 percent still want the country to send athletes there to compete.

Likewise, the case of Canadian citizens Michael Spavor and Michael Korvig have put a strain on the Sino-Canadian relationship.

Both were arbitrarily detained in China in December 2018, just days after Meng Wanzhou, Huaweis CFO, was arrested at the Vancouver airport at the request of the United States, where she is wanted on bank fraud charges related to alleged violations of U.S. sanctions against Iran.

The two were later charged with espionage and have remained in custody, held on what the federal government and international observers alike have described as bogus charges aimed at putting pressure on Canada. Meng, meanwhile, is under house arrest at one of her mansions in Vancouver as her case is heard in court.

ARI surveyed 5,004 Canadians adults from Feb. 26, 2021, to March 3, 2021, with a margin of error of plus or minus 1.4 percentage points, 19 times out of 20. The survey was self-commissioned and paid for by ARI.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 16)  Several lawmakers on Tuesday filed a resolution seeking an investigation on the Philippine National Police over concerns it could be profiling lawyers of red-tagged individuals.

The move comes after an intelligence unit chief from Calbayog, Samar requested from the regional court a list of names who were representing "communist terrorist groups."

"Such a list or table presents a clear and present danger to the legal profession and such an apparent hitlist for targeting lawyers seems to be being prepared by the national PNP down to its lower levels," stated the resolution filed by the Makabayan bloc, Albay 1st District Rep. Edcel Lagman, and Quezon City 6th District Rep. Kit Belmonte

The resolution stressed the urgency of the probe amid a spate of killings targeting legal practitioners. It cited data from the National Union of People's Lawyers that showed 54 lawyers have been since June 2016. Among these were human rights lawyer Benjamin Ramos who had given aid to victims of extrajudicial killings, but was gunned down in November 2018.

NUPL Panay Secretary-General Angelo Karlo Guillen was also killed on March 3 this year after giving counsel for the case of indigenous leaders who died in police operations in December 2020. The two were also red-tagged prior to their deaths, the resolution noted.

The letter from the Calbayog police circulated online and drew public alarm. The PNP earlier denied issuing an order for the request and had since sacked the officer over the controversy.

The Integrated Bar of the Philippines earlier urged the government to look into the issue, calling the letter "improper, deplorable, and alarming."
Mar. 17At least one case of the coronavirus variant B.1.1.7. has been confirmed in Michigan State University's campus community, the college's president said Tuesday.

The variant was identified through a Michigan Department of Health and Human Services laboratory, MSU President Samuel L. Stanley Jr. said in a letter.

Early studies indicate the United Kingdom variant, B.1.1.7., is more contagious and may cause more severe symptoms than the original strain of the coronavirus found in Michigan a year ago.

State health department officials remain cautious as new variants B.1.1.7. and South African variant B.1.351 spread across Michigan and the U.S. The variants are identified through target testing and state officials expect there are cases of variants that have not been identified or recorded.

As of Monday, Michigan has the second-highest number of cases of the B.1.1.7. with 634 cases in 31 jurisdictions, although 380 cases are within the Michigan Department of Corrections. Florida has the most, with 738 cases of the variant.

Washtenaw County, where the variant was first discovered earlier this year, has 49 cases of B.1.1.7., Wayne County has 28 and Detroit has 12.

The variant has been found in nearly every state, with 4,690 cases recorded nationally.

Stanley said while the variant was not unexpected, it reinforces that everyone on campus should remain cautious and take precautions to prevent further spread.

"Simply put, we all must take personal responsibility and do our part to comply with all campus, city, county and state health measures. We cannot let our guard down now," Stanley wrote.

"It is important to note that viruses are always mutating, and that process can cause a new variant to form. Multiple variants of the virus that causes COVID-19 have been found in the U.S. and globally during this pandemic. Fortunately, research shows that the current COVID-19 vaccines are effective against the U.K. and other strains of the virus," he wrote.

Story continues

Michigan on Tuesday added 2,048 cases and 27 deaths from COVID-19 as the state surpassed more than 3 million doses of vaccine administered.

The latest figures bring the total number of cases to 612,628 and deaths to 15,810 since the virus was first detected in March 2020.

The university will host a COVID-19 town hall at 3 p.m. on March 22.

srahal@detroitnews.com

Twitter: @SarahRahal_
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There was no reason to celebrate on Rachel Van Lears anniversary. The same day a global pandemic was declared, she developed symptoms of COVID-19. A year later, shes still waiting for them to disappear. And for experts to come up with some answers.

The Texas woman is one of thousands of self-described long-haulers, patients with symptoms that linger or develop out of the blue months after they first became infected with coronavirus. Hers first arrived March 11, 2020.

The condition affects an uncertain number of survivors in a baffling variety of ways.

Were faced with a mystery, said Dr. Francis Collins, chief of the National Institutes of Health.

Is it a condition unique to COVID-19, or just a variation of the syndrome that can occur after other infections? How many people are affected, and how long does it last? Is it a new form of chronic fatigue syndrome  a condition with similar symptoms?

Or could some symptoms be unrelated to COVID-19 but a physical reaction to the upheaval of this past pandemic year  the lockdowns, quarantines, isolation, job losses, racial unrest, political turmoil, not to mention overwhelming illness and deaths?

These are the questions facing scientists as they search for disease markers, treatments and cures. With $1 billion from Congress, Collins agency is designing and soliciting studies that aim to follow at least 20,000 people whove had COVID-19.

'Weve never really been faced with a post-infectious condition of this magnitude so this is unprecedented,' Collins said Monday. We dont have time to waste.'

With nearly 30 million U.S. cases of COVID-19 and 119 million worldwide, the impact could be staggering, even if only a small fraction of patients develop long-term problems.

Fatigue, shortness of breath, insomnia, trouble thinking clearly and depression are among the many reported symptoms. Organ damage, including lung scarring and heart inflammation, also has been seen. Pinpointing whether these symptoms are directly linked to the virus or perhaps to some preexisting condition is among scientists tasks.

'Is it just a very delayed recovery or is it something even more alarming and something that becomes the new normal?' Collins said.

There are a few working theories for what might be causing persistent symptoms. One is that the virus remains in the body at undetectable levels yet still causes tissue or organ damage. Or it overstimulates the immune system, keeping it from returning to a normal state. A third theory: Symptoms linger or arise anew when the virus attacks blood vessels, causing minute, undetectable blood clots that can wreak havoc throughout the body.

Some scientists think each of these may occur in different people.

Dr. Steven Deeks, an infectious disease specialist at the University of California, San Francisco, said researchers first need to create a widely accepted definition of the syndrome. Estimates are all over the map because no one is defining it in the same way,' he said.

Deeks is leading one study, collecting blood and saliva samples from volunteers who will be followed for up to two years.

Some people develop long-term problems even when their initial infections were silent. Deeks said some evidence suggests that those who initially get sicker from a coronavirus infection might be more prone to persistent symptoms, and women seem to develop them more than men, but those observations need to be confirmed, Deeks said.

Van Lear says she was in great shape when she got sick. At 35, the suburban Austin woman had no other health issues and was a busy mother of three who often worked out. First came a chest cold, then a high fever. A flu test came back negative, so her doctor tested for COVID-19. Soon after she developed blinding headaches, debilitating fatigue and nausea so severe that she needed emergency room treatment.

'I was very scared because no one could tell me what was going to happen to me,' Van Lear said.

Over the next several months, symptoms would come and go: burning lungs, a rapid heartbeat, dizzy spells, hand tremors and hair loss. While most have disappeared, she still deals with an occasional racing heartbeat. Heart monitoring, bloodwork and other tests have all been normal.

Fatigue, fever, and no taste or smell were Karla Jefferies first symptoms after testing positive last March. Then came brain fog, insomnia, a nagging smell of something burning that only recently disappeared, and intermittent ringing in her ears. Now she cant hear out of her left ear.

Doctors cant find anything to explain it, and she bristles when some doctors dismiss her symptoms.

'I understand that COVID is something that were all going through together but dont brush me off,' said Jefferies, 64, a retired state worker in Detroit.

As an African American woman with diabetes and high blood pressure, she was at high risk for a bad outcome and knows shes lucky her initial illness wasnt more serious. But her persistent symptoms and home confinement got her down and depression set in.

Political and racial unrest that dominated the news didnt help, and church services  often her salvation  were suspended. She knows all that could have contributed to her ill health and says listening to music  R&B, jazz and a little country  has helped her cope.

Still, Jefferies wants to know what role the virus has played.

Im a year in, and to still from time to time have lingering effects, I just dont understand that,' Jefferies said.

Jefferies and Van Lear are members of Survivor Corps, one of several online support groups created during the pandemic and that have amassed thousands of members. Some are enrolling in studies to help speed the science.

Dr. Michael Sneller is leading one study at the NIH. So far, 200 have enrolled; they include survivors and a healthy comparison group.

They are being given a series of physical and mental tests once or twice a year for three years. Other tests are seeking signs of ongoing inflammation, abnormal antibodies and blood vessel damage.

Sneller said hes found no serious heart or lung tissue damage so far. He notes that many viruses can cause mild heart inflammation, even some cold viruses. Many people recover but in severe cases the condition can lead to heart failure.

Fatigue is the most common symptom in the coronavirus group, and so far researchers have found no medical explanation for it. Insomnia is common, too  in both groups. Sneller says thats not surprising.

The whole pandemic and lockdown affected all of us, he said. Theres a lot of anxiety in the control group too.'

Many have symptoms similar to chronic disease syndrome; and to a condition involving fatigue and thinking difficulties that can develop after treatment for Lyme disease, a bacterial infection spread by certain ticks.

Researchers are hopeful that studies of long-term COVID-19 may yield answers to what causes those conditions, too.

___

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
China broke a criminal ring that sought to smuggle almost a million barrels of fuel, although it has yet to be established whether the gangs involved tried to smuggle the fuel in or out of the country, Reuters has reported.

The large-scale operation resulted in catching 171 suspects from 14 gangs and seizing 11 ships with fuel worth some $770 million, according to the report.

The Chinese customs agency launched a nationwide crackdown on fuel smuggling last years. Since then, it said it had recorded as many as 170 cases of smuggling, with the amount of fuel involved worth a billion dollars by the end of February.

Fuel smuggling was one of the topics on the Chinese state oil giant's agenda when they called on the government to initiate reform in oil product taxation.

"Refined oil smuggling and market chaos still need to be rectified," said Huang He, general manager of a regional Sinopec division, as quoted by Argus last week. "China needs to establish a high-standard refined oil market system."

The country's largest refiner sent representatives to two political meetings in Beijing to discuss fuel taxes, where they urged the government to tackle illegal and tax-free fuel sales to develop "a fair competitive environment for the refined product market" featuring the "transfer, transportation, storage, and sales of refined oil that have not obtained retail business licenses."

Argus notes that taxes make up as much as 40 percent of the price of fuels in China. They include a consumption tax, a value-added tax, an urban construction tax, and an education surcharge.

Tax reforms in the oil refining sector have been on the table for years, but little progress has been made, especially because the consumption tax on fuels is collected by the central government, leaving local governments with just a tenth of taxes to collect. This has proved to provide little incentive to actually do the collecting, Argus reports.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
Convincing and credible In her 2019 report, Ms Bryant-Smith found Ms Frederes testimony convincing and credible. She accepted four of Ms Frederes seven allegations as proven and concluded a further three allegations had elements that could be substantiated but were not sufficient to classify them as proven. Ashley Frederes The investigation also found Professor Lopez raised concerns about Ms Frederes job performance with her superiors after the alleged incidents in 2015. But Ms Bryant-Smith found it could not be proven that Professor Lopezs comments about her performance were linked to her rejecting his alleged advances. Ms Bryant-Smith, a former workplace relations lawyer at Clayton Utz and Allens, formed workplace consultancy Worklogic in 2017. She is a former editorial board member of the Melbourne University Law Review.

Professor Lopez, 69, was awarded a companion of the order of Australia in 2016 for his service to public health. He has more than 75,000 citations to his research and was chief epidemiologist for the World Health Organisations tobacco control program during the 1990s. Ms Frederes told The Age and Herald she had been motivated to speak publicly because of the apparent lack of action by the university despite the adverse findings. I realised that people in positions of authority aim to indoctrinate us in the lies that we are too weak to stand up, she said. There is power in revealing the truth and I hope others will feel empowered to stand up for themselves and say enough. University of Melbourne student union president Jack Buksh said the university had yet to deliver on a promise to introduce a stand-alone policy to protect students and staff from sexual harassment and assault and hasnt had that leadership that is required to deal with those issues. Its been more about the cover-up, Mr Buksh said.

National Tertiary Education Union president Alison Barnes said the union viewed sexual harassment as not only a workplace health and safety issue, but one of gender inequality. Where complaints are substantiated, the Universitys response must be fair and proportional, enacted without delay, and with the well-being and wishes of the complainant first and foremost, she said. You are going to be a distraction In October 2015, Ms Frederes and Professor Lopez flew to Shanghai to meet senior Chinese health officials as part of an international data for health project involving the University of Melbourne, the World Health Organisation and John Hopkins University. Professor Lopez was one of the leaders of the project, which was designed to improve the cause of death reporting in low to middle income cities and was funded in part by the Australian Government and Bloomberg Philanthropies. The US-based Ms Frederes, who was then 27, was a program officer for another project partner, the US-based health organisation, Vital Strategies.

Ms Frederes told the investigator that on the night they arrived she and Professor Lopez met in Professor Lopezs room because the hotels meeting rooms were closed. When Ms Frederes went to leave, Professor Lopez stood between her and the door. He was physically blocking me from leaving and thats when he went in to hug me, and I just went to hug back to make it quick and leave, Ms Frederes alleged in written and verbal accounts. But thats when he didnt let go, and when he started moving his hands over my body and putting his face down closer, leaning in like he was going to kiss me, I froze, because I was very afraid and uncomfortable. Ms Frederes, another colleague, and Professor Lopez on the Shanghai trip. She said she pushed Professor Lopez away and left. She did not raise the incident with Professor Lopez the next day, and nor did she report anything to her employer or the University of Melbourne because she feared it might jeopardise her involvement in the project, she told the investigator. Professor Lopez told the investigation he denied any physical contact with Ms Frederes, save for perhaps European-style cheek kissing. He was also adamant that he had never had her in his hotel room. I firmly and absolutely deny ever having touched or intimidated her in the manner which she alleges: none of the actions she described happened then, or on any other occasion, he said in response.

The next morning Ms Frederes arrived at breakfast dressed in black business dress, black blazer and with her hair and make up done in preparation for a meeting. According to her account, Professor Lopez came to breakfast where he said she looked stunning, sexy, and beautiful and would be a distraction for all the men. Professor Lopez denied the account, saying: Those who know me know that I would never tell, nor have I ever told, a female colleague what I am alleged to have told Ms Frederes. That would simply be unprofessional, disrespectful and dismissive. Ms Bryant-Smith accepted Ms Frederes account of both incidents. His breath on my neck A few days later, Professor Lopez was on the verge of returning to Melbourne and he and Ms Frederes had one drink in the lobby to reflect on the past few days. As she left, Professor Lopez followed her into the lift.

He was standing in the corner of the elevator, so his back to the corner, and I was sort of standing next to him, but then I turned to say, Goodnight, because we were approaching my floor, and so thats when he went in to hug me again, and  this time mostly groped my butt and my waist, sort of moving his hands around my hips and my butt and touching my waist, she alleged to Ms Bryant-Smith. Hes over six feet tall and Im about five-foot-three, so he would just bend his head down and have his sort of mouth very close to my ear and my neck, like I remember feeling his breath on my neck. Ms Frederes said she froze, then pulled away and ran to her room. She contacted a co-worker and friend. Then, according to her complaint, she cried in the shower. Ms Frederes friend and colleague confirmed to the investigator that she did receive a call from the young American about the alleged encounter. She remembered Ms Frederes being upset but composed and saying she did not want to pursue legal action because she feared for her career. Ms Frederes also reported the incident to two other female friends. Another senior female academic working on the project told the investigation how she had detected tension between Ms Frederes and Professor Lopez after the 2015 overseas trips.

Professor Lopez again denied, verbally and in writing, any physical contact with Ms Frederes, except for possibly kissing her on the cheek three times. Ms Frederes said she also complained about Professor Lopez to her US boss at Vital Strategies, Philip Setel. Project funder Bloomberg Philanthropies was also made aware about the alleged harassment. Vital Strategies said in a statement that it supported Ms Frederes and her participation in the Melbourne University investigation. We do not condone harassment of any kind, it said. The statement said Mr Setel had agreed to participate in the investigation but was delayed in providing responses. Ms Bryant-Smith accepted Ms Frederes account and rejected Professor Lopezs claim that the young woman had invented the harassment allegations to deflect attention from his criticisms of her job performance in 2017 and 2018. Ms Bryant-Smith also accepted Ms Frederes claims that Professor Lopez had talked in a suggestive and inappropriate manner about his past sexual relationships and body parts during their Shanghai trip. But Professor Lopez told the investigator he could not recall any discussion with Ms Frederes about matters involving his personal life and said he had never before heard of the supposed correlation between a large shoe size and large penis. Ms Frederes produced to the investigation an email sent to her late at night by Professor Lopez during a work trip to Peru a month earlier in which he asked her to join him for a late night drink just the two of us. Ms Bryant-Smith said the email was suggestive but Professor Lopez was not to know at that point that it was unwanted by Ms Frederes.

Deciding to come forward It took almost three years after the alleged incidents for Ms Frederes to lodge a formal complaint with the university in August 2018. She said she had been was prompted by the momentum of the #MeToo movement. Loading In 2015, you either quit your job or accepted the fact that misogyny is rampant in all workplaces. When ... other high-profile cases started garnering attention, I felt like it was safe and the right time to file a complaint with the university, she said. But the universitys investigation process was slow. Professor Lopez did not provide a written response to Ms Frederes allegations until May 2019. The general counsel for Ms Frederes employer, Vital Strategies, was moved to complain to the university about the sluggish pace.
Pope Francis with Fidel Castro in Havana, in 2015. Domenico Stinellis / AP

When Pope Francis visited the leader of the Cuban revolution, Fidel Castro, he gave him a book and records containing the sermons and reflections of Armando Llorente, a Spanish Jesuit priest who worked at the school that Castro had attended. This priest was later expelled by the revolution and forced into exile in Miami in 1961, but before dying, he wished to absolve Castro. The popes biographer, Austen Ivereigh, was enthusiastic about the pontiffs gifts to the Cuban leader, as they were meant for the latter to reconcile himself to his own Jesuit past.

It was not necessary: Fidel Castro never ceased being a Jesuit, instead adapting the religious and moral matrix of this Catholic order to Marxism-Leninism, and causing endless confusion to the Soviets. This is the theory behind Fidel Castro, lultimo re cattolico (or, Fidel Castro, The last Catholic king), a book published by the Italian historian Loris Zanatta and now also available in Spanish. In it, Zanatta amply demonstrates how Fidel Castro appropriated terms from religion and the morality of sacrifice to earn heaven, summed up in one of the Cuban leaders most-repeated phrases: Man must be repressed in order to be saved.

This idea captured the imaginations of the Nicaraguan priest and poet Ernesto Cardenal and of the dominican friar from Brazil Frei Betto, Castros friend and biographer, who saw in the leader of the Cuban revolution a crusader for Christianity: it is enough to take a close, unemotional look at his revolutionary liturgy, at his extremely long, evangelizing speeches, and even at the official iconography depicting him with doves flying around his body, more reminiscent of the Catholic images of saints than of a commander who preached redemptive violence.

Pope John Paul II during a visit to Cuba in 1998. FRANCE PRESS

In his extensive, rigorous essay, the historian unpicks the most powerful ideological myth of the Latin American left, exposing Fidel Castros Hispanic roots steeped in a Catholic nationalist tradition, the idea of the cross imposed by the sword, and the contempt for secular liberalism that still endures in todays populist movements under the guise of 21st-century socialism. Religion-infused politics and popular religious sentiment that morphed into ideological faith were the basis for authoritarian regimes that made liberal democracy seem like an exotic greenhouse plant, alien to Latin Americas autocratic tradition.

Zanatta has penned several books on what he knows best: Argentinas Peronism and national catholicism, religion and popular faith as the ideological foundations for the personalist and authoritarian leaders known as caudillos. This time around, Zanatta has tackled a colossal biography about one of the unavoidable figures of the 20th century, a task to which he has devoted years of study. Although Castro has been widely studied already, this was an advantage as a historians primary source of material are sources, and libraries are full of them. Yet the most important sources, the Cuban ones, are closed off to any researcher who does not contribute to reinforcing Castros myth.

Zanatta did not allow himself to get carried away by the charisma of a character who was the first self-historian, and he says that the title of his book anticipates something that should not be so surprising: that the communist monarch of the 20th century is heir to the ideal of past monarchs. He grew up on an island that was [part of] Spain for centuries, in a family and social setting that was Hispanic and Catholic. Castro was educated by priests and taught the principles of communitarianism of the Jesuit missions. This legacy permeated his moral universe: the salvation of souls through ideological evangelization, the new man breathed into creation through revolutionary action and discipline, communisms society without classes, and the redemption of the chosen people by its messiah-saviour. The analogies between Castros society and Christian societies emerge from a meticulous and absorbing journey through the life of Fidel Castro and Cuban society, where the individual is subjected to the collective over which the Church watches, or in this case, the party that guarantees orthodoxy and the unity of the faith. And sitting above all this is the King, Castro himself, invested with temporal and spiritual powers.

Fidel Castro, the last Catholic King."

On this historical journey, Zanatta finds features that are common to many Latin Catholics who, like Castro did, detested the democratic values and practices of Anglo-American liberalism, blamed by the leader of the Cuban revolution for causing the moral fractures of the world in a claim that is being repeated these days by new populisms in the region. This cultural permanence showcases the relevance of this book at a time when Cuba is exporting its failed socialist model and the continent is renewing the debate around democracy, now under threat from autocratic systems and electoral populisms.

It is an immense essay that will shock both the devout followers of Castro, because of the Hispanic and Catholic legacy associated with the Marxist-Leninist icon, and the anti-Castro activists who fought his communism, and who will not feel comfortable to see him depicted as a Catholic monarch. Yet a dispassionate reading offers elements that were always there within reach of rational understanding, but always discarded on the emotional strength of ideological self-delusion, despotism, sexual morality, the glorification of the poor because of the purity of their souls  as a way to justify the economic failure of the revolution  contempt for democracies and his support for armed guerrillas on the continent.

This is a disturbing book for those of us who were in our twenties in the 1970s and fell under the spell of the Cuban revolution. After the hangover of the exiles, the deaths and the disappearances, we were forced to learn the value of living in what revolutions despise: liberal democracies. Today, we look with perplexity at the new generations who were educated in freedom and who are now rewriting history, denying the violation of human rights in Venezuela and glorifying the armed guerrillas promoted by the Castro regime, as Zanatta shows, only with facts and with Castros extensive speeches.

Norma Morandini is an Argentine journalist and writer. She was elected to Argentinas Chamber of Deputies and to the Senate.

English version by Susana Urra.
The Daily Beast

REUTERSIt appears that Benjamin Netanyahu is finally on his way out as Israels prime minister. With just minutes to spare ahead of a midnight deadline on Wednesday, opposition leader Yair Lapid notified Israels president that he had formed a new government.But if Benjamin Netayahus 12-year run is indeed at an end, expect key segments of the GOP will treat Bibi as though he had not lost power, much as they continue to venerate Donald Trump and look at Joe Bidens victory as illegitimate.Israel
Seoul, March 17 : South Korea has reported 469 new Covid-19 cases, pushing the country's tally to 96,849, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said on Wednesday.

The daily caseload was sharply up from 363 on Tuesday. During the first two days of this week, the daily virus cases stayed in the 300s on account of fewer tests over the weekend.

In an effort to sharply flatten the virus curve, health authorities are planning to enhance the infection prevention measures at public facilities in the greater Seoul area, home to more than half of the country's 52 million population, Yonhap reported.

The officials will check 11,873 public facilities, such as manufacturing facilities that hire foreign workers, public baths and national parks, in greater Seoul till March 28.

A total of 621,734 people were vaccinated in the country on Tuesday.

AstraZeneca's vaccine accounted for 587,996, while Pfizer's took up 33,738.

Under South Korea's vaccination programme starting on February 26, a total of 12 million people will be inoculated for the April-June period. The country aims to achieve herd immunity by November.

A total of 9,003 cases of side effects after vaccinations have been reported, though 8,898 of them were mild symptoms.

A total of 16 deaths after vaccinations have been reported so far, according to the KCDC. But the agency said there was no causal relationship between the 14 deaths and the vaccinations.

Despite reported side effects of AstraZeneca's vaccine in Europe, health authorities said that the rollout of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine will continue as there is no evidence suggesting correlation between vaccines manufactured by British-Swedish pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca and Oxford University and reports of blood clots in some recipients.

The European Medicines Agency (EMA), European Union's medicine regulator, is set to announce its review on the reported cases later this week.

KDCA chief Jeong Eun-kyeong said in a parliamentary committee meeting that among those who have been vaccinated with AstraZeneca's vaccine, a suspected blood clot case was reported in the country.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
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The Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Isiaka Amao, an air marshal, has assured Nigerians of the readiness of the military to deal decisively with bandits, kidnappers and other criminals across the country.

Mr Amao, who was on an operational visit to the Nigerian Air Force Base in Kaduna, said on Wednesday that the military would deal with all criminals terrorising the people.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that during the maiden operational visit, the CAS also paid a courtesy visit to Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State.

Our officers and men are ready for the battle against bandits and kidnappers, he said, adding that the visit was mainly to assess the operational readiness of the personnel.

He said President Muhammadu Buhari had ordered the military to ensure that people go freely to their farms during the rainy season without any security threat.

We are working towards that in synergy, the platforms are ready for the operations and we are liaising with the army and other ground troops for the operations.

My message to bandits is that we are coming after them together with the Army, Navy and other security agencies to make sure that they are flushed out of the country, Mr Amao said.

He stated that the welfare of NAF personnel would be accorded full priority, to ensure motivation and diligence in the discharge of their duties.

Welfare entails providing the personnel with equipment, conducive training environment and where they live and to make sure they are given their entitlements, he said.

The CAS, therefore, charged the personnel on loyalty, dedication and discipline in the discharge of their constitutional responsibilities.

Earlier, the Air Officer Commanding Air Training Command, Jackson Yusuf, an air vice marshal, said the visit would be a morale booster to the command and would ensure more successes in the fight against insecurity.

(NAN)
Former General Secretary of the Convention People's Party (CPP), James Kwabena Bomfeh says Ghanaians should pat themselves on the back for exposing the offensive textbooks that have dominated discussions on the air waves.



A barrage of criticisms have been hurled against the publishers of the textbooks, Badu Nkansah Limited and Golden Publications for publishing textbooks which disparage Ewes and Ghana's first President, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah.



Despite Badu Nkansah Ltd. apologizing for their "offensive description" of Ewes in the publication saying we sincerely regret this which wont happen again, there are further incessant calls on the publishers of the 'juju-loving' Ewe textbook to render a proper apology to the Chiefs and people of the Volta Region.



Unfortunately, while undergoing the review, a limited quantity of the unpublished draft found its way into the market. We have seen certain snapshots on social media which has generated justified public uproar due to their offensive tone.



Though it is not a deliberate attempt to berate such a huge section of our society, we wish to unreservedly apologize for the slip. Our brand stands for national unity, and we currently employ workers who originate from all parts of the country.



Once again, ours is a brand that values National unity. We apologize to all those affected and we apologize to all Ghanaians that such thing will never happen again, a statement from the Publisher read.



To James Kwabena Bomfeh, huge credit should be given to the Ghanaian people who discovered the offensive contents of the textbooks before it caused any damage to the society because of its derogatory contents.



Speaking on Peace FM's "Kokrokoo", James Kwabena Bomfeh, also called Kabila, said; ''We must commend ourselves for discovering this early. We usually undermine ourselves too much. The positive thing is that we have discovered this and immediately we're dealing with it."



He also appealed to the regulator of the textbooks, the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NaCCA) to produce their own textbooks to set the standard for authors who may want to publish books for students in the country.



"NaCCA has a responsibility of producing a standardized textbook which will be a measure or standard bearer for all others," he stated.





Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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GREEN BAY, Wis., March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Sell My House In Wisconsin is pledging a portion of its profits to Junior Achievement of Wisconsin to help students improve their financial literacy. The house buying company in northeast Wisconsin is serious about offering property owners a better way to sell their property fast, for cash, and are equally passionate about giving back and bettering their local community.

Ryne Lambert and Kelly Lambert, founders of Sell My House In Wisconsin

Junior Achievement of Wisconsin is the nation's largest organization dedicated to equipping young people with the knowledge and skills they need to own their economic success. Volunteers deliver programs to show students they can attend college, enter a specific trade, start their own business, and financially thrive  issues that are close to the heart of Ryne Lambert, co-founder of Sell My House In Wisconsin.

Previously, Lambert delivered in-person teaching to students at schools in the Green Bay area. He has been volunteering with Junior Achievement of Wisconsin since 2014, usually teaching one class each semester.

"It's extremely rewarding getting students excited about topics such as investing, saving, starting a business, and different careers," says Lambert. "My hope is that learning about financial literacy at a young age will have a positive impact on their future decision-making."

The COVID-19 pandemic has meant face-to-face teaching in classrooms has had to be suspended, but Lambert is keen to demonstrate that there are other ways to support students' financial education.

"While being unable to volunteer in person has been disappointing, we have found other ways to support a subject that is very important to us, our young people, and the community of northeast Wisconsin," Lambert explains.

Sell My House In Wisconsin offers homeowners and landlords a fair and stress-free way to sell their property for cash, whatever condition it is in. Property sellers pay no real estate agent commissions or fees and don't have to upgrade, repair, or clean the property. Sell My House In Wisconsin can make an offer within 24 hours, and a sale can be closed in as little as 15 days. The process is ideal for property owners who want a quicker, easier way to sell their house as-is right now. Best of all, it doesn't cost the homeowner anything.

A family-owned business with knowledge of the local market, house flipping, and the rental industry, Sell My House In Wisconsin buys houses across northeast Wisconsin from Green Bay to Oshkosh.

Sell My House In Wisconsin is part of a national group of over 120 real estate investors that believe in giving back and improving local communities.

Contact:

Name: Ryne Lambert

Company: Sell My House In Wisconsin

Telephone No: (920) 247-2668

Email: [email protected]

Address: 2357 Daytona Speedway, De Pere, WI 54115

Website: www.sellmyhouseinwisconsin.com

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The Kennel Club will help farmers in Scotland take steps to manage the behaviour of dogs and reduce conflict with dog owners on their farmland.

As part of a new partnership with NFU Scotland, the club will provide practical support to help farmers with the issue of livestock worrying.

Livestock worrying is one of the biggest issues that farmers, crofters and landowners face through irresponsible access by dog owners.

Farming groups have given their backing to new targeted legislation looking to deal with dog attacks on livestock in Scotland.

As lambing and calving season gets going coinciding with some lockdown restrictions easing, NFU Scotland and the Kennel Club will run a webinar to provide support on the issue.

Both groups say it is not just the physical attacks by dogs that can cause damage; even allowing dogs to chase or play with sheep or cattle, for example, can cause harm.

In addition, there are significant emotional and financial issues for the farmers involved who work to breed quality sheep to high standards.

Stephen Jenkinson, the Kennel Clubs Access and Countryside Advisor said: "No one in the countryside seeks conflict, be they farmers or dog owners.

"This partnership between the Kennel Club and NFU Scotland will help land managers take practical steps to prevent problems occurring from pets being walked and local dogs that have escaped.

"This mirrors the Kennel Clubs training and education programmes for dog walkers; if everyone knows simple steps to change their behaviour we can make the outdoors a better place for all.

Farmers will learn about reducing conflict arising from access takers with dogs and local dogs that escape or allowed to roam.

Webinar attendees will also explore the opportunities and limitations of legal remedies.

Tom French, NFU Scotland Legal & Technical Chair said: "This webinar will be invaluable for any farmers and crofters who have issues with dog access to the countryside.

"We know that there are still ongoing problems with this type of access taking, not least with livestock worrying and dog fouling.

"We would urge members to attend this session, which will highlight practical ways to deal with issues and also highlight the rights that underpin this."

The Zoom event will take place on Wednesday 24 March 2021 at 7.00pm.
St Patricks Day, this year, will be different. There will be no parade, no live music, no singing, no dancing, no pubs and no parties with friends and family. For the second year in a row, our national holiday has become a nondescript day, just like any other.

Its easy to feel weary from it all. The nightly Covid updates, the lack of progress with the vaccine programme and the seemingly never-ending lockdown stretching out ahead. The false dawns, and uncertainty about when this will end, have chipped away at many peoples reserves of strength and energy. So, if youre not feeling very festive today, dont beat yourself up. If theres one lesson we have learned, its that its hard to maintain high levels of enthusiasm during endless months of pandemic mundanity.

This week marks the one-year anniversary of lockdown and, while its not a date many of us wish to celebrate, it should at least be acknowledged. It has been a year full of upheaval, grief, loss and anxiety  and we have made it out the other side. The war may not be over, but we have won some major battles along the way.

With that in mind, perhaps today, for one year only, we can ditch St Patrick and celebrate ourselves. After all, he is famous for driving the snakes out of Ireland while we have spent the past year trying to drive a microscopic virus out of Ireland  a challenge that is much more recent and much more arduous. Instead of the loud and boisterous celebrations were used to, todays bank holiday will offer a chance for some quiet reflection. On where we have come from, what we have endured and where we want to go  because there are better days ahead.

The vaccine roll-out has been mired in controversy across the EU, but the good news is that there are now 76 separate vaccines in clinical trials on humans, with 22 of these having reached the final stages of testing. Meanwhile, nearly 80 pre-clinical vaccine trials are under way on animals. Thats a lot of vaccines.

Hope is on the horizon. By this time next year, you will be able your order your vaccine of choice from your doctor and have it administered at your leisure. Normality will have been restored and we can go back to drinking green beer in bars festooned with shamrock and Tricolours.

As we mark a year of lockdown, it would also be useful to consider what our lives will look like when the pandemic is finally over. Will we really want to return to an identikit version of what we left behind? The long hours in the office, the exhausting commutes, the struggle to find housing, the inequalities in the health service  or will we expect something better? Something fairer?

If the pandemic has taught us anything, it is that we have failed the most vulnerable  and that failure is contributing to the length of this crisis. People forced to live in overcrowded accommodation, and work in insecure minimum-wage jobs, dont have the space to self-isolate and cant afford the cost of phoning in sick.

Pre-Covid, the substandard living and working conditions of marginalised members of our communities was deemed a necessary evil. A sad inevitability that had to be tolerated. Now, we know better. As a society, we are all interlinked  and none of us can be safe unless all of us are safe.

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Similarly, the pandemic has laid bare the lack of investment in our two-tier healthcare system, which was ill-prepared to cope with a crisis of this magnitude. Politicians have rightly praised the Herculean efforts of our healthcare workers in treating tens of thousands of Covid patients.

But many of them are now burned out and have nothing left to give. It didnt need to be like this. They shouldnt have had to work so hard, in such Dickensian conditions, for so long. Staffing issues, and bed capacity shortages, have been an endemic feature of the Irish healthcare system for decades  and nothing was done to address those problems.

The initial response to Covid showed us that rapid change was possible. Private hospitals became public overnight and healthcare was offered on the basis of need, not the ability to pay. Once Covid has been eradicated, there will be hundreds of thousands of people on waiting lists, whose treatment was deferred during the pandemic, who will need appointments. The same level of urgency and ingenuity that was deployed to find imaginative ways to manage the Covid crisis in hospitals, will have to be used to treat these patients as quickly as possible. Otherwise, we will be facing into yet another healthcare crisis.

Employers, when the working world returns to normal, will also have to be much more flexible when it comes to their employees working arrangements. A reflexive no to requests to work from home can no longer be countenanced. Many of us have had a year of remote working, and the sky didnt fall in. Productivity levels remained high and the job got done.

Some of us may be looking forward to returning to the collegiality of office and our social interactions at work, but those who wish to remain working from home should be facilitated. This will not only be a useful evolution for individual workers, it will also have broader societal value. Traffic on roads will be reduced, the competition for housing in city centres that leads to exorbitant rents will be diluted, and parents of young children, particularly mothers, will find it easier to balance work and childcare  boosting the labour force.

Sometimes, its hard to appreciate what you have been through until youre out the other side and no one can truly know what this pandemic will mean for all of our lives until its over. What we should acknowledge, especially when times are hard and hope is hard to find, is that the past year has been unprecedented in terms of its chaos, stress and destruction. So, instead of raising a glass to St Patrick, raise one to yourself tonight. Remember that things will soon be much better and not everything has to go back to how it was.
BAMAKO (Reuters) - The death toll from an ambush on a Malian army convoy in the north of the country has risen to 33, the defence ministry said in a statement on Wednesday.

Fourteen soldiers were also injured in the attack that took place Tuesday afternoon near the town of Tessit, in Mali's northern Gao region.

Islamist militants, many of whom have been linked to Al Qaeda and Islamic State, have stepped up attacks in Africa's Sahel region in recent years, displacing thousands.

Increased Islamist attacks, violence between rival ethnic groups and killings by security forces made last year Mali's deadliest on record, data compiled by the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED) showed.

(Reporting by Paul Lorgerie; Writing by Cooper Inveen; Editing by Bate Felix)
The last surviving male member of an indigenous Amazonian tribe in Brazil has died from coronavirus, leaving just four female members behind and ending his lineage.

Aruka Juma, of the Juma tribe, died due to complications caused by Covid-19 on February 17 in a Brazilian hospital in Porto Velho, the capital of state of Rondonia.

Juma was the last head of his tribe who live deep in the Amazon rainforest, and died after travelling for two hours on a boat followed by a 75 mile drive to the hospital.

The coronavirus crisis has hit the indigenous people who live in the Amazon disproportionately after - it is believed - the disease was spread by people entering their territory to carry out illegal activities such as mining and logging.

The tribe's leader is believed to have been aged between 85 and 90, according to The Independent, and is survived by three daughters - all of whom married into a different tribe and therefore will be unable to carry on his lineage.

'We have been witnessing the end of indigenous peoples, like, literally the last members of certain indigenous communities are dying and there are no successors,' Raphaela Lopes, a lawyer with Justica Global, told NBC.

There have been 50,000 confirmed cases of Covid-19 among indigenous communities, and 900 deaths - according to the Articulation of Indigenous Peoples of Brazil, which tracks and advocates for the country's Indigenous movement.

The last surviving male member of an indigenous Amazonian tribe in Brazil has died from coronavirus, leaving just four female members behind, meaning the male lineage of the tribe can no longer be passed down. Pictured: Aruka Juma, of the Juma tribe, who died in February

Those who have died among the indigenous communities from coronavirus include people working in healthcare, politics and education according to NBC News, as well as chiefs and leaders of tribes.

An estimated 15,000 people were in the Juma tribe in the 18th century when their existence was first recorded, but numbers have been driven down to the four remaining female members - three women and a girl - due to disease and massacres.

By 1934, around 100 members of the tribe remained, but a massacre 30 years later left just six members of the tribe alive, including Mr Juma and his brother-in-law, who himself died in 1999 leaving Mr Juma as the final surviving male member.

'In the mid-60s, the Juma people were almost extinct due to the massacres that other relatives suffered in the previous decades by rubber tappers, loggers and fishermen in the territory, which is on the banks of the Assua River, in Canutama,' the Federal Prosecutor's Office of Rondonia said in a statement.

'Aruka was one of the survivors of his ethnicity. The indigenous man leaves three daughters, the last people of the Juma ethnic group: Mandei Juma, Maita Juma and Boreha Juma.'

Brazil has the world's second highest per-capital Covid death toll which many blame on the country's populist president Jair Bolsonaro.

The tribe's leader is believed to have been aged between 85 and 90, according to The Independent , and is survived by three daughters - all of whom married into a different tribe and therefore will be unable to carry on his lineage

Pictured: Aruka Juma in the Amazon rainforest. An estimated 15,000 people were in the Juma tribe in the 18th century when their existence was first recorded, but numbers have been driven down to the four remaining female members after Juma's death

Bolsonaro has frequently played down the threat of the virus, spoken out against vaccines, opposed lockdown measures used in other countries, and compared the pandemic to 'the sniffles'. Only recently has he changed his tune.

COVID-19 has killed more than 282,000 people in Brazil and more than 11.6 million have been diagnosed with the respiratory disease, according to health ministry data. Only the United States has reported more deaths and cases.

Bolsonaro announced the appointment of his fourth health minister - cardiologist Dr Marcelo Queiroga - during the pandemic.

A report by The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, and a group called Justica Global, pointed towards a 'chronic underinvestment' in Brazil's public health system, leading to the country's dire pandemic situation.

With their use of natural remedies instead of modern medicines and lack of immunity against pathogens due to living in isolated communities, indigenous people are especially vulnerable to disease.

With their use of natural remedies instead of modern medicines and lack of immunity against pathogens due to living in isolated communities, indigenous people are especially vulnerable to disease. Pictured: Juma walks past a building in the Juma Tribe's remote village

Pictured: Members of the Juna tribe hold bow and arrows in an older photograph. Those who have died among the indigenous communities from coronavirus include people working in healthcare, politics and education according to NBC News, as well as chiefs and leaders

Advocacy groups have argued on behalf of indigenous people that Bolsonaro's continued denial of Covid-19 and lack of policy to tackle the virus, as well as geographical challenges, has put tribes under serious threat to their survival.

A statement, published by the Coordination of Indigenous Organisations of the Brazilian Amazon (Coiab), the Observatory of Human Rights of Isolated and Recent Contact Indigenous Peoples (OPI), and APIB, said: 'Coiab and Apib warned that indigenous people of recent contact were at extreme risk.

'The last surviving man of the Juma people is dead,' The Independent reported the statement as saying.

'Again, the Brazillian government proved to be criminally silent and incompetent. The government murdered Aruka. Just as [it] murdered his ancestors, it is a devastating and irreparable indigenous loss.'

Advocacy groups have argued on behalf of indigenous people that President Jair Bolsonaro's (pictured) continued denial of Covid-19 and lack of policy to tackle the virus, as well as geographical challenges, has put tribes under serious threat to their survival

A new opinion poll showed Brazilians' disapproval of President Bolsonaro's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic hit a record high.

The Datafolha poll published by the Folha de S.Paulo newspaper late on Tuesday showed 54% of respondents regard Bolsonaro's handling of the crisis as bad or very bad.

The poll of 2,023 people, carried out this week, showed a further decline in confidence in Bolsonaro over the pandemic since the previous Datafolha poll on Jan. 20-21, when 48 percent of respondents expressed disapproval.

Bolsonaro initially sought to portray COVID-19 as a 'little flu' after the first case was registered in February 2020 and the slowness of Brazil's vaccination campaign among a population of more than 212 million has severely strained hospitals.

Fiocruz, the Rio de Janeiro-based biomedical center that is manufacturing the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine in Brazil, said on Tuesday Brazil faced its worst sanitary crisis on record.

Doctor Marcelo Queiroga, appointed by Brazilian President Jair bolsonaro on Monday as Minister of Health talks to the press outside the ministry in Brasilia, on March 16, 2021

Bolsonaro changed his pandemic-skeptic tune in recent days, however, sacking his widely criticized health minister, ordering millions of vaccines and even wearing a mask, as political pressure from a potential opposition mounted.

But while a surge in coronavirus deaths in hard-hit Brazil has put the far-right leader on the defensive, analysts doubt he will change his hardline stance on some key issues anytime soon - including his vitriolic opposition to stay-at-home measures.

'I don't see him making a definitive change. His beliefs are still the same,' said political scientist Geraldo Monteiro of Rio de Janeiro State University.

'This is a strategic retreat. He's being pressured by his allies, especially in Congress, because the pandemic is out of control,' he told AFP.

The political pressure increased a few notches last week, when a Supreme Court justice annulled former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's corruption convictions.

The surprise ruling cleared the way for the popular-if-tarnished left-wing heavyweight to launch a potential run against Bolsonaro in presidential elections next year.

Lula, who led the country from 2003 to 2010, wasted no time condemning Bolsonaro's 'imbecile' handling of the pandemic and getting vaccinated before the cameras.

That is something Bolsonaro has pointedly refused to do, once joking the vaccine might 'turn you into an alligator'.

The political pressure on Brazil's president increased a few notches last week, when a Supreme Court justice annulled former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's corruption convictions. Pictured: Former Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva receives a dose of the Sinovac's CoronaVac coronavirus disease vaccine near Sao Paulo, Brazil, March 13

The politician dubbed the 'Tropical Trump' has also flouted expert advice on social distancing and face masks.

A recent poll found 61 percent of people disapprove of his response to the pandemic, which has claimed some 280,000 lives in Brazil - second only to the United States.

The country saw yet another day of record deaths Tuesday, with 2,841 people dying in 24 hours - an increase of more than 550 over the previous record last week. There were 83,926 new infections in the same period, the second-highest 24-hour case count since the pandemic began.

'At this point, the only hope for a change in direction is a fear of losing votes - the one thing Bolsonaro reacts to,' newspaper Estado de Sao Paulo said in an editorial.

With hospitals across much of Brazil approaching breaking point, Bolsonaro gave in Monday to pressure to fire health minister Eduardo Pazuello, an army general with no medical experience.

He replaced him with Marcelo Queiroga, a respected cardiologist.

Bolsonaro is now on his fourth health minister of the pandemic, after falling out with the previous two when they insisted on science-based policy responses.

Bolsonaro changed his pandemic-skeptic tune in recent days, however, sacking his widely criticized health minister, ordering millions of vaccines and even wearing a mask, as political pressure from a potential opposition mounted. Pictured: A woman reacts to seeing a syringe of the Sinovac vaccine for COVID-19 in Brazil

Pazuello, who stayed in the job 10 months, 'only lasted as long as he did because he did everything the president wanted,' said commentator Andreia Sadi of TV Globo.

'Now the president's been advised to change because the pandemic is getting worse. He understood he had to make a U-turn. People want vaccines.'

Brazil has so far struggled to secure enough vaccine doses for its 212 million people.

But Pazuello announced a change in course on his way out: orders for 100 million doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine and another 38 million of Johnson & Johnson's.

'We are going to a more aggressive phase in the fight against the virus,' said Bolsonaro.

The 'aggressivity' extends to the realm where Bolsonaro thrives best: social media.

His son Flavio, a senator, urged the president's fans online to share a picture of a syringe mounted on a machine gun, with the caption 'the vaccine is our weapon.'

The message appeared to cause some head-scratching among hardline supporters, more used to their leader touting actual guns and railing against Covid-19 vaccines.

'It's a positive change,' said epidemiologist Julio Croda of the University of Mato Grosso do Sul.

'But we hope more changes are on the way, like backing mask use and restrictive measures. That's essential to avoid the total collapse of the health system.'

He added that he was doubtful, however.

'Bolsonaro can't stand those things,' he said.

The president's initial choice for health minister, Dr Ludhmila Hajjar, declined the job after meeting with Bolsonaro on Sunday, citing 'divergent' views.

News site Poder 360 reported that the president told her she would 'screw' his re-election chances if she insisted on a lockdown in the impoverished northeast, where Bolsonaro has been courting votes.

Opponents would like to see just that.

'It's no use changing ministers if the policies stay the same,' said left-wing Governor Flavio Dino of the northeastern state of Maranhao.

'If the president keeps mucking things up, it's going to be hard for any minister to get the job done.'
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Maharashtra lockdown: Full list of what is permitted and what is not

Sharad Pawar wants to save MVA government, hence defending it: BJP

India

oi-Ajay Joseph Raj P

Mumbai, Mar 17: BJP leader Sanjay Kute on Wednesday said that since NCP chief Sharad Pawar wants to save the Shiv Sena-led Maharashtra government, he praised the state home department during his media interaction in New Delhi.

Kute, a former state minister, made the statement while speaking to reporters here. "Sharad Pawar wants to save the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government at this moment, which is why he defended the state home department while interacting with reporters yesterday in New Delhi," he said.

Pawar had said that the controversy surrounding Mumbai police officer Sachin Waze, who was arrested by the NIA, would have no effect on the image of the MVA government.

Waze is at the focus of a probe by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) into a case related to the recovery of the SUV with explosives near Mukesh Ambani's house in south Mumbai on February 25. Waze, who was attached to the Crime Intelligence Unit (CIU) of city police's crime branch till recently, was arrested by the NIA on March 13.

West Bengal elections 2021: Mamata Banerjee releases TMC manifesto

The three-party MVA government of Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress is helmed by Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray. Criticising the chief minister over his style of functioning, Kute said, "There are several serious issues in the state, like farmers' woes, crop loss, inflated electricity bills, among others. But Thackeray does not have time for it."

When asked about the state government demanding more supply of vaccines from the Centre, the BJP leader said, "Hardly 45 per cent of the vaccine doses from the stock supplied before January 16 have been utilised so far. The state is simply trying to divert attention from current controversies which it fails to control."

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Story first published: Wednesday, March 17, 2021, 18:37 [IST]
Lawton, OK (73501)

Today

Mainly clear. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low near 60F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

Mainly clear. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low near 60F. Winds light and variable.
The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has said it has no record of a passenger airport located at Wasimi, Ewekoro Local Government Area of Ogun State.

The Director General, Musa Nuhu, stated this when he appeared before the Senate Committee on Aviation on Tuesday.

He also informed the panel that necessary approval was granted by the agency for the construction of the proposed Gateway Agro Cargo Airport in Ilishan-Remo, Ikenne Local Government Area of the state  off the busy Sagamu-Ijebu Ode Express Road.

Disagreement

This comes on the heels of disagreement between the state governor, Dapo Abiodun and his predecessor, currently a senator, Ibikunle Amosun, regarding which of the airports should be prioritised.

While the former is pushing for the construction of an airport in Sagamu, the latter would rather have one in Wasimi constructed.

The controversy started when the committee visited the sites of the two proposed airports with both men trying to convince members of the panel to ensure that their preferred projects are included in the federal budget.

The Sagamu airport which was conceived to support the states agricultural production, was initiated by the former governor, Gbenga Daniel in 2007.

He had commenced work on the airport but did not complete it. After assuming office, his predecessor, Mr Amosun, initiated a different airport, the international airport located in Wasimi  abandoning the cargo airport project.

Mediation

But the NCAA boss said the agency had no file about a Cargo Airport currently being constructed in Wasimi, Ogun State with about N2 billion was said to have been approved for its take off in the 2021 budget. The agency only has record of the Sagamu Cargo Airport, he said.

When asked whether NCAA had any record giving approval for the establishment of Wasimi Cargo Airport, Mr Nuhu said: I asked and I was told that there is no such document with NCAA.

While he said he had no knowledge of the Wasimi airport project, Mr Nuhu added that the state can, as a matter of fact, construct two airports.

I have seen an approval from the Ministry of Aviation for the Wasimi Project. But in my records or in the NCAA, I dont have anything.

It is not in our purview to determine for a state or any entity the number of airports they want to have. All we will do is to ensure that any airport built must comply with our regulatory requirements. That is our function, he said.

Resolution

The Chairman of the Senate panel, Smart Adeyemi, said the Ogun State Government had capacity to manage two airports.

Tolu Odebiyi, a member of the panel, said the NCAA was part of the project and the necessary approval was sought and given for Wasimi. He said it impossible to put the agency in the dark about the project.

Adeola Olamilekan, a member of the panel, confirmed that documents submitted by the NCAA showed only documents for cargo airport in Sagamu.

We dont have any approval for a passenger airport for Wasinmi. Yes, the Minister of Aviation is in the picture but the Senate Committee and NCAA arent aware, we dont have the documents. We have listened to you and you have established that you have record for Sagamu cargo airport, not Passenger airport at Wasinmi.

The panel however, agreed that the Ogun State Government has the capacity to run both cargo and passengers airports and will submit a report to the Senate to that regard.

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Panel commends NCAA

Meanwhile, the committee commended the NCAA DG for grounding the Azman airlines to prevent a potential air accident by  an act it described as tough but proactive.

I think we should thank you (NCAA) for being proactive because the particular airline you grounded was the airline of the president of the operators. But for me the step you have taken might be a bit tough but at least it is better than what may have happened. You deserve our commendation. We are happy that you have properly briefed us and we want to urge you to continue.

Finally we want to call on the federal government to give more support to the aviation sector. There were palliatives that came after the press conference we had but it is not just good enough. There is still a need to take more steps to support the industry. Once the roads are not safe, then we must take the pains to encourage more people to fly. To me, aviation is critical to our socio-economic stability, Mr Adeyemi, chairman of the committee, told the NCAA boss.

Mr Nuhu who explained the agencys reasons for taking the action, said Azman Airline continuously had maintenance issues and it would be irresponsible and criminal negligence for the agency to keep still.
LOUISVILLE, Miss. (WTVA) - The Mississippi Secretary of State is traveling through Mississippi to provide input into preventing election fraud.

On Tuesday, Michael Watson visited Winston county to meet with the circuit clerk and election commissioners to prevent any fraudulent activity before elections.

Its important that we talk to Mississippians about our election fraud," said Watson, "because every vote matters.

Watson is on a tour to visit all 82 counties in the state of Mississippi to discuss the importance of election integrity with local leaders.

Building those relationships is incredibly important in politics," he said. "Approaching things as a team is so important, so thats what were doing here... one of the reasons we came here to visit today.

He said his goal for this tour is to teach others about fraudulent activity.

Watson explained how one vote could change the outcome of an election, changing the trajectory of a city, town, or county.

He also wanted to bring awareness to the growing issue of voter rolls.

He said of the 82 counties in the state, 41 of them have 90% or more of their running age population showing up on registered voter rolls and 7 counties with 100% or more.

You look at that and youve got to scratch your head, Wait a minute, that doesnt make sense,'" he said. "Of course it doesnt. Thats because we dont have enough election commissioners who are engaged to doing their job to make sure the voting rolls are clean.

By educating the public, he believes we can lower the chances of illegal activity in elections.

When you see something that you say, Look, I dont think that quite makes sense. Something doesnt smell right about that, Contact your circuit clerks. Contact your district attorneys and contact our office.

Winston County was Watson's 30th stop on his tour. He said his next stop will be in Columbus.
Karnataka: Minister Angara promises to strive for diesel subsidy, concessional kerosene early

March 17,2021 | Source: Daiji World

Minister Angara said that all efforts are being made to disburse the remaining portion of the diesel subsidy and kerosene at concessional rate as early as possible. He said that the attention of the centre has been drawn towards these demands through a latter. Congress MLC K Harish Kumar, had moved a call attention motion in the legislative council on Monday March 15 seeking to complete the schemes meant to extend assistance to the fishermen in Dakshina Kannada district at the earliest. Angara said that discussions were held with finance department officials about the release of diesel subsidy and that the centre has been urged to provide 3.313 kilo litres of kerosene for the fishermen. Harish Kumar said that the fishermen have not got their diesel subsidy for the last six months. He pointed out that the fishermen are in distress because of coronavirus infection. He demanded to waive interest on the loans of fishermen and to resolve the pending issue of diesel and kerosene on an emergency basis.



The minister informed that Dakshina Kannada district has 57 purse seine boats, 1,327 trawler boats, 1,501 mechanised country boats and 541 non-mechanised country boats. He also said that during the year 2019-20, 1.8 lac tonnes of fish worth Rs 2,031.38 crore was produced. Angara also stated that the third phase expansion work of the fisheries port at Mangaluru has been undertaken with central assistance at a cost of Rs 57.6 crore rupees. He said that the work got delayed due to a litigation preferred by an individual and he hoped to settle the matter soon. He also said that an all season port costing Rs 196.51 crore is being constructed at Kulai and country boats anchoring area at a cost of Rs 3.37 crore is being executed at Thota Bengre.

 2001 - 2021. Daijiworld Media Pvt Ltd.,
LONDONA forgotten slice of feminist history sits by the south side of Clapham Common, an urban park in South London. In 1911, two female surgeons started raising funds to establish a hospital for women and children. It would fulfil the dual goals of training more female medical practitioners while providing health care to female patients in a space created for women by women. The South London Hospital for Women was finally opened five years later, despite facing a predictably disdainful response from the predominantly male clinical sector. It was remarkable for its progressive and thoughtful design, which took into consideration the needs of women of all social classes, and was known fondly to its all-female staff as an Adamless Eden until its closure in 1984.

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More than a century later, a stones throw away from this Adamless Eden, women are protesting for their right to remain free and secure from male violence. This torrent of anger and frustration comes in the wake of the killing of 33-year-old Sarah Everarda woman who was simply walking home on the evening of March 3 when she disappeared. Everard did everything that women are constantly told to do: She wore brightly colored clothes, called her boyfriend while on her way, and opted to travel along a well-lit route by Clapham Common even though it was longer. But no precautions were enough to protect her from the man who would eventually be arrested just a week later on suspicion of her kidnapping and murder. Public shock and rage over Everards murder was compounded by the fact that her alleged killer, 48-year-old Wayne Couzens, was a serving police officer who was kept working for days after a charge of indecent exposure had been placed against him, shortly before Everard disappeared.

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Were being penalized for something and told we should live in fear when its not a female problem.

Everards death sparked a social movement, both on social media and offline, that seems unprecedented in its fury. Women of all backgrounds have come together to share their experiences of male harassment and assault, voicing their frustrations at how these are all too often dismissed or trivialized. Along with the anecdotal evidence, the statistics are damning. Findings from a U.N. Women survey of more than 1,000 women published on March 10 showed that 80 percent of all women in the U.K. have encountered sexual harassment in public spaces, with that figure increasing to 97 percent for women aged between 18 and 24. Male violence against women is also pervasive in private and domestic life. Femicide Census, a database that comprehensively details information on femicide cases, reported that a woman in the U.K. was murdered by a man every three days at an unabating rate from 2009 to 2018.

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In London last weekend, hundreds of people attended a vigil for Everard that ended in a police crackdown widely criticized as disproportionately violent. The following day, a thousand-strong crowd marched into Parliament Square in dissent of the brutalities the night before. In a rapid, confusing sequence of events since, a campaign to make misogyny a hate crime went into full swing at the same time that a new bill was passed in Parliament to curtail public protests; meanwhile, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has vowed to increase funding for better lighting and CCTV  to provide further reassurance for women and girls. None of these measures has come across as compelling or helpful. Through it all, one question remains on the minds of many: Why is it primarily women who have been actively engaging with questions around their safety, while men have remained curiously silent?

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It feels like its just us  talking about a problem that we shouldnt have to fix. When I look online, the only people discussing womens safety are other women, said a woman at the vigil for Everard at Clapham Common on Saturday, an event that noticeably consisted of mostly female attendees. She and her friend both declined to be named, stating their apprehension at being arrested. And now were being told not to go out at night, added her friend. It makes me angry, because were being penalized for something and told we should live in fear when its not a female problem. It feels like mansplaining  like men think were not clever enough to understand something that theyre doing to us.

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Initially, the vigil was organized by Reclaim These Streets, a grassroots collective advocating community ownership of public spaces. It was intended to pay tribute to Everard while protesting police instructions for women not to go out after 9 p.m. The Metropolitan Police (known informally as the Met to most Londoners) reacted by banning the event, citing COVID-19 lockdown restrictions. They also threatened fines of up to 10,000 pounds (around $14,000) for every organizer involved. Despite attempts to discuss a COVID-secure arrangement with the police, Reclaim These Streets was forced to call off the vigil, explaining that they could not risk the hefty fines. In a statement published on Twitter calling upon supporters to donate to various womens causes instead, the collective noted: We do not want to see hundreds of thousands of pounds contributed to a system that consistently fails to keep women safeeither in public spaces or in the privacy of their homes. Sisters Uncut, a separate feminist group, later announced that it would carry on with the event.

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On the fringes of the vigil at a central bandstand in Clapham Common, as women bearing flowers and candles chanted the police are trying to silence us, the police are trying to repress us, a few men stood watching. Two of them were housemates Jay Aranze, 31, and Fenan, 32, who wanted to be identified only by his first name. I dont think that the pandemic is a good enough reason to stop this from going ahead.  This affects every woman and is way bigger than COVID, said Fenan. He had decided to show his solidarity because he was reminded of how comforting it was, as a Black man, to see scores of white people at a Black Lives Matter protest in London last year. It made me realize that its important for us to show support when we see a fucked-up situation.

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Both men were quick to condemn the #NotAllMen hashtag, which began trending on social media almost immediately after Everards murder. It really comes down to a lack of understanding of womens experiences, Aranze said. I think for men, many dont get that even if theyre not doing anything wrong, they dont call out their friends when they say something sexist. They dont say, Hey, thats not cool. We need to start seeing some action  in mens behavior. Fenan concurred: The people who say not all men are the same sort of people who say all lives matter.  Not long later, at around 7:30 p.m., the police stormed the bandstand, tackling some of the women to the ground. When images emerged in the press of male police officers becoming violent at an event set off by a woman killed by a policeman, the irony was not lost. Cressida Dick, the commissioner of the Met police, has rejected repeated calls for her resignation.

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The #NotAllMen brigade has become emblematic of the defensiveness when men are being finally held accountable for a wider culture of misogyny. Use of the hashtag is typically accompanied by accusations that men are being demonized, or wrests the conversation away from women by claiming that men, too, can be victims of violence. But its vital to note that #NotAllMen doesnt just consist of men. A series of tweets by TV presenter Davina McCall claiming that female abduction / murder is extremely rare and that calling all men out as dangerous is bad for our sons, brothers, partners was met with swift backlash.

No one is saying that men dont experience violence against them, and that violence is committed by other men, says Mary Morgan, an expert in body politics and an adviser to the Reclaim These Streets movement. But its an issue when people only bring up violence against men in relation to violence against women. Its an effort to silence and belittle women  downplaying the realities of disproportionate violence that women face on a day-to-day basis. Women are expected to shoulder the responsibility for preventing violence, and then the blame when violence is done to them. Then were gaslit for speaking up about that violence. Its appalling that anyone would be offended by this movement. Were not asking a lotwere just asking to not be assaulted or murdered.

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Perhaps more troubling than those hopping on the #NotAllMen bandwagon is the failure of men to organize collective action in response to violence against women. A quick Google search reveals a multitude of female-led charities active in the U.K. that aim to end misogynistic abuse: These include Refuge, Womens Aid, and End Violence Against Women. Aside from two male-led community-based initiatives, White Ribbon and Beyond Equality, there is little prominent, sustained, or consistent effort at working with boys and men to tackle gender norms and inequality.

One exception is David Challen, an activist against domestic abuse, who successfully campaigned in 2019 to exonerate his mother from a murder conviction after she killed her husband after suffering a lifetime of coercive control and violence. He believes that the lack of male voices and action has to be urgently addressed. Men arent really contributing to or progressing this conversation. The intricacies of issues that women face, whether its domestic abuse or rape  its women who are working hard to solve them. Where are the men? Im ashamed.

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Challen has also observed that women who dare to speak out about male violence have received far more reprisals than he has. Im still surprised to this day that I dont get attacked more by men. There are a few occasional comments about men being victims of violence, some men try to emasculate you and call you a snowflake, but the response is usually positive. Its really indicative that when women talk about their issues, men are keen to jump on them. While he believes that the #NotAllMen are a noisy minority, he stresses that there needs to be a concerted attempt at engaging with men on male violence. At the root of this male inertia, he says, is a fear of handing masculinity over. He also thinks the trepidation of getting it wrong holds men back. When you do speak out, he explains, theres a lot of pressure to get your words right. You dont want to take over the conversation from women.

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While calls on the British government to do more to challenge violence against women have intensified, advocates know that there are no fast solutions to the malaise of sexism. There isnt going to be one policy that can fix things. Rooting misogyny out from our culture is going to take a range of interventions and quite a bit of time, says Luisa Porritt, a politician from the Liberal Democrat Party who is a candidate for mayor of London. What Ive been really dismayed by is the policies and responses coming out from the government. Yesterday, Boris Johnsons response to whats happened in recent days was lets have more plainclothes police officers to watch over women. How is that going to make us feel more safe? Beyond women, it also speaks to  the creeping encroachment of the state in cracking down on our civil liberties. On a personal level, she feels that the men who have been taking the time to engage with me over the last two weeks  are not the men we need to win over.

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Porritt says that there is a whole host of things that must be done as a nation to address violence against women. I think we like to think that were more progressive than some other countries, and so we set a really low bar for ourselves in terms of where we need to go. She mentions that the U.K. has yet to ratify the Istanbul Convention, a global agreement to prevent and combat violence against women and girls. On a national level, she also emphasizes that drastic cuts to womens refuges and services over the past decade severely undercut the governments recent rhetoric on protecting the rights of women. Even more grim are figures on the number of reported rapes making it to trial. Just over 3 percent of 58,856 rapes recorded by police forces in the twelve months before March 2020 were actually prosecuted.

Yet amid the furor, a ray of optimism presents itself that things can take a turn for the better. Challen says, I think there are men who are mentally engaged with the issue of violence against women, but from now, hopefully, more will be willing to listen. Its not about reading a few stories online about women [being attacked or harassed], its about connecting to one another and educating ourselves. There were men outside the courtroom supporting my mothers appeal, and it made me see that men can be part of that change too. And for that to happen would be really amazing.
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

A study in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (JAACAP), reports on the young adult assessment of the now 20-year longitudinal Boricua Youth Study (BYS), a large cohort that brings much needed insight about development and mental health of children from diverse ethnic background growing up in disadvantaged contexts.

The present article, with its companion report on prevalence of conditions and associated factors, provides an update on the study's fourth wave, which follows-up two probability-based population samples of children of Puerto Rican heritage. Unique to the study is its two-site design, which allows for comparison of a single ethnic group in two contexts: one in which the group is an ethnic minority living in an disadvantaged area (South Bronx, NY); and another where though challenges are many, children do not grow up being part of an ethnic minority group (San Juan, Puerto Rico).

"The BYS provides a unique opportunity to understand developmental processes relevant to young adults who are not easily included in clinical, school, internet or telephone-based studies," said lead author Cristiane Duarte, Ph.D., MPH, Ruane Professor at the Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York. "By focusing on an underserved ethnic group (Puerto Ricans), whose risk for future psychiatric disorders has been well documented in the USA, we add relevant information to a rich tradition of population-based longitudinal studies that have informed our knowledge of developmental psychopathology."

Children have been followed since the year 2000, when the original 2,491 participants were between the ages of 5 to 13 years old. Young adults were re-assessed on average 11.3 years after the last study contact, with retention of more than 80 percent of the original sample. The current article presents the cohort composition during young adulthood as it pertains to survival, mobility, parental involvement and other parameters that are crucial to the understanding of developmental psychopathology processes but are not frequently captured by more selective studies.

Hoping to help advance the field, the paper also provides detailed descriptions of methods and measures used, plus strategies utilized to engage and retain a low-income ethnically diverse cohort. The main aim of the first three waves of the study, initiated by Drs. Bird and Canino at the turn of the 21st century was to investigate development, specifically related to antisocial behaviors at the two study sites.

Co-author Glorisa Canino, Ph.D., Professor at the Department of Psychiatry, University of Puerto Rico, Puerto Rico, said: "The study included the ascertainment of a wide array of putative risk factors that could be related to differences across contexts. After the completion of the first three waves, the question remained as to whether similar patterns observed in childhood would persist into late adolescence and early adulthood."

The risks threatening the positive development of Puerto Rican youth and other diverse racial/ethnic youth, living in disadvantaged contexts, are now likely being compounded by number of relevant factors. These include the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on underserved racial/ethnic minorities; a prolonged economic depression; and a recent major natural disaster (Hurricane Maria) together with the long-term experiences of discrimination and structural racism that have afflicted these same families for centuries.

The BYS gathers data from childhood through young adulthood on areas such as family relationships, cultural stress and psychiatric disorders, with the addition of domains specific to late adolescence and young adulthood (e.g., sexual risk behaviors, substance use, and financial independence). As such, the study is poised to answer questions that are important to the lived experiences of this ethnic group as they might pertain to mental health and has the capacity to assess the role of context and gender in these associations.

"This study is distinctive and even more relevant today as we unpack the role of minority status in the development of Latinx youth," said co-author Margarita Alegria, Ph.D. Professor, Harvard University. "This represents a unique opportunity to identify assets and risks of Latinx youths' mental health as they transition to emerging adults."

Of note, currently Hector Bird, MD, study co-author states, "The retention of over 80 percent of a sample of children, now young adults, seen more than ten years after the last encounter, has been remarkable. We sincerely hope that the current readers and those of years to come will benefit from the results of this work both in informing epidemiologic methodology as well as from the implications of the findings for the mental health of Puerto Rican and other ethnic groups."

Explore further Experience of being a minority puts US teens at higher risk of anxiety, depression

More information: Cristiane S. Duarte et al, Developmental Psychopathology and Ethnicity I: The Young Adulthood Assessment of the Boricua Youth Study, Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry (2020). Journal information: Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Cristiane S. Duarte et al, Developmental Psychopathology and Ethnicity I: The Young Adulthood Assessment of the Boricua Youth Study,(2020). DOI: 10.1016/j.jaac.2020.02.015
This year our dine and drink business locations throughout the Gorge have suffered with closures. You can help support your favorites by purchasing take out and gift cards. Many of these business will offer curb-side delivery and some will deliver to your home. Lets keep the Gorge going strong!
Days after Slovakias Health Ministers resignation, two parties in the countrys ruling coalition called on the prime minister to resign in a bid to open the way for a reconstruction of the government amid political tensions triggered by a secret deal to buy Russias coronavirus vaccine. According to AP, Richard Sulik, who is the head of the Freedom and Solidarity party and a deputy PM, said that PM Igor Matovics resignation is a necessary step for the coalition to survive. He gave Matovic a March 23 deadline to step down and said that if he refuses to resign, then the leaders are ready to leave the government.

Sulik said that the PMs resignation would create space for more constructive and effective cooperation in the coalition. He also added that he would be willing to offer his own resignation to give the coalition a fresh start. It is worth noting that the Freedom and Solidarity party was joined on Monday by the For People party in demands that Matovik resign.

Russian vaccine dispute

The crisis in the country had erupted after PM Matovic secretly ordered doses of Russias Sputnik V vaccine despite opposition from his coalition partners. This irked the other members of his coalition, who eventually called for the dissolution of the current cabinet. Matovic, however, defended the deal to buy 2 million Sputnik V vaccines, saying it will speed up the vaccination program.

But Freedom and Solidarity party said that the purchase cast doubts on the countrys pro-Western orientation. Along with For People Party, the Freedom and Solidarity party further demanded reconstruction of the government. For People Party also said that any vaccine needs approval from the EUs drug regulator, which has not happened with Sputnik V.

Slovakia, a member of the European Union started innovating its population in late December. Matovics secret deal with the Russian vaccine faced resistance from Foreign Minister Ivan Korcok who said that it was a tool in Russias hybrid war against the West. While Sputnik V has not applied for EUs approval, Slovakias deputy PM Veronika Remisova said that any vaccine to be used in the country would require approval by the bloc.

(Image: AP)


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By Anthony Boadle

BRASILIA (Reuters) - New coronavirus cases are picking up again in half of the countries in the Americas, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) said on Wednesday, calling on Brazil to protect its people in the face of record infections and deaths.

Brazil is now reporting the highest number of new infections in the region, PAHO director Carissa Etienne said. Several areas of Brazil are witnessing record-high infections, and hospital beds are nearly at capacity across more than half of Brazilian states.

Brazil on Tuesday reported a record 2,841 deaths in 24 hours, as the incoming health minister pledged to continue the controversial policies of far-right President Jair Bolsonaro, who has downplayed the severity of the disease.

"The situation in Brazil is a cautionary tale that keeping this virus under control requires continuous attention by public health authorities and leaders to protect people and health systems from the devastating impact of this virus," Etienne said in a briefing.

Transmission rates are "very high" in all regions of Brazil, PAHO Incident Manager Sylvain Aldighieri said. He said this was the result of "sub-optimal" public health measures during the holiday season and Carnival periods.

Stricter measures to control transmission are needed in Brazil, Aldighieri said, and should be implemented and monitored by all levels of government, federal, state and municipal.

According to a Reuters tally, Latin America has recorded around 22.9 million COVID-19 cases and 722,000 deaths, almost double the toll of Asia and Africa combined.

The news out of North America was mixed as the vaccine rollout in the United States gained momentum. The United States and Mexico are reporting a drop in new infections, though cases in Canada are accelerating, particularly among young adults ages 20 to 39, Etienne said.

But she said vaccines are limited and supplies face a bottleneck, with only two manufacturers providing shots through the World Health Organization and Gavi coalition's COVAX facility to provide equitable access for poorer nations.

Story continues

So far, nearly 138 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered in the Americas, although just 28 million of those shots were given in Latin America and the Caribbean.

New infections are decelerating in the Caribbean, but some islands are seeing the number of COVID-19 deaths double, she said.

Cases were rising in Uruguay, Ecuador and Venezuela in the last week, while Paraguay's health system issued an urgent warning as hospitals filled up with COVID-19 patients, Etienne said.

(Reporting by Anthony Boadle; Editing by Franklin Paul and Bill Berkrot)
Arianna Eisenberg says her long COVID symptoms were gone after two vaccine shots, the Washington Post reported.

Others have reported that vaccination alleviated long COVID symptoms.

Scientists don't understand the phenomenon, but one has ideas of how it could work.

See more stories on Insider's business page.

A woman who had long COVID said her symptoms were gone 36 hours after getting her second dose of COVID-19 vaccine, according to The Washington Post.

Arianna Eisenberg, 34, said she experienced muscle pains, insomnia, fatigue, and brain fog for eight months after getting sick. These symptoms are typical of what is become known as "long COVID".

But 36 hours after receiving a second dose of COVID-19 vaccine, her symptoms were gone, the Post reported.

Eisenberg's story is one of several describing a similar effect.

The Philadelphia Inquirer and the Huffington Post also reported on people for whom long covid symptoms improved after vaccination.

Daniel Griffith, an infectious diseases clinician and researcher at Columbia University, told The Verge on March 2 that around a third of his long COVID patients reported that they were feeling better after the vaccine.

In a YouTube video, Gez Medinger, a science journalist who reports on long COVID, did a survey of 473 long haulers among support groups on Facebook, the Verge reported, around a third of whom saw their symptoms improve after vaccination.

One small study from the UK's University of Bristol, which has not been peer reviewed, looked at giving vaccines to people with long COVID-19 symptoms, per the Washington Post report.

The scientists gave the vaccine to 44 COVID long-haulers, and compared their reaction to a group of long-haulers who didn't get the vaccine.

They reported that those who had received the vaccine had a "small overall improvement in long COVID symptoms."

However, the authors said that this could be down to the placebo effect.

Story continues

This is just one of a series of puzzling reports surrounding long COVID.

On March 3, Kaiser Health News reported that a 15 year-old dancer developed COPD, a disease which is usually seen in older people, after contracting COVID-19 last summer.

As reported by Insider's Aria Bendix, scientists also cannot explain why most of the people who develop long COVID are women, although some scientists think that it could be because women tend to mount stronger immune responses than men.

Recovery clinics for long COVID patients have been opening up, Insider's Sophia Ankel reported.

But the condition is still not well understood. The US National Institutes of Health has been given over $1 billion by Congress to investigate long COVID.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Mark Lutgenau (pictured), 37, has been arrested in the Gold Coast after a 30-hour manhunt

A fugitive gunman wanted over an alleged domestic violence incident has been arrested after a 30-hour manhunt across the Gold Coast.

Mark Lutgenau was taken into custody by Special Emergency Response Team officers at a Nerang address about 4.15pm on Wednesday.

He was bitten on the forearm during the arrest and was transported to the Gold Coast University Hospital where he remains under police guard.

After receiving treatment, Lutgenau will be taken to a police station for questioning, where charges are expected to be laid over a string of incidents.

Lutgenau had been on the run after fleeing a property at Upper Coomera when police were called on Monday night.

Gold Coast police Acting Inspector Kevin Gant said public information led officers to the Baloo Street address where he was arrested.

'As a result of our inquires we identified a possible location where that male could have been,' Insp Gant told reporters on Wednesday evening, the Courier Mail reports.

The arrest comes after police shutdown parts of parts of Ormeau, including a local primary school (pictured) on Tuesday amid fears the 37-year-old was armed

'[Im] happy with the safe resolution of the situation and that he has been taken into custody and everyone is OK.'

A Public Safety Preservation Act was declared nine minutes before he was taken into custody then revoked at 4.22pm.

The 37-year-old shut down parts of Ormeau, including a local primary school, on Tuesday amid fears he was armed with gun.

Gold Coast police stations were put on heightened alert as the manhunt continued on Wednesday, after Lutgenau made threats on social media.

Queensland Police took to Facebook on Tuesday night to alert the public not to approach Lutgenau but contact triple-zero immediately if they crossed his path.

Lutgenau himself replied to the post, telling one person who commented: 'This is a stress time for all involved'.

Lutgenau commented on Queensland Police Service's alert post about himself, telling one person 'I have got nothing left in my life and will be a shootout with police'

Pictured: Students being evacuated after an emergency declaration was declared in the suburb

He told another person: 'I understand what I have done is unacceptable and I am 100 per cent accountable. I have got nothing left in my life and will be a shootout with police'.

Queensland Police had publicly pleading with him to 'contact them', with Acting Inspector Kevin Gant declaring 'we want a peaceful resolution for his own personal safety and the safety of the public'.

The post prompted Lutgenau's mother Glenys to issue a desperate plea for her son to let her know his current location so she can collect him and end the frantic police hunt.

'Mark, it's mum here. I'm here for you. Tell me where you are. I will pick you up. Love mum xxx,' she replied to the Queensland Police post.

An emergency declaration was declared for Ormeau State School and part of the surrounding suburb at 11.50am on Tuesday as part of investigations into Lutgenau's whereabouts but it was lifted by police at 3.50pm after he could not be found.

Lutgenau (pictured) has not been seen since fleeing a home at Upper Coomera on Monday night when police were called to an alleged domestic violence incident

Terrified parents had rushed to collect their children from the school but had to wait a tense four hours between being notified of the lockdown and being allowed into the area.

Parents had earlier that morning received a text message that read 'The school is currently in lockdown.'

'Children and teachers will continue learning inside classrooms but will not be leaving their rooms. Police have cordoned off the area as a precaution and police will not allow you access to the school.'

Following that, at midday, principal Kimberley Button wrote on the school's Facebook page: 'Please be advised children are safe, have had their lunch and are working in their rooms'.

'We are focused on your children's safety. We will keep you updated to the best of our knowledge  no updates at this time.'

Police are seen stopping cars on Mirambeena Drive at Ormeau on the Gold Coast on Tuesday after a school placed into lockdown

Pictured: Police blocking off Mirambeena Drive at Ormeau on the Gold Coast on Tuesday amid a search for a potentially armed man who remains on the run

Officers had to escort the children out to waiting relieved parents late on Tuesday afternoon.

The emergency declaration under the Public Safety Preservation Act was made as police searched bushland around Ormeau and Pimpama.

Pictures from the scene showed multiple police cars and heavily armed officers swarming the area.

Specialised groups from the Public Safety Response Team and the Special Emergency Response Team also joined the manhunt along with the dog squad and Polair teams.

Helicopter footage showed officers in fatigues gathering at Calgray Realty, on the corner of Mirambeena Drive and Guara Grove in Ormeau.

For confidential support call Lifeline 13 11 14 or beyondblue 1300 22 4636
Lawsuit over Mount Rushmore fireworks dismissed

U.S. District Court Judge Roberto Lange in a ruling Wednesday dismissed a lawsuit brought against President Joe Biden's administration by Gov. Kristi Noem after the NFS a fireworks display there next month.
Srinagar, March 17 : Jammu and Kashmir Apni party president Altaf Bukhari on Wednesday accused the UT government of sidelining the natives and giving contracts to outsiders in the extraction of construction materials business.

Bukhari has urged the UT government to review the extraction order in a week's time or else the party will hit the roads along with the stakeholders.

Speaking at a press conference in Srinagar, Bukhari said, "It is highly unfortunate that the natives of J&K, who have been associated with minor mineralogy business since decades, have been sidelined and the contractors from outside J&K, who are yet to produce environmental clearances, have been given a free hand to control the market.

The Apni Party president said that the e-auction for extraction of raw material was held clandestinely without giving any wide publicity to the tendering process which has drastically resulted into exclusion of the local contractors.

He appealed to Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha for his personal intervention into the matter.

Bukhari said there has been an unprecedented escalation in the cost of construction material in Jammu and Kashmir. He regretted the acute shortage of construction material that has led to illegal extraction and hoarding of construction material like sand, aggregate, gravel and stones causing immense suffering to the general public.

"The shortage of raw materials like sand, bricks, stones, aggregate and gravel have not only caused immense sufferings to the general public but have stalled work on many prestigious developmental projects worth thousands of crores across Jammu and Kashmir," he added.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Ramsey Orta just wants to walk his dogs.

Orta, who filmed Eric Garners fatal confrontation with police seven years ago in Tompkinsville, has petitioned a federal judge to allow him to leave his home to take his two 8-month-old pups for thrice daily potty strolls.

Orta, 29, is currently free on $150,000 bond and on home detention as he awaits the disposition of a gun charge against him in Brooklyn federal court.

The two pups have been largely confined to a bedroom which Orta and his younger brother share in a Manhattan apartment, said defense lawyer Deirdre D. von Dornum in a letter to the court.

As a result, the pooches have been forced to urinate and defecate in that same bedroom multiple times a day, said von Dornum.

As the court can imagine, this is not a healthy situation, the lawyer wrote. I  respectfully request that the court modify the terms of Mr. Ortas pre-trial release to permit him to leave the house three times a day for 30 minutes (on a scheduled set by Pre-Trial Services) to walk his two dogs.

Under the terms of his release, Orta is confined to his home except for attorney visits, court appearances, medical treatment, work, school or training and other activities approved by Pre-Trial Services.

Ramsey Orta, 29, the man who recorded Eric Garners death, has asked a federal judge to allow him to walk his dogs three times a day while he is on home detention awaiting the disposition of a gun case.

Ortas mom and great-grandfather also live in the small apartment, the attorney said. However, they arent strong enough to control the two dogs on a walk, said von Dornum.

Ortas sibling is a student and not home for much of the day, she said.

Von Dornum noted that Pre-Trial Services opposes the request because of the difficulty in verifying that the dogs are actually being walked.

The lawyer suggested a combination of location monitoring, which would allow Pre-Trial Services to verify Ortas whereabouts at any given time, a set schedule and other designated verification methods.

Ortas actions could also be confirmed via random FaceTime calls or through photos he submits while walking the pups, said von Dornum.

A spokesman for the U.S. attorneys office for the Eastern District of New York declined comment on Ortas request.

A judge has scheduled a hearing on the issue on Friday.

Orta was busted last Sept. 23 in Brooklyn.

He was driving a BMW sedan which cops pulled over around 12:50 a.m. near South Second and Roebling streets due to excessive window tint, said a criminal complaint.

Police saw pot in the lap of Ortas front-seat passenger, the complaint said. A burned marijuana cigarette was allegedly visible in the center console.

Officers recovered a loaded Smith & Wesson M&P 9 mm handgun from Ortas waistband, the complaint said.

Orta was indicted on one count of felon in possession of a firearm.

In October 2016, Orta was sentenced in state Supreme Court, St. George, to concurrent prison terms of four years for a felony drug conviction and two to four years for a felony gun conviction.

He was also subject to 18 months post-release supervision.

The drug conviction arose from a Jan. 3, 2015 incident in which he sold heroin to an undercover officer on Staten Island.

The gun conviction stemmed from an Aug. 2, 2014 arrest in St. George in which Orta ultimately admitted to possessing a .25-caliber semiautomatic pistol.

He was paroled last July 10, according to online records of the state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision.

Orta will forever be linked to Eric Garner.

Orta videotaped the events which unfolded on July 17, 2014, when Garner died in police custody while being arrested for allegedly selling loose cigarettes on the street.

Garners final words, I cant breathe, have become a mantra of the Black Lives Matter movement.

He uttered those words repeatedly while former Officer Daniel Pantaleo can be seen on the video putting his arm around Garners neck from behind and taking him to the ground.

In December 2014, a Staten Island grand jury declined to indict Pantaleo on criminal charges, prompting the U.S. Department of Justice to launch a civil rights investigation into the incident.

After five years, two presidential administrations and four attorneys general, then-Attorney General William Barr decided not to pursue federal charges against Pantaleo on the eve of the fifth anniversary of Garners death.

Shortly thereafter, in August 2019, then-Police Commissioner James ONeill fired Pantaleo following a departmental trial.
Israels Defense Ministry on March 16 announced that it has completed an upgrade of the countrys Iron Dome rocket-defence system in a bid to cope with an additional array of aerial threats. According to AP, the ministrys head of missile defence, Moshe Patel, said that the Iron Dome has completed a series of tests that included successful interceptions of rocket and missiles salvos as well as simultaneous interceptions of multiple unmanned aerial vehicles. The Iron Dome was developed to intercept short-range unguided rockets and has shot down some 2,500 incoming projectiles fired from the Gaza Strip since it was deployed a decade ago.

The Israel Missile Defense Organization in the Ministry of Defense and @RAFAELdefense have successfully completed a test campaign of the Iron Dome. This campaign demonstrated a significant upgrade of the systems technological capabilities 1/2 pic.twitter.com/U41OTbui7m  Ministry of Defense (@Israel_MOD) March 16, 2021

The rocket-defence system is part of Israels multilayered aerial defence system, ranging from systems capable of intercepting rockets fired from short range up to striking long-range missiles outside of the atmosphere. Patel said that the new Iron Dome system would be deployed by Israels air force and navy in the near future.

Laser-guided mortar system

Meanwhile, earlier this week, Israel also unveiled a laser-guided mortar system that it said could significantly bring down the numbers of civilian casualties during an attack. The laser-guided mortar system called the Iron Sting has been developed by the research and development unit of Israels Defence Ministry along with local firm Elbit Systems Ltd. Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz said the mortar system is capable of hitting targets in urban areas while meeting the moral standards set by the country.

This comes weeks after the United Nations court opened an investigation against Israel over allegations of war crimes. Tel Aviv is accused of using inhumane measures against Palestinian people during the 2014 conflict between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza strip. Earlier this month, the International Criminal Court (ICC) announced that it would look into the alleged war crimes cases carried out in the Gaza strip in 2014 and beyond.

(Image: AP)
President Klaus Iohannis announced on Wednesday that the National Recovery and Resilience Plan was agreed upon, stressing that the 30 billion euros represent a chance for Romania's development and the implementation of delayed reforms for so many years.

"We have agreed, at the meeting with the leaders of the governing coalition, with the Prime Minister and the Minister of European Funds, the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, which is to be submitted to the Executive's approval and then sent to the European Commission for negotiation. The approximately 30 billion euros that we will benefit from this plan represents a major opportunity for Romania's development, an opportunity that will allow the Romanian economy and society an increased resilience in the event of future crises. At the same time, it is important to understand that this plan gives us the best context for carrying out the reforms postponed for so many years, reforms that will improve the life of every Romanian," Klaus Iohannis said.

President Iohannis said that emphasis will be placed on improving access to health services, by developing the network of hospitals, creating integrated medical centers in vulnerable rural and urban areas and equipping them with equipment, practices with screening facilities, early diagnosis and monitoring of chronic patients."We want to allocate 3 billion euros for this goal," Iohannis showed.The head of state also added that the National Recovery and Resilience Plan will allow the further financing of the development of the motorway network, in parallel with the promotion of a less polluting transport."We intend to allocate 4.5 billion euros for this area," Iohannis said.President Iohannis stressed that PNRR is an extraordinary opportunity for the Romanian education system as well, pointing out that the "Educated Romania" programme will benefit from substantial funding of about 4 billion euros.He also pointed out that digitalisation will be an important part of Education, and the focus will be on two components, namely the training of digital skills and the provision of digital educational resources."We intend to invest 780 million euros in this demarche," Iohannis said.The head of state specified that Romania will invest considerably in what the "sustainable future" means."In ensuring the green transition, I want to mention only a few examples of projects that we will finance through PNRR: 1.3 billion euros allocated for the diversification and multiplication of renewable energy sources, 1.5 billion euros for mass afforestation, 4 billion for the fight against drought and irrigation, respectively 5 billion euro for the promotion of sustainable transport through the development of the railway infrastructure," he indicated.President Iohannis said there will also be investments in digital services for citizens and added that investments will be made to improve the urban environment, saying these will allow residents to enjoy cleaner air, green spaces and regenerated spaces."At the same time, 2.2 billion euros will be allocated for the thermal rehabilitation of blocks of flats and the consolidation of buildings in the event of an earthquake, which will mean an improvement in living conditions. In addition, investments will be made to allow access to drinking water and sewerage," Iohannis explained.He further maintained said that the investments proposed by PNRR will lead to the creation of new jobs, especially for those affected by the pandemic, to new business opportunities, the strengthening of entrepreneurship and the increase of competitiveness in the economy.

AGERPRES
NEW DELHI: Amid an unprecedented hike in the COVID-19 cases across the country, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold a video conference with all chief ministers on Wednesday (March 17, 2021) to discuss the prevailing COVID-19 situation and the measures required to contain the pandemic.

During the meeting, the PM will also deliberate on the ongoing mass vaccination drive across the country. According to reports, the virtual meeting will be held around 12.30 PM on March 17. The meeting has been called in the wake of a massive surge in coronavirus cases in several states where night curfew has been implemented and several restrictions have been announced.

The Prime Minister, who has been holding regular communication with all the chief ministers of all states/UTs and top health officials since the outbreak of the pandemic, had last interacted with them in January before the launch of the COVID-19 mass vaccination programme.

The PM had earlier announced that the Centre will bear the expenses of vaccinating nearly three crore healthcare and frontline workers in the first round and suggested that public representatives, a reference to politicians, should not be part of this initial exercise.

The mass vaccination drive is now in its second stage in which people over 60 years of age, and those aged above 45 years and having comorbidities are being vaccinated.

On Monday, India registered 26,291 cases, a rise of 8,700 active cases. This is also the highest single-day spike in 85 days, taking the countrys infection tally to 1,13,85,339, according to Union Health Ministry data.

The number of deaths due to the pandemic increased to 1,58,725 with 118 more fatalities being recorded in 24 hours. As many as 24 states and Union territories reported a rise in active cases, with Maharashtra, Kerala, Punjab and Karnataka registering a maximum number of cases at 16,600, 1,800, 1,500 and 934 new cases, respectively.

According to the Health Ministry, a rising trajectory of daily new cases is visible in eight states - Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi, Gujarat, Karnataka.

There are a total of 2,19,262 active cases in the country which is 1.93 per cent of the total infections in the country, while the recovery rate has dropped to 96.68 per cent, the data stated.

Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan had said negligence towards COVID-19 appropriate behaviour is to be blamed for rising cases of COVID-19, adding that few states account for more than 80 per cent of the cases.

The Health Minister also urged people to follow coronavirus appropriate behaviour like wearing masks and maintaining social distancing despite the availability of a vaccine against the disease.

Live TV
The Daily Wire's Luke Rosiak came out with a blockbuster report about current and former teachers in Loudon County, Virginia, plotting via Facebook to infiltrate, hack, and dox parents in the school district who object to the district teaching Critical Race Theory (CRT). Dennis Prager did not go far enough when he says public school education is child abuse; it's adult abuse, too.

Just last week, Dennis Prager wrote again about how extraordinarily toxic public school is for American children. After pointing out that America's colleges and universities are where values and intelligence go to die, he had this to say:

The worse news is that sending your child to almost any elementary school or high school  public or private  is fast becoming equally toxic. More and more schools are being taken over by left-wing ideologues and by nonideologues who lack the courage to confront the ideologues. Once infected with leftism, these schools teach children to hate reason, tradition, America, Christianity, whites, excellence, freedom and masculinity. To cite one example, thanks to a million-dollar grant from Bill Gates through his Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Oregon Education Department has announced that teaching there is "one right answer" in math  yes, in math  is an expression of white supremacy.

As if to reinforce everything Prager said, Rosiak reported about a private Facebook group, with 624 members, called the "Anti-Racist Parents of Loudon County" (ARPLC). The group eventually became obsessed with infiltrating, hacking, and doxing parents who dared oppose the school district's highly racist "anti-racial" CRT indoctrination program.

Loudon County, just north of D.C., is America's richest county. According to Rosiak, the group is a "who's who" that includes "school staff and elected officials." One of the group's members is the county's new prosecutor, who squeaks to buy in the election thanks to $845,000 in cash from George Soros. The group is now the subject of a criminal investigation.

Rosiak's article is long and detailed, and you should read the whole thing. However, here's the gist so you can understand how deep the rot is in America's education system:

CRT fanatics within the school district were deeply concerned about parents who had started a group called Parents Against Critical Theory (PACT). These parents acted because they felt that CRT created disharmony and intolerance.

Eventually, a mother in the ARPLC group named Jen Durham announced that she was looking for "volunteers to combat the anti-CRT activities of the P.A.C.T. folks, the stoplcpscrt [sic] website, and the like." Durham wanted the volunteers to gather information on the parents involved, infiltrate the group with fake online profiles, have hackers shut down their websites or redirect them to pro-CRT web pages, and dox the people who opposed CRT. Instead of shouting Durham down, and shaming her for her anti-American activities, ARPLC members sprang into action, naming names and publicizing among themselves addresses and employer information.

Showing their fascist chops, the group decided that anybody who wasn't with them was against them. If a parent wasn't out there shouting CRT slogans, that parent (and the parent's information) ended up on the list. Neutrality was not allowed. When the Loudon County School District made national news for being the first to attack Dr. Seuss, a parent who asked for evidence that Seuss was racist was put on the list. The ARPLC's motto was "silence is complicity."

There is much more at the Daily Wire. What the ARPLC's Facebook group revealed was a fanatic attempt to silence anybody who was trying to stop a public school district from indoctrinating children into the belief that all races are not created equal, and that whites are specifically less equal than other races, not to mention mean, vicious, and toxic.

Americans are for the most part very nice people. If you push them, they don't usually push back. They try to give people the benefit of the doubt. They're deeply opposed to racism, so if you tell them something is antiracist, they will believe you.

But things are coming to a head now. Nice Americans have a choice  they can either fight the toxins that the left is releasing into American society or they can watch the America we know, the constitutional society premised on equality, the rule of law, the right of peaceable assembly, etc., get septic and die.

Having put two children through public school some time ago, I understand better than most that teachers are holding our students hostage because they control the all-important grades the students receive. At some point, though, parents are going to have to push back against the race fanatics in the school system or lose America forever. In other words  and I'm sorry to say this  parents are the new frontline in the war for America's soul.

Image: Classroom by National Cancer Institute on Unsplash.
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NEW YORK, March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Despite concerns connected with tobacco use, the global tobacco market reached an estimated $818 billion in 2020 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 1.8% from 2021 to 2028; the United States is forecast to account for an estimated $50.9 billion of that in 2021. An innovative smoking alternative is set to snatch a slice of this billion-dollar industry. Capitalizing on the opportunity, TAAT Lifestyle & Wellness Ltd. (CSE: TAAT) (OTCQB: TOBAF) ( Profile ) now offers the 1.3 billion smokers in the world a true smoking experience without the risks associated with tobacco and nicotine. The disruptive company is reshaping the smoking experience with the launch of TAAT, a nicotine-free and tobacco-free cigarette. The launch of the product has recieved so much positive response both online and on the ground that the company already plans to expand beyond its initial retail program in Ohio. TAAT joins well-known tobacco and nicotine companies Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE: PM), Altria Group Inc. (NYSE: MO) and British American Tobacco Industries p.l.c. ADR (NYSE: BTI), as well as newcomer RLX Technology Inc. (NYSE: RLX), that are seeking to offer alternatives to traditional cigarettes.

Despite significant concerns, global tobacco market reaches more than $800 billlion annually.

Alternatives don't replicate the smoking taste or experience.

Beyond Tobacco undergoes 14-step process, resulting in a substance that tastes, smells and smokes like tobacco.

TAAT's breakthrough product mimics both taste and experience without tobacco or nicotine and at lower cost

Click here to view the custom infographic of the TAAT editorial.

Finding the Delicate Balance

Today's consumers are much more attentive to wellness issues, yet they still cling to pastimes and experiences that are familiar and comfortable. That's a delicate balance to find in the world of smoking, where legitimate concerns are at odds with the sensations and relaxation that so often comes with the rituals of smoking.

Hand-in-hand with the wellness trend is another closely related new movement, a movement that holds promise for smokers seeking a tobacco-free and nicotine-free smoking experience. A growing number of companies are transforming everyday edible items into alternative options by substituting ingredients. Plant-based meat is a prime example. Carefully formulated and crafted, these types of alternatives mimic original flavor, texture, taste and experience. Harmful ingredients are eliminated while preserving what makes the item both familiar and enjoyable.

Moving Beyond Tobacco

That's precisely what TAAT Lifestyle & Wellness Ltd. (CSE: TAAT) (OTCQB: TOBAF) conceived with its TAAT alternative cigarettes. Available in three flavors (Original, Menthol and Smooth), the tobacco-free, nicotine-free product is made from an exclusive Beyond Tobacco base material. The material undergoes a 14-step process, including a patent-pending refinement step, which results in a substance that tastes, smells and smokes just like tobacco.

By creating this experience that goes beyond smoking, TAAT touches the all-important five sensory elements of smoking a tobacco cigarette. This includes nearly identical packaging and smoke volume (visual), crackling sound upon lighting (auditory), a tobacco-like scent while burning (smell), and "hand-to-mouth" motor habits (touch). Ashes can even be "flicked" in a similar manner to tobacco ashes. TAAT's Beyond Tobacco base material even offers a tobacco-like taste - all without using an iota of nicotine or tobacco.

That's not all. Not only is the TAAT smoking experience identical on every sensory level, it has a practical appeal too. A pack of TAAT is priced at $3.99 in Ohio, approximately 43% less than a pack of Marlboro, which costs about $7.00 per pack.

Eyeing Expansion

In February, TAAT announced that it had contracted with Texas-based CPG sales agency CROSSMARK to launch its innovative smoking solution in the retail space. CROSSMARK began those efforts in late February, launching TAAT cigarettes in Ohio, where more than three-quarters of its retail accounts, which number more than 7,000 convenience stores, showed interest in carrying the product. With such an impressive response, TAAT is already eyeing opportunities to move beyond Ohio's borders.

Experience has been a key driver in the rollout success. With more than a decade of experience in sales for a major global tobacco firm, TAAT's Ohio account manager has been working side-by-side with CROSSMARK to provide sales training for CROSSMARK representatives to ensure that TAAT is ideally positioned among the many tobacco category offerings available.

"These are exciting times for the company as we enter the final month of Q1 2021," said TAAT CEO Setti Coscarella. "Now that our product line has had the opportunity to be tested by smokers aged 21+ across Ohio with consistently positive reception, we can start to roll TAAT out more aggressively with the knowledge that we have a solid product formulation and commercialization playbook."

Coscarella noted that CROSSMARK's efforts will run concurrently with TAAT's continued in-house sales efforts and promotions for its online store, which has seen similar success.

Catching Fire Online

TAAT launched its online storefront on Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2021, only a few days after its Ohio unveiling. As part of that launch, the company offered a Taste Explorer Bundle, which consists of one 20-stick pack of each of the three TAAT varieties: Original, Smooth and Menthol. Available to smokers aged 21 and older, the bundle provides the chance to sample each offering without having to purchase a full carton.

Within the first five days of operation of the online store, TAAT was reporting more than C$100,000 in sales. Based on this early-stage performance, TAAT announced that would continue its efforts to attract adult-aged smokers to the online store. Those efforts, the company noted, included a campaign of targeted integrated banners in online content as well as a digital out-of-home campaign on thousands of Ohio gasoline pump displays.

"To sell more than C$100,000 worth of a relatively new product in such a short period is absolutely exceptional," said Coscarella. "Countless smokers aged 21+ in the United States have been eagerly awaiting the launch of our online store on Wednesday, which I believe has contributed significantly to our product sales this past week. Our iterative rollout of TAAT in the United States has been very strategically planned to test the initial reactions of smokers aged 21+ when introduced to the concept of a nicotine-free and tobacco-free smoking experience, while also gauging reception of the product after it is sampled for the first time."

Years of research and product development preceded TAAT's rollout of its proprietary TAAT offering. After perfecting the product, the company then devoted nearly two months gathering feedback from adult-aged smokers as well as retailers and wholesalers of tobacco about the new product. "I believe those insights have proven useful, as they played a role in creating our strategies for launching the TAAT online store on Wednesday, which has been a remarkable success so far," Coscarella said.

Making Significant Moves

With a rising wave of smokers seeking alternatives to tobacco and nicotine, it's little wonder that many tobacco companies are seeing the writing on the wall and making significant moves to offer smoking options.

Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE: PM) has gained attention as a major cigarette brand that has publicly announced its commitment to "find alternatives to cigarettes as quickly as possible." Last year the company announced that the U.S. FDA authorized PMI's IQOS as a modified risk tobacco product, making the smoke-free innovation the "first and only electronic nicotine product to receive such authorization from the Food and Drug Administration."

Altria Group Inc. (NYSE: MO) has stated that "tobacco harm reduction can only be successful if smokers find less risky products satisfying." With that in mind, the company has invested in delivering a compelling portfolio of noncombustible products to adult smokers; the portfolio includes three noncombustible product platforms with the potential to reduce harm: heated tobacco, oral tobacco and e-vapor. "Our diversified model allows us to meet adult consumers where they are going and invest appropriately to support their migration and conversion from combustible cigarettes," the company said.

British American Tobacco Industries p.l.c. ADR (NYSE: BTI) CEO Jack Bowlesunveiled the company's evolved strategy in March 2020, a strategy with a clear corporate purpose to "build A Better Tomorrow by reducing the health impact of our business." The strategy included the company's commitment to provide adult consumers with a wide range of enjoyable and less risky products, to continue to be clear that combustible cigarettes pose serious health risks and to encourage those who otherwise continue to smok to switch completely to scientifically substantiated, reduced-risk alternatives.

A newcomer to the industry, China-based RLX Technology Inc. (NYSE: RLX) is a leading branded e-vapor company that entered the market in January with an initial public offering that shot up from it initial price of $8 per share to $12 per share before opening at $22.34 as as result of investors keen interest. The company is dedicated to pursuing valuable scientific advances in further understanding and minimizing the health risks associated with e-vapor products.

With an intransigent multibillion-dollar smoking industry ripe for innovation and change, companies savvy enough to provide alternatives that meet and exceed smokers' expectations are likely to reap significant rewards.

For more information about TAAT Lifestyle & Wellness Ltd., please visit www.TAATGlobal.com .

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The Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, Ludovic Orban, discussed, on Wednesday, at the Parliament Palace, with the management of Airbus Helicopters about the development of the aeronautical industry in Romania and the opportunity of an industrial project in this field, according to AGERPRES.

"Today, in Parliament, we discussed with Mr. Bruno Even, CEO of Airbus Helicopters, and with Mr. Georges Durdilly, General Manager of Airbus Helicopters Romania, about the development of the aeronautical industry in Romania and the opportunity of an industrial project to include the production and maintenance of helicopters, as well as the research and innovation part in the field," Orban wrote on Facebook.

According to the President of the Chamber of Deputies, Airbus is a traditional partner for the Romanian aeronautical industry, developing several joint projects in partnership with IAR Brasov and Turbomecanica Bucharest.

"Romania continues to support this partnership, which highlights the potential for local development of a leading industry," Orban added.
The company said an abstract on the findings has been released at a virtual meeting of the International Society for Apheresis

The poster includes data showing that Nu.Q is an effective method for monitoring Santersus' highly selective plasmapheresis treatment targeting Neutrophil Extracellular Traps (NETs) in Sepsis

Limited (NYSEAMERICAN:VNRX), in partnership with Swiss-based Santersus AG, has reported that new data demonstrates Nu.Q's effectiveness in monitoring treatment of Sepsis.

The company noted that an abstract has been released at the International Society for Apheresis meeting (e-ISFA), which is being held virtually this year.

The poster presentation entitled, "Therapeutic Removal of NETs from Blood in a Pig Model of Sepsis," was given by Dr Andrew Aswani, consultant in Intensive Care Medicine & Anesthesia at a leading London hospital and chief medical officer of Santersus AG.

said the poster includes data showing that Nu.Q is an effective method for monitoring Santersus' highly selective plasmapheresis treatment targeting Neutrophil Extracellular Traps (NETs) in Sepsis.

"Our data indicated that the Nu.Q assay may have wide applicability to monitor the treatment of diseases with a NET component and potentially may also be used for patient selection, said Dr Aswani in a statement.

This is especially important given the wide range of diseases where NETosis plays a role such as COVID-19, sepsis, autoimmune diseases and cancer. Santersus has already begun the next phase of studies that are also using Volition's Nu.Q assays, including our first human trial, and we look forward to sharing the results in the coming months."

Dr Jake Micallef, Volition's chief scientific officer, added: "Santersus' highly selective plasmapheresis treatment is demonstrably effective in the removal of up to 99% of circulating NETs from animals in septic shock as measured by our Nu.Q NETs assay. The results also show that the treatment leads to a stabilization of NETs in circulation and a great improvement in the well-being of the treated animal. This is the first study reported to use Volition's simple, low-cost Nu.Q immunoassays to monitor response to a treatment."

VolitionRx said that NETs are made of nucleosomes and are associated with sepsis. Santersus investigated the removal of NETs from the circulation of a pig model of sepsis using the Santersus NucleoCapture therapeutic plasmapheresis method and monitored the therapy using Volition's 45-minute, automated Nu.Q immunoassay as a surrogate measure for circulating NET levels.

Plasmapheresis treated and untreated animals were monitored by a variety of physiological and biochemical parameters including lactate levels (an indicator of sepsis severity), vasopressor requirements (septic shock leads to low blood pressure which is ameliorated by treatment with vasopressors), and urine output (urine output falls during septic shock).

VolitionRx said Nu.Q immunoassays successfully monitored the rise in NETs caused by sepsis. Santersus also demonstrated that the plasmapheresis treatment removed almost all (up to 99%) of nucleosomes from treated blood and that untreated sepsis led to a high and continuously rising level of circulating NETs.

Santersus also demonstrated that the plasmapheresis treatment successfully prevented this rise in NETs leading to a lower and stable level of circulating NETs, the company added.

Contact the author: patrick@proactiveinvestors.com

Follow him on Twitter @PatrickMGraham
Australia's endangered regent honeyeater bird is losing its song, a sign that it could be nearing extinction, scientists warned in new research released on Wednesday.

A rapid decline in the rare songbird means its young are struggling to learn mating calls as adults disappear, according to researchers at the Australian National University.

Male regent honeyeaters sang rich, complex tunes in more populated habitats, but resorted to simplified songs elsewhere, the scientists wrote in a study published in the peer-reviewed journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B.

Lead author Ross Crates said the findings were a "major warning sign the regent honeyeater is on the brink of extinction" -- and the loss of song knowledge could also reduce chances of mating.

"It could also be exacerbating the honeyeater's population decline, because we know a sexy song increases the odds of reproduction in songbirds."

Scientists found 18 regent honeyeaters, or around 12 percent of the total remaining male population, who could only mimic other species' songs -- not their own.

"This lack of ability to communicate with their own species is unprecedented in a wild animal," study co-author Dejan Stojanovic said.

"We can assume that regent honeyeaters are now so rare that some young males never find an older male teacher."

Scientists estimate just a few hundred regent honeyeaters remain in the wild.

The rare bird, with its black and yellow markings, was once found across much of eastern Australia but is now largely confined to eucalyptus forests in the country's southeast.

The study also found regent honeyeaters born in captivity have different songs that could reduce their attractiveness to wild birds.

The scientists now hope to teach the captive birds to sing like their wild counterparts, by playing them audio recordings.

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New York governor Andrew Cuomo should resign if an independent investigation confirms allegations of sexual harassment, President Biden said in a Tuesday interview on ABC.

If the investigation confirms the claims of the women, should [Cuomo] resign? anchor George Stephanopoulos asked the president.

Yes, Biden answered. I think hell probably end up being prosecuted, too.

Seven women have accused Cuomo of sexual harassment, including an incident in which the governor allegedly groped a staffer under her blouse and another in which he reportedly kissed a former aide on the lips without consent. Cuomo has denied inappropriately touching the women, but apologized for insensitive remarks to staffers.

There could be a criminal prosecution that is attached to it. I just dont know, Biden added regarding the case. A woman should be presumed telling the truth and should not be scapegoated and become victimized by her coming forwardthe presumption is they should be taken seriously. And it should be investigated.

New York attorney general Letitia James has appointed two attorneys to conduct an independent investigation of the harassment allegations. Most of New Yorks congressional delegation, as well as Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, have called on Cuomo to resign.

Biden himself was accused of sexual assault by former staffer Tara Reade, during the 2020 presidential campaign. While he denied the allegations, Biden said in May 2020 that if voters believe Tara Reade, they probably shouldnt vote for me.

Cuomo signed a law in 2019 which lowered the evidentiary standard for sexual harassment and assault cases and called on then-Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh to take a polygraph test after he was accused of sexual harassment and assault by multiple women.

If he refuses, you should pull the appointment, Cuomo said at the time. It will show at least a modicum of fairness on your part. If you do not insist that Judge Kavanaugh take a polygraph, it will be further evidence that you are putting political motivation over your constitutional obligation. Do not aid and abet a lie. Demand a polygraph.

Story continues

In addition to the harassment allegations, Cuomo is the subject of multiple investigations into his handling of coronavirus in New York nursing homes. Cuomos March 25, 2020, executive order requiring nursing homes to readmit coronavirus patients discharged from hospitals likely exacerbated outbreaks and caused between several hundred and one thousand additional deaths, according to the Empire Center.

For months, the Cuomo administration misrepresented the number of nursing home deaths in the state, declining to release the number of residents who died of coronavirus in hospitals in addition to the facilities themselves.

More from National Review
SPRINGFIELD  The Illinois Senate Review Committee on Thursday is scheduled to discuss proposed legislation from state Sen. Rachelle Crowe, D-Glen Carbon, to aid homeowners.

To offer homeowners property tax relief, Crowe has introduced Senate Bill 1745. Starting in 2022, Crowes measure would allow homeowners to deduct 5 percent  up to $5,000  from the assessed value of their home. Any Illinois household with an income of less than $131,772 would qualify for the homestead exemption.
[March 17, 2021] Information Analysis Inc Announces Two New Board Members

FAIRFAX, Va., March 17, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Information Analysis Incorporated (OTCQB: IAIC), a leading information technology services and modernization company, announced today the appointment of Jack Johnson to the companys board of directors, effective March 15, 2021.

We are excited to welcome Jack to our board of directors. He brings decades of leadership in key areas, such as Cybersecurity, Cloud Services, strategy implementation, and technology development, that are vital to our future operations and strategy, said Mark Krial, IAIs Chairman of the Board. Jacks counsel and expertise will bring immediate energy to our board and strengthen IAIs commitment to talent development and enhancing mission-critical solutions to better serve our employees, customers, and shareholders. Jack Johnson is the Chief Executive Officer and Managing Partner of Jack Johnson and Associates, LLC., of McLean, VA. This firm was established to bring the full breadth and depth of strategic business and security consulting that leverages over 40 years of experience as a senior government executive, Big Four Partner and Global Consulting firm executive. Previously, Jack Johnson served as a Partner with the firm of Guidehouse, the legacy PwC US Public Sector, and oversaw the entire Defense Sector, which includes all entities within the US Department of Defense; Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, the Office of the Secretary of Defense, all other defense organizations and other defense gencies, as well as NATO and all commercial aerospace and defense activities. He is a nationally and internationally recognized figure who serves as an industry consultant on a variety of security, law enforcement, risk management and intelligence related matters. Jack Johnson has served as a Trusted Advisor to senior officials within government, providing guidance in areas such as crisis management, best practices, organizational development and strategic planning. He routinely testifies before Congress on homeland security and national security related issues. Jack Johnson was appointed as the first Chief Security Officer (CSO) for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). In this capacity he established the Office of the CSO, and assisted in the design and development of the Department. He directed all security related activities for the 22 agencies and over 200,000 employees that now comprise DHS, and served as the first DHS representative to the National Security Council. Prior to his appointment at DHS, Jack Johnson was in his 20th year with the United States Secret Service, and served in a series of roles with increasing responsibility, both domestically and internationally, ultimately retiring as the Deputy Assistant Direct in the Office of Government Liaison. He received his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Maryland, a Masters in Forensic Science degree from George Washington University and has completed additional post-graduate study at the University of Virginia and Johns Hopkins School of Management.



In addition, IAI has added Stan Reese to the Board of Directors. Reese is the current President and CEO of IAI. About Information Analysis Incorporated

Information Analysis Incorporated (www.infoa.com), headquartered in Fairfax, Virginia, is an information technology product and services company. The Company is a web application and e-business solutions provider, as well as a software conversion specialist, modernizing legacy systems and extending their reach to the internet and more modern platforms. Additional information for investors This release may contain forward-looking statements regarding the Information Analysis Incorporateds business, customer prospects, or other factors that may affect future earnings or financial results. Such statements involve risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to vary materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements. These include the failure to obtain sufficient contracts, and to profitably complete those contracts. Investors should read and understand the risk factors detailed in IAIs Annual Reports on Form 10-K for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2018 and 2019, and in other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. For additional information contact: Stan Reese - CEO

(703) 293-7935

sreese@infoa.com



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In less than three weeks, Michigan will see an enormous expansion of its COVID-19 vaccine eligibility pool as all residents 16-years and older will be able to get in line for a shot.

However, its not yet clear if and when the state will see a significant boost in its vaccine allotment from the federal government.

This week, Michigan is slated to receive 443,270 doses of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, which included an increase of about 20,000 Pfizer doses from the previous week. The state will receive little, if any, Johnson & Johnson doses, according to Lynn Sutfin, spokesperson for the Department of Health and Human Services.

Sutfin said the state was aware that it -- like the rest of the country -- would get little or no shipments of Johnson & Johnson vaccine for a few weeks after receiving the initial order, which was distributed March 1-7.

For local health department leaders, it remains difficult to project how many doses will come in a given week. Health officers typically learn Friday afternoon what they will receive Tuesday or Wednesday the following week.

When the state announced it would open eligibility to all residents 16 years and older April 5, Susan Ringler-Cerniglia said her first reaction was Oh no, will we have the vaccine to actually provide it to the folks who will become eligible?

Expanded eligibility and expanded supply are good things, but its hard to do one without the other, said the spokesperson for the Washtenaw County Health Department.

Related: Michigan vaccine expansion an exciting surprise to health departments

Ringler-Cerniglia has heard the talk of dose allotments ramping up in the coming weeks. But there hasnt been a concrete timeline.

Our supplies continue to be week to week so we cant say anything about the week beyond, she said. We jumped up a few thousand doses in the last few weeks but its been fairly steady going back two weeks. Weve seen some increases but not overwhelmingly.

In Kent County, Steve Kelso, communications manager for the health department, has heard the same talk of increased doses. While he couldnt pinpoint a timeline either, he appeared more confident in the intel.

Kelso said hes expecting dramatically more doses soon and that shots in arms will subsequently ramp up but much more quickly than weve seen. He estimated that the vaccine clinic at DeVos Place was capable of increasing its shots per day from its previous record of 8,000 shots to closer to 20,000 per day with sufficient supply.

This weeks latest vaccine allotments for Michigan were broken down as such:

133,380 first doses of Pfizers vaccine

113,490 second doses of Pfizers vaccine

98,200 first doses of Modernas vaccine

98,200 second doses of Modernas vaccine

The state administered 60,864 doses per day over the last week -- an increase from the prior weeks. On Thursday, March 11, it set a one-day record with 92,507 shots in arms.

To date, Michigan has administered at least one dose to more than 2 million residents, or about 24.9% of the states 16 and older population. The state has administered more than 3.14 million total doses, including 1.65 million of the Pfizer vaccine, 1.47 million of the Moderna vaccine, and 24,474 of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

President Joe Biden has said the U.S. will have enough vaccine doses for every American adult by the end of May. Last week, his administration announced plans to purchase another 100 million Johnson & Johnson doses -- the lone one-dose shot available to Americans.

Read more on MLive:

Michigans positive test rate and daily coronavirus cases continue to climb

Pandemic stressful for parents juggling work and kids at home, worrying constantly

9 things to know about Michigans expansion of vaccine eligibility to all ages

Coronavirus forced funerals to shrink, but theyre expected to return in time
LOS ANGELES  Two people died after a massive explosion set off by fireworks at an Ontario, Calif., house rocked a residential neighborhood Tuesday, prompting a large response from firefighters and law enforcement.

Ontario Fire Department Chief Ray Gayk said at a media briefing that commercial-grade fireworks set off the fire at a roughly 1-acre residential lot near West Francis Street and Fern Avenue. Several agencies, including the FBI, are investigating the incident.

They are commercial grade, Gayk said, like you would normally see in the fireworks show.

Gayk said a horse was injured in the explosion.

Residents across a vast area reported hearing the blast and feeling the ground shake shortly before 1 p.m. local time.

The city tweeted that a large cache of fireworks ignited at a house, setting the residence on fire. Smoke could be seen from as far away as Anaheim. Two structures on the same lot  a front and back house  were engulfed in flames after the explosion, Ontario spokesman Dan Bell said.

The roof is gone, burned out, Bell said of the rear property. The one on the front  I was on the street; I could see flames coming through the roof. It will most likely be a total loss.

Fireworks are illegal in Ontario, as they are in many California cities. Ontario Police Chief Mike Lorenz said officers have been called to the area in the past on reports of fireworks being set off.

Officials didnt immediately have information about where the cache in the explosion came from, or what was happening in the home where the blasts erupted.

We dont know anything about the fireworks right now, Gayk said.

The two people who were killed appeared to be inside or around the home, Gayk said. Three other people had minor injuries and werent hospitalized, Gayk said. Others nearby were able to escape, authorities said.

Smoke rises in the background after a fireworks stash exploded in Ontario, Calif., Tuesday, March 16, 2021. (Watchara Phomicinda/The Orange County Register via AP)

More than 50 firefighters were hosing water onto the smoldering fire about 2:30 p.m., more than 90 minutes after the explosion, Bell said. Investigators hadnt gone inside any of the structures because of the fireworks cache.

Were hoping we can get on scene and start this investigation process and get those neighbors home as quickly as possible, he said.

Hours later, at about 5:40 p.m., someone behind the caution tape yelled Fire! as more fireworks crackled from inside the explosion area, and flames flared. Firefighters began blasting water at the property. Neighbors were concerned there could be another explosion.

Jennifer Nalbandian, 43, said she was sitting on the couch in her living room when the initial explosion, which she said felt like an earthquake, shook her house.

My daughter says to me, No, mom, I think it came from the sky, Nalbandian said. She began picking up things around her apartment that had fallen. Then she opened her front door.

The boom pushed me back, and the window shattered, she said. I got hit with the after-blast when I opened the door.

Van Vant stands in front of her home damaged home after a nearby fireworks stash exploded in Ontario, Calif., Tuesday, March 16, 2021. (Watchara Phomicinda/The Orange County Register via AP)

Some neighbors were aware of the fireworks in the neighborhood long before Tuesdays explosion. Oscar said he knew that the people who lived at the now-smoldering home had a few fireworks, but he hadnt been aware of the extent of their stockpile.

They always pop them off, random sometimes, like at night shows or a holiday, he said.

Fron the Los Angeles Times (TNS) and The Associated Press.

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A Chicago court has thrown out allegations including fraud made against Boeing by Dublin-based aircraft lessor Timaero in relation to a $740m-plus case linked to the troubled 737 Max jet.

The dismissal of fraud allegations against Boeing could significantly benefit the aircraft maker in any other claims made by customers that ordered the troubled jet before two fatal crashes that saw the Max grounded all over the world for more than a year.

Timaeros remaining case against Boeing  an allegation of breach of contract, that wasnt dismissed  has now also been transferred to Washington state.

Timaero is owned by controversial Russian state-owned development bank Vnesheconombank (VEB).

Timaero Ireland signed an agreement with Boeing in January 2014 to buy 20 Max aircraft. In 2016, Timaero converted two Boeing 737-800 orders to Max orders.

The Dublin-based lessor was due to take delivery of four Max jets by early December 2019, but had only received two aircraft out of its order.

Timaero is understood to have made $316m (284m) in advance payments to Boeing between November 2013 and the end of 2018.

Timaero has claimed that Boeing's delivery delays are in breach of the aircraft delivery schedule agreed to by the pair and is the result of "Boeing's fault and negligence in designing the aircraft with a defective flight control system that it did not properly test and analyse".

In support of its fraud claim, Timaero alleged that Boeings senior management pressured employees to release the 737 Max in time to compete with the Airbus 320neo, and by so doing, fuelled decisions to cut corners and ignore red flags in the process of designing and implementing the flawed MCAS system, according to court filings.

The MCAS system was designed to automatically reorientate the Max parallel to the ground in the event its nose unexpectedly pitched upwards.

But Boeing had insisted that Timaeros claims solely extended to breach of contract and not fraud or other allegations that had been made by the lessor.

An Illinois court has agreed.

Timaero has not alleged that Boeing directed any fraudulent statements at Timaero any time after 737 Max production began, noted the judge in the case.

All of Boeings allegedly fraudulent statements were promises about a future machine rather than descriptions of an existing machine of known characteristics, she added in her ruling to dismiss the fraud complaint against Boeing. Such promises about future machines are not similarly considered representations of material fact.

Timaero had claimed that Boeing never intended to fulfil its promises that the Max would gain approval from the Federal Aviation Administration without requiring additional simulator training, or that the aircraft would be airworthy, safe, and free from design defects.
The friend of a British woman who went missing in the US Virgin Islands has questioned her boyfriend's claim she might have fallen overboard.

Sarm Heslop, 41, was reported missing on March 8, with American Ryan Bane, 44, telling local officers that she may have fallen from the couple's catamaran.

However, her best friend Andrew Baldwin has questioned Bane's suggestion that her falling overboard was one explanation for her disappearance, while appealing for more information about her whereabouts.

Questions have also been raised over Bane's delayed response after finding Sarm was missing.

'I find it incredibly difficult to say that she fell from a catamaran that was moored about 100 feet away from shore in shallow water while the boat was anchored,' he said on Tuesday in an interview with Fox News on Tuesday.

He also repeated calls for a full investigation by local officials into her disappearance calling on officials to search the yacht. He said: 'We're really looking for a full and thorough investigation and for the search for Sarm to continue.'

Virgin Islands Police Commissioner Trevor A. Velinor defended the police's investigation, but said officials 'do have some concerns regarding the details thus far,' in relation to Sarm's disappearance.

Another possibility being investigated by police is that she could have abandoned St John's for the neighbouring island of St Thomas, with police expanding their search.

Sarm Heslop (pictured left) was last seen on a catamaran in the US Virgin Islands on Sunday. Her best friend Andrew Baldwin (pictured right, speaking to Fox News) has questioned her boyfriend's account while appealing for more information about her disappearance

Baldwin said Heslop met her boyfriend 'at some point last year' while she was in quarantine having sailed to the Caribbean with two friends in 2019. The couple then locked-down together during the coronavirus pandemic.

According to Bane, the couple had dinner together on March 7 at around 10pm before returning to the catamaran where they watched a movie. Bane then claims that he woke up at around 2am to find his girlfriend missing.

Bane, who owns and skippers the 47-foot-long 500,000 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.

Fox News played a clip of anchor Nancy Grace questioning this version of events, where she asked why it took Bane until almost noon on March 8 to report her missing. 'I'm curious why it took 10 hours to alert anyone,' Grace said.

'We hear that Sarm's phone, passport and belongings were left on the boat and they were only handed in and I believe it was yesterday,' Baldwin added, saying that he and others in the UK have been in touch with the Governor in the Virgin Islands, Albert Bryan, as well as foreign office officials in the UK.

He also questioned the police investigation, noting that the boat has yet to be searched by officials, despite Sarm disappearing over a week ago.

'We understand that currently the boat has not even been searched by the police,' he said. 'It's now eight days since Sarm disappeared. Eight days in, they could have found anything on the boat.

'So we're not sure what's going on there. So we'd like to understand if the boat had been searched, and we'd also appeal to Ryan to provide any support to the police, in any possible way to give as many details as possible about what happened that night, and to aid the investigation.'

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

Pictured: The 47ft 500,000 Siren Song catamaran owned by American Ryan Bane, from which his girlfriend Sarm Heslop is believed to have gone missing

He did add that those in the UK pushing for a more thorough investigation believe that efforts have increased over the last few days, 'but we'd just urge them to treat this with the utmost immediacy and severity to help find our friend.'

A spokesman for the USVI police department told The Daily Telegraph: 'We have not been able to search the boat yet and will do this in due course. It is something that will be done eventually.'

Lawyers representing Bane said that he is 'devastated' that his girlfriend is missing, but said he would not be speaking to the media.

'Mr Bane will not be sitting for any interviews. Mr Bane's only hope is that Sarm is found alive and well. His thoughts and prayers are with Sarm and her family during this difficult time,' a statement from his lawyers said.

'Mr Bane has spent countless hours searching for Sarm and will continue to do so. Ryan is devastated that Sarm is missing.'

Baldwin's appeal for information 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 boat was moored.

Now, police fear that she may have abandoned St John's for the neighbouring island of St Thomas.

'I find it incredibly difficult to say that she fell from a catamaran that was moored about 100 feet away from shore in shallow water while the boat was anchored,' Andrew Baldwin said on Tuesday in an interview with Fox News on Tuesday (pictured)

A police spokesman said that they are conducting searches and inspections in the area where she was reported missing in St Johns.

'The police are concentrating on the whole area. They are putting a lot of resources in to help find the missing Briton,' said Toby Derima from the USVI police department.

Derima said that police have checked almost everywhere on the tiny 20-square-mile island of St John which is the smallest of the three American Virgin Islands and did not find any record of her leaving the island.

Follow-up enquiries suggested that she may have left the island via alternative means without checks being made.

'We are looking into the possibility that she could have left the island to go to another island on the USVI, namely St Thomas.

'There have been sightings of her. She was sighted on Thursday but when officers went to check on the sighting she was nowhere to be seen,' Derima added.

Police and volunteers searching for the missing 41-year-old from Southampton (left) have been scouring the waters (right) off the island of St John where the yacht was moored

'The police are working on this case vigorously - Officers are working hard to get to the bottom of this'

A friend of Mr Bane's said the American was 'beside himself with grief' and 'totally distraught'.

They said: 'He is heartbroken. I know from what he's said that Ryan and Sarm were very much in love.'

'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 had previously 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. Another small boat used to ferry people to-and-from shore was also still attached to the larger 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.

Pictured: A map showing where the Siren Song was moored in the US Virgin islands when Sarm Heslop, 41, was reported missing on March 8, with American Ryan Bane, 44, telling officers that she may have fallen from the couple's catamaran

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.

'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.'
SINGAPORE, March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- GenScript Biotech Singapore, a subsidiary of GenScript Biotech Corporation ("GenScript", Stock Code: 1548.HK), a world leading biotechnology company, and G42 Healthcare, a leading healthcare technology company, based in the UAE, today announced they have signed an agreement to explore comprehensive solutions to fight COVID-19. The collaboration includes the distribution of the GenScript cPass SARS-CoV-2 Neutralization Antibody Detection Kit across 24 geographies in the MENA region to assess vaccine effectiveness.

The GenScript cPass SARS-CoV-2 Neutralization Antibody Detection Kit detects neutralizing antibodies in individuals without the use of the live virus. The conventional method of measuring neutralizing antibodies in patient samples requires the use of live cells and a high biosafety level environment (BSL3). Obtaining results also takes multiple days. In contrast, the cPass kit utilizes pure proteins and can be performed in most standard laboratories with a short turnaround time (~1hr). Neutralizing antibodies represent the first line of defense against SARS CoV-2 infection by blocking the virus from binding to the host cells, thus inhibiting viral propagation. The cPass test may be an essential tool for the detection of the neutralizing (virus blocking) antibody response at post-vaccination to understand the robustness, efficacy, and longevity of the immune response.

The cPass kit is the only U.S. FDA Emergency Use Authorized serology test for neutralizing antibodies from recent and prior SARS-CoV-2 infections. The kit is also CE marked (Europe) and has received HSA provisional approval (Singapore), ANVISA in Brazil, ANMAT in Argentina and has recently received clearance from the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP) in the UAE as a medical device.

"We are glad to be working with G42 Healthcare and contribute to the development of innovative solutions to help the people of the UAE and beyond. With this collaboration, we will join forces to serve the local community with our expertise and resources. Our company remains committed to supporting the healthcare community in combatting COVID-19 infections, with a broad portfolio of research and development tools and diagnostics, including the novel cPass kit." said Johnson Wang, Asia Pacific President of GenScript.

Using advanced AI techniques and vast computing resources in majority of its nationwide healthcare initiatives, G42 Healthcare is at the forefront in the battle against COVID-19, researching vaccines and drug therapies, establishing a mass detection facility with Biogenix Labs, mapping trends in the outbreak including virus mutations and helping in future proofing the health of nations. As one of the leading technologically advanced laboratories, Biogenix Labs is the first laboratory to achieve ISO15189 accreditation granted by the Emirates National Accreditation System (ENAS) for COVID RT PCR and COVID antibodies (IgG & IgM).

Mr. Ashish Koshy, CEO, G42 Healthcare, said, "Our mission is to provide the definitive, comprehensive and most technologically advanced healthcare solutions in the GCC region. Our collaboration with GenScript comes at a time when countries have successfully rolled out national vaccination programs and laboratories can now benefit from rapid detection of the antibodies, thus supporting the healthcare ecosystem. Our commitment is to uphold patient health and reinforce our credentials as a trail-blazer in healthcare transformation for the good of all humanity."

GenScript's mission is "Make the Human and Nature Healthier through Biotechnology", which syncs in tandem G42 Healthcare's unique position as a market leader in holistic and scalable healthtech solutions with a growing presence across MENA. GenScript cPass SARS-CoV-2 Neutralization Antibody Detection Kit other than promising fast turnaround of an hour, can be done at high throughput, with higher sensitivity and speci?city to neutralizing antibodies because of being independent of isotype and virus species.

More information here: https://www.genscript.com/covid-19-detection-distributors.html.

About GenScript Biotech Corporation

GenScript Biotech Corporation (Stock Code: 1548.HK) is a global biotechnology group. Based on its leading gene synthesis technology, GenScript has developed four major platforms including the global cell therapy platform, the biologics contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) platform, the contract research organization (CRO) platform and the industrial synthesis product platform.

GenScript was founded in New Jersey, US in 2002 and listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in 2015. GenScript's business operations span over 100 countries and regions worldwide with legal entities located in the US, Mainland China, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, the Netherlands and Ireland. GenScript provides premium, convenient, and reliable products and services for over 100,000 customers.

For more information visit http://www.genscript.com.

About G42 Healthcare

G42 Healthcare, a leading health technology company, is committed to developing a world-class, sustainable healthcare sector in the UAE and beyond. At the forefront in the battle against COVID-19, G42 Healthcare uses its advanced AI techniques and vast computing resources to accelerate the detection of COVID-19, conduct research into new vaccines and drug therapies, and map trends in the outbreak including virus mutations. The company was responsible was conducting the world's first phase III clinical trial of inactivated vaccines across the Pan Arab region with over 43,000 volunteers participating from over 125 nationalities.
In Latin America, women represent 40% of the economically active population. But we did not reach 15% of female entrepreneurs, as indicated by the study Brechas para el Entrepreneurship , carried out by the Inter-American Development Bank ( IDB ) and the Association of Entrepreneurs of Latin America ( ASELA ).

The biggest barrier for female entrepreneurs is achieving a work-life balance. To this we add a significant challenge for company founders: obtaining financing.

In the region known as the Pacific Alliance, which includes Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru, 90% of those who access private financing are men, the IDB and ASELA research abounds.

Despite these challenges and the ravages of Covid-19, many Mexican women have strength every day and work very hard to get ahead. Today women enter the labor market more frequently, which is why the labor participation gap has decreased in the last 15 years.

The proportion of working women increased by five percentage points; On average, 40.7% of women and 75% of men are in the labor market. However, there are still differences in general working conditions between men and women. There is no equal opportunity and not the same treatment in employment.

This according to the study Decent work in Mexico 2005-2020: Analysis with a gender perspective , presented by the Center for Research on Women in Senior Management ( CIMAD ) of the Ipade Business School with the support of AT&T Mexico .

Following in the footsteps of powerful women

Victories are achieved with many wise advice, that is why we invite you to participate in the Woman 4.0 webinar, forming alliances and leadership with a cause , organized by Entrepreneur and Mastercard, which will take place on March 17 at 3:00 pm through the Entrepreneur networks in Spanish.

There are four speakers: Marcela Carrasco, president of the Andean Division of Mastercard, Silvina Moschini, CEO of SheWorks! and TransparentBusiness, Gabriela Lucke, director of the INCAE Women's Leadership and Collaborative Center, and Claudia Corona, founder of Impronta Verde and Co-Leader of the 30% Club.

They know that technology makes a company powerful and efficient. It is precisely technology that has allowed us to cope with the Covid-19 pandemic. However, the participation of women in the technology sector in Mexico is very low, only 9% of technology companies are led by women. This is stated by Endeavor , a non-profit organization that supports high-impact entrepreneurs.

Art: Entrepreneur

Learning from a multinational CEO

One of the speakers at the Mujer 4.0 webinar, forming alliances and leadership with a cause is Marcela Carrasco, president of the Andina Division at Mastercard. His expertise is to design and implement strategies in the area of technology and generate new business opportunities. She has been with Mastercard for 11 years. Before that, she was at Banco Superior for 11 years and two years as vice president of consumer affairs at Banco Davivienda.

I am passionate about knowing that technology is an invaluable tool to make an inclusive world, beyond money. The inclusion of everyone becomes a fundamental step in the creation of a sustainable and equitable society, says Marcela Carrasco on LinkedIn.

As responsible for the business strategies of Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Suriname, Peru and Venezuela, he constantly promotes the creation and adoption of new payment solutions that are safe, reliable and easy to use. She faithfully believes in the role of women as agents of disruption and change in leadership and business growth processes. He forcefully warns that: "Not taking women into account is not taking half the population into account."

Join us next March 17 to the Women 4.0 panel, forming alliances and leadership with a cause , where you can learn more about how women can gain better spaces and boost their growth.

Follow the event in:

Copyright 2021 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved
Photo: The Canadian Press

The federal government has announced funding for a dozen projects in western Nova Scotia to buoy the province's struggling fish and seafood processing sector.

Fisheries Minister Bernadette Jordan says the $4.85 million for 12 projects at 11 companies will help the sector retool and find new markets, positioning the industry for a strong post-pandemic recovery.

She says the funding, part of the $62.5 million Canadian Seafood Stabilization Fund announced by Ottawa last spring, is expected to create 60 jobs in rural communities across western Nova Scotia.

The projects include modernizing fish processing lines, increasing lobster storage capacity, improving grading stations and scales and adding new refrigeration equipment.

Leo Muise, executive director of the Nova Scotia Seafood Alliance, says the province's seafood industry has experienced ups and downs during the pandemic, with sales to cruise ships and restaurants down drastically while retail sales have been positive and exports to Asia are slowly recovering.

The $4.85 million being delivered by the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency includes $443,092 in grants to improve health and safety measures, while the rest of the funding is repayable loans for capital upgrades, new technology and commercial upgrades.

The companies receiving loans of $500,000 include: Clark's Harbour Seafood of Clarks Harbour, Deep Cove Aqua Farms of Blandford, Hailmar Fisheries of Lockeport, Ocean Pride Fisheries of Argyle, Rocky Coast Seafoods of Comeauville, Sea Lock Investments of Port Mouton and Synergy Seafoods of Clare.

L.J. Robicheau & Son Fisheries of Middleton is receiving a $750,000 loan, Sea Crest Fisheries of Clare is receiving a $57,892 loan, High Liner Foods is receiving a $404,092 grant and Lobster Hub of Clare is receiving a $100,000 loan and $39,000 grant.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-17 23:51:24|Editor: huaxia

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GABORONE, March 17 (Xinhua) -- Botswana on Wednesday launched a communications campaign aimed at addressing fears, misinformation, doubts and frustration regarding the COVID-19 vaccine.

Speaking during the launch cerenomy in Gaborone, Minister of Health and Wellness Edwin Dikoloti said Botswana is on the eve of rolling out the COVID-19 vaccination and "to achieve this, communication becomes critical to ensuring that the leadership, community and stakeholders are informed, engaged and mobilized to elicit intended responses and outcomes."

The campaign was launched under the slogan "ArmReady For Lemao" (ArmReady to receive the vaccine). The goal of the campaign is to allevate apprehensions about the vaccine, promote its acceptance by public through timely dissemination of accurate and transparent information.

The campaign comes after some countries issued temporary bans on the use of AstraZeneca's two-dose vaccine following reports of people developing blood clots shortly after vaccination.

Botswana will go ahead and use the Covishield vaccine the country received from India last week, Dikoloti confirmed, adding that they have satisfied themselves with the safety of the vaccine and taken advice from WHO on the use of the vaccine.

Botswana has launched the online registration platform that will allow individuals willing to be vaccinated to register. Enditem
NEW YORK, March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- One of the best markers of a company's profitability is the return on investment (ROI), which is a direct comparison of its investments with the revenue they are helping generate. Therefore, the higher the ROI, the more profitable the company. This is to be a key factor in the growth of the global enterprise asset management market to $25.9 billion by 2030 from $5.5 billion in 2019, at a 17.0% CAGR between 2020 and 2030, according to the market research study published by P&S Intelligence.

This is because EAM solutions make it easier for businesses to manage and monitor their machines, factories and office buildings, IT infrastructure, and other assets. In essence, the key enterprise asset management market driver is the ability of such solutions to alert users about the preventive maintenance of the assets, which helps reduce the revenue loss due to their unexpected malfunctioning.

Key Findings of Global Enterprise Asset Management Market Report

Demand for solutions higher than for services

Cloud-based EAM solutions gaining widespread popularity

EAM solutions being rapidly integrated with ML, AI, and IoT

Drone-based EAM solutions key opportunity for investors

APAC witnessing fastest-rising adoption of EAM solutions

Market is fragmented and highly competitive

Get the sample copy this report @ https://www.psmarketresearch.com/market-analysis/enterprise-asset-management-market/report-sample

The lockdowns and movement restrictions implemented to control the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic have affected the enterprise asset management market negatively. The loss of productivity due to the factory closures and workforce reductions have cost companies a lot of money, which is why they have been discouraged from spending on EAM solutions, which are generally expensive.

In the coming years, the small and medium enterprises (SMEs) bifurcation, under the enterprise segment of the enterprise asset management market, will experience the higher CAGR, of 19.1%. Due to the stiff competition in all industries, SMEs are leveraging new-age technologies to optimize their operations and maximize their investments. Moreover, the availability of cost-effective cloud-based EAM solutions is allowing even companies with budget restraints to procure them.

Browse report with detailed COVID-19 impact analysis on "Enterprise Asset Management (EAM) Market Research Report: By Offering (Solution, Service), Enterprise (Large Enterprises, SMEs), Deployment (On-Premises, Cloud), Vertical (Energy and Utilities, Manufacturing, Healthcare and Life Sciences, Transportation and Logistics, IT and Telecom, Government and Defense, Oil and Gas) - Global Industry Analysis and Growth Forecast to 2030" at: https://www.psmarketresearch.com/market-analysis/enterprise-asset-management-market

Till now, North America has been the largest enterprise asset management market because of the strict regulatory requirements, increasing spending by public and private firms for better managing their assets, and presence of many market players. In addition, EAM solutions are being integrated with cutting-edge technologies, such as the internet of things (IoT), machine learning (ML), and computer vision, for enhanced asset management and preventive maintenance.

Make enquiry about this report @ https://www.psmarketresearch.com/send-enquiry?enquiry-url=enterprise-asset-management-market

The most-rapid advance in the enterprise asset management market is expected to be observed in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region in the near future. APAC countries are witnessing swift digitization, strong government support for SMEs, and increasing investments in the IT infrastructure. Further, the focus of regional countries on expanding their global footprint, a surge in the construction of houses, and expansion in the manufacturing sector are driving the regional market.

Key players in the global enterprise asset management market include IBM Corporation, Infor Inc., Oracle Corporation, ABB Ltd., SAP SE, MRI Software LLC, IFS AB, Ramco Systems Limited, Schneider Electric SE, CGI Inc., Rockwell Automation Inc., Bentley Systems Incorporated, UpKeep Technologies LLC, Maintenance Connection LLC, AssetWorks LLC, Ultimo Software Solutions BV, eMaint Enterprises LLC, and DataMAX Software Group Inc.

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Robotic Process Automation Market - https://www.psmarketresearch.com/market-analysis/robotic-process-automation-market

India Digital Transformation Market - https://www.psmarketresearch.com/market-analysis/india-digital-transformation-market

About P&S Intelligence

P&S Intelligence is a provider of market research and consulting services catering to the market information needs of burgeoning industries across the world. Providing the plinth of market intelligence, P&S as an enterprising research and consulting company, believes in providing thorough landscape analyses on the ever-changing market scenario, to empower companies to make informed decisions and base their business strategies with astuteness.

Contact:

Prajneesh Kumar

P&S Intelligence

Contact: +1-347-960-6455

Email: [email protected]

Web: https://www.psmarketresearch.com

SOURCE P&S Intelligence
New Delhi: Amid the surge of coronavirus cases in India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a virtual meeting with chief ministers to take stock of the situation. PM Modis last interaction with CMs was in January, just before the vaccination roll-out.

Narendra Modi

Mamata Banerjee and Bhupesh Baghel, Chief Ministers of West Bengal and Chhattisgarh, respectively, decided to opt-out of the meeting.

In the last 24 hours, most cases have been reported from Maharashtra (17,864), Kerala (1,970), Punjab (1,463), Karnataka (1,135) and Gujarat (954).
Credit: In Memoriam: PhillipC, licensed under CC BY2.0

Widely cited on the topic of contact tracing during the nationwide lockdown last year, Associate Professor Malcolm Campbell has collaborated with colleagues from UC's GeoHealth Laboratory, School of Health Sciences, Denmark's BERTHA Big Data Centre at Aarhus University and the New Zealand Ministry of Health to determine how a simple message designed to apply to everyone equally  'stay home'  actually played out across the neighborhoods we live in.

"A key interest of mine, for many years, has been the role of inequality in society and how this leads to adverse consequences. Not just for those individuals at the raw end of any inequality, but for society as a whole," Associate Professor Campbell says.

Using data from mobile phones to help them understand patterns of movement, the researchers revealed unequal movements across our neighborhoods during New Zealand's lockdowns and lockdown levels in 2020.

The movement data showed how neighborhood deprivation had an important impact on the level of movement before, during and after a period of lockdown.

Neighborhood deprivation is an index, summarizing a collection of several different pieces of data that, once combined, give us an idea about relative differences between places.

Neighborhood deprivation can be measured by the number of New Zealanders receiving benefits, on a lower income or unemployed, those without qualifications and single parent families, but it can also include those who don't own their own home, or live in overcrowded or damp places.

Additionally, deprivation includes those who have no access to internet at home.

The lockdown in 2020, and subsequent attempts to reduce movement across the 'team of 5 million', served to both highlight, and potentially exacerbate, the existing social and spatial inequalities.

"The places that are the least deprived, had the most movement before lockdown. As soon as the lockdown hit, the more deprived areas were the most mobile," Associate Professor Campbell explained.

"Movements in more deprived neighborhoods decreased, but not by nearly as much as the less deprived areas. If the policy worked the same everywhere, you would expect the (pre-lockdown) pattern to stay exactly the same, just decrease."

This, as the researchers outline below, is why the risk of virus transmission is not spread equally through our neighborhoods, or the people who live there.

New Zealand's frontline and/or 'essential' workers often live in more deprived neighborhoods, while the most affluent neighborhoods are where people are most likely to be able to work from home. This inevitably increases the risk for those unable to work from home. Supermarkets are 2.5 times more likely to be situated in neighborhoods with the highest deprivation compared to the least deprived neighborhoods. Those in deprived areas are also least likely to have the option to 'stock up' prior to a lockdown, for financial reasons, leading to more trips to the supermarket, putting them at additional risk of exposure to the virus.

"I'll often try to explain our collective problems using the metaphor of traffic, we are quite good at identifying the overall problem, of traffic, but not so good at seeing we are part of the problem."

Associate Professor Campbell explains that by driving our cars, we are traffic. While we quickly identify others around us as the problem, we are much less able to see the contribution we make to the overall traffic jam. We all will feel the impacts of inequality, but some neighborhoods much more than others.

"I think the kiwi phrase for this would be, 'some people are doing it tough', and it's important we recognise that."

Explore further Why the U.K.'s vaccine rollout should prioritize people according to deprivation as well as age

More information: Malcolm Campbell et al. National movement patterns during the COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand: the unexplored role of neighbourhood deprivation, Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health (2021). Journal information: Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health Malcolm Campbell et al. National movement patterns during the COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand: the unexplored role of neighbourhood deprivation,(2021). DOI: 10.1136/jech-2020-216108
ISTANBUL  Pushing forward with the normalization drive introduced March 1, Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said lighter COVID-19 restrictions would remain in place throughout much of the country amid a rise in national infection rates early Tuesday.

"Normalization can be possible by following the measures," Koca said on Twitter, sharing a map of the latest coronavirus data by province in Turkey.

At the start of the month, the Turkish government implemented a national tier system that lifted social distancing measures in lower-risk provinces while maintaining weekend curfews and other restrictions in areas with higher contagion rates. When the system was launched, daily coronavirus cases hovered near 10,000 nationwide, but since then Turkish Health Ministry data has reported a gradual increase in infection rates, logging over 15,500 new cases Monday.

Despite the recent rise in cases, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced the current measures would remain in place following a Cabinet meeting Monday, noting that the number of COVID-19 patients being hospitalized or placed in intensive care units had not increased.

We decided to continue the current practice in our cities in todays meeting and to closely follow the developments, Erdogan said in Ankara Monday, later adding, God willing, by acting much more consciously and carefully from now on, we will overcome this issue altogether.

The news comes as Turkish health officials continue a vaccination campaign launched in mid-January. Over the last two months, more than 11.5 million doses of Chinas Sinovac vaccine have been administered in Turkey, according to government figures. About 8 million people received the vaccines first shot, and nearly 3.6 million citizens have been fully inoculated with the second dose.

Turkey currently ranks sixth globally in total vaccination dose distributions, with about 13% of its population of 83 million having received at least one shot. Speaking Friday, Erdogan said Turkish officials were in discussions to secure a shipment of 50 million Sinovac vaccines while separate negotiations are ongoing regarding shipments of other vaccines, such as the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.

Meanwhile, medical experts continue to raise concerns over the accuracy of the Health Ministrys pandemic data. During an online press conference on March 11, the one-year mark since Turkeys first official COVID-19 case, Dr. Sebnem Korur Fincanci, chair of the Turkish Medical Association, said more transparency was needed to curb new cases and safeguard health workers.

Our major recommendation is data transparency, Fincanci said via video stream Thursday. We know that when data is not transparent, it is not possible to get through this.

During the press event, Fincanci also said 385 Turkish health workers had lost their lives to the virus in the first year of the pandemic. To date, the total pandemic death toll in Turkey stands at nearly 30,000, with about 2.9 million cases recorded over the last year, according to Health Ministry data.

With the vaccine roll-out underway and some restrictions eased under the tier system, Koca urged caution among citizens last week, noting more than 40,000 cases of COVID-19 variants have been recorded in Turkey. The variant originally identified in the United Kingdom was predominant among new strains in Turkey, Koca said Wednesday, while a small number of variants from South Africa, Brazil and New York have also been recorded.

The most recent pandemic data shows the nations most concerning infection rates remain along Turkeys northeastern Black Sea coast, with the province of Samsun logging the highest number of new cases last week, followed by neighboring provinces such as Sinop, Giresun and Ordu.

In the same set of data, Turkeys southeastern provinces recorded some of the lowest new case rates, including Siirt, Sirnak and Hakkari. The southeast regions largest city, Diyarbakir, has also seen lower infection rates in recent weeks after a spike in the summer that left some hospitals scrambling for bed space.

Dr. Elif Turan, chair of Diyarbakir Medical Chamber, said the province was recording lower numbers of COVID-19 cases in recent weeks due to the combined impacts of both the summer outbreak and a decline in test numbers.

In our city, almost half of the population contracted this disease after June 1, 2020, Turan told Al-Monitor. In a study by the Health Ministry last December, an antibody positivity rate of 38-40% was detected in Diyarbakir citizens, which might be contributing to lower rates presently.

Turan said heightened awareness and reduced movement in the winter months may have also reduced new infections, but she noticed a large decrease in test numbers administered in Diyarbakir.

Testing was taken from contact persons upon complaint only, Turan told Al-Monitor. Since the number of tests decreased, the number of positive results also decreased.

She said the easing of measures after March 1 was a source of anxiety and said she feared case rates would rise once again, as they did after a normalization drive in June last year that led to a spike in new infections.
Victims of the VIP paedophile scandal accused Priti Patel of shirking her responsibility as Home Secretary last night after she dismissed growing calls for a fresh inquiry.

Miss Patel was under pressure to act after six of her predecessors said confidence in the police had been seriously damaged by Scotland Yard's investigation into false claims by fantasist 'Nick' of a Westminster paedophile ring.

They called for a new investigation into the Metropolitan Police's disastrous Operation Midland probe, which led to raids on the homes of ex-MP Harvey Proctor, former home secretary Leon Brittan and former head of the Armed Forces Lord Bramall.

The unprecedented cross-party intervention came after former High Court judge Sir Richard Henriques, who carried out a damning review into Midland, wrote an open letter to Miss Patel, published in the Daily Mail.

Miss Patel was under pressure to act after six of her predecessors said confidence in the police had been seriously damaged by Scotland Yard's investigation into false claims by fantasist 'Nick' of a Westminster paedophile ring

Miss Patel's response comes as Lord Brittan's widow Lady Brittan (pictured) prepares to give evidence today to a home affairs committee probe into the running of the IOPC

In it, he urged the Home Secretary to order an independent criminal investigation into five Midland detectives cleared by the police watchdog, saying that confidence in the criminal justice system had been 'gravely damaged'. He was backed by the former chief magistrate for England and Wales, Howard Riddle, who granted the search warrants used to raid the homes of innocent Establishment figures.

Mr Riddle also called for a criminal probe, saying the omission of crucial information on the warrants signed off by senior officers gave him 'reasonable grounds to suspect a criminal offence has been committed'.

Widely viewed as one of the worst investigations in the history of Scotland Yard, Operation Midland was based on the testimony of fantasist Carl Beech, known as 'Nick'. The former nurse said he was abused in the 1970s and 1980s. He was jailed for 18 years for perverting the course of justice in 2019, having been found to be a paedophile himself.

Miss Patel responded to Sir Richard's concerns last night. In a letter seen by the Mail, the Home Secretary, who has overall responsibility for policing in England and Wales, said she had no legal basis to instruct another police force to intervene.

However, she made no reference to calls by MPs, peers and legal experts for a public inquiry.

Instead, she said some of Sir Richard's questions regarding the Met's failed probe and the clearing of detectives by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) would be answered by those accused by victims of being involved in a 'cover-up'  Met commissioner Dame Cressida Dick and IOPC boss Michael Lockwood.

The unprecedented cross-party intervention came after former High Court judge Sir Richard Henriques (pictured), who carried out a damning review into Midland, wrote an open letter to Miss Patel, published in the Daily Mail

Widely viewed as one of the worst investigations in the history of Scotland Yard, Operation Midland was based on the testimony of fantasist Carl Beech (pictured), known as 'Nick'

In her letter, Miss Patel expressed 'great sympathy' for those who have 'suffered so much as a result of this dark chapter in the history of policing'.

She added: 'I feel a sense of profound regret for the harm that has been caused to them, their families and others impacted by the errors of Operation Midland.' Miss Patel pointed to the Metropolitan Police's response to a probe she ordered by HM Inspectorate of Constabulary to ensure the force had learned from Midland.

The report, when it was delivered last year, was scathing. It said the force was more concerned with 'restricting access' to Sir Richard's review than learning from it.

However, Miss Patel added the Met was now making 'good pro-gress' under Operation Larimar, a Scotland Yard project designed to implement his recommendations.

She added: 'I shall consider how best to receive assurances that...allegations of non-recent child sexual abuse are investigated both thoroughly and impartially.'

Praise for Mail's expose The Mail's 'forensic' reporting on the Midland scandal was praised by peers yesterday. Award-winning Associate Editor (Investigations) Stephen Wright, who revealed police concerns about witness Carl 'Nick' Beech in 2015, was singled out by Lord Campbell-Savours for exposing a litany of police mistakes at the highest level. At a House of Lords debate on police watchdog the IOPC following the Mail's exposes, the Labour peer said: 'My Lords, shouldn't we congratulate the Mail, and in particular journalist Stephen Wright, for his forensic work in unravelling the Beech affair.' Earlier ex-Tory MP Harvey Proctor, a victim of Nick's smears, said: 'I wish to place on record my appreciation for the courageous campaign which is being conducted by the Daily Mail.' Advertisement

In closing comments, she said: 'The mistakes of Operation Midland must not be allowed to happen again. I believe that we have made significant strides towards achieving that aim and I will not be swayed until we achieve it.'

Lord Bramall's son said the Government's decision not to hold an inquiry was 'shameful'. He added: 'Operation Midland was a disaster from start to finish. Good men's lives were trashed. I maintain there should be a public inquiry. It's very disappointing that it has been decided that this is not required.'

Mr Proctor, who received almost 900,000 from the Met in compensation and costs after he lost his home and job as a result of Beech's smears, said: 'I regret that the Home Secretary has apparently palmed off on to the Met and the IOPC Sir Richard Henriques' and Howard Riddle's very important questions concerning alleged criminality by Met officers.

'Failure to establish a public inquiry into the Met and the IOPC... will be regarded as a dereliction of duty by government.'

And Lincoln Seligman, godson of former Prime Minister Edward Heath, who was smeared by Beech as well as being the focus of the controversial Operation Conifer probe into alleged historic offences, said: 'As the Home Secretary acknowledges in her letter, she has ultimate responsibility for the police. If she accepts she has ultimate responsibility for policing then she has ultimate responsibility for sorting this nightmare out. She can't just walk away.

'She is responsible for taking action given that everyone else who could has shown a marked reluctance to do so and that will continue to be the case.

'If she had any decency she would personally intervene, not leave it to people she know won't do anything. Talk about kicking it into the long grass. I do really think it's outrageous.'

Miss Patel's response comes as Lord Brittan's widow Lady Brittan prepares to give evidence today to a home affairs committee probe into the running of the IOPC.

Earlier, the Home Secretary had been accused of 'hiding' behind a junior government minister who revealed in the Lords yesterday that the Government would not commission a public inquiry.
Katie Price has revealed how her daughter Princess 'snapped her arm' after falling off her horse while out on a ride together.

The mother of five, 42, discussed her own injury while appearing on Steph's Packed Lunch on Wednesday, but also mentioned her 13-year-old daughter's accident.

Katie broke both of her feet after falling off a concrete wall while enjoying a day at a theme park while on holiday in Turkey in August 2020.

Horrific: Katie Price has revealed how her daughter Princess 'snapped her arm' after falling off her horse while out on a ride together

However the former glamour model admitted her eldest daughter Princess also suffered a nasty fall while out riding with her a couple of years ago.

She said that Princess had to be rushed to hospital following the accident and had metal plates put in her arm.

Kate explained: 'All my kids, we all ride and a couple of years ago, Princess was on her horse and me being a typical mum, going over the jump fell off, went, 'Get up, you're alright!"

'And then she got up and this part of her arm was hanging here, she snapped it off. I looked at it and went, "Don't react". I went, "You're alright, just come here!"

Ouch: The mother of five, 42, discussed her own injury while appearing on Steph's Packed Lunch on Wednesday, but also mentioned her 13-year-old daughter's accident

Kate explained: 'All my kids, we all ride and a couple of years ago, Princess was on her horse and me being a typical mum, going over the jump fell off, went, 'Get up, you're alright!"

'I laid her down and waited for an ambulance and she had to have metal plates, screws because she'd snapped it. It wasn't even a serious fall, it was just how she fell off.'

Last month Katie revealed that she's been registered disabled after breaking both her feet when she fell 25ft in a freak accident.

The star suffered the horrific injuries while abroad and had to undergo an eight-hour operation to rebuild her feet.

Discussing how she's coping six months on, Katie has detailed how she's in constant pain and 'waddles like a duck' when trying to walk, with 20 minutes a day being her limit, in a new interview with The Sun.

Freak accident: Katie broke both of her feet after falling off a concrete wall while enjoying a day at a theme park while on holiday in Turkey in August 2020

Katie said: 'I will never be the same... I've got a limp when I walk now as one leg is longer than the other because of all the metal in the foot  I waddle like a duck. It does make me feel a bit paranoid

'I'm registered disabled and have got letters from the doctors to certify me for a blue badge, which I've sent off for.'

Speaking about the pain she's still feeling after the accident, Katie said that she feels like she's 'being electrocuted' as the pain shoots through her feet.

The mother-of-five also revealed that she's not been taking either of the painkillers given to her as she's worried about becoming addicted so is always in lots of pain.

Shocking news: However the former glamour model admitted her eldest daughter Princess also suffered a nasty fall while out riding with her a couple of years ago

She went on to explained how when out shopping she has to strategically park close to the shops and can't carry heavy items as it hurts her feet too much.

Katie, who can only walk for 20 minutes and has physiotherapy sessions four times a week, also said she's been overcompensating for the pain while trying to take steps meaning the rest of her body is taking a toll.

She revealed she'll have to get her legs and hips 'aligned' and also wears pads in her shoes to help with a collapsed arch.

As well as impacting her health, the constant pain and difficulty moving around has meant the mum-of-five has had to miss out on playing with her children.

Katie, who's now getting legal advice about her situation, said: 'This has all affected our home life dramatically... It's all just a nightmare that has gone from bad to worse.'

The star later explained how her feet are 'destroyed' following the incident, with doctors telling her they have amputated legs with similar injuries, and admitted she returned to The Priory to learn to 'walk again.'

Speaking to The Sun, she said: 'The doctors said I'm lucky I'm not dead. I could have hit my head and I could have been paralysed, I am lucky I landed on my feet.'

Aw! She added that she 'feels sorry' for boyfriend Carl who has doted on her since the accident and said that it is 'demoralising' seeing him push her in the wheelchair

Katie underwent an eight-hour operation to rebuild her feet after she was 'mucking about' following a few drinks and jumped off what she thought was a 'small wall' at the Land of Legends theme park.

Discussing her injury on her YouTube channel at the time, Katie said: Silly me, at my age, should calm things down. Basically, silly little accident. I was running and jumped over a wall, as it was a little shortcut, and didnt really judge the height.

I just sort of fell funny on my ankles and I fractured the hairline on my heels and stuff. The hospital here wanted to operate and wanted to put pins in and stuff. Because Im away, Id rather wait until I get home.

Its the most painful thing ever. Like when I was trying to put the cast on, I was screaming in pain. They said I wont be able to walk for three to six months.

Family: Katie, who is also mum to Harvey, 18, Jett, 7, and Bunny, 6, explained how she is 'embarrassed' of having to be pushed around and told how people treat her 'differently'

The model has also revealed how she has returned to The Priory because her 'mental health' has been 'badly affected' by her injuries.

She last visited The Priory in September 2018 and spent 28 days in the facility after her family urged her to seek help following wild partying antics in Mallorca.

Katie has always been very candid about her recovery from the injury and previously revealed she feels 'humiliated' at the prospect of having to learn to 'walk again'.

She's discussed how tasks are 'impossible' including going to the toilet, cooking, reaching for the cupboards and taking a bath where she could 'drown'.

Katie, who is also mum to Harvey, 18, Jett, 7, and Bunny, 6, explained how she is 'embarrassed' of having to be pushed around and told how people treat her 'differently'.

She added that she 'feels sorry' for boyfriend Carl who has doted on her since the accident and said that it is 'demoralising' seeing him push her in the wheelchair.

But the CBB star described how she would be 'lost' without her beau and revealed how she can still 'keep Carl happy in the bedroom' with him having 'no complaints'.

However Katie also vowed that she is 'never drinking again' following the traumatising accident and plans to cover up her 'mangled' feet with tattoos.
This week marked the massive information dump the New York City Campaign Finance Board calls the filing deadline. There are enough tidbits and storylines to last us politicos two months until the next one on May 21, but here are 10 things that immediately stood out.

Adams has the money

With $7.6 million on hand, Eric Adams is the undisputed money king of the mayoral race. Scott Stringer is in a not-so-distant second with $6.85 million. Andrew Yang raised an impressive $2.14 million in just two months, but he wont be eligible to receive his $4.73 million in expected public matching funds until April 15 at the earliest.

Yang has momentum

Yangs haul was impressive for its sheer speed, and for the number of individual donors  his 14,758 was well ahead of second-place Maya Wileys 9,536 contributors. But out of the leading contenders, those two also had the highest percentage of their money come from outside New York City. Just 51% of Yangs total and 63% of Wiley total came from donors with city addresses.

Morales has the voters

Donors with New York City addresses made 9,092 contributions to Dianne Morales  the most of any mayoral candidate. Some individual donors are counted multiple times  for example, City Council District 14 candidate Adolfo Abreu gave to Morales in January and again in March  but its still a pretty good marker of local support. Other candidates werent far behind. New Yorkers gave to Wiley 8,932 times, Yang 8,438 times and Stringer 8,363 times.

McGuires gambit in action

With a big Rolodex and low name recognition, Ray McGuire decided his mayoral campaign would be better off declining public matching funds and spending with no limit rather than accepting public money and being forced to stop at $7.29 million. Hes just now broken through, privately raising an incredible $7.37 million. But hes barely a blip in the polls so far after spending $3.75 million, but New York for Ray, an independent expenditure committee, hasnt reported any spending yet after raising more than $1 million.

Wiley is spending fast

Shes no McGuire, but other campaigns have noticed that Wileys $1.30 million in spending is a whole lot for a candidate who hasnt run a TV ad yet. Doesnt seem sustainable, said one rival operative. Another called the spending drunker than a drunken sailor. Wiley campaign spokesperson Julia Savel fired back, saying this campaign doesnt have the luxury of a government office with hundreds of staffers, and insisted that they were being very careful with donor resources while quickly building a top-tier campaign that will have significant money to spend on voter contact in May and June.

Theres a distinct top tier

Shaun Donovan, who has raised $2.2 million, and Kathryn Garcia, who has raised $590,000, both expect to get matching funds in April are in the top tier of fundraisers with Yang, Morales, Wiley, Stringer, Adams and McGuire. Every other candidate, of the approximately three dozen Democrats running, is hopelessly far behind, at least in terms of fundraising. City Council Member Carlos Menchaca only has managed to bring in $87,172, and construction CEO and reality TV friend Barbara Kavovit has raised an anemic $15,320.

Corey hasnt taken the wheel yet

Despite raising negative money in the past eight months, Comptroller candidate Corey Johnson still has $575,000 on hand that he brought over from his abandoned mayoral campaign. But since he joined the race so late, Johnson will have to wait until April to see his expected $4.05 million in matching funds. So for the next month, Council Member Brad Lander will get to show off his money management with a field-leading $3.43 million cash on hand.

MCC isnt running against AOC anymore

Michelle Caruso-Cabrera raised a whopping $2.4 million challenging Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in the 2020 Democratic primary. Now, running for comptroller, she has raised just $515,276, with 52% of that coming from outside New York City.

Incumbents are getting outraised

Part of the benefit of incumbency is financial. Its generally easier to raise money when youre in office than when youre out. But Council Member Francisco Moya has just $22,862 on hand, while challenger Ingrid Gomez has $122,944. Moyas campaign said theyll get public funds when they work out some paperwork issues, but for at least the next month, Gomez has a big leg up. In District 37 in Brooklyn, Council Member Darma Diaz has $154,140, while challenger Sandy Nurse has a couple hundred bucks more, with $154,508. And while it remains unclear if Council Member Bill Perkins is actually running for reelection, every other candidate in District 9 in Manhattan has outraised him, since he hasnt filed yet.

Borelli takes the money and runs

Republican Council Member Joseph Borelli has been a longtime critic of the excesses of the public matching funds program, and even made an agreement with Jumaane Williams not to take matching funds in the 2019 public advocate race because  lets face it  Borelli was going to lose anyway. But he accepted $104,386 in matching funds for his reelection run this year, facing Democrat Olivia Drabczyk in the citys reddest district. I wish the standard was that I didnt have to follow the rules I oppose, Borelli joked with City & State, but Borellis preferred one-to-one matching system is not an option.
A Michigan defendant said he wanted to fire his attorney during a Zoom hearing on March 16, after being arrested during a previous hearing that went viral when he was found to be in the same location as the plaintiff.

Defendant Coby James Harris, 21, who was accused of assault with intent to commit bodily harm, announced that he wished to fire his attorney during his Zoom hearing from jail, a stream of the hearing from Judge Jeffrey Middleton shows.

Id like to fire my attorney and represent myself for the rest of this case, please, because he hasnt done anything that Ive asked him, Harris said. I asked, I sent him a whole paper of questions to ask her and I asked him to come see me before this court date. He hasnt. Paul Gipsons a bum a** dude, and he should not practice this profession cause hes not doing anything for 

Harriss audio was then turned off by court administrators and was not turned back on. He was visibly upset as the prosecutor read the charges sought against him, which included several felonies, and left the room after an officer entered. In the stream Judge Middleton says Harris chose to remove himself.

The case previously made headlines when, during a preliminary examination for the alleged assault conducted over Zoom on March 2, authorities discovered that Harris, the defendant, and the alleged victim, Mary Lindsay, were in the same physical location. Harris was taken into custody and his bond was canceled. Credit: Judge Jeffrey Middleton via Storyful

Video Transcript

- They need you to unmute it at your end. They're telling you.

JEFFREY MIDDLETON: No, it's got to be unmuted at that end. I muted it. But they've got to unmute it at that end.

- I'll call them back and tell them.

JEFFREY MIDDLETON: I can't-- I can stop the video. But I can't unmute. There we go. We're back. All right. Now, Mr. Harris, you were quite agitated. We took the testimony. I blocked your video. And I blocked your audio and-- because it appeared to me you were trying to signal to Mary. Mary's not here. The prosecutor is about to make her argument to bind the matter over. And your attorney's gonna argue the other way. Would you like an opportunity--

Story continues

COBY JAMES HARRIS: [INAUDIBLE]. Yeah, I'd like to fire my attorney and represent myself for the rest of this case, please, because he hasn't done anything that I've asked him. I sent him a whole paper of questions to ask her and ask her to come see me before this court date. He hasn't. Paul Gibson's a [MUTED] dude, and he should not practice this profession, because he's not doing anything [MUTED].

JEFFREY MIDDLETON: right. Well, that went well. We'll address that further later. He's apparently dissatisfied. And he's got Mr.-- Mr. Gibson on his new case. Between March 2nd and today, Mr. Gibson, did you speak to the defendant?

- Was that the last court date?

JEFFREY MIDDLETON: Yes.

- Yes, I do believe that I spoke to the defendant, I believe, on Friday, March 5. But I can't say for sure. I'd have to go through my notes. But from my recollection, I saw the defendant on the jail on that day.

JEFFREY MIDDLETON: All right. Motions, Miss Davis?

- Thank you, your honor. The people ask that the court find the defendant over on three felony counts, one being assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder regarding use of a crowbar against the complainant's face, the threat of knocking out her teeth or strangling her in some way with that and her fear of having him kill her. I mean, on the 911 tape, I think it was very clear that she thought her boyfriend was going to kill her, and he-- she was upset when she was making the statement. It was done immediately after the incident occurred. I believe that it was an unwanted touching by her-- against her by him.

We'd also ask for a felonious assault to be added for him threatening her with a jack, smashing it next to her head on the bed and her fear that he was actually going to hit her with it. In addition, we'd ask for domestic violence third offense and ask the court to take judicial notice of his two prior convictions for domestic violence, making this third one a felony in the state of Michigan, and the domestic violence being based on during the argument between her and him, with their dating relationship, he poured water and raspberry vinaigrette. He slapped her and pinned her down on the bed. And he maybe inadvertently or purposefully poured some sort of a starter fluid or lighter fluid on her.

Your honor, I will ask the record--

JEFFREY MIDDLETON: The defendant has just made-- the defendant has left. And we're going to finish the proceeding without him. He chose to violate himself. He was very agitated. He was agitated with his attorney, [INAUDIBLE] for the record regarding that.

I was aware that he had one prior offense. I was not aware that he had two. So if you allege the dates and places of the convictions--

- Yes, your honor, I [INAUDIBLE] history.

JEFFREY MIDDLETON: Just a minute. Let's talk to the jail staff. Could you turn the mic on? Deputy Tyler? Deputy Tyler? All right, one minute.
Another day, another clue Bindi Irwin has secretly given birth.

After dropping a series of hints she and husband Chandler Powell welcomed their daughter in private, the 22-year-old has now shared two more Instagram posts that strongly suggest she's already welcomed 'Baby Wildlife Warrior'.

Firstly, she posted a video on her Stories on Wednesday, which was cropped just above her stomach so it was impossible to tell if she still had a bump.

Bindi's baby riddle: Bindi Irwin (right, with husband Chandler Powell) has shared two more Instagram posts that strongly suggest she's already welcomed her child. On Thursday she uploaded this photo in which her stomach was concealed by a red panda named Ravi

Then on Thursday she uploaded a photo on her main grid in which her stomach was concealed by a red panda named Ravi.

Both these posts could be throwbacks - which begs the question why Bindi wouldn't instead upload more recent content, unless she had something to hide.

Alternatively, if they were taken recently, the fact Bindi's midsection is obscured from view could be a sign she's no longer pregnant, having given birth in secret.

Something to hide? She also posted a video on her Stories on Wednesday, which was cropped just above her stomach so it was impossible to tell if she still had a bump

The speculation about Bindi's 'secret birth' began earlier this week when fans noticed a 'bump update' she tweeted on Tuesday was actually a month old.

The image showed Bindi and Chandler, 24, posing with her mother, Terri, and younger brother, Robert, on the grounds of Australia Zoo in Queensland.

Her caption stated the couple were still 'waiting' for the arrival of their daughter.

But in the photo, she and Chandler were wearing the exact same outfits they'd been pictured wearing as they strolled through Australia Zoo's car park on February 19 - right down to the socks, shoes and Chandler's wristwatch.

Hints: The speculation about Bindi's 'secret birth' began earlier this week when fans noticed a 'bump update' she tweeted on Tuesday (above) was actually a month old. Pictured with her mother Terri, brother Robert and husband Chandler

This suggests Bindi's Twitter 'update' was actually from a month ago, and the fact she didn't post a more recent photo hints she may have already given birth.

A day later, she seemingly left another clue she'd welcomed her daughter ahead of her late March/early April due date.

The zookeeper posted an Instagram selfie on Wednesday with Chandler and his parents, Chris and Shannan Powell, whom she referred to as 'amazing grandparents'.

Slip of the keyboard? The zookeeper then posted a selfie on Wednesday with Chandler and his parents, Chris and Shannan Powell, whom she referred to as 'amazing grandparents'

'March is birthday month for these lovelies. Thinking of my mother-in-law and father-in-law, always,' Bindi's caption read.

'Amazing grandparents, fantastic human beings. Missing them during the pandemic and can't wait to be reunited again,' she added.

While the caption could be a clue Bindi has given birth, it should be noted that Chris and Shannan did recently become first-time grandparents when Chandler's sister-in-law, Kristin, gave birth last month.

Bindi's in-laws are based in Florida and are unable to travel to Australia due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

Something to tell us? While the caption could be a clue Bindi has given birth, it should be noted that Chris and Shannan did recently become first-time grandparents when Chandler's sister-in-law, Kristin, gave birth last month. Pictured: Bindi and Chandler

Bindi and Chandler may be keeping the child's arrival under wraps so they can enjoy their first few days as parents in private.

Alternatively, they could be protecting a magazine or TV deal.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Australia Zoo for comment.

Bindi and Chandler announced their baby news in August, and revealed the following month they were expecting a daughter.

Earlier this month, Bindi shared a glimpse of her daughter's nursery, after hiring artist Maryanne Oliver to paint native animals on the walls.

'Thank you so much to our friend Maryanne for this amazing painting in our daughter's Australia Zoo nursery. She's going to love it!' she wrote on Instagram.

Joy: Bindi and Chandler announced their baby news in August, and revealed the following month they were expecting a daughter

The colourful mural included crocodiles, galahs, cockatoos and, of course, koalas.

Bindi told The Bump last month that her late father, Steve Irwin, had inspired her child's nickname, Baby Wildlife Warrior.

'My dad was the first person to create the term Wildlife Warrior,' she explained, adding that Steve would have made an excellent grandfather.

Gorgeous! Earlier this month, Bindi shared a glimpse of her daughter's nursery, after hiring artist Maryanne Oliver to paint native animals on the walls

'My dad would have been the best grandfather,' she said. 'I always joke that if he was still here we'd never see our baby because he'd take her on all kinds of adventures!'

Bindi said she was looking forward to sharing her father's legacy of conservation with her daughter when she's old enough to understand it.

Steve died in September 2006 at the age of 44 after being pierced in the chest by a stingray barb while filming a documentary in Batt Reef, Queensland.

Bindi also said her mother, Terri, was looking forward to becoming a grandmother and will go by the name 'Bunny' once the child arrives.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-17 22:15:03|Editor: huaxia

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TRIPOLI, March 17 (Xinhua) -- Tunisian President Kais Saied on Wednesday paid a visit to neighboring Libya and met with the new President of the Presidency Council of Libya Mohammed Menfi in the capital Tripoli, and discussed mutual cooperation between the two countries.

"During the talks, (the two leaders) stressed the significance of this visit, which proves the depth and strength of the historical ties between Libya and Tunisia," said a statement issued by the information office of the new Libyan Government of National Unity.

Tunisia will continue supporting Libya's democratic path "especially since Tunisia's security is Libya's security," the statement said.

The two leaders also discussed economic cooperation between Libya and Tunisia, including boosting trade, enhancing cooperation between the central banks, and facilitating exchanges of Libyan and Tunisian travelers to strengthen investment, the statement explained.

The two leaders also agreed to exchange expertise and intensify cooperation in security as well as other fields, and speed up the work of joint committees between the two countries.

Libya's new executive authority, which consists of the new Presidency Council and the new Government of National Unity, was selected recently by the UN-sponsored Libyan Political Dialogue Forum (LPDF), which agreed to hold general elections in the country on Dec. 24, 2021. Enditem
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The UK has warned the EU not to block the export of coronavirus vaccines (Ben Birchall/PA)

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab accused the EU of brinkmanship and warned it not to block the export of coronavirus vaccines after a threat from European Union chief Ursula von der Leyen.

He warned that the worlds watching as he suggested the bloc was acting like a less democratic regime and that its threat would break direct assurances it had given Britain.

The European Commission president issued the threat on Wednesday as she continues to be embroiled in a row over supply of the Oxford/AstraZeneca jab and faces pressure over rollout delays.

She criticised the British-Swedish firm for having underproduced and underdelivered and said the EU will consider halting vaccine exports to countries with higher coverage rates than its own, as it struggles to achieve the pace of rollout managed in the UK.

With European nations on the crest of a third wave of infections, Ms von der Leyen warned she is ready to use whatever tool we need to ensure the reliable delivery of vaccines.

With the Pfizer jab being produced in Germany and Belgium, and Moderna being finished off in Spain, Downing Street urged the EU to stand by its commitment not to restrict exports.

Mr Raab warned it would be wrong to curtail or interfere with lawfully contracted supply, telling reporters: I think it takes some explaining because the worlds watching.

He said that the threat cuts across the direct assurances that we had from the commission and from EU officials within recent days.

We were reliably informed that they werent aware of any plans to restrict lawfully contracted supply to the UK, Mr Raab said.

We, like our European friends, are keeping supply chains open. Keeping trade and vital supplies of medical equipment and vaccines is critically important. We have all been arguing for this and we expect those assurances and legally contracted supply to be respected.

Frankly, Im surprised were having this conversation. It is normally what the UK and EU team up with to reject when other countries with less democratic regimes than our own engage in that kind of brinkmanship.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock failed to explain whether the EUs threat was behind the NHS warning there would be a four-week significant reduction in supply from the end of March due to reductions in national inbound vaccines supply.

Instead he said supply is always lumpy, adding that the supply from the EU is indeed fulfilling contractual responsibilities and we fully expect those contracts to be delivered on.

Ms von der Leyen had told reporters in Brussels that we will reflect on whether exports to countries who have higher vaccination rates than us are still proportionate.

We want reliable deliveries of vaccines, we want increase in the contracts, we want to see reciprocity and proportionality in exports and we are ready to use whatever tool we need to deliver on that, Ms von der Leyen said.

This is about making sure that Europe gets its fair share.

She defended the EU against a charge of vaccine nationalism, arguing the bloc has granted 314 requests for vaccine exports and has only refused one since export authorisation was introduced on February 1.

Ms von der Leyen added that 41 million doses have been exported to 33 countries as she warned open roads run in both directions.

The EU rate of vaccine doses administered per 100 people stands at 11.81, according to a tracker on the Our World In Data website. This compares to the UKs rate of 39.04 and the USs 33.11.

Ms von der Leyen made clear the UK is not a nation where she deems there is reciprocity in terms of vaccine supply, describing it as country number one in terms of exports from the EU.

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She said that 10 million doses have been exported to the UK in the last six weeks and pointed out that AstraZeneca is manufacturing its vaccine in Britain.

We are still waiting for doses to come from the UK, so this is an invitation to show us that there are also doses from the UK coming to the European Union so that we have reciprocity, she added.

Downing Street pointed to an apparent commitment received from Ms von der Leyen in January as the EU backtracked on its widely-condemned move to impose vaccine controls by overriding part of the Brexit agreement on Northern Ireland.

The Prime Ministers official spokesman said: She confirmed then that the focus of their mechanism was on transparency and not intended to restrict exports by companies where they are fulfilling their contractual responsibilities.

It remains the case we would expect the EU to continue to stand by its commitment.

Amid the ongoing row, multiple EU nations including France, Italy and Germany have suspended the rollout of the AstraZeneca jab in light of a small number of reports of bleeding, blood clots and low blood platelet counts.

The EUs regulator, the European Medicines Agency, is conducting a full scientific review but has said it remains convinced the benefits of this vaccine outweigh the risk.

The message was echoed by the World Health Organisation as UK leaders sought to reassure the public that the jab is safe.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he is to receive the AstraZeneca jab very shortly in an attempt to allay concerns.
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San Francisco: Graham Ivan Clark, a teenager behind the unprecedented Twitter hack of July last year that compromised high-profile accounts belonging to Elon Musk, Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos, Barack Obama and Joe Biden, among others, has been sent to three years in prison as part of his plea deal.

According to The Tampa Bay Times, the teenager took control of celebrity accounts and used them to gain more than $100,000 in Bitcoin.

"In a deal with prosecutors, Clark agreed to serve three years in prison, followed by three years probation," the report said on Tuesday.

Clark was 17 when he was accused of masterminding the Twitter hack.

The agreement has allowed Clark, now 18, to be sentenced as a "youthful offender," avoiding a minimum 10-year sentence that would have followed if he'd been convicted as an adult.

"Graham Clark needs to be held accountable for that crime, and other potential scammers out there need to see the consequences," Hillsborough State Attorney Andrew Warren said in a statement.

"In this case, we've been able to deliver those consequences while recognizing that our goal with any child, whenever possible, is to have them learn their lesson without destroying their future."

Authorities said the scam netted about $117,000 in Bitcoin before it was shut down.

Twitter later revealed more details in the massive crypto hack, saying the hackers accessed the DM (direct message) inbox of up to 36 of the 130 targeted users, including one elected official in the Netherlands.

In total, 130 accounts were targeted by attackers, 45 accounts had Tweets sent by attackers, 36 accounts had the DM inbox accessed and eight accounts had an archive of "Your Twitter Data" downloaded (none of these was verified), informed Twitter.
He left jaws dropping with his transformation the previous day.

And Jared Leto once again looked unrecognisable as he arrived on set to film scenes for Ridley Scott's House of Gucci in Milan alongside Al Pacino on Wednesday.

The actor, 49, had a bald patch, receding grey-streaked locks and ageing prosthetics while donning a bright coral coloured shirt and mustard coloured slack as he transformed into the fashion designer Paolo Gucci.

Out and about! Jared Leto once again looked unrecognisable as he arrived on set to film scenes for Ridley Scott's House of Gucci in Milan on Wednesday

Jared will star opposite Lady Gaga and Adam Driver in the star-studded crime drama, documenting 'black widow' Reggiani Gucci's plot to murder her ex-husband Maurizio, who was heir to the celebration Italian fashion empire.

Al Pacino, 80, meanwhile, is portraying Aldo Gucci and put on an animated display as he spoke to the cast in-between takes.

The actor cut a dapper figure in a pinstripe three-piece suit which he teamed with a purple patterned tie and pocket handkerchief.

Star-studded cast: The actor was joined by Hollywood legend Al Pacino

Drastically different: The actor donned a prosthetic receding hairline and heavy makeup to turn into the fashion designer Paolo Gucci (pictured left during filming and right in 2019)

Rigorous procedures: Jared wore a visor in-between takes in keeping with safety precautions

Check me out! The actor, 49, had a bald patch, receding grey-streaked locks and ageing prosthetics while donning a bright coral coloured shirt and mustard coloured trousers

Jared's astounding transformation on Wednesday saw him don a sunny ensemble complete with the brightly coloured shirt and mustard trousers.

It was the hard work added to his facial features and hair - usually worn in lustrous long lengths - which made the real difference to the handsome star.

Jared is no stranger to drastically changing his appearance in a bid to disappear into acting roles, having won an Oscar for his role as trans woman Rayon in the 2013 film Dallas Buyers Club.

He also caught viewers attention with his tattooed, chaotic portrayal of The Joker in 2016's Suicide Squad, with the role set to be reprised in Justice League: The Snyder Cut, set for release on Friday.

Bold: His astounding transformation on Wednesday saw him don a sunny ensemble complete with the brightly coloured shirt and trousers

Animated: He gesticulated in a dramatic fashion in one of the shots

Having fun: Al Pacino, 80, meanwhile, is portraying Aldo Gucci and put on an animated display as he spoke to the cast in-between takes

Paolo Gucci was vice-president and managing director of both Gucci Shops Inc and Gucci Parfums of America, and was in the midst of the famous family's constant jostle for power over its fashion empire.

He repeatedly came into conflict with his uncle Rodolfo (set to be played by Jeremy Irons in House of Gucci) over his plans to modernise the brand by marketing its name with a licensing operation, and was fired in 1978.

Paolo later clashed with his cousin Maurizio (played by Adam Driver) who took over Rodolfo's shares in the company following his death in 1983, and even incriminated his own father Aldo by revealing he'd siphoned profits abroad to avoid paying taxes.

Amazing: Jared will star opposite Lady Gaga and Adam Driver in the star-studded crime drama, documenting 'black widow' Reggiani Gucci's plot to murder her ex-husband Maurizio, who was heir to the celebration Italian fashion empire

Designer heir: Jared transformed into the fashion designer Paolo Gucci

Action! The cast joked around as filming got under way

The businessman went onto seek bankruptcy in the 1990s due to debts of around $90 million, and just a week before his death in October 1995, signed a plan to pay back his creditors.

House of Gucci will predominantly focus on Patrizia Reggiani (played by Lady Gaga), who was found guilty of paying a hit man 300,000 (240,000) to murder her ex-husband Maurizio Gucci, an heir to the fashion empire.

Her husband had left her for another woman 10 years previously after telling her he was going on a short business trip, from which he never returned.

Glamorous lifestyle: They appeared to be filming a cocktail scene outside

Dressed to impress: Al Pacino cut a dapper figure in a pinstripe three-piece suit which he teamed with a purple patterned tie and pocket handkerchief

Welcoming: Al Pacino gave Lady Gaga a warm hug as extras mingled in the background with drinks in hand

She was also said to be furious her former husband had started seeing other women, and feared her daughters' $170 million inheritance was at risk if he remarried before ordering the hit.

She also wanted more than the $650,000 she had been offered in a divorce settlement, the court heard.

Reggiani was initially sentenced to 29 years in 1998, which was reduced to 26 on appeal. She served 18 before being released in October 2014.

The film is based on the bestselling novel The House of Gucci: A Sensational Story of Murder, Madness, Glamour, and Greed by author Sara Gay Forden.

Hollywood stars: The singer and Adam Driver were spotted chatting to one another on set

Explosive: House of Gucci will focus on Patrizia Reggiani (played by Lady Gaga), who was found guilty of paying a hit man 300k (240k) to murder ex-husband Maurizio (Adam Driver)

Reggiani eventually hired hitman Benedetto Ceraulo, a debt-ridden pizzeria owner who shot Gucci dead on the steps of his office in Milan as he arrived for work. Ceraulo was convicted and sentenced to life in prison.

She was convicted after her clairvoyant and confidante Pina Auriemma turned informer and told police about the plot.

During the murder trial, which transfixed Italy, Reggiani arrived each day wearing head-to-toe Gucci clothes and accessories.

Shocking: Reggiani, pictured with Maurizio, was initially sentenced to 29 years in 1998, which was reduced to 26 on appeal. She served 18 before being released in October 2014.

The court heard how she had ordered the murder of her husband after he offered her $650,000 in a divorce settlement.

She was initially sentenced to 29 years in 1998, which was reduced to 26 on appeal. She served 18  with her pet ferret Bambi as a companion for some of the time - before being released in October 2014.

Having Bambi by her side was a special privilege negotiated by her lawyers  however he was to suffer an unfortunate demise when a fellow inmate accidentally sat on him.

Wealth: Maurizio was the grandson of Guccio Gucci  founder of the eponymous fashion house  while Patrizia came from rather more humble beginnings

Well-known for her luxury lifestyle, Reggiani once said: 'I'd rather cry in a Rolls than be happy on a bicycle' and turned down the offer of day release while in prison because it would have meant doing 'menial' work.

In 2017 a court ruled Reggiani was entitled to receive 900,000 a year from her ex-husband's fortune and she was given a lump sum of 16million for her time in prison.

Maurizio Gucci was the grandson of Guccio Gucci, founder of the fashion company made famous with its double G logo.

In the early 1990s it was hit by problems and he sold the label for $120 million, just two years before his death.

The new film, directed by Ridley Scott, is scheduled to go on general release from November 24th 2021.

Release: The new film, directed by Ridley Scott, is scheduled to go on general release from November 24th 2021
State Bank of India (SBI) said that the Reserve Bank of India (RBl) has, vide its letter dated 16th March,2021, imposed a monetary penalty of Rs 2 crore on the bank for contravention of provisions of Section 10 (1 ) (b) (ii) of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 and specific directions of RBI issued to the bank on payment of remuneration to employees in the form of commission. This penalty has been imposed in exercise of powers vested in RBI under the provisions of Section 47 A (1) (c) read with Sections 46 (4) (i) and 51 (1 ) of the Act.

Private equity firm Carlyle has reportedly launched a block deal to sell around 4% stake in the SBI Cards & Payment Services and raise around $513 million. The offer price range is Rs 981.80 per share to Rs 1,022.10 per share.

BPCL informed that the board of directors has declared second interim dividend of Rs 5 per equity share for the financial year 2020-21. Further, the board of directors have fixed Saturday, 27th March, 2021 as record date to determine the eligibility of the shareholders to receive the interim dividend.

Vedanta Resources (VRL), along with persons acting in concert with it (PACs), have decided to: (a) increase the number of equity shares to be acquired in the Open Offer to up to 651,000,000 equity shares, representing 17.51% of voting share capital of Vedanta; and (b) increase the offer price to Rs 235 per equity share including interest of Rs 1.29 per equity share. Total consideration for the offer is about Rs 15,300 crore.

Bharat Forge said the company has formed a new company Kalyani Powertrain to look into electric vehicle (EV) business initiatives. The newly formed subsidiary will look at organic and inorganic opportunities in the EV space.

BEML received export orders from Cameroon and Bangladesh under Government of India-Lines of credit.

H. G. Infra Engineering informed that the company has been declared L-1 bidder by National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), New Delhi.

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A total of 16 people have been arrested associated with the anti-lockdown protests in Dublin this afternoon.

A statement from An Garda Siochana outlined that 13 men and three women were arrested and 10 of these have been charged and will appear before a sitting of Dublin District Court this evening at the Criminal Courts of Justice.

Speaking this afternoon, Deputy Commissioner, Policing and Security, Anne Marie McMahon said: "This has not been a normal St Patricks Day. I acknowledge the huge level of compliance and social responsibility demonstrated today. I appeal to the public to continue this effort into this evening, please do not engage in house gatherings or parties or congregate in public spaces and amenities.

This evening, An Garda Siochana will continue high visibility patrolling at public amenities, conducting checkpoints focused on non-essential travel and people exercising outside 5km of their home, road safety activity and large gatherings that may occur across the country.

There was a heavy garda presence all around Dublin today as potential gatherings and protests were being monitored in case of trouble.

By late morning gardai had blocked off the Donnybrook Road at the Dublin Bus Depot leading up to RTE at Montrose, and traffic was being diverted away from the area.

Other access roads were also blocked, and there was a very visible presence of gardai at the entrance gates to the national broadcaster.

Crowd control barriers had been erected at the main entrance on the dual carriageway, so anybody accessing RTE had to use the old entrance on Nutley Lane, which was also being heavily policed.

At Herbert Park gardai kept a low-key presence of foot patrols. The garda helicopter looped between Ballsbridge and Donnybrook, assessing the situation from the air.

At one point three garda vans filled with uniformed officers gathered at Herbert Park, but they moved on after a short while.

In the city gardai had a very visible presence on the street, and at train stations.

There were some arrests around lunchtime on OConnell Street, mainly of people failing to obey garda instructions.

By early afternoon the warm Spring weather had brought people out to Herbert Park but they sat on the grass and on benches in small family groups enjoying the sunshine.

Then at around 2pm people started to gather at RTE and Herbert Park.

A man sang from the bandstand in Herbert Park while some placard holders and flag wavers mingled with the growing crowd.

At RTE a number of people stood on the footbridge over the dual carriageway with anti-Covid restriction and anti vaccine placards.

The event in Herbert Park was billed as Le Cheile Day and a gathering for mental health.

More to come..
Kane County officials will be narrowing the choices of a site in the Carpentersville area next week, the chairwoman said. Once that site is selected, we will do our due diligence to get it up and running, market it, staff it and make sure we have the vaccines available for you, she said.
When Lindsey Schechter, owner of local cheese shop Houston Dairymaids, received an email from NASA asking for cheese, she thought it was a joke.

But the aeronautics agency was serious. It was seeking cheese to send to space, per a special request made by astronaut Shannon Walker, who is currently on a 210-day stay in the International Space Station.

"It was really exciting for us," said Schechter. "We were thrilled to know that Shannon is such a cheese lover."

Little did Schechter know, Walker is a regular shopper at Dairymaids.

Schechter sent some OG Kristal, an aged Belgian gouda, at the end of 2020. NASA reached out to her again in February saying the crew loved it and wanted some more, but Dairymaids no longer had it in stock.

Instead, she shipped Old Farmdal, a similar but slightly younger cheese from the same producer in Belgium, the Deweer family. It's made from Holstein and Brown Swiss cow's milk.

Not just any cheese can be sent to space. It has to fit certain parameters.

"It had to be cheeses that didn't have mold growths on the rind," said Schechter. This eliminated blue cheeses, bries and any natural-rinded cheeses that have mold on the outside. "They're concerned about bringing mold in the space station."

Additionally, the cheese can't have any rind treatments or components that could float off due to space's unique gravity properties.

Gouda fit the bill.

"We're very honored to be included in this," said Schechter.
Columbo the cat, belonging to barrister Naz Hussain QC, which caused a Twitter storm by gate crashing an Old Bailey court hearing (Handout/PA)

When a gigantic fluffy cat gatecrashed an Old Bailey virtual hearing, contented purrs rippled through the legal world.

Within hours, he was identified on social media as eight-month old Columbo, belonging to Naz Hussain QC, a senior criminal defence barrister.

The blue Maine Coon, named after the unassuming TV detective, has since gone on to establish his own Twitter profile with a mission to take over the world.

His escapade during the most severe wave of the pandemic showed the British justice system at its best, said Mr Hussain.

Ahead of the anniversary of the first lockdown, Mr Hussain told the PA news agency: Id settled into the kitchen for my hearing but Columbo was lurking.

Hes actually done it before during a hearing. He jumped on to the counter and wanted to see what Im doing.

Previously people acted like it hadnt happened, whereas this was a perfect combination of a judge with a very good sense of humour and a persistent cat.

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Mid-hearing I saw him stalking me, targeting my headphone cable. I tried ushering him away but hes persistent.

Columbo then walked on to the keyboard and on camera. The judge jokingly asked if he was my instructing solicitor, to which I said: No, its my replacement junior.

Everyone laughed and, sensing stardom, Columbo just kept coming back.

Before finishing, the judge asked if the cat had anything else to add?

It was fun and entertaining but also showed our system at its best.

We are working in difficult circumstances, a very serious case, but then these unexpected things happen.

Rather than flouncing off the bench or telling me off, the judge embraced it.

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On the resulting media flurry, the 45-year-old lawyer said: Its said there is no such thing as bad publicity. It started to go viral and my junior said your cat is on the news.

I couldnt believe it, here was a Radio 4 news report about my cat.

Im happy this small unexpected act made so many people laugh. The aftermath was surreal.

Mr Hussain, who works out of Sheffield and 33 Bedford Row in London, said even before the pandemic struck, systemic underinvestment in criminal justice had threatened to undermine public faith.

But the rapid switch to virtual preliminary and pre-trial hearings has been a gamechanger for lawyers juggling cases around England and Wales.

Mr Hussain said: We can adapt and respond. However, the Government needs to value the system.

Despite the more relaxed atmosphere of virtual hearings, Mr Hussain said trials should retain the pomp and ceremony and dynamic of the courtroom.

Having a relaxed atmosphere at the right time is perfectly fine. However, given the subject matter of what we deal with  criminal matters that will have serious consequences for the defendant and complainant in the case  we owe it to them to treat it with the dignity and solemnity that it deserves.

Expand Close Advocat: Columbo has his own Twitter profile with a mission to take over the world (Handout/PA) PA / Facebook

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Wearing the wig and gown is an obvious way of showing everyone you are doing a job  that this is not me as an individual citizen saying things that could be challenging or upsetting.

To manifest that distinction is really important.

Throughout his career, Mr Hussain has drawn on his unconventional past experiences as a bouncer and Thai boxer, having represented England.

The son of a Sheffield steelworker, Mr Hussain grew up wanting to be Batman  to make a difference in the world. He was the first in his family to go to university.

While opportunities are improving for lawyers from non-traditional backgrounds, being seen to do diversity is not enough, he said.

Increasing numbers of BAME people in the professions is, on one level, positively addressing diversity.

But if those people went to public schools, came from families that were highly educated, went to Oxford or Cambridge, they have far more in common with the group thats in the majority. Class is still a huge factor in our society.

He went on: Ive been confused for a defendant  countless times.

I was asked three times in court by an advocate whether I was really a QC.

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It is an extremely offensive thing to say to someone. The first time, I said lets just concentrate on what we are discussing.

It was only after the third time I dealt with it very robustly.

Im not a shrinking violet and am not physically slight. If someone feels comfortable enough in their views or their ignorance to say that to me then I shudder to think what happens to those less comfortable or willing to speak up or make a stand.

If I see it happening I have zero tolerance for it. My duty is to stand by, speak up or stand up for that person. Ive always detested bullies.

Yes, the profession is moving forward. There are those who hate change. Some time ago whilst still a junior, a QC tried telling me off for wearing a pink shirt.

I replied: Im not sure what is more ridiculous, you giving me fashion advice or you thinking Im going to take it.

Another QC sat nearby started clapping and said I should carry on as I was.

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The Bar is changing and making huge efforts to do so. One can never become complacent though.

A Yorkshireman, Mr Hussain added: Im proud of my accent. My advice is be yourself.

There are people who think you must speak, act or dress in a specific way. Focus on your skills and performance as they speak loudest.

I have long hair and a beard. Clients nicknamed me Jesus. Id say that, unlike him, I couldnt always guarantee a miracle.

Mr Hussain was at the Old Bailey defending Muhamed Abu, who was last week cleared of failing to alert authorities to a terror plot during the pandemic.

Outside court, the father-of-three has been in training with his 15-year-old son, who aspires to be a Royal Marine and join the UK Special Forces.

Father and son are fundraising for Sheffield Royal Marines Cadets and the Special Boat Service Association, undertaking the 15-mile Fan Dance march carrying 35lbs over Pen y Fan in South Wales in June.

For details visit: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/salfandance?utm_term=Y2JQdrdk2.
For about an hour on Thursday, March 11, an unsigned Tennessee Cash ticket worth $1,178,746 lay in the parking lot of the OReillys Auto Parts store in Sparta.

The day before, Sparta native Nick Slatten had finished his day laying tile in Smithville and stopped at Village Market to buy a drink and a Tennessee Cash ticket for that nights drawing before heading home.

On Thursday morning Mr. Slatten checked the Tennessee Lottery app for the Wednesday evening Tennessee Cash drawing results. Ticket in hand, he noticed he had hit two numbers, and then he looked again. He had them all, making his ticket worth $1,178,746.

I was stunned. I couldnt believe it, Mr. Slatten said. I cant express it. It was something else.

Mr. Slatten rushed to his fiancee Michelles work in Sparta to tell her about the good fortune. After sharing the news, he continued to run errands, which included taking his brother to buy a car part at OReillys and then a stop for lunch.

It was about an hour later, Mr. Slatten said, when he realized he didnt have the ticket anymore. I couldnt find it anywhere, he said.

It should be noted that lottery tickets are bearer instruments, just like cash. If a player loses his ticket, anyone can claim it. Lottery officials encourage players to sign their ticket immediately after purchase to identify it as theirs and to help prevent someone else from cashing it, in the event that it is lost or stolen.

Mr. Slatten immediately began retracing his steps and pulled into the OReillys parking lot where he saw it lying on the ground, right next to the drivers side door of another vehicle. Its a million-dollar ticket, and someone stepped right over it, he said.

Mr. Slattens ticket is one of five tickets worth $1 million or more sold in Tennessee this month and the 310th ticket sold worth $1 million or more since the Lottery began on January 20, 2004.

Mr. Slatten and his fiancee will continue working and have plans to buy a house of their own and better vehicles as well as investing. Mainly, their plan is to live life with not a whole lot of worries, he said.
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Health Secretary Matt Hancock today admitted Britain's Covid vaccine roll-out will be delayed for the under-50s with supplies  which will take a 'significant' hit in April  used to mop up over-50s and second doses.

NHS bosses today warned a 'significant reduction' in deliveries from manufacturers will mean 'volumes for first doses will be significantly constrained'.

In another potential set-back to the huge inoculation drive  which must go smoothly for restrictions to be eased, the EU today effectively declared vaccine war on the UK by threatening to block exports of Pfizer's jab.

It is not yet clear which company is causing the slowdown  sources and Scottish Government documents say Pfizer supplies will drop by almost half within weeks, while the BBC's Laura Kuenssberg said in a tweet: 'I'm told the problem is fewer AstraZeneca vaccines are available than expected'.

Britain had been on track to start offering coronavirus vaccines to under-50s by the end of March  but this now doesn't look likely to happen before May, with the NHS letter warning that the supply issue looks set to last four weeks or more.

But Mr Hancock insisted the country was still on track to hit its target of vaccinating all adults by the end of July, suggesting the setback shouldn't mean lockdown has to last longer, although he didn't commit to this. Repeating his much-used warning that vaccine supply was 'lumpy', Mr Hancock praised the fact that the UK had immunised 25million people already.

The EU's shambolic vaccine rollout also descended deeper into chaos today as a rattled Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the bloc, complained it is sending millions of doses to other countries while receiving few in return warning of action to ensure 'reciprocity'.

She called on Britain to begin sending AstraZeneca jabs overseas and lashed out at the drug-maker for 'under-producing and under-delivering' doses, saying it is to blame for the slow place of Europe's roll-out.

That is despite the fact that a dozen European countries, including France, Germany, Italy and Spain, have halted the use of AstraZeneca jabs over unfounded fears they cause blood clots, meaning around 7.5million doses are currently sitting unused.

England's deputy chief medical officer, Professor Jonathan Van-Tam, offered a sharp rebuke to European decisions not to use the jab, saying: 'Vaccines dont save lives if theyre in fridges. They only save lives if theyre in arms, and thats a really important fact.'

Ms von der Leyen's comments today raise the possibility that stocks of Pfizer jab manufactured in Belgium could be prevented from going to Britain  although most of the UK's AstraZeneca supplies are made in this country.

But the sabre-rattling drew a furious British political response, with Mr Hancock telling a Downing Street press conference that 'we fully expect' vaccine contracts to be delivered on. Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said that Ms von der Leyen's comments flew in the face of 'direct assurances' that contracts will be honoured and Tory MPs accused her of 'playing politics with people's lives'.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock held a Downing Street press conference today

Ursula von der Leyen has told Britain to hand over doses of AstraZeneca vaccine or else risk seeing jab exports from the continent blocked, despite the fact that most of Europe has halted its use

European leaders have turned on one-another in the latest episode of the bloc's shambolic jabs saga, amid fury at the decision to block the use of AstraZeneca vaccines as a third wave of infections looms

Europe's already-slow jab roll-out has been hit by further delays after the use of AstraZeneca's vaccine was temporarily suspended. The UK has relied heavily on AstraZeneca jabs to power ahead with its roll-out, which is one of the world's fastest

How badly would the UK's vaccine drive suffer if the EU blocked exports? If the European Union blocked all exports of coronavirus vaccines made on its turf, Britain could remain self-sufficient and still get jabs to the entire population. However, it could come under pressure on second dose supply. EU president Ursula von der Leyen suggested today that the bloc could start an export ban on vaccines  the second time that threat has been made  because the continent's rollout is going so badly. WHICH VACCINES ARE MADE IN THE EU? The Pfizer/BioNTech jab is currently the only vaccine used in the UK but manufactured in the EU, at the company's plant in Puurs, Belgium. AstraZeneca's jab is made at home in England and Wales. Moderna's  which will become available in about two weeks' time at the start of April  is produced in Switzerland, which is not an EU member and so not under von der Leyen's jurisdiction. The Janssen vaccine, which has not yet been approved by Britain but is likely to be next, will be made in various factories around the world, including in France, Belgium, the US and Japan. Britain's supply is likely to come from the EU but is not expected until the second half of this year in any case. CAN WE RELY ON ASTRAZENECA? The good news is that the UK has ordered so many doses of the Oxford/AstraZeneca jab  100million  that in a worst-case scenario it could immunise the entire adult population (around 50million people) using that one alone. And supply of the Oxford/AstraZeneca jab in April and May will be around three to four times larger than of Pfizer and over 20 times as large as those from Moderna  at around three to four million available per week, according to a delivery schedule leaked by the Scottish Government in January  meaning the country will be able to rely on those for the vast majority of its vaccinations. WHAT ABOUT PFIZER SECOND DOSES? The bad news is that around 13million people have already had at least one dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, and the majority of them are still waiting for a second jab, which are likely only to come from within the EU. This means that Britain has to have another 13million doses at least, in order to make sure those people are fully protected. And it also hopes for another 14million so it can immunise the total 20million for whom doses were ordered. Pfizer and the UK Government have both refused to comment on the supply chain but deliveries are expected to be smaller in April. The Department of Health may have to stop using Pfizer supplies for first-time vaccinations within weeks if the spectre of export issues remains, MailOnline understands, because it must begin to stockpile supplies to cope with the huge demand for second doses that will come in April, three months after the rollout exploded in January. The delivery projections accidentally published by the Scottish Government suggest its supplies of Pfizer will tumble from 130,000 per week throughout March to just 78,000 per week in April and May. This could equate to approximately 1.5million per week for the whole UK dropping to 950,000 per week, according to the distribution formula used by the Government. The UK vaccinated more than 2.5million people per week throughout most of January and February and around half of all doses used were Pfizer, meaning the demand for second doses could exceed one million per week in April and May. If this is the case the Government will have to use all of the projected 950,000 per week suggested in the Scottish delivery schedule while also hoping it has enough left over to meet this rolling demand  leaving little to no capacity for people to receive the Pfizer jab for the first time. Pfizer declined to comment on its supply chain but said: 'In the UK, we are continuing to liaise closely with the Government to deliver the 40million doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine that we have committed to supply before the end of the year and can confirm that overall projected supply remains the same for quarter one (January to March).' Advertisement

On another day of coronavirus vaccine chaos:

The success of the Covid jabs were highlighted again as Public Health England officials unveiled fresh data confirming they reduce deaths in the elderly by 85 per cent;

Doctors claimed British patients were cancelling appointments for their coronavirus vaccine because the EU's mass revolt against AstraZeneca's jab over unproven blood clot fears has scared them off;

Boris Johnson revealed he would get the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine 'very shortly';

Britain has vaccinated more than 25million people, meaning almost half of the adult population have had their first dose  while England today began inviting over-50s for their jabs;

Dominic Cummings launched a devastating attack on Matt Hancock, insisting the UK's vaccine drive was only a success because he and science chief Patrick Vallance insisted the minister was stripped of control;

The World Health Organization (WHO) said that it considers the benefits of the AstraZeneca Covid vaccine outweigh its risks and recommends that vaccinations continue;

The EU has presented plans to issue 'digital green certificates' allowing its 450million people to travel freely across the bloc this summer.

In tonight's Downing Street press conference, Mr Hancock said there would be a focus on vaccinating the most vulnerable before moving on to the over-40s but warned the UK would do 'everything necessary' to ensure supplies continue.

He said: 'Were on track to offer a first dose to everyone in priority groups one to nine by April 15.

'While we deliver on that commitment, we also want to ensure that this offer reaches everyone in groups one to nine.

'At the same time as opening up offers of vaccinations to all those who are 50 or above, we are going to do whatever it takes to reach all those in the most vulnerable groups who havent come forward yet before we move onto the next cohort, which is people in their 40s.

'Before we forge ahead I want us to be confident that weve done everything we can to protect those most in need of protection and we will do all we can and do everything necessary to deliver the supplies that are contractually committed to protecting people in this country.'

But Dr Simon Clarke, a microbiologist at the University of Reading, told MailOnline that delaying jabs for under-50s by at least a month was more than a bump in the road.

He said: The Government was clearly expecting to proceed at pace with the vaccinations, otherwise they wouldnt need to stop appointments being made in April.

'We dont yet know exactly why the delay has occurred, but the ripple effects could last for months.

'It will undoubtedly make the meeting of the target dates for lifting restrictions more difficult than they otherwise would have been.

'By pushing back the under-50s first doses, their second doses are also being pushed back.'

He added: 'If full vaccination becomes required for holidays abroad or even more mundane things like going to the cinema, millions of younger people may end up being excluded from participating for the whole summer.'

Mr Hancock argued the NHS letter warning vaccine supply will face a significant reduction was a standard technical letter.

He added: Vaccine supply is always lumpy and we regularly send out technical letters to the NHS to explain the ups and downs of the supply of the future weeks and what you are referring to is a standard one of those letters.

Local health leaders have been told to focus efforts on the top priority groups in the letter, signed by Dr Nikita Kanani, medical director for primary care for the NHS in England, and Emily Lawson, chief commercial officer.

The Government's Vaccines Task Force have now notified us that there will be a significant reduction in weekly supply available from manufacturers beginning in the week commencing 29 March, meaning volumes for first doses will be significantly constrained, the letter states.

They now currently predict this will continue for a four-week period, as a result of reductions in national inbound vaccines supply.

The letter adds that inviting people for jabs who are not in the top nine priority groups is only permissible in exceptional circumstances.

Last week Vaccines Minister Nadhim Zahawi told the Women and Equalities House of Commons Committee that the NHS could expect a big uplift in supply in the second half of March.

PHE chief unveils raft of fresh data confirming one Covid jab slashes deaths by 85%, stops eight in 10 hospital admissions and cuts cases by 60% The vaccine effect on catching Covid: The Pfizer (left) and Oxford (right) jabs slash the chance of getting infected in over-70s by 60 per cent after a single dose The success of the Covid jabs were highlighted again tonight as officials unveiled fresh data confirming they reduce deaths in the elderly by 85 per cent. Public Health England's vaccine chief Dr Mary Ramsay told tonight's Downing Street conference that 'every day we vaccinate more people, we prevent more deaths'. She unveiled a raft of new data showing the real-world impact of a single dose of Pfizer or AstraZeneca's jabs on the UK's crisis after it emerged 25million Brits have had at least one dose. Among the promising findings were an 85 per cent reduction in deaths in the over-80s and an 80 per cent fall in hospitalisations in the same age group. The analysis also found a 60 per cent reduction in catching Covid after one dose for over-70s. Dr Ramsay added the risk of getting infected is cut by a third if you live with someone who has been vaccinated. She said the jabs' impact improves across the board when a patient has been fully vaccinated with both doses. The latest data confirms PHE's initial findings last month. But Dr Ramsay urged Britons not to get complacent, adding: 'Please don't alter your behaviour when you have the vaccine. Don't take unnecessary risks.' Despite the promising evidence, the NHS has warned it will face a 'significant reduction in weekly supply' of Covid vaccines from the week beginning March 29. It has raised fears that appointments for under-50s could be delayed, but Matt Hancock said the Government was still on track to vaccinate all adults by the end of July. Advertisement

Mr Hancock added he had no doubt that people will be free to travel around the UK in the coming weeks.

He said: We have set out when the English restrictions will be removed and will lift the stay-at-home message as part of the road map out.

I have no doubt that within a short few weeks everybody will be allowed to travel around the UK so long as we are able to keep this progress going. Both the progress in the UK-wide vaccination effort and keeping the number of cases under control.

Praising the vaccines, he added: We can see that the vaccines are making people safe and saving lives, and were on track on the vaccine side, weve seen cases coming down, critically were seeing the number of hospitalisations and deaths falling very sharply, and thats good news for us all.

In the same press conference tonight, Mr Hancock said we fully expect vaccine contracts to be delivered on after Ms von der Leyen said the EU could block exports.

He said: The Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine was produced from research funded by the UK Government, tens of millions of pounds. We set up the supply chain, not just here in the UK but we helped set up the supply chain in the EU.

This vaccine is provided at cost to the whole world  and we legally signed a contract for delivery of the first 100 million doses for people here, for people in the UK.

He said Ms von der Leyen had said before there should not be restrictions on the export of vaccines by companies where they are fulfilling contractual responsibilities.

His comments came after Mr Raab hit out at the threat of the EU imposing a vaccine export ban.

The Foreign Secretary said: 'I think it takes some explaining because the world's watching.

We've, all of us, including with our European friends, been saying throughout the pandemic, that you'd be wrong to curtail or interfere with lawfully-contracted supply. We all said it last year on PPE. We've been saying it this year, on vaccines and other things.

Mr Raab said the stance 'cuts across the direct assurances that we had from the Commission'. 'We expect those assurances and legal contracted supply to be respected,' he added.

'Frankly, I'm surprised we're having this conversation. It is normally what the UK and EU team up with to reject when other countries with less democratic regimes than our own engage in that kind of brinkmanship.'

Boris Johnson's spokesman said the EU must stand by its 'commitments' and not restrict vaccine exports that have been legitimately agreed.

Referring to a conversation the PM had with Ms Von der Leyen earlier this year, the spokesman said: 'She confirmed then that the focus of their mechanism was on transparency and not intended to restrict exports by companies where they are fulfilling contractual responsibilities. We expect the EU to continue to stand by its commitment.'

Meanwhile Tory MPs Andrea Jenkyns, Chris Green and Marcus Fysh all hit out at the EU's actions, accusing Eurocrats of 'giving up' on free trade and behaving like communists.

Britain may have to STOP giving new patients Pfizer's Covid vaccine, experts warn Britain may have to stop giving new patients Pfizer's Covid vaccine so it can stockpile second doses after the NHS today warned there will be a 'significant reduction' in supplies in April. No10 has only bought 40million doses of the jab  but is not expecting all of its supply until the end of 2021, with deliveries set to trickle in over the course of the year. And MailOnline understands ministers are expecting fewer doses of Pfizer's vaccine from April. Leaked documents of Scotland's vaccine delivery schedule also suggest there will be a reduced supply from next month. With questions over how much vaccine is expected in the coming weeks, NHS bosses will have to reserve spring supplies to ensure older Britons get their top-up jab within 12 weeks as promised. Data suggests 13million Britons have already been given Pfizer's jab, which uses up more than half of what ministers originally planned to receive by the start of June, which will mark six months after the UK began dishing it out. Officials factor second doses into their delivery patterns, with supplies reserved for Britons due a top-up jab. But one-for-one stockpiles are not kept on British soil  they are managed on a 'rolling basis'. Dr Simon Clarke, a microbiologist at Reading University, told MailOnline: 'We may be getting to the point where they basically stop giving it out as a first dose.' And James Lawson, of the Adam Smith Institute think-tank, said there appears to be a 'very worrying gap' between the number of people vaccinated already and the speed that second dose supplies are coming. It came as the EU today declared vaccine war on the UK, threatening to block exports of Pfizer's jab  which is mainly manufactured in Belgium. Advertisement

Elsewhere Jeremy Brown, who is part of the committee advising the UK government on its vaccine drive, said today that he cannot understand the logic of Europe's ban on AstraZenecas vaccine and warned that it will cost more lives than it saves.

He added that links between AstraZeneca's jab and blood clots appears 'spurious' with fears being 'overblown', and that Europe's actions will hurt vaccine drives around the world by casting doubt on an 'incredibly safe [and] very effective' jab.

Ms von der Leyen, speaking to reporters in Brussels today, said: 'AstraZeneca has unfortunately under-produced and under-delivered, and this painfully, of course, reduced the speed of the vaccination campaign.

'Where the UK is concerned, we have observed that in the last six weeks 10million doses by now have been exported to the UK.' The UK was 'country number one' in terms of exports from the EU, she said.

Ms Von der Leyen said the company originally pledged to deliver 90million doses of its shot in the first three months of 2021, but later said it could only provide 40million, then more recently only 30million.

She also noted the EU has exported around 41 million vaccine doses to other countries. 'But open roads run in both directions, and this is why we need to ensure that there is reciprocity and proportionality,' she said.

'If the situation does not change, we will have to reflect on how to make exports to vaccine producing countries dependent on their level of openness,' she added, without naming any country.

But in a break with other European leaders she insisted that she 'trusts' AstraZeneca's vaccine and that the main problem is not safety, but supplies.

Ms Von der Leyen joins a growing body of policy experts, politicians and medical professionals urging European leaders to lift a temporary ban on using the vaccine that was rushed into place in the last few days.

Nations including France, Germany and Italy all paused the use of the vaccine after a few dozen cases of blood clots occurred amid millions of doses that have been handed out.

Englands deputy chief medical officer Professor Jonathan Van-Tam said that there was no evidence of increased risk of blood clots with the AstraZeneca jab, adding that vaccines dont save lives if theyre in fridges.

Behind the scenes, there is a lot of work going on to look at whether there is a signal in relation to what we call venous thromboembolic events, clots, VTE for short, he told Downing Streets briefing.

Theres a lot of evidence emerging now that is reassuring, that there is no overall excess signal or increased risk.

Stella Kyriakides (left), the EU's health commissioner, issued a rare rebuke to leaders and urged them to push ahead with getting vaccines to people as a third wave of virus looms. Jens Spahn (right), Germany's health minister, was facing down calls for his resignation today over his decision to block AstraZeneca jabs - while Angela Merkel saw her party slump to its lowest poll rating of the crisis as people lost faith in her leadership

France's Emmanuel Macron (right) and Italy's Mario Draghi (left) have both signalled they are ready to U-turn on the issue when regulators publish a report Thursday, despite the regulators already insisting that AstraZeneca jabs are safe to use

Boris Johnson tonight hailed the UK hitting the milestone of 25million people given first doses of vaccine

Early signs of vaccine effect as Britain's daily Covid deaths fall faster now than during first wave Daily coronavirus deaths in Britain are falling at a faster rate than they did when the first wave began to tail off, according to official data which provides even more evidence that vaccines are saving lives. Figures from No10's Covid dashboard show that fatalities in the second wave peaked higher and fell further in the following seven weeks than during the same time period last spring. For example, daily Covid fatalities hit 1,362 on deadliest day of the pandemic on January 19. This had fallen to 138 seven weeks later on March 8, the most recent snapshot available  a drop of 90 per cent. By contrast, the first wave peaked at a lower 1,073 on April 8 and fell by 80 per cent to just 213 in the same amount of time. The early signs of the vaccine effect come as the Government announced more than 25million Britons have had at least one dose of either the Pfizer/BioNTech or Oxford University/AstraZeneca jabs. The milestone, which means almost half of all adults in the country have been inoculated, was hit exactly 100 days after the mammoth rollout launched. Latest figures show 25,273,226 Brits have received the first injection, while 1,759,445 of them have had their second dose. Boris Johnson said the vaccine milestone represented '25million reasons to be confident' about a post-lockdown Britain. Health Secretary Matt Hancock described the achievement as a 'national mission'. Advertisement

I expect, without prejudice to their absolute findings, those to be the final conclusions of the EMA and the MHRA in due course.

So, no evidence of increased risk, but as you heard from Professor Ramsay, a lot of evidence that the vaccine is actually saving lives.

Thats the really important thing, that we push on with this, and I think from the enthusiasm of the patients Ive vaccinated, I see the enthusiasm of the British people to push on with this.

Because vaccines dont save lives if theyre in fridges. They only save lives if theyre in arms, and thats a really important fact.

The World Health Organization (WHO today said that it considers that the benefits of the AstraZeneca Covid jab outweigh its risks and recommends that vaccinations continue.

And the European Medicines Agency (EMA), which is investigating the link between the jab and blood clots, will release its findings tomorrow.

Professor Brown, who is also head of respiratory diseases at UCL, told BBC Radio 4 earlier today that he cannot understand the logic of blocking the treatment.

He said: 'I don't understand why this is happening... because we do know the vaccine works, it prevents about 85 per cent of admissions to hospital after one dose. Even in the very old and the frail.

'By rolling out the vaccine you prevent deaths, by stopping the vaccine they will cause more illness and more deaths by this week or two hiatus using the vaccine than they will ever prevent.

'I honestly don't really know [how they reached that conclusion].

'If people sit back and look at the overall picture which is this vaccine is incredibly safe, its very effective, and we are in the middle of a pandemic that we will not get out of until everyone has been vaccinated.

'To interrupt the vaccine for what will turn out - most likely - to be a spurious reason seems unnecessary.'

The hasty decision of more than a dozen European nations to pause the use of the AstraZeneca jab has now sparked a civil war.

The European Commission issued a rare rebuke to EU leaders last night, urging them to keep using AstraZeneca shots to protect as many people as possible.

'Every dose counts,' health minister Stella Kyriakides told a virtual summit, pointing to 14million vaccines that have gone un-used in Europe including 7.5million AstraZeneca jabs.

Panic set in amid reports of blood clots after AstraZeneca's vaccine, but data shows the same number of clots occurred after Pfizer vaccines - which Europe continues to use - and that none of the clots are actually linked to the shots

Figures from AstraZeneca and the European Medicines Agency show the number of blood clot-related conditions from 17million doses dished out in the UK and Europe up to March 13

WHO calls for calm over AstraZeneca's Covid jab and says people should still get the jab The World Health Organization today called for calm over AstraZeneca's Covid vaccine, saying it considers that the benefits outweigh its risks and recommends that vaccinations continue. The WHO listed AstraZeneca and Oxford University's vaccine for emergency use last month, widening access to the relatively inexpensive shot in the developing world. More than a dozen European countries have suspended use of the vaccine this week amid concerns. The European Medicines Agency, which will release its findings tomorrow, is investigating reports of 30 cases of unusual blood disorders out of 5million recipients of the AstraZeneca vaccine. In total, 45million Covid shots have been delivered across the region. The WHO said that its Global Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety is carefully assessing the latest available safety data for the AstraZeneca vaccine. 'Once that review is completed, WHO will immediately communicate the findings to the public,' WHO said in its statement a day after its experts met. 'At this time, WHO considers that the benefits of the AstraZeneca vaccine outweigh its risks and recommends that vaccinations continue.' Mike Ryan, WHO's top emergency expert, told a social media event: 'We would advise people to keep taking the vaccines. Right now this virus has a much bigger chance of doing you a lot of harm than the very, very potentially tiny risks associated with this vaccine.' Advertisement

Meanwhile Poland's Prime Minister vowed to keep administering the shots in defiance of 19 countries which have paused their use, accusing other leaders of 'giving in to panic' about blood clots.

In Germany, health minister Jens Spahn is facing calls to resign over his handling of the crisis including the decision to block AstraZeneca jabs, with Wolfgang Kubicki, leader of the FDP, accusing him of undermining trust in the vaccine.

'We should open up AstraZeneca to everyone,' he said. 'The vaccine is of no use if it is not vaccinated quickly enough.'

Angela Merkel's CDU party also slumped to its lowest rating since the start of the Covid pandemic in a new poll released today, as public confidence in her management of the crisis ebbs away.

Elsewhere France's Emmanuel Macron - also facing an election this year - and Italy's newly-installed premier Mario Draghi signalled an imminent U-turn on AstraZeneca once the European Medicines Agency gives its final verdict on Thursday.

But the EMA has already insisted twice - once last week and once on Tuesday - that any risks from AstraZeneca's vaccine are far outweighed by the benefits and that there is no reason to stop using it.

Italy's medicines authority yesterday admitted the decision to stop using the Oxford-AstraZeneca was 'political', while in Germany, Angela Merkel's closest allies hit out against the decision to suspend its use when cases were rocketing across the country.

But in sign of the chaos, France and Italy were last night already signalling they could make a U-turn - suggesting they could restart use of jab once EMA gives its final verdict tomorrow (Thursday).

The crisis in Germany has led Angela Merkel's closest ally, the Bavarian regional leader, Markus Soder, to break ranks, telling German television he would take the vaccine 'immediately'.

The chancellor was also accused of having 'no clear policy' by her main coalition partners, the Social Democrats (SPD), who called on Jens Spahn, the health minister, to resign.

As the row intensified, the German Health Ministry tried to justify its decision by announcing further details about the cases which had led to the decision.

It revealed there had been seven cases of cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT), a rare type of blood clot, three of which had been fatal, out of the 1.6 million people vaccinated so far.

It said the cases were in conjunction with thrombocytopenia, a condition characterised by abnormally low levels of platelets, with experts adding they would only have expected between 1 to 1.4 cases in the fortnight following vaccination.

The statement said: 'This illness is so serious... that it would not be responsible to continue vaccinating without an investigation,' adding that it was 'striking that young people, too, were affected, especially women'.

However, German newspaper BILD appeared to hit back at the suggestion, with the headline: 'Thrombosis risk after vaccination at 0.0004 percent while the opposition Free Democrat Party said the German government had 'unnecessarily endangered human lives'.

The UK's drug regulators appear to have spotted the condition five times in 11million doses - but have yet to comment on Germany's figures.

Data from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) regulator in the UK has also shown more people have reported blood clots after having Pfizer's vaccine than the Oxford one - even though Pfizer's jab has not been suspended anywhere.

The MHRA said that, in the UK up until February 28, it had received 30 reports of blood clots in people who had the Oxford/AstraZeneca jab and 38 reports associated with Pfizer/BioNTech.
This Morning host Phillip Schofield today hit out at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, suggesting they had 'stabbed a knife through the heart of the monarchy'.

The 58-year-old asked royal biographer Gyles Brandreth whether it was time for the Sussexes to 'shut up' because they have 'made their point' and can now 'return to their quiet life in America'.

His question comes after the couple tipped off a sympathetic journalist who made public their continuing war with the Royal Family - despite the Queen's hopes that a palace investigation into their Oprah claims would be 'deal with privately'.

Schofield went on to comment on how the couple had complained to US TV host Gayle King that senior royals are still yet to speak to Meghan following the bombshell Oprah interview.

King revealed today that she had spoken to Meghan and Harry over the weekend, and claimed they were 'upset' that the palace were saying they wanted to sort things out privately while 'disparaging' stories were still being published about Meghan.

Harry and Meghan prompted fresh outrage after sharing private conversations with Prince Charles and Prince William with US journalist Gayle King

'No one in the royal family has talked to Meghan yet at this particular time,' King had told CBS.

'They both want to move forward with this and they both want healing in this family. At the end of the day, that's Harry's family.'

Discussing King's claims with panellists Beverley Turner and Gyles Brandreth, Schofield said: 'There's been an enormous amount of sympathy over the race issue and the mental health issue... but looking at the polls that sympathy seems to be ebbing away.

'Isn't there this feeling Gyles, that you've made your point, essentially shut up now and get on with your quiet American life, you've stabbed a knife through the heart of the monarchy... but stop now.'

It came as Meghan and Harry's friend today launched a fresh attack on Buckingham Palace amid the growing row over the couple's decision to tell King about their 'unproductive' peace talks with the Royal Family.

Omid Scobie accused the media and Royal aides of double standards after it was reported that the Palace is believed to be unhappy with the couple's decision to reveal the details of the private talks with William and Charles.

He claimed he was 'confused' by criticism of the couple and claimed a 'new royal protocol' had been concocted after the Palace said it would not provide 'running commentary on private conversations'.

Philip Schofield released his pent-up frustration during a segment about how the couple this morning

Buckingham Palace has issued one statement on the Sussexes about the Oprah interview, on Tuesday last week, which said that 'some recollections may vary' but the claims raised would be 'addressed by the family privately'.

Royal sources have since said the palace will not 'giving a running commentary on private conversations', but there has been no briefing from palace sources since the initial statement was made on the Queen's behalf.

Prince William's wife Kate put on a brave face while driving in west London this morning amid more turmoil caused by her brother-in-law and sister-in-law's interview watched by tens of millions around the globe.

The Sussexes had insisted that their explosive interview with Oprah Winfrey would be their 'final word' on royal affairs - but warfare erupted again after the couple told CBS This Morning host Gayle that Harry had finally spoken to his father and brother.

Hours later, Miss King disclosed on American TV that the talks 'were not productive'. The breakfast show host also suggested that Meghan was unhappy no one in the Royal Family had thought to telephone her.

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge driving in West London today as it emerged that Prince Harry has spoken to his brother William and father Charles

And, in a thinly-veiled threat, the presenter said the duchess had 'documents to back up everything she said on Oprah's interview', just as the Queen was seeing her husband Prince Philip for the first time in a month after he was released from hospital.

Omid Scobie, co-author of the Sussexes biography Finding Freedom and a close ally of the couple, said today he was 'confused' by the criticism they have received as their friends again came out to back them as royal insiders accused Harry and Meghan of a betrayal of trust.

Mr Scobie tweeted: 'Bit confused here, so just want to get this new royal protocol correct. It's okay when info is leaked to the papers via a palace source but not when Gayle King shares it on TV? Righty-ho then'.

But critics have accused the Sussexes of double standards, with one replying to Mr Scobie's tweet: 'The point is that private phone calls are openly discussed with personal media friends. This is the very reason Meghan cut off her family'. Another wrote: 'Omid - I don't think it was a very clever savvy move to disclose something like this via Gayle King. It's a poor move which benefits no one'.

Omid Scobie, a journalist friend of the couple, defended their decision to brief another ally in the media about talks with Harry's family

Gayle King, who attended Meghan's baby shower in New York in 2019 and is Miss Winfrey's closest friend, decided to speak out on her prime-time morning show on CBS, the same channel that broadcast the Oprah interview.

The fact the Sussexes chose to reveal sensitive discussions between senior members of the Royal Family met with an icy response from Buckingham Palace.

'None of the households  the Queen, the Prince of Wales and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge  will be giving a running commentary on private conversations,' said a senior royal source.

It was clear, however, that both the Windsors and senior officials see it as a severe betrayal of trust and unhelpful to attempts to rebuild bridges.

HOW GAYLE STIRRED UP A STORM 'Harry has talked to his brother and he has talked to his father too. The word I was given was that those conversations were not productive but they are glad that they have at least started a conversation. What is still upsetting to them is that the Palace keeps saying they want to work it out privately, but yet they believe these false stories are coming out that are very disparaging against Meghan still. No one in the Royal Family has talked to Meghan yet at this particular time. It's frustrating for them to see that it's a racial conversation about the Royal Family when all they wanted all along was for the royals to intervene and tell the Press to stop with the unfair, inaccurate, false stories that definitely have a racial slant. They both want to move forward with this and they both want healing in this family. At the end of the day, that is Harry's family. Meghan has documents to back up everything that she said on Oprah's interview. Everything. Anyone who's worked with her [Meghan] will tell you exactly who she is, she's really a sweet caring person. No one has acknowledged 'Houston, we have a problem here'. That's really all they [Harry and Meghan] want. They want a conversation.' Advertisement

Prince William, when he was questioned by a TV reporter on a public engagement last Thursday, said he had not yet spoken to his younger brother, but vowed he would.

He also insisted the Royal Family were not racists after Meghan claimed one member had raised 'concerns' about 'how dark' her baby's skin would be, and suggested there was an attempt to deprive Archie of a title and security because he was of mixed race.

The duchess also said she had been given so little support by the Palace that she suffered suicidal thoughts.

Harry said he felt 'really let down' by his father, accused him of cutting him off financially and refusing to take his calls, while also revealing the gulf with William.

The Queen responded to the Oprah interview with a deeply personal message saying that while 'some recollections vary', the issues raised, particularly that of race, were 'concerning' and would be taken seriously.

Significantly, however, she emphasised that from now on the difficulties would be addressed by the family privately.

There have been a handful of stories published in the UK media reporting that Charles and William felt hurt by what Harry had said, but with very little detail on what was taking place behind the scenes.

Mirror royal editor Russell Mysrs today predicted that Meghan will release her diaries charting her time at Kensington Palace - or agree to a tell-all doc on Netflix - 'if they don't get their own way'.

He said: 'They've already pressed the nuclear button by going on Oprah, haven't they? this has been long rumoured Meghan had this lifestyle blog the Tig before she was a royal which was very popular

'And she is known to have kept a diary during her time within in the royal family this would be bombshell stuff if she was to go and release it, I've already said that if they don't get their way if they're not satisfied with the conversations taking place in house

'Then it could be a situation where they will be releasing diaries, releasing a tell-all documentary on Netflix nothing is off-limits at the moment and we're talking about every twist and turn at the moment'.

Prince William is pictured driving outside Kensington Palace in London on Tuesday, after it was revealed he had spoken with Harry over the weekend

How Harry and Meghan's Oprah interview has caused a royal crisis February 15  It is confirmed Harry and Meghan will be interviewed by Oprah Winfrey on CBS in March, in which they will discuss Megxit and other issues.

 It is confirmed Harry and Meghan will be interviewed by Oprah Winfrey on CBS in March, in which they will discuss Megxit and other issues. February 16  Harry's grandfather the Duke of Edinburgh is admitted to hospital in London

 Harry's grandfather the Duke of Edinburgh is admitted to hospital in London February 19  Harry and Meghan are stripped of their prestigious patronages as the couple confirmed Megxit has become permanent.

 Harry and Meghan are stripped of their prestigious patronages as the couple confirmed Megxit has become permanent. February 26  Harry says the 'toxic' atmosphere created by the British press forced him and his family to leave the UK, in an interview with James Corden

 Harry says the 'toxic' atmosphere created by the British press forced him and his family to leave the UK, in an interview with James Corden March 1  A preview clip of the Oprah interview shows Harry saying his biggest fear is that 'history would repeat itself' in a reference to his mother's death, while the host is also seen asking Meghan if she was 'silent or silenced', but her answer is not revealed.

 A preview clip of the Oprah interview shows Harry saying his biggest fear is that 'history would repeat itself' in a reference to his mother's death, while the host is also seen asking Meghan if she was 'silent or silenced', but her answer is not revealed. March 3  A spokesman for Meghan says she is 'saddened' by a report in The Times that she faced a bullying complaint while at Kensington Palace.

 A spokesman for Meghan says she is 'saddened' by a report in The Times that she faced a bullying complaint while at Kensington Palace. March 7  Meghan and Harry's explosive interview with Oprah Winfrey airs in the US. The Sussexes laid bare their brief lives as a working royal couple, alleging a member of the family made a racist comment about their son, and how the duchess had suicidal thoughts but her approaches to the monarchy for help were turned down.

 Meghan and Harry's explosive interview with Oprah Winfrey airs in the US. The Sussexes laid bare their brief lives as a working royal couple, alleging a member of the family made a racist comment about their son, and how the duchess had suicidal thoughts but her approaches to the monarchy for help were turned down. March 8  The fallout from the interview continues and the couple's chat with Oprah airs in the UK on ITV.

 The fallout from the interview continues and the couple's chat with Oprah airs in the UK on ITV. March 9  Buckingham Palace issues a statement, saying the Queen is 'saddened' to hear the full extent of the challenges faced by the Sussexes and the issues raised around race are 'concerning'.

 Buckingham Palace issues a statement, saying the Queen is 'saddened' to hear the full extent of the challenges faced by the Sussexes and the issues raised around race are 'concerning'. March 11 - Prince William insists the royal family are 'not a racist family' while visiting a school in London.

- Prince William insists the royal family are 'not a racist family' while visiting a school in London. March 16 - Gayle King reveals Harry has spoken to his brother Prince William and their father Prince Charles. Advertisement

Harry was accused of 'embarrassing' hypocrisy this week for speaking to CBS, which caused outrage in 2004 by showing a photograph of his mother dying in a 1997 car crash in Paris.

Miss King told viewers she had called Harry and Meghan at their 10million California home 'over the weekend' to discuss the fall-out from the interview and revealed they had told her details of their intimate conversations.

She said: 'Well I'm not trying to break news, but I did actually call them to see how they were feeling, and it's true, Harry has talked to his brother and he has talked to his father too.

'The word I was given was that those conversations were not productive. But they are glad that they have at least started a conversation.'

Miss King also claimed the couple were unhappy that 'the Palace' had allegedly been leaking what they believed were untrue stories to the media.

She added: 'And I think what is still upsetting to them is the Palace keep saying they want to work it out privately, but yet, they believe these false stories are coming out that are very disparaging against Meghan, still.'

She made clear that the duchess was unhappy that no one in the family had called her. 'No one in the Royal Family has talked to Meghan yet, at this particular time,' she said.

The Sussexes effectively accused the Royal Family and Buckingham Palace of institutional racism in their interview with Miss Winfrey.

But Miss King claimed they felt 'frustrated' that much of the coverage had focused on this  when they had apparently wanted only to provoke the monarchy into taking action against the media, which they believe has a racist agenda against Meghan.

'It's frustrating for them to see that it's a racial conversation about the Royal Family when all they wanted all along was for the royals to intervene and tell the Press to stop with the unfair, inaccurate, false stories that definitely have a racial slant,' Miss King said.

'And until you can acknowledge that, I think it's going to be hard to move forward.'

She also raised the issue of the investigation launched earlier this month by Buckingham Palace into how claims of bullying against Meghan lodged by a senior member of staff were handled.

She said: 'Anyone who has worked with her will tell you exactly who she is. You know, she's really a very sweet, caring person.'

There was no immediate indication from the couple's team of PR representatives  either in London or California  as to whether Miss King was speaking at their request.
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President Joe Biden stops briefly to talk to the press as he walks toward Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, D.C., on March 16, 2021. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

Russia Recalls Ambassador to US After Bidens Comments About Putin

Russia on Wednesday recalled its ambassador to the United States, coinciding with comments made by President Joe Biden about Russian President Vladimir Putin saying he will pay a price and would face punitive actions in the future.

The Russian Foreign Ministrys spokesperson, Maria Zakharova, did not give specific reasons for the recall of Ambassador Anatoly Antonov but stressed that Moscows relations with the United States are in a difficult state, accusing Washington of bringing them to a dead-end in recent years.

We are interested in preventing their irreversible degradation, if the Americans are aware of the associated risks, Zakharova said.

During an ABC News interview, Biden said Putin will pay a price after the U.S. intelligence community released a report saying that Putin allegedly authorized intelligence operations to influence the 2020 election to denigrate Biden and support former President Donald Trump. Youll see shortly, he said about what he might do.

The Kremlin on Wednesday said the U.S. intelligence report on Russian election meddling has absolutely no foundation and evidence and said more sanctions will hurt bilateral relations. The conclusions of the report on Russia conducting influence operations in America are confirmed solely by the confidence of the intelligence services of their self-righteousness. No facts or specific evidence of such claims were provided, the statement added.

Russian President Vladimir Putin holds a meeting with Russian students via a videoconference on the Students Day at a residence in Zavidovo, Tver region, Russia, on Jan. 25, 2021. (Mikhail Klimentyev/Sputnik/AFP via Getty Images)

The interviewer asked the president about whether he believes Putin was a killer, and Biden responded with, Yes I do.

I know him relatively well. And the conversation started off, I said, I know you and you know me. If I establish this occurred, then be prepared, Biden added.

The United States recently sanctioned seven top Russian officials for the alleged attempted poisoning and imprisonment of opposition activist Alexey Navalny, who is currently serving time in a penal colony. Human rights groups and Western leaders have called for his release.

The Tuesday intelligence community report, however, said that the Chinese Communist Party did not try to sway the election, claiming that Chinese regime leaders ultimately opted not to and would have worked with either Trump or Biden.

But Trumps then-Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe said earlier this year that he did not agree with the the majority view expressed by [intelligence community] analysts fully and accurately reflects the scope of the Chinese governments efforts to influence the 2020 U.S. federal elections. Other Trump administration officials last year said that the Chinese regime was seeking to influence the Nov. 3, 2020, presidential election.
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WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- South Florida residents Michelle and John Makris are marking a tragic one-year anniversary this month by encouraging parents to educate themselves on the signs of substance use disorders. A board member of Hanley Foundation, John Makris and his wife Michelle are sharing the story of their son Brice to call attention to a free virtual parenting series starting on March 25 presented by Hanley Foundation, a nonprofit leader in substance misuse prevention. Open to the public, the series is titled "Some Days We Thrive; Others We Survive" and features a variety of authors and parenting experts headlining four online sessions.

Michelle and John Makris - photo credit LILA PHOTO First presenter Dr. Michele Borba, Ed. D

"I tell people who call me for advice to look for the signs," said Michelle Makris. "As parents, we always blame ourselves when something happens to our children. I have learned that Brice was dealing with a terrible disease. I just wish I had known more about it and had been able to see its signs. The free series is a wonderful resource for all parents and offers conversation starters to connect with children of all ages."

The Makrises lost their youngest son, Brice, in March 2020 to a Fentanyl overdose. At 23-years-old, Brice had recently graduated from Florida State University with a biology degree. An all-around good student, athlete, former camper and camp counselor, and "everyone's best friend," Brice was born and raised in Florida. Michelle says their family is incredibly close, and when Brice began experiencing signs of depression in his senior year at FSU, he reached out to his parents often as he wrapped up his studies and planned to come home.

"We were so focused on his mental health and getting the help we thought he needed for his depression that we never realized he was in a life-or-death struggle with opioids," said John Makris. "When he did ask for our help for his addiction, he went through a local treatment program and was in a sober home after. Sadly, it just took one time of using drugs laced with Fentanyl for us to lose him just a year ago."

Designed to offer an interactive opportunity for education and parenting tips, the series is scheduled monthly at 7:30 p.m., on March 25 (Dr. Michele Borba), April 22 (Jessica Lahey), May 19 (Officer Jermain Galloway) and June 24 (Dr. DeBenedittis). The programming will address topics including: how to help preschool to high-school students navigate anxiety and stress; tips on raising healthy kids who are free from substance use; drug culture trends in our community and how parents can spot the signs; and the importance of challenging the ways kids see drugs and alcohol portrayed in the media.

"Hanley Foundation is all about family, and family time is time well spent," said Jan Cairnes, Hanley Foundation CEO. "We know that family time, education and connection are keys to preventing substance misuse. We are offering this parenting series to increase awareness and hopefully change minds around the stigma of addiction. In the end, our goal is really to save lives. While the series is hosted virtually due to the pandemic, we also know that the pandemic is why so many families are feeling unprecedented strain and stress, and substance use is on a dramatic rise."

"Before he passed, Brice told us his goal was to save 100 men and women from this insidious disease," said John Makris. "His goal is now our mission. Together with the resources Hanley Foundation has to offer, we are striving to honor our son and save lives."

To learn more, please visit hanleyfoundation.org or contact Hanley Foundation's Chief Program Officer Ryan Wertepny at 561-268-2351.

Media Contact:

Heather Vidulich

561-414-8163

[email protected]

SOURCE Hanley Foundation

Related Links

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LEIDEN, the Netherlands  Mark Rutte, one of Europes longest-serving leaders, saw his Party for Freedom and Democracy win big in Dutch elections on Wednesday, setting him up for a fourth term as prime minister of the Netherlands.

We have to bring this country back to where it should be, as one of the best performing countries in the world, Mr. Rutte said in a televised victory speech. I have enough energy for even 10 more years.

Mr. Rutte, who describes his party as center-right, must now form a coalition with other parties to obtain a majority in Parliament. D66, a liberal-democratic party led by the former United Nations diplomat Sigrid Kaag, came in second. Mr. Rutte and Ms. Kaag are set to lead talks over forming a new government.

Mr. Ruttes party gained three seats as compared with similar elections in 2017, according to exit polls published by the public broadcaster NOS on Wednesday.
[March 17, 2021] Cytovia Therapeutics Opens Boston R&D Center of Excellence and Announces cGMP Manufacturing Facility, Aiming to Start Clinical Trials for its Gene-Edited iPSC CAR-NK Cells by 2022

R&D labs for NK cell biology, gene-editing, antibody and CAR development, and NK cell pilot manufacturing opens in Natick, MA



Cell therapy manufacturing facility with best-in-industry clinical and commercial capacity to open in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico CAMBRIDGE, Mass. and AVENTURA, Fla., March 17, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cytovia Therapeutics, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company developing allogeneic off-the-shelf gene-edited Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR)-NK cells derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and NK-Engager Bispecific antibodies, announced today two agreements for R&D and manufacturing operations in Massachusetts and Puerto Rico that will accelerate the companys Universal iPSC NK cells towards clinical trials beginning in Q4 2021 and gene-edited iPSC CAR-NK cells by 2022. Cytovia will move into state-of-the-art laboratory space at the ABI-LAB facility in Natick, MA in March, and has started recruiting R&D and process development personnel to its existing team. Cytovias existing cell therapy operation under the New York Stem Cell Foundation and antibody GMP manufacturing with STC Biologics will continue. In a parallel investment, Cytovia signed a long-term joint collaboration manufacturing and operations agreement with BioSciencesCorp to integrate Cytovias manufacturing processes within an existing 95,000 ft2 cGMP facility, including more than 40,000 ft2 of clean-room and biomanufacturing, located in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico. The company will recruit manufacturing personnel beginning in summer 2021. Were excited to rapidly expand our R&D team with the best talent in the Boston area. The combination of advanced laboratory space and cost-effective cGMP manufacturing capability represents a highly significant milestone as Cytovias NK off-the-shelf cell therapies and bispecific products accelerate towards the market, said Wei Li, Chief Scientific Officer of Cytovia Therapeutics The integration of Cytovias two new facilities is designed to allow the company to take each of our products rapidly and seamlessly into clinical and commercial production. The Natick laboratories will comprise four activities: NK cell biology, gene-editing, antibody and CAR development, and NK cell pilot manufacturing. The NK cell technology will then transfer directly to larger-scale but matching production operations in Puerto Rico. Cytovias first cell product is scheduled to be in the clinic in 2021 with up to three additional CAR-NK cell products following in 2022. The new facility gives Cytovia streamlined control over cGMP production in a facility that has been designed to meet global regulatory expectations and readiness for FDA, EMA, and global regulatory audits, said Robert Salcedo, the president of BioSciencesCorp and acting head of Cytovia manufacturing. By operating multiple cell modular clean rooms and bioreactors scaled to 25 liters, the cGMP facility will provide best-in-industry capacity to support clinical and commercial operations. The facility has been designed to allow multi-product manufacturing, enabling Cytovia to produce iPSC-derived CAR NK therapeutics for thousands of patients and positioning it as a leading celltherapy company with full clinical and commercial manufacturing capabilities.



Raphael Nir, PhD, Co-Founder, Managing Partner and CSO of ABI-LAB commented, We are delighted to welcome Cytovia Therapeutics to the Boston biotech ecosystem. Cytovia brings some of the most advanced R&D capabilities in cell therapy and antibody development, with vast potential to provide a breakthrough anti-cancer treatment. We are thrilled to be part of this important journey and will provide any help to expedite Cytovia development efforts towards clinical trials. About Cytovia Therapeutics

Cytovia aims to accelerate patient access to transformational cell therapies and immunotherapies, addressing several of the most challenging unmet medical needs in cancer. Cytovia focuses on Natural Killer (NK) cell biology and applies precision engineering to induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) to develop the safest, most effective, most broadly-available Natural Killer cell therapy as a first line of defense against cancer. Cytovias proprietary multi-specific antibody platform has been customized to engage and activate NK Cells at the tumor site. Both platforms offer optionality to clinicians and can also be used synergistically. Cytovias R&D laboratories and GMP manufacturing facility are augmented by scientific partnerships with Cellectis, CytoImmune, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, INSERM, the New York Stem Cell Foundation, STC Biologics, and the University of California San Francisco (UCSF).

Learn more at www.cytoviatx.com and follow Cytovia Therapeutics on Social Media (Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube). About ABI-LAB

ABI-LAB - Accelerator and Bioincubator Lab in Natick, MA supports startup companies through availability of affordable lab space and innovative pre-clinical services. ABI-LAB collaborates with entrepreneurs throughout their journey to resolve unmet medical needs. The campus consists of two first-class buildings that offer best-in-class infrastructure and state-of-the-art lab space that range in size from 500 to 4,000 square feet. In its 5th years of operation, ABI-LAB currently houses over 32 biotechnology companies. The Innovation Lab at ABI-LAB is home to over 20 unique instruments, and is available at no additional cost to residents to use. The equipment list is including FACS (Attune), Luminex 2000, QuantStudio 6 Pro, EVOS M700 and more. The campus provides a place to share space with like-minded individuals, shared amenities, and experienced industry leaders who can guide residents to bring early scientific discoveries to fruition. About BioSciencesCorp

BioSciencesCorp is a provider of end-to-end biologics and cell therapy manufacturing operation partnering with ambitious biotechnology companies to bring programs though cGMP development to market. BioSciencesCorp will manage Cytovias manufacturing site and process and oversee the technical transfer, additional process development associated with scale-up, and provide support their commercial production. BioSciencesCorp, led by Robert Salcedo and Daniel Chang, is implementing commercial-scale Gene and Cell Therapy, cGMP viral production, and Biosimilars. Full cGMP operations are planned for Q4 2021. About Gene-Edited, iPSC-derived CAR NK Cells

Chimeric Antigen Receptors (CAR) are fusion proteins that combine an extracellular antigen recognition domain with an intracellular co-stimulatory signaling domain. Natural Killer (NK) cells are modified genetically to allow insertion of a CAR. CAR-NK cell therapy has demonstrated initial clinical relevance without the limitations of CAR-T, such as Cytokine Release Syndrome, neurotoxicity, or Graft vs Host Disease (GVHD). In addition, CAR-NKs are naturally allogeneic, available off-the-shelf and may be able to be administered on an outpatient basis. Recent innovative developments with the induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived CAR-NKs, allow large quantities off-the-shelf, homogeneous CAR NK cells to be produced from a gene-edited iPSC master cell bank, and thus hold promise to expand access to cell therapy for many patients. For further information, please contact: Cytovia Investor Relations contact:

Anna Baran-Djokovic

VP of Investor Relations

646-355-1787

anna@cytoviatx.com Cytovia Media contact:

Chris Maggos

LifeSci Advisors

+41 79 367 6254

chris@lifesciadvisors.com



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Niamey (Niger), Mar 17 (UNI) At least 58 people were killed when unidentified gunmen opened fire on four vehicles carrying passengers who were returning from a weekly market in the Tillaberi region, Niger government said on Tuesday.

So far, no group has claimed the responsibility, which reportedly occurred on Monday.

The Niger government, in its statement read out on public television, said: "The assailants, still unidentified individuals intercepted the vehicles ferrying passengers back from the weekly market of Banibangou to the villages of Chinedogar and Darey-Daye."

Fifty-eight people were killed and one was injured in the attack, the government added.

The African country has announced three days of national mourning.

In January this year, in Tillaberi region, around 100 civilians were killed in attacks after the first round of presidential elections.

Some militants belonging to the Islamic State are reportedly active in this reason.

The country is part of the larger Sahel region in West Africa, which has witnessed frequent militants attack. In 2014, France launched the 5,000-strong Operation Barkhane to check the terrorist threat in the region. In addition to the French forces, the operation involves the troops of the G5-Sahel member states  Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, Chad and Mauritania.

UNI XC GK 0518
This evening we're inspired by the enduring leggy goodness of hottie Paris as we share some of our favorite pop culture items, community news and top headlines . . .



Local Kindness Takes Root

The Giving Grove is fighting hunger with urban orchards The Giving Grove, a Kansas City-based nonprofit, is equipping partner nonprofits around the country with the necessary skills and techniques to help food-insecure neighborhoods grow their own food. This week, The Giving Grove will be hosting its first national conference to achieve this goal.

Listicle Lies

Four cities in Kansas City metro ranked among best to live in US in 2021 OVERLAND PARK, Kan. - According to a new list, Overland Park is one of the best cities to live in the country in 2021. Niche - which analyzes public data and reviews to create rankings, report cards and more for schools, colleges and neighborhoods - recently released its annual Best Places to Live report, and [...]

Kansas City College Opportunity Abounds

Metropolitan Community College seeks expanded footprint of attached school districts It's been nearly three decades since the Junior College District of Metropolitan Kansas City, Missouri, expanded its footprint. Now, voters in eight suburban counties will decide April 6 whether to become attached to the district, which operates the Metropolitan Community College system.

Hotness Redux

Paris Hilton Re-Created Her Iconic Silver 21st-Birthday Dress For the Grammys Paris Hilton didn't attend the Grammys in person, but she certainly dressed up for the award show. The starlet, who recently got engaged wearing a sparkly Retrofete dress to go along her giant diamond ring, was seen wearing a custom look while at home.

Atlanta Massacre Update

Here's what we know about the metro Atlanta spa shootings that left 8 dead Investigators said they were trying to determine whether the shootings were connected.

Prez Biden: Stay Masked Up

Biden tells Americans to keep wearing masks 'until everyone is, in fact, vaccinated' President Biden wants Americans to wear face masks to prevent the spread of coronavirus "until everyone is, in fact, vaccinated," he said on Monday. "I urge all local docs and ministers and priests to talk about why, why it's important to get that vaccine and even after that, until everyone is, in fact, vaccinated, to wear this mask," Biden said after giving an address on his $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan.

Russia, Russia, Russia!?!

Intelligence Report: Russia Tried To Help Trump In 2020 Election A new report by the U.S. intelligence community on Tuesday says Russia sought to help former President Donald Trump in last year's presidential election. But the document also emphasized that there was no indication that Russia or any other country attempted to alter actual votes.

ALL FULL AMIGOS!!!

Biden tells migrants 'don't come' to US as border crisis surges President Biden is now urging migrants planning on embarking to the United States not to come. During an interview with ABC News that is set to air during Wednesday's "Good Morning America," Biden was asked by George Stephanopoulos if it was a "mistake" for his administration not to "anticipate" the surge at the southern border following the 2020 presidential election.

Kayne Purged

Kim Kardashian Hinted Her Divorce Was A "Huge Cleanse" After Kanye Apparently "Cut Off Communication" With Her "The kids are getting older. He's very cautious about what we have in the house - we got rid of the TVs in the kids' rooms and removed makeup from North's room," she went on. "He's been very ... had this epiphany of ...

The Dotte Really Does Care

Kansas City, Kansas, couple that helps homeless community facing own time of need Following a near-death accident, Danny Hagan and Rachelle Burnett are staring down a mountain of medical bills, but that hasn't stopped them from focusing on others.Hagan didn't know what was ahead that December morning. He left for work on a crash course with fate.

Show-Me Comeback

Missouri State Fair on this year after 2020 cancelation COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) - Plans for a full Missouri State Fair are back on after the event was canceled last year because of the coronavirus, a spokeswoman for the state's agriculture director confirmed Tuesday. Officials canceled the event last year over concerns about safety during the pandemic.

Overnight Forecast

Cloudy evening, rounds of storms likely overnight Hide Transcript Show Transcript THIS FIRST ALERT WEATHER. WELL HERE IN THE FIRST ALERT WEATHER CENTER CALMER WEATHER FOR THE TIME BEING BUT UNFORTUNATELY WE HAVE TO ABOUT ANOTHER STORM SYSTEM MOVING IN BUT I THINK IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO MATURE THE MOST FARTHER EAST AND SOUTH EAST OF US.

And this is the OPEN THREAD for tonight.
SACRAMENTO, Calif., March 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- California's three investor-owned utilities, including the largest utility in the country, PG&E, have joined together to pressure a regulatory agency set up to protect consumers from dangerous, expensive, and unreliable energy into making consumer solar two times more expensive than it is today, while slashing the value of solar electricity sent back to the grid on hot summer days by 77%. The utility's proposal would make solar out of reach for most low- and middle-income consumers just when recent studies show they make up nearly 50% of today's market.

"California ratepayers have suffered deadly wildfires, repeated blackouts, and rising energy bills and now the utilities want the government to penalize them for adding solar to their roof all in the name of lowering energy bills. Californians simply aren't buying it." said Bernadette Del Chiaro, CALSSA Executive Director referring to a public opinion poll put out by her association yesterday.

Under fire by the utilities is a program called net energy metering, or NEM, which allows consumers who have solar on their apartment building or school to generate energy onsite and send surplus electrons back to the grid in exchange for a simple bill credit. Utilities have long opposed net metering because it reduces the need to build more poles and wires to transport electrons from distant power plants, which in turn cuts into utility profits. Since 2012, California's investor-owned utilities posted $20 billion in profits fueled in large part by their ability to charge ratepayers more than $20 billion in transmission line projects during roughly the same time period.

"Rooftop solar cuts down on the need to build expensive transmission lines which is why the utilities are always after us," said Del Chiaro. "Solar roofs save everyone money, not to mention build a more resilient grid, but they cut into utility profits. Utilities are trying to blame their huge structural shortcomings on consumers and small businesses."

Utility proposals for modifying net metering program would make the following changes:

The highest solar fees in America, charging a typical residential consumer an unavoidable fee of $78 per month on average just to have solar on their roof. 1

per month on average just to have solar on their roof. Non-residential customers would also be hit with huge fees. A typical school, for example, wanting to invest in solar would be charged an unavoidable $950 monthly fee in PG&E territory, $1,100 in Southern California Edison territory, and $3,400 per month in the San Diego area. 2

monthly fee in PG&E territory, in Southern California Edison territory, and per month in the area. Reduces the credit consumers receive for surplus solar electricity sent back to the grid on hot summer days by 77%. This means that when a solar user shares electricity with their neighbor, the utility would charge the neighbor 25 cents while giving the solar user 5.7 cents in bill credits.

while giving the solar user in bill credits. In addition to the new fees and cuts, the IOU proposal would also require monthly true ups, preventing consumers from carrying forward their unused credits from month to month.

Roughly one in ten California ratepayers have solar, totaling more than a million consumers, including 150,000 CARE customers, and helping spur a burgeoning solar industry that supports thousands of small businesses and over 70,000 jobs. The California Energy Commission estimates California will need five times as much solar to meet its clean energy goals and help fight climate change. CALSSA contends that the utility proposals would stall out one of the bright spots in the California economy as small businesses and consumers struggle to recover from Covid-19.

CALSSA is part of a growing coalition of consumer, environmental, and community groups standing up for consumer choice and local solar energy. The group has a website www.SaveCaliforniaSolar.org. Yesterday, CALSSA and the Solar Rights Alliance put out a public opinion poll showing utility company efforts to roll back net metering are highly unpopular among California voters. Instead, the poll showed strong support for net metering across parties, and a bipartisan desire for California leaders to do more to encourage the growth of rooftop solar power. Over 11,000 people have signed a petition to Governor Gavin Newsom and the CPUC to urge them to protect consumer solar.

The California Solar & Storage Association (CALSSA) has advanced the common interest of the solar and storage industry for over 40 years, making California the most robust market in the U.S. The association is the state's largest clean energy business group with over 600 member companies, primarily small businesses based in communities throughout the state, representing an array of businesses that manufacture, design, install, finance and provide other resources to the growing local solar and storage market in California. Learn more at www.calssa.org.

1 $56 per month in SCE; $86 per month for PG&E; and $91 per month for SDG&E for a typical 6 kilowatt system.

2 Based on a 250 kilowatt system

SOURCE California Solar and Storage Association (CALSSA)
Chinas foreign ministry spokesman, Zhao Lijian, has, on the other hand, described the looming encounter as a high-level strategic dialogue, indicating just how far apart the starting point and aspirations for the summit will be. Chinas own ambitions for the meeting  Zhao described them as demands  are that the US adopt an objective and rational attitude towards bilateral ties, abandon its Cold War mentality and zero-sum mindset, respect Chinas sovereignty, security and development interests and stop interfering in Chinas internal affairs. If the US relationships with Japan, South Korea and India continue to develop and Biden can re-establish a closer and more trustful relationship with the EU, it would be far more difficult for China to try to exploit the fissures in the alliances that the Trump years created. None of that is going to happen, of course, with Biden and his administrations officials leaving Trumps tariffs and sanctions in place, conducting urgent review of Americas supply chain vulnerability to China and openly acknowledging that it is in competition with China for economic and geopolitical supremacy. The whirlwind of meetings in the Asia Pacific followed an agreement earlier this month between the US and the European Union to suspend the retaliatory tariffs each had imposed over the long-running Boeing-Airbus dispute. The US had imposed tariffs on $US7.5 billion ($9.7 billion) of Europes exports and the EU duties on $US4 billion of US products over World Trade Organisation-ratified claims of state subsidies.

The suspension, for four months, is the first sign of a new phase in a bilateral relationship fractured by Trumps trade policies, his abandonment of multi-lateral relationships and organisations and his insistence, as occurred with Japan and South Korea, that US allies pay for the US defence presence within their territories. Biden has made it clear he wants to return the US to its traditional multilateralism and reconstitute the alliance of the West to present a united front to China. The defusing of trade tensions with the EU is a small first step to a thawing of the previously frosty relationship between the two key pillars of that alliance. Loading Replay Replay video Play video Play video If the US relationships with Japan, South Korea and India continue to develop and Biden can re-establish a closer and more trustful relationship with the EU, it would be far more difficult for China to try to exploit the fissures in the alliances that the Trump years created. It might find it painful, even impossible, to consider removing the sanctions it has imposed on Australian exports but it now has to factor in the potential costs of continuing US tariffs and sanctions.

The balance of power in the friction between Australia and China may not be as one-sided and loaded as it has been  and there is the growing threat that the tangible evidence of its willingness to use its economic leverage against lesser powers will only bind its regional neighbours closer to the US. The EU is said to be considering its own sanctions on China for its treatment of the Uighurs, which could add another strand to the sense that China risks being encircled by the revival of a more coherent and strategic US approach to diplomacy, one which leverages shared histories and values and perceptions of threat. Loading While it is unlikely that the Anchorage meeting will produce any progress in resolving some of the key sources of friction between the US and China there are some less prickly items on the agenda  climate change, the coronavirus and Irans nuclear program are the obvious ones  where some broad agreement might be possible. The Biden administration has made it clear it will raise sensitive issues, like human rights  the Uighurs and Hong Kong  and technology but that it doesnt see tariffs or Chinas compliance (or non-compliance) with the Phase One trade agreement as major topics, even though China does.
Buying yoga leggings can be a costly affair, with high-end activewear brands flogging pairs for over 100. Thankfully, Amazon is a great destination to shop high-quality workout leggings at a fraction of the price.

Case in point: Amazon shoppers love the SIHOHAN Yoga Pants, which one reviewer described as the 'best leggings I have ever bought', and they cost a very affordable 14.44.

The number one bestseller in Amazon's Women's Exercise & Fitness Trousers category, customers say the SIHOHAN Yoga Pants are just as high quality as their pricer counterparts, calling them 'amazing quality', 'super soft' and 'super comfortable'.

Amazon shoppers love the SIHOHAN Yoga Pants, which one reviewer described as the 'best leggings I have ever bought', and they cost a very affordable 14.44

Designed with a thick and stretchy four-way nylon-spandex blend, the SIHOHAN Yoga Pants feature a high waist and wide waistband to suck you in and enhance your curves.

Plus, there's a hidden pocket in the waistband that's ideal for tucking away credit cards or a house key, so you can run without worrying about your valuables bouncing out.

Not only are they sweat-wicking and quick-drying, but the leggings also have flatlock seams to reduce irritation and eliminate chafing, allowing for maximum comfort.

The bestselling SIHOHAN Yoga Pants are available in full or a cropped capri length (perfect for the warmer months), with sizes ranging from extra small to XXL. There's also several solid colours to pick from, including classic black, grey and khaki green.

'Perfect workout leggings,' one shopper wrote in their review on Amazon. 'Super soft, perfect high waist, no pulling up, squat proof and spot-on to work out in and to wear daily. Absolutely worth every penny.

The bestselling SIHOHAN Yoga Pants are available in full or a cropped capri length (perfect for the warmer months), with sizes ranging from extra small to XXL

'A perfect fit for me! The waistband is so comfy it doesn't feel like you're wearing something so figure-hugging. I bought another pair in grey because they're that good.'

'I absolutely love these leggings,' another five-star reviewer shared. They are so soft and comfortable. Not see-through at all! I got the colour grey and am so pleased they aren't see-through.

'I would definitely recommend these leggings to everyone. Best leggings I have ever bought. So worth it!'

A third customer commented: 'I bought these leggings as the reviews were good. And I have to say that they are the most comfortable leggings I have ever had. Good quality and nice and thick too. Well worth it.'

MailOnline may earn commission on sales from the links on this page.
Photo: (Photo : lucas Favre / Unsplash)

Several studies dig deeper into the impact of the mother's health during pregnancy on the child's health. In particular, researchers took an interest in looking at the long-term effects of pregnancy health.

Findings are breakthrough knowledge on how mothers have a much more substantial impact on their child's health, even to the point of minimizing risk factors later in life.

Exercise During Pregnancy and Its Impact on Child's Health

Exercising during pregnancy is good for both mom and baby. Exercise reduces the risk of premature delivery and pregnancy complications. But researcher and exercise expert Zhen Yan, Ph.D. at the University of Virginia's School of Medicine, wanted to know whether the benefits of exercise during pregnancy will last throughout the child's life.

The study, published in the "Journal of Applied Physiology" suggested that exercise during pregnancy has huge implications on ensuring children live as healthy lives as possible, the University of Virginia noted.

ALSO READ: COVID 19 and Pregnancy Would You Believe These New Findings?

Obese Parents' Genes: How to Prevent Parents-to-Child Transmission of Diseases

The researchers wanted to determine the impact of pregnancy exercise on a child's health if either or both parents are obese. Medical experts have already known that most chronic diseases have a fetal origin, potentially through the chemical modification of genes.

The study found that maternal exercise while pregnant is likely to prevent "epigenetic" changes to the child's genes. This is, exercise can negate the adverse impact of parents' obesity, Study Finds reported.

ALSO READ: Children's Bad Habits, Vices Reduced, But What Replaced Them?

Pregnancy Exercises Can Reduce Risk of Child Diabetes

To be more specific, the study determined that pregnancy exercise reduces the odds that children will develop metabolic diseases-prematurely or later in life. Diabetes is an example of metabolic disease.

Metabolic disorders happen when some organs like the liver and pancreas do not function normally as it becomes diseased.

Further, metabolic disorders disrupt metabolism or the process of converting food to energy. It can affect the breakdown of carbohydrates, lipids (such as Gaucher's disease), or amino acids (such as in the inherited metabolic disorder is phenylketonuria).

ALSO READ: Teen Sleep Deprivation Causes Depression Later in Adulthood

Cardiovascular Exercise Helps Reduce Risks in Child's Health

Cardiovascular exercise, in particular, is vital to a child's health. A study published in the "Journal of the American Medical Association" based on 2,300 mother-child pairs all over the world assessed how cardiovascular risk factors could be passed on to the child.

Initially, it was widely-believed babies start with a "clean slate in terms of cardiovascular health," said Dr. Stephen Daniels, pediatrician-in-chief at Children's Hospital Colorado. He noted that the published study is "really important" and wrote an editorial to accompany the report.

The researchers assessed several factors during pregnancy, including weight, blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol. The study suggested that a pregnant woman's heart health may predict a child's health by reaching adolescence, Health Day reported.

One of the researchers, a volunteer expert with the American Heart Association and cardiologist Dr. Nisha Parikh revealed, "mothers' health during pregnancy can impact future generations."

The study found that when children reach ages 10 to 14, they are eight times more likely to have multiple risk factors when their mom had two or more risk factors during pregnancy. Children of mothers who had one cardiovascular risk factor while pregnant had three times higher odds of having the same risk.

Parikh, however, noted that the study is "not to blame mothers." Instead, the study is meant to help women go into pregnancy healthy as possible, knowing their health can have a ripple effect on their children. That ripple effect is even longer-lasting as teenagers with optimal cardiovascular health have fewer strokes and heart attacks years later.
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British companies should be blacklisted if they cannot prove their products are not made with slave labour in China, MPs will urge today.

The Commons business, energy and industrial strategy committee says it is 'appalled' that firms are still unable to guarantee their supply chains have no involvement with the forced Uighur labour camps of Xinjiang province, despite mounting evidence of human rights abuses.

MPs demanded that the Government find out if millions of pounds of taxpayers' cash is being 'used to underpin human rights abuses' via aid to China.

The committee calls on Ministers to toughen up modern slavery laws by introducing 'tough fines' for companies that are secretive about their supply chains and do not publish annual statements about them.

British companies should be blacklisted if they cannot prove their products are not made with slave labour in China, MPs will urge today. Pictured: A flag-lined street leading to a facility believed to be a re-education camp for mostly Uighur Muslims

It says the Government should report on the possibility of publishing a 'whitelist' of companies that have evidence their supply chains have no links to Xinjiang, and a blacklist of those who cannot supply evidence or refuse to answer questions.

Sanctions should also be considered against Chinese and international businesses implicated in the exploitation of more than 1million Uyghurs, who have been sent to 're-education camps' and then forced to work for free in factories.

Nusrat Ghani, the Tory MP who led the inquiry, said: 'It is deeply concerning that companies selling to millions of British customers cannot guarantee that their supply chains are free from forced labour, and deeply disappointing that the Government appears to lack the urgency and commitment to take the tough action which is both necessary and overdue.

'Amid compelling evidence of abuses, there has been a sorry absence of significant new Government measures to prohibit UK businesses from profiting from the forced labour of Uyghurs in Xinjiang and other parts of China.

'Modern slavery legislation and BEIS Department policy are not fit for purpose in tackling this grave situation.

'The Government must not stand idly by while companies operate with wilful blindness over the brutality being suffered by the Uyghurs.'

She added: 'British consumers don't want to enrich themselves on the back of slave labour, yet UK law lets businesses off the hook if they fail to check that their supply chains are free from forced labour and the abuse of minorities in China.

That's why Government must blacklist British companies who use Uyghur slave labour.'
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-17 01:04:39|Editor: huaxia

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YEREVAN, March 16 (Xinhua) -- Armenia on Tuesday kicked off joint tactical and professional military drills to test the combat-readiness of its military units.

The country's defense ministry said in a statement on its website that all military units involved in the drills have been brought to relevant levels of combat readiness.

"The objectives of the military exercises being conducted are to test the combat-readiness of military units and divisions, especially the ability to operate under difficult conditions," local News.am cited sources from the General Staff of the army as saying.

The defense authority did not disclose further details of the drills. Enditem
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By Andrea Shalal

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. government will marshal all of its resources to address climate change as the country recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said on Tuesday, as she stressed that the poor suffer the most from climate change.

President Joe Biden has tasked the Treasury Department with using the "vote and voice" of the United States to advance emissions reduction goals, and working to end international financing of carbon-intensive fossil-fuel-based energy sources.

Yellen underscored her focus on tackling climate change and reducing global poverty in a meeting with Christian and Jewish religious leaders and Jubilee USA Network, a non-profit that advocates for debt relief, according to a Treasury statement.

She "stressed that the global poor are the least responsible for climate change, but will suffer most from it," Treasury said. "She noted that the Administration is committed to using the full power of the U.S. federal government to address climate change as part of the Build Back Better plan."

Yellen said the pandemic had accelerated global economic inequality, and low-income countries would need continued international support to address the COVID-19 crisis.

The United States would work with international partners to tackle the crisis, including through support of a Group of 20 debt moratorium and adoption of a common framework to help countries restructure their debts, she said.

Yellen also said she saw a potential new allocation of the International Monetary Fund's emergency reserves, or Special Drawing Rights, as part of a broader package of assistance to low-income countries, but gave no details.

Yellen's support, first announced last month, reversed the opposition of the Trump administration, paving the way for a likely SDR allocation this year. U.S. support is critical because it is the IMF's largest shareholder.

Eric LeCompte, executive director of Jubilee USA Network, said the discussion made clear that climate policies were a growing focus of the G7 and G20 major economies.

"Treasury is looking at climate issues in very deep ways," he said.

(Reporting by Andrea Shalal; Editing by Leslie Adler)
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.
Burma Myanmar Junta Suspends 212 Central Bank Staff on Strike

Civil servants protest in Naypyitaw. / The Irrawaddy

More than 200 employees from the Central Bank of Myanmar have been suspended for taking part in the civil disobedience movement (CDM) against the military regime.

Last Fridays order suspended 212 staff, ranging from assistant directors to cleaners, for failing to perform their duties.

Legal action against civil servants on strike comes as the military government has been paralyzed by the CDM for over a month. The junta has stepped up detentions, dismissals or suspensions and evictions of civil servants from government housing.

A suspended member of the banking staff told The Irrawaddy that with hundreds of bankers joining the CDM in Yangon, Naypyitaw and Mandalay, stifling financial operations across the country.

A few staff in Naypyitaw were forced to return to work, she added. Many banking staff have left their accommodation to avoid possible raids and detentions, she said.

I dont dare withdraw my salary as they told us to come to the office to receive our pay, she said. I have prepared [to continue striking after being suspended], she said. Some of her colleagues are pregnant or the only wage earners in their families and are now facing financial difficulties.

You may also like these stories:

Elected NLD Lawmakers Yangon Office Destroyed by Myanmar Junta

32 Anti-Regime Protesters Charged with Incitement in Upper Myanmar

Foreign Oil and Gas Companies Urged to Suspend Business Ties with Myanmar Military Regime
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With both Pt Fortin hospitals now converted to Covid-19-only facilities and no 24-hour accident and emergency service, Kay Arjoon was yesterday forced to deliver her nephew while parked on the Otaheite roadside.

Arjoon, 37, her nine-month-pregnant sister-in-law, Christene, 34, and brother Ricardo, had driven from Cap-de-Ville in Point Fortin in an attempt to reach the San Fernando General Hospital before delivery.
UD maintains its national first-place rank in materials engineering research

DAYTON, OhioThe University of Dayton ranks No. 1 in 10 categories among national, state and Catholic colleges and universities, and it increased its standing in five others according to the National Science Foundations most recent annual rankings report on higher education research.

The University remains No. 1 among all U.S. colleges and universities for all sponsored research and development in materials engineering, as well as for federally sponsored research and development in materials engineering.

Among Ohio colleges and universities, UD remains No. 1 for federally sponsored engineering research and development, Department of Defense-sponsored research and development, and all sponsored research and development in industrial and manufacturing engineering.

UD also remains No. 1 among the nation's Catholic colleges and universities for all sponsored engineering research and development.

Nationally, UD broke into the top 20 for engineering research funded by all sources, moving from 21st to 18th place, and federally sponsored aerospace engineering research, moving from 21st to 17th place. It also broke into the top 25 for aerospace engineering research, moving from 28th to 24th place. UD also moved from sixth to fifth place in manufacturing engineering research and from ninth to eighth in total research revenue among private, four-year universities without medical schools.

These achievements are a testament to the exemplary efforts of our faculty and Research Institute staff who have shown a passion for conducting research that is relevant to national needs as well as to our local economy, said John Leland, University of Dayton vice president for research.

Research numbers are for fiscal year 2019 and were released in February 2021 by the NSF. Sponsored research revenue at the University of Dayton was more than $170 million that same fiscal year. The majority of the funding  92.6%  was performed for federal agencies, including the Department of Defense, Department of Energy, NASA and the Environmental Protection Agency.

The UD Research Institute, which employs 715 researchers, technicians and administrative staff on campus, as well as at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and facilities in Georgia, Oklahoma, Florida and Utah; performs most of the University's research, with academic units contributing 6%. In addition, 67 faculty members and 238 graduate and undergraduate students engaged in sponsored research in fiscal year 2019.

For media interviews, contact Pamela Gregg at 937-229-3268 (office), 937-269-8963 (mobile) and pamela.gregg@udri.udayton.edu; or Shawn Robinson at srobinson1@udayton.edu.

Mar. 16, 2021
China's national railway operator China State Railway Group Co., Ltd. (China Railway) has rolled out new thoughtful measures to bring more convenience to senior citizens during their rail trips, according to Lu Dongfu, president of the company.

Photo shows train attendants from China State Railway Group Co., Ltd. (Photo from the Weibo account of China State Railway Group Co., Ltd.)

Lu, who is also a deputy to the National People's Congress, the countrys top legislative body, said that the company has optimized its online ticketing system to automatically identify passengers over the age of 60 and give them priority for lower berth allotment in trains when it is allowed.

The system will also automatically assign adjacent seats for senior passengers who plan to travel together and place one order to book train tickets, Lu said, adding that elderly passengers can swipe their ID cards and go through a face scan to enter a railway station, or pass through special channels that provide manual verification, Lu explained.

Photo shows a railway staff member helping a senior citizen buy ticket via a self-service ticket machine. (Photo from the Weibo account of China State Railway Group Co., Ltd.)

China Railway allows senior citizens who have trouble using smartphones to show their health QR codes to provide ID cards or other valid identification documents where health codes are needed. The company also offers personalized pick-up or wake-up services for seniors free of charge.

Elderly passengers can also order meals through China Railway's official website 12306.cn and its official app, or go directly to the dining carriage to order and have meals delivered to their seats.

To help senior citizens who have difficulty accessing the online ticketing system, China's railway stations are continuing the use of manual ticket counters and accepting cash as payment for train tickets, while their staff members will offer guidance to senior passengers near the self-service ticket machines.

Photo shows two railway crew members checking a paper certificate of an elderly passenger on a station platform. (Photo from the Weibo account of China State Railway Group Co., Ltd.)

All railway stations have set up waiting rooms (areas) tailored to key passengers, including the elderly, children, sick and disabled people, and pregnant women, who will be given preferential treatment when going through ticket checks, said Lu.

Photo shows a train attendant guiding an elderly woman to her seat. (Photo from the Weibo account of China State Railway Group Co., Ltd.)
The border between the United States and Mexico is seen near El Paso, Texas on March 15, 2021. (Justin Hamel/AFP via Getty Images)

Migrant Children Will End Up in Sex Trafficking: Texas Lt. Governor

Many migrant children will end up in sex trafficking in the midst of a surge in illegal immigration along the U.S.-Mexico border, said Texas Lt. Governor Dan Patrick.

They are sending children into this country having no idea where they are going to end up, Patrick told Fox News, referring to the burgeoning number of migrant children arriving at the border without any parental supervision. And some of these children are going to end up in sex trafficking. When they take these kids and send them to Uncle Bob in New Jersey, wherever it may be.

In facilities to house these children along the border, there is not enough staff to handle the numbers, he asserted.

They dont have the staff to watch them, to track them. They dont know where theyre going, Patrick, a Republican, added in his interview on Tuesday.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) was dispatched by the Biden administration to the Southern Border over the past weekend to help care for unaccompanied minors who crossed into the United States in recent weeks. Since the start of President Joe Bidens administration, thousands of migrants have arrived at the border, trigger what some have described as a crisis.

Patrick claimed that the White Houses immigration policy is prompting a surge of children from Mexico and Central America, who will end up in sex trafficking operations in this country, referring to reports of human smugglers subjecting children and women migrants to sexual abuse. He added: This is putting not only Americans at risk but these children at risk.

The number of migrants who are illegally entering the country is the highest its been in 20 years, said the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on Tuesday.

We are on pace to encounter more individuals on the southwest border than we have in the last 20 years, DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said in a statement. There is understandably a great deal of attention currently focused on the southwest border, Mayorkas added. The situation at the southwest border is difficult. We are working around the clock to manage it and we will continue to do so. That is our job. We are making progress and we are executing on our plan.

Republicans have said that Bidens executive actions that did away with the previous administrations immigration rulesincluding the Remain in Mexico policy, construction of the border wall, and other provisionsled to the spike. Democrats, meanwhile, blamed former President Donald Trumps administration for what they have described as a broken immigration system.

The Epoch Times has reached out to the Department of Homeland Security for comment.
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Home burglaries are a frequent occurrence in the United States. No matter the neighbourhood you live in, a break-in can happen as thieves do not discriminate. Luckily, there are ways to try and prevent a break-in from happening to you. Taking the time to inspect the interior and exterior of your home is important when trying to uncover security vulnerabilities. As you perform this inspection, be sure to consider your garage door.

One of the first places a thief will go when trying to gain entrance to a home is the garage. If your garage door is weak and vulnerable, a burglar can breach it and enter your residence. Preventing a garage break-in is easy if you follow the tips in this article.

A Deadbolt On Your Service Door

Most homes that have a garage door also have a service door nearby. This door allows the homeowner to get into their garage without having to open the main garage door. If a thief is trying to find an access point to enter your home, they will probably check the service door. Service doors that aren't properly secured or locked can be used as an entry point by a motivated thief.

If you want to avoid having your service door breached by a criminal, be sure to install a deadbolt lock. With this lock in place, you can make your service door nearly impenetrable. Choosing the right lock and getting it installed will be much easier with the assistance of an experienced locksmith. A knowledgeable expert can get this new lock installed and functional in a matter of hours. The money paid for this professional help is worth it considering the increased security it will provide.

Motion-Sensor Lights

A home burglary occurs every 15 seconds in the United States, with many of them happening at night. Criminals love using the dark of night as cover for their nefarious activities. If the area outside of your garage door isn't illuminated, it is only a matter of time before burglars try to breach it. One of the best ways to prevent this from happening is by investing in motion-sensor lights.

These lights are designed to illuminate when motion is detected. If a burglar is creeping around your garage and these lights come on, it will probably result in them scurrying off into the darkness. Since new electrical wires have to be installed for these lights to work properly, you need to hire a certified electrician to handle this work.

Avoid Letting Bushes and Shrubs Grow Too High

Planting trees, bushes and shrubs around a home is a great way to increase its curb appeal. While these landscaping elements look great, they can also be used as cover by a burglar if they are too high. Thieves can easily hide in larger bushes and shrubs while they wait to break into your garage.

This is why you need to maintain the shrubs and bushes around your home, to keep them short and trimmed. If you don't have the time or tools to do this landscaping maintenance on your own, hiring professionals to handle this job is in your best interest. Installing solar lights around these landscaping elements is also a good idea if you want to deter burglars from coming around your home.

Don't Wait Until It's Too Late To Take Action!

Now that you know more about common garage door vulnerabilities, it's time to get to work. With some time and effort, you can make your garage door more secure. Reaching out to professionals for help can make this work more manageable.

@ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
A family's newly renovated mobile home caught fire after a crystal ball magnified the sun onto a pillow.

Matt and Melinda Champion, from Elanora Heights on Sydney's northern beaches, spent $60,000 converting a 25-seater bus into a home on wheels.

But their new digs are lucky to still be standing after a crystal ball left in the centre console burnt through the front seat.

'Honestly, what are the chances of a crystal ball magnifying the sun onto a pillow to start a fire,' Mr Champion told Daily Mail Australia.

'Crystals of any kind are now banned from the bus.'

A crystal ball left in the centre console of the bus burnt the front seat's pillow

Matt and Melinda Champion, from Elanora Heights in Sydney's north, spent $60,000 converting a 25-seater bus into a home on wheels

Champion then explained how the bizarre incident unfolded on Monday evening around 5pm.

'I was home and my neighbour came running across the road telling me the bus was filling with smoke,' he said.

'I raced outside and unlocked the bus... luckily my neighbour had an extinguisher handy, so the fire was put out fairly quickly.

'In the end the damage wasn't too bad, we have to replace a few things, it is a day I won't forget in a hurry.'

After a visit from the local fire brigade, it was confirmed a crystal ball nestled into the centre console was the fire culprit.

Once the blaze was put out, Mr Champion checked the bus' CCTV and noticed the crystal ball had been burning for more than an hour.

Mr Champion had fortunately parked the bus on a main street where someone could see it and notice the smoke.

Luckily the only items that were damaged was a pillow, Mr Champion's wallet and a seat belt.

The 33-year-old said his eagle-eyed neighbour was the 'true hero' of the incident.

After the blaze was put out, Mr Champion checked the bus' CCTV and noticed the crystal ball had been burning for more than an hour

Luckily the only items that were damaged was a pillow, Mr Champion's wallet and a seatbelt

Ms Champion purchased the glass ornament after recently getting into 'natural healing'

The couple and their two daughters Jordan, two, and Billie, three, leave next month for a year-long trip around Australia in the bus.

A home in Wisconsin in the US on Monday suffered $250,000 in damage after a crystal ball caught fire.

The blaze started on a couch in the living room after the glass ornament - which was placed on a table near the lounge in direct sunlight - magnified the sun.

'When sunshine came through a large set of windows and through the glass ball, it ignited the couch,' the Delton Fire Department said.
NAIROBI (Reuters) - A Kenyan inquest has ruled that police are to blame for the death of a 9-year-old girl during violence after the 2017 elections, saying that if the police wanted to find the girl's killer, who remains at large, they could do so in a day.

The death of Stephanie Moraa, and that of a six-month-old baby killed in post-election violence in western Kenya, became a flashpoint for public anger over police brutality. It also put a spotlight on what critics say are inadequate government efforts to prosecute officers who commit crimes. https://reut.rs/3vKNYyK

Kenyan police frequently face accusations of brutality and extrajudicial killings from civilians and rights groups, but officers are rarely charged and almost never convicted.

Chief magistrate Francis Andayi of the Magistrates Court at Nairobi Milimani Law Courts wrote in his report that the girl's death was caused by a "deliberate shooting by a police officer whose identity has been frustrated by police officers covering for one another under the blue code of silence".

He forwarded his report, seen by Reuters on Wednesday, to the director of public prosecution for further action.

"We shall wait for the next course of action by the director of public prosecutions," police spokesman Charles Owino said in response to a request for comment on the inquest report.

Moraa died after being hit in the chest by a stray bullet as police fired to disperse protesters on Aug. 12, 2017, the day after election results were announced. She had been standing on the balcony of her family's apartment in Nairobi's Mathare slum.

Several months after her death, the director of prosecutions ordered the inquest after receiving the findings of an investigation into the killing by the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), a government watchdog.

IPOA said the probe was hindered by the police, who did not provide information on matters such as the officers' placement, details that may have helped identify who fired the fatal shot.

Story continues

Eleven witnesses testified in the inquest, including neighbours and her parents who saw the killing and described it in detail, according to the inquest report published on Monday.

"I am almost certain that if the police service wished to identify and bring to book the officer who took away the life of (Moraa), it would not take them a day to do so," the report read.

It noted that the girl's death, and the inability to apprehend the officer who killed her, reflects a habitual reality for Kenyans after the announcement of election results.

(Reporting by Humphrey Malalo; Writing by Maggie Fick, Editing by William Maclean and Mark Heinrich)
Seoul: The United States punished 24 Chinese officials on Wednesday for undermining Hong Kongs democratic freedoms, acting days before the first scheduled meeting of senior Chinese and US diplomats since President Joe Biden took office.

In diplomatic terms, the timing of the action was intentional, continuing a testy start to relations between the Biden administration and China after a tumultuous four years under former President Donald Trump.

Golden Bauhinia Square, in Wan Chai area of Hong Kong. Setting a confrontational tone ahead of meetings in Alaska, the United States punished Chinese officials involved in eroding democracy in Hong Kong. Credit:New York Times

The State Department announced that it would impose financial sanctions on a raft of officials, including a member of the Communist Partys 25-member Politburo, Wang Chen, over an issue that Beijing has repeatedly said is an internal political matter.

Earlier sanctions imposed by the Trump administration had barred the same officials from traveling to the United States and frozen their assets in the country.
Uber fares could rise after drivers in Britain claimed they were being 'short changed' and pledged to take their battle for workers' rights back to court.

From today more than 70,000 drivers will now to be treated as workers under UK employment law, after the ride-hailing giant lost a landmark Supreme Court case.

The move, which follows lengthy legal action, means drivers will be guaranteed minimum wage, holiday pay and pensions.

But campaigners say drivers should accrue the benefits from when they log in, not just from when a trip is accepted.

Former driver James Farrar, who spearheaded the battle that began six years ago to grant Uber drivers worker status, says the app giant still hasn't gone far enough.

Mr Farrar said there are still protections drivers do not have such as sick pay and protection from unfair dismissal, and said the next step was to go back to court to get Uber to meet its obligations.

He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'I'm afraid that Uber is still short changing drivers for about 40-50 per cent of their working time.

'The next step is for us to go back to court. It's not meeting the legal minimum, so it's enough for us. We're not nearly there yet.'

Uber drivers of the App Drivers & Couriers Union, celebrate the court decision last month

More than 70,000 drivers were last month ruled by judges to be employees of the company under UK law

Landmark ruling that could provoke seismic shift to gig economy The gig economy is so-called because people only get paid for the work they do  like delivering some food or taking a passenger on a car journey. Often it is the hallmark of a business that thrives on mobile phone ordering capabilities with demand sparked by purchases from a handset. Those in favour of it say it offers flexibility in working hours and a chance to do lots of different jobs. But there have been serious concerns about the system being abused and people essentially working full-time, with no workplace rights or protection. This ruling lays down in law Uber drivers are entitled to basic employment rights, including holiday pay and are not independent contractors. It could pave the way for people doing similar jobs like couriers or delivery drivers to get the same rights. Gig economy companies include the likes of Deliveroo, who have 15,000 riders, as well as Addison Lee who have 4,000 drivers in London alone. Advertisement

Uber had previously argued that its drivers were self-employed.

But a Supreme Court ruling last month defined Uber drivers as workers, prompting lawyers to say it meant they would be entitled to workers' rights such as holiday pay and compensation for lost pay.

Uber, which was launched in the UK in 2012, said its drivers will now earn at least the National Living Wage.

On average, its drivers earn 17 per hour in London and 14 in the rest of the UK.

All drivers will be receive holiday time based on 12.07% of their earnings, which will be paid out on a fortnightly basis.

They will also be automatically enrolled in a pension scheme.

But experts warn that while drivers now benefit, it could lead to a price rise as Uber may look to pass on any increased operating costs to customers.

Stephen Morrall, a partner at the law firm Hunters Law, said giving workers extra rights 'will have a cost implication for customers', according to The Times.

It also paves the way for more claims by 'gig economy' workers.

A claim is already being brought against Uber rival Addison Lee. And some courier firms, such as DPD, are said to use similar models that could be open to legal challenge.

Mr Farrar told BBC Radio 4 Today: 'Uber is required to measure a driver's working time from log on to log off.

'Uber made an announcement yesterday that said these entitlements will only accrue from the moment you accept a job until you drop the passenger off.

'If we're going to shift the burden of supply and demand onto workers, then what's the next step?

'If I work for Starbucks I should not get paid between customers? Or if I work for Marks & Spencer on a Monday when its quiet I should get paid less than when it's busier on a Saturday?

'These are basic rights, basic protections, it shouldn't be this difficult for Uber to either understand or implement this.

'It has to pay for all of the time that workers are available. It's Uber's burden to match supply and demand.'

Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng said the ruling that Uber drivers in the UK should be guaranteed minimum wage, holiday pay and pensions was to be 'welcomed'.

Just Eat boss slams gig economy as it expands its own workers' rights Jitse Groen Chief Executive of Just Eat Takeaway.com slated the gig economy in an open letter on the day enhanced workers' rights jobs were expanded. He said: 'The gig economy comes at the expense of society and workers themselves. 'No taxes and social security premiums are paid, and couriers are not properly insured. 'The latter is especially concerning, as being a courier carries more risk than having a desk job. 'The pandemic has made the situation more hazardous, given the increased risk of illness.' Advertisement

Speaking to Sky News, the Cabinet minister said today: 'I've always said that the new phase of our economy should be about protecting workers' rights, driving higher standards and driving new technologies.

'And I think that the Government's record on things like the national living wage that we introduced has been very good and we want to see a well paid workforce with strong worker protections, driving innovation and economic progress and I think that is something we can achieve.'

And Jamie Heywood, Uber's regional general manager for Northern and Eastern Europe, described it as 'an important day' for drivers in the UK.

He added: 'Uber drivers will receive an earnings guarantee, holiday pay and a pension, and will retain the flexibility they currently value.

'Uber is just one part of a larger private-hire industry, so we hope that all other operators will join us in improving the quality of work for these important workers who are an essential part of our everyday lives.'

It comes a month after the Uber firm lost a legal battle in the UK, begun in 2016, over drivers' status.

Drivers said they were workers whereas Uber operating companies said drivers were contractors, not workers.

The drivers have been told of their new rights.

Uber operating companies had appealed to the Supreme Court after losing three earlier rounds of the legal fight.

Uber drivers with Yaseen Aslam (second right) outside the Supreme Court, London, last month

Employment tribunals and Court of Appeal judges had ruled against Uber  and Supreme Court judges unanimously dismissed Uber's appeal.

GMB, the union for Uber drivers, says the company has finally done the right thing.

Mick Rix, GMB national officer, said: 'Uber had to be dragged kicking and screaming to do the right thing, but finally they've agreed to follow the ruling of the courts and treat their drivers as workers.'

He added: 'GMB has consistently said we are willing to speak face to face to Uber about its treatment of drivers  our door remains open.

'Other gig economy companies should take note  this is the end of the road for bogus self employment.'

TUC general secretary Frances O'Grady said it would 'check the small print of this offer', which it feels is 'a big step in the right direction' from Uber.

She said that gig economy workers deserve to be treated with 'dignity at work, and to be given the same basic rights as everybody else'.
Photo: The Canadian Press Kim Yo Jong, sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

In North Koreas first comments directed at the Biden administration, Kim Jong Uns powerful sister on Tuesday warned the United States to refrain from causing a stink if it wants to sleep in peace for the next four years.

Kim Yo Jongs statement was issued as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin arrived in Asia to talk with U.S. allies Japan and South Korea about North Korea and other regional issues. They have meetings in Tokyo on Tuesday before speaking to officials in Seoul on Wednesday.

We take this opportunity to warn the new U.S. administration trying hard to give off (gun) powder smell in our land, she said. If it wants to sleep in peace for coming four years, it had better refrain from causing a stink at its first step.

Kim Yo Jong, a senior official who handles inter-Korean affairs, also criticized the U.S. and South Korea for holding military exercises. She also said the North would consider abandoning a 2018 bilateral agreement on reducing military tensions and abolish a decades-old ruling party unit tasked to handle inter-Korean relations if it no longer had to co-operate with the South.

She said the North would also consider scrapping an office that handled South Korean tours to the Norths scenic Diamond Mountain, which Seoul suspended in 2008 after a North Korean guard fatally shot a South Korean tourist.

The North "will watch the future attitude and actions of the (South Korean) authorities, before determining whether to take exceptional measures against its rival, she said in her statement published in Pyongyangs official Rodong Sinmun newspaper.

Challenges posed by North Koreas nuclear arsenal and Chinas growing influence loom large in the Biden administrations first Cabinet-level trip abroad, part of a larger effort to bolster U.S. influence and clam concerns about the U.S. role in Asia following four years of President Donald Trumps America first approach.

A senior official from the Biden administration said Saturday that U.S. officials have tried to reach out to North Korea through multiple channels since last month, but had yet to receive a response. The official was not authorized to publicly discuss the diplomatic outreach and spoke on condition of anonymity.

This is Kim Yo Jong continuing to be the tip of the wedge North Korea tries to drive between South Korea and its U.S. ally, said Leif-Eric Easley, a professor of international studies at Ewha University in Seoul. North Koreas latest threats mean the allies have precious little time to co-ordinate their approaches on deterrence, sanctions and engagement.

Bidens presidency begins as Kim Jong Un faces perhaps the toughest moment of his nine-year rule. His countrys battered economy has decayed further amid pandemic border closures while his summits with Trump failed to lift crippling sanctions.

While Kim in recent political speeches has vowed to strengthen his nuclear weapons program, he also has said the fate of U.S. relations depends on Washingtons actions.

The 2018 military agreement, which had been the most tangible outcome from the three summits between Kim and South Korean President Moon Jae-in, requires the countries to take steps to reduce conventional military threats, such as establishing border buffers in land and sea and no-fly zones.

But inter-Korean relations have lain in ruin amid the stalemate in the nuclear diplomacy between Washington and Pyongyang.

The South Korean and U.S militaries began annual military exercises last week that continue through Thursday. The drills are command post exercises and computerized simulation and dont involve field training. They said they held the downsized drills after reviewing factors like the status of COVID-19 and diplomatic efforts to resume the nuclear talks with North Korea.

But Kim Yo Jong said even the smaller drills are an act of hostility toward the North. In the past, the North has often responded with U.S.-South Korea drills with missile tests.
Canada's chief public health officer urged caution Wednesday as a national decline in severe COVID-19 outcomes, such as hospitalizations and deaths, began to level off at the same time as the country's vaccine rollout picks up steam.

Canada's chief public health officer urged caution Wednesday as a national decline in severe COVID-19 outcomes, such as hospitalizations and deaths, began to level off at the same time as the country's vaccine rollout picks up steam.

In her daily statement, Dr. Theresa Tam said provincial and territorial data show an average of 2,048 people with COVID-19 were being treated in Canadian hospitals every day over the seven-day period that ended Tuesday.

That includes 550 people who were in intensive care units, she said, adding an average of 31 COVID-related deaths were reported each day during that same period.

She noted the emergence and transmission of more contagious variants heightens the risk of 20-to-39-year-olds -- currently the group with the highest infection rates -- spreading the virus to more vulnerable populations.

"While vaccine programs begin to accelerate, it will be important to maintain a high degree of caution," she said.

"Any easing of public health measures must be done slowly with enhanced testing, screening, and genomic analysis to detect variants of concern. In particular, there must be sufficient contact tracing capacity and supports for effective isolation, given increased transmissibility of variants of concern."

Tam has also warned in recent days that average daily case counts of COVID-19 are now on the rise again across the country after plateauing for several weeks.

More than 8.5 million dosed of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine are slated to arrive in Canada in the next eight weeks, according to updated delivery information from Health Canada. That represents more than 2.5 times the amount received in the last 14 weeks.

Nearly 1.2 million doses are expected in each of the upcoming two weeks, with slightly more than one million doses set to be delivered each of the following six weeks.

Other drugmakers whose COVID-19 vaccines are approved for use in Canada have promised shipments but given few details on when they will arrive.

Moderna has not confirmed any deliveries after this month, and no date has been set at this time for the first shipments directly from Oxford-AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson.

A million doses of the AstraZeneca shot are expected from the Serum Institute of India next month, followed by 500,000 in May, but no precise date has been given for their arrival.

Another 1.6 million doses produced in South Korea are expected to land in Canada before the end of May, though no specific delivery schedule has been laid out so far.

On Tuesday, Canada's expert vaccine panel released new advice on the AstraZeneca shot, saying there is now enough evidence to show the vaccine is safe and effective for seniors.

The National Advisory Committee on Immunization had previously said the vaccine was not recommended for use on those over 65, citing a lack of data regarding that demographic.

Most provinces decided at the time not to give the AstraZeneca shot to seniors, and several have said they will not change course at this time despite the committee's reversal on the issue.

Manitoba became the latest province Wednesday to say it would stick to its original plan regardless of the new advice.

"Right now that doesn't change the fact that we only have 18,000 doses of AstraZeneca available. So for now we'll be sticking with the current eligibility criteria," the province's medical officer of health, Dr. Joss Reimer, said.

Some European countries have suspended the use of the vaccine while EU regulators and the World Health Organization investigate whether AstraZeneca's product has the potential to cause blood clots in those who receive it.

Some findings could come as early as Thursday as the European Medicines Agency releases initial results of its investigations. So far, the EMA and WHO have said theres no evidence the vaccine is to blame for blood clots.

Health Canada has also said it is following the issue but does not currently see any evidence of a safety risk,

Nearly 3,330,100 doses of a COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in Canada as of Wednesday, the federal government said.

In Toronto, three city-run mass immunization clinics opened their doors Wednesday.

At the same time, a panel of scientists advising the Ontario government recommended taking the shots directly into buildings with large populations of seniors in order to protect those most likely to be hospitalized or die as a result of the virus.

In a report published Wednesday, the province's Science Advisory Table identified 489 such buildings in Toronto alone, including more than 250 in neighbourhoods with the highest incidence of COVID-19.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 17, 2021.
ORANGE - A 79-year-old Leverette woman on Tuesday entered an innocent plea at her arraignment on a motor vehicle homicide charge in the death of motorcyclist Kevin Douville.

Mary Christine Nelson was arraigned at Orange District Court via a teleconference call. In addition to motor vehicle homicide, she is also charged with negligent operation of a motor vehicle.

She was released on her own recognizance and is due back in court for a pretrial conference on May 18.

Douville, 57, of Belchertown, was killed April 26 in a crash on Long Plain Road in Leverett.

Karen Mercier, Douvilles partner for 32 year, was seriously injured in the crash.

According to police reports at the time, Nelson, 79, was attempting to turn into a driveway on Long Plain Road and Douvilles motorcycle struck the car.

Last month, Mercier, acting as a representative of Douvilles estate, filed a $5 million civil suit against Nelson in Hampshire Superior Court.

The suit charges Nelson with operating her vehicle in a careless, negligent, and reckless manner, leading to the death of Douville and injuries to Mercier. It alleges Nelson was grossly negligent by making a left turn into the driveway, cutting across the path of the motorcycle.
The Clark County judge who made derogatory remarks about a young Black man killed by deputies last year and disparaged the mans father said Tuesday he will take some time off to reflect on my behavior and to determine what I can do to help heal the community I have served.

District Court Judge Darvin Zimmerman issued a statement through his lawyer, Josephine Townsend.

He said he accepts responsibility for his actions and has self-reported his remarks about Kevin Peterson Jr. to the Washington Commission on Judicial Conduct and will fully cooperate with their investigation.

Zimmerman said he deeply regrets his comments about Peterson, which were captured on a hot mic in his courtroom after a hearing had concluded.

He referred to Peterson, 21, of Camas as the Black guy they are trying to make an angel out of and called him dumb for assuming he was headed to prison for a long time over a relatively minor drug bust.

Peterson was shot Oct. 29 by three Clark County deputies after he ran from the drug sting with a gun.

Zimmermans announcement came one day after his colleagues on the District Court bench decried his remarks and the countys top prosecutor said he had taken immediate steps to disqualify the judge from criminal matters going forward. A public defender also called for Zimmerman to step down.

I do understand that even my personal comments, when made public, bring about an outcry of concern because I am a judicial officer, Zimmerman said in his written statement.

He said in 35 years as a judge he has supported programs that help people of color, veterans, defendants with mental illness and poor people. Zimmerman, 70, makes $190,116 a year.

Townsend said Zimmerman had no role in any matter before the court involving Peterson.

He made the remarks last Tuesday as he talked with Clark County District Court Commissioner Abigail Bartlett in an empty courtroom. They were broadcast on YouTube.

In that moment, after court, in a private conversation, I was speaking as a father, about my concerns the delay by five months for the investigation to be completed, Zimmerman said.

Zimmermans son is a sergeant with the Clark County Sheriffs Office and was among the deputies at the scene when Peterson died.

The judge said his remarks stemmed from his desire for closure to the matter and why it is necessary for that information released to the public to be accurate, so that everyone, including the police get a fair evaluation of what happened.

My concerns as a father do not excuse the fact that my comments caused an already volatile community to again become divisive, he said. I am very sorry for that.

In addition to remarks about Peterson, the judge also questioned the motives of Petersons father, Kevin Peterson Sr. Zimmerman said after the shooting, the elder Peterson saw dollar signs in his eyes.

Kevin Peterson Jr. was shot in the unincorporated community of Hazel Dell north of Vancouver as members of a regional drug task force planned to arrest him on an accusation of dealing Xanax, the prescription anxiety medication, according to police accounts.

Three deputies fired a total of 34 rounds, striking Peterson four times, as he fled from his car in the parking lot of a Quality Inn and ran to a nearby parking lot of a closed U.S. Bank in the business district, investigators said.

Peterson had a .40-caliber Glock 23 semiautomatic handgun and ignored commands to drop it, investigators said. Peterson died at the scene.

The shooting remains under review by an outside prosecutor.

The following is Zimmermans statement in full:

I deeply regret my statements which caused divisiveness and concern in the community that I love and serve. I have always prided myself in being open minded, fair and just in my duties as a judicial officer. I do understand that even my personal comments, when made public, bring about an outcry of concern because I am a judicial officer. In my 35 years as a jurist, I have long been a supporter of therapeutic programs that help the impoverished; I have been a promoter and speaker for Veterans Court; Mental Health Court and pre arrest diversion programs. I am a staunch supporter of programs that provide alternatives to incarceration which affect people of color and the impoverished.

I have spoken at hundreds of meetings supporting alternative programs to incarceration. I recognize the injustice that befalls men and women of color as well as non native English speaking litigants. I have recommended resources to litigants including Clark College language programs for immigrants who come to court and cannot speak the language. They suffer too because they cannot understand the system and what is happening to them. I have taken a proactive approach to help everyone in my courtroom because I truly believe that there is a better way for justice to be had.

All of these programs that I have supported and encouraged are meant to bring fair and equal justice to all races and genders. In that moment, after court, in a private conversation, I was speaking as a father, about my concerns the delay by 5 months for the investigation to be completed; of a need for closure about Mr. Petersons death, which was very tragic, and why it is necessary for that information released to the public to be accurate, so that everyone, including the police get a fair evaluation of what happened.

My concerns as a father do not excuse the fact that my comments caused an already volatile community to again become divisive. I am very sorry for that. I have decided to take some time off to reflect on my behavior and to determine what I can do to help heal the community I have served. I have self reported my statements to the Commission that oversees my actions as a jurist and will fully cooperate with their investigation. I want my colleagues and the public to know that I have accepted responsibility for my actions.

-- Noelle Crombie; ncrombie@oregonian.com; 503-276-7184; @noellecrombie
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In 1994, the Womens Enterprise Centre of Manitoba was one of the first  if not the first  organization of its kind in Canada specifically supporting women entrepreneurs.

In 1994, the Womens Enterprise Centre of Manitoba was one of the first  if not the first  organization of its kind in Canada specifically supporting women entrepreneurs.

Sandra Altner, its CEO since 2007, said while it used to be engaged almost exclusively in helping women start businesses, now its just as likely to be assisting clients in growing their businesses.

MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Sandra Altner, CEO of the Womens Enterprise Centre of Manitoba, says the organizations role is expanding.

The Winnipeg organization has served as a model for other similar undertakings around the world so it was a fitting locale for the announcement of top-up funding of $3.18 million from Western Economic Diversification Canada as part of the $85-million Women Entrepreneurship Strategy (WES) Ecosystem Fund that was announced in the 2018 federal budget.

In May 2020, an additional $15 million in national funding was made to provide support to women entrepreneurs to deal with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The additional funding is to help ensure that gains made  and setbacks that were forestalled  were not lost.

Altners organization will receive $352,567 to carry on specialized business advisory services, to women entrepreneurs in rural Manitoba on top of the $1,513,900 it had previously received to improve the competitiveness of women entrepreneurs dealing with challenging geographic, cultural and sectoral issues.

"All of us who received that funding had made great inroads already into various projects until the world was hit by the pandemic and the economy was shut down," Altner said. "It provides us with the ability to overcome many of the barriers COVID places in our path."

Jim Carr, whose official federal cabinet position is now special adviser for the prairies, said the top-up funding was an acknowledgement that the pandemic has disproportionately impacted women.

He said like all entrepreneurs, women have had to adapt their business to the changing environment.

"While juggling those challenges we have heard from many women entrepreneurs across the country with children at home, wearing several hats every day: entrepreneur, household CEO, caregiver, teacher" he said. "And this is on top of pre-existing barriers, like hurdles in accessing capital and networks needed for businesses to thrive. It has not been easy."

The pandemic also got in the way of the proper establishment of the Womens Enterprise Organizations of Canada (WEOC), the national organization based in Winnipeg that received its initial funding in 2019 after about 10 years of operating with volunteers.

WEOC is receiving $500,000 from this round of funding to host a virtual symposium and conduct a national survey on the impacts of COVID-19 to women-led businesses.

Alison Kirkland, its CEO, said data from the latest survey bolsters the popular wisdom that women entrepreneurs need less financial resources and are more willing to adapt to change.

"We do hear that smaller pockets of money are really helpful to get them through different challenges," Kirkland said.

The survey results showed that women were inclined to take the pause that the pandemic caused to reflect on their business, a course of action that many business development experts advise.

"One of the things that we did learn in the survey was that in early days a lot of women entrepreneurs were able to use the time to implement things that had been on the back burner, whether to switch to technology solutions or to explore export opportunities or new lines of business," Kirkland said.

martin.cash@freepress.mb.ca
Physicians and scientists highlight the importance of longevity medicine education and collaborate on the first longevity medicine course for physicians

16th of March, Tuesday, 2021 -- Longevity medicine is a rapidly evolving branch of preventative precision medicine that is specifically focused on promoting healthspan and lifespan, utilizing aging biomarkers commonly referred to as aging clocks. Over the past decade advances in AI and machine learning enabled the development of deep aging clocks (DACs) and other novel tools to track the rate of aging. In parallel novel preventative and therapeutic interventions have been discovered or progressed into clinical trials. Many medical and public health professionals do not have time to read the thousands of research papers covering this new field and actively engage in cutting-edge innovation in preventative medicine. And there are few educational resources that outline the benefits of longevity medicine. However, in order for the field to evolve, it is important that these materials are easily accessible for the broad medical community and presented at the level acceptable by the general medical practitioners.

In the comment titled "Longevity medicine: upskilling the physicians of tomorrow" (Lancet Healthy Longevity, 2021) Evelyne Bischof, MD, Morten Scheibye-Knudsen, MD, PhD, Richard Siow, PhD, Alexey Moskalev, PhD, summarise current findings on the main types of deep aging clocks, longevity medicine and reflect on the necessary education in this field.

Multiple institutions providing medical education are now actively seeking collaborations with artificial intelligence experts to create educational content that will help medical professionals acquire new skills in artificial intelligence for healthcare. However, it was not until 2020 when the first educational curriculum in longevity medicine for physicians was created by the team of scientists and clinicians, led by the artificial intelligence and longevity scientist and entrepreneur, Alex Zhavoronkov, PhD.

In connection with the article calling for more educational resources scientists launched the first longevity medicine course for physicians.

The course provided the physicians and other medical professionals with the introduction to the theoretical and practical basics of longevity medicine, which includes molecular mechanisms, theories of aging, biomarkers of aging, and geroprotector regimens. This course, as well as similar courses, provide medical and public health professionals with the baseline knowledge required to understand aging research, knowledge about longevity therapies available related to senescence-related processes, and the skills to examine biomarkers of aging and other age testing mechanisms. The course discusses advances in research in drug design, machine learning, omics, differential diagnosis, biogerontology, geroprotective interventions and healthcare organisations while also educating medical clinicians on how to implement them on a daily basis.

Physicians and medical professionals can register for this course at Udemy at no charge during the promotional periods, take the course at their own pace at any time, and receive a certificate of completion. The next promotion will transpire from 16th to 22nd March 2021 on Udemy Platform (coupon codes: LONGEVITYMED, LONGEVITY_MED) and students registering for this course will be able to start the course at any time and receive a certificate of completion free.

The authors also agreed to collaborate on a course to be available free of charge to physicians and the general public at https:/ / www. longevity. degree/

"Longevity physicians are looking for ways to reduce the gap between the current parameters, such as the current biological age, and the parameters of optimal maximum physical performance, such as the ideal biological age, predicted by deep learning. It is essential that practicing doctors have access to the appropriate longevity medicine education through a credible curriculum", said Evelyne Bischof, MD.

"The emergence of reliable markers for human aging now allows us to understand what interventions reduce the rate of aging. We are on the cusp of a new era in medicine where age-associated diseases and perhaps aging itself can be slowed or even halted. Education about interventions leading to healthy aging is paramount for allowing everyone a healthier and longer life", said Morten Scheibye-Knudsen, MD, PhD.

###

The article is available as open access in Lancet Healthy Longevity:

Lancet Healthy Longev 2021 Published Online March 25, 2021

https://doi.org/10.1016/S2666-7568(21)00024-6
This undated electron microscope image made available by the U.S. National Institutes of Health in February 2020 shows the Novel Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, yellow, emerging from the surface of cells, pink, cultured in the lab. Also known as 2019-nCoV, the virus causes COVID-19. The sample was isolated from a patient in the U.S. On Thursday, March 5, 2020, Tennessee's Department of Health Commissioner Lisa Piercey confirmed the state's first case of the new coronavirus. (NIAID-RML via AP)
About one million public sector bank workers joined a two-day national strike on Monday and Tuesday against the plans by Prime Minister Narendra Modis government for mergers and privatisations of state banks. Striking workers held protests in several cities across India.

The two-day action is part of a growing wave of class and other social struggles in India and internationally. Tomorrow, workers in public sector insurance companies will join a strike against privatisation. Tens of thousands of farmers are in continuous protests against the governments pro-agribusiness farm laws, camping at various sites on the outskirts of Delhi since November 26.

The trigger for the bank workers strikes was the decision, proposed in the national budget presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on February 1, to privatise two more public sector banks. The government has already privatised the IDBI Bank by selling its majority shares in 2019 and has merged 14 public sector banks in the last four years. The bank workers legitimately fear that mergers and privatisations will lead to cuts to jobs, wages and other benefits, and increased workloads in the drive to make the banks more profitable.

Bank workers protest against the privatization in Ahmedabad, India, Monday, March 15, 2021 (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)

Except for top-level managerial staff, all the public bank employees from scales I, II and III fully participated in the two-day strike, impacting regular bank services, such as cheque clearances, deposits and withdrawals at branches, while ATM services remained unaffected. A trade union official told the media: On average, about 2 crore [20 million] cheques/instruments worth about Rs.16,500 crore [$US2.27 billion] are held up for clearance. Government treasury operations and all normal banking transactions have been affected.

Reflecting the fear within the government and the ruling class in general about growing working class opposition, Finance Minister Sitharaman falsely claimed that under the privatisation, the institutions are not going to be closed or workers are not going to be removed and the salaries or scale or pension of employees, all will be taken care of.

The strike was called by the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU), a federation of public sector bank unions that includes the All India Bank Employees Association (AIBEA), All India Bank Officers Association (AIBOA), Bank Employees Federation of India (BEFI), Indian National Bank Employees Federation (INBEF), Indian National Bank Officers Congress (INBOC), National Organisation of Bank Workers (NOBW) and National Organisation of Bank Officers (NOBO).

By joining the strike en masse, bank workers clearly expressed their readiness to fight against the governments privatisation plans and other pro-investor economic measures. The WSWS spoke to workers at Valluvar Kottam, Chennai, one of the many rallies held across the country.

Maha explained: I decided to join the strike and protest to express my opposition to privatisations and mergers of public sector banks. If the banks are privatised there wont be job security and the current benefits for bank employees. And the common people will also be affected by the privatisation.

Striking bank workers at a protest in Chennai (Credit: WSWS)

I wrote an exam to get this bank job because I thought jobs are safe in the public sector. I work in Baroda bank. It has been merged with a few other banks. In fact, the mergers of banks will also lead to privatisation. I dont see my job is safe. Unlike in the previous strike, there is greater participation by workers in this action.

Rao, another bank employee, commented: I have been working in the bank for the last eight years. I am opposed to the privatisation of banks. There wouldnt be any protection of people's savings in the private banks. Most of the private banks went bankrupt. In this situation, if the public sector banks go private, common peoples savings will be plundered.

No political parties have supported our struggle. As you say, they all stand on one position, the defence of capitalism.

The UFBU was forced to call the strike due to workers mounting anger, but the unions are seeking to contain the opposition, fearing it will erupt out of their control. They are promoting dangerous illusions among bank workers that pressuring the government will make it change its privatisation policies.

AIBOA general secretary Sowmya Dutta demagogically declared: If the government does not listen, they will go for an even bigger, indefinite strike like the one on the lines of the ongoing farmers agitation.

The unions have organised limited strikes on an annual basis against privatisation, only to see the government intensify its drive against public sector industries and further attacks on social and democratic rights. Last September, the government pushed through parliament three farm laws placing the agricultural sector under the domination of major agribusiness corporations and new labour acts to expand the use of contract labour, allow employers to hire workers at will and make most industrial action illegal.

The role played by the bank unions is directly related to the big business policies of the political parties to which they are affiliated. All these parties are committed to pro-investor economic restructuring, just as much as the Modi government.

Both the AIBEA and AIBOA are linked to the Stalinist Communist Party of India (CPI). The BEFI has fraternal relations with the Centre of India Trade Unions, which is affiliated to the other main Stalinist party, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) or CPM. The INBEF is affiliated with Congress, Indias longest-standing bourgeois party.

Over the past three decades, successive governments, led either by Modis Hindu supremacist Bharatiya Janatha Party (BJP) or Congress, have implemented similar socially-incendiary economic reforms. In 1991, the Congress government initiated this program with the goal of transforming India into a cheap labour platform for global capital, and aggressively pursued it while in office. The Stalinist CPM and CPI provided crucial parliamentary support for Congress governments and ruthlessly implemented similar policies when in office in the states of West Bengal, Tripura and Kerala. The CPM-led administration in Kerala is currently doing the same.

Last year on January 8 and again on November 26, tens of millions of workers participated in a general strike against Modis measures, including privatisation, austerity, the promotion of hire and fire contract jobs, massive corporate tax cuts, relentless promotion of Hindu communal reaction, rampant social inequality, and suppression of democratic rights. This year has witnessed strikes by nearly 100,000 Tamil Nadu state transport workers, Kerala state transport workers, electricity workers, childcare centre workers and auto workers, including Toyota workers in Bangalore, and protests by Tamil Nadu state government employees and teachers.

As struggles of workers and farmers mount, the two Stalinist parties, the CPM and CPI, are intensifying their moves to prevent the working class from taking an independent revolutionary path. They are hell bent on subordinating workers and farmers protests to the opposition Congress, with which the CPM and CPI are politically aligned, and other right-wing opposition parties. The Stalinists are in an official alliance with the Congress for next months state elections in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Assam.

The Indian working class needs to politically and organisationally break from the Stalinists and adopt a revolutionary strategy of fighting to overthrow capitalist rule, rallying the peasantry and other oppressed masses under its leadership in that struggle. The aim should be establishment of a Union of Socialist Republics of South Asia as a part of a broader struggle for socialism internationally. What is urgently needed is the building of a section in India of the International Committee of the Fourth International (ICFI), the world Trotskyist movement.
CAMBRIDGE, Mass., March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The 18th annual MIT Sloan CIO Symposium , a world class conference, will bring CIOs and digital technology executives together to learn, engage, and discuss how to shift their enterprises into high gear within our ever-changing, digitally-transforming world. The 2021 first ever digital Symposium, The Big Rest: Digital Enterprises Shift Into High Gear, commences April 5th, 2021 and registration is still open.

The 2021 Symposium will begin on April 5th and conclude May 28th and the purchase of a ticket includes membership to the new MIT Sloan CIO Community, which is dedicated to helping members build relationships with other technology executives year-round. Hosted on the Mighty Network platform via the web or mobile app, members can connect with other technology executives, participate in discussions, watch recordings, and attend panel discussions from anywhere in the world. The Symposium ticket also entitles attendees to two years of community membership.

The online Symposium will feature weekly themes including Future of Work, Digitalization Trends, Security, Privacy & Data, New Technologies, Economic Impact of Technology, and Enterprise Culture & Leadership. Attendees will learn how to leverage these insightful technologies to create nimble organizations in light of COVID-19. Panel discussions will be led by CIOs and MIT thought leaders, including Dr. Yossi Sheffi, Keri Pearlson, Irving Wladawsky-Berger, and George Westerman.

"We are thrilled to offer a 2021 Symposium program that enables CIOs to gain the latest strategies to lead their organization boldly in light of COVID-19 and take part in the new MIT Sloan CIO Community," said Allan Tate, Executive Chair of the 2021 MIT Sloan CIO Symposium. "In addition to attendees having access to panel discussions on topics including reshaping business strategy, innovative technologies, and digitalization trends, they can now take part in virtual networking and build relationships year-round which enables them to continually be at the forefront of their industry."

The Symposium will feature more than a dozen interactive panel discussions with top leaders in their fields of expertise. The full agenda is available at www.mitcio.com/agenda . Highlights include:

Fireside Chat: "Reshaping Business Strategy for the New (Ab)Normal" will discuss how businesses grappled with the pandemic and which ones are likely to survive and thrive after it subsides. Dr. Yossi Sheffi , MIT Professor and Author of The New (Ab)Normal, will show how the virus predicts long term benefits for business performance and how to create a better future in a time of extreme uncertainty.

Panel: "Building Better Jobs in an Age of Intelligent Machines" led by Dr. Elisabeth Reynolds , Executive Director, Work of the Future Task Force and Dr. Irving Wladawsky-Berger , Fellow, MIT Initiative on the Digital Economy will discuss key findings and recommendations from the commissioning of an MIT -wide task force on the Future of Work. The examination on the effect of emerging technologies on higher living standards, better working conditions, greater economic security, and improved health and longevity will all be addressed.

Panel: "Protecting Your Digital Innovations from Cyber-attack" led by Keri Pearlson , Executive Director, MIT Cybersecurity at MIT Sloan (CAMS), Roota Almeida, CISO, Delta Dental of NJ & CT and Lena Smart , CISO, Mongo DB will share their expertise and insights on creating and executing a cybersecurity strategy to protect digital innovations.

Other panel sessions driven by key IT leaders, practitioners, and MIT researchers include, "Will Artificial Intelligence Get Us Through Uncertain Times?"; "Building an Enterprise for the World Ahead"; "Rapid Shift in Talent and Knowledge Acquisition"; "The Innovation Conundrum: Should IT or Digital 'Own' The Digital Innovation Agenda?"; "Accelerated Digital Transformation  Where will we land?" and more.

The Symposium will also feature this year's finalists for the prestigious MIT Sloan CIO Leadership Award .

For more information about the 2021 MIT Sloan CIO Symposium, please visit www.mitcio.com .

About the MIT Sloan CIO Symposium

The MIT Sloan CIO Symposium is a premier global conference that brings together a unique community of MIT academic leaders, CIOs, digital technology executives, and industry experts, enabling them to be more effective leaders. The Symposium offers an environment for engaging discussions where the best in-the-trenches business practices, technology innovations, actionable insights, and new ideas can be shared and debated. The Symposium is organized by the MIT Sloan Boston Alumni Association. For more information and to register for this year's Symposium, visit www.mitcio.com .

Editor's Note:

Journalists interested in a press credential should contact Sadie Smith ([email protected] 717-298-1865) at Warner Communications.

SOURCE MIT Sloan CIO Symposium

Related Links

http://www.mitcio.com


The factory will be built by VRB Energy in the Hubei province, where it also wants to deploy a 100 MW solar park linked to a 100 MW/500 MWh vanadium flow battery.Vanadium redox battery provider VRB Energy, which is majority-owned by Canada-based metals exploration company High Power Exploration Inc. (HPX), has unveiled a plan to build a gigafactory for the production of vanadium redox flow batteries in China. The company said it has signed a framework agreement for the 1 GW project with the government of Xiangyang-a prefecture-level city in northwestern Hubei province; and Chinese investment firm ...

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
The National Nuclear Security Administration has decided a cache of plutonium sent from Japan years ago will be processed and disposed of for the foreseeable future at the Savannah River Site, a change of plans with local ramifications.

Up to 350 kilograms of stainless steel-clad plutonium from a Japanese reactor will be rid of using a slew of Savannah River Site facilities, tech and staff, recent federal documents show.

The Fast Critical Assembly fuel  already at the Savannah River Site  will be processed and dissolved at H-Canyon, a one-of-a-kind separations facility built in the 1950s. The material will then go to the tank farms, where millions of gallons of waste is stored.

After that, it will move to the Defense Waste Processing Facility, a mammoth plant that encases nuclear sludge in glass, making it safer to handle and stow long-term. The glass cylinders will ultimately go to an on-site storage building, where they will stay pending the availability of a dedicated depot, like Yucca Mountain in Nevada.

The entire endeavor will take years. And Japan is helping defray the cost.

NNSA had an agreement with Japan for us to dispose of Fast Critical Assembly material, Savannah River Site manager Michael Budney said Monday. And Japan is paying to put an electrolytic dissolver back in the canyon.

Its good for us, because Japan will pay the bill, and then we get the electrolytic dissolver, Budney continued. Other files describe the Japan Atomic Energy Agency as funding the National Nuclear Security Administration to disposition the Fast Critical Assembly fuel.

The plutonium was previously slated to be handled and treated at the Savannah River Site and entombed at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant in New Mexico, a repository resembling a salt mine. Direct disposal of the FCA materials at the Savannah River Site is a sound option, said SRS Watch Director Tom Clements, but it drums up some other questions.

If other plutonium-bearing materials can be managed at SRS in a similar manner, Clements continued, that option should be reviewed in the draft environmental impact statement on plutonium disposition that is now being prepared.

The new approach  South Carolina centric, and lacking the New Mexico endgame  is substantially cheaper and much less costly, according to a March 8 public notice and a supplemental environmental review published in January. It is also backed by experiments conducted in 2017 and 2018 by Savannah River Nuclear Solutions, the management team at the site south of Aiken.
Good morning. I need to speak to you about Coronavirus and Covid-19, was how Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar opened his statement on March 12, 2020.

Schools, colleges, and childcare facilities will close from tomorrow. Where possible, teaching will be done on-line or remotely, he continued.

The first case of Covid-19 was recorded on the island of Ireland on February 27. A passenger returning to Belfast from virus-stricken northern Italy who had come through Dublin airport.

Two days later, the Republic of Ireland recorded its first case, again linked to travel from northern Italy, and the creeping panic had begun to build.

Photos of empty supermarket shelves appeared online. There was a premium on hand sanitiser, anti-bacterial wipes, and pasta.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar speaking last year.

When Leo Varadkar made his statement from Washington DC, there were 43 cases in the Republic. Across the border, 20 had been recorded.

The rollout of measures in Northern Ireland came at a slower pace. Schools would not officially close their doors until March 23, four days after the first Covid-related death on March 19.

Many locally had already taken the decision to close, along with GAA clubs and other sporting organisations across the county.

From March 20, pubs, cafes, gyms and restaurants were ordered to close, though many had already taken the decision in the run-up to St Patrick's Day.

On the first evening of home-schooling, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the UK was entering its period of lockdown.

'Stay at home' moved from mere advice to mandatory instruction, and one year on, the country are still reeling from the effects of Covid-19.

In the weeks that followed, we spoke to a number of local people as they tried to navigate Covid-19's early surge.

One year on, with vaccine numbers rising and case numbers falling, we've caught up with them for an update.

Let's hope we don't need a 'Two Years On' feature.

Related:

COVID ONE YEAR ON: Dancing community missing the buzz a year later

COVID ONE YEAR ON: Clear difference in NI and Italy's Coronavirus response

COVID ONE YEAR ON: Two steps forward and twenty steps backward
TORONTO - Canada's main cybersecurity watchdog said Wednesday that it's likely too late to prevent criminals from using a vulnerability in Microsoft Exchange email servers, unless system administrators have already installed software patches that were issued in early March.

The Microsoft company logo is displayed at their offices in Sydney, Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Rick Rycroft

TORONTO - Canada's main cybersecurity watchdog said Wednesday that it's likely too late to prevent criminals from using a vulnerability in Microsoft Exchange email servers, unless system administrators have already installed software patches that were issued in early March.

Scott Jones, head of the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security, said after issuing an updated alert to IT professionals that "the law of probability states that it's almost certain that there are victims in Canada."

"We just don't know who they are yet," Jones said in an interview. "We're hoping that they know that they're victims, though, which is also another point of the alert."

He said he organizations that are statistically most likely to be at risk are those that have Microsoft Exchange server software on their own computers or on a smaller IT service provider, rather than through a major cloud service such as Microsoft Office 365 or Google Cloud.

Jones said organizational leaders need to ask: Have the security patches been installed? Have we checked to make sure we weren't compromised? If there was a compromise, who needs to be told?

"Once you've confirmed patching and confirmed that there's no compromise of the network, then (you) can breathe a sigh of relief and say we were lucky," Jones said.

He said there have been public reports of widespread compromises by criminals using the security gap to install a new family of ransomware called DearCry, which Microsoft warned about in a tweet last week.

"In terms of specific Canadian organizations, we would need them to report to us  meaning give us a call in let us know that they're victims," Jones said.

He said it's the responsibility of victim organizations to inform their customers, employees or any affected parties such as suppliers and insurers if there has been a security breach.

Jones said he's not authorized to answer questions about the security of the Canadian government's own email systems but said it has "a very robust and active" patch management program in place.

The Canadian Centre for Cyber Security's March 16 alert was the third since early March 2, when Microsoft published several security updates for Exchange email servers.

The head of German government's cybersecurity agency issued a similar warning to IT system administrators on Friday.

 With a file from The Associated Press

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 17, 2021.
Chennai, March 17 : Kannagi Nagar, famous for being the "First art district" of Chennai, is now getting a facelift with the Greater Chennai Corporation and its Resident Commissioner (South), Dr Alby John Varghese, making efforts to have four to five facades painted by local artists.

In 2020, Kannagi Nagar Awas was formed as a resettlement and rehabilitation area of Chennai for the Tsunami victims with around 80,000 being relocated here. It is a microcosm of Chennai with the usual problems including infrastructure, drug related cases, alcohol abuse, unemployment, crime against women etc.

The people of Chennai city had a different perception of Kannagi Nagar and this was what the Greater Chennai Corporation and its Resident Commissioner wanted to change.

He took the initiative and brought in Italian contemporary art curator, Giulia Ambrogi who is the co-founder of St+art Foundation.

The project was taken forward with the support of Asian Paints, Greater Chennai Corporation and Chennai Smart City Limited.

Alby John while speaking to IANS said, "One of the major ideas behind this project was to change the perception of Kannagi Nagar among the neighbourhood and for that matter Chennai city also. It is not just paintings, it is a rejuvenation project." He added, "Kannagi Nagar is a cross section of Chennai and people from all parts of the city live here. Our problem was how the people of Chennai see them and wanted to change the mindset and that's exactly what is happening now. In that way we are happy." The project has increased the confidence level of the people of the area and more than a rehabilitation settlement colony, Kannagi Nagar has now turned into a beautification project.

Rajesh Viswanathan, an art curator and journalist, told IANS, "The perception of any town, colony or rehabilitation place is important. This project of converting one of the most backward areas of Chennai into an 'art district' is indeed welcome and this has lifted the morale of the people living here as well as the attitude and mindset of the outside world towards them." Alby John and his team are not resting on the laurels they have received from the civil society and are planning more paintings this year as well.

John said, "This year local artists will be painting four or five facades and we are planning cultural programmes as well but the magnitude will be less owing to the Covid 19 pandemic."
MADRID, March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Javier Cobaleda joins the growing team of national sales as Head of Sales Madrid. In his new role, Javier will have the responsibility of designing the sales growth strategy for the Spanish market.

At Vidoomy , Javier will be part of the company with the highest revenue growth in the industry, having reached a growth over 62% of its total revenue in the past year 2020. Javier Cobaleda will lead the sales team in Madrid to take Vidoomy to the next level, and thus achieving its most demanding objectives.

Vidoomy's own technology is directly implemented in more than 2500 global sites, offering target audiences to its advertisers for their video advertising campaigns. Vidoomy is able to offer competitive KPIs, maximizing its advertisers' ROI and achieving a high percentage of visualization in its campaigns, which translates to a very high engagement among its premium audiences.

With the recent opening of the fastest-growing markets around the world, Vidoomy counts already with presence in over 20 digital markets out of its national borders. The essential labour of its sales team has allowed Vidoomy to develop a wide network of advertisers, among which are the main players in the digital advertising space.

Javier Cobaleda will take on the responsibility of developing and coordinating growth opportunities in the company, in order to reach Vidoomy's sales objectives for the year. Together with his knowledge of the industry and his experience in digital marketing companies like Invibes Advertising, where he took on strategic and sales management tasks, or Enfemenino, where he built relationships with the main clients in the Spanish market, Javier Cobaleda will contribute to the expansion of this area in the company. In Vidoomy, he will be responsible for maximizing the sales growth and continue evolving as a digital sales professional.

"It is a pleasure to be part of a company with a technological DNA, with adaptability to change, and a team that works towards giving the best results to advertisers. I'm convinced that Vidoomy is going to be a video advertising referent in Spain" says Javier about her recent arrival to Vidoomy's team.

"Javier Cobaleda constitutes a key role as Head of Sales in our HQ in Madrid. Together with the rest of the sales team and a unique technology, Vidoomy's sales growth forecast for the following years appears to be exponential" says Antonio Simarro, VP Global Sales in Vidoomy.

With Javier Cobaleda, Vidoomy takes a step forward towards achieving its revenue objectives and its sales strategy, each day getting closer to its clients worldwide.

SOURCE Vidoomy
Most Americans will be familiar with the phrase "blood, sweat, and tears" and have probably used it to describe their own contributions at some point. The phrase is commonly understood as hyperbole for determined effort, but, I believe, it also provides a useful, metaphorically graduated scale for measuring and ranking different types of economic contribution. With all the talk about "fair share" in current political discussions, I think it is useful to talk about the different ways we contribute to society through our economic activity. Without a foundational understanding of the markedly different types of contributions we make to the creation and maintenance of society, any discussion of "fair share" will be uninformed and potentially dangerous.

There are three distinct levels of contribution to economic activity described quite well by each of the terms in the phrase "blood, sweat, and tears." Differences in the cognitive demands and the scarcity of certain skills certainly affect status and remuneration. However, I believe that these differences are more usefully understood as continuums within each of the blood, sweat, and tears categories. Examining these levels from least to greatest, will provide people with a framework with which to guide honest discussions of contribution and reward.

Sweat

Anyone who exchanges activity for income contributes his sweat to the economy. While physical toil may be involved, it is not necessary. A prompt care physician and an assembler in a widget factory both contribute sweat if they perform expected tasks in exchange for pay. Some may have difficulty placing an assembler and an E.R. physician into the same category. In terms of blood, sweat, and tears, the physician-as-employee occupies the lowest third of the continuum despite his years of training and contribution to public health.

Employees who come to work and leave at a prescribed time, receive pay based on that time, perform assigned tasks during a work week, are contributing sweat. The E.R. physician in the employ of the hospital will be paid more than the person assembling widgets and will no doubt hold a higher social position, but, when examined in terms of blood, sweat, and tears, he is engaged in the same category of behaviors: selling activity for a wage. Sweat.

Tears

Tears are the investment of conscious energy beyond what is required for the completion of assigned tasks. Tears are a great metaphor for this level, which requires the person maintain a sense of stewardship over the company that does not end with a shift. Tears demand that the person be responsible for the overall success of the company, or for a particular portion of it. To contribute tears, job performance is dependent upon results instead of actions.

If our assembler and physician from the previous example are contributing sweat, then the Widget Division Manager and the Head of Emergency Medicine are contributing their tears.

To remain in good standing with his company, an assembler need only perform assigned tasks. The division manager waits on market feedback to judge his standing with the company. If the widget design is faulty, he fails. If the widget is over- or under-priced, he fails. If some new technology replaces the need for widgets, he fails.

In the hospital, all patients during a given week may receive excellent treatment, but if the department is overstaffed, the department head will have failed. The Department Head must predict many variables and make decisions that determine the success or failure of the department. Which, and how many, drugs are inventoried? What diagnostic tools does the hospital invest in?

Tears are more difficult to visualize than sweat. Decision-making. Predicting demand. Managing the activity of others. Strategy creation. These are tasks that are never completed and require conscious energy from that person beyond workdays and scheduled shifts. Success or failure is determined not by the completion of an action, but by market feedback.

In many small businesses, the owner provides the tears. As companies get larger, they employ foremen, managers, and C-suite executives to delegate some of the tears. There is a large range of different ways to contribute tears that result in a widely varying pay scale. Every form of tears is not categorically more valuable than any form of sweat, but tears require a greater commitment to the success of the company and are more valuable to the business, and the economy, as a whole.

Blood

The most valuable and most rare contribution one can make is his blood. Blood is a metaphor for real investment and risk. Spending accumulated wealth and risking financial and personal ruin are the ultimate form of commitment to a business. The division manager and department head spend a considerable amount of their time and energy helping the company grow. However, if the company they work for shuts down, they face only a period of unemployment while they search for a new job. The owner of those businesses may also face huge losses in cash, real estate, and equipment. For those fully committed to a company, failure can result in devastating financial and personal losses from which they may never recover.

Throughout our history, human survival has required that everyone, with few exceptions, pour in his blood, sweat, and tears. The combined blood, sweat, and tears of our ancestors, accumulated throughout history, has created an economic reality so robust and rich that we can now lead safe and prosperous lives while contributing only one or two of the categories. The problem has become confusing this blessing, created through the effort and sacrifice of real people, with a right to which everyone is somehow entitled.

Most Americans put much of their sweat into their jobs and their tears into family, friends, and hobbies, and they either hoard their blood or, more often, squander it on frivolities. To live in a society where an individual can punch a clock for forty hours a week, spend his conscious energy chasing passions, and make no material investment in his livelihood is an incredible privilege granted to very few people throughout our history. If this describes your existence, a look in the mirror may be the best place to find someone not contributing his "fair share."

Blood, sweat, and tears are all still necessary ingredients for human survival even if you are fortunate enough to get by contributing only one or two of them. You may never have met them, but rest assured: the company providing your paycheck would not exist without the blood and tears of some person or group of people. Our rich history of recognizing, honoring, and rewarding those who poured their blood, sweat, and tears into our economy has created such a pampered and spoiled existence that we have lulled ourselves into believing that our privileged condition exists ex ante rather than ex post. We now find ourselves in an environment where biting the hand that feeds us is not only acceptable, but often glorified. Hopefully this simple, recognizable metaphor can provide a useful framework for honestly navigating discussions of contribution and fair share.

Image: gentlegiant27153 via Pixabay, Pixabay License.
Ukraine can count on access to Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines in the first half of the year.

There is an ambitious goal within COVAX Facility: to distribute two billion doses, including doses for Ukraine, by the end of 2021. Ukraine can count on access to two types of vaccines  Pfizer and AstraZeneca  in the first half of the year, Head of the WHO Country Office in Ukraine Dr Jarno Habicht said in an interview with the Novoe Vremya media outlet.

According to Habicht, more than 1.7 million doses of AstraZeneca will be available to Ukraine by the end of May, and the final stage of negotiations between the Ukrainian Government, COVAX and vaccine manufacturers is underway to ensure supplies to the country as soon as possible.

The Head of the WHO Country Office in Ukraine confirmed that the first and the only global vaccination compensation mechanism has been established for COVID-19 vaccination, and it is designed for vaccines that are supplied, distributed and used under the COVAX Facility. Its purpose is to ensure a transparent, fast and fair system to compensate for serious side effects. The system will start to operate by the end of March this year and will function by the end of June 2022.

According to Habicht, WHO works with the Chubb company, a leading insurer, to establish the process of such insurance. By the end of March, a special website will be launched, through which applications will be accepted from citizens in case of any side effects - very serious and related to vaccination.

As reported, Ukraine has recorded 11,833 new coronavirus cases over the past day, bringing the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases to 1,489,023.

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A George Washington University academic and author warned during a recent panel discussion about the acceleration of an anti-liberal progressive nationalism that seeks to impose a highly specific and controversial vision of social order.

Dr. Samuel Goldman, the executive director of the John L. Loeb, Jr. Institute for Religious Freedom and the director of the Politics and Values Program at George Washington University, spoke during a discussion titled Evaluating Liberalism hosted by Baylor University Friday.

According to Goldman, Many of the  challenges to traditional or other religious communities today are not grounded  in liberalism, theyre grounded in the abandonment of liberalism in favor of an immersion of submission of private or communal goods to the national public good.

While many in the United States have come to associate the term liberalism with the political left, Goldman explained that much of the agenda of the modern left is anti-liberal in effect and often also in intention.

Source:The Christian Post
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Market Reports on Saudi Arabia Provides the Trending Market Research Report on Chilled Pasta (Pasta and Noodles) Market in the United Arab Emirates - Outlook to 2024; Market Size, Growth and Forecast Analytics (updated with COVID-19 Impact) under Food category. The Chilled Pasta (Pasta and Noodles) Market in the United Arab Emirates is projected to exhibit highest growth rate over report offers a collection of superior market research, market analysis, and competitive intelligence and industry reports.

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Chilled Pasta - "fresh" pasta (made from a combination of wheat flour, water and often eggs) which is bagged and stored in chilled shelves/cabinets in retailers

Chilled Pasta Market in the United Arab Emirates registered a positive compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.64% during the period 2014 to 2019 with a sales value of AED 1.72 Million in 2019, an increase of 5.16% over 2018. The market achieved its strongest performance in 2019, when it grew by 5.16% over its previous year and its weakest performance in 2017, when it increased by 4.27% over 2016.

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Connections are crucial. Bacteria may be most dangerous when they connect - banding together to build fortress-like structures known as biofilms that afford them resistance to antibiotics. But a biomolecular scientist in Israel and a microbiologist in California have forged their own connections that could lead to new protocols for laying siege to biofilm-protected colonies. Their research was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), USA.

This interdisciplinary collaboration began with a lecture given at the Weizmann Institute of Science in the Life Sciences Colloquium. Prof. Dianne Newman of the California Institute of Technology was the speaker, and the Institute's Prof. Sarel Fleishman, of the Biomolecular Sciences Department, decided to attend, even though the lecture had no immediately apparent bearing on his own research. Newman described an enzyme she had discovered that could interrupt the metabolism of the biofilm-building bacteria, Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The enzyme interferes with the functioning of a molecule (pyocyanin) that is generated by the bacteria as they reach a high cell density and start to run out of oxygen, and it is thus responsible for helping bacteria deep within the biofilm remain viable as well as better tolerate conventional antibiotics. This molecule, however, is a double-edged sword: It can also be toxic to P. aeruginosa in the outer layers of the biofilm, where oxygen is present. Since pyocyanin impacts both biofilm development and antibiotic tolerance, Newman's lab focused on identifying ways to disrupt its activities. Newman's only problem, she said, was that the newly discovered pyocyanin-blocking enzyme was unstable and produced in minute amounts, and thus far, standard lab methods for growing such proteins had not been successful.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic bacterium that causes disease mainly in those with underlying conditions: in the lungs of cystic fibrosis patients, the peripheral wounds in diabetics and on various implanted medical devices of hospital patients. Hard-to-eradicate biofilms may help infections return even after treatment, contributing to the bacteria's growing antibiotic resistance, particularly in hospital-acquired strains.

After the lecture, Fleishman suggested to Newman that they try a new approach to producing larger quantities of the enzyme. His lab specializes in computational protein design, and some of their recent work had involved redesigning vaccine proteins to make them more stable.

Rosalie Lipsh-Sokolik, a research student in his lab, together with Dr. Olga Khersonsky, a research associate, took up the challenge of designing an improved, more stable biofilm-busting enzyme. But the enzyme was unlike any Fleishman's lab had worked with before, and it would require them to develop a new methodology: It was a trimer - three identical copies of a protein bundled "like barrels strapped together," says Fleishman, and that meant that, in addition to the structure of the individual protein, they would need to understand how the entire package fit together.

The group's first step was to map the enzyme down to its atomic structure. This gave them a detailed picture of the forces that hold the protein together. When they added the resulting models of the three copies together to understand the trimer formation, they noticed that the areas of contact between copies were poorly packed, atomically speaking, and they thought these particular weak points would be a good place to start in designing a more stable structure.

But even after narrowing down the potential sites for adjustment, the number of design possibilities for such a protein complex was huge. Lipsh-Sokolik ended up adopting a combined, two-pronged approach. The first was to look for proteins made by other bacteria that are similar but slightly different, to see what could be borrowed. The second was a sort of "subtle" atomistic design approach, identifying just a dozen or so points on the enzyme that might be tweaked and trying out different modeled combinations of amino acids at just those points.

The beauty of the computer design methods developed in Fleishman's lab is not only the fact that they can produce, in a very short time, hundreds of thousands of different possible protein designs, but they also rank them from most-likely to work to not likely to work at all. Still, the only way to know if your hypothesis is correct - about the areas that need reinforcement or the ability of an enzyme to still function despite changes to its protein sequence - is to make those proteins and test them in real biological systems. Enter Dr. Chelsey M. VanDrisse, a postdoctoral fellow in the Newman lab, who led all the experimental tests of the Fleishman lab designs.

Fleishman admits his team was nervous when VanDrisse and Newman told them that they could conduct experiments on only ten of the designed trimer enzymes due to the highly challenging nature of the experiments. Their challenges were not limited to creating these new proteins, but included figuring out how to purify them in sufficient quantities in the lab and then testing them on real biofilm-building Pseudomonas aeruginosa in combination with standard antibiotic treatment. The question was, could the team not only produce a more active protein, but determine whether its application could facilitate biofilm control and begin to understand the mechanisms underpinning the enzyme`s effects?

"Both teams were over the moon when the results came in," says Fleishman: Eight of the ten designed enzymes were produced in larger-than-normal quantities in Newman's lab, without, it seemed, compromising their biofilm-fighting abilities. VanDrisse jokingly raved that she could now produce so much protein she "could have put it in my cereal every morning!" "This showed that our hypothesis about the contact areas was correct," says Fleishman. One enzyme seemed especially robust and was produced in substantial amounts, so VanDrisse and Newman went all the way: They set out to check if this version of the enzyme could, at least in the lab, work together with a commonly used clinical antibiotic to eradicate the biofilm.

In fact, they found the enzyme, in combination with this antibiotic, worked much better than they had expected. Further analysis suggested the enzyme first helps the antibiotic kill the bacteria in the oxygenated outer regions of the biofilm in a way that had not before been seen, leading, in short time, to a significant reduction in the total number of viable biofilm cells.

Fleishman adds that, as the collaboration between two groups of scientists who normally read different journals, attend different conferences and experiment with very different methods on different scales deepened -- VanDrisse even making it to the Weizmann lab just before the first COVID-19 lockdowns - he realized that what had started for him as a test of his lab's computational protein design methods now had a very real chance of leading to a cure for some of the most aggressive bacterial infections. It all came down to making the right connections.

###

Prof. Sarel-Jacob Fleishman's research is supported by the Dr. Barry Sherman Institute for Medicinal Chemistry; the Yeda-Sela Center for Basic Research; the Schwartz/Reisman Collaborative Science Program; the Sam Ousher Switzer Charitable Foundation; the Dianne and Irving Kipnes Foundation, Carolyn Hewitt and Anne Christopoulos, in Memory of Sam Switzer; the Milner Foundation; and the Ben B. and Joyce E. Eisenberg Foundation.
INDIANAPOLIS (WTHI)  The Indianapolis Motor Speedway was transformed into a mass vaccination site March 5th through the 8th. During these days the Indiana National Guard gave out over 16,000 doses of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine. One of those doses went to Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb. Spc. Brian Lloyd, a medic with the 76th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, was the person who gave Holcomb the vaccine. "I had the honor of vaccinating the Governor of Indiana, Eric Holcomb," said Lloyd. He says that he wasn't nervous about giving the vaccine, just honored to be a part of history. Many members of the Indiana National Guard have been helping combat Covid, since it began in Indiana last March.
EDreams in Emerald Lake

Everyone has a dream; a dream exists in your memory for a whole life. No matter this dream is a fulfilled one, or one lives only in your mind, it always brightens your soul once your memory is touched by that dream.

For me, this dream is Emerald lake: a germ fells from heaven to Canadian Rockies. Emerald lake is located in Field, Yoho National Park, British Columbia. It is famous for its stunning Emerald green/blue lake in the summer and offers an incredible winter wonderland in the winter months.

Emerald lake is spectacular in summer: Wildflowers, green/blue lake mirrors the images of surrounding rookies and forest. There is a hiking trail along the lake shore which attracts you to spend a whole day time to explore. The color of Emerald lake lures you with an impulse to immerge in the green/blue water. But, dont jump into it! It is cold, absolutely cold.

More attractive are the green/blue roofed cabins on the island inside Emerald lake. The first time I saw the cabins in Emerald lake, I started to dream some days in the future I could have a cabin on this island. How splendid it would be to elope with you loved one and spend several nights here.

The Best Of All. There is a wedding ceremony place beside the lake shore, decorated by wild flowers, Emerald lakes soft green water, and faraway the Rockies piecing into the clouds floating under the blue sky. If I could have another wedding ceremony, I will choose here. If I could live a second life, I will bring my loved one here to celebrate. Dear friends, if you are going to marry another time, please bring your loved one here. If you could come here and marry again, you will never regret your life. You possible could die hard or live freely if your wife knows your plan. Hahaha,

Winter in Emerald lake is a fairy wonderland! It is the best place to celebrate your Christmas. I would buy all the cabins on this island, and invite all my friends, including your guys from MJSY, to celebrate Christmas here with your family members, if I have enough funds. Even Santa would be jealous of us for sure.

Emerald lake is Gods jewelry, which falls into the earthly world.

OK, I stop bla-bla, and you check the proofs. Thx

Dekyi Wangmo is a 35-year-old woman born in Tonpa village of Mainling County, Nyingchi, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region. Having been yearning for urban life since being a child, she worked in cities for years after she entered adulthood.

However, her hometown became a place that she never wants to leave again when she returned there a couple of years ago.

What attracts her is the prosperous development there. Tonpa village, sitting by the clear and green water rolling in the Yarlung Tsangpo River, is a perfect observation point for the snow-covered Mount Namjagbarwa, the highest mountain in Nyingchi. Thanks to the village's altitude, which is relatively low in Nyingchi, as well as its rich and splendid natural resources, flocks of tourists are swarming in it for sightseeing.

Under the support of the village committee and the Party committee of the village, Dekyi Wangmo established a tourism cooperative in 2016, and her fellow villagers joined it as shareholders. In July, 2019, a B&B hotel of the cooperative was completed and put into operation, bringing in a revenue of 1.86 million yuan ($286,158) in the same year. Though impacted by COVID-19, the net income of the B&B still hit 1.3 million yuan last year.

The story of Tonpa village isn't one-and-only in Nyingchi. Over the past 5 years, the city has worked vigorously to build itself into a demonstration city for the promotion of ecological progress, as well as a demonstration holistic tourism destination, receiving over 32 million visits and generating tourism revenue of more than 24 billion yuan. The lucid waters and lush mountains in Nyingchi have been turned into invaluable assets for its residents.

Lulang was once a forest farm in Nyingchi 's Bayi District. As lumbering was completely banned in Tibet since the end of the 20th century, Lulang accelerated the process of industrial transition, focusing more on ecological tourism. Under the pair assistance offered by south China's Guangdong Province, the Lulang International Tourism Town was opened in 2017.

The B&B of Tashi Phuntsog, a villager from Tashigang village, Lulang Township is a hot destination among tourists. "Lulang has become a well-known tourist site, attracting huge numbers of tourists," said Tashi Phuntsog. There are also many hotels of higher levels in the township which can satisfy tourists at higher consumption levels, he added.

Myidoi village of Pome County spent 1.5 million yuan last year on restoring a batch of traditional architectures. Last June, a tourism company was established in the village, funded by 163 residents from 53 households. The village also collected 250 horses from villagers and designated an area where tourists can enjoy the sceneries on the back of the horses.

Horse riding can protect local environment and offer unique experience for tourists, said villager Tashi Tsewang, adding that the industry has increased income for all the villagers.

"Sound ecology leads to prosperity," remarked Liu Guangming, executive vice mayor of Nyingchi, and also head of the ninth team of a pairing-up aid program dispatched by Guangdong to Tibet. Nyingchi will rely on its eco-tourism advantages and advance the construction of tourism facilities such as smart hotels and B&Bs, so as to promote industrial upgrade of the tourism sector and constantly improve its development, he said.
Volta FinanceLimited (VTA/VTAS)

Dividend Declaration

NOT FOR RELEASE, DISTRIBUTION OR PUBLICATION,

IN WHOLE OR IN PART, IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES

Guernsey, 17 March 2021

Volta Finance Limited ("the Company") hereby announces a first interim dividend for the financial year commencing 1 August 2020.

The Company announces that it has declared a quarterly interim dividend of 0.14 per share payable on 29 April 2021 amounting to approximately 5.12 million, equating approximately to an annualised 8% of net asset value. The ex-dividend date is 1 April 2021 with a record date of 6 April 2021.

The Company has arranged for its shareholders to be able to elect to receive their dividends in either Euros or Pounds Sterling. Shareholders will, by default, receive their dividends in Euros, unless they have instructed the Company's Registrar, Computershare Investor Serviceswithin the "Investors - Other Documents" section. The deadline for receipt of currency elections is 12:00 (midday) on 7 April 2021.

For further information, please contact:

For the Investment Manager

AXA Investment Managers Paris

Serge Demay

serge.demay@axa-im.com



+33 (0) 1 44 45 84 47

Company Secretary and Administrator

BNP Paribas Securities Services S.C.A, Guernsey Branch

guernsey.bp2s.volta.cosec@bnpparibas.com

+44 (0) 1481 750 853

Corporate Broker

Cenkos Securities plc

Andrew Worne

Daniel Balabanoff

Will Talkington

+44 (0) 20 7397 8900

*****

ABOUT VOLTA FINANCE LIMITED

Volta Finance Limited is incorporated in Guernsey under The Companies (Guernsey) Law, 2008 (as amended) and listed on Euronext Amsterdam and the London Stock Exchange's Main Market for listed securities. Volta's home member state for the purposes of the EU Transparency Directive is the Netherlands. As such, Volta is subject to regulation and supervision by the AFM, being the regulator for financial markets in the Netherlands.

Volta's investment objectives are to preserve capital across the credit cycle and to provide a stable stream of income to its shareholders through dividends. Volta seeks to attain its investment objectives predominantly through diversified investments in structured finance assets. The assets that the Company may invest in either directly or indirectly include, but are not limited to: corporate credits; sovereign and quasi-sovereign debt; residential mortgage loans; and, automobile loans. The Company's approach to investment is through vehicles and arrangements that essentially provide leveraged exposure to portfolios of such underlying assets. The Company has appointed AXA Investment Managers Paris an investment management company with a division specialised in structured credit, for the investment management of all its assets.

*****

ABOUT AXA INVESTMENT MANAGERS

AXA Investment Managers (AXA IM) is a multi-expert asset management company within the AXA Group, a global leader in financial protection and wealth management. AXA IM is one of the largest European-based asset managers with 753 investment professionals and 858 billion in assets under management as of the end of December 2020.

*****

This press release is published by AXA Investment Managers Paris ("AXA IM"), in its capacity as alternative investment fund manager (within the meaning of Directive 2011/61/EU, the "AIFM Directive") of Volta Finance Limited (the "Volta Finance") whose portfolio is managed by AXA IM.

This press release is for information only and does not constitute an invitation or inducement to acquire shares in Volta Finance. Its circulation may be prohibited in certain jurisdictions and no recipient may circulate copies of this document in breach of such limitations or restrictions. This document is not an offer for sale of the securities referred to herein in the United States or to persons who are "U.S. persons" for purposes of Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), or otherwise in circumstances where such offer would be restricted by applicable law. Such securities may not be sold in the United States absent registration or an exemption from registration from the Securities Act. Volta Finance does not intend to register any portion of the offer of such securities in the United States or to conduct a public offering of such securities in the United States.

*****

This communication is only being distributed to and is only directed at (i) persons who are outside the United Kingdom or (ii) investment professionals falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (the "Order") or (iii) high net worth companies, and other persons to whom it may lawfully be communicated, falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order (all such persons together being referred to as "relevant persons"). The securities referred to herein are only available to, and any invitation, offer or agreement to subscribe, purchase or otherwise acquire such securities will be engaged in only with, relevant persons. Any person who is not a relevant person should not act or rely on this document or any of its contents. Past performance cannot be relied on as a guide to future performance.

*****

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Any target information is based on certain assumptions as to future events which may not prove to be realised. Due to the uncertainty surrounding these future events, the targets are not intended to be and should not be regarded as profits or earnings or any other type of forecasts. There can be no assurance that any of these targets will be achieved. In addition, no assurance can be given that the investment objective will be achieved.

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(Natural News) Less than a year into his presidency, Joe Biden is already exaggerating his accomplishments and dismissing Donald Trumps contributions to help America survive the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

An inflated fatality total

On Thursday, March 11, President Biden addressed America and made some farfetched claims. In the 24-minute prime time address, Biden said that coronavirus claimed more American lives than World War I, World War II, the Vietnam War and 9/11 combined.

But according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 527,726 Americans died from coronavirus so far.

While the number is shocking, its not the same as the 580,000 lives lost during the four historical events Biden enumerated. The claim of a high death rate was one of Bidens biggest blunders during the address.

During World War I, there were 116,516 deaths worldwide.

World War II had 405,399 deaths.

The Vietnam War recorded 58,220 deaths.

At least 3,000 people died in the 9/11 attacks.

If Biden only referred to American casualties in all four events, the figures would have added up.

More false claims

During his speech, Biden also praised his administrations vaccine rollout and made misleading claims about the timeliness of Trumps response to the virus, along with the number of vaccines the former presidents administration ordered.

Biden claimed that his administration is on track to reach their goal of 100 million shots by his 60th day in office. He also said that no other country in the world has achieved this feat.

Its true that no other country has vaccinated as many people as America, but smaller countries have vaccines more than their total population.

To clarify, the U.S. has vaccinated 95 million people or at least 19 percent of the population. However, smaller countries like Chile, Israel and the U.K. have vaccinated more people per capita.

Biden also said that two months ago, America didnt have nearly enough vaccine supply to vaccinate all or anywhere near all of the American public. He added that the country soon will, but his claims and promises arent accurate.

According to the Government Accountability Office, by the end of 2020, the Trump administration had ordered at least 800 million doses of the coronavirus vaccine slated for delivery by July 31, 2021. At least 62.4 percent of people older than 65 have received one dose and at least 32.2 percent were fully vaccinated, reported the CDC.

But Bidens inflated claims dont stop there.

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%, said Biden. This is an overstatement since when he took office on Jan. 20, the vaccinations were already ongoing after the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized Pfizers vaccine for emergency use in December last year.

Additionally, his claims that the vaccine was already available for months is false since when he took office, the vaccine had only been available for one month. (Related: Pence presents coronavirus report to Biden, warns new administration to hold China accountable for pandemic.)

Biden also claimed that in 2020, the pandemic wasnt addressed properly, leading to countless infections as Trump remained in denial about the virus.

While Trumps response to the pandemic was delayed for months, by this time last year he had already addressed the nation on March 20 and acknowledged the growing threat of the pandemic. Trump also announced new travel restrictions for Europe.

Bidens ambitious vaccine rollout plan

I set a goal that many of you said was kind of way over the top. I said I intended to get 100 million shots in peoples arms in my first hundred days in office, said Biden.

The president took his chance to call out those who questioned his ambitious vaccine rollout plan. But in an article from the Washington Post, some experts referred to his plan as ambitious but not impossible.

The New York Times also reported that fulfilling it will require no hiccups in manufacturing or distributing the vaccine and a willingness by Americans to be vaccinated.

In his address, Biden said that his administration is working with Johnson & Johnson, Moderna and Pfizer to manufacture and purchase hundreds of millions of doses of these three safe, effective vaccines.

Not giving credit where credit is due

Under his administration, Biden said that Johnson & Johnson is collaborating with Merck, a competitor, to expedite and increase the capacity to manufacture a new one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine. He added that he had met with the CEOs of both companies and that he revealed the plan to purchase an additional 100 million doses of Johnson & Johnson vaccines.

The claims earned criticism since Biden was taking sole credit for the countrys vaccine roll-out when his administration heavily relied on Trumps Operation Warp Speed initiative.

The Trump Administration established Operation Warp Speed last April to facilitate and accelerate the development, manufacturing and distribution of coronavirus vaccines. Regardless of political affiliation, citizens have praised Operation Warp Speed.

Mainstream media outlets, like ABC and The New York Times, have credited Trump with contributing to the success of the coronavirus vaccines. Both publications also criticized Biden for not giving Trump enough credit for Operation Warp Speed.

Its true that Biden did help increase Americas supply of the coronavirus vaccine, but it wouldnt have been possible without Trump-era contracts.

When Biden took office, the U.S. government was unable to guarantee that it would have enough supply to cover every adult with vaccines already authorized by federal regulations.

But this was only partly because in 2020, Trump officials were considering a third vaccine from Johnson & Johnson that only required one shot, was easier to administered and was almost ready for authorization.

Under the Trump administration, America had agreed to buy enough doses for 200 million adults from Pfizer and Moderna with options to buy more as needed. Trumps administration also purchased enough Johnson & Johnson vaccine to buy supply for 100 million adults once authorized, which would cover every American adult by summer.

Visit Pandemic.news for unbiased reports about Trumps significant contributions amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Sources include:

DailyMail.co.uk

ABCNews.go.com
The acting General-Secretary of the Industrial and Commercial Workers Union (ICU), Ghana, Mr. Morgan Ayawine, has urged workers to patronise the ongoing vaccination exercise against the COVID-19 pandemic in the country.



He said we must pay heed and take the national call to participate in the programme seriously to prevent ourselves against the intensity and agility of the new wave or variant of COVID-19 which portends more gloomy prospect for businesses and labour.



Mr. Ayawine was speaking during a conference of the union in Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region.



The delegates deliberated on some issues that affected the growth and development of the ICU in the area.



They also elected a 10-member regional executive for both the Youth and Womens wing of the union while retaining members of the regional executive.



Statistics



Mr. Ayawine said during the first wave of COVID-19 in the country, 770,000 workers had their wages and salaries slashed while 42,000 workers lost their jobs with devastating rippling financial effect".



Just as we were hoping to recover from this shock after 2020, a second wave of the COVID-19 reared its ugly head at the beginning of 2021, which is still claiming lives, businesses and labour, with no end in sight, he added.



According to Mr. Ayawine, many organisations, particularly the hospitality and tourism sectors, were operating at half capacity, while others had completely shut down resulting in sharp decline of socio-economic activities.



Challenges



The Upper West Regional Industrial Relations Officer of the union, Mr. Agamu Rudolph, mentioned the banking reforms, decline in ICU membership, collapse of some micro finance companies and the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic as some of the challenges that affected the labour sector in 2020.



Pre Order Ghana Year Book 2021

On vocational training, Mr. Rudolph said between 2017 and 2021, more than 1000 apprentices were trained in employable skills such as dressmaking, hairdressing and carpentry, among others.



He added that the regional executive of the union also visited all local unions where workers expressed their grievances to include victimisation, wrongful dismissals, alleged misconduct of leaders of some companies and resignations.





Source: graphiconline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Just make us equal under the law, she added.

But the measure faces an uphill battle in the Senate, with backing from just a handful of Republicans. I wish that I could tell you that we had more Republican support, said Senator Lisa Murkowski, Republican of Alaska, who is working to rally senators from her party around the measure.

Hopefully well be able to get some traction over here, she added.

The country has been here before. Last year, the House voted to drop the deadline, but the bill failed to move in the Senate, and today America remains one of the few countries in the world without any explicit guarantee of gender equality in its constitution. And several legal wrinkles  most importantly whether Congress even has the power to remove the ratification deadline  still make the amendments adoption far from guaranteed.

But what is different this time is a renewed appreciation of the amendments importance  and, of course, a Democratic controlled Senate may help. Advocates say the pandemic, the economic crisis and a right-leaning Supreme Court that may be a blocker for womens rights have highlighted just how vulnerable American women are.

A whole generation of women thought they were protected and already equal, said Kate Kelly, a human rights lawyer and host of the podcast Ordinary Equality. But Covid made visible inequities that to many were invisible before, she added.

Now that inequality is laid bare, they can see the desperate need for a fundamental, permanent solution.
Lucknow, March 17 : Complaints and criticism are mounting by the day against former Shia Waqf Board chairman Waseem Rizvi who has sought removal of 26 verses from the Quran.

Prominent Islamic seminary, Darul Uloom, Deoband, slammed Rizvi's 'attempt to disturb peace in the country.' Abul Qasmi Nomani, vice-chancellor of Darul Uloom, Deoband, said, "The Quran teaches us peace and forgiveness. Not a word has changed in it since this world came into being. And there is no scope for it too." Nomani appealed to the government to take strict action against Rizvi.

"An enemy of Islam has filed a petition in the Supreme Court. Darul Uloom strongly condemns it. The purpose of these people is to disturb the peace and unity of the country. The government should take strict legal action against such people," he said.

Nomani further said, "We are also sure that the Supreme Court will dismiss this petition." He urged the Muslims to "be patient in these trying times".

The clerics of Barelvi school of thought have also condemned the move.

National vice-president of Jamat-Raza-e-Mustafa, Salman Hasan Khan, asked, "What is his (Rizvi's) religion? He has hurt the sentiments of millions of Muslims. It is a deliberate attempt by him to disturb peace. The National Security Act (NSA) should be invoked against him. He should be sent to jail. He is a threat to society." Meanwhile, two police complaints have been filed against Rizvi in Muzaffarnagar.

Local lawyer Asad Zama and actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui's brother Faizuddin Siddique have lodged the complaints in different police stations of the district.
By Sun Youquan

"Pine tree is your will, flowers are your smile..." on March 11the 70-year-old Xu Shuzi sat in front of the piano and sang "The Monument Forever".

"I learned to play the piano, in order to record a soundtrack for 'The Monument Forever' exhibition board," Xu shared her story.

Xu came to Beijing from her hometown of Yanji county, Jilin Province in 2002, to take care of her elderly mother. She liked to read books and newspapers in spare time. At the beginning of 2005, media reported many stories of the revolutionary martyrs to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression. When doing newspaper clippings, an idea came to her head. She decided to make an exhibition board to promote these heroic stories.

In February 2005, Xu pasted the collected news clippings on a hundred revolutionary martyrs heroic deeds on two 1.5-meter-wide and 2-meter-long exhibition boards, with the theme of "The Monument Forever", and then placed them on both sides of Beiyuan Street, Chaoyang District, Beijing. A large number of people stopped to watch the exhibition boards, and the community workers invited her to display the boards in front of the community gate."I felt very encouraged after that exhibition," she said.

Not long after that, teachers from Beiyuan Primary School in Beijing sent the invitation and she took her boards to the campus. In the following two years, she made nearly 50 exhibition boards for the school.

"It would be great if the exhibition boards could be displayed with a theme song," Xu had this idea as there were more and more opportunities to display the exhibition boards.

She bought an Electric Piano and began to learn playing it from a music teacher. Xu practiced so hard that she passed the Level 5 test within just two years. The piano teacher was moved by her perseverance and wrote the music "The Monument Forever" for free.

In 2012, Xu returned to Yanji, her hometown, concentrating on collecting the heroic stories in her hometown. There were few clues in the beginning. She asked the retired personnel, the martyrs' cemetery staff, and even went to some remote villages to collect information. Her efforts were finally paid off. She and her friends found totally 62 heroes and martyrs of the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea.

On July 19, 2013, Xu was invited to the Primary School Affiliated to the Normal Branch of Yanbian University to host an educational exhibition featuring "August 1, the Army Day", where her work was well recognized by all.

By now, she has collected the stories of more than 3,600 heroes who came from Yanbian Korean autonomous prefecture and died during the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, the Liberation War and the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea. She made exhibition boards at her own expense for more than 500 photo exhibitions at 58 schools and 54 communities.
Kingstree, SC (29556)

Today

Considerable cloudiness. Occasional rain showers after midnight. Low 67F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%..

Tonight

Considerable cloudiness. Occasional rain showers after midnight. Low 67F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%.
POTTSVILLE  A Pottsville man will spend time in prison and on probation after admitting recently to a Schuylkill County judge that prosecutors could prove he possessed methamphetamine and several items of drug paraphernalia in October 2019 in Saint Clair.

Joseph P. Harkins III, 42, pleaded no contest to possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Judge Charles M. Miller accepted the plea and, pursuant to an agreement between prosecutors and the defendant, sentenced Harkins to spend one to 23 months in prison and an additional 12 months on probation.

Miller also sentenced Harkins to pay costs, $100 to the Substance Abuse Education Fund, $50 to the Criminal Justice Enhancement Account and $113 restitution to the state police crime laboratory in Bethlehem.

Saint Clair police charged Harkins with possessing meth, a pipe, a cylinder and a straw on Oct. 4, 2019.

By pleading no contest, Harkins did not admit committing the crimes, but offered no defense to them, acknowledged prosecutors had enough evidence to prove him guilty and agreed to be sentenced as if he had pleaded or been found guilty.

Harkins already is an inmate at the county prison, and Miller conducted the hearing by videoconference.

In another recent county case, Timothy A. Geiger, 46, of Saint Clair, pleaded guilty to possession of a controlled substance. Prosecutors withdrew a charge of possession of drug paraphernalia.

Miller accepted the plea and, pursuant to an agreement between prosecutors and the defendant, sentenced Geiger to serve two to 23 months in prison, pay costs, a $100 SAEF payment and a $50 CJEA payment, and undergo a drug and alcohol evaluation.

New Philadelphia police charged Geiger with possessing meth on Sept. 18, 2019, in the borough.

Geiger already is an inmate at the county prison, and Miller conducted the hearing by videoconference.

Also in the county court, Enrique Vives Jr., 47, of Shenandoah, pleaded guilty to driving under the influence, driving under suspension and careless driving. Prosecutors withdrew charges of disregarding traffic lane and violation of restrictions on alcoholic beverages.

Miller accepted the plea and, pursuant to an agreement between prosecutors and the defendant, sentenced Vives to serve 90 days to six months on house arrest with electronic monitoring and pay costs, $1,525 in fines, a $100 SAEF payment and a $50 CJEA payment.

State police at Frackville alleged Vives was DUI with a suspended license on Nov. 21, 2019, in Shenandoah.

In two other recent county cases, Judge Cyrus Palmer Dolbin found two men guilty of violating protection from abuse orders.

Johnathan W. Kline, 32, of Pottsville, is guilty of indirect criminal contempt, which is contempt committed outside the courtroom, Dolbin ruled. The judge sentenced Kline to pay costs and a $300 fine.

Pottsville police charged Kline with violating the PFA order on Feb. 22 in the city.

Dolbin also found Timothy R. Nagle, 35, of Pine Grove, guilty of indirect criminal contempt. The judge placed the defendant on probation for 45 days, and also sentenced him to pay costs and a $300 fine and undergo drug and alcohol and mental health/mental retardation evaluations.

Pine Grove police charged Nagle with violating the PFA order on Feb. 22 in the borough.
Brazils Bolsonaro names 4th health minister during pandemic View Photo

SAO PAULO (AP)  With COVID-19 still raging in Brazil, President Jair Bolsonaro picked his fourth health minister since the pandemic began, this time the head of the countrys cardiology society who in the past has spoken favorably of the countrys conservative leader.

Marcelo Queiroga will replace Eduardo Pazuello, an active-duty army general with expertise in logistics who landed the position last May despite having no prior health experience.

Queiroga said in a press conference in capital Brasilia on Tuesday that the COVID-19 policy he will implement is of the Bolsonaro administration, not of the health minister.

I came to work for Brazil and other ministers of the Bolsonaro administration. The president is very worried about the situation, said Queiroga, who insisted he is against any lockdown measures. Some Brazilian cities are implementing restrictive shutdowns to halt the spread.

Pazuello had presided over the health ministry for the longest period of the three pandemic ministers before Queiroga. The revolving door reflects the challenges for the government of Latin Americas largest nation to implement effective measures to control the virus spread  or even agree which measures are necessary.

Queiroga has already called Bolsonaro a great Brazilian. His social media channels have not made any criticism of the presidents handling of the pandemic and pushed for a quick vaccine rollout.

Joao Gabbardo, a former secretary-executive of the health ministry, said on Twitter that Queiroga will face the worst figures of the pandemic in Brazil when he takes over.

The record number of deaths today will be in a high scale. A suggestion; do not speak against a national lockdown, said Gabbardo, who now works for the Sao Paulo state government.

Tuesday night Brazil reported record 2,841 confirmed deaths by COVID-19 in the last 24 hours, which is 558 more than the previous all-time high established on Wednesday.

On Monday, Pazuello acknowledged in a press conference that Bolsonaro aimed to replace him. The first candidate for the job, cardiologist Ludhmila Hajjar, rejected it.

Pazuellos two predecessors left the position amid disagreements with Bolsonaro, who criticized broad social distancing and supported the use of an unproven anti-malarial drug to treat the disease. He continues to hold those positions, despite health experts admonishments and studies showing the drug has no effect on COVID-19.

Pazuello proved more compliant. Immediately after taking the job, his ministry backed use and distribution of the malaria pill. On several occasions, he said that his boss tells him what to do, and he obeys.

Bolsonaro told supporters at the entrance of the presidential residence in Brasilia on Monday that there will be a transition period of up to two weeks with the outgoing and the incoming minister.

Pazuellos work was well done in the management part. Now we are in a phase that is more aggressive in the fight against the virus, Brazils president said.

Brazil has recorded almost 280,000 deaths from the virus, nearly all of which were on Pazuellos watch. The toll has been worsening lately, with the nation currently averaging more than 1,800 deaths each day. Health care systems of major cities are at the brink of collapse, and lawmakers allied with Bolsonaro have proposed suitable replacements for Pazuello, while threatening to step up pressure for an investigation into his handling of the crisis.

The countrys top court is also investigating Pazuello for alleged neglect that contributed to the collapse of the health care system in Amazonas state earlier this year. That probe will now be sent to a low court judge.

In a particularly embarrassing episode, his ministry accidentally dispatched a shipment of vaccines intended for Amazonas state to neighboring Amapa state, and vice versa, after confusing the abbreviations for each state.

Pazuello has faced intense criticism for Brazils slow vaccine rollout. According to Our World in Data, an online research site that compares official government statistics, only 5.4% of Brazilians have been vaccinated. Almost all were shots from Chinese biopharmaceutical firm Sinovac, which Bolsonaro repeatedly cast doubt upon.

The only vaccine deal Pazuello had signed at the time, for 100 million doses of the AstraZeneca jab, has brought few shots to the arms of Brazilians so far. His ministry has since scrambled to cobble together agreements with other suppliers, recently concluding deals to acquire the Pfizer and Sputnik V shots.

__

AP journalist David Biller contributed to this report from Rio de Janeiro.

By MAURICIO SAVARESE

Associated Press
She and her husband 'have made a decision to adopt' a new dog as part of their family.

On Tuesdays episode of Live! With Kelly and Ryan, host Kelly Ripa announced she had adopted an adorable rescue dog that previously appeared on the show.

Kelly, 50, shared a few pictures of the animal during the telecast, an adorable and furry dark pooch.

On Tuesdays episode of Live! With Kelly and Ryan: Host Kelly Ripa announced she had adopted an adorable rescue dog that previously appeared on the show

In one image, the little dog snuggled in Ripa's lap.

She also explained to her cohost Ryan, 46, that the adoption process involved making sure her first dog Chewie would not 'feel replaced in any way.'

After seeking guidance from a friend and dog trainer, who Kelly joked trained her more than the actual dog, the pair of rescue pooches got along splendidly.

Dishing: Ripa explained to her cohost Ryan that the adoption process involved making sure her first dog Chewie would not 'feel replaced in any way'

Meet Lena: Kelly shared a few pictures of the animal during the telecast, an adorable and furry dark pooch

The mother of three even spied a moment of beautiful canine affection just outside of Lenas crate one night.

After the dog suddenly stopped making noise, Kelly came out to check on her.

'Chewie was outside the [Lena's] crate, sitting next to her with their noses together,' she said to oohs and aws from the audience.

After seeking guidance from a friend and dog trainer, who Kelly joked trained her more than the actual dog: The pair of rescue pooches got along splendidly

The one point of contention, however, is about the pups name.

Ripa explained that she chose Lena as it was close to the rescue puppys original name, which was Angelina.

However, 'My kids want her to be named Leia, as in Princess Leia, because we have Chewie [another Star Wars name],' Ripa explained.

The one point of contention, however, is about the pups name: Ripa explained her kids want the dog to be named Leia, as in Princess Leia; seen here in a throwback snap on Instagram

'I don't know. I need guidance,' she asked of her audience, and America at large.

But as Seacrest pointed out, the choice should really be up to Kelly and her husband Mark Consuelos, as the pair's three children are all college-aged now and out of the house.

In fact, just recently, Kelly and Mark, 49, celebrated their 18-year-olds son Joaquin's admittance into the University of Michigan's wrestling program.

The pair, who have been married for 25 years, also share older son Michael, 23, and daughter Lola, 19.
Union Minister of Chemicals & Fertilizers D. V. Sadananda Gowda inaugurated the 11th Edition of India Chem 2021 in New Delhi with the theme India: Global Manufacturing hub for chemicals and petrochemicals. He stated that the Indian chemicals and petrochemicals industry is growing to new heights, and informed that an investment of Rs 8 lakh crore is anticipated in the sector by 2025.

During his speech, Sadananda Gowda also appreciated that Department and FICCI has organised the event. He added that the growth in the chemical and petrochemicals industry is also contributing to the Prime Minister's vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat. He informed that Government has launched 12 PLI scheme for different sectors which will directly or indirectly benefit the chemicals sector. He also stated that the Government is prioritising the sector and in the Budget 2021-21, the import duty on Naphtha has been reduced from 4.0% to 2.5%.

Powered by Capital Market - Live News

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Talks between US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin (L) and South Korean officials are expected to focus on the North and China

Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin and top US diplomat Antony Blinken met their South Korean counterparts in Seoul on Wednesday to bolster a united front against an increasingly assertive China and the nuclear-armed North.

The South is the second leg of the US officials' inaugural overseas trip, and like their first stop, Japan, a leading security ally of the United States.

The Biden administration is focused on rallying alliances with its key Asian partners to counter a rising China.

Before leaving Tokyo, Secretary of State Blinken accused Beijing of acting more repressively at home and "more aggressively abroad", citing its activities in the East and South China Seas and towards Taiwan.

"It's important for us to make clear together that China cannot expect to act with impunity," Blinken said.

Beijing accused the United States and Japan of ganging up to interfere in its internal affairs and attempting to "harm China's interests".

"This is just another clear example of the US and Japan working in collusion to interfere in China's internal affairs," foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian told reporters on Wednesday.

- 'Causing a stink' -

Austin also told South Korean defence minister Suh Wook that their alliance faced "unprecedented challenges posed by both the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and China".

North Korea is moving up the agenda in the South, where the US stations 28,500 troops to defend it against its neighbour.

The allies kicked off joint military exercises last week and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's influential sister warned Washington this week against "causing a stink at its first step" if it wants to "sleep in peace for coming four years".

The statement by Kim Yo Jong, a key adviser to her brother, was the reclusive state's first explicit reference to the new leadership in Washington, more than four months after Joe Biden was elected to replace Donald Trump -- although it still did not mention the 78-year-old Democrat by name.

Story continues

The US envoys will meet on Thursday with President Moon Jae-in, who brokered the talks process between Kim and Trump in 2018.

- Policy review -

Trump's unorthodox approach to foreign policy saw him trade insults and threats of war with Kim Jong Un before an extraordinary diplomatic bromance that saw a series of headline-grabbing meetings.

But ultimately no progress was made towards Washington's declared aim of denuclearising North Korea, with a second summit in Hanoi in early 2019 breaking up without an agreement and Pyongyang still under multiple international sanctions for its banned weapons programmes.

Blinken and Austin will consult on a review of Washington's policy towards the North being carried out by the new administration.

But subtle differences between Washington and Seoul could be seen in their readouts of the defence chiefs' meeting Wednesday.

Pentagon press secretary John Kirby said Austin and Suh had expressed commitment to achieving "the denuclearisation of North Korea".

On the other hand Seoul's defence ministry said that they had "shared objectives of achieving the complete denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula and a permanent peace in the region".

The specific "North Korea" phrasing used by Washington is anathema to Pyongyang, which prefers the broader and more ambiguous reference to the peninsula as a whole, terminology that could be taken to include the US nuclear umbrella over the South.

The difference threatens to put Seoul on the horns of a diplomatic dilemma: since Hanoi, Moon's administration has repeatedly tried to reach out to Pyongyang but has been regularly rebuffed.

burs-je/mtp
Fairbanks, AK (99707)

Today

A mix of clouds and sun. High around 65F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Some clouds. Low 47F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph.
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Syria reported Israeli airstrikes near Damascus Tuesday night.

Israeli missiles struck around the capital at 10:35 p.m. Syrian air defenses intercepted some of the missiles and only material damage was reported. The missiles were fired from the Golan Heights, the Syrian state media outlet SANA reported.

The Israel Defense Forces did not comment on the incident, in keeping with its policy of not discussing military actions abroad.

Israel is suspected of regular airstrikes against Syrian and Iranian military targets in Syria. Earlier this month, Israel reportedly hit Iranian positions near Damascus following an explosion on an Israeli ship that Israel blamed on Iran. Some of the strikes have also successfully hit Syrian air defense units.

Tensions remain high between Israel and Iran in the region. Last week, The Wall Street Journal reported that Israel was responsible for sabotaging Iranian oil tankers recently.

The Syrian government remains at war with rebel groups in the country. Iran supports Syria in the conflict.
So far Wednesday morning the warm front remains just off to our southwest but VERY close to Franklin and Colbert counties. Once the warm front lifts into and through our area, severe weather will become more likely for areas farther west and south.

Round 1 - The rest of this morning, early afternoon (along the warm front):All types of severe weather are possible with this first round Wednesday morning. Latest data indicates that the warm front will struggle to lift northeast of I-65 the rest of the morning and into the afternoon. It is possible that Huntsville remains on cool side of the warm front until mid-to-late-afternoon today. This would delay severe weather for counties further northeast: Marshall, Dekalb, Madison and Jackson Counties.

Round 2 - Afternoon through Evening(warm sector after passage of the warm front): The main hazard with second round will be for discreet supercells that have the potential for large, long-tracked tornadoes. These storms will be moving to the northeast so it is important to monitor counties to your southwest that may already be in a tornado warning.

Round 3 - Evening through early Thursday(main cold front): A squall line of thunderstorms is expected late tonight. Expect damaging straight-line winds with quick spin-up tornadoes possible.

Once this line moves into Georgia Thursday morning the severe weather threat ends for North Alabama.
Kolkata: All India Trinamool Congress will release its manifesto on Wednesday (March 17) for the upcoming Assembly election in West Bengal. Earlier, the TMC had announced to release its manifesto on March 9, but it was postponed till March 11 in the wake of the Kolkata fire incident which claimed nine lives.

The ruling party could not release its manifesto on Thursday (March 18) due to an alleged attack on Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee during a poll campaign in Nandigram on March 10.

According to reports, TMC chairperson Mamata Banerjee will be addressing the media from her Kalighat office today at 5 PM. She is expected to release the party's manifesto for the upcoming 2021 Assembly elections.

Notably, the party released the list of 291 candidates on March 5 for West Bengal's eight-phase elections beginning from March 27. Votes will be counted on May 2.

Earlier on Tuesday, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee received a stern message from Election Commission, which said that it was not proper to belittle the institution by calling it as being close to the ruling party. The EC asserted that it would not like to be repeatedly "put in the dock" with innuendos and averments.

Despite meeting representatives of the TMC in Kolkata and the national capital in the recent past, "if it is stated by the CM that the Commission should meet political parties, it is only an attempt to belittle the institution of Commission with repeated innuendos and averments", the poll panel said in response to a letter from Banerjee to Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora on March 14.

Deputy Election Commissioner in charge of West Bengal Sudeep Jain wrote to Banerjee, "Commission maintains the position that they would not like to keep on being put in the dock for alleged proximity to any political entity."

Live TV

Recently, the TMC had urged the panel to remove Jain as in charge of West Bengal and had questioned his neutrality. The commission, however, defended Jain by coming out with a press statement.

(With Agency Inputs)
Lawsuit over Mount Rushmore fireworks dismissed

U.S. District Court Judge Roberto Lange in a ruling Wednesday dismissed a lawsuit brought against President Joe Biden's administration by Gov. Kristi Noem after the NFS a fireworks display there next month.
What if I told you that Blockbuster had a 7-year head start on streaming video over Netflix? What if I told you that before Prime Video, Prime Shipping, Google Docs, and Android phones, Amazon was a place to buy books and Google was just a search engine like Altavista. Altavista?

How were these companies able to enter new and existing spaces that had nothing to do with where they started and be successful? They were good at delivering software. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella says, Every company is a software company. If you buy a tractor from John Deere, one of the most important things that gets updated on that tractor is not the oil filter, its the software. There is a company with 3,500 engineers, 500 software releases a week, and 4,000 apps or services in production. That company is Home Depot.

If software is eating the world, as Marc Andreessen is famous for saying, and you want your company to do the eating, instead of being eaten like Borders Books, Barnes & Noble, and Blockbuster... then you need to get good at delivering software.

Situational awareness

The economic historian Carlota Perez, building on some definitions from Joseph Shumpeter, explains that we are currently in the 6th modern technological revolution. She argues that new paradigms replace old ones, which are marked by a turning point at which the new paradigm becomes fully dominant. The current revolution is the Age of Information and Computers, and if software is the new paradigm, this is a good explanation for the rise of companies like Netflix, Google, and Amazon. Being good at software enables them to enter and dominate spaces that were once controlled by others.

An Innosight report notes, We're entering a period of heightened volatility for leading companies across a range of industries, with the next ten years shaping up to be the most potentially turbulent in modern history." This turbulence sounds very much in line with the ideas of Dr. Perez.

Being good at delivering software in this new age will be table stakes for any company that wishes to survive. According to the Dell Digital Transformation report in a survey of technology leaders, Almost 1 in 3 are worried their organization may not survive the next couple of years. Does your company have the systems it needs to be able to survive and thrive on the other side of the turning point?

Home Depot, a home improvement store, has made massive investments in technology for the past few years. According to Fortune, new technology tools let store workers see a fuller picture of a shoppers spending history and offering them insights for upselling. The company's e-commerce operation grew more than 20% last year. This means the pace of competition is actually accelerating. The Dell report showed that the Digital Adopters segment jumped by 16% between 2018 and 2020 compared to only 9% for the previous two-year period.

This fits in well with Dr. Perez' thesis that mass production was the signature aspect of the previous technological revolution. Now we are in the age of software.

The question becomes: Is your business, are your investments, ready to compete in this accelerating age of competition, creative destruction, and innovation? Do they have the tools, the expertise, and the culture necessary to make it through the turning point, or will they be left behind?

Its helpful to remember, as W. Edwards Deming said, It is not necessary to change. Survival is not mandatory.

Implications

Gene Kim, author of The Phoenix Project, says its not about being a large, established player anymore. Speed is the strategic differentiator in this part of the curve. But why?

Eric Reis, in his book, The Lean Startup, describes the process for product development and finding product market fit as running a series of experiments. The goal being to learn more quickly what works, and discard what doesn't. He advocates for what he calls MVPs, Minimum Viable Products. These arent the fastest things that can be developed that just barely work. They are carefully crafted learning experiments that allow one to determine if this is an idea worth pursuing or whether one should acknowledge a low-cost failure and move onto the next hypothesis. If a company takes six months to run an experiment, they will be a lot further behind in the fail-fast-and-succeed cycle than one that can run one or more experiments daily.

Think back to our Netflix vs. Blockbuster example. Netflix is good at delivering software. They release thousands of experiments every day. Blockbuster possibly had some large, slow, consulting company with antiquated development practices releasing experiments every few weeks or months. Who would have the competitive advantage in determining the best way to deliver streaming movies in that case?

One key is to maintain a strong customer focus in the design and product phases of development and work on a very short release cadence. Jez Humble, co-author of Continuous Delivery , explains: One of the ways to blur the lines between design & delivery & shrink the overall value stream lead time is for teams to practice hypothesis-driven development & TDD, working in very short cycles to get code (including experiments) into prod (using an experiment framework).

There is an even more compelling reason to get code into production as quickly as possible: inventory. Toyota Manufacturing worked with Dr. Deming (whom I quoted above) on process improvement in the 1970s and is famous for inventing just-in-time manufacturing. What problem was Toyota trying to solve with this invention? Inventory. Toyota realized that carrying excess inventory was expensive whether on the input or output side of the equation. In either case, they had to pay to store this inventory, which was wasteful and expensive. In addition, inventory was basically capital they had spent which they were unable to turn into revenue. If they had parts in a warehouse, they couldnt make money on those parts. If they had cars sitting outside a factory, but people couldnt buy those cars, they couldnt make money on those either.

With software, its the same. If we pay our developers to write software, but that software is sitting in a code repository somewhere, that is an investment weve made in our business that we cant make money on. If thats the case, when do we make money? When the software is deployed in production. Thats when our customers can see value in what weve developed and increase their subscription or recommend it to colleagues. Thats also where we can run experiments to determine what will drive revenue or achieve product market fit. If there is a long delay between when the code is written and deployed, its just idle inventory. Capital invested without return.

Whither DevOps

So how do we solve this problem? How do we get good at delivering software?

Ive been involved with the international DevOps movement for approximately the past decade. Ive spoken at DevOps conferences, written a DevOps course, and been featured in some of the DevOps books. This is how I view DevOps:

DevOps is a Collaboration between Development, Operations, and other teams with the recognition that we are tasked with achieving common business goals.

The outcome of being good at DevOps is being good at delivering software. We know that the outcome for the entire business is increased business performance. How?

The 2019 Accelerate State of DevOps report and the companion book Accelerate determined that highest performers are twice as likely to meet or exceed their organizational performance goals. Consider this proposition if you havent already: becoming good at delivering software doubles your chances of meeting or exceeding goals for customer satisfaction, market share, revenue, etc.

What the researchers discovered was that there are four key indicators that predict company performance in the highest performers: Deployment frequency, lead time for changes, change failure rate, and time to recover. It is easy to see how these indicators fit in well with the idea of experiments as advocated in the Lean Startup and at Netflix. The first two indicators deal with how quickly and how often we can get our experiments into production to test a theory or a new way of doing things.

They are also a great measure of how quickly we can deploy security fixes. Which leads us to our second two indicators which have to do with the quality of our releases, and how quickly we can recover from failure. If the site is down or degraded, it doesnt matter how compelling our product is, because we cannot realize returns on our investment if no one can buy the product.

Being able to walk the tightrope between running lots of experiments and the site being very stable is a tension in software delivery. One example of a company that is doing this well is Google. Google is famous in the industry for having error budgets, which encourage their products to have a minimum amount of downtime every month. That means that they want their teams to push as hard as possible to get new code into production (and run those experiments) up until the point where the budget is exhausted and then deployments are slowed or stopped. One must be very good at delivering software to do that safely and effectively.

But DevOps is not just for Development and Operations. Its for other teams as well, as every team is part of the value stream in some way. That includes security, design, legal, and marketing. I once worked with a marketing team that would only start on collateral (tweets, blog posts, etc.) after a feature was released. We had inventory that wed paid for and released that was available for weeks that no customers knew about. We revamped our process so that the collateral was released on the same day as the feature so that the investment that was made as a business could be realized with customers engaging with new features weeks earlier than before which led to shorter feedback cycles, greater customer satisfaction, increased revenue, etc.

This was possible because we had a culture of participation and information sharing that let those who were closest to the information decide the best way to execute on the companys goals. Those in management explained the goals and targets, and left it to the smart, empowered, humans to participate and deliver the results necessary to achieve those objectives. In the DevOps movement, we refer to this as Westrum Generative culture after Dr. Ron Westrum, who proposed the model. Many investors intuitively know that this culture is a key indicator of high growth teams.

Looking forward

Its clear that at this turning point in the age of software, companies that are able to master the dominant paradigm of the moment will be the ones that survive and thrive in the new golden age as described by Dr. Perez. Today, its not enough to be big, or loaded with capital. It comes down to execution and speed. To do so, we are going to need to place an emphasis on getting good at delivering software.

If we follow the DevOps model, this can be accomplished in a way that is good for business and our employees, which was the reason behind the formation of Mangoteque. Working employees like cogs in a machine, without respect and consideration, will never compare with the results we can achieve for our companies if everyone is focused on delivering value together to our customers.

Adrian Cockroft, the architect of the Netflix move from data center to cloud, famously tells a story about C-level executives. After giving a talk about the amazing results that Netflix was able to achieve in their engineering organization and for the business he would often be mobbed by C-suite executives after the talk who would declare Thats amazing! What results! Where were you able to find those talented people? To which Adrian would reply:

We hired them from you and got out of their way.
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The brutal killer of Melbourne woman Courtney Herron will be moved from jail to a mental hospital after being placed on a custodial supervision order.

Henry Hammond was on Wednesday told he will be moved to Thomas Embling Hospital for what could be the next 25 years.

Hammond had bashed his victim so savagely in May 2019 that the mortician could not put her broken body back together.

He was found not guilty via way of mental impairment and until today has been held in Melbourne's Port Phillip Prison.

John Herron and his daughter Courtney in happier times. She was savagely murdered by Henry Hammond, who was found not guilty through mental impairment

A lonely spot to die: The body of Courtney Herron was found bloody and beaten between these logs. It is a lonely and cold spot off the beaten track. Courtney's life had been tough and her ending was anything but happy

A young Courtney Herron. She was brutally murdered by Henry Hammond, who will not face justice over the shocking crime

Hammond appeared in the Supreme Court of Victoria via videolink from jail.

Dressed in prison greens and sporting the same dishevelled beard he had when he killed Ms Herron, showed no emotion as his immediate fate was determined.

Hammond had hoped to have a crack at early release via way of a review.

'It's difficult for someone who is in Mr Hammond's position to have the resources or the understanding to enliven a review of his own accord and in my submission a review of the order within three to five years from now is appropriate,' his barrister Tim Schocker told the court.

In Victoria, many a killer has been quietly cut loose from Thomas Embling after similar reviews, with the courts suppressing any details from ever being exposed to help protect the killers' rehabilitation in the community.

But Justice Phillip Priest refused to set the review condition himself, ordering Hammond not be reviewed for at least 24 years.

I predict he will be out in five years. Justice has been denied for Courtney. John Herron

'If his condition changed significantly that it could be realistically contemplated that the custodial supervision order be modified, an application can be made and that can be done,' he said.

'Most of the material currently before me, I really don't see there's very much utility setting a review period.'

In reality, Hammond - the son of millionaire parents from Sydney - will have every resource and opportunity to make the application for a review at another time.

Hammond ought never have been released onto the streets to kill in the first place.

Just months before he killed Ms Herron, he had been left on the footpath of Melbourne's gritty streets by the authorities Victorians pay to keep them safe.

The homeless son of wealthy investment banker Murray Hammond had been gifted a lucky break after another savage attack on a woman.

Courtney Herron was beaten to death in an attack that went for almost an hour. Her father John Herron has been denied justice

John Herron (centre) embraces his daughter Courtney (left) in happier times

John Herron clutches a photo of his precious daughter Courtney, who was brutally killed by Henry Hammond

In August, Hammond was declared not guilty over the horrific murder of Ms Herron.

He had pleaded not guilty by mental impairment earlier that year.

It's a legal defence put up by monsters within Victoria's Supreme Court with some regularity.

Hammond's plea was not opposed by the Office of Public Prosecutions director Kerry Judd, QC.

The decision rubbed salt in the wounds of Ms Herron's devastated father John Herron.

Mr Herron, who is himself a criminal lawyer, told Daily Mail Australia on Wednesday he fully expected Hammond to apply for a review and be granted release within five years.

'Justice has been denied for Courtney. You've got a serial attacker of women who now gets his fourth chance to be let loose and he's learnt no lessons because he's always been bailed out of trouble and here's another example,' he said.

'I wouldn't be surprised if he's day tripping in one to two years, if not sooner. As is the norm for Thomas Embling.'

Mr Herron has long accused the OPP of abandoning his daughter by consenting to her killer's 'not guilty' plea without a fight.

The decision followed defence and prosecution psychiatric reports on Hammond's mental state supplied by the Victorian Institute of Forensic Mental Health.

'If he was to get out early - the family and police don't know - and he could be up in New South Wales, not guilty, nobody knows and away he goes again,' Mr Herron said.

'There is no such thing as justice in this instance, particularly in the state of Victoria and the judge's hands were tied because it was agreed between the prosecution 18 months ago.'

Courtney Herron will receive no justice in death

John and Courtney Herron in happier times

Mr Herron said Hammond was an experienced conman when it came to faking mental illness and had been determined not to return to jail following a previous bad experience.

Hammond had convinced doctors he had believed he was the Norse God Odin and that he feared Ms Herron - a woman he had only just met - was possessed and would kill him.

THE STEPS THAT PUT A KILLER BACK ON THE STREETS December 17, 2018: Henry Hammond is sentenced to 10 months and 14 days over a savage attack on a woman Hammond had bashed and strangled the woman and threatened to kill her She only escaped by gouging his eyes Hammond had previous offences from NSW related to domestic violence April 1, 2019: Hammond had been behind bars for 231 days when he won an appeal in the County Court of Victoria Judge John Carmody re-sentenced Hammond to time already served and added a community corrections order May 25, 2019: Courtney Herron meets Hammond in Melbourne and treats him to dinner. Security footage from the Fitzroy restaurant shows the pair happily engaged in conversation. The pair join a group of Ms Herron's friends and smoke ice together. Friends video their conversation because they were 'acting strangely'. May 26, 2019: Hammond and Ms Herron go for an early morning walk in Royal Park, before he beats her to death with a branch and buries her in piles of leaves and branches. Dog walkers find Courtney Herron's mangled body at 9.25am May 28, 2019: Henry Hammond is charged for Ms Herron's murder following a series of tip offs sparking a manhunt in Melbourne's CBD Hammond tells police he recognised the 25-year-old from a past life. He says he killed her in an act of revenge for killing his wife May 31, 2019: Thousands attended a silent vigil organised for Ms Herron September 16, 2019: Hammond is due to be assessed by a forensic psychiatrist December 18, 2019: Hammond pleads not guilty to murder at Melbourne Magistrates Court January 7, 2020: Ms Herron's father John speaks up about his daughter's death: 'She died unnecessarily. 'She had the world at her feet.' July 21, 2020: Hammond is transferred to a mental health facility after a court agreed he was unfit to stand trial August 17, 2020: A judge finds Hammond is not guilty of murdering Ms Herron because he has schizophrenia Advertisement

Ms Herron's body was found in between logs by three dog walkers in Royal Park in Parkville in May, 2019.

Hammond had smashed her head in during a frenzied attack which lasted close to an hour.

The brute was supposed to be behind bars serving a 10-month sentence over the August 2018 assault of another woman.

But a month before he would kill Ms Herron, he was released on a Community Correction Order after successfully appealing to the County Court that his imprisonment was 'manifestly excessive'.

Judge John Carmody had released him into the care of Corrections Victoria in the hope he could be managed and obtain drug and mental health treatment.

Hammond's father had made a whirlwind trip from Sydney to Melbourne to pledge his support for his wayward son and promised he would find him a temporary home.

Two-and-a-half hours later, his dad boarded a plane back to Sydney.

Mr Hammond Snr told the court: 'I just (want) Henry to enjoy his life and you know, dont hurt anyone ever again.'

Victoria's prisons are full of the homeless who often remain behind bars well past their release dates because they have no fixed address of which to be released.

The OPP had assured Judge Carmody Hammond was not only suitable for the community order, but that appropriate monitoring would be in place.

Corrections Victoria had approved Hammond for the order despite him having no stable accommodation.

Mr Herron, told Daily Mail Australia his daughter's soon-to-be killer was dumped on Flinders Lane, in the heart of Melboune's CBD, and forgotten.

'Because his parents had money, his defence and the appeal was privately funded,' Mr Herron said.

A former Victorian Legal Aid lawyer himself, Mr Herron said Hammond would never have been funded by the taxpayer to launch an appeal over the savage domestic violence offence.

Three weeks before Hammond's release from jail, he refused to participate in a psychiatric assessment.

Mr Herron said that's one of several monumental blunders that ultimately saw the ice-fuelled Hammond go onto become a killer.

A crime he will never face justice over, Mr Herron said.

'I can't believe he could be released without a psychiatric report in the County Court,' Mr Herron said.

'Then he got released to no fixed address.'

At Hammond's court hearing in April last year, Judge Carmody was told Hammond's previous address had been 'the sand dunes at Byron Bay'.

'He was released back onto the street. No fixed address,' Mr Herron said.

Courtney (left) and John Herron in happier times

A young Courtney Herron (right) frolics in the trees with her friend Kalinda Brown (left)

Courtney Herron in another happy snap provided by her father John

Henry Hammond, a 27-year-old homeless man, was charged with Courtney's murder. He was found not guilty without a fight

'I believe he's scamming for a couple of reasons,' Mr Herron said. 'All of a sudden when he's in trouble he bangs on about "Odin's possessed me" ... he knows he's done it and he's gone: "I'd rather do it in the psyche ward, I'm not going to plead guilty, no way". I know a criminal and I know this guy is scamming.'

Mr Herron said while a lot of money had been spent on keeping Hammond out of jail, none had been spent on getting him treatment for his supposed mental issues.

'Ice is an issue with him. He took ice three times a day and killed my daughter yet supposedly that wasn't a determining factor,' Mr Herron said.

Hammond had been on an ice bender in the weeks leading up to the horrific execution of Ms Herron.

'Just like Gargasoulas. He's just sitting there waiting to kill someone,' Mr Herron said.

'And now the state is spending more resources to make the whole thing go away then actually prosecuting the case.'
GENEVA (Reuters) - A World Health Organization advisory group statement on the AstraZeneca COVID-19 shot is expected very soon, a WHO spokesman said on Wednesday.

Global health experts have come under increasing pressure to clear up questions over the safety of AstraZeneca's vaccine, as the number of countries suspending its use grows in a blow to Europe's vaccination rollout.

The European Medicines Agency has said it is investigating reports of 30 cases of unusual blood disorders out of 5 million recipients of the AstraZeneca vaccine. In total, 45 million COVID shots have been delivered across the region.

Kate O'Brien, director of WHO's Department of Immunization, Vaccines and Biologicals, said that a WHO vaccine safety panel that met on Tuesday was assessing whether medical events such as blood clots were actually related to vaccination.

"We should not over-interpret these specific numbers that come out of trials. They are highly effective vaccines, they are life-saving vaccines, they are safe vaccines and we should get on with deploying them," she told a news conference.

"So, anybody who is offered vaccine should take whatever is being offered by the programme and ensure that the vaccines that are being produced, are used to their maximum benefit," she said.

(Reporting by Stephanie Nebehay in Geneva, John Miller in Zurich and Ludwig Burger in Berlin; writing by Nick Macfie; editing by Jon Boyle, Larry King)
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The God-fearing gunman who killed eight people at three Georgia massage parlors on Tuesday targeted the locations because he'd visited them before and blamed them for his sex addiction, cops revealed on Wednesday morning.

Robert Aaron Long, 21, shot dead eight people including six Asian women at three parlors - one in Acworth and two in Atlanta - on Tuesday. He then went on the run and was driving to Florida to target porn-industry locations when he was arrested 150 miles south of Atlanta. Police rammed his Hyundai off the road to take him into custody.

Four of the eight victims have now been named as; Delaina Ashley Yaun, 33; Paul Andre Michels, 54; Xiaojie Yan, 49; and Daoyou Feng, 44. Elcias R Hernandez-Ortiz was injured but survived. Friends of Yaun say that she and her husband were there for a couple's massage. He escaped but she was killed.

Not all of the victims were staff. Yaun's friends say she was a paying customer who was in the parlor to get a couple's treatment with her husband.

Initially, police said they were probing whether race was a factor in the attacks because six of the eight victims were Asian women.

But on Wednesday morning, they said Long told them that was not why he carried out the attacks. Instead, he said he is addicted to sex and porn, and wanted to remove the 'temptation' of the parlors.

He told police that he saw the parlors as an 'outlet' for his sex addiction. Detectives have not clarified if he had ever engaged in sex acts with any of the staff there.

He has been charged with four counts of murder and aggravated assault in Cherokee County, where the first salon is that was targeted. He hasn't yet been in charged in Atlanta.

The gunman bought his 9mm handgun hours before the rampage. He was on his way to Florida to carry out more attacks when he was caught. The Florida locations were somehow connected to pornography, police said on Wednesday without revealing more details.

'He claims that it was not racially motivated... he has an issue that he considers a sex addiction and sees these locations as something that allows him to go to these places... it's a temptation for him that he wanted to eliminate,' Captain Jay Baker of the Cherokee Sheriff's Office said at a Wednesday press conference.

Baker added that it had been a 'very bad day' for the suspect, and said: 'He was at the end of his rope'. He didn't elaborate on what had happened earlier in the day.

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Robert Aaron Long, 21, told police that he has a sex addiction and viewed the parlors as an 'outlet' and 'temptation' that he wanted to remove. He confessed to the killings after police rammed his car off the road at 8pm on Tuesday night. He was on his way to Florida to carry out more attacks. He has been charged with four counts of murder and aggravated assault in Cherokee County, where the first salon is that was targeted. He hasn't yet been in charged in Atlanta

Three shootings at spas and massage parlors around Atlanta left eight people dead and police on the hunt for those responsible

People with the medical examiner's office wheel out a body on a stretcher from the Gold Spa massage parlor where three people were shot and killed on Tuesday in Atlanta, Georgia

Bodies are wheeled out of Gold Spa in Atlanta where a man opened fire. Two other massage parlors were targeted

The shootings occurred on Tuesday afternoon around the Atlanta area. A body is seen being wheeled out of Gold Spa

Long's family - including his youth minister father - are 'devastated' by his actions and are cooperating with the investigation.

Delaina Ashley Yaun, 33, was killed in the first parlor in Acworth. Her friends claim she was a customer and had gone to the parlor in Acworth to get her own massage when she was killed

A classmate who attended high school with Long earlier told The Daily Beast anonymously: 'He was very innocent seeming and wouldnt even cuss. He was sorta nerdy and didnt seem violent from what I remember. He was a hunter and his father was a youth minister or pastor.

'He was big into religion.'

Long is believed to have first opened fire at Youngs Asian Massage near Acworth, a city about 32 miles northwest of Atlanta, at 5pm. Four people were killed in that shooting.

Then, Long is accused of driving to Atlanta and opening fire in Gold Massage Spa, killing three women.

When police were there, they received reports of more shots across the street at Aromatherapy Spa, where the eighth victim was found.

Long went on the run after the shootings and was eventually arrested after police rammed his Hyundai off the road.

He was arrested some 150 miles southwest of Atlanta in Crisp County.

While police say his sex addiction is the motive, many have pointed to the fact that the attacks happened during a period of heightened violence against Asian Americans.

Police issued this photo of Long before he was arrested on Tuesday night

President Joe Biden will be briefed over the phone by Attorney General Merrick Garland and FBI Director Christopher Wray on the shootings later Wednesday morning, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said in a statement.

The president is scheduled to travel to Atlanta on Friday to promote his America Rescue Plan as part of his sales pitch on COVID relief but that trip will likely be altered to acknowledge the deadly killings.

Biden condemned the increased number of hate crimes against Asians in his primetime speech last week, saying they have been attacked, harassed, blamed and scapegoated because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Its wrong. Its un-American, and it must stop, he said.

Georgia Democratic Senator Raphael Warnock, a minister, said this kind of violence is driven by hate even if the suspect said that was not his motive.

Anybody who takes precious lives in that manner is driven by hate, he told reporters on Capitol Hill.

This kind of violence happens too often in America. And we weep with those who weep. But we got to do everything we can in terms of addressing bigotry and hate in our country, he said.

Embattled New York Governor Andrew Cuomo tweeted: 'Our hearts break for the 8 victims of the Georgia shootings last night, 6 of Asian descent.

'While we await details from Georgia, this much we do know: Hate crimes against Asian Americans have soared during COVID. And it must stop.

'NY will always stand up against bigotry & hate.'

At a press conference on Wednesday, the Mayor of Atlanta said that while these killings do not seem to be have been driven by racism, there is a problem with anti-American-Asian hatred.

'Whether it is senseless violence that we've seen play out in our streets, or more targeted violence like we saw yesterday, a crime against any community is a crime against us all.'

The suspect was captured by surveillance video pulling up to Young's Asian Massage around 4:50pm, just minutes before the shooting

The suspect was captured pulling away from the business in a black Hyundai SUV after the shooting had occurred in Cherokee County near Bells Ferry Road north of Atlanta

COPS AND BIDEN SAY RACE WAS NOT THE MOTIVE Police on Wednesday said racism did not seem to be Long's motive. They didn't entirely rule it out, saying it was too early in the investigation to do that, but said he told them his motive was to get rid of the 'temptation' of the parlors. But the killings come amid a spate of anti-Asian-American attacks. Democrats on Wednesday condemned the incidents in Atlanta and Acworth and tied them to the racist attacks. President Biden on Wednesday said: 'I know that Asian-Americans are very, very concerned because, as you know, I was speaking about the brutality against Asian-American for the last couple months. 'And I think it is very, very troubling.' Georgia Democratic Senator Raphael Warnock, a minister, said this kind of violence is driven by hate even if the suspect said that was not his motive. Anybody who takes precious lives in that manner is driven by hate, he told reporters on Capitol Hill. This kind of violence happens too often in America. And we weep with those who weep. But we got to do everything we can in terms of addressing bigotry and hate in our country, he said. President Joe Biden will be briefed over the phone by Attorney General Merrick Garland and FBI Director Christopher Wray on the shootings later Wednesday morning, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said in a statement. Atlanta Mayor Keisha Bottoms said on Wednesday: 'Whatever the motivation was for this guy, we know that many of the victims were Asian. We also know that this is an issue that is happening across the country. It is unacceptable, hateful and it has to stop. 'We are coordinating in real team to make sure our communities have the resources that they need. We have not seen a significant uptick in formal complaints but obviously this is a large metropolitan area.' Advertisement

Many believe the racist attacks were fueled by President Donald Trump referring to COVID as the China virus as it was first seen in Wuhan, China.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who is in South Korea meeting with Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong, mentioned the killings during an opening statement.

'We are horrified by this violence which has no place in America or anywhere,' he said, noting that four of the women were believed to be of Korean descent.

In a 2018 video on his church's website, Long said: 'As many of you may remember, when I was 8 years old I thought I was becoming a Christian, and got baptized during that time.

'And I remember a lot of the reason for that is a lot of my friends in my Sunday school class were doing that. And after that time, there wasnt any fruit from the root that is our salvation.'

The church has taken its website offline. It said on Tuesday that elders would be releasing a statement on the attacks.

Georgia governor Brian Kemp said last night that 'our entire family is praying for the victims of these horrific acts of violence', while Sen. Raphael Warnock said that 'my heart is broken after the tragic violence' in Atlanta.

'Once again we see that hate is deadly. Praying for the families of the victims and for peace for the community,' Warnock said.

Cops had initially responded to reports of a robbery in progress, but detectives believe nothing was stolen.

Details had yet to emerge about the victims. But Adriana Mejia, the niece of one of those injured, said the family was 'devastated' after her uncle was shot and that they were praying for his recovery.

'We never know when we're at the wrong place at the wrong time because this was so all of a sudden,' she said.

Two residents of the Atlanta neighborhood, Piedmont Heights, described the stretch where the shootings took place to the New York Times as the 'red-light district' of the local community.

After his car was seen pulling up to the Acworth parlor shortly before the shooting, police said footage showed the same vehicle in the area of the Atlanta spas about the time of those attacks as well.

That, as well as other video evidence, 'suggests it is extremely likely our suspect is the same as Cherokee County's, who is in custody,' Atlanta police said in a statement.

Long was taken into custody after a 'brief pursuit' about 150 miles from Atlanta in which state troopers caused the the suspect's Hyundai to 'spin out of control' until Long was stopped and detained.

South Korea's foreign ministry said diplomats in Atlanta have confirmed from police that four of the victims who died were women of Korean descent.

A Korean consulate was working to confirm their nationality.

Authorities investigate a fatal shooting at Young's Asian Massage where a gunman opened fire before targeting two other businesses

Law enforcement officials confer outside Gold Spa following a shooting on Tuesday

A police official stands in front of Aromatherapy Spa after a series of shootings on Tuesday

At least eight people were reported dead following a string of shootings at three metro Atlanta massage parlors. The proximity of Gold Spa and Aromatherapy Spa can be seen in this photo
New Delhi, March 17 : The Election Commission has made record seizures amounting to Rs 331.47 crore under the expenditure monitoring process in Assam, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry, even ahead of the upcoming Assembly polls.

The record seizures have been made even though polling is yet to start in these states/Union Territory, as it is slated between March 27 and April 26.

The seizures have already surpassed the total seizures made in Assembly elections to these states/UT in 2016.

Of the Rs 331 crore seizures, the EC has declared recoveries of cash amounting to Rs 89.48 crore, liquor worth Rs 28.93 crore, drugs valued at Rs 75.67 crore, freebies of Rs 48.52 crore and precious metals worth Rs 88.87 crore.

Maximum (Rs 127.64 crore) recovery was made from Tamil Nadu followed by Rs 112.59 crore recovery from West Bengal, Rs 63.75 crore from Assam, Rs 21.77 crore from Kerala and Rs 5.72 crore from Puducherry. The seizures were done till March 16.

In the 2016 Assembly elections, the commission had made the seizure of Rs 225.77 crore.

The Commission said it has deployed 295 Expenditure Observers in these poll-bound regions for effective monitoring to curb black money.

Besides, it has appointed five Special Expenditure Observers -- Madhu Mahajan, B.R. Balakrishnan, B. Murali Kumar, Neena Nigam and Pushpinder Singh Puniha.

Ex-Indian Revenue Service (IT) officer of 1982 batch Mahajan and Balakrishnan (ex-IRS (IT) of 1983 batch) are the Special Expenditure Observers for Tamil Nadu. Kumar, an ex-IRS officer of the 1983 batch, is handling West Bengal; Nigam, an ex-IRS of the 1983 batch, is taking care of Assam; and Puniha, an ex-IRS of 1985 batch, of Kerala.

"These officers having formidable domain expertise and impeccable track record are deputed for more effective election expenditure monitoring," the EC said.

After due assessment, 259 Assembly constituencies have been marked as Expenditure Sensitive Constituencies for more focussed vigil, it added.

On expenditure monitoring, the Commission has convened various meetings with senior officials of Enforcement Agencies of poll-bound states and the UT.

Seeking the importance of central enforcement agencies in election expenditure monitoring process, the Commission has also convened a meeting of Revenue Secretary, Chairman CBDT, Chairman CBIC and Director Financial Intelligence Unit-India.

"With the drive for curbing inducements which vitiate electoral process intensifying, the seizure figures are expected to rise further," the EC said.

Distribution of money, liquor, or any other item disbursed and given to the electors with the intent to influence them during electoral process is not permitted under the law. This expenditure comes under the definition of "bribery" which is an offence. The expenditure on such items is illegal.
(Photo : Flickr/CameliaTWU) Apple wins lawsuit in France

Apple has won the case in France after the tech company was accused of not implementing stricter privacy changes on iOS 14. The French competition regulator rejected a request from lobbying groups for the online advertising sector to block Apple's anti-tracking controls.

Apple wins a lawsuit in France

In June 2020, Apple announced it will implement stricter data collection rules on third-party developers. In the same month, the update happened.

The update required apps to ask a user's permission before a third-party developer can access the ad-tracking ID on iOS 14.

In October 2020, a referral asking for the measures to be stopped on antitrust grounds was submitted to the French competition watchdog, according to Yahoo Finance.

Also Read: Apple Fined $27M in France For Slowing Old iPhones; Charged Deceptive!

However, the regular sided with Apple in its preliminary decision on the case. The Autorite de la concurrence stated that it did not view the new feature as an abusive practice by a company, and this decision quashed the objections of the complainants.

The watchdog, which consulted with the data protection regulator in France on the case, stated that it still plans to pursue an in-depth investigation of the updates to verify whether they constitute a form of self-preferencing by Apple.

The watchdog will now examine whether Apple could be applying more binding privacy rules on third-party developers but not applying the rules for itself.

Isabelle de Silva, head of France's competition authority, told The Wall Street Journal that they can't intervene just because there might be a negative impact for companies in the ecosystem. She said that at this stage, they had not found examples of discrimination yet.

The decision has greatly affected businesses on the broader tech industry looking to stop Apple's plans over their negative impact on digital ad revenue.

Europe has some of the strictest privacy laws globally, and the regulators are not willing to relinquish the data-tracking controls for citizens.

Facebook vs. Apple

Facebook, a company that was vocal about its opposition to the privacy updates, targeted Apple's policy in newspaper ads in the United States.

The company founded by Mark Zuckerberg is also preparing an antitrust suit against Apple over fears that the changes would give it an unfair advantage with the ads that are displayed on the iOS App Store and in other platforms.

In January, WhatsApp, which Facebook owns, was forced to delay an update of its privacy policy when an in-app notification informed its users that some data from the platform would be shared with Facebook, according to CNET.

The update raised concerns about the privacy of chat messages and profile data, and it immediately led users to shift in droves to other apps like Signal. Now a showdown with Apple over data tracking has prompted Facebook to take action.

So what can users expect to see? In the next few months, iPhone users will see a message from Apple asking them if they will allow the Facebook app to collect their data. If the user refuses, Apple will block Facebook from doing so.

The same message from Apple will show up on the screen related to any app that collects users' data for advertising purposes.

According to Facebook, the company will preempt the change by rolling out a pop-up screen over the coming months, making a plea to users to stay opted in.

Related Article: Apple Reluctant Over France's Request to Lift Bluetooth Limits and Allow Contact Tracing App

This article is owned by Tech Times

Written by Sieeka Khan

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Bahrain's Southern Municipal Council is reviewing a proposal for the construction of a 23-km-long causeway linking Hawar Islands to the kingdoms mainland, reported the Gulf Daily News, our sister publication.

For further details, visit https://www.gdnonline.com
EUGENE, Ore.-- A week after the latest coronavirus relief package was signed by President Joe Biden, Oregon's cities are now getting an idea of how much money they will be getting from the federal government in aid.

According to the National League of Cities, $1.5 billion will be going to counties and cities in the state. In Western Oregon, millions of that will be going to local municipalities.

Here is a breakdown of where some of that money will be going to the region's largest cities.

Eugene: $35 million

Springfield: $13.8 million

Corvallis: $13.8 million

Albany: $9 million

Roseburg: $5 million

Coos Bay: $3 million

The National League of Cities came to these numbers after using the formulas set out by the bill on how much money each city in the country can get. For municipalities over 50,000 people, population, poverty, and housing instability all contribute to the monetary value given to each local government. Cities with less than 50,000 will get money from the state that will be suballocated from funding through a simple per capita formula.

According to the legislation, half of the relief money will be given out this spring and summer and the other half will be given out in 2022.

This is a developing story, stay with KEZI 9 News as we learn more about how local governments will use this money.
All persons who are involved in organizing the political persecution of fifth president of Ukraine, MP (the European Solidarity faction) Petro Poroshenko, will sooner or later be held accountable for this, the lawyers of the MP said during a briefing at Interfax-Ukraine.

According to the press service of the European Solidarity on Wednesday, Poroshenko's representatives noted that law enforcement agencies, pursuant to court decisions, were forced to resume proceedings on deliberately false reports of a crime, as well as against the security forces of the State Bureau of Investigations, that organized the storming of Ivan Honchar museum.

"This is about a shameful storming of Honchar Museum, where a collection of paintings by Poroshenko's wife was exhibited, and there were violations of the law. On the fact of violation of the rights of lawyers, by the decision of the panel of judges of the judicial chamber of Kyiv Court of Appeal, this criminal proceeding was registered by the Prosecutor General's Office," lawyer Ihor Holovan said.

He clarified that the Prosecutor General's Office on March 12 registered criminal proceedings on the fact of violation of the rights of lawyers during the storming of Honchar Museum.

Holovan also noted that Shevchenkivsky court forced law enforcement officers to reopen the investigation, which was closed in December 2020, on a false report of a crime against a group of MPs from the Opposition Platform - For Life, in particular, Nestor Shufrych and Renat Kuzmin, who accused U.S. Presidents Biden and Obama, as well as Poroshenko.

"We are talking about a well-known fact, when a group of MPs headed by Kuzmin made a famous statement that current U.S. President Biden, as well as fifth President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko and their accomplices Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama committed 'theft of $100 billion'," Holovan said.

The lawyer said that at one time the National Police also closed proceedings against Andriy Portnov, who initiated a number of cases against Poroshenko.

"We immediately raised a question with law enforcement agencies that Portnov had filed deliberately false reports of a crime. Accordingly, criminal proceedings were registered," Holovan said.
SHELTON  The family of a Shelton man who died earlier this year is raising money in his memory to help a Bridgeport-based operation that helps feed the hungry.

Anthony Mobilio, a Shelton resident for more than 25 years, spent much of his working career in the heating industry, which is why his family felt The Thomas Merton Centers need for a replacement boiler system would a perfect way to honor his memory.

Mobilios sister, Carol Mobilio, said on Jan. 14  the day before her brother died from cancer  Sabine Kuczo from the center called his nephew, Joseph Mobilio Jr., of Cheshire-based Mobilio and Son Heating and Cooling, for help with replacing the buildings heating boiler system.

The cost for the boiler is about $30,000, and the family hopes to raise money toward the project by April 5.

Anthony would have loved helping the Merton Center with this project, Carol Mobilio said. My family and I informed the Merton Center we would like to support this project in Anthonys memory to help raise funds and they established a memorial in his name.

Anthony Mobilio started Anthonys Fuel in Bridgeport with his brothers, twin Vincent and Joseph, which was in operation for 25 years. In 2008, he joined Southern Connecticut Gas Co. while also owning his company, Salem Heating and Cooling in Shelton.

Anthony enjoyed helping serve families with all their heating needs, his sister said.

The family is raising money to support a new heating boiler for The Thomas Merton Center, a Catholic Charities program. The center is a food service program which offers breakfast and lunch daily through its soup kitchen. Groceries are provided once a week through its food pantry.

Anthony Mobilio was born in Bridgeport and, his sister said, was raised with strong family values and a highly motivated work ethic.

She said her brother started his education and training in the heating industry at the age of 18, working for Hoffman Fuel for three years before starting Anthonys Fuel in Bridgeport with his brothers.

He was a mentor and inspiration to other HVAC technicians in the heating business, especially his nephew, Joseph, Jr., Carol Mobilio added

brian.gioiele@hearstmediact.com
EV

Of course, the German automaker doesn't mention the interesting connection between Winter and Reeves, or the fact that BMW had an important electric sedan release on this very day (which also happens to be Saint Patricks Day , by the way).But we couldnt help but link the dots ourselves because of the grainy resolution of the Porsche Presents: Going The Distance video feature thats capped at 480p as if were back in 1989 all over again. Didnt Porsche hear about the 2020 installment of the franchise? As for the i4 , we just throwed in the 523-hpbecause it still doesnt compare favorably to the muscular yet elegant lines of the Taycan sedan.Never mind our own slacking thoughts (pun intended), because heres the challenge faced by Winter and Reeves: drive the pair of Taycans on a single charge from somewhere in Santa Barbara to the Porsche Experience Center (PEC) in Los Angeles. It sounds simple enough, right?Not quite, because a series of dares awaits them along the way. First up, from the 1:17 mark comes Tanner Foust in a 911 GT3 RS (no, its not the new one ) for the Launch Mode trial. Next was Patrick Long, a Le Mans, Sebring and Daytona winner, which accompanies them on the hill climb inside the one and only 918 Spyder hybrid. Last but not least, at the PEC, an instructor was waiting for a quick drift lesson from the 5:23 mark.Intrigued? Well, lets watch the video embedded below and marvel not just at the qualities of the Taycan (its a marketing stunt, after all) but also enjoy two great actors who clearly know how to have a good time while goofing around.
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From scantily-dressed sex workers to families dressed in their Sunday best, a New York City cab driver's photos capture the collision of 'the two New Yorks' in the late 1970s and '80s, as the AIDs epidemic and drug turf wars tore through the city.

Brooklyn-born photographer Joseph Rodriguez, now 70, captured the marginalized characters and the street culture of the day while moonlighting as a taxi driver to put himself through school, and his pictures have now been released in a new book, Taxi: Journey Through My Windows 1977  1987.

Before the crime-busting feats of the the likes of former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani and NYPD Commissioner William Bratton, the city was awash with drugs and violence, with up to 2,000 homicides being recorded per year in the late 1980s.

'NYC was also a place of chaos and mayhem,' writes novelist Richard Price in an essay for the new book.

'Teetering on the brink of bankruptcy with rampant crime it was the city's drug users, dealers, and pimps and prostitutes who ruled the streets of Manhattan.'

A model walks along 58th street accompanied by her stylist and wearing clothing by Italian fashion house Fiorucci as male onlookers shouted, 'Hey Mami.' These colliding worlds of New York in the 1980s provided inspiration to Joseph Rodriguez

Joseph once picked up a man from Hellfire - an infamous S&M club in the city's Meatpacking District - in an all leather get-up. By the time they reached 89th street, the man had changed into a pink Oxford shirt and was greeted by the doorman at his apartment building

A woman appears startled to have been caught by Rodriguez's lens, outside an after-after-hours club that ran from five-in-the-morning until five-in-the-afternoon

A sex worker leaves Rodriguez's cab after being threatened at knife point by her pimp. Violence was an occupational hazard for sex workers and taxi drivers during the crime-plagued New York of the 1970s and 80s

Joseph Rodriguez, pictured above, drove a taxi in New York's edgier neighborhoods for 10 years to put himself through photography school

Rodriguez told the DailyMail.com he started driving a taxi seven days a week to pay his way through New York's School of Visual Arts where he studied photojournalism.

'New York City was tough and rough back then. It was easy to get robbed. We didn't have those plastic protection devices that we have today.'

Rodriguez would work primarily in the Westside, Hell's Kitchen and the Meatpacking Districts, which in those pre-gentrification days were riddled with sex workers, pimps and drugs.

Rodriguez personally felt the brunt of the city's crimewave: he was nearly stabbed twice, once by a pimp who and another time after three 'six-foot Amazonian transvestites' entered his cab and got into an argument over a love interest.

He was also mugged and had his camera equipment stolen, but undeterred, he continued to document the downtrodden and the desperate.

'There's two different kinds of cities,' says Rodriguez.

'There's the naked city at night when we're sleeping. And then the city wakes up, and people go to work and go to church.'

Rodriguez recalls picking up a man dressed fully in leather as he exited an infamous sadism and masochism club in the city's Meatpacking District called Hellfire.

'Once we arrived at his home on 89th St, he comes out of the cab with penny loafers, khakis and a pink Oxford shirt. And the doorman said, 'good morning sir'.

'That's New York. That's the naked city.'

A man holds a cardboard sign that reads, 'Sometimes I'm hungry, sometimes I'm not, but all the change can help out a lot,' highlighting the city's poverty crisis

Two women look out the window in Park Slope, Brooklyn. Rodriguez said in those days, many taxi drivers wouldn't accept rides from African-American or Latino passengers

Graffiti in the East Village by Luca Pizzorno, who died of AIDs in the '90s. By 1995, around 8,000 New Yorkers were dying from HIV/AIDs every year

Two men photographed chatting in the Meatpacking District near the Hideaway Hotel - a known hook-up spot. Rodriguez said the gay men were especially overt about their liaisons certain areas of the city

As a cab driver, Rodriguez also saw how the city was devastated by drugs and then the AIDs epidemic of the 1980s.

Like the Covid-19 pandemic of 2020, HIV and AIDs tore through New York with greater deadliness and speed than anywhere else in the United States.

The first cases of what would later become known as AIDs were reported in the United States in June of 1981 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Largely affecting the LGBTQ community, it had a disproportionate impact gay and bisexual men, and on racial and ethnic minorities.

Ignorance and shame about contracting what was sometimes referred to as the 'gay plague' caused a lack of urgency both among Government in providing treatment for the disease, and sufferers in seeking help.

'Men were partying like there was no tomorrow,' says Rodriguez.

'I would take guys to a club on Thursday and they wouldn't come home until Sunday morning.

'Then the AIDs came, it happened very quick, people were dying. There were no drugs to help anybody. It was a very scary time.'

At its height in the mid-90s, as many as 8000 New Yorkers a year were dying of the disease.

At the same time crack - a highly addictive form of cocaine - had taken over many inner-city neighborhoods, leading to extreme violence by the gangs that sought to control its supply.

An African-American family on their way to church in their Sunday best. Rodriguez says New York is really two different cities, as separate as day and night

Whilst experiencing relationship difficulties, this couple told Joseph that their secret to marriage was 'love and compromise'

Rodriguez drove his cab in all weather types including on this murky, rainy morning, and says he was one of the few drivers who would accept fares to all parts of the city

Richard Price, who wrote accompanying words in the new book, writes: 'When I think back on what it was like to live in New York City from 1978 to 1987, the first thing that comes to mind is the old Chinese curse, "May you live in interesting times".

'In that ten year span, it felt like the city was getting its teeth kicked in on a daily basis, encompassing as it did, the dawn and high noon of the AIDS crisis, one municipal budget crisis after another leading to wage and hiring freezes, labour strikes, and in general, an overall deterioration.

'Street crime was off the hook, cocaine turf wars raged and by the mid to late 1980s, the prevalence of crack  a nihilistic WMD if there ever was one  had begun to impose its own brand of devastation on a city already deep in trauma.

'To drive a cab back then, you either had to have a death wish or come to the job with a biography that insured you to the danger or graced you with such intuitive empathy and curiosity that to see and hear and sometimes engage with the cavalcade of humanity sliding in and out of your backseat trumped the nightly game of Russian roulette.'

Rodriguez says he was one of the few taxi drivers to routinely take passengers to all five boroughs of the city, as crime levels made it too dangerous to drive to some neighborhoods.

Many New Yorkers left, and the population fell from around 8 million in 1970 to 7 million a decade later.

The city was also going through a poverty crisis and unemployment hit 12% in 1975.

In one picture, Rodriguez captured a man holding a cardboard sign that read, 'Sometimes I'm hungry, sometimes I'm not, but all the change can help out a lot.'

Rodriguez has won many plaudits for his photography work and exhibited everywhere from Sweden to Cuba. He now teaches photography at New York University.

Taxi: Journey Through My Windows 1977  1987 by Joseph Rodriguez and Richard Price is available to buy from powerHouse Books.
NOT INTENDED FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES.

OTTAWA, ON / ACCESSWIRE / March 17, 2021 / Calian Group Ltd. ("Calian" or the "Company") (TSX:CGY) is pleased to announce that it has completed its previously announced bought deal offering, under which a total of 1,318,000 common shares of the Company (the "Common Shares") were sold at a price of $60.50 per Common Share for aggregate gross proceeds of $79,739,000, including 78,000 Common Shares issued pursuant to the partial exercise of the over-allotment option granted to the Underwriters (as defined below) (the "Offering"). The Offering was conducted by a syndicate of underwriters co-led by Desjardins Capital Markets and Acumen Capital Finance Partners Limited, and including Canaccord Genuity Corp., CIBC Capital Markets, Stifel GMP, Echelon Capital Markets, Laurentian Bank Securities and Cormark Securities Inc. (collectively, the "Underwriters").

The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the Offering to, among other things and as more fully described in the Prospectus Supplement (as defined below), pursue strategic growth initiatives and for general corporate and working capital purposes.

The Common Shares were offered (i) by way of a prospectus supplement dated March 10, 2021 (the "Prospectus Supplement") to the Company's amended and restated final short form base shelf prospectus dated February 25, 2021 (amending and restating its final short form base shelf prospectus dated January 31, 2020), which Prospectus Supplement was filed with the securities commissions and other similar regulatory authorities in each of the provinces of Canada; and (ii) in jurisdictions outside of Canada and the United States as agreed to by the Company and the Underwriters on a private placement or equivalent basis.

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in the United States or in any other jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. The securities have not been registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and applicable U.S. state securities laws and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements thereunder.

About Calian

Calian employs over 4,500 people in its delivery of diverse products and solutions for private sector, government and defence customers in North American and global markets. The Company's diverse capabilities are delivered through: Advanced Technologies, Health, Learning, and IT and Cyber Solutions. Advanced Technologies provides innovative products, technologies and manufacturing services and solutions for the space, communications, defence, nuclear, government and agriculture sectors. Health manages a network of more than 2,000 healthcare professionals delivering primary care and occupational health services to public and private sector clients across Canada. Learning is a trusted provider of emergency management, consulting and specialized training services and solutions for the Canadian Armed Forces and clients in the defence, health, energy and other sectors. IT and Cyber Solutions supports public and private-sector customer requirements for subject matter expertise in the delivery of complex IT and cyber security solutions. Headquartered in Ottawa, the Company's offices and projects span Canada and international markets. For further information, please visit our website at www.calian.com.

Kevin Ford

President and Chief Executive Officer

613-599-8600

Patrick Houston

Chief Financial Officer

613-599-8600

Media inquiries:

613-599-8600 x 2298

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes statements containing certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws ("forward-looking statements"). Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "continue", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "may", "will", "potential", "proposed" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur and include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the proposed use of the net proceeds under the Offering. These statements are only predictions. Various assumptions were used in drawing the conclusions or making the projections contained in the forward-looking statements throughout this press release. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the statements are made, and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Factors which could cause results or events to differ from current expectations include, among other things: the impact of price competition; scarce number of qualified professionals; the impact of rapid technological and market change; loss of business or credit risk with major customers; technical risks on fixed price projects; general industry and market conditions and growth rates; international growth and global economic conditions, and including currency exchange rate fluctuations; and the impact of consolidations in the business services industry, the potential offering of any securities by the Company; uncertainty with respect to the completion of any future offering; the ability to obtain applicable regulatory approval for any contemplated offerings; the ability of the Company to negotiate and complete future funding transactions, as well as the risks identified under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Information Form for its fiscal year ended September 30, 2020. The Company is under no obligation, and expressly disclaims any intention or obligation, to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.

SOURCE: Calian Group Ltd.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/635910/Calian-Completes-797-Million-Bought-Deal-Public-Offering
By Lan Shunzheng

France recently held its first military exercise in space codenamed AsterX, which was named in memory of its first satellite launched in November 1965. Calling it a first for the French army and even a first in Europe, General Michel Friedling, commander of French Space Command (CDE), said the exercise indicated that Paris will play a more active role in space-based military activities.

It is learnt that the virtual exercise took place in Toulouse, France. Apart from 60 soldiers from CDE, the US Space Command and German Space agency were also invited to participate. According to Friedling, the exercise simulated a crisis between a country in military assistance agreement with France and another one with space military capabilities. It is aimed to test the endurance capability of the existing systems and assess areas for improvement in order to enhance the CDEs development.

The great value of space is being extensively recognized with the development of space technologies. As the fourth domain after the land, sea and air, it has become another highland contested fiercely by all countries.

The US, for instance, set up the Space Force during Trumps term and has been taking constant moves ever since and increasingly lowering the threshold for the Space Force to take part in real combats. In early March this year, Gen. John Raymond, chief of space operations at the U.S. Space Force, expressed the hope for the accelerated formulation of guidelines on space operations, like traffic rules and the oceanic law. Other countries have followed suit. In May last year, the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) set up the Space Operations Squadron; in February this year, the Indian Defense Space Agency (DSA) officially started to explore technologies to enhance its capability of responding to space threats; also in February, media reported that the UK was planning an anti-satellite fighter jet exercise to counter satellites of other countries.

With the intensifying major-country competition, the possibility of military conflicts in space has become a topic that cannot be overlooked. France approved in 2019 to set up the Space Command in its air force, put forth the space defense strategy in the same year, and decided to invest close to EUR5 billion while its Military Program Law for 2019-2025 is in force, of which 3.6 billion will be spent on reinforcing the military satellites tasked with providing optical surveillance and communications assurance.

According to analysts, France has adopted such a high profile in space partly because it thinks future space conflicts will challenge and threaten its space interests and national security. The countrys way of projecting strategic nuclear forces is quite limited at the moment, and the damage or loss of its satellites, which are the eyes and ears of its strategic nuclear forces, will weaken the effects of their first and secondary attacks. Besides, as far as conventional forces are concerned, France cannot afford to have its satellites attacked either.

On the other hand, France still holds on to its major country complex and dreams of reviving its past glory both internally and internationally. Over recent years, Paris has been trying hard on various occasions to promote Europes defense independence, an important reason for highlighting its position on the continent. Space is a highly contested domain. If France takes a preemptive step in the space or secures its position as a strong space power, it will have strategic independence in the domain, and consequently secure independence in other fields, maybe even advancing EUs strategic independence with France as a bellwether.

However, Frances space-militarizing actions will undermine the international efforts to prevent a space arms race and are no good news for future space governance either.

(The author is a research fellow at Yuan Wang Think Tank, a Beijing-Based independent consulting agency focusing on military science and technology, and Charhar Institute, an independent think tank on diplomacy and international relations. He is also a member of the Chinese Institute of Command and Control)
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Relatives of toddlers quarantined at a facility in Bac Lieu Province bring mats and other items to stay with them, March 16, 2021. Photo by Vietnam News Agency.

Bac Lieu Province has allowed relatives of 26 toddlers repatriated from South Korea without their parents to take care of them at a local quarantine facility.

The children, all aged under two, were among 375 people repatriated by special flights that landed at the Can Tho Airport in southern Vietnam last Saturday, the Vietnam News Agency reported.

Their parents, working in South Korea, were forced by financial difficulties to send them to Vietnam with acquaintances.

Upon landing, the toddlers were sent to military-run facilities in Bac Lieu Town, the capital of the Mekong Delta province, for the mandated 14-day quarantine. To ensure adequate care for the children, provincial authorities have allowed their relatives to enter the quarantine facilities.

The province's steering committee for Covid-19 prevention and control said the children were "special cases" because relatives of quarantined people are not allowed to enter quarantine facilities under current regulations.

Vietnam suspended all inbound international commercial flights in March 2020. The government has been operating repatriation flights to bring home Vietnamese citizens stuck abroad amid the pandemic, and has allowed special flights to carry foreign experts and investors into the country.

In late January, the government limited inbound flights in light of new variants of the novel coronavirus spreading fast in many countries. Only special cases approved by the government can enter the country now.
La presidenta del Consejo de Ministros, @VBermudezV, junto con la titular de @viviendaperu y la directora ejecutiva de la @AutoridadRCC se reunieron con congresistas de Piura para articular acciones frente a la #COVID?19 en el departamento. pic.twitter.com/3cUKhxf34j
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In the past few years, several medications have been found to be contaminated with NDMA, a probable carcinogen. This chemical, which has also been found at Superfund sites and in some cases has spread to drinking water supplies, causes DNA damage that can lead to cancer.

MIT researchers have now discovered a mechanism that helps explain whether this damage will lead to cancer in mice: The key is the way cellular DNA repair systems respond. The team found that too little activity of one enzyme necessary for DNA repair leads to much higher cancer rates, while too much activity can produce tissue damage, especially in the liver, which can be fatal.

Activity levels of this enzyme, called AAG, can vary greatly among different people, and measuring those levels could allow doctors to predict how people might respond to NDMA exposure, says Bevin Engelward, a professor of biological engineering at MIT and the senior author of the study. "It may be that people who are low in this enzyme are more prone to cancer from environmental exposures," she says.

MIT postdoc Jennifer Kay is the lead author of the new study, which appears today in Cell Reports.

Potential hazards

For several years, Engelward's lab, in collaboration with MIT Professor Leona Samson's lab, has been working on a research project, funded by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, to study the effects of exposure to NDMA.

This chemical is found in Superfund sites including the contaminated Olin Chemical site in Wilmington, Massachusetts. In the early 2000s, municipal water wells near the site had to be shut down because the groundwater was contaminated with NDMA and other hazardous chemicals.

More recently, it was discovered that several types of medicine, including Zantac and drugs used to treat type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure, had been contaminated with NDMA. This chemical causes specific types of DNA damage, one of which is a lesion of adenine, one of the bases found in DNA. These lesions are repaired by AAG, which snips out the damaged bases so that other enzymes can cleave the DNA backbone, enabling DNA polymerases to replace them with new ones.

If AAG activity is very high and the polymerases (or other downstream enzymes) can't keep up with the repair, then the DNA may end up with too many unrepaired strand breaks, which can be fatal to the cell. However, if AAG activity is too low, damaged adenines persist and can be read incorrectly by the polymerase, causing the wrong base to be paired with it. Incorrect insertion of a new base produces a mutation, and accumulated mutations are known to cause cancer.

In the new study, the MIT team studied mice with high levels of AAG -- six times the normal amount -- and mice with AAG knocked out. After exposure to NDMA, the mice with no AAG had many more mutations and higher rates of cancer in the liver, where NDMA has its greatest effect. Mice with sixfold levels of AAG had fewer mutations and lower cancer rates, at first glance appearing to be beneficial. However, in those mice, the researchers found a great deal of tissue damage and cell death in the liver.

Mice with normal amounts of AAG ("wild-type" mice) showed some mutations after NDMA exposure but overall were much better protected against both cancer and liver damage.

"Nature did a really good job establishing the optimal levels of AAG, at least for our animal model," Engelward says. "What is striking is that the levels of one gene out of 23,000 dictates disease outcome, yielding opposite effects depending on low or high expression." If too low, there are too many mutations; if too high, there is too much cell death.

Varying responses

In humans, there is a great deal of variation in AAG levels between different people: Studies have found that some people can have up to 20 times more AAG activity than others. This suggests that people may respond very differently to damage caused by NDMA, Kay says.

Measuring those levels could potentially allow doctors to predict how people may respond to NDMA exposure in the environment or in contaminated medicines, she says.

The researchers next plan to study the effects of chronic, low-level exposure to NDMA in mice, which they hope will shed light on how such exposures might affect humans.

That's one of the top priorities for us, to figure out what happens in a real world, everyday exposure scenario." Jennifer Kay, Study Lead Author and Postdoc, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Another population for which measuring AAG levels could be useful is cancer patients who take temozolomide, a chemotherapy drug that causes the same kind of DNA damage as NDMA.

It's possible that people with high levels of AAG could experience more severe toxic side effects from taking the drug, while people with lower levels of AAG could be susceptible to mutations that might lead to a recurrence of cancer later in life, Kay says, adding that more studies are needed to investigate these potential outcomes.
John Kerry has defended himself after he was was spotted without a mask on a flight from Boston to Washington D.C., dismissing concerns over a maskless photo of him onboard the plane as 'malarkey'.

On Wednesday, Donald Trump Jr. tweeted an image that appeared to show Kerry sitting in the first class section of a plane with a mask hanging from one ear but not covering his nose or mouth.

Kerry responded on Twitter, saying he only uncovered his face for a short time.

'Feels like there's some St. Patrick's day 'malarkey' afoot on Twitter. Let's be clear: If I dropped my mask to one ear on a flight, it was momentary,' Kerry, 77, said.

'I wear my mask because it saves lives and stops the spread. It's what the science tells us to do.'

American Airlines has also said it is investigating after Kerry, the Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, was spotted without a mask.

Masks are required on flights, according to a directive from the Transportation Security Administration - and those who are found in violation can face fines ranging from $250 for the first offense up to $1,500 for repeat offenders.

In his tweet, Donald Trump Jr. called Kerry out for 'flouting' President Joe Biden's federal mask mandate, labelling him a 'liberal hypocrite'.

'His mask is off & he isn't eating or drinking. Will he be fined for breaking the law & banned from flying @AmericanAir like regular citizens would be?'

Donald Trump Jr. tweeted that John Kerry is a 'hypocrite' after he was pictured not wearing a mask on a flight

Kerry (left) said: 'If I dropped my mask to one ear on a flight, it was momentary. I wear my mask because it saves lives and stops the spread' [File photo]

Kerry, 77, has since defended himself on Twitter calling the news 'St. Patrick's day 'malarkey''

The picture of Kerry on the flight was first posted by conservative outlet the Tennessee Star.

An anonymous passenger who shared the image with Fox News and the Tennessee Star told the outlets that they saw Kerry wearing his mask before boarding but he took it off shortly after getting on the flight before other passengers.

The passenger told Fox News that flight attendants were not seen instructing Kerry to put his mask back on - but admitted that he later wore it for the rest of the roughly 90-minute flight.

Republican Senator Tom Cotton, from Arkansas, claimed Kerry had a long history of not following his own rules in an interview with Fox News on Wednesday.

'I guess we can say it's better than John Kerry finally decided to fly commercial as opposed to jetting around in Gulfstreams all around the world when he's trying to supposedly solve the climate crisis,' Cotton said.

He added that Kerry 'has a long record of imposing one set of rules on Americans and not following those rules as is evidenced by his jet setting around the world to try and save it from climate change when he's burning more carbon than one person does in an entire year.'

Kerry is the US climate change envoy and was previously criticised for taking a private jet to Iceland in 2019 to receive a climate leadership award.

In an interview, Kerry said it was 'the only choice for somebody like me who is traveling the world to win this battle.'

In January, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued an order requiring travelers to wear masks to prevent spread of the virus that causes COVID-19.

'Conveyance operators must also require all persons onboard to wear masks when boarding, disembarking, and for the duration of travel,' the release for the order reads.

'This Order must be followed by all passengers.'

The day before the order went into effect on February 2, American Airlines issued a statement noting that the company would update its own policies to meet the requirements of the CDC and Transportation Security Administration.

David Seymour, the company's Chief Operating Officer, said: 'Our mask requirement has been and will continue to be a critical component of our comprehensive effort to protect the health and well-being of our customers and team members during the pandemic.'

'This federal mandate will provide additional support to our crew members who are working diligently to enforce our policy and further reinforce the safety of air travel during COVID-19,' he added.

The airline said on Twitter that 'masks are required on board.'

The TSA said its mask mandates will remain in effect until May 11, 2021.

'We are looking into this,' the airline tweeted in response to the original post.

'TSA will fully comply with the President's Executive Orders, CDC guidance and the DHS National Emergency determination to ensure healthy and secure travel across all transportation sectors,' said Darby LaJoye, Senior Official performing the duties of the TSA Administrator.

'This will help prevent further spread of COVID-19 and encourage a unified government response.'
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GAINESVILLE, Fla. --- In a genetic surprise, ancient DNA shows the closest family members of an extinct bird known as the Haitian cave-rail are not in the Americas, but Africa and the South Pacific, uncovering an unexpected link between Caribbean bird life and the Old World.

Like many animals unique to the Caribbean, cave-rails became extinct soon after people settled the islands. The last of three known West Indian species of cave-rails - flightless, chicken-sized birds - vanished within the past 1,000 years. Florida Museum of Natural History researchers sought to resolve the group's long-debated ancestry by analyzing DNA from a fossil toe bone of the Haitian cave-rail, Nesotrochis steganinos. But they were unprepared for the results: The genus Nesotrochis is most closely related to the flufftails, flying birds that live in sub-Saharan Africa, Madagascar and New Guinea, and the adzebills, large, extinct, flightless birds native to New Zealand.

The study presents the first example of a Caribbean bird whose closest relatives live in the Old World, showcasing the power of ancient DNA to reveal a history erased by humans.

The discovery was "just mind-blowing," said study lead author Jessica Oswald, who began the project as a postdoctoral researcher at the Florida Museum.

"If this study had not happened, we might still be under the assumption that the closest relatives of most things in the Caribbean are on the mainland in the Americas," said Oswald, now a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Nevada, Reno and a Florida Museum research affiliate. "This gives us an understanding of the region's biodiversity that would otherwise be obscured."

Many animals evolved unusual forms on islands, often making it difficult to classify extinct species based on their physical characteristics alone. But advancements in extracting viable DNA from fossils now enables scientists like Oswald to answer longstanding questions with ancient genetic evidence. Oswald described her work as similar to a forensic investigation, tracing the evolutionary backstory of extinct animals by piecing together fragmented, degraded genetic material.

"Understanding where all of these extinct species fit into a larger family tree or evolutionary history gives us insight into what a place looked like before people arrived," she said. "That's why my job is so fun. It's always this whodunit."

Oswald was just starting her ancient DNA work at the Florida Museum when David Steadman, curator of ornithology and study co-author, suggested the Haitian cave-rail as a good candidate for analysis.

Cave-rails share physical characteristics with several types of modern birds, and scientists have conjectured for decades whether they are most closely related to wood rails, coots or swamphens - birds that all belong to the rail family, part of a larger group known as the Gruiformes. Oswald and Steadman hoped that studying cave-rail DNA would clarify "what the heck this thing is," Oswald said.

When preliminary results indicated the species had a trans-Atlantic connection, Steadman, who has worked in the Caribbean for more than 40 years, was skeptical.

The genetics also showed that the cave-rail isn't a rail at all: While flufftails and adzebills are also members of the Gruiformes, they are in separate families from rails.

"It just didn't seem logical that you'd have to go across the Atlantic to find the closest relative," Steadman said. "But the fact that people had a hard time classifying where Nesotrochis was within the rails - in hindsight, maybe that should have been a clue. Now I have a much more open mind."

One reason the cave-rail was so difficult to classify is that when birds lose the ability to fly, they often converge on a similar body plan, Steadman said. Flightlessness is a common adaptation in island birds, which face far fewer predators in the absence of humans and invasive species such as dogs, cats, rats and pigs.

"You don't have to outfly or outrun predators, so your flying and running abilities become reduced," Steadman said. "Because island birds spend less energy avoiding predators, they also tend to have a lower metabolic rate and nest on the ground. It's no longer life in the fast lane. They're essentially living in a Corona commercial."

While sheltered from the mass extinctions that swept the mainland, cave-rails were helpless once people touched foot on the islands, having lost their defenses and cautiousness.

"Being flightless and plump was not a great strategy during human colonization of the Caribbean," said study co-author Robert Guralnick, Florida Museum curator of biodiversity informatics.

How did cave-rails get to the Caribbean in the first place? Monkeys and capybara-like rodents journeyed from Africa to the New World about 25-36 million years ago, likely by rafting, and cave-rails may also have migrated during that timespan, Steadman said. He and Oswald envision two probable scenarios: The ancestors of cave-rails either made a long-distance flight across an Atlantic Ocean that was not much narrower than today, or the group was once more widespread across the continents, with more relatives remaining to be discovered in the fossil record.

Other researchers have recently published findings that corroborate the story told by cave-rail DNA: A study of foot features suggested Nesotrochis could be more closely related to flufftails than rails, and other research showed that adzebills are close relatives of the flufftails. Like cave-rails, adzebills are also an example of a flightless island bird extinguished by human hunters.

"Humans have meddled so much in the region and caused so many extinctions, we need ancient DNA to help us sort out what's related to what," Oswald said.

The findings also underscore the value of museum collections, Steadman said. The toe bone Oswald used in her analysis was collected in 1983 by Charles Woods, then the Florida Museum's curator of mammals. At that time, "nobody was thinking about ancient DNA," Steadman said. "It shows the beauty of keeping things well curated in a museum."

###

Ryan Terrill of Occidental College, the Florida Museum's Brian Stucky and Michelle LeFebvre and Julie Allen of the University of Nevada, Reno, and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign also co-authored the study.
LINDSAY, Ontario, March 16, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On Thursday, March 18, Protein Industries Canada will be making a virtual announcement with Canada Protein Ingredients Ltd. - Ingredients Proteiques du Canada Ltee (CPI-IPC), DJ Hendrick International, Agrocorp Processing, Semences Prograin and Synthesis Network. Together, theyll be announcing a project aimed at developing and commercializing high-quality, protein ingredients made from non-GM soybean varieties. These varieties will also be developed through the project, specifically for Canadian growing conditions.



The announcement will be held virtually at 10 a.m. EST on Thursday, March 18. Media can attend by registering at https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_KnD8v-t0STSP7acA2Nnvrg. Project partners will be available for questions following the announcement.

For more information, please contact:
(CNN)  K-pop is one of South Korea's most popular cultural exports with a growing reach around the world -- but it seems that not everyone is fan.

Over the weekend, an article published by a North Korean propaganda website accused K-pop record labels of engaging in "slave-like exploitation" of hugely successful bands like BTS and Blackpink.

The piece on North Korea's Arirang Meari site claimed K-pop artists were "bound to unbelievably unfair contracts from an early age, detained at their training and treated as slaves after being robbed of their body, mind and soul by the heads of vicious and corrupt art-related conglomerates."

The K-pop industry is notoriously grueling and tough to break into, but the North Korean article included no proof of its allegations. It was just several paragraphs long and cited "reports" in other media.

The piece was likely part of a push by North Korean propagandists to crack down on foreign media. While Pyongyang's strict censorship apparatus severely restricts the movies, music, television, newspapers and books its citizens can consume, technology has made it easier to smuggle in content from abroad, especially on USB sticks.

Defectors say average North Koreans caught consuming foreign content, especially from South Korea and the United States, often face severe punishment. Such laws historically have not deterred people from doing so, but the situation may be changing.

After years of poor economic performance, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un appears to be doubling down on central planning as a way to spur growth, which he outlined as his top long-term priority for the regime at an important political meeting earlier this year. Some experts believe the renewed emphasis on government control extends to propaganda efforts and consumption of foreign content.

Though Kim's regime has long cracked down on people watching or reading foreign material, North Korea's rubber-stamp legislature passed a new law in December requiring citizens and organizations to prevent the "spread of the anti-socialist ideology" -- in practice, that usually means any content that has not been approved by government censors.

Kim in February also suggested that greater controls on societal content could be coming. He called for a more "intensified struggle against the anti-socialist and non-socialist practices than ever before."

Musical divergence on Korean Peninsula

Despite centuries of shared culture, music in communist North Korea and capitalist South Korea have evolved very differently since the Peninsula was split into two political entities after World War II.

K-pop has become a multibillion dollar industry with worldwide recognition. South Korea has even blasted K-pop across the border as part of its propaganda efforts in previous years when relations between the two Koreas were on ice.

Music in North Korea, meanwhile, is an important part of everyday life and serves as a key propaganda tool, lionizing the ruling Kim family and its fight against imperial aggression.

The monopoly North Korea exerts over creative expression makes the state's songs -- and thus their approved messages -- uniquely pervasive.

"There's no evidence that people are creating any of their own music outside of what's centrally allowed," ethnomusicologist and North Korea music expert Keith Howard said in an interview last year. "The only recording company is state-owned, and there are no performances that would be permitted outside what's authorized.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "North Korea blasts K-pop industry as 'slave-like exploitation' amid crackdown on foreign media."
Posted Wednesday, March 17, 2021 4:17 am

- Washington State Journal

Limits on the use of force by police and investigations of officers who have a pattern of misconduct continue to make their way through the Legislature, with some bills winning broad approval and with some passing only on party line votes.

While all agree on the need to review police procedures, some, mainly Republicans, worry the state is going too far in trying to rein in police tactics.

Use of force

A ban on military-grade equipment and neck restraints by police officers continues to gain momentum in the Legislature after HB 1054 passed the House in a 54-43 vote Feb. 27.

Those opposed said the bill would remove less-lethal options for officers, increasing chances of police custody deaths.

We are pressing more toward the use of lethal force, and that is a matter of great concern, Rep. Jim Walsh, R-Aberdeen, said during the House discussion.

The bill is likely to make it out of the Senate Law & Justice Committee when lawmakers vote March 17.

Laws on excessive force will also come in the form of SB 5066, which requires officers to intervene and report if they see a colleague using unnecessary force on a suspect.

"This bill is a step in the right direction but will not fully address the institutional racism that exists in law enforcement agencies," said Sakara Remmu of the Washington Black Lives Matter Alliance.

The bill is scheduled for executive session 1:30 p.m. March 18 in the House Committee on Public Safety.

Law enforcement will also have stricter guidelines on permissible use of force under HB 1310, which passed the House in a 55-42 vote.

Dissenters, mostly Republican, agreed with the intent of the bill, but said it would ignore events during which force was necessary to arrest someone.

This bill presents unreasonable expectations of law enforcement, Rep. Gina Mosbrucker, R-Goldendale, said during the House vote.

It will face executive action in the Senate Law & Justice Committee at 10:30 a.m. March 18.

Another law would establish a mandate for an in-state university to collect information about how and when officers used force against someone, as well as demographics on those involved in the incident.

SB 5259 saw bipartisan support when it passed out of the Senate, and will heard public testimony in the House Public Safety Committee March 16.

Community oversight

Bills to address the training and certification processes of law enforcement also continue to move through the Legislature. Major reform to the Criminal Justice Training Commission will come in the form of SB 5051, which expands the CJTCs powers to decertify an officer based on a pattern of misconduct.

The commission sets standards for agencies on law enforcement certification. This law would also require a more representative membership, meaning the commission must include more people from underrepresented communities.

We believe impacted communities should have a place at the table, not just to sit there, but to be engaged and do the work and contribute, said Po Leapai, member of the Washington Coalition for Police Accountability, during a March 11 public hearing.

The bill is scheduled for an executive session 1:30 p.m. March 18, where it has a high chance of approval.

A grant program to encourage outreach between several Washington counties and their respective law enforcement agencies will also hear public comment 10 a.m. March 19 in the House Public Safety Committee.

SB 5353 received support from both Democrats and Republicans, unanimously passing the Senate on March 9.

HB 1088 passed both the House and Senate in more bipartisan votes and now heads to Gov. Jay Inslees desk for approval. The law requires prosecutors to disclose during litigation if an officer facing discipline is on a Brady list, a record kept by prosecutors on officers with records of untruthfullness, or other issues affecting their credibility.

A law allowing the State Auditor to ensure agencies are following correct procedures in their investigations also passed the House and is likely to make it to the Senate for a floor vote after lawmakers vote on the bill in the Senate Ways & Means Committee.
State officials salaries would be frozen for a second consecutive year under legislation that won House State Government Committee approval on Wednesday.

If the measure becomes law, it would mark the first time in more than two decades Pennsylvania lawmakers and state officials see their pay frozen for two consecutive years.

House Bill 583, if enacted, would send a message to all of Pennsylvania that we understand the severity of the economic times were in and were prepared to be in this with you, said Rep. Frank Ryan, R-Lebanon County, who authored the legislation.

The bill passed the committee by a unanimous 25-0 vote.

A separate bill, House Bill 746, addressed another part of the compensation package offered to legislators. It would eliminate state-provided or leased vehicles to lawmakers drew more resistance. The measure passed the committee along near party lines. All Republican committee members supported it along with one Democrat, Rep. Jared Solomon of Philadelphia.

Both bills are now in a position to advance through the legislative process toward a vote by the full House of Representatives.

Ryans bill would apply a freeze on a 1995 law that provides for automatic pay raises for lawmakers, judges and top executive branch officials, including the governor and lieutenant governor, among others. These cost-of-living adjustments are based on the annual change in the U.S. Department of Labor-determined Consumer Price Index for all Urban Consumers for Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland. If no change or a negative change in the cost of living occurs, their pay remains the same.

Since that laws enactment, these top government officials have missed out on raises only three times  in 2010, in 2016, and then last year.

Currently, rank-and-file lawmakers receive a salary of $90,335, the third-highest in the nation among state legislatures. Lawmakers who hold leadership positions make more than $100,000.

Ryan, who sponsored the law that froze their pay this year, has been outspoken over the years about the states dire financial condition. He forecasts even more trouble ahead if government doesnt rein in spending as it emerges from the havoc wreaked upon the nations economy from the COVID-19 pandemic.

He told the committee that despite the millions and billions of dollars that will be injected into the nations economy from the recently enacted federal American Rescue Plan, We have some unbelievably difficult times ahead of us.

Calling on his experience in helping to turnaround financially troubled organizations, Ryan said, Its most important when the most senior members of an organization accept some of the difficulties that are going to be facing us and this is an opportunity for us one more time to lead the way in a very difficult and complex period.

By his estimate, he said the pay freeze would save the state $3.5 million in cost-of-living adjustments, which grows to $5 million when payroll-related benefit implications are added.

Rep. Paul Schemel, R-Franklin County, who has proposed legislation ending lawmakers taxpayer-provided health benefits, spoke in support of the bill. He said the underfunding of the states pension systems presents the potential for taxpayers to face a significant financial burden.

I think sharing the load in this very small way is a good thing, Schemel said. It shows government can help to reduce some of its own costs before it asks taxpayers to foot the bill for additional costs.

When it comes to abolishing the practice of state-provided or leased vehicles for lawmakers as proposed in House Bill 746, however, some committee members made the argument that it could end up costing the state more to pay if all members sought mileage reimbursements.

That bill, sponsored by Rep. Brad Roae, R-Crawford County, would allow approximately three dozen lawmakers who are currently assigned a state-provided vehicle to continue to have use of it until they leave the Legislature or are no longer eligible for one.

State Rep. Brad Roae, R-Crawford County, explains his bill that would abolish the practice of state-provided or leased vehicles for lawmakers to the House State Government Committee on Wednesday. The bill passed the committee with the support of all Republican members and one Democrat. March 17, 2021 Screenshot from Pa. House website

A similar bill Roae offered in the last legislative session won House passage by a 140-44 vote but it failed to make it out of the Senate to reach the governors desk.

A lot of state vehicles are necessary, Roae said. Most PennDOT drivers dont own a tri-axle dump truck so they need that to do their job. Legislators, we haul a briefcase around so we can do that in our own vehicles.

Rep. Margo Davidson, D-Delaware County, who had incurred $30,000 in damages to her state-provided vehicles over a three-year period before surrendering her state vehicle, called the measure just another political stunt.

This bill just simply seeks to divide and classify certain members that use state vehicles from members that dont, she said.

Davidson pointed to a Department of General Services study that found in certain instances, paying mileage can be more expensive than providing a vehicle.

Besides that, Davidson said there are members who may need a state-provided vehicle to get to work. She said a better approach that would put all members on equal footing would be to not provide a car or mileage and make members seek a mileage deduction on their federal tax form. Rep. Russ Diamond, R-Lebanon County, said that would be a violation of the state constitution that specifically provides for salaries and mileage to lawmakers.

Rep. Maureen Madden, D-Monroe County, sided with Davidson, saying she is one of the members that has a state vehicle and uses it to cart boxes of literature from Harrisburg back to her district and deliver boxes of pantry food to constituents.

I think if the Republican caucus doesnt want to lease vehicles and give members vehicles, that is their right, Madden said. Id like you to leave the Democratic side alone and let us make our own choice.

Schemel countered that providing mileage reimbursement reports allows the public to track what taxpayers are paying for whereas with a state car, that is not trackable. Further, he said he thinks lawmakers should live the way constituents do.

Our constituents dont have cars provided for them generally by their employer or anyone else and nor should we, Schemel said. We should not live in a manner that is above that of our constituents.

Jan Murphy may be reached at jmurphy@pennlive.com. Follow her on Twitter at @JanMurphy.
Equity indices slumped to fresh intraday low mid-afternoon trade. The Nifty slipped below the crucial 14,800 mark. Investors remained cautious ahead of U. S. Federal Reserve's two-day policy meeting which will conclude later in the day. High crude oil prices and rising US bond yields also dented investors' sentiment.

At 14:26 IST, the barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, fell 343 points or 0.68% at 50,020.02.

The Nifty 50 index lost 120 points or 0.81% at 14,790.75.

The broader market tumbled. The S&P BSE Mid-Cap index declined 2% while the S&P BSE Small-Cap index declined 1.66%.

The market breadth was tilted towards the sellers. On the BSE, 837 shares rose and 2,047 shares fell. A total of 171 shares were unchanged.

Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) bought shares worth Rs 1,692.31 crore, while domestic institutional investors (DIIs), were net sellers to the tune of Rs 1,168.59 crore in the Indian equity market on 16 March 2021, provisional data showed.

Buzzing Index:

The Nifty Bank slipped 283 points or 0.81% to 34,521, falling for fourth consecutive trading session. The index has lost 4% in four days.

RBL Bank (down 4.4%), Bank of Baroda (down 3.99%), IDFC First Bank (down 3.39%), Federal Bank (down 2.93%), PNB (down 2.14%), SBI (down 1.9%), IndusInd Bank (down 1.56%) and Bandhan Bank (down 1.12%) were top losers in Bank Nifty.

Numbers to Track:

In the commodities market, Brent crude for May 2021 settlement rose 1 cent to $68.40 a barrel. The contract fell 0.71% to settle at $ 68.39 a barrel in the previous session.

The yield on 10-year benchmark federal paper rose to 6.191% as compared to its previous close of 6.18%.

In the foreign exchange market, the partially convertible rupee fell to 72.5825, compared with its previous closing of 72.5525.

MCX Gold futures for 5 April 2021 settlement rose 0.31% to Rs 44,953.

The US Dollar index (DXY), which tracks the greenback's value against a basket of currencies, rose 0.08% to 91.950.

US Treasury yields surged on Wednesday ahead of the Federal Reserve's policy outcome. The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note hovered at 1.636%.

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)




Haiti - Humanitarian : Haiti launches an appeal for $235.6M





On Monday, the Haitian Government and the humanitarian community launched an appeal for the mobilization of 235.6 million dollars in 2021 to meet the humanitarian needs of 1.5 million people through the Humanitarian Response Plan 2021-2022.



The development of this plan is the result of close collaboration between humanitarian partners and their government counterparts and covers the main humanitarian sectors in Haiti. It represents the guiding tool for humanitarian action in Haiti for the next two years and serves as a reference for donors wishing to support its implementation.



The strategic axes of the response consist of supporting the most vulnerable populations in the areas of food insecurity, consolidating the resilience of households and communities face the shocks and restoring productive assets. Likewise, the plan aims to guarantee emergency access to water, sanitation and hygiene as well as emergency health services; to support access to education for the most disadvantaged children; prevent the risks associated with different types of violence and abuse; to strengthen accountability to affected populations and, finally, to better prepare for shocks.



The 2021-2022 response plan also aims to facilitate collaboration between development, humanitarian and peacebuilding actors and the resilience of communities and national institutions in the face of recurrent shocks and natural threats.



The Minister of Planning and External Cooperation reiterates the need to adapt projects to the needs of the country so that the responses provided best meet the government's priorities "We are subject to an obligation of results. We will achieve this if we agree to continue our work as a team and tackle the root cause of the crisis."



For his part, Mr. Bruno Lemarquis, Humanitarian Coordinator, Resident Coordinator and Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary General of the United Nations in Haiti, recalled that most humanitarian needs are chronic and called for addressing development deficits through reforms, investments and a sustained long-term commitment.



"Today, through this Plan, humanitarian actors renew their commitment to work to save lives, alleviate suffering and preserve the dignity of the most vulnerable households and to strengthen their resilience. At the same time, and in all coherence, it is essential to also renew our commitment in favor of structuring development actions to reduce the vulnerabilities and risks that populations face," he stressed.



Download the 2021 humanitarian response plan (PDF in French) : https://www.haitilibre.com/docs/hti_hrp_2021-2022_fr.pdf



See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-33236-haiti-crisis-44-million-haitians-will-need-humanitarian-aid-in-2021.html



HL/ HaitiLibre


















The creativity that was needed in the past is not the creativity that is needed today. Todays creativity is much more boots-on-the-ground. We need to ideate and get stuff out there fast, test it, and do it again.

inMotionNow, a leading provider of marketing resource management solutions for marketing and creative teams, announced today a two-part webinar series with industry experts to analyze findings stemming from the 2021 Creative Management Report. The fourth annual study revealed creatives and marketers are emerging from the challenges of the pandemic with fewer resources, increased workloads, and an imperative to find new ways to engage their audiences.

The creativity that was needed in the past is not the creativity that is needed today, wrote Matthew Rayback, Creative Director at Adobe, and one of five outside experts who contributed to an analysis of the survey results. Todays creativity is much more boots-on-the-ground. We need to ideate and get stuff out there fast, test it, and do it again.

The survey also found businesses and employers were increasingly reliant on creative teams to help them transition and solve the emerging challenges of remote work.

We have a seat at the strategic table, but thats because weve earned it, and we continue to earn it every day and raise the bar on what we can contribute, said Hank Lucas, Head of Creative Services at MilliporeSigma in the report. Were not just here to make some pretty stuff. Tell us what youre trying to achieve and let us help you move the needle.

Part one of the webinar series: The new creativity needed in 2021

The report found the type (65%) and tone (60%) of content creatives were being asked to produce changed following the onset of the pandemic. At the same time, many leaders began re-thinking client-agency relationships: About one-third of creative teams are planning to increase the work they send to agencies and freelancers.

Accordingly, the first live webinar in this series will examine the new creativity that is needed in 2021. It will also look at how in-house creatives and agencies can team up to build an effective ecosystem of partners to meet the needs of emerging creative demands.

Date and time: March 23, 2021 beginning at 2:00 p.m. EDT

The speakers will include:



Matthew Rayback, Creative Director at Adobe

Alex Blum, Founder of Blum Consulting Partners, Inc.

Molly Clark, Director of Marketing at inMotionNow

It is very unusual for an in-house team to have no outside resources that they lean on, wrote Alex Blum in his contribution to the report. We need to start thinking of in-house and agency/freelance creatives as all living together in one ecosystem. Its not an either/or situation.

Part two of the webinar series: Overcoming the in-house creative operational challenges

The report found 58% of creative teams endured larger workloads last year while also facing layoffs or furloughs (31%) and budget cuts (31%). Creatives rose to the challenge. More than half (57%) of creatives say they became more productive and about two-thirds said they mastered new digital skills including digital interactivity, video, livestreaming, and podcasting.

As such, the second live webinar in this series will examine how creative teams weathered the disruption, change, and uncertainty of 2020. More importantly, this session will identify what changes will become permanent and the lessons creative teams learned that will be useful moving forward.

Date and time: April 6, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. EDT

The speakers will include:



April Koenig, CEO and Founder of Creatives On Call

Hank Lucas, Head of Creative Services at MilliporeSigma

Jim Nicholas, Senior Creative at Florida Power & Light Company

The pandemic has put a bit of pressure on everybody in the creative industry to expand their skill set, noted April Koenig in her written assessment of the data. Everything is moving so fast now  we need multi-talented people who can handle a range of work as needs continue to evolve.

Both webinars are complimentary with registration. Those interested in attending can register for both sessions at once  and receive the recordings  here.

About the survey: The 2021 Creative Management Report was fielded by inMotionNow and InSource, a professional association for in-house creatives. This year the survey garnered responses from more than 400 creative and marketing professionals.

# # #

About inMotionNow, Inc.

inMotionNow is a leading provider of marketing resource management solutions for marketing and creative teams. inMotion ignite, the company's flagship product, drives alignment, delivery, and accountability among relevant stakeholders to achieve better content outcomes. The application allows project stakeholders to manage, track, and collaboratively review their projects in a centralized online environment that connects designers directly to Adobe with the inMotion Extension for Adobe Creative Cloud. With a user-friendly interface and dedicated customer success team, inMotionNow helps creative and marketing teams of every variety automate their workflow and do the work they love. For more information, please visit http://www.inmotionnow.com.

Media Contact:

Frank Strong

for inMotionNow

202-352-5920

frank@swordandthescript.com
Eiza Gonzalez flashed some skin while grabbing her morning coffee in West Hollywood.

The stunning Mexican born actress, 31, put her incredible figure on display in an unbuttoned cardigan that exposed her very toned tummy.

Fresh from the shower the Godzilla Vs. Kong actress sported wet tresses, as she looked ready to take on the day with an iced beverage in hand.

Coffee run: Eiza Gonzalez, 31, exposes her toned tummy in an unbuttoned cardigan while grabbing her morning coffee in West Hollywood

The cropped blue sweater was hanging on by one button, and she paired it with pinstriped blue jeans from DL1961 and a black puffer coat.

She slipped on a pair of black mules, adding a funky accent to her ensemble with a yellow and black checkered face mask.

The actress has become a household name as of late, her movie I Care A Lot snagging a Golden Globe for Best Actress thanks to Rosamund Pike's performance.

Though she has done a handful of action films including Bloodshot with Vin Diesel and Hobbs and Shaw with Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson, she spoke to ET about breaking out of her mold with I Care A Lot.

Stylish errand: She elevated her morning coffee run look with a pair of stylish black mules and pinstripe jeans

Rising star: The Mexican born beauty has become a household name as of late, her film I Care A Lot snagging a Golden Globe for Best Actress thanks to Pike

'It was fun for me to play a role that I hadn't done before and hadn't been allowed to play too because of the predisposed ideas of what I should be playing,' she shared.

In the movie she stars opposite Pike, playing her business partner and lover in the con-style dark comedy.

Gonzalez said that it was fun to play something out of her 'norm', adding it was a breath of fresh air for her to not 'have to be the token Latina.'

Eiza is continuing to shed her 'hot accomplice,' style mold , now hard at work on the set of Michael Bay's thriller, Ambulance, where she'll star opposite Jake Gyllenhaal.

I Care A Lot: In the film she plays the lover and business partner of Pike, the ladies swindling elderly people after Pike cons the court into appointing her legal guardianship; pictured February 18

Breaking the mold: She spoke to ET about being able to shed her normal roles of 'token Latina' or hot accomplice in the Netflix film, saying she had been at the mercy of 'predisposed ideas of what [she] should be playing'; pictured February 28

In demand both on and off the set, she had a brief summer fling with Oscar nominee Timothee Chalamet, 25, as they turned up the heat in Mexico.

The tryst fizzled out and she has been linked to model Dusty Lachowicz since November, even road tripping together in his 'bohemian bus,' a refurbished school bus.

Like many, quarantine provided new challenges when it came to dating, sharing with Jimmy Kimmel that she had to 'sneak out' of her house at times, because her mother decided to live with her for seven months of the pandemic.

New beau: Eiza has been dating model Dusty since November, the pair last stepping out together in late February; pictured January

Dating difficulties: She spoke to Jimmy Kimmel about the difficulty of dating during the pandemic, saring she had to 'sneak out' of her house at times due to her mom opting to stay with her for seven months; pictured February 9

'I had to sneak out of my own house to see someone I liked,' she shared, also being forced to field questions like: 'who are you with,' and 'are they being covid safe?'

Though she remained mum on her purported romance with Lachowicz, the pair were last seen grabbing lunch in late February.

She has also been linked to her Baby Driver co-star Josh Duhamel, DJ Calvin Harris, and even Liam Hemsworth post-Miley Cyrus breakup in 2013.
Harare, March 17 : Zimbabwe on Tuesday received a second batch of Sinopharm doses donated by China plus an additional Sinovac doses commercially procured by the government.

A chartered Air Zimbabwe plane landed at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport on Tuesday morning with the consignment of the vaccines, which was received by Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa, his deputy Constantino Chiwenga, who is also the health minister, the Chinese ambassador to Zimbabwe Guo Shaochun and other senior government officials, the Xinhua news agency reported.

The same plane also ferried another batch of vaccines for the government of Namibia, where they will be used to kick off the country's vaccination program.

In his acceptance speech, Mnangagwa said that the donation marks another milestone in the consolidation of bilateral relations and cooperation between Zimbabwe and China.

"The continued assistance and solidarity has indeed lightened our burden in an otherwise difficult period, whilst also positively impacting the health, well being, protection and recovery of our people," he said.

Mnangagwa once again expressed gratitude to China for donating vaccines and also in aiding Zimbabwe's fight against the pandemic.

"We remain thankful to China for the support of this program. This includes the timely provision of epidemiological expertise and personal protective equipment among other aspects," he said. "China's unparalleled readiness to avail access to the vaccines for commercial procurement testifies to our enhancing cooperation particularly in these times of distress and competition of resources." Speaking at the reception ceremony, Ambassador Guo reaffirmed China's friendship to Zimbabwe, adding that China was a committed front-runner in promoting international vaccine cooperation.

"China is a steadfast advocate for equitable vaccine distribution. We have joined COVAX, under which China has undertaken to provide an initial 10 million doses for emergency use in developing countries," he said.

Ambassador Guo also said that China opposes vaccine nationalism or any attempt to politicise vaccine cooperation and distribution.

"All capable countries should do what they can to provide vaccines to countries in need, especially developing countries, so that people all over the world will be able to benefit from affordable vaccines," said Guo.

Chiwenga, who also spoke at the event, expressed his gratitude to China for standing with Zimbabwe during trying times including during the armed liberation struggle against colonial rule.

He said that Zimbabwe expects to commercially procure 2 million doses from China.

The latest delivery of vaccines will allow Zimbabwe to kickstart its second phase of the inoculation program which will target teachers, religious leaders, the judiciary, law and order, and those with underlying conditions.

The first phase of Zimbabwe's vaccination program started on February 18 after the country received first batch of the Sinopharm vaccines donated by China.

Healthcare workers and other frontline workers including members of the media and immigration officials were the first in line to receive the jab as part of phase one of the vaccination program.

Zimbabwe plans to inoculate at least 10 million people to achieve herd immunity.

The country has so far approved use of Sinopharm and Sinovac from China, Sputnik V from Russia and India's Covaxin.

As of Monday, 37,660 people had been vaccinated in Zimbabwe.
Phnom Penh, March 17 : The National Assembly of Cambodia on Wednesday expressed its "utter dismay" over the European Parliament's recent resolution on the mass trials against perpetrators linked to the "9 November 2019 plot" in the country.

As an independent and sovereign state, Cambodia is entitled to pursuing its policy of self-determination in order to protect its national interests, including peace, stability, and prosperity, said an Assembly statement.

"We do not tolerate any intentions and activities that aim to disrupt the fabrics of the country's hard-earned peace and stability," it said.

The statement added the trials of the perpetrators linked to the "9 November 2019 plot" are in full conformity with the kingdom's Constitution and related laws, Xinhua reported.

"Any attempt to plot an insurrection through the use of defamatory languages, incitement to violence and a call upon the armed forces to overthrow a legitimate government are unlawful and must be denounced," it said.

"We therefore urge the European Parliament to have an objective assessment on the political development in Cambodia and continue to constructively engage with diverse political groups in Cambodia based on the principles of mutual trust, mutual respect, and mutual interest," it added.

The statement came after the European Parliament on March 11 adopted a resolution on Cambodia's mass trials against perpetrators linked to the "9 November 2019 plot", particularly former leaders of the Supreme Court-dissolved Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) with its president Sam Rainsy sentenced to 25 years in prison and eight others from 20 to 22 years in jail over a failed coup attempt.
Siskin Childrens Institute announces a spring event with 2019 Tony Award winning actress Ali Stroker. Breaking Boundaries on Broadway with Ali Stroker will stream virtually on April 22 at 7:30 p.m. All proceeds of this event benefit Siskin Childrens Institute and the children and families they serve throughout the region.



Ali Strokers story is so inspirational to anyone, but is uniquely incredible due to the adversity that she had to overcome to reach her dream of becoming not only an actress, but an award-winning Broadway actress. Her story of not letting a wheelchair limit her from being her best self is in full alignment with Siskins work to support children with diverse abilities, said Siskin Childrens Institute President and CEO Derek Bullard.



About Ali Stroker:

Ali Stroker received the 2019 Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for her role as Ado Annie in Rodgers and Hammerstein's Oklahoma! In doing so, she became the first actor or actress in a wheelchair to win a Tony Award. Paralyzed from the chest down since age two, Ali has fought through overwhelming adversity. Despite often appearing on stages with limited accessibility, she has been a trailblazer in an industry that has been slow to embrace disabled performers.



Ali Stroker made history in 2015 as the first actress in a wheelchair to appear on Broadway when she originated the role of Anna in Deaf Wests acclaimed revival of Spring Awakening. She is also the first actress in a wheelchair to graduate from the NYU Tisch drama program. After graduating from Tisch, Ms. Stroker starred on 12 episodes of Oxygens The Glee Project. She placed second in the competition and won a guest role on Foxs Glee. She then recurred in the Kyra Sedgwick ABC series, Ten Days in the Valley. She also guest starred on Foxs Lethal Weapon, CBS Instinct and Comedy Central's Drunk History. Shes performed her cabaret act at Green Room 42 and soloed at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, New Yorks Town Hall, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts and Carnegie Hall.



A humanitarian and advocate, Ms. Stroker is a co-chair of Women Who Care, which supports United Cerebral Palsy of New York City. Shes a founding member of Be More Heroic, an anti-bullying campaign that tours the country and connects with thousands of students each year. Her devotion to educating and inspiring others brought Ms. Stroker to South Africa with ARTS InsideOut, where she held theater workshops and classes for women and children affected by HIV and AIDS. Ms. Strokers remarkable ability to improve the lives of others through the arts, whether disabled or not, is captured in her motto: Making Your Limitations Your Opportunities.



I recently discovered Alis story a few years ago and thought what a wonderful inspiration she would be to our children and families. We are so excited that she has agreed to help us with our spring event, and we are looking forward to April 22, said Siskin Childrens Institute Development Director Linda McReynolds.



"This will be an inspirational evening as Ali shares her story and performs virtually for her fans and supporters of Siskin Childrens Institute," officials said.

This event is public and there is no cost to attend, but you must register to receive a secure event link prior to April 22. For more details about Breaking Boundaries on Broadway with Ali Stroker or to register now, visit www.siskin.org/broadway.


Image via Getty/SOPA Images/LightRocket

On Tuesday, a now 18-year-old Tampa high schooler who, last summer, hacked a bunch of famous peoples Twitter accounts to solicit over $100,000 in Bitcoin, pleaded guilty for that transgression. His prison sentence will be three years. Hes already been credited with time served for 229 days. After hes released hell have three additional years on probation.

Graham Ivan Clark was 17-years-old when prosecutors say he masterminded a scheme that saw the social media accounts for Joe Biden, Barack Obama, Elon Musk, Kanye West, Bill Gates, Kim Kardashian, Uber, Apple, and others hacked. On the date the scheme was implemented (July 15, 2020) a bunch of celebrity, politician, and corporate accounts sent out a bunch of messages that, well, you probably had to be really gullible to buy into. As an example, Joe Bidens account sent out a tweet that said: I am giving back to the community. All Bitcoin sent to the address below will be sent back doubled! If you send $1,000, I will send back $2,000. Only doing this for 30 minutes  Enjoy!

Similar messages came out from several other well-known accounts.

The scam ended up getting around $117,000 in Bitcoin before it was halted.

A few days afterward Clark was arrested. Authorities learned that he was able to convince a Twitter employee that worked in the companys information technology department, which allowed him access to the sites customer service portal. Using fraudulent tweets he was able to direct those who fell for the scam to send their Bitcoin to his accounts. A pair of other collaborators, Nima Fazeli of Orlando and Mason Sheppard of the United Kingdom, are also facing federal charges for their alleged roles in the same scam. Clark is reported to have met them through an online username-selling forum that goes by OGusers.

Clarks plea agreement allowed him to be sentenced as a youthful offender, which saved him from a minimum 10-year punishment had he been convicted as an adult. If he violates his probation that mandatory minimum could still kick in.

Story continues

Graham Clark needs to be held accountable for that crime, and other potential scammers out there need to see the consequences, said Hillsborough County States Attorney Andrew Warren in a statement. In this case, weve been able to deliver those consequences while recognizing that our goal with any child, whenever possible, is to have them learn their lesson without destroying their future.

The plea agreement prevents Clark from using a computer without being given permission or supervised by law enforcement. His attorney also said he turned over any cryptocurrency hed acquired.

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Donald Trump has told his supporters, many of whom he acknowledge are hostile to the idea of vaccines, that they should still get vaccinated against Covid.

I would recommend it, he told Maria Bartiromo of Fox News, in one of his first interviews since leaving office. I would recommend it to a lot of people who dont want to get it, and a lot of those people voted for me frankly. But again, we have our freedoms, and we have to live by that, and I agree with that also.

But its a great vaccine, its a safe vaccine and its something that works, he added.

Mr Trump and former first lady Melania Trump were both vaccinated in January, but didnt reveal that fact to the public until March, after the former president had left office. At the CPAC political conference, Mr Trump said, Everyone should go get your shot, and The New York Times later confirmed he had been vaccinated.

Still, recent polling reveals theres a stark partisan divide when it comes to getting the jab. According to a recent CBS poll, Republicans were more than three times as likely as Democrats to say they wont be getting vaccinated.

President Biden has said getting buy-in from prominent community members like doctors and faith leaders is more important than support from his predecessor.

I discussed it with my team, and they say the thing that has more impact than anything Trump would say to the MAGA [Make America Great Again] folks is what the local doctor, what the local preachers, what the local people in the community say, he said on Monday at the White House.

The former president has been uncommonly quiet since the Biden administration began, but during his conversation on Fox, he opened up on a number of issues, railing against the new presidents immigration agenda, not committing to running for president again in 2024, and insisting, as he often has, that he hasnt gotten enough credit for his efforts to develop the coronavirus vaccine.

Its really saving our country, and really saving the world, he said.

Additionally, he repeated his false claim that pharmaceutical companies waited to announce the development of a Covid vaccine until after the November election, and also argued that a Covid vaccine wouldve never happened without his urging.

They wanted to announce it sometime after the election, Mr Trump said. I think most people knew that we pretty much had the vaccine.

The subject of the border, and Mr Bidens immigration agenda was a major topic as well. The ex-president argued that his policies were working better than theyve ever seen at the border, whereas Mr Bidens immigration agenda was responsible for the recent influx in young border-crossers.

Theyre destroying our country, Mr Trump said. They leave their homes and come up because they think its going to be so wonderful but our country cant handle it.

The Trump administration, through policies like cuts to asylum, the so-called Remain in Mexico protocol, and an order locking down the border over coronavirus, never ended the difficulties at US-Mexico boundary line, but shifted many of them onto the Mexico side.

The former president, who was a fixture in New York tabloids for decades before entering politics, couldnt resist commenting on Meghan Markles recent interview with Oprah. He said he hoped she was considering a presidential bid, as some have recently reported, because he believed he could defeat her.

Well I hope that happens because if that happened I think Id have an even stronger feeling toward running, Mr Trump said.

Im not a fan of hers, he added. I think that what she talks about the Royal family and the Queen, and I happen to think, I know the Queen as you know, I met with the Queen and I think the Queen is a tremendous person and I am not a fan of Meghan.
[March 17, 2021] Yext Introduces Extractive QA, Website Crawler, Data Connectors, and Answers Developer Tools, Laying Foundation for Multi-Solution Search Platform

NEW YORK, March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Yext, Inc. (NYSE: YEXT), the Answers Search Company, today announced its Spring '21 Release, one of the most significant platform updates in the company's history. With the release, highlighted by the "Orion" search algorithm update and a number of critical, innovative features, including extractive QA, a website crawler, data connectors, and developer tools for Answers, the company now allows businesses to deliver even better and more diverse search experiences to their customers. "Natural language processing has never been more advanced, making exceptional search experiences possible  yet most businesses still use keyword search technology that hasn't changed much since the late '90s," said Marc Ferrentino, Chief Strategy Officer of Yext. "With our new Spring Release features, we're making our search platform better, faster, and ultimately cheaper for those looking to transform their businesses with modern, answers-led search." The Yext Spring '21 Release includes the following features, which are available for early access: Document Search powered by Extractive Question Answering (QA): Unlike traditional keyword search, Yext's platform leverages multiple advanced NLP algorithms to deliver a modern, exceptional search experience drawing from structured and semi-structured data. Its latest addition, extractive QA, adds a powerful dimension to the platform by answering complex questions against unstructured, long-form documents. When someone asks a specific question, whether it's the difference between a 401(k) and a Roth IRA on a bank's website or how to assemble a product on a retailer's site, extractive QA looks at the unstructured data from a business's webpages, blog posts, help articles, and product manuals in their unique knowledge graph (a brain-like database of facts) to find the most relevant word, sentence, or paragraph, and then delivers a direct answer in the form of a rich snippet at the top of the results page. Data Connectors, Including Website Crawler: It can be a challenge for brands to centralize the data they need to populate their knowledge graphs  whether it's support articles, product information, professional records, or another source  to answer their customers' complex questions. Yext's new data onnectors streamline this process by offering a low-code, point-and-click way to add data sources and transform them into structured facts. This includes a website crawler that can scan a business's website and extract data to be loaded into their knowledge graph. Developer Tools: Developers now have everything they need to interact with the Yext platform and build custom solutions on their own. Users can manage their account configuration without logging into the Yext platform using the new Yext Command Line Interface (CLI), and build a completely custom Answers front end with two new Answers SDKs and a direct Answers API. Authenticated Use Cases: To meet strong demand for search experiences that live behind a firewall, Yext has introduced new security measures that allow businesses to deploy Answers for authenticated, employee-facing use cases, from company intranet search for employees to support search for agents. Yext's new security page will outline all of the details of the company's related best practices, certifications, and protocols.



Howard Lerman and Chief Strategy Officer Marc Ferrentino will be joining members of the company's product and engineering teams in a Clubhouse talk titled "Tech Happy Hour: Join Yext at the [Search] Bar" to discuss the announcement at 9 p.m. (ET) today. Reporters are welcome to join the room as listeners or raise their hand to ask questions. Visit the Spring '21 Release Notes here for more information and join the Clubhouse talk here at 9 p.m. (ET).

About Yext

The ultimate source for official answers about a business online should be the business itself. However, when consumers ask questions on company websites, too often they are left in the dark with wrong answers. Yext (NYSE: YEXT), the Search Experience Cloud, solves this problem by organizing a business's facts so it can provide official answers to consumer questions  wherever people search. Starting with the company website, then extending across search engines and voice assistants, businesses around the world, like T-Mobile, Jaguar Land Rover, BBVA USA, and Kiehl's  as well as organizations like the U.S. State Department and World Health Organization  trust Yext to radically improve the search experience on their websites and across the entire search ecosystem. Yext's mission is to help businesses and organizations around the world deliver official answers everywhere people search. Yext has been named a Best Place to Work by Fortune and Great Place to Work, as well as a Best Workplace for Women. Yext is headquartered in New York City with offices in Amsterdam, Berlin, Chicago, Dallas, Geneva, London, Miami, Milan, Paris, San Francisco, Shanghai, Tokyo, and the Washington, D.C. area. CONTACT: Amanda Kontor, pr@yext.com View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/yext-introduces-extractive-qa-website-crawler-data-connectors-and-answers-developer-tools-laying-foundation-for-multi-solution-search-platform-301248998.html SOURCE Yext, Inc.

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Letting employees select their own tasks is a popular means of increasing work satisfaction. However, managers should also consider the nature of the task and the employees' specialization before letting them select their own, suggests a new study led by UC Riverside and published in Organization Science.

Traditionally, managers allocate tasks to employees who are expected to produce a defined output. As organizations must increasingly respond to markets and opportunities quickly and decisively, they have begun to experiment with letting employees choose their own tasks. There is to date little hard data, however, to help managers determine the best task-allocation strategy to optimize worker productivity and satisfaction, and the organization's success.

Marlo Raveendran, an assistant professor of management in UC Riverside's School of Business and the A. Gary Anderson Graduate School of Management, led an international team of researchers who studied when and why self-selection may outperform allocation of work by a manager within an organization. They found that manager-led allocation tends to perform better than self-selection when employees have a broad skill range, tasks are highly interdependent, and coordination requirements are high. Self-selection tends to perform better than managerial allocation when employees are highly specialized, tasks are fairly independent and when new workers join a firm or project over time.

"We tend to think of the upside of self-selection as providing greater motivation for employees and better information on their own skills," Raveendran said. "However, we found that even in the absence of motivational and informational considerations, self-selection can outperform managerial allocation depending on the employees' degree of specialization and the nature of work."

The researchers developed an agent-based model to see whether self-selection may have performance benefits over managerial allocation even in the absence of heightened job satisfaction. The model showed the skill-to-task fit tends to be higher under self-selection than under managerial allocation, but at the cost of over- and under-staffing of tasks. In self-selection, employees often pick their tasks without considering other employees' skills, while managers may give away a task to an employee today for which a better-skilled employee may come along later.

The trade-off between self-selection and managerial allocation rests on a trade-off between interpersonal coordination failure under self-selection and intertemporal coordination failure under managerial allocation. This trade-off exists in addition to motivational and skill or information advantages that usually benefit self-selection.

"We provide a deeper understanding of the mechanism underlying the relative performance differences between self-selection and managerial allocation of employees to tasks that goes well beyond the expected motivational and informational advantages that intuitively characterize self-selection," Raveendran said. "The results of our analysis offer a window into the conditions under which each form of intraorganizational division of labor may have relative advantages."

The research adds rigor to the question of when to use self-selection as a form of task allocation within organizations. Managerial allocation has many coordination advantages, but self-selection likely outperforms it under a confluence of specific conditions: When employees are very skilled but at only a narrow range of tasks, tasks are independent, and employee availability is unforeseeable.

The researchers hope these results can be used to inform, if not guide, managerial thinking on when and how to use self-selection as an allocation process within the firm.

Raveendran was joined in the research by Phanish Puranam of INSEAD in Singapore and Massimo Warglien at Ca'Foscari University of Venice in Italy. The paper, "Division of labor through self-selection," is published in Organization Science.

Explore further What managers and employees need to know about returning to work after quarantine

More information: Marlo Raveendran et al. Division of Labor Through Self-Selection, Organization Science (2021). Journal information: Organization Science Marlo Raveendran et al. Division of Labor Through Self-Selection,(2021). DOI: 10.1287/orsc.2021.1449
Carlisle is one of 20 municipal finalists chosen by the National Civic League in its 2021 All-America City contest. The borough is the first Pennsylvania finalist since 2018, and seeks to become the first winner of the All-America City designation since Lancaster was so honored in 2000.

Given to ten communities each year since 1949, the All-America City award celebrates the work of communities in using inclusive civic engagement to address critical issues and create stronger connections among residents, businesses, and nonprofit and government leaders.

The theme for 2021s competition is Building Equitable and Resilient Communities.

Borough spokeswoman Stephanie Taylor said Carlisles participation in the competition is the result of a collaboration between the local government and Dickinson College.

Entrants were asked to highlight three community-driven projects, with at least one of the projects relating to the focus of building equitable and resilient communities.

Carlisles application focuses on the Carlisle Community Action Network and its swift response to addressing issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic, including housing and food security, childcare resources, and vaccination efforts; recent efforts to address racial equity and justice, including the Lincoln Cemetery rededication and the creation of a new Truth and Reconciliation Commission; and the boroughs formation of a community-level Climate Action Commission.

The next step in the competition is a virtual presentation at the 72nd All-America City Awards Event in June, where each finalist is given ten minutes to make a live virtual presentation before the awards jury explaining why it should be named an All-America City, followed by an interview with jurors.

NCL says winners benefit from national recognition and community pride - you may remember Harrisburg prominently featuring the designation on flags, signs and city vehicles for years after its wins in 1985 and 1990. Past winners, the league says, have also seen an uptick in interest from prospective businesses and residents who are seeking out healthy communities to locate in.

Carlisle Councilwoman Brenda Landis, who assisted with the boroughs nomination, said shed be just as pleased to see outside recognition for a lot of good projects and, especially, for all of the behind-the-scenes actors who are helping to make them happen.

It gives credit to the people that have quietly done a lot of this work and dont get the accolades for the continual focus and care that they put into all of these different areas, Landis said.

I think it also is really helpful to show that a community of our size can get a lot of work done and make substantial change, she added, which could inspire other small towns in central Pennsylvania and beyond to raise their sights.

Carlisle has earned its share of civic recognition in recent years, including being named Americas Strongest Town in 2016 by Strong Towns, a civic engagement organization that seeks to promote neighbor-to-neighbor resiliency and adaptability to challenges.

Its not clear how many communities entered nominations for the All-America honors.

Civic League spokeswoman Rebecca Trout told PennLive Wednesday that the boards policy is to keep the number of applicants private. I can tell you, Trout added, that we exceeded our annual goal for applicants and that there was increased interest due to the accessibility of an online application process this year.
California Governor Gavin Newsom slammed the recall filed against him, claiming that the motives are racist. Newsom faces recall possibilities due to his response to the coronavirus pandemic in California.

It can be recalled that Newsom also received backlash when he posted a video on his Tik Tok account that he and a celebrity are inside a restaurant. The restaurant in the video was reported to be not allowing people to dine in. Newsom apologized and vowed to be more mindful of his actions. However, his response to the coronavirus pandemic is not the sole reason why California authorities are pushing for his recall.

ALSO READ: Newsom Recall Drive in California Picks up Steam

Gavin Newsom and "racist motives" on recall

Fox News mentioned Newsom saying that immigration is another issue why his recall is being pushed.

The petition for his recall read, "Laws he endorsed favor foreign nationals, in our country illegally, over that of our own citizens."

Newsom spoke with the press at an elementary school in Alameda County, California. He furthered the authors of his recall are afraid of California becoming less white under his regime.

Newsom added that his fight for his seat as the California governor is rooted within values saying, "I'm not just fighting for me, I'm fighting for you."

The Guardian noted that organizers of the recall will have to meet the deadline scheduled for Wednesday. The organizers would have to collect a total of 1.5 million signatures to put the election on the ballot. However, more than two million people have already signed the petition.

ABC News shared that once the signature threshold is reached, voters will decide whether to recall the current governor of California. Then, if the people voted yes, they would pick from a roster of candidates that will replace him in his post.

Newsom accepts that his removal on the post is based on voting. "The reality is it looks like it's got on the ballot," Newsom said as he exclaims that he is prepared for the voting. Newsom also argued that the petition of his removal is backed by alt conspiracy theorists and supporters of former President Donald Trump.

Gavin Newsom fights his recall

Although worried, Newsom noted that he will still fight his recall for the constituents of California. Newsom noted that the proponents of the recall campaign focus less on him and attack "California and our values, Democratic values."

California is one of the 19 states that permit their voters to remove elected officials before their term expires. The voters only need signatures from the 12% of the total voters of the previous election to arrange a recall movement. However, based on California's history, recalls are never successful.

"I'm gonna fight for this thing because I'm gonna fight for California's values and the things I hold dear," said Newsom.

Amid the recall movement for Governor Gavin Newsom, two Republicans have announced their candidacies. Kevin Faulconer and John Cox from the Republican party will fight Newsom in his post as California Governor.

RELATED ARTICLE: Newsom, California Lawmakers Approve $600 Stimulus Checks for Low-Income and Undocumented Residents

WATCH: California Gov. Newsom pushes back against recall effort - from KTLA 5
Lawsuit over Mount Rushmore fireworks dismissed

U.S. District Court Judge Roberto Lange in a ruling Wednesday dismissed a lawsuit brought against President Joe Biden's administration by Gov. Kristi Noem after the NFS a fireworks display there next month.
Australian actor Tom Budge has departed Amazon Primes upcoming Lord of the Rings, shooting in New Zealand, but details surrounding the news have not been fully disclosed.

Budge, who has already filmed multiple episodes, was cast in the show but his character was never confirmed.

It is with great sadness that I am writing to tell you I have departed Amazons Lord Of The Rings television series, Budge wrote on Instagram. After recently seeing the first episodes shot over the last year Amazon has decided to go in another direction with the character I was portraying

I must thank the creative team for their encouragement towards trying something that I believed was new, exciting and beautiful. And I sincerely thank the extraordinary cast and crew for their love, support and friendship over what has been a very difficult and unusual experience. Alas, some things just cannot be.

His post included an early Johnny Cash performance of Ring of Fire with the lyrics, I fell into a burning ring of fire, and it burns, burns, burns.

An Amazon Prime spokesperson confirmed the departure.

Via: Games Radar

Updated.

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Three men have been arrested by counter terrorism police officers in Victoria over an alleged ideologically motivated attack.

A 19-year-old allegedly attempted to engage in a terrorist act in Melbourne, police say.

He is currently being interviewed by police in relation to suspected terrorism offences.

A 20-year-old man from Epping is also in custody while a 16-year-old from Pascoe Vale was released after further inquiries.

Assistant Commissioner Michael Hermans said in a press conference the investigation relates to a fire on February 18 near Epping, and an alleged assault on an individual in Melbourne's CBD last week.

'The circumstances of those two incidents are being investigated to determine the extent to which they may or may not lead to terrorism charges,' he said.

Police say there will likely be no further arrests but the operation is ongoing.

The incidents were allegedly ideologically motivated and Islamic-based, and two of the men arrested are related to each other.

The houses of those arrested were raided on Wednesday.

Footage released by police shows the 19-year-old man being walked into the Australian Federal Police headquarters.

Mr Hermans said the young ages of the men arrested was 'very concerning' while AFP Assistant Commissioner Scott Lee said Covid-19 had 'exacerbated' radicalisation in younger people.

A 19-year-old allegedly attempted to engage in a terrorist act in Melbourne, police say

Police say there will likely be no further arrests but the operation is ongoing

'It's a phenomenon we see regularly now with our counter terrorism, regardless of the ideology,' he said.

'The magnification of the online environment, what that means for the radicalisation of these young individuals.... that is certainly what we have seen out of the COVID period.

'People have been driven into the online environment, and that has exacerbated some of the radicalisation we have seen.'

No charges have been laid yet and police have assured the public there is no ongoing threat.
The TUV Rheinland DPF standard was developed based on user-experience research and scenarized privacy model analysis in combination with objective measurement and subjective analysis, to determine the product's capabilities for screen information protection through simulation of actual lighting environmental conditions and rating of screen readability. The standard assesses the overall privacy performance of a product in four aspects: dynamic privacy, visual characteristics, reliability of privacy function, and user guide. For businesspeople and office workers concerned with privacy, or banks, government agencies, airports, and public spaces dealing with sensitive information, products with DPF certification can effectively protect private on-screen information against prying eyes without sacrificing screen readability.

The two certified Lenovo notebook models have the "dynamic" privacy function, which means that users can turn the function on or off as required. When the function is turned on, screen brightness and contrast are reduced automatically to reduce readability outside of the protected viewing angle. This helps to protect screen content privacy. The products also provide the user with a good visual experience with regard to viewing angle, uniform brightness, and color consistency while their performance is not affected.

At the ceremony, Lenovo's Sohichi Yokota said: "Lenovo and TUV Rheinland have a long cooperation history in product certification. Thanks to TUV Rheinland for your continuous support and help. Lenovo attaches great importance to product security, and is developing a variety of security features to protect consumers' privacy and assets. The Lenovo ThinkPad team has been committed to the development of electronic screen viewing angle control technology for more than 10 years. Consumers can now truly experience the "privacy guard" function of notebook products. Obtaining TUV Rheinland dynamic privacy filter certification will help ThinkPad's business development. In the future, Lenovo and TUV Rheinland will also strengthen cooperation in other health certifications such as eye comfort and low blue light to provide consumers with a better user experience."

Jay Yang commented: "TUV Rheinland launched the certifications for screen privacy protection in 2020 due to consumers' needs for privacy protection in public venues, workspaces, or at home when electronic products are used. With increasing demand from consumers, dynamic privacy functions will become more and more widespread, while the dynamic privacy function of portable devices should take more varied usage scenarios into account. With rich experience in the field of display products, TUV Rheinland will continue to develop certifications for the distinct requirements of different products, to help manufactures constantly improve technology levels and provide consumers with better products."

As a world-leading technical service provider, TUV Rheinland has extensive experience, with over two decades in consumer electronics. It has launched such standards and certification services as Safety Fast-Charge, Low Blue Light, Retina Protection Factor, Flicker Free, Eye Comfort, and Full Care Display, covering a wide variety of products, with the aim of providing guidance for the industry to continually improve technology and for consumers to choose and purchase safe and high-quality products.

SOURCE TUV Rheinland Greater China
A string of shootings at three Atlanta-area businesses Tuesday evening left eight dead; six of the shooting victims were Asian women, raising fears that the killings were racially motivated. Police arrested a 21-year-old white man, Robert Aaron Long, 150 miles south of Atlanta Tuesday night and charged him with murder. Police say that video surveillance of each crime scene appears to link Long to each of the shootings.

The timeline of the killings spans just over an hour, starting when Long arrived just before 5 p.m. at Youngs Asian Massage near Acworth, a northwest Atlanta suburb, 5 miles from the suspects home in Woodstock. Security footage showed a man wearing a navy-and-red hoodie walk into the parlor, where shots were fired. Four people were killed during the shooting at the parlortwo Asian women, a white woman, and a white man. A Hispanic man, who was leaving a nearby business at the time, was also reportedly injured in the shooting.

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Roughly 45 minutes later, at 5:47 p.m., police responded to what was called in as a robbery at another spa along busy Piedmont Road in the northeast of Atlanta.* When police arrived at Gold Spa, which is 30 miles or about a 45-minute rush-hour drive from the first parlor shooting, they discovered the bodies of three Asian women, each with gunshot wounds. Shortly after, while officers were on scene investigating, shots were fired across the street at Aromatherapy Spa. When police arrived on the scene, the body of another Asian woman was discovered. Long was established as the suspect in the initial shooting and apprehended several hours later.

During the pandemic, there has been a worrying spike in abuse of and crimes committed against people of Asian descent. The exact motivation of Tuesdays shooting is not yet confirmed, but the indicators are not good. Other cities, like Seattle and New York, deployed additional law enforcement to areas with Asian communities as a protective measure. An official from the South Korean Consulate in Atlanta told the New York Times Wednesday that four of those killed in the shooting were ethnic Koreans.

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The reported shootings of Asian American women on Tuesday in Atlanta is an unspeakable tragedyfor the families of the victims first and foremost, but also for the AAPI communitywhich has been reeling from high levels of racial discrimination, the group Stop AAPI Hate, which tracks attacks on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, tweeted Tuesday. Few details have been released, including whether or not the shootings were related or motivated by hate. But right now there is a great deal of fear and pain in the Asian American community that must be addressed.
[March 17, 2021] The USA Advocates Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) for the Upcoming 3-Day Virtual International Conference on Disaster Resilient Infrastructure

Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) in partnership with member countries, organizations and institutions hosts the International Conference on Disaster Resilient Infrastructure - ICDRI 2021, a three-day Interactive Virtual Conference scheduled to be held from 17 - 19 March 2021. ICDRI 2021 aims to deliberate on significant international commitments for building disaster and climate resilient infrastructure. Register via: https://icdri.cdri.world/Register.html Watch #ICDRI2021: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjyYXXUiFIA Shri Narendra Modi, Honourable Prime Minister of India | The Rt Hon Boris Johnson MP, Honourable Prime Minister of the United Kingdom | Mr. Mario Draghi OMRI, Honourable Prime Minister of Italy | H.E. Mr. Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama, Honourable Prime Minister of Fiji are scheduled to give the inaugural address at ICDRI 2021. The three-day Interactive Virtual Conference will witness a plethora of eminent personalities, key government dgnitaries, specialists and entrepreneurs from across the globe.



Mr. John Haley, CEO, Willis Towers Watson and Mr. Achim Steiner , Administrator, UNDP , participating in the session on Situating Resilient Infrastructure in The Context of International Commitments (6.15pm IST, 17 March 2021)

and Mr. , , participating in the session on (6.15pm IST, 17 March 2021) Prof. Banny Banerjee, Director and Founder, Stanford ChangeLabs would be involving in the discussion on Innovation and Emerging Technologies (2.30 pm IST, 18 March 2021)

would be involving in the discussion on (2.30 pm IST, 18 March 2021) Ms. Gloria Steele, Administrator, USAID will participate in a discussion on Perspectives on Governance and Policy For Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (5pm IST, 19 March 2021) Sneak Peek at ICDRI 2021: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTJKhfLVptc Sandeep Poundrik, Director General, CDRI said, "The esteemed panellists at ICDRI 2021 will deliberate and discuss pressing questions pertaining to Disaster Resilient Infrastructure, and its importance in the world, given the increasing severity and frequency of disasters. They will also discuss the impact of COVID-19 on infrastructure, and on achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (SFDRR) targets."

Mr. Kamal Kishore, India Co-Chair of CDRI's Executive Committee and Member National Disaster Management Authority said, "The International Conference on Disaster Resilient Infrastructure 2021 comes at a very unique time. The virtual conference offers interesting possibilities and taking up on the opportunity offered by the virtual platform, we will enlarge the conversation on disaster resilient infrastructure and engage with a range of stakeholders, not just government but also the academia, the civil society organizations, and communities themselves for whom the infrastructure is designed." Karen Klimowski, Acting Deputy Mission Director at USAID, said, "We are pleased to join CDRI member countries in addressing the common challenge of building resilient infrastructure, particularly in the context of increasing disaster risk due to extreme weather changes. The US is committed to a dynamic, inclusive, innovative and resilient world and building the world's collective preparedness and capacity resilient to global shocks." CDRI has also launched an online exhibition 'CDRI Resilient Infrastructure Marketplace' to match the demand from CDRI Member Countries that require technical services and assistance with companies, universities and organizations that can provide services to meet this demand. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210317005572/en/

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A nine-month-old baby boy with permanent and irreversible brain damage can be taken off life-support treatment against his parents' wishes, a High Court judge has ruled.

Mrs Justice Judd says specialists can move the boy, who is attached to a ventilator, to a palliative care regime and let him die in 'comfort and peace'.

A doctor responsible for the baby's care said he had permanent and irreversible brain damage and told the judge that there was 'no prospect of any improvement'.

An independent specialist said the baby was suffering and would have an 'unbearable existence' if he remained on a ventilator.

His parents hope he might improve and argued that he should remain on a ventilator and be given a 'chance to survive'.

Mrs Justice Judd outlined detail of the case in a written ruling published on Wednesday, following a recent private hearing in the Family Division of the High Court.

A doctor responsible for baby's care said he had irreversible brain damage and there was 'no prospect of any improvement'. Pictured: Family Division of High Court, High Holborn, London

She heard that the boy had suffered a 'severe' brain injury during birth, as a result of a 'severe lack of oxygen', and had been cared for on a neonatal intensive care unit throughout his life.

Hospital bosses responsible for the boy's care asked her to decide what moves were in his best interests.

The judge, who is based in London, said the boy could not be identified and has not named the NHS trust involved.

She said: 'It is not hard to understand the parents' fervent hope that (he) will defy expectations and show some improvement in his condition.

'The medical evidence is, however, that the brain damage that he has suffered is permanent and irreversible.

Mrs Justice Judd ruled that specialists can move the boy, who is nearly nine months old and attached to a ventilator, to a palliative care regime and let him die in 'comfort and peace'

'There is therefore no realistic prospect of (him) ever being able to breathe without a ventilator, to feed or be fed orally, or do anything for himself at all.

'He cannot and will not ever be able to see or hear.'

Mr Justice Judd also said continuing life-support treatment would burden the boy.

She said doctors feared that the 'measures required' to keep him alive cause him 'discomfort and even pain'.

The judge added: 'My heart goes out to these parents, who have to bear the pain and grief of what has happened to their beloved son.

'Hard though it is, however, I am clear that the only option which is in (his) best interests is ... that life sustaining treatment should be withdrawn and that (he) should be given palliative care and allowed to die in comfort and peace.'
Two teenagers from upstate New York have been arrested on arson and murder charges after police say they set a man on fire as he sat in a chair in his own apartment, leaving him with severe burns resulting in his death.

Zayvion Perry, 16, and 14-year-old Adriel Riley Jr, were initially charged with arson and assault in connection with the attack on 53-year-old Steven Amenhauser that took place in Rochester last Friday.

After the victim succumbed to his injuries at a hospital on Tuesday, prosecutors upgraded the teenage suspects' charges to second-degree murder.

Zayvion Perry, 16, and 14-year-old Adriel Riley Jr, have been charged with second-degree murder and arson in the death of Steven Amenhauser, 53 (pictured), who was set on fire

Amenhauser was sitting in a chair in his apartment on Lyell Avenue in Rochester, New York, when he was doused with a flammable liquid and set alight

Investigators said Amenhauser, who had no family and lived alone, had left to go to a corner store just before the attack on Friday.

About five minutes after he returned and entered his apartment in the 500 block of Lyell Avenue, he ran out engulfed in flames, reported WROC.

Rochester Police Department Captain Frank Umbrino said during a press conference on Tuesday that while inside his apartment, Amenhauser was doused with a flammable liquid as he sat in a chair and was then set on fire.

Rochester Police Department Captain Frank Umbrino said the victim was familiar with the suspects from the neighborhood

The victim was rushed to University of Rochester Medical Centers Kessler Burn & Trauma Center with second- and third-degree burns over 70 per cent of his body.

After clinging to life for three days, Amenhauser succumbed to his injuries at around 4am on Tuesday.

Umbrino said Amenhauser was in declining health and 'vulnerable.' He was not related to his suspected attackers but knew them.

'The kids, they hung around in the neighborhood, and if anybody knows that neighborhood, everybody kind of knows everybody,' he said. 'So, they certainly knew Steven, but there was no type of familial relationship.'

When asked about a possible motive, the police captain said there is no evidence to suggest that the attack was drug-related, and he would not comment on possible gang ties.

'I don't think anyone is prepared to say why this happened,' Umbrino said.

It is unclear at this time whether the teens followed Amenhauser home, or whether they had entered the apartment earlier and were lying in wait for him.

Amenhauser was a native of Texas, was adopted and lived alone. He lost his wife years earlier, and then his long-time girlfriend passed away in October 2020, reported Democrat & Chronicle.

Amenhauser lived alone, had no surviving family and was in declining health and 'vulnerable'

Police are seen on the scene of the arson attack on Lyell Avenue on Friday

'Seeing the pictures of this guy and knowing he has no family around to speak for him...this is one that I'll remember,' a visibly shaken Umbrino told reporters.

Riley is being held without bail and Perry is being held on $50,000 cash bail at the county children's center, according to Spectrum News.

The Monroe County District Attorney's office said Perry will be prosecuted as an adolescent offender, while Riley will be prosecuted as a juvenile offender in Youth Part.

'Youth Part is a criminal court where adolescent offenders and juvenile offenders remain subject to criminal liability as adults,' prosecutors said. 'Neither defendant will be transferred to family court at this time.'

As CNY Central reported, Riley has a prior criminal history, which includes a felony charge related to a September 2020 robbery of a deaf man who was accosted by three teens brandishing a knife outside a shopping center.

Because of his age, Riley was released from jail after his arrest on a felony charge of armed robbery, but he was arrested again in December and issued an appearance ticket in connection with another robbery.

In late January, Riley was allegedly caught in a stolen car, but under New York's Raise the Age laws, which raise the age at which juvenile offenders are treated as adults in the criminal justice system, Riley was released from detention. He has been a no-show at court appearances ever since.
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The Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board (LASUBEB) has begun a five-day training for food vendors, food handlers and other stakeholders ahead of the restart of the School Feeding Programme of the Federal Government.

The programme was disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

A statement by LASUBEB on Wednesday in Lagos said the training was organised in collaboration with the National Home Grown School Feeding Programme.

The Executive Chairperson of LASUBEB, Wahab Alawiye-King, said the training was held to sensitise stakeholders about effective monitoring of the programme.

Mr Alawiye-King added that it would help in maintaining food hygiene in strict adherence to all public health guidelines of COVID-19 in schools.

One of the social intervention programmes of the Federal Government, whereby pupils in Primary 1 to Primary 3 are given one nutritious meal a day under the National Home Grown School Feeding Programme, was halted due to the outbreak of the COVID-19.

To commence the programme with the existing safe re-opening of schools, LASUBEB, in collaboration with the National Home Grown School Feeding Programme, embarked on a give-day training for food vendors and food handlers.

The training, which had the theme: Quality Nutrition and Healthy Lifestyle During COVID-19, is aimed at strengthening food vendors in discharging their duties hygienically and efficiently, he said.

The chairperson said that application of sound principles of environmental sanitation, personal hygiene and established food safety practices could not be over-emphasised.

He said that free mid-day meals would not only improve the psychological, social, emotional and physical wellbeing of the pupils but would also reduce the adverse effects of the pandemic on the vulnerable.

According to him, the school feeding programme has continued to increase enrollment and retention rates of pupils in public primary schools.

Let us remember that the war against COVID-19 is not over yet, we must continue to take adequate preventive measures.

I charge the participants to carry out their duties with all sense of care and proper hygiene practices, Mr Alawiye-King said.

He disclosed that about 37,589 households of pupils got take-home rations of food items during COVID-19-induced lockdowns, under the Modified Home Grown School Feeding Programme.

Bayo Adefuye, LASUBEB Board Member in charge of special projects, said the workshop was organised for the state implementation team drawn from the Primary Health Care Board, Ministry of Health and Ministry of Agriculture, among other ministries, agencies and department. (NAN)
A Louisiana state trooper who shot an unarmed man as he fled from a 2018 traffic stop on Perkins Road, partially paralyzing him, was fired Tuesday  months after she was arrested and later indicted in the shooting.

Kasha Domingue received notice of her termination effective at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, a State Police spokesman said. She had been on administrative leave since an East Baton Rouge grand jury indicted her in October on counts of aggravated second-degree battery and illegal use of a weapon.

Before that, she was assigned to desk duty following the 2018 shooting, which left Clifton Dilley paralyzed.

+2 State trooper indicted in 2018 shooting of unarmed Baton Rouge teen in back during traffic stop A grand jury indicted a Louisiana state trooper Thursday in the shooting of an unarmed teenager two years ago, saying she was wrong to fire he

Dilley, then 19, was a passenger in a car whose driver had been pulled over for allegedly making an illegal U-turn on Perkins Road, police records say.

Records indicate conflicting accounts of the exact circumstances. A State Police investigator said Dilley was charging toward Domingue when he was shot, but a federal lawsuit claims he was running away. Domingue initially reported to dispatch that she had fired her stun gun at Dilley, rather than her service weapon, which slowed the emergency response, the lawsuit alleges.

Her indictment marked an unusual outcome for law enforcement shooting cases, which often result in no criminal charges for the officer involved.

If convicted of battery, Domingue faces up to 15 years in prison and a $10,000 fine. The weapon count is punishable by up to two years in prison and a fine of $1,000.

After news of her termination from State Police, Baton Rouge attorney Don Cazayoux issued a statement Wednesday afternoon expressing approval on behalf of Dilley and his family.

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"One of their main concerns has always been that she be prevented from doing this to anyone again," he said, noting that the termination makes it unlikely "she will be allowed to patrol the streets anywhere in the future."

Cazayoux also argued that the decision to fire Domingue suggests State Police investigators found reasons to doubt her account of what happened.

A year and a half after Louisiana trooper shot man during traffic stop, investigation still open Nineteen months after a shooting behind a southeastern Baton Rouge grocery story, State Police Trooper Kasha Domingue spends her days behind a

The Advocate reported in 2018 that Domingue had been wearing a defective body camera that did not record the shooting and driving a new State Police vehicle that was not properly equipped with a dashboard camera.

Just hours before shooting Dilley, Domingue had fired her stun gun after pulling over a vehicle without a license plate in Baton Rouge, documents say. A passenger fled the scene and Domingue fired her stun gun at him as he climbed a residential fence on Oak Creek Road, a use of force report states.

That was one of three instances in just eight months when Domingue fired a stun gun at people she encountered while on duty, all of whom were unarmed, records show.

Her next court date is April 29.

State Police declined to immediately release a copy of her termination letter, saying the disciplinary appeal process or court proceedings could make it protected under public records laws.
Hispanic Lawmakers raised concerns about the enlistment of individuals in the military who believe in white supremacy. The Congressional Hispanic Caucus also included individuals who have connections with extremist groups. CBS News noted that the group of Hispanic lawmakers had requested a meeting with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, scheduled by the end of April, to discuss the issue.

Homeland Security Today noted that extremist movements pose many problems to society like spreading hate and intolerance, along with the engagement of significant and deadly violence.

ALSO READ: Pentagon Warns Threat from White Supremacy Within the Military Ranks

Hispanic Lawmakers on Extremism

The concern of the Hispanic lawmakers was driven by the insurrection that happened in the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. Forty-eight rioters during the scene are allegedly connected to extremist groups, while 36 of those who were arrested are current and former military members, according to a CBS analysis report.

Associated Press mentioned a report from Pentagon saying that Domestic extremist groups pose a threat to the U.S. Military. The reason behind this is that the said groups are recruiting service members in their ranks. Sometimes the recruited members enter the military to gain combat experience.

"Our military should not be a training ground for white supremacists to execute their goals," said the letter exclusively obtained by CBS. The Letter furthered that individuals from these groups have "the goals related to their extreme violent beliefs."

The Hispanic Caucus members also pointed out that the Defense Department instructions to stop the active promotion of their officers to "participating in supremacists, extremist, or criminal gang doctrine," is not enough.

"In addition to potential violence, white supremacy and white nationalism pose a threat to good order and discipline in the military," said the Pentagon report.

ADL cited certain examples of how extremists in ranks raise threats like physical harm to service members, military equipment threats, and security breaches. ADL furthered that extremists also threaten the recruitment efforts among minority groups because these communities do not consider enlisting once they believe that the military is the home of extremists.

Hispanic Caucus members cited a 2019 survey suggesting that one-third of active duty groups have claimed that they have "personally witnessed examples of white nationalism" within their ranks.

Pentagon on Extremists

The Military has been aware of the small numbers of white supremacists or extremists within their ranks.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has made fighting extremism a priority. The retired four-star general shared with Senate Armed Services Committee that he would collaborate with the service leaders to set the "right climate."

On February 5, Austin ordered all commanders and supervisors from every level of the military to stand down by early April to discuss extremisms within their ranks.

"I expect for the numbers [of extremists] to be small, but quite frankly, they'll probably be a little larger," said Austin.

Hispanic lawmakers applauded Austin's movement, where Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby coined it as the "initial step" in addressing the issue. "The events of January 6 served as a wake-up call for this department," said Kirby.

RELATED ARTICLE: Lawrence Romo: The Latino Tasked to Remove Confederate Names From U.S. Army Bases

WATCH: Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin orders military-wide effort to address extremism in the ranks - from CBS News
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Myanmar is now in the hands of the military, which coup last month caused a major uprising amongst its citizens. Just this weekend, more than 50 civilians died in the hands of the junta, which violent crackdowns have began taking lives earlier this month.

At least 38 people were killed on Sunday alone per the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, which records the number of casualties since clashes with security forces in Myanmar began on February 1.

It was on that fateful day, the first of February when Myanmar's commander-in-chief of Defence Services Min Aung Hlaing led a military coup and captured civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi after her landslide victory alongside the National League for Democracy party in last year's election. This move made him the country's de facto leader.

Since February 1, the citizens have been in clashes with security forces in Myanmar, where the military began to use brute force to control them.

According to The New York Times, up to 51 people were killed by soldiers and police officers just this weekend as people continue to defy Min Aung Hlaing's rule. The report revealed that another wave of deadly clashes with security forces in Myanmar occurred in the Hlaingtharyar district of Yangon, a heavily populated area where factory workers have aggressively fought back against military rule.

Following the clashes with security forces in Myanmar's Hlaingthaya district in Yangon, the military declared martial law in the area for the first time since the coup began. This allowed the military to "assume all authority in the township from the police." A few hours later, the Shwepyitha district in Yangon was also placed under martial law following civilian clashes with security forces in Myanmar.

Reuters reported that more than 180 protesters have now been killed by Myanmar's security forces, which are focusing on quashing dissent in Yangon. However, more protests are occurring across the country, including in Demoso, Pathein, Dawei, the Irrawaddy river delta, Mandalay City, and Monywa. With more than more than 50 civilians dead over the weekend, this marks a troubling era in Myanmar's recent history, worse than last month's kill count of 38.

The United Nations continue to condemn the deadly clashes with security forces in Myanmar, which has claimed the lives of more than 50 civilians just this weekend. According to Voice Of America, there are currently over 2,000 people being arbitrarily detained by Myanmar military.

"At least 37 journalists have been arrested, of whom 19 remain in arbitrary detention. At least five deaths in custody have occurred in recent weeks, and at least two victims' bodies have shown signs of severe physical abuse indicating that they were tortured," U.N. human rights spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani said of the deadly clashes with security forces in Myanmar.

Shamdasani vowed that the U.N. will take action on the Myanmar military's human rights violations. She said, "Where the state fails to protect the human rights or where the state is carrying out human rights violations against its own people, it is the duty of the international community to do something about it, to take measures to bring the violence to an end, to take measures to ensure accountability."
Australia Elevates Barley Dispute With Beijing to WTO

Australia has elevated its dispute with China at the World Trade Organization (WTO), calling for a panel to be established to address Beijings punitive tariffs on Australian barley exports.

One expert, however, says obtaining a resolution from the WTO could be challenging, given the body has been paralysed since the Trump administration refused to appoint new members to its dispute resolution body in 2019.

Australian Minister for Trade, Dan Tehan, said the government was moving ahead with establishing a dispute settlement panel after it became clear consultations with China in late January had broken down.

While there was constructive engagement on both sides, these consultations did not resolve our concerns, Tehan said in a statement.

Australian Federal Trade Minister Dan Tehan at a press conference at Parliament House in Canberra on Dec. 9, 2020. (AAP Image/Lukas Coch)

The WTO, dispute settlement system, is designed to allow Members to settle their differences over trade matters in a respectful manner, he said.

The Government is committed to defending the interests of Australian barley producers. The anti-dumping and countervailing duties imposed on Australian barley exports are not consistent with Chinas WTO obligations.

In May, the CCP imposed 80 percent worth of tariffs on Australian barley imports as part of an ongoing investigation into the alleged dumping of barley into the local market.

The tariffs came not long after Chinese Ambassador Cheng Jingye in Canberra warned of potential economic sanctions against the country following calls by Foreign Minister Marise Payne to investigate the origins of COVID-19.

The trade strikes swept up a wide array of export industries, including beef, wine, lobster, timber, lamb, coal, and cotton.

Cooked lobsters for sale in the auction house at the Sydney Fish Market in Sydney, Australia, on Dec. 23, 2014. (Peter Parks/AFP via Getty Images)

Australian officials tried for months to negotiate but were unable to get in contact with their Chinese counterparts.

In December, former Trade Minister Simon Birmingham announced Australia would launch an official dispute via the WTO.

How the WTO Process Works?

The WTO dispute resolution process has three stages: consultation, the panel, and finally, an appeal.

The consultation process, which has a 60-day time period, was wound up in late January. The next stage sees the convening of a panel to oversee and investigate the dispute.

Representatives from Australia and China will present arguments to the panel, as well as Canada and Russia, who joined the dispute in late January concerned over how a ruling could potentially impact global barley markets.

Farmer John Magill inspects a dead Barley crop in Parkes, Australia, on his farm on Oct. 25, 2006. (Ian Waldie/Getty Images)

The panel will conclude with an interim and final report presented to the Dispute Settlement Body for a formal ruling. If the ruling is in Australias favour, Beijing will either need to remove the barley tariffs or negotiate a compensation payout to Australia.

Failing this, Australia could be granted permission by the WTO to retaliate.

The entire process could extend over a 12 to 18-month process.

China or Australia will still have an option to appeal to the final Appellate Body. The seven-member Appellate Body has the power to uphold, modify or reverse the panels findings.

However, while that is the theory, the current reality is far different.

In practice, the appeals process has been frozen for more than a year now, Professor Peter Draper, executive director at the Institute for International Trade at the University of South Australia, told The Epoch Times.

In 2019, the Trump administration decided against appointing new members to the Appellate Body over a host of issues with the WTO, including judicial overreach by its members, consistent rulings against U.S. tariffs designed to protect American businesses, and slow decision making.

In turn, the Appellate Body cannot hear appeals because it lacks the numbers to constitute a body.

A picture taken on Jan. 24, 2020, shows a general view at the opening of a World Trade Organization (WTO) ministerial meeting on the sideline of the World Economic Forum annual meeting in Davos. (Fabrice Coffrini/AFP via Getty Images)

Draper said any final ruling handed down in the current Australia-China dispute could be appealed into the void by either party.

You know that theres no appellate body, but you just appeal it anyway. And effectively, therefore, you kill the dispute.

An alternative body was set up after the WTO Appellate Body was frozen, called the Multi-Party Interim Appeal Arbitration Arrangement (MPIA), of which China and Australia are signatories.

However, both parties must be willing to submit to an MPIA ruling, which could be another means to effectively kill the case.

Where Does This Leave Australia?

I think youd have to go back to what Australias motivations and bringing this case are, and I think the fundamental motivation is to highlight the importance of the rule of law procedures, international rule of law procedures, Draper said.

Where better to do this than in the apex global trade body the WTO? In other words, the signals that China sends in how it responds will be watched by the entire membership, he said.

The World Trade Organization (WTO) headquarters in Geneva on April 12, 2018. (Fabrice Coffrini/ AFP/Getty Images)

The process, and the issuance of the reports, will be illuminating. As they say, sunlight is the best disinfectant. I think thats what the Australian government is aiming for in this case.

Despite bilateral relations with China souring over the course of 2020, the Australian government has refused to engage Beijing in tit-for-tat diplomacy and has instead focused on shoring up its national security, diversifying trade relationships, and emphasising the need to fortify the international rules-based order.
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The trees are beautiful. Those Callery pear trees, known regionally as Bradford pears, are large and covered with white, five-petaled flowers, native to China and Vietnam. Youve seen them bloom and flourish for several weeks in Alabama now, and you likely knew they were here before you ever laid eyes on them.

Because, well, they stink. But what is that smell? You cant quite place it. Not quite harsh or bitter enough to think its a dead animal in the vicinity of the tree. No, its the tree. It smells a bit rotten, kind of a fishy odor. But why does such a stunning natural creation like the Bradford pear tree smell so bad?

Dale Dickens, registered forester and Urban Forestry Coordinator with the Alabama Forestry Commission, has an explanation.

I believe the strong scent of the Bradford pear, a cultivar of Callery pear (Pyrus calleryana), is a combination of trimethylamine (fishy smell), dimethylamine, and possibly a few more chemical compounds created within the plant, he said. The purpose is not fully known, but is likely a signal to pollinators attracting them to help the trees with reproduction.

He said that particular smell is unique to the Bradford Pear, and while other trees on Alabamas streets may have a fragrant smell, the odor of blooming Bradford pear trees is one of the few often referred to as a stink.

Oh, so rotten fish eggs isnt the scent youre thinking of? In 2017, Vice explored the other odor people insist they detect in the presence of the Bradford pears.

I would be remiss if I didnt remind you that Bradford pear is a non-native invasive plant and should be considered for removal, he said. He even shared a list of alternatives to plant in place of Bradford pear from the Alabama Cooperative Extension Systems (ACES) that said the following:

Consider removing planted cultivars of Callery pear from your landscape. Several native alternatives can provide similar flowers or fall color as well as much better habitat for birds and other wildlife.

Native alternatives with similar flowers: Serviceberry (Amelanchier spp.), hawthorn (Crataegus spp.), native crabapple (Malus coronaria), native plum (Prunus spp.) Native alternatives with fall color: Florida maple (Acer floridanum), chalk maple (A. leucoderme), blackgum (Nyssa sylvatica).

Callery pears are rapidly growing trees that can form dense thickets, outcompeting native plants for light, water, and nutrients, according to ACES. The species has proven very successful at invading disturbed areas, open fields, unimproved pastures, rights of ways, and forest edges. It is tolerant of partial shade and sites with dry to wet soils. As they continue to spread, it is likely that a greater array of sites will be prone to invasion, including managed pine stands.

You might even see and hear hundreds of bees swarming the petals, even tearing them to shreds. But they are probably just visiting the flowers and not eating them, Dickens said.

Nancy Loewenstein, an extension specialist at the School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences at Auburn University, said the trees are no longer limited to street trees and yards and are beginning to spread rapidly in some parts of the state and moving beyond roadsides and open fields into pastures and forest land.

Due to concern of their invasiveness, were encouraging folks to stop planting Callery pear and to remove it where possible, she said in an email. To this end, the city of Auburn held a Callery pear exchange last year [expanded to include other invasive tree species] where people could cut down a Callery pear from their yard and get a native tree to replace it. Clemson University has held a very successful Callery pear bounty program for several years now.
INFAMOUS paedo-priest Oliver OGrady who was set free from prison earlier this month shared his cell in the Midlands Prison with a notoriously violent sex offender.

OGrady, described as a model prisoner had been banged up with Kilkenny man Walter Morrissey jailed for an aggravated sexual assault in 2013, according to Sunday World sources.

Also in his 70s, Morrissey subjected a woman to a sexual assault that was likened to "rape with a machete" during his 2013 trial.

He left the woman with life-threatening injuries at his home in Callan in Co Kilkenny.

Evidence heard in court at the time included a doctor remarking that he did not know how she was still alive.

A gynaecologist said it was an injury more likely to be seen in women raped with machetes in sub-Saharan Africa.

Previously, Morrissey was convicted in 1977 of the double manslaughter of a father and son by deliberately driving his car into them.

He later lost an appeal against his 13-year-sentence for the sexual assault and as he was led away shouted at the judges heaps of crooks. Liars.

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The Sunday World recently revealed how Morrissey wrote letters claiming to have information about a woman who disappeared without retrace in 2016.

In the bizarre letters he claimed he is innocent of the crime for which he is in prison that he was set up by the same drug dealer behind the womans disappearance.

His claims have no basis in fact, according to Sunday World sources.

Earlier this month the Sunday World revealed that Oliver OGrady had been released from prison after serving his latest sentence for a sex-offence.

He left the Midlands Prison in Portlaoise where he had served his time.

Now 75-years-old, OGrady had been jailed for 22 months last October for possessing child pornography, his ninth conviction.

He had served time in California for the abuse of two boys where he served as a Catholic priest before being deported back to Ireland in the 1990s.

His sexual crimes were the subject of an Academy Award-nominated documentary in 2006 called 'Deliver Us From Evil.'

OGrady had been extradited from Portugal in 2019 to face the charge of possessing a video of an underage girl being sexually abused.

His recent conviction came as a result of a video found on his laptop by gardai in Waterford acting on a tip-off from a house mate.

The ex-priest was charged with possessing the video between December 14, 2015 and March 2016, at his home in the city.

Just the year before in November 2014 OGrady told the Sunday World that he was no longer a danger to children.

Read More

Why would you want to talk to me? he asked.

When told that it was because of his history of child abuse, he replied: Thats a long time ago now.

He denied that he is still a danger to children, saying: No, not at all.

His answer to whether he is in contact with the probation services was: That would be the normal procedure, yes.

And asked if people had anything to fear from him he replied, No, they havent. Okay? and disappeared back into the Post Office on the city quays.

During his last court hearing in October 2020 his eight previous convictions were outlined to the judge.

It included the repeated molestation of two brothers in California over a 10-year period, for which he served seven years in the 1990s.
[March 17, 2021] Nokia appoints Melissa Schoeb as Chief Corporate Affairs Officer and member of the Group Leadership team

Nokia appoints Melissa Schoeb as Chief Corporate Affairs Officer and member of the Group Leadership team Nokia Corporation

Stock Exchange Release

17 March 2020 at 9:45 (CET +1) Nokia appoints Melissa Schoeb as Chief Corporate Affairs Officer and member of the Group Leadership team Espoo, Finland  Nokia today announces the appointment of Melissa Schoeb as Chief Corporate Affairs Officer and member of the Group Leadership Team, effective from 12 April 2021. Nokias Chief Corporate Affairs Officer oversees Communications, Government Relations, Brand and Sustainability. Melissa has extensive experience in corporate affairs and joins Nokia from Occidental, one of the worlds largest independent oil and gas companies, where she is Vice President, Corporate Affairs, advancing the companys reputation in support of its global business strategy. Prior to working at Occidental, she held a number of senior leadership positions at FleishmanHilliard, one of the worlds leading communications consultancies, and was Director of Global Communications for Nortel Networks, a multinational telecommunications and data networking equipment manufacturer. Melissa also has significant management consulting and business management experience having held a business director role at The VenCom Group, a venture capital company focused on the telecommunications sector, and consulting roles at Gemini Consulting. Im delighted to welcome Melissa to Nokias Group Leadership Team. She has extensive experience in managing company reputations and enabling organizations to achieve their objectives. As Nokia embarks on the next stage of its journey, we will play a key part in providing the technology that will enable positive change for the planet, our economy and our society. Melissas knowledge in helping shape these relevant debates and ensure a strong voice for Nokia will be crucial to our future success, said Pekka Lundmark, President and CEO of Nokia. Im thrilled to be joining the Nokia team at this pivotal time in the companys history. Its leading technology and intellectual property, iconic brand and differentiated strategy position it for sustained long-term growth. I look forward to advancing Nokias global reputation with its stakeholders to drive and support the companys business goals, Melissa Schoeb commented. Melissa will be based in Espoo, Finland and report to Nokias President and Chief Executive Officer, Pekka Lundmark. Additional background information on all current members of the Group Leadership Team can be found at www.nokia.com/en_int/investors/corporate-governance/group-leadership-team . About Melissa Schoeb Born: 1968 Nationality: US national Experience: Occidental, Houston, US, 2007 Vice President, Corporate Affairs, 2017

Vice President, Communications and Public Affairs, 20122017

Senior Director, Communications and Public Affairs, 20072012 FleishmanHilliard, US, 20022007 Senior Vice President and Senior Partner, General anager, Southern California

Senior Vice President and Partner General Manager, San Diego

Senior Vice President, San Francisco





Director of Global Communications FleishmanHilliard, San Francisco, US, 19982000

Vice President, Technology

The VenCom Group Inc, Chicago, US, 19951997

Business Director Gemini Consulting, London UK, Washington DC, US, 19911995

Consultant Education: Fellowship Recipient, Four Freedoms Foundation, Rome, Italy, 19901991

Double Major, Bachelor of Arts in International Relations and Spanish, 1990

Mary Washington University, Virginia, US, 19861990 Languages: Fluent in English, Spanish and Italian Additional positions: Member of the Arthur Page Society and The Seminar

Board member of Mary Washington Universitys College of Business Executive Advisory Board Media Enquiries

Nokia

Communications

Tel. +358 (0) 10 448 4900

Email: press.services@nokia.com

Katja Antila, Head of Media Relations About Nokia

We create the critical networks and technologies to bring together the worlds intelligence, across businesses, cities, supply chains and societies. With our commitment to innovation and technology leadership, driven by the award-winning Nokia Bell Labs, we deliver networks at the limits of science across mobile, infrastructure, cloud, and enabling technologies. Adhering to the highest standards of integrity and security, we help build the capabilities we need for a more productive, sustainable and inclusive world. For our latest updates, please visit us online www.nokia.com and follow us on Twitter @nokia. FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS It should be noted that Nokia and its businesses are exposed to various risks and uncertainties and certain statements herein that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements reflect Nokia's current expectations and views of future developments and include statements regarding: A) expectations, plans or benefits related to our strategies, growth management and operational key performance indicators; B) expectations, plans or benefits related to future performance of our businesses (including the expected impact, timing and duration of that impact of COVID-19 on our businesses, our supply chain and our customers businesses) and any future dividends including timing and qualitative and quantitative thresholds associated therewith; C) expectations and targets regarding financial performance, cash generation, results, the timing of receivables, operating expenses, taxes, currency exchange rates, hedging, cost savings, product cost reductions and competitiveness, as well as results of operations including targeted synergies, better commercial management and those results related to market share, prices, net sales, income and margins; D) expectations, plans or benefits related to changes in organizational and operational structure; and E) statements preceded by or including believe, expect, expectations, deliver, maintain, strengthen, target, estimate, plan, intend, assumption, focus, continue, should", "will or similar expressions.

These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control, which could cause our actual results to differ materially from such statements. These statements are based on managements best assumptions and beliefs in light of the information currently available to them. These forward-looking statements are only predictions based upon our current expectations and views of future events and developments and are subject to risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that will occur in the future. Factors, including risks and uncertainties that could cause these differences include, but are not limited to: 1) our strategy is subject to various risks and uncertainties and we may be unable to successfully implement our strategic plans, sustain or improve the operational and financial performance of our business groups, correctly identify or successfully pursue business opportunities or otherwise grow our business; 2) general economic and market conditions, general public health conditions (including its impact on our supply chains) and other developments in the economies where we operate, including the timeline for the deployment of 5G and our ability to successfully capitalize on that deployment; 3) competition and our ability to effectively and profitably invest in existing and new high-quality products, services, upgrades and technologies and bring them to market in a timely manner; 4) our dependence on the development of the industries in which we operate, including the cyclicality and variability of the information technology and telecommunications industries and our own R&D capabilities and investments; 5) our ability to manage and improve our financial and operating performance, cost savings, competitiveness and synergies generally, expectations and timing around our ability to recognize any net sales and our ability to implement changes to our organizational and operational structure efficiently; 6) our global business and exposure to regulatory, political or other developments in various countries or regions, including emerging markets and the associated risks in relation to tax matters and exchange controls, among others; and 7) the scope and duration of the COVID-19 impact on the global economy and financial markets as well as our customers, supply chain, product development, service delivery, other operations and our financial, tax, pension and other assets, and the shape of the economic recovery following the pandemic as well as the risk factors specified in our 2020 annual report on Form 20-F published on March 4, 2021 under "Operating and financial review and prospects-Risk factors" and in our other filings or documents furnished with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Other unknown or unpredictable factors or underlying assumptions subsequently proven to be incorrect could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. We do not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except to the extent legally required.



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The Louisiana Department of Health reported 280 more confirmed coronavirus cases and 22 more confirmed deaths in its noon update Wednesday.

There are now 5,784 more people listed as "presumed recovered" on the Department of Health dashboard. A total of 426,243 people are listed as recovered. That number is updated weekly.

The number of hospitalizations decreased by seven, and the number of patients in need of ventilators increased by four.

Moderna to begin COVID vaccine trials in children; see where to sign up in Louisiana Children under 12, including babies as young as six months, will be able to participate in clinical trials in Louisiana for Modernas two-dose

There are now a total of 376,152 confirmed coronavirus cases and 9,184 total "probable" coronavirus cases in Louisiana, according to the agency's dashboard.

These are another few key statewide statistics as of Wednesday:

Total confirmed cases: 376,152

Total "probable" cases: 62,850

Total confirmed deaths: 9,184

Currently hospitalized: 446

Currently on ventilators: 66

Vaccine series initiated: 917,628 (updated twice weekly)

Vaccine series completed: 533,644

Presumed recovered: 426,243 as of March 15 (updated weekly)

Note: The Advocate and The Times-Picayune staff calculates daily case count and confirmed death increases based on the difference between today's total and yesterday's total of confirmed coronavirus cases and deaths. The Louisiana Department of Health releases a daily case count on its dashboard that includes probable cases as indicated by a positive antigen test. That case count can be different than the one listed here.

Vaccine news in your inbox Once a week we'll update you on the progress of COVID-19 vaccinations. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up

Here are some of the parishes with the highest single-day increase in confirmed coronavirus cases, based on the Wednesday report:

Calcasieu: 41

Jefferson: 34

Lafayette: 20

Caddo: 20

Vermilion: 19

Bossier: 15

Orleans: 13

St. Tammany: 13

East Baton Rouge: 7

Can't see chart below? Click here.

Can't see chart below? Click here.

Louisiana began reopening for Phase 1 on May 15-16 then moved to Phase 2 on June 5. Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards extended Louisiana's Phase 2 restrictions twice in August before moving the state to Phase 3 on Sept. 11. The governor then moved the state back to a modified Phase 2 near the end of November before putting Louisiana back in a modified Phase 3 on March 2, 2021.

This is a developing story. More details and analysis to come.
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Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-17 14:24:34|Editor: huaxia

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KATHMANDU -- Nepal's import has grown for the first time in more than one and a half years with the economic activities in the Himalayan country having largely normalized along with decreasing COVID-19 cases, Nepal's central bank data showed.

According to the Nepal Rastra Bank data released on Tuesday, Nepal's import grew by 0.01 percent to 6.91 billion U.S. dollars in the first seven months of the current fiscal year 2020-21 that began in mid-July 2020. It is for the first time in 19 months that Nepal saw growth in import. (Nepal-Import)

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WASHINGTON -- U.S. President Joe Biden on Tuesday offered his strongest comments yet on the sexual harassment allegations against his longtime friend, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, saying the governor should resign and may face a prosecution if the claims are confirmed by the ongoing investigation.

Speaking in an interview with ABC News scheduled to be aired on Wednesday, Biden said "yes" when asked whether Cuomo should quit his job if the investigation into multiple allegations of sexual misconducts against him confirms the claims of his current and former staffers. "I think he'd probably end up being prosecuted, too," Biden added. (US-Cuomo Scandal-Biden)

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DAMASCUS -- The Syrian Foreign Ministry has stressed its rejection of foreign interference in China's affairs, saying no country or party has the right to interfere in the internal affairs of independent and sovereign states, according to the state news agency SANA.

In a statement on Tuesday, the ministry said that all kinds of interference in China's affairs are considered as a flagrant violation of international law and the principle that a country has sovereignty over its territory. (Syria-China-Hong Kong)

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WELLINGTON -- New Zealand's current account deficit widened by 1.6 billion NZ dollars (1.15 billion U.S. dollars) to 2.1 billion NZ dollars in the December 2020 quarter, the statistics department Stats NZ said on Wednesday.

"The widening of the quarterly deficit was driven by a rise in goods imports and a fall in services exports, which includes spending by overseas visitors in New Zealand," international statistics senior manager Darren Allan said in a statement. (New Zealand-COVID-19-Deficit) Enditem
SINGAPORE -- In a quiet, mainly residential district of Singapore, trays of writhing black soldier fly larvae munch their way through hundreds of kilograms of food waste a day.

The protein-rich maggots can be sold for pet food or fertiliser, but at Insectta - a startup that says it is Singapores first urban insect farm - they are bred to extract biomaterials that can be used in pharmaceuticals and electronics.

What these black soldier flies enable us to do is transform this food waste, which is a negative-value product, into a positive-value product, said Chua Kai-Ning, Insecttas co-founder and chief marketing officer.

Black soldier flies are renowned for their ability to consume any kind of food waste and their speed and efficiency at transforming that waste into body mass, Chua said.

The hundreds of millions of larvae at the farm eat four times their body weight in food waste every day.

Working in conjunction with Singapores Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Insecttas technology uses a proprietary and environmentally friendly process to extract lucrative substances such as chitosan, melanin and probiotics from the larvae, it said.

The substances, which are worth a few hundred dollars per gram, are sold to other companies.

Alwin Fong, 31, operations manager at Insectta, attends to the black soldier flies' mating chamber in Singapore March 3, 2021. Picture taken March 3, 2021. Photo: Reuters

Melanin conducts electricity and can be used in semiconductors, supercapacitors or batteries, while chitosan has anti-inflammatory properties and is useful in the manufacturing of cosmetics and pharmaceuticals.

Traditionally melanin has never been extracted, other than from squid ink, said Insectta co-founder and chief technology officer, Phua Jun Wei, adding that the production of chitosan usually requires large amounts of corrosive and environmentally damaging solvents.

With the global market valued at $7 billion and expected to grow sharply, Insectta said it was seeking to expand the industrial applications for its high-grade chitosan to wound healing, filaments for organic 3D-printing and drug delivery agents.
Norm Cummings / Hearst Connecticut Media file photo

WINSTED  Members of the Gilbert School Corp. announced Tuesday they have hired Greg P. Shugrue as its new head of school starting July 1.

Shugrue has been principal at New Milford High School for 16 years. According to a statement from the Gilbert School, Shugrue served four years in the U.S. Air Force, then began his education career as a social studies teacher in Florida before moving to Meriden in 2000. He was assistant principal at Orville H. Platt High School; principal at Maloney High School; then went to New Milford High School in 2005, the statement said.
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A day of police thuggery: Youve never lived til youve been manhandled by cops

It started out as yet another ordinary coverage of another demo at a corner where I had covered three others in the past months. It was billed as La Marche des Insoumis the March of the Rebellious. Some 10,000 Montrealers turned out last Saturday to demonstrate against the masking of young children in schools and against the continuation of the lockdown. Clearly at least half had other agendas, but it was a legal demonstration well advertised weeks in advance.

It had been called for 1pm on a sunny, but bitingly cold day. I arrived early to go to my usual spot to film. It was a three foot high concrete bench at the southeast corner of Sherbrooke and McGill College. The bench was some 30 feet from where the marchers were gathering.

Police presence was heavy. And it included riot police in full gear. I decided to ask a police officer if it was alright to take my usual spot for filming as they surrounded every corner. He was very accommodating and escorted me to it. He raised no question of masks as he saw I had one in my hand in case I went closer to the marchers, and he saw my press pass on a lanyard around my neck. I asked if I need to put it on and he said No because I was off the ground and quite a distance from the demonstration.

I adjusted my iPhone extension, set the phone in the bracket and began to film and report. I had set the video in reverse to show viewers the gathering behind me. About a minute into my report two young officers came toward me from the southwest corner waving their hands that I should stop filming. I thought they might be objecting to my filming them so I started to explain that I was filming behind me and not at them.

One of them said  Ill translate his words here into English  No, its not the film its that youre not wearing a mask and were giving you a ticket. One of them put his hand on my arm and in a pulling motion had me come off the bench. I explained that I didnt need to wear a mask because I was some 20-30 feet from the march with nobody around me and standing 3 feet in the air and that the first officer had answered that I didnt need a mask. Furthermore, I explained, I have chronic bronchitis and as such am exempted from wearing a mask. I also pointed out that there is no regulation to wear a mask outdoors. There is one to wear a mask in a demonstration but I wasnt in the demonstration. He answered, Pas notre probleme!

He kept his hand on my upper arm and he and his partner escorted me to the southwest corner where they were joined by a third officer. One of them was named Lamontagne. The three officers spent some ten minutes going through papers demonstrating how to write a ticket on this matter. I tried to remind them that their colleague had escorted me to the site I filmed from because it was far enough away from the marchers. None of the three deigned to answer. They finished writing the ticket, after asking me for photo id, brusquely handed me the ticket and my drivers license and walked away. My press pass which had my photo on it was not enough identification for them by the way. To add lies to injuries, the infraction read,refused to obey wearing a mask in a demonstration. I didnt refuse. The cops didnt ask me to put one on. And I wasnt in the demonstration. I was 30 feet away and 3 feet above the sidewalk.It may interest readers to know that Montreal passed a by-law some years ago making it an offence to be masked during a demonstration.

All this took place within four feet of a supervisors squad car. I went over to him and he rolled his window down. I asked if he saw and heard what had just happened. In a very world-weary fashion he said he had. I asked if he had seen his colleague escort me to my original corner without problem. He said he had. I asked if he saw what the two younger officers had just done. He said he had. I asked if he had heard my explanations and complaints. He said he had. Then I asked why didnt he get out of his car since we were four feet away? His answer? Dont worry you can contest it in court or call SPVM Media relations.

I went back to my original post and started filming and reporting. And what I noticed then was a concerted pattern of behaviour. Officers were going into the crowd  in groups of two, three and more  and taking out people by their arms just to give them tickets. The law does not allow for manhandling of people getting tickets. My colleague, Chelsey St-Pierre, who was covering the march from the eastern end then sent me photos of the same harassment happening there.

After our reports and videos were done I called a senior advisor to Mayor Plante. I was told that the police were warned not to be stupid during this march. The advisor certainly felt that the instructions were not followed and is making inquiries.I then called Constable Manuel Couture in charge of media relations for this march. He seemed genuinely taken aback by the events I described  mine and others  and I asked him who gave the orders to the police to act with such harassment and under what authority? Who was in the command center? He has not gotten back to me yet with that answer.

Premier Legault has often called on police to use their common sense in applying guidelines. I have sent a suggestion to his office that perhaps it is time for him to make televised remarks and remind them of that again. There was no Police common sense Saturday. There was no respect for law. It was a day of police thuggery. They wanted to flex their muscles. That is not good enough in a free society no matter the cause. Our civil rights cannot be sacrificed on the anvil of Covid. Security authorities are getting too used to exercising power by dictate. That is a very dangerous thing.
A self-proclaimed 'kinky sex overlord' accused of keeping a woman in a cage has been supported in court by five of his girlfriends, including one who is pregnant, as he faced slavery charges.

James Robert Davis appeared before Armidale Local Court in northern NSW on Wednesday over allegations he coerced a woman into prostitution without payment, physically assaulted her and controlled her finances.

The 40-year-old has been charged with possessing a slave, reducing a person to slavery and causing a person to remain in servitude.

The Australian Federal Police allege Davis manipulated a woman between 2012 to 2015 in Maroubra, Sydney's south, for a so-called 'cult'.

But his barrister Ian Lloyd QC told the court the allegations against Davis will be defended, the Daily Telegraph reported.

James Robert Davis (pictured), 40, appeared before Armidale Local Court via videolink on Wednesday having been charged with slavery offences

Davis was supported by five of his girlfriends inside Armidale Local Court. They are pictured outside the court

'My client won't be on trial for being a member of a cult even if, ultimately, that was accepted as a fact,' Mr Lloyd told the court.

'There is no crime in lifestyle choices, no crime associated with consensual BDSM, these matters are not crimes and he has not been charged.'

Mr Lloyd pointed to Davis's five girlfriends sitting in the back of the court room - including two who are university students, one who is a teacher and another that is 17 weeks pregnant - and claimed they all had 'no fear about their wellbeing'.

The women are all in a consensual polyamorous relationship with Davis, Mr Lloyd told the court, and they each have a car and bank accounts in their name.

'Each of these women - if they're a slave - has had the opportunity to run away; they have not done so,' Mr Lloyd told the court.

The AFP prosecutor told the court much of the case information came from videos Davis posted online and allegations aired by the ABC, including the use of a cage.

Australian Federal Police vision is pictured of the moment Davis was arrested by officers outside the Bunnings in Armidale, northern New South Wales on Thursday afternoon

The Australian Federal Police raided the sprawling rural property of James Robert Davis about 30km outside Armidale, northern New South Wales, last Thursday

Pictures released by the Australian Federal Police following their raid show the property contained small wooden huts with single beds

The property also contained a shed which had a barber's chair and boxes filled with whips, collars and other sex instruments

Mr Lloyd told the court any cage Davis had used with the woman could be easily unlocked and had no bottom, adding it was a form of 'affectation'.

Davis had in 2018 featured in the television series 'Cadifor: A story about love, family and slavery'. He has described himself as a 'rope performer, fetish photographer, BDSM writer, kink educator, lifestyle dominant and consent advocate'.

The AFP alleges Davis referred to himself as the patriarch of a group known as the 'House of Cadifor'.

Davis - a 17-year veteran of the Australian Defence Force - was arrested outside the Armidale Bunnings on Thursday after the AFP spent 15 hours raiding his sprawling rural property at Yarrowyck, about 30km outside of Armidale.

Four large wooden sandboxes with women's names engraved on the side are pictured on Davis' property

The pictures provide a glimpse inside the 'The House of Cadifor', of which Davis refers to himself as the patriarch, police allege

Pictured: Robert James Davis (centre) with lingerie-clad women. He has been charged with slavery offences

Davis (pictured) spent 17 years with the Australian Defence Force and served in the second Gulf War, the court heard

More than 50 AFP investigators and forensic specialists spent last week searching Davis' Yarrowyck property and seized phones, cameras and computers.

Images released by the AFP after the raid show the property is dotted with several wooden huts located several hundred metres away from the main home, featuring single beds, no air-conditioning and curtains that do little to keep out the light.

Four large wooden sandboxes engraved with women's names were pictured on the property, along with a shed complete with a barber's chair and boxes filled with whips, collars and other sex instruments.

Magistrate Vivien Swain refused Davis bail. He will next appear in a Sydney court in May.
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How one long noncoding RNA could help improve outcomes in bone marrow and solid organ transplantation

A long noncoding RNA whose function was previously unknown turns out to play a vital role in mobilizing the immune response following a bone marrow transplant or solid organ transplantation.

This RNA molecule, cataloged in scientific databases simply as Linc00402, helps activate immune defenders known as T cells in response to the presence of foreign human cells, according to a new study by researchers at the University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center and Michigan Medicine.

The investigation, which included samples from more than 50 patients who underwent a bone marrow or heart transplant, suggests inhibiting the RNA therapeutically might improve outcomes for transplant recipients. Their findings appear in Science Translational Medicine.

Study lead author Daniel Peltier, M.D., Ph.D., is a pediatric bone marrow transplant physician at U-M.

"We see a lot of graft-versus-host disease -- or GVHD -- which is a potentially fatal complication that can happen after transplant when T cells in the donor's blood see the transplant recipient's cells as invaders and attack them," he says. "Unfortunately, the medicines we use to prevent GVHD suppress the immune system and can raise the risk of a cancer relapse or infection, and they also have other side effects."

In taking a deep dive into the biology, Peltier and his colleagues hoped to find a way of targeting just the problematic components of the immune system that cause GVHD.

One reason for looking at this particular type of RNA molecule is that they tend to be expressed only by a limited number of tissues in a limited number of contexts, explains senior study author Pavan Reddy, M.D., deputy director of the Rogel Cancer Center and division chief of hematology/oncology at Michigan Medicine.

"So, unlike a lot of RNAs, which are expressed in all kinds of cells by all kinds of living things, long noncoding RNAs offer the possibility that we might be able to target them in a relatively unique and disease-specific way," he says.

Meaning: If doctors can find a way to zero-in and short circuit just the T cells' tendency to get aggressive in response to the transplant, they may not need to suppress the patient's immune system in a more general way that leaves them susceptible to infection or a regrowth of their cancer.

The researchers are hopeful the discoveries could also be used to help predict which patients are most likely to develop GVHD.

Finding Linc00402

Very little previous work has been done to examine the role of noncoding RNAs in human T cells, especially in clinically relevant contexts, Reddy says.

"Our lab studies bone marrow transplantation, which is a T-cell mediated process," he says. "Knowing more about how T cells work will help us make bone marrow transplants, or any immunotherapy, more efficacious."

The research project began with a database of blood samples from a range of patients who had undergone a bone marrow transplant at Michigan Medicine. Some patients had closely matched donors, while others had what doctors call mismatched donors.

"The whole idea was: If you take a T cell from one individual and put it into a different individual, what happens to its RNA profile?" Reddy says.

Then, using RNA sequencing, the research team looked for patterns across the bone marrow transplant patients. Their findings were validated in two other cohorts of patients using different methodologies.

"We wanted to make sure that what we were seeing wasn't just chance or an artifact of one approach," Reddy says. "And that's how we found this particular RNA, Linc00402. It's the one that remained consistent through the various cohorts we examined and the various ways we looked at things."

The bone marrow transplant researchers also collaborated with the lab of co-author Daniel Goldstein, M.D., director of the Michigan Biology of Cardiovascular Aging program, to see if the results held true for heart transplant patients. And it turns out they did.

"So that really told us that these long noncoding RNAs are unique to T cells that are responding to foreignness, both in the context of bone marrow transplantation and solid organ transplantation," Reddy says. "This is precisely the kind of cross-disciplinary collaboration that can only happen in a place like U-M."

Probing the mysteries of Linc00402

Since Linc00402 gets improperly activated in the presence of foreign cells, the researchers also conducted experiments to see if they saw the same response in the presence of another type of invader: a viral infection. But they didn't see elevated levels of the RNA in response to the virus.

"This strongly suggests that this dysregulation is a change you only see when you put a T cell from one human being into another," Reddy says.

Through a series of experiments, the researchers dug deeper into the RNA and its behavior. They used genetic tools like CRISPR and gapmers to silence the gene that makes it and lentiviruses to amplify it. And this revealed that Linc00402 plays a key role in T cells' ability to respond to a threat by proliferating.

In collaboration with the lab of co-author Arul Chinnaiyan, M.D., Ph.D., director of the Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, they found that within each cell, the RNA is primarily expressed in the cytoplasm.

"This led us to hypothesize that the RNA's normal function is help with cellular signaling following activation of the T cells," Peltier adds.

While many long noncoding RNAs are species-specific as well as tissue-specific, Linc00402 is present and regulates the same functions in mice. This surprising detail paves the way for animal model studies that could speed the progress of translating these laboratory discoveries toward the bedside, the researchers say. (The fact that it's conserved between species is another clue to its functional importance, Peltier notes.)

As these new details about Linc00402 are coming to light, the researchers are also proposing giving the RNA a more memorable name. In the study, they propose calling it ReLot, for regulatory long noncoding RNA of T cells.

"Scientists have only relatively recently started decoding the importance of some of these parts of the genome that don't code for proteins," Peltier says. "It's really only been since the robust sequencing of the transcriptome that we realized that the 80-90% that we thought was 'junk DNA' is definitely not junk."

###

Additional authors include: Molly Radosevich, Thomas Decoville, Visweswaran Ravikumar, Sethuramasundaram Pitchiaya, Sherri C. Wood, Guoqing Hou, Cynthia Zajac, Katherine Oravecz-Wilson, David Sokol, Israel Henig, Julia Wu, Stephanie Kim, Austin Taylor, Hideaki Fujiwara, Yaping Sun and Arvind Rao, all of U-M.

The research was supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health (R01-HL128046, R01-CA203542, R01-CA217156, UL1TR002240, R01-AI138347, T32HL007622-30, 5K12HD028820-27), an NCI-SPORE Career Enhancement Award, a PCF Young Investigator Award, a Department of Defense Idea Development Award and a Hope from Harper St. Baldrick's Foundation Fellowship.

Paper cited: "RNA-seq of Human T-Cells After Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation Identifies Linc00402 as a Novel Regulator of T-Cell Alloimmunity," Science Translational Medicine. DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.aaz0316
Prince Philip is 'not aware of full extent' of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's Oprah Winfrey fallout, a royal expert has claimed.

The Duke of Edninburgh, 99, left hospital yesterday following a month under the care of medical staff after being admitted with an infection and later undergoing heart surgery.

Katie Nicholl said the Royal Family are trying their best to shield him from the explosive claims made during the tell-all interview, which aired while he was in hospital.

'The family are very keen that he's not aware of the full extent of the interview,' the royal commentator said in an interview with Australian outlet 9Honey.

She went on to say that while the widespread coverage may make it 'impossible for him to completely avoid it', she claims 'efforts were made to protect him from the full force of the fallout'.

Prince Philip is 'not aware of full extent' of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's Oprah Winfrey fallout, royal expert Katie Nicholl claimed. Pictured, Prince Philip arriving at Windsor Castle after leaving the King Edward VII's Hospital in central London on Tuesday

Katie Nicholl noted how the Royal Family are trying their best to shield him from the explosive claims made during Prince Harry and Meghan's Markle's tell-all interview (pictured), which aired while he was in hospital

Prince Philip spent 28 nights as a patient in London at King Edward VII's Hospital and St Bartholomew's Hospital - his longest ever stay.

He was initially admitted on a precautionary basis for an infection, before having a heart operation midway through his four-week period in hospital.

The 'Iron Duke' was photographed leaving King Edward VII's Hospital in Marylebone at about 10.30am yesterday, with screens obscuring him in a wheelchair for the most part, before getting into a car and being driven away.

'It was a great relief to see him leave in a car, not an ambulance, but he did look very, very frail in the backseat and I know the family are relieved he's home but also deeply concerned about his health,' Katie Nicholl said.

Katie Nicholl claimed Kate Middleton has been left 'disappointed and hurt' in the wake of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's tell-all interview with Oprah Winfrey. Pictured, The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge during a visit to School 21 in Stratford, east London on Thursday March 11

Prince Philip's departure from hospital came the same day as royal warfare erupted again after Harry and Meghan revealed deeply private family conversations to a journalist friend.

They told Gayle King that the prince had finally spoken to his father and brother following the explosive interview with Oprah Winfrey.

Bombshells from the Oprah interview - Meghan's mental health The Duchess of Sussex revealed she had suicidal thoughts and said: 'I just didn't want to be alive any more.' She said she begged for help, and asked to go somewhere to get help, and approached one of the most senior people in the institution, but was told it would not look good. The duchess said: 'I said that I needed to go somewhere to get help. I said that I've never felt this way before and I need to go somewhere. And I was told that I couldn't, that it wouldn't be good for the institution.' - Baby Sussex is a girl Harry and Meghan revealed they are expecting a baby girl. The duke joined his wife in the second half of the interview, and told the chat show host: 'It's a girl.' He said his first thought was 'amazing' when he discovered they were having a girl, adding: 'Just grateful. To have any child, any one or any two, would have been amazing. 'But to have a boy and then a girl, I mean what more can you ask for? Now we've got our family, we got the four of us and our two dogs.' Asked if they were 'done' with two children, Harry said 'done' and Meghan said: 'Two is it.' She also confirmed the baby is due in the 'summertime'. - Royal family accused of racism Meghan said, when she was pregnant with Archie, an unnamed member of the royal family raised 'concerns and conversations about how dark his skin might be when he's born'. Asked whether there were concerns that her child would be 'too brown' and that would be a problem, Meghan said: 'If that is the assumption you are making, that is a pretty safe one.' Pushed by Winfrey on who had those conversations, Meghan refused to say, adding: 'I think that would be very damaging to them.' She added: 'That was relayed to me from Harry, those were conversations the family had with him, and I think it was really hard to be able to see those as compartmentalised conversations.' - Archie's title Meghan suggested she and Harry wanted Archie to be a prince so he would have security and be protected. The duchess expressed her shock at 'the idea of our son not being safe', and the idea of the first member of colour in this family, not being titled in the same way as other grandchildren. Archie, who is seventh in line to the throne, is not entitled to be an HRH or a prince due to rules set out more than 100 years ago by King George V. He will be entitled to be an HRH or a prince when the Prince of Wales accedes to the throne. As the first born son of a duke, Archie could have become Earl of Dumbarton - one of Harry's subsidiary titles - or have been Lord Archie Mountbatten-Windsor, instead at the time of his birth, a royal source said Harry and Meghan had decided he should a regular Master Archie Mountbatten-Windsor. - The Prince of Wales The Duke of Sussex said his father the Prince of Wales stopped taking his calls while Harry and Meghan were in Canada 'because I took matters into my own hands. I needed to do this for my family'. He said Charles wanted him to put his plans in writing. - The Queen Harry denied that he had 'blindsided' his grandmother Queen with the bombshell statement about stepping down as senior royal. The duke said he believed the report probably could have come from 'within the institution'. - The Duchess of Cambridge Meghan said Kate made her cry ahead of her wedding. Reports circulated ahead of the Sussexes' nuptials that Meghan left Kate in tears at Princess Charlotte's bridesmaid dress fitting. But Meghan told Winfrey the 'reverse happened'. Meghan said she was not sharing the information to be 'disparaging', but added it was 'really important for people to understand the truth'. 'She's a good person,' the duchess added. Advertisement

Hours later, Miss King disclosed on American TV that the talks 'were not productive'.

The breakfast show host also suggested that Meghan was unhappy no one in the Royal Family had thought to telephone her.

And, in a thinly-veiled threat, the presenter said the duchess had 'documents to back up everything she said on Oprah's interview'.

The fact the Sussexes chose to reveal sensitive discussions between senior members of the Royal Family met with an icy response from Buckingham Palace.

'None of the households  the Queen, the Prince of Wales and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge  will be giving a running commentary on private conversations,' said a senior royal source.

It comes after a tumultuous week for the Royal Family following the bombshell claims made in the interview with the US broadcaster.

The Duke of Cambridge was the first royal to personally respond to the racism allegations last Thursday during his first royal engagement since the Oprah interview.

He also revealed that he has not spoken to his brother since it came out, but added that he 'will do'.

It was also the first engagement for Kate since she was accused by Meghan of making her cry in the bombshell tell-all chat.

Meghan said: 'She (Kate) was upset about something, but she owned it, and she apologised. And she brought me flowers'.

During the Oprah interview, Meghan also revealed details about their strained relationship, saying of pictures of them laughing at Wimbledon, 'Nothing is what it looks like.'

She added that Kate being called 'waity Katie' in the press couldn't compare to the alleged racism she faced.

Meghan also made allegations that she felt suicidal and turned to the palace for help.

The Duchess of Sussex told Oprah she 'couldn't be left alone' and told her husband she 'didn't want to be alive anymore' before claiming the Buckingham Palace HR department ignored her plea for help because she wasn't a 'paid employee'.

Describing how she considered ending her life believing it 'was better for everyone', Meghan said:

'I knew that if I didn't say it, that I would do it. I just didn't want to be alive anymore.

'And that was a very clear and real and frightening constant thought. I remember how he just cradled me. I said that I needed to go somewhere to get help.

'I said that 'I've never felt this way before, and I need to go somewhere'. And I was told that I couldn't, that it wouldn't be good for the institution'.

She said that after confiding in her husband, she was forced to go to the Royal Albert Hall for a charity event in January 2019, claiming photos from that night 'haunt me'.

She told Oprah she later reached out to one of the best friends of Diana, Princess of Wales, because she felt unsupported by the palace.

She said: 'When I joined that family, that was the last time I saw my passport, my driving licence, my keys - all of that gets turned over'.

Meghan said Harry had 'saved my life' by agreeing to move to Los Angeles.

During the broadcast, Prince Harry hinted at the extent of the alleged rift between the two brothers, claiming that their relationship was now space, but added he hoped time would be a healer.

He went on to claim he was 'on different paths' to William and spoke about his brother was 'trapped' in the Royal Family.

Harry also said he felt 'very let down' by his father Prince Charles, accusing him of refusing to take his calls and and then 'cut him off' financially when they emigrated.

He said: 'My father and brother. They're both trapped' and added that his mother Diana would be 'angry and sad' that he felt he had to leave the royal family, but 'she saw it coming'.

Harry said: 'All she'd ever want for us is to be happy', adding that his wife had 'saved me', declaring:

'I myself was trapped, as well. I didn't see a way out'.

The Queen broke her silence on the interview last Tuesday, voicing her 'concern' over the issues raised, 'particularly that of race', although the statement added that 'some recollections may vary'.

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.

Harry said: That conversation, I am never going to share. At the time it was awkward, I was a bit shocked.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-17 13:23:46|Editor: huaxia

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WASHINGTON, March 16 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Joe Biden on Tuesday offered his strongest comments yet on the sexual harassment allegations against his longtime friend, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, saying the governor should resign and may face a prosecution if the claims are confirmed by the ongoing investigation.

Speaking in an interview with ABC News scheduled to be aired on Wednesday, Biden said "yes" when asked whether Cuomo should quit his job if the investigation into multiple allegations of sexual misconducts against him confirms the claims of his current and former staffers. "I think he'd probably end up being prosecuted, too," Biden added.

"A woman should be presumed telling the truth and should not be scapegoated and become victimized by her coming forward," Biden said. "But there should be an investigation to determine whether what she says is true. That's what's going on now."

Biden himself faced a sexual assault allegation by Tara Reade, a former member of his staff who claimed that Biden, while a senator in 1993, groped and kissed her in the basement of a Capitol Hill office building.

"By the way, it may very well be that there could be a criminal prosecution attached to it, I just don't know," Biden said later in the interview. "It takes a lot of courage for a woman to come forward ... so the presumption is it should be taken seriously. And it should be investigated, and that's what's underway now."

Cuomo, a three-term New York governor who is seeking a fourth term in the 2022 mid-term elections, has faced allegations that he sexually harassed or inappropriately behaved in front of multiple women, including a current member of staff who claimed that she was groped by the governor in his executive mansion late last year.

The scandals have led to a groundswell of opposition to Cuomo within the Democratic Party, of which the governor, like Biden, is a member.

An independent investigation led by New York Attorney General Letitia James is underway, and one of Cuomo's accusers, Charlotte Bennett, spoke for four hours Monday with investigators, claiming a "sexually hostile work environment" around the governor.

A majority of New York's Democratic representatives in the U.S. House and more than 55 Democrats in the state legislature have demanded Cuomo's resignation. The state's two senators, Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, joined suit last week to become the most prominent Democrats to urge the embattled governor to step down.

Asked to comment on calls from Democratic heavyweights in both chambers of Congress for Cuomo to resign, Biden said "that's a judgment for them to make."

The New York State Assembly has initiated an impeachment investigation into Cuomo to determine whether his conducts warrant a forcible removal from office.

Cuomo has repeatedly refused to resign and denied any wrongdoing. Enditem
The saga of Karnataka Water Resources Minister Ramesh Jarkiholis alleged involvement in sexually harassing a job aspirant and issuing threats to her and her family took a fresh turn on Wednesday when the parents of the woman lodged a complaint with the Belagavi police saying their daughter had been kidnapped from Bengaluru and now they fear for their lives.

Heres a timeline of scandal that has rocked the political corridors of Karnataka:

March 2, 2021: Some Kannada news channels showed clippings of the then Water Resources Minister Ramesh Jarkiholi with a woman, who, it was claimed, was a job aspirant subjected to sexual harassment by the minister. A day after the video surfaced, Jarkiholi was forced to resign from his position as minister and was accused of seeking sex for favours.

Dinesh Kallahalli, a social activist, approached the Bengaluru Police Commissioner Kamal Pant and after the meeting told reporters that he has been asked to approach the Cubbon Park Police Station to lodge the complaint and to get an FIR registered there. He later filed a complaint at Cubbon Park in central Bengaluru.

Kallahalli said the woman did not wish to come out in the open and approached him to lodge a complaint alleging the minister exploited her by offering a job. In the complaint, Kallahalli said when the woman from a poor family approached the minister for making a short film, he had sexually exploited her by assuring a job in the Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Limited. He alleged that when the minister got to know that the woman had the CD (objectionable videos), he threatened her and her family.

However, Kallahalli made an U-turn and withdrew the complaint a few days later.



March 9, 2021: Jarkiholi told media persons that he was innocent and that the purported CD was 100% fake. In his 18-minute-long interaction with media persons, he claimed that this whole issue was a conspiracy against him. He also claimed that he was aware about the CD much in advance and had even informed the high command regarding the same. There is no truth in this CD. Its a conspiracy and Im innocent. In fact, I got to know about the CD four months back and told my brother Balachandra that I had done nothing wrong and it wasnt me. I even got a call from high command asking to legal help. But I said I would fight it out, the Belgavi MLA claimed.

Jarkiholi said the whole conspiracy was strategised around the Orion Mall and Yeshwanthpur areas of Bengaluru. He approached Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa and Home Minister Basavaj Bommai, asking the government to hand over the case to the CID at the earliest.



March 13, 2021: Bengaluru police registered a case of conspiracy and blackmailing, among other charges, against unknown persons based on a complaint by Jarkiholi, who resigned as the water resources minister after a CD purportedly showed him seeking sexual favours from a woman in exchange for a job.

In the complaint, Jarkiholi did not name anyone one but charged some people with an intention to extort money and defame him. He said a conspiracy had been hatched against him over the past three months to finish him off politically and blackmail him. There are many people involved in it. Among them, a few hatched the conspiracy, became part of preparing the fake CD, and released it on the internet to create political instability, Jarkiholi said in his statement.

The same day, the woman in the sex tape scandal released a video statement in Kannada, saying, This message is for Home Minister Basavaraj Bommai. I dont know how, and what they did with the video. I have already been stripped of my dignity everywhere. People are coming home and questioning me. My parents tried to kill themselves two times. I, too, tried to kill myself three to four times, the woman said. the parents of a woman who was allegedly seen with former state minister Ramesh Jarakiholi in videos that were widely shared this month, lodged a complaint with the Belagavi police alleging that they are fearing for their life and that their daughter had been kidnapped from Bengaluru.

March 17, 2021: the parents of the woman lodged a complaint with the Belagavi police saying their daughter had been kidnapped from Bengaluru and now they fear for their lives. The father claimed that his daughter had been kidnapped on March 2 itself  the day the CD emerged in public  and that was the last time they had spoken with her. She said the person in the video was not her. Someone seems to have used our daughters doppelganger. She told her mother that someone who looks like her has been used in the video, the father said.

A two-minute video clip was released by the parents in which they claimed their lives are is in danger.  I spoke to her the last time on March 2. She said she would explain everything in detail when she meets us in person instead of speaking on the phone, the womans mother said in the clip.  The police booked the parents complaint under sections 363 (kidnapping), 368, 343, 346 (dealing with wrongful confinement) 354 (assault) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code.


China in Focus (March 16): China Urges Foreigners to Take Chinese Vaccine

China is urging foreigners to get inoculated with Chinese-made vaccines. Beijing says anyone who does gets an expedited process toward a Chinese visa.

The Chinese regime calls the United States an empire of espionage and accuses its government of hacking after the United States labeled Chinese telecom giant Huawei and four other Chinese companies as a threat to national security.

A survey says only one in five Americans look favorably on communist China. Europeans are growing increasingly distrustful of the regime, too.

Chinese-owned factories go up in flames in Burma, also known as Myanmar. Some people suspect the Chinese regime is behind the military coup there.

A polar bear hotel in China is drawing criticism. One animal rights group says the iconic bears belong in the Arctic, not in a hotel.

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T.I. and his wife Tiny were seen for the first time on Monday, March 15 since they were accused of sexually assaulting and abusing a total of 14 women.

The couple, who have been married for over a decade, were joined by their four-year-old daughter Heiress Diana as they grabbed dinner at BOA Steakhouse in West Hollywood.

The 40-year-old rapper carried the couple's youngest child in his arms, while strolling down the sidewalk with his 45-year-old wife in tow.

Spotted: T.I. and his wife Tiny were seen for the first time on Monday, March 15 since they were accused of sexually assaulting and abusing a total of 14 women

T.I., born Clifford Joseph Harris Jr., had on a white hoodie, black pants, and a pair of reflective Nike sneakers.

Mirroring her husband's casual vibe, Tiny slipped her 4foot11inch frame into a pair of tie dyed leggings and a grey hooded sweatshirt.

Heiress Diana, who the couple welcomed into the world in 2016, looked sweet in a pale blue tracksuit, while carrying her father's Las Vegas Raiders cap in hand.

The family looked to be in high spirits, despite six more women, including a member of the military and a stripper, coming forward to accuse T.I. and Tiny of sexual assault earlier this month.

Parenthood: The couple, who have been married for over a decade, were joined by their four-year-old daughter Heiress Diana as they grabbed dinner at BOA Steakhouse in West Hollywood

Holding on: The 40-year-old rapper carried the couple's youngest child in his arms, while strolling down the sidewalk with his 45-year-old wife in tow

The couple are already fighting claims they abused eight women who they say were drugged, kidnapped and forced into sex with the pair or someone in their circle. They deny those allegations, and claims from three men who also say the couple made 'terrorist threats' against them.

On Monday, The Daily Beast revealed that the attorney representing those eight women and three men had heard from six additional accusers.

They include a stripper, a member of the military, and a high school student who once interned at one of the rapper's studios.

Casual: T.I., born Clifford Joseph Harris Jr., had on a white hoodie, black pants, and a pair of reflective Nike sneakers

The women claim that T.I. and Tiny, whose real names are Clifford and Tameka, that the pair or someone in their circle date raped them then sexually abused them. No criminal charges have been brought against the pair.

The claims started in January on social media. Multiple women claimed to have been abused by the pair in some way, which prompted them to deny the allegations in a statement.

Then, lawyer Tyrone A. Blackburn approached some of the women to hear their stories. He then went to the authorities in Georgia and California, asking them to launch an investigation.

The women claim that T.I. and Tiny, whose real names are Clifford and Tameka, that the pair or someone in their circle date raped them then sexually abused them. They have previously denied similar allegations but haven't yet addressed these

At the time, he said he had claims from 11 different people; the original eight women and three men.

Now, Blackburn says he has heard from an additional six women who have similar allegations.

He has written again to the authorities in Georgia and California, demanding that a criminal investigation be launched.

'If I was a prosecutor, Id have brought charges already.

'These women are unaware of each other, and without any leading on my part, they recount eerily similar events of sexual abuse, forced ingestion of illegal narcotics, kidnapping, terroristic threats and false imprisonment, the letter from Blackburn states.

'It concludes by imploring law enforcement officials to tackle and end the stream depravity being committed by the celebrity couple,' he told the Beast on Monday.

'These women have come forward because theres a void that has been left in their lives and the people that created the void are Clifford and Tameka Harris.

'Granted, the void can never be fully filled, but at least it can be put back together if these cases are handled with care, are thoroughly investigated, indictments are executed, and the Harrises are prosecuted,' he said, adding that the women are not seeking money.

Their allegations include claims from a 22-year-old who once worked as an intern at one of the rapper's studios when she was in high school.

Lawyer Tyrone A. Blackburn is making the allegations public in the hopes that police will investigate

She described an alleged incident when she was 17 and working for the couple, on T.I.'s tour bus, when she claims his wife gave her a drink and two pills that made her 'hot and and sweaty [and she] began hallucinating and felt like she was floating.'

She claims that Tiny took her to the back of the tour bus to 'cool off' and that T.I. came over next and started commenting on her appearance.

She says she then blacked out and woke up 'naked on a bed bleeding from her vagina. She also felt discomfort in her anus.'

The next day, she claims she was taken home by one of the couple's employees who said 'she needs to learn to keep her mouth shut' and 'if she did not that bad things could happen to her and her family.'

She claims that she started losing control of her bowels in her sleep and was taken to the hospital where she was told she'd suffered 'trauma to her anal cavity due to intense anal penetration.'

The member of the military said she was 22 in 2005 when she met the pair in a club in L.A.

She described going back to a hotel with them but said she started feeling 'dizzy and light-headed' after taking just one sip of Tiny's drink.

She claims that three of them got into the shower where Tiny washed both her and T.I. Afterwards, she said Tiny tried to give her a 'back butt massage'.

The woman, who was in the US Air Force, said T.I. then told her he wanted to put his vagina in her foot.

The woman said no but then apparently passed out and woke up 'with a very sore vagina and a towel covering her.'

Steve Sadow, a lawyer for the pair, told DailyMail.com on Monday: 'The Harrises continue to deny in the strongest possible terms these groundless and unjustified allegations.

'When Blackburn finally exposes his anonymous accusers to the light of day by revealing their names, we will be in a position to confront his allegations. Hiding their identities makes it impossible for me to do so now.

'We fully expect if the claims are fairly investigated, no charges will be brought.'

The couple previously sparked controversy when T.I. admitted to going to the gynecologist with his teenage daughter to ensure she was still a virgin.

'Not only have we had the conversation. We have yearly trips to the gynecologist to check her hymen.

'So well go and sit down and the doctor will come and talk, and the doctors maintaining a high level of professionalism.

'Hes like, 'Well, you know, sir, I have to, in order to share information'  Im like, 'Deyjah, they want you to sign this, so we can share information. Is there anything you would not want me to know? Oh OK. See, doc? Ain't no problem,'" he said during a podcast interview.
Utah will consider a bill requiring all devices sold in the state to automatically block pornography. The GOP-controlled Legislature recently passed the proposal and its fate now lies with Utah's Governor Spencer Cox (pictured), who can either veto or sign the bill into law by March 25th.

Measure HB72 states that every tablet and smartphone sold in the state after January 1st, 2022 should come with a preinstalled content filter capable of "blocking material that is harmful to minors." Adults would be able to turn off the filter for specific content. However, the restriction can not go into effect until five other states have passed similar measures.

The bill is part of an ongoing anti-pornography campaign by Utah's conservative lawmakers. In 2016, Utah passed a resolution declaring porn a public health crisis, with 15 additional states following its lead including Florida, Idaho Arizona and Montana.

Supporters of the content filter claim that while most devices already come with parental controls, many people struggle with enabling them, reports the Associated Press. Critics say the bill is an attack on free speech and claim the broader movement against pornography ignores more pressing issues, such as the need for better sexual education. It also seems unlikely that device makers, such as Apple, who have previously clashed with law enforcement over civil liberties, will simply bow to Utah's demands.
Celsys is seeking illustrations from across the world under the theme: My Time to Shine! Contestants can submit their works just by posting their entry to Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook with both the #cspcontest27 and #StudioShare hashtags.

The submission deadline is Wednesday, April 7, 2021, 23:59 GMT, and the Grand Prize winner will be awarded US$1,500 and an NVIDIA RTX 3070 GPU graphics card.

27th International Illustration Contest

https://www.clipstudio.net/en/cspcontest27/

Celsys regularly holds illustration contests open to the entire world. Illustrations from all across the world are submitted to the contest. In its 26th incarnation, with the theme of The Best Smile, the contest received over 4,900 strong entries.

The contest aims to support creators around the world and encourage more artists to create illustration. Contest winners will receive prize money and other prizes and have their work shown to a wider audience through various media such as Facebook and Twitter.

27th International Illustration Contest



Submission criteria

Illustrations on the theme: My Time to Shine!

Both digital and traditional artwork entries are permitted.

Submissions may be created with any software/app.

For those who do not own any digital software, users can try creating their submission with Clip Studio Paints free trial, which allows up to six months free use*.

Clip Studio Paint is compatible with Windows, macOS, iPad, iPhone, Galaxy, Android, and Chromebook devices, so contestants can even create illustrations on their smartphones or tablets.

*Only available to new users with their first plan.



Schedule

Submission period: Tuesday, March 16 - Wednesday, April 7, 2021, 23:59 (GMT)

Result announcement: Wednesday, April 28, 2021 (tentative)



Awards and Prizes

Grand Prize (1 winner)

US$1,500 cash prize, NVIDIA RTX 3070 GPU graphics card and Clip Studio Paint EX Activation Code (Dual-device plan, 3 years) or 10,000 GOLD

Runner-up Prize (1 winner)

US$1,000 cash prize and Clip Studio Paint EX Activation Code (Dual-device plan, 3 years) or 10,000 GOLD

3rd - 5th place (3 winners)

US$200 cash prize and Clip Studio Paint EX Activation Code (Dual-device plan, 1 year) or 5,000 GOLD

6th - 10th place (5 winners)

US$100 cash prize and Clip Studio Paint PRO Activation Code (Dual-device plan, 1 year) or 3,000 GOLD

Honorable mentions (10 winners)

Clip Studio Paint PRO Activation Code (Dual-device plan, 1 year) or 3,000 GOLD

How to Enter

Entrants must submit their artwork using both contest hashtags #cspcontest27 and #StudioShare on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram during the submission period.

Click here for more details on how to enter the contest.

https://www.clipstudio.net/en/cspcontest27/

Sponsor

NVIDIA Studio

https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/studio/

NVIDIA Studio is a platform built to support all creators. NVIDIA Studio laptops and desktops are purpose-built to help you do your best work, fast.

Organizer

CELSYS,Inc.

https://www.clipstudio.net/en/

CELSYS,Inc.

Celsys will continue supporting creators to create artistic content with digital technology.

We provide solutions for content creation, distribution, and browsing, including support of creative activities through our illustration, manga and animation production software Clip Studio Paint and web service Clip Studio, as well as our e-book solution, Clip Studio Reader.

Corporate site: https://www.celsys.co.jp/en/

Clip Studio Paint site: http://www.clipstudio.net/en/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/clipstudioofficial/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/clipstudiopaint

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/celsys.clipstudiopaint/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/CLIPSTUDIOPAINTchannel

Contact

For media

Pacific Marks Shinjuku, 4-15-7 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo Japan 160-0023

e-mail: press@artspark.co.jp

For Companies

https://www.celsys.co.jp/en/clipsolution/
Greenville County Council is negotiating with two different companies on projects that would bring new jobs and millions in new investment to the county.

The county is offering incentives to induce the companies to locate or expand and will consider agreements with each for tax breaks in exchange for investment. As is the county's usual practice, the unannounced projects have code names.

Project Orca is an existing manufacturer in the county that plans to expand, bringing 700 new full-time jobs to the county within five years and investing at least $26.48 million in its project, according to an inducement resolution County Council will consider March 16.

The council is also expected to vote on the second of three readings March 16 to allow a second company to pay a set fee in lieu of taxes in exchange for locating in the county.

That company, codenamed Project Mila, plans to invest $33 million in a new facility in the county, according to a draft of the agreement with the county. It would be required to invest at least $10 million to meet the agreements terms over the next five years.

No new jobs are required under the current terms of the agreement. The company anticipates the first phase of its project will begin before the end of 2021.

Sign up for our Greenville development newsletter. Get all the latest updates on the Upstate real estate market, more openings and closings, exclusive development news and more in your inbox each week. Email

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According to a site plan submitted with the project, the company plans to locate along Perimeter Road at its intersection with Kitty Hawk Road just south of the South Carolina Technology and Aviation Center, formerly the Donaldson Center.

The companys site would include 116 acres behind Take Heart Church and Robert E. Cashion Elementary School on Fork Shoals Road. A future expansion could include frontage onto Fork Shoals Road next to the school, according to the site plan.

The company plans to build a 225,000 square foot building with 188 parking spaces and 36 trailer spaces. There are plans to add two slightly larger buildings in the future, one with 36 trailer spaces and the second with 76 trailer spaces.

The name of the company would be revealed prior to a third reading by County Council.
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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.  One of Albuquerques most iconic food companies will soon begin a $10 million expansion project.

The New Mexico Economic Development Department announced Tuesday that Bueno Foods will begin expanding its current facility later this year, with plans calling for a 25,000-square-foot freezer warehouse.

Ana Baca, vice president of marketing for Bueno Foods, said the expansion will allow the 70-year-old company to keep more of its famous chile onsite in Albuquerque, rather than storing it in out-of-state warehouses.

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Just from an economic standpoint, we want to keep the money in New Mexico versus outside of the state, Baca said.

Baca said she thinks this expansion will help the company keep up with increasing demand outside New Mexico.

If we can grow and meet the demand, we obviously want to bring that money back and invest it in our people and our community, she said.

Baca said Bueno Foods has been looking to expand its onsite freezer capacity for a few years. The company ships red and green chile, largely from Southern New Mexico, to its Albuquerque facility at 2001 4th SW to be roasted. But Baca said Bueno currently lacks the space to freeze the chile onsite for transportation, and currently has to send the frozen food to three warehouses, two of which are outside New Mexico.

We want to reduce those costs and bring money back into New Mexico, Baca said.

The company is expecting to break ground on the expansion in May or June, and is hopeful the project will be complete by the end of 2022.

Over the ensuing five years, Baca said the company plans to hire 49 new employees, in manufacturing, sales and other areas.

The company was awarded a $500,000 grant from the Economic Development Department through the states LEDA job-creation fund to help fund the expansion. The city of Albuquerque is the fiscal agent for the expansion project, which also includes Industrial Revenue Bonds, according to EDD.

Baca said the expansion wouldnt have been possible for Bueno Foods, which is coming off a difficult 2020, without the funding.

Were just extremely grateful to the state and city for this investment in our company, she said.

About 60% of Bueno Foods sales are outside New Mexico, and Baca said she expects out-of-state sales to grow with the expansion. She pointed to several trends behind the increased interest in chile outside New Mexico, including a growing Hispanic population thats driving demand for spicy food, and a growing interest in eating healthy.

We want to spread that sunshine, that goodness that is New Mexico-grown green chile, Baca said. And this will enable us to do so.
The annual Point-In-Time count of the regions unsheltered homeless population is complete. The count, which determines allocation of federal funding to homeless service agencies in 11 surrounding counties, revealed a large jump in homeless numbers, notably an 81 percent rise in Hamilton County.

Officials said the specific numbers reflect the unsheltered homeless, defined as those who live in the streets or in makeshift shelters and are not currently in any agency support program.

Bradley County, the second largest city in the region, saw their unsheltered count double in size from last year.

Officials were expecting a rise in homelessness due to the pandemic but claim a rise this high was unexpected.

These numbers are devastating to see, Chattanooga Regional Homeless Coalition Executive Director Wendy Winters said. This is a huge increase among the most vulnerable of our community members experiencing homelessness. And we believe COVID and the lack of affordable housing in our region are the primary causes for the increase.

Ms. Winters also said the number of those experiencing chronic homelessness, or those living without shelter for over a year, is higher and she said the psychological effects and emotional turmoil is long-lasting. The rural counties in the region also saw a huge increase, but Ms. Winters said the increase in rural unsheltered numbers are largely attributed to new methods in finding and counting the homeless in these difficult to reach communities.

The CRHC has a new director of system performance, Mike Smith, who brings with him experience in finding and counting the homeless in difficult to reach rural communities. This population has unique needs and its own tragic struggles, officials said.

Ms. Winters said, These people are living in Third World conditions. Their buildings are barely held together. They are isolated and forgotten. We are now understanding better the face of rural homelessness and its heartbreaking.

In December 2020, the region was awarded a $4.4 million grant from the state of Tennessee to combat homelessness. When these funds are released to the 11 local agencies that have been selected for the funding, officials are confident they will make a direct impact in addressing these rising numbers. This money will be a game changer, Ms. Winters said. Through programs like landlord incentives which offer double deposits, sign-on bonuses and other support services, our community is overdue for this support.

The Chattanooga Regional Homeless Coalition serves as the coordinating agency of the Southeast Tennessees homeless response system. To learn more about how to support these efforts, please visit homelesscoalition.org




The rumored Apple March event could have a different schedule, according to Jon Prosser, a reliable leaker. Previously, he agreed to the claim of Kang, another accurate Apple analyst. Kang is the first one to release the rumor that Apple's next event would take place in Mar. 23.

"Kang (the most accurate source there is), plus L0vetodream also have mentioned the 23rd," said Jon Prosser via his official Twitter account.

I dont think theyve ever done an event in April, so I get it if youre skeptical. But here we are   Jon Prosser (@jon_prosser) March 17, 2021

"So I'm not exactly sure how we all have the same information with no invites today. Unless invites come tomorrow or something," added Prosser.

Apple event to take place in April?

Now, he took back his claim and said that the upcoming Apple event would take place in April instead of March. He even jokingly said that he will now have to shave off his eyebrows since he previously said he would do it if the tech giant's next big event won't happen this month.

As of the moment, his latest tweet was able to generate more than 1,700 likes, 70 quote tweets, and 160 retweets. Prosser added that the leaked info is rather unusual since Apple hasn't done an event in April previously. He added that it is not surprising if some fans are currently skeptical.

Also Read: Apple : Over Million Fake Apple Products Sold on Instagram and Other Online Shops Finally Removed!

On the other hand, Macworld UK reported that Apple is unlikely to conduct the event in Mar. 23 since the tech giant manufacturer usually sends an invitation a week before each event. Although Jon Prosser seems 100% sure that the new Apple event would happen in April, it is still important to remember that it is just speculation.

The final schedule would still depend on Apple's decision.

Possible Apple products to appear

CNET reported that the upcoming Apple event could unveil the long-rumored smart tracker tag, an iPad Pro update, and the new AirPods 3. However, Ming-Chi Kuo claimed that the upcoming AirPods models would not be available until Q3. You can click here to know more details.

For more news updates about Apple's upcoming event, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes.

Related Article: Will There Really be an Apple Event on March 23?

This article is owned by TechTimes

Written by: Giuliano de Leon

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
An autistic man who shared his hand-written cover letter on LinkedIn imploring employers to 'take a chance' on him has been met with an overwhelming response  and plenty of potential jobs.

Ryan Lowry, a 20-year-old high school graduate from Leesburg, Virginia, set up his LinkedIn profile last month with some help from his dad, with hopes that he'd make a few connections and get started on a career in IT or as an animator.

But his earnest letter, penned on lined paper and photographed for the internet, has quickly gone viral, earning six million views and responses from companies like Amazon and Microsoft.

Success: Ryan Lowry, a 20-year-old high school graduate from Leesburg, Virginia, set up his LinkedIn profile last month with some help from his dad

Hire me! He posted a hand-written cover letter to future employers, explaining that he has autism and doesn't 'learn like typical people do' but employers will be glad they hired him

Ryan shared his cover letter on the platform two weeks ago with the caption: 'Please see my letter to future employers.'

'Dear Future Employer,' he began, introducing himself and explaining that he has autism  but that's not the only thing worth knowing about him.

'I also have a unique sense of humor, am gifted at math, really good at technology, and a really quick learner.

'I realize that someone like you will have to take a chance on me,' he went on.

'I don't learn like typical people do. I would need a mentor to teach me, but I learn quickly, [and] once you explain it, I get it.

'I promise that if you hire me and teach me, you'll be glad that you did. I will show up every day, do what you tell me to do, and work really hard.

Score! The cover letter has gone viral and his parents say he has had calls from neurodiversity recruitment programs at Dell, Microsoft, and Amazon

'Please let me know if you would like to talk about this with me. Thank you,' he concluded.

The letter quickly took off on LinkedIn, being viewed a reported six million times with thousands of likes and comments.

His parents Rob and Tracy Lowry also revealed that he's had calls from several companies with neurodiversity recruitment programs, including Dell, Amazon, and Microsoft.

Exceptional Minds, a Los Angeles-based nonprofit and post-production studio for people with autism, also reached out.

'There have been a lot of people who want to talk with him,' his mom told WJLA.

'I'm very proud of him. Every mom wants is for their children to grow up and have a life and support themselves and be independent and just the fact that he put himself out there and hes handling it and we are hearing from people and its just amazing.

Proud: Ryan (pictured with his mom) wants a career in IT or as an animator, and his parents want him 'to be able to live independently'

'Ryan is capable of so much,' his dad told Today. 'The goal here for Ryan is independence.

'He can live in our basement for the rest of his life. Wed love it. But Tracy and I are going to die someday, and he needs to be able to live independently. Were cautiously optimistic.'

Rob and Tracy have also been quite touched by the outpouring of support in the comments section from people rooting Ryan on.

'I lay in bed at night and I cry reading the messages,' Tracy said. 'This raw, vulnerable letter has opened up so many opportunities.'
The pandemic offers an invaluable math lesson in Connecticut.

Its not surprising that the numbers for public school enrollment in 2020 do not look like the numbers for the previous year.

CT Mirror reporter Jacqueline Rabe Thomas did the math . Public schools lost one of every 33 students; private schools dropped one in 16. Our cities, home to the most vulnerable populations, have been the hardest hit, with Hartford noting a loss of one in 13 students and Bridgeport one in 17.

Numbers dont lie, but they can fib. This data is somewhat distorted because many parents of the youngest future students opted to delay introducing them to the world of academia because of COVID-19. School officials say this accounts for about 44 percent of the missing students.

They attribute another 17 percent to parents who joined to the ranks of home-school educators.

Do the math and were still left with 6,981 absent students.

Stronger state policies would make it easier to do the calculations. But the Connecticut Department of Education no longer tracks student transiency, nor does it require parents to inform districts if they transition to home schooling. If ever there was a time to lock down policies to better track student welfare, this is it.

Two years ago, pre-pandemic, Gov. Ned Lamont proposed legislation that would mandate registration of home-schoolers every year. The initiative was in response to a study that revealed 36 percent of families that opted for education at home had been reported for suspected neglect or abuse to the Department of Children and Families.

That can cast a shadow of suspicion on any family that home-schools. The objection from protesters in Hartford was loud, and the registration requirement was abandoned.

One of our biggest concerns is how much of the declines in enrollment are attributable to students leaving the education system altogether and not receiving any education. Right now, its very difficult to identify that group of students that has fallen through the cracks in the system, said Michael Morton, the deputy executive director of the School and State Finance Project, which lobbies for school reforms.

If its hard to count the students, its even harder to tally those cracks.

While our neighboring states, including New York and Massachusetts, have much stricter regulations, Connecticut tilts more toward the likes of Oklahoma and Idaho when it comes to monitoring home schooling.

If there is a lesson from the pandemic that applies, its that people working from home need the kind of access to services afforded to their counterparts in the traditional workplace. The same needs apply to the home classroom, including access to state support.

Fuzzy math about missing students means the enrollment numbers could be even worse than suspected. A flood of late preschoolers in the fall could skew the next round of information as well.
90 Day Fiance alum Ashley Martson is 'single and ready to mingle' now that her 'death sentence of a marriage' to estranged husband Jay Smith is officially over.

After several attempts, the Jamaican 23-year-old finally signed the legal documents and the divorce was finalized Thursday - according to Us Weekly.

'If you're noticing I look happier and a little bit lighter it could be the lipo or it could be that I have a ton of baggage off my shoulders,' the 34-year-old reality star - who boasts 433K Instagram/TikTok followers - wrote on March 5.

Free woman: 90 Day Fiance alum Ashley Martson is 'single and ready to mingle' now that her 'death sentence of a marriage' to estranged husband Jay Smith is officially over

It's over: After several attempts, the Jamaican 23-year-old (R) reportedly signed the legal documents and the divorce was finalized Thursday

'Just waiting on the decree! This bi*** is single and ready to mingle. Boy is this divorce party gonna be fun!'

Smith did not comment on the divorce, but he did perform a victory dance in his Instastory Wednesday at his York, PA shop - Jay Skinz Tattoo.

Ashley previously filed for divorce from Jay (born Conroy St. Christopher Smith) in January 2019 and again on April 2019.

The on/off couple famously eloped in Las Vegas in 2018 just six months after Martson met the tattoo artist in Jamaica during the sixth season of TLC's 90 Day Fiance.

The 34-year-old reality star wrote on March 5: 'If you're noticing I look happier and a little bit lighter it could be the lipo or it could be that I have a ton of baggage off my shoulders...This bi*** is single and ready to mingle. Boy is this divorce party gonna be fun!'

Mirror selfie: Smith did not comment on the divorce, but he did perform a victory dance in his Instastory Wednesday at his York, PA shop - Jay Skinz Tattoo

Happier times: Ashley previously filed for divorce from Jay (born Conroy St. Christopher Smith) in January 2019 and again on April 2019

Regret: The on/off couple famously eloped in Las Vegas in 2018 just six months after Martson met the tattoo artist in Jamaica during the sixth season of TLC's 90 Day Fiance

The second time the Pennsylvania-born blonde filed for divorce from Smith she was granted a restraining order of protection, which he violated and promptly was arrested.

Ashley dropped the OAP in July 2019 and they got back together in March (just as the coronavirus was taking over), but they separated for good by September.

Martson plans on starting a non-profit organization for women and focusing on raising her son and daughter from a prior relationship.
Centenarian Brij Prakash Gupta, who was born a year after the end of the deadly Spanish Flu, received his first shot of COVID-19 vaccine in Delhi on Wednesday, his son said.

Gupta, now 107, stepped out of his home in south Delhi "for the first time since March 20, last year" to get his Covishield jab, son Vimal Gupta said, adding his father is doing fine.

"My father was born on November 26, 1920 in Delhi. He had worked as a manager in a bank in Delhi. Since, the bank's office was located in old Delhi, and there was communal violence during the Partition time, he resigned from the bank service and started his own business after that," he said.

Vimal Gupta, a resident of Karol Bagh, and himself a businessman, said, he and his wife got vaccinated, a few days ago, and his father received his first jab at BLK Hospital here.

"He is the oldest person to have been vaccinated till date at BLK Hospital," a spokesperson of the facility said.

Vimal Gupta, 65, said he, his wife and his son had contracted COVID-19 infection last year, and "now, we are all fine".

"My grandfather was Shiamlal Gupta, a civil engineer in the then Public Works Department of the government. He was part of the team that built the Parliament House building and the India Gate in 1920s. He died in the 1940s," he said.

On March 15, Kewal Krishan, who was just five years old during the deadly Spanish Flu of 1918 and later became part of the drafting committee of the Constituent Assembly of India, received his first shot of COVID-19 vaccine at a private facility here.

Krishan, now 107, had also stepped out of his home in south Delhi "for the first time since the lockdown was imposed late March in 2020" to get his Covishield jab, his son Anil Krishna had told PTI.

Tulsi Das Chawla, who was born a few months before the outbreak of the Spanish Flu, had received his first shot of COVID-19 vaccine at a private facility here on March 5.

Chawla,104, was given a dose of Covishield at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital and he had not exhibited any adverse effects on that day.

(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.)
I am truly honored and consider it a privilege to be re-appointed for a seventh term. I am grateful to be able to give back to the profession that has changed my life for the better over the last 25 years, both personally and professionally, Witkowski commented.

The Stogsdill Law Firm, P.C., a Wheaton-based family law practice, is proud to announce that its firm administrator, Justine A. Witkowski, has been re-appointed to the Illinois Supreme Courts Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission (ARDC) Hearing Board for 2021.

As a panel member of the ARDC Hearing Board, Justine will promote the organizations mission of advancing and protecting the integrity of the legal profession at the direction of the Supreme Court for a term extending through 2022. The ARDC and its leaders achieve these goals through attorney registration, education, investigation, prosecution, and remedial action.

Witkowski resumes her position on the Hearing Board where she will sit on a Three-Judge Panel as the non-attorney member presiding over the hearings of disciplinary, disability, and reinstatement cases of attorneys registered to practice law in the State of Illinois.

Justine has been with The Stogsdill Law Firm, P.C. for nearly 25 years, beginning her career as the office receptionist. She earned her paralegal certificate from MacCormac College in 1997 and was soon promoted to firm administrator. As one of the firms certified paralegals, Justine provides backup legal support to the attorneys and staff by drafting legal documents and conducting legal research on behalf of their clients.

Justine is also responsible for managing the administrative operations of the firm. She evaluates and maintains the firms operating and information systems and oversees all of the firms finances. In addition, Justine negotiates and executes all contracts on behalf of the firm and works to build and maintain long-lasting relationships with both clients and business associates throughout DuPage County and the surrounding areas. She is responsible for evaluating, managing, and supervising all staff members of the firm on a daily basis.

I am truly honored and consider it a privilege to be re-appointed for a seventh term. I am grateful to be able to give back to the profession that has changed my life for the better over the last 25 years, both personally and professionally, Witkowski commented.

About The Stogsdill Law Firm, P.C.

The Stogsdill Law Firm, P.C. has provided high-quality family law counsel and representation for over 40 years in DuPage, Cook, DeKalb, Kendall, and Will Counties and throughout Northern Illinois. Their accomplished attorneys have more than 110 years of combined legal experience. As one of the largest family law firms in DuPage County, they continue to offer the personalized legal services of a smaller boutique law firm. Their skilled legal team is available to clients 24/7, and they maintain close communication during legal proceedings.

To learn more, visit http://www.stogsdilllaw.com or call 630-462-9500 to schedule a consultation.


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Market Research Future Published a Half Cooked Research Global Sulfuric Acid Market Research Report - Forecast to 2022 - Market Analysis, Scope, Stake, Progress, Trends and Forecast up to 2022.

Sulfuric Acid Market  Market Overview

Sulfuric acid is a mineral acid and is one of the largest volume industrial chemical produced across the globe. Fertilizer production, especially phosphate fertilizer from wet-process sulphuric acid, is the major end use market fort sulfuric acid. The major application area of sulphuric acid covers fertilizers, chemical manufacturing, refinery, textile, pulp & paper manufacturing, metal processing and others.

Agricultural economies holds the greater importance in this market, as fertilizer production considered as a key focused area for the consumption of sulpfuric acid. Increasing demand for fertilizer to attain the higher agriculture yield had a significant impact on this market over the past few years and set its uplifted usage in the coming years. China, alone acquired almost half of the global market in terms of sulphuric acid production resulting into domination of Asia Pacific over the global market. In addition to this, fertilizer consumption of India represents massive number on account of presence of large agriculture base and is driving the demand for sulphuric acid. Apart from the, automotive industry expected to provide higher gains to key industry players in this market during the forecast period. This is due to use of sulfuric acid in the automotive batteries which has triggered automotive application of sulfuric acid. However, volatility in the raw material prices and growing consumption of phosphate based fertilizer limited the growth scope of this market.

Free Sample of This Report @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/2037

Sulfuric Acid Market- Competitive Landscape

Global Sulfuric Acid market is highly concentrated as well fairly competitive in nature. The key industry participants operating in this market are Agrium, Akzo Nobel, Bayer, BP, Chevron, Cytec Industries, Dupont, Evonik Industries, Honeywell and Solvay. The major companies in this market are seen adopting collective market strategies to such as mergers, acquisition and joint-ventures in order to consolidate their product portfolio and to strengthen their market presence. Several production capacity expansion has also witnessed across the various developed markets to strengthen market penetration into emerging markets and exploit untapped markets. The overall effect of market competition observed in global sulphuric acid market is observed as high and is expected to get even higher due consistent increase in the production activities.

Industry/ Innovation/ Related News:

May 18, 2017- Yidu Xingfa Chemical and DuPont tied in an agreement for an engineering and technology license for a 3,600 Mtpd MECS MAX3 sulfuric acid plant. The collective effort has taken to build one of the largest sulfuric acid plant in China in order to cater the ongoing demand. Xingfa is expanding its existing site, located in the Hubei province near Yichang city, with the aim of roughly doubling the phosphate fertilizer capacity. The new MECS MAX3 sulfuric acid plant will process 1.2 MMtpy of sulfuric acid, as well as support the production of an additional 400,000 tonnes/yr of phosphoric acid, 400,000 tonnes/yr DAP and 35,000 tonnes/yr of potassium phosphate monobasic. The overall expansion activity expected gain market effectiveness while bridging the demand supply gap of sulfuric acid.

October 10, 2017- Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Ltd and Jordanian Phosphate Mines Company has formed joint venture to build largest sulfuric acid plant in India. The agreement has undertaken by investing overall amount of USD 860 million. The plant will come as a huge relief to Indias agricultural sector requirements in view of meagre availability of phosphates in India. Phosphoric acid produced at the plant will be exported to the Kandla port in Gujarat from Jordans Aqaba port, which is close to the location of the plant.

November, 2017- Leading chemical industry player BASF has launched new sulfuric acid catalyst. BASF has introduced the new sulphuric acid catalyst O4115 Quattro into the market. The new, cesium-based catalyst is unique due to its geometrical shape  a combination of four strands  leading to a 30 percent greater catalytic surface area compared to conventional sulphuric acid catalysts. The newly launched catalyst has 30 % greater catalytic surface area and helps to improve performance during the sulfuric acid production.

August 31, 2016- Jacobs Engineering Group Inc, Acquires BAYQIK Sulfuric Acid Converter Technology from Bayer AG. The company has acquired patented technology from Bayer AG, under the term of agreement the overall technology shift includes transfer of relevant Bayer technical, commercial and market information to Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. BAYQIK technology enables more efficient conversion of process gas with high sulphur dioxide concentrations. Therefore, it altogether expected to provide growth offerings in the Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. growth offering.

Browse Related Reports @

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/drone-transponder-market-is-projected-to-account-for-usd-2998-million-by-2024-2021-01-19

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/counter-uas-market-is-projected-to-account-for-usd-22351-million-by-2024-2021-01-19

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/aerospace-3d-printing-market-size-growth-latest-application-share-recent-trends-and-better-investment-opportunities-by-forecast-to-2026-2021-01-19

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/airborne-satcom-market-size-growth-latest-application-share-recent-trends-and-better-investment-opportunities-by-forecast-to-2026-2021-01-19

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/weapon-mounts-market-size-growth-latest-application-share-recent-trends-and-better-investment-opportunities-by-forecast-to-2026-2021-01-19
LANSING, MI - About 1.97 million Michigan residents have been fully vaccinated, but just 4.2% of them are Black, according to figures from the Department of Health and Human Services.

Black Michiganders make up more than 14% of the states population. Asian Americans, who make up about 3.4% of the population, represent only 1.28% of Michiganders who have been fully vaccinated, according to state data - which isnt entirely complete.

Racial disparity in vaccination rates appears to be an issue in the state, but theres another problem: About 388,000 fully vaccinated residents didnt identify their race, so 34% of Michigans vaccination data by race is marked as unknown.

Michigan health officials and Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist have acknowledged the disparity and the incomplete data and have been working to close both gaps.

Gilchrist, chair of the COVID-19 Task Force on Racial Disparities, said theres a lot of work to do toward racial equity in vaccination in Michigan and nationwide. The formation of the Task Force stemmed from statistics that showed the COVID-19 pandemic had disproportionate impact on minority communities in case numbers, deaths, unemployment and more.

Were trying this because we know this is a national problem, he said. The CDC and other states released data showing this is a challenge, and were trying to solve it in Michigan with things like the (Social Vulnerability Index). As we get more supply, well be able to ramp up the distribution to minority communities in particular.

Michigans distribution methods for the vaccine have been based on the index, which was developed by the CDC in the 1970s. The allocation formula combines 15 U.S. census variables into a tool that helps local officials identify communities that may need support before, during or after disasters. Its made up of indicators including socioeconomic status, household composition, disability, minority status, language spoken, housing type and transportation access.

The index will continue to guide Michigans vaccine distribution, said MDHHS spokeswoman Lynn Sutfin, even as vaccines become available to all residents by April 5.

We continue to use SVI in allocating vaccine to ensure the most vulnerable Michiganders can access the vaccine, she told MLive on March 16.

While some Republican state lawmakers have argued the index unfairly prioritizes vaccine administration in Detroit over Northern Michigan, state statistics indicate the opposite trend. For example, Grand Traverse County has had about 51% of its residents receive at least one vaccine dose, per the MDHHS database, versus just 16% of Detroits population.

In the more rural Marquette County, that number is 44.9%.

Related: Michigan isnt reporting COVID-19 vaccination data by race, but initial reports suggest disparity

Gilchrist said that factors in the index outside of minority status could be contributing to the disparity, as Northern Michigan and Upper Peninsula counties saw high case and death numbers per capita. The Upper Peninsula has three of Michigans top-five counties in cases and deaths per capita.

The Social Vulnerability Index takes into account a number of factors that, in this case, have led to a number of issues in communities that have been harder hit or more susceptible to severe experiences of this virus, he said. Its important that we recognize that in places where the virus is spreading... we prioritize inoculation.

He added that state government could tweak its strategy to weigh factors such as race or socioeconomic level more heavily to close racial gaps. The more prominent equity initiatives in Michigan are state-sponsored vaccine clinics that specifically target vulnerable populations.

The biggest example is opening up Ford Field in Detroit as a clinic on March 24. The goal at the Detroit Lions stadium is to vaccinate 6,000 southeast Michigan residents a day through mid-May, according to Gilchrists office.

The Biden Administration worked closely with our office to secure this community vaccination site in southeast Michigan based on CDC guidance that prioritizes the most vulnerable Michiganders, according to the statement. The community vaccine site adds 6,000 extra vaccine doses per day to our allocations for eight weeks, which will propel us closer to our goal of equitably distributing the vaccine and getting 70% of Michiganders ages 16 and older vaccinated as quickly as possible.

Additionally, the state established a vaccine pilot program that delivered 35,800 doses to 22 entities across the state to improve access in vulnerable areas.

Read more: State to release 35,800 COVID-19 vaccine doses to 22 entities for more equitable distribution

Theres a high demand and need for the COVID-19 vaccine in every county in Michigan, Gilcrhist said

Filling in the unknown

In order to track vaccine information, the state utilized the Michigan Care Improvement Registry (MCIR). However, collection of vaccine data by race had a massive flaw: there was no option to submit race and ethnicity data into the registry, according to Sutfin.

In the meantime, the database relied on electronic medical records from a vaccine recipients previous immunizations. According to a February 2021 study published in an American Medical Association journal, vaccine administrators often fall short on reporting data by race or ethnicity.

After discovering the problem in the middle of the states vaccine rollout, MDHHS fixed the registry to allow staff to individually submit a vaccine recipients race or ethnicity, Sutfin said.

The database collects and consolidates immunization information from multiple providers into a comprehensive immunization record allowing providers to view up-to-date patient immunization history. Currently, 85% of the race and ethnicity data being reported to MCIR comes from electronic medical records.

Providing complete and accurate data about COVID-19 vaccinations in Michigan is high priority for MDHHS, Sutfin said in a statement. To help improve the information included, MCIR regional staff are working with immunizations providers to encourage them to submit race data for all vaccines they administer.

Filling the information gap will be vital in guiding Michigans efforts toward distributing the vaccine equitably, said Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, chief medical officer for MDHHS.

We urge Michiganders to fill out race data questions on forms when they get their vaccine, said Khaldun in a Feb. 23 statement. Knowing this information helps guide the states strategy and allows us to address any gaps as we move forward getting Michiganders protected from the virus.

Going forward, Gilchrist emphasized two keys to success in the states vaccine strategy. The first is increasing supply, as he noted talks with the Biden administration helped deliver about a half-million doses to the state last week.

The other is staying innovative and dexterous in navigating the racial equity issue.

For the Black community, for example, that questions about the vaccine come with broader questions about health disparities in the health care system that are current and not necessarily historical, he said. Weve worked during this pandemic to show the state of Michigan is responsive to racial disparities.

We want to show that we care, that we address them and that we have a record of doing so.

Read more from MLive:

What you need to know about COVID-19 variant first identified in South Africa and now in Michigan

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
America has never taken responsibility for spraying Agent Orange, a herbicide laced with one of the most toxic substances ever created, over Laos during the Vietnam War. But generations of ethnic minorities have endured the consequences. The Times Magazine looked at one of the last untold stories of the American war in Southeast Asia.

ARTS AND IDEAS

Europes vaccination mess

Across most of the European Union, vaccine rollout has been slow, and new cases are surging. Europe  the first place where the coronavirus caused widespread death  is facing the prospect of being one of the last places to emerge from its grip.

Why has Europe done so poorly? There are three main reasons.

1. Too much bureaucracy

While the U.S. and other countries rushed to sign agreements with vaccine makers, the E.U. first tried to make sure all 27 of its member countries agreed on how to approach the negotiations.

The result was slower regulatory approval of the vaccines and delayed agreements to buy doses, forcing Europe to wait in line behind countries that moved faster.

2. Penny-wise and pound-foolish

Europe put a big emphasis on negotiating a low price for vaccine doses. Israeli officials, by contrast, were willing to pay a premium to receive doses quickly. Israel has paid around $25 per Pfizer dose, and the U.S. pays about $20 per dose. The E.U. pays $15 to $19.

The discounted price became another reason Europe had to wait behind other countries. Even in purely economic terms, the trade-off will probably be a bad one: Each $1 saved per vaccine dose might ultimately add up to $1 billion  a rounding error in a trading bloc with a nearly $20 trillion annual economic output. A single additional lockdown, like the one Italy announced this week, could wipe out any savings.
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In the first round of U.S.-Israel strategic talks on Iran last week, senior national security and foreign policy officials laid down all they know about Iran's nuclear program, three senior Israeli officials familiar with the talks tell me.

Why it matters: Amid President Bidens push for diplomatic reengagement with Iran, the U.S.-Israel strategic dialogue is intended to hash out differences in approach and coordinate on the path forward.

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Israels first objective in the March 11 meeting was to arrive at a common baseline with the U.S. when it comes to intelligence on Iran.

As it happens, the intelligence pictures both sides presented about recent developments in Iran's nuclear program were almost identical.

We are on the same page on the intelligence. There are small nuances but overall, they see data the same way. It was very positive, but it is only the beginning of a process. It will be a rollercoaster," a senior Israeli official told me.

The meeting was led by White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan and his Israeli counterpart, Meir Ben-Shabbat. The meeting was held over a secure videoconferencing system.

The meeting included senior officials from the CIA, Pentagon, National Security Council, State Department and other agencies on the U.S. side; and the Mossad intelligence agency, military intelligence, Atomic Energy Committee, Foreign Ministry and Ministry of Defense on the Israeli side.

The forum began during the Obama presidency, when its existence was top secret, and continued under Trump, when the focus was on coordinating "maximum pressure" on Iran.

Sullivan proposed that the forum be resumed under Biden, who has promised to coordinate closely with Israel while pursuing the revival of the 2015 nuclear deal  which is completely at odds with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's position.

Behind the scenes: Israeli officials tell me they were satisfied by the discussions and noted that Sullivan and his team stressed the importance of preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon in the long term.

Story continues

Sullivan promised that the U.S. would be transparent with Israel about its decisions on Iran, but expects the same level of transparency in return, the Israeli officials say.

Sullivan and his team were candid about the dilemmas they face in seeking diplomacy with Iran and the difficulties of engaging with the Iranians, the Israeli officials say.

Between the lines: Israeli officials say they are playing for time, hoping the Iranians will continue to reject U.S. proposals for engagement.

They hope that every day that passes with U.S. sanctions in place will make it more likely that the Iranians blink first and agree to make concessions before the U.S. lifts sanctions.

Whats next: One of the decisions that came from the meeting was to establish a special joint team that will focus on sharing intelligence on Irans nuclear program.

The Israeli officials said a second meeting of the strategic forum will take place in the coming weeks and will focus on Irans malign activities in the Middle East and its missile program.

Worth noting: The White House declined to comment beyond the official readout.

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WASHINGTON  A surge of migrants on the Southwest border has the Biden administration on the defensive, with the head of Homeland Security acknowledging the depth of the problem Tuesday but insisting its under control and that he wont revive a Trump-era practice of immediately expelling teens and children.

The number of migrants being stopped at the U.S.-Mexico border has been rising steadily since last April, and the administration is still rapidly expelling most single adults and families under a public health order issued by President Donald Trump at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. But it is allowing teens and children to stay, at least temporarily, and they have been coming in ever larger numbers.

More than 4,000 migrant children were being held by the Border Patrol custody as of Sunday, including at least 3,000 in custody longer than the 72-hour limit set by a court order, according to a U.S. official. The agency took in an additional 561 on Monday, twice the recent average, according to a second official. Both spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss figures not yet publicly released.

It has put President Joe Biden in a difficult spot, blasted by Republicans for what they view as encouragement to illegal border crossers and by some Democrats over the prolonged detention of minors. Its also a challenge to his effort to overhaul the broader Trump policies that sought to curtail both legal and illegal immigration.

The situation at the southwest border is difficult, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas conceded Tuesday in his most extensive remarks to date on the subject. We are working around the clock to manage it and we, will continue to do so. That is our job.

The number of migrants attempting to cross the border is at the highest level since March 2019, with Mayorkas warning that it is on pace to hit a 20-year peak for the year.

The number of children crossing by themselves, mostly from Central America, appears to be surging in particular in the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas. The Border Patrol took in 280 there alone on Monday.

The total of 561 unaccompanied minors from Monday offers a snapshot of how quickly conditions have changed along the border. That was up 60% from the daily average in February, one of the officials said. In May 2019, during the last surge, the one-day peak was 370 teens and children.

Children and teens crossing by themselves rose 60% from this January to more than 9,400 in February, according to the most recent statistics released publicly by U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

The Health and Human Services Department plans to open shelter facilities at Moffett Federal Airfield near San Francisco and in Pecos, Texas to handle the flow. It is also looking to expand a facility in Donna, Texas, in the Rio Grande Valley, to hold 2,000.

Also, the Dallas Convention Center is scheduled to begin holding children as early as Wednesday with plans to accommodate up to 3,000. Another makeshift holding center in Midland, Texas, that opened last weekend for 700 children had 485 on Monday.

Some of the increase in adults is due to people who are repeatedly caught after being expelled under the public health order issued last year to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. Other factors include economic upheaval caused by the pandemic and recent hurricanes that worsened living conditions in Central America. Officials say its also likely that smugglers have encouraged people to try to cross under the new administration.

Mayorkas said the a surge in the number of children is a challenge for the Border Patrol and other agencies amid the coronavirus pandemic. But he rejected a Trump-era policy of sending them immediately back to Mexico or other countries.

They are vulnerable children and we have ended the prior administrations practice of expelling them, Mayorkas said.

Though there have been previous migrant surges, including under Trump, Republicans in Congress say that Bidens support for new immigration legislation and his decision to allow people to make legal asylum claims have become a magnet for migrants.

At a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing Tuesday, Sen. Jim Inhofe held up a photo of a small crowd of demonstrators in Tijuana, Mexico, wearing matching T-shirts with the words Biden, Please Let us in that circulated widely on social media in recent days.

Theyre all coming across the border, theyre coming fast, and theyre wearing Biden T-shirts, said the Oklahoma Republican.

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy led a delegation of a dozen Republican lawmakers on Monday to the border in Texas and blamed the Biden administration for driving an increase in migrants by actions that include supporting legislation in Congress that would provide a path to citizenship for millions of undocumented people now in the country and halting border wall construction.

The sad part about all of this is it didnt have to happen. This crisis was created by the presidential policies of this new administration, McCarthy said.

Trump, however, also confronted a similar surge in 2019 even as he rushed to expand the border wall system along the border and forced people seeking asylum to do so in Central America or remain in Mexico. A year earlier he forcibly separated migrant children from their families as part of a zero-tolerance campaign that became one of the most significant political challenges of his administration.

The Biden administration is allowing migrants who are under 18 years old and cross by themselves to remain in the country while the government decides whether they have a legal claim to residency, either under asylum law or for some other reason.

Mayorkas noted that 80% of the minors, most of whom are from the three Northern Triangle countries of Central America, have relatives in the U.S. and 40% have a parent. These are children being reunited with their families who will care for them, he said.

The Biden administration last week ended a Trump policy that made relatives reluctant to contact HHS to retrieve children for fear of being deported themselves.

Besides setting up new temporary facilities to house migrant children, it is also backing aid to Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador to try to stem the flow of migrants at the source.

Mayorkas took swipes at the previous administration for dismantling an asylum system that would have enabled a more orderly immigration system, cutting aid to Central America and failing to vaccinate Border Patrol agents.

Also, he said the Biden administration is working to make the asylum process shorter and to make it possible to petition from an applicants home country rather than make a dangerous and uncertain journey. We have no illusions about how hard it is, he said, and we know it will take time.

___

Ben Fox and Elliot Spagat of The Associated Press wrote this story. AP writers Ron Nixon and Colleen Long contributed to this report. Spagat reported from San Diego.
Sandpiper Hospitality  the Virginia-based hotel management experts in the extended-stay segment  is pleased to announce that the new WoodSpring Suites Atlanta  Newnan is now open and enjoying high occupancy rates that began on the first night.

The property is owned by Atlantas Turnstone Group.

With rates starting at $392 per week, the modern new WoodSpring Suites Atlanta - Newnan offers 125 suites all featuring a full kitchen, a flat-screen TV and a workspace. Amenities at the pet-friendly hotel include a fitness center, free Wi-Fi and guest laundry and vending machines. The hotel is located close to the Piedmont Newnan Hospital and Cancer Treatment Centers of America, The Ashley Park shopping center and Historic Downtown Newnan Square. For more information or to make a reservation, please visit http://www.woodspring.com.

This is the first WoodSpring Suites development for the Turnstone Group, a highly-disciplined, value driven real estate investment and development firm based in Atlanta with a national footprint.

We are thrilled to have our first WoodSpring Suites property now open and look forward to working with Sandpiper Hospitality as we continue to grow our extended stay hospitality holdings, said Turnstone Group Chief Executive Officer Chip Johnson. We expect this to be the first of many.

To be mindful of todays pandemic environment, the hotel will be hosting a Virtual Grand Opening this spring where attendees can experience the hotel online with an immersive video presentation.

With a fantastic location in a rapidly growing Atlanta suburb, this gorgeous new hotel has already been seeing very high occupancy rates, said Sandpiper Hospitality President & CEO Jim Darter. Sandpiper is dedicated to unlocking short-term growth while delivering long-term value. We are excited about this new partnership with Turnstone Group and look forward to continuing to work with them in additional markets.

Approved by Marriott International, IHG Hotels & Resorts, Choice Hotels and Extended Stay America to manage their select-service and extended stay brands, Sandpiper Hospitality currently has a portfolio of 44 managed hotels in 12 different states.

Last month, Sandpiper opened a new WoodSpring Suites Charlotte  University Research Park in North Carolina with Liberty Investment Properties, Inc.

Sandpiper Hospitality has big plans for further expansion in the extended stay hotel segment and into additional market tiers, including additional new development properties and management projects in in Texas, Florida, Montana, Oregon, Nevada, Colorado, Minnesota, Maryland, North Carolina and Virginia. For more information, please visit http://www.sandpiperhospitality.com.

About Sandpiper Hospitality

Based in Richmond, Va., Sandpiper Hospitality turns operation into orchestration. A manager of 44 hotels, including 15 hotels for Sandpiper Lodging Trust, and 14 hotels for unaffiliated third-party clients, its deeply driven people work hard to make ownership easy. The fastest growing Top 100 hotel management company from 2018 to 2019, according to Hospitality Business, the Sandpiper Hospitality approach to finding solutions is agile, accountable and entrepreneurial. By translating its high standards into superior returns, unlocking short-term growth while delivering long-term value, and standing behind its owners priorities, Sandpiper Hospitality is an extended stay hotel manager that is grounded in expertise and elevated by flexibility . http://www.sandpiperhospitality.com

About Turnstone Group

Turnstone Group is a highly-disciplined, value driven real estate investment and development firm based in Atlanta, GA with a national footprint. Current areas of invest focus include the following: extended stay hospitality, outdoor hospitality, self-storage, and residential land. http://www.turnstonegroup.com
State-run (PNB) has set up a wholly-owned subsidiary to manage its credit card business, the bank said on Wednesday.

A wholly-owned subsidiary of the bank namely PNB Cards & Services Ltd has been incorporated on March 16, 2021, by the Registrar of Companies, Delhi, it said in a regulatory filing. The subsidiary will undertake the non-financial support services related to credit card business of the bank.

The authorised capital of the company is Rs 25 crore and the paid-up capital is Rs 15 crore, PNB said.

The number of outstanding credit cards at the end of December 2020 of PNB stood at over 4.3 crore (43,402,879), according to the RBI data.

The value of transactions through credit cards was Rs 137.55 crore (Rs 13,755 lakh) at the point of sale (PoS) and Rs 1.17 crore (Rs 117 lakh) at the ATMs during the month.

The number of transactions at PoS were 5,79,244 while at the ATMs the number of transactions through credit cards were 3,871 in December 2020.

PNB shares closed at Rs 38.30 apiece on BSE, down 3.77 per cent from the previous close.

(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.)
LONDON, March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Neudata, an alternative data research and SaaS technology platform, has launched its new legal and compliance intelligence product  Neudata Sentry  to help alternative data buyers reduce risk & delays, track market practices and increase the quality of their data compliance efforts.

The new software platform, which is now live, is comprised of several tools that asset managers can use to conduct up-front due diligence on vendors and to stay on top of industry best practices in a rapidly changing regulatory environment.

"Ensuring that alternative datasets are compliant with local, national and international regulations is a key hurdle for many asset managers," said Don D'Amico, Neudata's general counsel. "As alternative data usage becomes more mature within the financial services space, we expect regulators to pay more attention to how asset managers conduct diligence checks on datasets and vet vendors for a variety of different risks."

"These risks will continue to evolve, often outside of geographic areas where our clients may conduct business," he added.

The Neudata Sentry platform is comprised of several tools that asset managers can use to reduce risk within their compliance process and speed up vendor on-boarding efforts, including:

A standardised due diligence questionnaire (DDQ) collection system, featuring:

daily, passive DDQ intake from Neudata's highly engaged universe of vendors, and



a-la-carte DDQ gathering done on-demand, with each DDQ stored in Neudata's vault for easy client access and periodic vendor updates

Automated risk alerts designed by Neudata's in-house attorney, with the ongoing input of the buy-side community

Consolidated market feedback via research reports and case-study articles on the issues presented by new and popular data vendors (to document or supplement the diligence process)

Guides to current industry best practices for emerging areas of alternative data law, including privacy, web-scraping, and permanency-risk mitigation techniques

Access to legal & compliance masterclass events and roundtables, where participants meet with industry peers to share their experiences and feedback

Through the use of these tools, alternative data users have a better chance of understanding the regulatory risks that go into using alternative data, according to Neudata's CEO Rado Lipus. "The Neudata Sentry product combines Neudata's expert alternative data market analysis with a software platform that gives users the tools they need to mitigate risk in the midst of a changing regulatory landscape for alternative data."

To arrange a product demo of Neudata Sentry, contact [email protected].

About Neudata

Neudata is the industry's only objective and neutral data scouting FinTech firm and is dedicated to finding alpha-generating alternative data for the world's leading asset managers, private equity/venture capital firms and corporations.

Neudata's Software as a Service (SaaS) catalogue of 5000+ dataset reports provides tools for users to easily search, source, manage, and compare data, while leveraging real-time insights from its team of expert research analysts based in London, New York and Shanghai.

Its core philosophy is simple  Neudata catalogues and assesses datasets based on over 100 unique factors & delivers metadata reports and advice for a fee. It doesn't buy data, sell data, or require revenue-shares or commissions from the data vendors that it recommends. That means users get unbiased intelligence that's tailored to their specific investment thesis.

Media Contact:

Sondra Campanelli,

Head of News and Marketing,

[email protected]

SOURCE Neudata
The may get more restrictive in exporting COVID-19 vaccines to safeguard essential jabs for its own citizens facing a third wave of the pandemic, the head of the bloc's executive said on Wednesday.

Ursula von der Leyen's announcement risks escalating tensions with the United Kingdom and the Unites Stated over their restrictive approach deliveries of vaccines to the 27-nation bloc.

She spoke as six EU countries complained to Brussels about reduced deliveries that are hampering the bloc's already troubled inoculation campaign and could stall plans to restart travel this summer and support the battered tourism sector.

The EU faces an acute shortage of COVID-19 jabs due to reduced deliveries by AstraZeneca.

"We are in the crisis of the century," von der Leyen said as COVID-related deaths in the EU top 550,000 and less than a tenth of the bloc's population has been inoculated.

"If this situation does not change, we will have to reflect on how to make exports to vaccine-producing countries dependent on their level of openness," she said.

"We will reflect on whether exports to countries who have higher vaccination rates than us are still proportionate."

The sluggish inoculation campaign threatens plans announced by the Commission to launch "green digital certificate" that would collate information on vaccinations, tests and COVID recovery to let travellers cross borders freely again.

Southern EU countries reliant on tourism and other proponents of the new COVID-19 certificate hope it would win final approvals in June and go online just in time for the peak season. But countries including France, Belgium and Germany have voiced scepticism.

EU countries will be under pressure to agree a common position swiftly for their 450 million people. The task is further complicated by uncertainty over whether those inoculated can transmit the virus, and public scepticism about vaccines.

(Reporting by Gabriela Baczynska, Philip Blenkinsop, Francesco Guarascio, Sabine Siebold, Jan Strupczewski, Foo Yun Chee, Editing by John Chalmers)
New Delhi:

Wide-range protests erupted across Tamil Nadu a day after the suicide of Dalit student S Anitha, who fought against National Eligibility and Entrance Test (NEET), a common entrance exam for medical colleges in Supreme Court.

Around 1,500 protesters thronged the city of Chennai and shouted slogans against the E Palaniswami government in the state and the BJP at the centre. The protesters alleged the both state and centre government have failed to get an exemption from NEET for admissions in medical colleges.

The police have detained as much as 300 CPM workers for trying to block Chennai's busy Anna Salai road.

Chennai: Protest by Revolutionary Students and Youth Front (RSYF) members over the death #Anithaa; Protesters detained by Police. pic.twitter.com/JKwA3vtrmn  ANI (@ANI) September 2, 2017

Medical aspirant S Anitha commited suicide on Friday after her dream to become a doctor shattered as she could not get admission into a medical college. Anitha, a school topper had scored 1,176 marks out of 1,200 in her board exam but failed to perform well in the NEET.

Anitha was a Dalit and belonged to a very poor family of Tamil nadu's Ariyalur district. Her father is a daily wage labourer. After her death, shops in Ariyalur were shut on Saturday in protest.

Last Year, the Supreme Court had ordered that admissions in all the medical colleges across India will be decided through one common entrance exam NEET.

The students of Tamil Nadu protested the decision and requested the court to exempt the state from NEET as it was allegedly more suitable for CBSC schools.

However, the SC last year exempted Tamil Nadu from the NEET but refused to continue the exemption this year.

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
In July 2020 Patently Apple posted a report titled "Apple Denies a report that one of their Chinese Suppliers are using Uighur slave labor on Production Lines." Then in December 2020 we followed-up with a report titled "Report Claims that Apple has expelled OFilm from its iPhone 12 Camera Module Supply Chain for possible link to Slave Labor." The report noted that the U.S. Department of Commerce had early in July designated OFilm Group among a list of eleven Chinese companies that it accuses of taking part in human rights violations against the Uyghur people.

After a denial, "Apple Inc. has severed ties with Chinese component supplier Ofilm Group Co. over allegations its involved in a government program that transfers ethnic minorities from Xinjiang to other parts of the country for work, a person familiar with the matter says."

The Bloomberg report further stated that "Apple is thought to have terminated its contracts with Ofilm over the concerns a few months ago, the person said, asking not to be identified discussing a private matter.

It was unclear whether Apple -- which has drawn fire in the past for alleged rights violations within its massive Chinese-centered supply chain -- knows if the allegations about Ofilm are true. The worlds most valuable company has in recent years begun to clamp down on suppliers and in 2020 suspended iPhone-assembler Pegatron Corp. on suspicion of labor abuses. The issue of Chinas actions in Xinjiang is a particularly thorny one in the U.S., where its been likened to genocide.

China has been accused by the U.S. and other Western governments of detaining more than 1 million Muslim Uyghurs in camps in the far western Xinjiang region and pushing them into work programs. The U.S. government and lawmakers in Canada and the Netherlands have said Chinas actions constitute genocide. Washington has also banned cotton products from the region, and there have been some calls to boycott next years Winter Games in Beijing over the issue.

China has repeatedly denied the allegations, dismissing them as lies. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said at a regular briefing Wednesday in Beijing there was no truth to allegations of forced labor in Xinjiang. He decline to comment on Apple and Ofilm.

Kelsey Munro, a senior analyst at ASPIs International Cyber Policy Centre stated for the report that "Companies professing ethical manufacturing values have an obligation to invest resources in understanding their supply chains and ensuring theyre not contributing, however indirectly, to this state-backed form of coerced labor." For more on this, read the full Bloomberg report on Yahoo! News Canada.

Other reports on this issue

01: China sells Muslim minority workers to Factories making U.S. Products for Apple, Nike, Adidas and others

02: The Washington Post Claims that Apple is Lobbying against a U.S. Bill aimed at Stopping Forced Labor in China
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WASHINGTON  When Xavier Becerra takes over as President Bidens health and human services secretary, he wont just be confronting a pandemic. Hell also be responsible for the care of thousands of immigrant children.

Health and Human Services manages shelters for undocumented immigrant children who arrive in the U.S. by themselves. The California attorney general will take his post in the Cabinet amid a near-record surge of immigrant children coming to the southern border at a time when the shelter network is already near capacity and is constrained by the coronavirus pandemic.

Overseeing the response will be a massive logistical and political challenge for Becerra once the Senate confirms him, which is expected to happen this week. Republicans are already criticizing Biden for not denying entry to the children as former President Donald Trump did, and progressives are rebelling against any measures they see as reminiscent of Trumps anti-migrant policies.

Secretary Becerra will need to navigate a highly politicized context even while he tries to keep a focus on child well-being, said Maria Cancian, a former senior child welfare official with the agency and now dean of Georgetown Universitys public policy school. Sometimes people dont fully understand how difficult it is to establish a place that can take care of kids appropriately, and to find staff that can work with children who speak a variety of languages and parents who speak a variety of languages, and provide them with the care thats required.

The issue received no attention during Becerras confirmation hearings, and the administration did not make him available for an interview, but two senators did ask written questions about caring for unaccompanied immigrant minors.

Ensuring these childrens safety and well-being is both our legal duty and our moral obligation  I take both seriously, Becerra told Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., saying he was committed to ensuring children are released to safe homes as quickly as possible.

He told Republican Sen. John Cornyn of Texas that Health and Human Services seeks to be a good steward of taxpayer funds while still ensuring the system has enough space during waves of migration.

Last month, almost 10,000 immigrant children arrived at the southern border by themselves, the highest number of any month in the last three years besides May 2019. Not only is the influx straining the system, but the shelter network that normally has the capacity for roughly 13,000 migrant children is restricted by the pandemic. State and local regulations in parts of the U.S. require the facilities to operate below capacity.

The agency is also struggling to emerge from the shadow of the Trump administration, which in 2018 separated thousands of children from their parents at the border and placed them into Health and Human Services custody without clear plans to reunite them. Although most of those migrants have been released, the governments shelter network is largely associated in the public mind with that widely opposed policy  creating political complications for current efforts to house youths until a suitable home is found.

In addition to desperation in the Central American countries from which most of the children are traveling, the influx is due to pent-up demand after the Trump administration blocked the entry of children seeking asylum at the border last year and pushed them back into Mexico.

Some efforts are already under way to help the stretched system. The Biden administration ended a Trump administration policy of having the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency vet sponsors seeking to take in the children, often family members, which had a chilling effect on a largely undocumented population. It is also establishing temporary facilities and working to identify new shelter space that can accommodate the larger numbers.

When he comes in, Becerra will have to determine which decisions to make personally and which to leave to career staff and leaders in his department.

In a situation like this, theres strong reason to want to be sure that the secretary is never surprised when a development occurs and is not reading about it for the first time in the newspapers, said Mark Greenberg, a senior fellow at the Migration Policy Institute and former child services official in the Obama administration.

Greenberg said the secretary plays an important coordination role within the administration as well as with partners like Congress, states, local governments and nongovernmental organizations.

None of the choices will be easy, Cecilia Munoz said, echoing Greenberg. Munoz led former President Barack Obamas Domestic Policy Council during the similar 2014 surge of child migrants. She had a leadership role on the Biden-Harris transition team, and Greenberg and Cancian both assisted the effort, but neither joined the administration.

Munoz said the secretary often needs to be directly involved in the decision on opening new facilities or steps that would speed the release of children from custody.

There are some very challenging judgment calls that need to be made because the options for shelter space are very limited, Munoz said. Theres just not a huge number of different kinds of places you can deploy for a shelter that will be appropriate for children. ... Youre balancing the need to move children out of those facilities quickly and reunite them with their families and the obligation to make sure you are putting them in settings where they are safe.

One such potential site is Moffett Field in Mountain View  an option that has already drawn local protests from activists who favor fewer restrictions on immigration.

Munoz, who worked with Becerra when he was in Congress, said he is well positioned for the challenge.

He understands the process well, he understands the needs of migrants well, and he has his compass really firmly set, which is really important because this is very challenging work, she said.

One of his first tasks will be convincing Americans that one of the most vulnerable groups of children in the world will be treated fairly and cared for.

This is a remarkably complex operation, and I think one of the challenges is that, for good reason, the American public has come to doubt whether officials have the best interests of children in mind because of some of the policies of the previous administration, said Cancian, the former child welfare official. Its a hard job. I have never worked on anything harder.

Tal Kopan is The San Francisco Chronicles Washington correspondent. Email: tal.kopan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @talkopan
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An eight-foot-tall security fence topped with concertina razor wire surrounds the U.S. Capitol and National Guard vehicles are parked inside the temporary perimeter in Washington, on March 16, 2021. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

House to Vote on Bills That Provide Citizenship Path to Illegal Immigrants

The Democrat-controlled House of Representatives is set to vote on two immigration bills that would provide a citizenship path for illegal immigrants and legal status for immigrant farmworkers.

House Democratic Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) told reporters that the House would take up the bills on March 18 after they cleared a procedural hurdle on March 16.

Neither bill was taken up in the Senate when it had a Republican majority. With Democrats now holding narrow control of the upper chamber, they hope to be able to attract some Republican support.

The American Dream and Promise Act would offer a pathway to citizenship to those who entered the country illegally as children and are currently living in the United States, also known as Dreamers. The same bill would also help immigrants in the country who received temporary migration protections. The bill is sponsored by Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-Calif.).

An estimated 4.4 million illegal immigrants could become eligible for permanent residency if the bill is passed, according to the Migration Policy Institute. In 2019, seven Republicans joined 230 Democrats in the House in voting for the bill.

The other immigration bill, the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, would provide illegal immigrant agricultural workers a path to legal status, and make the H-2A guestworker program more flexible for employers. The bill is sponsored by Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.) and has a Republican co-sponsor, Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-Wash.). It passed the House in 2019 with the support of 34 Republicans.

Hoyer said on March 16: These two bills are not the fix, but they are [a] fix to part of the problem. But we need to pass comprehensive immigration reform and were going to do so in the coming months.

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) wears a mask while speaking to reporters at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Jan. 11, 2021. (Stefani Reynolds/Getty Images)

Rep. Tom McClintock (R-Calif.), ranking member of the House Judiciary Sub-Committee on Immigration, said on March 16 that the two bills are implicitly promising the next generation [that] all they have to do is get here and their turn will come.

The two bills each address portions of a larger, radical immigration reform bill that Democrats formally introduced last month in both the House and the Senate with the support of President Joe Biden, the U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021.

This bill models closely Bidens sweeping proposal he sent to Congress on his first day in office. It would provide an eight-year pathway to U.S. citizenship for an estimated 11 million illegal immigrants in the country. Its lead sponsors are Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) and Rep. Linda Sanchez (D-Calif.).

The bill doesnt offer any enhanced border security, which past immigration negotiations have used as a way to win Republican votes. The bill would need the support of at least 10 Republicans in the Senate to pass.

Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), the Senates No. 2 Democrat, said on March 15 that he doesnt believe that the Biden-backed bill would have enough backing in either chamber. But he promised that the House would eventually pass a more far-reaching immigration reform plan.

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), one of the leading Republicans in past talks on immigration, said he believed bipartisan progress on immigration legislation would be much harder amid a surge in illegal immigrants at the U.S.Mexico border.

Why would you legalize anybody, sending another incentive to keep coming, until you stop the flow? he told a reporter on Capitol Hill. I think its going to be really hard to get a bipartisan bill put together on anything that has a legalization component until you stop the flow.

Almost No Border Security

Graham called the U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021 a non-starter, in part because it had almost no border security.

He said the piecemeal approach of the American Dream and Promise Act would need to include provisions to disincentivize illegal immigration.

Illegal border crossings hit more than 100,000 in Bidens first full month in office. Another 26,000 people evaded capture. The situation has sparked the reopening of shuttered border facilities to house a surge in unaccompanied children, and the designation of a convention center in Houston to hold up to 3,000 immigrant teenagers. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said on March 16 that the country is on pace to encounter more individuals on the southwest border than we have in the last 20 years.

Republicans say the surge in immigrants is due to Bidens reversal of former President Donald Trumps immigration and border policies, including halting border wall construction and reinstating catch and release, in which illegal immigrants are allowed into the country while waiting for their asylum claims to be heard.

Republicans also alleged cartels are taking advantage of the lax border policies by ferrying unaccompanied minors and other immigrants to the border.

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) told a reporter on Capitol Hill on March 16 that the Biden administration in effect, issued an invitation for unaccompanied children to come to this country.

That has resulted in an enormous surge of unaccompanied minors being handed over to the custody of human traffickers who are violent transnational criminals, who engage in physical abuse and sexual abuse of those kids, he said.

But Democrats say the influx is caused by pent-up demand that built because of Trumps restrictions.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said on March 14 that the incoming surge of migrant children was a humanitarian crisis that was exacerbated by immigration policies issued under Trump.

The Biden administration is trying to fix the broken system that was left to them by the Trump administration, she told reporters. The Biden administration will have a system, based on doing the best possible job, understanding this is a humanitarian crisis.

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) told reporters during a trip to the border on March 15 that the situation is a preventable human heartbreak that was enabled by the Biden administration.

Biden should travel to the border and talk to agents, McCarthy added.

Zachary Stieber, Samuel Allegri, and Reuters contributed to this report.
India Builds Border Infrastructure to Counter China

NEW DELHIIndia is constructing 57 roads, refurbishing 32 helipads, and developing 47 outposts and 12 staging camps for its ITBP (Indo-Tibetan Border Police) along its border with China. The country is also building a standalone road of critical significance along the border in Ladakh, the region at the northern tip of India where it has faced a tense standoff with the PLA since last year.

The Upper House of the Indian Parliament, Rajya Sabha, was informed on March 15 that Indias Ministry of Home Affairs has focused on border infrastructure in the fiscal year 2020-21, and has spent $297 million (2156.09 crores) in 2019-20 on various border projects reported The Hindu, a national daily.

This program covers many roads, foot tracks, and border outposts (BoPs), said the report presented by the government, according to which the country has already built 335 miles of roads along its border with China. The report comes at a time of a continuing tense border situation between India and China after the last years bloody conflict in Galwan, which was instigated over a border road project.

One of the reasons for the Galwan Valley clash was fast Indian progress on this road. This road will enable faster movement of troops and armored vehicles greatly irking China. Similarly, China is building the Karakoram Highway to secure its energy interests to completely avoid the South China Sea route, said Nikunj Deep Singh, in an analysis published by Observers Research Foundation in October when the two countries were engaged in an intense military stand-off.

The two countries continue to be engaged in a critical border standoff in the eastern Ladakh region. Despite the recent February disengagement from the northern and southern banks of the Pangong Tso (lake) after multiple high-level military talks, the two countries continue to build up their militaries in other areas like Depsang plains, Galwan, and Gogra-Hot Springs.

The confrontation with China in Ladakh has underlined the need for India to be prepared with all plans that include maintaining tight vigilance along the LAC, effective border patrol, ability to deploy its forces faster and with less costs, and to be able to provide all logistical assistance to these deployed forces. In this regard these projects will help achieving all these objectives, Bibhu Prasad Routray, a strategic analyst and the Director of Mantraya, a Goa-based think tank told The Epoch Times.

Indian army soldiers near Zojila mountain pass that connects Srinagar to the union territory of Ladakh, bordering China, on Nov. 26, 2020. (Tauseef Mustafa/AFP via Getty Images)

Border infrastructure will help India to counter the Chinese aggression and will serve Indias national security purpose, while also helping India to negotiate for peace on the Line of Actual control (LAC), the de-facto border with China, said Routray.

Development of border roads has been critical for India particularly in the northern regions, where towards the west the country shares a disputed border with Pakistan and towards the east, it shares a disputed border with China.

Indias primary threat is a two front war due to unconventional warfare by Pakistan and muscle flexing by China. Thus, in the northern part of India, there are military and para-military establishments at a stones throw away from each other. But without a strong border infrastructure, it all falls flat, said Singh.

China takes Indias development of border infrastructure as a cause for continuing border tensions, said Global Times, the Chinese state-run media in a report published late last year.

China opposes infrastructure building aimed at military contention in disputed border areas. Based on the consensus reached by the two sides recently, neither side should take any action that might complicate the situation at the border region, so that bilateral efforts to ease tension will not be undermined, said the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian last year.

A week before the report was released in Indias upper house on border roads and infrastructure, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi had in a news conference on March 7 called for the mending of relations between India and China after the tense border standoff, reported the Global Times.

The boundary dispute, an issue left from history, is not the whole story of the China-India relationship, Wang said. There has been no official response to Wangs statements from the Indian side.
New UK broadband provider Lit Fibre is launching its full-fibre broadband services in Corsham and Chippenham in Wiltshire.

Work to install the new 10 Gigabit capable fibre infrastructure is under way, with the service expected to go live from June 2021.

Once the service is up and running, Lit Fibre will offer 100Mbps, 500Mbps or 1Gig packages, with all offering equally fast download and upload speeds.

Were delighted to launch our services in Corsham and Chippenham. The past year has clearly demonstrated the importance of having a robust home internet connection in our digital world," said Lit Fibre CEO Tom Williams, commenting on the deployment.



"With more people using their home broadband for work, school, video streaming, gaming, and other bandwidth intensive applications, the pressure on copper-based services is only increasing. We recognise that consistent speeds, a reliable connection and excellent customer service are all important factors for todays consumer. By switching to a full-fibre network, consumers can enjoy an enhanced experience, without compromise.
(SAUK CENTRE, MN) Ivys Legacy Foundation is celebrating its second year of helping families who have experienced the tragedy of losing a child or are experiencing childhood illness.

Its a cause that has deep roots and is growing right here in Central Minnesota. Joe Korkowski has more on the story

There is a great opportunity to help Ivys Legacy Foundation this weekend. They are holding their HUGE Annual Garage Sale at the Sauk Centre Civic Arena on Saturday, March 26th from 8:00am to 1:00pm.

On Friday April 8th they will hold their 50/50 raffle. Last years winner took home $14,000.

If youd like to like more information on the foundation and other upcoming events, go to their website at http://www.ivyslegacyfoundation.org/

Do you know a family who may qualify for help from Ivy's Legacy Foundation? We invite you to complete this Nomination Form and mail it to:

Ivy's Legacy Foundation PO Box 92 Sauk Centre MN 56378

Our mission - providing comfort and support to babies and families in need.

Nicki Vogt is President of Ivys Legacy Foundation. She founded the group, formerly Team Ivy Rose, in 2009 after her daughter, Ivy Rose, was stillborn. She honors Ivys memory through her passion for helping people and raising both funds and awareness to prevent infant loss. For families who have experienced the tragedy of a loss or a very sick child, she hopes to make the hard times easier through offering comfort and support.

She lives in Sauk Centre, MN with her husband, Aaron. They have four children: Pyper, 8; Ivy, who would be 7; Afton, 6; and Abe, 4.

Ivy would have been 7 this March 18th. Ivy, a plant that continues to grow and stretch.

The response from the communityso positivethe outreach really increased since they branched off the March of Dimes.

Nickis favorite part of leading Ivys Legacy Foundation is helping others who really need it as well as spending time with the amazing people of the organization and the community

Started in 2009.evolved into Ivys Legacy Foundation in January 2015

Give a portion of their proceeds to March of Dimes, the rest goes to families and causes locally that they believe in.
Aluminium Bahrain (Alba), the worlds largest aluminium smelter ex-China, held its annual general meeting (AGM) on Thursday (March 11)  its first AGM meeting through virtual platforms.

The AGM approved the non-distribution of cash dividends to shareholders and transfer BD9,755,000 - the net profit for the year-ended December 31, 2020, to retained earnings, said a statement.

Approvals were also given to the recommendation of the Board of Directors total remuneration of BD210,000 for the year-ended December 31, 2020 and subject to the approval of the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Tourism.

The AGM apporved the minutes of the previous Annual General Meeting which was held on March 8, 2020. The Report of the Board of Directors for the year-ended December 31, 2020 was approved while the External Auditors Report for the Financial Statements for the year was reviewed.

Approval was given to SICO to provide Market-Making services by utilising at any given time a maximum of 3% of Albas issued share capital for a 3-year period and subject to the approval of the Central Bank of Bahrain.

Commenting on this occasion, the Chairman of Alba's Board of Directors, Shaikh Daij Bin Salman Bin Daij Al Khalifa said: Covid-19 pandemic tested us in every way without exception and the challenges we went through in 2020 have unlocked Albas potential and true strength. We learnt a lot and we established many firsts  all thanks to the agility of our people.

As we progress in 2021, we set our objectives for Alba to be at the forefront of the Aluminium industry all the while drive long-term growth for our shareholders, he said.  TradeArabia News Servcie
"The Bachelorette" couple JoJo Fletcher and Jordan Rodgers will serve as the hosts of "The Big D," a dating competition series for TBS.

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"Over the course of several weeks, 10 divorced couples move into a tropical villa in Costa Rica together to re-learn how to date while looking for love with the other contestants in the house," the cable network said in a news release Tuesday.

RELATED LINK: 'THE BACHELOR' FRANCHISE COUPLES NOW: WHO IS STILL TOGETHER?? (PHOTOS)

Fletcher was a contestant on Season 20 of "The Bachelor" and was the star of Season 12 of "The Bachelorette" where she met Rodgers to whom she is now engaged.

"The Big D" is from the creators of "Dating Naked" and "Are You the One?"

"Watching other people's relationships and rooting for old romances and new couples is addictive," Brett Weitz -- general manager for TNT, TBS and truTV -- said in a statement.

"'The Big D' is another attention grabbing, bold creation in our growing unscripted portfolio."

Interested in more The Bachelor news? Join our The Bachelor Facebook Group.

Syracuse, NY -- A Syracuse man awaiting trial on a murder charge is accused of holding up a friend at gunpoint to steal marijuana, a prosecutor revealed in court Wednesday.

Michael Grant, 24, remains jailed after the November 2020 murder of Jerry Murray, 23. Hes charged with second-degree murder, first-degree robbery and illegal gun possession.

The circumstances of the fatal robbery remain somewhat murky. But Chief Assistant District Attorney Melinda McGunnigle offered a quick overview of her case during a bail hearing Wednesday.

Grant targeted his friend, Murray, during the gunpoint robbery over a large amount of marijuana, the prosecutor alleged. During the robbery, Murray was killed.

Its unclear from the indictment if Murray is the accused triggerman: hes accused of being part of the fatal robbery and, separately, accused of possessing a loaded gun.

But the indictment doesnt say conclusively that Grant is accused of firing the fatal shot.

Defense lawyer Lance Cimino indicated in court that theres a huge amount of evidence to sort through in the case, suggesting that there are unknown complications.

McGunnigle said that Grant was found with a large quantity of marijuana -- the alleged proceeds from the robbery -- and that an eyewitness identified Grant as the culprit.

But Cimino suggested that there were consistency issues with the evidence that needed to be sorted out.

State Supreme Court Justice Gordon Cuffy declined to reduce Grants bail, set at $400,000 cash or $800,000 bond, likely meaning that Grant will remain jailed until his case is decided.

Grants case is due back to court in early May.

Staff writer Douglass Dowty can be reached at ddowty@syracuse.com or 315-470-6070.

New Delhi, March 17 : In an effort to give parents more controls over their kids watch time, Google has introduced families.google, a website with resources for family as kids begin using technology.

According to Google, two in five parents are not confident in talking about different tech-related topics with the kids and this includes discussions about things like screen time, digital wellbeing and discovering quality apps, games and activities.

The new website offers detailed guides that spell out how to approach your kids' technology use from various organisations.

"Alongside overviews of our kids and families products, you can also catch up on the latest apps and services and find helpful information on parental controls across the web," Google said in a statement late on Tuesday.

Parents can now encourage children to spend more time with apps they approve of by designating them as "always allowed," even when their screen time limit is up.

"You can now see added details to daily, weekly and monthly activity reports. This gives you an overview of how your child is spending their time in apps, how it changes over a week or month and what portion of time was spent in 'always allowed' apps," Google informed.

Last year, three in five parents allowed increased screen time for their kids as they stayed home.

Google said it is also working with online firm Headspace to create content that helps families practice mindfulness and wellbeing.

Over the next month, an episode from the new Headspace Breathers series will debut weekly on YouTube and YouTube Kids, the company said.
Shares is the leading weekly publication for retail investors. It is packed with investment ideas, news and educational material to help build and run portfolios and get more from your money.

Shares puts on free Investor Events throughout the year across the country. They provide an opportunity for investors to learn more about companies on the stock market and hear from a range of investment experts including fund managers and Shares journalists.
A Jersey City public school teacher has been charged with sexually assaulting one of his students, an 11-year-old girl, authorities said.

Apparao Sunkara, 67, a teacher at Infinity Institute, was arrested at his of Hicksville, New York, home Tuesday afternoon and he is currently being held in Nassau County, Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez said.

The victim, now 12, said the assaults occurred at the school in 2019, Suarez said. Sunkara was charged with second-degree sexual assault and second-degree endangering the welfare of a child, Suarez said.

It is incomprehensible that someone responsible for educating children would put them at risk and possibly harm them, Jersey City district spokeswoman Norma Fernandez said. This situation is extremely upsetting.

Anyone with relevant information about Sunkara, who was a middle school science teacher, is encouraged to contact the Hudson County Prosecutors Office Special Victims Unit at 201-915-1234.

Infinity Institute, on Old Bergen Road, includes students from sixth through 12th grade and is part of the Jersey Citys public school system. According to electronic records, Sunkara was hired by the district in 2012 and he currently earns $110,000 annually.

Fernandez said Sunkara was removed from the classroom on Feb. 4, 2020, when the district learned of the alleged sex assaults. The information was reported to the state Division of Families and Children and the county prosecutors office.

Fernandez noted that Sunkara has not had any contact with students since that date. He is on paid suspension, but if he is indicted the district would proceed to make the suspension unpaid.
Deputy Head of Office of Ukraine's President expects 5.1% GDP growth in 2021

Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Yulia Svyrydenko expects GDP growth by 5.1% in 2021.

"In 2021, our expectations are a GDP growth of 5.1%," Svyrydenko told journalists on the sidelines of the Ukraine 30 Small and Medium Business and The State Forum on Wednesday.

She added that in order to achieve such growth, appropriate monetary, fiscal and business support measures must be implemented.

"We need at least $3 billion of foreign investment per year for annual growth of 1-2% of GDP," she said.
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BATON ROUGE, LA  New legislation is being introduced in the Louisiana Legislature to expand and improve drug and specialty courts across the State.

Flanked by fellow members of the Drug and Specialty Court Commission  Attorney General Jeff Landry, Senator Rick Ward, and Representative Denise Marcelle announced this bipartisan criminal justice reform effort that would invest settlements, judgments, and penalties recovered by our State as a result of the opioid crisis into saving resources, lives, and families across Louisiana.

Oftentimes, Louisiana squanders away opportunities because, instead of doing a few great things, we chose to do a lot of nothings, said Attorney General Landry. Today, we change that same old failed approach.

Drug courts work; and they should be an option for all our States citizens, whether they live in Jackson Parish or Jefferson Parish, continued Attorney General Landry. The legislation proposed by Senator Ward can make that possible by creating a Drug and Specialty Court fund in the state treasury to deposit compensation recovered from opioid manufacturers, marketers, and sellers who stoked the fire of the epidemic.

The fund would be disbursed to state and local entities which provide and enable treatment courts across Louisiana. It would expand drug testing for arrestees to quickly identify individuals with substance use disorders who become involved in the criminal justice system and hopefully provide early intervention and treatment for them.

Any time that we can do something to make people safer, to make people healthier, to cut down on recidivism  I am all on board, said Representative Marcelle. I am proud to be a part of this bipartisan relationship.

Attorney General Landry expressed hope for swift passage of the measure, concluding This is not a Republican bill or a Democrat bill; rather, it is a Louisiana bill and it is one that will reduce crime, reduce drug use, and reduce costs to taxpayers.
TEL AVIV - Over 60,000 doses of vaccines against the coronavirus for the Palestinian population arrived Wednesday at the airport of Tel Aviv, Israeli media reported.



The vaccines (AstraZeneca and Pfizer) were immediately sent, with the approval of the Israeli army, to health authorities in Ramallah. A reported 20,000 doses will be used in the Gaza Strip. According to media reports, the vaccines were donated by the World Health Organization (WHO) as part of the Covax program.
The data didnt make sense.

The American Bible Society (ABS) and Barna Group researchers looked at the results from 1,000 cellphone interviews asking people about their engagement with Scripture. The numbers seemed to show more people were reading the Biblea lot more. But nothing else had dramatically changed.

There were not more people praying, or going to church, or identifying religion as something important in their lives. There wasnt a corresponding increase in people saying the Bible was the Word of God. It was just this one metric, breaking logic and defying trends.

When you get a big surprise in the social sciences, thats often not a good thing, said John Farquhar Plake, lead researcher for the State of the Bible 2020. We were seeing from the cellphone responses what we considered to be an unbelievable level of Bible engagement. You think, That might be noise rather than signal.

Researchers found the cause of the noise when they compared the cellphone results with the results of their online survey: social desirability bias. According to studies of polling methods, people answer questions differently when theyre speaking to another human. It turns out that sometimes people overstate their Bible reading if they suspect the people on the other end of the call will think more highly of them if they engaged the Scriptures more. Sometimes, they overstate it a lot.

The ABS and Barna decided to do 3,000 more online surveys and then throw out the data from the phone poll. For the first time, the annual State of the Bible study was being produced using only online survey data.

Christian groups are not the only ones changing the way they measure ...

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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 17)  State-run People's Television Network will impose sanctions on its employees over the use of a #DutertePalpak hashtag in one of their social media posts on Tuesday night.

In a statement on Wednesday, PTV said the gaffe was due to a "predictive system in the text entry phase," a common feature on mobile devices which suggests the next word based on what has been typed on the screen.

PTV also cited the team's "failure to adequately review and screen the message that actually got posted."

"The management will certainly institute disciplinary sanctions against members of the social media team who are behind the erroneous posting," it said.

At around 7 p.m. on Tuesday, PTV's Twitter account posted a link to a story on President Rodrigo Duterte's call for localities to provide more face masks amid rising COVID-19 cases.

RELATED: Duterte repeats call for LGUs to provide face masks for everybody as coronavirus cases surge

The social media caption of its tweet read: "President Rodrigo R. #dutertepalpak BTS reiterated his order to provide free masks for the public especially to those who cannot buy their own."

The tweet was deleted a few minutes after, but netizens were quick to share screenshots of the gaffe.

PTV clarified in its previous statement that the hashtag was not supposed to be indicated in its original caption. It also described the post as "malicious."

"PTV New Media deeply regrets the error and take full responsibility for the oversight," it said.

The hashtag #DutertePalpak was among the trending topics on Twitter for the past two days as netizens looked back on how the government dealt with the pandemic a year into lockdown.

"Palpak" is a Filipino word which refers to failure.

The country logged 4,437 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, with 57,736 patients active cases or patients who are currently ill. Total COVID-19 cases are now at 631,320.

Foreign nationals and non-overseas Filipino workers are also now temporarily banned from entering the country, while minors in Metro Manila are prohibited from going outdoors as new COVID-19 cases continue to surge.
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NEW YORK, March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- With U.S. corporations and investors preparing for the start of the annual shareholder meeting season, Broadridge Financial Solutions , Inc. (NYSE:BR), a global Fintech leader, in conjunction with Q4 Inc. (Q4), a leading capital markets, investor relations and virtual events solution provider, announce a strategic partnership to deliver the next generation of the Broadridge Virtual Shareholder Meeting (VSM). Combining the technology and expertise of Broadridge's decade-plus leadership in VSMs with Q4's latest virtual events capabilities, provides issuers and investors with a stress-free, intuitive and enriched experience.

(PRNewsfoto/Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc.)

"VSMs are a critical tool, revolutionizing how companies conduct their annual meetings and speak to shareholders, and Broadridge and Q4 are re-defining and enhancing the VSM experience. This enhanced VSM will drive increased shareholder engagement by providing an experience that has many advantages over a physical meeting," said Cathy Conlon, Vice President, Broadridge Corporate Issuer Product Strategy & Business Development. "Companies will experience the latest virtual events technology platform, which will benefit their management team holding the event and the shareholders who attend."

New features of this fully integrated VSM offering include state-of-the-art video and audio collaboration, role-based meeting views, comprehensive meeting management tools and improved Q&A functionality. The platform is aligned with VSM best practices recently outlined by Rutgers University Law School . It provides "one-click" secure shareholder authentication and seamless proxy voting accessed directly from the VSM meeting.

Broadridge pioneered the first commercial VSM platform in 2009 and is the leading provider of VSMs to public companies in North America. In 2020, Broadridge hosted nearly 2,000 VSMs for public company annual meetings and led the industry in how to conduct virtual meetings. This strategic partnership between Broadridge and Q4 builds on the collaborative launch of the Digital Proxy with the goal of increasing retail shareholder participation in corporate governance.

Benefits for Shareholders and Companies

For shareholders, the platform allows for a highly engaging and modern virtual experience, starting with a seamless meeting authentication, a "Zoom-like" meeting experience, integrated Q&A, live voting, speaker profiles and easily accessible meeting materials.

For issuers, the platform provides an integrated console to manage all aspects of the VSM experience, including seamless management of high-quality video and audio streamed from multiple presenters, screen sharing, meeting materials management and voting. Innovative Q&A management has been designed for administrators to review shareholder questions and queue for presenters, while corporate executives and board members benefit from integrated private chat tools for unparalleled collaboration and communication throughout the meeting.

"We are incredibly excited about our strategic partnership with Broadridge and to bring this next generation VSM platform to the market," said Darrell Heaps, CEO of Q4. "Since the beginning of the pandemic we have been working closely with the experts at Broadridge at extending our new virtual events platform to serve the needs of shareholders and issuers in this new virtual world. We are proud to deliver this platform and set the standard by which all VSMs will be measured against as we lead the market to how much more effective VSMs can be."

Broadridge and Q4 provide this VSM platform with a dedicated team of capital markets events experts for guided, premium support throughout meeting planning, dry runs, live broadcast and meeting choreography to deliver a flawless experience for companies to help meet meeting requirements.

VSMs generate significantly lower carbon emissions than in-person meetings and create an opportunity for companies to reduce their overall carbon footprint. Broadridge data shows that, compared with in-person events, VSMs can help companies virtually eliminate their AGM-related carbon footprint.

In 2020, Q4 hosted more than 4,000 capital markets virtual events, including earnings events, investor days and investor conferences. Moving forward, Broadridge and Q4 plan to partner on extending Q4's suite of impactful virtual events solutions to issuers, asset managers and other capital markets participants.

These enhancements are currently only available in the U.S. and will be rolled out to markets outside the U.S. in the future.

About Broadridge Financial Solutions

Broadridge Financial Solutions (NYSE: BR), a global Fintech leader with over $4.5 billion in revenues, provides the critical infrastructure that powers investing, corporate governance, and communications to enable better financial lives. We deliver technology-driven solutions to banks, broker-dealers, asset and wealth managers and public companies. Broadridge's infrastructure serves as a global communications hub enabling corporate governance by linking thousands of public companies and mutual funds to tens of millions of individual and institutional investors around the world. In addition, Broadridge's technology and operations platforms underpin the daily trading of on average more than U.S. $10 trillion of equities, fixed income and other securities globally. A certified Great Place to Work, Broadridge is a part of the S&P 500 Index, employing over 12,000 associates in 17 countries. For more information about us and what we can do for you, please visit www.broadridge.com

For more information about Broadridge's virtual shareholder meeting solution :

About Q4, Inc.

Q4 Inc. (Q4), is a leading capital markets, investor relations and virtual events solution provider. Through Q4's proven technology platform and best-in-class customer experience, the firm is a trusted partner to over 2,400 of the world's most successful public companies and institutions. Q4's comprehensive portfolio of communications and intelligence solutions empowers customers to build impactful and strategic programs. Q4 has offices in New York, Toronto and London.

To learn more, visit: www.q4inc.com .

Investors:

W. Edings Thibault

Investor Relations

+ 1 516-472-5129

[email protected]

Media:

Gregg Rosenberg

Corporate Communications

+1 212-918-6966

[email protected]

Lisa Edwards

VP Marketing

[email protected]

SOURCE Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc.

Related Links

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Samsung Electronics' Device Solutions (DS) Vice Chairman and CEO Kim Ki-nam speaks at the company's general shareholders' meeting held at the Suwon Convention Center, south of Seoul, Wednesday. / Courtesy of Samsung Electronics



By Kim Bo-eun



Samsung Electronics reiterated its commitment to strengthening compliance with the law on Wednesday, while its chief Lee Jae-yong is in prison because of his involvement in a bribery case that resulted in the impeachment of former President Park Geun-hye.



The remarks came during the tech giant's general shareholders' meeting held the same day.



"We will set up the foundation of a trusted company of 100 years," Device Solutions (DS) Vice Chairman and CEO Kim Ki-nam said at the meeting held in the Suwon Convention Center, south of Seoul.



Shareholders affiliated with civic groups called for the board to strip the Samsung leader of his title given his convictions.



Regarding the requests, Vice Chairman Kim said, "The group will comprehensively review the company's circumstances and law, taking into consideration the role Lee plays in managing Samsung's global network and making decisions regarding future businesses."






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As a stepping stone towards some sort of universal preschool, new Baton Rouge schools chief Sito Narcisse said he hopes to use federal coronavirus relief money to expand education this fall for 4-year-olds and create mini-schools or centers for children as young as infants.

Narcisse also said he wants to rework courses in collaboration with local business and industry and to make greater use of community colleges, all in order to help launch teenagers more quickly into promising careers.

Narcisse spoke about his budding plans at a webinar Tuesday morning organized by the Baton Rouge Area Chamber and sponsored by Iberia Bank.

Formerly chief of secondary schools in Washington, D.C., Narcisse took over the East Baton Rouge Parish school system in January with big talk about the potential of the states second largest traditional school district, but has so far made public few specifics.

On Tuesday, Narcisse made clear his determination to vastly expand early childhood education in Baton Rouge. Its long been a goal of his predecessors, but has run aground largely for financial reasons.

Narcisse said that many children in Baton Rouge come to school behind, which stunts their future academic chances. He displayed some data to support his point, including that nearly 60% of children arrive in kindergarten below grade level in reading.

"That's because we don't have universal pre-K, Narcisse said flatly.

In that vein, Narcisse noted that only about a third of local children have access to publicly funded preschool or prekindergarten programs before they reach kindergarten.

Federal stimulus bill means another $2.6 billion for public schools, 'We just have to execute' Public schools are in line to get a staggering $2.6 billion from the federal stimulus bill that won final congressional approval last week, mo

To rectify that situation, Narcisse said he plans to tap into some of tens of millions of dollars in federal money coming to the school system. Part of that, he said, will go to adding seats in prekindergarten, which serves four-year-olds  about 1,800 children currently attend public pre-K centers in Baton Rouge.

Narcisse, however, said if I have my way he will add offerings as well for the youngest children, from birth to three-year-olds. He described these as micro centers located at schools. He said hes adapting something thats being used currently in Chattanooga, Tenn.

The ultimate goal, he said, would be to have a universal pre-K, as well as greatly expanded education for younger children.

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Narcisse pegged the cost of a maximal early childhood program at $135 million, which he said is too expensive to do all at once. Instead, he said he hopes to build out early childhood offerings over time and eventually bring a tax proposal to voters to offer a permanent public funding source for early childhood.

Baton Rouge Chamber urges School Board candidates to 'stop handwringing' on universal early childhood education The Capital regions foremost business lobby says it supports placing a tax proposition on the ballot that would pay for universal early chil

This is not a new issue for the Baton Rouge Area Chamber. Starting in 2018, the business lobby offered support a local tax to support "universal early childhood education" and pressed School Board members running that year to commit to supporting it as well.

Narcisse told business leaders listening in that he is mindful of their needs.

"You hire kids from our school system," Narcisse said, "but its important that they are prepared to service the jobs that are now in the city, but also the jobs 10 years from now that are not yet created.

After his talk, Alex Stubbs, Narcisses new director of parent & community engagement, acknowledged the school system is exploring its options for expanding early childhood education, but said we have nothing set in stone yet.

Revamping high schools also figured prominently in Tuesdays webinar.

Narcisse said he was excited coming here to learn that Louisiana, unlike some other states, gives school leaders wide latitude in how they organize high schools. As part of that, he wants local businesses to help redesign junior and senior year offerings.

He said hes on board with State Superintendent of Education Cade Brumleys Fast Forward initiative, which will expand the chances for teenagers to earn college credits while still in high school, enough for them to earn either an associates degree or an industry certification. East Baton Rouge was recently awarded a $50,000 Fast Forward planning grant.

Narcisse said his staff are focused initially on expanding job pathways in five areas: liberal arts/law, STEM; construction and related fields; agriculture; and medicine. STEM stands for science, technology, engineering and math.

Part of that, he said, will involve making greater use of the career and technical education center known as EBR CTEC, which opened in summer 2018. He said he wants to start having middle school students come to the center on Lobdell Boulevard to take introductory STEM classes as a way of exposing them to what Narcisse considers the under-used facility.
Spains decision to halt Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccinations due to the detection in the European Union of several cases of blood clots after its use has shaken up the countrys inoculation campaign. The regions were already facing a second half of March at a slow speed, with the doses arriving slowly. But the latest decision by the Health Ministry to suspend the use of the AstraZeneca medication has once again thrown into doubt whether the central governments objective of immunizing 70% of the adult population by the summer will be possible.

The government has opted to wait until the European Medicines Agency (EMA) issues a ruling on whether there is a link between the vaccine and thrombosis cases, but it claims that this will not affect the calendar. According to the latest data from the Health Ministry, a total of 932,704 Covid-19 vaccines were administered last week, of which 304,705 were AstraZeneca (32.7%). That means that if the rate of jabs had been the same this week, the campaign would be nearly 33% slower due to the withdrawal of the Anglo-Swedish vaccine.

For now, some of Spains regions  which are in charge of their own vaccination campaigns  have started to cancel appointments to administer doses of AstraZeneca, which are aimed primarily at essential workers aged under 55 at this stage of the campaign. (Spain has opted not to give the medication to any older age groups right now until there is more clinical evidence of its efficacy.)

Since December 27, 2020, 5.7 million doses have been administered in Spain. But just 1.7 million people  3.6% of the population  have had their two doses

Most of the essential workers in this age group have only been given their first jab, and require the second before they will enjoy the full protection of the vaccine. The Health Ministry said on Monday that there is time to complete the full inoculations, given that the second dose is administered 10 to 12 weeks after the first, according to the manufacturers guidelines.

Since December 27, 2020, when the vaccination campaign began, 5.7 million doses have been administered in Spain. But just 1.7 million people  3.6% of the population  have had their two doses. The three vaccines being used in Spain so far  Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and Oxford-AstraZeneca  all require two doses. The healthcare authorities believe that the process will speed up in April, given that the Janssen vaccine is due to arrive  it only requires one dose  and the volume of the other medications already being used will also rise. The Health Ministry has stated that Pfizer, for example, will send 4.8 million doses to Spain in April.

Meeting the governments objectives will eventually depend on how quickly the vaccines arrive, whether the healthcare system is prepared to ramp up the speed with which they are administered, and on there being no more unexpected developments, such as the temporary withdrawal of AstraZeneca.

The decision to suspend the vaccination with AstraZeneca comes in a context of a lack of vaccines, and whats more, this move will create a sensation of alarm, fear and panic in the population, explains Amos Garcia, the president of the Spanish Association of Vaccinology. We will have to move heaven and earth to recover the credibility of this vaccine.

The central governments spokesperson, Maria Jesus Montero, insisted on Tuesday that the temporary suspension of the AstraZeneca vaccine will not produce any alteration of the vaccine calendar, and ruled out its definitive substitution.

Campaign progress

So far in Spain, nearly all of the target population in the first phase of the vaccination campaign  care home residents and healthcare workers  has been vaccinated. The focus now is on the 80-and-over population and people with serious disabilities. The regions are moving forward at different speeds, however. In Andalusia, for example, 52.4% of the 400,000 people aged 80 and over have got their first jab, while 23.72% have got two. In Galicia, by contrast, they are only just starting to administer the second injections, while in the Balearic Islands they are still focusing on people aged 90 to 94 after having inoculated the 2,600 people aged over 95. In Madrid, where there are 320,559 over-80s who dont live in care homes, just 55.2% of this group have got their first dose.

The Health Ministry has also announced which groups among the chronically ill will be given priority for the vaccine. They include cancer patients receiving chemotherapy, anyone with lung cancer, transplant recipients or those on a waiting list for such a surgery, people with Down syndrome aged over 40, and dialysis patients. The ministry has announced that it will be the turn of this group once the 80-and-over population has been immunized. While Catalonia has already made a start on this segment, the central government is recommending that they overlap with the over-70s.

Health workers administering the AstraZeneca vaccine in Seville on February 25. PACO PUENTES / EL PAIS

Andalusia

Last week the southern region reached the threshold of one million people who had received the first dose of one of the three Covid-19 vaccines being administered in Spain. Over 1.1 million Andalusians have had their first shot, and 363,191 are now fully vaccinated. This means that 93% of all available doses in the region have been administered. This week, the regional health department is expecting to receive 79,960 doses of the Pfizer vaccine; 37,900 from Moderna and 40,500 from AstraZeneca.

Spains recent decision to temporarily suspend use of the AstraZeneca vaccine, in line with many other European countries, has forced Andalusia to stop immunizing target groups under 55 years of age who had already started to receive it, including health professionals who do not work in hospitals or healthcare centers, teachers and members of law enforcement and the armed forces.

As for other groups, on March 13 regional records show that 89.07% of frontline healthcare workers have received their first dose and 85.83% are fully vaccinated. And 52,24% of people in the 80-and-over age group have had their first shot, with 23.72% now fully immunized.

Aragon

Aragon had been expecting to distribute 17,772 doses of the Pfizer vaccine, 5,630 of Moderna and 13,200 of AstraZeneca this week. But the temporary suspension of AstraZeneca has put a halt on its administration. Regional records show that 25,652 doses of the British-Swedish vaccine have already been administered, out of a total of 47,600 available doses. Aragons chief of public health, Francisco Javier Falo, has admitted that the decision to halt AstraZeneca is a setback in the vaccination strategy that will have to be assessed in the coming months.

Meanwhile, vaccination is still underway for people over 80 and adults with severe disabilities who do not live in care homes. Aragon has administered 182,899 vaccine doses so far, representing 88% of all available doses, and 58,794 have had both jabs. The region is holding back 3,500 doses to ensure the availability of second doses in the event of delays in supply.

Asturias

The small northern region has administered 166,072 vaccines, or 85.6% of all available doses. Over 58,300 people have had both jabs. With AstraZeneca inoculations now on hold, regional health authorities said that the campaign will continue with target groups receiving Pfizer and Moderna shots. This includes the regions oldest adults as well as people with severe disabilities who are being vaccinated in their homes.

A man receives the Covid-19 vaccine in Ibiza in Spains Balearic Islands. Sergio G. Canizares / EFE

Balearic Islands

As of Tuesday, the region had administered 110,608 doses, or 88.6% of the available stock. So far 40,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine have already been administered, although inoculations have now been halted following national guidelines. This suspension affects 25,000 educators who work in the Mediterranean archipelago, as well as members of law enforcement, emergency services, firefighters, and members of the armed forces.

The vaccination drive in care homes has ended, and 80% of frontline healthcare workers have been vaccinated. As for other health personnel, 74% have received their first shot. Around 4,500 people with disabilities who live at home have had their first inoculation, as well as 1,400 of their carers. The regions oldest residents, those over 95, have received their first dose, and those between 90 and 94 began getting it last weekend. People 80 and over are also a target group right now.

On March 12, people born in 1966 began getting calls for appointments for the AstraZeneca vaccine, but these have now been temporarily suspended.

Basque Country

The Basque health service has administered 79% of the received doses. On Monday, 30,420 Pfizer doses arrived along with 10,600 from Moderna. A total of 248,308 doses have been administered and just over 68,000 people have got both jabs needed for full protection. These are mostly residents and staff in senior homes, while 86.4% of doctors and nurses in the public system have already got their first dose, while 60% have had both. In the private healthcare system, 75.2% of staff have had the first jab. Among essential workers, 99.6% of regional police officers and 63.4% of teachers have had the first jab.

The suspension of the use of AstraZeneca has forced the cancelation of appointments for teachers, firefighters, police officers, among others. Around 24,000 were due to receive the vaccine in the region this week. The health service will continue to innoculate the 80-and-over population and public health professionals in the meantime.

Canary Islands

The archipelagos health authorities have administered 37,166 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine, but the drive has been placed on hold following national guidelines. This affects educators, members of law enforcement and the armed forces, and emergency personnel.

Vaccination of care home residents and workers, as well as frontline healthcare workers, is now complete. The campaign is still underway for people with disabilities who do not live in care homes and people aged 80 and over.

Cantabria

Cantabria has administered 81% of available vaccines and over 25,800 people have had both jabs. With the AstraZeneca inoculations now on hold, the immunization campaign will continue with people who are unable to leave their homes, those with severe disabilities who require daily assistance, and the 80-and-over group. The government of Cantabria is holding back between 15% and 20% of its stock as a safeguard against the possibility of supply and distribution delays.

Castilla-La Mancha

Castilla-La Mancha has administered 239,085 doses, accounting for 78% of all available vaccines. Health Ministry records show that 80,114 people are fully vaccinated. The region has also suspended the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine, which has already been administered to 15,465 people.

The campaign is currently targeting people aged 80 and over, of whom 41,570 or 30% of the total have been vaccinated. Frontline healthcare professionals are now almost fully vaccinated, as are 87.6% of care home residents.

Castilla y Leon

Castilla y Leon was this week expecting to receive 39,780 doses of the Pfizer vaccine, 20,400 of Moderna and 26,800 of AstraZeneca. Target groups are now healthcare professionals not working in hospitals or healthcare centers, people with severe disabilities and the 80-and-over population. There are close to 125,000 people who are now fully immunized. At regional care homes, over 88% of residents and workers have been vaccinated.

A health worker administers the Covid-19 vaccine at the Hotel SB Plaza Europa in Barcelona. Toni Albir / EFE

Catalonia

Catalonia has administered around 900,000 doses and 246,000 people are now fully vaccinated. The suspension of AstraZeneca inoculations has placed 127,000 doses on hold, according to the Catalan health department, which was going to administer second doses in the coming two weeks. The regional secretary for public health, Josep Maria Argimon, called for calm on Monday with regard to the reports of blood clots among some people who received the vaccine in other European countries. First we have to see whether there is a coincidence in time, then if there is a cause-effect relationship and later whether the risk-to-benefit ratio is favorable or not, he said.

With care homes and frontline health workers now almost fully vaccinated, health authorities have started to call people who have undergone transplants, considered a risk group by Catalan authorities. This group will start receiving their inoculations once the regions elderly population has been vaccinated.

As for essential workers such as educators and law enforcement offices, immunization ranges between 60% and over 80% depending on the sector, but this campaign has been halted due to the suspension of the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine.

Extremadura

The regional healthcare authorities say that the campaign is going at a good speed, but complain that they are not receiving enough doses so as to be able to go faster. Extremadura has administered 151,000 doses and 53,832 have full protection. The region is expecting 14,040 doses of Pfizer, 6,900 of Moderna and 5,100 of AstraZeneca this week, although the use of the latter is suspended.

Up to 98% of residences (11,682 people) have been immunized, and there have been no new cases reported in them recently. Hospital workers, private clinic staff and primary healthcare staff have all been vaccinated (apart from those off sick, who will be inoculated when they return to work). Among people with disabilities not living in care homes, 8,637 people (95%) have been vaccinated. Among the 80-and-over age group living outside of residences, 22,816 people have been vaccinated  which represents 33%.

Until now, Extremadura has been focusing on the over-80s, essential workers and other healthcare workers, such as physiotherapists and hygienists.

Galicia

The regional authorities have nearly finished vaccinations in care homes, with 90% of users having received both doses. This week the region wil start to administer the second jab to the over-80s. The suspension of the use of AstraZeneca has put the inoculations of essential workers on hold  including police, teachers, firefighters and civil guards  and among those aged between 50 and 55. On Saturday, the vaccine was used to give first jabs to 15,000 of the 250,000 Galicians in this age group, who were called not just to hospitals but also to fairgrounds and cultural centers across the territory to get their injections. The approach was a kind of rehearsal for the planned mass vaccinations due in April, when 584,000 doses are scheduled to arrive in Galicia. For now, according to the latest data from the Health Ministry, the region has administered 350,571 doses, which is 91% of those received. Of a total of 2.7 million residents, 95,800 people have had both jabs.

La Rioja

This region will continue to vaccinate the 80-and-over population this week, and also complete other priority groups. Given the suspension of the use of AstraZeneca, however, jabs for teaching staff will be halted. The region has so far administered 7,456 doses of AstraZeneca to people aged between 19 and 55. The majority  5,126 doses  have gone to essential workers, but also to care workers (1,199 doses), and medical staff (1,118 doses). According to the regions plans, this week around 4,500 more doses were due to be administered to those in the group of essential workers. Since the start of the campaign, La Rioja has administered 46,881 doses  93% of the total received. More than 14,000 residents have been given their two jabs.

People wait in line to be vaccinated outside the Wanda Metropolitano stadium in Madrid at the end of February. Juan Carlos Hidalgo / EFE

Madrid

In Madrid, there are 320,559 people aged 80 and over who live outside care homes and up until Monday just 55.2% of them had received their first jab. That means that nearly half of this high-risk group is still without protection. On Wednesday, the speed of this process will rise with the first Moderna jabs for 20,553 members of the group who have mutual health insurance coverage outside the public system, to be administered at the new Isabel Zendal hospital.

Meanwhile, the second Pfizer doses will start this week for seniors who were inoculated in their primary healthcare centers. According to the calendar, from April 12 the remaining holders of mutual health insurance policies will get their first dose, as well as any remaining people aged 80 and over, those with disabilities who can attend their healthcare centers, and carers aged over 55.

Madrid has already inoculated more than 40,000 members of the security forces, more than 62,000 teachers and more than 5,300 people with disabilities.

Murcia

Murcia is expecting to receive 14,040 doses of the Pfizer vaccine and 7,200 of the AstraZeneca, but the use of the latter medication has been suspended. This means that the vaccination process that started last week for teachers and teaching staff aged under 55 (around 40,000 people in total) has been put on hold. The region will continue with its campaign in the 45 healthcare centers across its territory and also at mass vaccination sites for the 80-and-over population and people with major disabilities.

The region has already administered 180,650 vaccines and nearly 58,000 people have been given their two jabs.

Navarre

On Monday, Navarre received 10,220 new doses  7,020 from Pfizer and 3,200 from AstraZeneca. It is due to get a further 38,610 doses of all three approved vaccines before the end of the month. In April, the regional government is expecting the weekly deliveries of the Pfizer vaccine to rise to 16,000 doses. The region has administered 89,261 doses in total of the 109,485 received so far (81.5%). A total of 28,566 have completed their vaccinations, the region reports. On Monday, the vaccination of the 80-and-over age group restarted for Pamplona and the surrounding area at a new vaccination point set up at the Navarre Public University (UPNA), with another center due to be established at the site of the former Hermanos Maristas school.

Valencia

On Monday, the vaccination of teaching and auxiliary school staff aged below 55 began in the Valencia region, the majority of them with the AstraZeneca vaccine. The suspension of this medication by the Health Ministry changed all of the plans on Monday afternoon. On Tuesday, the regions healthcare chief Ana Bercelo met with the members of the vaccination technical commission to replan the campaign. Around 74,000 people were due to receive a vaccine this week, and in six days a total of 116,032 teachers and auxiliary staff.

Whats more, the campaign has now moved on to workers from the Home Help Service (SAD) and social workers from local councils. The process continues for those with major disabilities, the 80-and-over age group and healthcare workers, as well as other social workers. The majority of these collectives are being given the Pfizer vaccine, a total of 56,710 doses.

This week a total of 17,350 doses of Moderna have been allocated for the 80-and-over populations, hospital patients over 80, the disabled in care homes and public hospital workers. According to the Health Ministry, the Valencia region has received 608,650 doses of all three vaccines and has administered 486,767, which is 80% of the total.

Ceuta

The North African exclave city was planning to continue vaccinations this week with the AstraZeneca vaccine, but has put this on hold after the central governments decision to suspend its use. Until Friday, the authorities were vaccinating the over 80s with their second dose, along with over-70s and essential workers, including teachers and the security forces. The campaign to vaccinate the under-55s in this group with the AstraZeneca jab, however, is now on hold. Ceuta has administered all of the doses it has received (9,190), vaccinating 2,533 people of a total of 84,200 inhabitants.

Melilla

The North African exclave city will this week receive 2,340 doses of the Pfizer vaccine, around 1,170 more than initially programmed. The local authorities and healthcare general secretary have criticized the low number of doses received, something that is slowing down the vaccination strategy. Melilla is the territory that has administered the highest percentage of received doses (95.8%), but is at the bottom of the list in terms of the percentage of the population that has been fully inoculated: 2,370 people, or 2.5% of the population.

With reporting by Emilio de Benito, Juan Navarro, Mikel Ormazabal, Ferran Bono, Lucia Tolosa, Eva Saiz, Laura J. Varo, Sonia Vizoso, Elisa Tasca, Diego Estebanez, Lucia Bohorquez, Josep Cata, Isabel Valdes, Bernat Coll, Jesus A. Canas.

English version by Simon Hunter and Susana Urra.
Well, its like the Kremlin, he said, taking measure of the tall fence and razor wire that will be in all his weekend-in-Washington, Capitol selfies. You cant get too close to that either.

Bassam Salah, 24, was one of scores of tourists who came to D.C. on a lovely recent spring weekend, zipping around to see the sights before he and his squad were stopped dead in their electric scooter tracks at the military presence and security fencing around the iconic dome.

I come from a place where you cant get close to government buildings, said Salah, who is an American citizen and New Yorker who immigrated from Jordan. One thing I love about Washington is everything is so open. Thats what freedom looks like. ...This is excessive.

So thats where were at now, like the Kremlin.

While defund the police became a nationwide conversation last year, how about we start with demilitarize D.C.?

Thanks to the domestic terrorists who stormed Capitol Hill in a lethal attack on Jan. 6, the Capitol has been encircled for weeks by a four-mile-long perimeter of wire mesh fencing, much of it topped with dystopian swirls of razor wire.

This is what democracy looks like? said a sign held by a protester over the weekend.

Nope. Its all wrong.

That expansive perimeter will begin to shrink soon, according to a memo that acting House sergeant-at-arms Timothy Blodgett sent around on Monday (some of the razor wire already has been taken down). The memo quoted Capitol Police officials who said there does not exist a known, credible threat against Congress or the Capitol Complex that warrants the temporary security fencing.

The barrier wont disappear altogether. And it wont prevent the kind of American decay that was responsible for the attacks.

The fence is jarring and frightening for anyone who lives or works nearby  including my husband and me, who bought our house on Capitol Hill 22 years ago. Locals held a protest Saturday to air their frustrations about the militarization of the neighborhood.

The Hill is home! one of them yelled, as police asked them to clear out of the street.

They picnicked, read the paper, blew bubbles and chit-chatted along the fence, the kinds of things theyd be doing on the Capitol complex lawns and benches over the weekend if it werent for the too-much-too-late fortification of the neighborhood.

There are lawn signs everywhere:

FREE THE PEOPLES HOUSE

Dont Fence the Capitol

And I get that, of course. Its been frustrating to have a 20-minute detour around the MAGA-moat every time residents need to go anywhere. Teddy, an 11-year-old yellow lab, hasnt been able to sniff his favorite spots for weeks, his owners told me. And none of the folks coming into town for spring break will be able to get close to the Capitol.

But this fence, the razor wire, the National Guard troops stationed along the perimeter are a much bigger issue than residents walks being thwarted.

The optics are awful, said Todd Mullins, a 57-year-old NASA engineer who has lived on the Hill for 15 years. He said theres no way his office, at Federal Center Southwest, could ever reopen with the fence in place. But more importantly, he said hes worried about the way it looks to the rest of the world.

And hes right.

The fools who thought they could stop the democratic process on Jan. 6 with their flagpoles, bear spray and single-sentence philosophies did more than fist-pump their way into barroom glory stories. They were terrorists whose legacy stained our standing in the world.

If there is one thing I have learned from my 37 years in the U.S. Army, and 13 years since in environmental and civil rights causes, it is that fences may work to keep livestock in your field, but they dont work  and they send the wrong signal  when you use them against people, Retired Army Lt. Gen. Russel Honore wrote in The Washington Post over the weekend.

The four miles of fences that now ring the Capitol will do nothing to prevent another attack, he wrote, or to help us understand the underlying failures that allowed the riot to happen.

All weekend, as spring tourists who came for socially distant sightseeing on the national Mall arrived, they were stunned by what they saw. Because pictures and video clips fail to capture how terrifying this really is.

This is normalized in the part of the world where Im from, said Khalid Mohamed, 24, who is from Bahrain and is living in Chicago on a work visa. This looks like the independence America values is taken away.

A government that needs ominous, wartime fencing to function doesnt look like a properly functioning government. Thats a no-brainer.

Honore was as taken aback as Mohamed was when he came to D.C. after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., asked him to lead a review of the U.S. Capitols security failures in the wake of the deadly attack.

When I arrived in Washington, Honore wrote, I was shocked to see the extent to which our nations capital city had been militarized and the Capitol complex cordoned off.

The measures cost taxpayers about $2 million a week. And its for nothing more than security theater, a capitulation to terrorists.

Weve been here before, when Congress approved millions to set up waist-high bollards around the Capitol. Lot of good those did.

Rather than fences, the Capitol Police need to refocus on intelligence gathering and coordination. And thats about it.

The real fix comes with better civic and media education. No fence will stop people who fail to understand how democracy works or how to separate lies and propaganda from truth and law.

We want to instruct North Korea on how to behave? said a Washington native named Anton who stood outside the Capitol fence holding a sign that said Washington = PyongYang.

Were not getting it right, he said. Something like this? It diminishes our influence in the world.

PETULA DVORAK writes for The Washington Post.
Las Vegas, Nevada--(Newsfile Corp. - March 17, 2021) - Suntex Enterprises Inc. (OTC Pink: SNTX) is pleased to announce that the Company is nearing an agreement to purchase a food-based CBD company.

Suntex Enterprises, Inc. has been negotiating with a Texas firm that currently produces, markets, and distributes food products infused with CBD. These products include Adult Candies, Baked Goods, Salsas, and Pasta Sauces. Both companies have been in talks for several months. The recent acquisition of Homestead Body Works (Makers of Budding Botanicals) has proven to the industry that Suntex is serious about establishing itself as a "player" in the CBD industry.

The goal of Suntex is to have a strong presence in many outlets in the rapidly growing CBD industry. The first offering from Suntex was Pumped CBD. Pumped CBD is a high-quality functional CBD Water packaged in a Dumbbell shaped bottle. Suntex recently completed the acquisition of Homestead Body Works. Homestead Body Works produces Budding Botanicals. Budding Botanicals is a line of quality-of-life improving products such as Salves, Tinctures, Etc. Please visit www.buddingbotanicalsca.com to view their line of functional products. With the pending finalization of the acquisition of a CBD food producer, Suntex Enterprises will have a revenue stream that is complimentary of the other brands without competing with them.

Suntex Enterprises is hoping to have the terms and conditions of this new acquisition completed by mid-April. The Company looks forward to updating the public as events develop.

Once this addition is completed, Suntex Enterprises will be searching for another acquisition target that operates in the cosmetic and personal care industry.

"The objective of Suntex is to have CBD offerings in as many outlets and categories as possible," states Larry Twombly, Suntex CEO. "We will be constantly seeking out superb companies that do not overlap and can work together to complement each other for strong and sustainable growth. We are also seeking out superior people who are experts in the marketing and production of CBD products. We have no doubt that the CBD market is developing fast and is here to stay. This, we believe, is a recipe for success."

Suntex Enterprises, Inc. will be actively searching out other acquisition candidates to enhance the growth of the Company and to maximize shareholder value.

Suntex Enterprises invites the public to follow future updates through the Company's Twitter, @SuntexSNTX.

Forward-Looking Statement Any statements made in this press release which are not historical facts contain certain forward-looking statements; as such term is defined in the Private Security Litigation Reform Act of 1995, concerning potential developments affecting the business, prospects, financial condition and other aspects of the company to which this release pertains. The actual results of the specific items described in this release, and the company's operations generally, may differ materially from what is projected in such forward-looking statements. The company disclaims any obligation to update information contained in any forward-looking statement. This press release shall not be deemed a general solicitation.

Lawrence Twombly, CEO

info@suntexenterprises.com

Twitter: @SuntexSNTX

www.buddingbotanicalsca.com

760-525-7411

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/77593
A new BBC documentary exploring the issue of suicide in young men has heard from the friends of a Belfast school pupil who died last year.

In Roman Kemp: Our Silent Emergency, the radio DJ and television presenter travelled to Northern Ireland to discuss why it has the highest suicide rates in the UK.

Shaken by the suicide of his own friend and colleague Joe Lyons in August, Kemp had previously said he hoped the programme would encourage people to check in on their friends' mental wellbeing.

He spoke to a group of teenagers in Belfast, who lost their best friend Carl Mooney (15) in May.

One friend recalled "he was a class clown, he was always playing up in school."



Expand Close Gifted: Carl Mooney / Facebook

Twitter

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Whatsapp Gifted: Carl Mooney

Asked what it was like to grow up in an area with a high suicide rate, another friend said they were already dealing with the suicide of another school friend.

"It seems to be as big as it's ever been," he said.

Read More

"You're just wondering, are we doing enough? Is there anything else that we can do? You're just thinking about, who is going to be next."

Another friend spoke of how Carl's death had left him paranoid and waking up each morning to check his phone in case of bad news.

Speaking to suicide prevention charity Lighthouse in north Belfast, Kemp heard of efforts to help younger people coping with the loss of friends.

A charity spokesperson those who had lost a friend to suicide became at higher risk, and their efforts included preventative measures to help young people process their grief.

Tonight at 9pm BBC One and available now on iPlayer https://t.co/JUaI9w2j9e pic.twitter.com/MVg2uHPZEt  Roman Kemp (@romankemp) March 16, 2021

The documentary crew was invited to a Lighthouse session with Carl's friends.

One teenager spoke of the final message he sent to Carl, looking forward to catching up, was never received.

Another said: "When he died there was a good part that felt like it was my fault. I was the closest to him where I lived. I could see his house from my mummy's window.

"I felt if I could have called for him a few days before."

The group were told of how many friends carry a similar burden after the death of a friend, but the best tribute was to look after their own mental health and support each other.

The documentary is now available to view on BBC iPlayer.
House Republicans narrowly voted Wednesday to allow their members to seek earmarks under certain conditions, making a clean break from a decade-long ban against seeking money for specific projects back home.

The 102-84 vote changes the party's internal rules and allows Republicans to join the Democratic House majority as it puts in place a new process for earmarks in spending and transportation bills.

Republicans were faced with a decision of whether to participate in earmarking, a practice they had railed against in the past, or potentially see their districts disadvantaged when it came to federal spending.

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy speaks during a news conference at the Capitol in Washington. House Republicans narrowly voted Wednesday, to allow their members to seek earmarks under certain conditions

The House GOP's move could also help President Joe Biden (pictured), who is gearing up for a massive infrastructure push that he hopes will attract significant Republican support

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy said some Republicans were concerned about letting President Joe Biden's administration decide where federal dollars would go for transportation and elsewhere.

'I think members here know whats most important about whats going on in their district, not Biden,' McCarthy said.

In line with the rules established by Democrats, the policy change approved by Republicans specifies that no member shall ask for an earmark unless it is publicly disclosed when it is made.

Each request must include a written justification for why the project is an appropriate use of taxpayer dollars. And the lawmaker and their immediately family cannot have a financial interest in the request.

The return of earmarking could have enormous implications for the allocation of spending across the country, making it easier for Democrats to pass annual bills funding the government.

It could also help President Joe Biden, who is gearing up for a massive infrastructure push that he hopes will attract significant Republican support.

With earmarking in place, bipartisanship could prove easier to achieve.

But the practice also carries risk for both sides.

Earmarking was linked to corruption in the 2000s, leading to an outcry and their banishment in both the House and Senate.

'My predecessor was Speaker Boehner. I think he was wise to end them,' said Rep. Warren Davidson, an Ohio Republican. 'He saw the abuses that were taking place with them.'

Many in Congress say the ban has gone too far, ceding the 'power of the purse' to party leaders and the executive branch while giving lawmakers less incentive to work with members of the other party on major legislation.

That frustration spurred Democratic appropriators to revive earmarking, announcing they will accept public requests for 'community project funding' in federal spending bills.

House Appropriations Committee Chair Rosa DeLauro, a Connecticut Democrat, said she was pleased that members of both parties recognize that the targeted funding 'will help our communities, particularly now as the pandemic has exposed so many needs.'

She said the appropriations bills for the coming fiscal year would put members 'first-hand knowledge of their districts to work on behalf of the people we represent.'

While the policy change could also enhance efforts to reach agreement on major legislation such as an infrastructure bill, other factors, such as how to pay for it, could play a much bigger role.

But Republican lawmakers acknowledge that earmarks could change their calculus on some legislation.

'It's true, you're less likely to vote against the bill if you're got some things in it that are important to you,' said Rep. Mike Simpson, an Idaho Republican.

Still, Simpson expected the decision won't sit well with some conservative groups.

'We're going to get the heck beat out of us by right-wing media and television, and that kind of stuff,' Simpson said.

Rep. Ted Budd, a North Carolina Republican, said that even if Republicans and Democrats start requesting earmarks for local projects in future bills, he will not participate.

'I don't think this puts us at a disadvantage because they didn't send me here to bring pork home,' Budd said. 'They sent me here to be an effective representative of the state, and people are tired of the overspending.'
He may well have broken the law, but he certainly didn't break the speed limit.

This thief was spotted kicking down the doors to a shop and then making off in a mobility scooter with a top speed of 8mph.

The burglar, who is still at large, took the vehicle from Modern Mobility in Leicester, on Saturday evening.

CCTV footage shows him breaking into the disability shop showroom before getting into the 10,000 Cabin Car scooter.

Manager Nick Partridge said it was 'the most expensive item in the shop'.

This thief was spotted kicking down the doors to a shop and then making off in a mobility scooter with a top speed of 8mph

Police have now launched an investigation in a bid to track down the thief, who was spotted by a member of the public making a slow getaway at around 8.45pm.

The suspect, who was wearing a face mask and glasses, first tried to pick the lock of the disability aids store inside the shopping centre but to no avail.

He then began kicking down the front door, which eventually gave way, before he jumped in the Cabin Car scooter - which can reach a speed of up to 8mph.

Within 20 seconds of entering the store, the man drives out of the building in the top-of-the-range mobility scooter and has not yet been traced.

Store owners believe the man had 'cased the joint' before the raid as he appeared to know exactly what he was looking for.

They have now offered a reward for information which leads to his capture and the safe return of the 'most luxurious mobility scooter on the market in the UK'.

Manager Mr Partridge said: 'Somebody has now been left without a mobility vehicle because of this cowardly act.

The suspect, who was wearing a face mask and glasses, first tried to pick the lock of the disability aids store inside the shopping centre but to no avail. He then began kicking down the front door, which eventually gave way, before he jumped in the Cabin Car scooter - which can reach a speed of up to 8mph

Within 20 seconds of entering the store, the man drives out of the building in the top-of-the-range mobility scooter and has not yet been traced

'The Cabin Car is the most expensive item in the shop, somebody clearly knew what they were looking for.'

A Leicestershire Police spokesman said: 'At around 8.45pm on Saturday, March 13, officers received a report from a member of the public of a burglary at a commercial premises on Fosse Park Avenue.

'Officers attended and found the front door of the premises had been forced open. A mobility scooter was stolen.

'No injuries were reported and inquiries are ongoing.'

Tom Bousefield, marketing manager at Modern Mobility, said the crook had caused thousands of pounds worth of damage and forced the store to temporarily close.

The Cabin Car scooter which was stolen was a one-off custom-made 158cm long model, weighing 178kg, with a maximum range distance of over 20 miles.

'We couldn't believe it when we saw the footage back and how somebody could stoop so low to steal a mobility scooter.'
WASHINGTON  Twenty-one Republican attorneys general pressed the Biden administration on Tuesday to clarify a provision in the $1.9 trillion economic aid package that the president signed into law last week, warning that its restrictions on state efforts to cut taxes could be the greatest attempted invasion of state sovereignty by Congress in the history of our Republic.

The seven-page letter was signed by a host of Republican officials, including the attorneys general of Texas, Arizona, Georgia and Utah. They take issue with a restriction that lawmakers included in a $350 billion relief effort for state, local and tribal governments that prevents them from using the federal funds to either directly or indirectly offset a reduction in the net tax revenue as a result of tax cuts. These governments have suffered revenue hits and laid off more than a million public employees during the coronavirus pandemic.

The law requires repayment to the federal government of any money that violates those conditions.

In their letter, the Republican officials asked Janet L. Yellen, the Treasury secretary, to clarify how expansively her department would interpret that portion of the law. Does it simply prohibit states from using the federal dollars to offset new tax cuts, or instead prohibit them from cutting taxes for any reason, even if those cuts were in the works before the law passed? The officials said the broader restriction would be damaging and most likely unconstitutional.

This language could be read to deny states the ability to cut taxes in any manner whatsoever  even if they would have provided such tax relief with or without the prospect of Covid-19 relief funds, the attorneys general wrote. Absent a more sensible interpretation from your department, this provision would amount to an unprecedented and unconstitutional intrusion on the separate sovereignty of the states through federal usurpation of essentially one half of the states fiscal ledgers  their ability to collect revenues.
Information on individuals' mobility--where they go as measured by their smartphones--has been used widely in devising and evaluating ways to respond to COVID-19, including how to target public health resources. Yet little attention has been paid to how reliable these data are and what sorts of demographic bias they possess. A new study tested the reliability and bias of widely used mobility data, finding that older and non-White voters are less likely to be captured by these data. Allocating public health resources based on such information could cause disproportionate harms to high-risk elderly and minority groups.

The study, by researchers at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) and Stanford University, appears in the Proceedings of the ACM Conference on Fairness, Accountability, and Transparency, a publication of the Association for Computing Machinery.

"Older age is a major risk factor for COVID-19-related mortality, and African-American, Native-American, and Latinx communities bear a disproportionately high burden of COVID-19 cases and deaths," explains Amanda Coston, a doctoral student at CMU's Heinz College and Machine Learning Department, who led the study as a summer research fellow at Stanford University's Regulation, Evaluation, and Governance Lab. "If these demographic groups are not well represented in data that are used to inform policymaking, we risk enacting policies that fail to help those at greatest risk and further exacerbating serious disparities in the health care response to the pandemic."

During the COVID-19 pandemic, mobility data have been used to analyze the effectiveness of social distancing policies, illustrate how people's travel affects transmission of the virus, and probe how different sectors of the economy have been affected by social distancing. Yet despite the high-stakes settings in which this information has been used, independent assessments of the data's reliability are lacking.

In this study, the first independent audit of demographic bias of a smartphone-based mobility dataset used in the response to COVID-19, researchers assessed the validity of SafeGraph data. This widely used mobility dataset contains information from approximately 47 million mobile devices in the United States. The data come from mobile applications, such as navigation, weather, and social media apps, where users have opted in to location tracking.

When COVID-19 began, SafeGraph released much of its data for free as part of the COVID-19 Data Consortium to enable researchers, nonprofits, and governments to gain insight and inform responses. As a result, SafeGraph's mobility data have been used widely in pandemic research, including by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and to inform public health orders and guidelines issued by governors' offices, large cities, and counties. Researchers in this study sought to determine whether SafeGraph data accurately represent the broader population.

SafeGraph has reported publicly on the representativeness of its data. But the researchers suggest that because the company's analysis examined demographic bias only at Census-aggregated levels and did not address the question of demographic bias for inferences specific to places of interest (e.g. voting places), an independent audit was necessary.

A major challenge in conducting such an audit is the lack of demographic information--SafeGraph data do not contain demographics such as age and race. In this study, researchers showed how administrative data can provide the demographic information necessary for a bias audit, supplementing the information gathered by SafeGraph. They used North Carolina voter registration and turnout records, which typically include information on age, gender, and race, as well as voters' travel to a polling location on Election Day. Their data came from a private voter file vendor that combines publicly available voter records. In all, the study included 539,000 voters from North Carolina who voted at 558 locations during the 2018 general election. The researchers deemed this sample highly representative of all voters in that state.

The study identified a sampling bias in the SafeGraph data that under-represents two high-risk groups, which the authors called particularly concerning in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, older and minority voters were less likely to be captured by the mobility data. This could lead jurisdictions to under-allocate important health resources, such as pop-up testing sites and masks, to vulnerable populations.

"While SafeGraph information may help people make policy decisions, auxiliary information, including prior knowledge about local populations, should also be used to make policy decisions about allocating resources," suggests Alexandra Chouldechova, assistant professor of statistics and public policy at CMU, who coauthored the study.

The authors also call for more work to determine how mobility data can be more representative, including asking firms that provide this kind of data to be more transparent in including the sources of their data (e.g., identifying which smartphone applications were used to access the information).

Among the study's limitations, the authors note that in the United States, voters tend to be older and include more White people than the general population, so the study's results may underestimate the sampling bias in the general population. Additionally, since SafeGraph provides researchers with an aggregated version of the data for privacy reasons, researchers could not test for bias at the individual voter level. Instead, the authors tested for bias at physical places of interest, finding evidence that SafeGraph is more likely to capture traffic to places frequented by younger, largely White visitors than to places frequented by older, largely non-White visitors.

More generally, the study shows how administrative data can be used to overcome the lack of demographic information, which is a common hurdle in conducting bias audits.

###

The study was supported by Stanford University's Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence, the Stanford RISE COVID-19 Crisis Response Faculty Seed Grant Program, CMU's K & L Gates Presidential Fellowship, and the National Science Foundation.
The Marrero man found shot to death inside his home Saturday morning has been identified as Steven Bruer, 33, according to the Jefferson Parish Coroner's Office.

An autopsy determined Bruer died of multiple gunshot wounds, said Chief Death Investigator Mark Bone.

Jefferson Parish sheriff's deputies were sent to Bruer's home in the 1900 block of Bonnie Anne Drive just after 5 a.m. Saturday after they received a 911 call reporting a shooting, authorities said.

+2 West Bank man pleads not guilty to raping three young girls, inappropriately touching a fourth An unincorporated Gretna man was indicted on charges that he raped three young girls -- one at knifepoint -- and inappropriately touched a fou

Deputies found Bruer inside the house. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Detectives had not made any arrests in connection with Bruer's death as of Tuesday. No other details were available.

Anyone with information about the shooting death of Steven Bruer is asked to call the Sheriff's Office investigations bureau at 504-364-5300. The public can also call Crimestoppers at 504-822-1111 or toll-free at 1-877-903-7867. Callers do not have to give their names or testify and can earn a reward of up to $2,500 for information that leads to an indictment.
Fat elephant seals prioritize hiding themselves from predators during their vast, months-long foraging expeditions in the open ocean, while skinny seals need to take more risks until they're nice and plump, a study showed Wednesday.

The paper, published in the journal Science Advances, is the first to continuously measure changes in behavior relative to body fat, proving decades-old ecological theories about how wild animals balance perils against payoffs.

First author Roxanne Beltran, an assistant professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at UC Santa Cruz, told AFP she had long been fascinated by elephant seals, which assemble on California's beaches in winter to breed, give birth, nurse their young and molt before embarking on their summer journey across the North Pacific Ocean.

"It's difficult for us to wrap our minds around what these animals endure during the seven months, 10,000-kilometer (6,000-mile) migrations because it's so fundamentally different from what we do," said Beltran.

Despite appearances, the sea mammals are tremendous athletes.

During their journey, they dive to depths of 700 meters (2,300 feet) in search of fish and squid, averaging 23 minutes per dive with just two minutes at the surface to breathe. If needed, they can hold their breath for up to two hours.

To learn more about what drives the seals' decision making, the researchers outfitted 71 adult female northern elephant seals with satellite tags and time-depth recorders, logging vast amounts of data between 2004-2012.

The team was particularly interested in knowing how the seals split their time between day and night, because they are caught between competing priorities, a dynamic the authors dubbed "lightscapes of fear."

The sharks and killer whales that hunt them are visual predators, so elephant seals are safer resting at night and in depths where light doesn't penetrate, rather than during the day.

Story continues

At the same time, the night time is a more productive feeding period for elephant seals, when their own prey is closer to the surface. Resting at night therefore means sacrificing prime foraging time.

- They know how fat they are -

From the tracking data, the team was able to make out several different types of dive: foraging dives, when the seals swim down and pursue prey at depth; transit dives with no feeding activity; and rest dives, when they drift passively and are thought to be sleeping.

The resting phases enabled the team to calculate the seals' percent of body fat based on their buoyancy in the water, a method developed and validated over recent years.

"It gives us a nearly continuous record of how fat they are, which is unparalleled for any wild animal other than elephant seals," said Beltran.

At the beginning of their migration, the elephant seals are skinny and sink through the water column. But as the feeding migration progresses, they gain weight and their buoyancy becomes less negative until they become positively buoyant, when their body fat reaches 30 percent.

The team found that as they fattened up, the animals were more likely to engage in low-risk rest at night rather than high-reward hunting, proving an ecological theory known as "state-dependent risk taking" while refuting a hypothesis that feeding would always be a higher priority than rest.

The seals in good body condition also started their rest drifts at greater depths while those in poor body condition started their rest drifts closer to the surface.

This makes sense since the fat seals will drift upward towards the dangerous sunlit surface, while the skinny seals sink further down. It also suggests the seals can perceive their own buoyancy -- in other words they know how fat they are.

Intriguingly, the team found that both the upward floating fat seals and sinking skinny seals ended their rest drifts at similar depths, suggesting a mysterious mechanism at play -- perhaps they can also perceive pressure with great accuracy.

As interest grows in fishing in the ocean's "twilight zone" of 200 to 1000 meters (650 to 3,300 feet), there is increasing potential for humans to target the same fishes the elephant seals eat.

The findings thus illuminate future conservation efforts, said Beltran, in addition to advancing our knowledge about this still mysterious ecosystem.

ia/caw
Chip Somodevilla

Hearings are set to begin for Joe Bidens pick for surgeon general, Vivek Murthy, but disclosures revealing the fact that he earned more than $2 million for pandemic consulting and speaking fees could derail his plans.

That is, of course, if anyone cares that Murthy made money from Carnival Cruise Lines (the owner of cruise ships that became infamous for coronavirus outbreaks last year), Airbnb, and several health-related services and products, among other clients, according to a Washington Post report on ethics documents Murthy filed last month.

The son of Indian immigrants, Murthy received his bachelors degree from Harvard and M.D. and MBA degrees from Yale. While working as an internist at Brigham and Womens Hospital in 2007, he co-founded Doctors for Obama. He went on to serve in the Obama administration as the 19th surgeon general of the United States, before being fired by Donald Trump. During the 2020 presidential campaign (presumably at the same time he was doing pandemic consulting), Murthy advised Biden on COVID-19. In September of 2020, he joined the Biden-Harris Transition Teams advisory council.

Meet Obamas Controversial Surgeon General Nominee

These financial disclosures raise questions about a potential conflict of interest having to do with lucrative industries that are related to health. There are large questions in the minds of the public about the health and safety risks that might exist in areas like the cruise industry, and we want the surgeon general to give people completely impartial advice, Jeff Hauser, who leads the Revolving Door Project, told The Washington Post.

It makes sense for Biden to tap experienced people from the previous Democratic administration (which ended just four years ago). But one mans experience is another mans swamp. Corporations and organizations want influence and access to decision-makers in the White House. The downside of Obama retreads is that it looks like yet another example of the infamous revolving door, whereby elites land a prestigious government job, cash in, rejoin the government to gain more experience and contacts, and then cash in even more later.

Story continues

Theres nothing wrong with making money (like Elizabeth Warren, Im a capitalist!), but when cronies repeatedly oscillate between lucrative corporate gigs and high-powered governmental jobs, theres always the worry that the public interest will be supplanted by corporate interest; that officials will effectivelymaybe even subconsciouslyserve as sleeper agents for their once and future clients. This dual loyalty problem is, presumably, especially tempting when we are talking about the prospect of making millions of dollars, as is the case with Murthy. And even if our officials are like Caesars wife, the appearance of impropriety can weaken public trust in government. This is the sort of thing that liberals, presumably, should be wary of.

Lets be honest: I think its fair to say that Democrats, who are largely remaining silent on the ethical conundrums here, would be having a field day if he were a Republican nominee. Actually, we dont have to imagine.

Consider, for example, Elizabeth Warren accusing former FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb of revolving door influence-peddling. Or consider what Bernie Sanders had to say about Alex Azars nomination to head HHS: "During Mr. Azar's tenure at Eli Lilly, this multi-billion-dollar corporation dodged taxes while charging Americans outrageously high prices for life-saving prescription drugs. We need an HHS secretary who is willing to take on the greed of the pharmaceutical industry and lower prescription drug prices, not one who has financially benefited from this greed.

Yes, its true that these examples arent perfectly analogous. But its fair to say that this problem is a bipartisan phenomenon. Its hard to tell someone who has gained experience and contacts via public service that he or she cannot monetize that experience, particularly when public service constitutes a pay cut. When youre an important person who knows things, opportunities tend to fall in your lap. Between consulting, speaking fees, and books, there is a lot of money to be made in the world of politics. (Its worth noting, for example, how Warren made her fortune and how even socialists like Sanders can become millionaires.)

So will this be enough to doom Murthys chances? Not likely. If history is a guide, the money aloneeven from the dreaded cruise ship industrywont be enough to sink this nomination. What is more, at $2.6 million, Murthy is a piker compared to Janet Yellen, who took money from the likes of Goldman Sachs (and other banks she oversees), yet was easily confirmed with 84 votes as Treasury secretary.

While they are unlikely to dwell on Murthys past financial ties (which would be hypocriticalnot that that has stopped them before), having called gun violence a public health problem, Murthy is unlikely to win any Republican support. What this means is that his nomination is hanging by a thread. As The Washington Post reports, Joe Manchin, who supports gun rights and voted against Murthy in 2014 citing his political activism, has not decided how he will vote on Dr. Murthys nomination, according to a spokesperson.

Ultimately, I think Biden gets his man. Unless theres something truly egregious (and not just the appearance of something), thats probably for the best. Besides, Joe Biden never promised to drain the swamp. That was Donald Trumps broken promise. Bidens implicit promise was to return things to normal. And judging by the revolving door, he is.

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Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-16 23:44:25|Editor: huaxia

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Flowers and notes are placed to pay tribute to Sarah Everard in Parliament Square in London, Britain, on March 16, 2021. The British government on Tuesday announced a package of new measures, including better lighting and CCTV in community, to give "further reassurance" to women and girls after the death of 33-year-old Sarah Everard. (Xinhua/Han Yan)

LONDON, March 16 (Xinhua) -- The British government on Tuesday announced a package of new measures, including better lighting and CCTV in community, to give "further reassurance" to women and girls after the death of 33-year-old Sarah Everard.

Following a meeting of the government's Crime and Justice Taskforce on Monday evening, Downing Street said it would take "immediate steps" to help women in England and Wales feel safer.

In a statement, the British government said it would be doubling the size of the Safer Streets fund, which provides local measures such as better lighting and CCTV, to 45 million pounds (about 62.5 million U.S. dollars).

It also promised to send more undercover police to clubs, bars and popular nightspots to relay intelligence about predatory or suspicious offenders to uniformed officers.

These steps have been taken in response to the outpouring of experiences and concerns following the death of Sarah Everard, who went missing while walking home from a friend's apartment in south London on March 3.

Her body was found last week in an area of woodland in Kent, around 50 miles (about 80.47 km) away in southeast England.

A serving Metropolitan police officer, Wayne Couzens, on Saturday appeared in court in London for the first time after being charged with the kidnap and murder of Everard.

Couzens, 48, on Tuesday appeared at the Old Bailey via a videolink from Belmarsh Prison, the BBC reported. The judge set a plea hearing date for July 9 and a provisional trial for Oct. 25.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who chaired the Crime and Justice Taskforce meeting on Monday, said the horrific case of Everard has unleashed a wave of feeling about women not feeling safe at night and the government was bringing in "landmark legislation" to toughen up sentences and put more police on streets.

"Ultimately, we must drive out violence against women and girls and make every part of the criminal justice system work to better protect and defend them," he said.

But the Shadow Home Secretary, Labour Party's Nick Thomas-Symonds, said the measures were "nowhere near good enough" and called for "urgent action" on issues like harassment of women, domestic homicide sentencing and more support for victims of rape.

A spokeswoman for organisation Reclaim These Streets said it welcomed additional funding, but the funding alone would not create the structural changes.

"Women won't be able to trust that they are safe until misogyny and racism are tackled at an institutional level within government, police and the criminal justice system," she said. Enditem
HBCU Lifestyle's "HBCU Career Hub platform for job seekers and employers. Providing HBCU students and alumni with opportunities for professional development and career growth are core to our mission to preserve the Black College tradition.

The HBCU Lifestyle today announced the launch of HBCU Career Hub a new career center that connects HBCU professionals across all disciplines and career stages with employers offering career opportunities. HBCU Career Hub is powered by YM Careers, the leading provider of job websites and career centers for organizations that serve specialized members. Providing HBCU students and alumni with opportunities for professional development and career growth are core to our mission to preserve the Black College tradition, said Garrick Gibson, co-founder, HBCUlifestyle.com HBCU talent is highly appealing to employers because theyve demonstrated a commitment to the highest levels integrity and training. YM Careers technology and sales support will ensure that our website serves our members by providing a clear connection with small to large organizations that value and seek the skills, expertise, certifications and training they have to offer. In addition to serving as a robust source of up to thousands of job opportunities, the HBCU Career Hub will be set apart by a number of benefits it offers to HBCU professionals and employers, including:



The ability for students and alumni of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) to post anonymous resumes, allowing them to be recruited while remaining in complete control over which employers view their complete information.

A variety of options for employers to expose jobs to passive job-seeking professionals who do not visit job boards, including Job Flash emails to HBCU Lifestyles registered job seekers.

Integration of job content into social media channels to engage HBCU professionals and provide valuable job exposure to HBCU Lifestyles audiences and relevant users of Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and other social channels.

Extensive employment brand advertising opportunities for employers.

A mobile-responsive environment to ensure job seekers have an optimal experience, regardless of device being used.

The ability for HBCU professionals to be alerted every time a new job becomes available that matches their personal goals and interests.

Integration of career resources, training and other benefits offered by HBCU Lifestyle to members.

The ability for job seekers and employers to gain exposure throughout YM Careers network of nearly 2,500 niche Career Centers.

The HBCU Lifestyle is a world-class organization whose members are an integral part of the countrys HBCU community, said Tristan Jordan, SVP and General Manager, Revenue Solutions. The HBCU Career Hub is an innovative gateway that matches the right employers with the right talent to help keep competitive companies well-staffed, and HBCU graduates' careers moving along a professional path that meets their goals.

For more information, please visit the HBCU Career Hub: https://hbculifestyle.com/jobs.

About the HBCU Lifestyle

Since 2011, HBCU Lifestyle has connected students attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities with the people, places, and resources that define their college experience. From admissions information to Greek life, HBCU Lifestyle provides relevant news, advice and insights covering college life, careers, college rankings and scholarships to parents, students, alumni, and supporters across the country.

About YourMembership

YourMembership, established in 1998, empowers associations, organizations, nonprofits and other companies worldwide to deliver more value to their users, drive non-dues revenue through innovative career centers and buyers guides, increase their relevance using ground-breaking engagement tools, and enhance overall operational efficiencies. YourMembership's cloud-based membership management solution enables associations to effectively brand their organizations, engage their customer bases, and streamline their administrative processes. As the worlds largest provider of membership and company management software, YourMembership provides comprehensive membership solutions to more than 5,000 customers in 32 countries.

For more information visit YourMembership.com
ABC NewsBy BEN GITTLESON, ABC News



(WASHINGTON) -- President Joe Biden said in an exclusive interview with ABC News' George Stephanopoulos on Tuesday that his message to migrants is "Don't come over."



Amid a surge of migrants and unaccompanied minors on the U.S. southern border, Stephanopoulos asked the president, "Do you have to say quite clearly, 'Don't come'?"



"Yes, I can say quite clearly: Don't come over," Biden said during the wide-ranging interview in Darby, Pennsylvania.



"Don't leave your town or city or community," he added.



The number of unaccompanied teens and children who have been taken into U.S. custody along the U.S.-Mexico border has shot up in recent weeks, as the number of migrants attempting to cross into the country increases.



Republicans have said Biden's moves to rescind former President Donald Trump's harsh immigration policies have encouraged migrants to come to the United States, but Biden told ABC News that "we're sending back people" who cross the border.



Stephanopoulos asked Biden: "Was "a mistake not to anticipate this surge?"



"First of all, there was a surge in the last two years," the president said. "In '19 and '20, there was a surge, as well."



Stephanopoulos noted, "This one might be worse," and Biden acknowledged, "Well, it could be."



"The idea that Joe Biden said, 'Come' -- because I heard the other day that they're coming because they know I'm a nice guy," Biden said.



"Here's the deal, they're not," he said.



Biden spoke with ABC News during a visit to the Philadelphia suburbs to promote the $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill he signed into law last week.



Watch more of the interview with President Joe Biden on ABC's "Good Morning America" on Wednesday, March 17, at 7 a.m. EDT.

Copyright  2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.
Historic Mining Camp Greenwood BC

VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / March 17, 2021 / Ximen Mining Corp. (TSXV:XIM)(FRA:1XMA)(OTCQB:XXMMF) (the "Company" or "Ximen") is pleased to announce that that it has completed its airborne geophysical survey at Greenwood in southern British Columbia.

The helicopter-borne VTEM and magnetics survey has now been completed over the Providence and Bud-Elk properties. The survey results are expected to be delivered within weeks and will be used to guide the Company's 2021 exploration programs. The survey is expected to outline conductive bodies related to massive sulphide occurrences, magnetic bodies related to skarn bodies and related magnetic intrusions and will guide the interpretation of geological features related to vein-type mineralization.

Providence Property



Massive sulphide, pit. 0.23% copper & 3.4 g/t silver Vein quartz from historic mine 3.87 g/t gold and 100 g/t silver

Ximen's Providence property covers several mineral occurrences and historic mines including the Freemont mine, where 2020 sampling returned values of 435 grams per tonne silver (12.7 ounces per ton) and 4.4 grams per tonne gold, with 0.22% lead (see release dated Oct 19, 2020). The property also contains massive sulphide mineralization that previously assayed 0.23% copper and 3.4 g/t silver (2018 grab sample). In addition, drilling by Ximen in 2020 on its ground adjoining the historic Providence mine intersected 178 grams per tonne silver over 0.7 meters (see news release dated February 22). This suggests a possible extension of the Providence deposit onto Ximen's property. The historic Providence silver mine has recoded production of 1,368,075 ounces of silver, 5,896 ounces of gold, 402,690 pounds lead and 260,086 pounds of zinc from 10,426 tonnes mined (BC Minfile records).

Ximen's Bud-Elk property covers the historic Morrison mine, which produced 7.15 kilograms of gold, 26.0 kilograms of silver and 10.7 tonnes copper from 2,647 tonnes (calculated grades are 2.7 grams per tonne gold, 9.8 grams per tonne silver and 0.4% copper). The property also lies 500 metres from the historic Motherlode mine, which produced 21,405,520 grams of silver, 5,390,837 grams of gold, and 34,915,323 kilograms of copper from 4,245,875 tonnes mined (BC Minfile). The Motherlode and Morrison are classified as skarn-type copper-gold deposits.

Porphyry copper-gold mineralization occurs at the Buckhorn and Moreen showings on the Bud-Elk property, as demonstrated by results from previous owners including 45.0 metres grading 0.57% Cu and 0.40 g/t Au from trenching at the Buckhorn, and 32 metres grading 0.23% Cu and 0.12 g/t Au at the Moreen.

Readers are cautioned that historical records referred to in this News Release have been examined but not verified by a Qualified Person. Further work is required to verify that historical records referred to in this News Release are accurate.

Dr. Mathew Ball, P.Geo., VP Exploration for Ximen Mining Corp. and a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101, approved the technical information contained in this News Release.

On behalf of the Board of Directors,

"Christopher R. Anderson"

Christopher R. Anderson,

President, CEO and Director

604 488-3900

Investor Relations: Sophy Cesar, 604-488-3900, ir@XimenMiningCorp.com

About Ximen Mining Corp.

Ximen Mining Corp. owns 100% interest in three of its precious metal projects located in southern BC. Ximen's two Gold projects The Amelia Gold Mine and The Brett Epithermal Gold Project. Ximen also owns the Treasure Mountain Silver Project adjacent to the past producing Huldra Silver Mine. Currently, the Treasure Mountain Silver Project is under a option agreement. The option partner is making annual staged cash and stocks payments as well as funding the development of the project. The company has recently acquired control of the Kenville Gold mine near Nelson British Columbia which comes with surface and underground rights, buildings and equipment.

Ximen is a publicly listed company trading on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol XIM, in the USA under the symbol XXMMF, and in Frankfurt, Munich, and Berlin Stock Exchanges in Germany under the symbol 1XMA and WKN with the number as A2JBKL.

This press release contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Canadian securities This press release contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation, including statements regarding the receipt of TSX Venture Exchange approval and the exercise of the Option by Ximen. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts; they are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "intends," "estimates," "projects," "aims," "potential," "goal," "objective," "prospective," and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will," "would," "may," "can," "could" or "should" occur, or are those statements, which, by their nature, refer to future events. The Company cautions that forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made and they involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Consequently, there can be no assurances that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Except to the extent required by applicable securities laws and the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements if management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change. Factors that could cause future results to differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements include the possibility that the TSX Venture Exchange may not accept the proposed transaction in a timely manner, if at all. The reader is urged to refer to the Company's reports, publicly available through the Canadian Securities Administrators' System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval (SEDAR) at www.sedar.com for a more complete discussion of such risk factors and their potential effects.

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any state in the United States in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Ximen Mining Corp

888 Dunsmuir Street - Suite 888, Vancouver, B.C., V6C 3K4 Tel: 604-488-3900

SOURCE: Ximen Mining Corp.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/635993/Ximen-Mining-Completes-Airborne-VTEM-Geophysical-Survey-Over-Bud-Elk-and-Providence-Properties
A transitional government in Libya on March 16 took power in the capital Tripoli, officially beginning a tenure designed to and with democratic elections late this year. According to AP, Fayez Sarraj, who is the head of the outgoing UN-supported administration, transferred power to Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah, and Mohammad Younes Menfi, who chairs a three-member Presidential Council. The ceremony in the capital city came after Dbeibah and his cabinet were sworn in before lawmakers and Libyas top judges in the eastern town of Tobruk.

The smooth transfer of power in Libya is now seen as an important step to end the chaos in the North African country. Back in 2014, the lack of a proper handover among legislators was a major factor in the split of Libyas institutions. However, after Tuesdays ceremony, Claudia Gazzini, a Libya expert at the International Crisis Group, called the day historic for Libya. But she also added that the interim government would face huge challenges, mainly avoiding political impasse or a relapse of war.

Libyan crisis

It is worth noting that prior to the Tripoli ceremony, lawmakers had already endorsed the interim government last week amid International pressure to implement an UN-brokered political roadmap. According to AP, the roadmap, agreed to by an UN-picked Libyan political forum last year, has set December 24 for general elections in the oil-rich country.

Libya has plunged into chaos when a NATO-backed uprising in 2011 toppled longtime ruler Moammar Gadhafi, who was later killed. The country, since then, fell into the hands of competing rival militias, and politicians that divided self-defined government in Tripoli and the Libyan east. The North African nation also turned a hoisting ground for radical Islamic rebel groups and terrorist organizations like Daesh and Al Qaida, with conflict intensifying due to the influx of arms.

(Image: AP)
Distinguished leader Steve Neat joins Alation to accelerate growth and regional expansion, enhance customer intimacy

Alation Inc., the leader in enterprise data intelligence solutions, today announced the appointment of Steve Neat as its new Vice President of Sales for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA). Steve will address the ever-increasing demand for Alation in EMEA; develop new sales channels; and contribute to strategies that drive business value for Alation's international customers.

"I am excited to have a deep-rooted industry executive like Steve join the Alation team to lead our growth in EMEA," said Satyen Sangani, CEO and co-founder, Alation. "His wealth of knowledge and experience building teams and supporting customers will be instrumental in ensuring we capture the significant demand for Alation in EMEA."

With an extensive knowledge base of business applications for the enterprise, Neat brings more than 35 years of experience and a track record of building and scaling high-performing sales teams. As an experienced executive he will draw upon his expertise in analytics, CRM, ERP and data intelligence, having previously worked for companies such as Oracle, Siebel Systems, SAS, and SAP. Most recently, Neat joins Alation from Collibra, where he served as Vice President of Sales, EMEA, for nearly five years and scaled the organization's EMEA sales team.

"Alation is well-positioned within the enterprise data intelligence market, as organizations of all sizes race to create a data culture and become more data-driven," said Steve Neat, Vice President of Sales, EMEA, Alation. "I'm excited to join Alation at this pivotal stage of growth, further expand our sales coverage beyond the U.S., and build out a local team to better serve our customers and help them succeed on their data intelligence journeys."

Learn more:

Join our growing team

Read our blog

About Alation

Alation pioneered the data catalog market and today is leading its evolution into a platform for a broad range of data intelligence solutions including data search discovery, data governance, data stewardship, analytics, and digital transformation. Thanks to its powerful Behavioral Analysis Engine, inbuilt collaboration capabilities, and open interfaces, Alation combines machine learning with human insight to successfully tackle even the most demanding challenges in data and metadata management. More than 230 enterprises drive data culture, improve decision making, and realize business outcomes with Alation, including AbbVie, American Family Insurance, Cisco, Exelon, Finnair, Munich Re, New Balance, Pfizer, Scandinavian Airlines, and US Foods. Headquartered in Silicon Valley, Alation is backed by leading venture capitalists including Costanoa, Data Collective, Icon, Sapphire, and Salesforce Ventures. For more information, visit alation.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210317005115/en/

Contacts:

Media Contact:

Ashley Womack

Director, Public Relations

Ashley.Womack@alation.com
genial \ jen-yl , je-ne-l \ adjective

1. diffusing warmth and friendliness 2. agreeably mild; conducive to comfort

_________

The word genial has appeared in 105 articles on NYTimes.com in the past year, including on Nov. 5 in Operation Christmas Drop Review: Heavy Military Presents by Kyle Turner:

Everything in Operation Christmas Drop falls predictably into place like children nestled all snug in their beds. Each plot point and character dynamic appears predetermined, and not in a seasonally charming way. The icy and professionally stifled legislative aide, Erica (Kat Graham), is sent by her Grinchy congresswoman boss (Virginia Madsen) to evaluate the efficiency of a U.S. Air Force base in Guam. There, she goes toe to toe with Andrew (Alexander Ludwig), a genial Air Force captain who spearheads the operation of the title, where gifts are parachuted to people on neighboring islands. He must convince the Scrooge-like local mayor (Aaron Douglas) to help contribute to the mission of American altruism. And Ericas assignment might be aborted in favor of holiday miracles.

Daily Word Challenge

Can you correctly use the word genial in a sentence?

Based on the definition and example provided, write a sentence using todays Word of the Day and share it as a comment on this article. It is most important that your sentence makes sense and demonstrates that you understand the words definition, but we also encourage you to be creative and have fun.

Then, read some of the other sentences students have submitted and use the Recommend button to vote for two original sentences that stand out to you.

If you want a better idea of how genial can be used in a sentence, read these usage examples on Vocabulary.com.

If you enjoy this daily challenge, try using multiple Words of the Day in a 50-word story that you submit to our Monthly Vocabulary Challenge.
The New IRA is becoming increasingly concerned that there is another tout in their midst.

The Sunday World can reveal that the levels of paranoia among members of the dissident gang are at an all-time high as police swoop in and make more arrests.

In the past two weeks eight people have been arrested in connection with suspected NIRA activities across the North, one being a heavily pregnant Belfast woman.

The arrests are part of joint PSNI/MI5 investigation know as Operation Arbacia which has already resulted in terrorist charges being pressed against the NIRAs suspected leadership last August.

It was revealed then that the arrests were linked to the role of MI5 agent Dennis McFadden who had infiltrated the NIRA and its political wing Saoradh.

McFadden, who has since disappeared, was at the time blamed for bringing down the NIRA and instilling fear among members who have now began to distrust each other.

The recent spate of arrests had deepened this distrust.

Everything went quiet after Dennis McFadden, there were hardly any arrests but then all of a sudden, in a short period of time, people are being lifted left, right and centre. There are serious concerns that we have another McFadden who has not been identified and MI5 are just getting ready to go again, said one dissident source.

The PSNI and the spooks are obviously acting on new information, if they had of had it at the time McFadden was spilling his guts then they would have used it then so someone else is obviously talking.

There is not a good feeling amongst the leaders or the members. To put it bluntly, no one trusts anyone 100 per cent at the minute, he said.

The Sunday World understands that the leadership of the dissident criminal gang fear media reports of the arrests will damage their recruitment drive.

Not only will this lead to some members turning their backs it will also discourage those who are thinking of joining up from coming forward. You would think twice wouldnt you? We hardly look to be very solid at the minute, a Belfast source explained.

The other thing here is that any planned operations could be affected. I can tell you one thing I wouldnt be putting my hand up to plan or take part in any form of operation in this current climate. Its just too unstable.

The New IRA have also recently come up with a plan to stop the media reporting on suspects arrested and brought before the courts.

They have been told to apply for anonymity orders in court to prevent their name, address and other details of their case being reported by the press.

Thats the latest move, say your life is in danger because of the nature of the false charges being brought against you, and ask the judge to grant an anonymity order. The plan is to keep the attention of the media to a minimum, the source added.

Last Wednesday detectives from Strand Road, along with colleagues from the PSNIs Terrorism Investigation Unit investigating dissident republicans, made four other arrests.

Detective Inspector Finlay said: The men, aged 49, 21 and 19 years old were arrested under the Terrorism Act. A 61-year-old man has also been arrested on suspicion of attempting to pervert the course of Justice. All four men are currently assisting police with their inquiries.

The proactive policing operation conducted today outlines our commitment to tackling serious crime in our communities,

MI5 said: It (the New IRA) still exists and is still dangerous.

Detective Chief Superintendent Raymond Murray, Head of Serious Crime Branch, said: Since the arrest and charging of eight men and two women last August, police have continued examining lines of inquiry in connection with this ongoing investigation into the activities of the New IRA.

These arrests demonstrate that despite significant progress against the New IRA, we cannot be complacent about investigating their activities.

The New IRA continues to pose a danger, especially to the communities in the areas they live and conduct their activities.

I would ask that anyone with information on their activities, especially the brutal attacks they carry out or the location of the guns and explosives which they often leave in public areas, to tell the police. Our investigations are most effective when police and communities work together.
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

As researchers push the boundaries of battery design, seeking to pack ever greater amounts of power and energy into a given amount of space or weight, one of the more promising technologies being studied is lithium-ion batteries that use a solid electrolyte material between the two electrodes, rather than the typical liquid.

But such batteries have been plagued by a tendency for branch-like projections of metal called dendrites to form on one of the electrodes, eventually bridging the electrolyte and shorting out the battery cell. Now, researchers at MIT and elsewhere have found a way to prevent such dendrite formation, potentially unleashing the potential of this new type of high-powered battery.

The findings are described in the journal Nature Energy, in a paper by MIT graduate student Richard Park, professors Yet-Ming Chiang and Craig Carter, and seven others at MIT, Texas A&M University, Brown University, and Carnegie Mellon University.

Solid-state batteries, Chiang explains, have been a long-sought technology for two reasons: safety and energy density. But, he says, "the only way you can reach the energy densities that are interesting is if you use a metal electrode." And while it's possible to couple that metal electrode with a liquid electrolyte and still get good energy density, that does not provide the same safety advantage as a solid electrolyte does, he says.

Solid state batteries only make sense with metal electrodes, he says, but attempts to develop such batteries have been hampered by the growth of dendrites, which eventually bridge the gap between the two electrode plates and short out the circuit, weakening or inactivating that cell in a battery.

It's been known that dendrites form more rapidly when the current flow is higherwhich is generally desirable in order to allow rapid charging. So far, the current densities that have been achieved in experimental solid-state batteries have been far short of what would be needed for a practical commercial rechargeable battery. But the promise is worth pursuing, Chiang says, because the amount of energy that can be stored in experimental versions of such cells, is already nearly double that of conventional lithium-ion batteries.

The team solved the dendrite problem by adopting a compromise between solid and liquid states. They made a semisolid electrode, in contact with a solid electrolyte material. The semisolid electrode provided a kind of self-healing surface at the interface, rather than the brittle surface of a solid that could lead to tiny cracks that provide the initial seeds for dendrite formation.

The idea was inspired by experimental high-temperature batteries, in which one or both electrodes consist of molten metal. According to Park, the first author of the paper, the hundreds-of-degrees temperatures of molten-metal batteries would never be practical for a portable device, but the work did demonstrate that a liquid interface can enable high current densities with no dendrite formation. "The motivation here was to develop electrodes that are based on carefully selected alloys in order to introduce a liquid phase that can serve as a self-healing component of the metal electrode," Park says.

The material is more solid than liquid, he explains, but resembles the amalgam dentists use to fill a cavitysolid metal, but still able to flow and be shaped. At the ordinary temperatures that the battery operates in, "it stays in a regime where you have both a solid phase and a liquid phase," in this case made of a mixture of sodium and potassium. The team demonstrated that it was possible to run the system at 20 times greater current than using solid lithium, without forming any dendrites, Chiang says. The next step was to replicate that performance with an actual lithium-containing electrode.

In a second version of their solid battery, the team introduced a very thin layer of liquid sodium potassium alloy in between a solid lithium electrode and a solid electrolyte. They showed that this approach could also overcome the dendrite problem, providing an alternative approach for further research.

The new approaches, Chiang says, could easily be adapted to many different versions of solid-state lithium batteries that are being investigated by researchers around the world. He says the team's next step will be to demonstrate this system's applicability to a variety of battery architectures. Co-author Viswanathan, professor of mechanical engineering at Carnegie Mellon University, says, "We think we can translate this approach to really any solid-state lithium-ion battery. We think it could be used immediately in cell development for a wide range of applications, from handheld devices to electric vehicles to electric aviation."

Explore further Healing ceramic electrolyte degraded by lithium dendrite

More information: Richard J.-Y. Park et al, Semi-solid alkali metal electrodes enabling high critical current densities in solid electrolyte batteries, Nature Energy (2021). Journal information: Nature Energy Richard J.-Y. Park et al, Semi-solid alkali metal electrodes enabling high critical current densities in solid electrolyte batteries,(2021). DOI: 10.1038/s41560-021-00786-w
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Partly cloudy this evening with more clouds for overnight. Low near 65F. Winds light and variable.
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China will simplify visa applications for many foreign nationals who have been inoculated with Chinese-produced COVID-19 vaccines, the latest step toward normalizing personnel exchanges.

Starting on Monday, Chinese embassies in multiple countries, including Japan, Israel, Thailand, Pakistan and the Philippines, streamlined visa application procedures in such cases. Other nations included in the plan include the United States, Germany, Australia and Greece.

The new provision applies to people who wish to visit China for several types of non-tourism purposes.

Those planning to visit for business purposes and who have been inoculated with a Chinese vaccine can prepare their visa application and inoculation materials and apply for visas according to requirements in pre-epidemic times, according to a notice issued by the Chinese Embassy in the US.

Foreign family members of Chinese citizens or permanent residents can apply for visas "out of emergency humanitarian needs" once their vaccination certificates are obtained.

Meanwhile, foreign nationals with business travel cards from the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum can also resume visa applications with invitation letters and vaccination certificates, the statement said.

The notice said that vaccinated passengers traveling to China by air are still required to provide negative certificates of nucleic acid tests and IgM antibody tests before boarding and should comply with Chinese regulations on quarantine and observation after arriving.

The facilitation arrangements for those inoculated with Chinese vaccines are based on full consideration of the security and effectiveness of the vaccines, Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said on Tuesday. Zhao called it a meaningful attempt to facilitate cross-border travel.

China also plans to roll out health certificates for international travelers that will declare a person's vaccination status or recent test results to facilitate the safe and orderly flow of personnel, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said at a news conference on March 10.

China is willing to discuss mutual recognition of vaccination, and how it would work, with other countries, he added.

Meanwhile, the leaders of the 27-member European Union said they hope to adopt a proposal for its vaccine "passport", known as a Green Digital Certificate, at a meeting of member states on Wednesday.

The bloc's proposal stated that four vaccines made by developers in the US and the United Kingdom and approved by the European Medicines Agency will be valid for travel in the EU.

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has said she hopes it will allow people "to move safely in the European Union or abroadfor work or tourism".

However, the EMA is not currently considering China's vaccines for inclusion, even though Viktor Orban, the prime minister of Hungary, an EU member country, has been given the vaccine made by Sinopharm, a Chinese company.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic called the exclusion of Chinese vaccines a "bad and scandalous decision "during an interview on Saturday.

"How are they going to ban the arrival of the Hungarian prime minister, who had China's vaccine?"

Vucic said he was now even more motivated to get a Chinese vaccine. He said that given that Serbia had not received vaccines from Europe, it would mean Serbia's residents would not be allowed to travel to the EU under the EMA's stance. Serbia, which is not an EU member, was the first European country to receive the Sinopharm vaccine.
Editor: Since former President Donald Trumps reign of terror has ended, the question has become, what is the future of the Republican Party?

This should not be difficult to answer. When a political party has to rely on gerrymandering and voter suppression to win elections, its future cannot be very bright.

After losing the presidency and key Senate races in once-solid red states such as Georgia and Arizona, Republican-controlled state legislatures nationwide have introduced more than 200 bills this year to restrict voting access. According to Myrna Perez, director of the voting rights and election programs at the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University, some politicians want to manipulate the rules so that some people can participate and some cannot.

Why do Republicans find it necessary to make it harder for certain groups of people to vote? The answer is quite simple: They have no honest policy platform to run on. Their whole existence revolves around the web of lies that they have spun over the years.

Every election cycle they tell voters they are the party of fiscal responsibility, law and order and the defenders of our Constitution. If you believe these worn-out, old lies, you probably believe that Trump won the 2020 election.

The Jan. 6 attack on our democracy, including the assault on the Capitol and events that followed, exposed the Republican Party for what it really is. Republicans are the greatest threat to our democracy.

BEN EGLESIA

DICKSON CITY

Editor: Have the Republicans abandoned politics?

Of all the blunders that desperate Trumpers have proposed recently, suppressing the vote is the most callow. The vote is our sacred privilege in a country whose Constitution begins with the phrase, We the people...

Along with the murderous Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol and the claim that Joe Biden wasnt elected president, it is part of a civil war that they have declared. They utter the most dangerous propaganda. Now, they move to suppress the vote. What comes next? One can only shudder, recalling repressive regimes that used propaganda as effective weapons.

Its dangerous because the cult of former President Trump believes what they are told. They are not citizens but subjects  taking orders from upstairs. Why bother with voting? Why mess with politics? Republicans in the Senate, it seems, have erased politics from their agenda. A major bill that will help cover the enormous costs of the pandemic, particularly for people in need regardless of political leanings, passed without a single Republican vote.

Now, Republicans want to suppress voting and violate the very essence of our freedom. We are citizens, not subjects. We, as every elected president recognized before Trump, are engaged and informed citizens. We are the very essence of a free, democratic nation.

Suppressing voting is one more nail in the coffin of our democracy. Are we the nation whose people assault the Capitol and suppress voting  moving us further onto the path of authoritarianism?

No, were the people who elected Biden, a true antidote to Trump and Trumpism. With his robust leadership and commitment to the public good, we will get through these times. Unfortunately bipartisanship is nowhere to be found  for now.

SONDRA MYERS

SCRANTON

Editor: I thank David Fallk (Target misplaced, March 3) for continuing the debate on whether Israel is a democracy or an apartheid regime.

It is a necessary conversation as the American public is swamped with false narratives about the Middle East, particularly the Palestine issue.

By definition an apartheid regime is the antithesis of a democracy. The 1973 International Convention on Apartheid defines it as discrimination on the basis of racial, ethnic, religious or national background  inhuman acts committed for the purpose of establishing and maintaining domination by one racial group of persons over any other racial group of persons and systematically oppressing them.

International criminal law recognizes racial groups as social rather than biological. Does Israel satisfy the conditions of apartheid? Lets count the ways.

Palestinians and Israelis in the same territory are subject to two legal systems  military courts for Palestinians, civilian courts for Israelis. In the occupied territories Jews can immigrate and gain citizenship; Palestinians cannot. Palestinians in the occupied territories are subject to military rule, denied freedom of expression, freedom of assembly, freedom of movement and even the right not to be detained indefinitely without trial.

In the West Bank, Israel has demolished thousands of Palestinian houses and built thousands of houses for Israeli Jews, while rejecting 96% of Palestinian building applications.

We witness medical apartheid as Israel has set world records on vaccinating 40% of Israeli Jews  8 million shots  with no public rollout for Palestinians, even delaying a shipment to Gaza.

DOMINIC SAADI

SCRANTON

Editor: An armchair physiologist from Clarks Summit (Doddering Biden hard to follow, March 8) diagnosed President Biden with dementia, claiming that his ailment gave the writer difficulty following him.

The letter included a classless Trumpian shot at our presidents deeply personal losses.

Mysteriously, however, the writer failed to include this prolific presidential pontification: Theyre (windmills) made in China and Germany mostly. But theyre manufactured tremendous if youre into this, tremendous fumes. Gases are spewing into the atmosphere. You know we have a world, right? So the world is tiny compared to the universe. So tremendous, tremendous amount of fumes and everything. You talk about the carbon footprint, fumes are spewing into the air, right? Spewing. Whether its in China, Germany, its going into the air. Its our air, their air, everything, right?

Where was the armchair diagnosis from the writer after this head-scratching syntax came from Trump? Perhaps the diagnosis vanished like dust in the windmills.

VINCE MORABITO

SCRANTON
South Africa: Work begins on Greater Breyten water scheme

Water and Sanitation Deputy Minister, David Mahlobo, has performed a sod turning to mark the beginning of work on the Greater Breyten Water Supply Scheme project in Warburton, Mpumalanga.

The Greater Breyten Water Supply Scheme project is part of the Msukaligwa Regional Bulk Supply Scheme, which aims to ensure that all water infrastructure has sufficient capacity to cater for the future water demands over a 30-year design horizon.

The project, which is planned for 36 months and anticipated to be completed by 13 May 2024, will cover four magisterial areas in Msukaligwa Local Municipality, including Breyten, Chrissiesmeer, Lothair and Warburton.

The sod turning ceremony, held on Tuesday, took place during National Water Week, which is observed from 15 to 22 March 2021. This years celebration takes place under the theme 'Valuing water', which is also the theme for World Water Day, which is observed on 22 March.

At the sod turning ceremony, Mahlobo acknowledged that the community is not well served, especially when it comes to water provision.

Today marks a major milestone towards achieving the infrastructure goals, as articulated in our Water Master and National Development Plan of Infrastructure Development and Provision of Access to Water for our people.

We are very confident that after the completion of these water projects, our people will have access to water and decent sanitation, which will restore dignity to our people, Mahlobo said.

Work is underway to draw water from Torbanite Dam and bring it to Breyten, Chrissiesmeer, Warburton and Lothair.

Today, together with the District Mayor and the Local Mayor, we are handing over to the contractor to start working under the implementing agent, which is the Gert Sibande District, the Deputy Minister said.

He condemned the vandalism and theft of water infrastructure, as this leaves people without water.

He called on the community to work with government to prevent theft and vandalism of water infrastructure.

The project scope includes the refurbishment of the Torbanite Dam pump station; installation of a new raw water rising main from Torbanite Dam to Breyten Water Treatment Works (WTW); refurbishment of the Breyten WTW; installation of a new rising main from Breyten WTW to Breyten WTW reservoirs; replacement of secondary bulk mains supplying Breyten town, and installation of a new rising main from Breyten WTW to Chrissiesmeer bulk reservoirs.

It also includes the construction of a new pump station at Chrissiesmeer reservoir site to provide bulk water supply to Warburton; installation of a new secondary bulk main from new Warburton reservoir to Warburton reticulation; installation of new gravity main from Chrissiemeer bulk reservoirs to Lothair reservoirs; installation of reservoirs in Lothair, as well as the installation of new rising main from the in line booster pump station to the elevated tanks in Lothair.  SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2021-03-17. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
The shenanigan we have here sees a 2020 GT500 sporting the coveted Carbon Fiber Track Package going all out on a dry lake bed, with the mix between the muscle car and the clouds of dust it generates bringing a bit of a Mad Max vibe.The adventure is the result of two YouTubers joining forces: Tim Burton, a.k.a. Shmee150, brought the pony, while James Neese, whom social media calls The Stradman, took the adventure to his usual playground in Utah. You might be familiar with this scenery thanks to the latter vlogger's countless adventures in the area, such as this C8 Chevrolet Corvette top speed shenanigan Following some warm-up runs, Shmee put the pedal to the metal and kept it there until the digital speedometer showed 183 mph (294.6) kph, even though we mustn't take the pinch of extra speed all that seriously, with the sheer adventure being the focus here. After all, factors such as the speedo errors and the surface becoming uneven at times can influence the go-fast number.Keep in mind that, at that speed, the muscle beast delivered 550 lbs (250 kg) of downforce via the said Carbon Fiber Track Package, while that value would go down to a still-respectable 379 lbs (172 kg) for the Handling Package. While we're talking packages, note that the list has been updated for 2021 As for why a Mustang whose supercharged 5.2-liter V8 delivers 760 horsepower was limited to the said top speed, one of the reasons involves the vehicle's overall balance and tuning.You see, while the GT500 has traditionally been out of its comfort zone at the track, the Blue Oval set out to change that for the S550 incarnation. As such, instead of focusing on the cooling and stability requirements of allowing the muscle car to do, say, 200+ mph, Ford worked towards turning the machine into an overall performer, circuit duty included.Sure, both the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 and the Dodge Challenger Hellcat Redeye have higher top speeds. But, like the video we have here proves, the scenarios where a driver gets to enjoy such stratospheric numbers are extremely limited.(the Vmax run kicks off at the 9:53 timestamp)
A massage parlor is seen after a shooting, late Tuesday, March 16, 2021, in Atlanta. Authorities say shootings at three Atlanta-area massage parlors have left several people dead, many of them women of Asian descent. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

The suspect in a series of shootings that left eight people dead at massage parlours in the Atlanta area may have a sexual addiction, officials have said, but added it was too early to say if the attack was a hate crime.

Police arrested a white 21-year-old Georgia man who they say has taken responsibility for the shootings, while denying they were racially motivated. Six of the victims were identified as Asian and seven were women.

Officials told reporters that Robert Aaron Long, from Woodstock, said he was a frequent visitor to massage parlours and intended to eliminate the temptation he thought they posed. Officials would not say whether sex took place at the parlours where the shootings occurred.

They said Long was acting alone and a 9mm handgun was found in his car when he was arrested, and he was planning to go to Florida to attack some type of porn industry.

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He made indicators that he has some issues, potentially sexual addiction, and may have frequented some of these places in the past, said Sheriff Frank Reynolds of Cherokee County, where one of the targeted businesses was.

He said it was too early to tell if it was racially motivated, but the indicators right now are it may not be. We believe that he frequented these places in the past and maybe have been lashing out.

Atlanta Police Chief Rodney Bryant said it was too early to say if it was hate crime, but many members of the Asian American community said they felt they had been targeted.

Were in a place where weve seen an increase in hate crimes against Asian Americans since the pandemic started, said Georgia state representative Bee Nguyen. Its hard to think it is not targeted specifically toward our community.

The attacks began on Tuesday evening, when five people were shot at Youngs Asian Massage Parlour near Woodstock, about 30 miles north of Atlanta, Cherokee County Sheriffs spokesman Captain Jay Baker said.

Two people died at the scene and three were taken to hospital where two more died, he said.

The Sheriffs Office identified the victims as Delaina Ashley Yaun, 33, Paul Andre Michels, 54, Xiaojie Yan, 49, and Daoyou Feng, 44.

The injured person is 30-year-old Elcias R Hernandez-Ortiz.

APD gives an update on multiple shootings that occurred on Tuesday, March 16, 2021 involving massage parlors: https://t.co/N7lSo5j2CU  Atlanta Police Department (@Atlanta_Police) March 17, 2021

About an hour later, police responding to a call about a robbery found three women dead from apparent gunshot wounds at Gold Spa near Atlantas Buckhead area.

Officers then learned of a call reporting shots fired across the street, at Aromatherapy Spa, and found another woman apparently shot dead.

It appears that they may be Asian, Mr Bryant said.

The attacks came after a recent wave of assaults on Asian Americans that coincided with the spread of coronavirus across the US. The virus was first identified in China, and then-president Donald Trump and others have used racially charged terms like Chinese virus to describe it.

Over the past year, thousands of incidents of abuse have been reported to an anti-hate group that tracks incidents against Asian Americans, and hate crimes in general are at the highest level in more than a decade.

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White House press secretary Jen Psaki said President Joe Biden has been briefed on the horrific shootings and would receive an update later from attorney general Merrick Garland and FBI director Christopher Wray.

Former president Barack Obama said: Even as weve battled the pandemic, weve continued to neglect the longer-lasting epidemic of gun violence in America.

While acknowledging that the gunmans motive was not known, he said the identity of the victims underscores an alarming rise in anti-Asian violence that must end.

Surveillance video recorded a man pulling up to the Cherokee County business about 10 minutes before the attack there, and the same car was spotted outside the Atlanta businesses, authorities said.

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A manhunt was launched, and Long was taken into custody in Crisp County, about 150 miles south of Atlanta, Mr Baker said.

Video evidence suggests it is extremely likely our suspect is the same as Cherokee Countys, who is in custody, Atlanta police said in a statement.

South Koreas Foreign Ministry said its diplomats in Atlanta have confirmed with police that four of the victims who died were women of Korean descent. The ministry said its Consulate General in Atlanta is trying to confirm their nationalities.

FBI spokesman Kevin Rowson said the agency is assisting Atlanta and Cherokee County authorities in the investigation.
The Border Crisis May Be Coming to Your Kids School

Commentary

The Biden administration is scrambling to shelter thousands of unaccompanied minors crossing the southern border from Central America. The media are declaring the crush at the border a crisis.

Truth is, this crisis could be heading to your school district. If your kids are in public school or you pay school taxes, you need to know the facts.

The media show photos of young migrant children. Dont fall for that. Three-quarters of these unaccompanied minors are young men ages 15 to 17. Think tattoos, not teddy bears.

These teens are carrying the name and phone number of a relative in the United States who will sponsor them. A few weeks after surrendering to border officials, theyll board buses to Los Angeles, Houston, or New York Citythe three most frequent destinationsor elsewhere in the United States where their sponsor lives.

Its the beginning of a hard road. The law requires them to go to school. But theyve endured trauma on their trek and missed months or years of schooling. Few speak English, and many dont know Spanish, only Mayan.

Their education will cost thousands of dollars a year more than for the average student because theyll need linguistic experts, tutors, psychological counseling, vaccinations, and other support.

They also consume most of a classroom teachers attention, leaving the rest of the class to make do with less.

Even so, only 66 percent of students without English skills ever graduate.

They will struggle, but so will our own kids. This migration wave is hitting schools just as theyre reopening after the pandemic. Students have missed an entire year of school activities.

For school districts with tight budgets, the added costs of educating these young newcomers will mean an end to art classes, band and orchestra, and other enrichment activities.

School districts in four states will likely be most affectedFlorida, California, Texas, and New York. But Connecticut also has Central American communities and will likely be receiving minors.

In 2014, New York City schools rolled out the red carpet for 1,662 migrants from Central America, committing a whopping $50 million for special programs. At the time, parents asked the question they should be asking again now: Why is the federal government allowing this influx of needy students when New York City already has challenges? Over half of city students read below grade level.

President Joe Biden seems oblivious. Last week, he announced a program to enable Central American children to apply for admission to the United States from their home country. That would spare them the dangerous trek. But it doesnt alleviate the strain on our schools.

The Democratic Party pays lip service to reducing economic inequality. But their open border policy is doing the oppositefostering a permanent underclass working for low wages.

In the Chicago suburbs, these young teens labor nights in meatpacking plants and auto parts plants, come home at 6 a.m. when their shift ends, and then go to school two hours later on almost no sleep, according to a ProPublica expose. No wonder they fall asleep in class and age out of high school before getting a diploma. The Dickensian era of child labor is being resurrected in our country today, thanks to open borders.

Teens who fail to get a diploma are almost doomed to poverty. Nearly half the Central American adult migrants in the United States dont have a high school diploma. Their education levels are lower than other immigrants or the U.S.-born population. And no surprise, they are also poorer.

Worst of all, allowing this wave of migration to continue now will cripple our public schools and further set back our kids, just when theyre struggling to get back on the learning track.

Message to Biden: close the border, protect our schools, and put our own kids first.

Betsy McCaughey, Ph.D., is a political commentator, constitutional expert, syndicated columnist, and author of several books, including The Obama Health Law: What It Says and How to Overturn, and The Next Pandemic. She is also a former lieutenant governor of New York.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
"AddOn Networks is thrilled to be part of the Inc. 5000 regionals list," says Matt McCormick, Chief Executive Officer. "It is a moment of pride for us as we saw double digit revenue growth in the past several years. Our work in the optical networking space speaks volumes as customers increasingly choose OEM alternative solutions. We will continue to invest in our people, operations, and technology to deliver the best customer experience."

The 250 companies on the list show stunning rates of growth across all industries in California. In 2019 alone, these businesses employed more than 40,000 people and added nearly $7 billion to the California economy.

"This list proves the power of companies in California no matter the industry," says Inc. editor-in-chief Scott Omelianuk. "The impressive revenues and growth rates prove the insight and diligence of CEOs and that these businesses are here to stay."

About AddOn Networks

AddOn Networks is the global leader in optical connectivity solutions serving data center, enterprise, government, education, and healthcare provider networks. It operates in over 25 countries through its long-standing commercial channels to provide continuity of supply and world-class service. AddOn offers a full network catalog of optical transceivers and high-speed cabling that are 100% compatible in form and functionality across 100 OEM manufacturers, covering more than 20,000 systems and platforms. Its certified solutions are backed by lifetime warranty and 24/7 global engineering support. For more information, please visit www.addonnetworks.com

About Inc. Media

The world's most trusted business-media brand, Inc. offers entrepreneurs the knowledge, tools, connections, and community to build great companies. Its award-winning multiplatform content reaches more than 50 million people each month across a variety of channels including websites, newsletters, social media, podcasts, and print. Its prestigious Inc. 5000 list, produced every year since 1982, analyzes company data to recognize the fastest-growing privately held businesses in the United States. The global recognition that comes with inclusion in the 5000 gives the founders of the best businesses an opportunity to engage with an exclusive community of their peers, and the credibility that helps them drive sales and recruit talent. The associated Inc. 5000 Conference is part of a highly acclaimed portfolio of bespoke events produced by Inc. For more information, visit www.inc.com .

Media Contact

Claire Lin

[email protected]

SOURCE AddOn Networks

Related Links

https://www.addonnetworks.com/


ATLANTA (AP)  A 21-year-old Georgia man has been arrested in the killings of eight people at three Atlanta-area massage parlors, many of them women of Asian descent, authorities said.

Police said the motive wasnt immediately known, but the ethnicity of many of the victims prompted fears that the killings could be yet another hate crime against Asian Americans.

The attacks began Tuesday evening, when five people were shot at Youngs Asian Massage Parlor in Acworth, about 30 miles (50 kilometers) north of Atlanta, Cherokee County Sheriffs Office spokesman Capt. Jay Baker said. Two people died at the scene, and three were taken to a hospital where two died, Baker said.

About an hour later, police responding to a call about a robbery found three women dead from apparent gunshot wounds at Gold Spa in the Buckhead neighborhood of Atlanta. While there, the officers learned of a call reporting shots fired at another spa across the street, Aromatherapy Spa, and found a woman who appeared to have been shot dead.

It appears that they may be Asian, Atlanta Police Chief Rodney Bryant said.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said President Joe Biden has been briefed on the horrific shootings and administration officials have been in contact with the mayor's office and the FBI.

Surveillance video recorded a man pulling up to the Acworth business about 10 minutes before the attack there, authorities said. The same car was spotted outside the Atlanta businesses. A manhunt was launched, and Robert Aaron Long, of Woodstock, was taken into custody in Crisp County, about 150 miles (240 kilometers) south of Atlanta, Baker said.

Video evidence suggests it is extremely likely our suspect is the same as Cherokee Countys, who is in custody, Atlanta police said in a statement. Authorities haven't specified charges.

South Koreas Foreign Ministry said in statement Wednesday that its diplomats in Atlanta have confirmed with police that four of the victims who died were women of Korean descent. The ministry said its Consulate General in Atlanta is trying to confirm the nationality of the women.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who is in South Korea meeting with Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong, mentioned the killings during an opening statement.

"We are horrified by this violence which has no place in America or anywhere, he said, noting that four of the women were believed to be of Korean descent.

The killings came amid a recent wave of attacks against Asian Americans that coincided with the spread of the coronavirus across the United States.

Our entire family is praying for the victims of these horrific acts of violence, Gov. Brian Kemp said Tuesday evening on Twitter.

FBI spokesman Kevin Rowson said the agency was assisting Atlanta and Cherokee County authorities in the investigation.

Crisp County Sheriff Billy Hancock said in a video posted on Facebook that his deputies and state troopers were notified Tuesday night that a murder suspect out of north Georgia was headed toward their county. Deputies and troopers set up along the interstate and made contact with the suspect, he said.

A state trooper performed a PIT, or pursuit intervention technique, maneuver, which caused the vehicle to spin out of control, Hancock said. Long was then taken into custody and was being held in the Crisp County jail for Cherokee County authorities who were expected to arrive soon to continue their investigation.

Due to the shootings, Atlanta police said they dispatched officers to check nearby similar businesses and increased patrols in the area.

___

Associated Press writers Kim Tong-hyung in Seoul and Zeke Miller in Washington contributed to the this story.
When paired with a smartphone, Biombeat enables a mobile app to authenticate the users ECG trace, verify the users proximity to the phone, and determine the geographical location of the user. With Taliware and an ECG-enabled smartwatch, your heartbeat is your password.

Taliware, an innovator of intelligent biometric and geolocation systems powered by deep-learning networks, announced that its identity-management software developer toolkit (SDK) is now available. By integrating the Taliware SDK with their applications, mobile app developers can use Taliwares patented Biombeat to access ECG-based biometric verification, to enable passwordless, location-based authentication.

Operating in stealth mode until now, Taliware has perfected a set of proprietary algorithms for human identity verification that apply machine-learning techniques to decipher a persons electrocardiogram (ECG)  a unique biometric signature. Taliware Biombeat is currently compatible with Apple Watch models equipped with an ECG sensor. Taliwares platform roadmap includes Google Verily, Samsung, and Withings.

When paired with a smartphone, Biombeat enables a mobile app to authenticate the users ECG trace, verify the users proximity to the phone, and determine the geographical location of both the user and the app. This multimodal approach delivers highly accurate multifactor authentication.

Like other biometric approaches, Taliwares Biombeat ECG authentication eliminates the need for a password. Recently, fingerprint authentication has largely been superseded by face authentication, however the latter has been rendered less effective during the pandemic. By comparison, Biombeat authentication uses the ECG capabilities of a smartwatch, continually assessing our individual cardiac rhythm as a unique and persistent biometric.

With Taliware and an ECG-enabled smartwatch, your heartbeat is your password, said Tarik Tali, co-founder and CEO of Taliware. Moreover, our geolocation component adds another layer of security to counter fraud, providing proof of presence while ensuring that a person is who they say they are, along with a time-stamped location.

Biombeat addresses a growing industry need for precise, strong user identification

The increasing incidence of data breaches and other malign cybersecurity attacks underscores the need for stronger security around user authentication. Strong identity verification can be achieved by injecting NFC chip technology under the skin of users, for example. And while this certainly accomplishes positive identification of the individual, its invasive nature is unlikely to gain broad acceptance. Meanwhile, multi-factor authentication (MFA) has emerged as viable approach since it supports a zero-trust model and enhances the granularity of user rights and permissions by guaranteeing the identity of the user.

The Taliware Biombeat MFA approach delivers unique benefits to any organization concerned about identity and access management (IAM). Biombeat addresses all of these security challenges, for example:



Eliminates password friction: simple and easy single sign-on (SSO) and control of privileged access to critical information systems, devices and applications. ECG-based authentication addresses the shortcomings of fingerprint- and face-based authentication.

Reduces (IAM) cost: no need for password management (loathed by most users); users simply use their heartbeat for authentication.

Reduces fraud costs: banks can easily validate, non-intrusively, the identity and location of their customer during credit card transactions. Customers may be driving or in a meeting but can quickly approve or decline a bank transaction simply based on their heartbeat and location.

Reduces support calls and cost associated with point-of-sale card cancellations and replacement card issuance.

Where to get more information

To learn more about Biombeat, visit the Taliware website

Apply here to download the Taliware SDK

Investor contact: Tarik Tali at tarik@taliware.com

About Taliware

Operating on an ECG-capable smartwatch, Taliwares Biombeat verifies an individuals identity based on their unique heartbeat. A seed-stage startup based in San Diego, California, Taliware has developed patented biometric authentication and location-based software that uses a persons unique ECG trace to provide persistent identity and geolocation verification. Taliware has been awarded several patent application claims and has since filed more patent claims for its cardiac rhythm geo-authentication systems. For more information, visit taliware.com.

Media contact:

Annemarie Osborne, annemarieosborne7@gmail.com
Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism.
KLAMATH FALLS, Ore.  Investigators have arrested and charged a man and woman from Klamath Falls for alleged child neglect and criminal mistreatment, according to the Klamath County Sheriff's Office.

The agency said that deputies were working with case workers from the Oregon Department of Human Services, looking into a report of a young child who was "confined and being mistreated."

During the investigation, the deputies learned that 52-year-old Lori Darlene Meeks and 31-year-old Matthew Scott Oakley were not the child's parents, but were "given the child to care for" in 2016.

Deputies arrested Meeks and Oakley on Wednesday, charging them both with Criminal Mistreatment in the First Degree and Child Neglect in the Second Degree.

Both the child at the center of the investigation and another child living at the residence were removed and placed in protective custody after deputies investigated their living conditions, KCSO said.
Serco has won a contract to run the civilian parts of a Canadian military base, in a deal which could be worth up to 870 million to the British outsourcing giant.

The company said it had been selected after an open tender process to provide support services for the 5 Wing Canadian Forces Base in Goose Bay, Canada.

The deal initially stretches for 10 years and has an estimated top value of 694 million Canadian dollars (401 million).

However, the contracts terms also include the option to extend it twice for five years each time, bringing the total ceiling value to around 1.5 billion Canadian dollars (866 million).

Serco has been doing business at 5 Wing Goose Bay since 1998, and is already one of the biggest private sector employers in the area.

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The base covers more than 200,000 square metres, and includes 115 buildings, two runways and a large training complex.

Serco chief executive Rupert Soames said: Goose Bay has been operated successfully by Serco for more than 20 years and we are delighted to have been selected to continue to support the Canadian Department of National Defence on what is a vital piece of national infrastructure.

I am very proud of the work we have done there, including both the service delivery to the Canadian Armed Forces and Sercos work with the local community. The new contract will allow us to build on both of these areas.

The contract will give Serco responsibility for the bases air traffic control systems and maintaining navigational aids.

It will also, among other things, provide firefighters to the base, deal with hazardous waste, manage the IT systems, central heating and food services, as well as security.

The announcement on Wednesday morning sent shares in the Hampshire-based FTSE 250 company up 1.8%.
Armenia acting health minister on citizens' demand for her resignation

Karabakh's new State Minister Artak Beglaryan on his appointment and future activities

Armenian, Russian and Azerbaijani representatives hold consultations in Moscow

2 Armenian soldiers receive slight injuries after incident with Azerbaijani servicemen in Armenia's Gegharkunik

Armenian boy weighing 5 kg born at Goris Medical Center

"Armenia" bloc representative presents purpose of participation in elections and plans

Isaac Herzog elected President of Israel

Rouhani: Main issues between Tehran, Washington resolved in Vienna

Charles Michel calls on Armenia and Azerbaijan to resume constructive negotiations

US Department of State responds to Pashinyan's proposal to deploy international observers on Armenia-Azerbaijan border

Head of Armenia 2nd President's Office: Robert Kocharyan's public meetings are held in warm atmosphere

Opposition "Armenia" bloc's representative on photos and videos showing bags of deceased servicemen's bodies

Armenia Ombudsman, AGBU President discuss war crimes committed by Azerbaijan during Karabakh war

Opposition "Armenia" bloc's representatives to hold briefings three times a week

Opposition "Armenia" bloc member: Blood-freezing photos and videos from morgue in Abovyan are authorities' reflection

Yerevan mayor receives Netherlands Ambassador

Armenia Health Ministry, Investigative Committee keep info about sending remains of dead soldiers abroad confidential

Armenia Prosecutor General's Office launches case regarding leaving sacs of servicemen's bodies/remains in basement

Peskov: Putin and Biden to discuss cybersecurity issues

Armenia's Pashinyan meets with Belgian PM Alexander De Croo

Armenia acting MOD receives Netherlands Ambassador

Armenia Police: 3 citizens apprehended during protest demanding acting health minister's resignation

NATO warns Minsk about further consequences of Ryanair incident

Armenia economic competition protection commission: Experts forecast inflation of butter prices

Armenia citizens' protest against acting health minister is over

Pashinyan visits France, judicial farce against Armenian POWs kicks off in Baku, Jun. 2 digest

Armenian Ambassador, FMO representatives consider opportunities for expansion of cooperation in Armenia

Armenia Prosecutor General is on working visit to Russia

Armenia acting PM meets with European Council President in Brussels

Armenia citizens throw polyethylene bags at Health Ministry building, police apprehend protesters

Acting deputy minister: Armenia authorities plan to build 46km section of North-South highway in 2021

Dollar is stable in Armenia

Armenia official: Large number of projects being prepared in construction sector

Identity of man killed Wednesday morning in downtown Yerevan is found out

Armenian lawyer: Azerbaijan poses a threat to security in Europe

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

Missing Armenian soldiers' relatives hand letter to Russia Embassy with request to solve captives' issue

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
Mountain Valley MD (CSE: MVMD- OTCQB: MVMDF) CEO Dennis Hancock joined Steve Darling to share news the company has announced it is commencing husbandry animal trials in Bangladesh. Those trials are to validate the commercial pathway for the Companys injectable solubilized Ivermectin technology, Ivectosol 1%.

Hancock telling Proactive how big this step is for the company and also how Bangladesh will serve as a production hub for broader global distribution.
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WASHINGTON - Canada has indeed asked the United States for help in procuring doses of COVID-19 vaccines, but the White House refused to say Wednesday whether it has agreed to the request.

A cameraman records as Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and United States President Joe Biden participate in a virtual joint statement in Ottawa on February 23, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

WASHINGTON - Canada has indeed asked the United States for help in procuring doses of COVID-19 vaccines, but the White House refused to say Wednesday whether it has agreed to the request.

Press secretary Jen Psaki was responding to reports about Canada and Mexico clamouring for surplus doses  including one from Bloomberg News that the two countries would top the list when the time comes.

"We have received requests from both Mexico and Canada and are considering those requests carefully," Psaki said.

"I don't have any update for you on whether they will be granted and a timeline for that."

Instead, she repeated the long-standing White House position that President Joe Biden first wants to ensure that every American who wants to can get vaccinated, and that it happen as soon as possible.

"We are still in the midst of fighting the war against the pandemic, right here," Psaki said, acknowledging the U.S. is currently leading the world in getting its residents vaccinated.

That's largely because of the country's virtually unrivalled capacity for developing and manufacturing vaccines, which has been almost exclusively focused on meeting domestic demand.

But the international responsibility that comes with that manufacturing capacity is not lost on Biden, who also understands the importance of getting people vaccinated around the world, Psaki said.

"The president wants to be, we all want to be, contributing members of the global community and getting the pandemic under control," she said.

"Any decision we make about requests  will ensure that we're able to still quickly vaccinate the American people, as that remains our top priority."

Canada, a country devoid of its own domestic manufacturing pipeline, has been lagging in its vaccination efforts, thanks in part to lingering production problems. Export controls in Europe, which have so far not affected Canada's shipments, are a potential threat.

The bottlenecks are only beginning to clear. Health Canada says more than 8.5 million doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine are scheduled to arrive in Canada over the next eight weeks.

Shipments of the two-dose Moderna vaccine have not been confirmed past the end of March, while a delivery date has yet to materialize for the other two vaccines  the Oxford-AstraZeneca shot and a single-dose option from Johnson & Johnson.

The Serum Institute of India is to ship another million doses of its version of the AstraZeneca vaccine next month, with an additional 500,000 in May, but it is not clear when those will arrive.

Canada is also counting on an additional 1.6 million doses of AstraZeneca being shipped from a production facility in South Korea before the end of May.

In the weeks since last month's virtual meeting between Biden and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, cabinet ministers in Ottawa have been liaising electronically with their American counterparts to reinforce what both sides have been billing as a new era in Canada-U.S. relations.

On Wednesday, it was Francois-Phillippe Champagne, Canada's minister of innovation, science and industry, who raised the subject of vaccines with U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo.

"When you're talking about strengthening North American supply chains, by implication you have to talk about medical supply chains  whether it's the manufacturing of essential medical supplies or vaccines," Champagne said in an interview.

"It is something that I raised in terms of making sure that we work together to ensure the health and safety of people on both sides of the border."

It's also likely to be a key variable when the time comes to begin the process of reopening the Canada-U.S. border, which has been closed for a full year to all but essential travel and trade.

Vaccination, Champagne said, is "the best way to ensure the health and safety of the people and eventually be in a position to reopen the economy."

"I think what you see is a renewed sense, or renewed spirit of co-operation and collaboration, to protect the health and safety of people on both sides, but also to foster jobs and growth on both sides of the border."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 17, 2021.
I think this year really gives us an opportunity to change the dynamic in how we draw maps in Illinois and get away from the hyper-partisanship that we use to draw maps. The delay in the data gives us an opportunity to drive change, said state Rep. Tim Butler of Springfield, a Republican member of the House remap panel.
In a first such warning against an emerging second peak of Covid-19, Prime Minister on Wednesday asked states to take quick and decisive steps to check the spread of the virus. In an urgently called video-conference meeting, chief ministers were told to adopt the test, track and treat strategy to stop a new Covid wave. While we do not want to create any panic, we have to take steps to rid ourselves of this trouble, Modi said, adding that the country needs the same seriousness as last year.

The PM called for an increase in the number of vaccination centres and asked states to control wastage of doses. Although opening up vaccination for all without an age bar has been a demand from many states, the PM didnt talk about it in his address after the meeting. The confidence we have gained in reaching this point in our fight against the pandemic should not turn to negligence, the PM said.

Concerned over the increase in cases in smaller tier one and two cities, Modi said if the disease were to spread to villages, the available health facilities could fall short in meeting the challenge.

So far we have managed to keep the villages out (of the pandemic). We need to pay special attention to the referral system and strengthen our ambulance network in smaller cities.

Daily new Covid cases in India reached a three-month high of 28,903 on Wednesday, according to the health ministry data. In the last two weeks alone, 70 districts across 16 states saw an increase of more than 150 per cent in new Covid cases. Another 55 districts concentrated in 17 states have recorded an increase of 100 -150 per cent in the daily case count. While more than 96 per cent of the cases in India have recovered, the government is concerned over the high test positivity rate in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh.





Modi asked states to scale up RT-PCR testing to detect cases in a timely manner and create micro containment zones to stop transmission of the virus. The RT-PCR testing rate has to be over 70 per cent.Why is it that some states are seeing a reduction in testing?...This is a test of good governance, Modi said.

The PM also pulled up local administrations for getting lax about enforcing Covid appropriate behaviour such as wearing masks. Any gaps in planning and governance have to be fixed.

With travel across the country and from abroad now open, Modi said there was a need to improve inter-state coordination for proper tracing and tracking of contacts. If required a new mechanism can be created for this.

He also asked the states to reorient the pandemic response staff SOPs for containment and contact tracing. We have to strategize by incorporating our past experiences, in our efforts.

Reiterating his mantra Dawai bhi, kadai bhi (medicine as well as precaution), the PM said this was true for all illnesses including Covid. You dont go out without woolens in chilly weather even if you have taken medicine for a cold...It is a simple thing that people should be explained.

The virtual meeting was attended by home minister Amit Shah, Health minister Harsh Vardhan and chief ministers of states including Gujarat, Maharashtra, Punjab and Nagaland, among others. West Bengal was one of the states absent in the meeting.
DALLAS, March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Velocity Commerce Group (VCG), an omnichannel commerce consultancy, today announced its two-year anniversary and milestone of achieving double-digit growth. Having opened up shop in 2019, VCG is backed by the power of TPN & Omnicom and is committed to solving retail challenges across channels and finding solutions for complete commerce, all with the goal of helping clients grow profitable and manageable businesses.

"We are thrilled to have reached this exciting milestone, especially during a time that has been quite unpredictable and relenting for the retail and digital industries," said Joe Scartz, president of Velocity Commerce Group. "The pandemic has certainly created a prolific shift in consumer shopping behavior, and with the exponential growth of ecommerce, we're excited to come alongside clients to help them build unique and customized commerce solutions in this rapidly changing landscape."

Scartz is one of the original founders of VCG, and under his leadership, the group has brought together a team of seasoned retail veterans with deep consulting experience. With Scartz's new role as President, Becca Kuo now serves as Director and the lead of performance media practice, helping companies to understand the intrinsic link between ecommerce and media. VCG also draws on the combined power of Omnicom to bring holistic solutions to clients, leveraging the creative commerce and retail experts at TPN, the digital experience designers at Critical Mass, and the support of the Omnicom Media Group.

With ecommerce sales 14.4 percent of all U.S. retail spending in 2020, and with estimates surpassing 19 percent by 2024 (minus automation and gas)1, Velocity Commerce Group is focused on four key offerings and practice areas, all of which are mirrored to solve the needs of today's rapidly evolving retail models, including:

Pure Play: Pure Play can address needs of brands that sell their products through online-only retailers, recommending different approaches to showcase brands.

Pure Play can address needs of brands that sell their products through online-only retailers, recommending different approaches to showcase brands. Direct to Consumer: Increasingly, brands are launching products that forego traditional intermediaries and are sending products directly to the consumer VCG's team has analyzed different logistics, supply chain and marketing channels and can recommend the most optimal solutions for specific challenges while managing a brand's complete ecommerce ecosystem efficiently.

Increasingly, brands are launching products that forego traditional intermediaries and are sending products directly to the consumer VCG's team has analyzed different logistics, supply chain and marketing channels and can recommend the most optimal solutions for specific challenges while managing a brand's complete ecommerce ecosystem efficiently. Omnichannel Retail: VCG recommends and executes different solutions to support online and in-store purchases and transform a consumer's experience at retailers. VCG has worked across myriad retailers, including Walmart, Instacart, Wayfair, Kroger, Target, Walgreens, Costco, Rite Aid, Harris Teeter .

VCG recommends and executes different solutions to support online and in-store purchases and transform a consumer's experience at retailers. VCG has worked across myriad retailers, including Walmart, Instacart, Wayfair, Kroger, Target, Walgreens, Costco, Rite Aid, . Amazon: VCG has a team dedicated to addressing the challenges that come with Amazon, whether it be as vendor, or as a third-party seller, or (increasingly) as an advertising vehicle.

VCG has a team dedicated to addressing the challenges that come with Amazon, whether it be as vendor, or as a third-party seller, or (increasingly) as an advertising vehicle. Search Capabilities: Visibility and conversion are the main advantages of search campaign. In long term, search campaign grows market share by winning ad slots in your category to reach in market shoppers during their path-to-purchase.

"Our bread and butter is really diving in on deep channel strategy, on a brand-by-brand, product-by-product basis," said Scartz. "Whether we're helping small businesses get off the ground, or helping large businesses to shift retail plans to stay relevant, we pride ourselves on helping those businesses move up the value chain from executional to strategic. We're eager to continue growing our business, as well as our clients' businesses, as we look ahead to what we feel is a very bright ecommerce future."

For more information on Velocity Commerce Group, please visit www.velocitycommercegroup.com.

About Velocity Commerce Group

Headquartered in Chicago, Velocity Commerce Group is a consultancy born out of TPN, a part of Omnicom Commerce Group. The team works with brands and manufacturers to manage their relationship with digital commerce. For more information, visit www.velocitycommercegroup.com.







1 EMarketer, US Ecommerce Growth Jumps to More than 30%, Accelerating Online Shopping Shift by Nearly 2 Years

SOURCE Velocity Commerce Group

Related Links

http://www.velocitycommercegroup.com


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Teachers and educators in the Bay of Plenty can now enter their schools into New Zealands national spelling bee competition.

The competition returns in 2021 after being cancelled last year due to Covid-19.

The aim of Spelling Bee Aotearoa New Zealand is to encourage students to learn new words and gain a love of language.

Students in Years 9 and 10 will start learning the 2021 spelling list from March, sit a test mid-year, and the top 200 spellers from throughout the country will work their way through the semi-finals to culminate in the national final later in the year.

The winner will receive the spelling bee trophy, $5000 towards their academic pursuits, and the coveted title of Spelling Bee Aotearoa New Zealand champion.

The event has undergone a name change this year from New Zealand Spelling Bee to Spelling Bee Aotearoa New Zealand.

Programme director Janet Lucas says the new name reflects how words and language evolve over time.

Five years ago, commonly used te reo Maori kupu (words) were added to our wordlists. Our new name is seen as the next step and is a sign of respect for the countrys bicultural foundations.

Janet says the tremendous change brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic has also been reflected in our vocabulary with words such as quarantine, epidemiology, bubble, isolation, community spread, transmission, incubation period, asymptomatic and ventilator becoming part of our lives.

Our ability to wrestle with these words shows just how much language changes and the important role it plays to help us understand events around us.

Spelling is an important skill because it helps students with all their curriculum subjects, not just English, says Janet.

The wordlist studied by students to prepare for the competition correlates with their academic studies and Education Perfect hosts all the resources so students can access them in an electronic format.

There are also spelling resources available for Year 1-10 students that teachers can use for their own classroom spelling bee and provide a learning pathway to the national spelling bee.

Four Teacher Awards, worth $2000 each, are also awarded annually to teachers and educators whose innovative and effective programme or initiative instils a love of language in their students.

The national spelling bee has seen tens of thousands of students participate since it started in 2005 and in 2016 the final was televised in a TVNZ show called Spellbound.

The event has grown significantly since 2014, when the Wright Family Foundation came on board as the programmes sole sponsor, allowing it to expand into primary and intermediate schools. About 800 primary and intermediate schools now sign up for the classroom programme every year.

Chloe Wright, CEO of Wright Family Foundation and Patron of Spelling Bee Aotearoa New Zealand, says the vision of the Foundation is to create articulate readers and writers who go on to higher education with confidence.

The event has the goal of expanding childrens vocabulary and encouraging a love of language  which is something we are passionate about fostering, says Chloe.

Teachers and educators can register their schools for Spelling Bee Aotearoa New Zealand now at www.spellingbee.co.nz
A Tesla on autopilot crashed into a Michigan State Police car early Wednesday morning, just two days after the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said it was sending a crash team to Detroit to investigate another Tesla collision.

Troopers from the Lansing Post had been investigating a crash involving a car and a deer on I-96 near Waverly Rd in Eaton County at around 1.12am.

While investigating the crash, a Tesla driving on autopilot struck the patrol car, police shared on Twitter. At the time of the crash, the patrol car had its emergency lights on.

Michigan State Police troopers had been investigating a crash involving a car and a deer on I-96 near Waverly Rd in Eaton County at around 1.12am Wednesday when they were struck by the Tesla

Neither the driver of the Tesla - a 22-year-old man from Lansing - nor the troopers were injured at the scene

Neither the driver of the Tesla - a 22-year-old man from Lansing - nor the troopers were injured at the scene.

Police issued the unidentified man a citation for failure to move over and driving while license suspended.

On Monday, The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHSTA) said it will send a special crash team to Detroit to investigate what led to a Tesla sedan driving beneath a tractor, critically injuring two inside.

Tesla has not publicly commented on the collision from last Thursday, but there is suspicion that the vehicle was running on Autopilot software at the time.

Authorities are probing the cause of a 'violent' Tesla crash in Detroit to determine whether the electric vehicle was in self-driving mode at the time of the collision last Thursday

Two Tesla drivers have previously been killed after their cars ran beneath tractor-trailers while operating on the Autopilot setting.

Last month, the chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board penned a letter to the NHSTA urging them to 'enact regulations governing driver assist systems'.

The letter specifically mentioned Tesla.

'Although Tesla includes a disclaimer that "currently enabled features require active driver supervision and do not make the vehicle autonomous", NHTSA's hands-off approach to oversight of autonomous vehicle testing poses a potential risk to motorists and other road users'.
(Newser)  Uber is granting its UK drivers the minimum wage, pensions, and holiday pay, following a recent court ruling that said they should be classified as workers and entitled to such benefits. The ride hailing giant's announcement cames after it lost an appeal last month at the UK Supreme Court capping a yearslong court battle, the AP reports. The court's decision holds wider implications for the country's gig economy. Uber said it's extending the benefits immediately to its more than 70,000 drivers in the UK. Drivers will earn at least the minimum wage, which currently stands at 8.72 pounds ($12.12 US), after accepting a trip request and expenses, and will still be able to earn more. Drivers will also get holiday pay equal to about 12% of their earnings, paid every two weeks. And they'll be enrolled in a pension plan that both they and the company will pay into.

story continues below

This is an important day for drivers in the UK," said Jamie Heywood, Uber's regional general manager for Northern and Eastern Europe, in a filing to the SEC. He noted that drivers will still be able to work on a flexible basis. "Uber is just one part of a larger private-hire industry, so we hope that all other operators will join us in improving the quality of work for these important workers who are an essential part of our everyday lives." The drivers who filed the case welcomed the news but said it's not enough. Uber has "arrived to the table with this offer a day late and a dollar short, literally," James Farrar and Yaseen Aslam of the App Drivers and Couriers Union said. They said the changes stopped short of the Supreme Court's ruling that pay should be calculated from when drivers log on to the app until they log off. And they said the company can't decide by itself the expense base for calculating the minimum wage, which should be based on a collective agreement.

(Read more Uber stories.)
Starfire receives rabies vaccine in a new trial to improve bear health and welfare 17 March 2021





Starfire, one of the most recent bears to be rescued by Animals Asia, became the first resident at our Vietnam rescue centre to receive a rabies vaccine in a pioneering new trial to further improve the welfare of the bears in our care.

Rabies is a deadly viral disease that can potentially infect all mammals including humans.

In Vietnam rabies continues to be a widespread issue and our bear rescue centre in Vinh Phuc province is located in a national park where bats, the most frequently reported rabid wild animal, are prevalent.

The bears spend lots of time during the day outside and the fruit given to them could attract the bats, therefore putting the bears at risk of coming into contact with potential carriers of the deadly disease.

Although there havent been any reports of moon bears catching rabies, it has been discovered in other bear species, including the polar bear and black bear.

Other rescue centres and sanctuaries around the world have been using the rabies vaccine as a way of building other bear species immune systems against the disease and further protecting their overall health.

Animals Asia is leading the way in trialling the rabies vaccine with moon bears to see if it provides them with the same immune response and levels of protection it offers other bear species and animals such as dogs, cats and horses.

The trial begins!

15 moon bears who are already receiving dental treatments have been selected for the trial at our Vietnam sanctuary. This means that we can vaccinate them while they are already under anaesthetic and also collect a blood sample which will be sent for testing to check whether they have already been exposed to the disease.

Blood will again be collected around 8-12 months after the initial vaccination to test immunity levels and if required, the bears will then receive a booster vaccine during their health check every two years. The trial will continue until 2025 and if successful, the vaccine will be rolled out to the rest of the bears at the Vietnam sanctuary.

An update on gentle Starfire

We havent shared much news with you about the beautiful Starfire since she was rescued from a bile farm last November. We have been waiting to see how she progresses and adapts to her new life and freedoms after being confined to a small, barren cage for 18 years.

Starfire - previously named Torrent - is the 222nd bear to be rescued by our team in Vietnam and 640th bear rescue by Animals Asia in total. As weve seen from the many rescues weve done and the many wonderful bears weve had the pleasure of meeting and watching grow and gain in confidence, we never know how a bear is going to react to the sense of space, freedom, light and companionship that they have - until now - never had.

Starfire has been somewhat tentative in her approach, cautiously exploring her den and new surroundings. And yet, after just a few months of consistent nurturing and endless patience and love from her new carers, she has started to blossom into a playful, gentle and hungry bear!

Bear Team Manager Hoang Van Chien enthuses about her progress:



Starfire loves sweet food such as sugar cane, jam and molasses, though she is not a fan of sweet potato or carrot! Dragon fruit must be her favourite, she always eats it first. Her favourite thing to do is play with hessian sacks, she rolls around with them for hours. She also spends lots of time napping in a nest in front of her den. She is a very sweet and gentle bear, who has made a lot of progress but still has a little way to go to feel fully at home and relaxed. Everything is so new to her.

Shaun Thomson our Senior Veterinary Surgeon explains further:

Starfire is the first of our residents at the sanctuary to receive the rabies vaccine as she is currently undergoing dental treatment on her teeth which are in a bad way from years of living in poor conditions on the bile farm. Luckily, thanks to our generous and compassionate supporters across the world, Starfire is now well on her way to becoming the happy, healthy and carefree bear she was always destined to be.

Storm, who was rescued along with Starfire, is progressing more slowly in adjusting to life at our sanctuary. We wont rush her, but its clear that she has been severely traumatised by her years of confinement and bile extraction. Our bear care teams are living up to their names by providing encouragement to slowly but surely gain her trust.

Recently she accepted hand feeding from Senior Bear Team Manager Sarah van Herpt for the first time, a crucial step in her recovery, as it allows our vet team to inspect her health condition without the need for anesthetic.

Watch this space for more news on these two wonderful bears and if you can please join us with a regular donation to provide the specialist expert support and care our rescued bears need to enjoy the years of their lives were able to give back to them.

Read more:

Animals Asia becomes first NGO to join rabies prevention and control committee in China

Local authorities pledge to tackle the cruel and dangerous dog meat trade in central Java

Starfires rescue story

Live coverage of Starfires rescue
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Despite being physically distanced from constituents in a barricaded Capitol building, state lawmakers could make history this week when it comes to more accountable government. And theres no better time to pass a bill requiring them to disclose capital outlay allocations than Sunshine Week.

Sunshine Week, which began Sunday, was launched in 2005 and is a national initiative in which watchdog news organizations such as the Albuquerque Journal and pro-transparency groups like the New Mexico Foundation for Open Government highlight the importance of open government, and the dangers if secrecy is allowed to shroud governments actions. Its your right to know what your elected officials are doing and what your tax dollars are paying for.

This years fly in the ointment appears to be Rep. Miguel P. Garcia. The Democrat is the only lawmaker who voted against a bill that would finally require disclosure of lawmakers capital outlay allocations. Garcia slammed the proposal on the House floor last month, saying House Bill 55 was designed to placate lazy bones media members. He said legislators should be permitted to decide whether to release their list of capital outlay projects, as if they were projects funded by his own pocket cash. Garcia is on the wrong side of history on this one, and its good hes standing alone. The Senate Finance Committee voted 11-0 Monday to advance HB 55 to the Senate floor.

Under the current arcane system, lawmakers divide funds for public infrastructure projects among the governor and all 112 legislators. Every legislator has sole discretion over how to allocate his or her portion of funding. Once legislators create their lists of appropriations, they are rolled into a single capital outlay bill that doesnt specify the sponsors for each project or how much each legislator contributed. Unless lawmakers choose to reveal their appropriations, the public footing the bill has no way of knowing who picked what.

Our capital outlay system is broken. Its insufficient to make a real difference in communities, because most projects are funded piecemeal. Its inefficient, and as of November, about $1.4 billion for 2,644 projects remained unused. The system is also secretive, with no accountability for frivolous projects.

Local jurisdictions often receive allocations of capital money for projects they didnt ask for and dont need, says a recent newsletter from the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce. Meanwhile, it says, Major large infrastructure efforts frequently take years to fully fund or go unfunded altogether.

Unfortunately, some other good-government bills that have been offered this session, such as Senate Bill 388, which would waive fees for electronic copies of public records, and HB 158, which would require task forces created by the Legislature to abide by the Open Meetings Act, appear to have stalled.

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Fortunately, SB 39, which would have allowed government agencies to withhold the names of all but three finalists for top jobs, appears also to have stalled. This bill would have undone 40 years of work aimed at ensuring an open hiring system. Before such a transparent system, secrecy could easily cost minorities and women opportunities when decision-makers could simply say no qualified individuals like that had applied.

Meanwhile, capital outlay reform just needs Senate approval to reach the governors desk this Sunshine Week. It would be so appropriate, Melanie J. Majors, the executive director of NMFOG, told the Journal on Tuesday. We believe that the public is entitled to know the sponsor of each capital outlay project. This is a win-win for everybody.

Indeed it will be, if the Senate passes HB 55 this week.

This editorial first appeared in the Albuquerque Journal. It was written by members of the editorial board and is unsigned as it represents the opinion of the newspaper rather than the writers.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 17)  The Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday confirmed receipt of the remaining documents that Russias Gamaleya Research Institute needed to submit to complete its application for emergency use of its COVID-19 vaccine, Sputnik V, in the Philippines.

The submission preempts the March 15 to 18 trip of an FDA team to inspect Gamaleyas manufacturing plant. The Russian vaccine maker earlier lacked a Certificate of Good Manufacturing Practice and instead invited the FDA to its factory to personally inspect its practices.

The inspection trip to Russia did not push through because last Friday the applicant submitted the required documents and those are being reviewed, FDA Director General Eric Domingo said in a text message.

It was not immediately known why Gamaleya changed its mind.

The FDA earlier said it targets to release a decision of Gamaleyas application for emergency use authorization before the end of the month.

The FDA has so far granted EUA to the vaccines produced by Pfizer-BioNTech, AstraZeneca, and Sinovac Biotech.

Some 1.125 million doses of Sinovac and AstraZeneca vaccines have been delivered to the country and are now being used in the local inoculation drive. The government expects more Sinovac and AstraZeneca doses to arrive this March and April, enough to kickstart general public vaccinations by early May.

Meanwhile, Gamaleya previously said it could supply the Philippines with 50 to 100 million doses of its COVID-19 vaccine.

Russia was earlier criticized for an early rollout even before the completion of its Phase 3 clinical trial. The Sputnik V vaccine turned out to be 91.6% effective in preventing symptomatic COVID-19 and 100% effective against moderate to severe disease, according to an interim analysis of the vaccine's Phase 3 trial results published in medical journal The Lancet.

CNN Philippines' Carolyn Bonquin contributed to this report.
This painting by William K. Hartmann, who is a senior scientist emeritus at the Planetary Science Institute in Tucson, Arizona, is based on a commission from Michael Belton and shows a concept of the Oumuamua object as a pancake-shaped disk. Credit: William Hartmann

In 2017, the first interstellar object from beyond our solar system was discovered via the Pan-STARRS astronomical observatory in Hawaii. It was named 'Oumuamua, meaning "scout" or "messenger" in Hawaiian. The object was like a comet, but with features that were just odd enough to defy classification.

Two Arizona State University astrophysicists, Steven Desch and Alan Jackson of the School of Earth and Space Exploration, set out to explain the odd features of 'Oumuamua and have determined that it is likely a piece of a Pluto-like planet from another solar system. Their findings have been recently published in a pair of papers in the AGU Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets.

"In many ways 'Oumuamua resembled a comet, but it was peculiar enough in several ways that mystery surrounded its nature, and speculation ran rampant about what it was," said Desch, who is a professor in the School of Earth and Space Exploration.

From observations of the object, Desch and Jackson determined several characteristics of the object that differed from what would be expected from a comet.

In terms of speed, the object entered the solar system at a velocity a bit lower than would be expected, indicating that it had not been traveling in interstellar space for more than a billion years or so. In terms of size, its pancake shape was also more flattened than any other known solar system object.

They also observed that while the object acquired a slight push away from the sun (a "rocket effect" common in comets as sunlight vaporizes the ices they are made of), the push was stronger than could be accounted for. Finally, the object lacked a detectable escaping gas, which is usually depicted visibly by a comet's tail. In all, the object was very much like a comet, but unlike any comet that had ever been observed in the solar system.

Desch and Jackson then hypothesized that the object was made of different ices and they calculated how quickly these ices would sublimate (passing from a solid to a gas) as 'Oumuamua passed by the sun. From there, they calculated the rocket effect, the object's mass and shape, and the reflectivity of the ices.

Credit: Arizona State University

"That was an exciting moment for us," Desch said. "We realized that a chunk of ice would be much more reflective than people were assuming, which meant it could be smaller. The same rocket effect would then give 'Oumuamua a bigger push, bigger than comets usually experience."

Desch and Jackson found one ice in particularsolid nitrogenthat provided an exact match to all the object's features simultaneously. And since solid nitrogen ice can be seen on the surface of Pluto, it is possible that a cometlike object could be made of the same material.

"We knew we had hit on the right idea when we completed the calculation for what albedo (how reflective the body is) would make the motion of 'Oumuamua match the observations," said Jackson, who is a research scientist and an Exploration Fellow at ASU. "That value came out as being the same as we observe on the surface of Pluto or Triton, bodies covered in nitrogen ice."

They then calculated the rate at which chunks of solid nitrogen ice would have been knocked off the surfaces of Pluto and similar bodies early in our solar system's history. And they calculated the probability that chunks of solid nitrogen ice from other solar systems would reach ours.

"It was likely knocked off the surface by an impact about half a billion years ago and thrown out of its parent system," Jackson said. "Being made of frozen nitrogen also explains the unusual shape of 'Oumuamua. As the outer layers of nitrogen ice evaporated, the shape of the body would have become progressively more flattened, just like a bar of soap does as the outer layers get rubbed off through use."

Could 'Oumuamua have been alien technology?

Although 'Oumuamua's cometlike nature was quickly recognized, the inability to immediately explain it in detail led to speculation that it is a piece of alien technology, as in the recently published book "Extraterrestrial: The First Signs of Intelligent Life Beyond Earth" by Avi Loeb of Harvard University.

Illustration of a plausible history for 'Oumuamua: Origin in its parent system around 0.4 billion years ago; erosion by cosmic rays during its journey to the solar system; and passage through the solar system, including its closest approach to the Sun on Sept. 9, 2017, and its discovery on October 2017. At each point along its history, this illustration shows the predicted size of 'Oumuamua, and the ratio between its longest and shortest dimensions. Credit: S. Selkirk/ASU

This has sparked a public debate about the scientific method and the responsibility of scientists not to jump to unwarranted conclusions.

"Everybody is interested in aliens, and it was inevitable that this first object outside the solar system would make people think of aliens," Desch said. "But it's important in science not to jump to conclusions. It took two or three years to figure out a natural explanationa chunk of nitrogen icethat matches everything we know about 'Oumuamua. That's not that long in science, and far too soon to say we had exhausted all natural explanations."

Although there is no evidence that it is alien technology, as a fragment of a Pluto-like planet, 'Oumuamua has provided scientists with a special opportunity to look at extrasolar systems in a way that they have not been able to before. As more objects like 'Oumuamua are found and studied, scientists can continue to expand our understanding of what other planetary systems are like and the ways in which they are similar to, or different from, our own solar system.

"This research is exciting in that we've probably resolved the mystery of what 'Oumuamua is and we can reasonably identify it as a chunk of an 'exo-Pluto,' a Pluto-like planet in another solar system," Desch said. "Until now, we've had no way to know if other solar systems have Pluto-like planets, but now we have seen a chunk of one pass by Earth."

Desch and Jackson hope that future telescopes, like those at the Vera Rubin Observatory/Large Synoptic Survey Telescope in Chile, which will be able to survey the entire southern sky on a regular basis, will be able to start finding even more interstellar objects that they and other scientists can use to further test their ideas.

"It's hoped that in a decade or so we can acquire statistics on what sorts of objects pass through the solar system, and if nitrogen ice chunks are rare or as common as we've calculated," Jackson said. "Either way, we should be able to learn a lot about other solar systems, and whether they underwent the same sorts of collisional histories that ours did."

Explore further 'Oumuamua likely came from a binary star system

More information: Alan P. Jackson et al. 1I/'Oumuamua as an N 2 ice fragment of an exoPluto surface: I. Size and Compositional Constraints, Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets (2021). Alan P. Jackson et al. 1I/'Oumuamua as an N 2 ice fragment of an exoPluto surface: I. Size and Compositional Constraints,(2021). DOI: 10.1029/2020JE006706 S. J Desch et al. 1I/'Oumuamua as an N 2 ice fragment of an exopluto surface II: Generation of N 2 ice fragments and the origin of 'Oumuamua, Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets (2021). DOI: 10.1029/2020JE006807
Muntaka Mubarak, the Chief Whip for the Minority in Parliament has reminded Sammy Gyamfi, the National Communications Officer of the National Democratic Congress that national interest must always take precedence over that of the party's.



I dont want to go into the merit or demerit of the party interest. If we dont take care party politics will overrun our own values and constitution and our national interest, Muntaka told Adom FM.



This is after Sammy Gyamfi accused him and the leadership of the minority of advancing their parochial interest at the expense of the partys.



Some have sold their conscience but ours is intact. And we can work together to rebuild the party from the ashes of 3 March 2021, which I call Black Wednesday  our day of self-inflicted shame, Mr Gyamfi said in the post, adding: This is the time for us to insist on the right changes in the leadership of the NDC group in parliament or forget about them completely.



The current leadership have lost their moral authority to lead and are not fit to sit on the front bench of the NDC side of the house. More importantly, he noted, its about time we understood that we dont have any NDC Speaker of Parliament.



No, we dont! he stressed, in reference to Mr Bagbin, complaining: We have a Speaker who rode on the back of the NDC into office to pursue his own parochial agenda and nothing more. You trust them at your own peril, he warned members and supporters of the NDC.



But Muntaka says the priority of parliamentarians is to do the bidding of their constituents which encompasses members of all the political parties and not just the NDC.



He says that in the institution of parliament, the demands of a particular party are treated as a piece of advice and when it clashes with the national interest, it is imperative that MPs place the country over their party.



He reminds Sammy Gyamfi again that when he took the oath of office, it was a pledge to uphold the constitution of the country and not the constitution of the NDC.



Every member of parliament swore an oath to uphold the constitution. The mandate of every member of parliament overruns his party. The mandate of every member of parliament is above the interest of the party because after the election you dont only represent the party but everyone in your constituency. Your party is just one leg so anything from your party is just an advice. You should remember that the buck stops with you the MP.



You swore an oath to your own conscience and values. As a Whip, one of my duties is to get everyone to appreciate the position of the party and to be able to factor it but the final decision lies with every member, he said.



Muntaka becomes the second NDC member in parliament to respond to Sammy Gyamfi after Speaker Alban Bagbin.



Babgin in an Accra FM interview told the NDC Communications Officer that he represents the entire Ghanaian populace and not just the NDC in his current role.



Now, I dont belong to any party. Im Speaker of Ghana. Im not a Speaker of NPP. Im not a Speaker of NDC. Im Speaker of Ghana. And I must hold the balance. So, decision-taking; no. My duty is to ensure that theres an even playing field and the decision is taken and I announce it. That is all, he explained his role.



And, so, if you sit down and look at me and think that maybe you were my girlfriend before [and, therefore] I should give you an advantage over another whom Ive never met, please, then dont come to me; you wont get it. Lets finish; after work, we can do that business together. Not when Im working. Thats my nature; thats how Ive been up to this time and, so, its unfortunate that these things are happening, he said.

Source: adomonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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A person just after 10:30 a.m. Wednesday called the Wawa at 299 Mountain Ave. in Hackettstown and said a vehicle in the parking lot was going to explode, town police report.

The building was evacuated and the area was cordoned off so a Morris County Sheriffs Department bomb K-9 and the departments Bomb Unit could search the property, police said.

No bomb was found and the store reopened, police said.

The incident remains under investigation, police said.

Town police were assisted by the town Office of Emergency Management, the town Department of Public Works, Mount Olives fire marshal and the Hackettstown Fire Department, the news release said.

Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting lehighvalleylive.com with a subscription.

Tony Rhodin can be reached at arhodin@lehighvalleylive.com.
Abolish Stanford letter to DA Krasner: Release Mumia Abu-Jamal by Reposted by the Jamal Journal

Tuesday Mar 16th, 2021 7:48 PM

This open letter to Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner, just released by Abolish Stanford, urges him to immediately release Mumia Abu-Jamal from state custody

Dear District Attorney Larry Krasner,



We urge you to immediately release Mumia Abu-Jamal from state custody. With every passing moment, you become further complicit in a myriad of human rights abuses that surround his incarceration: the public health crisis of COVID-19 spread in detention facilities, the denial of medical treatment for his multiple, life-threatening conditions, and the due process violations that underlie his conviction, including racism, police corruption, and political targeting. For years, your alma mater has held you up as an example of progressive prosecution, a career path towards which we should aspire. However, your continued opposition towards Mumia Abu-Jamals freedommost recently at this current moment, as he battles COVID-19reminds us that there is no enlightened, humane, or just way to carry out the states business of caging people.



As you know well, Mumia Abu-Jamal is a political activist and journalist who has been incarcerated for nearly 40 years. For decades, activists and human rights groups, including Amnesty International, have condemned the injustices that surrounded his conviction. The evidence during and after his trial demonstrates that his conviction was marred by witness intimidation, a fabricated confession, racism in the jury selection process, among many other factors that undermined his right to a fair trial. Your office has recently reinforced this, by turning over evidence indicating that some of the prosecutions witness testimony was bribed, and further evidence supporting Abu-Jamals previous Batson challenge.



Mumia Abu-Jamal had no criminal record before his conviction and has maintained his innocence since. But this is not relevant to the current humanitarian crisis with which he is faced. His age and underlying conditions put him at greater risk for COVID, which he unfortunately caught last week. Since then, he has lost thirty pounds and is experiencing a severe flare up in his skin conditions, causing open wounds on his skin. He also suffers from underlying liver damage, congestive heart disease, and hypertension, but has been unable to receive medical treatment since his COVID diagnosis. His situation is incredibly dire and urgent, and as his medical consultant, Dr. Ricardo Alvarez has said in the past, Freedom is the only treatment.



Mr. Krasner, you have the power to release him, and with every moment in which you delay, we become further reminded of how hollow the term progressive prosecutor is. As Mumia Abu-Jamal has said, Prison is a second-by-second assault on the soul, a day-to-day degradation of the self, an oppressive steel and brick umbrella that transforms seconds into hours and hours into days. There is no progressive or humane way to go about this enterprise, and your failure to intervene in this current life-and-death situation makes this even more clear. Mumia Abu-Jamal has been an inspiration for Black liberation movements and we are extremely disappointed that one of our alumni insists on being a fundamental obstacle to his freedom. As concerned students, especially those among us who are studying law, we condemn Abu-Jamals continued incarceration and call upon you to free him and all political prisoners.



Signed,



Abolish Stanford



Individual Signatures:

a.d. sean lewis, stanford law '21

Adary Zhang, Stanford Medical School MD Candidate

Adele L Stock, PhD Student in History

Alexa Russo, PhD Candidate in Anthropology

Alexa Wnorowski, PhD Candidate in Bioengineering

Alyssa Martinez, JD/MA Candidate

Amber Moore, Stanford University

Amir Wright, JD Candidate

Amshuly Chandran

Amy Tannenbaum JD '17

Ana Cutts Dougherty, JD Candidate

Andrea Ramirez, Biology PhD Candidate

Anjuli Branz, Stanford Law 19

AnQi Yu, Undergraduate

Arielle Keller/PhD Candidate in Neuroscience

Aryn Frazier

Avery Krieger, PhD Neuroscience

Azeezat Adeleke, SLS '22

Bree Baccaglini, SLS 21

Caleb Zerger, PhD candidate Applied Physics

Callum Tresnan, Comparative Literature 23

Camilo Espinosa Bernal, PhD Candidate in Immunology

Carin Ragland Biology PhD

Carson White (SLS '18)

Chelsey Davidson (SLS '22)

Christina Rea, Staff

Connor Hayes, JD Candidate

Daniel Zahn, JD Candidate

Dixie Blumenshine

Eden Berke, Northwestern University 2021

Elias Schultz, Stanford Law 22

Elisabeth Meyer, PhD candidate

Ella Varney, Undergraduate 22

Em Horst, PhD Candidate in chemistry

Emily Hawley, SLS, 2021

Emma Bates, Undergraduate 22

Erica Posey, SLS 22

Erick Bravo, Undergraduate '23

Frances Tinney (SLS '22)

Gabe Hillman Alvarez, B.S. Candidate in Engineering Physics '21

Gabriela Basel, PhD Student in Chemical Engineering

Geoff Ivison, PhD Candidate in Immunology

George Walters-Marrah

Glen Williams (SLS '23)

Grace Ann Brew, SLS '22

Hanon Mcshea, PhD Candidate in Earth System Science

Ilana Raskind, Postdoctoral fellow, School of Medicine

Ilinca Popescu CO 2022

Jacob Maddox

Jacob McCall, SLS '22

Jacob Seidman, SLS 22

Jenny Jiao, SLS '23

Jessica Zhang, Biology PhD Candidate

Jose Luis Gomez Gamez, JD Candidate

Jules Ross, Stanford Law '22

Julia Gleason

Julia Neusner, SLS/ MIP '20

Julian Oscar Alvarez, J.D. '22

Justine Modica

Kabir Abiose, PhD Candidate, Mechanical Engineering

Katelyn Masket, SLS '21

Kathryn Wu, MD/PhD candidate in Neuroscience

Katie Wullert, PhD Candidate Sociology

Kelli Mason

Kendra Lechtenberg, Alumni

Kyle Wang, B.A. Candidate in English, 22

Leanna Lupin, Stanford Law 2023

Leehi Yona Stanford Law '23

Lisa Muloma, SLS '21

Luke Williams, Modern Thought & Literature PhD

Lynnette Jackson, Structural Biology Ph.D. Candidate

Madeline Cooper, MD/PhD candidate

Madeline Walsh, Stanford Law '23

Mallorie Urban, SLS 21

Maria Filsinger Interrante, MD/PhD '24

Martha Kahlson, Biochemistry PhD Candidate

Megan R. Izzo, SLS 22

Melody Yang, Undergraduate '21

Micah Olivas, Genetics PhD Student

Michael Hayes, Genetics PhD candidate

Mikayla Tillery

Mohit Mookim, JD Candidate

Monique Candiff, JD Candidate

Nathaniel Ramos BS '21

Neil Michael Khosla

Nicel Mohamed-Hinds, BS Physics '19

Olamide Abiose, JD/PhD Candidate in Neuroscience

Olivia Malone, Stanford Law '22

Oona Cahill, SLS '23

Osama El-Gabalawy, Medical Student, School of Medicine

Paola Mendez, JD Candidate

Peggy Xu, JD Candidate

Prudence Iticka

Rachel R. Sohl, Stanford Law School 21

Rhiannon Bronstein (SLS '22)

Sandra Habtamu

Schuyler Atkins, Stanford Law School 22

Shantanu Nevrekar, PhD Student in Anthropology

Sreela Kodali, EE PhD student

Srihari Nageswaran

Taylar Hammond

Tyrik LaCruise, SLS 20

Willa Collins, Stanford Law School '20

Yiran Liu, PhD Candidate in Infectious Diseases


The Daily Beast

REUTERSIt appears that Benjamin Netanyahu is finally on his way out as Israels prime minister. With just minutes to spare ahead of a midnight deadline on Wednesday, opposition leader Yair Lapid notified Israels president that he had formed a new government.But if Benjamin Netayahus 12-year run is indeed at an end, expect key segments of the GOP will treat Bibi as though he had not lost power, much as they continue to venerate Donald Trump and look at Joe Bidens victory as illegitimate.Israel
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 17) Senator and Philippine Red Cross Chairman Richard Gordon on Wednesday called for medical workers who would want to volunteer their services for the organization's future COVID-19 vaccination activities.

Gordon told CNN Philippines that the humanitarian organization is already forming a medical core that would focus solely on the inoculation, in a bid to boost the countrys program.

Nananawagan ako, sa lahat ng doctor, lahat ng nurse, lahat ng student-nurses, student-doctors, na mag-volunteer, Gordon said in an interview with The Source.

Were forming a medical core, na talagang walang gagawin kundi mag-vaccinate, may kanya-kanyang duty araw araw, para makatulong sa vaccination, he explained.

[Translation: Were calling on all doctors, nurses, student-nurses, student-doctors, to volunteer. Were forming a medical core that will do nothing but vaccinate, with volunteers having daily duties to help in the vaccination.]

Gordon has repeatedly said the PRC is willing to assist the government in its coronavirus vaccination drive. He said the organization can help increase the numbers, stressing that they have previous experience of holding vaccinations against polio and measles.

Concerns were raised earlier about the pace of the government's vaccination program, with Senator Panfilo Ping Lacson warning the Philippines may only reach herd immunity by 2033 if the current progress rate continues. The Health Department had stressed that vaccine distribution is ongoing among regions, and expressed hope that the numbers would rise by the day.

Hindi naman kami nga (Were not the) knight-in-shining-armor, but everybody should help, Gordon said. It's not clear if vaccination will be offered for free. The PRC conducts COVID-19 tests for a fee.

The Philippines formally launched its COVID-19 vaccination drive this March following the arrival of the Sinovac and AstraZeneca vaccines, with frontliners and some government officials getting the first doses.

Officials, on the other hand, are eyeing for the general public vaccinations to start by late April or early May.

READ: Govt says general vaccination to begin as early as April, no door-to-door vaccinations
Crisp County Sheriff/Reuters

The Georgia man who confessed to killing eight people in a string of shootings at Asian massage parlors told police he has sex-addiction issues and wanted to eliminate the temptation, authorities said Wednesday.

Yesterday was a really bad day for him and this is what he did, Cherokee County Sheriffs Capt. Jay Baker saidcomments that drew swift condemnation because they seemed to downplay Tuesday nights carnage.

Hours after that press conference, Baker faced new outrage with the discovery of social media posts in which he promoted T-shirts with the racist logo COVID-19 imported virus from CHY-NA.

Investigators have said they dont know yet whether the attacks on three massage parlors in the metro Atlanta areawhich came in the midst of a wave of anti-Asian violencecan be classified as a hate crime.

But they said the suspect, Robert Aaron Long, denied the rampage was racially motivated.

The 21-year-oldwho appeared to highlight a love of guns and God on his Instagram accountwas caught on video Tuesday night at the spas where six Asian women and two other victims were ambushed and gunned down, police said.

He was eventually nabbed on a highway two hours south of Atlanta after a police chase, and he has been charged with murder and attempted murder.

Long admitted he was on his way to a pornography-related venue in Florida, authorities said, adding that it was very likely there would have been more victims.

Massage Parlor Massacres Suspect Said He Loved Guns & God

Police said Longwho has a hunting licensepurchased the weapon used in the rampage just prior to the shootings.

Long allegedly told them he had some issues, including sexual addiction that may have contributed to the spree.

It may be the targets of opportunity... we believe he frequented these places in the past and may have been lashing out, Cherokee County Sheriff Frank Reynolds said.

Cherokee County Capt. Jay Baker added that Long did take responsibility for the shootings, indicating to police that he was pretty fed up and at the end of his rope at the time of the rampage.

Story continues

Long told police he blamed the massage establishments for his addiction.

Its a temptation for him that he wanted to eliminate, Baker added.

Long pretty much grew up in the Crabapple First Baptist Church in Milton, a fellow member who left the church in 2015 told The Daily Beast.

It was your typical evangelical Baptist church but they do push the narrative hard that if you watch porn, if youre doing sexual things, youre going to hell, the ex-member said. They really do drive that home.

John and Barbara Hayes, of Sandy Springs, Georgia, bring flowers and offer prayers at the steps of Gold Spa. Virginie Kippelen/AFP via Getty

The bloodbath began at the Youngs Asian Massage in Cherokee County, where Long quickly killed two people, police said. A third person at the parlor succumbed to their injuries en route to a nearby hospital and a fourth died while in treatment. One person was also wounded at the parlor.

The victims killed there have been identified as Delaina Ashley Yaun, 33; Xiaojie Tan, 49; Daoyou Feng, 44; and Paul Andre Michels, 54. Elcias Hernandez-Ortiz, 30, was also shot and injured at Youngs but is expected to survive.

About an hour later, three people were found dead at the Gold Massage Spa in Atlanta. Another person was fatally shot at the Aroma Therapy Spa, located across the street. The names of those victims have not yet been released.

The Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Atlanta confirmed to The Daily Beast that four of eight victims are of Korean descent. Although the citizenship of the individuals has not been determined at this time, we are working closely with the authorities involved, a consulate spokesperson said.

Reynolds said Wednesday that Long was apprehended after police were contacted by members of the family indicating that may be their son after the initial shooting.

They were very distraught and they were very helpful in this apprehension, he said.

With the familys assistance, police were able to track his phone and anticipate his movements before Georgia State Police in Crisp County eventually stopped Long with a PIT maneuver, or a pursuit intervention technique, in which police force another car to plow sideways and stop.

The Aromatherapy Spa was one of the three Asian massage parlors that was hit by deadly shooting attacks. Virginie Kippelen/AFP via Getty

After his arrest, Long was interviewed by the Cherokee County police, the Atlanta police, and the FBI at Cherokee County adult detention center. There, they said, he revealed his sex-addiction issues and revealed he bought the gun just hours earlier.

Long is the son of a youth pastor and is heavily involved in the church, a student who graduated from Sequoyah High with Long in 2017 told The Daily Beast. He... wouldnt even cuss, the woman said. He was big into religion.

In his high school yearbook, Long was pictured leading a school church group called FCA. I really feel like God is wanting me to be a leader in the church so I felt like this would be a really good opportunity to exercise some of those principles and also just reach out to our campus with the gospel, he said in an accompanying caption.

The tagline on an Instagram account that appeared to belong to Long read: Pizza, guns, drums, music, family, and God. This pretty much sums up my life. Its a pretty good life.

The White House was briefed on the shootings overnight, and Secretary of State Antony Blinken referenced them in comments on a trip to South Koreawhere officials said four of the victims were of Korean descent.

Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms said that a crime against any community is a crime against us all.

We know that many of the victims, the majority of the victims, were Asian. We also know that this is an issue thats happening across the country. It is unacceptable, it is hateful, and it has to stop, Bottoms said.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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[March 17, 2021] Global Survey Finds 71% of Cloud Users Suffered up to Seven Malicious Account Takeovers in Last Year

SINGAPORE, March 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Vectra AI, a leader in network detection and response (NDR), today released its global survey of 1,112 security professionals working in mid to large sized organisations using Microsoft Office 365. The results confirm that the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated cloud migration and digital transformation among 88% of companies and that 71% of Microsoft Office 365 deployments have suffered an account takeover of a legitimate user's account, not once, but on average seven times in the last year. The fact that three in four companies have experienced malicious account takeover attacks may explain why over 60% of Asia Pacific respondents believe the gap between the capabilities of attackers and defenders is widening. The challenges faced by defenders also mirror findings of the last Spotlight Report which tracked the behaviour of four million Microsoft Office 365 customers over 90 days. Account takeovers were on the top of the list of methods used by attackers to move laterally between the cloud and network. The report also found that 71% of customers showed suspicious Office 365 Power Automate behaviors. Chris Fisher, Director of Security Engineering APJ for Vectra says, "Eighty percent of Singaporean survey respondents indicated their organisation's cybersecurity risk had increased in the last 12 months to February 2021. As a result of increased Microsoft Office 365 usage during COVID-19, their main security concern is now the risk of data being comprised and the ability for hackers to hide their tracks by using legitimate Microsoft tools, such as Power Automate and e-Discovery." In terms of 2021 threats, 48% of Singaporean respondents expect to see a continuation of identity-based attacks on authorised users. When it comes to improving their security posture in 2021, more Singaporean companies are planning to invest more in people and technology. Vectra's survey also reveled a high level of confidence among security teams in the effectiveness of their own company's security measures: nearly four in five claim to have 'good' or 'very good' visibility into attacks that bypass perimeter defences like firewalls. However the combined number one priority tool for investment within these companies is NDR (Network Detection and Response) followed by EDR (Endpoint Detection and Response) to help bolster their defenses.



How security professionals are currently allocating their focus was also reflected in Vectra's survey which found about 20% of team time is being spent on reactive investigations with a similar amount on proactive investigations. "Not surprisingly, stress levels have increased among APAC respondents because of COVID-19," says Fisher. "The biggest frustration for those with security solutions appears to be a lack of integration with other solutions and the amount of time needed to manage them."

Fisher says cyber threats left unidentified can have huge financial and reputation repercussions as more attackers seek to exploit ongoing COVID-19 challenges across industries. "Entities need to focus on their networks and maintain good cyber hygiene to drive down the noise coming into security operation centres. How quickly an entity responds to a breach and identifies the attacks quickly and effectively will determine who succeeds in this fast-changing time," Fisher comments. "Vectra delivers a demonstrably powerful enabler for security teams to achieve more, in compressed timeframes and ultimately protect and reduce business risk for their organisation," said Fisher. "The tremendous value of our AI-driven NDR platform, which combines advanced machine learning algorithms and insightful threat research, is evident in our growing number of new customers in the Asia Pacific region. Other key findings from the report include: IoT/Connected devices and identity-based attacks are the top two security concerns for 2021

58% of businesses plan to invest more money in people and technology and 52% will invest in AI and automation in 2021

The biggest frustration with existing security solutions is the amount of time needed to manage them

The best thing about their roles as security professionals is the satisfaction of stopping attacks and protecting their companies, whilst frustration at end user's lack of understanding of cyber security remains the biggest frustration. Download the full findings of the research here: https://www.vectra.ai/form/office365-survey-results, or read the companion blog and eBook. Research Methodology: The survey commissioned by Vectra was conducted among 1112 IT security decision makers in businesses securing Microsoft Office 365 deployments with more than 1000 employees, in the following industries: Government, Finance, Retail, Manufacturing, Healthcare, Education and Pharmaceutical. At an overall level results are accurate to  2.9% at 95% confidence limits assuming a result of 50%. The interviews were conducted online by Sapio Research in February 2021 using an email invitation and an online survey. About Vectra Vectra is a leader in network detection and response -- from cloud and data center workloads to user and IoT devices. Its Cognito platform accelerates threat detection and investigation using AI to enrich network metadata and cloud logs it collects and stores with the right context to detect, hunt and investigate known and unknown threats in real time. Vectra offers three applications on the Cognito platform to address high-priority use cases. Cognito Stream sends security-enriched metadata to data lakes and SIEMs. Cognito Recall is a cloud-based application to store and investigate threats in enriched metadata. And Cognito Detect uses AI to reveal and prioritize hidden and unknown attackers at speed. For more information, visit vectra.ai. SOURCE Vectra AI

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The International Business Times (IBT) today announced that it is releasing its list of the Hottest Fintech Startups 2021, an exclusive club of fintech disruptors and innovators who are helping to create a smarter, inclusive world. The companies that made it to the IBT list are the standout firms in the categorydisruptors that are leveraging ideas and cutting-edge technology in digital payments, cryptocurrency adoption, wealth management and digital business models. Fintech companies use innovative technology to automate and improve the use and delivery of financial services.

This list reflects at once the maturing of fintech as well as its endless, accelerating pace of innovation, explained David Kaufman, Head of business development. True fintech leaders combine the performance and resiliency of a mature business with the quest for new kinds of service and support. And, as we are seeing, leadership also means being inclusive and engaging with new customer communities. These are the companies we singled out for attention on our list of the hottest Fintech startups this year.

Fintech companies help their customers better manage financial processes and operations. They accomplish this goal through the use of specialized software and algorithms. Originally, the idea of fintech was limited to sophisticated but largely invisible backend systems at big banks. Now, however, fintech also includes consumer-oriented services and user interfaces. Consumers use fintech apps to manage their money or deal in crypto currencies. Fintech services might include activities like transferring money, making a check deposit, applying for credit and so forth. The category works within sectors such as non-profits, banking, education, investment and more.

The fintech sector is definitely large and growing. According to Statista, investment in fintech exceeds $112 billion annually. Seventy percent of senior banking executives said that collaborating with fintech firms to create new services represents an important opportunity to their businesses going forward. An astonishing 38% of personal loans in the US are granted by fintech firms. In just a few short years, fintech has taken over more than a third of the consumer lending market.

IBT Media is a fast-growing online publication that is engaging a new generation of readers with content that speaks to their interests. It also provides analysis that serve their businesses, and insight to make sense of a globally connected world. IBT Media covers fintech extensively, with recent articles discussing how UK fintech firms are dealing with Brexit, the Biden administrations new policies on crypto currency and more.
Police are investigating two complaints from Rural Fire Service members following social media posts urging members to report bullying and sexual harassment allegations.

It comes as Rural Fire Service Commissioner Rob Rogers told staff and volunteers on Tuesday that instances of sexual harassment and violence had been raised with him since he took on the role last year, prompting plans for a new model to deal with such claims.

In an unusual statement apparently in response to social media posts, Mr Rogers said that since becoming head of the service, he had been concerned with instances of workplace conduct by both staff and volunteers. He said he had written to all staff about my concerns on February 11 and is readying a similar communication to our volunteer members.

RFS Commissioner Rob Rogers has sent a statement out to volunteers and staff warning them to treat colleagues with respect after a letter circulated to MPs about complaints within the service. Credit:Jessica Hromas

It genuinely disturbs me that in 2021 we still have instances where female members of the NSW RFS, being paid or volunteer, are not treated with respect and dignity and in some cases do not feel safe at the RFS, Mr Rogers said in the statement obtained by the Herald.
During the meeting held on video conference mode, Jagan discussed with officials several matters and gave them the welfare calendar for April. (Image credit : Twitter)

Vijayawada: Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy said on Tuesday that Andhra Pradesh has created a record in the national employment guarantee scheme by providing 2,427 lakh workdays by March 15 and paying nearly Rs 6,000 crore to the workforce under the scheme.

The Chief Minister announced that construction of houses under the mega housing scheme Pedalandariki Illu would start on April 15. As many as 15.60 lakh houses would be constructed in the first phase of the housing scheme for the poor. The CM was holding a Spandana review meeting with district collectors and SPs.

During the meeting held on video conference mode, Jagan discussed with officials several matters and gave them the welfare calendar for April. MGNREGS works, house site patta distribution, Nadu Nedu in schools and anganwadi centers, creation of multi-purpose facility centers, construction of medical colleges, roads and buildings, the YSR Cheyutha, the Jagananna Thodu, the YSR Bhima, the YSR Asara Pragathi, the crop procurement scheme, and the schedules of the programmes for April were the major issues that came up at the meet.

The CM said he couldnt connect with district collectors over the past few weeks because of the civic elections. Once the remaining six days process of MPTC&ZPTC elections is completed, focus could be laid on vaccination, administration and developmental activities, he said.

Jagan Mohan Reddy congratulated district collectors for achieving a record in MGNREGS works by logging 2,472 lakh working days by March 15 and it would total 2,525 lakh working days by end of the financial year. Around Rs 6,000 crore has been paid to labourers through this scheme.

The CM said the government would construct 15.60 lakh houses in the first phase and directed the officials to complete the required process. He asked them to expedite the preparatory works for construction of the houses and added that water and electricity facilities should be arranged in the layouts by April 15. The construction of houses will start on April 15, he stressed.

Jagan Mohan Reddy said a model house should be constructed in every layout and building materials should be provided to those who want to build the houses on their own. The beneficiaries will get construction materials like cement, steel and metal at low cost as the government purchases them in bulk. He asked officials to utilize the services of engineering assistants, digital assistants and welfare assistants in Village Secretariats as also of the Volunteers.

The CM said the construction of village/ward secretariats should be completed on a war footing by May 2021. District collectors must focus attention on completing the construction of RBKs and YSR village health clinics.

He said the distribution of leftover house site pattas should be completed soon. The new applicants should receive the patta in 90 days. Distribution of house site pattas to 11,334 newly identified eligible beneficiaries should be completed soon and verification of the remaining applications should be done fast. He also asked officials to speed up the identification and purchase of the required land for house sites from April.
Dan Stec

Public Service Commission

Senate

Queensbury

Andrew Cuomo

April 1

Kevin Parker

Brooklyn

Senate's

Energy and Telecommunications Committee

Jim Siplon

Glens Falls

Lake Champlain-Lake George Regional Planning Board

Camoin Associates

(TNS)  Legislation requiring the New York state agency that regulates utilities to review high-speed broadband access has been included as part of state budget negotiations, according to state Sen.The Comprehensive Broadband Connectivity Act would require the stateto post a detailed access map on its website, showing internet service by location, and hold four public hearings between the public and internet service providers to address gaps in service. The bill has been included in both theand Assembly's one-house budget proposals.Stec, R-, was a cosponsor of a bill the Legislature approved last year to require a detailed broadband analysis. Gov.vetoed the legislation in January, however, on the grounds that the $3 million cost was not included in the budget."The veto was a disappointment, especially after we waited so many months for the executive to take action," Stec said in a news release. "The governor's office had promised they would do something in the budget but that didn't happen. So, lawmakers are now taking action by proposing to include the legislation in the new state budget, which is due.""The governor's promise of high-speed internet for all hasn't been fulfilled," Stec said. "The COVID crisis made it glaringly obvious how great a disadvantage not having broadband is, and fixing this problem should be a priority for our state."Stec has spoken with Sen., D-, chairman of the, about eliminating a fee on fiber optic line installers who build lines in state-controlled highway right-of-ways.Expanding broadband has been a top priority for local officials and entities, including EDC Warren County, which is conducting a survey to gauge access to high-speed internet., president of the organization, reported at the organization's monthly meeting on Tuesday that participation in the survey has fallen off. He would like to receive more responses, particularly from the city ofSiplon said the EDC is working with theto solicit proposals from consultants to compile information about broadband access over a multi-county region.Availability of high-speed internet was cited by 47% of people in a survey conducted byas one of the most important factors in deciding where to live. Quality and affordability of housing was cited by 64% of respondents, followed by health care services at 54%.EDC Warren County is trying to attract people to relocate to the area.
A bill to create a dedicated fund to prevent and fight wildfires in Washington easily passed the state House of Representatives and will be sent to the state Senate.

The bill, promoted by Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz, passed 96-0 in Olympia.

House Bill 1168 is sponsored by Rep. Larry Springer, D-Kirkland, and Rep. Joel Kretz, R-Wauconda, and would create a dedicated account of $125 million every two years to boost wildfire response, accelerate forest restoration, and support community resilience.

Lawmakers realize, after years of watching our towns, forests, and grazing lands go up in smoke, that its time to act, Franz said.

The bill follows a historically destructive 2020 fire season in Washington, during which over 800,000 acres burned in more than 1,600 fires and 298 homes were destroyed, including the near total destruction of the town of Malden. For two of the last three years, Washington has experienced the worst air quality in the world due to wildfire.

We have to do something. The idea that we should just wait for a bigger snowpack or wetter summer is not a plan, Springer said.

Many of the biggest impacts have been on the lowest income residents in my community, Kretz said. Wildfire has created, essentially, a homelessness crisis.

Franz said the state already spends an average of $150 million a year to fight wildfires.

The number of acres burned has increased dramatically in recent years, climbing from 293,000 acres burned in 2016 to 438,000 in 2018 to over 812,000 acres burned in 2020.

A similar attempt to use a surtax on home insurance premiums to raise money to fight wildfires failed in the Legislature last year.

The bill proposes spending $75 million every two years to hire and train more firefighters, buy more airplanes and helicopters, improve leadership and improve fire detection systems. Franz noted that some of the 10 helicopters in the states firefighting fleet date to the Vietnam War, and have the bullet holes to prove it.

Franz also wants to spend $37 million to restore 1.25 million acres of forest lands to make them more resistant to wildfires.

Finally, her plan calls for spending $12 million to reduce fuels and create firebreaks that would prevent communities like Malden from being wiped out by fast-moving flames.

Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Catastrophe Natural Disasters Wildfire Washington
(Natural News) The United States military is going woke with a new campaign aimed at putting more pregnant female soldiers in top combat roles.

Fake president Joe Biden made an announcement about the changes during a recent address, explaining that more maternity flight suits are needed to accommodate the influx of estrogen within the service.

Women lead our most lethal units with character, Sgt. Maj. of the Army Michael Grinston tweeted proudly. They will dominate ANY future battlefield were called to fight on.

Grinston also tweeted a series of photos promoting women in combat, as did the U.S. Army Twitter account, which featured a photo of an androgynous person handling a Gatling gun.

Fox News host Tucker Carlson did a segment on this move by the military, calling it an embarrassment and a mockery of our nations armed forces.

Our military is the last functional institution of any size in this country, Carlson lamented. Its the last institution most people trust and respect. It is by far the most important.

Carlson took specific aim at comments made by China Joe about bringing an intensity of purpose and mission to really change the culture and habits of the military.

Some of its relatively straightforward work where were making good progress, Hunters dad read from the teleprompter.

Designing body armor that fits women properly, tailoring combat uniforms for women, creating maternity flight suits, updating requirements for hairstyles.

Everything is centered around women, in other words, with not even so much as a mention about the men who also serve in the military.

Perhaps maternity flight suits have been around for a while. Weve never heard of them, Carlson added in his segment. But here was the president of the United States promoting them at a press conference.

There are no more sacred institutions left in America, thanks to wokeism

After Carlsons segment aired, the military became triggered. Some of its top brass came forward  it is rare for high-level uniformed personnel to do this  with statements of condemnation against him.

No matter how right Carlson is, even the military has succumbed to political correctness as it elevates gender, in this case, over merit.

The military is also offering free sex changes to gender dysphoric servicethem who identify as neither male nor female. Along with pregnant women, this is the future of the United States military.

Defense One, a publication of the Pentagon, proudly announced that Beijing Biden is compiling a racially and gender-diverse cabinet, much like the military is trying to do by apparently targeting anyone other than white men to fill its ranks.

The publication highlighted the appointment of Lloyd Austin, a retired Army general, who became the first black defense secretary. As pointed out by Carlson, however, Austin actually came from the cynical world of private equity.

But youre not supposed to notice that, Carlson joked. 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.

Carlson was raked over the coals for these statements and others, as he usually is. Thankfully, he is brave enough to make them and is more concerned with facts than he is with feelings.

The Department of Defense has never been more aggressively or openly political, Carlson lamented towards the end of his segment.

More related news about the future of America under feminism and LGBTQ can be found at Collapse.news.

Sources for this article include:

DefenseOne.com

NaturalNews.com

FoxNews.com
The March 3 announcement from UK Government that it intended to unilaterally break the terms of the Northern Ireland Protocol comes as no surprise. It is emblematic of Londons approach by Boris Johnson since he first assumed office.

Mr Johnsons approach to the challenges that Brexit posed for Northern Ireland have been an amalgam of bluster, bluff and a freewheeling approach to facts.

While serving as Foreign Secretary Mr Johnson dismissed the complexities posed by the Irish border, suggesting that finding a solution is not beyond the wit of man. Other than some kite flying about customs clearance zones and vacuous chatter about potential technical fixes he produced no solutions.

When Mr Johnson replaced Theresa May in July 2019 finding a way forward on the Irish border question became critical to avoiding a no-deal UK withdrawal from the EU.

A meeting on 10 October, 2019 between Boris Johnson and Leo Varadkar framed a way forward. Mr Johnson, in essence, accepted that instead of a revived hard land border customs checks on goods entering Northern Irelands from the rest of the UK would be carried out at Northern Irelands ports. This paved the way for agreement, at the European Council on 17 October 2019 on the UK withdrawal process and on the Irish Protocol.

Trump card

The arrangements, after some drama in the Commons, gave Mr Johnson a trump card going into the 2019 UK general election. They also caused serious problems for Unionists.

During the election campaign Johnson promised Unionists and Northern Ireland businesses leaders that "there will not be tariffs or checks on goods coming from GB to NI"; He advised any business required to complete customs forms to throw them in the bin.

In addition to being less than honest with Northern Ireland Unionists this bluster discouraged business from gearing up for Brexit: no business is going to invest time, effort and hard cash gearing up for problems that the Prime Minister says will not happen.

Since his 2019 election victory rather than support the Protocol and work through the difficulties it posed for Northern Ireland Unionists, Mr Johnson has systematically attempted to distance himself from the inevitable problems that have arisen.

As negotiations on the UK withdrawal arrangements were at a crucial point Downing Street made an extraordinary decision to incorporate provisions in UK law that would allo British Ministers to unilaterally re-interpret the Northern Ireland Protocol.

Following protests from the EU Commission and warnings from the US, Johnson dropped the offending provisions explaining that an 'agreement in principle' on the issues affecting Northern Ireland had been reached with the EU.

The UK withdrawal arrangements were signed off by Boris Johnson on Christmas Eve: He hailed the agreement as the foundation for a really prosperous new relationship.

In the middle of January, well before the Commissions Article 16 gaffe, Mr Johnson, responding to a question from a DUP MP Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, told the Commons he would have "no hesitation" in triggering Article 16 of the Northern Ireland Protocol to resolve problems that were then disrupting imports from the UK into Northern Ireland.

Repercussions

The March 3 announcement that the UK intended to unilaterally extend the grace period for food imports into Northern Ireland is a direct follow on from that exchange. The announcement which came without notice infuriated Brussels and Dublin. The EU Commission called the proposed action a violation of the Irish Protocol and a breach of good faith. Simon Coveney, showing remarkable restraint, called Londons actions a breach of trust.

Londons reaction was characteristically dismissive. Cabinet Office Minister Lord Frost portrayed the UKs move as lawful and said Brussels should shake off any remaining ill will towards the UK for leaving the EU.

The UK Governments bizarre behaviour over the last year and a half has eroded trust. There is little if any goodwill for the Johnson administration in Brussels

There is a weariness in other EU capitals to the never-ending Brexit bickering. In Northern Ireland itself, attitudes are as polarised as ever and community tensions have been fuelled by the UK governments duplicitous approach None of this makes for optimism.

The announcement by the Commission on Monday that it is triggering infringement procedures against the UK should be sufficient to bring any sensible government back from the brink.

Pressure from friendly third party intervention might also help. The US could be that friendly third party.

When the news broke in September that the UK proposed giving its Ministers power to unilaterally re-interpret the Northern Ireland Protocol warnings came both sides of the US political divide.

Joe Biden said that the Good Friday Agreement cannot become a casualty of Brexit.

Then Presidential candidate Joe Biden said that the Good Friday Agreement cannot become a casualty of Brexit, Nancy Pelosi warned that the UK was risking its US trade deal and President Trumps Northern Ireland Envoy cautioned the UK against creating a hard border by accident.

Days after the US elections in his first phone call with Boris Johnson President-elect Biden put down a marker about keeping the Irish border open.

On March 4, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki when questioned about the UKs March 3 rd decision reiterated President Bidens unequivocal support for the Good Friday Agreement.

On March 10, Simon Coveney arranged a virtual briefing with the influential Friends of Ireland caucus in the US Congress. EU Commission VP Sefcovic was invited to join the briefing. That was an inspired move.

Following the briefing, it was announced that a bipartisan motion supporting the Good Friday Agreement will be introduced in the US Senate next week.

The Irish Governments response to Mr Johnsons behaviour has been calm but firm. Given the significance that Mr Johnson attaches to a new UK-US trade deal bringing Washington into the picture might be whats needed to persuade Mr Johnson that his confrontational approach is not the way forward.

Dick Roche is a Consultant in Public Policy & Current Affairs

Read More Aoife Moore: The tale of two Sinn Feins




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Dr Nana Ayew Afriyie, MP for Effiduase-Asokore, believes that it is right for the Akufo-Addo-led government to impose taxes on the well to do in the society.



According to him, most rich people drive around with Landcruiser V8 with an engine capacity of 5.7 but the poor in the society commute with either motorbike or walk from one destination to another.



Dr Ayew Afriyie is of the view that Ghana can only go forward with taxation.



Taxing the rich for the poor, what is wrong with that? he quizzed. You use a V8, you buy fuel; you carry engine litre 5.7, somebody somewhere uses a motorbike or does not even have a car in my village.



The lawmaker told his colleague Parliamentarians that, African governments generally are thinking of taxation and therefore Ghana is no exception.



Mr Speaker as I speak, Botswana were in the same social-economic bracket, they have moved in their budget of February VAT from 12% to 14%, Mr Speaker they have moved their withholding tax from 7.5%..., they have levied fuel and they have moved by 0.09 dollars. Mr Speaker, its not only them, lets traverse to the sub-Saharan region, Kenya is coming into line; go and look at their budget proposal, they are thinking about taxation, he explained.



He added that South Africa is also charging exercise duty on alcohol and tobacco including plastic bags.



Mr Speaker, what is wrong if Ghana does some near same? VAT 1%, NHIS 1%, the banks, look at the amount of money some of them repatriate from this country and somebody is going for 5%, and youre arguing for some of those banks. We have to be more Ghanaian enough; we must love ourselves. If you do good, you do for yourself, Dr Nana Ayew Afriyie stressed.



He accused the erstwhile NDC administration of causing the mess that the Akufo-Addo government intends to fix with the imposition of taxes on the citizenry.



In any case, it is a temporary measure [] Im worried why somebody will talk against this, he stated.



The 2021 budget statement and economic policy of the government proposed new taxes on petroleum products, 1% COVID-19 Health Levy on VAT Flat Rate Scheme and 1% on the National Health Insurance Levy (NHIL).



The government also introduced a financial sector clean-up levy of 5% on profit-before-tax of banks to help defray outstanding commitments in the sector.



Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, who presented the 2021 Budget Statement and Economic Policy to Parliament last Friday in Accra on behalf of President Akufo-Addo, said this levy would be reviewed in 2024.



The financial sector clean-up and the refund of monies to depositors have restored investor confidence and protected the hard-earned savings of millions of Ghanaians. However, this has come at a huge cost of over GH21.0 billion to the government, he explained.

Source: Ghanaweb









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
An ex-soldier from Perth is accused of murdering former Rebels bikie boss Nick Martin in a public assassination at Perth Motorplex on December 12.

The suspected targeted sniper attack  which took place in front of horrified onlookers including Mr Martins family  sparked a massive police investigation with more than 100 officers assigned to the case.

The man is also linked to a humanitarian movement called Shadows of Hope. Credit:Facebook

Three months later, a 34-year-old man fronted a Perth court on Wednesday amid heavy police guard after being taken into custody on Monday evening.

The building was patrolled by police officers and members of the media were screened by security prior to entering the court.
Pham Van Vuong, 32, from Thanh Tri district in Hanoi, uses both hands to pour out tea into a cup when receiving guests. His arm transplant, which came from the body of a 51-year-old man, has become part of him and he can now feel it and move with it.

Pham Van Vuong

Later, he turns to his motorbike, starts the engine and drives it with both hands, with his son sitting behind him. Previously, when he had only one hand, he had some difficulty or had to ask for help from relatives. But now he can do all the moves himself.

Every day, he drives his motorbike to a bus station about one kilometer from his house and then catches a bus to a factory in Hung Yen province.

Five years ago, Vuong lost one third of his left arm because of an accident at the metal package manufacturing factory. The young strong man became disabled when his son was just one year old and his wife, a factory worker, had an unstable income.

He felt useless because he could not work.

I shed tears at night as I found my future gloomy. I did not know what to do to support my family, he recalled.

In July 2016, when he had to have his left arm cut, the doctors at the Military Hospital 108 told him that he could get an arm transplant once suitable donors were found. But Vuong did not hear anything about donations in the following years and forgot about it.

After five months of staying at home, he returned to his company and took a job with a lower income.

In August 2019, he received a call from doctors who said they had an arm from a 30-year-old brain-dead man. But that transplant operation was never done because the donors family changed their mind at the last minute.

The wrist and forearm grafting is one of the most difficult operations because there are 43 muscles, eight large blood vessels, and numerous complex nerves with tendons, muscles, cartilage and joints.

On January 20, 2020, Dr Nguyen The Hoang from Military Hospital 108 called him and said he found another donor and could conduct the transplant operation the next day.

He was then immediately hospitalized with VND18 million, which was all the money he had at that time. The transplant was carried out on January 21 and Vuong became the first patient in Vietnam to receive an arm transplant and the first in the world to receive an arm from a live donor.

The donor was a 51-year-old man whose left arm was cut in a work accident. The man agreed to donate the arm to Vuong, but he did not tell his family about it.

Only in January 2021 did Vuong have the opportunity to meet his benefactor to thank him. When seeing his arm on Vuongs body, the man was speechless with emotion.

About 11 hours after his operation, Vuong opened his eyes in the postoperative room. Looking down at his new arm, he burst into tears as his body has been healed again as in a miracle.

Honoring donors merit

The four months after the transplant operation were a difficult time for Vuong, who had to take medicine and practice rehabilitation.

On the first days, I could not hold a ping pong with my hand. Actually I felt very depressed. But I kept practicing because I thought about the man who gave me one of his body parts. I thought I had to try to practice so that the efforts of the man and Dr Hoang would not be in vain, he said.

He carried a ping pong ball all the time and tried to practice with the ball during lunch time and on the bus.

At first, Vuong could feel very little with the new arm. He could not feel pain even when his hand touched hot water. But things gradually improved.

Now Vuong can carry a small bucket of water with his left arm, put on clothes, and hold his sons tightly with two arms.

After the major surgery, Vuong lost weight and could not hold small things or perform complicated operations. The arm of the donor is bigger and shorter than his right arm by 4 cm.

Previously, I always felt an inferiority complex and had to wear shirts with long sleeves to hide the lost hand. But now I am confident again, he said.

Vuong now has to go to the hospital periodically to have re-examination, get medicine and have blood tests. This costs him VND2 million a month.

Prof Hoang, recalling the historic transplant case, said it was a daring decision. The wrist and forearm grafting is one of the most difficult operations because there are 43 muscles, eight large blood vessels, and numerous complex nerves with tendons, muscles, cartilage and joints.

Hoang said the operation succeeded, but the patient still needs to practice for one more year to make his hand work even better.

Thuy Hanh
Kerala elections 2021: PC Thomas-led Kerala Congress quits NDA, merges with Joseph faction

India

oi-Ajay Joseph Raj P

Kottayam, Mar 17: Ahead of the April 6 Assembly polls, the Kerala Congress headed by former Union Minister C Thomas on Wednesday quit the BJP-led NDA and merged with another Kerala Congress faction headed by PJ Joseph, which is a constituent of the Congress-led UDF.

Thomas, who helped the NDA register its first electoral victory in Kerala by winning the 2004 Lok Sabha polls from then Muvattupuzha seat, quit the BJP-led alliance alleging that his party was neglected by the front when the seats were allocated for the April 6 polls.

The Kerala Congress leader, who was a minister in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led NDA government, said his party was given four seats in the 2016 Assembly polls but not a single seat was allocated this time.

Kerala elections 2021: Congress alleges rampant fraud in voters' list in State

Thomas said the BJP leadership had offered him Pala assembly seat but he did not opt for it due to some personal reasons. Later in the afternoon, the merger took place at an election convention of the UDF held at Kaduthuruthy in Kottayam district.

Senior Congress leader Oommen Chandy and senior leaders of the Kerala Congress Joseph faction attended the election convention of sitting MLA from Kaduthuruthy constituency Mons Joseph.

Mons Joseph is a senior leader of the Joseph faction, which lost its election symbol and recognition following its split with the Jose K Mani-led Kerala Congress (M). The merger became a reality two days after the Supreme Court rejected an appeal filed by PJ Joseph challenging the Election Commission's order recognising the Jose K Mani faction as the official Kerala Congress (M) and allotting the party's symbol to it.

West Bengal elections 2021: Mamata Banerjee releases TMC manifesto

Since the Kerala Congress headed by Thomas is a registered party, the merger would help Joseph-led faction to retain the name Kerala Congress and apply for a common symbol for its candidates contesting in the Assembly polls on UDF tickets, sources said.

Welcoming the merger of two Kerala Congress groups, Chandy said Thomas has reached the right place and said more such democratic forces will join the Congress-led alliance in the state. Thomas expressed hope that more people will join the Kerala Congress.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Wednesday, March 17, 2021, 19:36 [IST]
Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam has signed two bills into law that allow health insurance plans offered through the state-based exchange to include abortion coverage.

House Bill 1896, which was sponsored by Delegate Sally Hudson, and Senate Bill 1276, sponsored by state Sen. Jennifer McClellan, were signed by Northam on Friday.

The legislation removed a restriction in the Code of Virginia that prohibited health insurance sold or offered for sale through an exchange established or operating in the Commonwealth to cover abortions unless the abortion was performed because of a life-threatening medical emergency to the mother or when the pregnancy is the result of an alleged act of rape or incest.

The two bills were among 80 different bills on various topics that Northam signed into law on March 12, including bills aimed at protecting homeowners from foreclosure, securing financial aid for students regardless of their immigration status, and banning the testing of cosmetics on animals.

Source:The Christian Post
A number of schools across New South Wales have banned birthday cakes from being brought in by students over 'healthy eating policies'.

Greta Public School in the Hunter Valley and Wollondilly Anglican College in Tahmoor have both banned students bringing birthday cakes into class.

Schools are urging parents to bring in healthier alternatives as some say their children are eating cake numerous times a week.

Birthday cakes have been banned in a number of schools across New South Wales over health concerns

Last year, a number of schools cancelled the birthday cakes due to COVID-19 restrictions and kept the ban in place.

Greta Public school wrote in a newsletter that due to COVID-19 parents were encouraged not to bring cupcakes for their child's birthday, they were able to purchase a 'birthday bucket' of sugar-free ice blocks.

'The 'bucket' has enough sugar free Zooper Dooper ice blocks for your child's class, delivered at a time when the teacher says is convenient to their learning day', the letter read.

Wollondilly Anglican College also said cakes were 'causing concern' and didn't fit into the school's healthy eating policy.

'Most weeks see a birthday or two from each class, sometimes several on one day. This makes it difficult to promote our healthy eating policy amongst the junior years', a newsletter read.

Teachers also said that the celebrations added stress on parents.

'It is also causing additional stress for parents who may not have the time or money to bake or buy treats', the letter read.

A spokesperson from Wollondilly Anglican College said that the parents were surveyed about the potential cake ban and most found it beneficial to ban the cakes.

Wollondilly Anglican College banned the cakes saying they don't fit into their 'healthy eating policy'

'The survey revealed that it alleviated parent pressure and the parents found it helpful to not have to make the cakes.' They said.

'We're a nut-aware college and the ban helps us to reduce the risk of allergies'
If European countries are going to suspend the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine every time there is a random stochastic death, it would be better if they handed their stocks immediately to Africa and poorer regions of Asia.

The vaccine saga has degenerated into the most abject spectacle of European misgovernment. It is what happens when you push the precautionary principle to the point of absurdity. Once zero-risk thinking becomes reflexive - and institutionalised in law - it leads you into a cul-de-sac of systemic self-harm.

We have extensive epidemiological data in the UKs weekly yellow card summary of vaccines. As of February 28, there had been 227 deaths shortly after the Pfizer-BioNTech jab and 275 after the Oxford-AstraZeneca jab. It is a statistical miracle that there had not been more. AstraZeneca reported 15 cases of deep vein thrombosis and 22 cases of pulmonary embolism following the jab out of 17 million doses in the UK and Europe.

This is much lower than would be expected to occur naturally in a general population of this size and is similar across other licensed COVID-19 vaccines, it said.
In his appeal to Myanmars military to end the violence, Pope Francis on Tuesday said that the authorities involved must let dialogue prevail over repression, and harmony over discord, adding that blood resolves nothing. The head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State said in a statement released by the Vatican, "Even I kneel on the streets of Myanmar and say stop the violence", referring to the nun that knelt before soldiers asking them to shoot her before they shot at "children".

Popes remarks came as dozens were left dead after violent confrontations broke out between the anti-coup protesters and the military Junta over the weekend, prompting authorities to invoke martial law. In his traditional public comments to the masses worldwide, Francis said yet again, and with so much sadness, he felt the need to evoke the dramatic situation in Myanmar, where so many persons, above all young people, are losing their life to offer hope to their country.

With great sorrow, I must recall the dramatic situation in #Myanmar, where many people, especially young people, are losing their lives to offer hope to their country. I too kneel in the streets of Myanmar and say: End the violence! May dialogue prevail!  Pope Francis (@Pontifex) March 17, 2021

Furthermore, he asked the international community to ensure that the aspirations of the people of Myanmar are not stifled by violence. The Vatican's Pope continued, May the young people of that beloved land be granted the hope of a future where hatred and injustice make way for encounter and reconciliation. He then appealed to the military Junta to release the detained NLD civilian leaders, including Myanmars State Counsellor, de facto leader, and a Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi. He asked the military forces to reverse the coup and restore democracy.

I repeat the wish I expressed a month ago," Pope Francis said, "that the path towards democracy taken in recent years by Myanmar may be resumed through the concrete gesture of the release of the various political leaders imprisoned.

#MYANMAR: "We are deeply disturbed that the crackdown continues to intensify, & we again call on the military to stop killing and detaining protestors," @UNHumanRights spox Ravina Shamdasani says. At least 149 pple dead, 2,084 detained since coup. More https://t.co/VFOJHk5hxz pic.twitter.com/bdT8nAy8Xn  UN Human Rights Asia (@OHCHRAsia) March 16, 2021

Political crisis in Myanmar

Earlier, in a revised report, the United Nations said that since the coup, Myanmar's military has brutally shot at 149 peaceful protesters, of which, five succumbed in the police custody. According to the independent broadcaster and news service Democratic Voice of Burma, nearly 74 more protesters were killed in at least 4 cities over the weekend in a fresh escalation of tensions between civilians and armed forces in one of the 'bloodiest days' since the nationwide protests erupted. Let them kill me right now, let them kill me instead of my son because I cant take it anymore, a protesting students mother was seen shouting in a video clip posted on Facebook on Sunday as forces launched live bullets on the demonstrators.

[Image Credit: AP]

[Image Credit: AP]

[Image Credit: Twitter/@tzmin]

[Anti-coup protesters test improvised weapons made to fight with government security forces in Yangon. Credit: AP]

St. Patrick's Day Message from Ambassador O'Neill

News

St. Patrick's Day Message from Ambassador Adrian O'Neill

On the occasion of St. Patricks Day, my wife Aisling and I would like to extend our very best wishes to the Irish community and friends of Ireland across Britain.

As we near the anniversary of the current public health crisis, St Patricks Day presents an opportunity to reflect on the enormous changes the past year has brought to bear on all of our lives, and to look forward with hope to the future. We can take heart that we are moving through the winter of this crisis, and that spring and summer lie just ahead.

On my fourth St. Patricks Day in London I feel proud to be representing Ireland, and to reflect on the experience of the Irish community in Britain this past year. Although we may have been physically apart for much of this past year, I take great pride in the fact that the resilient spirit of the Irish community has not just endured but thrived during this time.

We cannot understate the difficulties faced by our communities in the last year, nor the illnesses endured and the sad fatalities sustained. However, neither can we fail to notice the ingenuity, adaptability and generosity of spirit of Irish community organisations across Great Britain in responding to this terrible pandemic.

I have been deeply impressed with the dedication of those who, over the past 12 months, have shown such togetherness, creativity, and goodwill in adapting to the new normal. Since the beginning of the Covid-19 crisis, community organisations have risen to the challenge and evolved their services to meet the needs of the most vulnerable members of our community. I am glad to have this opportunity to pay tribute to you all.

In their tireless efforts, these organisations have once again emphasised the positive contributions that the Irish community makes to the UK. In a year where our wellbeing and lives have depended on the wonderful care provided by the National Health Service, I am especially proud of the nearly 14,000 Irish women and men who work in the NHS. Thank you for all that you do.

Being Irish on St Patricks Day is an expression of fellow feeling or cultural affinity, as much as of citizenship or heritage, and is open for all to join if they feel so inclined. For the Irish abroad, so many of whom live here in Britain, it is an opportunity to express our deep pride in being Irish and to renew bonds with Ireland and with the extended Irish family worldwide. Although this year we will not have the normal parades and other festive gatherings, there are still other great ways to celebrate our heritage.

While the Embassy would usually be preparing to open our doors to hundreds of guests and members of the community throughout St Patricks week, this year we are planning a very different kind of celebration. I hope you can all don your green and join us virtually at lunchtime on 17th March to mark the day. We have an exciting St. Patricks Day celebration planned, and stay tuned to our social media for further details of our fantastic line-up.

In what has been a very challenging year, it is heartening to see the tradition of celebrating St. Patricks Day across Great Britain continuing, albeit in a slightly different format. Organisations are continuing to show their resilience and imagination in arranging a programme of virtual community and cultural events, and I want to thank all those involved in making St Patricks Day such an inclusive, vibrant and joyful celebration. I look forward, along with my colleagues, to joining many virtual community events over the St Patricks period.

So, once again on behalf of myself, my wife Aisling and all the Embassy team, Im delighted to wish you all a very happy St Patricks Day. I hope you all thoroughly enjoy the (virtual) celebrations.

Beannachtai na Feile Padraig oraibh go leir.

Ambassador Adrian ONeill

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MILAN, MAR 17 - A Milan court on Wednesday acquitted Eni CEO Claudio Descalzi and its former chief and current AC Milan President Paolo Scaroni, of paying bribes paid to land the OPL 245 oil licence in Nigeria in 2011. Eni and Shell were also acquitted. All 15 defendants including former Nigerian oil minister Dan Etete were also acquitted. Descalzi's lawyer Paola Severino said her client's "international reputation has finally been restored", as well as that of Eni. The trial lasted over three years. (ANSA).
Centers for Disease Control head Rochelle Walensky told lawmakers Wednesday that health officials are 'actively looking' at studies showing the apparent safety of reopening schools with three-foot social distancing  a change that could dramatically ease the process.

Walensky spoke about the science of the matter while being pressed during a subcommittee briefing by Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.)

McMorris Rodgers, a mother of three, grilled the former Harvard Medical School professor and infectious disease expert on the potentially game-changing information at a House Energy and Commerce subcommittee hearing.

Rochelle Walensky of the Centers for Disease control said CDC would be issuing new guidance on schools, and said government scientists were 'actively' looking at three-foot distance studies

She referenced a new study in Clinical Infectious Diseases that indicated there was no significant difference in infectious in Massachusetts schools between those that used six-foot distance and those that used three-foot distance.

She even pulled out a 2020 email that Walensky herself had written offering advice to a mayor advising three-foot distancing.

'I dont think we need to wait for more studies,' intoned McMorris Rodgers.

'As soon as our guidance came out, it became very clear that six feet was among the things that was keeping schools closed,' said Walensky, who noted that she, too, is a mother of three.

President Joe Biden has pledged to have most elementary and secondary schools open at the end of his first 100 days in office.

Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) pressed Walensky at a hearing Wednesday

U.S. first lady Jill Biden and Education Secretary Miguel Cardona visit a classroom as they tour Benjamin Franklin Elementary School in Meriden, Connecticut, U.S., March 3, 2021. 'The time is now, and schools must act immediately to get students safely back into school buildings,' said Cardona

A new study in Massachusetts showed no appreciable difference in infections between six-foot and three-foot protocols. U.S. first lady Jill Biden and Education Secretary Miguel Cardona tour Benjamin Franklin Elementary School in Meriden, Connecticut, U.S., March 3, 2021

She cited the limitations of a single study  but indicated new guidance was on the way.

'And in that context, science evolves. So there has been one study that was published late last week that demonstrated in Massachusetts, where theres generally 100 per cent mask wearing, that three feet was actually safe. Student rates and teacher rates of disease were the same at six feet versus three feet, Walensky said.

She said she was aware of several emerging studies in the area. 'As we look at those studies in the context of this Massachusetts study, we are looking to update our guidance,' she said.

McMorris Rodgers pushed again: 'I would urge you to act and act now. We dont need to wait for additional studies.'

'I, too, am a mother of three. One who has been home schooled the entire year. So I am entirely with you that we need to get our children back,' she told her.

One top reason schools have cited for failing to reopen are the constraints of the CDC's recommended six-foot distancing. Some schools simply aren't large enough to accommodate all its students, and some have only partially reopened, seeing students for as little as two hours per week in person.

The action comes as the Biden Administration prepares for a summit next week on school reopening, as Republicans have sought to hammer Biden on the issue. He has pledged to have most elementary and secondary schools open at the end of his first 100 days in office.

But some school systems are resisting, even as more teachers get vaccinated.

'The time is now, and schools must act immediately to get students safely back into school buildings,' said Education Secretary Miguel Cardona.

The administration announced it is sending $10 billion to states for schools to conduct COVID testing. It also provided state-by-state guidance for how much each would get out of a $122 billion pot in the $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package.
On March 11, the Republican-majority Kentucky state Senate voted 22 to 11 to approve a bill that would make insulting a police officer a crime. Senate Bill (SB) 211 makes it so that a person could be charged with disorderly conducta misdemeanor with a penalty of up to 90 days in jail and up to a $250 fineif one accosts, insults, taunts, or challenges a law enforcement officer with offensive or derisive words, or by gestures or other physical contact, that would have a direct tendency to provoke a violent response from the perspective of a reasonable and prudent person.

Having passed the State Senate, the bill will now move to the Republican-controlled House for possible amendments and a vote. It is unclear whether Democratic Governor Andy Beshear will veto the bill if it passes, sending it back to the legislature for a possible override vote, or sign it into law.

SB211 would give police the power to arrest protesters on a whim. The bill would also impose stiffer sentences for rioting along with prohibiting any form of early release for those arrested under its ordinates. Instead, accused persons would be required to be held in jail for at least 48 hours, a penalty which does not apply even for the most serious crimes such as murder or arson.

A protester is arrested near the Plaza Hotel, in the Manhattan borough of New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

The bills sponsor, Republican State Senator Denny Carroll, defended the legislation earlier this month, telling the Louisville Courier-Journal: In these riots, you see people getting up in officers faces, yelling in their ears, doing everything they can to provoke a violent response  Im not saying the officers do that, but there has to be a provision within that statute to allow officers to react to that. Because that does nothing but incite those around that vicinity and it furthers and escalates the riotous behavior.

The legislation would also criminalize a number of forms of protest, including banning what it calls unlawful camping. One provision in the bill is explicitly designed to counter the demand to defund the police by requiring local government entities to maintain and improve their respective financial support to the Commonwealths law enforcement agencies.

While criminalizing constitutionally protected free speech, SB211 extends protections to officers who use defensive force during riots and criminalizes the possession of any implements that could be used as weapons during demonstrations.

The bill has provoked widespread condemnation as an overt assault on democratic rights, with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Kentucky referring to the legislation as an extreme bill to stifle dissent. Corey Shapiro, an attorney with the ACLU of Kentucky, told the Washington Post: Its criminalizing speech in a way thats directed at protesters and people who are speaking out against police action It is a bedrock principle of the First Amendment that people should be able to criticize police action, even if its using offensive speech.

The proponents of the bill claim that SB211 is upheld by the so-called fighting words exception to the First Amendment. The exception designates speech or gestures that immediately provoke violence as not protected by free speech laws. Such laws are in effect in several states. However, in their prior manifestations, the laws apply to all people, without exceptions based upon occupation. SB211 would designate the police as a uniquely protected class in society that is above insults.

Caroline Mala Corbin, a constitutional law professor at the University of Miami, told the Post that the bill represents a blatant overreach by state authorities: Clearly the government is trying to ban speech it does not like.  And that is a paradigmatic violation of the free speech clause of the First Amendment.

The legislation represents a vicious frontal assault on democratic rights. The language in the bill is so intentionally vague so as to give the police the widest possible leverage to abuse the population.

It is no coincidence that the bill was advanced just days before the one-year anniversary of the March 13, 2020 murder of Breonna Taylor. Taylor, a 26-year paramedic, was gunned down in her own home in the middle of the night by Louisville Metropolitan Police Department (LMPD) officers during a no-knock raid. No officers were charged in connection with her death, while Taylors boyfriend Kenneth Walker was charged with attempted murder for having fired at the plainclothes officers, who he believed were intruders. The charges against Walker were later dropped, underlining the criminality of the officers actions.

The LMPD was further disgraced later in the year when it was revealed that the widespread sexual abuse of minors in the departments youth program had been deliberately and systematically covered up by the authorities, with incriminating evidence having been destroyed.

Taylors case has become symbolic of the injustices that police forces in the United States regularly commit. Her murderalong with that of George Floyd, who was choked to death by Minneapolis police on Memorial Day last yearwas the trigger for the eruption of mass multi-racial protests against police brutality that swept across the nation and the world last summer.

The demonstrationsfor the most part unorganized and leaderlesswere met with brutal repression by the ruling class and its police apparatus. This culminated in President Donald Trumps efforts to deploy the military against the protesters and the mobilization of federal agents, including Border Patrol, against protesters in Portland.

Trumps crackdown marked the beginning of a conspiracy which culminated in the January 6 coup attempt, in which Trump sympathizers sought to take Congress hostage and forestall the electoral vote count that would confirm Joe Bidens victory.

On the other hand the section of the ruling elite represented by the Democratic Party, attempted to placate and disorient the mass anger of the population with empty promises of police reform along with the promotion of racial identity politics.

In response to growing outrage and opposition within the population to social inequality and the criminal response to the pandemic, fascistic layers are being built up by the capitalist establishment and the police apparatus is being bolstered with expanded powers of repression.

SB211 is being proposed in the midst of a lurch towards fascistic forms of rule internationally. In Spain, mass protests over the jailing of rapper Pablo Haselimprisoned for insulting the Spanish monarchy and stateare continuing in the face of vicious police repression. Last month saw the passing in France of an openly fascistic anti-separatist law, which singles out Muslims and other minority groups for discrimination while giving the police far-reaching powers to suppress political opposition.

These trends are given perhaps their sharpest expression in the situation in Myanmar, where strikes and mass protests against the military coup are being met with lethal violence by the junta. As capitalism breaks down under the weight of its own contradictions, the bourgeoisie ever more openly turns towards the use of brute force and naked repression in an attempt to suppress the growing opposition of the working class. The fight to defend democratic rights can only be undertaken by the workers themselves, united internationally under a revolutionary socialist banner.
New Delhi, March 17 : The US has becomes the biggest gainer of its decision to impose sanctions on oil producing countries Iran and Venezuela.

America has steadily improved its exports post sanctions and has now become second biggest oil supplier to India, the worlds third largest oil consumer.

As per trade data, US supplied almost 2.2 million tonne (mt) of oil to India in February, higher than even Saudi Arabia, which had traditionally been among the biggest exporters of oil to India. This is 48 per cent growth in US oil exports to India and is accounting for almost 14 per cent of India's total oil imports in February.

Surprisingly, the Saudis supplied about 1.8 mt of oil to India in February, a fall of over 40 per cent, that pushed it to number four position among countries meeting energy demand of the worlds third largest oil importer.

Sources said US sanctions have lifted oil trade of US as it is quickly occupying the space vacated by Iran that has been among India's top three oil suppliers in the past.

Before sanctions reduced Iranian oil supplies to almost zero level in FY21, the Islamic nation used to export over 20 mt of oil to India, accounting for over 10 per cent of country's total oil imports.

In 2017-18, the imports from Iran were seen at 22.6 mt, while it dipped from 23.9 mt to 1.7 mt respectively in 2018-19 and 2019-20. During the same period, crude oil imports from the US increased to 1.9 mt in 2017-18, 6.2 mt in 2018-19, and 10.3 mt in 2019-20, based on petroleum ministry data.

This year (FY21) upto February, imports from US has already increased to its highest ever level of about 13 mt and May end the year with 15 mt of oil imports. India imports over 200 mt of oil per year and meet 85 per cent of domestic oil needs through shipping channels.

In 2020-21 April-December, US was the fourth largest supplier ($4.9 billion) after Iraq ($9.4 billion), Saudi Arabia ($8.9 billion) and UAE ($7.4 billion) India began imports of oil from US in 2017.

For US the trade dispute with China has meant exploring nearer market for its surplus oil which this year had become very distinct with lower demand in the domestic market. India has provided the right market in this environment to push oil sales.

"Indian refiner are preferring to go for cheaper US crude purchases as it helps them offset supply cuts announced by OPEC + and unilateral 1 million barrel per day production cut by Saudi Arabia. India has been pushing OPEC to increase production and help tame rising crude prices that goes against the interest of prime oil.

Importing country. In the meanwhile, US oil has become attractive with widening divide between WTI and Brent crude. Softer freight cost has also helped here," said an oil sector analyst not willing to be named.

As per industry sources, the February oil trade has thrown up few surprises. Apart from US that has become the second largest oil exporter to India and Iraq retaining the numero uno slot with exports of 3.6 mt of crude, the position have changed further in the list of prime oil exporters to India.

African country Nigeria has become the third biggest oil exporter to India in February with exports of about 2 mt of crude. This has pushed UAE further down to fifth position with crude export of about 1.5 mt in February. India imported close to 16 mt of crude during the month.

India has been diversifying its crude import basket by increasing the sourcing countries and geographies. This has become even clearer with February import data as share of Middle East in India's overall imports has plunged to nearly two year low levels while the share of Africa's rose to 15 per cent, the highest since September.

Venezuela which is also under US sanctions was also a big oil supplier to India, mainly to some of the private sector companies. But its supplies also faltered this year with crude exports worth just $636 million in the first eight months of this financial year after $6 billion in 2019-20.

Imports of crude oil from Mexico, Brazil, Colombia and Ecuador have also declined significantly in 2020-21.
Oakland, Calif., March 17, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- To begin addressing the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on communities of color, Assemblymember Buffy Wicks (D-Oakland) is taking the lead and working with frontline healthcare workers in SEIU-United Healthcare Workers (SEIU-UHW) to champion the Race & Healthcare Transparency Act (AB 1204). This bill would establish the collection of data on patient health outcomes by race, ethnicity, and other vulnerable demographic groups to ensure providers are delivering equal care for all.

Public health officials can only make the most informed and equitable decisions for our communities if they truly understand the long-term impact of COVID-19 and other determinants of health on communities of color, said Assemblymember Wicks. Understanding and acting upon these hard truths requires a system of hard facts. The Race & Healthcare Transparency Act will foster the creation of a data-driven system, and ensure that the State responds to racial health disparities in the most informed and just way possible.

The Race & Healthcare Transparency Act would address healthcare disparities by:

Requiring healthcare providers to publicly post and submit to the state an annual report on health outcomes by racial, ethnic, and other demographic groups.

Requiring annual reports to include a plan to address any disparities identified, ensuring the data leads to improvements in care.

Requiring that healthcare employers with more than 100 employees include in the report a copy of their most recent pay data as well as a plan for improving equity and diversity of staff and management.

The state of California has limited data from healthcare providers on the health and wellbeing of people of color, yet the COVID-19 crisis makes clear: Black, Latino, and Indigenous people are at increased risk of exposure, illness, hospitalization, and death due to Coronavirus  a disproportionate level relative to their share of the population.

Communities of color can feel the impact of COVID-19 as we make up such a high proportion of patients and essential healthcare workers during this crisis, said Georgette Bradford, an SEIU-UHW Executive Committee Member and Ultrasound Technologist in Sacramento. Every day we see patients who cant afford housing or healthy food, dont have insurance, and cant communicate with their doctors because of language barriers. To win healthcare justice and racial justice, the state needs to see what workers see on the frontlines of this pandemic, and require our hospitals to send them data on the quality of care given to people of color.

AB 1204 rounds out Asm. Wicks 2021 legislative package, which includes policies designed to protect working families, renters, and Californians recovering from the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic.

For additional information and/or fact sheets, please email Erin Ivie, Communications Director, at erin.ivie@asm.ca.gov or Renee Saldana, Press Secretary, at rsaldana@seiu-uhw.org

# # #



About Assemblymember Buffy Wicks

Assemblymember Buffy Wicks represents Californias 15th Assembly District, which includes all or portions of the cities of Oakland, Richmond, Berkeley, Emeryville, Albany, El Cerrito, San Pablo, Pinole, El Sobrante, Hercules, Kensington, and Piedmont. You can learn more about Asm. Wicks at a15.asmdc.org

About SEIU-UHW

SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West (SEIU-UHW) is one of the largest unions of hospital workers in the United States, with more than 100,000 members.
The issue received bids for 11.56 crore shares as against 9.57 crore shares on offer.

The initial public offer (IPO) of Kalyan Jewellers India received bids for 11.56 crore shares as against 9.57 crore shares on offer, according to the stock exchange data at 17:50 IST on Wednesday (17 March 2021). The issue was subscribed 1.21 times.

The issue opened for bidding on Friday, 16 March 2021, and it will close on Thursday, 18 March 2021. The price band for the IPO is set at Rs 86-87 per share.

The issue consists of equity shares aggregating up to Rs 1175 crore, which comprises of a fresh issue of up to Rs 800 crore and an offer for sale (OFS) of up to Rs 375 crore.

The OFS comprises of sale of equity shares worth Rs 125 crore by one of the promoters T.S. Kalyanaraman and sale of equity shares worth Rs 250 crore by an investor shareholder Highdell Investment. The post issue promoter's shareholding in the company would decline to 60.53% from 67.99% while that of Highdell would fall to 26.36% from 32.01%.

Ahead of the IPO, the company on 15 March 2021 finalised allocation of 4,04,48,275 equity shares to anchor investors at Rs 87 per share, aggregating to Rs 351,89,99,925.

The company proposes to utilise Rs 600 crore from the net proceeds from fresh issue of equity shares to fund its working capital requirements and rest for the general corporate purpose. The company expects that listing of the equity shares will enhance visibility and brand image and provide liquidity to shareholders.

Kalyan Jewellers is one of the largest jewellery companies in India in terms of revenues. The company was established by the founder and one of the Promoters T.S. Kalyanaraman in 1993 with a single showroom in Thrissur, Kerala. The company has since expanded to become a pan-India jewellery company, with 107 showrooms located across 21 states and union territories in India, and also have an international presence with additional 30 showrooms located in the Middle East as of 31 December 2020. All of the showrooms are operated and managed by the company.

The company designs, manufactures and sells a wide range of gold, studded and other jewellery products across various price points ranging from jewellery for special occasions, such as weddings, which is the highest-selling product category for the company, to daily-wear jewellery.

On a consolidated basis, the company reported a net loss of Rs 80.49 crore and revenue of Rs 5516.70 crore in the nine months ended on 31 December 2020.

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A sign in a hallway at King Elementary School as schools in Chicago started remote classes because of COVID-19 worries, in Chicago on Sept. 8, 2020. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)

Chicago Teachers Union Tells Members Not to Disclose COVID Vaccine Status

The Chicago teachers union in a recent letter advised members to keep secret about whether theyd received a COVID-19 vaccine.

Last week, Chicago Public Schools announced a new Board Rule allowing it to instruct all employees to provide CPS their vaccination status by tomorrow. Remember, CPS made this request without notifying or negotiating with the Union, the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) said in the letter.

We asked all members last week to wait for our legal review of the matter before completing the CPS form. We continue to recommend that members wait to respond to the vaccination survey form, despite CPS announcing a deadline of tomorrow.

The letter was obtained and published by CBS Chicago.

A CTU spokesperson didnt immediately return requests by The Epoch Times for comment.

The Chicago Board of Education on Feb. 24 unanimously approved requiring all Chicago Public School (CPS) employees to tell the district whether theyve gotten a COVID-19 vaccine.

It is important  for us to be able to track who has received the vaccine, for a variety of reasons, CPS CEO Janice Jackson said during the boards meeting. And then we will make public any changes where we would require individuals to have a vaccine.

The policy (pdf) also says that the CPS CEO may require a COVID-19 vaccination as a condition of hire or continued employment.

Right now, as many of you are aware, the vaccine is under emergency authorization approval, so we could not make it mandatoryeven if we thought that was a good idea at this point. For right now, the major focus is on tracking so that we know where we are as a school system, Jackson said during the meeting.

Chicago Health Director Dr. Allison Arwady told reporters last month that she was supportive of employers requiring the disclosure of vaccination status and posited that requiring vaccination may be coming in the future.

I do not see a setting where the city of Chicago would say all Chicago residents, You need to be vaccinated. I do not see that coming at any point, just to be very clear. But I do think we may see settings down the line where we may see businesses or others decide to make that part of their practices, and its going to be a major space to really watch over the next months to come, she said.

Chicago Public Schools CEO Janice Jackson, background right, waves to students in a preschool classroom at Dawes Elementary School in Chicago, on Jan. 11, 2021. (Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Chicago Sun-Times via AP)

CPS says its offered vaccination opportunities to more than 52,374 employees as of March 14. Additionally, 5,640 vaccinations among staffers have been confirmed.

The district is able to report confirmation of vaccinations from its own sites but will rely on self-reported data to gather a greater understanding of how many employees received vaccination through our healthcare partnerships or independently, CPS said on its website.

The city says its prioritizing vaccinations for school staffers and other employees in roles described as frontline and essential.

Employees can schedule vaccination appointments, though it may take weeks to get a vaccination date due to limited vaccine supplies.

We are doing everything in our power to vaccinate educators as quickly as possible in an equitable manner, CPS told parents and students in announcing last month a deal to reopen schools with the union.

Like most unions, the Chicago Teachers Union pushed for teachers to be vaccinated before reopening schools to in-person instruction. However, public health officials say vaccinations arent required to reopen schools safely, provided certain safety measures are implemented.

CPS and CTU officials have repeatedly clashed in recent weeks over school reopening, vaccinations, and other issues. They reached a reopening plan in February that has since brought all students except for high school students back for in-person instruction.

CPS officials in a letter to parents and students on March 16 said that April 19 is the target date for high school students to return to classrooms, amid ongoing negotiations with the union.

But CTU President Jesse Sharkey told members in response that we have no agreement on returning to in-person learning in high schools on any date, nor will there be an agreement until we know our school buildings can reopen safely.
Denton, TX (76205)

Today

Partly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 62F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

Partly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 62F. Winds light and variable.
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SANTA FE  New Mexico legislators have adopted legislation empowering the state Environment Department to deny or revoke air-quality permits from companies that lie on their applications or have been convicted of environmental crimes in other states.

The Senate endorsed the proposal on a 23-15 vote Tuesday, about 11 days after it passed the House.

The legislation, House Bill 76, sponsored by Democratic Reps. Christine Chandler of Los Alamos and Linda Serrato of Santa Fe, now goes to the governor.

The proposal would apply to the state Environment Department and to the Albuquerque-Bernalillo County Air Quality Control Board.

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Senate Majority Leader Peter Wirth, D-Santa Fe, said the proposal would give the agencies authority to address bad actors with a history of noncompliance. Neighboring states, he said, have similar laws already.

This would allow the Environment Department to address significant noncompliance the way our surrounding states do, Wirth said.

Opponents slammed the measure as an attack on New Mexicos oil and gas industry, a critical source of state revenue.
1. Roads. The citys roads are a mess. Significant resources are needed to fix them.

2. Public safety. The crime rate is too high. Police pay and resources come first.

3. More city programs. The city must invest more in city programs and services.

4. Comprehensive plan. The city needs to focus on rebuilding and rebranding.

5. Cut city spending. City officials must get serious about trimming the budget.

Vote

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Who would have thought it? The dusty, slow to act, legalistic and over-cautious City regulator, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), daring to bring criminal money laundering charges against Natwest.

The decision to steam ahead by fresh chief executive Nikhil Rathi indicates that regime change could mark a new era of activism.

If that is the case then Neil Woodford, subject of a probe into the implosion of his investment empire, better look out. Even Greensill, which so far has managed to slip between the cracks in UK regulation of shadow banks, could be in the firing line.

New sheriff in town? FCA chief exec Nikhil Rathi's decision to charge Natwest with Money Laundering indicates that regime change could mark a new era of activism

The decision to launch charges will not be very comforting for chief executive Alison Rose who has been seeking to establish a gentler and kinder Natwest and escape the tawdry past of Fred Goodwins Royal Bank of Scotland.

With unfortunate timing it has just issued its 2020 environmental, social and governance (ESG) report proclaiming positive change for stakeholders.

The easy escape clause for Rose is that the 365million of allegedly dirty money which flowed through client accounts took place between 2011 and 2016, long before she took the helm.

It may be a bigger embarrassment for chairman Howard Davies who took charge in 2015 and happens to have been the first chairman of the FCA.

The background to the case is murky but is understood to be related to what was described in court in 2019 as a sophisticated money laundry operation connected to Bradford jeweller Fowler Oldfield.

The maximum penalty is an unlimited fine. Whether UK courts would seek the kind of 1.2billion penalties imposed on HSBC by the US in 2012 over the laundering of drug money through its Mexican branches, is a moot point.

Natwest is, after all, still 62 per cent-owned (at arms-length) by the UK taxpayer. Disclosure of the criminal charges knocked the stock and possibly postpones the return of all the shares to the stock market.

The failure of Natwest to spot millions of pounds mysteriously flowing into accounts does not speak well of procedures.

The only mitigating circumstance is that in this period successive chief executives Stephen Hester and Ross McEwan had their hands full offloading dross inherited from Goodwin, and desperately were seeking to keep the enterprise afloat.

With billions of pounds of assets and bad debt being sold, the money laundering might have been missed. More significant is that the FCA is signalling that it no longer wants to be seen as a patsy which postpones criminal and disciplinary action in the hope that the trouble passes.

Audit trail

The list of audit mishaps  Co-op Bank, Autonomy, Carillion, Patisserie Valerie, Lookers  is endless. Slow, bureaucratic and feeble regulation by the Financial Reporting Council is legendary.

That is why former Treasury mandarin John Kingman recommended a wholesale shake-up in 2018 and the creation of an audit reform and governance authority with powers to punish directors as well as auditors.

A second report from the Competition and Markets Authority wanted audit and consulting functions of the big audit firms separated, and a third report by former London Stock Exchange chairman Donald Brydon recommended wholesale reform.

Successive business secretaries (and there have been four in as many years) have shown no urgency in bringing reforms to fruition. So it is encouraging that current incumbent, Kwasi Kwarteng, aims to publish his plans tomorrow as part of an effort to keep capitalism clean.

So far, so good  except indications are that there wont be legislation until 2023.

Thats negligent.

Out of control

Private equity-backed Allied Universal has finally seized control of one of Britains biggest employers, G4S.

Great for get-rich-quick chief executive Ashley Almanza and greedy hedge funds and financial players who flooded on to the register.

But who will be held responsible if there is a security failure as at the London Olympics, a problem at HMP Wellingborough in Northamptonshire or an incursion at a sensitive national security site?

We saw what happens when there is ownership without responsibility, when Ferrero closed 61 Thorntons outlets this week.

ESG mavens and government shouldnt be complacent about any of this.
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Al Jazeera hear harrowing stories of survivors who managed to escape a fire at a detention centre-- which killed at least sixty people in Yemen.

Video Transcript

ANDREW CHAPELLE: Before a devastating fire ripped through this detention center in Yemen's capital last week, the Ethiopians being held there confronted their guards to demand better living conditions. That's when survivors say Houthi security forces locked them in a hangar and told them to say their final prayers before firing something at them.

AHMED ABDALLAH: [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH]

INTERPRETER: He fired the projectile at us through the hole, and the fire caught onto the piles of pillows we were sleeping on. The room filled up with smoke, and we [? also ?] had [? to just ?] scream. As we cried for help, some of us started to faint and fall to the ground.

IBRAHMIN MOHAMMED: [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH]

INTERPRETER: I saw my friends burning to death. I didn't receive any help after that nightmare.

ANDREW CHAPELLE: Dozens of people were killed in the blaze after it tore through a hangar with 350 people inside, mostly migrants from the horn of Africa. The United Nations is calling for an independent investigation into the cause of the fire. Tens of thousands of migrants pass through Yemen each year, attempting to reach wealthy gulf countries in order to provide for their families back home. They're exposed to kidnapping, torture, and abuse while navigating a deadly conflict. Survivors of the fire accuse the Houthis of using them to feed the war effort.

- [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH]

INTERPRETER: When we told them we were going on a hunger strike, they said they'd force feed us and send us to fight on the front. We said we would not fight because this isn't our country. We're refugees. Our country is facing a bigger war than the one here. We couldn't live in our own country, so we escaped here.

ANDREW CHAPELLE: The International Organization for Migration has demanded the release of thousands of migrants being held at Houthi run facilities.

MOHAMMED ABU NAJELA: These young people are faced and sold out unrealistic versions of the journey by smugglers and traffickers, and they are not telling them the truth of the true, real difficulties of that journey.

ANDREW CHAPELLE: One group, at least, was given a way out. 150 Ethiopians were evacuated on Tuesday on the first repatriation flight since the pandemic began. Andrew Chapelle, Al Jazeera.
After decades of public service in classrooms and city meetings, one of the first Black women to join Charleston City Council has died.

Brenda Scott, 72, died at her Maranda Holmes Street home on March 12.

After graduating from Burke High School, the Charleston native briefly left the Holy City to study education at South Carolina State University. But she returned soon after her 1971 graduation, taking a teaching job and winning the Distict 6 vote to become an alderman in 1975.

Scott told the voters of the district, which then stretched from Spring to Moultrie streets west of Rutledge Avenue, that she'd focus on creating jobs for adults and recreation programs for youth.

According to city records, Scott and her colleague Hilda Jefferson made history in that election, becoming the first Black women to join the council in the city's history. They joined the board the same year Joseph P. Riley Jr. was elected as the city's mayor.

Scott continued on the council until 1998, running unopposed or handily defeating her opponents in every election. In that time, she served on several committees and was unanimously chosen as mayor pro tem twice, according to Post and Courier archives.

She maintained a teaching career through it all, working at elementary schools in the city. She was named teacher of the year at Mitchell Elementary in 1998.

In 1982, Scott held an open house at her recently renovated West Side home, hoping to encourage others to invest in the neighborhood where she'd fought zoning that would have allowed liquor stores and clubs to operate alongside residences.

Through it all, she platformed Charleston's Black voices, voting to make Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday a holiday and get Septima Clark's portrait hung in council chambers.

Her advocacy for civil rights wasn't limited to Charleston, or America. In 1985, the city agreed to a resolution penned by Scott, which denounced South Africa's apartheid system. At Scott's suggestion, the city vowed to stop doing business with any firm that supported the system, saying investment from U.S. corporations helped perpetuate the "dehumanizing practices" that kept Black South Africans from exercising political rights.

"(Scott) was a hard-working and thoughtful member of council driven by her faith and servants heart," Charleston Mayor John Tecklenburg said. "She will be missed by her loving family and all of us at the city of Charleston."

Scott's relatives took to Facebook to remember her smile and grace, while friends from Wesley United Methodist Church said her voice would be missed in their choir and services as much as in city council.

Arrangements, which are incomplete, are being handled by Murray's Mortuary of North Charleston, 4060 Rivers Ave., North Charleston.
"There is nothing good that came of this": Roseburg man sentenced to 275 years for sex crimes
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Before March 2020, Humble Sea Brewing had never shipped a single can of beer.

But then came a global pandemic, the shuttering of their four-year-old Santa Cruz taproom and a sudden need to ship lots (and lots) of canned beer pretty much immediately.

We basically stayed up all night a couple of nights in a row and just built an e-commerce platform, says Frank Krueger, one of Humble Seas three co-founders.

They turned their site on in the middle of April, offering shipping anywhere in California. And, well, then it happened.

We had 500 orders in two hours, so I just turned it off. I was like, OK, sites down, no fking way, Krueger recounts while sitting at a picnic table outside the brewery with his other co-founders, Nick Pavlina and Taylor West. Figuring out how to go from zero to 500 orders, even just figuring out how to pack beer, those kinds of things werent solved yet.

They made do, stuffing cans into random boxes they found around the brewery and plastic they gathered from the parking lot.

It was just really bad, West says.

The whole thing is hilariously on brand for the scrappy brewery started by three lifelong friends (Krueger and West met in preschool) who grew up in the Santa Cruz Mountains, and still look very much like they grew up in the Santa Cruz Mountains  today theyve got just the right combination of vests, skater caps, snapbacks and one very solid man bun. While Humble Sea is now a legitimate warehouse operation with its own canning line and a beer lab upstairs, it comes from humble beginnings: a one-barrel brewing system operated out of Pavlinas grandmas house.

Liz Celeste/Special to SFGATE

Now, 11 months later, theyre filling more than 500 perfectly packaged orders in a single day.

In the course of one year  a pandemic year at that  Humble Sea produced 6,000 barrels of beer.

We actually doubled production last year, Pavlina says.

Theyre now one of the two biggest breweries in Santa Cruz, and should max out at 10,000 barrels this year, putting them on the doorstep of what the California Craft Brewers Association considers a medium-sized brewery.

Theyre also poised to open not one, but two taprooms: one in Pacifica right next to the beachfront Taco Bell Cantina, and a second in Felton, Calif., a Santa Cruz mountain town thats also home to the Bigfoot Discovery Museum.

This is already bigger than I ever thought we'd ever be, Krueger says. We never even looked into Pacifica, but this thing popped up, so we looked into Pacifica and we're like, Yeah, we surf there, that spots rad, lets do it.

Liz Celeste/Special to SFGATE

West is quick to note how incredibly risky it is to be opening two taprooms at the tail end of a pandemic (it is!), but its this kind of full send surfer mantra that has helped the trio grow to where they are today.

Their brew team more than doubled in size in 2020. Once they get both taprooms open, theyll almost triple the size of their operation, going from 34 employees to more than 100.

And none of that is even the crazy part.

The crazy part is that they made hundreds (hundreds!) of unique beers in 2020, and well over 1,000 in the brewerys history. Humble Sea embraces a one-off beer philosophy that sees them drop 6 to 8 totally new beers every week that then sell out, and mostly never return. There are really only three-ish beers that come back even somewhat regularly, including their signature Socks & Sandals, a foggy IPA named after the favored footwear of Santa Cruz tourists.

Courtesy of Humble Sea Brewing Co.

Sporting incredible sea-themed names like Gillmore Girls, Jean Fog Van Dayum and Elon Mollusk, there are 651 unique Humble Sea beers listed on beer rating site Untappd. Thats five times as many unique beers as Russian River and almost exactly as many as 41-year-old Sierra Nevada. Oh, and they arent just making a lot of beers, theyre making ones people love: Of their 140,000 ratings on the platform, Humble Sea averages a 4.1 out of 5, higher than Sierras 3.7 and exactly on par with Russian Rivers 4.1.

We make more effort than the average Santa Cruz surfer, Krueger says.

---

The Humble Sea founders are sort of like Captain Planets Planeteers, but minus the Heart kid (assuming the Heart kid was incredibly good at finance).

Pavlina worked construction and started home brewing in 2008  he leads the actual beer making and build-out. Krueger went to design school and started his own design studio  he manages all of the can art and helped build the e-commerce platform. And West has a restaurant and bar background  he oversees the taproom and is spearheading the expansion.

Liz Celeste/Special to SFGATE

We had kind of all the key things you need to open a brewery, Pavlina says.

Besides finance, Krueger interjects. We learned that one the hard way. A lot of breweries, they start with a bunch of money and go from there. That was just not an option for us.

Loans from friends and family helped them get the brewery space in 2015, but they wouldnt actually launch the brewery for a full two years.

We definitely didn't even have enough money to pay everybody starting out, Pavlina says. West couldnt quit his other job and come on full time until 2017, and Krueger couldnt do so until 2019. It took them a full 18 months just to get a PG&E upgrade to handle a bigger brewing system.

Eventually we had enough to show for ourselves and we got the bank to help us finish the project, Krueger says.

Theyve since expanded into both of the small warehouse spaces next door, tripling the size they started with in 2017 and adding some much needed beer capacity.

Liz Celeste/Special to SFGATE

We were constantly running out in the taproom, Krueger says, lamenting the fact that they built a brewery people wanted to drink at that initially didnt have enough beer. It was a terrible idea economically.

A year ago, though, we started to brew economically.

---

Humble Sea isnt the first brewery to do one-off, small batch beers on the West Coast.

There are a handful of breweries that have been doing them super successfully, including Monkish Brewing in Southern California, Alvarado Street Brewery in Monterey and Cellarmaker in San Francisco. But all of those have launched in just the past seven years.

This business model of the one-offs wasnt really popular when we started doing it in this area, Krueger says.

The amount of effort it takes to pull it off is probably part of the reason why.

Liz Celeste/Special to SFGATE

The '90s brewpub culture of having an amber, a stout, a porter and a pale ale just gets kind of boring, Pavlina says. So just continuously trying new things, coming up with new flavors, messing with styles  its a lot more exciting for the consumer and the brewer. It's a lot more work, coming up with new designs every time, coming up with new recipes every single time  it gets very time consuming. But I think that's one of the reasons why we've been able to be successful is the innovation side.

Theyve found huge winners like their smoothie beers (which are intensely fruit-filled sours), which sell out completely in under a minute every time they go live, and also have been able to quickly jump on new beer trends that larger, less agile breweries need far more time to pivot into.

We've learned so, so much from doing these, Krueger says.

And had fun doing it.

Liz Celeste/Special to SFGATE

Their pun-filled beer names (Snoop Fogg! Squidditch! Krilling Me Softly!), which oftentimes blow up on social media, are created using a single Slack channel that the entire company contributes to at all hours of the day.

And yes, everyone keeps tabs on who gets their names on the most actual labels.

I just got my first name a month ago, West says excitedly.

Sometimes, the combination of a great name and a great beer leads them to do an encore release.

We had a triple IPA called Gnarfield, based on the cat, Krueger says. I dont know why but it was super fking popular.

They kept asking for it, so we brought it back, Pavlina continues.

Liz Celeste/Special to SFGATE

Talking about the beer is the fun part for this group. Talking about where the business is going, though, leads to a lot of blank stares.

I'm actually thinking about my to-do list right now, Krueger says.

We're definitely still excited, Pavlina says. But yeah, we're still kind of flustered with so much st going on.

---

Krueger says you cant choose to be a hero or a rock star brand, it just sort of happens.

And while theyll stop short of acknowledging that theyve positioned themselves to come out of the pandemic as a potentially major player in the California beer landscape for years to come, they all say they feel the momentum.

I mean, we were just trying to kind of survive, Pavlina says. We werent really planning on coming out in any sort of fashion, we were basically just trying to come out.

Humble Sea, indeed.
Srinagar, March 18 : The J&K Administrative Council (AC), which met here under the chairmanship of Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha, on Tuesday approved the incorporation of the Joint Venture Company (JVC) under the name Ratle Hydro-electric Power Corporation to implement the 850 MW Ratle Hydro-Electric Project (HEP) on river Chenab at Drabshala in Kishtwar, Jammu and Kashmir, officials said.

The proposed JVC will have authorised capital of Rs 1,600 Crore with initial paid up capital of Rs 100 Crore, out of which the Jammu and Kashmir State Power Development Corporation (JKSPDCL) will contribute Rs 49 crore as an initial equity.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), to execute the project, was signed between the Government of Jammu and Kashmir, JKSPDCL and NHPC on 03.01.2021 in the presence of the Lieutenant Governor.

On the basis of the MoU already signed, the Administrative Council approved the Promoters' Agreement for the JVC between Government of J&K, NHPC, and J&K State Power Development Corporation Ltd.

The Administrative Council further authorised the Principal Secretary to the Government, Power Development Department and the Managing Director, Jammu and Kashmir State Power Development Corporation Limited to sign the Promoters' Agreement and other related documents for operationalisation of the Joint Venture Company.

The JVC will develop the 850 MW Ratle HEP at an estimated cost of Rs 5,281.94 crore. Ratle HEP is a run-of-the-river project on river Chenab in Kishtwar district and lies in between the Dulhasti HEP on its upstream and the Baglihar HEP on its downstream.

Once completed, it will substantially add to the power generation capacity of Jammu and Kashmir, provide financial and developmental benefits, and enable effective use of western rivers under the Indus Water Treaty.


Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

Poland will go into a three-week partial lockdown from Saturday, with people encouraged to stay home and many shops and facilities closed to stem a rising tide of coronavirus cases.

"We ask employers to allow working from home as much as possible," Health Minister Adam Niedzielski told reporters in Warsaw.

Shopping malls, hotels, pools, gyms and schools will be closed until at least April 9.

"We had to react," Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki told reporters after returning from a visit to France, saying he hoped the new restrictions would "calm the current wave of coronavirus".

"I am confident that this fight, which we are supporting through the vaccination programme, will ultimately prove successful," he said.

The EU member of 38 million people already has a string of restrictions in place, including closed restaurants, fitness centres and schools for grades four and higher.

The fresh restrictions come as Poland has seen the spread of a highly infectious coronavirus variant first detected in Britain, which Niedzielski said was responsible for the majority of recent infections.

New coronavirus cases totalled 25,052 over the past 24 hours on Wednesday, raising the number of infections since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic to 1,956,974, including 48,032 deaths.

Niedzielski said the recent spike has added pressure to overwhelmed hospitals, forcing authorities to impose fresh restrictions.

"If this growth dynamic were to continue, then in a week we could exceed 30,000 (new cases per day), maybe even more," Niedzielski warned.

"These numbers pose a threat to the functioning of the health care system," he said.

Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak

 2021 AFP
BANGALORE, India, March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Industrial Cyber Security Market is Segmented by Type (Network Security, Application Security, Endpoint Security, Wireless Security, Cloud Security, Others), by Application (Power, Energy & Utilities, Transportation Systems, Chemical and Manufacturing, Others), Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2021-2026. This report is published on Valuates Reports in the Computer Security Category.

The global Industrial Cyber Security market size is projected to reach USD 19220 Million by 2026, from USD 12000 Million in 2019, at a CAGR of 6.9% during 2021-2026.

Rising investment by key players to develop and launch advanced industrial cybersecurity solutions that help protect zero day malware attack etc & prevent huge losses.

View Full Report: https://reports.valuates.com/market-reports/QYRE-Auto-14N2387/global-industrial-cyber-security

TRENDS INFLUENCING THE INDUSTRIAL CYBER SECURITY MARKET

The increasing risk of cyberthreats for industries is expected to fuel the industrial cybersecurity market size. Cyberattacks have cost companies millions of dollars through the disruption of services and critical operations. It's essential to improve industrial cybersecurity to keep critical systems running and protect the financial data and reputation of any organization.

The growing investment by key players to develop and launch advanced industrial cybersecurity solutions that can protect against zero-day malware attacks is anticipated to drive the industrial cybersecurity market size. A zero-day attack exploits an unpatched vulnerability and could adversely affect organizations and bring forth huge losses. Until a patch becomes available, it is often a race between threat actors trying to exploit the flaw and vendors or developers rolling out a patch to fix it.

Furthermore, the increasing adoption of the internet of things (IoT) solutions in industrial control systems and cloud security applications is expected to fuel the growth of the industrial cybersecurity market size.

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INDUSTRIAL CYBER SECURITY MARKET SHARE ANALYSIS

On the basis of type, network security held the largest market share in 2017. The increasing number of web-based applications and the growing number of security breaches targeting industrial infrastructure and plant operations are driving the network security market share.

Based on application, the market for transportation Systems is one of the fastest-growing segments in the industrial cybersecurity market. Road, rail, and metro networks are physically integrated with each other. Industrial control systems are used in the surface of all these modes of transportation, including roads, aviation, marine, and surface transportation pipelines.

Based on region, the APAC is expected to hold one of the major industrial cybersecurity market shares. China and India are major countries in the APAC region. These countries have a large number of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which collectively employ more than 70% of the country's total population. Vendors in the industrial cybersecurity sector who offer solutions and services to customers in the manufacturing, transportation, and energy industries may benefit from these SMEs.

By Region

North America

United States

Canada

Europe

Germany

France

UK.

Italy

Russia

Nordic

Rest of Europe

Asia-Pacific

China

Japan

South Korea

Southeast Asia

India

Australia

Rest of Asia-Pacific

Latin America

Mexico

Brazil

Middle East & Africa

Turkey

Saudi Arabia

UAE

Rest of Middle East & Africa .

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INDUSTRIAL CYBER SECURITY MARKET SEGMENTS

Industrial Cyber Security Breakdown Data by Type

Industrial Cyber Security Breakdown Data by Application

Power

Energy & Utilities

Transportation Systems

Chemical and Manufacturing

Others.

The following key players are covered in this report:

IBM (US)

Honeywell (US)

ABB ( Switzerland )

) Cisco (US)

Schneider (France)

Rockwell (US)

Dell (US)

McAfee (US)

Symantec (US)

Kaspersky Lab ( Russia ).

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SIMILAR REPORTS

- Cyber Situational Awareness Market size was valued at USD 31,431 Million in 2019, is projected to reach USD 152,656 Million by 2027, registering a CAGR of 22.6% from 2020 to 2027. The leading companies covered in this report are IBM Corporation, Palantir Technologies, Verint, SAS Institute Inc, Cyware, Honeywell, Firemon LLC, MarkLogic Corporation, Darktrace, Paolo Alto Network.

- Cyber Security Market size is projected to reach USD 215950 Million by 2026, from USD 115690 Million in 2019, at a CAGR of 9.3% during 2021-2026. The main companies in the market include Cisco, Palo Alto networks, Fortinet, check point, Broadcom (Symantec), Deloitte, ey, PwC, KPMG and IBM.

- The Internet Security Market is Segmented by Type Network Layer Security, Internet Protocol Security, Multi-Factor Authentication, Security Token, Electronic Mail Security, Firewalls, by Application Government, BFSI, ICT, Manufacturing, Retail, Healthcare and by various regions .

- Automotive Cybersecurity Market size is projected to reach USD 2705.5 Million by 2026, from USD 440.6 Million in 2019, at a CAGR of 29.6% during 2021-2026. ESCRYPT Embedded Systems was the largest company in 2018, which had a market share of 10%. The top 10 key players occupied 59% market.

- Information Security Market is Segmented by Type PSIM+, PSIM, PSIM lite, by Application Critical Infrastructure, First Responders, Commercial, Others and by various regions.

- Network Security Market is Segmented by Type Software Product, Hardware Product, by Application Bank, Government, Enterprise, Others and by various regions.

- Application Security Market is Segmented by Type Machine learning, Image processing, Speech recognition , Natural language processing , by Application BFSI, IT & Telecom, Aerospace and Defense, Healthcare and by various regions.

- Endpoint Security Market size is projected to reach USD 17870 Million by 2026, from USD 12860 Million in 2019, at a CAGR of 4.8% during 2021-2026.

- Cloud Security Market size is projected to reach USD 16230 Million by 2026, from USD 4322.2 Million in 2019, at a CAGR of 20.7% during 2021-2026.

- Railway Cyber Security Market size is expected to grow from USD 5,806.54 Million in 2019 to USD 9,941.99 Million by the end of 2025 at a CAGR of 9.37%.

- Security Awareness Training Software Market is Segmented by Type Cloud Based, Web Based, by Application Large Enterprises, SMEs and by various regions.

Click Here to See Related Reports On Industrial Cyber Security Market

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A whale carcass of over four metric tons in weight and over eight meters in length has been spotted on the shore of Thanh Binh District in Quang Nam Province, central Vietnam.

The remains were found decomposing on the beach of Binh Nam Commune in Thang Binh around 5:00 pm on Monday, local officials confirmed to Tuoi Tre (Youth)newspaper.

According to locals, this is the biggest whale carcass that they have ever seen washing up on the beach.

Officials of Binh Nam Commune have joined local residents in burying the whale following local customs.

Local residents prepare to bury the whale that washed ashore in Binh Nam Commune, Thang Binh District, Quang Nam Province, Vietnam. Photo: H.Trong / Tuoi Tre

To fishermen in central Vietnam, whales are considered divine creatures who look after fishing boats and crews while they are at sea.

The animal is worshiped as Ca Ong, or 'Lord Whale,' and whale remains that wash up on local beaches are laid to rest in elaborate burial ceremonies.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
Kim Kardashian got into the Saint Patrick's Day spirit as she slipped into a figure-hugging green dress, which showcased her jaw-dropping physique.

As the 40-year-old reality showed off her famous curves, she wore her dark brown hair in loose waves and rocked an eye-catching makeup look.

'Do not disturb plz,' she captioned her Instagram slideshow on Tuesday, which featured her looking relaxed as she sat on a charcoal grey couch.

Irish spirit: Kim Kardashian got into the St. Patrick's Day spirit as she slipped into a figure-hugging green dress, which showcased her jaw-dropping physique

In the first snap, the mother-of-four can be seen doing her go-to 'duck face' pose, while wearing a cross necklace and two beaded chains.

The next image of Kardashian pictured her smoldering directly into the camera as she leaned back and flaunted her matching open-toed high heels.

Hours later, the KKW Beauty founder gave her more than 210 million Instagram followers a look at how she and her three eldest children were preparing for St Patrick's Day spirit.

Stunning: The next image of Kardashian pictured her smoldering directly into the camera as she leaned back and flaunted her matching open-toed high heels

In videos on her Instagram Story, her children North, seven, Saint, five and three-year-old Chicago can be seen creating an elaborate 'leprechaun trap.'

'Ok guys, we're building a leprechaun trap for the morning because we got to catch him,' Kardashian narrates as her youngsters assembled a trap with garlic salt and a Pam on a plate.

She praised her kids for their creativity, before later putting some gifts out for her kids, which included gold coins, beads and Lucky Charms cereal.

Playful: Hours later, the KKW Beauty founder gave her more than 210 million Instagram followers a look at how she and her three eldest children were preparing for St Patrick's Day spirit

'Ok guys, we're building a leprechaun trap for the morning because we got to catch him,' Kardashian narrates as her kids assembled a trap with garlic salt and a Pam on a plate

Doting mom: She praised her kids for their creativity, before later putting out some gifts for her kids, which included gold coins, Lucky Charms cereal

To further create a magical day, she sprinkled gold glitter everywhere to make 'leprechaun footprints.'

After realizing she only purchased three chests to fill with gold coins, she noticed the mess her little ones left behind.

'Now my stone table is ruined for this f**king leprechaun,' she muttered, before reminding fans Saint Patrick's Day is also her brother Rob's birthday.

Before signing off for the night, Kardashian revealed she drove back to the store to get the final chest for her one-year-old Psalm, even though he can't read yet and doesn't eat chocolate.

'Now my stone table is ruined for this f**king leprechaun,' she muttered, before reminding fans Saint Patrick's Day is also her brother Rob's birthday
Atlanta: Shootings at two massage parlours in Atlanta and one in the suburbs left eight people dead, many of them women of Asian descent, authorities said Tuesday. A 21-year-old man was taken into custody in southwest Georgia hours later after a manhunt.

Atlanta Police Chief Rodney Bryant said three people were killed at a spa in northeast Atlanta, while a fourth person was killed at another spa across the street. He said all four victims were female, and "It appears that they may be Asian."

Atlanta police officers responding to a call of a robbery in progress at one spa around 5:50 pm (local time) found three women dead from apparent gunshot wounds, police said. While they were at that scene, they learned of a call reporting shots fired at another spa across the street and found a woman who appeared to have been shot dead inside the business.

Earlier, around 5 pm, five people were shot at Young's Asian Massage Parlor in Acworth, about 30 miles (50 kilometers) north of Atlanta, Cherokee County Sheriff's Office spokesman Capt. Jay Baker said. Two of the victims were dead and three were transported to a hospital where two of them also died, Baker said.

Authorities were not immediately releasing the gender or race of the victims, Baker said. A man suspected in the Acworth shooting was captured by surveillance video pulling up to the business around 4:50 pm. Tuesday, minutes before the shooting, authorities said. Baker said the suspect, Robert Aaron Long, of Woodstock, was taken into custody in Crisp County, about 150 miles (240 kilometers) south of Atlanta.

Live TV

Baker said they believe Long is also the suspect in the Atlanta shootings. With two shootings at massage parlours in Atlanta and the knowledge of the Acworth shooting, Atlanta police said they dispatched officers to check nearby similar businesses and increased patrols in the area.
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Keynote speaker Elizabeth McIngvale, PhD  Director of the McLean OCD Institute at Houston, a Harvard Medical School affiliate I truly enjoyed all the information regarding self-compassion and the hands-on exercises were great. The other two speakers and their topics definitely helped me to gain insight into the adolescent population I serve. It was definitely worth my time. Priceless! Thank you.

Clarity Child Guidance Center is the only nonprofit in South Texas providing a continuum of mental health care for children, ages 3-17, and their families. It works with kids and their families to manage mental health conditions ranging from ADHD and anxiety to suicidal ideation, bipolar disorder and/or schizophrenia.

Clarity CGC provides professional education and CEUs at Claritycon, its annual children's mental health conferences. In 2019, more than 700 professionals and community members participated. Because of Covid-19 pandemic, Claritycon was transformed into Claritycon Reimaginedwith four mini-conferences instead of oneto offer three options for in-person or distance learning, thanks to taping at TV studios of KLRN-PBS.

Claritycon Reimagined is split into four separate half-day sessions scheduled during the 2020-2021 school year, with each session offering 4 CEU credits for state of Texas. The April 9 session is the fourth of four sessions for 2020-2021. Because past sessions are available on demand, professionals can still pay to watch any or all of the four Claritycon sessions, and earn 4 CEUs per session. Each CEU costs $25 each. If desired, all four sessions (16 CEUs) can be purchased together as a bundle for $250. Groups of 10 or more that purchase the four-session bundle get if for $150/pp.

The April 9, 2021 Claritycon will feature three experts in the field of mental health and children:



Understanding OCD and Treatment in Children and Adolescents - Elizabeth McIngvale, PhD 

Director of the McLean OCD Institute at Houston, a Harvard Medical School affiliate, McIngvale is internationally known and recognized for her clinical work and advancements in the OCD field where she maintains active clinical, research and leadership roles. Her keynote presentation will address diagnostic criteria/basic principles of OCD and appropriate treatment; impact of stigma and low access to appropriate mental health treatment; importance of support in treatment; and importance of relapse prevention and advocacy. Her interests focus on OCD, anxiety disorders, mental health stigma and access to mental health care. She is the founder of the Peace of Mind Foundation, a non-profit foundation dedicated to OCD, and operates ocdchallenge.org, a free self-help website for OCD which is live in six languages and serves nearly 4,000 individuals. She was the first national spokesperson for the International Obsessive Compulsive Foundation and now serves on their board of directors.

Behavior and Aggression: Trauma Focused Behavioral Strategies for Success - Steven Gonzalez, PhD, LBA, BCBA-D, CCTP  Director of the San Antonio-based South Texas Behavioral Institute, Gonzalez works at the PhD level alongside nurses, psychiatrists, LMSWs, LCSWs, adoption agencies, attorneys and judges to ensure permanency of children in safe and supportive environments while reducing the placement into foster care, also dealing with issues such as incarceration, homelessness and trauma. His talk will focus on understanding the basic functions of behavior and aggression; how trauma may influence behavior; and three-term contingencies and how they play a role in future aggressive behaviors. He pioneered a program by which he provides training to hospital medical professionals including MDs, RNs, intake and registration specialists, and administration professionals, in de-escalation techniques to be used during crisis.

Change, Trauma, and Supporting Children of Military Families - Monica Escamilla, PsyD - Family Psychologist in the Polytrauma Rehabilitation Center at South Texas Veterans Health Care System which provides psychotherapy intervention for family and veterans/service members for the polytrauma inpatient, outpatient, and Polytrauma Transitional Rehabilitation Program clinics. In this seminar participants will learn about the challenge of change among Children of military families, preventive strategies and interventions to protect the mental health of military children, and how to recognize signs of trauma in children and aid in the healing process. A professional psychology doctoral practicum coordinator, Escamilla is on the faculty of Our Lady of the Lake University (OLLU) in the Psychology Dept. She earned her Doctorate in Psychology and Masters in Counseling Psychology from OLLU and a BS in Biology from St. Marys University. She formerly served at the SA Military Medical Center in the Warrior Resiliency Program as Staff Psychologist.

Registration is now open for the three socially distant options for attendees:



Attend live, socially distant audience at KLRN TV station on the day of event from 8 a.m.  noon. In-person tickets are very limited and subject to change, based on city ordinance. In-person attendees may change to the online livestream option at any time.

Watch a livestream online on day of event.

Access recordings of the event after-the-fact.

Group reservations are available, and discounted if 10 or more.

Claritycon attendees include child psychologists, social workers, pediatricians, educators, childcare providers, school counselors, special education teachers, Child Protective Services specialists, Juvenile Justice workers, small counseling offices, students and others.

For more information, contact events@claritycgc.org or 210-593-2148, or visit https://www.claritycgc.org/annual-conference-claritycon/.

Clarity Child Guidance Center has honored Methodist Healthcare Ministries with its Community Leaders Award for Claritycon 2020-2021. USAA Foundation is underwriter for Claritycon.

ABOUT CLARITY CHILD GUIDANCE CENTER: Clarity CGC offers the region's largest concentration of child and adolescent psychiatrists, with its onsite affiliation with Southwest Psychiatric Physicians. In addition, the center serves as a teaching hospital for UT Health San Antonio and Baylor College of Medicine. Clarity CGCs treatment facilities include an eight-acre campus in the South Texas Medical Center with a 66-bed hospital and 6-bed Crisis Service. Clarity CGC serves all children in need of care, regardless of their familys ability to pay.

MEDIA CONTACT: Jeanne Albrecht

210-392-9047

jca@jeannebiz.com

March 2021
Asian-Americans seek protection after attack

Shootings in the Atlanta area that left eight people dead, including six Asian women, have put Asian communities across the U.S. on high alert and prompted law enforcement officials to increase patrols. People across the nation felt outraged and scared.

The gunman who shot and killed eight people at massage parlors in Georgia was charged with several counts of murder. The police captured the 21-year-old as he was on his way to Florida, where he may have planned more violence.

Although the police are still investigating motives, nearly 3,800 hate incidents targeting Asian-Americans have been reported in the U.S. since the pandemic began, according to Stop AAPI Hate. The shootings appear to be at the intersection of gender-based violence, misogyny and xenophobia, state Rep. Bee Nguyen, the first Vietnamese American to serve in the Georgia House, told The AP.

Asking for help: Asian-Americans in the San Francisco Bay Area are calling for more police patrols after a string of attacks. Older residents in particular have been the targets of robberies, verbal attacks related to the coronavirus pandemic, and assaults. Our seniors are afraid to walk their own streets, said Carl Chan, the president of the Oakland Chinatown Chamber of Commerce. Residents described fear, tension and feeling forced to change their routines in a PBS report on the rise of hate crimes in the area. The Cut compiled ways to help.
Bhagalpur : , March 17 (IANS) Wanted criminal Chandrashekhar Kapri, carrying a reward of Rs 50,000, and his accomplice were killed in an encounter by the Bihar Special Task Force (STF) on Wednesday.

The STF also arrested four others from the spot and recovered arms and ammunition in large quantities.

Bhagalpur Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Nitisha Gudiya said the team of STF conducted a raid on Wednesday morning in the Rani Diara area, after receiving information about Kapri.

Kapri and his accomplice Manohar Mandal were killed in the retaliatory firing by the STF after the latter asked them to surrender.

Eight cases were registered against Kapri.

"Two 315 regular rifle, one 12 bore gun, two 315 musket rifles, a homemade gun and bullets were recovered from the encounter spot," said Gudiya, adding that raids are still on in the area.
Minneapolis will have to look beyond its insurance fund to pay out the $27 million settlement to George Floyds family over his killing by police last year.

The settlement, one of the largest pre-trial payments for police misconduct ever, will come in part from the citys general fund, according to a city spokesperson. The official said Minneapolis collected more revenue than expected in 2019 and planned to use the excess to prepare for budget shortfalls and these liabilities. Minneapolis also uses a self-insurance pool, which municipal agencies pay into, to finance workers compensation, accrued sick leave benefits and lawsuits against the city.

For fiscal 2021, the city budgeted $9.2 million for liability claims, more than four times the amount set aside for last year. Still, that amount wont be enough to cover the cost of the civil litigation. Minneapolis already spends roughly a third of its general fund budget on policing, despite cutting nearly $30 million in the wake of protests against police brutality sparked by Floyds death.

Typically, higher profile police misconduct cases settle for $5 million or $6 million, said John Rappaport, a professor at the University of Chicago Law School. In this case, the video, egregious nature of former officer Derek Chauvins conduct and increased scrutiny likely motivated the pay-out agreement.

The city is gaining something for not showing up in court, Rappaport said. Its worth a lot to the city to not litigate the case.

The payment to Floyds family marks the latest settlement of a high-profile police brutality case, and it comes just days into the proceedings for Chauvins murder trial. Breonna Taylors family settled with Louisville, Kentucky for $12 million in September, while also notching promised reforms to police policy.

In 2019, Minneapolis paid $20 million to the family of Justine Ruszczyk Damond, an unarmed White woman who was killed by police. That settlement was previously the largest paid by the city, and led to concerns about higher property taxes.

Cities are also facing suits from those brutalized during the police response to protests that came in the aftermath of Floyd and Taylors deaths.

All of us cant lose sight of the fact that the public is paying for this, Rappaport said.

Copyright 2021 Bloomberg.
NEW YORK, March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Codagenix Inc., a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing prophylactic vaccines and oncolytic virus therapies, today announced the expansion of its senior management team with three new appointments. Lisa Runco, Ph.D., has been named Director of Operations. Additionally, Sally Yang, M.S., R.A.C. has been appointed Associate Director of Regulatory Affairs, and Lasmy Tea, M.S., M.P.H., has been named Associate Director of Clinical Project Management.

"We are proud to announce the appointment of these three vastly experienced individuals to the growing management team at Codagenix and look forward to benefitting from their expertise as Codagenix anticipates multiple, significant growth opportunities throughout the year," said J. Robert Coleman, Ph.D., CEO of Codagenix. "The ongoing development of COVI-VAC, our single-dose, live attenuated COVID-19 vaccine, has brought considerable attention to Codagenix's diverse portfolio of vaccines and our Synthetic Attenuated Virus Engineering (SAVE) platform. Sally, Lasmy and Lisa will be instrumental to maximizing this potential by advancing key operational, regulatory and clinical initiatives."

Dr. Runco added, "The growth at Codagenix over the past year has been substantial, paralleling the rapid advance of COVI-VAC, which went from concept-to-clinic in less than nine months. As Director of Operations, I welcome the opportunity to work with our executive management team, as well as our newly appointed team leaders, to ensure that our operations continue to support our current initiatives, while building out capacity to enable Codagenix to quickly capitalize on future opportunities."

Sally Yang -- Associate Director of Regulatory Affairs

Ms. Yang is a veteran advisor to biotechnology companies on regulatory issues and has held a number of positions of increasing seniority at several consulting and services firms. In her most recent post as Associate Director of Regulatory Program Management at Synchrogenix, she oversaw multiple drug development programs, advised on large regulatory submissions to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and other regulatory bodies, and developed multifaceted regulatory programs. Previously, at Clinical Network Services, Ms. Yang authored FDA submissions and correspondences, developed standard operating procedures and assisted with FDA Advisory Committee meetings. Ms. Yang received a M.S. in Applied Life Science from the Keck Graduate Institute at The Claremont Colleges. In 2015, she received a Regulatory Affairs Certification (RAC), the only post-academic professional credential for regulatory professionals in the healthcare product sector.

Lasmy Tea -- Associate Director of Clinical Project Management

Ms. Tea has more than a decade of experience coordinating global, multi-site clinical trials and managing data collection. Before joining Codagenix, she oversaw startup activities for Phase 1 clinical trial sites at Alucent Biomedical. Prior to that, Ms. Tea held a number of positions at academic research centers and biotechnology companies. She managed an international Phase 3 clinical trial at Axsome Therapeutics, implemented and maintained cancer clinical trials at the Huntsman Cancer Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, and managed laboratory vendors and contract research organizations for the former Ophthotech, now known as IVERIC Bio. Ms. Tea holds a M.P.H. in Global Public Health from New York University and a M.S. in Information Management from Columbia University.

Dr. Lisa Runco  Director of Operations

Dr. Runco started at Codagenix in a full-time capacity after serving for more than five years as an outside consultant to the company. Prior to joining Codagenix full-time, Dr. Runco worked in the academic sector, as a director of research at a private high school and an assistant professor at the New York Institute of Technology (NYIT) where she conducted research in the fields of molecular biology and microbiology. While at NYIT, Dr. Runco co-founded the Advanced Research Core, a collaborative research program, and served as co-director of a combined Baccalaureate/ Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree program. Dr. Runco earned a Ph.D. in molecular genetics and microbiology in 2007 from Stony Brook University, where she also served as a research associate and instructor.

About Codagenix, Inc.

Codagenix is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing prophylactic vaccines and oncolytic virus therapies. The company's breakthrough Synthetic Attenuated Virus Engineering (SAVE) platform utilizes a computer algorithm to recode the genomes of viruses and construct live-attenuated vaccines to prevent viral infections or treat solid tumors. Codagenix has demonstrated its live-attenuated viruses stimulate a robust T cell and antibody immune response but are non-pathogenic. Codagenix possesses a deep pipeline of clinical and pre-clinical programs including vaccine candidates for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19 (COVI-VAC); respiratory syncytial virus (CodaVaxTM-RSV) in Phase I testing; influenza (CodaVaxTM-H1N1); dengue virus; and triple negative breast cancer (using a rationally designed virus). To date, as part of Phase 1 clinical studies, 194 healthy volunteers ranging in age from 18 to 75 years old have received Codagenix vaccines. Codagenix was founded based on technology developed in the laboratory of National Academy of Science member Dr. Eckard Wimmer at Stony Brook University, and is supported by Adjuvant Capital, TopSpin Partners, and Euclidean Capital. The company has ongoing research and license programs with various federal agencies.

Media Contacts:

Tiberend Strategic Advisors, Inc.

Johanna Bennett & Ingrid Mezo

[email protected] / 1-212-375-2686

[email protected] / 1-646-604-5150

SOURCE Codagenix Inc.
HALIFAX - The names of 16 people who gave statements to police following last April's mass shooting in Nova Scotia will remain redacted, a judge has ruled.

A fire-destroyed property registered to Gabriel Wortman at 200 Portapique Beach Road is seen in Portapique, N.S. on May 8, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan

HALIFAX - The names of 16 people who gave statements to police following last April's mass shooting in Nova Scotia will remain redacted, a judge has ruled.

In a written decision released Tuesday, Judge Laurel Halfpenny-MacQuarrie said there would be "a serious risk" associated with publishing the names of people who are "simply conduits of information to the police and nothing more."

Halfpenny-MacQuarrie said the individuals and businesses either had a personal connection to gunman Gabriel Wortman, were familiar with him or had incidental contact with him.

"As a general statement, they provided specific details of his life, his illegal activities, business associations, financial transactions, his beliefs, his childhood, his wealth," the judge wrote.

She said the information they gave police is now known to the public after media outlets went to court seeking the release of RCMP search warrant information related to the April 18-19 rampage that claimed the lives of 22 people.

Halfpenny-MacQuarrie said releasing the names would most likely lead to "speculation, public analysis and perhaps marginalization" that could have "a lasting negative effect."

The judge said that although the public, as argued by the media outlets, has the absolute right to know the "what, when and why" behind the warrants, she concluded that "there is no further information to be garnered by releasing the 16 names."

However, Halfpenny-MacQuarrie did note that the names are "temporarily redacted," and an upcoming joint public inquiry can apply to the court for access to them if it needs to.

She also ruled that the name of an anthropologist included in the police information can be released, because the individual was hired and voluntarily became involved in the investigation.

The judge said she would lift the sealing order covering sections of the documents where the anthropologist's name appears on March 24.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 16, 2021.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-17 09:32:31|Editor: huaxia

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Workers unload vaccines from Chinese pharmaceutical firm Sinovac on its arrival in Montevideo, Uruguay, March 16, 2021. Uruguay on Tuesday received a new batch of CoronaVac vaccines from Chinese pharmaceutical firm Sinovac to bolster its immunization drive against COVID-19. (Photo by Nicolas Celaya/Xinhua)

MONTEVIDEO, March 16 (Xinhua) -- Uruguay on Tuesday received a new batch of CoronaVac vaccines from Chinese pharmaceutical firm Sinovac to bolster its immunization drive against COVID-19.

A cargo plane carrying the doses landed at Carrasco International Airport in the afternoon on a flight from Beijing.

Uruguay launched a vaccination campaign on March 1 to combat COVID-19 following the arrival of the first batch of vaccines also from Sinovac.

More than 7 percent of the population has now been immunized with at least a first dose.

Last week, Vice President Beatriz Argimon and Minister of Public Health Daniel Salinas received their first dose of the vaccines.

Initially, the vaccination campaign targets people aged 50 to 70 and essential workers in the healthcare, education and security sectors.

The South American country has registered 72,862 coronavirus cases with 717 deaths as of Monday. Enditem
Libya has a unified government for the first time in more than a decade of civil war. It is also pumping 1.3 million barrels of oil daily and plans to increase this to 2.1 million bpd within four years. Libya has been the odd man out in OPEC production cut agreements, exempt from any because of its political turmoil. Now, it is in a position to undermine the cartels price control efforts.

The new interim government of the country that holds the largest oil reserves in Africa was sworn in on Monday. With this came hopes that Libya could finally begin the task of returning to normal after years of conflict that has crippled its economy and left it exclusively dependent on oil revenues. With this degree of dependence, a return to normal would unavoidably involve a boost in oil production.

The president of the National Oil Corporation recently told Bloomberg in an interview that plans were to boost the current production rate to 1.45 million bpd by the end of the year, increasing this further to 1.6 million bpd in 2022 and 2.1 million bpd in four years.

Now, an additional 150,000 bpd by the end of the year is unlikely to harm oil prices or interfere much with OPEC+ plans to keep them higher. Yet this would only hold true if demand projections for the second half of the year turn out to be accurate, and if Saudi Arabia continues to cut that additional 1 million bpd that last month led to OPECs total coming out 650,000 bpd lower than the January total.

But there is a problem in calculating OPECs total. The February total, at 24.85 million bpd, was indeed 650,000 bpd lower than the total for January. But that did not mean that everyone cut more. On the contrary, all the OPEC members that were exempt from production cuts, including Libya, Iran, and even agonizing Venezuela, increased their production. Even Nigeria pumped more in February despite its OPEC+ obligations.

Related Video: Why The Oil & Gas Rig Count Matters

OPEC is in a fragile balance between price hawks and doves whod rather have the market share than the higher price. The internal divisions in the cartel are no secret. Until now, the trio of exempt producers was not a big factor in any production decisions: all three countries were troubled enough to not be a problem when it came to production surprises. After all, this is how they gained their exemption. But now, Libya is in a position to add 300,000 bpd to OPECs total within a yearor more if it can swing it. It needs those oil revenues desperately. And Saudi Arabia cant keep cutting 1 million bpd from its production forever.

Saudi Arabias Foreign Minister, Faisal bin Farhan, recently told media what OPEC wanted was a fair price for its crude oil. This fair price is certainly higher than the worlds biggest consumers of OPEC oil would like it to be. India, the worlds third-largest consumer of oil, has repeatedly called on the cartel to stop cutting production and let prices slide. Meanwhile, it has started looking for alternatives to Middle Eastern oil. China has filled up its tanks with crude and does not need to keep buying at record rates. And Europe and the U.S. have other problems right nownamely the continuing pandemicthat exceed their worry about oil. Related: Permian Production Set To Rise Despite Shale Decline

Prices are as fragile as OPECs consensus on production because of the pandemic and the uncertainty that demand will improve as fast as OPEC hopes. The cartel has done what it could in controlling supply, but there is only so much you can do on the one side of the fundamentals equation. India (again) has already warned that its economic recovery will suffer setbacks because of the rebound in oil prices. The U.S. is bracing up for a surge in gasoline prices this summer, and those stimulus checks will not last forever. Despite statements from OPEC+ officials that the oil market is rebalancing, it is a precarious balance on a knifes edge.

To be fair, few believe that Libya has what it takes to secure lasting peace so its oil production can continue to grow, affecting global oil prices. There have been too many examples to the contrary, with political conflicts invariably targeting oil fields or using infrastructure as weapons in inter-faction disputes. And then there is the question of repairsmuch needed after years of forced neglect. NOCs Sanalla has conditioned Libyas oil production growth on the government releasing the budget that NOC needs to make those repairs and ensure the oil will flow uninterrupted to export terminals.

Yet for all the bad rap when it comes to sustained oil output growth, Libya recently proved that where theres a will, theres a way. From less than 100,000 bpd in September, the country managed to boost its average daily oil output to over 1 million bpd by the end of the year. Thats an increase of more than a million barrels daily within just three monthsa very respectable production recovery rate. And a very real threat to OPEC that has yet to come into full view. When it comes, Saudi Arabia may find that it needs to keep unilateral control of its production, in addition to the OPEC+ cuts to keep prices where they are.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
New Delhi: Even as India registers a spike in the number of coronavirus cases, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday discussed the issue with the Chief Ministers of the states in a virutal meeting. It was in March nearly a year ago that a nation-wide lockdown had been imposed across the country to control the spread of the infection.

Prime Minister again needed to discuss this because the cases of coronavirus has once again under control. The Prime Minister sought suggestions from the Chief Ministers of the States and at the same time also urged caution to save vaccine wastage. As per the Union Health Ministry around 6 per cent of the total vaccine doses have been wasted in India.

On Wednesday, Zee News Editor-in-Chief Sudhir Chaudhary analysed the reason behind the sudden spike in cases and how people need to follow mask and social distancing rules.

In the past day, more than 28000 cases of COVID-19 have been reported in the country and 70 per cent of these cases have come from the four states of Maharashtra, Punjab, Karnataka and Gujarat.

On February 9, nearly 9000 cases of coronavirus infections were reported which was the lowest number of cases resgistered in a single day for 2021. But the cases increased rapidly and on February 16, more than 11 thousand new cases were detected. While today there have been 28000 cases of coronavirus.

The major reason attributed for this surge in coronavirus case is the non-compliance of social distancing norms and people not following the mask rule.

India could learn a lot from a small nation like Taiwan. The island country has reported its first case of coronavirus infection in January 2020 and the total tally of patients there is 990. The number of active patients is only 26 at the moment. And so far a total of 10 people have died. The population of this country is 20 million.

While the national capital has a population of 3 crore and the number of active cases is 2500 and about 11 thousand people have succumbed to the disease.

Indias daily coronavirus tally jumped by 28,903, taking the caseload to 2,34,406, data from the health ministry showed on Wednesday.

The reason for Taiwan's success is because of the discipline of the people there, temperature checks are undertaken everywhere in the country, people do not leave their homes without a hand sanitizer and mask. While people in our country have forgotten the past crucial days when coronavirus infection was spreading in India.

Globally, the number of coronavirus infections reached more than 120 million and more than 26 lakh people have died. The US is at the top spot followed by Brazil and then India at number three.

In the last 24 hours, there have been more than 53,000 cases in the US, 84,000 cases have been reported in Brazil and about 30,000 cases from France.
East Hanover, NJ. March 17, 2021. Kessler Foundation researchers have identified several practical and technical barriers to the widespread use of surface electromyography (sEMG) in clinical neurorehabilitation. Based on their holistic analysis of these factors, the researchers suggest a collaborative, interdisciplinary, and unified approach to enable rehabilitation professionals to routinely use sEMG. The article, "Use of Surface EMG in Clinical Rehabilitation of Individuals With SCI: Barriers and Future Considerations" (doi: 10.3389/fneur.2020.578559), was published December 18, 2020, in Frontiers in Neurology. It is available open access at https:/ / www. ncbi. nlm. nih. gov/ pmc/ articles/ PMC7780850/

The authors are Rakesh Pilkar, PhD, Kamyar Momeni, PhD, Arvind Ramanujam, Manikandan Ravi, Erica Garbarini, and Gail F. Forrest, PhD, affiliated with the Center for Mobility and Rehabilitation Engineering Research and the Tim and Caroline Reynolds Center for Spinal Stimulation at Kessler Foundation.

sEMG is a noninvasive technology that detects, records, and interprets the electrical activity of muscles. The quantifiable information on myoelectric output recorded by sEMG is extremely useful in assessing impairment and potentially determining patient-specific and effective interventions for individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI). However, while sEMG is commonly used in neurorehabilitation research, its integration into clinical practice has been limited, according to lead author Dr. Pilkar, senior research scientist at the Center for Mobility and Rehabilitation Engineering Research.

In their analysis, the research team determined several factors that prevent widespread use of sEMG in clinical practice. "One major obstacle is integrating the time-consuming aspects of sEMG into the already demanding schedule of physical therapists, occupational therapists, and other clinicians," explained Dr. Pilkar. "Also, clinicians are often unfamiliar with technical aspects of sEMG data processing and may not have been exposed to or trained in certain aspects of this technology," he added.

The research team also identified technical challenges such as transferring the frequent research updates to the sEMG systems used in a clinical setting; lack of user-friendly interfaces; and the need for a standardized, multidisciplinary approach to the handling and interpretation of data. An additional consideration, specific to research in SCI, is that reading and interpreting EMGs for this population requires an additional skillset, as the physiological and structural state of the spinal cord affect how data are interpreted.

To overcome these obstacles, Kessler researchers propose a series of actions to facilitate the use of sEMG by rehabilitation professions. First, including hands-on sEMG experience in educational and professional training programs, and exposing trainees to non-clinical experts in complementary fields such as engineers, technicians, and data scientists. Second, developing simpler, more user-friendly technology interfaces, as well as offering open-access user tutorials to make it easier for clinicians to integrate and use sEMG. Third, codifying a means to regularly transfer research-based knowledge about sEMG and its relevance to SCI rehabilitation from researchers to clinicians will empower rehabilitation professionals to use sEMG with more confidence.

"Addressing these barriers will improve our ability to objectively assess neuromuscular outcomes," Dr. Pilkar predicted, "which is fundamental to developing interventions that improve motor function and mobility in individuals with deficits caused by SCI."

###

Funding sources: New Jersey Commission on Spinal Cord Research (CSCR20ERG013, 314 CSCR14ERG007) and Kessler Foundation

About Kessler Foundation

Kessler Foundation, a major nonprofit organization in the field of disability, is a global leader in rehabilitation research that seeks to improve cognition, mobility and long-term outcomes, including employment, for people with neurological disabilities caused by diseases and injuries of the brain and spinal cord. Kessler Foundation leads the nation in funding innovative programs that expand opportunities for employment for people with disabilities. For more information, visit KesslerFoundation.org. For more information, or to interview an expert, contact: Carolann Murphy, 973.324.8382, CMurphy@KesslerFoundation.org
Since Monday, over 3,000 graduate student workers at Columbia University in the New York City area have been on an indefinite strike, demanding, among other things, higher wages and better health care coverage. The strike comes less than two months after the struggle of 1,400 produce workers at Hunts Point Market in the Bronx for higher wages was sold out by the Teamsters union. The Columbia strike has been blacked out almost entirely by the corporate media, with the World Socialist Web Site being the first andapart from the right-wing New York Post and Bloombergonly outlet to have even reported it as of this writing.

Columbia graduate workers on the picket line on Tuesday

On Tuesday morning WSWS reporters spoke to several striking graduate student workers on the picket line at Columbia University. Daniel and Tanner, both graduate students in the Earth and Environmental Science department, stressed that a living wage and above all better health care coverage are their primary concerns. I really want to go to a dentist. Dental and vision are not covered by our insurance so I havent gotten my teeth done in two years, Daniel said.

Tanner agreed that the issue of health care was very pressing. Many graduate students, especially those with chronic diseases, are paying huge sums out-of-pocket just to get medical treatment.

Daniel and Tanner

With an annual base salary of between $26,000 and $36,000, living in New York City, one of the most expensive cities in the world, is extremely difficult. Any accident, surgery or more complex treatment can quickly drain whatever financial resources the graduate workers have. I had to get surgery last year, Daniel recalled, between the surgery and physical therapy, that was already $4,000, basically all of my money.

Tanner added that graduate workers who were working as teaching assistants, like him, easily work more than the contractually mandated 20 hours per week. Daniel agreed, Theres a lot of inequality at the university. A lot of people are working very hard and are not getting what they deserve. Both were disillusioned with the Democratic Party. Tanner said he had voted for Joe Biden, but didnt expect him to make good on his election promises. Daniel said he was very angry that the Democrats had now gone to war against the minimum wage.

Columbia University has taken a hard line on the strike, refusing to offer any concessions to the bargaining committee of the GSW-UAW, even as the union has continuously lowered its demands. Between October and March, the union decreased its demands for a pay raise of 15 percent$47,800 for 12-month PhD appointmentsto 5 percent$43,596. Meanwhile, the university is proposing a zero percent increase from the current salary of $41,520. The administration has stated it will withhold pay after the disbursement on March 15 and even make graduate workers pay back financial aid awards for the duration of the strike.

Asked whether that had actually happened, graduate workers told the WSWS that the situation was unclear, but that everyone was very anxious. Daniel responded, We dont know, but its scary. Im expecting my account to be charged next week. The university has not made clear how much money it would charge the graduate workers. We dont know how much [it will be], Daniel explained. But Im quite sure its going to be more than the $270 strike fund per week that we get from the UAW. Our weekly income [for being a TA] is about $600 after taxes.

Evelyn, a second-year graduate student in English and comparative literature, said that her last stipend disbursement was still pending on her account. It has been pending for longer than usual. It may be paid out anyway, she said, but I have certainly never been anxious about it before. Which probably speaks more to the psychological turmoil resulting from the universitys retaliation.

Evelyn

Another graduate worker, who asked to remain anonymous, said, Its been frustrating to see that Columbia doesnt address the concerns of graduate students. She said that protection against discrimination and harassment, and a means of arbitration between faculty members and graduate workers, who usually work for faculty, were a major concern for her, along with compensation and health care. She and her colleague denounced the shitty, cruel treatment of students by the university throughout the pandemic.

Like many other universities, Columbia forced students out of the dorms in the spring of 2020, resulting in a serious housing crisis, especially for international students. Columbia owns most of the buildings that graduate students live in, the graduate worker added, yet the university has refused to lower rents. Evelyn noted that many of the concerns of graduate students were parallel to those of undergraduates. Over 1,100 Columbia undergraduates have gone on a tuition strike this semester, while the university reported a $310 million increase to their $11 billion endowment at the end of 2020.

The issues confronting graduate workers at Columbia are not unique to the university. The attempts by the university administration, whose board is packed with multi-millionaires, to make university workers pay for the crisis mirror the dynamic of the capitalist response to the coronavirus pandemic as a whole. While billionaires like Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk have enriched themselves, including through the multi-trillion-dollar federal bailout of March 2020, workers are forced to work under life-threatening conditions in the midst of a pandemic while seeing their already precarious living standards eroded. The unions, including the UAW, have sought to stifle all working class struggles in opposition to these conditions. At Columbia, they are complicit in isolating a strike that is supported by broad sections of workers.

The WSWS is seeking to mobilize the broadest possible support behind the Columbia graduate student strike. A Connecticut educator, who learned about the strike through the WSWS, expressed her support for the graduate workers, saying: A fair days pay for a fair days work seems to have fallen on deaf earsor perhaps those living in ivory towers just cant hear the people at all anymore. The divide between the classes is widening more and more each day. Strikes like this are not only necessary, they are vital as a tool to empower the working class.

Lisa, a nurse in New York City who is supporting the work of the New York City Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committee, said, We unite with you and ask you to join with us as a fighting unit of teachers, health care and transit workers, and as part of the working class across the US. Columbia has an endowment of $11 billion and [the UAW has] a strike fund of close to $800 million. The time has come for your work and study to be rewarded! The contradictions between the financial elite and the working class are irreconcilable. Therefore these are necessary struggles in preparation for even bigger struggles ahead in unity with workers here and around the world. Tune into our meeting and lets work together.

The New York City educators rank-and-file committee is meeting on Wednesday, March 17, at 7:00 p.m. EDT. Register here to attend. The International Youth and Students for Social Equality in New York and New Jersey urges all those who agree with this perspective to contact us and get involved in the fight for socialism.
Large Environmental Upgrades in line with Paul Gauguin Cruises' Values

Minimizing the impact on the environment is one of the highest priorities of the company. In 2019, Paul Gauguin Cruises took two major measures in this field. The line completely eliminated the use of heavy fuel oil by using a much cleaner fuel (LS MGO  Low-Sulphur Marine Gas Oil) and also committed to offsetting 150 percent of its carbon emissions. The Gauguin's most recent environmental upgrades follow this path and include water treatment and consumption optimization along with energy-saving initiatives.

An Empowering Experience Dedicated to Guests' Highest Expectations

The Gauguin is outfitted with a look designed by Studio Jean-Philippe Nuel that evokes South Seas elegance and the storied islands that the iconic ship sails. The refurbishment enhances the historical interior of the vessel made of warm and dark woodworks and strengthens the local identity. The fresh palette incorporates lagoon shades, a wide range of green and natural tones, warm color touches, organic patterns and woven textiles. Exotic panoramas and traditional artwork transports guests into the local environment. All The Gauguin's staterooms and suites, as well as the public spaces, were renovated: Le Grand Salon, three restaurants, Piano Bar, La Palette Lounge, Spa and Salon, Boutique, Pool Deck, and Reception area.

Ongoing Onboard Upgrades

To accompany The Gauguin's renovation, amenities were enhanced for a full guest experience. Guests will be able to enjoy complimentary unlimited Wi-Fi and a virtual museum of over 150 paintings of artist Paul Gauguin during their voyage. These new enhancements will provide guests of The Gauguin an even more luxurious, all-inclusive experience, which encompasses dining in all three of the ship's restaurants and 24-hour room service; complimentary beverages including select wines, beer, and spirits; and onboard gratuities for room stewards and dining staff.

The Gauguin's Polynesian Signature

Paul Gauguin Cruises was created to provide enjoyable, meaningful, and authentic experiences with the communities, cultures, and natural wonders that make Tahiti, French Polynesia, and the South Pacific so alluring. Every detail of The Gauguin's renovations reflect her home including the ship's decor, artwork, special Polynesian dishes in the restaurants, enrichment programming, and cultural activities aboard led by Les Gauguines and Les Gauguins, the ship's troupe of Tahitian ambassadors and entertainers.

Itineraries following the renovations include: 10-night Society Islands & Tuamotus; 11-night Cook Islands & Society Islands; 7-night Tahiti & the Society Islands; and 14-night Marquesas, Tuamotus & Society Islands voyages. Guests have exclusive access to the line's private island Motu Mahana, and a private beach in Bora Bora. Paul Gauguin Cruises offers a wide range of outdoor activities embracing the natural wonders of the South Pacific such as snorkeling, kayaking, paddleboarding, and SCUBA diving excursions.

For more information on Paul Gauguin Cruises, or to check cruise fares, please contact a Travel Advisor, call 800-848-6172, or visit www.pgcruises.com.

About Paul Gauguin Cruises

Paul Gauguin Cruises operates the 5+-star cruise ship, the 332-guest m/s Paul Gauguin, providing a deluxe cruise experience tailored to the unparalleled wonders of Tahiti, French Polynesia, and the South Pacific. Paul Gauguin Cruises has been recognized by notable publications in travel and lifestyle. One of the "Top Small Cruise Lines" in the Conde Nast Traveler 2020 Readers' Choice Awards and is honored on the publication's 2020 "Gold List." Paul Gauguin Cruises was selected as "Best Small-Ship Cruise Line" in Global Traveler's Leisure Lifestyle Awards from 2016 to 2020. Recently the line was recognized for the fourth time for having the "Best French Polynesia Cruises" in the AFAR Travelers' Choice Awards. In September 2019, Paul Gauguin Cruises joined PONANT's family, the world leader of small-ship cruising.

About Jean-Philippe Nuel

From a family of architects passionate about design and contemporary creations, Jean-Philippe Nuel graduated as an architect from the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris and quickly made a name for himself by winning several competitions, including an international competition presided over by Kenzo Tange. After a first hotel project in Paris, subsequent iconic projects for upscale international hotel chains (InterContinental Lyon and Marseille, Molitor Swimming Pool, La Cle Champs Elysees in Paris, Sofitel Roma Villa Borghese) and many boutique hotels followed (for example Le Cinq Codet, Le Damantin, Le Belleval in Paris). Jean-Philippe Nuel has been collaborating with French luxury expedition cruise line PONANT, since 2010 and and won the AHEAD Europe Design award 2019 for the design of Le Champlain, second vessel in the PONANT EXPLORER series he signed for the Company.

Media Contact:

Paul Gauguin Cruises

Public Relations Department

[email protected]

Images Credit: Paul Gauguin Cruises/Studio Jean-Philippe NUEL

Link to Images: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/7elddrbjnvlb73g/AABW0EQ8eiqbVVlzCHke4XNSa?dl=0

SOURCE Paul Gauguin Cruises

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(CNN) -- US Secretary of State Antony Blinken criticized China's threats to regional stability during bilateral talks in Tokyo on Tuesday, warning that the United States and Japan would push back if necessary.

Blinken and US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin met with their counterparts in Tokyo for a series of bilateral talks and a joint "2+2" session, marking the first international trip by Biden Cabinet officials.

This comes just after President Joe Biden met with the leaders of India, Australia and Japan in a virtual summit on Friday, in his first multilateral summit as President.

"We believe in democracy and human rights, the rule of law, because we've seen how our own countries are stronger because we adhere to those values. And because they're under threat in many places, including in this region," Blinken said during a joint news conference in Tokyo, pointing to the recent military coup and mass protests in Myanmar as an example.

"China uses coercion and aggression to systemically erode autonomy in Hong Kong, undercut democracy in Taiwan, abuse human rights in Xinjiang and Tibet, and assert maritime claims in the South China Sea that violate international law," he added. "We will push back if necessary when China uses coercion or aggression to get its way."

Speaking to reporters, Austin said that China had spent the past two decades modernizing its military while the US had been focused on the Middle East. "So our goal is to make sure that we maintain a competitive edge over China, or anyone else that would want to threaten us or our alliance," he said. "And that we developed the operational plans and capabilities to be able to deter any aggressor."

The strategic environment of the Indo-Pacific has changed in the past few years, said Toshimitsu Motegi, Japan's Minister of Foreign Affairs, in both military capability and in the balance of power.

"(The) free and open international order is greatly challenged by attempts to change the status quo by force and progress of authoritarian system," Motegi said.

He said Washington and Tokyo "agreed that China's actions, which are not consistent with the existing international order, are presenting various issues against the Japan-US alliance and international society."

Motegi said the US and Japan "oppose any attempts to alter the status quo in the area including East China Sea and South China Sea, and shared a serious concern regarding China's Coast Guard Law," referring to a Chinese law enacted in February that allows its Coast Guard to fire on foreign vessels entering disputed South China Sea waters.

Motegi also said the US had reconfirmed its commitment to help Japan defend the Senkakus, a string of disputed islands in the East China Sea which China calls the Diayous and claims as its own.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said on Tuesday that the exchanges between the US and Japan should help increase mutual understanding and trust among countries in the region and "not target or undermine the interests of any third party."

Myanmar and North Korea on the agenda

Blinken and Motegi "condemned the coup and use of violence in Burma, expressed concern over the expansion of authoritarian and aggressive actions by the People's Republic of China, and agreed to strengthen like-minded coordination across these issues," according to the US State Department statement.

The Biden administration has previously criticized the ongoing violence in Myanmar, which has ratcheted up in recent weeks as the military attempts to crackdown mass civilian protests. At least 126 people have died since the military seized power on February 1, with security forces opening fire on peaceful protesters, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners.

During the talks, Blinken also emphasized the "powerful and vital" economic relationship between the two countries.

"It is no accident that we chose Japan for the first Cabinet level overseas travel of the Biden-Harris administration," he said. "Japan and the United States are deep in cooperation on the key issues of our time, the issues that actually affect the lives of our citizens -- whether it's combating climate change, dealing with cybersecurity, dealing with global health security."

The two countries reaffirmed their commitment to the denuclearization of North Korea, and to create opportunity for further trilateral cooperation between the US, Japan, and South Korea, according to a statement from the US State Department.

The Biden administration has tried to reach out to North Korea through multiple channels, but Pyongyang has been unresponsive thus far, Blinken said. Austin added that denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula remains a top priority, and that alliances with South Korea and Japan are the most important tools the US has in combating the threat from North Korea.

Other issues on the agenda on Tuesday included the US-Japan supply chain, clean energy, economic recovery after Covid-19, and how to prevent further pandemics. They reiterated their commitments to decarbonization, expanding clean energy technologies, and achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

Blinken and Austin are scheduled to meet with Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga later on their trip, before heading to South Korea to meet their counterparts there. CNN previously reported that Suga will be the first foreign leader to visit the US under Biden's presidency, according to a senior administration official.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "US and Japan express concern over China's 'aggressive actions' during first trip by Biden's top diplomat"
HOOK (dpa-AFX) - Outsourcing services company Serco Group Plc (SRP.L) said on Wednesday that it has secured a rebid to offer support services at the 5 Wing Canadian Forces Base in Goose Bay, Canada. The early 10-year period of the contract has an estimated ceiling value of C$694 million or approximately 400 million pounds. The contract, which can be extended twice for 5 years each, has a potential ceiling value, including indexation, of around C$1.5 billion or 870 million pounds over its complete term. The company expects annual revenues of 20 million pounds to 30 million pounds in the initial years of the contract, as seen in the existing agreement as well. Secured after an open tender process, the contract will start from September this year. As per the contract, Serco will continue to perform most of the non-military operation and maintenance services at the base, which include aviation services, fire and rescue services, logistics services and facilities management services. Serco has been providing services to the Canadian Department of National Defense at 5 Wing Goose Bay since 1998. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
Tripp Lite, along with eleven industry partners, has donated and deployed the technology infrastructure necessary to improve safety at the National Mall and surrounding historical monuments, which experience more than 35 million visits annually.

To boost safety and situational awareness for the National Mall and surrounding monuments and memorials, Tripp Lite, a global manufacturer of power protection and connectivity solutions, joins Convergint Technologies, a global leader in service-based systems integration, in a total donation of $3.3+ million dollars to the National Park Service for a state-of-the-art security system.

Tripp Lite, along with eleven industry partners, has donated and deployed the technology infrastructure necessary to improve safety at the National Mall and surrounding historical monuments, which experience more than 35 million visits annually. Convergint Technologies led the donation to the National Park Service and United States Park Police in early 2019.

Tripp Lite is thrilled to be collaborating with Convergint Technologies and other industry leaders to help deliver innovative technology solutions to the National Mall and surrounding monuments, said Glen Haeflinger, Tripp Lites President. We have enjoyed working together and sharing our industry expertise to improve safety and situational awareness for the millions of individuals who visit annually.

The donation enhances and expands security coverage, upgrades technology from legacy systems and allows the National Park Service to use real-time information and communication technologies to respond to issues quickly. Phase one of the project included enhancing a centralized monitoring center, intercom stations and public address capabilities and upgrading from analog to IP-based cameras. Phase two will further extend situational awareness at various monuments by adding additional IP-based cameras.

We are incredibly grateful for our technology partners that worked shoulder-to-shoulder with us to give back to one of our countrys busiest and most iconic sites, said Tony Varco, vice president at Convergint Technologies. It is an honor to support the mission of the National Park Service, which is to preserve our natural and cultural resources for the enjoyment, education and inspiration of this and future generations. This effort is a true partnership and collaboration to enhance the current technology and enable real-time information and communications when needed.

The National Park Service and the United States Park Police greatly appreciate the comprehensive security system for the National Mall donated by Convergint Technologies, said Major Mark Adamcik, Commander of the National Malls Icon Protection Unit for the United States Park Police.

For more information on the donation to the National Park Service, please visit http://www.convergint.com/nps-donation.

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An ex-soldier has been charged over the assassination of Rebels bikie boss Nick Martin at a crowded drag racing event.

Martin, 51, was shot in the back at the event at the Perth Motorplex, Kwinana Beach at 8.30pm on Saturday, December 12 last year.

Police believe he was shot in the back by a sniper as far as 300m away.

The former SAS trooper, 34, was arrested on Monday afternoon as dozens of police stormed his red-brick home in Waikiki in Perth's south.

He has been charged with one count of murder and two of committing an unlawful act or omission with intent to harm.

The 34-year-old was scheduled to appear in court at 9am on Wednesday.

A former soldier (pictured) has been charged over the murder of Rebels bikie boss Nick Martin

Martin (pictured) died in the arms of his wife Amanda as she tried to give him CPR. His last words were: 'babe, I've been shot'

Martin died at the scene in front of hundreds of horrified families and children including his own wife and step-daughter.

After being hit, Martin told his wife Amanda: 'Babe, I've been shot', as she tried to give him CPR while he died in her arms.

Three weeks before the assassination Hells Angels bikie Dayne Brajkovich bashed Martin in the outdoor seating area of a bar in the beachside suburb of Scarborough.

The ex-soldier who has been charged has previously served in the Australian military in Iraq and Burma.

Unable to return to Iraq to battle the remnants of ISIS due to the coronavirus pandemic, he worked as a BASE jumping instructor in Perth.

Dozens of photos on his Facebook page show the man paragliding, rock climbing skydiving and base jumping from buildings.

This post from a year ago shows the 34-year-old former soldier who has been charged operating on a wounded man in Iraq

'Life isn't about how fast you run, or how high you climb, it's about how well you bounce,' a social media post from five months ago states.

The man also portrays a love of animals with posts posing with quokkas and cuddling kangaroo joeys while urging others to consider becoming volunteer wildlife carers.

Forensics teams and detectives, including Australian Federal Police, spent all of Monday afternoon sweeping the man's home in Waikiki.

The ex-soldier portrays himself as an adrenaline junkie on social media with dozens of photos of him skydiving

Other posts portray the accused as an animal lover. He's pictured taking a selfie with a quokka

Rebels bikie Nick Martin was riden in to Pinnaroo Cemetery in a coffin covered in pictures of $100 bills (pictured) at his extravagant bikie funeral on December 23

Police spent a considerable amount of time examining a boat parked out the front and a motorbike before taking both items away.

Other investigators were seen scouring bushland surrounding the salt water flats along Safety Bay Road, in nearby Warnbro, before loading evidence bags into vehicles.

A car and boat were also towed away, Seven News reported.
His comments come as Britain continues to mourn the murder of Sarah Everard

Boys could learn how to treat women on the streets and in public as part of RSE

Respect for women and girls should be taught in classrooms, said Kit Malthouse

Showing respect for women and girls should be taught to boys in the classroom, policing minister Kit Malthouse has said.

Malthouse suggested that teachers could provide lessons to young men on how women should be treated on the streets and in public, as an addition to RSE (relationships and sex education), The Times reports.

His comments come as Britain continues to mourn the murder of Sarah Everard, a 33-year-old marketing executive who had been walking home to Brixton, south London, following an evening with friends when she disappeared on March 3.

The policing minister told The Times that children needed 'role models' to understand relationships and said the government had previously introduced PSHE (personal, social, health and economic education) to teach children important social skills.

Showing respect for women and girls should be taught to boys in the classroom, policing minister Kit Malthouse (pictured) has said

Malthouse added: 'It may be that we need to think about what PSHE includes about, for example, the way people are treated in the street and the way women and girls are contemplated in the public realm.'

A Department for Education source also told The Times that teachers were free to 'expand' on the 'flexible' curriculum by 'reflecting on events and movements in society'.

Britain mourns the murder of Sarah Everard, 33

Conservative former minister Andrea Leadsom also called for the UK to 'teach our boys and girls the profound importance of mutual respect'.

Leadsom told the Commons on Monday: 'The appalling events of recent days have caused great anger and anxiety. My inbox has many emails calling for curfews on men and many others calling for greater understanding that not all men are perpetrators.

'At such a difficult time, we must find the right balance between personal freedom and state intervention, but also recognise how vital it is that we teach our boys and our girls the profound importance of mutual respect.'

Labour MP Sarah Champion said that ministers must consider making misogyny a hate crime.

Champion told the Commons: 'Tragic events of the last week have shown just how important this Bill is. For too long, abuse and particularly violence against women and girls, has gone on unchecked and survivors have been left to deal with a system that not only isn't working, but is often making their situation worse.

'Crimes against women often specifically occur because they are women. These crimes are not gender neutral and so the law should not be either. The definition must be considered about making misogyny a hate crime.'

Flowers and messages are seen at a memorial site at the Clapham Common Bandstand, following the kidnap and murder of Sarah Everard, in London, Britain March 15, 2021

Yesterday Boris Johnson chaired a meeting of the Criminal Justice Taskforce, amid a huge campaign to end violence against women and girls in the wake of Sarah Everard's death.

The PM said: 'The horrific case of Sarah Everard has unleashed a wave of feeling about women not feeling safe at night.

'Ultimately, we must drive out violence against women and girls and make every part of the criminal justice system work to better protect and defend them.'

The Government's announcement last night saw 25million added to the Safer Streets Fund, which provides neighbourhood measures such as better lighting and CCTV, bringing the total budget up to 45million.

It also said there would be a 'commitment' with officials to ensure potential target areas such as parks and alleyways and routes from bars, restaurants and nightclubs, are properly policed, with officers 'focused on preventing sexual violence'.

It also plans to work with local constabularies to deploy uniformed and plain clothes officers around nightclubs and bars to ensure women are safe, while also increasing patrols as people leave at closing time. It follows a successful scheme dubbed 'Project Vigilant,' which was used by Thames Valley Police.
Two people in Western Australia have suffered allergic reactions to the COVID-19 vaccine.

WA's chief health officer Andrew Robertson revealed the two new incidents on Wednesday saying they had both been reported to the Therapeutic Goods Administration.

One person had just received the Pfizer vaccine while the other person was given the AstraZeneca jab.

Two people in WA have had an allergic reaction to the COVID-19 vaccine (pictured: the pfizer vaccine being prepared at the Hyatt Perth hotel quarantine in February)

'Both have a history of previous allergic reactions and both individuals responded well to a single dose of adrenaline and recovered under observation without further incident,' Dr Robertson said in a statement.

He said people should be be deterred from being immunised despite the isolated bad reactions.

'All vaccination clinics in WA are well equipped to deal with adverse reactions should they occur and any person reported as having a suspected allergic reaction after COVID vaccination is offered clinical assessment by expert immunologists to determine optimal management going forward,' he said.

He also said those getting vaccinated are monitored for 15 minutes afterward in line with TGA guidelines and for those with a history of allergies that is doubled to 30 minutes.

Nearly 23,000 people in the state have been vaccinated for COVID-19 with 13,292 getting the Pfizer product and 9652 the AstraZeneca version.

The TGA said on Wednesday they would review the number of reports of allergic reactions to see if they were unusually high.

Earlier this week Queensland authorities sent out an alert after four people had allergic reactions to the COVID-19 vaccine.

The people in Bundaberg, Toowoomba, and two in Ipswich, all had anaphylactic reactions to the AstraZeneca jab in past 48 hours.

They also told the Therapeutic Goods Administration of the incidents.

The TGA is investigating the number of allergic reactions to see if they are unusually high (pictured: a patient gets the AstraZeneca jab)

Queensland Health director-general John Wakefield said allergic reactions are rare, but 'not a surprise'.

He said a Gold Coast nurse had an anaphylactic reaction to the Pfizer jab earlier this month.

'We have had an anaphylaxis with Pfizer and we expect to get more,' Dr Wakefield told reporters.

'The issue with this is getting four within a 48-hour period. We probably need to have a closer look at it.'

Anyone in Queensland with a history of anaphylaxis is also being urged to delay getting the vaccine.

'The right thing for us to do is to preserve the trust of our Queenslanders and just add that extra blanket of safety whilst this is being worked out,' Dr Wakefield said.

Federal Health Secretary Brendan Murphy said people shouldn't delay their vaccination, but discuss it with their doctor.

Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt said the TGA's initial assessment had found the vaccines to be safe and effective.

'We don't believe they should delay vaccination,' he told reporters.

Health Minister Yvette D'Ath said both jabs were safe for the majority of the population.

There are clear warnings for people allergic to any ingredients in the vaccines and pregnant or breast-feeding women, she said.

'We are not surprised we're seeing allergic reactions, but we do want to let the public know,' Ms D'Ath said.

The minister dismissed criticism about the state's comparatively slower vaccine rollout.

She said the state needed to have enough supplies on hand to give every person two doses.

Medical workers prepare the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine at the Hyatt Perth quarantine hotel in Perth (pictured)

Ms D'Ath said Queensland was not being told in advance how much vaccine was being delivered and when.

'So to simply talk about figures and not put a context around it is just a bit misleading,' she said.

Brisbane's hospital, aged care facilities and disability providers are also more likely to come out of lockdown on Friday after no new cases of community virus transmission were reported.

The lockdown began when a doctor tested positive on Friday after working at Princess Alexandra Hospital and visiting four venues in the city's south on Thursday.

The woman was infected by a patient who also infected a person staying in a separate room at Brisbane's Hotel Grand Chancellor quarantine facility.

Ms D'Ath said about 330 of 428 close contacts of the doctor have tested negative for the virus, while no other cases have been reported among PA hospital staff or hotel workers and guests.

The minister said the lack of community transmission after almost seven days meant the lockdown could end on Friday.

'We are in a very good position going forward over the next couple of days that will hopefully see us be able to lift those restrictions,' she said.

Queensland reported six new cases of coronavirus on Wednesday, all from overseas and already in hotel quarantine.
Naval landing ship flotilla conducts actual combat training

China Military Online) 15:29, March 17, 2021

The close-in weapon system of the amphibious dock landing ship Wuzhishan (Hull 987) fires at the mock target at sea during the actual combat training organized by a naval landing ship flotilla under the PLA Southern Theater Command in late February, 2021. (eng.chinamil.com.cn/Photo by Qiao Chenxi)
THE Taoiseach met US President Biden at a virtual summit between Washington and Dublin yesterday with Brexit, protecting the Good Friday Agreement and Covid-19 all up for discussion.

The two men spoke for an hour and 20 minutes during which Mr Biden again voiced his support for the Good Friday Agreement.

The two leaders also discussed investment and US immigration reform, along with global issues.

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The Taoiseach said his online meeting with President Biden had been warm, upbeat and lengthy.

He's wishing to come to Ireland, and as he said himself, his family will not forgive him if he doesn't get to Ireland at some stage as President. He's eagerly looking forward to arriving here, Mr Martin said.

He said the two men had focused on the strong relationship between both countries and their economic relationship. Irish emigration had had a long-standing and sustained influence on American politics, he said.

Obviously we discussed Brexit, and he again reiterated his strong commitment to the Good Friday Agreement and to peace, and he received from me an update, two months on, about the current situation on Brexit, and the application of the Northern Ireland Protocol and so forth.

Mr Martin said they discussed Covid-19 in general terms, with the US unsure where it would be with its vaccination programme by summer.

He went through, in quite some detail, the efforts he has had to make as President, in terms of pulling it all together logistically.

He made it clear that he would be led by the science, and also the logistics of the vaccination programme itself.

Mr Matin said: As we move into the second quarter of 2021, we expect the volume of vaccine production to increase globally. And I think that would give more space for countries to deal with this, and more collectively.

We discussed the EU and US economic stimulus packages to enable our economies to reopen and that will enable us to do that. And he will be delighted to come here. On that he is very clear.

He said they also discussed Irelands role on the UN Security Council and the role it could play in relation to Iran, Ethiopia, Syria and other world problems.

Mr Martin said he also had very good meetings with Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the US House of Representatives, and US Vice President Kamala Harris.

The Speaker, President and Vice President were all committed to comprehensive immigration reform, he said, while Ireland had raised the issue of an extension of the E3 visa programme to Ireland.

Mr Martin noted that Ms Pelosi had made time to visit Ireland in 2019 with the Friends of Ireland and knew the importance of underpinning the Good Friday Agreement in the context of Brexit.

The meeting with Ms Harris saw the inspiring introduction of the Frederick Douglass scholars, a number of young students from minority backgrounds in the US who will come to Ireland in the autumn to study, Mr Martin said.

But they also discussed a wide range of issues, from immigration reform to Brexit to climate change, climate security and Irelands work on the UN Security Council.
She's the bubbly Married At First Sight bride who was born into a wealthy family.

And Georgia Fairweather spared no expense when she threw a pink-themed viewing party for her television debut in Brisbane on Monday.

Georgia, 25, rented an entire cinema for a private screening with dozens of guests - and the only person missing was her husband Liam Cooper.

Lavish: Married At First Sight intruder Georgia Fairweather spared no expense when she threw a pink-themed viewing party for her television debut in Brisbane on Monday

The event was documented on Instagram by Georgia's friends, including her MAFS bridesmaids and business partner Laura Williams.

Georgia served expensive champagne and various desserts, including pink cupcakes with her face on top.

The blonde socialite wore a tight pink dress for the occasion, and looked glamorous with a full face of makeup.

Missing someone? Georgia, 25, rented an entire cinema for a private screening with dozens of guests - and the only person missing was her husband Liam Cooper

What a treat! Georgia served expensive champagne and various desserts, including pink cupcakes with her face on top

Company: The event was documented on Instagram by Georgia's friends, including her MAFS bridesmaids and business partner Laura Williams

Despite their chemistry at their wedding, viewers are convinced Georgia and Liam have parted ways since filming Nine's social experiment.

Perhaps the most telling sign they've split is the fact they watched their nuptials at viewing parties in different states.

While work commitments could be to blame, it's likely the pair would have made an effort to watch the show together if they were indeed still an item.

Miles apart: Meanwhile, Liam Cooper hosted his own viewing party in the Southern Highlands

Still taken? The 29-year-old prison case manager became emotional while watching the episode, and appeared to be wearing his wedding ring

Liam hosted his own gathering in the NSW Southern Highlands.

The 29-year-old prison case manager became emotional while watching the episode, and appeared to be wearing his wedding ring.

It comes after the pair appeared live on Today Extra on Tuesday morning, but Zoomed in from different locations.

Liam spoke from the Southern Highlands home, while Georgia was broadcasting from Nine's Brisbane studio.
Schools have been unable to avoid an 'epidemic of demotivated children' in lockdown, England's chief schools inspector said today.

Amanda Spielman told the conference of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) that young children have lost skills as basic as 'using a pencil' during months of home learning.

She added that some parents have simply not had the time to help their children focus on schoolwork during closures, which came to an end on March 8.

The Ofsted chief also said that shortening the summer holidays to help pupils catch up with schooling will only 'work well' if they are supported by parents so it does not feel like a 'punishment'.

Ms Speilman stressed that many parents are sceptical about shortening the summer break, as 'children need time with their grandparents' and friends after a year of restrictions.

Her comments came after Education Secretary Gavin Williamson confirmed that a change to the summer holidays and longer school days are being examined as part of long-term recovery plans for pupils.

This year, secondary schools are being asked to deliver summer schools as part of the Government's 1.7billion catch-up programme for children in England who have faced disruption due to the pandemic.

Amanda Spielman (seen above) told the Association of School and College Leaders that many parents are sceptical about shortening the summer break

Addressing the ASCL, Ms Spielman warned that attainment gaps could be widened if pupils most in need of help do not turn up for extra classes.

She said: 'I also believe that extensions of schooling will work well only if they're well supported by families so that they don't feel like a punishment for children or for their parents.'

On calls to shorten the summer holidays, Ms Spielman added: 'Parents know that after a year of heavy restrictions, children need time with their grandparents, with their friends, to get out of the house and enjoy themselves again.

'These are things that will help them learn well in school.

'So we really need to work with the grain. Without parental support the children who most need help may simply not turn up.

The Ofsted chief (seen today) said schools have not been able to 'avert an epidemic of demotivated children' in lockdown

Year 10 students wait to take a coronavirus test at the Harris Academy in Beckenham

'Or if they have to stay longer in the classroom they may switch off and then the extra time could be wasted. That risks widening gaps, not closing them.'

England's chief schools inspector also today warned against 'racing through subjects at pace' so everything is covered but 'little is covered well'.

Ms Spielman said: 'So this really is about schools and colleges making intelligent choices, not just cramming everything in.

'What do children and young people absolutely have to know? What are the building blocks that will help them move on to the next stage? What's less important?

'And crucially, how does this differ from subject to subject? The approach that works for history might not work for maths.

'Compromises will have to be made, but please don't assume that from our perspective, superficial but nominally complete is the way to go.'

Schools in England reopened for pupils of all age on March 8 following another lengthy break

Attendance is compulsory unless students are shielding, but Government figures show that 700,000 pupils are still yet to return to the classroom

During the speech to headteachers, Ms Spielman said almost every child, regardless of background, has been affected by school closures.

She said: 'Being cooped up for weeks and months on end has piled on the misery for otherwise sociable and active children.

'So many have been bored and lonely and getting very little exercise. Teachers have even reported to us young children losing very basic skills such as using a pencil.'

Ms Spielman added: 'With the best will in the world, schools haven't been able to avert an epidemic of demotivated children.'

Schools in England reopened for pupils of all ages on March 8 following another lengthy break.

Attendance is compulsory unless students are shielding, but Government figures show that 700,000 pupils are still yet to return to the classroom.

Ms Spielman said: 'It does feel as though education is on firmer ground this time.

'I'm sure that opening schools was absolutely the right decision for children. They've missed out on so much through these repeated lockdowns.'

Statistics from the Department for Education show that around 89 per cent of secondary school pupils were in class on March 15 - a week after secondary schools began to stagger the return of pupils for mass testing.

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson has confirmed that a change to the summer holidays and longer school days are being examined as part of long-term recovery plans for pupils

This number was much higher in primary schools, with 96 per cent of pupils attending class at the start of last week, falling to 94 per cent by March 15.

The Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) has warned that attendance levels will 'be bumpy' as pupils testing positive for Covid-19, and their close contacts, are still being sent home to self-isolate.

The data suggests more than 60,000 pupils were out of class last week as they were self-isolating due to a possible contact with a Covid case.

Millions of pupils in England began returning to class last week after months of remote education.

Secondary schools were given flexibility to stagger the return of their pupils last week, as these students are being asked to take voluntary Covid-19 tests on site as part of their return to class.

Overall, attendance in state schools steadily increased from 68 per cent on March 8 to 89 per cent on Thursday March 11.

The Department for Education (DfE) estimates that approximately 1 per cent of all state school pupils did not attend school for Covid-related reasons on Thursday last week.

This includes 33,000 pupils who have been self-isolating due to a potential contact with a Covid-19 case from inside the educational setting, and a further 31,000 pupils self-isolating due to a possible contact outside of school.

Meanwhile, 7,000 pupils were absent because they suspected they had Covid, 5,000 were off after testing positive for Covid, and 2,000 were absent as their school was closed due to Covid reasons.
Google co-founder Sergey Brin loves airships. He loves them so much that his 2012 debut for Google Glass (RIP) involved a skydiving stunt where a team of jumpers leaped out of a zeppelin floating over downtown San Francisco. So it may come as no surprise that since stepping away from Google, the ninth richest person in the worlds focus has been on exactly that: building a giant sky yacht.

Media first caught wind of Brins massive airship project inside the NASA Ames Research Center in Mountain View in 2017. At the time, it was all very secretive, but in the past few years, more details have emerged  and a few weeks ago, a job listing for Brins airship company, LTA Research and Exploration (LTA stands for Lighter Than Air) revealed even more, according to TechCrunch. Heres everything we know about Brins airships.

He wants to use the airships for humanitarian aid

Although back in 2017 the word on the street was that Brin intended the aircraft to serve at least in part as a luxurious air yacht for his family and friends, the LTA website states only humanitarian goals: LTA airships will have the ability to complement  and even speed up  humanitarian disaster response and relief efforts, especially in remote areas that cannot be easily accessed by plane and boat due to limited or destroyed infrastructure.

Unlike jet planes, airships have the ability to land or deliver goods almost anywhere.

In addition, the LTA site says that their airships are intended to serve as a zero emissions alternative to airplanes, used for both shipping goods and moving people. Climate change has made airships sound more appealing to scientists in recent years  while slower than airplanes, airships are faster than cargo ships and have fewer emissions than both boats and planes. In fact, airships produce 80% to 90% fewer emissions than conventional aircraft.

They're going to be huge  and they're not going to be cheap

Its going to be massive on a grand scale, a source told the Guardian in 2017, estimating that Brins airship would be about 650 feet long.

At this size, the flying machine would definitely be the worlds largest aircraft today  although it would still be smaller than the ill-fated Hindenburg zeppelin of the 1930s, which was 804 feet long. For context, thats more than three times the length of a Boeing 747 and more than four times the length of your typical Goodyear Blimp.

The same source also told the Guardian that the airship would cost Brin as much as $150 million to construct. He currently has a net worth of more than $86 billion.

Kimberly White/Getty Images for Breakthrough Prize

Brins airships will run on hydrogen

Hydrogen got a bad reputation from the Hindenburg disaster, when a hydrogen-filled German passenger airship caught fire during its attempt to dock in New Jersey in 1937, killing 36 people. Following that disaster, most airships turned to nonflammable helium as a lifting gas, even though hydrogen is much cheaper than helium and provides more than 10% more lift. But Brin embraces hydrogen.

For its newest airship, LTA is using the material  not for buoyant lift as in the catastrophic Hindenburg, but as fuel to avoid carrying heavy lithium-ion batteries. The resulting airship would still use the traditional helium to provide lift.

A recent job description posted on the LTA website revealed the companys plans to build a 1.5-megawatt hydrogen fuel cell propulsion system (fuel cells combine hydrogen and oxygen to produce water and electricity, and are often compared to batteries).

Where we could go something like 125 miles with batteries, we should be able to go nearly 1,000 miles using hydrogen, professor Dr. Josef Kallo of the German Aerospace Center told TechCrunch.

Such a power system would more efficiently meet LTAs humanitarian goals, allowing its airship to carry more cargo and endure longer range missions.

Meanwhile, 1.5 megawatts would make LTAs airship the largest ever hydrogen fuel cell to fly. The record is currently held by ZeroAvias small passenger plane, which is powered by a 0.25-megawatt system.

One airship has already been built

LTAs first prototype airship, called Pathfinder 1, could be ready to take to the air from Silicon Valley as soon as this year, TechCrunch reports. According to the Daily Beast, LTA registered Pathfinder 1, which will be powered by 12 electric motors and able to carry 14 people, in 2019.

That makes it about the same size as the 246-foot-long Zeppelin NT, which offers sightseeing tours in Germany and Switzerland and is the only passenger airship currently operating. And yes, you can still do this  a ticket for a 45-minute tour costs about $450.

The flight of LTAs first fuel cell-powered airship, however, is likely still a ways off, as such an airship has yet to be registered with the Federal Aviation Administration.

---

Brins company has certainly grabbed a lot of headlines, but lets not forget that this is not the first time airships have been flown in California. In 2008, a company called Airship Ventures began offering sightseeing rides of a 12-passenger Zeppelin NT at Moffett Federal Airfield near Mountain View. The aircraft cruised at 35 to 40 mph and offered views of Wine Country, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Portland and Seattle. The company folded in 2012 due to the lack of a long-term sponsor and a world helium shortage.

While Brins airship objectives seem strictly humanitarian, LTA also has the potential to renew interest in airships for passenger travel  particularly among climate change-conscious travelers. Floating to your destination might be a slower ride, but something about an air yacht sounds awfully relaxing.

Sergey Brin could not be reached for comment for this story.
Lucknow, March 17 : Despite surge in the number of Covid-19 cases in the state, the Yogi Adityanath government has ruled out any night curfew and lockdown in any part of the state.

UP Health Minister Jai Pratap Singh said that the government machinery is concentrating more on the preventive steps like focus and contact/target testing to arrest the cases before it takes an alarming proposition.

He said that the Integrated Control and Command Centre of the Health department has been put on the high alert to monitor the situation.

"In view of Holi festival, air travellers and other passengers coming from outside will be tested at the airport, railway platforms and bus stations. Directions have been issued to make micro containment zones within an area of 250 metres even if one case was reported from any part," he said.

He said that the situation in Uttar Pradesh is not as alarming as in other states so there is no need to impose any night curfew or lockdown.

People in the state, however, are being advised to follow the Covid-19 protocol and guidelines.

The police and district authorities have been directed to ensure that people wear masks when in the public and maintain social distancing.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has asked health officials to adopt a two-pronged strategy to deal with the surge in Covid-19 cases.

He has directed the health department not only to launch a 15-day focus testing drive and step up contact testing, but also set a target of 10 million vaccinations by March 31 to check the spread of the deadly virus.

In the last 24 hours, 42 cases have been reported from Prayagraj and 28 cases from Lucknow.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks at the opening of the Conservative Political Action Conference at the Hyatt Regency in Orlando, Fla., on Feb. 26, 2021. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

DeSantis Rejects Sen. Scotts Calls for Florida to Return Surplus Relief Funds

'Doesn't make any sense,' DeSantis says of Scott's advice

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis rejected calls from a fellow Republican, Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.), to return funds in excess of COVID-19-related costs that are being handed out to state and local governments under the $1.9 trillion relief package, funds that Scott has denounced as bonus cash to plug budget holes.

It doesnt make any sense, DeSantis told Politico on March 16, in response to a question about Scotts suggestion to give back to the federal government money over and above what would reimburse actual expenses incurred by Florida in its COVID-19 response.

If Florida were to send the money back, [Treasury Secretary Janet] Yellen is going to send it to Illinois, California, New York, or New Jersey, DeSantis said. I dont think that would make sense for Floridiansfor us to be giving even more money to the blue states that are already getting such a big windfall in this bill.

A vocal critic of the American Rescue Act, Scott wrote an open letter to governors and mayors across the United States on the day that House Democrats passed the rescue billwithout a single Republican vote. Scott urged the officials to reject and return any federal funding in excess of their federally-reimbursable COVID-19 related expenses, arguing that this would serve the best interests of hard-working American taxpayers and will send a clear message to Washington: politicians in Congress should quit recklessly spending other peoples money.

The Republican senator, who is said to be considering a 2024 presidential run, acknowledged that the federal government has an important role to play in helping local governments offset the costs of the response to COVID-19.

However, American taxpayer dollars should not be used as bonus cash to plug budget holes caused by decades of poor fiscal management. This is not a taxpayer-funded bailout; it is a reimbursement for specific, COVID-related expenses, Scott wrote.

He criticized that the American Rescue Plan dedicates less than 10 percent of its funding to actually fight COVID-19 and said that, under the bill, state and local governments are set to receive an additional $360 billion in taxpayer dollars, wholly unrelated to responding to the pandemic.

The call to reject the funds was in character for Scott, who has a history of turning down federal money. When he served as governor of Florida, Scott refused to let the state accept federal funds to expand Medicaid health care coverage under Obamacare.

DeSantis, however, has already outlined his plans for spending what could be as much as $10 billion earmarked for Florida under the American Rescue Plan. In a March 16 letter to legislative leaders (pdf), DeSantis provided a list of line items, including some $208 million in bonuses to first responders who have been on the front lines of the pandemic fight, $56 million for reemployment assistance operations, around $3 billion in various infrastructure, resiliency, and emergency response initiatives, and $10 million for Alzheimers disease research.

We are certain that appropriations are eligible to be made to deliver meaningful relief to Floridians and businesses and to protect the states fiscal health, DeSantis wrote.

He also complained that, because Congress decided to distribute the funds according to unemployment levels, rather than population, Florida isnt getting its fair share.

Congress is punishing states like Florida who successfully managed the COVID-19 pandemic and rejected life-ruining school closures and lockdowns, DeSantis wrote.

Our economic comeback is strong, and our unemployment rate reflects our prudent approach.

At a March 15 press conference, DeSantis blamed the Senateand implicitly its Republican members like Scottfor not fighting to amend the bills appropriations mechanism that he said is unfair to Florida.

The Senate didnt correct the fact that Florida is getting a lot less than what we would be entitled to on a per capita basis, DeSantis said, according to the Palm Beach Post.

DeSantis and Scott have been at odds on a number of issues, with the governor blaming the senator for problems with Floridas unemployment system, which was developed when Scott held the states top office.
The first known interstellar object to pass through our solar system is likely a piece of a Pluto-like planet from another solar system, according to a new study published as a pair of papers today in the Journal of Geophysical Research Planets.

AGU's journal for research on the formation and evolution of the planets, moons and objects of our solar system and beyond.



The results may help scientists learn about the stuff exoplanets are made of and the evolution of solar systems beyond our own.



"This research is exciting in that we've probably resolved the mystery of what 'Oumuamua is and we can reasonably identify it as a chunk of an 'exo-Pluto,' a Pluto-like planet in another solar system," said Steven Desch, an astrophysicist at Arizona State University and an author of the new study. "Until now, we've had no way to know if other solar systems have Pluto-like planets, but now we have seen a chunk of one pass by Earth."



Discovered in 2017 via the Pan-STARRS astronomical observatory in Hawaii, 1I/2017 U1 'Oumuamua, meaning 'scout' or 'messenger' in Hawaiian, hurtled past at 87.3 kilometers per second (196,000 miles per hour). The weirdly flat object was like a comet, but with features that were just odd enough to defy classification.

'Oumuamua's characteristics suggest it is likely made of solid nitrogen, like the surface of Pluto, according to the authors.



"It was likely knocked off the surface by an impact about half a billion years ago and thrown out of its parent system," said Alan Jackson, an astronomer and planetary scientist at Arizona State University and a coauthor of the new study. Jackson is presenting the research this week at the 52nd Lunar and Planetary Sciences Conference.



'Oumuamua likely wasn't flat when it entered our solar system, but melted away to a sliver, losing more than 95% of its mass, during its close encounter with the Sun, according to Jackson.



"Being made of frozen nitrogen also explains the unusual shape of 'Oumuamua. As the outer layers of nitrogen ice evaporated, the shape of the body would have become progressively more flattened, just like a bar of soap does as the outer layers get rubbed off through use," Jackson said.



Like a comet, but not



From observations of the object, Desch and Jackson determined several characteristics of the object that differed from what would be expected from a comet.

The object entered the solar system at a velocity a bit lower than would be expected, indicating that it had not been traveling in interstellar space for more than a billion years or so.



Its pancake shape was also more flattened than any other known solar system object.



The object acquired a slight push away from the Sun, a 'rocket effect' common in comets as sunlight vaporizes the ices they are made of, but the push was stronger than could be accounted for.



Finally, the object lacked a detectable escaping gas, which is usually depicted visibly by a comet's tail.



"In many ways 'Oumuamua resembled a comet, but it was peculiar enough in several ways that mystery surrounded its nature, and speculation ran rampant about what it was," Desch said.



In all, the object was very much like a comet, but unlike any comet that had ever been observed in the solar system.



Desch and Jackson hypothesized the object was made of different ices and calculated how quickly these ices would sublimate (passing from a solid to a gas) as 'Oumuamua passed by the Sun. From there, they calculated the rocket effect, the object's mass and shape, and the reflectivity of the ices.



"That was an exciting moment for us," Desch said. "We realized that a chunk of ice would be much more reflective than people were assuming, which meant it could be smaller. The same rocket effect would then give 'Oumuamua a bigger push, bigger than comets usually experience."



Chip off a Pluto-like block



Desch and Jackson found one ice in particularsolid nitrogenthat provided an exact match to all the object's features simultaneously. And since solid nitrogen ice can be seen on the surface of Pluto, it is possible that a comet-like object could be made of the same material.



"We knew we had hit on the right idea when we completed the calculation for what albedo (how reflective the body is) would make the motion of 'Oumuamua' match the observations," Jackson said. "That value came out as being the same as we observe on the surface of Pluto or Triton, bodies covered in nitrogen ice."

Desch and Jackson calculated the rate at which chunks of solid nitrogen ice would have been knocked off the surfaces of Pluto and similar bodies early in our solar system's history. And they calculated the probability that chunks of solid nitrogen ice from other solar systems would reach ours.



Although 'Oumuamua's comet-like nature was quickly recognized, the inability to immediately explain it in detail led to speculation that it is a piece of alien technology.



"Everybody is interested in aliens, and it was inevitable that this first object outside the solar system would make people think of aliens," Desch said. "But it's important in science not to jump to conclusions. It took two or three years to figure out a natural explanationa chunk of nitrogen icethat matches everything we know about 'Oumuamua. That's not that long in science, and far too soon to say we had exhausted all natural explanations."



Although there is no evidence that it is alien technology, as a fragment of a Pluto-like planet, 'Oumuamua has provided scientists with a special opportunity to look at extrasolar systems in a way that they have not been able to before. As more objects like 'Oumuamua are found and studied, scientists can continue to expand our understanding of what other planetary systems are like and the ways in which they are similar to, or different from, our own solar system.



Desch and Jackson hope that future telescopes, like those at the Vera Rubin Observatory/Large Synoptic Survey Telescope in Chile, which will be able to survey the entire Southern sky on a regular basis, will be able to start finding even more interstellar objects that they and other scientists can use to further test their ideas.



"It's hoped that in a decade or so we can acquire statistics on what sorts of objects pass through the solar system, and if nitrogen ice chunks are rare or as common as we've calculated," Jackson said. "Either way, we should be able to learn a lot about other solar systems, and whether they underwent the same sorts of collisional histories that ours did."



AGU (www.agu.org) supports 130,000 enthusiasts to experts worldwide in Earth and space sciences. Through broad and inclusive partnerships, we advance discovery and solution science that accelerate knowledge and create solutions that are ethical, unbiased and respectful of communities and their values. Our programs include serving as a scholarly publisher, convening virtual and in-person events and providing career support. We live our values in everything we do, such as our net zero energy renovated building in Washington, D.C. and our Ethics and Equity Center, which fosters a diverse and inclusive geoscience community to ensure responsible conduct.



Notes for Journalists

The two research papers will be free available for 30 days. Neither papers, nor this press release, are under embargo.



Paper titles:

"1I/'Oumuamua as an N2 ice fragment of an exo-Pluto surface: I. Size and Compositional Constraints" Download a PDF copy of the paper here.



"1I/'Oumuamua as an N2 ice fragment of an exo-pluto surface II: Generation of N2 ice fragments and the origin of 'Oumuamua" Download a PDF copy of the paper here.



Authors:

Alan P. Jackson and Steven J. Desch, School of Earth and Space Exploration, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona

Please follow SpaceRef on Twitter and Like us on Facebook.
Chandigarh, March 17 : Haryana Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala on Wednesday informed the assembly that the matching grants for modernising village 'chaupals' would be increased.

Replying to a question, he said former Deputy Prime Minister Chaudhary Devi Lal had started providing matching grants for the 'chaupals' in Haryana during his stint as the Chief Minister.

He said modern community centres are being built by some panchayats with their own funds.

"The government wants to make the panchayats self-reliant so that the gram panchayats are competent enough to initiate the developmental works," he said.

Chautala said the state would encourage the community centres construction by increasing the matching grant.

In response to another question, the Deputy Chief Minister said the state government has increased the annual income limit from Rs 1.20 lakh to Rs 1.80 lakh for below poverty line (BPL) families in December 2019.

"The government is committed to strengthen and uplift the economic condition of the poor," he added.
Subscriber content preview

By DEE-ANN DURBIN

AP Business Writer

There's something missing from a new wave of bars opening around the world: Alcohol.

Aimed at the growing number of people exploring sobriety, the bars pour adult drinks like craft cocktails without the booze. At 0% Non-Alcohol Experience, a futuristic bar in Tokyo, patrons can sip a mix of non-alcoholic white wine, sake and cranberries from a sugar-rimmed glass. On a recent evening at Sans Bar in Austin, Texas, customers gathered at outdoor tables, enjoying live music, bottles of alcohol-free IPA and drinks like the watermelon mockarita, which is made with a tequila alternative.





. . .
Irans civil aviation body has blamed a mistake by an air-defense operator for the downing of a Ukrainian passenger airliner last year that killed all 176 people on board.

"The plane was identified as a hostile target due to a mistake by the air defense operator...near Tehran and two missiles were fired at it," the Civil Aviation Organization said in its final report into the incident released on March 17.

The flight operation of the Ukrainian plane did not play a role in the crash, the report said.

The Ukraine International Airlines flight was downed by surface-to-air missiles shortly after takeoff from Tehran on January 8, 2020.

After days of official denials following the crash, Iran admitted that its forces had inadvertently shot down the Kyiv-bound plane amid heightened tensions with the United States.

The flight was downed the same night that Iran launched ballistic-missile attacks at bases housing U.S. soldiers in Iraq in response to a U.S. drone strike in Baghdad that killed top Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) commander, Major General Qasem Soleimani.

In the final report, the Civil Aviation Organization described a "chain of errors," including a communication lapse between the air defense system and its command center that led the unit to fire on the plane without receiving an order. It does not directly mention the IRGCs role in shooting down the Ukrainian airliner.

Iranian President Hassan Rohani has repeatedly promised that those responsible for the tragedy would face trial, but it is unclear what, if any, action the judiciary has taken. Iran has also allocated $150,000 for the families of each of the victims.

The majority of the victims were Iranians and Canadians, but Afghans, Britons, Swedes, and Ukrainians were also among the dead.

The Ukrainian and Canadian governments have questioned Irans claims that the jet downing was accidental and criticized a lack of transparency.

In response to the report, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba called it a cynical attempt by the Iranian authorities to cover up the incident.

"What we saw in the published report today is nothing more than a cynical attempt to hide the true reasons for the downing of our plane," Kuleba wrote on Facebook. "We will not allow Iran to hide the truth, we will not allow it to avoid responsibility for this crime."

In February, a UN special rapporteur accused Iran of misleading denials and inadequate investigations into the tragedy.

"The inconsistencies in the official explanations seem designed to create a maximum of confusion and a minimum of clarity," Agnes Callamard, a special rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary, or arbitrary executions, said in a report following an inquiry into the issue. "They seem contrived to mislead and bewilder."

With reporting by Radio Farda and Reuters
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Truck-Fest is going on now at Brandon Ford in Tampa, Florida. Our Truck-Fest event is a one-of-a-kind event that brings people in from all over Florida. Nothing is off limits, everything is discounted. Its our way of thanking our customers for all of their support. Tom Murray of Brandon Ford

Brandon Ford, a dealership in Tampa, Florida, was recently named the new Ford retail sales leader for 2020 by Ford, an achievement the dealership is looking to celebrate in a big way.

More specifically, Brandon Ford is celebrating this achievement by putting on its Truck-Fest event, which is going on now through the end of March, and features discounts on around 1,000 new Ford trucks, including the new Ford F-150 lineup, the new Ford Super Duty lineup, the new Ford Ranger lineup and more.

Brandon Ford has always had a strong commitment to its customers, and that commitment has seen the dealership increase its inventory over the years in an effort to ensure customers can always find the exact make and model for which theyre looking.

That commitment extends to helping customers before they step foot on the Brandon Ford lot. In fact, the Brandon Ford website houses the informative Brandon Ford Blog, which features posts related to all of the latest news and notes about new Ford models, and the Brandon Ford model information page, which features model-specific research pages so customers can learn all they need to know about any new Ford model in which they might be interested.

Once a customer figures out which new Ford model theyd like to see, theyre encouraged to come celebrate with Brandon Ford during Truck-Fest.

Our Truck-Fest event is a one-of-a-kind event that brings people in from all over Florida, said Tom Murray of Brandon Ford. Nothing is off limits, everything is discounted. Its our way of thanking our customers for all of their support.

More information about Brandon Ford and the Truck-Fest event can be found on the dealerships website at http://www.brandonford.com. Customers can direct any questions they may have to the friendly and knowledgeable Brandon Ford staff by calling 813-246-3673 or by emailing Tom Murray at tom@brandonford.com. Brandon Ford is located at 9090 Adamo Drive in Tampa.
Kathmandu, February 27

The Ministry of Health and Population has informed that the countrys Covid-19 tally has reached 274,065 as of Saturday afternoon.

The ministry says 81 new cases were confirmed in the country in the past 24 hours.

In this period, 2,824 swab samples were tested. So far, 2 million and 160,404 people have been tested in the country.

As of today, 967 cases are active.

Of the total cases so far, 270,325 people have achieved recovery whereas 2,773 died, according to the ministry. In the past 24 hours, 62 people have been discharged whereas two deaths have been reported.

Over 50 people are quarantined across the country.
What started as a simple debate for the second reading of a bill soon turned into a rowdy session at the Senate on Wednesday.

Some lawmakers lost their cool in a heated argument and were forced to go into an executive session to calm their nerves and resolve the issue at hand.

It began when the Senate Minority Leader, Enyinnaya Abaribe (PDP, Abia South), presented the lead debate of a bill for the Establishment of the Armed Forces Commission 2021 for second reading.

The bill was read for the first time in the Senate in March 2020.

The bill, he said, seeks to, among other things, address the lopsided appointment of heads of security agencies by the president.

This comes barely a month after the Senate confirmed the new set of service chiefs appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The bill

In his debate, Mr Abaribe said the function and powers of the Commission shall be to ensure that the composition or appointment of Service Chiefs of the Armed Forces reflects the federal character of Nigeria in the manner prescribed in section 217(3) of the 1999 Constitution.

It will also recommend to the president from among the best and most qualified, most educated and most experienced members of the Armed Forces for appointment as Chief of Defence Staff, Chief of Army Staff, Chief of Air Staff, Chief of Naval Staff, Director of Military Intelligence, and Heads of other Arms-bearing Security Agencies and ensure that such appointments reflect the federal character of Nigeria.

This bill also seeks to get the National Assembly to give effect to the clear provisions of section 219 of the Constitution.

The Armed Forces of Nigeria is a national institution of Nigeria that should be insulated by the vagaries of political divisions and therefore the framers of the constitution in their wisdom inserted this section to prevent a situation where our National symbol of unity and strength could be sacrificed on the altar of political temperament.

This Bill seeks to establish the Armed Forces Services Commission to ensure that the composition/appointment of Service Chiefs of the Armed Forces of the Federation reflects Federal Character of Nigeria in the manner prescribed in section 217 (3) of the 1999 Constitution, he said.

The commission, he said, will also have powers to recommend officers for promotion or removal as the case may be.

Contributions

About 13 lawmakers thereafter took turns to deliberate upon the bill. While some supported the legislation, others rejected it outright.

ID Gyang (PDP, Plateau North) was the first to support the bill. The proposed commission, he said, does not offend the constitution. And the principle of upholding federal character will strengthen the unity of Nigeria.

Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central) noted that Section 219 of the constitution is clear and does not stop the National Assembly from seeking the establishment of a commission.

Yes, there is an Army and Navy council. Let this National Assembly take the decision that representatives of the council shall become members of the commission, he said.

Those who may not want a standardized process of recruitment cannot run away from the fact that such decisions will be shrouded in secrecy.

We have a National Assembly Service Commission, Civil Service Commission, Police Service Commission, why are we run-in away from an Armed Forces commission?

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The Senate Leader, Abdullahi Yahaya, also supported the bill, stating that it stands on very solid constitutional ground and it is the duty of the Senate to provide an institution.

Senators Emmanuel Bwacha (Taraba), Chukwuka Utazi (Enugu) and James Manager (Delta) all spoke in support of the bill.

On the opposing side was Francis Alimekhena (APC, Edo North) who said the bill will create disunity in the operation of the Armed Forces.

The commission cannot take the function of the service chiefs and the Armed Forces will be caged. The service chiefs are in the best position to know the officers to recommend for promotion and so on. I urge the sponsor to look at it again, he said.

Ibrahim Oloriegbe (APC, Kwara Central) also opposed the bill, stating that the commission will be a mere creation of a bureaucratic set up and will not let the Armed Forces do what they are supposed to do.

Abdullahi Adamu (APC, Nasarawa West) questioned why Mr Abaribe chose to bring up the bill at this time.

This is the worst period, after the Biafran war which overstretched the unity of the armed forces, to bring it up, he said.

His comment stirred uproar in the chamber for some seconds.

The appointment of the current service chiefs gave birth to this bill. It amounts to almost blackmailing the National Assembly. The sponsor has been a senator long enough, why now? The timing is wrong, he continued.

Senators Adamu Aliero (Kebbi), Adamu Bulkachuwa (Bauchi) and Danjuma Goje (Gombe) all spoke against the bill and asked the sponsor to drop it.

They said the bill will not only compromise the integrity and neutrality of the Armed Forces but also undermine the constitution.

Then came the drama

After the debate ,which lasted for about an hour, the question for the bill to be read the second time was put to vote by the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan.

After a voice vote, with resounding ayes and nays, Mr Lawan ruled against the bill.

A seemingly unsatisfied Mr Abaribe thereafter stood up and called for physical voting by all lawmakers, invoking Order 73 of the Senate Standing Rule, to back his demand.

The Order permits for a physical vote on an issue should a lawmaker be unsatisfied with the ruling and/or opinion of the Senate President or chairman of the plenary.

This launched the chamber into a rowdy session as many lawmakers opposed the order. This was followed by a moment of verbal exchange between the Messrs Lawan, Omo-Agege and a few others.

For about ten minutes, the lawmakers were seen moving from one seat to another arguing inaudibly with Mr Abaribe insisting that everyone present must get up and vote.

In a bid to calm the angry lawmakers and resolve the issue, Mr Lawan called for an executive session.

An appeal

The meeting behind closed doors lasted for about 25 minutes after which Mr Lawan announced that the Senate had reviewed the issue and various factors including the national interest. This time, the chamber was calm.

We have agreed that the senate will work together in a nonpartisan manner and we have appealed to the Minority Leader to withdraw the Order 73.

We have also appealed that he should withdraw the billhe or any other lawmaker can bring it up in the future, the Senate President said.

The Minority Leader thereafter, withdrew the Standing Order and stood down the bill to review it and present it another time.

The Senate Spokesperson, Ajibola Basiru, had described the event of the day as a proof of maturity and democracy in the Senate and the National Assembly in general.
It was reported last month that they have grown close during filming for the thriller Fresh.

And Daisy Edgar-Jones was out and about shooting more scenes for the film with her co-star Sebastian Stan in Vancouver, Canada, on Tuesday.

The Normal People sensation, 22, wore a girly pink dress as she stepped out for her day at work, while Sebastian was also seen on set.

Work: Daisy Edgar-Jones was out and about in a pink dress shooting more scenes for the film Fresh with her co-star Sebastian Stan in Vancouver, Canada, on Tuesday

The brunette beauty completed her look with comfy white trainers and wore a protective face mask between scenes.

She then changed into a much more casual ensemble of tracksuit bottoms, a tie dye T-shirt and Ugg boots as she carried around her script.

Meanwhile Romanian-born hunk Sebastian, 38, looked relaxed in a dark grey jumper and navy chinos.

Leading man: Meanwhile Romanian-born hunk Sebastian, 38, looked relaxed in a dark grey jumper and navy chinos

Star: The brunette beauty completed her look with comfy white trainers and wore a protective face mask between scenes

Not much is known about Daisy's upcoming social thriller Fresh, as the studio is currently keeping details about the plot under wraps.

The new film will be directed by Mimi Cave and is based on Lauryn Kahn's script, reports Variety.

Earlier this month, the British actress was spotted shooting passionate kissing scenes with co-star Sebastian on the streets of Vancouver.

The co-stars were also spotted enjoying a day off together at the start of March, with them going sightseeing before stopping for a glass of wine.

Change: Daisy then changed into a much more casual ensemble of tracksuit bottoms, a tie dye T-shirt and Ugg boots as she carried around her script

And while their characters enjoy a romance onscreen, The Sun reports that the screen stars have become good friends away from rolling cameras.

A source told the publication: 'Sebastian has told friends that he thinks Daisy's a bright spark and set for a massive career in Hollywood. He can't believe she's so young as she's so talented and mature. They get on really well.'

A source close to Daisy, who continues to fly high on the success of her BBC drama Normal People, also told The Sun: 'They're colleagues and mates.'

Close: Earlier this month, the British actress was spotted shooting passionate kissing scenes with co-star Sebastian (pictured) on the streets of Vancouver

MailOnline contacted Daisy and Sebastian's representatives at the time.

It comes after Daisy last month split with boyfriend Tom Varey, 29, whom she met in 2018, on the set of their film Pond Life.

A source told Page Six: 'They got on really well during lockdown last year, but they're both young and passionate about following their careers.

'Daisy has been inundated with opportunities and feels she has to put them first, Tom's also really dedicated to his acting and wants the best for both of them. They were sad they couldn't make it work, but are still close and there's no hard feelings.'

Daisy shot to fame with her role as Marianne in the coming-of-age drama Normal People, based on the 2018 novel of the same name by Sally Rooney.

The British actress recently landed her first Golden Globe and Critics' Choice Awards nominations for the role, but lost out to the Queen's Gambit's Anya Taylor-Joy.
(Newser)  Disneyland and California Adventure plan to end their lockdown of more than a year on April 30. "It's been a long, long time since we've been able to create magic for our guests," said chief executive Bob Chapek, "and put our cast members back to work and help the associated businesses around the Anaheim area that currently depend on Disneyland for their livelihood." The parks will have to operate at no more than 15% capacity and follow state health guidelines, NPR reports. Social distancing and masks for anyone over age 2 will be required, and changes will be made to reduce contact with people and surfaces. "Beloved characters will pop up in new ways and sometimes in unexpected places as they remain mindful of physical distancing," says a post on the official Disney Parks Blog. "Certain experiences that draw large group gatheringssuch as parades and nighttime spectacularswill return at a later date."

story continues below

Only California residents will be allowed in the parks, and the company said reopening will put about 10,000 people back to work. A state trade group has added its own recommendations, such as changing the seating on rides. Among the risky behaviors it warns visitors against to avoid spreading the coronavirus is screamingon rides or as a time-tested means of locating someone in the parks. Singing might be out, too, per the BBC. On Disney blogs, fans are debating whether it's possible to stifle a scream while plunging on a roller coaster and picturing silent rides. A trade group in Japan urged a similar ban there, per the Orange County Register. One park asked roller coaster patrons to just "scream inside your heart." (Disneyland plans other changes.)
Australians could end up paying more for airfares with Qantas now having 90 per cent of the regional airline market.

While flights between Sydney and Melbourne are now cheap as competition heats up, Qantas services from regional coastal towns to Byron Bay are expensive with some flights costing more than $700.

Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce in October bragged the flying kangaroo's market share would surge as its rival Virgin Australia downsized to survive the Covid pandemic.

'In fact, over time, our domestic market share is likely to increase organically from around 60 per cent to around 70 per cent, as our main competitor changes its strategy,' he told shareholders.

As of December 2020, Qantas's market share across Australia had grown to 74 per cent - even better than the 70 per cent figure Mr Joyce boasted about just five months ago, an Australian Competition and Consumer Commission report revealed on Wednesday.

Australians could end up paying more for airfares with Qantas now having up to 90 per cent of the regional airline market

In the regional-to-regional destinations space, Qantas has a 90 per cent market share.

Smaller rival Rex has diverted resources to the more lucrative Sydney to Melbourne route, leaving Qantas with a landslide slice of services outside of the capital cities.

Rex accused Qantas of predatory behaviour as the flying kangaroo carrier introduced new regional services that weren't its traditional domain.

The competition regulator acknowledged this was an issue that needed to be monitored.

'The ACCC will continue to monitor the market and, in particular, as the industry stabilises, we will be alert to any conduct that may raise competition concerns,' it said.

Illustrating this, a Qantas flight between the NSW north coast cities of Port Macquarie and Ballina near Byron Bay, via a loop back to Sydney, costs $647.

Rival Rex offers a $621 flight but travellers have to stay overnight in Sydney, with Qantas offering a lot more services simply because Rex doesn't have access to as many terminals at Sydney airport.

This was something the ACCC pointed out, after Rex started Sydney to Melbourne flights in March.

While flights between Sydney and Melbourne are now cheap as competition heats up, Qantas services from regional towns to Byron Bay are expensive with some flights costing more $700

Pricey Qantas flights Port Macquarie to Ballina: $647 Merimbula to Ballina: $716 Brisbane to Mount Isa: $971 Advertisement

'While historically it has been difficult for a new entrant to compete long-term against incumbents on the major city routes, Rex is building from a large and established regional network it has been operating since 2002,' it said.

'A key issue in Rex's expansion will be its ability to access future take-off and landing slots at Sydney Airport.'

Flying from Merimbula on the NSW south coast to Ballina costs $716.

Services from capital cities to regional areas is also expensive.

A Qantas flight from Brisbane to Mount Isa service costs $971.

A Qantas flight from Sydney to Maroochydore on the Sunshine Coast is $283.

New South Wales Deputy Premier John Barilaro, who is also Nationals leader, in February blasted Qantas for encroaching into regional routes, causing Rex to divert resources to more lucrative services between capital cities instead of regional towns and centres.

Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce in October bragged the flying kangaroo's market share would surge as its rival Virgin Australia downsized to survive the Covid pandemic

New South Wales Deputy Premier John Barilaro, who is also Nationals leader, in February blasted Qantas for encroaching into regional routes, causing Rex to divert resources to more lucrative services between capital cities instead of regional towns and centres

'Qantas, the self-proclaimed "Spirit of Australia", is the first to pull on our patriotic heartstrings but in the same breath sabotages a rival airline, failing to consider the long-term impact on regional communities who depend on vital air services for travel, freight and connectivity,' he said in February.

Mr Barilaro hinted Qantas was out to kill its competitor in regional areas.

'Qantas seems motivated only by its own narrow commercial interest, not what is in the best interest of the community,' he said.

For now, the travelling public has benefited as new carrier Rex offered $49 flights on the Melbourne to Sydney route.

'Rex's entry has created further competition on Australia's busiest route, MelbourneSydney, and consumers have already benefitted from lower airfares,' the ACCC said.

Virgin matched the price while Jetstar, the budget subsidiary of Qantas, offered $29 fares.

Rex will soon fly to Adelaide, Canberra and the Gold Coast.

From April 1, Australians will be able to buy 800,000 half-price airline tickets to 13 popular destinations including the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast, and more out-of-the way places such as Alice Springs, Kangaroo Island and Broome.

Travellers will be required to travel interstate - something out of reach for months because of border closures - as part of the $1.2billion federal government subsidy package for the Covid-hit aviation and tourism sectors.

Rex will soon fly to Adelaide, Canberra and the Gold Coast (Surfers Paradise pictured). From April 1, Australians will be able to buy 800,000 half-price airline tickets to 13 popular destinations including the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast, and more out-of-the way places such as Alice Springs, Kangaroo Island and Broome

Fat Prophets head of research Greg Smith warned that after the taxpayer subsidies ended on July 31, domestic and international airfares could surge by 20 per cent on pre-Covid levels.

This is because the scheme will likely allow Qantas to claw back revenue lost during the pandemic, giving it a greater market dominance over its rivals - and putting it in a better position to increase prices later.

'I don't think there's going to be a price war, if anything it's going to go the other way,' Mr Smith told Daily Mail Australia.

'You could expect ticket prices to sort of go up, potentially 10 to 20 per cent - there's going to be a lot of pent-up demand.'

Talking to IANS, association President C. Easwaran said: "We demand a total ban on the export of yarn and fabric from our country and to bring them under the Essential Commodities Act, otherwise the Tiruppur garment industry will turn into a memory."

Chennai: The South Indian Hosiery Manufacturer Association has called upon the Centre to ban the export of yarn and fabric and bring yarn under the Essential Commodities Act.

The Tiruppur exporters forum had called for a one-day strike in the garment industry on Monday against the hike in yarn prices and the non-availability of raw materials. The strike was supported by 30 industrial associations of Tiruppur and eight trade unions.

Tiruppur Exporters Association President Raja M. Shanmugham told IANS that the strike was to highlight the plight of the industry to the authorities. "The yarn prices are at an all-time high and the raw material is not delivered on time."

"The high yarn prices coupled with non-delivery of the raw material on time is affecting our garment industry and there is nothing which we can do other than shutting down the companies."

The representatives of the industry and the trade unions also informed the District Collector of the dire situation the industry is facing.

Major international brands are outsourcing their work to the Tiruppur garment industry and the non-delivery of the finished materials in time will lead to loss of major orders, thus affecting the garment industry.

Shanmugham said: "There are more than 10,000 workers and allied staff who are employed at the Tiruppur garment industry. If there is no proper intervention in the price of yarn, the industry will be shut down and these workers will lose their jobs."

The price of yarns has gone up since December 2020 and generally the price stabilises after a couple of days, but this time the price has not come down, he added.


A deadly hospital superbug that's been sweeping the globe has been found 'in the wild' for the first time, scientists reveal.

Candida auris, a species of fungus, was found on a sandy beach and tidal swamp in a remote coastal wetland ecosystem, on the Andaman Islands in the Indian Ocean.

The 'landmark discovery' is the first evidence that it thrives in a natural environment and is not limited to mammalian hosts.

C. auris can enter the bloodstream and spread throughout the body, causing severe invasive infections  and presents 'a serious global health threat', according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

It is often multidrug-resistant, meaning that it is resistant to multiple antifungal drugs commonly used to treat other species of the Candida genus.

Illustration of Candida auris fungi. C. auris has been causing severe illness in hospitalised patients. In some patients, this yeast can enter the bloodstream and spread throughout the body, causing serious invasive infections

The fungus was found on a sandy beach and tidal swamp in a remote coastal wetland ecosystem, on the Andaman Islands in the Indian Ocean

Since its identification in clinical patients more than 10 years ago, scientists have sought to understand its origins  and the scientists have made a major step forward in doing so.

WHAT IS C. AURIS? Candida auris (C auris) is a harmful form of yeast, identified by the CDC as a 'superbug' fungus. It tends to be diagnosed in patients after they've been in hospitals for several weeks. The fungus can infect wounds, ears and the bloodstream and take root in the urinary tract. The source of the infection for C auris isnt the person who got sick but rather the hospital environment, including catheters, counters, and other surfaces. It was first identified in Japan in 2009 and has since spread to more than a dozen countries worldwide. Two of the three kinds of commonly used antifungal drugs have had little effect in treatment. Advertisement

'We need to explore more environmental niches for the pathogen,' said study leader Anuradha Chowdhary at the University of Delhi, in India.

'It might be coming from plants, or might be shed from human skin, which we know C. auris can colonise.'

Although cases of C. auris trace to the mid-1990s, the fungus wasn't named until 2009 after it was isolated from the ear canal of a 70-year-old Japanese woman.

C. auris has since made the headlines, particularly in the last five years, for its rapid spread around the world

Medics have been struggling to deal with the little-known fungus, which does not respond to common medications and kills somewhere between 30 to 60 per cent of those infected, CDC says.

It invades the bloodstream of vulnerable patients with weakened immune systems through wounds or scrapes, causing serious infections.

The fungus mostly strikes people in nursing homes or on long-term hospital wards, particularly those on ventilators.

The fungus is resilient because it was able to create biofilms  slimy layers made from a community of micro-organisms that are hard to remove.

Health officials in Britain warned the fungus was 'spreading like wildfire' in 2019 after it plagued scores of patients over the span of months.

For this new study, Chowdhary and colleagues analysed 48 samples of soil and water collected from eight sites on Andaman Islands, an isolated archipelago with a tropical climate between India and Myanmar.

Due to its unique location and tribal culture, few people visit these islands, the researchers say.

'Thus, we expect little impacts of direct human activities on their yeast distributions.'

The islands were also 'very isolated' but at the same time relatively local to India and the study authors, most of which were from the University of Delhi.

Landscape of Andaman & Nicobar Islands, an Indian archipelago in the Bay of Bengal (stock image)

The various sites consisted of rocky shores, sandy beaches, tidal marshes and mangrove swamps.

They isolated C. auris in the samples from two sites  a bay tidal salt marsh wetland and a beach  while the other samples tested negative for the fungus.

In samples from the salt marsh, which was rich in seagrass and low in human activity, the researchers found two isolates, one of which proved to be multidrug susceptible when tested against antifungals.

In samples from the beach, which was high in human activity, the team identified 22 isolates, all of which were multidrug resistant.

Whole genome sequencing of the isolates revealed that they were closely related to pathogenic strains found in Southeast Asia.

'The fact that viable C. auris was detected in the marine habitat confirms C. auris survival in harsh wetlands,' the team say in their paper.

'However, the ecological significance of C. auris in salt marsh wetland and sandy beaches to human infections remains to be explored.'

Map showing location of sampling sites (n = 8; sites E1 and E2 collectively depicted as E) of South Andaman district, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Union Territory of India

It's possible the species originated in the wild and later made the jump to humans, say another team of researchers not involved in the study  who hailed the work as a 'landmark discovery'.

Previously, the human body was too hot for C. auris to survive on a human host, but global warming may have meant it adapted over time to be able to do so.

'The isolation of C. auris from two environmental sites in the Andaman Islands establishes that this fungus can have an environmental niche and suggests an original environmental source for clinical isolates,' they say in their accompanying piece of commentary.

'This landmark discovery is crucial for understanding the epidemiology, ecology, and emergence of C. auris as a human pathogen.'

Chowdhary, who has been studying C. auris for nearly a decade, said that hypothesis inspired her to explore ecological niches where the fungus might live.

'This study takes the first step in toward understanding how pathogen survives in the wetland, but this is just one niche,' Chowdhary said.

Future studies could reveal more about how the fungus thrives in the wild and better explain why it's such a menace to humans.

The discovery has been detailed in the open-access journal mBio.
Bulgarias Vivacom has issued a legal challenge to the regulators decision to allocate 5G spectrum frequencies without conducting a scheduled auction.

Telecoms authority the Communications Regulation Commission (CRC) had been due to sell 3.6GHz spectrum on 15th March via a secret bid tender, but announced it had completed this process based on the applications for spectrum that it had already received.

According to local news outlet Capital, the CRC issued three 100MHz concessions with a validity period of 20 years. Licences cover one unpaired block within the band - 3500MHz-3600MHz, 3600MHz-3700MHz or 3700MHz-3800MHz. Vivacom has taken exception at being denied a choice over this, as it was aiming to increase its spectrum holding in the 3.7GHz to 3.8GHz range.

CRC Ivan Dimitrov was quoted by Capital as saying that a new secret bid could be arranged, and put the proposal to operators. TeleGeography meanwhile reported that the regulator was weighing up all available legal avenues before committing to new spectrum auctions.
The commander of the U.S. Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM) says China "the greatest long term strategic threat to the security in the 21st century. "The Chinese Communist Party's, insidious and corrosive and corrupt influences" are at work globally and in this region, Navy Adm. Craig S. Faller, told reporters Tuesday in briefing at the Pentagon.

Faller said China aided by Cuba, Russia, and Iran, continue to bolster Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro as a long-term strategic threat to the hemisphere and democratic freedom in neighboring nations in South America.

"Maduro regime is fully entrenched, and Cuba security forces, Russia and Iranian and China all are supporting his entrenched reign of power, "Faller said. "Venezuela tragedy continues, and migration has increased over five million now on the worst, worst migration crisis in this hemisphere."

The Biden administration said recently it is offering temporary legal residency to several hundred thousand Venezuelans who fled their country's economic collapse and will review U.S. sanctions intended to isolate the South American nation.

Both measures mark a shift from U.S. policy toward Venezuela under President Donald Trump.

Also, in the briefing General Glen VanHerck, Commander of U.S. Northern Command says "we're facing two peer competitors, both nuclear armed, that are competing against us on a daily basis. Adding, "We must adapt to all the challenges posed by this reality."

General Glen VanHerck said the United Stated along with Canada are in early stages of modernization of NORAD (North American Aerospace Defense Command) and building additional military capabilities in the Arctic.

(Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com)
New Delhi:

Making a strong comeback the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) comfortably took over the Kakinada Municipal Corporation (KMC) election.

The TDP and BJP bagged 32 out of 48 civic divisions in the results announced on Friday for KMC elections held on August 29. YSR Congress had to be content with only 10 seats.

Deputy Chief Minister (Home) N China Rajappa, who spearheaded the party campaign for Kakinada Municipal Corporation said, People have once again voted for development and welfare agenda.

In the KMC elections, the TDP had contested in 39 of the 48 divisions, while BJP contested in nine seats.

It is after a gap of over two decades that the TDP captured power in Kakinada city. Kakinada, a port town, has been chosen as a Smart City under the Smart Cities Mission.

TDP supporters took the streets in the city to celebrate the win.
Summerville, SC (29483)

Today

Cloudy skies this evening followed by scattered showers and thunderstorms overnight. Low near 70F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

Cloudy skies this evening followed by scattered showers and thunderstorms overnight. Low near 70F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%.
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Virtual reality is amongst the revolutionary trends driving the healthcare industry. The report by PersistenceMarketResearch harps on the way virtual reality has taken the healthcare industry by storm. VR-based healthcare solutions have been captured, with insights regarding the same. Micros have been worked upon.

Increasing patient scans for oncology, pediatrics, soft tissue imaging, and the ability to combine tests, which cannot be done through conventional modalities are some of added advantage of PET-MRI scanners.

The global PET-MRI market was valued at ~US$ 80 Mn in 2018, which is likely to see a healthy rise over the forecast period (2019  2029). The shift in medical imaging towards more accurate disease detection with low radiation dose per procedure have transformed the characteristics of MR Imaging with the launch of PET-MRI Scanners.

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Company Profiles

GE Healthcare

Siemens AG

Koninklijke Philips N.V.

United Imaging

Bruker

Mediso Ltd.

Aspect Imaging

Cubresa Inc.

inviscan SAS

MR Solutions

Increasing accuracy of MR-based attenuation correction (AC) of the PET scan, better workflow management, and reduced ionizing radiations across various clinical applications are the features of PET-MRI scanners. These are major additions to product features since the first clinical sequential PET-MRI was installed in 2011.

PET-MRI scanners are widely used for research purpose in pre-clinical setting for drug development and radiotracer studies. Rapid surge in such studies, in turn, creates a highly conducive environment for growth of the PET-MRI scanners market.

Manufacturers Focusing on Innovative Modalities

Oncology remains the primary application of interest for researchers where tumor localization, metabolic activity, and damaged areas are analysed more frequently with the help of these images across these equipment modalities.

Another important application is Neurology where there has been lot of clinical studies ongoing for understanding the anatomy as well as the disease and implement accurate treatment planning.

For Instance; PSMR 2019, Munich, 8th Conference on PET/MR and SPECT/MR dated 15-17 April 2019 featured innovative products from manufacturers and pilot designs from researchers. The innovative TRIMAGE project was featured at this conference. It is aimed at developing a brain-dedicated PET/MR/EEG for simultaneous acquisitions focused on study of schizophrenia, brain cancer, neuroinflammation, Alzheimer, and dementia.

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Key Manufacturers Exploring New Business Models

Manufacturers are currently focusing on development of superior quality hybrid systems with imaging modalities, such as PET & MR that provide accurate assessment in detecting lesions and metastases.

Key players are mostly focused on the establishment of subsidiaries in countries where they have a limited presence for post-sales services. United Imaging recently announced its multi-year research collaboration with Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis to revolutionize cardiovascular technology by detecting pathological changes in heart tissues.

The agreement signed by Cubresa Inc. for distribution of its PET Inserts with Worldwide Technology (S.H.) Co., Ltd. (WAD) emphasizes on collaborative actions in the PET MRI market.

The PET MRI market is currently oligopolistic in nature, dominated by a few players with first-mover advantage. The new market entrants are either dependent on key players for technology or need to develop innovative specification-oriented products in collaboration with various research institutes.

PMR Analyzes Significance of Collaboration for Sustainable Growth

The global PET MRI market is dominated by key players like GE Healthcare, Siemens AG, and Koninklijke Philips N.V. Emerging Players are concentrating more on developing new standards not only with the resolution of the image and precision, but also on the patient experience on personalized therapy.

Strategic collaborations, research collaborations, and agreements for distribution of certain products in specific regions to gain competitive advantage are considered pivotal by manufacturers.

The PET MRI market appears to be consolidated one, and with passage of time the market structure is expected to change with novel product specifications, newer equipment designs, and business models to reach remote regions.

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Is PET MRI Space Feasible for Market Entrants?

In its attractive stage with huge potential for exponentially higher returns on investments, clinical applications in various fields like oncology, neurology, cardiology, and other verticals are expected to increase the PET MRI market size. A deep understanding of the companies, products, USPs, strategies and recent trends can help manufacturers enter and widen product portfolio and also maintain sustainable growth.

For example, United Imaging Healthcare, a Chinese manufacturer of advanced medical products covering diagnostic imaging and medical IT solutions unveiled its HD TOF PET / MR at RSNA, 2019. Another example includes Aspect Imaging and Brightonix Imaging together showcasing the SimPET Simultaneous Preclinical PET / MRI insert at WMIC 2018 .

Report Inclusions

Persistence Market Research offers a unique perspective and actionable insights on the PET MRI landscape in its new study, presenting historical demand assessment from 2014 - 2018 and projections from 2019 - 2029 on the basis of product type (integrated, separate, PET inserts), PET imaging technology (time-of-flight, conventional), image acquisition (sequential scanners, simultaneous scanners), application (preclinical, clinical), end user (hospitals, diagnostic laboratories, research institutes, biopharmaceutical co.) and seven key regions.

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(ANSA) - ROME, MAR 17 - Italy is to set up a COVID victims remembrance day on March 18 each year, according to a bill approved by a Senate panel Wednesday.

The bill was unanimously approved by the constitutional affairs committee in the upper house in a process that bypasses approval by the sitting parliament.

March 18 was the day Italy saw its peak daily death toll of almost 3,000 amid a raging epidemic in the north of the country last year.

On Thursday, March 18, Premier Mario Draghi will visit Bergamo, the symbol of the early toll from the virus, to celebrate the first national day of remembrance and mourning for the coronavirus dead.

A minute's silence will be observed across the country.

President Sergio Mattarella will also be in attendance. (ANSA).



JERSEY CITY, N.J., March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma America, Inc. (MTPA) today announced findings from a new analysis evaluating the impact of symptom progression on the ability of people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) to independently conduct activities of daily living (ADLs). The findings were shared during a virtual presentation at the 2021 Muscular Dystrophy Association Clinical & Scientific Conference.

"As part of our commitment to patients and their caregivers, MTPA wanted to explore how different disease symptom progression impacts an ALS patients' ability to independently perform daily activities, such as cleaning, housework, cooking and traveling outside the home," said Gustavo A. Suarez Zambrano, M.D., Vice President of Medical Affairs, MTPA. "The analysis suggests that respiratory symptoms had a greater impact on patients' ability to rely less on help from others. We also found that patients needing significant assistance with daily activities had more hospitalizations, falls and poorer emotional health."

For the analysis, 21 neurologists examined de-identified medical record data for 166 ALS patients in the U.S. to retroactively assess demographics, symptoms, caregiver status, hospitalizations, ability to perform ADLs, emotional well-being, and number of patient-reported falls. Of the patients whose records were reviewed, 54 percent (90 patients) were dependent on a caregiver to assist with at least one ADL. Participating neurologists were surveyed and submitted blinded patient data into a study database.

Compared with other symptom groups, and based on descriptive analyses, a significant association was observed between the number of respiratory symptoms and likelihood of ADL dependence (OR 3.41; 95 percent CI 2.17-5.36; p<0.001). For other symptom groups observed, including behavioral, cognitive or motor/bulbar symptoms, there was no significant impact associated with ADL dependence.

In addition, ADL-dependent patients experienced a greater number of hospitalizations (28.1 percent vs. 4.7 percent; p<0.001) and falls (1.2 percent vs. 0.5 percent; p<0.001) in the prior 12 months, compared with ADL-independent patients. A larger proportion of ADL-dependent patients also had poorer emotional well-being (87 percent vs. 66 percent; p=<0.001) and had expressed suicidal thoughts (19 percent vs. 8 percent; p=0.045) compared with ADL-independent patients.

The survey database is not based on a truly random sample of physicians and patients. Moreover, patients included in the survey may not represent the general ALS population.

About Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma America, Inc.

Based in Jersey City, N.J., Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma America, Inc. (MTPA) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation's (MTPC) 100 percent owned U.S. holding company, Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Holdings America, Inc. It was established by MTPC to commercialize approved pharmaceutical products in North America. For more information, please visit www.mt-pharma-america.com or follow us on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.

Overview of Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation

Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma, which was founded in 1678, has its headquarters in Doshomachi, Osaka, which is the birthplace of Japan's pharmaceutical industry. With business centered on ethical pharmaceuticals, Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma is a well-established company with one of the longest histories of pharmaceutical companies in Japan.1 Through the discovery of drugs that address unmet medical needs, centered on its priority disease areas  immune-inflammation diseases, central nervous system, and vaccines  Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma will strive to contribute to the health of patients around the world. MTPC is the parent company of MTPA. For more information, go to https://www.mt-pharma.co.jp/e/.

Media inquiries:

Debbie Etchison

908-340-8578

[email protected]

1 Research by TOKYO SHOKO RESEARCH, LTD.

SOURCE Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma America, Inc.
The Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces, or CAAF, heard arguments March 9 in the case of a retired Navy sailor who is challenging the constitutionality of his conviction by court-martial after he left military service.

Attorneys for retired Chief Petty Officer Stephen Begani say the current laws are flawed because they treat retired members of the active and reserve forces differently when it comes to recalling them for court-martial, and Congress overstepped its authority in making active-duty retirees subject to court-martial.

The government has argued that the military proceedings were fair because Begani, as a member of the Naval Fleet Reserve, which includes enlisted Navy retirees who leave active service after 20 years but under 30 years and receive retainer pay rather than retired pay, was subject to recall to military service in a national emergency.

Read Next: As Troop Pullout Looms, Afghanistan 'Fighting for its Very Survival,' IG Says

The issue of whether military retirees can be brought back on active duty to be tried for crimes committed either while they served or as a retiree has been raised numerous times in the past decade, most recently in debate over whether retired Air Force Lt. Col. Larry Brock could be court-martialed for his involvement in the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.

Begani's case dates about a month after he left the Navy in 2017, where he served for 24 years. While working as a contractor at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni in Japan, he was arrested for showing up at a house to meet a girl he had been communicating with online and believed to be 15 years old.

The "girl," however, was an undercover Naval Criminal Investigative Service agent.

Begani received a bad-conduct discharge and was sentenced to 18 months' confinement.

In addition to the Begani case, a similar challenge, Larrabee v. Braithwaite, is wending through the court system, in which a U.S. District Court judge in Washington, D.C., has ruled that it is unconstitutional for members of the Fleet Marine Corps Reserve to be court-martialed.

In that case, retired Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Steven Larrabee was convicted of a sexual assault he committed three months after leaving the service in 2015. He appealed his military court-martial up to the U.S. Supreme Court, which declined to take the case in 2019.

But when Larrabee filed suit in civilian court, U.S. District Court Judge Richard Leon ruled the government had not adequately demonstrated that court-martial jurisdiction over retirees is necessary to maintain good order and discipline in the armed forces.

The government has appealed Leon's ruling.

Attorney Stephen Vladeck, who has represented both Larrabee and Begani, said the onus is on the government to prove that retirees must have a significant ongoing relationship with the military, other than simply collecting retainer or retirement pay, to be subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice, or UCMJ.

And being a member of the Fleet Reserve Forces doesn't demonstrate that relationship, Vladeck told the CAAF judges last week.

"When you look at the personnel on whom the government would rely as supplemental manpower in the case of emergency, retirees are well down the list under current regulations. Retirees are behind the Selected Reserve, the Individual Ready Reserve, the National Guard and, in a true emergency, perhaps even the Selective Service. And unlike all four of those categories, retirees remain subject to the constant jurisdiction of the UCMJ. This is something the government has never justified," Vladeck argued.

Arguing for the Defense Department, Marine Maj. Clayton Wiggins said the Fleet Reserve was created specifically as a force from which to recall personnel during a crisis or national emergency, and its members are expected to adhere to the UCMJ.

"Congress created the Fleet Reserve through a number of statutes ... which gives a person like [Begani] the option to do one of two things: Leave the land and naval forces and no longer have any connection ... and in that case, the appellant would have been a civilian not subject to court-martial conviction," Wiggins argued. "But he didn't take that choice. He chose to stay in the land and naval forces and simply transfer to a different part of the land and naval forces. As such, that status alone, as a member of the land and naval forces, makes him subject to court-martial jurisdiction."

Members of the Marine Corps and Navy Fleet Reserves receive what is essentially retainer pay and can be summoned back to active duty without their consent in the event of war or a national emergency. After 30 years of active or inactive service, they are transferred to the Regular Retired List and are no longer subject to call-up.

A decision by CAAF to uphold Begani's conviction would put the military's highest court at odds with Leon's November decision and potentially set the stage for a petition to the U.S. Supreme Court.

The CAAF judges did not give any indication when they may issue an opinion.

-- Patricia Kime can be reached at Patricia.Kime@Monster.com. Follow her on Twitter @patriciakime.

Related: Supreme Court: Retirees Can Be Court Martialed For Crimes Committed After Service
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-16 23:45:58|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, March 16 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Minister of Public Security Zhao Kezhi on Tuesday called for pushing forward China's campaign against gun and explosives crimes across the country.

Zhao made the remarks at a national meeting on the crackdown on gun and explosives crimes.

Zhao stressed crackdown on smuggling, illegal production and trafficking, and online sales of guns and explosives, and targeting key areas and problems and the seizure of illegal guns and explosives.

Zhao called for eliminating risks endangering public security and social stability. Enditem
CHICAGO, March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Three Lakes Foundation (TLF) has announced that it has selected Yale University School of Medicine and the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine to join the Three Lakes Consortium for Pulmonary Fibrosis (TLC4PF). Together, they will focus on advancing disease understanding with the goal to accelerate new treatments and curing this devastating lung condition.

Naftali Kaminski, MD, Yale School of Medicine and Melanie Konigshoff, MD, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine are joining forces with Three Lakes Foundation

"The TLC4PF is a multiyear, multimillion dollar initiative," said Dana Ball, executive director of Three Lakes Foundation. "The Consortium provides a framework for cooperation and coordination among leading pulmonary researchers at medical institutions dedicated to improving care and health outcomes through the development and delivery of new medicines."

Pulmonary fibrosis (PF) occurs when lung tissue becomes damaged and scarred. Over time, the scarring destroys the lungs, making it harder for oxygen to enter the bloodstream and causes breathing to become difficult. While 40-50,000 people are diagnosed each year with PF, another 40,000 die annually.

The TLC4PF aims to change how the disease is diagnosed and treated. The Consortium comprises three strategic workgroups that are interdependent of each other and each addresses a different challenge in new therapy development:

The PF Connectome workgroup will utilize artificial intelligence and cutting-edge, single cell profiling technologies to accelerate implementations of novel precision therapies in PF by creating a dynamic, public atlas of cell and compound fibrosis specific signatures. Naftali Kaminski, M.D., professor of medicine and pharmacology and chief of Pulmonology, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine at Yale University School of Medicine will serve as its lead principal investigator . Dr. Kaminski, an award-winning physician-scientist and renowned expert in pulmonary fibrosis, genomics and translational medicine, is a pioneer of implementation of high throughput technologies in advanced human lung disease. He is credited with multiple discoveries including peripheral blood protein and gene biomarkers and novel drug targets. Dr. Kaminski also currently leads multiple, single cell profiling efforts. He and others have recently completed the largest single cell analysis to date, publicly available at www.IPFCellAtlas.com. His team includes experts in computational biology, machine learning, single cell transcriptomics and proteomics. The team members are:

The PF Translation workgroup will create a unique pipeline of human translational PF models that will serve as a core resource for the PF community to expedite drug discovery and validation for PF. This workgroup will be led by Melanie Konigshoff, M.D., Ph.D., visiting professor of medicine at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine . Dr. Konigshoff is a world-renowned physician-scientist in pulmonary fibrosis. She leads a multidisciplinary and translational research program on age-related chronic lung disease at the University of Pittsburgh. She has pioneered the development and application of human tissue-based models to study the complex phenotypes of PF as well as potential therapeutic interventions thereof. Her team comprises outstanding experts in PF phenotyping and modeling, bioengineering and stem cell biology. The team members include:

The PF Early Disease workgroup will focus on studying pre/early PF to understand the underlying biology of disease and progression; identify individuals at risk; and improve long-term outcomes. This workgroup is under development and is expected to launch in early summer 2021.

At least 10 institutions globally will be collaborating with Three Lakes Foundation and the TLC4PF investigators from the Schools of Medicine at Yale and University of Pittsburgh when the Consortium becomes fully operational. Their participation will be critical to paving the path to discovery, translation and development of clinical trials to study next-generation therapies designed to stop and repair PF.

Story continues

"The Consortium is an integral component of our innovative PF ecosystem," said Cheryl Nickerson-Nutter, Ph.D., executive vice president of research & development at TLF. "Three Lakes Foundation is bringing together many of the top investigators in pulmonary research supported by well-known medical research institutions to collaborate on making a cure for PF a reality. Together, we can bring new hope to patients and their families."

About Three Lakes Foundation

Three Lakes Foundation (TLF) is a nonprofit dedicated to serving as a catalyst for uniting research, industries, and philanthropy in pulmonary fibrosis. We connect entrepreneurs, advocates and institutions to an innovation ecosystem that will transform our approach to improve time to diagnosis and accelerate new therapies. To learn more, visit threelakesfoundation.org.

FOR INFORMATION, CALL:

Marita Gomez

630-936-9105

(PRNewsfoto/MATTER,Three Lakes Foundation)

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SOURCE Three Lakes Foundation
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March 17, 1908

Woman shoots boarder

Dominick Patrino was in the Taylor Hospital and Mrs. Veronica Archangelo was in an Old Forge jail cell after a shooting the morning of March 17 at the boarding home operated by the Archangelos.

A few days prior, Patrino, who was held in high regard by Archangelo, told her and her husband that he was moving to a different boarding house.

The morning of March 17, he stopped at the Sibley Patch boarding house to collect more of his personal belongings. While in the kitchen with other boarders, Archangelo, without a word, entered the kitchen and shot Patrino in the back.

Doctors and the police were called. Patrino was taken to Taylor Hospital in grave condition and Old Forge Police took Mrs. Archangelo into custody.

Patrino would die on March 24 and Archangelo was arrested and charged with his murder.

At her trial that October, it was revealed Patrino insulted her, threatened to kill her and struck her in the face on March 17. She would later be found not guilty of the charge on Oct. 15.

Irish music concert held

The pipes were calling the evening of March 16 at the 13th Regiment Armory in Scranton when the Catholic Choral Club held its second annual Feis Ceoil (festival of music).

More than 4,000 people attended the Irish music concert at the armory. The choral club opened the concert with A Hundred Thousand Welcomes followed by the Star Spangled Banner in Gaelic.

The choral club would go on to sing a collection of traditional Irish songs in English and/or Gaelic. They would end the show with a trio of songs: War Song of Mac Liag, The Cruiskeen Lawn and Hibernias Champion Saint.

Irish Americans celebrate

The Irish Americans of Lackawanna County held their annual dinner honoring St. Patrick at the Hotel Jermyn.

Speakers at the event included former Speaker of the state House of Representatives, Rep. Frank McLain of Lancaster; James J. Walsh Ph.D, LL.D of New York City; Lackawanna County District Attorney Joseph OBrien; and Col. F.J. Fitzsimmons. Judge M.F. Sando served as the dinners toastmaster.

Former Secretary of Treasury Leslie Shaw in the Roosevelt Administration was a surprise guest at the dinner. Shaw declined to give remarks.
Trump on Border Crisis: Theyre Going to Destroy Our Country

Former President Donald Trump on Tuesday condemned President Joe Bidens border agenda, warning that the current administrations approach would destroy the United States.

In an interview with Maria Bartiromo aired on Fox News on March 16, Trump lamented Bidens decision to freeze or reverse several of the previous administrations border policies, including the construction of the wall on the southern border.

My policies were working better than theyve ever seen on the southern border. The wall is almost complete. We just had to fix little sectionscomplete little sectionsthat had to be together. We needed them in order to get the trucks back and forth from side to side, but theyve chosen to stop right in the middle, Trump said.

They could have it finished in a month, and it would be just magnificent, he added. They should finish it but theyre destroying our country, people are coming in by the hundreds of thousands.

Trump made the remarks as the Biden administration faced increasing pressure to respond to a flood of illegal immigrants pouring across the border. Department of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas said in a statement on Tuesday that the United States is now on pace to encounter the highest number of illegal immigrants on the southern border in 20 years. Thousands of unaccompanied minors are detained in shelters and overflow facilities.

Young children are coming in and they leave their homes and they come up because they think its going to be so wonderful and frankly, our country cant handle it. It is a crisis like weve rarely had, and, certainly, weve never had on the border. But its going to get much worse, Trump said.

What youre seeing now is very bad record numbers but its going to get much, much worse with a little bit of time, youll see those numbers, expand at a level like youve never seen before.

Biden said on Tuesday that he does not plan to visit the southern border for now. Asked before boarding Marine One in Washington whether he has plans to visit the border, Biden told reporters: Not at the moment.

In the early days of his administration, Biden revoked more than a dozen key Trump-era border policies that had largely stemmed the flow of illegal immigrants crossing the border. The policy reversals have largely been blamed for the resurgence of illegal crossings.

We had very few people coming in and we also stopped human trafficking. When I say stopped it, made a tremendous dent like has never been made before, and also drug trafficking, Trump said.

So we did a lot of things, and all of that is now eroded today, theyre coming in, you take a look, theyre coming in from all foreign countries. I see theyre coming in now from Yemen, theyre coming in from the Middle East, theyre coming in from everywhere. Theyre dropping them off and theyre pouring into our country, Trump said.

Its a disgrace. Theyre going to destroy our country if they dont do something about it.
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A woman in Doral, Fla. was arrested last week for disfiguring a man after performing a nose job.

It turns out that the woman, Alcalira Jimenez De Rodriguez, had no business performing rhinoplasty in the first place as she wasnt licensed to practice medicine at all.

The Doral Police were made privy to Jimenez De Rodriguezs activities after the man who received the nose job notified them. He informed them his nose failed to heal properly and appeared deformed after two rounds of going under the knife at Jimenez De Rodriguezs hands. He paid a total of $2,800 for both surgeries.

The man then contacted Jimenez De Rodriguez to ask for her medical license number and her medical malpractice insurance information, which she refused to give. Upon further investigation it was discovered she was working as a surgeon without a license.

Police took Jimenez De Rodriguez into custody as she was performing surgery on another patient. She resisted, reportedly tensing and pulling her arm away to avoid being handcuffed.

According to the official police report, Jimenez De Rodriguez is currently being held at the Miami-Dade County jail on a $5,000 bond. Shes facing charges of practicing without a license, which has been elevated to a second-degree felony due to the mans disfigurement.

She was also charged with resisting arrest.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
PIGGS PEAK  In many countries, leaders have been taking the vaccines openly before frontliners such as healthcare workers.

This was an observation made by healthcare workers during a sensitisation workshop on the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine. At the Piggs Peak Government Hospital, healthcare workers submitted that Members of Parliament (MPs) should start, then followed by councillors. Piggs Peak town has two residents who are MPs in Jabulani Buycash Mabuza and Nokunceda Bujela.

Mabuza is MP for Piggs Peak Inkhundla while Bujela is Hhohho MP. The healthcare workers said they wanted to see MPs such as Bujela and Mabuza take the vaccine in public. They also said they wanted to see the Minister of Health, Lizzie Nkosi, do the same. They further said councillors, including Mayor Victor Rodrigues, should do the same. This will give us the confidence to take the vaccine, they said. A suggestion was made that after the vaccination, there should be 14 days before the healthcare workers did the same. Bujela, when called for comment, said the reason nurses should go first was that they were at a higher risk. They should go first, said the Hhohho MP.

Bujela also noted that previously, it had been suggested that politicians should go first, but this was later changed to allow frontliners to do so. Mayor Victor Rodrigues said he was ready. If they said lets do it today, I will run to do so, said Rodrigues. However, he said it was not in his power to do so because the administering of the vaccine was done by the relevant authorities. Rodrigues expressed concern about the ongoing debates. He lamented that while the public was debating on who should take the vaccine first, time was running out. Soon, the vaccine will expire while we are busy debating, said the mayor.
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What did Ben Shephard and his co-presenters say on Good Morning Britain? Ben Shephard: 'It feels like this is the sort of thing that's not going to be sorted out in one phone call 'We don't know how much is going on either, but if there's been such a hugely seismic moment within a family that has been suddenly thrown, very personal things have been thrown into the spotlight, it's not going to be sorted out quickly - it's going to take a while for everybody to be able to share their truth and be able to be honest with each other and hopefully start healing, because that's what we all want.' Susanna Reid: 'You sound like a Californian therapist, Ben.' Shephard: 'Maybe I should be.' Reid: 'Speaking a bit of truth and healing.' Ranvir Singh: 'You need a bit of tan Ben, right there, get your teeth whitened.' Shephard: 'But it's uncomfortable.' Singh: 'I wonder what's to be gained, you know when you think, what is the game plan, what is the gain from telling a very prominent TV presenter who you know is going to go on TV and talk about it?' Reid: 'Well presumably you authorise that person to talk about it?' Singh: 'Well right, you try to think what is the gain for Harry and Meghan in allowing that information out, what is it, it seems a little bit sort of mean spirited in a way? 'You've had your moment, you've had your two hours on telly where you've said everything you want to say.' Reid: 'And all the stuff on the cutting room floor.' Singh: 'And all the stuff on the cutting room floor. You just think well what is the point of it at this point, releasing little are we expecting to hear every phone call that happens?' Shephard: 'Unless it's to keep it out there, keep the conversation viable, so that means the conversations keep happening, like they feel maybe that will orchestrate more.' Dr Hilary Jones: 'I think Ranvir you're right, I think conciliation is needed, and they need an independent third party who can be a go-between between them and say come on, let's have some conciliation.' Advertisement

ITV presenter Ben Shephard was mocked by his Good Morning Britain co-hosts today for urging the Royal Family and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex to 'share their truth' and 'hopefully start healing' after their private talks were leaked.

Shephard, who added that it was important for all parties 'to be honest with each other', was accused by Susanna Reid of 'sounding like a Californian therapist' while Ranvir Singh joked that he needed to get his 'teeth whitened'.

The terms used by Shephard have strong similarities to those of Meghan and Harry during their bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey, which first aired on CBS on March 7, and then on ITV the following night.

His language also comes in stark contrast to that of Piers Morgan, who quit the show on Tuesday last week after refusing to believe Meghan Markle's claims made during her Oprah Winfrey interview with Prince Harry.

Morgan's resignation has sparked a dramatic exodus of 400,000 viewers, with the GMB audience dropping by a third in the space of a week, leaving it trailing behind its main rival BBC Breakfast by 600,000 in the ratings war.

The ITV morning show has pulled in less than 900,000 viewers for its past three days  significantly down from the 1.29million who tuned in on Tuesday last week for what turned out to be Morgan's final programme.

That figure represented the first time the ITV broadcast had beaten its long-time rival BBC Breakfast, which had 1.25million, but GMB has since lost 400,000 viewers in a week to fall well behind in the morning ratings war.

Yesterday GMB had 890,000 viewers with an audience share of 23 per cent, compared to the 1.57million tuning into the BBC with a 42 per cent share. The BBC's peak saw 2.34million watching at 8.15am. On the same day last year - Monday, March 16, 2020 - GMB had an average of 900,000 compared to the BBC's 1.81million.

Standing in the outspoken former host, Shephard, 46, told GMB viewers this morning: 'It feels like this is the sort of thing that's not going to be sorted out in one phone call. We don't know how much is going on either.

'But if there's been such a hugely seismic moment within a family that has been suddenly thrown, very personal things have been thrown into the spotlight, it's not going to be sorted out quickly. It's going to take a while for everybody to be able to share their truth and be able to be honest with each other and hopefully start healing, because that's what we all want.'

Reid told him: 'You sound like a Californian therapist, Ben.' He replied: 'Maybe I should be', before she added: 'Speaking a bit of truth and healing.' And Singh joked: 'You need a bit of tan, Ben... get your teeth whitened.'

Meghan used the word 'truth' seven times during her interview which was first shown on March 7, while Oprah told her she was speaking 'your truth' - and the Duchess also talked about giving an 'honest' answer relating to the row over Archie's potential skin tone.

The word 'healing' was yesterday used by Meghan's friend Gayle King on US breakfast show CBS This Morning, when she spoke of Harry's talks with his brother Prince Charles and their father William - and, during the Oprah chat, Harry said of his relationship with William: 'Time heals all things, hopefully.'

Shephard's choice of words set a different tone from the language of Morgan, whose remarks sparked more than 41,000 complaints to broadcast regulator Ofcom, which also received a complaint on behalf of the Duchess of Sussex herself, who had earlier also sent a formal complaint to ITV.

A dramatic GMB programme today also saw former EastEnders star Patsy Palmer shut down her interview after being billed as an 'addict to wellness guru', and Reid scolded by former MP Edwina Currie who told the presenter she is 'not Piers Morgan' during a heated conversation about the Government's coronavirus response.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex in conversation with Oprah Winfrey in an interview first aired on CBS on March 7

ITV presenter Ben Shephard (left) mocked by his Good Morning Britain co-host Susanna Reid (right) on today's show on ITV

Gayle King, who is friends with Oprah and Meghan, revealed on CBS This Morning yesterday that Harry had spoken to William

During the show, Singh also spoke about the latest royal news, saying: 'You try to think what is the gain for Harry and Meghan in allowing that information out, what is it, it seems a little bit sort of mean spirited in a way?

'You've had your moment, you've had your two hours on telly where you've said everything you want to say... and all the stuff on the cutting room floor. You just think well what is the point of it at this point, releasing little are we expecting to hear every phone call that happens?'

Piers Morgan calls on Britons to 'stand up for our Queen' as he lays into Harry and Meghan Former GMB host Piers Morgan is pictured in London last week Piers Morgan has called on Britons to 'stand up for our Queen' while accusing Harry and Meghan of leading a campaign to paint the Royal Family as a 'bunch of heartless racists'. The former GMB host took to Twitter to slam the Duke and Duchess of Sussex a week after resigning from his presenter role for refusing to apologise for comments he made about the couple's controversial interview with Oprah. He took aim at the couple again last night, writing: 'There's a very deliberate & malicious campaign being perpetrated by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex to smear, defame and trash Britain, our Monarchy & the Royal Family as a bunch of heartless racists. It's disgusting. Time to stand up for our Queen.' It is the latest chapter in the fallout from Harry and Meghan's explosive interview with Oprah where the couple suggested that the Royal family was racist, claiming that one unnamed member was concerned over how dark their son Archie's skin would be. Speaking after the bombshell interview aired, Morgan said he did not believe the duchess's remarks in her interview with Oprah, during which she spoke about her mental health and having suicidal thoughts. He then stormed off set after GMB weatherman Alex Beresford took exception to his comments about Meghan. Shortly afterwards, he left his role as presenter after refusing to apologise for his remarks. Advertisement

Shephard added: 'Unless it's to keep it out there, keep the conversation viable, so that means the conversations keep happening, like they feel maybe that will orchestrate more.'

And Dr Hilary Jones said: 'I think Ranvir you're right, I think conciliation is needed, and they need an independent third party who can be a go-between between them and say come on, let's have some conciliation.'

Also today, British chat show host Trisha Goddard told the programme: 'Beyond them being a Royal Family they're a family, and this is the part I'm concentrating on.

'And I've said all along when they did that interview what I heard was absolute pain and anguish - and they might not have got all the details right and what have you but the message was we are in pain.

'Now the Royal Family - a family - needs time to react to that. I'm reminded of something that the Duke of Edinburgh and Prince Charles apparently were having a conversation back in the days of Princess Diana.

'And apparently the Duke of Edinburgh said to Prince Charles I wish you and Diana would just speak, just talk.

'And Prince Charles said, well here's the problem, every time I do it ends up on the front page of a certain tabloid.

'So if a family feels that everything they're going to say is going to end up as a headline, they're naturally going to be more reticent and perhaps less honest, and maybe more sparing with the communication.'

It comes as Harry and Meghan revealed deeply private family conversations to their journalist friend Gayle King, saying that the prince had finally spoken to his father and brother following the interview.

Hours later, Miss King disclosed on CBS yesterday that the talks 'were not productive'. The breakfast show host also suggested that Meghan was unhappy no one in the Royal Family had thought to telephone her.

And, in a thinly veiled threat, the presenter said the duchess had 'documents to back up everything she said on Oprah's interview'.

The fact the Sussexes chose to reveal sensitive discussions between senior members of the Royal Family met with an icy response from Buckingham Palace.

'None of the households [the Queen, the Prince of Wales and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge] will be giving a running commentary on private conversations,' said a senior royal source.

It was clear, however, that both the Windsors and senior officials see it as a severe betrayal of trust and unhelpful to attempts to rebuild bridges.

Prince William, when he was questioned by a TV reporter on a public engagement last Thursday, said he had not yet spoken to his younger brother, but vowed he would.

Prince William is pictured driving outside Kensington Palace in London today after speaking to Harry over the weekend

Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall visit a vaccination pop-up centre at Finsbury Park Mosque in North London today

Prince William, Charles, Harry, Camilla, Kate and Meghan follow the Queen at Westminster Abbey on March 9, 2020

The Queen with Harry and Meghan at the Queen's Young Leaders Awards Ceremony at Buckingham Palace in June 2018

He also insisted the Royal Family were not racists after Meghan claimed one member had raised 'concerns' about 'how dark' her baby's skin would be, and suggested there was an attempt to deprive Archie of a title and security because he was of mixed race.

Three petitions urging ITV to bring back Piers A petition launched after Piers Morgan quit GMB, found here, said he had been treated 'appallingly'.

A second petition titled 'Keep Piers Morgan on GMB for his common sense approach to life' is seen here.

Another set up to 'Save Piers Morgan from being sacked from GMB' said a decision to remove him would be 'an absolute farce.' It can be found here. Advertisement

The duchess also said she had been given so little support by the Palace that she suffered suicidal thoughts.

Harry said he felt 'really let down' by his father, accused him of cutting him off financially and refusing to take his calls, while also revealing the gulf with William.

The Queen responded to the Oprah interview with a deeply personal message saying that while 'some recollections vary', the issues raised, particularly that of race, were 'concerning' and would be taken seriously.

Significantly, however, she emphasised that from now on the difficulties would be addressed by the family privately.

There have been a handful of stories published in the UK media reporting that Charles and William felt hurt by what Harry had said, but with very little detail on what was taking place behind the scenes.

That was turned on its head yesterday when Miss King, who attended Meghan's baby shower in New York in 2019 and is Oprah's closest friend, decided to speak out on her prime-time morning show on CBS, the same channel that broadcast the Oprah interview.

Harry was accused of 'embarrassing' hypocrisy this week for speaking to CBS, which caused outrage in 2004 by showing a photograph of his mother dying in a 1997 car crash in Paris.

Miss King told viewers she had called Harry and Meghan at their 10million California home 'over the weekend' to discuss the fallout from the interview and revealed they had told her details of their intimate conversations.

She said: 'Well I'm not trying to break news, but I did actually call them to see how they were feeling, and it's true, Harry has talked to his brother and he has talked to his father too.

Donald Trump says he may run against Meghan Donald Trump last night said he might campaign for the White House again in 2024 if Meghan Markle joined the race too. The former US president was commenting on rumours that the Duchess of Sussex was 'meeting with Democrat operatives [and] she may want to run'. He told Fox News: 'I hope that happens because if that happened then I think I'd have an even stronger feeling toward running. I'm not a fan of hers. I've met with the Queen and I think the Queen is a tremendous person and I'm not a fan of Meghan.' It was reported on Sunday that Meghan had been networking with Democrats. It is not the first time that Mr Trump has clashed with the Sussexes. Last year he also said he was 'not a fan' of Meghan and wished Harry 'luck', adding: 'He's going to need it.' The comments, which were made in September, came after the Sussexes were accused of interfering in the presidential election campaign won by Joe Biden. In what was seen as a thinly-veiled swipe at Mr Trump, Harry urged voters to 'reject hate speech, misinformation and online negativity'. Meghan added: 'When we vote our values are put into action and our voices are heard.' In 2019 Mr Trump called the duchess 'nasty' because of her past criticism of him. Advertisement

'The word I was given was that those conversations were not productive. But they are glad that they have at least started a conversation.'

Miss King also claimed the couple were unhappy that 'the Palace' had allegedly been leaking what they believed were untrue stories to the media.

She added: 'And I think what is still upsetting to them is the Palace keep saying they want to work it out privately, but yet, they believe these false stories are coming out that are very disparaging against Meghan, still.'

She made clear that the duchess was unhappy that no one in the family had called her.

'No one in the Royal Family has talked to Meghan yet, at this particular time,' she said.

The Sussexes effectively accused the Royal Family and Buckingham Palace of institutional racism in their interview with Oprah.

But Miss King claimed they felt 'frustrated' that much of the coverage had focused on this  when they had apparently wanted only to provoke the monarchy into taking action against the media, which they believe has a racist agenda against Meghan.

'It's frustrating for them to see that it's a racial conversation about the Royal Family when all they wanted all along was for the royals to intervene and tell the Press to stop with the unfair, inaccurate, false stories that definitely have a racial slant,' Miss King said.

'And until you can acknowledge that, I think it's going to be hard to move forward.'

She also raised the issue of the investigation launched earlier this month by Buckingham Palace into how claims of bullying against Meghan lodged by a senior member of staff were handled.

She said: 'Anyone who has worked with her will tell you exactly who she is. You know, she's really a very sweet, caring person.'

There was no immediate indication from the couple's team of PR representatives  either in London or California  as to whether Miss King was speaking at their request.
Three-time Grammy winner Gwen Stefani offered to make Ellen DeGeneres her maid of honor whenever she eventually weds her fiance of five months, Blake Shelton.

'I was picturing you in, like, a mauve, like, bridesmaid [dress]. Maybe maid of honor, you know?' the 51-year-old bride-to-be said on Wednesday's episode of The Ellen DeGeneres Show.

'We could put some extensions in and we can do - make it full, like, full flower arrangements. All that stuff.'

Wedding party: Three-time Grammy winner Gwen Stefani (R) offered to make Ellen DeGeneres (L) her maid of honor whenever she eventually weds her fiance of five months, Blake Shelton

The 63-year-old comedian replied that she loved Gwen so much that she'd wear anything and put extensions in her hair.

For their duet Nobody But You, Stefani and the 44-year-old country crooner are nominated for the music event of the year trophy at the 56th Academy of Country Music Awards, which air April 18 on CBS.

The three-minute lovefest marked the inseparable couple's third song together after Go Ahead And Break My Heart in 2016 and You Make It Feel Like Christmas in 2017.

'Blake Shelton has 27 No. 1 radio hits. I never, in my wildest dreams, would imagine being part of that,' Gwen gushed.

The 51-year-old bride-to-be said on Wednesday's episode of The Ellen DeGeneres Show: 'I was picturing you in, like, a mauve, like, bridesmaid [dress]. Maybe maid of honor, you know? We could put some extensions in'

Agreed! The 63-year-old comedian replied that she loved Gwen so much that she'd wear anything and put extensions in her hair

Airing April 18 on CBS! For their duet Nobody But You, Stefani and the 44-year-old country crooner are nominated for the music event of the year trophy at the 56th Academy of Country Music Awards

Perfect harmony: The three-minute lovefest marked the inseparable couple's (pictured December 31) third song together after Go Ahead And Break My Heart in 2016 and You Make It Feel Like Christmas in 2017

'And to be on a song that goes number one in a genre that I have no business being part of twice and now up for these awards, it's pretty monumental and exciting and unexpected.'

Stefani was on the daytime talk show to promote the second single - Slow Clap - off her upcoming fifth studio album.

'This record is really going to be full of joy and good vibes and uptempo and happy and just about having a good time and being nostalgic. So I'm really excited to share it with everybody,' the former No Doubt frontwoman teased.

'[My producers/songwriters and I] ended up hopping on Zooms and writing all these songs. And it was just kind of ideal. And within eight weeks I think I had 20 songs...And doing it on Zoom while the kids are, like, in school in the next room was just incredible.'

Gwen gushed: 'Blake Shelton has 27 No. 1 radio hits. I never, in my wildest dreams, would imagine being part of that. And to be on a song that goes number one in a genre that I have no business being part of twice and now up for these awards, it's pretty monumental'

Banger: Stefani was on the daytime talk show to promote the second single - Slow Clap - off her upcoming fifth studio album

The former No Doubt frontwoman teased: 'This record is really going to be full of joy and good vibes and uptempo and happy and just about having a good time and being nostalgic. So I'm really excited to share it with everybody'

Blake proposed to Gwen on October 27 at the 1,382-acre 10 Point Ranch in Tishomingo in his native Oklahoma after five years of dating.

Shelton famously began dating his co-star on The Voice three months after legally separating from ex-wife #2 Miranda Lambert in July 2015 after four years of marriage.

Stefani has three sons - Zuma, 12; Kingston, 14; and Apollo, 7 - from her 13-year marriage to Bush frontman Gavin Rossdale, which ended in August 2015 amid nanny cheating allegations.

Blake proposed to Gwen on October 27 at the 1,382-acre 10 Point Ranch in Tishomingo in his native Oklahoma after five years of dating

Twice-divorced: Shelton famously began dating his co-star on The Voice three months after legally separating from ex-wife #2 Miranda Lambert (R, pictured in 2015) in July 2015 after four years of marriage
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There's little more helpful when telling tall tales of the long ago in Ireland than a good smattering of the native tongue.

That's why the Kerry Writers' Museum, with storyteller Paddy O'Brien, is now preparing to host an eight-week online course aimed at giving storytellers, from Ireland and abroad, a better understanding and command of An Ghaeilge, the better to enrich each and every one of their stories with.

After all, the very place-names that populate Irish folklore only come truly alive when viewed through the prism of the language in which they were coined.

Kerry Writers' Museum manager Cara Trant said that, in the new course, Paddy will help participants in everything from including more Irish in their stories, to better pronunciation and much more.

"These classes are not aimed at those who are already fluent speakers of Irish, but for beginners and improvers," Cara explained.

"The one-hour classes on Zoom are informal and interactive. The emphasis is on enjoyment and on encouragement. Each live class will be followed by relevant notes. Paddy will also include videos of songs, poems and rhymes which can be used in stories," Cara said.

A native of Keel, Castlemaine, Paddy O'Brien has spent most of his adult life teaching in Cork city. Now retired, Paddy is a natural storyteller who has appeared at Storytelling festivals all over Ireland, including the world-famous Cape Clear International Storytelling Festival.

The course starts on Monday, March 22, and runs from 8pm to 9pm each week. To get your free Zoom link, email kerrywritersmuseum@gmail.com.
Gloria Hunniford has revealed she's planning to get her first tattoo at the age of 80.

In a new interview, the Loose Women panellist said she'd like to have an inking of a small butterfly or angel, after years of banning her late daughter Caron from getting her ears pierced.

The presenter admitted that while she's excited to take the step, her husband Stephen Way thinks her decision to get body art is a 'silly' idea.

Gloria Hunniford has revealed she's planning to get her first tattoo at the age of 80

The broadcaster told The Mirror: 'Caron and I used to have terrible rows when she wanted her ears pierced, but I wouldnt even let her have her ears pierced.

'And now Im in my latter years, I would like a little butterfly or a pretty angel of some sort.

[Stephen] thinks Im silly, but Ill only get a tiny one. So he thinks, well, if you want to do it, do it.'

Opinion: In a new interview, the Loose Women panellist admitted her husband Stephen Way thinks her decision to get body art is a 'silly' idea (pictured in 2019)

Earlier this year, the host declared she's 'a woman with hope' after finally getting the coronavirus vaccine.

The veteran radio star, who falls into one of the vaccination drive's top tiers, confirmed she had received the jab while appearing on Loose Women.

Addressing the panel, Gloria said having the vaccine has boosted her confidence and given her a positive outlook on what still remains a rather uncertain future.

Past restrictions: The presenter said she'd like to have an inking of a small butterfly or angel, after years of banning her late daughter Caron from getting her ears pierced (pictured in 1993)

She said: 'You're looking at a woman now with hope that I'll have a little bit more security. I've always been for the vaccine and Ive been boring all of you for weeks saying when am I going to get it, and yesterday was the day.

The Northern Irish journalist was also full of praise for the NHS staff responsible for treating her, adding: 'The needle was in before I even knew it, the nurse was terrific and I feel really good.

'I'm of the age where I lived through vaccines. In school we had TB etc, and I'm all for it. I just feel full of hope and I'm really glad I got it, I'm a happy girl today.'
The race for Bayonnes assembly seat is not over yet.

Assemblyman Nicholas Chiaravalloti left open the possibility of running for reelection for the Legislative District 31 assembly seat, despite the fact that Bayonne Mayor Jimmy Davis has pulled his support for his onetime allys campaign.

Chiaravalloti told The Jersey Journal Wednesday that he is still trying to determine what I do next.

Were still working it, were still talking to people, still out there collecting petitions, he said. And well make that decision in a couple of weeks.

Until earlier this year, the race for Chiaravallotis assembly seat was shaping up to be a quiet one; for years, Davis and the assemblyman were widely perceived as close allies.

But last month the mayor unexpectedly revoked his support for the lawmakers reelection campaign, a decision that blindsided many in Hudson County and across the state. Chiaravalloti told The Jersey Journal that he still doesnt know the reason for the mayors decision, which he said completely took me off-guard and by surprise.

Two weeks ago, Davis announced his chosen candidate: William B. Sampson IV, a crane operator at Bayonne Container Terminal and union member in the International Longshoremans Association Local 1588.

In an interview Wednesday, Sampson said he did not personally know Chiaravalloti, but called him an excellent legislator.

I have nothing but nice things to say about Nick, Sampson said. I do wish him well. I dont know his plans, but I know my plans. And that is, Im going to run on that Democratic ticket.

In written responses to questions sent by The Jersey Journal, Davis said that he made his choice after conversations about where we are and where we need to be as a city with Chiaravalloti and that he didnt come to this decision lightly.

In the end, its as simple as me deciding that I just needed to go in a new direction, Davis said. Will (Sampson) has the energy, skill sets and vision to be a tremendous legislative asset for the City of Bayonne and the state of New Jersey.

Along with Angela McKnight, Chiaravalloti represents Hudson Countys 31st legislative district, which includes Bayonne and some of Jersey City, in the state assembly. The primary race for the assembly is June 8.

Per Hudson County tradition, mayors of municipalities get to choose the candidates that run on the Democratic party line, though the final decision rests with Hudson County Democratic Organization Chairwoman Amy DeGise. Though she appeared in a photo with Davis and Sampson two weeks ago, DeGise has not spoken publicly about the race and did not respond to a request for comment.

Winning an election without the county line  and the support of the powerful HCDO  is a near-impossible task; Chiaravalloti himself mounted a failed bid for the assembly in 2007 without the line.

But the three-term assemblyman and majority whip had roughly $45,000 in campaign funds on hand as of January and has continued to hold fundraisers. And he has strong ties to many powerful New Jersey Democrats, among them U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez and Gov. Phil Murphy, both of whom reportedly urged Davis not to replace him on the Democratic ticket last month.

Im in the race right now, Chiaravalloti said. What I do two weeks from now, I dont know. But if you asked me two weeks ago, I would have told you with absolute confidence that I was running with the HCDO, with the full faith and support of Jimmy Davis. So to ask me what Im going to do in two weeks  its a lifetime in politics, especially in Hudson County.
Gospel artists support Kirk Franklin after audio of him cursing adult son is leaked

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Sixteen-time Grammy Award-winning gospel pioneer Kirk Franklin was at the center of controversy over the weekend after audio of him cursing at his adult son was leaked.

Many in the gospel music world have since rallied around him, sending messages of support following his public apology.

Franklin issued an apology on Saturday after his 32-year-old estranged son, Kerrion Franklin, leaked a portion of their recent argument over the phone where Franklin can be heard using profane language and physically threatening his son, who also cussed at his father.

I will break your neck, (N-word). Dont you ever disrespect me," the 51-year-old can be heard saying before hanging up. Kerrion posted the clip on his Instagram page. The conversation is laced with profane language coming from the gospel legend. The son revealed that the exchange was "recent."

Franklin issued a video apology on social media Sunday and revealed that he and his son have a "toxic relationship" and have "tried for many years through counseling, through therapy, to try to rectify this private family matter."

He continued: Recently, my son and I had an argument that he chose to record. I felt extremely disrespected in that conversation and I lost my temper. And I said words that are not appropriate. And Im sincerely sorry to all of you.

Following his apology, Franklin, who is a household name in gospel music, received several messages of support from his peers under his video apology.

Gospel giant Marvin Sapp assured Franklin that he, too, has lost his temper due to complicated family situations.

"All of us have blown a gasket when it comes to our children if youre a parent, Sapp wrote. None of us are exempt. Those of us that know you, know your true character and understand. Those that dont and have opinions as believers I want to refer all of you to Galatians 6:1. Spiritual people dont slander they restore considering themselves. Much love Bro.

Younger artists such as Tasha Cobbs Leonard, Jonathan McReynolds, Kierra Sheard all sent Franklin messages assuring him that he is "loved" by them.

CeCe Winans echoed the sentiment, writing, I Love you Kirk! And Praying for you Kirk and your precious family!!

Fred Hammond told Franklin, You got it bro.

Worship leader and pastor, Travis Greene sent the musician encouragement. Youre the Greatest. Always forever, he shared.

Priscilla Shirer simply wrote, My brother.

Hip-hop artist Lecrae maintained, It aint our business. God be with your family bro.

Gospel newcomer Koryn Hawthorne added, No apologies needed at all , prayers for your family.

While many came to his defense, not everyone accepted Franklins apology. Popular social media preacher Marcus Rogers said Christians who curse should be held accountable.

Let me warn you ... stay away from that lukewarm Christianity, Rogers wrote on Facebook. The enemy is using different individuals to water down BIBLICAL Christianity and holiness. We should be set apart from this world. If the world knows cussing is bad and they don't do it in front of kids or in certain places, how is it that a believer can't see it?

He added: Furthermore, Jesus wouldn't be walking around cussing. I have seen many folks get saved and the Holy Spirit delivered them from doing drugs. I have also seen the same thing happen with cussing, and there is a reason for that. God wants to transform your life. Remember a mistake isn't the same as a lifestyle of sin and rebellion.

Kerrion criticized his dads apology as well and noted that Franklin has yet to apologize to him. He said in a post on Sunday that he was the "only (one) that ever called and tried to go to counseling," with his father. He accused Franklin of playing "mind games" with his supporters.

Franklins apology concluded with him saying, "I'm human and I'm going to make mistakes, and I'm trying to get it right. Please keep me and my family in your prayers."

Franklin has been very successful as a solo gospel artist along with his choir group Kirk Franklin & The Family. His work has also infiltrated the mainstream markets featuring collaborations with Whitney Houston, Salt N Pepa, Chance the Rapper and Tori Kelly, to name a few.
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Lt Gen BS Raju hands over command of strategic Kashmir-based 15 Corps

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Mar 17: Lt Gen BS Raju has handed over command of the strategic Kashmir-based 15 Corps to Lt Gen DP Pandey.

The General commanded the Corps in critical phase in 2020 where Kashmir was confronted with the twin challenges of terrorism and COVID-19.

Lt Gen Raju's tenure over the last one year is defined by an improved security environment prevailing both on the Line of Control and in Kashmir. With the civil administration and security forces synergising their efforts to bring normalcy back to Kashmir, terrorism is on decline with assessed residual terrorist numbers being the lowest in a decade.

On the Line of Control, his approach combined a forward heavy deployment enabled by a dense electronic and surveillance grid. Pakistani cease fire violations were dealt punitive responses resulting in operational ascendancy by the Indian Army.

To complement relentless and successful counter-terrorist operations, Lt Gen Raju ensured an improved Soldier-Citizen connect. This effort included many successful events all over the Kashmir Valley, co-opting the Awaam in various sports, culture, arts, education, skilling and health initiatives. The Army effectively used its deployment grid, especially in far-flung areas to be the first respondent in case of need. Grassroot interactions such as intra-dialogue within the youth and 'Day with Company Commander' received overwhelming response.

Gen Raju strongly propagated for a second chance to the misguided youth, as he believes this to be critical to achieving lasting peace in J&K. The Army has taken proactive steps to connect with the youth including those who have picked up the weapons against the state. There has been a collaborative effort alongwith society members, families and other stake holders to encourage and facilitate return of the misguided youth from the path of terrorism. The effort has got an encouraging response, success in terms of surrenders and support from all sections of the society, and will get additional impetus in the coming months.

Having served as Uri Brigade Commander, GOC of Victor Force and now as GOC Chinar Corps, Gen Raju reinforced and institutionalised high professional standards and ethical conduct in combat operations. He moves to assume higher responsibilities as Director General of Military Operations of the Indian Army.

On the occasion of Republic Day, Lieutenant General BS Raju was awarded the prestigious Uttam Yudh Seva Medal (UYSM), in recognition of this contribution in taking Kashmir on a positive trajectory on the path of lasting peace.

Karnataka CD Scandal: Family claims woman kidnapped, files complaint| Oneindia News

In his farewell message, Gen Raju complimented all ranks of Chinar Corps for their dedication and hard work, he also thanked JKP, CAPFs, Civil administration and the Awaam for their relentless support in the joint efforts towards peace and prosperity in J&K. He conveyed his greetings and best wishes to the Awaam of Kashmir and the entire Chinar Corps.

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Story first published: Wednesday, March 17, 2021, 14:02 [IST]
A Co Antrim family say they are angry and heartbroken after their loved pet kitten died following a cruel crossbow attack.

The shocking incident happened at some time on Tuesday afternoon in Kells.

Tigger, an eight-month-old ginger tom, had to be put to sleep by a vet as the bolt had punctured his heart.

The much-loved pet was owned by Heather and Trevor Davidson.

Their son Michael appealed for anyone who had any information or who might have witnessed "this terrible act of cruelty" to contact police.

"My father recently suffered a stroke which impacted on his sight, so we got the cat to help him in his recovery," Michael said.

"He has been going through a really rough time and Tigger brought him a bit of joy."

He added: "I got the call from my dad at around five o'clock to say the cat had returned home very badly injured after being shot by a bolt.

"We don't know how Tigger even managed to make it home in the first place.

"My mother was in hysterics and took him to the vet straight away, but there was nothing that could be done except to put him to sleep because the bolt had pierced his heart.

"Words can't describe how I feel about this. An innocent kitten can't even go outside without getting shot with a crossbow.

"My parents and I are absolutely distraught and heartbroken.

"We haven't slept a wink because it's so upsetting."

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The family are offering a reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the cruel thug responsible.

"There is 500 available for the person that helps me find the person who did this so we can get justice for this poor animal," Michael said.

"This type of cruelty cannot be allowed to happen and it really makes my blood boil.

"Someone has to know something. I hope the person who has done this to my mother's kitten gets what they deserve."

The PSNI said: "Police attended a call today in the area of Connor whereby a young cat 'Tigger' has lost his life. This was as a result of being shot by a bolt. The young cat returned to his home address today at around 5pm after being let out at 12pm.

"Police are requesting for any information to assist with an ongoing investigation into this matter. Should anyone from the Kells and Connor area feel the information they have may be useful, please contact the police on 101 quoting CC 1746 16/03/21."

There were 121 convictions for animal cruelty offences from 2018 to 2019, the last period for which official figures are available.

In a response to an Assembly question, Justice Minister Naomi Long told North Down DUP MLA Alex Easton: "There were 68 convictions at courts for offences under animal welfare legislation in 2018. Of these, five resulted in a custodial sentence, all of which were for offences related to domestic animals.

"In 2019, the most recent year for which information is available, there were 53 cases dealt with at courts which resulted in a conviction for offences under animal welfare legislation. Of these, five resulted in a custodial sentence, three of which were for offences related to domestic animals."
LOS ANGELES, March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas) today announced that last year, the company's energy efficiency programs helped conserve more energy than any other natural gas utility in the U.S. The utility invests more in energy efficiency than any other natural gas local distribution company in the country and currently operates the largest natural gas energy efficiency program. In 2020, SoCalGas' energy efficiency programs saved enough energy to power 100,000 homes in southern California for one year. By using less energy, SoCalGas customers saved more than $44 million in energy costs last year alone and reduced greenhouse gas emissions linked to climate change by more than 211,000 metric tons  equal to removing 45,000 cars from the road.

"Energy efficiency must be the foundation as we build the cleanest, safest and most innovative energy company in America. The track record for energy efficiency is undisputed: it reduces greenhouse gas emissions while saving our customers money on their bills," said Gillian Wright, senior vice president and chief customer officer at SoCalGas. "As customers think about their natural gas use, they should look to SoCalGas and our energy efficiency rebate and cost-savings programs to help them achieve their own sustainability goals."

SoCalGas' energy efficiency programs have offered consistent energy savings and have been an industry leader for more than a decade. Approximately 1.5 million households and businesses enrolled in the utility's energy efficiency programs in 2020. One of the most effective SoCalGas energy efficiency programs is the home energy report. Residential customers enrolled in this program receive a personalized report that helps them better understand their natural gas usage and how to use energy wisely to help lower bills. SoCalGas also offers energy efficiency rebates to residential and business customers on hundreds of appliances and products that help conserve energy and reduce costs. To learn more about these measures, click here.

An energy efficient natural gas appliance, over its lifetime, will save customers thousands of dollars in natural gas costs. A tankless water heater can save about $1,500, an efficient traditional water heater about $200. An energy efficient furnace will use about $550 less in natural gas over its lifetime and a smart thermostat, which can learn a customer's schedule and temperature preferences to adjust the temperature in the home accordingly, can save $125 over its lifetime.

In the last five years, SoCalGas' energy efficiency programs have generated over $1 billion in avoided energy costs and delivered more than 219 million therms in energy savings, enough natural gas usage for 548,000 households a year. These energy savings reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 1.15 million metric tons of carbon dioxide, equivalent of removing more than 250,000 cars annually. Overall, these measures have helped SoCalGas customers save over $241 million on their natural gas bill costs over the past five years.

In addition to its energy efficiency programs, SoCalGas' Energy Savings Assistance (ESA) program provides eligible customers with home improvements, at no cost to the renter or homeowner, that help conserve energy, reduce natural gas use and enhance the safety, health, and comfort of the renter or homeowner. SoCalGas provides this service to approximately 100,000 customers each year. To date, more than 1.5 million homes have received upgrades through the ESA program. To learn more, please visit socalgas.com/assistance.

About SoCalGas

Headquartered in Los Angeles, SoCalGas is the largest gas distribution utility in the United States. SoCalGas delivers affordable, reliable, clean and increasingly renewable gas service to 21.8 million customers across 24,000 square miles of Central and Southern California, where more than 90 percent of residents use natural gas for heating, hot water, cooking, drying clothes or other uses. Gas delivered through the company's pipelines also plays a key role in providing electricity to Californians about 45 percent of electric power generated in the state comes from gas-fired power plants.

SoCalGas' mission is to build the cleanest, safest and most innovative energy company in America , delivering affordable and increasingly renewable energy to its customers. In support of that mission, SoCalGas is committed to replacing 20 percent of its traditional natural gas supply with renewable natural gas (RNG) by 2030. Renewable natural gas is made from waste created by dairy farms, landfills and wastewater treatment plants. SoCalGas is also committed to investing in its gas delivery infrastructure while keeping bills affordable for our customers. From 2015 through 2019, the company invested nearly $7 billion to upgrade and modernize its pipeline system to enhance safety and reliability. SoCalGas is a subsidiary of Sempra Energy (NYSE: SRE), an energy services holding company based in San Diego. For more information visit socalgas.com/newsroom or connect with SoCalGas on Twitter (@SoCalGas), Instagram (@SoCalGas) and Facebook.

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By Hamid Ould Ahmed

ALGIERS (Reuters) - Abdenour Ait Said and Mohamed Chabti both helped topple Algeria's veteran president nearly two years ago by taking part in mass street demonstrations against the ruling elite but they no longer agree on the protests.

The protest movement, known as 'Hirak', brought tens of thousands of people to the streets each week for more than a year until the global pandemic hit Algeria in early 2020, forcing them to stop.

Now, as the demonstrations resume with thousands of people pressing once again for more comprehensive change, Ait Said and Chabti have taken different paths that reflect a wider debate among those who first took to the streets.

Ait Said, a 22-year-old biology student, still attends the protests. He wants the entire ruling elite that has governed Algeria since independence from France in 1962 out of office and the army to quit politics.

"The demands of the Hirak and its goals have not been achieved yet," he said.

For Chabti, a 33-year-old teacher, the protesters won when the army forced out veteran president Abdelaziz Bouteflika in April 2019 and senior officials were jailed for corruption.

He sees the demands for more change as insulting the army, an institution closely bound up with Algeria's painful struggle to end colonial rule.

"They criticise and demand change, but they do not offer alternatives. They do not even have a leadership to negotiate," said Chabti of the protesters.

Late in 2019, the military pushed new presidential elections - decried by the protesters as a charade - that led to the victory of Abdelmadjid Tebboune on a low voter turnout.

This month Tebboune denied that the army had a political role and said he had responded to the protesters' demands, citing the release of some detainees and plans to reform institutions.

Last year his offer to negotiate with Hirak led nowhere and his promises of economic reform have not materialised. Changes to the constitution he introduced as a sop to Hirak passed a referendum, but on a dismal turnout of 24%.

Story continues

MILITARY ROLE

Tebboune's position has won the support of some protesters like Chabti.

"Insulting the army and state institutions is not an appropriate way to make change. Striving for a better life requires peaceful manners," he said, sitting in an Algiers cafe and backed up by his friends.

The disagreements about Hirak's future have been sharpened by an increasingly tough stance from the authorities, in what the United Nations human rights agency described as a crackdown that has included many arrests.

Though street protests appear tolerated, people are hindered from reaching the marches by checkpoints and the U.N. Commission on Human Rights said hundreds of individuals had been detained.

Khaled Drareni, a journalist, was detained last year after covering the protests and sentenced to two years in prison on charges that included inciting a gathering and threatening national unity. He was freed after 11 months under an amnesty.

"Hirak has liberated many things and opened the way for freedoms and the expression of political opinion," he said.

But, Drareni added, "the state of freedoms in Algeria is very bad... We must continue our fight for press freedom."

This view chimes with Ait Said, who was one of the first to join the demonstrations in 2019 and who still walks in the front row of protest marches.

"Hirak must continue... Students and the people will remain in the field until the goals are achieved, God willing," he said, wearing sports clothes and marching with a crowd in central Algiers.

(Reporting by Hamid Ould Ahmed, additional reporting by Reuters TV, editing by Angus McDowall and Gareth Jones)
Director of the West African Center for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP), Professor Gordon Awandare was a guest on the Y Leaderboard Series as part of the stations mandate to inspire the youth through experience sharing.



He touched on exciting aspects of his childhood, upbringing, education, family, career, among other things.



Prof. Awandare in a riveting conversation with YFMs Rev. Erskine shared that his family has been crucial in instilling in him the values of sacrifices and care for others.



Being in a family where people genuinely care for each other and sacrifice for each other shapes your future and that is what shaped my future. It is that experience of being loved even in the midst of very modest circumstances. My grandfather used to get eggs from the fowls he had and boiled them for me every day. He made it a point to do that. My grandmother tried to make sure that I ate well and she was so protective of me that my parents thought I was too spoiled by my grandmother, he said.



Reminiscing some of the childhood memories he had while growing up, he noted that there was no stress or traffic and knowing that you are not missing out on anything brings the satisfaction of being very much at ease with what you have and what you can do.



Commenting on his education, he revealed what inclined him to do science in school when he said: I felt like I was not good at memorizing things. Science was more logical and I did not have to memorize like the arts so it became a very easy decision for me to make as I am definitely a more logical person.



He stated that after his education at The Presbyterian Boys' Senior High School (PRESEC), he furthered to the University of Ghana to pursue medicine. However, due to some reasons, he was unable to pursue that course and ended up studying biochemistry.



The Researcher spoke briefly about his PhD education in the United States and in his submission, he observed that the US had more practical ways of teaching while Ghana was more focused on theory. He however believes that gradually Ghana is getting closer to the practical ways of teaching and learning.



As a Founding Director of WACCBIP, he proposed that the private sector contributes to the funding of research facilities and that of educational institutions.



On his accord, a well-established innovation fund will go a long way to support the various underfunded research facilities and institutions in Ghana.



In his final words, the Professor encouraged all Ghanaian youths to keep moving. You cannot give up or feel helpless. It will demotivate you if you feel helpless. Keep moving and looking for solutions.



Programmes Manager of YFM Accra, Eddy Blay was enthused by the interview with Professor Awandare as he expressed: We are very privileged to have hosted Prof. Awandare on the show. By all standards, he inspired our listeners with his story and vision and we are glad that was able to happen.

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 man, believed to be armed with a firearm, who triggered a school lockdown and made threats against police has suffered a dog bite during his arrest on the Gold Coast.

The search for Mark Lutgenau, 37, near Ormeau State School caused a five-hour emergency declaration on Tuesday, causing chaos during the afternoon school pick-up.

He had been missing since Monday night where he was last seen in Upper Coomera.

A police spokeswoman would not confirm a News Corp report on Wednesday that police stations had been warned of a threat that the suspect would attend a station in Queenslands south-east and start shooting.

A police spokesman on Wednesday said police are aware that the man has made threats.
The move to phase 1c means much of the citys population will be allowed a vaccine at the end of the month. But the process of vaccinating the upcoming group is expected to take at least two months and will likely see some of the same scramble for limited appointments that Chicagoans in the previous stages have weathered, Chicago public health Commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady said. Still, she said, the city expects its vaccine supply to increase over time and believes it will have enough to broaden vaccine eligibility.
Today in 1998, "Ghetto Dreams" was posthumously released by the late Patrick "Fat Pat" Hawkins.

The album was released a month after Pat was shot dead by an unknown killer on February 3, 1998.

SCREWED UP CLICK AFFILIATE: It's Lil Troy's 55th birthday and 'Wanna Be A Baller' still bangs

The album featured the single "Tops Drop," which is arguably one of the best hip-hop songs ever made. The track peaked at No. 10 on the US Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100, and No. 5 on Hot Rap Songs, according to Genius.

Via Wreckshop

What's so significant about Fat Pat's ascendancy in the music industry is that many other rappers have seen success with albums to release before their untimely demiseBiggie, Tupac, Big L to name a few. But Fat Pat's story is a little different. The late Houston emcee was just starting to make a name for himself in the music industry before the release of "Ghetto Dreams." Despite his untimely passing, the Wreckshop Records emcee still managed to have a lot of success.

The album was already complete before Fat Pat was murdered, but there wasn't a huge promotional push behind his album and his single "Tops Drop." When you take a look at the music video for the timeless track, you'll notice that the visual is filled with cars cruising around Houston, featuring cutaways of people in crowds admiring the vehicles. The music video, great for what it was, doesn't really show Pat. At the beginning of the video, you hear a woman yell "Pat you be careful out there," right before the beat drops, and then you see impressive cars"slabs"throughout the video.

It isn't until the end of the music video where you'll see a "FAT PAT R.I.P."

Houston emcees Big Pokey and Double D guest on the slow riding, D-produced "Do U Like What U See." Lil KeKe and Ronnie Spencer also cameo on the crossover track "Peepin Me."

The beauty of Fat Pat's debut album is that it opened a new door for Houston sound. Counter to his other rap counterparts, Fat Pat carved out a lane of his own. His sound is a beautiful amalgamation of G-Funk and Trill.

Fat Pat's braggadocious ways have a presence still felt in Houston today. Having never met Pat, it's very clear that he wanted to live life to the fullest. You can hear it in songs like "Tops Drop," where he raps, "Looking good its understood, flossing for my hood, taking pride in my ride, like every player should."
The company's change of heart, following a protracted legal battle, was "absolutely to be welcomed", Britain's business minister Kwasi Kwarteng told Sky News.

US ride-hailing giant Uber's decision to grant its UK drivers worker status won praise in Britain on Wednesday and raised hopes it could transform the gig economy, but it was met with scepticism elsewhere in Europe.

Uber revealed late Tuesday it is handing UK drivers workers' entitlements, including a minimum wage, holiday pay and a pension, in a world first for the group that also marked a major U-turn.

The Silicon Valley company's 70,000 drivers across Britain will now earn at least the national living wage when driving for the taxi app, with hopes that more technology platforms will follow suit there and worldwide.

The move came after London's Supreme Court last month ruled that Uber's UK drivers were entitled to the rights, in a landmark decision for the nation's estimated 5.5 million people working in the so-called gig economy.

The company's change of heart, following a protracted legal battle, was "absolutely to be welcomed", business minister Kwasi Kwarteng told Sky News.

"I've always said that the new phase of our economy should be about protecting workers' rights, driving higher standards and driving new technologies."

'Real social protection'

British labour law distinguishes between workers, who can receive the minimum wage and other benefits, and employees who have formal contracts.

Uber UK drivers were previously classified as self-employed, in line with many other gig economy firms, attracting fierce criticism from trade unions.

"Uber's announcement should mark the end of the road for bogus self-employment," said GMB trade union official Mick Rix.

The decision "opens the door for workers, and their unions, to win the fight for better pay and conditions at companies across the gig economy".

But Ludovic Voet, of the Brussels-based European Trade Union Confederation, warned against creating a similar worker status on the continent, where people are either employees or self-employed.

"It would not be an improvement," Voet said, explaining that it offers fewer protections than an employee status while being less flexible and independent than being self-employed.

Ben Ali Brahim, of France's INV union representing thousands of ride-hailing drivers, echoed the concerns for Europe.

"A real employee benefits from real social protection," he said.

"It's not for Uber to negotiate what to give the worker... there is a labour law, it must be respected."

'Decision will reverberate'

London Uber drivers Yaseen Aslam and James Farrar, who were claimants in the Supreme Court fight, have welcomed Uber's U-turn.

Farrar described the announcement as "a step in the right direction" but argued that it still fell short.

He expressed concern that the Uber benefits would start to accrue when a driver accepts a riderather than when they log into the firm's system.

Its strategy shift comes amid increasing global awareness of the plight of workers in the gig economy, in particular as app-based delivery firms experience booming demand during coronavirus lockdowns.

Spain last week became the first European Union member nation to recognise riders working for companies like Deliveroo and Uber Eats as salaried staff, after complaints about working conditions.

The EU is meanwhile conducting a consultation on the rights of gig economy workers in the region, addressing aspects including employment status and access to social protection.

"Uber's decision to reclassify its 70,000 drivers as workers will reverberate through the entire gig economy," Hargreaves Lansdown economist Susannah Streeter told AFP.

"It is likely that other operators will now be forced to reassess the employment status of the drivers they have relied on to develop lucrative businesses," Street said.

"The decision is also likely to be taken into consideration by the European Commission which has begun its consultation on the rights of gig economy workers and could bring in new legislation at the end of this year."

Explore further Uber grants UK drivers worker status in world first

 2021 AFP
Vaccinations Open to All Adults April 19; State Getting Boost in Vaccine Doses

BOSTON  All residents ages 16 and older will be eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine on Patriots Day, April 19.

Gov. Charlie Baker on Wednesday morning announced new dates of eligibility for those ages 60, 55, with certain medical conditions and employed in specified occupations.

Speaking at the Brockton Neighborhood Health Center, the governor said states were informed of the increased doses during a call with federal officials on Tuesday night.

"The news about the arrival of more vaccine from the federal government means we will be able to move faster to get doses to our residents, and this is long overdue and welcome," he said.

While good news, the governor said again that the ability to get shots in arms was wholly dependent on vaccine distribution from the federal government and will take months to complete.

"Everyone who wants a vaccine will get one. And practically no other state in America is moving as quickly as we are, and as equitably as we are here," he said. "In 24 hours, we expect to go over 1 million Massachusetts residents, fully vaccinated against this terrible virus that obviously is a significant milestone for the people of Massachusetts."

The state is expecting first doses next week of approximately 170,000, up from the 130,000 to 145,000 it has been getting. This includes an unexpected 8,000 doses of the one-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

In total, the state will receive 316,000 first and second doses as part of the state allocation. This does not include about 116,000 doses to the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program and Federally Qualified Health Centers.

Regional collaboratives and local boards of health are getting 59,580 doses and mass vaccinations will receive almost double that at 101,890.

"We're also taking an additional step to prioritize people who are 60 and older, and people who are 55 and older," Baker said in referring to the new eligibility dates. "There's a very strong and important correlation between COVID and age. And we believe adding these groups by age will help us vaccinate more of our most vulnerable population faster."

The full timeline is available at mass.gov/COVIDVaccinePhases

March 22: Residents ages 60 and older and certain workers , including those employed in all aspects of food service, grocery, transit, medical supply chains, and vaccine development.

April 5: Residents ages 55 and older or with one listed medical condition , such as cancer, pregnancy asthma or chronic kidney disease.

April 19: Anyone age 16 and older.

"I take a lot of comfort in the fact that 75 percent of the people over the age of 75 in Massachusetts at this point are vaccinated and then around two-thirds of the people over the age of 65 are vaccinated and that many people who work in congregate care of one kind or another and who live in congregate care have been able to get vaccinated," the governor said.

Secretary of Health and Human Services Marylou Sudders also announced the release of $27.4 million in federal funds to the administration's Vaccine Equity Initiative.

"The funding will be used to increase trust, vaccine acceptance and administration rates as part of the administration's vaccine equity initiative and to meet the needs of high risk populations," said Sudders. "We must be intentional and public about steps in order to be equitable."

These funds will go to community health centers, faith-based and community organizations who are able to reach people who may be leery of accessing conventional vaccine settings for a variety of reasons, or who lack the ability or support to signup. These individuals include homeless people, those with serious mental illness or who are undocumented.

The governor urged people to continue to follow pandemic guidelines and get tested if you have symptoms or may have been in contact with someone who has symptoms or tested positive. Testing is free at numerous sites around the state.

"We're all eager to get back to something like normal, and see our friends and loved ones again, the vaccines can't come fast enough, but it's important we don't forget the COVID is still very much with us, and that it's going to be with us for the foreseeable future," the governor said.
It would have looked unremarkable to a passer-by: A man carrying a holdall, walking into a building on an industrial estate.

It was anything but. The bag was stuffed with more than 250,000 in cash.

And the man carrying it was among a procession of couriers who ensured up to 2million flowed into that building every day.

Swoop: Police raid the gold dealer Fowler Oldfield's Bradford premises in September 2016 where couriers would drop off bags stuffed with cash totalling up to 2m a day

Police would later raid the premises and smash the network behind the operation.

In a subsequent trial, the judge branded their actions as money laundering on 'a massive scale'.

It is against this dramatic backdrop that Natwest now finds itself heading to court.

The High Street lender, formerly known as Royal Bank of Scotland, was this week revealed to have provided banking services to the firm at the centre of the criminal operation  gold dealer Fowler Oldfield.

That led regulators to launch criminal proceedings against the bank on Tuesday, in a move that has surprised many in the City.

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) accused Natwest of breaching anti-money-laundering regulations when handling a string of cash deposits made by Fowler Oldfield between November 2011 and October 2016.

Some 365million worth of payments into the firm's account included 264million deposited in bank notes, the FCA alleges.

Financial firms must do everything possible to prevent their services from becoming the tools of criminals, laws passed in 2007 say.

RBS boss Alison Rose has been trying to repair the lender's damaged reputation

The case against Natwest is the first criminal prosecution ever undertaken under the 2007 rules.

When handling funds from Fowler Oldfield, the FCA alleges that Natwest failed to properly scrutinise 'increasingly large cash deposits'.

Fowler Oldfield was shut down in 2016 and its assets are in the hands of the police, who are still investigating.

Prosecutions have already resulted in several defendants from the Merseyside area being sentenced in the past two years, including men who transported the cash.

Prosecutors said a courier would be summoned by text message and did not know how much was in each bag he dropped off at Fowler Oldfield, according to a local newspaper report.

They would then hand the cash to Fowler Oldfield's reception and were usually given an envelope containing a token for proof of delivery. The men were paid for transporting the money.

Bags were then unpacked in a counting room behind closed doors at Fowler Oldfield and the amount from each courier recorded in a ledger.

But it was this ledger and CCTV footage that later helped investigators to identify the couriers, after West Yorkshire Police's economic crime unit raided the site in 2016.

Police were supported by the National Crime Agency, often dubbed Britain's answer to the FBI, with 12 people arrested for money laundering offences.

When sentencing four couriers, crown court Judge Colin Burn noted that they had been targeted for recruitment because of their debts, often from gambling.

One man feared that if he had not delivered the money there would be consequences for himself and his family.

According to a liquidator report in January, Fowler Oldfield's assets are still held by police. It still owes 1.7million to Natwest in overdrafts and loans, while 10.5million is owed to other unsecured creditors.

Police investigations into the money laundering remain 'ongoing', according to the liquidator's report.

A source familiar with the probes said a remarkable aspect was the simple methods employed. 'Money laundering these days can be complicated,' the source said, adding that the convicted men were 'doing it the old-fashioned way'.

Natwest has stated that it has cooperated with the criminal probe and that it took its anti-money-laundering responsibilities 'extremely seriously'.

The Bank's chief executive, Alison Rose, said that Natwest had 'invested very significantly in systems and controls to prevent money laundering.'

No individuals have been charged, and there is a hearing listed at Westminster Magistrates' Court on April 14.
CHISINAU (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 17th March, 2021) Moldova's Party of Socialists (PSRM) will challenge the nomination of Igor Grosu, the leader of the Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS), for the post of prime minister in the Constitutional Court, Vlad Batryncha, a PSRM member and the deputy speaker of the parliament, said on Wednesday.

President Maia Sandu nominated Grosu as the candidate on Tuesday.

"Today we will appeal to the Constitutional Court and urge it to record a violation of the law in connection with the nomination of Grosu as a candidate for prime minister. We will take measures to ensure a dialogue with the president in adequate conditions, tomorrow we will nominate a worthy candidate for prime minister," Batryncha said.
Kim Hanbin, better known as B.I, is scheduled to launch his first album this March since leaving iKON. This return will be a meaningful one as all profits from his first release will be given as donations.

B.I will be Releasing an Album after Almost Two Years since Leaving iKON

In the past few days, the former iKON member has been giving hints about his upcoming return to the K-pop scene.

On March 9, B.I posted on Twitter for the first time in three years. He shared a white-and-black photo that shows himself in a studio, although his face isn't shown. This picture of him had many fans speculating that he is probably working on new music.

On March 14, he tweeted "start" or "beginnings," and followed it with an "end" tweet the next day. These posts again hinted at his upcoming return with new music after a long time.

Then, on the next day, it was confirmed that he will, indeed, come back to the K-pop industry.

On March 16, B.I's agency IOK Company announced that the male idol will be launching an album titled "Midnight Blue." This will be his first album in approximately two years since he left iKON in June 2019. It will not be a regular album, but instead a donation album as B.I will be donating all of the profits earned, from the sales to copyright royalties, to a non-governmental organization that supports children and youth in need. B.I's album will contain a track titled "Midnight Blue."

A music video teaser was also dropped on the same day as the announcement of his return. Uploaded by B.I's company, 131 Label, the MV teaser shows an animated guy that does sign languages as the music plays in the background.

In the MV teaser's description, it is stated that "Midnight Blue" is a song that will provide "a warm embrace to the audience with a calm piano melody and warm vocal tone." Like a line in the track that says, "I will cover your heart with a blanket in the dark midnight," B.I's new song will bring comfort to those who are enduring pain alone.

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: Former iKON Member B.I Joins as a Volunteer in a Fan Project

The phrase "B.I LOVE STREAMING" was also written in the description, as well as the official release date of B.I's new album - it is set to drop on March 19 at 6 p.m. KST. Aside from "Midnight Blue," B.I's new album will also include tracks that were already released via SoundCloud.

B.I Shares Poster for His New Album "Midnight Blue"

Meanwhile, B.I continues the countdown of his return with a poster for his new album "Midnight Blue." On March 17, the former iKON member uploaded a project poster to the 131 Label Twitter account.

In addition to the title of his upcoming album, the image includes the name of the non-governmental organization, World Vision, to which he will be donating all the profits.

This is not the first time that Kim Hanbin will be giving donations to the organization. He, in fact, has donated millions of won to the NGO World Vision in 2020.

Don't miss out on the release of B.I's new album "Midnight Blue" on March 19 at 6:00 p.m. KST!

For more news updates about other K-Pop news, always keep your tabs open here at Kpopstarz.

Owned by Kpopstarz.

Written by Mhaliya Scott
Although some studies have concluded that masks help stop the spread of COVID-19, usually they have failed to replicate real-world situations. A common approach is to evaluate the effectiveness of mask material at stopping the expulsion or intake of the aerosols presumed to be the airborne carriers of the virus. Useful information, perhaps, but at this stage, what we need to know is whether the widespread use of masks is measurably reducing the risk of death from the disease. To continue requiring the use of masks makes sense only if there is compelling data that death rates are lower for people who wear masks than it is for people who do not.

We have no way of measuring whether or how much and how appropriately individuals wear masks, but state mandates that people wear them are predicated on the notion that more people will do so if they are threatened with a fine or punishment. Thus, it makes sense to demand that states with mask mandates have lower COVID-19 death rates than states that don't. If states with mask mandates are not experiencing lower rates than states without them, the citizenry should insist that the burdensome policy of requiring masks be abandoned.

Logic or speculation alone cannot provide a reliable answer to the question of mask effectiveness. Neither can the judgments and proclamations of politicians or even public health experts. What we need is data.

The Data

At this URL, it is possible to extract Census Bureau estimates of population for individual states as of July 1, 2020.

The Centers for Disease Control maintains a website that reports the total number of people who have died from COVID-19. Updated daily, the table provides the figures for each state and for the country as a whole. The state figures for virus deaths were extracted from this source on or about February 16.

U.S. News and World Report published an article identifying which states have and have not mandated masks. For those states with a mask mandate, the article tells when the mandate was put into effect.

Those three sources provided the raw data for everything that follows. At the end of this article, I will link to a table containing all the data that were extracted from those sources to answer the question of mask effectiveness.

The Study

The question is, "Do states with mask mandates have lower COVID-19 death rates than states with no mandate?" If they do, the enforced wearing of masks may have been a reasonable approach to limiting deaths from COVID-19. Otherwise, the rationale for imposing mask mandates disintegrates. In a similar fashion, states that never imposed a mask mandate can readily justify their behavior only if their COVID-19 death rates do not exceed those of the mask-mandated states.

Only ten states have had no mask mandate of any sort; the other forty imposed mask mandates that required one to be worn at all indoor venues and in all outdoor situations that challenge the six-foot distancing expectation. The following map identifies the states in each group.

Using the data sources above, figures for the total population and the total number of COVID-19 deaths were extracted for each of the fifty states. A COVID-19 death rate was calculated for each state by dividing its number of COVID-19 deaths by its population and then multiplying the result by 10,000. The result was a COVID-19 death rate indicating the number of deaths per 10,000 people. By sorting these individual state rates into two groups  masks mandatory versus masks voluntary  I could calculate the average COVID-19 death rate for each group.

States with a mask mandate: 13.0 deaths per 10,000 population.

States with no mask mandate: 12.6 deaths per 10,000 population.

Since the average COVID-19 death rate is actually lower for the voluntary mask states than it is for the mandated mask states, it is incumbent on advocates for the mask mandate to either reveal the data upon which they arrived at their conclusion or else stop making the claim that masks help keep people safe.

A variant on the theme of mask-mandated safety is the notion that states that adopted a mask mandate early on have lower death rates than the states that did so late. Since the basis of this contention is that a greater length of time under the rule of mask has been an effective way of assuring low death rates, let us compare the performance of the ten earliest mask mandate states to the performance of the ten states that have never required a mask.

The US News & World Report article provided the information on the start dates for mask mandates. The following tables provide the comparison of the two groups.

The Ten Earliest States to Implement Mask Mandates State COVID-19 Death Rate (Deaths per 10,000) Date of Mask Mandate Maryland 13.1 April 15, 2020 New York 10.4 April 17, 2020 Connecticut 17.9 April 20, 2020 Delaware 11.4 April 28, 2020 Maine 5.2 April 29, 2020 Illinois 14.8 May 1, 2020 Massachusetts 16.8 May 6, 2020 Rhode Island 19.9 May 8, 2020 New Mexico 14.8 May 16, 2020 Virginia 9.0 May 29, 2020 Average 13.3

The Ten States That Never Required Masks State COVID-19 Death Rate (Deaths per 10,000) Alaska 3.5 Florida 12.0 Georgia 11.8 Idaho 9.5 Missouri 14.2 Nebraska 13.0 Oklahoma 14.5 South Carolina 12.2 South Dakota 20.6 Tennessee 14.6 Average 12.6

Once again, the notion that masking up keeps us safe receives no support from the data. In fact, the "bottom ten" outperform the "top ten" by a small but noteworthy margin (12.6 deaths per 10,000 versus 13.3 deaths per 10,000). This hints at the possibility that masks actually elevate the death rate. Would anybody care to investigate?

The impotence of mask mandates is particularly sobering since they usually proceed in lockstep with the other mandated actions intended to control the virus: hand-washing, social distancing, and lockdowns. Since all four control tactics are chasing the same goal (stop the spread of the virus), these data revealing the ineffectiveness of masks may suggest that the other three control tactics are less effective than hoped.

This URL links to a summary of the data extracted at the previously identified URLs.

Image via Pxfuel.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos has said the first civilian governor of the state, Lateef Jakande, remains a reference point for governance.

Mr Sanwo-Olu said this on Wednesday at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan Stadium, during a Day of Tributes in honour of the first civilian governor of Lagos.

Mr Jakande died on Feb. 11 at the age of 91.

He said Mr Jakande, popularly called Baba Kekere, was a man who lived a full life; a life rich not in material things but in the things that truly matter  integrity, honour, service and character.

According to him, late Jakande truly demonstrated that the real essence of power is for the advancement of the welfare and empowerment of the greatest number of people.

He understood the power of education as the most potent weapon that can break the vicious cycle of poverty. He deployed it in a unique manner.

Today, we celebrate a great man, a selfless leader, a rare gem, a quintessential politician, an administrator par excellence, the first civilian governor of Lagos State, architect of modern Lagos.

Through his outstanding and unequalled achievements, Alhaji Lateef Jakande has written his name in gold.

He will continue to be remembered by generations as a reference point in good governance, welfarism, visionary leadership, selfless leadership, transformational leadership and leadership by example.

Baba was a transformational leader, who led by example. His commitment and dedication to building the Greater Lagos of our dream, a Lagos that works for all, was unequalled, he said.

Sanwo-Olu said the first civilian governor served the people with all his heart and never saw his position as a route to personal enrichment and demystified public office through his simple and spartan lifestyle.

He said Mr Jakande had set a standard that successive administrations would continue to strive to live up to and maintain.

In his remarks, the Deputy Governor, Obafemi Hamzat, said the late Mr Jakande lived the life of what he believed and preached.

The deputy governor said his late father, Olatunji Hamzat, served as Commissioner for Transportation in Mr Jakandes cabinet, which afforded him the opportunity to learn from the late Mr Jakandes administrative qualities.

He was a leader and a team leader. Lagos State will remember his free education which gave many Lagosians opportunity to go to school.

LKJ was a man of many parts, renowned journalist, detribalised Nigerian. He had a blueprint, he left a template, Mr Hamzat said.

Tributes

While eulogising his late former boss, Bayo Osiyemi, who served as Chief Press Secretary to Mr Jakande, said the late governor was a man of honour, who kept to his promises.

Mr Osiyemi said the late Mr Jakande implemented the four cardinal programmes of the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN), the party under which he governed Lagos.

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The Secretary to the State Government during Jakandes administration, Olorunfunmi Basorun, said Mr Jakande created a lasting impression on the people he led.

He was an epitome of discipline, a lover of his people, a passionate progressive who pursued whatever he believed in, Mr Basorun said.

Mr Jakande served as the first civilian of Lagos State from 1979 to 1983.

Some of his achievements during his four-year tenure were building the General Hospital, Gbagada; Alausa Secretariat, Ikeja; Lagos State University, Ojo; Lagos Television (LTV); and 13 low-cost housing estates.

He also opened up the Lekki-Epe road axis, built the Alausa Round House which served as the office of the governor for several years.

Mr Jakande established the Nigerian Institute of Journalism and gave free education at all levels.

Immortality

Mr Sanwo-Olu said his government will establish the Lateef Kayode Jakande Leadership Fellowship Academy to immortalise Mr Jakande.

He said the academy, to be backed by law, would help to build future leaders, in tandem with the aspirations of the late first civilian governor.

It is difficult to pass on anything in the name of Baba Jakande, because while he was alive, everything around this state has the emblem of Jakande on it.

Do you want to begin to rename schools? Do you want to begin to rename hospitals or do you want to begin to rename public estates that are already Jakande Estates?

So, to immortalise Alhaji Jakande is an everyday activity for us as a government.

But for me, is to say that we are going to set up an endowment that is going to be called the Lateef Kayode Jakande Leadership Fellowship Academy.

This is what we believe that the transformational leadership that Alhaji Jakande stood for that indeed, we can create leaders of tomorrow on a year-on-year basis.

That we can have leaders that can stand and lead in the spirit and aspirations of Alhaji Lateef Kayode Jakande.

And that would be backed up by the enabling law, and we give it a state that generations coming behind us will not be able to reverse, Mr Sanwo-Olu said.

The governor also said the Red Line Metro Rail being constructed would be completed in the next one and half years.

He said the Lagos metro rail, which the Jakandes administration conceptualised, but could not be implemented, would be achieved by his administration.

(NAN)
Mumbai, March 17 : Actress Radhika Apte had no idea whether Laxmi, her character in the upcoming web series "OK Computer", was male or female at the time she was offered the role! "When I was first offered the role of Laxmi, the makers told me that it was undecided whether my character was male or female, and I soon realised that this was also the case with the other characters. There was so much flexibility and massive room for improvisation in terms of the nuances of her character which were all explored and developed on the go. This made the entire process of portraying this character and working on this series, extremely satisfying," she said.

Throwing light on her character in the show and her similarity with Laxmi's thought process, the actress added: "Laxmi is the head of People for the Ethical Treatment of Every Robot (PETER) and an ardent supporter of the ideology that artificial intelligence cannot harm humans. Laxmi has grown up with robots around her, believes they are the future and would never blame them for committing a crime - especially not a murder. Even though I'm not a tech-friendly person at all, I do believe that robots can be trusted more than humans and in that sense Laxmi and I do have a connection." The upcoming web series "OK Computer" also features Jackie Shroff, Vijay Varma, Rasika Dugal, Vibha Chibber, Sarang Sathaye, Ratnabali Bhattacharjee and Kani Kusruti among others. The series is written and produced by "Ship Of Theseus" maker Anand Gandhi.

The sci-fi comedy show, directed by Pooja Shetty and Neil Pagedar, will release on March 26 on Disney+ Hotstar.
People wearing protective masks cross a street in front of Petronas Twin Towers, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Kuala Lumpur

By Mei Mei Chu

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysia's Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin unveiled a fresh round of stimulus on Wednesday, in the hope of breathing life into a pandemic-hit economy that last year saw its worst contraction since the Asian Financial Crisis.

Malaysia's economy declined 5.6% in 2020, its worst performance since a 7.4% fall in 1998, owing partly to strict movement curbs aimed at halting the COVID-19 spread.

Muhyiddin said the government would roll out 20 billion ringgit ($4.86 billion) of stimulus packages, including a 11 billion ringgit fiscal injection.

"At this stage, the economic recovery strategy will focus on efforts to revitalise and jumpstart the economy," Muhyiddin said in a televised address.

Under the new plan, the government will raise its COVID-19 immunisation budget to 5 billion ringgit, from the initial 3 billion ringgit laid out in its 2021 budget.

The additional funds should help Malaysia reach its target of vaccinating 80% of its 32 million population by December, instead of February 2022, Muhyiddin said.

To promote alternative financing, Muhyiddin said the securities commission would improve regulations and expand equity crowdfunding to unlisted private firms.

Listing fees would be waived for 12 months to encourage companies to go public, while listed firms that suffered quarterly losses would be eligible for rebates on their annual listing fees.

Muhyiddin said commercial 5G services would start in stages from the end of this year to develop innovation and new jobs in the digital economy.

The government will also offer more cash aid, subsidies, matching grants and training for individuals and businesses, while applying movement restrictions only in areas with infections.

This was the second round of stimulus packages announced this year after a $3.7 billion plan in January.

Last year's stimulus was worth 305 billion ringgit, ranging from cash handouts to wage subsidies and loan moratoria to help the public and businesses weather the impacts of the pandemic.

($1 = 4.1190 ringgit)

(Reporting by Mei Mei Chu; Writing by Joseph Sipalan; Editing by Martin Petty)
FRANKFURT - German automaker BMW said Wednesday it intends to speed the rollout of new electric cars, vowing to bring battery-powered models to 50% of global sales by 2030. The company underlined the point by unveiling a new all-electric model three months ahead of plan.

The BMW Group headquarters are pictured in Munich, Germany, Wednesday, March 16, 2021. German automaker BMW said Wednesday it intends to speed up the rollout of new electric cars, vowing to bring battery powered models to 50% of global sales by 2030. (Peter Kneffel/dpa via AP)

FRANKFURT - German automaker BMW said Wednesday it intends to speed the rollout of new electric cars, vowing to bring battery-powered models to 50% of global sales by 2030. The company underlined the point by unveiling a new all-electric model three months ahead of plan.

BMW declined, however, to follow General Motors and other automakers who have said their goal is to phase out internal combustion passenger vehicles by a specific date. Instead, the Munich-based carmaker said it would adjust production among battery, hybrid and efficient internal combustion engines as different parts of the world adopt electric driving at different rates.

CEO Oliver Zipse said during the company's annual news conference that electrification was proceeding at a higher speed. He said BMW would sell its millionth electrified vehicle this year and sell another million by 2025. Zipse said the company was working on a new, all-electric framework for its range of electric cars coming from 2025.

Yet during an online conference call with journalists he said there was no end date for development and sale of new vehicles with internal combustion engines. He said it was unlikely that all markets around the world would move to electric only at the same time, and that the company planned to sell cars with conventional engines across its 140 markets as long as customers are willing to pay for these products.

In particular, he said that BMW's plug-in hybrids are here to stay for quite some time" despite recent criticism of the technology from environmentalists that some owners rely mostly on the diesel or gasoline engine. Such hybrids have the advantage that they can run emissions-free  and can be eligible for government incentives  but have the conventional engine in case there's no place at hand to charge. Hybrids also offer the brisk acceleration and quiet that come from having an electric motor.

Zipse cited the sheer driving pleasure from hybrids as one reason he believes their future has just begun.

BMW used the occasion to reveal the production version of the i4, a battery-powered vehicle with four doors and sloping roofline dubbed a gran coupe by the company. The car will join three existing electrics  the i3, Mini SE and iX3 sport utility  and a fifth, the iX, also is expected to come out this year.

Zipse cautioned that the speed of adoption of battery-only cars would depend on the rollout of more charging infrastructure.

GM has said it hopes to phase out gasoline and diesel vehicles by 2035. Volvo Cars, owned by China's Zhejiang Geely Holding, says it plas to sell only electric vehicles by 2030, and Jaguar Land Rover says its Jaguar brand will be all-electric by 2025.

While government regulation is forcing automakers to sell more electrics in the European Union and in China, the adoption has been slower in the United States. BMW expects parts of the U.S. to continue favouring larger internal combustion vehicles for some time.

The E.U. is requiring automakers to meet lower limits on average emissions of carbon dioxide, the chief greenhouse gas blamed by scientists for global warming. The new lower limit of 95 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometre took effect at the start of the year.

Since battery-only cars are rated at zero emissions, automakers have turned to them to bring down their fleet averages. That led to a surge in electric sales at the end of 2020; in December, nearly one in four cars sold in Europe was either battery-only or a plug-in hybrid.

BMW also held out the possibility of building cars using hydrogen fuel cells instead of batteries.

BMW also indicated it was not going to follow competitor Volkswagen in building a network of battery factories but instead intends to work closely with partners to supply the batteries it needs. Volkswagen on Monday said it would build a network of six large battery factories in Europe, building on its existing two facilities in Germany and Sweden.
Workers in meat and poultry processing plants should get priority access to the COVID-19 vaccine given the risks they face at work, according to a coalition of Manitoba unions and immigration groups.

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Workers in meat and poultry processing plants should get priority access to the COVID-19 vaccine given the risks they face at work, according to a coalition of Manitoba unions and immigration groups.

The pandemic has had a disproportionate impact on people of colour, many of whom work in food processing, said Winnipeg-based Migrante Manitoba organizer Diwa Marcelino. Migrante Manitoba is part of the coalition calling for priority access, Health Care for All Manitoba.

Large outbreaks at facilities have been reported in both Canada and the United States, including an August outbreak at the Brandon Maple Leaf plant, which infected more than 80 people.

"We think its a wise strategy to prioritize these populations who are the most vulnerable to COVID-19," said Marcelino.

"Across North America, workers in meat processing facilities have been subject to the largest outbreaks of COVID-19, so they should be prioritized as such  These workers need protection."

Agricultural workers in congregate living facilities should also get priority as their living conditions put them at a higher risk, said Marcelino.

The union representing workers at Brandons Maple Leaf Foods plant also agrees with the call to have meat and poultry workers put on the vaccine priority list, said United Food and Commercial Workers Local 832 president Jeff Traeger.

The Brandon Maple Leaf plant currently has no active cases of the virus, which Traeger said shows precautions Maple Leaf is taking are working. Nonetheless, workers still need protection.

"We believe the next step in protecting those workers  and other essential workers  is to give them priority for vaccinations," said Traeger.

Meat and poultry workers should still be behind the most vulnerable and health-care workers, he said, but need to be recognized for the essential roles they play. Other essential workers, such as those in grocery stores, security guards and people in assisted living facilities, should also get some priority, he added.

Many meat and poultry workers are young, said Traeger, so they would otherwise be at the bottom of the vaccination list.

A provincial spokesperson said in an email the vaccination rollout is "ever evolving." The government is meeting with stakeholders in the food processing industry to determine how to best immunize the workforce.

"At this time, there are no immediate plans to prioritize these workers. For those workers who do meet age eligibility, we would encourage them to get their dose," the statement reads.

The Sun reached out to Maple Leaf for comment but did not receive a response by press time.

Marcelino said the provinces outreach to communities should be multi-lingual to cover the widest swath of new immigrant communities and migrant workers as possible.

"There has to be communication with these communities," he said. "We know workers of colour and workers in industries like food manufacturing are at great risk, so we should have a communication strategy that speaks to these workers and is very transparent."

Health Care for All Manitoba is also calling for the province to ensure the vaccine is free for everyone living in Manitoba and getting the shot doesnt require a health card or health card number. Marcelino said these measures will ensure the widest group of people as possible are immunized.

Health Care for All Manitoba also includes CUPE Manitoba and the Social Planning Council of Winnipeg.

 dmay@brandonsun.com

 Twitter: @DrewMay_
By Karen Freifeld and Alexandra Alper

(Reuters) - Chinese companies targeted by a sweeping investment ban imposed by former President Donald Trump are considering suing the U.S. government after a federal judge on Friday suspended a similar blacklisting for Beijing-based smartphone maker Xiaomi.

Lawyers familiar with the matter said some of the banned Chinese companies are in talks with law firms including Steptoe & Johnson and Hogan Lovells, emboldened by U.S. District Judge Rudolph Contreras' preliminary order halting Xiaomi's inclusion on a U.S. list of alleged Communist Chinese military companies that are subject to an investment ban.

The Trump administration's move to blacklist Xiaomi Corp, which knocked $10 billion off its market share and sent its shares down 9.5 percent in January, would have forced investors to completely divest their stakes in the company.

"Companies are reaching out to lawyers to challenge the listings and the grounds for the listings," said Wendy Wysong, managing partner of the Hong Kong office of Steptoe & Johnson, a worldwide law firm headquartered in Washington. Wysong and a person familiar with Hogan Lovells, another global law firm, declined to name the companies involved in discussions.

Contreras flagged the U.S. government's "deeply flawed" process for including the company in the investment ban, based on just two key criteria: its development of 5G technology and artificial intelligence, which the Defense Department alleges are "essential to modern military operations," and an award given to Xiaomi founder and Chief Executive Lei Jun from an organization said to help the Chinese government eliminate barriers between commercial and military sectors.

The judge noted that 5G and AI technologies were fast becoming standard in consumer electronics, and that over 500 entrepreneurs had received the same award as Lei since 2004, including the leaders of an infant formula company.

Story continues

"The facts that led to Xiaomi's designation are almost laughable, and I think it absolutely is going to lead to additional companies seeking relief," said Washington lawyer Brian Egan, a former legal adviser in both the White House and State Department who also works at Steptoe.

GOVERNMENT UNDECIDED ON PATH FORWARD

In a joint filing on Tuesday, the government said it had not decided on the "appropriate path forward" in the Xiaomi case in light of the judge's decision.

A spokeswoman for the U.S. Department of Justice, which is defending the case, declined to comment. A spokeswoman for the Department of Defense referred questions to the White House, which has not responded.

Xiaomi and 43 other companies were added in the waning months of the Trump administration to the blacklist, which was mandated by a 1999 law requiring the Defense Department to publish a compilation of companies "owned or controlled" by the Chinese military.

Seeking to cement a tough line on China and box his Democratic successor, Joe Biden, into hardline policies, Trump signed an executive order that was later expanded to bar all U.S. investors from holding securities in the named companies beginning on Nov. 11, 2021.

Other companies listed include video surveillance giant Hikvision, China National Offshore Oil Corp (CNOOC) and China's top chipmaker, Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp.

SMIC, Hikvision and CNOOC did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Luokung Technology Corp, a mapping technology company on the list, also sued the U.S. government earlier this month, and is expected to seek preliminary relief similar to that awarded to Xiaomi.

(Reporting by Karen Freifeld and Alexandra Alper; Additional reporting by Mike Stone; Editing by Peter Cooney)
PARAMARIBO, Suriname, March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Republic of Suriname (the "Republic") is in the process of reaching consensus with the International Monetary Fund (the "IMF") staff on the macro-fiscal framework and policy commitments to underpin an IMF-supported program. The IMF staff conducted an official virtual mission between January 25 and February 9, 2021, where the IMF team met with officials of the Republic, as well as a broad set of representatives of the private sector, members of the parliament, labor unions, and civil society. While constructive negotiations with the IMF staff are ongoing, and the authorities expect a successful conclusion, there is a probability that the staff-level agreement will not be reached prior to March 24, 2021 in which case the Republic will work towards reaching a staff-level agreement in the following weeks.

Accordingly, the Republic envisages to launch consent solicitations in relation to each of its 9.875% Notes due 2023 (the "2023 Notes") and 9.25% Notes due 2026 (the "2026 Notes") to extend the temporary period of payment deferral under the 2023 Notes and the 2026 Notes to allow further time for the Republic to secure staff-level agreement with the IMF on a Fund-supported program. The extended payment deferral period will provide additional time for the Republic to conduct orderly negotiations with the holders of the 2023 Notes, 2026 Notes, and other international creditors after staff-level agreement is reached with the objective of defining a sustainable, comprehensive and consensual treatment of the Republic's external debt.

The Republic remains committed to a good faith and transparent restructuring process with all of the Republic's creditors.

Information Agent : Morrow Sodali Ltd.

103 Wigmore Street, W1U 1QS, London,

United Kingdom

Morrow Sodali Ltd.  [email protected] +44 208 089 3287 / +1 203 609 4910

SOURCE The Republic of Suriname
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STAMFORD, CT / ACCESSWIRE / March 17, 2021 / Rollease Acmeda, a global leader in the window covering industry, is pleased to announce the latest introduction to their extensive line of specialty designer fabrics under their Texstyle brand, Ambient Renew. The collection minimizes impact on the environment while maximizing solar control and durability, doing good for tomorrow.

Ambient Renew is a PVC-free, eco-friendly, recyclable fabric made with 85% REPREVE Recycled Polyester. REPREVE is the leading, most trusted, branded performance fiber made from recycled materials, including plastic bottles, with each roll of fabric containing over 1400+ plastic bottles. Available in 11 colors inspired by nature, Ambient Renew is available in 1% and 5% openness options.

The fabric is free from harmful chemicals as listed on the Living Building Challenge (LBC) Red List and by Oeko-Tex Standard 100, making Ambient Renew with REPREVE both a healthy and sustainable solution for commercial and residential applications.

"The design-build community is very interested in sustainable products that consider our environment while delivering an aesthetically pleasing, durable solution," stated Jessica Bondell, Texstyle Senior Product Manager. Bondell added, "we recognized an opportunity to develop a product using REPREVE Polyester that fit both design and sustainability requirements without sacrificing the performance expected of window covering fabrics. The process to develop this product was exciting, knowing that we were working to expand our portfolio to provide state-of-the-art solutions for occupant comfort that do good for the future of our planet."

Backed by a 5-year warranty, Ambient Renew also meets the flame retardant NFPA-701 classification, has a Health Product Declaration, and meets stringent standards for low VOC emissions. Ambient Renew is in stock and available now.

To learn more about Ambient Renew visit Texstyle.com.

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About Rollease Acmeda - Rollease Acmeda innovates, designs and manufactures window covering hardware components and systems, manual and automated, as well as specialty fabrics for use in both commercial and residential applications. Rollease Acmeda is the largest independent engineered component and systems manufacturer and distributor in the window covering industry. Headquartered in Stamford, CT, Rollease Acmeda has a global team of over 250 employees and distribution facilities spanning the USA, Australia and Europe, serving thousands of customers in over 40 countries around the world. To learn more about the company visit rolleaseacmeda.com

Media Contact:

Jennifer LaBollita

Marketing Manager

203-590-5386

jennifer.labollita@rolleaseacmeda.com

About REPREVE - Made by Unifi, Inc. (NYSE: UFI), REPREVE is the global leader in branded recycled performance fibers, transforming more than 20 billion plastic bottles into recycled fiber for new clothing, shoes, home goods and other consumer products. REPREVE is the earth-friendly solution to making consumers' favorite brands more environmentally responsible. Found in products from many of the world's leading brands, REPREVE fibers can also be enhanced with Unifi's proprietary technologies for increased performance and comfort. For more information about REPREVE, visit www.repreve.com, and connect with REPREVE on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

REPREVE is a trademark of Unifi, Inc.

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Archbishop of Dublin Dermot Farrell has said an all-island approach to reopening churches should be taken as churches in the North are set to reopen on March 26

The Archbishop of Dublin has called for churches to be allowed to reopen for public worship when Level 5 restrictions are expected to be eased on April 5 and called for more than 10 people to be allowed to attend funerals.

Speaking to Newstalks Hard Shoulder today, Archbishop Dermot Farrell described the current funeral restrictions as very cruel and very sad.

He explained there are churches in Dublin with a capacity for 2,500 people in which just 10 people were allowed to attend a family funeral and that in some cases brothers and sisters of the deceased were not able to attend the service due to the cap on mourners.

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This is tolerable only in the most extreme circumstances, and for the shortest possible period, Dr Farrell said in his message for St Patricks Day delivered at St Patricks Church, Ringsend, Dublin, this morning.

With churches reopening for public worship in Northern Ireland on Friday March 26, he said there should be an all-Ireland approach to worship and that churches south of the border should be operating in line with churches in Northern Ireland.

The Catholic bishops in Northern Ireland voluntarily took the decision to close church doors to public worship at the height of the third wave of the virus after Christmas. However, the five bishops announced today their decision to reopen at the end of the month.

Dr Farrell said this difference between churches in Northern Ireland and churches in the Republic was going to cause problems because five Catholic dioceses straddle the Border.

We have many parishes that straddle the Border. You are now going to find parishes along the Border where one church is open at one end and another church at the other end is not open, Dr Farrell explained.

I am asking that worship should be looked at on an all-Ireland basis, he said.

In his message for St Patricks Day, he also referred to the right to public worship which is protected by Article 44 of the Constitution.

He said the number who are allowed to worship cannot be randomly determined as if were some mathematical formula. This is about people: the protection of peoples health, and the fostering of peoples wellbeing.

While a balance must be struck, easing restrictions on worship has, he said: A better-founded statutory claim than other activities which may be pressed by powerful commercial interests.

Whenever public worship was permitted, he added, parishes have been diligent in operating within the guidelines, with great commitment by staff and volunteers to stewarding, sanitising and managing attendance.

For many people, being denied the opportunity to attend Mass and receive Holy Communion has been difficult. It has affected how they are nourished and sustained by their faith. Let us not underestimate the consequences of this in peoples lives, he warned.
Photo: The Canadian Press FILE- In this Oct. 30, 2018, file photo, former Uber drivers Yaseen Aslam, left, and James Farrar pose for the media outside the Royal Courts of Justice ahead of a legal hearing over employment rights in London.

Uber is giving its U.K. drivers the minimum wage, pensions and holiday pay, following a recent court ruling that said they should be classified as workers and entitled to such benefits.

The ride hailing giant's announcement Tuesday comes after it lost an appeal last month at the U.K. Supreme Court following a yearslong court battle. The court's decision holds wider implications for the country's gig economy.

Uber said it's extending the benefits immediately to its more than 70,000 drivers in the U.K. Drivers will earn at least the minimum wage, which currently stands at 8.72 pounds ($12.12), after accepting a trip request and expenses, and will still be able to earn more.

Drivers will also get holiday pay equal to about 12% of their earnings, paid every two weeks. And they'll be enrolled in a pension plan that both they and the company will pay into.

This is an important day for drivers in the U.K.," Uber's regional general manager for Northern and Eastern Europe, Jamie Heywood, said in a filing to the SEC. He noted that drivers will still be able to work on a flexible basis. Uber is just one part of a larger private-hire industry, so we hope that all other operators will join us in improving the quality of work for these important workers who are an essential part of our everyday lives.

The drivers who filed the case welcomed the news but said it's not enough.

Uber has arrived to the table with this offer a day late and a dollar short, literally, James Farrar and Yaseen Aslam of the App Drivers And Couriers Union said in a statement. They said the changes stopped short of the Supreme Court's ruling that pay should be calculated from when drivers log on to the app until they log off. And they said the company can't decide by itself the expense base for calculating the minimum wage, which should be based on a collective agreement.

Farrar and Aslam had taken their case to an employment tribunal, which found drivers are not independent contractors, but should be designated workers, which under British law means their work terms are more casual than employees but still come with some benefits. Uber lost two rounds of appeals before the Supreme Court decision.

Providing more benefits for its drivers is likely to raise costs for San Francisco-based Uber, which already was struggling to make a profit and had previously run into regulatory trouble in London, where authorities had sought to revoke its license. It said, however, that it wasn't adjusting its earnings forecast for the year.

The move in the U.K. contrasts with the outcome of a November ballot proposition in California, where voters passed an initiative exempting app-based ride-hailing and food delivery services from classifying their drivers as employees instead of contractors.
Area lawmakers collected more than $26,000 in taxpayer-funded reimbursements for meals and lodging as the pandemic raged last year, with individual claims ranging from $11,000 for a Honesdale-based state representative to $951 for a former state senator.

Statewide, from March 1 through December 31, state representatives and senators accepted a total of $726,877 in payments from a perk called per diems, according to a Spotlight PA analysis. In lieu of per diems, lawmakers have the option to submit receipts for expenses.

State Rep. Jonathan Fritz, R-111, Honesdale, received $10,911; Rep. Mike Peifer, R-139, Greene Twp., received $6,496; Rep. Marty Flynn, D-113, Scranton, received $5,276; Rep. Karen Boback, R-117, Harveys Lake, received $2,760; and former state Sen. John Blake, D-22, Archbald, received $951. By comparison, Democratic state Reps. Mark Longietti of Mercer County and Chris Sainato of Lawrence County topped the list, both accepting more than $24,000 in per diems.

Of the 144 legislators who received per diems, the five area officials accounted for $26,394, or about 3.6% of the total payments. In all, 127 of the Pennsylvanias 203 representatives and 17 of 50 senators accepted per diems, totaling $668,993 for representatives and $57,884 for senators.

Per diems have long been criticized as an unnecessary largesse for the countrys largest full-time legislature, which pays the third-highest salaries for state lawmakers in the country.

Per diems are flat rates lawmakers can claim when they travel more than 50 miles from their house for legislative business. Unlike in the private sector, legislators dont have to provide receipts, leaving open the possibility that their actual daily expenses could be more or less than the full per diem rate, which in 2020 generally ranged from $178 to $200. Pennsylvania has some of the most generous per diem rates among all state legislatures, according to a national analysis.

Fritz, who received the 11th highest reimbursements of house representatives, attributed it to a large amount of time spent in Harrisburg, where he served on the House Appropriations Committee, the Transportation Task Force and as a deputy whip.

I spend a tremendous amount of time in Harrisburg working on initiatives that were important to my district and the commonwealth as a whole, he said in a statement.

Peifer received the 39th-most reimbursements of house representatives, Flynn was 54th and Boback 79th. Out of the 17 state senators to receive per diems, Blake was one of the fewest, ranking 13th.

Attempts to reach Peifer, Flynn, Boback and Blake were unsuccessful Tuesday.

The annual base salary for members of the Pennsylvania General Assembly was $90,335 in 2020.
A meeting between President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky and President of the Republic of Lithuania Gitanas Nauseda, who will pay an official visit to Ukraine, will take place on Thursday, March 18, the press service of the President of Ukraine reported.

The official welcoming ceremony will begin at 11:00 at the Mariyinsky Palace.

The signing ceremony of the Ukrainian-Lithuanian bilateral documents is scheduled for 13:10, and at 13:25 the presidents of Ukraine and the Republic of Lithuania will meet with media representatives.

The heads of state will meet face to face and hold a regular meeting of the Council of Presidents of Ukraine and Lithuania, following the results of which a number of bilateral documents will be signed, the presidential website reported.

Zelensky and Nauseda will also take part in the All-Ukrainian Forum entitled "Ukraine 30. Small and Medium Business and the State", and will also welcome the participants of the Ukrainian-Lithuanian Economic Forum "Economy and Pandemic: Crisis and New Opportunities."

Nauseda is paying an official visit to Ukraine on March 18-19.
[March 17, 2021] Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Series Receives TUV Rheinland's First Dynamic Privacy Filter Certification for Notebooks

SHANGHAI, March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- On March 16, TUV Rheinland Greater China (TUV Rheinland) awarded Dynamic Privacy Filter (DPF) certificates for two Lenovo notebook models: the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 9 and the ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 6. Sohichi Yokota, Executive Director of Commercial Notebooks at Lenovo, Wang Minggang, Senior Manager of Commercial Notebook R&D and Certification at Lenovo, Jay Yang, Vice President of TUV Rheinland Greater China Electrical, Stanley Liu, Director of the TUV Rheinland Ergonomics Technical Competence Center, and other representatives from both sides attended the certificate award ceremony, which was held online and offline simultaneously. The TUV Rheinland DPF standard was developed based on user-experience research and scenarized privacy model analysis in combination with objective measurement and subjective analysis, to determine the product's capabilities for screen information protection through simulation of actual lighting environmental conditions and rating of screen readability. The standard assesses the overall privacy performance of a product in four aspects: dynamic privacy, visual characteristics, reliability of privacy function, and user guide. For businesspeople and office workers concerned with privacy, or banks, government agencies, airpors, and public spaces dealing with sensitive information, products with DPF certification can effectively protect private on-screen information against prying eyes without sacrificing screen readability.



The two certified Lenovo notebook models have the "dynamic" privacy function, which means that users can turn the function on or off as required. When the function is turned on, screen brightness and contrast are reduced automatically to reduce readability outside of the protected viewing angle. This helps to protect screen content privacy. The products also provide the user with a good visual experience with regard to viewing angle, uniform brightness, and color consistency while their performance is not affected. At the ceremony, Lenovo's Sohichi Yokota said: "Lenovo and TUV Rheinland have a long cooperation history in product certification. Thanks to TUV Rheinland for your continuous support and help. Lenovo attaches great importance to product security, and is developing a variety of security features to protect consumers' privacy and assets. The Lenovo ThinkPad team has been committed to the development of electronic screen viewing angle control technology for more than 10 years. Consumers can now truly experience the "privacy guard" function of notebook products. Obtaining TUV Rheinland dynamic privacy filter certification will help ThinkPad's business development. In the future, Lenovo and TUV Rheinland will also strengthen cooperation in other health certifications such as eye comfort and low blue light to provide consumers with a better user experience."

Jay Yang commented: "TUV Rheinland launched the certifications for screen privacy protection in 2020 due to consumers' needs for privacy protection in public venues, workspaces, or at home when electronic products are used. With increasing demand from consumers, dynamic privacy functions will become more and more widespread, while the dynamic privacy function of portable devices should take more varied usage scenarios into account. With rich experience in the field of display products, TUV Rheinland will continue to develop certifications for the distinct requirements of different products, to help manufactures constantly improve technology levels and provide consumers with better products." As a world-leading technical service provider, TUV Rheinland has extensive experience, with over two decades in consumer electronics. It has launched such standards and certification services as Safety Fast-Charge, Low Blue Light, Retina Protection Factor, Flicker Free, Eye Comfort, and Full Care Display, covering a wide variety of products, with the aim of providing guidance for the industry to continually improve technology and for consumers to choose and purchase safe and high-quality products. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/lenovo-thinkpad-x1-series-receives-tuv-rheinlands-first-dynamic-privacy-filter-certification-for-notebooks-301249300.html SOURCE TUV Rheinland Greater China

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Benedict Cumberbatch seems to be not contented with being the Sorcerer Supreme in the Marvel Cinematic Universe because he will be once again playing a somewhat similar role in "War Magician."

The project was announced by Variety in 2015, a project that has reportedly been in development since 2003.

At the time of the outlet's report, no director has been attached to the project yet.

But it was recently found out that Colin Trevorrow, who is fresh off from his "Jurassic Park" directorial films, will be directing the upcoming World War II movie.

Tom Cruise was the first actor to show interest and arrest the rights to the book, and since then, it has passed through several hands.

'War Magician' Summary

Benedict Cumberbatch will tell the true and wild story of Jasper Maskelyne, an illusionist.

He will be portraying a man who reportedly use his gifts of illusion to defeat the Nazi, especially their general Erwin Rommel.

The movie is based on a novel written by David Fisher and was later adapted by Nicholas Mariani.

The movie will feature a complete "magic gang" that would also feature other magicians from Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, working with Maskelyne.

Maskelyne joined the Royal Engineers when the war started, thinking that his unique skills would help create camouflage. He later convinced skeptical officers about his power by creating the illusion of a German warship on the Thames using only mirrors and a model.

He was then late deployed to the Western Desert in North Africa but spent most of his time entertaining the military.

His work ended up on Hitler's blacklist.

There's also yet to be a female military intelligence officer to be cast who will help take down the Nazis.

There is currently no word on whether "War Magician" is being planned as Trevorrow's next movie, but he has already completed"Jurassic World: Dominion," which will hit theaters in June 2022.

Is 'War Magician' Based On Real Events?

'War Magician' is based on the real-life story of 1930s magician, Jasper Maskelyne.

He is most known for his accounts of his work for the British military during World War II, in which he claimed to have created large-scale ruses, deception, and camouflage in an effort to defeat the Nazis.

Benedict Cumberbatch News on 'Sherlock'

Meanwhile, it has been almost four years since fans were graced with an episode of "Sherlock."

Many are wondering if there will be a season five of the hit show soon.

In an interview with Collider, Cumberbatch was asked if there would be an upcoming episode, but his answer leans toward "probably not" instead of a "definite yes."

However, there seems to be a glimmer of hope remaining.

"Maybe one day, if the script's right. And I say 'the script,' maybe it could be a film rather than a series. Who knows? But anyway, not for now."

See Now: Famous Actors Who Turned Down Iconic Movie Roles
Saudi Arabia has welcomed international efforts to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons and to free the Gulf region from all types of weapons of mass destruction, Arab News reported.

During a cabinet meeting chaired by King Salman, ministers called for an extension of the arms embargo on Iran as it continues to supply the Houthis with modern weapons and unmanned aerial vehicles that are used to terrorize Yemenis and to deliberately and systematically target civilians and civilian objects in the Kingdom.

According to acting minister of media Majid bin Abdullah Al Qasabi, Riyadh supports the efforts of the UN envoy to Yemen to achieve a comprehensive ceasefire and begin a political process to end the war in Yemen.
Boris Johnson faces a legal challenge over his cut to the foreign aid budget after he suggested he will avoid putting it to a vote in the Commons.

Charities are preparing to take the Government to court to block the planned 4billion reduction in overseas spending.

Ministers had announced they would change the law to lower the spending target on international development from 0.7 per cent of national income to 0.5 per cent.

This would have allowed handouts to be slashed to around 10billion  and kept at a lower level for years.

Boris Johnson faces a legal challenge over his cut to the foreign aid budget after he suggested he will avoid putting it to a vote in the Commons

Figures obtained by the openDemocracy website suggest aid to countries such as Syria could be cut by two-thirds. Pictured, Dakhaniyeh in Damascus

But the Daily Mail last week revealed the budget may now only be reduced for one year as ministers seek to avoid the need for new legislation because of fears they will lose votes in Parliament.

In the Commons yesterday, Mr Johnson signalled that he would use a loophole in the existing legislation that allows the target to be missed for reasons including the economic situation without changing the law.

The Prime Minister told MPs it was right there is no need to amend legislation as the cut is temporary.

But Andrew Mitchell, the Tory former international development secretary, called on Mr Johnson to hold a vote on the reduction, warning otherwise he may be in danger as from the start of the new financial year of creating an unlawful budget.

In the Governments foreign policy review, published yesterday, Mr Johnson committed to returning to the 0.7 per cent target when the fiscal situation allows, but he avoided setting a specific time frame.

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab told Times Radio he was unable to give a hard commitment on whether this would be next year.

'Blacklist the slavery firms' British companies should be blacklisted if they cannot prove their products are not made with slave labour in China, MPs will urge today. The Commons business, energy and industrial strategy committee says it is appalled that firms are still unable to guarantee their supply chains have no involvement with the forced Uighur labour camps of Xinjiang province, despite mounting evidence of human rights abuses. MPs demanded that the Government find out if millions of pounds of taxpayers cash is being used to underpin human rights abuses via aid to China. Advertisement

Mr Johnson yesterday faced questions in the Commons from Tory backbenchers unhappy about his plan to reduce foreign aid.

Sir Peter Bottomley, who as Father of the House is the longest continuously serving MP, said he wanted to the cut to be evaporated, to go away, not to happen, adding: We should meet the commitment we made in successive manifestos.

Fellow Tory Pauline Latham said she was very saddened to hear that we are going to be balancing the books on the backs of the poor.

But in response to the series of questions, Mr Johnson said: I think were in danger of talking Britain down because the investments that we are making are colossal, absolutely colossal by international standards... were the second biggest contributor in aid in the G7 already.

He added: Weve had exceptional circumstances, we are entitled to vary that (0.7 per cent) commitment and that is what we are doing.

Stephanie Draper, of Bond UK, which represents British international development charities, last night said: The aid budget is not a tap that the government can turn on and off when it likes without any consequence.

Cutting aid means cutting programmes that provide critical support to communities - lives will be lost and any development gains reversed, but this also has implications for global security.

The government must immediately abandon its attempt to cut the aid budget to 0.5 per cent of gross national income before irrecoverable damage is done.

Three men arrested on Tuesday in relation to a gathering in the Pitt Park area of east Belfast last month, have been released on Wednesday.

The arrests related to a large group of men gathered in east Belfast on February 2 during an incident which has been described as a UVF show of strength.

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In a statement on Wednesday, the PSNI said: "Three men arrested yesterday by detectives from PSNIs Criminal Investigation Branch and Paramilitary Crime Task Force, investigating an incident involving a significant gathering in the Pitt Park area of east Belfast on Tuesday 2nd February, have been released pending reports to the Public Prosecution Service."

The PSNI added that the investigation into the incident is ongoing.
State officials announced Wednesday the number of COVID-19 vaccination doses allocated for Massachusetts this week.

Massachusetts will receive approximately 170,000 first doses this week, a figure which includes an unexpected 8,000 doses of Johnson & Johnson vaccines, according to Gov. Charlie Bakers office.

In total, the state will receive 316,000 first and second doses, not including the doses provided directly to pharmacies and hospitals through the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program or to Federally Qualified Health Centers.

The distribution of the states 316,000 first and second doses will go to:

101,890 to the states seven large-scale vaccination sites: Fenway Park in Boston, Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, the Reggie Lewis Center in Boston, the DoubleTree Hotel in Danvers, the Eastfield Mall in Springfield, the Natick Mall in Natick and the former Circuit City in Dartmouth.

99,230 to hospitals and health care systems, excluding ones who receive doses directly from the federal government.

27,450 to community health centers

59,580 to regional collaboratives and local boards of health 40,370 to regional collaboratives 19,210 to local boards of health

8,490 to retail pharmacies (not including CVS)

19,180 to mobile clinics supporting residents in affordable senior housing, long-term care facilities and homebound residents

CVS pharmacies will receive 106,440 first and second doses this week. CVS, which began offering the vaccine in February, has expanded the number of locations where the vaccine is offered.

First available at just a dozen locations, now CVS stores in just under 300 Massachusetts communities offer the vaccine.

How to get an appointment at a large-scale vaccination site

People who live, work or study in Massachusetts can pre-register for a COVID-19 vaccine appointment at a large-scale vaccination site by going to mass.gov/covid-19-vaccine.

After registration is completed, residents will receive weekly updates regarding their eligibility.

We will contact you when there are appointments available for you and provide you with a link to use to select and book your appointment, the website states.

The website is only for the states seven large-scale vaccination sites: Fenway Park in Boston, Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, the Reggie Lewis Center in Boston, the DoubleTree Hotel in Danvers, the Eastfield Mall in Springfield, the Natick Mall in Natick and the former Circuit City in Dartmouth.

How to get an appointment at local and regional vaccination sites

Want to get the vaccine at a grocery store or local board of health-run site. Availability varies but new appointments are available daily. Search for appointments here.

How to get an appointment at CVS

Appointments can be made directly through the pharmacys website.

CVS Health is expected to post new appointments online daily. Walk-in vaccinations without an appointment will not be provided.

Massachusetts CVS locations were among the first nationwide to offer vaccination appointments.

Eventually, vaccines will be available at pharmacy locations across the country, with the company estimating its vaccination capacity at 20 to 25 million shots per month.

Who is eligible to receive the vaccine?

Residents 65 years and older and individuals with two or more medical conditions considered at increased risk for severe illness from the virus, residents and staff of low income and affordable senior housing and educators are currently eligible to receive the vaccine.

Medical conditions prioritized include:

Asthma (moderate-to-severe)

Cancer

Chronic kidney disease

COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)

Down Syndrome

Heart conditions, such as heart failure, coronary artery disease, or cardiomyopathies

Immunocompromised state (weakened immune system) from solid organ transplant

Obesity and severe obesity (body mass index [BMI] of 30 kg/m2 or higher)

Pregnancy

Sickle cell disease

Smoking

Type 2 diabetes mellitus

An estimated 400,000 educators became eligible to receive the vaccine at state and local-run sites on Thursday.

Starting next week, Massachusetts will enter the next phase of the vaccine rollout, allowing residents 60 years old and older, as well as residents of all ages who work in specific industries, to be eligible to receive the vaccine.

Those workers include:

Restaurant or cafe workers

Food, meatpacking, beverage, agriculture, consumer goods, retail, or food service workers

Grocery and convenience store workers

Food pantry workers or volunteers

Medical supply chain workers

Vaccine development workers

Transit/transportation workers

Public works, water, wastewater, or utility workers

Sanitation workers

Public health workers

Court system worker (judges, prosecutors, defense attorneys, clerks), other than court officers who are listed under first responders

Funeral directors and funeral workers

Two weeks later, on April 5, the age requirement will be lowered to 55 years and older, and residents with at least one qualified medical condition will become eligible.

Starting on April 19, all Massachusetts residents 16 years old and older will be eligible.

Got a news tip or want to contact MassLive about this story? Email newstips@masslive.com or message us on Facebook or Twitter. You can also call our news tips line at 413-776-1364.
Unvaccinated holidaymakers will be banned from P&O Cruises 'staycation' sailings this summer.

Brits who wish to sail on a domestic cruise will have to have received both doses of the Covid vaccine at least seven days in advance of their trip, the UK's largest cruise line has said.

Last week maritime minister Robert Courts told MPs last week that domestic cruises could be permitted from May 17.

So far nearly 25million people have received at least their first dose of a vaccine, while 1.6m have received both.

P&O says it will not allow any passengers on domestic cruises unless they have received both injections of a Covid-19 vaccine

Failure to provide proof of the jabs 'will result in denial of boarding', the firm warned.

Other measures introduced due to the pandemic include requiring passengers to wear masks in certain areas of the ship, and making travel insurance mandatory.

There will also be enhanced cleaning regimes, as well as social distancing.

Cruise holidays are traditionally popular with older people, who have been prioritised in the UK's vaccination programme.

P&O Cruises will operate a series of short breaks on Britannia, while new ship Iona will conduct seven-night itineraries.

Cruises will depart from Southampton between June and September, sailing around the UK's coastline in search of good weather.

For her maiden voyage Iona will anchor off Iona, the small Scottish island after which she was named, until sunset.

The Government has advised people to avoid all cruises since July 9, 2020, due to the virus crisis, but Mr Court's announcement last week has been welcome news for the maritime travel industry.

P&O Cruises president Paul Ludlow said: 'Given recent announcements we have every hope that our guests will be able to enjoy a holiday this summer.

'After the stresses and challenges of the past year everyone certainly deserves a treat and this series of cruises will provide memorable and much-needed UK getaways.

'Whilst there is still uncertainty about holidays abroad this summer, we are delighted to be able to offer our guests the ultimate escape here in the UK with the reassurance that we will take care of everything.

'Also, we really will look at the weather forecast each cruise and aim to take our ships where it is warm and sunny.'

The Government's Global Travel Taskforce will provide a report to Prime Minister Boris Johnson on April 12 setting out recommendations for how and when foreign holidays could resume.

Passengers will have to have received the second injection seven days prior to their trip, P&O Cruises announced today. So far nearly 25m Brits have received at least one jab

They could be permitted for people in England from May 17 under the Prime Minister's road map for easing restrictions.

Turkey announced on Monday that it expects to welcome UK holidaymakers this summer without requiring proof of a coronavirus vaccine or negative test.

Greece will require international tourists to have been vaccinated, had a recent negative Covid-19 test or have coronavirus antibodies, while visitors to Cyprus must have had both doses of a vaccine.

On Monday it was announced that Portugal and Mauritius had been taken off the government's red list in the first change to travel rules for months.

This means people will be able to travel from the two countries - as well as the Portuguese islands of Madeira and the Azores - to England, the Department for Transport said.

However, four more countries - Ethiopia, Oman, Somalia and Qatar - will now be added to the government's banned list.

Quarantine restrictions for travellers from Portugal and Mauritius will be relaxed, with people allowed to travel to their own home for the 10-day isolation period rather than spending it in a government-approved hotel.

They will also still have to take a Covid test on their second and eighth days to end self-isolation early.

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd today unveiled the Samsung Galaxy A52, A52 5G and A72, making powerful innovation accessible to everyone during their live Unpacked event from Seoul, Korea. Samsung repeated their marketing slogan for the new series of phones: "Awesome screen, awesome camera, long-lasting battery life," as the video below proves out. That long-lasting battery life is reportedly 2-full days which will be music to Galaxy A customers. It's something, if true, that iPhone customers will be hoping in vane for Apple to deliver.







Dr. TM Roh, President and Head of Mobile Communications Business, Samsung Electronics: "Samsung strives to give consumers what they want and need most. Thats why we set out with a vision for the Galaxy A series to democratize Galaxy innovations for everyone. The Galaxy A52, A52 5G and A72 encapsulate the Galaxy brand philosophy with cutting-edge innovations, services and features at an accessible price." The information below is from Samsung's official press release.

Create, communicate and express yourself with an awesome camera

Samsung has set the bar high for camera quality, and the Galaxy A52, A52 5G and A72 are no different. By making exciting camera innovations available for the new Galaxy A series, you can enjoy more fun and versatile photos and videos. There's a video on the new cameras that you could review here (warning: annoying music).

Versatile Camera Experience  Shoot vivid and crisp photos and videos with ease thanks to a versatile quad camera with 64MP high-resolution. Instantly turn your favorite moments from 4K videos into 8MP high-resolution images with 4K Video Snap. Scene Optimizer uses AI to shoot with optimal settings for 30 categories of images and backgrounds such as food, landscapes, and pets.

Stable day or night  Whether filming the latest dance trend or capturing a new skateboard trick, OIS (optical image stabilization) ensures pictures and videos come out sharp and steady. No need to miss an important moment anymore because of low lighting. Night mode uses multi-frame processing, resulting in a bright and crisp image even in the dark.

Fun content capture  Add style and unique flair to content using AR Emoji and My Filter. Additionally, you can now apply AR Lenses from Snapchat with Fun Mode when snapping content from the native camera app.

See and be seen with an awesome display and refined design

Samsung enhances experiences and style with a vivid display and sophisticated design to fit and reflect your life.







Brighter and Smoother  Enjoy your favorite show on Samsungs beloved Super AMOLED display. Now with 120Hz refresh rates on the Galaxy A52 5G, and 90Hz on the Galaxy A52 and A72, the scrolling experience is even smoother. Keep watching and scrolling social media posts even when outside thanks to an increased 800nits luminance.

Comfortable viewing experience  The display is also Eye Care certified, and automatically adjusts the displays color temperature based on smartphone usage patterns to reduce eye fatigue with Eye Comfort Shield.

Refined design  The new Galaxy A series features a refreshed design that is simple yet purposeful with a soft-edge design and minimal camera housing.

Expand your experiences thanks to the power of the awesome Galaxy ecosystem

The new Galaxy A series experience is enhanced by the seamless connections and new opportunities offered through the Samsung Galaxy ecosystem.

Stay organized and connected  SmartThings connects to and controls thousands of devices in a smart home environment right from the Galaxy A seriesincluding wearables, tablets, PCs, and TVs. Additionally, SmartThings Find locates your paired devices with more intuitive and detailed directions, and Galaxy SmartTag Bluetooth locator can find non-connected devices or belongings by attaching it to what matters most. So you can connect and control thousands of devices from your Galaxy A series.

Enjoy music together without hassle  Whether participating in a joint workout at home or catching up on the latest podcast with friends, connect and listen to music together. Music Share simply syncs a phone with a friends device to share music without speaker pairing. Also, pair phones with two sets of Galaxy Buds devices and listen together with Buds Together.

Connect and share with ease  Quick Share lets you easily send pictures and videos without size limitation to nearby Galaxy devices so you can get quick approval before posting a group selfie. With Private Share, you can change your mind whom to share with, or revoke the photos and videos even after sharing with just one tap.

Expect more and get more with awesome Galaxy foundation

The new Galaxy A series comes with the Galaxy essentials that all Galaxy users deserve to have.

Peace of mind  Take chances and get messy without worry as the Galaxy A52, A52 5G and A72 are water and dust resistant with an IP67 rating. By adding Samsung Care+8, you can plan for the unexpected with instant support and guaranteed coverage for damages, breakdowns, theft, and loss. Protect the things that matter with built-in Samsung KnoxSamsungs defense-grade security system that safeguards personal information and data in real-time.

Two-day battery  Capture, create and consume without slowing down with a large battery capacity that lasts two days10 with A52s 4,500mAh and A72s 5,000mAh battery capacity.

Hyper fast 5G  Life moves quickly, and phones should keep up. With power, hyper-fast speeds and strong performance, the Galaxy A52 5G makes 5G connectivity accessible.

Enjoy premium essentials  The Galaxy A52, A52 5G and A72 are equipped with the Galaxy essentials including stereo speakers and external memory up to 1TB. Enhance the stereo speakers experience with Dolby Atmos for a rich soundscape filled with up-leveled depth and detail. Also, the redesigned One UI 314 helps enable more intuitive experiences and consistent interactions by increasing speed, reducing distractions and highlighting important information.

Support sustainability  Samsung regularly evaluates products, packaging and operations to discover new ways to improve our efforts to promote sustainability. The Galaxy A52, A52 5G and A72 use pulp mold and paper to minimize unused space and material use for the packaging.

Software updates  Samsung always aims to provide Galaxy users with an up-to-date mobile OS, and this is now expanded to the A series. The Galaxy A52, A52 5G and A72 will support software upgrades for three generations, and regular security updates for a minimum of four years.

Below is the pricing for the new 'Galaxy A' phones followed by the full keynote video.















Samsung Warns of Severe Chip Crunch

Earlier this morning it was reported by Bloomberg that Samsung Electronics Co. warned its grappling with the fallout from a "serious imbalance" in semiconductors globally, becoming the largest tech giant to voice concerns about chip shortages spreading beyond the automaking industry.

Samsung, one of the worlds largest makers of chips and consumer electronics, expects the crunch to pose a problem to its business next quarter, co-Chief Executive Officer Koh Dong-jin said during an annual shareholders meeting in Seoul. The company is also considering skipping the introduction of a new Galaxy Note -- one of its best-selling models -- this year, though Koh said that was geared toward streamlining its lineup.

Koh added that "Theres a serious imbalance in supply and demand of chips in the IT sector globally. Despite the difficult environment, our business leaders are meeting partners overseas to solve these problems. Its hard to say the shortage issue has been solved 100%."

For more on the chip shortage story, read the full Bloomberg report on Yahoo! News Canada.

Last Tuesday we posted a story related to the chip crisis titled "Samsung's Prolonged Suspension of their chip plant in Austin could disrupt OLED display drivers used in OLED based iPhones."
NEWARK, N.J., March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Rafael Holdings, Inc., (NYSE: RFL), reported revenue of $1.0 million and a loss per share of $0.50 for the second quarter of its 2021 fiscal year, the three months ended January 31, 2021.

Q2 FY 2021 Consolidated Financial and Operational Highlights

Revenue of $1.0 million , generated by Rafael Holdings' real estate portfolio, decreased from $1.2 million in the year-ago quarter due, in part, to the sale of its building in Piscataway, NJ .

, generated by Rafael Holdings' real estate portfolio, decreased from in the year-ago quarter due, in part, to the sale of its building in . Loss per share of $0.50 compared to a loss per share of $0.08 in the year ago quarter primarily due to a $7.0 million impairment of the company's interest in Altira, as described below.

compared to a loss per share of in the year ago quarter primarily due to a impairment of the company's interest in Altira, as described below. Rafael Holdings' Board of Directors has appointed Ameet Mallik to become the Company's Chief Executive Office effective May 1 , 2021. Howard Jonas , who has served as the company's Chairman and CEO since its inception, will continue as Chairman of the Board and remain an active member of the management team.

to become the Company's Chief Executive Office effective , 2021. , who has served as the company's Chairman and CEO since its inception, will continue as Chairman of the Board and remain an active member of the management team. William "Bill" Conkling has been named Rafael Holdings' Chief Commercial Officer.

On December 7, 2020 , the Company acquired the economic rights related to a 33.33% membership interest in Altira, adding to the 33.33% interest purchased in fiscal 2020. As in the first such agreement, the purchase gives the Company an indirect right to receive a 1% royalty on potential net sales of certain Rafael Pharmaceuticals' products.

, the Company acquired the economic rights related to a 33.33% membership interest in Altira, adding to the 33.33% interest purchased in fiscal 2020. As in the first such agreement, the purchase gives the Company an indirect right to receive a 1% royalty on potential net sales of certain Rafael Pharmaceuticals' products. On December 7, 2020 , Rafael Holdings sold 567,437 shares of the Company's Class B common stock and warrants to purchase an additional 113,487 shares of the Company's Class B common stock for an aggregate sale price of $13 million .

Q2 FY 2021  Pharmaceutical Holdings - Recent Developments

Rafael Pharmaceuticals

At January 31, 2021, the Company and its affiliates collectively owned securities representing 51% of the issued and outstanding capital stock of Rafael Pharmaceuticals and approximately 41% on a fully diluted basis including shares beneficially held through its interest in RP Finance, LLC., a funding vehicle. Recent developments announced by Rafael Pharmaceuticals include:

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Fast Track designation for Rafael Pharmaceuticals' lead compound, CPI-613 (devimistat), for the treatment of both metastatic pancreatic cancer and acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

Rafael Pharmaceuticals announced that it will initiate a Phase 2 clinical trial of CPI-613(devimistat) in combination with hydroxychloroquine in patients with clear cell sarcoma of soft tissue. Rafael Pharmaceuticals will begin enrolling patients in partnership with Sara's Cure and Sarcoma Alliance for Research through Collaboration (SARC).

The FDA has granted Orphan Drug Designation for CPI-613 (devimistat) for the treatment of soft tissue sarcoma. Rafael Pharmaceuticals' clinical trial will focus on the treatment of relapsed or refractory clear cell sarcoma.

LipoMedix

At January 31, 2021, Rafael Holdings held 68% of the issued and outstanding ordinary shares of LipoMedix, a development-stage Israeli company focused on the development of an innovative, safe and effective cancer therapy based on liposome delivery.

LipoMedix announced that its lead compound, Promitil (PL-MLP), will be manufactured in the United States by ForDoz Pharma (ForDoz), a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on the development, manufacturing, and commercialization of value-added sterile and complex injectable products.

Barer Institute

The Barer Institute, a wholly owned subsidiary of Rafael Holdings, has identified and begun to develop new therapeutic compounds, including compounds to regulate cancer metabolism, through internal development and in-licensing. It is working to validate newly discovered biomarkers for resistance and sensitivity within its portfolio compounds and to identify certain novel targetable mechanisms of action.

The Barer Institute announced that it had reached an agreement with Princeton University's Office of Technology Licensing for an exclusive worldwide license to its SHMT (serine hydroxymethyltransferase) inhibitor program and related intellectual property from the laboratory of Professor Joshua Rabinowitz, Department of Chemistry.

Remarks by Howard Jonas, Chairman and CEO of Rafael Holdings

"The progress being made by our pharma partners is highlighted by our Board's selection of Ameet Mallik to join as CEO of Rafael Holdings beginning on May 1, 2021. Ameet is an extraordinarily capable and accomplished pharma executive with deep knowledge of oncological drug development and commercialization. Together with Bill Conkling, who has joined our team as Chief Commerical Officer, Ameet will lead our effort to realize the potential of Rafael Holdings including its investments in Rafael Pharmaceuticals, LipoMedix, and the Barer Institute."

About Rafael Holdings, Inc.:

Rafael Holdings is focused on development of novel cancer therapies. The Company is a significant investor in two clinical stage oncology companies, Rafael Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and LipoMedix Pharmaceuticals Ltd. Through its wholly owned Barer Institute subsidiary, the Company is developing a pipeline of compounds focused on the regulation of cancer metabolism. For more information, visit rafaelholdings.com.

RAFAEL HOLDINGS, INC. CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (unaudited, in thousands, except share and per share data)



January 31,

2021



July 31,

2020

ASSETS













CURRENT ASSETS













Cash and cash equivalents $ 6,086



$ 6,206

Trade accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $117 and $218 at January 31, 2021 and July 31, 2020, respectively

124





267

Due from Rafael Pharmaceuticals

360





118

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

116





273

Assets held for sale







2,968

Total current assets

6,686





9,832

















Property and equipment, net

43,760





44,433

Equity investment  RP Finance LLC

383





192

Due from RP Finance LLC

3,750







Investments  Rafael Pharmaceuticals

79,141





70,018

Investments  Other Pharmaceuticals

477





1,201

Investments  Hedge Funds

8,943





7,510

Deferred income tax assets, net







6

In-process research and development and patents

1,575





1,575

Other assets

1,534





1,580

TOTAL ASSETS $ 146,249



$ 136,347

















LIABILITIES AND EQUITY





























CURRENT LIABILITIES













Trade accounts payable $ 495



$ 921

Accrued expenses

643





1,191

Amount due for purchase of membership interest

9,500





3,500

Other current liabilities

162





115

Due to related parties

29







Total current liabilities

10,829





5,727

















Other liabilities

33





92

TOTAL LIABILITIES

10,862





5,819

















COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES





























EQUITY













Class A common stock, $0.01 par value; 35,000,000 shares authorized, 787,163 shares issued and outstanding as of January 31, 2021 and July 31, 2020, respectively

8





8

Class B common stock, $0.01 par value; 200,000,000 shares authorized, 15,664,476 issued and 15,652,120 outstanding as of January 31, 2021, and 15,034,598 issued and 15,028,536 outstanding as of July 31, 2020

155





149

Additional paid-in capital

142,746





129,136

Accumulated deficit

(25,866)





(16,255)

Accumulated other comprehensive income related to foreign currency translation adjustment

3,761





3,762

Total equity attributable to Rafael Holdings, Inc.

120,804





116,800

Noncontrolling interests

14,583





13,728

TOTAL EQUITY

135,387





130,528

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY $ 146,249



$ 136,347



RAFAEL HOLDINGS, INC. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (unaudited, in thousands, except share and per share data)



Three Months Ended

January 31,



Six Months Ended

January 31,



2021



2020



2021



2020

REVENUE





















Rental  Third Party $ 190



$ 370



$ 426





716

Rental  Related Party

527





527





1,047





1,047

Parking

122





219





299





443

Other  Related Party

120





120





240





240

Total revenue

959





1,236





2,012





2,446

































COSTS AND EXPENSES





























Selling, general and administrative

2,767





2,221





5,359





4,262

Research and development

1,568





448





2,083





693

Depreciation and amortization

441





473





878





939

Impairment  Altira

7,000











7,000







Loss from operations

(10,817)





(1,906)





(13,308)





(3,448)

































Interest (expense) income, net

(1)





33





(1)





(31)

Net loss resulting from foreign exchange transactions



















(5)

Gain on sale of building













749







Impairment of investments - Other Pharmaceuticals













(724)







Unrealized gain on investments - Hedge Funds

2,489





557





3,433





520

Loss before income taxes

(8,329)





(1,316)





(9,851)





(2,964)

Provision for income taxes

(4)





(12)





(9)





(16)

Equity in earnings of RP Finance

96











192







Consolidated net loss

(8,237)





(1,328)





(9,668)





(2,980)

Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests

(72)





(75)





(57)





(129)

Net loss attributable to Rafael Holdings, Inc. $ (8,165)



$ (1,253)



$ (9,611)



$ (2,851)

































OTHER COMPREHENSIVE LOSS





























Net loss $ (8,237)



$ (1,328)



$ (9,668)



$ (2,980)

Foreign currency translation adjustment

37





(34)





(1)





(28)

Total comprehensive loss

(8,200)





(1,362)





(9,669)





(3,008)

Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests

10





(18)





(11)





(16)

Total comprehensive loss attributable to Rafael Holdings, Inc. $ (8,210)



$ (1,344)



$ (9,658)



$ (2,992)

































Loss per share





























Basic and diluted $ (0.50)



$ (0.08)



$ (0.60)



$ (0.18)

































Weighted average number of shares used in calculation of loss per share





























Basic and diluted

16,172,421





15,790,400





15,997,571





15,715,442



RAFAEL HOLDINGS, INC. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS (unaudited, in thousands)



Six Months Ended

January 31,



2021



2020

Operating activities













Net loss $ (9,668)



$ (2,980)

Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities













Depreciation and amortization

878





939

Deferred income taxes

6





12

Net unrealized gain on investments - Hedge Funds

(3,433)





(520)

Impairment of investments - Other Pharmaceuticals

724







Impairment  Altira

7,000







Equity in earnings of RP Finance

(192)







Provision for doubtful accounts

104





48

Stock-based compensation

719





411

Amortization of debt discount







54

Gain on sale of building

(749)























Change in assets and liabilities:













Trade accounts receivable

39





77

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

157





181

Other assets

46





(38)

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

(933)





(252)

Due from Rafael Pharmaceuticals

(242)







Other current liabilities

47









Due to related parties

29





126

Other liabilities

(59)





42

Net cash used in operating activities

(5,527)





(1,900)

















Investing activities













Purchase of investment in Altira

(1,000)







Purchases of property and equipment

(205)





(456)

Payments to fund RP Finance

(3,750)







Proceeds from sale of building

3,658







Proceeds related to distribution of Hedge Funds

2,000







Investment in Rafael Pharmaceuticals

(9,123)







Net cash used in investing activities

(8,420)





(456)

















Financing activities













Contribution from noncontrolling interest of consolidated entity

912







Proceeds from exercise of options

43







Proceeds from issuance of shares

13,000







Payments for taxes related to shares withheld for employee taxes

(146)





(116)

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

13,809





(116)

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents

18





(30)

Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents

(120)





(2,502)

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period

6,206





12,024

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period $ 6,086



$ 9,522

















Supplemental schedule of noncash investing and financing activities













Conversion of LipoMedix bridge notes $ 



$ 200

Conversions of related party convertible notes payable and accrued interest $ 



$ 15,668



SOURCE Rafael Holdings, Inc.

Related Links

https://www.rafaelholdings.com/


They and other experts say there needs to be a community conversation over the status of these new creations, what research can ethically be performed on them, and how far they can be allowed to develop. The Catholic Church, for example, considers that life begins at fertilisation. But Professor Polos model embryos do not need fertilisation. The model embryos, with protein staining highlighting different cell types. Credit:Monash University How religious leaders will take this, I dont know, to be honest, said Professor Polo. We need to remember this is a model. They dont have development potential. They cannot make a baby. We have to have the discussion. How far can we use these models to model biology? The model embryos, which the scientists call iBlastoids, offer a chance to study the earliest days of human development  currently difficult due to ethical restrictions on studying natural embryos.

They could be used to study the causes of infertility, miscarriage, birth defects and why embryos sometimes fail to implant in the womb. IVF experts will be among those most keen to access the technology. Professor Jose Polo in his lab at Monash University on Wednesday. Credit:Jason South These studies show two remarkable things: that the earliest stages of human development do not need an egg, and that it can be achieved using only skin cells, a few genes and the right chemical conditions, said Jason Limnios, a researcher at the Clem Jones Centre for Regenerative Medicine at Bond University, who was not involved in the research. The cells created by Professor Polos lab closely resemble blastocysts, the name for an egg in the days after it has been fertilised by sperm but before it implants on the wall of the uterus.

Their development into model embryos was pure serendipity, followed by meticulous science. Loading Replay Replay video Play video Play video Professor Polos team was working with skin cells, manipulating their genetic instructions to turn them into stem cells  cells that, with a little prodding, can become any other type of cell. But about 2 per cent of the cells were not behaving properly. Rather than turn into stem cells, they turned on a grab-bag of unexpected genes  the same ones an early embryo would turn on in the days after it is fertilised by a sperm. Spread out on a flat Petri dish, these strange cells simply sat there. Wondering what the cells might do in close proximity to each other, Professor Polos team placed them in a small jar shaped like an upside-down pyramid, the cells squashing together at the bottom.

Five or six days later, Professor Polos team returned to the jars to discover the cells were no longer just sitting there. Instead, they had self-assembled into tiny balls. When they studied these balls, they discovered that inside each was a second, smaller ball  the primitive endoderm and embryonic stem cells that would, in a real embryo, eventually become a human. Suddenly aware of what he had done, Professor Polo stopped the experiment. He contacted Monash Universitys ethics board, as well as the federal governments Embryo Research Licensing Committee. Professor Polo holds a series of wells similar to where the cells were grown. Credit:Jason South Loading

It took months for them to get their heads around this. Eventually, they said they would like us to stop creating them until we decide how to proceed, Professor Polo said. The regulator said on Wednesday that it viewed the cells as meeting the definition of a human embryo in the Research Involving Human Embryos Act 2002 and would regulate them as such  meaning that research can continue but, for now, the model embryos cannot be developed further than 14 days. Compared to human embryos at a similar stage, the model embryos share many of the same cells. When tested against a standard IVF embryo-quality score, the model embryos were graded as good. But the researchers and independent scientists are at pains to stress they do not believe they have created life, nor viable embryos. Loading

I dont think their models of embryonic development are a replica, or will ever be, said Megan Munsie, a professor of ethics, education and policy in stem cell science at the University of Melbourne. The biology is so complex it would be extremely challenging, and thats what were seeing in the animal work. But an editorial by leading developmental biology experts Yi Zheng and Jianping Fu, published alongside the research in Nature, points out these kinks are likely to soon be resolved. As protocols are optimised, these blastoids will more closely mimic human blastocysts, they write. To many people, the study of human blastoids will be less ethically challenging than the study of natural human blastocysts. However, others might view human blastoid research as a path towards engineering human embryos. This will inevitably lead to bioethical questions. What should the ethical status of the human blastoids be, and how should they be regulated?
Earlier this month, students in Burlington, Vermont, returned to in-person learning at their high school after many months away. Photos of their joyful reunion went viral on social media because these teenagers were dealing with more than the standard COVID disruptions: They were returning to school in an abandoned Macys department store.

Slate is on record with the opinion that such mall-schools are an inventive solution that deserves recognition. In this case, the students were moved to a Macys in an outdoor pedestrian mall in downtown Burlington after officials found high levels of toxic polychlorinated bipehnyls (PCBs) at their high school. The Macys building underwent a 10-week renovation, and students expect to be there about three years as the district sorts out the issues with the old building. During the pandemic, students will attend classes two days a week, half of the student body at a time. Its an odd setup in an odd place in an odd time. But Burlington students have expressed relief to finally be somewhere they can be together. And some of them, rightfully, think its pretty dang cool to go to school in an abandoned mall.

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To get a proper sense of what high school feels like in an old shopping mall, Slate spoke with four studentsseniors Wyatt, 18; Bernadette, 17; and Adam, 18; and junior Grace, 16about their first week back.

When you first heard that you were going to be going to school in Macys, what did you think?

Grace: I was kind of excited. But I also wondered, How are they going to pull that off? Because BHS is a very big school; its six different buildings. And Macys has two floors.

Wyatt: I think I first heard that Macys was a possibility in around October. And for whatever reason, my first thought was like, Man, theres got to be some good senior pranks that we could do at Macys We have access to escalators nowtheres just a lot of crazy things you can do with escalators. So theres definitely going to be some creative minds that come together. Theres only like four running escalators in the state of Vermont. And its pretty special that we get two of them.

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What was it like walking on that first day?

Wyatt: It was very exciting. They were playing some rock as we walked in. Our mascot is the seahorse, and that was dancing. Whats cool about the Macys is that instead of six different buildings, its two floors. So even though its only at half capacity right now, due to COVID, it feels like everyones just in one spot, which is really cool after being away from school for so long.

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Grace: I walked in and there were a bunch of students getting their temperature checked. And [asked] screening questions and whatnot. And we were trying to get to homeroom, and I saw a bunch of students who were really lost. Theres so many different corners. Its like a maze. There were signs, but they werent too helpful. I remember just feeling very lost and overwhelmed. It gets easier every time I go back, but I dont have it completely down yet.

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Adam: The first day was just super strange. You see your friends that you really havent seen in a year. There were a lot of elbow bumps and foot taps. [And] I realized it wasnt [just] about seeing my friends. It was about seeing people that I dont know. Seeing random people, interacting with them. It felt really exhilarating.

Bernadette: They did such an amazing job transforming the place. And just the energy was great. The teachers were pumped. Because a lot of underclassmen will like not turn on their cameras, so it was a lot of [excitement over] seeing faces. Teachers were so happy. As a part of National Honor Society, we were in charge of doing tours on those two first days here. And I felt like all the tour guides not knowing where we were going made everything kind of silly. You realize how big a joke it is. Later in the day, when they were announcing our lunch, they said, Lunch one, please come to the Michael Kors cafeteria. It was like, wow, that is my life now.

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Are there any hints of when it used to be a Macys?

Grace: Going into the building, nothing really seemed familiar to me, probably because I havent been there for so long. But its cool seeing imprints of the old mall left behind. Like, our library shelves still have brands like Calvin Klein on them. Im glad they didnt erase all traces of the old building.

Wyatt: Ive heard some people that were familiar with the old Macys say like, oh, the chorus room is where the old shoe department was. Theres the same carpeting and same light installations that they used to display things. And theres still the same wallpaper that they had back in the day, like Macys Day Parade wallpaper. Theres still signs that say fitting rooms. Theyre right next to the gym, so I think they made some of them into bathrooms.

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Bernadette: When you walk around the Macys, youd go Oh, I used to buy jewelry here. Because of, like, the specific carpet. But its starting to not feel like a Macys, and more like our school.

Has there any part of this that makes going to school harder?

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Grace: I miss being able to look out windows whenever I wanted. Back at BHS almost every classroom had a window. Its [also] very loud because like the walls that make up each classroom dont reach the ceiling. And most of them dont have doors either. So you can hear the neighboring classrooms and conversations in the hallway. Its very distracting. [And] speaking with masks, its harder to hear people. Yesterday, my English teacher was reading something and I could not hear what he was saying.

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Wyatt: Theres a section of the science department thats right next to the band room. And if they get going on the wrong song, its over. That is obviously a major flaw. [But] I personally kind of like it in some respects, when its white noise. Because you just hear all these voices and stuff. Its very different than just being at home during quarantine.

Are there already jokes about the Macys?

Wyatt: The joke is just so obvious. Were going to school in a Macyspeople will just say, you know, yeah, Im graduating from Macys this year. Its just such a funny thing in itself that we dont need to make any further jokes about it.

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Grace: Yeah, Ive seen people say, like, Macys Class of blah, blah, blah.

Wyatt: Theres a shirt that says mall rats on it. Some teacher made a shirt, and theyre selling it.

How have people in your life responded to the news?

Grace: I feel like if they are jealous, they wont admit it, because of pride. But they know its pretty cool.

Wyatt: Weve had to be online for most of the year. We spent a little bit of time in the middle school, but that wasnt, like, our place. So its very nice to have something like this to call home, even if it is a department store.

Adam: I think the initial reaction is, like, laughter. With parents and adults, the interaction is always like, So youre going to Macys now. And I started to get frustrated. Its been long enough. Kids just wanted to go to school. Nobody cares if theres an escalator or silly pictures of brands on the walls.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-17 08:47:12|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, March 17 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese mainland on Wednesday unveiled measures to support the development of Taiwan-funded enterprises in agriculture and forestry on the mainland.

Known as "22 measures on agriculture and forestry," they are effective from the day of their promulgation. Enditem
First Lady Jill Biden is expected to be joined by the family of astronaut and Massachusetts native Christa McAuliffe on Wednesday while promoting the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan.

The visit from the first lady is part of the presidents Help Is Here tour that aims to educate the American public about the Rescue Plan. Biden is expected to travel to Concord, New Hampshire, where she will underscore how the stimulus package provides more than $100 billion to help schools reopen, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said at a press briefing Monday.

Democratic President Joe Bidens goal is to have the majority of K-8 schools open within his first 100 days in office. The coronavirus stimulus package passed by Congress and signed into law by the commander-in-chief last week allocated $130 billion to aid school reopening, more than $50 billion to improve vaccination and testing efforts and tens of billions of dollars to help small businesses hit hard by the pandemic.

The first lady will arrive at Manchester-Boston Regional Airport around 11:40 a.m. and then travel to the Christa McAuliffe School in Concord. She will be joined by the late astronaut and school teachers family, according to the White House.

A teacher in Concord, McAuliffe was one of seven astronauts killed in 1986 when the Challenger space shuttle exploded 73 seconds after liftoff from Cape Canaveral, Florida. She died at age 37, leaving behind a husband and two children.

McAuliffe was a graduate of Framingham State University in Framingham, Massachusetts, her hometown, and was the first private civilian selected to go to space. Schoolchildren across the country were tuned in to watch the shuttles launch.

For the Help Is Here tour, the first lady already spoke Monday at a playground outside Samuel Smith Elementary School in Burlington, New Jersey.

Were going to open schools, and were going to do it safely, she said at the event.
Delivers first 700V, 300kWh battery system for an electric bus

TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / March 17, 2021 / Electrovaya Inc. (TSX:EFL)(OTCQB:EFLVF) (the "Company") is pleased to announce the launch of its electric bus lithium ion battery systems with the delivery of a 700V, 300kWh battery. This product launch marks Electrovaya's entry into the rapidly growing electric bus market.

Electrovaya's solution leverages the fundamental advantages of its key battery technology:

Safety: Provides industry-leading safety, as demonstrated in the e-car and e-materials handling sectors, including UL2580 listing for the latter;

Provides industry-leading safety, as demonstrated in the e-car and e-materials handling sectors, including UL2580 listing for the latter; Long Cycle-Life and High Energy Density : Superior long-term performance standards;

: Superior long-term performance standards; Cost of Ownership: Lowest overall cost of ownership to bus operators and OEMs due to superior cycle life;

Lowest overall cost of ownership to bus operators and OEMs due to superior cycle life; Proprietary Technology: Substantial intellectual property in cells, BMS and systems;

Substantial intellectual property in cells, BMS and systems; Modular Design: 100-700 kWh battery systems for e-buses; and

100-700 kWh battery systems for e-buses; and Fossil-Free Future: Significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.

This development was supported by Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC). In 2017, SDTC had signed a C$3.8 million R&D contract with Electrovaya to develop safe and long-lasting lithium ion ceramic batteries for electric buses.

"Electrovaya is a great example of how Canadian entrepreneurs are leading the way in developing solutions that Canada and the world needs," said SDTC President and CEO Leah Lawrence. "By expanding their offering of lithium ion battery solutions to the electric bus supply chain, the team at Electrovaya is helping to make our transportation systems more sustainable and reduce greenhouse gas emissions."

"We are delighted to enter this market with our strong and unique product offering," said Dr. Raj Das Gupta, Chief Operating Officer of Electrovaya. "Electrovaya has spent considerable time and effort to develop a solution that meets the demanding application requirements of electric buses. Our technology has a unique blend of cycle life, safety, energy, and power performance that are ideal for this application. We expect to replicate the success Electrovaya has achieved in the materials handling industry, in this emerging electric bus sector."

Investor Contact:

Jason Roy

Electrovaya Inc.

Telephone: 905-855-4618

Email: jroy@electrovaya.com

www.electrovaya.com

Media Contact:

Peter Koven

Bay Street Communications

Telephone: 647-496-7857

Email: peterkoven@baystreetcommunications.com

About Electrovaya Inc.

Electrovaya Inc. (TSX:EFL)(OTCQB:EFLVF) designs, develops and manufactures proprietary Lithium Ion batteries, battery systems, and battery-related products for energy storage, clean electric transportation and other specialized applications. Electrovaya is a technology focused company with extensive IP. Headquartered in Ontario, Canada, Electrovaya has production facilities in Canada with customers around the globe.

To learn more about how Electrovaya is powering mobility and energy storage, please explore www.electrovaya.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements, including statements that relate to, among other things, the ability to satisfy the Company's orders for electric bus and other applications, whether the company will receive any more orders for batteries for electric buses, the demand for batteries for electric buses, the capability of the Company to produce the electric bus batteries in a cost effective manner, the Company's and its supply chain ability to supply the batteries for electric buses, the long-term performance of the Company's products, the cost of ownership of the Company's products relative to comparable products, the role of the Company's products in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, the Company's ability to satisfy its ongoing debt obligations, anticipated increased collaboration with electric bus OEMs and OEM channels constituting a source of sales growth for the Company, anticipated continued increase in sales momentum in fiscal 2021 through OEMs and directly to large global companies, including Fortune 500 companies, the future direction of the Company's business and products, including E-bus applications and additional intellectual property protection, the effect of the ongoing global COVID-19 public health emergency on the Company's operations, its employees and other stake holders, including on customer demand, supply chain, and delivery schedule, the Company's ability to source supply to satisfy demand for its products and satisfy current order volume, technology development progress, pre-launch plans, plans for product development, plans for shipment using the Company's technology, production plans, the Company's markets, objectives, goals, strategies, intentions, beliefs, expectations and estimates, and can generally be identified by the use of words such as "may", "will", "could", "should", "would", "likely", "possible", "expect", "intend", "estimate", "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "objective" and "continue" (or the negative thereof) and words and expressions of similar import. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, such statements involve risks and uncertainties, and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements. Certain material factors or assumptions are applied in making forward-looking statements, and actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations include but are not limited to: that the Company's products will operate in live electric bus applications in accordance with testing and current expectations, that current customers will continue to make and increase orders for the Company's products, and in accordance with communicated intentions, that the Company's alternate supply chain will be adequate to replace material supply and manufacturing, that the Company's interpretation of the effect of any comfort given to Litarion's auditors of the Company's financial support for Litarion's operations is correct, and that Litarion's insolvency process will proceed in an orderly fashion that will satisfy Litarion's debt without a significant negative effect on the Company or its assets, actions taken by creditors and remedies granted by German courts in the Litarion insolvency proceedings and their effect on the Company's business and assets, negative reactions of the Company's existing customers to Litarion's insolvency process, general business and economic conditions (including but not limited to currency rates and creditworthiness of customers), Company liquidity and capital resources, including the availability of additional capital resources to fund its activities, level of competition, changes in laws and regulations, legal and regulatory proceedings, the ability to adapt products and services to the changing market, the ability to attract and retain key executives, the granting of additional intellectual property protection, and the ability to execute strategic plans. Additional information about material factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations and about material factors or assumptions applied in making forward-looking statements may be found in the Company's Annual Information Form for the year ended September 30, 2020 under "Risk Factors", and in the Company's most recent annual Management's Discussion and Analysis under "Qualitative And Quantitative Disclosures about Risk and Uncertainties" as well as in other public disclosure documents filed with Canadian securities regulatory authorities. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or to revise any of the forward-looking statements contained in this document, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

SOURCE: Electrovaya, Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/635874/Electrovaya-Announces-Commercial-Launch-of-Its-Electric-Bus-Battery
Ambassador Pham Hai Anh, Deputy Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the United Nations, expressed his concern over the military escalation in Yemen, especially Marib and Taiz.

At the UN Security Councils online meeting on the Yemen situation on March 16. (Photo: VNA)

Speaking at the UN Security Councils online meeting on the Yemen situation on March 16, the ambassador called on relevant sides to observe the UN Secretary Generals call for a ceasefire, the end of the war and the resumption of negotiations on a national ceasefire.



He also appealed to the international community to further support Yemen and the concerned parties to comply with the international humanitarian law and pay more heed to woman and child protection.



The parties should press ahead with the implementation of the Stockholm Agreement and the Riyadh Agreement, with the UN playing the intermediary role, he said.



At the meeting, Vietnam also called on the sides to practise restraint and create optimal conditions for the political process in Yemen, as well as regional peace and stability.



It was reported that more than 20 million Yemen people need humanitarian aid, five million stay on the brink of famine and one million others have been forced to leave their homes.



Humanitarian activities face difficulties due to a funding shortage and the economic crisis.



Under Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Mark Lowcock, said financial commitments to Yemen in 2021 reached only 1.7 billion USD.



It is less than half of the amount needed for this years response plan, and nearly 1 billion USD less than last years figure, according to the UN official.



Given this, he urged the international community to increase assistance commitments to Yemen.

VNA
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / March 17, 2021 / CAT Strategic Metals Corporation (CSE:CAT)(FRA:8CH) ("CAT" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has closed the binding letter agreement with arm's-length parties to acquire a privately-held corporation that owns a 100% undivided interest in the South Preston Uranium Property located in Saskatchewan, Canada.

The South Preston Uranium Property

The South Preston Uranium Property is located in the southwest area of Canada's Athabasca Basin, which is known to host some of the world's highest-grade uranium deposits. Recent discoveries in the region include the Arrow uranium deposit discovered by NexGen Energy Ltd. and the Triple R (PLS) uranium deposit being advanced by Fission Uranium Corp.

Figure 1: Map of the South Preston Uranium Property

The South Preston Uranium Property is district-scale uranium exploration project encompassing approx.20,679 ha (~51,077 acres) across numerous mineral dispositions. Together with the addition of the recently acquired East Expansion and North Expansion claims, the total project size has increased to 29,395 ha (70,136 acres). Among other attributes, the property is viewed as prospectively hosting the extension of a priority uranium exploration corridor extending from NexGen Energy Ltd.'s Rook-1 Project through Azincourt Energy Corp.'s adjacent East Preston Uranium Project and onto CAT's new South Preston Uranium Property.

As shown in Figure 1 (see above), the South Preston Uranium Project shares more than 50km of contiguous claim border with Azincourt Energy Corp. and more than 18.5km of continuous project boundary with Orano, a leading global uranium producer.

The Company's exploration strategy at its South Preston Uranium Property is currently focused on rapidly defining priority drill targets for testing later this year.

Key Transaction Details

The Company entered into a definitive agreement with Grand Mines Ltd ("Grand Mines") on March 15, 2021, and acquired 100% of the issued and outstanding shares of Grand Mines by way of three-cornered amalgamation (the "Grand Mines Agreement"), in consideration of the issuance of 27,500,000 common shares ("Shares") of the Company issued at a deemed value of $0.07 per Share and the payment of CAD $50,000. CAT has also assumed responsibility for a pre- existing 2% royalty on the South Preston Uranium Project.

No finder's fees were paid on the transaction. The Company relied on the business combination exemption under Section 2.11 of National Instrument 45-106 - Prospectus Exemptions to issue the Shares. In this regard, the Shares are not subject to a four month and one day hold period.

About CAT Strategic Metals Corporation:

CAT Strategic Metals Corporation is a Canadian based mineral exploration company focused on the acquisition and de risking of overlooked projects situated in well-established World Class geological districts in North America. The Company is specially focused on minerals which are considered highly strategic from a monetary as well as global infrastructure and energy point of view. CAT's shares trade on the Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE) under the trading symbol "CAT", and on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under the symbol "8CH".

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

Robert Rosner

Chairman, President & CEO

Further information regarding the Company can be found on SEDAR at www.SEDAR.com, by visiting the Company's website www.catstrategic.com or by contacting the Company directly at (604) 674-3145.

This news release may contain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements address future events and conditions and therefore involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements. Particular risks applicable to this press release include risks associated with planned production, including the ability of the company to achieve its targeted exploration outline due to regulatory, technical or economic factors. In addition, there are risks associated with estimates of resources, and there is no guarantee that a resource will be found or have demonstrated economic viability as necessary to be classified as a reserve.There is no guarantee that additional exploration work will result in significant increases to resource estimates.

Neither Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

We seek safe harbour.

SOURCE: CAT Strategic Metals Corporation

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/635926/CAT-Strategic-Closes-Amalgamation-Agreement-and-Acquires-District-Scale-Uranium-Asset-in-Canadas-Western-Athabasca-Basin-50KM-Claim-Border-with-Neighbouring-Azincourt-Energy
Worcester Polytechnic Institute professor Andrew Teixeira (right) confers with PhD student Cameron Armstrong, who custom built an ultrafast micro catalytic reactor to produce ammonia. Were looking to flip industries on their heads. Were talking about being able to better feed the world. The impact is transformative. -Andrew TeixeiraAssistant professor of chemical engineering at WPI

A chemical engineering professor at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) is applying innovative chemical engineering processes to develop tools that could aid farmers in rural areas and developing nations, establish improved water supply chains for municipalities, and spur improved drug development.

Andrew Teixeira, assistant professor of chemical engineering, has received four grantsincluding a prestigious National Science Foundation CAREER awardtotaling more than $1.6 million over the past several months. He has received grants from three different agencies to study the issue: the National Science Foundation, the U.S. Department of Energy, and Mainstream Engineering Corporation. A common theme across the grants is the focus on chemical manufacturing to support on-demand water and agricultural efforts and domestic pharmaceutical drug manufacturing.

Teixeiras approach is part of a new wave of manufacturing that aims to create a distributed chemical and energy landscape that transitions from large, centralized refineries to small, on-demand systems that use geographically localized resources.

Im very excited to help define a new paradigm in chemical manufacturing by introducing periodic, dynamic operating conditions, said Teixeira. There have traditionally been a limited number of tools to use when designing refineries, but now were proposing an entirely new strategy that allows us to unlock pathways that were previously unachievable.

Teixeiras method centers on using microreaction engineering and continuous flow chemistry, a process that allows for more flexible management of the manufacturing process than traditional batch manufacturing of chemical products. Instead of requiring a constant pressure and temperature throughout the process, his dynamic systems use intermittent ultrafast pressure and temperature switching.

Because its continuous, you dont need to stop and clean, he said. Its smaller and safer and on-demand.

Teixeira said hes looking forward to sparking a significant shift in how water, food, chemicals and pharmaceuticals are manufactured and accessed.

Were looking to flip industries on their heads, he added. Were talking about being able to better feed the world. The impact is transformative.

Teixeiras four grants are as follows:



NSF CAREER award: CAREER: Nitrogen Activation: Splitting Kinetic Cycles and Breaking Energetic Barriers with Pulsed Catalysis. Teixeira is working to help make it cheaper, easier and safer for farmers around the globe to grow crops by helping them produce their own fertilizer. Ammonia, a critical ingredient in fertilizer, is energy intensive to produce; it consumes about 2 percent of the worlds energy. His research will not only make ammonia more economical to create, but also enable farmers to produce it themselves, eliminating the need for it to be shipped great distances from chemical manufacturers, which is particularly important in rural or developing areas that lack a reliable distribution infrastructure. The NSF CAREER Award is the most prestigious NSF award for faculty members early in their careers as researchers and educators. The award totals $578,000 over five years.

NSF Emerging Frontiers in Research and Innovation (EFRI) award: This research, done in collaboration with the University of Virginia and the University of Houston, focuses on making it easier, cheaper, and more efficient to convert distributed resources such as stranded natural gas into useful chemicals. (Stranded natural gas fields are largely unusable because of location or access challenges). The work, which will benefit energy and chemical companies, along with material and power producers, aims to create small-scale reactors that can be easily transported to natural gas or methane sources, to which access would otherwise require costly pipelines and safety infrastructures. Bringing the reactor to the resource flips the transportation problem, said Teixeira, saving money and energy while possibly making the process a lot safer. Teixeiras role is to design, build and test the proof-of-concept micro-reactor technology. He will receive $400,000 of the $2 million award over four years.

Mainstream Engineering Corporation: Florida-based Mainstream Engineering Corp., in cooperation with WPI, is developing a membraneless water purification system to remove colloidal contaminants from water. Membranes and filters used in current water purification systems can become clogged, requiring frequent replacement. Teixeiras research uses small ionized carbon dioxide molecules to split water in two, creating distinct streams of concentrated waste and clean water  a process that removes particulate matter, bacteria, and other contaminants. Teixeira is the principal investigator; and Elizabeth Stewart, assistant professor of chemical engineering at WPI, is the co-principal investigator. This project will receive $483,000 over three years.

Department of Energy RAPID EWD Flow Chemistry Course: Teixeira and Robert Dempski, associate professor of chemistry and biochemistry, are developing a hands-on course for pharmaceutical chemists in WPIs Biomanufacturing Education & Training Center. The three-day intensive lab course features models for lectures, labs, and augmented reality to allow chemists to design, construct, and test their own reactor systems. This will give them experience in converting from traditional batch chemistry to a flow chemistry process that creates on-demand pharmaceuticals.

During the past several years, the pharmaceutical industry has undergone a major shift from traditional batch manufacturing technology to modular flow technology, which offers greater efficiency, purity and safety. As a result, pharmaceutical chemists require updated training that cant be conducted in a live manufacturing facility. Its next generation of workforce training, said Teixeira, who is partnering with the ACS Green Chemistry Institute on the project. This research will receive $174,000 over two years.

About Worcester Polytechnic Institute

WPI, a global leader in project-based learning, is a distinctive, top-tier technological university founded in 1865 on the principle that students learn most effectively by applying the theory learned in the classroom to the practice of solving real-world problems. Recognized by the National Academy of Engineering with the 2016 Bernard M. Gordon Prize for Innovation in Engineering and Technology Education, WPIs pioneering project-based curriculum engages undergraduates in solving important scientific, technological, and societal problems throughout their education and at more than 50 project centers around the world. WPI offers more than 70 bachelors, masters, and doctoral degree programs across 17 academic departments in science, engineering, technology, business, the social sciences, and the humanities and arts. Its faculty and students pursue groundbreaking research to meet ongoing challenges in health and biotechnology; robotics and the internet of things; advanced materials and manufacturing; cyber, data, and security systems; learning science; and more. http://www.wpi.edu

Contact:

Andy Baron, Associate Director of Public Relations

Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Worcester, Massachusetts

508-831-5916; 978-235-3407 (cell), ajbaron@wpi.edu
Scientists at BioPhero are scaling up pheromone manufacturing through yeast fermentation. Credit: BioPhero

Pheromones that interfere with insect mating patterns, crops that are grown together with others and fields edged with wildflowers are just some of the techniques being developed by European scientists to defend crops from pests without resorting to pesticides, which have been linked to widespread insect biodiversity loss.

Most crops require pesticides to grow profitably. But many pesticides are too efficient at killing insects, often indiscriminately. They aim to hit specific crop pests but spray deadly fire at friendly insects and some may harm pollinators such as bees.

While the plight of bees attracts attention, other less visible insects are also in peril. Recent research found that 40% of all insects are declining, and a quarter could be wiped out within a decade.

This is not inevitable. We can cut down on the use of many insecticides. To this end, scientists work on ways to protect crops from insect pests without wiping out beneficial insects which are often crucial to healthy ecosystems and provide sustenance to birds and other wildlife.

One strategy is to disrupt the mating of insects by jamming their chemical signals. Insects such as moths waft pheromones into the air, which allows males to follow the perfumed path to a female. The concoctions are usually specific to a species of insect.

By making the same pheromones as the insects and releasing them over crop fields, it is possible to confuse the insects by hiding their pheromone trails and making it difficult for them to pair up. This technique is called mating disruption.

The synthetic pheromones must be the same as those made by the insects, and unfortunately manufacturing them chemically is costly. As a result, mating disruption is mostly for high value fruits and vegetables, such as tomatoes, apples and pears.

But now a European project called Olefine has developed a way to manufacture pheromones using yeast fermentation, making them a more affordable alternative to pesticides. This is done by introducing genes for insect enzymes into yeast.

"We started with a lab process and then improved and optimised it," said Professor Irina Borodina at the Technical University of Denmark and founder of the company BioPhero. A yeast from cheese fermentation generated less than a milligram of pheromone per litre in a lab at the start of the project, but by the end was making grams per litre. "There are lots of magic tricks we can do to make the cell cooperate with us," said Prof. Borodina.

Fermentation

Predators such as ladybirds can help keep down the population of pests such as aphids on wheat. Credit: Severin Hatt

BioPhero is now working with several companies in Olefine and a project called PHERA in order to scale up the production of starter ingredients and turn them into cost-effective pheromone products that can be sprayed on commodity crops such as maize, soya bean, cotton and rice.

"There are two main limitations on the use of pheromones at a large scale," said Prof. Borodina. "One is price." Pheromone price needs to fall significantly for mating disruption to be widely adopted for row crops. "We can solve this by manufacturing pheromones using fermentation," said Prof. Borodina.

The other challenge is how to formulate and dispense them. Currently, pheromones are dispersed through plastic hangarsmore suitable for greenhouses than large crop fields. BioPhero is working with other companies that are expert in formulating pheromones for slow release in crop fields.

'(PHERA partners) are formulating pheromones in sprayable formulations and trying them out in the field, in real conditions for mating disruption," Prof Borodina explained.

One pheromone will be useful to interfere with cotton ball worms (Helicoverpa zea) on cotton and soybean, and the diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella) on cabbages. The pheromone looked promising when sprayed onto cotton fields in Greece. A second pheromone will target fall armyworms (Spodoptera frugiperda), voracious crop eaters that spread from South America to Africa and Asia and consume grain crops, including maize.

Use of pheromones offers an environmentally friendly way to control specific insects, because 'it doesn't harm other insects, it doesn't harm biodiversity," noted Prof Borodina. This supports the EU's Farm to Fork strategy, which aims for a 50% pesticide reduction and 25% increase in organic farmland by 2030, she added.

The pheromones are also non-toxic, and they evaporate quickly. They are made from fatty acids, and so are also rapidly eaten by microbes. Unlike many pesticides, they therefore do not persist in the environment.

Integrated

However, pheromones are not the only greener route to protect crops while cutting down on agrichemicals. Integrated pest management is a strategy that uses various control techniques to push levels of the pest down to acceptable levels. Pheromones can be part of this strategy.

In Germany, Dr. Severin Hatt in the agroecology and organic farming group at the University of Bonn is sowing crops without agrichemicals in ways that he hopes will supress diseases, insect pests and weeds, as part of a project called WIDE-synergies.

Wildflower strips consisting of a mix of a dozen flowers attract beneficial insects, including predators of crop pests such as aphids, particularly ladybirds, hoverflies and lacewings, and some parasitic wasps. Credit: Severin Hatt

He planted seeds at the experimental farming station outside Bonn to grow different combinations of winter wheat and winter broad beans. There are 32 strips of crop, each measuring 25 metres long and 9 metres wide, in eight different planting regimes. The idea is to compare the effect of techniques such as intercropping, living mulch and wildflowers with strips consisting of wheat or broad bean.

Pests and disease often are specific to one crop. Planting this one crop in a field makes it easy for a pest or disease to spread from one plant to the next, which is why agrichemicals are often so necessary in monocultures. Mixing two crops such as wheat and broad beans togethercalled intercroppingmakes it less straightforward for a disease or pest to spread from plant to plant.

Another strategy is to sow a living mulch amongst wheat. "These are grasses and legumes that cover the soil," explained Dr. Hatt. "It is an ecologically friendly way to reduce weeds." The living mulch will not compete against the crop but against weeds that try to grow there.

Dr. Hatt will also plant wildflowers beside some crop strips to see if this encourages beneficial insects, in the hope that they will transfer to nearby crops. The wildflower strips will consist of a mix of a dozen flowers that will attract beneficial insects, including predators of crop pests such as aphids. "We will then monitor the predators of aphids, particularly ladybirds, hoverflies and lacewings, and some parasitic wasps," said Dr. Hatt. He will check regularly to see how many aphids are in a crop strip and if there are more natural enemies of these pests in some situations than in others.

What is unusual about this experiment is that it will try intercropping and wildflower margins alone and together, to see if together they produce synergies. It will also look at more than just insect pests. "Most research has focused on insects or disease or weeds, for intercropping or flower margins," said Dr. Hatt. "Here we want to consider them all together."

Insecticides will not be used on the crop strips. None of the strategies risk killing beneficial insects, or risk insecticide residues being left on the crops or getting flushed into groundwater. This is something that is viewed as increasingly important.

"Consumers are becoming more aware of the dangers (of pesticides) for their health," said Prof. Borodina. "And people, particularly younger people, care a lot about the environment and are concerned about contamination of groundwater by persistent insecticides."

The need to protect biodiversity is also increasingly a priority. The pheromone strategy does not kill insects but keeps pests at levels in a field where they do not cause economic harm to growers. "People are becoming more aware of environmental health issues," said Prof. Borodina.

Explore further Pheromones in fight against pests
TAMPA, Fla., March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- vXchnge, a leading colocation services provider, today announced that CRN, a brand of The Channel Company, has recognized the company on the 2021 Data Center 50 list. The annual list highlights the technology companies and suppliers that work tirelessly with their partners to ensure business-facing data centers are running at maximum efficiency and peak performance.

"We're proud to be included on the Data Center 50 list at such a pivotal time for the IT industry. Over the past year, businesses have faced unique challenges, including adapting to entirely remote workforces on short notice. Choosing trusted and reliable solution providers has never been more important," said Ernest Sampera, co-founder, vXchnge. "In addition to a distinct channel program, vXchnge boasts carrier-neutral data centers in strategic growth markets and secure, reliable infrastructure to deliver 100% uptime  guaranteed. Our channel partners know we are committed to protecting their brands and their customers, now and in the future."

Each of vXchnge's data center locations offers numerous connectivity options, up to seven layers of physical security, and SLAs (service-level agreements) guaranteeing 100% uptime to ensure maximum reliability. in\site, vXchnge's award-winning platform for data center infrastructure management, provides unmatched transparency and control into colocation deployments, giving channel partners another advantage to leverage in their solutions.

"As ever, CRN's 2021 Data Center 50 List is a clear and definitive showcase of the top technology suppliers working in the data center industry, and I want to offer my heartfelt congratulations to each and every one of them," said Blaine Raddon, CEO of The Channel Company. "These companies have proven many times over that their commitment toward ongoing data center growth and innovation is second to none, as is the support they offer to their partners who, in turn, pass the benefits down to their customers."

The CRN Data Center 50 List is an essential resource that solution providers can turn to when searching for the very best in data center services, management tools, infrastructure and more. A panel of CRN editors determine which companies are featured, judging them on the breadth and types of services offered to partners, the company's overall influence on the channel, and its total impact on the data center market. The companies recognized on the CRN Data Center 50 List offer the very best in data center protection, management, and support services.

The Data Center 50 list is featured online at www.crn.com/datacenter50 .

About vXchnge

As the most awarded carrier-neutral colocation data center operator in the United States, vXchnge delivers unmatched reliability, scalability, and security as well as an infrastructure management platform offering complete data center transparency. vXchnge's broad geographic footprint brings businesses to the edge, so they can reach more customers in the markets they serve. From emerging startups to Fortune 500 brands, some of the world's most well-known and innovative companies trust vXchnge. Visit vxchnge.com for more information.

About The Channel Company

The Channel Company enables breakthrough IT channel performance with our dominant media, engaging events, expert consulting and education, and innovative marketing services and platforms. As the channel catalyst, we connect and empower technology suppliers, solution providers and end users. Backed by more than 30 years of unequalled channel experience, we draw from our deep knowledge to envision innovative new solutions for ever-evolving challenges in the technology marketplace. www.thechannelcompany.com

 2021. CRN is a registered trademark of The Channel Company, LLC. All rights reserved.

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We are seeing that trend on the West Coast of Florida and throughout the entire state. As work remotely becomes the new norm we anticipate buyers will continue to migrate to our region from northern states, added Bob Glaser, President and CEO of Smith and Associates Real Estate.

A comprehensive study of the worlds affluent households by Luxury Portfolio International (LPI), the luxury marketing division of Leading Real Estate Companies of the World, the largest global network of premier locally branded residential real estate brokerage firms, revealed compelling metrics on the demand for residential real estate among the worlds wealthiest.

The just-released study, State of Luxury Real Estate, focused on consumers in the top 1%-5% income bracket of 17 countries, representing more than 30 million households. It was conducted by the Affluent Consumer Research Company, full-service market research and voice-of-the-customer organization, specializing in high-income and high-asset consumers around the world.

As detailed within the report, of the 30 million+ households represented, more than 15.5 million will be in the market for residential real estate over the next three years. Conversely, the report also revealed that demand for purchasing residential real estate by this sector far exceeds the number of sellers, with slightly more than 10 million looking to list their home for sale.

The more than five-million-home gap between those interested in purchasing and those interested in selling creates a sellers market within the overall high-end residential real estate market. The implication of this lopsided market is near-term price increases and greater demand for new development. With the increased competition across the country, there is heightened importance on strategic sales relationships through programs like Luxury Portfolio, to find additional inventory for prospective home buying clientele. Real estate companies like Smith & Associates Real Estate in Tampa Bay will be leveraging these relationships for inventory opportunities to help find the right home for the discerning buyer.

Highlights from State of Luxury Real Estate include:



While real estate prices vary dramatically from country to country, a viable luxury threshold is homes in excess of US $1 million. Of the 15.5 million consumers who indicated interest in purchasing residential real estate, 66% of that segment (10.3 million consumers) noted a desire to purchase a residence valued at US $1 million or more over the next three years.

Real estate is the leading investment category of the day, with luxury buyer sentiment a strong buy, and a low inclination to sell.

One-quarter of global luxury buyers have an investment or a rental property in mind for their next purchase.

New construction in newly developed neighborhoods is the No. 1 global preference and it commands the highest price among the luxury buyer segment.

The pandemic has impacted homes at all price levels, including the luxury sector, with trends borne from quarantining including adjusting to all members of the household working from home; a heightened need for self-reliance at home; and recognition that spontaneity brings a welcomed break. For the most part, all three circumstances can be addressed within a luxury home setting.

International luxury buyers cite non-financial reasons to live abroad, with education and COVID-19 responses influencing their motivation for a golden passport, specifically for buyers in Mexico, India, China, and post-Brexit United Kingdom.

Specific to the UK, they lead Europe in interest in acquiring property outside of the UK, as well as a second passport.

Luxury buyers are planning for extended shelter-in-place scenarios for themselves, family and guests. Expectations are high that over the coming year, more time will be spent at home, with about half of luxury buyers seeking a residence with accommodations for long-term guests. Whatever their individual reason, the result is preparation for non-household members to shelter with them. The luxury customer is more interested in high-quality offerings and customer service than low price. The ultra-luxury segment values brands that feature corporate citizenship, reputation and loyalty.

While real estate as an industry has had significant technological disruptors such as online agencies over the past few years, luxury buyers overwhelmingly prefer to work with a traditional brokerage firm. 70% of luxury buyers noted as much, with 19% noting they would work with an online agency.

Luxury buyers are bullish on the residential real estate market. 45% of those surveyed believe that it is getting stronger (more buyers) -- compared to 31% who believe that it is softer (these results are impacted by in-market, in-country specifics).

60% of affluent consumers expect an increase in their current homes value, primarily in the 1% to 10% range.

50% of luxury buyers believe that now is a good time to buy real estate, being the number one result in the survey -- beating out stocks, private equity and gold, among others.

More than one-half of ultra-luxury buyers (52%) perceive their current home value to have risen by more than 10%, perhaps incenting them to trade up or add to their portfolio.

As to an outlook for 2021, barring unforeseen economic or geopolitical issues, a record number of affluent households will be in market to acquire, especially within the luxury segment.

It is clear that affluent residential real estate buyers see opportunities within their respective markets, said Mickey Alam Khan, president of Luxury Portfolio International. We are noting a surge in buyers throughout many markets worldwide, where it continues to be a sellers market in the luxury space vis-a-vis the previous year. We expect that trend to continue through 2021  as well as the next couple of years -- as buyers rush into the market. The ultra-luxury buyer perspective is that the current climate is getting stronger. In many markets, we see home values going up, and there is more interest in prime property.

We are seeing that trend on the West Coast of Florida and throughout the entire state. As work remotely becomes the new norm we anticipate buyers will continue to migrate to our region from northern states, added Bob Glaser, President and CEO of Smith and Associates Real Estate.

Real estate is an increasingly sensible investment at a time when financial and alternative investments appear potentially disconnected from traditional success indicators, like revenue and profit, said Chandler Mount, CEO of Affluent Consumer Research Co., the studys author, and research partner for Luxury Portfolio International. Many luxury buyers all over the world share this sentiment, and the implication is a lot of money flowing into real estate in the coming year.

Investment sentiment toward real estate is positive and outstrips other forms of financial investment, concluded Alam Khan. This bodes well for developers and resellers, along with sister industries, such as home design, art, and furniture.

# # #

About Luxury Portfolio International (LPI)

LPI (luxuryportfolio.com) is the luxury marketing division of Leading Real Estate Companies of the World, the largest global network of premier locally branded firms dominated by many of the world's most powerful, independent luxury brands. LPI attracts a global audience of visitors from over 200 countries/territories every month and markets more than 50,000 luxury homes annually. Well Connected.

Source: Luxury Portfolio International, Contact: pr@luxuryportfolio.com

About Smith & Associates Real Estate

Founded in 1969, Smith & Associates Real Estate is Tampa Bay's largest independent and locally-owned real estate brokerage, with a commitment to exceptional service and superior market knowledge. Deeply embedded in the community and comprised of six strategically located offices in the Tampa Bay area, 280 associates, an annual sales volume of $1.6 billion, and over 2,660 transactions a year. Smith & Associates Real Estate is the number one luxury brokerage firm of $1M+ residences with 15.4% of the market share and an average price of $1.87M* (*average of luxury transactions as of December 31, 2020). The company completes seven transactions per day and is a nationally recognized leader in the Real Estate industry.

For more information on Smith & Associates Real Estate, please visit smithandassociates.com.

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iStock/da-kuk (WASHINGTON, D.C.) -- A new report from the chief U.S. intelligence office uncovered evidence that Russia and Iran took significant measures to influence the latest presidential election.

According to the report, Russian President Vladimir Putin was responsible for taking extensive measures to "denigrating" President Joe Biden's bid for the White House, according to a declassified report by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.

The report also implicated Iran for attempting to influence the U.S. election, but focused on trying to "undercut" former President Donald Trump's reelection efforts.

The report stated China did not seek to interfere with the election.

Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines said Tuesday, "Foreign malign influence is an enduring challenge facing our country... These efforts by U.S. adversaries seek to exacerbate divisions and undermine confidence in our democratic institutions."

The report is part of the country's ongoing measures to combat foreign influence in U.S. elections.

The study also claimed national security officials warned then-President Trump of Americas adversaries attempting to erode confidence in the democratic process of elections.

Russia was implicated with meddling with the 2016 election, but unlike four years ago, the study found no evidence that election infrastructure was tampered with by Russian actors. Instead, Russian efforts remained focused on pushing "narratives-including misleading or unsubstantiated allegations against President Biden-to US media organizations, US officials, and prominent US individuals, including some close to former President Trump and his administration."
One of Editor & Publishers 10 That Do It Right 2021
YEREVAN, MARCH 17, ARMENPRESS. French Ambassador to Armenia Jonathan Lacote says the preservation of Artsakhs cultural heritage has been one of the most important issues for them after the recent war.

At the end of the war, the days before it French President Emmanuel Macron has convened a special meeting for discussing in particular the issues relating to the cultural heritage. Of course, we want very much that the UNESCO is able to carry out examinations in the region in an efficient way and in a short period of time. UNESCO head as well states that these examinations have not been carried out yet, and we regret a lot over this fact, the Ambassador told reporters in Yerevan, adding that in any case France will do everything for deepening the cooperation with Armenia in cultural heritage field.

Commenting on the visit of Director of the French national institute of cultural heritage Charles Personnaz to Armenia, the Ambassador said it pursued one goal  to help Armenians in creation of a list of cultural heritage and a systematic database.

He was here also for transferring general professional skills connected with the cultural heritage. Mr. Personnaz has visited Etchmiadzin, Matenadaran and the National Gallery of Armenia, Jonathan Lacote said. Mr. Personnaz has seen all the heritage which was brought from Artsakh to Armenia after the war.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
More than 64 lakh migrant workers reached home safely by Shramik trains during COVID-19 pandemic: Piyush Goyal

India

oi-Ajay Joseph Raj P

New Delhi, Mar 17: Over 64 lakh migrant labourers reached home safely by Shramik trains during the COVID-19 pandemic, Railway Minister Piyush Goyal told the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday in his reply over a discussion on the railways. He said free meals and packaged drinking water were provided on the Shramik trains.

"More than 64 lakh migrant labourers reached home safely," Goyal said. He said 4,600 Shramik trains were run on 43 routes during the pandemic to ferry migrant labourers.

"Every state was given the number of trains they demanded. Even then, there were attempts to politicise it. We immediately resolved it. We asked them how many trains you want and we gave them those trains in 12-14 hours. It is a different issue that they were unable to use those because that much was not needed," the minister said.

He said trains were converted into isolation wards on a suggestion from the prime minister to provide an option for isolating the COVID-infected patients. Goyal said none of the railway employees refused to come to work during the crisis, even when there was no awareness about the COVID-19 virus.

Tamil Nadu elections 2021: Liquor ban promise surfaces again in poll-bound State

Communist Party of India (CPI) member Binoy Viswam sought a reply from the railway minister on the government's plans to sell the shares of the Indian Railways and on the future of the organisation.

He said migrant labourers were filled in the Shramik trains like refugees and 97 people died on those trains. Viswam also alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government has surrendered the railways to foreign funds in the name of foreign direct investment.

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) member Fauzia Khan said Marathwada has been left deprived and ignored with a budget allocation of Rs 175 crore for electrification. She sought a meeting of the MPs hailing from Marathwada with the railway minister to share the views of the region.

Kerala elections 2021: PC Thomas-led Kerala Congress quits NDA, merges with Joseph faction

BJP member BL Verma demanded a direct train from Badaun in Uttar Pradesh to Delhi via Lucknow and Rakesh Sinha sought a direct train from the Lakhminia station in Bihar to Delhi in the name of former Union minister George Fernandes.

BJP member Hardwar Dubey sought a special goods train to carry shoes and Petha sweet from Agra. BJP's Samir Oraon sought the completion of the rail route between Ranchi and Chhattisgarh via Lohardaga, Jashpur and Korba.

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Story first published: Wednesday, March 17, 2021, 20:15 [IST]
IT Infrastructure

Will DOD keep collaborating after CVR?

The Department of Defense's Commercial Virtual Remote environment, spun up to accommodate telework in the COVID-19 pandemic, quickly became the largest Microsoft Teams deployment in the world -- and brought department-wide collaboration tools to DOD after years of less-successful attempts.

DOD personnel have embraced the tools and the silo-spanning interactions they enable, but CVR was always intended as a temporary fix. So the Defense Information Systems Agency is working hard to ensure the collaboration doesn't fade when CVR sunsets in July.

Les Benito, the director of operations for DISA's Cloud Computing Program Office, said that Global Directory is the key. Speaking at FCW and Defense Systems' March 10 event on Defense Readiness, Benito explained that the initiative will provide "a cloud-wide identity" as the military services spin up their own Microsoft 365 environments under the Defense Enterprise Office Solutions (DEOS) contract.

DISA began developing Global Directory last summer, Benito said, with the goal of augmenting, not replacing, existing identity and access management systems. System owners "still control access within their individual tenancies," he stressed, but having a shared identity framework will allow for "a CVR-like experience that users have grown to expect."

A minimum viable product was tested in the fall, and DISA is now using Global Directory for its "DOD365" implementation. The Army and Navy also are using it for their DEOS implementations, Benito said, with the Air Force and the U.S. Southern Command coming on board in April and "others to follow this summer."

This article first appeared on FCW, a Defense Systems partner site.
People who have experienced anaphylactic reactions to food or bee stings have been told to hold off on receiving the AstraZeneca vaccine after four people in Queensland suffered allergic reactions to the jab in the past two days.

Health Minister Yvette DAth said people who had serious, significant anaphylactic reactions in the past should delay getting the vaccine.

She insisted the AstraZeneca was a safe vaccine.

People should not be concerned, Ms DAth said.
Katharine McPhee welcomed her son with husband David Foster in late February.

And on Wednesday morning, the new mom revealed their son's name in an excerpt from an interview she did with Hoda & Jenna on TODAY airing Friday.

Katharine,, 36 and David's newborn son's name is Rennie David Foster, with the name having a deep history on David's side of the family.

Glowing: Katharine McPhee welcomed her son with husband David Foster in late February. And on Wednesday morning, the new mom revealed their son's name in an excerpt from an interview she did with Hoda & Jenna on TODAY airing Friday

In the excerpt, Katharine said, when asked about her son: 'OK, well, his name, we haven't said anything. My husband probably will kill me for saying it, but his name is Rennie David Foster.'

The former American Idol said that they didn't have a name in mind, even while she was in labor.

'We picked Rennie 'cause I'd actually been in labor for a while. We didn't have a name picked out.'

Explaining: 'We had a couple names, but my husband was on a text chain with his sisters and one of his sisters suggested an old family name. It was his great-grandfather's name, his great-uncle's name, so it has a long history in his family.'

Parents: Katharine and David's newborn son's name is Rennie David Foster, with the name having a deep history on David's side of the family; seen November 3, 2019

Candid: In the excerpt, Katharine, 36, said, when asked about her son: 'OK, well, his name, we haven't said anything. My husband probably will kill me for saying it, but his name is Rennie David Foster'

Katharine continued: 'My husband said, "Hi, Ren Foster," and so we said, "That's a good name. It's a strong name."'

On her new role as mom, the actress said: 'Oh my gosh. It's the sweetest. It's just the best. I mean, I'm in heaven. It's really been amazing.'

Katharine and David, 71, announced their son's birth on February 24, 2020 via her rep's statement to People.

Throwback: In the excerpt, Katharine said, when asked about her son: 'OK, well, his name, we haven't said anything. My husband probably will kill me for saying it, but his name is Rennie David Foster'

On December 16, 2020, Katharine officially confirmed her pregnancy, after months of speculation and sightings of the star with a baby bump.

During the Wednesday post, Katharine stunned in a blue coat, with her hand placed on her bump.

She snapped the glamorous image in her kitchen area of her home, rocking wavy locks and smokey eye makeup with mauve hued lipstick.

Mom: On her new role as mom, the actress said: 'Oh my gosh. It's the sweetest. It's just the best. I mean, I'm in heaven. It's really been amazing'

She added two blue heart emojis and a butterfly emoji as the caption.

The image was the first time Katharine has publicly commented about her pregnancy, although in October she cheekily hinted at it when talking about an alcoholic themed gift that arrived in the mail.

She said: I just came home and opened this gift from Aperol Spritz... it's one of my favorite drinks and it reminds you of being in Capri.'

'I won't be drinking this anytime soon, wink, wink. But I'm very excited. Who's coming over for an Italian inspired cocktail?'

The gift contained the alcoholic beverage as well as sparkling water and two wine glasses.

She made the subtle comment after she was seen stepping out with what appeared to be a growing baby bump during a walk in Montecito, California.

Katharine and David tied the knot on June 28, 2019 at the Armenian Church of St Yeghiche in South Kensington, London.

This is Katharine's first child and their first together; he has five daughters and has been married five times total: BJ Cook, Rebecca Dyer, Linda Thompson, Yolanda Hadid and Katharine.

His children are: Allison Jones Foster, 50, whom was born when David was 20 and she was placed for adoption but they reconnected thirty years later, and kids Amy Skylark, 47, with BJ, daughters Sara, 40, Erin, 38, and Jordan, 34, with Rebecca.

In August, it was revealed that Katharine and David were 'definitively trying' to have a baby, according to US Weekly's insiders.
Three retired federal judges have taken the highly unusual step of intervening in the case of a Baton Rouge woman who claims a local prosecutor mishandled her 2016 rape case involving an Angola deputy warden.

The former judges, one an ex-U.S. Attorney General, say a three-judge panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals made a "mistake" last month when it ordered the dismissal of Priscilla Lefebure's lawsuit against 20th Judicial District Attorney Sam D'Aquilla.

Lefebure alleges D'Aquilla failed to adequately pursue rape charges against then-Angola assistant warden Barrett Boeker.

Lefebure's attorney last month asked the entire 5th Circuit to rehear the case and revive the lawsuit.

+3 Woman appeals dismissal of lawsuit claiming West Feliciana DA mishandled her rape case A lawyer for a Baton Rouge woman who claims she was sexually assaulted by an Angola deputy warden several times in 2016 is asking an appellate

In a brief filed Friday in support of Lefebure, former 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Alex Kozinski and ex-U.S. District Judges F.A. Little Jr., of Louisiana, and Michael Mukasey, of New York, joined the call for the New Orleans-based 5th Circuit to rehear the case.

Mukasey was the nation's attorney general during the last 14 months of President George W. Bush's term.

The 5th Circuit panel, in its Feb. 9 ruling, called the conduct of local law enforcement in the case "sickening," but the panel said it had no authority to force D'Aquilla or any district attorney to investigate or prosecute someone and, as a result, had to end her lawsuit.

+3 She sued a prosecutor for mishandling her rape case. She lost, but a judge called it 'sickening' A reluctant federal appellate court has dismissed a lawsuit filed by a woman who claimed an Angola deputy warden raped her several times in 20

In their brief, the former judges said the 5th Circuit panel's ruling eliminated "an entire class of law enforcement-related equal protection claims, just as our national dialogue over discriminatory law enforcement has begun."

"Like the panel judges, we are sickened by the conduct of local law enforcement in this case," they wrote in the brief filed by New Orleans lawyer Sara Johnson.

"It shocks any semblance of a decent sensibility that there are places left in America where a sheriff and district attorney routinely fail to collect and process rape kits, where an assailant's `we got a little rough' is accepted at face value by law enforcement, where the victim is the one investigated, and where the well-connected can avoid spending even a night in jail after being arrested on suspicion of the most depraved conduct," the former judges said.

+3 Woman accuses DA, sheriff of colluding in rape case to protect Angola assistant warden A woman whose sexual assault examination was not presented to a West Feliciana Parish grand jury that cleared an Angola assistant warden of ra

If Lefebure and others like her are not allowed to challenge the policies and practices "of such retrograde jurisdictions," they asked, "then who is?"

"If the federal courts as the last, best guardians of the right to equal protection allow these abuses of law to continue unchecked, then who are we? If we do not permit demands for justice to be heard now, then when?" the ex-judges asked further.

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The retired judges said their interest in the case stems from their decades of service to the federal judiciary, and their ongoing commitment to fairness for all litigants and preserving the publics positive perception of the judiciary.

Lefebure's attorney, Jack Rutherford, has said he's prepared to take the case to the U.S. Supreme Court if necessary. D'Aquilla has said he cannot comment on the ongoing litigation.

Lefebure had sought refuge at Boeker's home after the 2016 floods forced her from her Baton Rouge home, the attorney said. Lefebure is a cousin of Boeker's wife and children.

A West Feliciana Parish grand jury looked at evidence in 2017, but D'Aquilla didn't give the jurors access to a "rape kit" or a report compiled by a hospital nurse.

D'Aquilla has said the grand jury didn't need to examine results of Lefebure's sexual assault examination because both the victim and the perpetrator said sexual intercourse had occurred. He said the pertinent question in the case was consent, which could not be determined by the rape kit evidence.

Boeker and Lefebure each testified before the grand jury, and the lawsuit says Boeker is the only one who claimed Lefebure consented.

Rutherford has told the 5th Circuit that the encounters were not consensual.

Lefebure's lawsuit, filed in late 2017, alleges that neither D'Aquilla nor anyone from his office ever met or spoke with her about the alleged rape, and that the district attorney told reporters he was "uncomfortable" speaking with her.

Boeker's attorney, Cy D'Aquila, a distant relative of the district attorney, has said previously that Boeker insists the sex was consensual, and he passed a privately administered polygraph examination on that point.

Lefebure has claims pending against Boeker in federal district court.

The Advocate typically does not name people who report they are victims of sexual assault, but Lefebure said previously she wants to use her name.

She explained in more detail Tuesday that rape victims should be treated the same as murder victims.

"The only difference is sexual assault victims' names are not normally mentioned, but when a person is murdered their name is, and everyone in the community comes together to support the accused being locked away," Lefebure said. "Therefore it should be treated the same way."

Boeker was placed on administrative leave following the rape allegation but later returned to work at the prison. He was fired last year after spraying an inmate with a fire extinguisher. He is facing felony criminal charges stemming from that incident.
Violence between security forces and protesters has threatened Myanmar's status as a hub for clothing manufacturing, with the Japanese parent of Uniqlo reporting two supplier factories have been set on fire in the latest unrest to rock the country's garment industry.

Fires broke out at two of Fast Retailing's five contract factories in Yangon on Sunday night, the company said Tuesday. A company spokesperson suggested that the factories were targeted by arsonists. The company was still assessing the damage and there has yet to be any reports of deaths or injuries.

Myanmar accounts for as much as 2% of Fast Retailing's contract factories. However, the Japanese company has been increasingly using Myanmar as a production base. Since 2019, Fast Retailing has added two factories there.

The company now has six supplier factories in Myanmar to manufacture some of its GU branded products. If the turmoil in the Southeast Asian country is protracted, Fast Retailing will have to consider shifting production elsewhere.

Chaos has descended upon the country of 54 million people after peaceful protests against the Feb. 1 coup turned violent, leaving at least 180 people dead, according to opposition groups. The spillover of violence into Fast Retailing, which sells made-in-Myanmar clothes all over the world, bodes ill for Myanmar, which regards the textile industry as a driving force behind economic growth.

The world's large apparel brands, which have increased production in Myanmar since the country embraced democracy, may stop placing orders with the country's plants. In fact, some apparel companies have already stopped business there.
Joe Biden on Tuesday had a message for migrants considering crossing into the United States: 'Don't come over.'

The president's team is struggling to cope with a surge of migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border, in what is shaping up, along with the fight against COVID, to be one of the biggest challenges of his first 100 days.

His Homeland Security Secretary, Alejandro Mayorkas, said on Tuesday that the country was on track to see the highest number of arrivals across the southern border in 20 years.

Yet the White House still refuses to describe the situation as a crisis.

'I can say quite clearly: Don't come over,' said Biden speaking to ABC's George Stephanopoulos in Darby, Pennsylvania.

'Don't leave your town or city or community.'

Biden on Tuesday told ABC News, in an interview airing Wednesday, migrants should not come

Stephanopoulos asked Biden whether he should have anticipated the current migrant surge

A migrant is seen scaling a wall into Texas from the Mexican city of Ciudad Juarez on Monday

Migrants are pictured Tuesday flying back to Mexico from Texas on a deportation flight

Biden denied that he should have anticipated the surge in migrants, as he sought to phase out Donald Trump's hardline immigration policies and embrace a more 'humane' approach.

'First of all, there was a surge in the last two years,' the president said. 'In '19 and '20, there was a surge, as well.'

Stephanopoulos noted: 'This one might be worse.'

Biden acknowledged: 'Well, it could be.'

He continued: 'Here's the deal: we are sending back people.'

Biden said he did not believe his rhetoric was driving the surge.

'The idea that Joe Biden said: 'Come' - because I heard the other day that they're coming because they know I'm a nice guy,' Biden said.

'Here's the deal, they're not.'

Biden is seen arriving in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on Tuesday on Air Force One

Earlier, asked on the White House lawn as he left for Pennsylvania whether he was planning a trip to the border, Biden said: 'Not at the moment.'

On Monday, Kevin McCarthy, the House Minority Leader, visited the Mexican border with a delegation of fellow Republicans and insisted that Biden visit for himself.

'I know the president's going to travel this week. This is where he should bring Air Force One,' McCarthy said in El Paso, Texas.

The number of migrants being stopped at the U.S.-Mexico border has been rising steadily since last April, and the Biden administration is still rapidly expelling most single adults and families under a public health order issued by Trump, Title 42, at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

But it is allowing teens and children to stay, at least temporarily, and they have been coming in ever larger numbers.

More than 4,000 migrant children were being held by the Border Patrol custody as of Sunday, including at least 3,000 in custody longer than the 72-hour limit set by a court order, a U.S. official told AP.

The agency took in an additional 561 on Monday, twice the recent average, according to a second official.

The number of children crossing by themselves, mostly from Central America, appears to be surging in particular in the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas. The Border Patrol took in 280 there alone on Monday.

The total of 561 unaccompanied minors from Monday offers a snapshot of how quickly conditions have changed along the border. That was up 60 per cent from the daily average in February, officials said.

In May 2019, during the last surge, the one-day peak was 370 teens and children.

Trump, seen making his most recent speech on February 28, attacked Biden's immigration plan

Children are seen walking across the border from Mexico into the U.S. on Tuesday

It has put Biden in a difficult spot, blasted by Republicans for what they view as encouragement to illegal border crossers and by some Democrats over the the prolonged detention of minors.

It's also a challenge to his effort to overhaul the broader Trump policies that sought to curtail both legal and illegal immigration.

Trump on Tuesday night told Fox News that the situation was 'destroying our country'.

He said: 'It is a crisis like we have rarely had and certainly we have never had on the border.

'But it is going to get much worse. What we are seeing now is very bad - record numbers.

'It is going to get much, much worse with a little bit of time, you will see those numbers expand at a level like you have never seen before.'

Trump said that he had seen reports of migrants arriving from Yemen and the Middle East.

'They are coming in from everywhere,' he said.

'They are dropping them off and they are pouring into our country. It is a disgrace.

'They are going to destroy our country if they don't do something about it.'

Mayorkas admitted the a surge in the number of children is a challenge for the Border Patrol and other agencies amid the coronavirus pandemic.

But he rejected a Trump-era policy of sending them immediately back to Mexico or other countries.

'They are vulnerable children and we have ended the prior administration's practice of expelling them,' Mayorkas said.

A Honduran man in Tijuana is seen on March 1 awaiting his chance to seek asylum in the US

A group of migrants ask Biden to let them in on March 2 at the Tijuana-San Ysidro crossing

At a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on Tuesday, Jim Inhofe, senator for Oklahoma, held up a photo of a small crowd of demonstrators in Tijuana, Mexico, wearing matching T-shirts with the words 'Biden, Please Let us in' that circulated widely on social media in recent days.

'They're all coming across the border, they're coming fast, and they're wearing Biden T-shirts,' he said.
March 15 marked the second anniversary of the Christchurch terrorist attack, in which fascist gunman Brenton Tarrant murdered 51 men, women and children in mass shootings at two mosques, and injured 40 others.

The 2019 massacre was the worst in New Zealands history and its brutality shocked billions of people around the world. The terrorist filmed and broadcast his slaughter on the internet, with the aim of inciting others to violence.

At a public remembrance service in Christchurch on Saturday, the names of the dead were read out, and spokespersons for the bereaved families gave speeches. Maha Elmadani, whose father was killed, said: His death, and that of all the shuhada (martyrs) has left behind a heartache that can never be healed and an emptiness that can never be filled.

The pain of losing these 51 lives not only impacted the people of Christchurch, the pain ripped through New Zealand and the rest of the world and continues to be felt.

Survivors are suffering severe psychological trauma and many have debilitating and potentially life-threatening injuries.

Ahmede Yesuf, a young father shot in the Al Noor mosque, told TVNZ: Theres not a single day I dont remember the 15 March When I go to the cemetery I feel I belong there as well. I was nearly one of them and sometimes I feel like I wish I died that day. The bullet fragments lodged in Yesufs body are slowly poisoning him with lead. He could have them surgically removed, but the operation would risk leaving him permanently disabled.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern told Saturdays service she wanted a more inclusive nation that is proud of our diversity. She declared: In the aftermath of March 15 we have learned so much. Weve been willing to ask ourselves some incredibly hard questions. We have confronted, and continue to confront our laws, our systems, our bureaucracy, and things are changing and will continue to change.

In reality, the government has washed its hands of any responsibility for the political environment in which Tarrants fascist views developed. Successive Labour and National Party governments stoked Islamophobia by taking part in the illegal US-led wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The right-wing nationalist New Zealand First Party, which played a major role in Arderns Labour Party-led coalition government from 2017 to 2020, had repeatedly expressed racist and anti-Muslim positions similar to those in Tarrants manifesto. Labour adopted NZ Firsts anti-immigrant policies; both parties scapegoated immigrants for social inequality, the erosion of public services and the rising cost of living, fuelled by the governments pro-business policies.

Tarrants manifesto also expressed his admiration for then-US president Donald Trump, who he called a symbol of white renewal. To prevent public discussion about these parallels with the right-wing policies of governments and political parties, NZs chief censor banned possession of the document.

A royal commission of inquiry into the attack whitewashed the police and spy agencies which, in both Australia and New Zealand, dismissed or turned a blind eye to warnings that could have led to Tarrants arrest. The commissioners stated that Tarrant acted alone, despite his known links with Australian and European fascist groups. All the evidence submitted to the inquiry by government agencies has been kept secret.

Andrew Little, the minister leading the government response to the inquiry, recently released a report summarising 33 community engagement meetings with Muslim groups. Many participants expressed concerns that no state agency or official has been held accountable for failing to stop the attack. Ministers were also told that Muslims continue to feel unsafe and distrust the intelligence agencieswhich have spied on and harassed Muslims for decades.

In comments published by Radio NZ, one attendee described the meetings as an empty box-ticking exercise. Another said: The few participants who were allowed to speak were given an enforced two-minute opportunity, which were each responded to without time limit by the ministers. Responses from the ministers were often defensive and accusatory.

The ongoing danger of far-right violence was highlighted on March 4, when police arrested a 27-year-old Christchurch man for threatening to bomb the mosques targeted by Tarrant. The mans name has been suppressed after he appeared in court and was remanded in custody.

Alarmingly, despite the threat being posted on the well-known website 4chan, police and intelligence agencies claimed they did not see it. Police were alerted to the threat by a member of the public.

In Australia, the second anniversary of the massacre committed by an Australian terrorist was ignored by political leaders and most of the media. Brief reports were buried under an avalanche of coverage about government sex scandals.

An Islamic preacher in Melbourne, Molla Mohammad Rashidul Huq, told SBS the massacre had a huge impact in Australia. Many Muslims have now stopped going to the mosque. And those who do, are very scared and fear what if someday such an attack takes place on Australian soil, he said.

The Australian National Socialist Network (formerly the Lads Society) shares Tarrants fascist ideology and in 2016 its leader Thomas Sewell tried to recruit him as a member. Sewell was arrested earlier this month for brutally assaulting a security guard outside Channel Nines offices in Melbourne, apparently in retaliation for the media companys reporting on the NSN.

The Australian and New Zealand governments have exploited the Christchurch atrocity to further expand the states repressive powers. The Christchurch Call to Action, initiated by the Ardern government, encouraged tech companies and governments to censor online content deemed extremist.

This has nothing to do with combating the far-right. The French government of Emmanuel Macron, which hosted the Christchurch Call summit in May 2019, recently passed an anti-separatist law.

Other signatories to the Christchurch Callincluding Switzerland, India and Sri Lankahave also introduced anti-democratic and anti-Muslim legislation.

The obvious aim of such measures is to strengthen racist and nationalist tendencies, and prepare the state apparatus to confront mass opposition to inequality, poverty, war and the refusal of governments to control the coronavirus pandemic. Trumps attempted fascist coup on January 6, abetted by elements within the US military and police, is only the most striking example of the growing danger of fascist dictatorship internationally.

The events of recent years, and the entire history of the twentieth century, demonstrate that this threat cannot be stopped by appeals to the powers-that-be. The fight against fascism requires a revolutionary socialist strategy to unite the international working class to abolish capitalism.
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The news outlets being sued for defamation by Ben Roberts-Smith argue they have evidence of two more incidents of very serious criminal conduct on top of his alleged involvement in six unlawful killings as an Australian soldier in Afghanistan.

And Mr Roberts-Smiths former wife is to give evidence for the media and against her ex-husband at this years trial, the Federal Court heard on Wednesday.

Former soldier Ben Roberts-Smith. Credit:Getty

Mr Roberts-Smith, a highly decorated former Australian soldier, is suing The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald over reports he allegedly committed murder on deployments to Afghanistan and that he also punched his mistress in the face in Canberra in 2018.

The Victoria Cross recipient denies the allegations and says the reports are defamatory.
Mar. 17Torrance County deputies shot and injured an Oklahoma man early Tuesday morning near Bosque Farms after he allegedly held a woman hostage and attempted to strike authorities with his truck, according to New Mexico State Police.

State Police spokesman Mark Soriano said Joshua Francis, 28, is recovering in the hospital and will face criminal charges when released. No deputies were injured in the incident.

"This investigation remains active and open, and is being led by the New Mexico State Police," he said. "The details of the shooting remain under investigation."

Soriano said Francis called 911 around 2 a.m. to report that he was holding a woman hostage at the Rock Motel in the Town of Mountainair and wanted to die in a shootout with police. He said Torrance County Sheriff's Office deputies and Mountainair police responded to the situation and found a 28-year-old woman, also from Oklahoma, on the ground in front of one of the rooms.

"The female did not sustain any injuries, and was treated and released by emergency medical personnel at the motel," Soriano said.

He said deputies saw Francis leave in a silver truck and they gave chase as he drove, at times, over 100 mph. Soriano said a TCSO deputy used a pursuit intervention technique, or PIT maneuver, to stop the truck at South Bosque Loop and N.M. 47 in Bosque Farms.

He said Francis attempted to hit the deputy's vehicle, and a TCSO sergeant and deputy shot at Francis, striking him at least once. Soriano said deputies rendered aid until he was taken to a hospital in Albuquerque.

"The identities of the TCSO sergeant and deputy involved will not be released until all interviews are completed," Soriano said.
The SDLP leader Colum Eastwood has slammed the UK Government over a decision to increase the cap on its stockpile of nuclear weapons.

The UK is set to reverse plans to reduce its stockpile of nuclear weapons by the middle of the decade, as part of a foreign policy overhaul.

The overall cap on the number of warheads will now increase to 260, having been due to drop to 180 under previous plans from 2010.

It comes as part of the Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy undertaken by the government.

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Mr Eastwood criticised the decision on Tuesday and said the weapons should be "a relic of a bygone age".

"Again the British government seems intent on breaking its international obligations," added the MP for Foyle.

The fact that the British government wants to possess excessive numbers of weapons of mass destruction is morally repugnant.

"How can they justify the cost of this, given that they continuously refuse to support nurses, public sector workers and effectively address inequality?

"Ministers cannot talk about a nuclear-free world while increasing their stockpile of devastating weapons. I am calling on the British government to commit to reducing their nuclear arsenal as a matter of priority.

Outlining the strategy to MPs, Boris Johnson said the UK would have to "relearn the art" of competing against countries with "opposing values".

But he added the UK would remain "unswervingly committed" to the Nato defence alliance and preserving peace and security in Europe.

The Army is expected to be the biggest loser within the review, with troop numbers expected to be slashed by more than 10,000, while its fleet of Challenger 2 main battle tanks is expected to be reduced by a third and the Warrior infantry fighting vehicle retired altogether.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer accused the Conservatives of overseeing an "era of retreat," with armed forces cuts "every year for the last decade".

The UK nuclear stockpile is estimated to comprise 195 warheads, and had been due to fall to 180 by the mid-2020s under a 2010 defence review.

But the latest assessment says this ambition is "no longer possible" given the "evolving security environment" over the last decade.

It adds that the UK will no longer publish figures on the size of its operational stockpile, to maintain "deliberate ambiguity" for adversaries.
Goel Jasper

If there was a global contest on which country spends the most on healthcare, the United States would win. Sadly, this isnt something to point to with pride. The US devotes a hefty 17.7 percent of its gross domestic product ($11,072 per capita in 2019) to health. Switzerland, in a distant second place, spends $8,000 per capita. Germany and Norway are tied for third, spending $6,600.

The USs spending level is unsustainable, yet the costs of Americans health and wellness are expected to continue to rise steadily, well into the foreseeable future. In addition, the US population is aging, which means that even more resources will be directed to healthcare, not fewer.

How do we bring those costs under control? In medicine and technology, we dont lack for innovation, and we need to leverage those ideas to reinvent how the system communicates with itself in order to drive efficiencies that can make its disparate parts operate more seamlessly, thereby increasing ease of access and quality of care for more and more people.

Communications as a Best Practice Within Health

On January 14, my wife and I received our first COVID-19 vaccinations. While she is a member of one HMO in Israel and I am a member of another, this didnt matter. Two things happened, here in Israel, that signal a possible path to meeting US system challenges.

First, at the time we both received our initial injections, we were immediately provided with the date and specific time slot for our second dose. So, when February 4 rolled around, we both knew where and when wed receive shot #2. No surprises.

Second, when we received our follow-up vaccinations, we were both able to immediately visit Israels Ministry of Health website, plug in our personal information (name, ID#), and receive printable PDFs of our green passports, which we now carry with us digitally in our phones. From the moment our HMO/provider scheduled and gave us our vaccinations, the Israeli Ministry of Health instantly and automatically updated our electronic medical records.

Having a closed-loop health systemwhere information is used to ensure prompt access to care  combined with the automation enabled by digital-health technology, has been a magical formula for this nations COVID-19 vaccination success. More than 40 percent of Israels population, including 80 percent of people above the age of 50, are now vaccinated. This approach, which drives the rate of vaccination up and the spiral in infections down, has been highlighted as a global best practice.

The system and the people the system serves are not at odds. The information and the system work together to facilitate care. At the heart of operations is an awareness that people do care, when it comes to information about their care, and will not tolerate being left in the dark. People are consumers of health information.

Healthcare Needs to Change What it Values

In the US, hospitals have historically been judged by the number of beds, the number of patients treated, the physicians in residence, and even by the square footage of the facility itself. But given the US healthcare spending crisis, perhaps hospitals should shift how they evaluate their successes, focusing instead on facilitating better access to care, more favorable outcomes, implementation of medtech innovations, and the quality of their customer service. We are now at a crossroads where innovations that can completely change the face of healthcare lie unused, waiting for acceptance by payers and providers.

Again, enter communications. Those of us in the world of health communications speak to many audiences with a stake in the healthcare community. Its clear that each stakeholder has unique needs and demands that these needs are addressed as a priority. But its a system that often seems not to prioritize patients. One reason is that, developed without a master plan, US healthcare operates with an adherence to the status quo, and those who work within it are culturally less than enthusiastic about change. This means that the customer service enabled by emerging technology thats so evident in retail and other aspects of consumers lives is notably absent in healthcareor remains in delayed development.

The path to a solution may start by highlighting the problem. And that increased awareness and progress can only come through both educating and building awareness on the one hand, and listening on the other. Its exciting to think that as health communicators, we can impact our future of care delivery in a meaningful way. When it comes together, its wonderful. When its broken, well, we see the results today.

In 2021, COVID-19 continues to challenge so many of our set systems and processes. From the very beginning, the pandemic has highlighted what is not working, as well as various methodsincluding through digital healththat we may be able to fix things. Meeting COVID-19s challenges forced health innovators to bring their best thinking forward; it demanded that policymakers streamline the regulatory review process to advance screens, diagnostics and vaccines; it required competitors to collaborate.

Now, communicators must rise to the task.

When my wife and I received notice on our smartphones that it was time to appear for our vaccination appointments, we appreciated the possibilities that communication provides: useful, timely information, reduced worry and optimism. This was not an anomalous moment in public health; it was a small but potent reminder that given the right care and forethought, a healthcare system can meet peoples needs.

Communicators must look at these successes to spark conversation. And communicators can be the champions that health innovation needs to help improve peoples lives around the world.

***

Goel Jasper is managing partner at the Jerusalem office of Finn Partners.
TRAVERSE CITY, MI  With its Celtic decor and the owners deep Irish heritage, theres no doubt youll feel a bit of an Old Country welcome when you step inside the tasting room of Rove Estate Vineyard & Winery just west of Traverse City.

But Roves nod to the Emerald Isle runs deeper than McKenzie and Creighton Gallaghers surname or their family history. Its a loving tribute built into the vineyard itself, and reflected in the geese-in-flight silhouette design on its wine labels. Its also a philosophy thats given shape to how this farming family thinks about their business.

The Rove moniker pays homage to the famous Wine Geese, a group of Irishmen who left their homeland after 1690 and began settling in Bordeaux, France and some of the worlds other great wine-making regions. To this day, the legacy of these immigrants-turned-winemakers remains rooted across the world.

Nobody thinks about wine and the Irish, said McKenzie Gallagher, who is a Quinlan on her mothers side. We both come from predominately Irish ancestors  and there is farming on both sides. So a decade ago when the Gallaghers started planning how theyd turn an old cherry farm into their dream vineyard atop the Leelanau Peninsulas highest point, they knew they wanted to honor the twin pillars of Ireland and agriculture. With the help of a friend, they hit on the history of the Wine Geese and were delighted to find their cultural muse.

A book on display in Rove's lobby highlights the history of the Wine Geese.

The Flight of the Wild Geese

The so-called Wine Geese were actually part of a larger emigration out of Ireland after the Williamite Wars ended around 1691. Known as The Flight of the Wild Geese, this exodus saw a steady stream of Jacobite soldiers, their families and political supporters nearly 20,000-strong leave Ireland for other parts of Europe. Many found spots in European armies. But some of these young soldiers gravitated toward Frances wine-growing regions. They had farming backgrounds, or came from merchant families, and were comfortable settling among the vineyards.

In the decades that followed, their homeland enjoyed the fruits of these exiled Irishmens labors. In the year 1740, records showed more than 4,000 vats of Bordeaux red were exported to Ireland  four times the amount of wine from that region that was going to England that year. And it was being enjoyed by Irish people regardless of their station in life, filling glasses in servants quarters and being quaffed by the upper class.

Yet the reason such large quantities of French wines were making their way to Ireland wasnt merely because of an Irish proclivity for a good vintage, according to an Irish Times article last year that explored the phenomenon. A group of exiled Irishmen, dubbed the Wine Geese had in fact turned their hands to wine growing and used their familial connections to practically monopolize exports to Ireland.

A sign on a barn door at Rove greets guests with "a hundred thousand welcomes" in Gaelic.

An Affinity for Rovers

When the Gallaghers learned more about the Wine Geese, they felt especially connected to this piece of history. It seemed to underscore what they were trying to do: jump into a new kind of venture and create wine that everyone could enjoy. These two are not the typical vineyard owners. They started as young parents who sought to create a vineyard, breaking out of their familys cherry-farming cycle. They are now raising their own flock of four children - Kylan, 13, Brielle, 10, Scarlett, 8, and Layla, 6 - who understand the value of pitching in with farm chores.

To the Gallaghers, being a rover is about really taking that leap and chasing what you want, especially when it does not seem practical.

RELATED: This delightful Northern Michigan winery is perched atop Leelanau Peninsulas highest point

Its more than just an ancestral connection for them. Its a world view. The whole world is full of rovers, people creating their own destinies, McKenzie Gallagher said.

This ethos also speaks to the unfussy nature of their modern tasting room. They want their wine to feel like its for everyone, whether you can pronounce the particular type being poured into your glass, or you dont really know the difference between a chardonnay and a pinot blanc.

Wine was for the people, it was not an elitist thing, she said of the early days of the Wine Geese. She wants to make sure Rove reflects that attitude. Its inclusive. Its about the farming.

Rove knit caps are displayed inside the tasting room.

For more information about Roves hours and current wine selection, check their website and see updates on their Facebook page.

IF YOU GO

Rove Estate Vineyard & Winery

7007 E. Traverse Highway (M-72)

Traverse City

Phone: (231) 421-7001

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Forcefully-retired Auditor-General Daniel Yaw Domelevo has described as preposterous, a formal request sent to him by the Audit Service Board that he officially hand over to his Deputy, Mr Johnson Akuamoah Asiedu.



Mr Domelevo replied the request indicating he handed over to Mr Asiedu in June 2020 when he was forced by President Nana Akufo-Addo to go on leave for 167 days.



Upon his resumption of work on March 3, Mr Domelevo said Mr Asiedu did not hand over to him before the President ordered him (Domelevo) to go on retirement the following day.



I prepared a handing-over note and handed over to the Acting Auditor-General on 30th June 2020 and he has been in charge for over 8 months, Mr Domelevo said in his reply to Professor Dua Agyeman, the Audit Service Board Chairman, adding: When I resumed work on the 3rd of March 2021, Mr Johnson Akuamoah Asiedu did not hand over to me with the excuse that the handing-over note was not ready.



He nonetheless said: If you so wish, please direct the Acting Auditor-General to hand over to me and I will thereafter handover to him.



President Akufo-Addo asked Mr Domelevo to go home since, according to him, he had passed the compulsory retirement age of 60.



In a letter dated 3 March 2021, the President, through his executive secretary, Nana Bediatuo Asante, said: The attention of the President of the Republic has been drawn to records and documents made available to this Office by the Audit Service, that indicate that your date of birth is 1st June 1960, and that in accordance with article 199 (1) of the Constitution, your date of retirement as Auditor-General was 1st June 2020.



Based on this information, the President is of the view that you have formally left office, the President said.



Mr Domelevo reported to work at the Audit Service headquarters in Accra on Wednesday, 3 March 2021 despite the Audit Service Board declaring him retired.



The Board wrote to him the day before challenging his Ghanaian nationality and age.



The Board said his own Social Security and National Insurance Trust records show he is a Togolese and not a Ghanaian and also due for retirement.



The Board, in a series of correspondence with Mr Domelevo, said he was born in 1960 per his own records and, thus, should have gone on retirement mid-2020.



In a letter dated, 26 February 2021, the Audit Service Board said: Records at the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) completed and signed by you indicate your date of birth as 1st June 1960 when you joined the scheme on 1st October 1978. The records show that you stated your tribe as Togolese and a non-Ghanaian. That your home town is Agbatofe.



On 25 October 1992, you completed and signed a SSNIT Change of Beneficiary Nomination form, stating your nationality as a Ghanaian and your home town as Ada in the Greater Accra Region. The date of birth on your Ghanaian passport number A45800, issued on 28th February 1996 is 1st June 1961. That place of birth is stated as Kumasi, Ashanti Region, the letter said.



In his reply, Mr Domelevo explained that his grandfather, Augustine Domelevo, was a native of Ada in the Greater Accra Region but migrated to Togo and stayed at Agbatofe.



Either my father wrongly mentioned Agbatofe in Togo as his home town to me, or I misconstrued it at the time, Mr Domelevo explained, adding: My mother is also a Ghanaian.



Concerning his date of birth, Mr Domelevo said he noticed that the 1960 date of birth was a mistake when I checked my information in the baptismal register of the Catholic Church in Adeemmra.



The register has Yaw as part of my name and also provides my date of birth as 1st June 1961  this corresponds with Thursday or Yaw  the day of the week on which I was born.



The Audit Service Board, however, said: Observation of your responses and explanations contained in your above reference letter make your date of birth and Ghanaian nationality even more doubtful and clearly establishes that you have made false statements contrary to law.



Records made available to the Board indicate that your date of retirement was 1st June 2020 and as far as the Audit Service is concerned you are deemed to have retired, it noted.



By a copy of this letter, the Board is informing the President, who is your appointing authority, to take necessary action. Additionally, the Board is making available to the President all the relevant documents at our disposal.



President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo directed Mr Domelevo to take his accumulated annual leave of 123 working days effective Wednesday, 1 July 2020 but later increased it to 167 following a protest letter from the A-G.



A statement released by the office of the President and signed by the Director of Communications, Mr Eugene Arhin, on Monday, 29 June 2020, said: The Presidents decision to direct Mr Domelevo to take his accumulated annual leave is based on Sections 20(1) and Labour Act, 2003 (Act 651), which apply to all workers including public office holders such as the Auditor-General.



Mr Domelevo was said to have taken only nine days of his annual leave.



But reacting to the directive from the president in a letter addressed to Nana Asante Bediatuo, the Secretary to the President, Mr Domelevo said: My knowledge of recent labour and practice in the country is that no worker is deemed to have accumulated any leave on account of their having failed, omitted, neglected or even refused to enjoy their rights to annual leave, which the law guarantees for their benefit, not the employer.



He stated that to the best of his knowledge, therefore, wherein any given year a worker fails, omits, neglects or even refuses to take their annual leave such leave is deemed forfeited with no corresponding obligation on the part of the employer to enforce the workers right to take their leave by assuming, deeming or declaring the forfeited leave accumulated.



I am also informed that by law, every person is entitled in some in very limited circumstances, to wave what the law has ordained for their benefit, in this case, a workers leave. Be that as it may, the directive that I proceed on leave and hand over all matters relating to the office to Mr Johnson Akuamoah with all due respect has serious implications for the institutional independence of the office of the auditor general, the letter said.



A petition presented to the office of the President, signed by some 1,000 Ghanaians living abroad and led by Lolan Sagoe-Moses and Korieh Duodu, with regard to Mr Domelevos leave directive, asked that the directive be reversed, noting that it would make him incapable of acting as Auditor-General.



The petition stated: We question how the public is expected to consider such a decision as made in good faith, in circumstances where the Auditor-General is essentially being asked to make himself well-rested and refreshed for the commencement of his retirement. Mr Domelevos absence, during this 167-day period, would mean he will not be able to actively execute his Constitutionally-prescribed role as protector of the public purse during the crucial 6 month period before the general election, a period.



However, responding to the petition from the Ghanaians abroad, Secretary to the President, Nana Asante Bediatuo indicated that President Akufo-Addos stance on the leave directive had not changed.







Source: classfmonline.com









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US ride-hailing giant Uber has granted its drivers workers' rights for the first time ever in a major U-turn in the UK.

With the plight of workers in the gig economy coming under greater scrutiny, we look at how the tide may be turning.

Uber's UK U-turn

Late Tuesday Uber says it will give its UK drivers workers' entitlements including holiday pay and a pension, a landmark decision for the estimated 5.5 million people working in Britain's gig economy.

Its 70,000 drivers there will now earn at least the minimum wage when driving for the taxi app.

Spain's leads EU way

Spain is the first EU country to recognise riders working for delivery firms as salaried staff with all the rights and protections that entails, including sick leave and paid holidays.

The country's left-wing government acts after the country's supreme court rules on the issue in September.

However companies including UberEats, Deliveroo, Stuart and Glovo denounce the reform, saying it threatens Spain's gig economy, reportedly worth 700 millions euros ($833 million).

Uber rewrites US law

California votes in 2019 to recognise gig economy workers as employees but digital giants including Uber and Lyft refuse to comply with the law.

Instead they bankroll the Proposition 22 referendum in November that effectively overturns it.

Under it drivers and delivery riders remain independent contractors but are to be paid minimum wages and a contribution to healthcare and insurance.

A legal bid by drivers to overturn the referendum last month fails.

Italy gets tough

The Italian courts struck at the heart of the gig economy last month when they tell UberEats and other food delivery platforms that their couriers were employees and not independent workers.

The companies are fined 733 million euros and Milan prosecutors say more than 60,000 couriers who worked for the platforms from 2017 to 2020 must be offered contracts with fixed pay.

The companies must also pay past social security and insurance payments, and couriers should be given "adequate" clothing, including helmets, gloves, reflective vests and anti-coronavirus face masks, as well as bicycles or scooters.

France: Change coming?

France's government is expected to unveil proposals on delivery riders soon.

In March last year the country's top civil court dealt Uber a blow by saying that since its app directs drivers to clients they should not be considered independent contractors but employees.

A month earlier a Paris labour court found Deliveroo guilty of not declaring a cyclist who worked for them.

EU: New rules by 2021

The European Commission hopes to pass regulations by the end of the year, opening up the first of two phases of consultations with employers and unions last month.

If talks fail the EU will step in itself and rule on the thorny issue.

Explore further Uber grants UK drivers worker status in world first

 2021 AFP
A Vietnam Cultural Day in Cairo was held by the Vietnamese Embassy in Egypt and the Egyptian Ministry of Culture on March 16, bringing together local governmental officials, scholars and locals.

A Vietnam Cultural Day is hosted in Cairo, featuring a photo exhibition on Vietnamese distinctive culture and landscapes. (Photo: VNA)

A Vietnam Cultural Day in Cairo was held by the Vietnamese Embassy in Egypt and the Egyptian Ministry of Culture on March 16, bringing together local governmental officials, scholars and locals.



In his opening remarks, Vietnamese Ambassador Tran Thanh Cong highlighted milestones in the Vietnam  Egypt relations, particularly in culture, which have contributed to strengthening mutual understanding between the two peoples and tighten the long-standing bilateral ties.



He expected the event will bring Egyptian people and friends closer to Vietnam and allow them to know more about the countrys economic achievements over the previous years. Cong also hoped that more Egyptian investors and entrepreneurs will come to Vietnam to invest in the fields of tourism, economics and culture.



Former Ambassador of Egypt to Vietnam Reda Al-Taifi, for his part, shared about his favourable experience and impression of Vietnam during his mission in the country.



He urged the two countries to boost cultural exchange, expand cooperation in tourism and jointly organize activities in multiple areas, especially culture and tourism which both sides have strengths in. Vietnam and Egypt should accelerate communication and promotion campaigns for people to be more familiar with popular destinations of each side, he said.



The Vietnam Cultural Day featured a seminar on Vietnam  Egypt relations, the screening of a documentary and a photo exhibition about Vietnamese distinctive culture and landscapes, and a cuisine event showcasing the countrys traditional food and coffee.

VNA
PLAINFIELD, Ind., March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Duke Energy Foundation has awarded $311,246 in grants to 22 different K-12 education programs in 15 Indiana counties for 2021.

The grants support summer reading programs; energy, engineering and environmental education programs; and programs that support under-represented, low-income or diverse audiences.

"We all know many students missed out on several learning opportunities last year," said Stan Pinegar, Duke Energy state president for Indiana. "I am proud that we are able to offer these grants to students in communities throughout our service territory with the hope of helping those students catch up, restore their passion for learning and encourage them to meet and exceed their educational goals."

"Duke Energy Foundation funding is critical to supporting literacy development during the summer for our primary students," said Amy Etienne, principal at South Crawford Elementary school in Crawford County. "This funding from the Foundation will support our summer reading program and provide valuable time for our students to learn."

The Foundation makes these grants available through the company's "Powerful Communities" program, which helps power the lives of customers and the vitality of communities through charitable giving.

The complete grant recipient list includes:

COUNTY ORGANIZATION FOCUS GRANT Boone Zionsville Education Foundation Help teachers with resources they need to address education challenges during the pandemic $10,000 Crawford Crawford Co. Community School Corp. Summer school for selected students to improve basic literacy skills $25,000 Daviess Vincennes Community School Corp. / Washington Learning Academy Improve WLA learning environment through purchase of Student Emotional Learning curriculum $10,000 Decatur Decatur Co. Community Schools Literacy camp to help young readers with 1-on-1 instruction $10,000 Hamilton Carmel Education Foundation Summer school program for rising second-grade students to improve reading skills $20,000 Knox North Knox Primary School Summer school program to help first and-second-grade students to improve reading skills $10,000 Hendricks Danville Community School Corp. "Warrior Whiz" summer education remediation program $11,506 Hendricks Plainfield Community Schools Summer reading camp to improve reading and math skills $10,000 Hendricks The Imagination Lab One-day intensive summer Odyssey for Plainfield elementary students $10,000 Howard Kokomo School Corp. Summer Discovery Program for early elementary students $20,000 Howard Northwestern School Corp. Reading remediation for students in grades 1-4 $9,240 Howard United Way of Howard Co. Program to improve literacy skills for students $15,000 Lawrence United Way of Lawrence Co. Conduct STEM-related courses for grades K-6 $10,000 Monroe Foundation for Monroe Co. Community Schools Provide professional development for up to 150 teachers to build equity-centered education skills $10,000 Ripley Kids Discovery Factory Renovate and expand donated building to permanently house Kids Discovery Factory $10,000 Ripley Milan Community Schools Three-week summer remedial reading program for selected students in grades 1-3 $10,000 Tippecanoe Purdue University Projects include a summer camp devoted to empowering women in business, and PROJECT TEACH, which helps high school students explore careers in teaching $50,000 Vermillion South Vermillion Community Schools Summer reading program to support early literacy $15,000 Vigo Chances and Services for Youth and Camp Rave / Terre Haute Children's Museum CASY and museum combine to offer science and literary curriculum for K-5 students to address summer "brain drain" $11,000 Vigo Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology Professional development for STEM teachers who teach in grades 6-12 $10,000 Vigo Vigo County School Corporation Team Vigo Summer Edition $15,000 Wabash Wabash County YMCA SPARK  Summer Program of Awesome Reading for Kids $10,000

Duke Energy Indiana and Duke Energy Foundation

Duke Energy Indiana, a subsidiary of Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), provides about 6,600 megawatts of owned electric capacity to approximately 840,000 customers in a 23,000-square-mile service area, making it Indiana's largest electric supplier.

The Duke Energy Foundation provides philanthropic support to meet the needs of communities where Duke Energy customers live and work. In Indiana, the foundation contributes more than $2 million annually in charitable gifts, and is funded by Duke Energy shareholder dollars. More information about the foundation and its Powerful Communities program can be found at duke-energy.com/foundation.

Media contact: Lew Middleton

Cell: 317.474.7448

Office: 317.838.1505

Media line: 800.559.3853

SOURCE Duke Energy

Related Links

www.duke-energy.com


New Delhi, March 17 (IANS) Union Minister of State for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), Jitendra Singh, said on Tuesday that there is an immediate need to avail the post-Covid opportunities in the tourism sector, particularly in the northeastern region, which can offer itself as an alternative to some of the European destinations that many regular holiday-goers may find less preferable in the immediate aftermath of the high Corona prevalence in those places.

At a meeting with the representatives of various tourism and transport bodies, Singh said, "The opportunity is knocking at our door and it is now up to us as to how best we are prepared to avail of this opportunity. If in this season we are able to ensure a boost in tourist inflow, it will set a trend for the coming years."

Singh said that the northeast region, despite some of its choicest destinations in Meghalaya, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh, could not adequately avail the opportunities because of lack of support from the Centre in the past and low prioritisation from successive governments.

"However, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, there has been revolutionary and fast-track improvement in connectivity and transportation, which should facilitate the ease of tourism," Singh said.

"Tourists landing at the Guwahati airport today prefer to go to Shillong and other destinations in Meghalaya by road rather by helicopter or by other means, simply to relish the joy of a picturesque journey," he said.

Laying particular emphasis on three components of tourism, namely holidaymakers, medical tourists and filmmakers, Singh referred to the decision to set up a film studio in Sikkim and the upcoming Film and Television Institute in Arunachal Pradesh.

"In the last six years, Guwahati has been developed as one of the best super specialty healthcare destinations and this aspect needs to be propagated not only in the neighbouring states, but also in the ciuntries across the eastern border like Myanmar, Bhutan and Nepal which would realise the option of easier treatment with cost-effective medical care," he said.

--IANS

ssb/arm
Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole rises during question period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill, in Ottawa, on March 11, 2021. O'Toole says his government wouldn't cut foreign aid funding. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press)

Erin OToole Says a Conservative Government Wouldnt Cut Foreign Aid

OTTAWAConservative Leader Erin OToole reversed his predecessors position on foreign aid spending Tuesday, saying that if elected, a Conservative government wouldnt cut that budget.

But he said he would look to mirror previous Conservative foreign aid programs that tied funds to specific, measurable outcomes.

I want to maintain and modernize and make more accountable our development funding, he said during a virtual event with Cooperation Canada, an umbrella organization for international development agencies.

There will not be cuts. There will be a renewed focus on outcomes.

In the 2019 federal election, then-Conservative leader Andrew Scheer pledged to cut foreign aid by 25 per cent, alleging that Canada was too generous with its overseas support, especially for middle-income countries.

Though it was a popular line in Scheers speeches to supporters, the move was pilloried by the international aid sector, which said it would undermine Canadas global standing.

As recently as last week, the Liberals accused the Tories of still wanting those cuts as the parties sparred over their mutual foreign aid records in debate over post-pandemic international development.

OToole acknowledged Tuesday the pandemic has taken a massive toll on global progress, but said how to address that cant be decided until well past the pandemics end.

But he sought to lay out some of the principles that would underpin foreign policy in a Conservative government, should one be elected next.

The advancement of peace, justice, and human rights would be a central tenet, OToole said.

That would include reopening the Office of Religious Freedom, a stand-alone quasi-diplomatic post set up by the previous Conservative government but turned into an element of the Global Affairs department under the Liberals.

OToole noted that with the persecution of Uyghur Muslims in China, Christians in the Middle East and a rise in anti-Semitism around the world, the fight for religious freedoms matters.

We simply cannot stay silent, he said.

OToole also sought to make a connection between his aggressive stance against China and that countrys engagement in the international aid space, accusing the Chinese regime of weaponizing aid to expand their sphere of influence.

On the humanitarian front, but also in our fight for democracy, we cannot leave the field wide open for bad actors who have none of the sincere compassion and values we do, he said.

OTooles remarks come ahead of this weeks Conservative policy convention, where grassroots members are aiming to shape the partys platform for the next election.

For years, the socially conservative segment of the party has sought to enshrine their opposition to abortion into the partys official positions at the convention.

When the party was in government, they also tried to advance their ideas in Parliament, but on both fronts they have rarely met with successexcept on international development.

A declaration by former prime minister Stephen Harpers Conservative government that Canadian aid dollars could not be used to fund abortions overseas is one of the few times anti-abortion groups have chalked up a political victory.

The pledge would go on to colour the signature aid program of the Harper years, and one that OToole spoke glowingly about on Tuesday: the Muskoka Initiative.

Harper had declared maternal health to be a key focus for foreign aid under his government. When Canada led the G8 in 2010, he spearheaded an effort that saw upwards of US$7.3 billion in new funding globally over five years for programs focusing on maternal, newborn, and child health.

The Liberals reversed course on the abortion funding ban when they formed government, though havent dropped the issue from their political attacks against the Conservatives.

During the partys leadership race, OToole had said he supported Harpers approach, and would keep it in place.

OToole said Tuesday the world needs more programs like the Muskoka Initiative, with specific benchmarks so people can see where and how their aid dollars are used.

United Nations governance, peacekeeping missions and other international collaborations also need reforms to ensure better accountability, he said.

I want to make sure that we develop clear and attainable development goals, fund them and drive partnerships, he said.

And so those commitments to human rights, to dignity and to democracy, will colour everything we do from a diplomacy, a development, a security and a military perspective.

By Stephanie Levitz

Washington  Syracuse schools will receive a $128 million infusion of federal aid from the latest Covid-19 relief bill passed by Congress, one of the largest shares of any school district in New York.

Only New York City, Buffalo, Rochester, and a school district in New York Citys suburbs will receive a larger cut of the $8 billion in federal school aid heading to the state, according to U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer, the Senate majority leader.

Syracuse fared better than most school districts because the aid will be distributed based on a federal formula tied to population and weighted heavily toward the number of children in poverty.

Almost half of Syracuse children live in poverty, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

An additional 15 school districts in Syracuses suburbs and in rural parts of Onondaga County will receive smaller shares of aid totaling less than $50 million, according to figures compiled by Schumers office.

The federal money, to help schools safely and quickly reopen as they recover from the coronavirus pandemic, is part of the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan signed into law last week by President Biden.

Schumer, D-N.Y., said the aid is intended to help students catch up after the pandemic, especially those who have suffered the most.

Covid brought unprecedented challenges that have cost a year of learning and development for students  challenges disproportionately felt by students of color, students from low-income families, students with disabilities, and more, Schumer said.

Schumer said he made funding for Central New York schools a priority in the bill, which sets aside more than $120 billion nationwide for K-12 schools. School officials must tell the federal government by June how they plan to spend the money over the next four years.

For the Syracuse School District, the aid represents more than a quarter of the districts $480.8 million budget for the 2021-2022 school year.

Suzanne Slack, the districts chief financial officer, said the federal aid will help city schools cover unanticipated expenses and pay for future changes to its teaching model made necessary by the pandemic.

Syracuse schools spent $9.4 million on Covid-related expenses in the past year, including $6 million on technology upgrades as schools switched to a hybrid model of in-person and remote classes.

The technology included the purchase of 12,000 laptop computers for students and 6,000 hotspots to provide internet access in student homes, Slack said.

The district also spent $1.7 million on personal protective equipment, $960,000 to install two air purifiers in each classroom, and $360,000 for a program with WCNY-TV in Syracuse that brought videotaped lessons to students on TV.

Syracuse schools spent an additional $6 million on technology purchases that were reimbursed through a state bond act, Slack said.

School administrators plan to carefully evaluate how to spend the latest and largest infusion of federal money since the pandemic began a year ago.

The money could be used to pay for enhanced summer school, additional after-school activities like tutoring, and Covid-related improvements to school buildings.

Building improvements could include new ventilation systems and upgraded computer systems to better connect students and teachers, Slack said.

She said Syracuse school administrators will also have to be prepared to quickly respond to unexpected changes as the nation recovers from the pandemic.

Its hard to tell right now the long-term impact on kids, whether its learning loss or their mental health, Slack said. I think over the next few years those things will come to light and well need the financial resources to help the kids.

The New York State School Boards Association pushed for the latest aid, by far the largest amount of federal money set aside for school districts in any of three coronavirus bills passed by Congress.

Brian Fessler, the groups director of governmental relations, said the infusion of federal money will alleviate short-term revenue challenges for most school districts in New York state.

But he said districts will still face mounting expenses in the months ahead for personal protective equipment, health and safety upgrades, and improved technology to allow remote learning.

Its probably going to vary by district, Fessler said. Whats needed in Syracuse is probably going to differ from the needs in Fayetteville-Manlius or Baldwinsville. In rural areas, where infrastructure is lacking, you may see more money spent on hotspots and Wi-Fi access.

Got a tip, comment or story idea? Contact Mark Weiner anytime by: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 571-970-3751
People are opening up about their long-held family secrets, revealing the surprising things they learned about relatives  and themselves  when they got older.

Reddit user u/Flash_Dimension kicked off the tell-all thread, asking other users: 'Once you were old enough, what were the dark family secrets you were finally let in on?'

The question has earned thousands of replies, with some sharing stories of innocent family fibs that went on way too long, long-lost relatives, and shocking family crimes.

Surprise! People are opening up about their long-held family secrets, revealing the surprising things they learned about relatives  and themselves  when they got older (stock image)

A few of the stories have been pretty innocent, including one who learned the truth about her grandmother's very special recipe.

'Grandmas top secret pie crust was actually just Marie Calenders from the grocery store, set in a fancier dish,' the Redditor wrote. 'She messed with her daughters-in-law for years over it.'

Another shared how her mother went to great lengths to make her feel loved despite her dad not being in the picture.

'My dad used to send me birthday cards every year when I was a young girl ... even though I never got to meet him when I was young, I was glad to still receive a card from him with a few bucks acknowledging I was alive and that he did one day want to see me,' she said.

But in her mid-teens, she learned that her mother had actually written every single one of those cards.

'My grandfather would mail it to ourselves to make it seem legit. I never ever actually received any letter from him,' she said.

Most family secrets, though, involved people being in big trouble.

'Gramma didnt decide to move in with us because she loved us so much and wanted to spend more time with us,' one person said.

Popular: Reddit user u/Flash_Dimension kicked off the tell-all thread, asking other users: 'Once you were old enough, what were the dark family secrets you were finally let in on?'

'Gramma moved in because her son was a meth addict and convinced her to put his name on the house, take all the money out of it for renovations, and leave her homeless. She had a heart attack the night she found out and now has to live with a pacemaker.'

Another said they though their cousin lived with them for fun  but it was really because the cousin's mother had problems.

'I learned later that it was because child protective services took my cousins away from their mom because of mental health issues. My mom offered to take her sister's kids until she got her mental health back in order,' they wrote.

One found out that his dad was a philanderer  and had other children.

'I got a Facebook message from one guy asking if I was related to my dad, since it's not a common last name,' they wrote.

'I thought he was a fan of his work, because I was in college at the time and the guy was about the same age as me  that's how I found out my dad slept around and that I had a half brother the same age as me.'

Some of the stories were incredibly dark, including instance of rape, incest, and even murder.

'To put it shortly  my family tree, is more like a very long branch. Yes we have the genetic defects to prove it,' wrote one.

Story time! The question has earned thousands of replies, with some sharing stories of innocent family fibs that went on way too long, long-lost relatives, and shocking family crimes

Another revealed themselves to be the product of statutory rape.

'My father got my mother pregnant when he was her teacher in high school,' the said. 'He was thirty and married. She was fifteen and his student. They ran off together, he got a divorce, and they got married in a state that allowed marriage at 16, two months before my older brother was born.'

One from Western Australia said their grandfather killed his own youngest brother to get out of the draft during the Vietnam war.

He, his brother, and two friends planned to drive a car into a tree, injuring themselves just enough to get to stay home.

But things took an unexpected turn. The Redditor's grandfather was driving, and hit a tree hard enough to give everyone injuries, from a broken leg to broken ribs  and, in the case of his brother, internal injuries.

'The problem was that for maximum impact, and because this was rural Australia in the sixties, they werent wearing seatbelts. And nobody found them or their car for an hour or so. And nobody considered internal injuries in this plan.

'My grandfathers brother bled to death from a ruptured spleen in the back seat. He was dead before they got to a hospital.'

The Redditor went on to say that his grandfather 'never forgave himself' for the mistake.
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Copyright  2021 Albuquerque Journal

SANTA FE  New Mexico's oft-maligned capital outlay system is on the brink of getting a blast of sunshine, after senators voted 40-0 on Wednesday to approve a bill requiring more disclosure of how lawmakers spend their allocated public works dollars.

The legislation, House Bill 55, would go to Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham's desk for final approval if the House signs off on Senate changes to it before the 60-day session ends Saturday.

Specifically, the bill would require a list be published after each legislative session  starting this year  of each legislator's final list of funded projects, along with dollar amounts.

It's public information, no one can argue that it's not, Sen. Bill Tallman, D-Albuquerque, said during Wednesday's floor debate, adding the changes would help restore public trust in the government.

While many lawmakers have voluntarily disclosed their capital outlay allocations in recent years, previous attempts to mandate the disclosure have stalled in the Senate.

And some senators expressed unease Wednesday about the change, arguing it could open up lawmakers to criticism.

Specifically, Sen. George Munoz, D-Gallup, said lobbyists and outside groups could target lawmakers for not funding their preferred projects, saying more systemic changes need to be made to the capital outlay system.

Other senators voiced similar concerns, even while saying they were not opposed to disclosing how they spend their annual capital outlay allotments.

I don't mind at all listing where I put my dollars, said Sen. Gay Kernan, R-Hobbs, who nevertheless cautioned that lawmakers' allocations should be viewed from a broader statewide perspective.

In addition to secrecy concerns, New Mexico's capital outlay system for funding improvements to roads, bridges, dams and water systems has also come under scrutiny in recent years for its inefficiency.

As of November, about $1.4 billion in funding for 2,644 different New Mexico capital outlay projects remained unspent, according to the Legislative Finance Committee.

This year's $518 million capital outlay package, a separate bill, is winding its way through the Roundhouse in the final days of the session.

The bill was approved in the House via a unanimous 70-0 vote on Tuesday and is also expected to pass the Senate before legislative adjournment.

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A study examining years of contracts awarded by Jersey City found that the majority of city vendors had no recorded demographic data, and of those who did, minority-owned businesses were significantly under-represented in the citys purchasing history.

City officials said that Jersey Citys spending with diverse vendors is likely better than the study makes it out to be, and that the city has made large improvements in its spending practices.

But the study revealed that demographic data is missing for 69% of Jersey City spending from 2013 to 2018  and the data that is available shows that businesses owned by people of color, women, LGBTQ people, and veterans win disproportionately few city contracts.

The Jersey Journal viewed a copy of the Supplier Diversity  Purchasing Disparity Study, which was commissioned in 2019 and completed last month. A team of Rutgers University researchers conducted the 244-page study for the citys Office of Diversity and Inclusion.

Within the five years studied, less than 4% of the citys spending went to businesses that were identified to be owned by people of color, the study found. Of the $255 million spent by the city within that time frame, only $2.2 million worth of city contracts were awarded to identified Black-owned businesses, $4.9 million to identified Asian and Pacific Islander-owned businesses, and $2.8 million to identified Hispanic-owned businesses.

Barbara Camacho, a Jersey City attorney who has pushed for more inclusive purchasing practices, said the lack of data was a complete hamstring.

This should have been handled, she said. This gaping 69% of the spend that were analyzing didnt have a variable that could help us determine how big the disparity is. And thats a huge failure. ... (but) you can see that theres disparity.

Jersey City spokeswoman Kim Wallace-Scalcione said that, since 2018, the city has increased its spending with diverse vendors by 17.6%. The city spent $19.4 million with diverse suppliers in 2020 and hopes to spend $25 million in 2021.

And Soraya Hebron, the director of Jersey Citys Office of Diversity and Inclusion, said that business owners of color may be less likely to provide demographic data to the city, which could make the disparities shown in the data seem larger than they actually are.

(If) we look at the legacy of discrimination  not specifically in Jersey City, but across the country  why would a person of color willingly tell a contractor or potential client what their demographic is? Hebron said. So its a double-edged sword.

In response to the study, Jersey City is working to improve its data collection, and the city recently implemented a policy requiring all requests for proposals to solicit at least one quote from a diverse supplier, Hebron said.

Jersey City has been repeatedly ranked the most diverse city in the country. But over the past two decades, many have worried that the citys communities of color are missing out on the benefits of its economic revitalization.

The Rutgers study was commissioned in 2019 as a follow-up to a 2011 study known as the Croson study, which found that businesses owned by people of color and women were awarded disproportionately few city contracts between 2001 and 2008.

Camacho is calling on the city to pass an ordinance creating a set-aside program that would earmark a certain percentage of its spending for minority vendors, and cited a list of recommendations by the Rutgers studys authors, including providing financial assistance to smaller companies.

I would categorize (the Rutgers) study as an uninspiring repetition of what every person of color in this city knows: that they simply are not getting a fair piece of the pie, she said.

Wallace-Scalcione said that Fulop would support such a set-aside program and that the mayor absolutely supports efforts focused on expanding opportunities for disadvantaged communities.

Hebron said that the fact that the city commissioned the Rutgers study  at a cost of $181,750  showed its commitment to diversity.

You only do this study if you want to strengthen the teeth and policy to support minority or women-owned businesses, Hebron said. If we didnt want to, then we wouldnt have done this study.
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German Security Forces, on Wednesday, conducted a series of raids across the country as part of investigations into people smuggling and forced sex work, a police spokesperson said.

The police said the federal police conducted large-scale raids in several states targeting an alleged people-smuggling ring, which is said to have brought at least 58 people, including children, into Germany illegally.

Those people, who paid between 3,500 and 8,000 euros (4,165-9,520 dollars) for their journeys, were at times left in lorries or transporters for several days, the police said.

Police had found several of them, including five children, in the eastern town of Bernstadt and subsequently launched an investigation together with Europol.

Several people were arrested under suspicion of people smuggling as part of the raids.

In a separate investigation, the federal police forces searched several buildings in Berlin, Hamburg and the coastal town of Timmendorfer Strand, including nail salons and massage parlours.

The case regards the alleged smuggling of women from Vietnam to Germany, who were then reportedly forced into sex work, police wrote on Twitter.

We have indications the locations were also used as brothels.

A 43-year-old Vietnamese woman was arrested in Berlin. Two other suspects are involved in the case, police said.

(NAN)
Two people suspected of burglarizing the Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens, a museum run by the Museum of Fine Arts Houston, remained on the run early Wednesday after fleeing by boat on the Buffalo Bayou and escaping from authorities through a storm drainage tunnel, police said.

The intruders were reportedly found in the building, located at 6003 Memorial Drive in River Oaks, around 7:30 p.m. Tuesday and responding officers spotted them running out of the building, said Lt. Larry Crowson of the Houston Police Department. The pair jumped into a motor boat on Buffalo Bayou and sped away.

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Officers on the ground lost sight of the boat, Crowson said, so the department deployed a dive team into the bayou. With a spotlight, the divers located the suspects on their boat hiding in a drainage culvert. The two people ran into the storm drainage tunnel, which runs beneath River Oaks, and officers pursued.

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Police became concerned when they lost touch with the officers in the storm drain, but the officers were safely located. The suspects, however, escaped.

Authorities gave no description of the suspects. Investigators are following up to determine who owns the boat.

MFAH confirmed Wednesday morning that no one was harmed and no works of art were damaged during Tuesday nights intrusion. The 14-acre property  and former home of late philanthropist Ima Hogg  houses a collection of decorative art, paintings and furniture. There are more than 2,500 objects displayed onsite throughout the 28 rooms and galleries including furniture, paintings, sculpture, prints, ceramics, glass, metals, and textiles.

A spokesperson for MFAH added that nothing appears to have been removed from the premises. We have examined camera footage, we are in contact with the police, and we are performing a physical inventory this morning.

This is what they say occurred. Last night, at approximately 6:45 p.m. two intruders  a man and a woman  entered Bayou Bend through a grate to a basement window on the north terrace of the house museum. Our burglar alarm sounded, our security guard responded, and the intruders escaped through the front door on the south facade. Our security guard chased them through the woods. The intruders had a motor boat waiting on the bayou. The Houston Police found the boat after they escaped through a culvert.
New Delhi:

In a shocking incident, one student was shot by his classmate inside the classroom at Industrial Training Institute in Sonipat in Haryana on Friday, police said.

According to Deputy Superintendent of Police, Sonipat, Rahul Dev the suspect brought a country-made pistol hidden inside his bag.

"A CCTV footage purportedly shows two boys approaching the victim from behind, who was chatting with other students in the classroom. One of the two boys then took out a pistol from his bag and shot the victim in the back", the DSP said.

The reason behind the crime in susepcted to be a argument that took place a few days ago between the two students who come under the age group of 16 to 17 years.

"The victim was rushed to a hospital at Sonipat from where he was referred to PGIMS at Rohtak where he is undergoing treatment", the DSP said.

#WATCH: One classmate shoots another inside a classroom of ITI Sonipat. Police says investigation is underway. #Haryana. pic.twitter.com/EW5tPnm2Vk  ANI (@ANI) September 2, 2017

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Michelle Obama discussed spending the pandemic indoors with her family and why Bruce Springsteen is one of her favorite people while appearing on Jimmy Kimmel Live.

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Michelle Obama said on Tuesday that she has been together with her family including husband Barack Obama and daughters Sasha and Malia Obama throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

"It's going well. You know, we are of the mindset in this time that if we have our health, we're doing well, so we are blessed," she said.

The former first lady described how the family enjoyed their time together for about a month of lockdown.

"Then, you know, the kids would come down later, be a little more surly. A little less communicative, we ran out of funny stories to tell," Michelle Obama said.

Kimmel mentioned Barack Obama 's new podcast with Bruce Springsteen , titled Renegades, and how it was Michelle Obama 's idea for her husband to spend more time with the musician.

"Bruce Springsteen is one of my favorite people -- not just because of his music -- but he's one of the few men that I know who has really done the work of self-reflection and he's willing to share," Michelle Obama said.

Michelle Obama, in promoting her new Netflix series Waffles + Mochi, tried to convince Kimmel's 6-year-old daughter Jane to eat a vegetable. The series encourages kids to eat healthy.

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"I learned when you try something new, just try it, that you open up your taste buds and then you'll like a whole bunch of new things," Michelle Obama said, but Jane wouldn't budge.
YEREVAN, MARCH 17, ARMENPRESS. Step Towards Home program of the Office of High Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs of Armenia this year will have 400 participants from different communities of the Diaspora.

Hayk Yengibaryan, head of the program implementation department at the Office of High Commissioner, stated that the project will be implemented at four stages, and they will accept 100 participants at each stage.

In the past the number of participants at each stage was more than 100, however, this time we have set this number conditioned by the pandemic. The participant arriving in Armenia must have a negative COVID-19 test from the past 72 hours. Everything will be done for maintaining all the safety rules connected with COVID-19, the children will have hand-sanitizers and face masks, he said.

The participation to the program has already been announced, the application process has started. But before this the Office of the High Commissioner tried to check the moods within the Diaspora-Armenians related to the project. Hayk Yengibaryan noted that the moods they saw among the Diaspora-Armenians served a base for holding the project this year. Last year it was held online due to COVID-19.





There was a high demand for the project because Diaspora-Armenians wanted to have an opportunity to come to Armenia on the sidelines of this program. I would like to note that there are interests from Russia, Georgia, Ukraine, the Netherlands, even Brazil, USA, he added.

Step Towards Home will launch on June 21 and will last until August 14.

Diaspora-Armenians aged 13-18 can take part in the program.

Yengibaryan stated that interesting program is waiting for the participants. There will be a 14-day camping program, a cognitive visit to Armenias historical-cultural sites, museums, educational facilities and rural communities. Meetings will be held with state, public, cultural and art figures. Sport and cultural events are also planned.

All expenses during these 14 days will be covered by the Government of Armenia.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
R. Brooke Jackson, right, the federal judge in Colorado who curbed the Denver Police Departments use of chemical weapons and projectiles against peaceful racial justice protesters last summer, will step down later this year and create a vacancy for President Joe Biden to fill.
New Delhi: Bollywood actress Vaani Kapoor will be showing off her jaw-dropping physique on the big screen for Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui. Directed by Abhishek Kapoor of Kai Po Che!, Rock On!!, Kedarnath fame, the progressive love story stars Vaani opposite Ayushmann Khurrana.

"I have always tried to be fit but Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui is a film that has really pushed me to work harder and push my limits. To pull off my role in Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui, I put myself through the grind and it wasnt easy. It was what Abhishek Kapoor saw me have on-screen and I dived headlong into the process of achieving this body type for the film," revealed Vaani Kapoor.

The actress added, "This project is a huge milestone moment of my career and I wanted to give it all. It required me to achieve a body type that I never had before. Of course, I wanted to nail this role and took this challenge head-on. I needed to appear like a really fit girl. I literally exhausted myself training. Especially after a difficult lockdown period and with almost no training, I had to spring back with rigorous workout sessions every day but when I saw myself on the monitor, I felt that it was all worth it.

Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui is set to release on July 9 this year.
Armenia acting health minister on citizens' demand for her resignation

Karabakh's new State Minister Artak Beglaryan on his appointment and future activities

Armenian, Russian and Azerbaijani representatives hold consultations in Moscow

2 Armenian soldiers receive slight injuries after incident with Azerbaijani servicemen in Armenia's Gegharkunik

Armenian boy weighing 5 kg born at Goris Medical Center

"Armenia" bloc representative presents purpose of participation in elections and plans

Isaac Herzog elected President of Israel

Rouhani: Main issues between Tehran, Washington resolved in Vienna

Charles Michel calls on Armenia and Azerbaijan to resume constructive negotiations

US Department of State responds to Pashinyan's proposal to deploy international observers on Armenia-Azerbaijan border

Head of Armenia 2nd President's Office: Robert Kocharyan's public meetings are held in warm atmosphere

Opposition "Armenia" bloc's representative on photos and videos showing bags of deceased servicemen's bodies

Armenia Ombudsman, AGBU President discuss war crimes committed by Azerbaijan during Karabakh war

Opposition "Armenia" bloc's representatives to hold briefings three times a week

Opposition "Armenia" bloc member: Blood-freezing photos and videos from morgue in Abovyan are authorities' reflection

Yerevan mayor receives Netherlands Ambassador

Armenia Health Ministry, Investigative Committee keep info about sending remains of dead soldiers abroad confidential

Armenia Prosecutor General's Office launches case regarding leaving sacs of servicemen's bodies/remains in basement

Peskov: Putin and Biden to discuss cybersecurity issues

Armenia's Pashinyan meets with Belgian PM Alexander De Croo

Armenia acting MOD receives Netherlands Ambassador

Armenia Police: 3 citizens apprehended during protest demanding acting health minister's resignation

NATO warns Minsk about further consequences of Ryanair incident

Armenia economic competition protection commission: Experts forecast inflation of butter prices

Armenia citizens' protest against acting health minister is over

Pashinyan visits France, judicial farce against Armenian POWs kicks off in Baku, Jun. 2 digest

Armenian Ambassador, FMO representatives consider opportunities for expansion of cooperation in Armenia

Armenia Prosecutor General is on working visit to Russia

Armenia acting PM meets with European Council President in Brussels

Armenia citizens throw polyethylene bags at Health Ministry building, police apprehend protesters

Acting deputy minister: Armenia authorities plan to build 46km section of North-South highway in 2021

Dollar is stable in Armenia

Armenia official: Large number of projects being prepared in construction sector

Identity of man killed Wednesday morning in downtown Yerevan is found out

Armenian lawyer: Azerbaijan poses a threat to security in Europe

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

Missing Armenian soldiers' relatives hand letter to Russia Embassy with request to solve captives' issue

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

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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

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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

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Armenia 3rd President reacts to photos of bodies of soldiers in freezer: It felt like the blood froze in my veins

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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

French-Armenians hold protest against Armenia acting PM's visit to France
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How do you run a fire department without essential equipment like dedicated water tanks, fire trucks and PPE? This is a question fire chiefs across New Mexico are asking themselves every day. And with the Fire Grant Fund, we thought we had an answer for them. When resources are limited, fire departments can usually request additional funding from the Fire Grant Fund. But in a year of unprecedented budget shortfalls, the fund was forced to reject appeals from many departments in need.

That is why we are supporting Senate Bill 256 and House Bill 238. If enacted, these bills would give our fire departments the resources they need to make essential purchases and keep our communities safe.

The Fire Grant Fund receives dollars from the remaining balance of the Fire Protection Fund, but state law mandates that 60% of the Fire Protection Funds balance revert to the General Fund. We have the resources to make critical investments in our fire stations, but we cut those funds in half before fire chiefs even get the chance to apply. Together, SB 256 and HB 238 would give the Grant Fund access to 100% of the Fire Protection Funds balance, enabling departments to fund projects that would improve firefighting capabilities, safeguard New Mexicans, and even lower home insurance premiums by improving ISO ratings.

In fiscal 2020, the Ranchvale Fire Department in Curry County secured a dedicated water system thanks to $27,800 in assistance from the Grant Fund. With this grant, the Ranchvale firefighters gained a crucial tool to help save lives in their rural community. In turn, a well-prepared fire department helped upgrade the areas ISO rating from a class 10 to a class 7.

Between fiscal 2014 and fiscal 2021, the Grant Fund provided $54 million in funding to departments just like Ranchvale. But due to the 40% cap on transfers from the Fire Protection Fund, New Mexicos firefighters lost out on $74 million in potential funding. In fiscal 2021 alone, roughly $13 million reverted to the General Fund. Meanwhile, funding for departments demonstrated needs fell short by more than $30 million. This shows that we have consistently underfunded many fire departments in our state, and that is especially true during times of crisis.

Call your legislators today and ask them to join the thousands of New Mexico firefighters who support SB 256 and HB 238. The Fire Grant Fund is one of the only ways that many fire departments can protect their communities. And as fire marshals and fire chiefs, we can say that the sooner we distribute more funds to departments in need, the safer our communities will be.

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They got engaged last year after just eight months of dating.

And Isabelle Silbery has celebrated her one-year anniversary with fiance Alex Richards at a stunning spa retreat.

The Gogglebox Australia star chronicled the picturesque getaway on Instagram Stories on Tuesday.

Getaway: Gogglebox Australia star Isabelle Silbery celebrated her one-year anniversary with fiance Alex Richards at a stunning spa retreat this week

In one image, the pair cuddled up outside in a 'post-massage robe selfie'.

The 34-year-old captioned the post: 'Celebrating a year through lockdown, finding love & also not killing each other.'

Another image showed the TV critic snuggled beneath a blanket on the couch, gazing at the sunset over the countryside.

'One eye on the sunset one eye on Married at First Sight,' she wrote.

Hardly working: Another image showed the TV critic snuggled beneath a blanket on the couch, gazing at the sunset over the countryside

Big steps: The anniversary is another big step in Isabelle's whirlwind relationship. She met Alex in March last year and within weeks decided to self-isolate with him during the Covid lockdown

The anniversary is another big step in Isabelle's whirlwind relationship.

She first met Alex in March last year and within weeks decided to self-isolate with him during the Covid-19 lockdown.

The pair became engaged in July.

Soaking it up: The Gogglebox Australia star chronicled the picturesque getaway on Instagram

'This happened... and I said yes. To a man who truly sees me, understands me and loves me for all my idiosyncrasies,' Isabelle wrote on Instagram at the time.

'I don't need diamond rings or all the things... no perfected engagement pics... It's just us ... just as we are. All I really need is unconditional love. We all do.'

Isabelle said Alex proposed 'on the couch' at home, after they moved in together.

How romantic! Isabelle recently revealed Alex had proposed 'on the couch' at home

The couple purchased their first property together in August.

Isabelle's friend Benjamin Norris revealed the news on the TV Blackbox podcast.

'Who just bought a million-dollar mansion to celebrate their engagement to a man they only met in March?' Ben said. 'Isabelle Silbery from Gogglebox!' he added.

'[She's] one of my good friends, and she will kill me for that. But hey, it's a true story.'
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Created in Vietnam, made in Vietnam, designed in Vietnam, manufactured in Vietnam: Vietnamese tech-enterprises are here for Make in Vietnam.

The strategy for developing Vietnamese tech firms plays an important role because it is related to the future and destiny of the country.

This was the message delivered by Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Manh Hung at the first "Vietnam Digital Business Forum". VietNamNet would like to present the full text of the speech.

Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Manh Hung speaks at the first "Vietnam Digital Business Forum". Photo: Trong Dat.

Increase of labor productivity, rapid and sustainable development, inclusive development, escaping the middle-income trap, turning Vietnam into a developed country, to be shoulder in shoulder with powers around the world, aspiration for a prosperous and mighty Vietnam. What is the general answer to Vietnam's thousand-year concerns? That is technology. The digital revolution, and especially its new development - the 4th industrial revolution - has created new opportunities and unique opportunities for Vietnam. Technology can effectively solve Vietnamese problems. Vietnam is a market for generating and developing technology businesses. Vietnam is also the cradle for Vietnamese technology businesses to go global, solving global problems.

Using human technology, developing new technology, thereby creating solutions and products to change Vietnam, change the world. And also from that, Vietnam will become a developed and powerful country. This is the first time we have held a National Forum to announce an important strategy, which is related to the future and destiny of Vietnam  the strategy for developing Vietnamese tech-firms.

Make in Vietnam will be our statement. Created in Vietnam, made in Vietnam, designed in Vietnam, manufactured in Vietnam. Vietnamese tech-enterprises are here for Make in Vietnam. If we continue to only assemble products, we will not solve the labor productivity problem or escape the middle income trap.

Make in Vietnam is also our responsibility as a global nation and a global citizen: In addition to the use and consumption of humans technology, Vietnam must also contribute to humans, contribute to the development of technology of mankind.

Make in Vietnam will not only help Vietnam prosper, but also help Vietnam have a lasting peace, when contributing to the development of a mighty defense industry. The Vietnamese magic crossbow will only be made by Vietnamese. Worldwide, most technology firms have defense industries. The local media recently mentioned a Chinese technology start-up, LinkSpace, the first private rocket firm in China, which was founded in 2014 by engineers under 30 years old. Why can't young Vietnamese engineers do the same?

Nowadays, any company, whether providing products or services, is related to technology. Businesses will not be able to produce and market effectively without using technology, especially new technologies. The firms that apply technology to change products, change the way to make products, or change business models will help reshape the world. Technology companies, whether developing technology or manufacturing technology or providing technology as a service, are the most important factor in accelerating technology application in all businesses and the entire economy and society. That is why developing Vietnamese technology enterprises is considered a top priority.

To have technology businesses, market creation is perhaps the most important. Government is the largest spending household in a country. If it purchases technology products, it will make a significant contribution, especially in the early stage, to the creation of technology companies. National digital transformation quickly occurring throughout the country, in every field, from business to government and society, will also create an extremely large market for Vietnamese digital technology firms. This year Vietnam will announce its national digital transformation strategy - Digital Vietnam, aiming at a digital economy and society. Innovation takes place most smoothly in the digital environment. Therefore, digital transformation is considered a prerequisite for widespread innovation.

Technology is about talent. Vietnamese people are smart, quickly adaptable to change, able to tailor products according to individual needs. There are many overseas Vietnamese who have had a reputation for technology. It is time for them to return to Vietnam or connect Vietnam to build Vietnamese technology businesses.

Talent has a global character. Vietnam will create conditions for global talent to converge here. Allowing the testing of new technologies, new business models, with a Sandbox approach (a sandbox is a regulatory field where technological firms operate and test new ideas to help the local economy catch up with the latest global developments). The special zones for technology and special zones for innovation, with the connotation of being places to test outstanding mechanisms for technology enterprises, can be considered by the Government. For talented people, the first thing is to be creative, have challenges the bigger the challenge, the more attractive to them. The forum will listen to suggestions for Vietnam to attract global talent.

Some large Vietnamese businesses, in the service sectors, such as commerce, real estate, finance and other fields have been successful, have a market, have financial and government resources, have the spirit of entrepreneurship. It is necessary to invest in technology and industrial development, and form large-scale Vietnamese technology enterprises. This is not just a call, it is a responsibility to the country, to the prosperity of the country, and also for the future of these companies themselves. We have heard of a number of Vietnamese service companies announcing their new strategies for a technology, industry and service trade groups, such as Viettel, Vingroup, VNPT, and so on. Many countries have turned dragons, essentially on the basis of several large technology corporations. The government will consider facilitating the development of a number of large technology corporations.

Regarding innovation, we cannot help but talk about start-ups. Those are startups with truly new products and solutions that are surprisingly useful. These startups will quickly become global-size corporations. Our forum will listen to international experiences, experiences of Vietnamese people in the country and Vietnamese around the world, about innovation ecosystems, start-up ecosystems, from which there will be recommended for Vietnam.

Vietnam is also in need of technology startups. It is necessary and feasible. These are startups, initially using technology to develop solutions and products or provide technology services to other companies that innovate technology. Then the next step will be technology development. These small-scale technology companies will create a universal revolution in technology development and application in Vietnam. Vietnam always succeeds when it mobilizes the entire population. And also from tens and hundreds of thousands of these technology startups, a number of Vietnamese technology giants will be formed.

We also need a fund to develop Vietnamese technology. It will be better and more effective when this is a fund of the entire Vietnamese people, of Vietnamese people around the world. A prosperous and mighty Vietnam is the aspiration of the entire people, and the Vietnam Technology Development Fund is to realize that aspiration, so it should be an all-people fund, contributed by the people and supervised by the people. We can learn about the fund operating model from other countries that have had success with this kind of fund.

In addition to creating favorable conditions for Vietnamese technology enterprises to develop, for the first time we also propose solutions to create more challenges for businesses to develop. In many cases, difficulties and challenges are a key factor in creating top businesses. The forum will propose that the Government set higher standards for Vietnamese products, so that businesses are forced to innovate in technology.

We are and will live in a digital age, which will last for hundreds of years. It takes a country decades to become a dragon. The biggest transformation is the transformation of everyone in that society. And that is the story of education, from general education to higher education and to the lifelong learning environment. Among many educational innovations, perhaps ICT and foreign language teaching must be compulsory starting at general schools. Recently, it is said that each person must know 3 languages: mother tongue to maintain culture, English for international integration, and IT language to communicate with machines. And we all have high hopes for educational innovations that, first and foremost, the application of new technologies, ICT technologies in education. The first place to apply technology should be education. And the first Vietnamese technology companies should be educational technology businesses as well.

This is the first national forum on developing Vietnamese technology enterprises and the first on Make in Vietnam, which for the first time is discussing deeply about a story that is too big and too new for the country, so we cannot expect to solve all the problems. This will be a process of continuous learning, continuous adjustment. We will see each other many more times. But today is an important day, because we set an aspiration, a vision, and we see the first part of the way, and especially, we have faith in Vietnam's future in technology, in the development of Vietnamese technology businesses and their role in the country's prosperity.

Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Manh Hung

'Make in Vietnam': the way to stop doing outsourcing and increase participation in global value chains High technology and innovation are the keys for Vietnam to escape the status of doing outsourcing for foreigners, which has occurred for several decades.
Britain on Wednesday defended the need for critical engagement with China on climate change and trade, after drawing criticism for soft-pedalling troublesome issues with the world's second economy in a new global strategy paper.

In a virtual address to the Aspen Security Forum in the US, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said a "calibrated approach" was required towards China after the government signalled a strategic UK shift post-Brexit towards the Asia-Pacific region.

"China is here to stay. We don't believe that we're harking back to an old Cold War mentality or paradigm. There are positives, and we ought to look for the areas of constructive engagement, obviously business and trade," he said.

Previewing Britain's hosting of the UN COP 26 summit in November, Raab added that "we're not going to shift the dial on climate change unless we can engage in some kind of cooperation with China".

"At the same time, we're absolutely resolute about standing up robustly and rigorously where British interests are affected, whether it's intellectual property or critical national infrastructure."

Raab added that Britain had also shown it was "standing up for our values" over Hong Kong, Xinjiang and the right to free navigation in the South China Sea, where he said Beijing was guilty of a "wholesale assault" on international law.

Britain's "Integrated Review" paper unveiled on Tuesday identified the Indo-Pacific region -- including Asian powers such as India, Japan and South Korea, as well as emerging economies like Indonesia and Vietnam -- as "critical" to Britain.

The UK has already applied for partner status at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and Prime Minister Boris Johnson is due to make his first post-Brexit visit to India in April.

The review noted that China's power and international assertiveness would likely be the most significant geopolitical factor of the decade, calling Beijing a "systemic competitor".

Story continues

- 'Grasping naivety' -

The government is under pressure in its own Conservative ranks to adopt a tougher line on China, notably over what hawks -- and the United States -- argue is the "genocide" of ethnic Uighurs in the Xinjiang region, and its crackdown on democrats in the former UK colony of Hong Kong.

Dominic Cummings, a former top aide to Johnson, said Wednesday that both China and Russia had pursued "extremely aggressive operations against this country to acquire British knowledge both legally and illegally".

However, former prime minister David Cameron and his finance minister George Osborne "did not take it deadly seriously, and in all sorts of ways they left the country open and vulnerable", Cummings told MPs at a hearing.

Intelligence and Security committee chairman Julian Lewis, a Conservative, criticised Johnson for displaying "the grasping naivety of the Cameron-Osborne years" in his government's strategy on China.

The Daily Mail newspaper ran a double-page spread headlined "Britain kowtows to China".

But Osborne, who has pursued a lucrative career in finance since leaving the government, said the best approach was to "co-opt China rather than confront China".

"I think Boris Johnson should be congratulated for seeing off the hotheads who want to launch some new Cold War with China," he told MPs.

Raab himself came under criticism late Tuesday after a video was leaked to the HuffPost news site showing him saying an over-emphasis on human rights would mean "we're not going to do many trade deals with the growth markets of the future".

A foreign ministry spokesperson said the remarks had been "deliberately and selectively clipped", and that Raab was explaining the need for a holistic approach in trade and human rights.
MIAMI, Fla., March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- 4Cable TV International, Inc. (OTC: CATV) (the "Company" or "CATV") announced today that it completed the acquisition of all of the outstanding capital stock of Green Bros, S.A.S. ("Green Bros"). Green Bros, based in Medellin, Colombia, owns four cannabis licenses to cultivate, manufacture, and export Cannabis-related products.



At the beginning of 2021, the Colombian Ministry of Health and Social Protection published a draft bill (relating to Law 1787 and Decree 613 from 2017), which, among other things, seeks to facilitate access to Cannabis products for Colombians and allow Colombia companies to export THC dry flower. The Company recognized this opportunity as a means to further its transformation into a fully integrated global Cannabis business. The Company acquired Green Bros to initiate its ability to cultivate THC for the Company's international Cannabis business.



The Licenses

With its headquarters in Medellin, Green Bros' received its much-awaited Colombian licenses in 2020. Revolutionizing the traditional way of product manufacturing, Green Bros has brought the most advanced technologies to use to achieve exceptional production of high-quality cannabis for export with ease, subject to final rules permitting such export from Colombia.

Having an expert team of dedicated specialists and marketing professionals on-board, Green Bros has been fortunate to receive its cultivation licenses and required registration approvals to further progress on its path. The approved licenses include:

License for the Cultivation of Non-Psychoactive Cannabis Plants.

License for the Cultivation of Psychoactive Cannabis Plants.

License for the Manufacture and Export of Cannabis Derivatives.

License for the Production and Commercialization of Cannabis Seeds.

Green Bros is licensed to cultivate psychoactive and non-psychoactive cannabis plants and manufacture both CBD and THC products. It has received its registration from the Colombian National Narcotics Fund to proceed with its operations without any anticipated obstructions. These licenses and registration position Green Bros to quickly take advantage of export opportunities if final rules permitting export are passed.



Discussing his acquisition rationale, Michael Feldenkrais, the Company's CEO, stated, "We are excited to now have our own licenses in Colombia as this will allow us to start our corporate expansion into the international market and take advantage of the key benefits that the country offers us including the favorable environmental conditions, pricing, the skilled workforce, cultivars, and the ideal conditions to potentially ship worldwide thanks to the infrastructure and trade agreements that are currently in place."



Green Bros expects to obtain the GAP and GMP Certifications as well to have the highest quality standards as it positions itself as one of the leading companies in the international market.



The Company acquired Green Bros for consideration consisting of shares of the Company's Series B Preferred Stock valued at $50,000.

The High-Yielding Location



Focused on having rich produce, Green Bros operates out of a picturesque property of close to 3.5 acres, spread far and wide. Located in the Guarne town in the Colombian department of Antioquia, the land stands 7,050 ft above sea level. Being a part of the subregion of the Eastern Antioquia, it is situated 24kms east of Medellin, having extensive connectivity beneficial for carrying out their daily activities.



Having the Jose Maria Cordova International Airport at a distance of 12.18kms from the land offers considerable accessibility. Guarne witnesses a mild climate throughout, making the place extremely work-supportive.



The land distribution is done in an ordered and mindful manner, allocating fixed segments for various producers.

Colombian Market and The Investment

Colombia, also known as the Republic of Colombia, is a land of vast opportunities. With the attractive advantages of a favorable climate, cheap production, and current revised regulations, the Colombian market tends to be an expansive and welcoming country for all kinds of business associations and dealings. After the latest amendments in its legal constitutions, Colombia is now authorized to hold authentic export tradings, especially in the field of cannabis produce. This has held to an anticipated inclination of huge companies towards the business sector, resulting in more significant investments into the domain.



Cannabis holds a high value in terms of clinical and medicinal usages. With its therapeutic advantages, the plant has immense value for recreational purposes. Colombia has proven to be an apt land for a thriving plantation of cannabis with its beneficial geography and climate patterns. Soaking up to 12hrs in the sun throughout the year, cannabis can grow and cultivate in a full-fledged manner, unlike other places of its production. Previous years have seen a contained trade of the plant since it had been limited to research purposes only, but this year, the export is set to rise. With an established linkage, legal trading of cannabis will soar soon, opening the doors to an output-oriented market.

About Green Bros SAS

Green Bros SAS is a Colombian company that has obtained four cannabis licenses and is positioned to become a premier cannabis cultivator, manufacturer, genetics specialist, and exporter. Its headquarters are in Medellin, Colombia, with its cannabis facilities in a gorgeous 3.5-acre property in Guarne, Antioquia, situated at approximately 7,050 ft of altitude with a mild climate and 7.5 miles from Jose Maria Cordova International Airport. The team of experts from the agricultural and medical marijuana industries, compliance specialists, and international sales and marketing professionals who have been chosen to lead the project have a mission of impacting the health, fitness, wellness, and pet industries through the use of medicinal cannabis.



About 4Cable TV International, Inc.

4Cable TV International, Inc. (OTC: CATV) seeks to create and operate a fully integrated global cannabis business, ranging from growing to retailing. To accomplish this strategy, the Company has begun to seek acquisition targets in the cannabis industry actively. The Company has consolidated its operations into the facilities located at 23100 SW 192nd Ave, Miami, FL 33170.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements



Statements in this press release regarding 4Cable TV International's business that are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements." Examples of forward-looking statements include, among others, statements regarding the Company's future business and prospects, strategic plans and strategic transactions. Forward-looking statements are neither historical facts nor assurances of future performance. Instead, they are based only on the Company's current beliefs, expectations and assumptions regarding the future of its business, future plans and strategies, projections, anticipated events and trends, the economy and other future conditions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict and many of which are outside of the Company's control. The Company's actual results and financial condition may differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Therefore, you should not rely on any of these forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause the Company's actual results and financial condition to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements include, among others: general economic and financial conditions; consumer demand for Cannabis products and services; volatility in the trading markets and the lack of liquidity in the Company's common stock; the Company's ability to successfully execute on its new Cannabis strategy; the Company's limited operating history in the Cannabis business; the legal status of the Company's Cannabis business, both in the U.S. and abroad; risks inherent in the Cannabis business; existing and new U.S. and foreign government regulations and changes in regulatory requirements; risks related to rules and regulations at the U.S. federal, state and municipal levels and applicable foreign jurisdictions with respect to Cannabis; the Company's ability to obtain financing or raise capital on favorable terms or at all in order to execute its business strategy; the Company's ability to successfully identify and integrate acquired businesses; risks associated with conducting operations in foreign countries; and risks associated with engaging in transactions with third parties, including related parties. For a discussion of additional general risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, see CATV's OTC Market filings. Any forward-looking statement made by in this press release is based only on information currently available to the Company and speaks only as of the date on which it is made. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as required by law.

Contact :

1.833.211.3200

[email protected]

SOURCE 4Cable TV International, Inc.
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If someone were to ask me what the United States of America's greatest mistake was, I would answer without hesitation: slavery. The legacy of slavery is a cloud that hangs over our nation much like clouds of genocide that hang over China, Germany, and Russia. One of the solutions proposed by people who want to move beyond the shadow of slavery is to pay reparations to those who were hurt by slavery.

Opponents of the idea of reparations claim that both the people who carried out slavery and the people who suffered under slavery are dead. It is hard to argue that point. Nevertheless, the left ensures that the cloud of slavery remains, and today, there are people who vigorously lobby that the 21st-century descendants of slaves in America receive compensation for the horrors of slavery their ancestors suffered in America in the 18th and 19th centuries. They do not acknowledge that uncounted numbers of Americans are descended from people who arrived in America long after slavery had ended.

On June 1, 2020, a well known black businessman, Robert Johnson, called for the United States to pay 14 trillion dollars in reparations to living descendants of African-American slaves. In his proposal, each living descendant of a slave would receive $350,000 in reparations.

I would urge the advocates of reparations like Robert Johnson to consider some deductions in the amount demanded. The bloodiest war in American history was fought over the question of slavery. Over 620,000 men and women died in the war that ended the institution of slavery. After the war, three amendments to our Constitution were added to end the discrimination caused by slavery.

Lyndon Johnson's Great Society added welfare and Head Start to help blacks in America. Affirmative action laws were instituted to help blacks in education and employment. Since then, we have added Black History Month, the African-American Museum at the Smithsonian, and a national holiday remembering Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

As a retired public school teacher, I can assure you that American public education is not focused on being the best public education system in the world, as evidenced by the fact that our schools rank 38th in math, 19th in science, and 14th in reading compared with other developed nations. Rather, American public education is focused on narrowing the gaps between African-American student performance and all other racial groups. All the initiatives just mentioned could be called reparations incognito.

The USA does not have a rainy-day fund. At this writing, we are 28 trillion dollars in debt. That works out to $84,000 per person in the USA. Are we as a nation going to continue our self-flagellation over slavery, or are we going to look at the clock and realize that slavery ended nearly two centuries ago and move on to the many challenges facing us in 2021?

Image: The image for this post is the Emancipation Memorial, the Boston statute that freed slaves paid for to honor Abraham Lincoln's and the Union's sacrifices to free slaves. (Public Domain image.)

Image: Because some people expressed concern that the Emancipation Memorial picture could be taken as a slight against slaves, I've replaced it with a vintage postcard showing the cemetery at Gettysburg.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-17 10:54:19|Editor: huaxia

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WASHINGTON, March 16 (Xinhua) -- Eight people were killed and another one was injured in three shooting incidents Tuesday in the metropolitan area of Atlanta, Georgia.

In Cherokee County, a shooting was reported around 5:00 p.m. local time (2100 GMT) at Young's Asian Massage Parlor near Acworth, a northwest suburb of Atlanta. The death toll of the incident rose to four as one injured person has been treated in hospital.

The Cherokee Sheriff's Office said the shooting suspect, 21-year-old Robert Aaron Long, was captured in Crisp County after a chase. The motive behind the shooting is still under investigation.

Shortly after the Cherokee County shooting, Atlanta police responded to a robbery call on Piedmont Road in the northeast part of the city. Atlanta Police Chief Rodney Bryant later confirmed that four females, all believed to be Asian, were shot and killed at two massage parlors close to each other.

Bryant said an investigation is still in the early stage. "I've had conversations with Cherokee County," he said of the earlier shooting, adding it's still early to say the three shooting incidents were connected.

Bryant said the exact motive of the shootings is yet to be determined. "Right now there's no immediate threat to the public at large, but we are having conversations with different law enforcement agencies," he added. Enditem
Dominic Cummings has revealed he outlined conditions in a deal with Boris Johnson before entering No 10, including doubling the science budget and reforming the disaster zone of Whitehall.

The former senior adviser, who left Downing Street last year after losing a power struggle at the heart of government, said the prime minister asked him to help sort out the huge Brexit nightmare during a private meeting in the summer of 2019.

Mr Cummings remarks came as he provided evidence to the Commons science and technology committee on the multi-million pound Advance Research & Invention Agency (Aria)  an independent body that he is regarded as the designer of.

The chair of the committee, Greg Clark, also revealed the former No 10 adviser and Vote Leave strategist had agreed to give evidence to MPs on the governments handling of the coronavirus pandemic at a later date.

Pressed on whether he proposed the idea of Aria to the prime minister, Mr Cummings told MPs: I would say its my idea. All Im doing was suggesting what a lot of the best scientists in the world had been suggesting for decades actually.

Read more:

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Addressing a private meeting with Mr Johnson in his living room in July 2019, Mr Cummings said: The prime minister came to speak to me the Sunday before he became prime minister and said will you come into Downing Street to try help sort out the huge Brexit nightmare.

I said yes, if first of youre deadly about actually getting Brexit done and avoiding a second referendum, secondly double the science budget, third create some Arpa-like entity, and fourth support me in to try and change how Whitehall and the Cabinet Office works because its a disaster zone. He said deal.

Questioned on whether he was confident the government would stick by those aims, the former official replied: As far as I can see from the Budget, the plan is to stick to the doubling of the science budget, though there are some issues around that.

He went on: The bigger danger is that is sort of half happens, they create something thats basically no different.

During his time in No 10, Mr Cummings was behind plans to shake-up the Cabinet Office  the governments engine room  to centralise more power in the prime ministers hands, and was also reported to warn civil servants that a hard rain was coming.

A number of senior Whitehall figures also resigned during his tenure as Mr Johnsons adviser, including the head of the civil service and permanent secretaries at the Foreign Office, Ministry of Justice and Department for Education.

Despite his departure, reports have also suggested Mr Cummings overhaul of the civil service communications teams will still go ahead over the course of the next year, with cuts to workforce expected.

Pressed on whether Mr Johnson agreed that Whitehall was a disaster zone, the prime ministers official spokesman later said: The PM has said he has huge admiration for the civil service and is immensely proud of the amazing job they have done throughout the pandemic. The civil service always seeks to improve and we have discussed before the reforms we have set out as part of the effort to ensure we can deliver for the people of the UK.

Mr Cummings also told MPs during Wednesdays committee he had no regrets on leaving No 10, adding: I think I made the right decision to resign when I did.I actually said to the prime minister back in July that I would leave by Friday 18 December at the latest.

As I said earlier on Id be very happy come back and answer any and all questions about how No 10 works, why I left, all the different things, crazy stories that have been in the media, Id be happy to clarify all of those.
Bakersfield-based carrots giant Grimmway Farms said Wednesday it has reached an agreement to sell to an Indiana conglomerate that focuses on a
They're known for their no-nonsense attitudes with guests.

And on Wednesday, Kyle Sandilands and Jackie 'O' Henderson gave up halfway through an interview with Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Lisa Vanderpump that was plagued by technical problems.

'I'm not going to put up with two seconds of delay so some slob can listen on the phone,' Kyle said, referring to how Lisa's publicist being on the line was causing a major delay with their chat.

Awkward! On Wednesday, radio hosts Kyle Sandilands and Jackie 'O' Henderson gave up halfway through an interview with Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Lisa Vanderpump (pictured) that was plagued by technical problems

Prior to hanging up, Kyle and Jackie had nothing but praise for the popular reality star as they rang her to discuss her latest project.

But after two seconds of silence while waiting for her response to a question, Kyle said: 'That's not workable. The publicist can listen on the radio - I'm not wasting my life re-routing it through New York, it's a joke!'

'What Kyle is saying is when there's a publicist on the phone, it holds up the delay even more,' Jackie explained.

Rage: After two seconds of silence while waiting for her response to a question, Kyle said: 'That's not workable. The publicist can listen on the radio - I'm not wasting my life re-routing it through New York, it's a joke!'

'The publicist is in New York, then we've got to ring through New York... it's just too much. It's a live radio show man,' he continued.

Kyle then asked his producer what the delay was for, to which she replied: 'It is because of the publicist connects.'

'I told you no publicist connects! This is a live radio show on the other side of the planet,' Kyle responded, before labelling the publicist a 'slob'.

No hard feelings: Kyle admitted he had nothing against Lisa, and had even invited the Vanderpump Rules star to his house previously

'We don't know what they're like, Kyle!' Jackie responded.

'If you want a good flowing interview, you do it the proper way. So dumb, all these publicists p**s me off,' Kyle concluded.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Lisa's representatives for further comment.

Kyle admitted he had nothing against Lisa, and had even invited the Vanderpump Rules star to his house previously.
Ecuador investigators raided the health ministry on Wednesday as part of a probe into influence peddling against former health minister Juan Carlos Zevallos.

Zevallos resigned last month over a vaccine scandal that saw well-connected individuals, including his mother, jump the queue for their coronavirus jabs.

"In the operation, information is being collected on the vaccination plan and the list of beneficiaries" of immunization against Covid-19, the public prosecutor's office said on Twitter.

When resigning, Zevallos admitted that his 87-year-old mother and "several" others close to him had received a shot among the 42,000 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine the country had reserved for workers in health care and old age homes.

Last week, Zevallos's successor, Rodolfo Farfan said that the ministry had sent a list of those to have received the vaccination to the public prosecutor's office, which claims that the list is incomplete.

Ecuador is not the only country to have been embroiled in vaccination queue-jumping scandals.

Peru and Argentina have also been hit by outcries over the rich and powerful getting their coronavirus jabs out of turn.

Ecuador has faced delays in rolling out its immunization program that began in January.

Just 119,000 people have so far received the first dose of the Pfizer jab.

The country of 17.4 million has registered more than 305,000 coronavirus cases and 16,300 deaths.

The government of President Lenin Moreno claims to have negotiated the purchase of 20 million vaccine doses and plans to immunize 10 million people.

pld/gma/bc/caw
Over the 15 years prior to the pandemic, Portland grew from a culinary backwater to arguably the best pound-for-pound food city in America, a rise fueled by funky food carts, intimate bistros and bustling restaurants serving cuisines from around the world.

Those food carts aside, few American cities had restaurant scenes more poorly positioned to survive COVID-19 than Portland. Intimate bistros have little room to create space between tables. Carefully crafted menus dont translate well to takeout. And some of our busiest restaurants, Toro Bravo and Pok Pok among them, closed before the year was out, taking hundreds of jobs with them. Meanwhile, most local diners closely follow COVID-19 news, and have been relatively cautious about returning to dining indoors.

What will the pandemics long-term impact be on local restaurants and bars? Its too early to tell, though some data suggest the early calamity predicted by restaurant advocates might not have come to pass. Statewide, just 5% of restaurants and bars surrendered their Oregon liquor licenses in 2020. In Portland, that number could be higher -- by our count, more than 100 local food and drink businesses have closed since last March.

Here are 10 days that defined a year of upheaval for Portland restaurants.

MARCH 17, 2020

The day Portland dining stood still.

In the weeks leading up to this date, when Gov. Kate Brown limited Oregon restaurants and bars to takeout only, concerns had been focused on Seattle, where the novel coronavirus first landed and where restaurants were already closing. In the days after Oregon confirmed its first coronavirus case on Feb. 28, businesses began adding hand sanitizer, deep cleaning tables between customers and even instituting their own 14-day exclusion policies for customers who recently traveled to pandemic hotspots. In Portland, a handful of restaurants began closing their doors voluntarily, starting with an unlikely duo  steakhouse chain El Gaucho and high-end vegan restaurant Farm Spirit.

Sunday, March 15, brought a major announcement: Prominent Portland restaurant group ChefStable announced that its 20 restaurants and bars, including well-known restaurants St. Jack, Ox, XLB and Lardo, would close for at least four weeks in an attempt to slow the virus spread. About 90% of the groups 800 employees were furloughed just as Oregons creaky unemployment system began to groan under the weight of tens of thousands of new applications, many from the hospitality industry. Dozens of other restaurants would follow.

That same day, more than 100 chefs, bartenders, bakers, winemakers, public relations professionals and culinary event organizers signed an open letter urging Gov. Brown to close all Oregon restaurants and bars, noting that the very act of serving food to a diner requires that we violate social distancing protocols. Some business owners hoped a government action would trigger their loss of business insurance. But that magic bullet turned out to be a dud: Provisions inserted after the SARS outbreak in 2002 specifically excluded payouts for losses caused by viral infections.

MARCH 27, 2020

Moving with uncharacteristic speed, the United States government was able to pull together a $2 trillion economic stimulus bill, the CARES Act, which was signed by former President Trump this day. In addition to one-time payments of $1200 for most single adults, the bill included two significant provisions for the American restaurant industry: The creation of the Paycheck Protection Program, which provided forgivable loans to businesses, and an extension of unemployment benefits, including an additional $600 a week to laid off workers.

Restaurant owners, meanwhile, found themselves racing against the spoilage clock, giving away food to the public, sending staff home with perishable goods or hosting last-hurrah parties to clean out depleted stores. Restaurant-focused food distributors suddenly had to figure out what to do with thousands of pounds of meat, veggies and eggs. Many restaurants brought truckloads of produce down to Oregons various soup kitchens and food banks. Others, including the Pearl Districts Irving Street Kitchen, made a quick decision that their closures would be permanent.

Almost immediately, restaurants started getting creative. Well-known chefs hosted free online cooking tutorials on Instagram and cooked meals for those in need. Pix Patisserie opened a 24-hour vending machine. Kachka and others built E-commerce sites, selling everything from takeout food to toilet paper. A parking lot steak sale at Ringside Steakhouse clogged traffic for hours on West Burnside Street. At home, quarantine baking became a go-to hobby, leading a Portland bakers 8-year-old cookbook to rise to the top of Amazons best seller charts.

JUNE 19, 2020

One week after Brown placed an unanticipated yellow light on Multnomah Countys reopening plans -- costing restaurants thousands of dollars in the process -- on-site dining officially resumed in Portland on this date, with plenty of restrictions in place. For the most part, restaurants took baby steps toward reopening, limiting customers to outdoor seats on patios both old and just built. The OLCC had given restaurants an early boost in spring, fast-tracking applications to sell beer and wine to-go and expand alcohol sales to sidewalks, streets and nearby parking lots. But bar owners lamented that Oregon was dragging its feet in joining the majority of American states to allow cocktails to-go.

That slow restaurant reopening happened to fall on Juneteenth amid a time of historic upheaval after the death of George Floyd, a Black man killed by police in Minneapolis. Protesters marching in opposition to police violence were soon passing diners eating and drinking at food cart pods and hipster honky tonks in Southeast Portland. Meanwhile, restaurants struggled to impose their own mask orders months before Oregons went into effect, and laid-off service industry workers used social media to advocate for permanent change in the industry, including greater equity for BIPOC and LGBTQ+ staff.

JULY 1, 2020

By summer, restaurant closures had grown from a trickle to a flood. Intimate brunch spots including Helsers, Arleta Library Cafe and Trinket were among the first to go. Buffets were particularly hard hit by coronavirus restrictions -- in May, the Sweet Tomatoes chain announced it would close nearly 100 locations, including four in Oregon. Late-night favorites Revelry and Noraneko called it quits. Jade District dim sum palace Wongs King Seafood filed for bankruptcy. Chef Andy Ricker announced that most of his Pok Pok restaurants would not reopen, while the original Southeast Division Street location was rumored to be for sale.

But the first day in July brought a bombshell. Toro Bravo Inc., a restaurant group that once included hundreds of employees across nearly a dozen restaurants, was being dissolved in the wake of Facebook threats that chef John Gorham had directed at a trans woman of color. Three days earlier, The Oregonian/OregonLive.com, which exclusively reported the closure news, had detailed the events leading to Gorhams social media outburst and the ensuing fallout for what had been one of Portlands most popular chefs. Gorham has since moved to Bend.

That same day, Maya Lovelace, the chef and owner at two southern restaurants in Northeast Portland, started soliciting anonymous accusations of abuse and mismanagement at some of the citys best-known restaurants, which she then posted to her Instagram account. The fallout was swift, with major Portland restaurant groups including Olympia Provisions and Ava Genes posting apologies for previous bad behavior.

But by the end of the week, the reckoning started by Lovelace had come for her: Gregory Gourdet, one of Portlands few prominent Black chefs, had accused Lovelace of taking on a new savior role, acting as judge, jury, executioner and apology acceptor for the Portland restaurant industry. Eventually, Lovelace herself came under fire for her alleged treatment of staff, including sharp criticism from her sole Black employee.

SEPT. 9, 2020

By September, local restaurants had figured out their outdoor dining setups, with some utilizing a new city initiative that offered restaurants a no-fee application process to expand their seating into the street. Portland restaurants and bars took every available opportunity to head outdoors, utilizing nearby alleys, parking lots and even rooftops. Those with ample patios reported sales approaching or eclipsing their previous summertime highs. Some with more limited outdoor space turned to food carts to survive.

But this date marked another major hurdle, the start of more than a week of wildfire smoke that blanketed the entire West Coast with poisonous air, making outdoor dining not just difficult, but downright dangerous. And even as that smoke began to recede, local restaurants began to fear the coming winter.

Containers stacked at a Southeast Stark Street restaurant on Sunday, Nov. 22, 2020.

NOV. 18, 2020

Eight months after the first shutdown, and five months after Portland restaurants were slowly allowed to reopen, Brown placed a new freeze on dining, effective this date, in efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19, which was suddenly surging in Oregon. Though the initial order banning outdoor as well as indoor dining was short-lived, this second dining room closure would eventually stretch for months, and came just as some downtown restaurants were preparing for what would normally have been their busiest day of the year.

Not every Portland restaurant was impacted by the closure order. Some, including Pok Pok, Holdfast Dining and Beast, had recently announced permanent closures. Others, including Ox, Jacqueline, Magna, Ataula and Reel M Inn, had gone into hibernation, hoping to reopen in 2021 when better weather, a diminished virus, a widely distributed vaccine or some combination of the three would make dining out safe again.

DEC. 21, 2020

The holidays brought a rare piece of good news: After months of delays, Oregon passed a bill allowing restaurants and bars to sell cocktails to-go, sending a lifeline to small businesses during what proved to be a long winter. Local bars were ready for the opportunity, rolling out takeout margaritas and other mixed drinks just in time for New Years Eve.

At the same time, some restaurants were using the winter downtime to open ghost kitchens or even virtual food halls, restaurants only available through third-party delivery apps. That led to the revival of Ping, a once-beloved Chinatown restaurant that joined a growing list of gone-but-not-forgotten restaurants to reappear during the pandemic. But local businesses also cried foul after national chains such as Red Robin flooded the market by offering their same menu under several different brands online.

FEB. 12, 2021

After weeks of falling COVID-19 cases throughout Oregon, Multnomah County finally passed the threshold to reopen indoor dining at 25% capacity on this date. One month later, Brown allowed Portland-area restaurants and bars to expand to 50% capacity, where they will likely remain for the foreseeable future.

But even as local restaurants were ramping up to reopen last month, nature had other plans. That night, snow started falling throughout the metro area, followed by a severe ice storm that collapsed outdoor canopies and and other outdoor setups, some beyond repair. It was another blow for restaurants and bars buffeted by nearly a years worth of cascading disasters, and it came just before another typically busy time for sales: Valentines Day.

MARCH 11, 2021

After a year and more than 500,000 dead Americans, President Joe Biden signed a new coronavirus relief bill into law on this date, pumping $1.9 trillion into the economy just as the nation prepared to administer its 100 millionth dose of vaccine. In addition to personal stimulus checks and an expanded $300 unemployment supplement, the bill included $28.6 billion in grants reserved for independent restaurants, a scaled-back version of the original Restaurants Act that Oregon congressman Earl Blumenauer introduced last May.

MAY 1, 2021

Even as some Portland restaurants and bars have already reopened their dining rooms, others are committed to outdoor service on their patios -- or private greenhouses, bubbles, or yurts -- until restaurant workers have access to the vaccine, currently scheduled for this date, though that could be in flux. After a year of waiting, whats another few weeks?

-- Michael Russell, mrussell@oregonian.com, @tdmrussell
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URen was also helpful with mixing individual recordings to create virtual choral performances. Amendola added that URen is self-motivated, which translates into superior performances in whatever she undertakes.

Choir: Jerome Hernandez, American Canyon High senior

Choir Director Jamie Butler said, Jerome is the type of student you wish you could teach forever. He is talented, humble, kind, a real leader that is beloved by his peers.

Butler added that despite this very disappointing senior year when Hernandez would have been section leader, Jerome has continued to be a leader with his positivity and top-notch work. He even routinely gets the boys together online to play video games and keep his peers connected.

Now that restrictions are lifting, Hernandez (and Butler) look forward to meeting on the field to raise their voices in song.

Middle and Elementary Level Winners

Instrumental: Jennifer Pan, American Canyon Middle School, 8th grade (tie)

Director Deborah Walden recognized Jennifer Pan for her talent, but more importantly, for her dedication to practice. She plays piano and cello.
A short time ago, comedian John Oliver, host of HBO's "Last Week Tonight with John Oliver," kicked off one of the most memorable feuds in Connecticut history  John Oliver versus the city of Danbury.

After a series of tongue-in-cheek jabs between former mayor Mark Boughton and Oliver, it was settled that the city of Danbury would rename its sewage plant after the comedian.

Sure enough, Oliver came to the ribbon-cutting ceremony and as they say, the rest is history.

On March 15, Oliver went on "The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon" and as fate would have it, the sewage plant found its way into their conversation.

In an interview that spans almost eight minutes, the comedians talk about the Oprah interview with Meghan Markle and Prince Harry as well as Grumpy Cat.

However, the interview got more personal when Fallon brought up Oliver's recent charitable donations to food banks.

"I think what we were really doing was money laundering HBO's production budget to food banks over the past year," said Oliver. "Each week, we were trying to come up with different ways to force a donation to a food bank."

"Sell us this painting. Name your own sewage plant after me," added Oliver.

"The sewage plant was the best," Fallon interjected.

In October, Oliver's team donated $25,000 to the Connecticut Food Bank while also issuing a $5,000 donation to ALS Connecticut.

Johns gift represents help and hope to the hundreds of individuals living with ALS and their families, who turn to us when ALS becomes a reality, Sandy Tripodi, executive director of The ALS Association CT Chapter, said in an email to Hearst Connecticut. We are truly grateful for his generosity.
The massive storm near the gas giant's equator has been shrinking, but collisions with a series of anticyclones are likely only surface deep

WASHINGTON-- The stormy, centuries-old maelstrom of Jupiter's Great Red Spot was shaken but not destroyed by a series of anticyclones that crashed into it over the past few years.

The smaller storms cause chunks of red clouds to flake off, shrinking the larger storm in the process. But the new study found that these disruptions are "superficial." They are visible to us, but they are only skin deep on the Red Spot, not affecting its full depth.

The new study was published in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets, AGU's journal for research on the formation and evolution of the planets, moons and objects of our solar system and beyond.

"The intense vorticity of the [Great Red Spot], together with its larger size and depth compared to the interacting vortices, guarantees its long lifetime," said Agustin Sanchez-Lavega, a professor of applied physics at the Basque Country University in Bilbao, Spain, and lead author of the new paper. As the larger storm absorbs these smaller storms, it "gains energy at the expense of their rotation energy."

The Red Spot has been shrinking for at least the past 150 years, dropping from a length of about 40,000 kilometers (24,850 miles) in 1879 to about 15,000 kilometers (9,320 miles) today, and researchers still aren't sure about the causes of the decrease, or indeed how the spot was formed in the first place. The new findings show the small anticyclones may be helping to maintain the Great Red Spot.

Timothy Dowling, a professor of physics and astronomy at the University of Louisville who is a planetary atmospheric dynamics expert not involved in the new study, said that "it's an exciting time for the Red Spot."

Stormy collisions

Before 2019, the larger storm was only hit by a couple of anticyclones a year while more recently it was hit by as many as two dozen a year. "It's really getting buffeted. It was causing a lot of alarm," Dowling said.

Sanchez-Lavega and his colleagues were curious to see whether these relatively smaller storms had disturbed their big brother's spin.

The iconic feature of the gas giant sits near its equator, dwarfing earthly concepts of a big bad storm for at least 150 years since its first confirmed observation, though observations in 1665 may have been from the same storm. The Great Red Spot is about twice the diameter of Earth and blows at speeds of up to 540 kilometers (335 miles) per hour along its periphery.

"The [Great Red Spot] is the archetype among the vortices in planetary atmospheres," said Sanchez-Lavega, adding that the storm is one of his "favorite features in planetary atmospheres."

Cyclones like hurricanes or typhoons usually spin around a center with low atmospheric pressure, rotating counter-clockwise in the northern hemisphere and clockwise in the southern, whether on Jupiter or Earth. Anticyclones spin the opposite way as cyclones, around a center with high atmospheric pressure. The Great Red Spot is itself an anticyclone, though it is six to seven times as big as the smaller anticyclones that have been colliding with it. But even these smaller storms on Jupiter are about half the size of the Earth, and about 10 times the size of the largest terrestrial hurricanes.

Sanchez-Lavega and his colleagues looked at satellite images of the Great Red Spot for the past three years taken from the Hubble Space Telescope, the Juno spacecraft in orbit around Jupiter and other photos taken by a network of amateur astronomers with telescopes.

Devourer of storms

The team found the smaller anticyclones pass through the high-speed peripheral ring of the Great Red Spot before circling around the red oval. The smaller storms create some chaos in an already dynamic situation, temporarily changing the Red Spot's 90-day oscillation in longitude, and "tearing the red clouds from the main oval and forming streamers," Sanchez-Lavega said.

"This group has done an extremely careful, very thorough job," Dowling said, adding that the flaking of red material we see is akin to a creme brulee effect, with a swirl apparent for a few kilometers on the surface that doesn't have much impact on the 200-kilometer (125-mile) depth of the Great Red Spot.

The researchers still don't know what has caused the Red Spot to shrink over the decades. But these anticyclones may be maintaining the giant storm for now.

"The ingestion of [anticyclones] is not necessarily destructive; it can increase the GRS rotation speed, and perhaps over a longer period, maintain it in a steady state," Sanchez-Lavega said.

###

AGU (http://www. agu. org ) supports 130,000 enthusiasts to experts worldwide in Earth and space sciences. Through broad and inclusive partnerships, we advance discovery and solution science that accelerate knowledge and create solutions that are ethical, unbiased and respectful of communities and their values. Our programs include serving as a scholarly publisher, convening virtual and in-person events and providing career support. We live our values in everything we do, such as our net zero energy renovated building in Washington, D.C. and our Ethics and Equity Center, which fosters a diverse and inclusive geoscience community to ensure responsible conduct.

Notes for Journalists This research study will be free available for 30 days. Download a PDF copy of the paper here. Neither the paper nor this press release is under embargo.

Paper title: "Jupiter's Great Red Spot: strong interactions with incoming anticyclones in 2019"

Authors:
By KATE BRUMBACK, The Associated Press

ATLANTA (AP)  A 21-year-old Georgia man has been arrested in the killings of eight people at three Atlanta-area massage parlors, many of them women of Asian descent, authorities said.

Police said the motive wasnt immediately known, but the ethnicity of many of the victims prompted fears that the killings could be yet another hate crime against Asian Americans.

The attacks began Tuesday evening, when five people were shot at Youngs Asian Massage Parlor in Acworth, about 30 miles north of Atlanta, Cherokee County Sheriffs Office spokesman Capt. Jay Baker said. Two people died at the scene, and three were taken to a hospital where two died, Baker said.

Authorities investigate a fatal shooting at a massage parlor, late Tuesday, March 16, 2021, in Acworth, Ga. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)AP

About an hour later, police responding to a call about a robbery found three women dead from apparent gunshot wounds at Gold Spa in the Buckhead neighborhood of Atlanta. While there, the officers learned of a call reporting shots fired at another spa across the street, Aromatherapy Spa, and found a woman who appeared to have been shot dead.

It appears that they may be Asian, Atlanta Police Chief Rodney Bryant said.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said President Joe Biden has been briefed on the horrific shootings and administration officials have been in contact with the mayors office and the FBI.

Surveillance video recorded a man pulling up to the Acworth business about 10 minutes before the attack there, authorities said. The same car was spotted outside the Atlanta businesses. A manhunt was launched, and Robert Aaron Long, of Woodstock, was taken into custody in Crisp County, about 150 miles south of Atlanta, Baker said.

This undated photo provided by the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office, in Georgia, shows Robert Aaron Long, of Woodstock, Ga. After a manhunt late Tuesday, March 16, 2021, authorities took Long into custody in connection with several fatal shootings at massage parlors in the Atlanta area. (Courtesy of Cherokee County Sheriff's Office via AP)AP

Video evidence suggests it is extremely likely our suspect is the same as Cherokee Countys, who is in custody, Atlanta police said in a statement. Authorities havent specified charges.

South Koreas Foreign Ministry said in statement Wednesday that its diplomats in Atlanta have confirmed with police that four of the victims who died were women of Korean descent. The ministry said its Consulate General in Atlanta is trying to confirm the nationality of the women.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who is in South Korea meeting with Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong, mentioned the killings during an opening statement.

We are horrified by this violence which has no place in America or anywhere, he said, noting that four of the women were believed to be of Korean descent.

The killings came amid a recent wave of attacks against Asian Americans that coincided with the spread of the coronavirus across the United States.

Our entire family is praying for the victims of these horrific acts of violence, Gov. Brian Kemp said Tuesday evening on Twitter.

FBI spokesman Kevin Rowson said the agency was assisting Atlanta and Cherokee County authorities in the investigation.

Crisp County Sheriff Billy Hancock said in a video posted on Facebook that his deputies and state troopers were notified Tuesday night that a murder suspect out of north Georgia was headed toward their county. Deputies and troopers set up along the interstate and made contact with the suspect, he said.

A state trooper performed a PIT, or pursuit intervention technique, maneuver, which caused the vehicle to spin out of control, Hancock said. Long was then taken into custody and was being held in the Crisp County jail for Cherokee County authorities who were expected to arrive soon to continue their investigation.

Due to the shootings, Atlanta police said they dispatched officers to check nearby similar businesses and increased patrols in the area.
Periodontist, Dr. Gregory Toback, Donates to Hearts of Gold in New London, CT The more dental practices spreading the word about this cause, the more convenient it is for patients to donate, and the more real change well cause in our community.

The respected periodontists at Shoreline Periodontics and Dental Implants matched the donations given by their patients to the Hearts of Gold Program this year, accumulating a total donation of $7,830. The practice encourages every patient who receives a gold crown tooth extraction to donate their crown to this compassionate program and sends the donation to support their local United Way of Southeastern Connecticut. These periodontists also provide patients with the most reliable tooth replacement for extracted teeth, dental implants.

Shoreline Periodontics Hearts of Gold Program stemmed from periodontist, Dr. Gregory Toback's desire to provide support to the local community. Whenever a patient receives a gold crown tooth extraction, they are given the opportunity to donate to Hearts of Gold. Additionally, patients have the option to donate gold of any kind. Each February, the practice matches the monetary value of the donation and donates the entire sum to a local charity. This year, the practice collected $3,915 in donations and has matched that, totaling $7,830 to donate to the United Way of Southeastern Connecticut.

Shoreline Periodontics has donated to local charities since 2008, and in 2019, began supporting the United Way of Southeastern Connecticut. This organization fights for a safety net of global health and human services, to end hunger and food insecurity, and to provide employment training and education for those who are homeless in the Southeastern Connecticut area. Their mission is, To inspire and coordinate the generosity and commitment that sustains a united, thriving community.

Dr. Toback, along with esteemed periodontist, Dr. Marianne Urbanski, have compassion that extends past their charitable donations and into the care they provide at their practice. They deliver the highest level of care backed by industry leading technology at both of their practice locations, in New London, CT and Westerly, RI.

One service they provide is the gold standard in tooth replacement, dental implants. Whether a patient extracts a gold crown, receives a natural tooth extraction, or has suffered with missing teeth for any period of time, Drs. Toback and Urbanski can replace the missing teeth with permanent and reliable dental implants. Dental implants can last for decades and require the same level of maintenance as natural teeth. Patients who receive dental implants from these highly skilled periodontists boast of a comfortable fit and renewed biting power.

Dr. Toback, Dr. Urbanski, and the entire team at Shoreline Periodontics encourage everyone to donate their gold crowns when extracted. They also encourage other practices to join this movement and not let any gold crowns go to waste.

We want any dental patient to be able to donate their gold crowns after receiving an extraction which is why we challenge our dental community to join us, says Dr. Toback. The more dental practices spreading the word about this cause, the more convenient it is for patients to donate, and the more real change well cause in our community.

Those interested in donating their gold crowns to the Hearts of Gold Program, or those looking for a reliable tooth replacement solution in New London, CT can connect with the skilled periodontists at Shoreline Periodontics. To schedule an appointment, visit http://www.shorelineperio.com or call 860-443-2428 for the New London, CT location, or 401-596-0000 for the Westerly, RI office.

About the Periodontists

Shoreline Periodontics is a periodontal practice offering personalized dental care for patients since 1998 and is located in New London, CT and Westerly, RI. Leading board-certified periodontist, Dr. Gregory A. Toback, received his B.A. from St. Johns University and his Doctorate of Dental Medicine from the University of Connecticut. He also received advanced training in periodontics and dental implants at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio. Dr. Marianne Urbanski has been voted one of Connecticuts top dentists for more than seven years by Connecticut Magazine. Dr. Urbanski graduated cum laude from the College of Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts where she earned a Bachelors degree in Biology. She also received her Doctor of Dental Medicine degree and her Masters of Dental Science degree from the University of Connecticut Dental School. Dr. Urbanski and Dr. Toback pride themselves on offering caring, professional treatment to each patient. Dr. Toback and Dr. Urbanski focus on minimally invasive surgeries including LANAP laser gum surgery and are certified to offer the Chao Pinhole Surgical Technique for treatment of gum recession. To learn more about Shoreline Periodontics and their dental services visit their website at http://www.shorelineperio.com or call 860-443-2428 for the New London, CT location, or 401-596-0000 for the Westerly, RI office.
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(Alliance News) - Funeral services provider Dignity PLC on Wednesday reported a fall to loss in 2020, despite a 14% increase in deaths in the UK due to Covid-19.

The Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands-based company swung to a GBP19.6 million loss in the financial year that ended December 25 from a GBP44.1 million profit in the financial year that ended December 27, 2019. Dignity said underlying pretax profit declined by 19% to GBP30.7 million in 2020 from GBP37.7 million.

There was a 14% increase in deaths in the UK last year to 663,000 from 584,000 in 2019, according to Dignity, due to the virus pandemic. But revenue rose by just 5% to GBP357.5 million from GBP338.9 million.

The heavier UK death toll was related to Covid-19, but at the same time the restrictions put in place by the government to combat the pandemic held back revenue growth, Dignity said.

"Whilst Covid-19 featured heavily in our day-to-day activities into the first quarter of 2021, we did not lose sight of the numerous project work-streams initiated in the last year, aimed at affording the board the time and collateral necessary to allow the business to self-heal, without recourse to dilutive funding initiatives," said Chair Clive Whiley.

The chair noted that Dignity's "transformation plan" was paused indefinitely last April at the onset of the pandemic in the UK in order to save money. It had been expected to cost GBP50 million over three years to achieve an annual benefit to earnings of GBP10 million. Instead, Dignity now is conducting what it calls a "root and branch review" of the business, expected to be completed in the second quarter of this year.

Dignity is without a permanent chief executive or chief financial officer after the recent departures of Mike McCollum and Steve Whittern. "We are currently engaged in seeking a new chief financial officer," Whiley said on Wednesday, "and we will continue our search for an appropriate candidate for the role of chief executive officer, coterminous with the outcome of the root and branch review."

Whiley himself is under pressure from Dignity's largest shareholder, Phoenix UK Fund, which has a 29.9% stake. Earlier this month, Phoenix requisitioned a general meeting to oust Whiley and replace him with Gary Channon, the founder of Phoenix Asset Management Partners, which manages Phoenix UK Fund.

"Unfortunately, notwithstanding the significant progress the business has made since my appointment, our largest shareholder Phoenix Asset Management Partners, with whom we believed we were having a constructive dialogue in relation to the future strategy of the business, has chosen this moment to seek to assert what would, in effect, be executive control at board level," Whiley said Wednesday.

The company hasn't paid a dividend since June 2019. Whiley said the board doesn't expect to pay dividends "until the business has returned to a sustainable and stable financial footing".

Dignity shares were up 4.6% at 635.00 pence in London early Wednesday.

By Tom Waite; thomaslwaite@alliancenews.com

Copyright 2021 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-17 19:49:26|Editor: huaxia

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SOFIA, March 17 (Xinhua) -- The Bulgarian Health Ministry on Wednesday morning reported record high numbers of COVID-19 hospitalizations and intensive-care patients since the onset of the pandemic.

According to the ministry, 7,600 patients across the country are currently hospitalized, and the number of those treated in intensive care has risen to 612.

Meanwhile, 4,374 new cases were registered in the last 24 hours, bringing the total number to 287,568, the ministry said.

The death toll in Bulgaria has risen to 11,579 after 107 new deaths were reported during the past 24 hours, it added.

Still, the government said the pandemic was "under control" on Monday.

The ministry also said that 4,287 doses of coronavirus vaccines were administered in Bulgaria in the past 24 hours, taking the total number to 345,994.

According to the latest data collated by the University of Oxford-based Our World in Data, cumulative COVID-19 vaccination doses administered per 100 people in Bulgaria are 4.92, ranking last in the European Union. Enditem
The All-USA program is widely recognized as the most prestigious academic honor for students seeking an associate degree or credential. Students were selected for their intellectual rigor, academic achievement, leadership, and civic growth, and for extending their educational experiences to better themselves, their colleges, and their surrounding communities. These students were nominated by their colleges for the scholarship program.

The 2021 All-USA Academic Team is sponsored by Cengage, with additional support from Phi Theta Kappa and the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC). In addition to the scholarship, Team members receive a special medallion, and their college presidents receive a commemorative obelisk in recognition of their leadership. The All-USA Academic Team will be officially introduced and recognized during AACC's annual convention, to be held virtually on May 13.

"More than 80,000 community college students completed an associate degree with grade point averages that were near perfect and could have been considered for this award," said Dr. Lynn Tincher-Ladner, President and CEO of Phi Theta Kappa. "Each scholar was nominated by their college before undergoing a rigorous judging process conducted by a national panel.

"The All-USA Academic team represents the very best students from that process. We are proud of their outstanding work both in the classroom and in their communities, and we thank Cengage for recognizing these student leaders and for investing in their futures."

Bernard Harrigan of Palm Beach State College (PBSC) in Florida was one of the 20 students named to the All-USA Academic Team. The 45-year-old first-generation college student is a disabled veteran of the Army's 82nd Airborne Division and is majoring in psychology. Prior to receiving this award, he never considered himself a scholar.

"Colleges across the nation have been developing future leaders, entrepreneurs, and high-achieving students for decades," said PBSC President Ava Parker, J.D. "Programs such as the Phi Theta Kappa All-USA Academic Team showcase that history and our students prove that with the right environment and supporting structure, anything can be achieved."

Harrigan lost his employment just prior to the coronavirus pandemic and his wife was furloughed in March 2020, leaving them unable to afford childcare for their young son. Now, he feels inspired to model leadership for his sons and for others like him. He plans to transfer to Florida Atlantic University in August.

"To be a black American and living a life less desired or treated as not amounting to much is the usual for me," he said. "So, the feeling of acceptance and recognition is new, exhilarating, and empowering in so many ways. I know I want to make a difference for many and all who need it."

In response to the social justice movement in 2020 and the racial inequities brought to the forefront by the coronavirus pandemic, Harrigan planned, co-hosted, and facilitated a two-day intercampus diversity, equity, and inclusion summit, "A Moment of Truth: A Conversation of Racial Injustice and What We Can Do to Help." The first day gave students an opportunity to share stories of prejudice and racism throughout the collegiate system without fear of repercussions. Day two featured a panel of college and community leaders discussing how they were chipping away at systemic racism. A second summit is being planned for spring of 2021.

"Community colleges play a critical role in educating the majority of underrepresented, low-income and first-generation students, as well as in providing reskilling opportunities that will be critical in our economic recovery," said Fernando Bleichmar, Executive Vice President and General Manager for U.S. Higher Education at Cengage, an education technology company that provides course materials to millions of college students each year. Its industry-leading subscription for textbooks and course materials, Cengage Unlimited, has helped community college students save nearly $90 million on materials since August 2018.

"Yet, unfortunately, community college students have been most-impacted by the pandemic as many had to forgo or delay their education because of financial or other challenges.

"We're honored to help these incredible community college students further their education and their impact by supporting the All-USA scholarship," said Bleichmar.

Another All-USA Academic Team member, Jacquelyn "Jacqui" White, is 24 and pursuing a career as a physician assistant. She attends Johnson County Community College (JCCC) in Kansas and has worked for more than three years as a pharmacy technician to pay off $15,000 in student loan debt she accrued during her freshman year of college at a state university. As a non-traditional college student, White  like Harrigan  isn't eligible for many scholarships typically available.

"Financial challenges can have a profoundly significant impact on community college students and their ability to persist and make meaningful progress toward earning their degree," said Dr. Andrew Bowne, JCCC President. "The All-USA Academic Team recognition and the corresponding scholarship allows students like Jacqui to take that next step of pursuing a bachelor's degree. It removes some of the financial pressures and allows them to continue their education more fully focused on their studies."

As coronavirus cases spread across the country in early 2020, White became curious about how the virus' symptoms presented differently among various age groups. She partnered with the her local health department to research the relationship between age and COVID-19 symptomatic expression and soon learned the most common symptoms in different age groups. For instance, she found the most common COVID-19 symptom among adults 19 and older was a cough, but for children 11 and younger it's fever.

This experience showed her that she can make a difference in her community and beyond while pursuing her associate degree, and this scholarship award affirms that her hard work isn't going unnoticed.

"For me, this award is about more than just the generous scholarship," White said. "This award confirms that my efforts in my school, Phi Theta Kappa, and community as a whole have been meaningful. Anyone can be a catalyst for positive change if they are determined to help others and diligently follow through."

Learn more about the All-USA Academic Team Scholarship Program.

About Cengage

Cengage, an education technology company serving millions of learners in 165 countries, advances the way students learn through quality, digital experiences. We serve the K-12, higher education, professional, library, English language teaching, and workforce training markets worldwide. We believe that through the power and joy of learning, students can enrich their lives and achieve their dreams  no matter their age, experience, abilities, or environment. Our industry-leading products and services make education more accessible and affordable, including Cengage Unlimited, the first-of-its-kind all-access digital subscription service. Visit us at cengage.com or find us on LinkedIn , Facebook or Twitter .

About the American Association of Community Colleges

The American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) is the primary advocacy organization for the nation's community colleges. The association represents more than 1,100 two-year, associate degree-granting institutions and more than 12 million students.

About Phi Theta Kappa

Phi Theta Kappa is the premier honor society recognizing the academic achievement of students at associate degree-granting colleges and helping them to grow as scholars and leaders. The Society is made up of more than 3.5 million members and nearly 1,300 chapters in 10 nations. Learn more at ptk.org.

Contact: Erin Cogswell

[email protected]

601.987.5533

SOURCE Cengage

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British Defense Review Names China Biggest State-Based Threat and Russia as Urgent Threat

March 16 , 2021 (EIRNS)The government of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has released a new integrated defense and foreign policy review in which China is defined as the biggest state-based threat and systemic challenge to Britains economic security, prosperity, and values. Entitled Global Britain in a Competitive Age: the Integrated Review of Security, Defense, Development and Foreign Policy, the 114-page report, under Crown copyright, alleges that China presents an increasing risk to U.K. interests, due to Chinas military modernization and increasing international influence in the Pacific region and elsewhere.

In what commentators say will irk the China hawks in Britains Conservative Party, the document does call for pursuing a positive economic relationship with China to develop deeper trade links and more Chinese investment. It also describes China as an increasingly important partner in tackling global challenges like pandemic preparedness, biodiversity, and climate change.

This was later reiterated in a press conference by Johnson in which he said: There is no question that China will pose great challenges for an open society such as ours. But we will also work with China where that is consistent with our values and interests, including to build a stronger and positive economic relationship and address climate change.

The report labels Russia an acute threat to our security, and that until relations with its government improve, we will actively deter and defend against the full spectrum of threats emanating from Russia. The review calls for increasing the U.K.s stockpile of Trident nuclear warheads from 180 to 260, which was decided in recognition of the evolving security environment, including the developing range of technological and doctrinal threats.

In all of this, the United States will remain the U.K.s most important strategic ally and partner.

The review stresses what is being called the Indo-Pacific tilt, arguing that the region is the worlds growth engine: home to half the worlds people; 40% of global GDP and is the center of intensifying geopolitical competition with multiple potential flashpoints.

It calls for the creation of a national cyber force to combine military and intelligence capabilities in offensive hacking, but does not explicitly link that to China or Russia. The expansion of Britains drone squadrons is part of this mix and other robotic technologies that raise questions about the role of humans in deciding when to shoot.

The review also emphasizes the need to develop science and technology, as they write there is a need to incorporate science and technology as an integral element of our national security and international policy.
State-owned Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) expects the rollout of services to be completed in 18-24 months, was informed on Wednesday.

The government has no plan to privatise BSNL, Minister of State for Communications, Sanjay Dhotre said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.

had invited an Expression of Interest (EoI) on January 1, 2021, for prior registration/Proof of Concept (PoC) from Indian interested in participating in its upcoming tender, he said.

" will follow the applicable Rules/guidelines/Public Procurement orders of the Government, including Rule 144(xi) of the General Financial Rules, 2017 in this regard," he added.

expects the rollout of services to be completed in 18 to 24 months, Dhotre informed.

The government had approved the revival plan for BSNL in 2019, which includes an administrative allotment of spectrum for 4G services through budgetary allocation to the company.

To another question, Dhotre said the telecom department, at present, has no plan to frame legislation to regulate internet shutdown in the country.

However, in order to streamline the process of internet shutdowns in the country, the DoT had notified 'Temporary Suspension of Telecom Services (Public Emergency or Public Safety) Rules, 2017' in August 2017, under a section of the Indian Telegraph Act.

"Temporary Suspension of Telecom Services (Public Emergency and Public Safety) Rules, 2017 has been amended vide Gazette Notification dated 10.11.2020," Dhotre added.

Replying to another question pertaining to a temporary suspension of telecom services, Dhotre said the amendment has been forwarded to all chief secretaries/administrators of states and Union Territories, emphasising that the Supreme Court has mandated the publication of suspension orders, and all orders for suspension of telecom services must adhere to the principle of proportionality and must not extend beyond the necessary duration.

Acknowledging the role of internet in education, financial transactions, business, and overall economic well-being of the society, the minister said, "but the fact cannot be denied that the social media platforms operating on internet are also being used by terrorists/anti-social elements to disseminate hate and violence thus disturbing the social harmony".

On whether the government proposes to do away with the 2G mobile communications system in the country in the wake of technological advancements and the introduction of 5G, Dhotre replied in negative.

"The licensed telecom service providers in the country are using diverse cellular mobile technologies viz., 2G, 3G, 4G and their combinations to provide voice and data services," he said, adding that the choice of technology for provision of telecom services are left to operators.

(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.)
Standing while drinking is now allowed at indoor venues in New South Wales, with restrictions on dancing expected to be eased next.

The NSW government eased coronavirus restrictions on standing at pubs and bars on Wednesday - just in time for St Patrick's Day celebrations.

NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said ending the ban on dancefloors and opening nightclubs was next on the government's Covid-19 agenda.

Sydneysiders no longer need to be seated when enjoying a drink at a pub or bar after Covid-19 restrictions eased on Wednesday

'One of the things we're working on right at the moment with the health team is consistency across the board  it doesn't make much sense that you can dance at a wedding but you can't dance on St Paddy's Day at a pub  so that's next,' Mr Perrottet said.

The current restrictions only permit up to 30 people at one time dancing at weddings, with rotations on and off the dancefloor.

'We want to get to a point where whatever setting you're in, you can have the same activity', he said.

The treasurer did not confirm when restrictions will ease, but said it will be one of the next rules to change for NSW residents.

While NSW residents can drink while standing up, dance floors restrictions are next on the government's agenda to address

Nightclubs are forbidden from opening in Greater Sydney, the Central Coast and Wollongong but can welcome patrons on a strictly limited basis in regional areas.

NSW recorded one new quarantine case on Wednesday - a returned traveller from overseas who was staying at the same quarantine hotel where a security guard worked before testing positive on the weekend.

Health authorities were put on high alert after the 47-year-old guard was on Sunday diagnosed with COVID-19, breaking the state's 55-day virus-free run.
French bulldogs may have come in second on the latest list of the most popular breeds nationwide, but Frenchies are still the favorite in San Francisco.

The American Kennel Club on Tuesday released a list of the top 10 most popular breeds in the city in 2020, and French bulldogs were No. 1 for the sixth year in a row.

The AKC also listed the top dogs in several San Francisco neighborhoods. While the Frenchie is the favorite of SoMa and Potrero, Labrador retrievers are tops in the Castro and golden retrievers rule in Pacific Heights, NoPa and Nob Hill.

The list was created based on the organizations dog registration data. In San Francisco overall, French bulldogs were followed by Labs, goldens, Pembroke Welsh corgis and poodles.

Love for the Frenchie has taken over the country, and San Francisco is right on trend, AKC Executive Secretary Gina DiNardo said in a statement. There was still a lot of movemement in the citys favorites this year, though, with dachshunds and Australian shepherds both breaking into the top 10.

Sean Culligan / The Chronicle

The list comes as French bulldogs have become a growing target for thieves. Lady Gagas dog walker was shot and the artists two French bulldogs were stolen in Hollywood in late February. In San Franciscos Russian Hill neighborhood, a woman was assaulted in January and robbed of her 5-month-old puppy.

Popular because of their looks, size and adaptability, French bulldogs come at a high price  ranging from $1,500 to $6,000.

The Frenchie is a really great breed, AKC spokeswoman Brandi Hunter said. Its highly adaptable, smart (and) good if you live in small spaces.

They also dont require a lot of exercise or grooming, which Hunter said are two major concerns for a lot of dog owners.

Part of the AKCs mission is to advocate and advance the sport of purebred dogs.

And while some people tend to look for a specific breed that is unique or different, San Francisco shelter representative Deb Campbell says its important to remember that there are many dogs in animal shelters across the country looking for homes.

No one has ever gone wrong taking a chance on a shelter dog, said Campbell, of San Francisco Animal Care and Control. The 65,000-square-foot shelter opened in the Mission two weeks ago.

Theyre so grateful and you can really get amazing, creative breeds, she added.

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors banned the sale of non-rescue animals by pet stores in 2017. Breeders were not prevented by the ordinance from conducting business in the city.

One difference between purebred and mixed breed dogs, some veterinarians say, is that mixed breed dogs are generally healthier.

But researchers found in a 2018 DNA study on genetic diseases in both types of dogs that while mixed breed dogs are less likely than purebreds to develop genetic diseases, they can still be carriers.

Campbell also urged people to do their research if they decide to purchase a dog from a breeder because some could be coming from a puppy mill from horrific situations, and people dont want to support that.

Above all, Campbell hopes that people are still encouraged to check out shelters, regardless of which breed theyre specifically looking for.

Thats part of the magic of shelters. You find something you werent expecting and it can be the best thing that ever happened to you.

Here are the top 10 most popular breeds in San Francisco in 2020, per the AKC:

French bulldog

Labrador retriever

Golden retriever

Pembroke Welsh corgi

Poodle

Bulldog

German shepherd

Australian shepherd

Dachshund

Vizsla

Top 10 in the U.S.:

Labrador retriever

French bulldog

German shepherd

Golden retriever

Bulldog

Poodle

Beagle

Rottweiler

German shorthaired pointer

Dachshund

Jessica Flores is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jessica.flores@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @jesssmflores
Married At First Sight groom Chris Jensen won a legion of fans for his meek and mild personality on the Channel Nine series.

But it appears the 32-year-old is far more confident off the show, after a number of very racy photos were uncovered on his Instagram.

The FIFO worker, who is dyslexic, is nothing short of a bombshell when it comes to flaunting his buff body.

Not so meek! Married At First Sight's Fifo worker Chris Jensen, 32, (pictured) has been caught flaunting his shredded physique in his very raunchy Instagram account

The reality star looks every inch the stud as he posed in a shirtless black and white photo after hitting the gym in October last year.

Chris offered the camera a sultry look as he showed off his bulging biceps and muscular, heavily tattooed chest.

Later that month, Chris offered his fans a similar photo of himself shirtless with him pulling his track pants below his hips.

Ripped: The reality star looks every inch the stud as he posed in a shirtless black and white photo after hitting the gym in October last year

Chris wore sunglasses in the photo which he pulled down suggestively as he looked at the camera in the photo.

A number of other photos showed the reality star leaving little to the imagination in snug track pants.

Chris, who stopped mid vows due to his nerves, walked down the aisle with Jaimie Gardner, 35. He is a father-of-two.

Oh my! A number of other photos showed the reality star leaving little to the imagination in snug fitting track pants while shirtless in a mirror selfie

The hunky gym lover was immediately a hit with female fans of the show with him fawning over him on Twitter.

One person tweeted: 'Roses petals, champagne and hot air ballooning is exactly the plot of the Bachelor'.

Another fan watching at home wrote: 'They found the fourth Hemsworth' while another agreed: 'Is this the illegitimate Hemsworth brother?!'

Love him! Viewers watching at home were smitten by the 32-year-old FIFO worker from the Sunshine Coast

Another added: 'My loins were not prepared for sexy but sensitive Chris the Viking. What a hunk'.

Jaimie, his new wife, is a Sydney brand manage for v2food, a plant-based meat company, who is set to give 'bridezilla' Beck Zemek a run for her money.

The Sydney-based beauty is looking for love after a history of troubled romances.
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / March 17, 2021 / Majestic Gold Corp. ("Majestic" or the "Company") (TSXV:MJS)(FSE:A0BK1D) is pleased to report on results from its recently completed drill program at the Fair Adelaide Project, located approximately 60 kilometres northwest of Kalgoorlie in the Ora Banda region of Western Australia. The drill program consisted of a total of 21 holes drilled with 1,144 meters of aircore drilling, testing two gold targets and one nickel-cobalt target identified in previous exploration programs on the property.

At the Fair Adelaide East and Queen Adelaide prospects, eighteen holes were tested for near surface gold mineralization near the western boundary of the property. Greenstone rocks that host gold mineralization at these prospects play host regionally to the Siberia, Mt. Pleasant and Paddington gold deposits.

Five of the holes drilled by the Company at these prospects returned anomalous results, with the best hole returning 0.54 g/t gold over 7.0 meters, from 32.0 to 39.0 meters depth, including 2.52 g/t gold over 1.0 meter from Hole 15.

At the Puzzle Bear prospect, located in the central portion of the property, two sub-parallel nickel bearing gossans adjacent to thrust faults were discovered in 2004. The geology at Puzzle Bear is along strike with rocks that host nickel-cobalt mineralization at the nearby Cawse Laterite deposits that were mined from 1999-2008.

The Company drilled 3 holes at Puzzle Bear, testing mineralization that was drilled by Crusader Resources in 2004. Holes 20 and 21 drilled by the Company returned anomalous nickel and cobalt values starting at surface, as follows:

Hole 20 intersected 0.26% nickel and 0.031% cobalt over 8.0 meters

Hole 21 intersected 0.24% nickel and 0.020% cobalt over 7.0 meters

The Company will review the results from this initial drill program at Fair Adelaide and determine whether or not any follow-up work will be undertaken on the property.

QAQC

All AC samples were collected following industry best practices, and an appropriate number and type of certified reference materials (standards), blanks and duplicates were inserted to ensure an effective QAQC program was carried out. Drilling at Fair Adelaide was conducted by Kennedy Drilling (Kalgoorlie, Western Australia). The 1meter interval samples were prepared and analyzed at Intertek Genalysis (Perth, Western Australia) by fire assay technique FA50/MS. All standard and blank results were reviewed to ensure no failures were detected.

Qualified Person Statement

Stephen Kenwood, P.Geo., a director of Majestic Gold Corp., is a Qualified Person within the context of National Instrument 43-101 (NI 43-101) and has read and approved this news release.

About Majestic Gold

Currently focused in China, Majestic Gold Corp. is a British Columbia based company engaged in commercial gold production at the Songjiagou Gold Mine in eastern Shandong Province, China. Additional information on the Company and its projects is available at www.sedar.com and on the Company's website at www.majesticgold.com.

For further information, please contact:

Stephen Kenwood, P.Geo., President and CEO

Telephone: (604) 560-9060

Email: info@majesticgold.com

Website: www.majesticgold.com

Cautionary Notes

Certain statements contained herein may constitute forward-looking statements and are made pursuant to the "safe harbor" provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking statements are statements which relate to future events. Such statements include estimates, forecasts and statements as to management's expectations with respect to, among other things, business and financial prospects, financial multiples and accretion estimates, future trends, plans, strategies, objectives and expectations, including with respect to production, exploration drilling, reserves and resources, exploitation activities and events or future operations. Information inferred from the interpretation of drilling results and information concerning mineral resource estimates may also be deemed to be forward-looking statements, as it constitutes a prediction of what might be found to be present when, and if, a project is actually developed.

In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as "may", "should", "expects", "plans, "anticipates", believes", "estimates", "predicts", "potential", or "continue" or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. These statements are only predictions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our or our industry's actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements.

While these forward-looking statements, and any assumptions upon which they are based, are made in good faith and reflect our current judgment regarding the direction of our business, actual results will almost always vary, sometimes materially, from any estimates, predictions, projections, assumptions or other future performance suggestions herein. Except as required by applicable law, Majestic Gold does not intend to update any forward-looking statements to conform these statements to actual results.

SOURCE: Majestic Gold Corp.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/636125/Majestic-Provides-Update-on-Drill-Program-at-Fair-Adelaide-Project
Check the latest manifestation of the ongoing homeless crisis as the COVID plague persists . . .



"Firefighters were called to a house fire in the 2900 block of Wabash Avenue around 9 p.m. Tuesday. As they were working to knock down that fire, crews found a body inside the house. Based on a preliminary investigation at the scene, the Kansas City Police Department is investigating this incident as a homicide. Police said the victim is believed to be an adult male. The house may have been vacant at the time of the fire."

Accordingly . . .

If ruled a homicide this is #34 so far in 2021. At this point, the number pushes KCMO ahead of last year's record pace of 33 at this date on the calendar last year.



Check the links . . .

KCTV5: Homicide investigation launched after body found in burning Kansas City house

KMBC: KCPD investigating homicide after finding body in burned home

KSHB: Man found dead inside KCMO home after fire

Developing . . .
New Delhi, March 17 : With the Election Commission announcing elections for three Rajya Sabha seats from Kerala on April 12, it remains to be seen whom the Congress will pick as its candidate for the one seat it can win.

Among the three seats, one seat, held by Congress member Vyalar Ravi, will stay in the party's kitty, while the two other seats, held by Left Democratic Front, will be retained by them due to their strength in the outgoing house.

Speculation is rife in Congress circles that former Leader of Opposition in the upper house and prominent "G23" leader Ghulam Nabi Azad may be sent back to the Rajya Sabha from the state in view of his long experience and as a "truce offer" ahead of the Congress presidential elections in May-June.

But if Azad gets elected, he will not be getting his old post which is now held by party veteran Mallikarjun Kharge. Sources close to Azad are tight-lipped as they watch the developments.

Azad was one of the prominent leaders of the dissenting group who wrote to interim President Sonia Gandhi seeking sweeping reforms in the party. Former party chief Rahul Gandhi has also acknowledged that there are divergent views in the party but hailed it as a strength of the party.

While Congress sources are indicating Azad could be picked, there is the problem that the state unit may oppose his candidature as in the past too, it has refused to accommodate candidates from other state. A leader, however, said that this time, the scenario is different.

The problem started in March last year when K.C. Venugopal was given a Rajya Sabha berth from Rajasthan as many state leaders had raised the issue that Kerala will also have to reciprocate later.

On the other hand, the Congress in Kerala has no senior leaders to be sent to the Rajya Sabha as P.C. Chacko, who could have been a contender, has left the party for the NCP, while other leaders are contesting te Assembly polls. only state President Mullapaly Ramchandran, a former Union Minister, could qualify.

Sources, however, say that ahead of the Presidential election, the party may want to be as united to cull controversy and pave way for Rahul Gandhi's taking over as President again, as any proxy may not be acceptable to the senior leaders who have indicated it many times in the past.

During the Jammu event when G-23 leaders addressed a joint public meeting, senior leader Kapil Sibal had pointed out that Azad's experience is not utilised in the party while recently he said that they are trying to protect the party while Anand Sharma said that the party is all united under Sonia Gandhi's leadership.

But in the recent star campaigners list for the upcoming Assembly elections, the names of senior leaders including Azad and Anand Sharma were missing, leading to raised eyebrows in that quarter, who, however, feel that they might be accommodated in the next lists.

In the Jammu event, Azad, Anand Sharma, Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Sibal, and Manish Tewari were among those present but the Congress has played down the whole episode.

Party leader and spokesman Abhishek Manu Singhvi said: "Each of the persons who are in Jammu are well-regarded in the party. We are proud to have them in our party and I believe they are equally proud to be members of the Congress party, therefore, they are part of this Congress family and therefore, whatever I say is with the greatest respect to the leaders."
A well-loved pastor in Georgia was shot dead inside his car last Friday.

Kevin Nick, founder and senior pastor of Higher Dimensions Fellowship Assemblies, was found dead inside his SUV in a Decatur neighborhood. Police officers went to a house on Sherwood Avenue, responding to the report of the shooting. They found the pastor unconscious inside his black Dodge Durango, which crashed between two trees, and discovered that he was shot four times, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution said.

According to WSB-TV, a local TV station in Atlanta, the pastor's loved ones believe that his killing might have been a case of mistaken identity.

His friend, Marica Chisolm, is clueless as to why anyone would want to hurt him. She said that the pastor was a leader in the community and loved by people. She described him as loving, giving, loyal, helpful, anointed, funny, one who loves to sing and a great friend.

DeKalb County police also revealed that there were two Decatur shootings in Covington Highway and Sherwood Road area on the day of his killing but they have not made a connection between them.

Witnesses said they saw four people in two sedans before the incident. One of them went to the pastor's car and asked if the driver was "Terrance." The cause of the shooting remains unknown and an investigation is ongoing.

A 16-year old suspect was arrested.

Tremaine Dupree, a church official, announced the pastor's passing through a Facebook post the next day.

"It is with great sadness and a heavy heart, the Nick Family, Higher Dimensions Church International, and the Higher Dimension Fellowship Assemblies announce the sudden Episcopal Transition of His Grace, Chief Apostle Kevin D. Nick D.D. Although heavy hearted, we rejoice knowing he is at peace with his God," he said.

"Apostle Nick demonstrated a level of care and concern throughout his ministry. He was certainly a general in the Kingdom and will be greatly missed by all whose life he so fervently touched," Dupree further stated, captured by The Christian Post.

The news of his death saddened many.

Artavia Caldwell, the church's assistant pastor, expressed his grief on Facebook.

"...I can't seem to wrap my head around this one. He was a gentle giant who preach Love and Forgiveness. He used to alway tell us, 'if you going to see Jesus, you gotta get that out your heart' he believed in giving folks a second chance no matter how wrong they were," Caldwell wrote.

"Apostle Kevin D Nick this hurt so bad and I don't understand why you was taken from us..." he added.

Social media personality William McCray III also shared his shock over the pastor's death on Facebook, calling him his "friend and brother."

The pastor just celebrated his 43rd birthday on Feb. 22, thanking God for his life.

"Well today is the day! The big 43!! Thank God I survived what I didn't see coming!! Not long landed in Vegas for a ministry assignment, yep I'm still building and working, I owe him my life!!!" Pastor Nick said.

He continued by saying that he was grateful as well with the messages, phone calls, posts and "cash Apps" from his friends.




Paris, Amsterdam, March 17, 2021

Press release

Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield completes the disposal of the Village 3, 4 and 6 office buildings

Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield (URW) today announces the completion of the disposals of the Village 3, 4 and 6 office buildings, located in La Defense (Paris region) to French institutional investors. Agreements for the disposals were signed in December 2020.

Village 3 was sold to an institutional fund managed by La Francaise Real Estate Managers on March 4, 2021.

Village 4 and 6 were sold to institutional funds managed by Perial AM on March 17, 2021.

The total Net Disposal Price1 of both transactions is 213 Mn. With these transactions, and the completion of the SHiFT disposal earlier this year, 0.8 Bn of the 4 Bn European asset disposal programme has been completed.

URW was advised by Ginisty & Associes and Lacourte Raquin Tatar. La Francaise Real Estate Managers was advised by Allez & Associes and Fairway and Perial AM was advised by Oudot & Associes and Ashurst.

For further information, please contact:

Investor Relations

Samuel Warwood

Maarten Otte

+33 1 76 77 58 02

Maarten.otte@urw.com

Media Relations

Celine van Steenbrugghe

+33 6 71 89 73 08

celine.vansteenbrugghe@urw.com

About Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield

Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield is the premier global developer and operator of Flagship Destinations, with a portfolio valued at 56.3 Bn as at December 31, 2020, of which 85% in retail, 8% in offices, 5% in convention & exhibition venues and 2% in services. Currently, the Group owns and operates 87 shopping centres, including 53 Flagships in the most dynamic cities in Europe and the United States. Present on two continents and in 12 countries, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield provides a unique platform for retailers and brand events and offers an exceptional and constantly renewed experience for customers.

With the support of its 3,100 professionals and an unparalleled track-record and know-how, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield is ideally positioned to generate superior value and develop world-class projects.

Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield distinguishes itself by its Better Places 2030 agenda, that sets its ambition to create better places that respect the highest environmental standards and contribute to better cities.

Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield stapled shares are listed on Euronext Amsterdam and Euronext Paris (Euronext ticker: URW), with a secondary listing in Australia through Chess Depositary Interests. The Group benefits from an BBB+ rating from Standard & Poor's and from a Baa2 rating from Moody's.

For more information, please visit www.urw.com

Visit our Media Library at https://mediacentre.urw.com

Follow the Group updates on Twitter @urw_group , Linkedin @Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield and Instagram @urw_group

1 Net Disposal Price: Total Acquisition Cost incurred by the acquirer minus all transfer taxes and transaction costs









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Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

Spanish health officials said Wednesday they were investigating three cases of people who suffered from thrombosis after receiving the AstraZeneca vaccine, one of whom died.

The announcement by Spain's AEMPS medicines agency came two days after the government suspended use of the vaccine for at least a fortnight as a precautionary measure.

The three cases occurred between late Monday and early Tuesday.

Local press reports said the person who died was a 43-year-old teacher with no pre-existing health conditions who died of a cerebral haemorrhage.

Neither health authorities nor the clinic where she was admitted would confirm details, citing data protection laws.

Monday's decision to suspend all AstraZeneca shots came just hours after Germany, France and Italy announced similar moves linked to fears the vaccine could generate serious side effects such as blood clots which can cause swellings, heart attacks and haemorrhages.

In a statement, the AEMPS said the three cases might be linked to the "formation of blood clots in areas of the body where they are less common" without drawing firm conclusions.

Its investigators were "gathering more information and carrying out an exhaustive investigation to find out whether there was not only a causal link to the administration of the vaccine, but also a possible temporal link".

Until the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine was suspended, 975,661 people in Spain had received a shot, official figures show.

Spain, which is also administering the Pfizer/BioNtech and Moderna vaccines, has so far recorded more than 72,500 coronavirus deaths from more than 3.2 million cases.

For now, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has said it is "firmly convinced" that benefits of AstraZeneca's vaccine outweigh potential risks, insisting there was no evidence linking it to blood clots.

Its experts are nonetheless looking into "adverse events" associated with all vaccines, and the regulator is due to publish its conclusions on Thursday.

Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak

 2021 AFP
Hurricane season 2021 is here: How do storms get their names?
(CNN)  Russia is Britain's top security challenge, the UK will build more nuclear weapons and London will expand its presence in the high-tech realms of space and cyberspace, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced Tuesday in a sweeping review of British military and foreign policy.

To accomplish its goals, the British government wants to increase defense spending by 24 billion ($33.3 billion) over the next four years, a large increase on the 42.2 billion it spent in 2019-2020.

The government also pledged tens of billions of pounds in investment in other areas, including 15 billion for research and development for science and technology, more than 17 billion to fight climate change and promote biodiversity, and 13 billion in the fight against the coronavirus.

The document reaffirms the UK's defense and economic partnerships with the US as its most important in the world, and it makes a strong commitment to the NATO alliance but pledges to expand Britain's role worldwide, recognizing a tilt toward the Indo-Pacifc in the coming decade.

From that region, it calls out challenges posed by China.

"China's increasing power and international assertiveness is likely to be the most significant geopolitical factor of the 2020s," the review says, describing Beijing as "the biggest state-based threat to the UK's economic security."

Speaking in parliament after the release of the report, Johnson criticized China for its mass detention of Uyghur people in Xinjiang province and treatment of democracy advocates in Hong Kong, but said London must work with Beijing to solve global issues.

"There is no question that China will pose a great challenge to an open society such as ours, but we also work with China where that is consistent with our values and interests including building a strong and positive economic relationship and in addressing climate change," Johnson said.

The 116-page report, titled "Global Britain in a Competitive Age," reserves its most significant criticisms for Russia.

"Russia will remain the most acute direct threat to the UK," it says at one point.

"Russia is the most acute threat in the region and we will work with NATO Allies to ensure a united Western response, combining military, intelligence and diplomatic efforts," it says in another, pledging to work within the alliance to "deter nuclear, conventional and hybrid threats to our security, particularly from Russia."

As part of its deterrence strategy, the UK will increase its number of nuclear warheads to 260, a substantial increase from a previously announced goal of 180.

The Royal Navy will keep four nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines from which to launch those warheads, ensuring that at least one submarine is on duty at all times, the report said.

The submarine fleet will get new vessels beginning in the early 2030s, when the first of the Dreadnaught class is delivered, replacing Vanguard-class subs which have been in service since the early 1990s, the report says.

The document also reaffirms Britain's nuclear commitment to NATO, saying the force could be committed to defending its European allies as well as the UK itself.

"Global Britain is not a reflection of old obligations, much less of as a glorious gesture, but a necessity for the safety and prosperity of the British people in the decades ahead. And I am determined that the UK will join our friends in ensuring that free societies flourish after the pandemic, sharing the risks and burdens of addressing the world's toughest problems," Johnson said.

"Britain will remain unswervingly committed to NATO and preserving peace and security in Europe, and from this secure basis we will seek out friends and partners wherever they are found, building a coalition of openness and innovation and engaging more deeply in the Indo-Pacific.

In going along with the "Global Britain" theme, more UK troops will be deployed overseas more often, the report says, highlighting the deployment later this year of the aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth strike group to the Mediterranean, Indian Ocean and the waters of the Asia-Pacific.

The carrier strike group's deployment on a 20,000-mile voyage, and the exercises it wiil hold with allies and partners along the way, shows the UK's commitment to freedom of the seas, Johnson said.

Britain will also revamp its overseas military installations in places like Singapore, Oman, Kenya and Gibraltar.

The report also promises an expanded commitment to UK operations in outer space. The British military will form a Space Command, "ensuring that the armed forces have cutting-edge capabilities to advance UK interests on Earth and in space" by this summer.

By next year, Britain plans to have the ability to launch commercial satellites into space from Scotland.

In the cyber realm, the report says the UK is the world's third strongest cyber power. It will try to harness that power in a new National Cyber Force which will be integrated with counterterrorism and military forces.

"By strengthening our armed forces we will extend British influence while simultaneously creating jobs around the United Kingdom, reinforcing the union and maximizing our advantage in science and technology," Johnson said.

"With the extra investment and new capabilities of the integrated review I believe the UK can thrive in an ever more competitive world and fulfill our historic mission as a force for the good," the Prime Minister concluded.

The opposition pounced on what it said were holes in the document, including no mention of possible cuts to British armed forces that have appeared in media reports in recent days.

"This review has been built on foundations that have been weakened over the last decade," said Labour leader Kier Starmer. "Our armed forces, our numbers have been cut by 45,000 and there is still a black hole of 17 million in the defense equipment plan."

"The Prime Minister can't avoid the question that everyone in our armed forces and their families will be asking today: will their be further cuts to the strength of our army and our armed forces?"

The document's tough lines on Russia and China belie recent government actions concerning those countries, he said.

"Eighteen months ago the Russia review concluded that the threat was urgent and immediate. So why have none of its recommendations been implemented?" Starmer said.

And concerning China, he said the new toughness was a decade too late.

"Conservative governments have spent 10 years turning a blind eye to human rights abuses whilst inviting China to help build our infrastructure. Now that basic inconsistency is catching up with them," Starmer said.

CNN's Christopher Johnson contributed to this report.

This story was first published on CNN.com "UK labels Russia top security threat, issues warning on China, and promises to build more nuclear warheads"
The US Senate on Wednesday confirmed Katherine Tai as President Joe Biden's top trade enforcer and negotiator.

The vote was unanimous: 98-0. A rare moment of unity in polarized Washington politics.

Tai, a trade lawyer who served as an advisor to lawmakers for years, will take over as US Trade Representative where she pledged to work to repair trade relations with American allies which frayed under the "America First" hardline policies of former president Donald Trump.

But in her confirmation hearings she also defended the use of tariffs as a valid negotiating tool and vowed to strictly enforce existing trade agreements, including with China.

That was seen as a signal the new US team had no plans for an immediate about-face from the Trump administration's aggressive actions.

Scott Paul, president of the Alliance for American Manufacturing, said the group "strongly supported" the appointment, calling her "uniquely qualified to represent US trade interests."

"Many challenges await Ambassador Tai, including the fraught U.S.-China trade relationship, reforming the World Trade Organization, pushing back on unfair trade practices, shaping a worker-centered trade policy, and implementing the USMCA," he said in a statement.

Tai said one of her goals was to end the long-standing trans-Atlantic dispute over government subsidies for aircraft manufacturers Boeing and Airbus.

Early this month Washington and Brussels declared a four-month truce in the 16-year-old spat, suspending of billions of dollars in punitive import tariffs, in what the White House said was an opportunity "to repair and revitalize the US-EU partnership."

EU Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis welcomed Tai's confirmation, saying he looked forward to "building on the positive momentum generated by the recent breakthrough in the Airbus-Boeing dispute."

"The EU is committed to a meaningful reboot of EU-US trade relations, reinforcing our bilateral trade relationship," he added.

Story continues

Tai, whose parents were born in China, said she would work to ensure that Beijing meets its commitments under a January 2020 trade accord.

Trump signed the deal with China after a bruising trade battle that saw tariffs imposed by both sides.

While Tai stressed that Beijing must keep its promises, she said she supports a "holistic review on China" and US-China strategy.

The official also agreed on the need for reform of the WTO, a view shared by her predecessor Robert Lighthizer, who effectively paralyzed the trade body's dispute settlement system.

Tai helped negotiate the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement in 2019 as trade advisor to the House Ways and Means Committee, to include more stringent labor and environmental standards.

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Who is Q? The leader of the right-wing conspiracy theory group known as QAnon has remained a mystery for several years, but a new HBO documentary says its identified Q.

Q: Into the Storm, a new six-part HBO docuseries by filmmaker Cullen Hoback, explores the bizarre, widely discredited internet cult who believes Q is an anonymous government insider posting cryptic clues about a sex-trafficking ring made up of pedophiles and cannibals that plotted against President Trump. QAnon supporters were among those who stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 and spread baseless claims Trump would remain a shadow president after President Joe Biden won the election and that Trump would return to the White House on March 4.

But Into the Storm names Q as Ron Watkins, the son of 8chan founder Jim Watkins.

8chan is an online message board where Q was believed to post QDrops with coded warnings and premonitions about the coming storm that would unmask the deep state, and lead to the arrest, trial, and execution of alleged liberal criminals. Ron Watkins was an administrator for 8chan, now known as 8kun.

Youre going through a possible list of who Q might be? Watkins asks in the trailer.

Thats right. Youre on the list, Hoback responds.

Well, lets continue then, Watkins says with a smile.

Ron Watkins, who said he stepped down from 8kun on Election Day, and his father were both interviewed for the series. He told Vice News in December that he was living in Japan and wanted to focus on woodworking and a book hes writing about constitutional law, but he continued to spread conspiracy theories online, including accusing Dominion Voting Systems of manipulating election results.

Twitter and other social media platforms have cracked down on QAnon accounts that may lead to offline harm, but pro-Trump and Q-centric online forums remain on other sites, including the recently relaunched Parler. But several members of Congress, including Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Georgia, and Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colorado, have raised concerns for sharing QAnon content in the past.

ABC News reports Jim and Ron Watkins have both been suspected of being Q, posting Q drops since October 2017.

If hes not Q himself, he can find out who Q is at any time, Fredrick Brennan, the creator of 8chan and Jim Watkins former business partner, told ABC in September. And hes pretty much the only person in the world that can have private contact with Q. Hes the only person that -- through the board that Q started on 8chan  can send Q a direct message and get into private contact with basically the leader of this political cult that everybody wants to hear from right now.

According to Yahoo! News, much of the documentary focuses on the conflict between Brennan and Watkins. Brennan quit 8chan after growing concerns over posts, including the manifestos of the 2019 Christchurch shooter, that led to threats and violence, like the Pizzagate shooting.

Q: Into the Storm premieres Sunday, March 21, at 9 p.m. on HBO.
668 people vaccinated against COVID-19 in Georgia today

By Veronika Malinboym

The National Center for Disease Control has announced that 668 people in Georgia have already received the newly delivered AstraZeneca vaccine in Georgia, and 4, 202 medical workers have already registered to receive a vaccine. On March 15, when the nationwide vaccination programme was launched in the country, several health officials and doctors were jabbed during the livestream aired on TV.The first one to register to receive the dose of anti-coronavirus vaccine was 73-year old Tamar Giorgadze, while the first one to receive the shot was the deputy head of the National Center for Disease Control, Paata Imnadze. He later reported that he felt great after receiving the vaccine shot, and called for more people to follow his example. Imnadze added that the receival of the AstraZeneca vaccines in Georgia is the beginning of an end of the pandemic in Georgia, all while reinstating that the end of pandemic will not be possible without the nation-wide vaccination, thus urging everyone, and especially medical workers, to register for a vaccination.On March 13, Georgia received 43,200 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine with the help of UNICEF. Next week, Georgia is expecting to receive 29,250 doses of US-Germany produced Pfizer vaccine. Head of the National Center for Disease Control, Amiran Gamkrelidze stated earlier that if at least 1,6 million people get vaccinated by the end of this year, Georgia will be able to go back to a normal way of living.The Ministry of Health of Georgia announced earlier that it is beginning the new information campaign called Get vaccinated, vaccine saves lives!, which is aimed at urging more people to get a vaccine shot in Georgia. Ministrys statement on its official Facebook page explains that vaccine reduces the risk of infection and death by the COVID-19 virus:Vaccine is the end of the pandemic, the statement reads.The Ministry does, however, note that even if the person receives the two shots of the vaccine, they will still be obliged to wear a mask, as well as obey the social distancing regulations.Getting vaccinated is ones right and everyones responsibility. Get vaccinated and protect your life and health. The vaccine protects us. Together we can stop the COVID-`19 pandemic, the Ministry states.As of the last 24 hours, 537 new cases of COVID-19 virus were identified in Georgia, as well as 128 recoveries and 8 deaths. A total of 29,652 tests have been conducted across the country, 7,449 of which were PCR tests and 22,203 were rapid tests. Since February 26, 2020, the country has confirmed 275,685 coronavirus.
This 3-year-old baby girl walks onto China's terrifying glass bridge 870ft above the ground

Baby girl born on Indigo's Bengaluru-Jaipur flight

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

New Delhi, Mar 17: A baby girl was born on board IndiGo''s Bengaluru-Jaipur flight mid-air on Wednesday morning with the help of cabin crew and a doctor, according to an airline statement.

"A baby girl was born mid-air on board flight 6E 469 from Bangalore to Jaipur. The baby was delivered with the help of the IndiGo crew, effectively assisted by Dr. Subahana Nazir, travelling with us on the same flight," the airline''s statement noted.

IndiGo passenger says he is COVID-19 positive; airline offloads him at Delhi airport

Jaipur airport was immediately informed to arrange for a doctor and an ambulance on arrival, it said.

"Both the baby and mother are stable," it mentioned. The flight departed from Bengaluru around 5.45 AM and landed in Jaipur around 8 AM on Wednesday.

Karnataka CD Scandal: Family claims woman kidnapped, files complaint| Oneindia News
Armenia acting health minister on citizens' demand for her resignation

Karabakh's new State Minister Artak Beglaryan on his appointment and future activities

Armenian, Russian and Azerbaijani representatives hold consultations in Moscow

2 Armenian soldiers receive slight injuries after incident with Azerbaijani servicemen in Armenia's Gegharkunik

Armenian boy weighing 5 kg born at Goris Medical Center

"Armenia" bloc representative presents purpose of participation in elections and plans

Isaac Herzog elected President of Israel

Rouhani: Main issues between Tehran, Washington resolved in Vienna

Charles Michel calls on Armenia and Azerbaijan to resume constructive negotiations

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Head of Armenia 2nd President's Office: Robert Kocharyan's public meetings are held in warm atmosphere

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Opposition "Armenia" bloc's representatives to hold briefings three times a week

Opposition "Armenia" bloc member: Blood-freezing photos and videos from morgue in Abovyan are authorities' reflection

Yerevan mayor receives Netherlands Ambassador

Armenia Health Ministry, Investigative Committee keep info about sending remains of dead soldiers abroad confidential

Armenia Prosecutor General's Office launches case regarding leaving sacs of servicemen's bodies/remains in basement

Peskov: Putin and Biden to discuss cybersecurity issues

Armenia's Pashinyan meets with Belgian PM Alexander De Croo

Armenia acting MOD receives Netherlands Ambassador

Armenia Police: 3 citizens apprehended during protest demanding acting health minister's resignation

NATO warns Minsk about further consequences of Ryanair incident

Armenia economic competition protection commission: Experts forecast inflation of butter prices

Armenia citizens' protest against acting health minister is over

Pashinyan visits France, judicial farce against Armenian POWs kicks off in Baku, Jun. 2 digest

Armenian Ambassador, FMO representatives consider opportunities for expansion of cooperation in Armenia

Armenia Prosecutor General is on working visit to Russia

Armenia acting PM meets with European Council President in Brussels

Armenia citizens throw polyethylene bags at Health Ministry building, police apprehend protesters

Acting deputy minister: Armenia authorities plan to build 46km section of North-South highway in 2021

Dollar is stable in Armenia

Armenia official: Large number of projects being prepared in construction sector

Identity of man killed Wednesday morning in downtown Yerevan is found out

Armenian lawyer: Azerbaijan poses a threat to security in Europe

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

Missing Armenian soldiers' relatives hand letter to Russia Embassy with request to solve captives' issue

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
As of yesterday, more than a dozen European countries, including Germany and France on Monday and Sweden and Latvia on Tuesday, have suspended their vaccination programs using the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine over recent reports of people developing blood clots soon after being inoculated. Some have died.

Thromboembolic events are not uncommon, especially among older adults with health conditions such as obesity, heart disease or cancer. Blood clots can form in the legs or even arms, and some can travel to the lung, causing a pulmonary embolism which can have dire consequences or be fatal.

In general, the annual incidence of thromboembolic events is approximately 1 in 1,000. The risk begins to rise after 45, reaching five- to six-fold higher in people approaching 80 years of age. However, the recent reports of a small number of brain clots from Germany have further raised concerns among health officials about the products safety.

A person gets a dose of the AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccine at the Edouard Herriot hospital, Saturday, Feb. 6, 2021 in Lyon, central France. (Olivier Chassignole, Pool via AP)

According to the vaccine maker, 37 such events have been reported among 17 million people who have received the vaccine. According to Reuters, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) is investigating reports into 30 cases among 5 million people who have received the AstraZeneca vaccine. The EU regulators are expected to release the results of their investigation on Thursday. For certain, they will be examining the rates of blood clots in the general population compared to those vaccinated. Additionally, investigations are taking place into possible manufacturing defects.

Dr. Penelope Ward, professor of pharmaceutical medicine at Kings College London, placed this in context in speaking with the Financial Times: In the UK, about 165 people a day might suffer a thrombotic episode, some of which will be fatal. In contrast, the number of reports from the ongoing vaccine program in the UK and EU, which includes 20 million individuals vaccinated to date, is just 37. By chance alone, at least 15,000 such events might have been expected from a population this size.

Meanwhile, 2.68 million deaths from COVID-19 have occurred globally, with over 850,000 of these just in Europe. The weekly number of deaths attributed to infections remains high, at more than 20,000.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has continued to stand by its position that there have been no deaths causally linked to COVID-19 vaccines and has raised concerns that the suspension of these vaccination programs will lead to additional unnecessary deaths, considering the spread of more virulent variants of the coronavirus. It said yesterday, As of today, there is no evidence that the vaccine causes the incidents, and vaccination campaigns must continue so that we can save lives and stem severe disease from the virus.

On the news that France, Germany, Italy and Spain had coordinated their decisions to halt their vaccination programs with the vaccine from AstraZeneca, EMA Executive Director Emer Cooke, speaking at a conference yesterday, said, It is inevitable that you have rare or serious incidences of illnesses that occur after vaccinations. Our role at EMA is to evaluate these to make sure that any suspected adverse reactions are rapidly investigated so we can figure out is this a real side effect to the vaccine or is it a coincidence? The number of thromboembolic events overall in the vaccinated people seems not to be higher than that seen in the general population. Trust in the safety and the efficacy of the vaccine that we have authorized is paramount for us. And our job is to make sure that we can maintain trust in these vaccines based on a proper scientific evaluation.

She then added, Currently, we are still firmly convinced that the benefits of the AstraZeneca vaccine in preventing COVID-19 with its associated risks of hospitalizations and death outweigh the risk of these side effects. It should be noted that during the efficacy vaccine trials, Oxford/AstraZeneca had reported there had been five serious adverse events in those who were vaccinated. Still, none were found to have been caused by the vaccines.

Italys prime minister, Mario Draghi, told the Guardian that he and French President Emmanuel Macron had spoken, agreeing to resume their vaccination programs once they received confirmation of the vaccines safety from the EMA. Agnes Pannier-Runacher, a French business executive serving as secretary of state for economy and finance, told the Financial Times that there was nothing dubious in the coordinated effort to suspend their vaccination programs. If you see a decision being made in other countries, the risk is that a mistrust of the vaccine could develop. Our intention is to be perfectly transparent and [show] that every time that there is an alert, we treat it as professionally as possible.

As these events were unfolding, the European Commission announced yesterday that it agreed with Pfizer-BioNTech on an accelerated delivery of 10 million doses in the second quarter. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said, I know how critical quarter two is for the rollout of our vaccination strategies in the member states. These accelerated 10 million doses will bring the total doses of BioNTech-Pfizer in quarter two up to over 200 million. This is very good news. It gives member states room to maneuver and possibly fill gaps in deliveries.

The suspension of vaccination with AstraZenecas COVID-19 vaccine takes place against countries backdrop of using vaccines as a cudgel for geopolitical interests. While the US has distributed 143 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines and 45 million have been distributed in Europe, low- and middle-income countries continue to wait for vaccines through the WHO COVAX facility.

Dr. Michael Osterholm, in an article published in Foreign Affairs last week, wrote, In February, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres announced that 10 countries had administered 75 percent of the worlds available COVID-19 vaccine supply. At the time, more than 130 countries, home to 2.5 billion people, had yet to receive a single dose of any vaccine, rendering them vulnerable to new variants.

A study commissioned by the International Chamber of Commerce Research Foundation found that the global economy could lose as much as $9.2 trillion if governments fail to ensure developing economy access to COVID-19 vaccines, as much as half of which would fall on advanced economies. The dangers of vaccine nationalism will have serious geopolitical consequences soon for vast numbers of working people. It only underscores the inability of capitalism to address the most basic needs of humanity.
The cells in our body are constantly fighting off the threat of cancer by repairing damaged DNA. In a new study, scientists from Tokyo University of Science investigate the structure of an elusive protein complex that plays a key role in the activation of the "Fanconi anemia pathway" involved in DNA repair, and report on the factors governing its stability. Their insights can potentially help find novel treatments for disorders involving chromosomal instability, including cancer.

One of the most vital functions performed by the cells in our body is DNA repair, a task so crucial to our well-being that failing to execute it can lead to consequences as dreadful as cancer. The process of DNA repair involves a complex interplay between several gene pathways and proteins.

One such pathway is the "Fanconi anemia (FA) pathway," whose genes participate in DNA repair. FANCM, a component of this pathway, is tasked with the elimination of harmful DNA "inter-strand cross-links," and interacts with another component called MHF in order to function. The importance of the FANCM-MHF complex is well-documented: its loss can result in chromosomal instabilities that can lead to diseases such as FA itself and cancer. However, little is known about its structure and the basis of its stability.

Against this backdrop, Associate Professor Tatsuya Nishino and his colleague Dr. Sho Ito from Tokyo University of Science decided to explore the crystalline structure of this intriguing complex using X-ray diffraction techniques.

DNA damage and chromosome segregation are mechanisms necessary for the maintenance and inheritance of genes possessed by all organisms. MHF (also known as CENP-SX) is an enigmatic complex that plays a role in DNA repair and chromosome segregation. We wanted to find out how it performs these two different functions in the hope that it might give us insights into novel phenomena." Tatsuya Nishino, Associate Professor, Tokyo University of Science

Their findings are published in Acta Crystallographica Section F: Structural Biology Communications.

The scientists prepared a recombinant version of the FANCM-MHF complex, consisting of FANCM from chickens and MHF1 and MHF2. They were able to purify three different types of protein crystals--tetrahedral, needle-shaped, and rod-shaped--from similar crystallization conditions. Surprisingly, upon determining the structure with X-ray crystallography, they found that two of the crystal forms (tetrahedral and needle-shaped) contained only the MHF complex without FANCM.

Intrigued by this discovery, the scientists used biochemical techniques to examine what caused the FANCM-MHF complex to disassemble. They attributed it to the presence of a compound called 2-methyl-2, 4-pentanediol (MPD), an organic solvent commonly used in crystallography, and exposure to an oxidizing environment.

But, how exactly does the dissociation happen? The scientists believe that this may have been caused partly by certain non-conserved amino acids in the chicken FANCM which causes the complex to aggregate with other FANCM-MHF complexes and disassemble. Additionally, they surmise that the small, flexible structure of MPD may have also allowed it to bind to and facilitate the release of FANCM, dismantling the complex.

The findings are extraordinary and can be used to improve the stability of the FANCM-MHF complex for future studies on its structure and function. Dr. Ito believes we have much to expect in the future from this complex. "A good understanding of this complex can help us treat cancer and genetic diseases, create artificial chromosomes, and even develop new biotechnological tools," he speculates.

Thanks to Prof. Nishino and Dr. Ito's efforts, we are already one step closer to that goal!
Leo Varadkar gave a copy of an agreement between the State and the Irish Medical Organisation to a rival GP group. Photo: Niall Carson/PA

The investigation is being conducted by the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation (NBCI) based in Harcourt Square in Dublin. Comparable to the FBI or National Crime Agency in the UK, the NBCI is the States primary criminal investigation unit made up of highly experienced detectives trained in advanced interview techniques.

Who is investigating Leo Varadkar?

Part of its broad portfolio is responsibility for the investigation of allegations of corruption internally and in Government and semi-State bodies, thus their involvement in this inquiry.





What are they investigating?

A team of detectives has been assigned by the Garda Commissioner to investigate the circumstances surrounding the disclosure two years ago by Mr Varadkar, when he was Taoiseach, of a copy of an agreement between the State and the Irish Medical Organisation to his friend Dr Maitiu O Tuathail, the then president of a rival GP organisation, the National Association of General Practitioners (NAGP). The now Tanaiste had admitted that what he did was inappropriate.





Why is this a criminal investigation and what are the gardai looking for?

It has been revealed that following a preliminary inquiry into the leaking of the document the NBCI decided to launch a criminal investigation.

But the revelation may be just a tad misleading.

Any investigation by the gardai is, by its very nature, a criminal investigation. It wasnt really a surprise when it came out that the inquiry has been upgraded, considering that it involves allegations of wrongdoing at the highest levels of Government.

The first objective of this inquiry  and gardai say that this is no different to any other investigation  will be to establish if there is evidence that Mr Varadkar breeched the Official Secrets Act or any other part of the criminal code.





How will the investigation be conducted?

Former Health Minister Simon Harris and officials at the Department of Health have been interviewed by detectives and have given statements.

Over the coming weeks any other officials with knowledge of the document and how it was leaked will also be interviewed.

The recipient of the leaked document, Dr O Tuathail, will also be interviewed as will all those involved in a NAGP WhatsApp group.

Yesterday the Tanaiste said he had not yet heard from the gardai but that his lawyers had been in contact with them.

This is normal practice as the person at the centre of an investigation is one of the last to be interviewed.

By that time detectives will have collated all the interviews and also analysed phone records and emails and will have formulated a fuller picture of what questions to put to Mr Varadkar.





How long will it take to complete?

The NBCI, like in any criminal investigation, will have to follow the evidence and establish the facts. In the words of one detective: It will take as long as it takes.





What happens then?

Gardai will prepare a detailed file on the case in which the evidence will be laid out in a sequential, factual report based on the interviews with those they have questioned and other information gleaned during the inquiry for the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

If gardai are satisfied they have identified breeches of the criminal law this will be outlined in detail citing the evidence to hand. However, even if gardai recommend any charges against the Tanaiste, the final arbiter will be the DPP whose officials will closely examine the file.

In many cases the prosecutor will send back further queries to the gardai before coming to a determination.

Rarely if ever will the DPP overrule a Garda recommendation that there be no prosecution.

Despite the current political turmoil and demand for immediate action, this process is likely to take several months.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-17 23:16:44|Editor: huaxia

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NAIROBI, March 17 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese-built Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) which runs from Nairobi to the coastal city of Mombasa has boosted local economy, Philip Mainga, managing director of state-owned Kenya Railways Corporation (KRC) said on Wednesday.

Philip Mainga said that the 480-km railway has continued to play a positive role on the delivery of both passengers and cargo.

The passenger train was inaugurated in June 2017 with one train per direction between Nairobi and Mombasa but the service has since improved to three trains in both directions.

According to Mainga, from June 2017 up to the end of February, 4,356 passenger trains have moved both directions delivering some 5.2 million passengers and the service has proved popular with on time schedule train arrivals. SGR output has outstripped projections and the freight service that commenced in January 2018 has seen 7,280 trains moved, delivering 726,485 twenty foot equivalent units (TEUs).

He stated that the SGR operations, flagship project of the Belt and Road Initiative, have continued to offer employment opportunities both directly and indirectly with many qualified locals playing key roles.

He said that given the resilience of and key milestones achieved by the SGR within the last three years, it remains the preferred mode of transport and will continue boosting local economy. Enditem
New Delhi, March 17 : Realty major DLF's Finance Committee on Wednesday approved an issue of redeemable non-convertible debentures (NCD) with principal amount of Rs 500 crore through private placement.

The debenture will be issued in one or more tranches to certain eligible investors permitted to invest in the NCDs as per applicable laws, the company said in a market filing.

The secured, rated listed and redeemable NCDs will carry a coupon rate of 8.25 per cent (ie annualised equivalent of 7.95 per cent per annum payable per month).

The company did not disclose the purpose of the private placement.
One of Queensland's oldest cold cases ended on Wednesday when Troy O'Meara was sentenced at Brisbane's Supreme Court to 20 years for the murder of Linda Reed 37 years ago.

Outside of the court, her husband Robert broke down as he gave an emotional statement thanking Gold Coast police and the media for persisting in the hunt for his wife's killer over the decades.

Mr Reed had previously vowed never to have children in honour of his murdered wife.

An emotional Robert Reed, Linda's new husband at the time of her murder, outside the court

Wedding day photo of Robert and Linda Reed. They were building a home not far from where she was murdered at Gaven

Linda Reed's mother Nancy Fein made many public appeals for information over the decades

Linda's tearful mother Nancy stood at one side. Her father Oskar, who had regularly joined his wife in public appeals for information over the years, did not live long enough to see today's sentencing.

Ms Reed disappeared from Pacific Fair shopping centre in December 1983, where she worked as an assistant in a jewellery store.

Her body was found three days later in a dry creek bed at Gaven on the northern Gold Coast, partly clothed and with her hands bounds behind her back, not far from the home she hoped to make with her new husband, Robert.

The post-mortem examination found dirt and mud from her last breath in her lungs.

Ms Reed was eating lunch in her car when O'Meara forced his way into the vehicle.

He made her drive to isolated bushland where she was raped, dragged from the car and her face forced into the creek where she was drowned or smothered to death.

O'Meara sat expressionless in the dock as the details of his crimes were outlined to the court.

Troy James O'Meara, now 54, was just 17 at the time of the murder in 1983

Linda Reed pictured on her wedding day. Her distraught husband, Robert, vowed never to have children with anyone else after her murder

The Toyota van in which O'Meara hitched a ride. A fingerprint on the window proved crucial

Just 17 at the time of the killing, the now 54-year-old appeared wearing thongs and a striped shirt with his grey hair tied in a ponytail.

O'Meara was prosecuted as an adult in line with legislation at the time of the murder.

Chilling details of O'Meara's criminal history revealed that less than two years after Ms Reed was killed, he brutally murdered a second woman.

In July 1985, Vanessa Joy O'Brien was collecting wedding rings for her upcoming marriage when she was forced at knifepoint into her car and made to drive to bushland, where she was raped and murdered.

During that trial, the court was told Ms O'Brien died because O'Meara felt like 'killing a woman' - the same motive he later claimed for Ms Reed's death.

O'Meara was sentenced to life in prison, and despite the 'striking similarities', continued to deny involvement in Ms Reed's death.

In 2015, cold-case detectives sent DNA material to a New Zealand facility which gave police solid evidence that O'Meara murdered Ms Reed.

The isolated stretch of bushland where O'Meara took Linda after her abduction

In a victim impact statement read to the court during the hearing, Ms Reed's husband Robert addressed his wife's killer directly.

'Troy James O'Meara murdered my wife, my future children and my chances of being a father,' he wrote.

'After Linda's murder. I vowed never to have children with anyone else.'

Ms Reed's mother, Nancy Fein, described her as a 'beautiful and loving daughter'.

'What can I say after 37 years, a thousand tears and many prayers wondering what my daughter went through in the last minutes of her life,' her statement read.

'Linda was a wonderful daughter, sister, and for a short time, also a wonderful wife.

'My only regret is that Linda's father never lived to see this day'.

Although legally a juvenile at the time of Ms Reed's murder, O'Meara was sentenced as an adult.

Fingerprints on the window of the Toyota van which finally helped convict O'Meara

Justice Glenn Martin said O'Meara had consistently denied any involvement in the murder and had a 'deep hatred' for women.

'The manner in which he treated (Ms Reed) her in the short time before her awful death was sufficient to demonstrate the vile intent he held at that time,' Justice Martin said.

'The guilty plea does not indicate remorse.

'He must be punished, but not in a way that constitutes a crushing sentence,' he said.

He sentenced O'Meara to 20 years in prison but ordered he be eligible for parole in July, 2022.

'You will then have been in prison for 37 years. It will before the parole board to determine whether you will be released.'
PHILIPSBURG:--- A large quantity of various types of drugs were burnt Monday evening in the Cape Bay area. While Police have not identified the location where the substances and marijuana trees were destroyed SMN News learned it was done in the Cape Bay area.

Police Spokesman Joe Josepha confirmed that KPSM received authorization from the Prosecutors Office to destroy the illegal substances. Asked what types and the amount of drugs were destroyed Josepha said they had all types of drugs that were confiscated that had to be destroyed. However, he did not say how much of the illegal substances were destroyed.

Confiscated drugs destroyed

On Monday, March 15th, 2021 around 05.00 pm, on instructions from the public prosecutor, a large amount of confiscated narcotics was transported to a location in the Cay Bay area and destroyed under the supervision of personnel from the KPSM and Customs and Fire Department.

The narcotics, which consisted of soft and hard drugs, were burned late last evening. The drugs were confiscated over a period of months by the various law enforcement agencies on Sint Maarten.

The Sint Maarten Police Force KPSM would like to thank all partners who participated in the safe disposal of the confiscated narcotics.

KPSM Press Release.
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Thousands of bank employees have gone on a strike against the proposed privatisation of two state-owned lenders.

In the Union Budget presented last month, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had announced the privatisation of two public sector banks (PSBs) as part of its disinvestment plan.

This is how the merger is going to impact the customers and what they can do to avoid any trouble:

Passbooks to become invalid

Account-holders of eight banks, which were merged with other lenders in the last two years, will face some difficulties as their passbooks and cheque books are set to become invalid from April 1.

Representational Image

IFSC & MICR codes to change

Besides the invalidation of the books and account numbers, the IFSC and MICR codes will also change for people who have their accounts with the banks whose mergers came into effect from April 1, 2019, and April 1, 2020.

What banks are merged

These banks include Dena Bank, Vijaya Bank, Corporation Bank, Andhra Bank, Syndicate Bank, Oriental Bank of Commerce(OBC), United Bank of India (UBI) and Allahabad Bank.

What the account holders should do to avoid trouble

The account holders with these banks need to get their information updated in order to avoid any trouble.

File Photo

They must update their mobile number, address, name of the nominee, etc in order to get a new cheque book and passbook of the banks with which their old banks have been merged.

The government has already privatised IDBI Bank by selling its majority stake in the lender to LIC in 2019 and merged 14 public sector banks in the last four years.

United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU), an umbrella body of nine unions, has given a call for a two-day strike from March 15 to protest this move.

Most of the banks, including the State Bank of India (SBI), have informed their customers about the impact on functioning of branches and offices if the strike materialises.

Banks have also informed that they are taking necessary steps for the smooth functioning of bank branches and offices on the days of the proposed strike.
Beshear Wants First Vaccine For All By End of May

By West Kentucky Star Staff

FRANKFORT - On Tuesday, Governor Andy Beshear updated Kentuckians on the latest COVID-19 information from across the state.Beshear reported 819 new cases and 24 additional deaths in the commonwealth. The positivity rate is currently 3.87%."This week, while we are so hopeful, this virus is still out there and it is still dangerous. Please continue to wear your mask and social distance  even if you've been vaccinated, you have a duty to everybody else who is still waiting for their vaccine," said Beshear.Beshear said he believes that every adult who wants a vaccine will have received their first shot by May 31."We believe that we will beat the president's goal to open appointments up to everybody 16 and up by May 1," Beshear said.Kentucky Department for Public Health Commissioner Dr. Steven Stack said his team is responding to a COVID-19 outbreak in a long-term care facility where 41 people have tested positive for the virus. Of the people infected, 27 are residents and 14 are staff members. Dr. Stack said 85% of the residents and 48% of the staff members at the facility have been vaccinated, and it appears that an unvaccinated person brought the virus into the facility."Notably, of the 41 infected persons, only 30% of the vaccinated individuals have been symptomatic, but a much larger 83% of the unvaccinated people have been symptomatic, so vaccination appears to have markedly reduced symptomatic disease," said Dr. Stack.Secretary of the Executive Cabinet J. Michael Brown also provided an update on vaccines for Kentucky inmates.Brown said the Department of Corrections is expected to begin vaccinating inmates who are 70 years and older on March 18 at Little Sandy Correctional Complex.You can see Beshear's full update below:

New Delhi: Due to a surge in coronavirus cases, Section 144 has been imposed imposed in Ghaziabad till May 10, the district administration issued the order on Wednesday keeping the upcoming festivals in view.

Also, entry to all all theaters, multiplexes, shopping complexes, shopping, hotels, schools and colleges and other crowded places in the district will not be allowed without a mask.

No festival-related activity will be allowed in the containment zone and no employee or visitors will be allowed to participate in any kind of event from the containment zone.

Persons over the 65 years of age and children under 10, sick and pregnant women have been urged to sit at home unless there is a health emergency.

Any type of program or event is not allowed without permission. There will be restrictions on Jayanti Mela statue installation and immersion rally procession etc.

This order will be effective till midnight of May 10.

Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh witnessed a surge in coronavirus cases with the infection increasing to 6,05,655, while 8,750 people have died so far. There are 1912 active cases of coronavirus in the state, while so far 5,94,993 people have been cured.
Ballsbridge and Donnybrook in Dublin are being treated as potential flashpoints for trouble today as anti-vaxxers, anti-lockdown and anti-mask agitators are expected to gather in another rally similar to the one that sparked violence on Grafton Street in the capital last month.

Disinformation analysts looking at social media and messaging platforms have said an event, billed as a gathering for mental health, is to be held at 2pm in Herbert Park.

It has been advertised on social media platforms as Le Cheile Day with families supporting families.

The February event was called Unite The Tribes and was promoted and attended by different groups opposing lockdown, mask wearing and vaccines.

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The Institute for Strategic Dialogue (ISD), a London-based counter-extremism think-tank which monitors social media platforms used by such groups, says the online ecosystem supporting Covid-19 protests in Ireland and abroad are the same spaces replete with deceptive information that is radicalising people.

Ciaran OConnor, a researcher with ISD, has said the Herbert Park event seems to be the main one being discussed among anti-Covid groups online and in chat forums.

It has a similar branding to the Unite The Tribes event, using market-ready sanitised language promoting togetherness, he said.

We have seen posts encouraging people to open their businesses on the day too, he explained.

He added the event seems to be promoted by conspiracy influencers who are anti-vaccine and who have links to right-wing political groups.

At the surface layer, these rallies seem organised to bring people with a genuine frustration together, but when you peel that away they are also attended by extreme anti-democratic political objectors, said Mr OConnor.

Gardai are aware of the Herbert Park event and are expected to have a presence there. They are also expected to act on the assumption incidents similar to that which took place on Grafton Street on February 28 could also take place in a different location.

They might have to deal with St Patricks Day parties and gatherings which are non-political but would still be in breach of the current Covid-19 restrictions.

Mr OConnor said there could be closed-chat sites and apps where more secretive gatherings are being planned, but added this is unlikely.

There is a spider-web of those chat sites, but in the past any trouble has been where a main event was planned, such as at the Custom House last August, an anti-mask rally at the Dail in September, and the Unite The Tribes event last month, he said.

A group called Yellow Vest Ireland, who say they are a grassroots movement against the disproportionate burden of the Governments tax and policies , are also promoting the Le Cheile event, and its Dublin section has said that at the same time a protest will be held outside RTE in nearby Donnybrook.

Gardai said a policing plan is in place to manage multiple protests planned for Dublin city, and advised people to stay home to stay safe this St Patricks Day and to avoid large gatherings and house parties.
In the wake of COVID-19, we have yet another pandemic. Its the pandemic of loneliness. According to a recent study conducted by the University of Miami, there has been an alarming increase in loneliness in the past year. I saw a similar statement on the evening news recently.

While the pandemic of loneliness is disturbing, it is a critical moment in history for the church. Loneliness provides a wonderful opportunity for the body of Christ to rise up and demonstrate love tangibly.

What Does the Bible Say about Love in Action?

Just before the Passover feast, in the upper room, Jesus told His friends, By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another (John 13:35). It was such a profound statement that continues to baffle most Christ-followers. Jesus didnt say, By your correct doctrine everyone will know you are my disciples. He didnt say, By your political views everyone will know you are my disciples. Nor did He say, By your church attendance will everyone know you are my disciples.

When a religious leader questioned Jesus, wondering if He had correct theology, Jesus answered that the greatest commandment was for people to love God with all their heart, and the second was as important as the first, love your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:37-39). Profound! How could it be as important to love your neighbor as it is to love God?

In light of these commandments of Jesus, we as the body of Christ need to consider this: Are we known for how well we love people, or are we known more for what were against? Are we known for being the most loving neighbor on our block or are we known for isolating ourselves and being judgmental? Ultimately, what does love in action look like?

How Do You Show Love in Action to Others?

Knowing Your Neighbors

In one of the churches my husband and I served we handed out cards to people and asked them to write the names of all the neighbors surrounding their house. It was shocking how many did not know their neighbors. Whats more disturbing is that in the years of ministry, Ive been guilty of the same. How can we love our neighbor as ourselves if we have no idea who they are?

Make it your goal to know the names of all your neighbors. Begin praying for them by name. Spend time outside engaging with them. When the restrictions in your area lift, invite them into your home for a meal or party. Get their phone numbers and when there are hurricanes, blizzards, earthquakes, or other natural disasters, text and find out how your neighbors are doing. When someone is sick or has a new baby in your neighborhood, bring a meal. Look around your neighborhood and ask God for ideas on how to best reach out. Start walking through your neighborhood praying for every family in every house. With a few simple steps, you can contribute to changing the culture in your area.

Beyond just your neighbors, get to know those who work at the coffee shop you frequent and the grocery store where you shop. Slow down. Put love in action. Take the time to pause and ask questions. Seek to get to know those who are a part of your community. I have done this with the baristas where I grab my morning coffee and with one of the cashiers where I buy groceries. The cashier is a cancer survivor and often tells me parts of her journey. By taking the time to get to know her, she feels more connected and hopefully, less lonely. Ive had the opportunity to give her a few of the books Ive written and my prayer for her is that shell see the love of Christ in me and ultimately be drawn to Him.

Undistracted Listening

Mental health professionals are concerned about the long-term emotional impact of isolation and social distancing. As human beings, created in the image of a relational God, we need connection. One of the best ways to help someone feel connected and loved is to simply listen to them. People are dying to feel heard. When you offer your full, undistracted presence to another and listen attentively, people experience Christ through you.

I cant tell you how many conversations Ive had with random strangers who have poured out their entire life story to me, simply because Im available to listen.

Sending Handwritten Notes and Cards

Everyone loves surprise notes and cards. Think through the people in your network; the elderly, the single mom, friends who might be discouraged or simply weary. Sending a handwritten note is a great way to lift someones spirits.

Reflecting on the past year and the challenges society faced, it has become a wonderful opportunity to encourage others in more traditional ways. First responders, hospital and medical workers, teachers, and daycare workers have all been placed in extremely stressful situations. What if you decided to encourage them with notes of encouragement and perhaps some gift cards? Teach your kids how to write notes of encouragement as well. One family I know has started having their kids write notes of encouragement every Sunday afternoon. A little encouragement goes a long way to lift someones spirits and help them feel valued.

Engaging with Those Who Are Different than You

Throughout the Scriptures, the trilogy of vulnerability is mentioned: The alien, the widow, and the orphan (Deuteronomy 26:13, Zechariah 7:8-9). Gods purpose is for his people to step up with love in action to administer justice and care for those who are the most vulnerable in society. This could include the homeless, refugees, kids in foster care, the elderly, and those who are incarcerated.

I remember a time when my husband, Steve, and I were working with refugees who had just come from Ethiopia. Just arriving in the United States, they had no concept of grocery shopping, getting a drivers license, or cooking on modern appliances. They needed believers to come alongside them and show them the love of Christ by teaching them very practical skills necessary for living in the United States.

Jesus always had a heart for the messy and marginalized people of society, and He invites us to follow His example and love the least of these as He does.

Establishing Healthy Boundaries

Finally, its important when you love in action to respect your own limits. I had a friend who wisely stated, Boundaries make good neighbors. That is absolutely true. People feel safer in relationship with you when you respect your limits. Boundaries help define whats our responsibility and what is the responsibility of others. They help differentiate us from others.

Jesus set an amazing example of healthy boundary setting in Mark 1:35-38. Jesus had engaged in a busy day of ministry, teaching in the synagogue, casting out a demon, healing Peters mother-in-law, and many who came from all over to be healed. Very early the next morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up and went off to a solitary place to spend time in prayer with the Father. After a while, the disciples came frantically looking for him and exclaimed, Everyone is looking for you! (Mark 1:37b). Its almost as if they said to Jesus, How could you go off for time alone when there are many more people to be healed?! Jesus responded calmly, lets go somewhere else  to nearby villages  so I can preach there also. That is why I have come (Mark 1:38). Jesus didnt heal everyone in Capernaum and He didnt give in to the pressure the disciples tried to put on Him. He didnt get defensive. He simply respected His limits. He lovingly set a boundary.

In our relationships with others, we need to respect our limits. Without firm boundaries, we tend to take on responsibilities that were never ours to carry. As a result, we end up resenting people rather than loving them the way God intended. Love people in both word and action but respect your limits. Understand, you cannot be their savior. Only Jesus can be that. The irony is that as a result of your boundaries, people will feel safer and more loved by you.

Putting Love in Action Today

Love in action has perhaps never been more important. How do others view you? How are you doing with Jesus commandment to love your neighbor as yourself? Take a small step to get started and ask God to love through you. Seek to get to know your neighbors, learn to listen without distraction, send a few handwritten notes or cards, engage with those who are different, and establish some healthy boundaries. In doing so God will flow through you with love in action to a very broken world.

Photo Credit: GettyImages/Daisy-Daisy

Authentic. Passionate. Funny and Biblical all describe Becky Harling. A best-selling author, Becky is a popular speaker at conferences, retreats, and other events. She is the author of 11 books including, How to Listen so Your Kids Will Talk, Psalms for the Anxious Heart, and The Extraordinary Power of Praise, releasing June 2021. Becky is a certified coach with the John Maxwell Team and a seasoned Bible teacher. You can connect with Becky at www.beckyharling.com, www.harlingleadership.com, Facebook https://www.facebook.com/beckyharlingministries, Twitter, @beckyharling, or on Instagram at Becky Harling




"We dont see things as they are, we see them as we are," said Anais Nin once.

Barely had UK's Royal Navy announced the schedule for early 2021 deployment of HMS Queen Elizabeth and its battle group to the Western Pacific, Chinese media began its usual hyperventilation. The UK and in the same breath India were accused of, "infesting China's surroundings with aircraft carriers to target China".

The news could have been amusing if it weren't for a time when the world reminisced how the year gone by was devastated by the Wuhan virus.

Alas, a country big by geography and economy, instead of feeling secure and aiding others remained consistent with its-petty mindset.

In 2013 the Philippines was devastated by Typhoon Haiyan. While countries with much smaller budgets contributed aid in figures upwards of millions of dollars, China offered a paltry $100,000 despite being the second largest economy -- a figure less than what Ikea, the home and furniture firm donated. It was only after a global outcry, that China marginally increased its aid. It even refused to deploy its hospital ship Peace Arkto the aid of the Philippines, which it otherwise previously employed to play the medical diplomacy card.

Essentially, it was proof that Peace Ark was for optics and not for actual aid.

Contrast China's behaviour with that of India which not only believes in the concept of "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam" meaning "the world is one family", but translated it into action on ground through its policy of SAGAR - Security and Growth for All in the Region.

All along in 2020 as the Wuhan virus devastated economies, nations and mankind, the Chinese were busy militarising artificial islands in South China Sea; cracking down on pro-democracy protestors in Hong Kong; enslaving Uyghurs and Tibetans, pillaging natural resources of the ocean upon which smaller countries were dependent and attempting to usurp territories of neighbouring countries. Yet, Indian Navy ships were shuttling astride the Indian Ocean and South China Sea to provide succour to the needy. From African island nations to countries in the South East Asia, the Indian Navy, far from infesting the surroundings of any country - was welcomed and thanked by all.

Wonder what is irking China when other navies announce deployments to the Western Pacific or the South China Sea? Surely, none of these navies have been surreptitiously sneaking into other nation's territories or carrying out unannounced research.The waters after all, are global commons where not only navies, but international shipping transit. Rewind to 2013, when China accelerated the construction of more than 3,000 dredged-up acres across seven reefs in the South China Sea and turned them into artificial islands. In 2015, the then Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Sun Jianguo publicly asserted that the "Islands are built with the purpose that international community could lead on them their activities. It is planned that on the islands will be performed the work of meteorologists and oceanographers in the interest of the UN".

Even the Chinese President, Xi Jinping pledged not to militarise the islands. These lies have been laid bare by the artificial structures housing long range sensor arrays, port facilities for warships, runways, and reinforced bunkers for fuel and weapons. The dozens of hangars for fighter aircraft on a handful of islands, as well as anti-ship cruise missiles, anti-aircraft batteries and missile defences are an unmistakable offensive military footprint that reflect everything other than peaceful intentions.

For China to cast aspersions on customary and peaceful deployments of other navies announced well in advance is rather rich, especially when China tries in vain to justify submarine deployments to the Northern Indian Ocean as anti-piracy operations. In December last year, an Indonesian fisherman found a Chinese Sea Wing unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) near Selayar Island in the South Sulawesi, far away from China's adjacent waters.Sea Wing gliders have been typically launched by China's specialist survey ships. In December 2019 the survey ship Xiangyanghong-06 launched around 12 of the UUVs into the Eastern Indian Ocean. The UUVs have been discovered across the Indian Ocean - far away from Chinese territory for over four years now. The validity of any peaceful research claims could well be guessed by everyone.

Rising global criticism notwithstanding, it is routine for the Chinese Navy, Coast Guard, other maritime paramilitary fleet and maritime militia to ram fishing boats, harass oil exploration vessels, hold combat drills and shadow transiting international naval vessels in a hostile manner. While bigger navies have held their own, the smaller Southeast Asian states, especially the ASEAN find the escalating show of force often overwhelming.

If smaller neighbours had it tough, Japan - an economic and military might too is being tested. China has been sending military planes on hundreds of sorties in the East China Sea, forcing the Japan Self-Defence Forces to scramble their fighter jets from dawn till dusk. Chinese warships too sail close to Japanese territories instigating a response. China's maritime expansionism illustrates not merely the Chinese Communist Party's growing military might, but also its resolve to salami slice less powerful neighbours and flout international laws.

It fears, if other large navies frequent the Western Pacific or South China Sea - both of which are international waters, those navies may behave the way China does inside other's territories or immediately outside. It is also upset that the presence of neutral, law abiding naval forces in international waters would expose Chinese belligerent actions and bring renewed focus on its illegal activities in the region at a time the world attempts to overcome the Wuhan virus with a vaccine solution. Indeed, China is the classic example of "We Don't See Things As They Are, We See Them As We Are".

(Binay Kumar Singh is an author and columnist and can be reached at Twitter: @BinayBharat. The views expressed are personal.)
Indian industry snubbed Google Plays decision to cut by half its commission for developers when they make $1 million in annual revenue for in-app purchases, saying the US tech giant may continue its "abrasive & monopolistic abuse" as it owns the Android system.

Google Play said Tuesday that beginning July 1 it would slash its 30 per cent billing fee to 15 per cent for developers globally when they make the first $1 million of their annual revenue.

"When we are forced to use a payment system that charges 15 % to 30% per payment, it cant be acceptable by anyone! The digital India dream must not be ransom to such monopolies," said Paytm founder and CEO Vijay Shekhar Sharma on Twitter.

Apple slashed the App Store developer fee by half to 15 percent from January 1, 2021, under its App Store Small Business Program.

"This is similar to what Apple had done recently. While Apple said it'll reduce commission of 98 per cent of developers but Statista later revealed that those 98 per cent developers accounted for just 5 per cent of total app store revenue. Even if the commission is reduced to 15 per cent for everybody flat it is still very high," said dating app TrulyMadly CEO and co-founder Snehil Khanor.

"The issue is not just the high commission but forcing app developers to remove other payment gateways, which provide the same service at 1-2 per cent commission and remits us money at t+1 as opposed to monthly settlement. As a developer, we should have a choice for what's good for our business. While it is a good thing that they are doing something but it doesn't solve the problem completely as of now," said Khanor.

Experts have said that for startups, digital advertising is their primary mode of acquisition of customers, and Google reducing 30 per cent of billing to 15 per cent is still expensive for many. This is because other payment modes, such as credit cards and debit cards, take a 1.5 per cent commission. Google Plays billing system is not required for apps that sell physical goods, for example, ride-hailing services

"This move is likely to benefit boutique firms, individual app developers and early stage startups. The reduced commission on the first million makes a difference and incentivizes them to innovate on the platform. However, this is not going to appease large established app development in India that rely on Googles services both for app distribution (Play Store) and the platform (Android)," said Manjunath Bhat, Senior Director Analyst at research firm Gartner.

There is also a concern that today Google mentioned digital services and later, they could widen it to food delivery and offering physical services.

Many small and medium businesses are still navigating through the setbacks from the pandemic. There are also fears of the not so old deeply problematic revenue share model between VAS (value-added service) providers (mainly digital goods) and Telcos. Here telcos took up to 70 per cent revenue share from VAS on the pretext of discovery, marketing, collection. In India, 98 per cent of people use mobile internet, more than 90 per cent of people use Android phones which gives Google control over many layers between customers and their service providers, industry experts have said.

"Googles abrasive & monopolistic abuse of its dominant position in the mobile OS market with 96.18 per cent share with Android, this will further increase prices of digital products in India & finally all the cost will be borne by the end consumer," said Ritesh Malik, the founder of co-working firm Innov8 (which was bought by Oyo), on Twitter.

Indus OS, India's homegrown operating system that has an app store of its own, said it does not charge developers any fee. "Indus App Bazaar has always kept developers' core interest at heart. We have supported self-sustainability efforts through developer analytics, localization support, open audience, and Amazon Web Services benefits. Developers are key for the success of an enhanced app store ecosystem (EASE). Their ability to invest more in R&D would definitely help the industry move forward and bring to fore innovation. Indus App Bazaar does not charge a fee for hosting the app or on billing," said Rakesh Deshmukh, co-founder and CEO, Indus OS.

Paytm's Sharma had last year led a campaign along with other tech entrepreneurs for India to have its own app store. This was preceded by Indian start-ups and unicorns claiming about Google abusing its monopoly, enforcing the billing system, and take a 30 per cent commission on the transactions.

All apps distributed on the Google Play Store, that were offering in-app purchases of digital goods, needed to use Google Plays billing system. Google had said this wasnt new and its payments policy has always required this. It had said Google Play billing had always taken a 30 per cent commission on these transactions. It had said this will only apply to less than 3 per cent of developers with apps on Play Store, as 97 per cent anyway don't offer in-app purchases of digital goods, and therefore don't need to use Play billing services.

"Android has a critical role to play in Indias digital economy. It serves as a platform for innovation as well as a platform for transactions. Therefore, this announcement is important and a step forward. I doubt this is the end of the story though. Its only the beginning of many twists and turns in the delicate dance between platform innovation, democratizing access to the platform and monetizing platform services, added Gartner's Bhat.
Local

Spark Session yields talk of future collaborations, expansion of current events

Spark by spark, local art enthusiasts are learning the ups and downs of turning Lufkin into a state-recognized cultural district.

The project to establish the city as such began with efforts by the Angelina Arts Alliance, which has partnered with the city of Lufkin, as well. A project like this opens the city up for the opportunity to be featured in Southern Living and Texas Highways magazine and designates the city as a cultural destination, according to Serri Ayers, representing the city of Richardson.

This designation would put Lufkin on the map for arts, she said.

In the second of four Spark Sessions conducted by the Lufkin Cultural District Planning Project, Ayers told attendees about the process of building annual, nationally recognized events in that city.

While the focus was intended to prioritize Richardsons music festival, Ayers discussed several other of town events and their histories.

Events always will have some challenges, including bad weather and creating available parking, Ayers said. But community coordination and the willingness to try out new ideas have helped her town to create and improve upon annual favorites.

Each event began as something small, or even something else, but grew because of community interest and involvement.

I wish I could tell you some great formula to it, Ayers said. Actually, in almost every case, they just began because somebody has a great idea.

Richardson has some major annual and semi-annual events Ayers coordinates, including: the Cottonwood Art Festival, a semi-annual fine arts show; The Wildflower Arts & Musical Festival, a well known annual venue for big-name musicians; the Richardson Family 4th Celebration, a massive Fourth of July event; the Huffines Art Trails, a festival for local artists and crafters; the Richardson Christmas Parade and Santas Village.

I think one of the things that I liked about this presentation was showing the history  that a lot of these events started small and were allowed to grow over time, attendee John Handley said. I think it would be easy to be overwhelmed by the prospect of some of these events unless we keep in mind that we can start small and grow them too.

The group discussed what events Lufkin already has going for it to be grown in this manner, regardless of what organization the event started with. Among those events listed, the group explored possibilities around the Lighting of Rudolph and the annual Texas State Forest Festival  two of Lufkins biggest events.

The highlight of the session was an emphasis on coordination and collaboration, rather than competition, throughout the community.

There are two more Spark Sessions on tap for March 24 and 30. The next session will cover how to become a film- and music-friendly certified community and the last will discuss how Paducah, Kentucky, Got on the Map as the City for Folk Art.
A gang of young thugs who were filmed brutally bashing a vulnerable and partially blind grandfather in broad daylight have been convicted over the cowardly attack.

The 63-year-old man was walking near Pelister Place in Melbourne's Sunshine West when he was dragged onto an oval and attacked by the group of cowards.

The young men, ranging in age from 16 to 20, continued to kick and punch the elderly man in the head before stealing his phone and shoes.

A partially-blind grandfather was brutally set upon by a gang of youths in a Melbourne park

Deputy Commissioner Rick Nugent condemned the 'vicious attack'.

'I feel sick when I see that type of offending,' he told 9 News.

'Just a vicious attack on a person that's going about their business.'

Police said three other people were also set upon on the same day as they waited to catch public transport.

The group dragged the grandfather onto an oval and repeatedly kicked him

Four young men were convicted over the shocking attack on the grandfather.

One boy, 16, was given a youth attendance, while another teenager, also 16, was sentenced to 16 months behind bars.

Amanniwal Nyieker, 18, was jailed for two years and 20-year-old Ramzy Mohammedali was sentenced to eight months in prison.

Victims of Crime Commissioner Fiona McCormack said cracking down on violent offending needed to be a priority.

'Such serious violent crimes  that needs to be taken really seriously by the system,' she said.
A patch of coveted land in the mountains of northern Bergen County once slated to be paved over into an asphalt highway is now being saved for all time, after environmental groups and state officials teamed up to preserve it.

Through a joint purchase, the Land Conservancy of New Jersey acquired 40 acres of land in the Ramapo Mountains, in Mahwah, to protect and preserve the tract in one of the most highly-sought areas of natural land for development in the state.

For years, the lush woodland in the Ramapo Mountains has been the target of state agencies, national oil companies and others interested in turning the forest into highways, paths for oil pipelines and apartment complexes.

The conservancys acquisition brings the span of land it will preserve to 92 acres  another victory in its fight to protect as large a part of thousands of acres of parkland. The conservancy partnered with New Jersey Audubon, the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference, the New Jersey Conservation Foundation and state Assemblywoman Holly Schepisi to acquire the land, according to a statement.

The purchase was funded by the Green Acres and the Bergen County Open Space Trust Fund, along with donations from the New Jersey Audubon, the New York New Jersey Trail Conference, the Froelich Family Foundation and the New Jersey Conservation Foundation.

The Land Conservancy is thrilled to permanently preserve this remarkable property, one of the largest unprotected properties remaining in Bergen County, and add it to our Ramapo Mountain Preserve, David Epstein, president of The Land Conservancy, said in a statement.

At one point, the tract was owned by the Department of Transportation, which planned to use the land to complete Interstate 287. The highway has long bisected the 4,200-acre Ramapo Mountain State Forest, and the parcel of land was meant to extend the roadway.

But from 1991  when the department purchased the land  until 2017, the tract was unused, according to the statement. The land was put up for auction in 2019, with the conservancy emerging as the highest bidder, the statement said.

The parcel acquired by the conservancy is adjacent to 13,000 acres of county and state parkland in Bergen County, according to the statement. Much of the land is rugged and difficult for hikers to traverse, but the conservancy will assess if it can use the land to continue the Cannonball Trail, a trail that runs from Pompton Lakes and Mahwah into New York.

The land is also part of the Ramapo River Watershed that provides drinking water to several million people, according to the statement.

The Trail Conferences vision for land conservation has always been with the big picture in mind ultimately, for the creation of green corridors that promote healthy ecosystems and sustainable recreation, New York-New Jersey Trail Conference Executive Director Joshua Howard said in the statement. When natural areas thrive, our connection with the land is that much more enjoyable.

For years, the Ramapough Lenape Nation has fought to protect more and more land in the Ramapo Mountains. The acquisition was another step in preserving more of the fast woodland, said Ramapough Chief Dwaine Perry.

The more that can be preserved, the better, he said. I think were at a tipping point, ecologically. I think were just waking up to that now.

Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription.

Rodrigo Torrejon may be reached at rtorrejon@njadvancemedia.com.
Europe's medical regulator, the European Medicines Agency, will announce Thursday its findings on the safety of AstraZeneca's coronavirus vaccine as more European Union countries suspend its use over fears it might be linked to blood clots. Critics say governments are putting politics over science.

The European Medicines Agency's executive director, Emer Cooke, said Tuesday that for now, the regulator stands behind its conclusion the AstraZeneca vaccine is safe, even as its experts conduct a thorough safety review. The AstraZeneca vaccine has been injected into millions of arms, with just a few reported cases of blood clots -- and it's uncertain if they're linked to the shot. "We need to have the facts first," Cooke said. "We cannot come to a conclusion before we've done a thorough scientific analysis. And we owe it to the European citizens to deliver this clear and science-based response."

The medicines agency, or EMA, has also tapped international experts for its review, which will also look at whether certain specific batches could be problematic. Scientists will also look at chances of blood clots with other COVID-19 vaccines beyond AstraZenaca's. "At present there is no evidence that vaccination has caused these conditions," said Cooke. "They have not come up in clinical trial and they are not listed as known or expected side events with this vaccine."

But increasingly, European Union governments are taking no chances. Sweden and Latvia are among the latest to join more than a dozen EU countries to temporarily halt their AztraZeneca rollouts.

In France, which suspended the shot Monday, Health Minister Olivier Veran said he hoped the AstraZeneca vaccine campaign will quickly resume -- pending a positive EMA ruling. Veran himself received the AstraZeneca inoculation and he told French citizens who have done likewise not to worry.
[March 17, 2021] Tauriga Sciences Inc. Commences Development of Delta-8-THC Infused Version of Tauri-Gum

NEW YORK, NY, March 17, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via NewMediaWire -- Tauriga Sciences, Inc. (OTCQB: TAUG) (Tauriga or the Company), a revenue generating, diversified life sciences company, with a proprietary line of CBD & CBG infused Supplement chewing gums (Flavors: Pomegranate, Blood Orange, Peach-Lemon, Pear Bellini, Mint, Black Currant), additional product offerings, as well as an ongoing Pharmaceutical Development initiative, today announced that it has commenced development of a Delta-8-Tetrahydrocannabinol (Delta-8-THC or Delta-8) infused version of Tauri-Gum. Delta-8-THC infused products are legal when the ingredient has been derived from the Industrial Hemp plant (Cannabis Sativa) and does not contain more than 0.3% (1/333rdby dry weight composition) THC. The Company is focused on expanding both its product offerings and revenue opportunities, in a manner that is ethical, innovative, and fully compliant with Federal laws & regulations.

The Company will update shareholders at a future date, once additional details and specifics are available. ABOUT TAURIGA SCIENCES INC. Tauriga Sciences, Inc. (TAUG) is a revenue generating, diversified life sciences company, engaged in several major business activities and initiatives. The company manufactures and distributes several proprietary retail products and product lines, mainly focused on the Cannabidiol (CBD) and Cannabigerol (CBG) Edibles market segment. The main product line, branded as Tauri-Gum, consists of a proprietary supplement chewing gum that is Kosher certified, Halal certified, and Vegan Formulated (CBD Infused Tauri-Gum Flavors: Mint, Blood Orange, Pomegranate), (CBG Infused Tauri-Gum Flavors: Peach-Lemon, Black Currant) & (Vitamin C + Zinc Immune Booster Flavor: Pear Bellini). The Companys commercialization strategy consists of a broad array of retail customers, distributors, and a fst-growing E-Commerce business segment (E-Commerce website: www.taurigum.com). Please visit our corporate website, for additional information, as well as inquiries, at http://www.tauriga.com



Complementary to the Companys retail business, is its ongoing Pharmaceutical Development initiative. This relates to the development of a proposed Pharmaceutical grade version of Tauri-Gum, for nausea regulation (specifically designed for the following indication: Patients Subjected to Ongoing Chemotherapy Treatment). On March 18, 2020, the Company announced that it had filed a provisional U.S. patent application covering its pharmaceutical grade version of Tauri-Gum. The Patent, filed with the U.S.P.T.O. is Titled MEDICATED CBD COMPOSITIONS, METHODS OF MANUFACTURING, AND METHODS OF TREATMENT. On December 18, 2020 the Company disclosed that it had entered into a Master Services Agreement with CSTI to lead the Company's clinical development efforts. The Company is headquartered in Wappingers Falls, New York. In addition, the Company operates two full time E-Commerce fulfillment centers: one located in Montgomery, Texas and the other in Brooklyn, New York.

DISCLAIMER -- Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains certain forward-looking statements as defined by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 which represent managements beliefs and assumptions concerning future events. These forward-looking statements are often indicated by using words such as may, will, expects, anticipates, believes, hopes, believes, or plans, and may include statements regarding corporate objectives as well as the attainment of certain corporate goals and milestones. Forward-looking statements are based on present circumstances and on managements present beliefs with respect to events that have not occurred, that may not occur, or that may occur with different consequences or timing than those now assumed or anticipated. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed in forward looking statements due to known and unknown risks and uncertainties, such as are not guarantees of general economic and business conditions, the ability to successfully develop and market products, consumer and business consumption habits, the ability to consummate successful acquisition and licensing transactions, fluctuations in exchange rates, and other factors over which Tauriga has little or no control. Many of these risks and uncertainties are discussed in greater detail in the Risk Factors section of Taurigas Form 10-K and other periodic filings made from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Such forward-looking statements are made only as of the date of this release, and Tauriga assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Contact: Tauriga Sciences, Inc. 4 Nancy Court, Suite 4 Wappingers Falls, NY 12590 Chief Executive Officer Mr. Seth M. Shaw Email: sshaw@tauriga.com cell # (917) 796 9926 Company Instagram: @taurigum Personal Instagram: @sethsms47 Twitter: @SethMShaw Corp. Website: www.tauriga.com E-Commerce Website: www.taurigum.com



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False: Video of cleric challenging closure of Mosques is from Pakistan, not India

No loudspeakers in Mosques, Darghas between 10 pm to 6 am: Waqf Board

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

Bengaluru, Mar 17: In an order with far-reaching implications, the Karnataka State Board of Waqf has issued a circular to all the mosques and dargahs (mausoleums) in the state not to use loudspeakers between 10 pm and 6 am, saying the ambient noise level around these structures has "deleterious effects on human health and the psychological well-being of people".

In the circular dated March 9, the board said, "The loudspeakers shall not be used at night time, which shall mean from 10 pm to 6 am."

Further underlining the "silence zones", the circular said any violation will be liable for penalty.

"The areas comprising not less than 100 metres around hospitals, educational institutions and courts are declared as silence zones.

Explained: Would a return of lockdown help curb Covid-19 spike?

"Whoever uses sound amplifier or burst sound-emitting firecrackers, uses a loudspeaker or public address system in a silence zone is liable for penalty under the provisions of the Environment (Protection) Act-1986," the circular read.

These decisions were taken at the board's 327th meeting held on December 19, 2020 regarding a strict adherence to the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000 in Karnataka and "it unanimously resolved to create awareness amongst the managements of Masjids and Dargahs".

"It is observed that increasing the ambient noise level around many a Masjid and Dargahs due to generator sets, loudspeakers and public address systems has deleterious effects on human health and the psychological well-being of people," the order noted.

The board reminded the mutawallis and managing committees of the mosques and dargahs that it had issued a circular on July 10, 2017 (when Siddaramaiah headed the Congress government in Karnataka) to follow the ambient noise standards in accordance with the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000.

The circular said loudspeakers should be used only for "azan" and other important announcements, whereas the congregational Salat, Jumma Qutba, Bayans, religious socio-cultural and knowledge-based functions shall be performed with the speakers installed on the premises of the mosques and dargahs.

The noise-governing apparatus may be installed in the institutions in consultation with the local environment officers.

The Khateeb O Imam of Bengaluru's Jamia Masjid, Maqsood Imran, told PTI that he too has received the circular. He added that they have spoken to the CEO of the board about revising the circular since the morning "azan" is an important one.

He shared a letter written by Waqf Board member and MLA Tanveer Sait to the CEO of the board.

Amidst rising cases, night curfew in Pune, lockdown in Akola

In the letter, Sait said, "As the board is an autonomous body, keeping this instruction in the view, you are hereby directed to issue an amended circular at the earliest, considering sunrise timings and use of loudspeakers sensibly between 10 pm to 5 am as the holy month of Ramzan is fast approaching."

Karnataka CD Scandal: Family claims woman kidnapped, files complaint| Oneindia News

Former chairman of the state Waqf Board Anwar Manippady told PTI, "It is a great step towards amiability in the society between the two communities -- minorities and majorities."

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Wednesday, March 17, 2021, 9:17 [IST]


KENILWORTH (NJ) (dpa-AFX) - Merck (MRK) announced the European Commission has approved an expanded label for KEYTRUDA, the company's anti-PD-1 therapy, as monotherapy for the treatment of adult and pediatric patients aged 3 years and older with relapsed or refractory classical Hodgkin lymphoma who have failed autologous stem cell transplant or following at least two prior therapies when autologous stem cell transplant is not a treatment option. The approval is the first pediatric approval for KEYTRUDA in the European Union.



Merck noted that the approval allows marketing of KEYTRUDA monotherapy in all 27 EU member states plus Iceland, Lichtenstein, Norway and Northern Ireland.



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

MERCK & CO-Aktie komplett kostenlos handeln - auf Smartbroker.de
France's highest court on Wednesday rejected a bid by a woman to have three firefighters charged with rape instead of sexual abuse against her while she was in her early teens.

The woman's decade-long quest for justice has gained strong support from feminist groups, who staged protests in several cities last month, and fuelled a long-running debate about sexual consent.

The ruling by the Court of Cassation comes a day after lawmakers voted to introduce a minimum age of consent for the first time, bringing France in line with most other Western countries.

The bill, which is expected to become law within months, would automatically treat sexual relations between an adult and a child under 15 as rape.

Julie (not her real name) alleges rape by more than 20 firefighters in the Paris area between 2008 and 2010, when she was aged between 13 and 15 and receiving treatment for severe anxiety attacks.

During that period she was hospitalised more than 130 times by the national ambulance service staffed by firefighters.

Three firefighters are charged with sexual abuse of a minor, a crime punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

Julie and her family say they as well as 17 others should be tried for rape, which carries a 20-year term, but which under current French law requires proving the use of "force, threat, violence or surprise", including if the victim is a child.

But the Court of Cassation, France's final court of appeal, rejected their request.

The court, which did not rule on the merits of cases, said a lower court had properly applied the law after determining that Julie had shown "the necessary discernment" to consent to sex and had not had been pressured.

For campaigners, the case has highlighted the vulnerability of children in a country with a traditionally permissive culture towards sex with minors.

"We can see that the Court of Cassation is clearly at odds with the will of both the people and lawmakers," said a lawyer for Julie's family, Lorraine Questiaux.

Story continues

In a statement, the family said they would bring their case to the European Court of Human Rights, based in Strasbourg, France.

- 'Confused' ruling -

In 2010, Julie accused a firefighter identified as Pierre C. of grooming her for sex at the age of 13 and said he introduced her to colleagues, who attacked her in apartments, hospital toilets and car parks, among other venues.

Julie's family says she was incapable of consenting to sex because she was heavily medicated and very vulnerable at the time.

The accused were initially charged with gang rape but the charges were later downgraded by an appeals court, which ruled that Julie's "seductive, provocative, enterprising" behaviour showed she was not acting under duress.

The case is one of several dealing with the issue of consent that have polarised public opinion in Europe.

Presenting arguments in the Court of Cassation, Bertrand Colin, one of Julie's lawyers, said the judges had "confused the absence of refusal with consent".

The issue of sexual abuse as well as incest has gained huge prominence in France in recent months, following an outpouring of claims described as a second French #MeToo movement.

The new wave of claims began with the daughter of a former minister accusing her father-in-law, the well-known political scientist Olivier Duhamel, in a book of abusing her twin brother when they were in their early teens.

The book sparked a tide of accusations of incest, a term used in France for sexual abuse of relatives, even if it is not a blood relative.

The allegations prompted a national reckoning with the abuse of minors and accelerated a push by President Emmanuel Macron's government for new laws to protect children.

In response, the lower house of parliament adopted on Monday a bill that would automatically make sex between an adult and a child under 15 statutory rape, punishable by 20 years imprisonment.

It would also make it illegal for an adult to have sex with a relative aged under 18.

Justice Minister Eric Dupond-Moretti said it aimed to send a clear message that "children are off-limits".

clw-ali/cb/sjw/bp
Eskom CEO Andre De Ruyter has recently warned that South Africa is facing an electricity shortfall of 4,000MW for the next five years which means the risk of load-shedding will remain.

Speaking at Eskoms latest State of the System briefing, De Ruyter said capacity challenges will remain one of the key challenges South Africa will continue to grapple with.

He said while Eskoms aim is to improve their power generation performance and reduce the risk of load shedding, the enormity of this task cannot be overstated.

Commenting on De Ruyters briefing, energy expert Chris Yelland said he sensed the problems faced by Eskom are becoming overwhelming.

I did not sense optimism that they were on top of things. Rather, I sensed that the problems were so endemic that they are becoming overwhelming, said Yelland.

He said there was the same rhetoric of old plants breaking down, new plants not performing as required, and new builds not happening fast enough.

Eskom reiterated its previous statements that South Africans should expect load-shedding to be a reality for most of the year.

The power utility expects some improvements from September 2021, but load-shedding will not be completely eliminated.

Yelland was downbeat about the prospects of limited load-shedding from September, saying power shortages will remain for years and economic growth will aggravate the situation.

Last year South Africa experienced the worst load-shedding ever recorded despite the fact that demand was 5% lower because of the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdowns.

This year demand is expected to be higher than last year as the economy recovers. This, coupled with Eskoms maintenance programme, will result in further load-shedding.

Yelland said South Africans will have to learn to live with load-shedding for many years to come.

He said the solution to South Africas electricity woes will not come from new capacity, but rather from new generation capacity.

Adding new capacity to the grid, which needs to happen through state procurement, will take many years.

The short-term solutions are not what people want to hear  using less electricity, getting used to load-shedding, and becoming more energy efficient.

Yellands most important message to South African households and businesses is to become self-sufficient.

If possible, people should generate their own electricity to relief Eskom off its burden and limit their reliance on grid electricity.

This is a good option for households and smaller businesses, but for large customers there is a regulatory obstacle.

Charl Gous, CEO at ACES Africa, said it takes a long time to get approvals for self-generation facilities of above 1MW.

The Electricity Regulation Act requires entities that want to build plants greater than 1MW to obtain a licence from the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa).

This is a stumbling block for many businesses which can help to alleviate the electricity crisis in South Africa.

Yelland lambasted energy minister Gwede Mantashe for his lack of action on regulatory changes and for not speaking up during the latest energy crisis.

We really need leadership. We need to know what has to be done, he said.
As we said goodbye to 2020, many did so enthusiastically. 2021 is now well underway with the early blooms of spring around us. Spring is a season of new beginnings, new life. You can smell itthe wet ground reawakening to life after newly fallen rain. You can see itthe early, colorful blooms punctuating the dull landscape that winter left behind. With so much observable promise, the coming of Easter is timely.

A Beautiful Prayer for Your Easter Sunday Celebration

I invite you to pray this prayer as we celebrate hope over discouragement, victory over defeat, and life over death through Christ this Easter:

Almighty God,

The reminder that you are Almighty is hope-filled this Easter.

So much has passed thats beyond our control due to the pandemic.

Yet we as believers can rest in the firm and certain knowledge that you will work all things for our good.

Scripture promises us that you are the good Potter.

We ask you to take the broken pieces of our lives and form something good,

Something to startle and amaze us

Like you startled the women at the tomb!

The women came to the tomb,

A place of decay and death, ready to meet you.

They went away instead with good news!

You had conquered the grave,

And you graft us into that moment, that promise, as your people today.

Transform us today through your power.

Forgive our sin,

Redeem the dead places in our lives,

And plant new seeds of life and hope.

May we live as an expectant people,

Bolstered by your grace.

Lord, where we are afraid, bring peace.

Where there is anger and division, bring humility and unity.

Where there is lack, bring your abundance.

We confess as your people:

Your spirit is alive and active

Give us the eyes to see it and the willingness to be used by it!

Christ, when you were on Earth, you said,

Blessed are those who believe, yet have not seen.

While we are not face to face with you like the disciples of old

We affirm that you are working, even now, to redeem your creation.

We affirm as your people:

Christ is risen! He is risen indeed.

Could it be that we are uniquely poised to see you move in big ways

At such a time as this?

Release your Spirit and let it blow through our needy land.

Bind us together as one people in your service,

Use us as agents of your grace, and

Move mightily through your church.

For the world is hungry for what only You can provide.

Only You offer enduring peace.

Only You offer victorious hope.

Only You offer unconditional love.

And scripture promises that those you seek you will find you,

When they seek you with all their heart.

Hold our tender heart in Your strong hand.

Let us experience your Easter promise,

Face to face with your grace.

May your victory be our victory,

As we await the promise of all your glory,

Face to face in heaven. Amen.

Why Do We Celebrate Easter?

Easter is one of the two most important annual Christian holidays. The first is Christmas with the birth of the Christ child. The second is Easter, in which Christians celebrate Jesus resurrection from the dead. The holiday signifies Jesus victory over sin and death following his crucifixion, the fulfillment of Scriptures promise that Jesus would rise from the dead in three days, and the assurance of eternal life for all those who profess his name.

Easter marks the conclusion of Holy Week, which begins on Palm Sunday and marks Jesus triumphal entry into Jerusalem. It continues with Maundy Thursday when Jesus celebrates his last (Passover) supper with his disciples. It is punctuated by Good Friday, in which Christians remember Jesus death on the cross. The solemnity of that service is in sharp contrast to the celebratory hope of Easter just days later. Easter invites all believers into that same reversal, that same victory through Jesus Christ.

10 Easter Prayers from Scripture - Read and Pray Over These

Matthew 28:5-6a: The angel said to the women, Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said.

John 11:25-26: "Jesus said to her, 'I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?'"

Romans 6:9: For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him.

1 Peter 1:3: Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

2 Corinthians 5:17: "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!"

John 20:29: Then Jesus told him, Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.

Isaiah 25:6-9: On this mountain the Lord Almighty will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples, a banquet of aged winethe best of meats and the finest of wines. On this mountain he will destroy the shroud that enfolds all peoples, the sheet that covers all nations; he will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove his peoples disgrace from all the earth. The Lord has spoken. In that day they will say, Surely this is our God; we trusted in him, and he saved us. This is the Lord, we trusted in him; let us rejoice and be glad in his salvation.

Psalm 118:17: I will not die but live, and will proclaim what the Lord has done.

Additional/Longer Readings

John 20:1-18

Acts 10:34-43

Easter Challenge

The promises of Scripture convey enduring hope. But the story of Easter continues to unfold beyond Scriptures pages in the lives of those who follow Jesus. How has God shown you his enduring hope in your life? Can you recall a time that you have personally experienced his reversalvictory over defeat, life over death, joy over pain? The world is broken and hurting. One way that we can honor Christs Story is to share our storieslike this one.

Interestingly, the call to share our faith is integral to the Easter story. Jesus parting words to his disciples after his resurrection in the Gospel of Matthew read, Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age (Matthew 28:1920). These words of Jesus are known as the Great Commission.

This Easter, as we receive Christs Easter blessings, lets also share them. The anger, division, and fear around us do not have to have the last word. The world is hungry for exactly what God can provide, and God alone can truly fill. As Christians, our privilege is two-fold. We are not only recipients of Gods grace, we can become agents of it for Gods glory.

To hear a heartfelt faith testimony, I invite you to watch my recent interview with Candace Cameron Bure on-demand here. Want another prayer? Check out my Easter table blessing.

Further Reading

25 Easter Prayers and Blessings to Give Thanks for Jesus Christ

A Prayer for Easter Morning (And 25 Bible Verses to Celebrate Easter)

Easter Prayers: Celebrate Resurrection Day Victory

Photo credit: GettyImages/udra

Rev. Noelle Kirchner, M.Div., believes we don't have to live with full schedules and thin souls. A busy mom of three boys, she is a graduate of Northwestern University and Princeton Seminary and an ordained Presbyterian minister who has served in churches for over ten years. She has written for places like the TODAY Show Parenting Team, Huff Post Parents, Crosswalk, iBelieve, and (in)courage. Her faith and family cable television show, "Chaos to Calm," features parenting hot topics and has hosted four New York Times bestselling authors and two Emmy Award-winning journalists. Watch her episodes or sermons and sign up for her free devotional e-book by visiting her website, noellekirchner.com. You can connect with her on social media (Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook) and also check out her book, How to Live Your Life Purpose: The Six-Step Journey to God's Best, that launched as a #1 New Release on Amazon and includes end-of-chapter Bible studies.
POINTE BLANCHE:--- Port St. Maarten Management endorses the various campaigns of government and non-government sectors calling on the populace to register for the COVID-19 vaccine.



The rollout of the vaccine around the world signals an end to the pandemic, and the same can be said for St. Maarten. The economic rebound is being echoed by a collective approach, rebuilding economies in an effective manner, and becoming more resilient to meet the challenges of the future.



Port Management: The vaccine is the bridge to economic recovery. It is seen by many economists, business leaders, and entrepreneurs as a condition leading to the return of pre-pandemic normalcy. The cruise industry is no exception to the latter as some lines are already committing to vaccine-only cruises.



It is expected especially in the initial stages that this vaccine only grouping strategies will be extended to the destination experiences through the creation of sterile bubbles.



Destination St. Maarten has to be ready for the resumption of the cruise business. Therefore, it is essential that the majority of the populace is vaccinated. This will send a strong signal to the tourism and travel trade including the cruise industry that destination St. Maarten is a safe destination to visit.



Research to date based on the available information coming out of various countries shows that vaccines are effective in preventing the contraction of COVID-19 as well as preventing hospitalization.



To register for the vaccine, you can do so via the online registration form which is available in English, Spanish, and Creole at the following link: https://forms.sintmaartengov.org/form.aspx?v=OGtn05kNmb



For paper-based registration, the COVID Vaccine Registration Form can be picked up at several locations, including the Collective Prevention Service (CPS) at the Vineyard Office Park Building, the Division of Labor Affairs at the Simpson Bay Public Service Center in Simpson Bay, Doctors offices, the Government Administration Building, and select pharmacies.



Both Cole Bay & Dutch Quarter Community Helpdesks are currently equipped to provide information and can assist persons with registration at either location.

Up to March 15, the Vaccine Management Team reported that more than 8500 persons had registered.



The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has also publicly stated that a faster global economic recovery was feasible since the rollout of the vaccines. We, therefore, endorse the campaigns of the Collective Prevention Service, White & Yellow Cross Care Foundation, the St. Maarten Medical Center, and the Vaccine Management Team with respect to registering to get your vaccine as we reach the beginning of the end of the pandemic and the disruption to our normal lives and economic activity comes to an end, Port St. Maarten Management said on Tuesday.
Tunisias president flew to Libya on Wednesday to meet with the neighboring countrys new unity government.

Kais Saied met with Libyan Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah as well as head of Libyas Presidential Council Mohammad Younes Menfi in Tripoli. The discussions focused on restoring Tunisia-Libya relations to normal following years of civil war in Libya, The Associated Press reported on Wednesday.

Its time to overcome all causes of alienation, said Saied at a press conference.

The recent history of Tunisia-Libya relations has been shaped by the Arab Spring. In 2011, a popular revolution forced longtime Tunisian President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali out of power. Later that year, Moammar Gadhafi, who ruled Libya for decades, was removed from power and killed during the NATO-backed uprising.

Tunisia transitioned to a democratic form of government, but Libya has been marred by war and instability since Gadhafi was ousted. Hundreds of thousands of Libyans have crossed the border into Tunisia to flee the violence.

Before the Arab Spring, Tunisia and Libya were major trade partners.

The Libyan civil war that began in 2014 between the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord and the Libyan National Army in the east ended in December of last year with a cease-fire. Earlier this month, a unity government took office that is supported by both of the warring parties. The interim government is to lead the country until elections on Dec. 24.

Tunisia remained neutral during the Libyan civil war. Saieds visit could be a sign that relations will go back to normal between the two North African states.
HILLSDALE, Mich., March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Hillsdale College received a perfect A+ rating from Forbes in its recent College Financial Health Grades. This is the second year in a row that Hillsdale College has received a perfect, 4.50 "Financial GPA." Of the 921 colleges in the United States ranked by Forbes, 38 schools received a 4.50 Financial GPA. Among these, Hillsdale College is the only school in Michigan and the only school to reject all federal and state taxpayer-subsidized funding.

"Because Hillsdale diversifies its revenue sources and rejects government funding, it can offer the course of study that it believes to be best for its students," said Patrick Flannery, vice president for finance and treasurer of Hillsdale College. "The College is proof that education does not need to be subsidized by the government to succeed. We are grateful to the many donors, parents, and students who place their trust in us."

The Forbes report analyzed records for 921 private colleges throughout the United States with an enrollment of 500 students or more. The rankings were drawn from the National Center for Education Statistics database, which focused on endowment assets, liquidity of assets, tuition revenue as percentage of total revenue, return on assets, admissions yield, freshman grant aid, instruction expenses, and overall operational soundness. In the Forbes ranking, Hillsdale College was given an A+ and was the only institution of higher education in Michigan to receive a perfect score.

In Forbes' Top Colleges 2019 listing, Hillsdale College was ranked 195th out of 650 top universities in the country and was ranked 137th in private colleges, 72nd in liberal arts universities, and 33rd in the Midwest. Forbes did not release a 2020 Top Colleges listing.

For more details on these lists, view Hillsdale College's ranking and profile by Forbes.

About Hillsdale College

Hillsdale College is an independent liberal arts college located in southern Michigan. Founded in 1844, the College has built a national reputation through its classical liberal arts core curriculum and its principled refusal to accept federal or state taxpayer subsidies, even indirectly in the form of student grants or loans. It also conducts an outreach effort promoting civil and religious liberty, including a free monthly speech digest, Imprimis, with a circulation of more than 5.6 million. For more information, visit hillsdale.edu .

CONTACT: Emily Stack Davis

517-803-3745

[email protected]

SOURCE Hillsdale College

Related Links

http://www.hillsdale.edu



CawthWatch: Rep. Cawthorn wants to make daylight saving time permanent

U.S. Rep. Madison Cawthorn, joining a bipartisan group of senators, wants to make Daylight Saving Time permanent.

Cawthorn announced Tuesday that he had filed the Sunshine Protection Act, saying in a news release that the bill highlights "the importance of common sense reforms that place personal liberty back into the hands of American citizens.

"This act finally ends the yearly forwards/backwards time-change cycle," he said. "Arbitrarily changing the time each year makes no sense, and results in significant economic burdens for businesses, including those in NC-11. Its time that our government did something common sense for once. For too long the federal government has interfered in the lives of working Americans with no purpose, and with little benefit. Its time to roll back superfluous governmental regulations and limit government to its sole task: safeguarding the rights of its citizens.

Sen. Marco Rubio is among those calling for an end to the twice-a-year clock changing and permanent Daylight Saving Time. Florida and 15 other states have passed legislation to make DST permanent but a change has to be approved by Congress.

This is latest installment of CawthWatch, a compilation of Cawthornia.

Slate features freshman class of 'Nation's notorious bozos'

If you want my guns ...

If you want my guns, you'll have to come get them, U.S. Rep. Madison Cawthorn warned on the House floor as he defended Second Amendment rights.

"Mr. Speaker, if we lose the 2nd Amendment, then the 1st will fall," Cawthorn said. "I want to remind my colleagues of a simple fact that too often seems to just be swept under the rug by the left. Americans have a RIGHT to obtain firearms for lawful purposes. Ill say it louder so that those on the left sleeping in the back of the room hear it as well: Americans have a right to obtain firearms.

"This is my right. And Mr. Speaker, its your right as well. But let me be clear to everyone in this chamber. You will not take this right away. Its easy to be sucked into the D.C. bubble, but I am here to tell you that outside this bubble, in real America, when we say, come and take it We damn well mean it.

"This bill would unconstitutionally place the burden of proof for firearms transfers on American citizens instead of placing the burden firmly where it belongs, on the shoulders of the government.

"But let us be clear, the left is not here today to debate this bill, nor are they here legislate in the best interest of the American people, they are here to shove it down our throats. My colleagues and I on the right have been called here to defend one of our most sacred rights. Because you Mr. Speaker think that the Constitution is just another piece of paper to tear down the middle and toss aside.

"I speak for millions of Americans, I speak for the 700,000 plus Americans in my district, when I say,'If you think that this bastardization of the Constitution will be met with silence, then you know nothing of the America I know.' You want my guns, I know it  we all know it. Well Mr. Speaker, you can come and take them."

This is the latest installment of CawthWatch, a regular feature of the Lightning. Here is the introductory installment:

When it comes to national political coverage, Madison Cawthorn is the gift that keeps on giving.

We've elected a representative who seems to be worthy of two superlatives. He is in fact the youngest member of Congress and one might argue that over the past three months has been the most covered in the press, on line and on cable television.

Today we debut CawthWatch, a service of HendersonvilleLightning.com to keep readers updated on the dozens soon to be hundreds of stories, profiles, Tweets (some not all), newsletter updates (from the congressman) and the rest of the flotsam and jetsam in the over-wrought current of Cawthornia. Why CawthWatch? Because we like anagrams.

Let me be clear: CawthWatch is not original reporting of the Hendersonville Lightning. We take no credit nor blame for the stories that we discover  or, as often, are discovered by others and brought to our attention. As far as I can tell, the rate of Madison Cawthorn stories or startling and interesting Tweetstorms is running better than one a week  more than the Lightning with limited resources can try to match. The closer it happens to where we're sitting, the more we care about it. Cawthorn himself  whether he would admit it or not  has become already a creature of Washington and a magnet for coverage by a press corps always eager to raise the profile of the fringiest members of the House and Senate on the left and right extremes.

Have you seen this???!!! is the tenor of many email alerts we get about the various profiles, revelations or what Cawthorn supporters might regard as hit pieces. They cut both ways. I had two readers beg me for a week to "run the story" about Rep. Cawthorn carrying pizza to a parking garage where National Guard soldiers deployed to protect the U.S. Capitol were bivouacked. Although Rep. Cawthorn tweeted a photo about it, there was no news release from his communications office, no coverage to link to.

The dozens of stories on Cawthorn's personal history  from his home-schooled high years here in Henderson County to the life-altering crash that became a pivot-point in his biography to his decisive wins in last year's primary and the general election  typify the derivative nature of Washington coverage in the digital age. Back when newspapers had librarians who cut out stories from that day's paper, stuffed them in envelopes and filed them in the morgue, we called these stories "clip jobs."

Two in-depth stories on Cawthorn published in the past week  one by Buzzfeed and the other by the Washington Post  are clip jobs for the digital age. The World, a conservative magazine and website based in Asheville, was the first as far as I can tell to publish a story about Cawthorn's unwanted sexual advances as a 17- or 18-year-old. Tom Fiedler, part of a herd of top-notch semi-retired reporters that is doing some strong work in the new Asheville Watchdog, followed The World with an in-depth story on Cawthorn's time at Patrick Henry College, providing more detail than anyone before him and reporting on a petition signed by Patrick Henry alumni calling Cawthorn a predator and opposing his election to Congress.

Both the Buzzfeed and Washington Post stories drew heavily on these two earlier stories but broke new ground as well. Decide for yourself.

To update CawthWatch as often as warranted, we'll try to spot Cawthorn stories or retrieve them from our in-box and pass them along.

FoxNews on Cawthorn at CPAC: The U.S. is "walking down a road very near socialism. They are trying to turn this country into a Communist ash heap. It is not enough take on the status quo and say, Ill just patiently wait for my time. ... This new generation of young conservatives, we do not want a seat at the table to talk about, react to what Democrats do, we want to run the whole damn table."

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/cawthorn-cpac-dems-want-buy-vote-u-s-communist-ash-heap

Cawthorn prays with a fellow wheelchair-bound attendee at CPAC. "I had a very emotional moment, praying with my young conservative brother," he said. "I dont want to ever forget that the people I work for are men and women just like myself."

https://redstate.com/jenniferoo/2021/02/26/cpac-2021-the-authenticity-of-madison-cawthorn-n333535

Video highlights of Cawthorn's speech at CPAC (1 minute, 35 seconds), included as a link in Cawthorn's monthly newsletter on Thursday:

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=248573580094358

Buzzfeed story on accusations of unwanted sexual advances by Cawthorn when he was a student at Patrick Henry University in Virginia:

https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/addybaird/madison-cawthorn-sexual-misconduct-allegations-patrick?origin=web-hf

Washington Post story, "How falsehoods helped propel career of a new pro-Trump star of the far right.":

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2021/02/27/making-madison-cawthorn-how-falsehoods-helped-propel-career-new-pro-trump-star-far-right/?arc404=true

N.C. Republicans who censured are Burr silent on Cawthorn, accused ot sexual harassment and lying about his background (Washington Post):

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/cawthorn-trump-burr-republicans/2021/03/03/c34c5f88-7c3a-11eb-b0fc-83144c02d676_story.html?utm_campaign=wp_post_most&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&wpisrc=nl_most&carta-url=https%3A%2F%2Fs2.washingtonpost.com%2Fcar-ln-tr%2F3053ff6%2F604110ac9d2fda4c88fbf8f2%2F5ffcdc0b9bbc0f7465dcc4c4%2F8%2F70%2F604110ac9d2fda4c88fbf8f2

Although not a mix of positive and negative coverage like CawthWatch, IndyWeek in the Triangle tells its readers "All The Reasons Why N.C. Congressman Madison Cawthorn Is The Worst":

https://indyweek.com/news/northcarolina/all-the-reasons-why-n-c-congressman-madison-cawthorn-is-the-/

CNN: "Who is Madison Cawthorn really." In a sure sign that the refrain of Cawthorn lied about the car crash, has a thin work record, wasn't a particularly devoted student, made unwanted sexual advances, lied about having been admitted to the Naval Academy, is neverthless successful as a Trump mini-me and self-styled Washington "outsider" has run its course, CNN editor at large Chris Cillizza interviews longtime political reporter John Boyle of the Asheville Citizen-Times about Cawthorn. In which Boyle coins a right-on one-sentence description of the 11th Congressional District. Check it out here:

https://www.cnn.com/2021/03/04/politics/madison-cawthorn-north-carolina-republicans/index.html

For more  and no doubt there will be more  come back to CawthWatch frequently.

* * * * *

Send CawthWatch fodder to Lightning editor billmoss@hendersonvillelightning.com.
 "Defend the Public Defenders: Their ability to hold on to their job should not depend on the same people they challenge in court." | Main | Spotlighting ugly reasons and realities surrounding federal gun sentences 

Regular readers have likely noticed pretty regular posts about pretty notable criminal justice rulings coming from the Supreme Court of Washington. In this Slate piece, Mark Joseph Stern tells the story of this court's recent personnel changes and reviews some of these rulings. The piece, which is fully headlined "Washington State Shows How a Truly Progressive Court Changes Everything: Joe Biden should look to the states diverse and courageous Supreme Court when making nominations to the federal bench," starts this way (with links from the original):

The Washington Supreme Court is on a roll. On March 11, it took the unprecedented step of outlawing mandatory sentences of life without parole for people under the age of 21  making Washington the first state in the nation to extend such protections to defendants who, while technically adults at the time of their crime, have greater potential for rehabilitation because of their youth. The previous month, a majority of the court struck down Washingtons drug possession law, effectively legalizing possession of controlled substances while overturning thousands of convictions going back decades. And, in January, the court made it easier for victims of police misconduct to sue law enforcement officers who violate their rights.

This extraordinary series of decisions shows how a diverse and progressive judiciary can make the country a more just and equitable place. The Washington Supreme Courts members exemplify the kind of judges whom Joe Biden should be looking for as he prepares to announce his first slate of judicial nominees. To counter the current dominance of conservative ideology in the federal judiciary, liberals cant rely on moderates committed to minimalism; they need a distinct vision of the law as a force of justice that guarantees equal rights and dignity to those who are impoverished, unpopular, and powerless. To find one, they need only look to Washington state.

Because it interprets its own state constitution, the Washington Supreme Court has much more leeway than a federal court to depart from SCOTUS jurisprudence. States high courts have final say over the meaning of their own state constitutions, which gives justices room to expand rights that SCOTUS has constricted under the federal Constitution. Many state constitutions, including Washingtons, provide greater protections than the federal Constitution. Thats why, in 2018, the Washington Supreme Court has permanently banned the death penalty and prohibited sentences of life without parole for juvenilestwo steps SCOTUS has refused to take.

Those decisions were a preview of things to come. In 2019 and 2020, Democratic Gov. Jay Inslee appointed two new justices to the court: Raquel Montoya-Lewis, a Jewish Native American woman, and Grace Helen Whitener, a disabled Black lesbian immigrant. (In November, the state voted overwhelmingly to keep both women on the bench.) There, they joined Justice Mary Yu, an Asian American Latina lesbian, as well as Steven Gonzalez, the current chief justice, who is Hispanic, and one of just two men on the nine-member court. Inslees appointees created the most diverse high court in American history.
(Newser)  President Biden has come under scrutiny for failing to hold a press conference since being elected, but now a date has been set. His first presser will be held March 25, his 64th day as POTUS, USA Today reports. That's the longest any president has waited going back at least a century; former President Trump's first press briefing came on day 27, while former President Obama's came on day 20; former presidents Reagan and Clinton each waited just nine days. White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki had earlier noted that Biden "takes questions from the reporters covering the White House regularly" during in between White House events

story continues below

But, as the Washington Post noted last week when it pondered the press conference issue, those types of situations (which have also occurred after he's given a speech or a statement) typically involve only a couple questions, not a roomful of journalists. Critics on the right have insisted that a formal news conference, as opposed to the types of events at which Biden has taken questions, would force him to face unscripted interactions. Politico notes that even political allies have questioned Biden's lack of pressers. "Hes not great in these news conferences," the former head of George Washington University's school of media told the AP earlier this month. "He rambles. His strongest communication is not extemporaneous." (Read more President Biden stories.)
Two young men killed Tuesday in separate Bessemer shootings have been identified.

The Jefferson County Coroners Office on Wednesday identified the victims as Chase Debore Green and Saveon ThMarcus Washington. Both were 20.

Washington, of Bessemer, was found unresponsive about 5:40 p.m. Tuesday in the 1800 block of Long 14th Street. Lt. Christian Clemons said he was lying in the roadway when officers got on the scene. He was pronounced dead at 5:51 p.m.

There were multiple shell casings in the street. Authorities have not yet identified a motive or a possible suspect.

Green, of Birmingham, was killed shortly before 1:30 a.m. Tuesday. He was discovered sitting inside a vehicle in the 1500 block of Berkley Alley and was pronounced dead at 1:31 a.m. No arrests have been announced.

Tuesday evenings slaying marked Bessemers ninth homicide this year. As of March 16, 2020, the city had only one homicide.

This years total so far, less than three months into the new year, is half of what Bessemer police investigated in all of 2020, which was 18. In 2019, there were only 13 for the year and just eight in 2018.

In all of Jefferson County so far this year, there have been 34 homicides, including the nine in Bessemer.

Bessemer Police Chief Mike Roper said hes concerned about the spike in the citys homicides.

People are just doing crazy things. Im very concerned,' Roper said Tuesday night. Even one (homicide) would concern me, but to have this many, its definitely not ordinary.

Weve got to get into the minds of these young kids,' he said. Theyre destroying each other. Theyre absolutely destroying each other.'

Anyone with information is asked to call Bessemer police at 425-2411, the Tip Line at 205- 428-3541 or Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-17 22:02:20|Editor: huaxia

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HONG KONG, March 17 (Xinhua) -- Hong Kong moved up one place to fourth in the 29th edition of Global Financial Centers Index (GFCI 29) published by the British think tank Z/Yen Group and China Development Institute in Shenzhen on Wednesday.

A spokesman for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government said, "Hong Kong is one of the top four leading financial centres in the world, rising by one place from the September issue of the index last year.

"With the evolving situation of the COVID-19 pandemic, coupled with other uncertainties in the global environment, financial markets globally have become more volatile over the past year or so. Nevertheless, Hong Kong's financial system has been operating smoothly," the spokesman said.

"Hong Kong is the premier listing venue of choice for enterprises around the globe. We have been the second-largest listing venue for biotechnology companies, the world's largest offshore Renminbi (RMB) business hub and the second-largest private equity centre in Asia," the spokesman said.

The spokesman said that the National People's Congress has just approved the 14th Five-Year Plan, in which Hong Kong's functions in the overall development of the country are recognized. Those in relation to developments of Hong Kong's financial services sector include supporting Hong Kong to enhance its status as an international financial center, consolidating our function as a global offshore RMB business hub, international asset and risk management center, and deepening and widening of mutual access between the financial markets of Hong Kong and the mainland.

"Capitalizing on the unique advantages of Hong Kong under the 'one country, two systems' principle, we will continue to enhance our role as the gateway between the mainland and international markets, leverage the vast opportunities presented by the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the Belt and Road Initiative, and contribute to our country's 'dual circulation'," the spokesman added.

The GFCI Report is released in March and September every year since 2007. In the 29th edition of GFCI, 114 financial centers were assessed. Hong Kong came fourth with an overall rating of 741. Enditem
SEOUL, South Korea  Fresh off a stop in Tokyo, President Joe Bidens top diplomat and defense chief traveled to South Korea on Wednesday, a day after North Korea made sure it had their attention by warning the United States to refrain from causing a stink amid deadlocked nuclear negotiations.

How to get North Korea to return to talks will be a major focus when Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin meet South Korean officials this week.

It has been more than two years since nuclear talks stalled, and some experts say the United States and its allies should settle for a deal that would freeze North Koreas nuclear program in return for relaxing sanctions  and possibly leave Pyongyang's already manufactured nuclear weapons in place.

Austin and Blinken will meet their South Korean counterparts for separate talks Wednesday and a joint two plus two meeting Thursday, the first such contact between the two countries in five years.

South Korea is the second leg of their regional tour aimed at boosting Americas Asian alliances to better deal with growing challenges from China and North Korea. While in Tokyo on Tuesday, they joined forces with Japanese officials to criticize Chinas coercion and aggression and reaffirm their commitment to ridding North Korea of all its nuclear bombs.

U.S.-led diplomacy on that last topic has been in limbo since a February 2019 summit between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un collapsed over disputes on U.S.-led sanctions. Kim has since threatened to enlarge his nuclear arsenal in protest of what he called U.S. hostility.

On Tuesday, Kims sister and a senior official in her own right, Kim Yo Jong, slammed the United States over its ongoing regular military drills with South Korea, which North Korea sees as an invasion rehearsal.

We take this opportunity to warn the new U.S. administration, Kim Yo Jong said in a statement. If it wants to sleep in peace for (the) coming four years, it had better refrain from causing a stink at its first step.

Some experts say Kim Yo Jongs statement is a pressure tactic and that Pyongyang may try to further raise animosities with weapons tests to boost its leverage in future negotiations with Washington.

Asked about Kim Yo Jongs statement during a news conference in Tokyo, Blinken said that he was familiar with the comments and was more interested in hearing from allies and partners.

Blinken said that Washington reached out to North Korea through several channels starting in mid-February, but it hasnt received any response. He said the Biden administration is looking forward to completing its policy review on North Korea in coming weeks and was looking both at possible additional pressure measures and diplomatic paths.

Shim Beomchul, an analyst with the Seoul-based Korea Research Institute for National Strategy, said he expects the Biden administration to pursue a deal with North Korea that resembles a 2015 accord that froze Irans nuclear program in return for lifting sanctions. While the United States wont likely give up its long-term commitment to denuclearizing North Korea, rolling back the countrys nuclear capabilities to zero is not a realistic near-term diplomatic goal, he said.

Trump blew up that 2015 Obama administration deal in favor of what he called maximum pressure against Iran, and the Biden government is trying to resurrect it.

In an op-ed in the New York Times in 2018, Blinken, then a managing director of the Penn Biden Center for Diplomacy and Global Engagement, argued that the best deal the U.S. could reach with North Korea more than likely will look like what Barack Obama achieved with Iran. He said that an interim agreement would buy time to negotiate a more comprehensive deal, including a minutely sequenced road map that will require sustained diplomacy. Thats the approach Mr. Obama took with Iran.

Other experts say an Iran-style deal wont work for North Korea. Iran hasn't built any bomb, but North Korea has already manufactured dozens. They say North Korea, which has a history of derailing agreements with its vehement rejection of verification processes, wont find any reason to denuclearize when some of the most painful sanctions are lifted.

Everyone can say easily that (settling for) a nuclear freeze would allow North Korea to preserve its existing nukes. But I ask them what other options do they have to realize North Koreas denuclearization, said Kim Yeol Soo, an analyst with South Koreas Korea Institute for Military Affairs.

Another possible topic during U.S.-South Korean talks is whether South Korea should actively participate in U.S.-led efforts to curb Chinas rising strength in the region.

South Korea is a longtime U.S. ally and hosts about 28,500 American troops. But its economy is heavily dependent on trade with China, making it difficult to take any step deemed provocative to its biggest trading partner. When South Korea allowed the United States to install anti-North Korea missile defense shield on its soil in 2017, it suffered economic retaliation from China, which sees the systems radar as a security threat.

South Korean Defense Minister Suh Wook told lawmakers Tuesday that the U.S. hadnt formally proposed for South Korea to join an expanded format of the so-called Quad group that includes the United States, Japan, Australia and India, and that the Americans wont likely make such a proposal during this weeks talks.

China has called the Quad an attempt to contain its ambitions.

Kim Yeol Soo said the allies will likely discuss Seoul joining an expanded Quad format, known as the Quad Plus, though theyll never publicly announce it to avoid angering China. Kim said it would be wise for South Korea to join the Quad Plus to voice its opinions clearly and avoid being sidelined on issues involving Seoul.

___

Associated Press writer Kim Tong-hyung contributed to this report.

This article was written by HYUNG-JIN KIM from The Associated Press and was legally licensed through the Industry Dive publisher network. Please direct all licensing questions to legal@industrydive.com.
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Iran on Wednesday released its final report on the Ukrainian passenger jet it shot down last year killing 176 people, devoting two paragraphs to causes and absolving the armed forces.

Ukraine, which lost 11 citizens in the disaster, immediately dismissed the report as "a cynical attempt to hide (the) true causes" of the tragedy, while Canada, which lost 55 citizens and 30 permanent residents, said it is "incomplete and has no hard facts or evidence."

On January 8, 2020, Ukraine International Airlines flight PS752 crashed shortly after take off from Iran's capital Tehran killing all 176 people aboard.

The Islamic republic admitted three days later that its forces mistakenly shot down the Kiev-bound Boeing 737-800 plane, after firing two missiles.

In a final report released in English of over 145 pages, the Iranian Civil Aviation Organisation (CAO) devoted two paragraphs to "accident causes and contributing factors".

The first paragraph indicates what was already known, namely that Iranian forces fired "two surface-to-air missiles at the flight PS752... (that) led the aircraft to crash into the ground and explode instantly."

The second paragraph examines "other contributing factors", in which it discussed the "alertness" of troops on the ground.

"The mitigating measures and defence layers in risk management proved to be ineffective due to the occurrence of an unanticipated error in threat identifications, and ultimately failed to protect the flight safety against the threats caused by the alertness of defence forces," it read.

- 'Human error' -

Tensions between Iran and the US were soaring at the time of the downing of the Ukrainian jetliner.

Iranian air defences were on high alert for a US counter-attack after Tehran fired missiles at a military base in Iraq that was used by US forces.

Those missiles were fired in response to the killing of General Qasem Soleimani, who headed the foreign operations arm of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, in a US drone strike near Baghdad's international airport.

Story continues

In July 2020, in a progress report, Iran's CAO said poor tuning of an anti-aircraft unit's radar was the main "human error" behind the tragedy.

The tragedy sparked strong condemnation in Iran, especially after it took three days for the armed forces to admit to having shot down the plane "by mistake".

Reacting to the publication of the final report, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said Tehran had ignored its suggestions.

"Ukraine has earlier sent Iran more than 90 pages of remarks and proposals to its draft final report and insisted on Iran including them into the final document," Kuleba said in a statement.

"However, what we saw published today is just a cynical attempt to hide true causes of the downing of our passenger aircraft."

Canadian Foreign Minister Marc Garneau and Transport Minister Omar Alghabra said "the report makes no attempt to answer critical questions about what truly happened."

"We remain deeply concerned about the lack of convincing information and evidence, despite the publication of this investigation report," they said in a joint statement, underscoring that 138 of the 176 killed in the crash had ties to Canada.

"Their families deserve answers to important questions, including on the series of events that led to these missiles being launched in the first place, and why the airspace was allowed to remain open during a period of heightened hostilities."

Ottawa will soon release the results of its own investigation into the crash.

Garneau and Alghabra said Canada would continue to seek answers and ensure Iran "takes full responsibility and makes full reparations" to the families and loved ones of the victims.

mj/pjm/dv/amc/wat
VANCOUVER, BC, March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Zacatecas Silver Corp. ("Zacatecas Silver" or the "Company") (TSXV: ZAC) is pleased to announce it has accelerated its exploration plans to prepare a current resource estimate at the Panuco Silver Deposit at the Zacatecas Silver property, located in Zacatecas State, Mexico. Work is now proceeding, targeting resource confirmation of the significant historical inferred silver resource estimate at the Company's Panuco Silver Deposit.

Immediate steps to confirm resource estimate include:

Completion of extensive verification of historical drill core

Bench-scale metallurgical test for Panuco and El Cristo deposits underway by SGS Minerals

Proven exploration team assembled in Mexico to commence exploration work near Panuco and also on other high priority exploration targets within the large property

The Panuco Silver Deposit is located in the north of the Zacatecas Property and is the most advanced prospect. Panuco has an historic inferred mineral resource of 19,472,901 ounces Ag Eq. (cut-off 100 g/t Ag Eq.) from 3,954,729 tonnes at 153.2 g/t Ag Eq (136 g/t Ag, 0.14 g/t Au, 0.012% Pb, 0.11% Zn) (the "Historical Estimate"). See "Historical Resource Estimate Information" set forth below.

Zacatecas' seasoned exploration team has now completed an extensive verification resampling program of the historical drill core. Re-sampling has been completed on 178 historic sample intervals, being approximately 15% of sample intervals used in the historical resource estimate at Panuco. This data will form the backbone of a remodelled resource estimate . Drill core samples were prepared and assayed by ALS Laboratories (ISO 9001:2008).

To enhance the Historical Estimate at Panuco, Zacatecas has also commenced a bench-scale metallurgical test of approximately 100 kg of mineralized drill core material. An integrated test program is being undertaken by SGS Minerals at Lakefield with a specific emphasis on flow-path options for optimised recovery. No metallurgical work was done at Panuco under the Historical Estimate and instead recovery estimates used in the Historical Estimate based recovery assumptions on an outdated processing facility in the region that processed material from a different vein system, using gold (52.2%), silver (62.1%), lead (87.9%) and zinc (78.6%). These precious metals recoveries are lower than the recoveries used within various modern resource calculations by other companies in the region. Given the low tenor of precious metal recoveries, there is significant opportunity to strengthen the resource estimate with a modern bench-scale metallurgical test.

Dr Chris Wilson, Chief Operating Officer and Director of Zacatecas Silver Corp., comments "Our highly experienced exploration field team has efficiently completed an extensive re-sampling program  resulting in the re-assay of 178 historic drill core intervals and dispatch of over 100 kg of drill core for bench-scale metallurgical testing. Detailed petrographic and XRD study is also ongoing to better understand the silver and base metal mineralogy  an important input parameter to optimizing metallurgical recovery.

In addition to targeting resource confirmation and upgrade through the current re-sampling and metallurgical work, there is also potential to significantly enhance the deposit through drilling. The Panuco deposit is open at depth and along strike. With a deep understanding of the geological structure and mineralization at Zacatecas, an extensive drill program is designed to expand the resource at Panuco as well as target high-grade silver at El Cristo and other key targets."

Qualified Person

The technical content of this news release has been reviewed, verified and approved by Dr. Chris Wilson, B.Sc (Hons), PhD, FAusIMM (CP), FSEG. Chief Operating Officer and Director of Zacatecas Silver, a qualified person as defined by NI 43-101.

About Zacatecas Silver Corp.

The Zacatecas Silver property is located in Zacatecas State, Mexico, within the highly prospective Fresnillo Silver Belt, which has produced over 6.2 billion ounces of silver. The company holds 7826 ha (19,338 acres) of ground that is highly prospective for low and intermediate sulphidation silver-base metal mineralization and potentially low sulphidation gold-dominant mineralization.

The property is 25 km south-east of MAG Silver Corp.'s Juanicipio Mine and Fresnillo PLC's Fresnillo Mine. The property shares common boundaries with Pan American Silver Corp. claims and El Orito which is owned by Endeavour Silver. There are four main high-grade silver target areas within the Zacatecas concessions: the Panuco Deposit, Muleros, El Cristo and San Manuel-San Gill. The Property also includes El Oro, El Orito, La Cantera, Monserrat, El Penon, San Judas and San Juan silver-base metal vein targets. These targets are relatively unexplored and will be the focus of rapid reconnaissance review

On behalf of the Company

Bryan Slusarchuk

Chief Executive Officer and Director

Historical Mineral Resource Estimate Information

In 2019 Santacruz Silver Mining Ltd. completed an updated historical resource estimate as set forth in the technical report titled "Technical Report  Veta Grande Project, Zacatecas State, Mexico" dated 20th of August 2019. The report was prepared by Van Phu Bui, P. Geo and Michael O'Brien, P. Geo, and filed on www.sedar.com ("2019 Panuco Historical Resource"). The 2019 Panuco Historical Resource reported 3,954,729 tonnes at 153 g/t Ag Eq. (136 g/t Ag, 0.14 g/t Au, 0.012 % Pb, 0.11% Zn) for a total of 19,472,901 ounces Ag Eq. (cut-off 100 g/t Ag Eq.). The 2019 Panuco Historical Resource used "inferred mineral resources", which is a category set forth under CIM Definition Standards for Mineral Resources & Mineral Reserves adopted on May 10, 2014.

The 2019 Panuco Historical Resource was calculating using 75 drill collars, 866 down hole surveys and 2,607 assayed samples. A surface trench database totalling 183 trenches with 1,813 samples was used. Resource blocks were defined using with dimensions of 20 m along strike and down dip, and 1 m across strike. Grades for gold, silver, lead and zinc were interpolated into blocks using the following estimation algorithms: central  ordinary kriging and NW and Tres Cruces  inverse distance squared. Assumptions used in the 2019 Panuco Historical Resource include the following metal prices: gold price of US $1,350/oz, silver price of US $16/oz, lead price of US $0.90/lb and zinc price of US $1.10/lb. The 2019 Panuco Historical Resource assumed recovering similar to the Veta Grande System being: gold at 52.2%, silver at 62.1%, lead at 87.9% and zinc at 78.6%. The Company considers the 2019 Panuco Historical Resource relevant due to its identification and modelling of the Panuco deposit.

The Company has not done sufficient work to classify the 2019 Panuco Historical Resource as a current mineral resource or mineral reserves, and the Company is not treating the historical estimate as current mineral resources or mineral reserves. Although the historical resource estimate is considered reliable, 8% of the drill core intervals used in the resource calculations was re-sampled and submitted these to ALS for independent assay. Further, additional data verification including resurveying of select diamond drill holes collars; review of graphic drill core logs, comparison of these logs with remaining half-cut core, and a cross-check of select geological logs agonist database entries; and a check of original ALS assay certificates against the assays and drill hole database. Remodelling of the current Panuco resource is ongoing pending receipt of check sample assays.

Forward-Looking Statements

Information set forth in this news release contains forward-looking statements that are based on assumptions as of the date of this news release. These statements reflect management's current estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations. They are not guarantees of future performance. Zacatecas Silver cautions that all forward looking statements are inherently uncertain and that actual performance may be affected by many material factors, many of which are beyond their respective control. Such factors include, among other things: risks and uncertainties relating to Zacatecas Silver's limited operating history, its proposed exploration and development activities on is Zacatecas Properties and the need to comply with environmental and governmental regulations. Accordingly, actual and future events, conditions and results may differ materially from the estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations expressed or implied in the forward-looking information. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, Zacatecas Silver does not undertake to publicly update or revise forward-looking information.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE Zacatecas Silver Corp.
Design on a project that would extend David Memorial Drive north to Texas 242 is nearing completion but funding of the project is still up in the air.

In December, Shenandoah Mayor Ritch Wheeler presented the project to the Conroe City Council. The $7.2 million extension is mostly funded with Shenandoah, Montgomery County and Houston Methodist The Woodlands Hospital, however, an additional $1.7 million was still needed.

John Bleyl, with Bleyl Engineering, spoke to the council during its March 10 workshop noting the project is expected to be under construction by January but without the funding, it could stall. According to Bleyl, Shenandoah is committing about $1.7 million Montgomery County is looking to fund $4 million leaving Conroe with the remaining $1.7 million.

Bleyl said half of the countys portion is being funded through the 2015 road bond referendum. He added Precinct 4 Commissioner James Metts has verbally commented to including the remaining $2 million in his 2022 budget.

We are under funded and we cant start the project without the funds in place, Bleyl said. It is a complicated project with all the entities involved.

The extension, Bleyl said, it critical for mobility in the area.

It will connect Tamina Road with Texas 242, he said. It will provide an alternate north south route. As you know the Interstate 45 Texas 242 intersection is very congested.

Bleyl also noted with extension will help with access to about 40 acres for future development.

The road is important as a whole to the region, Wheeler said during the councils December meeting. If you are ever around that area when it rains just a little bit, it floods a lot. That intersection of Texas 242 and Interstate 45 is impassable. This would provide an alternate route up to the Methodist hospital coming from the south.

The construction of the road, Wheeler noted, would also mean drainage could be addressed helping mitigate the flooding. The road will also help with traffic congestion at the intersection.

Wheeler said Houston Methodist The Woodlands Hospital CEO Debbie Sukin is supportive of the project and is willing to donate the right of way.

State Rep. Steve Toth, R-The Woodlands, spoke to council with Wheeler and said the extension will not only help Houston Methodist The Woodlands Hospital, but would also help CHI-St. Lukes Health The Woodlands Hospital and Memorial Hermann The Woodlands Hospital.

This is a community wide issue for all of us in Montgomery County, Toth said. Weve got to resolve this.

The council took no action on the project and agreed to revisit the issued at a future meeting.

cdominguez@hcnonline.com
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, left Ghana on Tuesday, 16th March 2021, for Cote dIvoire, in his capacity as Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority, to attend the funeral of the late Hamed Bakayoko, Prime Minister of Cote dIvoire.



The funeral will be held today Wednesday, 17th March, in Abidjan, capital of Cote dIvoire.



An eight-day period of national mourning for the late Prime Minister was announced by President Alassane Outtarra last Thursday, with the burial scheduled for Friday, 19th March.



President Akufo-Addo was accompanied by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Hon. Shirley Ayorkor Botchway, MP, and officials of the Presidency and the Foreign Ministry.



The President will return to Ghana on Wednesday, 17th February, 2021, and in his absence, the Vice President, Alhaji Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, shall, in accordance with Article 60(8) of the Constitution, act in his stead.















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The Abu Dhabi Global Market and the Israeli Corporations Authority, have entered into a Statement of Co-operation (SoC) with an aim of facilitating an influx of business opportunities and enhancing their respective registration functions.



The memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed by Dhaher bin Dhaher Al Mheiri, Chief Executive Officer of the ADGM Registration Authority, and Sigal Golan Atir, Registrar of Companies in the Israeli Corporations Authority, reported state news agency Wam.



The SoC will aim to promote a closer and wider partnership between Israeli and UAE businesses and companies. It will also allow sharing of professional knowledge and the provision of mutual assistance between the authorities, which is necessary to facilitate the performance of the respective registration authorities functions.



Al Mheiri said: "In light of the UAEs momentous signing of the Abraham Accords, we at ADGM are pleased to partner with the Registrar of Companies in the Israeli Corporations Authority to facilitate and realise the benefits arising from the increase of joint relations these two jurisdictions.



"We are confident that this agreement will result in fruitful outcomes for entities residing in both the UAE and Israel, serving as a gateway to valuable expansion and investment opportunities across both thriving business hubs and the wider region.



This agreement is a further testament to ADGMs ongoing efforts to enhance our expansive network of international partners, in which Israel is a key stakeholder. The RAs entering of this agreement will look to leverage the synergies between our respective jurisdictions across the high potential areas such as FinTech and entrepreneurship, and as well as each jurisdictions progressive regulatory frameworks, to facilitate mutual growth, he added.



The agreement was signed following an understanding of the need to enhance cooperation between the parties in light of the large volume of business expected between the two jurisdictions countries.
(This March 17 story corrects race of ninth juror in second paragraph after Hennepin County District Court issued statement saying it wrongly identified her as white, not multiracial)

By Jonathan Allen

(Reuters) - Two jurors seated in the trial of Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer facing murder charges over his arrest of George Floyd, were dismissed on Wednesday after they said news of a $27 million settlement with Floyd's family meant they could no longer be impartial.

Hennepin County District Judge Peter Cahill had set aside three weeks for jury selection, beginning last week, and was back down to seven seated jurors after the two dismissals. Two new jurors were seated later on Wednesday: a Black man and a multiracial woman, both in their 40s, according to the court.

"We're back to where we were this morning but it's better than being behind," Cahill said shortly before recessing for the day.

Mayor Jacob Frey joined some of Floyd's relatives at a news conference on Friday to announce the city would pay them $27 million to settle their federal wrongful-death lawsuit against the city, one of the largest settlements of its kind.

One of the jurors selected last week told the judge on Wednesday morning that the settlement's size shocked him and "kind of swayed me a little bit."

"It kind of sent a message that the city of Minneapolis felt that something was wrong, and they wanted to make it right, to the tune of that dollar amount," the juror, a white man in his 30s, told the court.

Cahill dismissed him and a Hispanic man in his 20s who expressed similar views. Some of the other seated jurors, who have been promised anonymity by the judge for the trial's duration, said they had seen headlines about the settlement but were able to assure the court it would not influence them.

Chauvin's lead lawyer, Eric Nelson, has complained to the court that publicity around the settlement makes it harder to seat a jury that can be impartial.

Story continues

All potential jurors so far have told the court they know who Chauvin is and almost all have seen video of the white police officer with his knee on Floyd's neck as Floyd, a 46-year-old Black man, begged for his life. The case sparked global protests against police brutality and racism.

Chauvin, 44, has pleaded not guilty to charges brought by the Minnesota attorney general's office of second-degree murder, third-degree murder and manslaughter, and has said he correctly followed his police training. He faces up to 40 years in prison if convicted on the most serious charge.

REVISITING CHANGE-OF-VENUE REQUEST

"You have elected officials  the governor, the mayor  making incredibly prejudicial statements about my client, this case," Nelson told the court on Tuesday. "You have the city settling a civil lawsuit for a record amount of money. And the pretrial publicity is just so concerning."

He has asked the judge to revisit the defense's earlier request to delay and move the trial to another county, which Cahill has said he will consider and hoped to issue his ruling on Friday.

Cahill agreed with Nelson's request to recall the seven jurors already seated to see if the settlement news might bias them, and they appeared one by one by videoconference on Wednesday morning.

Cahill said earlier news articles, including some reporting that Chauvin had agreed to plead guilty to federal charges last year, were more "problematic" than the settlement news.

Prosecutors oppose Nelson's efforts to move the trial or dismiss jurors who heard about the settlement.

"I think that this $27 million settlement has been frankly overblown," Steve Schleicher, a lawyer for the prosecution, told the court, saying many jurors interviewed since had shown no knowledge of the settlement.

The court plans to have opening arguments begin on March 29.

(Reporting by Jonathan Allen in New York; Editing by Alistair Bell and Peter Cooney)
LOS ANGELESThe district attorney of Queens, New York  the second-largest of New York Citys five boroughs  asked a judge on Tuesday to throw out 700 cases of people arrested on charges of loitering for the purpose of prostitution, and other charges realted to sex work activities, according to an Associated Press report.

The request by D.A. Melinda Katz comes about a month after the states legislature repealed a 45-year-old law against loitering, which had been designed to make arrests for prostitution easier  but ended up resulting in widespread racial and gender discrimination by law enforcement. The law became widely known as the walking while trans ban.

The state of California is now taking up legislation to do away with loitering laws there as well, as AVN reported last week.

Instead of prosecuting these defendants, we need to provide a helping hand by connecting them with meaningful services, support options and the necessary tools that will assist them to safely exit the sex trade if that is what they choose to do, Katz said in a statement, quoted by WPIX TV News in New York City.

Katzs request to dismiss hundreds of sex work-related charges, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that the city was initiating measure to decriminalize sex work entirely.

We need to end the criminalization of sex workers and put all the focus on those who subjugate them, de Blasio said in his announcement. He also called on the state government to change the laws, to end criminal penalties for sex workers, to put the focus where it should be, on the traffickers and those who profit.

Last week Darcel Clark, the D.A. in another New York Borough, the Bronx, said that a judge had granted her motion to throw out 800 loitering cases against arrested sex workers.

The District Attorney for Manhattan, Cyrus Vance Jr., has said that he will not seek reelection to a fourth term, and a leading candidate in the race to replace him  public defender Eliza Orlins  has made a pledge to end prosecutions of sex workers a key plank in het platform. And at the state level, a group of legislators has introduced a bill to decriminalize sex work statewide.

One legislator, Manhattan Democrat Liz Kruger, has introduced a bill based on the Nordic model of decriminalization, under which sex work itself would carry no criminal penalties, but teh act of paying for sex would remain criminal.

But Orlins proposal is far more expansive, calling for the full decriminalization of consensual sex work. This will begin with declining to prosecute all cases of consensual sex work.

Photo By Carlos Oliva / Pexels
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The French government on Monday, March 15, announced that it will be returning a Nazi-looted Gustav Klimt landscape painting to its owners. This comes eighty years after it was stolen from a Jewish family in Austria in 1938. French Culture Minister Roselyne Bachelot-Narquin, during a news conference in Paris said, the decision to return a major work from the public collections illustrates our commitment to the duty of justice and reparation vis-a-vis plundered families.

(French Culture Roselyne Bachelot gestures as she stays next to a oil painting by Gustav Klimt painted between in 1905 called "Rosebushes under the Trees," during a ceremony at the Orsay museum in Paris, Monday, March 15, 2021. The French government hands over a Klimt painting to the grandchildren of the holocaust victim Nora Stiasny stolen by the Nazis during World War II. Image Credits: AP)

(French Culture Roselyne Bachelot speaks next to a oil painting by Gustav Klimt painted between in 1905 called "Rosebushes under the Trees," during a ceremony at the Orsay museum in Paris, Monday, March 15, 2021. Image Credits: AP)

Titled as, Rosebushes under the Trees, the painting is entirely a work of oil by the Austrian symbolist painter and has been in Paris' Musee dOrsay museum for decades. The owner is a family of a holocaust victim. Bachelot-Narquin said that the authorities did not initially identify the painting as something which was stolen by the nazis. However, the fact that it was stolen was established after French government-led investigations on the same.

It is in recent years that the true origin of the painting has been established, said Bachelot-Narquin. She further added that it was the only Gustav Klimt painting owned by France.

In another significant development, the US government in February, deported a 95-year-old former Nazi concentration camp guard to Germany. Friedrich Karl Berger, a German citizen, was ordered removed from the US by a Tennessee court in February 2020, which was later upheld by the Board of Immigration Appeals in November 2020. The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) deported Berger on Friday. Though Berger admitted serving at a Nazi concentration camp during World War II, he will not face any charges due to lack of evidence.
Tesla head Elon Musk arrives to have a look at the construction site of the new Tesla Gigafactory near Berlin on September 03, 2020 near Gruenheide, Germany. Maja Hitij/Getty Images

The driver was using Tesla's Autopilot system when he crashed into the police vehicle, Michigan State Police said.

There were no injuries, according to police.

A federal agency is investigating a Tesla crash in Michigan last week that left two people hospitalized.

See more stories on Insider's business page.

A man driving a Tesla Model Y with Autopilot engaged crashed into a Michigan State Police car that had pulled over with its emergency lights on, the agency said Wednesday on Twitter.

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The 22-year-old driver was issued citations for failure to move over and driving with a suspended license, according to the Michigan State Police.

Police were investigating a crash between another vehicle and a deer when the patrol car was struck early Wednesday. There were no injuries, police said.

Tesla didn't respond to a request for comment from Insider.

This is the second Tesla collision in Michigan recently.

Detroit Police told Reuters that a Tesla sedan was driving through an intersection in southwestern Detroit last week before it crashed into a tractor-trailer. Both the driver and the Tesla passenger were transferred to a hospital, Reuters reported.

Detroit police couldn't determine whether the driver was using Tesla's Autopilot or "full self-driving" software, according to the Associated Press.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said that it is investigating the crash, Insider reported.

NHTSA didn't respond to Insider's request for comment.

Tesla's Autopilot system allows the car to brake, accelerate, and steer automatically. The electric car maker also sells its full self-driving software as a $10,000 one-off add-on and plans to release it as a subscription model this summer. FSD allows cars to park themselves, change lanes, and identify both stop signs and traffic lights.

Neither Autopilot nor FSD makes a Tesla car fully autonomous. At least three drivers have died while using Tesla's Autopilot.

Last month, the National Transportation Safety Board called for clear regulations for automated driving software and cited Tesla, saying that the automaker is testing systems "with limited oversight or reporting requirements."

Read the original article on Business Insider
One of the biggest bodegas in Jerez de la Frontera was named after St Patrick by its Irish founder, William Garvey. Garvey was an aristocrat born in 1756 at New Ross, County Waterford. He came to Cadiz in 1776 in search of merino rams to breed with the sheep that his father farmed in Ireland. According to legend, his ship was wrecked in a dreadful storm in the bay of Cadiz and William was rescued by Spaniards. A captain in the Spanish Navy, Rafael Gomez, generously offered to have the Irish man looked after by his daughters in his house in Puerto Real. During his recovery, William Garvey fell in love with one of the captain's daughters, Sebastiana Gomez Jimenez, and married her in 1794.

The Irish man decided to stay in Andalucia thanks not only to Sebastiana, but also to the incredible business opportunities in Jerez where the great sherry trade with England was based. It appears that he never returned to Ireland, though apparently he did manage to send some sheep to his father.

William Garvey wanted to try his fortune in the wine trade, and in Sanlucar, where he worked as a general merchant, he took his first steps to becoming directly involved in winery. First, he started purchasing wines from one Juan O'Connery, and later from Gordon & Co, as well as from another Irishman, Richard Shiel who worked in Spain for Devereux Shiel & Co of London.

After shipping small quantities of sherry to England and Ireland, William eventually became wealthy, and was able to afford to make his dream to create the biggest bodega a reality.

In 1780, on the edge of Jerez de la Frontera he bought vineyards stretching for miles. There is a story that William commended himself to the Patron Saint of his country, and believed that St Patrick would guide him. He decided that if he could achieve his dream, he would name the bodega in his honour - St Patrick (San Patricio).

The Bodega de San Patricio did become the area's largest, but this was probably due to William's son, Patrick. Patrick Garvey successfully developed the family business and in 1823 their bodega was the first to start selling quality Fino San Patricio sherry to England. The following year, William Garvey died at home, next to his beloved bodega.

At first finos were considered only good for producing vinegar. Also finos were made to be consumed fresh, and therefore they were not as ideal for shipping as the oxidised wines such as Amontillados and Olorosos. It is said that the secret of Garvey's success was in their PR campaign. Their slogan professed that only they could guarantee the finest selection of sherries.

The process of fino-sherry production needs a lot of time and much care. First, a dry white wine is fortified to between 15% and 15.5% alcohol, and then it is put in casks where a layer of oxygen-inhibiting yeast called flor forms on top of the wine. The flor imparts much of the distinctive flavour in a fino-sherry.

The San Patricio Fino is rich with fruity echoes, some herbal notes and bitter almonds with hints of olive brine. The aroma is of dried apples and flowers with light leathery notes. Traditionally Garvey's wines were sold in rounded bottles, nowadays they are sold in straight bottles with a screw cap for around five euros.
Californias attorney general and local officials sued the nations largest senior living home operator Monday, alleging the company misled consumers on quality ratings and broke laws intended to protect patients when they are discharged from a facility.

The suit centers on Brookdale Senior Living Inc.s 10 California-based skilled nursing facilities.

The company endangered the health of tens of thousands of patients and forced families to hurriedly find them new homes by failing to give at least 30 days notice of transfers or discharges as required for skilled nursing facilities, the suit alleges. It says the company also failed to adequately prepare patients to be discharged or transferred.

One was an 80-year-old man with Alzheimers disease, congestive heart failure and five other conditions who was released without proper notice or a discharge plan, the lawsuit says. Within a week, he was admitted to a hospital.

A 78-year-old man who had heart and kidney disease, trouble walking, and was recovering from pneumonia also was released without proper notice or a plan, with a catheter used to administer drugs still in his body, the lawsuit says. His family wasnt told how to administer his medications or supplemental oxygen, it alleges.

Brookdale does this so it can fill its beds with residents who will bring in more money, the suit alleges. It says the company will discharge patients when their Medicare coverage ends, regardless of the care and treatment needs, rather than keep them and receive lower levels of reimbursement.

The company said it is disappointed in the allegations and denied engaging in fraudulent conduct.

Brookdale is dedicated to providing quality care to our residents and patients, and we take our mission of enriching the lives of those we serve seriously, it said in a statement.

The Tennessee-based company operates in 43 states. It says it has 726 independent living, assisted living, memory care and continuing care retirement communities capable of serving about 64,000 residents.

Brookdale also gave false information to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid that it uses to award what are known as star ratings  a scale of one to five stars  which are intended to guide consumers in picking a quality facility, the suit alleges. Each facility gets an overall rating and ones for inspections, staffing and quality of care.

The company over-reported its nursing staffing hours and was given unwarranted four-and five-star ratings, the suit contends. It alleges the practice violated both the Unfair Competition Law and False Advertising Law.

We are holding Brookdale accountable for artificially increasing its profits by cutting corners when transferring or discharging its patients, said California Attorney General Xavier Becerra, who is awaiting Senate confirmation for secretary of health and human services in the Biden administration. It lured individuals to its facilities through false promises about providing the highest quality care.

The rating system was the subject of a l engthy, critical story Saturday by The New York Times. The newspaper said nursing home companies misled the star rating system in ways that hid long-running problems and were unprepared for the coronavirus pandemic that ran rampant through their vulnerable elderly and sick populations, killing more than 130,000 residents.

The rating system was particularly important to families during the pandemic, when they often couldnt visit facilities in person, the newspaper noted. It cites a lawsuit brought by a former resident of a Brookdale facility in Kentucky as one concern.

The company has or had California skilled nursing facilities in Bakersfield, Camarillo, Carlsbad, Northridge, Rancho Mirage, San Diego, San Dimas, San Juan Capistrano, Santa Rosa, and Yorba Linda.

The suit was led by Kern County District Attorney Cynthia Zimmer, who said in a statement that when nursing home companies break the rules, they create environments that subject the most vulnerable among us to unnecessary victimization, stress, and even physical harm.

She was joined by the district attorneys of Alameda, San Diego and Santa Cruz counties, as well as Los Angeles City Attorney Mike Feuer. The suit seeks a permanent injunction requiring better practices as well as civil penalties of $2,500 for each violation of the Business and Professions code that is proved at trial.

Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Lawsuits California Senior Care
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Sherri Kraham Talabany, the president and executive director of the Iraqi Kurdistan-based SEED Foundation NGO, speaks to Amberin Zaman this week about the enormous challenges facing Iraq as the country grapples with the human toll of the havoc and brutality wreaked by the Islamic State. Few have suffered as much as the country's Yazidi community, with thousands of its women abducted, raped and enslaved, as well as young boys used as child soldiers, in a wave of violence across Iraq and Syria.
JACKSON COUNTY, MI  Communities in Jackson County are getting their first checks for licensing pot shops more than a year after they were first allowed to open.

Earlier in March, the Michigan Department of Treasury began disbursing payments of the tax revenue generated from adult-use marijuana sales during fiscal year 2020. In Jackson County, eight adult-use marijuana retailers brought in nearly $450,000 for four municipalities, according to a state report.

Its part of the nearly $10 million paid to local municipalities that had retailers in their jurisdiction by the end of September 2020. Each license qualifies a community for about $28,000. Across the state, 38 cities, seven villages, 21 townships and 38 counties received revenue, according to the state.

Related: Michigan communities that allowed recreational marijuana shops to split $10 million in tax revenue

Jackson County received the most for the retailers that were licensed through the fiscal year that ended in September -- $224,010 for the eight retailers. At the most local level, Leoni Township received the largest allocation of about $168,000 for six adult-use retailers.

Steve Shotwell, Jackson County Board of Commissioners chairman, said the check is headed to the general fund reserve. Its possible the funds will be used toward the capital budget, to pay for things like new patrol cars and updated computer systems within the county cars. But those projects must be approved by the board.

Shotwell said it is helpful to have additional money considering how tight the budget was during deliberations last fall, before cuts and reallocations helped balance it, but thousands of dollars wont automatically fix a multi-million county budget.

Overall, its going to help us fill some holes, he said.

Leoni Township has not yet decided how to use its revenue, Supervisor Howard Linnabary said. The discussion hasnt come up and the check was only received earlier this month, he said, so for now it will be added to the general fund. Officials will later determine which projects could benefit from the funding.

Since the total revenue paid was variable and based on the taxes collected last year, township officials didnt factor it into plans and wont in the future, he said. But the funds are a good benefit after the township wrestled with its decision to opt-in for retailers.

We get the payoff, finally, he said.

Parma and Pulaski townships received about $28,000 each for their respective licenses.

Parma Township Supervisor Wendy Chamberlain said the funding comes at a great time because of the coronavirus pandemics impact on local government funding. The township plans to use the funding to support its public safety operations.

We have half a mil that we collect for our police and fire coverage and we supplement that with general fund money to make up the difference, Chamberlain said. So we will be using that $28,000 toward supporting our police coverage.

Michigan voters approved recreational marijuana commerce in a 2018 law that included a 10% excise tax on all sales. Between Dec. 1, 2019, the day the first sales began, and Sept. 30, the end of the 2020 fiscal year, the industry tallied more than $330 million in sales.

The law also provided a specific breakdown as to how those tax funds should be allocated: 15% to local municipalities that allowed recreational sales; 15% to counties, 35% to the education fund and 35% to the transportation fund.

The municipal breakdown was prorated based on the number of retail businesses in the community versus the total number statewide.

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Calling out the challenges posed by China, the United Kingdom will build more and expand its presence in the fields of space and cyberspace, announced Prime Minister Boris Johnson in a review of British military and foreign policy on Tuesday.

According to CNN, the British government wants to increase defense spending by 24 billion euros over the next four years, a large increase on the 42.2 billion euros spent in 2019-20.

Describing Beijing as the 'biggest state-based threat to the UK's economic security, the review said: "China's increasing power and international assertiveness is likely to be the most significant geopolitical factor of the 2020s."

After the report was released, Johnson in Parliament criticised for its mass detention of Uyghur people in Xinjiang province and treatment of democracy advocates in Hong Kong but also said that London must work with Beijing to solve global issues.

"There is no question that will pose a great challenge to an open society such as ours, but we also work with where that is consistent with our values and interests including building a strong and positive economic relationship and in addressing climate change," Johnson said.

The report proclaimed Russia as Britain's top security challenge, while also focusing on research and development for science and technology, climate change, and the COVID-19 pandemic, reported CNN.

"Russia is the most acute threat in the region and we will work with NATO Allies to ensure a united Western response, combining military, intelligence, and diplomatic efforts," the report said.

The document also reaffirms Britain's nuclear commitment to North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), saying the force could be committed to defending its European allies as well as the itself.

Britain will also revamp its overseas military installations in places like Singapore, Oman, Kenya, and Gibraltar.

"By strengthening our armed forces we will extend British influence while simultaneously creating jobs around the United Kingdom, reinforcing the union and maximizing our advantage in science and technology," Johnson said.

Labour leader Kier Starmer said that the document's tough lines on Russia and China belie recent government actions concerning those countries.

"Conservative governments have spent 10 years turning a blind eye to human rights abuses whilst inviting China to help build our infrastructure. Now that basic inconsistency is catching up with them," he said.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Navy and Marine Corps leaders have produced a new 40-page "campaign plan" to better explain to Congress, the public and even members of their own forces why unmanned ships and aircraft are not to be feared.

The Navy Department's Unmanned Campaign Framework was published Tuesday, two days before top leaders are due to testify about the future of drone technology on Capitol Hill.

"This campaign plan reflects an integrated Navy and Marine Corps strategy to make unmanned systems trusted in integral parts of our force," Vice Adm. Jim Kilby, deputy chief of naval operations for warfighting requirements and capabilities, told reporters ahead of its release.

Read Next: Army Chief Hints at New Training Center in Alaska While Unveiling New Arctic Strategy

The sea services' push for funding to test and field unmanned technology -- particularly drone surface vessels -- has faced significant resistance. The Navy wanted $2 billion to build 10 large unmanned surface vessels over the next five years, but later walked that back after lawmakers took steps to block the service from buying any of the ships in 2021 "until a certification regarding technology maturity has been submitted to Congress."

The new campaign plan doesn't include timelines or spending plans for specific platforms since it's unclassified, but explains that unmanned systems will be essential in future fights. Marine Lt. Gen. Eric Smith, deputy commandant for combat development and integration, said every program referenced in the report has a specific timeline with goals to meet their objectives.

The report lists seven unmanned air systems; seven unmanned surface vessels; eight unmanned undersea vessels; and three autonomous ground systems.

Smith said there's an underlying commitment to field the platforms as soon as possible "because the pacing threat is constantly moving and accelerating."

"We feel the proverbial hot breath on our neck to move as rapidly as possible and to be as agile as possible," he said.

Leaders say unmanned systems will be particularly important in competing with China and Russia, but the services aren't just facing resistance to unmanned technology on Capitol Hill. Smith and Kilby cited examples of resistance they see in the fleet, where some are comfortable doing things the way they've always done them.

Marine Commandant Gen. David Berger wrote in the plan that the idea of seeing half the Corps' aviation fleet being unmanned "in the near- to midterm" or most logistics needs being handled by drones should not frighten anyone.

Technology is driving the changes, Smith said, and Marines need to "play our part in it and to maximize it."

"What [the commandant] is saying is for everyone -- for young Marines, for commanders, for the retired community -- is 'Don't be frightened by the fact that you may have a larger percentage of your aviation community be unmanned or that you may have unmanned systems on the ground,'" Smith said. "And frankly, even to the public who we serve, these systems that we are procuring are remotely operated on their way to autonomy."

The goal is to create a hybrid force, Kilby and Smith stressed, in which unmanned platforms support sailors and Marines in the fleet. Pilots or ship drivers shouldn't be concerned they won't be as promotable as the Navy shifts to unmanned platforms, Kilby said. And Marines and sailors will still be making decisions to use lethal weapons on unmanned systems, Smith said.

The Navy and Marine Corps will hold fleet exercises during which troops will have a chance to get familiarized with some of the new systems. One of those exercises will be hosted next month by U.S. Pacific Fleet, Kilby said.

The document says the sea services want to take a "capabilities-based approach" to identify systems that work on a host of platforms rather than building plans around one piece of equipment.

At least one member of Congress already pushed back against the idea though, saying the Navy must address technical and operational problems on new vessels before they enter full production.

"[We] have been here before, rushing into the full development and production of a promising new platform too soon," Rep. Rob Wittman, a Virginia Republican and ranking member of the House Seapower and Projection Forces subcommittee, said Tuesday after the report was published. "It always proves a costly mistake, and we cannot afford to make that same mistake again."

Unmanned systems are "here to stay," Wittman added, calling it exciting to see the new processes underway.

"But we must focus on getting this right rather than doing this too quickly," he said. "... Simply put, the Navy must show they can meet the critical milestones and understand these platforms' roles before we invest taxpayer money into the vessels' full production."

-- Gina Harkins can be reached at gina.harkins@military.com. Follow her on Twitter @ginaaharkins.

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L. Neal Beard Jr, MD, President, Delaney Radiology We anticipate benefiting by the activities of the SR-Patient Safety Organization, leveraging SRs buying power for group purchasing, and accessing radiology business resources.

Wilmington, NC-based Delaney Radiology has joined the Strategic Radiology (SR) coalition of independent radiology practices, bringing the national alliance to a total of 30 member groups. It is the fifth North Carolina practice to join the coalition since 2019.

Founded in 1984, Delaney Radiologys 28 fellowship-trained radiologists provide subspecialized radiology interpretations and procedures to four hospitals and multiple outpatient sites throughout the Greater Metropolitan Wilmington Area. The practice maintains a strong community presence by providing patients with compassionate, expert care at two outpatient imaging center locations.

We are proud to welcome the members of Delaney Radiology to our national coalition of independent radiology practices, said Scott Bundy, MD, FACR, CEO and chair, SR. Delaney Radiology is a well-respected provider of radiology services in the communities, hospitals, and health care systems that it serves. Given its commitment to quality at a superior level of service and an innovative approach to patient-centered care, Delaney Radiology will make a great addition to the SR team.

As the latest member of SRs growing contingent of independent practices from N.C., Delaney Radiology shareholders already have many established relationships within the coalition. We anticipate benefiting by the activities of the SR-Patient Safety Organization, leveraging SRs buying power for group purchasing, and accessing radiology business resources, said L. Neal Beard Jr., MD, president, Delaney Radiology. We also look forward to exchanging best practices with other like-minded practices that are committed to independence.

Delaney Radiology demonstrated its commitment to quality by earning the ACR Breast Imaging Center of Excellence designation from the American College of Radiology, as well as accreditation in multiple medical imaging modalities. It recently introduced a patient education initiative to educate Wilmington-area women about breast health.

About Strategic Radiology

Strategic Radiology is a coalition of privately owned independent radiology practices, representing more than 1,300 radiologists. The coalitions goal is to enable the delivery of high value radiological services by improving quality through an integrated approach of shared data, best practices, and highly specialized clinical expertise in an efficient environment of shared resources. It operates the nations first radiology-focused Patient Safety Organization listed by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. http://www.StrategicRadiology.org.

SR Members


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Myanmar: Thousands of residents fled an industrial suburb of Myanmar's commercial capital on Tuesday (March 16) after it was placed under martial law by the ruling junta following bloody anti-coup protests over the weekend.

"Here is like a war zone, they are shooting everywhere," a labour organizer in the Hlaing Tharyar district told Reuters, saying that most residents were too frightened to go outside.

More than 40 people were killed by security forces in protests in Hlaing Tharyar on Sunday (March 14) and several factories were set ablaze. The families of many of the victims attended their funerals on Tuesday (March 16).

Myanmar has been in turmoil since the military staged the coup against Aung San Suu Kyi's elected government on February 1 and detained her and other members of her party, drawing widespread international condemnation.

France said the European Union would approve sanctions against those behind the coup next Monday.

The junta, meanwhile, charged the international envoy of the ousted government with treason for encouraging a civil disobedience campaign and calling for sanctions, army-run television said. The charges carry a possible death sentence.

Doctor Sasa -who is not in the country said he was proud to have been charged. "These generals have committed acts of treason every day. Taking what they want for themselves, denying the people their rights and oppressing those that stand in their way," he said in a statement.

More than 180 protesters have been killed as security forces try to crush a wave of demonstrations, according to the activist group the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners.

RESIDENTS FLEE

Many residents of Hlaing Tharyar, a poor suburb that is home to migrants and workers, fled on Tuesday (March 16) carrying their belongings on motorbikes and tuk-tuks after the army placed it and five other townships in Yangon under martial law, Frontier Myanmar reported.

Two doctors told Reuters there were still wounded people in need of medical attention in the area, but the army had sealed its entrances.

Matthew Smith, head of the Fortify Rights group, said on Twitter: "We`re told possibly dozens more killed in #HlaingTharYar today. Emergency vehicles are unable to access the area due to roadblocks."

A total mobile internet shutdown made it difficult to verify the information and the vast majority of people in Myanmar have no access to WiFi. A junta spokesman did not answer telephone calls to seek comment.

Earlier, China Global Television Network, an English-language international Chinese channel, had warned against further attacks on Chinese-owned businesses after more than 30 factories in Hlaing Tharyaran were torched on Sunday (March 14).

"China won't allow its interests to be exposed to further aggression. If the authorities cannot deliver and the chaos continues to spread, China might be forced into taking more drastic action to protect its interests," said CGTN, which is linked to the Chinese Communist Party.

When asked what drastic action might mean, China's mission to the United Nations in New York referred Reuters to previous Chinese statements saying Myanmar authorities must take measures to protect Chinese nationals and businesses.

Beijing is viewed by the opposition movement as supportive of the military and, unlike Western powers, it has not condemned the coup. Along with Russia, it has prevented the UN Security Council from denouncing the military`s actions as a coup.

Live TV

DAY OF MOURNING

Dozens of funerals were held in Yangon on Tuesday (March 16, 2021). Hundreds of mourners spilt onto the street at the funeral of medical student Khant Nyar Hein, who was killed on Sunday (March 14, 2021), the bloodiest day so far in the weeks of protests.

"Let them kill me right now, let them kill me instead of my son because I can`t take it any more," the student`s mother was seen saying in a video clip posted on Facebook.

Mourners, including fellow medical students in white lab coats, chanted: "Our revolution must prevail."

At least one more protester was shot dead on Tuesday in the central town of Kawlin, a resident there said.

People held up pictures of Suu Kyi - Myanmar's most prominent champion of democracy over three decades - and called for an end to the repression during a protest in the southern town of Dawei on Tuesday, the Dawei Watch media outlet reported.

The army said it took power after its accusations of fraud in a November 8 election won by Suu Kyi`s National League for Democracy (NLD) were rejected by the electoral commission. It has promised to hold a new election but has not set a date.

Suu Kyi, 75, has been detained since the coup and faces various charges including illegally importing walkie-talkie radios and infringing coronavirus protocols.

"The military is attempting to overturn the results of a democratic election and is brutally repressing peaceful protesters," US Secretary of State Antony Blinken told a news conference in Tokyo.

The UN human rights office said "deeply distressing" reports of torture in custody had emerged and five people were known to have died in detention.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said the European Union would approve sanctions on the generals at a foreign ministers` meeting next Monday. These will suspend all budgetary support and target the economic interests of individuals involved in the coup, he said.

Members of the ousted government, who have set up a parallel administration, called on Total and other oil firms operating in Myanmar to suspend payments to the military-controlled state.
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FLINT, MI  An Auburn Hills-based company is taking further action in its commitment to diversity through more than $1 million in donations toward a scholarship program at Kettering University.

The BorgWarner Scholars Program aims to distribute annual scholarships to students in financial need, with a primary focus on African American and Hispanic students who have an interest in participating in an engineering co-op at the company.

The challenges that a lot of our leaders have is getting a diverse workforce because theres not that many available, theres not that many graduating, said Brady Ericson, Vice President of BorgWarner Inc., President and GM of Morse Systems, and a Kettering alum. It was really a lot of just going back to the source and saying we better start working with these kids in junior high and high school and then showing them a pathway of a potential pathway to success and into a great career.

As a former advisor to the universitys Dean of Engineering, Ericson has been working with Kettering to increase the number of students going into STEM, or Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, fields and then being employed at BorgWarner after graduation.

Kettering allows us to stay in contact with them and continue that relationship with them throughout their college career and then ultimately into our workforce, Ericson said. So, its really just giving them an opportunity to dream a little bit and what it could turn into.

BorgWarner specializes in clean and efficient technology solutions for combustion, hybrid and electric vehicles. The company includes holds manufacturing and technical facilities in 96 locations in 24 countries, employing approximately 50,000 people worldwide.

The university and BorgWarner are working together in order to identify students in underserved communities through various recruitment effort, per a statement announcing the donation, with Kettering able to provide nearly $40,000 in scholarships on an annual basis through an endowment.

Starting freshmen year, students will be on-site, and full time at BorgWarner during their paid co-op rotations.

Students in the co-op rotations, depending on their major, will gain over two years of real-world experience. Students will be able to work and be mentored by BorgWarner engineers and technicians, testing parts, building parts, validating them, writing code in software, and any work to help them gain skills, developing and supporting their schoolwork.

The co-op rotations follow an established work plan in which the first few work sessions, students rotate through various functions to become familiar with BorgWarner and what each function does. The remaining work sessions will focus on the area of particular interest and aptitude of the student to target their sweet spot for full time employment.

In many ways, the co-op program at Kettering is setup to where theyre almost acting like engineers on day one, Ericson said. Were going to give them assignments like we do the rest of our engineers, so theyll get great exposure into what the jobs going to be in the future and hopefully giving them challenging projects.

At BorgWarner, were dedicated to cultivating a diverse workforce and in order to do so, we need to take action at the student level and help talented, bright, diverse minds overcome the barriers they are facing, said Felecia Pryor, Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer for BorgWarner Inc. We relate well with Kettering Universitys commitment to education that embodies technology and innovation and believe this endowment will be truly successful in opening doors and creating opportunities for students in the field who are most in need.

The general STEM education pipeline is not currently filling this gap, said Melanie Bass, Kettering University spokeswoman. Kettering wants to and will have a significant impact in solving this economic and social issue.

Separately, BorgWarner has donated $925,000 and $100,000 to support the program and help expand it to additional corporate sponsors.

The ultimate goal was to try to give kids a vision or an opportunity on how to change their circumstances, Ericson said. We can provide them a vision of what the next five to seven years could look like through co-ops, sponsorships, through a scholarship at BorgWarner, us helping them during the university with the co-op, with the mentorships, and then ultimately with the goal of leading it to a job at BorgWarner.

The hope is to get a more diverse workforce at BorgWarner, a more diverse student body at Kettering, and ultimately, graduating these students that came from underserved communities who will now have a pathway way into a great career, according to Ericson.

We are grateful to BorgWarner for investing in experiential, as well as financial, opportunities for students, said Sue Davies, Vice President of University Advancement and External Relations at Kettering. The impact this, coupled with our unique Co-op and educational experience, will have on these students immediately prepares them to be innovators and leaders in STEM industries around the world. Im most excited about how this will complement and further enhance our existing Office of Multicultural Students Initiatives (OMSI) which provides tutoring, mentorship and other support services to ensure our students success.

Kettering University students can find the scholarships through the scholarship portal to apply.

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Where I live things are beginning to turn green with a hint of spring. But it isnt just the flora here that has an intimation of green. The whole country, indeed, the whole world, is greening for St. Patricks Day.

The most extraordinary thing happens on that day: People around the world shed their ethnic identities to take on an Irish one. On March 17, the world decides it is Irish and that it must, as the Irish do, take a drink.

No other country commandeers the world more than that small island nation set in the North Atlantic. On the day when an otherwise obscure saint is celebrated, the world wears some item of green and quaffs something fermented or distilled.

For me, Ireland always has been a place of glorious contradictions and great writers  Joyce, Yeats, Shaw, Wilde, Swift, OBrien, Beckett and Lewis, come to mind in no order, and there are hundreds more.

It isnt just that its writers are among the greatest, but also that the Irish speak poetically, eschewing the simple answer, embroidering the boring cloth of fact, and sometimes confusing those who dont have the gift of deciphering eloquence.

An Irish friend, John McCaughey, and I were walking with our wives in Kinsale, on the southwest coast of Ireland, when we came upon a tempting pub and were tempted. It wasnt open, but an old man  and the old men of Ireland are a breed apart  patiently was waiting.

When will he be open? John asked.

Hed hardly be open now, said the old man.

Well, when will he be open?

Oh, hell be open in good time.

I asked John what he meant by in good time.

It means, said John, that he didnt have a clue, but he wouldnt like to say something so bald and down-letting.

In Ireland, the facts are often delivered in fine gift-wrapping.

In a restaurant, my wife asked whether the fish was fresh. The waiter replied, If it were any fresher, it would be swimming, and you wouldnt want that now, would you?

I spent two decades visiting Ireland as the American organizer of the Humbert Summer School in Ballina, Co. Mayo. Summer schools in Ireland are study groups that meet once a year and can focus on literature like the Yeats school, or politics like the Parnell school. They are akin to Bill Clintons Renaissance weekends.

The Humbert Summer School, created by John Cooney, the eminent historian and journalist, and sadly no longer operating, was named for Gen. Jean Joseph Amable Humbert, who was sent by Napoleon to assist the Irish with the uprising against the English in 1798, remembered in The Year of the French by Thomas Flanagan. The uprising failed, but Humbert became an Irish hero. (He fought gallantly in the Battle of New Orleans and ended his days in the city as a French teacher.)

Our summer school examined the position of Ireland in the world, especially its role in Europe. Every year I would try to bring a few Americans to the northwest of Ireland to enjoy the discussions, the great lamb, salmon and potatoes, and, of course, the free flow of Guinness, Murphys, Smithwicks, and Bushmills and Jameson whiskeys, refreshments we found conducive to good talk.

That part of Ireland historically had been hard used by the English, from the time of William of Orange in the 17th century to the Black and Tans in 1920, who were ill-trained and equipped English policemen, many teenagers, raised in England and inserted into the Royal Irish Constabulary, to oppose the Irish fight to overthrow English rule. They wore surplus green tunics and khaki trousers, hence their naming. Their conduct was brutal and thuggish.

I had told this dreadful history of English oppression in some detail to one of my American guests, Ray Connolly, who was from Boston. Driving back to Dublin, after the summer school session, we stopped at a pub. When the publican heard my English accent, he asked me about the weather over there. I knew he meant England. I told him that I used to live in England, but I had lived in the United States for many years and had become an American citizen. Rather than curling his lip at me, he threw his arms around my neck and said, God bless you. You havent lost your accent.

My friend was askance. I explained to Ray that the Irish love to denounce the English, but they are especially proud when their children have homes and careers in London.

In Ireland, your enemy can also be your friend. That is why I shall wear the green on the great day and sip something stronger than usual and celebrate a Frenchman who fought with the Irish against my ancestors. Slainte!
As millions continue to wait their turn for the COVID-19 vaccine, small but steady amounts of the precious doses have gone to waste across the country.

It's a heartbreaking reality that experts acknowledged was always likely to occur.

Thousands of shots have been wasted in Tennessee, Florida, Ohio and many other states.

No state admits to losing more than 0.17 percent of its total supply of vaccine - but even a tiny fraction lost amounts to hundreds or thousands of people who could have been vaccinated.

For all its tri-weekly data updates and dashboards, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has not established a public database of wasted doses and most states choose to focus on how many shots they have given while keeping less flattering data close to the chest, a new AP report suggests.

The reasons vary from shoddy record-keeping to accidentally trashing hundreds of shots.

However, pinning down just how many of the life-saving vials have been tossed remains largely unknown despite assurance from many local officials the number remains low.

Four states - Ohio, Tennessee, Florida and Louisiana - told the Associated Press that thousands of doses of coronavirus vaccines allocated to them have been wasted (red), but amount to only a tiny fraction of their total supply (pink; wasted supply and total supply not to scale)

To be sure, waste is common in global inoculation campaigns, with millions of doses of flu shots trashed each year.

By one World Health Organization estimate, as many as half of vaccines in previous campaigns worldwide have been thrown away because they were mishandled, unclaimed or expired.

By comparison, waste of the COVID-19 vaccine appears to be quite small, though the U.S. government has yet to release numbers shedding insight on its extent. Officials have promised that may change soon as more data is collected from the states.

In the interim, state health agencies are much more inclined to tout how fast they've administered the shots while keeping mum on the number of doses that end up in the trash.

Ohios Department of Health resisted the use of the term 'wasted' when asked by The Associated Press for a total number of tossed doses. Instead a spokesperson for the agency said that the state tracks 'unusable' vaccines reported by state providers.

As millions of doses of delicate vaccines - especially those made by Moderna (pictured) and Pfizer, which have kept at freezing temperatures - have been shipped across the country, thousands have had to be thrown out due to poor handling and information management or because they were simply thrown out by mistake (file)

Nearly 1,000 doses of coronavirus vaccine were accidentally thrown out by a clinic worker who believed their box contained only dry ice (file)

'With 3.2 million doses administered as of March 9, 2021, the 3,396 unusable doses reported by state providers make up about 0.1 percent of the doses administered - less than the CDC expectation of five percent of unusable doses,' Alicia Shoults, an Ohio Department of Health spokesperson, said in an email.

According to a log sheet provided by the department, Ohio providers reported almost 60 incidents where doses were unused. The largest incident occurred earlier this year, when a pharmacy responsible for distributing the vaccine to nursing homes failed to document storage temperatures for leftover shots, resulting in 890 doses being wasted.

In Tennessee, wasted, spoiled or unused doses aren't publicly disclosed on the state's online COVID-19 vaccine dashboard.

However, after nearly 4,500 of Tennessee's doses were ruined in February, the state's Department of Health scrambled to find answers.

It started with nearly 1,000 doses reported missing in eastern Tennessee's Knox County, where emotional local leaders told reporters that a shipment was accidentally tossed by an employee who believed the box contained dry ice.

Shortly after, a little more than 2,500 doses were reported wasted in Shelby County - which encompasses Memphis.

A state investigation concluded the eye-opening spoilage occurred over multiple incidents due to substandard pharmacy practices, a lack of standard operating procedures for storage and handling, disorganized record-keeping and deficient management of soon-to-expire vaccine doses.

A separate 1,000 doses were then reported spoiled in middle Tennessee after a school district reported a storage error.

Despite the recent string of wasted vaccine incidents, the health agency stressed that the number represents just a sliver of the nearly 1.9 million doses the state has received since December.

The rollout of more than 140 million doses of vaccines has been an unprecedented and largely successful feat - but many clinics rely mostly on paper documentation and that has come with occasional failures in record-keeping (file)

'We dont believe there is a systemic issue statewide, but were ramping up our efforts for compliance just to be sure,' state Health Commissioner Lisa Piercey told reporters earlier this month.

Piercey said Tennessee will soon conduct a review of the states vaccine distribution efforts to prevent future waste, and eventually hire a separate company to conduct the quality checks.

Meanwhile, in Florida, Surgeon General Dr Scott Rivkees recently called for an audit after more than 1,000 doses of vaccine were reported damaged last month in Palm Beach County.

When asked for the review of that audit, the state said this week it would provide those documents through a request for public records - which it was still compiling.

Like other states, Florida doesn't regularly publish how many doses don't end up in arms, but a spokesperson for the state health department said 4,435 doses had been reported wasted as of Monday.

In Louisiana, health officials give updated totals of wasted doses to reporters at the governors weekly COVID-19 briefing. Out of 1.2 million vaccine doses administered thus far, fewer than 1,500 had been wasted as of Tuesday, said Dr Joe Kanter, the governors chief public health adviser.

Ohio's health department reported 2,349 doses wasted or spoiled as of February. Officials stress the wasted amount is extremely low compared to the total doses that ended up in arms. However, they note, that doesn't make the situation any less upsetting.

'Here's the bottom line: This stuff is gold,' said Julie Willems Van Dijk, deputy secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. 'I think every vaccinator who touches a bottle of Pfizer, Moderna or J&J knows it...I've talked to people with these wasted vaccine and they are heartbroken.'

The federal government has also held off releasing numbers of spoiled or unusable doses, though it says states should report such waste in its vaccine tracker.

'We are working to figure out how to provide this data online in the future when the data is more complete,' Kristen Nordlund, a spokesperson for the CDC, said in an email.
Burma Elected NLD Lawmakers Yangon Office Destroyed by Myanmar Junta

The NLD's office in Yangons Mingalar Taung Nyunt Township was destroyed by security forces on the night of March 16. / Ko Yar Zar

The military regimes security forces destroyed the Yangon office of an elected lawmaker from the National League for Democracy (NLD) on Tuesday night.

The office of Daw Phyu Phyu Thin, an NLD MP and a current member of the Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw (CRPH), in Yangons Mingalar Taung Nyunt Township was raided by more than 30 police and soldiers at 10pm on March 16.

An NLD source said that the security forces destroyed the office furniture and smashed windows. A staff member who was present managed to escape when the incident started.

Security forces have raided NLD offices across Myanmar since the militarys Feb.1 coup, which came hours before a new parliament was set to convene. Over 2,100 people have been detained, including State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, President U Win Myint, ministers, political activists and anti-regime protesters.

Almost 200 civilians have been killed by the police and army in crackdowns against anti-coup protests, while the homes of NLD members and protesters have been raided at night by the security forces.

But protesters continue to defy the junta with essential workers joining the growing nationwide civil disobedience movement. Anti-regime demonstrations are taking place across the country by any means possible, including marches in the daytime, sit-ins and candlelight vigils by night, silent protests with placards, painting murals and banging pots and pans at 8pm every night.

The military regime has declared the CRPH to be illegal and has threatened legal action against anyone cooperating with it.

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How do you recruit more Black male teachers? Cleveland principal wins $5,000 for her idea, Read Like Me (Read more)

Local news East

Man dies in Painesville apartment fire, officials say (Read more)

Cleveland Heights in line for potential $40 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds (Read more)

Mayfield Village voters turn down term limits; could issue reappear on November ballot? (Read more)

Shaker officials spring Forward Together with request to delay Bertram Woods renovations (Read more)

Kanzinger resigns from Chagrin Falls school board; applicants sought for vacancy (Read more)

Local news West

Building closures, staffing and busing cuts in Brunswick Schools $3.5 million spending-reduction plan (Read more)

Brunswick council moves Heritage Farm bell tower project to Planning Commission (Read more)

Brecksville commission rejects plan for outpatient addiction treatment center (Read more)

Fundraising begins for special needs playground at Neura Park (Read more)

2021 Avon Heritage Duck Tape Festival canceled (Read more)

Akron area

FirstEnergy to appoint two new board members backed by activist investor Carl Icahn (Read more)

University of Akron will not raise tuition, will reduce on-campus housing rates by 30% (Read more)

Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad to kick off summer programs in May (Read more)

State

Ohios U.S. Senators concerned about reports that Ford will send new work to Mexico instead of Avon Lake (Read more)

Advocates call for greater transparency in Ohio campaign contributions raised by lobbyists (Read more)
Regulators have been urged to crack down on 'profiteering' by Britain's two largest card providers after Visa appeared to be joining Mastercard in massively hiking interchange fees after Brexit.

Purchases made from European shops by UK shoppers will be subject to a fivefold increase in fees if they pay by credit card and a 475 per cent rise if they pay by debit card, according to Sky News.

These fees are charged to retailers by their banks every time a card purchase is made to cover the cost of the transaction and are passed on to the bank which issues a shopper's card.

Visa is the UK's largest card provider and could be set to follow Mastercard in hiking interchange fees by as much as 475% later this year

Interchange fees have previously been capped by the European Commission but the UK is no longer covered by 'intra-regional' caps as it is no longer a member of the EU.

Instead, the likes of Mastercard and Visa can charge a higher 'inter-regional' rate of up to 1.5 per cent on credit card purchases and 1.15 per cent on debit card purchases. On the latter, this is a rise from the current 0.2 per cent.

This rate will apply to online purchases made by shoppers using UK-issued cards from retailers based in the European Economic Area, which includes the 27 EU member states plus Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein.

Mastercard previously announced in January it would hike fees from 15 October. But Visa's announcement is likely to have a much bigger impact as it is by far the UK's biggest card issuer.

It had an 84 per cent share of the UK card market prior to Mastercard inking a deal to provide cards for NatWest, although it will still have around a 73 per cent share of the market, according to the payment consultancy CMSPI.

Visa has refused to comment on the news publicly, but it is believed that the higher fees, which will be the same as Mastercard's, could be introduced to its clients in six months' time.

Mastercard said in January that as the UK was no longer part of the EU it would increase the fees it billed European merchants from October

Mastercard's hike is estimated to cost European merchants an extra 16.55million, or 14.18million, a year, with businesses in nations like Germany and Italy which export to the UK the worst hit, CMSPI said.

And while Mastercard said that 'consumers should not feel any impact of changes' as they relate to 'fees paid between merchants and banks for the provision of payments', shoppers already struggling with Brexit-related red tape could be left out of pocket.

The move will likely hit online purchases the most, especially in the form of retail, travel and hospitality.

Kevin Hollinrake, the Conservative MP who chairs the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Fair Business Banking, said the charges would 'inevitably be passed on to consumers'.

Mastercard has struck a deal to provide the cards of NatWest but Visa still retains an overwhelming share of the UK card market

He called the news of Visa's reported hike 'entirely wrong and without justification' and called for 'the Financial Conduct Authority to step in and prevent this kind of profiteering.'

Mr Hollinrake said the Mastercard announcement in January smacked of 'opportunism' and urged regulators to 'step in as a matter of urgency to ensure that financial institutions do not use Brexit as an opportunity to hike up costs that consumers will ultimately bear.'

Although Britons may believe this will hit small and medium-sized European exporters hardest, 'the vast majority of transactions conducted cross-border in this way are actually with multinational groups', according to the Financial Times.

Conservative MP Kevin Hollinrake said the move smacked of 'profiteering' and called for regulators to step in

Online shopping giant Amazon, for example, routes UK orders through its Luxembourg subsidiary.

Adam French, from the consumer group Which?, said: 'It is disappointing that Visa has followed Mastercard in increasing its interchange fees when we shop with EU-based businesses.

'Since the end of the transition period, we have had to come to terms with a confusing array of new fees and rules and if the increase to interchange fees is passed on to consumers via the price of goods, it will be yet another blow.

'The Government must be transparent about how new rules and regulations will impact the money in your pocket and work to address gaps in cross-border consumer protections that emerge  in this case, the protection we could lose from the cap on interchange fees that was in place.'

Visa declined to comment.
California Governor Newsom Worried About Recall Effort

California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Tuesday said hes concerned about the campaign to oust him from office.

Am I worried about it? Of course, Im worried about it, Newsom, a Democrat in his first term, said during an appearance on ABCs The View.

The nature of these things, the up or down question, the zero-sum nature of the question is challenging, its vexing. And, so, were taking it seriously, he added.

Organizers announced earlier this month that theyd accumulated nearly 2 million signatures ahead of the March 17 deadline. They only need 1.495 million verified signatures to place the recall on a ballot.

Newsom vowed to fight for his political survival and attempted to paint the recall organizers as fringe conspiracy theorists.

The chief proponent of this and, forgive me, this is just objective truth, that chief proponent of this recall petition supports putting microchips into migrants into immigrants. The other proponents, the chief, the top 10, proponents of people that are behind this are members of the three percenters, the right-wing militia group, the Proud Boys supported the insurrectionare folks that quite literally, enthusiastically support QAnon and conspiracies, so thats the origin here, he said.

Newsom also insinuated that supporters of former President Donald Trump largely made up signers of the recall petition.

Organizers told reporters on March 7 that an internal study done on a sample of about 20,000 signatures showed that 31.5 percent of the signers were not Republican, and prominent Democrats have publicly backed the movement.

Volunteers sort recall mail to oust California Governor Gavin Newsom at Capital Campaigns Incorporated in Newport Beach, Calif., on Jan 4, 2021. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

Supporters include people from all walks of life, Mike Netter, a Recall Gavin Newsom proponent, said at the time.

People are coming across the aisle, and from the entire political spectrum to work on this movement, because they feel so strongly about the direction California has been going for the last several decades, and they know that California is in desperate need of a course correction, he added.

Organizers said people are upset about Newsoms handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, rising housing costs, and failing schools.

What rankled some Californians was how Newsom urged them to stay home while attending a friends birthday dinner at the French Laundry. Photographs show the dinner taking place indoors, though the governors office has alleged there were sliding doors in one of the walls.

That was a terrible mistake. It was a friends 50th birthday. There were too many people at the table at the end of the day, I own that. And Im going to be held to account for that, Newsom told The View.

He also defended the harsh restrictions hes imposed during the pandemic when it was pointed out that California and Florida have nearly identical COVID-19 case rates despite the latter having far fewer rules.

Lets be just candid about this, Florida and California very different in every way, shape, or form in this respect. Most importantly, the issue of density is profoundly significant as it relates to the disease spread, the disease burden, particularly multi-generational households. And density, just consider L.A. aloneits density is seven times greater than that of Miami, he said.
US seeks 'deeds, not words' in meeting with China

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will lead the US delegation at the meeting in Alaska. Photo: AFP

The United States believes it will go into talks with China this week with an "increasingly strong hand" and will lay out deep concerns about Chinese behaviour on a wide range of issues, including human rights, senior US officials said on Tuesday.



Briefing journalists ahead of the talks scheduled for Thursday in Alaska, the officials said Washington would want to see "deeds, not words" from Beijing if it wants to improve ties.



The talks in Anchorage will be the Biden administration's first face-to-face meetings with senior officials from China, a country it has identified as its most formidable challenge.



Secretary of State Antony Blinken and President Joe Biden's national security adviser Jake Sullivan will meet China's top diplomat Yang Jiechi and State Councilor Wang Yi fresh from visits to stalwart allies Japan and South Korea aimed at emphasizing the US commitment to the Indo-Pacific in the face of Beijing's rise.



"We are coming in with what we feel like is an increasingly strong hand," one US official told reporters.



"Beijing has been talking about its desire to change the tone of the relationship. And of course, were going to be looking at deeds, not words, on that front," a second official said.



The US side would make clear its "deep concerns" about China's treatment of Muslims in Xinjiang and pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong, as well as its economic coercion of US allies and partners and aggressive moves towards Taiwan, the first official said.



Washington was not expecting specific negotiated deliverables from the meeting, but would lay down specific areas where it believes Beijing needs to change its course, the official said.



The second official said Beijing had a "pretty poor track record of keeping its promises" and Washington had realistic expectations about the possibilities for change.



At the same time, it did not want China "to be operating under illusions about our tough-minded approach to their very problematic behaviour," the official said.



"We're looking to have a nice, robust and very frank conversation with a power that is going to be a big competitor of ours," he said.



The first official said China's actions, including its "malicious cyber activity," fell short of acceptable behaviour and Washington would ask China to abide by international rules.



The official stressed that the Biden administration was unified in its approach on China and would not let Beijing pit different parts of the US government against each other - an apparent reference to differences within the previous Trump administration about how to deal with Beijing. (Reuters)
Nurse Ellen Quinones prepares a dose of Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine at the Bathgate Post Office vaccination facility in the Bronx, New York, on Jan. 10, 2021. (Kevin Hagen/Pool via Reuters)

WHO Scientist: No Documented Death Linked to COVID-19 Vaccine

A World Health Organization (WHO) researcher says there is no evidence linking deaths to any CCP virus vaccine, after numerous European Union countries and other nations suspended usage of AstraZenecas vaccine amid reports of blood clots.

There is no documented death thats been linked to a COVID vaccine, Soumya Swaminathan, a WHO clinical scientist, said in a March 15 news conference.

While we need to continue to be very closely monitoring this, we do not want people to panic.

The U.N.-backed health agency would for the time being recommend that countries continue vaccinating with AstraZeneca, the scientist said, adding that more updates are pending on March 18.

Her statements follow those made by the EUs European Medicines Agency that the vaccine is safe, saying that the benefits of the AstraZeneca vaccine in preventing COVID-19, with its associated risk of hospitalization and death, outweigh the risks of side effects.

But France, Sweden, Germany, Spain, and Italy have all suspended usage of the vaccine, joining dozens of other countries in and outside of Europe. Italian officials in the Piedmont region said on March 15 they would launch a criminal manslaughter investigation after 57-year-old music teacher Sandro Tognatti died hours after receiving the shot.

Teresa Angela Camelio, the Piedmont prosecutor, announced that the move [follows] the decision of the Piedmont region to suspend momentarily the administration of the AstraZeneca vaccine included in batch ABV5811, pending the decisions of the judicial authority and the drug supervisory commission.

Tognatti received the COVID-19 vaccine in his hometown of Biella on March 13. His wife told news outlets that he went to bed that night with a high fever. The next day, she said, an ambulance was called for him, and he later died.

In a statement to The Epoch Times, AstraZeneca stated that around 17 million people in the EU and UK have now received our vaccine, and the number of cases of blood clots reported in this group is lower than the hundreds of cases that would be expected among the general population.

The Italian mans death came just days after a 60-year-old Danish woman suffered highly unusual symptoms and died after receiving the vaccine, the Danish Medicines Agency reported. The woman had a low number of blood platelets and clots in small and large vessels, as well as bleeding, it stated, according to a report from Reuters.

It was an unusual course of illness around the death that made the Danish Medicines Agency react, the agency said in a statement.
But in the lead-up to this months election, there has been neither an embrace of President Biden nor a repudiation of him. And thats not for a lack of opportunity. Nearly four weeks passed between Mr. Bidens inauguration and his first call to Israels prime minister. That was viewed by many as a snub. But when Mr. Netanyahu was asked this month why Mr. Biden was so late to call him, the prime minister didnt try to convince the voters that in fact, Mr. Biden was his best friend; nor did he try to claim that Mr. Biden was a great foe who threatened Israels security. He dismissed the question with a few generalities and moved on.

Mr. Netanyahus main rivals, Yair Lapid, Naftali Bennett and Gideon Saar, have also been hesitant to seize on the issue, or on early signs of disagreement between Washington and Israel over Iran as proof that the prime minister is not fit to keep Israel secure.

Theres a simple explanation, and a more complicated one, for this unusual absence. First, the simple: Israelis do not yet know whether Mr. Biden will prove to be a friend, like his predecessor, or a thorn in their side, like the president he previously served under. Mr. Netanyahu cannot yet oppose him because so far he has done nothing objectionable, and alienating the White House for no good reason is beyond the pale even for a cynic like Mr. Netanyahu. The opposite is also true: Mr. Biden has not yet proved himself to be Israels friend as president, and so the prime ministers rivals must be careful not to portray themselves as his admirers.

The more complicated explanation concerns Americas interest in the Middle East and the countrys relative irrelevance to much that is happening in the region. The United States was unsuccessful in its halfhearted quest to contain Iranian expansion; it was missing in action in the Syrian civil war; it bet on wrong horses during the so-called Arab Spring; it has alienated the Saudis, let Russia take over Libya and did nothing of value to resolve the Palestinian issue. The list goes on.

In fact, the only true achievement of the United States in the region in recent years is the Abraham Accords, the normalization agreement between Israel and the Gulf Arab countries, which was orchestrated by the Trump administration. But this significant move was achieved not as a triumph of the traditional American policy but because American diplomacy was on leave  temporarily occupied by the revolutionary troops of the Trump administration.
WILLIAMSPORT  A 1990 escapee from the former Allenwood Federal Prison Camp is a fugitive no longer.

U.S. Marshals were unable to track down Miguel Infante-Gomez and they no longer are looking for him. They learned he died in 2014.

Infante-Gomez was sentenced in South Florida on March 15, 1990, to 18 months in prison for conspiracy to export stolen cars.

He was sent to the minimum-security Allenwood camp south of Williamsport about a month later and on May 5 he walked away.

He was indicted in U.S. Middle District Court on an escape charge and a warrant was issued for his arrest.

According to marshals, Infante-Gomez called them in April 1999, told them he was in the Dominican Republic and he did not intend to return to the United States. It was confirmed the call was made in the Dominican Republic, they said.

Between 1999 and last year marshals said they pursued leads in New York, Florida, Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic but never caught up with him.

Last year they re-interviewed Infante-Gomezs friends and family and learned he had died in April 2014 at the age of 68 in San Felipe de Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic.

The Marshals Service and authorities in the Dominican Republic verified the death. On Tuesday, Judge Yvette Kane granted the governments motion to dismiss the indictment charging Infante-Gomez with escape.

With the exception of the governments motion to dismiss Kanes order, the case remains sealed.

ALSO READ: Central Susquehanna Valley Thruway construction is once again underway
Several central and European countries are pressing the European Union to set up a corrective mechanism to address inequalities in the vaccine distribution within the bloc. According to AP, Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz called for greater transparency in coronavirus vaccines. Kurz hosted his Czech, Bulgarian and Slovenian counterparts in Vienna Tuesday, with the Latvian and Croatian leaders joining by videoconference.

During the meeting, he said that some member of countries may be able to vaccinate their population by mid-May but others may take up to 10 weeks longer. The Austrian leader added, "that will lead to tension within the European Union and wouldn't be understood by Europeans. He also said that countries are in good contact with the European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Charles Michel, and hope for a solution.

The leaders have said that although the EU had agreed on the distribution of the vaccines on a per-capita basis, some countries have received considerably more than others. Earlier this week, the Austrian Chancellor had said that 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.

Kurz cited Bulgaria and Latvia as two other countries where deliveries had been low, and Malta as another country that had received far more. On Tuesday, Bulgarian PM Boyko Borissov said elections are taking place in his country in two weeks. We want to vaccinate people so that they can vote in peace, he added.

EU indulges in spat over COVID-19 vaccines

Earlier, UK and EU indulged in a spat over the COVID-19 vaccines after the EU president Charles Michel released a newsletter, stating that the EU was the driving force and leading donor in the international fundraising that enabled the financing of the research into vaccines." He alleged, that the US and UK, saying that two countries imposed an outright ban on the export of vaccines or vaccine components produced on their territory." UK's Foreign Secretary Dominic wrote to the President of the European Council expressing angst over the bloc's completely false' claims that the UK banned the export of coronavirus vaccine. He summoned the EU's UK delegation to hold talks for clarification at the UKs Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office over EU President'sunsubstantiated remarks.

(Image: AP)


New Delhi, March 17 : A 45-year-old woman was shot dead by bike-borne assailants here on Wednesday.

The victim identified as Meena was from Nepal and was residing in Timarpur in North Delhi, where the attack took place. She used to sell water, snacks and cold drinks.

Police received information about the shooting around 7 a.m.

"Information was received that two assailants came near a shop and fired. They fled with the bike. The injured was shifted to a hospital immediately where she was declared brought dead. A case of murder is being registered," said a senior police officer.

Police has formed several teams to identify and arrest the accused.
This conversation is the latest in our ongoing series of in-depth 74 Interviews (scan our full archive). Other notable recent interviews: Former Sen. Lamar Alexander talks about finally fixing the college financial aid form, researcher Angela Duckworth talks parenting, psychology and grit, and Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee reviews a community-based afterschool program that can help combat learning loss.

A year ago when the pandemic struck, almost every one of Americas 13,000 school districts abruptly shut down. As time wore on, a crucial obstacle arose: with those districts making separate decisions about when and how to reopen, how were stakeholders supposed to know whether students were learning in person, remotely or through a mixture of both?

Enter Dennis Roche, unlikely education data hero of the pandemic.

Dennis Roche

With his wife, Roche runs Burbio, a website that helps users find community events in their area. Though the company did not begin as a school reopening tracker, they pivoted quickly last summer to begin gauging how many schools nationwide were offering in-person learning  a task that quickly proved herculean.

Weve literally checked these districts tens of thousands of times. Weve watched hundreds of thousands of hours of video, weve read thousands of superintendent letters, said Roche, explaining their methods.

But the hours paid off. Burbio soon became an indispensable resource for understanding the country-wide school reopening landscape. The Washington Post, Politico and the New York Times all regularly cite figures from the website, whose name is a play on the word suburb, in stories on schools.

As vaccinations roll out, and as more and more schools begin to welcome students back to classrooms, Roche, from his home in Pelham, New York, offered a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to measure reopenings countrywide, while reflecting on the trends education has seen through this unprecedented crisis and whats on the horizon.

Story continues

The following interview has been edited for length and clarity:

The 74: Could you tell me what the concept was behind Burbio when it launched? Clearly, it wasnt about COVID school reopenings.

Roche: Burbio is a six-year-old company, and it was founded by my wife and I. We have four children and it started as a way to better keep track of local community and school events. The problem we were trying to solve is: Why is it so hard to keep track of whats going on in the community?

And so my wife was a math major, and she said, Well, Im going to try and figure out how to solve it. So she built our technology. . Burbio currently streams 200,000 school, government, library and nonprofit community calendars from all 50 states and its dynamically up to date.

When we were building out our content, we had to go and find these websites. We had to understand the difference between a Lions Club and a Kiwanis Club. We needed to understand the difference between a charter school district, which is really maybe just a school, and an actual school district that has dozens of schools.

So that was our culture at the time when COVID hit, we were an information service  and we still are.

When the pandemic hit, this question of in-person versus remote or hybrid learning emerged nationwide, and was a huge question. The Trump administration wasnt tracking that data. So how did you realize that Burbio might be able to fill that gap?

When COVID hit, all community events stopped. The libraries, the nonprofits, the non-school stuff stopped and all the school stuff went virtual.

For Burbio, we had to rethink immediately what problem we were now solving  We had a one-week period where a lot of things that were on some of our calendars werent accurate. So we started to say, How can we be more helpful and what in this world can we do?

We have 80,000 K-12 school calendars representing probably about 90 percent of all the students that are on our service. Well, if you work with suppliers, if youre trying to sell food to that industry, that information could be interesting, right? COVID put that to the front of the line.

In the middle of July, when it became clear [that some schools wouldnt reopen], we were racing. Every day, we would come in and we were just trying to reinvent ourselves.  We started breaking down America into counties. Theres a little over 3,000. The top 460 biggest [counties] make up 75 percent of the United States  the people, the economy and the student population.

So we started by measuring, OK, whos in person every day, and then backing it up from there. I clearly remember LA Unified and then down in the D.C. area, Montgomery and Fairfax County were three of the early [districts] that said they were just going to be virtual. So we said, were going to measure this whole virtual versus in-person thing.

So we said, were going to build an audit product. We deploy our team to audit how schools are learning. We will do it proactively, we will not ask anyone to tell us, we dont need to bother them. We started checking all the time in August, because it was changing so much. You had schools that were announcing that were going to be in person and changing their minds. Because we wanted to get it right at the county level, we knew we would have to check small schools and big schools and we would have to check everywhere in America, all 50 states.

Youre talking about these pivots Burbio had to make. What did the information collection look like operationally? Are we talking about data scraping?

Pre-COVID, we had a highly automated system that still exists where we precisely bring in calendar feeds. We bring in whats happening on a local calendar.

But for this product, the school tracker, we dont scrape, we audit. We physically look at the website, someones eyes are on that  I dont think you can scrape this.

So theres a Burbio employee whos toggling through these school announcements and recording the results?

Everything. Every 72 hours, we touch every school district in our database. Every school district were auditing gets a look every 72 hours.

So weve literally checked these districts tens of thousands of times. Weve watched hundreds of thousands of hours of video, weve read thousands of superintendent letters. Weve seen all the different color-coded guidelines in all 50 states. Thats how we grew. That was where we put the 10,000 hours in, so to speak, just understanding what was really happening.

Related: Collection of 130 COVID Studies Aims to Give Schools a Solid Grounding to Reopen

That explains why theres not another service like yours out there right now. Thats a heavy lift.

It was a team of five. They do it 30-plus hours a week. Weve been doing it nonstop. Every school district has a unique way of communicating it and we have to figure it all out.

Can you pinpoint the moment where you started to see that work pay off? When the school tracker rose to prominence  like when the New York Times first cited Burbio, for example. What was that like?

We got covered a bit more in the business press early. In the beginning, we were covered by CNBC, and Bloomberg, and a little bit in Politico, in USA Today. Then what I did is we introduced a weekly newsletter and at that point, it became more relevant to the education press.

For example, in October, there was this issue of community spread and these [social distancing] guidelines for schools to open. But the real issue that we saw was quarantining. The rules in place for that were triggering school closures. In other words, it became not about community spread thresholds, its really about quarantine. There were districts that were going to be forced to close because of quarantine, not because the community spread.

So in those [newsletter] alerts, I include things that are staring at us. Not because were all that smart, but because were just seeing whats happening.  We wanted to be a source of truth.

Why is having that data so important? What do we lose if it doesnt get measured?

Key sectors of the economy need to know whether parents are going to be able to go to work normally. Thats harder if their children are not in school every day, right? If you are someone who sells any product related to families, schools or parents, its going to be dramatically affected. So that was the problem we were trying to solve and that is our current client base.

Can you say a little more about the websites revenue model?

We provide information to suppliers of food to the K-12 industry. So thats one thing. Also anyone in the e-learning space, right, another good example. Theres any number of companies who sell into K-12 schools. Weve got clients in the health care industry who are administering vaccines, shots, testing and all that. So theres a whole huge industry where we can help. So thats, thats a big part of our business model.

The second part of our business model is companies that sell products that will be purchased based on whether schools are opened. We also work with some investment clients.

Our perfect world would be to find a think tank home for this [data] for research purposes.  We have a weekly digest of whether 1,200 school districts across America were open [last year] from August 15 onward. We were touching it every week. Most [districts], when they would close, they would close for a week or two weeks. So thats going be really interesting, historically.

Youve had a birds eye view on reopening nationwide. What trends have most surprised you or have gone under recognized?

Theres some districts in the country that have not opened, or have barely opened. The districts that have opened are on to the next challenge.  Dallas has, like, three different schedules, depending on where the student is at from a learning perspective. They had everyday instruction, for the most part down there and now theyre on to the next thing.  The implications of new scheduling [models] will be dramatic, what the school year looks like. At a minimum, its going to be longer than normal.

Related: Analysis: Mentors, Team Teaching, 7-Week Class Cycles 12 Months a Year  Some School Innovations in Staffing and Scheduling During COVID-19

Second thing is virtual [learning]. You saw in Minnesota and Iowa, among others, theyve announced the statewide virtual learning options. The question is where does it work and what are the ramifications? What kind of effect is that going to have on public schools? Because once you put someone in front of a computer in Minnesota, and they can take all their classes from a school thats 300 miles away, theres a lot of implications of that.

The third thing is the sheer number of opt-outs, people that have been allowed to send kids to school in-person and have not done it. Its quite large. What is going to happen to that number, when youve got city districts with 50 to 70 percent of parents deciding not to send their students in?  Is that going to be zero or close to zero in September? I dont know the answer to that.

Then the final pieces would be the CDC regulations, this whole six feet versus three feet thing. Will the CDC guidelines change in the spring when the teachers are vaccinated? Or will it not?

Related: Inside the New CDC Guidance on Reopening Classrooms: Masks and Social Distancing Key Safety Strategies, Vaccinations Not a Precondition for In-Person Learning

Whats to come for the school tracker? I know the Biden education department is looking to collect data on school reopenings through a national survey. Whats next on your horizon?

Were looking at a couple of things. Were going to keep it in place, and well incorporate anything that comes in. The Biden administration is not measuring high schools, for example. Theyre going to be getting at this issue of educational equity, and the demographics of how things are playing out. So there are things theyre going to look at that we dont begin to get at, we just cant.

The next thing were building right now as I sit here is summer school. Were trying to figure out how to measure that. It may be more automated, but were gonna be taking a good hard look about whats going on this summer and beyond.

Were just going to try and be a solution for as long as it matters.

Related: Sign up for The 74s newsletter
In an order with far-reaching implications, the



State Board of Auqaf has issued a circular to all the and dargahs (mausoleums) in the state not to use loudspeakers between 10 pm and 6 am, saying the ambient noise level around these structures has "deleterious effects on human health and the psychological well-being of people".

In the circular dated March 9, the board said, "The loudspeakers shall not be used at night time, which shall mean from 10 pm to 6 am."



Further underlining the "silence zones", the circular said any violation will be liable for penalty.

"The areas comprising not less than 100 metres around hospitals, educational institutions and courts are declared as silence zones.

"Whoever uses sound amplifier or burst sound-emitting firecrackers, uses a loudspeaker or public address system in a silence zone is liable for penalty under the provisions of the Environment (Protection) Act-1986," the circular read.

These decisions were taken at the board's 327th meeting held on December 19, 2020 regarding a strict adherence to the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000 in and "it unanimously resolved to create awareness amongst the managements of Masjids and Dargahs".

"It is observed that increasing the ambient noise level around many a Masjid and Dargahs due to generator sets, loudspeakers and public address systems has deleterious effects on human health and the psychological well-being of people," the order noted.

The board reminded the mutawallis and managing committees of the and dargahs that it had issued a circular on July 10, 2017 (when Siddaramaiah headed the Congress government in Karnataka) to follow the ambient noise standards in accordance with the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000.

The circular said loudspeakers should be used only for "azan" and other important announcements, whereas the congregational Salat, Jumma Qutba, Bayans, religious socio-cultural and knowledge-based functions shall be performed with the speakers installed on the premises of the and dargahs.

The noise-governing apparatus may be installed in the institutions in consultation with the local environment officers.

The Khateeb O Imam of Bengaluru's Jamia Masjid, Maqsood Imran, told PTI that he too has received the circular. He added that they have spoken to the CEO of the board about revising the circular since the morning "azan" is an important one.

He shared a letter written by member and MLA Tanveer Sait to the CEO of the board.

In the letter, Sait said, "As the board is an autonomous body, keeping this instruction in the view, you are hereby directed to issue an amended circular at the earliest, considering sunrise timings and use of loudspeakers sensibly between 10 pm to 5 am as the holy month of Ramzan is fast approaching."



Former chairman of the state Anwar Manippady told PTI, "It is a great step towards amiability in the society between the two communities -- minorities and majorities.

(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.)
Colorado Springs, CO (80903)

Today

A few clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 49F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

A few clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 49F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph.
Orange County Citizens Hope to Raise Awareness of Conflict in Burma

STANTON, Calif.Burmese citizens in Orange County, California, say theyre heartbroken by the ongoing situation in Burma (also known as Myanmar) following last months military coup, and are urging U.S. officials to become more actively involved in restoring the countrys democracy.

The city of Stanton is home to Orange Countys largest Burmese community and the countys only Burmese restaurant, Irrawaddy Taste of Burma. Restaurant owner Banny Hong, along with other members of the Burmese diaspora in the region, are concerned for family members and friends suffering through the turmoil.

Burma is a peaceful country with peaceful people. I cannot believe this is happening right now, Hong told The Epoch Times. The military has taken full control and people are being killed everywhere.

Stanton Mayor David Shawver told The Epoch Times he has developed an admiration for Burmese culture and hospitality from his constituents. Following the coup, the local community shared personal stories with him about the ongoing situation in Burma, he said. He compared them to some of historys worst atrocities.

Everyone who believes in basic human rights and freedom must be aware of and educated about what is happening in Myanmar. It is very similar to what happened in Cambodia and in the killing fields of all of Vietnam, Shawver said.

We need to support the families and the students by educating the people of California and throughout the U.S. about the reality of the brutalities and murders in Myanmar. We must get our government to condemn and sanction the leaders of the takeover of the democratic government.

Before being ousted and detained following the Feb. 1 coup, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi held the role of Burmas state counsellor, the civilian head of government. Since then, U.S. officials have tried to contact her, but have been rebuffed by the countrys military regime, which has used increasing violence against protesters in recent weeks.

As of March 15, over 2,000 people had been arrested, charged, or sentenced, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners in Myanmar, and nearly all were still in detention or had outstanding warrants. Over 182 had been killed in the violent crackdowns.

Orange County residents with connections in Burma showed The Epoch Times visual evidence of alleged victims of the crackdowns violence.

We must not let the atrocities be repeated to anyone else, said Shawver. We must pray, because what is happening is not going to be OK.

To raise local awareness about the horrors that are currently surfacing, a Myanmar Democracy Awareness rally has been planned for noon on Saturday, March 20, at Stanton City Hall.

Thet Lin Tun, the 21-year-old president of the Burmese Student Association at the University of CaliforniaLos Angeles (UCLA), told The Epoch Times the rallys cause is to spread awareness about what is actually going on in Burma.

When he first heard about the situation, he didnt believe it, he saidespecially after the country won back a form of democracy in 2011 after decades of military rule.

When I first started [hearing] about the situation in Myanmar it shocked me, said Tun. I could not process it at all for the first few moments. This just seems completely something that came out of fiction, and it just was unbelievable that we have to be going through this all over again.

Tun and his student association have been fundraising for humanitarian efforts since the coup began. The group also gathers on-the-ground information about what is really going on in the country, as military officials have restricted international journalists from documenting the conflict.

Tun said when people read news about the situation, many mainstream sources talk about the brutality that has happened, but its a little bit more filtered.

But then the news that are coming out from direct sources right now are showing and telling me that the situation in Myanmar is even worse than what the newspapers have covered, and the military has been horrifically brutal towards their own people, towards the peaceful protesters. Theyve been ramping up and escalating their killing of the civilians, he said.

Saturdays rally in Stanton will feature political and Burmese guest speakers, connections with Burmese culture, photographic and video evidence of the conflict, and information about what people can do to help.

California can help [us] and more by being engaged with whats going on in Myanmar, and really taking in information and awareness of the current situation to conduct advocacy. Write your senators and congressional representatives, and  really pressure Congress into taking some form of action to help the people of Myanmar, Lin suggested. Be engaged about whats going on and advocate to elected officials that some action needs to be done.
Who will be the next CM of Assam? Sarbananda Sonowal or Himanta Biswa Sarma?

Assam elections 2021: Congress responsible for lack of development in North East, says CM Yogi Adityanath

India

oi-Ajay Joseph Raj P

Hojai, Mar 17: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday held Congress responsible for lack of development and illegal influx in the North East and rise of militancy in Kashmir in its quest for power.

Addressing a poll campaign rally here, the senior BJP leader charged the Congress, the main opposition party in Assam, of ignoring the people's welfare and development of the region in its quest for power.

Adityanath said the northeast looked for development under the successive Congress governments.

West Bengal elections 2021: Mamata Banerjee releases TMC manifesto

"Congress never worked for development and progress of the region or the country's unity or welfare of the people, but only to grab power. This forced the people here to endure its misrule for a long time and the problem of illegal migration in the area," he said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the other hand scrapped the Look East Policy and implemented instead the Act East Policy for the development of the region. He also directed that each of his cabinet ministers spend a day in the north eastnn and study how their respective departments' schemes for welfare of the poor are implemented, the chief minister said.

Continuing his attack on the Congress for encouraging militancy, Adityanath said that the Congress had in 1952 introduced Article 370 granting special status to Kashmir paving the way for entry of militants there.

"Congress had put restrictions on the movement of people from other states to Kashmir and buying land there. But now with revocation of Article 370 anybody from any part of the country can buy property there", he said.

Kerala elections 2021: Congress alleges rampant fraud in voters' list in State

Chanting 'Jai Shri Ram', Adityanath also said "No work in India can be done without the name of Lord Ram. Ram is India's identity, heritage, culture, its foundation." He said, "Overcoming all obstacles the BJP government laid the foundation of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. People from Assam have generously contributed towards its construction."

Adityanath claimed that people need a government like the Modi government, which conducted the surgical strike in September 2016 in Pakistan administered Kashmir when that country intruded, brought about development and unity to the country, provided employment opportunities to the youth and protected the honour of women by doing away with the instant triple talaq.

Under PM Modi's leadership during the last six years the BJP government undertook welfare schemes for all citizens, irrespective of the various differences. It provided benefits under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, free LPG to women under Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, LED bulbs, electricity, drinking water to each household, Rs five lakh insurance cover for the economically deprived, besides water to agricultural fields.

Turncoats turn the tables on old-timers in Bengal elections

Adityanath also referred to US President Joe Biden appreciating Modi for effectively handling the COVID-19 pandemic in India, vaccinating its citizens and also sending vaccines to friendly countries.

He urged the peole of Assam to vote for Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal so that he can return to power for successive second term in the coming state election. Voting in Hojai is slated to be held in the second phase on April 1.

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Story first published: Wednesday, March 17, 2021, 18:55 [IST]
Several parts of the United States of America came under the trap of winter storm Xylia resulting in nearly three feet of snow in several regions over the weekend.

Twitter: @zjory

However, while you might be expecting this show to have put a pristine white layer across the region, youd be surprised to know that most of it were actually brown.



Mexico dust storm invades the US

The white snow in Boulder, Colorado and other affected regions had brown traces which had never been seen before. The National Weather Service (NWS) later disclosed that this brown snow was actually dust from Mexico.

Tom Gill, a professor and scientist at the University of Texas, El Paso said in a statement to 10 Tampa Bay, that the dust was actually from a very specific agricultural part of central Mexico which he could denote based on the distinct orange-red-brown soils. In fact, he also revealed that he and his team were tracking it on Friday, and hoped if it would get in the snow. Looks like it did.

The dust that was lofted this afternoon from the playas in Mexico (hot pink on the satellite imagery) has now been transported all the way into Colorado! Fortunately, the dust seems to be above the surface, so no restrictions to visibility in NM. #nmwx pic.twitter.com/NsRd4dP5Eq  NWS Albuquerque (@NWSAlbuquerque) March 14, 2021

How did the snow get brown?

Sharon Sullivan, the meteorologist at the NWS in Albuquerque, explained in a conversation with CNN that all this occurred due to specific weather conditions. Mexico is experiencing a severe to extreme drought. During this time, winds travelling 60 to 70 miles per hour blew ahead of the storm. This wind had scooped up massive amounts of dust from Mexico.

Sullivan stated, Some of these particles are very fine, so it only takes about 15-20 mph to have them lifted off the ground. The winds that were flowing were almost three times more than that. Moreover, drought-like conditions result in loose soil, making it easier for it to blow away.

Later this dust particle got fused with a snowflake or water particle and when it fell to the ground, it retained its brown colour, resulting in brownish snow throughout Colorado (roughly 1300-1700 miles away) and other parts of the US.

Twitter:@rustysunshine

Impact of brown snow dust

With such an unusual phenomenon, youd expect there to be a massive impact on the climate, however, it isnt going to be harmful or anything.

NWS expert Sullivan revealed that while there is no major impact of dust particles being a part of the snow, it will end up reducing the snows ability to reflect sunlight, meaning it will absorb more sunlight and result in the snow getting melted faster than usual, resulting in a less snow-clad region overall.
Description

Temple Israel, Lawrence cordially invites you to attend the virtual talk "COVID-19 Vaccines: What You Need to Know," with Dr. Penny Stern, MD, on Wednesday, March 17, 2021, starting at 7:30 pm The United States is now administering more than a million COVID-19 vaccines each day. New vaccine sites are popping up and existing sites are expanding their capacity. All the COVID vaccines have been shown to be effective. But what's the difference between these vaccines and what does that mean for you? Join us to learn about the vaccines currently available.

Guest Speaker Penny Stern, MD, MPH, FACPM, FACOEM is the AVP of Preventive Medicine & Clinical Programs at the Katz Institute for Women's Health and an Assistant Professor in the Dept. of Occupational Medicine, Epidemiology and Prevention. She is physician oversight for the Center for Wellness and Integrative Medicine and serves on the Employee Wellness Team. Dr. Stern is an experienced medical editor and journalist, having worked in television (Lifetime Medical Television), on-line (ReutersHealth.com) and print (multiple outlets). In those capacities, she published hundreds of medical news articles for both consumer and professional audiences.

This event is open to the public and FREE of charge. Please register in advance by contacting Alan at alan.freedman@tilny.org.

This program is sponsored by the Judy and Ben Segan Adult Education Fund of Temple Israel, lawrence.
Armenia acting health minister on citizens' demand for her resignation

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What comes next for the Iran nuclear deal? Joe Biden made it clear during his campaign that he wanted to reverse his predecessors maximum-pressure campaign on Iran and start talks about reviving the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the 2015 nuclear containment deal between Iran, the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council plus Germany and the European Union. More than two months into the Biden presidency, Iran and the other parties are still waiting. Biden has acted more slowly than many expectedespecially those eagerly watching his moves from inside Iran.

He might be buying time while he thinks through his options. Some U.S. officials have suggested the Biden administration may want to remake, or at least update, the Iran deal rather than simply revive the 2015 version. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has pledged to lengthen and strengthen the deal. At Wendy Shermans confirmation hearing to be deputy secretary of State in early March, she also hinted at the need for a reworked deal. The facts on the ground have changed, the geopolitics of the region have changed, and the way forward must similarly change, she told lawmakers.

But Iranian leaders say they already have a deal they want: the existing deal, and its up to the United States to rejoin it. Iran has still been allowing the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to conduct inspections, a term of the 2015 deal. Iranian officials have hinted at one first move the United States could make if it were truly interested in breaking the impasse: access to funds frozen in South Korean banks by U.S. sanctions. Iranian officials say those funds, if released, would be used only for humanitarian goods, and it would jump-start the longer process of unfreezing U.S.-Iranian relations.

Its a delicate dance of waiting for the other party to make a move, and trying to guess what, exactly, your foeand, at the same time, partneris thinking. Time is also running out. With the Iranian presidential election coming in June, there is only a short time left for Tehran and Washington to start the diplomatic process and revive the deal before the administration, and the political calculus, changes in Iran. And recent attacks between the U.S. and Iran-backed forces in Syria and Iraq raise the question of how long the two countries can go until rising tensions preclude the possibility of a diplomatic deal.

Story continues

One central player in these discussions is Javad Zarif, Irans foreign minister, who brokered the deal in 2015. Zarif, who speaks fluent English and went to graduate school in Colorado, is seen as one of Irans leading moderates, along with President Hassan Rouhani. Often clashing with hard-liners in Iran, Zarif staked his career on the agreementand faced a backlash when President Donald Trump withdrew from it in 2018. Zarif announced his resignation in 2019, but Rouhani rejected it, and Zarif continued in the role. Now Zarif is caught between a United States that seems to want to reshape the deal, and an Iran that is increasingly opposed to anything but restarting the original deal. Its a difficult position even for Zarif, who is used to walking a tightrope as the favored moderate interlocutor in a country where hard-liners are thought to have most of the power.



We spoke with Zarif on Skype to hear more about what his administration is making of Biden so far, how domestic Iranian politics is affecting the possibility of a revived deal, where theyll budgeand where they definitely wont.

Negar Mortazavi: Iran and the U.S. both claim the same goal of going back to full compliance with the nuclear deal. But two months into the Biden administration, we still see a diplomatic impasse. It seems like each side is telling the other to take the first step. So far, the Biden administration says its ready to meet and discuss a process for return. Why have you not met yet?

Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif: Well, I think we need to be clear about what needs to be done. Clearly when we agreed on the JCPOA in July of 2015, Iran implemented JCPOA, its obligations under JCPOA, the IAEA verified Iranian implementation in January 2016 and then the United States responded. That was the sequence of events in the beginning. Iran continued compliance; the United States during the Obama administration, more or less, less more than more, complied with JCPOA. And then the Trump administration came, and for four years the United States did not comply. And in the middle of those four years, the United States withdrew from the deal.



Now if the United States wants to go back to the deal, it has to follow the same order that we started. It has to now come back to compliance. As soon as the United States comes to compliance, Iran will comply. This is as easy as that. You see there is a cause-and-effect situation: The United States stopped complying and then after a year or almost 15 months, five IAEA reports indicated that Iran even continued to comply after the U.S. withdrew. And then Iran stopped and reduced its compliance; thats within the terms of the JCPOA. [Iran still considers itself a party to the deal, though it has formally invoked a dispute-resolution mechanism, reduced its compliance and expanded its nuclear activities.] Now we want to go back to compliance. The party that has started this process has to go back and Iran will immediately go back.

Now, why dont we talk? The reason for not talking is that there is nothing to talk about. We have an agreement; we talked about this agreement with the same people who are in the White House today, with the same people who are in the State Department today. So they know exactly what it takes to go back to compliance, unless they are not serious about what theyre saying. They want to use pressure and coercion in order to extract new concessions from Iran. That is what Wendy Sherman said in her confirmation hearing for deputy secretary of state and what others have said: that the situation in 2021 is not the same as 2015.

They want a new agreement, they want a wider agreement, they want something else, they want to talk about the sunset clause, they want to talk about missiles, they want to talk about other issues.

That will go nowhere because in the 12 years that we negotiated, from 2003 to 2015, and in the two years that we focused on negotiations, mostly with the Americans, we dealt with all these issues.... Now they want to reopen those discussions, which means another two years of unnecessary discussion. So there's nothing to talk about.

We are ready to agree to a choreographythat is, the U.S. taking steps. and as soon as we can confirm that those steps have been taken, we can take our steps. And the process of verification for Iran is very clear; the IAEA will verify that we have complied.

NM: Lets talk about this process. What is the timing and the sequencing that Iran would agree to?

JZ: The U.S. can implement its obligations tomorrow, in 20 days, in a month, whenever. There has to be an executive order. Its clear what sanctions need to be removed. There are roughly 800 sanctions that President Trump re-imposed; there are roughly another 800 new sanctions that President Trump or Congress imposed; and there are some re-designations. President Trump re-designated certain [non-nuclear] entities in order to move them [the sanctions] away from nuclear-related issues to other issues. The Biden administration knows better than anybody what they are.

So first there has to be an executive order to return [to the JCPOA] and lift all these sanctions, basically terminate executive orders and waive congressional action, and that waiver needs to come into effect. As soon as that waiver comes into effect, that is as soon as the Treasury Departments Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) allows transfer of money, transfer of oil, transportation, shipping, and all of that, then Iran can come back into compliance immediately. Our compliance doesn't take time; IAEA can verify it and its clear what we need to do.

NM: And how long are you, Iran, prepared to wait for the U.S. to make this return?

JZ: As long as it takes for the U.S. to return ...

NM: So you will officially stay in the deal until the U.S. comes back?

JZ: Well  We are using [the JCPOAs dispute resolution] paragraph 36 contingency. And based on the decision of the Iranian parliament, which is now law and we are obliged to implement it. [Irans parliament recently passed a law mandating that Iran further expand its nuclear program if the U.S. does not come back to the deal.] If the United States continues its lack of compliance, it means that Iran will take new steps, as it is very clearly and transparently defined in the law. And the law is addressed to the government. It is not an ultimatum to anybody. Its a domestic law addressed to the government of Iran and we need to observe that law. As soon as the United States goes back to compliance, everything will reverse.

NM: You said that you knew and have met with Joe Biden when he was a senator. Has President Biden, after he became president, surprised you or acted differently than you expected?

JZ: No, I didn't expect him to act differently. I think the U.S. continues to be in the policy review process. But if it is in the policy review process, it should not portray itself as having changed its policy, because it hasnt. What we see as U.S. policy is exactly the same as the Trump administration; we haven't seen any change in policy. Weve seen Secretary of State Antony Blinken boasting about basically preventing South Korea from sending a fraction of our money to a Swiss channel, which was basically established by President Trump in order to at least create a front that the U.S. was not preventing humanitarian trade.... by extension of that logic it means that Secretary Blinken is preventing us from using our own money to buy food and medicine. That amounts to an international war crime.

NM: There are a number of dual-national citizens detained in Iran; there is British-Iranian Nazanin Zagahri-Ratcliff, Americans Siamak Namazi and his father Bagher Namazi, Emad Sharghi, and Morad Tahbaz who was detained with a group of Iranian environmentalists. Why are so many dual-nationals in prison? Why havent they been released yet?

JZ: Well it is interesting that you only name dual-nationals that are imprisoned in Iran and not dual-nationals that are imprisoned in the United States. There are quite a large number of them imprisoned in the United States purely for sanctions violations. One is being harassed today and for the past two months treated like a criminal because he wrote articles about Iran and provided consultation to our mission in New York. [Kaveh Afrasiabi is accused of being an unregistered lobbyist.] So this is not a one-sided situation. Unfortunately, the United States has been treating Iranian-Americans in the United States in a discriminatory way in addition to preventing, in the Muslim ban, Iranians from even coming to the United States and visiting their relatives. Now hopefully President Biden has lifted that [travel ban] but continues to imprison Iranians for 

NM: But why is it also happening in Iran?

JZ: The United States says that these people violated the law. Our judiciary says that these people violated the law. I have proposed that as foreign minister I can intervene only if I can have an exchange. So what we want to do is to exchange those Iranian-Americans with these Iranian-Americans. All of them are Iranian-Americans. And I made that proposal in September 2018 

NM: That was under President Trump. Are there any talks going on right now for exchanges?

JZ: Unfortunately not. We havent received any proposals. But we have said we are prepared for a universal exchange of all Iranian prisoners, Iranian-Americans and other Iranians who are imprisoned in Europe, imprisoned at the United States request in Africa and elsewhere, waiting for extradition or being unduly punished, and we will release people who are in here in prison charged with crimes. And I'm not in the judiciary and not privy to the information the judge was privy to, so I cannot judge the decision of a judge and a court. So lets leave it at that. There are prisoners in the United States, there are prisoners in Iran and elsewhere. We can exchange them all.

NM: President Biden is also interested in follow-on negotiations, beyond the JCPOA, about other issues including Irans ballistic missile program, its regional presence, and he has even talked about human rights. Is Iran open to discuss any of these issues with the United States?

JZ: The ballistic missiles issue and the regional issue were discussed in the JCPOA. And the decisions we reached in the JCPOA reflects our discussions. The fact that the P5+1 decided to continue the restrictions on arms to Iran for five years [in a separate 2015 arms embargo], which just ended last October, the fact that they decided to continue restrictions on missiles for eight years until confidence is built about the purely peaceful nature of our nuclear program, these are all addressed in the JCPOA. The problem with the United States and its Western allies is that when they deal with something and it's not to their 100 percent satisfaction, they want to re-open. We dealt with all these issues... we had shouting matches about these, but we dealt with it. And the outcome was what we have in front of us. The Supreme Leader here in Iran said very clearly that if the United States were to pass the test of JCPOA, then Iran would consider other issues.

But the United States miserably failed, not only during the Trump administration but even during the past two months of the Biden administration.

So if the U.S. passes the test of JCPOA, which doesnt seem very likely, then we can consider other issues. But I dont think the U.S. would be prepared to discuss those issues. Is the U.S. ready to reduce its arms shipments to the region? Twenty-five percent of the entire arms sales to the world are sold to our region, and none of it to Iran. Are the U.S. and its Western allies prepared to stop that? Thats a very lucrative market and I dont think President Biden wants to do that.

Saudi Arabia spends nearly seven times as much as Iran on weapons. Are they prepared to bring that down? Because its not [just] about Iranian disarmament. If its about regional issues, are U.S. allies prepared to do their share? Is Saudi Arabia prepared to stop its aggression in Yemen? Is Saudi Arabia prepared to stop supporting terrorists in Iraq and Syria and Afghanistan? These are very open questions that will be asked. But we have said very clearly that we are prepared to talk to our neighbors in the region. The six countries in GCC [the Gulf Cooperation Council] plus Iran and Iraq are the countries in the Persian Gulf region, and we're always ready to talk among the eight countries of the Persian Gulf.

NM: Talking about the GCC, there is a growing alliance between Israel and some of the GCC countries. How has this affected Irans calculations in the region?

JZ: It unfortunately affects their security calculation, and let me explain what I mean. Some of our neighbors in the Persian Gulf have always tried to buy security through proxies. Their proxy at one time was Saddam Hussein, more recently it was Trump, and now they want Netanyahu to be their proxy. Obviously it doesn't work. It didnt work with Saddam Hussein, it didnt work with Trump, and it certainly will not work with Netanyahu. What Netanyahu will do is to bring the war to their territory. And I think they are badly mistaken in doing that. But we are prepared to talk to our neighbors and even suggested to them, three-four years ago, a regional security arrangement; we suggested to them a non-aggression pact; we suggested the HOPE initiative (the Hormuz Peace initiative). All of these are on the table, and the countries in the Southern part of the Persian Gulf can decide to come back to the region. I can assure them that Benjamin Netanyahu can hardly keep himself out of prison, let alone provide them with security.

NM: And some of these GCC countries want their Western allies, especially the United States, to be present. Are you willing to sit down with everyone at the table to discuss reducing tensions in the region?

JZ: We believe that tension in the region is caused by the presence of foreign forces and they are not the cure; they are the malady. We are prepared to talk to our neighbors. The United Nations can provide an umbrella under UNSC Resolution 598, which gives our neighbors in the southern Persian Gulf the assurance that there will be an international umbrella.

NM: Iran was one of the first countries hit by the virus in the region. Its the epicenter of the pandemic in the Middle East, with nearly 2 million cases and over 60,000 deaths officially reported. Where are you getting the vaccines; from which countries? And what is your timeline or plan for vaccinating the entire population?

JZ: We started vaccinating the population a couple of weeks ago, started with health professionals, and continue with medical workers and the elderly and people in the vulnerable segments of the population. Unfortunately sanctions by the U.S., whether they admit it or not, have prevented Iran from making its payments into Covax. It delayed our payments into this global facility for vaccines by about four months. We finally did it in January, but that delayed the process.

Right now, our medical community, the equivalent of your FDA, has agreed on an emergency basis to accept the Sputnik vaccine and the Sinopharm vaccine, and Sinovac is in the process of being approved. We have three Iranian vaccines undergoing second- and third-phase trials. The vaccine co-produced between our Pasteur Institute, a 100-year-old vaccine production facility in Iran, and Cuban pharmaceuticals is now ready for its final trial phase and hopefully mass-vaccination.

It is regrettable that the West is hoarding vaccines, and its an issue in the international community while during this pandemic, countries outside the West are hardly having access to any vaccine. This pandemic has to be addressed globally; you cannot address it locally, and unfortunately, just like in other cases, the West doesnt see it that way.

NM: Well there's also an order from the Supreme Leader banning certain Western vaccines, especially those produced in the United States and the UK. How does that come into play when you talk about the West and vaccines?

JZ: There is a debate in the medical community. The decision by the Supreme Leader was not initiated by him. There were requests from the medical community about genetically modified vaccines, that are called mRNA, and Pfizer and Moderna are of that type. But we are getting other vaccines under Covax, we are getting AstraZeneca, which is a Swedish-British vaccine, we are getting Indian-British vaccines.

NM: And finally, there are rumors that you may be the reform candidate for the presidential election in June. Will you run for president?

JZ: I will not.
BELLEVUE, Wash., March 17, 2021 -- Paul Gauguin Cruises, operator of the highest-rated and longest continually sailing luxury cruise ship in the South Pacific, the m/s Paul Gauguin, is pleased to announce a ship renovation, featuring luxurious enhancements, that took place during The Gauguin's drydock ending on March 9th in Singapore.

The vision of the renovation was to enhance The Gauguin's elegant Polynesian signature with a chic and fresh style to enrich guests' experience sailing the islands of Tahiti, French Polynesia, Fiji and the South Pacific.

Large Environmental Upgrades in line with Paul Gauguin Cruises' Values

Minimizing the impact on the environment is one of the highest priorities of the company. In 2019, Paul Gauguin Cruises took two major measures in this field. The line completely eliminated the use of heavy fuel oil by using a much cleaner fuel (LS MGO  Low-Sulphur Marine Gas Oil) and also committed to offsetting 150 percent of its carbon emissions. The Gauguin's most recent environmental upgrades follow this path and include water treatment and consumption optimization along with energy-saving initiatives.

An Empowering Experience Dedicated to Guests' Highest Expectations

The Gauguin is outfitted with a look designed by Studio Jean-Philippe Nuel that evokes South Seas elegance and the storied islands that the iconic ship sails. The refurbishment enhances the historical interior of the vessel made of warm and dark woodworks and strengthens the local identity. The fresh palette incorporates lagoon shades, a wide range of green and natural tones, warm color touches, organic patterns and woven textiles. Exotic panoramas and traditional artwork transports guests into the local environment. All The Gauguin's staterooms and suites, as well as the public spaces, were renovated: Le Grand Salon, three restaurants, Piano Bar, La Palette Lounge, Spa and Salon, Boutique, Pool Deck, and Reception area.

Ongoing Onboard Upgrades

To accompany The Gauguin's renovation, amenities were enhanced for a full guest experience. Guests will be able to enjoy complimentary unlimited Wi-Fi and a virtual museum of over 150 paintings of artist Paul Gauguin during their voyage. These new enhancements will provide guests of The Gauguin an even more luxurious, all-inclusive experience, which encompasses dining in all three of the ship's restaurants and 24-hour room service; complimentary beverages including select wines, beer, and spirits; and onboard gratuities for room stewards and dining staff.

The Gauguin's Polynesian Signature

Paul Gauguin Cruises was created to provide enjoyable, meaningful, and authentic experiences with the communities, cultures, and natural wonders that make Tahiti, French Polynesia, and the South Pacific so alluring. Every detail of The Gauguin's renovations reflect her home including the ship's decor, artwork, special Polynesian dishes in the restaurants, enrichment programming, and cultural activities aboard led by Les Gauguines and Les Gauguins, the ship's troupe of Tahitian ambassadors and entertainers.

Itineraries following the renovations include: 10-night Society Islands & Tuamotus; 11-night Cook Islands & Society Islands; 7-night Tahiti & the Society Islands; and 14-night Marquesas, Tuamotus & Society Islands voyages. Guests have exclusive access to the line's private island Motu Mahana, and a private beach in Bora Bora. Paul Gauguin Cruises offers a wide range of outdoor activities embracing the natural wonders of the South Pacific such as snorkeling, kayaking, paddleboarding, and SCUBA diving excursions.

For more information on Paul Gauguin Cruises, or to check cruise fares, please contact a Travel Advisor, call 800-848-6172, or visit www.pgcruises.com.

About Paul Gauguin Cruises

Paul Gauguin Cruises operates the 5+-star cruise ship, the 332-guest m/s Paul Gauguin, providing a deluxe cruise experience tailored to the unparalleled wonders of Tahiti, French Polynesia, and the South Pacific. Paul Gauguin Cruises has been recognized by notable publications in travel and lifestyle. One of the "Top Small Cruise Lines" in the Conde Nast Traveler 2020 Readers' Choice Awards and is honored on the publication's 2020 "Gold List." Paul Gauguin Cruises was selected as "Best Small-Ship Cruise Line" in Global Traveler's Leisure Lifestyle Awards from 2016 to 2020. Recently the line was recognized for the fourth time for having the "Best French Polynesia Cruises" in the AFAR Travelers' Choice Awards. In September 2019, Paul Gauguin Cruises joined PONANT's family, the world leader of small-ship cruising.

About Jean-Philippe Nuel

From a family of architects passionate about design and contemporary creations, Jean-Philippe Nuel graduated as an architect from the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris and quickly made a name for himself by winning several competitions, including an international competition presided over by Kenzo Tange. After a first hotel project in Paris, subsequent iconic projects for upscale international hotel chains (InterContinental Lyon and Marseille, Molitor Swimming Pool, La Cle Champs Elysees in Paris, Sofitel Roma Villa Borghese) and many boutique hotels followed (for example Le Cinq Codet, Le Damantin, Le Belleval in Paris). Jean-Philippe Nuel has been collaborating with French luxury expedition cruise line PONANT, since 2010 and and won the AHEAD Europe Design award 2019 for the design of Le Champlain, second vessel in the PONANT EXPLORER series he signed for the Company.
This unusual electronic energy structure could be harnessed for technologies of interest in quantum information science and electronics

UPTON, NY--Electrons in a solid occupy distinct energy bands separated by gaps. Energy band gaps are an electronic "no man's land," an energy range where no electrons are allowed. Now, scientists studying a compound containing iron, tellurium, and selenium have found that an energy band gap opens at a point where two allowed energy bands intersect on the material's surface. They observed this unexpected electronic behavior when they cooled the material and probed its electronic structure with laser light. Their findings, reported in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, could have implications for future quantum information science and electronics.

The particular compound belongs to the family of iron-based high-temperature superconductors, which were initially discovered in 2008. These materials not only conduct electricity without resistance at relatively higher temperatures (but still very cold ones) than other classes of superconductors but also show magnetic properties.

"For a while, people thought that superconductivity and magnetism would work against each other," said first author Nader Zaki, a scientific associate in the Electron Spectroscopy Group of the Condensed Matter Physics and Materials Science (CMPMS) Division at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Brookhaven National Laboratory. "We have explored a material where both develop at the same time."

Aside from superconductivity and magnetism, some iron-based superconductors have the right conditions to host "topological" surface states. The existence of these unique electronic states, localized at the surface (they do not exist in the bulk of the material), reflects strong interactions between an electron's spin and its orbital motion around the nucleus of an atom.

"When you have a superconductor with topological surface properties, you're excited by the possibility of topological superconductivity," said corresponding author Peter Johnson, leader of the Electron Spectroscopy Group. "Topological superconductivity is potentially capable of supporting Majorana fermions, which could serve as qubits, the information-storing building blocks of quantum computers."

Quantum computers promise tremendous speedups for calculations that would take an impractical amount of time or be impossible on traditional computers. One of the challenges to realizing practical quantum computing is that qubits are highly sensitive to their environment. Small interactions cause them to lose their quantum state and thus stored information becomes lost. Theory predicts that Majorana fermions (sought-after quasiparticles) existing in superconducting topological surface states are immune to environmental disturbances, making them an ideal platform for robust qubits.

Seeing the iron-based superconductors as a platform for a range of exotic and potentially important phenomena, Zaki, Johnson, and their colleagues set out to understand the roles of topology, superconductivity and magnetism.

CMPMS Division senior physicist Genda Gu first grew high-quality single crystals of the iron-based compound. Then, Zaki mapped the electronic band structure of the material via laser-based photoemission spectroscopy. When light from a laser is focused onto a small spot on the material, electrons from the surface are "kicked out" (i.e., photoemitted). The energy and momentum of these electrons can then be measured.

When they lowered the temperature, something surprising happened.

"The material went superconducting, as we expected, and we saw a superconducting gap associated with that," said Zaki. "But what we didn't expect was the topological surface state opening up a second gap at the Dirac point. You can picture the energy band structure of this surface state as an hourglass or two cones attached at their apex. Where these cones intersect is called the Dirac point."

As Johnson and Zaki explained, when a gap opens up at the Dirac point, it's evidence that time-reversal symmetry has been broken. Time-reversal symmetry means that the laws of physics are the same whether you look at a system going forward or backward in time--akin to rewinding a video and seeing the same sequence of events playing in reverse. But under time reversal, electron spins change their direction and break this symmetry. Thus, one of the ways to break time-reversal symmetry is by developing magnetism--specifically, ferromagnetism, a type of magnetism where all electron spins align in a parallel fashion.

"The system is going into the superconducting state and seemingly magnetism is developing," said Johnson. "We have to assume the magnetism is in the surface region because in this form it cannot coexist in the bulk. This discovery is exciting because the material has a lot of different physics in it: superconductivity, topology, and now magnetism. I like to say it's one-stop shopping. Understanding how these phenomena arise in the material could provide a basis for many new and exciting technological directions."

As previously noted, the material's superconductivity and strong spin-orbit effects could be harnessed for quantum information technologies. Alternatively, the material's magnetism and strong spin-orbit interactions could enable dissipationless (no energy loss) transport of electrical current in electronics. This capability could be leveraged to develop electronic devices that consume low amounts of power.

Coauthors Alexei Tsvelik, senior scientist and group leader of the CMPMS Division Condensed Matter Theory Group, and Congjun Wu, a professor of physics at the University of California, San Diego, provided theoretical insights on how time reversal symmetry is broken and magnetism originates in the surface region.

"This discovery not only reveals deep connections between topological superconducting states and spontaneous magnetization but also provides important insights into the nature of superconducting gap functions in iron-based superconductors--an outstanding problem in the investigation of strongly correlated unconventional superconductors," said Wu.

In a separate study with other collaborators in the CMPMS Division, the experimental team is examining how different concentrations of the three elements in the sample contribute to the observed phenomena. Seemingly, tellurium is needed for the topological effects, too much iron kills superconductivity, and selenium enhances superconductivity.

In follow-on experiments, the team hopes to verify the time-reversal symmetry breaking with other methods and explore how substituting elements in the compound modifies its electronic behavior.

"As materials scientists, we like to alter the ingredients in the mixture to see what happens," said Johnson. "The goal is to figure out how superconductivity, topology, and magnetism interact in these complex materials."

###

This research was supported by the DOE Office of Science and the Air Force Office of Scientific Research.

Brookhaven National Laboratory is supported by the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Science. The Office of Science is the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States and is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information, visit https:/ / energy. gov/ science .

Follow @BrookhavenLab on Twitter or find us on Facebook.
ROME, MAR 17 - Luna Rossa's dream of winning the 36th America's Cup ended on Wednesday when Team New Zealand claimed the point they needed to retain sailing's ultimate prize. The Italian team held their own with the hosts in waters off Auckland on the first three days of the series, but from then on Team New Zealand were dominant and ran out 7-3 winners. "It was a truly fantastic experience," said Helmsman Francesco Bruni. "We showed that we are capable of doing it. "This is not the end. (Prada CEO and team backer Patrizio) Bertelli and Luna Rossa will try again". (ANSA).
Current trends in the process industry: international dialogue more important than ever

Digitalisation, hydrogen, resilient supply chains or faster R&D processes ? various topics are currently engaging the attention of the process industry. This concerns companies all over the world and call for an international exchange. At ACHEMA Pulse, they take prominent positions in the programme. The digital event offers a hub for all those who want to participate in the discussion ? whether on the interactive platform or in the virtual conference halls.

The topics that are currently on the top of its agenda are as global as the process industry itself. Not only the past 12 months have highlighted how important digitalization, flexibility and resilient supply chains are; how important it is to quickly set up or adapt production lines; but also that data security is a topic of utmost business critical relevance.

All these topics will be covered by the ACHEMA Pulse live programme on 15 and 16 June 2021. The most prominent features include the Highlight Sessions with thought leaders and practitioners, as well as lectures and discussions that take a close look at the current hot topics:

 Artificial intelligence in the process industry: what role does artificial intelligence play for process and product development? Robert Feldmann from Microsoft will discuss this with industry experts in a Highlight Session. The use of AI in biotechnology, where the latest breakthroughs in the calculation of protein structures could mean a paradigm shift for drug development and biocatalysis, is also part of the agenda.

 Hydrogen as a \gamechanger\: Are we entering the hydrogen economy? How can the necessary electrolysis capacity be built up, and how does hydrogen interact with other technologies and with other industries? Among others, Lijs Groenendaal of Shell and Ronnie Belmans of the Catholic University of Leuven, will share their views.

 Faster, bigger, more global: vaccine development and the establishment of large-scale vaccine production has shown what is possible when research, development and production are accelerated. Which experiences can be transferred? This will be discussed by developers, producers, but also suppliers and equipment manufacturers who were involved in these processes in the background.

 New bioproduction systems: Bio-based production methods are well-established in the speciality sector. Companies like Genomatica are aiming higher and develop at large-scale production of chemicals. What are the opportunities and limitations of the new \biofactories\?

 Diversity and gender equality: A change is gradually taking place on the boards of the chemical and pharmaceutical industries  women are taking over technical portfolios and board chairmanships. Current surveys show that this is by no means the end of the matter. How can diversity be firmly anchored in the business world and how do companies benefit from it?

In addition, a three-tier application-oriented conference programme and numerous satellite workshops will attract participants to the virtual discussion rooms. ACHEMA\-\-s main topics, such as the Lab of the Future, Modular and Flexible Production or Process Security and Safety, will be given a lot of space at ACHEMA Pulse. At the same time, it will mark the start of the new areas \Ditigal Hub\ and \Circular Innovation Zone\, which will bring new stakeholder groups into focus at ACHEMA 2022. Exhibitors will also be active at ACHEMA Pulse with their own streams and workshops, giving potential customers and business partners the opportunity to find out about their offerings in detail.

The need for international exchange is strong; this is shown by the response to ACHEMA Pulse so far. \We currently have registrations from 23 countries  this shows how important the exchange with others is. The opportunity to do so is gratefully accepted,\ says Dr Bjorn Mathes, project manager of ACHEMA Pulse. Both exhibitors of ACHEMA 2022, including Siemens, GEA, EKATO, OPC Foundation or Romaco, and first-time exhibitors use ACHEMA Pulse as an opportunity to stay in contact with each other despite travel restrictions and to further develop business concepts and win new partners against the backdrop of last year\-\-s sometimes painful experiences.

ACHEMA Pulse is more than just a high-profile event. It offers a safe, interactive and international platform to discuss all the issues that concern chemical engineers in France as much as in China and biotechnologists in the USA as much as in Italy. It is equally clear that such discussions and networking take time. That is why the interactive platform opens as early as 31 May 2021 and will then remain accessible for four weeks. In the virtual environment of ACHEMA Pulse, renowned exhibitors will present their technologies and solutions; participants from all over the world will be able to make contact and engage in conversation via matchmaking tools based on their specific interests.

Those who, in view of the multitude of possibilities, cannot experience everything they are interested in live, can subsequently access the recordings until the end of June and, of course, continue to exchange ideas with the speakers by digital means. The tickets, which are available now and at particularly favourable conditions until 31 March, will open the virtual doors of ACHEMA Pulse for the entire four weeks from 31 May 2021.

All information on dates, registration and other questions at www.achema.de.

Journalists and media representatives have the chance to gather exclusive impressions at the ACHEMA Pulse Media Preview on 24 March 2021. You can look forward to an attractive programme with discussions and interviews on hot topics in the process industries, exhibitor presentation and the opportunity for exclusive 1:1 interviews. Register at https://myconvento.com/

ACHEMA is the world forum for chemical engineering, process engineering and biotechnology. Every three years the world?s leading show for the process industry attracts around 3,800 exhibitors from over 50 different countries to present new products, processes and services to 150,000 professionals from all over the world. The spectrum ranges from laboratory equipment, pumps and analytical devices to packaging machinery, boilers and stirrers through to safety technology, materials and software, thus covering the entire needs of the chemical, pharmaceutical and food production industries. The accompanying congress, featuring 800 scientific lectures and numerous guest and partner events, complements the wide range of themes of the exhibition. The next ACHEMA will take place from 4-8 April 2022 in Frankfurt am Main. More at http://www.achema.de
Watch: Dominic Cummings: MPs should take 'very hard look' at government's COVID mistakes

Dominic Cummings has said MPs need to take a very, very hard look into what the government got wrong during its handling of the coronavirus outbreak.

Boris Johnsons former chief adviser, who is most well known for his infamous lockdown trip to Barnard Castle, suggested Downing Street didnt have enough people with scientific and technical backgrounds to respond effectively to the pandemic.

Cummings, who parted ways with Johnson in November last year, told the House of Commons science and technology committee on Wednesday: I hope that as the country emerges from the current lockdown and as there is  as there should be  an urgent [and] very, very hard look by this building into what went wrong and why in 2020, one of the most obvious lessons of that is this problem.

Its the incredible value, potentially, in getting science and technology stuff right [and] the disaster that can come if you dont get it right.

Dominic Cummings at the science and technology committee on Wednesday. (Parliamentlive.tv)

As Johnsons chief adviser, Cummings was known to hold huge influence in Number 10  arguably more than many senior ministers.

This influence will have been a major factor behind Johnsons decision-making last year, for which the PM has been roundly criticised. According to Oxford University's Our World in Data website, the UK currently has the fifth-highest death rate  1,855 per 1 million people  in the world.

Cummings, however, suggested an entrenched lack of technical and scientific nous was most to blame.

Cummings, who claimed he only joined Johnson in 2019 after the PM doubled the governments science budget, said that 2020 was a proof that if you dont have people with scientific and technical backgrounds who understand how to think rationally and quantitatively about extreme uncertainty, then you can very easily have disastrous decisions.

Dominic Cummings and Boris Johnson in Downing Street in September 2019. (PA)

He also discussed the government's successful rollout of the coronavirus vaccine. In a swipe at health secretary Matt Hancock, Cummings said it has only worked because it was taken out of the Department of Health's hands.

Story continues

It is not coincidental that we had to take it out of the Department of Health. We had to have it authorised very directly by the prime minister, he said.

Read more:

COVID cases are now rising in 1 in 3 areas  map shows rate where you live

Downing Street refuses to deny report Boris Johnson wanted to 'ignore' COVID pandemic

In spring 2020 you had a situation where the Department of Health was just a smoking ruin in terms of procurement and PPE [personal protective equipment] and all of that. You had serious problems with the funding bureaucracy for therapeutics."

He also claimed senior Downing Street figures, including chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance, called for the vaccine taskforce to be under Johnson's "authority".

Watch: How England is leaving lockdown
Even though the xB is not the prettiest car out on the market, I still felt an urge to see Tedward's review of the boxy little thing, as I've always felt there was more to it than meets the eye. As it targeted a younger audience, the price had to be as low as possible, and the xB retailed for around $14,000 back in the day. These days you could buy the same car for as low as $4,000.As the reviewer points out, "the xB was Scion 's attempt of selling Toyotas to Gen Y, which are now called millennials, but that generation didn't have much money, nor were they interested in Toyota's offering at the time." The car he reviews here has been driven for almost 200,000 miles (321,800 km), and it looks pretty beat up.He further notes his mistrust regarding Toyota 's plan by adding that, "I'll never understand why they thought that the youth was going to go and jump on this style, it is charmingly ugly!". Before jumping behind the wheel, he pops the hood, and we get to see the 1.5-liter engine. It was rated for 108 horsepower and 105 lb-ft (142 Nm) of torque, which is what you'd expect out of a car that's perfect for beginner drivers.But this car wasn't meant to go fast; it was meant to be reliable, and as the reviewer points out, "this engine will last about 300,000 miles (482,800 km) with pretty much just oil changes!" We further get to see the inside of this vehicle, which should be big enough to accommodate up to five people, with a lot of legroom to spare.The seating position is somewhat reminiscent of a larger Toyota , and you'd tend to think of today's crossovers when looking at it. As he gets behind the wheel, he seems eager to see what the xB is all about, especially because Scion reportedly sold around 65,000 of these back in 2006 alone.As soon as he starts driving, he praises the car for how quiet it is. "When you set off the first thing you notice is that it's well insulated, it's a fairly enjoyable drive". As soon as the engine has come up to temperature, he gives it a bit of gas, but unsurprisingly this thing is by no means fast.Still, considering the xB only weighs around 2,500 lbs (1,133 kg), it shouldn't be all that terrible and he does note that, "this is a momentum car... I'm so surprised how agile and enjoyable it is to drive". He again mentions the strange seating position, even referring to it as slightly uncomfortable. Well, at least it takes away the tiny car feeling of the whole thing.And, if you started to think about getting one for a daily driver, Tedward kindly reminds us that the side impact safety rating of this car isn't all that good, noting that, "you don't want to get hit on the side, you will get injured". That's not the most comforting thought I've heard today, not by a mile.With all the downsides, the xB still seems like an appealing choice if you're on a tight budget and looking for a reliable car to take you here and there. Tedward also comes to the same conclusion as he ends by saying: "This is actually a pretty sweet little car for the money, and it's still alive and kicking today, and it's fun to drive!"
As severe weather approaches North Alabama, the American Red Cross is preparing for any potential damage.

We spoke with Khris Anderson, who works with the American Red Cross. She says they are always ready for severe weather and tornadoes, especially in North Alabama.

"What we're doing now is our volunteers who have been trained are on stand-by. We know who's available. We know who's ready to assist," said Anderson, Executive Director for the North Alabama chapter of the American Red Cross.

Anderson says they are prepared on many fronts to respond to severe damage in North Alabama. That's because they never know where damage is going to occur and what is going to happen.

"As soon as it is safe, our volunteers will mobilize. And the first things we look at in a disaster is sheltering. Do we need to open a shelter?" said Anderson.

Shelters will look different, though, because of coronavirus.

For congregate shelters, the area will be bigger so people can be more spread out.

"All of these decisions are part of a plan that we work on continuously, so we're always ready because with tornadoes, it's sort of a no notice event, so we know that we have a threat for tornadoes, but we have no idea where this severe weather might take place," said Anderson.

Anderson stressed that Red Cross volunteers are very well trained to handle the impact of severe weather.

"Our volunteers are different from a lot of other organizations is that they don't show up and they're assigned what to do. They're specifically trained to open a shelter and they're specifically trained to handle food safely and get that food out. They're specifically trained in damage assessment," said Anderson.

The American Red Cross is prepared for severe weather, but everyone can be prepared as well. Anderson says right now is the time to make a plan and get all the supplies you need for survival like water and food.
Investors snapped up BT shares after it spent far less than expected on buying new 5G airwaves.

Analysts thought the telecoms giant would have to splash out 820million or even 1billion to buy the additional spectrum, which enables smartphone to download data faster.

But EE-owner BT only forked out 452million, and its stock surged to its highest level in more than a year  up 6.5 per cent, or 9.3p, to 152.5p.

Shares soar: EE-owner BT only had to fork out 452m to buy new 5G airwaves in what turned out to be a cut-price auction

The 5G auction has raised 1.36billion for the Treasury, which is far less than the 2.5billion the industry had predicted.

All four major UK mobile operators  EE, O2, Vodafone and Three  took part.

And it's not hard to see why  5G will not only speed up internet on smartphones but will be critical for the development of driverless cars and the 'internet of things'.

It is also key to the Government's goal to eliminate mobile signal 'not-spots' that blight rural areas.

Stock Watch - Biome Technologies BiomeTechnologies has won more funding for a project that could cut back on large volumes of plastic waste in the UK. Government-based agency Innovate UK will hand the group 248,000 to keep developing biodegradable tree shelters. These could be used instead of the plastic shelters usually put round new trees  of which around 45m are planted each year  for protection. Shares in the Southampton group, rose 34.2 per cent, or 70p, to 275p.

Marc Allera, chief executive of BT's consumer business, which includes EE, said the outcome was 'great news for our network, our customers and BT'.

There will be another big auction to come later this year when the Premier League puts its rights up for sale, which could be key to the future of BT Sport.

Shares in Vodafone, which spent a more modest 176million in the auction, climbed by 1.8 per cent, or 2.4p, to 136.92p.

Blue-chip engineer Rolls-Royce also advanced, rising 3.5 per cent, or 4.35p, to 127.2p, as two brokers published upbeat appraisals about its prospects.

JP Morgan analysts upgraded Rolls to 'neutral' from 'underperform' and more than doubled the target price on its stock from 45p to 105p, citing Covid vaccine rollouts and air travel picking back up. Berenberg, meanwhile, raised its target price for Rolls from 130p to 150p.

The gains among BT, Vodafone and Rolls failed to keep the FTSE 100 in the black.

It fell 0.6 per cent, or 40.94 points, to 6762.67, while the FTSE 250 finished the day 1 per cent lower, down 205.94 points, to 21,558.55.

Brent crude fell by 0.7 per cent to below $68 a barrel after the International Energy Agency said talk of a 'supercycle' that could see prices rocket was overblown.

However, it also said oil demand could return to pre-pandemic levels of 100m barrels a day by 2023 and could carry on rising until 2026 unless governments take extreme actions to mitigate climate change.

BP rose 0.8 per cent, or 2.55p, to 313.80p, while Royal Dutch Shell dipped 0.2 per cent, or 3.2p, to 1455.8p.

Warhammer figurine maker Games Workshop said trading was in line with expectations in a surprise trading update yesterday, perhaps disappointing investors who had grown used to profit upgrades from the group, particularly during lockdowns.

Shares tumbled 7.2 per cent, or 735p, to 9445p.

News that Serco had won an 870million ten-year contract to provide support services at a military base in Canada was met with a lukewarm reception.

The stock rose 1.5 per cent, or 2.1p, to 139.5p, after it reported the deal with the Goose Bay base, where it has been working for two decades.

Embattled travel group Carnival (down 1 per cent, or 17p, to 1715.5p) is launching what it calls 'very special' cruises around the UK this summer for people who have been fully vaccinated with both jabs.

P&O will run the voyages, which will include a seven-night trip around the Scottish islands.

Over in the Pacific, however, Carnival's Princess Cruises and Holland American Line divisions have had to pause all cruises scheduled to sail to Alaska in June.
Jesuits to raise $100 million for descendants of slaves owned by members in 1800s

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The Society of Jesus, an influential Catholic Church order commonly known as the Jesuits, are planning to raise $100 million to give to descendants of slaves once owned by their members.

The money will go to a foundation created by descendants of slaves sold in 1838 by the Jesuits to help fund Georgetown University when it was in financial trouble, The New York Times reported.

This is an opportunity for Jesuits to begin a very serious process of truth and reconciliation, said the Rev. Timothy Kesicki, president of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States, as quoted by the NY Times.

Our shameful history of Jesuit slaveholding in the United States has been taken off the dusty shelf, and it can never be put back.

Father Kesicki said the Jesuits had already deposited $15 million into a trust established to support the foundation, with a plan to raise the remainder over the next three to five years.

The organization receiving the funds is the Descendants of Truth and Reconciliation Foundation, which was created by the Jesuits and the GU272 Descendants Association to advance racial reconciliation.

Cheryllyn Branch, president of the GU272 Descendants Association, said in a statement reported by America magazine that her organization wanted to create a sustainable mechanism for investing forward in uplifting descendants for many generations to come.

Through the Descendants of Truth and Reconciliation Foundation, we will restore honor and dignity to our ancestors by institutionalizing these goals for our children, our childrens children, and descendants for centuries to come, stated Branch.

The GU272 Descendants Association was created to document the lives and family histories of the 272 slaves sold by the Jesuits to rescue Georgetown University from financial ruin in 1838.

Their objectives include uniting current and future descendants of the 272 slaves as well as descendants of all people enslaved by the Jesuits, promoting and supporting the aspirations of descendants through programming and fundraising activities, and promoting the educational and economic aspirations of all descendants.

In April 2017, Georgetown held a Liturgy of Remembrance, Contrition and Hope ceremony to apologize for the Jesuit academic institution's historic ties to slavery.

"It's been a pretty interesting process in the last year or so of the descendants and Georgetown getting to know each other," said James Benton, researcher and the slavery, memory and reconciliation fellow for Georgetown, to The Washington Post at the time.

I would expect this to be another step in that process. We're all coming to terms with the significance of the events of 1838. As we're trying to find a way to move forward, we're all learning a little more about each other.
Representative Image

By Shailesh Yadav

New Delhi [India], March 17 (ANI): Ambassadors of Paraguay and Costa Rica have hailed India's initiative to supply vaccines to other countries as part of efforts to fight the COVID-19 crisis and said they were looking forward to getting India-made vaccines.

They said India's efforts show its solidarity with the world in the fight against coronavirus.

The ambassadors also expressed their keenness on getting supply of Covaxin, the indigenous COVID-19 vaccine developed by Bharat Biotech in collaboration with ICMR.

Talking to ANI on the sidelines of India-Americas Day, an International week organised by the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Fleming Duarte, Paraguay's Ambassador to India, said that the world is coping with the second wave of the COVID-19 virus and India is very important.

"India is a supplier of vaccines to the world, vaccine diplomacy of India is working very well. We are also requesting facilities in India to supply us a good quantity of doses, although it's very difficult. India is doing its best to provide these vaccines," he said.

Duarte said that Paraguay had requested India for one million doses of vaccines.

"We are going to get some doses of vaccine from India. It will be very crucial for our frontline workers like medics, doctors, nurses, police besides educators, and elders. I have been to Hyderabad to talk with the export sales executives of Bharat Biotech. We are working very hard to get the vaccine for our frontline workers like nurses, doctors, police, educators, and the elders."

Claudio Ansorena, Ambassador of Costa Rica told ANI that India has done "a great job in terms of showing the world that it has the capacity to not only produce but also to supply other countries".

He said Costa Rica would also like to seek COVID-19 vaccines from India.

"I also understand that the supply of vaccines is very restricted. We would buy some Bharat Biotech's Covaxin if possible. Our request is placed with the foreign affairs ministry. We hope that India will consider our request. India is also conducting a vaccination drive. So if there is a surplus vaccine then we will get it. We are hopeful that we will get the vaccine from India in three-four months.

He said Costa Rica has a population of 5 million and as two doses are required, the country requires 10 million doses. "We have bought some Pfizer vaccines and started vaccination since January. Ten per cent of our population is already vaccinated," he said. (ANI)
Vice President Kamala Harris listens for questions being shouted by reporters before boarding Air Force Two at Denver International Airport in Denver, Colo., on March 16, 2021. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images)

Vice President Harris Ducks Question on Child Immigrants: I Havent Been Briefed

Vice President Kamala Harris, a vociferous critic of the previous administrations unaccompanied minor detention policies, on Tuesday avoided a question on how the administration shes a part of is holding minor immigrants in border states.

I havent been briefed on anything today about it, but I will when I get on the plane, Harris told reporters in Denver, Colorado, when asked if she was worried about kids at the border. Harris didnt speak to reporters for the rest of the day.

The number of illegal immigrants, including unaccompanied children, crossing Americas southern border jumped above 100,000 in February, the first full month of the President Joe Biden-Harris administration.

Harris repeatedly condemned the Trump era treatment of minor children from other countries while on the campaign trail.

We have to stand up for our America when the Trump administration overlooks the fact that what is happening with the detention of these children by the circumstances by which they arrived is a human rights abuse being committed by the United States government, Harris told a crowd in Florida outside a detention facility in 2019.

We are not going to allow this to happen. Not on our watch. I will tell you: When Im elected, the first thing Ill doone of the first thingsis to shut down these private detention facilities, she added.

Border Patrol agents arrest seven illegal immigrants who tried to evade capture near Penitas, Texas, on March 15. 2021. (Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times)

The Biden administration is grappling with a surge in immigrants because of its rollback of Trump orders and policies, experts have told The Epoch Times. Alejandro Mayorkas, the Homeland Security secretary, said this week that illegal border crossings will hit the highest number in 20 years if the current pace continues.

The administration has opened or reopened a number of facilities in border states in a bid to deal with the surge, and reached an agreement to house immigrant teenagers in a convention center in Dallas, the Department of Health and Human Services confirmed to The Epoch Times.

Officials have said theyre switching the immigration system to a more humane version, arguing the system under Trump was too restrictive.

Biden told reporters earlier Tuesday that he has no plans to visit the border. In an interview with former Bill Clinton aide George Stephanopoulos, he said his message to potential migrants was not to come to the United States.

Both Harris and Biden are traveling this week to promote the American Rescue Plan, a $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package that was passed and signed last week.
Most people know Ricky Gervais for playing David Brent, the boss of the British version of The Office. But before he became a writer and actor, Gervais had another career in the spotlight that failed miserably.

Fortunately, his past doesnt haunt him. Gervais is celebrated as the co-creator of a comedy series that continues to grow in popularity. Despite his failed career prior, theres one thing Gervais is most proud of regarding The Office  and its personal.

Ricky Gervais | VALERIE MACON/AFP via Getty Images

Ricky Gervais was a pop star in the 1980s

Before he became David Brent on the British version of The Office, Gervais was a member of the group Seona Dancing. According to Time, Gervais formed Seona Dancing with his friend Bill Macrae in June 1982 during their final year at University College London.

Macrae played the keyboards while Gervais sang. Their highly stylized and synth-heavy music feels like something straight out of a John Hughes movie, but the group never took off. The duo only released two singles: More to Lose and Bitter Heart.

I went to university to study biology and after two weeks I thought, Hold on, I didnt come to university to study, I came to join a rock band. Seona Dancing tried to be between sort of David Bowie, Roxy Music and Tears For Fears and Japan."  Ricky Gervais pic.twitter.com/lxfslVg1NZ  Eric Alper (@ThatEricAlper) December 12, 2020

After a few television appearances, Seona Dancing was branded a rip-off of David Bowie. Despite the success of their music in the Philippines, Seona Dancing split up in 1984 (via Salon). In 2001, everything started to change for Gervais when The Office debuted.

The Office remains a popular show despite ending in 2013

According to Office star Brian Baumgartner, the American version of The Office has been the number one streaming show globally since 2017. It has over 135 billion minutes that have been streamed in essentially two years, he explained to Gervais on The Office Deep Dive With Brian Baumgartner.

Baumgartner wants to know why a show that has been off the air since 2013 is still so popular. First, Baumgartner brought Office fans An Oral History of The Office. His breakout podcast featured interviews with the writers and cast of the series, who pulled back the curtain on what they thought made the show so special.

Now, Baumgartner gives fans of The Office an even deeper dive into what keeps people coming back for more. During his chat with Gervais, the co-creator of the original series and inspiration behind the American version, Baumgartner uncovered what Gervais is most proud of regarding the show.

The Office is a project Ricky Gervais tried the hardest on

When asked what he is most proud of regarding The Office legacy, Gervais struggled to answer at first. Thats so difficult, he started.

I [would] say [The Office] was the first time I tried my hardest at anything, Gervais admitted. Im very proud of that, and I got addicted to that.

Gervais mentioned cruising through school because he was smart but never being truly dedicated to something. I wore it like a badge of honor  that I didnt need to try hard, Gervais explained. I realized thats not a good attitude.

RELATED: The Office: Ed Helms Starring Role in a Mockumentary Helped Him Land the Role of Andy Bernard

Working on The Office allowed him the chance to change that mindset. I tried to become a pop star and failed miserably, he continued. My mistake was wanting to be a pop star, and I should have wanted to be a songwriter.

Later, Gervais realized his talents in writing and directing. He recalled the desire to be famous, but he didnt want to be famous for just anything. If Im going to be famous, it [had] better be for something Im proud of, he explained to Baumgartner.

Writing The Office, that was the first time I really tried my hardest and it was a great feeling, Gervais concluded. I dont think you can have success without hard work.
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Grayhawk Capital, Arizona's longest operating venture capital firm with a focus on early growth Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) technology companies, today announced it has named Leib Bolel as a partner and full member of the firm. Bolel first joined Grayhawk Capital in 2019 as venture partner on the heels of establishing his own fund.

"Having created significant impact within Arizona's technology ecosystem as founder of the Arizona Israel Technology Alliance, Leib is highly respected across the industry," said Sherman Chu, founder and managing partner of Grayhawk Capital. "Leib has brought immense value to Grayhawk Capital as a venture partner and we're excited to have him join as a partner. In his new role, he will continue executing on our strategy of investing in the most promising of technology companies founded in Arizona, across the U.S. and Israel."

Grayhawk Capital is Arizona's most established and largest venture capital firm. It was founded in 1999, has more than $550 million managed by its partners and is currently raising its third fund. To-date, Grayhawk Capital has made 58 investments and completed 43 exits including six IPO's. The firm currently has 14 active companies in its portfolio including Arizona-based SaaS telehealth leader eVisit and visual collaboration software provider Lucid of Utah, whose vibrant worldwide growth has earned it unicorn status.

"Joining a team with exceptional leadership, over eighty years of venture capital experience and the remarkable results they have been able to achieve, sustain and grow, is a true privilege," said Bolel. "Grayhawk Capital has been a consistent top quartile/decile fund over the last twenty years and I look forward to being a continued part of its success."

With over a decade of experience in the area of new business development and startups, Bolel offers the highest level of analytical skills, ensuring investments are forthcoming and available for continuing growth. He has held a number of past and current board and advisor roles in early-growth technology companies as well as volunteer engagements that include the International Leadership Council for the Greater Phoenix Economic Council, World Vision, Smile Train and the Jewish Federations. Bolel holds an MBA from Walden University and a bachelor's degree from Tannenbaum College.

About Grayhawk Capital

Based in Scottsdale, Arizona, the partners of Grayhawk Capital are a seasoned and cohesive management team with 80+ years of collective experience over 10 venture funds. Their superior track record and strong returns are based on a proven investment model providing post revenue Series A and Series B funding to the dynamic and rapidly growing Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) market in emerging tech hubs. With a current target fund size of $75M for Fund III, Grayhawk invests in the information technology industry in sectors such as mobile computing, cloud, security, enterprise & application software, business intelligence, healthcare IT, and financial. To learn more, visit http://grayhawkcapital.us.

SOURCE Grayhawk Capital

Related Links

https://www.grayhawkcapital.us


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AI in Drug Discovery Market Landscape

One of the year's most prominent market stories: Global AI in Drug Discovery Market 2020, illustrates some hopeful signs of repositioning as the investors have dwelled in rising stocks. The stocks of AI in Drug Discovery, after the end of the lockdown period, imposed owing to deadly Coronavirus, wavered with a bang as most of the vendors have started businesses all over the world. On this note, Market Research Future presents a report on the market in which it stated that the global AI in Drug Discovery Market market would make a benchmark with 40.8% growth from 2019 to 2025. At this pace, the global market will generate revenue of USD 2,015.1 Million by the end of the year 2025.

FREE SAMPLE COPY OF AI in Drug Discovery Market Research Report- Global forecast till 2025@ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/ai-drug-discovery-market-9393

AI in Drug Discovery Trends and Opportunities

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is projected to provide productive avenues in the healthcare industry. The implementation of AI has helped with reducing the researches and development gap in the drug manufacturing process and also in the targeted manufacturing of the drugs. Owing to these aspects, biopharmaceutical industries are tending towards AI to enhance market share. This is an influential factor fueling the growth of the global AI for drug discovery market.

The escalating pressure on the drug manufacturer to reduce drug prices is yet another factor expected to boost the AI for drug discovery market. This is all due to Al reduced the failure rate of clinical trials, and eliminated research and development costs in drug discovery. Apart from this, there has been a regular increase in the number of patients suffering from chronic diseases globally, and pharmaceutical companies are investing high in the development of various drugs. Artificial Intelligence has been able to assist manufacturers by offering a solution to complex situations. In the current scenario, AI is providing many novel analytical approaches for the design and development of novel products, which is another reason behind the markets exponential growth.

More factors, such as the flourishing healthcare sector coupled with manufacturers approach towards lowering the manufacturing cost associated with drug development, have also recorded to be reasonable for the markets growth. Besides, escalating investment by significant players in biopharma companies and rising public and private partnerships for R&D activities are more critical factors expected to boost the growth of the target AI in Drug Discovery market in the future.

In the case of point, back in the year 2019, GlaxoSmithKline plc, a multinational pharmaceutical company, invested US$ 300 Mn in 23 and Me, a gene testing company. The deal, in the current time, is expected to facilitate the company to access the database related to DNA related to relations between genes and diseases. This factor will further help in the development of novel products as well as the AI drug discovery market.

On the contrary, the factor of the scarcity of skilled healthcare professionals has been considered as a hindering factor and anticipated to slow down the growth of the global AI for the drug discovery market in the future.

AI in Drug Discovery Market Segment Review

By the segment of product type, the market has included software and services

By the segment of molecule type, the market has included Large Molecule and Small Molecule.

By the segment of technology type, the market has included machine learning, deep learning, and others.

By the segment of indication type, the market has included Immuno-oncology, Neurodegenerative Diseases, Cardiovascular Diseases, Metabolic Diseases, and others.

By the segment of the application, the market has included target identification, candidate screening, drug optimization and repurposing, de novo drug designing, and preclinical testing.

By the segment of End-User, the market has included pharmaceutical & biotechnology companies, contract research organizations, research centers, and academic & government institutes.

AI in Drug Discovery Market Regional Landscape

Americas and its Countries such as the US and Canada have been at the vanguard of the healthcare industry over the years. The rising number of big AI platform developers in the region is one of the primary reasons for the express growth of the AI in the drug discovery market in the region. Some top AI platforms such as Google AI, Microsoft Azure, and TensorFlow have adopted the Big Pharma companies for utilization in the drug discovery procedure.

Europe is the second-largest market for AI in drug discovery after the Americas. Rising R&D activities in the pharmacy sector and high demand for AI solutions by Big Pharma companies are other factors expected to boost the augmentation of the regional market. Peak pharma companies have made partnerships with AI service providers to integrate AI technologies into the drug discovery process.

The growth of the Asia-Pacific AI in Drug Discovery Market Analysis is attributed to the escalating demand for effective drug discovery solutions. Many startups are working to integrate AI applications in drug discovery. Some of these startups are Adagene, Mozi, Accutar, Xbiome, Elucidata Corporation, Deep Intelligent Pharma, CaroCure, and Interprotein, among others. With the rapidly upward pharmaceutical market in the Asian region, probably, the approval of the AI technologies in the majority drug discovery protocols will take place in the forecast period.

Top Players

The top players are Microsoft Corporation, Google (A Subsidiary of Alphabet Inc.), IBM Corporation, Atomwise, Inc., Cloud Pharmaceuticals, Inc., BenevolentAI, Cyclica, Bioage, Envisagenics, Owkin, Inc., Verge Genomics, and Berg LLC .

Obtain Premium Research Report Details, Considering the impact of COVID-19 @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/ai-drug-discovery-market-9393

About Market Research Future:

At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR) ), and Market Research & Consulting Services
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.
Intelligent.com, a trusted resource for online degree rankings and higher education planning, has announced the Top 50 Colleges In New York for 2021. The comprehensive research guide is based on an assessment of 201 accredited colleges and universities in the nation. Each program is evaluated based on curriculum quality, graduation rate, reputation, and post-graduate employment.

The 2021 rankings are calculated through a unique scoring system which includes student engagement, potential return on investment and leading third party evaluations. Intelligent.com analyzed 201 schools, on a scale of 0 to 100, with only 50 making it to the final list. The methodology also uses an algorithm which collects and analyzes multiple rankings into one score to easily compare each school.

To access the complete ranking, please visit: https://www.intelligent.com/best-colleges-in-new-york/

2021 Colleges In New York featured on Intelligent.com (in alphabetical order):

Barnard College

Binghamton University

City College of New York

City University of New York, Baruch College

City University of New York, Brooklyn College

City University of New York, Hunter College

City University of New York, Queens College

Clarkson University

Colgate University

Columbia University

Cornell University

SUNY Cortland

Farmingdale State College

Fordham University

Geneseo University

Hamilton College

Ithaca College

Long Island University

Manhattan College

Marist College

Molloy College

Nazareth College

New Paltz

New York University

Purchase College

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Rochester Institute of Technology

Russell Sage College

Saint Francis College

Saint Joseph's College, New York

Sarah Lawrence College

Skidmore College

St. Lawrence University

State University of New York, Albany

State University of New York, Buffalo

State University of New York, Delhi

State University of New York, Oneonta

State University Of New York, Oswego

State University of New York, Plattsburgh

State University of New York, Stony Brook

Sullivan County Community College

Syracuse University

The Cooper Union

The New School

Trocaire College

Union College

University of Rochester

Vassar College

Villa Maria College

Webb Institute

About Intelligent.com

Intelligent.com provides unbiased research to help students make informed decisions about higher education programs. The website offers curated guides which include the best degree programs as well as information about financial aid, internships and even study strategies. With comprehensive, user-friendly guides and hundreds of program rankings, Intelligent.com is a trusted source among students and prospective students. To learn more, please visit https://www.intelligent.com/.
Powerful digital classroom microscopes support science teachers facing the challenge of educating students through distance learning

ZEISS has awarded the first two schools in its Science Classroom Outreach Program for Educators (SCOPEs) Grant, a monthly national grant to help support K-12 science teachers facing the challenge of educating students through distance learning. The National SCOPEs Grant recipients are Shelby Igleheart from Central High School (Phoenix, AZ) and Jennifer Hatch from Medomak High School (Waldoboro, ME).

To ensure the success of this national program, ZEISS first launched a regional program for schools near the North American corporate office in White Plains, NY. Regional SCOPEs Grant recipients are Kristin Melillo of Iona Preparatory Lower School (New Rochelle, NY); Nicole Farish of Tappan Zee High School (Orangeburg, NY); Chezdis Sanchez-Bors of Port Chester Middle School (Rye Brook, NY); Jeanine Hall of Hendrick Hudson High School (Montrose, NY); and Benjamin Drexel of Scarsdale High School (Scarsdale, NY).

The SCOPEs grant program covers a complete ZEISS classroom microscope package with an optical microscope, digital camera, and software. Recipients can choose from two microscope models, the new ZEISS Primostar 3 or ZEISS Stemi 305. Winners are selected each month from among all applications received. Those not awarded a grant are automatically re-entered for consideration in subsequent months. To date, teachers from over 30 states have applied for the grant.

Designed with long-term use and extreme durability in mind, the new ZEISS Primostar 3, a robust yet compact classroom microscope, offered as part of the grant features an integrated HD streaming camera in conjunction with the iPad and Windows App Labscope. The shared interface between the teacher and the student allows for immediate confirmation that the specimen is viewed correctly. This system has the capabilities to be expanded to a full digital classroom of network-connected microscopes where a teacher can see all the active images from each microscope in the tablet or PC. The ZEISS Primostar 3 provides students with a digital-native way to examine specimens under a microscope.

SCOPEs grant winners can also opt for the ZEISS Stemi 305 compact Greenough stereo microscope with 5:1 zoom. With the ZEISS Stemi 305, three-dimensional samples can be observed with no preparation required. The easy-to-use microscope offers full integration with long-living LED illumination for reflected and transmitted light and documentation.

To learn more about the SCOPEs Grant or apply, visit http://www.zeiss.com/scopesgrant

About ZEISS

ZEISS is an internationally leading technology enterprise operating in the fields of optics and optoelectronics. In the previous fiscal year, the ZEISS Group generated annual revenue totaling more than 5.8 billion euros in its four segments Industrial Quality & Research, Medical Technology, Consumer Markets and Semiconductor Manufacturing Technology (status: 30 September 2018).

For its customers, ZEISS develops, produces and distributes highly innovative solutions for industrial metrology and quality assurance, microscopy solutions for the life sciences and materials research, and medical technology solutions for diagnostics and treatment in ophthalmology and microsurgery. The name ZEISS is also synonymous with the world's leading lithography optics, which are used by the chip industry to manufacture semiconductor components. There is global demand for trendsetting ZEISS brand products such as eyeglass lenses, camera lenses and binoculars.

With a portfolio aligned with future growth areas like digitalization, healthcare and Smart Production and a strong brand, ZEISS is shaping the future far beyond the optics and optoelectronics industries. The company's significant, sustainable investments in research and development lay the foundation for the success and continued expansion of ZEISS' technology and market leadership.

With approximately 30,000 employees, ZEISS is active globally in almost 50 countries with around 60 of its own sales and service companies, more than 30 production sites and around 25 development sites. Founded in 1846 in Jena, the company is headquartered in Oberkochen, Germany. The Carl Zeiss Foundation, one of the largest foundations in Germany committed to the promotion of science, is the sole owner of the holding company, Carl Zeiss AG.

Further information is available at http://www.zeiss.com

ZEISS Research Microscopy Solutions

ZEISS Research Microscopy Solutions is the world's only one-stop manufacturer of light, electron, X-ray and ion microscope systems and offers solutions for correlative microscopy. The portfolio comprises of products and services for life sciences, materials and industrial research, as well as education and clinical practice. The unit is headquartered in Jena. Additional production and development sites are located in Oberkochen, Gottingen and Munich, as well as in Cambridge in the UK, and in Peabody, MA and Pleasanton, CA in the USA. ZEISS Research Microscopy Solutions is part of the Industrial Quality & Research segment.
Detectives investigating the murder and indecent assault of Stuart Lubbock at the home of entertainer Michael Barrymore 20 years ago have arrested a man.

Essex Police said the man, 50, who has not been named, was arrested in Cheshire, and remains in custody where he continues to be questioned.

Police did not specify what the man was being held on suspicion of.

Butcher Mr Lubbock, 31, had been attending a party at Barrymores luxury home in Roydon with eight other people on March 31 2001 when he died.

Expand Close Stuart Lubbocks body was found in Michael Barrymores swimming pool at his Roydon home in 2001 (PA) / Facebook

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Whatsapp Stuart Lubbocks body was found in Michael Barrymores swimming pool at his Roydon home in 2001 (PA)

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Responding to the arrest, Lubbocks 76-year-old father Terry, who is terminally ill, told the PA news agency: There is just so much going on in my head, I cant get my head around it.

Of course Im happy. Of course this is good news.

But its been 20 years. This has nearly killed me.

Harry Clichy, a friend of the Lubbock family, added: Of course this is progress.

We can only hope it leads to justice for Stuart after all these years.

Expand Close Terry Lubbock, the father of Stuart Lubbock (Harry Clichy/PA) / Facebook

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Whatsapp Terry Lubbock, the father of Stuart Lubbock (Harry Clichy/PA)

Barrymore was criticised for leaving his home soon after Mr Lubbock was found floating in the outside pool.

The 68-year-old former television presenter, who became a household name for shows such as Strike It Lucky, has always denied involvement in Mr Lubbocks death.

A post-mortem examination showed Mr Lubbock had suffered severe internal injuries which suggested he had been sexually assaulted.

Alcohol, ecstasy and cocaine were found in his bloodstream.

Barrymore refused to answer some questions at the inquest in 2002, but said he could not jump in and try to save Mr Lubbock because he could not swim  a claim disputed by others who knew the star.

The coroner recorded an open verdict.

Barrymore, his former partner Jonathan Kenny and fellow party guest Justin Merritt were arrested in 2007 on suspicion of sexual assault and murder, but were later released without charge.

The TV star repeatedly denied any wrongdoing, last year saying: I have had nothing to do with this whatsoever and yet I keep getting bashed and bullied by the media.

Barrymores television career collapsed in the wake of the allegations, although he enjoyed a brief return to the spotlight during a stint on Celebrity Big Brother in 2006.

In 2009, the police watchdog published the findings of a review of the investigation into Mr Lubbocks death, concluding that officers missed crucial evidence and did not ensure vital forensic tests were completed until six years later.
Im sure some of you are sick of working from home, hunched over tiny laptops. Its definitely a smart time to upgrade your work PC setup. Engadget already covered standing desks and our favorite WFH upgrades a while ago, but Ive long had my eyes on an ultrawide monitor; something I could effortlessly combine Slack, web-browsing and more on while writing my words for this very site.

Fortunately, theres Senior Editor Devindra Hardawar, whos already dabbled in excessive 49-inch PC monitors. Hes now tested out Dells new UltraSharp 40 , a 40-inch 5K2K (5,120 x 2,160) screen thats very much aimed at buttoned-down get-business-done types and not gamers in pursuit of low ms responses.

The UltraSharp 40 has enough ports for serious work, including DisplayPort 1.4, two HDMI 2.0 ports, and a Thunderbolt 3 USB-C connection with power delivery for laptops. Theres also five USB Type A connections, a 3.5 millimeter audio jack and Ethernet. In a lot of ways, its a PC hub with a screen, in a lot of ways... Just one that costs $2,100 (or $1,680 if you manage to find it on sale). Read on for Devindras full review.

 Mat Smith

Graham Ivan Clark has pleaded guilty to 30 charges.

Twitter

The teenage hacker who authorities accused of being the mastermind behind the infamous Twitter Bitcoin hack last year, has pleaded guilty to all 30 of the charges he faced. As part of the deal, he agreed to serve a three-year prison sentence at a juvenile facility. As he was 17 years old at the time of arrest, he was classified as a "youthful offender" under Florida law, which meant he avoided the minimum 10-year sentence that adults would have been handed.

Continue reading.

Elon Musk tweeted that SN11 is almost ready to fly.

SpaceX

Before things went boom on the landing pad, SpaceXs last high-altitude flight test was pretty incredible. Now the company has released a high-quality video that ends just after its vehicle touches down in one piece.

Continue reading.

They'll receive benefits like pension pay and holiday time.

Starting today, Uber will classify all of its UK-based drivers as workers. While not full employees of the company, more than 70,000 drivers will now have access to benefits like a minimum wage, holiday pay and a pension. In a filing with the SEC, Uber said it would enroll eligible drivers in a plan where the company will contribute approximately three percent of their pay toward their pension. It will also provide all drivers with paid holiday time at a rate of 12.07 percent of their earnings.

Continue reading.

This years flagship CPU is 14 percent faster while running Flight Simulator in 1080p.

Intel Corporation

Intel has finally given us more information about its next family of desktop CPUs, codenamed Rocket Lake S. The fastest offering will be the Core i9-11900K, an 8-core chip that reaches up to 5.3GHz on a single core. Notably, that's two fewer cores than last year's 10900K. Devindra Hardawar explains what performance Intel has been able to wring out of its aging 14nm process, and how that compares to the competition from AMD for gamers and professionals.

Continue reading.

This high-tech blend of acoustic and electric is unique and expensive.

Weve been playing Fenders next-gen Acoustasonic guitar, which attempts to offer acoustic sounds in a very electric-looking package. And what a premium package it is, with an ocean turquoise finish and solid materials. Managing Editor Terrence OBrien gets musical again, and hes almost won over. Oh, and its $2,000.

Continue reading.

The first D&D game published by Wizards of the Coast.

Dark Alliance

While there have been plenty of games that dance around the themes and gameplay dynamics of Dungeons and Dragons, its creators, Wizards of the Coast, have never published a video game. The company will, though, this June, with Dark Alliance launching on Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, PS5 and Steam. It will offer free upgrades from PS4 and Xbox One to new-generation consoles, too. Each of the four characters on offer (fighter, rogue, barbarian and ranger) has its own playstyle and custom abilities, and you'll unlock more skills and better gear as you progress. And, in true D&D style, you can play co-op with up to three of your friends.

Continue reading.

But wait, theres more...

Corsair's new 60-percent keyboard is a rare and overpriced misstep

Former Stadia chief Jade Raymond is making a new game for PlayStation

Facebook unveils 'corporate human rights' policy

Amazon's union-busting drives exposed in NYT report

Now Apple Maps can help you find COVID-19 vaccination sites

Xbox tests a 'suspend my game' button to speed up downloads

Dell refreshes its Alienware and XPS desktops with 11th-gen Intel CPUs

Microsoft releases a one-click patch for its critical Exchange flaw
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The Whosoevers takes ministry to skate park amid pandemic, sees hundreds come to Christ

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Over the last five years, Ryan Ries, the co-founder of The Whosoevers, a movement that seeks to deliver the message of the Gospel to schools and empower students to realize their true purpose in life, has seen hundreds of thousands of children, teens, and young adults come to Christ.

We've seen over 100,000 students give their life to the Lord in public school systems worldwide through our Kill the Noise tour, Ries, who founded the group with P.O.D. frontman Sonny Sandoval, told The Christian Post.

We're getting into public schools through the Christian clubs and we're filling the gymnasiums at lunch. We're seeing a revival break out with hundreds of thousands of kids coming down to the floor, praying to be forgiven of their sins.

I tell them that they're dirty sinners, they all start laughing  because they know they are; no one has to tell them  and they're repenting, they're receiving Jesus and they're getting filled with the Holy Spirit. We're giving them Gospels and plugging them in to local churches to get disciples, he said of how the ministry reached youth before public schools were shut down last year in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The lockdowns forced Ries to rethink how, exactly, to do ministry. A seasoned skateboarder, he felt God calling him to the skate park  an outdoor space rife with teens experiencing hurt, neglect and addiction.

God just gave me this idea like, Hey, there are skate parks in every single city across the U.S., he recalled. Ive been skateboarding my whole life, so I thought, This is a perfect idea.

Ries explained that many teens and young adults who frequent skate parks have troubled home lives. For them, skating is a way to take out aggression and pain.

"It's an environment for misfits," he said. I grew up as a skateboarder since the '80s, and I can tell you this lifestyle is about sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll. Its a very loose environment for young people to get into trouble, to start smoking cigarettes, look at pornography, do drugs, drink alcohol. Theres a lot of brokenness, depression and suicide.

Answering Gods call without hesitation, Ries., his family and The Whosoevers team packed their bags and went to Idaho to begin witnessing in skate parks across the state.

I made 10,000 fliers saying there was going to be a $100 best trick contest, and about two weeks before the event, I literally drove to every skate park to pass out flyers and talk to the skaters, he said.

On the day of the event, the skate park was packed, Ries recalled, and a number of kids ending up getting saved.

We'd go to the skate parks, have conversations, and get the party started, Ries said. From there, we gave out money as they landed the tricks. At the end, we gave out our products, and from there we shared the Gospel. By the time we shared the Gospel, we'd already developed a relationship with them. There was really no bait-and-switch. We were able to pray over hundreds of kids before the end of the day."

The Whosoevers Idaho tour is the subject of a new documentary, The Whosoevers Full Send Tour: Spreading the Gospel During Difficult Times in the Pandemic, which was released earlier this month.

The documentary follows Ries and The Whosoevers team as they travel to skate parks across the Midwestern state, sharing the Gospel and praying over teens struggling with physical, emotional and mental ailments. Impressive skate action is also sprinkled throughout the documentary, along with an upbeat soundtrack.

So many of these kids come from broken homes. When I read about Jesus, He went from town to town, hanging out with disreputable sinners among the crowd. Were following the model of Jesus, going from town to town, village to village, meeting the people right where theyre at, he added.

While theres always a huge need for the Gospel among young people, Ries said the demand is greater than ever amid the pandemic. He cited statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that show anxiety, depression and suicide have increased to an all-time high because of the ongoing lockdowns.

Kids are depressed, suicidal and struggling, and these issues are the same both with kids in the Church and in the secular world, he stressed. When you sugarcoat the Gospel and dont hit on those hard issues like self-harm, suicide and anxiety, you do them a huge disservice. Weve got to be honest about how this stuff happens in the Church too. Thats the only way freedom will take place.

The harvest is so ripe, he added. The fruit is so ripe its literally falling off the trees up to this point. Everyone is giving their life to the Lord, but youve got to have conversations and be genuine with them and let them know that you love them and will meet them where they are.

Ries and his team are going beyond Idaho, taking their Full Send Tour to skate parks nationwide.

We want to continue to get in front of as many people as possible, he said. Right now is the most crucial time because the youth are in a dark place, and they need to hear the Good News of the Gospel and they need to encounter the love of a loving Father in Heaven.

Ries heart for the next generation comes from his own testimony of how God saved him from a life of pain and addiction  a story he recounts in his forthcoming book,Kill the Noise: Finding Meaning Above the Madness. Despite growing up in a Christian home, Ries found himself struggling with addiction at an early age.

I'm a perfect example of a kid that got caught up in pornography at second grade, smoking cigarettes and drinking by fifth grade, he shared. It wasnt long before I was off to the races.



I found God in a hotel room after nine days of cocaine, Xanax, and alcohol, he added. From that point, I started going to church and discovering who Jesus Christ was. I felt God calling me to dedicate my life to ministry.

The Whosoevers movement, he said, takes its name from John 3:16: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son that whosoever believes would not perish, but have everlasting life."

Whosoever means anyone, from bum to president, Ries said. We want to go out and break down walls between all the different denominations and unite a brotherhood and sisterhood and proclaim our testimonies of what Christ did on the cross for us.

Ries, who also hosts a radio show, challenged other Christians to step out in faith and allow God to use them for His glory. The next generation, he said, is "craving" discipleship.

Jesus sent out His disciples and told them to preach the Gospel because the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand. He said to lay hands on the sick and cast out demons. That is the Great Commission and that is our call in life, to obey and walk by faith, he said.

God can do extraordinary things with the ordinary man, Ries added. If we are in tune with the Holy Spirit, God will use us. It just depends on our availability. Are you available? Are you willing to answer the call? When you are, God will move in power.
Armenia acting health minister on citizens' demand for her resignation

Karabakh's new State Minister Artak Beglaryan on his appointment and future activities

Armenian, Russian and Azerbaijani representatives hold consultations in Moscow

2 Armenian soldiers receive slight injuries after incident with Azerbaijani servicemen in Armenia's Gegharkunik

Armenian boy weighing 5 kg born at Goris Medical Center

"Armenia" bloc representative presents purpose of participation in elections and plans

Isaac Herzog elected President of Israel

Rouhani: Main issues between Tehran, Washington resolved in Vienna

Charles Michel calls on Armenia and Azerbaijan to resume constructive negotiations

US Department of State responds to Pashinyan's proposal to deploy international observers on Armenia-Azerbaijan border

Head of Armenia 2nd President's Office: Robert Kocharyan's public meetings are held in warm atmosphere

Opposition "Armenia" bloc's representative on photos and videos showing bags of deceased servicemen's bodies

Armenia Ombudsman, AGBU President discuss war crimes committed by Azerbaijan during Karabakh war

Opposition "Armenia" bloc's representatives to hold briefings three times a week

Opposition "Armenia" bloc member: Blood-freezing photos and videos from morgue in Abovyan are authorities' reflection

Yerevan mayor receives Netherlands Ambassador

Armenia Health Ministry, Investigative Committee keep info about sending remains of dead soldiers abroad confidential

Armenia Prosecutor General's Office launches case regarding leaving sacs of servicemen's bodies/remains in basement

Peskov: Putin and Biden to discuss cybersecurity issues

Armenia's Pashinyan meets with Belgian PM Alexander De Croo

Armenia acting MOD receives Netherlands Ambassador

Armenia Police: 3 citizens apprehended during protest demanding acting health minister's resignation

NATO warns Minsk about further consequences of Ryanair incident

Armenia economic competition protection commission: Experts forecast inflation of butter prices

Armenia citizens' protest against acting health minister is over

Pashinyan visits France, judicial farce against Armenian POWs kicks off in Baku, Jun. 2 digest

Armenian Ambassador, FMO representatives consider opportunities for expansion of cooperation in Armenia

Armenia Prosecutor General is on working visit to Russia

Armenia acting PM meets with European Council President in Brussels

Armenia citizens throw polyethylene bags at Health Ministry building, police apprehend protesters

Acting deputy minister: Armenia authorities plan to build 46km section of North-South highway in 2021

Dollar is stable in Armenia

Armenia official: Large number of projects being prepared in construction sector

Identity of man killed Wednesday morning in downtown Yerevan is found out

Armenian lawyer: Azerbaijan poses a threat to security in Europe

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

Missing Armenian soldiers' relatives hand letter to Russia Embassy with request to solve captives' issue

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
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Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-17 23:08:52|Editor: huaxia

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by Xinhua writer Guo Chunju

TALLINN, March 17 (Xinhua) -- At least 20 European countries have fully or partially suspended the use of the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine following reports of suspected deaths from blood clots after vaccination, which prompted the European Medicines Agency (EMA)'s investigation and the World Health Organization (WHO)'s safety review.

On Tuesday, Sweden joined countries like Bulgaria, Denmark, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Latvia, the Netherlands, Ireland, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Slovenia, Cyprus and Portugal to suspend the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine.

The Public Health Agency's move came out of concerns of potential serious side effects, including blood clots in combination with low levels of platelets that have been observed in a few younger individuals following vaccination, said Swedish epidemiologist Anders Tegnell.

"The decision is a precautionary measure," Tegnell said. "There is good knowledge about the vaccine, but it is still important that we now pause the vaccinations until the European Medicines Agency has investigated whether these events may be related to vaccination."

Having suspended the use of one particular batch of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines due to safety concerns, Latvia and Lithuania on Tuesday also announced the temporary halt of the use of the vaccine.

Lithuanian Health Minister Arunas Dulkys described the decision as "a precaution" pending the EMA's final conclusions on the safety of the vaccine, adding that both the EMA and the WHO say that there is no evidence that the vaccine could cause blood clots.

Latvian Health Minister Daniels Pavluts said that experts' decision to suspend the use of the vaccine had been unexpected and it meant a pause in the immunization process.

Although there have been a small number of cases in Latvia where people have died a few days after receiving the AstraZeneca vaccine, none of these cases involved thromboembolism and no evidence has been found to suggest that the deaths were caused by the vaccine, said the State Agency of Medicines of the Republic of Latvia.

Moreover, both Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi and Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa on Tuesday stressed "precaution" for the decision to at least temporarily ban the use of AstraZeneca's coronavirus vaccine in their respective countries.

Estonian Minister of Health and Labor Tanel Kiik on Tuesday said on social media that the Estonian national expert committee on immunoprophylaxis supports continuing the use of AstraZeneca's coronavirus vaccine.

"We decided that we will not stop vaccinations. For now, it is not clearly proven that the vaccine is related to thrombosis," immunoprophylaxis expert committee member Professor Irja Lutsar told Estonian TV.

Late on Monday, Romanian health authorities decided "to continue the vaccination campaign in Romania with all the vaccines against COVID-19 currently authorized at the European level."

Romania decided last Thursday to temporarily quarantine the 4,317 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine that had not been used among the 81,600 doses of the problematic batch received, but to continue the vaccination with the AstraZeneca serum from other batches.

In Austria, as of Monday evening, the head of the vaccination department in the Ministry of Health saw no reason to cancel the upcoming vaccinations.

There is currently no evidence of a causal connection between the AstraZeneca vaccine and the currently discussed health events "which can also occur in unvaccinated people," according to Austrian Health Minister Rudolf Anschober, who called for "a common pan-European approach."

In addition, the Greek authorities decided to continue to use the AstraZeneca vaccine in the country as originally scheduled, the official news agency AMNA reported on Tuesday.

For his part, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Monday defended the safety of the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine, saying regulators of his country's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) "see no reason at all to discontinue the vaccination program."

"We are closely reviewing reports but the evidence available does not suggest the vaccine is the cause," and "people should still go and get their COVID-19 vaccine when asked to do so," said Dr. Phil Bryan, head of vaccine safety at the MHRA, in a statement on Monday.

France has entered "a form of third wave (of the coronavirus pandemic) characterized by numerous virus variants," Prime Minister Jean Castex said on Tuesday, stressing that his government still considers vaccination a top priority in its strategy to stem the spread of the virus.

The suspension of the vaccine by several European states highlights the gap between an approach of the precautionary principle and the urgency of deploying strategies to fight the virus, said an editorial in Le Monde newspaper on Tuesday.

The success of a vaccination campaign is as much about the effectiveness of the vaccine as it is about the confidence it inspires, it noted.

As the world is struggling to contain the pandemic, vaccination is underway in an increasing number of countries with the already-authorized coronavirus vaccines.

Globally, 264 candidate vaccines are being developed worldwide -- 82 of them in clinical trials, according to information released by the WHO on Tuesday. Enditem

(Fu Yiming in Stockholm, Zhao Feifei in Vienna, Liu Fang in Paris, Zhang Jiawei and Jin Jing in London, Chen Jin in Bucharest, Guo Qun in Riga, and Guo Mingfang in Vilnius contributed to the story.)
"As a family-owned dealership group, we believe in taking care of every customer like one of our own. That core philosophy is carried out by our team who continues to provide consistent, quality, and award-winning service. - Shelby Reed, President of Reed Family Enterprises

The World Class Automotive Group is pleased to announce the family-owned dealership groups Lincoln and Ford locations have once again earned the highest customer-based satisfaction and sales awards, including the Ford Triple Crown, Ford Presidents Award, and Lincoln Leaders in Excellence.

Randall Reeds Planet Ford in Humble, Planet Ford in Spring, and Planet Ford 635 in Garland are all repeat recipients of Fords utmost honors, the Triple Crown and Presidents Award. Planet Ford Dallas Love Field garnered the Ford Presidents Award. In addition, Planet Lincoln in Spring was named a Lincoln Leader in Excellence. The Texas-based locations are among a select and leading group of Ford and Lincoln dealerships to receive the exceptional recognitions from the Ford Motor Company.

Its amazing. Were so very proud of our World Class team and the continued recognition for their award-winning work helping our customers with their automotive needs, said Randall Reed, CEO of World Class Automotive Group and Reed Family Enterprises. These are difficult awards to achieve once, so to earn these elite accolades again and again, especially during the past years challenges, is nothing short of incredible. It speaks to and shows how committed our dealership family is to providing the very best automotive experience for our community, he added.

The awards  only bestowed to a small number of dealers  distinguish the top-dealerships that have excelled in automotive retailing by providing both exceptional service and customer satisfaction. The Triple Crown is earned by only one percent of dealerships. In order to be recognized, a dealership must receive all of Ford's top honors, which include the President's Award for customer service; One Ford Elite, which is based on vehicle sales; and the Ford Customer Service Premier Club.

Customer satisfaction is paramount, said Shelby Reed, co-owner of the dealership group and President of Reed Family Enterprises. That makes these awards all the more important because they are based on our customers feedback and overall happiness. As a family-owned dealership group, we believe in taking care of every customer like one of our own. That core philosophy is carried out by our team who continues to provide consistent, quality, and award-winning service.

Sherry Reed, co-owner, agreed. These awards happen because of our team and how much passion they have for the people they help every day. Keeping our customers happy is always at the heart of all we do. Were blessed to have caring dealership families that help us attain and maintain this high level of satisfaction. We are thankful for our team and our wonderful customers. We look forward to assisting with their automotive needs.

Planet Ford in Humble, Texas has earned the Triple Crown and Presidents Award an astounding nine years in a row. Planet Ford in Spring, Texas has earned five Triple Crown and seven Presidents Awards since 2002. It is also the No. 1 dealership in greater Houston for the past 19 years.* Planet Ford 635 in Garland, Texas has earned 12 Presidents Awards, nine of which have been consecutive and eight Triple Crown Awards since 2001. Planet Ford Dallas Love Field in Dallas, Texas has earned the Presidents Award 19 times, among other honors. In addition, Planet Lincoln in Spring, Texas has earned the Lincoln Leaders in Excellence Award for its 10th consecutive year.

In total, the World Class Automotive Group has earned over 260 awards and achievements since 1996. In addition, Mr. Reed is the 7th inductee into the Ford Hall of Fame for Dealers and a recipient of Fords Salute to Dealer Award for his commitment to the community. Thats what it all comes down to  helping our community, said Shelby Reed. Were here to serve their needs to make the road of life easier and more enjoyable.

About World Class Automotive Group

World Class Automotive is owned by Randall, Sherry, and Shelby Reed. The family-owned business is comprised of several award-winning dealerships throughout Texas, including The #1 Ford dealership in Texas, Planet Ford in Spring, Planet Lincoln in Spring, Planet Ford in Humble, Planet Ford 635 (formerly Prestige Ford) in Garland, Planet Ford Dallas Love Field (formerly Park Cities Ford), Planet Lincoln Dallas Love Field. Learn more at http://www.ReedHasIt.com.

*Based on retail Ford sales reported by Ford annually since 1998
Richwood, TX (77531)

Today

A few clouds with an isolated thunderstorm possible after midnight. Low 71F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%..

Tonight

A few clouds with an isolated thunderstorm possible after midnight. Low 71F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%.
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PHOENIX  Marco Lopez, who was one of the youngest people ever elected mayor of a U.S. city and rose rapidly to a senior position in President Barack Obamas administration, announced Tuesday that he is running for governor of Arizona.

Lopez is the first of what is likely to be a crowded field of candidates looking to replace Republican Gov. Doug Ducey, who is barred by term limits from seeking a third term.

Lopez kicked off his campaign with videos in English and Spanish that highlight his roots in Nogales, Arizona, and describe an Arizona held back by failed leadership.

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My message is very simple  if we have healthy families, good education and quality jobs, Arizona thrives, Lopez told The Associated Press. Sadly, thats not the case for many, many families in the state today.

The son of Mexican immigrants, Lopez returned to Nogales after college and was elected mayor of the border town at age 22. He went on to serve then-Gov. Janet Napolitano as head of the Arizona-Mexico Commission and head of the Arizona Department of Commerce.

When President Barack Obama appointed Napolitano to head the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, she brought Lopez to Washington as chief of staff at Customs and Border Protection, the parent agency overseeing the Border Patrol and ports of entry.

More recently, Lopez has worked as an international business consultant and investor.

Lopez said his focus as governor would include boosting education, including apprenticeship and vocational training programs; luring businesses; and addressing a shortage of health care providers in rural areas.

Lopez described his time at the Homeland Security Department as helping to oversee the nations largest law enforcement agency and tackling crises head on. But it could pose a liability in a Democratic primary. Progressive activists are still angry over the marked increase in deportations early in the Obama administration, which coincided with Lopezs tenure overseeing the Border Patrol.

As governor, Lopez said his focus would be on the security of the four border counties and facilitating cross-border trade.

I think that weve been focused on making sure that the proper investments are made so that people choose and can migrate legally, Lopez said. Thats what we were pushing for. Thats what I will continue to push for as governor.

Lopez was critical of Arizonas response to the COVID-19 pandemic, saying in his announcement video that state leaders failed us as the coronavirus cost us lives and hammered our economy.

Lopez said Ducey was too slow to respond to the crisis and instead took cues from President Donald Trump. But Lopez did not offer specific steps he would take to better control the outbreak.

As governor I wont work for the president, Ill work for the people of Arizona, Lopez said. If you wait for the political clearance, you get what we saw in Arizona.

Arizona at times had some of the highest per-capita COVID-19 cases in the world, though they are currently down considerably from a winter peak. Ducey has repeatedly defended his handling of the pandemic as a measured response that avoided extreme demands to either do nothing or aggressively shut down Arizonas economy.

Both parties are expected to see hotly contested primaries. Other Democrats often mentioned as potential candidates include Secretary of State Katie Hobbs and U.S. Rep. Greg Stanton.
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By Park Moo-jong





"Unexpected" by-elections in the nation's two largest cities, Seoul and Busan, are expected to serve as a crucial barometer of public opinion ahead of the next presidential poll slated for March 9, 2022.



The rare by-elections on April 7 in the capital city of Seoul and the largest port city of Busan are the shameful products of the mayors' sexual harassment scandals. Coincidentally, the two disgraced mayors are from the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK).



Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon committed suicide last July just after his alleged sexual harassment of his secretary was made public, while Busan Mayor Oh Keo-don resigned last April after admitting his sexual harassment of a city official and is now standing trial.



Now, let's see how the wind blows.



In the largest port city of Busan, Park Heong-joon from the opposition People Power Party (PPP) is taking a comfortable lead over the ruling DPK's Kim Young-choon despite the Moon Jae-in administration's apparent pork-barreling decision to build a new Busan international airport on Gadeok Island.



Thus, the public concern is focused on Seoul with its population of 10 million, one fifth of the nation's total population of around 50 million, and notably on whether the opposition forces can field a unified candidate.



Ahn Cheol-soo of the People's Party (PP) or Oh Se-hoon of the PPP? Or will both run against ruling party contender Park Young-sun in a three-party contest?



The latest various polls found that a unified candidate, either Ahn or Oh, would defeat Park in a two-way race and Ahn will win more comfortably. But in a three-way competition Park would easily take up the post vacated by her late comrade.



Ahn and Oh started negotiations early this month to consolidate their candidacies to meet the "desperate" wish of the people opposing the Moon administration and ruling camp, pledging to strike a deal no later than March 19.



Both Ahn and Oh share "painful and shameful" careers.



Ahn, 59, a former physician, professor and businessman, jumped into politics 10 years ago to run in the by-election for Seoul mayor on Oct. 26, 2011, which was held after then Mayor Oh resigned for losing a referendum on a plan to offer free lunch to students.



Once the darling of the nation's youths and a great role model as the founder of AhnLab, an antivirus software company, Ahn was a strong favorite to win the by-election as an independent but the political novice finally made a concession to (the late) Park Won-soon as the unified candidate of the opposition camp.



Thanks to Ahn's concession, Park Won-soon won the by-election against Na Kyung-won, who lost to Oh in the PPP's candidacy for the by-election this time. Park continued his winning spree by sweeping the 2014 and 2018 elections, but took his own life after his former secretary made a complaint against him for sexual harassment.



Just a year later, Ahn announced his bid to run in the 2012 presidential election to meet public demand for "new politics" against Park Geun-hye from the majority Saenuri Party.



At one point, he had appeared stronger in public polls than Moon Jae-in, but on Nov. 23, he quit the race to throw his support behind Moon, the then-minority Democratic United Party candidate who ultimately lost to Park in the Dec. 19 election.



Oh, 60, a popular TV celebrity as a lawyer, became a lawmaker in 2000 as a then ruling party member. Engineered by his fresh image as a 45-year-old politician, Oh was elected Seoul mayor in 2006 and was reelected in 2010.



But one year later in 2011 after his reelection, he made an imprudent pledge that he would quit, if he lost a referendum he proposed on the then controversial plan to give free lunch to high school students against his policy. He lost and lost the coveted post.



Five years later, Oh resumed politics to run in the Jongno constituency against Chung Se-kyun (now prime minister from the ruling DPK) in the 2016 general election to no avail. He suffered another setback in last year's election in Gwangjin District by losing to 41-year-old political novice Ko Min-jung, a former KBS announcer and Moon's spokeswoman.



And he made a "brilliant" comeback as a PPP candidate for the by-election for the top post of Seoul that he threw away 10 years ago to the lamentation of conservatives.



Crossing the Rubicon River on Jan. 10, 49 B.C., Julius Caesar said, "The die is cast." Yet, the die has not yet been cast in Seoul. The fate of the Seoul by-election depends on whether the opposition forces, PPP and PP, will field a single candidate, Ahn or Oh, against the ruling camp's Park.



Various public polls show the opposition parties are destined to lose unless they field a unified candidate, while the ruling camp is in a serious situation due to the public anger over the alleged real estate speculation by officials of the government and state-run Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH).



A failure caused by the two candidates' and parties' selfish political interests will make the crucial and thrilling contest a very dull event, costing the political careers of the two. So many people are concerned about whether Ahn or Oh will have a chance to redeem their earlier mistakes.





Park Moo-jong (emjei29@gmail.com) is a standing adviser of The Korea Times. He served as the president-publisher of the nation's first English daily newspaper from 2004 to 2014 after working as a reporter since 1974.


The National Credit Union Foundation launched the first-ever national Biz Kid$ Showcase, this week. In partnership with the Southeastern Credit Union Foundation, CrossState Credit Union Foundation, the RMJ Foundation, the Cornerstone Credit Union Foundation and the Credit Union Association of New Mexico, the Biz Kid$ Showcase will allow creativity to continue in our current virtual world.

Biz Kid$ is a credit union-funded and branded financial education program for young adults, championed by the National Credit Union Foundation. Biz Kid$ gives students the opportunity to invest in their financial futures through lessons on entrepreneurship, money, managing finances, and more.
Instead of sitting at home doing nothing when she had to close her pub in the UK due to COVID restrictions, Teresa McCarthy Dixon turned to helping others and is now running a thriving charity that has helped thousands over the past year.

Such has been the success of the McCarthy Dixon Foundation - which was set up to help those affected by the pandemic - it has branched out into helping thousands affected by social deprivation and loneliness across Northampton, including many in the Irish community.

The wonderful work now undertaken by the foundation was honoured in recent weeks when its founder, Teresa McCarthy Dixon, who is from Portmagee, was named as 'Northampton's Inspirational Woman 2021'.

This was an honour for the Kerry woman, who has selflessly helped so many over the past year, primarily in providing food supplies and meals to those in need across her local community in Northampton, where she ran a thriving pub 'The Swan and Helmet' as well as a catering business.

With both unable to operate due to the COVID pandemic, she turned her skills to helping others. Teresa said she is thrilled to win such an award.

"I see myself as no different to any other women in Northampton; there are countless women who go unnoticed, who work tirelessly to support every level of our community, and this award is for them as much as me," she said. "I'm delighted to be added to incredible list of winners of this award."
A walk in the woods behind Glanleam beach on Valentia Island for local man Alan Houlihan and his daughther, Muireann (Mimi) (5) on Sunday morning took a rather unusual twist when the pair spotted a walrus out on the rocks, just off the beach.

At first they thought the animal was a seal but when Alan spotted the tusks he knew immediately it was a walrus - a once-in-a-lifetime sight on the island of Valentia.

"It is huge, you are talking the size of a bull or even bigger. The pictures don't do it justice...When I saw the tusks I knew it was a walrus, and I started filming it," Alan told The Kerryman. He rang his wife, Bridget Sheehan, and she and their other two children, Fionn (11) and Erin (9), rushed to see it. They were soon joined by other local families eager to see the sight of a walrus on Valentia.

"It is not often you find a walrus within your 5km on a Sunday afternoon," Alan said.

"Muireann was excited but she doesn't know the magnitude of what she saw. She is drawing pics of the walrus since," says Alan.

Alan has been busy fielding calls from media across the country and even further afield as the story made headlines at the BBC and at CBC Canada. Even CNN and local man Donie O'Sullivan are tweeting about it, and it has made it to TikTok .

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Muireann has even come up with a name for her new friend: Isabel for a girl, and Cian for a boy.

However, the animal's time on Valentia appears to have been short-lived as there have been no sightings of the walrus since Sunday. Experts believe the walrus is likely to have come from Greenland as they are Arctic animals. Given that Greenland is the closest such location, it is likely to have travelled from there.

Professor Emer Rogan of the UCC school of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, said that the sight of a walrus is 'not for the faint-hearted'.

"These are truly enormous animals, those who saw it must have been very excited," Dr Rogan said. She said that there are about 25,000 walruses living in the Atlantic in Arctic locations such as Canada, Newfoundland and Greenland.

She said these animals tend to live together as they are social creatures who survive on shellfish accessed in shallow coastal seas. She said there are concerns about the future of these animals as sea ice melts due to climate change and does not reform. However, she said it is hard to know why this walrus ended up on Valentia. According to the National Biodiversity Data Centre, there have been 11 sightings of walruses in Ireland - the most recent listed was in 1999 - making this a rare sight indeed, and according to Marine Expert, Kevin Flannery, this is one of the few truly confirmed sightings of such an animal, with spectacular photos and video footage of the animal to prove it. Other sightings recorded through the centuries would not have such evidence.

"It is absolutely very unusual. These are Arctic creatures ...It was lovely for the young children to see him. It is a once-in-a-lifetime sight," said Mr Flannery.

He has put forward a theory the walrus fell asleep on a sheet of ice and drifted to Valentia from Greenland. However, other experts believe he may have been searching for new breeding grounds, but it is difficult to know how and why he ended up so far away on Valentia island.

"He is definitely off course. This is not natural," said Dr Rogan.

The animal is believed to be quite young as its tusks are not developed, and it's also believed to be malnourished given that it is unlikely he would have been able to eat on his journey as they feed in coastal, shallow waters. Both Dr Rogan and Mr Flannery are hopeful that the walrus will survive and, after some rest, return to his native land - but his time in Valentia won't be forgotten here.

Fact file

An adult walrus weighs in at around 800kg (1,723lbs) but they can even be bigger.

They eat shellfish in shallow coast al waters, such as clams and crabs feeding off the bottom of the ocean.

There are approximately 25,000 walruses in locations such as Greenland, Canada and Newfoundland. It is believed this walrus may have travelled from Greenland.

There have been 11 sightings in Ireland since 1897 of walruses according to the National Biodiversity Data Centre, but this is one of the few fully confirmed sightings.
Guwahati: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday (March 16) stated that the party will register a big win in Assam.

Reacting to National Congress Party Chief Sharad Pawar's prediction on upcoming assembly elections, Debendra Fadnavis said, "Even our adversaries have accepted that BJP will win in Assam. Although I don't agree with Sharad Pawar Ji's whole statement, if he also believes that BJP will win in Assam, it goes on to show that we will register a big win.

Devendra Fadnavis made the state during his visit to Guwahati. Sharad Pawar on Sunday (March 14) said that the BJP will retain power in Assam, but other parties will win in other states.

"In Assam, the BJP`s condition is comparatively better (than other states). In one state (Assam), BJP will retain power while in other states, other political parties will win elections. This is the trend and I am sure this new trend from five states will show a new way to the nation," he added.

He further said, "Despite all the misuse of state machinery by the BJP, Mamata Banerjee will retain her state."Four states and one union territory - West Bengal, Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, will be going to poll in the coming months.

West Bengal is likely to witness a triangular contest this time with TMC, Congress-Left-Indian Secular Front alliance and the BJP in the fray. Elections will be held in eight phases in the state starting from March 27 with the final round of voting taking place on April 29. Assembly elections in Assam for 126 seats will be held in three phases starting on March 27, April 1 and April 6.

The counting of votes will take place on May 2. Five political parties including Congress, All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF), Communist Party of India (CPI), CPI(Marxist), CPI(Marxist-Leninist) and Anchalik Gana Morcha will contest polls together to oust the BJP`s Sonowal government from power.

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.

In Tamil Nadu, the DMK MK Stalin-led party will contest with the Congress party, CPI, CPI (M), Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) and Vaiko`s Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK). The BJP meanwhile will contest as an NDA partner with the AIADMK.

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Ministers have been blasted by the official spending watchdog over the long-term adverse effects of poor online learning during lockdown.

A report by the National Audit Office today says some children were left without a laptop for months and many of those that had one did hardly any work.

The authors said the Government lacked a contingency plan when it closed schools and was slow to make sure online classes were being provided.

Poor pupils were the worst affected because they had less access to technology and their schools were in many cases less proactive.

Ministers have been blasted by the official spending watchdog over the long-term adverse effects of poor online learning during lockdown (stock image)

It will mean a significant widening of the attainment gap between rich and poor unless pupils are helped to catch up, the authors said.

In addition, the NAO found a special scheme to lay on extra tuition may not be reaching the poorest, and one in three eligible schools still dont have a dedicated tutor.

The report said some of the Department for Educations (DfE) emergency actions could have been done better or more quickly and resulted in children falling behind. Schools were not legally forced to lay on internet lessons until five months into the pandemic, meaning provision was patchy. Some children may have been accessing lessons for only an estimated two hours a day, the authors said.

By July, teachers estimated their pupils were on average three months behind in the curriculum.

In addition, many of the 220,000 laptops and tablets distributed by the DfE to disadvantaged children in the summer term did not go out until June.

Some 82 per cent of secondary pupils in private schools had received active help, such as online classes, or video and text chat. By contrast, 64 per cent of secondary pupils in state schools from the richest one-fifth of households received active help, compared with 47 per cent of pupils from the poorest one-fifth.

Gareth Davies, the head of the NAO, said: The evidence shows that childrens learning and development has been held back by the disruption to normal schooling. The Government is now implementing a national catch-up scheme involving extra tuition, but the report found it may not be getting to those most in need.

Fewer than half of the pupils who have started to receive tuition so far are from low-income families.

The report comes amid a campaign by this newspaper to raise money for the MailForce charity to provide refurbished and new laptops to struggling pupils.

Mail readers, philanthropists and corporate donors have given an amazing 12.6million in cash and computers to provide laptops to those who have no access to one at home.

A DfE spokesman said: We have invested over 2billion into schemes to provide pupils with devices for remote education and ambitious catch-up plans  with funding targeted at disadvantaged children and young people who need support the most.

Yesterday, official data from the DfE showed 1,267,451 laptops and tablets have been dispatched to poor pupils by the Government since the start of the pandemic.

This is around 32,500 short of its overall target of 1.3 million.
Hurricane season 2021 is here: How do storms get their names?
Saudi Arabia wants to buy armed drones from Turkey, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Monday in the latest potential sign of a thaw between the two governments.

Ankara and Riyadh all but ceased cooperation on regional matters as ties soured following the state-sanctioned murder of dissident Saudi journalist and Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi inside Riyadhs consulate in Istanbul in 2018.

Still, Erdogan criticized Riyadh today for taking part in joint military exercises with Greece, Turkeys main rival in the eastern Mediterranean. Turkish officials have slammed Saudi Arabias attendance at a forum in Athens in February featuring defense ministers from France, Greece, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain.

Those countries have sought mutual defense and economic cooperation in the eastern Mediterranean in response to Ankaras ambitions regarding hydrocarbon rights there, as well as its involvement in war-torn Libya.

Meanwhile, Arab states such as the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain normalized ties last year with Israel, a country with which Turkey has made little headway in repairing ties. Ankara also recently started talking again with Egypt after years of icy relations following Cairos 2013 coup.

Why it matters: As Gulf states look to expand their drone, missile and air defense arsenals amid incessant attacks from Iran-linked groups in the region, Turkeys game-changing technology could provide Ankara with leverage.

Qatar already uses Turkeys Bayraktar TB2 armed drones, as do Azerbaijan and Ukraine, and Turkey is looking to sell elsewhere. The unmanned weapons proved devastatingly effective on the battlefields of Libya and Nagorno-Karabakh.

Meanwhile, the Biden administration is holding off on advanced arms sales to Saudi Arabia right now, pumping the brakes on hopes fostered by the Trump administration, which opened Gulf state markets to US armed drone manufacturers.

Whats next: Theres still a long way to go before any Saudi-Turkish rapprochement. The two countries took opposing sides in Egypts 2013 coup, Libyas civil war and the Gulf Cooperation Councils dispute with Qatar, among other matters.

Yet with the GCC rift and Libyas war beginning to wane, opportunities for further cooperation may be budding.

Know more: Al-Monitor recaps what may lie ahead for the region if Egypt and Turkey restore their battered relations.
The Atlanta police initially characterized the shooting at one of the parlors in the city as a robbery in progress. The suspect in custody is white.

Four people died in the first shooting, at Youngs Asian Massage near Acworth, a northwest suburb of Atlanta, said Capt. Jay Baker of the Cherokee County Sheriffs Office. That shooting, in which a Hispanic man was injured, was reported around 5 p.m.

At 5:47 p.m., the Atlanta police said, officers responded to a robbery at Gold Spa in the northeast part of the city, where they found the bodies of three women with gunshot wounds. While the officers were at the scene, the police said, they received a report of shots fired at the Aromatherapy Spa across the street, where they found the body of another woman.

Debra and Gregory Welch, who live in the Piedmont Heights neighborhood, said it was usually quiet and peaceful, although they referred to the stretch where the shootings took place as the communitys red-light district. On the same block, near Cheshire Bridge Road, there is another massage parlor, a tattoo shop and a strip club.
Convincing and credible In her 2019 report, Ms Bryant-Smith found Ms Frederes testimony convincing and credible. She accepted four of Ms Frederes seven allegations as proven and concluded a further three allegations had elements that could be substantiated but were not sufficient to classify them as proven. Ashley Frederes The investigation also found Professor Lopez raised concerns about Ms Frederes job performance with her superiors after the alleged incidents in 2015. But Ms Bryant-Smith found it could not be proven that Professor Lopezs comments about her performance were linked to her rejecting his alleged advances. Ms Bryant-Smith, a former workplace relations lawyer at Clayton Utz and Allens, formed workplace consultancy Worklogic in 2017. She is a former editorial board member of the Melbourne University Law Review.

Professor Lopez, 69, was awarded a companion of the order of Australia in 2016 for his service to public health. He has more than 75,000 citations to his research and was chief epidemiologist for the World Health Organisations tobacco control program during the 1990s. Ms Frederes told The Age and Herald she had been motivated to speak publicly because of the apparent lack of action by the university despite the adverse findings. I realised that people in positions of authority aim to indoctrinate us in the lies that we are too weak to stand up, she said. There is power in revealing the truth and I hope others will feel empowered to stand up for themselves and say enough. University of Melbourne student union president Jack Buksh said the university had yet to deliver on a promise to introduce a stand-alone policy to protect students and staff from sexual harassment and assault and hasnt had that leadership that is required to deal with those issues. Its been more about the cover-up, Mr Buksh said.

National Tertiary Education Union president Alison Barnes said the union viewed sexual harassment as not only a workplace health and safety issue, but one of gender inequality. Where complaints are substantiated, the Universitys response must be fair and proportional, enacted without delay, and with the well-being and wishes of the complainant first and foremost, she said. You are going to be a distraction In October 2015, Ms Frederes and Professor Lopez flew to Shanghai to meet senior Chinese health officials as part of an international data for health project involving the University of Melbourne, the World Health Organisation and John Hopkins University. Professor Lopez was one of the leaders of the project, which was designed to improve the cause of death reporting in low to middle income cities and was funded in part by the Australian Government and Bloomberg Philanthropies. The US-based Ms Frederes, who was then 27, was a program officer for another project partner, the US-based health organisation, Vital Strategies.

Ms Frederes told the investigator that on the night they arrived she and Professor Lopez met in Professor Lopezs room because the hotels meeting rooms were closed. When Ms Frederes went to leave, Professor Lopez stood between her and the door. He was physically blocking me from leaving and thats when he went in to hug me, and I just went to hug back to make it quick and leave, Ms Frederes alleged in written and verbal accounts. But thats when he didnt let go, and when he started moving his hands over my body and putting his face down closer, leaning in like he was going to kiss me, I froze, because I was very afraid and uncomfortable. Ms Frederes, another colleague, and Professor Lopez on the Shanghai trip. She said she pushed Professor Lopez away and left. She did not raise the incident with Professor Lopez the next day, and nor did she report anything to her employer or the University of Melbourne because she feared it might jeopardise her involvement in the project, she told the investigator. Professor Lopez told the investigation he denied any physical contact with Ms Frederes, save for perhaps European-style cheek kissing. He was also adamant that he had never had her in his hotel room. I firmly and absolutely deny ever having touched or intimidated her in the manner which she alleges: none of the actions she described happened then, or on any other occasion, he said in response.

The next morning Ms Frederes arrived at breakfast dressed in black business dress, black blazer and with her hair and make up done in preparation for a meeting. According to her account, Professor Lopez came to breakfast where he said she looked stunning, sexy, and beautiful and would be a distraction for all the men. Professor Lopez denied the account, saying: Those who know me know that I would never tell, nor have I ever told, a female colleague what I am alleged to have told Ms Frederes. That would simply be unprofessional, disrespectful and dismissive. Ms Bryant-Smith accepted Ms Frederes account of both incidents. His breath on my neck A few days later, Professor Lopez was on the verge of returning to Melbourne and he and Ms Frederes had one drink in the lobby to reflect on the past few days. As she left, Professor Lopez followed her into the lift.

He was standing in the corner of the elevator, so his back to the corner, and I was sort of standing next to him, but then I turned to say, Goodnight, because we were approaching my floor, and so thats when he went in to hug me again, and  this time mostly groped my butt and my waist, sort of moving his hands around my hips and my butt and touching my waist, she alleged to Ms Bryant-Smith. Hes over six feet tall and Im about five-foot-three, so he would just bend his head down and have his sort of mouth very close to my ear and my neck, like I remember feeling his breath on my neck. Ms Frederes said she froze, then pulled away and ran to her room. She contacted a co-worker and friend. Then, according to her complaint, she cried in the shower. Ms Frederes friend and colleague confirmed to the investigator that she did receive a call from the young American about the alleged encounter. She remembered Ms Frederes being upset but composed and saying she did not want to pursue legal action because she feared for her career. Ms Frederes also reported the incident to two other female friends. Another senior female academic working on the project told the investigation how she had detected tension between Ms Frederes and Professor Lopez after the 2015 overseas trips.

Professor Lopez again denied, verbally and in writing, any physical contact with Ms Frederes, except for possibly kissing her on the cheek three times. Ms Frederes said she also complained about Professor Lopez to her US boss at Vital Strategies, Philip Setel. Project funder Bloomberg Philanthropies was also made aware about the alleged harassment. Vital Strategies said in a statement that it supported Ms Frederes and her participation in the Melbourne University investigation. We do not condone harassment of any kind, it said. The statement said Mr Setel had agreed to participate in the investigation but was delayed in providing responses. Ms Bryant-Smith accepted Ms Frederes account and rejected Professor Lopezs claim that the young woman had invented the harassment allegations to deflect attention from his criticisms of her job performance in 2017 and 2018. Ms Bryant-Smith also accepted Ms Frederes claims that Professor Lopez had talked in a suggestive and inappropriate manner about his past sexual relationships and body parts during their Shanghai trip. But Professor Lopez told the investigator he could not recall any discussion with Ms Frederes about matters involving his personal life and said he had never before heard of the supposed correlation between a large shoe size and large penis. Ms Frederes produced to the investigation an email sent to her late at night by Professor Lopez during a work trip to Peru a month earlier in which he asked her to join him for a late night drink just the two of us. Ms Bryant-Smith said the email was suggestive but Professor Lopez was not to know at that point that it was unwanted by Ms Frederes.

Deciding to come forward It took almost three years after the alleged incidents for Ms Frederes to lodge a formal complaint with the university in August 2018. She said she had been was prompted by the momentum of the #MeToo movement. Loading In 2015, you either quit your job or accepted the fact that misogyny is rampant in all workplaces. When ... other high-profile cases started garnering attention, I felt like it was safe and the right time to file a complaint with the university, she said. But the universitys investigation process was slow. Professor Lopez did not provide a written response to Ms Frederes allegations until May 2019. The general counsel for Ms Frederes employer, Vital Strategies, was moved to complain to the university about the sluggish pace.
"At McGraw Hill, we have a long-held vision of unlocking the potential of each learner, and key to fulfilling that is improving equity in our schools and classrooms," said Dr. Lanette Trowery, Sr. Director, Learning Research & Strategy at McGraw Hill. "That focus on equity has never felt more important than it does today during the COVID-19 pandemic and amidst reinvigorated efforts around issues of educational equity and social justice. Our new Equity Advisory Board will guide our work in this area, helping ensure we're doing all we can to support the success of each and every student."

Every child has intrinsic value and unlimited potential for a bright future. Education must ensure that the factors which make each child unique become the building blocks of the success they choose and a force for change in the world.

The Equity Advisory Board will:

Provide insights and guidance on national and global trends in educational equity, culturally responsive and sustaining pedagogy, and social justice

Engage in discussions and planning of new ideas and business innovations in relation to educational equity in McGraw Hill products and projects

Review current product development practices, processes, and products and provide insights into ways of incorporating equity practices and frameworks

Advise McGraw Hill team members on equity-focused research efforts related to product development

Meet the McGraw Hill Equity Advisory Board:

Dr. Courtney Koestler

Director, OHIO Center for Equity in Mathematics and Science, and Associate Professor of Instruction, The Patton College of Education at Ohio University

Dr. Koestler' scholarly interests and expertise center on diversity, critical literacy, and critical pedagogies in early and elementary education, teacher education, and mathematics education. Dr. Koestler is a proud, former public-school teacher and spends time each week working with children and teacher-colleagues in classrooms.

Will Lopez, Esq.

Deputy General Counsel, Cooley LLP

In his role, Mr. Lopez advises the firm on legal ethics, risk management, conflicts of interest and other professional responsibility and compliance issues. Mr. Lopez was the recipient of a McGraw Hill Merit Scholarship in 2004, put together the first Law School LGBT Civil Rights Conference in Illinois in 2011, and chaired the Diversity Committee of the LGBT Bar Association of New York from 2017-2019.

Nancy Yao Maasbach

President, Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA)

As the President of MOCA, Ms. Maasbach combines her experiences in managing organizations, knowledge of U.S.-China relations and research on redefining the American narrative.

Dr. H. Richard Milner IV

Cornelius Vanderbilt Chair of Education and Professor of Education, Department of Teaching and Learning at Peabody College, Vanderbilt University

Dr. Milner's research, teaching and policy interests concern urban education, teacher education, African American literature, and the social context of education. Professor Milner's research examines practices and policies that support teacher effectiveness in urban schools. His work has appeared in numerous journals, and he has published seven books.

Dr. Christian Sawyer

Principal, Denver Public Schools

Dr. Sawyer is a nationally recognized leader and career-long educator who holds equity as his core value. With twenty years of school leadership and classroom teaching under his belt, Dr. Sawyer has led large teams of urban educators to embrace equity-minded growth, build innovative approaches to teaching and learning, and expand access, opportunity, and achievement in his schools.

Dr. Mariana Souto-Manning

Professor of Early Childhood Education and Teacher Education, Teachers College at Columbia University, and Founding Co-Director, Center for Innovation in Teacher Education and Development (CITED).

Dr. Souto-Manning holds additional academic appointments at the University of Iceland and King's College London. Dr. Souto-Manning's research critically examines inequities and injustices in teaching and teacher education, (re)centering methodologies and pedagogies on the lives, values, and experiences of intersectionally-minoritized people of Color.

McGraw Hill

McGraw Hill is a learning science company that delivers personalized learning experiences that drive results for students, parents, educators and professionals. We focus on educational equity, affordability and learning success to help learners build better lives. Headquartered in New York City, McGraw Hill has offices across North America, Asia, Australia, Europe, the Middle East and South America, and makes its learning solutions for PreK-12, higher education, professionals and others available in more than 75 languages. Visit us at mheducation.com or find us on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn or Twitter .

Contact:

Tyler Reed

McGraw Hill

(914) 512-4853

[email protected]

SOURCE McGraw Hill

Related Links

http://www.mheducation.com


The UVDS contract is a 15-year evergreen agreement currently set to expire in 2036, Lederer explained.

The (UVWMA) board can either decide theyre not going to renew it, meaning that the contract would then end 15 years from then, or the board could do nothing, meaning that another year is added to the contract, Lederer said.

The rolling contract was intended to give UVDS a continuing incentive to invest in equipment and technology, Lederer said.

The Clover Flat contract is set to expire in 2047 since, in theory, it was thought that the landfill would be full by then, Lederer said.

In reality thats probably not true because it was based on some conservative assumptions, Lederer said, adding that the amount of waste going to the landfill has been less than expected.

On April 13 the St. Helena City Council will consider an amended agreement with the UVWMA that would determine how franchise fees are split among the jurisdictions, allow the UVWMA to work with each jurisdiction to implement new regulatory requirements, and clarify how the UVWMA is funded.

That in no way affects the franchise contracts (with UVDS and Clover Flat), Lederer said. Those are a separate thing.
Voter rights

As a Republican I was critical of the efforts to subvert our democracy which sought to overturn Joe Bidens victory. But I am alarmed by the Democrat overreach embodied in H.R. 1.

The Democrats voting rights bill would subvert the Constitutional authority of states to manage their own elections. It would also essentially ban photo Voter ID requirements.

Arizona and Georgia both have Voter ID and still witnessed record turnout by voters of color last November, and Biden still won both.

Citizens have a right to be concerned about efforts to restrict voting rights in states like Georgia after last November. But they should be outright alarmed by the travesty of H.R. 1.

Carlton Huffman, Granite Falls

Carlton Huffman

Corporate taxes

President Bidens plan to raise the corporate rate to 28% is a bad idea, especially for workers. The tax increase combined with state taxes will be the highest among OECD countries, which support free-market economies.

The tax will not fall on the rich. According to the Tax Foundation, workers could lose jobs, see wages decreases, and U.S. businesses will have a more challenging time competing. We should stop reckless spending and keep taxes on job creators low.

Gabriel Russ, Lincolnton

Caregivers

The past year of COVID lockdowns has crippled our loved ones in nursing homes and long-term care facilities. For eight months, N.C. Caregivers for Compromise have been asking lawmakers to approve an essential caregiver designation. The essential caregiver would be someone who has been tested and screened for COVID, just like staff.

This would allow family members to be able to touch and provide care for loved ones. Seventeen other states have a designation like this. We need essential caregivers in North Carolina.

Annette McIntyre, Charlotte

Unity

Our leadership in Washington seems to be disconnected from what the public wants.

Some teacher unions are fighting a return to classrooms. Teens have committed suicide and I have seen the sadness about not being in school firsthand through my grandchildren.



Working parents have been through too much stress trying balance work and getting their children schooled.

Story continues

It would be more productive if our politicians would come together for the well-being of the country. Where is all the unity we were promised?

Barbara Bell Kerr, Charlotte

Daylight savings?

Regarding Stop the insanity of twice-a-year clock changing, (March 14 Opinion):

Here we go again  back into eternal jet lag for the next eight months. And what a convenient name  Daylight Savings Time  when there is no savings to be had. DST actually steals our mornings, the most important part of the day.

There are no energy savings. In fact, it increases the use of energy as one has to manipulate in the dark every morning trying to crawl out of bed.

This Los Angeles Times editorial was right  its corporate America pushing us to stay out longer and spend more money.

But the editorial is wrong in its casual preference for permanent Daylight Savings Time. Our circadian rhythms are what guide our lives, not the numbers on a clock. Well be out of sync with our natural, innate, unchangeable rhythms for eight months.

Lets rethink DST and stay with Eastern Standard Time.

Sandra Holyfield, Charlotte

City services

I realize that our government services often receive less than stellar reviews. I want to offer my appreciation for the excellent services we receive every week from solid waste management.

In addition, I had the need for help from 311 for tree services and a general inquiry. The staff answered quickly, was very friendly, and took care of my request.

My wife and I commented, Isnt it nice when service providers value your time and offer respectful interaction and help. Kudos to these helpful people.

Stephen Wagner, Charlotte
ROSEVILLE, Calif., March 16, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Galvanize, the global leader in SaaS governance, risk, and compliance (GRC) software, today announced its Fulfillment Partner Agreement with Quest, the leading global technology management firm, for the purpose of using its NASPO ValuePoint Master Agreement led by the State of Utah. Galvanize can now utilize Quests NASPO ValuePoint Cloud Solutions contract to sell its cloud-based risk management solutions to government agencies and political subdivisions across the United States and its territories.



The NASPO ValuePoint contract eliminates the need for the participating states to solicit bids or develop RFPs, which typically slow down implementations and impact budgets. With no additional negotiations required, Galvanize can simplify its procurement process allowing governments to deploy GRC technology solutions faster with state, local and education (SLED) customers. The 14 Participating Addendums currently included in the contract are: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Guam, Hawaii, Illinois, Louisiana, Missouri, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Utah, Vermont, and Washington. Additional Participating Addendums are in progress.

As SLED agencies see a growing urgency for GRC programs, they dont want to deal with a long-winded RFP process for buying digital solutions like Galvanize, said Dan Zitting, chief product and strategy officer at Galvanize. By partnering with Quest, we can expand our work with government agencies in new states and streamline the process at the same time.

Through our partnership, Galvanize can now proactively pursue SLED business and accelerate the purchasing cycle through the NASPO ValuePoint contract, said Adam Burke, vice president of sales at Quest. Galvanize can deploy its technology faster to address the challenges SLED customers face in todays evolving risk landscape.

To learn more about Galvanizes SLED programs, please visit the state and local government area on our website.

About Galvanize:

Galvanize is the leading provider of award-winning, cloud-based security, risk management, compliance, and audit software for some of the worlds largest organizations. The integrated HighBond platform provides visibility into risk, makes it easy to demonstrate compliance, and helps grow audit, risk, and compliance programs without incurring extra costs. More than 6,300 organizations in 130 countries rely on HighBond to meet their objectives, including many Fortune 1000 and S&P 500 companies, hundreds of banks, manufacturers, healthcare and government organizations. Whether managing threats, assessing risk, measuring controls, monitoring compliance, or expanding assurance coverage, HighBond automates manual tasks, blends organization-wide data, and broadcasts it in easy-to-share dashboards and reports.

About Quest

Quest is a leading global technology management firm. For over 30 years, weve worked seamlessly with our clients to achieve their technology and business goals. Quest delivers IT managed, cloud, consulting, staffing, and support services for cybersecurity, disaster recovery, incident response, virtualization, networking, application development, datacenter and physical infrastructure including access control, wireless design, video conferencing, and cabling/fiber optic. Our unique and flexible service level agreement, QuestFlex, allows companies to customize managed technologies via on-premise, off-site, or in the cloud with one of our US-based or international service delivery centers.

Quest and copyrights by Quest are registered trademarks of Quest Media & Supplies, Inc. All rights reserved. For more information, visit: www.questsys.com.

About NASPO and NASPO ValuePoint

The National Association of State Procurement Officials (NASPO) is a non-profit association dedicated to advancing public procurement through leadership, excellence, and integrity. It is made up of the directors of the central purchasing offices in each of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the territories of the United States. NASPO is an organization that helps its members as public procurement leaders by promoting best practices, education, professional development, research, and innovative procurement strategies. Learn more at www.naspo.org. NASPO ValuePoint is the cooperative purchasing division of the National Association of State Procurement Officials (NASPO), facilitating cooperative public procurement solicitations using a Lead State model. NASPO ValuePoint delivers high value, reliable, and competitively sourced cooperative contractsoffering public entities outstanding prices, favorable terms and conditions, and value-added services. Learn more at www.naspovaluepoint.org.

NASPO, NASPO ValuePoint, and Lead State Model are trademarks of the National Association of State Procurement Officials.

Contact information: galvanize@highwirepr.com




When This Is Us returns on March 23, Uncle Nicky (Griffin Dunne) surprises Kevin (Justin Hartley) and Madison (Caitlin Thompson) with a visit. He secured both doses of the coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine to visit the twins. In a recent interview, This Is Us writers Casey Johnson and David Windsor gave insight into Uncle Nickys story.

[Minor spoilers for the This Is Us Season 5 below.]

This Is Us Uncle Nicky played by Griffin Dunne | Ron Batzdorff/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank

This Is Us: Uncle Nicky  What happened last with the Pearsons Uncle?

Fans first met Uncle Nicky in This Is Us season 3; he became a main character in season 4. In season 3 of This Is Us, Kevin found out that his Uncle Nicky did not die in the Vietnam war like Jack (Milo Ventimiglia) told the family. When Kevin returned home from his trip to Vietnam, he and his siblings traveled to find their long-lost Uncle.

In season 4, fans found out more about Uncle Nicky. Kevin helped his Uncle with his sobriety and fear of leaving his trailer. When the long-lost relative joined Thanksgiving with the Pearsons, he realized that his brother kept his memory alive in touching ways.

Uncle Nicky made a brief appearance in season 5 when Kevin called him to share the news of his twins birth. His nephew told him that one of the babies was named after his Uncle. Fans were disappointed that Griffin Dunne did not appear in the This Is Us Season 5 premiere. So, they are very excited to see Uncle Nicky return to This Is Us on March 23.

This Is Us Season 5: Uncle Nicky visits Kevin and Madison

On March 16, This Is Us ended with a shocking knock at Kevin and Madisons door. The couple answered the door to find Kevins Uncle Nicky standing in front of them.

I cannot believe that you flew across the country to meet our kids, Kevin tells Nicky in the previews.

RELATED: This Is Us: Kevin and Sophie Are No Longer Endgame?

This Is Us writers Casey Johnson and David Windsor spoke to People about Nickys journey to visit the twins.

Youll find out that hes gotten both doses of the vaccine so that he is safe to travel, Johnson told the outlet. We really are trying to mirror the experience that everyone is going through.

Plus, the writers explained that fans would find out exactly how Nicky made it to Kevin and Madisons door.

When we see him at the end of the episode, we will continue to find out more about what his journey was getting to see the babies, Kevin and Madison, and the rest of the family. But I dont think we should give that away just yet. Windsor added.

This Is Us COVID-19 still plays a role in season 5

The writers of This Is Us tried to work COVID-19 into the show as responsibly and naturally as possible. Not only does Uncle Nicky show up wearing a mask on This Is Us, but fans find out that he had the vaccine, too.

You never who might show up on your doorstep. #ThisIsUs pic.twitter.com/4RgM1RrX8O  This Is Us (@NBCThisisUs) March 17, 2021

RELATED: This Is Us Fans Think Nicky Is At Rebeccas Bedside In The Flash-Forward For This Heartbreaking Reason

As things have gradually loosened up, so has our outlook of what we want to do and how we want to incorporate all of it into the show, Windsor explained. You sort of hit a point where it becomes a little fatigued. Were already living in this space; if we can get out of it as the world opens up, we want to. But at the same time, were not out of this yet. Its one of those things that were constantly trying to navigate and get right and be responsible with.

The writers do not want viewers to become tired of hearing about the pandemic. Instead, they tried to portray what is happening in the world realistically with the show. They thought it made sense to explain that Nicky obtained the vaccine on This Is Us to visit his family.
Two regional businesses owned by Australias second largest funeral company have each paid a $12,600 penalty for falsely claiming they were local and independently owned.

The infringement notices issued to Propel Funeral Partners were the first as part of a new enforcement program of the sector by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.

ACCCs deputy chair Delia Rickard said the industry was on notice that further enforcement action will be considered this year.

The funeral sector has been put on by the ACCC. Credit:Brook Mitchell

She urged anyone who had organised a funeral, or worked in the sector, to complete a survey on the commissions website that targets anti-competitive behaviour and the provision of misleading and deceptive information to bereaved families.
COLUMBUS, Ohio, March 17, 2021 -- CAS, a division of the American Chemical Society (ACS) that specializes in scientific information solutions, has expanded the CAS Common Chemistry resource. To strengthen the accuracy of publicly available scientific information, CAS Common Chemistry now provides authoritative information on nearly 500,000 substances from CAS REGISTRY. The collection represents substances commonly found in consumer products, on regulatory lists and as part of introductory chemistry curricula.

As part of ACS, CAS is committed to providing the global community with accurate chemical information. Aligned with the ACS Open Science initiative, CAS Common Chemistry broadens access for everyone who seeks reliable scientific information on routinely encountered chemicals. Enhanced search functionality and an application programming interface (API) enable interested individuals to quickly find chemical names, CAS Registry Numbers, structures or basic compound properties.

"We saw a unique opportunity to further boost the reach of open, accurate chemical information to foster learning and promote safety. By expanding access to information curated by our scientists, we can encourage safe practices with chemicals of interest," says Tim Wahlberg, chief product officer at CAS.

For over a century, CAS has collected, curated and analyzed the world's published science to fuel innovation. CAS REGISTRY is the world's most trusted collection of chemical substance information. The universally recognized CAS Registry Number provides a unique, unmistakable identifier for chemical substances and is commonly found on packaging of household chemical products, in addition to research publications, chemical catalogs, substance indices and management systems.

First launched in 2009, CAS Common Chemistry initially provided public access to several thousand substances and associated data. Popularity of the site has since grown to more than a million visits annually. In collaboration with thought leaders in the chemistry and open science community, CAS scientists dramatically expanded the community resource with a focused subset of substances from CAS REGISTRY. Optimized for mobile devices, CAS Common Chemistry now makes accurate chemical information accessible from anywhere.

Martin Walker, Ph.D., chemistry department chair at State University of New York at Potsdam, was one of the collaborators involved in the project. "It's important for the public to be able to access information on chemicals they may come into contact with, either at home or in the environment. The CAS Registry Number plays a key role in accessing that information, for which CAS remains the gold standard," says Walker. "I'm excited to see the collection expand to almost half a million compounds, providing a major, trustworthy source for chemical information."

In addition to expansion of included substances, enhanced capabilities will meet evolving demands for information. Newly added API capabilities support the growing needs of digital workflows and cheminformatics initiatives with direct lookup functionality. Reusable licensing of content is ensured through a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license.

###

About ACS

The American Chemical Society (ACS) is a nonprofit organization chartered by the U.S. Congress. ACS' mission is to advance the broader chemistry enterprise and its practitioners for the benefit of Earth and all its people. The Society is a global leader in promoting excellence in science education and providing access to chemistry-related information and research through its multiple research solutions, peer-reviewed journals, scientific conferences, eBooks and weekly news periodical Chemical & Engineering News. ACS journals are among the most cited, most trusted and most read within the scientific literature; however, ACS itself does not conduct chemical research. As a specialist in scientific information solutions (including SciFinder and STN), its CAS division powers global research, discovery and innovation. ACS' main offices are in Washington, D.C., and Columbus, Ohio.

About CAS

CAS, a division of the American Chemical Society specializing in scientific information solutions, partners with R&D organizations globally to provide actionable insights that help them plan, innovate, protect their innovations, and predict how new markets and opportunities will evolve. Scientists, patent professionals and business leaders rely on CAS solutions and services to advise discovery and strategy. With more than 110 years' experience, no one knows more about scientific information than CAS. For more information, visit http://www. cas. org .

To automatically receive press releases from the American Chemical Society, contact newsroom@acs.org.

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Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has pledged to invest $12 million in Israel, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced.

In an interview with army radio early this week, Netanyahu indicated that the Emirati royal told him that he wants to be a partner in projects which could enhance Israels economy after the coronavirus, Middle East Monitor (MEMO) notes.

Netanyahu made the announcement following the cancellation of his first visit to the Gulf country following several months of ties normalization between Israel and the UAE.

Netanyahu according Israeli authorities called off the visit due to reluctance to allow his jet to fly through the airspace of the kingdom.

Following the cancellation, MEMO reports, the Gulf country said it agreed to launch an investment fund worth of $10 billion in Israel.
White Riot 

(MA) 80 minutes

Some documentaries are like time machines. Whatever their subject or purpose, they bring us to a time and place thats highly specific and full of portent  like London in 1977, when Margaret Thatcher ruled Britannia, the Sex Pistols went through two record companies in two months, and anti-racists fought the National Front  and the Metropolitan Police  on the streets of suburban Lewisham.

The Clash rock against racism. Credit:Syd Shelton

In the midst of all of this Red Saunders started Rock Against Racism, the subject of Rubika Shahs fascinating and pungent film. Ed Gibbs, who produced it, once reviewed films for The Sun-Herald. He and Shah have made films about cultural icons in the last five years  David Bowie, Spike Lee, Gore Vidal. White Riot is a fast-paced collage film, chock full of urgent music (The Clash, Tom Robinson, Poly Styrene, Steel Pulse, Sham 69), but without narration except in the form of interviews.

Saunders was a rock photographer by day, activist by night. He was appalled when Eric Clapton came out in support of Enoch Powell, a British politician who wanted to send all immigrants of colour back where they came from. Saunders wrote a steaming letter to the musical press, calling on musicians to stand up against racism. Rock Against Racism was born, and it quickly became the focus for a national movement opposed to the growing influence of the National Front.
Jo Ann Beard is the author of "Festival Days". (Franco Vogt / Little, Brown and Company)

The last moment of my life, as Im dying, I would like to smell a horse barn, Jo Ann Beard tells me over a video chat. Its not a surprising statement from the Midwesterner who now lives in pastoral Rhinebeck, N.Y., with her partner, the writer Scott Spencer, and two dogs, Beatrice and Jet. Shes just finished recalling a painful visit to the empty duck house in her backyard after most of its inhabitants were killed by a raccoon. (The sole survivor went to a farm sanctuary.)

I thought of all those ducks that I loved so much, Beard says. And by the way, they never loved us, they were always afraid of us. They were, like, get away from me, get away from me!  But so what! I dont care.

I suggest that her relationship with the ducks is an apt metaphor for being a writer: so many thankless years piecing together one sentence after the other, not knowing how the work will be received.

Exactly, Beard agrees. I was in service to them. I didnt expect them to like me.

Ducks come up several times in Beards latest book, Festival Days, a collection of creative nonfiction and short stories 20 years in the making. The title essay, which deals with a close friend dying of cancer, is the only piece that has not been previously published. In Close, Beard tries to protect her ducks from a weasel by sitting guard all night with a rake in her lap. That piece doubles as a lecture on craft.

Every essay, every academic talk, every writing effort can be deepened through observation and detail, can be made evocative, can contain interstellar dust, luminous patches, and areas of darkness, Beard writes. Theres transcendence to be found in these connections  in the nebulous and nebulae, ducks and darkness  if we have the patience to wait for them.

Beard, who paved the way for many essayists with The Boys of My Youth in 1998, followed by her 2011 novel "In Zanesville," describes herself as a slow writer, but her books are worth the wait. A master of sensory details, she also writes with humor, melancholy and a love of animals that never borders on saccharine. Shes interested in what she can evoke through language and the near-invisibly connected strands of a story. In her work, even everyday moments gleam with significance through what Beard refers to as glittering images that reveal the truth, although some readers find that truth debatable.

Story continues

Seldom does an authors collection mix fiction with nonfiction, but in Beards case, it makes perfect sense. Critics and other writers are often fixated on how she blurs the boundaries of creative nonfiction, contradicting her own accounts or ventriloquizing thoughts she couldnt know. Her fiction, conversely, incorporates true reportage.

T Kira Madden, author of the memoir Long Live the Tribe of Fatherless Girls, is inspired by her fearlessness.

I trust Jo Ann Beard more than other essayists because she challenges the form itself, the constructs of what is Real or Remembered, the flimsiness of any one reality, Madden says by email. She brings up a description, in an essay called Now, of a funeral parlors decor, followed a paragraph later by a throwaway confession that she made up the details of the blue carpet and the mahogany tables.

The carpet is blue because it doesnt really matter what the carpet was; what matters is the trembling life that makes up that essays pages, says Madden, who studied with Beard at the Tin House Summer Workshop. The hope that we'll ever get to the bottom of anything, to the center of truth, is embarrassing. Beard's writing acknowledges that directly, honoring, instead, the glory of guessing, wandering, recounting fixed and false memories, because in her work, all of it is true.

"The Boys of My Youth," Jo Ann Beard's influential first collection of essays. (Little, Brown)

This wandering occurs from the moment Beard sits down to write, free of preconceived labels. For me, the best thing to do is just write the story however I want to write it, and not have to claim that its any particular genre or discipline, she says. Sometimes what she has imagined feels more real than real life. In her short story The Tomb of Wrestling, in which a woman is attacked in her own home, the perspectives shift among victim and intruder as well as animals, including a heron. The events in the story never happened to Beard, but the womans memories and habits of thinking are autobiographical.

A common thread in much of her work also has personal roots: the threat or reality of loss. For the most part, you write about the pivotal moments in your life, she says. All of my crisis moments have been about being left by somebody that I didnt think I could bear to live without.

Two of the essays in Festival Days could be mistaken for fiction. In Werner, she tells the harrowing story of a man who jumped out of a burning building in New York City and survived. When Beard showed her draft to the subject, a painter she met at an artists residency, he didnt want her to publish it at first. I dont think that he ever felt like it was his story in the way he experienced it, Beard says. It was his story in the way I experienced it. Even though he had shared what happened in exquisitely precise detail, Beard had to fill in the blanks with the emotion of the story. Eventually, the man changed his mind and gave his consent.

Another essay, Cheri, is about a terminal cancer patient who decided to contact Dr. Jack Kevorkian about an assisted suicide. Her daughter was a friend of a friend, and when Beard heard about this woman being driven from Iowa to Michigan for nine hours, her head in her hands the entire time on the way to her death, it sparked her imagination. The needle is cold, and in a moment shes numb, separated from the men by a thick layer of ice, Beard writes in the last paragraph. She couldnt possibly know what Cheris last conscious thought was, but she landed on an image from an anecdote a friend had told her, describing a fall through ice as a child.

None of this would work without meticulous care and control. Revision is a fraught subject for Beard. When I was her student at Tin House, she told the class she keeps a document on her computer with many versions of each sentence. Once she lands on the right one to include in her draft, she doesnt go back and change it.

Festival Days, the new title essay, is a little different  its structure more freewheeling than most of her work, its sentences no longer so tightly interwoven that youd shudder to pull on a single thread. Beard wrote the 64-page essay in three years, not long by her standards  something she has trained herself for over decades. Its like when you are doing yoga, Beard says. After a certain number of years of doing some pose, suddenly your body will just take you there.

Theres a moment in Festival Days, deliberately written in a stream-of-consciousness style, when Beard is driving on the Taconic State Parkway toward her friends deathbed and suddenly is transported to a bar stool in Iowa as her younger self. Im wherever here is, she writes, before the image of a man playing pinball at the bar flings her back to the present.

For all its looseness, the essay is signature Jo Ann Beard. It takes you to places you dont necessarily expect, one association leading to another, jumping around in time and place with confident fluidity. Every moment of your life brings you to the moment youre experiencing now. And now. And now, she writes at the end of the book. Some of these moments are real and some imagined; all of them are true.

Filgate is a writer and the editor of the anthology What My Mother and I Dont Talk About.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
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[March 17, 2021] The Real Brokerage Inc. Expands Its Mission-Driven Real Estate Brokerage to Kansas

Wichita Area Expert Traci Ratzlaff Named State Broker TORONTO and NEW YORK, March 17, 2021 /CNW/ -- The Real Brokerage Inc. (TSXV: REAX) (OTCQX: REAXF) ("Real"), a technology-powered real estate brokerage, today announced the company's national expansion to the state of Kansas with the appointment of local professional Traci Ratzlaff as the State Broker for Kansas. Real is now operating in 26 states and the District of Columbia. Real provides the supportive business culture I have been searching for and the financial opportunities are unmatched. Traci brings over 20 years of real estate experience to Real, including five years at ReMax Advantage REALTORS, Inc., and averages 50 to 70 transactions per year ($5-8 million) covering primarily rural Kansas. In addition to her new role at Real, she has maintained her status as a Registered Nurse and volunteers in her community with the American Red Cross, local health departments and the United Way. Her commitments also include support of local and state realtor associations. She believes in giving back to the community she loves. She has deep roots in the community and brings a strong servant leadership style to Real that we value in our state brokers. "Real provides the supportive business culture I have been searching for and the financial opportunities are unmatched," said Ratzlaff. She added, "The focus on excellent service for clients and agents and evolving as the real estate business changes made this an easy decision for me." "Traci has the right combination of experience, leadership and support of our mission that will help power Real's expansion in the Midwest," said Real founder and CEO Tamir Poleg. Contact:

Lynda Radosevich

917-922-7020 About Real

The Real Brokerage Inc. (Real) (TSXV: REAX) (OTCQX: REAXF) is a technology-powered real estate brokerage operating in 26 U.S. states and the District of Columbia. Real is building the future, together with agents and their clients. Real creates financial opportunities for agents through better commission splits, best-in-class technology, revenue sharing and equity incentives. Learn more at www.joinreal.com .



This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities in the United States. The securities of the Company will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act, and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of U.S. persons except in certain transactions exempt from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act) Forward-looking Information

This press release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking information is often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as " seek", " anticipate", " believe", " plan", " estimate", " expect", " likely" and " intend" and statements that an event or result " may", " will", " should", " could" or " might" occur or be achieved and other similar expressions. These statements reflect management's current beliefs and are based on information currently available to management as at the date hereof. Forward-looking information in this press release includes, without limiting the foregoing, Information relating to Real's future growth plans and strategy, and eligibility of agents to receive performance-based or equity incentives as part of Real's incentive program.

Forward-looking information is based on assumptions that may prove to be incorrect, including but not limited to Real's business objectives, expected growth, results of operations, performance, business projects and opportunities and financial results. Real considers these assumptions to be reasonable in the circumstances. However, forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking information. These factors should be carefully considered and readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based upon what management believes to be reasonable assumptions, Real cannot assure readers that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release, and Real assumes no obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances, except as required by law. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release, and the OTCQX has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-real-brokerage-inc-expands-its-mission-driven-real-estate-brokerage-to-kansas-301249263.html SOURCE The Real Brokerage Inc.

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Brattleboro, VT (05301)

Today

Rain showers this evening with overcast skies overnight. Low 54F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 70%..

Tonight

Rain showers this evening with overcast skies overnight. Low 54F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 70%.
A memorandum of understanding has been signed between the Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment and Tauranga-based Envico Technologies, in preparation for a trial which will field test the use of predator-control drones for conservation.

MBIE General Manager of Science, Innovation and International, Dr Peter Crabtree, says Envico is the third industry partner to join the Governments Airspace Integration Trials Programme.

The programme supports world-leading aerospace companies to carry out the development, testing and market validation of advanced drones in New Zealand.

One of the Programmes goals is to accelerate the integration of drones into New Zealand airspace, in order to unlock the economic and social benefits on offer. Industry partners like Envico will also help to inform policy and regulatory development by sharing data and learnings obtained from the testing of their innovative platforms.

The partnership with Envico adds to the work being undertaken by other industry partners in the Airspace Integration Trials Programme in the areas of passenger transport and high-altitude imaging, demonstrating the depth and breadth of New Zealands growing drone sector, says Peter Crabtree.

Envico have a strong track record in predator control using drones, including the eradication of rodents on two islands in the Galapagos in 2019.

In 2020, they were the recipients of a Department of Conservation grant, enabling them to begin a series of field trials using drones for dispersal of non-toxic cereal baits.

In order to scale up operations for these trials, Envico is developing a new, larger aerial baiting drone, converting a small helicopter to enable remotely piloted operations.

Were excited for the opportunities that come with being part of the Airspace Integration Trials Programme as we continue our development, says Envico Co-Founder Cameron Baker.

This partnership will enable us to work closely with other industry partners in the programme, sharing our experiences and insights to further advance the aerospace industry in New Zealand.

Im eager to see Envicos progress as they continue development of their predator control drones in New Zealand, especially with a project that will help protect Aotearoas flora and fauna from invasive species, says Peter Crabtree.

The Airspace Integration Trials Programme is a key initiative for the Innovative Partnerships team in the Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment, which works with innovative companies to enable them to connect, collaborate and invest in New Zealand.

The Programme was launched in 2019, working alongside the Ministry of Transport, Civil Aviation Authority and other key stakeholders to support industry partners to take their drone technology from testing to in-service operations.

In March 2020, the Department of Conservation invested $790,000 in the development of Envicos predator control drones through its Predator Free 2050 Tools to Market programme, enabling a series of field trials using non-toxic cereal baits. This programme invests in the development of new predator control tools and technologies to help achieve Predator Free 2050 goals.
(Natural News) Georgetown Law has fired one of its white professors for admitting during what she believed to be a private Zoom call that the black students in her class perform just plain at the bottom.

Sandra Sellers, 62, was speaking to Prof. David Batson about how a lot of my lower ones are blacks, referring to the students in her class with the worst academic performance.

They were a bit jumbled, Sellers said of one of her students performance, who according to the Black Law Students Association was the only black student in Sellers mediation and negotiation class.

Its like, let me reason through that, what you just said, Sellers added in frustration. You know what? I hate to say this, I end up having this angst every semester, that a lot of my lower ones are blacks.

The comments were made at the end of a Zoom call between Sellers and Batson that the two thought was not still being recorded. The full clip ended up being uploaded along with the rest of the Zoom class footage to a class website that students had access to for a full two weeks before anyone even noticed the excess footage.

The offending clip was ultimately reported to the schools administration, which immediately took action by firing Sellers and calling her statements abhorrent.

As I wrote to you last night, I am appalled that two members of our faculty engaged in a conversation that included reprehensible statements concerning the evaluation of Black students, reads a statement issued by Dean Bill Treanor to the student body.

I have further reviewed the incident and have now spoken to Professor Sellers and Professor Batson, giving each the opportunity to provide any additional context. I informed Professor Sellers that I was terminating her relationship with Georgetown Law effective immediately.

Sellers apparently told Treanor during their conversation that she had intended to resign. Nevertheless, Treanor fired her anyway and put Batson on administrative leave pending the investigation by the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Affirmative Action, the results of which will inform our next steps.

Until the completion of the investigation, Professor Batson will have no further involvement with the course in which the incident arose.

Black Law Student Association says poor black performance in class is due to racist grading

The Black Law Student Association was quick to spin the incident as evidence that Sellers must have been grading her black students unfairly low because of their dark skin pigmentation.

The group issued a statement that, instead of calling for black law school students to work harder and perform better, accused Sellers of grading her black students lower because of her racist thoughts.

Professor Sellers bias has impacted the grades of black students in her classes historically, the group insists.

Treanor jumped on the virtue signaling train as well, explaining to the Georgetown Law student body in a statement that firing sellers and putting Batson on administrative leave is by no means the end of our work to address the many structural issues of racism reflected in this painful incident, including explicit and implicit bias, bystander responsibility, and the need for more comprehensive anti-bias training.

This is a matter of great concern to me, Treanor added. I will be writing to you soon with a range of actions and changes that we will implement to address these issues.

Meanwhile, large corporations like Coca-Cola are flat-out telling their employees that all white people are evil just because they have light skin and nobody but conservatives and the independent media bats an eye.

More related news about the anti-white witch hunts taking place on American college and university campuses can be found at CampusInsanity.com.

Sources for this article include:

DailyMail.co.uk

NaturalNews.com
Armenian authorities say the search for a former prosecutor-general wanted on criminal charges continues after a document unveiled by a lawmaker suggested that Interpol has refused to put him on the international wanted list.

The lawmaker, Taguhi Tovmasian, said on March 16 that Interpol refused to start an international search for Gevork Kostanian because it found the case against him to be an instance of political persecution.

The Prosecutor-Generals Office did not deny the existence of the document but accused Tovmasian of distorting the facts to try to create a scandal.

It also said that Kostanian, who is facing charges related to a 2008 postelection crackdown on the opposition, is still on the countrys wanted list.

The former prosecutor-general has been wanted by Armenian authorities since late 2019. He denies the accusations against him and says they are politically motivated.

Tovmasian is one of several lawmakers who quit the ruling My Step parliamentary faction late last year after Armenians suffered a defeat in the war against Azerbaijan over the breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh region. She showed the document during a news briefing at the National Assembly. She did not say how she obtained it.

To put it simply, the international criminal police, Interpol, believe that Armenias Prosecutor[-General]s Office and Special Investigative Service have fabricated an essentially unfounded case, she said.

In a statement, the Prosecutor-Generals Office claimed that Interpol does not study circumstances of cases and factual data and has no authority to assess the validity or legitimacy of charges.

Interpol is not a body that qualifies a charge as justified or unfounded, politically, or otherwise motivated, it said.
Fighting talk from Kwasi Kwarteng on how audit reform is crucial to restoring confidence in business.

He charges that audit failures led to large-scale collapses such as Thomas Cook, Carillion and BHS, causing job losses and leaving the taxpayer to pick up the bill.

If he wanted to be fully up to date the Business Secretary could have added invoice finance group Greensill and Sanjeev Guptas industrial empire GFG to his list of corporate sinners.

Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng claims audit failures led to large-scale collapses such as Thomas Cook, Carillion and BHS causing job losses and leaving the taxpayer to pick up the bill

London-based Greensill Capital handled billions of pounds of supply chain finance and ballooned into a vast business with virtually no regulatory oversight while audited by a lesser-known firm Saffery Champness.

As for Guptas private empire it is almost impossible to track the finances of the 64 or so entities.

What we do know is that in support of the jobs Gupta has saved in the UK until now he has managed to extract taxpayer funding from the devolved Scottish and Welsh governments and Whitehall.

His companies may need fresh guarantees and loans now that Greensill, its main financier, is insolvent and some 5,000 British jobs are at stake.

Audit industry changes proposed by Kwarteng are well rehearsed. At the core is new regulator the Audit, Reporting and Governance Authority with sweeping powers to fine and discipline auditors as well as hold directors responsible for preventing and detecting fraud.

John Kingmans report on toughening up the policing of audit was produced and published in super-quick time in 2018.

Subsequent reports by the Competition and Markets Authority and Donald Brydon  designed to encourage competition, clean up the profession and restore faith in accounts  have still to be acted upon.

The authors of all three reports have been wheeled out by the Business Department in support of change. All carry the same message  the need for reform is urgent.

But in place of action now there is to be a further round of consultation. Instead of grasping the nettle there is to be four months more of delay. By then the House of Commons will have packed up shop for the summer.

The linked Greensill GFG/Liberty scandals tell us why, as former stock exchange boss Brydon says, reform is required now and Kingman demands legislative action.

These are not governance hotheads sounding off but City grandees who have had enough of the bumbling. In the small print of the Government statement are the deadly words that legislation will be introduced when Parliamentary time permits.

Companies and the employees have transformed in the pandemic, converting to home-working and embracing digital systems. The very notion there is insufficient bandwidth to clean up audit as Britain goes global is beyond parody.

Free wheeling

A great feature of Britains labour market is its flexibility.

There is a tendency to denigrate the gig economy but without people like Deliveroo moped riders and Freddies Flower cyclists, some of the wealth creation seen in the pandemic might never have happened.

Arguably, Uber drivers are a different case and new employment rights such as the living wage, sick pay and pensions will not spread to other activities.

One also suspects not all drivers will be excited by the change. The regularisation of their terms and conditions will see them converted from self-employed to payroll workers, removing tax advantages.

Among the movers behind the change are black cab drivers, who were on a mission against cheaper rivals even though many are free market advocates. They are allied with the unions which would like nothing better than bring everyone into the net.

A solution might be for employers to offer staff a choice of gig working or regular employment. Everyone deserves decent pay and that means the living wage-plus.

It would be fascinating to see which way gig workers would jump.

Upwardly mobile

Marks & Spencer has been out of stock market favour for a long time.

Fascinating then that, as it broadens the brand offering online with Jaeger, ramps up food delivery with Ocado and prepares to redevelop its flagship store in London, attitudes rapidly are changing.

Data provider Sentifi shows M&S shares scored the biggest sentiment change, plus-92 in the last week. Fancy that!
A Texas mother has been accused of having Munchausen by Proxy syndrome after doctors say she was caught on video faking her 11-month-old son's seizures and vomiting episodes while he was hospitalized on and off for nearly 100 days.

Kaleigh Flanagan, 27, was arrested and charged last Friday with bodily injury to a child after authorities say she lied to hospital staff in Fort Worth about her son's condition.

Her son, as a result of Flanagan's claims about his condition, had a nasal-gastric tube inserted into his esophagus while he was in and out of care at the Cook Children's Medical Center.

In total, the baby boy has spent 98 days in hospital since he was born.

Munchausen by Proxy is a condition where an adult will invent medical conditions for their child. It is typically considered a form of child abuse and a mental illness.

In addition to the 11-month-old boy, Flanagan also has twin seven-year-old daughters.

Kaleigh Flanagan, 27, was arrested and charged last Friday with bodily injury to a child after authorities say she lied to staff at the Cook Children's Medical Center in Fort Worth, Texas about her son's condition

Authorities say Flanagan's son was admitted to the hospital back in December after she told hospital staff that he wasn't keeping his medication down.

The boy had earlier been prescribed anti-seizure medication after Flanagan said he had been suffering from the frequently and a subsequent MRI showed slightly abnormal results.

According to her arrest affidavit, obtained by the Star-Telegram, Flanagan had requested her son be given the nasal-gastric tube in hospital so he could be given his medication.

Her son was given the tube on January 15.

She took her son to the hospital's emergency department on January 16 and January 24 so staff could replace the tube after the boy had ripped it out or it was clogged.

FAKING IT: WHAT IS MUNCHAUSEN? Munchausen by Proxy is a condition where an adult will invent medical conditions for his or her child so that they can get attention or sympathy. A dangerous facet of this is how they will often induce symptoms in the child to better illustrate the lie. Munchausen by Proxy is typically considered a severe form of child abuse. Munchausen Syndrome is when a person will invent their own ailment or illness for sympathy or attention. Both are mental disorders. Advertisement

During one of those visits, Flanagan allegedly told nurses that she could only feed her son a portion of what he needed because he kept throwing up.

Doctors began to suspect Flanagan was lying about her son's condition after a nurse said she was able to feed the boy without any issues, a follow up MRI showed normal results and hospital staff say they never witnessed the child having a seizure.

In February, hospital staff decided to keep the boy in a hospital room that had a hidden camera in a bid to observe Flanagan's interactions with her son without her knowing.

Flanagan was allegedly caught multiple times on video splashing her shirt with water moments before telling nurses that her son had vomited and suffered seizures.

The footage never showed her son vomiting, according to the affidavit.

Authorities started investigating Flanagan for medical child abuse that month after doctors reported her to the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services.

In an interview with a Tarrant County Sheriff's Office detective at the hospital on February 5, Flanagan allegedly said her son and twin seven-year-old daughters had a number of health issues.

When told about the hospital room surveillance video, Flanagan allegedly admitted to the detective that her son hadn't vomited during his stay.

She did, however, say that her son had suffered a seizure and that one of her friends had witnessed him having one when he was younger.

Flanagan's son has since been taken off the seizure medication.

She also claimed one of her daughter had been treated for cancer in California but couldn't provide the name of the doctor, the affidavit said.

During the investigation, detectives spoke to the principal of the school Flanagan's daughters attend.

The principal said Flanagan had been allegedly caught lying on multiple occasions.

Flanagan once allegedly blamed her daughters missing school on her son having a brain tumor.

She also allegedly once sent them to school with neck braces because they had been in a car accident and shaved off their hair because of head lice.

The boy and twin girls, who have different fathers, were subsequently removed from Flanagan's care are currently in foster homes.
Ashima Narwal who was the cynosure of all eyes after the success of Kolaigaaran also made her digital debut with the Netflix anthology Pitta Kathalu. The actress is super happy with the response for her role Indu in the episode Pinky of the anthology.

"Pitta Kathalu is special to me for many reasons. One is the fact that I am a part of a big project created by Netflix that is their maiden venture in the South. The film also allowed me to work with big names in Telugu like director Sankalp Reddy and actors Sathyadev Kancharana, Eesha Rebba, and Srinivas Avarasala. Also, my friends who are living in Australia had the chance to watch the premiere. Normally, they don't get the chance to watch my films on the first day due to limited release," said Ashima.

"Currently, I am reading a couple of Telugu scripts and will be soon finalizing the projects," she signed off.

Text & Images: MOVIEBUZZ
(Reuters) - Canada's vaccine advisory panel on Tuesday backed the use of AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine for people aged 65 and older after initially recommending against it, saying that three recent real-world studies showed the shot to be safe and effective for older adults.

The National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) had said on Mar. 1 that AstraZeneca doses should only be given to those between the ages of 18 and 64 because clinical trials had featured very few people 65 or older.

The committee said in a statement there is now real-world evidence from the United Kingdom, which has been administering the AstraZeneca vaccine to people age 65 and older. (https://bit.ly/3thLc1Q)

"This evidence demonstrates that the vaccine is safe and effective in older adults," the statement said.

Canada has not followed several European countries that suspended use of the AstraZeneca vaccine after reports of serious blood clots following vaccination. A Health Canada official said clots look to be less common, not more common, among people who have been vaccinated.

On Sunday, AstraZeneca said data on more than 17 million vaccinated people showed no increased risk of clots.

Canada has access to Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna AstraZeneca vaccines, but the rollout has been slow due to lack of domestic production. Only 6.9% of the Canadian population has received at least one dose, according to the volunteer-run data site COVID-19 Tracker Canada.

The committee said it still recommends that mRNA vaccines, like those from Pfizer and Moderna, be prioritized for people at highest risk of severe illness and death and at highest risk of exposure. But during a media briefing, NACI chair Dr. Caroline Quach-Thanh said that may change as experts review more evidence from AstraZeneca's ongoing U.S. Phase III vaccine trial.

Quach-Thanh said the committee is now looking at new research on immunocompromised people with respect to the interval between vaccine doses.

Story continues

"We are keeping on top of the literature and are modifying as need be," she said. People with compromised immune systems may not respond as strongly to their first shot of the vaccine.

In early March, NACI advised that the two vaccine doses can be separated by up to four months, longer than other jurisdictions, a move aimed at at least partially protecting more people in the short term.

In the United Kingdom, doses have been separated by three months. In their large clinical trials, however, the Pfizer and Moderna vaccine second shots were given three or four weeks after the first.

Canada has recorded a total of 22,495 COVID-19 deaths and 913,047 cases. Health officials in Ontario, the most populous of the 10 provinces, said they are seeing clear signs of a third wave of infections.

(Reporting by Manas Mishra in Bengaluru, David Ljunggren in Ottawa and Allison Martell in Toronto; Editing by Maju Samuel, Steve Orlofsky and Bill Berkrot)
Recently, thinking of events of 2020-2021 in our dear country sent me back to the lecture hall.



Like most students who were taught Philosophy at Legon from the 1970s into the 2000s, I could not help but admire the late Emeritus Professor Kwame Gyekyes intellect, wisdom and humility. The simple, peace-loving, ever-smiling and affable Prof made difficult topics in Epistemology and Logic easy to understand with his outstanding sense of humour.



He taught us about the C17th political philosophers Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, JJ Rousseau, Jean-Paul Sartre etc, whose influences live with us today.



Hobbes (1588-1679)



Reminiscing over recent happenings, my mind went back to Hobbes original postulate about man. Probably agreeing with Genesis 6, 5-13 in which mans heart was described by God as wicked, evil, corrupt and violent, Hobbes described humans as being in a state of nature of the jungle. There, it was free-for-all survival of the fittest, reducing mans life to being solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short!



To lift man out of this situation, Hobbes in his classic The Leviathan proposed that, the majority cede part of their freedom to a sovereign who would in turn provide for their collective security and infrastructure for development. The sovereign then in England was the Monarchy as it is still today.



John Locke (1632-1704)



Building on Hobbes postulate, John Locke and others after him developed the concept of a sovereign into that of a government. Government comprising three arms, the Legislature, the Executive and the Judiciary would act on behalf of the people. Working together, the three would provide security and infrastructural development.



This followed what the early Greeks called democracy as in Government of the people, for the people, by the people! In the process, man would be protected from/against himself when we exhibit our animal instincts, through law and order!



Appeals



Writing in the Daily Graphic throughout 2020, I consistently appealed to Ghanaians to exercise common sense and restraint in Elections 2020. Friends asked me if my well-intentioned messages were ever read by the leaders who influenced the followers. Furthermore they asked even if the leaders read my articles, did they care?



They opined that, for politicians blinded by obsession for power, nothing short of power, fair-or-foul would please them. In any case, is violence the first and only way in resolving misunderstandings in a civilized society?



Dr Samuel Johnson



Dr Samuel Johnson often called the father of the English language for producing the first English dictionary in 1775 said;



The supreme end of Education is expert discernment in all things, the power to tell the good from the bad, and the genuine from the counterfeit; BUT above all, to prefer the good and the genuine to the bad and the counterfeit!



Do our educated politicians prefer the good and the genuine, throwing away the bad and the counterfeit? If yes, why the violence after the elections?



Is the younger generation being taught that, if one does not have ones way, violence is the first and only recourse available? Countries including Sierra Leone, Liberia and Ivory Coast which have gone that path have never recovered fully after UN troops including Ghanaian soldiers went in to restore and maintain law-and-order!



Are our leaders giving credence to the French philosopher Voltaires statement that, man is rational in that he can think, not in that he thinks?



Conclusion



Two brothers on opposite sides of the two major parties won the 2020 elections and are in Parliament. Elsewhere a fight between two brothers belonging to opposite sides resulted in one stabbing the brother to death! So, while one family jubilated in a win-win situation, another family mourned in a lose-lose situation.



What gain for Ghanas development did the stabbing brother achieve killing his brother?



A 32-year-old young man who went snatching a ballot box was gunned down to death! Again, who sent him and why?



Some analysts attribute these negatives to the problem of Poverty, and Ignorance! Such poor people are taken advantage of by violent politicians.



Like Esau sold his birthright, are some leaders so hungry for power that, they must sell Ghanas dignity and reputation as an oasis of peace in Africa, for power to rule a fractured country after ensuring Ghanaians die in the process?



Why cant we lead the humble, simple and peaceful life of Emeritus Professor Kwame Gyekye for God and country?



For politicians given the mandate to govern Ghana for the next four years, please do so with integrity and selflessness such that, come Elections 2024, Ghana will not have to repeat the unfortunate incidents of Elections 2020.





Fellow Ghanaians, WAKE UP!





Brig Gen Dan Frimpong (Rtd)



Former CEO, African Peace Support Trainers Association



Nairobi, Kenya



Council Chairman



Family Health University College



Accra



[email protected]









Source: Brig Gen Dan Frimpong (Rtd)/ [email protected]









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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"Brent Chrite shares our vision and passion for educating ethical leaders who make business a force for positive change," said Paul Condrin, interim president and chair of the Bentley University board of trustees. "He has dedicated his career to improving business education and expanding economic opportunities across the country and around the world, and I know he will lead Bentley University to greater heights in the years to come."

Chrite has more than 25 years of leadership experience in higher education. Most recently, as president of Bethune-Cookman, a historically Black university in Florida, he led a process that created a long-term strategy for institutional governance and fiscal integrity, leading the university out of probation and strengthening its academic and administrative leadership teams.

As dean of the Daniels College of Business at the University of Denver, Chrite oversaw the development of a strategic plan aligned with the changing higher education landscape, leading to new programs, increased enrollment, student satisfaction and revenues. He also served as dean of the Feliciano School of Business at Montclair State University, where he increased graduate enrollment by 24 percent, led the creation of a center for entrepreneurship, and partnered with the cities of Newark and Patterson to invite inner-city high school students to campus and introduce them to careers in business.

Throughout his career, Chrite has viewed business as a force to improve society and change lives for the better. He has worked to strengthen economic conditions and improve business education opportunities for residents around the world, including in Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Namibia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan and for the Tohono O'odhom Nation on the Sells Reservation in Arizona.

"I believe the beauty of business lies in its ability to create solutions to human problems," said Chrite. "A Bentley University education weaves together business skills with the arts and sciences and empowers students to transform business, society and their communities. I'm excited to join Bentley and build upon this mission."

Trustee Nick Stavropoulos '79 led the search for a new president, which included listening sessions with students, faculty, staff and alumni to incorporate the community's input into the process.

"Now more than ever, Bentley needs a president who will lead with vision, inspiration and collaboration," Stavropoulos said. "Brent Chrite stood out from a group of talented candidates as the right person to guide Bentley into our next era of excellence."

Chrite, who grew up in Detroit, has a Ph.D. in education and management from the University of Michigan, Master's degree in healthcare administration with an emphasis on finance from the University of Missouri-Columbia, and a Bachelor's degree in community health services from Michigan State University. He will be the first Black president in the university's 104-year history. Brent and his wife Phyllis will join the Bentley University community on June 1, 2021.

SOURCE Bentley University

Related Links

www.bentley.edu


CHICO, Calif. - Some California lawmakers are pushing for the entire state to open up without COVID restrictions

Lawmakers are hoping to not only get rid of the colored-tier system that the state is in now, but Assemblymember James Gallagher, who is part of the team that introduced the bill, said it's to give power back to the local governments.

"It would get rid of these statewide restrictions," Gallagher said in an interview over the phone.

"It doesn't mean that locals can't implement their own plans for dealing with the pandemic, and that's really what we're arguing for is local control," Gallagher said. "We can restore local control here."

Nearly 90% of the state is now in the red tier that allows indoor dining and many businesses to open up, still for Gallagher it's not enough.

"It's really just not workable for our counties, and it does more damage than it does good," he said. "It's time to end this emergency statewide."

Health officials, however, are advising against lifting restrictions prematurely.

"But when you start doing things like completely putting aside all health measures, that's quite risky we don't want to see another surge and that's inviting one," Dr. Anthony Fauci said.

SIGN UP: Receive email updates on the Coronavirus pandemic

The Blueprint for a Safer Economy has been in place since August of 2020, indoor dining is allowed in the red tier and below, but some people want it to all open up now.

"I think more, I'd like to go back to normal, but numbers don't lie," Shawn Moss, a community member who wants things to get back to normal said. "If numbers jump through the roof again then we have to go back."

California has the most amount of deaths in any state throughout the country at over 56,000.

"My response to that, is we've had the blueprint framework, during that time we had the largest spike the state has ever seen," Gallagher explained.

That spike triggered Gov. Gavin Newsom to implement the regional stay-at-home order to increase ICU capacity.

But some people are hesitant.

"I am ready for the state to open up to a certain extent," Wendy Thompson, a community member said. "While still being respectful of social distancing as long as safety considerations are in place."

And so are some businesses like Secret Trail Brewery in Chico.

"Well, I'm torn because as a business owner I would love it," Owner and Brewmaster, Charlie Barrett, said. "But on the other hand, I don't think it's the right thing to do right now. I feel we're close to having everyone vaccinated and to do this, I think we could have a relapse."

The bill is expected to be introduced to the Senate and the Assembly of the State.
Appointment

17 March 2021

Hampton Inn by Hilton and Home2 Suites by Hilton Tucson Downtown, owned by FHG DTN Tucson Owner, LLC and operated by Fayth Hospitality Management, LLC, today announced Lewiston Murray has been appointed as the hotel's new general manager.

The six story, 199-room/suite hotel is located at 141 South Stone Avenue. The property is currently under construction and is scheduled to open in July 2021. As general manager, Murray will be responsible for directing all aspects of hotel operations, including guest services, hotel administration, and overseeing the sales and marketing efforts. Prior to joining Hampton Inn by Hilton and Home2 Suites by Hilton Tucson Downtown, Murray was an Area General Manager of Hilton branded properties for Magna Hotels in New York City. Murray is a graduate of Institute of Management & Production Jamaica and holds a degree in Business Administration.
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ATLANTA (AP)  A white gunman accused of killing eight people, most of them of Asian descent, at three Atlanta-area massage parlors has been charged with murder in an attack that sent terror through the Asian American community.

Robert Aaron Long told police the attack was not racially motivated, claiming to have a "sex addiction" and apparently he lashed out at what he saw as sources of temptation.

RELATED: Suspect in Atlanta-area spa shootings might have intended more shootings in Florida, mayor says

Six of the victims were identified as Asian and seven were women.

Officials said Long may have targeted the parlors because he saw them as a "temptation."

Many suspects who commit mass shootings have a history of violence against women. Still, the attack haunted members of the Asian American community.
Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism.
The woman who accuses late Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon of years of sexual harassment spoke to select members of the press behind closed doors on Wednesday for the first time since he committed suicide last year.

Park was found dead on July 9, a day after the victim filed a police complaint, and since then she had only been speaking through her lawyers or testified in court.

The meeting with the press, in a hotel where no photography was permitted, took place less than a month ahead of the by-election to replace Park. It has set members of the ruling Minjoo Party party atremble because it hopes to hold the post despite earlier vowing not to field a candidate.


Residents of the West Linn-Wilsonville School District, supported by leaders of many faiths, have asked the school board to reconsider its decision to hold the first day of school next fall on Rosh Hashanah, one of the holiest days of the year for Jews.

North Clackamas School District has also announced it plans to start school on Sept. 7, the first day of the two-day Rosh Hashanah holiday, while Portland Public Schools and Beaverton School District have yet to determine their 2021-2022 calendars.

Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish New Year and observers generally do not go to work or school that day. So Jewish students and teachers in West Linn, Wilsonville and North Clackamas will have to choose between religious observation and attending what will likely be a momentous first day this fall.

To be clear, were not asking districts to observe the holiday, said Michelle Bombet Minch, chair of the Jewish Community Relations Council in Portland. Were asking to do what the Constitution allows, which is to not start or hold a major event that conflicts with a major holiday.

I would ask this of any religion, added Bombet Minch, whose son will be a high school senior in the district next fall.

She penned a letter signed by 63 members of the community, 12 clergy and religious leaders, and four organizational leaders. They suggested West Linn-Wilsonville move the start date to late August, mirroring neighboring Lake Oswego, or select a date later in the week after Labor Day.

The Jewish Federation of Greater Portland circulated a petition for a new start date, which garnered more than 1,100 signatures in 24 hours. Since then, Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon and the Islamic Society of Oregon have signed on, forming a coalition of concerned organizations.

Neither West Linn-Wilsonville nor North Clackamas School Districts said they have plans to modify their calendars.

The school calendar is ultimately a school board process and decision, said Andrew Kilstrom, director of communications for the West Linn-Wilsonville School District. There is a calendar in place, but they are looking into a lot of great feedback and input right now.

Jonathan Hutchinson, director of communications for North Clackamas School District, said district leaders had not received any community requests to change the start date.

The Oregon School Boards Association urged school districts throughout the state to avoid beginning instruction on Sept. 7, acknowledging that many districts traditionally schedule the return to school for the first Tuesday after Labor Day. Several districts throughout the country, including Seattle Public Schools, have moved their start dates to allow for observation of Rosh Hashanah.

After presenting their letter and petition to the West Linn-Wilsonville school board on March 8, Bombet Minch said she was underwhelmed by the districts response, though she remained hopeful they would take the communitys concerns to heart.

This has been an ongoing issue for years, said Bombet Minch, who said the local Jewish federation fields multiple calls each year because a school or district has scheduled a major school event on a Jewish holiday. The timing is right to make this right. So many kids have been out of school because of the pandemic, and for many kids, this will be their first day back to school after a really difficult period of time.

In Eugene, community members raised concerns in late 2019 over major school events conflicting with non-Christian students observance of religious holidays. In response, the school board adopted a new policy, which tasks the superintendent with determining a list of major religious holidays to consider when setting calendars. It specifies that schools should make efforts to avoid scheduling important events that by their nature cannot be made up, such as picture day, open house, prom, graduation and Outdoor School, on days that conflict with major religious holidays that may impact student attendance or participation.

Changing the start date is an easy thing to fix, said Bombet Minch, And it would speak to the equity and inclusion work [the district is] doing. It would send such a positive message to the community that they really want to do the right thing.

-- Lee Ann Moyer; hello@gulchmedia.com; @leeannmoyer
More than half of Britons support the police's actions at the vigil for Sarah Everard on Saturday, a new poll suggests.

Officers faced heavy criticism for their handling of the Clapham Common event - but more than half of people believe police were right to act in the way they did, according to research commissioned by Crest Advisory.

The YouGov survey revealed 53 per cent of the overall population backed officers' decision to break up the south London gathering and arrest those who refused to leave, with only 32 per cent saying they were wrong to do so.

The poll of 1,672 adults found 56 per cent of men and 50 per cent of women backed the Metropolitan Police's tactics.

On the topic of who was most responsible for the scuffles that broke out between police and attendees, 43 per cent said 'members of the public' while 29 per cent blamed police.

Nine per cent blamed the Government, which brought in the coronavirus restrictions limiting gatherings.

Opinions were split across party lines, with a huge 71 per cent of Conservative voters agreeing that police were right to break up the gathering and arrest those who refused to leave, compared to just 37 per cent of Labour supporters.

Police try to break up vigil for Sarah Everard at the bandstand on Clapham Common, March 13

The YouGov survey revealed 53 per cent of the overall population backed officers' decision to break up the south London gathering and arrest those who refused to leave, with only 32 per cent saying they were wrong to do so

Opinions were split across party lines, with a huge 71 per cent of Conservative voters agreeing that police were right to break up the gathering and arrest those who refused to leave, compared to just 37 per cent of Labour supporters

On the topic of who was most responsible for the scuffles that broke out between police and attendees, 43 per cent said 'members of the public' while 29 per cent blamed police

Patsy Stevenson is pictured being held on the floor by police at the vigil on March 13

Nearly half (46 per cent) of those aged 18-24 said officers should not have intervened in the way they did.

Metropolitan Police Deputy Commissioner Sir Stephen House today said that between midday and 6pm the vigil to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common had complied with Covid regulations.

A vigil for Ms Everard was held on March 13

But he told members of the London Assembly Police and Crime Committee on Wednesday that after this people had tried to make speeches from the bandstand and the crowd density had increased.

He added: 'As far as we were concerned the events between midday and 6 o'clock were almost exclusively Covid compliant.

'However, around about 6 o'clock at night my officers tell me there was a significant change in the dynamic - people began to gather around the bandstand and some people began to make speeches.

'Inevitably when that happened the crowd compacted and compressed to hear what was being said and it became a much more difficult situation for us to reconcile with Covid legislation.

'We believe that when the crowd density increased, Covid regulations were no longer being followed.'

Chairman of the Metropolitan Police Federation Ken Marsh had defended officers' actions following the clashes, claiming the vigil for Ms Everard had been 'hijacked' by Antifa, Black Lives Matter and Extinction Rebellion protesters.

'It looks overbearing and heavyhanded, it's not. It's to protect you as much as us,' he said.

Police clash with mourners at a vigil in Clapham Common, south London, on Saturday after the event was officially cancelled

The bandstand was surrounded by flowers laid three-foot deep as people gathered for a vigil, March 13

Crest tracked public opinion on the police approach to the pandemic since the first lockdown in 2020, finding evidence that support for officers is dropping

'If it was just a peaceful vigil, there would have been no issues but it wasn't unfortunately. We had to take the action we had to take.'

The Met's Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick has been resisting pressure to resign over the clashes - but ministers came out to back her position.

The survey also asked about new Government proposals to allow the police to impose stricter conditions on protests after the pandemic.

Opinion about the plans, contained in the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, is sharply divided, with 38 per cent 'strongly' or 'slightly' supporting them, and 36 per cent opposing.

Crest tracked public opinion on the police approach to the pandemic since the first lockdown in 2020, finding evidence that support for officers is dropping.

In April last year 42 per cent of people said they 'fully support' the police approach, compared with 27 per cent in January 2021, and 21 per cent in the most recent poll.

Police officers scuffle with attendees gathered at a band-stand on Clapham Common, south London on March 13. One attendee holds a sign saying 'ACAB'

Fights broke out as people battled against police officers on Saturday evening in Clapham Common

One woman held up a sign that read 'we live in fear. Not all survive. Police do not protect us' in Clapham, March 13

The number of respondents saying police are 'too heavy handed' has also risen in the first months of 2021 from 7 per cent to 12 per cent - and those calling for 'tougher action' have dropped from 22 per cent to 18 per cent.

But overall, 57 per cent of the public fully or partially supported the police approach to the pandemic.

Harvey Redgrave, chief executive of Crest Advisory, said: 'Today's poll shows the police retain widespread public consent for their approach to the pandemic, despite the negative headlines of the last few days.

'A majority of men and women thought the police were right to break up the vigil.

'However, there are also warning signs for police leaders: support for their approach is more qualified than it was a year ago, with evidence of rising concern about heavy-handedness. Younger people are far less supportive of police methods.'

Addressing the poll findings about the new Bill, Redgrave said: 'The government's new proposals on the policing of protest do not appear to have clear majority consent, which will fuel fears that the legislation is likely to put the police in an increasingly awkward position.'
Chronicle file

The big story on this front page of the Houston Post was about the thousands that turned out in an effort to save the Shamrock Hilton Hotel.

The hotel had been sold to the Texas Medical Center with plans to demolish the building.
"Cheryl's inspiring leadership, hard work and dedication to all, has contributed greatly to our Company's success," said Jim Moriarty, Executive Vice President and General Counsel for Chesapeake Utilities Corporation. "This is a well-deserved promotion. I am confident that Cheryl will continue to help articulate our vision and grow our special enterprise as we align our expanding communication and external affairs initiatives with the demands and needs of our evolving and dynamic industry."

Ms. Martin joined Florida Public Utilities Company in March of 1985, gaining exceptional experience in accounting, business analysis, regulatory and governmental affairs. She was previously the Vice President of Regulatory and External Affairs for Chesapeake Utilities Corporation. Ms. Martin has successfully led the Company through groundbreaking rate cases, regulatory filings, and other important initiatives, and is responsible for the expansion of the current government affairs team and activities. Ms. Martin is also coordinating all of the Company's external messaging to ensure consistency in advocacy, marketing and content, including the Company's gas advocacy campaigns.

In addition, Ms. Martin has been instrumental in the growth, reach and breadth of the Company's Equity, Diversity and Inclusion initiatives, including the launching of its Women in Energy Employee Resource Group (ERG) in 2018. In 2020, Ms. Martin assumed the role of Co-Chair of the Equity Diversity and Inclusion Council and related initiatives including the expansion of its ERGs. Ms. Martin has been active on several committees within the Florida Natural Gas Association (FNGA) and the American Gas Association (AGA) and currently serves on the FNGA Board of Directors. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Florida State University and is a Florida Certified Public Accountant (CPA).

About Chesapeake Utilities Corporation

Chesapeake Utilities Corporation is a diversified energy delivery company, listed on the New York Stock Exchange, which is engaged in natural gas transmission and distribution; electricity generation and distribution; propane gas distribution; mobile compressed natural gas (CNG) utility services and solutions; and other businesses. Information about Chesapeake Utilities Corporation's businesses is available at www.chpk.com and on the Annual Report Microsite at cpkannualreport.com.

Please note that Chesapeake Utilities Corporation is not affiliated with Chesapeake Energy, an oil and natural gas exploration company headquartered in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

For more information, contact:

Justin Mulcahy

Public Relations Manager

302.217.7050

[email protected]

SOURCE Chesapeake Utilities Corporation

Related Links

http://www.chpk.com


President Joe Biden stops briefly to talk to the press as he walks toward Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington on March 16, 2021. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

Biden Tells Migrants Dont Come Over Amid Border Crisis

President Joe Biden said in an interview aired on Tuesday that Central American migrants should remain in their town or city or community instead of trekking to the United States and crossing the border illegally.

I can say quite clearly: Dont come over, Biden told ABC News.

The president made the comments amid a surge of illegal immigrants crossing the border, particularly unaccompanied minors. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said on Tuesday that the United States is on pace to encounter more illegal crossers this year than any year in the past two decades.

Upon taking office, Biden reversed more than a dozen Trump-administration immigration policies that have been credited with stemming the tide of illegal immigration. Former President Donald Trump criticized Biden in an interview that aired on Fox News on Tuesday.

My policies were working better than theyve ever seen on the southern border, Trump said, while lamenting Bidens choice to stop construction of the wall on the southern border. They should finish it but theyre destroying our country. People are coming in by the hundreds of thousands.

Biden said that there has been a surge of illegal immigrants over the past two years but agreed that the current wave could be worse.

Biden said on Tuesday that he does not plan to visit the southern border for now. Asked before boarding Marine One in Washington whether he has plans to visit the border, Biden told reporters: Not at the moment.

Officials in border states have said some illegal immigrants are testing positive for COVID-19 but arent being forced to stay in quarantine, stoking concerns about them spreading the disease, which is caused by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus.

House Republicans flew to Texas on Monday and toured a border facility, in addition to speaking with border agents. They urged Biden to visit the border himself to see what was happening.

Biden sent a contingent of officials earlier this month to view the situation on the ground. He hasnt offered a perspective on what they saw and it isnt clear whether hes been briefed by them yet.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters in Washington on Monday that the administration feels it has a handle on the border situation.

We recognize this as a problem. Were focused on addressing it. Thats just five steps were taking, and were continuing to evaluate what additional steps can be taken to address the situation at the border, she said, riddling off recent administration actions, including adding capacity for health officials to house unaccompanied minors, or children who enter the country illegally without an adult.

Bowen Xiao contributed to this report.
Shenandoah, IA (51601)

Today

Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 54F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 54F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph.
CAIRO (AP)  An Egyptian court on Wednesday convicted a prominent human rights activist of spreading false news and insulting a police officer, and sentenced her to 18 months in prison, her family and lawyer said.

Sanaa Seif, of Egypt's most well-known family of activists, was arrested in June last year. She was accused by prosecutors of broadcasting fake news and rumors about the countrys health conditions and the spread of the coronavirus in prisons.

She was also convicted of insulting a police officer on Facebook, her lawyer Hesham Ramada said. He said they would appeal Wednesdays Cairo Criminal Court ruling to a higher court.

Seif, who has been in custody since her arrest, has denied the accusations.

The verdict has stirred outcry by international rights groups, which accuse Egyptian authorities of waging a broad crackdown on dissent, jailing thousands  mainly Islamists, but also others, including several well-known secular activists.

Amna Guellali, Amnesty International's regional deputy director, condemned the court ruling as another crushing blow for the right to freedom of expression in Egypt.

"Egyptian authorities have yet again demonstrated their unrelenting intent to punish any criticism of their dismal human rights record," Guellali said.

Seif was arrested while she and other family members were at the public prosecutors office to file a complaint about an attack against them outside Cairos Tora prison complex a day earlier, her sister Mona Seif, also an activist, said at the time.

The group had been going daily to Tora hoping to receive a letter from Seif's brother, imprisoned activist Alaa Abdel-Fattah, which they say prison officials had promised to pass on to them.

Seif's father, Ahmed Seif al-Islam, who died in 2014, was a renowned human rights lawyer. Her mother, Leila Soueif, a mathematician, is a prominent advocate of academic independence. Her aunt is award-winning novelist Ahdaf Soueif.

Story continues

Her brother, Abdel-Fattah, rose to prominence with Egypts 2011 uprising. He was arrested following a relatively minor anti-government protest in September 2019.

That arrest came after he had been released in March that year, following five years in prison for taking part in a peaceful protest against the military trials of civilians.

Wednesdays verdict was not the first against Seif, a film editor who worked on The Square, a 2013 Oscar-nominated documentary on the 2011 uprising.

In 2016, she was sentenced to six months in prison after being convicted of insulting a government employee while performing his duties. She also served 15 months of a three-year sentence for demonstrating against a law banning public gatherings, and was pardoned early.
A man who allegedly raided a Boots store in Belfast is to be barred from all of its branches in Northern Ireland, a judge ordered today.

Shane Brett (25) had already been excluded from any city centre shops signed up to a retail crime prevention scheme.

But the prohibition was extended as he appeared at Belfast Magistrates Court to face a new charge of burgling Boots on Donegall Place.

Brett, with a previous address at a hostel in Larne, is accused of stealing 90 worth of razors from the store last Sunday. The court heard he had been on bail at the time for a similar alleged offence against Boots. In August last year he was served with an exclusion order which covers any shops in Belfast displaying the Retail Crimewatch logo. Defence solicitor Eoghan McKenna said Brett is dealing with dramatic underlying addictions and accommodation problems. He indicated, however, that the accused may now be able to live with his partner in the Lisburn area. District Judge Ted Magill agreed to release Brett on bail again with considerable misgivings to an address approved by police. Mr Magill ordered: He is to be excluded from every Boots store in Northern Ireland, every single one. And hes not to enter Belfast city centre, as per the map that he already has. Adjourning the case to April 14, the judge warned Brett: Youre running out of chances. Breach this bail and it is extremely unlikely you will not just go straight into custody and stay there.


New Delhi, March 17 : Former Union Minister and BJP leader Dilip Gandhi, who had tested positive for Covid-19, passed away at a private hospital in Delhi on Wednesday during treatment. He was 70.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the demise of Gandhi, saying the leader will be remembered from his rich contributions to community service.

"Saddened by the demise of former MP and Minister Shri Dilip Gandhi Ji. He will be remembered for his rich contributions to community service and helping the poor. He made numerous efforts to strengthen the BJP in Maharashtra. Condolences to his family and supporters. Om Shanti," the Prime Minister tweeted.

Gandhi had served as the Minister of State for Shipping in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led central government. He was Union Minister of State, Ministry of Shipping from January 29, 2003 to March 15, 2004.

He recently tested positive for coronavirus and was undergoing treatment for multiple ailments, sources said.

Gandhi had started his career as a corporator in the late 1980s and won the Lok Sabha election three-times since 1999 from Maharashtra's Ahmednagar. He was denied ticket in the 2019 general election. In 2014, Gandhi was re-elected with a margin of more than 200,000 votes in 2014.
Over 60 Vietnamese soldiers have received their first COVID-19 vaccine shots to get ready for United Nations peacekeeping missions in South Sudan.

The 175 Military Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City began COVID-19 vaccination for military officers belonging to priority groups, including 64 soldiers who are about to head to South Sudan for UN peacekeeping missions, on Tuesday.

As these soldiers are scheduled to travel to South Sudan on March 24 to work for the level-2 Field Hospital No. 3, their second vaccine shots will later be sent to the African country.

An officer in charge of UN peacekeeping missions receives a COVID-19 vaccine shot at 175 Military Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City, March 16, 2021. Photo: Duyen Phan / Tuoi Tre

The COVID-19 vaccine they received is developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University, which requires a 12-week interval between two shots for each person.

I feel nervous but very happy that I was able to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. I hope that everyone will get vaccinated in the near future, said Le Na, who was among the 64 officers.

About 2,100 vaccine doses have been allocated to 175 Military Hospital and will be given to general-ranked officers in southern Vietnam, officers assigned with peacekeeping missions in South Sudan, officers sent on overseas business trips, and officers on duty at DK1 rigs in the East Vietnam Sea.

Female soldiers in charge of UN peacekeeping missions wait for their turn to get vaccinated at 175 Military Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City, March 16, 2021. Photo: Duyen Phan / Tuoi Tre

Medical staff under 175 Military Hospitals medical examination, emergency resuscitation, infectious disease, laboratory test, and rapid response ward are also among the target groups.

The infirmary will coordinate with the Border Guard High Command to provide COVID-19 inoculation to officers in charge of guarding the borderline in southern Tay Ninh Province.

Vietnam began COVID-19 vaccination on March 8.

By the end of Tuesday, 20,695 people in the Southeast Asian country had received their first COVID-19 vaccine jabs, according to the Expanded Program on Immunization.

An officer in charge of UN peacekeeping missions receives a COVID-19 vaccine shot at 175 Military Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City, March 16, 2021. Photo: Duyen Phan / Tuoi Tre

An ambulance is ready to handle postvaccinal reactions. Photo: Duyen Phan / Tuoi Tre

An officer has her health monitored after receiving COVID-19 vaccination at 175 Military Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City, March 16, 2021. Photo: Duyen Phan / Tuoi Tre

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Foreign exchange analysts at Rabobank is still confident in a UK economic recovery, but notes that trade tensions will be damaging and also considers that any disappointment over re-opening plans would expose the Pound to selling given the amount of good news priced in to the Euro-to-Pound (EUR/GBP) exchange rate.

The bank summarises; We retain our medium-term forecast of EUR/GBP0.85 but see scope for pullbacks to the 0.86-0.87 area in Q2.

Time to recalibrate the pound Sterling outlook

Despite a setback on Tuesday, the Pound regained ground on Wednesday and the EUR/GBP exchange rate dipped to 12-month lows at 0.8540 before a retracement.

Rabobank points to three key reasons why the Pound strengthened this year:

The first was relief that a trade deal between the UK and the EU was agreed by the end of last year. The second stems from the strong advances the UK has made in vaccinating its population. The third refers to the BoE and in particular to the less dovish that expected tone after the early February policy meeting.

A key element now is whether the supportive factors are still in play and also whether the positive news has been priced in to Sterling markets.

UK/EU trade friction will be damaging

Rabobank notes serious tensions over the Northern Ireland protocol with the EU taking legal action against the UK over the decision to delay implementation of customs checks.

The bank does not consider that specific tensions over Northern Ireland will undermine Sterling confidence.

Barring a significant worsening in the situation surrounding the NI protocol, it is unlikely that this issue will on its own be directional for GBP for a sustained period.

Nevertheless, there is the potential for wider negative implications surrounding UK/EU relations and the UK economy.

Going forward, the poor relationship between the two sides bodes poorly for any concessions that the UK may have hoped for in relation to regulatory equivalence for its financial services sector or for other services sector industry left outside the reach of the Brexit trade agreement.

Rabobank notes that the Bank of England (BoE) has been less dovish than major central banks and is expecting a strong recovery this year. In comments on Monday, Governor Bailey stated that the economy should regain pre-covid levels of activity around the end of this year.

In this context, the BoE rhetoric and Sterling reaction will be watched closely on Thursday. It will be a significant marker if the bank is optimistic over the outlook, but the Pound fails to make headway.

Re-opening success also essential for the Pound

UK covid infection rates have continued to decline, reinforcing expectations that the UK economy will be able to continue a gradual re-opening.

Again, the crucial element is whether the strong progress will be achievable and whether the positive news is reflected in the Pound Sterling performance.

Rabobank notes that there is tentative evidence that infection rates in some areas have started to increase after the re-opening of schools in England.

The bank notes; In so far as a lot of good news is in the price, GBP is set to be sensitive to any possibility of disappointment over the pace of rollback of lockdown measures.

Nevertheless, the UK looks well placed compared with the Euro-zone where infections are rising significantly.
Currently, experts are telling us that its best to get vaccinated, rather than waiting for a preferred COVID-19 shot. But, there are differences that could play a role, if it came down to having your preference.

According to a report by USA Today, as vaccine supplies become more plentiful, we may be asked the question: Which vaccine do you want? In which case it may help to know how they differ. Though, doctors say all three authorized vaccines work extremely well to protect against severe disease, hospitalization and death.

Dr. Kathryn Edwards, scientific director of the Vaccine Research Program at Vanderbilt Universitys School of Medicine, said that a shot now is better than waiting for a different shot. In lowering the overall spread of the disease, it benefits both the individual and society.

What are the trade-offs?

Apart from that, there are small trade-offs when choosing among the current vaccines, the report said.

One apparent difference is the number of required doses: Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines require two doses and are somewhat more effective. Johnson & Johnson, however, requires only one dose  a strong selling point  and is somewhat less likely to cause side effects, the report explained.

What is the vaccines efficacy rate?

In clinical trials, efficacy rates for Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna overall were slightly higher than Johnson & Johnson, USA Today reported.

When approaching a decision, it may help to determine whether youre someone at high risk of getting very sick or dying from COVID-19 or if someone in your family is, suggests Hilda Bastian, a health scientist who writes on COVID-19 vaccines.

What level of risk category do you fall into?

The report suggests that people in the high risk: group might choose the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccines.

On the other hand, for someone who doesnt have anyone at home at high risk, and isnt at high risk themselves, the slightly better effectiveness wouldnt matter as much, while the ease of the one and done. Johnson & Johnson vaccine could be the key deciding factor.

Bastian said, They might think, As long as Im doing my bit for the community, if its enough for that, then that would be enough for me, the news outlet cited.

Side effects: Fever, chills and fatigue

Of the three COVID-19 vaccines in use in the U.S., regardless of which one is chosen, some people will experience short-term side effects, such as pain at the injection site, fatigue, headache, muscle and joint pain.

These reactions, rather than indicating that the vaccines arent safe, are instead a sign the immune system is kicking into high gear, and thats not a bad thing, the report explained.

More than half the people who get the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines have chills and fever a few days afterward. If you havent had COVID-19, Vanderbilts Edwards said the reaction tends to be stronger after the second dose.

On the other hand, Edwards said, If youve had COVID before, youll get sicker with the first dose and less with the second, the report cited.

For some people, the report noted, these differences could matter. For example, younger people tend to have stronger side effects because their immune systems overall are stronger.

How do side effects impact your choice?

USA Today again cited Hilda Bastian, who made these observations:

If Im an older person, then maybe Im not going to need a couple of days off work if I get one of the shots, so Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna are fine, said Bastian. A younger person or someone for whom taking a day of work is difficult, might prefer the J&J vaccine.

For people who arent thrilled with the idea of vaccines overall, J&J could be preferable because its just one shot, she added. They might say, Thats not too much to ask. Ill do that.

Take the vaccine available to you.

In summation, the report suggests we follow the experts advice: The vaccine you can get is the best vaccine for you.

But, if you are offered a choice, here are some considerations it suggests:

If getting the vaccine is difficult for you for whatever reason, the one-and-done J&J vaccine might be preferable. If you want belt-and-suspenders maximum protection, then Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna might be your choice. If you know youre prone to severe allergic reactions, you might choose J&J, though the chance of anything happening is very tiny and medical personnel are there to deal with it.

No matter what vaccine you get, the report noted there are probably more COVID-19 vaccines in your future. While the frequency isnt yet known, many scientists think its likely booster shots will be required.

Immunity - how fast does it work; and what about Anaphylaxis?

For expanded information, read more of this report via USA Today.

READ MORE:
[March 16, 2021] Experience Chroma's Semiconductor Test Solutions for Automotive Chip Market at SEMICON China

TAOYUAN, Taiwan, March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Chroma ATE has been heavily invested in the field of semiconductor testing for 20 years and has received a warm welcome in China. From basic 4-bit microcontrollers to high-end AI chips, Chroma's semiconductor test systems can be found far and wide. This exhibition, Chroma will demonstrate the comprehensive high-precision/high-performance 3680 SoC/Analog Test System, which extends the well-known 3380 series platform to high-end technology. With a data rate up to 1Gbps, up to 512 parallel test capabilities, and 512M Word test data memory depth, the 3680 test system meets the test requirements of high-end chips while reducing test costs. Together with the Adivic MP5806S RF test analyzer, Chroma Group offers semiconductor test solutions that support all four major navigtion systems. The MP5806S offers a variety of built-in modulation and demodulation protocols as well as standard test methods required by positioning systems. In addition, Chroma's High Density Audio Video Option (HDAVO) works with a variety of wireless test instruments to create the most cost-effective combination for high-end smart speakers and wireless earbuds. Providing 32 radio frequency channels, the 3680 semiconductor test system performs a large number of parallel tests while taking the expense, yield, and quality into account.



Chroma will also show its 3300 PXIe semiconductor test system, the most flexible full-function semiconductor test machine in the market. Inheriting the design and technical advantages of the Chroma 3380P series, it uses the new generation of CRAFT-Plus software to further support many of the advantages of Microsoft Visual Studio 2019, for easier integration of third-party PXIe instruments. Chroma 3300 suits testing of microcontrollers, MEMS sensors, RF amplifiers, and CMOS image sensors. Likewise up for display is the Chroma 3200 Versatile Platform, a freely configurable SLT Test Cell platform that uses a flexible robot to pick and place the test chips. The optional model 31000 (-40C ~ +150C) or higher-order model 32000 (-70C ~ +150C) ATC thermostatic control systems cover all needs for temperature control testing. Chroma Virtual Operation Tools (CVOT) can remotely track the product test process, predict the machine's test efficiency through big data, greatly shorten the shipping time, and improve the product test yield. The combination of VR glasses software and hardware supports the remote demonstration of repairs, solving any problems where technicians cannot visit for on-site repairs due to the pandemic.

Chroma ATE will exhibit these new semiconductor test solutions at SEMICON China 2021 on March 17-19 in the Shanghai New International Expo Center (booth no. N3583). We are looking forward to letting visitors experience the newest testing trends and connecting with them at SEMICON China. SOURCE Chroma

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Prof Dang Duc Anh said the rate of people with severe side effects after being injected with AstraZeneca vaccine in Vietnam is still within a safe limit.

Since March 8, 11,605 people in 12 provinces in Vietnam have received the AstraZeneca vaccine. At least 14 cases of anaphylaxis (reaction from severe allergy) of level 2-3 after vaccination have been recorded. The latest case of anaphylaxis of level 3 was announced on March 15.

VietNamNet spoke with Prof. Dang Duc Anh, Director of National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, and Head of the Immunization Project Executive Board, about the vaccination and the safety of AstraZeneca vaccine in Vietnam.

Prof. Dang Duc Anh. Photo: Thuy Hanh

- Vietnam has just recorded a case of level-3 anaphylaxis after the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine. Does this person have any special underlying disease or allergy?

All people who get Covid-19 vaccine are examined very carefully. This person had been examined and asked for medical history before the vaccination, but there was no specific information about any underlying medical problem yet.

We have recommended provinces to continue monitoring to detect more specific causes.

Is the rate of anaphylaxis from AstraZeneca vaccine in Vietnam higher than other countries?

- After the first week of vaccination, 26% of vaccinated people had common reactions, 0.7% had severe reactions. Compared to other countries, is the rate of side effects after Covid-19 vaccination Vietnam higher?

Vietnam is still monitoring data from other countries. Different vaccines have different rates of side effects. The rate of side effects in Vietnam is generally within the limits recommended by the manufacturer as well as the World Health Organization (WHO) and other agencies responsible for the evaluation of the safety and efficacy of vaccines.

This is the first time that Vietnam as well as many other countries have used Covid-19 vaccines. So we must both vaccinate and evaluate safety and continue to monitor safety reporting data in countries where the AstraZeneca vaccine is used.

- In the current context, how can we achieve fast and safe vaccination?

Not only AstraZeneca vaccines, most other vaccines have side effects, with a certain rate. It is important to monitor and evaluate after vaccination. The Ministry of Health has asked all localities to report cases of post-vaccination reactions, so a professional council can assess the cause.

Currently, WHO and other specialized agencies still recommend that countries continue to vaccinate, considering the benefits and the risks. To date, there has been no evidence of a link between the AstraZeneca vaccine and cases of blood clots.

Vietnam continues to vaccinate as planned.

- What is Vietnams plan for the first batch of vaccines and what is the vaccination plan for the next year?

Vietnam has just used more than 11,000 doses, accounting for 1/10 of the first 117,000 doses we have received. It is scheduled that the remaining doses will be used from now until the end of March.

From now to April, Vietnam will receive an additional 4.1 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine from COVAX and other suppliers. The vaccine will be used for the next priority subjects, under the Governments Resolution 21.

Vietnam's plan is to have 150 million doses this year. We are implementing this step by step, depending on the number of vaccines imported.

Thuy Hanh
New Delhi: Hemant Nagrale on Wednesday (March 17, 2021) replaced Param Bir Singh as the Commissioner of Mumbai Police. The top cop said that he will regain the glory and pride of the Mumbai Police.

"At present, the Mumbai Police is undergoing turmoil due to some bad instances that have occurred. I won't comment on the ongoing investigation. We will regain the glory and pride of Mumbai Police," ANI news agency quoted him as saying.

Earlier in the day, Home Minister of Maharashtra Anil Deshmukh announced that Hemant Nagrale has been appointed as the new CP of Mumbai City, while Param Bir Singh has been given the responsibility of the Home Guards department.

The move comes in the wake of the arrest of Mumbai top cop Sachin Waze, who is at the focus of a probe by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in the Scorpio bomb case. The SUV laden with explosives was recovered near Mukesh Ambani's house in Mumbai on February 25.

This is to be noted that Nagrale, IPS 1987 Batch Maharashtra Cadre, played an important role during the Mumbai 26/11 attacks. He had reportedly recovered a bag containing RDX in south Mumbai, which he had shifted to a safer place.

"During the terror attacks, Nagrale stepped out of his residence on his own in order to help. When he reached the area of Hotel Taj, which had been attacked by the terrorists, he found a bag containing RDX lying nearby. He immediately took it to a safer place and thereby saved several lives," PTI quoted a police official as saying.

Hemant Nagrale has also the President's Police Medal, Vishesh Seva Padak and Antarik Suraksha Padak.

(With inputs from agencies)
Burma Foreign Oil and Gas Companies Urged to Suspend Business Ties with Myanmar Military Regime

Yadana gas field offshore facility in Andaman Sea. / Total Myanmar

Elected lawmakers from the ousted National League for Democracy government have sent a final notice calling on the largest foreign-owned oil and gas companies operating in Myanmar to suspend business ties with the military regime, warning that the money from sales of the oil and gas will be used to reinforce human rights violations in the country.

In the latest effort to overthrow the junta, the acting minister for Planning, Finance and Industry, elected by the Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw (CRPH), sent a final notice to Frances Total SE, Malaysias Petronas, Thailands PTT and South Koreas POSCO.

Myanmar earns around US$75 million to US$90 million per month from oil and gas sales. Almost all the earnings are paid to the government via the Myanma Oil and Gas Enterprise (MOGE), a state-owned company now controlled by the coup leaders.

As of Tuesday, almost 200 civilians have been killed by the security forces during crackdowns on peaceful anti-regime protests across the country. Moreover, the Myanmar military has long been known for committing war crimes and crimes against humanity in ethnic regions, where fighting between government troops and ethnic armed groups has intensified.

In their statement, the CPRH condemned the companies for remaining silent about the militarys Feb.1 coup and for supporting the regime with payments from oil and gas sales, despite the CPRH giving them a deadline of March 9 to impose sanctions on the junta. The CRPH said that revenue from oil and gas sales in December 2020 and January 2021 has reportedly been paid into regime-controlled bank accounts.

We strongly condemn the companies for making payments for oil and gas sales to the regime, the CRPH said.

The CRPH also urged the companies not to pay taxes until the democratically-elected government resumed its duties.

U Tin Tun Naing, the CRPH acting minister for Planning, Finance and Industry, said in the statement that if companies continued to make payments it would seriously undermine the Myanmars people efforts to return the country to democracy and that the military will be able to utilize those resources to continue their human rights violations in Myanmar.

We urge you to take immediate action to prevent human rights abuses, the CRPH said.

All stakeholders should coordinate immediately to achieve democracy. This is the last time, we urge you to cooperate with the people in their struggle for the overthrow of the military dictatorship, the CRPH added.

Total reported that it paid US$257 million to Myanmar in 2019 in taxes and other payments.

Petronass Yetagun gas project paid US$208 million to the government in 2018 while the Shwe project, run by South Koreas POSCO, paid US$194 million, according to Myanmar Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (MEITI).

The Zawtika gas project, run by Thailands PTT, paid US$41 million in 2018, while the government also earned another US$300 million in 2018 from fees paid by companies to use gas export pipelines.

The rights group Justice for Myanmar (JFM) has also voiced concerns that oil and gas revenue will bankroll the military regime and enrich its leaders.

As Myanmars generals look for revenue to prop up their new dictatorship following the February 1 coup, theres one source of money they can count on: natural gas projects backed by foreign investors, said JFM.

If its business as usual, foreign investors in Myanmars oil and gas will be funding an illegitimate and brutal military regime as they did before 2011, when the country was under full military rule. JFM warned.

JFM said that the coup has left international oil and gas companies with no option but to end their relationship with MOGE and the military regime that now controls it. JFM urged the international community to impose immediate targeted sanctions against MOGE and all other military-controlled businesses.

You may also like these stories:

Teenage Girl Shot Dead by Myanmar Military in Mandalay Region

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Continuing Brutality by Myanmar Military Junta Pushes Death Toll to 193
Congress Hopeful Kathy Barnette Shares About Being Born After Her Mom Was Raped at Age 11

Republican Black Woman: Being Pro-life Is Not Just Philosophical, ... It's Very Personal to Me'

Kathy was clearly old enough to do the math. She just never really thought about how young her mother was, until as an adult, she came face to face with her own birth certificate, and read between the lines. The ink on the page told the story of how Kathy Barnette was conceived.

The now-Republican congressional hopeful was just 18 or 19 years old at the time, getting ready to join the Army Reserves, and she needed the birth certificate to sign up. That was the first time she really began pondering her origins.

And the first thing I noticed is that they identify my mother is Negro girl, Kathy told The Epoch Times of her birth certificate. I scanned over it, I saw that she was 12, and it began to dawn on me for the first time that I can remember. I just really started processing how young my mother was when I was conceived. She was 11. She gave birth to me when she was 12.

I am the exception to the rule. And my life is valuable.

Kathy learned that her mother had been raped as a girl, and became pregnant. Her mom recalls people saying she should have an abortion, but Kathys grandma would have none of it, and for that, Kathy has her life to be thankful for, and it came to shape her perspective on the value of life profoundly.

I think about it often, she said. That my egg only came at that one particular time. And reading the Word of God where He says, I knitted you in your mothers womb, where He talks about, before the foundation of the world, I saw you, and I called youpredestined youits very personal to me. Its not something that I can read and just pass over.

Kathy and her mother in a recent photo (Courtesy of Kathy Barnette)

Even some conservatives regard rape as one instance where abortion is justified. Statistically miniscule, abortions connected to rape are often cited the exception to the rule by the Right, ceded to the Left for the sake of argument. They press home that the vast majority of abortions have nothing to do with rapeas some liberals cite rape as justification for all abortionswhich is all well and good.

For Kathy, though, its not just philosophical. Being the exception is her story.

We often have that exception to the rule right? she said. We hate abortion, except in the case of incest and rape. And I happen to be one of those exceptions to the rule. So for me, its very personal. Because I had nothing to do with how I was conceived, I should not be punished for the behavior and heinous act that was inflicted upon my very young mom.

She said, Me coming to a place of being pro-life, perhaps I would have gotten there from a philosophical perspective  But again, I know Christians and conservatives who are pro-life  with some exceptions. And that doesnt exist for me.

Nothing to lose. Everything to gain.

The life Kathy was given began on a humble pig farm in the deep south of Alabama. She described the conditions as wickedly poor, but from the hard work she learned from her grandparents growing up, she became the first person in her family to go to, and finish, college.

This led to finding a career in the financial sector, writing her first book Nothing to Lose, Everything to Gain, and eventually running for congress in 2020 (now, she is strongly considering running again).

What else did Kathy have to gain? A family. Her life converged with her husbands, and they now have two beautiful and smart, just loving kids who are going to be wonderful citizens when we release them into the world, she said. And they will contribute greatly to our nation and to the world.

Kathys book Nothing to Lose, Everything to Gain. (Courtesy of Kathy Barnette)

Kathy and her husband and their two children (Courtesy of Kathy Barnette)

None of which would have come into being had she been considered the exception.

I see, just from the abortion perspective, a couple of things: it would have severed anything that will come after me, she said. When I look at my children, I think about that sometimes. Then they wouldnt be here, and theyre such a wonderful contribution to the world.

Adds Kathy, How could I not tell that story and potentially advocate for that childs life?

I am not a victim. I am a victor. Thats how I was raised.

Kathy grew up in the same house that her great-great-great-great-grandmother, Rhoda, lived inand she was a slave. Its more important than ever for black folks to learn their history, said Kathy, the horrors of slavery, what they surrendered, but also how far we have come as a country to right so many of those wrongs, and then come out on the other side.

(L) Kathys great-great-great-great-grandmother, Rhoda, who was a slave; (R) Kathy with her grandmother (Courtesy of Kathy Barnette)

Of growing up on that farm, Kathy shared: And even in that dire, just wickedly poor environment, no one ever told me I was a victim. I can still see my grandmother and my grandfather out there in the fields, and Timmy with the cows and the corn, and planting a seed in the ground. I could see them harvesting the things that they did that they grew, and I saw them work hard.

But they never told me, even in growing up in the very deep south, obviously black, poor, that I was a victim, she said. And because they never told me I was a victim, I never saw myself as a victim.

She adds, I am not a victim. I am a victor. Thats how I was raised.

To teach their children their history, Kathy and her husband brought them to visit Mount Vernon where George Washington lived, where around 300 unnamed slaves were buried. For their sacrifices, she tells her children and those who have benefited from their sacrifices, we have an obligation to live well. It is our burden to live well.

I believe racism existsI do, she adds. Like I often say to people, we only have 24 hours in a day; how much time do you want me to spend, trying to sniff out every single ounce of racism?

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
Watertown, NY (13601)

Today

Cloudy with rain developing after midnight. Low 61F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch..

Tonight

Cloudy with rain developing after midnight. Low 61F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch.
COLUMBIA  Tyson Foods will again have operations in South Carolina, with plans to repurpose its shuttered plant in Columbia to produce prepackaged beef and pork.

With an initial investment of $42 million in the Bluff Road facility, Tyson plans to begin production in May of its case-ready meats, so named because the various cuts of beef and pork are portioned, packaged and ready to be placed directly in grocery store refrigerated cases with no need for further butchering.

The plant previously produced processed pork products, such as taco meat and pizza toppings.

Were pleased to bring operations back to Columbia and are very grateful for the strong state and local support weve received for this project, said Nate Hodne, senior vice president and general manager of the Portioned Protein Innovations team for Tyson Foods subsidiary Tyson Fresh Meats.

Once operational, products will be shipped from the plant to stores across the eastern United States. Over the next three to five years, the company plans to make additional improvements and purchase more equipment for the facility, reaching a total investment of $55 million.

The plant will employ 330 workers, more than double the 150 at the facility when it was idled last August. The average wage will be $18.62 per hour, which Tyson said is a higher wage than previously paid.

In exchange, Arkansas-based Tyson Foods, one of the world's largest food processors, is asking Richland County Council to transfer and extend an existing tax incentive agreement it has with the county to its case-ready subsidiary.

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Under the extended agreement the company will receive a reduced property tax rate of 6 percent, rather than the typical 10 percent corporate rate charged to South Carolina manufacturers, through 2047.

The company is also asking for additional tax credits to help buy down its property tax bill  equivalent to 40 percent of the investments it makes for the first five years and 35 percent for the five years after  as part of the new agreement.

County Council voted to approve the agreement during its March 16 meeting.

Tyson Foods initial $42 million investment, and the 330 jobs that will result from it, will help continue South Carolinas tremendous economic growth, said Gov. Henry McMaster. We look forward to continuing our states fruitful partnership with Tyson and to their continued commitment to South Carolina and our people.

In the latest financial filings, Tyson executives say the company's case-ready products are among its high-growth sectors. The products appeal to retailers for reasons of shelf life and food safety, as well as reducing their need to find employees with higher skill levels required for butchering.

Tyson Foods case-ready beef and pork business currently operates plants in Iowa, Tennessee and Texas and plans to open a new facility in Utah later this year.

The Columbia plant will be the smallest of Tysons case-ready plants, but the location helps reach key East Coast customers, the company said.

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[March 17, 2021] Philosopher and Legal Scholar Robert P. George Joins Faculty at Pepperdine Caruso School of Law and School of Public Policy

Princeton University professor Robert George has been named the inaugural Nootbaar Honorary Distinguished Professor of Law at the Caruso School of Law and the Ronald Reagan Honorary Distinguished Professor of Public Policy at the School of Public Policy at Pepperdine University. George will commence his new roles at Pepperdine in fall 2021 and serve a five-year term. He will continue to serve at McCormick Professor of Jurisprudence at Princeton University where he is a full-time faculty member. As an honorary distinguished professor at both schools, he will be invited to give academic lectures, lead student colloquia, and participate in other speaking engagements with members of the Pepperdine community. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210317005735/en/ Robert George, inaugural Nootbaar Honorary Distinguished Professor of Law at the Caruso School of Law and the Ronald Reagan Honorary Distinguished Professor of Public Policy at the School of Public Policy at Pepperdine University. (Photo: Business Wire) "I am delighted that Dr. George has accepted our invitation to affiliate with our schools of public policy and law as an honorary distinguished professo. His national platform and influential voice will elevate the conversation of respectful discourse and intellectual freedom at Pepperdine," said Jim Gash (JD '93), president of Pepperdine University. "Dr. George brings to Pepperdine his passion to invest in the leadership development of students, which is one of our most cherished core values."



George was introduced to the University community at the inaugural President's Speaker Series event in January 2021, where he joined fellow professor and political scholar Cornel West for a discussion about honesty, civility and courage through the lens of faith. During the event George expressed that universities have a sacred mission to open students' minds to the truth and to encourage the pursuit of information from opposing sides in order to better understand and defend the truth. "Pepperdine is one of the world's truly great Christian universities-an institution that embodies the conviction that faith and reason are the 'two wings on which the human spirit ascends to contemplation of truth,'" said George. "Some years ago I was delighted to speak at Pepperdine's Commencement and become an honorary alumnus. I'm thrilled now to deepen my relationship with the University's exceptional faculty and student body by becoming an honorary distinguished professor of law and public policy."

The Ronald Reagan Honorary Distinguished Professor of Public Policy, which is the most distinguished of the School of Public Policy's visiting professorships, was launched in the program's first years and approved by Nancy Reagan. As the school's first-ever visiting professorship, and the only professorship in the president's name at any policy program in the United States, the position was initially endowed and facilitated by University supporter Flora L. Thornton. A Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Swarthmore College, George holds degrees from Harvard University and Oxford University, in addition to 22 honorary degrees. He is a recipient of the US Presidential Citizens Medal, the Honorific Medal for the Defense of Human Rights of the Republic of Poland, and is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. The University of Dallas and the American Enterprise Institute host the Robert P. George Initiative in Faith, Ethics, and Public Policy in Washington, D.C. His most recent book is Conscience and Its Enemies. To learn more about Dr. Robert George visit the Pepperdine University Newsroom. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210317005735/en/

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Art Acevedo, the Houston, Texas police chief, who gained national prominence by supporting tighter gun sales control, marching alongside protesters after George Floyd's death has been hired to be the next City of Miami police chief.

While announcing the hiring Monday, City of Miami Mayor Francis Suarez said, "We got who we think is the best police chief in the United States." Suarez had previously described Acevedo as the Tom Brady or Michael Jordan of police chiefs in statements to the Miami Herald.

Acevedo, 56, is expected to take over the job in four to eight weeks.

The Cuban-born Acevedo migrated to the United States as a refugee with his family when he was four years old. He was the first Hispanic to head the Houston Police Department, where he served five years and was in charge of a force of 5,400 officers, with a budget of more than $ 1 billion.

The City of Miami police department has 1,400 officers. When asked why he decided to take over a smaller department, Acevedo said it was time for a change of scenery given that Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner is ending his term, also mentioning how much he enjoyed his visit to Miami, mentioning downtown Miami and Little Havana.

During his introductory press conference, Acevedo said "We will not allow mediocrity at the Miami Police Department," adding that he is "not a friend of bad cops, but I will stand up for good cops."

To watch a Channel 6 NBC news report on the press conference, click here.
WATERLOO, Iowa (AP)  An Iowa man awaiting trial on an attempted murder charge has been charged with killing another man during a robbery.

The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports that Robert Lee Williams Jr., 32, of Waterloo, was charged Tuesday with one count of first-degree murder in the death of 49-year-old Vincent Hemenway. Authorities allege Williams was part of a group of men who approached Hemenway and his friends on Aug. 15 while they were working on a vehicle inside a garage and asked to borrow a lighter.

Hemenway volunteered his lighter and then resisted when one of the suspects attempted to walk away with it. At that point, someone opened fire, striking Hemenway.
Spain has ordered a ship carrying more than 1,700 calves that's anchored off the coast of Minorca, to sail to Cartagena, so that inspectors can determine the health and welfare status of the nimals.

The General Directorate of the Merchant Navy has warned the Captain of the Togolese-flagged Elbeik that failure to comply with the order "could constitute a serious Administrative offence."

The order states that the Maritime Rescue & Safety Society will monitor the ship from the minute it leaves the southern coast of Minorca until it arrives in Cartagena.

According to Maritime navigation radars the 'Elbeik' was still anchored in front of Punta de Macarella in Minorca this morning.

The owner of the vessel was due to return to Spain at the beginning of the month, but decided to delay his trip until the Karim Allah case was resolved. That ship was carrying 900 calves which were slaughtered in Cartagena.

The two ships were en-route from Spain to Turkey and Libya where the calves were to be sold, when both countries refused to accept the animals amid suspicions that they were infected with the blue tongue virus. Those allegations were denied by both the Association of Producers, or Asoprovac and the Spanish Government.

The Elbeik has now been at sea for nearly three months because other ports refused to accept the animals and according to Animal Equality, at least 100 cows have died.
URBANA  While the University of Illinois is planning to hold most of its fall-semester classes in person, students studying abroad arent so lucky.
Witness Saw Plane 'Back Flip' Before Fatal Crash

By West Kentucky Star Staff

GRAVES COUNTY - The National Transportation Safety Board's recently released Aviation Accident Preliminary Report on a fatal plane crash last month near Mayfield describes what witnesses saw as the aircraft plummeted to the ground.Dr. Henry Babenco of Paducah was killed on the evening of Feb. 22 when his experimental Vans RV-7 crashed less than a mile from the north end of the Mayfield-Graves County Airport runway.The report says witnesses saw the plane doing touch-and-go landings on Runway 1 immediately prior to the crash.Another witness reported seeing the aircraft climb, before the tail dropped and the plane went into a backflip, heading nose first toward the ground.An examination of the wreckage revealed that all components of the aircraft were accounted for at the scene, and flight control continuity was confirmed from the cockpit controls to each flight control surface.Examination of the aircraft's engine reportedly revealed no evidence of any mechanical malfunctions prior to the crash, and there was an odor of aviation fuel at the crash site.The report says an engine data monitor was recovered for further examination.The NTSB says all information in its preliminary report is subject to change, and may contain errors which will be corrected when the final report is released.
Stormonts finance minister has expressed regret after a meeting with the Government to discuss a funding impasse over victims payments did not proceed on Tuesday.

The powersharing executive and Northern Ireland Office are at loggerheads on who should foot the bill for the scheme to compensate those physically or psychologically injured during the Troubles.

Conor Murphy told the Assembly on Monday that he along with the First Minister Arlene Foster, deputy First Minister Michelle ONeill and Justice Minister Naomi Long had been due to meet Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis on Tuesday evening to discuss the stand-off.

However, after the encounter failed to materialise, the Government insisted no meeting had been confirmed.

On Monday, Mr Murphy told MLAs the meeting had already been postponed from last Thursday to enable Mr Lewis to consult with the Treasury

The Finance Minister said he hoped the Treasury discussions meant the Government was beginning to accept their responsibility for a scheme that they devised and legislated for.

There are some indications that the Secretary of State and the NIO are beginning to engage, and I hope that they will have something to offer us tomorrow evening, he said.

On Tuesday, Mr Murphy said the meeting did not happen.

Its regrettable the Secretary of State isnt available today to discuss this matter, he said.

Victims deserve a resolution that provides certainty on funding as soon as possible.

A Government spokesman denied a meeting had been confirmed for Tuesday.

No such meeting was confirmed for today, he said.

The Secretary of State has made clear the high priority which he places on having the Victims Payments scheme open and receiving applications as soon as possible, and is committed to continuing to engage with Executive Ministers towards this end.

The Troubles Permanent Disablement Scheme will allow payments for those most seriously injured during the decades-long conflict.

It has been delayed over a number of disagreements, including whether Belfast or London should meet the cost, which could reach 1.2 billion.

Earlier this year, the Court of Appeal in Belfast ruled that Stormont was under a legal duty to fund the payment scheme.

It made no finding on the source of that funding  i.e. from the current block grant or by way of extra Treasury funding for the region  and urged the Executive and Northern Ireland Office to agree a solution.
A day after the Texas Senate passed a bill requiring regulators to retroactively reduce wholesale electricity prices charged during last months catastrophic winter storm, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick declared the legislation dead, saying Tuesday that the Texas House has declined to take it up.

Patrick, who rushed the bill through the Senate on Monday with a Saturday deadline for changing the prices, said the House will not bring it up for a vote.

In a statement, House Speaker Dade Phelan made it clear he does not agree with repricing electricity to minimize damage done by an estimated $16 billion in overcharges during the storm.

Phelan, R-Beaumont, called it an extraordinary government intervention into the free market, which may have major consequences for both residential and commercial consumers going forward.

He sided with managers of the states electric grid  the Electric Reliability Council of Texas and the Public Utilities Commission  who said the decision to leave sky-high prices in effect was intended to protect Texans from further outages.

ERCOT and PUC failed Texas repeatedly during this tragic event, but the decisions made on pricing were made based on ensuring the reliability of the grid, Phelan said. I believe that the decisions may have saved lives.

Phelans office does not agree that the House killed the bill and pushed back against Patricks statement on Tuesday. Still, the bill is not scheduled for any hearings in the House this week and would be moot after March 20. Phelans staff would not say when it might schedule such a hearing.

IN-DEPTH: Texas electric grid failures fuel new divide between Gov. Abbott and Lt. Gov. Patrick

As Patrick shared the news with members of the Texas Senate  27 out of 31 senators supported it  he told them he was proud that they stood for the individual while the House stood for big business.

Obviously its going to be complex. Obviously its going to be difficult, Patrick said. But I am so disappointed that something that 27 of you supported and all of you thought about, that is important to do  26 million people under ERCOT  was dismissed without a serious looking at the facts.

Patrick added in a statement later that the Senate hoped that House members would take a vote on the floor, so their constituents know where they stand, just like we did.

Gov. Greg Abbott had also raised concerns that repricing would violate the Texas Constitution and stressed such a decision shouldn't be made hastily.

The issue had caused an unusual rift between Abbott and Patrick, who rarely show anything but unity on priority issues such as this.

Patrick spars with Abbott

The downfall of Senate Bill 2142 is a victory for Abbott. After the storm, the second-term Republican governor had called for the Legislature to address the correction of any billing errors, but he later cast doubt on whether repricing was the right solution.

The spat between Patrick and Abbott over the issue began Friday when Patrick blasted Abbotts newest appointee to the utility commission for a lack of competence and questionable integrity.

The commission chair, Arthur DAndrea, has insisted that his agency does not have the authority to allow repricing at this point, and on Monday, Abbott said he worried lawmakers lacked the authority to take retroactive action on existing contracts.

But Patrick, with the support of all but three senators, pushed forward.

Phelan, in his first term as House Speaker, seems unlikely to call for a floor vote on the matter. Part of the House Speakers job is to protect members from taking votes that will spark political divisions without accomplishing anything.

His office said in a statement: Speaker Phelan and Lt. Gov. Patrick have had no conversation about SB 2142.

CPS Energy out $1 billion

The high prices took a toll on retail electric providers and distributors who had to pay them to keep Texans power on.

The states largest electric power cooperative, for example, Brazos Electric Power Cooperative filed for bankruptcy protection earlier this month. San Antonios CPS Energy is out $1 billion and on Friday sued ERCOT, alleging it erred by leaving the maximum prices in place too long.

At the same time, generators that were prepared for the storm with weatherized equipment or that made money by reselling power through the grid have come out on top.

The chairman of the utility commission, which oversees the states grid operator, had also warned of the possibility that repricing would lead to lawsuits by power generators who would have to return earnings.

Phelan noted that after hearing almost 30 hours of testimony over the last several weeks, members have filed a number of bills to address the failures of electric grid, including alternatives to repricing that would give cash-strapped utilities the option to use securitized bonds to cover their debts over time.

Similar bills have been filed by Sen. Kelly Hancock, R-North Richland Hills, who was one of three no-votes on the Senate repricing bill.

These House bills are set for hearing this week, Phelan said. The House will continue to examine this issue that touched the lives of every single Texan directly and indirectly.

The House State Affairs committee will meet at 8 a.m. on Thursday.

Jeremy Blackman contributed to this report.
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A new bill would give Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton greater prosecutorial authority over abuse-of-office charges  the very crime for which the FBI is reportedly investigating the states top attorney.

The bill, proposed by state Sen. Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston, would allow Paxtons office to prosecute the charges without consent from local prosecutors, as is required now.

Paxton, a Republican who has been awaiting trial in a separate, unrelated felony securities fraud case for five years, has also been under investigation by federal law enforcement after seven former aides accused him of using the powers of his office to help campaign donor Nate Paul, an Austin-based real estate developer. Paxton has maintained his innocence in all cases.

His office did not respond to a request for comment.

Bettencourts bill was inspired by an unusual case in Harris County, in which Precinct 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis, a Democrat, was found to have stored more than 1,200 privately owned pieces of African artwork, free of charge, at a county warehouse for more than three years.

BACKGROUND: An African art collector plans to create a museum. Why is Harris County storing his works for free?

Ellis pushed the Commissioners Court to sign a 2018 deal for 14 pieces for display in county buildings, but that agreement lapsed in January. His precinct later accepted more than 1,400, few of which have ever been shown publicly. The cost of storage over those three years is estimated at between $432,000 and $576,000, according to quotes from Houston art storage facilities.

A new contract has yet to be approved, and Ellis has not been charged with any crimes, though political foes allege that it constitutes an illegal abuse of office.

The Harris County District Attorneys Office is investigating the matter. The FBI is also reportedly investigating, according to KPRC 2, which broke the story.

Hundreds of thousands of dollars have been spent on that facility. This problem has now dragged on well over a year and a half publicly, Bettencourt said at hearing Monday. While there may or may not be any other activity in Harris County about it, I believe that its essential to restore the public trust by passing a bill in the Legislature.

A spokesman for Ellis, political consultant Bill Miller, said the matter has nothing to do with Ellis and characterized the abuse-of-office accusations as unfounded allegations.

Time will prove that right, Miller said, adding that the artwork is staying put for now and the drafting of a new contract is on hold while the investigation is ongoing. Hes still committed to displaying art, but this particular set of art pieces are in dispute, so its sidelined for the time being.

Of Bettencourts bill, Miller said: There are lots of theories behind legislation.

Bettencourt said the owner of the art should have been paying thousands of dollars in business personal taxes, which is a tax on the value of a business' inventory and equipment. County court records show no such payments have been made since 2018.

Miller declined further comment.

LATEST ON THE SCANDAL: Whistleblowers allege AG Paxton got home remodel, woman got job in exchange for helping Nate Paul

Josh Reno, Texas deputy attorney general for criminal justice, testified Monday that the office works with local prosecutors when requested if there is a potential conflict of interest.

Local county and district attorneys want to be elected, and they are at a disadvantage in some of these cases when they may be prosecuting a very popular individual in their community, said Reno, a former assistant district attorney tapped by Paxton in November. I think SB 252 gives another tool in the tool belt for prosecutors who may not have the ability or may not have the political acumen to stand up to these folks.

That would give the office incredible power over local prosecution decisions, said Sen. Robert Nichols, R-Jacksonville.

My concern is  its obvious in this case, probably somebody should do something  but in our history, in our states history, occasionally we get some renegade attorney generals who if they really didnt like you could harass the individual official, Nichols said.

Sen. Sarah Eckhardt, D-Austin, who was a prosecutor with Travis County for eight years, said it was folly to presume the states top attorney would be any less political than a local prosecutor.

Were dealing with an attorney generals office for which the elected attorney generals been under indictment for five years, so if you think youre going to get less political prosecutions out of the current attorney generals office, I think thats highly unlikely, Eckhardt said.

Last year, Paxton, an ally of former President Donald Trump, drew national attention and praise from Trump when he led an unsuccessful legal effort to overturn the outcome of the 2020 presidential election.

The Bettencourt bill was left pending in the Local Government Committee. Among the members: Sen. Angela Paxton, R-McKinney, the attorney generals wife.

Zach Despart contributed to this story.
FLINT, MI - Five years after Amir Hekmati was released from prison in Iran and stepped on U.S. soil in a victory for him to resume his life, hes dispelling claims that he was a spy for the CIA.

Court documents filed by the FBI show suspicions that Hekmati went to Iran with the goal of selling classified secrets to the government, according to a Tuesday, March 16 Associated Press report.

Related: Amir Hekmati says release from Iranian prison like being born again

Hekmati, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, traveled to Iran in 2011 to visit relatives, but he was soon taken into custody and later imprisoned for four years.

He was originally sentenced to death on a charge of espionage, which was eventually overturned. Hekmati was later charged with cooperating with and collaborating with the U.S. government and sentenced to 10 years in prison.

A 2001 Flint Central High School graduate, Hekmati was released from prison after four years with the help of U.S. Rep. Dan Kildee, D-Flint Township and President Joe Biden, who was vice president at the time.

Because of the allegations tied to selling classified secrets, Hekmati is being denied $20 million from a special U.S. government fund as compensation for years of imprisonment that included brutal torture. According to the AP, the government is now backtracking on the money as the investigation continues.

Dating back to 2011, records show the Iraqi war veteran was interviewed by FBI agents after his release from Iran. The documents filed by the FBI detail conflicting accounts relating to Hekmatis purpose for visiting Iran.

In addition to the millions that Hekmati was formerly approved for, Hekmati is awaiting $63 million from a default judgement for suing the Iranian government in 2016.

In a post written by Hekmati and published Tuesday on Medium, he details how he was robbed of half a decade of his life due to ongoing battles between the United States and Iranian governments.

The FBI has abused its authority, engaged in illegal and deceptive practices against me, trampled on my rights, leveled harmful and dangerous allegations against me, and is now attempting to silence me by getting my lawsuit dismissed, Hekmati wrote. I ask that the relevant bodies examine closely the lawsuit at hand, and insure my rights are not trampled on as they have been for the past several years.

There has not been a case brought by federal prosecutors regarding the allegations, according to the AP.

Related news:

Flint Central High School alum who was detained in Iran on charges of spying may face same lengthy ordeal as jailed American hikers

Amir Hekmati returns to Flint: I love this city

Ailing father of Amir Hekmati pleads for sons freedom following more than year-long confinement in Iran
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Former President Donald J. Trump recommended in a nationally televised interview on Tuesday evening that Americans who are reluctant to be vaccinated against the coronavirus should go ahead with inoculations.

Mr. Trump and his wife, Melania, were vaccinated in January. And vaccine proponents have called on him to speak out in favor of the shots to his supporters  many of whom remain reluctant, polls show.

Speaking to Maria Bartiromo on Fox News Primetime, Mr. Trump said, I would recommend it, and I would recommend it to a lot of people that dont want to get it  and a lot of those people voted for me frankly.

He added: It is a safe vaccine, and it is something that works.

While there are degrees of opposition to coronavirus vaccination among a number of groups, polling suggests that the opinions break substantially along partisan lines.
Fashion-Forward Celebrity Favorite Heads to NYC Headquarters

Malibu, California--(Newsfile Corp. - March 17, 2021) - Green Stream Holdings Inc. (OTC Pink: GSFI) ("the Company") (http://www.GreenRainSolar.com ), an emerging leader in the solar utility and finance space, is pleased to announce its wholly owned subsidiary Chuck's Vintage (https://chucksvintageoriginal.com), an iconic brand and retail location renown among celebrity elite and fashion enthusiasts alike, is heading to New York City as its new headquarters, with plans for a flagship retail outlet in North America's premier luxury district.

Established in 2006, Chuck's Vintage is a store unlike any other; a true American original. The moment you step over the threshold at 16618 Marquez Ave, Pacific Palisades 90272 you find yourself in the midst of abundant treasure. The selection of vintage denim has to be seen to be believed. The blue jeans in her store range from Strongholds found in the California Gold Rush mines to World War II-Era Levi's, Lees, and Wranglers, as well as 1960's ladies high-waisted and groovy deadstock Levi's bells. Come to Chuck's for the denim, but stick around and complete your look with the founder's sampling of vintage American workwear: rugged military and work boots, buttery leather bomber jackets, and soft, perfectly worn-in vintage 70's rock tees. Classic American Cool.

Chuck's Vintage was founded by GSFI former CEO Madeline Cammarata (fka Madeline Harmon) who hailed from an illustrious background in fashion. Her career began as a fashion model where she was soon discovered by the iconic and provocative fashion photographer Helmet Newton, launching Cammarata to the runways of Europe. Returning the US, Madeline found a powerful niche in the high fashion world of denim, where she was instrumental in providing fabric development for powerful brands like 7 For All Mankind and provided thousands of pieces to celebrity and business elites from Steve Jobs to Morrisey and everywhere in between.





Chuck's Vintage Fashion



To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/6720/77552_chuck.jpg

Initiatives also include GSFI's proprietary rooftop solar technology to be utilized in select retail locations throughout the U.S. as the brand expands its flagship store in L.A.





Founder Madeline Cammarata with daughter of French Designer Rei Kawakubo (Comme des Garcons)



To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/6720/77552_comme.jpg

As well, Shareholders: Green Stream Holdings, Inc. will be presenting at the Emerging Growth Conference Today March 17, 2021 at 3:30pm EST.

Please register below to ensure you are able to attend the conference and receive any updates that are released.

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/6904637667304920590'source=GSFI

If attendees are not able to join the event live on the day of the conference, an archived webcast will also be made available on EmergingGrowth.com and we will also release a link to that after the event.

About Green Stream Finance, Inc.:

Green Stream Finance, Inc., a solar utility and finance company with satellite offices in Malibu, CA and New York, NY, is focused on exploiting currently unmet markets in the solar energy space, and is currently licensed in California, Nevada, Arizona, Washington, New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, New Mexico, Colorado, Hawaii, and Canada. The Company's next-generation solar greenhouses constructed and managed by Green Rain Solar, LLC, a Nevada-based division, utilize proprietary greenhouse technology and trademarked design developed by world-renowned architect Mr. Antony Morali. The Company is currently targeting high-growth solar market segments for its advanced solar greenhouse and advanced solar battery products. The Company has a growing footprint in the significantly underserved solar market in New York City where it is targeting 50,000 to 100,000 square feet of rooftop space for the installation of its solar panels. Green Stream is looking to forge key partnership with major investment groups, brokers, and private investors in order to capitalize on a variety of unique investment opportunities in the commercial solar energy markets. The Company is dedicated to becoming a major player in this critical space. Through its innovative solar product offerings and industry partnerships, the Company is well-positioned to become a significant player in the solar space.

Forward-Looking Statements:

This press release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and is subject to the safe harbor created by those sections. This material contains statements about expected future events and/or financial results that are forward-looking in nature and subject to risks and uncertainties. That includes the possibility that the business outlined in this press release cannot be concluded for some reason. That could be as a result of technical, installation, permitting or other problems that were not anticipated. Such forward-looking statements by definition involve risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Green Stream Finance, Inc. to be materially different from the statements made herein. Except for any obligation under the U.S. federal securities laws, Green Stream Finance, Inc. undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

For All Inquiries Contact:

+1 (424) 280-4096

president@greenstreamfinance.com

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/77552
An Italian court has ruled that oil giants Royal Dutch Shell PLC and Eni SPA are not guilty in a bribery case involving a Nigerian oilfield that has spanned years, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Shell, Eni, and Enis CEO Claudio Descalzi, have been on trial for years in the infamous OPL 245 case. Shell, Eni, Descalzi, and others, were accused of knowing that more than $1.1 billion of the $1.3 billion deposited a decade ago into an escrow account controlled by the Nigerian government would eventually be used as bribes to secure oil drilling rights.

A UK judge dismissed a similar case over the same deal in its courts last year.

Eni and Shell have consistently said that they knew nothing about the bribes, although two middlemen in Shell and Eni were found guilty of corruption years ago in a separate trial over OPL 245.

The years-long court battle in the UK and Italy is now finally behind the oil majors.

Nigeria was hoping to net a billion from the court casea needed windfall since OPL 245 was, for the most part, never developed.

But the battle between Shell and Nigeria is hardly over, after a Dutch court in January ruled that Nigerian citizens could sue the oil major for oil leaks in the area.

Shortly after that ruling, Shells CEO Ben van Beurden said it would take a hard look at its operations onshore Nigeria after being hit with chronic issues with theft, illegal refining, and sabotage in the Niger Deltathe likely cause of several of the leaks that it may now be sued over.

Shell continues to operate some 340 oil wells across Nigeria.

By Julianne Geiger for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
In this screenshot from the DNCCs livestream of the 2020 Democratic National Convention, Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson addresses the virtual convention on Aug. 20, 2020. (DNCC via Getty Images)

Judge Rules Michigan Ballot Signature-Matching Guidance Invalid

A Michigan judge has ruled that the states Secretary of State Jocelyn Bensons guidance last October relating to ballot signature verification wasnt in compliance with the law and is invalid.

The standards issued by defendant Benson on October 6, 2020, with respect to signature-matching requirements amounted to a rule that should have been promulgated in accordance with the APA, Christopher Murray, the chief judge from the Michigan Court of Claims, ruled last week in the court order. APA refers to the states Administrative Procedures Act.

And absent compliance with the APA, the rule is invalid.

Michigan Republican Party and Allegan County clerk Robert Genetski had filed the lawsuit on Nov. 2, 2020, against Benson and Jonathan Brater, director of the Michigan Bureau of Elections.

The plaintiffs claimed that the guidance Benson issued last October had violated the APA and should be nullified. They also asked the court to declare that they have the right to request an audit of their choosing, saying the state-wide audit in November didnt review whether signatures were properly evaluated.

On Oct. 6, 2020, Benson issued guidance titled Absent Voter Ballot Processing: Signature Verification and Voter Notification Standards.

The guidance stated that clerks must perform their signature verification duties with the presumption that the voters application or envelope signature is his or her genuine signature.

The guidance also said signatures should be considered questionable only if they differ in multiple, significant and obvious respects from the signature on file, according to the court order (pdf). Whenever possible, election officials were to resolve slight dissimilarities in favor of finding that the signature was valid.

According to the Michigan APA (pdf), to develop a rule, the state agencies need to go through procedures such as filing requests, public notices, impact analyses, public hearings, approval by the legislative service bureau and office, and finally, approval by a joint committee on administrative rules. The whole process might take months.

Nowhere in this states election law has the Legislature indicated that signatures are to be presumed valid, nor did the Legislature require that signatures are to be accepted so long as there are any redeeming qualities in the application or return envelope signature as compared with the signature on file, Murray pointed out.

Policy determinations like the one at issuewhich places a thumb on the scale in favor of a signatures validityshould be made pursuant to properly promulgated rules under the APA or by the Legislature.

However, Murray didnt support the plaintiffs claim that they have the right to request an audit.

For at least two reasons this claim is not supported, Murray wrote in the order. First, the constitution speaks of an audit of election results, not signature-matching procedures.

Secondly, the statute leaves it to the Secretary of State to prescribe the procedures for election audits and conduct audits according to the prescribed procedures, Murray said.

Im glad the court sees Secretary of State Bensons attempts at lawmaking for what they areclear violations of her authority, State Representative Matt Hall said in a statement.

Hall is a Republican and was chair of the state House Oversight Committee during the 201920 legislative term.

This is not the role of the Secretary of State, and there is a clear process that must be respected, Hall said.

State officials and courts, not state legislatures as required by the Constitution, illegally changing election rules and relaxing ballot-integrity protections have been among the main allegations in former President Donald Trump and his campaigns lawsuit.

Former President Donald Trump speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Orlando, Fla., on Feb. 28, 2021. (John Raoux/AP Photo)

The democrats use the China virus as an excuse to change all of the election rules without the approval of their state legislatures, making it therefore illegal, Trump said at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) on Feb. 28. It had a massive impact on the election.

Democrats have been saying that Trumps election fraud claims are false and his legal challenges have all been rejected by the courts. Now Murrays ruling made an exception.

Bensons press secretary responded to a question by The Epoch Times saying, No comment at this time.
Over the past decade, no major energy source has grown faster than solar power. According to the 2020 BP Statistical Review of World Energy, installed solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity has grown at an average annual rate of over 42% over the past 10 years, translating into a doubling of global capacity every 1.7 years on average.

Although that blistering pace could start slowing down as installed capacity grows, solar will likely remain the fastest-growing energy source for the foreseeable future. Much as with other energy sources, however, solars growth is giving rise to a number of thorny questions regarding geopolitics, supply chains, and national security.

The Path to Decarbonization

From a North American perspective, the election of Joe Biden as U.S. President has breathed new life into the Paris climate agreement  the most significant global effort to rein in carbon dioxide emissions to date. Fulfilling a key campaign promise, President Biden officially rejoined the Paris accord last month. At the same time, following meetings between President Biden and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Canada also pledged to submit its own new target under the Paris pact, with the two leaders insisting on a joint approach to climate issues.

The European Union, for its part, has consistently maintained an aggressive stance toward carbon emission reductions. The EU is on a path to surpass its goal of generating a third of its energy from renewable sources by 2030. Last September, the European Commission presented its plan to reduce EU greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030, compared to 1990 levels. That would put the EU on a path to reach climate neutrality by 2050.

All of these efforts point to one inescapable conclusion: installed renewable energy capacity will continue to rise as governments on both sides of the Atlantic pour money into decarbonization efforts.

At the same time, many of these countries are understandably sensitive about energy security. Political leaders dont like to depend on other countries for their energy supplies, but this is frequently an accepted trade-off due to economic considerations. Related: Bidens Energy Agenda To Reduce Oil Production And Boost Prices



That pattern has long held true for fossil fuels, with OPEC maintaining a stranglehold on the worlds oil supplies until the U.S. fracking boom somewhat weakened its monopoly. Now, as the renewable revolution picks up steam, one country  China  has built up a clear advantage around certain key renewable technologies, in particular the components needed to construct solar energy infrastructure in the West.

Huawei in the Spotlight

Chinas own energy consumption continues to grow rapidly, making the Chinese economy the worlds largest energy consumer. As a result, Beijing invested aggressively in renewables and has now achieved predominant market shares in solar photovoltaics as well as lithium-ion batteries, another key renewable technology.

Chinese state-linked company Huawei, better known for telecommunications equipment and consumer electronics, has also become one of the worlds largest suppliers of solar inverters, a critical part of solar PV systems that converts direct current power generated by solar panels into alternating current electricity to power electronics in homes and businesses.

Huaweis dominant position in the inverter market, coupled with the backing it enjoys from the Chinese government, has raised concerns in the U.S. In 2019, a bipartisan group of U.S. Senators sent letters to Energy Secretary Rick Perry and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen, urging them to ban the sale of all Huawei solar products in the U.S., citing a national security threat to U.S. energy infrastructure.

Related Video: The Pentagon Just Captured Sunlight, From Space

Noting that Congress had previously blocked Huawei from the U.S. telecommunications equipment market due to concerns over its links to Chinas intelligence services, the letter stated in part:

Both large-scale photovoltaic systems and those used by homeowners, school districts, and businesses are equally vulnerable to cyberattacks. Our federal government should consider a ban on the use of Huawei inverters in the United States and work with state and local regulators to raise awareness and mitigate potential threats.

The concern is that if the U.S. power grid becomes dependent on a critical piece of state-linked Chinese electronic equipment, it could render that grid especially vulnerable to outside disruption or manipulation. This dynamic mirrors concerns in the U.S. about reliance on OPEC for oil supplies. Huawei responded to what it called an unwelcoming climate being fostered in the United States by closing its U.S. inverter business.

Europes Diverging Approach

A more ambivalent approach toward Huawei was initially adopted in the EU, which only agreed to reduce its dependency on equipment susceptible to Chinese government influence for future 5G networks. However, officials in a number of EU countries are now sounding an alarm over the Chinese states role in sectors of their economies that represent key national security interests, including banking, energy, and infrastructure.

Those concerns extend to solar energy, with EU policymakers also expressing concern over Chinas use of Muslim forced labor in solar PV module supply chains. That issue has given additional impetus to the European Parliament, which is now pushing for trade bans on Chinese solar module equipment if human rights abuses are involved in their manufacture.

These factors all create major incentives for Western countries to address Chinese state dominance in the clean energy sector. That imbalance didnt arise overnight, and it will take some time to address.

President Biden took a step in that direction by signing an executive order aimed at making U.S. supply chains more resilient. Among other things, the report calls for identifying risks in the supply chain for high-capacity batteries, including electric-vehicle batteries, and policy recommendations to address these risks.

The EU will now have to decide whether it is ready to pursue a similar approach. Clean energy supply chains havent received a lot of policy attention until recently, but governments are increasingly under pressure to ensure potential threats to those supply chains dont derail global efforts to decarbonize.

By Robert Rapier

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
In front of her smartphone camera, Ha Lam Truc, 11, confidently speaks English, performs her favorite rap songs, and dubs famous movies.

Ha Lam Truc and foreign travelers

Truc is a Tay ethnic girl from the land surrounded by vast hills, mountains and fields where English centers are tens of kilometers away from her home.

Truc was born in Hanoi. But when she turned a year old, her father decided to leave her with grandparents in Lang Son province because of a family problem, while he stayed in Hanoi.

Tung, the father, said after seeing other children speaking English so fluently, he decided that he would create a favorable environment for his daughter to learn and speak English well.

After working hours, he searched for information on the internet and went to international schools to see what was taught at the schools.

At first, he let his daughter watch YouTube and listen to English songs via phones. But this seemed not to work.

He tried to rearrange his work and stay with the daughter more regularly.

As Tung was not good at English, he feared that he would show the wrong pronunciation to the daughter. So he first learned how to pronounce words from Google and then taught the girl.

He gave homework to her every day and asked her to videotape the work to send to him.

He showed her videos on presentation skills, discussions and TED talks which helped her master stage presentations. Everything improved step by step, including body language and facial expressions.

In front of her smartphone camera, Ha Lam Truc, 11, confidently speaks English, performs her favorite rap songs, and dubs famous movies.

Witnessing his daughters progress, Tung believed he was on the right track. But he understood that the girl needed an environment to practice English.

Two foreigners came to Lang Son when Truc was selling goods at the market with her grandmother. It was not a tourism site, so there were very few travelers. We nursed every opportunity to talk to foreigners, so we invited them to our home to have meals and took them to travel. Truc also learned to become a tour guide, he recalled.

On another day, a group of Australian high school students came to the locality for a 1-month charity program. Tung asked the homestay owner to let Truc stay with the students for two weeks. And the stay helped a lot: Trucs pronunciation became better.

Later, Truc visited the homestay every time when it received foreign travelers. They had deep affection for the girl who spoke English confidently and danced well.

When Tung and his daughter were walking around Hoan Kiem Lake one day, he told her he would award her if she could talk with more than five foreign travelers. And she was able to do this.

Now Truc goes to Hanoi every week from Lang Son. In addition to practicing English, they both participate in volunteer activities. Truc sends money every month to SOS Children Village in Hanoi.

Truc now follows the US school online study program thanks to a full scholarship. He wants his daughter to use English as a second language and tool to help her receive other knowledge.

Asked about his parenting skills, Tung said he has the habit of accompanying his daughter.

Being next to her, I realized some of her advantages, such as rapping and dancing skills. I encouraged her to learn English through her hobbies, he said, adding that this way of learning helps lessons to be less boring. If children feel happy, the class time will be much more effective than learning under pressure.

Tung pointed out that the connection among family members in Vietnam is getting weaker. Parents are at the office in the daytime and they only see their children in the evening. The short conversations in the evenings are not enough to understand each other, he said.

Thuy Nga

Vietnam's English proficiency index continues falling Vietnamese proficiency in using English has continued to drop this year, being listed among countries in the low-proficiency category.
Peter Nygard's lawyers will be back in court Thursday in a renewed attempt to get him out of jail.

Peter Nygard's lawyers will be back in court Thursday in a renewed attempt to get him out of jail.

The fallen fashion mogul has been in custody since Dec. 14, when he was arrested by Canadian authorities at the behest of U.S. law enforcement.

Mintaha Neslihan Eroglu / Anadolu Agency / Getty Images / TNS Files Peter Nygard, seen here in 2016, is fighting extradition to the United States, where he faces racketeering and sex trafficking charges.

Nygard is facing a slew of racketeering and sex trafficking charges in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. U.S. authorities are trying to extradite him to New York to stand trial.

Manitoba Court of Queens Bench Justice Shawn Greenberg denied Nygards bail application on Feb. 5.

Nygards legal team argued his health is in jeopardy while he is being held at Headingley Correctional Centre during the COVID-19 pandemic and sought his release until the extradition proceedings are concluded.

Thursday morning, Nygard's lawyers will ask Manitoba Court of Appeal Justice Jennifer Pfuetzner to overturn Greenbergs decision.

Nygard is not expected to appear in court via video, but will be calling in to listen, a spokeswoman for the court said. Both the prosecution and defence attorneys will be appearing by video.

On Tuesday, Scott Farlinger, senior counsel for the Prairie Regional Office of the Department of Justice of Canada, filed a request to have a limited publication ban placed on Thursdays hearing.

The Attorney General of Canada is seeking to suppress from the public record any information revealed at the hearing that could "identify victims or witnesses whose identities have been anonymized in materials provided by the United States of America," according to the filing.

Farlinger argued the publication of such information would pose a "serious risk to the proper administration of justice."

 Staff
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Fourth-generation Staten Islander John Scrivani will be the next Commissioner of New York City Emergency Management (OEM), Mayor Bill de Blasio announced on Wednesday.

Scrivani is replacing Commissioner Deanne Criswell, who was nominated by President Joe Biden to lead the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

De Blasio said Scrivani is the definition of a true New Yorker.

Hes someone who has served New York City for a long time in a lot of different ways and really has shown his love for this city and his commitment, de Blasio said.

Scrivani said hes devoted his life and his career to his fellow citizens in times of crisis and hes looking forward to continuing the work done by Commissioner Criswell.

Ive seen the worst that can happen, but its always brought out the best in us. The strength and resilience of my fellow New Yorkers always gives me hope and this is no different, Scrivani said.

He briefly reminisced about the good times hes had working for the city -- working parades in Manhattan and major sporting events as a member of the NYPD.

According to the Richmond Times-Dispatch, Scrivani was a fifth generation member of the NYPD and was promoted to sergeant right before September 11, 2001. Following the 9/11 attacks, he ran operations coordination at Ground Zero. He also ran the NYPD Hazmat Weapons Mass Destruction team during the Anthrax attacks, the report says, as well as assisted during Hurricane Sandy.

Scrivani previously held the position of Deputy Commissioner of Operations for New York City Emergency Management and also worked for the New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner.

Before his recent appointment, Scrivani, 48, moved to Spotsylvanie County, Virginia and worked in Richmond, Virginia as the Director of Safety, Security and Emergency Management for the Virginia Department of Transportation, according to a report.

When the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic hit in 2020, he drove back to Brooklyn to help the city set up temporary morgues in an area hardest-hit by the virus.

Now, he, his wife Michelle and children Jack, Amelia, and Leo are New York City residents once again.

New Yorkers have had to go through so much over the past year, they deserve to get their city back as swiftly and safely as possible and be truly prepared for the future, he said.

I am thankful that the mayor is entrusting me with this important role.

FOLLOW KRISTIN F. DALTON ON TWITTER.
Tamil Nadu elections 2021: Liquor ban promise surfaces again in poll-bound State

India

oi-Ajay Joseph Raj P

Chennai, Mar 17: Its election time and prohibition is back in focus in Tamil Nadu where the dry law was lifted about five decades ago. Political parties, including the ruling AIADMK, opposition DMK and Congress, have pitched for a complete ban on liquor, albeit in a phased manner, making the promise in their respective manifestos for the April 6 assembly elections.

Total prohibition was in force in the state from 1937 to 1971 when the then DMK government headed by M Karunanidhi lifted it first. The AIADMK and DMK have both bet on phased re- introduction of prohibition and closure of liquor outlets in a staggered manner in their manifestos.

PMK, an ally of AIADMK, and MDMK, a partner in the DMK- led front, have also made an assurance to ensure liquor-free Tamil Nadu. While the DMK has also promised de-addiction centres, its ally Congress has presented a detailed roadmap for implementation of prohibition in its separate manifesto.

Gandhiya Makkal Iyakkam chief Tamizharuvi Manian, who has been in the forefront of anti-liquor campaign for years, is not impressed much by the promises. "The mention of bringing prohibition in the manifestos of AIADMK and DMK is just a passing reference which indicates there is no commitment to implement it," he told reporters.

Kerala elections 2021: PC Thomas-led Kerala Congress quits NDA, merges with Joseph faction

Manian, a Gandhian and former Congress leader who has held several campaigns against liquor, said he would continue to fight for the dry law in the state. In their manifestos for the 2016 assembly elections too the two Dravidian parties besides the Congress had assured to enforce ban on liquor, sale of which is a major revenue earner for the government contributing around Rs 30,000 crore annually.

Introducing complete prohibition, which encompasses closure of liquor outlets and a halt to production and storage of spirits, was a hotly debated topic during the 2016 assembly polls unlike the present election.

In 2015, the demand for prohibition peaked with the death of Gandhian Sasi Perumal during a protest against liquor outlets. Perumal championed the cause of a complete ban on production, storage and consumption of alcoholic products.

As part of implementing the AIADMK's promise, then chief minister J Jayalalithaa had issued an order closing down around 500 Indian Made Foreign Liquor shops after assuming power in 2016. Prohibition is now featured in the manifestos of other parties as well including the PMK and MDMK.

Assam elections 2021: Congress responsible for lack of development in North East, says CM Yogi Adityanath

The state Congress recalled that till 1967, when it held the reins of power in Tamil Nadu, total prohibition was in force and there need not be any hesitation in implementing it again.

In its poll document, the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee said as soon as a 'new' government assumed office, a high- level committee comprising experts and officials would be formed to work towards imposing a complete ban on liquor. While mulling a ban on alcoholic beverages, the panel would work on ensuring that the proposed move does not lead to brewing of illicit liquor and also look into ways to offset the loss of revenue -from liquor sale- to the government due to the move, it said.

Phased reduction in the number of liquor vends till imposition of a total ban, rehabilitation units in every taluk for people addicted to consuming alcoholic products, including the evils of alcohol in school and college syllabi, stern punishment for brewers of spurious liquor were among the steps promised by the Congress.

West Bengal elections 2021: Mamata Banerjee releases TMC manifesto

The MDMK, in its manifesto, said liquor outlets must be permanently shut and prohibition clamped. The Vaiko-led party too advocated setting up a committee of experts to explore ways to compensate the loss of revenue.

The MDMK would continue to work for a liquor-free Tamil Nadu, it said, recalling Vaiko's padyatra years ago to press for prohibition. "Complete prohibition is our goal," the party's manifesto says.

In the past, the DMK had argued that a total liquor ban may lead to a spurt in illicit alcohol that would affect the people. There were also difficulties in enforcing such a ban in view of factors like availability of liquor in all the neighbouring states, the DMK had argued years ago, but it reversed its stand later and promised dry law.

Freedom fighter and Congress stalwart C Rajagopalachari was instrumental in bringing the Tamil Nadu Prohibition Act of 1937, which ensured a dry spell in the state for decades. In 1971, when the then Chief Minister M Karunanidhi lifted prohibition, Rajaji, who was by then steering the Swatantra party, personally visited the DMK patriarch and requested him not to revoke the ban.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Wednesday, March 17, 2021, 20:07 [IST]
Mar. 17For many years, Maine has considered it a felony to kill a beaver that's become a nuisance.

That may soon change.

Lawmakers are weighing a proposal that has the support of the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife that would allow property owners dealing with the sometimes-troublesome rodents to wipe them out.

Trappers have always been able to take beavers for their pelts during a regulated hunting season  generally October to April  but landowners dealing with flooded waterways have had to hire animal control agents certified by the state to come and remove the tree-chomping rodents that typically weigh 40 pounds apiece.

That worked out reasonably well when beaver pelts brought $60 apiece since trappers were ready to come to their aid. But now that pelts are selling for closer to $5 each, getting somebody to assist is becoming tricky.

Dan Scott, colonel of the Maine Warden Service, said the department supports a legal change that would allow landowners or their agents to deal with nuisance beavers after they report the problem and receive a go-ahead to take action from experts.

He said the state opposes dropping all restrictions because it doesn't want beavers to gain a reputation "of just being vermin" given their long history of receiving special treatment under the law.

Nor, he said, do they want property owners to go out "and start shooting," leaving dead beavers floating in the ponds behind the lodges the creatures build of mud and sticks.

But there is room for a compromise between the tough line currently in the law, which makes the killing of nuisance beavers a class E felony, and simply dropping any rules at all from the books.

James Cote of the Maine Trappers Association told a legislative committee that while beavers have always been considered "a prized species," it is true that their numbers are growing and their market value shrinking.

Scott said his department had 300 beaver complaints each of the past two years after getting 255 in 2018.

Story continues

Cote said trappers respect the need for landowners to be able to take action to address nuisances.

It's an idea that doesn't sit well with everyone.

Esther Mechler of Brunswick told the Committee on Inland Fisheries and Wildlife this week that there "is no need to kill these animals. Doing so is vicious and malicious and makes the habitat less healthy."

She called state Rep. MaryAnne Kinney's bill "a kill mandate and we don't need more of that."

Elisabeth Byers of West Chester, Pennsylvania, told lawmakers they should not allow the killing of "these incredible animals" that play an important role in the ecosystem of Maine.

"My family and I will be watching to see the decision on this piece of legislation," she said. "Believe me, if the beaver are killed, my children, husband and I will end our summer visits to Maine."

Kinney, a Knox Republican, said beavers can be a serious problem, citing a Washington County farmer who raises wild blueberries and has had to cope with beavers in the irrigation culverts.

State Rep. Lester Ordway, a Standish Republican, said his son has a hay field where beavers have created huge problems.

"Really, something has to be done," Ordway said.

State Sen. Russell Black, a Wilton Republican, said he heard from two constituents last year about beaver issues. One never could get anyone to come help, he said.

Black and other legislators said moving beavers somewhere else doesn't always work out as an alternative since they don't stay put.

"They're like homing pigeons," said state Rep. Peter Lyford, an Eddington Republican. "They seem to find their way back."
The top TV picks for Wednesday 17 March.

This evening's TV sees Caroline Flack remembered in a documentary from her mother and twin sister.

As well as giving an insight into who she was behind her public persona, the moving programme also examines how the pressures of fame and the attention that comes with it impacted the late presenter.

Over on BBC One, Rylan Clark-Neal heads up a charity special of Ready Steady Cook while Alan Carr and Amanda Holden investigate their heritage on DNA Journeys for ITV.

Ready Steady Cook for Red Nose Day - 7.30pm - BBC One

Stephen Mangan competes in Ready Steady Cook for Red Nose Day 2021. (BBC / Remarkable TV / Graeme Hunter)

In aid of Red Nose Day, actor Stephen Mangan and TV judge Robert Rinder head to the kitchen as another Green Pepper vs Red Tomato battle commences.

Read more: Patsy Palmer abruptly quits GMB interview

The amateur cooks have got to create delectable dishes from their 5 bag of ingredients in just 20 minutes.

Rylan Clark-Neal hosts the charity special as the stars are helped by expert chefs Jeremy Pang and Ellis Barrie.

Heathrow: Britain's Busiest Airport - ITV - 8pm

Stan (Duty Manager for Mitie - Hygiene Services at Heathrow) and Victoria (UVD Robot) on Heathrow: Britain's Busiest Airport. (ITV)

Heathrow continues to operate amid the coronavirus pandemic in the behind-the-scenes filming, with an iconic end in tonight's episode as the Boeing 747 flies out of the airport for the last time.

Meanwhile, there's some new robot staff to contend with while new cargo driver Dylan is hoping his love of hypnosis can get him out of a jam.

Caroline Flack: Her Life and Death - 9pm - Channel 4

Jody, Caroline & Christine Flack, twin sisters and mother, Norfolk, 1980s

Just over a year on from Caroline Flack's suicide, this new documentary hears from the presenter's family and loved ones as they reflect on her life, death, and who she was behind her public persona.

The film also examines the impact the media and social media had on Flack and her mental health throughout her career and in the wake of her arrest.

Colleagues and friends Olly Murs and Dermot O'Leary are among those contributing in this tribute to the late star.

DNA Journey - 9pm - ITV

Alan Carr and Amanda Holden are on a DNA Journey. (ITV/Voltage TV and Mitre Television)

It's Alan Carr and Amanda Holden's turn to delve into their family histories as they take a trip across the country to find out where and who they came from.

Story continues

Read more: Britney Spears' conservatorship to be explore in BBC documentary

Britain's Got Talent judge Holden starts off in the grounds of a stately home in Cornwall while the comedian's search takes him to a pub in Erith with a colourful past.

The Surrogates - 10.45pm - BBC One

The Surrogates. Intended parents Aki (left) and Kevin (right), with their heavily pregnant surrogate, Emma (middle). (BBC/Sundog Pictures)

As surrogacy slowly grows in the UK, a new BBC Three documentary has followed several people opting to go down that route to add to their families.

The programme introduces viewers to prospective parents and several surrogates, including 26-year-old single mum Caitlin who offered to help out her boss Kate and her husband after the couple lost three pregnancies.

Elsewhere there's Emma, 23, who met gay couple Kevin and Aki through an app that matches surrogates to wannabe parents, and single 40-year-old David who is looking for a surrogate to carry the embryos he's made using anonymous donor eggs.

Watch: Caroline Flack's mother criticises social media companies
An Indianapolis man has been arrested for shooting the mother of his child and killing four of her family members, including her 7-year-old daughter, following a dispute over the US coronavirus stimulus check.



The man, Malik Halfacre, 25, was arrested on Sunday, March 14, a day after the shootings, and is expected to face murder, robbery, and attempted-murder charges, according to the police and Indiana jail records.



After 9:30 p.m. on Saturday, police received a report of a person shot in a home on North Randolph Street. There, the police said, officers found a woman who was taken to a hospital with gunshot wounds. That victim told the police that there were additional victims at another home, also on North Randolph Street.



At the second home, the police found four gunshot victims whom they identified as Eve Moore, 7; Daquan Moore, 23; Anthony Johnson, 35; and Tomeeka Brown, 44. They were all pronounced dead at the scene by emergency medical workers, the police said.



The woman who was shot at the first house was identified by the police as Jeanettrius Moore. She told the police that Mr. Halfacre was her boyfriend and that after the shooting, he had taken the couples 6-month-old child, Malia Halfacre. It was not clear how Mr. Halfacre knew the people in the second house.



Mr. Halfacre dropped off the child, unharmed, at the home of his sister, who told the police that her brother had confessed to her to killing four people, according to the police affidavit.



Mr. Halfacre then went to the home of a friend, where members of a SWAT team later found him hiding in the attic. He gave up without incident, Officer Genae Cook of the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department told reporters.



Wendy Johnson told WXIN that her cousin, Jeanettrius Moore, and Halfacre, the father of Moores 6-month-old daughter, had argued Friday about the $1,400 stimulus check issued as part of the federal governments COVID-19 relief package.



She had just gotten her money, and he wanted half of her money, Johnson, who is familiar with Moores account of the incident, told the news station.



After Moore offered him $450, Halfacre left, vowing to get that money, Johnson said.



Following his arrest, Mr. Halfacre confessed to the crime to detectives, according to the affidavit.



Mr. Halfacre said he and J.M. were arguing because he wanted some of her stimulus check, it said. He also admitted to shooting the four people in the second home and taking money, it said. Michael Leffler, communications director for the Marion County Prosecutors Office, said Mr. Halfacre was not expected to be formally charged before Thursday as the shooting is still being investigated.









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Researchers at Universite Laval, the Centre de recherche du CHU de Quebec-Universite Laval and Universite de Montreal received a $2.2 million grant today from the COVID-19 Immunity Working Group to measure the impact of the pandemic on food workers.

The research team will follow 450 food workers in grocery stores, restaurants and bars in the Capitale-Nationale and Chaudiere-Appalaches regions over the next six months. A group of 150 hardware workers will also be studied for comparison purposes.

Sylvie Trottier, director of ULaval's faculty of medicine's department of microbiology, infectious diseases and immunology, is leading the research, which aims to find how how exposed the workers are to the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19 and how they're affected.

The study is supported by a labor union federation and an industry assocition: the Federation du commerce de la Confederation des syndicats nationaux (CSN) and the Association quebecois de la quincaillerie et des materiaux de construction (AQMAT).

"Since the beginning of the pandemic, food workers have been at high risk of COVID-19 infection because of their daily contact with a large number of people," said Denis Boudreau, a professor in the Faculty of Science and Engineering at Universite Laval.

"However, there is still no precise data on the rate of exposure of these workers to the virus and on the immune response that this exposure causes. Our study will attempt to shed light on these issues. "

Researchers will collect blood samples to determine the presence of antibodies to the COVID-19 virus and to establish the prevalence of infectionsboth symptomatic and non-symptomaticin these at-risk workers. Follow-up sampling at 12 and 24 weeks will measure the incidence of infection over the six-month study period.

An optical detection method

In addition to traditional serological techniques, the research team will use an optical detection method developed by Boudreau and two colleagues at Universite de Montreal, Jean-Francois Masson and Joelle Pelletier. Both are professors in UdeM's Department of Chemistry; Masson specializes in analytical instrumentation and Pelletier in protein engineering.

The technology, called surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy, uses a light beam to detect virus antibodies captured on a thin metal film. This technique allows for rapid assessment of the quality of the antiviral response and the affinity of the antibodies for the virus.

"We've worked together before, in collaboration with Ste-Justine Hospital, and so were able to rapidly transition to studying COVID-19," said Pelletier. "With our surface plasmon resonance antibody screening methods," added Masson,"we're able to distinguish between immunity acquired after infection with the virus and immunity acquired after vaccination."

A second part of the study, led by professors Caroline Gilbert and Mariana Baz of the Centre de recherche du CHU de Quebec-Universite Laval, will aim to better understand the response of the entire immune system, and the role played by neutrophils and T lymphocytes, during SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak
People are being warned to watch out for investment scams (Charlotte Ball/PA)

People are being warned to watch out for investment scams as the end of the tax year approaches, as HSBC UK said just over 18 million was taken from its customers by fraudsters posing as legitimate providers in 2020.

A total of 18,090,154 worth of losses were reported to HSBC UK by its customers due to investment scams in 2020.

Adverts may look like genuine offerings from a bank or financial services provider, and fake cryptocurrency investment schemes are also an issue, the bank said.

Fraudsters target people by email, social media, or phone and also set up convincing web pages to trick victims into transferring money.

Sometimes they may use the name, registration number and address of an authorised firm, or even clone their website, to promote an investment opportunity.

The general rule is that if an offer seems too good to be true, it probably is James Hewitson, HSBC UK

The new tax year starts on April 6, and investors may be looking for new opportunities.

HSBC UK customers who were tricked into transferring money to investment scammers lost 19,728 on average in 2020.

The bank said it follows practice standards to prevent financial crime and where it identifies a potentially fraudulent payment or scam it takes action immediately. It publishes advice on the latest scams on its website.

James Hewitson, head of wealth management at HSBC UK, said: Were aware that fraudsters have used and are continuing to use the Covid-19 pandemic to take advantage of people who may be in an anxious state and facing financial difficulty.

Customers may see an advert on the web or on social media for an investment scheme that promises low risk for high returns. The general rule is that if an offer seems too good to be true, it probably is.

Customers can confirm a company is authorised by checking the FCA (Financial Conduct Authority) website or contacting their bank if theyre unsure about an investment.

As a responsible provider we will never contact an individual out of the blue about a bond and we only process such investments with a personal appointment.

Older people may be particularly vulnerable to losing high amounts to investment scams, as they can access large cash lump sums from their pension pots.

In one case dealt with by the bank, a 76-year-old HSBC customer visited a London branch to transfer money to the United States.

Through a conversation with the customer it was clear that the customer had only known the firm for a very short period of time and was uncertain about what he was investing in, HSBC said.

He had transferred 744 the week before but had now decided to send his entire savings, 70,000, to the company.

The branch manager reviewed documents the customer had provided about the investment and became even more concerned.

The police attended the branch to talk to the customer and it was confirmed that the firm had been previously flagged for fraudulent activity. The customer was advised the payment should not be made.

 HSBC UK said warning signs of an investment scam could be:

 If a company contacts you out of the blue, either by phone call, text message, email, post or a person knocking on your door.

 They pressure you into making a quick decision, for example, by saying it is a limited-time offer.

 The contact details are only mobile phone numbers or a PO box address.

 You are being offered a high return on your investment, but are told it is low risk. If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.

 HSBC said if it is a cryptocurrency investment, make sure you understand the offer and how the investment works before handing over any money.
[March 17, 2021] Cavitation Technologies, Inc. Receives Purchase Order for Nano Reactor System in North America

Chatsworth, CA, March 17, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via NewMediaWire -- Cavitation Technologies, Inc. (OTCQB: CVAT) (BERLIN: WTC) announced that Desmet Ballestra Group, CVATs strategic partner since 2010, has completed a sale agreement for CVATs Nano Reactor system at a vegetable oil refinery in North America. The Company anticipates receiving revenue of approximately $110,000 for this purchase order.

Technology Overview: CVATs Nano Reactor system is designed to refine various edible oils such as vegetable oil, soy oil, canola oil, palm oil and even tallow. CVATs process and system offers enhanced performance, lowered operating expenses, reduced environmental impact, exceptional oil quality, improved shelf life, and reduction of up to 90% of the harsh chemicals used in conventional edible oil refining process. Our strategic partnership with Desmet Ballestra over the last decade has been instrumental in delivering our technology and systems around the world, said COO/CFO Neil Voloshin. We look forward to continuing our relationship and work with Desmet as we anticipate accelerated global system sales in the coming months. About Cavitation Technologies, Inc. Founded in 2007, the company designs and manufactures innovative fow-through devices and systems, as well as develops processing technologies for use in edible oil refining, renewable fuel production, water treatment, and alcoholic beverage enhancement. The company's patented Nano Reactor systems and various technologies have over 40 patents issued and filed both domestically and abroad. http://www.ctinanotech.com/



Follow us on Twitter for real time updates: https://twitter.com/CavitationTech Like us on Facebook to receive live feed updates: https://www.facebook.com/ctinanotech

About Desmet Ballestra Group The Desmet Ballestra Group provides engineering and supply of plants and equipment for the following industries worldwide: Oils and Fats and Animal Feed

Detergents, Surfactants and related Chemicals

Oleochemical and Biodiesel Desmet Ballestra's R&D Team is composed of professionals specialized in Oils and Fats, oleochemicals and chemical processes, using the most comprehensive set of technological resources and equipment. Controlled by Financiere DSBG, a holding company based in Paris, France, the Desmet Ballestra Group is present in all major market areas of the world through its integrated business units located in Northern and Central America (USA, Mexico), South America (Argentina, Brazil, Colombia), Asia & Far East (PR China, Singapore, Malaysia), India and Europe (Belgium, Turkey, Russia, Spain). http://www.desmetballestra.com/ Forward Looking Statement This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In some cases forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "may," "should," "potential," "continue," "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates," and similar expressions, and include statements such as, the anticipated revenue of approximately $110,000. These forward-looking statements are based largely on the Company's expectations and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond the Company's control. Actual results could differ materially from these forward looking statements as a result of a variety of factors including, among others, the state of the economy, the competitive environment and our ability to perform the installation as anticipated and other factors described in our most recent Form 10-K and our other filings with the SEC, including subsequent periodic reports on Forms 10-Q and 8-K. In light of these risks and uncertainties there can be no assurances that the forward looking statements contained in this press release will in fact transpire or prove to be accurate. The information in this release is provided only as of the date of this release, and we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this release on account of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by law. Cavitation Technologies, Inc.

818-718-0905

info@ctinanotech.com



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Paks blueprint for ties with US based on economy not security: Report

Newly wed 22-year-old bride gangraped in front of husband by four robbers in Pakistan

Pakistan EC issues notice to PM Imran Khan's party in foreign funding case

International

pti-Deepika S

Islamabad, Mar 17: Pakistan's election commission has sent notices to Prime Minister Imran Khan-led Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party and its own scrutiny committee to appear before it on March 22 to explain their stance over keeping secret the party's foreign funding documents, according to a media report on Wednesday.

The notices follow a complaint by Akbar S Babar, a dissident founding member of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) against the scrutiny committee's decision to keep the party's documents secret.

A three-member Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) bench headed by Justice (retd) Irshad Qaiser heard the complaint, Geo News reported. The notices were issued before the ECP decided on the secrecy of scrutiny in the PTI's foreign funding case.

Babar's lawyer, Ahmad Hassan Shah, challenged the scrutiny committee's decision to keep PTI's accounts secret. He invoked the Right to Information Act to seek access to the documents, the report said.

The lawyer argued that access to PTI documents is a right of the petitioner under relevant laws. By keeping the documents secret, the ECP scrutiny committee is violating the terms of reference of the scrutiny that clearly demands scrutiny in the presence of both parties, the petitioner's lawyer said.

Honey trapped Army jawan arrested for leaking information to Pakistan

He said the scrutiny process would be a "sham" and "mere attempt to rubber-stamp fake documents".

The lawyer said a secrecy order of the committee is illegal. Later, talking to the reporters outside the Election Commission of Pakistan, while referring to the government demand for the Election Commission to resign, the petitioner, Babar, alleged that Prime Minister Khan feared that if the details of the concealed bank accounts come into the light, it can reveal billions of rupees of illegal funding to the concealed PTI accounts.

This could open Pandora's box leading to charges of money laundering, corruption, and concealment of accounts against Prime Minister Imran Khan and others as they operated these accounts, he said.

Babar had filed the foreign funding case before the ECP in 2014 after he developed differences with Khan over internal corruption and abuse of laws governing political funding.

The petitioner had alleged that nearly USD 3 million in illegal foreign funds were collected through two offshore companies, registered under Imrans signature, and that money was sent through illegal channels from the Middle East to accounts of PTI employees.

Karnataka CD Scandal: Family claims woman kidnapped, files complaint| Oneindia News

He also alleged that the foreign accounts used to collect funds were concealed from the annual audit reports submitted to the ECP. In March 2018, a scrutiny committee was formed to look into PTI foreign funding accounts.
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The global Millimeter Wave Technology Market Size is anticipated to reach $6,752 million by 2026 according to a new research published by Polaris Market Research. In 2018, the mobile and telecom segment accounted for the highest market share in terms of revenue. North America is expected to be the leading contributor to the global Millimeter Wave Technology market revenue in 2018.

The increase in demand for high speed data connectivity and growth in mobile traffic worldwide majorly drives the Millimeter Wave Technology market growth. Millimeter Wave Technology is increasingly being used owing to significant increase in the demand for the bandwidth intensive applications. The increasing applications in radar and security sectors, and increasing adoption of advanced networking technologies boost the market growth. The evolution of 5G technology, and growing demand for mobility accelerate the growth of the Millimeter Wave Technology market. New emerging markets, and increasing applications in defense, aerospace, and satellite communication would provide growth opportunities in the market in the coming years.

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5G networks will be based on higher frequencies based millimeter wave spectrum. These frequencies are capable of carrying massive amounts of data at very high speeds and with very little latency. Millimeter wave spectrum is capable of accommodating increase in data demands from mobile-first users, connected homes, AR/VR devices, cloud gaming systems, self-driving vehicles, IoT sensors and other cloud-connected devices.

North America generated the highest Millimeter Wave Technology market share in terms of revenue in 2018. The growing demand from the telecommunication sector, and development of 5G technology has accelerated the market growth in the region. The increasing trend of IOT, and growing demand for mobility supports the growth of the market in the region. The technological advancements, and growing demand from defense and aerospace sectors improves the Millimeter Wave Technology market growth rate.

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The well-known companies profiled in the Millimeter Wave Technology market report include NEC Corporation, Siklu Communication Ltd, Bridgewave Communications, Inc., E-Band Communications, LLC, Aviat Networks, Inc., Millitech, Inc., Millimeter Wave Products Inc., Farran Technology, Ltd, Keysight Technologies, Inc., and Ducommun Incorporated among others. These companies launch new products and collaborate with other market leaders to innovate and launch new products to meet the increasing needs and requirements of consumers.

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Dr. Jean Chatellier

Alan Vanderborght said, I am thrilled to have Jean join our team. He brings more than two decades of diversified corporate and business development experience in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors, spanning a broad range of therapeutic areas, asset (biopharma product as well as technology platforms) stages, and deal structures. I am convinced that KYBORA GmbH will experience a rapid growth under his leadership and I look forward to working closely with him in the coming years to achieve our vision of building a global advisory firm whose mission is to help Life Sciences companies achieve enduring success.

Dr. Jean Chatellier added The Company is a unique global advisory firm that really understands its clients needs and possesses an unparalleled global network within the major Life Sciences marketplaces. I am pleased to join KYBORA to help them grow in Europe.

Prior to joining KYBORA, Jean was Chief Business Officer at Besins Healthcare, where, in three years, he completed 15 deals that are expected to generate close to $0.5B in revenues over the next five years. Before Besins Healthcare, he was Vice President Business Development at Avadel Pharmaceuticals where he contributed, starting with the acquisition of Eclat Pharmaceuticals, to the transformation of a standalone drug delivery fee for service business into a profitable specialty pharma. Before that, Jean was Director of Business Development at Micromet (now Amgen) where he participated to strategic partnerships (altogether for over $1B value) with Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals, Boehringer Ingelheim, Lonza and Sanofi. He also worked for Crucell (now Johnson & Johnson) as business developer and, various Venture Capital firms as CEO and liquidator. Jean was the founding CEO of Avidis (now Osivax), a Medical Research Council (MRC) spin-off set-up with Sirs Alan R. Fersht and John E. Walker (Nobel Prize in chemistry 1997). He holds a PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (Strasbourg, France) and performed post-doctoral research with Sirs Allan R. Fersht and Greg P. Winter (Nobel Prize in chemistry 2018) at the Center for Protein Engineering of the MRC (Cambridge, UK).

The recent inception of KYBORA GmbH is part of the firms constant expansion across all major Life Science markets in the United States and Europe and, in the near future Asia and LATAM.

About KYBORA  KYBORA is a global advisory firm whose mission is to help Life Sciences companies (Pharmaceutical/Biotech/MedTech) achieve enduring success by offering optimal M&A (buy/sell), licensing (in-/out), fundraising and strategic consulting services globally. Headquartered in Princeton (USA), KYBORA has also representatives in the USA (San Francisco and Miami), LATAM (Brazil, Colombia and Mexico), Europe (France, Germany, Spain and Switzerland), CIS-CEE (Hungary, Russia and Ukraine) and MENA-GCC (Saudi Arabia), and partners in Japan, China, India and, Argentina. Altogether, KYBORA offers the best combination of global reach and local knowledge. For more information, please visit https://kybora.com and follow us on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/kybora/.

KYBORA Contacts  Alan Vanderborght, Chief Executive Officer (alan@kybora.com - +1 609 970 4398) and Jean Chatellier, Executive Vice President and Managing Director (jean@kybora.com - +33 609 102 105).
Hes not OK, Ms. Toole said about her sisters husband. Hes taking it hard.

Ms. Yaun, one of four siblings who grew up in the area, had worked as a server at a Waffle House restaurant. She raised a 13-year-old son as a single mother and had an 8-month-old daughter, family members said.

It was just all about family, Ms. Toole said. Whatever wed do, wed do it together. It doesnt seem real. I expect to see her walking through the door any minute. It just hasnt quite sunk in yet.

DeLayne Davis, a relative, called Ms. Yaun a good, godly woman.

Ms. Davis stood with family and friends outside Ms. Yauns home in Acworth on Wednesday afternoon, wiping tears from her eyes.

She was the rock for this family, Ms. Davis said. If any family needed anything, they went to her. She doted on her kids.

Paul Andre Michels, another person killed at the spa, was one of nine siblings, his brother John Michels said.

We did almost everything together, Mr. Michels, 52, said. His brother, he said, was a businessman and a veteran of the U.S. Army infantry, where he served in the late 1980s. Paul Michels had been married for more than 20 years and was a Catholic as well as a strong political conservative, his brother said. He grew up in southwest Detroit and moved to Georgia about 25 years ago for work.

My brother was a very hard-working, loving man, Mr. Michels said.

Mr. Hernandez-Ortiz, the man injured in the attack, was making his way to a money exchange business next door to Youngs Asian Massage when shots rang out, his wife, Flor Gonzalez, said. Moments later, he desperately reached for his cellphone.
New Delhi, March 17 : The government will shortly announce forensic standards based on Institute of Chartered Accountants recommendations, the Ministry of Corporate Affairs will notify on the lines of the Accounting Standards, the Forensic Standards and this will be applicable to all auditors who are doing forensic accounting at the behest of banks for complying to various RBI circulars on Non-Cooperative Borrowers, Willful Defaulters and Fraud Classification. Also, IBBI the bankruptcy board will also use such standards for the purpose of IBC related forensic audits.

There are hundreds of cases across various courts in India on this subject filed by borrowers, companies and individuals.

A December 10, 2020 Telangana High Court Division Bench order (in the case of SBI & others Vs. Mr. Rajrsh Agarwal & others) which held that the declaration of an account as 'fraud' as per the RBI's circular on Fraud Classification by banks without following the principles of natural justice, is arbitrary and illegal, has been challenged by SBI and other banks before the Supreme Court. It is understood that the RBI is also in the process of filing an appeal against the said order of the Telangana High Court. The Supreme Court bench headed by Justice Nariman is to hear this matter on March 26, 2021.

The Supreme Court in 2019 in an order by Justice Nariman has required banks to follow the principles of natural justice while seeking to classify an account as a 'willful defaulter' as per the RBI issued circular on Willful Defaulters in 2015.

The Supreme Court's order in SBI's appeal on March 26, 2021 is expected to directly affect all these pending cases across India.

Banks generally declare an account as 'willful defaulter' or 'fraud' based on a report of a forensic auditor appointed by the banks. However, as of today, there are no prescribed forensic standards which mandate or guide how an auditor is required to approach any particular set of transactions before it.

In an effort to provide clarity in this respect, the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India is shortly seeking to introduce a set of forensic accounting standards which would need to be applied to evaluate and investigate the transactions in question.

While it is expected that such standards set out by the ICAI would provide guidance on the path forward, the validity of existing forensic reports which do not follow any set methodology or standard, is unclear. Consequently, the actions of the banks to rely on such forensic reports while declaring the account as 'fraud' would also need to be revisited.
PEMBROKE PINES, Fla. (AP)  A boy who was riding in a SUV with his mother died when a small plane struggling to return to a South Florida airport crashed into them on a residential street, officials said.

Two people on the plane died in the Monday afternoon crash, which was recorded by a neighbors security camera. The boys mother was also injured, but authorities said she was released from the hospital later Monday, Pembroke Pines Fire Chief Marcel Rodriguez told news outlets.

The Beechcraft Bonanza plane had just taken off from North Perry Airport in Pembroke Pines and was returning just before 3 p.m., the fire chief said. He said it may have experienced mechanical issues after taking off.

The car literally looks like its just in half, neighbor Salah Elshaer, who called 911, told WSVN.

We heard like a bomb, like a tremendous noise, and we went outside, and everything was on fire, another neighbor, Annabel Fernandez, told the television station.

The boys mother was able to get out of the vehicle and was trying to free her son. Firefighters eventually freed the trapped child and they were taken to the hospital, where the boy died.

A neighbors door camera recorded the crash, showing the plane nose-diving into the SUV as the woman was driving down a street. The planes wreckage then hurtles along the pavement, leaving a line of flames in its wake. The plane also took out a power line when it crashed, officials said.

The names of the victims have not been released.

The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the crash.

Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
By Daniela Desantis

ASUNCION (Reuters) - Paraguayan opposition lawmakers lost a bid on Wednesday to impeach President Mario Abdo over the government's handling of the coronavirus pandemic in the South American country.

Abdo's conservative government has faced fierce protests in recent weeks as a surge in COVID-19 cases has left hospitals on the brink of collapse and out of drugs, while the country has been slow to secure vaccines.

Opposition lawmakers in the lower house of deputies put forward the motion to impeach Abdo and his vice-president.

Fifty-three votes were needed for the motion to pass and in the end, the president was thrown a lifeline by a voting bloc within the ruling Colorado Party led by former President Horacio Cartes.

"Just because you have a majority does not always mean you are right," said opposition deputy Edgar Acosta during the plenary session. "They may have won the political trial but they lost the citizen's trial."

Those who argued against the motion said the country needed stability to move forward with the purchase of vaccines and medicine critical to address the COVID-19 crisis.

The failed push will nonetheless pile further pressure on Abdo's government, which has been forced to shuffle several ministers, including the health minister and chief of staff, to help calm public anger.

Shortly after the result came through, police dispersed stone-throwing protesters with rubber bullets and water cannons near the congressional headquarters in the historic center of Asuncion.

A smaller group of protesters attacked the headquarters of the ruling party, starting a small fire in part of the building which was later brought under control by police with no major damage or injuries reported.

Paraguay's health ministry reported a record daily high of 2,540 COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, bringing the total number of infections in the landlocked Latin nation to 185,888 and 3,588 people dead.

(Reporting by Daniela Desantis; Editing by Adam Jourdan, Richard Chang and Lincoln Feast.)
Mar. 17A bill that would put $250 million into rural broadband internet expansion across the state was approved by the Senate on Tuesday afternoon.

House Bill 320 would allocate $250 million in federal funds to broadband expansion and allow utility cooperatives to use up to 25% of their assets as collateral for broadband projects to underserved or unserved areas. The bill defines "underserved" and "unserved" areas as places where download and upload speeds are below minimums.

"We know the value of broadband across the commonwealth, especially in the rural communities where it can impact property values" and access to education, Sen. David Givens, a Greensburg Republican and member of the Senate's GOP leadership told the Senate Appropriations and Revenue Committee early Tuesday.

The amended bill approved Tuesday contains changes the House will have to agree to for the bill to become law. For example, it gives the state Public Service Commission the authority to review and grant approval to a cooperative's business plan to expand broadband coverage.

"We need the (PSC) to continue to watch the ways these funds are invested," so the investments of cooperative stakeholders are protected, Givens said.

The bill also gives the Public Service Commission authority to hear complaints about outages in broadband service and requires broadband providers to have a system strong enough to prevent seasonal outages. Givens said, for example, his broadband service had seasonal outages several months of the year.

"We want someone to be a point of contact if there are complaints," he said.

The funds won't all be released all at once. Givens said $50 million would be available between July and April 1, 2022. If expansion projects are going well, the remaining $200 million will be released.

"We are saying, 'The money is there,' but we are saying spend up to $50 million" between July and April, Givens said. The bill says the rest of the funds can be released after April 1, 2022.

Story continues

The bill was approved by the full Senate late Tuesday afternoon. The House will have to concur with the Senate's changes.

Also Tuesday morning, the Senate appropriations committee approved a bill that would, among other things, create a grant program that students could use to attend private schools.

House Bill 563 would allow people to donate to the "Education Opportunity Account" and receive a tax credit for the amount they donate. The funds would be administered by approved nonprofit groups and given to students whose families are not more than 175% above the income that qualifies them for free and reduced lunch.

The grants could be used for private school tuition; tutoring; online education; public school programs that have costs; dual credit classes; physical therapy or behavioral therapy and similar services; textbooks; test fees; computer hardware and software; and more.

The bill also requires school boards to create policies allowing students from outside a school district's boundaries to attend their schools.

Rep. Chad McCoy, a Bardstown Republican, said the grant program is for families that aren't wealthy. The program would be for counties with populations above 90,000.

"This is a five-year, time-limited pilot project," Givens said. "If this concept is good ... very likely we'll move to expand it across the state."

Lucy Waterbury, a member of Save Our Schools Kentucky, said public schools already have funding issues.

"Last Tuesday, my school lost its STEM lab" in Fayette County, Waterbury said. The grant program would hurt public schools by reducing revenue to the state's general fund and by reducing the funding to individual schools when students transfer to private schools. Public schools receive funding based on school populations, she said.

Every dollar lost through reduced school funding or the proposed tax credit "is a dollar less to educate public school children," Waterbury said. She called the bill a "Trojan Horse."

"Every year, it will be expanded," Waterbury said. "Every year, the caps will be raised."

Waterbury said the bill doesn't prohibit private schools from discriminating against students who would attend through the grant program.

Kentucky Education Association President Eddie Campbell called the grant program "voucher provisions" and an "attempt to subsidize the private schools at the expense of the public schools."

McCoy said opponents were mischaracterizing the bill. "We've got to be intellectually honest."

"These are not vouchers," McCoy said. "Anyone who calls this a voucher doesn't know what a voucher is."

Sen. Danny Carroll, a Benton Republican, said if there are any signs of private schools discriminating against students using the grants, "I will be the first to file legislation" to stop it.

The bill passed committee and was passed by the full Senate on a 19-15 vote Tuesday night. Because there were changes, the House will have to agree with the Senate's version for the bill to become law.

James Mayse, 270-691-7303, jmayse@messenger-inquirer.com, Twitter: @JamesMayse

James Mayse, 270-691-7303, jmayse@messenger-inquirer.com, Twitter: @JamesMayse
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 17) Overconfidence and lax attitude to health protocols may have been some major contributing factors to the recent spike in COVID-19 cases in the country, a senator said on Wednesday.

In an interview with CNN Philippines The Source, Senator Richard Gordon bemoaned that the Philippines recent gains in the pandemic battle may have been put to waste.

I think we wasted in five days what weve been able to successfully do in five months, Gordon said.

We were able to bring the statistics down," he continued. "Unfortunately, we got overconfident. People started going out, there were no restrictions.

The country has been logging an uptrend in COVID-19 infections in the past week, with the nationwide tally seeing over 3,000 to 5,000 new cases daily. On Monday, the Health Department reported 5,404 new cases, the biggest single-day rise in infections since August 14 of last year.

Echoing the previous sentiments of health officials, Gordon said he believes the increase cannot be solely attributed to the presence of the new, transmissible virus variants.

Hindi ako naniniwalang variant yan. Naniniwala ako, lax lang talaga ang mga tao (I dont believe its the variant. I believe the people are just lax, the senator argued.

FAST FACTS: New coronavirus variants detected in PH

He added that he expects the numbers to go up further to as high as 10,000 unless we do something that we ought to have done a long time ago.

Lacking sense of urgency?

Meanwhile, Gordon also noted the seeming lack of sense of urgency on the part of the national government with regard to the pandemic response.

The senator argued that initiatives should be carried out immediately once case spikes are already observed.

Meron naman siguro [sense of urgency] pero kapos, Gordon said. Tila we are reactive, were not really having a game plan tulad ng ibang bansa na talagang babantayan natin ang takbo ng statistics, at malayo pa, makikita na natin yan.

[Perhaps we have a sense of urgency, but its lacking. Its like we are reactive, were not really having a game plan like the other countries that closely monitor the statistics. They can project way ahead.]

In line with this, he recommended the strict enforcement of face-mask wearing, tight monitoring of passenger capacities in public transportation, as well as staggered working hours for employees.

Earlier, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque rated the government's pandemic response as excellent, noting that the country was able to control the virus transmission as compared to the richer nations around the world.

However, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III himself stressed that there is always room for improvement for the Philippine governments response against COVID-19, which to date has infected over 600,000 people nationwide.
Vice President Kamala Harris speaks on the Atlanta area shootings on March 17, 2021. MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images

Democrats condemned hate against Asian Americans on Wednesday after a deadly shooting in Atlanta.

"We stand with you," Vice President Kamala Harris told the US's Asian American community.

Eight people, including six women of Asian descent, were killed at three massage parlors on Tuesday.

See more stories on Insider's business page.

Several high-profile Democrats on Wednesday condemned hatred and violence against the Asian American community after a deadly shooting in Atlanta, Georgia, on Tuesday left six women of Asian descent dead.

"I do want to say to our Asian American community that we stand with you, and understand how this has frightened and shocked and outraged all people," Vice President Kamala Harris said. "But, knowing the increasing level of hate crime against our Asian American brothers and sisters, we also want to speak out in solidarity with them and acknowledge that none of us should ever be silent in the face of any form of hate."

Law enforcement officials are currently investigating the motive behind the Atlanta shootings that took place at three massage parlors and killed eight people, including six Asian women. The suspect, 21-year-old Aaron Robert Long, a white man, has been arrested. Police say Long told them that he had been to the massage parlors before in relation to a self-described "sexual addiction" and was "attempting to take out that temptation" on Tuesday.

Sens. Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff of Georgia offered their condolences to the families of the victims and called out hate against Asian Americans.

"My heart is broken tonight after the tragic violence in Atlanta that took eight lives," Warnock tweeted. "Once again we see that hate is deadly. Praying for the families of the victims and for peace for the community."

Ossoff similarly said he was "heartbroken" for the victims and expressed his "love and support" for the Asian American community.

Story continues

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Attacks on Asian Americans have increased during the coronavirus pandemic, as many politicians, including former President Donald Trump, blamed China for the outbreak. Some experts say the racist rhetoric has fueled the rise in violence against the community.

Many lawmakers on Wednesday also blamed Trump's use of the terms "Chinese virus" and "Kung flu" to describe COVID-19 for the mounting vitriol against Asian Americans, and urged for an end to the xenophobic language.

"One year ago, we had a former President and White House officials inflaming hate against Asian Americans," Democratic Rep. Ted Lieu of California tweeted Wednesday. "Some elected officials continue to use ethnic identifiers in describing the virus, which adds fuel to the hate. If you are one of those officials, please stop."

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President Joe Biden on Wednesday called the attacks against Asian Americans "troublesome" but said he's waiting for further details about the shooting. Last week, Biden denounced anti-Asian attacks and called them "un-American" during his first primetime address to the nation.

The Biden administration has previously pledged to address the issue by working with local agencies to improve data on hate crimes and enforce policies to prevent such incidents.

South Korea's foreign ministry told NBC News that four of the women who died on Tuesday were ethnically Korean, though their nationalities have not yet been confirmed. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who is in South Korea on a diplomatic trip, said he's "horrified" by the shootings in Atlanta.

"We will stand up for the right of our fellow Americans, Korean Americans, to be safe, to be treated with dignity and respect," he said.

The nonprofit organization, Stop AAPI Hate, on Tuesday reported that Asian American and Pacific Islander communities in the US have faced nearly 3,800 incidents of verbal and online harassment, shunning, physical assault, and civil rights violations since March 2020.

That number likely represents just a fraction of the hate crimes committed against the community over the past year, Russell Jeung, an Asian American studies professor at San Francisco State University and a cofounder of Stop AAPI Hate, previously told Insider.

Read the original article on Business Insider
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Watching interviews with Anthony Fauci has become a cringeworthy experience. Journalists ask him questions on returning to normal as if he were some sort of grand high exalted mystic ruler who controls every aspect of human existence. On Sunday, Fauci told NBC that he couldn't predict when people would be able to have indoor weddings.

What makes this increasingly obnoxious is not just the arbitrariness of Fauci's pronouncements (he recently conceded that guidance on travel for fully vaccinated people was a "judgment call" by the CDC), but the deference that he and other health officials are granted by the media. Last week, when the CDC released new guidance on those who had been fully immunized, CNN infamously tweeted, "The CDC releases guidelines giving limited freedoms to people fully vaccinated against Covid-19."

This post appears here courtesy of the The Daily Wire . The author of this post is Ashe Schow Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and the chief medical advisor to President Joe Biden, finally offered a little bit of hope after a year of pessimistic predictions, saying it was "a quite reasonable projection" to suggest we could have larger gatherings for the Fourth of July.Fauci made the remarks on "Morning Joe" Tuesday, answering a question from co-host Willie Geist about whether people might be able to celebrate the Fourth of July with larger gatherings this year  if enough people were vaccinated and if case numbers drop.Fauci responded.Biden last week made a similar statement while addressing the American people, The Daily Wire reported , though he limited his remarks to smaller gatherings.Biden said.he added.The idea that the coronavirus pandemic will disappear if everyone did what the government told them is a fantasy, and suggests that even after locking the country down, forcing people to wear facemasks almost everywhere they go and not see their friends or loved ones, we still simply aren't doing enough to combat the virus.As Phil Klein wrote at National Review, continuing to interview Fauci doesn't have the same effect that those interviews had last year:Klein added that the American people, not Fauci, will "lead the way in returning life to normal."
Kyrgyzstan has suspended imports of the AstraZeneca vaccine, Alymkadyr Beishenaliev, the Kyrgyz health minister, said on Tuesday

BISHKEK (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 16th March, 2021) Kyrgyzstan has suspended imports of the AstraZeneca vaccine, Alymkadyr Beishenaliev, the Kyrgyz health minister, said on Tuesday.

Kyrgyzstan planned to receive more than 500,000 AstraZeneca vaccine doses within the COVAX program.

"We have not completely scrapped this vaccine, but discussed the situation with it in Europe, therefore we have suspended ... Now we are in talks with COVAX concerning other vaccines. First of all, we must think about the safety of our citizens," Beishenaliev told Sputnik.

According to the minister, the vaccination of Kyrgyz citizens could start in April with the use of Sputnik V and Sinopharm. He mentioned that China promised to provide 150,000 doses on a free basis, adding that the issue of the Russian vaccine's supply could be solved in the coming days.

A number of the EU countries, including Austria, Italy, France, Germany and Spain and others, stopped using AstraZeneca amid thromboembolism cases reported in several European countries.
Regulatory News:

2020 highlights and results

Global strategic partnership with Nestle Health Science for the development and marketing of TOTUM-63, a plant-based active substance with clinically proven metabolic health benefits in prediabetic subjects.



Launch of REVERSE-IT, a global pivotal Phase II/III clinical trial of TOTUM-63 for reducing Type 2 Diabetes risk factors.



New milestones achieved with TOTUM-070, a plant-based active substance for lowering LDL-cholesterol, a risk factor for cardiovascular disease.



14.6m in cash as at December 31, 2020.

Post-balance sheet events and outlook

Important milestones are expected to be reached in the development of TOTUM-070 (reduction in blood LDL-cholesterol levels).



Progress within sight in the development of TOTUM-854, a plant-based active substance for lowering blood pressure, a risk factor for cardiovascular disease.

VALBIOTIS (FR0013254851 ALVAL, eligible for PEA SME), a Research Development company committed to scientific innovation for preventing and combating metabolic diseases, releases its results for financial year 2020 and reports on recent progress.

Main highlights in 2020

TOTUM-63

Global strategic partnership with Nestle Health Science

2020 saw the announcement of a strategic partnership between Nestle Health Science and VALBIOTIS for the development and marketing of TOTUM-63 (Press release of February 5, 2020). Under the terms of this partnership, Nestle Health Science will market TOTUM-63 on a worldwide scale, possibly before the health claim is approved in some parts of the world. The agreement also paves the way for additional sources of revenue, as it provides for the future supply of TOTUM-63 by VALBIOTIS to Nestle Health Science, in addition to the milestone payments and progressive royalties on net sales agreed upon by the parties.

VALBIOTIS has already received almost CHF 8m, comprising an upfront payment of CHF 5m in April and a second payment of CHF 3m in July at the FPFV (First Patient First Visit) in the REVERSE-IT trial. Under the agreement signed, the milestone payments could amount to up to CHF 66m.

Launch of the REVERSE-IT trial, final clinical development phase, and inclusion of the first patient

Following its partnership with Nestle Health Science, and with the approval of the CPP (French Ethics Committee) and the ANSM (French National Agency for Medicines and Health Products Safety), VALBIOTIS announced the launch of REVERSE-IT, the final clinical development phase of TOTUM-63 (Press release of July 8, 2020).

REVERSE-IT, which is funded entirely by Nestle Health Science, will include 600 subjects recruited in over 30 clinical centers worldwide. The main objective of the trial is to confirm the positive Phase II results obtained with TOTUM-63 on elevated fasting blood glucose, the main metabolic risk factor for Type 2 diabetes.

The COVID-19 health and economic crisis did not affect VALBIOTIS' plans to produce clinical batches for REVERSE-IT. Thus, the first visit of the first patient in the REVERSE-IT clinical trial took place, as announced, in mid-2020 (Press release of July 15, 2020). Results from the trial are expected in the first half of 2022. If they confirm the efficacy of TOTUM-63, a health claim application will be filed with the American and European authorities.

In accordance with its research exploitation strategy, VALBIOTIS announced the results of the Phase II clinical trial of TOTUM-63 at the world's top two scientific conferences on diabetes: the annual scientific sessions of the American Diabetes Association (June 2020) and the annual meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (September 2020).

TOTUM-070

Acquisition of American and European patents

In September 2020, VALBIOTIS was granted American and European patents for TOTUM-070 (Press release of September 14). TOTUM-070 is designed to reduce hypercholesterolemia, and the patents grant VALBIOTIS exclusive rights over the composition of the active substance for food and pharmaceutical applications. These patents are a key step in the ongoing development of TOTUM-070, the identification of commercial partners, and the approval of health claims in Europe and North America.

Start of the Phase II clinical trial HEART

In October 2020, the Company initiated the launch of the Phase II clinical trial HEART.

This multi-center, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial will include 120 subjects with untreated moderate hypercholesterolemia, with LDL-cholesterol levels ranging from 130 to 190 mg/dL. The participants will be divided into 2 equal arms of 60 subjects, who will receive TOTUM-070 or placebo for 6 months. The primary endpoint of the trial will be to reduce blood LDL-cholesterol levels. There are also several secondary endpoints of interest. The results are expected at the start of 2022.

Other highlights

A capital increase to strengthen VALBIOTIS' financial resources

In addition to the CHF 8m received through the partnership with Nestle Health Science to develop and market TOTUM-63, the Company has successfully increased its capital by securing a 2m private placement from AMIRAL GESTION (Press release of July 17, 2020). This placement was based on a share price of 4.50, representing a premium of 5.4% over the closing price on July 16, 2020. With the 2 million raised, the Company will have additional financial resources to support the development of the other active substances in its pipeline.

Inclusion in the EnterNext PEA-SME 150 index

With effect from the trading session of October 1, 2020, VALBIOTIS has joined the EnterNext PEA-SME 150 index, a stock market index composed of French companies eligible for the PEA-SME equity savings plan. Broader than the CAC SME, the EnterNext PEA-SME 150 is made up of 150 of the most liquid small and medium-sized shares.

A well-controlled financial situation, and financial resources allocated to implementing the R&D roadmap as a priority

The Company's 2020 financial statements, drawn up in accordance with IFRS, were approved by the Management Board on March 15, 2021. They were examined by the Statutory Auditor and are available on the VALBIOTIS website: www.valbiotis.com/en/investors.

Income statement IFRS, in K, as at 31 December 2020 2019 Operating income including 5,099 1,913 Turnover 3,092 91 Grants 750 602 Research Tax Credit 1,257 1,219 R&D expenditure (5,411) (3,974) Sales and Marketing expenditure (1,031) (1,473) Overhead expenditure (1,387) (1,343) Operating profit for the period (3,407) (5,157) Operating profit (3,407) (5,157) Earnings before tax (3,829) (5,504) Net profit (3,829) (5,504)

IFRS in K 2020 2019 Cash flow from operating activities 2,693 (4,946) Cash flow from investing activities (332) (290) Cash flow from financing activities 4,191 5,850 Variation in cash 6,552 614 Cash at end of period 14,585 8,033

In 2020, VALBIOTIS generated a turnover of 3,092K, consisting mainly of the first milestone payment of CHF 3m (i.e. 2,821K) from Nestle following the launch of the Phase II/III international clinical trial REVERSE-IT. This turnover also includes part of the initial payment of CHF 5m received by the Company in April 2020 and spread over the term of the licensing agreement (i.e. until October 2035). Of the CHF 5m paid upfront (i.e. 4,679K), only 271K have been recorded as turnover for the period.

In addition to turnover, operating income (5,099K, up 166% compared to 2019) consists mainly of the Research Tax Credit received over the period (1,257K) and grants (750K), which were stable year on year.

Research and Development expenditure rose by 36% to 5,411K (compared to 3,974K in 2019). This fully expected increase reflects the continuation of preclinical research and the launch of two clinical trials during the year (final clinical development phase for TOTUM-63 in the REVERSE-IT trial, and the start of Phase II for TOTUM-070). Sales and marketing expenditure fell 30% to 1,031K (compared to 1,473K in 2019). This decline in business development expenditure is explained by the agreement of the strategic partnership with Nestle Health Science. Lastly, overhead expenditure remained constant at 1,387K compared to 1,343K in 2019. In all, net loss over the period amounted to 3,829K.

Over the year, the cash flow from operating activities was positive at 2,693K (compared to (4,946K) in 2019), due to the payments received under the agreement with Nestle Health Science. The cash flow from investing activities was negative at 332K, due to the purchase of new state-of-the-art equipment for the R&D platform in Riom and the extension of international patents. The cash flow from financing activities was positive at 4,191K, due mainly to the 2 million capital increase from AMIRAL GESTION and a state-guaranteed loan totalling 3 million from Bpifrance, Societe Generale and BNP Paribas.

As at December 31, 2020, VALBIOTIS had a cash position of 14,585K, up 81% versus the end of December 2019 (8,033K).

At present, given:

its available cash flow at December 31, 2020 (i.e. 14,585K),

its operating expenditure related to its ongoing development plan,

its current debt repayment schedule,

the Company is in a strong financial position, enabling it to meet its operational requirements until the end of the first half of 2022. This cash outlook does not take account of any further milestone payments from Nestle Health Science, or any additional revenue from new strategic partners. It also excludes any unplanned expenditure arising from changes of direction in development programs.

Review of post-balance sheet events and outlook

Intensification of TOTUM-070 development efforts

Initiated in October 2020, the Phase II clinical trial HEART was officially launched in February 2021 with the first visit of the first patient (Press release of February 22, 2021).

At the same time, to improve and broaden its knowledge of TOTUM-070 and its effects on human lipid metabolism, VALBIOTIS decided to perform a complementary clinical trial with a small number of volunteers. The results are expected by the end of 2021.

Finally, a series of preclinical experiments will also be launched and completed in 2021. These studies should provide further details on the impact of TOTUM-070 on lipid metabolism in a predictive model of human pathophysiology. The results will be submitted to the American Heart Association (AHA) annual conference in November 2021.

Given the potential of TOTUM-070, several clinical and preclinical studies will be conducted concurrently alongside the HEART Phase II trial and should provide a large amount of data by early next year, thus confirming TOTUM-070 as a major breakthrough in cardiovascular disease prevention.

International recognition of TOTUM-854

In March 2021, VALBIOTIS announced that the preclinical results obtained with TOTUM-854 for arterial hypertension have been selected for presentation at the joint annual meeting of the European Society of Hypertension (ESH) and the International Society of Hypertension (ISH) (Press release of March 8, 2021). This meeting will take place in April 2021. TOTUM-854 will be the third active substance in VALBIOTIS' pipeline to enter the clinical development phase, in 2021.

Sebastien PELTIER, CEO, Chairman of the Board of Directors at VALBIOTIS, says: "In 2020 a global strategic partnership was agreed with Nestle Health Science, illustrating the strength of our business model and the efficiency of our R&D platform, both of which have been set up in less than five years. This achievement is also a fitting reward for all the hard work done by our teams. The partnership guarantees that the final phases of development of our active substance TOTUM-63 will be completed, and the prospects for marketing it on a large scale are growing. But the adventure is far from over. Because we are in a stronger financial position, we are now ready to unlock the potential of the other active substances in our portfolio and bring them swiftly to market. This will be a key step towards fulfilling the mission that has driven our company from day one: to deliver solutions for the widespread prevention of cardiometabolic disease, which today affects the health and quality of life of millions of people worldwide."

VALBIOTIS' annual financial report as at December 31, 2020 has been published and filed with the AMF. This document is available on the website: www.valbiotis.com/en/investors

VALBIOTIS confirms that it meets the PEA-SME eligibility criteria set out in Article D.221-113-5 of implementing decree no. 2014-283 of March 4, 2014, namely:

A total workforce of fewer than 5,000 employees;

A turnover of less than 1.5 billion or a balance sheet total of less than 2 billion.

Accordingly, VALBIOTIS' shares are still eligible for inclusion in PEA-SME accounts, which enjoy the same tax benefits as conventional equity savings plans (PEAs).

ABOUT VALBIOTIS

VALBIOTIS is a Research Development company committed to scientific innovation for preventing and combating metabolic diseases in response to unmet medical needs.

VALBIOTIS has adopted an innovative approach, aiming to revolutionize healthcare by developing a new class of health nutrition products designed to reduce the risk of major metabolic diseases, based on a multi-target approach enabled by the use of plant-based ingredients.

Its products are intended to be licensed to players in the health sector.

Created at the beginning of 2014 in La Rochelle, the Company has forged numerous partnerships with leading academic centers. The Company has established three sites in France: Perigny, La Rochelle (17) and Riom (63).

Valbiotis is a member of the "BPI Excellence" network and has been recognized as an "Innovative Company" by the BPI label. Valbiotis has also been awarded "Young Innovative Company" status and has received major financial support from the European Union for its research programs via the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). VALBIOTIS is a PEA-SME eligible company.

For more information about VALBIOTIS, please visit: www.valbiotis.com.

Name: VALBIOTIS

ISIN code: FR0013254851

Mnemonic code: ALVAL

EnterNext PEA-PME 150

DISCLAIMER

This press release contains forward-looking statements about VALBIOTIS' objectives. VALBIOTIS considers that these projections are based on rational hypotheses and the information available to the company at the present time. However, in no way does this constitute a guarantee of future performance, and these projections may be reconsidered based on changes in economic conditions and financial markets, as well as a certain number of risks and uncertainties, including those described in the VALBIOTIS registration document, filed with the French Financial Markets Regulator (AMF) on July 31, 2020 (application number R 20-018). This document is available on the Company's website (www.valbiotis.com).

This press release, as well as the information contained herein, does not constitute an offer to sell or subscribe to, or a solicitation to purchase or subscribe to, VALBIOTIS' shares or securities in any country.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210317005491/en/

Contacts:

VALBIOTIS CORPORATE COMMUNICATION

Carole Rocher Marc Delaunay

+33 5 46 28 62 58

media@valbiotis.com

ACTIFIN FINANCIAL COMMUNICATION

Stephane Ruiz

+33 1 56 88 11 14

sruiz@actifin.fr
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(Newser)  A teenager who hacked the Twitter accounts of Joe Biden, Barack Obama, Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk, Apple, and Uber as part of a Bitcoin scam last year has agreed to prison time. Graham Ivan Clark, 18, of Florida will serve three years in prison for the scam to solicit Bitcoin transactions after pleading guilty to state charges of organized fraud, per the Guardian. Clark, who was a 17-year-old at the time, convinced a Twitter employee that he was an employee in the IT department last July, the Tampa Bay Times reports. He then infiltrated several high-profile accounts, tweeting out links to a Bitcoin address he controlled and promising payments sent to the address "will be sent back to you doubled!" Clark allegedly pulled in $117,000 in Bitcoin, though his lawyers say he's returned the amount. Twitter responded by blocking all verified accounts for hours.

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Arrested days later, Clark has been held in Hillsborough County jail ever since. Those eight months will qualify as time served, per the Guardian. He was sentenced as a "youthful offender," escaping the minimum 10-year sentence that would've applied to an adult, though that could come into play if he violates three years of probation following his release. He will be in a state prison for young adults but may also serve time in a boot camp, and his computer use will be monitored, per the Times. Hillsborough State Attorney Andrew Warren says he "needs to be held accountable" and "other potential scammers out there need to see the consequences" but the goal with any child "is to have them learn their lesson without destroying their future." Two alleged collaborators, Mason Sheppard of the UK and Nima Fazeli of Orlando, are facing federal charges, per the Verge. (Read more Twitter stories.)
The stars of Mayans M.C. say shared family trauma and EZ's full membership in the titular outlaw motorcycle club will make the Reyes brothers closer than ever in Season 3, out Tuesday.

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"It's a lot of love and it's a lot of pain. It's family, and it is filled with a lot of history," J.D. Pardo, who plays EZ Reyes, told UPI about the siblings' relationship in a recent Zoom interview.

Led by series co-creator and showrunner Elgin James, the Sons of Anarchy spinoff focuses on EZ, Angel (Clayton Cardenas) and their father, Felipe (Edward James Olmos).

Felipe moved with his wife, Marisol, from Mexico to South California decades earlier in the hope of forging safer, more prosperous lives for them and their children.

But Season 2 ended with the revelation that Dita (Ada Maris), the matriarch of the Galindo drug cartel, had hired a hitman years ago to kill the Reyes parents, ending in the murder of Marisol.

Wracked with guilt and rejected by Felipe, with whom she had had an affair long ago, Dita pleaded with the three men to execute her.

Felipe is horrified when EZ honored her request.

Angel endured additional pain last season when he was forced to decide whether valuable information he and EZ obtained could be used to blackmail a ruthless lawman to either save his father from deportation or his lover Adelita (Carla Baratta) and their newborn son from captivity.

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"In Season 1, you saw Angel not want his brother to get into this life and the evolution is that he knows his brother is not going anywhere," Cardenas said.

"Angel's looking out for EZ, putting him on the right path of least resistance," he added. "They are trying to come to a resolution of who their mother's killer was.

"So, again, that is another thing that ties them even closer together. And, also, just their relationship in the club. I think they are both trying to find a path to the top. They are on that journey together."

Pardo agreed: "The absence of their mother is very alive within their dynamic, within their choices, within their relationships, within their conflicts and dreams and struggles."

Now that EZ no longer is a Mayans prospect, but a full-fledged member of the club with official patches on his leather vest, he must embrace all of the responsibilities and privileges that entails.

EZ gets the chance to prove himself when he comes up with an ingenious way to transport drugs and weapons after the authorities increase their presence at the U.S.-Mexico border.

"EZ is a patched member. He is in the club, and now a situation has presented itself with the other chapters of the Mayans, and the border is shut down, so they are forced to, as brothers, and as club members work together and solve the problem," Pardo said.

In the upcoming episodes, EZ learns how to make suggestions to the other club members and stand up for himself more.

"Angel uses his voice. He says what he wants to say, and so EZ is trying to find his way into that," Pardo said, acknowledging Angel won't always be comfortable with EZ's contributions.

"They're brothers, so they are going to fight about everything," Pardo said.

Cardenas said Angel doesn't feel threatened now that he and EZ are on more equal footing with their fellow Mayans.

"Angel's trying to look for a life outside the club," Cardenas said. "Angel starts to see how his brother is finding his voice in the club, and I think he is a little surprised at times seeing how strong he is with his conviction about things. He has some really good ideas that could help this club evolve."

The actors offered few details about how Season 2 hints that Filipe may have fathered Dita's son, Miguel, might play out this season. Not only is Miguel now the head of the Galindo cartel, but he also is married to EZ's ex-girlfriend, Emily (Sarah Bolger).

"I don't know if we necessarily know anything about Miguel yet, this Miguel character you speak of," Cardenas joked.

"I can only speak for Angel. At the end of Season 2, you literally see Angel choose his father over the love of his life and his baby.

"With that being said, I still think there is always going to be friction with Angel and his father. Even though he was the first born, Angel was always the lesser son."

EZ knows that killing Dita has changed his relationship with the father who always loved and protected him.

"He's missing his dad," Pardo said of EZ. "Felipe is, obviously, affected by the death of Dita and the death of his wife and how his sons have gotten involved in this in such a way."

Olmos told UPI in a separate Zoom chat that Felipe is in such an "ugly" place that he finds it difficult to even get out of bed at the opening of Season 3.

"He's not really in good shape," Olmos said.

"It's a very tragic thing that has happened to all of them -- the whole family," he explained. "The two boys don't know the depth of what the relationship [with Dita] was, but they do know that this is the person who really had their mother killed, so it is very, very bad. ... It's the darkest season we've ever done and Mayans has never been an uplifting kind of a piece."

Felipe is shocked to witness EZ so filled with rage and vengeance that he was capable of strangling a woman.

"He choked her to death. He stands there just choking her and that takes an awful lot. I don't know where people go that can do that to another human being," Olmos said about how EZ killed Dita.

"[Dita] was the love of my life, but it was wrong. Very, very wrong and it was only going to bring total destruction to her and I loved her and I said, 'I've gotta get out of here.' She wouldn't let me go. And, of course, when I did leave, she found me years later."

The actors said they are happy being part of a show that is action-packed and emotionally resonant, but also spotlights important contemporary issues like power, corruption, poverty, drugs, purpose, brotherhood, immigration and the American dream.

"I'm blown away by [James'] ability to see the world and tell the story in such an organic way," Pardo said. "There's a lot going on in Mayans. Any story, you have to believe a part of it, right? We bring in elements to the story that are real."

Cardenas also praised the writers, noting they are never too "on the nose" with these issues.

"They give glances of it, so the audience is thinking about it," he said.

Olmos pointed out that the location of the show provides rich opportunities for storytelling.

"You're on the border. Everything happens there, and that is what is happening right now as we speak," he said.

"All of our governments have had a problem with the border, and right now is no different. By us bringing to light the difficulties that are happening there, it really is timely. Power. Greed is really, really overwhelming, and it really shows itself in our stories."

Season 3 of Mayans M.C. debuts Tuesday on FX.
Mourners show a three-finger salute at the funeral of medical student Khant Nyar Hein in Yangon. Photo: Reuters

The families of dozens of people killed in demonstrations against military rule in Myanmar attended their funerals as more protesters defied the security forces and at least one man was shot dead.

The political and economic crisis over the February 1 overthrow of Aung San Suu Kyis government could also force the poor into hunger as food and fuel prices rise, the United Nations food agency said.

Security forces shot dead at least 20 people on Monday after 74 were killed a day earlier, including many in a suburb of Yangon where Chinese-financed factories were torched, according to advocacy group the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP).

Yesterday, a crematorium in Yangon reported 31 funerals, a mourner at one of the ceremonies said.

Hundreds of young mourners spilled out on to the street at the funeral of medical student Khant Nyar Hein (17) who was killed in Yangon on Sunday, the bloodiest day of the protests.

Let them kill me right now, let them kill me instead of my son because I cant take it any more, the students mother was seen saying in a video clip posted on Facebook.

Mourners, including many fellow medical students in white lab coats, chanted: Our revolution must prevail.

Some families told media the security forces had seized the bodies of victims, but they would still hold a funeral.

France said the European Union would approve sanctions against those behind the coup next Monday.

The military junta, meanwhile, charged the international envoy of the ousted government with treason for encouraging the civil disobedience campaign and calling for sanctions, army-run television said. The charges carry a possible death sentence.

At least 184 people have been killed by the security forces in the weeks of protests, the AAPP said, with the toll rising as one protester was shot dead in the central town of Kawlin, a resident there said.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on the international community to help end the repression, his spokesman said, while the United States also denounced the bloodshed.

The military is attempting to overturn the results of a democratic election and is brutally repressing peaceful protesters, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken told a news conference in Tokyo.

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Newly founded online marketplace Elusive has received investment from private equity house Pinnacle

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM / ACCESSWIRE / March 17, 2021 / Founded by 3 young entrepreneurs, Elusive aims to play a big part in the fast-growing luxury goods market. Their main focus will be reselling authentic limited edition footwear on their online platform and helping them become more accessible within Europe. As well as footwear, they will also look to stock the most sought after accessories including watches. Pinnacle owner and director Steve Hibbert said, "Bringing together 3 very talented young men under one company, all at the top of their game in this exciting marketplace was the goal of this exercise".

Hibbert continued "For me investment is simple, I back and support good people with a solid business plan. Elusive is aiming to capture 0.5% of a global marketplace in 5 years which is worth 4 billion today and expected to grow to 17 Billion by 2030". Hibbert has experience in building luxury brands, one such example is Vanrooyen Supercars Ltd based in the North West of England this company sells Lamborghini, Ferrari, Porsche, Bentley and high-end luxury vehicles.

The Elusive Board comments

"We are certain that with Steve's vast experience in business and in dealing with venture capital partners that he will serve our growth plans at Elusive as Chairman and Non-Executive Director"

Momodou Saidykhan (Moddz), 24. Originally from The Gambia moved to the UK at age 10, where he took a keen interest in the field of Science and eventually went onto Northumbria university to study Biomedical Science. It was clear that Moddz was not satisfied with just doing his degree at university and was always searching for ways to generate streams of income which ignited his passion for business and he demonstrated his entrepreneurial qualities when he invested his student loan into buying and reselling trainers. During his couple of years at university, he was able to grow his business in excess of over six figures which led to Moddz appearing on 'BBC Ones Inside Out' who aired a short film in early 2020 on his story screening his success in the trainer selling industry. Moddz is now focused and driven on bringing his qualities and associates to Elusive and commented "I am very grateful to be in the position alongside individuals who have also proven their desire for business success".

Michael Di Lorenzo, 17. At the early age of 11, Michael developed an interest in trainers and started collecting them merely as a hobby but has managed to turn his interest into a lucrative venture as he capitalised on the supply chain issues. He's acquired an extensive network over the years which has created an immense and reliable supply chain of sneakers and other luxury goods. His aim at Elusive is to increase the company's online scalability, customer service & speed, as well as use his expertise to expand the company to be the biggest, most reliable sneaker retailer which helps people attain the unattainable at the most attainable prices.

Will Mackay, 22. Ignited his passion for trainers/footwear at an early age and took a spring into the market at 17 where he started buying and selling exclusive trainers. At the time Will was still studying at college and was using his 'business on the side' as a way to make extra money when he left college and went onto university. Things took a turn for the better as his 'hobby business' was growing at a rapid rate, he decided to pursue this full time and turn it into a tangible business with scale ability. After a couple of years of going solo Will met Moddz, where they started to work together buying and selling in bulk to retailers. Will soon realised that instead of supplying the retailers they should become one of them and build a sustainable brand. Will went on to say, "after years of supplying the retailers I felt it was time to become one of them, bringing Moddz and Michael to the party and knowing Steve for a number of years with his vast experience in business, I felt this was the perfect team for Elusive".

This exciting young team under the guidance of an established and well respected business man such as Hibbert demonstrates the vast amount of potential for Elusive in this lucrative industry. Elusive's products can be found at www.elusiveltd.com and can also be found on Instagram under @elusiveltd.

Contact: team@elusiveltd.com

SOURCE: Elusive Luxury

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/635312/Pinnacle-Group-Invests-In-3-Young-Individuals-To-Build-Multi-Million-Pound-Online-Luxury-Goods-Marketplace
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Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-17 00:02:37|Editor: huaxia

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The outgoing Libya's UN-backed Prime Minister Fayez Serraj (C, front) , the new Libyan Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah (R, front) and the new President of the Presidency County Mohammed Menfi attend an official ceremony in Tripoli, Libya, March 16, 2021. The newly-selected Libyan Government of National Unity on Tuesday officially took office from the outgoing UN-backed Government of National Accord. (Photo by Hamza Turkia/Xinhua)

TRIPOLI, March 16 (Xinhua) -- The newly-selected Libyan Government of National Unity on Tuesday officially took office from the outgoing UN-backed Government of National Accord.

An official ceremony was held in the Government's headquarters in the capital Tripoli, where the new President of the Presidency County, Mohammed Menfi, praised the "peaceful handover of power."

Menfi confirmed the main task of the new executive authority will be to prepare for the upcoming elections later this year, and that power will be handed over to any elected executive authority.

The outgoing UN-backed prime minister, Fayez Serraj, stressed the need to achieve nation reconciliation in the country.

The new Prime Minister, Abdul Hamid Dbeibah, confirmed his government will spare no effort to carry out reforms, calling on all public institutions to join efforts to solve problems facing the people.

The Government of National Unity has been granted confidence by the House of Representatives (parliament) on Wednesday, and was sworn in office on Monday before the House of Representatives in the eastern city Tobruk.

The new executive authority was selected recently by the UN-backed Libyan Political Dialogue Forum (LPDF), which agreed to hold general elections in the country on Dec. 24, 2021. Enditem
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Improvements to student identity spaces in the Alumni Memorial University Center on Emorys Atlanta campus are underway, driven by student input. By fall 2023, these spaces will relocate to new, extensively renovated locations in Cox Hall.

Renovations to student identity spaces in the Alumni Memorial University Center (AMUC) on Emorys Atlanta campus are underway, with bigger plans in the works over the next two years. The renovations are part of a series of racial and social justice initiatives announced by Emory President Gregory L. Fenves in August.

Affinity groups, and the spaces provided for them, empower students to deeply engage, collaborate and thrive throughout their academic experience at Emory, Fenves said at the time, pledging that the university will make substantial improvements to these centers for student experience at Emory.

Currently, projects being termed a refresh include improvements to the existing identity spaces on the first floor of AMUC. The Emory Black Student Union (EBSU), Centro Latinx, Center for Women and LGBT Life will be updated with new paint, furniture, carpet and decor.

The refreshment also will include the creation of a new identity space for Asian Pacific Islander Desi/American (AIPD/A) students. This space will be in the current Centro Latinx location, with Centro Latinx relocating across the hall in the old Kaplan Test Prep space.

The Emory Identity Spaces Project supports students by providing a place to go for community, resources and programs that are meaningful to the populations they serve, says Enku Gelaye, vice president and dean of Campus Life. These spaces are critical to informing the campus experience for students and play a significant role in helping them to establish a sense of belonging.

All area updates and the new APID/A space will be completed by the beginning of the fall 2021 semester. These spaces provide areas where students can gather for meetings, events, weekly discussion groups and workshops  or simply hang out. Some also include resources such as libraries, mentoring programs or accountability groups for interested students.

These spaces can provide the environment to discuss topics and issues pertaining to your specific identities, says Crescent Alcid, a first-year student in Rollins School of Public Health. Visibility can be so important for people and theres comfort in being within a space where people may look like you.

But improvements to identity spaces wont end with the refreshments underway. The third floor of Cox Hall also will be renovated to accommodate all five identity spaces. This multi-million dollar renovation, planned for completion by fall 2023, will further improve the look, functionality and visibility of each groups space.

Emorys planning, design and construction division has assembled an outstanding architecture team to lead the campus investments for new student identity and engagement spaces, says Robin A. Morey, vice president and chief planning officer of the university. Representatives from affinity student groups engaged in the design process to select finishes and furniture.

One of those students was Leslie Salas-Hernandez, a doctoral candidate in public health. She participated in virtual meetings with the architectural firm on behalf of the Centro Latinx Advisory Board.

The Centro Latinx honors and celebrates the rich and cultural differences the Latinx diaspora experiences, Salas-Hernandez says. When I was an undergraduate student at UC Berkeley, I felt incredibly isolated on campus until I found our campus version of Centro Latinx. Our center felt like home, the people felt like home. Having a space that nurtures a students full self is essential. Although Salas-Hernandez has been studying at home in California since the pandemic began, she was glad to be involved with the planning process and looks forward to visiting the new spaces once she can return to Atlanta.

Input from Salas-Hernandez, Alcid and others goes a long way toward creating welcoming, unique and functional spaces designed with these students in mind.

Undergraduate, graduate and professional students have participated in the project, says Dona Yarbrough, assistant vice president of Campus Life. They range from those who have been engaged with the spaces for years to first-year students who only know about the groups through virtual programs. Students were asked to submit photos evoking the look and feel they would like to see in the space, to react positively or negatively to images of different spaces, and to provide feedback on color palettes, furniture, art and graphics.

Rosseirys (Ro) De La Rosa, a junior living on the Clairmont campus, is involved with both Centro Latinx and the Emory Black Student Union. We were invited to meetings where we spoke about the vision we had for the respective space, she says. They gave us options and we were able to choose the vibe we wanted for the space. Im grateful for the opportunity to help. Centro and the EBSU have both played a huge role in my time at Emory so far. I know how important all the spaces are for their respective groups and I can hardly wait to see the finished project.

Separate student engagement sessions asking for input regarding the Cox Hall renovation will be held this spring.
The government has given an assurance that it will complete all abandoned and uncompleted public funded projects in the country.



The move is to end the practice where government projects started by different administrations are abandoned by their successive regimes.



Presenting the 2021 budget in Parliament last Friday, the Majority Leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah Bonsu, who is also acting as the caretaker Minister of Finance, said the Akufo-Addo-led government was determined to end the practice of one government abandoning projects started by their predecessors because the practice was not only wrong, but also a major worry to all citizens.



Meanwhile, the Majority and Minority leaders in Parliament last Sunday reignited discussions on the completion of projects that were left uncompleted by previous regimes.



Messrs Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu and Haruna Iddrisu said some development projects started by previous governments but abandoned by successive ones was a thorny issue which had cost the nation a fortune and suggested ways to resolve the situation for the benefit of all.



Political camps



At the beginning of a two-day post-2021 budget workshop for MPs in Ho, the Volta Regional capital, the two leaders, though from opposing political camps, expressed the need for a national conversation on how to continue projects that were not finished by previous governments..



The workshop on the theme: Economic Revitalisation through Completion, Consolidation and Continuity, afforded the Members of Parliament (MPs) the opportunity to share thoughts with experts on key aspects of the 2021 Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government of Ghana..



The workshop created an opportunity for the MPs to discuss the key points for promoting national development..



It also provided the MPs with the knowledge to make meaningful contributions to the debate on the 2021 Budget Statement by Parliament.



National Policy



Mr Haruna Iddrisu of the National Democratic Congress, who is also MP for Tamale South reminded the MPs of a national policy decision to complete standing projects..



He suggested that the policy should include projects by previous governments inherited by opposing political parties..



He said projects should not be initiated if there was not enough monetary provision or resource allocation from the start to completion..



No projects should come up unless it is supported by adequate monetary and material provisions, the minority leader said and suggested that sanctions should be applied to government officials who start projects but do not see through their completion.



Foot soldiers



Responding, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu attributed part of the problem to the intervention of foot-soldiers..



According to the majority leader, successive governments from opposing parties found it difficult to continue with development projects when foot-soldiers intervened and put pressure on current governments not to continue with projects from previous governments as they explained that their parties would not be credited for starting such projects..



To avoid this, successive opposing governments from other parties might not want to be led on to the path of unrighteousness..



Every party, he said, would ,therefore, want to initiate its projects which might not be completed in its term of office..



Deputy Majority Leader and MP for Effutu, Mr Alexander Afenyo-Markin, entreated the participants to make contributions on the Budget Statement to make it pass the litmus test to ensure that it is transparent, accountable and responsive to national goals..





Source: graphiconline.com









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Fire Festival celebrated by Iranians

Xinhua) 14:11, March 17, 2021

A woman jumps over a bonfire in the celebrations of the Fire Festival in Tehran, Iran, on March 16, 2021. Fire Festival is celebrated annually by Iranians on the eve of last Wednesday before Nowruz, the Iranian new year, which begins on March 21 this year. (Photo by Ahmad Halabisaz/Xinhua)


TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / March 17, 2021 / Adcore Inc. (the "Company" or "Adcore") (TSX:ADCO)(FSE:ADQ), a leading e-commerce advertising management and automation platform to leverage digital marketing in an effortless and accessible way ("Effortless Advertising") will celebrate the Company's graduation to the Toronto Stock Exchange ("TSX") by virtually ringing the TSX opening bell at 9:30 a.m. ET tomorrow, Thursday March 18, 2021. The Company's senior management, directors and other team members will participate in the ceremony in recognition of the Company commencing trading on the TSX on March 4, 2021 under the ticker symbol "ADCO".

A live webcast of the TSX opening bell ceremony will be available at 9:30 a.m. ET on BNN Bloomberg. A video of the webcast will also be available on the Company's website and social media.

"We are proud to be the first Israeli-based company to graduate to the Toronto Stock Exchange and we're excited to become part of one of the world's leading public exchanges," commented Omri Brill, CEO of Adcore. "The past year has been a busy one for Adcore, reflected in our significant growth and increased market recognition, and while we pause briefly today to celebrate this major accomplishment, we remain focused on continuing to drive the rapid momentum we're seeing in the business. Our progress to date would not have been possible without the innovative talents of our employees, whose hard work and commitment have contributed immeasurably to our success. We look forward to achieving many future milestones, as we continue to grow our business by providing best-in-class digital marketing solutions to the marketplace."

ABOUT ADCORE

Adcore is empowering entrepreneurs, advertisers, and the future of e-commerce through its advertising management and automation platform. By combining extensive industry knowledge and experience with its proprietary artificial intelligence engine, Adcore offers a unique digital marketing solution that empowers entrepreneurs and advertisers by managing and automating their e-commerce store advertising, and monitoring and analyzing the performance of their advertising budget to ensure maximum Return on Investment. In addition to being named numerous times on Deloitte's Fast 50 Technology list, Adcore is a certified Google Premier Partner, Microsoft Partner, Facebook Partner and TikTok Partner.

Established in 2006, the Company employs over fifty people in its headquarters in Tel Aviv, Israel and satellite offices in Toronto, Canada, Melbourne, Australia, Hong Kong and Shanghai, China.

For more information about Adcore, please visit https://www.adcore.com/investors/

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements, including statements about the Company. Wherever possible, words such as "may", "will", "should", "could", "expect", "plan", "intend", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "predict" or "potential" or the negative or other variations of these words, or similar words or phrases, have been used to identify these forward-looking statements. These statements reflect management's current beliefs and are based on information currently available to management as at the date hereof.

Forward-looking statements involve significant risk, uncertainties and assumptions. Many factors could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from the results discussed or implied in the forward-looking statements. These factors should be considered carefully and readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based upon what management believes to be reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure readers that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release, and the Company assumes no obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances, except as required by law.

For further information please contact:

Martijn van den Bemd,

GM North America

Telephone: 647-497-5337

Email: martijn@adcore.com

U.S. Investor Relations:

John Nesbett/Jennifer Belodeau

IMS Investor Relations

Telephone: 203-972-9200

Email: jnesbett@imsinvestorrelations.com

Canada Investor Relations:

Virtus Advisory Group

Telephone: 416-644-5081

Email: info@virtusadvisory.com

ADCORE INC. https://www.adcore.com/investors/

SOURCE: Adcore Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/636055/Adcore-to-Ring-Opening-Bell-at-the-Toronto-Stock-Exchange
Brent crude oil price fell 49 US cents to settle at US$68.39 per barrel on Tuesday, extending declines to three consecutive days, as stockpiles in the US continued to rise.

Spot gold fell 0.2% to US$1,729.21 per ounce as investors awaited policy cues from a two-day US Federal Reserve meeting.

S&P/ASX 200 (INDEXASX:XJO) fell 0.82% to 6,771.4 as US stocks closed mixed overnight after hitting record highs a day earlier.

Investors are awaiting outcomes from monthly central banks meetings on monetary policy in the US, UK and Japan in the coming days.

The US Federal Reserves two-day policy meeting will start on Wednesday.

This will take centre stage, according to Carol Kong, a strategist at the .

Kong explained in a morning note that both US bond yields and the US dollar could jump if the Feds post-meeting statement and Chair Jerome Powells remarks are not deemed dovish enough.

Commonwealth Bank unveils BNPL offering

Commonwealth Bank ( ) will take on Afterpay ( ) by joining the booming buy now, pay later (BNPL) sector from the middle of this year.

The bank will launch a product allowing its customers to make purchases between $100 and $1000, and repay the money in four interest-free fortnightly instalments.

Top gainers

Todays top gainers on the ASX include Ltd ( ) (+8.70%), Elementos Limited ( ) (+9.09%), ( ) (+8.33%), ( ) (+19.05%), ( ) (+10.42%) and ( ) (+28.57%).

Proactive news headlines:

Creso Pharmaceuticals welcomes Halucenex appointment of True North as lead investigator for ground-breaking clinical trial into psychedelic treatment for PTSD

Creso Pharmaceuticals Ltd's ( ) (FRA:1X8) target acquisition company Halucenex Life Sciences has appointed True North Clinical Research as principal investigator for its proposed Phase II Clinical Trial to test the efficacy of psilocybin for treatment-resistant Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in veterans and first responders.

Andromeda Metals signs first binding Great White Project offtake with Japanese porcelain manufacturer for premium-grade kaolin

( ) has signed its first legally binding offtake agreement for the Great White Kaolin Joint Venture Project in South Australia, with highly respected Japanese porcelain manufacturer Plantan Yamada, which has factories in Japan and China.

Blackstone Minerals mulls major downstream nickel refining capacity expansion at Ta Khoa with strong increase in demand

( ) ( ) (FRA:B9S) has intentions to expand downstream nickel refining capacity in light of recent Ta Khoa exploration success in Vietnam and strong indicative demand for the planned downstream products.

Perpetual Resources maiden 64 million tonnes silica sand reserve underpins compelling robust Beharra PFS

( ) has completed a pre-feasibility study (PFS) that confirms Beharra Silica Sand Project as a compelling low capex and strong free cashflow project underpinned by a 64 million tonnes reserve supporting a 32-year mine life.

Infinity Lithium's San Jose project poised to benefit from Europe's progress towards self-sufficient battery industry

( ) ( ) welcomes the key priorities for the EU battery value chain as outlined in the 5th Ministerial Meeting of the European Battery Alliance on March 12, 2021, which enhance the position of its San Jose Lithium Project in Spain.

Lake Resources refreshes Kachi Lithium Brine Project PFS with NPV now US$1.58 billion and potential production increase under review

( ) ( ) has refreshed the pre-feasibility study (PFS) for its flagship Kachi Lithium Brine Project based on revised lithium price estimates, which demonstrates a more robust financial outcome than the original conservative PFS price assumptions.

Matador Mining expansion drilling hits 8 metres at 5.5 g/t gold as Window Glass Hill continues to grow

s ( ) mineral resource extension and geotechnical drilling at the Window Glass Hill (WGH) deposit of its Cape Ray Gold Project in Newfoundland, Canada, continues to return strong results.

Calima Energy receives firm commitments totalling A$37 million to help fund Blackspur Oil acquisition and grow production

( ) (OTCMKTS:RLTOF) (FRA:R1Y) has received firm commitments totalling A$37 million that will part-finance the acquisition of Blackspur Oil Corp and grow oil and gas production to 5,500 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boed) by the year ending 2022.
New Delhi, March 17 : In the backdrop of a large number of vacancies of judges in High Courts and pendency of cases, a parliamentary panel has recommended raising the age of retirement of judges from 62 years to 65 years for uniformity in the Supreme Court and High Courts.

"The Members of the Committee expressed that there is a need to revisit the age of retirement of High Court judges to compensate for the large number of vacancies existing in High Courts," said the department-related standing committee on personnel, public grievances and law and justice, in its report on demands for grants for the law ministry, which was tabled in Parliament on Tuesday.

The committee noted that in the Supreme Court of India and High Courts, 12 per cent (approximately) and 39 per cent (approximately) posts of judges respectively are vacant. "While discussing the issues of vacancy positions of judges and pendency of cases in the country, members of the committee felt that the huge pendency of cases at all levels of the judicial hierarchy can be dealt with by increasing the number of working days of judges", said the committee.

The committee said it is of the view that the justice delivery system in the country is moving towards a stage, where both vacant posts of judges and pendency of cases are increasing year after year and this state of affairs may erode the trust of public in the justice delivery system.

"The Committee is of the view that when Judges of Supreme Court can work up to 65 years of age, there is no rationale in retiring the High Court Judges at 62, and therefore, reiterates and recommends the Department to raise the age of retirement of High Courts judges from 62 to 65 years so that there is uniform age of retirement in both Supreme Court and High Courts", said the report.

In High Courts, as against the approved strength of 1080 Judges, only 661 are in position with 419 vacancies. Further, there are 4.34 crore cases pending in country, which includes 3.77 crore in subordinate courts, 57 lakh (approximately) in High Courts and 66,000 (approximately) in the Supreme Court as on February 28, 2021.

The committee noted that against the target of 1023 Fast Track Special Courts (FTSC), only 609 FTSC were functional as on December 31, 2020, leading to a shortfall of over 40 per cent. The committee, accordingly, recommended expediting the establishment of the remaining FTSC.
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Snap Case for Apple AirTag The Wairco Snap Case is patent pending, and we have ambitious plans for expansion into many more products following our launch. We hope to inspire both the everyday user and also investors who are excited about the future prospects and applications of smart trackers.

With the impending release of Apples latest product, the AirTag, a Canadian startup based out of Vancouver has created the first accessory allowing users to make the product wearable. While originally intended for tracking possessions, such as keys or luggage, the Snap Case by Wairco Goods Inc will allow the AirTag to be discreetly and securely attached to clothing. Wairco hopes the accessory will bring peace of mind to parents, pet owners or those caring for people with dementia.

Speculation about the release date for AirTags continues to swirl in the tech community with Jon Prosser announcing on Wednesday that the Apple event will be in April, not March 23rd. Apple may skip the month of March and push its bigger product reveal into April instead. Regardless, the date is approaching, and Wairco is preparing like many others in the Apple Accessories space.

When AirTags do finally hit the market, we will be moving quickly to manufacture and distribute the Snap Case. We cant wait to bring our invention to the world. The Wairco Snap Case is patent pending, and we have ambitious plans for expansion into many more products following our launch. We hope to inspire both the everyday user and also investors who are excited about the future prospects and applications of smart trackers.

Lyn Bryan, the founder of Wairco, says her interest in tracking solutions began when her eldest son was preparing to go to Kindergarten. Lyn was seeking a solution that would allow her to track the whereabouts of her child after he boarded the school bus, she experimented with Tile tracking stickers, and was faced with problems. Her son was able to easily remove the sticker and would misplace it. Furthermore, Tile did not have the network support to meet Lyns real time tracking needs and was not the reliable solution she had hoped for.

As the the CEO of a celebrated Canadian and US digital agency called Major Tom, Lyn has been a full time working mother since her both her boys were 6 months old. Its not a new scenario to be away from her kids, but sending them out into the world created stress and anxiety nonetheless.

Lyns research extended beyond the application of Tile, and when she learned of the pending release of Apples AirTag she got excited. However, the challenge still remained - how would she attach this tag to her son so that she would have confidence that he was wearing it regardless of the activity he was enjoying at school.

I was inspired and motivated to launch a company thats mission hit so close to home. There are many people, just like me, who worry throughout the work day about the whereabouts and safely of their children. The issue extends far beyond my household too. I have watched my father in law struggle with dementia for many years, and witnessed the struggle and resilience of my mother in law caring for him... and wondered how or when a solution would become available that could create security for them both. The fear of him leaving the house, and wandering off became an unfortunate reality last summer in the late stages of his disease. I have experimented, and failed with Tile, and with the anticipation of AirTag I was motivated to find a solution with that would afford caregivers just like me, or my mother in law, peace of mind by attaching the technology to clothing in a way that the vulnerable party could not remove it.

Wairco have been prototyping and working with best in class product developers to find a solution to the problem of attaching tags to clothing. Further to that their exploration has allowed them to develop additional concepts for attaching tracking tags after the release of their first product the Snap Case for Apple AirTag.

To find out more, and follow the journey of Wairco visit Wairco.com and subscribe for updates. Wairco is now crowdfunding through pre-orders at http://www.wairco.com.
Update: A Realme representative reached out to MensXP with a statement regarding the Antutu issue which has been added to the story.

In a very competitive market, smartphone companies are always looking to one-up each other with impressive benchmark scores. However, Realme was found cheating to get that advantage. One of Realmes phone the GT has been banned by the Antutu Benchmark app as it was found manipulating scores to fool potential customers about its performance.



 Realme

In a Weibo post, Antutu outed the Realme GT was allegedly cheating its benchmark test as the phone scored 750,000. However, the benchmark removed the phones score from the database and has banned the smartphone from showing any results for the next three months. According to a general translation, Antutu said that the Realme GTs score was not a manifestation of true strength, but obtained through cheating and other means.



The phone was found using thread delay tactics to run a multithread test on its fast CPU cores as much as possible. The phone also modified the reference JPG image used by Antutu to manipulate the score. Instead of processing the image, the phone instead used mosaic colour blocks to reduce the quality of the image for a faster render and processing time.

 Weibo

 Weibo

Antutu said that both tactics are gains the spirits of the benchmark due to which the phones scores have been removed and banned for a further three months. The benchmark app also issued an ultimatum to Realme stating that if the company does not change how the phone completes the benchmark, it will be permanently banned by Antutu.



For companies manipulating benchmark scores is nothing new as they often use it as a marketing tool. This is not the first time a smartphone has been caught cheating as other companies like Oppo, OnePlus, Samsung Meizu have been accused in the past as well. There is no word whether other benchmarking tools like Geekbench 5, PCMark, 3DMark and others have also banned the phone from showing any results at the moment.

 Weibo

Realmes CMO Xu Qi Chase issued a statement on Weibo calling the scores real data run under the current version of Antutu.



A Realme representative reached out to us and released the following statement about the current situation with Antutu:

realme GT is equipped with the latest Snapdragon 888 5G platform, bringing users high performance. Benchmark scores of realme GT are all accurate data under the current versions of the Antutu benchmark. realme has always been committed to bringing users excellent performance, the actual user experience is the top priority for realme. On the other hand, regarding the test issues doubted by both sides, we are in touch with Antutu to sort it out positively


A drunk first class Virgin Atlantic passenger has admitted attacking cabin crew and shouting 'I hope this plane crashes and we all die,' during a flight from Barbados to Heathrow.

Rachel Street was put to bed after demonstrating 'disruptive behaviour,' on the flight on January 5 this year, a court has heard.

Prosecutors say she was making 'strange remarks about coming onto a male passenger,' before turning violent.

The 41-year-old from south London lashed out at a female flight attendant and grabbed her hair after she was moved from first class to economy, before threatening to punch other members of the crew.

Appearing at Ealing Magistrates Court on Wednesday, she admitted behaving in a threatening and abusive manner, as well as boarding a flight while drunk, failing to obey the pilot's command to remain in her seat and assaulting a female member of staff.

She will be sentenced on April 26.

Rachel Street, 41, (pictured) admitted to assaulting a female flight attendant while on a flight back from Barbados in January

She also pleaded guilty to boarding a flight while drunk, failing to obey a pilot's command and behaving in a threatening and abusive manner

Ealing Magistrates Court heard Street was moved into a bed after acting 'inappropriately,' towards other passengers, before making 'strange remarks about coming onto a male passenger, because he "seemed lonely and miserable"'

Magistrates were told Street (pictured left) was 'not making sense' and told cabin crew 'what do you think' when asked if she had been drinking, before swearing when they refused to give her more alcohol

The court heard the incident began when Street was warned by flight staff she could be restrained after initially demonstrating 'disruptive behaviour' in the first class section.

Magistrates were told Street was 'not making sense' and told cabin crew 'what do you think' when asked if she had been drinking, before swearing when they refused to give her more alcohol.

She was then moved into a bed and encouraged to go to sleep after acting 'inappropriately' towards other passengers.

Prosecuting, Christelle McCracken said: 'The defendant was heard making strange remarks about coming onto a male passenger because he 'seemed lonely and miserable'.'

Street was also heard saying she would 'jump' on another male passenger.

The court heard the incident began when Street (pictured) was warned by flight staff she could be restrained after initially demonstrating 'disruptive behaviour' in the first class section

Virgin Atlantic cabin crew tried to move Street from first class to economy, but she turned violent, grabbing one flight attendant's hair and threatening to punch others. File image of Virgin Atlantic A330 plane above Heathrow Airport

The prosecutor added that after being warned she could face arrest over her behaviour, Street replied 'bring it on'.

She was then moved from first class to the economy area of the plane after being 'loud and abusive', before barging back in and 'lashing out' at a female flight attendant.

Ms McCracken said: 'She grabbed the flight attendant's hair and continued acting abusively and swearing multiple times.'

Street declared: 'I hope this plane crashes and we all die', the court was told.

She was also heard saying that she wanted to 'punch' members of the airline crew.

Street declared: 'I hope this plane crashes and we all die', while flying at 40,000ft, the court was told on Wednesday. Street will be sentenced on April 26

Street was restrained and was later arrested after the plane landed at Heathrow Airport.

Ms McCracken added that Street 'had ignored that her behaviour caused passengers to be concerned over their safety'.

The court was told Virgin staff said they had 'never experienced behaviour like this at 40,000 feet'.

In mitigation, magistrates were told that Street is a 'professional woman' of previous good character who had no prior dealings with police.

She was granted bail and will next appear for sentencing at Ealing Magistrates' Court on April 26.
The state of Utah has become the latest to stop taxing military retired pay.

On March 11, 2021, Gov. Spencer J. Cox signed Senate Bill 11 into law, providing an average annual tax savings to military retirees and their survivors of $1,315, according to the states budget office.

Utah joins 21 other states in exempting all military retirement income from state taxes, 13 states offer partial exemptions of military retirement pay from taxation and nine states do not tax any earned income. That means that only six states, plus the District of Columbia, still fully tax military retirement pay.

See: Military Retirement and State Income Tax

The new law exempts military retirement pay as well as Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) payments that are paid to some surviving dependents of military retirees.

The change, which is effective for the tax year beginning Jan. 1, 2021, also exempts some Social Security payments from income tax. However, military retirees can claim only one new income exemption per tax return.

Retirees with multiple sources of income will be allowed to exempt their military retirement payments from their total income when filing their taxes, thereby reducing their Utah tax bill.

Active duty, reserve and National Guard pay remains taxable for Utah residents unless they are serving in a designated combat zone.

Related: State Tax Information for Military Members and Retirees

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Whether you're trying to balance your budget, build up your credit, select a good life insurance program or are gearing up for a home purchase, Military.com has you covered. Subscribe to Military.com and get the latest military benefit updates and tips delivered straight to your inbox.
The fiancee of samurai sword killer Blake Davis wept outside court after he was jailed but was quickly whisked away for an interview with 60 Minutes.

Hannah Quinn, 26, looked distraught after Davis, 31, was jailed for five years and three months on Tuesday for the manslaughter of Jett McKee.

Davis was cleared of murdering Mr McKee, who the NSW Supreme Court heard broke into the couple's flat with the intent of robbing them.

Quinn will be sentenced in April after she was convicted of being an accessory after the fact to Mr McKee's manslaughter in an inner-city Sydney street in 2018.

Hannah Quinn (pictured) left the NSW Supreme Court in tears after her fiance Blake Davis was sentenced over the 2018 manslaughter of Jett McKee

She quickly dived into a car with 60 Minutes host Tara Brown to be whisked away to an interview about the terrifying killing and long court case

The 26-year-old was consoled by friends on the side of the road following the decision, before she stepped into a car with 60 Minutes reporter Tara Brown.

Brown, who wore a tan jacket over a black ensemble, looked stony-faced as she sat in the vehicle with her seat belt buckled.

Following the meeting, Quinn was dropped off in the Sydney's eastern suburbs where she was further comforted by friends and family, including Davis' mother.

Quinn and Davis showed a united front in their final moments together as they arrived at the NSW Supreme Court hand-in-hand for his sentencing.

'No comments today, thank you very much,' Quinn told reporters.

She later left the court with tears streaming down her face, refusing to answer journalists' request for comment on the sentencing.

Quinn was still wearing her engagement ring, after Davis proposed to her last October.

Hannah Quinn and Blake Davis spent their final moments together as they arrived hand in hand at the NSW Supreme Court for Davis' sentencing on Tuesday

Quinn embraced supporters outside court after Davis' sentencing, knowing it would be her turn soon

Quinn will be sentenced in April after she was convicted of being an accessory after the fact to Mr McKee's manslaughter in an inner-city Sydney street in 2018

Davis held his head in his hands as his jail sentence was read out.

He immediately applied for bail, arguing that he should be released pending an appeal, where he plans to argue that the recent jury should have found that he acted lawfully in defence of his girlfriend.

Bail was refused and Davis was whisked away to begin his jail term, blowing a kiss to his fiancee as he was led away, the Daily Telegraph reported.

He will be eligible for parole in less than three years.

Mr McKee was struck in the head with the sword after fleeing Davis' Forest Lodge granny flat on August 10, 2018.

The sword was a 18th birthday gift from Davis' older brother.

Blake Davis fatally struck Jett McKee (pictured) in the head with a samurai sword after the ice-fuelled intruder fled his Forest Lodge unit in August 2018

The court heard the balaclava-clad Mr McKee had knuckledusters and a blank-firing pistol when he entered the granny flat with the intention of robbing the couple, who then chased him down the street.

NSW Supreme Court judge Justice Natalie Adams found the case to be a 'moderately serious case of excessive defence manslaughter'.

She was satisfied Davis was remorseful but found beyond reasonable doubt that he had intended to kill Mr McKee.

'I'm left in no doubt the lives of the Davis family and the McKee family have been shattered forever,' Justice Adams told the packed court.

'Those who unlawfully kill must be punished but the harshest punishment is reserved for offenders who exhibit the highest level of moral culpability.'

'This is not that case.'

Blake Davis enjoys his final moments of freedom before being jailed on Tuesday. He will be eligible for parole after serving two years and nine months in jail

Hannah Quinn (left) and Blake Davis (right) were confronted by a heavy media presence as they arrived at the NSW Supreme Court on Tuesday

Justice Adams said she accepted Davis would have been in severe pain after being punched in the face with knuckledusters by Mr McKee and was suffering from a concussion and vision impairment.

'He was suffering fear and trauma given that he had just had his home invaded by a masked man wielding a gun and was terrified as to what had happened to his girlfriend,' she said.

'It would clearly have been a very traumatic event.'

She said she was though satisfied nothing other than a full-time prison sentence would be sufficient punishment in Davis' case.

She said Davis was not usually a man 'prone to violence' but had to be sentenced on the 'basis that he somehow misread the situation' in regards to the threat Mr McKee posed on his girlfriend.

'This was not a vigilante attack,' Justice Adams added.

The pair shared a passionate kiss outside of court after being permitted to remain on bail in December

'I am satisfied that Mr Davis is very remorseful about taking a life. While on bail he made two suicide attempts.'

The court also heard Mr McKee had been high on ice at the time of the home invasion.

The sentencing came after it emerged Davis popped the question to his school teacher girlfriend in October last year, The Daily Telegraph reported.

The pair shared a passionate kiss outside of court after an appearance in December,

Crown prosecutor Chris Taylor in Davis and Quinn's trial described the sword attack as senseless, unnecessary and unlawful.

He contended Davis had not been acting in self-defence or defence of Quinn, noting the pair had chased the balaclava-clad Mr McKee about 80 metres down the street after he left their unit.

The bloody scene in August, 2018 after McKee was killed with a samurai sword

Davis was in possession of the samurai sword (pictured) - a legal weapon - as it was a gift from his brother on his 18th birthday

Quinn had caught up with Mr McKee and pulled him to the ground, with Davis striking the fatal blow while Mr McKee was on his hands and knees. The blow with the samurai sword sliced Mr McKee's head open.

Davis in the trial gave evidence about his belief the intruder had shot him and his belief that his girlfriend's life was in danger.

But the Crown contended no witnesses saw the 30-year-old Mr McKee pointing a gun at Quinn before he was struck with the sword, as professed by Quinn.

Quinn was then heard to say 'what the f**k have you done?' by witnesses after Davis' strike on Mr McKee.

Quinn will be sentenced in April.
Traci brings over 20 years of real estate experience to Real, including five years at ReMax Advantage REALTORS, Inc., and averages 50 to 70 transactions per year ($5-8 million) covering primarily rural Kansas. In addition to her new role at Real, she has maintained her status as a Registered Nurse and volunteers in her community with the American Red Cross, local health departments and the United Way. Her commitments also include support of local and state realtor associations. She believes in giving back to the community she loves. She has deep roots in the community and brings a strong servant leadership style to Real that we value in our state brokers.

"Real provides the supportive business culture I have been searching for and the financial opportunities are unmatched," said Ratzlaff. She added, "The focus on excellent service for clients and agents and evolving as the real estate business changes made this an easy decision for me."

"Traci has the right combination of experience, leadership and support of our mission that will help power Real's expansion in the Midwest," said Real founder and CEO Tamir Poleg.

Contact:

Lynda Radosevich

917-922-7020

About Real

The Real Brokerage Inc. (Real) (TSXV: REAX) (OTCQX: REAXF) is a technology-powered real estate brokerage operating in 26 U.S. states and the District of Columbia. Real is building the future, together with agents and their clients. Real creates financial opportunities for agents through better commission splits, best-in-class technology, revenue sharing and equity incentives. Learn more at www.joinreal.com .

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities in the United States. The securities of the Company will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act, and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of U.S. persons except in certain transactions exempt from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act)

Forward-looking Information

This press release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking information is often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as " seek", " anticipate", " believe", " plan", " estimate", " expect", " likely" and " intend" and statements that an event or result " may", " will", " should", " could" or " might" occur or be achieved and other similar expressions. These statements reflect management's current beliefs and are based on information currently available to management as at the date hereof. Forward-looking information in this press release includes, without limiting the foregoing, Information relating to Real's future growth plans and strategy, and eligibility of agents to receive performance-based or equity incentives as part of Real's incentive program.

Forward-looking information is based on assumptions that may prove to be incorrect, including but not limited to Real's business objectives, expected growth, results of operations, performance, business projects and opportunities and financial results. Real considers these assumptions to be reasonable in the circumstances. However, forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking information. These factors should be carefully considered and readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based upon what management believes to be reasonable assumptions, Real cannot assure readers that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release, and Real assumes no obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances, except as required by law.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release, and the OTCQX has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release.

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Published on:

16 March 2021



Joe Biden is President of the United States Joe Biden is President of the United States

At a crowded campaign event early in the 2020 US election race, Joe Biden was asked for a quick word for the BBC. Half-incredulously, Biden glanced over his shoulder, replying, The BBC? Im Irish, before flashing a smile and disappearing into an adjacent room.

The video gained substantial attention after Bidens victory last November. It seemingly foretold an ominous shift in the US-UK relationship from a son of a British immigrant who loved the Queen (A great, great woman, oozed Donald Trump after a state banquet in 2019) to a man who wouldnt even speak to the BBC on grounds of his Irish ancestry.

Biden is the most strongly identified Irish-American in the White House since John F Kennedy, the only other Catholic president. As vice president, Biden made jokes about banning the colour orange from his house (the colour of Northern Irish unionism) and, as he prepared his run for president, he met with the former Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams to discuss, as Adams put it, UI (a united Ireland).

Yet, relying on the simple fact of Bidens ancestry to predict US-UK relations under his presidency is misguided. Irish nationalist sentiments run high in the US, especially among its large diaspora. US presidents frequently indulge these views, at least symbolically. But, in practical terms, they have had little impact on the US-UK relationship. Compartmentalisation, not sectarianism, has been the USs foreign policy approach. In other words, the US does not see its relationship with the UK through the prism of the Irish question, and it seems likely to remain this way under Biden.

A question of identity

More than 30 million people in the US  about one in ten Americans  identify as Irish. The population of Ireland is less than 5 million, meaning there are over six times as many people in the US who claim to be Irish in the US as those living in the Republic of Ireland itself.

During the Troubles, this group was even larger  both in absolute and percentage terms. In the 1980 census, 40 million Americans identified as Irish, constituting about one-fifth of the US population (a higher percentage than African Americans or Hispanics at the time).

Republicanism has found strong support among the Irish diaspora in the US. At the time of the Good Friday Agreement in 1998, a Gallup poll found a majority of Americans supported a united Ireland, and just 17% thought that Northern Ireland should remain part of the United Kingdom.

During the Troubles, a variety of pro-nationalist interest groups were set up by the Irish diaspora in the United States. The most militantly republican group of the Irish lobby was Irish Northern Aid (Noraid). A 1981 federal court judgment revealed the groups links to the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA). Such groups were condemned by moderate nationalist leaders.

Other elements of the Irish lobby focused on change through legislation and executive action. They experienced some success but largely limited to symbolic gestures. In 1994, Bill Clinton reluctantly agreed to grant Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams a 48-hour visa to visit New York to speak at a conference in New York, in spite of protestations from the British government.

Friends of Ireland (but also the UK)

The so-called Irish lobby has gained renewed attention in recent years. Before the UK secured a free trade agreement with the EU in December 2020, members of the US congress threatened to block a USUK trade deal unless the UKEU agreement maintained an open border between the north and south of the island of Ireland.

The House Committee on Ways and Means, which would scrutinise a USUK trade deal, was chaired by Congressman Richard Neal (a Democrat from Massachusetts). Neal is co-chair of the Friends of Ireland Caucus, founded in 1981 at the time of the IRA prisoner hunger strikes.

In spite of this, US presidential administrations have sought a more balanced approach. The US considers the UK to be one of its most valuable and important strategic partners. US presidents work closely with British governments, while also offering symbolic affirmation for Ireland.

This leads to US presidents indulging in a bit of double-speak. Perhaps the most dramatic example of this was shown by Jimmy Carter, who  on St Patricks Day 1976  marched down Fifth Avenue in New York wearing a badge emblazoned with the slogan England, get out of Ireland.

Yet, the following year, Carter chose to make England the destination of his first international visit as president. Carter addressed a 20,000-strong crowd in Newcastle with the traditional, Howay the lads, which was returned with rapturous applause. Carter declared himself to be a Geordie now. Relations between Carter and Labour prime minister Jim Callaghan were reportedly good.

Bidens references to his Irish ancestry do not distinguish him from other US presidents. With Donald Trump being the exception, nearly every president of the last half-century has identified as Irish, even when the evidence of such a link has been tenuous. Bill Clinton, for example, claimed to have Irish roots, but there is scant record to link him with Irish ancestors.

If measured by when their last ancestor left Ireland, Joe Biden is no more Irish than Barack Obama. Indeed, the Irish ancestors of Kennedy, Obama and Biden all left Ireland within a decade of each other, during or just after the Irish Potato Famine (1845 to 1852). The last ancestor of Joe Biden to be born in Ireland was his great-great grandfather, born in 1832, one year after Barack Obamas closest Irish ancestor.

Nearly all US presidents like to say, Im Irish, but traditionally this has not meant being anti-British. While Bidens personal affinities are clear, we should expect him to follow his predecessors in placing US security interests before Irish nationalist affections.

This opinion piece was originally published in The Conversation on 16 March 2021.
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ASTORIA, Ore. (AP)  The Fishhawk Lake Reserve and Community in Northwest Oregon is contesting a $439,200 penalty from Oregon for allegedly killing over 30,000 fish after draining the reservoir in 2019.

The lake, considered state waters, is held back by an earthen dam built along Fishhawk Creek in the 1960s for a private community. A drainpipe through the dam feeds into the creek and eventually the Nehalem River. The homeowners association argues that the state mandated a repair of the drainpipe and was kept informed of the entire process, The Astorian reported.





. . .
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

It's not easy to move the needle on global carbon emissionseven a little bit.

But economies worldwide were so hobbled by the COVID-19 pandemic that the needle fell by 7 percent in 2020, according to a tally by the Global Carbon Project, a research network. It was the biggest percentage decline in human-generated carbon emissions everfar more than the 1.4 percent observed after the 2008 financial meltdown.

Yet while global emissions plunged in 2020, the steepest drop happened in the spring. Emissions in many highly industrial nations, like the U.S., China and Brazil, are back to or above prepandemic levels, prompting climate scientists, government officials and energy experts to warn that last year marked a respite and bought time to solve the climate crisis.

They are preaching against complacency and predicting emissions will jump as inoculations increase. And they are warning of what lies in wait if humans do not arrest emissions to a safe degree.

"The rebound in global carbon emissions toward the end of last year is a stark warning that not enough is being done to accelerate clean energy transitions worldwide," Fatih Birol, the head of the International Energy Agency, said. "If governments don't move quickly with the right energy policies, this could put at risk the world's historic opportunity to make 2019 the definitive peak in global emissions."

With the vaccine distribution and inoculation on the rise, heat-trapping emissions are not likely far behind, as analysts with the Rhodium Group, a nonpartisan research firm, point out. "With coronavirus vaccines now in distribution, we expect economic activity to pick up again in 2021, but without meaningful structural changes in the carbon intensity of the US economy, emissions will likely rise again as well," they said.

A U.N. environmental report said the pandemic was a blip: "The immediate reduction in emissions is expected to have a negligible long-term impact on climate change."

Addressing the U.N. Security Council in late February, John Kerry, special climate envoy for the Biden administration, didn't even mention the pandemic in a 1,298-word speech, instead focusing on the destabilizing security risks that will plague a hotter world.

Kerry, a former Democratic senator from Massachusetts, attended the so-called Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, a seminal gathering that established climate diplomacy.

To climate veterans like him, the global health crisis has been a stopgap measure to address the more threatening environmental crisis.

"We bury our heads in the sand at our own peril," Kerry said. "It is time to start treating the climate crisis like the urgent security threat that it is."

The Biden administration and congressional Democrats have made climate change an early priority. President Joe Biden invoked climate change in his inaugural address, saying the Earth is in crisis and "the cry for survival comes from the planet itself."

House Democrats filed a bill this month to zero out domestic greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, half of which would come by 2035. And Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer, D-N.Y., not typically known for his work on environmental topics, last month called climate change "the existential threat of our time."

At the least, the pandemic bought time.

It knocked the U.S. back on track to meet the goals of the Paris climate agreement, with domestic emissions down 20 percent from 2005 levels, according to BloombergNEF, an energy research organization.

Forces in the electricity market provide reasons to be bullish on carbon reduction. Installers in the U.S. set records in 2020 for building the most wind and solar power in a calendar year, coal-fired electricity dropped to a modern low of just 19 percent of domestic electricity production, and renewable energy sources in the country hit an all-time high mark.

"The sheer size of the accomplishment is pretty remarkable," said Ethan Zindler, head of Americas at BloombergNEF, of emissions cuts and renewables growth, adding that lowering emissions from the transportation sectorthe No. 1 source of greenhouse gases coming from Americawill require government intervention. "Transportation will not necessarily get there without new policies and regulations."

The pandemic, which last March and April ushered in eerily quiet streetscapes, empty highways, clear skies and office parks and city centers that resembled ghost towns, led to jaw-dropping energy stats.

Imagine removing all the European Union's emissions.

That's the equivalent of what occurred, IEA said in March. Such a sharp plummet has never happened, IEA said. "Broadly speaking, this is the equivalent of removing all of the European Union's emissions from the global total," the IEA said.

Worldwide, carbon pollution from energy-related sources dropped 5.8 percent, IEA said.

In the U.S., energy consumption fell to a 30-year low in April, emissions dropped to a record low, and emissions from oil use in the transportation sector crashed that month to their lowest point since February 1983, federal data show. Crude oil production dipped for the first time since 2016.

Traffic on all roads and streets in the country dwindled by 39.8 percent in April and by 25.5 percent in May, versus the same months of 2019, according to the Federal Highway Administration.

Overall, Americans drove 13.2 percent less in 2020 than the year before.

Monthly transit use, including buses, ferries, trains, subways and trolley, started to slide in March last year. Then it cratered in April, according to figures from the National Transit Database, down 81.3 percent from ridership that month the previous year.

Writing in the journal Nature Climate Change, researchers reported on March 3 that "widespread disruptions" to transportation services had the largest effect in curbing emissions of carbon dioxide, or CO 2 , and other waste gases.

They called the pandemic and government restrictions a "pause button" that cannot continue so long as industrialized nations rely on fossil energy.

Corinne Le Quere, a professor of environmental sciences at University of East Anglia, in the U.K., said countries' climate pledges to cut emissions, as part of the Paris deal, are beginning to "pay off, but actions are not large-scale enough yet and emissions are still increasing in way too many countries."

Le Quere, the lead author, said: "The drop in CO 2 emissions from responses to COVID-19 highlights the scale of actions and of international adherence needed to tackle climate change."

At the February U.N. meeting, attended by the heads of state of France, the U.K., Norway and other countries, Kerry called for "bold action" to zero out emissions by 2050.

"That is the only way that science tells us we can keep alive the possibility of limiting this planet's warming to 1.5 degrees," Kerry said.

Failing to decarbonize the global economy and create new climate-friendly industries will lead to disaster, he said, "marching forward in what is almost tantamount to a mutual suicide pact."

2021 CQ Roll Call

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC
Aligarh : , March 17 (IANS) Rajmohan Gandhi, the grandson of the 'Father of the Nation' Mahatma Gandhi, delivered an online lecture on "Does the Arc of History bend towards Justice? Some Reflections", organised by the Sir Syed Academy, Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) under the varsity's centenary celebrations lecture series.

"National independence is not enough alone as Mahatma Gandhi saw it as a means of empowering the individual Indian citizen to express dissent fearlessly. He was against coercion in religious matters and in June 1947, two months before freedom, Gandhi said if someone comes to me and forces me not to utter Ram's name, I will utter Ram 'naam' even at the point of the sword. I will defend my faith and conviction with my life", said Rajmohan Gandhi, Research Professor, University of Illinois.

The programme was presided by Tariq Mansoor, Vice-Chancellor, AMU.

Rajmohan Gandhi, a historian and political philosopher, referred to the distant and past socio-political upheavals in different regions of the world and said, "Mahatma Gandhi's fight for India's freedom must be remembered along with his fight for the freedom of the individual Indian to think, to speak, and to believe." "In August 1942, Gandhi's famous 'Quit India' call was overwhelmingly endorsed but 13 people voted against the resolution. Right after the voting and before his arrest, Gandhi spoke to the Mumbai Assembly and said, 'I congratulate the 13 dissenters who voted against the resolution. Three years later, after Germany and Japan were defeated, Quit India Movement's imprisoned warriors were released from the prison. Meanwhile, in February 1946 in Mumbai over-enthusiastic patriots insisted the people shout 'Jai Hind'. Gandhi ji promptly objected to it by saying ' as much as a single person is compelled to shout 'Jai Hind' or any popular slogan, a nail is driven into the coffin of Swaraj'." Delineating the struggles for justice in the American Civil War, Rajmohan Gandhi said one of the fighters for justice and human dignity was Theodore Parker, who died in 1860 just one year before the start of the Civil War.

He said, "Parker rejected conventional Christianity and preached about God and the human conscience. In Parker's time slavery was legal in the United States. He and some others demanded its abolition. In the late 1840s, Parker also denounced America's war with Mexico." In one of his speeches, Parker said, "I do not pretend to understand the moral universe; the arc is a long one; I cannot calculate the curve and complete the figure by the experience of sight, I can divine it by conscience. And from what I see I am sure it bends towards justice." According to Gandhi, Parker in his own way was saying "Khuda ke ghar me der hai andher nahi" (in God's home there is delay but no denial).

"Repeating the remark more than a century later, Martin Luther King Junior often spoke of the arc of the moral universe bending even if slowly towards justice", said Rajmohan Gandhi.

Presenting examples of Nigeria as a case study, Rajmohan Gandhi said, "Nigeria is to Africa what India is to south Asia. With over 210 million living on its soil, Nigeria is Africa's most populous country. More than 100 ethnicities exist there. Since 1960 after independence from British rule, oil rich Nigeria has practiced a political compromise." The country's presidency has alternated for much of the time between the Muslim inhabitants of the north and the largely Christian inhabitants of the south. Sadly, Nigeria has also alternated with depressing regularity between elected rule and army rule. A constant Nigerian cry is usually raised soon after a change from one to the other: misrule and that the state is not respecting its citizens and there is corruption. They have deep longing for lasting improvement. "Wo Subah Kab aayegi" (when the morning will dawn) is a very Nigerian question, too, he said.

Presenting the case of Lebanon, Rajmohan Gandhi said, "Recently Lebanon seemed to have enjoyed economic success. Lebanon has the ethnic linguistic diversity of India and Nigeria. Like India, Lebanon has practiced electoral democracy. Like Nigeria, Lebanon accommodates competing communities in its governance." "The system of power sharing in Lebanon at the top has sadly been accompanied by bitter and repeated civil war. Moreover, Lebanon has large number of Palestinian and Syrian refugees. Regarded for long as a free democracy, in 2013 Lebanon was designated partly free by Freedom House Institute that has been measuring democracy in different nations," he added.

Rajmohan Gandhi said in August last year with the Lebanese people longing for change to arrive, what arrived was an immense explosion at Beirut port destroying scores of buildings, devastating the economy and claiming the lives of hundreds.

Quoting another example, Rajmohan Gandhi said, "Sorrow of Afghanistan is perhaps even greater than that of Nigeria or Lebanon. Without a pause for more than 41 years explosives from the Soviet Union, from the United States, from fellow Afghans have been blasting there; and every night men, women and children dream of a 'Rahat ki subah'. With or without words they cry in pain and yet despite endless disappointments, they also cry with a droplet of hope which is mixed into their anguish." Talking about the life and struggles of Frontier Gandhi, also known as Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan, Rajmohan Gandhi said, "I was 10 when I saw this towering figure for the first time. In 1945, Frontier Gandhi and his elder brother were staying for a couple of days in our home in New Delhi. My father Devdas, Gandhi ji's youngest son, had known Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan from 1930 when they were in prison together in the town of Gujrat, north of Lahore." Gandhi said, "When I last met Frontier Gandhi in 1987 when he visited India for the final time in Mumbai's Raj Bhavan, he told me that patience was prescribed again and again in the Holy Quran, and patience and non-violence were very close to each other." "Life gave Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan tragedies and disappointments. Much of his lifetime was spent in jail. He did not want India divided. After 1947, he wanted autonomy for Pakistan's Pakhtuns. He did not get it. Yet until his last breath, he continued to respect fellow human beings. At every tough moment Frontier Gandhi said, What pleases God, pleases me'. He seemed to believe that one day justice would come." Recounting events of hate and conflict between communities in the past and present, Gandhi said whenever Mahatma Gandhi went to restore peace between divided communities, he spoke out against compulsion.

"We can say that Gandhi believed in free speech, frank speech yet his favourite songs give a hint that he thought that history in the end would side with justice. One of his favourite prayer song said that a good person was the one who understood the pain of the stranger. Another song praised those who are ready to walk alone for the truth," said Rajmohan Gandhi.

Gandhi said there has been a change in the world in the last decade or two. Earlier, the world practiced liberty, equality and fraternity, and these were seen desirable norms of society and for nations; and countries enshrined these goals in their constitution. Now however the emphasis is different. Loyalty is the new priority, and loyalty is interpreted in particular ways and we are asked to worship nationalism, again interpreted in certain specific ways. People are asked how authentic is your Americanness?, How sincere is your Chineseness? How true is your Myanmar blood? How true is your Indian blood? Gandhi said, now we should ask what is it that makes an Indian an Indian? Is there unique Indian blood that makes you and me an Indian? Is there a specific Indian gene? a particular skin colour? A special religion?, a language that every Indian speaks?

"In Gandhi's understandings Indians are Indians, not because they share a common religion which they do not, nor because they share the same blood. They are Indian because they belong to one another, because they drink the same water, they breathe the same air; they eat the produce of the same soil, and because they share the same space", emphasized Rajmohan Gandhi.

Talking about the recent Presidential elections in the US, Rajmohan Gandhi emphatically said, it is not the President who holds America together, nor is it the Supreme Court or the two Houses of the Congress or political parties, or even the Constitution. "Individual Americans keep their country going and keep their leaders within bound", he said.
Police in Tien Giang Province, located in Vietnams Mekong Delta region, are investigating a case where a gunfight occurred at a karaoke bar, killing a man and injuring two others just past midnight on Tuesday.

According to preliminary information, two groups of men broke into a fight at around 00:45 am on Wednesday at the X.O. karaoke parlor on Nguyen Minh Duong Street in Dao Thanh Commune, My Tho City, Tien Giang.

During the melee, Nguyen Thanh Hai, a 32-year-old man dwelling in Ward 2 in My Tho, was shot by another man using an object that looked like a gun.

Hai was rushed to hospital for emergency treatment, but he could not make it and died later.

Two other injured men, one of whom was hit by bullets, were also taken to hospital.

Police in Tien Giang immediately arrived at and inspected the scene after being informed of the case.

In initial results, police officers seized a number of bullet shells, whose origin remains unknown, in and outside the karaoke bar.

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Scientists have generated early-stage human embryo models that could help shed light on the "black box" of initial human development stages and improve research on pregnancy loss and birth defects.

Two separate teams found different ways to produce versions of a blastocyst -- the pre-embryonic mass of cells at the stage of development around five days after a sperm fertilises an egg -- potentially opening the door for a huge expansion of research.

The scientists make clear that the models differ from human blastocysts and are not capable of developing into embryos. But their work comes as new ethical guidelines on such research are being drafted and could spark fresh debate.

The teams, whose research was published Wednesday in the journal Nature, believe the models dubbed "blastoids" will aid research on everything from miscarriages to the effects of toxins and drugs on early-stage embryos.

"We're very excited," said Jun Wu of the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Centre, who led one of the teams.

"Studying human development is really difficult, especially at this stage of development, it's essentially a black box," he told a press briefing ahead of the research's publication.

At the moment, research on the earliest days of embryonic development relies on donated blastocysts from IVF treatment.

But supply is limited, subject to restrictions, and available only to certain research facilities.

So being able to generate unlimited models could be a game changer, said Jose Polo, a professor at Australia's Monash University, who led the second research team.

"This capacity to work at scale, we think, will revolutionise our understanding of early stages of human development," he told reporters.

Generating models of blastocysts has so far only been done in animals, with researchers in 2018 successfully generating them in mice using stem cells.

The two teams approached the development of a human model in slightly different ways.

Story continues

Wu's team used two different types of stem cells, some derived from human embryos, and other so-called induced pluripotent stem cells, which have the potential to become any cell and are produced from adult tissue.

Polo's team instead started with adult skin cells, but both teams ended up with effectively the same result: the cells began to organise themselves into blastoids, featuring the three key components seen in a human blastocyst.

"For us what was completely surprising was that when you put them together, they self-organise, they seem to talk to each other in some way... and they consolidate," Polo said.

But while the models are similar to human blastocysts in many ways, there are also significant differences.

Both teams' blastoids ended up containing cells of unknown types, and they lack some elements that come specifically from the interaction between a sperm and an egg.

The blastoids only worked about 20 percent of the time on average, though the teams say that still represents a pathway to a significant research supply.

- Ethical debate -

The scientists are at pains to make clear that the models should not be seen as pseudo-embryos, and are not capable of developing into foetuses.

Still, they proceeded cautiously, opting to end research with the blastoids at four days after cultivation, equivalent to about 10 days after fertilisation in a normal egg-sperm interaction.

Research rules involving human blastocysts set that deadline at 14 days.

Peter Rugg-Gunn, group leader at the life sciences research Babraham Institute in the UK, said the processes represented "an exciting advance" but work was needed to generate the blastoids more reliably.

"To capitalise on the discovery, the process will need to be more controlled and less variable," he said.

And given the differences between the blastoids and human blastocysts, any hypotheses they help generate "will need to be validated in human embryos", said Teresa Rayon of the Francis Crick Institute, a biomedical research centre.

The research may also spark ethical debates, said Yi Zheng and Jianping Fu of the University of Michigan's department of mechanical engineering.

"As protocols are optimised, these blastoids will more closely mimic human blastocysts," they wrote in an opinion piece published in Nature.

Some "might view human blastoid research as a path towards engineering human embryos", they warned.

The research "calls for public conversations on the scientific significance of such research, as well as on the societal and ethical issues it raises".

sah/jah
MEDITERRANEAN SEA (March 15, 2021) An F/A-18E Super Hornet, attached to the "Wildcats" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 131, lands on the flight deck aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69), in the Mediterranean Sea, March 15, 2021. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Cameron Pinske)

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The Saudi Development and Reconstruction Program for Yemen (SDRPY) has handed over the site for the second stage of Aden Airport Rehabilitation project to the company carrying out the project, reported SPA.

The project, currently under development, is being implemented in three phases, it stated.

The second phase is aimed at making the airport compatible with international regulations and standards, that include electric, mechanical, health and vital utilities, at the cost of SR55 million ($14.6 million).

The handover proceedings, which took place yesterday (March 16), were co-signed by the two sides, in the presence of Yemeni Minister of Transport Dr Abdulsalam Hamid; Director of the SDRPY office, in Aden, Ahmed Madkhali; Director of Aden Airport Abdulraqeeb Al-Oumari; and some of the airport staff, said the SPA report.

The signing ceremony of the project implementation, was held last December, in Aden to launch a package of big projects, carried out by the SDRPY, in Yemen, it added.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  In a field as crowded as the North Shore City Council race, any endorsement counts, especially if its from the woman whos held the seat for over a decade.

Councilwoman Debi Rose (D-North Shore) made her voice heard earlier this month when, of the 15 candidates, she chose to endorse local Democratic operative Selina Grey, who has ties to the councilwoman.

Grey previously worked in finance but has worked on multiple North Shore campaigns in the past decade, including managing Roses re-election campaigns in 2013 and 2017.

I think she has the experience and the skill set to usher us into a hopefully post-COVID era, Rose said of her choice. I think she possesses the things that I would like to see somebody in my seat have. She has the direct connection to the community. She knows the community.

Multiple candidates in the race have connections to Rose, including David Hernandez and Troy McGhie, who are listed as the councilwomans director of constituent services and community liaison, respectively, on her website.

Grey, of Mariners Harbor, expressed pride in the endorsement and touted her other high-profile endorsements from the New York State Nurses Association and Teamsters Local 237.

Grey also served as a campaign manager for NYSNA Executive Director Pat Kane when she ran for the North Shores New York Assembly seat in 2018.

I am proud to accept the endorsement of Councilwoman Debi Rose, who made history during her 12-year tenure representing the 49th district, Grey said. New York City will tackle unprecedented problems in the coming years, so having the full faith and support of such a distinguished community servant, in the face of such challenges, means the world to me.

Grey and the other participants in the primary for the North Shore City Council seat will face off June 22.
Samsungs latest Unpacked event has just kicked off, and just as a bevy of leaks predict, theres nary a flagship phone in sight. Instead, Samsung will use its second major live stream of the year  or third, if you count its CES keynote  to show off a refreshed line of mid-range smartphones, including the Galaxy A52, Galaxy A52 5G, and Galaxy A72.

Unfortunately, Samsung didnt provide US pricing for these new phones by the time of publication  well update this story once we know how much everything costs. We do know that in the UK, the Galaxy A52 5G will cost 399, roughly $550, while the Galaxy A72 is priced at 419 (around $583).

We havent gotten to try one out yet, but the new Galaxy A52 seems well-equipped to take over from its predecessor. For one thing, its ever-so-slightly larger than the A51 and Samsung has made the most of that extra space by adding a more capacious 4,500mAh battery that supports 25W wired fast charging, dual SIM support, and an IP67 rating for water and dust resistance. Once again, Samsung went with a 6.5-inch Super AMOLED screen running at 2400x1080, but this years panel should look a lot smoother thanks to its 90Hz refresh rate.

The upgrades dont end there, either. Samsung went with a quad-camera system around back that includes a 64-megapixel main sensor with optical image stabilization and an f/1.8 aperture, a 12-megapixel ultra-wide camera, and a pair of 5-megapixel cameras for macro and depth photos. Meanwhile, a 32-megapixel front-facing camera is wedged into a tiny cutout in the display to provide some perhaps-too-details selfies. (Hopefully, some of the improvements Samsung made to the Galaxy S21 Ultras camera software made the leap here.) Rounding out the package is one of Qualcomms Snapdragon 720G chipsets, along with either 4, 6, or 8GB of RAM and either 128 or 256GB of internal storage and support for microSD cards as large as 1TB.

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So, what about the A52 5G then? Physically, its identical to the standard A52, but it does pack a few interesting twists. The reason it can play nice with sub-6 5G networks is the still-pretty-new Snapdragon 750G chipset inside, which has the added benefit of performing slightly faster than the 720G despite a lower max clock speed on its high-performance CPU cores. Speaking of speed, the A52 5Gs 6.5-inch Super AMOLED display has a slightly faster, 120Hz refresh rate, making it the most buttery-smooth panel in all of the phones Samsung announced today.

And then theres the Galaxy A72, which is basically just a larger version of the A52. (Knowing Samsung, you can expect a 5G version to launch a little later this year.) The main differences include a slightly bigger 6.7-inch Super AMOLED display, a 5,000mAh battery, and an 8-megapixel telephoto camera with a 3X optical zoom range in place of the A52s macro shooter. Otherwise, Samsungs biggest new phone uses the same chipset, front-facing camera, fast charging support, and memory and storage configurations  the only change is that there wont be a version of the A72 with 4GB of RAM.

If it wasnt already clear, all three of Samsungs phones have plenty in common  all three come in the same black, white, and purple colorways, for instance, and they all have cleaner, more seamless looking backs that seem to draw inspiration from this years Galaxy S21 line. They all also pack stereo speakers  a hardware feature thats unfortunately uncommon in many mid-range smartphones  and will come with AC chargers along with USB cables. As usual though, the A-series phones shared foundation extends into software too. All of these new devices will ship with Samsungs One UI 3.0 interface, which includes features like Private Share and SmartThings Find. And perhaps most importantly, all three phones will receive three generations of Android software updates, along with security updates for a minimum of four years.

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While it might seem a little strange to put on a highly-produced streaming launch event for mid-range smartphones, it doesnt come as a huge surprise. Samsung took a similar approach with last years Galaxy S20 Fan Edition, a device that was fast-tracked in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and ultimately became one of the companys best sellers. And because of their affordable ambitions, Samsungs A-series devices have significant pull with audiences whose wallets cant handle flagship prices. Remember: The Galaxy A51 was the top-selling Android phone in the world for a brief spell last year, and the lower-end A21s, A11, and A01 joined it in research firm Omdias tally of best-selling phones in 2020.

On paper, this trio of new phones seems like serious value contenders. What remains unclear for now, though, is whether Samsung can sell as many phones  mid-range or otherwise  as it did in 2020. According to a late-night report from Bloomberg, Samsung co-CEO DJ Koh confirmed during the companys annual shareholder meeting that he expects to face supply issues next quarter stemming from the ongoing global chip shortage. So far, Samsung has seemingly weathered the storm without issue, but Koh warned despite relatively smooth sailing so far, its hard to say the shortage issue has been solved 100%.
Dominic Cummings launched a devastating attack on the civil service today as he revealed he made Boris Johnson vow to back reform before agreeing to work in Downing Street.

The maverick former No10 chief branded Whitehall a 'disaster zone' and offered an extraordinary glimpse into his relationship with the PM as he gave evidence to the Science Committee.

Asked about his efforts to overhaul the UK's science base, Mr Cummings cited Bletchley Park as an example of how bureaucracy 'destroys' effective operations and 'drives out' the best people.

He disclosed that days before Mr Johnson became PM in July 2019 they had a meeting in Mr Cummings' living room, where he laid out a series of demands for working in No10.

Mr Cummings also confirmed that he will face a separate interrogation from MPs over the handling of coronavirus - which will raise concerns in government that he plans to settle scores.

Dominic Cummings arrives at the Houses of Parliament today for his session with MPs

Days before Boris Johnson (left) became PM in July 2019, the pair had a meeting in Mr Cummings' (right) living room, where he laid out a series of demands for working in No10

Dominic Cummings' long-running war with the civil service Dominic Cummings has written prolific blogs on government over years that give a glimpse into his thinking. In June last year, shortly before joining Mr Johnson at No10, he penned a 10,000-word post calling for an end to the 'Kafka-esque' influence of civil servants on politicians. He proposed creating independent 'Red Teams' to challenge official advice to ministers - who would be rewarded for overturning the orthodoxy. Mr Cummings has previously slammed support for ministers as 'extremely bureaucratic and slow' and said the civil service had presided over 'expensive debacle after expensive debacle'. He dismissed Westminster as 'the blind leading the blind', saying that for top mandarins 'management, like science, is regarded contemptuously as something for the lower orders to think about, not the ''strategists'' at the top'. Mr Cummings has been upsetting the Westminster establishment for years. He memorably nicknamed the educational establishment 'the blob' when he was adviser to Mr Gove at the Department for Education. In 2014, David Cameron reportedly branded him a 'career psychopath', and Mr Cummings resigned from government and accused him of 'bumbling from one shambles to another without the slightest sense of purpose'. Mr Cummings described Lib Dem former deputy PM Nick Clegg as 'a revolting character', which triggered Mr Clegg to dismiss him as a 'loopy ideologue'. Advertisement

They included that Mr Johnson was 'deadly serious' about delivering Brexit, that the science budget was doubled, and a fundamental overhaul of the 'disaster zone' of Whitehall.

In a brutal assault on Mr Hancock and his department, Mr Cummings said the PPE and therapeutics efforts were a 'smoking ruin'.

'It's not coincidental that the vaccine programme worked the way that it did. To do that we had to take it out of the DoH, we had to have it authorised very directly by the PM and strip away all the normal nonsense that we can see is holding back funding therapeutics

'No10 took it out of the Department of Health.'

He went on: 'In spring 2020 you have a situation where DoH was just a smoking ruin in terms of procurement and PPE and all of that.

'You had serious problems with the funding bureaucracy for therapeutics on Covid. So that was the kind of context for it.

'Patrick Vallance then came to No10 and said this shouldn't be run out of the Department for Health, we should create a separate task force.

'We also had the EU proposal which looked like an absolute guaranteed programme to fail debacle.

'Therefore Patrick Vallance, the Cabinet Secretary me and some others said obviously we should take this out of the Doh. Obviously we should create a separate task force.'

Mr Cummings was being grilled by MPs over the Government's new 'high-risk' scientific research agency that he championed before his dramatic departure from No 10.

Experts will be given 800million of funding to identify and fund research involving 'high-risk, high-reward' science and will have independence from the Government.

But he delivered another rebuke to his former boss by saying he was 'not confident' whether the Advanced Research & Invention Agency (Aria) will 'work out' because too many restrictions were being placed on its operation.

Mr Cummings also delivered an irritable response to criticism that he was given a 40,000 pay rise after the Tories won a stunning majority in the 2019 election.

'It is true that I interfered with the pay system regarding my own pay,' he said.

'That was in summer 2019 when I arrived I was put in the normal pay band for my position, of 140-something-thousand.

'I said I didn't want that, I only wanted to be paid what I was paid at Vote Leave.

'I figured I should be paid the same for trying to sort out the Brexit mess as I had been paid for doing Vote Leave so I asked for a pay cut. Which is what happened in summer 2019.

'For some reason this has appeared in the media as if I got a pay rise after Covid, but that didn't happen.

'When we were all rehired the day after the election I moved back on to the normal pay grade for my position.'

It is Mr Cummings' first public appearance since quitting as Mr Johnson's chief aide after an apparently power struggle with Mr Johnson's fiancee Carrie Symonds sent the heart of government into meltdown.

Chair Greg Clark kicked off by saying that Mr Cummings has agreed to a separate session covering the coronavirus response.

Mr Cummings launched a devastating attack on the civil service today as he appeared before the science committee

The abrasive former Vote Leave director was previously found to be in contempt of Parliament for refusing to give evidence to MPs on a committee investigating misinformation.

He was last seen dramatically exiting Downing Street carrying his belongings in a cardboard box in November.

While in government Mr Cummings was said to have told colleagues that a 'hard rain is coming' for the civil service - although some disputed he used those exact words.

Mr Cummings has been a longstanding critic of the way Whitehall works, calling for more modern organisation and data-driven policies.

In blogs before he was drafted in by Mr Johnson, he urged the introduction of 'red teams' explicitly tasked with finding reasons why the government should not be following policies.

He has been an advocate of 'Super-Forecasters', individuals who have no specific expertise but are able to predict events because of their mental process.

Mr Cummings has been particularly scathing about the way the Ministry of Defence runs its procurement.

Cummings suggests he deserved 40k pay hike for 'sorting' Brexit Dominic Cummings today suggested he deserved a 40,000 pay rise because he had sorted out the 'Brexit mess'. Mr Cummings delivered an irritable response to criticism that he was given a huge bump after the Tories won a stunning majority in the 2019 election. 'It is true that I interfered with the pay system regarding my own pay,' he said. 'That was in summer 2019 when I arrived I was put in the normal pay band for my position, of 140-something-thousand. 'I said I didn't want that, I only wanted to be paid what I was paid at Vote Leave. 'I figured I should be paid the same for trying to sort out the Brexit mess as I had been paid for doing Vote Leave so I asked for a pay cut. Which is what happened in summer 2019. 'For some reason this has appeared in the media as if I got a pay rise after Covid, but that didn't happen. 'When we were all rehired the day after the election I moved back on to the normal pay grade for my position.' Advertisement

In June 2019, shortly before joining Mr Johnson at No10, he penned a 10,000-word post calling for an end to the 'Kafka-esque' influence of civil servants on politicians.

He proposed creating independent 'Red Teams' to challenge official advice to ministers - who would be rewarded for overturning the orthodoxy.

Mr Cummings has previously slammed support for ministers as 'extremely bureaucratic and slow' and said the civil service had presided over 'expensive debacle after expensive debacle'.

He dismissed Westminster as 'the blind leading the blind', saying that for top mandarins 'management, like science, is regarded contemptuously as something for the lower orders to think about, not the ''strategists'' at the top'.

Today it emerged Mr Cummings has joined Twitter, but appears to be tweeting only sporadically about science.

Mr Cummings has been upsetting the Westminster establishment for years.

He memorably nicknamed the educational establishment 'the blob' when he was adviser to Mr Gove at the Department for Education.

In 2014, David Cameron reportedly branded him a 'career psychopath', and Mr Cummings resigned from government and accused him of 'bumbling from one shambles to another without the slightest sense of purpose'.

Mr Cummings described Lib Dem former deputy PM Nick Clegg as 'a revolting character', which triggered Mr Clegg to dismiss him as a 'loopy ideologue'.

He described David Davis, then the Brexit secretary, as 'thick as mince, lazy as a toad and vain as Narcissus' in July 2017.

He has also turned his ire on hardline Brexiteers in the Tory European Research Group in one of his trademark lengthy blogposts.

In March 2018 he likened some members of the group to a 'metastasising tumour' accusing them of 'scrambling' for top radio spots while 'spouting gibberish' since 2016.
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The cabinet has approved a proposal for acquisition of another 1,365 hectare land in Jewar for the second phase of the upcoming Noida International Airport, according to an official statement.

The cabinet also approved an expenditure of Rs 2,890 crore for the land acquisition, besides resettlement and rehabilitation of the people who will be affected by the expansion of the greenfield project, it stated.

The decision was taken by the cabinet at a meeting in Lucknow on Tuesday evening.

S P Goyal, the additional chief secretary to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, tweeted on Tuesday, "The State Cabinet has today approved the proposal to acquire another 1,365 hectares of land for the future expansion of Noida International Airport at Jewar.

Currently work is underway for the first phase of development of the Noida International Airport in the Jewar area of Gautam Buddh Nagar district in western Uttar Pradesh, according to officials.

The greenfield airport is being developed in four phases and billed to be the biggest when completed with five or six runways spread in an area of 5,000 hectare, the officials said.

The first phase of the project is coming up on over 1,300 hectare land and commercial operations from the airport are expected to begin by December 2023 or January 2024, they said.

Swiss-developer Zurich International Airport AG is developing the airport at an estimated cost of Rs 29,560 crore, they 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.)
Photo: Pixabay

If youve split from a partner this past year, you can take some comfort knowing you are far from alone. National research shows that 15 per cent (or 4,673,565) of Canadian couples have called it quits since COVID broke out last year.

Finder Canada aims to help Canadians make better financial decisions such as finding a credit card or buying a home using data collection. With recent research into break-up and divorce rates, Finder has identified financial issues as one of the main stressors affecting couples across the country.

Some key findings of Finders study include a national breakdown for breakups based on age and area.

25 per cent of Canadians aged 18-24 have experienced a pandemic split, the most of any age group.

17 per cent of Canadians aged 35-44 are splitting at slightly more than the national average of 14 per cent.

Breakups among British Columbia couples are the third highest in the country at 17 per cent with Nova Scotia ahead at 21 per cent and Quebec taking the top spot with 23 per cent.

Nearly a quarter (21 per cent) of 35-44-year-old Canadians say that COVID-19 has hurt their relationship.

In some good news for the recently single, just under half of Canadians are going at it alone and report that they do not have a romantic partner.

As for the rest of the couples that managed to stay together, the research looked into some quarantine quirks that have been affecting those relationships. You know the ones, maybe youve noticed your partner chews unnaturally loud or maybe you really dont like seeing your partner in track pants (for some reason). When asked which quarantine quirks they disliked the most, a whopping 55 per cent of Canadians admit that they have at least one.

Nationally, 61 per cent of men are much more bothered by their partners quarantine quirks than 46 per cent of women.

In a bizarre complaint, 14 per cent of men cite their partners wearing track pants as the quarantine quirk that bothers them the most, versus only 8 per cent of women.

At 13 per cent, both sexes report being equally irritated about spending too much time together.

17 per cent of men are over twice as irritated as women (8 per cent) about their partners online overspending.

Nearly 13 million Canadians say that cabin fever is their most significant stressor heading into 2021. Cabin fever describes psychological symptoms that a person may experience when they are confined to their home for extended periods. Such symptoms may include feelings of restlessness, irritability, and loneliness. Over 50 per cent of Canadians aged 55-64 say they are having the hardest time with it.

Closely following cabin fever, 40 per cent of Canadians report the rise in COVID-19 cases as a primary stressor. Other stressors include political chaos, balancing work, virtual school, relationships and nearly 40 per cent of Canadians are worried about finances.

Nicole McKnight, spokesperson for Finder Canada says its time to have a tough-love talk about personal finance.

Millions of Canadians could easily find themselves suddenly single, unprepared and having to make difficult financial decisions like selling a property during COVID, spitting assets and finding an affordable place to live, McKnight said.

For tips on how to handle finances during this tumultuous time, you can visit Finders website.
A California man furious that Wingstop allegedly messed up his order of chicken wings twice was caught on video throwing the cash register through the window when he didn't get a refund for his online order.

The video, posted to TikTok on Tuesday by Tharon Trujillo, shows the unidentified man ripping the cash register off the counter at a Wingstop location in Antelope and slamming it on the ground twice before throwing it out of the window.

'I don't want the food. I don't want to wait. I don't have time to wait on the food again. OK, so now what do we do?' the man says in the video.

An employee responds: 'It's either you get the food remade and you go on about your day and stop yelling at my other manager, because that's, no, it's uncalled for.'

Scroll down for video

A man was caught on video arguing with employees at a California Wingstop over a botched order

The unidentified man then snatched the cash register from the counter as shocked employees looked on

The man then snatches the cash register and throws it on the ground before tossing it out the window and leaving the store. The video appears to censor the man letting off a rampage of expletives.

The Wingstop's manager told KOVR that the man claimed he was missing wings and that refunds are not allowed under company policy for online orders.

Trujillo told the outlet that he overheard the irate customer claim he was given the wrong order twice.

'I was telling him to calm down. I said, 'you don't want to go to jail, you don't want to go to jail,' Trujillo said.

He added: 'Definitely when I seen it I was kind of shook up a little bit, they were definitely shook up behind, the ladies behind were definitely shook up, and they were like thank you for staying. It's definitely not what you see every day.'

It was not immediately clear what the man had ordered and how much he was seeking to be refunded. DailyMail.com has reached out to Wingstop for additional information and comment.

For reference, a large 10-piece wing combo costs $14.19 at the Antelope store, according to Wingstop website's online ordering system.

The unidentified man was then seen on video smashing the cash register on the ground twice

Video posted to TikTok by Tharon Trujillo shows the man picking the register up from the ground before slamming it down again

The man was filmed further arguing with Wingstop employees after snatching the cash register as it is pictured on the ground broken

The man then picked up the register for a final time before throwing it out of the Wingstop window

The man was seen exiting the Wingstop without his refund as video shows broken glass on the floor

But the man may now have to pay thousands of dollars for the botched order.

The store manager told KOVR that replacing the broken register will cost around $6,000 and the store is waiting for a quote to fix the window.

The Sacramento County Sheriff's Office told the outlet that vandalism with damages more than $950 is considered a felony and the incident qualifies for them to put out a felony warrant.

The Wingstop location is in the process of filing a police report for the damage. No injuries were reported.
British PM warns against "new Cold War" as post-Brexit foreign policy unveiled

Xinhua) 15:08, March 17, 2021

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson leaves 10 Downing Street for Prime Minister's Questions, in London, Britain on March 4, 2020. (Photo by Tim Ireland/Xinhua)

LONDON, March 17 (Xinhua) -- British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Tuesday warned that Britain must not get drawn into a "new Cold War" with China as he set out his vision for a post-Brexit foreign policy.

"Those who call for a new Cold War on China or for us to sequester our economy entirely from China ... are, I think, mistaken," Johnson told lawmakers at the House of Commons, the lower house of Parliament.

Britain would have to "work with China where that is consistent with our values and interests," said Johnson, adding this includes building "a stronger and positive economic relationship" and cooperation on climate change issues.

Johnson made the remarks as the government published a major defense, security and foreign policy review earlier Tuesday.

According to the document published on the government website, the policy review entitled Global Britain in a Competitive Age: the Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy, reveals "the government's vision for the UK's role in the world over the next decade and the action we will take to 2025."

Johnson has described the document, which runs more than 100 pages, as the biggest review since the Cold War.

According to the document, Britain needs to pursue a positive economic relationship with China, including "deeper trade links and more Chinese investment."

Professor Anthony Glees from the University of Buckingham, told Xinhua that the review shows plainly that China and Chinese investment play a key part in the ambitions of a "Global Britain."

"In his brief statement to Parliament today, Johnson made it crystal clear that there is to be no break with China," Glees said. "There was no suggestion in his remarks that he would give in to his own party's critics who seek a more adversarial policy."

CHALLENGES FOR AMBITIOUS BRITAIN

Meanwhile, the document also includes an emphasis on openness as a source of prosperity, a more robust position on security and resilience, and an increased determination to seek multilateral solutions to challenges like climate change.

"Whilst the review is billed as being about 'Global Britain,' it's not clear that 'Global Britain' is that much different from Britain the way it is," Glees said.

"In particular, it's one thing to say we do all these things but another to work out how to improve relations with the EU, Germany and France in particular, given all that has gone on since 2016 (after Brexit referendum)," he said.

"The review says on security we will work closely with partners, but at present we have no security treaty with the EU and the review skips over this issue," said Glees, adding "it takes two to tango."

Glees said it is not surprising that the review proposed levelling up and going all out for growth to nurture a strong British economy that benefits its citizens and is more competitive internationally.

"But given the current Brexit-deal-induced mess that has meant our exports to the EU are down by 41 percent at the moment, it's not clear where the cash is coming from," the professor said.

"We're told there is no money to reward nurses and carers for their efforts during the COVID crisis, so how can we afford the expense of this Review? Not answered," he added.
Intelligent.com, a trusted resource for online degree rankings and higher education planning, has announced the Top 16 Colleges In South Dakota for 2021. The comprehensive research guide is based on an assessment of 53 accredited colleges and universities in the nation. Each institution is evaluated based on curriculum quality, graduation rate, reputation, and post-graduate employment.

The 2021 rankings are calculated through a unique scoring system which includes student engagement, potential return on investment and leading third party evaluations. Intelligent.com analyzed 53 schools, on a scale of 0 to 100, with only 16 making it to the final list. The methodology also uses an algorithm which collects and analyzes multiple rankings into one score to easily compare each school.

To access the complete ranking, please visit: https://www.intelligent.com/best-colleges-in-south-dakota/

2021 Top Colleges In South Dakota featured on Intelligent.com (in alphabetical order):

Augustana University

Black Hills State University

Dakota State University

Dakota Wesleyan University

Lake Area Technical Institute

Mitchell Technical Institute

National American University

Northern State University

Oglala Lakota College

Presentation College

Sinte Gleska University

South Dakota School of Mines & Technology

South Dakota State University

Southeast Technical Institute

University of South Dakota

Western Dakota Technical Institute

About Intelligent.com

Intelligent.com provides unbiased research to help students make informed decisions about higher education programs. The website offers curated guides which include the best degree programs as well as information about financial aid, internships and even study strategies. With comprehensive, user-friendly guides and hundreds of program rankings, Intelligent.com is a trusted source among students and prospective students. To learn more, please visit https://www.intelligent.com/.
Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism.
The U.S. Consulate General in Hong Kong was closed on Wednesday for deep cleaning after two of its employees tested positive for coronavirus, amid allegations from a ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP)-owned news site that staff had breached quarantine regulations.



"We have closed the Consulate General to perform a deep disinfection and cleaning, while appropriate contact tracing is completed," the consulate said in a statement on its website.



The closure ran from Tuesday through Wednesday, and included the visa section, appointments for which will be rescheduled, it said.



"We have been informed that two Consulate General employees have tested positive for COVID-19," it said. "We can confirm that the employees in question do not work in offices that interact with the public."



The closure came after a mandatory testing order from the city's health authorities, as a news website owned by the CCP's Central Liaison Office in Hong Kong claimed that the consular employees had paid scant heed to quarantine restrictions despite testing positive.



The report said the two employees had declined to comply, citing diplomatic immunity.



"Instead of complying with quarantine arrangements, they were wandering around, and going to work at the consulate," it said, calling their alleged behavior a "hidden danger" in the fight against COVID-19.



The report sparked a four-person protest outside the consulate, where participants held up banners saying "no to exceptionalism, no to special privilege."



It was later picked up in China-controlled newspapers the Global Times, the Ta Kung Pao, and the Wen Wei Po.



Hong Kong chief executive Carrie Lam denied on Tuesday that anyone had received special treatment, regardless of privilege.



She said the two consular employees had been admitted to hospital and were currently receiving treatment in isolation. Their two children had been isolated alongside them as close contacts, the People's Daily Hong Kong edition reported on its Facebook page.

The Hong Kong Health Protection Center said that the two U.S. staff members are husband and wife, aged 40 and 41, residing at Dynasty Court, Mid-Levels.



They were asymptomatic, had had three close contacts, and had worn masks on their last day at work, which was March 12, it said.

'Disinformation'



Jalina Porter, principal deputy spokesperson for the State Department, said in a statement that the reports of non-compliance were "disinformation."



"Weve been informed that two consulate general employees have tested positive for COVID-19, but due to privacy concerns, were not able to share additional information," Porter told a regular media briefing.



"When it comes to disinformation about these two not complying to quarantine, that is absolutely false," she said.



Meanwhile, the consulate rejected the media reports on its Facebook page: "The disinformation campaign from Chinese controlled media about the two positive cases among U.S. Consulate personnel, and our response, is false."



"We reject these efforts to spread disinformation about a critical public health issue," it said.



Meanwhile, the HK01.com news site reported that some of those sent to a quarantine facility after a cluster of infections at the Ursus Fitness gym had been breaking quarantine restrictions.



"Some of those quarantined at Penny's Bay complained that people were opening their doors or windows ... drinking alcohol and talking loudly with residents on the other side with no masks on," it said.



"Some even tried to leave their rooms."



The Hong Kong government also announced "ambush lockdowns" and mandatory COVID-19 testing on several residential buildings in Sai Ying Pun and Causeway Bay districts on Wednesday, in a bid to rein in ongoing infections on Hong Kong Island.

Reported by Gigi Lee, Malik Wang and Carmen Wu for RFA's Cantonese Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.
Washington, DC-- Algae colonizing dead coral are upending scientists' ability to accurately assess the health of a coral reef community, according to new work from a team of marine science experts led by Carnegie's Manoela Romano de Orte and Ken Caldeira. Their findings are published in Limnology and Oceanography.

Corals are marine invertebrates that build tiny exoskeletons, which accumulate to form giant coral reefs. Widely appreciated for their beauty, these reefs are havens for biodiversity and crucial for the economies of many coastal communities. But they are endangered by ocean warming, seawater acidification, extreme storms, pollution, and overfishing.

Coral reefs use calcium carbonate to construct their architecture, a process called calcification. For a reef to be healthy, its coral's building activities must exceed erosion, a natural phenomenon that is exacerbated by all the environmental stresses to which human activity is exposing them.

"Coral reefs are dealing with so many simultaneous threats, many of which directly inhibit their ability to grow at a sustainable rate," Caldeira explained. "If they can't maintain a slow but steady amount of growth, they could get knocked out by rising sea levels in the coming years."

However, Romano de Orte and Caldeira's research--with former Carnegie colleagues David Koweek (now at Ocean Visions), Yuichiro Takeshita (now at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute), and Rebecca Albright (now at the California Academy of Sciences)--showed that if researchers only make measurements to assess coral health during the daytime, it could lead to false sense of security.

Why?

Because dead coral is often colonized by algal communities that can also accumulate carbonate minerals during the day. However, most of these deposits dissolve overnight, so the carbonate minerals do not accumulate over time. In contrast, living corals, , which have evolved to build massive carbonate reefs visible from space, can continue to build their skeletons, albeit slowly, even at night.

"It's long been thought that measuring calcium carbonate production could be linked directly to the health of a coral community," Romano de Orte said. "But our findings show that as algae increasingly succeed in overgrowing dead coral, it is going to be more difficult to rely on a once tried-and-true method for assessing whether a reef community is thriving."

To gain this critical understanding, the research team--which also included Tyler Cyronak of Nova Southeastern University, Alyssa Griffin of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, Kennedy Wolfe of the University of Queensland, and Alina Szmant and Robert Whitehead of University of North Carolina Wilmington--deployed specially designed, state-of-the-art incubator technology to closely monitor both coral and colonizing algae in an area of Australia's Great Barrier Reef that had been heavily damaged by two tropical cyclones in 2014 and 2015. They were able to monitor both calcification and dissolution of carbonate minerals, as well as the organisms' metabolic activity.

"This amazing tool allowed us to home in on the specific role that each organism has in an ecosystem's total output, which gives us new insights into how reefs are changing" Romano de Orte explained.

###
Tejinder Virk, President of Khiron Europe, commented: "Our experience in Colombia and Europe tells us that doctors require solid clinical evidence to feel confident that medical cannabis is the right treatment for their patients. By exporting our Colombian cannabis strains, we will be able to bring our Latin American extracts to European patients, resulting in wider choices for doctors, and safer, more efficacious patient outcomes. Additionally, this import provides an opportunity to accelerate speed to market, optimize our global diversified supply chain and maximize economics."

Khiron's vertically integrated seed-to-patient business model is currently experiencing tremendous growth in Colombia. To date, Khiron medical cannabis products have shown strong evidence as alternative treatments for ailments such as chronic pain, anxiety, insomnia, depression, epilepsy, migraines, and Parkinson's Disease. With the proof of concept now validated in Colombia, the Company plans to build upon its success in new markets.

About Khiron Life Sciences Corp.

Khiron is a vertically integrated medical and CPG cannabis company with core operations in Latin America, and operational activity in Europe and North America. Khiron is the leading medical cannabis provider in Colombia and the first company licensed in Colombia for the cultivation, production, domestic distribution and sales, and international export of both low and high THC medical cannabis products. The Company has filled medical cannabis prescriptions in Colombia, Peru and the United Kingdom, and is positioned to commence sales of medical cannabis in Germany and Brazil in early 2021.

Leveraging wholly-owned medical clinics and proprietary telemedicine platforms, Khiron combines a patient-oriented approach, physician education programs, scientific expertise, product innovation, and agricultural infrastructure to drive prescriptions and brand loyalty. Its Wellbeing unit launched the first branded CBD skincare brand in Colombia, with KuidaTM now marketed in multiple jurisdictions in Latin America, the US and United Kingdom. The Company is led by Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer, Alvaro Torres, together with an experienced and diverse executive team and Board of Directors.

Visit Khiron online at investors.khiron.ca and on Instagram @khironlife.

Cautionary Notes

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may contain certain "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. All information contained herein that is not historical in nature may constitute forward-looking information. Khiron undertakes no obligation to comment on analyses, expectations or statements made by third-parties in respect of Khiron, its securities, or financial or operating results (as applicable). Although Khiron believes that the expectations reflected in forward-looking statements in this press release are reasonable, such forward-looking statement has been based on expectations, factors and assumptions concerning future events which may prove to be inaccurate and are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond Khiron's control, including the risk factors discussed in Khiron's Annual Information Form which is available on Khiron's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com. The forward-looking information contained in this press release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement and is made as of the date hereof. Khiron disclaims any intention and has no obligation or responsibility, except as required by law, to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release.

Investor Contact:

Paola Ricardo

E: [email protected]

T: +1 (647) 275-8984

Media Contact:

Elsa Navarro

Vice President, Communications

E: [email protected]



Khiron Europe:

Tejinder Virk

Europe President

E: [email protected]

SOURCE Khiron Life Sciences Corp.

Related Links

https://khiron.ca/


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FLAGSTAFF, Ariz.  Two casinos on the Navajo Nation will reopen this week as the tribe eases its restrictions on businesses amid a downturn in coronavirus cases and high rates of vaccination.

The Navajo Nation Gaming Enterprise has four casinos but will open only two Friday and limit patrons to those who live on the vast reservation that stretches into New Mexico, Arizona and Utah.

The enterprise will keep Fire Rock east of Gallup, New Mexico, and Northern Edge in Farmington, New Mexico, open for two weeks before determining whether to reopen two other casinos  one in northwestern New Mexico and the other east of Flagstaff.

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What its intended to do is demonstrate that all our safety protocols, which we know are very, very comprehensive, are in place, the program is going to work and keep everyone safe, and then we can open it to a broader audience later, Brian Parrish, the enterprises interim chief executive, said Wednesday.

The casinos will operate at 25% capacity with no food or drink services and only within the time allowed by the tribes nightly curfew. All employees must test negative for COVID-19 before they return to work and be retested at least every two weeks.

Service lights on the slot machines will let customers request that the machines be sanitized.

Smoking will be allowed only in designated outdoor areas. Social distancing will be enforced throughout the properties.

The casinos also are setting aside a couple of hours on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings for elderly patrons.

Customers must wear masks, get their temperatures checked and provide contact information if they needed to be reached later. Handheld devices will be used to swipe drivers licenses to ensure customers live on the reservation, Parrish said. That policy is in accordance with tribal legislation that restricts non-resident travel on the reservation.

Jordan Schermerhorn, a senior research associate at Georgetown Universitys Center for Global Health Science and Security, has been tracking pandemic response policies. She said the Navajo Nation has taken a more cautious approach than neighboring states in reopening with a stricter tiered system.

The tribe smartly used data and waited until more than 80% of the residents on the reservation had received at least one dose of the vaccine before announcing plans for a soft reopening, Schermerhorn said.

Im confident they will re-restrict if necessary  which I cant say about Texas where I am or frankly anywhere else in the country, Schermerhorn wrote in an email. I really do think theyre leading the country in reopening the right way.

Businesses on the reservation that want to reopen must submit a plan to the tribes Division of Economic Development detailing safety precautions. So far, more than two dozen businesses have been approved to reopen, said tribal spokesman Jared Touchin.

The Navajo Nation reported its first case of the coronavirus a year ago, on March 17, 2020. The tribe is planning a virtual day of prayer Friday to remember those who have died and been infected by the virus.

The tribe reported 10 new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday and three more deaths, bringing the total number of cases to 29,968 and 1,222 deaths.

We recognize the hardships, sacrifices and losses that our people continue to endure and we pray for protection and recovery from COVID-19, and we thank our health care workers and frontline workers who put themselves in harms way to help our Navajo people to save countless lives, Navajo President Jonathan Nez said in a statement.
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Tanzanian Vice President Samia Suluhu Hassan has implied that President John Magufuli, who has not made a public appearance for two weeks, could be indisposed but urged people to refrain from rumour-mongering. Magufuli has been leading the list of COVID-19 sceptics and refused to publish the country's coronavirus statistics since May last year. Despite repeated requests by the WHO, his administration has reported only initial 500 cases and 20 deaths, triggering speculations of a hidden pandemic.

'flu or fever'

Meanwhile, Hassan, speaking to state-owned KDRTV, revealed that the president might be suffering from flu or fever. It is quite normal for a persons body to be indisposed and contract the flu or develop a fever this is the time for Tanzanians to be united through prayers, she said referring to Magufuli. This comes as a huge revelation from the administration which previously denied his illness and even arrested one person who claimed that the president was unwell. Hassan also asked the country's residents from spreading and believing in rumours. Calling for unity, she said that most of the misinformation and rumours were created by foreign forces.

As Tanzanians, we must work together, be united and build our nation. Most of the rumours you hear dont originate in Tanzania. They come from outside the country. I ask you to ignore them. If it is about prayers, pray, but all in all, we should remain united and take Tanzania forward. We are safe, she said.

Meanwhile, Tundu Lissu, an opposition leader has urged authorities to publicly disclose the health condition of Magufuli. "He has not been seen in public since Feb. 24," he told the press reporters. He also claimed that the president was hospitalized in Dar es Salaam for three days. When his condition deteriorated he was taken abroad, he said. Last week, a report circulating in the Kenyan media reported that the president was admitted to a top hospital in Nairobi.

Last month, Magufuli has formally acknowledged that there was a covid problem within the nation. Addressing the local press on February 21, President John Magufuli asked citizens to wear locally manufactured masks and take health safety precautions amid fears of COVID-19 spread and surge in the confirmed cases.

(Image Credits: AP)
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-17 16:35:38|Editor: huaxia

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PHNOM PENH, March 17 (Xinhua) -- The National Assembly of Cambodia issued a statement on Wednesday voicing its "utter dismay" over the European Parliament's recent resolution on the mass trials against perpetrators linked to the "9 November 2019 plot" in the country.

As an independent and sovereign state, Cambodia is entitled to pursuing its policy of self-determination in order to protect its national interests, including peace, stability, and prosperity, the statement said.

"We do not tolerate any intentions and activities that aim to disrupt the fabrics of the country's hard-earned peace and stability," it said.

The statement said the trials of the perpetrators linked to the "9 November 2019 plot" are in full conformity with the kingdom's Constitution and related laws.

"Any attempt to plot an insurrection through the use of defamatory languages, incitement to violence and a call upon the armed forces to overthrow a legitimate government are unlawful and must be denounced," it said.

"We therefore urge the European Parliament to have an objective assessment on the political development in Cambodia and continue to constructively engage with diverse political groups in Cambodia based on the principles of mutual trust, mutual respect, and mutual interest," it added.

The statement came after the European Parliament on March 11 adopted a resolution on Cambodia's mass trials against perpetrators linked to the "9 November 2019 plot", particularly former leaders of the Supreme Court-dissolved Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) with its president Sam Rainsy sentenced to 25 years in prison and eight others from 20 to 22 years in jail over a failed coup attempt. Enditem
VANCOUVER, BC, March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Augusta Gold Corp. (OTCQB: AUGG) (CSE: G) (FSE: 11B) ("Augusta Gold" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has received conditional approval to list its common shares on the Toronto Stock Exchange (the "TSX"). Concurrent with the TSX listing, the common shares of Augusta Gold will be de-listed from the Canadian Securities Exchange. Augusta Gold's trading symbol will remain "G" on the TSX.

Maryse Belanger, President and CEO commented: "We are very pleased to have reached this milestone. As we continue to advance the Bullfrog Gold Project, graduating to the TSX is expected to provide increased global visibility of the Company, access to capital and enhance liquidity for our shareholders."

Final approval of the listing is subject to the Company meeting certain customary conditions required by the TSX. The Company will issue a press release once the TSX confirms the date when trading of Augusta Gold common shares is expected to commence on the TSX.

Shareholders are not required to exchange their share certificates or take any other action in connection with the TSX listing, as there will be no change in the trading symbol or CUSIP for the Company's common shares.

About Augusta Gold

Augusta Gold is a rapidly growing exploration and development company focused on building a long-term business that delivers stakeholder value through developing the Bullfrog Gold Project and pursing accretive M&A opportunities. The Bullfrog Gold Project is located in the prolific Bullfrog district approximately 120 miles north-west of Las Vegas, Nevada and 4 miles west of Beatty, Nevada. The Company controls approximately 7,800 acres of mineral rights including the Bullfrog and Montgomery-Shoshone deposits and has further identified significant additional mineralization around the existing pits and defined several exploration targets that could further enhance the Project. The Company is led by a management team and board of directors with a proven track record of success in financing and developing mining assets and delivering shareholder value. For more information please visit www.augustagold.com.

Forward Looking Statements

Certain statements and information contained in this new release constitute "forward-looking statements", and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws (collectively, "forward-looking statements"). These statements appear in a number of places in this new release and include statements regarding our intent, including the Company's common shares being listed on the TSX and delisted from the Canadian Securities Exchange; and that graduating to the TSX is expected to provide increased global visibility of the Company, access to capital and enhance liquidity for our shareholders. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. When used in this news release words such "will", "expected" similar expressions are intended to identify these forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements and/or information are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements since the Company can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements, including the risks, uncertainties and other factors identified in the Company's periodic filings with Canadian securities regulators, and assumptions made with regard to the Company satisfying the requirements of the TSX's conditional approval letter; the ability to advance exploration efforts at the Bullfrog Gold Project; the results of such exploration efforts; the ability to secure adequate financing; the Company maintaining its current strategy and objectives; and the Company's ability to achieve its growth objectives. These forward-looking statements are based largely on current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends affecting the financial condition of our business. These forward-looking statements were derived using numerous assumptions regarding expected project parameters, results of operations, performance and business prospects and opportunities that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. While the company considers these assumptions to be reasonable, based on information currently available, they may prove to be incorrect.

Forward-looking statements are based on information available at the time those statements are made and/or management's and/or its qualified persons' good faith belief as of that time with respect to future events, and are subject to information currently available, they may prove to be incorrect. Forward-looking statements are based on information available at the time those statements are made and/or management's and/or its qualified persons' good faith belief as of that time with respect to future events, and are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties outlined in the Company's corporate disclosure and other documents filed on www.sedar.com, that could cause actual performance or results to differ materially from those expressed in or suggested by the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date those statements are made. Except as required by applicable law, we assume no obligation to update or to publicly announce the results of any change to any forward-looking statement contained herein to reflect actual results, future events or developments, changes in assumptions or changes in other factors affecting the forward- looking statements. If we update any one or more forward-looking statements, no inference should be drawn that we will make additional updates with respect to those or other forward-looking statements. You should not place undue importance on forward-looking statements and should not rely upon these statements as of any other date. All forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement.

SOURCE Augusta Gold Corp.
Inc has raised $3.1 billion in its secondary listing, according to a filing by the Chinese internet search giant.

New York-listed said it will sell 95 million shares at HK$252 ($32.45) apiece as part of the transaction.



The deal showed that the desire of Hong Kong's retail investors to buy into new stock market transactions shows no signs of slowing.



The retail tranche of the deal, which was worth 5% of the total share sale, was about 100 times oversubscribed, sources told Reuters, who added the institutional tranche was covered multiple times.



At that rate, 12% of the deal will be sold to those retail investors under Hong Kong's "clawback" rules. operates a "clawback" system where heavy oversubscription from small investors can result in them getting a greater share.



Demand for margin loans to buy into Baidu's deal also remains strong. Online broker Futu recorded 90,000 subscriptions from investors to borrow HK$14.7 billion in margin loans, according to a spokesman.



The price of HK$252.00 is a 2.7% discount to Baidu's closing price of $266.78 in New York on Tuesday, when its American Depository Shares (ADS) rose 0.47%.



The company's U.S.-listed shares fell 2.4% to $260.26 in early trading.



Baidu's shares are 23.37% higher so far this year and gained 4.6% while the bookbuild was underway.



One ADS is equivalent to eight of its Hong Kong shares, the company said. The shares will start trading on the Hong Kong market on March 23.



Baidu is the 15th Chinese company listed in the United States to carry out a so-called homecoming listing since Alibaba Group began the trend in November 2019.


Rumors about insecurity of AstraZeneca may be associated with an information attack from the Russian Federation, the purpose of which is to clear the pharmaceutical market for Sputnik 5, Minister of Culture of Ukraine Oleksandr Tkachenko said.

"The Sputnik has not yet been approved for use in the European Union. The Kremlin, of course, blamed the United States and its partners for all their problems. And right away with this, suddenly comes a wave of information about the allegedly existing danger of Sputnik's direct competitor - the AstraZeneca vaccine. Much like scorched earth tactics. Destroy a competitor vaccine with information, so that later European politicians will be allowed to use Sputnik," Tkachenko wrote in his Telegram channel.

He said that the World Health Organization (WHO) and the European Medicines Agency do not officially record the presence of deaths due to vaccinations with AstraZeneca vaccine or the connection between this drug and blood clots.

At the same time, Tkachenko recommends checking the sources of such information.

"I would very carefully check from which sources the information about the pseudo danger of the AstraZeneca vaccine appeared and who lobbied the spread of these horror films in the European media. Because I do not believe in such coincidences," the minister said.

"Five days passed since my vaccination with the AstraZeneca vaccine. I feel as good as on the day of vaccination," Tkachenko said.






Charges against exotic car culture personality Benjamin Chen in connection with a chain of collisions involving a modified Porsche Carrera GT in New York City last year were dismissed Monday. The New York Criminal Court released a statement saying the charges of reckless driving and operating under the influence had to be dropped because they "[...] cannot be proven beyond a reasonable doubt," Road & Track reports.

Chen was allegedly driving the Gemballa Mirage GT that left a trail of destruction through the Hells Kitchen neighborhood of Manhattan last April. Police arrested Chen after the GT struck several other vehicles, scattering debris along 11th Avenue before coming to a stop near 44th Street, just north of the Javits Center, which was still serving as a field hospital for coronavirus patients at the time the incident took place.

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Chen is a supercar collector and the co-founder of Gold Rush Rally, an annual rally of exotic and luxury vehicles. This Instagram video surfaced of the hoodie-wearing driver, who resembled Chen, being ordered out of the vehicle by responding officers.

The Gemballa Mirage GT is a modified Porsche Carrera GT that can cost north of $750,000, depending on how you have it personalized. The car involved in the incident was identified as Chen's by its custom finish and vanity plate, the former being well-documented online. Chen's was the 23rd Mirage conversion produced and it appeared to suffer quite a bit of damage. Photos and videos from the scene depict a car with a severely compromised suspension and extensive body damage. However, with the bulk of the carnage appearing to be reserved for the front of the car, this mid-engine piece of unobtanium might still be worth fixing.
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President Joe Biden received the traditional Shamrock Bowl from Irish Taioseach Micheal Martin in honor of St. Patrick's Day but the two leaders had to celebrate virtually because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The White House will be bathed in green light on Wednesday night to mark St. Patrick's Day. The saint is the patron saint of Ireland and March 17 marks the date of his death. Additionally, the fountains on the North and South Lawn of the White House were colored green for the occasion.

Biden - who is the first Irish Catholic president since John F. Kennedy was elected in 1960 - stressed his Irish roots and Americans' affection for its neighbor across the Atlantic.

'I want to thank you for the Shamrock Bowl,' Biden said from the Oval Office with Martin beamed in on a screen next to him and the crystal bowl of shamrocks on a table at his side. 'It's a great tradition, a custom that goes all the way back to Harry Truman.

Martin said the bowl symbolized the friendship between Ireland and the United States with the green representing a brighter future.

'The bowl of the shamrock in front of you is a symbol of the undying friendship between our two countries. The symbol of the good times we have shared and the challenges we have endured  always at each others side. The green shoots, point to the brighter future,' Martin said.

Both men wore green ties with a small boutonniere of shamrock on the lapel of their jackets.

President Joe Biden received the traditional Shamrock Bowl from Irish Taioseach Micheal Martin in honor of St. Patrick's Day

Prime Minister Micheal Martin said the bowl symbolized the friendship between Ireland and the United States with the green representing a brighter future

During the meeting, held virtually because of the coronavirus pandemic, Joe Biden spoke of his Irish roots and his love for the Irish

The White House is going green for the holiday

Biden mentioned his great-grandparents came from Ireland and noted his Grandpa Ambrose Finnegan would tell him: 'Joey remember, the best drop of blood in me is Irish.'

The president also noted he still has family in Ireland including a cousin who works in healthcare and heads up a hospice there that just dedicated a new facility dedicated to Beau, his son who died of brain cancer in 2015.

'We celebrate the deep, deep affection that the Americans have - particularly Irish Americans - have for Ireland and the people of Ireland,' Biden said of St. Patrick's Day. 'Everything between Ireland and the United States runs deep.'

The president started his St. Patrick's Day with mass in his home state. He stopped at the Church of St. Patrick in his hometown, where an Irish flag hung outside to mark the occasion.

During the virtual meeting with Martin, Biden reiterated U.S. support for the Good Friday Agreement, which helped end the violence around whether Northern Ireland should remain part of the U.K. or Ireland. The agreement has come under strain since the United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union.

'We strongly support them, think it's critically important they be maintained, and the political economic stability of Northern Ireland is very much in the interest of all our peoples,' Biden said.

President Biden arrives at the White House on St. Patrick's Day with the green fountain visible behind him on the South Lawn

Vice President Kamala Harris takes part in a virtual bilateral meeting with Ireland's Prime Minister Micheal Martin

President Biden wished everyone a Happy St. Patrick's Day as headed back to Washington D.C. after attending mass in Wilmington

The White House dyed the water in the fountains green for the holiday and the building will be bathed in green light Wednesday evening

The Irish prime minister has a standing invitation to spend St. Patrick's Day at the White House. Previous presidents have hosted the taioseach, as the prime minister is known, in the Oval Office.

Biden, who's known for quoting Irish poets in his speeches, visited Ireland as vice president and often talks of his love for his Irish heritage.

Martin sent the bowl of shamrocks to the White House ahead of the meeting. The presentation of the bowl has taken place every year since 1952.

The White House described the bowl as 'beautifully engraved.' The engraving contained Biden's name and the date it was presented to him at the White House.

The plant was delivered to the White House last Friday by the Embassy of Ireland. According to Irish Ambassador Daniel Mulhall, the shamrock has been grown for more than 20 years on the same farm in Ballinskelligs in the County Kerry on the West Coast of the country.

'They always say over there that this is the closest parish to America,' Mulhall said.

Biden and Martin also discussed the coronavirus pandemic during their virtual meeting.

'We have all enjoyed the most difficult year,' Martin said. 'But alongside the suffering of the last, we have seen immense compassion, care, and courage, especially from our headquarters for educators and our volunteers. We have seen the world's best scientists come together to deliver treatments, vaccines, and hope at extraordinary pace. And I say let the same spirit of cooperation now, speed and guide or recovery in the year ahead.'

It is Biden's third virtual meeting with a foreign leader, following ones with the leaders of Canada and Mexico.

A Secret Service agent walks among motorcade vehicles parked at St. Patrick's Church as President Joe Biden attends a morning service in Wilmington

First Lady Jill Biden was in New Hampshire on Wednesday visiting an elementary school but she wore green in honor of St. Patrick's Day

On Wednesday, Biden will also stop by Vice President Kamala Harris' virtual meeting with First Minister Arlene Foster and deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill of the Northern Ireland Executive to express his support for the Good Friday Agreement.

Harris held a virtual meeting with Martin Wednesday morning, which took place of the traditional breakfast the vice president has with the Irish prime minister.
Dolly Parton got her first paying job as a musician at the age of 10. She auditioned for the Cas Walker Farm and Home Hour and won over the grocery store mogul with her tenacious personality and obvious talent. But who exactly was Cas Walker?

Dolly Parton, 1978 | Richard McCaffrey/Michael Ochs Archive/Getty Images

Who was Cas Walker of the Farm and Home Hour?

If you ask Parton who Walker was, shed tell you: an old raccoon hunter who started selling groceries door-to-door with a wheelbarrow, according to her 2020 book, Dolly Parton, Songteller: My Life in Lyrics. Shed also tell you he was a real character.

Cas Walker was born in Sevier County, like Parton, in 1902. According to The Smokies, he left home at 14 to work for a paper mill in North Carolina. Later, he headed to Kentucky to work in the coal mines.

When he saved up enough money, Walker returned to East Tennessee and bought a grocery store. Eventually, he bought another and another until he had a chain of markets.

RELATED: Dolly Parton on the Time She Found Her Mothers Diaphragm as a Child

In order to promote his stores, Walker bought some radio time and started the Farm and Home Hour. The show eventually moved to television and was on the air for 54 years.

Walker was also infamously involved in politics. From 1941 to 1971, he served on the Knoxville city council, where his fiery demeanor kept him in the spotlight. In 1956, Life Magazine published a photo of him about to punch J.S. Cooper, a fellow city councilman, over a debate concerning property assessments.

When Dolly Parton auditioned for Cas Walker

Partons Uncle Bill Owens acted as a sort of manager when she was a child. He noticed she had a gift for songwriting and music, so he bought her her first guitar and brought her around to local radio shows in the hopes that some of them would let her perform. One of those radio shows was the Farm and Home Hour.

Bill and I went down there, me with my little guitar and him with his big ol Gretsch guitar, wrote Parton. It was 1956, and I was ten years old. My two big numbers at the time were I Love a Tall Man by Rose Maddox and the George Jones song You Gotta Be My Baby, which was a hit that year.

Parton took the stage and performed You Gotta Be My Baby. She says the crowd loved [her].

They just applauded and applauded, she wrote. I looked back at my uncle Bill, because I didnt know what to do. He said, Just sing it again! So I sang it two or three times.

Dolly Parton performed on the Farm and Home Hour for 8 years

After her audition, Parton went to Walker and told him she wanted to work for him. He told her: Well, then youve got a job, because youre the only person that ever said they would work.

RELATED: Dolly Parton Said Johnny Cash Made Her Feel Like a Woman

After each show, Walker would take a $5 bill out of his pocket and hand it to Parton. She became a regular guest from the time she was 10 until she left home for Nashville after graduating high school.

But Parton returned to the show in 1967 to perform the second single from her debut album, Hello, Im Dolly. This time, the performance was in color.
Global beverage leader Diageo has acquired Far West Spirits LLC, owner of hard seltzer brand Lone River Ranch Water.

Native Midlander Katie Beal-Brown founded The Lone River Ranch Water brand in 2019. She will retain a minority interest and continue to lead the business on a day-to-day basis as CEO. She will work closely with Diageo North America leadership to build further on Lone River Ranch Waters success.

The brand is inspired by the spirit of West Texas and adventure, taking inspiration from the ranch water cocktail enjoyed by Beal-Browns family for generations. The brand has three unique flavors of ranch water including Original, Spicy -- features a kick of jalapeno -- and Rio Red Grapefruit that has a squeeze of red grapefruit juice the Texas state fruit.

Diageo is a global company whose products are sold in more than 180 countries. The companys collection of brands include Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, JeB, Buchanans and Windsor whiskies, Smirnoff, Ciroc and Ketel One vodkas, Captain Morgan, Baileys, Don Julio, Tanqueray and Guinness.
Russian investigators ask Italian authorities to seize two villas of ex-minister Abyzov

 RIA Novosti, Maxim Blinov

17:08 17/03/2021

MOSCOW, March 17 (RAPSI)  Russias Investigative Committee has turned to Italian authrorities with a request to seize two villas belonging to the former Minister of the Open Government of Russia Mikhail Abyzov, the press service of the body reports.

A Russian court has ruled in favor of a petition submitted by investigators as to the seizure of the said property. Taking into account this decision, the Investigative Committee sends a request for legal assistance to the competent authorities of the Italian Republic with the aim of seizing the property of the accused abroad, according to the statement.

Basing on the information available to investigators, the total cost of the real estate in question makes about 2 billion rubles ($27.5 million at the current exchange rate). One of the villas was registered by Abyzov in the name of his son, the other formally belongs to an Italian company, the ultimate beneficiary of which is the former minister.

Abyzov is a defendant in a criminal case over embezzlement of 4 billion rubles (about $55 million) from two energy companies supplying electricity to Siberia.

Investigators believe that Abyzov acting as the beneficiary owner of several offshore companies organized a criminal group to steal 4 billion rubles (about $55 million) from Sibirskaya Energeticheskaya Kompaniya and Regionalnye Elektricheskiye Seti. Later, the embezzled funds were moved overseas.

The fact of legalization of money by Abyzov and other defendants was established thanks to effective interaction with Russian finance watchdog Rosfinmonitoring and with the assistance of the competent authorities of the Republic of Cyprus, the Investigative Committee informed earlier.
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Utah County Sheriff's Office

A body found at American Fork Canyon in Utah on Tuesday is believed to be a missing hiker whom authorities have been searching for since Monday evening.

Bobby Healey, 28, was last seen around 12 p.m. local time on Sunday while hiking in the mountains near the mouth of the canyon, Utah County Sheriff's Sgt. Spencer Cannon tells PEOPLE.

"While we believe this is the body of Bobby Healey, official identification will be made by the Utah Medical Examiner tomorrow," Cannon says in a statement to PEOPLE. "It was evident that the victim sustained serious trauma over most of his body, likely after falling while climbing from somewhere near the top of the cliff."

Healey's family began searching for him on Monday after they were unable to contact him and discovered his car in a parking lot near the mouth of American Fork Canyon and contacted law enforcement, Cannon says.

Utah County Sheriff's Office

RELATED: 4-Year-Old Boy Identified as Among Those Killed After Small Plane Crashed into Car in Florida

Crews searched until around 11 p.m. on Monday, before resuming the search early Tuesday morning. Cannon tells PEOPLE that an aircraft spotted some footprints in snow in the search area and, a short time later, located a body at an elevation of about 7,200 feet on a steep slope below a rocky cliff.

Healey  who is from Saratoga Springs, Utah  was an avid hiker and would frequently take day trips alone, his family said, according to ABC News.

Never miss a story  sign up for PEOPLE's free weekly newsletter to get the biggest news of the week delivered to your inbox every Friday.

The family "wasn't concerned until into Monday when they couldn't get ahold of him," Cannon told the outlet.

As many as 20 people took part in a five-mile search for Healey on Monday, KUTV reports.

However, even with ground crews and helicopters with search lights, officials said that the area was going to be extremely difficult to search.
Australian stars have traded the bright lights of Hollywood for Canberra's corridors of power in a bid to get more local shows on Netflix.

Actors Simon Baker, Bryan Brown, Marta Dusseldorp and Justine Clarke joined producers and senior screen industry representatives at Parliament House on Tuesday.

The group wants the government to stamp a 20 per cent local content guarantee into law for streaming sites like Netflix and Stan.

Australian stars have traded the bright lights of Hollywood for Canberra's corridors of power in a bid to get more local shows on Netflix

It would mean 20 per cent of a streaming service's Australian revenue would go towards local content.

US film productions have descended on Australia during the coronavirus pandemic due to the nation's success with the health crisis.

While it has created local jobs, Baker warned it was a "sugar hit".

"What we need to do is protect for the future and help develop a richer, stronger more potent Australian voice," The Mentalist star said.

Baker said the screen industry was a primary source for Australian voices to be heard.

"We can understand more clearly who we are as a nation, we can celebrate the diverse aspects of our culture through what's on screen," he said.

Brown warned against the government reducing the producer offset - a refundable tax offset - to 30 per cent from 40 per cent.

"It seems like one of the reasons they're doing this is because they're chucking a lot of money at overseas films that are coming here," he said.

"We've been here before. We do know that probably once COVID is gone, they're gone. So we've got to make sure once again that we look after our own stories, our own film industry."

Dusseldorp said France and Canada were making moves on local content guarantees.

"We're not setting the standard, we're meeting it," she said.

The group, also including media union boss Paul Murphy and Screen Producers Australia chief Matthew Deaner, are encouraged by the federal government's work getting digital giants to pay for local news content.

They say it shows the government has an appetite to tackle big problems and challenge big businesses.

The group met with Communications Minister Paul Fletcher on the local content issue and are urging him to act quickly.
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According to Stratistics MRC, the Global Nephrostomy Devices Market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 8.0% during the forecast period. Factors such as growing incidence of kidney stone and rising incidence of ovarian cancer, bladder cancer and prostate cancer are propelling the market growth. However, alternative measures such as ureteral stenting is hampering the market growth.

Nephrostomy catheter is the most important option for drainage of an obstructed urine collecting system. It is generally inserted under local anesthetic, which works by temporarily diverting urine from place of blockade. Hydronephrosis is the common indication characterized by blockade of one or both the ureters, for which nephrostomy catheters are used.

By Product Type, Guidewires segment has a significant growth during the forecast period due to this devices are flexible and have other properties including kink resistance and pushability. Based on geography, North America has the largest market share during the forecast period due to the availability of highly skilled professionals and the occurrence of well-equipped healthcare infrastructure are some of the factors driving the market growth in this region.

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Some of the key players profiled in the Nephrostomy Devices Market include Boston Scientific Corporation , Teleflex Incorporated, Cardinal Health Inc., Medi-globe Corporation, Argon Medical Devices, Inc., Merit Medical Systems, Inc., Angiodynamics Inc, Cook Medical, Olympus Corporation, Coloplast Group, BD and Medtronic Inc.

Product Types Covered:

 Sheath Dilators

 Nephrostomy Catheters

 Drainage Tubes

 Guidewires

 Other Product Types

End Users Covered:

 Ambulatory Surgical Centers

 Specialty Clinics

 Hospitals

Regions Covered:

 North America

o US

o Canada

o Mexico

 Europe

o Germany

o UK

o Italy

o France

o Spain

o Rest of Europe

 Asia Pacific

o Japan

o China

o India

o Australia

o New Zealand

o South Korea

o Rest of Asia Pacific

 South America

o Argentina

o Brazil

o Chile

o Rest of South America

 Middle East & Africa

o Saudi Arabia

o UAE

o Qatar

o South Africa

o Rest of Middle East & Africa

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What our report offers:

 Market share assessments for the regional and country level segments

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 Strategic analysis: Drivers and Constraints, Product/Technology Analysis, Porters five forces analysis, SWOT analysis etc.

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The operation is ongoing, but AFP Counter Terrorism and Special Investigations Assistant Commissioner Scott Lee said there was no threat to community safety. The community can be reassured that weve taken action at an early stage to ensure that theres no risk to the public, and were confident that the action that weve taken today has mitigated that risk, Mr Lee said. Assistant Commissioner Michael Hermans, Victoria Police Counter Terrorism Command and Assistant Commissioner Scott Lee, AFP Counter Terrorism and Special Investigations. Credit:Victoria Police Mr Hermans said the trio raised concerns due to religious extremism. It is Islamic, but let me make it very clear that we target the crime not the ideology, he said.

Police say two of the men are from the same family. Mr Hermans said the arrested men could face attempted terrorism or acts in preparation of terrorism charges, which can carry heavy penalties, including life in prison. The 16-year-old was interviewed, released and was being provided with counselling services, Mr Hermans said. Investigator escort a suspect to be interviewed by police. Credit:Nine Victoria Police will continue to engage with this young man, offer him support and hopefully divert him away from the activity thats come to our attention this morning, he said.

Mr Lee said aspects of the fire in February made investigators suspect it was motivated by terrorism. There is an ideology, and a violent extremist ideology, that has caused us concern, and its as a result of that ideology that were looking at these incidents being connected to a terrorism motivation, Mr Lee said. There are certain aspects to the lighting of the fire that led us to suspect it was a terrorism motivation. Loading Replay Replay video Play video Play video Mr Hermans said the age of those arrested was very concerning.

Mr Lee said the COVID-19 pandemic had seen a magnification of the online environment, both nationally and globally. Loading What weve seen throughout the COVID period as people have come out of the physical world and been in isolation and driven into the online environment ... thats exacerbated some of the radicalisation that weve seen, he said. Professor Greg Barton, a counter-terrorism expert at Deakin University, confirmed that Victoria Police and other law enforcement agencies had experienced an increase in counter-terrorism case-loads during the COVID-19 lockdown, particularly in relation to far-right extremism and conspiracy theorists. However, Professor Barton said there had also been a jump in online radicalisation by Islamic extremists.

Theres a strong desire now theres no more al-Qaeda attacks in big cities and the Islamic State thing has come and gone to think we can breathe easy, he said. Loading But the agencies are saying that their case-loads are going up and the amount of time they are spending on Islamic radicalisation is also increasing. In November last year, the United Nations expressed concerns about intensified terrorist activities during the pandemic and that violent extremist groups would seek to exploit the global disruption caused by COVID-19. Separately on Wednesday, the head of the nations domestic spy agency, ASIO boss Mike Burgess, announced he will stop referring to Islamic extremism and right-wing extremism, saying his organisation needs to be conscious that the names and labels it uses are important.

He said his agency would now use the umbrella terms of religiously motivated violent extremism and ideologically motivated extremism in a significant change to the language it uses to talk about the threats facing the nation. Director of the Forum of Australias Islamic Relations, Kuranda Seyit, who has worked in anti-radicalisation programs for Muslim youth, said it was premature to make any comments about the arrests but he was concerned authorities had identified the religious background of the offenders. I feel this is something that should be avoided, because crime has no religion, Mr Seyit said. He shouldnt have mentioned the persons religion because nothings been ascertained as to their religious backgrounds or their religiosity. Police have encouraged anyone with information about extremist activity or possible threats to the community to come forward.

Blinken is visiting Japan and South Korea along with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin in a bid to fortify Washington's alliances in Asia, in a first overseas trip by top level members of President Joe Biden's administration.

Blinken is expected to meet South Korean Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong later in the day to discuss bilateral issues and regional cooperation, according to Seoul's Foreign Ministry.

Following the meetings with South Korean counterparts, Blinken and Austin on Thursday (March 18) are scheduled to hold further talks on global cooperation and alliance between the two countries, the ministry added.

Video Transcript

[WHIRRING]

[CHATTER]
French lawmakers backed a bill late Monday setting the minimum age of sexual consent at 15, marking a major step in a country with traditionally permissive attitudes about sex.

Members of the lower house of parliament voted unanimously to bring France's consent laws in line with most other Western countries, following a wave of allegations of sexual abuse and incest described as France's second #MeToo movement.

Under the bill, sex with children under 15 would be considered rape, punishable by up to 20 years in prison, unless there is a small age gap between the two partners.

Justice Minister Eric Dupond-Moretti said the vote sent a clear message: "Children are off-limits".

Under current French law, prosecutors had to prove that a minor was forced, threatened or tricked into having sex with an adult in order to bring charges of rape or sexual assault.

The draft law was initiated by members of the Senate, who had suggested the age of consent be set at 13, which would have been one of the lowest in Europe.

But President Emmanuel Macron's government pushed for it to be set higher.

The bill does allow for sex between a teen and a young adult up to five years older -- a gap criticised by some MPs as too large but which Dupond-Moretti defended, saying he did not want "to put a youngster aged 18 on trial because he had consensual sex with a girl aged fourteen and a half."

The bill, which was the subject of some 300 amendments in the lower house National Assembly, now returns to the Senate for a final vote.

The legislation also cracks down on online paedophilia, with any person caught trying to groom children aged under 15 for sexual acts over the internet facing up to 10 years in prison and a fine of 150,000 euros ($180,000).

The issue of consent has repeatedly come up for debate since 2018 when it emerged that a 28-year-old man, who had sex with an 11-year-old girl he met in a park, had initially been charged with a lesser sexual offence, not rape.

The case caused a public outcry in France, where sex between adults and minors has previously often been shrugged off as harmless in cases where the encounter was presented as consensual, usually by the adult.

The country's top appeals court is this week set to rule on another case involving allegations of child abuse.

The case was brought by a woman, named as "Julie" in press reports, who claims she was raped by over 20 firefighters when she was aged 13-15 and was repeatedly hospitalised for severe anxiety attacks.

In France, the ambulance service is staffed by firefighters.

The accused claimed she consented to sex, which she denies.
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Lately, cartoonist and animator Aminder Dhaliwal has been drawing monsters. It might have been a result of drawing women for so long, she says, referring to her acclaimed debut graphic novel, Woman World, but I started drawing more grotesque things. It slowly segued into the idea of sexualizing monsters. Dhaliwal drew a cartoon of a cyclops woman with a single breast and posted it on Instagram to delighted responses. This became the seed of her latest funny, socially-aware, fantasy graphic novel, Cyclopedia Exotica, to be published by Drawn & Quarterly in April.

Cyclopedia Exotica takes place in a world in which cyclopes live alongside two-eyed people and are treated as a minority group. The book opens as an encyclopedia of cyclops history, biology, and culture before a cyclops interrupts the columns of facts to say, Blegh! What a dull way to learn about a minority. From that point, the cyclopes take over the story.

The loose narrative follows several groups of characters as they navigate the strange, often silly, but undeniably familiar issues of cyclopean vs. two-eyed society. The cast includes a model and activist who was the first cyclops to pose in her worlds equivalent of Playboy, a cyclops/two-eyed couple expecting their first baby, a victim of failed eye-separation surgery who is dealing with his body issues, and a pair of provocative avant-garde cyclops artists whose works the other characters struggle to understand. They inhabit a world of cyclops-focused phone apps and beauty products, thorny interspecies dating etiquette, anti-cyclops slogans like ADAM & EVE NOT ADAM & ONE-EYE, and a socially conscious childrens book, Suzys One Eye.

Born and raised in England, Dhaliwal moved with her family to Ontario in the 1990s when she was in middle school. Growing up, the first comics she noticed were Archie comic books, which were everywhere in India when she visited the country on family trips. But her interest in comics wasnt really sparked until high school, when a student exchange program landed her in the room of a Vancouver student who owned a collection of Shonen Jump, an English-language edition of the popular Japanese manga magazine. I remember going to the school for the program, she recalls, but in my head I was just counting how long until I could get back to her room to read more.

After high school, Dhaliwal enrolled in Sheridan College in Ontario to pursue a career in animation, which had fascinated her from early childhood. That background in animation got me excited about giving things life, she says. It didnt really set me up for writing or that much narrative storytelling, but it did give me the fundamentals of drawing and the discipline to do something again and again and again.

Dhaliwal moved to L.A. in 2011 after college and became a flexible talent in the animation industry, writing, storyboarding and directing for series including The Fairly OddParents, Sanjay and Craig and The Owl House, while working for Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network, and Disney Television Animation. Working on storyboards pushed her to develop her narrative skills and become more adept at building plots and characters.

The life of a working animator includes a lot of downtime between projects and airdates, so Dhaliwal began to fill that time with personal projects in comics and illustration. I was exhausted at not being able to share the things I made, she explains. A huge element of being an artist is getting to share what you draw. Dhaliwal began posting her art on Instagram and found renewed satisfaction in the give-and-take with her online audience. I got to this low point where I felt like I wasn't drawing for myself, I was just drawing for companies, she says, so it was all about rebuilding what it meant to be an artist for me.

Inspired by the Women's March

Dhaliwals first graphic novel, Woman World, was inspired by the 2017 Womens March. I saw all the signs that said, The Future Is Female, and I was thinking on that for a while, about what it would be like if the future was female. Dhaliwal sketched some gags set in a post-apocalyptic world without men and posted them online. In one, the women hold a council to debate, What will the straight women do?! only to decide they all skewed bi anyway.

Readers loved the comics. I had a couple of ideas for gags and jokes, Dhaliwal says, and before I knew it, it started taking off and I enjoyed living in that world more and more.

Woman World follows a small colony of survivors in a world where men have gone extinct, from an elderly trans woman trying to remember enough to be the communitys keeper of history to a little girl whose only knowledge of men comes from a DVD of Paul Blart: Mall Cop. Together they build a new Beyonce-worshipping, clothing-optional society. In short, humorous sequences, the women scavenge the ruins of civilization, grow food, fall in and out of love, work on plans to repopulate the planet, and meditate on cosmic questions like, Why did men have nipples?

Setting a comedy in the ruins of global disaster came naturally to Dhaliwal. You watch post-apocalyptic movies sometimes and they're just so furious, she says. Sometimes things happen, and as horrifying as they are, it's a very human thing to joke about them. The way we deal with trauma and hardships is to make a joke or to make something silly.

After studying and sketching many different mythological monsters to brainstorm ideas, Dhaliwal was drawn to using cyclopes because except for the fact that they sometimes appear as gigantic monsters, anatomically they just have the eye as the only difference. It was interesting to think about how one difference could create a chasm between two groups of people and define them as monsters.

Cyclopedia Exotica is dedicated to those who dont feel seen, and the nature of the cyclops inspires irresistible metaphors around eyes, being seen, and who owns societys gaze. A cyclops is a creature with one eye at the mercy of these other creatures who have two eyes, feeling like you're being judged twice as much, says Dhaliwal. You're being stared at, but you don't feel like you're being seen. In one sequence, based on Dhaliwals own experience, a cyclops woman endures stares and slurs from a disturbed woman on a bus, while the other passengers awkwardly avert their eyes, until the cyclops finds a way to fight back. But just as often, the premise provides opportunities for visual gags, eye puns, and unexpected anatomical jokes (in the world of Cyclopedia Exotica, cyclops women have one breastbut a surprising number of vaginas).

Both Woman World and Cyclopedia Exotica use fantastical settings to tell stories about marginalized people, social justice, and communities with diverse casts of characters. Dhaliwal, like many writers, finds that speculative fiction makes it easier to grapple with real-world issues and opens up unexpected possibilities. I love fantasy and I love sci-fi, she says, and it's easier to intake issues through that lens.

While Woman World is a lightly connected series of gags and short scenarios, Cyclopedia Exotica has a firmer narrative arc, in which the characters evolve, interact, and reach personal resolution by the end of the book. Dhaliwal says she came up with a blueprint to give some form and direction to her typically free-flowing comedy. Although, she adds, there are times now that I open up Woman World and I'm really happy that it doesn't have much of a narrative arc. You can pick it up, read a couple of comics, and put it down.

In the end, Dhaliwal hopes readers connect to the characters in Cyclopedia Exotica, regardless of eye count. I hope they can see a little bit of themselves in it, on both sides. Hopefully there are enough good two-eyed characters in there as well as good cyclopes, she says. But to find a little bit of yourself in a book is always heartwarming.
Gov. Gavin Newsom's pledge to nominate a Black woman to replace Sen. Dianne Feinstein  even though the senior senator says she has no plans to retire  caught the eyes of many political observers, including the daughter of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Christine Pelosi, an outspoken longtime Democratic Party operative, took to Twitter to accuse the governor of "pushing" Feinstein out to aid his chances in a recall election that appears likely to occur later this year.

"You dont have to like Dianne Feinstein to see that pushing her out of her elected position for a Black woman appointment that you could have made when there was an actual vacancy to win a recall to push you out of your elected position is a very bad look," Pelosi wrote.

Pelosi was reacting to a Sacramento Bee opinion piece headlined, "Gavin Newsom just threw Dianne Feinstein under the bus to save his own skin," in which author Gil Duran writes, "Caesars fictional last words  'et tu, Brute?'  must ring true for Sen. Dianne Feinstein, who now finds herself publicly betrayed by a longtime friend, Gov. Gavin Newsom."

Duran argues that the governor likely made the pledge in an attempt to shore up support with African Americans after some were disappointed he did not select a Black woman to replace Vice President Kamala Harris in the Senate.

Newsom later walked back this pledge, stating that he has "zero expectations the senator will be going anywhere," adding that there has been "too much punditry regarding the situation.

Feinstein has also brushed off the remarks.

"Please, were very good friends," she told reporters in Washington on Tuesday. "I dont think he meant it the way some people thought."
The locally assembled Jeep Wrangler has been launched in India with a price tag of Rs 53.90 lakh and Rs 57.90 lakh (ex-showroom) for the Unlimited and Rubicon variants respectively. The model was originally introduced in India as a CBU product in 2019, while the model will now be assembled at the companys facility in Ranjangon, Maharashtra.

Powering the new Jeep Wrangler is the same 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine that is tuned to produce 268bhp and 400Nm of torque. This motor is paired to an eight-speed transmission, and power is sent to the wheels via an AWD system.

Visual highlights of the locally-assembled 2021 Jeep Wrangler include the signature seven-slat grille design, circular LED headlamps, fender-mounted turn indicators and LED DRLs, 18-inch alloy wheels, a spare wheel mounted on the tail-gate, and LED tail lights.

Inside, the new locally-assembled Jeep Wrangler is equipped with an 8.4-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, voice command system, an Alpine music system, dual-zone climate control, keyless entry, 60:40 split-folding rear seats, and a seven-inch MID.

Jeep Wrangler  53.90 Lakh Onwards

Jeep | Wrangler | Jeep Wrangler
Hurricane season 2021 is here: How do storms get their names?
Seoul, March 17 : Samsung Electronics Co is expected to defend its top status in the global smartphone market this year, despite challenges from Chinese brands, a report showed Wednesday.

Worldwide smartphone shipments are forecast to grow 6.5 per cent on-year to 1.38 billion units in 2021, and Samsung's market share is estimated at 20 per cent, unchanged from a year earlier, according to market researcher Strategy Analytics.

US tech titan Apple Inc is projected to remain second, with its market share also staying the same as that last year, at 16 per cent.

Strategy Analytics said Chinese makers are set to post robust growth this year, taking over market share of their compatriot Huawei that is struggling from US sanctions, reports Yonhap news agency.

The researcher said Xiaomi Corp will rise to the third spot with a share of 13 per cent, up from 11 per cent a year earlier, followed by Vivo with 11 per cent and Oppo with 10 per cent. Both Vivo and Oppo had 9 per cent market share in 2020.

"2021 is going to be the year of Chinese smartphone vendors," Linda Sui, a senior director at Strategy Analytics, said. "In Asia Pacific, Vivo, Xiaomi and Oppo will become top three players driven by aggressive marketing, expanding channel footprints and competitive pricing." In Africa and the Middle East, Strategy Analytics said Chinese smartphone maker Transsion would overtake Samsung as the biggest vendor in the region.

To fend off challenges from Chinese players that are highly competitive in mid-to-low tier smartphones, Samsung pins high hopes on its Galaxy A series.
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A 45-year-old woman was shot dead by bike-borne assailants here on Wednesday.

The victim identified as Meena was from Nepal and was residing in Timarpur in North Delhi, where the attack took place. She used to sell water, snacks and cold drinks.

Police received information about the shooting around 7 a.m.

"Information was received that two assailants came near a shop and fired. They fled with the bike. The injured was shifted to a hospital immediately where she was declared brought dead. A case of murder is being registered," said a senior police officer.

Police has formed several teams to identify and arrest the accused.
Says Neeraj Roy, Chairperson of the Olive Crown Awards Committee and a Past President of the IAA We have been monitoring the rising cases of Covid 19 in our state very closely, which is why we had taken a decision nearly 4 weeks ago to hold the awards with no more than 50 people in attendance and also ensure all safety of our guest and enforce strict social distancing norms.

Whilst we are keen to celebrate the success and creative work in a difficult and challenging year like 2020 towards sustainability and a greener planet, nothing is more important to us than the safety and well-being of our members, our invited guests, winners and indeed all stakeholders associated with the IAA Olive Crown Awards.

Late last evening, the government of Maharashtra has issued an order, dated the 15th of March, 2021, stating that "No Social/Political/Religious gatherings to be allowed.

Respectfully we adhere to the guidelines issued by our government and in light of the same, we have taken the decision to postpone the 11th edition of the IAA Olive Crown Awards, which was scheduled to be held on the 19th of March, 2021 at the ITC Maratha Hotel in Sahar, Mumbai.

The new date for the event will be communicated in due course.

Adds Megha Tata, President IAA "The Olive Crown Awards ceremony are a big draw, more so since the entire process is run as a cause. We were happy that despite the extraordinary circumstances that prevailed last year, the entries, and more importantly the quality of the entries was encouraging. We will wait for the current situation to improve and then announce the winners at an appropriate event.

The Olive Crown Awards Committee would like to thank all partners, members and stakeholders for their understanding and assure them that IAA is committed to holding the IAA Olive Crown Awards at a future date with all the love, care and safety to celebrate the amazing work done by brands, creative agencies, NGOs and selfless individuals all through the year.
Mar. 16SANTA FE  New Mexico legislators granted final approval Tuesday to a bill that would establish an End-of-Life Options Act, sending it to Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham.

The House agreed to the Senate amendments to House Bill 47, the final step necessary for legislative approval.

The measure would allow patients with a terminal illness to seek a doctor's help to end their life. The patient would have to be able to self-administer the life-ending medicine.
A funding body in Hong Kong on Wednesday warned the citys vibrant arts sector that it will soon face much greater scrutiny under a draconian national security law forbidding public criticism of the citys government or the ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP).



The Hong Kong Arts Development Council said in a statement on its website that it was obliged to ensure that any artists, exhibits, or projects using its funding complied with Hong Kong law, including the national security law imposed by Beijing on the city from July 1, 2020.



If the grantee violates the terms and conditions of the agreement in any way, like advocating independence of Hong Kong and overthrowing the Government, [we may] postpone, adjust, or suspend grant disbursement for the grant year, the Council warned.



The statement came after the CCP-backed Ta Kung Pao newspaper ran a front-page article hitting out at the Council for making grants worth just under U.S.$2 million to film projects that supported the 2019 protest movement, which began with a series of mass protests against extradition to mainland China, and broadened to include demands for full democracy and greater official accountability.



These pro-protest film-makers actually got public money to produce so-called works of art that were anti-government, and which beautified the notion of Hong Kong independence, the paper reported on March 17.



An investigation by the Ta Kung Pao revealed that groups and individuals have received nearly H.K.$15 million in grants over the past three years, including the  film about the so-called siege of the Polytechnic University, it said, in a reference to the documentary Behind Red Brick Walls, a screening of which was canceled recently by a Hong Kong movie theater.



The warning came as the United States announced it was adding to the list of sanctioned individuals under the Hong Kong Autonomy Act.



U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said his department had identified 24 individuals who had contributed to undermining Hong Kongs promised autonomy, including including 14 vice chairs of the National Peoples Congress Standing Committee and officials in the Hong Kong Police Forces National Security Division, the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, and the Office for Safeguarding National Security.



The release of todays update to the Hong Kong Autonomy Act report underscores our deep concern with the National Peoples Congress March 11 decision to unilaterally undermine Hong Kongs electoral system, Blinken said, in a reference to new requirements that election candidates be pre-approved by a Beijing-backed committee.



This action further undermines the high degree of autonomy promised to people in Hong Kong and denies Hong Kongers a voice in their own governance, a move that the United Kingdom has declared to be a breach of the Sino-British Joint Declaration, he said, referring to the 1984 treaty governing the 1997 handover to Chinese rule.



Foreign financial institutions that knowingly conduct significant transactions with the individuals listed in todays report are now subject to sanctions, Blinken said.

Top-level meeting scheduled



The announcement comes ahead of Blinkens scheduled meeting with Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi and CCP senior diplomat Yang Jiechi in Alaska, the first ministerial summit with officials from the Biden administration.



Samuel Chu, director of the Washington-based Hong Kong Democracy Council, said the timing of the announcement was important.



This wasnt a routine update, but a deliberate decision made by Washington to add [these] people to the list sanctioned under the Hong Kong Autonomy Act, Chu said.



It shows that Washington is very serious about the changes made by the CCPs National Peoples Congress (NPC) to the Hong Kong electoral system, as well as the mass arrests of democracy activists, Chu said.

'Unprecedented diplomatic isolation'



Wu Qiang, former politics lecturer at Tsinghua University in Beijing, said the U.S. had put China on the back foot with its new policy direction begun under the Trump administration.



"[China] is entering an era of unprecedented diplomatic isolation," Wu said.



"I think the result of these talks with Blinken ... will be similar to that of the meeting between Kosygin and Zhou Enlai in 1969," he said in a reference to a secret meeting between the Chinese and Soviet premiers that paved the way for both sides to step back from war and normalize diplomatic ties.



The Chinese officials sanctioned include Wang Chen, vice chairman of the NPC standing committee and Hong Kong politician Tam Yiu-chung, a member of the same committee who helped to draft the new rules on elections.



Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said China firmly opposes and strongly condemns the latest round of sanctions, and has taken necessary countermeasures.



"The sanctions have exposed the evil intentions of the U.S., which is to meddle in China's internal affairs, create chaos in Hong Kong, and obstruct China's stability and development," Zhao told a regular news briefing in Beijing.



The NPC approved new rules on March 11 preventing anyone from standing for election in Hong Kong without the approval of a newly-expanded committee of Beijing loyalists.



The move came after CCP officials said only those deemed "patriots" by Beijing should be allowed to hold public office in the city.



Reported by Chan Chun-ho for RFAs Cantonese Service, and by Qiao Long for the Mandarin Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.
Pro-life groups ask Supreme Court to stop federal gov't from funding abortions

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A group of pro-life organizations have filed a brief asking the United States Supreme Court to stop the government from expanding the federal funding of abortions.

The American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians & Gynecologists, the Christian Medical and Dental Associations, and the Catholic Medical Association filed a supplemental brief in support of intervention on Monday in the consolidated cases of American Medical Association v. Cochran, Oregon v. Cochran, and Cochran v. Mayor and City Council of Baltimore.

At issue in the cases is a 2019 rule enacted during the Trump administration that prohibits federal Title X family planning funding to go to entities that provide or promote abortions.

In the supplemental brief, the pro-life groups expressed opposition to a proposed dismissal of the challenge by the Biden administration, which will likely reverse the 2019 rule.

When the federal government issues valid administrative rules, the public interest supports enforcing those rules until they are changed through proper regulatory procedures. Abandonment of valid statutes and regulations signals the demise of the rule of law itself, stated the brief, in part.

The only apparent purpose of proceeding via joint stipulation is to deprive interested parties of their ability to defend the 2019 Rules.

The pro-life groups are being represented by the Alliance Defending Freedom, a conservative law firm that specializes in religious liberty cases and has argued before the Supreme Court.

The brief also expressed support for a joint motion by 19 states to ask the Supreme Court to stop the Biden administration from scrapping the 2019 rule on Title X family planning funding.

To be sure, some States provide such funding. And many advocates would like to see more public funding. But the broader national consensus against funding elective abortion remains, stated the joint motion.

Title X reflects this consensus. Since its 1970 enactment, the law has funded non-abortion family planning. All the while, it has banned the use of Title X funds in programs where abortion is a method of family planning.

In January, President Joe Biden issued a memorandum asking the Department of Health and Human Services to review restrictions on funding for entities that provide or promote abortion.

Biden claimed that the Title X rule put "undue restrictions" on federal funding and put "womens health at risk by making it harder for women to receive complete medical information."

"The [law] specifies that Title X funds may not be used in programs where abortion is a method of family planning, but places no further abortion-related restrictions on recipients of Title X funds," read the Biden memo.

Based on that reasoning, Acting Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar submitted a short brief to the Supreme Court last week asking for them to dismiss the litigation over the 2019 rule.
By Ludwig Burger and Matthias Blamont

FRANKFURT/PARIS (Reuters) - Europe's medicines watchdog concluded on Thursday that AstraZeneca's coronavirus vaccine still far outweighed any risks after investigating reports of rare blood clotting disorders but said it would add a warning to the product leaflet.

"A causal link with the vaccine is not proven, but is possible and deserves further analysis," the European Medicines Agency (EMA) said.

The World Health Organization has previously also said there was no proven link and that the benefits far outweighed any risks. At least 13 EU member states including Germany, France and Italy have suspended use of the shot pending the outcome of EMA's probe.

Here's what we know so far:

WHAT HAS HAPPENED?

More than 45 million shots by various manufacturers have been administered across the EU and the European Economic Area since vaccinations started almost three months ago. The AstraZeneca vaccine was given to 5 million people in the EU.

EMA said it had reviewed seven cases of blood clots in multiple blood vessels, called disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) and 18 cases of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) in people who had received the AstraZeneca shot, most of whom were women.

In Germany, eight people have been diagnosed with CVST within about two weeks of vaccination among the 1.6 million recipients of the shot as of Wednesday, according to the health ministry. Normally 1 to 1.4 cases would have been expected during that time, the ministry added.

Germany's vaccine authority Paul Ehrlich Institute (PEI) has said the majority of the cases were young to middle-aged women and that there had been three deaths.

WHAT HAVE OTHER COUNTRIES AND ASTRAZENECA SAID?

In Britain, where more than 11 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine have been administered, the medicines regulator said on Thursday it was investigating five cases of CVST among recipients but it reiterated that the benefits of the shot far outweighed any possible risks.

Story continues

Canada has said health experts are sure all COVID-19 vaccines being administered in the country are safe, including AstraZeneca's.

AstraZeneca said on Sunday a review of safety data of more than 17 million people vaccinated in the United Kingdom and European Union with its vaccine had shown no evidence of an increased risk of blood clots.



WHAT WAS THE EMA INVESTIGATING?

EMA investigators checked if the frequency of incidences was higher in the vaccinated population than normal background rates.

The normal frequency is drawn from public health statistics or insurance records. This would be combined with a medical analysis of each case and insight from scientific literature.

EMA's head of safety monitoring, Peter Arlett, said on Tuesday the rarity of CVST meant the watchdog would have to rely more heavily on case-by-case analysis rather than on statistical data.

A spokeswomen for Germany's vaccine authority, which is part of the investigation, said prior to the safety review that EMA would not rule on causality.

Instead, EMA would assess the likelihood of an increased risk of the condition and weigh that against the benefits of fighting COVID-19.

For example, the vaccines developed by Pfizer and Moderna have been linked with increased risk of anaphylaxis, but they are still recommended because benefits outweigh the risks of the side effect, which can be treated.

WHAT DID THE CLINICAL TRIALS SHOW?

AstraZeneca and European regulators have said that concerns about blood coagulation disorders did not emerge during human trials.

Safety monitoring after approval is key because extremely rare side-effects, or those affecting only a small subset of the population, are near impossible to identify during clinical trials, according to Germany's PEI.

ARE THERE PRECEDENTS OF VACCINE SAFETY SCARES?

In Japan, a governmental recommendation for use of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine to prevent cervical cancer has been suspended since June 2013, due to media reports of an alleged pain syndrome. This has drawn criticism from the WHO.

A study published in The Lancet Public Health last year concluded a continued suspension would lead to thousands of cancer deaths over the next decades.

In Ukraine, deep mistrust of vaccines has allowed measles to grow into an epidemic. Vaccine hesitancy there is rooted in corruption and mistrust of authority but also in a temporary government suspension in 2008, when a 17-year-old boy died shortly after receiving a measles-rubella vaccine.

(Reporting by Ludwig Burger and Matthias Blamont; Additional reporting by Kate Kelland in London and Julie Steenhuysen in Chicago; Editing by Josephine Mason, Nick Macfie, Elaine Hardcastle and Frances Kerry)
MONTREAL, QC / ACCESSWIRE / March 17, 2021 / Sphinx Resources Ltd ("Sphinx" or the "Corporation") (TSXV:SFX) is pleased to announce that Martin Bourgoin has been appointed to the Corporation's Board of Directors as an independent director.

Since obtaining his B.Sc. in Geology from the University of New Brunswick in 1985, Mr. Bourgoin has worked in the field of mineral exploration and production including three years as chief geologist at the renowned Sigma Mine, in Val-d'Or, Quebec. He has over 30 years of experience, having worked for several mining companies such as Noranda Exploration, Placer Dome, and Agnico Eagle. As a consultant, Mr. Bourgoin has worked on numerous gold projects in the mining camp of Val-d'Or, and also has extensive experience with iron, antimony, and other base- and precious-metals.

Following his tenure at the Sigma Mine, Mr. Bourgoin founded MRB & Associates a geological consulting firm (1999-2019) which catered mostly to small junior companies requiring technical assistance with gold exploration projects in the Val-d'Or mining camp. M. Bourgoin developed an extensive project management expertise while managing this company which grew to a peak of 45 employees. MRB & Associates specialized in data acquisition management, mineral resource estimates, and technical report preparation according to NI 43-101 standards.

Appointment to the Advisory Committee

The members of the Board of Directors are pleased to announce the appointment of Martin Bourgoin to the Advisory Committee. He joints Donald Gervais (profession geologist playing a strategic role in the development of the Odyssey project (Canadian Malartic Mine)) and Pierre-Andre Viens (Director and Vice-President, Finance of CMAC-Thyssen Global Holding Inc., MBA, mining engineer and CFA).

It is part of Sphinx strategy to build a team with people of different background who are interested to support Sphinx Board of Directors and the CEO by providing technical advice.

Stock Options Grant

Sphinx is pleased to announce that 275,000 stock options (the "Options") have been granted to a director and a member of the Advisory Committee. These Options have an exercise price of $0.10 per share and are exercisable during a 10-year period. All Options will vest in three equal tranches. These Options have been granted in accordance with Sphinx's stock option plan.

About Sphinx

Sphinx is a mineral exploration company that focuses its activities in southwestern Quebec in search of deposits of precious metals (gold, silver, palladium and platinum) and base metals (copper, zinc and lead). Sphinx is particularly active in the MRC Pontiac where its President resides. It has a strong local shareholding that contributes towards social acceptability.

For further information, please consult Sphinx's website or contact:

Jeremie Ryan

President and Chief Executive Officer

819 664 2632

info@sphinxresources.ca

www.sphinxresources.ca

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This press release may contain forward-looking statements that are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and activities to vary materially from targeted results and planning. Such risks and uncertainties include those described in Sphinx's periodic reports including the annual report or in the filings made by Sphinx from time to time with securities regulatory authorities.

All forward-looking statements in this press release are made as of the date of this press release. Sphinx does not undertake to update any such forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

SOURCE: Sphinx Resources Ltd.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/636088/Sphinx-Appoints-Martin-Bourgoin-to-Its-Board-of-Directors
(CNN)  In the eyes of those close to Andrew Cuomo, the way through the scandal that threatens to sink the three-term New York governor is to focus on the work that made him popular just a short time ago: combating the coronavirus crisis, getting people vaccinated and ensuring the state budget is approved.

As multiple allegations of sexual impropriety swirl around Cuomo, he showcased this strategy on Monday in a visit to a mass vaccination site in Long Island, where he did not comment on the accusations but instead focused on fighting the pandemic, the struggle that caused his approval ratings to skyrocket in 2020.

"He's focused on the budget, he is focused on getting vaccines into arms and he is focused on continuing to reopen the economy and rebuild following this health and economic crisis," said a Cuomo aide when asked about the governor's headspace. "Those are his focuses, and he is working every day to advance the ball on those things."

Those three issues are a convenient distraction for a governor who has fallen to arguably the lowest point of his decades-long political career just months after hitting his highest high. But people close to the Democrat argue that he knows the only way out of this crisis is by focusing on his job and hoping New Yorkers stand by that work.

That is why Cuomo, speaking before cameras on Monday, launched into a lengthy monologue about the coronavirus vaccine, how he plans to get his injection in a predominantly Black church to "make a point" and the importance of the state's forthcoming budget. Cuomo even reminded New Yorkers about the impact of Hurricane Sandy, a 2012 superstorm that led to the deaths of at least 24 people, and how New Yorkers came together after a "dark, dark period for people."

"Sometimes God comes and he knocks you on your rear end for one reason or another. Or life comes and knocks you on your rear end for one reason or another. Circumstances happen. Things happen," he said, waxing philosophical. "The question is what you do when you get knocked on your rear end."

The subtext here, according to his aide: Cuomo feels like the way for him to get back up is to lead the state.

"That has been a longtime ethos of his," said the aide. "It's something he always felt was important to remember: that sometimes you get knocked down and you have to get back to work."

Cuomo's determination to focus on the job is butting up against a Democratic establishment in New York that is largely eager to toss him out of office, with the majority of the state's congressional delegation and a large contingent of the State Assembly already calling for his resignation.

To those Assembly members who have seen Cuomo refuse to resign and march ahead like nothing has changed, the strategy is clear.

"It is on brand for his nature. ... I am not surprised that is the stance he has taken," said Jonathan Rivera, a Democratic freshman Assembly member from the Buffalo area who has called on Cuomo to resign. "But I think there is an obligation that the State Assembly and State Senate has ... do everything we can to instill trust in government. I just think this administration has lost the trust of the people."

And while the calls for Cuomo's resignation reflect a growing unease among Democrats in the state about him staying on the job, the prospect of actually forcing him out of office has been drawn-out and uncertain. Democratic leaders in the State Legislature are content to wait for a pair of investigations, one tasked by State Attorney General Letitia James and the other about to be empaneled by Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, to run their course before formally beginning the impeachment process.

"I did say that I do think that it should be done expeditiously," Heastie said. "But I think to say that you have to come back with a decision in a week or two weeks or a month will be unfair to the process of an investigation."

The possibility of those investigations running weeks, maybe months, could allow Cuomo to continue to plow ahead focused on passing a budget and distributing vaccines, while the accusations against him fade from the front page. State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins said Tuesday that she believes most of her members want Cuomo gone but that she would not pressure the investigations to move faster.

"I can't opine on what the Assembly is, you know, what their process is or how long it should take. I really can't," Stewart-Cousins said, before conceding that the myriad of scandals is making the job of governing difficult. "I made my opinion clear that I think the governor should resign because, again, there was just so many allegations -- whether it's the nursing home data or sexual harassment. I mean there's unfortunately so many things that really would under any circumstance be extremely distracting."

But Cuomo's strategy got an assist from the state's Democratic Party on Monday, when Chair Jay Jacobs urged members to focus on the critical matters at hand, namely the budget and the pandemic, even as many in Albany are calling for Cuomo to go.

"We have to understand that we're at an impasse but yet government has to continue to run," Jacobs told CNN. "You can jump up and down and yell and scream that you want him to resign, but he just doesn't have to do that."

Jacobs, who has talked with Cuomo since the allegations were made, described the governor's strategy of forging ahead as the only thing he can do. The party chair said Cuomo was "concerned" about the allegations and "not taking this lightly," but "doesn't feel that he's done anything wrong."

"If you don't want to resign and you don't feel that you should, then I don't see any alternative but demonstrating to the people of the state that you can do the job, and you're doing the job," Jacobs said.

Pamela J. Hunter, a Democratic Assembly member from the Syracuse area, attested to the fact that Cuomo, at least in some calls with lawmakers, is forging ahead without focusing on the allegations against him. Hunter said she had spoken with the governor about a week ago about vaccination sites in her district. During that conversation, she recalled, she brought up her stance on the allegations: that he should not resign until an investigation is complete.

"I did reach out and he did not ask me for anything," she said. "We were having a conversation about vaccination sites in my district, and actually before he even could say anything ... I said to him, this is my stance and this is where I am."

Hunter added that Cuomo said "OK" but "asked me for nothing" and didn't "offer any information about things going on."

"The work has not stopped," Hunter said. "The constituency still has needs."

This story was first published on CNN.com, "Cuomo's strategy for getting through scandal: Focus on his job."
With the bulk of Coloradans over 75 and residents of long-term care centers vaccinated, the number of cases and deaths among that group has dropped in recent weeks, state health department statistics show.

Thirty-seven Coloradans 75 and older died of the virus in the first week of February. Twenty-seven more died the following week. That number fell to nine deaths in the last week of February, then to eight in the first week of March. Last week, there were fewer than five deaths among those 75 and older.

Bob Murphy, the director for AARP in Colorado, said he was relieved to see a decline.

We are thrilled that the vaccine appears to be working in our most vulnerable, older adults and that these ghastly statistics are starting to decline," Murphy said.

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Major boost in COVID vaccinations headed to El Paso County this week

Those 75 and older account for more than 60% of the COVID deaths in Colorado, and had the highest number of hospitalizations. Long-term care facilities in particular have been hammered by outbreaks over the past year.

Those 70 and older were given vaccination priority in February, and the group is now approaching the 80% mark for inoculations, state statistics show.

Long-term care facilities were the subject of a separate, federal vaccination push. The state says 88% of those residents have been inoculated.

The vaccination programs have cut the number of older Colorado residents battling the virus and the number of fatalities in that demographic.

In the first week of February, 350 people 75 and older were infected with the virus. A month later, that had fallen to 147 cases. Last week, it fell to 122 cases.

For long term care centers, there were 10 COVID deaths among residents in early February. For the past three weeks, there have been fewer than five.

The number of outbreaks in nursing homes and assisted-living facilities plummeted in recent weeks. Last Wednesday, there were 34 nursing home outbreaks, plus 18 clusters in assisted-living facilities. In mid-January, there were 136 nursing home coronavirus outbreaks, along with 137 clusters of the virus in assisted-living facilities.

At a news conference Tuesday, Jon Samet, the dean of the Colorado School of Public Health, said that 80% of those 65 and older have received at least one vaccine dose. Roughly half of that group is immune to the virus, either from vaccines or a prior infection.

We are starting to see the consequences, the beneficial consequences, of vaccinations in older Coloradans, he said.

Rachel Herlihy, the states epidemiologist who spoke with Samet on Tuesday, pointed to data showing that cases among older Coloradans were falling at a faster rate than the state overall.

Were continuing to see a greater benefit and less disease transmission occurring among that 70-plus year old population, she said,

She said with vaccinations ongoing, the full impact for older residents hasn't been felt.

AARP's Murphy said that improving statistics don't lessen the the terrible impact the virus has already had on the state's most vulnerable residents.

"We still did lose 88 people in nursing homes in the four weeks ending Feb. 14," he said. "It does continue. I dont want to lose sight of that.
Prince William is concerned any private conversations with his brother will be 'plastered over American TV' after Meghan Markle's broadcaster friend Gayle King revealed his 'unproductive phone call with Prince Harry', sources told Vanity Fair.

The CBS presenter yesterday revealed Harry, 36, had spoken to William, 38, and their father Prince Charles for the first time following the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's interview with Oprah Winfrey.

Despite the Sussexes insisting their explosive tell-all would be their 'final word' on royal affairs, Ms King, 66, said the couple had told her about Harry's phone calls with his family over the weekend.

Today she spoke out once again, claiming the pair had a deal with CBS and ITV to postpone their bombshell interview if Prince Philip, 99, had died during his month-long stay in hospital.

Meanwhile, Buckingham Palace has no plans to comment beyond the statement issued last week by the Queen, but there is concern within the family that the Sussexes 'want to keep fuelling the soap opera', sources told Vanity Fair's Katie Nicholl.

Prince William (pictured) is concerned any private conversations with his brother will be 'plastered over American TV' after Meghan Markle's broadcaster friend Gayle King revealed his 'unproductive phone call with Prince Harry', sources have claimed

On Tuesday, the CBS presenter, who attended Meghan's $500,000 baby shower in 2019, revealed Harry, 36, had spoken to William, 38, and their father Prince Charles for the first time following the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's interview with Oprah Winfrey (pictured)

One source close to Prince William claimed: 'There's a lack of trust on both sides which makes moving forward very hard. William is now worried that anything he says to his brother will be plastered over American TV.'

Elsewhere, an insider said the family is concerned that the story is becoming more like a soap opera, even as Prince Philip returns to Windsor Castle from a month-long stay in hospital following a successful heart operation.

A family friend said: 'It seems the Sussexes seem to want to keep fuelling this story at a time when the royals are trying to protect Prince Philip from the headlines.'

The source added that Meghan and Harry's approach seemed to be a 'very strange way' to heal the rift within the family.

The publication said it is understood Harry has been in contact with the Queen since the interview aired and that they regularly talk about Prince Philips health.

Despite the Sussexes insisting their explosive tell-all would be their 'final word' on royal affairs, Ms King (pictured), 66, said the couple had told her about Harry's phone calls with his family over the weekend

On Tuesday, Ms King told her viewers that she spoke to the Sussexes who told her that Harry had talked to the Duke of Cambridge and Prince of Wales over the weekend.

But she said the conversations were 'not productive' and Harry and Meghan were keen for the 'royals to intervene and tell the Press to stop with the unfair, inaccurate, false stories that definitely have a racial slant'.

What did Gayle King say on CBS This Morning? Ms King said: 'Well I'm not trying to break news, but I did actually call them to see how they were feeling, and it's true, Harry has talked to his brother and he has talked to his father too. The word I was given was that those conversations were not productive. But they are glad that they have at least started a conversation. 'And I think what is still upsetting to them is the palace keep saying they want to work it out privately, but yet, they believe these false stories are coming out that are very disparaging against Meghan, still. 'No one in the Royal Family has talked to Meghan yet, at this particular time. And I think it's frustrating for them to see that it's a racial conversation about the Royal Family when all they wanted all along was for the royals to intervene and tell the Press to stop with the unfair, inaccurate, false stories that definitely have a racial slant. 'And until you can acknowledge that, I think it's going to be hard to move forward. But they both want to move forward with this and they both want healing in this family. At the end of the day, that is Harry's family.' She added: 'The bullying thing was raised in 2018 and now there's an ongoing investigation about bullying from Meghan Markle, when anyone who has worked with her will tell you exactly who she is. 'You know, she's really a very sweet, caring person. And as I say, Meghan has documents to back up everything that she said on Oprah's interview. Everything.' She said: 'The family has to acknowledge that there are issues. Right now, no one has acknowledged, you know, Houston we have a problem here. That's really all they want. They want a conversation, they both want a conversation.' Advertisement

Ms King, 66, who is also close friends with Oprah, failed to give any examples of the stories she was referring to, but added that Meghan has 'documents to back up everything that she said on Oprah's interview'.

The broadcaster's comments came on the same day that Harry's grandfather Prince Philip, 99, was reunited with the Queen at Windsor Castle after leaving King Edward VII's Hospital in London following a 28 day-stay for treatment.

In further revelations, Ms King yesterday claimed that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex had a deal with CBS and ITV to postpone their bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey if Prince Philip had died.

The monarchy was plunged into crisis while Harry's grandfather Duke of Edinburgh was in hospital following the allegations of racism made by the Sussexes, who faced calls to postpone the interview because he was unwell.

The couple accused an unnamed royal, not the Queen or Prince Philip, of raising concerns about how dark their son Archie's skin tone would be before he was born, and Meghan also claimed she begged for help while suicidal.

Now, Ms King has revealed on her radio show on US network SiriusXM: 'Well, just so you know, they had done that interview before Prince Phillip went into the hospital.

'If something, God forbid, had happened to him, the interview would not have run at this particular time. But the interview was done and was scheduled before he went into the hospital. But a lot of people have raised that point.'

Prince Philip was admitted to King Edward VII's Hospital in London on February 16, before moving two weeks later to another hospital in the capital, St Bartholomew's, where he had a successful heart operation on March 3.

Two days later he was transferred back to King Edward VII's to recuperate and continue his treatment, and left on Tuesday before being driven to Windsor Castle where he was reunited with the Queen after a month apart.

Ms King also said: 'I think that Harry and Meghan both have been through so much for the past three years and they really have tried to work it out privately. They really have tried to get help, and nothing was working.

'So I think they wanted people to have some understanding about why they made the decision that they made and what they've been going through, and I do think that they accomplished that. I do. I think it was very brave of her and Harry to reveal what they did. It's unheard of, and it certainly has been a "bombshell", is the word.

'There were six or seven that night. I stopped counting at six. It was bombshell, after bombshell, after bombshell, but I do believe it was an honest conversation. I'm hoping it will lead to change.'

The fact the Sussexes chose to reveal sensitive discussions between senior members of the Royal Family met with an icy response from Buckingham Palace.

Prince Philip, who is set to celebrate his 100th birthday in June, is seen waving on Tuesday as he arrives back at Windsor Castle

'None of the households [the Queen, the Prince of Wales and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge] will be giving a running commentary on private conversations,' said a senior royal source.

It was clear, however, that both the Windsors and senior officials see it as a severe betrayal of trust and unhelpful to attempts to rebuild bridges. Prince William, when he was questioned by a TV reporter on a public engagement last Thursday, said he had not yet spoken to his younger brother, but vowed he would.

He also insisted the Royal Family were not racists after Meghan claimed one member had raised 'concerns' about 'how dark' her baby's skin would be, and suggested there was an attempt to deprive Archie of a title and security because he was of mixed race.

The duchess also said she had been given so little support by the Palace that she suffered suicidal thoughts.

Harry said he felt 'really let down' by his father, accused him of cutting him off financially and refusing to take his calls, while also revealing the gulf with William.

Prince Charles and Camilla visit a vaccination pop-up centre at Finsbury Park Mosque in North London on Tuesday. In his Oprah interview, Harry said he felt 'really let down' by his father, accused him of cutting him off financially and refusing to take his calls

The Queen responded to the Oprah interview with a deeply personal message saying that while 'some recollections vary', the issues raised, particularly that of race, were 'concerning' and would be taken seriously.

Significantly, however, she emphasised that from now on the difficulties would be addressed by the family privately.

There have been a handful of stories published in the UK media reporting that Charles and William felt hurt by what Harry had said, but with very little detail on what was taking place behind the scenes.

That was turned on its head on Tuesday when Ms King decided to speak out on her prime-time morning show on CBS, the same channel that broadcast the Oprah interview.

She said on CBS This Morning: 'Well I'm not trying to break news, but I did actually call them to see how they were feeling, and it's true, Harry has talked to his brother and he has talked to his father too.

'The word I was given was that those conversations were not productive. But they are glad that they have at least started a conversation.'
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

A world-first 'flow model' devised by Australian researchers could drastically slash public transport commuter times during peak periods on some of the busiest roads in major cities, new research shows.

When this flow model was implemented to improve the worst traffic bottlenecks across Melbourne, commuters saved close to 2000 hours of travel time during a single morning peak period (7am-9am) and approximately 11,000 hours of passenger travel time during a normal weekday.

Ameliorating major traffic bottlenecks also contributed to a more than 23 per cent improvement in reliability of Melbourne's public transport network, on average, during weekdays and by up to 26 per cent on weekends.

Most bottlenecks were those that cut through the Melbourne central business district, yet links connecting suburban sites such as La Trobe and Monash universities, and Chadstone shopping center to the metro train network were among the most critical bottlenecks in Melbourne's transport network.

Research by Monash University and RMIT University, published in the prestigious international journal Nature Communications, introduced a novel flow modelbuilt upon the so called Unaffected Demand (UD) conceptto examine the impact of road congestion on traveling passengers using the bus and tram networks.

A flow network is the mathematical model for any system with a network structure where connections are a means for carrying some kind of flow from one component to another.

Traffic and public transport systems can be perfectly modeled as complex networks where different entities (intersections or stops) are mapped to a set of components (or network nodes), and the means for transportation of flow demand between these locations are represented as connections between the nodes.

"Whether it be passengers in transport systems, or energy in power grids, the primary purpose of most critical infrastructures is to carry some kind of flow between different locations," Professor Hai Vu, research co-author and Director of Monash University's Institute of Transport Studies, said.

"The introduced concept of UD is our simple yet effective way of measuring this flow, as well as its significance, to determine the reliability of demand-serving networks and identifying the impact of congestion at any particular part of the network in the 'big picture'.

"From our analysis we've identified the impact of mitigating congestion by any measure on a road segmentnot only for passengers normally passing through that corridor, but also for all trips between different places that can potentially benefit from that decongested road as a new pathway."

Research co-author and student in Monash University's Faculty of Engineering, Homayoun Hamedmoghadam, said the most effective solution to avoid bottlenecks is to allocate segregated lanes and give priority to public transport vehicles in those high impact locations.

"On the one hand, dedicating road spaces to bus and tram vehicles will significantly improve functionality of the public transport network and its quality of service which encourages its use, and on the other hand, this means less road space, which is very well known to be a discouraging factor for car use," Mr Hamedmoghadam said.

The research team extracted the mobility demand of major cities from detailed transportation data and found that applying state-of-the-art theories from network science and physics can provide a different, yet more accurate, understanding of reliability and vulnerabilities of transport networks.

The real-world case studies in the paper tackles the problem of conflicting road congestion with passenger movements by on-road (bus and tram) public transport (PT) in both Melbourne and Brisbane.

Melbourne's on-road public transport network was, at the time of collecting data in 2017, comprised of approximately 5500 nodes, 10,500 links, and a flow demand derived from part of 470,000 trips performed during a normal weekday.

Brisbane had a relatively smaller network with approximately 1400 nodes and 3400 links on average on a regular weekday.

Associate Professor Mahdi Jalili from RMIT's School of Engineering said the proposed model is capable of identifying vital bottlenecks of the network even if they are located at any corridor other than the major roads.

"The application of our framework to any urban road network leads to determination of roads where congestion, regardless of its extent, has a detrimental effect on the quality of travel over the network as a whole. Of course, major roads are pathways for more traffic and they are more prone to congestion compared to back streets," Associate Professor Jalili said.

With the ever increasing availability of data and unprecedented advancements in scientific understanding of transportation systems, Professor Lewi Stone from RMIT's School of Science says there is much to benefit from cutting-edge research in policy making, planning, and management in the area of transportation.

"By exploiting this information, our analysis becomes capable of revealing the vital bottlenecks of transport networks which evolve during a day but follow a pattern that repeats day to day," he said.

"This means that we can identify adjustments required to fine-tune the network according to how passengers move throughout the day. We can also pinpoint problems in the network that hinder passenger movements at a certain time every day, like congestion bottlenecks of morning rush-hour."

Explore further Simulation of self-driving fleets brings their deployment in cities closer

More information: Homayoun Hamedmoghadam et al, Percolation of heterogeneous flows uncovers the bottlenecks of infrastructure networks, Nature Communications (2021). Journal information: Nature Communications Homayoun Hamedmoghadam et al, Percolation of heterogeneous flows uncovers the bottlenecks of infrastructure networks,(2021). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-21483-y

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Lawsuit over Mount Rushmore fireworks dismissed

U.S. District Court Judge Roberto Lange in a ruling Wednesday dismissed a lawsuit brought against President Joe Biden's administration by Gov. Kristi Noem after the NFS a fireworks display there next month.
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Global Barite Market Research Report - Forecast to 2022 - Market Analysis, Scope, Stake, Progress, Trends and Forecast up to 2022.

Barite Market  Market Overview

Global barite market witnessed strong growth from oil and gas exploration industry owing to its usage to suppress the high formation of liquid and prevent blowouts. Rising pressure on energy sector to meet global demand of growing transportation and petrochemical industry has result in rising oil and gas production which in turn will have positive impact on barite market. In addition, barite is used for application as weighing agent and to increase density of fluid to control pressure in shale reserves. Thus, blooming oil shale production will subsequently drive the demand of barite in U.S. market.

Get a Free Sample Report @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/2035

Barite is widely used in application such as textile, paints and coatings and paper making among others. This mineral is used in sodium hydroxide production which is extensively used in refining sugar and in paints as white pigments. Moreover, increasing automotive production coupled with rise in residential and commercial projects also positively influence the barite market growth. Barite is also used in production of barium carbonate which in turn used in manufacturing LED glass. Growing LED glass consumption in television and laptops is expected to augment the barite market growth over the forecast period. Barite is non-magnetic in nature which makes it ideal choice for drilling hole. Hence, alternative to barite such as celestite, iron ore and synthetic hematite does not hold any major impact in drilling mud industry.

Barite is broadly segmented according to grade as grade 3.9, grade 4.0, grade 4.1, grade 4.2 and grade above 4.3. Grade with high specific gravity represents superior quality compared to lower specific gravity. Higher grade obtained from deeper earth crust holds higher prices, which in turn impede the market growth over the forecast period. However, lower grade barite from 3.9 to 4.2 is gaining traction in oil and gas industry owing to optimum production of shale gas coupled with shift in trend towards unconventional energy source thereby, will have positive impact on barite market in coming years.

Barite are largely consumed in Asia Pacific region owing to robust end use industry growth, favourable government policies and low labor cost. China is leading country owing to large availability of shale reserve to meet growing demand of barite in automotive and construction industry. Furthermore, rapid industrialization has led to strong growth in paints and coating industry which is likely to propel barite market growth. North America is second largest market due to rise in shale gas production in U.S. and development in infrastructure activities leading to growth in paints and coatings industry. U.S. is major market and exhibits growth potential in coming years. Europe to register significant growth. Germany and UK are leading countries in European regions on account of large automotive hub. Automotive refinishes and restoration is driving huge demand of paints and coatings which in turn drives the demand for barite market. Moreover, Brazil is anticipated to witnessed high demand of barite on account of increase in expenditure on interior of residential projects which is anticipated to further drive the paints and coatings industry.

Key Players:

Desku Group Inc. (United States), Halliburton Company (Unites States), Excalibar Minerals LLC (United States), P & S Barite Mining Co. Ltd. (Thailand), Ashapura Minechem Ltd. (India), Anglo Pacific Minerals (United Kingdom), CIMBAR Performance Minerals (United States), New Riverside Ochre Company, Inc (United States), Andhra Pradesh Mineral Development Corporation Limited (India) and Mil-Spec Industries Corporation (United States) among others are some of the prominent players at the forefront of competition in the Global Barite Market and are profiled in MRFR Analysis.

Barite Market  Competitive Analysis

Barite market is fragmented market with tier 1 and tier 2 companies dominating the overall market. The major players are adopting key strategy like partnerships and agreements in order to reduce gap between supplier and manufacturer of barite. Apart from that, various key strategies adopted by key players are expansion and acquisition. Advancement in technology and increasing presence of significant players has positively impact the growth of barite market. Moreover, companies are expanding their production facility to meet global demand and obtain competitive advantage in the market.

Industry/ Innovation/ Related News:

April 2017 Nigeria barite sector are entering new era of development by targeting strategic minerals and metals of development including barite, limestone, iron and bitumen along with offering tax break to mining companies. This project got initiative after World Bank approved credit line of USD 150 Million to increase the mining sector in Nigerian economy. This would open new lucrative opportunity to market players.

June 2017 Honey Badger Exploration Inc. signed an agreement to acquire assets located in Quebec. The deal includes acquisition of three properties including the Upton Property, the Saint-Fabien Property, and the Kamouraska Property. Total of 642 hectors are acquired for zinc and barite mining. This would strengthen companies position by opening new opportunity to investors as well as raise capital for advanced new projects.

February 2016 Schlumberger got approval of barite mining at Duntanlich near Aberfeldy in Perthshire. The Duntanlich site is economically known as barite deposit in UK. The company plans to mine around 120,000 tons of mineral each year to make self sufficient for over next 50 years. This would strengthen companies position as barite is key ingredient of drilling mud industry.

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Big Muddy Film Festival kicks off 43rd year on Wednesday

by Pete Rosenbery

CARBONDALE, Ill.  This years venues might be a bit different, but visitors to the annual Big Muddy Film Festival will still be able to experience the raw emotions that come with watching some of the best among independent films today.

As filmgoers trade the usual intimate settings on the Southern Illinois University Carbondale campus and in the community to view the 82 selections for the comfort of their own homes, this years virtual two-week festival, from March 17 through March 31, includes three feature narratives having their U.S. premieres.

These films are The End Will be Spectacular, a war film produced by members of the Kurdish resistance in Rojava, Syria; Pureza, a personal drama based on true accounts of enslaved labor in Amazonian Brazil, and a Canadian first feature, Bone Cage, which follows a man who logs to make a living, but anguishes about the animal habitats he destroys. Sarah Lewison, festival faculty adviser, notes these films can only be seen in a festival context until they find distributors.

The festival is one of the nations oldest film festivals affiliated with a university and is known for strong documentaries that highlight social issues. The opening event at 7 p.m. Wednesday. A gala awards ceremony at 7 p.m. March 28 that includes festival jurors will be livestreamed. All of the programs will be available at Big Muddy Film Fest Online and linked through the festivals web page.

The jurors talks will also be available via livestream. This years jurors, with the time of their talks are:

Kelsey Goldberg, 7 p.m. Thursday, March 18.

Jennida Chase, noon Friday, March 19.

Jason Livingston, 7 p.m. Saturday, March 20.

The festival features competitive films in five categories: animation, documentary, experimental, narrative and a new category, films shot with smartphones.

Lewison said this years online format has one great advantage in that it allows people to attend the festival from throughout the United States.

Details on the selected films and the festival are available on the Big Muddy Film Festival website, the festival screening site and Facebook and Instagram pages.
Happy St. Paddys Day! Im not a beer fan but feel free to quaff some on my behalf in a toast to the holiday!

ChimpanZoom? Primates at Czech zoo go wild for video calls Guardian (David L)

Watch dolphins talk to each other to synchronize their behaviors Science (David L)

Give a dog a bone: Spending money on pets promotes happiness Journal of Positive Psychology (resilc). I agree, I always felt like I was a good person when buying things for my cats.

Photographer Spends 12 Years, 1250 Hours, Exposing Photo of Milky Way PetaPixel (David L)

How a building block of life got created in a flash MPR News (Chuck L)

Israeli archeologists discover ancient Dead Sea Scroll fragments Al Jazeera (Kevin W)

Eight States Are Seeding Clouds to Overcome Megadrought Scientific American (David L)

Good vibrations: bladeless turbines could bring wind power to your home Guardian (Dr. Kevin)

It may look like an art show but these dancing lights reduce pesticide use by 50% ZME Science (Dr. Kevin)

Scientists identify oldest-known meteor of volcanic origin a century after it smashed down into Sahara RT (Chuck L)

Nazi anatomical drawings are donated in effort to address ethical quandary STAT (Dr. Kevin)

Chemistry, Structures & 3D Molecules 3DChem.com (Harvey). A molecule a month! Includes natural ones as well as drugs and dietary supplements. Recent examples include Caryophyllene (cloves), Ubiquinol, and Remdesivir.

Discovery identifies non-DNA mechanism involved in transmitting paternal experience to offspring PhysOrg (Chuck L)

#COVID-19

Opinion: Why are Canadas Catholic bishops playing vaccine politics? Globe and Mail (Dr. Kevin). From last week, still germane.

Bolsonaros handling of Brazils rolling coronavirus disaster is a threat to the world Washington Post (furzy). We ran a post with a similar headline a few days ago

China?

A Secret War. Decades of Suffering. Will the U.S. Ever Make Good in Laos? New York Times (resilc)

Old Blighty

The Cormann Conundrum: is the new OECD Secretary-General a friend or a foe of environmental action? Steve Keen (UserFriendly, Chuck L)

New Cold War

Syraqistan

Big Brother is Watching You Watch

No one trolls better than Trump:

Trump hopes Meghan Markle runs for president in 2024 https://t.co/daxIZxsRpc  The Independent (@Independent) March 17, 2021

Biden

8 dead in series of Atlanta-area massage parlors shootings, suspect arrested NBC What looks to be the earliest account with full body count; earlier local one had only 4 dead because it apparently had only the first set of shootings.

Cuomogate

Cuomo should resign if allegations confirmed: Biden in exclusive ABC News interview ABC Cuomo Has Lost Popularity, but Half of N.Y. Voters Say He Shouldnt Resign. New York Times. Bob: Im not sure how Siena fits in with powerful dems, but anytime the powerful need a poll to push in the news, lately, for the past few years, its been Siena doing the poll Polls are useless, yes, but the Siena polls are dead wrong. They had a Dem primary poll here that had the winner wrong by 30 points. The loser was the DNC pick.

Black Injustice Tipping Point

The Identity Hoaxers Atlantic (Anthony L)

Our Famously Free Press

Without Trump, Is A Depression In Television Coming? Matt Taibbi. Erm, hes changed the headline to With Ratings Down, the Networks Hunt For a Trump Replacement.

Texas House rejects bill to reprice electricity sold during winter storm Houston Chronicle (Kevin W)

Nebraska declares meat only day and calls MeatOut movement a direct attack on our way of life Independent

Class Warfare

Antidote du jour. From Cornelius via furzy: Even the cats in Germany know that French food is better

And a bonus (guurst):

   ) pic.twitter.com/uSkZeaiOHn      ,  (@Kajenskajasmes) February 27, 2021

And a different sort of bonus, from furzy:

Simon Beck (born 1958) is a British snow artist and a former cartographer. He has walked more than 50 miles (80km) in circles wearing snowshoes to create vast snow drawings in Colorado. Its hard to imagine how he manages to see what hes done from where he works, at snow-level.

See yesterdays Links and Antidote du Jour here.
She's been a committed PrettyLittleThing ambassador since she partnered with the brand in October.

And Demi Rose flaunted her signature curves as she posed like a pro for her latest collab with the retailer in Ibiza on Tuesday.

The model, 25, looked sensational in a palm tree print bikini as she posed next to a tree for the photoshoot in the Spanish sunshine.

Gorgeous: Demi Rose flaunted her signature curves as she posed like a pro for her latest collab with PrettyLittleThing in Ibiza on Tuesday

'Just over here becoming the best version of myself,' wrote the model alongside the sultry snaps on Instagram.

Demi donned a stylish blue and green print bikini that featured an eye catching gold chain detail.

She completed the fashionable beach look with a matching kimono that hung effortlessly off her bronzed shoulders.

The model lightly curled her long chestnut tresses, which she wore in a relaxed half-up-half-down hair style.

Demi kept her makeup minimal and accentuated her natural beauty with lipliner and mascara.

Wow: The model looked sensational in a palm tree print bikini as she posed next to a tree for the photoshoot in the Spanish sunshine

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 where the Wolverhampton-born beauty often shares a number of sexy snaps to her social media.

The brunette recently opened up to MailOnline about how she shot to stardom at the age of 14 after being bullied in school.

Jetsetter: Demi is currently in Ibiza and the Wolverhampton-born beauty often shares a number of sexy snaps to her social media

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.
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EFG Hermes, the leading financial services corporation in frontier emerging markets (FEM), has announced that its NBFI platform has signed a partnership with Universal Group to launch a bespoke e-commerce platform that will allow the home appliance manufacturer to serve customers directly.

EFG Hermes subsidiary PayTabs Egypt will process payments on the platform, while subsidiary valU will bring to the table consumer financing facilities providing convenient payment plans for Universal Groups customer base.

Business Boomers, a leading e-commerce enabler across Egypt and the Mena region, will implement Universal Groups e-commerce online store on its zVendo.com platform.

"Signing this partnership today with Universal Group is a key milestone in our journey to develop a full-fledged non-bank financial services ecosystem that leverages the synergies inherent in our business model throughout the group," said EFG Hermes Finance CEO and Head of Debt Capital Markets Walid Hassouna.

"We could not imagine a better partner to work with to bring to market the kind of tailored, unique solutions that take advantage of the full breadth of our service offering and drive value for our client base," he noted.

The venture is the latest plank in EFG Hermes strategy to promote increased cross-selling and synergies across the group, capitalizing on its unique vantage points to offer clients a comprehensive set of financial solutions to help them meet their growth objectives.

In January, EFG Hermes Finance announced a partnership between valU and EFG Hermes Corp-Solutions, the Groups leasing and factoring arm, to provide valU merchants with immediate access to financing.

We are thrilled to be working with EFG Hermes to bring to life this next chapter in our growth story as we work to enhance our service offering and engage directly with our customers, said Dr. Engineer Yousry Kotb, Group Chairman and CEO of Universal.

As a leading financial services provider, we are confident that EFG Hermes Finance will give us exactly the tools we need to herald in this new stage in our business.

Business Boomers CEO Tarek Bakry said: "It is an honour to be part of this unique collaboration between EFG Hermes platform companies to partner with Universal Group in their digital transformation journey and to support them in their shift to market directly to consumers through a new online store built on our zVendo.com e-commerce platform - a market leader in Egypt and the wider Mena region."
Children as young as 11 were beheaded by militants in Mozambiques troubled Cabo Delgado province, where a local Islamist insurgency is battling against the government forces.

Aid group Save the Children said it had spoken to displaced families who gave details of their young children being killed by militants from the local group referred to as al-Shabab.

That night our village was attacked and houses were burned, a woman named as Elsa (28) told the organisation. When it all started, I was at home with my four children. We tried to escape to the woods, but they took my eldest son and beheaded him.

We couldnt do anything because we would be killed, too." Her son was 12 years old.

A 29-year-old woman whose name was given as Amelia said her son was beheaded in similar circumstances. Save the Children did not give the full identity of the witnesses or their real names to protect their identities.

After my 11-year-old son was killed, we understood that it was no longer safe to stay in my village, Amelia said, explaining they did not have time to properly bury her child before fleeing.

There have been numerous reports of beheading in the Cabo Delgado conflict. Last November, Police Commander Bernardino Rafael told The Washington Post that at least 50 people had been decapitated in the first half of the month.

Chance Briggs, Save the Childrens country director in Mozambique, said the reports of violence against children in Cabo Delgado sicken us to our core, adding staff had been brought to tears when speaking to witnesses.

While the world was focused on Covid-19, the Cabo Delgado crisis ballooned but has been grossly overlooked, Mr Briggs said.

The conflict, in a region in the north-east corner of Mozambique that is rich in oil and gas, intensified significantly last year. Much of the worst violence has been attributed to al-Shabab, a local Islamist group that does not have known links to the better known Somali group with the same name.

Security experts have voiced concern about the arrival of foreign fighters who used techniques similar to those found in conflicts in Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq.

US officials said last year the core Isil group provides fighters in Mozambique with training and other resources after adopting al-Shabab as the Mozambican wing of its Central Africa Province in June.

The Biden administration has designated al-Shabab a foreign terrorist organisation and imposed sanctions on the group. The US has also pledged to send military specialists to train the Mozambican army.

Of the more than 2,600 people who have died in the conflict since it began in 2017, roughly half were civilians deliberately targeted,

according to the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project.

It isnt only al-Shabab accused of war crimes. Earlier this month, Amnesty International accused not only the militant group of unlawful killings but also government forces and a private military force allied with them, the Dyck Advisory Group.

Soldiers working with the South African contractor had broken international law by firing indiscriminately into crowds, attacking civilian infrastructure, and failing to distinguish between

military and civilian targets, said Deprose Muchena, Amnesty Internationals regional director.

Mr Briggs said that now much of the concern was not only about the violence, but the enormous risks being placed on people displaced by the conflict.

A major concern is that the needs of displaced children and their families in Cabo Delgado far outweigh the resources available to support them, Briggs said, adding nearly a million people were now facing severe hunger. ( Washington Post)
Remember the Falcon from MCU? A super soldier that can fly with a jetpack on his back may sound like science-fiction, but the average, real US soldier is closer to getting a real-world jetpack than ever before.

Representational image // Corrado Lego Creations (YouTube)

The Pentagon is looking to strap jetpacks onto its special forces cadres and rocket them into battle like the Mandalorian to save the egg-loving Baby Yoda. Well, to be specific, theyre calling for submissions for a portable personal air mobility system for military use, but you get the drift.

Originally reported by Interesting Engineering, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), the US Defense Departments R&D hub for new military technologies, will pay up to $1.5 million in development costs to vendors who can make flying soldiers a reality.

Flying soldiers with jetpacks

Going Beyond Jetpacks DARPAs Small Business Programs Office said the proposals arent just limited to jetpacks and could also include powered gliders, powered wingsuit, and powered parafoils. They can be powered by the emerging electric propulsion technologies, hydrogen fuel cells or conventional heavy fuel propulsion systems.

These platforms could serve a variety of military missions, enabling cost effective mission utility and agility in areas such as personnel logistics, urban augmented combat, combat search and rescue, Maritime interdiction and special operations forces (infiltration/exfiltration), the proposal read.

"Systems may be air deployed to allow for infiltration to hostile territory, or ground deployed to allow for greater off-road mobility without the use of existing vertical takeoff and landing aircraft such as helicopters and CV-22."

What are the requirements

DAPRA is open to submissions of new designs as well as modifications to pre-existing ones just as long as theyre portable--can fit in a bag or a box and be carried easily by one or few people--and can be deployed in less than 10 minutes with relatively little training.



Additionally, the personal air mobility system should be capable of low- to medium-altitude flight and have a range of up to 5 kilometers for a single operator. It would also be an extra treat if the system were quiet with a low infrared signature, DAPRA added.

Not the first by a long shot

The US military has long been fascinated by the sci-fi future of mechanized warfare that dates back a half-century. In 2013, the US military started working on the Tactical Assault Light Operator Suit (TALOS) project, or colloquially referred to as the Iron Man'' suit, to create a bulletproof super suit for the next Lieutenant Colonel Rhodey.

It was meant to enhance the soldier with greater tactical awareness and physical strength, computerized, networked helmets and a futuristic exoskeleton beneath light, impenetrable body-armor. But even with the years of historical research and the might of the US military, the program couldnt shine in its true futuristic glory and was ultimately shut down in 2019.

But the ghosts of past exoskeletons may not affect jetpacks. According to War Is Boring, the New York-based aircraft maker Bell Aerosystems made several flying contraptions in the late 1950s for the Army to help soldiers run faster, jump higher, and quickly cross bodies of water. One of them was a Jet Belt controlled with joysticks that could fly at more than 100 miles per hour.

Bell Art via War Is Boring

And while that idea was eventually shelved, a fresh wave of entrepreneurs like British inventor Richard Browning have brought a renewed interest into jetpacks.

Five months back, the British Royal Navy announced it would test jet packs for swarming and boarding ships. Although there wasnt any confirmation then about using them for military purposes, the Royal and US navies did acknowledge that theyre in touch with Brownings Gravity Industries.
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An Indianapolis man was accused of fatally shooting four people over the weekend after arguing with his girlfriend because he wanted a portion of her federal coronavirus stimulus check, police officials said.

The man, Malik Halfacre, 25, was arrested on Sunday, a day after the shootings, and is expected to face murder, robbery and attempted-murder charges, according to the police and Indiana jail records.

Just after 9:30 p.m. on Saturday, the police received a report of a person shot in a home on North Randolph Street. There, the police said, officers found a woman who was taken to a hospital with gunshot wounds. That victim told the police that there were additional victims at another home, also on North Randolph Street.

At the second home, the police found four gunshot victims whom they identified as Eve Moore, 7; Daquan Moore, 23; Anthony Johnson, 35; and Tomeeka Brown, 44. They were all pronounced dead at the scene by emergency medical workers, the police said.
First Minister Arlene Foster has repeated calls for restraint during St Patrick's Day celebrations.

Speaking on BBC Good Morning Ulster, she warned of the dangers of crowds gathering while restrictions remain in place.

Mrs Foster was talking ahead of a virtual meeting today alongside Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill with US Vice President Kamala Harris.

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"People should of course mark St Patrick's Day, but they should do it in a way that doesn't cause problems later in the month," she said.

Mrs Foster said she had been assured of extra police patrols across Northern Ireland today after speaking with the Chief Constable Simon Byrne.

"We know this is yet again another sacrifice for people, but we're asking you to stay with us because we are now moving into relaxation.

"I think people should take optimism from that, however we need people to stay apart today."

The DUP leader was asked about a BBC report that 1,600 cancer patients have been overlooked because of the pandemic.

This included the family of Flo McClements, a grandmother whose ovarian cancer surgery was delayed.

The family said they felt they had suffered because of the relaxations at Christmas, as the cancer has now spread and is only treatable instead of curable.

Mrs Foster called it "absolutely heartbreaking" and said she had spoken to a number of people that have had their cancer treatments delayed.

She said health trusts had been working hard to reschedule appointments, but acknowledged the delay would change many outcomes.

Asked if she regretted easing restrictions at Christmas, she said: "I think people need to look back at Christmas and remember that what we did was something that was shared across the United Kingdom.

"When we received the recommendations from the Health Minister the entire Executive agreed that people needed to come together at Christmas.

"If we hadn't have allowed that, people would have done it anyway."

Responding to frustration from the hospitality industry about easing restrictions, she said she understood pubs needed time to plan but it remained vital to control the virus.

Looking ahead to her virtual meeting with Vice President Harris, she said the focus would be on economic recovery, including the "huge difficulties" caused by the Northern Ireland protocol.
JEFFERSON PARISH EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION: Registration for publicly funded early childhood education, including pre-K seats at Jefferson Parish schools, is open to the public through Friday, April 16. JP Schools is the coordinating partner for the Jefferson Parish Early Childhood Collaborative, which represents 145 early care and education programs that support young children and their families. For application information and a list of items needed to register your child, visit jpschools.org/prek or jeffersonchild.com.

ST. MARY'S DOMINICAN HIGH SCHOOL: Students and alumnae of St. Mary's Dominican High School collected 66,966 cans of food for the Second Harvest Food Bank during their "You've Got a Friend in Dominican" drive. Student donations totaled 55,596, surpassing the goal of 25,000. Alumnae donations totaled 11,070 surpassing the goal of 5,000. Since 2011, Dominican has donated 187,920 pounds of food to Second Harvest Food Bank.

MOUNT CARMEL ACADEMY: The Journalism Education Association Louisiana has chosen Hannah Darcey, a senior at Mount Carmel Academy in New Orleans, as its 2021 Louisiana State Journalist of the Year. The award includes a full-tuition, four-year scholarship to Loyola University. Darcey will also represent Louisiana in the JEA national journalist of the year contest.

ACADEMY OF OUR LADY CHEERLEADERS: Among the performers at the National Cheerleaders Association high school competition March 6-7 in Dallas were the cheerleaders from Academy of Our Lady in Marrero. The Penguin cheerleaders placed second in the nation in game performance intermediate non-tumbling and tenth in game day large varsity.

JEFFERSON PARISH SCHOOL CHOICE: The window for eighth-grade families in Jefferson Parish Schools to register for a high school outside of their attendance zone is open through 5 p.m. March 19. Every high school can accept an additional 20% of its ninth-grade enrollment, excluding Advanced Study Academies and International Baccalaureate programs. Students accepted through the program may remain at the school until they graduate. Transportation will not be provided for students attending outside their attendance zone. High schools participating in the Ninth Grade School Choice program include Bonnabel Magnet Academy, Fisher Middle-High, Grace King, Helen Cox, Grand Isle, West Jefferson, East Jefferson and L.W. Higgins. For information and to apply, visit jpschools.org/HighSchoolChoice or call (504) 349-7600.

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SUMMER CAMP: Registration is open through May 17 for Acorn Camp and Summer Camp at Archbishop Chapelle High School, 8800 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie. Camp hours are from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 7-July 2. Before- and aftercare are available, with no charge for before care. Acorn Camp is for girls entering grades first through third; Summer Camp is for girls entering grades four through seven. The cost is $170 per week with a $30 registration fee. For information, visit chapellesummercamp.com.

INTERNATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL OF NEW ORLEANS: A spring open house for the International High School of New Orleans will be from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday, April 22, by appointment only. To register for the virtual open house or to schedule a tour, email demayo.gomez@ihsnola.org or call the school at (504) 613-5703.

CABRINI HIGH SCHOOL: Welcome Walks for prospective students will begin at 3:45 p.m. March 17, 24 and 31 at Cabrini High School, 1400 Moss St., New Orleans. A Welcome Walk is a private walk-through of campus for prospective sixth grade students and their families. To register, visit www.cabrinihigh.com.

MATH AND CODING OLYMPIAD: Registration is open for the 2021 Louisiana Elementary Math and Coding Olympiad, which will be held virtually from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. March 20. The competition consists of a complex mathematical and coding test that all Louisiana fifth graders can take. Awards are given to both the fifth graders who win and to their math teachers. Registration is free; to register, visit www.lemcolympiad.org/register.
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Spring Breakers have 'forgotten there is a pandemic', the mayor of Miami Beach has warned, telling of his concern at 'too many people coming with a desire to go wild'.

Young people were flocking to the city of 90,000 people to party on the sand, in a state which has has few COVID restrictions.

And, while much of the country remained under some form of lockdown, Florida was welcoming the college-age revelers.

Dan Gelber, the mayor of Miami Beach, said people were arriving with an 'anything goes' mentality.

Similar scenes were playing out in other Florida beach towns. In Fort Lauderdale, where the film Spring Break was set, police were patrolling the beach but large crowds of carefree partygoers were still lapping up the sunshine, regardless of the pandemic.

Nationwide the United States has now recorded 29,547,242 cases of COVID-19, and 536,887 deaths.

On Tuesday there were 52,930 new cases reported, and 1,278 new deaths.

Corey Falcon, of Baltimore, picks up two women on Fort Lauderdale Beach on Tuesday as Spring Break continues

College students descended on Fort Lauderdale to make the most of the warm weather and freedom from lockdown

Florida does not require people to wear face masks and there were none in sight on Tuesday amid the celebrations

Fort Lauderdale was the setting for the film Spring Break, and is a popular destination for young travelers

Police in in the city ended up shooting pepper balls at the weekend to disperse a crowd that had gathered around officers who were making an arrest.

One of the officers body-slammed James Harrison, 19, from New York City, as he was being taken into custody, and the crowd became 'extremely aggressive towards officers,' according to a copy of the police report.

An officer fired pepper balls 'due to the large, aggressive, unruly crowd and the immediate posing threats to officer safety,' the police report said.

The Miami Beach Police Department made 163 arrests over the past seven days, spokesman Ernesto Rodriguez told USA TODAY.

Gelber said the influx was 'a triple threat'.

He said: 'We've got too many people, too many coming with a desire to go wild, and we have the virus.

'It really poses a multifaceted peril for us.'

Streets in and around Fort Lauderdale were gridlocked as the young partygoers descended on the city

The warm weather and sand drew huge crowds from across the United States to Fort Lauderdale, seen Tuesday

Police in Fort Lauderdale were patrolling the beach but could not enforce mask wearing

The police set up booths on the beach to monitor the crowds that flocked to the seaside city

Spike ball proved popular on Fort Lauderdale's beaches on Tuesday

Groups of young people in Fort Lauderdale congregated on the beach to drink and hang out

On Tuesday night officers from Miami-Dade County and from neighboring Coral Gables were joining the Miami Beach Police on patrol.

A man was taken to hospital from the city's bar district, having shot himself in the leg by accident, WSVN reported.

Gelber said the city was not equipped to handle so many people.

'I think it might be a little bit related to just people looking to let loose after being pent up, but some people are coming here with sort of an anything-goes mentality and even if it's just a small percentage - it's a small percentage of an enormous amount of people,' Gelber said.

The city has brought in 'zero tolerance for all of our ordinances,' which means Miami Beach Police are making arrests for having open containers.

But there are no fines or arrests for refusing to wear face masks.

'I've been on Ocean Drive almost every day in the last week, and the number of people not wearing masks or just not bothering with any of the healthy practices is very disturbing,' he said.

'An enormous number of people are coming our way, and many of them, if not most, seem to have forgotten that there's a pandemic.'

According to the Florida Department of Health, new cases in the county have hovered between 800 and 1,900 since the beginning of the month.

COVID Act Now, a nonprofit that analyzes COVID-19 data, categorizes the county as 'very high risk'  the fourth-highest tier on its five-tier scale.

'We have seen footage of people enjoying spring break festivities, maskless. This is all in the context of still 50,000 cases per day.' Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) director Dr Rochelle Walensky said on Monday.

'Cases climbed last spring, they climbed again in the summer, they will climb now if we stop taking precautions when we continue to get more and more people vaccinated.'

It's also in the context of a dangerous coronavirus gaining ground in the US.

The B117 variant first found in the UK is now in 48 US states, Washington, DC and Puerto Rico.

A study published last week suggested it is not only more infectious, but up to 55 per cent deadlier.

CDC officials predicted it would reach dominance in the US in March.

About 30 per cent of the most recent batches of virus samples tested (as of March 15) were positive for the variant. That's up from nine per cent of the samples sequenced on February 15.

Over the past five days to Tuesday, 6.4 million people flew across the US, breaking the pandemic travel record of 5.6 million people who boarded airplanes in the five days leading up to Christmas, according to Travel Security Administration (TSA) data.

That includes 1.2 million people who flew on Monday. On Friday, more than 1.3 million people flew - a record high in the past year.

Popular warm destinations like Miami Beach saw influxes of college students and others.

In preparation for their arrival, Governor Ron DeSantis dropped fines for people who flout COVID-19 safety measures.

It's the latest push in his campaign to keep a tight grip on how cities and counties enforce - or rather don't enforce - restrictions.

A group of South Florida counties inundated with visitors sent the governor a letter pleading with him to allow fines to be reinstated.
A 51-year-old Acton man was sentenced in federal court in Boston on Wednesday for stealing more than $3.8 million from clients through his financial planning company.

Gerald Allan Eaton was ordered to pay $3,824,930 in restitution and another $1,698,701 in pre-judgment interest after defrauding more than 20 clients in his role as a financial planner, according to Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendells office.

In September, Eaton pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud, one count of mail fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft, authorities said.

Eaton was a certified financial planner conducting business under the name Heritage Financial Group. As an advisor, he would invest his clients funds in securities and various insurance products, like life insurance policies and annuities, authorities said.

From at least 1999 through October 2019, Eaton stole millions of dollars from client accounts, primarily by selling securities, insurance policies and annuities in clients accounts, then directing the proceeds into accounts he owned or controlled, authorities said.

In order to avoid detection, Eaton defrauded clients he knew were unlikely to notice what he had done, either because they were elderly or in poor mental or physical condition, prosecutors said.

As part of his scheme, Eaton forged clients signatures on checks and documents, or caused clients to sign documents by falsely representing that the proceeds of transactions would be used for the clients benefit, authorities said. Eaton also falsely represented to the brokerage firm with which he was affiliated, and to insurance companies, that the transactions he requested on his clients behalf were for the benefit of those clients.

In September 2020, the Securities and Exchange Commission barred Eaton from the securities industry as a result of his conduct, prosecutors said.
BOSTON, March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Andrew Dreyfus, president and CEO of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, shared the following message today with the company's 3,700 employees:

Dear colleagues,

Many of us are feeling pain and shock amid a rise in violence against Asian Americans, pain exacerbated by last night's attacks in Georgia.

Our company stands against hate, and we stand with our Asian-American colleagues. Our values are based on respect, dignity, and equity for all.

Bigotry, bias, and stereotyping, stoked by false and dangerous language during this pandemic, have no place in our society.

As President Biden said recently, "Many Asian Americans, our fellow Americans, are on the frontlines 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. It's wrong, it's un-American and it must stop."

I have been inspired by Boston's Stop Asian Hate rally held earlier this week, one of many around the country. And I have been moved by the accounts of our own colleagues, including some who gathered yesterday with our Asian Blue Community Employee Resource Group to share their painful and tragic experiences. Please know we see your strength, hear your stories and are by your side.

I am proud our company has moved swiftly, since the earliest days of the pandemic, to combat misinformation and amplify the voices of Asian Americans and others speaking out against hate, stigma and bigotry. We will continue to do so.

Our Asian Blue Community welcomes members of all backgrounds and is a vital resource. I urge all our colleagues to reach out to share, listen and support each other, as we have so often this year.

About Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts (bluecrossma.com) is a community-focused, tax-paying, not-for-profit health plan headquartered in Boston. We are committed to the relentless pursuit of quality, affordable and equitable health care with an unparalleled consumer experience. Consistent with our promise to always put our members first, we are rated among the nation's best health plans for member satisfaction and quality. Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and LinkedIn.

SOURCE Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts

Related Links

http://www.bluecrossma.com


Yves here. This short post is significant because it shows that some figures whose views are generally classified as right of center (although Paul Craig Roberts shouldnt be so easily pigeonholed) are recognizing the validity of MMT as a description of how a fiat currency works and its implication. Roberts has also embraced the view that private sector debt is a negative for growth and economic stability.

By Michael Hudson and Paul Craig Roberts. Originally published at Paul Craig Roberts website

Out of habit, American economists worry about federal debt. But federal debt can be redeemed by the Federal Reserve printing the money with which to retire the bonds. The debt problem rests with individuals, companies, and state and local governments. They have no printing press.

We have explained that the indebtedness of the population means there is little discretionary income with which to drive the economy. The offshoring of middle class jobs lowered incomes, and after paying debt servicemortgage interest, car payments, credit card interest, student loan debtAmericans pockets are empty.

This situation has been worsened by Covid lockdowns. In the US the federal government has sent out a few Covid payments to help keep peoples heads above water as they face expenses without income. The financial press refers to these Covid checks as fiscal stimulus, but there is no stimulus. The Covid checks do not come close to replacing the missing wages, salaries and business profits from lockdowns.

Corporations have indebted themselves and impaired their capitalization by borrowing money with which to repurchase their stock. This has built up their debt in the face of stagnant or declining consumer discretionary income.

We propose to deal with the debt crisis by forgiving debts as was done in ancient times. Our basic premise is that debts that cannot be paid wont be. Widespread foreclosures and evictions would further worsen the distribution of income and wealth and further contrain the ability of the economy to grow. Writing debt down to levels that can be serviced would clear the decks tor a real recovery. Income that would be siphoned off in debt service would instead be available to purchase new goods and services.

A few economists muttered that we were overlooking the moral hazzard of absolving people of their debts. But leaving the economy stagnated in debt is also a moral hazzard.

Policymakers did not endorse our proposal, but, in effect, policymakers adopted our policy. However, instead of forgiving the debt itself, they forgave payment of the debt service. Individuals and businesses who cannot pay their landlords or lenders cannot be evicted or foreclosed until June. This doesnt hurt the lenders or banks, because the loans are not in default, and their balance sheet is not impaired. The banks add the unpaid payments to their assets, and their balance sheets remain sound.

When June arrives, the prohibition against eviction and foreclosure will have to be extended as the accrued debt service cannot be paid. Extending the moratorium on foreclosures and evictions will just build up arrears. Is the implication a perpetual moratorium?

The question is: If policymakers are willing to forgive debt service, why not just forgive the debt. The latter is neater and clears the decks for an economic renewal.

The US economy has been financialized. Debt has been built up without a corresponding gain in productive capital investment in order to carry the mounting debt.

The main purpose of bank loans is to refinance existing investments, not to expand productive capacity with which to service the debt. It is not possible to grow out of debt in a financialized economy, because too much income is used for debt service. The way to deal with this problem is to write down debts.
Russian woman ordered to 3-year jail for $4.5 mln cigarette smuggling

 flickr.com/ Alexxx Malev

13:09 17/03/2021

MOSCOW, March 17 (RAPSI)  A court in Russias Astrakhan has sentenced a woman from the Republic of Dagestan to 3 years in penal colony for tobacco products smuggling in the amount of more than 320 million rubles (about $4.5 million), the press service of the Prosecutor Generals Office informs RAPSI.

The woman has been found guilty of illegal moving of tobacco products on a large scale by a group of people in conspiracy across the Customs Border of the Customs Union. In addition to the prison term, she has been fined 600,000 rubles.

The defendant along with her unidentified accomplices has organized the trafficking of a large lot of unexcised tobacco products worth over 320 million rubles to one of the Astrakhan harbors. She declared the shipment as the paste of tomatoes. Based on the declaration, the cigarettes have been let out to the customs duty area of the Customs union and set aside from the Astrakhan Region, according to prosecutors.
Burma Yangon Bank Customers Detained by Myanmars Military Regime

A screengrab from MRTV shows the four accused of incitement for the CDM before their arrest.

Family members of four people detained for allegedly inciting people to join the civil disobedience movement (CDM) at a private bank say they have had no contact with them since their arrest.

Military and state-run television channels announced on Tuesday evening that U Thant Zin, Daw Su Thet Mon, Daw Myint Thu and Daw Khin Khin Si were detained at a branch of the KBZ bank in Yangons Kamayut Township on March 16. Media for the military regime said that they were arrested after they forcibly enter the bank on Pyi Road around 11:30 AM to condemn the banks resumption of operations.

KBZ said in a statement on Thursday that the bank didnt call the security forces but that they had arrived unexpectedly and detained four bank customers.

We will do our best to provide the necessary information to show the four individuals are indeed customers of the bank, KBZ said in the statement.

The majority of private banks in Myanmar have been closed since the militarys Feb.1 coup because many of their staff have joined the CDM and are refusing to work under the juntas rule.

With financial flows across the country paralyzed, the regime forced some private banks to open this week. On Tuesday, a handful of private bank branches in Yangon struggled to resume operations.

They cursed the bank staff for not being part of the CDM, frightening others customers in the bank, said the newscaster, adding that the four were arrested by security forces who arrived at the bank as soon as they learned about the incident.

But videos filmed by other customers at the bank show that people had come to the branch to withdraw money and were complaining that the bank staff were not handling the customers demands properly and not letting them in to the bank before the door was closed.

We are not staging a protest. We are here to withdraw our money as you said your bank is open, a woman customer shouted.

The families of the four people detained have been unable to contact them since their arrest.

Daw Cho Zin Lin, the sister of detainees Daw Su Thet Mon and U Thant Zin, said she has no idea of their whereabouts.

We are still trying to figure out where they are, she said.

An immediate family member of one of the detained women dismissed the regimes accusation that she had been inciting people to join the CDM.

She just went there to withdraw the money we have saved. It was nothing to do with the CDM, he said, adding that he has lost contact with her now.

When we reached out to the township police station, they said they dont know where she is, he said.

Daw Cho Zin Lin also said her that her sister and brother were not there as part of the CDM but just to withdraw their money.

They are the banks customers and the bank has a responsibility for their safety and release, she said.

Notice: The story was updated on Thursday 6:17 p.m. to include the banks response.

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By GENE JOHNSON

Associated Press

SEATTLE  Lawyers for a man forced to sleep outside after Seattle police had the truck he was living in towed asked the Washington Supreme Court on Thursday to declare such impoundments unlawful.

Steven Long was working part-time as a janitor at CenturyLink Field and living in his old GMC pickup in 2016 when police warned him it was illegal to park in the city-owned, gravel lot for more than 72 hours.





. . .
A Florida mother has become the first woman in the U.S. to give birth to a baby known to be born with COVID-19 antibodies.

The unnamed woman, from Palm Beach County, received one dose of the Moderna coronavirus vaccine a few weeks before giving birth.

In January, the baby was found to have antibodies against the infection that can typically remain in the body for several years.

'To our knowledge, this was the first in the world that was reported of a baby being born with antibodies after a vaccination,' pediatrician Dr Paul Gilbert told local station WPBF.

A Florida mother, who received one dose of Moderna's coronavirus vaccine, gave birth to the first baby in the U.S. known to be born with COVID-19 antibodies (file image)

Doctors found the baby had IgG antibodies, proteins that the body produces in the late stages of infection and may remain in the body for months or years. Pictured: Syringes and a vial of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine are seen at a drive-thru vaccination site in Wildwood, Florida, March 2021

Past studies have shown that pregnant women who are vaccinated against the flu and TDaP (tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis) pass antibodies through the placenta to their babies.

While it would be expected to hold true for the COVID-19 vaccine, research has been limited on the subject.

A recent small study in Israel found that antibodies from the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine were detected in all 20 women given both doses during their third trimester as well as in their newborns.

SHOULD PREGNANT WOMEN RECEIVE THE COVID-19 VACCINE? Pregnant women were not enrolled in any coronavirus vaccine trials, leading many to wonder if they should be vaccinated at all. When vaccines for coronavirus first started to be rolled out, the World Health Organization warned that they should should not be used on pregnant women due to lack of evidence about the safety and efficacy. Later, the organization walked back its advice and said vaccines can be administered in expectant mothers safely. Additionally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the American College of Gynecologists and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine say vaccines should be offered to pregnant women. This is because expectant mothers are are at a greater risk of severe illness or death if they become infected with COVID-19 compared to non-pregnant women of the same age. Experts say pregnant women should talk to their healthcare providers first and be informed of any potential risks of getting the vaccine. Advertisement

When vaccines for coronavirus first started to be rolled out, the World Health Organization warned that they should should not be used on pregnant women due to lack of evidence about the safety and efficacy.

Later, the organization walked back its advice and said vaccines can be administered in expectant mothers safely.

At a press briefing last month, Dr Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious disease expert, said there were no 'red flags' after at least 20,000 American pregnant women were vaccinated against COVID-19.

In the new pre-print article, the authors say the mother, who is a frontline healthcare worker, was 36 weeks pregnant when she received her first dose of the Moderna vaccine.

Three weeks later, in late January, the woman gave birth to a healthy, baby girl, and doctors took blood samples to see if the mother had passed antibodies to her newborn.

'We tested the baby's cord to see if the antibodies in the mother passed to the baby which is something, we see happen with other vaccines given during pregnancy,' Gilbert said.

Tests showed the infant had IgG antibodies, proteins that the body produces in the late stages of infection and may remain for up to months and possibly years after a person has recovered.

The authors say their study has been submitted to a journal for peer review and is currently awaiting publication.

'This is one small case in what will be thousands and thousands of babies born to mothers who have been vaccinated over the next several months,' the woman's other pediatrician, Dr Chad Rudnick, told WPBF.

An average of more than two million people every day are being vaccinated against COVID-19

As of Wednesday morning, 21.7% of the U.S. population has received at least one dose of the coronavirus vaccine and 11.8% are fully vaccinated

The woman received her second dose after giving birth in keep with the 28-day recommended period for the Moderna vaccine.

The pediatricians say more studies are needed to determine how long neutralizing antibodies remain in a baby's body for.

The pre-print article also indicates that the level of antibodies in the baby was quite low, which means newborns may be at risk for infection with the virus.

'Further studies have to determine how long will this protection last,' Rudnick told WPBF.

'They have to determine at what level of protection or how many antibodies does a baby need to have circulating in order to give them protection.'

In the paper, the doctors urge that national pregnancy and breastfeeding registries be created so that the safety and efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccine can be studied in pregnant woman and their babies.

As of Wednesday morning, 21.7 percent of the U.S. population has received at least one dose of the coronavirus vaccine and 11.8 percent are fully vaccinated.

An average of more than two million people every day are having shots in arms.
Syracuse, N.Y. -- More than 40,000 Covid-19 appointments are open at the New York State fairgrounds through the end of May.

And at three other state-run vaccination sites within a two-hour drive of Syracuse, there were at least 70,000 appointments available through May 31, the last date for which slots are available now.

The abundance of appointments comes as more New Yorkers become eligible today for the vaccines.

The fairgrounds site administers the Pfizer vaccine, which requires two doses 21 days apart. When you make your first appointment, you commit to making a second appointment at the same time of day, 21 days later.

As of 8 a.m. today, the soonest available appointments at the fairgrounds were March 30. Theres 100 to 200 a day through April 11, and then 300 to about 1,000 per day the rest of the month. In May, more than1,000 appointments are available every day of the month.

Eligibility has expanded to 10 million to 12 million New Yorkers as vaccine supply has increased. The newly eligible today includes public-facing government and public employees; certain nonprofit workers, and essential in-person, public-facing building services workers

The new categories include jobs like public works employees, social service and child service caseworkers, government inspectors, sanitation workers, Department of Motor Vehicles workers, county clerks, building services workers and election workers.

The state has added three new questions to the appointment signup website to determine eligibility:

* Are you a public-facing government or public employee?

* Are you a not-for-profit worker who provides public-facing services to New Yorkers in need?

* Are you an essential, in-person, public-facing building service worker or provider of essential building services?

All other groups who were eligible before remain eligible now.

MORE ON CORONVIRUS

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Its been one year since Covid-19 first hit home in Central NY

Complete coronavirus coverage on syracuse.com
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POTTSVILLE  Lenny McHugh, who has been using guide dogs for more than 20 years, has dedicated time to raising money to help others get matched with guide dogs, too.

McHugh, 74, of Pottsville, has given motivational speeches and performed magic shows for donations only, forwarding that money to the Freedom Guide Dogs organization.

The organization, which McHugh has been working with since 1998, operates on donations and grants to provide guide dogs at no cost to the clients.

Every dollar can help somebody else get a dog, McHugh said.

Aside from the money McHugh has raised himself, two local businesses have had donation banks in their stores for years to collect money for Freedom Guide Dogs.

Mildred Kennedy, of Momma Millies Bakery on North Centre Street in Pottsville, said knowing the cost of training a guide dog, she was more than willing to help.

Anything in the medical field is so expensive, Kennedy said. I do it because thats the way I was raised. People help one another.

Kennedys bank was stolen from her counter in February, but members of the community responded right away to help make up the money.

My heart was broken, Kennedy said. I put it out on my Facebook page, and people came in and were handing me $20 or $30.

Kennedy said she was able to get a new bank to continue collecting for Freedom Guide Dogs. It sits on the counter alongside banks for the SPCA and the Salvation Army.

Lennys been a good customer, Kennedy said. He is a testimony that just because hes blind, that doesnt mean he stops.

Lee Bohorad, owner of Bohorads clothing store on North Centre Street in Pottsville, said he loves animals and his mother is legally blind, so there was no question about whether he should put the bank out.

It was just a natural thing for us to do here, Bohorad said.

Bohorad said he has known McHugh, as well as his dogs, for years, and has seen what the organization has done for him.

I think its a wonderful organization, Bohorad said. Lenny has had several dogs, and theyve been in here many times with him. They are great animals and a great service.

McHugh said the Schuylkill Area Community Foundation has also made donations to Freedom Guide Dogs.

A special bond

For McHugh, the dogs have allowed him to maintain his independence.

The only people who could understand this bond are other guide dog users, McHugh said. We have total trust in each other. Id rather walk with a dog than somebody whos sighted.

McHugh first began looking for a guide dog after complications from a surgery in 1995 left him paralyzed from the neck down. After his recovery, he was unable to use his cane because of loss of strength in his arm.

McHugh said he had contacted about 16 guide dog schools in the country, but they all said they would not be able to train a dog to work with his needs.

In 1998, McHugh met with a trainer from Freedom Guide Dogs, an organization based in Cassville, New York, that does hometown visits to work with people one on one.

We walked around the block, and he said hed be able to train a dog for me, McHugh said. Six months later, I got my first guide dog.

McHugh has had four dogs with Freedom Guide Dogs: Indy, Micah, Toga and now Otter, a 7-year-old black Labrador retriever. They were all trained to help McHugh navigate the streets of Pottsville.

The trainer said Pottsville is one of the worst towns hed ever seen, McHugh said. He said, If I can train a dog here, he could work anywhere. 

McHugh said the dogs are trained to think and evaluate, not just to perform tasks.

When were out walking, you can see him turning his head and looking around, McHugh said. Hes planning our route.

Wonderful support

McHugh said training a guide dog costs $25,000, which would not be affordable for many people who need a guide dog.

Thats why he continues to raise money to help others and appreciates the members of the community who support the cause.

The support has been wonderful, McHugh said. Im so grateful not only to these businesses, but to everyone who donates.
God, the nations, and nationalism (pt 1)

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Nationalism and globalism are on a collision course and the future of civilization is at stake.

Progressive nationalism ... seeks to impose a highly specific and controversial vision of social order, warned George Washington University Professor Samuel Goldman, as reported March 16 in The Christian Post by Ryan Foley.

Meanwhile, Pope Francis proposes a new world order of globalism to counteract all the rising nationalisms.[1]

The world will never be the same again (because of the COVID pandemic), said the Pontiff. However, it is precisely within this calamity that we must grasp those signs which may prove to be the cornerstones of reconstruction.

Pope Francis lent his stature to the view sweeping many nations that history is in a reset phase. It would seem that the COVID pandemic had the same effect as Noahs Flood  the destruction of an old order necessitating the construction of a new world system.

The Pope gave chilling detail in a speech to the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences in May 2019: When a supranational common good is clearly identified, there is need for a special legally constituted authority capable of facilitating its implementation.

In the speech, the Pope suggested that what is needed is a globally authoritative body that could counteract the growing nationalism which neglects the common good.

There are many others who identity with Christianity, including Catholics, Orthodox, Protestants, Evangelicals, Pentecostals, and Charismatics who are disturbed by the Popes apparent favoring of globalism to resist extremes of nationalism.

It is naive to be blind to the extremes of globalism.

Whose side is God on in the midst of this cacophonous din between intensifying nationalism and looming globalism?

This is an important question in a nuclear world where trembling hands are on buttons that, pushed, could wipe out whole civilizations and the nations within them. There is no reassurance that in Trumps waning hours Nancy Pelosi was anxious that Trump not have access to nuclear codes that were about to be turned over to Joe Biden.

God is on our side, said Donald Trump in the heady early days of his presidency. The belief of some in the Biden White House suggested that the Democrats were favored by the pandemic creating conditions favorable to his election.

God is on our side, said Maxine Waters, as she exhorted her allies to push back if they encountered a Trump cabinet officer.

"I believe today that I am acting in the sense of the Almighty Creator, said Adolf Hitler as he contemplated the genocide of the Jewish race  marked in the Bible as the Lords chosen people.

God is on your side? Joseph Stalin mockingly asked Winston Churchill in 1943 at the Tehran conference. The devils on my side; hes a good Communist, said the Soviet dictator.

Many nations and their leaders across history have claimed Gods special support. Recent times have raised the question to new levels of intensity. This, in the view of some critics, has devolved into a nationalism that asserts one worldview and the institutions arising from it as superior to all others, and therefore the right  indeed, the mandate, divine or otherwise to bring the rest into conformity.

This is why distorted nationalism is a matter of concern.

However, the Bible is clear that, while God may not be a nationalist in the current use of the term, He does love nations. In fact, nations are crucial in His great plan for history.

The Creators desire for all peoples is that they enjoy the attributes of His Kingdom righteousness-justice, peace, and Spirit-given transcendent joy. (Romans 14:17)

Thus, God sees nations ethnologically rather than politically. That is, He sees people rather than national institutions.

This Gospel of the Kingdom will be proclaimed in all the inhabited earth for a testimony to the nations, says Jesus in the Greek rendering of Matthew 24:14. And the word used for nations there is ethnesin, from which English gets ethnic. Clearly Gods view of a nation is not focused on geo-politics but humanity. Nations are clusterings of His image-bearers in a shared environment to facilitate proclamation of the Gospel of the Kingdom.

In Athens, the Apostle Paul tells the philosophers that God Himself has made of one blood every nation  again, ethnos (another form of ethnesin) to dwell on earth. (Acts 17:26)

Nations are important in Gods Kingdom plan because they are crucibles into which the Kingdom message can be poured. The people do not have to be the same racially, but a diverse humanity sharing a common worldview, and a life experience that facilitates community whose members can receive, learn, bear witness, and serve one another in relationship.

The New Testament church ideally is at the heart of this dynamic lifestyle because it is the core body that flourishes through the fellowship of the saints and can radiate such loving care into the crucible of the nation.

Globalism is not the answer to nationalism, but Gods Kingdom is. And nations play a crucial role in its advance in the world until Christ returns with the fulness of His manifest reign over all the nations.

Paul himself said it in his Athenian discourse: (Gods) purpose was for the nations to seek after God... (Acts 17:27 NLT)

Let our nationalism be that of the kingdom of God.

We explore the vital role of nations in the next article in this series.

[1] He surfaced this proposal in a series of interviews with Domenico Agasso that became a recently published book, God and the World to Come.
Gladys Berejiklian has admitted a returned traveller infected with the UK strain of coronavirus may have caught the disease inside hotel quarantine.

Another returned traveller staying at the same Sydney hotel where a security guard and different returnee contracted Covid has tested positive to the virus.

This new case did not have the virus when they arrived to the Sydney hotel, meaning they must have contracted it while inside, the NSW Premier said on Wednesday.

Ms Berejiklian called the revelation the 'missing link' authorities needed, but confirmed it was unknown how the travellers contracted coronavirus as CCTV footage did not show any protocol breaches.

The rooms don't share air conditioning vents or even a corridor, adding to the theory that the person caught the virus while checking in or on something in their room.

'They are an overseas traveller but they didnt have the virus when they came into the hotel  because of the timing they [think they] contracted the virus,' she said.

Another traveller who also had tested positive to the virus was quarantining on the 11th floor of Sydney's Sofitel hotel.

This is the same level where security guard is believed to have caught the highly contagious UK virus strain last week from a hotel guest, marking the first local case in New South Wales in 55 days.

'It's not surprising the case is on the same floor as the security guard and the traveller that had the original case,' the premier said.

'Health believes they acquired it after they went into the hotel so we are being upfront about that. They didn't have the virus when they came to the hotel.

'It is only fair for us to classify this as community transmission although obviously, they're in quarantine and not in the community.'

A general view of the Sofitel Sydney Wentworth in Sydney on Sunday after a security guard contracted coronavirus

Mr Berejiklian said there is 'no cause for us to be alarmed in the community' as the positive case is in hotel quarantine.

Health authorities were on high alert after the 47-year-old security guard was on Sunday diagnosed with Covid-19, breaking the state's 55-day virus-free run.

It isn't clear how the guard contracted the virus as there were no obvious breaches of health protocols.

However the guard has the same highly contagious UK virus strain as an infected traveller residing on the floor on which he worked.

It was hoped the guard was less contagious after receiving the first shot of the Pfizer vaccine, NSW Health's Dr Jeremy McAnulty said on Tuesday.

It isn't clear how the guard contracted the virus as there were no obvious breaches of health protocols. Pictured: Sofitel Hotel in Sydney

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the latest infection could be the 'missing link' for health authorities investigating the state's first local case of transmission in more than 50 days

The latest infection in hotel quarantine comes as NSW residents can finally stand at the bar and enjoy a cold one after 12 long months.

From Wednesday, revellers in NSW will be permitted to stand and drink at a bar, as promised during the state's last round of restriction-easing in late February.

The premier on Tuesday reiterated her determination to get as many people vaccinated against Covid-19 as possible, saying the AstraZeneca jab is safe and 'absolutely critical'.

Numerous countries have suspended their AstraZeneca rollout after some recipients developed blood clots, but Ms Berejiklian is not deterred.

'I have full confidence in the vaccine and I have full confidence in our health experts. I certainly wouldn't have taken it if I hadn't done my homework - which I have - and I feel completely safe,' she said.

Within three weeks, NSW will have completed an extra 80,000 jabs and 45,000 new people would have started their vaccine process.
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Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-18 05:07:01|Editor: huaxia

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JERUSALEM, March 17 (Xinhua) -- The Israeli Ministry of Finance on Wednesday announced an economic support program for the country's airlines, due to the prolonged COVID-19 crisis and its extensive damage to the Israeli aviation industry.

"The plan will allow an immediate flow to facilitate the airlines operations during this period," the ministry said.

As part of the plan, the state will purchase in advance, for 20 years, flight tickets for the governmental flight security guards.

Thus, the ministry agreed with Israel's leading airline El Al on the purchase of flight tickets in the amount of 210 million U.S. dollars, under the condition that the company will raise 105 million dollars through a public offering.

This outline replaces a previous government offer of a state guarantee for a 400-million-dollar bank loan that El Al was supposed to take.

The ministry said that in the coming days a similar outline would be offered to other Israeli airlines, Israir and Arkia. Enditem
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By MARK SHERMAN Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP)  The federal judiciary says it needs to boost security for judges at home and work following a deadly shooting at a judges home last summer, protests that damaged more than 50 courthouses around the country last year and the Jan 6. assault on the U.S. Capitol.

All federal judges are being offered upgrades, including video monitoring, of antiquated' home security systems, U.S. District Judge Claire Eagan of Oklahoma said Tuesday after a meeting of the Judicial Conference, the policy-making arm of the federal courts.

This matter became very real for judges last summer, said Eagan, who heads the judiciarys executive committee.

In July, a lawyer showed up at the New Jersey home of U.S. District Judge Esther Salas dressed as a FedEx delivery person and fatally shot her 20-year-old son, Daniel Anderl, and seriously wounded her husband, Mark Anderl.

The lawyer, Roy Den Hollander, 72, was found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound the day after the ambush. Den Hollander found Salas home address online.

The judiciary also is backing legislation named for Salas son that would make it easier to shield judges personal information from the public. It failed to pass the Senate in December, but is expected to be reintroduced this year.

The AP has previously reported that when Den Hollander was found dead he had a document with him with information about a dozen female judges from across the country, half of whom are Latina, including Salas. Justice Sonia Sotomayor was among the judges being tracked, Salas said in an interview with CBS News 60 Minutes in February.

Federal judges also are asking Congress for an extra $390 million for courthouse security enhancements. Some of that money would be used to harden entrances and first-floor windows of courthouses nationwide to prevent them from being overrun, Eagan said, alluding to the attack on the Capitol.

The request also includes money to deal with increasing threats against federal judges, including threats tied to the pending criminal cases associated with the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol, according to a summary of the money requests provided by the courts.

Separately, the Judicial Conference also is calling for adding 77 district court judgeships nationwide and two seats on the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in the western U.S.

The last comprehensive expansion of the judiciary was in 1990, and there appears to be bipartisan congressional support for adding judgeships.
Melissa McCarthy has been in Australia with her family filming the miniseries Nine Perfect Strangers, and more recently Thor: Love and Thunder.

And on Wednesday, the 50-year-old actress revealed she was bitten by a huntsman spider during her trip Down Under.

The Hollywood star shared a hilarious video to Instagram of herself lying in bed with bandages on both hands.

Incident: Hollywood star Melissa McCarthy (pictured) is recovering after being BITTEN by a spider in Australia

In the post, Melissa is first seen saying: 'I love that all the bugs and creatures will kill you.'

She is then pictured lying in a bed with bandages on both her hands and a towel on her forehead.

'After professing my love of Australian critters to InStyle magazine, I was quickly reminded by someone that I was conveniently forgetting the aftermath of some of those "magical" bites,' Melissa wrote.

'I love that all the bugs and creatures will kill you': The Hollywood star shared a hilarious video to Instagram of herself lying in bed with bandages on both hands

The comedian has been in Australia since last year filming the upcoming TV series Nine Perfect Strangers, which is based on the 2018 novel of the same name by Big Little Lies author Liane Moriarty.

The $100million production was being filmed in Byron Bay and other parts of NSW.

The series will tell the story of nine stressed-out urbanites who escape to a wellness retreat run by Nicole Kidman's character.

Melissa and her husband Ben Falcone were also recently spotted on set Thor: Love and Thunder alongside Matt Damon and Luke Hemsworth.

New project: The comedian is currently in Australia filming the upcoming series Nine Perfect Strangers, which is based on the 2018 novel of the same name by Big Little Lies author Liane Moriarty

Melissa was seen cackling as she sported a huge green headpiece to transform into Hela, who was originally played by Cate Blanchett in Thor: Ragnarok, which proves she has earned herself a coveted place on the movie.

In December, a source told The Daily Telegraph Melissa enjoyed working in Byron so much that she wanted to shoot her next project, God's Favorite Idiot, Down Under.

'They [Melissa and other Hollywood stars] just love it in Australia and absolutely want to make the series here,' an insider told the publication.

'With everything going on in the U.S. right now, the pandemic is out of control, they want to stay here.'
CDI Labs  a biotechnology company based in Puerto Rico  is using INTEGRAs VIAFLO and VOYAGER electronic pipettes to streamline workflows and improve accuracy for the development of next generation proteomics products.

Image Credit: INTEGRA Biosciences

The company is well-known for its flagship product  the HuProt Human Proteome Microarray  and has since expanded its portfolio to include a catalogue of over 2,000 monoclonal antibodies designed to accelerate research and advance discoveries that improve human health. Edisa Albino, a senior project manager and operations development scientist at CDI, explained: Monoclonal antibodies are frequently used in life sciences research, yet many of the molecules currently available commercially arent very specific. Each of our monoclonal antibodies is monospecific, and has been extensively validated using flow cytometry, characterization of protein expression and interaction, western blot etc.

With the level of manual work seen in our workflows, it is unsurprising that many of our staff experienced pipetting fatigue, Edisa continued. They suffered from problems such as RSI and carpal tunnel syndrome, which obviously affected efficiency and productivity. We began researching different pipettes to help alleviate these problems, and the INTEGRA electronic pipettes offered exactly what we needed. We now have three VIAFLO electronic pipettes and two VOYAGER adjustable tip spacing pipettes, using them for PCR, immunoassays, cell culture, proteomics and purification. They are so ergonomic and comfortable for our users that fatigue is simply no longer an issue. The VIAFLO takes seconds to fill 96 well assay plates or 24 well cell culture plates, while the VOYAGER is perfect for transferring samples quickly from a 96 well plate to the human protein arrays for validation, where spacing between the tips needs to be completely different. Overall, our workflows are much faster, our throughput has significantly increased and we have confidence in the accuracy of our results  I really think they're the best pipettes on the market for our needs.

Visit the INTEGRA Biosciences website to learn more.

About INTEGRA Biosciences

INTEGRA Biosciences (https://www.integra-biosciences.com) is a leading provider of high-quality laboratory tools and consumables for liquid handling and media preparation. The company is committed to creating innovative solutions which fulfil the needs of its customers in research, diagnostics and quality control within the life sciences markets and medical sector. Today, INTEGRA innovative laboratory products are widely used all around the world. More than 100 distribution partners form a worldwide sales network providing responsive and competent services to customers. These distribution partners are supported by a highly motivated and experienced team of specialists at the company headquarters in Zizers, Switzerland and Hudson, NH, USA. INTEGRA is an ISO 9001 certified company.
NEW YORK, March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Chelating resins demand experienced a sluggish growth at 3% CAGR until 2020, and latest research by consulting firm Fact.MR projects sales to recover at 5% CAGR through 2030. Recovery from chemicals and metals & mining industry is set to drive growth in 2021 and beyond.

The latest edition of chelating resins market by Fact.MR finds that the consistent demand from the mining, chlor-alkali and electroplating industries to spur the sales of chelating resins. Application in chlor-alkali accounts for major market share backed by the advanced ion exchange technologies from the manufacturers. Significant application in waste-water treatment, followed by electroplating application to bolster the demand of chelating resins. Hence fostering the sales.

"Heightened investments by manufacturers in research and development for sustainable solutions is stimulating growth of chelating resins. Among the end-users, chemical industry holds 50% of market share, in which, chlor alkali is anticipated to emerge as the fastest growing segment, bolstering the demand for chelating resins," says a Fact.MR analyst.

For more Insights into the Market, Request a Sample of this Report

https://www.factmr.com/connectus/sample?flag=S&rep_id=594

Key Takeaways

By functional group, picolyamine to acquire maximum share attributed to its consistent market growth

Iminoacetic and aminophosphonic group account for nearly 75% share

Application in waste water treatment and effluents sustaining demand

Polystyrene divinylbenzene matrix to retain dominance through 2030

Exponentially increased investment in R&D and sustainable solutions, China to emerge as leading chelating resins hub

to emerge as leading chelating resins hub Owing to the surge in production as well as consumption of chelating resins, Germany to be the epicenter of the Europe market

to be the epicenter of the market Chemicals and metal & mining to remain primary end-users

Competitive Landscape

LANXESS, Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation, Purolite, DuPont, Sunresin New Materials Co. Ltd., Ion Exchange (India) Limited, Thermax Limited, Suqing Group, Samyang Corporation, ResinTech, SH Scenic Resin Co. Ltd., and Jiangsu Widevision Environmental Protection Technology Co., Ltd among others are some of the prominent manufacturers, profiled by Fact.MR. According to the study, the market is consolidated with the prominent players accounting for bulk market share. Product optimization is the key growth strategy for the aforementioned manufacturers.

In 2020, specialty Chemicals Company LANXESS invested 120 million euros and reorganized its water treatment technologies business by focusing on ion exchange resins business for high-end applications. As a part of this strategy, LANXESS and sold its business to a French group SUEZ and completed the transaction by 2020-end.

Also, in January 2021, Mitsubishi Chemical Group Companies announced the merger of its two subsidiaries, Japan Coating Resin Corporation and Toei Kasei Co. Ltd., into a single organization named JCR to further the production and diversification of resin emulsification techniques underpinned by water-based emulsification techniques.

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More Valuable Insights on Chelating resins Market

Fact.MR, in its latest report, presents a detailed analysis of the global chelating resins market. The study divulges essential insights on the chelating resins market on the basis of functional group (iminoacetic group, amino phosphoric group, glucamine group, oxime group, phosphonic group+sulphonic group, phosphorous group, thiol group, thiourea group and others), matrix type (polystyrene, polystyrene divinylbenzene, polyacrylic divinylbenzene), application (separation & purification, treatment of wastewater & effluents, removal of impurities, biochemistry and others), end-use industry (electroplating, chemicals, metal & mining, and waste water treatment), and region (North America, Latin America, Europe, East Asia, South East Asia & Oceania, and MEA)

Key Questions Covered in the Report

How will demand for chelating resins evolve in the future?

Which application of chelating resins accounts for the highest demand?

Why is China a lucrative market for chelating resins?

a lucrative market for chelating resins? Which are the factors that will drive the demand for chelating resins sales?

Which region is the largest consumer for chelating resins?

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Explore Fact.MR's Coverage on the Chemicals & Material Domain

Polyphenylene Sulfide (PPS) Resins Market: The global polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) resins market report published by Fact.MR sheds an insight on the prominent growth dynamics, including possible drivers, opportunities and new entrants, expected to prevail across the landscape for the upcoming decade. A detailed insight regarding key geographies and prominent manufacturers has been embedded in this report.

Fire Resins Market: Fact.MR's incisive coverage on the Fire Resins market explicates on the key drivers, trends and opportunities expected to prevail across prominent segments and key geographies for the forthcoming assessment period. Additionally, details about prominent manufacturers and their revenue shares have also been incorporated.

Flame Retardant Polyester Resins Market: Fact.MR, in its new offering, provides an unbiased analysis of the global flame retardant polyester resins market, presenting historical demand data and forecast statistics. The study divulges compelling insights on the flame retardant polyester resins market on the basis of product type, end use industry type, and regional outlook.

About Fact.MR

Market research and consulting agency with a difference! That's why 80% of Fortune 1,000 companies trust us for making their most critical decisions. We have offices in US and Dublin, whereas our global headquarter is in Dubai. While our experienced consultants employ the latest technologies to extract hard-to-find insights, we believe our USP is the trust clients have on our expertise. Spanning a wide range  from automotive & industry 4.0 to healthcare & retail, our coverage is expansive, but we ensure even the most niche categories are analyzed. Reach out to us with your goals, and we'll be an able research partner.

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This spectacular image highlights the majestic spiral galaxy Messier 106 and its diminutive neighbors, as well as a dense field of background galaxies and foreground stars.

This may be the best view yet of Messier 106 in its entirety, showing both the warped central disk and the tenuous outer reaches of the galaxy.

This celestial snapshot captures the majesty of the spiral galaxy Messier 106, also known as NGC 4258. The image is arguably the best yet captured of the entire galaxy [1]. Obtained using the Nicholas U. Mayall 4-meter Telescope at Kitt Peak National Observatory, a Program of NSF's NOIRLab, this image shows not only the glowing spiral arms, wisps of gas, and dust lanes at the core of the galaxy but also the leisurely twisting bands of stars at its outer edges.

A popular target for amateur astronomers, Messier 106 can be spotted with a small telescope in the constellation Canes Venatici. Messier 106 is similar in size and luminosity to our galactic neighbor the Andromeda Galaxy, but it lies 10 times farther away more than 20 million light-years from Earth. Though the galaxy measures more than 130,000 light-years from edge to edge, the vast distance between it and the Milky Way renders Messier 106 minuscule when seen from here. Its size in the night sky if it were visible to the naked eye is less than that of a penny held at arm's length!

Despite its tranquil appearance, Messier 106 has an unusually energetic inhabitant. The supermassive black hole at the heart of the galaxy which is about 40 million times as massive as our Sun is particularly active. As well as consuming vast amounts of gas and dust, the spinning black hole has warped the surrounding disk of gas, churning up vast amounts of material. This process has created the bright, red streamers of gas emanating from the heart of Messier 106, visible in the center of this image.

Accompanying Messier 106 is a pair of dwarf galaxies belonging to the same galaxy group. The loose collection of stars and dust visible in the bottom-right of this image is the small irregular galaxy NGC 4248. Another small galaxy UGC 7356 lies to the lower-left of Messier 106 and is dwarfed by its larger neighbor [2]. Messier 106 and its companions are framed by a variety of objects, from foreground stars to background galaxies. Stars from our own galaxy stud the image, easily identified by the criss-cross diffraction patterns surrounding them. In the background, distant galaxies litter the image, some of them visible through the tenuous disk of Messier 106.

As well as being a striking subject for astronomical images, Messier 106 has been instrumental in measuring the scale of the Universe. Astronomers measure distances in the Universe using an interconnected chain of measurements called the cosmic distance ladder, with each rung of the ladder allowing measurements of more and more distant objects. Calibrating these measurements requires objects with a known brightness such as pulsating stars known as Cepheid variables [3]. Measurements of the Cepheids in Messier 106 have allowed astronomers to calibrate Cepheids elsewhere in the Universe helping them to measure the distances to other galaxies [4].

This image was one of the last to be taken with the Mosaic camera before the installation of the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI), a project of the Department of Energy's Office of Science and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.

Larger Image

Notes

[1] While the Hubble Space Telescope has also released a striking image of Messier 106, Hubble's image features the center of the galaxy and not its full extent.

[2] The night sky is thronged with stars, galaxies, and other astronomical curiosities. To help keep track of all these objects, galaxies and other astronomical objects often have identifiers consisting of a string of letters and a number. The numbers refer to the catalog the object is listed in, such as the Uppsala General Catalogue of Galaxies (UGC) or the New General Catalogue of Nebulae and Clusters of Stars (NGC), each of which lists thousands of objects. Galaxies are often identified in several catalogs, so they typically have multiple names or designations.

[3] Astronomical objects with a known luminosity are often referred to as "standard candles." By comparing the intrinsic brightness of such an object with how bright it appears to be, it is possible to measure how far away the standard candle is from Earth.

[4] Astronomers have been able to estimate the distance to M106 with great precision, allowing this galaxy to play an important role in recalibrating the periodluminosity relation for Cepheid variable stars. This relation is used to measure distances not only in our galaxy but also to other nearby galaxies.

More information



NSF's NOIRLab (National Optical-Infrared Astronomy Research Laboratory), the US center for ground-based optical-infrared astronomy, operates the international Gemini Observatory (a facility of NSF, NRCCanada, ANIDChile, MCTICBrazil, MINCyTArgentina, and KASIRepublic of Korea), Kitt Peak National Observatory (KPNO), Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory (CTIO), the Community Science and Data Center (CSDC), and Vera C. Rubin Observatory (in cooperation with DOE's SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory). It is managed by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA) under a cooperative agreement with NSF and is headquartered in Tucson, Arizona. The astronomical community is honored to have the opportunity to conduct astronomical research on Iolkam Du'ag (Kitt Peak) in Arizona, on Maunakea in Hawaii, and on Cerro Tololo and Cerro Pachn in Chile. We recognize and acknowledge the very significant cultural role and reverence that these sites have to the Tohono O'odham Nation, to the Native Hawaiian community, and to the local communities in Chile, respectively.



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[March 17, 2021] Constellation Names New Chief Executive Officer

Constellation, Inc. announced today that Ryan Crawford, currently Constellation's senior vice president of insurance operations, will succeed Bill McDonough as the company's president and chief executive officer effective June 1, 2021. Crawford has also been elected to Constellation's board of directors. McDonough, currently Constellation's president and chief executive officer, will retire and resign his seat on the board of directors effective June 1, 2021. McDonough commented on Crawford's promotion, saying, "I am delighted that the board of directors has named Ryan as my successor and believe he is the ideal choice. He has been a great leader and a valued partner in building and advancing Constellation's long-term strategy. Since joining Constellation in 2017, he has held a variety of positions, helped build talent and capabilities, and strengthened our business. His passion and commitment to our mission and values will serve policyholders well." Dr. Sue Crook, board chairman, also commented on the upcoming transition, noting, "This announcement follows a well-planned and thoughtful succession process. Ryan Craword is a proven leader and we are excited about his ability to continue to help Constellation deliver on its vision, strategy, and unwavering service to our customers. The board looks forward to working with Ryan in his new capacity.



"At the same time, we want to extend our profound thanks to Bill for his exceptional performance as CEO over the last 13 years. It has been a period of significant growth, change, and strategic development for our company. During Bill's tenure, Constellation has grown from $134 million to more than $183 million in written premium, with our state presence increasing from 10 states to 50. It has developed from a single insurance entity to a mutual holding company with multiple brands (MMIC, UMIA, Arkansas Mutual) and entities (MMIC Risk Retention Group, Inc., Constellation New Ventures, LLC, Constellation Captive Solutions, LLC, Aspect (News - Alert) Re SP). With Bill's leadership, we have nearly doubled our consolidated assets, to more than $976 million, and increased our members' surplus by 128%, to $406 million." Crawford commented on his new position, saying, "I am honored to be given this opportunity and I thank the board for their confidence in me. I also thank Bill for his consistent support and guidance, and for opportunities that have helped prepare me for this role. We hold the same vision for Constellation and share the same commitment to our mission, values, team members, partners and policyholders."

About Constellation Constellation is a growing portfolio of medical professional liability insurance and partner companies working Together for the common good. Formed in response to the ever-changing realities of health care, Constellation is dedicated to reducing risk and supporting physicians and care teams, thereby improving business results. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210317005819/en/

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Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-17 22:44:48|Editor: huaxia

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ULAN BATOR, March 17 (Xinhua) -- Mongolia's National Agency for Meteorology and Environmental Monitoring on Wednesday issued a dust and snow storm warning.

In the coming two days, heavy snow storms are expected to hit western and central parts of Mongolia, and strong dust storms are expected to sweep Gobi and the steppe parts of the country, the weather monitoring agency said.

The agency warned citizens, especially nomadic herders, to take extra precautions against possible disasters.

The warning came after 10 people, mostly herders, lost their lives due to heavy dust and snow storms that had swept through large parts of Mongolia over the weekend.

Mongolia has four seasons. Dust and snowstorms are common in spring in the country, one of the last nomadic countries in the world. Nearly 40 percent of the country's nomadic population depends on animal husbandry for their livelihood. Enditem
VANCOUVER - Canadian and U.S. officials involved in the arrest of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou failed, "at times miserably," in their duties to act honourably and with regard for her rights, one of her lawyers argued Wednesday.

Meng Wanzhou, chief financial officer of Huawei, leaves her home to attend a hearing at B.C. Supreme Court in Vancouver on March 15, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

VANCOUVER - Canadian and U.S. officials involved in the arrest of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou failed, "at times miserably," in their duties to act honourably and with regard for her rights, one of her lawyers argued Wednesday.

Tony Paisana made the remarks at the start of a B.C. Supreme Court hearing where her lawyers claim the misconduct by officials was so egregious that she should be released.

"Both Canadian and American authorities engaged in misconduct that spanned the spectrum from negligence and casual indifference to Ms. Meng's rights and their own obligations to the court, to deliberate and flagrant disregard of those responsibilities," Paisana said.

Canadian officials had an "overarching preoccupation" with appeasing the United States. At nearly every turn, they prioritized the U.S. requests over Meng's rights and their obligations to the court, he claimed.

When confronted, they tried to explain the conduct away as a mistake or gave "less than truthful" answers, some bordering on the "absurd," Paisana told the court.

Lawyers for Canada's attorney general counter in court documents that the allegation of misconduct is supported only by speculation and innuendo, not by evidence.

Meng is the chief financial officer of Huawei, one of the largest telecom companies in the world, and daughter of its founder, Ren Zhengfei.

Meng Wanzhou, chief financial officer of Huawei, leaves her home in Vancouver on Wednesday, March 17, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

Her arrest at Vancouver's airport in 2018 at the request of the United States fractured Canada's relations with China.

Court hearings in China have been scheduled Friday and Monday for Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig, two Canadians whose detention is widely seen as retaliation for Meng's arrest.

She is wanted in the United States on fraud charges related to American sanctions against Iran that both she and Huawei deny.

Meng's legal team is trying to convince the judge overseeing her extradition case to order a stay of proceedings on the basis that she was subjected to an abuse of process. It's one of four ways they allege she suffered such an abuse.

Paisana argued Wednesday that officials ignored the court's order for Meng's "immediate" arrest, instead abusing their powers for the improper purpose of a criminal investigation by questioning her at the airport first.

He rejected an argument from Canada's attorney general that the RCMP and Canada Border Services Agency were in a "legal stalemate" over whether the arrest or immigration exam should happen first.

Paisana pointed to testimony from CBSA officials who said they believed an exam involving national security concerns, like Meng's, would not be completed in a day and would inevitably be adjourned.

Officers also knew such an exam would be pointless until her extradition proceeding is over, suggesting they were gathering evidence for other purposes, he said.

"It is this that offers powerful proof to the officers' true motives," he said.

However, Canada's attorney general says in court documents that it was "reasonable" for CBSA to decide their customs and immigration process would take priority.

They took no direction from RCMP, who recognized they were working in the unique context of a port of entry. And the RCMP gained no advantage in deferring the arrest, the Crown says.

Pursing another branch of argument, Paisana pointed to omissions in legal documents provided by the United States about the case as evidence of trickery.

They omitted that the indictment was sealed, misleading Canadian officials to believe she was aware of the charges against her and was more likely to flee, he said.

Paisana urged the court to assess the defence team's claims "as a whole," as he offered an overview of other arguments to come.

Meng's lawyers will rely on witness testimony to show that a senior officer ordered officials to stop creating records about the case, which Paisana described as "the antithesis of transparency and accountability."

The misconduct extends to the "unprecedented" refusal to testify by a now-retired senior RCMP officer, who was asked in an email by the FBI to share information about Meng's devices, he said.

"Overall, we say the officers at the heart of this case, at times, demonstrated a lack of regard for the charter, for this court's role in overseeing their conduct and, frankly, the truth," Paisana told the court.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 17, 2021.
File photo

BRIGHTON  On March 15, the village board terminated then Brighton Police Chief Mark Fitzgeralds employment, according to the village of Brightons Facebook page post.

On Oct. 19, Fitzgerald was placed on administrative leave with pay pending an internal administrative investigation. The village would not discuss the matter while the investigation was pending.
WASHINGTON - Violent extremists motivated by a range of political grievances and racial biases pose an elevated threat to the United States, officials said Wednesday in an unclassified intelligence report released more than two months after a mob of insurrectionists stormed the U.S. Capitol.

FILE - In this Jan. 6, 2021 file photo insurrectionists loyal to President Donald Trump riot outside the Capitol in Washington. (AP Photo/John Minchillo, File)

WASHINGTON - Violent extremists motivated by a range of political grievances and racial biases pose an elevated threat to the United States, officials said Wednesday in an unclassified intelligence report released more than two months after a mob of insurrectionists stormed the U.S. Capitol.

The blunt assessment echoes warnings made in recent weeks by U.S. officials, including FBI Director Christopher Wray, who testified this month that the threat from domestic violent extremism was metastasizing across the country. Attorney General Merrick Garland has also described it as a top priority as his Justice Department works to prosecute hundreds of people who made their way into the Capitol as Congress was gathering on Jan. 6 to certify Joe Biden's election victory.

The riot laid bare the threat posed by domestic extremists and led Biden, weeks later, to assign his intelligence officials the task of studying the scope of the problems. A brief and unclassified summary of that threat assessment was made public Wednesday; a full classified report was presented to the White House and Congress.

Todays report underscores how we face the greatest threat from racially or ethnically motivated violent extremists, especially white supremacists, and militia violent extremists, said Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff of California, chairman of the House Intelligence Committee.

Intelligence officials said in their assessment that extremists seen as risks for violence are motivated by a range of ideologies. Developments such as the anger over conditions related to the coronavirus pandemic and a belief in the debunked narrative that November's presidential election was fraudulent will almost certainly spur additional violence in 2021, the report said. Numerous courts and Donald Trump's own Justice Department upheld the integrity of the election.

FILE - In this Jan. 6, 2021, file photo a violent mob of Trump supporters try to break through a police barrier at the Capitol in Washington. Violent extremists motivated by political grievances and racial biases pose an elevated threat to the U.S. homeland, officials said Wednesday, March 17, in a unclassified intelligence report released more than two months after a violent mob of insurrectionists stormed the U.S. Capitol. (AP Photo/John Minchillo File)

The report says the most lethal threat is presented by racially motivated violent extremists, who officials say are most likely to conduct mass attacks against American civilians, and militia groups, who are seen as most likely to target law enforcement and government officials and buildings. The threat from militias increased in 2020 and is expected to increase again this year because of contentious sociopolitical factors motivating people to violence, according to the report's summary.

The report says white supremacists display what officials say is the most persistent and concerning transnational connections. A small number of them have travelled abroad to connect with people who share their ideology, according to the report, which does not say where they went or with whom they met.

____

Follow Eric Tucker on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/etuckerAP
People who have experienced anaphylactic reactions to food or bee stings have been told to hold off on receiving the AstraZeneca vaccine after four people in Queensland suffered allergic reactions to the jab in the past two days.

Health Minister Yvette DAth said people who had serious, significant anaphylactic reactions in the past should delay getting the vaccine.

She insisted the AstraZeneca was a safe vaccine.

People should not be concerned, Ms DAth said.
A Pentagon official backed out of a plutonium pit production briefing in Columbia this week because the Biden administration is engaged in a full review of the program, according to Rick Lee, the chairman of the S.C. Governors Nuclear Advisory Council.

Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Nuclear Matters Drew Walter was scheduled to make a presentation about pit production  the crafting of nuclear weapon cores, potentially in both South Carolina and New Mexico  and why the Department of Defense feels its imperative that we get underway with the program, Lee said.

But until the new administration settles on what they want to do moving forward, the chairman continued, Walter would not be available for that kind of gathering.

Exactly what the purported review covers or drills down on is unclear. A big question, Savannah River Site Watch Director Tom Clements suggested Wednesday, is if there is any kind of formal review of pits and overall nuclear weapons modernization at DOE and DOD.

Lees remarks, made at an hours-long meeting of the Nuclear Advisory Council on Monday, are in line with comments made earlier this year by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and his deputy, Kathleen Hicks. Some analysts and observers have predicted greater pit production scrutiny under Biden.

During his confirmation process, Austin pledged a serious assessment of the nations nuclear modernization programs, including the countrys capacity to produce plutonium pits and other components. Austin also did not explicitly endorse the two-site solution proposed in 2018: producing dozens of pits, triggers at the heart of modern nuclear weapons, at the Savannah River Site and Los Alamos National Laboratory.

Hicks aligned herself with Austin when responding to questions from the Senate Armed Services Committee.

As Secretary Austin testified, maintaining a credible nuclear deterrent is critical to our nations defense, she explained. If confirmed, I will see that the department thoroughly studies all proposed plans and alternatives to ensure we are on the most cost-effective path to modernize U.S. nuclear forces.

U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson, a Republican, has said he wants to work with the cabinet members in the interest of the extraordinary opportunities we have at Savannah River Site. Wilsons district, South Carolinas 2nd, includes SRS and all of Aiken County.

Walter at a virtual event last year said funding and authorizations represent the biggest hurdles faced by pit production, a multibillion-dollar cross-country endeavor. Time is also a major factor.

I, and the rest of the Department of Defense, fully support the two-site strategy, Walter said in May 2020. But I will emphasize: I dont want to see this movie a fifth time. We need to have picked this as our way ahead, and stick to it.

Federal law requires the production of 80 plutonium pits per year by 2030.
A push inside the exclusive PLC Sydney girls school in Croydon for students to wear pants is only gathering steam since Premier Gladys Berejiklian threw her support behind the initiative last week.

Readers might recall that students inside the school, which counts former Greens Senator Kerry Nettle, former Supreme Court judge Carolyn Simpson and film critic Margaret Pomeranz as old girls, have started an online petition calling for a modern pants option to be incorporated into the uniform alongside the existing traditional tartan skirts.

The petitioners have put forward a persuasive case. They argue that the option to wear pants would make sure all students felt comfortable in class. And besides, Its 2021, they wrote. If we are really a school who pushes our girls to be progressive and life-changing - we should be able to wear pants.

The girls then had a high profile boost when the Premier told 2GBs Ben Fordham she was in favour of the pants push, saying: If I was a schoolgirl at one of those schools I would argue for that.

No doubt she was blissfully unaware of the discomfort her response caused principal Paul Burgis and deputy Linda Chiba. CBD has been told that the school leadership made no secret of their displeasure that a student had raised the issue in such esteemed outside company. And when asked about the debacle on Wednesday, Burgis said hes trying to teach his students about diplomacy.
Photo: The Canadian Press A Vancouver Police Department patch is seen on an officer's uniform as she makes a phone call after responding to an unknown incident in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver, on January 9, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Police say a woman has been fatally shot in Vancouver.

A statement from Sgt. Steve Addison says police responded to a call at about 4 a.m. on Wednesday.

Addison says the woman was found in a social housing building in the Downtown Eastside and died later in hospital.

Police believe her attacker fled.

Addison says no arrests have been made and the woman has not been identified.
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Papua New Guinea (PNG), the Pacifics largest and most populous country, and one of the worlds most impoverished, is experiencing an uncontrolled coronavirus outbreak after appearing to have avoided large numbers of infections during 2020. The source of the new wave has not been identified.

Hundreds of cases in the past few days have taken the national total to 2,226 and 26 reported deaths, with the capital Port Moresby the worst hit. This represents a sharp surge since the end of February when 1,316 COVID-19 and 13 COVID-19 deaths had been reported.

According to a social media post by a senior gynecologist at Port Moresby General Hospital, Glen Mola, patients are dying of COVID-19 every day, suggesting the real death toll is far higher.

Medical staff of Papua New Guineas Defense Force receiving COVID-19 training last year (Credit: World Health Organization/PNG)

By world standards, the official figures are low, but fewer than 50,000 tests have been carried out among a population of nine million, the sixth-lowest testing rate in the world. In many places outside the capital there is no testing at all. The Guardian cited PNG government sources saying the real case rate could be 10 times the official figure.

The government is responsible for a growing disaster. Pandemic Controller and police commissioner David Manning announced Wednesday that a so-called nationwide isolation strategy will be put in place this week. He emphasized this would not be a stiff lockdown, but simply measures to ensure that people are not moving around unnecessarily.

After lifting a two-week lockdown of the capital Port Moresby during a surge of cases last July, Prime Minister James Marape declared: COVID-19 not only affects us health-wise but also economically. We must adjust to living with the COVID-19 we will not shut down our country again.

All but three of PNGs 22 provinces have now recorded cases, with the National Capital District spiralling to over a thousand. The township of Lae was last week placed in lockdown, but only until this Friday, following a spike in numbers. New cases have hit Huon Gulf and Nawaeb Districts, the semi-autonomous island of Bougainville and Western Province, which borders the Indonesian territory of West Papua, where infection rates are among the highest in Melanesia.

The government last week announced it has sourced only 200,000 AstraZeneca vaccine doses from Australia and 70,000 from India, which Marape declared would hopefully arrive in April. The governor of East Sepik province, Allan Bird, said the delay would cost lives. PNG did not order or pay for any vaccines in 2020, so we are not entitled to any vaccines he said, adding that the only vaccines available to PNG are donated by friendly governments.

In fact, Canberras response to the unfolding crisis in its former colony is governed by intensifying geo-strategic considerations. The recent meeting of Quad leaders from the US, Australia, Japan and India committed to overseeing vaccination logistics for the Asia-Pacific region as part of their moves to strengthen military and strategic ties to confront China and prepare for war. Beijing last week deployed a medical team to Port Moresby.

On Monday, the Australian published a sharp warning from Australian Strategic Policy Institute director Peter Jennings that the emergency could play into PNG politics and increase the risk of instability in the streets, thereby creating a health and security catastrophe on Australias doorstep. Jennings said the federal government was reacting too slowly and called for a deployment of Defence Force medics, a hospital ship and private medical contractors.

PNGs vulnerable healthcare system is on the verge of collapse. Port Moresby General Hospital, the countrys biggest, is at capacity and staff are among a growing number of people ill with COVID-19. Entire sections of the hospital have been closed after 40 staff members tested positive. The hospital is running short of gloves and other personal protective equipment.

The hospital was forced to further restrict its services after 40 percent of mothers in the labour ward returned positive test results. They could not be separated from others because there is no isolation labour ward. Pandemic Controller Manning forecast serious problems, including the possible closure of the hospital, which would lead to chaos.

Provincial hospitals, including Angau Hospital in Lae, are already shutting with their resources severely strained following years of budget cuts. Mount Hagen Hospital has received only one-third of the money needed to remain open. The governor of Oro province, Gary Juffa, told the Guardian years of neglect and corruption inside PNGs healthcare system is now uncovering a grim reality.

St John Ambulance commissioner Matt Cannon told the media that PNG faces an uncontrollable outbreak. We are not at the tipping point nowthe tipping point was three weeks ago, he said. We are anticipating hundreds more cases, and potentially this will increase to thousands. We are at alert level. There are big alarms going off.

Cannon told Al Jazeera that the pandemic is being exacerbated by conspiracy theories that, along with a belief in sorcery and other superstitions, are a fact of life in PNG. But according to Juffa, one reason for widespread misinformation is that politicians and people in positions of responsibility are going around saying the virus is not real, that vaccines are no good.

There are fears that ceremonies for PNGs recently deceased first prime minister, Michael Somare, who was buried on Tuesday, could become super spreader events. With many thousands having gathered in towns over recent days to mourn, the case numbers could climb dramatically in coming weeks.

Such a development will exacerbate the existing social crisis. According to Oxfam, 37 percent of the population lives on less than $US1.25 a day. In Port Moresby tens of thousands live in crowded, unofficial settlements. Malaria, HIV/AIDS, dengue fever, drug-resistant tuberculosis and polio are all rife. More than 60 percent of the population has no access to safe drinking water. A vast gulf separates the poverty-stricken PNG masses and the countrys corrupt and venal political elite.

Explosive social struggles will undoubtedly erupt. Since 2016, doctors and nurses have repeatedly gone on strike over the grossly inadequate conditions in the health system. Following a sit-in early last year by 600 Port Moresby nurses protesting inadequate personal protective equipment, over 4,000 nurses were ready to strike over the lack of preparation for a coronavirus outbreak. The strike was averted by the PNG Nurses Association which, not for the first time, called it off at the last minute.

In Australia, one of the biggest hospitals in Far North Queensland has declared an emergency following an influx of COVID-19 patients from PNG. Cairns Hospital is currently treating six patients from PNG, all fly-in fly-out mine workers. A significant number of the 51 cases in Queenslands hotel quarantine system are Australians returning from PNG.

PNGs worsening crisis could be repeated across the Pacific region, where new outbreaks are hitting island states previously relatively protected by their geographic isolation. New Caledonia went into a two-week lockdown from March 8 after nine community cases were confirmed. A day earlier neighbouring Wallis and Futuna reported the first of 19 community cases. Other countries such as the Solomon Islands also remain extremely vulnerable.
Virginia Tech head coach Mike Young ended up needing to apologize after a conference call discussing his first NCAA tournament berth with the Hokies.

With his team scheduled to play Florida in the first round of March Madness on Friday, Young was asked Tuesday morning if he looks ahead at possible future opponents or takes it one team at a time. Young's response began rather bluntly, per WSLS' Jeff Williamson:

Were not playing the Jehovahs Witness all-star team here. Were playing the Gators, man, were playing the Gators. I do know who our next opponent would be if we were lucky enough to win, but theres not a chance in hell you start thinking about anything, nothing  I will not clip about anything but Coach Whites Gator team, and thats the same for my team. This is it.

This is one game and if you play poorly or get out played, Im going to be walking out the hall after talking to you guys via Zoom, and theres going to be an NCAA Representative telling me, youre plane leaves in 45 minutes. Good luck to you. GO get your stuff packed and get out of here. It may not be that tough, but lets play well and play a good ball game. Lets see what happens.

Hours later, despite little apparent notice of his comment, Young issued an apology for an "insensitive remark," without specifying what that referred to:

Earlier today on the NCAA Tournament conference call, I attempted to show my respect for our upcoming opponent, the University of Florida. Regrettably, I didnt articulate that sentiment in an appropriate manner. I apologize for my insensitive remark and am sincerely sorry for anyone I may have offended.

Virginia Tech, a No. 10 seed, currently sits as a one-point underdog against the 7-seeded Florida per BetMGM, with tip-off scheduled for 12:15 p.m. ET.

The winner will likely play No. 2 Ohio State in the second round, hence why a coach would be asked if he has thought about a future opponent. Among the other teams in Virginia Tech's region are top-seed Baylor and No. 3 seed Arkansas.

Story continues

Young is in his second season as head coach at Virginia Tech, where he holds a 31-22 record. Before his time in Blacksburg, he was the head coach of Wofford, which he led to five NCAA tournament berths and a 299-244 record in 17 seasons.

Mike Young is about to coach his first March Madness game as Virginia Tech head coach. (Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

More NCAA tournament on Yahoo Sports:
With the rising input cost of manufacturing televisions in India, the industry is awaiting a Production Linked Incentive scheme for TVs as well. Currently, the government has already announced PLI for mobile phones, IT hardware (including tablets) and white goods. However, white goods only include air conditioners and LED lights.

"The government is yet to announce a PLI for TVs. We are putting a lot of pressure for a PLI in televisions. We have requested the government on multiple forums that even televisions should be included in the PLI scheme as there is no alternative now. If you want to be competitive across the globe, then this PLI Scheme has to be there. There are some other reasons as well," says Avneet Singh Marwah, Director and CEO of Super Plastronics Pvt Ltd. Headquartered in Noida, SPPL is the official brand licensee and manufacturer of Kodak TVs in India and has three manufacturing plants in Noida, Una and Jammu.

The government of India has already been taking steps to encourage television manufacturing in India. In July last year, the cabinet imposed restrictions by changing the import policy for colour televisions from "free" to "restricted". However, a boost needs to be given to the local manufacturing industry as times have been difficult for TV manufacturers in India. Firstly, raw material prices have increased by 350 per cent over the last year. To add to it, the government had imposed a 5 per cent customs duty on the import of open-cell for televisions. "So, there is additional pressure on the companies and the bill of material costs for manufacturing TVs are increasing rapidly. The government needs to give some pushback and there should be some sentiment and movement in the manufacturing sector. The 4-6 per cent incentive that the PLI will offer to the domestic TV manufactures will help balance the high input cost," adds Marwah.

In addition to the above factors, 32 inch TVs and above fall under the 28 per cent GST slab, which is the highest in the world for televisions. "Be it a developed or a developing economy, if the taxation will be surrounded with such huge pressure and raw material prices increasing weekly, the survival of the industry will not be there," asserts Marwah.

Above all, India is a very price-sensitive market, and once there is a price increase, the demand automatically slows down. Most of the 32inch smart TV that was available for anywhere starting Rs 10,000 onwards are retailing upwards of Rs 14,000. As a result, there has been a downfall of 20 per cent in terms of demand for televisions.

Also read: Govt may upgrade eligibility criteria for automakers under PLI scheme

Also read: MEiTY seeks applications for round 2 of large-scale manufacturing under PLI scheme
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The differential diagnosis is a cornerstone of the profession of medicine which epitomizes physicians critical thinking skills. It is not an antiquated tradition of by-gone eras. The practice of medicine has been positively impacted in the past century by revolutionary scientific advancements, standardization of medical education, and transformative societal changes. Its overlap has provoked some unfavorable changes in the practice of medicine with the business of health care. The differential diagnosis must not be relegated to the trash pile of history.

Learning how to develop differential diagnoses is a critical and unique feature of medical education. Medical students start as generalists and are thought to initially think through broad possibilities, which is why they often list rare conditions on their differentials. Although rare diagnoses are unlikely to be present based purely on epidemiology, the zebras must not be discounted. We cannot diagnose what we do not consider. We cannot consider what we do not remember or even know exists. This is one of the many reasons why precepting medical students is mutually beneficial to teacher and student. Ideally, the evolving physician feels renewed by working with medical trainees, occasionally humbled by patients, and is able to learn from both.

Undifferentiated patients are one reason the job of a generalist physician is very mentally challenging. Nonspecific symptoms can originate in different organ systems or can affect multiple systems simultaneously. Generalists such as internists, pediatricians, family practice physicians, and emergency physicians need a broad fund of knowledge of acute and chronic conditions across a lifetime of human development. Perhaps, this need for a wide breadth of knowledge is one reason why so many medical trainees aspire to a specialty with a narrower, albeit more in-depth, focus.

For any given circumstance, physicians of any specialty may choose to apply a probabilistic diagnostic approach, prognostic, pragmatic, or a combination. A physicians differential diagnoses may also depend on whether one is a generalist or specialist, the clinical setting, patient acuity, or unique population demographics. In emergency medicine, we often lack the opportunity to ponder extensive differential diagnoses before quickly acting to rule out life- or limb-threatening diagnoses. Surgeons build their differential diagnoses based on their knowledge of anatomy, pathology, and spatial reasoning skills. Similarly, radiologists must be prepared to offer broad differential diagnoses based on imaging and available clinical information. Pathologists may provide the narrowest differential or a definitive diagnosis, but alas, it may require invasive testing or even the patients death.

The necessary training to learn the incredible depth of medical knowledge in a specialty is one reason why physicians cannot move from one specialty to another without some difficulty. Even when we think we know the best diagnosis, the humble physician of any specialty is also aware that other possibilities exist, some of which have not yet been considered. This acknowledgment is what keeps physicians awake some nights.

The apex of physician intellectual expertise is the perfect application of the differential diagnosis. Unfortunately, since I graduated from medical school almost 20 years ago, I have witnessed the continual devaluation of the cognitive skills of medicine. I believe this progression started decades ago with third-party payers valuing procedural productivity over cognitive expertise. During the COVID-19 pandemic, this imbalance culminated in the widespread financial frailty of health care systems resulting from the cancellation of surgeries, even though EDs, ICUs, and hospital floors overflowed with sick medical patients.

The corporatization of medicine into the business of health care has endangered the value of physician acumen. The focus has turned to increasing cost-efficiency for the system and substitutes for the laborious, costly, and lengthy training of physicians. The thorough history, physical, and thoughtfully narrowed differential diagnosis have been abdicated in favor of more diagnostic tests and specialist referrals. Over-reliance on algorithms, the advent of artificial intelligence, and the utilization of non-physician practitioners as primary diagnosticians beyond the scope of their training are threats to the humanistic art and diagnostic science of medicine.

What is cost-effective for the health care system often leaves the patient disengaged from their physician and stuck in a revolving door of tests and specialists, with no answers for their problems, extra bills, and lost time. Office visits are shorter and dominated by complying with electronic health records, and the expertly created and methodically narrowed differential diagnosis is fast being kicked to the curb.

The lack of opportunity to use our hard-earned cognitive expertise to help patients leads to resentment, burnout, and moral injury. Physicians may feel that substitutes for medical expertise infringe upon the intellectual property of those who made the personal and financial sacrifices to earn the title of physician. Physician burnout refers to distress symptoms due to excessive work demands. Moral injury is suffered when a physician is constrained to put the patients needs ahead of the systems needs.

With experience comes the ability to quickly (often unconsciously) narrow ones differential diagnosis. Physicians know the feeling of walking into a patients room and knowing the diagnosis or prognosis within seconds or minutes. We refer to this ability in various ways: intuition, deja vu, or gut feeling. My personal favorite term is spidey sense. Peter Parker acquired his spidey sense by chance. Physicians should have no doubt as to the source of our seemingly intuitive diagnostic skills: extensive and unique medical education and clinical training, experience, continual learning, situational awareness, and self-reflection.

The differential diagnosis is the calling card of a physician. This time-honored cognitive exercise is unique and essential to our profession. We can thank the teachers and patients from whom we learned by not allowing our intellectual talents to go unused. May we honor our profession by continuing to teach medical students and resident physicians these valuable lessons. May no generation of physicians acquiesce to medical expertise being substituted or otherwise devalued and thus become complicit in the demise of our profession. Not on our watch!

Mercy Hylton is a pediatric emergency physician.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com
Travelling to Mars could affect the mind of the astronauts making the long journey - leaving them more likely to misidentify facial expressions, study warns.

Current NASA plans could see the first humans step foot on the surface of the Red Planet by the end of the next decade as part of the Artemis mission.

University of Pennsylvania researchers found that weightlessness leaves people more likely to see facial expressions as angry - rather than happy or neutral.

The phenomenon could endanger missions to the Red Planet, warn scientists, as the astronauts will be weightless on a spaceship together for up to eight months.

Head-down bed rest at a slight 6-degree angle is the standard way of simulating the effects of microgravity on Earth

MICROGRAVITY CAUSES CHANGES TO THE BRAIN Studies have shown microgravity causes structural changes in the brain, but it's not fully understood how this translates to changes in behaviour. Head-down bed rest at a 6-degree angle is the standard way of simulating the effects of microgravity on Earth. Participants in a new study were kept in that position for nearly 2 months, and was one of the first studies to enforce the tilted head position. 'Participants regularly completed 10 cognitive tests relevant to spaceflight designed for astronauts,' University Pennsylvania experts explained. This included spatial orientation, memory, risk taking and emotion recognition,' said lead Mathias Basner. 'The main goal was to find out whether artificial gravity for 30 minutes each day - either continuously or in six 5-minute bouts - could prevent the negative consequences,' he said. This is looking at effects caused by 'decreased mobility and head-ward movement of body fluids that are inherent to microgravity experienced in spaceflight.' Artificial gravity countermeasures consisted of spinning participants on a centrifuge. Positioned like an arm on a clock with their head in the middle, the participants were spun round at the speed of 1 revolution around the 'clock' every 2 seconds. Advertisement

The total return journey to Mars is expected to be up to 1,000 days - not including time on the planet, which could last days or weeks depending on proposals.

The 1,000 day Martian mission is more than twice the current record of 438 continuous days in space held by Russian cosmonaut Valery Polyakov.

Lead author Professor Mathias Basner, a psychiatrist at the University of Pennsylvania, said the crew will be in a confined, small space, for months.

'Astronauts' ability to correctly 'read' each other's emotional expressions will be of paramount importance for effective teamwork and mission success,' he said.

'Our findings suggest their ability to do this may be impaired over time.'

The study also found the impaired cognitive performance could not be improved by short periods of artificial gravity.

In space, there is no gravity to pull blood into the lower part of the body, instead, the blood goes upwards towards the brain, authors explained.

This has been dubbed 'puffy head bird legs syndrome' due to bodily fluids shifting towards the head - causing round, puffy faces, bulging neck vessels and thin legs.

Astronauts feel dizzy and sometimes even faint when they return to Earth.

Previous studies have shown it leads to structural changes in the brain - although little is known about how this translates to behaviour.

To test this, the US researchers had 16 volunteers spend 60 days in the 'bed-rest position' with their head tilted at a slight six degree angle.

This helps to mimic the effects of microgravity on the flow of blood in the body.

Another eight not exposed to the strict regime acted as a control. The experiments reported in Frontiers in Physiology are the first of their kind.

'Participants regularly completed 10 cognitive tests relevant to spaceflight specifically designed for astronauts such as spatial orientation, memory, risk taking and emotion recognition,' explained Basner.

Test participants experiencing artificial weightlessness on a centrifuge. Current NASA plans could see the first humans step foot on the surface of the Red Planet by the end of the next decade as part of the Artemis mission

The goal was to see if artificial gravity in either one 30 minute or in six five-minute bouts over the course of the day could prevent the negative consequences.

He said: 'A modest but statistically significant slowing across a range of cognitive domains was found during head down bed rest.

'These changes were observed early and did not further worsen or improve with increasing time - except for emotion recognition performance.'

Over time the volunteers needed longer and longer to decide if a facial emotion was expressed and were more likely to select negative over neutral emotions.

Artificial gravity counter-measures consisted of spinning the participants on a centrifuge while positioned like an arm on a clock with their head in the middle.

They were then spun round at the speed of one revolution every two seconds.

Co-author Dr Alexander Stahn said this mimics one of the two ways to generate artificial gravity during spaceflight.

One way is to rotate the entire spacecraft or space station - but this is expensive and requires a lot of energy - the other is to just rotate the astronaut.

If placed on a spacecraft headed the Mars the centrifuge could be self-powered - doubling up as an opportunity for exercise, explained Stahn.

'Unfortunately, we found the artificial gravity countermeasures in our study did not have the desired benefits,' he explained.

Long-exposure photo of the centrifuge used to simulate microgravity in the research subjects

TWO METHODS OF GENERATING GRAVITY DURING SPACEFLIGHT There are currently two main ways to generate 'artificial' gravity in space. It is hoped that by simulating limited amounts of gravity could help astronauts on long-duration flights. This could include the seven to eight month journey to Mars by 2035. One method is to rotate the entire spacecraft, or at least part of the spaceship to generate limited gravity. This involves centrifugal force through rotation which could be in the form of a ring surrounding the spaceship. The other method is simply to rotate the astronaut - rather than the full ship. This would be significantly cheaper in both cost of production and eneregy. It could be self sufficient, with a centrifuge powered by an astronaut walking on a device with their motion powering the device. Advertisement

'We are currently performing additional analyses using functional brain imaging to identify the neural basis of the effects observed in the present study.'

In the future, the team plans to test longer duration artificial gravity countermeasures and to vary the degree of social isolation.

'In conclusion, 60 days of head down bed rest were associated with moderate cognitive slowing and changes in emotion recognition performance,' said Basner.

'These effects were not mitigated by either continuous or intermittent exposure to artificial gravity for 30 minutes daily.'

The team say they can't determine whether the effects observed on emotional recognition were induced by microgravity or confinement and isolation.

'Future studies will need to disentangle these effects' to better understand and potentially mitigate them in future Mars missions.

NASA hopes to send humans to Mars by 2035. A typical trip takes seven to eight months where they will likely be in microgravity for the duration of the flight.

We have evolved to exist within Earth's gravity, also known as 1g - not in the weightlessness of space which is 0g or the microgravity of Mars at 0.3g.

After spending eight months travelling to Mars in zero gravity, they will spend up to a year on the Red Planet in 0.3g, before travelling back to Earth in zero gravity again.

The fluid shifts are also linked with space motion sickness, headaches, nausea and blurred vision, the study authors explained.

The findings have been published in the journal Frontiers in Physiology.

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - PatSnap, an intellectual property platform, has raised $300 million in its latest funding round led by Vision Fund 2 and Tencent Investment, joining a list of global technology unicorns.

Existing investors Sequoia China, Shun Wei Capital and Vertex Ventures Southeast Asia & India also participated in the round, said the Singapore-founded firm whose clients include Dyson, Spotify, Oxford University Innovation, and The Dow Chemical Company.

PatSnap has raised more than $400 million since its founding in 2007, co-founder and Asia Pacific Vice-President Guan Dian said in an interview.

After the latest financing, PatSnap's valuation has risen to "much more than" $1 billion, Guan said, but did not disclose a specific amount.

PatSnap has its global headquarters in Singapore, London and Toronto. Its database, which includes patent information and research journals, is used by making investment decisions regarding innovation and research and development.

The research intelligence platform plans to use the proceeds for product development, to acquire data and more domain expertise, and increase its sales globally.

(Reporting by Aradhana Aravindan in Singapore, Editing by Sherry Jacob-Phillips)

(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.)
Footprints Of Grace: An Intimate Portrayal Of the Footsteps of Jesus is a book that focuses on the authors devotion to God in a spirit-filled narrative. Footprints Of Grace: An Intimate Portrayal Of the Footsteps of Jesus is the work of published author Author Oliver Wright, who has a doctorate degree in ministry, theology, and divinity.

Wright shares, Footprints of Grace: An Intimate Portrayal of the Footsteps of Jesus is a uniquely rich, suspenseful, tender, and compelling idyllic narrative portraying the gracious footsteps of Israels long-awaited Messiah, the man called Jesus Christ of Nazareth. In fact, this narrative captured, in graphic scenery, the magnificent signs and miracles that Israels Messiah demonstrated on the poor, oppressed, and downtrodden in bringing release to the sick and disease. Indeed, Dr. Wrights chronicle of Jesuss teaching and healing and His complete devotion to God, is an intimate, spirit-filled narrative with a host of refreshing dramatic expressions not duplicated in any other previous writings. His narrative not only captures the hearts of the people of Israel, but the heart of the reader as well. Therefore, through Gods providential design, it is hoped that in every city, town, and village that Jesus, Israels long-awaited Messiah, traveled, His glorious footprints of grace were forever engraved into the heart and lives of those whom He touched in seeking to save the lost in carrying out His Judean and Galilean ministries.

Published by Christian Faith Publishing, Author Oliver Wrights new book is a testament of one mans faith in the Lord and keeping the faith and trusting the plans that God has in store.

This narrative not only captures the hearts of the people of Israel, but the heart of the reader as well.

View a synopsis of Footprints Of Grace: An Intimate Portrayal Of the Footsteps of Jesus on YouTube.

Consumers can purchase Footprints Of Grace: An Intimate Portrayal Of the Footsteps of Jesus at traditional brick & mortar bookstores, or online at Amazon.com, Apple iTunes store, or Barnes and Noble.

For additional information or inquiries about Footprints Of Grace: An Intimate Portrayal Of the Footsteps of Jesus, contact the Christian Faith Publishing media department at 866-554-0919.
STRATFORD  Cakes and cars were on the agenda this week as the town welcomed two new businesses to Barnum Avenue.

Cakes by Sonia, at 2067 Barnum Ave., is owned by Sonia Diaz, who was born and raised in Bridgeport and now lives in Stratford.

Diaz said shes been baking for about nine years, first at Food Bazaar in Bridgeport, then at other businesses, before branching out on her own.

She first opened her business down Barnum Avenue in Bridgeport in late 2019  not the greatest timing in retrospect.

It was like three months in and then we just had to lock down, Diaz said. I was not expecting a pandemic would happen right in the beginning. That was my first year in business and that was a big surprise.

Ned Gerard / Hearst Connecticut Media

Ned Gerard / Hearst Connecticut Media

She said she saw the vacancy at her current location and figured it would be a nice place for the business.

I kept passing by all the time and I would always look at this corner and think, This would be the perfect spot, she said.

Diaz said business has been good so far.

Her custom-made cakes are popular, as well as cupcakes, a full assortment of which were on display Tuesday  coconut, banana, strawberry, carrot, marble, green velvet, Oreo, triple chocolate, just to name a few flavors.

And if youre a fan of the confectionery fragrance, youll want to stop by.

Were always baking in the back, so as soon as you walk in, youre going to get the smell, Diaz said.

Ned Gerard / Hearst Connecticut Media

Across Thompson Street, CARite of Stratford has opened in the space formerly occupied by Barry Oldsmobile-Cadillac opposite Mikes Motors  but dont think the employees there are going to sell you a car.

We Do Not Sell Cars! a sign announces to prospective customers. OUR GUESTS BUY ONE.

The business promises zero haggling prices without hidden fees, free vehicle histories  and no salespeople.

Ned Gerard / Hearst Connecticut Media

Were not car people, said James Kellerman, store leader. If you would have talked to me a year ago, I would have been selling you Sleep Number beds.

Customers can come to the business and get a list of vehicles for sale before taking one for a test drive to see if they want to buy. Or if you know what you want, you can choose online and have it delivered to your door after arranging financing.

The dealership has room for 108 cars  they specialize in Toyota, Hyundai, Honda and Nissan but carry other makes and models as well. Kellerman said theyve been selling electric cars in particular lately  five to seven Chevy Volts every month.

The Stratford location is one of two in Connecticut  the flagship is in Windsor Locks  and 26 throughout the country.

CARite does basic service work in Stratford but will be looking to ramp up its service department as well as detailing.

Ned Gerard / Hearst Connecticut Media

Ned Gerard / Hearst Connecticut Media

Were working on it. Were building and building, Kellerman said. Right now were just trying to get our name out there and let people know its a nice easy, relaxed place to buy a car.

Mayor Laura Hoydick congratulated Diaz and Kellerman Tuesday before ceremonial ribbon-cuttings to welcome their businesses to town.

Im just really happy they invested in Stratford. Its nice to have new folks right across the street from each other, Hoydick said afterward. Its great for the neighborhood and right on the Post Road. I wish them a lot of success.

Ned Gerard / Hearst Connecticut Media

CARites rehabilitation of a once-vacant lot was also good to see, she said.

Its nice to have another car dealership in Stratford, because for a long time weve only had a few, Hoydick said. Its nice that this franchise has decided to reuse a property that was a car dealership and repurpose it, so thats great.

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I decided not to comment yesterday on Sunday nights Grammy Awards, feeling that the story I discussed regarding a Christian schools gender policies was more significant. Now, given the responses to the show  or lack thereof  I wish I had.

What happened on the show was so immoral, and the backlash has been so quiet, that I am grieved for our culture on a level I need to discuss with you today.

I did not watch the show, but this description on Yahoo! prompted todays response: Megan Thee Stallion was one of the big winners at Sundays 63rd Annual Grammy Awards, taking home the Best New Artist honor as well as Best Rap Song and Best Rap Performance for her duet with Beyonce. But it was another Megan duet, WAP, that won the night, when she and Cardi B joined forces for their first-ever televised performance of their X-rated sex-positivity anthem.

The reporter continues: Megan and Cardi toned down the raunchy song as much as they could in order to make it past CBS censors. . . . But the performance was still racy enough that it didnt air until after 10 p.m. on the East Coast . . . And it probably lit up the FCCs complaint hotline as soon as the hip-hop queens left the stage.

While Yahoo! lauded the performance, the Associated Press ignored it completely, as did the New York Post. Some commentators voiced their concerns, one calling it absolutely disgusting and ridiculous, but others praised the best performance of the night.

I remember well the wardrobe malfunction that scandalized Super Bowl viewers in 2004 and led to fines against CBS. Now it seems that we are subjected to such malfunctions on prime time television regularly.

With the Academy Awards coming next month, Im not sure whether to watch or not.

Three reasons the Vatican statement is good news

Heres a story that is as far on the other side of the cultural spectrum as I can imagine: Pope Francis and the Vatican have declared that the Catholic Church cannot bless same-sex unions because God cannot bless sin. While the pope has called for national laws for same-sex civil unions in the past, the latest statement reaffirms Church teaching that bars priests from blessing such unions.

The Vaticans pronouncement states that same-sex unions are not ordered to the Creators plan and specifies that acknowledging such unions is illicit. Those who followed the pope closely are not surprised, given that he has often stated his opposition to same-sex marriage.

This is very good news for at least three reasons.

One: The Vaticans statement reaffirms biblical truth at a time when such morality is under increasing pressure and rejection. The popes stand will hopefully encourage Christians to make public their commitment to Gods unchanging truth as best for all of us.

Two: The Vaticans statement shows that Christians can engage the culture without compromising their convictions. Pope Francis has famously welcomed LGBT advocates to the Vatican and responded to questions about gays, Who am I to judge? But his desire to share the grace of Christ has been balanced with his commitment to the truth of Christ. Like him, we are all called to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15).

Three: The Vaticans reaffirmation offers hope for evangelical churches and ministries concerned about their tax-exempt status and religious liberties. For the government to attack the Roman Catholic Church for its moral stance would be politically implausible. The Churchs position gives encouragement to all who join in its convictions regarding LGBTQ issues.

(For more, see Ryan Denisons article, The Vatican declares same-sex unions cannot be blessed by the church: Why this is loving and gracious.)

Michael Youssefs seven-step response to our 'present crisis'

Yesterday, I voiced my grave concerns over moral compromise within the church, citing a church school whose gender inclusion policies clearly contradict orthodox biblical teaching. Given the moral degradation at the Grammys and across popular culture, countercultural stances such as the one taken by the Vatican are more urgent than ever.

To that end, Id like to recommend highly a new book, Hope for This Present Crisis, by Michael Youssef.

Youssef is a native of Egypt, a brilliant scholar (Ph.D. in social anthropology from Emory University), and a noted pastor. I served a church in Atlanta not far from his congregation and have followed his ministry over the years with great appreciation.

His new book sounds the alarm: This is our present crisisnot an external threat from terrorists or warlike nations or a viral pandemic, but a decline of faith, truth, and morality. It is hollowing out our society from within.

Youssef explains how critical theory and woke strategies have led many to reject absolute truth and biblical morality. To this threat he offers a seven-step response:

Remember the truth: stand firm for biblical morality on a foundation of irrefutable evidence. Restore the soul: seek the approval of God over others. Revitalize the family: pray fervently for our children and raise them to know and love Gods word. Reestablish the classroom: care for public school teachers, know what our children are being taught, and consider Christian schools or homeschooling where necessary. Respect our freedoms: know our rights, defend the rights of others, and pray for boldness. Reform our society: seek moral and spiritual purity for ourselves while praying for our nation and sharing the gospel with all people. Revive the church: demonstrate the forgiving love of Jesus at all times as we put on the whole armor of God (Ephesians 6:11) and seek opportunities to share our spiritual gifts.

'We need to go and invade these areas'

Author James Clear quotes philosopher and priest Franz Brentano: What is at first small is often extremely large in the end. And so it happens that whoever deviates only a little from truth in the beginning is led farther and farther afield in the sequel, and to errors which are a thousand times as large.

By contrast, as Youssef said in an interview on his book, We must take charge. Christians have abandoned so many areas of society, from media and the classroom. Instead of withdrawing, we need to go and invade these areas and take them for Christ and not be afraid. We are on the right side. We have read the last chapter, and it says we will win.

What area of culture will you invade today?

Originally published at the Denison Forum
Reality Winner, the US intelligence contractor convicted of leaking classified National Security Agency material, is seen in these undated booking photos. Lincoln County, Georgia, Sheriff's Office/Handout via REUTERS

"United States vs. Reality Winner," is about the whistleblower the Trump administration imprisoned.

Reality Winner, an Air Force veteran, leaked evidence of Russian interference in the 2016 election.

Her mother told Insider she hopes the documentary will increase pressure to pardon her daughter.

See more stories on Insider's business page.

When 11 FBI agents showed up with a search warrant in 2017, the 25-year-old Air Force veteran - a poet, animal lover, and the owner of a pink AR-15 - initially professed her innocence.

Reality Leigh Winner would later tell her sister in a phone call from prison that she feared that if she did not keep calm, one of the men might end up shooting her dog or cat dead.

"Oh boy, Brittany, I screwed up," Winner, now 29 and behind bars, told her older sibling. "I leaked a document. And they were able to trace it back to me. And it's kind of an important one."

Winner was arrested and prosecuted under the Espionage Act for leaking a document about the Russian government's efforts to undermine American democracy and help elect President Donald Trump.

"United States vs. Reality Winner," a documentary premiering this week at the SXSW Online film festival, explores the whistleblower's years-long tribulations, which began in 2017 when the Justice Department, eager to fight President Donald Trump's war on leaks, threw the book at her.

The filmmakers shared a bonus footage clip exclusively with Insider:

This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it.

UNITED STATES VS. REALITY WINNER Bonus Scene "Middle America" from on Vimeo.

The USA v. Reality Winner

"To release information about foreign election interference - that is information that is threatening our democracy," Sonia Kennebeck, the film's director, said in an interview with Insider. "It impacts all of us. It impacts everyone who votes or has the right to vote."

Born in Texas, and given her uncommon name by her now-deceased father, Winner was always a little bit different. As a child, she read at a level far more advanced than her age, her teenage angst manifesting itself in fandom for the emo-punk band AFI - and an impatience for adulthood.

Story continues

When she graduated from college, she forwent an engineering scholarship and enlisted in the US Air Force, uninterested in four more years of an extended adolescence spent in dorm rooms and at frat parties. She worked as a cryptologic linguist, becoming fluent in Farsi, Dari, and Pashto, helping the military translate eavesdropped conversations - and target people for drone strikes.

It was not the sort of work suited for a peace-loving free spirit. When she got the chance, she got out, collecting a fat paycheck working as a contractor for the National Security Agency. No longer a soldier, she could speak more freely; on Twitter, in 2016, she called the newly elected commander in chief a "fascist."

That was a sign, perhaps, that she was still in the wrong field. Though no longer enlisted, she did have top-secret security clearance, and she continued to help serve the execution of a foreign policy she did not support. Prosecutors would later cite a Facebook chat with her sister, one in which she said, "I hate America," to call into question her love of country.

Winner was arrested two days before the story broke in The Intercept, the federal government charging her under the same law used for those who provide intelligence to foreign governments. She was ultimately handed the longest sentence anyone has ever received for leaking classified information to a media outlet: five years and three months, with three years of state supervision to follow her release in November 2021.

One aspect of Russia's interference was well established at that point: Russian military intelligence hacked the Democratic National Committee and provided the emails it stole to Wikileaks and sympathetic journalists. But the top-secret document Winner came across detailed how Russian hackers had also targeted state election officials with the apparent aim, which was unsuccessful, of disrupting voter-registration rolls.

It was a leak motivated by serving the public. No sources or methods of spycraft were revealed. But it was, nonetheless, very much illegal. Only a president can unilaterally declassify intelligence - and there was no interest, back then, in revealing anything more about an attack on the 2016 election.



President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin at the G-20 leaders summit in Osaka, Japan on June 28, 2019. Kevin Lamarque/Reuters

Journalism in the crosshairs

It's not clear why Winner chose The Intercept. The publication was well known as sympathetic to national-security whistleblowers, founded in part to publish the government secrets that NSA contractor Edward Snowden revealed about mass surveillance.

But its founders also showed skepticism toward the Russia story: Its writers collaborated with an anonymous source identified as Guccifer 2.0 even after most experts had decided the hacker persona was a creation of Russian military intelligence.

Whatever Winner's reason for printing out an NSA report and mailing it to The Intercept's office in New York, the decision would change her life. Hindsight is 20/20, but many were baffled by the publication's next move: It provided the document to the federal government for comment. The government was then able to determine that it had been printed out; from there it did not take long to discover who'd done that.

In an interview featured in the documentary, Betsy Reed, The Intercept's editor-in-chief, profusely apologizes for what happened. "I'm so incredibly sorry about everything that she had to go through," Reed said, "and I feel a lot of sadness about that, and regret."

She and others at the outlet were afraid that they were the targets of a "hoax" and that the government, Reed said, would only agree to comment on the authenticity of the report if they were provided an original copy. But a journalist at The Intercept also told an employee at Pluribus, the NSA contractor where Winner had worked, that the report had been mailed from Augusta, Georgia, information that then made its way to the government. ("What the heck?" Thomas Drake, another NSA whistleblower, commented in the film.)

FBI interrogators citing the fact - "It made its way to an online news source that you subscribe to. Getting really specific." - is what prompted Winner to give up on denying.

"There wasn't enough checks and balances in the newsroom," Reed explained in the film. The Intercept would later go on, as amends, to pay for a high-powered legal team to defend Winner.

But Reed also insisted that what happened was inevitable. "She would have been caught," Reed said in the documentary, "even if we had disguised certain aspects of the document. Because the way the government surveils its contractors and employees would lead them to know who accessed it. Not only who printed, but who looked at it, and who had a reason to look at it, and who was in contact with The Intercept in any way."

Jeannie Kedas, a spokesperson for The Intercept's parent company, First Look Media, said Reed's statement in the film "is not new."

"It is consistent with previous statements from The Intercept as well as the findings of other media outlets who reported on the case," Kedas told Insider, citing a 2017 column from The Washington Post's media critic, Erik Wemple, who wrote that "the mistakes of the leaker before the Intercept received the document would likely have sealed her fate."

'Why can't this be public?'

Reality Winner exits the federal courthouse in Augusta, Georgia, on June 8, 2017. Sean Rayford/Getty Images

Kennebeck's first documentary, "National Bird," detailed the stories of three military service members who blew the whistle on US drone wars.

When Winner's story broke, the Malaysian-born filmmaker, who has a master's degree in international affairs from American University, flew to Georgia almost immediately. She knew it was "extremely rare": someone within the national security apparatus deciding to make Americans privy to the same information as the national security establishment. She met with Winner's family, who judged her to be someone they could work with.

The film details the lead-up to Winner's sentencing and the family's efforts to drum up public support for their daughter. But Kennebeck's latest work rests upon an exclusive linchpin: audio from June 3, 2017, when black SUVs rolled up to Winner's home and agents with the FBI confronted her with the fact they knew exactly what she had done.

The FBI did not want to hand this audio over. Kennebeck and her team had to sue, finally obtaining it in February 2021. In it, Reality Winner, in her own words, in her own voice, can be heard explaining why she did it.

"I saw the article and was like, 'I don't didn't understand why this isn't a thing,'" Winner says on the recording. "It made me very mad. It's right there. And I guess I didn't care about myself at that point. I felt really hopeless. Seeing that information, that had been contested back and forth, back and forth, in the public domain for so long, trying to figure out, with everything else that keeps getting released and keeps getting leaked, why isn't this out there?"

"Why can't this be public?" she added.

The film brought Winner's mom, Billie Winner-Davis, to tears

Billie Winner-Davis, Reality's mother, told Insider from her home in Texas that she was deeply affected by hearing her daughter, in her own voice, explain why she did what she did.

"I cried throughout most of it," she said, just after seeing the film for the first time. It was painful, she said, to relive the pretrial period. It also made her furious.

She was struck by the apparent hypocrisy of government officials condemning her daughter as they publicly discussed what she shared with them and the public.



"This was the first time that I heard [former Sen.] Claire McCaskill so strongly  say that she condemns the leak. She condemns the leaker," Winner-Davis said. "And yet she used the information that my daughter leaked."

Indeed, back in 2017, McCaskill, the former Democratic senator from Missouri, described that information as "an earthquake," albeit one overshadowed by the constant controversies of the Trump years.

"We now have in the public domain verified information that the Russians made an aggressive attempt to access not only a vendor of voter software in this country," McCaskill said, "but also a number of states, the voter-file databases in the month prior to the election."

Winner-Davis is pleased the film is now a historical artifact that lauds her daughter's actions. But she is not interested in a moral victory or the judgment of history. She wants justice for Reality - an acknowledgement of public service.

"For her, justice looks like clemency - release her, right now. Every single day she spends in prison is a day of suffering."

This is 'not just about Reality Winner's story but also a reflection of  Trump's legacy'

President Trump calls on a reporter before boarding Marine One on October 25, 2017. AP Photo/Andrew Harnik

It would be easier never to do any national-security reporting; never to do any original journalism.

Kennebeck told Insider there is much to reflect on when it comes to why a publication's source got jailed, but she does not want that to be what people take away from her film - that Winner is the victim of a media outlet and not the administration that escalated the war on leakers and chose to pursue a lengthy prison sentence.

Snowden, interviewed for the film in Russia, where he is under de facto house arrest, said history will judge Winner as a prisoner of conscience. What stood out to him about the case, he said, was the over-the-top prosecution by the Trump Justice Department, which was eager not just to enforce the law but also to make an example out of Winner, using out-of-context journal entries to paint a military veteran as an enemy of the state.

"There's an absence of shame that is, for me as an American, honestly embarrassing to watch," Snowden said in the film.

Indeed, that is what the filmmakers hope viewers take away from the documentary.

This is "not just about Reality Winner's story," Kennebeck said, "but also a reflection of  Trump's legacy, which is going after whistleblowers and journalists and really suppressing the freedom of the press."

Have a news tip? Email this reporter: cdavis@insider.com

Read the original article on Business Insider
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An Ile-Tuntun Customary Court in Ibadan ,on Wednesday, ordered a man, Jimoh Falola, to wash public toilets for 30 days for being rude to the court.

In his ruling, the President of the court, Henry Agbaje, held that Mr Falola had no regards for constituted authority from the way he insulted the court while the court was sitting.

Mr Agbaje consequently ordered Mr Falola to be taken away by the police until he is ready to comport himself in a civil and orderly manner.

He is ordered to embark on 30-day community service which includes clearing the bush, sweeping the cutting, road sweeping and washing of public toilets.

The arbitrator subsequently adjourned the case until March 29 for hearing.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mr Falolas estranged wife, Opeyemi, had filed a divorce suit against him. He refused to appear on two sittings.

When he finally appeared, he accused the court workers of receiving money as an inducement from his wife so as to favour her.

He also shouted at the top of his voice while the court was sitting. (NAN)
NEW YORK, March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- 2021's Best Psychic Readings Online, Psychic Experts Released their latest list of the best free psychic reading websites naming Kasamba, Psychic Source and Keen Psychics as the top three.

Psychic Experts released their latest verdict on the best websites that offer psychic reading by phone or chat with satisfaction guaranteed. This much-awaited list of ranked websites has laid bare the truth about the leading online psychics services, and is considered to be the ultimate guide to seeking spiritual guidance online.

Visit Kasamba Our Top-Rated Psychic Reading Website

Psychic Experts has been providing unbiased and honest reviews about Psychic Reading Online for quite a few years now, earning the reputation of being some of the best reviewing firms in the industry. With exhaustive research into every aspect of a brand's product, Psychic Experts dissects the service's pros and cons from the perspective of an average customer, mixing in their specialized knowledge of the industry, of clairvoyance and of user experience.

Their 2021 report is exemplar evidence of their dedication towards providing the best and most transparent perspective on three leading brands - Kasamba, Psychic Source and Keen Psychic. Because of Psychic Experts' endorsement, netizens can confidently register on these top three websites and figure out solutions for life's problems with the help of talented psychics.

these 3 sites are the best online psychic reading sites that offer free minutes, low rates, and a satisfaction guarantee.

Most Accurate Psychic Reading Sites of 2021

Kasamba : Ideal for Love and Relationships, Tarot Readings, Life Questions, Offering 3 free minutes + 70% off on first reading session.

Psychic Source Ideal For Career advice, money matters, tarot readings, spiritual readings, psychic Mediums, Offering Anonymous & Secure Services Along With 3 free minutes plus 75% discount for first reading session.

Keen Psychic Most affordable psychic readings online providing guidance on big life decisions, Numerology readings, Pet Psychics Services, Psychic Readings and Financial Outlook, Keen Offer first 10 Minutes Session for just $1.99.

Kasamba  Most Accurate Readings Via Phone Or Live Chat

Best for: Love & Relationship psychic readings by Phone Or Live Chat

Medium of Readings: Via Chat, Phone Call or Email. Also Offer App Reading

Specializations: Tarot Reading, Career Guidance, Astrology and Horoscope, Love psychics readings.

Discount Offer: New users get three free minutes and an additional 70% off their first reading.

Kasamba revolutionized the practice of psychic reading online by digitizing the process of seeking clairvoyant advice for the benefit of both the community of psychics as well as for those who are lost and require spiritual guidance to get through with their life.

With over twenty years of experience in the industry under their belt, Kasmaba's services are diverse and efficient - with rigorous screening processes in place to make sure every psychic on the website is a trained, talented and qualified professional, Kasamba made an irrevocable reputation for itself by placing quality first for their customers. Even though they are equally dedicated towards uplifting the psychic community by providing them a chance to connect with potential clients, they understand the risks of hiring just anyone they find when they search up "Psychics Near Me", and only hire those who are eligible.

Visit Kasamba: 3 Free Minutes + 70% Discount

The psychics who get through the tests get a profile on Kasamba, which can then be viewed by hundreds and thousands of advice-seeker's across the planet. These profiles mention the psychic's specializations, the kind of instruments they use to enhance their psychic reading and what areas in life they can provide useful guidance for.

Along with these biodata details will be the psychic's individual ratings and the reviews left by clients who have used their services before. Using these testimonials, new users can determine the quality of the psychic reading a particular clairvoyant offers, or can judge whether their specializations or approach are in lieu with what they need or not.

Another great advantage of using Kasamba is the fact that they provide psychic reading online through emails, calls or via live chat - with today's rising levels of social anxiety and the lockdowns that are in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic, people are very anxious about going to just any 'psychic near me' - they would prefer a free psychic reading online so that they can test the waters and have a safely isolated experience throughout.

This is exactly what Kasamba has been offering for a decade now - because they know how skeptic people can be about seeking out spiritual advice, they offer three free minutes for every user, which is ample time for them to ask their questions to their preferred psychic and get comfortable with them. If, after the three minutes, they feel like the psychic online reading is not working for them, they can simply discontinue the call and move on with their life.

The final push most people need towards actually seeking out free psychic reading online is the amazing rates that are offered by Kasamba - with just $1.99 for a ten minute session, Kasamba works hard to democratize and popularize the practice of consulting live psychics for help in life. Without investing much, the average netizen can access premium psychic reading online and tarot reading online within a few clicks.

Kasamba also offers services that are rare to find, like LGBTQ+ friendly chat psychics, as well as phone psychics who specialize in relationships of all kinds - including marital relationships that are facing challenges, couples who have gone through divorce or even relationship advice for single people who have no luck finding love. Additionally, Kasamba also has a group of psychics that offer psychic reading online in Spanish, catering to the demographic in the United states whose first language is not English - these steps to be inclusive towards all kinds of advice-seekers is the principal reason why Kasamba is topping this list by Psychic Experts.

3 Free minutes Readings With Kasamba Gifted Psychics

Psychic Source: Ideal for Love Readings Via Live Video

Best for: Career guidance, money matters, tarot reading, love readings

Reading Types Offered: Live Video, Phone Readings, Online Chat.

Types of Readings Offered: Love psychics readings, tarot reading, career guidance, energy healing, coping with loss, grief and breakups.

Discounts Offered: 3 minutes of free psychic reading, additional 75% off of first reading for new users

Psychic Source possesses one of the biggest databases of live psychics on the internet today, with a user base that spans across the globe. With over thirty years of experience, Psychic Source has been around for quite some time now; with each year that passes, they have been honing their crafts and training their love psychics, phone psychics and chat psychics into professional clairvoyants who can take up any case of spiritual guidance and leave the customer satisfied and enlightened.

Psychic Source prioritizes customer satisfaction - this is why they have expanded their services beyond the limitations of their website and into the ease and usability of a mobile app. Their Psychic Source app works across platforms and is available on both iOS and Android. The website's user-friendly interface has been praised for ages, which they translated into their Psychic Source app very well with accessible tabs and comprehensible categories.

3 Free minutes Readings With Psychic Source Accurate Psychics

Just like Kasamba, Psychic Source also offers customers discounts when they first register in order to push them to take that first step towards psychic reading online and to cement the brand's reputation and credibility on the internet. With three minutes of free psychic reading and an additional 70% off on the first psychic reading, most customers find it extremely hard to resist trying out their service at least once - it is an experience, after all, to find out more about one's soul and spirit with the help of a clairvoyant. Once the free psychic reading is over, the customers can choose to cut the call and keep their money, or, if they are comfortable enough with their seer of choice, continue on the session and seek further guidance.

The catch here, to ensure that the psychics are also treated justly for their time and effort, is that you will have to make an account on Psychic Source. While signing up and creating an account is completely free, Psychic Source will ask for your payment details upfront, so that if you do exceed the three minutes of free psychic reading, you will be liable to pay. You can set up the payment using your debit card, credit card or other online wallet services like PayPal.

However, they do ensure that customers do not accidentally spend exorbitant sums of money because they forget to time their calls. With a wallet system in place, Psychic Source allows users to top up their online wallet with up to $100 so that they do not have to compute and pay the necessary amount after each session.

Another priority for Psychic Source is the protection of their clients' data and information. Understandably, conversations between a psychic and a user will have sensitive information that should not be available to the public, especially if it is online and on chat. The firm makes sure that these sensitive details are stored in encrypted databases with layers of security - this includes financial information, identity verification documents and more. Not even the users in the community can access any of these databases, because the users' privacy and protection is prioritized.

This does not mean that Psychic Source neglects its seers. There is nothing more annoying for any online service provider than finding that their client is wasting their time, is a bot etc. To make sure that such miscreants do not find their way to the website and to a psychic's page, Psychic Source has in place multiple verification processes that catch any malware algorithm. All new users have to verify their email and their phone numbers using the authentication link generated by their website.

Visit Psychic Source Best Psychic Advisors

Keen Psychic  Most Affordable Accurate Tarot Readers

Best for: Guidance on major decisions, tarot card readings.

Reading Types Offered: Phone Readings, Live Chat.

Specialties: tarot card reading, love psychics, pet psychics, life questions.

Special offer: Ten minutes of $1.99.

Keen Psychic, much like Kasamba, has been around for a couple of decades now. With versatility that cannot be found elsewhere on the internet, Keen Psychic offers revolutionary services like aura reading and pet psychics - who would not want to connect with the psyche of their beloved pup or kitten? Along with these services, they also offer numerology, tarot reading and the usual love psychics services. Because of these diverse services, Keen Psychic is chosen over and over by customers who are frustrated with what they get when they search up 'psychic near me'.

Keen: 10-Minute Psychic Reading for $2 Click Here

The only disadvantage that one can find with the services offered by Keen Psychics, and the probable reason they fell farther down on the list of best psychic online services, is because they do not offer video chat services. People have been understandably raising questions about how effective practices like tarot reading can be if there is no visual connection between seer and client. Love tarot reading, for instance, relies heavily on the advice-seeker's attraction to certain cards in the pile, which is hard to measure for both parties if the conversation is over phone, or worse, over chat.

However, user testimonials by users of Keen Psychics do not show any related dissatisfaction with the tarot reading online that is offered by the website. The user reviews are an effective way for new clients to figure out how effective each seer's services are. This acts as a check for fraudulent/ineffective clairvoyants who manage to get past the rigorous screening processes that Keen Psychics makes mandatory - users can expose and penalize any seer that makes them uncomfortable or tries to scam them.

Their pet psychic service has also received a lot of attention from the industry. Animals and the way their mind works has mystified humankind for millennia, primarily because there are limited ways in which they can communicate with us. The pet psychic reading offered by Keen Psychics helps give animals a voice by acting as a medium for them - their service is effective enough for several users to feel like they have a closer connection with their pets afterwards.

Numerology has also been gaining traction across the world. With celebrities like Taylor Swift popularizing the belief that certain numerical figures have considerable control over the proceedings of life - her obsession with the number 13 is quite famous - people are consulting numerology experts more than ever these days. Keen Psychics numerologists have been practicing their craft for decades and can figure out the right numbers in your life within a few readings.

Keen Psychics emphasizes on the importance of having a strong relationship between advice-seeker and clairvoyant and promotes longer sessions. This is why their offer is not three free minutes but a discounted rate on ten minutes of psychic reading with any seer of choice. This is actually a lot cheaper than what many sites offer. They also allocate a good psychic for the new user if they are unsure about which seer to consult, or if they are short on time and need spiritual guidance quickly.

Click Here For Accurate Phone Psychic Readings With Keen

These impromptu consultations are what Keen Psychics specializes on - spur of the moment decisions that can have significant impact on your life should not be carried out without second and third thoughts. The veteran clairvoyants on the website have decades of experience not just with connecting to the world of spirits and souls, but also with human nature, which makes them excellent guides through life. Users repeatedly testify to how effective the advice that Keen Psychics have been in getting them through tough times of poverty, indecision and grief.

Each of the above-mentioned websites prioritize customer privacy above all else. It is important that we safeguard our privacy online, especially when we are getting psychic reading done virtually, because of the kinds of information we tend to divulge while consulting a clairvoyant. These websites not only prevent the seers from misusing the information, they also prevent third party services and clients from having access to it.

It is up to each of us to ensure that we do not divulge potentially harmful information over the internet, which includes credit and debit card information, details about location, age and other social security details or sensitive facts about your family or other public persons. Much like when one seeks psychiatric therapy, the clairvoyants on reputable websites recommended by Psychic Experts, have to sign confidentiality agreements that safeguard the users' privacy to a great extent. If any kind of issue is faced by the user, it is highly recommended that they follow it up with the team behind the website's customer support and seek resolution.

About Psychic Experts

Psychic-experts.com is a portal that provides the most objective analyses of a myriad of websites that offer psychic reading, tarot reading online and other services. Using psychic-experts.com, websites can set up a direct link or tab through which their customers can contact their support and service team. By revolutionizing customer care and support in the industry, Psychic Experts ensure that all their users have privacy that includes encryption of sensitive information and personal biodata that they provide to websites online. For more information, visit https://psychic-experts.com for more details.

https://psychic-experts.com/

SOURCE Psychic Experts
Joe Biden has set the record for the longest time a new president has avoided a press conference. On Tuesday, the White House finally announced that Biden will hold a formal press conference...in nine days. Newsmax's Greg Kelly also tweeted that the media must submit their questions in advance. As of this writing, there is a debate about whether Kelly was making a joke or not. It says a great deal about the state of America today that nobody can tell whether it's a joke.

It has already been 57 days since Biden entered the White House, and in that time, he has assiduously avoided freely engaging with the media. He totters out, reads prepared statements off the Teleprompter or from note cards, occasionally assays a carefully memorized "ad lib," and then immediately walks away before the media can ask him a question.

This is proving to be a problem for the media. Reporters aren't worth the money they're being paid if they just stand there listening to a statement that can easily be recorded. They are supposed to be out there like Jim Acosta, hurling questions at the president  mean questions if it's President Trump, slavishly loving questions if it is a Democrat president. Biden's camera-shy ways make this impossible.

There are real-world consequences for a media establishment that has an invisible president. It gives me great pleasure to relay to you the fact that ratings for prime-time cable news programs have collapsed. The only thing that was propping up those disinformation-spewing propaganda outlets was the hysteria that the media injected into every story about Donald Trump. Without that, there is nothing:

The media need to talk to Biden. So, finally, the White House has announced that Joe Biden will hold a formal press conference with the media. Rather unusually, though, the press conference will not be in a day or two, or even this coming Friday or Saturday. Instead, the press conference is set for March 25, a full nine days after the announcement that Biden will deign to appear before the American media and, by extension, before the American people. (No mention is being made about the fact that Biden has yet either to give or even to talk about giving a State of the Union address.)

Reuters: BIDEN WILL HOLD A FORMAL PRESS CONFERENCE ON THE AFTERNOON OF THURSDAY, MARCH 25TH -WHITE HOUSE  Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) March 16, 2021

The natural assumption to make at this point is that Joe Biden will spend the next nine days being drilled for the press conference as if he were preparing for a presidential debate. Between naps, aides will spend anxious minutes firing questions at him and helping him remember the appropriate answers.

Not long after the announcement about Biden's upcoming press conference, Newsmax's Greg Kelly tweeted out that the White House press office has asked journalists to submit questions in advance:

MEMO FROM THE WHITE HOUSE PRESS OFFICE: please submit to us your questions for @joebidens first press conference. @PressSec JEN PSAKI will get back to you about whether or not your questions was approved. Thank you reporters!!!  Greg Kelly (@gregkellyusa) March 16, 2021

It says everything you need to know about the mental disability of the White House's current occupant that it is impossible to tell whether Kelly's tweet is a joke or not. Given the close relationship between the current White House and the media, it seems likely that the White House would indeed ask reporters to submit their proposed questions to prevent Joe from embarrassing himself in public.

Ultimately, it doesn't really matter whether Joe proves incapable of handling a press conference. Everybody understands that this is a Potemkin presidency and a shabby one at that. The Democrats own Washington, the media, and Hollywood, so they know that their minions will rave about what Biden does, no matter how bad it is, and nobody else can do anything about it anyway. They just need to have a few good camera shots to lure back their audience.

Image: Press conference by The Climate Reality Project on Unsplash.
Music impresario Michael Gudinskis state memorial service next Wednesday is shaping up as a national cultural event.

Michael Gudinski Credit:Illustration: Joe Benke

Soon after the music producer and promoters sudden death earlier this month aged 68, black and white street posters sprang up around town, with a moody shot of the music legend emblazoned with Vale Michael in block type.

His private funeral last week at Ormond Hall was memorable enough, attended by Kylie and Dannii Minogue, Molly Meldrum, Jimmy Barnes, Tina Arena and a guard of honour of 150 roadies.

Invitations went out for the service, which will be held at Rod Laver Arena. Doors open at 5.30pm, but the service commences at 7.07pm. Whats with that highly unusual start time?
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The cross-border transfer of critically-ill children for life-saving surgery in Dublin is facing an uncertain future due to Brexit, it has been warned.

It has emerged that all doctors and nurses from Northern Ireland who also work south of the border in any capacity must be registered with Irish regulatory bodies by April 1 as a result of Northern Ireland leaving the EU.

This includes medics and nursing staff who travel with children who are being transferred to the Republic of Ireland for treatment unavailable in Northern Ireland, including babies born with life-threatening congenital heart defects.

Paediatric cardiac surgery is no longer carried out in Northern Ireland after a review of the service found that it was unsustainable.

At the time, Health Minister Robin Swann called for children's heart surgery to be retained in Northern Ireland after his son was born with a serious heart defect and needed a life-saving operation.

Despite a campaign by families and charities, a decision was made to set up a cross-border service and many surgeries now take place at Our Lady's Children's Hospital in Dublin, with other operations happening in hospitals in England. However, it has been claimed that the cross-border service is now under threat due to regulatory changes following Brexit.

A health professional involved in the delivery of the crucial cross-border service said: "I have been told that any doctor or nurse who doesn't have dual registration by the end of this month could be arrested if they work south of the border.

"This essentially means that an ambulance could be pulled over and the doctors and nurses on board being arrested. The Department of Health has said the timeframes for registration should be achieved and no adverse impact is anticipated but that isn't a guarantee, which is what parents of children with heart defects need right now.

"To me, there doesn't seem to a sense of urgency to get this resolved. The Department of Health has said it is working closely with the regulatory bodies in the south to get this sorted out but the fact is that doctors and nurses have to be registered in order to work and that isn't going to happen for a lot of staff by the end of the month.

"It all seems a bit ambiguous. The only way I can see this being sorted out is if there is a grace period or a memorandum of understanding put in place."

In February, Richard Pengelly, the Department of Health's permanent secretary, wrote to the chief executives of the trusts, the Business Services Organisation and the Health & Social Care Board (HSCB), warning them to "take urgent action".

He added: "I appreciate that it may be necessary to liaise with the HSCB on the financial implications of this inescapable requirement." It is understood that the cost of the regulatory changes will be more than 100,000.

A spokeswoman from the Department of Health said: "The regulators are taking an entirely pragmatic and practical approach. For example, the Medical Council of Ireland has now asked that applications are made by May 31 to align better with their annual registration cycle.

"The Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland has also now confirmed that it will be satisfied if applications are commenced by March 31.

"The trusts are now working with relevant employees within these timeframes which should be achieved.

"Given the feasibility of the timeframes being worked to, no adverse impact is anticipated."

The spokeswoman said no healthcare professional can work south of the border until they are fully registered with the southern regulatory body.
A Sydney man has been charged with the cold-case murder of German man Bernd Lehmann, a month after police offered a $1million reward.

Detectives from Strike Force Navala arrested a 66-year-old man outside a home in Arncliffe, in southern Sydney, about 7.30am on Wednesday.

He was taken to Kogarah Police Station where he was charged over the murder.

The body of Mr Lehmann, 66, was found in a home unit at Ashfield on February 14, 2008.

Detectives from Strike Force Navala arrested a 66-year-old man outside a home in Arncliffe, in southern Sydney, about 7.30am on Wednesday

The body of Mr Lehmann, 66, was found in a home unit at Ashfield on February 14, 2008

The German national was found dead in a unit in Alt Street Ashfield (pictured) in Sydney's inner-west on Valentine's Day in 2008

Detectives from Strike Force Navala arrested a 66-year-old man outside a home in Arncliffe, in southern Sydney, about 7.30am on Wednesday. Pictured: Mr Lehmann

An autopsy revealed he died from severe head injuries.

On Wednesday, Homicide Squad Commander Detective Superintendent Danny Doherty said the re-investigation was building on well-established lines of inquiry.

'Bernd's murder was a horrific crime, he was a well-respected member of the community who had been working as a disability carer prior to his murder,' he said.

'An advancement in DNA technology assisted detectives in using the evidence gathered from the incident help solve Mr Lehmann's brutal murder.

'After 13 years of searching for answers, we hope this result will provide Bernd's family and loved ones with some peace.'

Mr Lehmann's family friend Claudia Wolf said she relieved that the alleged killer has finally been brought to justice.

In 2018, DNA samples from the crime scene were re-examined and revealed they did not belong to Mr Lehmann. Pictured: the unit where his body was found

'For Bernd to die in such a violent way, after spending his life caring and helping others, this senseless murder has been a great source of sadness for us all,' she said.

'We hope that this will be the first step for his friends here and family in Germany to get some closure, and to find out why this happened.'

Following a coronial Inquest in 2012, the case was referred to the Unsolved Homicide Unit.

In 2018, DNA samples from the crime scene were re-examined and revealed they did not belong to Mr Lehmann.

Last month, the NSW government offered a $1million reward for information that would lead to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for Mr Lehmann's death.

Mr Lehmann was a well-respected member of the community and had been working as a disability carer prior to his murder,

He was due to visit a critically-ill relative in Germany in the days before his body was found.

Mr Lehmann's mother and brother back home in Germany have previously pleaded for help to solve his murder.
Hilaria Baldwin and family just welcomed baby girl Maria Lucia to the brood with the help of a surrogate.

And the yogi wife of actor Alec Baldwin seemed head-over-heels for her little girl while doting on the infant on Instagram Tuesday.

Posting an absolutely heart-melting image of MariLu wearing a furry pom pom hat, the mother-of-six wrote: 'MariLu Vogue' and told followers to check her story for more shots of the family.

Sweet: Hilaria Baldwin shared a cute photo of her infant daughter Maria Lucia on Instagram Tuesday

Her Story featured a shot of eldest daughter Carmen, seven, holding her baby sister while wearing a stylish butterfly dress.

'When she isn't making art,' Hilaria wrote on top.

MariLu came into the world less than six-months after mom gave birth to Eduardo, leaving most to assume the Baldwins welcomed their baby girl via surrogacy.

But the family have been fiercely private about the matter, with a source telling People their decision to have another child so quickly is 'no one's business.'

Sister act: Her Story featured a shot of eldest daughter Carmen, seven, holding her baby sister while wearing a stylish butterfly dress

Timeline: MariLu came into the world less than six-months after mom gave birth to Eduardo, leaving most to assume the Baldwins welcomed their baby girl via surrogacy

'It's no one's business about a woman's right to choose how and when she expands her family,' the source shared.

The couple have not confirmed the surrogacy publicly or on social media.

Hilaria does however follow a surrogacy agency, Alcea Surrogacy, on Instagram and it had posted a photo congratulating two intended parents on the 'amazing birth of their daughter,' days before Hilaria's post. It has now been deleted.

The Mom Brain podcast host chose to give their daughter yet a Spanish name like the rest of their brood (which also includes Carmen, seven, Rafael, five, Leonardo, four, Romeo, two,) despite the explosive scandal about her purported heritage.

Unconfirmed: The couple have not confirmed the surrogacy publicly or on social media but Hilaria does follow surrogacy agency Alcea Surrogacy on Instagram and they had posted about congratulating a pair on the birth of their daughter days before her post; February 18

Full house: The Mom Brain podcast host chose to give their daughter yet another Spanish -influenced name like the rest of their brood that includes Carmen, seven, Rafael, five, Leonardo, four, Romeo, 2, and Eduardo, despite the explosive scandal about her purported heritage

In December a post on Twitter went viral that raised questions about the authenticity of Hilaria's Spanish upbringing, after she was seen talking sans-Spanish accent in a video.

'You have to admire Hilaria Baldwin's commitment to her decade long grift where she impersonates a Spanish person,' the tweet read.

She had claimed to be born in Mallorca, Spain, only moving to the United States for college, but it was later uncovered that she was born Hilary Thomas and was actually from Massachusetts.

Both she and Alec had claimed that English was her second language, and a viral clip showed the yoga instructor seeming to forget the English word for 'cucumber' during a cooking segment.

The pair's wedding had tons of Spanish touches so she could bring 'a bit of [her] culture,' she said in 2012. Hilaria held a flamenco fan and they read their nuptials in both languages, their wedding bands even having the inscription 'somos un buen equipo,' inside.

Crumbling down: She had claimed to be born in Mallorca, Spain, only moving to the United States for college, but it was later uncovered that she was born Hilary Thomas and was actually from Massachusetts; pictured March 2020

And she had claimed she and her family had trouble pronouncing her new last name at the time, despite both parents having multi-generational roots in Massachusetts, only moving to Spain in 2011.

Hilaria tried to come clean about all of it in an Instagram video, confessing, 'Yes I am a white girl, my family is white,' while clarifying that she had grown up 'in this country.'

She chalked up the dual names to being called 'Hilaria' in Spain and 'Hillary' in America, claiming to have spent her childhood in both countries.

The mom signed off 'I'm getting attacked for being who I am  people wanting to label me Spanish or America, can't it be both? It's frustrating that is my story.'

After a month off line she returned back in early January saying she had been 'listening and reflecting,' still however claiming to have a 'deep connection' to both cultures. 'I should have been more clear and I'm sorry.'
A loan program that previously helped fledging businesses will now help Lehigh Valley hotels and restaurants continue to survive the COVID-19 pandemic.

Officials announced Wednesday the Rising Tide Community Loan Fund will help distribute $7.5 million given to Lehigh and Northampton counties for the COVID-19 Hospitality Industry Recovery Program, or CHIRP.

Applications can be found here.

Lehigh County Executive Phillips Armstrong said the grants will help one of the industries that need the help probably the most in this last year -- the hospitality industry.

They have been hurt, as many businesses have, but now we have a chance to reach out and help them, he said.

Pennsylvania received $145 million for CHIRP, and divided the pot among the counties based on population. Lehigh County received $4.1 million and Northampton County received $3.4 million from the state.

The counties have combined forces and chosen Rising Tide, a subsidiary of the Community Action Committee of the Lehigh Valley, to distribute the grants.

Grants up to $10,000 will be awarded to help alleviate lost revenue and pay for eligible operating expenses due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Officials hope to help between 700 and 800 local businesses.

Northampton County Executive Lamont McClure said the lifeline is part of the fight to keep small businesses alive, and no industry was crushed worse than the hospitality industry during the COVID-19 pandemic.

We have attempted to help them survive and thrive throughout this process, he said, including CARES Act grant funding that has helped about 800 businesses.

These are badly needed funds, said Chris Hudock, director of the Rising Tide program.

Its the largest industry that has been impacted, over the past year, he said. They need a break right now.

Rising Tide is a loan program for small businesses that are not able to get funding from conventional sources, with the goal to make the small businesses bankable, Hudock said.

2020 hit, we had to pivot, we had to offer some kind of help to small businesses. Right now, honestly, businesses arent borrowing money, Hudock said. They needed the help, so we pivoted from mainly lending, now were running a grant program for the first time ever.

St. Patricks Day was an auspicious day for the announcement, although the application process opened Monday. As of Wednesday, there were close to 200 applications, Hudock said, and applicants have until June 15 to apply.

Its going to be competitive, Hudock said, but the CHIRP grants require more work for the business owner in terms of documentation than previous programs.

Alan Jennings, CACLVs departing executive director, said he has spent 40 years doing anti-poverty work and fighting for people who get left out and found it strange to cap his career speaking in support of business.

But, Jennings said his heart bled for the restaurant industry and its workers, and he was proud of how quickly CACLV and the two counties moved together to get the grant program in place.

The pandemic has decimated the hospitality business, leading some hotels and restaurants to close permanently, and those that have survived have used more than luck to navigate evolving capacity and alcohol restrictions.

Its been a daily challenge, said Todd Pasini, director of operations for a local restaurant group that includes Urbano Mexican Kitchen and Bar, where the news conference was held.

The group includes Urbano and The Flying Egg, which are both owned by Juan Carlos Paredes, as well as Tapas on Main and Cachette Bistro and Creperie, which Paredes owns alongside Rafael Palomino. All are on Bethlehems Main Street.

When the statewide shutdown went into effect a year ago, Pasini said the other restaurants closed and Urbano stayed open.

We immediately had to just redefine ourselves, he said. Since then, its just been a matter of How are we putting things together today?

It includes help from all levels, from federal programs to the city of Bethlehem helping them get the acrylic barriers surrounding tables around the restaurant. The assistance has helped the restaurant bring people back to work.

Every step forward has given us hope. Every bit of assistance has given us hope, Pasini said. Obviously you have to innovate, but the assistance we received gave us the room to breathe, where you can actually think about innovation, versus just simply surviving.

That hope has grown this week after Gov. Tom Wolf announced a series of pandemic firsts, including indoor dining capacity increased to 75%, allowing drinks to be served without food, re-opening socially distanced bar seating and pushing last call back from 11 p.m.

The new rules go into effect on April 4 and apply only to restaurants that have gone through Pennsylvanias self-certification process. Restaurants that do not self-certify can increase their indoor capacity to 50%, according to Wolf.

Eventually, Pasini wants to see restaurants full again.

I want to see the bar full, I want to see every table full, I want a line down the block, is what I want, he said.

CAN YOU APPLY?

Businesses are eligible for the CHIRP grants if:

They have a North American Industry Classification System designation within the Accommodation subsector or Food Services and Drinking Places subsector and where accommodations are available or food or drink is served to or provided for the public, with or without charge.

They have fewer than 300 full-time equivalent employees.

They have a maximum tangible net worth of less than $15 million.

They were in operation on Feb. 15, 2020, and remain in operation and do not intend to permanently cease operations within one year of the date of application.

COVID-19 has had an adverse economic impact on the eligible applicant, which makes the grant request necessary to support the ongoing operations of the eligible applicant.

This story was corrected to reflect ownership of Urbano and other restaurants in a local restaurant group.

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Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com.
Investigators tasked with analyzing chronic leadership failures at Fort Hood, Texas, pointed to noncommissioned officers perpetuating a culture of fear and preventing soldiers from reporting crimes.

"There was a serious risk there that should've been known by the leadership. The NCOs became the blockers. They did not facilitate or encourage reporting and were part of the shaming of victims," Chris Swecker, a North Carolina lawyer and former FBI inspector who led the review, told lawmakers at a hearing Tuesday.

In December, the Army fired, suspended or otherwise punished 14 leaders after Fort Hood was rocked by a series of suicides, murders, and cases of sexual assault and harassment. The actions were spurred by the violent death of Spc. Vanessa Guillen, who was missing for nearly two months before her remains were found.

Read Next: Army Chief Hints at New Training Center in Alaska While Unveiling New Arctic Strategy

An independent review released in December, led by Swecker, found leaders allowed a command climate to fester in which sexual assault and harassment were commonplace.

"Unfortunately, a 'business as usual' approach was taken by Fort Hood leadership causing female soldiers, particularly, in the combat brigades, to slip into survival mode," the report states, adding they were "vulnerable and preyed upon, but fearful to report and be ostracized and re-victimized."

Investigations dealing with rape, sexual assault and sexual harassment were frequently botched due to inexperienced investigators, and repeat offenders often walked free, according to the report.

"One of the most disturbing things we came across was within two days [investigators] were able to identify two or three serial offenders.  [Fort Hood] didn't have enough experienced agents on board to connect the dots and address that intelligence," Swecker said.

He added that it takes about six to seven years for investigators to "hit their stride," and most military investigators at Fort Hood had less than two years of experience.

Traditionally, someone with that little experience should still be being mentored and not handling serious investigations on their own, he said. Swecker noted there is a retention issue with military investigators, as many seek jobs at places like inspector general's offices.

Mary Counts, a former FBI supervisory special agent who is also on the review panel, said it was easy to see that Fort Hood had a leadership problem that turned a blind eye to crime, and that offenders often skated by because investigators were overloaded and bounced from case to case.

"During the course of the interviews with the victims and witnesses  we heard textbook [examples of] grooming, serial offender, repeat offender, predator," Counts told lawmakers. "We were able to put together a list and almost know when a person came in to be interviewed what case they were talking about.

Guillen, a 20-year-old soldier with the 3rd Cavalry Regiment, was allegedly murdered and dismembered by Spc. Aaron Robinson in April 2020. Robinson took his own life July 1 when police approached him. A civilian from nearby Killeen, Texas, 22-year-old Cecily Aguilar, has been charged with helping Robinson dispose of Guillen's body.

The murder prompted widespread outrage at how the military had reportedly failed to protect Guillen before her death and drew renewed attention to the broader problem of sexual assault and harassment in the military.

-- Steve Beynon can be reached at Steve.Beynon@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @StevenBeynon.

Related: Army Nixes New Leadership Role for Fired Fort Hood Commander
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Turncoats turn the tables on old-timers in Bengal elections

India

oi-Deepika S

Kolkata, Mar 17: The ruling TMC and the opposition BJP in Bengal might be pulling out all the stops to go for each other's jugular in the assembly polls, but the rivals share something in common when it comes to their choice of candidates in several high-profile seats - turncoats over tried-and-tested leaders.

Once a reviled practice in the state, both the parties seem to have endorsed a record number of turncoats this time -- triggering a wave of discontentment among their loyalists.

The TMC, in its list of 291 candidates, has fielded around 16 turncoats who were either elected representatives of other parties or had joined the TMC over the last few years.

Taking a step further, the BJP, which named 122 nominees so far, has already placed its bets on 22 defectors -- most of them TMC deserters, including former state ministers Suvendu Adhikari and Rajib Banerjee.

Senior BJP leaders in Hooghly district, where violent protests had broken out over the party's nomination of TMC turncoat and octogenarian Rabindranath Ghosh, said grass-roots level workers are fuming over his candidature.

Similar agitations were reported in the city and other parts of the state, including north Bengal, over the nomination of TMC deserters Santanu Bapuli, Arnab Ray and Dipak Kumar Roy, Gorkha Janamukti Morcha turncoat Bishal Lama and Left defectors Rinku Naskar and Biswnath Karak The TMC, too, faced a backlash from its supporters, after the party dropped 28 MLAs, including five ministers, from its candidate list this time.

It has nominated greenhorns and swapped candidates in at least 160 seats.

Denied tickets, seven TMC MLAs, including Ghosh, who was the face of Singur anti-land acquisition movement and Mamata Banerjee's former aide Sonali Guha, did not hesitate to switch camp.

Notwithstanding the furore, the two parties have defended their decision, stating that ''winning possibility'' of a nominee has been given preference over emotions.

West Bengal elections 2021: TMC likely to release poll manifesto today

The ruling camp, however, is making efforts to quell the infighting, as it could further hamper the party's image, which has suffered a setback following the recent exodus.

For the BJP, fielding turncoats is more of a compulsion than choice, as the party, which has gained ground in Bengal only of late, did not have enough suitable candidates for all 294 assembly seats.

Since the announcement of the second list of candidates last Sunday, the BJP has been grappling with demonstrations across the state, albeit its leaders are trying their best to downplay the issue.

Senior central BJP leaders have been heckled in the city as angry workers and activists laid a siege to the party's Hasting office here, prompting police action.

''We have leaders and activists who have worked very hard. Our party is growing in size in West Bengal, and it is necessary we accommodate as many prominent faces as possible.

''However, not all elected representatives who have crossed over to our party from other camps will get tickets.

Also, it is not possible to please everyone,'' BJP state president Dilip Ghosh said.

The saffron camp's first list of 59 candidates had around eight turncoats, including Adhikari and former CPI(M) MLA Tapasi Mondal. Its second list features 63 nominees, 12 of which are turncoats.

Karnataka CD Scandal: Family claims woman kidnapped, files complaint| Oneindia News

Subsequently, eight broken-hearted BJP leaders have filed their nominations as Independents.

''We zeroed in on the names after taking into consideration several factors. In East Midnapore, there are 16 seats. Adhikari has pitched for his loyalists, who have followed in his footsteps and joined the BJP. In Howrah, Rajib Banerjee wields considerable influence.

''We have tried to accommodate them, but that, in turn, angered the old-timers. Had we done otherwise, the defectors would have created a stir. It's a precarious situation,'' a saffron party leader said.

The BJP, which had trained its guns on Mamata Banerjee following the exodus from the TMC, is now facing a tough time putting its house in order.

Sensing trouble, top BJP leader Amit Shah rescheduled his itinerary and flew down to Kolkata recently to hold meetings with the state leadership. According to saffron camp sources, the party will have to be careful while announcing names for the remaining 172 constituencies.

Since the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, 26 MLAs and two MPs of the TMC, three legislators each of the Congress and the CPI (M), and one from the CPI have crossed over to the BJP.

Except for former state cabinet ministers Adhikari and Banerjee and Rajya Sabha MP Dinesh Trivedi, none of them, however, resigned as MLA or MP.

Infighting has also flared up in the ruling camp, after it dropped several sitting MLAs from its list.

In several areas where the TMC is on a sticky wicket, including Malda, North Dinajpur, Murshidabad, Siliguri, and Nadia, the party has fielded turncoats. Both Congress and the Left defectors feature prominently in its list of candidates.

Notable names include Left deserters Paresh Chandra Adhikary, Udayan Guha, Rezaul Karim and Rafiquil Islam Mondal, and Congress turncoats Om Prakash Mishra, Ghulam Rabbani, Qazi Abdur Rahim and Nihar Ranjan Ghosh.

Former state Congress chief and TMC Rajya Sabha MP Manas Ranjan Bhunia has been fielded from his home constituency Sabang in West Midnapore district.

BJP MP Soumitra Khan's estranged wife Sujata Mondal has also secured a ticket after switching camp.

A senior TMC leader said, ''Turncoats have been fielded for three reasons -- we wanted to beat the anti-incumbency wave by nominating faces who were not associated with us in the last elections, the party did not have prominent faces in some areas, and we wanted to control factionalism.'' Nevertheless, the TMC leadership noted that none of the turncoats, except Qazi Abdur Rahim, Rezaul Karim and Rafiquil Islam Mondal, is a recent joinee.

''Most of the turncoats that have been fielded joined the party two to three years ago. That factor did not lead to much trouble. We have faced protests in areas where our sitting MLAs were not re-nominated,'' the TMC leader said.

Criticising both the TMC and BJP over their ''Ayaram Gayaram'' politics - ''imported from Hindi heartland'' - the CPI(M) said the two parties are out to destroy West Bengal's political culture.

''We have never inducted any elected representative from other parties. The TMC first attempted to destroy Bengal's political culture, and now the BJP is taking it to the next level. Never has Bengal seen such a large number of turncoats in the fray,'' CPI(M) leader Sujan Chakraborty said.

Political analyst Suman Bhattacharya feels that it's a ''sorry state of affairs'' in Bengal, where politics was largely ideology-driven.

''Even 10 years back, the situation wasn't like this.... Over the last decade, politics is Bengal has largely been revolving around turncoats. They are not just getting nominations, but are also being awarded plum posts in the new party,'' he said.
6 of the 8 victims were Asian women.

Six of the people killed were women of Asian descent, one was a white woman and one was a white man, according to law enforcement officials.

The four victims who were killed at two spas in Atlanta were identified on Friday morning. They were:

Soon C. Park: Ms. Park, 74, who worked at Gold Spa, was the oldest person killed on Tuesday. She lived in New York before moving to Atlanta.

Hyun J. Grant: Ms. Grant, who was 51 and a single mother, worked from early morning to late at night at Gold Spa to support her two sons who needed college tuition, the rent on the home they shared and their bills.

Suncha Kim: Ms. Kim, 69, worked at Gold Spa.

Yong A. Yue: Ms. Yue, 63, worked at Aromatherapy Spa, and was the last person killed in the shootings. She moved to the U.S. from South Korea in the 1970s with a husband who had been stationed in the Army. The couple had two sons and divorced in the 1980s.

The police had earlier identified four other victims:

Xiaojie Tan: Ms. Tan, 49, was the owner of Youngs Asian Massage. She made her patrons feel at home and treated her friends like family, a customer said.

Daoyou Feng: Ms. Feng, 44, was one of Ms. Tans employees who started working at the spa in the past few months.

Delaina Ashley Yaun: Ms. Yaun, 33, was on a date with her husband when she was killed. A mother of two, Ms. Yaun had grown up in the area and had worked at a Waffle House restaurant.
TORONTO and LONDON, March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Cadillac Fairview (CF) is pleased to announce the appointment of Jenny Hammarlund as Managing Director, Head of Europe. Based in London, Ms. Hammarlund will report to CF's Executive Vice President of Investments, Duncan Osborne, and will be responsible for growing CF's presence in the UK and European property markets.

"As the global real estate arm of the Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan, which has over $200 billion of assets, CF is focused on growth and international diversification," said Mr. Osborne. "We see significant opportunity to operate and invest at scale in the UK and Europe, with Ms. Hammarlund and her team focused on identifying new strategic opportunities, overseeing our existing investments and growing our existing partnerships."

Ms. Hammarlund's wealth of experience with real estate investment in Europe, comprising over 20 years of investing experience and highlighted by her previous roles as a Managing Director of HIG Capital and as a Director at KKR, is a crucial addition to CF's presence in the UK and Europe. She has also held previous roles with Varde Partners and Lehman Brothers.

Following Ms. Hammarlund's hire, CF will support the growth of its overseas portfolio with an expanded European leadership team, building on the momentum of CF's recent acquisition of White City Place, a 930,000 square-foot office complex in the West End of London. The purchase represents a critical foothold in Europe, and an important contribution to the global growth and strategy of Ontario Teachers'.

With Ms. Hammarlund joining CF, Russ Goin will assume the role of Regional Head for the United States. CF's investment activities in Canada, Asia-Pacific, and Latin America will continue to be led by Louie DiNunzio, Karl Kreppner, and Cintia Guimaraes, respectively.

About Cadillac Fairview

Cadillac Fairview (CF) is a globally focused owner, operator, investor, and developer of best-in-class real estate across retail, office, residential, industrial and mixed-use asset classes. Wholly owned by the Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan, CF manages in excess of $36 billion of assets across the Americas and the United Kingdom, with further expansion planned into Europe and Asia.

Internationally, CF invests in communities with like-minded partners, including Stanhope in the UK, Lincoln Property Company in the U.S., and Multiplan in Brazil. The company's Canadian portfolio comprises 69 landmark properties, including the Toronto-Dominion Centre, CF Toronto Eaton Centre, Tour Deloitte, CF Carrefour Laval, CF Chinook Centre and CF Pacific Centre.

Continually striving to make a positive impact in communities where it operates by promoting social connection, growth, and a sustainable future, CF's Purpose is Transforming Communities For A Vibrant Tomorrow. Learn more at cadillacfairview.com and follow CF on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram.

Media Contact: Meg Sharpley, North Strategic on behalf of Cadillac Fairview, 905-517-9390, meg.sharpley@northstrategic.com
WASHINGTON  Democrats loved watching U.S. Rep. Katie Porter skewer Trump administration appointees and corporate executives in congressional hearings.

But it felt different when Porters progressive passion and impatience for convention turned to them.

Just as the California Democrat wielded a whiteboard and sharp questioning to expose the flaws and outdated thinking she saw in Postal Service management or the nations COVID-19 testing system, Porter recently took aim at House Democrats rules and traditions for what is usually a behind-the-scenes competition to determine which lawmakers sit on which coveted committees.

It was a calculated high-stakes gamble that resulted in Porter not returning this year to sit on the Financial Services Committee, one of the Houses most sought-after panels and one for which the former bankruptcy and consumer law professor was highly suited.

Her sharp-elbowed maneuvering and willingness to publicly confront party leaders like Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Rep. Maxine Waters underscored the brash determination that made Porter the surprise national standout of Californias 2018 House freshman class  and a strong contender for the U.S. Senate someday.

But in an institution fueled by seniority and relationships  especially within ones own party  Porters tendency to ruffle feathers could cost her the allies she will need in the future in order to get legislation approved.

In an interview, Porter expressed no regrets that her actions might have cost her support. In some ways, she may have felt she had nothing to lose. None of her financial-services-related bills made it through the Democratic-controlled House in her first term, a factor in her decision to focus more on oversight.

That was a big concern for me as a front-liner, she said, using the Democrats term for a politically vulnerable member, and as somebody whos very committed to governance and to doing the work.

Though she will no longer serve on one of the House Democrats four exclusive committees, Porter did not walk away empty-handed. She will continue to be on the House Oversight Committee, the bodys top investigations panel, where her knack for cutting to the chase and simplifying complex issues will come in handy.

Porter also picked up a subcommittee oversight gavel on the House Natural Resources Committee, and shes already announced plans to go after polluters and oil and gas companies.

I absolutely love oversight, said Porter, who recently purchased the new vanity license plate OVRSITE for her minivan. I came into Congress with a background in banking, but what I found is that the oversight skills I developed there, and the ability to explain technical things, particularly economic issues, translates really well to oversight across a large variety of subjects.

Porter, 47, came into Congress in a freshman class distinguished by its unprecedented number of women, progressives and younger people. Like Porter, many hold no fealty to the expectations placed on new members, such as respecting seniority and waiting your turn.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., said Porter is simply doing what she was elected to do.

So many of us, regardless of ideology, run on shaking up Washington. But then when you actually come here, theres a lot of consequences for doing that, said Ocasio-Cortez, who sat near Porter on the Financial Services Committee and remains on the panel. There are many strong personalities in our class, and that leads to some ruffling of feathers, because were sent here literally to try to disrupt.

But Porters critics say there is a risk in trying to change the system that her colleagues have been operating under for years, particularly trying to undermine committee leadership.

This is a place that operates on relationships, said one Democratic lawmaker, echoing a sentiment repeated by others but speaking on the condition of anonymity. These things dont win Katie any friends.

Porter may already be on shaky political ground as a progressive serving in a Republican-leaning, Irvine-centered district that the GOP is targeting for a pickup in 2022.

Porter won reelection in November, but by less than President Joe Bidens margin in the district, a sign that she is vulnerable. The coming post-census redistricting of Californias congressional map might make reelection even harder in 2022.

Though some have wondered whether Porter might seek refuge in a 2022 challenge for Sen. Alex Padillas seat in the Senate, she took such a move off the table, disclosing that she has endorsed Padilla for 2022 and contributed to his campaign.

Im a strong supporter of Sen. Padilla, Porter said, [I] really look forward to working with him and have already begun conversations about policies we can collaborate and opportunities to introduce him to the Orange County community. Padilla was appointed by Gov. Gavin Newsom to fill the seat previously occupied by Vice President Kamala Harris.

Porter did not rule out, however, a future bid for the Senate. Progressives hope she runs when Sen. Dianne Feinstein, 87, leaves the Senate, although it is certain to be a crowded field.

Thanks in part to her hearing moments that went viral, Porters campaign has become one of the top fundraisers in the House, a rarity for a lawmaker in only her second term.

Its so hard to break out and have a national presence, said longtime Democratic operative Bill Carrick. She managed to be able to do that in her first term, especially on the Financial Services side.

Porter made her exit from that committee almost as prominent as her tenure, providing a window into her political style.

Committee assignments are key to lawmakers, offering television exposure, political contributions and a platform to advance a legislative agenda or steer federal dollars.

For Democrats, four committees are labeled exclusive due to their influence and time commitment. In addition to Financial Services, they include Ways and Means, Appropriations and Energy and Commerce.

Two years ago, Porter and several other progressive Democratic freshmen, including Ocasio-Cortez and Reps. Rashida Tlaib of Michigan and Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts, landed on Financial Services.

Porter immediately clashed with committee Chairwoman Waters, a powerful member of the California delegation who is close with Pelosi. In addition to balancing the needs of her partys moderates with the boisterous newcomers, Waters, a longtime force on Democrats left flank, didnt always see eye to eye with the new crop of progressives.

The first time Porter tried to use a poster board in the committee, Waters upheld a Republican objection, citing committee rules. When Porter came back to another hearing with a Financial Services bingo board, Waters again told her to take it down. Weve talked about this before, she said.

Porter balked at Waters ruling. Are we adding additional committee rules at this time? asked Porter, whose use of such props was not an issue on the House Oversight Committee. In a show of her emerging political star power, Porter eventually got to display the bingo poster  on Late Night with Seth Meyers.

I disagreed with her interpretation of the rules regarding the ability of committee members to use evidence to make their points, Porter said in the interview. I was overruled on the whiteboard. I was overruled on my ability to play audio. I was overruled on my ability to display a poster board.

Waters office declined to comment.

There were some substantive clashes over legislation as well between Waters and the committees progressives.

For some Democrats, the biggest snub came late last year when Porter lobbied to take Financial Services off the list of exclusive committees. That top-tier designation comes with a price: members may not serve on any other committee unless they receive a waiver.

Such waivers are not rare. But if Financial Services were no longer exclusive, it would be easier for new members like Porter to remain on the committee while also branching into other areas without the need for special permission.

The goal should be to get members on the committee who stay, year after year, who will make this a primary committee and build up expertise over time, Porter said. Financial Services is so important and no one knows that better than Chairwoman Waters how important this really is to people and to our economy and to Southern California.

Porters proposal to change the exclusivity status went nowhere.

When it came time to request committee assignments in the new year, Porter raised eyebrows once again. She requested to remain on Oversight and join the Natural Resources committee as her top two choices. Then she asked for a waiver to continue on Financial Services.

Porter pitched herself to Pelosi in a letter, which Porter has shared. As the only single mother of young children in our Democratic Caucus, and an expert on consumer debt, mortgage lending, and bankruptcy, I bring deep knowledge and great passion to issues of economic justice and fairness, she wrote.

It didnt work. The steering committee in charge of the matter got 10 requests for waivers to get on the Financial Services Committee, according to Porters calculation. Only Porter and one other Democrat were denied.

Some progressives say Porter was targeted for removal, pointing to the fact that several members of the Financial Services panel are allowed to serve on other committees, some even as chairpersons. She wasnt really wanted, perhaps because of the spotlight she garnered and the goals she sought, wrote David Dayen, executive editor of American Prospect.

Skeptics say Porter tried to game the complex House Democratic rules to her advantage, and when it didnt work, allowed herself to be cast as a victim who got kicked off the committee.

Once members have a seat on an exclusive committee, all they typically need to do to stay on it is keep it is as their first choice. If Porter really wanted to stay on Financial Services, critics say, she should have prioritized it.

She chose to get removed from Financial Services, said one member of the panel, who spoke on condition of anonymity. You cant be that choosy.

Advocates of the committee-approval process say it is designed to ensure there is diversity  racial, gender and geographic  on the committees. Members can lobby the steering committee for waivers; eventually the entire caucus ratifies assignments.

But Ocasio-Cortez called the process a black box. She said she and Rep. Sylvia Garcia, D-Texas, were pretty lined up for positions on the Energy and Commerce Committee  another exclusive panel  but that rug got pulled out from under us.

In the end, Porter made no secret of her disappointment.

In a tweet, she pointed out that others in the same situation got waivers. I did not, she wrote. I play by the rules.
Carnegies Manoela Romano de Orte and Ken Caldeira led a research team that deployed a cutting-edge incubator to monitor the metabolic activity of coral and algae in an area of Australias Great Barrier Reef that had been damaged by tropical cyclones. The CISME, or Coral In Situ Metabolism and Energetics, instrument is a small chamber that can be placed directly on the coral surface and allow scientists to monitor coral growth by measuring changes in seawater chemistry. Credit: Ken Caldeira

Algae colonizing dead coral are upending scientists' ability to accurately assess the health of a coral reef community, according to new work from a team of marine science experts led by Carnegie's Manoela Romano de Orte and Ken Caldeira. Their findings are published in Limnology and Oceanography.

Corals are marine invertebrates that build tiny exoskeletons, which accumulate to form giant coral reefs. Widely appreciated for their beauty, these reefs are havens for biodiversity and crucial for the economies of many coastal communities. But they are endangered by ocean warming, seawater acidification, extreme storms, pollution, and overfishing.

Coral reefs use calcium carbonate to construct their architecture, a process called calcification. For a reef to be healthy, its coral's building activities must exceed erosion, a natural phenomenon that is exacerbated by all the environmental stresses to which human activity is exposing them.

"Coral reefs are dealing with so many simultaneous threats, many of which directly inhibit their ability to grow at a sustainable rate," Caldeira explained. "If they can't maintain a slow but steady amount of growth, they could get knocked out by rising sea levels in the coming years."

However, Romano de Orte and Caldeira's researchwith former Carnegie colleagues David Koweek (now at Ocean Visions), Yuichiro Takeshita (now at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute), and Rebecca Albright (now at the California Academy of Sciences)showed that if researchers only make measurements to assess coral health during the daytime, it could lead to false sense of security.

Why? Because dead coral is often colonized by algal communities that can also accumulate carbonate minerals during the day. However, most of these deposits dissolve overnight, so the carbonate minerals do not accumulate over time. In contrast, living corals, which have evolved to build massive carbonate reefs visible from space, can continue to build their skeletons, albeit slowly, even at night.

"It's long been thought that measuring calcium carbonate production could be linked directly to the health of a coral community," Romano de Orte said. "But our findings show that as algae increasingly succeed in overgrowing dead coral, it is going to be more difficult to rely on a once tried-and-true method for assessing whether a reef community is thriving."

To gain this critical understanding, the research teamwhich also included Tyler Cyronak of Nova Southeastern University, Alyssa Griffin of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, Kennedy Wolfe of the University of Queensland, and Alina Szmant and Robert Whitehead of University of North Carolina Wilmingtondeployed specially designed, state-of-the-art incubator technology to closely monitor both coral and colonizing algae in an area of Australia's Great Barrier Reef that had been heavily damaged by two tropical cyclones in 2014 and 2015. They were able to monitor both calcification and dissolution of carbonate minerals, as well as the organisms' metabolic activity.

"This amazing tool allowed us to home in on the specific role that each organism has in an ecosystem's total output, which gives us new insights into how reefs are changing," Romano de Orte explained.

Explore further Coasts drown as coral reefs collapse under warming and acidification

More information: Manoela Romano de Orte et al. Unexpected role of communities colonizing dead coral substrate in the calcification of coral reefs, Limnology and Oceanography (2021). Manoela Romano de Orte et al. Unexpected role of communities colonizing dead coral substrate in the calcification of coral reefs,(2021). DOI: 10.1002/lno.11722
Samsung Galaxy A52 and Galaxy A72 have officially launched in India at Samsungs latest Galaxy Unpacked event. Samsung has been teasing the two phones for quite some time now with some of its key features already out in the open. The Galaxy A52 and the Galaxy A72 share a lot in common but are also different in certain aspects.

The Galaxy A52 and the A72, both feature a high refresh rate display with a Qualcomm Snapdragon processor along with a 64MP quad-camera setup on the back and support for fast charging battery. Here's a brief look at the pricing and specifications of the Galaxy A52 and Galaxy A72 in India.

Samsung Galaxy A52 and Galaxy A72 price and availability

The Samsung Galaxy A52 4G is priced starting at Rs 26,499 for the base variant with 6GB RAM and 128GB storage and Rs 27,999 for the 8GB+128GB variant.

Meanwhile, the Samsung Galaxy A72 is priced starting at Rs 34,999 for the 8GB+128GB storage option and Rs 37,999 for the 256GB storage variant.

Both phones are available to purchase from the Samsung India store, Amazon India and will soon be available in offline stores.

Samsung Galaxy A52 specifications

Samsung Galaxy A52 features a 6.5-inch Full HD+ (2400 x 1080 pixels) resolution Super AMOLED display with support for 90Hz high-refresh-rate. The screen has a punch-hole cutout in the top-centre for the selfie camera up front. The phone measures 8.4 millimetres in thickness and weighs 187 grams. The Galaxy A52 is offered in blue, white, violet and black colours to choose from.

The Galaxy A52 is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G processor with an octa-core CPU and Adreno 618 GPU. This is paired with up to 8GB RAM and 256GB storage options to choose from. Users also have the option to expand the storage further by using a microSD card of up to 1TB. It runs on Samsung OneUI 3.0 out-of-the-box which is based on Android 11.

The Samsung Galaxy A52 5G, on the other hand, is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G processor which brings in 5G connectivity while the rest of the features remain the same as the 4G version.

Samsung Galaxy A52 has a quad-camera setup on the back that is headlined by a 64MP primary camera with an f/2.0 aperture, an 8MP ultra-wide-angle camera with 123-degree field-of-view, 5MP macro camera and 2MP depth sensor. The rear cameras can record in 4K UHD at 30FPOS and 1080p at 120FPS backed by EIS and OIS. On the front, there is a 32MP selfie camera housed within the notch cutout.

The screen is also home to an in-display fingerprint sensor and the Galaxy Ag52 is equipped with a 4,500mAh battery that supports 25W fast charging out-of-the-box.

Samsung Galaxy A72 specifications

The Samsung Galaxy A72 features a 6.7-inch Full HD+ (2400 x 1080 pixels) resolution display that uses a Super AMOLED display. The screen supports a 90Hz refresh rate and has a punch-hole cutout for the selfie camera. The Galaxy A72 measures 8.4 millimetres in thickness and weighs 203 grams. It is also IP67 rated making it resistant to dust and water ingress.

The Galaxy A72 is powered by the Snapdragon 720G processor with an octa-core CPU and Adreno 618 GPU. This is paired with up to 8GB RAM and up to 256GB storage options to choose from. The phone runs on Android 11 based One UI 3.0 out-of-the-box.

The Samsung Galaxy A72 has quad cameras on the back that consists of a primary 64MP camera with an f/1.8 aperture, an 8MP telephoto camera with 2x optical zoom, a 12MP ultra-wide-angle camera with 123-degree field-of-view and a 2MP macro camera. The rear cameras can record in 4K UHD at 30FPS and 1080p at up to 240FPS backed by EIS and OIS support. On the front, there is a 32MP selfie camera.

There is an in-display fingerprint sensor and the Galaxy A72 is equipped with a 5,000mAh battery that supports 25W fast charging out-of-the-box.
PORTSMOUTH, N.H., March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Epredia, a global leader in precision cancer diagnostics, and Paige, a global leader in AI-based diagnostic software in pathology, have announced today that they have entered into a commercial distribution agreement for Paige's comprehensive portfolio of diagnostic software solutions.

Under the terms of this agreement, Epredia has been appointed as a global distribution partner of the entire Paige portfolio of imaging diagnostic solutions. In addition, Epredia will have exclusive distribution rights in Japan. In the second quarter of 2021, Epredia will begin to commercialize the Paige solutions alongside existing Epredia products in the United States and major European Countries, further strengthening its comprehensive digital pathology portfolio that already includes the best-in-class CE-marked 3DHistech P1000 scanner*.

The Paige portfolio includes the Paige Platform, a comprehensive imaging solution comprised of a fast, zero-footprint viewer, storage capabilities and AI-based diagnostic software to help pathologists review cases and support their overall workflow.

The FDA-cleared and CE-marked Paige Platform features FullFocus, an intuitive and responsive viewer for pathology scans that supports primary diagnosis and their Data Management solution for storage of pathology scans. The Paige Platform is designed to be compatible with existing pathology solutions, including most scanners, monitors, and laboratory information systems.

Paige's AI-based diagnostic software solutions are designed to increase the number of cases that can be reviewed and with greater confidence and accuracy. Currently Paige Prostate and Paige Breast are CE-marked and available for clinical use outside of the United States. Paige Prostate RUO and Paige Breast RUO are research-use only solutions that are available in the United States.

"We are extremely excited to be entering into this partnership with Paige to commercialize their highly innovative portfolio of AI-based digital pathology solutions," explained John Marotta, President, Epredia and Chief Executive Officer, PHC Holdings Corporation. "We believe that digital pathology is a key part of cancer diagnostics of the future that can greatly improve patient care. We see enormous potential in the Paige portfolio and believe it perfectly complements our existing portfolio. This deal gives us access to a highly innovative portfolio of products that can enable us to deliver on our mission of improving lives by enhancing cancer diagnostics for patients."

"This commercial partnership with Epredia is an exciting step for Paige and we are thrilled to be working with one of the leading companies in anatomical pathology. Epredia's extensive global commercial reach will support our efforts to expand our geographical footprint," said Leo Grady, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of Paige. "Our aim is to transform the diagnostics space by offering a portfolio of software applications that help optimize patient outcomes by enabling pathologists to unlock insights from each sample and return results to the clinician and patient more quickly. This commercial agreement will help deliver our solution into the hands of more pathologists across the world to help patients get the most timely and effective care."

* Regulatory requirements for the 3DHistech P1000 scanner vary by country, please consult with your commercial partner to confirm the approved use of the scanner in your country.

Notes for Editors

About Epredia

Epredia is a global leader in the anatomical pathology field, providing comprehensive solutions for precision cancer diagnostics and tissue diagnostics. Powered by key brands, including Erie Scientific, Menzel-Glaser, Microm, Shandon, and Richard-Allan Scientific, Epredia's portfolio includes microscope slides, instruments and consumables. Epredia was established following the acquisition of Thermo Fisher Scientific's Anatomical Pathology business by PHC Holdings in 2019. Epredia has major sites in the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Switzerland and China with a total of around 1,200 employees. Epredia is committed to achieving its mission to improve lives by enhancing cancer diagnostics for patients around the world. For further information on Epredia and its products, please visit www.epredia.com.

About Paige

Paige was founded in 2017 by Thomas Fuchs, Dr.Sc. and colleagues from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK). The company builds computational pathology products designed so patients and their care teams can make effective, more informed treatment decisions. With this new class of AI-based technologies positioned to drive the future of diagnostics, Paige created a platform to deliver this novel technology to pathologists to transform their workflow and increase diagnostic confidence and productivity. Paige's products deliver insights to pathologists and oncologists so they can arrive efficiently at more precise diagnoses for patients. Paige is the first company to receive FDA breakthrough designation for computational pathology products.

For additional information, please visit: https://www.paige.ai, https://www.paigeplatform.com, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

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By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 03/16/2021



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Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade.

: Happily Ever After?'s sixth-season cast will reportedly include Jovi Dufren and his Ukrainian love Yara Zaya TLC announced a partial Season 6 cast of : Happily Ever After? last week and noted three additional couples will be announced "soon."Based on prior history, at least some of the to-be-announced couples are likely appearing on Season 8 of , which is currently wrapping up its season in the Sunday night timeslot : Happily Ever After? will take over on Sunday, April 25 at 8PM ET/PT on TLC.Last year, for example, : Happily Ever After?'s Season 5 cast included two couples who had recently appeared on Season 7 of .According to the @fraudedmedia Instagram account, Season 8 couple Jovi and Yara will be one of the pairs starring on Happily Ever After?'s sixth season.The @fraudedmedia account was formerly @fraudedbytlc, and has previously reported numerous accurate spoilers about alums.In addition to Jovi and Yara, : Happily Ever After?'s sixth season will also star three returning Season 5 couples: Angela Deem and Michael Ilesanmi Kalani Faagata and Asuelu Pulaa , and Elizabeth Potthast and Andrei Castravet TLC also announced last week 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 this spring.Beginning Sunday, April 25 at 11PM ET/PT, TLC 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.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.As shown on Season 8 of , Yara from Ukraine met Jovi, a 29-year-old who works in underwater robotics from New Orleans, LA, through a travel app."Really good sex" in Budapest, according to Jovi, resulted in the couple dating and traveling the world together.Six months into their relationship, Yara got pregnant but later experienced a miscarriage. Despite the pain and hurt the incident caused, the couple stayed together and Jovi filed for a K-1 visa so Yara could move to New Orleans and marry him.Once Yara arrived in America, she said she loved Jovi but the pair had to work through some issues.Yara desired an intimate wedding in Las Vegas against the wishes of Jovi's mother Gwen, and the blonde beauty also accused Jovi of drinking and partying too much.Yara then got pregnant again and didn't exactly feel ready for a baby, especially because she and Jovi couldn't seem to stop fighting -- even at their own engagement party -- and she didn't feel like she was Jovi's No. 1 priority.Yara therefore gave Jovi an ultimatum, saying he needed to cut back drastically on his drinking or she'd fly back to Ukraine and raise their child as a single mother.She also told Jovi that she couldn't envision herself living in New Orleans permanently.Jovi promised Yara he would be more sympathetic, supportive, caring and attentive, and so the couple eventually got back on the right track.Yara then picked out a wedding dress and told Jovi's mother Gwen that she could attend her wedding, which left Gwen feeling overjoyed.Yara, however, subsequently suffered a fall that hurt her back, and Jovi stayed out later than she had hoped at his bachelor party the night before the couple was scheduled to fly to Las Vegas for their nuptials.(Jovi was also shown going "upstairs" at a local stripclub with an entertainer for a private dance).Just as Yara thought Jovi was serious about their relationship and treating her better, all progress seemed to be lost in the moments leading up to their wedding."I feel like I want to go back to home... to Ukraine," Yara cried in a confessional in the latest episode. Click here to read spoilers on Yara and Jovi's relationship and whether they went through with getting married and are now parenting a child together.Want more spoilers or couples updates? Click here to visit our homepage!
The operation is ongoing, but AFP Counter Terrorism and Special Investigations Assistant Commissioner Scott Lee said there was no threat to community safety. The community can be reassured that weve taken action at an early stage to ensure that theres no risk to the public, and were confident that the action that weve taken today has mitigated that risk, Mr Lee said. Assistant Commissioner Michael Hermans, Victoria Police Counter Terrorism Command and Assistant Commissioner Scott Lee, AFP Counter Terrorism and Special Investigations. Credit:Victoria Police Mr Hermans said the trio raised concerns due to religious extremism. It is Islamic, but let me make it very clear that we target the crime not the ideology, he said.

Police say two of the men are from the same family. Mr Hermans said the arrested men could face attempted terrorism or acts in preparation of terrorism charges, which can carry heavy penalties, including life in prison. The 16-year-old was interviewed, released and was being provided with counselling services, Mr Hermans said. Investigator escort a suspect to be interviewed by police. Credit:Nine Victoria Police will continue to engage with this young man, offer him support and hopefully divert him away from the activity thats come to our attention this morning, he said.

Mr Lee said aspects of the fire in February made investigators suspect it was motivated by terrorism. There is an ideology, and a violent extremist ideology, that has caused us concern, and its as a result of that ideology that were looking at these incidents being connected to a terrorism motivation, Mr Lee said. There are certain aspects to the lighting of the fire that led us to suspect it was a terrorism motivation. Loading Replay Replay video Play video Play video Mr Hermans said the age of those arrested was very concerning.

Mr Lee said the COVID-19 pandemic had seen a magnification of the online environment, both nationally and globally. Loading What weve seen throughout the COVID period as people have come out of the physical world and been in isolation and driven into the online environment ... thats exacerbated some of the radicalisation that weve seen, he said. Professor Greg Barton, a counter-terrorism expert at Deakin University, confirmed that Victoria Police and other law enforcement agencies had experienced an increase in counter-terrorism case-loads during the COVID-19 lockdown, particularly in relation to far-right extremism and conspiracy theorists. However, Professor Barton said there had also been a jump in online radicalisation by Islamic extremists.

Theres a strong desire now theres no more al-Qaeda attacks in big cities and the Islamic State thing has come and gone to think we can breathe easy, he said. Loading But the agencies are saying that their case-loads are going up and the amount of time they are spending on Islamic radicalisation is also increasing. In November last year, the United Nations expressed concerns about intensified terrorist activities during the pandemic and that violent extremist groups would seek to exploit the global disruption caused by COVID-19. Separately on Wednesday, the head of the nations domestic spy agency, ASIO boss Mike Burgess, announced he will stop referring to Islamic extremism and right-wing extremism, saying his organisation needs to be conscious that the names and labels it uses are important.

He said his agency would now use the umbrella terms of religiously motivated violent extremism and ideologically motivated extremism in a significant change to the language it uses to talk about the threats facing the nation. Director of the Forum of Australias Islamic Relations, Kuranda Seyit, who has worked in anti-radicalisation programs for Muslim youth, said it was premature to make any comments about the arrests but he was concerned authorities had identified the religious background of the offenders. I feel this is something that should be avoided, because crime has no religion, Mr Seyit said. He shouldnt have mentioned the persons religion because nothings been ascertained as to their religious backgrounds or their religiosity. Police have encouraged anyone with information about extremist activity or possible threats to the community to come forward.
A day after his birthday on March 14, Aamir Khan announced his decision of quitting social media which came as a huge shocker to all his fans. His announcement sent the netizens into a tizzy as various speculations started doing the rounds on social media.

Amid this, Aamir was spotted in Mumbai on Tuesday at the screening of the film Koi Jaane Na in which he features in a special song titled 'Har Funn Maula' with Elli AvrRam. While the superstar was exiting the screening, the paparazzi caught up with him and asked about his decision to bid goodbye to all his social media handles.

In response, the actor told the shutterbug, "Aap log apni theories mat lagaiye. Main apni thunki mein rahta hoon. Social media pe hu kahaan main! Mujhe laga ki yaar waise bhi kuch daalta nahi hu main. (Don't create your theories. I am always lost in my own world. Am I even there on the social media? I thought I anyway don't post much on social media)."

For the unversed, on Monday (March 15, 2021), Aamir had bid goodbye to the social media world by issuing a statement that read, "Hey guys, thank you so much for all the love and warmth on my birthday  My heart is full In other news, this is going to be my last post on social media. Considering that I am SO active anyway  I have decided to drop the pretence. We will continue to communicate as we did before. In addition, AKP has created its official channel! So future updates on me and my films can be found there. Here's the official handle! @akppl_official Lots of love, always  a."

With regards to work, the superstar is currently busy working on the post production of his upcoming film Laal Singh Chaddha which is a remake of Tom Hank's classic film Forest Gump. The film also stars Kareena Kapoor Khan in a pivotal role.

ALSO READ: Aamir Khan Quits Social Media To Focus Completely On Work

ALSO READ: Post Vijay Sethupathi's Exit, Naga Chaitanya To Make His Bollywood Debut With Aamir Khan's Laal Singh Chaddha?
Warren Buffett

Warren Buffett knows best. That is Berkshire Hathaways rationale for rejecting a shareholder proposal for an annual report on how the company manages physical and transitional climate-related risks and opportunities.

BH claims it has been anticipating and responding to major changes in its business since Buffett became its controlling shareholder in 1965 and its CEO in 1970.

In recommending a vote against the proposal, BH said: Since many of Berkshires subsidiaries are already making sound climate-related decisions, and more importantly because the board believes that the shareholder proposal is inconsistent with Berkshires culture, the board recommends that our shareholders vote against the shareholder proposal.

Theres more than a whiff of condescendence there.

The board also patted itself on the back for running the Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad.

At BNSF, rail is already the most carbon-efficient land transport mode, and shippers who use rail instead of trucks cut their carbon emissions by up to two-thirds, said BH.

Buffett owns 32 percent of BH, which will hold its virtual annual meeting on May 1.

US Chamber of Commerce CEO Suzanne Clark is living in an alternate reality when it comes to defending the Senates filibuster.

Clark backs the measure because she feels it allows the time, thoughtfulness and deliberation needed to debate issues of national importance.

But when was the last time that Congress had a thoughtful and deliberate debate on anything?

Only in Washington could getting 60 out of 100 people to agree feel like an insurmountable obstacle, Clark said in sticking up for the filibuster.

Thats sad but true. It is an insurmountable obstacle.

The Biden administration could not get a single Republican to vote for the $1.9T American Rescue Plan, which is supported by 70 percent of US adults, according to Pew Research.

He tried "bipartisan" outreach to a group of "moderate" GOP Senators, but they countered with a COVID-19 and economic rescue plan that offered a pittance of what is needed to get the country back on track.

If every GOPer failed to support the popular American Rescue Plan, what chance is there that Republicans are going to work hand-in-hand with Team Biden on other matters?

Bipartisanship shouldn't be defined as Democrats caving to win a handful of GOP votes.

The filibuster is a barrier to any progress that Biden could achieve during the next four years.

The country deserves better.

Bad PR poses a threat to the digital advertising market, said ad tech firm DoubleVerify in its March 17 S-1 filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The digital advertising industry has been and may in the future be subject to reputational harm, negative media attention and public complaint relating to, among other things, the alleged lack of transparency and anti-competitive behavior among advertising technology companies,

Public criticism could trigger increased data privacy and antitrust regulation in the US and overseas, according to the company.

DoubleVerify frets that its social media-related business could be jeopardized by avoidance campaigns or ad boycotts on Facebook and Twitter.

If our customers significantly reduce or eliminate their digital ad spend in response to the public criticism of the digital advertising industry or its related effects, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected, it said.

The digital ad business will need all the help that it can get from tech and crisis PR people to keep it on track.

Ukraine has prepared a strategy for de-occupation and reintegration of the Russian-occupied Crimea, and is uniting the world on the basis of the Crimean Platform to regain control over the peninsula.

President Volodymyr Zelensky wrote about this on Twitter on the occasion of the anniversary of the so-called "referendum" in Crimea, Ukrinform reports.

"Seven years ago, Russia held a fake referendum in Crimea. For the first time since the beginning of occupation, Ukraine has prepared a strategy for de-occupation and reintegration of the peninsula. We unite the world within the Crimean platform to return Ukrainian to Ukraine," the president noted.

On March 16, 2014, contrary to Ukrainian legislation and the legislation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, a so-called "referendum" on the status of Crimea was held in the Russian-occupied Crimea and the city of Sevastopol. According to the official data of the aggressor state, 96.77% of Crimean residents allegedly supported the annexation of the peninsula to Russia, while 95.6% of Sevastopol residents "voted" in favor of joining Russia.

Two days later, on March 18, 2014, the so-called agreement on the accession of the Republic of Crimea to the Russian Federation was signed at the Kremlin.

Most UN member states and other international organizations declared the Crimean referendum falsified by the occupiers illegitimate.

As reported, the Crimean Platform is a new consultative and coordination format initiated by Ukraine to improve the efficiency of the international response to the occupation of Crimea, respond to growing security challenges, step up international pressure on Russia, prevent further human rights violations, protect victims of the occupying power and to achieve the de-occupation of Crimea and its return to Ukraine.

The Crimean Platform is to be launched officially at an inaugural summit in Kyiv on August 23, 2021.

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Network Rail should make more use of drones and helicopters to inspect the railway, an investigation launched after the Stonehaven crash has found.

This was one of the conclusions reached by a task force led by Lord Robert Mair, emeritus professor of civil engineering at the University of Cambridge, to examine the management of railway cuttings and embankments.

The report was published alongside a study into the impact of heavy rainfall on the railway.

A total of more than 50 safety recommendations were made to Network Rail by the inquiries.

Driver Brett McCullough, 45, conductor Donald Dinnie, 58, and passenger Christopher Stuchbury, 62, died when the 6.38am Aberdeen to Glasgow Queen Street train crashed into a landslide across the tracks near Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire, on August 12 last year following heavy rain.

Six other people were injured.

Network Rails interim report on the crash found the train struck a pile of washed-out rock and gravel before derailing.

Lord Mairs report stated that shortfalls in the earthwork examination and risk evaluation system need to be addressed, with significant investment required to update the Government-owned companys monitoring and surveillance methods.

More regular and frequent use should be made of helicopters and drones to identify problems, his task force found.

Some 1,900 failures of cuttings and embankments were reported between April 1 2003 and December 1 last year.

The report said the correlation between earthworks failures and rainfall is very strong and the total number of earthworks failures per month appears to be increasing.

The separate investigation into the effects of severe weather on the railway found advances in forecasting technology are not being exploited by Network Rail.

It called for the company to trial the latest capabilities with the goal of implementing a full operational service.

Martin Frobisher, Network Rails safety and engineering director, said: It is clear that extreme weather presents a significant challenge to the way we safely and reliably manage railway infrastructure.

We do a vast amount to tackle the effects of climate change already but there is more to do.

Three people were killed in the crash near Stonehaven last August (Derek Ironside/Newsline Media/PA)

We established two independent, expert task forces led by world-class specialists to investigate the problems we face and, crucially, to guide us as we make substantial improvements.

We will carefully consider every single recommendation and develop a science-backed improvement plan to target available money and technology in the best possible way. This is a real breakthrough.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: We must do everything we can to keep our railways safe.

These findings will inform our work as we push ahead with measures to make our railway more resilient in future, and less vulnerable to sudden tragedies like that near Stonehaven.

A spokesman for train drivers union Aslef said: The Government has to provide Network Rail with the funds so it can carry out the work that is needed to maintain our rail infrastructure so that passengers, and crew, can be confident of the safety of our railway.

Network Rails budget for enhancements from 2019-2024 was cut by 1 billion to 9.4 billion following Chancellor Rishi Sunaks Spending Review last year, but funding for operations, maintenance and renewals was unchanged.
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Los Angeles, USA, March 16, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cholangiocarcinoma Pipeline Insight: Therapeutic analysis of 70+ pipeline therapies and 70+ pharmaceutical companies

Cholangiocarcinoma Pipeline is majorly witnessing TAS-120, AG-120, E7090, and E7090 as the most anticipating therapies.

DelveInsights Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) Pipeline Insights report provides a comprehensive portfolio of pipeline therapies and key pharmaceutical companies actively engaged in the domain.

The report lays down complete information on the drug profiles, stages of their clinical development, MoA, RoA, molecule type, and drug delivery platform. Besides, the report proffers a view on

Some of the crucial takeaways from the Cholangiocarcinoma Pipeline report:

The Cholangiocarcinoma pipeline comprises TT-00420 (TransThera Biosciences), and STP-705 (Sirnaomics) in Phase I clinical stage of development, while CX-4945 (Senhwa Biosciences) and MIV-818 (Medivir) are in Phase I/II stage.

(TransThera Biosciences), and (Sirnaomics) in Phase I clinical stage of development, while (Senhwa Biosciences) and (Medivir) are in Phase I/II stage. In mid-stage of development of Cholangiocarcinoma pipeline therapies comprises HMPL-453 (Hutchison Medipharma) and E7090 (Eisai) are in Phase II with Bintrafusp alfa (EMD Serono) in Phase II/III stage of clinical trials.

(Hutchison Medipharma) and (Eisai) are in Phase II with (EMD Serono) in Phase II/III stage of clinical trials. AG-120 (Agios Pharmaceuticals) and TAS-120 (Taiho Oncology) are in the late-stage of Cholangiocarcinoma pipeline.

(Agios Pharmaceuticals) and (Taiho Oncology) are in the late-stage of Cholangiocarcinoma pipeline. Key companies dedicated to advance the Cholangiocarcinoma drug pipeline are: Medivir, Hutchison Medipharma, Agios Pharmaceuticals, TransThera Biosciences, Senhwa Biosciences, Eisai, EMD Serono, Taiho Oncology, Sirnaomics, RedHill Biopharma, MacroGenics, Chia Tai Tianqing Pharmaceutical Group, Sirtex Medical, Delcath Systems Inc. Innovent Biologics, PCI Biotech AS, Basilea Pharmaceutica, QED Therapeutics, Bristol-Myers Squibb, AstraZeneca, Eli Lilly and Company, Toray Industries, Bold Therapeutics and several others.

On March 1, 2021, Agios Pharmaceuticals submitted a Supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for Ivosidenib tablets (AG-120) as a potential treatment for patients with previously treated isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1) mutated cholangiocarcinoma.

In May 2020, Bold Therapeutics entered into an option agreement with an Hana Pharm Co Ltd for exclusive rights to BOLD 100 in South Korea. Under the terms of the agreement, Bold Therapeutics and Hana Pharm will collaborate for a planned phase Ib/IIa adaptive trial in gastric, pancreatic, colorectal and bile duct (cholangiocarinoma) cancer.

Visit for holistic view @ Cholangiocarcinoma Drug Pipeline

Cholangiocarcinoma is cancer that arises from the cells lining the bile duct, a drainage system for the bile that is produced by the liver. This condition, also known as bile duct cancer, is an uncommon form of cancer that occurs mostly in people older than age 50, though it can occur at any age. Cholangiocarcinomas are part of the family of tumors known as adenocarcinomas, which originate in glandular tissue. Less commonly, theyre squamous cell carcinomas, which develop in the squamous cells that line the digestive tract.

Cholangiocarcinoma Drug Profiles

HMPL-453: Hutchison Medipharma Limited

HMPL453 is a novel, highly selective, and potent small-molecule inhibitor that targets FGFR 1, 2, and 3. Hutchison China MediTech Limited (Chi-Med) is investigating the therapy in the Phase II stage of development in patients with advanced intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (IHCC) (NCT04353375).

Cholangiocarcinoma Therapeutic Assessment

By Product Type

Mono

Combination

By Stage

Discovery

Pre-clinical

Phase I

Phase II

Phase III

Pre-registration

By Route of Administration

Oral

Intravenous

Inhalation

Subcutaneous

Infusion

Intradermal

Intramuscular

Intranasal

Parenteral

Topical

By Molecule Type

Gene therapy

Small molecules

Stem cell therapy

Gene therapies

Vaccines

Polymers

Peptides

Monoclonal antibodies

By Mechanism of Action

Immunomodulatory

DNA synthesis inhibitors

Type 1, 2, 3 fibroblast growth factor receptor antagonist

Isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 inhibitors

Sphingosine kinase inhibitors

Casein kinase II inhibitors

Type 1, 2, 3, 4 fibroblast growth factor receptor antagonists

Cyclo-oxygenase 2 inhibitors; RNA interference; Transforming growth factor beta1 inhibitors

Antibody-dependent cell cytotoxicity; Cytotoxic T lymphocyte stimulants; Natural killer cell stimulants; Programmed cell death-1 ligand-1 inhibitors; Transforming growth factor beta inhibitors

Aurora kinase A inhibitors; Aurora kinase B inhibitors; Receptor protein-tyrosine kinase antagonists

By Targets

Protease

Immunomodulatory

Multiple kinases

By Stage and Molecule Type

By Stage and Route of Administration

By Stage and Product Type

Key Pipeline Therapies

Pipeline Therapy Company Phase MoA RoA MIV-818 Medivir I/II DNA synthesis inhibitors Oral HMPL-453 Hutchison Medipharma II Type 1 fibroblast growth factor receptor antagonists Oral BOLD-100 Bold Therapeutics I Apoptosis stimulants; DNA inhibitors; Molecular chaperone GRP78 protein inhibitors Intravenous TT-00420 TransThera Biosciences I Aurora kinase A inhibitors; Aurora kinase B inhibitors; Receptor protein-tyrosine kinase antagonists Oral CX-4945 Senhwa Biosciences I/II Casein kinase II inhibitors Intravenous E7090 Eisai II Type 1, 2, 3 fibroblast growth factor receptor antagonist Oral Bintrafusp alfa EMD Serono II/III Antibody-dependent cell cytotoxicity; Cytotoxic T lymphocyte stimulants; Natural killer cell stimulants; Programmed cell death-1 ligand-1 inhibitors; Transforming growth factor-beta inhibitors Intravenous TAS-120 Taiho Oncology III Type 1, 2, 3, 4 fibroblast growth factor receptor antagonists Oral STP-705 Sirnaomics I Cyclo-oxygenase 2 inhibitors; RNA interference; Transforming growth factor beta1 inhibitors Intratumoral ABC294640 RedHill Biopharma II Sphingosine kinase inhibitors Oral

Know more about the Cholangiocarcinoma Pipeline Therapies and Emerging Trends

Scope of the Report

Coverage: Global

Key Players: Medivir, Hutchison Medipharma, Agios Pharmaceuticals, TransThera Biosciences, Senhwa Biosciences, Eisai, EMD Serono, Taiho Oncology, Sirnaomics, RedHill Biopharma, MacroGenics, Chia Tai Tianqing Pharmaceutical Group, Sirtex Medical, Delcath Systems Inc. Innovent Biologics, PCI Biotech AS, Basilea Pharmaceutica, QED Therapeutics, Bristol-Myers Squibb, AstraZeneca, Eli Lilly and Company, Toray Industries, Bold Therapeutics, and others.

Key Cholangiocarcinoma Pipeline Therapies: MIV-818, HMPL-453, BOLD-100, TT-00420, CX-4945, E7090, Bintrafusp alfa, TAS-120, STP-705, ABC294640, among several others.

Key Questions Answered

What are the current options for Cholangiocarcinoma treatment?

How many companies are developing therapies for the treatment of CCA?

What are the principal therapies developed by these companies in the industry?

How many Cholangiocarcinoma emerging therapies are in the early-stage, mid-stage, and late stage of development for the treatment of CCA?

Out of total pipeline products, how many therapies are given as a monotherapy and in combination with other therapies?

What are the key collaborations (Industry-Industry, Industry-Academia), Mergers and acquisitions, and major licensing activities that will impact the CCA market?

Which are the dormant and discontinued products and the reasons for the same?

What is the unmet need for current therapies for the treatment of CCA?

What are the recent novel therapies, targets, mechanisms of action and technologies developed to overcome the limitation of existing CCA therapies?

What are the key designations that have been granted for the emerging therapies for Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA)?

Got queries? Get answers @ CCA Emerging Therapies

Table of Contents

1 Introduction 2 Executive Summary 3 Cholangiocarcinoma Overview 4 CCA Pipeline Pipeline Therapeutics 5 Cholangiocarcinoma Pipeline Therapeutic Assessment 6 CCA  DelveInsights Analytical Perspective 7 In-depth Commercial Cholangiocarcinoma Pipeline Assessment 8 Cholangiocarcinoma Collaboration Deals 9 Late Stage CCA Pipeline Products (Phase III and Preregistration) 10 Mid-Stage Cholangiocarcinoma Pipeline Products (Phase II) 11 Early-Stage Cholangiocarcinoma Pipeline Products (Phase I) 12 Pre-clinical and Discovery Stage CCA Pipeline Products 13 Inactive CCA Pipeline Products 14 CCA Inactive Products 15 Cholangiocarcinoma Discontinued Products 16 Cholangiocarcinoma Dormant Products 17 Cholangiocarcinoma Key Companies 18 CCA Key Product Profiles 20 Cholangiocarcinoma Unmet Needs 21 CCA Market Drivers and Barriers 22 CCA Future Perspectives 23 Cholangiocarcinoma Analyst Views 24 Cholangiocarcinoma Pipeline Report Methodology 25 Appendix

Reach out for a live demo of the report @ Cholangiocarcinoma Emerging Therapies

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(TNS)  Colleen Creer, a 26-year-old customer service rep from Portland, Oregon, was in a bind at the end of last year. She'd just lost her in-person job with a major retailer due to a COVID-19 closure and wanted to do the same type of work remotely. One problem: Creer, who has lived on the edge of poverty for years, didn't have a computer.Enter Free Geek, a nonprofit in Portland that salvages broken laptops, tablets and desktops, fixes them and provides them at low or no-cost to people who can't afford new ones. But while the pandemic heightened the demand for Free Geek's repaired computers, corporate policies preventing easy access to parts, manuals and equipment made it harder for the nonprofit to complete its mission."It's made the difference between me being able to obtain my housing and put food on my table and obtain my puppy and have him here," Creer said of her new desktop computer. "I just took my driver's permit test. Things like that. I wouldn't have been able to get them done if I hadn't gotten the computer from Free Geek."The pandemic has made living without a computer harder than ever. Employees are working remotely, kids are going to school via laptop, and grandparents are visiting with their grandkids on screens. At the same time, the pandemic has made it harder to get broken devices fixed, as many big chain stores have ceased offering on-site repairs. As a result, people have been forced to send their devices to authorized repair facilitiesoften waiting weeks for them to be returned.Many are powerless to avoid that inconvenience because small repair shops and do-it-yourselfers can't get the parts or manuals they need to complete the job. The problem has become more pronounced in the past decade, as personal devices, appliances and machinery have become increasingly sophisticated. At the same time, brand-name manufacturers have become stingier with spare parts and maintenance information.The resulting frustration has given new impetus to at least 39 so-called right-to-repair bills in 25 states. The legislation would loosen restrictions on manufacturers' information and parts and allow small repair shops and handy device owners to do their own fixing. Manufacturers and distributors of brand-name products are opposed. They say unauthorized repairs are unsafe and compromise security by putting nonstandard components into machines which, they say, makes them more vulnerable to hacking.Supporters of the right-to-repair bills dispute those assertions. "[If] we can't get repair manuals, we have to reverse engineer every device," said Hilary Shohoney, executive director of Free Geek. "We have to break it to repair it. Trying to find one battery for one machine is damn near impossible. We have to group laptops together to create schematic boards ourselves."The bills under consideration in many state legislatures would make the schematics and parts publicly available. Many of the bills are modeled on a Massachusetts law that was approved by voters last November, though that measure applies only to automotive repairs. The Massachusetts legislature is considering a bill that would expand the law to also cover electronic equipment.Some of the bills would apply broadly to electronic equipment, farm machinery and other devices; others target one category.Nathan Proctor, director of the right-to-repair campaign at U.S. Public Interest Research Group (U.S. PIRG), a nonprofit that advocates for consumers, said when the pandemic started last year, many people began hauling old devices from their basements and attics and trying to make them work. "Now all of a sudden you need a computer for every person. Everybody needed to work remotely at the same time," he said.Many people were frustrated to find that small repair shops couldn't help with the old devices because of manufacturer restrictions. "The lesson is that manufacturer-controlled systems with single points of failure undermine community resilience," Proctor said in a phone interview. "That's what we found out in the pandemic."At hearing after hearing in the states, right-to-repair advocates singled out Apple products as the toughest to crack for independent repairs. Apple did not respond to multiple Stateline requests for comment.TechNet, a trade group that represents Apple, Hewlett-Packard, Honeywell and other device manufacturers, has testified against right-to-repair measures in many states. The group says it opposes them "because of the potential for troubling, unintended consequences, including serious cybersecurity risks, privacy risks, safety risks, piracy hazards, and barriers to innovation."TechNet's David Edmonson, vice president of state policy and government relations, said in an emailed statement that the bills would not require independent repairers to undergo the same training and certifications as authorized repairers.Edmonson noted that lawmakers in many states have rejected such bills in the past, but did not address the question of whether things have changed during the pandemic. "Legislators weighed the arguments and chose not to create government mandates to force manufacturers to provide unrestricted access to digital keys and proprietary information for thousands of Internet-connected products, including phones, fire alarms, and home security systems," he said in an emailed statement.But Maryland state Sen. Katie Fry Hester, a Democrat who is sponsoring right-to-repair legislation, says Marylanders who contact her call it a "just let us fix our stuff" bill. "We can't have our kids miss a month of school while we are waiting for repair of our laptop," she said in a phone interview. "The schools were scrambling to get devices repaired and working." She said she heard tales of people in her district being able to get a cracked screen fixed on their device, but not, for example, a charging port. "Repair means low-cost, refurbished items can work longer."According to the Maryland Public Interest Research Group, a consumer organization that is part of U.S. PIRG, the right-to-repair measure would save Marylanders $735 million a year by reducing spending on electronics and appliances by 22%, about $330 a year per household. Consumer groups also contend that repairing devices is more environmentally friendly than throwing them away.Hester also pointed out that at the height of the pandemic, hospitals were struggling to repair ventilators during a shortage of the devices, and running into the same problem with manufacturersuntil a group of state attorneys general and state treasurers struck a deal with them to provide parts and repair information.Along with electronic devices and hospital ventilators, many of the states' right-to-repair bills address farm equipment. Repairing that equipment can be even more of a problem, supporters say, because repair facilities can be far from rural farms and because of the urgency of planting or harvesting.Montana state Sen. Mark Sweeney, a Democrat, steered his right-to-repair bill through the Business, Labor and Economic Affairs Committee on a 10-1 vote. But as soon as it was out of the committee, "it was lobbied hard by the implement dealers and manufacturers," he said in a phone interview. "There was a component that wanted to see this bill dead and go away."In a statement on its website, the Western Equipment Dealers Association said it opposed the Montana bill because of "safety, warranty, and environmental concerns that will affect dealers and their customers. Manufacturers should also have the right to protect their investment in intellectual property that propels innovation in the agricultural industry."The Montana Senate defeated the bill 30-20. At a hearing last month, Montana farmers and ranchers testifying in favor of the bill often mentioned farm equipment manufactured by John Deere. An email from John Deere's media department pointed Stateline to a statement on the company's website."When customers buy from John Deere, they own the equipment and can choose to personally maintain or repair the product. When our customers need help, hundreds of Deere dealers and thousands of Deere-certified technicians nationwide stand ready to assist, either in person, on site, or remotely," it said."We do not condone altering our machines from their engineering standards, which can pose a risk to not just the current owner and their employees, but other equipment operators, future owners, John Deere dealers, and the environment." That stance doesn't sit well with Dave Kesler, a farmer, mechanic, contractor and general "Mr. Fixit" whose property lies 80 miles from Missoula, in Philipsburg, Montana. Two decades ago, Kesler placed third in a national mechanics competition working on Deere equipment. But he can't perform his own repairs anymore, because he doesn't have the proprietary technical equipment to read the error codes that show up on his machines when they stop running. Instead, he must pay $500 for a John Deere tech to visit."You can't just start throwing parts at it ... if you don't know what the code is, you don't know where to start," Kesler said in an interview. "It makes it impossible."
Flustered Matt Hancock insisted the UK's vaccine drive is a 'team effort' tonight after Dominic Cummings swiped it has only succeeded because he was stripped of control.

In an extraordinary assault, the maverick former No10 chief said the Department of Health was a 'smoking ruin' last spring after disasters over PPE procurement and therapeutics.

He revealed that senior figures including Sir Patrick and then Cabinet Secretary Mark Sedwill went to Boris Johnson and said a separate vaccine task force had to be created to get round to avoid the effort being derailed by more 'nonsense'.

Giving evidence to the science committee in his first public appearance since dramatically quitting No10 following a power struggle with the PM's fiancee Carrie Symonds, Mr Cummings said that staying out of the 'guaranteed to fail' EU scheme was also critical.

Mr Hancock tried to shrug off the savage blow at a Downing Street briefing tonight, praising the 'esprit de corps' between the 'absolutely brilliant' task force and the NHS.

'It has been a huge team effort,' he said, looking uncomfortable and adding he would 'leave it at that' rather than engaging directly with Mr Cummings' criticism.

However, the jibes are highly damaging after Mr Hancock played up his role in the surging vaccine drive - which has now covered nearly half the population and already appears to be dramatically reducing deaths.

The Cabinet minister was heavily criticised over shortages of PPE and failure to ramp up testing in the early stages of the crisis. He has also come under fire for ignoring transparency rules while rushing out contracts to 'cronies'.

But allies have tried to credit him with crunch decisions over vaccines, including claiming he blocked a contact with Merck for producing the Oxford jabs because the UK would not have been guaranteed priority.

Mr Hancock has put himself at the front of the rollout, taking numerous press conferences to highlight milestones in the process.

Asked whether he recognised the description of DoH as a 'smoking ruin', the PM's spokesman said: 'No.'

'Covid challenged health systems around the world and from the outset it was always our focus to protect the NHS and save lives,' the spokesman said.

Dominic Cummings branded Whitehall a 'disaster zone' and gave an extraordinary glimpse into his relationship with the PM as he gave evidence to the Science Committee

Mr Hancock tried to shrug off the savage blow at a Downing Street briefing tonight, saying the vaccines drive was a 'team effort

Mr Hancock seized on the UK reaching the milestone of 25million people given the first dose of a vaccine tonight

Key quotes from Cummings On Matt Hancock's Department of Health: 'In spring 2020 you have a situation where DoH was just a smoking ruin in terms of procurement and PPE and all of that. 'You had serious problems with the funding bureaucracy for therapeutics on Covid.' On why the UK vaccine drive has been a success: 'It's not coincidental that the vaccine programme worked the way that it did. To do that we had to take it out of the DoH, we had to have it authorised very directly by the PM and strip away all the normal nonsense that we can see is holding back funding therapeutics.' On the EU's vaccine shambles: 'As things have been proved every day now, science can co-operate globally without having to be part of the nightmarish Brussels system which has blown up so disastrously over vaccines. 'Just this week we've seen what happens when you have an anti-science, anti-entrepreneurial, anti-technology culture in Brussels married with its appalling bureaucracy in its insane decisions and warnings on the AstraZeneca vaccine.' On the Brexit transition period hampering Covid response: 'In February, March, April last year there was no entity in the British  zero entities, including the Prime Minister himself  who could make rapid decisions on science funding minus horrific EU procurement, state aid etc, etc laws.' On the PM agreeing to his terms for working in No10: 'The Prime Minister came to speak to me the Sunday before he became Prime Minister and said will I come to Downing Street to help sort out the huge Brexit nightmare. 'I said ''Yes, if first of all you are deadly serious about actually getting Brexit done and avoiding a second referendum. ''Secondly, double the science budget, third create some Arpa-like entity and fourth support me in trying to change how Whitehall works because it's a disaster zone'' and he said ''Deal''.' Advertisement

Pressed on whether Mr Cummings' jibes were helpful, the PM's spokeswoman Allegra Stratton said he was'a valued member of the Prime Minister's staff' and an 'enormously important player'.

Ms Stratton - whose appointment was believed to have played a key part in the bitter clashes that led to most of the Vote Leave faction vacating No10 - added that 'what he chooses to do is his business'.

Mr Cummings was in theory only being questioned about science capabilities today, but ended up ranging far more widely.

In his assault on Mr Hancock and his department, Mr Cummings said its PPE and therapeutics procurement efforts were a 'smoking ruin'.

'It's not coincidental that the vaccine programme worked the way that it did. To do that we had to take it out of the DoH, we had to have it authorised very directly by the PM and strip away all the normal nonsense that we can see is holding back funding therapeutics

'No10 took it out of the Department of Health.'

He went on: 'In spring 2020 you have a situation where DoH was just a smoking ruin in terms of procurement and PPE and all of that.

'You had serious problems with the funding bureaucracy for therapeutics on Covid. So that was the kind of context for it.

'Patrick Vallance then came to No10 and said this shouldn't be run out of the Department for Health, we should create a separate task force.

'We also had the EU proposal which looked like an absolute guaranteed programme to fail debacle.

'Therefore Patrick Vallance, the Cabinet Secretary me and some others said obviously we should take this out of the Doh. Obviously we should create a separate task force.'

Mr Cummings said he had 'argued very strongly' during the referendum battle that it would be 'dangerous to let the EU continue to regulate science and technology in this country'.

'I would argue very strongly that 2020 was proof that that argument was correct,' he went on.

'As things have been proved every day now, science can co-operate globally without having to be part of the nightmarish Brussels system which has blown up so disastrously over vaccines.

'Just this week we've seen what happens when you have an anti-science, anti-entrepreneurial, anti-technology culture in Brussels married with its appalling bureaucracy in its insane decisions and warnings on the AstraZeneca vaccine.

'I think we are extremely well out of that system.'

Alongside the attack on Mr Hancock, Mr Cummings also delivered a wider condemnation of Whitehall as a 'disaster zone', and offered an extraordinary glimpse into his relationship with the PM - revealing he made a series of demands before agreeing to work for the government.

He also confirmed that he will face a separate interrogation from MPs over the handling of coronavirus - which will raise concerns in government that he plans to settle more scores.

And Mr Cummings suggested he deserved a 40,000 increase in pay after the Tories won the election in 2019 because he had 'sorted' Brexit, and was previously on a reduced wage.

Asked about his efforts to overhaul the UK's science base, Mr Cummings cited Bletchley Park as an example of how bureaucracy 'destroys' effective operations and 'drive out' the best people.

He disclosed that days before Mr Johnson became PM in July 2019 they had a meeting in Mr Cummings' living room, where he laid out a series of demands for working in No10.

They included that Mr Johnson was 'deadly serious' about delivering Brexit, that the science budget was doubled, and a fundamental overhaul of the 'disaster zone' of Whitehall.

Days before Boris Johnson became PM in July 2019, the pair had a meeting in Mr Cummings' living room, where he laid out a series of demands for working in No10

What is the vaccines task force? The vaccines task force was created at the height of the first wave in April last year to coordinate research and production of jabs. It was led by Sir Patrick Vallance and deputy chief medical officer Jonathan Van-Tam. Other members included AstraZeneca and the Wellcome Trust. Biochemist and venture capitalist Kate Bingham was drafted in as the chair a few weeks later. Rather than reporting to Matt Hancock at the Department of Health, it was technically overseen by then-Business Secretary Alok Sharma. However, in reality the PM was in charge, with Ms Bingham answering directly to him. Ms Bingham and the task force have been credited with the UK's strong position. Before leaving at the end of last year, she oversaw procurement of 340million doses of vaccine from various pharmaceutical companies globally - including the Oxford jab. Nearly half the UK population has now received a first dose. By contrast, the EU's rollout has descended into shambles with supplies drying up and divisions between states. Mr Hancock assumed responsibility for the task force earlier this month. Advertisement

Cummings suggests he deserved 40k pay hike for 'sorting' Brexit Dominic Cummings today suggested he deserved a 40,000 pay rise because he had sorted out the 'Brexit mess'. Mr Cummings delivered an irritable response to criticism that he was given a huge bump after the Tories won a stunning majority in the 2019 election. 'It is true that I interfered with the pay system regarding my own pay,' he said. 'That was in summer 2019 when I arrived I was put in the normal pay band for my position, of 140-something-thousand. 'I said I didn't want that, I only wanted to be paid what I was paid at Vote Leave. 'I figured I should be paid the same for trying to sort out the Brexit mess as I had been paid for doing Vote Leave so I asked for a pay cut. Which is what happened in summer 2019. 'For some reason this has appeared in the media as if I got a pay rise after Covid, but that didn't happen. 'When we were all rehired the day after the election I moved back on to the normal pay grade for my position.' Advertisement

Mr Cummings was grilled by MPs over the Government's new 'high-risk' scientific research agency that he championed before his dramatic departure from No 10.

Mr Cummings said that at the start of the pandemic decisions on science could not be taken 'at pace' as they were held back by EU legislation.

'In February, March, April last year there was no entity in the British  zero entities, including the Prime Minister himself  who could make rapid decisions on science funding minus horrific EU procurement, state aid etc, etc laws,' he said.

'No entity in the British state that could operate at scale and at pace and that was obviously disastrous.

'One of the most obvious lessons of last year is that a) we should go to extreme lengths to try to de-bureaucratise the normal system

'Secondly, you need to have an emergency process where an entity of the state can actually move at speed and scale to do all sorts of things  buying and procurement and whatnot.'

Experts will be given 800million of funding to identify and fund research involving 'high-risk, high-reward' science and will have independence from the Government.

But he delivered another rebuke to his former boss by saying he was 'not confident' whether the Advanced Research & Invention Agency (Aria) will 'work out' because too many restrictions were being placed on its operation.

Describing how he ended up working for Mr Johnson in July 2019, Mr Cummings said the politician came to see him on the Sunday before he formally took over from Theresa May.

'The Prime Minister came to speak to me the Sunday before he became Prime Minister and said will I come to Downing Street to help sort out the huge Brexit nightmare,' he said.

'I said 'Yes, if first of all you are deadly serious about actually getting Brexit done and avoiding a second referendum.

'Secondly, double the science budget, third create some Arpa-like entity and fourth support me in trying to change how Whitehall works because it's a disaster zone' and he said 'Deal.'

He said the meeting took place in his living room with just the two of them present.

Mr Cummings also delivered an irritable response to criticism that he was given a 40,000 pay rise after the Tories won a stunning majority in the 2019 election.

'It is true that I interfered with the pay system regarding my own pay,' he said.

'That was in summer 2019 when I arrived I was put in the normal pay band for my position, of 140-something-thousand.

'I said I didn't want that, I only wanted to be paid what I was paid at Vote Leave.

'I figured I should be paid the same for trying to sort out the Brexit mess as I had been paid for doing Vote Leave so I asked for a pay cut. Which is what happened in summer 2019.

'For some reason this has appeared in the media as if I got a pay rise after Covid, but that didn't happen.

'When we were all rehired the day after the election I moved back on to the normal pay grade for my position.'

It was Mr Cummings' first public appearance since quitting as No10 chief after an apparently power struggle with Mr Johnson's fiancee Carrie Symonds sent the heart of government into meltdown.

Chair Greg Clark kicked off by saying that Mr Cummings has agreed to a separate session covering the coronavirus response.

Dominic Cummings' long-running war with the civil service Dominic Cummings has written prolific blogs on government over years that give a glimpse into his thinking. In June last year, shortly before joining Mr Johnson at No10, he penned a 10,000-word post calling for an end to the 'Kafka-esque' influence of civil servants on politicians. He proposed creating independent 'Red Teams' to challenge official advice to ministers - who would be rewarded for overturning the orthodoxy. Mr Cummings has previously slammed support for ministers as 'extremely bureaucratic and slow' and said the civil service had presided over 'expensive debacle after expensive debacle'. He dismissed Westminster as 'the blind leading the blind', saying that for top mandarins 'management, like science, is regarded contemptuously as something for the lower orders to think about, not the ''strategists'' at the top'. Mr Cummings has been upsetting the Westminster establishment for years. He memorably nicknamed the educational establishment 'the blob' when he was adviser to Mr Gove at the Department for Education. In 2014, David Cameron reportedly branded him a 'career psychopath', and Mr Cummings resigned from government and accused him of 'bumbling from one shambles to another without the slightest sense of purpose'. Mr Cummings described Lib Dem former deputy PM Nick Clegg as 'a revolting character', which triggered Mr Clegg to dismiss him as a 'loopy ideologue'. Advertisement

The abrasive former Vote Leave director was previously found to be in contempt of Parliament for refusing to give evidence to MPs on a committee investigating misinformation.

He was last seen dramatically exiting Downing Street carrying his belongings in a cardboard box in November.

While in government Mr Cummings was said to have told colleagues that a 'hard rain is coming' for the civil service - although some disputed he used those exact words.

Mr Cummings has been a longstanding critic of the way Whitehall works, calling for more modern organisation and data-driven policies.

In blogs before he was drafted in by Mr Johnson, he urged the introduction of 'red teams' explicitly tasked with finding reasons why the government should not be following policies.

He has been an advocate of 'Super-Forecasters', individuals who have no specific expertise but are able to predict events because of their mental process.

Mr Cummings has been particularly scathing about the way the Ministry of Defence runs its procurement.

In June 2019, shortly before joining Mr Johnson at No10, he penned a 10,000-word post calling for an end to the 'Kafka-esque' influence of civil servants on politicians.

He proposed creating independent 'Red Teams' to challenge official advice to ministers - who would be rewarded for overturning the orthodoxy.

Mr Cummings has previously slammed support for ministers as 'extremely bureaucratic and slow' and said the civil service had presided over 'expensive debacle after expensive debacle'.

He dismissed Westminster as 'the blind leading the blind', saying that for top mandarins 'management, like science, is regarded contemptuously as something for the lower orders to think about, not the ''strategists'' at the top'.

Mr Cummings has been upsetting the Westminster establishment for years.

He memorably nicknamed the educational establishment 'the blob' when he was adviser to Mr Gove at the Department for Education.

In 2014, David Cameron reportedly branded him a 'career psychopath', and Mr Cummings resigned from government and accused him of 'bumbling from one shambles to another without the slightest sense of purpose'.

Mr Cummings described Lib Dem former deputy PM Nick Clegg as 'a revolting character', which triggered Mr Clegg to dismiss him as a 'loopy ideologue'.

Brexit mastermind who splits Tory opinion Before rising to become the Prime Minister's top aide, Dominic Cummings worked as director of strategy for the Conservative Party in the early 2000s. He was appointed special adviser to Conservative politician Michael Gove in the Department of Education from 2007, before being dismissed by David Cameron, who once referred to Cummings as a 'career psychopath', in 2014. He quickly became known for his blunt style and his criticism of other senior politicians, once referring to Nick Clegg's proposal on free school meals as 'Dreamed up on the back of a cigarette packet'. From 2015, Cummings was the power behind the Vote Leave campaign that propelled Britain towards backing Brexit in 2016. While Boris Johnson and Michael Gove were in the limelight the 49-year-old remained in the shadows pulling the strings. He over saw a campaign that totally outflanked Remain and which is widely credited with leading to the 52-48 result in favour of quitting. Such was his central role he was played by Benedict Cumberbatch in Channel 4's Brexit: The Uncivil War last year. Advertisement

He described David Davis, then the Brexit secretary, as 'thick as mince, lazy as a toad and vain as Narcissus' in July 2017.

He has also turned his ire on hardline Brexiteers in the Tory European Research Group in one of his trademark lengthy blogposts.

In March 2018 he likened some members of the group to a 'metastasising tumour' accusing them of 'scrambling' for top radio spots while 'spouting gibberish' since 2016.

Mr Cummings suggested he had not paid much attention to politics since leaving government.

Asked by Labour MP Rebecca Long-Bailey what he made of the Budget announcements regarding science, Mr Cummings said: 'I didn't watch the Budget and I don't really have any idea what was in it.'

Told that UK Research and Innovation budgets have been cut, he said it that was the case its 'obviously an extremely bad decision'.

'I don't know why that would have happened,' he said.

'In the budgets that I had, in the documents I had, the numbers pencilled in when I left in November, UKRI was getting very generous improvements to its core budgets, not just for this year but throughout the whole spending review period, through to 2025.

'If that's changed in the last 12 weeks then that's obviously bad and if there is dodgy accountancy tricks with ODA (Official Development Assistance) and whatnot then I agree with you, that's also obviously bad.

'If 2020 isn't enough of a galvanising shock to say we ought to take science and technology seriously  both funded properly and embedded in government decision-making intelligently and strip out the bureaucracy that causes so much harm  then I don't know what would be.'
Equity indices slipped into the negative terrain and hit the day's low in morning trade. The Nifty slipped below the crucial 14,900 mark. Barring the Nifty IT index, all the sectoral indices on the NSE were trading in the red.

At 10:29 IST, the barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, declined 139.66 points or 0.28% at 50,246.15. The Nifty 50 index fell 46.3 points or 0.31% at 14,864.20.

In broader market, the S&P BSE Mid-Cap index tumbled 0.95% while the S&P BSE Small-Cap index was down 0.72%.

The market breadth was weak. On the BSE, 953 shares rose and 1500 shares fell. A total of 130 shares were unchanged.

COVID-19 Update:

Total COVID-19 confirmed cases worldwide stood at 120,656,989 with 2,670,056 deaths. India reported 234,406 active cases of COVID-19 infection and 159,044 deaths while 110,45,284 patients have been discharged, according to the data from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India.

Economy:

The Union Cabinet on Tuesday cleared the proposal to set up a Development Finance Institution (DFI). Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had announced in the Union Budget that the government will set up DFI to fund long-term infrastructure projects in the country.

The government will initially infuse Rs 20,000 crore in the DFI, Sitharaman said while briefing the media on Cabinet decisions, adding that the government plans to raise up to Rs 3 lakh crore in the next five years. The government will provide tax exemptions and also amend the Indian Stamp Act to attract pension funds, sovereign funds to invest in DFI.

DFI will have a professional board.

At least 50% of the members will be non-official directors. Persons of eminence are envisaged to be on the board. "We are making sure that Board will be such as to meet the requirements of 21st century," Sitharaman said.

The DFI will start with 100% ownership of Government of India, and gradually government's ownership will be brought down to 26%.

Buzzing Index:

The Nifty IT index rose 1.08% to 26,649.50, extending its winning run to third consecutive trading session. The index has added 3% in three days.

Mphasis (up 2.15%), Tech Mahindra (up 1.3%), TCS (up 1.3%), Wipro (up 1.28%), Infosys (up 1.04%), HCL Tech (up 1.04%) and L&T Infotech (up 0.95%) were top gainers in IT segment.

Stocks in Spotlight:

BEML advanced 1.59%. The company said it has received export orders from Cameroon and Bangladesh under Government of India-Lines of credit to supply construction equipment. Valuing at around $23 million, these equipment will be having more than 90% indigenous content and will be manufactured at BEML's KGF and Mysore plants in Karnataka.

H. G. Infra Engineering gained 2.25%. The company has been declared L-1 bidder for a road project by National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), New Delhi. The scope of the project is construction of four lane access controlled new Greenfield Highway section of NH 365 of 33.6 km from Thallampadu village to Somavaram village. The bid project cost is Rs 656.45 crore with a completion period of 730 days.

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Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-17 19:48:14|Editor: huaxia

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ISTANBUL, March 17 (Xinhua) -- Turkey will provide financial support and incentives for researchers who choose to conduct their studies in the country, Turkish Industry and Technology Minister Mustafa Varank announced on Wednesday.

"We will provide project support (of) up to 720,000 Turkish liras (approximately 96,000 U.S. dollars) to scientists who will come to Turkey," Varank said in a televised speech.

Scholarships, family living expenses, health insurance, and transportation costs are among the other incentives to be granted, the minister added.

"We need qualified manpower to break new ground in science, technology, and innovation," Varank said. "Therefore, we are taking important steps to bring scientists to our country."

Turkey aims to lure a minimum of 100 leading scientists and promising young researchers to the country in 2021, the minister said.

He also said the new incentives will encourage a brain drain to Turkey, and inspire top scientists to come to the country. Enditem
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The selflessness and the hard work of a Tesco worker in the Manor West branch of the store is being highlighted in a new campaign to recognise workers at Tesco stores and warehouses around Ireland.

John Williams, a customer assistant in Tralee, is one of those people who is being honoured in the new campaign.

John has been described by Tesco as "a true team player and a local community champion" for his selfless work over the past 12 months of the pandemic.

Photographer Ruth Medjber chatted with John for the project, and she shared what John had to say:

"We talked about the importance of family and how sometimes when you're faced with loss and tragedy in your life, you gain a new perspective and learn to prioritise things differently, like your job," she said. "Your job can become a place to escape and something to occupy your mind. Even though COVID made his personal circumstances so much harder, John still came to work and offered support to his friends who were struggling. He's a self-proclaimed 'messer', finding new ways to make those around him smile...I don't think I've ever met someone as strong as John and I'll be forever grateful he shared his story with me," she said.


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New Delhi: The Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) on Tuesday (March 16) notified 24 openings for the posts of Lower Division Clerk (LDC). Interested and eligible candidates can apply by visiting the official website- onlinebpsc.bihar.gov.in, for which the online application process will commence on March 19, 2021.

It should be noted the last date for applying is April 16, 2021. While, the last date for the amendment of the online application is April 23, 2021.

Eligibility Criteria:

-Age: In order to apply for the posts, candidates minimum age should be 18 years and a maximum of 37 years, as of 01/08/2021. (Check website for more details).

-Educational Qualification: An applicant must have passed the class 12 exam and should have basic knowledge of computer and typing as well.

Application Fees:

The commission has fixed the application fee at Rs 600 for the General category, Rs 150 for SC/ST and women candidates for all sections.

How to apply:

All interested can apply online by visiting the official website of BPSC, bpsc.bih.nic.in. Fill in your basic details, upload the asked documents, and pay the application fee.

Selection Process:

Bihar Public Service Commission stated that candidates will be recruited on the basis of a written examination which will be held in two phases. In the first phase, the preliminary examination and in the second phase the main examination will be held.

Exam Pattern:

Multiple Choice Questions will be asked in the preliminary and main examination. The preliminary examination will be done in Open Book Format.

Live TV
On 23 March, the Dicastery for the Service of Integral Human Development (DSSUI) and the Vatican COVID-19 Commission will host a webinar on Advancing integral disarmament in times of pandemic in cooperation with the Strategic Concept for the Removal of Arms and Proliferation (SCRAP) at SOAS University of London.

Vatican City (AsiaNews)  The Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development (DPIHD) and the Vatican COVID-19 Commission, in cooperation with the Strategic Concept for the Removal of Arms and Proliferation (SCRAP) at SOAS University of London, will host a webinar on Advancing integral disarmament in times of pandemic on 23 March.

The goal is to reflect upon the efforts to promote a global ceasefire, stop weapons production and proliferation, and back the appeals by the Secretary-General of the United Nations Antonio Guterres and Pope Francis.

In a statement, the Dicastery for the Service of Integral Human Development announced that various religious representatives and researchers will take part in the event, which will offer the international community and religious leaders concrete options to follow the path of integral disarmament, in response to the Encyclical Fratelli Tutti.

The webinar, which will be developed entirely in English, will consist of three sessions. The first session will be dedicated to institutional introductions. Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State of the Holy Father; Cardinal Peter K.A. Turkson, Prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development; and Prof. Dan Plesch, Director of the Centre for International Studies and Diplomacy (CISD) at SOAS University of London, will intervene.

The second session will address international law and concrete methods to pursue disarmament. Members of the disarmament community will share their expertise, with closing remarks from H.E. Msgr. Ivan Jurkovic, Permanent Observer, Holy See Mission to the UN in Geneva.

The third session will highlight the vital role ecumenical and interreligious dialogue can play. Cardinal Kurt Koch, President of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, and Cardinal Miguel Ayuso Guixot, President of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, along with representatives of Christian denominations and other religions will take part in the session. Card. Silvano Maria Tomasi, Special Delegate for the Sovereign Order of Malta, will also give his contribution.

Closing remarks will be given by Msgr. Bruno Marie Duffe, Secretary of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development. The sessions will be moderated by Dr. Alessio Pecorario, Coordinator of the Security Taskforce of the Vatican COVID-19 Commission.

The event is organised with the support of the institutions of the Roman Curia, including the Pontifical Councils for Interreligious Dialogue and for the Promotion of Christian Unity, with the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM).

The initiative is backed by Pax Christi International, the Catholic Peacebuilding Network, Catholic University of America Institute for Policy Research, and the Berkley Center for Religion, Peace and World Affairs at Georgetown University.

This webinar will be streamed live on the DSSUI YouTube channel Vatican IHD.
KHARTOUM (Reuters) - One of Sudan's biggest military firms has agreed to gradually hand over its civilian operations to the finance ministry, with the goal of eventually converting it to a public shareholding company, the information minister said on Wednesday.

If completed, the spin-off of Defense Industrial Systems' civilian business could help reduce tension between the transitional authority's civilian and military elements, which are sharing power until the end of 2023.

Many civilian politicians view the military's opaque business activities as inappropriate and complain that its profits are not included in the state budget.

"This is a new partnership between the military and civilian components that produced the great December revolution," said Information Minister Hamza Balol, in a reference to the ousting of former President Omar al-Bashir, at a news conference at the company's manufacturing complex on the outskirts of Khartoum.

The company hosted Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok and other ministers on Wednesday in a rare invitation to civilians to tour its facilities.

Sudan's military took power from al-Bashir in April 2019, after months of protests that began the previous December, then the following August agreed to share power with civilians.

Since then, the economy has weakened, with the government suffering from chronically low revenue.

Sudan's military has been under domestic and international pressure to increase its transparency and contribute more to the national economy.

The company, like many other large enterprises owned by the military, has yet to release its finances or disclose its holdings to the public.

"The Sudanese public will now be able to benefit from this company," said Finance Minister Jibril Ibrahim, citing its work in the petroleum, railway and agricultural industries.

"It is important for the company to explain to the people what it does and what it owns and what it hopes to achieve."

(Reporting by Khalid Abdelaziz and Nafisa Eltahir; Editing by Patrick Werr and Alex Richardson)
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Coronavirus (COVID-19) curfews for billiards halls, movie theaters, bowling alleys and gyms will be lifted on April 5, while fitness classes in New York City were given the green light to resume on Monday, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said on Wednesday.

The 11 p.m. curfew currently in place for casinos, movie theaters, bowling alleys, billiards halls, gyms and fitness centers will be lifted on April 5, Cuomo said.

Indoor fitness classes can begin reopening on Monday at 33% capacity with health screening and contact information required at sign-in, Cuomo said. The state is requiring classes to be scheduled far enough apart to allow additional time for cleaning and disinfection between sessions. Local health departments will be inspecting gyms within two weeks of opening to ensure compliance, Cuomo said.

New York is moving forward with reopening our economy and looking forward to a post-COVID world, Governor Cuomo said. We know the vaccine is the weapon that defeats this invisible enemy and we are getting more shots in arms than ever before. As we re-open and an increasing number of New Yorkers receive their vaccines, it is more important than ever to continue the practices we know stop the spread of COVID-19. I encourage New Yorkers to continue to wear their masks, practice social distancing and wash their hands. We are reaching the light at the end of the tunnel and if we stay New York Tough, we will get there together.

Larissa Schiano-Gonzalez often goes to her business, Be Yoga & Dance in Rosebank, to dance and/or meditate amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Cuomo noted that the 11 p.m. curfew for food and beverage establishments and the 12 a.m. curfew for catered events will remain in effect. Both curfews will be evaluated in late-April, Cuomo said.

FITNESS STUDIO OWNERS EXCITED TO OPEN

And Staten Island boutique fitness center owners -- many of whom had signed on to be part of various lawsuits against the Mayor and Governor -- are excited to get back to teaching in-person gym classes.

I am so excited I cant breath, said Roseann Camarda, who owns three popular fitness studios -- in Grasmere, Woodrow and Great Kills -- under the Max Challenge franchise on Staten Island with her husband, Anthony Camarda.

Roseann Camarda, who owns three popular fitness studios -- in Grasmere, Woodrow and Great Kills -- under the Max Challenge franchise on Staten Island with her husband, Anthony Camarda, said she is excited to reopen.(Courtesy of Roseann Camarda)

A year to the day and I feel like I have my freedom back to help the Staten Island community the way we were supposed to help them. Now we open our doors and become a community again, and as usual a max family. Im looking forward to leading my members in a healthy journey, she added.

Boutique fitness studios were also particularly affected by the no-class rule that inhibited them from reopening in September, when Big Box gyms got the green light to reopen.

I am excited to welcome the community back into our physical space, as well as welcome new students. It feels incredible to have made it through these challenging times, said Larissa Schiano-Gonzalez, owner of Be Yoga & Dance in Rosebank.

Karen Torrone shuttered her Tottenville studio due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. (Courtesy of Karen Torrone)

Said Karen Torrone, owner of 5 Boro Power Yoga, in New Dorp: I am really excited to reopen and even more lit up that we are able to bring health and wellness back to our community after one full year of being online. Torrone -- who shuttered her Tottenville studio last year due to the pandemic -- said she will still offer Zoom classes for yogis who may not be ready to attend in-person classes.

Some boutique gyn owners say it will be hard to recoup the losses suffered over the last year.

Too little too late, said Joseph Cannizzo, owner of Staten Island Judo Jujitsu Dojo in Annadale. The city is a ghost town. Restaurants and indoor fitness studios have been massacred. New York is getting bailed out by the feds and business owners like me who have been forced [to be] closed for a year, are left holding the bag with a one way ticket to bankrupt court.

*** CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE COVERAGE OF CORONAVIRUS IN NEW YORK ***

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Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - March 17, 2021) - Universal PropTech Inc. (TSXV: UPI) (FSE: 8LH) ("UPI" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has called the outstanding senior convertible debentures ("Debentures") in the principal amount of $96,584. An aggregate of $1,059,942 principal amount of Debentures were issued on July 14, 2020 (see press release dated July 14, 2020). The principal amount (other than the amount being redeemed) has been converted into common shares of the Company in accordance with the provisions of the Debentures. The redemption of the Debentures, together with approximately $689,584 in additional capital from the exercise of warrants and options over the last several weeks, is expected to strengthen the Company's balance sheet.

Chris Hazelton, CEO of the Company commented: "I am excited to announce that we are debt free, and we have further improved an already strong balance sheet with additional cash from exercised warrants and options. We have cash to support the growth of our business lines and the investment in ISBRG Corp. and additional investment opportunities that may present themselves."

As of March 16, 2021, assuming the redemption of the Debentures, the Company had the following securities issued and outstanding: 45,937,331.

About Universal PropTech Inc.

Universal PropTech Inc. (TSXV: UPI) (FSE: 8LH) is a leading building innovation company, selecting, integrating, deploying, and maintaining PropTech in healthy buildings. As trusted advisors, we provide holistic evidence-driven solutions and services for building developers, owners, and operators in Canada. UPI operates through its wholly owned subsidiary, VCI Controls Inc. ("VCI"), a leading supplier and integrator of PropTech healthy building solutions and services. VCI is an industry leader in the acquisition and deployment of intelligent building technology, including the integration of all building systems utilizing the latest in communications technologies and standards. VCI's business focuses on digital controls and mechanical services, performance monitoring, and energy efficiency solutions.

With headquarters in Toronto, Universal PropTech Inc. has offices across Canada including, Halifax, Montreal, and Ottawa. For more information, visit www.universalproptech.com.

Contact Information

Universal PropTech Inc.

Chris Hazelton

President and Chief Executive Officer

chazelton@universalproptech.com

(647) 300-2957

Forward Looking Statements

Certain information provided in this press release constitutes forward-looking statements and information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking information typically contains statements with words such as "anticipate", "believe", "forecast", expect", "plan", "intend", "estimate", "propose", "project", or similar words suggesting future outcomes. The Company cautions readers and prospective investors in the Company's securities not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information as, by its nature, it is based on current expectations regarding future events that involve a number of assumptions, inherent risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated by the Company.

The forward-looking information included herein is expressly qualified in its entirety by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking information included herein is made as of the date hereof and the Company assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information to reflect new events or circumstances, except as required by law.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange ("Exchange"), nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/77564
Eight people, mostly women of Asian descent, were killed Tuesday evening in three shootings at Atlanta-area massage parlors. Robert Aaron Long, a 21-year-old man suspected in the shootings, was taken into custody by police in southwest Georgia hours later.

While the specific motivations behind the mass killings remain unclear, they take place within the context of a wave of anti-Asian violence that has been stoked by the efforts of the ruling class to blame China for spread of the coronavirus pandemic.

Robert Aaron Long (Source: Crisp County Sheriff's Office)

There were clear concerns throughout the US political establishment that the massacre could be the prelude to further attacks on Asians, although the alleged perpetrator has denied a racial motivation. President Biden issued a statement declaring, I have been speaking about the brutality against Asian-Americans, and it's troubling  I'll have more to say when the investigation is completed."

Atlanta Mayor Keisha Bottoms said, Whatever the motivation was for this guy, we know that many of the victims, [the] majority of the victims were Asian  We also know that this is an issue that is happening across the country. It is unacceptable. It is hateful, and it has to stop.

According to Cherokee County Sheriffs Office spokesman Jay Baker, the attacks began around 5:00 p.m. when five people were shot at Youngs Asian Massage Parlor in a strip mall near Acworth, about 30 miles north of Atlanta. Two people died at the scene. Three victims were taken to a hospital, where two later died.

About an hour later, Atlanta police responded to a call of a robbery in progress in the citys Buckhead neighborhood. Officers found three women dead at the Gold Spa. While still on the scene, police received a call reporting shots being fired at another spa across the street. Police found another woman fatally shot at Aromatherapy Spa.

Police stated the victims in the Acworth shooting were two Asian women, a white woman and a white man. The fifth victim was a Hispanic man, who was injured and taken to the hospital. All four victims in the Atlanta shootings were Asian women, police said.

The sheriffs office identified the Cherokee County victims as Delaina Ashley Yaun, 33, of Acworth; Paul Andre Michels, 54, of Atlanta; Xiaojie Yan, 49, of Kennesaw; and Daoyou Feng, 44. The man who was injured was identified as Elcias R. Hernandez-Ortiz, 30, of Acworth.

In a statement to the press, Atlanta Police Sergeant John Chafee said video evidence suggested all three shootings were connected.

Video footage from our Video Integration Center places the Cherokee County suspects vehicle in the area, around the time of our Piedmont Road [in Atlanta] shootings. That, along with video evidence viewed by investigators, suggests it is extremely likely our suspect is the same as Cherokee Countys, who is in custody.

In a video statement on Facebook, Crisp County Sheriff Billy Hancock said his deputies intercepted Long, the suspect, around 8:30 p.m. along the interstate, after being notified he was headed toward their county.

According to Cherokee County Sheriff Frank Reynolds, Long told police the shootings were not racially motivated, and that he thought he had a sex addiction. Long said he saw the businesses as a temptation that he needed to eliminate. Reynolds did not say if Long ever went to the parlors where the shootings occurred. He also said the suspect was planning to go to Florida in a plot to attack some type of porn industry. The FBI said it was assisting the local investigations on Wednesday. No other details were released about the FBIs involvement.

It is unclear if the businesses had any ties to sex work, but Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms said the spas were legally operating businesses that have not been on our radar.

Although Long denied having any racial motives for the massacre, municipal governments in many US cities immediately dispatched additional police to Asian neighborhoods and Asian-run massage parlors on the assumption that there might be similar attacks. In New York City, a police department spokesperson said the NYPD was deploying counterterrorism officers to Asian communities out of an abundance of caution.

The fears of further attacks on Asian American targets are an indication of the political climate being whipped up in the United States. President Trump led the way, with his demonization of immigrants and claims that COVID-19 was created by China to target this country. The Biden administration has continued to pursue claims that coronavirus was manufactured in a laboratory in Wuhan, China, while presenting China as the main threat to US global domination.

In his speech last Thursday night on the first anniversary of the pandemic, President Biden warned against anti-Asian bigotry, a backhanded acknowledgement of the impact of the strident anti-Chinese demagogy of the Trump administration, which continues in a less crude fashion under the Democrats.

According to Stop AAPI Hate, a group that tracks incidents of discrimination and xenophobia against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, there have been nearly 3,800 incidents of discrimination or attacks on Asian Americans from March 2020 through February 2021.
's ( ) Neil Campbell talks to Proactive London's Katie Pilbeam after a Japanese distributor has placed an initial 400,000 order for its top-of-the-range neonatal ventilator after the technology received regulatory sign-off in the country.

Campbell explains the technology which provides 'respiratory support to babies that can't breathe properly'.

The SLE6000 is produced by SLE Ltd (which he says has a strong brand in Japan) bought by Inspiration last July, and includes features such as enhanced high frequency oscillatory ventilation designed for use with critically ill infants.
An argument over a stimulus check led to four people's deaths. A 25-year-old man shot the mother of his child and four of her relatives after he allegedly demanded to get half of a $1,400 stimulus check.

A day before Malik Halfacre allegedly shot his baby's mother, Jeanettrius Moore, and her family, he demanded to get the half from Moore. Moore worked all year at a beauty shop to provide for her two children, while Halfacre did nothing to help, according to a Crime Online report.

"He wanted some of Jeanettrius' tax money, stimulus money," Wendy Johnson, a cousin, told Fox59.

Moore offered Halfacre $450 out of the check. However, the suspect refused and demanded that he get half, according to family members. Halfacre allegedly said that he is going to get that money.

Moore was outside near her car on Saturday, while Halfacre reportedly spotted her and gave her a dirty look before walking away.

Johnson said that Moore told her that the suspect gave her an evil look and walked off. However, Halfacre came back to their Indianapolis home, and he started rummaging inside Moore's purse and demanded money.

READ MORE: Brazilian Man Confesses to Rape, Murder of Japanese Woman

The Shooting

Johnson said Daquan Moore entered the scene to save his sister and told Halfacre that he could not have Moore's money.

"That's what she said and pushed Malik, and Malik pulled out the gun and just started killing everybody," Johnson said, as reported by Fox59.

Johnson said Halfacre shot Daquan first and then shot Moore's cousin, Anthony Johnson. Halfacre then proceeded to shoot Moore's mother, Tomeeka Brown.

Somewhere between the commotion, Moore's daughter, Eve, got hit, and the seven-year-old kid started screaming.

Johnson said that Halfacare took his six-month-old daughter, Malia, to the car and strapped the child into a safety seat. Then, he entered the house again and retrieved the milk bottle.

Moore hid on a neighbor's porch until police officers arrived as Halfacre drove away with their child. Their baby daughter was eventually found at a home in the city's northeast area early Sunday. She was unharmed.

Halfacre was arrested after a four-hour-long SWAT standoff as he barricaded himself inside of a duplex. He is being held without bail Tuesday over initial charges of murder, robbery, and attempted murder, according to a New York Post report.

Halfacre was accused of shooting a man five times on the city's northwest side in early 2017. However, he was released from custody in 2018 after pleading guilty to a lesser charge.

Lorenzo Moore said his sister was afraid of the suspect, who always carries a gun with him. Relatives said Moore, who was initially listed in critical condition, was released from a hospital on Monday. But her daughter, Eve; her 23-year-old brother, Daquan; her 44-year-old mother, Tomeeka; and her 35-year-old cousin, Anthony, did not make it.

Stimulus Check

On Saturday, the federal government announced that workers and families eligible could receive their stimulus checks starting the previous weekend after President Joe Biden signed the $1.9 trillion plan into law.

The third round of stimulus checks amounts to $1,400 to every individual earning up to $75,000 and couples earning up to $150,000. A typical family of four is set to receive $5,600.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) will send payments directly to everyone who filed for a tax return this year or last year, AFP News reported.

READ ALSO: Biden Speech Keynotes: COVID Relief Bill, Post-Pandemic View

WATCH: Fight Over Stimulus Check Led to Quadruple Murder, According to Court Documents - From WRTV Indianapolis
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Copyright  2021 Albuquerque Journal

New Mexico is deploying mobile COVID-19 vaccination units to reach the states most vulnerable communities, health officials said Wednesday during a video update.

Dr. Laura Parajon, deputy secretary of the state Health Department, said an equitable approach will help New Mexicans who are at the highest risk of severe COVID-19 disease and death, rural residents and those whose professions place them at high risk of contracting the virus.

When we talk about equity, its about who has been disproportionately affected by COVID, and in New Mexico in many parts of the state, its American Indian, Black and Hispanic populations, Parajon said. People living in poverty are also disproportionately affected by COVID.

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The DOH worked with the National Guard to administer 200 vaccinations at a mobile vaccination clinic in Columbus on Tuesday.

We have one four-door pickup truck to put all the stuff in. Theres two vans we put people in. We have PPE; we have radios; we have laptops; we have all the vaccines, six medics and six admin people, Parajon said.

The southern Luna County town has a large number of elderly residents, and Hispanic and Latino residents.

The state uses the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions social vulnerability index to identify areas with the most residents at high risk for COVID-19 disease or death.

The index analyzes socioeconomic status, household composition, disabilities, minority status and languages spoken, and housing and transportation.

Mobile clinics will provide vaccines to Hatch residents this week, and to the northwest New Mexico town of Blanco next week.

New Mexico had administered 948,668 vaccine doses as of Wednesday. About 35% of state residents have received one dose, and 20% are fully vaccinated.

State Health Secretary Dr. Tracie Collins said 46,595 educators, early childhood professionals and school staff have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

More than 17,000 people in that group are fully vaccinated.

New Mexico is the fastest state in the country for vaccination by population, Collins said.

Collins said New Mexico anticipates receiving more than 98,000 vaccine doses next week, including 2,400 of the one-dose Johnson and Johnson vaccine.

There is no discrepancy between (vaccine) efficacy by race or ethnicity, she said. All vaccines are appropriate for all racial and ethnic groups.

Human Services Secretary Dr. David Scrase reminded residents that fully-vaccinated is defined as two weeks after the second shot of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, or two weeks after the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

It doesnt matter if youre vaccinated or not, if you get new upper respiratory symptoms you should get tested immediately, Scrase said. We are constantly monitoring for people getting infected after the vaccine and looking into that. Were not really off the hook quite yet.

New Mexico reported 255 new COVID-19 cases and 12 deaths Wednesday. Dona Ana County reported 77 new cases, and Bernalillo County reported 58.

The 12 people who died ranged in age from their 50s to their 90s.

The Health Department reports that 123 individuals are hospitalized in New Mexico for COVID-19, and 168,976 people have recovered from the disease.
Male Republican lawmakers in Georgia received a social media backlash from female colleagues after publicly mocking rapper Cardi Bs backside during a debate on the state House floor.

On Monday Kasey Carpenter, spoke on a bill about anaesthesia legislation in which he said, to general laughter: Is it not true that this bill will provide safety measures to ensure that Cardi Bs backside implants will be safe and ensure a lifetime of effectiveness?

Lee Hawkins, chair of the houses health and human services committee, replied: You promised me you wouldnt get into this booty bill thing. But yes, this provides protection for any type of procedure in an outpatient setting.

Following the debate, multiple Democratic, female representatives in Georgia posted online about their male colleagues alleged history of sexist comments.

Kim Schofield, a Democratic state representative, tweeted that she was appalled.

A screen grab from a debate in Georgias House of Representatives on Monday in which two Republican lawmakers, Kasey Carpenter (left) and Lee Hawkins (right), referenced Cardi Bs backside (Georgia Statehouse live cam)

Ms Schofield added: Women of the Georgia Legislature have endured multiple sexist public comments on the House floor. Today was the height of it. Rep. Kasey Carpenter asked about how a bill would affect @iamcardib implants on her backside. Not ok!

Shelly Hutchinson, a Democrat representative and social worker, tweeted: Women of the Georgia Legislature have endured multiple sexist public comments on the House floor.

In what universe is this ok?, said Democratic representative Renitta Shannon.

Dr Jasmine Clark, another Georgian Democrat in the house, tweeted: If fighting voter suppression and other bills wasnt enough, we are also having to endure penis jokes, jokes about geriatric porn, and parliamentary inquiries about Cardi Bs butt. Yall, Im tired.

Carpenter, who has not yet commented, is a restauranteur who was first elected in 2017. He has largely kept a low-profile, apart from sponsoring a bill that would allow undocumented, young immigrants to pay in-state tuition fees.

The Atlanta Journal Constitution (AJC) wrote last year that women make up just 30-per-cent of the general assembly, although the state reportedly has the highest amount of female legislators in the South, according to figures from Rutgers Universitys Center for American Women and Politics.

In the piece titled, Georgias female legislators still face glass ceiling, current and former female lawmakers, spoke of being kept out of high-profile roles and male colleagues squirming if they brought in their children, or breastfed.
PHILADELPHIA, March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF), a nonprofit foundation devoted to finding cures for children with cancer, announces grant award recipients of their Crazy 8 Initiative. The recipients will receive grants totaling more than $18.5 million, which is the single, largest funding commitment from ALSF to date.

The Initiative kicked off in the Fall of 2018 with a meeting that brought together more than 90 scientists from around the world to help define the research landscape in order to tackle major obstacles impeding progress toward cures for childhood cancer. Through a rigorous review process, ALSF narrowed down over 100 applications to four projects that will work to accelerate the pace of new cure discovery.

Childhood cancer is the leading cause of death by disease in children, and the Crazy 8 Initiative is poised to change the trajectory of pediatric oncology. These grants will bring cross-disciplinary scientists together to work collaboratively in order to accelerate the pace of new cure discovery while aiming to provide detailed roadmaps for hard-to-treat childhood cancers.

"The Crazy 8 Initiative is vital because it orchestrates talent from around the world and creates collective solutions. Pediatric cancer research is at an incredibly pressing moment right now, and we're thrilled to be at the forefront of this progressgenerating opportunities for collaboration by bringing world-class researchers together," said Liz Scott, Co-Executive Director of Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation. "This initiative is monumental, and we know it will move the needle for pediatric cancer research over the next five years."

A quick overview of the collaborative awarded Crazy 8 Initiative projects can be found below with details here - https://www.alexslemonade.org/crazy-8-initiative-projects.

Yael P. Mosse, MD, of Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, and a group of investigators from various institutions are teaming up to create a drug that will target the transcription factor MYCN, which drives aggressive pediatric cancers such as neuroblastoma and medulloblastoma. They will employ cutting-edge technology called targeted degradation to design a drug that will trick the cancer cells to dissolve MYCN, leading to cancer cell death.

Charles G. Mullighan, MBBS(Hons) MSc MD FRACP FRCPA, of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is leading a team to tackle mutant transcription factors that drive acute leukemias and medulloblastoma, two leading causes of cancer-related death in children. Aberrant transcription factors are difficult to inhibit with traditional drugs, and that's where this team is focusing its efforts, utilizing a new technology called molecular glues to degrade previously undruggable transcription factors. They will develop a library of molecular glues to screen for agents that are successful at killing acute leukemia or medulloblastoma cells.

Led by Leonard Zon, MD, of Boston Children's Hospital, investigators are joining forces to use a new genetic fingerprinting technology to study how blood cancers, such as leukemia, arise in development. They aim to understand what types of blood stem cells lead to different forms of pediatric leukemia and which key gene and pathway disruptions can alter stem cell function and subsequently kill leukemia cells. Ultimately this will inform new drug development for therapies that will disrupt leukemic stem cells and not normal blood stem cells.

Heinrich Kovar, Ph.D., of St. Anna Children's Cancer Research Institute, Vienna, Austria is leading a team to examine the developmental origins of malignant bone tumors, such as Ewing sarcoma and osteosarcoma. Using new single-cell genomics technology, as opposed to clusters of cells, and trans-species epigenomics, this team aims to better understand the developmental programs underlying bone tumor initiation and progression. This will allow for the development of better pre-clinical models in which to study the disease and will lead to rational design efforts for developing new drugs for these tumors.

While work on the first awarded Crazy 8 Initiative grants is underway, a second Crazy 8 Initiative request for applications was recently issued, bringing the total commitment to $25 million. To learn more visit: https://www.alexslemonade.org/crazy-8-initiative-projects.

About Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation

Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF) emerged from the front yard lemonade stand of 4-year-old Alexandra "Alex" Scott, who was fighting cancer and wanted to raise money to find cures for children with cancer. When she passed away at the age of 8, she had raised $1 million. The Foundation bearing her name has become one of the leading funders of pediatric cancer research in the U.S. raising more than $200 million, funding over 1,000 research projects and providing programs to families affected by childhood cancer. For more information, visit https://www.alexslemonade.org.

Media Contact:

Liz Scott

[email protected]

484-437-5630

Related Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fVSgnHDyDU

SOURCE Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation
The United States has expanded restrictions imposed on Russian experts that were imposed earlier this month as punishment for the poisoning of opposition leader Aleksei Navalny.

The U.S. Commerce Department said that the new measures which come into effect on March 18 will prevent the sale to Russia of more items controlled for national-security reasons. Such items will include technology, software, and parts.

By deploying illegal nerve agents against dissidents, both inside and outside its borders, the Russian government has acted in flagrant violation of its commitments under the Chemical Weapons Convention and has directly put its own citizens and those of other countries at mortal risk, the Commerce Department said in a statement.

"The Department of Commerce is committed to preventing Russia from accessing sensitive U.S .technologies that might be diverted to its malign chemical weapons activities," it said.

The statement did not give details of the goods covered by the expansion of the measure, first announced on March 2, when the United States also froze assets in the United States of seven senior Russian officials, including Federal Security Service (FSB) chief Aleksandr Bortnikov.

Those sanctions blocked any property owned by the officials that comes into U.S. possession, such as dollar bank accounts, and also prevent U.S. individuals from conducting business with them.

Washington had also blacklisted 14 companies or entities to prevent their helping Russia develop chemical weapons.

Navalny was detained in Moscow in January immediately upon returning from Germany, where he had recovered from what several Western labs determined was poisoning with a Novichok-type nerve agent that saw him fall ill on a flight in Siberia in August 2020.

A Moscow court last month ruled that while in Germany, he had violated the terms of parole from an older embezzlement case that is widely considered politically motivated. He was ultimately ordered to serve 2 1/2 years in prison.

Russia has denied involvement in the poisoning but Navalny claims the assassination attempt was ordered by President Vladimir Putin.

With reporting by AFP and dpa
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-16 23:03:22|Editor: huaxia

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Photo taken on March 6, 2021 shows the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C., the United States. (Photo by Ting Shen/Xinhua)

The expert expressed hope that the United States will "be able to gradually, very imperceptibly in a way to pivot away from the extreme hostility that had been engendered by the previous administration towards China."

WASHINGTON, March 16 (Xinhua) -- The United States and China, the world's two largest economies, have to ensure that the bilateral relationship "stays on predictable, stable track," which is essential for both countries' development and global growth, a renowned American scholar has said.

As one hand cannot clap, the United States and China have to create "guardrails within this relationship to ensure that the relationship stays on a predictable and stable track and does not go onto those few issues which could really damage the relationship," Sourabh Gupta, a senior fellow at the Washington-based Institute for China-America Studies, told Xinhua in an interview.

As the two sides once again re-engage and search for areas of commonality, where they are and where they prosper mutually and beneficially, he hopes that these areas will far exceed the areas where they have differences, Gupta said.

The expert expressed the hope that the United States will "be able to gradually, very imperceptibly in a way to pivot away from the extreme hostility that had been engendered by the previous administration towards China."

"I am more hopeful than pessimistic as time goes that the two sides will work out again, a mutually beneficial cooperation, but we'll have to see how that unfolds," he said.

For example, Gupta pointed out, there is a "huge scope" for economic cooperation, commercial and technologies exchanges between the United States and China in addressing global climate change.

It is "tremendously important" for the world that the United States and China, currently two major emitters, to work together "in not just trying to mitigate carbon emissions, but completely transform the economic structure of the way we live," he said. 
ATLANTAA Georgia man who professed a passion for guns and God was in custody on Tuesday night after a string of shootings that police said appeared to target Asian women at massage parlors and left eight people dead.

Robert Aaron Long, 21, of Woodstock, Georgia, was caught on video at the crime scenes and later nabbed on a highway two hours south of Atlanta following a police chase, authorities said.

Police stressed that it was too early to announce a motivebut at least four of those killed were of Korean descent, and the horrific attacks come amid a wave of targeted violence against the Asian-American community.

A trickle of details about the suspect, who went by his middle name, offered few clues.

Pizza, guns, drums, music, family, and God. This pretty much sums up my life. Its a pretty good life, read the tagline on an Instagram account that appeared to belong to Long.

A student who graduated from Sequoyah High with Long in 2017 who spoke on the condition of anonymity told The Daily Beast, He was very innocent seeming and wouldnt even cuss. He was sorta nerdy and didnt seem violent from what I remember. He was a hunter and his father was a youth minister or pastor. He was big into religion.

Crisp County Sheriff's Office

The rampage began at Youngs Asian Massage in Acworth in Cherokee County, where two people were killed, one other person succumbed to their injuries en route to a nearby hospital, and one died while in treatment, according to the sheriffs office. The victims were two Asian women, a white woman, and a white man, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. A Hispanic man was also injured in the shooting and was rushed to a hospital for medical treatment, a spokesman for the sheriff said.

About an hour later and 30 miles away, two spas on the same Atlanta streetGold Spa and one in Aroma Therapy Spawere targeted by gunfire, and four Asian women were killed.

Officers had just arrived at one of the spas to find the victims when they were summoned to the second.

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While at [the first location] we received another call across the street of shots fired, and responded to find another individual shot at that location, Atlanta Police Chief Rodney N. Bryant told reporters.

While no details about the Acworth victims were given, Bryant said that it appears that all the [Atlanta] victims are female and it appears that they may be Asian.

Shootings at two massage parlors in Atlanta and one in the suburbs have left multiple people dead, many of them women of Asian descent, authorities said Tuesday. Brynn Anderson/AP

Two men who live just across from Gold Massage Spa who refused to give their names said their neighbors started asking them about the incident around 6:15 p.m. They said the area was very diverse, but that the spa was known to be an Asian-owned business.

This is the worst shooting since 99 I think, one of the men told The Daily Beast. There was a shooting then where a guy went through his office and killed a bunch of people and he killed his family. That was 12 people I think, so this is the worst one since Ive been here.

Bryant has declined to say whether police believe the shootings in Georgia Tuesday amounted to a hate crime, saying, We cant make that determination just yet.

Cherokee County Sheriff s Capt. Jay Baker told reporters: Nothing is going to be ruled out. Wherever the investigation leads us, thats where we are going to go. Atlanta police said video surveillance of Longs car at all three massage parlors captured Tuesday night made it extremely likely he was the main suspect in all three shootings.

Baker said that Long was arrested by Crisp County Sheriffs officers who performed a PIT maneuver, or a pursuit intervention technique, in which police force another car to plow sideways and stop.

Longs family did not respond to calls for comment. His youth pastor at the Crabapple First Baptist Church confirmed he was the suspect and said elders would be releasing a statement.

A 2018 video on the Crabapple Facebook page features Long discussing his Christian journey toward baptism.

As many of you may remember, when I was 8 years old I thought I was becoming a Christian, and got baptized during that time. And I remember a lot of the reason for that is a lot of my friends in my Sunday school class were doing that, Long says in the clip.

And after that time, there wasnt any fruit from the root that is our salvation.

He goes on to say that when he was in seventh grade he attended a youth group and a speaker was discussing the biblical story of the prodigal son.

The son goes off and squanders all that he has and lives completely for himself and then, when he finds hes wanting to eat pig food, he realized theres something wrong and he goes back to his father and his father runs back to him and embraces him. And by the grace of God I was able to draw the connection there and realize this is a story between what happened with me and God. I ran away living completely for myself, and he still wants me, and so thats when I was saved.

The FBI joined the investigation late Tuesday, and President Biden was also briefed on the massacres. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who is in South Korea, mentioned the killings before a meeting with officials said.

We are horrified by this violence which has no place in America or anywhere, he said, according to the Associated Press.

President Joe Biden recently condemned the surge in crimes of hate, which have included a brazen, deadly assault on an 84-year-old from Thailand who was killed on a morning stroll in the San Francisco Bay Area.

The Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus said it was horrified by news of the shooting at a time when were already seeing a spike in anti-Asian violence.

The legal advocacy nonprofit Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Atlanta released a statement saying the group was shaken by the shootings. Now is the time to hold the victims and their families in our hearts and with light.

 Jose Pagliery and Will Bredderman contributed reporting

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Regulatory News:

Air Liquide (Paris:AI) and ArcelorMittal have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the objective of implementing solutions to produce low-carbon steel in Dunkirk. The two companies are joining forces to transform the steel production process through the development of innovative solutions involving low-carbon hydrogen and CO 2 capture technologies. This partnership is the first step towards the creation of a new low-carbon hydrogen and CO 2 capture technologies ecosystem in this major industrial basin.

Air Liquide and ArcelorMittal have signed an MOU that aims to contribute significantly to the decarbonization of the Dunkirk industrial basin. In the context of the Paris Agreement, the European Commissions Green Deal, and in line with Air Liquide and ArcelorMittals commitments to energy transition, the project will reduce yearly CO 2 emissions from ArcelorMittals steel-making facilities in Dunkirk by 2.85 million tons by 2030. Air Liquide and ArcelorMittal have jointly applied for large projects funding under the Important Project of Common European Interest (IPCEI) scheme for hydrogen. Funding from European and/or French schemes supporting decarbonization is key for the implementation of the project.

ArcelorMittal is ready to implement an innovative production unit on its Dunkirk site, combining two steel production technologies  DRI: direct reduced iron unit, and submerged arc furnace  in dimensions never seen before. As a low-carbon technology, the DRI and submerged arc furnace unit will enable the production of steel with lower CO2 emissions. This initiative was the subject of a preliminary study announced by ArcelorMittal last October. It comes in addition to the initiatives already implemented by ArcelorMittal on its Dunkirk site to lower its CO 2 emissions.

Air Liquide will support this strategic initiative through the massive supply of low-carbon hydrogen and the implementation of CO 2 capture technologies in Dunkirk, one of Air Liquide's historical industrial basins in France. The Air Liquide group has developed a unique expertise both for hydrogen all along the value chain, from production and storage to distribution, as well as CO 2 capture technologies. Leveraging this know-how and in line with its Climate objectives, Air Liquide is committed to develop sustainable solutions in supporting its customers in the steel industry to reduce carbon emissions.

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This partnership between Air Liquide and ArcelorMittal is a first step towards the creation of an ecosystem at the forefront of low-carbon hydrogen and CO 2 capture solutions that will be a source of competitiveness and attractiveness for various players in the Dunkirk industrial and port basin.

Francois Jackow, Executive Vice-President and a member of the Executive Committee supervising Europe Industries activities, said:  Decarbonizing the Industry is at the heart of Air Liquides strategy and we are committed to accompanying our customers with a wide range of innovative solutions. The Group will contribute its unique expertise along the entire hydrogen supply chain developed over the last 50 years and its mastery of CO 2 capture technologies. The time to act is now, and Air Liquide is pleased to support ArcelorMittal in this project aiming to decarbonize a major industrial basin. 

Geert van Poelvoorde, CEO of ArcelorMittal Europe, said:  This project represents a major technological breakthrough and confirms ArcelorMittals willingness to profoundly and sustainably transform our production technologies, in line with our objectives to reduce our CO 2 emissions by 30% by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. We count on the strong support of the French and European authorities in order to decarbonize the steel industry and are hopeful that this project will receive the support it needs to deliver large-scale CO 2 emissions savings. The partnership with Air Liquide will enable us to further accelerate the decarbonization of our steel production and contribute to the creation of a low carbon industrial and port basin. 

About Air Liquide

A world leader in gases, technologies and services for Industry and Health, Air Liquide is present in 78 countries with approximately 64,500 employees and serves more than 3.8 million customers and patients. Oxygen, nitrogen and hydrogen are essential small molecules for life, matter and energy. They embody Air Liquides scientific territory and have been at the core of the companys activities since its creation in 1902.

Air Liquides ambition is to be a leader in its industry, deliver long term performance and contribute to sustainability - with a strong commitment to climate change and energy transition at the heart of its strategy. The companys customer-centric transformation strategy aims at profitable, regular and responsible growth over the long term. It relies on operational excellence, selective investments, open innovation and a network organization implemented by the Group worldwide. Through the commitment and inventiveness of its people, Air Liquide leverages energy and environment transition, changes in healthcare and digitization, and delivers greater value to all its stakeholders.

Air Liquides revenue amounted to more than 20 billion euros in 2020. Air Liquide is listed on the Euronext Paris stock exchange (compartment A) and belongs to the CAC 40, EURO STOXX 50 and FTSE4Good indexes

For more information please visit: www.airliquide.com

About ArcelorMittal

ArcelorMittal is the world's leading steel and mining company, with a presence in 60 countries and primary steelmaking facilities in 17 countries. In 2020, ArcelorMittal had revenues of $53.3 billion and crude steel production of 71.5 million metric tonnes, while iron ore production reached 58.0 million metric tonnes.

Our goal is to help build a better world with smarter steels. Steels made using innovative processes which use less energy, emit significantly less carbon and reduce costs. Steels that are cleaner, stronger and reusable. Steels for electric vehicles and renewable energy infrastructure that will support societies as they transform through this century. With steel at our core, our inventive people and an entrepreneurial culture at heart, we will support the world in making that change. This is what we believe it takes to be the steel company of the future.

ArcelorMittal is listed on the stock exchanges of New York (MT), Amsterdam (MT), Paris (MT), Luxembourg (MT) and on the Spanish stock exchanges of Barcelona, Bilbao, Madrid and Valencia (MTS).

For more information please visit: http://corporate.arcelormittal.com or https://france.arcelormittal.com

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210317005631/en/

Contacts

AIR LIQUIDE

Corporate Communications

media@airliquide.com

Investor Relations

IRTeam@airliquide.com

ArcelorMittal CONTACTS

Image 7

+33 (0)1 53 70 74 70 / arcelormittal@image7.fr

ArcelorMittal France - Isabelle Chopin

+33 (0)6 15 21 59 25 / isabelle.chopin@arcelormittal.com
A Fianna Fail TD advised a young man with a congenital heart disease and a learning disability to ask his GP for a spare Covid-19 vaccine.

Niall Shevlins family are annoyed and felt they were asked to canvass our GP for a vaccine.

Meanwhile, GPs said that they are being advised to offer any spare vaccines to elderly patients at the moment.

A few weeks ago, Niall (22) emailed some public representatives highlighting disappointement that he was not included in a new cohort for vaccination, despite being deemed too high-risk by his doctor to attend his disability day centre.

Responding to this, Niamh Smyth, a TD for Cavan-Monaghan, said she would forward his email to Health Minister Stephen Donnelly and Disability Minister Anne Rabbitte, but that in the meantime he should contact his GP.

I would also ask you  if you have not already done so  to send a similar email to your GP describing how much you are missing your friends and Special Olympics and if he had a spare vaccine could he consider you for it, she wrote.

I can see you have a keen interest in politics and I am delighted that you exercise your vote.

Meanwhile, Niall, take good care to keep yourself safe and healthy.

Nialls father Noel Shevlin said his son was happy Ms Smyth responded to his email  but disappointed she asked him to go to his GP.

After we had gone over the letter a few times, we got more annoyed each time, he said.

What we took from the letter is a TD asking my son who has special needs along with all his other problems to canvass our GP for a vaccine.

However, Ms Smyth told the Irish Independent that she always wants to give people a bit of hope, so she suggested that Mr Shevlin contact his GP.

She noted there have been stories in the media of GPs getting more vaccines than they require.

It is in that context that I gave him that advice, that is all I could do, she said.

Im always mindful of not giving people a false impression that I have any discretion over them getting the vaccine and as the office is inundated with calls from people who obviously feel they are genuine cases for loads of different reasons.

She added: I would never give anyone the sense that Ive any discretion of them actually getting the vaccine.

Chairman of the IMO GP Committee, Dr Denis McCauley, said the TDs message would increase expectations and it would then be associated with a disappointment.

He said there are tight protocols on spare vaccines.

In response to whether GPs can choose who to allocate spare vaccines to, the HSE said the guidance is that the over-85 category should be prioritised, followed by the 80-84 years category.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 17) -- The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office's revenue in 2020 plunged by 25 billion compared to 2019 as the COVID-19 pandemic affected its gaming operations.

PCSO reported gross receipts of 18.6 billion in 2020 at a briefing before the House Ways and Means Committee on Wednesday. Its revenue for 2019 was 44 billion.

Lawyer Gay Nadine Alvor, PCSO's legislative liaison officer, attributed the lower gross receipts to the five-month halt in gaming operations due to coronavirus lockdowns.

PCSO's gross receipts come from the sale of Lotto and Sweepstakes tickets, as well as income from Small Town Lottery and Peryahan Games.

Committee chairman Albay Rep. Joey Salceda recommended that PCSO digitize its products to continue yielding revenues amid the quarantine restrictions.

"If you digitalize, you could operate despite quarantines. It's also good for maximizing revenues from Small Town Lottery. If you have a digital trail, you can account for revenues better, and prevent under-declaration of sales," the lawmaker said.

Salceda advised the PCSO to copy the model of 'e-sabong', which the House Ways and Means Committee also passed taxes on.

"E-sabong has a ready ecosystem. You don't have to reinvent the wheel. And the ecosystem is earning big revenues. That is why we taxed and regulated it heavily in my committee. You can talk to the stakeholders of the sector, and see what you can learn from them," he said.
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The PSNI have arrested three people following an incident in Belfast in which four women were reportedly stabbed.

The incident happened in the north of the city in the early hours of this morning.

Shortly after 2am the police received a report that a woman had been stabbed and a man had also been attacked.

Police officers and the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service arrived on the scene after the women reported having sustained injuries in the alleged knife attack.

Expand Close PIC PACEMAKER Police investigate the scene of the incident which took place in the early hours of this morning in the York Road area of Belfast / Facebook

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Whatsapp PIC PACEMAKER Police investigate the scene of the incident which took place in the early hours of this morning in the York Road area of Belfast

A man in his 20s also sustained a minor injury to his hand in the incident.

Two of the women, who are aged in their 20s, were treated at the scene and another two, one in her teens, and another aged in her 20s, were taken to hospital for treatment where they currently remain.

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A man in his 20s was arrested on suspicion of possession of an offensive weapon in public and of attempted grievous bodily harm with intent.

Expand Close PIC PACEMAKER Police investigate the scene of the incident which took place in the early hours of this morning in the York Road area of Belfast / Facebook

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Whatsapp PIC PACEMAKER Police investigate the scene of the incident which took place in the early hours of this morning in the York Road area of Belfast

All three remain in custody.

Detective Sergeant O'Flaherty of the PSNI said: "Our enquiries into this incident, which we are treating as attempted murder, are continuing and we are working to establish exactly what happened.

"I am appealing to anyone who was in this area, between 1:30am and 2am and witnessed what occurred, or has information which may help our investigation, to call detectives at Musgrave on 101 and quote reference number 127 of 17/03/21."
The Nagol is Back! VTOs guide to this years Nagol, plus where to stay and play in south, central and north Pentecost.
"In our current climate, where awareness of the Black aesthetic is top of mind across the globe, it is imperative for us to reinvent the way we engage with multi-cultural artists utilizing todays technology.

The Harlem Fine Arts Show (HFAS), the largest, traveling Diasporic art show in the country, will open its 2021 Virtual Art Show this March 15 with over 60 artists and galleries from around the globe. The show, which is free to the public and accessible 24/7, will feature interactive displays showcasing some of the worlds preeminent Black artists with over 1,200 works available, valued at more than $100M. The fair will run continuously through Saturday, July 31, 2021.

Featured artists for the 2021 Harlem Fine Arts show include Ademola Olugebefola, Otto Neals, Roederick Vines, John Pinderhughes, Danny Simmons, Glenn Tunstull and Frank Frazier. WaterKolours Gallery (Memphis), Soweto Fine Art Gallery (South Africa) and Spence Gallery (Canada) are among the galleries included in the virtual show.

The HFAS is pioneering a 21st century Harlem Renaissance with this ground breaking show, facilitated through a partnership with Online Viewing Room, a virtual platform that produces digital shows for venues in Paris, the Hamptons and other art hubs across the globe. The platform offers a creative digital approach for collector engagement, leading to reinvigorated sales for artists.

We are pushing the envelope in support of African Diasporic artists during these challenging times when they are not able to be in front of collectors, said Dion Clarke, founder of the Harlem Fine Arts Show (HFAS). "In our current climate, where awareness of the Black aesthetic is top of mind across the globe, it is imperative for us to reinvent the way we engage with multi-cultural artists utilizing todays technology.

"We are proud to support the Harlem Fine Arts Show in its mission to increase awareness of African Diasporic artists and their work, said Balazs Farago, CEO of Walters Cube, the parent company of Online Viewing Room. Our platform has been designed to make their work more visible and accessible to a global audience, while generating sales and revenue for artists.

The 2021 Harlem Fine Artist Virtual Show will run for five months and be available 24-hours a day, on a range of devices, utilizing cutting edge VR technology, and creating a simulated art fair environment visitors can virtually navigate as they would a physical fair. Through 3D renderings, artworks will be displayed in high-resolution detail, and will be available for purchase using a BUY NOW option. Just as at the in person show, there will be a series of art talks, VIP experiences and other events during the run of the show. HFAS will also offer a 24-hour live chat feature so attendees can connect with an art expert anytime. HFASs pioneering digital event is a unique way for collectors to connect with art and to each other, providing an as close to authentic experience as possible.

WHO: HARLEM FINE ARTS SHOW

WHAT: 2021 VIRTUAL ART SHOW

WHEN: Monday, March 15th at Noon  July 31, 2021 at 11:59pm

TIME: 24/7 Virtual Exhibition

WHERE: Online Via 2D and 3D Panoramic Viewing

COST: Free to the Public

CONTACT: HFAS Hotline  800-376-2860

For more information visit the Harlem Fine Arts Show 2021 at http://www.hfas.org

PRESENTING GALLERIES AND ARTISTS:

Soweto Fine Art Gallery - South Africa | John Pinderhughes | Joan Spence - Spence Gallery - Canada | Michelle Rene Art |

Danny Jenkins - WaterKolours Fine Art | Classic works of Elizabeth Catlett | Jacob Lawrence | Romare Bearden | Charles White | Stanwyck Cromwell | Ademola Olugebefola  Manna777 Gallery | Otto Neals | Danny Simmons | Al Johnson Art | MBGreen Arts | Laura Gadson | Glenn Tunstull Studio Frank Frazier | Michael Escoffery | Diana Shannon Young |

Roederick Vines Studio | I AM DOLLS |Joy Lyons Art | Baez Fine Art / Elizabeth Erazo Baez | Kalen McQuire Media | Shenna Vaughn | D.K. Dixon Designs | OBannon Studios | JMR Designs | Lisa DuBois Gallery | Matyo Creations | Nyeshia Jaze Jeanye Padmore | Blue Leaf International Arts Gallery | Artbywepa | Chris Osborne Art | Art By Aaron Reed | The Robinson Studio | Christopher Crenshaw | DArtist Donna Ladson | DMV League of Artists | The Graham Collection | Omar Canate  Brother Omar | Bodiles Nu Art Studio and Gallery | Georgia Fullerton - F U L L F I N E A R T | Ancestral Beads by Larry Brown | African Authentics | Solwazi Afi Olusola - DARA: Ancestral Beauty Photography | The Royal Ivey Collection |

Art That Touches Your Heart | Mark Sublett & Genaro Rafael | Art That Touches Your Heart Student Gallery

About the Harlem Fine Arts Show

As the largest traveling African Diasporic art show in the United States, HFAS prides itself on its uncanny ability to bring people of all different backgrounds together to celebrate fine art of the African Diaspora. Inspired by the Harlem Renaissance, HFAS provides a platform for African Diasporic visionary artists to exhibit and sell their artwork. The Harlem Fine Arts show has also created economic empowerment, educational opportunities and professional recognition within the multicultural community. First held in February 2010 in New York City, the Harlem Fine Arts Show has attracted more than 80,000 visitors to venues, including Marthas Vineyard, Washington, D.C., Atlanta, Chicago, White Plaines and New York City. Attendees include collectors, art enthusiasts, educators, student and professionals.
Taiwan bolsters South China Sea deployments

Defence Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng says Beijing is capable of starting a war and his goal is for Taiwan to be ready at all times. File photo: AFP

Taiwan's newly-appointed defence minister said on Wednesday that Taipei has strengthened deployments in the disputed South China Sea and that the United States has approved the export of sensitive technology to equip Taiwan's new submarine fleet.



Speaking in parliament, Defence Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng, who took up his post last month, said Taiwan has increased personnel and armaments on Taiping island, which is the largest naturally occurring island in the Spratlys and is garrisoned by Taiwan's coast guard.



"They are capable of starting a war," Chiu told the parliament when asked by a lawmaker on whether Beijing could attack Taiwan. "My goal is for us to be ready at all times."



Chiu said Taiwan was bolstering its position there due to Beijing's "expansionism" in the region, though it was not currently considering a return to a permanent army garrison.



Beijing has built man-made islands in the South China Sea and air bases on some of them. Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei all have competing claims in the strategic waterway.



Separately, Chiu said that the United States had approved export permits for all of the sensitive equipment needed by Taiwan's indigenous submarine fleet, which it started building last year.



He added that Taiwan's arms purchases from the United States  Taipei's main source of weapons  had not been impacted by the new Biden administration taking office in Washington and were continuing.



Taiwan is modernising its armed forces, especially as it face almost daily challenges from the PLA in the airspace and waters near the island, including frequent air force missions into Taiwan's air defence identification zone.



Chiu said these missions were part of Beijing's war of attrition against Taiwan, whose forces are dwarfed by the PLA, and defence forces were already adjusting on how to deal with such incursions, though did not give details.



"If we match them one for one, it costs a lot," he said.
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The lawmaker representing the Egbado North/Imeko Afon Federal Constituency of Ogun State, Jimoh Aremu, has moved from the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The defection was announced by the Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, while reading a letter from the lawmaker on Wednesday.

Mr Aremu cited irreconcilable differences with his political party. He added that moving to the ruling APC will ensure his constituents get the dividend of democracy.

I will rather join the APC that will have my people benefit from the dividend of democracy, he said.

The Deputy Minority Leader, Toby Okechukwu (PDP, Aninri/Awgu/Oji River Federal Constituency of Enugu State), while protesting the defection, said the reasons given for the defection were contradictory.

Mr Gbajabiamila interrupted Mr Okechukwu, and called him an interloper.

PREMIUM TIMES had reported how Mr. Gbajabiamila used the interloper argument in February when Peters Makinde defected to the APC.

Are you a member of the ADC, if the answer is no, then you are a meddlesome interloper. You are not a member of that party (ADC) so you will not know whats going on in their party, Mr Gbajabimaila said before ruling.

Mr Aremus defection brings to two the number of lawmakers in the lower legislative chamber to defect to the ruling APC this year.
Christian mass shooter Robert Long was tired of temptation posed by massage parlors: police

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Christian mass shooter Robert Aaron Long, 21, told police he was addicted to pornography and was trying to eliminate temptation when he shot up three massage parlors in the Atlanta area, killing eight people who were mostly Asian women Tuesday evening, and was planning to shoot up more parlors in Florida.

We did interview him last night. He is currently in our facility at the Cherokee County Adult Detention Center, Cherokee County Sheriff Frank Reynolds said at a press conference Wednesday. He made indicators that he has some issues, potentially sexual addiction, and may have frequented some of these places in the past.

Captain Jay Baker of the Cherokee County Sheriff's Department said Long, who attended Crabapple First Baptist Church in Milton, Georgia, a Southern Baptist congregation, did take responsibility for the shootings and dismissed reports that his actions were racially motivated.

He does claim that it was not racially motivated. He apparently has an issue with what he considers a sex addiction and sees these locations as something that allows him to go to these places. Its a temptation for him he wanted to eliminate, Baker said. Those are comments that he made.

Baker explained that investigators handling the case said Long understood the gravity of his actions on Tuesday.

He was pretty much fed up and kinda at the end of his rope, and I guess it was a really bad day for him and this is what he did, Baker said. "These locations, he sees them as an outlet for him, something he shouldnt be doing.  He had an issue with porn and he was attempting to take out that temptation.

He added: It may be targets of opportunity. We believe that he frequented these places in the past and may have been lashing out.

Authorities say four people died in Longs shooting spree during his first attack at Youngs Asian Massage near Acworth, a northwest suburb of Atlanta, which was reported around 5 p.m. A Hispanic man was also injured there.

Atlanta police officers then responded to what was reported as a robbery at Gold Spa (open 24 hours a day) in the northeast part of the city at 5:47 p.m., where they found the bodies of three women with gunshot wounds. While officers were at that scene, they received a call about shots fired at the Aromatherapy Spa across the street, where they found another woman's body.

Police confirmed Wednesday that two of the eight people killed are white.

As police shared the new details on Longs motives, Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms said, we certainly will not begin to blame victims.

We dont know additional information on what his motives were, but we certainly will not begin to blame victims. And as far as we know in Atlanta, these are legally operating businesses that have not been on our radar, not on the radar of APD, Lance Bottoms said.

Baker said Long, who appeared to have used a 9mm firearm in his attack on the massage parlors, told police he was on his way to Florida to shoot up more massage parlors.

Thanks to the help of his family, they were able to track him through his cellphone and stop him before he was able to take more lives.

We are really appreciative of the family. Without them, this would not have happened as quickly as it happened. They are very supportive and certainly, this was difficult for them, Baker said.

Long, who was twice baptized at Crabapple First Baptist Church, most recently in 2018, previously attended services with his mother, father and younger sister. Police said that at the time of the shootings, Long was not living with his parents.

Minutes from a meeting of the elders at the church showed that, in 2018, Long was one of 11 people who served as members of Crabapple First Baptist Churchs Student Ministry Team, which exists to see students receive Jesus Christ as Lord, and walk in Him, being rooted in the faith.

Jerry Dockery, the lead teaching elder at the church, prayed last Sunday that God would use his church to have leaders in various areas of the public and private sector drawn toward you.

We pray that Lord, our leaders, our first responders, our teachers, our business leaders to have their eyes and hearts drawn toward you. Youd make Yourself known in this community in a very powerful, personal way. We ask that you use Crabapple Church to bring this to pass, he said.

Asked by The Christian Post on Wednesday to share his thoughts on Longs faith and any possible explanation for what could have driven Long to carry out the shootings, Dockery said: We are grieved to hear the tragic news about the multiple deaths in the Atlanta area. We are heartbroken for all involved. We grieve for the victims and their families and will continue to pray for them. Moreover, we are distraught for the Long family and pray for them as well.
Instagram is making it harder for adult users to talk to teens. (Photo by Katja Knupper/Die Fotowerft/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)

Instagram will ban adults from messaging children who arent following them in a bid to make the platform safer for the youngest members of our community.

The social media giant said it was rolling out a number of new features and developing new technology in order to keep minors safe on the platform.

Adult users will soon be restricted from sending messages to children under 18 who dont follow them.

For example, when an adult tries to message a teen who doesnt follow them, they receive a notification that DMing them isnt an option, Instagram stated in a blog post today.

(Source: Instagram)

Individuals must be at least 13 years old when they sign up to the platform.

However, the social media giant said it was aware that young people are able to lie about their age.

We want to do more to stop this from happening, but verifying people's age online is complex and something many in our industry are grappling with.

Instagram is developing new artificial intelligence and machine learning technology that will predict peoples ages  and the age people give us when they sign up.

As we move to end-to-end encryption, were investing in features that protect privacy and keep people safe without accessing the content of DMs.

Instagram will also start issuing safety notices to teenagers to be careful in conversations with adults that they are already connected to if the adult has exhibited potentially suspicious behaviour.

For example, if an adult is sending a large amount of friend or message requests to people under 18, well use this tool to alert the recipients within their DMs and give them an option to end the conversation, or block, report, or restrict the adult.

(Source: Instagram)

It will become more difficult for these potentially suspicious adults to interact with teenagers: adults will no longer see teen accounts in suggested users and will not be able to see teen content in Reels or Explore.

Adult users comments on teens public posts will also be automatically hidden.

Story continues

Instagram will also encourage teenagers to make their accounts private, and this will be embedded into the sign-up process for minors.

Weve recently added a new step when someone under 18 signs up for an Instagram account that gives them the option to choose between a public or private account, Instagrams blog post stated.

Our aim is to encourage young people to opt for a private account by equipping them with information on what the different settings mean.

These features will start rolling out in some countries this month and will be available globally soon.

This is just a first step, Instagram said. We'll have more to share in the coming months.

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PHILADELPHIA  The FBI arrested the president of the Philadelphia Proud Boys on Wednesday morning at his home, weeks after photos and videos emerged placing him at the front of the organizations presence during the Jan. 6 Capitol Riot.

Agents arrived at the home just after 8 a.m. and took away Zach Rehl, 35, in handcuffs shortly afterward, neighbors said. Specific charges against him have not yet been unsealed and it was not immediately clear whether his arrest Wednesday morning was tied to his presence at the Capitol.

A spokesperson for the FBI in Philadelphia declined to comment, beyond confirming that agents were at his address Wednesday morning conducting court-authorized law enforcement activity.

Rehls arrest comes two weeks after The Philadelphia Inquirer reported on photos and videos that had circulated widely on social media showing him at the forefront of a crowd of Proud Boys and followers, many of whom had already been charged with playing a role in the insurrection.

The footage showed Rehl, wearing a camouflage Make America Great Again hat and a Temple University Owls backpack, with two other leaders of the organization  Ethan Nordean, of Seattle, whom prosecutors have described as the de facto leader of the Proud Boys force that day, and Joseph Biggs, one of the groups organizers from Florida  leading a crowd of roughly 100 through the streets of Washington, D.C., to a police barricade.

Nordean directed the marchers via bullhorn, leading chants of Whose Streets? Our Streets and F--- Antifa!, while Rehl and Biggs used raised fists to signal to the Proud Boys behind them to stop or start their progress.

A photo later published in January in The New Yorker magazine caught Rehl on camera smoking a cigarette and checking his cellphone in a mob of rioters in the office of U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore.

Prosecutors have charged at least two other men with trashing Merkleys office, including Brandon Fellows, 26, of Schenectady, New York, who was arrested within two weeks of the attack. He told CNN on his way out of the Capitol Jan. 6 that he and others were smoking weed in some Oregon room.

Merkley later posted a video to Twitter showing the damage the rioters had caused.

Investigators have described the Proud Boys, a militant nationwide organization whose members are among Donald Trumps most vocal and violent supporters, as one of the primary instigating forces behind the Capitol attack. More than a dozen members have been charged in connection with the insurrection so far.

Rehl, a former Marine and son and grandson of Philadelphia police officers, has emerged in recent years as one of the groups most visible representatives on the East Coast.

He was one of the organizers behind the 2018 pro-Trump We the People rally outside Independence Hall whose attendees were eclipsed by the crowd of counterdemonstrators who showed up in response.

And when Proud Boys were spotted mingling with officers at the Philadelphia police union hall this summer after a visit from Vice President Mike Pence, Rehl was there, drinking beer and chatting with others in the parking lot who were openly carrying a Proud Boys flag.

He does not appear to have posted any photos or videos of himself to social media during the Capitol riot, unlike many of those charged so far.

But the night before the insurrection, he posted to his account on Parler, a social media site favored among right-wing users, that he was in D.C. And the evening of the attack, he defended what had happened as a historical day.

--Jeremy Roebuck/The Philadelphia Inquirer/TNS
GLASGOW, Scotland, March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Amphista Therapeutics, a leader in next generation targeted protein degradation (TPD) approaches, today announced the closing of a $53 million (38 million) Series B financing round. The round was co-led by Forbion and Gilde Healthcare. Additional investors in this round include Novartis Venture Fund, and Eli Lilly and Company, joining existing investor BioMotiv and founding investor Advent Life Sciences. The proceeds will be used to accelerate the company's growing pipeline of potent and selective bifunctional molecules, known as 'Amphistas' to the clinic and to extend its proprietary TPD platform.

Amphista's CEO Nicola Thompson said, "This financing round, led by an outstanding investor syndicate, is a strong endorsement of our world class team and our novel approach. Amphista will now accelerate its oncology pipeline towards the clinic and extend our portfolio into indications largely inaccessible by traditional TPD approaches, such as diseases of the central nervous system (CNS). This oversubscribed Series B supports our ambition as a world-leading next generation protein degradation company delivering ground-breaking new medicines to patients in areas of high unmet need."

Rogier Rooswinkel, Partner at co-lead investor, Forbion said, "We are delighted to have selected Amphista as the first company to invest in from our fifth fund that closed late last year. Amphista combines several attributes we typically look for: a world-class team, innovative science, and a disruptive technology that has the potential to improve treatment options and thus impact many patients' lives."

Stefan Luzi, Partner at co-lead investor Gilde, said, "Amphista emerged as the best-in-class protein degradation company in our comprehensive landscaping effort. We believe this team, who are pioneers in this field, combined with a truly unique platform, will unlock the full therapeutic potential of a broad range of disease targets. Amphista represents a strong fit with Gilde's longstanding strategy of identifying Europe's leading science and of engaging with experienced drug developers to build and support high growth (bio)pharma companies."

Amphista's TPD approach offers a greatly improved way of treating disease and modulating drug targets, using synthetic small molecule degraders. Amphista's next generation bifunctional degraders use a novel set of mechanisms that make use of a wider range of the body's own innate protein degrading proteins, instead of the very narrow set of ubiquitin E3 ligase-based mechanisms used by most other TPD companies. This proprietary approach offers the potential to overcome many of the limitations seen with current TPD approaches, providing the opportunity to treat a wider range of diseases. Amphista is focused on biological targets with a high level of clinical or genetic validation, allowing the team to focus on the translation of their novel TPD approach for clinical benefit in areas of high unmet need.

In association with this financing, Amphista has added the following leading life science executives to the Board: Stefan Luzi, Partner at Gilde Healthcare; Rogier Rooswinkel, Partner at Forbion; and Florian Muellershausen, Managing Director at Novartis Venture Fund.

Media contacts:

Amphista Therapeutics

CEO Nicola Thompson

[email protected]

Scius Communications

Katja Stout

[email protected]

About Amphista Therapeutics

Amphista Therapeutics is a biopharmaceutical company creating first-in-class therapeutics that harness the body's natural processes to selectively and efficiently degrade and remove disease-causing proteins. The company's pipeline of novel targeted protein degradation (TPD) based medicines is focused on challenging diseases including cancer. Founded by Advent Life Sciences, Amphista is a spin-out of TPD expert Professor Alessio Ciulli's labs at the University of Dundee. The company has raised approximately 45M to date and is funded by leading life science investors including Forbion, Gilde Healthcare, Novartis Venture Fund, Advent Life Sciences, BioMotiv and Eli Lilly and Company.

For more information, please visit: http://www.amphista.com/

About Advent Life Sciences

Advent Life Sciences founds and invests in early- and mid-stage life sciences companies that have a first- or best-in-class approach to unmet medical needs. The investing team consists of experienced professionals, each with extensive scientific, medical and operational experience, a long-standing record of entrepreneurial and investment success in the UK, the US and Europe and is particularly focused on supporting entrepreneurs and founders to take innovative new medical entities from concept to approval. The firm invests in a range of sectors within life sciences, principally drug discovery, enabling technologies and med tech, always with an emphasis on innovative, paradigm-changing approaches. Advent Life Sciences has a presence in the UK, US and France.

For more information, please visit www.AdventLS.com

About Forbion

Forbion is a dedicated life sciences venture capital firm with offices in The Netherlands, Germany and Singapore. Forbion invests in life sciences companies that are active in the (bio-) pharmaceutical space.

Forbion manages well over EUR 1.7 billion across multiple fund strategies that cover all stages of (bio)pharmaceutical drug development. Forbion's current team consists of 20 life sciences investment professionals that have built an impressive performance track record since the late nineties with successful investments in over 69 companies.

The firm is a signatory to the United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment. Besides financial objectives, Forbion selects investments that will positively affect the health and wellbeing of patients. Its investors include the EIF, through its European Recovery Programme (ERP), LfA, Dutch Venture Initiative (DVI), AMUF and EFSI facilities and KfW Capital through the Programme, "ERP  Venture Capital Fonds investments". Forbion operates a joint venture with BGV, the manager of seed and early-stage funds, especially focused on Benelux and Germany.

For more information, please visit www.forbion.com.

About Gilde Healthcare

Gilde Healthcare is a specialized healthcare investor with $1.8 billion under management across two fund strategies: Venture & Growth and Private Equity. The firm operates out of offices in Utrecht (The Netherlands), Frankfurt (Germany) and Cambridge (United States).

Gilde Healthcare Venture & Growth invests in innovative companies active in (Bio)Pharmaceuticals, HealthTech and MedTech. The portfolio of the Venture & Growth fund is balanced with fast growing life science companies from Europe and North America.

For more information, please visit www.gildehealthcare.com.

About Novartis Venture Fund

Novartis Venture Fund is a financially driven corporate life science venture fund whose purpose is to foster innovation, drive significant patient benefit and generate superior returns by creating and investing in innovative life science companies at various stages of their development.

For more information, please visit www.nvfund.com.

About Eli Lilly and Company

Lilly is a global health care leader that unites caring with discovery to create medicines that make life better for people around the world. They were founded more than a century ago by a man committed to creating high-quality medicines that meet real needs, and today they remain true to that mission in all their work. Across the globe, Lilly employees work to discover and bring life-changing medicines to those who need them, improve the understanding and management of disease, and give back to communities through philanthropy and volunteerism.

For more information, please visit www.lilly.com and www.lilly.com/newsroom

About BioMotiv

BioMotiv is a mission-driven accelerator associated with The Harrington Project for Discovery & Development, a $340 million initiative focused on advancing early stage breakthrough discoveries from research institutions into medicines. Led by a highly accomplished and passionate team of veteran biopharma experts, BioMotiv's innovative model efficiently aligns resources and capital to select, fund, manage and advance a portfolio of drug development programs.

For more information, please visit: www.biomotiv.com

SOURCE Amphista Therapeutics
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Lawsuit over Mount Rushmore fireworks dismissed

U.S. District Court Judge Roberto Lange in a ruling Wednesday dismissed a lawsuit brought against President Joe Biden's administration by Gov. Kristi Noem after the NFS a fireworks display there next month.
The Capitol riot's fallout is rippling beyond our shores.

What's happening: Public relations agents for the government of Haiti are drawing parallels between political unrest in that country and the Jan. 6 attack, based on public records.

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Foreign agent filings from the U.S.-based public affairs firm Mercury, which is fighting efforts to oust Haiti's embattled President, Jovenel Moise, show how a rupture of the peaceful transition of power in the United States is influencing democratic processes abroad.

What they're saying: "While the Haitian government respects the rights of Haitians to protest peacefully," wrote Mercury Vice President Djenny Passe in a February email to reporters, "calling for the president to be removed before his term ends in February 2022 is deeply undemocratic, and reminiscent of the tragic events on January 6th at the U.S. Capitol."

Passe also pitched a column to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution by Haiti's ambassador to the U.S., in which he wrote fondly of attending Biden's inauguration "two weeks after angry mobs tried to divert the election results."

"No American news outlet would conclude  based on sporadic, partisan protests in Washington  that the whole country wants Biden gone," Haitian Foreign Minister Claude Joseph wrote in a Miami Herald column promoted by Mercury this month.

Background: Moise is currently ruling by decree after parliamentary elections in Haiti were delayed, leaving the country with an inoperable legislature.

Domestic political opponents and protesters in the Haitian capital have called for Moise to step down, insisting his term ended in February.

Moise says his term is not up until next year, a position backed by the State Department and the Organization of American States.

But the U.S. also recently warned against Moise administration actions that "risk damaging Haiti's core democratic institutions."

Between the lines: The Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol has commanded Washington's attention for the past two months.

For Moise and his representatives in D.C., who are trying to maintain his government's image and political standing in the U.S., that makes for a resonant talking point.

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More than 30 U.S. Representatives joined House Intelligence Committee Chair Adam Schiff (D-CA) in introducing new legislation, led by the Congressional Armenian Caucus leaders, calling on Azerbaijan to immediately release over 200 Armenian prisoners of war and captured civilians, illegally kept hostages over 100 days after the November 9th ceasefire statement between Azerbaijan and Armenia, the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) reported.

Congressional Armenian Caucus Leaders Cite Importance of U.S. leadership to Secure Azerbaijans Release of Armenian POWs

It is unacceptable that more than 100 days after the end of the war in Nagorno-Karabakh, hundreds of Armenian service members and civilians remain in Azerbaijani custody, where little is known of their condition, treatment, or well-being, said Rep. Schiff. Azerbaijan has an obligation to release these prisoners immediately  the longer the delay, the more it demonstrates their disregard for human rights and international law. Azerbaijan is already guilty grave atrocities committed during the recent war, and this compounds the problem. The United States must use all diplomatic means to secure the immediate release of these detained POWs and civilians, and to impose consequences on Azerbaijan for their continued violations of human rights.

Rep. Speier went on to note, In addition to unlawful detention, we now know that Azerbaijan has subjected those in its custody to violent and humiliating treatment that shocks the conscience, said Rep. Speier. In the most extreme cases  as documented by a Human Rights Watch report  Azerbaijan engaged in the extrajudicial execution of captured civilians including 79-year-old Eduard Shahkeldyan, who died of a blunt brain injury while imprisoned in Baku, and Arsen Gharakhanyan, who was shot in the head by his Azeri captors in January. The U.S. must do everything in its power to pressure Azerbaijan to release all prisoners of war and captured civilians to their families, pursuant to the agreement signed over four months ago, and must hold Azerbaijan accountable for its blatant disregard for international law.

Reports of inhumane treatment of these prisoners, as well as misrepresentation by Azerbaijani authorities to justify their continued capture, makes clear this is an issue of both human rights and international law, said Rep. Valadao. I wholeheartedly condemn Azerbaijan for their failure to uphold the November 9 agreement, and I implore them to return all Armenian captives immediately.

The November ceasefire halting the conflict in Artsakh was deeply flawed, but it did include important requirements for all parties to release detained individuals from their custody, said Rep. Pallone. While Armenia has upheld their end of this deal, Azerbaijan clearly has not. The Aliyev regime is instead using these people as bargaining chips, refusing to release them or even allow humanitarian access unless all of their demands are met. This resolution sends a strong message that the United States can and must play a key role in helping to solve this issue by putting pressure on Aliyev to release these individuals and halt his continued saber rattling. This will help refocus American efforts in the South Caucasus region and work toward a more peaceful, long-term conclusion to the conflict.

Rep. Bilirakis concurred, stating, The continued imprisonment of Armenian prisoners of war months after the termination of hostilities is categorically unacceptable. This is a direct violation of the Geneva Convention and international law. Azerbaijan should cease its human rights violations and immediately release the captive soldiers.

The legislation cites findings that Azerbaijani military forces have mistreated ethnic Armenian prisoners of war and subjected them to physical abuse and humiliation, including beheadings, summary executions, and the desecration of human remains.

The measure specifically highlights significant concern that female detainees in particular could be subject to sexual assaults and other mistreatment, and asks the State Department to to engage at all levels with Azerbaijani authorities including through the OSCE Minsk Group process to make clear the importance of adhering to their obligations under the November 9th statement & international law to immediately release all prisoners of war and captured civilians.
Trump supporters shout slogans while carrying a sign calling for a recall on California Gov. Gavin Newsom during a protest against a stay-at-home order amid the COVID-19 pandemic in Huntington Beach, Calif., on Nov. 21, 2020. (Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP Photo)

As Signature Collection Ends, California Heads Toward Recall

ROCKLIN, Calif.A plodding, months-long review kicks off Wednesday to confirm what appears inevitable: California Gov. Gavin Newsom will face a recall election that could oust the Democrat before his first term ends.

The announcement Monday that Newsom was beginning to raise money to defend his seat seemed to confirm that he believes organizers behind the recall have collected sufficient petition signatures to place the proposal on the ballot.

But a series of bureaucratic checkpoints must be cleared before the secretary of states office determines that the requirements for scheduling a recall election have been satisfied. The agency is headed by Shirley Weber, a former Democratic legislator Newsom appointed in December.

Recall supporters are required to submit nearly 1.5 million signatures to place the proposal before voters.

Organizers say they have collected more than 2 million signatures since June. Collections surged in the fall and winter as anger intensified about Newsoms handling of the pandemic. So far, more than 80 percent of the signatures turned in have been validated.

Susan Ortega (R) gathers signatures on a petition to recall Gov. Gavin Newsom at a Let Them Play rally calling for Newsom to allow the states schoolchildren to participate in sports, held in Citrus Heights, Calif., on Jan. 29, 2021. (Rich Pedroncelli/AP Photo)

Newsom and his Democratic allies have cast the recall attempt as a politically driven power grab and in appearances on national news programs Monday and Tuesday, he tried to tie the recall to extremist groups.

Wednesday marks the cutoff for organizers to submit signatures to county election officials, who have until April 29 to verify their authenticity and notify the secretary of state with the results.

However, given the various legal hoops that must be cleared, it could take until September before an election date is scheduled, which strategists on both sides expect to be set for later this fall, perhaps November.

Recall organizers believe Newsom and leaders in the Democratic-run Legislature will do everything possible to delay the election, hoping that his fortunes turn as virus cases fall, vaccinations increase and schools and businesses reopen.

They cant win at the ballot box. The only way they can win is to delay the system and delay the process, said recall senior adviser Randy Economy.

The fate of a potential recall election will be decided behind closed doors, where election officials across the state have spent months assessing the validity of petition signatures.

When questions arise about a signature, the benefit of the doubt falls to the voter. Political affiliation and race cannot be considered. An exact signature match is not requiredsimilar characteristics in the writing are sufficient when comparing the petition signature with those in election records.

In trying to weed out a phony, reviewers can consider the slant of the writing and how letters are shaped and spaced. But they also must take into account possible explanations for any discrepancy.

Only a signature possessing multiple, significant and obvious differing characteristics with those on record will be subject to further review, under state rules. Even then, two officials must agree beyond a reasonable doubt that the signature is significantly different to disqualify it.

But its not just a matter of turning in petitions and having them reviewed.

The recall proposal must move through time-consuming steps along the way, including giving voters a 30-day window to withdraw their names from the petitions if they choose. Its possible Democrats could launch a major advertising drive to urge them to do just that.

Dates have not been finalized, but the state Finance Department is expected to take 30 days to produce a cost estimate for the election. Democrats say it could surpass $80 million. Then, a legislative panel gets another month to review those findings.

Only after those steps are completed can the state formally certify that enough valid signatures have been collected. If that happens, Democratic Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis is required to schedule the election 60 to 80 days after that point, though its possible a later date could be set.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks during a news conference after he toured the newly reopened Ruby Bridges Elementary School in Alameda, Calif., on March 16, 2021. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Newsoms popularity has tumbled in recent months as public unrest spread over long-running school and business closures, a still-unfolding unemployment benefits scandal and his decision to attend a party with friends and lobbyists at an opulent restaurant while telling residents to stay home.

In a shopping plaza parking lot in the Sacramento suburb of Rocklin, Shannon Hile and Celeste Montgomery collected signatures earlier this month, operating from under a small white folding tent with bright yellow and red signs saying Recall Gavin Newsom.

Around lunch hour, more than a dozen people walked or drove up to sign. The two women and another volunteer gave detailed instructions to signers, reminding them to use the address where they are registered to vote and to be careful to write within the lines.

Neither woman voted for Newsom in 2018, when the former San Francisco mayor was elected in a landslide. Theyre both outraged over school closings.

Hile moved from San Diego to the Sacramento area to be closer to family after she struggled to simultaneously take care of her 1-year-old while helping her 7-year-old navigate virtual learning at home. Montgomery, 31, also a mother of two, put her 5-year-old son in a private school so he could attend in-person classes, straining the family budget.

Newsom gave nobody any options to survive this, Hile lamented. He cut you off from everything and it literally was like sink or swim.

Two Republicans have announced their candidacies: Kevin Faulconer, the former Republican mayor of San Diego, and Republican businessman John Cox, who was defeated by Newsom in 2018.

Another name being discussed in GOP circles is former President Donald Trumps then-acting director of national intelligence, Richard Grenell, who has not responded to requests for comment on a possible candidacy.

By Michael R. Blood and Kathleen Ronayne
Seoul, March 17 : Samsung Electronics said on Wednesday that it expects to see demand growth in various chip products with the economic recovery despite concerns over the novel coronavirus pandemic.

Kim Ki-nam, who heads Samsung's device solutions (DS) division, said that "uncertainties" will continue this year, but global chip demand will increase.

"We expect to see improved economic growth this year, although uncertainties like the U.S.-China conflict and currency rate will continue," Kim said at an annual meeting of Samsung shareholders.

"Against this backdrop, 5G, artificial intelligence (AI) and Internet of Things (IoT) are spreading across the industry, and this will lead to demand growth of various semiconductors that are the base of digital technologies." Kim said Samsung will focus on bolstering its technology leadership in the chips business this year.

In the memory business, the South Korean tech giant will concentrate on developing the fourth-generation 10-nanometer (nm) level DRAM and the seven-generation V-NAND, according to Kim.

In the foundry sector, where Samsung is trying to catch up to the industry leader TSMC, Kim said Samsung plans to mass-produce third-generation 5nm products, and further advance its 3nm node process technology, reports Yonhap news agency.

Kim admitted that Samsung is behind TSMC when it comes to production capacity and the number of customers since the company began its foundry business later than its Taiwanese rival. However, he said the gap between the two will decrease.

"There is no problem in our competitiveness in node technology, and we will try to beef up our production capacity in time by making investments efficiently," he said.

Kim said the company is examining its merger and acquisition (M&A) plans. Samsung earlier said it aims to clinch M&A deals in the upcoming years, which many expect to happen in the chipmaking sector.

For its mobile business, Samsung said the global smartphone market will also grow, recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic and increased demand of 5G.

Koh Dong-jin, chief of Samsung's IT & Mobile business division, said Samsung will continue to introduce "differentiated" flagship smartphones to expand sales.

"We will expand our 5G product portfolio to mid-low sectors and introduce lineups that meet each region's interest," he said. "We also aim to popularize the foldable smartphone category." For its home appliance business, Samsung, the world's largest TV and refrigerator vendor, will focus on delivering premium products and enhancing the user experience with customised solutions like its BESPOKE brand appliances.
Hurricane season 2021 is here: How do storms get their names?
The Ministry of Defence (MoD), while answering questions in Parliament on Wednesday, squarely blamed French warship builder, Naval Group (formerly DCNS), for long delays in constructing six submarines for the Indian Navy at Mazagon Dock Ltd, Mumbai.

The delays have been caused due to various defects observed during the trials of the submarines, requirement of certain modifications and delays in the supply of items required for construction by the collaborator/ToT (transfer of technology) provider - Naval Group, France, stated the MoD.

The MoD declined to say how long submarine deficiencies would continue. In the interest of national security, the details cannot be divulged. However, the existing submarine fleet is being maintained combat worthy through life extension and modernization/upgradation, it stated.

Building border roads faster

With road infrastructure crucial for the Indian Army in Eastern Ladakh, where it has faced off against Chinese troops for the last 11 months, the MoD told Parliament on Wednesday: There has been an increase in [Indias] pace of construction during the last two-three years.

The MoD said the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has been entrusted with building 61 strategically important roads, measuring 3,324 kilometres (km), which have been classified as India-China Border Roads (ICBRs).

Of these, 42 roads of length 1530 km are completed, stated the MoD.

In that the army will welcome, the MoD said: Connectivity has been achieved on 59 roads of length 3205 km and on the remaining two roads of length 118 km, the unconnected portion is 29 km.

That means that, other than two roads, the remaining 59 roads are usable, even though just 42 are fully complete.

Accounting for that, the MoD stated: There are delays in execution of some road projects due to certain impediment such as difficult terrain, limited working season, difficulties in availability of construction material, delay in forest/wildlife clearance and delay in land acquisition, etc.

Domestic equipment procurement

The MoD has marginally enhanced the funding reserved for buying domestic weaponry from the capex allocation for the coming year. The funds have been earmarked for all three Services in the ratio of 64:36 between domestic and foreign procurement in the Capital Acquisition Budget for the year 2021-22, it stated in Parliament.

Last month, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had said the MoD has planned to invest, about 63 per cent of the (capex) outlay for 2021-22 on domestic procurement, i.e. about 70,221 crore.

Focus on MSMEs

The MoD provided a detailed answer to a question on the support being provided to micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in defence production.

Revealing that procurement by the MoD from MSMEs had actually fallen over the last two years, the MoDs procurement from MSEs was Rs 12,112 crore in 2018-19; fell to Rs 9,091 crore in 2019-20 and stood at Rs 9,294 crore in the current year (figures available till March 11).

In its reply, the MoD summarised a list of measures it had drawn up to promote procurement from MSMEs (see table).




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Ryan G. Vacca (University of New Hampshire School of Law) & Ann Bartow (Franklin Pierce Center for IP at UNH Law) have posted Ruth Bader Ginsburgs Copyright Jurisprudence (22 Nevada Law Journal ___ (forthcoming 2022)) on SSRN. Here is the abstract:

When Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg died on September 18, 2020, the world lost a trailblazer for gender equality, a pop culture icon, a feisty liberal luminary who fought on behalf of the disenfranchised in the areas of civil rights and social justice, and an inspiration to millions of people. She will long be remembered for the social changes she helped effectuate as an advocate, scholar, and jurist.

Her amazing civil rights legacy overshadows other areas where Justice Ginsburgs contributions have been substantial. This article discusses one of the most interesting: copyright law. During her time as a jurist on the Supreme Court and D.C. Circuit, she authored sixteen opinions in copyright cases and joined her colleagues opinions in eleven others. But unlike her gender equality and social justice opinions, in which she predictably sided with rock-slinging Davids, Justice Ginsburg tended to favor Goliath content owners in copyright cases. This article offers possible explanations for why this was so, by holistically evaluating Justice Ginsburgs copyright writings. It identifies several themes running through her copyright opinions: incrementalism, intergovernmental deference, a preference for alternative mechanisms for relief, and stoicism, and juxtaposes her copyright jurisprudence with her approaches to gender equality and reproductive rights.

Recommended.
Map shows residential locations of every Democrat and Republican in the U.S. The magnified view of Manhattan on the right shows it to be highly segregated with the exception of the Upper East Side (the neighborhood immediately to the right of the lower section of Central Park). Credit: "The measurement of partisan sorting for 180 million voters," Jacob R. Brown and Ryan D. Enos; courtesy of Nature Human Behaviour

It has become a cliche to declare that Republicans and Democrats live in two different worlds these days, but it turns out there is some truth to the observation.

New research on political behavior finds that most Democratic and Republican voters live in partisan bubbles, with little daily exposure to those who belong to the other party. For instance the typical Democrat has "almost zero interactions" with Republicans in their neighborhood, according to an article by Harvard doctoral student Jacob R. Brown and government Professor Ryan D. Enos published March 8 in the journal Nature Human Behaviour.

"There's a lot of evidence that any separation between groups has a lot of negative consequences. We see this in race; we see this in religion; we see this in all kinds of things," said Enos. "And increasingly, we see this in partisanship in the United States."

Using geolocation data and the exact addresses of all 180 million registered voters in the U.S. as of June 2018, the two were able to precisely map, for the first time, where Democrats and Republicans live in relation to each other in every town, city, and state in the U.S. Then, rather than rely on the usual precinct or data aggregations, they used weighted measures and recorded the distance between voters to show how people are divided by geography and partisanship across the country.

No area of the country is immune to the segregation, but its intensity varies. Democrats in large, densely populated cities like New York are the most politically isolated, with 10 percent of them encountering a Republican only one out of 10 times in their neighborhood. Republicans in rural areas are similarly segregated.

Overall, most Democrats and Republicans live in levels of partisan segregation that exceed what scholars of racial segregation consider highly segregated, the study found.

Their analysis of U.S. Census tract data showed that 98 to 99 percent of Americans live in areas segregated by partisanship. Loving County, Texas, a county of about 200 people along the New Mexico border, is the only tract in the entire U.S. where Democrats and Republicans mix freely, the researchers found.

This social splitting is not the result of an urban/rural divide, where cities attract more Democrats, and Republicans typically favor the country life, Brown and Enos say. Whether in small to mid-size cities, the suburbs or ex-urbs in between, the data showed that Republicans stick close to other Republicans, and Democrats stick close to other Democrats.

"Even within a neighborhood, Democrats and Republicans are separating from each other a little bit," said Enos. That seems like "an almost unnatural level of segregation" given the similarities people from the same neighborhood usually share and "might indicate there's something pretty pernicious going on," he added.

Nationwide percentiles of partisan exposure by party and race. Credit: Nature Human Behaviour

Race and ethnicity are closely associated with partisanship and do affect where people live. The study shows, however, that partisan segregation is distinct from racial and ethnic segregation. White Democrats who do not identify as Hispanic had similar levels of exposure to members of the other political party as white Republicans, levels that were greater than Democrats from other racial and ethnic groups, who are the most isolated. Since non-Hispanic whites are more likely to be Republicans than Democrats, their lower rate of partisan segregation among whites, when race and ethnicity are taken into account, is "suggestive evidence" that white voters cluster with other whites regardless of party, according to the study.

"If white people were more willing to live near non-white people, partisan segregation would be even higher," said Enos.

High levels of partisan segregation pose a number of "negative consequences for democracy," the researchers say. Exposure to different sociopolitical ideas and viewpoints has long been shown to reduce prejudice and to improve social cooperation. Not only does partisan segregation help fuel a never-ending cycle of legislative stalemates, it affects whether voters, and the policy choices made on their behalf, are accurately and fairly represented in government, as heavily gerrymandered congressional districts already demonstrate.

"I would hope that we can all agree that it's important that we get exposed to different ideas. We can reject them. We can do whatever we want, but it's good that we hear both sides," said Enos.

Brown and others have found evidence that people engage in most of their political communication with people in own neighborhoods. The self-reinforcing nature of partisan isolation can easily open the door to extreme views and radicalized behavior, so the views of our neighbors really matter.

"When you have things like ideology and party and geography all lining up on top of each other, on top of race and income and a lot of other things, these parties really, really start to matter for people," and can result in events like the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, said Enos.

What causes this segregation, what are the consequences and how it can be undone are among the many questions that scholars hope to be able to answer eventually. Unlike racial segregation, the field is still in its infancy, so much more work needs to be done before any definitive conclusions can be drawn fairly, said Brown and Enos.

The pair are now studying several related issues, including an examination of U.S. voter data from 2012 to 2020, to understand the trend and its effects over time, and digging into the effects such segregation has on people's views, especially those in the "out" party for their area, as part of a broad project on partisan segregation.

For those Democrats in major metropolises like Manhattan or Chicago, or even smaller cities like Boston, who are stunned that theyand not folks living in less-cosmopolitan confines like the suburban Midwestcould be the most politically segregated voters in the country, it can be easy to lose sight of how "blue" most urban ZIP codes are when immersed in a racially diverse or multicultural environment.

"I live in Harvard Square, and I think, as urban high-density Democrats, we tend to think we are surrounded by all this diversity, and in a way we are," said Enos. "But we live in real, real homogenous political environments, and it is important to think about what the implications of that are for our views on the world."

Explore further California Republicans less likely to seek COVID vaccine, poll reports

More information: Jacob R. Brown et al. The measurement of partisan sorting for 180 million voters, Nature Human Behaviour (2021). Journal information: Nature Human Behaviour Jacob R. Brown et al. The measurement of partisan sorting for 180 million voters,(2021). DOI: 10.1038/s41562-021-01066-z
US Vice President Kamala Harris holds a virtual bilateral meeting with Taoiseach Micheal Martin at the White House.

The Taoiseach has boasted to the US Vice President of an Irishwoman who achieved the bridging of the gender pay gap  in 1874.

During a virtual meeting to mark St Patrick's Day, Micheal Martin told the first female Vice President of the United States, Kamala Harris, about Kate Kennedy, originally from Co Meath.

Kennedy emigrated to Ms Harriss home state of California where she led the equal pay for equal work campaign of 1874, the Taoiseach said.

It successfully lobbied the state legislature to pay women teachers the same as their male counterparts, he noted.

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He added: In 1886 she was the first woman in California to run for state-wide office.

She didnt win, any more than the fight for equal pay was won at that time  but she put both ideas on the agenda, she changed the playbook.

Mr Martin did not mention was that equal pay legislation was not established in Ireland until over a century later, when brought in as the Employment (Equality) Act in 1977 by former Labour Party minister Michael OLeary.

Even then the legislation represented the transposition into Irish law of a Directive by the EEC, the old name for the EU, which Ireland had joined four years earlier.

The most recent Government survey statistics indicate a 14pc gender pay gap in Ireland, similar to some other European countries, although many have closed the gap substantially.

In other remarks to Ms Harris, Mr Martin told her that the grass on the flag of California, on which a grizzly bear prowls, is officially an Irish green and a testament to the immigrants who helped build the Golden State.

Mr Martin, who declined to make a pre-election pledge last year that his Cabinet would be split 50/50 between male and female ministers, told Ms Harris that her election in November had been preceded, 30 years to the very day, by Ireland electing its first woman President, Mary Robinson.

In her inauguration speech, she famously remarked that she had been elected by the women of Ireland who instead of rocking the cradle, rocked the system, Mr Martin said.

Setting out her vision for the office, she had quoted her friend, the brilliant Irish poet Eavan Boland, observing that she was determined to write women outside history back into it, the Taoiseach said.

Alongside President Biden, your own election, Madam Vice President, has written history at many levels.

As you have said, you may be the first woman in your role, but you will not be the last.

Mr Martin said he hoped to have the opportunity to welcome Ms Harris to Ireland during her time as Vice President.

She cannot visit at the same time as President Biden, as the Vice President remains in Washington DC during such overseas trips by the head of state.

Meanwhile Ms Harris told the Taoiseach that the US commitment to Ireland "remains steadfast and strong".

Ms Harris spoke of her regret that they were not able to meet in person and expressed hope that next year they will "share a good breakfast together".

"I will tell you that our commitment to Ireland remains steadfast and strong," she said.

Mr Martin told Ms Harris that the ties between their two nations were "rich" and "deep".

"I look forward to our discussions but, most of all, I am delighted to have this opportunity to get to know you and to wish you a very happy St Patrick's Day."

Mass shootings in Atlanta which saw eight people killed were mentioned.

Ms Harris described the incident as "tragic", adding she and President Biden were grieving for those lost.

Mr Martin expressed his condolences to the President and Vice President, the American people and the grieving families of those killed and injured.
WASHINGTON  The nations top immigration official testified before Congress on Wednesday that the Biden administration is working around the clock to handle what could be shaping up to be the biggest migrant surge at the southern border in two decades.

Meanwhile, Gov. Greg Abbott was in Dallas saying President Joe Bidens team has no idea what it is in for after it ceased expelling unaccompanied children seeking shelter in the U.S.  something the Trump administration did until a judge halted the practice in November.

The situation is undoubtedly difficult, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said. We have a short-term plan, we have a medium-term plan and we have a long-term plan and were executing on all fronts. And to address the situation at the border that is upon us right now takes time. And we are working around the clock to do it.

As Abbott tells it, that around-the-clock work included federal officials scrambling on Saturday night to find a place to house thousands of children who have crossed the border in recent weeks, emailing the governors staff at 9:30 p.m. before settling on a location in Midland.

Abbott held a press conference Wednesday across the street from another such site, a Dallas convention center where the Biden administration is preparing to house as many as 3,000 migrant teenagers.

I know from whats going on on the ground, they are completely ill-prepared for this, Abbott said as he claimed there is every reason to expect the number of such locations housing migrant children to increase in the coming weeks.

BACKGROUND: Border Patrol reports 28% rise in migrant crossings as Texas braces for surge

The dueling appearances marked the latest in the first political dilemma of President Joe Bidens term, as Republicans ramp up efforts to pin a growing surge of asylum seekers and other migrants on the presidents shift away from immigration restrictions of the Trump administration.

In Texas, Attorney General Ken Paxton hinted hes prepared to escalate matters, saying in a tweet that he plans to sue the Biden administration to protect against the growing COVID threat inflamed by Bidens border crisis.

In Brownsville, 210 of 3,000 migrants processed since Jan. 25 have tested positive for COVID-19, a 7 percent positivity rate, according to KRGV. That is slightly higher than the statewide rate of 5.9 percent on March 15.

Democrats and White House officials, meanwhile, say its a situation they inherited, blaming the Trump administration for leaving behind a mess of an immigration system and pointing out that border crossings have been increasing since last May.

Similar to surges in 2014 and 2019

Border Patrol reported 100,441 encounters with migrants in February, a 28-percent increase from January, and a figure all but certain to increase even more quickly this month as agents at the border say they are overwhelmed by the flow of people seeking to cross. The vast majority of those encounters were with single adults, nearly all of whom are turned away immediately under a public health order the Trump administration put in place to help contain the coronavirus. The agency said about 25,000 of those immigrants had been apprehended before.

The Department of Homeland Security, however, has stopped using that order to expel unaccompanied children, 9,457 of whom arrived in February alone  a record for February  according to Border Patrol data. That number was in line with surges in 2014 and 2019, which saw between 7,000 and 9,000 apprehensions of unaccompanied children a month with peaks above 10,000.

Because of the pandemic and limited holding capacity for children, it has been a struggle to deal with the increasing number of kids, said Jessica Bolter, an analyst at the nonpartisan Migration Policy Institute.

Bolter said its clear that the Biden administration is prioritizing this issue and devoting significant resources to it, even though a lot of whats getting out to the public may be dominated by the crisis narrative.

Mayorkas, who was confirmed by the Senate six weeks ago, testified before the House Homeland Security Committee about the steps his agency has taken to get a handle on the situation.

That includes bringing in the Federal Emergency Management Agency to help the wave of unaccompanied children crossing the border, as well as working with Health and Human Services find care for the children, including more quickly vetting those in the U.S. who come forward as sponsors.

Homeland Security is also working with the Department of Justice to speed asylum cases, Mayorkas said. Additionally, the administration has restarted a program that allows parents legally in the U.S. to request refugee status for their children living in certain Central American countries.

The end of waiting in Mexico

Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, policy counsel at the American Immigration Council, said some progress is showing. The time asylum-seekers spend in Office of Refugee Resettlement custody is about 30 days on average, down from as long as 90 days in 2019.

The biggest hurdle for the administration right now is increasing capacity of shelters which have lost 30 to 40 percent of their maximum occupancy because of the pandemic, he said.

Thats why the administration has started using the Dallas convention center and other sites temporarily. But getting existing shelters back to full capacity could take time, as the administration needs to hire new staff, including caseworkers, set up testing protocols and more.

There are just genuine logistical problems, Reichlin-Melnick said. You cant just flick a switch and suddenly increase your capacity.

TEXAS TAKE: Get political headlines from across the state sent directly to your inbox

Republicans said Biden officials should have been seen the surge coming and blamed Biden for enticing migrants by relaxing Trumps policies. That included ending a requirement that asylum seekers wait in Mexico for their hearings in the U.S.

Weve both seen this movie before and we know the plot and we know the outcome, U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul, a Houston-area Republican on the Homeland Security Committee said.

Deterrence does work, McCaul said. I think words do matter. I think you sent exactly the wrong message when you said, We are not saying dont come. We are saying dont come right now. That is not a message of deterrence.

Democrats, meanwhile, accused Republicans of engaging in revisionist history. The Trump administration, too, faced a massive surge in 2019.

Unfortunately, some are so desperate to make Americans forget Trumps failures, they have resorted to fear-mongering about the challenge we face at the border, said U.S. Rep. Bennie G. Thompson, a Mississippi Democrat who chairs the committee. Others are engaging in revisionist history, saying that all was well at the border under the last Administration. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Editor's Note: This story has been updated to reflect the statewide positive test rate on March 15. A previous version of this story had a higher number.

ben.wermund@chron.com
Intelligent.com, a trusted resource for online degree rankings and higher education planning, has announced the Top 13 Colleges In Vermont for 2021. The comprehensive research guide is based on an assessment of 51 accredited colleges and universities in the nation. Each institution is evaluated based on curriculum quality, graduation rate, reputation, and post-graduate employment.

The 2021 rankings are calculated through a unique scoring system which includes student engagement, potential return on investment and leading third party evaluations. Intelligent.com analyzed 51 schools, on a scale of 0 to 100, with only 13 making it to the final list. The methodology also uses an algorithm which collects and analyzes multiple rankings into one score to easily compare each school.

To access the complete ranking, please visit: https://www.intelligent.com/best-colleges-in-vermont/

2021 Top Colleges In Vermont featured on Intelligent.com (in alphabetical order):

Bennington College

Castleton University

Champlain College

Community College of Vermont

Goddard College

Landmark College

Middlebury College

Northern Vermont University

Norwich University

Saint Michael's College

SIT Graduate Institute

Sterling College

University of Vermont

About Intelligent.com

Intelligent.com provides unbiased research to help students make informed decisions about higher education programs. The website offers curated guides which include the best degree programs as well as information about financial aid, internships and even study strategies. With comprehensive, user-friendly guides and hundreds of program rankings, Intelligent.com is a trusted source among students and prospective students. To learn more, please visit https://www.intelligent.com/.
Observance of the rule of law is a key-element for a successful approach by Member States within the European Union, Vera Jourova, Vice-President of the European Commission and European Commissioner for Values and Transparency, said on Wednesday at a debate on the Rule of Law Report 2020, with a view to the adoption by the European Commission of the second report on this issue, in the coming months.

The European official thus stressed the importance of respecting the rules of democracy and the rule of law, which are essential in the Member States for the proper functioning of the Union.

This framework allows us to be fully aware of the situation of the rule of law throughout the Union. (...) The emergence of problems or their deepening allows Member States to deal with them as quickly as possible, if they arise. Such a report was adopted last September. This is a summary of important elements related to the rule of law in the Union since January 2019 and has specific assessments for the 27 member countries. We have evaluated the positive and negative elements and have drawn attention to problems that arise or worsen and have highlighted good practices. But it is not just this report when it comes to the rule of law, the European Commissioner said.Vera Jourova advocated in-depth dialogue through open debates and exchanges of best practices.The involvement of Member States and national institutes responsible for the observance of the rule of law, such as parliaments, is a key element for this approach to be successful. (...) After the adoption of this report we have taken it to a new level. (...) We want further dialogue with governments, with national parliaments (...), to find solutions together with the Member States, the EU official added.Vera Jourova pointed out that there are currently similar recommendations to previous years, including the independence of justice, referring to the elimination of the Special Section for the Investigation of Magistrates, "which has a negative impact on the independence of the function and efficiency of justice", an update of the Criminal Code and the Criminal Procedure Code, the continuation of the fight against corruption, as well as the defence of freedom and pluralism of the press, considering that "there should be no policy of pressure on the media".The European Commissioner also said that Romania could conclude the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism on justice, if it applied all the recommendations of the European Commission.I trust and will give full support to the Government to carry out the reforms on the field of justice and the Criminal Code," said Vera Jourova, who also advocated a legislative consensus in Parliament.The event, which took place in a video-conferencing system, was attended by the President of the Senate, Anca Dragu, Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies Ludovic Orban, as well as representatives of the legal, constitutional and European affairs committees of the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate.

AGERPRES
After working for eight months on the application for the nationally competitive Harry S. Truman Scholarship, University of North Georgia (UNG) student Justin Bray wasn't ready to apply for another. But he did thanks to a little encouragement.

"The Newman Civic Fellowship application was a breeze compared to the Truman," said the junior pursuing a degree in communication with a concentration in public relations.

Bray was glad he applied, as was Dr. Anastasia Lin, assistant vice president of research and engagement at UNG. Bray was selected by Campus Compact as UNG's Newman Civic Fellow.

"Justin demonstrated great resilience in applying for multiple awards in a single year," she said. "I'm pleased his outstanding service work and potential to be a change agent was recognized."

Bray is one of 212 students from 39 states, Washington, D.C., and Mexico in the 2021-22 academic cohort. Only three other fellows are from Georgia higher education institutions, including Georgia College and State University, Mercer University and Spelman College.

"It was super exciting to get that email from Campus Compact," said the 31-year-old from Athens, Georgia. "Getting this one felt good."

Campus Compact member institutions select the fellows who are community-minded student leaders on their campuses and demonstrate a commitment to finding solutions for challenges facing communities locally, nationally and internationally. The Newman Civic Fellowship is a yearlong program named in honor of Frank Newman, one of Campus Compact's founders.

Dr. Leigh Dillard, associate professor of English who nominated Bray as UNG's Newman Civic Fellow, said he fits the requirements.

"Justin has a heart for service and community involvement," Dillard said. "The Newman program will allow him to further develop the skills he needs for the next phase of his career."

Bray looks forward to joining forces with other college students with a similar mindset of community and civic service. He said he has already joined a social media platform to meet other Newman Civic Fellows.

"It's exciting to have 211 other people who all know we have things in common," Bray said. "And it's a really great way to pick other people's brains."

He explained being in a community with like-minded people will help him stay on track, too.

"I am someone who dreams a lot and romanticizes careers and their paths," he said. "In that dreaming, I don't pay attention to the path to get me to that point. I think this experience will help me build that path and stay focused, because I will do workshops and seminars and stay connected to people who are doing the same thing."

Bray, who works full time as program manager at Books for Keeps, hopes his path will lead him to graduate school. Books for Keeps is an Athens, Georgia-based nonprofit that donates books to children from low-income families in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade.

"I am interested in public administration," he said. "I think I would like to work with kids in a nonprofit, work in a political office or lobby for change in public administration."

In the meantime, Bray is working to complete his bachelor's degree at UNG. He plans to graduate in spring or summer 2022.

Since 2013, nine UNG students have been Newman Civic Fellows. Previous recipients include Courtney Mitchell in 2013, Jessica Murray in 2014, Rachel Glazer in 2015, John Blessing in 2016, Cristian Ramos in 2017, Brittaney Dyer in 2018, Adriana Zarate in 2019, and Kat Torres in 2020,

For more information, visit the Newman Civic Fellowship website.
By Reuters Staff

NAIROBI, March 17 (Reuters) - Tanzanias Vice President Samia Suluhu Hassan on Wednesday announced the death of President John Magufuli on state television. He was 61.

The President of the United Republic of Tanzania, the honourable Doctor John Pombe Joseph Magufuli, ... (has) died of a heart condition, at hospital Mzena in Dar es Salaam, where he was receiving treatment, she said on state broadcaster TBC.

Magufuli, one of Africas most prominent coronavirus sceptics, had not been seen in public since Feb. 27, sparking speculation that he had contracted COVID-19. Officials denied on March 12 that he had fallen ill.

Government officials had said Magufuli was working normally and citizens should ignore rumours from outside the country.

Some Tanzanians had told Reuters on condition of anonymity that fear and anxiety were widespread in the country due to the unknown status of the president. Police had arrested four people in the country since last week for allegedly spreading false information about the sickness of political leaders.

The president had denounced measures to stop the spread of the virus and called vaccines a Western conspiracy, frustrating the World Health Organisation (WHO). (Reporting by Nairobi newsroom Writing by Maggie Fick Editing by Howard Goller)
Barely 48 hours after the Lagos State government passed the Anti-cultism bill (2021) into law, cultists had a free day at the Ikosi-Ketu area of Lagos on Wednesday with several businesses burnt and looted.

PREMIUM TIMES gathered that the clash started around 9 a.m. on Wednesday but became violent at about 1 p.m. with the cultists shooting sporadically, breaking bottles and using dangerous weapons.

They were many, they came from Jakande for market, they were about 150 of them. At first, the boys in the street tried to scare them away but when they saw the number of cultists approaching, they also moved back, a witness said.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Monday signed the Anti-cultism bill into law. This law prescribes a 21-year jail term for convicted cultists and 15 years in jail for those abetting cultism.

According to the governor, the law will curb the menace of cultism in the state and put the activities of unlawful societies in check.

Ketu Violence

Residents and business owners at Ikosi-Road, Ketu, Lagos, experienced violence when two cult groups clashed on Wednesday.

This led to the destruction of properties worth millions of naira as the police could not tame the cultists who went on rampage.

The incident, which happened in front of the Ikosi-Isheri Local Government Council Area, left many businesses at the mercy of the cultists.

When PREMIUM TIMES reporter got to the area, several shops were looted, while others were burnt.

Broken bottles and burnt tyres littered the entire area. Two tricycles were also burnt in the violence.

Ahmed Olalekan, a shop owner whose shoe shop was looted, said the violence was between the Eiye and Aiye cult groups.

It was very serious. Those boys carried guns, machetes, bottles and other dangerous weapons. No one could wait, he said.

Some shop owners were seen lamenting the destruction of their stores and how the loss will set them backwards.

About four police vehicles were stationed at the scene to forestall further violence.

The fight has started since two days ago, we could not sleep overnight due to the fight, a resident said.

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PREMIUM TIMES could not confirm whether there were casualties resulting from the violence.

Lagos police react

Reacting to the crisis that occurred at Ikosi-Ketu, the Lagos Police Command said 15 suspects with weapons were arrested and the police have restored normalcy to the area.

According to a statement by Muyiwa Adejobi, the police spokesperson, the clash occurred between the Eiye, Aiye and Buccaneer cult groups.

Preliminary investigation revealed that the crisis was connected to the revenue generation at the Ketu fruits market, Mr Adejobi said.

The Lagos State Police Command has restored normalcy to the Ikosi/Ketu area of Lagos State after a clash that occurred today Wednesday 17th March 2021 at 6 a.m. amongst some suspected cult groups, Eye, Aiye and Buccaneer, as fifteen (15) suspects were arrested. Two (2) locally made pistols, some live cartridges, assorted charms etc were recovered from the suspects, the statement read.

The statement said efforts were underway to apprehend other fleeing members of the gangs that orchestrated the violence.

The Commissioner of Police in the state, Hakeem Odumosu, directed that the suspects be moved to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for diligent prosecution.

He reiterated the commands commitment to fighting crimes, especially cultism, in the state.
A number of biblical scroll fragments, featuring the books of Zechariah and Nahum, were found in a cave in the Judean Desert.

Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) announced on Tuesday about the discovery of the manuscript fragments in the Cave of Horror, as well as other artifacts. In partnership with Archaeology Department of the Civil Administration in Judea and Samaria, the IAA launched an operation to save ancient artifacts from the caves in 2017. It was funded by the Ministry of Jerusalem Affairs and Heritage.

The study of the fragments, which is said to be 2,000 years old, was conducted by IAA's Dead Sea Scroll Unit, led by Dr. Oren Ableman, Beatriz Riestra and Tanya Bitler.

"More than 80 fragments of different sizes have been uncovered, some of them carrying text, some not. Based on the script, we dated them to the end of the first century BCE, which means that by the time it was brought to the cave, the scroll was already a century old," Ableman shared, speaking to The Jerusalem Post.

In accordance with the researchers' assessment, the fragments matched with those that were discovered by Yochanan Aharoni in 1953. They include portions of the scroll of the book of Zechariah written in Greek, but the name of God was retained in paleo-Hebrew language.

Ableman said that such manner may had been done to show the "importance of the name of God."

The excerpts deciphered using the fragments reportedly formed Zechariah 8:16-17.

"These are the things you are to do: Speak the truth to one another, render true and perfect justice in your gates. And do not contrive evil against one another, and do not love perjury, because all those are things that I hate - declares the Lord," the verses say.

In the fragments, the word "streets" was used instead of "gates."

Ableman said that they have never seen like it before.

"In this manuscript, we can see the effort of the translators to remain closer to the original Hebrew compared to what happened with the Septuagint," Riestra said, reacting on the manner of translation.

She further said that the practice of retaining the name of God in Hebrew language was already observed in other Dead Sea Scroll fragments discovered years ago, as well as in other manuscripts of Cairo Genizah.

Atlanta Jewish Times revealed that verses Nahum 1:5-6 were also reconstructed by the unit.

In addition to fragments of the biblical manuscripts, the team also found Bar Kochba Revolt coins, 6,000-year old mummified child and a well-preserved woven basket which is believed to be 10,500 years old.

The bronze coins bear a vine leaf and a palm tree.

Donald Ariel, head of IAA's Coin Department, stated that having coins is an expression of freedom during those times. In addition, he said that the palm tree was Judea's "quintessential symbol," which the Romans also used in their Judea Capta coins.

The skeleton of a child, discovered in a shallow pit, has undergone a process of natural mummification. It was found in fetal position and was wrapped in a blanket.

The prehistoric basket, with a capacity of 90 liters, is believed to be the oldest ever seen.

IAA Director Israel Hasson hopes that the discovery would encourage the country to support their operation.

"The aim of this national initiative is to rescue these rare and important heritage assets from the robbers' clutches. The newly discovered scroll fragments are a wake-up call to the state. Resources must be allocated for the completion of this historically important operation. We must ensure that we recover all the data that has not yet been discovered in the caves, before the robbers do. Some things are beyond value," Hasson stated.

Hananya Hizmi, head staff officer of Archaeology Department, said that the discoveries have "shed even more light on the different periods and cultures of the region."

"The finds attest to a rich, diverse and complex way of life, as well as to the harsh climatic conditions that prevailed in the region hundreds and thousands of years ago," Hizmi further stated.
Contributed /Connecticut Department of Transportation

CHESHIRE  A brush fire along the westbound side of Interstate 691 caused traffic delays Tuesday evening, according to the state Department of Transportation.

The fire was reported between Exits 3 and 2 shortly before 7 p.m., according to the agency.
House representatives on Tuesday voted to extend the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) through the end of June.

Congressman John Moolenaar, R-Midland, was among the representatives who voted for the legislation, which passed the House in an "overwhelmingly" bipartisan vote, Moolenaar stated in a press release.

Small businesses have been hurt by the pandemic and state enforced closures, and while the best way for them to recover is for the state to allow them to fully reopen, I know many of them are still hurting and need help, Moolenaar stated. The Paycheck Protection Program helped thousands of Michigan small businesses last year and there is still funding left over to help those who need additional relief. State officials have created continued uncertainty with restrictions, and last month 120,000 residents gave up looking for work. I hope Michigan small business owners will make the most of this difficult situation and access funding that will help them and their workers stay in business until they're allowed to fully reopen."

The PPP funding was already approved by Congress last year, and remains available for small businesses. The program has provided small businesses with $700 billion of emergency loans to date, according to a press release from the House Committee on Small Business.

The bill extends the application deadline to May 31, and gives the U.S. Small Business Administration until June 30 to process applications.

Moolenaar has previously supported legislation funding the Paycheck Protection Program, which was established as part of the CARES Act he voted for last year. Moolenaar has been an advocate for reopening the program so that crucial funding remains available for small businesses.

The Paycheck Protection Program has already injected more than $15 billion into Michigans economy, Moolenaar stated, and the funding has supported more than 7,000 small businesses in the Fourth District.

More than 120 businesses in Midland County applied for the first round of PPP loans in March 2020.
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The economic fallout caused by COVID-19 has only exacerbated a long history of systemic inequality, loss of wealth, and housing instability particularly during times of economic distress. - Eileen Fitzgerald, Wells Fargo

CSH (Corporation for Supportive Housing) today announced an innovative effort to develop and implement systemic solutions to address the long-term impacts of COVID-19 and racial inequities in five communities across the US where vulnerable individuals and families have been marginalized. CSHs initiative has received support with a grant from the Wells Fargo Foundation.

We are excited to overlay our Racial Disparities and Disproportionality Index (RDDI) with local community-based administrative data to examine how highly impacted populations are accessing COVID-19 testing and the relationship between health and housing status, including crisis short term shelter, notes Deborah De Santis, CSH President and CEO. She continues, CSH is committed to applying a racial equity lens to permanent housing solutions, and we are thankful to the Wells Fargo Foundation for supporting this critical work.

The Wells Fargo Foundation is providing $500,000 to support planning grants paired with CSHs technical assistance to begin addressing the current crisis. Their support will also foster longer-term change that shifts communities away from triage, crisis, and institutionalization toward prevention, health, and equity.

Home is a sanctuary, and having a safe and affordable place to call home is the foundation for health, wellness, dignity and economic opportunity, said Eileen Fitzgerald, head of housing affordability philanthropy with Wells Fargo. The economic fallout caused by COVID-19 has only exacerbated a long history of systemic inequality, loss of wealth, and housing instability particularly during times of economic distress. Were pleased to support CSH and these five communities to advance racial equity and access to housing with transformative solutions to enable individuals, families, and communities to thrive.

All five communitiesHudson County, NJ; Minneapolis, MN; Montgomery County, MD; San Diego, CA; and San Francisco, CAwill be using the RDDI to guide their work. Below are brief descriptions of their efforts:

Location: Hudson County, NJ

Focus: The initiative will engage county leadership around Hudson Countys existing Frequent Users System Engagement (FUSE*) initiative. Specifically, we will expand the effort to include Managed Care Organizations (MCOs) to design and tailor Medicaid Services to high needs and underserved populations. Since the projects launch, the county has explored expanding across multiple systems beyond MCOs.

Location: Minneapolis

Focus: The initiative will engage county and city leadership, with a focus on public housing, public schools, juvenile justice and child protection services. Efforts will involve families, youth, and children who have experienced direct interactions with these systems.

Location: Montgomery County, MD

Focus: The initiative will engage the Racial Equity Working Group of the Montgomery County Interagency Commission on Homelessness to explore the overlap between homelessness and the child welfare, behavioral health, and justice sectors, and how racial groups are represented within these systems.

Location: San Diego

Focus: The initiative will engage San Diego Continuum of Care leadership to examine the racial disproportionality of individuals and families that flow into institutional settings and the homeless system to drive policy changes.

Location: San Francisco

Focus: The initiative will augment and support work being done under the MacArthur Safety and Justice Challenge by fostering engagement and stronger planning coordination between the justice, public health, and housing systems in order to provide better housing opportunities for justice-involved people.

An exciting aspect of this program is the opportunity to infuse funding and support in efforts already underway, as in San Diego with the Continuum of Cares Ad Hoc Committee on Addressing Homelessness Among Black San Diegans. The work of the RDDI is critical for understanding what is happening in other systems that flow into homelessness and will be an important analytical tool with the Ad Hoc Committee's work," said Pastor Rolland Slade, a San Diego Continuum of Care Board Member and Chair of the Ad Hoc Committee. We are hoping that the data can help drive some of the recommendations of the committee and help illuminate the voices and institutional challenges Black people face when it comes to housing instability and homelessness.

Similarly, in Montgomery County, the Wells Fargo Foundations resources are aligned with the countys plan to end homelessness. The county is committed to ending homelessness, said Amanda Harris, Chief of Services to End and Prevent Homelessness at the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services. While we are proud of our work that has led to dramatic reductions in homelessness, we recognize that in order to permanently end homelessness, we must focus on the root causes that contribute to housing crises. The significant racial disparities that exist within our countys systems have only been exacerbated by COVID-19. CSHs partnership in helping us examine racial disparities across systems is a critical step in identifying and advancing solutions to address these disparities.

This grant was launched in response to the COVID-19 crisis and will continue through August 2021. CSH and the Wells Fargo Foundation intend to showcase the efforts of these five communities as examples for other communities embarking on similar work throughout the country.

About the Racial Disparities and Disproportionality Index (RDDI)

CSH developed a Racial Disparities and Disproportionality Index (RDDI), which looks at 16 unique systems and measures whether a racial and/or ethnic groups representation in a particular public system is proportionate to, over, or below their representation in the overall population (proportionality). It also allows for the examination of systematic differences between groups and geographies (disparities). Disaggregating data by race and ethnicity helps to call attention to racial trends, disparities, and inequities masked by aggregated data, allowing for improved accountability in programming and policymaking. In all five communities, CSH is utilizing the RDDI to generate robust data on the racial gap within systems locally. Leveraging the results from this analysis, we are working alongside community-led efforts to help communities better allocate public resources, so the most disadvantaged populations receive adequate access to the services they need.

*About FUSE

CSH FUSE (Frequent Users Systems Engagement) is a proven model identifying frequent users of jails, shelters, hospitals and/or other crisis public services and then improving their lives through supportive housing. Supportive housing is an evidence-based solution that leads to better health and other good outcomes for people who are homeless and disabled. Tenants are provided affordable housing with wraparound support services, which stabilizes their lives and significantly reduces returns to jail and homelessness, reliance on emergency health services, and improves the overall quality of life.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court will hear the bail application filed by 74-year-old former Congress leader, Sajjan Kumar on Thursday (March 18).

Kumar is convicted to life imprisonment for the brutal killing of five members of a family in Raj Nagar in Delhi, during the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.

A three-judge bench of the Apex Court, headed by the Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sharad Arvind Bobde and also comprising Justices A S Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian will hear the bail application filed by Kumar.

Kumar in his bail application had contended before the Apex Court that he has been in jail since December 2018 and had lost almost around 8-10 kilograms since then.

Kumar, who is the main accused in a case relating to the killing of five members of a family, was convicted guilty, on December 17, 2018, by a Delhi court and was sentenced to life imprisonment.

Last year, the Supreme Court dismissed a plea of Sajjan Kumar, who was seeking interim bail on health grounds.

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There are so many different ways that you can hug a person. Obviously, each type of hug is going to have a little different meaning to it,...
Three Tullamore music students are celebrating after receiving diplomas.

Edel Bracken of Ballycumber, Co.Offaly, Justin Ryan of Mountmellick, Laois and Darren Fitzpatrick of Clara, Co.Offaly  all students at The Academy of Music in Tullamore; have taken recent times to their advantage and completed their London Music Diploma Examinations.

The Academy of Music is an Exam Centre for many examining bodies, mainly The Royal Irish Academy of Music for its graded exams, but is also an Exam Center for the London Victoria College of Music.

Last month The London Victoria College of Music examined Edel in her Piano Performance for her Associate Diploma; Justin in his Voice/Singing Licentiate Performance Diploma and Darren in his Voice/Singing Licentiate Performance Diploma exams with follow up interviews.

Edel, Justin and Darren were all awarded Honours Diplomas.

Staff and Students of The Academy would like to congratulate them on their great achievement in these extraordinary times.

For more details and images visit www.theacademyofmusic.ie
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SANTA FE  New Mexico legislators granted final approval Tuesday to a bill that would establish an End-of-Life Options Act, sending it to Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham.

The House agreed to the Senate amendments to House Bill 47, the final step necessary for legislative approval.

The measure would allow patients with a terminal illness to seek a doctors help to end their life. The patient would have to be able to self-administer the life-ending medicine.

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Dubai Culture and Arts Authority is ready to contribute to achieving the UAE leaderships aspirations for another fifty years of accomplishments as Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, declared 2021 the Year of the Fiftieth.



Hala Badri, Director General of Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, stressed that 2021 is the year of celebrating luminous decades full of achievements recorded by the UAE as the nation celebrates its milestone Golden Jubilee.



Badri said: We are proud of the directives announced by the President of the UAE, His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who called on everyone to reflect on the history, noble values, and unique achievements of Dubai and the other emirates, and envision their future towards the centennial.



We cherish our founding fathers and wise leadership, drawing from their inspiration, will, and determination during the Year of the Fiftieth to reflect culture through patriotism and a celebration of the UAEs unique achievements since the days of the union.



We will also present culture as a platform to propagate values of loyalty and tolerance and will invest our efforts to live up to our leaderships aspirations, continue our ambitious journey, and tirelessly work to keep our country a pioneering model for civilisation and achievement as well as a prosperous incubator for various cultures from around the world, she added.



The Director General evoked the great national meanings expressed by His Highness to inspire and support the youth on their path towards the next fifty years as a pillar of the countrys celebrations of its golden jubilee, stressing that it reflects the leaders belief in the importance of the role of our youth in shaping and anticipating the future.



She concluded: Our youth are the pillars of development and progress in our nation, and we will continue to inspire and support them to enhance the prosperity of our country. Hand in hand with the rest of the sectors, we will harness our energies to strengthen our nations prominent position among the most developed countries in the world for it rank first globally by the next 50 years.  TradeArabia News Service
Former Central Regional Minister, Kwamena Duncan says he is disappointed in the Council of Elders of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) for failing to rebuke the party's National Communications Officer, Sammy Gyamfi.



Sammy Gyamfi recently spewed venom on the Minority leadership in Parliament for passing the Ministerial appointees of President Nana Akufo-Addo.



He berated the NDC leadership in the Chamber saying they have betrayed the party for their selfish gains.



Sammy Gyamfi Goes Hard On NDC Leaders



Comrades, the betrayal we have suffered in the hands of the Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Bagbin, the leadership of our Parliamentary group, particularly Hon. Haruna Iddrissu and Hon. Muntaka Mubarak, and dozens of our own MPs, is what strengthens me to work hard for the great NDC to regain power.



They brazenly defied the leadership of the party and betrayed the collective good for their selfish interest. And we, must not let them succeed in their parochial quest to destroy the NDC, the party that has done so much for them and all of us. The shame they have brought on the party will forever hang like an albatross around their necks, Mr. Gyamfi wrote in a statement.



He called for a shakeup in the NDC leadership.



''This is the time for us to insist on the right changes in the leadership of the NDC group in Parliament or forget about them completely. The current leadership have lost their moral authority to lead and are not fit to sit on the front bench of the NDC side of the house. More importantly, its about time we understood, that we dont have any NDC Speaker of Parliament. No we dont! We have a Speaker who rode on the back of the NDC into Office to pursue his own parochial agenda and nothing more. You trust them, at your own peril.



''The hypocrites can choose to remain quiet or even condemn us for speaking up, so they can remain in the good books of the renegades. But I and all who are pained by this act of betrayal will not keep quiet, because we dont fear anyone and dont wish to be in their good books. If they can defy the party leadership and interest openly and subject all of us to public ridicule, then they can and must also be called out openly. The NDC party is supreme and it must be cleansed.''



Council of Elders Response



The NDC Council of Elders, in reply, issued a statement addressing Sammy Gyamfi's outburst.



"The Council and the Caucus leadership collectively agreed that the incident of 3rd March, 2021 was regrettable and unfortunate, and runs contrary to the principles and values of the party. The Caucus Leadership have since pledged to uphold the principles and values of the party in our collective bid to develop our country.



"The Council urged National Leadership of the party to resolve issues relating to the Caucus leadership in Parliament and called on the rank and file of the party to remain calm, and provide the needed support to our Caucus in order to hold the Akufo Addo government strictly to the principles of probity and accountability," the Council's statement read.



NDC Council of Elders Is A Disappointment



Speaking on Peace FM's ''Kokrokoo'', Kwamena Duncan asked why the Council didn't make Sammy Gyamfi apologize for disrespecting the leadership.



"I am disappointed in the Council of Elders," he said, stressing what the Council should have done is to tell Sammy Gyamfi to retract his statements and render an apology.



The Council of Elders, he stated, should have rather said; ''Mr. Moral Compass of this party (Sammy Gyamfi), completely withdraw. That is not the procedure; that is not the process, withdraw and in our view, extend an apology to the Parliamentary party.''





Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Environmental pollution from industries such as coal mining and metal works may play a role in the increasing numbers of boys born with undescended testicles, according to a study published today (Wednesday) in Human Reproduction [1].

The researchers stress that their findings are hypothesis-generating, cannot show that these industries cause cryptorchidism and that further, targeted research is required. However, the study of nearly 90,000 boys is the first to describe at a national level a recent increase in incidence of the condition over time and to identify clusters of cases in parts of France that are former mining or metal-working areas, such as the Pas de Calais in northern France. The boys all had operations to correct undescended testicles between 2002 and 2014 when they were younger than seven years.

Cryptorchidism is the absence from the scrotum of one or both testes around the time of birth. It is the most common male genital defect, occurring in between one and eight per cent of babies. In most cases, the condition corrects itself within six months of birth, but approximately one in 100 boys have testicles that remain undescended. When this occurs, surgery is required to move them into the right position and this is carried out ideally before the age of one. Boys with untreated cryptorchidism may have fertility problems in later life and are at higher risk of testicular cancer.

Other research has shown that certain chemicals, such as phthalates and pesticides, are associated with cryptorchidism. In the current study, the researchers set out to study trends over time and in areas of metropolitan France to see if the local geographical environment might be an important trigger for the defect.

Dr Joelle Le Moal, a medical epidemiologist at the DATA Science Department, Sante publique France (Public Health France), and her colleagues identified 89,382 cases of operated cryptorchidism between 2002 and 2014 from public records; they found that the incidence of the condition increased by 36% during this time.

They used a disease-mapping model to describe the risk of cryptorchidism according to postcode, and identified 24 clusters scattered across France apart from in the south-west. The clusters were mainly in the north and central east of France, with the main cluster being around the city of Lens in the Pas de Calais, a former coal mining area. Here, the risk of having one undescended testis increased by more than a half and the risk of both testes being undescended (bilateral cryptorchidism) increased more than five-fold when compared to the national level. There were 1,244 cases and the researchers estimated this was an excess of 453 cases above the expected number for the area.

The researchers write that this area "includes the two production sites of a former smelter . . . where most of the local population was previously employed. After more than a century of non-ferrous metal production, it closed in 2003 and induced widespread environmental pollution with metals, especially lead and cadmium . . . This cluster also includes a metallurgic plant, and two industrial areas still in activity".

The researchers observed mining activities in eight of the 24 clusters, metallurgic activities in 17 and mechanic activities in 16. They also detected clusters of bilateral cryptorchidism cases in some agricultural areas where there are orchards and vineyards, which might be sprayed with pesticides.

Dr Le Moal said: "Our main findings are the increase in the frequency of operated cryptorchidism in France during the study period, and the strong tendency for cases to cluster together in particular locations. This is the first time that such a finding has been documented at a country level for this birth defect. Our results suggest that the geographical environment could contribute to the clustering of cryptorchidism and interact with socio-economic factors. The industrial activities identified in the clusters are potentially the source of persistent environmental pollution by metals, dioxins and polychlorinated biphenyls, known as PCBs. PCBs, pesticides and dioxins are suspected to play a role in cryptorchidism and other testicular problems by disrupting hormones."

Low socio-economic status is an established risk factor for cryptorchidism and several of the clusters identified in the study were in areas where economic activity was declining with the closure of industries. Other factors that are linked to a higher risk of cryptorchidism include maternal smoking and being born prematurely or small for gestational age, all of which are known to be more common in industrialised areas and in association with low socio-economic status.

Dr Le Moal said: "We have highlighted several hypotheses that must be tested in further research. Our study is interesting and new because we used a very large, nationwide sample that enabled us to discuss plausible geographical hypotheses. However, these results must not be over-interpreted. The persistent pollutants that we identified could be traces associated with other chemicals. Moreover, we do not know exactly how the population could be contaminated."

The methods used in the study may have under-estimated the health problem as it reflects cases of cryptorchidism that were surgically corrected. Other limitations include the fact that surgical practices may have evolved and there may be local differences.

In an accompanying commentary [2], Professor Richard Sharpe, of the Medical Research Council (MRC) Centre for Reproductive Health at the University of Edinburgh, UK, writes that this is a "landmark study" and, in identifying 24 "hotspot clusters" of cryptorchidism cases scattered across France, it "confirms an important role for environmental factors in determining risk of cryptorchidism".

He continues: "What sets the present study apart is its nationwide scale, and, as a result, its ability to provide a snapshot of the risk of a male baby having persistent cryptorchidism (i.e. requiring surgical correction) according to where in France he was born/spent his early life; identification of an increase in cases of cryptorchidism over the short span of time of the study is icing on the cake, albeit rather alarming."

He writes that the study is important for four reasons. "First, it uses the most developed spatial monitoring statistical approaches and is thus technically front-rank. Second, it uses data for a whole country over a 13-year period. Third, it provides robust supporting evidence that environmental impacts (via the mother) on the male fetus are a very real health threat today, even in a modern developed country like France. Fourth, and in my opinion most importantly, it suggests that our recent research focus on environmental chemicals as a potential source of cryptorchidism (and other male reproductive disorders that are increasing) may have been correct in principle but incorrect in practice. Correct, because the hotspot clusters of cryptorchidism cases are clearly associated with industrialized areas that are proven to increase human exposure to numerous pollutants . . . Incorrect, because the main focus of research in this area over the past 20+ years has been on chemicals to which most of the population is lowly exposed via food (e.g. bisphenol A, phthalates, modern pesticides) rather than those more associated with proximity to heavy industry.

"Finally, and most importantly, the study be Le Moal et al . . . is a stark reminder that many cases of cryptorchidism are inherently preventable, if only we can identify the industrial chemical culprits, a remark that probably applies in general to the commonest male reproductive disorders. In an age of increasing couple fertility problems, this is yet another wake-up call for us all."

###

[1] "Time and spatial trends of operated cryptorchidism in France and environmental hypotheses: a nationwide study from 2002 to 2014", by J. La Moal et al. Human Reproduction journal. doi:10.1093/humrep/deaa378

[2] "Location, Location, Location - where you are born may determine your reproductive (and more general) health", by Richard Sharpe. Human Reproduction journal. doi:10.1093/humrep/deab051
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U.S. President Joe Biden speaks while visiting Smith Flooring, a small minority-owned business, to promote his American Rescue Plan in Chester, Pa., on March 16, 2021. (Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images)

Biden to Hold First Solo Press Conference on 64th Day in Office

President Joe Biden will hold his first solo press conference on March 18, White House press secretary Jen Psaki announced March 16.

The announcement follows mounting pressure and calls for Biden to hold a traditional open news conference, and comes more than 50 days into his presidencythe longest stretch of any president over the past century.

Bidens press briefing will be held on his 64th day in office.

By contrast, his 15 predecessors held solo press briefings within the first 33 days of their respective presidencies. Former President Donald Trump took questions after 27 days in office, while former President Barack Obama held a formal press conference 20 days into his first term.

The president, since being sworn in over two months ago, has held a number of short question-and-answer sessions with reporters, however, his answers on a wide range of issues have so far been brief.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki speaks during the daily press briefing at the White House on March 15, 2021. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

Psaki noted last week that Biden takes questions several times a week.

Which is an opportunity for the people covering the White House to ask him about whatever news is happening on any given day, she told reporters.

She also defended the president, saying that he is currently focused day in and day out on getting the pandemic under control and putting people back to work.

Related Coverage Psaki Declines Setting Date for Solo Biden Press Conference Amid Mounting Pressure

Before Psakis announcement, Biden had come under an increasing media spotlight for his delay in holding a press briefing. The president gave his first prime-time address on March 11, but took no questions afterward.

Brett Bruen, White House director of global engagement under Obama, suggested earlier this month that Bidens lack of interaction with the media may be counterproductive.

He talks about the role of journalists as being a critical one, and yet access to a president is really the barometer by which we judge the importance that a president assigns to the media, Bruen said.

The presidents approach so far may be counterproductive to the kind of connection that both the White House needs with journalists as well as the president needs with the people, he said.

Wheres Joe? asked Kayleigh McEnany, Trumps former press secretary, during an appearance on Fox News. Joe Biden needs to step up. We need to hear from him. He needs to engage in the transparency that he promised us.

Its not yet clear how many reporters will be allowed to attend the presidents first briefing.

The White House didnt immediately respond to a request by The Epoch Times for comment.
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A meeting between the First and deputy First Ministers and the President and Vice-President of the United States has been described as extremely valuable.

Arlene Foster and Michelle ONeill met President Biden and Vice-President Kamala Harris virtually, in lieu of the traditional St Patricks Day visit. It followed a similar meeting between the Irish Taoiseach Micheal Martin and Joe Biden which took place earlier on Wednesday.

In the meeting, it is believed the Northern Ireland leaders discussed tackling the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as driving economic recovery.

Expand Close Northern Ireland deputy First Minister Michelle ONeill (left) and First Minister Arlene Foster (Liam McBurney/PA) PA / Facebook

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The First Minister Arlene Foster said the meeting was key in further strengthening Northern Irelands economic links with the United States.

Investment will be a crucial part of our rejuvenating our economy, and as our largest international investor, there is huge potential in our relationship with the United States, she said.

And of course, we have much to offer, not least our highly skilled workforce, world class universities and a competitive cost environment.

Our meeting with President Biden and Vice President Harris was extremely valuable.

The deputy First Minister Michelle ONeill echoed the comments and also confirmed that the pair had extended an invitation for the US President to visit in the not-too distant future.

I was honoured to meet with President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, added Michelle ONeill.

I am really encouraged by the support they have shown for us, and their genuine interest in our progress and our people.

The consistent backing of the US administration has been crucial in moving our society forward, not least through their unwavering support of the Good Friday Agreement. Our meeting with the President and Vice President was hugely beneficial.

It provided a valuable opportunity to discuss how we can build on the progress we have made and continue working to protect the interests of all our people.

Great opportunity to meet with both @POTUS Joe Biden & @VP Kamala Harris today as we celebrate St Patrickas Day across the globe.



The island of Ireland & USA share strong economic, cultural & heritage bonds.



US political support for peace & no hard border remains unwavering.  Michelle OaNeill (@moneillsf) March 17, 2021

Our family, heritage, and economic links with the United States are incredibly important to us and the traditional St Patricks Day celebrations in Washington are a great opportunity to strengthen that bond, make new connections and promote what we have to offer.

The meeting between the leaders comes after the US Senate recently brought forward a resolution calling for the full implementation of the Good Friday Agreement, stating that any new post-Brexit US-UK trade deal should be in line with the 1998 peace deal.

Mr Biden, who has family roots in Ireland, previously stated any future trade accord between the US and the UK depended on respecting the Agreement and preventing the return of a hard border.
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a virtual summit with Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin. In the meantime, he has described it as necessary to love nature for the betterment of mankind. that this was the first dialogue between the presidents of the two countries. In this virtual summit, PM Modi said, "India has adhered to its duty by sending necessary materials including medicines to more than 150 countries at the beginning of the epidemic." He also conveyed his condolences to the families of the Finnish citizens who died due to covid-19 In addition, he said, "The way Sana has handled this epidemic in her country deserves congratulations.''

Speaking at the India-Finland Virtual Summit. https://t.co/mQGR0TmDlQ  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 16, 2021

Meanwhile, PM Modi also said, "India has also made indigenous corona vaccine available to about 70 countries." India has so far provided about 6 crore doses of vaccine to various countries in the world. Finland is a very old friend of India and the relations between the two countries will be further strengthened in the future. At the same time, he also said, "we have done so much injustice to nature and nature is so angry that today we have not kept all the human beings in the mouth. So we all have to tie masks on our mouths and hide our mouths."

In the meantime, he also said 'India has set targets to achieve the objective of climate change. India is trying to get them fast. For this, India has set a target of 450 GW of installed capacity by 2030 in renewable energy.' At the same time, international solar alliances, colonies for design, regiments have been in the same way as infrastructure to enhance cooperation with the world.

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NEW HAVEN  Immunity provided by the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine appears to last for at least a year and possibly longer, doctors at Yale New Haven Health said Wednesday.

Dr. Onyema Ogbuagu, the principal investigator who has led the clinical trials of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine at the Yale Center for Clinical Investigation, said the early signals suggest that it should last longer than a year, assuming no new variants that evade the vaccine-induced responses.

We dont have all the answers yet, he said, but, we think, based on the trajectory, that it should provide protection for a year or even longer  possibly two or three.

He said he based his projection on participants in the first Pfizer clinical trial, which began about a year ago, as well as on the immune response of patients who recovered from COVID. He said patients who had SARS, another respiratory disease caused by a coronavirus, showed immunologic memory as much as 17 years later.

Dr. Thomas Balcezak, chief clinical officer at Yale New Haven Health, said at an online press briefing, Were all on the edge of our seat to see how long immunity will last from vaccines, Balcezak said.

The people who were enrolled in the clinical trials are going to be followed for a period of years, he said. Many of those individuals were vaccinated just about a year ago this month, and so far it indicates that they still have immunity.  Right now it looks like at least a year for that immunity.

A clinical trial of the Pfizer vaccine was completed on children 12 to 15 years old in January, Ogbuagu said, and were putting through a protocol now that would let us do kids from 5 to 11 years old. He said that study likely would start in May or June. He did not know how many participants would be enrolled.

Since the success of the vaccine depends on whether participants get COVID, there is no timeline to end the study of 12- to 15-year-olds, but anecdotally, the kids tolerated the vaccines well, Ogbuagu said. He said researchers also will be able to measure the immune response generated by the vaccine, but there were no results to report yet.

Ogbuagu said it also appears that vaccinated people will not develop asymptomatic infections that could spread the disease.

Were starting to have more data suggesting the vaccine does have significant protection, he said. In a study in Israel, there was 94 percent protection from transmission, he said. We think that the vaccines protect against having symptoms, but they also protect against transmission robustly, Ogbuagu said.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions website, Were still learning how well COVID-19 vaccines keep people from spreading the disease. Early data show that the vaccines may help keep people from spreading COVID-19, but we are learning more as more people get vaccinated.

The CDC also states, Were still learning how long COVID-19 vaccines can protect people.

Anthony Lupinacci, marketing director for the Shubert Theater, was a part of Pfizers Phase 3 trial, but didnt get his first injection until August 2020. Later, Pfizer decided to unblind the study and I found out I had received the placebo, he said. He was then scheduled to receive the vaccine and received his second dose March 10.

I completely commend what Pfizer has done, Lupinacci said. The professionalism with which they handled it is amazing.

Ogbuagu said Yale has been selected as a site for a clinical trial of the Moderna vaccine for children from 6 months to 11 years old, but said it is too early to say how that will proceed.

We have to put a protocol through regulatory processes, he said. Its not unusual that we get selected for a site, then a snag happens along the way.

Balcezak said that, while there are concerns in Europe about the AstraZeneca vaccine causing blood clots, so far, AstraZeneca has not applied for emergency use authorization in the United States.  My bet is by the time AstraZeneca looks to see an [emergency use authorization] in the United States we will be most of the way there in getting our population vaccinated.

Balcezak the approved vaccines appear to be reducing the number of COVID cases in older people. Weve seen a sharp reduction in the hospitalization rate of those over the age of 75, he said. And as we continue to vaccinate all populations, I anticipate we will see that drop in those age groups, as well.

But he added, I really do think that complacency could be our enemy here. Were all focused on getting vaccinated. Were all focused on what is going to happen as we continue to open up. But I think that just adhere to those same public health risk factors and pay attention to masking and distancing and, by all means, the safest thing to do is hold these events outside  which is very, very safe.

Yale New Haven Health CEO Marna Borgstrom reported Wednesday that there were 165 COVID-19 patients in the systems five hospitals, and only 44 of those patients are in intensive care units and a little fewer than half of those are on ventilators. That is down from 447 on Dec. 8.

There were 97 patients at Yale New Haven Hospital, 43 at Bridgeport Hospital, 11 each at Greenwich and at Lawrence and Memorial hospitals and two at Westerly Hospital in Rhode Island.

She said the number of admissions of patients 75 and older has declined for four straight weeks.

Balcezak said Yale New Haven has given more than 160,000 doses of vaccine, with more than 100,000 people fully vaccinated. He said they have been vaccinating up to 12,000 people per week, limited by the allocation of doses from the state.

edward.stannard@hearstmediact.com; 203-680-9382
Islamabad, March 17 : The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has issued notices to the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) and its own scrutiny committee to appear before it on March 22 to explain their stance over secrecy of scrutiny in the PTI foreign funding case.

This follows a complaint by petitioner Akbar S. Babar against the scrutiny committee's decision to keep PTI documents secret.

The decision was taken by a three-member bench headed by ECP member from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa retired Justice Irshad Qaiser after hearing Babar's complaint on Tuesday, Dawn reported.

Babar's lawyer, Ahmad Hassan Shah, challenged the scrutiny committee's decision and invoked the Right to Information Act to seek access to the documents.

The lawyer argued that access to PTI documents is a right of the petitioner in light of Article 5(4) of the Political Parties Order, 2002 and Section 203(5) of the Election Act, 2017, Geo tv reported.

By keeping the documents secret, the ECP scrutiny committee is violating the terms of reference of scrutiny that clearly demands scrutiny in the presence of both parties, the petitioner's lawyer said.

He said the scrutiny process would be a "sham" and "mere attempt to rubber stamp fake documents".

The lawyer said a secrecy order of the committee is illegal.

About the performance of the committee, Shah regretted that other than writing a letter to the SBP to seek PTI accounts, there has been no investigation into the credible evidence provided regarding illegal funding from across the globe.

He read out excerpts of the scrutiny committee order sheets where the committee has refused to share accounts because of pressure from PTI.
The Texas Senate's hurried push to reverse billions of dollars in charges for wholesale electricity during last months winter storm appeared to hit a wall Tuesday in the House, a setback that drew consternation from Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and marked the first major schism between the two chambers this legislative session.

At Patricks behest, the Senate scrambled Monday to pass Senate Bill 2142, which would force Texas energy grid operator, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, to claw back about $4.2 billion in charges after an independent market monitor found ERCOT artificially inflated prices and overbilled energy companies by $16 billion.

While Patrick has repeatedly characterized those billions of dollars in charges as a mistake, House Speaker Dade Phelan, R-Beaumont, said in a statement earlier Tuesday that there was no error in the operator's pricing and instead called it a proactive decision. Phelan also expressed skepticism with reversing such charges and said doing so based on disagreement with PUC and ERCOTs management decisions is an extraordinary government intervention into the free market.

ERCOT and PUC failed Texas repeatedly during this tragic event, but the decisions made on pricing were made based on ensuring the reliability of the grid, Phelan said. I believe that these decisions saved lives.

Patrick responded in the Senate soon after, reiterating that he believed an error had been made and saying that its a bad day for the Texas Legislature if it cant fix it.

The Texas Senate stood for individuals, and Im proud of you, Patrick told senators. The House stood for big business.

ERCOT is a nonprofit entity that manages the power grid and controls the prices power generators charge to retail electric providers such as power companies and city utilities. During the storm, ERCOT set the price of electricity at $9,000 per megawatt-hour  the maximum amount allowed. The price remained that high for more than a day after ERCOT stopped forcing power outages due to limited supply. Outgoing ERCOT CEO Bill Magness and PUC Chair Arthur DAndrea say the cap was necessary to incentivize generators to send power to the grid. Patrick and most senators believe the prices should be retroactively brought down.

D'Andrea has said publicly it would be improper  or even illegal  to reverse the charges. On Tuesday, Texas Monthly reported that he was even more forceful in a call with investors, saying he'd put the "weight of the commission" behind keeping the charges in place.

Its still not clear how much the billing dispute will impact average Texans. The measure would not change existing law to prevent similar occurrences in the future. At least some of the additional costs incurred by retail electric providers would likely be passed on to customers through rate increases. But the impact varies by company  and those that sent power to the grid while rates were inflated stand to lose money if ERCOT reprices.

Gov. Greg Abbott has not weighed in on the fight since Monday morning, when he seemed to urge a more deliberate approach. He said electricity repricing posed potential conflicts with some provisions of the Texas Constitution and that the Legislature needed to weed through all these complexities. Later in the day, Patrick said the Senate did not have similar concerns after talking with lawyers and that if Abbott was worried about such issues, he would have detailed them when he named billing errors an emergency item.

While the Senate was in session Tuesday, Patrick said he had received word from Phelan that the House would not take action on Senate Bill 2142 before reading part of the speakers statement from earlier that afternoon. Phelans statement did not explicitly say the lower chamber would not act on the legislation  but it was the strongest indication yet that the bill faces long odds in the House.

In a statement after Patricks remarks Tuesday, the speakers office said Phelan and the lieutenant governor have had no conversation about SB 2142 and that the speaker under House rules will refer all proposed legislation, including SB 2142, to an appropriate committee with jurisdiction.

Speaker Phelan released a statement that highlighted his perspective on the caution necessary when discussing government intervention in the repricing of the electric market, his office said.

Still, the rift emerging between the House and Senate marks the most visible difference yet between the two chambers, which have largely avoided open conflict this session until now.

After that Phelan statement, the lieutenant governors office tweeted that the clock is ticking to save Texas ratepayers billions of dollars and said it was the Senates hope that the House will be allowed to vote [on SB 2142] on the floor, up or down, so their constituents know where they stand, just like we did.

We have until the end of the week for [the PUC] to correct the error, the tweet said, referring to a March 20 deadline included in the legislation for the commission to take action.

Patrick on Tuesday again pressured Abbott to publicly support the Senate bill. Abbott has continued to back DAndrea, whom he first appointed to the PUC in 2017. DAndrea is the sole serving member of the three-person commission, after the other two officials resigned earlier this month.

Well, Mr. Governor, the Senate has spoken, Patrick said. You still have not weighed in, and we believe you still have time to correct it."

The House State Affairs Committee is scheduled to consider a number of bills on Thursday that would make changes to the electrical grid, including legislation that Phelan has indicated as a priority. State Sen. Kelly Hancock, R-North Richland Hills, who was one of three senators to vote against SB 2142, has meanwhile filed his own legislative package that aligns more closely with Phelans aims.

While speaking on the Senate floor, Patrick stressed that the upper chamber still wanted to work with the House and there are many issues to come.

But we will always go to first principles and do the right thing, no matter the cost, Patrick said. No matter the cost.

The Texas Tribune is a nonprofit, nonpartisan media organization that informs Texans  and engages with them  about public policy, politics, government and statewide issues.
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LONDON, March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- A leading biopharma company and makers of rapid delivery innovation for life-saving medicines - Nasus Pharma - stands behind its nasal spray, Taffix, reassuring the public of its safety and clinical efficacy. Taffix is built on an existing, proven, medical technology, which is already used in many nasal sprays to combat allergies and the common cold viruses.

Contrary to the wording in an email regarding Taffix Nasal Spray sent to customers in some countries by a retail company selling the product, Taffix is totally safe and legitimately available for sale in Europe by reference to its valid European Conformity market.

Dr Dalia Megiddo, co-founder and chief executive officer of Nasus Pharma, stresses: "Taffix is safe and legally marketed in Europe under CE certification as an over-the-counter general medical device product. It is indicated for the use as a protective mechanical barrier against allergens and viruses (included SARS-CoV-2) within the nasal cavity. It provides a safe, simple and effective way to substantially reduce the risk of catching COVID-19. Manufactured to the strictest of compliance to all regulatory requirements, Taffix has been used byhundreds of thousands of people across the globe and there have been no health or safety concerns reported in relation to its intended conditions of use.

"Confusion has arisen because the Spanish authorities have taken the view that Taffix should be classified as a Medical Device Class III and not Class I product in Spain. This opinion is not consistent with the classification position of the countries within the European Union (EU) and of every country in the world that has approved Taffix. While there is respect for the Spanish Ministry position, Nasus Pharma does not agree with it. Guided by all the experts that Nasus Pharma works with there is no acceptance of the validity of the Spanish Agency's assessment and Nasus Pharma are working closely with the authority on this matter."

Dr Dalia Megiddo adds: "As a company, safety and clinical efficacy is best practice which is why Taffix has been tested thoroughly. That's why laboratory tests confirm that Taffix destroys up to 99% of the coronavirus and a real-world user survey involving a super-spreader event found the spray reduced the risk of infection by 78%."[1],[2]

Sold in over 20 countries across Europe, America, Asia and Africa, Taffix is not a replacement for masks, it is an additional layer of self-care protection, particularly useful in high-risk settings such as any enclosed space.

Note to editors: Taffix is legally marketed in Europe as an over-the-counter product, and indicated for use as a protective mechanical barrier against allergens and viruses (e.g. SARS-CoV-2) within the nasal cavity. Taffix contains a well-established pharmaceutical ingredient Hydroxy Propyl Methyl Cellulose (HPMC) which is inert, stable and safe. HPMC is widely used and recognised in the European Union (EU) as a food additive and recognised as GRAS (generally Regarded as Safe) by the US Food and Drug Administration.

Taffix may be used up to 3 times a day (whilst in a risky environment) to maintain an effective barrier. Once applied Taffix is effective for 5 hours. Taffix contains no drugs or medicines, is non-drowsy and has a good safety profile. Taffix is suitable for adults, and children over 12 years.

Pregnant or breast-feeding women should consult their doctor before using. https://www.Taffixprotect.co.uk/product

[1] Biomedical Journal of Scientific and Technical Research; TaffiX Nasal Powder forms an Effective Barrier against SARS-CoV-2; Barbara J Mann, G Brett Moreau, Tair Lapidot and Dalia Megiddo; 2021

[2] Data on file

Contacts:

Nicky Smithnicky@junglecatsolutions.com, +44 (0)2036000228

Sophie Woolfordsophie@junglecatsolutions.com, +44 (0)2036000228
A blue Searey Amphibian caused a lot of interest when members of the RSA visited the aero club in 2018.

Covid-19 restrictions permitting, North Shore Aero Club will be opening its hangar doors to the public for a community open day at its Dairy Flat airfield on Saturday, March 27.

Highlights will include a number of visiting aircraft on display, including a Navy Seasprite helicopter, the Coastguard Air Patrol plane and the Westpac Rescue helicopter. There will also be all sorts of other aircraft on show, including some that were built at the airfield, and others that children will be able to climb into and have a look around.

As well as all the static displays, the club will be offering trial and scenic flights at the cost price of $99 to places such as Gibbs Farm, Tiritiri Matangi and the Auckland Sky Tower.

There will also be food trucks, market stalls, childrens activities and the North Shore Model Aero Club will put on a flying display between 12noon and 1pm.

Committee member Rodger Coleclough says this will be the first open day at the club for 10 years and is aimed at local families.

Weve been here nearly 60 years. It was just a paddock in the middle of nowhere then, he says.

Were trying to show people were not a big international airport, were a community club where everyone is welcome.

He was referring to the clubs current application for Airport Authority, which has raised hackles among some Dairy Flat residents, who fear it could lead to massive expansion at the airfield. However, Mr Coleclough says it is more about protecting the club from development pressures.

I know theres been a lot of vocal people with the Airport Authority thing, but it is our means of trying

to assure our position here, he says. We just need to make sure we can stay here.

North Shore Aero Club currently has up to 600 members and runs extensive training courses for both private and commercial pilots, and hosts regular visits by students and community groups.

The open day will run from 10am to 4pm and entry will be by voluntary gold coin donation, proceeds of which will go to the clubs Young Eagles youth flying programme. If the weather is bad, the event will be postponed to April 10.

Info: North Shore Aero Club on Facebook.
BRUSSELS - The European Union's executive body proposed Wednesday issuing certificates that would allow EU residents to travel freely across the 27-nation bloc by the summer as long as they have been vaccinated, tested negative for COVID-19 or recovered from the disease.

FILE - In this July 29, 2020 file photo, passengers wearing full protective gear against the spread of coronavirus, push their luggage in the departure hall of Zaventem international airport in Brussels. As curfew-weary, mask-wearing European citizens hope for relief, and perhaps the prospect of a real summer vacation this year, at an upcoming EU summit on Thursday, Feb. 25, 2021 leaders will also focus on when to ease restrictions, and the possibility of a future vaccination certificate so people can travel more conveniently. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco, File)

BRUSSELS - The European Union's executive body proposed Wednesday issuing certificates that would allow EU residents to travel freely across the 27-nation bloc by the summer as long as they have been vaccinated, tested negative for COVID-19 or recovered from the disease.

With summer looming and tourism-reliant countries anxiously waiting for the return of visitors amid the coronavirus pandemic, the European Commission foresees the creation of certificates aimed at facilitating travel between EU member nations. The plan is set to be discussed during a summit of EU leaders next week,

"We all want the tourist season to start. We cant afford to lose another season," European Commission Vice-President Vera Jourova told Czech public radio. "Tourism, and also culture and other sectors that are dependent on tourism, terribly suffer. Were talking about tens of millions of jobs."

The topic of vaccine certificates has been under discussion for weeks in the EU, where it proved to be divisive. The travel industry and southern European countries with tourism-dependent economies like Greece and Spain have pushed for the quick introduction of a program that would help eliminate quarantines and testing requirements for tourists.

But several other EU members, including France, argued that it would be premature and discriminatory to introduce such passes since a large majority of EU citizens haven't had access to vaccines so far.

To secure the participation of all member countries, the commission proposed delivering free "Digital Green Certificates" to EU residents who can prove they have been vaccinated against COVID-19, but also to those who have tested negative for the virus or can prove they recovered from it.

"Being vaccinated will not be a precondition to travel," the European Commission said. "All EU citizens have a fundamental right to free movement in the EU, and this applies regardless of whether they are vaccinated or not. The Digital Green Certificate will make it easier to exercise that right, also through testing and recovery certificates."

According to data compiled by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, less than 5% of European citizens have been fully vaccinated amid delays in the delivery and production of vaccines. The European Commission says it remains confident that it can achieve its goal of having 70% of the EUs adult population vaccinated by the end of the summer.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said the travel certificates "will help boost tourism and the economies that rely heavily on it." Europes aviation industry urged EU governments to ensure the passes are operational in time for the peak of the summer travel season.

The commission proposed that all vaccines rubberstamped by the European Medicines Agency should be automatically recognized, but also offered governments the possibility to include other vaccines like Russias Sputnik or Chinas Sinovac, which haven't received EU market authorization.

The European Commission guaranteed that "a very high level of data protection will be ensured" and said the certificates will be issued in digital format to be shown either on smartphones or paper.

EU officials also hope that vaccine certificates will convince the member states which have introduced travel restrictions aimed at slowing down the pace of new infections to lift their measures. The EUs executive arm has previously warned six countries that their travel-limiting measures, which in Belgium go as far as a ban on nonessential trips, could undermine the core EU principle of free travel and damage the single market.

The commission said the certificates should be suspended once the World Health Organization declares the end of the COVID-19 pandemic.

If agreed by the EU leaders, the proposal will need to be approved by EU lawmakers to enter into force.

Karel Janicek in Prague contributed to this story.

Follow APs pandemic coverage at:

https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic

https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-vaccine

https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak
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Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-17 13:54:52|Editor: huaxia

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Shanghai, a renowned international metropolis, is also the birthplace of the Communist Party of China. And this year, the world's largest political party is celebrating its 100th founding anniversary. So we've invited a group of expats living in Shanghai to spend time with a taxi driver, a doctor and other locals who have one thing in common -- they're Party members. What went on & what was said? Click here to watch their China Chat experience.

A Xinhua Global Service Production 
Check out the news you should not miss today:

Politics

-- Sen. Lieut. Gen. Phan Van Giang, Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam Peoples Army and Deputy Minister of National Defense, on Tuesday hosted a reception in Hanoi for Secretary of the Security Council of Russian Federation Gen. Nikolai Patrushev who, is on a working visit to Vietnam, according to the Vietnam News Agency.

Society

-- More than 20,000 people have got COVID-19 vaccination in Vietnam while the countrys tally reached 2,560 with no new case reported on Wednesday morning, according to the Ministry of Health.

-- Authorities in the northern mountainous province of Lai Chaus Sin Ho District on Tuesday said they were investigating a case in which 93 people suffered food poisoning after attending a wedding party two days earlier.

-- The 175 Military Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City on Tuesday morning provided vaccination for military personnel including 64 soldiers who are preparing to serve the United Nations peacekeeping mission in South Sudan.

-- Eleven people early on Tuesday morning safely escaped from a passenger bus which was suddenly on fire while traveling through the Central Highlands province of Kon Tums Ngoc Hoi District.

-- The Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control in the southern province of Bac Lieu on Tuesday granted permission for relatives of 26 children under two, who were without their parents among two groups of Vietnamese citizens returning from South Korea on March 13 and 14, to enter quarantine zones to take care of them.

Lifestyle

-- A black and white photo, depicting children in Vietnams Central Highlands under the protecting arms of a village chief and taken by Vietnamese photographer Ninh Manh Thang, has won a gold medal in the child category of the Three Country Grand Circuit 2020 international photo contest, the Vietnam News Agency reported on Tuesday.

Education

-- The dormitory management center of the Vietnam National University - Ho Chi Minh City on Tuesday afternoon joined Thu Duc City Medical Center in conducting COVID-19 tests on students who have recently returned to the dorm from three virus-hit localities including Hai Duong, Hai Phong, and Quang Ninh after the Tet (Vietnam Lunar New Year) holiday.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
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The Associated Press, Washington Post and other news outlets issued corrections to earlier reports that claimed former President Donald Trump had pressured a Georgia election investigator to "find the fraud" in an audit of mail-in ballots in the state's most populous counties.

These reports were cited as evidence in the articles of impeachment by the U.S. House in its second impeachment of Trump.

As the AP admitted Monday, its article "erroneously reported that Trump pressed the (lead Georgia elections) investigator to 'find the fraud' and said it would make the investigator a national hero."

The national news outlet acknowledged that "a recording of the call made public two months later revealed that Trump did not say either and instead said that if the investigator looked into Fulton County the investigator would 'find things that are gonna be unbelievable.' Trump also told the investigator: 'When the right answer comes out, you'll be praised.'"

Source:The Christian Post
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

Iraq recorded a new high of 5,663 new coronavirus cases Wednesday, health officials said, nearly two weeks since the visit of Pope Francis to the country.

The number of Iraqis infected since the COVID-19 pandemic began now stands at over 768,000 including 13,827 deaths, with 33 of those in the past 24 hours, according to health ministry figures Wednesday.

Health officials carry out some 40,000 tests every day, in a population of 40 million people.

Despite the rise, the government said it was easing restrictions aimed to stem the spread of coronavirus, including partially lifting a curfew.

Pope Francis toured Iraq from March 5-8, celebrating prayers with crowds of faithful, including in a stadium filled with thousands of worshippers in Erbil.

As is common across Iraq, few among the crowds wore masksand the recent introduction of a fine has made little difference to that.

Numbers of cases in Iraq have fluctuated over the months, peaking in September at around 5,000 new cases per day, dropping to around 800 cases a day in December, then rising in late February to over 4,000.

Iraq suffers from a chronic shortages of drugs and medical care, and those patients who can often prefer to source oxygen tanks for treatment at home, rather than go to overcrowded and run-down hospitals.

Baghdad has received only 50,000 vaccines, China's Sinopharm jab.

While the government boasts of plans to purchase 16 million doses, parliament has still not voted on the 2021 budget.

Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak

 2021 AFP
Slow walkers are almost four times more likely to die from COVID-19, and have over twice the risk of contracting a severe version of the virus, according to a team of researchers from the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Leicester Biomedical Research Centre.

The study of 412,596 middle-aged UK Biobank participants examined the relative association of body mass index (BMI) and self-reported walking pace with the risk of contracting severe COVID-19 and COVID-19 mortality.

The analysis found slow walkers of a normal weight to be almost 2.5 times more likely to develop severe COVID-19 and 3.75 times more likely to die from the virus than normal weight fast walkers.

According to the research normal weight slow walkers are more at risk of both severe disease and death than obese fast walkers. Furthermore, risk was uniformly high in normal weight slow walkers and obese slow walkers, according to the team behind the study, The Daily Mail reported.

The findings have been published in the journal International Journal of Obesity.
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Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-17 18:18:05|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, March 17 (Xinhua) -- China has been unwaveringly supporting other countries, especially developing ones, in their fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

Upholding the vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind, Chinese President Xi Jinping has pledged continued support to developing countries in curbing the deadly virus.

In a telephone conversation with Prime Minister Keith Rowley of Trinidad and Tobago on Tuesday, Xi said since the COVID-19 epidemic broke out, the two sides have helped each other in times of adversity.

Trinidad and Tobago is the first among Latin American and Caribbean countries to donate aid materials to China, and China has also provided anti-epidemic supplies and technical assistance for Trinidad and Tobago through various channels, Xi said.

China is willing to strengthen vaccine cooperation with Trinidad and Tobago, and to continue to support the country in fighting the epidemic, Xi said.

On the same day, in a telephone conversation with Guyanese President Irfaan Ali, Xi said China and Guyana, though far apart, enjoy a deep and close friendship.

China stands ready to strengthen cooperation with Guyana in COVID-19 vaccines and continue to provide assistance and support within its capacity for Guyana's economic and social development, Xi added.

China has provided and is providing COVID-19 vaccine aid free of charge to 69 developing countries in urgent need, while exporting vaccines to 43 countries, according to official figures.

At the 46th Session of the UN Human Rights Council, China has called for a people-centered global response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The country has urged strengthening cooperation on vaccine research and development, production and distribution, so as to make vaccine truly an accessible and affordable public good for the people of all countries, especially developing countries.

Earlier this month, in a phone conversation with Polish President Andrzej Duda, Xi said that China is willing to provide COVID-19 vaccines within its capabilities to Poland in accordance with the European country's demand.

Since the outbreak of COVID-19, China and Poland have been looking out for and helping each other, with the two sides engaging in cooperation in pandemic prevention and control as well as resumption of work and production, which opened a new chapter of their friendship, he said.

During his telephone conversation with his Tajik counterpart, Emomali Rahmon, the Chinese president pointed out that since last year, the Chinese and Tajik people, in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic and the transformations rarely seen in a century, have sticked together through thick and thin, joined hands in unity and coordination, and achieved fruitful cooperation in various fields, especially in battling the pandemic.

Xi added that China is willing to provide assistance of COVID-19 vaccines to Tajikistan in a bid to promote the building of a community of common health for mankind.

In a phone conversation with Colombian President Ivan Duque in February, Xi said that China stands ready to continue to provide as much support as it can for Colombia's combat against the COVID-19 pandemic and to carry out vaccine cooperation with the country. Enditem
...our student leaders have been diligent in bringing this idea to fruition and they now have a great facility specifically designed to support the success of our diverse student body.

This week, Salt Lake Community College is celebrating the official opening of the Tim and Brenda Huval Student Center on the schools Jordan Campus. The 41,000 square-foot building serves as a dynamic hub for student services and is the culmination of more than a decade of effort undertaken by SLCC student leadership.

Shannon McWilliams, interim assistant vice president for SLCC Student Services, says students were the driving force for making the new building a reality by using their collective voice and influence to make a change while also gaining hands-on experience. The conversation of needing a student-friendly gathering space at the Jordan Campus started over 10 years ago, McWilliams says. Since that time, our student leaders have been diligent in bringing this idea to fruition and they now have a great facility specifically designed to support the success of our diverse student body.

One of the students involved in the early planning of the building was Aynoa Rincon, who now works for SLCCs Office of Diversity and Multicultural Affairs. Rincon was president of the SLCC Student Association (SLCCSA) in 2017-18. Previous to her administration, she recalls students identifying a need at the Jordan Campus for a center that provided more space and more resources. She and other SLCCSA members worked directly with college administrators on building design and floor plans. Rincon also spoke with state lawmakers to gain legislative approval to use money saved up from existing student fees  there was no money set aside or approved to fund the new center  to help pay for the building.

I hope this space serves students as a shared area to get together, do homework, eat and just create community at that campus, says Rincon. She says her involvement with the center was life-changing and that she is grateful students opinions were included and valued during the decision-making process. I personally learned how important student government is, specifically when it comes to handling fees and how they can be better utilized in services that will directly benefit students.

The center combines in one space resources that include a bookstore, food services, fitness center, information commons, study areas, a multi-purpose event space, a food pantry, Student Life & Leadership offices, Center for Health and Counseling, a veterans lounge, meditation and lactation rooms, and a childcare center. Students also have access to offices that include Admissions, Financial Aid, Career Services, Orientation and Student Success, Academic Advising and Student Services. Its estimated the center will serve about 4,000 students per semester.

The $17 million building has been named in honor of Tim and Brenda Huval, who in late 2020 made a generous donation to student scholarships, with particular emphasis on students participating in health sciences programs, a specialty at SLCCs Jordan Campus. Tim Huval is an SLCC alumnus and former employee at the college, and the couple has a history of committing time and financial support toward the success of SLCC students.

SLCC has also received support for the new center through the generous donations of Jerry & Edna Taylor, Pamela Nielsen of Pamela Nielsen Contemporary Art, Domo, The Joan & Tim Fenton Foundation, The South Davis Community Hospital Legacy Fund, Jacobsen Construction, The Archer Family Charitable Foundation, The Utah Financial Services Foundation and The Women to Women Foundation.

Salt Lake Community College is Utahs largest open-access college, proudly educating the states most diverse student body in 8 areas of study at 12 locations and online. The majority of SLCC graduates transfer to four-year institutions, and thousands more are trained in direct-to-workforce programs. In 2023, the institution will celebrate 75 years of providing Utahns with education and training in fields that contribute to the states vibrant economy and high quality of life.
Marshall County Man Charged With Gun Theft

By West Kentucky Star Staff





MARSHALL COUNTY - A stolen firearm complaint in Marshall County led to a man's arrest.Deputies were dispatched on Tuesday to Symsonia Highway, where the victim told them that force was used to enter the vehicle and the firearm was taken from the center console.The investigation led deputies to a neighbor's home, where Carl Wecker confessed to the theft and damage to the vehicle.Wecker was arrested and lodged in the Marshall County Detention Center. He's charged with theft by unlawful taking or disposition - firearm and 2nd degree criminal mischief.
Farmers' Protest: Farmers to intensify agitation with Bharat Bandh, burning farm laws on Holi

India

oi-Ajay Joseph Raj P

New Delhi, Mar 17: Intensifying their agitation against the three farm laws, the Samyukt Kisan Morcha on Wednesday met with different mass organisations and associations to strategise for their 'Sampurna Bharat Bandh' on March 26.

Addressing a press conference, Ranjit Raju of Ganganagar Kisan Samiti said that during the nationwide strike on March 26, which also marks four months of the farmers' movement, all shops and other business establishments will remain shut for 12 hours. On March 28, the protestors will burn copies of the three laws during 'holika dehan', he added.

"The strike will start from 6 in the morning and will continue till 6 in the evening, during which all shops and dairies and everything will remain closed. "We will burn the copies of the three laws during Holi and hope that better sense prevails in the government, and it repeals the laws, and gives us a written guarantee for MSP," Raju said.

According to farmer leaders, the Samyukt Kisan Morcha's call for the bandh had found support in trade unions from organised and unorganised sectors, traders and arhtiya associations, workers' unions, including agricultural workers unions, transporter associations, teachers' associations, youth and students associations.

Assembly elections 2021: PM Modi to address rallies in West Bengal, Assam

"We are also trying to create such meetings at the state-level so that the strike is observed everywhere," said another farmer leader Purushottam Sharma. All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) leader Krishna Prasad said the fact that the movement had managed to continue for as long as 112 days was an achievement in itself, and it would only get stronger.

He added that the Bharat Bandh will be held at "state, zila, tehsil and village levels". "The protest has been going on for 112 days. That itself is an achievement. Neither you, nor us had thought that we could do this, and the public has shown that it supports us," he said.

Prasad also expressed concerns over the central government's move to introduce the Electricity Amendment Bill 2021, claiming that any amendments made to the act would be in violation of the commitment made by the government to the farmers in January.

Tamil Nadu elections 2021: Liquor ban promise surfaces again in poll-bound State

"The media wrote that 50 per cent of the demands of the farmers' movement were resolved. But, now they are trying to introduce the act again. This is cheating," he said.

An SKM statement said that several organisations had also committed to mobilising thousands of people at the protest sites at a time when the protesting farmers would have to attend to wheat harvesting operations in a couple of weeks' time.

The leaders also announced their plans to organise a "Shaheed Yadgar Kisan Mazdoor Padyatra" between March 18 and 23. "Preparations are underway for the people from Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Punjab to join the Shaheed Diwas events marking the martyrdom of Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev on March 23," the statement said.

One 'padayatra' will start on March 18 from Lal Sadak Hansi in Hisar in Haryana and will reach Tikri Border, another will start from Khatkar Kalan village in Punjab and pass through Panipat before reaching Singhu Border, and the third padayatra will begin in Mathura and will be headed towards Palwal.

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Cliff Lipson/CBS 2021 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved.K-pop sensation BTS did not win their first Grammy Award on Sunday, but the boy band is adamant that they didn't need a trophy to prove they won that night.

The group, who lost Best Pop Duo/Group Performance to Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande, celebrated the fact they are officially the first Korean pop group to perform one of their original songs at the awards ceremony.

BTS performed their summertime smash "Dynamite," which was also their first all-English single on Sunday.

When addressing the awards ceremony in a Monday interview with VLive, translated by AllKpop, the group expressed gratitude for their fans who believe they should have won the award.

While RM lamented that they were unable to physically be there at the Grammys and instead were beamed in from South Korea for their performance debut, he noted, "I saw a lot of articles saying we 'failed' to get the award, but I don't think it's a fail since we were able to perform for the first time as nominees."

He added, "I don't think it's a failure but let's look at the positive side; we were nominated for the first time and did our first solo performance."

The group looked ahead to next year, expressing confidence that 2022 will be the year they take home their first Grammy award.

Besides RM, BTS is comprised of members J-Hope, Jimin, Jin, Jungkook, Suga and V.

Prior to their 2021 performance, they attended the 2019 Grammys as presenters and graduated in 2020 to backup performers when helping Lil Nas X sing his country crossover hit "Old Town Road."

By Megan Stone

Copyright  2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.
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A nurse has gifted her 1950s 'time warp' apartment to the hospital she worked at for more than 70 years.

Elizabeth Anne 'Nan' Kearins bequeathed the $1.1million two-bedroom apartment in Darling Point in Sydney's eastern suburbs to the city's St Vincent's Hospital when she died at the age of 101 in 2019.

She never married but dedicated her life to the inner-city private hospital after starting training there as a nurse in 1936.

The apartment - part of a $6million gift to the Darlinghurst hospital - is largely untouched from when Ms Kearins first bought the property in 1959.

Retired nurse Elizabeth Anne 'Nan' Kearins bequeathed her 'time warp' $1.1million two-bedroom apartment to Sydney's St Vincent's Hospital

A picture of the nurse in her younger years sits on the wall in her living room. She started training as a nurse at St Vincent's Hospital in 1936

Ray White Taylor and Partners selling agent Walter Burfitt-Williams said it was rare to see properties from so long ago whose features are still nearly completely in tact

Boasting views of Sydney Harbour, the apartment has already had 100 expressions of interest ahead of its auction date on April 10.

Ray White Taylor and Partners selling agent Walter Burfitt-Williams said it was rare to see properties from so long ago whose features are still nearly completely in tact.

'It's like going into a time warp to go into an apartment that is so untouched,' he told Daily Mail Australia.

'Things like the blinds have deteriorated but otherwise the home is in immaculate condition.'

A portrait of Ms Kearins sits on the living room wall of the apartment showing her in her younger years.

The rest of the nurse's bequest is largely made up of her share portfolio, St Vincent's Curran Foundation bequest program manager Linda Newton said.

Mr Burfitt-Williams said the home would likely need major refurbishment work to fit modern conveniences.

The home overlooking Sydney Harbour still has all the original furnishings. The apartment has already had 100 expressions of interest ahead of its auction date on April 10

The home likely needs major refurbishment work to fit modern conveniences as it has not been touched in years, Mr Burfitt-Williams said

When the nurse moved in more than 60 years ago the home had just been built, the real estate agent told Daily Mail Australia

'The property hasn't been lived in for some time as she was in care in the final years of her life. Things like the cabinets will require a full renovation,' he said.

He said when the owner moved in more than 60 years ago the home had only just been built.

The nurse's wealth was made from financial guidance given to her by a businessman who believed she saved his life, The Wentworth Courier reported.

'It's like going into a time warp to go into an apartment that is so untouched,' Mr Burfitt-Williams said of the eastern suburbs property

The apartment shares a swimming pool outside the apartment block with other residents. The block has sweeping views over the city

The businessman, Jack Chown, was treated in her ward when he underwent a stomach operation in 1955.

Mr Chown asked his nephew Chris to keep an eye on her after he died.

'She didn't need any help with living arrangements but I looked after her investments,' the nephew said.
A Wisconsin judge was arrested Tuesday on tentative charges of possession of child pornography.

Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Brett Blomme, 38, was arrested following an investigation into 'multiple uploads of child pornography,' the Wisconsin Department of Justice said in a release.

A criminal complaint was expected to be filed Wednesday, the department said.

The images were allegedly uploaded through a Kik messaging application account in October and November.

Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Brett Blomme, 38, was arrested following an investigation into 'multiple uploads of child pornography,' the Wisconsin Department of Justice said in a release

The images were allegedly uploaded through a Kik messaging application account in October and November. Blomme is pictured right

The Kik application can be used to communicate in group chats or direct messages.

After linking the uploads to Blomme, investigators obtained search warrants for his judicial chambers, vehicle and residences in Milwaukee and Dane counties, the statement said.

Blomme is being held in the Dane County Jail. A message could not be left at a number listed for Blomme's chambers. A home phone number for him could not be found.

Prior to his arrest he presided over children's court at the Vel R. Phillips Youth and Family Justice Center, according to Fox6.

A 44-page search warrant filed Friday said investigators determined Blomme, using the name 'dommasterbb,' allegedly uploaded 27 videos and images containing child pornography, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported.

Investigators searched his judicial chambers, vehicle and residences in Milwaukee and Dane counties, the statement said. The Milwaukee County Courthouse is pictured

Two of the files were uploaded at a Milwaukee County government building, the search warrant said.

Blomme won election in April 2020 and took the bench in August 2020. His term is scheduled to end on July 31, 2026.

Before serving on the bench, Blomme was the president and CEO of Cream City Foundation in Milwaukee, WISN reported.

The organization's website says it mobilizes philanthropic resources 'to advance the human rights and respond to the human needs of LGBTQ+ people in Southeastern Wisconsin.'

According to his own website, Blomme lives in the Lenox Heights neighborhood on Milwaukees west side and he and his husband Chris have 2 children.
Suzanne Wakeman at Perth Childrens Hospital emergency department on Monday. I required security guards to carry my son to the car and hold him in a wheelchair. We have been waiting ever since. Mrs Wakeman says her son is not violent but his thoughts trigger such agitated behaviour that she struggles to physically control him, and she has other children at home. She kept him home from school for the week and after repeated calls to the hospital over its inaction, took him to emergency at 1pm on Monday to wait the seven hours for a bed.

Just unbelievable, she said while waiting. We are in a mental health observation room because we werent offered a room with a bed in ED as I was advised they are being kept free as they are respiratory beds due to COVID. Theyve offered us a mattress on the floor and a blanket rather than a bed when I expressed concern about the fact my son goes to bed around 8.30pm  if were still waiting  as he has a heavy amount of medication and also needs his sleep routine. Dr Wood said the departments behavioural assessment room was used for patients needing a quieter, low-stimulation waiting area. Due to the design safety needed in this room, there are limited furnishings only, he said. A portable mattress and blankets are used in this area according to patient needs and safety.

In emails seen by WAtoday to the clinical nurse at PCHs neurology ward last Thursday, the nurse apologised for Mrs Wakemans distress but said the hospital remains extremely busy. The promise of a follow-up email was never met. It is not acceptable to not treat a person who is in obvious need of medical treatment. It is a gross breach of duty of care, Mrs Wakeman said. The government simply needs to inject more funds and there needs to be an overhaul of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service in this state for young people. Mrs Wakemans story comes in the wake of WA Chief Psychiatrist Nathan Gibsons December findings that the mental health system was unable to cope with the overall rise in demand, which contributed to the death of 13-year-old Kate Savage last year.

Kates mother Meron Savage told WAtoday of her daughters agonising suicide in September after 10 previous attempts and seven hospital admissions, which always resulted in her being turned away without ongoing help. Loading The mental health inpatient unit at PCH is under growing pressure, with high rates of 28-day readmission and an increasing number of children and young people with mental health disorders admitted to other wards in the hospital because of a lack of available specialist mental health beds, Dr Gibson said in his findings. According to PCHs 2019 annual report, its mental health readmissions within 28 days was at 28.5 per cent, more than twice its target of 12 per cent, with the average cost per bed-day in specialised mental health inpatient services reaching $3769  almost $250 more than it should. Dr Gibson found the lack of early intervention and the major gap between PCH and the limited hours of the clinic-based community CAMHS was partly to blame.

Kates early history highlights the opportunities that existed, particularly after her first contact with CAMHS, to potentially change the course of her life, Dr Gibson said. According to CAMHS figures, the number of referrals for children up to 17 increased by 51 per cent between 2015 and 2019. And over the past decade, Perth emergency departments have experienced a 403 per cent increase in self-harm, suicide risk, and attempted suicide presentations in children under 13 and 214 per cent increase for 13 to 17-year-olds. Premier Mark McGowan recently pledged $361 million to mental health, including building two specialised emergency centres in Rockingham and Armadale, as well expanding initiatives to support the mental health of young people. But Perth hospitals are at breaking point and the WA branches of the Australian Medical Association and the Australasian College for Emergency Medicine say the promises of the state election will not immediately fix the urgent ramping and lack of beds issues.

WAtoday previously reported on a breastfeeding mother who had to wait 13 hours in a wheelchair with a painful 25 centimetre blood clot in her thigh before a hospital bed was found, while a 92-year-old man spent 10 hours ramped in an ambulance. Loading PCHs specialist mental health unit, known as Ward 5A, has 20 beds of which 14 were dedicated to acute cases like Mrs Wakemans son. He has since been admitted to the neurology ward but Mrs Wakeman said her sons only option was to share a room with a five-year-old girl. Dr Wood agreed that PCH was experiencing a high number of children presenting to its emergency department.

And at these times, patients and families may have a longer than usual wait to be assessed, he said. We continue to focus on providing the best possible treatment and care for children and young people. This includes our mental health and medical services in the inpatient and community settings. Dr Gibson told WAtoday he would be seeking early assurances from the CAMHS taskforce, chaired by Ms Robyn Kruk, that his recommendations from the review into Kate Savages death would be appropriately considered. And that those recommendations publicly agreed to by the previous government will be actioned in a timely way, he said. The pressures on child and adolescent mental health services in Western Australia remain very high.
Outstanding Educational Leader Meet Mayanka Sharma who Transformed a Govt School into a Model School

Award Category: Outstanding Educational Leader

Introduction: Mayanka Sharma, Principal P. S. Chanepur Chhabilepur, Mainpuri, UP

Achievement: Launched a series of innovative measures to ensure academic continuity and transformed a Govt School into a Model School

One of the biggest and most long-lasting effects of COVID-19 is the changes it has brought about in the education system. The centuries-old, chalk and talk teaching model was transformed overnight into a tech-savvy, digital model that uses video calls, online classes and virtual assignments. But many still do not have access to the online mode of schooling due to the digital divide that exists in our society. Ms. Mayanka Sharmas Primary School based in Chanepur Chhabilepur, Mainpuri also falls in one such area where digital literacy and solutions are hard to reach. But, during the pandemic, she took it upon herself to ensure that the academic continuity of students is maintained and launched a series of initiatives, which in turn transformed her Government School into a Model School for everyone to look up to.

Achievements

Transforming a Government School into a Model School

At present, Ms. Mayanka serves as the head teacher of her government school in Uttar Pradeshs Chanepur village. When she initially joined the school as a teacher, she was upset over its dilapidated condition. Also, the only way to reach the school was through farms, which was inaccessible during the rainy season. She realised the need to do something for the betterment of the school, which in turn, will help the students at large.

With this vision in mind, Ms. Mayanka with the help of students, teachers, officials and the people residing in the area made efforts to transform the school without any financial aid. She motivated the students as well as teachers to renovate the school and further convinced the people to allow the building a road to the school to ensure a brighter future for their kids.

As Ms. Mayanka quotes, many teachers who have been posted to the school in the past, got themselves transferred to other schools due to the aforementioned reasons. She too had an option to get transferred to other schools but chose to stay back and transform the very same school into a model school.

After two years of her untiring efforts, the school has now become an inspiration for many. The school is now known for its innovative teaching methods. These include classroom activities and the School Book of Records.

As explained by Ms. Mayanka, the aim of the classroom activities is to help students excel in co-scholastic areas such as painting, dancing, singing and so on, along with scholastic areas. The strips of cardboard having questions related to the academic topics are prepared by the teachers. When a topic is finished, the strips are distributed amongst the students who claim that they have understood the chapter well and are asked to solve it. This helps the teachers in focussing more on the weaker students who have not retained the concepts well.

The school also has a book of records, School Book of Records, similar to the other record-holding books such as the Limca Book of Records and holds the records made by the students such as the maximum number of tables learnt by a student, names of all the districts of a state learnt by a student and more. The students also take part in social rallies and awareness campaigns such as Women Empowerment, Save Daughters, Child Safety and more. These innovative methods used by the school for an enhanced teaching-learning process under the leadership of Ms. Mayanka transformed it into a Model School.

Continuity of learning amid a global health pandemic

"We should never give up and always move forward by finding new ways," says Ms. Mayanka.

As a teacher, she always wished and worked for the successful future of her students. Even the pandemic couldn't stop her from imparting knowledge to the students. During the pandemic period, she launched a series of initiatives that inspired and motivated others also to join hands with her to ensure that her students are able to continue their studies from the safety of their homes. Some of the key initiatives launched by her as listed below:

Apki Kaksha Apke Ghar initiative

The closure of schools and universities to contain the pandemic affected the studies of the students worldwide. While online learning became the new normal, the underprivileged students suffered due to lack of resources. To bridge this gap and ensure learning for all, she started an initiative called 'Apki Kaksha Apke Ghar'.

The initiative was started through the students who had access to smartphones with the objective of encouraging digital learning among students. Ms. Mayanka made videos and uploaded them to the social media platforms such as WhatsApp, Facebook and YouTube. The students helped her in circulating these videos to underprivileged students. The initiative was a big success and was covered by several media agencies.

DIY Whiteboard

A common issue that most teachers faced across India was access to the whiteboard amid the strict COVID-19 induced lockdown. To help such teachers, Ms. Mayanka made a DIY whiteboard and shared it with them through social media platforms. The small but impactful effort made by her was widely acknowledged.

Wall of Knowledge

Amid the pandemic, Ms. Mayanka made painstaking efforts and motivated the educated youth of the area to ensure continuity of education among others. Ms. Mayanka makes a work plan every day based on the academic syllabus for the students of her school and sends them to the aforementioned people who further write them on the DIY whiteboard which are hung outside the walls of their homes.

The students, as per their comfort, note down the work from the wall of knowledge, go back home and learn the same. The initiative is as per COVID-19 protocols of social distancing as there are no fixed timings to note down the work. Not only youths but the parents too joined the initiative, making a larger impact on the society as the wall of learning is not limited to academic learning of students but also aware the people about various issues, the current one being COVID-19 pandemic, its impact and safety measures.

Mohalla classes

It is well established that there's no substitute for physical learning. Thus, to ensure the same while following COVID-19 protocols, the mohalla classes came into play with the aim 'each one teaches ten'. The educated youths of the area were motivated to join the initiative and what started as a small effort snowballed into a larger initiative. Around 8-10 teachers came forward to join hands by sending the educational videos and study material to these people who further teach the students. The work done by the students is sent to the teachers for checking.

Mere Hastakshar Meri Pehchan

When Ms. Mayanka went to the nearby villages to take Mohalla classes, she was appalled that the females did not know how to sign. In a bid to push them towards literacy, she taught the women how to sign and gave responsibility to her students to teach their mothers. The efforts were recognised by many media houses and widely appreciated by the people.

Effective use of social media

In order to fight the novel coronavirus, Ms. Mayanka, with the help of social media, made efforts to create awareness among the students as well as parents about the pandemic, its impact and safety measures. She has also uploaded the academic syllabus on social media platforms for better reach among the students.

Awards and Accolades

Due to her unending efforts in varied fields, from overhauling the school to empowering women, Ms. Mayanka has received several awards. These are mentioned below:

National Innovation Award 2020 by Hon. Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Prakash Javadekar for zero-investment innovations in the education sector.

National Innovation Award 2019 by Hon. Minister of Education Mr. Ramesh Pokhariyal Nishank for her innovative teaching methods.

Ms. Mayanaka was selected for the National Conference on leadership practices in Schools by the National Institute of Educational Planning and Administration in 2019.

Her research case was selected by NCERT for the national conference on school improvement on the theme of Putting the Child First. She was also invited for the live discussion on the NCERT Official TV channel for discussion about her innovative ideas on School Leadership Development in 2019.

Governor/State Teacher Award for 2018 by Hon. Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Mr. Yogi Adityanath for the betterment of school and society.

For her initiatives involving nature and environment, she received a state-level certificate from Wipro on the topic of Garbage and sustainability.

Basic Education Department of Mainpuri awarded her the Utkrisht Shikshak Award for the year 2018-19.

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Mayanka Sharma is a finalist for Outstanding Educational Leader Award Because

Ms. Mayanka not only ensured academic learning of the students but also enhanced their creative side. She also worked towards the betterment of society and convinced the parents in rural areas to send their daughters to school, thereby empowering the women. Despite significant challenges faced by grassroot educators, Ms. Mayanka has gone beyond the mile and has displayed conspicuous leadership during difficult times. In doing so, she has effected large scale impact and has emerged as an inspiration for many.
Cover of "The Korean Collection at the Cleveland Museum of Art" / Courtesy of Overseas Korean Cultural Heritage Foundation



By Kwon Mee-yoo



From Goryeo celadon to a rare triad Buddhist sculpture from the 1392-1910 Joseon Kingdom, gems of Korean art in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art can be vicariously viewed in a catalogue compiled by the Overseas Korean Cultural Heritage Foundation (OKCHF).



"The Korean Collection at the Cleveland Museum of Art," is the 16th in the OKCH series by the foundation that researches notable collections of Korean cultural artifacts around the globe.



The book features 379 pieces of Korean items in the American museum's collection, surveyed by the OKCHF on three occasions from 2015 to 2016.



"With detailed descriptions of selected objects and essays further illuminating some of the highlights of the collection, the publication provides a comprehensive overview of the museum's holdings of Korean art," the foundation said in a statement.



The Cleveland Museum of Art start collecting Korean art relatively early, through gifts and purchases, in 1915. Now one of the most distinguished collections outside of Korea, the museum has a wide range of Korean art including ceramics, paintings and craftwork.





"Celadon Kundika with Inlaid Parrot Design" from the 12th century Goryeo Kingdom in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art / Courtesy of Cleveland Museum of Art
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Connected Warrior

DODs 5G foundation to support telerobotic surgery pilot

The Defense Department is preparing for 5G-based telemedicine experiments with technologies such as augmented reality (AR) and robotic surgery.

DOD is expected to issue requests for prototype proposals from Joint Base San Antonio (JSBA) in Texas after releasing a statement of work for a 5G telemedicine and medical training project. The SOW sought industry input on development related to 5G-enabled AR/virtual reality-guided medical training, advanced telehealth information access, advanced robotic surgery and telementoring via AR for medical procedures.

The 5G network is critical to telemedicine because it shifts from the voice-centric 4G network to application-to-application communication without human intervention, National Spectrum Consortium (NSC) Vice Chairman Randy Clark said.

Considering military hospitals, Department of Veterans Affairs medical facilities and the sheer number of people DOD is responsible for taking care of at peacetime and at war, it becomes a very important strategic decision to modernize, leveraging the benefits of 5G for health care, Clark said.

With 5G, telemedicine stands to become more efficient as providers diagnose and care for people while they are at home. Whats more, 5G-supported business process improvement and robotics mean that cardiovascular surgeons could put their expertise to use anywhere in the world, even performing AR- and VR-assisted robotic surgery. That spreads knowledge exponentially, especially for an organization with constituents worldwide.

The network, through cognition and [artificial intelligence], will be able to make decisions in milliseconds  perhaps hundreds of thousands of decisions in milliseconds, Clark said. This is why we have to harness and accelerate the disruptive technologies in the ecosystem around 5G to create those advantages for our economic strength, and our economic strength is ultimately our best national defense.

Experiments in the four technical areas DOD specified will include the design and development of full-scale prototypes of 5G telemedicine applications running in real time on a the JSBA 5G core network. For instance, the purpose of AR-guided medical training is to prototype and demonstrate the application of the network to enhance in-garrison or just-in-time medical training.

The 5G Advanced Telehealth Information Access experiment will provide mobile enhancements that can handle on-demand, near-real-time and low-latency access to electronic health records. The final two experimentation areas focus on remote telerobotic surgery and the use of real-time 3D imagery and surgical video for tactical or airborne medical care.

The experimental areas that the government chose to prioritize pre-dated COVID, Clark said, adding that there will probably be long-term benefits to this experimentation and the reference architectures that are created for COVID and other pandemic-related crises that we could potentially see in the future.

In December 2020, DOD awarded 400-member NSC the Spectrum Forward OTA, which has a term of five years and a ceiling of $2.5 billion. Under it, NSC members will perform coordinated research and development projects designed to accelerate streamlining and upgrading of communications infrastructure, improving efficient spectrum utilization, and advancing microelectronics to enable protected and resilient networks, according to a press statement.

The first phase of DODs effort is the largest full-scale 5G test for dual-use applications in the world, according to a Jan. 6 announcement. The telemedicine testing is part of the second phase, or Tranche 2.

Were really trying to reach out to the entire 5G industry -- from the big companies to the traditional defense industrial base, and to small businesses and startups that are trying to create new and interesting technologies in 5G that can support DOD missions, said Joseph Evans, principal director for 5G in the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering. Were focused on getting those solicitations out and making sure we get the best players providing technologies to DOD.

This article first appeared on GCN, a Defense Systems partner site.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 17)  The number of COVID-19 cases in the Philippines has grown at a speed last seen in July last year, a health official said on Wednesday.

We have reached the peak we saw last July, Dr. Alethea de Guzman, a medical specialist at the Department of Health's Epidemiology Bureau, said in a briefing.

She said the new cases in the country went back to the July 2020 peak on Tuesday, which was when 4,437 COVID-19 cases were logged in a day.

On July 30, 2020, the country listed 4,063 coronavirus infections  the highest number of cases recorded in a single day for that month.

De Guzman noted the number of new cases reported per day in January this year was just hovering around 1,000. But by March, the daily average has jumped to around 3,000, she said, adding that the average number of cases recorded per day for the first two weeks of this month is 2.5 times higher than the daily infections in January.

De Guzman also said the number of cases in Metro Manila, which has been the COVID-19 epicenter from the beginning of the pandemic, has also reached its peak not seen since last year. She also noted that some cities in the region have exceeded their 2020 peak.

Bohol flagged for rapid increase in cases

While other areas in Central Visayas like the cities of Cebu, Mandaue, and Lapu-Lapu have been showing some slowdown in terms of new cases in the past two weeks compared to two weeks prior, the same cannot be said for Bohol.

We need to flag Bohol now," De Guzman said. "Ang bilis po ng pagdami ng kaso niya. (It is seeing a rapid increase in cases)."

The number of coronavirus infections nationwide climbed to 635,698 on Wednesday, 61,733 of which are active cases or currently ill. More than 88% of the total cases are considered recovered. The death toll stood at 12,866.
Spain has "immediately and preventively" suspended jabs with all batches of the AstraZeneca vaccine for at least 15 days after the latest reports of fatal blood clots detected in the Nordic countries. It comes after France, Germany and Italy also temporarily stopped injections of the Oxford University formula, this Monday (15 March).

The Minister of Health, Carolina Darias, urgently convened a videoconference meeting of autonomous regions this afternoon and ordered them to stop using the formula.

Until Friday 814,278 doses had already been injected to as many people in Spain, without any reports of serious side effects.

The Ministrys decision came shortly after national governments in Berlin, Paris and Rome announced this Monday that they would stop injecting the formula, preferring to listen to the opinions of their own experts, while ignoring the recommendations of the European Medical Agency (EMA), which throughout the past week and today still strongly insisted that there was no scientific evidence that the fatal blood clot cases were related to the vaccinations.

Other countries such as Norway, Iceland, Bulgaria, Ireland had already suspended the vaccination of doses of AstraZeneca formula after reports of fatal cases. The first death was the one that caused several countries, such as Austria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Luxembourg, to suspend vaccination with a specific ABV5300 batch from the British laboratories, which was distributed in regions across Spain during the second week of February.

Last Friday, Andalucia, Castilla y Leon, the Canary Islands, Catalonia and the Valencian Community blocked several thousand vials that were still in their warehouses from that batch, just hours after Health minister Darias publicly announced that there were no longer any doses of that batch because it had already been fully used.

This Monday, the European Medicines Agency, insisted that "the benefit-risk is still considered positive" and that "we do not see any problem in continuing the vaccination campaign with AstraZeneca", according to the Head of the Biological Threats to Health and Vaccines Unit of the European Medicines Agency (EMA), Marco Cavaleri in the European Parliament.

However, the EMA will meet with AstraZeneca this Thursday to address the crisis caused by the blood clot cases detected.
YEREVAN, MARCH 17, ARMENPRESS. French Ambassador to Armenia Jonathan Lacote assures that the Armenian prisoners of war must be returned from Azerbaijan.

My approach over the prisoners of war is clear and concrete  they must be returned. The process should be carried out not only based on the November 9 statement, but also on the human rights protection as envisaged by the international conventions, the French Ambassador told reporters in Yerevan.

He said the OSCE Minsk Group remains the only body where discussion, negotiations are possible in terms of giving any diplomatic solution to the issue.

When we talk about the OSCE Minsk Group, we must understand that we deal with a structure which ensures negotiations, is ready to mediate and help both sides. The Swedish foreign minister [who also serves as OSCE Chairperson-in-Office] has also mentioned the OSCE Minsk Group being as the only mediation body during her visit in Armenia. The Minsk Group Co-Chairs are currently in negotiations in order to conduct a working visit to the region, Jonathan Lacote said.

So far, Azerbaijan has returned 69 prisoners of war to Armenia. Recently captured Lebanese-Armenian Maral Najarian has also been released and returned to Beirut. On March 16 Armenian foreign ministry spokesperson Anna Naghdalyan announced that currently active interim measures are being applied against Azerbaijan over the case of 188 Armenian PoWs. Point 8th of the 2020 November 9 statement relates to all prisoners of war and other captured persons.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
The Budget and Finance committees of the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies, convened today in a joint meeting, issued negative opinions on the budget execution reports of the National Public Television Broadcaster for the years 2018 and 2019.

The vote was 23 "for" a negative opinion to 14 "against" on the 2018 budget execution report, and 23 to 15 for the 2019 report.

Liberal deputy Florin Roman proposed a negative vote on both reports, grounding his request on two arguments."One is related to the report of the Court of Accounts, which, unlike the situation of the National Radio Broadcaster, shows the extent of the ill management of the finances of the TVR budget managing authority. (...) Various interferences with the activity of Public Radio and Television Broadcasters have always existed, but what you, Mrs. Gradea, have succeeded, is to bring to perfection political interference with a television company that belongs to the Romanians. It does not belong to us, to you, or to those who previously governed Romania," said Florin Roman addressing TVR director general Doina Gradea.Gradea voiced her bewilderment at finding that the decisions have already been taken, mentioning that she will challenge them if they are not based on "real issues"."Let me tell you that I am amazed to see that the political decisions have already been taken and, practically, this now is just a formality by which you want to make sure that those political statements regarding our dismissal are compliant from a procedural point of view. Which is immoral and illegal, and I demand that any decision taken today be very clearly motivated, because I will challenge these decisions if they are not based on real issues," said Doina Gradea.

AGERPRES
Much ink has been spilled warning of the ramifications should Democrats pass their election reform package, HR1 -- and for good reason, given how the bill would upend our nations electoral system. Democrats claim HR1 is aimed at maximizing voter participation and ending corruption in our election systems, but the truth is that the legislation would do neither. Instead, it will only serve to open up our states elections to fraud and public mistrust at a time when we need to bolster voter confidence. Lets look at just a few of the many areas where HR1 would nationalize elections and cancel out state integrity and confidence-building measures.

First, the measure voids dozens of longstanding state voting procedures, many of which are relatively non-controversial and serve to give voters confidence in the accuracy and integrity of our elections process. HR1 would invalidate photo ID requirements -- such as those in Indiana -- that the Supreme Court have found constitutional and important confidence builders. These laws are popular with large majorities of Americans, and despite critics fearmongering they have not negatively impacted voter participation.

HR1 would also force states to allow ballot harvesting, a practice where third parties, usually political operatives, collect and return marked mail ballots. Laws restricting harvesting, which are also popular, deter fraud because they preserve a marked-ballot chain of custody and prevent coercion and undue influence on the elderly and other voters. Yet Democrats want to override these laws and normalize harvesting.

Just last week we saw additional criminal charges against candidates in an all-mail city council election in Paterson, N.J., for vote fraud related to harvesting and tampering with ballots. The fraud was so pervasive that a local judge voided the election and ordered a new one. There was also the infamous congressional race in North Carolina in 2018, when the election had to be thrown out because of fraud initiated through ballot harvesting. The good news is that ballot harvesting bans help prevent and detect these exact types of crimes. But if Congress nationalizes ballot harvesting through HR1, these stories may go from being cautionary tales to the new norm.

To date, the Republican National Committee has been successful in beating the Democrats in court challenges to harvesting bans and has been vocal about the need for bans. And they are not inherently partisan since many states, both blue and red, either prohibit harvesting or severely restrict it. Now, after losing in the courts, Democrats seek to impose the practice from Washington, D.C., with the arrogant belief that they know better than state legislatures about the election integrity measures their states require.

HR1 will also further restrict states from cleaning up their voter rolls. Under current federal law, a state must stop programs that remove ineligible voters from the rolls within 90 days before a federal election. This blackout period already significantly limits a states ability to remove voters who may have moved away, died, or are otherwise ineligible to vote because it applies to periods before both primaries and general elections. The Democrats propose expanding that blackout period for many programs to six months before any federal election. Not only will this prevent states from cleaning up their rolls in a federal election year, it will expand that period for many states into the off years.

Voter roll maintenance not only enhances election integrity by ensuring only eligible voters can cast ballots, it also promotes access by ensuring voters are properly registered when they do go to vote, thus preventing lines and provisional ballots that may not count. No wonder both parties have historically agreed on the importance of voter registration list upkeep. HR1s restrictions make Democrats intentions clear: They have abandoned any pretense that they still care about this issue that was once welcomed as reasonable and routine.

Cynics say that Republicans oppose this legislation because we want to restrict people from voting. This could not be further from the truth. The reality is that we want all eligible voters to be able to vote and vote easily  but voters must also have confidence that our elections systems have safeguards to prevent fraud and ensure accuracy. Previous federal election legislation such as the NVRA and HAVA made some attempt to balance the interests of voter integrity and access. But HR1 eliminates any pretense altogether by invaliding states reasonable ID requirements, mandating ballot harvesting, and enacting obstacles to critical voter roll maintenance.

The American people do not want a Washington takeover of their elections at the hands of congressional Democrats. They want election transparency and confidence in their future elections restored. These motives are exactly what the RNC will continue to fight for, both in the lead-up to the critical midterms and ahead of all elections to come.
Ping McKenna, an electrical engineer who worked in the space and technology industry at TRW for six years, decided to leave her career after having children to raise and homeschool them. Now that her youngest child has graduated from college, McKenna has decided to reenter the engineering workforce, but found she could use a little outside help in relaunching her career.

With over 23 years of experience in clinical healthcare, Andrea Clayton finished a masters degree in 2020 with plans to shift into health informatics. But Clayton found herself a bit lost without a network on the tech side of the healthcare industry to help facilitate her career pivot.

Both McKenna and Clayton are part of a rising trend that sees women seeking to enter technical fields, either as a return to a STEM career previously placed on pause or as a shift from a previous non-STEM role. And both have found transitional help from the Women in Technology (WIT) Mentor-Protege program.

McKenna joined the program after hearing about it from a fellow female engineer. She attended a WIT new members orientation session and felt inspired by the enthusiasm of the committee volunteers and their dedication to their chosen cause. McKennas daughter graduated with a Ph.D. in materials science engineering, so supporting women in STEM has become even more important to her than ever before.

Ping McKenna Ping McKenna, electical engineer

I have a passionate desire to promote and support women in the technical field because the innate capabilities of women should be enhanced and guided to careers in STEM, McKenna says.

In telling her story, Clayton says she joined the Mentor-Protege program at a very pivotal time in her career, noting that the program helped carry her through the job search process. Clayton, who now works as a health data analyst at Apogee Solutions, appreciated her time in the program so much that shes now a mentor herself.

I think the Mentor-Protege program can provide women with the confidence to be more comfortable with leadership, reaching out, building relationships, and networking so that they can be part of the group thats moving up in the organization, says Beth Bierden, chair of the Mentor-Protege committee at WIT.

How the program works

To join the protege program, candidates must already have at least five years of experience in the workforce. Youll need to complete an application and be accepted into the program, which comes with a $250 program fee for WIT members. If you arent already a WIT member, you will need to pay $350, which includes the membership fee.

WIT Beth Bierden, chair of the Mentor-Protege committee, WIT

Proteges who enter the program meet with mentors over the course of five months. Rather than working with the same mentor for the entire program, proteges meet with four different mentors who they can build and maintain relationships with. The first months session includes an orientation, where mentors and mentees can network, listen to speakers, and break off into smaller groups. Mentors are available to work with mentees on anything they want help with within their careers; theres no prescribed structure for the mentor-mentee relationship.

Mentors and proteges are matched by program liaisons after filling out an application that asks about their interests, goals and experience. While current sessions are being held virtually due to COVID-19, in-person sessions are sponsored by companies such as Microsoft and Lenovo, which provide a meeting space and other amenities for the program attendees. Sponsor companies also have the opportunity to get discounts for proteges interested in the program.

Counter Threat Solutions Valerie Passwaiter, director of marketing and communications, Counter Threat Solutions

The events are action-packed, informative, engaging, and a great way to network, says Valerie Passwaiter, a WIT mentor and director of marketing and communications at Counter Threat Solutions. The relationships build layer by layer with each session, resulting in an organic support system for women in tech. I liken it to crafting a patchwork quilt: each session adds another square, and the longer you participate, the bigger your quilt gets. When times get tough, snuggling up with a hot cup of tea and that warm quilt can help you get through anything.

Mentorship and career guidance

When Clayton joined the program, she hadnt written a resume or interviewed for a new position in over 15 years, so that was her main focus with her mentors. I had all of this book knowledge and project knowledge but no practical experience yet, she says.

Each mentor helped Clayton tackle a different aspect of her journey. Her first mentor helped with her resume and interviewing skills; another helped her overcome imposter syndrome and helped her build confidence in her skills and experience; and others helped guide her through the interview and negotiation process, answering any of her questions and offering advice along the way. For Clayton, her mentors served as crucial guides in making her career pivot.

Apogee Solutions Andrea Clayton, health data analyst, Apogee Solutions

I think its very cool how your goal within the Mentor-Protege program, even if youre doing one session, can evolve from very basic into something more complex as you go along, she says.

McKenna also found she learned unique insights from each of her mentors, and that the diversity of experience and opinions helped build her confidence getting back into the engineering workforce. She says her first mentor helped her appreciate the value of the soft skills she demonstrated while caring for and educating her children; her second mentor helped her figure out ways to update her technical skills through certification programs; her third mentor aided her in honing what type of work environment she was looking for; and her fourth mentor offered insight into how she uses her communication and people management skills to run her department. All four mentors shared insights into the current business and technical atmosphere in the professional technology environment, McKenna says.

Mentorship outside your organization

The WIT Mentor-Protege program offers women the opportunity to find mentorship opportunities outside their organization. While internal mentorship programs can have a lot to offer, if your company doesnt have women in leadership positions, it might be difficult to find a mentor who can speak to the unique experience of being a woman in a male-dominated field. Moreover, it can also be difficult asking certain questions to a mentor within your own company  especially if its about career opportunities elsewhere.

The nonaffiliated nature of WITs mentorship program augments the mentors ability to provide guidance without an agenda, McKenna says. Each mentor can then focus on considering the best for the protege based on her personality and strengths rather than on how the proteges strength can benefit the companys financial health. Because I knew that my mentors were not a company representative, it was easier for me to trust in their guidance and assessment.

The mentorship relationships are also often two-way; while mentors are set up to help mentees succeed, mentors often find they learn a lot from their proteges as well. Counter Threats Passwaiter joined the program because she felt passionate about helping other women in their careers, and wanted to share what she had learned in her 30 years working in corporate America.

I was hoping to be able to offer advice so that recent grads seeking to make headway or seasoned pros considering switching careers could avoid some of the challenges Ive faced trying to establish and advance my career, she says.

But she found that shes learned just as much from the proteges shes worked with. Being paired up with women from other industries, or who are at different places in their careers, has helped Passwaiter grow her own perspective.

In a way, they have mentored my growth, particularly in recognizing the importance of diversity and inclusion in the workplace. Seeking out differing points of view and understanding cultural differences results in better interactions and end products, as well as a friendlier workplace, she says.

Ardigent Consulting Bella Trenkova, CEO and president, Ardigent Consulting

Bella Trenkova, CEO and president of Ardigent Consulting, joined the program in 2016 while working as VP of software development at a midsize government contractor. After 20 years in IT, where she was often the only woman or the youngest person in the room, she wanted to share what shed learned with other women in tech.

At the time, I was working for a company with very few women in IT positions. As their boss, I was already engaged with them in a leadership and mentoring capacity, yet due to the direct-reporting relationship there were some boundaries for what I could and could not share with them. Participating in the WIT Mentor-Protege program expanded my outreach and reduced the imposed boundaries, says Trenkova.

The WIT Mentor-Protege program ultimately offers more than mentorship  its about creating a community for women in technology to come together to inspire, support, and encourage one another.

Having spent time overcoming biases and disproving stereotypes in my past, being with like-minded strong and resilient women made me feel as if I had found a home whose members understood my struggles as well as each others and supported one another to foster a temporary respite from the professional conflicts within the working environment, says McKenna.
PhonePe topped the app category on the UPI platform in terms of volume and amount involved in the transactions that it facilitated, as per data published by the National Payments Corporation of India.

PhonePe topped the app category with 975.53 million customer initiated transactions for UPI payments involving an amount of Rs 1,89,517.82 crore in February. "We are delighted to emerge as leaders in the UPI merchant transactions. Our leadership in the P2M space is due to an expansion of the market with more merchants using our platform in smaller towns," PhonePe Vice President - Offline Business Development, Vivek Lohcheb said.

PhonePe was closely followed by Google Pay with 827.86 million transactions involving Rs 1,74,455.33 crore, Paytm Payments Bank stood a distant third with 340.71 million transactions worth Rs 38,493.52 crore and BHIM stood fourth with barely 20.44 million transactions worth Rs 6,379.91 crore.

SBI was the top remitter on the UPI platform in February, while Paytm Payments Bank led the chart in the beneficiary segment. According to the data published by NPCI, State Bank of India (SBI) recorded 656.92 million remittance transactions in February, that is money was sent out from the bank using the UPI platform. It was followed by HDFC Bank with 207.27 million remittance transactions, Axis Bank (164.27 million), Paytm Payments Bank (149.32 million) and ICICI Bank (148.98 million).

Paytm said it registered the lowest technical decline rate of 0.11 per cent as compared to all UPI remitter banks and 0.04 per cent as compared to all UPI beneficiary banks. The transaction on Paytm Payments Bank platform increased by 5.5 per cent in the beneficiary segment compared to previous month, the company said in a statement.

"We have witnessed rapid adoption of our UPI payments service across the country as more users are embracing our seamless technology that powers a fast payment experience. Our performance as highlighted in the latest NPCI report is a testament to the trusted & long-lasting relationship that we have with our partners," Paytm Payments Bank MD and CEO Satish Gupta said.

Also read: RBI imposes Rs 2 crore penalty on SBI for regulatory violations
One of the most vital functions performed by the cells in our body is DNA repair, a task so crucial to our well-being that failing to execute it can lead to consequences as dreadful as cancer. The process of DNA repair involves a complex interplay between several gene pathways and proteins. One such pathway is the "Fanconi anemia (FA) pathway," whose genes participate in DNA repair. FANCM, a component of this pathway, is tasked with the elimination of harmful DNA "inter-strand cross-links," and interacts with another component called MHF in order to function. The importance of the FANCM-MHF complex is well-documented: its loss can result in chromosomal instabilities that can lead to diseases such as FA itself and cancer. However, little is known about its structure and the basis of its stability.

Against this backdrop, Associate Professor Tatsuya Nishino and his colleague Dr. Sho Ito from Tokyo University of Science decided to explore the crystalline structure of this intriguing complex using X-ray diffraction techniques. "DNA damage and chromosome segregation are mechanisms necessary for the maintenance and inheritance of genes possessed by all organisms. MHF (also known as CENP-SX) is an enigmatic complex that plays a role in DNA repair and chromosome segregation. We wanted to find out how it performs these two different functions in the hope that it might give us insights into novel phenomena," explains Prof. Nishino. Their findings are published in Acta Crystallographica Section F: Structural Biology Communications.

The scientists prepared a recombinant version of the FANCM-MHF complex, consisting of FANCM from chickens and MHF1 and MHF2. They were able to purify three different types of protein crystals--tetrahedral, needle-shaped, and rod-shaped--from similar crystallization conditions. Surprisingly, upon determining the structure with X-ray crystallography, they found that two of the crystal forms (tetrahedral and needle-shaped) contained only the MHF complex without FANCM.

Intrigued by this discovery, the scientists used biochemical techniques to examine what caused the FANCM-MHF complex to disassemble. They attributed it to the presence of a compound called 2-methyl-2, 4-pentanediol (MPD), an organic solvent commonly used in crystallography, and exposure to an oxidizing environment.

But, how exactly does the dissociation happen? The scientists believe that this may have been caused partly by certain non-conserved amino acids in the chicken FANCM which causes the complex to aggregate with other FANCM-MHF complexes and disassemble. Additionally, they surmise that the small, flexible structure of MPD may have also allowed it to bind to and facilitate the release of FANCM, dismantling the complex.

The findings are extraordinary and can be used to improve the stability of the FANCM-MHF complex for future studies on its structure and function. Dr. Ito believes we have much to expect in the future from this complex. "A good understanding of this complex can help us treat cancer and genetic diseases, create artificial chromosomes, and even develop new biotechnological tools," he speculates.

Thanks to Prof. Nishino and Dr. Ito's efforts, we are already one step closer to that goal!

###

About The Tokyo University of Science

Tokyo University of Science (TUS) is a well-known and respected university, and the largest science-specialized private research university in Japan, with four campuses in central Tokyo and its suburbs and in Hokkaido. Established in 1881, the university has continually contributed to Japan's development in science through inculcating the love for science in researchers, technicians, and educators. With a mission of "Creating science and technology for the harmonious development of nature, human beings, and society", TUS has undertaken a wide range of research from basic to applied science. TUS has embraced a multidisciplinary approach to research and undertaken intensive study in some of today's most vital fields. TUS is a meritocracy where the best in science is recognized and nurtured. It is the only private university in Japan that has produced a Nobel Prize winner and the only private university in Asia to produce Nobel Prize winners within the natural sciences field.

Website: https:/ / www. tus. ac. jp/ en/ mediarelations/

About Professor Tatsuya Nishino from Tokyo University of Science

Tatsuya Nishino is an associate professor at the Department of Biological Science and Technology at Tokyo University of Science, Japan. He received his masters and Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree from Osaka University, Japan in 1997 and 2001, respectively. His research area is molecular biology, where he works on structural biology of complexes involved in chromosome partitioning and chromosome segregation. He has 30 publications to his credit with over 1900 citations. Details about his research can be found here: https:/ / nishinotatsuya. wixsite. com/ toppage

Funding information

This work was supported by the collaboration project of the Platform Project for Supporting Drug Discovery and Life Science Research (Basis for Supporting Innovative Drug Discovery and Life Science Research; BINDS) from AMED (Grant No. 1739), NIG-JOINT (Grant Nos. 6A2017, 2A2018 and 85A2019), Cooperative Research Program of the Institute for Protein Research, Osaka University (Grant Nos. CR-17-05, CR-18-05 and CR-19-05), and Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research from the Japanese Society for the Promotion of Science (Grant Nos. 16K07279 and 20K06512).


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Moncks Corner, SC (29461)

Today

Cloudy skies this evening followed by scattered showers and thunderstorms overnight. Low 68F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%..

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Cloudy skies this evening followed by scattered showers and thunderstorms overnight. Low 68F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%.
The three shootings Tuesday that killed eight people, six of them Asian women, has dramatically increased the sense of fear in the Asian community, which has already been experiencing an increase in violence and hate incidents.

Police arrested a suspect in the shootings at three spas in Atlanta and a northern suburb Tuesday night. Atlanta police said Wednesday that it was too early to determine the motive; Cherokee County Sheriff Frank Reynolds said the suspect told authorities he had a sex addiction.

Even if the incident is not determined to be racially motivated, community leaders and experts say a series of violent attacks this year and a rise in hate incidents are fueled by racist rhetoric about the coronavirus pandemic and are "distinct but related trends."

"Asian American communities were already set on edge. We were alarmed by the rate of violence and hate directed towards us," said Russell Jeung, who created Stop AAPI Hate, which tracks incidents against Asian American Pacific Islander communities. "The shooting is again the worst type of violence we could go through. ... It can't continue."

More: Will Atlanta shootings spur action on anti-Asian hate crime laws?

Spa shootings: Suspect arrested after 8 people killed; most victims were Asian

Vice President Kamala Harris, who is African American and Asian American, told reporters Wednesday that the "tragic" shooting speaks to a larger problem of violence in America.

The investigation is ongoing, we dont yet know, were not yet clear about the motive," she said. "But I do want to say to our Asian American community that we stand with you and understand how this has frightened and shocked and outraged all people.

U.S. Rep. Ted Lieu, D-Calif., offered his condolences to the victim's family's on Twitter, highlighting that the shootings occurred during a spike in anti-Asian violence. Lieu said racist phrases used byformer President Donald Trump "inflamed discrimination against the Asian American community."

Story continues

"Was this a hate crime? We need more evidence," Lieu said on Twitter. "But we do know the alleged murderer targeted three locations where the victims would disproportionately be Asian women."

Leaders of Asian American Advancing Justice-Atlanta called on local and state government officials to provide crisis intervention resources and "address the root causes of violence and hate."

That the Asian women murdered yesterday were working highly vulnerable and low-wage jobs during an ongoing pandemic speaks directly to the compounding impacts of misogyny, structural violence and white supremacy, said Phi Nguyen, the group's litigation director, in a statement.

Law enforcement officials confer outside a massage parlor following a shooting on Tuesday, March 16, 2021, in Atlanta. Shootings at two massage parlors in Atlanta and one in the suburbs have left multiple people dead, many of them women of Asian descent, authorities said Tuesday.

Anti-Asian violence , hate incidents on the rise

Violence against Asian Americans sharply increased in March 2020 as COVID-19 began spreading across the country, Jeung told USA TODAY last month.

Stop AAPI Hate, which includes a self-reporting tool for harassment, discrimination and violent attacks, recorded 3,795 incidents of anti-Asian discrimination across the U.S. from its inception on March 19 to Feb. 28, 2021, according to data released Tuesday before the Georgia shootings.

Women report hate incidents 2.3 times more than men, and Koreans are the second-largest ethnic group that reports experiencing hate, according to the new data. The South Korean Foreign Ministry said Wednesday that its diplomats in Atlanta confirmed four of the women killed Tuesday were of Korean descent.

"There is what we call intersectional oppression, that they're seen as vulnerable both because theyre Asian and because theyre women," Jeung said.

Hate crimes against Asian Americans are on the rise: Here's what activists, lawmakers and police are doing to stop the violence

Another organization, Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Asian American Justice Center, recorded more than 3,000 hate incidents in its self-reporting system since late April 2020  by far the highest number in the tool's four-year history.

The FBI collects national hate crime data, but data for 2020 and 2021 has not yet been released. In 2019, 216 anti-Asian hate crimes were reported, according to the latest data available.

That number may be just a fraction of the true total given that fewer than half of the victims of a hate crime ever report it to the police, according to data from the Bureau of Justice Statistics.

In Georgia, 32 anti-Asian hate incidents were reported between March 20 and Oct. 28, 2020, mirroring the nationwide trend, according to Stop AAPI Hate.

Georgia was one of only a handful of states without hate crimes laws until Gov. Brian Kemp signed legislation in June imposing additional penalties for crimes motivated by bias and requiring data collection on hate crime incidents in the state. Kemp signed the legislation weeks after Black jogger Ahmaud Arbery was shot by armed white men in what many called a modern-day lynching.

Recent violent attacks draw outrage

A series of violent crimes against Asians and Asian Americans this year caused concern on social media and prompted activists and experts to call for more to be done to address violence against the community

In San Jose on Feb. 3, a 64-year-old Vietnamese woman was assaulted and robbed of $1,000 in cash she had withdrawn for Lunar New Year. No arrest has been made, and there is no indication the robbery was race-related, public information officer Sgt. Christian Camarillo said.

In New York that same day, 61-year-old Noel Quintana, who is of reportedly Filipino descent, was slashed in the face with a box cutter on the subway. Quintana told The Washington Post a suspect has been arrested and charged with assault. Spokesperson Detective Denise Moroney told USA TODAY the NYPDs Hate Crime Task Force is investigating the incident as a possible bias crime.

In San Francisco on Jan. 28, Vicha Ratanapakdee, a Thai man, was attacked and later died. Eric Lawson, his son-in-law, told USA TODAY last month that he believes the 84-year-old was targeted because he was Asian. Lawson added that his wife, who is Thai, was verbally assaulted twice and told to "go back to China" before the attack.

"Everyone is dancing around the issue, and no one's addressing it," he said.

'Stop killing us': Attacks on Asian Americans highlight rise in hate incidents amid COVID-19

San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin filed murder and elder abuse charges against Antoine Watson, but his office has "no evidence of what motivated this senseless attack," spokesperson Rachel Marshall told USA TODAY in February.

Although it's unclear whether these particular cases are racially motivated, they are certainly "related" and "horrific," Jeung told USA TODAY last month.

"What makes it worse is we see our elderly and youth also targeted," he said. "It seems like people are attacking vulnerable populations."

This group of 700 volunteers is taking action: A string of attacks against Asian Americans rattles California's Bay Area

Biden denounces hate crimes , lawmakers introduce legislation

In his first prime-time address to the nation last Thursday, President Joe Biden called out "vicious hate crimes against Asian Americans who've been attacked, harassed, blamed and scapegoated."

"At this very moment, so many of them, our fellow Americans, are on the front lines of this pandemic trying to save lives," Biden said. "And still, still they are forced to live in fear for their lives just walking down streets in America. It's wrong, it's un-American and it must stop."

Biden signed a memorandum in late January denouncing xenophobia and violence against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. Lawmakers from the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, a group of lawmakers representing the interests of Asian Americans, have requested a meeting with the administration to discuss the orders' implementation, though the meeting has not yet been scheduled.

'It's wrong, it's un-American': President Biden denounces attacks against Asian Americans

More: Lawmakers to introduce anti-hate crime legislation amid rise in anti-Asian hate and violence

Democratic lawmakers plan to introduce a bill addressing the rise in hate incidents directed at Asian Americans amid the pandemic. The bill, a revised version of legislation introduced but not passed in the last Congress, would create a new position at the Department of Justice to facilitate the review of hate crimes and provide oversight of hate crimes related to COVID-19.

Jeung said expanding ethnic studies, civil rights protections, restorative justice models, linguistically appropriate mental health and trauma resources, and neighborhood watch programs are necessary to address the range of racism the community is facing.

"We need a whole government approach thats comprehensive to uproot the racism were experiencing and the violence," he said.

On Thursday, the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Constitution, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties will hold a hearing on discrimination and violence against Asian Americans."

John C. Yang, president and CEO of Asian Americans Advancing Justice-AAJC, who is expected to testify before the subcommittee, said on Twitter that the hearing "became even more important" Tuesday night.

"Our community needs to feel protected, and policymakers must hear and address our concerns," he said.

Contributing: Nicholas Wu, USA TODAY

Follow N'dea Yancey-Bragg on Twitter: @NdeaYanceyBragg

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Atlanta shootings: Asian communities on edge after latest attacks
A Singaporean woman has been handed a 15-month jail term for abusing her Indonesian domestic help for over eight months, beating her and in one case making her hit herself in the mouth with a meat pounder.

Mun Sau Yeng, 41, pleaded guilty to voluntarily hurting the worker during the course of her one year of employment.

According to Today Online, the Indonesian domestic help started working with Mun from 2018 and was abused several times over a range of petty issues related to the employers demands for excessive cleaning.

Muns defence lawyer told the court that her client suffered depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) at the time and asked the court to reduce her jail term to one year.

Detailing her abuse, the Indonesian woman told the court that the woman hit her with the floor nozzle of a vacuum cleaner and punched her head, just two months into the job.

In 2018, Mun punched her on the face several times before telling her to punch herself on the cheeks for about 50 times because she ate a can of sardines. The victim obliged and her faced got bruised for days.

Read more:

The accused was of the view that the victim would remember the pain better if the victim punched herself, Deputy Public Prosecutor Colin Ng said.

The accused did not take the victim to see a doctor as she was aware that what she did was wrong. In addition, she instructed the victim to tilt her head down for the rest of the day as she wanted to prevent her husband from seeing the victim's injuries, he added.

Detailing another incident, the court was told the woman asked the maid to hit herself on the mouth until her teeth dropped out because she noticed fingerprints on the kitchen windows. The victim gave in after pleading several times and repeatedly hit herself.

She then instructed her to strike herself with a meat pounder. Despite her attempts, her teeth did not come out but three of her lower teeth became loose.

Seeing that no teeth had dropped, Mun took the meat pounder, pulled down the victim's lower lip and struck it once, chipping off one of her teeth, Today Online reported.

The abuse continued as the victim was not able to escape her employer. The victim eventually sought help from Centre for Domestic Employees, which was formed to help distressed workers, and a police case was registered against the woman.

This is not the first such incident that was reported in Singapore, where foreign domestic helpers can be hired through both registered and unregistered employment agencies with little oversight.

In February, a 40-year-old Singaporean woman was charged for heinously abusing and starving her house help. The worker was reduced to a weight of 24kg when she was found dead in 2016, with her autopsy detailing bent bones, fractures and scars.
PORTAGE, MI -- The annual career discovery event for eighth-grade students in Southwest Michigan is going virtual this year.

The MiCareerQuest Southwest career discovery event will be held virtually Wednesday, May 12, according to a press release from the Kalamazoo Regional Educational Service Agency.

Eighth-grade students from districts across the region will be invited to virtually explore dozens of careers, interact with local professionals and industry experts and discover multiple career options in high-demand industries including healthcare, engineering, manufacturing and professional trades and information technology, the release said.

A grant from Stryker allowed the event to continue virtually amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the release said.

We are so happy that we are still able to provide southwest Michigan students with these exciting experiences this year, said Jason Luke, KRESA Career & Technical Education career awareness & exploration director. The event serves as a catalyst for area youth to discover self- and option-awareness in a fun, experiential setting. MiCareerQuest Southwest Virtual is sure to be a safer alternative this year while still engaging young people to discover the possibilities of their future.

Representatives from local businesses will be in attendance, including Bronson Healthcare Group, Kalamazoo Valley Community College, Michigan State Police, Western Michigan University, Miller-Davis, Wightman and many more, the release said.

MiCareerQuest Southwest supports both employers, by filling talent gaps, and youth, by facilitating career exploration by providing students hands-on opportunities to engage with local employers, said Ashley Iovieno, Michigan Works! Southwest business services manager.

Employers who are interested in participating should complete the MiCareerQuest Southwest Employer Commitment Form by March 30.

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Western Michigan students partner with Michigan State Police to crack unsolved murders

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STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  A New Jersey boy was killed Tuesday and his mother was badly injured after they were attacked by two dogs in Carteret, reported NJ.com, the Advance/SILive.coms sister site.

The child, who was 3 years old, was transported to a local hospital after the attack at a private home, where he was pronounced deceased, according to the report.

It was not yet clear who the dogs belonged to, authorities told NJ.com.

The Advance/SILive.com recently reported on a horrifying encounter between an Annadale mother of four and a Rotweiller that allegedly left the woman with a mangled arm.

That incident sparked memories of other brutal Staten Island dog attacks in recent years that left dog owners injured and even beloved pets dead.

However, New Yorks dog bite laws  a far-cry from the laws present in New Jersey  are some of the most antiquated of their kind, legal experts previously told the Advance/SILive.com.

In New Jersey, if your dog attacks somebody, youre responsible, Glen Devora, an attorney at DAgostino and Associates previously told the Advance/SILive.com, which is what, logically, you would think would be the case.

In New Jersey there is no requirement to prove a dog owner had knowledge of a prior incident or previous vicious propensity, which is the case in New York.

You dont have to prove any of that, Devora said.
PARADISE, Calif. - The Town of Paradise announced Tuesday Paradise Police Chief Eric Reinbold has been selected as the 2020 Red Cross Humanitarian Philanthropist of the Year.

The American Red Cross Northern California Coastal Region will present Chief Reinbold with the award during its annual Gala on Wednesday, March 24. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this years event will be virtual.

This award recognizes individuals who inspire their community through their commitment to philanthropy, service and leadership, according to the Town's news release. During the 2018 Camp Fire, town leaders said, the actions, determination and courage of Chief Reinbold and his force saved lives, and since then have bolstered the towns recovery.

Reinbold was born and raised in Paradise. He was sworn in as the Chief of Police in September 2018.

"Through the ongoing Herculean effort of rebuilding Paradise, Reinbold has been steadfast in his commitment to nurturing growth and prosperity," town leaders said. "The Red Cross is grateful for his efforts then and now, and is proud to present him with the Humanitarian Philanthropist of the Year award."

The Red Cross Gala, traditionally held in San Francisco, is a volunteer-led fundraiser that celebrates the organizations lifesaving mission in the Northern California Coastal Region.
Harry Potter star Ralph Fiennes has leapt to JK Rowling's defence after she became embroiled in a transgender row last year, branding the 'level of hatred' directed at the author 'disturbing'.

Rowling sparked controversy in June when she questioned the use of the phrase 'people who menstruate' instead of the word 'woman' and went on to argue that the concept of sex is real.

Despite other Harry Potter stars criticising the author, the 58-year-old actor who played Lord Voldemort in the film series has openly showed his support to Rowling, 55, in an interview with the Telegraph.

Ralph said he 'didn't understand the vitriol' against her, and that the 'hatred' that people have of someone who expresses a different view to them is alarming.

Harry Potter star Ralph Fiennes, pictured in 2019, has leapt to JK Rowling's defence following her transgender row last year, calling the 'level of hatred' directed at the author 'disturbing'

Rowling, pictured in 2016, sparked controversy when she questioned the use of the phrase 'people who menstruate' instead of the word 'woman' last June

'I can't understand the vitriol directed at her', he said, adding that while he can appreciate why people feel strongly about the matter, he finds the widespread vilification of the author 'irrational'.

He went on: 'I find the level of hatred that people express about views that differ from theirs, and the violence of language towards others, disturbing.'

Ralph portrayed Lord Voldemort in the successful film franchise, with his first appearance as the character in the fourth movie in 2005.

Rowling was accused of transphobia last year when she reacted to an online article entitled 'Opinion: Creating a more equal post COVID-19 world for people who menstruate.'

Ralph portrayed Lord Voldemort in the successful film franchise, with his first appearance as the character in the fourth movie in 2005. Pictured, the actor in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1

'"People who menstruate". I'm sure there used to be a word for those people. Someone help me out. Wumben? Wimpund? Woomud?' the award-winning writer tweeted to her 14.2million followers.

Twitter users branded the screenwriter's remarks 'anti-trans' and 'transphobic', as transgender, non-binary and gender-nonconforming individuals can also menstruate.

The writer stood by her tweet and later wrote: 'If sex isn't real, there's no same-sex attraction.

'If sex isn't real, the lived reality of women globally is erased. I know and love trans people, but erasing the concept of sex removes the ability of many to meaningfully discuss their lives. It isn't hate to speak the truth.'

Her comments led to a massive backlash with criticism coming from Harry Potter stars including Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson. Pictured, Ralph and the author in 2007

Her comments led to a massive backlash with criticism coming from Harry Potter stars including Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint and Eddie Redmayne.

Shockingly, a hashtag calling for the author's death was the number one trending tag on Twitter in October last year.

Following the original tweet, Rowling posted a 3,663 word essay on her personal website revealing she was sexually assaulted in her twenties.

It told of the domestic violence she allegedly suffered in her first marriage to Portuguese journalism student Jorge Arantas, which she described as 'violent'.

The author has denied claims of transphobia and insisted she 'respects every trans person's right to live any way that feels authentic and comfortable to them'.
A Japanese court has ruled that the lack of legal recognition for same-sex marriage violates the constitution  the countrys first such judgment in support of marriage equality.

The Sapporo District Court on the northern island of Hokkaido handed down the decision Wednesday, in the first of a series of similar damages suits filed by same-sex couples in five courts nationwide. The result could eventually prod the government to stop dragging its feet on a change that polls show is increasingly accepted by the public.

Supporters of same-sex marriage outside Sapporo District Court on Wednesday. The banner reads: Unconstitutional judgment. Credit:AP

This is a landmark ruling and I hope it will be an opportunity to build awareness that marriage is a right that should be afforded to all people equally, said Masa Yanagisawa, head of Prime Services Japan at Goldman Sachs, who is also on the board of campaign group Marriage For All.

The three couples party to Wednesdays case said their rights had been breached because equality and freedom of marriage are enshrined in the constitution. The conservative government of Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga indicated its displeasure with the ruling.
AN IRISH IT entrepreneur who was warned he should quit school to focus on an apprenticeship after his dyslexia went undiagnosed for years has warned that talented Irish children are still falling through cracks in the education system.

Robert James Gabriel from Cork issued the warning as he said he was "deeply concerned" to read in the Irish Independent that children with special needs are still struggling to secure the class places they are entitled to.

The Blarney native - who has been stranded in Ireland by the Covid-19 lockdown with his US wife, Courtney - said he wanted to highlight the issue given his own experiences.

In one county, there were nine applications for just three places in a special support class - with one family being warned they may have to seek a school place in a different county for their autistic son.

Robert sat his Leaving Cert in 2009 - and went on to a glittering career in the IT sector, working firstly with Teamwork.com before founding his own education support service, Helperbird.

Helperbird now supports almost 400,000 weekly users hailing from over 110 countries - and Robert was listed by the influential publication, Forbes, as one of the key young software engineers within the IT sector.

His IT development makes the web more accessible and productive  offering dyslexia support as well as text-to-speech, ad removal, dictation, immersive reader, overlays and reader mode.

"My dyslexia went undiagnosed for years. My family was basically told I should drop out of (secondary) school as it was clearly not for me. They were told I should pursue a trade or maybe an apprenticeship," he said.

But Robert's mother, Marybeth, who is American, refused to accept that.

With the support of Robert's father, Jim, she repeatedly demanded that her son be given a proper education assessment  and eventually it was realised he was dyslexic.

Once he received the dyslexia support his studies needed, it was realised he was gifted at maths and computer programming.

He went on to earn an honours degree at Cork Institute of Technology (CIT, now MTU) and began a meteoric rise within the software sector. Now, Robert has offered the services of Helperbird to Irish users free gratis.

"It is my way of saying 'thank you' to all the people here that helped me. I'm proud of being Irish and I wanted to help Irish students who found themselves in the same position as I did," he said.

Anyone who registers with Helperbird who has an Irish address, will not be charged for the services used.

Robert contacted both education officials and politicians in Ireland with the same offer to be rolled-out via primary and secondary schools but didn't even receive a reply.

"What prompted me to speak out was the realisation that what I went through over ten years ago is still happening to youngsters today. We are basically stopping youngsters from achieving their true potential."

Robert warned that the ultimate cost will be paid by the Irish economy through the avoidable loss of future entrepreneurs, inventors and business leaders.
More than 360 Ukrainian producers export their products to the United Kingdom, Vladyslava Magaletska, Head of the Ukrainian State Service for Food Safety and Consumer Protection, has said.

We have already agreed on a list of companies from the Ukrainian and British sides that can carry out export-import operations. In Ukraine, 362 producers are involved in foreign economic activities and export products to the United Kingdom. First, these are dairy farmers, then  chicken meat producers. In addition, these are exporters of fish, honey, wheat and, oddly enough, snails," Magaletska said during the UK-Ukraine agribusiness webinar, Opportunities for Ukraine to contribute to the UKs food security, an Ukrinform correspondent reported.

In turn, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to the United Kingdom Vadym Prystaiko said that Ukraine received about GBP 3 billion as investments from British agricultural enterprises. "Ukraine is currently the UK's fifth largest supplier and sixth largest partner. Considering Ukraine's position in the global arena, Britain can benefit greatly from this. In the Ukrainian environment, this is about GBP 3 billion - the amount of investment that British agricultural enterprises have brought to Ukraine, said Prystaiko.

The UK-Ukraine agribusiness webinar was held in partnership with the Embassy of Ukraine in the United Kingdom.

As reported by Ukrinform, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson signed the Agreement on Political Cooperation, Free Trade, and Strategic Partnership in London in October 2020. The agreement came into effect on January 1, 2021.

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The Daily Beast

REUTERSIt appears that Benjamin Netanyahu is finally on his way out as Israels prime minister. With just minutes to spare ahead of a midnight deadline on Wednesday, opposition leader Yair Lapid notified Israels president that he had formed a new government.But if Benjamin Netayahus 12-year run is indeed at an end, expect key segments of the GOP will treat Bibi as though he had not lost power, much as they continue to venerate Donald Trump and look at Joe Bidens victory as illegitimate.Israel
The Commonwealth Bank is now spearheading the big bank fightback against buy-now-pay-later players that have raided the financial services sector and eaten away at the major lenders traditional credit cards businesses.

There is little doubt that CBAs entry into the market will draw some BNPL blood. Its an aggressive move that demonstrates a recognition that banks cant allow this brand of fintech start up to develop a closer relationship with their customers.

CBA plays defence with BNPL Credit:Michael Clayton-Jones

Recently Westpac allowed Australias king of BNPL, Afterpay, into its tent. (Westpac supplied Afterpay a white label product so it could add transaction and savings accounts to its services.)

CBA appears set on locking Afterpay out.
One of Australia's most senior police officers has proposed the introduction of a sex consent app where permission can be granted for intercourse amid a renewed date over sexual abuse.

New South Wales Police commissioner Mick Fuller said such an app would help normalise conversations around consent and how to actively seek it out, while protecting the increasing number of people looking for love online.

Users would potentially enter their personal details into the app and acknowledge they understand consent before being able to send and accept a request prior to a possible sexual encounter.

Mr Fuller said the time had come for technology to be utilised to record consent, which can no longer be implied.

'There is no implied consent. It needs to be positive consent. How do we do that in this day and age? One option is with technology,' Mr Fuller told The Daily Telegraph.

The New South Wales Police commissioner has proposed the introduction of an app where users can record consent for sexual activity (stock image)

The digital consent agreement would be encrypted and stored on the app, to be used later if necessary.

Mr Fuller's proposal comes a month after Denmark launched its iConsent app which allows users to grant permission for 'one intercourse', which is valid for 24 hours and can be withdrawn at any time.

The Scandinavian country introduced the app after its parliament passed a new law expanding the definition of rape to include any sex without explicit consent.

Mr Fuller acknowledged such an app in Australia would pose legal challenges, including in cases where sexual consent was granted but later withdrawn.

Legal experts have also raised concerns the app would not stack up in court, with Greg Barns, the national criminal justice spokesman for the Australian Lawyers Alliance, believing it would be 'difficult to admit into evidence'.

Shocking figures have laid bare just how difficult it is for alleged sexual assault victims to have their perpetrators brought to justice.

In New South Wales in the 12 months to June 2019, only 1099 of the 14,171 reports of alleged sexual assaults progressed to final charges. Just 376 guilty verdicts were recorded.

'When someone, often a young woman, comes forward, police have to explain to them the journey ahead to conviction. It's a bloody tough one,' Mr Fuller said.

Mick Fuller (pictured), the New South Wales Police commissioner, said utilising technology was one way people could record their consent before a sexual encounter

'Juries are struggling to come to terms with consent and we've seen high-profile matters before the courts with hung juries where they were reputable, decent witnesses.'

Consent is a murky area in New South Wales, with the laws last modified 20 years ago allowing alleged rapists to avoid conviction if they genuinely believe the person is consenting - simply because they didn't say 'no'.

New South Wales Police child abuse and sex crimes squad boss Stacey Maloney is now leading a push to overhaul consent laws amid a rise in rapes from dating app meetups.

'Consent shouldn't be a confusing area, it should be quite clear that you need to ask for consent essentially. In terms of other jurisdictions, they certainly make that clear,' she told Nine News last month.

The push for an overhaul comes as a petition by former Kambala student, Chanel Contos, 22, uncovered disturbing allegations against boys from prestigious private schools and led to calls for consent to be taught in schools.

On Monday, thousands rallied across the country, including just outside Parliament House in Canberra, in the March 4 Justice calling on political leaders to make greater strides towards equality and ending violence towards women.
PARIS, March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Maison Mumm is proud to be partnering with the 36th America's Cup presented by Prada, considered the pinnacle of yacht racing. Starting on March 10th, the race was contested on the inner Hauraki Gulf, off of Auckland, NZ, between the Defender Emirates Team New Zealand and the Challenger of Record Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli.

To view the Multimedia News Release, please click: https://www.multivu.com/players/uk/8869151-americas-cup-maison-mumm-36th-edition-presented-by-prada/

For the second time in its history, Maison Mumm has partnered up with this historic and legendary race, one of the most prestigious sporting events in the world. It was an obvious choice for the Maison since the America's Cup shares the same values that it was founded on: a strong sense of heritage and the pursuit of excellence, challenges and innovation.

Held every four years, the America's Cup is considered yachting's most coveted prize. Teams compete for the oldest trophy in international sport and the titleholder sets the rules, including the choice of boat and racing format. Each yacht represents innovative design and technology and this cup will feature an AC75 design, a radical 75ft long monohull with no keel that flies on foils at speeds up to 50 knots.

Long affiliated with sailing, Maison Mumm is drawn to ventures, including technological innovations, and has found in the America's Cup the same pioneering spirit that has defined it since its founding in 1827. The Maison cultivates its ability to innovate by continually improving the quality of its wines. This philosophy of excellence is best encapsulated by the motto of founder Georges Hermann Mumm: "Only the best".

For the 36th America's Cup, Maison Mumm has created a limited edition of its iconic Mumm Grand Cordon cuvee. This champagne is the epitome of the Maison's signature style since it expresses all the nuances of the Pinot Noir grape variety from the Champagne region of France. The grapes are sourced from over 100 crus to create a bold, rich wine that subtly balances the power and structure of Pinot Noir with the elegance and minerality of Chardonnay and the fruitiness of Meunier. Whether toasting milestones or new beginning, the aromatic richness and intense freshness of Mumm Grand Cordon evokes life's most unforgettable moments.

This emblematic cuvee, outmatched only by the racing intensity of the America's Cup, can be enjoyed at the Mumm Yacht Club. Situated in the heart of the America's Cup Race Village, the custom-built bar offers a premium way to watch the sailing and soak up the sun, all while enjoying a glass of Mumm champagne.

ABOUT MAISON MUMM

Mumm is part of Martell Mumm Perrier-Jouet, the prestigious cognac and champagne business of Pernod Ricard, the world's n2 in wines and spirits. With its distinguished heritage dating back to 1827, Mumm is the leading international champagne House in France and third worldwide*. Mumm Grand Cordon pays tribute to the iconic red sash - indented in the glass as part of a whole series of innovations. The revolutionary bottle is the perfect embodiment of the spirit of the House associated with audacious challenges and groundbreaking endeavours.

* IWSR 2016

Contact:

Laurie Pierrin

laurie.pierrin@pernod-ricard.com

+33 1 70 93 25 53

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1458271/Emirates_Team_New_Zealand.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1457154/Maison_Mumm_Logo.jpg
This year our dine and drink business locations throughout the Gorge have suffered with closures. You can help support your favorites by purchasing take out and gift cards. Many of these business will offer curb-side delivery and some will deliver to your home. Lets keep the Gorge going strong!
An independent review into the Portland Police Bureaus apparent leak of a report that misidentified City Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty as a driver in a minor-hit-and-run collision could expand into a wider probe of potential political and racial bias within the bureau, whose union president abruptly resigned Tuesday.

Mayor Ted Wheeler, who called for the outside review, and his staff have held multiple meetings with Hardesty, top police brass and the city attorney to determine the scope of the investigation. Those discussions remain ongoing.

The city has also sought the advice of Eric Ward, a nationally known civil rights strategist and expert on right-wing extremism.

Matt McNally, a Hardesty communications strategist, told The Oregonian/OregonLive that the commissioner believes the review must extend beyond the circumstances of the apparent leak to look into possible ties between the Police Bureau employee or employees and others involved and opponents of Hardesty, an outspoken police critic and the first Black woman elected to the Portland City Council.

It should also address perceptions among some Portlanders that the citys police force favors certain political groups over others, including offering preferential treatment to right-wing activists compared with left-wing ones, McNally said.

Ward, who was contacted Sunday by City Attorney Robert Taylor and asked for his input, said he provided Taylor a perspective similar to Hardestys during a 30-minute conversation.

Looking into those areas could help us understand the drivers that ultimately led to this incident against Commissioner Hardesty, said Ward.

Such a broad scope may be tough politically for Wheeler, who must navigate ongoing demands for police reform and accountability while also serving as police commissioner over a demoralized force struggling amidst a surge of gun violence, property crimes and protest-related destruction across the city.

The city is also in the middle of contract negotiations with the union that represents most of the Portland Police Bureaus sworn officers, further complicating how far the mayor could push an independent inquiry.

In an email sent to Hardesty on Tuesday, Wheeler said he wants a review of Portland polices overall culture, but that such an investigation would have to be separate from the one focused on a leak.

One reason to separate them, he wrote, is that the firm officials have in mind to investigate the leak has experience doing such work, but Wheeler envisions hiring another firm experienced at successfully improving police department work cultures to check for bias.

Many in the public have expressed a perception that the Police Bureau is influenced by racial or political bias when engaged in policing, and that the Police Bureau is resistant to changes sought by the community, Wheeler wrote.

The Police Bureau expresses a different view, which often leads the public and the Police Bureau to talk past each other on these fundamental issues bearing on public trust in the police. A third-party independent review into these broader issues will identify whether, and to what extent, the Police Bureau is influenced by racial or political bias and resistant to change.

Deputy Chief Chris Davis said in a statement Tuesday afternoon, We frequently participate in reviews and audits from third-parties and strive to be open and transparent in order to continuously develop and improve, and will continue to do so.

Hours later, Brian Hunzeker, the president of the Portland Police Association, resigned after a serious, isolated mistake related to the Police Bureaus investigation into the alleged hit-and-run by Commissioner Hardesty, the union said in a statement.

The sudden resignation came as a surprise to Wheeler, who insisted Hunzeker, who joined the Police Bureau in July 2000 and took over as union president last fall, to deliver a detailed explanation.

As the police commissioner, I demand to know what that mistake was, Wheeler said. I demand he give a full and transparent accounting of what he did and what his motivations were to Commissioner Hardesty and the public. I call on him to do so immediately.

The city recently hired the National Police Foundation, a nonprofit aimed at improving police work, to review Portland police responses to several mass demonstrations that occurred between 2017 and 2019. While the report found that police supervisors lacked training in crowd control tactics, it didnt delve into whether police actions favored right-wing demonstrators as some residents have alleged.

Wheelers call for an independent probe came a day after police cleared Hardesty in a March 3 case in which a rear-ended driver mistakenly claimed the commissioner had struck her car and left the scene of the collision.

Reports that someone who had reported a hit-and-run crash had identified Hardesty as a suspect to police surfaced that morning. The Oregonian/OregonLive reached out repeatedly to Hardestys office for comment and published a news story that included Hardestys strong denial she was involved.

Andy Ngo, a conservative media personality with a large online following, published a story on the Post Millennial website, where he serves as an at-large editor. The Coalition to Save Portland, a pro-police political action committee, also shared that information in a morning Facebook Live post on its page.

Gabe Johnson, the coalitions co-founder and director, told Willamette Week he received the report from an employee of the Portland Police Bureau, whom he refused to identify.

The information followed recent revelations that a Portland police officer likely doxxed Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt, who some in the bureau believe is too soft on crime.

Schmidt told The Oregonian/OregonLive in February that it appeared an officer late last year took a screenshot from a city-issued mobile data terminal showing Schmidts address and that information subsequently surfaced online. The police bureau declined to comment on the allegation at the time and Chief Chuck Lovell later said he didnt know anything about it.

The hit-and-run report that erroneously identified Hardesty also came after The Oregonian/OregonLive and other publications reported on a dispute between Hardesty and a Lyft driver along I-205 in Clark County.

Last week, in response to the hit-and-run report, the Portland Police Bureau launched a separate internal affairs investigation into what transpired.

-- Shane Dixon Kavanaugh; 503-294-7632

Email at skavanaugh@oregonian.com

Follow on Twitter @shanedkavanaugh

Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories.
In this post we share quite a few local links that offer a glimpse of the real world culture war impact on local streets wherein politics played out amongst the plebs often holds devastating consequences.

Check-it . . .

Kansas City South Side Gunfight Aftermath Roundup

More than 100 shell casings recovered in investigation following shooting, brawl at south KC club Kansas City, Missouri, police have recovered more than 100 shell casings after a shooting and several large fights at a south KC club early Sunday. In all, three different departments had to respond to the scene at the Rendezvous Lounge around 3 a.m. Sunday in the 11800 block of Blue Ridge Boulevard.

Criminal Class Supplied

ATF investigating 42 guns stolen from Kansas City pawn shop, gear from KCPD squad car Federal agents are investigating the burglary of several dozen firearms from an area pawn shop, as well as the theft of police-issued gear recently stolen from a Kansas City Police Department squad car, according to federal court documents.

Rock Chalk Rape Fight

Albert Wilson, former KU student convicted of rape, gets new trial LAWRENCE, Kan. - A Douglas County judge has ordered a new trial for 25-year-old Albert Wilson, a former University of Kansas student convicted of rape. Wilson was a 20 years old when he was accused of raping a then 17-year-old girl in Lawrence he met at a bar.

Po-Po Roll With New Wheels Crafted In Kansas City Metro

Take a look at the new 2021 F-150 Police Responder, built at Ford Claycomo What'cha gonna do when they come for you in this beast?Ford Motor Company just revealed the new 2021 F-150 Police Responder. This truck-turned-police cruiser is built exclusively at Ford's Kansas City Assembly Plant in Claycomo.The F-150 Police Responder was first debuted back in 2018; however, it's getting special upgrades with the 2021 model.Ford said it's being built on the 2021 F-150 SuperCrew platform and is America's only pursuit-rated pickup truck.

KCPD End Confrontation Peacefully

Man taken into custody following afternoon standoff in KC KANSAS CITY, MO (KCTV) -- A standoff ended peacefully and a man with a warrant out for his arrest was taken into custody on Tuesday. According to the police department, detectives went to the 7900 block of Euclid around 2 p.m. to check if a person wanted in an arrest warrant was at a residence there.

Show-Me Thousands Of Deadbeat Daddies

Audio: Missouri Public Defender System handles about 6,000 child support criminal cases annually Missouri law makes it a crime when a parent fails to pay child support. The Missouri Public Defender System handles roughly 6,000 of these cases annually. During a House Budget Committee hearing, System Director Mary Fox says handling those cases in civil court, instead of criminal court, could have a significant financial impact on her [...]

Kansas City Juxtaposition: Rural Missouri Crime Spikes

Crime is Up in Southeast Missouri...Not in Missouri Big Cities | My Mo Info (Jefferson City) A Missouri judge has ruled that putting individuals on a waiting list to get a public defender violates state and federal law.

Follow-Up On Kansas State Senate Honcho DUI Hot Mess

Republican Majority Leader of Kansas Senate Arrested on Suspicion of DUI After Driving the Wrong Way on an Interstate According to publicly available jail records, Suellentrop was booked at 3:55 a.m. on charges of driving under the influence, attempting to flee or evade law enforcement, speeding, and crossing a divided highway. He was booked into the Shawnee County Jail on $1,000 bond and scheduled for a court appearance Tuesday morning.

Advocacy Persists After Exoneration

Federal Prosecutor Removed From Criminal Cases After DOJ Report Criticizes Conduct The assistant U.S. Attorney who prosecuted Lamonte McIntyre for a crime he did not commit is no longer handling criminal cases. Federal court records show that since last week, Terra Morehead has been removed from more than 20 criminal cases and that those cases have been reassigned to other prosecutors.

Golden Ghetto Old School Looting Allegations

Necklace stolen from 80-year-old grandmother with dementia, family says OVERLAND PARK, Kan. - An Overland Park family is looking for a necklace they believe was taken from their 80-year-old grandmother who has dementia. But others suggest that it may have been lost, and the main witness can't tell anyone what happened. "She's a firecracker," Diana Wilson said of her mom, Anita Higginbotham.

Tribute After Midtown Tragedy

Family of woman killed in KCMO drag race launches foundation in her honor Police say a driver racing another car hit and killed Zahara Kathawalla in Kansas City, Missouri, last June. Her parents have now launched a foundation to keep her memory alive as city leaders discuss an ordinance to curb drag racing and other sideshows.

KCK Fam Fights For Justice

'I'll never forget her': Family of good Samaritan killed in KCK crash wants justice served KANSAS CITY, Kan. - A Kansas City, Kansas, family said they want justice served after their loved one was killed Sunday morning. Fifty-eight-year-old Cynthia "Cindy" Goulding was identified as the good Samaritan killed after two separate crashes. Goulding's husband said Cynthia was the glue to the family, and whoever is responsible for her death doesn't [...]

Developing . . .
I also think storefront vacancies are on peoples minds, Kurzman said. Right now, not only are we addressing and trying to grapple with the changing state of retail, but we also have some landlords that have mixed intentions at best. We need to be able to engage and make public policy that will really give us our best opportunity for success in economic development.
Five of the 10 most visited e-commerce sites in Southeast Asia last year were based in Vietnam, showcasing local firms international competitive potential.

Thegioididong, the e-commerce website run by retail giant Mobile World, ranked fifth with average web visits in 2020 reaching 28.6 million a month, according to a report released by Malaysia-based market research firm iPrice, covering six countries in Southeast Asia.

Tiki, the second largest e-commerce site in Vietnam, was in sixth place with 22.4 million visits a month.

Homegrown e-commerce platform Sendo secured eighth place with 14.3 million web visits a month, followed by Bach Hoa Xanh (8.8 million) and FPT Shop (7.2 million).

Singapore-based Shopee and Lazada topped the list, followed by Indonesian sites Tokopedia and Bukalapak.

The report said that the overall website traffic of online shopping platforms increased positively across all countries year-over-year.

The growth was highest in Singapore, which experienced a surge of 35 percent, compared to 2019, followed by the Philippines (21 percent), Vietnam (19 percent), Malaysia (17 percent, Thailand (15 percent), and Indonesia (6 percent).

Consumers in Vietnam spent an overall average of $17 per order in 2020 and electronics was the most sought item by Vietnamese consumers, the report said.

In terms of traffic numbers, Vietnam was the second highest in the region, only after Indonesia, the report noted.

"This strongly affirms the development potential of Vietnam's e-commerce market in competing with international players."

2020 has signified strong customer confidence in e-commerce retail despite mobility restrictions and mounting concerns over the global pandemic.

"Major e-commerce companies across the region have also rolled out other marketing campaigns drawing customers through gamified features on the app, as well as free shipping and discounts," the report said.

Vietnams e-commerce market expanded 18 percent year-on-year last year to $11.8 billion, the only country in Southeast Asia to record double-digit growth in the sector amidst the Covid-19 pandemic.

According to an e-commerce development plan approved by the Vietnamese government last year, the sectors revenues should reach $35 billion by 2025 and account for 10 percent of the total. The government also targets having 55 percent of the population shopping online by 2025.

Reporter

Debra Pressey is a reporter covering health care at The News-Gazette. Her email is dpressey@news-gazette.com, and you can follow her on Twitter (@DLPressey).
Beijing:

Five banks of the BRICS Bank Cooperation Mechanism have agreed to establish credit lines in the national currencies and cooperate on credit ratings.

The agreement was signed ahead of the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) summit in Chinas Xiamen city on Sunday in which leaders of the five countries, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi are scheduled to take part.

Brazilian Development Bank (BNDES), Vnesheconombank, Export-Import Bank of India, China Development Bank and Development Bank of South Africa (DBSA) have signed an agreement to establish credit lines in the national currencies, as well as a memorandum of cooperation on credit ratings, Russian news agency TASS Reported.

There was no word from Export-Import Bank of India in this regard. The Chinese official said the decision was taken in order to bolster further cooperation.

ALSO READ | BRICS Summit 2017: Looking forward to productive, positive outcomes, says PM Modi

The agreement on credit ratings reportedly enables them to share information about internal credit ratings and rating assessment.

Ahead of the BRICS summit, the New Development Bank (NDB) of the BRICS countries has approved USD 1.4 billion loans for sustainable development projects in China, India and Russia.

The Board of Directors of the bank have approved four infrastructure and sustainable development projects in the three countries, the NDB had said.

For India, the Bank has approved USD 470 million loan for Madhya Pradesh?s Multi-Village Rural Drinking Water Supply Scheme Project.

ALSO READ | BRICS 2017: Can't divulge what PM will speak at summit, says MEA

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Bloomberg

(Bloomberg) -- Sign up for the New Economy Daily newsletter, follow us @economics and subscribe to our podcast.Australias central bank maintained its policy settings as it prepares to decide on extending its yield target and quantitative easing programs, with a Covid-19 lockdown complicating the outlook.The Reserve Bank of Australia kept the cash rate and three-year yield target at 0.10% in Sydney on Tuesday, as expected. It will make a decision in July on whether to extend the yield target and undertake further quantitative easing. A weeklong shutdown in the nations second-largest city adds a layer of uncertainty to the outlook.Despite the strong recovery in the economy and jobs, inflation and wage pressures are subdued, Governor Philip Lowe said. The board is committed to maintaining highly supportive monetary conditions to support a return to full employment in Australia and inflation consistent with the target.The Australian dollar edged lower, trading at 77.41 U.S. cents at 2:53 p.m. in Sydney from 77.62 cents just before the release.The case for Lowe to maintain the April 2024 bond as the target maturity had been strengthening amid strong hiring, sentiment and investment plans. This was reinforced by the government keeping open the fiscal spigot in the May budget as it joins the RBA in seeking to drive down unemployment to revive wages growth and inflation.Progress in reducing unemployment has been faster than expected, Lowe said in his statement. There are reports of labor shortages in some parts of the economy.Risks AheadYet the RBA may be encouraged to err on the side of caution if Melbournes outbreak worsens and extend both of its bond programs to keep maximum support for the economy.An important ongoing source of uncertainty is the possibility of significant outbreaks of the virus, although this should diminish as more of the population is vaccinated, Lowe said. The board continues to place a high priority on a return to full employment.Globally, central banks are beginning to edge away from emergency monetary settings. The Reserve Bank of New Zealand surprised markets last week in presenting projections of its official cash rate rising in the second half of next year.Back in Australia, economists predicted ahead of data Wednesday that gross domestic product rose 1.5% in the first three months of the year from the prior quarter, and advanced 0.6% from a year earlier.Treasury Secretary Steven Kennedy, in testimony to a parliamentary panel earlier today, said partial data showed around 56,000 workers had lost their jobs in the four weeks following the end of the governments JobKeeper wage subsidy that expired March 28.He said strong employment data and forward indicators continue to give us confidence that the labor market has the underlying strength to absorb workers transitioning off the JobKeeper payment.End of Australias $68 Billion Job-Saving Stimulus Tests EconomyLowe estimates Australias jobless rate will need to fall to close to 4% before driving economy-wide pay increases. It stood at 5.5% in April.The governor expects wages growth will need to increase at a pace faster than 3% -- more than double the current rate -- for inflation to return sustainably to the central banks 2-3% target.Lowe reiterated that this is unlikely to be until 2024 at the earliest.(Updates with further comments from governor throughout text.)More stories like this are available on bloomberg.comSubscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source.2021 Bloomberg L.P.
WASHINGTON  New York will receive $335 million in new federal funds to increase COVID-19 testing in public K-12 schools, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced Wednesday, as the Biden administration floods schools with money in an effort to restart classroom learning across the country.

Only 57 out of 700 schools districts in New York are conducting such testing for students or staff, according to a recent survey conducted by New York State United Teachers, the state's teacher's union.

Albany City Schools is one of the few. It's been regularly testing staff and students who are back on campus since January using testing supplies obtained from the state at no cost, said spokesman Ron Lesko. But the test supply they have is not enough to last the rest of the school year, especially with more students returning to the classroom in April. He called the new funds for testing in schools "great news."

NYSUT President Andrew Pallotta said money to support COVID-19 testing in schools has been on the union's "wish list," because it would make teachers feel safer in the classroom. The union has heard some school districts say they can't afford to test using their own budgets.

"The state is getting $335 million (from the CDC); that sounds like a lot of money but it's not," Pallotta said. "It's not when you want to do the testing that we want to do."

The new federal testing money will flow to the state Department of Health by early April, but information was not available Wednesday on how it will then be used or distributed to individual school districts.

"We applaud the Biden administrations support for reopening schools and for expanded COVID-19 testing in New York State," said Jonah Bruno, spokesman for the New York Department of Health. "We are reviewing the HHS COVID-19 testing initiative announced today and look forward to working with our federal partners to get students and staff back in school safely."

The testing money comes on top of the $9 billion that the U.S. Department of Education is sending to New York primary and secondary schools to fuel school reopening for in-person learning. Its part of billions in federal relief money flowing to the state from the American Rescue Plan, the $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package that President Joe Biden signed into law last week.

These funds from the American Rescue Plan and the extraordinary steps the Department is taking to get these resources to states quickly will allow schools to invest in mitigation strategies to get students back in the classroom and stay there, and address the many impacts this pandemic has had on studentsespecially those disproportionately impacted by the pandemic, U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona said.

The latest data the state Department of Education was able to provide on in-person learning in New York was from November 2020. Back then, only 20 percent of schools were offering in-person learning while a majority where operating under a hybrid model.

In the Capital Region now, most school districts are teaching in the classroom much of the time.

NYSUT recently spent $1 million on a statewide advertisement saying teachers want to be back in the classroom, trying to rebut a narrative that teachers and their unions are an impediment to classroom learning during the pandemic. The advertisement advocates for testing for teachers and students, vaccines for teachers, sanitizing, social distancing and masks.

Biden has set a goal of having a majority of schools reopen for in-person learning five days a week by April 30, which would be his 100th day in office.

To help schools reopen, fight learning loss and shoulder other new expenses, the American Rescue Plan is pumping an unprecedented amount of money into public schools using Title I, a formula that supports schools educating low-income students. Biden has also encouraged states to prioritize vaccinating teachers and school staff, which New York has done.

The CDC has issued new guidance for school reopening and is re-evaluating whether three feet of physical distancing  not six  might be sufficient in schools when all students are masked.

The CDC is now promoting and funding increased coronavirus testing in schools as one strategy to help more classrooms stay open.

"Testing is one component to help schools safely reopen and this additional funding from the CDC is much needed to get more schools to a place where they can fully participate in in-person learning," said U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y. "A one size fits all approach does not work for reopening our schools  it is dependent on each state, district, and schools ability to implement CDC guidelines that keep students, teachers, and administrators safe.

In addition to ensuring diagnostic testing of symptomatic and exposed people, serial screening testing will help schools identify infected individuals without symptoms who may be contagious so that prompt action can be taken to prevent further transmission, the CDC said announcing the new funding awards Wednesday.

We know that testing works. We know that it works to identify cases and slow the spread of COVID, said Carole Johnson, White House coronavirus testing coordinator. We look forward to working with schools to implement this exciting new program.
State-of-the-art office supports high-skilled workforce for global software company in London Borough of Enfield



LONDON, March 17, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cloud communications software leader Metaswitch, a Microsoft company, today announced the completion of its new global headquarters in the London Borough of Enfield.

The 55,800 square foot, Excellent BREEAM rated five-storey building provides a modern workspace for cutting edge software development including a rooftop conference centre, full-height atrium, collaboration workspaces, quiet rooms and a basement car park with charging points for electric cars and bicycles. The office, which will serve up to 500 people, is designed with energy-saving measures that will help Metaswitch meet its environmental sustainability targets.

"The well-being, health, and happiness of our employees is our priority, especially during these challenging times," said Martin Lund, CEO of Metaswitch. "While we are working from home for now to protect our employees, customers, partners and their families, we look forward to the time when it is safe to welcome our team to a new workplace that is designed to nurture the creativity, productivity, and care that they contribute every day. As a key employer of highly skilled software engineers, Metaswitch will continue to support our local Enfield community as we grow our business."

Metaswitch's main offices have been in Enfield since the company was founded 40 years ago in 1981. Local authority Enfield Council supported Metaswitch's plans for expansion by identifying a prime location for the new premises. In a first for Enfield Council, the local authority is both the funder and the landlord for the project, leasing the commercial property to Metaswitch. Income generated from the lease will be put back into funding and enhancing local services.

Enfield Council's Leader, Cllr Nesil Caliskan, said: "Metaswitch is a valued, long-time employer providing highly skilled jobs in the Borough of Enfield. We are delighted the company decided to remain and expand in Enfield as a vital contributor to our community and build its new global headquarters in our town center. This development complements the Council's support for employment at a challenging time for our town centers and the local economy."

McLaren Construction was the primary contractor, appointed by property developer Stoford Developments. McLaren built the office on a one-acre site that was previously a car park located on Genotin Road in Enfield town center.

Gerard Ludlow, Director at Stoford, said: "This prestigious project is a great example of the private and public sector working together to deliver a first-class regeneration scheme in Enfield. We're proud to have played our role in bringing forward this high-profile development for a key employer in this town."

About Metaswitch

Metaswitch is a recognized leader in the development of ultra-high-performance, cloud native communications software. Metaswitch products are designed to run on the customer premises, or in private, public and hybrid clouds. Our award-winning solutions power more than 750 fixed, mobile and converged service providers worldwide. Metaswitch is a Microsoft company. For more information, please visit: https://www.metaswitch.com

Copyright 2021 Metaswitch Networks. "Metaswitch" and "Metaswitch Networks" are registered trademarks. Brands and products referenced herein are the trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders. Metaswitch is a Microsoft company.
UW in the News

State, national and international media frequently feature the University of Wyoming and members of its community in stories. Here is a summary of some of the recent coverage:

The Casper Star-Tribune (CS-T), The Wyoming Tribune Eagle, Hits 106, Big Horn Basin Radio and Laramie Live were among media outlets publishing UWs release announcing that the university will have an in-person spring graduation experience, with face-to-face ceremonies that will be livestreamed. The events will take place Friday and Saturday, May 14-15.

Two new members were selected and two others were reappointed for a second term on the UW Board of Trustees. Wyoming News Now, The Laramie Boomerang, Sheridan Media and Wyo4News were among media publishing UWs release on the notice.

Sheridan Media was among media outlets publishing UWs release noting how the Wyoming State Veterinary Laboratory (WSVL) tests up to 2,500 COVID-19 samples per day. Will Laegreid, a UW professor in the Department of Veterinary Sciences and the WSVL director, was interviewed for the article. Erudera College News, The Boomerang and Wyoming News Now published similar articles.

UWs Board of Trustees members, last week, selected Kevin Carman as the next provost and senior vice president for academic affairs. Wyoming Public Radio noted that Carman served as the provost at the University of Nevada, Reno from 2013-2020.

E&E News interviewed UW economist Rob Godby and cited several ongoing university initiatives for an article, titled Coal-rich Wyoming eyes net-zero emissions. Is that possible? Godby also was interviewed by Newsrust for an article focusing on wind farms being developed in Wyomings coal country.

The Wyoming Migration Initiative, which was developed at UW, was cited in a Utah Public Radio segment on a study reducing vehicle collisions with deer. The Sheridan Press published a related article.

Laramie Live and KGAB Radio published UWs release noting that UW Professor James Ahern was among the authors of a published paper that detailed the deaths from a 6,200-year-old massacre in Croatia. Ahren also is UWs associate vice provost for graduate education. Health Medicine Network and Science Blog published similar articles.

A study, titled Social License for Wyomings Energy Future: What Do Residents Want?, by Jessica Western, a research scientist at UWs Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources, was the focus of a Laramie Boomerang article.

Wyoming Public Radio reported that a University of New Mexico study noted that a handful of schools in the region, including UW, report that more than 30 percent of students are food insecure, and that the numbers are much higher for LGBTQ students and students of color.

UW is among partners with Cardiff University in Wales in a program that will, later this semester, offer hands-on training in software development. Sheridan Media was among media outlets publishing UWs release on the details.

Laramie Live published UWs release noting that the Central Asian Student Association will celebrate its seventh annual Central Asian Awareness Day and Navruz with a virtual program Saturday, March 20.


Listen to man who gave away millions at Norwich FGB Zoom Listen to man who gave away millions at Norwich FGB Zoom

Norwich FGB is inviting anyone to join their Zoom meeting this Friday, March 19, when you can hear the story of former hell-raising businessman Bruce Wick, who surprisingly gave away millions after he came to personal faith in Jesus Christ.

Born in the US, in Washington State, Bruce had amassed a fortune as he developed his business in 63 nations  money was my god and king, admits Bruce who manufactured logging equipment and sawmills for use across south-east Asia.



Bruce and his wife, Caroline, had three sons. The family lived in the Philippines in a luxurious villa with 17 bedrooms and had more than a dozen household staff. Then Caroline, a former atheist and communist, had a dramatic conversion to Christ  and one week later led her husband Bruce to faith as well.



At the time, they were living in Davoa City, one of the largest cities in the Philippines. In the mid-1980s, it had a grim reputation as murder capital of the nation with dozens of killings each week.



Bruce, then in his mid-40s, was shocked when he felt God leading him to give away millions. After an argument with the Lord, he didnt know how to tell his wife about giving away a fortune, but to his amazement he discovered that Caroline, too, had felt exactly the same way. Today, Bruce advises with a smile: I dont recommend this extreme action to everyone  you need to clearly hear from God!



Norwich branch President Barrie Lawrence, said: Everyone is invited to join members of Norwich FGB on Friday where our guest will be Bruce Wick. He worked hard and played hard, until experiencing an amazing life change. More recently, Bruce has been healed of terminal cancer, walking out of hospital against all medical advice.



Bruce is always engaging and humorous, and inspiring to listen to. He will also be answering questions, and praying for any sick who wish to be healed, said Barrie.



The meeting will start at 7.30pm on Friday March 19, so feel free to hit the link below and join any time from 7pm. The link is: https://zoom.us/j/8615933953...



You can read our previous story about Bruce Wick, pictured above, here.







Keith Morris, 17/03/2021
Myanmars military government, seen as the chief force behind previous long-term violence against the Rohingya Muslim minority, is leaving the population alone for now as it battles protesters. But analysts say the junta is expected to resume the old crackdown over time.

The junta seized power in a February coup from a civilian government and has been focused on quelling protesters, rather than the Rohingya minority that lives in a western region of Myanmar and continues to push for civil rights. At least 11 protesters were killed on Monday and 57 over the weekend in the bloodiest period since the military coup last month, the United Nations says on its website.

The Tatmadaw is not going to change its policy toward the Rohingyas, said Thitinan Pongsudhirak, political science professor at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok. Tatmadaw refers to the armed forces in the Myanmar language.

Right now, its just preoccupied, he said. I think it has been consumed by other crises and its actually facing a nationwide revolt against the coup, so I think the Rohingya issue now is on the back burner. The protests could turn into a prolonged crisis, he added.

Myanmar officials had targeted the Rohingyas in a systematic way, the U.N. International Court of Justice said last year. It said genocidal acts including mass murder, rape and setting fires were intended to wipe out the group and cited a hardening crackdown since August 2017.

Civilian governments ran Myanmar from 2011 through this past January, but the military still held sway in national affairs. The Rohingya issue tainted the international reputation of Aung San Suu Kyi, a one-time opposition figure and the de facto head of state from 2016 through February. She was detained after the coup.

An estimated 400,000 to 600,000 Rohingya live in Myanmar today. Conflicts with the government have left them without access to healthcare, education and a viable market for commercial trade places, said Tun Khin, president of the advocacy group Burmese Rohingya Organization UK. Roughly one million Rohingyas who have fled to camps in Bangladesh live there now in poverty.

Myanmar, also known as Burma, has a long history of strife with the Muslim Rohingya dating back to the alliance between the Rohingya and Myanmars former colonizer, Britain, who fought together against a local Buddhist group. After Myanmar became independent in 1948, the government of the largely Buddhist country denied the Rohingya people citizenship. The Military led Myanmar from 1962 to 2011.

Junta lobbyist Ari Ben-Menashe said Myanmars generals want to repatriate Rohingyas who have fled to neighboring Bangladesh, Reuters reported on March 7.

The military government showed a further relaxing toward old rivals on March 11 by removing a rebel group, the Arakan Army, from a formal list of terrorist organizations. The group had quit its attacks to seek peace, the state-run Mirror Daily said as cited in foreign media outlets.

Most people outside (the country) dont realize how serious it is -- theyre all fixated on this Rohingya issue, Priscilla Clapp, former permanent charge daffaires at the U.S. Embassy in Myanmar, told VOA in June.

Fighting with the Arakan Army in Rakhine state had added a threat to the Rohingya's troubles. The state is a major base for Rohingya who remain in the country.

Todays government envisions building nationwide eternal peace, the Mirror Daily report said.

In January last year, the International Court of Justice ordered Myanmar to "take all measures within its power" to prevent any acts of genocide against the Rohingya people.

But Tun Khin said hes worried that the military government will eventually try to eliminate all Rohingyas in the country. He estimates 82% of the population has already fled Myanmar.

I dont trust this military, because this is the military that architected the genocide of Rohingyas for so long, he said.
David Moreland is currently running as an independent to be Norfolk's next PCC

A budding police crime commissioner has been slammed for making 'racist and sexist' remarks after claiming 'most rapes are carried out by migrants' and 'women used to be flattered by wolf-whistling'.

David Moreland, who is an ex-Metropolitan Police officer and former UKIP MP candidate, is currently running as an independent to be Norfolk's next PCC.

He was asked what action he would like to see across the UK to help protect women following the murder of 33-year-old Sarah Everard in London.

But Mr Moreland went on to blame migrants for the 'majority' of attacks on women before claiming that wolf-whistling used to be a 'compliment'.

'The vast majority of these sexual attacks on women across the country are carried out by migrants, many of them are illegal - African or ethnic minority people,' Mr Moreland said, as he explained his views during a virtual discussion with the Eastern Daily Press.

He added: 'It's not just black people, obviously they are involved in it.

'We've got white people as well, but basically, it is not British. The vast majority [of attackers] are not British, they are migrants that are coming to this country.'

Mr Moreland claimed that it was an 'absolute fact' and that the information was widely available on social media or via the police.

But statistics published in 2017 by the Ministry of Justice suggest that the majority of defendants for rape and sexual assault were white.

Figures from that year showed that there were 11,311 total defendants - 6,872 were white.

There were 2,405 defendants recorded as 'not stated' and the next largest categories of defendants were 842 black, 835 Asian and 173 'mixed'.

Mr Moreland was asked what action he would like to see across the UK to help protect women following the murder of 33-year-old Sarah Everard in London (vigil held on Clapham Common on Saturday)

He then gave his thoughts on women themselves by saying: 'You know in in the old days, blokes used to work on building sites and they would whistle down to a girl walking past, and you know most of the girls would say "Oh, thank you, thank you for thinking I'm good looking," but nowadays it's getting very, very dangerous out there.'

Mr Moreland insisted that his views are 'not racist' but he has since been challenged by Broadland District Councillor Natasha Harpley.

He also said that he rejected the recruitment drive ordered by Sadiq Khan in 2020 to double the number of new BAME recruits in the Metropolitan Police from 19 per cent to 40 per cent within two years.

Responding to Mr Moreland's statements, Janet Dalrymple, chief executive of campaign group Safer Places, told MailOnline: 'Safer Places is resolute; women should be safe to live their lives without fear of violence and abuse and action is needed to make this a reality.

'We are privileged to work alongside those impacted by violence against women and girls and understand the reality of their experience both today, and since we opened our services over 40 years ago. 

'Mr Moreland's views do not reflect that reality or accurately reflect the demographics of those perpetrating abuse.

'The notion that a person standing for election as a police and crime commissioner - the person responsible for reducing crime and creating safer communities, would hold these views and put them forward as facts is of great concern.'

MailOnline has contacted Norfolk Police for comment.
Premier Gladys Berejiklians push to elevate a Liberal woman to upper house president has been dealt a significant blow after Labor and the crossbench took extraordinary steps to break with centuries of parliamentary convention.

Ms Berejiklian previously made clear that she wanted Natasha Maclaren-Jones to get the job, which carries a salary equivalent to a minister. Nationals MP Trevor Khan is now firming as Labors preferred candidate despite not nominating for the position.

The Premier wants to appoint Natasha Maclaren-Jones as upper house president. Credit:Jon Reid

Mr Khan had always supported the Liberal nominee for the position and that he planned to rule himself out as a candidate.

I am happy in my role of Deputy President, Mr Khan said.
MALI : 7 militaires senegalais blesses dans un accident

Des Jambaars en mission au Mali ont fait un accident dans la matinee dhier. Les militaires etaient en mission descorte dun convoi de ravitaillement de Sevare, a destination du village dOgassagou, au profit dune unite du Detsen 10.Selon LAS, qui cite la Direction de linformation et des relations publiques des armees (DIRPA), le bilan est de sept militaires senegalais blesses dont quatre legers et trois graves.Le vehicule blinde de transport de troupes de type Puma de ces soldats engages dans la Minusma sest renverse a hauteur du village de Ganido, suite a un probleme mecanique.
Prosecutor General Iryna Venediktova considers it premature to talk about the possible personal responsibility of MPs, who in 2010 voted for Kharkiv agreements on the extension of the stay of the Russian Black Sea Fleet in Crimea.

She told reporters in Kyiv on Wednesday that she considered provocative the issue of the possibility of bringing to justice former MPs, while they were not responsible for voting.

Venediktova recalled that in February 2021, suspicion was announced to former President Viktor Yanukovych precisely on the basis of Kharkiv agreements. "And this suspicion is somehow symbolic. Perhaps it was done late  after 11 years, but it was done anyway, so it is necessary to distinguish between criminal justice [...] and the sanctions imposed by the NSDC," the Prosecutor General said.

She said that the decisions of the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC), in particular, sanctions, are of political nature, while the actions of the investigators and prosecutors are a matter of legal responsibility.

"Therefore, with regard to the legal responsibility of MPs for voting, this is a great abstraction [...] Whether there will be some kind of criminal responsibility or not, only an investigation will show," Venediktova said.

At the same time, she said that today "it is very early to talk about this."

That is, as the Prosecutor General said, MPs, of course, cannot be held accountable for their expressions of will when they fulfill their program promises, but "it is another matter if they violate the law from a technical standpoint, for example, 'button pushing'."

As reported, at a meeting of the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) of Ukraine, it was decided to entrust the SBU with the circumstances of the vote in 2010 on the ratification of Kharkiv agreements on the extension of the stay of the Russian Black Sea Fleet in Crimea until 2042.
This figure and many others were provided on Wednesday by virologist Dr Thomas Dentzer, in charge of the government's testing strategy, during an interview on RTL Radio.

Rapid tests at schools are important because children will be the last to be vaccinated, explained Dr Thomas Dentzer, responsible for Luxembourg's testing strategy at the government's Covid-19 crisis unit, on Wednesday morning.

A pilot project is to be launched in several schools, where rapid tests using nasal swabs will be used. A first assessment will be made at Easter. However, the planning is dependent on the availability of the tests. 500,000 tests have been ordered and the first 200,000 should arrive this week. The aim is that everyone should ultimately be able to test themselves in this way.

Dr Thomas Dentzer /  RTL

Dr Dentzer and his team will first check how the tests perform, before they are used in other schools. There are still many other areas where they could be used, such as before visits to retirement or care homes. The end goal is that everyone will take responsibility and use them if they want to go for a drink with friends in the evening, for example.



Large-scale testing

Dr Dentzer also stressed the proven benefits of large-scale testing, despite its high cost. Over the past year, thanks to this strategy, Luxembourg has resisted the pandemic better than other countries.

Last June, cafes and restaurants reopened. Today, customers can visit shops without an appointment. "It is a different story abroad," says the virologist. The curve of new infections in the Grand Duchy continues to rise sharply but is rapidly reaching a plateau.

The country has been stable for weeks, despite the variants that have been circulating since early November, according to the virologist.

New variants more lethal?

Currently, 65% of cases in Luxembourg are due to the UK variant and 16% to the South African variant. A recent study by the Universities of Exeter and Bristol has suggested that the UK variant could be 64% more lethal.

This is obviously worrying, but it has not yet been confirmed in the analyses to this extent. On the other hand, the number of hospitalisations remains high, although the number of infections remains stable. This could be due to the UK variant, according to Dr Dentzer.

Population immunity

Immunity is reportedly increasing by the week. Dr Dentzer explained that this can be observed in the serological tests carried out in the context of the large-scale testing campaign.

In November, it was still at 6%, then at 10% in January and now at 12%. The first effects of the vaccinations are thus becoming apparent. Without vaccinations, Luxembourg would probably be at 10%.

 AFP

That would mean that so far around 62,000 people have been in contact with the virus, and if that figure is brought in relation to the large-scale screening, where almost 60,000 positive cases have been diagnosed so far, this would mean that the number of unrecorded cases appears to be very small in Luxembourg.

It would also help to understand why the curves reach a plateau so quickly in the Grand Duchy. "Unlike in other countries," Dr Dentzer added.

On the other hand, it is unclear exactly how long the immune system 'remembers' coronavirus after infection. Research published in January suggested the body retained antibodies for at least six months, but it's possible that people who caught Covid earlier in the pandemic may no longer show up on serological tests.

70% to 90% protection

At the beginning, medical experts were unsure whether people who had been vaccinated could still be infected. In the meantime, there have been additional studies which indicate that 70% to 90% of those vaccinated are protected, i.e. they could no longer get the virus.

Very reassuring news, according to Dr Dentzer, who stated that for him, "this was the most important news of the last four weeks".

There is thus still a small possibility of transmitting the virus despite vaccination. That is why the Ministry of Health is still calling for people to participate in the large-scale testing campaign.
SAO PAULO, March 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Companhia de Saneamento Basico do Estado de Sao Paulo  Sabesp ("Sabesp" or "Company"), in compliance with the provisions of Article 157, Paragraph 4, of Law 6.404/76 and the provisions of Instruction 358 of the Brazilian Securities and Exchange Commission ("CVM"), dated January 3, 2002, as amended, in continuity informs to its shareholders and the market in general that, in continuity with the Material Fact of February 3, 2021, informs its shareholders and the market in general that today, the Board of Executives Officers extended, from March 31 to April 30, 2021, the measures to minimize the economic impacts of the pandemic for commercial and service establishments, as follows:

i) Suspend cuts and renegotiate debts for commercial and service customers residing in the

operated municipalities that are in the orange and red phases of the Sao Paulo/Covid-19

Plan;

ii) The validity period will be until the end of April 2021;

iii) The existing debts, including the agreements signed during the pandemic period, will be

renegotiated without the application of a fine and interest, only monetary adjustment,

according to the Company's policy and procedure;

iv) The term for installments will be 12 months, from the date of the renegotiation of

outstanding balances;

v) The debtor will not be included in the credit protection register for debts until the end of

April 2021; and

vi) Debtors which may have been included in the credit protection register during the

pandemic will be withdrawn immediately after the debt is renegotiated with Sabesp.

The Company will keep the market informed on the developments concerning this Material Fact.

IR Contacts:

Mario Arruda Sampaio  (55 11) 3388-8664 ([email protected])

Angela Beatriz Airoldi  (55 11) 3388-8793 ([email protected])

SOURCE Sabesp

Related Links

http://www.sabesp.com.br


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The 10 grant-aided schools ordered by the Kwara State Government to reopen on Wednesday, allowing students to use Hijab, have remained closed.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that all the schools remained locked, with the presence of security men around.

NAN gathered that there was resistance from both parties involved as each wants their interest to prevail.

It would be recalled that the schools were closed on February 19, over a dispute in the usage of Hijab (Muslim female veil) in some of the schools.

The government set up a committee to resolve the misunderstanding and later announced that the schools would resume on March 8 with willing female students allowed to use Hijab.

The government, however, withdrew the reopening order earlier given over safety concerns as some Christians were not willing to accept the governments decision.

This led to the continuous closure of the schools.

The affected schools included C&S College, Sabo-Oke; St. Anthonys Secondary School, Offa Road; ECWA School, Oja Iya; Surulere Baptist Secondary School, and Bishop Smith Secondary School, Agba Dam.

Others are CAC Secondary School, Asa Dam road; St. Barnabas Secondary School, Sabo-Oke; St. John School Maraba; St. Williams Secondary School, Taiwo Isale, and St. James Secondary School, Maraba.

(NAN)
Seguin, Texas (78155)

Today

Thunderstorms, some locally heavy early will become more isolated after midnight. Gusty winds and small hail are possible. Low 69F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. 1 to 2 inches of rain expected..

Tonight

Thunderstorms, some locally heavy early will become more isolated after midnight. Gusty winds and small hail are possible. Low 69F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. 1 to 2 inches of rain expected.
SALEM, Ore.  Efforts to replant Oregon state forestlands scorched by the 2020 wildfires are being hampered by a short supply of new tree seedlings, the Oregon Department of Forestry said on Wednesday.

Seedlings were already in short supply in Oregon before the fires, said Kyle Abraham, Chief of ODFs Private Forests Division. Now, rough estimates are that somewhere between 80 and 140 million additional seedlings could be needed to reforest just the non-federal lands that burned in 2020.

Those estimates are still preliminary, Abraham said, but the number of seedlings needed is likely two or three times the number typically needed for reforestation in Oregon each year.

Beyond the severity and size of the 2020 fires, ODF cited three other major factors in the shortage. Nurseries are facing labor shortages, making it difficult for them to ramp up production. Seedlings also have a short shelf life once taken from a nursery, and nurseries usually grow expressly for landowners who regularly buy seedlings  often filing orders years ahead of time. Moreover, there are few nurseries that specialize in the needed forest species.

Trees must be grown from the appropriate seed  seed that is adapted to the area where it will be planted," Abraham said. "That generally takes two years. While seed inventories are generally strong for most areas of the state, there are some isolated gaps. Were also working to help fill those gaps.

ODF is working with Oregon State University's Extension Service and the Oregon Small Woodlands Association to address the need for seedlings. The latter two groups surveyed landowners about their needs, finding that the surveyed group alone needs about 3.5 million new trees to fully reforest.

ODF has convened a working group with representatives from state and federal land management agencies, the forest and nursery industries, OSU Extension, and non-profit associations that serve small-acreage landowners to help address some of these needs, said Abraham.

The group is now looking through a few options  procuring or growing seedlings first for smaller landowners in cooperation with private and public nurseries, finding ways to expand in-state nursery capacity, and developing the necessary logistical structure to collect and batch seedling orders for those smaller landowners.

Climate change means that seedlings planted today will grow and mature in different conditions than those that exist today, ODF said  meaning that seedling species need to be chosen and placed carefully.

Forestry officials have compiled a list of contractors for landowners who need help planting trees. ODF and the OSU Forestry Extension are also offering educational resources for people who want to plant trees themselves.

I encourage landowners to reach out to forestry professionals, neighbors, and associations of woodland owners to identify resources and get answers for successful reforestation, said Abraham.
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HELSINKI, March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Take a hike, takeaway. Move over, Amazon. There's an all new delivery to unbox this Spring: and it's set to be life-changing. In a world first, Helsinki will be home-delivered to ten top talented individuals in the tech industries, for FREE. Gaming experts, data analysts and techies will be given a hint of Helsinki in a clever bid to attract their expertise to the capital city that gave us the SMS, 5G, SSH protocol and the Linux operating system. Invited to Helsinkify their homes until travel restrictions ease, ten lucky applicants will receive a box (worth 1,000 Euros) including classic Finnish design items symbolising Helsinki's uncompromising freedom.

Helsinki Freedom, Home-Delivered is an initiative to ignite the careers of international tech talent and connect them with companies from the Helsinki region. Despite being home to some of the largest, most innovative tech companies, the city is suffering from a talent shortage, meaning exciting opportunities for those looking to level up not just their careers but their lifestyles too. The birthplace of Nokia, Rovio and Supercell is reaching out for `future Finns' to join the Helsinki Talent Pool, and apply for the world's first home-delivered city in a box, designed to showcase the freedom that can be experienced living in the Finnish capital.

Freedom such as the ability to `beta test' - trial and error is part of the city's DNA and thriving start-up scene which benefits from considerable venture capital investment, totalling 511 million, in 2019. Helsinki is hothousing business-minded talent through a strong, grassroots movement ranging from student-led entrepreneurship associations to Slush, Europe's leading startup event helping the next generation of entrepreneurs through community led learning and investment.

By joining the Helsinki Talent Pool, software engineers, developers, UX designers, technical recruiters, product owners and AI researchers will not only have the opportunity to win the box and experience for free Finnish life in their living room, but they will also get the chance to present themselves as an ideal candidate to Greater Helsinki based companies searching for talent. Progressive global companies like Google, Bayer and GE Healthcare have established campuses in the region and businesses like these are looking for tech talent to join them in developing cutting-edge innovations. Little wonder Finland was ranked seventh most innovative country in the world in 2020.*

Despite movement being limited right now, Helsinki is determined to share with the world what freedom means for its residents. Reliable healthcare and free education provide a sense of security for everyone. The close proximity of nearby nature boosts serotonin and helps release one's inner wild side (one third of Helsinki consists of parks and other green spaces). An inclusive society means everyone is welcome and innovative tech and a healthy work-life balance** means life is made simpler and more FUN. Certainly a quality seasoned gamers will attest to as the city that brought us Angry Birds and Clash of Clans has a flourishing gaming scene.

Jan Vapaavuori, Mayor of Helsinki says: "I often say that it makes sense to come to Helsinki: Helsinki is small enough to be a test-bed for new innovations, but large enough to deliver scalable results. In the future, we also want to grow in size - not just in the size of corporations, but in size of impact, responsibility and influence. This is why we need the best talent and innovations to make Helsinki their home."

Evon Blomstedt, founder of HUONE Meeting Venues, in Helsinki since 2003 says: "This is a safe, clean, well organised city which is home to people who are fair, honest and well educated. During the past decade, Helsinki has become one of the most innovative cities in the world. I have witnessed this within the ecosystem Finland has designed to encourage startups and new innovations."

Ranked #1 in the UN's 2020 World Happiness Report, it's no secret that Finnish life is special. Sharing what this freedom means for its residents, Helsinki is packing the best bits in a box to tempt top tech talent to Helsinkify their lives.

Applications for Helsinki Freedom, Home Delivered, are open until mid-April HERE.

Learn more about the campaign: https://helsinkihomedelivered.com/

About Helsinki Freedom: https://www.myhelsinki.fi/en/work-and-study/helsinki-freedom

Helsinki Freedom Home-Delivered -partners: Supercell, Wolt, Seriously, Smartly.io, Varjo, Suunto, Slush, Relex, Finnish Design Shop, Marimekko, Iittala

#helsinkifreedom #finlandworks

For more information:

Holly Ryan

Citizen Relations

[email protected]

+44 (0) 7825 553 325

Anu Syrma

Marketing director

Helsinki Marketing

[email protected]

+358 40 5412 261

About Helsinki Talent Pool

Talent Pool Helsinki is a common place for international tech talent and companies from the Helsinki region to find each other. If you are an experienced tech expert looking for new opportunities or a Greater Helsinki based company looking for new talent this is the place to get connected. www.talentpoolhelsinki.fi/

*Bloomberg Innovation Index 2020: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-01-18/germany-breaks-korea-s-six-year-streak-as-most-innovative-nation

**Kisi Top Cities in the Ranking for Work-Life Balance 2020: https://www.getkisi.com/work-life-balance-2020

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/helsinki-marketing/r/helsinki--world-s-first-city-in-a-box---helsinki-home-delivered-to-tech-sperts-looking-to-level-up-t,c3308446

The following files are available for download:

SOURCE Helsinki Marketing
03/16/2021

Contacts for media: Nancy Cicco, 978-934-4944, Nancy_Cicco@uml.edu and Christine Gillette, Christine_Gillette@uml.edu





LOWELL, Mass.  A former ambassador to Portugal who served under President Barack Obama will present a free UMass Lowell program for the public that will examine U.S.-Portuguese relations.





Portugal and the United States: Past Present and Future  A Conversation with Ambassador Robert A. Sherman will tackle domestic and foreign policy issues including the reform of the Portuguese criminal-justice system, advances in cybersecurity, the role of NATO and the road ahead for the post-pandemic international economy. Sherman, who served as U.S. ambassador to Portugal from 2014 to 2017, will share his insights on his role and answer questions.





The free online program on Thursday, March 25 at 5 p.m. will be presented by the Saab Center for Portuguese Studies at UMass Lowell





UMass Lowell Chancellor Jacquie Moloney is scheduled to welcome participants to the session. The program will be moderated by Neil Shortland, assistant professor of criminal justice and director of UMass Lowells Center for Terrorism and Security Studies, which is partnering with the Saab Center and UMass Lowells International Relations Club to present the event. Members of the public who would like to attend should register online





Shortland anticipates an engaging session that will explore many topics.





Years of leading study-abroad trips to Portugal have allowed me to realize the immense importance of both the collaborations between the U.S. and Portugal and the immense opportunities to learn from how Portugal approaches many of the societal challenges both countries face, from the drug epidemic to security, incarceration and rehabilitation, Shortland said.





As U.S. ambassador to Portugal, Sherman led diplomatic efforts focusing on international security issues and economic development. One of his central goals was to promote bilateral investment. He created expanded opportunities for American businesses by bringing executives and investors to Portugal to understand the high quality of Portuguese innovation and entrepreneurship. He also launched Connect to Success, a novel and award-winning U.S. State Department womens entrepreneurship and empowerment initiative. For his distinguished work, President of Portugal Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa awarded him the Grand Cross of the Order of Prince Henry the Navigator.





Today, Sherman serves as senior counsel at Greenberg Traurig, one of the largest international law firms in the U.S.





Ambassador Shermans talk will provide an opportunity for students, faculty and the larger community to better understand Portugal and U.S.-Portugal relations, said Frank Sousa, director of UMass Lowells Saab Center for Portuguese Studies and professor of Portuguese in the Department of World languages and Cultures.





Established in 2013, the Saab Center is a resource for the public and the campus. It regularly presents events and programs that promote an understanding of and appreciation for the cultures, literature and language of the Portuguese-speaking world  comprised of more than 250 million people, including a vibrant Portuguese-American community throughout the Merrimack Valley.




Silver Spring, MD, March 17, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Competitive Power Ventures (CPV) today announced that it plans to file an application with the State of Maryland for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) to construct and operate the 175 MWac Backbone Solar Farm (CPV Backbone) in the Old Line States westernmost county.

CPV Backbone is proposed to be built on former Vindex/Arch Coal mining sites just north of Kitzmiller, MD. The mines closed recently after decades of operation during which they served as a major economic driver for the region. The project will be sited on approximately 1,100 acres of the former mine property and generate enough emission-free electricity to power approximately 30,000 average Maryland homes.

CPV has been conducting environmental, geotechnical, electrical, and engineering studies on the property since early 2020. The start of construction is planned for early 2022 with the start of operations targeted for mid-2023. The project helps Maryland to meet its clean energy targets of 14.5 percent solar energy by 2028 and 50 percent renewable energy by 2030.

This project exemplifies CPVs mission to deliver responsible energy while creating significant positive benefits for the region in which it is located, said CPV Executive Vice President Sean Finnerty. We are grateful for the warm reception weve received and look forward to working with the community as we move forward with the project.

Competitive Power Ventures proposal to invest in a new solar energy facility in Garrett County is welcome news and a win-win for the people of our region, said Sen. George C. Edwards (District 1). The projects re-purposing of a former coal mine reduces the need to take additional farmland out of production while providing a much-needed economic boost as we work to build back from the impact of the COVID pandemic.

At its March 16 regular meeting, the Garrett County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a resolution supporting the project. In addition, key local groups have expressed support for the project.

We are excited that Garrett County has been chosen as the site for a large, utility scale renewable energy project, said Jennifer Walsh, Executive Director of The Greater Cumberland Committee (TGCC), the leading economic development organization in the region. In addition to the positive impacts to our entire region, several TGCC member companies and organizations are excited about the opportunities this project presents. CPV has created several world-class energy projects across the country and TGCC looks forward to working closely with CPV and government officials in both Annapolis and locally to build another here in Garrett County.

Once approved, the project is expected to take 14 months to build and will employ over 150 workers during construction.

At a time when our economy has been impacted by events of the past year, this project is a very welcome development, said Kitzmiller Mayor Rob Reckart. We are delighted to be working with CPV as they invest in our region.

About CPV

CPV Group LP (CPV), a subsidiary of OPC Energy Ltd., is uniquely positioned to leverage global technology and financial partnerships to help modernize Americas power generation. Together with our investors, partners, host communities and other key stakeholders, we are driven to improve our energy infrastructure by developing and operating power generation facilities using cutting edge, domestically available natural gas and renewable power technologies. Headquartered in Silver Spring, MD, with an office in Braintree, MA, the company has ownership interest in 5.5 GW of clean generation across the United States. The companys Asset Management division currently manages 7.9 GW of fossil and renewable generating facilities in nine states for 11 different owner groups. Our focus on Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) and sustained track record of success have enabled us to grow into one of North Americas premier energy companies. For more information: www.cpv.com and follow CPV on Twitter and LinkedIn.

# # #
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According to IMARC Group's latest report, titled Automatic Door Market: Industry Trends, Share, Size, Growth, Opportunity and Forecast 2020-2025, the global automatic door market size to exhibit moderate growth during the next five years.

An automatic door opens and closes itself by sensing an approaching individual. It functions by analyzing the changes in sound, light, pressure, and motion. These doors are fast, safe, easy-to-operate, noise-free, save energy and space, provide a hygienic environment, and enable easy access to the premises. As a result, it is often installed in various residential, commercial, and industrial spaces.

Get a PDF Sample for more detailed market insights: https://www.imarcgroup.com/automatic-door-market/requestsample

Market Trends

The significantly growing construction industry is one of the key factors driving the market growth. Automatic doors provide secure and convenient door access to differently-abled individuals, which further induces their adoption in various premises. These doors also find extensive applications in the defense and military sectors as they enhance security, facilitate safe evacuation, and minimize the need for the human workforce. Furthermore, the major players are introducing innovative features, such as bollards, boom barriers, and lock and shutter systems, to expand their product sales. Moreover, the demand for automatic doors has also burgeoned due to the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), as these doors offer hands-free access to public places and help reduce the risk of transmission.

The report has segmented the market on the basis of type, application and region.

Breakup by Type:

Sliding

Swinging

Folding

Others

Breakup by Application:

Commercial

Industrial

Residential

For more information about this report: https://www.imarcgroup.com/automatic-door-market

Breakup by Region:

North America

Asia Pacific

Europe

Latin America

Middle East and Africa

Competitive Landscape:

The competitive landscape of the industry has also been examined with some of the key players being ASSA ABLOY Group, Deutschtec GmbH, dormakaba Holding AG, GEZE GmbH, Nabtesco Corporation, Sanwa Holdings Corporation and Stanley Black & Decker Inc.

Browse Related Report:

https://www.imarcgroup.com/hydraulic-cylinder-market

https://www.imarcgroup.com/drones-market

About Us

IMARC Group is a leading market research company that offers management strategy and market research worldwide. We partner with clients in all sectors and regions to identify their highest-value opportunities, address their most critical challenges, and transform their businesses.

Contact US:

IMARC Group

30 N Gould St, Ste R

Sheridan, WY 82801, USA

Website: https://www.imarcgroup.com/

Email: sales@imarcgroup.com

USA: + 1-631-791-1145

Follow us on twitter: @imarcglobal

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/imarc-group
Company recognized for chatbot solution to combat the effects of COVID-19 in Bulgaria

SoftServe, a leading digital authority and consulting company, won 'Best Technology Response' in the Best Corporate Response to COVID-19 category at the Global Sourcing Association (GSA) UK Professional Awards 2020 SoftServe was honored for exhibiting excellence in strategic sourcing and its response as a company to COVID-19.

SoftServe was recognized for its COVID-19 Bulgaria Chatbot, an innovative pro bono solution project designed to reduce the spread of inaccurate information related to COVID-19. It provides Bulgaria's residents with up-to-date statistics on the virus in Bulgaria, the latest official news, and a recording of the briefings from the National Operational Headquarters (NOH) in Bulgaria.

"This recognition highlights the dedication and innovative work SoftServe engineers and development professionals have demonstrated to help solve complex business problems brought on by COVID-19," said Andon Simeonov, VP, Bulgaria Country Manager at SoftServe. "We look forward to leveraging our expertise in artificial intelligence, machine learning, big data, and cloud-based services to create and build more cutting-edge solutions that provide our customers with the tools and technology they need to thrive in today's ever-changing digital environment."

The GSA Professional Awards is a competitive, global awards program focused on recognizing and rewarding demonstrated innovation and pioneering best practices by buyers, service providers, and advisors in the strategic sourcing industry. Submissions are judged by a panel of appointed GSA UK Council members and co-opted judges. The 2020 awards featured 19 categories including the addition of new categories focused on corporate and partnership responses to challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.

About SoftServe

SoftServe is a digital authority that advises and provides at the cutting-edge of technology. We reveal, transform, accelerate, and optimize the way enterprises and software companies do business. With expertise across healthcare, retail, energy, financial services, software, and more, we implement end-to-end solutions to deliver the innovation, quality, and speed that our clients' users expect.

SoftServe delivers open innovation-from generating compelling new ideas, to developing and implementing transformational products and services. Our work and client experience is built on a foundation of empathetic, human-focused experience design that ensures continuity from concept to release. We empower enterprises and software companies to (re)identify differentiation, accelerate solution development, and vigorously compete in today's digital economy. No matter where you are in your journey.

Visit our website, blog, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter pages.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210317005018/en/

Contacts:

SoftServe Media Contact

Paul Jones

Senior Manager, Analyst and Public Relations

pjone@softserveinc.com

512-796-7358
President Joe Bidens March 11 COVID-19 speech  his first formal address in 50 days as president  was anything but inspiring.

He mentioned a woman who told him to tell the truth, but must have known that in his 47-plus years in government he has had great difficulty in doing just that. He failed to give former President Donald Trumps Operation Warp Speed credit for helping pharmaceutical companies develop vaccines in record time. Biden and this country would not be as far along with the vaccines were it not for Trumps tireless efforts.

Biden lectured us on mask-wearing and what we could and could not do to slow the coronavirus spread. But he is letting unaccompanied minors in at the border, and has suspended some Trump-era deportations. Many of these immigrants are without masks.

The pandemic caused lost jobs and businesses, loved ones passing away and untold suffering from a number of causes. Biden expressed empathy for them, but not for those who will have lost their jobs because he canceled U.S. approval for the Keystone XL pipeline from Canada. This also threatens our energy independence.

The $1.9 trillion stimulus program  or the American Rescue Plan  is anything but. Republican analysts claim that just 9% of the money is designated to fight COVID-19. The rest is a Democrat wish list that Congress passed on a partisan basis.

It is obvious that elections have consequences, but I do believe we are in for a rough four years. The far-left policies put forth by this administration are anti-American, anti-God and totally foreign to our Constitution. We need to pay attention.

Barbara Essington, Carneys Point Township

All went well at Gloucester County vaccination site

Congratulations to all the fine personnel responsible for the terrific service given at the Rowan College of South Jersey COVID-19 vaccination mega-site in Deptford Township.

From the parking lot, to the injection table, to the final checkout prior to departure, I was treated with courtesy and respect, as were the other injection-seekers I observed.

Many thanks for a painless experience.

William Murphy, Williamstown

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Send a letter to the editor of South Jersey Times at sjletters@njadvancemedia.com

Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook.
A glance at some of the day's highlights from the Proactive Investors newswire

( ) said initial results from phase III clinical studies of a rapid Covid breath test showed it can deliver results in under 60 seconds.

Canadian Overseas Petroleum Ltd ( ) has completed its reverse takeover of Atomic Oil and Gas. It shares have now been suspended pending a listing on the LSEs standard market.

Supply@ME Capital PLC ( ) announced it has signed an initial agreement to buy a FinTech-powered commodities trade enabler, focused on small and medium-sized enterprises, based in Singapore.

( ) is to raise 17.3mln through a private placement of new shares at a price of 110p per share.

( ) and PLC ( ) said their joint venture company Pty Ltd (RRAL) was awarded two additional licences in the Victoria Goldfields, boosting the planned IPO of the business.

( ) reported encouraging initial results from airborne electromagnetic (AEM) surveys flown over its interests in the Kalahari Copper Belt (KCB) in Botswana.

( ) is looking to speed up the development of a revised mine plan at its Baita Plai polymetallic mine in Romania.

( ) confirmed that the next phase of works at its Eclipse Gold Project in Western Australia is fully funded and will commence very soon.

British Lithium Ltd (PRIVATE:BLL) said it has been awarded a grant of almost 3mln by the governments Sustainable Innovation Fund (SIF). The funding will allow British Lithium to progress its plans for a pilot plant to prove the sustainability and commercial benefits of its Li-Sep technology for extracting battery-grade lithium from micaceous granite.

PLC ( ) said it raised 2.3mln via a share placing priced at 6p, with the funds to be used to develop the Gold Ridge gold project in Arizona. The new shares come with a warrant attached on a one-for-one basis.

( ) has unveiled plans to raise up to 15mln through a placing and subscription to strengthen its balance sheet ahead of what it said were anticipated commercial negotiations for its Greater Buchan Area (GBA) project in the North Sea.

(LON:THR, ASX:THR, ) confirmed that trading in its shares will begin today on the OTCQB Market in the United States.

( ) (NYSEAMERICAN:CMCL) said it is to be included in the MVIS Global Junior Gold Miners (GDXJ) Index for the first time on March 19 following the indexs first quarter 2021 review.

( ) announced the final loan conversion under a US$1.5mln unsecured convertible loan agreement with Riverfort Global Opportunities PCC Ltd and YA II PN Ltd. The investors will convert US$200,000 (144,160) into 168.5mln shares at a price of 0.08556 pence per share.

Woodbois Ltd ( ) welcomed MCM Sustainable Resource SP as a 3.72% shareholder after being informed by Rhino Ventures that it has sold 60,700,000 voting ordinary shares in the company and immediately thereafter requested conversion of another 75,000,000 of its 750,000,000 non-voting ordinary shares into voting ordinary shares.

Base Resources Ltd (ASX:BSE, ) advised that its half-year dividend for the six-month period ended 31 December 2020 of 3 Australian cents per share, unfranked, will be 1.6719p per share when denominated in sterling, based on an AUD/GBP exchange rate of 0.5573 as per the record date of Monday, 15 March.

( ) announced that independent non-executive director George Rose will not be standing for re-election at the forthcoming annual general meeting, having been on the board for more than nine years. The company said the board will continue to keep its size and composition under review, including the balance between independent and non-independent directors in light of the recommendations under the UK corporate governance code.

's ( ) investment manager will be holding a webinar on Tuesday 30 March at 10am, the day after the trust reports its final results. Registration for the webinar is open and a recording of the event will be made available on the company's website afterwards.

( ) announced that the publication of its full-year results for 2020 has been moved to Wednesday 7 April 2021 after a request from its auditor, PwC.

( ) said it intends to announce a full-year trading update for the 52 weeks ended 29 March 2021, on Thursday 15 April 2021.

( ) notified that it will release its full year results for the year ended 31 December 2020 on Tuesday 13 April 2021. An analyst briefing will take place remotely via video conference call that afternoon.


On March 16, Gazprom Export signed a short-term contract with the State Oil Company of the Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR) regarding transit through Azerbaijan, TASS reported.

Gazprom Export said that scheduled maintenance work on the North Caucasus-Transcaucasus pipeline that passes through Georgia will take three weeks.

After the completion of the repairs natural gas to Armenia will be transported via the previous route passing through the borders of Russia and Georgia, Gazprom Export said.

Last year, Gazprom supplied over 2.2 billion cubic meters of natural gas to Armenia and the monthly amount of supplies increased by 9 percent in January 2021.

The news about the transit of Russian natural gas to Armenia via Azerbaijan comes four months after the two South Caucasus nations signed a Moscow-brokered ceasefire agreement mostly on Bakus terms to put an end to a six-week war in Nagorno-Karabakh.

The terms of the deal also call for the unblocking of economic and transport links in the region.

An official of Gazprom Armenia, the Russian gas giants Yerevan-based subsidiary, said that natural gas supplies to Armenia are carried out through the Karmir Kamurj-Sevkar-Berd gas pipeline.

We have no other comment on that. According to the report, the repairs will be done by the Russian Gazprom Export company. It would be better to contact them for details, Mikael Harutiunian, of the companys public relations department, told RFE/RLs Armenian Service.

Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigorians office told RFE/RLs Armenian Service that they have never discussed such an issue and recommended turning to Gazprom for additional information.

Gazprom Export did not comment on the matter immediately, asking for a request for information to be submitted in writing.

Meanwhile, according to Azerbaijani media, Ibrahim Ahmadov, the head of SOCARs public relations department, explained that beginning on March 17 for a corresponding fee Russian natural gas will be transited via Azerbaijan to Georgia, from where it will reach Armenia. Ahmadov declined to reveal the size of the transit fee.

Yerevan-based energy expert Ara Marjanian thinks that Gazproms short-term contract with SOCAR may be a way for Russia to test Azerbaijan.

I think this could be an interesting experience to test how ready Azerbaijan is for peaceful coexistence, he told RFE/RLs Armenian Service.

The expert said that if Azerbaijan disrupts the fulfillment of this short-term contract, Armenia will find itself in a difficult situation, although not critical. Armenia receives not only Russian gas, but also has other supplies. Besides, Armenia has a certain amount of natural gas in underground storages. So, even if Azerbaijan suspends the implementation of this project, Armenia will cope with this situation, Marjanian explained.
I read Tom Wrobleskis article on the Vaticans position on same-sex unions. I, too, am a practicing Catholic and former altar boy. I attended Catholic school in 1948. Nuns taught us the Pope was infallible in church doctrine. It was constantly emphasized the Catholic Church was the one true church, all others false.

The church welcomes those Catholics who have homosexual inclinations but finds it sinful to act on those desires. Its ironic that the church has had its own pedophile problems and has, at times, covered them up. Change in Catholic orthodoxy comes at a snails pace. At one time, priests were allowed to marry. As I aged from child to adult, I too had doubts about Catholic teaching. I never forgot the Catholic Church was the one true church and all others false. There are 60 million American Catholics. Did that mean all the non-Catholics, Protestants, Muslims, Jews, Buddhists, were condemned to eternal damnation? Does that mean partners in same-sex marriages are also doomed? The question gnawed at me. I had to find answers.

I went to confession and told the priest what I had been taught as a child. He chuckled behind the screen that separated us. He said, if those of other faiths practiced a good moral life, God will welcome them. Those words belied what I had been taught in the 1940s.

Personally, I dont believe in homosexual marriages, but they are Gods children and no one living in glass houses should throw rocks at them. Im not conflicted by the CDF statement that the church cannot bless same-sex unions. And, as Pope Francis said, who am I to judge?

Those adjudications are better left in omniscient Gods hands.

(Joseph Valente is a South Beach resident.)
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(Reuters) - Myanmar's powerful Buddhist monks' association urged the military junta to end violence against protesters and accused an "armed minority" of torture and killings of innocent civilians since last month's coup, media said on Wednesday.

In a condemnation of the crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrators, the government-appointed organisation also said in a draft statement that its members intended to halt activities, the Myanmar Now news portal reported.

Monks have a history of activism in Myanmar and were at the forefront of the 2007 "Saffron Revolution" against military rule, an uprising that, although suppressed, helped usher in democratic reforms. A rift with the authorities would mark an important boost for opponents of the ruling generals.

Protest flared across the country again on Wednesday and nine demonstrators were killed by security forces in the commercial capital Yangon, second city Mandalay and elsewhere, the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) activist group said.

The total documented number of people killed in the weeks of unrest since the Feb. 1 coup now stood at 217 but the actual toll was probably much higher, the AAPP said.

Pope Francis added his voice to international appeals for an end to the bloodshed. "Even I kneel on the streets of Myanmar and say 'stop the violence'," he said.

For its part, the junta was building its case against Myanmar's elected leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, who has been held in detention in an undisclosed location since the army overthrew her civilian government.

State-controlled MRTV television showed a businessman saying he had given her about $550,000 in illegal payments in 2019 and 2020. The longtime democracy champion could face a lengthy prison sentence and be barred from politics if convicted. Her lawyer could not be reached for comment.

Protesters confronted security forces over a sandbag barricade on one street in the main city of Yangon. Police opened intermittent fire and one man appeared to get shot in the head, according to footage on social media.

Story continues

Reuters could not verify the video. Media reported that authorities forced Yangon residents to dismantle barricades and threatened to open fire in neighbourhoods that did not do so.

Two protesters were killed in the central town of Kale, the BBC reported, while several hundred people gathered in the eastern town of Demoso, Pathein in the Irrawaddy river delta and Dawei in the south, pictures on social media showed.

A junta spokesman did not answer telephone calls seeking comment.

The army has said it took power after its accusations of fraud in a Nov. 8 election won by Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) were rejected by the electoral commission. It has promised a new election, but not set a date.

MONKS' MOVE

The reported stance of the Buddhist monks' association, known as the State Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee, would signal a significant rift between authorities and a group that usually works closely with the government.

Members could not be reached for comment but Myanmar Now said it planned to release a final statement after consulting the religious affairs minister on Thursday.

Meanwhile, a property developer named Maung Weik appeared on state-controlled MRTV and alleged Suu Kyi had taken four different illegal payments from him totalling about $550,000 in 2019 and 2020 when she was Myanmar's de facto civilian leader in the role of State Counsellor.

The junta announced last week it was investigating the Nobel peace laureate on suspicion of bribery, adding to a variety of separate charges that include illegally importing communications equipment and violating anti-coronavirus rules.

"According to the testimony of U Maung Weik..., Aung San Suu Kyi is guilty of bribery and the anti-corruption commission is investigating to take action under anti-corruption laws," MRTV said.

Her lawyer dismissed the initial accusation last week as a joke. Several Western governments have also denounced the charges as fabricated. But if convicted, she is likely to be removed from the political scene for a long time.

INTERNET BLOCK

The junta also acted to further restrict internet use, cutting public WiFi access that has been used by people to share information in the absence of mobile data access. It is now limited to only those with a private fixed line connection.

Parts of Yangon are under martial law and thousands of residents have fled the industrial suburb of Hlaingthaya, where security forces killed 40 people on Sunday and Chinese-financed factories were set ablaze.

Workers said a dispute over pay at a Chinese-owned factory in the industrial zone turned violent on Tuesday after the owner called the security forces. They shot dead a woman labour leader and at least four more people. Myanmar Now said six people were killed.

China's state media have warned of unspecified action if there are further attacks on Chinese-owned businesses.

Many people in Myanmar believe Beijing is backing the military. Unlike Western powers, China has not condemned the coup and, along with Russia, has prevented the U.N. Security Council from denouncing the military's actions.

The junta also charged the acting leader of a parallel civilian government, Mahn Win Khaing Than, with treason, the Democratic Voice of Burma reported.

Mahn Win Khaing Than, who is on the run, is a senior member of Suu Kyi's party. He was appointed this month by a panel of ousted lawmakers pushing for recognition as the rightful government.

(Reporting by Reuters Staff; Writing by Angus MacSwan, Editing by Mark Heinrich)
Liberia: Japanese-supported fisheries, rice project yields fruitful results

by Judoemue Kollie

March 17,2021 | Source: Daily Observer

The Country Director of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in Liberia, Mariatou Njie, has said that the just-ended Japanese supported fisheries and rice projects implemented by her organization in collaboration and the Government of Liberia through the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) and the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Culture Authority (NaFAA), has contributed immensely in assisting several small scale fishmongers and processors as well as rice farmers to ensure food security and income generation for their families.



According to her, the fisheries and rice projects supported by Japan contributed to the sustainability of marine fisheries resources by supporting the implementation of the Port State Measures Agreement as well as supported several smallholder rice farmers in integrated rice cultivation to increase production through improved practices.



She made the disclosure recently at a one-day meeting with the Japanese Ambassador to Liberia, HIMENO Tsutomu, at the MoA central office in Congo Town. The occasion was attended by the officials of government and some private sector members.



We successfully completed a fishery project last year. This project contributed to the sustainability of marine fisheries resources by supporting the implementation of the Port State Measures Agreement. The Project also contributed to improving livelihoods and food security in small-scale fishing communities through reducing fish loss and enhancing fish product quality, while promoting the implementation of the Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries, she said.



Madam Njie said the West Africa region loses an average of $2billion annually to the theft of maritime resources and illegal fishing.



Fishery resources are disappearing due to Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing practices so detrimental to the livelihoods of coastal communities. To prevent this, the FAO Agreement on Port State Measures has contributed immensely to eliminating IUU fishing since it was adopted by Liberia on May 21, 2019, she said.



The capacity of more than 240 fisheries, maritime, port, health, customs, immigration, coastguard, commerce, justice, and agriculture national authorities and other Key stakeholders were enhanced to combat IUU Fishing through capacity development training, she said.



Also 1,600 people were well equipped and empowered with the renewable energy and sustainable fish hygiene, handling, conservation, transformation, and distribution kits, and they were technically trained through video training on fish processing best practices, madam Njie added.



Commenting on the impact of the Japanese support in the area of rice production and processing, the FAO Country Director informed the Japanese ambassador that the project made a significant contribution in helping rice farmers in the targeted counties.



The Integrated Sustainable Rice System Development, funded by your government, contributed to the efforts of the Government of Liberia to address several challenges including the improvement of rice production systems through resilient agricultural practices and to improve the capacities of farmers to compete in the rice value chains.



She stated that the project was successfully implemented by the MoA, with the technical support of FAO in partnership with Central Agriculture Research Institute (CARI) and AfricaRice.



The good agronomic practices for lowland rice production which include the System of Rice Intensification (SRI), have been promoted within the 20 farmers groups that is composed of 1,011 farmers, 605 of them women carried out in Farmers Field Schools, she said.



The targeted farmers cultivated more than 76 hectares of lowland in the targeted counties (Bong and Lofa counties) with the provision of 2,.493 metric tons (MT) of improved rice seeds, mainly Nerica L.19 and 28.4 MT of fertilizers. Farmers groups were also equipped and empowered with tractors, power-tillers and threshers, harvester, rice mill, and other agricultural tools, she added.



She also said that the project was able to construct one warehouse in Bong County with rice processing machine that will increase the availability of milled rice in the beneficial counties.



.The project proudly counts on a core expertise of 15 extension staff in the two counties to replicate and scale-up the results of rice production and processing. They were well equipped and trained with a technical training manual on SRI production and on good practices for rice post-harvest handling and value addition, she added.



For his part, the Japanese Ambassador, HIMENO Tsutomu, said that the people and government of Japan remain committed to supporting Liberia to ensure human security for the betterment of the country.



A great number of project in the area of agriculture and fisheries have been mentioned that is supported by the government of Japan. Our country is delighted to support Liberia in many ways in improving the lives of the citizens, Ambassador Tsutomu said.



He said that Japan has also been instrumental in supporting the government of Liberia in the areas of road construction as well as supporting the energy and health sectors.



The government of Japan is doing all these things because she highly values the friendship with the people and Government of Liberia. The priorities of the Liberian government to develop the lives of its citizens are very important to Japan.

 Liberian Observer Corporation

Theme(s): Fisheries Development and Aquaculture.
A brief bout of snow fell across parts of the area early Wednesday, with accumulations around half an inch in some spots as roads became slick. There is a potential for more brief flurries through 9am as this area of disturbed weather moves into Wisconsin.

The rest of St. Patrick's Day will be mostly cloudy, with light winds and a high temp of around 40 degrees. Winds pick up to 15mph out of the NE overnight as clouds begin to wane. Temps reach the mid to upper 40s on Thursday as clouds are slowly ushered out. Sunny skies for most of Friday and Saturday as temps reach the 50s by Saturday. Rain will move in late Sunday, possibly lasting through much of next week.

It's also worth a mention the severe chance to our south today. A dangerous situation in MS, AL, LA, and AR this afternoon and evening. A high risk (5/5) for severe weather, the first since 2019, has been issued form the Storm Prediction Center. Widespread severe weather is expected, with a particularly high potential for large and strong tornadoes. Not a bad idea to reach out to friends or family in the area and make sure they have a plan.


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Most European countries suspend use of AstraZenecas COVID-19 vaccine over blood clot fears

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Most EU countries including Spain, France, Italy and Germany have suspended the use of AstraZenecas COVID-19 vaccine amid fears of rare blood clots and abnormal bleeding. The pharmaceutical company and health officials in the region insist, however, there is no cause for alarm.

Emer Cooke, executive director of the European Medicines Agency, said at a news conference Tuesday that they were still studying the possibility of rare side effects from the vaccine but there was no indication that vaccination has caused these conditions.

While the investigation is ongoing, we are currently still firmly convinced that the benefits of the AstraZeneca vaccine in preventing COVID-19, with its associated risk of hospitalization, outweigh the risk of the side effects, she said, according to The New York Times.

A statement released by the pharmaceutical giant on Sunday about the safety of its vaccine said they reviewed available safety data of more than 17 million people vaccinated in the EU and the U.K. with the AstraZeneca vaccine and found no evidence of an increased risk of pulmonary embolism, deep vein thrombosis or thrombocytopenia, in any defined age group, gender, batch or in any particular country.

Around 17 million people in the EU and U.K. have now received our vaccine, and the number of cases of blood clots reported in this group is lower than the hundreds of cases that would be expected among the general population. The nature of the pandemic has led to increased attention in individual cases and we are going beyond the standard practices for safety monitoring of licensed medicines in reporting vaccine events, to ensure public safety, Ann Taylor, the companys chief medical officer said.

The AstraZeneca vaccine, which was developed in partnership with Oxford University, was designed to play a major role in the global vaccination effort  with some 2 billion doses ordered for use in more than 70 countries this year, The New York Times reported.

It does not yet have FDA approval in the U.S. but is being sold using a nonprofit model and is cheaper than other vaccines on the global market. It's also stored more easily and has already started shipping to low- and middle-income countries that signed onto the global vaccine sharing program Covax.

Fears about the AstraZeneca vaccine come in the wake of rare reactions in some people after getting the shot, such as 57-year-old Italian clarinetist Sandro Tognatti.

Tognatti was vaccinated in his hometown of Biella on Saturday afternoon. His wife, Simona Riussi, told Italian media that he went to bed that night with a high fever and he died the following morning The New York Post reported.

Prosecutors in Italy responded by opening a probe into Tognattis death and nearly 400,000 shots of the AstraZeneca vaccine.

No direct link between that death and the vaccine has been established.

Most of Italy is now back in lockdown, AFP reported, but Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi said on Tuesday that he was encouraged by the statement from the EMA Tuesday, according to Reuters.

Draghi said in a statement that he spoke with French President Emmanuel Macron Tuesday and they agreed that if EMA gives a green light on Thursday, they were ready to begin inoculating with the AstraZeneca vaccine quickly.
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Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-17 01:01:36|Editor: huaxia

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TEHRAN, March 16 (Xinhua) -- At least 64 were injured on Tuesday during the Fire Festival celebration in Iran, Iranian Student News Agency reported, citing the spokesman of the country's Emergency Organization.

"As of 5 p.m. local time (1330 GMT) today, 64 people were injured across the country," said Mojtaba Khaledi, adding the number of amputations of the total injuries was eight.

According to the head of Tehran Emergency Center Peyman Saberian, emergency ambulances have been deployed to 197 busy areas in the capital city for possible incidents during Tuesday's celebration.

The Fire Festival is celebrated by Iranians on the eve of the last Wednesday before Nowruz, the Iranian new year, which falls on March 21 this year. Enditem
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This week, President Joe Biden hits the road after signing a $1.9 trillion economic stimulus package, and Americans begin to receive stimulus checks. Meanwhile, Washington debates how to handle a surge of migrants arriving at the U.S. southern border. Michelle Quinn reports. VOA Khmer's Sisovann Pin narrates the story in Khmer.
Men and women are impacted differently by brain diseases, like Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. Researchers are urging their colleagues to remember those differences when researching treatments and cures.

In APL Bioengineering, by AIP Publishing, University of Maryland scientists highlight a growing body of research suggesting sex differences play roles in how patients respond to brain diseases, as well as multiple sclerosis, motor neuron disease, and other brain ailments.

That is progress from just a few years ago, said Alisa Morss Clyne, director of the university's Vascular Kinetics Laboratory.

"I have worked with vascular cells for 20 years and, up until maybe about five years ago, if you asked if the sex of my cells mattered at all, I would have said no," Clyne said. Then, she worked on a difficult study in which data appeared "all over the place."

"We separated the cell data by sex, and it all made sense," Clyne said. "It was an awakening for me that we should be studying this."

As of 2020, an estimated 5.8 million Americans were diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, another 1 million with Parkinson's disease, 914,000 with multiple sclerosis, and 63,000 with motor neuron disease. These diseases happen when nerve cells in the brain and nervous system quit working and, ultimately, die.

The changes are associated with the breakdown of what is called the blood-brain barrier -- a border of cells that keeps the wrong kind of molecules in the bloodstream from entering the brain and damaging it.

Published research has shown differences in the blood-brain barriers of men and women. Some of the research suggests the barrier can be stronger in women than men, and the barriers in men and women are built and behave differently.

That could factor into known differences in the sexes, such as Alzheimer's disease being more prevalent in older women than men, while Parkinson's impacts men more frequently and tends to do so more severely.

The authors said they hope their article will serve as a reminder to researchers not just in their own field, but across the sciences, that accounting for sex differences leads to better results.

"I think there is an awakening in the past 10 years or so that you cannot ignore sex differences," Clyne said. "My goal is to inspire people to include sex differences in their research, no matter what research they are doing."
On Tuesday night, eight people, including six Asian women, were killed in shootings at three Atlanta-area massage parlors. Police have charged a 21-year-old white man, Robert Aaron Long, with their murders. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that Long had bought a gun earlier in the day at a gun shop in Cherokee County, where one of the spas was located.

Georgia requires no waiting period between the purchase of a firearm and its transfer to the buyer. Unlike those in states with stricter gun regulations, lawmakers in Georgia trust that people who buy deadly weapons are responsible enough to decide to buy a gun and receive that gun on the very same day.

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They do not have the same confidence in pregnant women. In Georgia, abortion-seeking patients are required to undergo counseling that, according to the Guttmacher Institute, includes information designed to discourage the patient from having an abortion. Then they must wait 24 hours before they can receive the procedure. Anti-abortion advocates argue that this kind of waiting period is an essential opt-out period for capricious women whove arrived at a decision about their reproductive lives with undue haste. In practice, in states that impose abortion waiting periods, its a costly and time-sucking burden for women who must spend extra time talking to a practitioner the day before their procedure (in states like Georgia that allow the counseling to be delivered by phone) or travel to a clinic twiceoften from a great distanceand devote two days to medical care that could be delivered in less than one.

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The comparison between laws governing firearm purchases and those restricting abortion access has been made many times, by many people, in many different ways. Its an intuitive connection: Both sets of policies can include waiting periods, they both touch on arguments about life, and often the lawmakers who make passionate cases for abortion waiting periods are the same ones blocking similar restrictions on gun access. In order to maintain the fiction that abortion restrictions are not meant to criminalize or burden abortion-seeking women, those lawmakers claim that women need abortion waiting periods to protect them from future regret.

If one takes this patronizing argument at face value, one must also accept that gun buyers, too, are at risk of making impulsive decisions they might regrethurting other people. But there is an important difference between these two categories of ostensibly regrettable decisions: Only one brings harm to others. One decision leads to the termination of ones own pregnancy, and the other to the murder of breathing, life-living, outside-the-womb human beings.

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There are few clearer statements of a societys values than this: We place more trust in the self-knowledge and decision-making skills of a would-be mass murderer than we do in a pregnant woman. To put it another way, in Georgia, it is easier for a man to gain the capacity to maim and kill other peoples bodies than for a woman to obtain medical care for her own.

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On Wednesday, Cherokee County Sheriff Frank Reynolds said that Long gave no indicators that this was racially motivated. Instead, law enforcement officials said, Long claims he is addicted to sex, and the spas were a temptation he wanted to eliminate. This attempt to disentangle race from sex and gender, and racism from misogyny, is wrongheaded and futile. The fact that Long targeted Asian-owned spas, and that the majority of his victims were Asian women, is no coincidence; the temptation he citesand his decision to visit violence upon the particular people and places he blamed for itdidnt come from nowhere. However Long explains himself, the devaluing and hypersexualization of Asian women and their labor are essential context for his crimes.

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Here, too, abortion politics provide a useful comparison. Though anti-abortion laws predominantly affect women, and they are the bedrock of political movements that seek to impede womens access to power, you cannot talk about the gendered impact of abortion restrictions without also talking about race. Wealthy white women will always be able to buy their way around abortion restrictions. Women of color, who face disproportionate barriers to finding the necessary time, transportation, and financial resources, bear the brunt of laws that make abortion care more costly, time-consuming, and harder to find in ones community. Poor women and women of color are deliberately targeted by laws like the Hyde Amendment, which makes abortion care prohibitively expensive for women on Medicaid. Race, class, immigration statusthese are not ancillary factors to the issue of abortion access. They are core to it.

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This clarifies why Georgia lawmakers have thought it prudent to protect women from governing their own bodies with more vigor than they protect the rest of society from murderers with guns: Abortion patients are disproportionately Black and female, and gun owners are disproportionately white and male. Wisconsin Republican Sen. Ron Johnson reminded us of the benefit of the doubt granted to gun-toting white people this week, when he said he had no reason to fear the people who rallied at the Capitol on Jan. 6 because they were people that love this country, that truly respect law enforcement. On the other hand, he said, if those were tens of thousands of Black Lives Matter and antifa protesters, I might have been a little concerned. Georgias asymmetrical application of waiting periods is Johnsons worldview made law. It suggests that a desire for an abortion is more suspect than a desire for a weapon with the power to kill, because a person who wants an abortion is less trustworthy, more capricious, and less deserving of self-determination than a person who wants a gun.
Reliance Industries (RIL) fell 1.71% to Rs 2064.45, extending decline for the sixth day in a row.

Shares of the index heavyweight have lost 5.78% in six sessions from its recent closing high of Rs 2,191.10 recorded on 8 March 2021.

In the past six months, the stock has declined by 10.20% while the benchmark Sensex had gained 28.48% during the same period.

On the technical front, the stock's RSI (relative strength index) stood at 46.424. The RSI oscillates between zero and 100. Traditionally, the RSI is considered overbought when above 70 and oversold when below 30.

The stock was trading above its 50-day, 100-day and 200-day daily simple moving average (SMA) placed at 2022.79, 2003.50 and 2009.43, respectively.

Earlier this month, the conglomerate's telecom arm Reliance Jio Infocomm successfully acquired the right to use spectrum in all 22 circles across India in the recently concluded spectrum auctions conducted by Department of Telecommunications, Government of India.

With these acquisitions, Jio's total owned spectrum footprint has increased significantly, by 55%, to 1,717 MHz (uplink+ downlink).

RIL said that has very well-balanced spectrum for LTE Services and future upgradation to 5G Technology. Jio has achieved complete spectrum derisking with average validity of owned spectrum at 15.5 years.

RIL is India's largest private sector company. Its activities span hydrocarbon exploration and production, petroleum refining and marketing, petrochemicals, retail and digital services.

On a consolidated basis, the company reported 12.5% rise in net profit to Rs 13,101 crore on 23.12% decline in net sales to Rs 117,860 crore in Q3 December 2020 over Q3 December 2019.

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RTHK: US seeks 'deeds, not words' in meeting with China

The United States believes it will go into talks with China this week with an "increasingly strong hand" and will lay out deep concerns about Chinese behaviour on a wide range of issues, including human rights, senior US officials said on Tuesday.

Briefing journalists ahead of the talks scheduled for Thursday in Alaska, the officials said Washington would want to see "deeds, not words" from Beijing if it wants to improve ties.

The talks in Anchorage will be the Biden administration's first face-to-face meetings with senior officials from China, a country it has identified as its most formidable challenge.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken and President Joe Biden's national security adviser Jake Sullivan will meet China's top diplomat Yang Jiechi and State Councilor Wang Yi fresh from visits to stalwart allies Japan and South Korea aimed at emphasizing the US commitment to the Indo-Pacific in the face of Beijing's rise.

"We are coming in with what we feel like is an increasingly strong hand," one US official told reporters.

"Beijing has been talking about its desire to change the tone of the relationship. And of course, were going to be looking at deeds, not words, on that front," a second official said.

The US side would make clear its "deep concerns" about China's treatment of Muslims in Xinjiang and pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong, as well as its economic coercion of US allies and partners and aggressive moves towards Taiwan, the first official said.

Washington was not expecting specific negotiated deliverables from the meeting, but would lay down specific areas where it believes Beijing needs to change its course, the official said.

The second official said Beijing had a "pretty poor track record of keeping its promises" and Washington had realistic expectations about the possibilities for change.

At the same time, it did not want China "to be operating under illusions about our tough-minded approach to their very problematic behaviour," the official said.

"We're looking to have a nice, robust and very frank conversation with a power that is going to be a big competitor of ours," he said.

The first official said China's actions, including its "malicious cyber activity," fell short of acceptable behaviour and Washington would ask China to abide by international rules.

The official stressed that the Biden administration was unified in its approach on China and would not let Beijing pit different parts of the US government against each other - an apparent reference to differences within the previous Trump administration about how to deal with Beijing. (Reuters)

This story has been published on: 2021-03-17. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
March 10

Plainview police arrested 26-year-old Kristin Taylor Walker on March 10. Walker was charged with abandonment or endangering of a child, which is a felony.

Theft from a vehicle was reported at the 3300 block of Quincy St. on March 10. The victim reported theft of money from the vehicles middle console.

Plainview PD assisted another agency at the 100 block of W. 9th St. on March 10. Authorities were called to the location for a welfare concern.

Criminal mischief was reported at the 300 block of S. Ennis St. on March 10.

A stolen vehicle was reported at the intersection of W. 6th and Raleigh St. on March 10. A crash was reported.

A crash resulting in vehicle damage was reported on March 10 at the 500 block of Joliet St.

A theft was reported at the 2300 block of W. 7th St. on March 10.

Trespassing was reported at the 2200 block of Houston St. on March 10. A suspect made entry through a window.

An assault was reported at the 700 block of W. 22nd St. on March 10. A victim reported being assaulted outside their residence.

March 11

Two people were arrested on March 11 at the 400 block of Quincy St. during a traffic stop. Officers arrested 24-year-old Alexandra Kristain Lopez was arrested for possession of marijuana, possession of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance, manufacture or delivery of a controlled substance, unlawful possession of a firearm and failure to identify a fugitive with intent to give false information and for an outstanding warrant. All charges except the warrant, possession of marijuana, and failure to identify a fugitive are felonies. Cody Radell Clay, 43, was arrested for possession of a controlled substance, which is a felony.

Police arrested 37-year-old Amanda Leann Fincher at the 2200 block of Houston St. on March 11. According to the police report, she was found to be in a vacant residence and evaded police by foot. Officers found amphetamine. Fincher was apprehended and charged with prohibited substance in a correctional facility, possession of a controlled substance, criminal trespass and with evading arrest. The prohibited substance in a correctional facility and possession of a controlled substance charges are felonies.

Police arrested 20-year-old Reynaldo Ortiz Dominguez on March 11, at the 200 block of E. 5th St. Police responded to the location in reference to a theft. Dominguez was found to be in possession of marijuana and a stolen firearm. He was charged with possession of marijuana, unlawfully carrying a weapon and theft of a firearm, which is a felony. According to the police report, intentionally having the firearm and marijuana both in the vehicle makes it unlawful to carry the firearm.

March 12

A theft was reported at the 600 block of W. 24th St. on March 12. Police arrested a 43-year-old man and charged him with theft of property valued at less than $100 with a previous conviction.

Police responded to the 3600 block of Grandview St. on March 12 in reference to a miscellaneous incident.

Police responded to the intersection of Quincy St. and W. 5th St. on March 12 in reference to an abandoned vehicle.

Robert Lee Hairell, 51, was arrested on March 12 at the 600 block of W. 5th St. Hairell was charged with felony warrants for failure to register as a sex offender.

March 13

A burglary was reported at the 1400 block of W. 16th St. on March 13. The victim reported a stolen DVD player and a Wahl trimmer.

Public intoxication was reported at the 2100 block of Houston St. on March 13. The individual was cited and released to a family member.

Sunday, March 14

A crash was reported at the 100 block of E. 6th St. on Sunday.

Lost property was reported at the 1500 block of W. 5th St. on Sunday. The victim reported a lost wallet.

A burglary was reported at the 900 block of Fresno St. on Sunday. The victim reported theft of a water heater, pipe wrenches and water hoses.

A crash resulting in vehicle damage was reported at the 500 block of Quincy St. on Sunday.

Criminal mischief was reported at the 300 block of SE. 8th St. on Sunday. Damaged property was reported. A suspect kicked the front door of the residence causing damage.

Monday, March 15

Police responded to an incident classified as miscellaneous on Monday at the 800 block of Andy Taylor Road. According to the police report, an unattended vehicle was found in a bar ditch.

Criminal mischief was reported at the 2200 block of W. 19th St. on Monday. Damaged property was reported. The victim reported that a suspect kicked the door intentionally causing damage.

A hit-and-run resulting in vehicle damage was reported at the 1500 block of Yonkers St. on Monday.

Credit card/debt card abuse was reported at the 2600 block of W. 18th St. on Monday. The victim reported their credit or debit card was used to make purchases on Amazon.

A crash resulting in vehicle damage was reported at the 3100 block of Olton Road on Monday.

A hit-and-run crash resulting in vehicle damage was reported at the 1800 block of W. 5th St. on Monday.

Police arrested 23-year-old Rico Rene Ocanas at the 800 block of W. 8th St. on Monday. Officers responded to the location in reference to someone walked behind the alley yelling and throwing stuff out of the dumpsters. Ocanas was arrested for felony warrants issued for reckless damage or destruction, failure to appear/bail jumping and possession of a controlled substance.

Police responded to the 1300 block of Nassau St. on Monday in reference to an incident classified as miscellaneous.

Criminal mischief was reported at the 200 block of E. 4th St. on Monday. The reporting party noted a shattered windshield on a vehicle. The victim told police his mother reported a suspicious vehicle parked in the roadway a few days before. After walking around the residence, he found a broken living room window.

Fraud was reported at the 800 block of Borger St. on Monday. According to the report, a suspect purchased something from the internet with a card that was not theirs.

Police responded to the 1400 block of W. 34th St. on Monday in reference to an assault. Officers were dispatched twice to the location in reference to a domestic disturbance between family members. Injuries were reported. No arrests were indicated.
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TRINIDAD and Tobago Unit Trust Corporation (UTC) executive director, Nigel Edwards, says the changes the 39-year-old financial institution is undergoing at this time are transformational.

The UTC is now in the middle of a three-year cycle of strategic changes that will culminate in 2023 and beyond, he said.
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Sergei Supinsky/AFP/Getty ImagesBy ALLIE YANG, ABC News



(LONDON) -- After reports of dangerous blood clots in some recipients, 10 European nations have paused the vaccine's rollout, including some of the biggest: Germany, France, Italy, Spain and the Netherlands.



This vaccine, while not yet authorized in the U.S., has already been approved by dozens of countries, including many in Europe. On Tuesday, Europe's top drug regulator Emer Cooke pushed back against safety concerns, saying there is "no indication that vaccination has caused these conditions."



ABC News foreign correspondent James Longman told ABC News daily podcast Start Here" that millions upon millions of people have already taken the AstraZeneca vaccine in Britain, and there have not been any major side effects reported."



AstraZeneca released a statement Sunday saying that of the 17 million people vaccinated in the EU and U.K., there has been no evidence of an increased risk of pulmonary embolism, deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or thrombocytopenia in any defined age group, gender, batch or in any particular country. So far across the EU and U.K., there have been 15 events of DVT and 22 events of pulmonary embolism reported among those given the vaccine.



The company said there have only been 15 cases of DVT and 22 cases of pulmonary embolism in the EU and U.K., which is much lower than would be expected to occur naturally in a general population of this size and is similar across other licensed COVID-19 vaccines.



In terms of quality, there are also no confirmed issues related to any batch of our vaccine used across Europe, or the rest of the world, the company said. Additional testing has, and is, being conducted by ourselves and independently by European health authorities, and none of these re-tests have shown cause for concern.



AstraZeneca emphasized that it was keeping this issue under close review, but available evidence does not confirm that the vaccine is the cause. To overcome the pandemic, it is important that people get vaccinated when invited to do so.



Longman said an EU study suggested one in 167,000 people who received the vaccine experienced blood clots. AstraZeneca said the risk might be even lower.



Whatever you believe that to be, it is still fewer than the number of people who get blood clots in the general population, Longman said. It is definitely fewer than people who die of COVID-19. So there is a lot of outrage, really, in Britain especially, about this happening.



The EU's European Medicines Agency (EMA) said it is "working closely with the company [AstraZeneca], with experts in blood disorders, and with other health authorities" in an ongoing investigation into the reported blood clots.



The World Health Organization has also 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.



AstraZeneca was the vaccine European countries ordered the most of, Longman reported, in part because its mostly manufactured in Europe. Pfizer and others are mostly manufactured in the United States.



AstraZeneca will say there is no proof that our vaccines are not working properly," Longman said. "If you look at the real-world test case, which is the United Kingdom at the moment, then you'll see there is no evidence.



While the U.K. and U.S. made a bet on a smaller number of vaccine manufacturers, the European Union ordered vaccines from many different companies to spread risk in case one or more had problems.



The U.K. and the U.S. [were] willing to take more risks when it comes to these things; our risks are paying off," Longman said.



Many countries in continental Europe have been relatively slow to roll out vaccines, especially compared to neighbors like the U.K. and Israel, which have high vaccination rates. Many European countries are relying heavily on the AstraZeneca vaccine, but now, those vaccinations are on hold.



This is really a mess," Longman said. "As it stands right now, if you're in your 20s or 30s now and you're on the continent, you may not be getting any kind of vaccine until well past the summer.



The pause of the AstraZeneca rollout in 10 European countries could have a much bigger effect around the world.



The AstraZeneca vaccine is the $3 vaccine. It's the vaccine which is going to help the developing world, Longman said. They badly need it. There are parts of the world calling out for this vaccine, and if the European Union continues to pour scorn on ... the alleged inefficacy of this particular vaccine, then that really imperils the vaccination programs for developing countries and the entire planet.



There is also concern the pause will further suspicions and doubt about the safety and efficacy of vaccines in general, Longman said.



Europe has had a long problem with getting people on board with all kinds of vaccinations, Longman said. [I] had the AstraZeneca vaccine, there doesn't seem to have been any real-world data in Britain to suggest that there are any negative side effects to taking this particular vaccine.



This report was featured in the March 16 episode of Start Here, ABC News daily news podcast.



Copyright  2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.
Based on the best data that we have, it is inadequate to only prioritize certain segments of the prison or jail population, said Lauren Brinkley-Rubinstein, an assistant professor at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine. The most effective strategy would be to prioritize all people, because of the risk of exposure in the setting.

Beyond state prisons, officials have taken a range of approaches when it comes to vaccines for incarcerated people. This month, the federal prison system said it had fully inoculated more than 13,000 federal inmates among its approximately 151,000 prisoners. Local jails in Illinois and Massachusetts, among other states, are giving inmates shots, while many have yet to start vaccines for inmates. Corrections workers have been eligible in many states, along with police officers and firefighters.

In some places, the prospect that state prison inmates would get preference for vaccines has been met with political fury.

In Colorado, state prisoners were initially granted priority before some other vulnerable groups. The plan, devised by a panel of health experts, was discarded by Gov. Jared Polis, a Democrat, amid complaints from critics.

Theres no way its going to go to prisoners before it goes to people who havent committed any crime, Mr. Polis said late last year.

Colorados current vaccination plan no longer specifically mentions incarcerated people, but as of last week, about 1,400 inmates had received at least the first dose of the vaccine. The state began vaccinating state prison inmates based on their eligibility in the state if they were not incarcerated, a spokeswoman for the states corrections department said. And after health officials discovered that two staff members and an inmate at the Buena Vista Correctional Complex were infected with a worrisome variant  the first known detection in a U.S. correctional facility  the state authorized all inmates at that facility to be permitted to get shots.

In Oregon, after officials vaccinated more than 1,000 of the states 12,100 prison inmates in January, inoculations abruptly stopped after what the states corrections department said was a misunderstanding about which inmates were eligible. Public criticism had been mounting about prisoners being given precedence over older people, though the state was ultimately ordered by a federal judge to inoculate every prisoner.
Alex_Schmidt

An Odessa Police Department officer was arrested on a warrant for family violence, according to an OPD press release.

Polo Frescas, a sergeant with the OPD, was arrested Tuesday on a charge of assault  family violence with serious bodily injury, a second-degree felony.

Newcastle Schools efforts to stem the spread of coronavirus infections recently added another weapon to its arsenal provided by HealthCorps, a national nonprofit committed to eliminating health inequity in at-risk communities.

Margo Burgard, Newcastle Schools HealthCorps coordinator, says she appreciates how school administrators, staff and teachers have gotten behind the effort to distribute COVID-19 health kits as part of its #SaveTheStudents campaign.

The effort is in conjunction with Kinsa, a health technology company that helps communities stop the spread of infectious diseases.

Teachers and staff are on board with it, Burgard said. Its a really cool project to be able to work on.

Burgard says the kits include a Kinsa thermometer, instructions on how to use it, a mask and information regarding mental health, often a neglected subject regarding the effects of the pandemic on students.

Access to a school-wide program to monitor symptoms and protect from outbreak are also part of the package. So far, approximately 250 of the 400 kits received have been distributed.

Jennifer Beer, Newcastle High School principal, said this effort can play an important role in fulfilling the districts number one concern  protecting students.

The safety and health of our students is our top priority, Beer said in a press release. HealthCorps has been an extremely valuable partner for our students and staff during this time. The Kinsa kits provide much needed resources for our students and parents as they continue to monitor themselves for COVID-19 symptoms.

Burgard said Newcastle Schools Superintendent Melonie Hau has emphasized the importance of teachers getting vaccinated.

Within the school district, Superintendent Hau has pushed for teachers to get vaccinated as soon as possible, Burgard said. Almost all were vaccinated last week.

Right now, everyone wears masks. In classrooms they try to social distance as much as possible by spacing desks out. Quarantine protocols for sporting events are in place.

Nationally, HealthCorps maintains a network of schools in which a coordinator is embedded in high-needs schools to mentor students, teach health related workshops and promote a variety of after school activities.

Burgard joined Newcastle Schools as its HealthCorps coordinator in November 2020.

The Chickasaw Nation sponsors HealthCorps in Newcastle, Marietta, Davis, Kingston and Purcell, Oklahoma public schools.
An analysis published in the Journal of Computer Assisted Learning highlights 20 years of research on the use of virtual reality (VR) in K-12 schools and higher education.

Investigators examined 149 articles from 2000-2019 from three major academic databases. They found that VR technology was implemented more extensively in higher education than in K-12 education, with basic science, social science, and health and medicine being the most popular disciplines. Desktop-based VR interventions were most often used for inquiry-based learning while immersive VR interventions enabled by commercial head-mounted displays have led to an increase of direct instruction. Overall, VR interventions had a medium effect on learning, with discipline, level of immersion, and instructional design influencing this effect.

The review provides some practical implications for K-12 and university teachers, and the authors propose an agenda for future research on the use of VR in education.

"Previous research has established the effectiveness of VR usage in education, the next step is to understand the reasons behind it so that it can be further improved," said lead author Heng Luo, PhD, of Central China Normal University.

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US lawmakers have piled the pressure on Boris Johnson to resolve the post-Brexit Northern Ireland border dispute with the EU, warning a trade deal with Washington could be at risk.

A bipartisan group of US senators has issued a resolution demanding the 'full implementation' of the Northern Ireland Protocol, as well as the Good Friday Agreement and Stormont House Agreement.

The resolution warns against the return of a 'hard border' on the island of Ireland and states that the UK meeting its obligations must be 'taken into account' if and when trade talks between Number 10 and the White House resume.

The publication of the resolution comes as US President Joe Biden holds St Patrick's Day talks with the Irish Taoiseach Micheal Martin.

Mr Martin made clear before the talks that he will be seeking Mr Biden's support in ensuring the Brexit agreement is upheld by the UK.

US lawmakers have piled the pressure on Boris Johnson to resolve the post-Brexit Northern Ireland border dispute with the EU, warning a trade deal with Washington could be at risk

The warning came ahead of St Patrick's Day talks between Joe Biden and Irish Taoiseach Micheal Martin

The Northern Ireland Protocol was agreed by the EU and UK as part of the Brexit divorce deal and it is designed to prevent a hard border on the island of Ireland.

It achieves that by keeping Northern Ireland in the EU single market for goods, with regulatory checks and inspections now required on agri-food produce moving into the region from the rest of the UK.

The new arrangements have caused some disruption to trade since the start of the year as firms have struggled with new processes and administration.

Earlier this month the UK Government unilaterally decided to extend post-Brexit grace periods on certain trade checks in Northern Ireland.

That prompted the EU to accuse the UK of breaching international law as the bloc launched formal legal action.

The UK has insisted the move was lawful but officials in Brussels said the Government had effectively decided without agreement to impose an 'open-ended extension' to the light-touch regulatory periods, which were due to end this month.

A bipartisan group of 15 US senators has now piled the pressure on Mr Johnson to find a solution to the border row.

The group, led by Bob Menendez, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, published a resolution 'in support of the full implementation of the Good Friday Agreement, or the Belfast Agreement, and subsequent agreements and arrangements to support peace on the island of Ireland'.

The resolution 'expresses support for the Northern Ireland Protocol and its full implementation, which ensures through international agreement that no "hard border" will be reintroduced on the island of Ireland'.

It also insists that 'any new or amended trade agreements and other bilateral agreements between the Government of the United States and the Government of the United Kingdom take into account, as relevant, conditions requiring that obligations under the Good Friday Agreement be met'.

The publication of the document came ahead of St Patrick's Day talks between Mr Biden and Mr Martin.

Mr Martin told CBS before the talks: 'We want to see a continuation of the president's interest in Ireland and support for the peace process and the Good Friday Agreement and also of upholding the Brexit agreement itself.'

The Taoiseach traditionally travels to Washington DC for St Patrick's week to hold a series of high level meetings with the most powerful political figures in the US but the pandemic means this year's events will take place virtually.
For someone who makes his living with his voice, TV newscaster Marvin Hurst has gotten what is perhaps the worst possible news  throat cancer  not once, but twice in recent years.

The KENS 5 reporter, who has been with the station for 16 years, is perhaps best known for his fun and feisty Neighborhood Eats food reports. He is also a deeply religious man who says he relied heavily on his faith to get him through both bouts with the disease.

God wanted to get my attention, especially with this second go-round, Hurst, 52, said in an interview only three weeks after getting the good news that the cancer is once again in remission. I know that suffering is a part of Christianity and that suffering can shape your faith and bring you to a point of maturity. So I knew that this was a test of my faith.

Hursts career was proceeding apace back in 2018. A two-time Lone Star Emmy Award winner, he was, in addition to Neighborhood Eats, also known for his inspiring Kids Who Make San Antonio Great segments spotlighting local youngsters doing good. Then what he thought was only a sinus infection or the flu was diagnosed as stage 4 throat cancer.

I was stunned, to say the least, he said. There was that fraction of a second where I could have broken down and let emotions get in the way. But I knew I couldn't waste energy on anything other than getting well.

Over the next six months, he underwent chemotherapy followed by radiation, all the while continuing to work.

When I had to eat something during a Neighborhood Eats report, the side of my mouth where the cancer was felt like I was chewing a paper bag, he said. But on the other side I could taste all the flavor.

Hurst missed only two days of work during that period, including one Friday when he lost his voice because of the radiation. So he came in the next day to do voice-over work on a piece about teenager Charles Chop Roundtree Jr., who was killed by San Antonio police in 2018.

For about two and a half hours I struggled in an audio booth, drinking water and trying to squeeze out something to voice, he said.

The piece won a Lone Star Emmy award.

When in June 2019 his doctors declared him to be in remission, Hurst posted photos of himself with a wide smile, declaring himself cancer free.

On ExpressNews.com: KENS 5s Roma Villavicencio talks about staying positive during hard days before Great Day SA

Then, in November, another shock. Pain he though was only a toothache turned out to be the return of the cancer.

As it was during the first bout, Hurst saw this as test of his beliefs, of his faith.

I was not happy, he said. I took a walk and God said to me, this time its more about spiritual warfare. This time its more about your prayer life, about getting in and getting dirty with words that speak defeat.

The Bible says the tongue has life and death. So I had to speak life over my situation; I had to believe it; I had to walk it out. And that's what the second battle was about.

Medically, that second battle was fought with immunotherapy, a type of treatment that helps boost the immune system so it can fight the cancer. While he suffered no unpleasant side-effects from the treatment, Hurst did have to undergo injections every three weeks for almost the entirety of 2020.

In February his doctors declared the cancer was again in remission. This time, Hurst accepted the news a bit more stoically.

The first time the doctors told me, Youre cancer free, have a happy life, he said. So when it came back I was shellshocked. This time weve set it up that theyll monitor me every three months. Should it return, hopefully not, Ill probably do something like surgery.

Hurst was born in Milwaukee, although he spent most of his time growing up in Anguilla, Mississippi, a small town on the states western edge, where he had family.

While he remembers seeing Walter Cronkite on the CBS Evening News and local newscasters from nearby Jackson, Mississippi, he preferred variety shows starring Donny and Marie, the Jackson 5 and the like. He knew he wanted to do something with writing and television, he just didnt think it would be as a journalist.

It wasnt until he attended Grambling State University, where he worked at the TV station, that he became interested in a career in TV news.

On GSU-TV he produced a show hosted by the student government association president, who often came to the studio late or not at all. After Hurst had to fill in for her several times, the stations executive director made him the permanent host as well as the evening news anchor.

That was the push that got me interested in TV news, he said.

All that air time also served as a crash course on how to do interviews. The first lesson: Learn how to listen.

In the beginning you want to be Oprah or Phil Donahue, because they were the standard at the time, he said. I learned to stop being Oprah or Phil and just be Marvin.

His first jobs out of college were at KALB-TV in Alexandria, Louisiana, and WBRZ-TV in Baton Rouge, where he was lead reporter on the hunt for the Baton Rouge Serial Killer, who murdered seven women between 1992 and 2003.

On ExpressNews.com: The Sports Grind stands out in the lily white world of sports talk radio

After Baton Rough he headed to New Orleans, where he worked as a freelance reporter before taking a job as communication director for the Juvenile Justice Department of the states Office of Youth Development. That took some adjustment.

In the news business, there's the rush, the adrenaline, because youre always on deadline. But in the government, everything  slows down, he said, making his voice a 45 rpm record playing at 33 rpm.

One day in 2004, after being on the job for only about eight months, he sat down and had a heart-to-heart with the Almighty.

I said, OK, God, is this it? Do I need to get adjusted to this job? Because I can, if I have to.

Apparently the answer was no, because literally within minutes of posing the question, his phone rang. It was Sailor Jackson, a friend and former photographer at WBRZ, asking how he felt about San Antonio.

I was like, What do you mean, how do I feel about San Antonio? Sailor said he knew the news director at KENS 5 and they were looking for somebody.

This was in November. By December he had the job, despite not knowing a thing about his new home.

I barely even knew anything about the Spurs, he said. My people were Lakers fans.

The man who hired him, Kurt Davis, executive news director of KENS 5 at the time, said he was familiar with Hursts work in New Orleans and impressed by his talent.

Marvins a great storyteller who connects with the audience, said Davis, now the executive vice president for affiliate relations at ViacomCBS. He became my go-to guy when I needed a specific story.

Hired for Eyewitness News This Morning, Hurst quickly saw the opportunity presented by working overnights.

There was a lot of news that wasn't being covered because nobody was reading warrants in the middle of the night, he said. That's when the arrests were freshly made. I would bump into police officers and theyd be like, I just brought in this guy who did such-and-such, and Id pull out my pad and I started breaking stories like crazy.

That kind of nitty-gritty work, for example, led him to be the first to report the arrest of Ruben Zavala Jr. He was the boyfriend of the mother of Nicholas Plaza, a young boy whose story of being systematically abused and then going missing, never to be found, captured the attention the city.

On ExpressNews.com: Sports talk host Mike Taylor takes his Ticket 760 show on the road - to Hawaii

Because of his hard-news background, Hurst jokingly bristles when asked about being known as the Neighborhood Eats guy who chows down in mostly hole-in-the-wall restaurants throughout the city. (Did people not know that I was here all those years? he asks.)

But the segments, especially his astonished reactions to all the burgers, barbecue, pizza and other goodies he gets to taste, are popular with viewers and restaurant owners alike.

Ill drive by a restaurant he featured the day before and therell be this line out the door, said KENS senior executive producer Monica Nino, who helped Hurst launch the segment. We get plenty of positive feedback on social media and in emails.

While cancer never sidelined Hurst, the COVID-19 pandemic did for a while. The doctors who were treating him with immunotherapy ordered him off the job when the pandemic hit in March, although by June they allowed him to start working from home.

Everything Ive done since then has been through the computer, he said. The doctors office and the grocery store were the only places I went to for months at a time.

And then he laughs the laugh viewers are so familiar with.

I always had this dream of having a mountaintop experience, sitting there waiting for God to talk to me, he said. This was my mountaintop experience. It gave me an opportunity to confront all of those feelings of rejection I had as a child and to offer forgiveness.

The experience has also provided Hurst with an opportunity to reflect on his career and to consider his opportunities going forward. His contract with KENS ends this year. He said hed like to stay, but if thats not possible he probably would move to another market.

I've come to a point in life, I think where I am ready to contribute at a higher level, he said. Theres a part of me that would love to do international reporting, maybe in Africa. No offense to Lady Gaga, her dogs or her dog walker, but 300 school girls were kidnapped by gunmen in Nigeria and all anyone could talk about was that dognapping.

rmarini@express-news.net | Twitter: @RichardMarini
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Pakistan Senator Mian Riza Rabbani on Wednesday said that federalism and parliamentary democracy are gradually eroding in the country, noting that the meetings of the Council of Common Interests (CCI) are not convened regularly, despite it being the lynchpin of the federal system, The Dawn reported. The Senator was speaking at a national conference on 'Making Pakistani federalism work; lessons from the government's Covid-19 response' that was organised by Democracy Reporting International (DRI).

He acknowledged that efforts are being made to replace the current federal parliamentary democratic system with a "quasi-presidential system." He stressed that there was a dire need to strengthen the existing federal coordination mechanism under the CCI, instead of forming a new extra-constitutional forum as the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), which will only lead to the piling of matters in the system.

SC slams Pakistan government over the delay in CCI meet

This development comes a day after a Supreme Court bench slammed the Imran Khan government for delaying the CCI meetings. Judge Qazi Faez Isa had observed that "Are good deeds being kept a secret?" as he added that the Pakistan government lacks understanding of the need to conduct the CCI, as the meet was a basic requirement to run the country.

"Either the government is incapable of running the country or it is unable to make decisions," the SC told the Pakistan government.

Now, Senator Rabbani has observed that the CCI meetings weren't being convened regularly despite it being the linchpin of the federal system, adding that all matters in the Federal Legislative LIst Part-II are being decided by the Cabinet, which is in violation of the Constitution, ANI quoted The Dawan as reporting.

Meanwhile, referring to the power supply to Balochistan, Senator Dr. Jehanzeb Jamaldini said that while a damaged gas pipeline that supplies gas outside of Balochistan is fixed within hours, why is the electricity line in Quetta lying damaged and isn't repaired for weeks, he asked. DRI orgainsed this meet in collaboration with the Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO) of the Britain government. The conference was attended by legal and government experts from the federal capital and provinces alongside lawmakers of Pakistan.
The issue received bids for 56.32 lakh shares as against 1.35 crore shares shares on offer.

The initial public offer (IPO) of Suryoday Small Finance Bank received bids for 56.32 lakh shares as against 1.35 crore shares on offer, according to the stock exchange data at 17:00 IST on Wednesday (17 March 2021). The issue was subscribed 0.42 times.

The issue opened for bidding on Wednesday, 17 March 2021, and it will close on Friday, 19 March 2021. The price band for the IPO was set at Rs 303-305 per share.

The issue comprises of 1.90 crore equity shares comprising a fresh issue of up to 81.50 lakh equity shares and an offer for sale of up to 1.09 crore equity shares.

Ahead of the IPO, the bank finalized allocation of 55.77 lakh shares to anchor investors at a price of Rs 305 per share, aggregating to Rs 170.12 crore.

The bank proposes to utilize the net proceeds from the offer towards augmenting bank's tier I capital base to meet future capital requirements. The listing of the bank is also in line with terms of the RBI in-principle approval, RBI final approval and SFB licensing guidelines, requiring the bank to list its equity shares on the stock exchanges within three years from the date of commencement of business.

The small finance bank (SFB) reported a net profit of Rs 54.87 crore and a net total income of Rs 418.20 crore in the nine months ended on 31 December 2020.

Suryoday Small Finance Bank is among the leading Small Finance Bank (SFBs) in India in terms of net interest margins, return on assets, yields and deposit growth and had the lowest cost-to-income ratio among SFBs in India in FY2020. It has been serving customers in the unbanked and underbanked segments in India and promoting financial inclusion for over a decade, operating as a Non-Banking Finance Company prior to converting to SFB. The company started operations as an SFB on 23 January 2017 and it was included in the second schedule to the RBI Act on 24 July 2017. Over the years, the bank has diversified its loan portfolio to include non-micro banking loans thereby reducing dependence on micro banking business.

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Donald Trump has said the current influx of migrants across the southern border is 'destroying our country', accusing Joe Biden of having 'eroded' the successful system he put in place, and warning that the situation was going to get worse.

The former president spoke to Fox News on Tuesday - hours after Alejandro Mayorkas, the Homeland Security Secretary, said the U.S. was on track to see the most migrant arrivals in 20 years.

Trump said his policies 'were working better than they have ever seen on the southern border,' and boasted of his strong relationship with Mexico's president, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.

He said they had a shared interest in stemming migrant flows, which are now surging under Biden.

'They are destroying our country,' said Trump.

Donald Trump on Tuesday night appeared on Fox News and discussed the migrant situation

Asylum seekers are seen crossing into the United States from Ciudad Juarez on Tuesday

'People are coming in by the hundreds of thousands. Young children are coming in and they leave their homes and they come up because they think it is going to be so wonderful. And, frankly, our country can't handle it.'

The number of migrants being stopped at the U.S.-Mexico border has been rising steadily since last April, and the Biden administration is still rapidly expelling most single adults and families under a public health order issued by Trump, Title 42, at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

But it is allowing teens and children to stay, at least temporarily, and they have been coming in ever larger numbers.

More than 4,000 migrant children were being held by the Border Patrol custody as of Sunday, including at least 3,000 in custody longer than the 72-hour limit set by a court order, a U.S. official told AP.

The agency took in an additional 561 on Monday, twice the recent average, according to a second official.

Trump, seen making his most recent speech on February 28, attacked Biden's immigration plan

Children are seen walking across the border from Mexico into the U.S. on Tuesday

It has put Biden in a difficult spot, blasted by Republicans for what they view as encouragement to illegal border crossers and by some Democrats over the the prolonged detention of minors. It's also a challenge to his effort to overhaul the broader Trump policies that sought to curtail both legal and illegal immigration.

'It is a crisis like we have rarely had and certainly we have never had on the border,' said Trump.

'But it is going to get much worse. What we are seeing now is very bad - record numbers.

'It is going to get much, much worse with a little bit of time, you will see those numbers expand at a level like you have never seen before.'

Trump noted that Lopez Obrador had 28,000 Mexican soldiers on the border, and more troops at Mexico's own borders with Central American nations.

A shoe is surrounded by colored wristbands placed on migrants from Central America who are smuggled from Mexico into the United States by drug cartels and human traffickers, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Some of the plastic wristbands were inscribed 'arrivals' or 'entries' in Spanish

According to the Center for Immigration Studies, the first set of wristbands were located by CBP agents as early as February. Some of the bracelets also contained a logo, such as a devil face or turtle, the latter being the logo of choice of a human trafficking group linked to the Gulf Cartel.

'They were stopping them,' he said. 'We had a really good system and as the wall was finished, they could remove soldiers, but they still have the same 28,000 and we had a great relationship.

'They understood that I was playing with tariffs if we didn't do that, but we never had to do that to Mexico - because the relationship that we developed was very, very good, very close.

'So we had very few people coming in. And we also stopped human trafficking. We did a lot of things and all of that has now been eroded.'

Trump said that he had seen reports of migrants arriving from Yemen and the Middle East.

'They are coming in from everywhere,' he said.

'They are dropping them off and they are pouring into our country. It is a disgrace.

'They are going to destroy our country if they don't do something about it.'

On Tuesday Mayorkas admitted that there was a problem, but insisted it was under control.

'The situation at the southwest border is difficult,' he said.

'We are working around the clock to manage it and we, will continue to do so. That is our job.'

The number of children crossing by themselves, mostly from Central America, appears to be surging in particular in the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas. The Border Patrol took in 280 there alone on Monday.

The total of 561 unaccompanied minors from Monday offers a snapshot of how quickly conditions have changed along the border. That was up 60 per cent from the daily average in February, officials said.

In May 2019, during the last surge, the one-day peak was 370 teens and children.

Mayorkas said the a surge in the number of children is a challenge for the Border Patrol and other agencies amid the coronavirus pandemic.

But he rejected a Trump-era policy of sending them immediately back to Mexico or other countries.

'They are vulnerable children and we have ended the prior administration's practice of expelling them,' Mayorkas said.

A Honduran man in Tijuana is seen on March 1 awaiting his chance to seek asylum in the US

A group of migrants ask Biden to let them in on March 2 at the Tijuana-San Ysidro crossing

At a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on Tuesday, Jim Inhofe, senator for Oklahoma, held up a photo of a small crowd of demonstrators in Tijuana, Mexico, wearing matching T-shirts with the words 'Biden, Please Let us in' that circulated widely on social media in recent days.

'They're all coming across the border, they're coming fast, and they're wearing Biden T-shirts,' he said.

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy led a delegation of a dozen Republican lawmakers on Monday to the border in Texas and blamed the Biden administration for driving an increase in migrants by actions that include supporting legislation in Congress that would provide a path to citizenship for millions of undocumented people now in the country and halting border wall construction.

'The sad part about all of this is it didn't have to happen. This crisis was created by the presidential policies of this new administration,' McCarthy said.

Biden pushed back in an interview Tuesday with ABC's George Stephanopoulos, noting previous surges under Trump and pointing out that his administration has been trying to discourage people from crossing while it works to restore an asylum system undermined by his predecessor.

'I heard the other day that they're coming because they know I'm a nice guy,' he said.

'Yeah, well here's the deal. They're not.'

Trump did, in fact, confront a similar surge in 2019 even as he rushed to expand the border wall system along the border and forced people seeking asylum to do so in Central America or remain in Mexico.

A year earlier he forcibly separated migrant children from their families as part of a zero-tolerance campaign that became one of the most significant political challenges of his administration.

Mayorkas took swipes at the previous administration for dismantling an asylum system that would have enabled a more 'orderly' immigration system, cutting aid to Central America and failing to vaccinate Border Patrol agents.

He said the Biden administration is working to make the asylum process shorter and to make it possible to petition from an applicant's home country rather than make a dangerous and uncertain journey.

'We have no illusions about how hard it is,' he said. 'And we know it will take time.'
More than eight billion drinks containers were dumped in rivers or seas, sent to landfill or not recycled in the UK in one year, a report has found.

The research  by Greenpeace, CPRE and environment group Reloop  found that in 2019 some 40 per cent of containers were plastic bottles, just under a third were cans and 18 per cent was glass.

And, in the UK alone, each person throws away 126 drink containers a year.

The groups are calling for a tough deposit return scheme which will create a financial incentive for people to return their bottles and cans in the form of a cash deposit.

More than eight billion drinks containers were dumped in rivers or seas, sent to landfill or not recycled in the UK in one year, a report has found

The Mail has highlighted the scourge of waste with our Turn the Tide on Plastic campaign, and the government has backed our calls for a deposit return scheme.

Each year we have also backed the Great British Spring Clean, which encourages Britons to rid their communities of litter.

In Germany, where a deposit return scheme has operated for decades, and which the UK hopes to emulate by 2023, just 21 drinks containers are trashed per person each year.

Samantha Harding, Executive Director of Reloop, said: 'The staggering scale of wasted drinks cans and bottles in the UK should provide clarity for UK governments as they prepare to consult for a final time on the confirmed deposit return system.

They must keep focused on their shared ambition to eliminate wastage by introducing legislation and regulation that allows for the best possible design, one that prioritises convenience for consumers and sets an effective deposit level.

Whilst some sectors continue to call for delays to this crucial policy, our analysis shows that theres no longer any time to waste.

Tom Fyans, Director of Campaigns and Policy at CPRE, the countryside charity, said: Litter left in our countryside, streets, parks and rivers isnt just an eyesore - it can be extremely harmful to wildlife and nature, and it costs taxpayers millions of pounds in clean-up costs every year.

'This huge statistic of over 8 billion wasted containers is awful, but its also not surprising given government action to tackle our throwaway culture is so long overdue.

The Mail has highlighted the scourge of waste with our Turn the Tide on Plastic campaign, and the government has backed our calls for a deposit return scheme

CPRE has long been calling for an all-in deposit return scheme, which would be a simple and effective way of drastically reducing litter.

The small deposit acts as a financial incentive to make sure rubbish ends up where it belongs, and valuable materials are properly recycled.

'The government must prioritise action on this by implementing an all-in deposit system as soon as possible and by no later than 2023.

Sam Chetan-Welsh, Political Campaigner at Greenpeace, said: These figures show that every delay to the introduction of a deposit return scheme means billions more drinks bottles getting dumped or burned.

'The government must deliver an all-in deposit return system by 2023, covering drinks packaging of all sizes and made from all materials, including glass and metal.

Other countries have had successful systems operating for years, so if the UK government delays deposit return, it would raise serious questions about their claims of being a world leader on plastic pollution.
Queensland Treasurer Cameron Dick has announced the approval for the proposed merger between QSuper and Sunsuper on March 15 2020. (Jono Searle/Getty Images)

QSuper and Sunsuper Merge to Create Australias Largest Retirement Fund

QSuper and Sunsuper have agreed to merge, after 15 months of negotiations, to become a single superannuation fund, making it Australias largest.

The move, announced on March 15, aims to integrate the two top-performing funds into a new entity with two million members and $200 billion in assets.

QSuper Chair Don Luke and Sunsuper Chair Andrew Fraser said the agreement would pave the way to create an organisation of world-class capability with the scale to deliver outstanding services, greater efficiencies, and lower costs for members.

The combination of QSupers public sector heritage in Queensland and Sunsupers national employer base, combined with a commitment to partnering with external financial advisers, will create a diversified and resilient organisation investing on behalf of 2 million members, the two entities said in a joint statement (pdf).

The boards of both firms agreed that it was in the best interests of their member to sign a Heads of Agreement take the next step to realise the potential of this merger.

Queensland Treasurer and Minister for Investment Cameron Dick gave the nod to the deal, saying the government had ensured that fund members interests would be protected and the states interests would also be boosted.

The Palaszczuk Government supports this proposal because it aligns with our vision to reinforce Queenslands position as a preferred investment destination, he said.

Under the agreement, both funds have agreed to find a path for the merged organisations structure and operation to deliver material benefits to each funds membership. Details are expected to be shared with their members during the coming months.

The funds have also announced board directors and key executives to lead the new entity.

Current Sunsuper chief executive Bernard Reilly will become chief executive of the merged fund, and current QSuper chair Don Luke will serve as chair. While QSuper chief executive Michael Pennisi has confirmed he will be stepping down in September.

Further, all staff below senior management at both organisations have been given commitments of employment security for at least two years.

The merger is planned to proceed in September, subject to a range of conditions, including regulatory and legislative and final board approvals.

Superfund Mergers Set to Gather Pace

The merger between QSuper and Sunsuper is the latest in a string of deals that have seen an increasingly consolidated superannuation sector in recent years.

The trend was accelerated last year, with the pandemics challenging market conditions putting greater pressure on funds to pursue the benefit of size and scale.

Some major deals include those between First State Super (rebranded last September as Aware Super) and Vic Super, Hostplus and Club Super, and Equip Super and Catholic Super.

The industrys primary regulator, Australian Prudential Regulation Association (APRA ), has been encouraging mergers in the industry, citing the typically high fees and in some cases, poor returns are associated with small funds as a valid reason for the change.

In a report released in May 2020, APRA urged that underperforming funds should consolidate or exit the industry, arguing that the sectorwith 185 funds offering more than 40,000 investment options was not operating at maximum efficiency.

APRA continues to pressure the trustees of poor-performing funds to merge or exit the industry unless they are able to materially lift their game, it said. APRAs view is that there is a merger partner for all fundsits just a matter of finding the right one.
Lucknow, March 17 : Captain Mithali Raj was unbeaten on 79 but she hardly found support from the rest of the team as India women were all out for 189 batting first in the fifth ODI against South Africa on Wednesday.

While India looked set for a competitive total when Harmanpreet Kaur (30) was in the middle with Mithali, the hosts fell apart after the former retired hurt in the 31st over. Harmanpreet and Mithali put up 71 for the fourth wicket.

Harmanpreet left the field after hitting her third four of the innings. India were at 124/3 at the time and the collapse started in the 37th over with the dismissal of Dayalan Hemalatha. They then lost their next six wickets for 52 runs.

South Africa have already sealed victory in the series with a 3-1 lead.

Brief scores: India 188 all out in 49.3 overs (Mithali Raj 79 not ut, Harmanpreet Kaur 30; Nadine de Klerk 3/35)
Bengaluru, March 17 : Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa on Wednesday said that the government plans to set up three Covid care centres in Bengaluru in the event of a substantial rise in Covid cases.

Addressing reporters after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's virtual meeting with Chief Ministers on the surge in Covid-19 cases in some states, Yediyurappa ruled out the possibility of enforcing any measures like lockdown or shutdown at this juncture.

"I don't think there is any need for enforcing any measures like curfew or night ban that were enforced about six months ago. At least now, people should cooperate by following Covid safety protocols," he said.

He added that during the last about 10 days, Covid-19 cases in Karnataka are showing an upward trend. "The positivity rate has also shot up to 1.65 per cent as on March 15. Therefore, we have decided to set up three Covid Care Centers in Bengaluru in advance to take care of an immediate surge," he said.

Yediyurappa said that the PM has asked him to focus on Bengaluru, Kalaburagi and Bidar, where cases are going up. The latter two also share borders with worst-hit Maharashtra.

The CM also assured that there would be no shortage of vaccines in the near future. "Our PM has assured this to all," he said.

Yediyurappa said that he informed Modi that the state government was aiming vaccinate three lakh people on a daily basis and it also plans to take up the drive at old age homes and mega residential complexes.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
During the cordial conversation, both presidents discussed ways to promote bilateral cooperation between the two countries.

Following statement issued by the Embassy of the Arab Republic of Egypt in Sri Lanka

Reaffirming and further consolidating the cordial relationship that has always existed between Egypt and Sri Lanka, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi received a phone call from his Sri Lankan counterpart, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Tuesday, 16th March 2021.

During the cordial conversation, both presidents discussed ways to promote bilateral cooperation between the two countries. President Rajapaksa has expressed pride in the distinguished relations Sri Lanka has always had with Egypt while stressing the importance the country attaches to strengthening bilateral relations in all fields as well as in various international fora. This has been prompted by the pioneering role that Egypt plays at the regional and international levels and its valuable role in the field of combating terrorism and achieving security, stability and peace in the Middle East.

For his part, President Al Sisi affirmed that Egypt welcomes all efforts to intensify cooperation with Sri Lanka in various international fora, especially in light of the historic bilateral relations existing between the two countries. His Excellency also stressed Egypt's keenness to strengthen bilateral cooperation between the two countries, especially in the economic domain including joint investments.

During the call, efforts to exchange multifaceted experiences between the two countries were discussed, including combating COVID-19 and strengthening coordination and cooperation on anti-terrorism efforts being one of the main challenges faced by the two countries. President Rajapaksa praised Egypts efforts to combat terrorism internally and regionally as well as the initiatives taken to counter extremist ideologies. In this respect, the pioneering role of Al-Azhar University of Egypt and its affiliated institutions in combating extremist ideologies and disseminating the enlightened teachings of Islam was further commended.

*Reference:

It is to be noted that Egypt was the first Arab and African country to establish diplomatic relations with Sri Lanka in 1957. Bilateral relations are currently experiencing a surge across many fields as both countries are cooperating and working together to overcome the diverse challenges presented by the COVID-19 global pandemic. Even during these difficult times, bilateral trade has gathered in momentum.

Egypt is also a traditional friend of Sri Lanka in international fora, especially in extending its staunch and unconditional support to the dignity, independence, sovereignty and unity of the Sri Lankan nation in the face of mounting internal and external pressures. In this regard, it is significant to highlight that Egypt was one of the 21 countries that spoke on behalf of Sri Lanka during the interactive dialogue on the UN Human Rights High Commissioners report on Sri Lanka at the ongoing 46th Session of the UNHRC in Geneva.
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Bhubaneswar, March 17 : Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday said there is a need to ensure that the coronavirus spread is contained through renewed efforts in awareness and enforcement.

"We cannot go back to the era of lockdowns. However at the same time we need to ensure that the virus spread is also contained through renewed efforts in awareness and enforcement," said the Chief Minister while addressing the meeting of Chief Ministers convened by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

He said the state will continue to extent all support to the Union government in this fight against Covid.

"As a country with huge population, achieving herd immunity will be a long process and in the meantime we all need to be extremely careful," he added.

Patnaik said with the cooperation of people of Odisha, the government has been able to control the pandemic and limit its damage to a large extent.

Informing that the health staff and administrative system have been working continuously throughout this crisis period, he said the roll out of the vaccine has been helpful in providing hope to the citizens that the end of the pandemic is nearing.

"We are ever grateful to the scientific community for developing vaccines at such short notice. It's a matter of pride for us that India is leading in vaccine manufacture. We need to involve further the private sector in expediting the vaccination programme," he maintained.

As the long period of this crisis has brought fatigue and complacency in following covid health protocols, he said, "We need to be careful as multiple surges of covid spread is the reality in many countries and as witnessed in many states in India as well."

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)


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A new social media platform based on voice messaging launched Monday.

Called Swell, free apps for the platform can be found in Apple's App Store and in Google Play.

According to the developers of Swell, it's the first social platform to focus exclusively on asynchronous audio conversations, where audio clips up to five minutes in length can be posted to the site.

Any Swell member can host a conversation and has control over who may participate in it, as well as make posts.

Pictures and links can also be posted to conversations, but they must be accompanied with a voice message.

Swell also provides its members a free swellcast.com Web page for sharing on social platforms and an HTML widget for embedding conversations on websites.

TikTok for Adults

"You might call Swell 'TikTok for adults,' since the imagery on the company's website focuses largely on professional situations and older individuals," observed Charles King, the principal analyst at Pund-IT, a technology advisory firm in Hayward, Calif.

"The subtext seems to be about sharing ideas and news -- a far cry from the chatter that drives many social network exchanges," he told the E-Commerce Times.

"In fact," he continued, "the company's statement that 'memes and mindless forwards have no place on Swell' suggests that the company's concept of itself diverges from conventional social sites."

"Swell is betting that a substantial audience is thirsting for such exchanges," he added.

Ross Rubin, the principal analyst at Reticle Research, a consumer technology advisory firm in New York City, noted that a number of products are being launched and features being added to existing social networks to capitalize on the popularity of Clubhouse, an audio chat app that received $12 million from investors after being in business for about a month.

Swell, though, has a number of advantages off the starting line. At present, Clubhouse is iOS only, while Swell supports both Apple and Android devices. Clubhouse is also "invite only," so its growth is choked at the moment.

"Swell is getting the kind of momentum that spurs adoption and generating a network effect," Rubin told the E-Commerce Times.

"It's going to grow," he continued. "The question is whether it's a distinct class of social network or is it something that existing social networks can capitalize on."

Uncool Becomes Cool

Karen Kovacs North, director of the Annenberg Program on Online Communities at the University of Southern California explained that people are discovering that there's a huge audience looking for conversations on specific topics with experts or like-minded friends.

"Things are cyclical," she told the E-Commerce Times. "Voice was uncool. Now voice is cool again. But what makes voice cool now is that it's a group experience. Social is being used to make voice back in vogue."

"I think Swell has potential," added Catherine Zhu, a commercial and privacy attorney at the Foley & Lardner law firm in Palo Alto, Calif.

"What we're seeing with a lot of social media platforms is disillusionment by users because what's being transmitted is a lot of disinformation and divisiveness, and in many cases, not a lot of real engagement," she told the E-Commerce Times.

"If an audio platform like Swell can tap into that disillusionment and cultivate real engagement among its users, that's going to be pretty powerful," she said.

Displacing Time

Swell has another benefit that Clubhouse doesn't have.

"The advantage of Swell is you don't have to be there at the time the chat is taking place. That means people can pursue things on their own schedule," Rubin explained.

Requiring conversations take place in real time encourages inauthentic behavior, maintained Swell CEO and Co-founder Sudha Varadarajan.

"Real time requires you to be a stage performer," she told the E-Commerce Times. "There's a lot of pressure to say things without any of thought to them. Asynchronous time gives you the time to listen, think and respond, so the quality of the conversation and the engagement is exceedingly high."

"Friends, relatives and co-workers all know how to pick up a phone and contact you in real time," she said. "The issue is coordinating timing and scheduling."

"At work, getting everyone together at a particular time can be challenging," she continued. "For family, it can be difficult to find the right time to call somebody because you might be in a different time zones and on different work schedules."

String of Monologues

King, however, challenged calling Swell's asynchronous postings conversations.

"In essence, the company is encouraging individuals to record audio monologues and enabling others to post recorded audio monologues in reply," he maintained.

"That's similar to the static dialogs enabled by most every other platform," he continued. "I'm not sure whether enabling audio exchanges is enough to differentiate Swell from larger, more popular social sites."

What audio-based social media can do, however is reduce the screen time that's demanded by sites like Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.

"A Clubhouse chat can happen at any time and provide some rest for eyes weary from video meetings and can allow a degree of multitasking," Rubin explained.

"You're not looking at the phone," Varadarajan added. "Most of our users, when they're listening to Swell, will be engaged in something else. You don't need to be glued to your screen to listen to a good conversation."

Abuse Potential

Humans want to be connected by voice, Varadarajan maintained. "As a species, we have an exponentially better sense of speech than any other species," she said. "We naturally connect to one another by what we say and how we say it."

"That was an Aha moment for us," she continued. "We realized that if you truly want to build a network to connect people, then authentic connections can't be found through pretty pictures and one-liners. It has to be found through voice."

A big question for these voice social media platforms will be can they avoid the pitfalls of their traditional brethren?

"Like all digital media, there's always an opportunity for hecklers, trolls and disrupters to cause trouble," North observed.

"When you look at digital media, the anonymity of it always invites bad behavior," she said. "There's always the opportunity for people to cause trouble because they're not physically present and the consequences are so low."

"Every platform can be abused in one way or another," King added. "More important is what the company does when abusive content or misinformation appears."

"The terms of service define 16 instances, behaviors or classes of information that are prohibited," he continued. "How and how well Swell will police itself remains to be seen."

John P. Mello Jr. has been an ECT News Network reporter since 2003. His areas of focus include cybersecurity, IT issues, privacy, e-commerce, social media, artificial intelligence, big data and consumer electronics. He has written and edited for numerous publications, including the Boston Business Journal, the Boston Phoenix, Megapixel.Net and Government Security News. Email John.


NORMAN TOWNSHIP, MI  Police have identified a 56-year-old suspected homicide victim in Northern Michigan.

William Joseph Johnson of Wellston was found dead in his home in Manistee Countys Norman Township. Troopers from the Michigan State Police Cadillac Post are investigating the incident as a homicide.

A 40-year-old woman from Cadillac has been arrested and is lodged in the Manistee County Jail, police said. There is no danger to the public.

The MSP Grayling Crime Lab is on scene and the medical examiner is on the way to determine the cause and time of death.

No additional information is available and the investigation is ongoing, police said.
While Maharashtra remains the worst-affected state in the country with COVID-19, a virus with double mutation has been detected.

According to a report by Indian Express, "scientific institutes tasked with genome sequencing of the Covid-19 virus in the country have alerted the Centre on a virus variant with double mutation in Maharashtra."

Researchers are probing the role of the virus variation in spike in COVID cases.

File Photo

However, senior scientists have asserted that there is no evidence yet to attribute the surge in Maharashtra to the variant.

Maharashtra witnessing second wave

India detected 28,903 cases of the novel coronavirus on Tuesday, of which 17,864 cases were from Maharashtra  the highest since September 30 last year.

The Covid-19 surge in Mumbai through the month of March continued as 1,922 cases were reported on Tuesday, taking the tally here to 3,47,581.

BCCL

At least 188 deaths were reported on Tuesday, with 87 casualties from Maharashtra and 38 from Punjab.

Amid the surge in India, Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan said the Centre was striking a sensible balance in sending vaccines abroad, and none sent to the 72 countries so far was at the expense of the people of India.
NHS and social care staff in Wales to receive one off bonus payment to recognise extraordinary contribution during pandemic

This article is old - Published: Wednesday, Mar 17th, 2021

NHS and social care staff in Wales are to receive one-off bonus payment to recognise their extraordinary contribution during the covid-19 pandemic.

Health minister Vaughan Gething announced the payment today  which will be the equivalent to 735 per person.

The bonus payment will cover the basic rate of tax and national insurance contributions incurred, after deductions most people will receive 500.

It is estimated the payment will benefit 221,945 people in Wales including 103,600 social care staff, 90,000 NHS Wales staff, 2,345 deployed students and 26,000 primary care staff (including pharmacy, GP, dental and optometry staff).





Minister for Health and Social Services Vaughan Gething said: Over the last year, Wales NHS staff and social care staff have shown a remarkable amount of commitment and courage from the initial outbreak of the pandemic right through to the current second wave.

They will have suffered the impacts of the pandemic on their physical and mental health wellbeing in both their personal and professional lives.

This payment expresses our gratitude to our NHS and social care workforce for their extraordinary contribution in keeping Wales safe.

He added that the bonus is not linked to the current issue of NHS pay.

The Welsh Government is working with local authorities and with trade unions to finalise details of the scheme.

The bonus is further to the 500 special payment for care home and domiciliary care workers announced in May 2020 to recognise their work through the first wave of the pandemic.

This bonus is being made to a wider group of social care workers including local authority social services staff.

GMB union have welcomed the Welsh Governments announcement for the upstanding sense of duty that Wales healthcare workers have provided during the Covid 19 pandemic.

Commenting on todays announcement, Mike Payne, GMB Senior Organiser said: This is excellent news, and the least our magnificent Health and Social care workers deserve.

Their care and commitment over the last 12 months fighting COVID has been exemplary, shouldering the risk without a seconds hesitation and facing up to challenges that could possibly affect them and their families for many years in the future.

The only human response to that is to reward that upstanding sense of duty and its clear that this Welsh Labour government has put its money where its mouth is.

Theyve shown Health & Social care staff that theyre valued, which is something that the Tories in Westminster could learn from.
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
Airbus Helicopters and IAR have inked an Industrial Cooperation Agreement for the customization of the H145M helicopter for the Romanian armed forces' attack missions, in the presence of Claudiu Nasui, minister of Economy, Entrepreneurship and Tourism, and Bruno Even, CEO of Airbus Helicopters, according to a release by Airbus, sent on Wednesday to AGERPRES.

The said cooperation programme includes the transfer of high-level technology capacity and know-how from Airbus Helicopters to the Romanian Defence Industry, with the objective of ensuring the technical availability of the H145M helicopter fleet to be operated by the Romanian Ministry of National Defence (MApN).

This new agreement adds to the existing exclusive Industrial Cooperation Agreement, under which IAR has become the main contractor for H215M for any future orders from the Romanian MApN to replace the aging fleet of helicopters."We are ready to set up industrial defense facilities in Romania to ensure the country's full autonomy in the production, operations, services, maintenance and repair of H215M multi-role helicopters and H145M multi-role light helicopters," Bruno Even, CEO of Airbus Helicopters, said."The signing of this Industrial Cooperation Agreement is the next step in our collaboration with IAR and is based on 50 years of active contribution to the Romanian aviation industry. We have a strong collaboration with our IAR partner and other important players in the aviation industry, and over the years we have made significant investments in our units, in specializing our employees and also in education," he added."We have proven experience in providing quality and reliability and are now ready for development through innovation. We can only do this through a very strong and consistent partnership. IAR Brasov and Airbus have a long history together and we have the opportunity to increase our commitment to offer the best products for our customers in the near future," Laurien Anastasof, IAR's managing director said.In order to beef up its presence on the Romanian market, IAR would be responsible for the production and customization of H215M and H145M helicopters in Brasov.These two projects would bring substantial benefits to Romania, such as employment, the acquisition of high-level professional skills, higher contributions to the local budget, investments in education, and would allow Romania to join the exclusive club of countries capable of producing H215 / H215M type helicopters.AGERPRES
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According to Stratistics MRC, the Global Aerospace Cold Forgings Market is accounted for $3.20 million in 2017 and is expected to reach $6.29 million by 2026 growing at a CAGR of 7.8% during the forecast period. Growing technological advancements in aerospace industry, Increasing aircraft production and stringent regulations associated with the aerospace industry are some of the factors driving the market growth. However, lack of skilled labor and availability of composite materials possessing no-corrosive properties are restraining the market growth.

Cold forging is a manufacturing process used to warp materials into high-strength parts. Aerospace parts require better manufacturing accuracy and this is precisely what cold forging process offers. These parts require minimal to no finishing and offer high dimensional accuracy.

Based on platform, Fixed Wing segment has witnessed the significant market growth due to the development of military and commercial aviation industry along with growing demand for cost efficient aircraft. By, geography, North America holds the largest market share during the forecast period due to ushering aerospace industry leading to a grow in the production of aircrafts. Moreover, increasing expenses on defense are driving the market growth in this region.

Request for Report Sample: https://www.trendsmarketresearch.com/report/sample/11299

Some of the key players profiled in the Aerospace Cold Forgings Market include Arconic, Eramet Group , Scot Forge, Bharat Forge, Precision Castparts Corp, Vsmpo-Avisma and Shaanxi Hongyuan Aviation Forging Co Ltd .

Platforms Covered:

 Rotary Wing

 Fixed Wing

Product Types Covered:

 Captive Forging

 Catalog Forging

 Custom Forging

Applications Covered:

 Nacelle

 Airframe

 Landing Gear

Regions Covered:

 North America

o US

o Canada

o Mexico

 Europe

o Germany

o UK

o Italy

o France

o Spain

o Rest of Europe

 Asia Pacific

o Japan

o China

o India

o Australia

o New Zealand

o South Korea

o Rest of Asia Pacific

 South America

o Argentina

o Brazil

o Chile

o Rest of South America

 Middle East & Africa

o Saudi Arabia

o UAE

o Qatar

o South Africa

o Rest of Middle East & Africa

Place a Direct Purchase Order @ https://www.trendsmarketresearch.com/checkout/11299/Single

What our report offers:

 Market share assessments for the regional and country level segments

 Strategic recommendations for the new entrants

 Market forecasts for a minimum of 9 years of all the mentioned segments, sub segments and the regional markets

 Market Trends (Drivers, Constraints, Opportunities, Threats, Challenges, Investment Opportunities, and recommendations)

 Strategic analysis: Drivers and Constraints, Product/Technology Analysis, Porters five forces analysis, SWOT analysis etc.

 Strategic recommendations in key business segments based on the market estimations

 Competitive landscaping mapping the key common trends

 Company profiling with detailed strategies, financials, and recent developments

 Supply chain trends mapping the latest technological advancements

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All the customers of this report will be entitled to receive one of the following free customization options:

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o Comprehensive profiling of additional market players (up to 3)

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o Market estimations, Forecasts and CAGR of any prominent country as per the clients interest (Note: Depends of feasibility check)

 Competitive Benchmarking

Benchmarking of key players based on product portfolio, geographical presence, and strategic alliances

Request for Report Discount: https://www.trendsmarketresearch.com/report/discount/11299
Jinjoo Labs, Inc. has announced its new skin care line that combines Korean skin care ingredients and cosmetics technology with cannabidiol, or CBD.

Previously: Vital You CBD Mists Tone, Hydrate Skin with Aromatherapy

Jinjoo has exclusive rights to use South Korean cosmetics manufacturer Korea Particle Technology's (KPT) patented "pearls" to deliver CBD and enhance the delivery of rice germ, honey and purslane.

In addition to internal testing at KPT and Jinjoo Labs, the new products were also tested at the Miami Skin Institute in Florida.

Jinjoo products will begin shipping in August. The startup company is taking preorders.

Rene Shin, founder of Jinjoo Labs, said: "Korean beauty is defined by luminous skin, so the women there are extremely knowledgeable and downright obsessive about what they put on their skin. Korean women's willingness to try new products fuel competition among skin care manufacturers, so innovation is the norm."

She continued, "KPT was originally founded to apply pharmaceutical techniques to the production of cosmetic ingredients at about the same time that we were learning about the medicinal benefits of CBD, which made them the perfect partner. If you think about why certain medications absorb better into your body, KPT developed similar techniques so creams and lotions absorb better into the skin, making it much more effective. I'm thrilled that we now have exclusive rights to their patented pearl technology to use for CBD skin care."

Marja Vongerichten, Jinjoo's spokesperson and chief brand advocate, said: "Rene and I have been friends for years. We've got that Korean connection going on.I have sensitive skin, and I love that Jinjoo uses so many natural ingredients. Jinjoo looks and feels like it's improved the texture and appearance of my skin. It's why I'm happy to promote the brand."
A "large amount" of fireworks at a house sparked an explosion and fire that has left two people dead in Ontario, California, according to the city and fire department.

The explosion took place at about 12:30 p.m. local time. Video of the scene showed the home entirely destroyed by the blast.

Ontario Fire Chief Ray Gayk said two dead bodies were found as they fought the blaze. First responders weren't able to access the lot because there was still a significant amount of ordinance on the ground.

PHOTO: Ontario Police officers and a man are seen running away from an explosion at a home in Ontario, Calif., March 16, 2021. (Watchara Phomicinda/Orange County Register via ZUMA Press)

The Ontario bomb squad was combing the area before firefighters make their way in, Gayk said.

Ontario Police Chief Mike Lorenz said there were previous complaints about the property.

PHOTO: Firefighters respond to an explosion at a home in Ontario, Calif., March 16, 2021. (Watchara Phomicinda/Orange County Register via ZUMA Press)

Gayk said it will take several days to investigate, but they are receiving help from agencies including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

"Explosions being heard are by fireworks at this time," city officials tweeted. "Please stay clear of the area."

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Ontario is about 40 miles east of Los Angeles.

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Nearby residents shared videos on social media of people running away as more fireworks exploded and sent smoke into the air.

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One resident, whose house shook, thought it was an earthquake. Another neighbor told Los Angeles ABC station KABC that the blast broke their windows.

PHOTO: An aerial image shows an explosion in Ontario, Calif., March 16, 2021. (KABC)

PHOTO: An aerial image shows a massive explosion in Ontario, Calif., March 16, 2021. (KABC)

As of 3:30 p.m. local time, firefighters were still battling the fire.

Alex Stone reports for ABC News Radio:

ABC News' Matt Gutman contributed to this report.

2 dead as California neighborhood rocked by fireworks explosion, large fire originally appeared on abcnews.go.com

Will make Assam govt party to case against CAA in SC if voted Congress to power: Gaurav Gogoi

No detention centres under CAA, NRC: Centre tells Rajya Sabha

India

oi-Deepika S

New Delhi, Mar 17: The centre on Wednesday said there is no provision of detention centres under the Citizenship Act 1955 and the National Register of Indian Citizens (NRC).

"Detention centres are set up by the state governments and UT administrations as per their local requirements to detain illegal immigrants and foreigners, some of whom may have completed their sentence and their deportation to their native country may be pending for want of proper travel documents," Minister of State for Home Affairs (MHA) Nityanand Rai said in a written reply.

''Till now, the government has not taken any decision to prepare the National Register of Indian Citizens at the national level,'' Rai said in a written reply.

The NRC was updated in Assam under the supervision of the Supreme Court. When the final NRC was published on August 31, 2019, a total of 19.06 lakh people were excluded out of the total 3,30,27,661 applicants, which created a ripple across India.

The NRC is an Assam-specific data of bonafide Indian citizens living in the state. Replying to another question, Rai said there is no provision of detention centres under the Citizenship Act, 1955 and the National Register of Indian Citizens.

Karnataka CD Scandal: Family claims woman kidnapped, files complaint| Oneindia News

He said the Supreme Court on February 28, 2012 had directed that foreign nationals who completed their sentence shall be released from jail immediately and be kept in an appropriate place with restricted movement pending their deportation or repatriation.

Following that directive, Rai said, the Ministry of Home Affairs issued instructions on March 7, 2012 to state governments and UT administrations to comply with the directions of the Supreme Court.


U.S. officials are struggling with the problem of thousands of Central American migrants arriving at the southern U.S. border and seeking entry. Many are children who do not have a parent with them.

Democratic Party members in the U.S. House of Representatives say they are trying to fix a broken system left behind by the administration of former President Donald Trump.

The leaders of the Republican Party in the House say President Joe Bidens administration created a new crisis. Kevin McCarthy, the Republican leader in the House of Representatives called what is going on a Biden border crisis.

The Biden administration wants to call what is going on a challenge.

Nancy Pelosi, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, said it is a humanitarian crisis.

Even Trump is talking about it, saying Bidens administration was recklessly eliminating our border.

Jen Psaki, Bidens press secretary, said Republicans who say Biden opened the border were absolutely incorrect.

However, Roberta Jacobson, who works in the White House, said many people may now be trying to get into the U.S. after Biden took office. She said they think a more humane policy is in place now that Trump is no longer president. She also noted that people who smuggle migrants into the U.S. may have been giving people false information.



The Biden administration stopped the building of a border wall which Trump started during his presidency. However, some policies from the Trump administration have stayed in place. The U.S. continues to prevent some people from coming into the country because of the COVID-19 health crisis.

Alejandro Mayorkas is the Homeland Security secretary. On Tuesday, he said that children coming into the U.S. are vulnerable and the U.S. has ended a policy of sending them back.

The number of children trying to cross the border without adults increased by 60 percent from January to February. More than 9,400 tried to enter the United States last month.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection supervises security at the border. It dealt with 100,000 people, mostly adults, in February. The last time the number was that high was in June 2019.

While the U.S. is still sending adults and families home, children under the age of 18 who come by themselves are permitted to stay. The U.S. is considering whether they should be offered asylum or another reason to remain.

Mayorkas said the majority of the children who are coming to the border have a relative or parent in the U.S.

Bidens administration is working with FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, to set up temporary places for migrant children to live in both Texas and Arizona. It is also working with the Central American countries of Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador to make more shelters available south of the U.S. border and slow down the number of people who want to come north.

Mayorkas said his agency is working hard but called the situation a difficult one.

Im Dan Friedell.

VOAs Ken Bredemeier wrote this story for VOA News. Dan Friedell adapted it for Learning English. Mario Ritter, Jr. was the editor.

What do you think the U.S. should do about its southern border? We want to hear from you. Tell us in the Comments Section and visit our Facebook page.

________________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

challenge n. a difficult task or problem

recklessly adv. not showing proper concern about the possible bad results of your actions

eliminating v. to remove something

absolutely adv. completely or totally

humane adj. kind or gentle to people or animals

smuggle v. to move (someone or something) from one country into another illegally and secretly

vulnerable adj. open to attack, harm, or damage
(Newser)  The uproar surrounding The Talk co-host Sharon Osbourne is not exactly dying down. Following Osbourne's defense of Piers Morgan after he himself was accused of racism toward Meghan Markle, more has come out about Osbourne's past controversial behaviorlots more. In an extensive Substack piece, journalist Yashar Ali shares what he learned from 11 sources he spoke to back in 2018 (when he was investigating the then-head of CBS, the network on which The Talk airs, Les Moonves) and again recently. Most spoke to him anonymously, citing fear of career retribution or non-disparagement clauses they signed, but Osbourne's former co-host Leah Remini went on record. More from his piece and other recent developments in the controversy:

Remini accuses Osbourne of using some pretty shocking language, including racial and ethnic slurs, against herself, former co-host Julie Chen, and former co-host Sara Gilbert (see Ali's story for the exact terms allegedly used). She also claims Osbourne tried to rally Remini to her side to get former co-host Holly Robinson Peete fired, as well as to marginalize Chen.

story continues below

Speaking of Robinson Peete, who is Black, she tweeted Friday that Osbourne said she was too "ghetto" for the show, and Ali notes that Osbourne was allegedly instrumental in Robinson Peete's ouster after the first season. Speaking to Variety after that tweet, Osbourne claimed she's never used the word "ghetto" other than to refer to the Warsaw Ghetto, and does not have the authority to get anyone fired.

Ali begs to differ on both of those points: He tweeted a 2011 clip from The Talk in which Osbourne calls Remini "ghetto" for the way she's speaking, and he notes that while Osbourne may not technically have contractual authority to terminate anyone, she has wielded "enormous influence" at the show.

Ali also brings up controversial incidents from Osbourne's past, including her claims in 2018 that Markle "ain't Black!" and "doesn't look Black"; bigoted comments regarding Black people; allegations that she referred to an Iranian-American talent agent with ethnic slurs and falsely accused her of stealing jewelry; and more.

CBS had originally put The Talk on hiatus through Tuesday, returning Wednesday, but following Ali's story, the network said it will extend the hiatus an additional week as it continues to look into the incident.

Osbourne went on ET following Ali's story, and reiterated the claims she originally made to Variety that she was "set up" by the show's producers and her fellow hosts to be the "sacrificial lamb" on this issue. Host Kevin Frazierwho suggested Robinson Peete and Sheryl Underwood (the current co-host with whom Osbourne clashed over Morgan), both of whom are Black, join Osbourne for some sort of "summit" on racismis being criticized by some for a "softball" interview, per Ali.

Osbourne's rep also issued a statement to CNN and other outlets: "The only thing worse than a disgruntled former employee is a disgruntled former talk show host. For 11 years Sharon has been kind, collegial and friendly with her hosts as evidenced by throwing them parties, inviting them to her home in the UK and other gestures of kindness too many to name. Sharon is disappointed but unfazed and hardly surprised by the lies, the recasting of history and the bitterness coming out at this moment. She will survive this, as she always has, and her heart will remain open and good because she refuses to let others take her down. She thanks her family, friends and fans for standing by her and knowing her true nature."

On Osbourne's side: Donald Trump Jr., who on Monday retweeted a Piers Morgan tweet throwing shade at CBS for pulling The Talk.

(Read more Sharon Osbourne stories.)
Armenia acting health minister on citizens' demand for her resignation

Karabakh's new State Minister Artak Beglaryan on his appointment and future activities

Armenian, Russian and Azerbaijani representatives hold consultations in Moscow

2 Armenian soldiers receive slight injuries after incident with Azerbaijani servicemen in Armenia's Gegharkunik

Armenian boy weighing 5 kg born at Goris Medical Center

"Armenia" bloc representative presents purpose of participation in elections and plans

Isaac Herzog elected President of Israel

Rouhani: Main issues between Tehran, Washington resolved in Vienna

Charles Michel calls on Armenia and Azerbaijan to resume constructive negotiations

US Department of State responds to Pashinyan's proposal to deploy international observers on Armenia-Azerbaijan border

Head of Armenia 2nd President's Office: Robert Kocharyan's public meetings are held in warm atmosphere

Opposition "Armenia" bloc's representative on photos and videos showing bags of deceased servicemen's bodies

Armenia Ombudsman, AGBU President discuss war crimes committed by Azerbaijan during Karabakh war

Opposition "Armenia" bloc's representatives to hold briefings three times a week

Opposition "Armenia" bloc member: Blood-freezing photos and videos from morgue in Abovyan are authorities' reflection

Yerevan mayor receives Netherlands Ambassador

Armenia Health Ministry, Investigative Committee keep info about sending remains of dead soldiers abroad confidential

Armenia Prosecutor General's Office launches case regarding leaving sacs of servicemen's bodies/remains in basement

Peskov: Putin and Biden to discuss cybersecurity issues

Armenia's Pashinyan meets with Belgian PM Alexander De Croo

Armenia acting MOD receives Netherlands Ambassador

Armenia Police: 3 citizens apprehended during protest demanding acting health minister's resignation

NATO warns Minsk about further consequences of Ryanair incident

Armenia economic competition protection commission: Experts forecast inflation of butter prices

Armenia citizens' protest against acting health minister is over

Pashinyan visits France, judicial farce against Armenian POWs kicks off in Baku, Jun. 2 digest

Armenian Ambassador, FMO representatives consider opportunities for expansion of cooperation in Armenia

Armenia Prosecutor General is on working visit to Russia

Armenia acting PM meets with European Council President in Brussels

Armenia citizens throw polyethylene bags at Health Ministry building, police apprehend protesters

Acting deputy minister: Armenia authorities plan to build 46km section of North-South highway in 2021

Dollar is stable in Armenia

Armenia official: Large number of projects being prepared in construction sector

Identity of man killed Wednesday morning in downtown Yerevan is found out

Armenian lawyer: Azerbaijan poses a threat to security in Europe

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

Missing Armenian soldiers' relatives hand letter to Russia Embassy with request to solve captives' issue

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
TMC seeks rejection of Adhikaris nomination for 'filing false particulars of residence'

India

oi-Deepika S

Kolkata, Mar 17: All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) has written to Election Commission to remove Suvendu Adhikari's electoral roll from Nandigram as 'he filed false particulars of his residence'.

TMC Rajya Sabha MP Derek O'Brien in a letter to the Electoral Registration Officer of Nandigram assembly constituency alleged that Adhikari's name "seems to appear" in the electoral rolls of both Nandigram and Haldia assembly constituencies and this is not permitted as per Section 17 of the Representation of The People Act of 1951.

Section 17 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 mentions that no person shall be entitled to be registered in the electoral roll for more than one constituency.

It also appears that Adhikari had filed an application for migration of his name from Haldia assembly constituency to Nandigram constituency, the TMC MP said, by providing "false particulars of his residence".

He claimed that this became evident as Adhikari was found to be 'absent' at the time of field visit by a booth level officer (BLO) for verification. The TMC MP claimed that Adhikari has not resided at Nandanayakbar village, which falls under Nandigram constituency, over the past six months, "let alone being a permanent resident thereof".

Turncoats turn the tables on old-timers in Bengal elections

"As per Section 19 of the RP Act, only a person who is 'ordinarily resident' in a constituency may be registered as a voter in the electoral rolls of such constituency. Hence he is not entitled to 'migration' and his migration is bad in law," the letter read.

The TMC leader said the Electoral Registration Officer should forthwith delete the name of Adhikari from the electoral roll of Nandigram assembly constituency and urged appropriate legal action, including criminal proceedings, be initiated against him. "The nomination paper submitted by Adhikari from Nandigram constituency be also struck down", he added.

This development came barely days after Adhikari, once a close aide of Banerjee, demanded cancellation of the TMC supremo's nomination from Nandigram seat.

Karnataka CD Scandal: Family claims woman kidnapped, files complaint| Oneindia News

Adhikari had sought rejection of the nomination of the West Bengal chief minister for not declaring six criminal cases against her while filing her papers.

In his complaint to the Election Commission, Adhikari had claimed she suppressed the information about five cases filed against her in Assam and another lodged by the CBI in West Bengal.